Post by Talon Thorne on Apr 16, 2008 19:20:12 GMT -5
TNA 101
April 8, 2008
By Talon Thorne
iMPACT! Report Card
“Morgan’s Mess…”
April 3, 2008
The show
-Team Tomko came out and thanked Matt Morgan for adding a fifth man to the teams at Lethal Lockdown. That man came out in the form of James Storm. Before Storm could say anything he was interrupted by Team Cage. Christian Cage trash talked Team Tomko then called out Matt Morgan. Morgan played the heel and said he would give Cage a fifth man if he could find one. Cage said he had an ace up his sleeve.
-Scott Steiner and Petey Williams came to the arena with Petey hanging on Steiner’s hood as part of the initiation. Steiner said he would change TNA’s Landscape tonight
-The LAX and Motor City Machine Guns defeated Rock N Rave Infection, Black Reign and Rellik in an 8-Man Tag with Eric Young watching from the crowd. After the match, the heels jumped the faces. Kaz tried to make the save but failed. Super Eric came out and saved the faces and cleared the heels
-Another Roughcut aired talking about Kip James turning on BG. Kip sounded like a good heel on here.
-Mike Tenay interviewed Raisha Saeed and Awesome Kong. Saeed said Kong and her met while training in Japan and that there would be nobody to stop Awesome Kong.
-AJ Styles and Tomko defeated Christian Cage and Rhino by DQ after Rhino Gored referee Andrew Thomas. Thomas kept missing Cage tag in Rhino, so the War Machine snapped and cut the ref in half with the Gore. The fans went crazy over this. After the match Team Tomko (excluding James Storm) jumped Rhino and Cage until Kevin Nash made the save.
-On another date with Jay Lethal and So Cal Val they went to a hot tub where Lethal never even checked into the hotel. Sonjay Dutt interrupted once again.
-Shark Boy (with updated but cooler look) defeated Primetime in an Xscape Qualifying Match following the Chummer.
-A very hot Traci Brooks defeated Payton Banks following a top rope tornado facejam. After the match a huge brawl took place between most the Knockouts, Sharmell came out with a leather strap and cleared everybody from the ring.
-Another Samoa Joe training video aired where he was hard at work telling Angle his gold medal means sh*t
-Kurt Angle came out and announced that he wanted Samoa Joe to sign a legal document next week saying he would quit if he lost. Scott Steiner came out and announced that he was cashing in his Feast or Fired World Title shot against the winner of Angle vs Joe at Sacrifice in May. When Angle wanted to shake Steiner’s hand, Steiner responded by saying that Angle had to get through Joe first and he didn’t think that would happen.
-Sting defeated James Storm when Special Referee, Matt Morgan joined Team Cage after throwing a baseball bat that Storm was going to use to Sting. Morgan revealed a Team Cage shirt after the match.
Notes
-Before their match “The Monsters of Rock” (Rellik, Black Reign and the Rock N Rave Infection) cut a funny interview where Rellik and Reign acted really strange and distracted around Rock N Rave Infection
-Consequences Creed returns to TNA next week on iMPACT!
-Announced on iMPACT by Cornette was an idea by Matt Morgan being TNA Lockdown’s modified version of the first round of Fight for the Right. The match is called “Queen of the Cage” where all the women involved would start outside the cage and would fight their way to the inside of it with the first two facing off in a singles match to be determined by Pinfall or Submission. I am skeptical on if this match will be good but at least now the Knockouts Division has their own trademark match. I figure Traci Brooks, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Roxxi Laveaux, Christy Hemme, Salinas, Payton Banks and Jacqueline Moore will all be involved.
Grade: B
Overall Thoughts: This show was nothing compared to iMPACT last week. I will be happy as long as there is one PPV Quality Match on the show. This show didn’t have that match. To me these shows have been pretty repetitive recently with unclean finishes and brawls after the match. This was the worst showing of the improved TNA. There was nothing extremely good but nothing bad as well, just average.
Show Rating: 1.1
Congratulations to Matt Bentley who has joined The Naturals, Chris Harris, Ron Killings and Monty Brown as the list of people who left TNA to only become a second class wrestler in the WWE. Bentley officially was squashed by Vladimir Koslov on Smackdown last night. A statement to the wrestlers of TNA: No matter how similar WWE and TNA are, WWE will never heavily push stars that made their names in TNA. The only man who has had decent success in the WWE was Kaz who was undefeated during his time in the WWE.
