TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! (04-13-06)

[Sigma]

(http://www.tnawrestling.com/index2)http://www.tnawrestling.com/primesplash/impact1.gifhttp://www.tnawrestling.com/primesplash/impact2.gifhttp://www.tnawrestling.com/primesplash/impact3.gifhttp://www.tnawrestling.com/primesplash/impact4.gif (http://www.tnawrestling.com/index2.html) (http://www.tnawrestling.com/index2)

[Byakuya]

Joe shouldnt be x-division champ he should be with the big boys good match though.

[Byakuya]

Holy crap spike dudley made his debut.

[DarkHawk]

This has been a great Impact tonight! I have a great feeling that TNA will thrive on Thursady nights

[and2]

Finally a good Impact.

Joe/Daniels was a fun little tv match. If it werent for smackdown being so downright awesome for the past few months this would have been best tv match in a long time.

3d/AMW was your ussual team 3d getting beat down ending in a cluster, only this time we got a huge shock as Spike came back. Not in a million years would I think this would have happened.

I really didn't pay much attention during Sting/Eric young. But Young was awesome from what I saw. Sting didn't really do much but still good to have him back. And of course we have Stings "warriors". This feud is supposed to be some epic war, yet it just doesn't have that feel to it.

[Byakuya]

Finally a good Impact.

Joe/Daniels was a fun little tv match. If it werent for smackdown being so downright awesome for the past few months this would have been best tv match in a long time.

3d/AMW was your ussual team 3d getting beat down ending in a cluster, only this time we got a huge shock as Spike came back. Not in a million years would I think this would have happened.

I really didn't pay much attention during Sting/Eric young. But Young was awesome from what I saw. Sting didn't really do much but still good to have him back. And of course we have Stings "warriors". This feud is supposed to be some epic war, yet it just doesn't have that feel to it.

Epic war LOL you must dont watch much of tna he doesnt have a fued with eric young.

[and2]

I ment to say the Sting/Jarret feud.

[MGFanJay]

This was the best Impact since the first prime time special. Every single segment served a purpose, and had feuds furthered. I loved how well they wrote Liger out of the PPV. It makes six sides of steel seem even more dangerous, and was logical. The Sting-EY match ruled in many ways. EY has great facials and body language and Sting pulled his weight. I wasn't expecting the plancha to look as good as it did, and the bump he took on the rail was brutal. Opening the show with a title match in progress was risky, but I think it paid off. We saw some great highlights of what we missed, and the show started off quickly. I loved that match, and the 3D-AMW match served its purpose. I was glad to see Joe debut the Island Driver in TNA, and off the second rope to boot. Here are some caps from the show.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/9039/eyscared1wh.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6560/eyscared22fq.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8180/eyscaredpyro8be.jpg

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/1287/stingimpactzone0el.jpg

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6662/stingplancha9py.jpg

[Dirtbag]

Great show tonight.

Joe/Daniels was awesome, and since I haven't seen much of Smackdown I'll easily give it TV match of the year. I am, however, very confused as to why they put the X-Title back on Joe when he could have just won the Ultimate X match. Since Daniels and Styles haven't gotten the job done, I don't see anyone from the X-Division getting the title off him, and it'll be stupid if someone like Sabu, Rhino, or Monty Brown does it.

3D/AMW was decent for what it was, and debuted Spike. Unfortunately, TNA's gone the same route they went with Kip James and Kanyon and brought a guy in before they know what to call him. Even "Brother Spike" will probably get them into trouble with Vince's lawyers so I don't know what they'll do.

I expected a squash, but Sting/EY was pretty good. It's been obvious who Team Sting would be and now it's official.

[RAINMAN]

TNA needs better annochers. You good annochers to get you hype for the matches.

[Punisher]

Best show of the year for TNA. Joe/Daniels was awesome in every way, with the brutal finishing move. It'll be interesting to see how he handles Sabu. The streetfight between AMW/and 3D was pretty good, although I could've predicted the ending in my sleep, excluding the part where Spike comes out.

The Sting/Eric Young match was great. Sting still has the moves and seeing Eric Young's expressions was priceless.

