[Lucky]

Impact goes live on Spike for the first time!

Sting makes his return after 4+ months away! Will he join Team Cage for Lethal Lockdown? Will we care about him more now than before?

Awesome Kong has a match and YOU decide against who. Starting at 9 you can go online and vote who she faces. Gail Kim, ODB, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Roxxi Leveoux, or Christy Hemme. Please no ODB.

Kurt Angle continues his training by taking on the tag champs, AJ Styles and Tyson Tomko! Also we'll hear from Samoa Joe, Karen Angle, and MMA fighter and announcer Frank Trigg (because he looks like Angle?)



Alex Shelley vs Johnny Devine in a qualifying match for the Xscape match at Lockdown for the X title! That will open the show. Will being live mean TNA can't cut to commercial mid match?

We're in chat. Link up on the top right.

[Lucky]

Sorry 'bout your damn luck, Sting!

[Moreofabreadguyanyway]

The main event and the after match shananigans were great.
Angle's sparring sessions sucked, I don't like the whole MMA vibe there trying to put on for the Joe-Angle Lockdown match.
Johnny Devine is pretty bland, I was upset to see him go over Shelley.
I bet that guy from the Highlanders is screwed for showing up on Impact, I heard WWE told it's wrestlers to stay away from TNA.
Everything else on the show was pretty solid, though I would've liked to have seen Curry Man.

[paddler]

Good show all around. They've really kicked it up a notch over the last month since they've cut back on the excessive backstage crap, although it means seeing less of Crystal per show which sucks. Curry Man would have been great to see (Gerweck says he was on a pre-broadcast dark event) but not having the Eric Young/monsters/Shark Boy goofy thingy dominating too much TV was a major relief, so I'd call it an even trade-off.

Backstage Footage Of The Year Award has to go to Steiner hooking up the battery cables to Petey's nipples. I just about shot a swig of beer out through my nostrils when they showed it. Rhaka's goofy Carnivale mask has to go though. It's just plain stupid and really is going to help for what appears to be generic female valet who hasn't shown much personality or in-ring ability so far.

It was funny watching the Highlanders guy kind of trying to hide his face when he knew the camera was on him. His WWE career is now probably in the Dead Pool category.

Good use of Storm hitting Stinger with the bottle at the end of the m.e.. Storm's too effective of a bad a guy and too damn entertaining to bury in dead-ends like drinking contests so if he becomes part of Tomko's growing army of heels it'll do good for him and help to advance the storyline as well. With Tomko/AJ then Dudleys and now Storm, TNA's quietly put together about the most effective heel stable I can remember seeing in a long time. If they work this one correctly it could go a long way.

When the time comes I'm cheering for the Islamic chick in the burka to go over on Gail Kim. It must be because I Hate America And Want Us To Lose or something like that.

[Mr. Dashbee]

SMITE for not knowing that the Islamic chick in a burka is really an American chick in a burka. Google Cheerleader Melissa...easily one of more talented women's wrestlers to not get used anywhere big.

TNA's Knockout roster is completely stacked right now. Melissa (Saed), Rain (Banks), Gail, Kong, Nikki Roxx (Roxxi), ODB not to mention all the others. And from what I understand, Banks & ODB aren't even under contract, just on a per show basis.

I really enjoyed Impact. I do agree, I hope they aren't trying to go too MMA with everything. I like the idea of a more physical style, maybe incorporate some MMA (hell, remember when wrestlers "submitted?" now they "tap out"). But let's not get too carried away, here.

I am glad that Storm is playing a role now. He is great at being a heel. I wonder if Team Tomko will have 5 members, and Cornette adds one to Team Cage? Maybe Matt Morgan (since they intend to increase his role thanks to the American Gladiators gig). As a side note -- I wonder how involved NBC would let American Gladiators get with TNA? Gladiator Wolf is a trained professional wrestler as Hollywood Yates, trained in UPW (same place as John Cena and Samoa Joe). He's already the most popular Gladiator, I think it'd translate into a perfect wrestling roster spot for him.

I was sad that Shelley didn't qualify, but maybe there's something bigger for him & Sabin to do at Lockdown. I see Sharky qualifying next week. Maybe we can get Super Erik in as well...

As for random Highlander sighting? Well, I hope TNA is willing to give him a job, cause he's gonna need one real soon. But I'm sure he'll get destroyed by Umaga or JBL first. You know who this really sucks for? Rory McAllister. What the fuck is he gonna do now? I don't watch HeAt, so I can't tell you the last time I've even thought about the Highlanders.