TNA wants to give their PPVs identities much like WWE does. WWE currently has the Royal Rumble (featuring the Royal Rumble Match), Wrestlemania (Superbowl of WWE), Vengeance (Night of Champions), One Night Stand (All Matches under Extreme Rules); Cyber Sunday (Interactive PPV) and Survivor Series (featuring traditional Survivor Series Matches). TNA currently has Destination X (feature PPV of the X Division that all has an Ultimate X or Elevation X Match), Lockdown (all matches takes place in Six Sides of Steel), Sacrifice (three which have featured the finals of an X Cup), Slammiversary (Anniversary Show of TNA featuring King of the Mountain Match) and Bound for Glory (Superbowl of TNA always featuring big time matches and Monster’s Ball). I personally think the best PPV to replace with an Interactive PPV would be Hard Justice. I have always hated Hard Justice as a PPV and the history of usually being a weak PPV can be forgotten. I still remember Hard Justice 2006 where a fire occurred and TNA still delivered a solid PPV. To me 2006 was TNA’s best year. Unfortunately it was followed by possibly the worst year TNA has ever had in 2007.
Who won the War of the Words between ROH and TNA? Well after receiving a response from our TNA defender I have to give it to our ROHBot. However, I am declaring this War over between the two companies now knowing that they are in fact on the same side.
We got great feedback to the three things you would improve in TNA. I must say some of your ideas were excellent. I did in fact send them to TNA and just received a response from Bill Banks: “Thank you for your feedback. TNA will continue to listen to the fans and try and create the best wrestling product available on TV”.
With discussions going on about TNA moving more towards an MMA style I had a few different ideas that would make things more sporty and return TNA to its alternative roots
1) Give all iMPACT matches time limits- Much like the days on FSN, the matches on iMPACT would be given time limits. Normal matches would be given about 10 minutes (since most matches on TV don’t even go that long anyways) while more important matches such as championship matches, big time matches and gimmick matches could be given longer. The bigger matches could be given 15 or 20 minute time limits. I hate it when how there is no explanation for why TV Matches are so much shorter than PPV matches (from a wrestler standpoint). This would force the wrestlers to be more aggressive and go for the win. Should the time limit expire it would either go to the judges (ala UFC) or go to sudden death. To make the judge concept even more interesting, why not make the crowd the third judge. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see the fans determine if a title changes or if it goes to sudden death.
2) Return to the rule that titles don’t change hands on intentional disqualifications. I hate it in WWE when a champion blatantly low blows a wrestler to keep his title. The intentional disqualification leaves out outside interference where a wrestler can’t control it.
3) I hate Steel Cage matches that are won by escape only. What pride does a wrestler have from running. Why should he be rewarded for running away? With Xscape there is the elimination rules that make it acceptable. If I was in charge I would make you have to pin your opponent before you escape. To make things even more interesting you could have a control stipulation to prevent both men touching the outside at the same time. Whoever gets the last pin will be able to escape the cage. It could be a back and forth match of control
4) Rankings for the X Division- The X Division is all about athletic competition so why not instill a rankings system in the division to make it different. TNA definitely needs it aspects of sports entertainment but why not put in sports aspects as well.
5) No more battle royals- There needs to be decisive winners of a match
6) Rule Enforcement- While the fans need clear cut winner we also need rule enforcement to know that the wrestlers have rules to follow by.
7) Clean Finishes- I am tired of seeing every match have interference or weapon use. Just give straight-up wrestling
8) TNA iMPACT Scroller Bar- You guys know on certain sports channels they have a bar at the bottom of the screen telling you about upcoming games and such. TNA should do the exact same thing. This would help advertise upcoming events, PPVs and matches. It would be very good for the show.
I understand that TNA is looking to sign Frank Trigg to an announcer’s contract. This is an excellent idea. Mike Tenay, Don West and Frank Trigg were an awesome three-man team on the Live Edition of iMPACT. Since he is a huge wrestling fan, he could be the analyst that helps Mike Tenay call the moves. Tenay and West could call the storylines as well. Good move for TNA if done right.
It’s official, Glen Gilbertti is a TNA 101 Fan. He sent me an e-mail making me aware of the fact. While he doesn’t like some of the things I say about TNA, he does like how my column or this site doesn’t bash TNA every chance it gets. So Glen is a TNA 101 fan, and Konnan is a Talon Thorne hater.
