The Official TNA / Impact / GFW Discussion Thread

[Jaysin]

Good opening ladder match.

[Jaysin]

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

 

Other than the main event, not a bad show by any meaning of the word. I enjoyed it for the most part, but I hate the way Tenay sells things some times. Anyone who knows anything about Tito knows he's never really been a "good guy". So why expect him to be a face?

 

The ladder match was fun. The tables match was fun. The Knockouts match was mediocre. The cage match was...just there. Sabin looked like an idiot so many times during the match.

 

The MEM and Aries stuff made me chuckle though.

[shawn michaels]

Rumours last week were that Hulk Hogan would be fired, now the Rumours are that Brook might have already been fired, or is on the verge of leaving. It seems that TNA is finally cleaning house. With Bischoff out the door soon, things could become better, if we weren't about to see the neverending reigns of Jarrett as WHC. Cause I would bet some Money that he will at least try to get involved in the importante storylines. It's how he always booked himself. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[Rickymex]

Brooke already left TNA.

[D-Lyrium]

I enjoyed the show, although all the Ortiz stuff was obvious. He was wearing one of Anderson's shirts ffs. I didn't hate the cage match either, although I dislike cage matches in general when walking out of the door is a valid win condition.

 

And ODB failing to get her bra off and wrestling with half of it hanging out of her ring gear was hilarious >_>

[Eisen-verse]

<p>I watched a few videos from tonight's impact and one really stood out. AJ Styles promo. I loved it. Better yet, I believed it. It's one of the better things that I've seen TNA do in awhile. Really, his whole push/character recently has been really interesting to watch.</p><p> </p><p>

Now, with that said, I have something somewhat overarching to complain about...</p><p> </p><p>

I can't stand wrestling fans much anymore. Within this promo, one where AJ is really setting a GREAT tone for his character going forward, a character that I like by the way, I heard a round of "What?" chants & eventually even a "Boring" chant from a number of people. Seriously? Really? Are you even LISTENING to what's being said or are you just interested in crapping on anything you see? </p><p> </p><p>

THIS is part of the reason why wrestling is terrible these days. Yes, a lot of it is the booking (if not all) but we, as fans, are not doing the industry any favors. </p><p> </p><p>

Okay, rant over. Sorry. Just got a little annoyed with what I was seeing during a great promo from Styles.</p><p> </p><p>

If TNA knew what was best, they'd ride AJ Styles straight to the title. His new persona, his in-ring ability, all of it, it is something that could really carry. At least, for me, it's much more than most of the roster could put together.</p>

[Rickymex]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Eisen-verse" data-cite="Eisen-verse" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I watched a few videos from tonight's impact and one really stood out. AJ Styles promo. I loved it. Better yet, I believed it. It's one of the better things that I've seen TNA do in awhile. Really, his whole push/character recently has been really interesting to watch.<p> </p><p> Now, with that said, I have something somewhat overarching to complain about...</p><p> </p><p> I can't stand wrestling fans much anymore. Within this promo, one where AJ is really setting a GREAT tone for his character going forward, a character that I like by the way, I heard a round of "What?" chants & eventually even a "Boring" chant from a number of people. Seriously? Really? Are you even LISTENING to what's being said or are you just interested in crapping on anything you see? </p><p> </p><p> THIS is part of the reason why wrestling is terrible these days. Yes, a lot of it is the booking (if not all) but we, as fans, are not doing the industry any favors. </p><p> </p><p> Okay, rant over. Sorry. Just got a little annoyed with what I was seeing during a great promo from Styles.</p><p> </p><p> If TNA knew what was best, they'd ride AJ Styles straight to the title. His new persona, his in-ring ability, all of it, it is something that could really carry. At least, for me, it's much more than most of the roster could put together.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> AJ Styles is in contract negotiations right now so he might not even be in TNA anymore if the moeny rumors are true.</p>

[Stennick]

I heard about this "pipebomb" that Aj styles did on iMpact so I youtubed it. This guy is bad on the mic. I can't fault the fans for chanting boring this guy was stumbling over his words, making awkward pauses, he seemed jittery, on top of that I didn't believe a single word he said other than the small bit about bringing in guys that fail. I haven't seen AJ work in a while I'm sure he's still fantastic but AJ Lee cut a better promo than AJ Styles. People yell at Cena "You can't wrestle" but I'll tell you this Cena wrestlers better than Styles talks.

