Impact Wrestling 7/17/14 review: GET YOUR MONEY JEFF HARDY!

Just got done watching an entertaining episode of Impact Wrestling aka TNA. First of a few shows from NYC and overall I gotta say the show was a good one. Of course you got the folks that's going to hate TNA no matter what, and to those people you really can't say anything to them. Some of them are are former employees that can't forgive, but I digress. I really got nothing bad to say about the show really. The crowd was extreme, pun intended. It was an old school wrestling crowd. Real NYC crowd. Even noticed some familiar faces in the crowd that were at some of the WWE shows back when they ran shows in that building.

Dixie Carter should not be on TV. I know I'm just a "smark" but in my opinion, she shouldn't be on TV as a character. Don't get me wrong, Dixie Carter looks great for her age, but the kind of heat she was getting tonight was not typical wrestling heat, it was what some fans call "X-Pac heat" meaning they just don't like you at all. AT ALL. But with that being said I like the build between her and Bully Ray. They're actually making it work. Now I think Dixie, if she still owns the company, should only show up when needed. Not forced down our throats. Let Kurt Angle handle the GM role, and Dixie sits in the back in her office and sips her drink of choice. Dixie is not even in Vickie Guerrero's league of character, and Vickie was not that good of a character.

Can we talk about Jeff Hardy? I mean, doesn't he have money now? The spots that man did tonight were insane. First the spot where Jeff went head first on the stairs after Lashley grabbed his legs while he was standing on the stairs. I even tweeted after that, "Is Jeff ok?" Jeff is the type of guy that loves to top himself in the ring. Now let's get to the swanton on the stairs. Folks if you didn't see it, youtube it. It was the definition of crazy or stupid. It's amazing to me how Jeff hasn't had major back surgery with all the stunts he's pulled over the years. Keep getting your money Jeff.

Speaking of getting your money, allow me to mention Daniel Bryan. Keep getting your money Daniel Bryan. I wish Daniel Bryan a speedy recovery from his injuries but I think he has nothing to worry about when he comes back to the ring. The man gets Yes chants in other companies and independent companies world wide. Like I said, GET YOUR MONEY DANIEL BRYAN!! 

The X Division title match was good as well. It was non-stop action. Austin Aries is money as the boys say. I just got one question...is the suicide dive a ROH staple or what? Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, Seth Rollins...all do the suicide dive. I'm just wondering. The Knockout match, it was a good match, but to call it a no DQ match? Nah. No weapons or rule breaking in this match. But again it was a solid match.

How about that promo from the human suplex machine Taz? Talk about old school. Taz can still talk with the best of them. He's better than just about anyone working today except for Paul E. I loved it. Not scripted, just a straight good promo. Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer cut good promos as well. Dreamer with a little shot at WWE, and it worked. That clowned face guy got a good reaction too. In NYC, that's a big deal. 

Overall, props to the TNA creative and TNA wrestlers for a great show, and making me want to tune in for the next show. Until the next blog...

Daniel Richerson

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Impact Wrestling making little Impact...

I know I’m just a mark, and what I say on this blog will change nothing in the wrestling business or probably won’t be mentioned by any dirtsheets as valuable column, but that’s the benefit of living in America. I have the freedom to post my thoughts and opinions on the wrestling business whether anybody likes it or not. So let’s go.

Watching Impact Wrestling last night…no I didn’t lose a bet…but while watching the so called wrestling program, I noticed, like a lot of people, how bad Taz is on commentary. It’s pathetic on how bad he is. I found a solution. Not really found but I just thought of it. If Taz would do less talking, we wouldn’t hate his commentary so much. I know his job is to talk, but what he says is so Mike Adamle bad…’member him? You ‘member, ‘member? And Taz was one of the better talkers in the business at his time. For him to stink so bad at commentary is sad, really. But I have to give him the benefit of the doubt though, he man works with Mike Tenay. Bless his heart.

Ok am I the only one that remembers that the X-Division title was the title to have in TNA or Impact Wrestling? The X-Division was never about weight limits, it was about no limits…hence Samoa Joe once having the title. The X-Division Title was the most “over” championship in the company at one point. Probably because the highly overrated Jeff Jarrett had the TNA or NWA championship for so long. I digress. Watching Kenny King, Petey Williams, and Chris Sabin wrestle for the X-Division champion ship to little or no reaction was disappointing. When Kenny King held on to the title, he got NO reaction. He got the reaction Kaitlyn gets when she goes to the ring as Divas champion. Hogan has buried the X-Division so far down, I don’t know if he can get back up to where it once was. Yes I blame Hogan. Why? Because is easy to do and everybody else does it.