Speaking of Glen, I admire this man, who sticks up for TNA when critics bash the product. TNA doesn’t always do everything right, booking-wise but I can’t complain about creative
Total Nonstop Interaction
Do you agree with my idea that TNA iMPACT matches that have time limits would be better than the current format? If so, why? If not, why? Shoot me an e-mail at Talon_DR@yahoo.com
April 8, 2008
By Talon Thorne
iMPACT! Report Card
“Morgan’s Mess…”
April 3, 2008
The show
-Team Tomko came out and thanked Matt Morgan for adding a fifth man to the teams at Lethal Lockdown. That man came out in the form of James Storm. Before Storm could say anything he was interrupted by Team Cage. Christian Cage trash talked Team Tomko then called out Matt Morgan. Morgan played the heel and said he would give Cage a fifth man if he could find one. Cage said he had an ace up his sleeve.
-Scott Steiner and Petey Williams came to the arena with Petey hanging on Steiner’s hood as part of the initiation. Steiner said he would change TNA’s Landscape tonight
-The LAX and Motor City Machine Guns defeated Rock N Rave Infection, Black Reign and Rellik in an 8-Man Tag with Eric Young watching from the crowd. After the match, the heels jumped the faces. Kaz tried to make the save but failed. Super Eric came out and saved the faces and cleared the heels
-Another Roughcut aired talking about Kip James turning on BG. Kip sounded like a good heel on here.
-Mike Tenay interviewed Raisha Saeed and Awesome Kong. Saeed said Kong and her met while training in Japan and that there would be nobody to stop Awesome Kong.
-AJ Styles and Tomko defeated Christian Cage and Rhino by DQ after Rhino Gored referee Andrew Thomas. Thomas kept missing Cage tag in Rhino, so the War Machine snapped and cut the ref in half with the Gore. The fans went crazy over this. After the match Team Tomko (excluding James Storm) jumped Rhino and Cage until Kevin Nash made the save.
-On another date with Jay Lethal and So Cal Val they went to a hot tub where Lethal never even checked into the hotel. Sonjay Dutt interrupted once again.
-Shark Boy (with updated but cooler look) defeated Primetime in an Xscape Qualifying Match following the Chummer.
-A very hot Traci Brooks defeated Payton Banks following a top rope tornado facejam. After the match a huge brawl took place between most the Knockouts, Sharmell came out with a leather strap and cleared everybody from the ring.
-Another Samoa Joe training video aired where he was hard at work telling Angle his gold medal means sh*t
-Kurt Angle came out and announced that he wanted Samoa Joe to sign a legal document next week saying he would quit if he lost. Scott Steiner came out and announced that he was cashing in his Feast or Fired World Title shot against the winner of Angle vs Joe at Sacrifice in May. When Angle wanted to shake Steiner’s hand, Steiner responded by saying that Angle had to get through Joe first and he didn’t think that would happen.
-Sting defeated James Storm when Special Referee, Matt Morgan joined Team Cage after throwing a baseball bat that Storm was going to use to Sting. Morgan revealed a Team Cage shirt after the match.
Notes
-Before their match “The Monsters of Rock” (Rellik, Black Reign and the Rock N Rave Infection) cut a funny interview where Rellik and Reign acted really strange and distracted around Rock N Rave Infection
-Consequences Creed returns to TNA next week on iMPACT!
-Announced on iMPACT by Cornette was an idea by Matt Morgan being TNA Lockdown’s modified version of the first round of Fight for the Right. The match is called “Queen of the Cage” where all the women involved would start outside the cage and would fight their way to the inside of it with the first two facing off in a singles match to be determined by Pinfall or Submission. I am skeptical on if this match will be good but at least now the Knockouts Division has their own trademark match. I figure Traci Brooks, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Roxxi Laveaux, Christy Hemme, Salinas, Payton Banks and Jacqueline Moore will all be involved.
Grade: B
Overall Thoughts: This show was nothing compared to iMPACT last week. I will be happy as long as there is one PPV Quality Match on the show. This show didn’t have that match. To me these shows have been pretty repetitive recently with unclean finishes and brawls after the match. This was the worst showing of the improved TNA. There was nothing extremely good but nothing bad as well, just average.
Show Rating: 1.1
Congratulations to Matt Bentley who has joined The Naturals, Chris Harris, Ron Killings and Monty Brown as the list of people who left TNA to only become a second class wrestler in the WWE. Bentley officially was squashed by Vladimir Koslov on Smackdown last night. A statement to the wrestlers of TNA: No matter how similar WWE and TNA are, WWE will never heavily push stars that made their names in TNA. The only man who has had decent success in the WWE was Kaz who was undefeated during his time in the WWE.
