TNA Impact Review 01/03/08
By: Chris âThe Authorityâ Schultz
TNA kicked off 2008 with a night full of action and gauntlet matches. This was also the last show before the Final Resolution PPV which airs this Sunday. The title of the show was aptly named âRankings by Gauntletâ. However, before we even saw any of the gauntlet matches, we were taken via satellite to AJ Stylesâ grandmotherâs town home in Gainesville, GA. In what can only be explained as another poor attempt at humor, AJ wouldnât come out of his room and his whole family including his high school wrestling coach, priest, and various other relatives trying to persuade him to open the door.
Then it seemed like TNA tried to throw a PPV card together in one show when Jim Cornette announced more matches that would take place this weekend. On a good note, Kevin Nash finally responds to Samoa Joe’s tirade from the last PPV where he dogged his best friend Scott Hall, other veterans, and him. Wait a second, I donât want to see Joe and Nash as tag team partners, I want to see them to fight!
Robert Roode is such a jerk. I love it! However they need to can the whole Ms. Brooks angle and be done with it. The line of the night came when Devine referred to Devon being like King Kong. He almost got his tail kicked for that one. Seems like more trouble brewing in the VKM camp. Have we seen the end of what was once known as the New Age Outlaws? There was a whole lot of talking but we finally got to the first wrestling match of the night.
The first gauntlet of the night was for the tag team division in TNA which included Lance Hoyt, Kip James, Brother Devon, Alex Shelley, Homicide, Jimmy Rave, BG James, Brother Ray, Chris Sabin, and the always impressive Hernandez. Where does Kip James get those outfits? TNA really does have a pretty darn good tag team division. Who does BG James have his eyes on for a future tag team partner? Why bury Kip James? There was a good mixture of talent and size in this match. It all came down to the Rock & Rave Infection taking on the Motor City Machineguns in a tag match that lasted less than two minutes with Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin coming out on top. I still can’t buy the whole Rock & Rave Infection. Team 3D and Johnny Devine come back to bring the pain. However, I am not sure a kendo stick can break wrists. Kurt Angle is then shown looking pretty dapper again with suit and tie. Then it was time to talk with AJ Styles’ 3rd grade teacher. Oh brother!
Next up was the Knockout Gauntlet including the likes of Angelina Love, Ms. Brooks, Jackie Moore, Velvet Sky, Christy Hemme, ODB, Roxxi Laveaux, and the Awesome Kong. Fans were popping huge for ODB in what was really an entertaining match. These ladies can wrestle, and they look good doing it. When Kong arrives, she cleared house as expected. It took 3 knockouts to oust the great Kong. I really think the fans were more into this match than the tag team gauntlet. ODB takes the win much to the delight of the fans. This was a great move by TNA in my opinion. Always listen to the fans choice. Cameras then shifted to Tomko in one of his best interviews I have seen the big guy do. It was nice to see Tomko choose to go solo from now on and not align himself with either The Angle Alliance or Christian. I see big things for Tomko in 2008.
Then it was back to Gainesville with another attempt at comedy with Styles and Borash. Black Machismo and Sonjay Dutt referred to as the Megapowers? Not even close. Then came the second best line of the night when Christian stepped in and said âthis interview obviously bombed.â Isn’t that the truth?
The 3rd gauntlet of the night featured the X-Division featuring such great athletes as Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams, Sharkboy, Elix Skipper, Johnny Devine, and Senshi. Sonjay Dutt reminds me a lot of Shelton Benjamin. He’s a great athlete and wrestler, but no charisma. Sharkboy is the walking wounded these days. Why is Senshi still there? There was some great X-Division action throughout the match which I haven’t seen in a while. âThe Maple Leaf Muscleâ Petey Williams hit the Canadian Destoryer (best move in pro wrestling today) on Senshi to cap off a fantastic finish.
We then found out from âThe Tennessee Cowboyâ James Storm that there would be a DCS Series Championship at Final Resolution with he and Eric Young. Oh, by the way, the DCS stands for Drinking Championship Series. Why is TNA trying to turn into a comedy club? Then Booker T. tells it like it is in his interview with Sharmell. Let’s get back to wrestling! Now can you dig that? Sucka!!!!!!!
Now it was time for the main event featuring the Heavyweights of TNA including Booker T., James Storm, Robert Roode, Eric Young, Kaz, Black Reign, Rellik, Scott Steiner, Chris Harris, Judas Mesias, Kevin Nash, Abyss, Samoa Joe, and Christian Cage. There was definitely a lot of action and a little hard to follow what was going on throughout the match. I really thought Big Poppa Pump would last longer than he did. There was a lot of talent that was involved with this gauntlet. Black Reign eliminates Booker T? Christian and Angle couldn’t wait for the PPV as they do battle down the ramp. Nash shakes hand with Samoa Joe and leaves the ring. What’s up with that? Then Christian Cage sneaks inside the ring for a quick roll up on Joe to get the win in another Instant Classic. I really did expect a little better finish and thought it was kind of rushed, but overall the show was a pretty decent start to the new year. I would give it a solid B. Let’s hope Final Resolution delivers. Oh, by the way, AJ Styles said he would choose sides at the PPV. There’s a big shocker!
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