[Rickymex]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Stennick" data-cite="Stennick" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I heard about this "pipebomb" that Aj styles did on iMpact so I youtubed it. This guy is bad on the mic. I can't fault the fans for chanting boring this guy was stumbling over his words, making awkward pauses, he seemed jittery, on top of that I didn't believe a single word he said other than the small bit about bringing in guys that fail. I haven't seen AJ work in a while I'm sure he's still fantastic but AJ Lee cut a better promo than AJ Styles. People yell at Cena "You can't wrestle" but I'll tell you this Cena wrestlers better than Styles talks.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I consider Styles average on the mic. He put enough emotion into this promos that I forgive many of his minor problems. But yeah mic work isn't AJ's strenght</p>

[Stennick]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rickymex" data-cite="Rickymex" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I consider Styles average on the mic. He put enough emotion into this promos that I forgive many of his minor problems. But yeah mic work isn't AJ's strenght</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Honestly AJ is below average on the mic. I know its tough to say about a nice guy who's talented in the ring but either he's below average on the mic or in 11 years the only thing he could do that was even average was play the silly funny guy in the Angle Alliance. </p><p> </p><p> We forgive a lot of his weaknesses because he's a nice guy but he's not even average on the mic. It was hard to watch I think I've seen backyard wrestlers cut more confident promos than AJ Styles. </p><p> </p><p> The thing is though AJ has never been booked as THE guy in the promotion. Since they dropped the NWA AJ Styles has only been the world champion one time and that was four years ago now. I think its the chicken and the egg when it comes to his mic work. He's never had to have strong mic work because he's not the top guy and he's not the top guy because he can't cut a promo to save his life. </p><p> </p><p> I like AJ but I would think being on national television on a weekly basis for the last eight years. I used to knock on Daniel Bryan for not having any mic work but it took him two years of being on national television on a weekly basis to figure it out. Less than that really but lets just say two years of being on a national television show to figure out how to cut a promo. AJ can't call himself "better than the best in the world" when he can't even cut a promo. In his defense he's ten times the worker CM Punk is though if only he could cut one tenth of the promo Punk can.</p>

[bigtplaystew]

I cant figure out if Dixie's promo in the opener tonight was horrible or brilliant mic work. On one hand, she stuttered and stammered her way through mindless drivel. I don't think even she knew what she was saying. On the other hand, she had that place booing louder than any heel of the night. It's EXACTLY what AJ needed...

[liontamer]

If you've watched the last 2 weeks, I think her delivery is consistent. They are putting a 99% vs the 1% storyline and she is obviously the 1%. It's gotten a strong reaction each week.

[Derek B]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="bigtplaystew" data-cite="bigtplaystew" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I cant figure out if Dixie's promo in the opener tonight was horrible or brilliant mic work. On one hand, she stuttered and stammered her way through mindless drivel. I don't think even she knew what she was saying. On the other hand, she had that place booing louder than any heel of the night. It's EXACTLY what AJ needed...</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="liontamer" data-cite="liontamer" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>If you've watched the last 2 weeks, I think her delivery is consistent. They are putting a 99% vs the 1% storyline and she is obviously the 1%. It's gotten a strong reaction each week.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> In the past I've never ared about Dixie's involvements, because a generic, nice mother figure type of person just isn't very interesting in the world of wrestling, especially when they don't seem very confident in front of a crowd... but her 1% character really works for me for some reason. She still isn't awesome on the mic, but by pretty much admitting everything that everyone says about her (and TNA) all the time, I think she could actually be a fun character going forward. Especially with the (text in white for spoilers) <span style="color:White">Ethan Carter AKA Derrrick Bateman thing. I'm assuming he's going to be used as a nephew or something and he could be comedy gold as a delusional heel. Should be fun to see him.</span></p><p> </p><p> Other than that, Impact seemed really strong this week as the rowd was hot throughout. It was a pretty well put together show that has helped me buid more interest for Bound For Glory, though I'd be looking forward to it one way or antoher anyways. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> TNA has been on a slide for the last few months, especially with the way they handled the Bound For Glory Series this year (cutting out a large chunk of matches and adding 20 point matches galore to basically make it all meaningless)... but this week reminded me that TNA can still do awesome things. IF you put the focus of the show on the promo work of guys like Bully, Sting, Aries, Daniels and Roode... well, they an deliver there. They have a lot of guys who can deliver in the ring too... Austin Aries is a real star for them, the guy can do everything and always seems to be the highlight of any show he's on. I can't help but think that when AJ beats Bully at BFG, we're going to get some awesome matches like Aries vs AJ that could be insanely awesome. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"></p>

[TheWrestlingMan]

This EC3 character looks great can't wait to see where it goes. TNA has been my favorite promotion for awhile now, I still watch E but it's boring TNA is very good right now and will continue to improve with Magnus, A Double, EC3, and other young guys in the waiting that are extremely entertaining to me.

[D-Lyrium]

I haven't seen the latest Impact yet, but I saw the few before that, and I actually like the characterisation of Dixie. Say what you want, but she's HATED by the crowd, and isn't as annoying to listen to as Stephanie McMahon, so that's a bonus. And the character is helping to establish something that I think we all want: a mega-over AJ Styles babyface run. And in theory the more we get of Dixie, the less we get of Hogan. IMO, as long as Dixie doesn't take up too much of the shows, it's win-win for us.

 

While I don't watch religiously right now like I used to watch WWE back in the day (I rarely missed a Raw from 97-2003), I'm liking where they're going, and if I had Sky+ at my house (we don't even have regular sky ¬_¬) I'd definitely have it on series record.