Overall, I really liked Impact. I do hope that they move to AJ vs. Angle after Lockdown. AJ deserves an even bigger push, and Angle has been all for getting guys over.

Who do you feed to Joe first? Tomko, mabey?

[Lucky]

I don't think TNA is going for a MMA thing. I think they're just going for a BIG FIGHT thing with Joe/Angle. They're selling it as a huge boxing/MMA match in a way that wrestling doesn't get done anymore. The two guys are focused and training and people are commentating.

I mark out for Storm and I mark out for Sting. I can't even reflect on the rest of the show. I think I was enjoying it but I have no idea. I flipped out when that happened.

Next Week!
AJ & Tomko vs Cage & Rhino
Sting vs James Storm
Peyton Banks vs Traci Brooks
Xscape Qualifer: Shark Boy vs Elix Skipper

[Lucky]

Ok, I've stopped marking out.

Good show, nothing great.

From the live stuff they had problems. As best as I can tell they were all "Tape-to-Live" ones and I can understand that. You run video, you miss audio. All the switches are foreign at first. With any hope its something you'd get used to by week 2 or 3. But I'm being empathetic as someone who has fucked up on switchers and sound boards.

The director LOVES cutting to different camera angles. There must be like 6 cameras running at one time. It was insane and distracting. THAT is something TNA should address and something I never noticed on their PPVs. Just over zealous I imagine.

I've been saying it for weeks. LAX feels as hot as they haven't been in a year. Don't fuck that up, TNA. Somewhere along the line Hernandez became Mike Awesome and I'd like to know when that happened. I'd also like to know what is behind his current physical transformation and I'd prefer it stop before he don a sombrero and a big jug marked "XXXX".

I'm very sad that Devine beat Shelley but not shocked. Hopefully MCMG get a showing in some tag action for Lockdown because the show is looking awesome and they should be on the card. I've read that there will be a rematch from Destination X with LAX vs MCMG vs Rock 'n' Rave and while I might like more for them that's a very good opener for what looks to be an awesome PPV.

Dutt's a dick. Petey's funny. Did the camera man help Lethal? Wow. How un-wrestling like. Maybe it was Alex Shelley.

I'm tired of ODB. I want to see the tag match at Lockdown but I hope that after that ODB slides down to tag with Roxxi vs Love and Sky. Let Kim, Kong, and Saed with maybe Traci and Banks play with the title. I get that she's popular and I don't begrudge you that. So lets use her to get the other ladies over, especially since Roxxi and ODB kinda fit against the "Beautiful People."

Because ODB is ugly.

JAMES F'N STORM!

[Riot Act]

luckylopez said:

I don't think TNA is going for a MMA thing. I think they're just going for a BIG FIGHT thing with Joe/Angle. They're selling it as a huge boxing/MMA match in a way that wrestling doesn't get done anymore. The two guys are focused and training and people are commentating.

Not according to Angle:

Kurt Angle told BetweenTheRopes.com on Tuesday that he and Samoa Joe will have a mixed martial arts-style match at the Lockdown pay-per-view. “We’re going to have an MMA style match at the pay-per-view and this is the beginning of what TNA is going to start doing.” He said he provides a preview of the match on Thursday’s Impact and claims he knocked out one of the wrestlers he fought “for real.”

“Joe and I are actually putting a hell of a a match together that is going to be very much MMA oriented. It’s going to be inside a cage. I don’t even think we’re wearing shoes. We’re going to tape our ankles. We’re going to be putting on the gloves.” He also admitted that they’re trying to show up the Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show match.

Angle also said he and Randy Couture have agreed to fight (MMA) sometime this year, but he didn't specify which promotion they'll work for or when it will be.

Kurt Angle addressed the possibility of Bobby Lashley signing with TNA. “I’m not going to say anything, but be ready for anything. Be ready for a big surprise... Whatever he does, it’s going to make big press. Let’s just that I’m really excited about the direction that Bobby Lashley is going.”

[Lucky]

Yeah, but Angle's fucking insane.

I actually don't object to anything he says. Joe and he will have an "MMA style match." They've had 4 of them already. They are both "MMA style wrestlers." Submission, strikes, grappling. The reason this build fits so well is because they both fit to it so well. Its why Joe and Angle was the dream match and not Angle/AJ. Because they had similar style that matched well. They're gonna go in with taped ankles? Ok. Joe always does, doesn't he? So Angle's gonna ditch his Keds for a match? Cool. I think it adds to the big time feel of the match and the focus Angle is putting on it.

