The Final Impact
February 14, 2015
By: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Week numero uno from Scotland felt very much like filler more than a special event with TNA in front of its annual European crowds. There was some pretty solid wrestling but nothing of note truly happened. Though I get a feeling that will be very different next week.
The opening match between Aries and Roode was very good as they always are, but could have used more time which is becoming a theme for TNA. It seemed like they were setting up for Roode to be written off TV for awhile there but I’m not sure.
Bram and Steve was just a squash match to further the Magnus stuff so nothing of interest really.
The Handicap Match was shockingly much more entertaining and fun than it had any business being. The sight of Jeramy Borash actually doing a dive to the floor was hilarious and awesome at the same time. Mandrews and Spud continue to impress me as well as Tyrus.
Kong and Rayne was disappointing as hell as it should have been a solid match but instead was just yet another squash match. Kong doesn’t need to squash knockouts, we know how awesome she is! I can understand wanting to build her back up, especially for the new audience, but after the beat downs she has already issued plus that physical match with Havok I think the message has been sent. I want to see some awesome matches from the Knockouts that we have seen in years past.
Storm and Hardy had a really good promo together and I really enjoy Storm’s group as a whole. The Hardyz and Revolution should have a solid thing going when TNA comes back to the states, probably The Wolves being involved as well. They could actually do a pretty awesome 8-Man Tag between them (Storm, Abyss, Manik, & Sanada against The Wolves and the Hardyz).
The stuff with Grado and Al Snow just seems so random to me. Like I’m sure that was awesome for the live crowd but 99% of the audience watching at home has no idea who Grado is nor do they care. Leave that kind of stuff just for the live crowd and give Aries-Roode 5 more minutes.
Fun tag match to finish the show but again should have had more time. The eventual showdown between Angle and Lashley is going to be awesome and I am really, really looking forward to it.
The only bit of X-Division we got all night was from the Handicap Match and Crazzy Steve getting squashed. How is that X-Division rebuild coming along? It is a damn shame with the talent they have and the incredible talent out there on the Indy scene TNA’s X-Division could be the talk of the wrestling world again, if they just put a little bit of effort into it.
Nothing bad last night, it just was kind of there, a really average night for Impact. It seems like every time TNA puts on a really solid show (like last week) they follow up with a mediocre or subpar night the next week ever since the turn to Destination America. I don’t know if they just simply haven’t found their groove yet or what the deal is. I understand that it is a work in progress with changes and the like but they really need to get some traction especially considering they are trying to build an audience on a television network with a much thinner scale.
– Segment/Promo of the Night: Storm/Hardy
– Match of the Night: Aries-Roode (***)
– Overall Grade: C
Until next week… PEACE!
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