Friday, October 17, 2014

IMPACT STRESS TEST 10/15/2014

IMPACT STRESS TEST RESULTS

PASSED

This week’s Impact did pass my stress test, but even so it was just an average show. The matches delivered for the most part and the promos, except for the opening one, were okay. The show just seemed to lack a little spark. Something was definitely missing.

Personally, I think performing in front of pathetic crowds recently, who don’t even seem to know who the performers are, has a negative effect. A couple of times in the Main Event, Aries seemed disinterested.

The one thing I love that TNA is doing, and continued on Wednesday’s show, is putting an empathize on the TNA Titles and making them mean something. Not just by having the titles defended, but by having more matches with title repercussions.

The only drawback is how often can we have matches to determine a new contender, especially with the same guys. This is the third #1 contenders match in the last month or so I believe. While it’s nice, it can become tired very soon.

THE LOW POINTS

THE CROWD.
At this point, I have to question if TNA has any real fans that attend these tapings, or if they just hand out tickets on the street corner. This show’s crowd was much better then the last few crowds, they at least made some noise and weren’t pathetic. They were apathetic though.
It must be hard to perform in front of a crowd that seems to have no idea what they are there for.

OPENING SEGMENT
Angle is good on the mic, Lashley not so much. Let him loose in the ring and he is a beast. Let him loose on the mic and he is a mouse. That is not a knock on Lashley, he just doesn’t look comfortable in the role.

The real bad part of this segment was Tenay and Taz pushing that Angle was dropping this Main Event contender’s match on Lashley without prior notice. Taz said a few times that it was unfair. Really? Does Lashley not watch the show or actually show up to work? Tenay and Taz acted like the matched was dropped out of nowhere.

Stupid. They promoted the match on last week’s IMPACT and opened the show hyping the match. We are supposed to believe Lashley didn’t know?

INTRODUCING TYRES
I have stated a number of times I have become a fan of EC3 and named him the Impact of show numerous times, but not tonight. His segment was a low point of the show. It is nice to see that Brodus . . . Tyres landed work in TNA after getting released from WWE. If you didn’t know Brodus Clay is now in TNA as Tyres.

This segment was just confusing, again. And stupid, again. EC3, Tenay and Taz all called Tryes EC3’s new ‘bodyguard’ in the wake of Spud’s firing. Does that mean Spud was his bodyguard before? I never knew EC3 had a bodyguard. Rhino was never mentioned as a bodyguard.

EC3 set up Tyres’s first match in TNA against . . . Sharkboy, in a pitiful waste of time. Of course, Sharkboy lost.

There was one thing I liked, when Devon came out to defend Bully Ray, he was attacked by Bram. I want to see that feud.

I didn’t get it to later, Tryes = T-Rex.

HIGH POINTS

TNA KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH
Not a great match, but a good one. Havok is good, but Madison Rayne is better. This was easily the best match Havok has had yet. Madison did a good job of putting over Havok and making her look vulnerable, and strong at the same time.

If anyone beats Havok for the title it should be Gail Kim or Madison Rayne. I still consider it too soon for Havok to be champion.

THE MATCHES

Matt Hardy versus Magnus
Early in the night, Matt and Magnus has a backstage confrontation that lead to Matt and Magnus making this impromptu match. I thought Kurt Angle said that talent can’t make matches, okay, so later they said Angle approved the match.

Decent match, but felt rushed. Didn’t feel like they gelled that well.

Matt Hardy won with a Twist of Fate on Magnus ala Randy Orton as Magnus jumped off the second rope.

JESSE, DJ Z AND LOVE VERSUS THE MANAGERIE
This match was filler at best. A comedy match. Knux is far better than this. The only reason this didn’t make the Low Points is that the Menagerie won, and they needed that.

THE MAIN EVENT – FOUR MAN ELINATION MATCH
Austin Aries versus Jeff Hardy versus Bobby Roode versus Eric Young, four former World Champs fighting for the match against the current Champ Lashley. This match got a lot of time, pulled off some nice things, but there felt like to many ‘pre-planned’ spots. I hated the double pin when Aries and Roode eliminated Hardy and Young at the same time.

Aries versus Roode delivered though, but Roode won out. He will now get his sought after second title match with Lashley.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Not a whole lot to say, an average show at best. But that is not a bad thing.

RATING: 6

MATCH OF THE NIGHT: TNA KNOCKOUTS TITLE MATCH
WRESTLER OF THE NIGHT: BOBBY ROODE
IMACT OF THE NIGHT: Bram’s attack on Devon.

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