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Pro's from the Palace (#235) - Looking back at the card for TNA's DX PPV |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 11:52 PM EST
Once again, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to come to the world wide web and provide predictions for Destination X. However, what I would like to do, in retrospect, if you'll permit me, is go through these matches, and try and determine what I personally would do with this type of a card that is set up to be a pay per view, leading up to one of TNA's trademarks, Lockdown next month.
The opening contest was a three way tag match for the #1 contendership for the TNA World Tag Team Championships. Now, since WWE has taken it upon themselves, as said so by their own announcer in a recent blog, to make the tag titles, "invisible", TNA should have taken wind of this, and made this match a "feature". Not the main event, I know, but definitely, it could have been placed somewhere else besides for the opener. Let's be honest here. You have six men who TNA should be building their company around, but instead, they're placed on the card as the opener. From what I read on the recap, it was a good match. I won't say who won, to keep the marks who yell, "why don't you make this a spoiler column", happy, but let's call it as we see it. Tag team wrestling should be a focus. Maybe not "the" focus, but it should be much more spotlighted if TNA's main competition isn't doing that. I think TNA struck out here.
Next up was Jay Lethal defending the X title against Petey Williams. The match, cool. Great talents, lots of good spots, no questions or gripes here. The match placement on the card, is spotty. It's a title match. Why put the 2nd most prestigious title in Total Non Stop Action as the 2nd match on the card? In my personal opinion, and it's going to be ripped, but I don't care, it should've been flipped with the other title match that took place tonight, and I'll get to that. Now, on to the other thing. I am not sure what TNA's reasons are for the Team 3D X Division storyline, or Scott Steiner still holding a title shot for the X Division title back from the end of 2007. I think it makes the X Division more comedic instead of more featured and original, and that's a bone of contention for me. I read a spoiler where it was foreseen that Williams would win the title in order to feud with Big Poppa Pump. No offense to either man, but that rivalry just doesn't cut the mustard for me. Williams is almost 100 pounds lighter than Steiner, and the possibility is very distinct that Williams could get seriously hurt in that type of feud from Steiner's sheer power. Now, I know they've been going at it, and I haven't seen it personally, but you guys tell me, as wrestling fans, as TNA fans, do you wanna see Petey Williams vs. Scott Steiner for the X title, or Jay Lethal vs. Petey Williams for the X title?
My money is Lethal vs. Williams, but that's me talking.
Next match performed was Black Reign & Rellik vs. Kaz & "Super" Eric Young.
Sigh.
First, Judas Mesias is gone, for whatever reason, and from that storyline, Abyss has been removed from the TNA roster. With that being said, who's left for the type of wrestler like Black Reign or Rellik to fight? Two words.
Each other.
Let Rhodes and Stamboli (Reign & Rellik) beat the high holy ever loving crap out of each other all over the building. It's probably a hell of a lot more ticket selling than booking them in a match with two guys who have zero direction in the company at this present time.
Look at this, Frankie Kazarian. A potential X Division stalwart, who hasn't found his niche whatsoever since returning to the company, and TNA's version of Eugene, just without the "special" tag, Eric Young. Just a few months ago, due to circumstances, Young was flown in to the main event. It could've led to a nice push for Young in to contention for a title. Instead, he's pushed backwards in to a mid level tag match against guys he has nothing in common with, and on character alone, should get absolutely murdered.
Sorry, people. You can't get me to figure out the reason for this match, because in my opinion, there is none.
Awesome Kong defended the Women's title in a 3 way match vs. Gail Kim and ODB. By far, the three most skilled and over Knockout combatants, so the match is a lock on winner. It should've been flipped with the X title match on the card, and gone 2nd, though, in my opinion. With that being said, there's nothing else I can say about this except its a good match for a Pay Per View card. Kong is impressive. Kim, if healthy, can go with anyone, and ODB is as tough as they come. It appeared it fit the bill, very well.
Shark Boy & Curry Man vs. Team 3D in a Fish Market Street Fight.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Former NWA World Tag Team Champions, and the most decorated tag team in wrestling history has plummeted to this storyline where they have to weigh in before each match to make weight to fight X Division wrestlers. Forgive me, let me ask you something, isn't the X Division supposed to be about no limits? Isn't one of the former two time X Division champions a man who weighs close to 300 pounds?
