By Garrett Kidney
September 27, 2012
Orlando, FL
Or perhaps more appropriately 'The Other Night on IMPACT Wrestling', sorry for being a day late but a bad cold and a horrible internet connection means I couldn't watch (and subsequently review) IMPACT until today.
- Fine opening promo from Hogan bringing together a number of subjects while setting the stage for the rest of the show. King Mo being ref makes sense to prevent Roode from running while introducing Mo to the audience without exposing his inexperience. Also making an official announcement of Storm/Roode is a plus. It's nice that Sting's returned from his random absence too.
- Three way was a tad bit disappointing especially considering the talent involved. I would've liked to see them get some more time and the story of Daniels and Kaz attempting to divide and conquer is decent one to add a little more intrigue. I still have high hopes for the PPV match and it's good that they showed the tag match graphic before the match.
- OK ODB/Tara match to get the popular (and still rather entertaining) ODB/EY act on TV with the (albeit a little clunky) finish putting some heat on Tara. Though the idea that the consequences of Tara's actions last week result in a No. 1 Contenders match is a little silly.
- Joe nonchalantly blowing off Bischoff's idea that he could hang with him was awesome. Decent back and forward match keeping Anderson strong in defeat for lasting so long in the Coquina Clutch. Joe is a very good choice as champion especially if you're going to go back to him defending the title every week. I'd like to see them introduce a new belt to try and get rid of the memories of a title that's meant nothing for three years (that is only if they want to try and re-establish the title).
- Kidnapping Hogan and Sting was just hokey. I know the idea is they don't want them to know where their clubhouse is but kidnapping them seemed over the top. Speaking of hokey, the conversation between Hogan and the leader (and if it ends up being Bischoff rather than him just filling the role for the time being I'll cry) was just silly, and what guarantee does Hogan have that these guys who are showing up without permission will go away even if they lose at Bound For Glory? Also I'm surprised they just went with a 2 on 2 match, I though they'd use the Aces and 8s match to get a lot of people on the show.
- I'd like to see them revamp Gutcheck. Severe damage has already been done to the concept with the quality of the contestants and then some of them getting wholly undeserved yes's. I'd like them to only say yes to people that are going to be on TV immediately after, the fact that people have won and never been seen again is just silly. Save yes for once or twice a year when people actually deserve it and then give developmental contracts to people you say no to but who show potential (the likes of Shaw, Silva and Markopolous).
Finally one of the Gutcheck guys say they didn't give their best because they lost. Kris Lewie was terrible and was beaten conclusively yet still said he gave his best, which was just silly. Also Al Snow's jacket was awful (just thought I'd throw that in). Hearing Mike Tenay plug the new TMNT series made me laugh for some reason.
- Nice to see a Calves and Abs reunion. Really good main event and the best Aries has looked since Hardcore Justice (mostly because it's the first time in months they really let him go out and wrestle without random shifts in character or Aces and 8s holding him back). Both Aries and Hardy look very good in ring, which bodes well for their BFG match (I know I said that two weeks ago but the point still stands). They more of a hook than Aries' jealousy to sell that match though.
Closing Thoughts
While they've done a pretty good job hyping Bound For Glory, they haven't done much to really convince people to buy the show. This was a decent, if a little flat, show. There's no sense of urgency with the biggest show of the year a little bit more than two weeks away, and any momentum they built up over the last twelve months has long been squandered by an angle that brings back flashbacks of a much worse TNA that only three or four months ago looked to be left in the past. They have a lot to do in the next two weeks.