THIS match is a big "MMA style" match. Because its two guys with great grappling, submission, and striking skills matching up. Its not gonna be a high flying match like the Xscape match and its not gonna be a brawl like Lethal Lockdown. But the existence of those matches is kinda my point. Angle/Joe fits this mold just as their last 4 matches did. Its just that this time the two of them are publicly preparing in a way that fits more with boxing/MMA approaches. Because so rarely do we see wrestlers engage in sparring sessions or go off into training before big fights. But its common for boxers and MMA fighters.

If TNA as a whole takes a step towards a more MMA approach I'll eat crow. But for now I'm content in believing that STING is not gonna be hooking anyone into a Kimora lock any time soon. He's gonna swing bats and hit Stinger Splashes and hook on Scorpion Death Locks and drop Scorpion Death Drops. We will have Ultimate X, Elevation X, Xscape, Gauntlet, and whatever matches. But Angle and Joe? Maybe Lashley if he joins up? Maybe Tomko if he can hang? When it works grapplers will grapple. We will have "MMA style" matches when we have "MMA style" wrestlers. But just as Benoit vs Angle or Bret vs HBK in an Iron Man or Regal vs Finlay has never been solely what wrestling is about, it won't change the general direction of TNA.

Maybe TNA will make a more concentrated effort to sell a big match as a BIG MATCH like UFC and boxing does. And not just the match of the month like TNA and WWE so often do. But I'm not even counting on that past what is a legitimately special matchup between Joe and Angle. And anything else is just Angle being batshit insane or the best worker of us since Pillman.

[jetskid48]

Got around to watching my DVR this morning...high praise for the surprise ending of the main event. Pretty much had turned away and was just listening to the end of the program when the Storm thing happened and I had to rewind. Talk about coming out of no-where. I think everyone's been under the assumption that it's a 4 on 4 match, so adding a big surprise at the end of a so-so program really left at least me with a good taste in my mouth for the end of this week.

I thought the transition to live was okay for them. It seemed on par with what their ppv's have been and for a real first run through, there aren't really many complaints. We know it's not going to be WWE quality production, but there were only a few differences. I think post-production camera angle changes usually help them as their were some botched moves (a Shelley sitdown dropkick didn't even come close to connecting, Nash missed 2-3 clotheslines, etc) that they used the wrong angle for. But basically, taping is something that helps some and hurts in other ways; sometimes I'd wish Shelton Benjamin was on a show that was taped so his matches can lose the one or two slight botch ups he has.

Thought it was really funny that they were boasting the stars in attendence, than gave us Highlander #1 (Rory?) and a setup man. I feel bad for the Highlander guy because I thought it was a questionable call to throw him on the screen, especially if their just going to use his real name and use him for the WWE part. Ultimately, its his fault for violating WWE rules and he's probably not in a position where he has enough pull to get away with it. So knowing he could be used by TNA, he made his decision and if WWE were to fire him, on a personal standpoint, I'd have no problem with that if he blatantly broke their rule. Just watch it in your hotel room.

Ultimately, I felt like there a bit too much fluff this week (compared to usual) for TNA, and if I were tuning into a special TNA, I'd hope they were going out of their way to make an extra special show outside of Mike Tenay yelling at me that it was the biggest show in their history. Outside of the main event, nothing else really drew me in. Show was missing a lot of the guys that TNA fans love that I would have liked to see (I still haven't gotten to watch a show where Curry Man has wrestled/No Joe/No great tag match). I'm not making any statements on the quality or place of TNA, I just wish they would have thrown something super special out there for a show they're marketing as special.

Even if they have to step away from the storylines slightly for a week to throw out a great card, I would have been in favor of that. I'm probably more excited for the top 2 matches next week than anything this week. Average stuff this week though, but that's not a bad thing. It's not WWE, and it's fun to see a different look at wrestling from time to time.

[salmonjunkie]

Awesome ending to the show. Storm did come out of nowhere, and that was freaking sweet!

I knew Shelley was going to lose, as I knew MCMG was going to lose a week or two ago against Black Reign and Killer Spelt Backwards. Shelley pretty much shows it in his ring entrance that he's in the dog house as he didn't do his Detroit hand sign on either matches and has a look on his face that he doesn't want to be there. It's good that he's still putting up good performances, but his ring entrances the last two times I've seen him have totally given it away that he's going to lose that match.

[paddler]

luckylopez said:

Yeah, but Angle's fucking insane.....

And anything else is just Angle being batshit insane or the best worker of us since Pillman.

