Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Friday, July 7, 2006 at 11:15 AM EST

I had the chance to watch Impact last night for a rare opportunity, so I wanted to take the time to comment on the show, since there are some drastic changes I have seen with the TNA product. Before I go in to it, I need to quickly display my own opinions about wrestling television.

The backstage vignettes are OK, but quick is good. Get to the point. Keep family out of it. Don't repeat the same damn thing over and over again. It's better to come out and say I'm gonna kill you than to come out and cry like a little bitch. Keep the "gayness" to a minimum.

The wrestling, I like technicians, I like fighting, but if you show the same thing over and over and over again, I'm gonna get bored, really quick. I know some of you are going to say that that's what John Cena does from the first minute he walks out to the ring, but I disagree. However, that's a topic for another day.

Ok, two paragraphs is enough. Let's get to work.

I missed the opening segment with Sting and Christian Cage in Sting's locker room. Christian is a hell of a promoter, that's already been determined. He can talk someone in to a paper bag, and slice the paper bag in to a million pieces. Jeremy Borash obviously was the victim this time, as the Stinger gets a visitor about the main event as the show begins.

Homicide vs. Sonjay Dutt. I am a huge 'Cide fan because I love his no nonsense kick ass attitude and take names later. However, I am sick of the interference during his matches. Whether its ROH with Julius Smokes or TNA with LAX, Homicide never gets the chance to show off his true intensity and kick ass attitude. That's what brough him to the dance on Impact! and it should be displayed to keep him there. Just my thoughts.

I hate, hate, hate, angles with referees. I was not in favor of the Earl Hebner bit from Slammiversary, and I can't stand that Slick Johnson is out there trying to be a character instead of an impartial referee. They're not trained to be promoters, shut up, and do the job, and keep out of the limelight. My wife even said that the refs in TNA wear weird stuff, and she doesn't watch TNA that much. If she can make that observation, there's obviously a misdirection of focus with the program.

I liked the use, however, of the Larry Z photos promoting the match with Raven at Victory Road. There is no way on the shape of the planet that I think Raven will lose that match, because what else can be done with that feud? It needs to end, and although Raven's current hair looks abyssmal, Zbyszko bald can be manipulated as some pretty damn good comedy.

Eric Young is insane. Although I don't like the repeated scared angles that he's going to get fired, he is definitely a damn good worker with the microphone, and I would suspect if Team Canada gets disbanded, Young gets a damn good push in the X Division. (Yes, I know the spoilers, but I am not going to ruin them here.)

Shane Douglas is a bad ass. I would like to see him compete some more, but he is a bad ass. If Douglas and Stevens stay in the fold, and follow through with the angle of being trained by the Franchise, there is nothing but positive things that could happen with the Naturals.

Rhino's promo from Global Impact was probably the absolute best I have ever heard Rhino on the microphone, bar none. Even my wife, who is not as rabid a fan as I am, loved the promo with Rhino. Intensity, anger, to the point, and with more emotion than any scripted piece of crap that can be put out there. End of story, next.

Back when Monty Brown came in to TNA, I loved his attitude, and his Pounce finisher, and I even liked his work on the mike. Now, it's just damn boring. It's the same thing, day after day after day after day. I am tired of hearing how people will feel the POUNCE! and that's period. Brown hasn't gotten the NWA World title for a reason, ladies and gentlemen.

Scott Steiner being Jeff Jarrett's puppy dog is an absolute joke. Borash puts the thought of Steiner going for the NWA World title in his head, Jarrett freaks, Steiner looks like he doesn't even understand what Borash is saying, like he's talking "french" (like what my son would say), and the segment ends.

The latest Alex Shelley film was hilarious. I didn't realize the third man was Johnny Devine, but like I said, due to my sked, I don't watch Impact very much. Nash's line, "We're going to show the wrestling fan something they haven't seen in....2 weeks," was absolutely priceless. Then instead of teasing the conclusion of the segment, Nash, Shelley and Devine hit the Zone with the bodybag, claiming it's Osama Bin Laden. While I don't like the use of current events there, it was still funny. They open the bag, Chris Sabin slides out, Nash claims its Osama Bin Sabin. Funny still. A little offensive, but funny. Nash & Shelley vs. Sabin & Lethal is a nice match at Victory Road, and something I would be interested to see. I am shocked to see how Nash is able to compete with the smaller, quicker, and more acrobatic X Division athletes.

Samoa Joe is pro wrestling. Joe's promo of Scott Steiner was bone chilling. I loved every single minute of it. I did not like the family line, but the point was made. Joe is out to kill Scott Steiner, and will stop at nothing to get the job accomplished. End of story, bing, bang, boom, choke out. Joe is a bad ass. 'Nuff said.

Scott Steiner holding the ropes for Jeff Jarrett. I don't care if they are the best of friends behind the curtain, that is just so damn condescending for the Big Bad Booty Daddy that it made me literally sick to my stomach.

I kind of liked the idea of the main event with Jarrett and Steiner vs. Cage & Sting. The match was well done on all 4 individuals parts. I kind of also liked Cage not showing ego and at least making sure his team gets the win when he hit the frog splash and let Sting get the pinfall on Jarrett, Cage used the ref out of the ring tactic that Jarrett and his goons use all the time, but that's not a tremendous surprise because Cage is not one to bend and twist the rule book when needed. Ryan Droste called it similar to a WWE TV main event, which I could contest, but I won't, because Droste has watched a hell of a lot more TNA television than I have. Cage used the ref out of the ring tactic that Jarrett and his goons use all the time, but that's not a tremendous surprise because Cage is not one to bend and twist the rule book when needed.

Joe's involvement after the match when Steiner snapped on Christian was tremendous. Joe vs. Steiner in any type of match is something to watch, and not because its going to be competitve, but because Joe is liable to end Steiner's career. Steiner at this age, and at this level of body abuse that he has been subject to cannot stand to Joe's level of punishment. Joe is en route to the World Heavyweight championship, and Scott Steiner is the first victim of the road to the title for the Samoan Submission Machine.

Quick WWE note to end the column, Randy Orton, if the reports are true, that he violated the WWE wellness program, and is not being more severely disciplined because of Hulk Hogan and the forthcoming program with Hogan, both Orton and WWE are absolute hypocrites and need to be put over the coals. I'll wait and see what happens, but let's just put that out there. Vince is a hypocrite, Orton is a moron, and Hogan is a manipulative little pain in the ass. Someone needs to tell Hogan his day is done. But, nobody has the guts.

I would. No question about it. Hulk Hogan at Summerslam makes me want to throw up. In every facet possible.

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