[hobbyfan]

I missed about half the show as I was working in my room, so I missed the Joe-Daniels match. This I sort of don't get. They wanted to move Joe out of the X division, but then they turn around and put that belt back on him just a couple of weeks after losing it? And for what? To put it on Sabu?

Sooner or later they have to address the collusion between America's Least Wanted and Team Canucklehead. Matt Hyson (pka Spike Dudley) makes his TNA debut (figure they'll christen him Brother Matt, or Brother Mike so they don't confuse him with Matt Bentley). Think back 5 years. Spike debuted in WWF to help his 1/2 brothers beat Edge & Christian to win the tag titles a mere hour after E & C had won the belts themselves. It felt like deja vu all over again. Too bad that Donuts D'Amore wasn't out there to take the Acid Drop.

We saw two sides of Eric Young. 1st, he's out there with his teammates, attacking Team 3D. Next, he's conscripted to face Sting because Jingles Jarrett's too much of a lazy coward to take the match himself. Why? He refuses to do TV jobs. Naturally, Young turns into a deer in the headlights, and only gets an advantage thanks to Donuts. Sting recovers, hits the Stinger Splash, nailing both EY & Donuts, and puts EY away. Of course, Jingles had to spoil the post-match celebration.

On paper, Jingles' boys have the advantage. Team 3D is in a gimmick match vs. the Canuckleheads when they should be in there in Lethal Lockdown. That would be right up their alley. By overprotecting AMW (and refusing to have them drop the tag belts), Jingles is no different than Vince McMoron. The stall tactics in the booking just won't work anymore, Jingles, so deal with it.

Right now, Smackdown is the #1 wrestling show for me. Impact & Raw are battling to stay out of the basement, which isn't saying much.

[and2]

I missed about half the show as I was working in my room, so I missed the Joe-Daniels match. This I sort of don't get. They wanted to move Joe out of the X division, but then they turn around and put that belt back on him just a couple of weeks after losing it? And for what? To put it on Sabu?

Sooner or later they have to address the collusion between America's Least Wanted and Team Canucklehead. Matt Hyson (pka Spike Dudley) makes his TNA debut (figure they'll christen him Brother Matt, or Brother Mike so they don't confuse him with Matt Bentley). Think back 5 years. Spike debuted in WWF to help his 1/2 brothers beat Edge & Christian to win the tag titles a mere hour after E & C had won the belts themselves. It felt like deja vu all over again. Too bad that Donuts D'Amore wasn't out there to take the Acid Drop.

We saw two sides of Eric Young. 1st, he's out there with his teammates, attacking Team 3D. Next, he's conscripted to face Sting because Jingles Jarrett's too much of a lazy coward to take the match himself. Why? He refuses to do TV jobs. Naturally, Young turns into a deer in the headlights, and only gets an advantage thanks to Donuts. Sting recovers, hits the Stinger Splash, nailing both EY & Donuts, and puts EY away. Of course, Jingles had to spoil the post-match celebration.

On paper, Jingles' boys have the advantage. Team 3D is in a gimmick match vs. the Canuckleheads when they should be in there in Lethal Lockdown. That would be right up their alley. By overprotecting AMW (and refusing to have them drop the tag belts), Jingles is no different than Vince McMoron. The stall tactics in the booking just won't work anymore, Jingles, so deal with it.

Right now, Smackdown is the #1 wrestling show for me. Impact & Raw are battling to stay out of the basement, which isn't saying much.

I agre wholeheartedly. The smackdown US division might just be the best division in all of wrestling. The heavyweight title matches have also been decent the past few weeks.

Impact was good though, first time I saw the island driver in a long long time.

[hobbyfan]

This just in. The former Spike Dudley will be known as Runt. As in "Runt of the litter". How uncreative can you get?:shrug: :( :sad:

[The Penguin]

Well I remember about a half hour before the show that it had moved to Thursday. I don’t watch much Spike with WWE gone and all the Star Trek: DS9 episodes watched, so whatever promotion didn’t have an impact (ha!) on me except for the spots during iMPACT! last week.

Joining Joe and Daniels in progress took me right out of the show and truth be told, I don’t think I ever got all the way into it after that. I just can’t believe they’ve put the belt back on Joe. Zbysko acted like they were moving him out of the division and now here Samoa Joe is, right back in it. I don’t care what kind of “limits” the X Division is about. I don’t respect the belt as much when it’s on a guy 60-70 pounds heavier than everyone else.