 

I still probably wouldn't watch it live, as I like being able to skip past the crap segments (like the Aces and Eights "give me Briscoe's jacket" segment which seemed to take at least 3 hours and was followed by yet another promo). But there are very few crap segments these days compared to the height of the Brooke/Bully/Hogan storyline where I was skipping about half the show.

 

The bulk of the shows seem to be in-ring again now (at least, as much as we've come to expect from any of the big companies in North America over the past few decades) and I honestly can't think of a male wrestler on the roster that I don't like watching wrestle. Possibly Bully Ray depending on the opponent, but meh...

 

The only real improvements I'd make to TNA right now to increase my own personal enjoyment would be:

- Limit any segments involving Hogan or Dixie to 10 minutes per show. I've got nothing against promos, TNA have some really good promo guys. But Dixie and Hogan shouldn't be taking up more of the show than the wrestlers are. Especially Hogan, because half of his promos make no sense these days.

 

- Sort Tazz out. Either get him to tone down the gimmick while he's calling matches, put another guy on colour commentary with Tazz as the third man (who, though?) or just get rid of him completely. I enjoy his snarky comments and fun personality on commentary from time to time, but I can't bare the Tenay and Tazz two-man booth. It was far better with that other guy whose name I've forgotten.

 

- For that matter, get rid of Tenay. Or at least stop forcing him to repeat himself every three seconds to put things over, if that's what's going on. I was watching Death Before Dishonour a few weeks ago, and Kevin Kelly was great as a lead announcer. I respect the shit out of Tenay, but recently he's just unbearable. I'm not sure if that's due to age, or due to producers screaming in his ear.

[Psycho Sam]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="D-Lyrium" data-cite="D-Lyrium" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It was far better with that other guy whose name I've forgotten.<p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm thinking Don West.</p><p> </p><p> Haven't watched TNA much. Thinking I should watch it soon, judging from you guys. This should be quite good.</p>

[D-Lyrium]

...no, not Don West.

 

Definitely not Don West.

[dpoolez]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="D-Lyrium" data-cite="D-Lyrium" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>...no, not Don West.<p> </p><p> Definitely not Don West. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Jeremy Borash? There was a third guy (who wasnt JB) that was on Impact for a short stint before it went back to Tenay/Taz.</p>

[TheWrestlingMan]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="D-Lyrium" data-cite="D-Lyrium" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25170" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>...no, not Don West.<p> </p><p> Definitely not Don West. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It was Todd Kenly right??</p>

[D-Lyrium]

Yeah, Todd Kenely. He was great.

 

JB is great as a ring announcer/interviewer, but I don't like him as an announcer, personally.

[Psycho Sam]

Well, blargh. Shows how much I know about TNA. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[bigtplaystew]

<p>Tenay isn't my problem. Tazz's commentary work is still fine, but him joining Aces and Eights was a bad move. It doesn't do anything to help him do commentary or be more entertaining, it just limits him to "rahh rahh Aces and Eights, boo boo popular babyface". Especially for Tazz who had really mastered the art of being a tweener announcer .</p><p> </p><p>

At the time, it made a little bit of sense as Aces and Eights was booked to be "taking over" but now they're basically a four man stable on their way out of the door and it makes zero sense to tie Tazz down like that. If I were them I'd have written him an out when Bully was "Cleaning house within the club" a couple of weeks ago. Who knows? Maybe he'll be involved with the retaliation on Bully Ray and it'll be cool.</p>

[20LEgend]

<p>I skipped Dixie and Sting talking. She's getting a reaction but I wonder (since I have no idea) whether people at home are seeing her as a heel or just switching over. Gotta see how it goes obviously but at the moment I'm getting a couple of minutes in and skipping. To be fair I can see a point in it helping AJ, since he was getting a bit of a quite reaction before Hogan/Dixie helped him out.</p><p> </p><p>

Interesting whether Ethan having the surname Carter will have any link to Dixie too.</p><p> </p><p>

Lots I'm not enjoying on the show still (Lei'd Tapa(?)) but EGO are amazing amongst other things on the show so I'm still watching.</p>

[D-Lyrium]

Just watched this week's show.

 

I like Dixie's character, she's got that great heel quality where you believe that she actually believes the crap she comes out with. Although her promos tend to be a bit long and waffly for my liking, hopefully that'll improve. I can't imagine Ethan Carter not being linked to Dixie on-screen, otherwise he wouldn't have the Carter surname (since it's nothing like his real one, or his previous WWE gimmick name).

 

EGO are amazing. Easily the best thing about TNA right now.

 

Lei'd Tapa isn't bad, she hasn't done much to be 'bad' so far, I'll wait until she has an actual match to pass judgement. The gimmick in theory is pretty cool. Despise the name, though.

 

Anyone notice how Aces and Eights refer to themselves as a trio? They've forgotten about poor ol' Tazz and Bully's own girlfriend already. ¬_¬

[20LEgend]

Yeah, probably unfair to write her off so quickly but from what I've seen before I'm not a fan. She doesn't seem to have the mannerisms right to me, but time will tell.