Yeah which is totally fuckin awesome because I'm looking forward like I'm some sort of a crazy person to seeing Kurt follow up on his threat and doing the next Angle Invitational on Jeremy Borash. The soap-opera viewer in me has it pegged that Karen isn't coming out with AJ on her arm. Ten bucks says it's Joe who's her new BFF and the Angles try to do the old double-cross on him again, which this time will fail spectacularly when she accidentally belts Kurt with a chair or something. I've seen it a million times before, but for some unknown reason that I haven't quite figured out yet, it still gets better each and every time. Needless to say TNA's uptick in quality lately has put me back in my happy place.

[DevSop]

NO NO NO...

Joe vs Angle must only be about Joe and Angle. Let Karen do her stuff on the side for the next two weeks...hint at it being AJ, maybe Borash, throw in a Tomko tease but leave Joe and Kurt out of it. I know there will be attempts at run-ins during Joe vs Angle, but keep it limited and when the final portion of the match hits I want it solely between Joe and Angle.

And when all is said and done, I kinda think I want Karen's new boytoy to be Cage. He's a much better heel and it will make AJ insanely jealous and could turn him into a underdog babyface, Angle could stay a heel in that he doesn't fucking care about Karen, Tomko can be Tomko and we might actually have a balanced roster with Joe as a world champ facing any and all challengers on both sides of the line.

Faces: Sting, Booker, AJ, Kaz, Abyss, Nash, Rhino
Heels: Cage, Angle, Roode, Steiner, maybe Lashley if the rumors are true.

And it's not like Joe will need to be wrestling the top of the food-chain every month. He can have a good match with anyone, I truly believe that, so if you wanna build up a quick one month program with Joe and Hernandez, it would work and be a great match and then the next month, he can go back to a main event feud with Cage or AJ or Angle or Abyss or Booker...then a few months later, another one month program with someone like Homicide or Shelley or Kaz. He's so versatile, I think it'd be good to build people up just by hanging with him.

But that's all said on the caveat that the title match with Angle has to be 100% clean for him.

[jetskid48]

I agree with you on the Karen storyline...I was pretty shocked to see any TNA liker enjoy how much crap their putting around what should be the only thing important here: Joe v. Angle. Leave the drama at home TNA, this is your money feud.

Forgot to mention before with this though, I could understand why they would do it, but it pretty much takes the air out of the tension bubble for Joe to announce he will retire (leave TNA, etc) if he doesn't win the belt. Obviously they could to some sort of Joe leaving angle, but really, does anyone now think there's any chance Joe isn't winning the belt? I mean, its one thing to know Batista is going to beat Umaga on Sunday, but its another thing when you take the moment away from the second it's finally going to happen, Joe winning the belt/the fans finally seeing him get to the top of the mountain, the second they stuck that stip on the match.

[Mr. Dashbee]

In regards to Karen - I do think this will stay about Kurt vs. Joe @ Lockdown. I think Joe goes over clean in the cage. I also think Karen & AJ vs. Kurt starts after Lockdown.

In regards to the MMA feel of TNA, It's been reported elsewhere (Observer, etc.) that TNA is moving into a more physical, hybrid style. Yes, Angle is insane, but that doesn't mean he's always wrong.

Hopefully hybrid will include some wrestling in there. Maybe they can even go back pushing the X-division???

[Ultimatejobber]

TNA has an X-Division? What's that?

[Byrntrigan]

gb said:

As for random Highlander sighting? Well, I hope TNA is willing to give him a job, cause he's gonna need one real soon. But I'm sure he'll get destroyed by Umaga or JBL first.
Who do you feed to Joe first? Tomko, mabey?

Yeah, I thought that was a dick move. I got the feeling that he didn't even know he was on camera, he seemed to be way back there, plus none of the fans seemed like they knew he was there, or they just all hate him

Either way expect a "We wish Robbie the best in all future endevours" for that guy. TNA better hire him or that would send a bad signal, dontcha think?

Who knows, maybe it was on purpose to get canned from WWE, not like the Highlanders were fuckin' tearing up the charts or anything.

As for Karen, why do I get the idea Russo is going for something big here and not AJ Styles?

Will she be the new Mrs. Jarrett? I have money on her starting up a lesbian love affair with, uh, Velvet Sky. Yeah, that'd do....

Either way AJ is fucked (or not as the case would be).

Good to see Storm back. Maybe he's getting the anual Chris Harris push?

Are they gonna move it to a 5 man Lethal Lockdown, or per Lucky's guess, start a new stable?

Once Joe wins (he damn well better!) I say throw Hernandez in with him for a 1 monther. That dude is tearing stuff up. he's awesome know. Now Devon just needs to teach him to talk!

I wouldn't mind seeing Hernandez work with Joe as well (all that history in ROH). Shit, bring Punk over and have all 3 Kings of ROH tear shit up.