The big news out of the 3D-AMW match was Brother ‘Runt’ joining Brother Ray and Brother Devon. The rest was standard stuff.

Eric Young vs. Sting took me further out as Young being in the ring rather than Jarrett fully displayed the hype-machine that TNA is becoming. It’s not as if WWF/E and WCW didn’t do some hyping, but I feel that more and more, TNA offers little TV payoff to their tease.

[MGFanJay]

Well, it's certainly more creative than just calling him "Matt Hyson", which wouldnt fit the "Brother" part of Team 3D. It fits his old Spike Dudley gimmick, and is legally cleared for use. "Brother Runt" sounds a bit odd, yes, but it isn't the worst name they could have used.

[Sigma]

The smackdown US division might just be the best division in all of wrestling
LMAO!

TNA's X Divison or RoH's Heavyweight divison are probably the best divisons currently in wrestling.

The WWE treats both the U.S. and IC titles like they mean absolutely nothing. I like alot of the guys that are going for those belts, but they are moved around so much it's hard telling where they will be within a month.

[and2]

LMAO!

TNA's X Divison or RoH's Heavyweight divison are probably the best divisons currently in wrestling.

The WWE treats both the U.S. and IC titles like they mean absolutely nothing. I like alot of the guys that are going for those belts, but they are moved around so much it's hard telling where they will be within a month.

The IC I can agree with. But the US title (and division) currently get the longest matches in the show.

The x division has a lot of no talent spot machines (Sonjay Dutt, I'm looking at you). Guys like Shelley and Cide aren't wrestling in it and the same three guys get the spotlight every month.

What exactly constitutes ROH's heavyweight division? There is no clear cut heavyweight division as everyone save Delirious can get a title shot.


Even then, the US title division has guys (BENOIT) who are better than all but one ROH wrestlers.

[VCXZX]

Joe/Daniels was very, very good. A top TV match of the year as far as I'm concerned.

"Brother Runt" appearing means that in 3 different federations, the Dudleys have been a unit. That's rare in wrestling history.

Gotta love the NWO2K6 chanting "Eric" "Eric".

[MGFanJay]

Four if you count Hardcore Homecoming as a separate promotion. Interestingly (sorta), there is no trademark for "Brother Runt" yet.

[PTurkey]

That was awesome, the Joe-Daniels match. The Super Island Driver was like the sickest non-weapon bump on iMPACT. But I'm not sure about Joe getting the belt again. This was the perfect opportunity to push him into the main event picture, and TNA should want him there. Samoa Joe is the epitome of the difference between TNA and WWE, and I would think that'd put butts in seats.

Is it just me, or is Christian hardly ever on the show?

Even then, the US title division has guys (BENOIT) who are better than all but one ROH wrestlers.I'm intrigued by this one RoH guy you think is better than Chris Benoit. It's gotta be Marcos of the Ring Crew Express, right? With Dunn being roughly Benoit's equal, yes?

[and2]

Danielson.

The two are very very close, and then after them there is a big gap. Benoit has been on fire the past few months to the point where he might overtake AmDrag as the best. And of course it will take more than a few years(10 or more) for Dragon to even be compared to Benoit career for career.

[The Penguin]

Is it just me, or is Christian hardly ever on the show?No, it's not just you. Some weeks Simon Diamond is on more than the Heavyweight Champion.

[Sigma]

The IC I can agree with. But the US title (and division) currently get the longest matches in the show.

The x division has a lot of no talent spot machines (Sonjay Dutt, I'm looking at you). Guys like Shelley and Cide aren't wrestling in it and the same three guys get the spotlight every month.

What exactly constitutes ROH's heavyweight division? There is no clear cut heavyweight division as everyone save Delirious can get a title shot.


Even then, the US title division has guys (BENOIT) who are better than all but one ROH wrestlers.
You are comparing divisons though not just the guys in the title picture Chris Benoit, Ken Kennedy, and Booker T are about the only guys in the U.S. title divison that are really that great. Just because Shelly isn't in the X Divison title picture doesn't mean the divison sucks, there are guys like Petey Williams, Shelly, Sabin, Styles, Daniels, Joe, etc.