And, speaking of the mighty falling, the man behind the Curry Mask, a former multiple time X Division champion, quite possibly a member of what could have been the most dominant tag team ever to hit pro wrestling since the Dudley Boys, and now, how far has he fallen? The "Fallen" Angel, under his previous persona, has to, from what I can believe, be fuming about this. Maybe he enjoys the Curry Man gimmick, I don't know, but this match is comedy at its finest, and frankly, it's depressing. Shark Boy's gimmick is made for comedy, I grant you, but 3D is not a comedic tag team, and neither is Christopher Daniels. Personally, from what this match could have been to what it was, it's insulting to the wrestling fans.
But, that's just one man's opinion. Let's move on.
Robert Roode vs. Booker T in a strap match. I'm actually thrilled Roode is fighting someone else in a feud outside of Eric Young, the feud that didn't seem to die. Strap matches are so few and far between that there isn't much bad that can be said about this. Booker can use his experience to elevate Roode to the next level, which he desperately needs, and this match, checking the results, appears to have done just that. If Booker continues in that role, his presence in TNA will be a benefit, and not a curse, like one of the other former WWE castoffs that I'll talk about later.
Elevation X. Rhino vs. James Storm. I'm not going to comment about this match, because this match even being used is probably what's going to force me to buy the DVD. I am stunned that they decided to bring this back. AJ vs. Rhino in the only other EX match was not one of TNA's best moments. This was a good vehicle to use in the feud between Rhino and Storm, and from what I read, it appeared to do the job in continuing the rivalry, but just the sheer fact that TNA brought this match back from the cobwebs deserves notice, because as I said, last year's DX EX match was, in a word, troubling, and in another word, catastrophic, and I honestly didn't think TNA had the guts to put it up again. Obviously, I was wrong. Kudos to TNA for having the guts to go to the well one more time. Hopefully, it came off without a hitch (major injuries).
The main event. Samoa Joe, Christian Cage & Kevin Nash vs. Kurt Angle, AJ Styles & Tomko.
Where do I start?
Wasn't it recently that Cage and Joe were beating the crap out of each other?
Wasn't it recently that Nash walked out on Joe when they fought Styles & Tomko for the TNA World tag team straps?
Isn't a pay per view supposed to feature at least one world title match?
What's the one thing that this match is going to give TNA in the future leading up to Lockdown?
Why the hell is the stipulation in place of it being a 3 on 2 handicap match for the first five minutes of the contest?
Oh, and the obvious one.
WHY IS KEVIN NASH STILL WRESTLING AT HIS AGE & PHYSICAL CONDITION?
I wish I had the answers to these questions, but I don't. That's why I'm here, and Vince Russo is there. I can't, for the absolute life of me, figure out this match. It makes zero sense. Nothing more can be said about this, except this.
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe is quickly morphing in to the 2nd coming of Robert Roode vs. Eric Young a.k.a. the feud that will never die.
Let me close this with a thought on Kurt Angle. I've recently read a report on Kurt Angle doing an interview where he said that in the beginning of his stint with TNA, he had some struggles with Jeff Jarrett, power wise, but now, at present, things are going along swimmingly.
Allow me the chance to retort.
Nobody's doubting your abilities Kurt. But there's a word you need to familiarize yourself with, real quick. It's called OVEREXPOSURE. You've been on the top of the TNA heap for a long time. Nobody's doubting that world champions should be allowed decent sized length title reigns to build their reputations as champions, but this one has gone over the edge and back. From your "triple crown" win in one night, which is so tainted it's not funny, (AJ Styles oughta be livid on this one, from where I sit.) to the ridiculously petty backstage skits, all too many of them each Impact, involving you, your wife, or some member of your posse. Trying to reform Evolution, or the Horsemen, or some stable, isn't going to work Kurt, because you have never shown on television as demonstrative a personality as the men in those stables, and trying to lead a stable yourself is just going to get old, very quick. Stable leaders are intimidating presences, in every sense of the word. While your resume speaks for itself, your intimidation, as it were, is lacking, with all due respect, and for that reason alone, this "Angle Alliance" thing, isn't going to cut it.
Cut the ties with AJ & Tomko & your wife on television. Go back to being the "Machine" Kurt Angle, and tear through the competition, and that, I promise you will bring ratings and money to TNA Wrestling. Because frankly, and bluntly, this version of Kurt Angle, truly does suck.
Thank you very much.
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