TNA iMPACT Review - Thursday 12th June 2008

After a mediocre at best Slammiversary it was time to see if TNA could deliver with a strong iMPACT.

Good Points

Great build for tag team feud

TNA did a great job of building a feud between the team or Roode & Storm and LAX. First Storm and Roode cheated to get the win and the belts then the ref reversed the decision and started the match over. Then LAX picked up the win but it was after that when Roode and Storm got LAX handcuffed to the ring posts and started strapping them mercilessly which has put the real fuel on this fire.

Good develop of the Karen / Kurt storyline

Karen was confirmed as a signed talent to TNA meaning Kurt Angle could no longer hit her. This meant that Kurt was going to get a female wrestler to do his dirty work for him. It wasn’t until the end of the show that with surprise Awesome Kong cam down to knock Karen out. Wonder what’s going to happen next?

Abyss is back on iMPACT

Great to see Abyss back on iMPACT and after beating on Scott Steiner at the PPV I assumed he would stuck in a feud with Scott but Abyss made his presence felt on the main event scene as he cleared house after the AJ vs Angle main event.

Bad Points

Build up for World Cup

There was a big too much time given to the upcoming X-Division tournament with many wrestlers featuring in preview matches for the tournament that the crowd had never seen. This as a viewer took you out of the action for lengthy spots during the two hour show. I know they have to build it but should build more steadily over a longer period.

Dropping the ball with Kaz

After having Kazz win in the best match on iMPACT last week to secure a shot at the champion on iMPACT this week I was disappointed to se this match out first. They should have main evented this match an made it something special so they could push Kaz. With so much going on in TNA right now I think Kaz just got lost in the shuffle.

Overall

A superb show. I love the pace of TNA shows they always have me feverishly scribbling notes in order to keep up. They’ve got some good feuds already set for the next PPV so am looking forward to see how they develop.

TNA iMPACT Review - Thursday 22nd May 2008

After missing Sacrifice and two week’s worth of iMPACT I was looking forward to see where TNA’s product was at and what had happened since I last tuned in.

Good Points

Faction Wars

It’s great to see some factions start to develop in TNA. We had Booker T’s continuing decent in to the heel world as he struck a partnership with team 3-D to look out for each other. Then we had the show ending with Booker T, Team 3-D, Tomko and Kurt Angle laying the beat on AJ Styles.

The Kurt and Karen storyline

TNA have played out this storyline brilliantly over the last few months and it finally came to head on iMPACT as Karen asked Kurt for a divorce and left Kurt pleading to save his marriage. Then at the end of iMPACT when Karen came in to save AJ Kurt hit the ring and when you thought he was going to help protect Karen and AJ he then levelled AJ with a chair leaving AJ and Karen in the ring. One of the best endings to iMPACT ever.

Branding

Was great to see more video promo’s throughout the show. Loved the TNA Knockouts video package. TNA are also branding their Cross the Line idea brilliantly and really getting it across to the fans.

Bad Points

Silly out of ring segments

After weeks of watching Jay Lethal and Val going on dates this week we were treated to Eric Young in Nashville trying to find Elvis. I think if you are going to try and push emotional storylines and heated angles and then run segments like this as it takes away from the rest of the show.

Awesome Kong open challenge

It was like going back to the old carnival, fairground style of wrestling where wrestlers use to offer out fans for wrestling matches as Awesome Kong offered money to the fans in the iMPACT Zone to take her on the ring.

Overall

A great show and am glad to be back watching TNA. I just hope this isn’t a one off and that thy continue in this way as if they do their fanbase is just going to grow and grow.