Now let’s get to Sting. I’ve been a fan of Sting for most of my life. From the surfer Sting to the dark Sting. I think Sting hurt his career for never competing in the WWF/E. Digressing again, my bad. So some brain child in the backstage area decided to give Sting a Title Shot against Bully Ray, again burying the likes of Samoa Joe, Magnus, AJ Styles. Sting is 54 years old now. 54. This young fans don’t remember the surfer Sting. Don’t remember the Sting that beat Hogan at Starrcade 1997. Sting can still go a little bit don’t get me wrong, but he’s had his time. Let the Samoa Joes get the spotlight. James Storm. Christopher Daniels…who by the way has become an embarrassment. Sting should not be wrestling for a world title, what he should be doing is help putting the next generation of stars over. Hogan and Sting continue to put themselves in the spotlight thinking they’re still relevant. News Flash! The 80s and 90s are over. WCW is over!

Thanks for reading. Follow the blog so you’ll know when the next one is posted. Share with other wrestling fans if you agree with me. If you disagree let me know your point of view.

~Daniel Richerson
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IMPACT WRESTLING LIVE: THIS IS HOW YOU RESPOND TO RAW?

Before I go in on TNA, Paul Heyman. I love this man. This man went on twitter and tweeted a clinic on the wrestling business. Somebody please give the man a book deal! If you love the wrestling business like I do, follow this man on Twitter @HeymanHustle. So much respect for Paul Heyman and his mind for wrestling.

Now on to TNA or Impact Wrestling if you will. Tonight was supposed to be a big night. TNA going live. After a huge badly reviewed Monday Night Raw by the WWE, one most likely thought TNA could save the week as far as wrestling goes. Did TNA deliver?

The show started off pretty good. Sting vs Robby Roode in a Lumber Jack. Let me go on record and say, I hate Lumber Jack matches. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that I truly was a fan of. As far as in the ring though, Sting and Roode put on a good match. The highlight for me was the up and over by Sting. The man is in his 50s. Great stuff. Sting gets the win, Hogan comes out to get his time on camera, you know he couldn’t pass that up. Sting vs Roode at Slammiversy for the World Title. Hogan called Sting the man of the company. Um, no. No. I love Sting. I’ve been a fan his all my life. But Sting’s time has come and gone.

Then we go to Bully Ray and Joseph Park. I don’t know. I will say Bully Ray is the one of the best heels of all time. This man is money on the mic. So is another ECW alumni, and I’ll get to him later on. Joseph Park character is stupid to me. I’m sorry. Bully on the mic is always a win though.

Austin Aries vs Sabin. As a wrestling fan, I was really looking forward to this match. It was good too. My only complaint is that it was way too short. Yet It’s better than watching Big Show vs anybody, any day of the week.

Now on to the segment that I thought was going to be much bigger. Man was I disappointed. Of course I’m talking about Brooke Hogan’s debut on Impact Wrestling. This segment did nothing, NOTHING for the Knockout division. This segment did nothing for women’s wrestling. First of all, Brooke used to be a fox. What happened? Something didn’t look right about Brooke. For the talent the Knockout Division has and how they’re allowed to showcase their skills in the ring, I hope Brooke added to it doesn’t ruin what is the best thing going in women’s wrestling.

So TNA asked the fans to pick an opponent for the TV Champ, Devon, and the fans chose Jeffery Nero Hardy. These two was putting on a show in the ring. Not missing a beat since the days of the Hardy’s/Dudley feud from the WWE days. And then…Robbie E and Robbie T came in the ring and got the match “thrown out.” Way to screw the fans TNA. You tell them to vote, and don’t even give them the courtesy of a decent finish to a great looking match.

I have nothing to say about the Gut Check segment other than that Taz is money on the mic. I’d take Taz as a manager any day. Too bad his color commentator skills suck. His mic work in the ring though? Money.

Styles vs Daniels. Another good match. These two never disappoint when in the ring together. The match was good. Then the end happened though. The whole Dixie Carter/ AJ Styles love affair thing. Ehh. Dixie Carter did a piss poor job in her role coming out to stop the tape from playing. Was not a fan of the ending. Big fan of the match though.

Overall I was disappointed. The show should’ve been better. The show was live but it felt like it was taped. Nothing magical. Nothing earth shattering. Nothing wowed me about the live show. Hopefully next week will be a better show.

Before I go, let me go in on the TNA Hall of Fame…WAY TOO EARLY.

#DropsMic

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
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