[Angle]

governmentcheese61 said:

I bet that guy from the Highlanders is screwed for showing up on Impact, I heard WWE told it's wrestlers to stay away from TNA.

So thats who that was. Personally, I forgot they even had jobs.

[Lucky]

jetskid48 said:

Forgot to mention before with this though, I could understand why they would do it, but it pretty much takes the air out of the tension bubble for Joe to announce he will retire (leave TNA, etc) if he doesn't win the belt. Obviously they could to some sort of Joe leaving angle, but really, does anyone now think there's any chance Joe isn't winning the belt?

Raises hand.

I said it in last week's thread. Joe/Angle is NOT about the drama of who will win. Its about the drama of WILL THEY FUCKING LET JOE WIN AND WIN THE RIGHT WAY!?!?!?! Some matches aren't about both guys going in with an even chance. Its RVD going into a title match where the fans threaten to riot if Cena wins. Or if Jeff Hardy cashed in his MitB to fulfill his dream. Its about the actual thing happening. And the tension and drama will be on that, not on Angle having a fighting chance.

And if you have 100% faith that it WILL happen you simply haven't been watching TNA long enough and don't want the Joe win as much as some. Because I guarantee you the first time Angle slips on an ankle lock or Tomko, AJ, or Karen come out from the back my heart will jump into my throat.

[Lucky]

Here's the Consequences Creed video that failed to air last night due to technical difficulties.



I'm not sure I'm a big fan of his but I'm damn glad he's coming in serious and not as comedy. And to be honest this down and dirty serious character is something the X Division doesn't really have. So I think he could be a very nice foil to the likes of Lethal.

Right now I think there's a real chance Creed takes the final spot in the Xscape match and walks out champ while Lethal and Dutt feud under the title.

[Ultimatejobber]

I liked that video promo, and agree with you Lucky that the X Division could use a non-silly character. But I'm not too familiar with Creed, can you point me to where I can see what he's done before?

[Lucky]

I can't find a damn thing from him on the web besides these TNA promos from the last few weeks. If you watched Bound For Glory this past October he was Pacman Jones' fill in as Killings' partner against AJ and Tomko. That was his one TNA appearance and he had a very good showing that got him hired. Not an awesome showing or anything, but he looked talented and a welcome addition.

[punk/core]

dxb said:

[
Either way expect a "We wish Robbie the best in all future endevours" for that guy. TNA better hire him or that would send a bad signal, dontcha think?

Apparently, he's been set home from the Wrestlemania festivities:

Link

- In some not so surprising news, WWE sent Robbie McAllister home today. McAllister was shown live on Impact last night after WWE had warned their wrestlers to avoid TNA. [PWInsider.com]

- Many wrestlers in TNA were very upset with the company's decision to show McAllister on TV last night because most figure that he could lose his job with WWE over it. McAllister only went to the show to see his friend, Johnny Devine, wrestle. He had stood in line like a normal fan and dressed down in hopes of not being recognized. Many TNA workers feel that the company took advantage of him and have now not only put him at risk of losing his job, but his entire family at risk since McAllister earns the money to support them. [WrestlingObserver.com]

[Byrntrigan]

See - that's what's wrong with people now.

They notice a guy who just happens to be a wrestler for a competitor, and instead of being classy and invite him backstage and welcome him and show him around. You know, show class and then Devine would say - oh - he's my buddy! - blah blah blah.

They rape him on TV and will be the reason he gets fired. And if we are to believe the rags, he wanted to be low profile (which it felt like on TV with his girlfriend and him not even knowing he was on TV).

Now TNA will probably get him fired and have a revolt with their workers if they don't hire him. Shit - I wonder what appens now with the TNA guys going to the HOF ceremony - are WWE gonna be dicks back and not let them? I doubt it as they paid but those tickets allways say "we reserve the right blah blah blah"

Plus I'm still drunk... :-*

I'm gonna go wake up my dog and cry together.

[Lucky]

TNA barred its guys from going to the HOF Ceremony because they were afraid that WWE would put them on screen and use it to put TNA down or draw talk. So you know, what they clearly were capable of doing. I imagine that's more "awareness of how scummy this business is" than irony. But WWE apparently has barred all TNA talent from any WM festivities anyway for fear of them trying something. Word was a bunch of them had to convince security they weren't threats and just wanted to say hi to friends last night.

It was a scummy move from TNA. If WWE fires him over it or even looks down on him they're scummy. Wrestling is scummy. That's not me excusing TNA, its just me saying I expect nothing more from anyone in that business.