TNA wants to give their PPVs identities much like WWE does. WWE currently has the Royal Rumble (featuring the Royal Rumble Match), Wrestlemania (Superbowl of WWE), Vengeance (Night of Champions), One Night Stand (All Matches under Extreme Rules); Cyber Sunday (Interactive PPV) and Survivor Series (featuring traditional Survivor Series Matches). TNA currently has Destination X (feature PPV of the X Division that all has an Ultimate X or Elevation X Match), Lockdown (all matches takes place in Six Sides of Steel), Sacrifice (three which have featured the finals of an X Cup), Slammiversary (Anniversary Show of TNA featuring King of the Mountain Match) and Bound for Glory (Superbowl of TNA always featuring big time matches and Monster’s Ball). I personally think the best PPV to replace with an Interactive PPV would be Hard Justice. I have always hated Hard Justice as a PPV and the history of usually being a weak PPV can be forgotten. I still remember Hard Justice 2006 where a fire occurred and TNA still delivered a solid PPV. To me 2006 was TNA’s best year. Unfortunately it was followed by possibly the worst year TNA has ever had in 2007.
Who won the War of the Words between ROH and TNA? Well after receiving a response from our TNA defender I have to give it to our ROHBot. However, I am declaring this War over between the two companies now knowing that they are in fact on the same side.
We got great feedback to the three things you would improve in TNA. I must say some of your ideas were excellent. I did in fact send them to TNA and just received a response from Bill Banks: “Thank you for your feedback. TNA will continue to listen to the fans and try and create the best wrestling product available on TV”.
With discussions going on about TNA moving more towards an MMA style I had a few different ideas that would make things more sporty and return TNA to its alternative roots
1) Give all iMPACT matches time limits- Much like the days on FSN, the matches on iMPACT would be given time limits. Normal matches would be given about 10 minutes (since most matches on TV don’t even go that long anyways) while more important matches such as championship matches, big time matches and gimmick matches could be given longer. The bigger matches could be given 15 or 20 minute time limits. I hate it when how there is no explanation for why TV Matches are so much shorter than PPV matches (from a wrestler standpoint). This would force the wrestlers to be more aggressive and go for the win. Should the time limit expire it would either go to the judges (ala UFC) or go to sudden death. To make the judge concept even more interesting, why not make the crowd the third judge. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see the fans determine if a title changes or if it goes to sudden death.
2) Return to the rule that titles don’t change hands on intentional disqualifications. I hate it in WWE when a champion blatantly low blows a wrestler to keep his title. The intentional disqualification leaves out outside interference where a wrestler can’t control it.
3) I hate Steel Cage matches that are won by escape only. What pride does a wrestler have from running. Why should he be rewarded for running away? With Xscape there is the elimination rules that make it acceptable. If I was in charge I would make you have to pin your opponent before you escape. To make things even more interesting you could have a control stipulation to prevent both men touching the outside at the same time. Whoever gets the last pin will be able to escape the cage. It could be a back and forth match of control
4) Rankings for the X Division- The X Division is all about athletic competition so why not instill a rankings system in the division to make it different. TNA definitely needs it aspects of sports entertainment but why not put in sports aspects as well.
5) No more battle royals- There needs to be decisive winners of a match
6) Rule Enforcement- While the fans need clear cut winner we also need rule enforcement to know that the wrestlers have rules to follow by.
7) Clean Finishes- I am tired of seeing every match have interference or weapon use. Just give straight-up wrestling
8) TNA iMPACT Scroller Bar- You guys know on certain sports channels they have a bar at the bottom of the screen telling you about upcoming games and such. TNA should do the exact same thing. This would help advertise upcoming events, PPVs and matches. It would be very good for the show.
I understand that TNA is looking to sign Frank Trigg to an announcer’s contract. This is an excellent idea. Mike Tenay, Don West and Frank Trigg were an awesome three-man team on the Live Edition of iMPACT. Since he is a huge wrestling fan, he could be the analyst that helps Mike Tenay call the moves. Tenay and West could call the storylines as well. Good move for TNA if done right.
It’s official, Glen Gilbertti is a TNA 101 Fan. He sent me an e-mail making me aware of the fact. While he doesn’t like some of the things I say about TNA, he does like how my column or this site doesn’t bash TNA every chance it gets. So Glen is a TNA 101 fan, and Konnan is a Talon Thorne hater.
Speaking of Glen, I admire this man, who sticks up for TNA when critics bash the product. TNA doesn’t always do everything right, booking-wise but I can’t complain about creative
Total Nonstop Interaction
Do you agree with my idea that TNA iMPACT matches that have time limits would be better than the current format? If so, why? If not, why? Shoot me an e-mail at Talon_DR@yahoo.com