WWE has the talent, they just need to learn to use it by pushing talent like Brent Albright and Ken Kennedy and moving people like CM Punk up the main roster.

[MGFanJay]

They'll bring Punk up when they feel he's ready. He's said to look terrible in OVW right now, and if you can't look good in WWE with PAUL HEYMAN booking you, you're in trouble.

[VCXZX]

They'll bring Punk up when they feel he's ready. He's said to look terrible in OVW right now, and if you can't look good in WWE with PAUL HEYMAN booking you, you're in trouble.

I thought I heard he was doing well. But I guess that means its because of a face. Punk seems more natural being a heel, IMO.

[Kippy]

I didn't like TNA's decision not to show all of the Samoa Joe versus Christopher Daniels match, but it was still a pretty good match. I thought the first half was pretty boring, but things really picked up after the commercial break. The aftermath of the match was really poorly booked. They should have made a much bigger deal out of Joe winning the belt on free TV.

Another iMPACT!, another pre-taped segment with Christian Cage. Why did they even bother to put the belt on him if they're not going to have him on the show?

Team 3D versus Team Canada was decent, but the ending didn't make any sense. How can a street fight end in a no decision? I was happy to see Spike debut, but TNA really doesn't need to bring in any more wrestlers. They have so many guys already on the roster who aren't being used.

Sting versus Eric Young was nothing more than a showcase for Sting's signature moves. The ending of the show was the same thing that end's just about every show. It's nice to see Jeff Jarrett has finally removed himself from the main event. Oh wait.

[MGFanJay]

I thought I heard he was doing well. But I guess that means its because of a face. Punk seems more natural being a heel, IMO. Oh, his booking has been fine according to most, it's the matches that are causing him problems. D'Amore will be on Wrestling Observer Live tonight, so we should find out some info on where TNA is going since he's on the booking committee. D'Amore confirmed that Sabu was coming into the PPV, and he's got some great road stories about the infamous "death tours" in Manitoba. Now he's revealing why Lyger didn't do Lockdown - he has never done a cage match, and he didn't want to do one feeling that he wouldn't be able to give the fans the blowaway match he wants to give. Dave's Lockdown main event rundown perfectly shows off Christian - "Also, Christian defends the title".

D'Amore says the Lethal Lockdown setup is visually amazing, with the ceiling coming down over the cage. Puder also contacted TNA about showing up. He was recommended to D'Amore by his good friend Al Snow of WWE. D'Amore talks about how training with Severn and how MMA training hurt his pro wrestling game. He was training with Severn for four months and had his first match against Johnny Swinger and he just beat the **** out of him because he was so used to shooting by that time. A female caller says Puder did well in his Strike Force fight, and that he's hot. D'Amore says that's how he judges his fighters, too. Great LOL moment there.

D'Amore is hoping to get a two hour slot on Spike, and they do try to make the best 60 minute show they can. When Spike can give them the time, they'll hopefully get it. D'Amore prefers a 90 minute show. That's a realistic time, since it's a minimal increase for Spike, and they can streamline it while providing all the stuff they need to do to succeed. He says they look at only having 42 minutes to work with when they're writing the shows, and that they're doing the best they can to get across new characters. He cites EY and Shelley as examples of that, and I agree with him there. TNA might do international touring, since their guys are bigger stars overseas than in NA. Their show outdraws WWE in Korea, and in some European territories. That's very impressive. D'Amore is great now - I think Vince is nuts, and I can say that because I know he'll never hire me.

[Dirtbag]

The x division has a lot of no talent spot machines (Sonjay Dutt, I'm looking at you). Guys like Shelley and Cide aren't wrestling in it and the same three guys get the spotlight every month.

I don't get your hatred of the X-Division. Yeah, Sonjay is just a spot machine on the level of Mike Awesome, but guys like AJ, Daniels, Joe, Shelly, Strong, Aries, Sabin, Petey, etc., are good. It's just when there are four or more guys in one match that they degrade into spotfests, and those are usually still fun to watch every once in awhile.

[and2]

You are comparing divisons though not just the guys in the title picture Chris Benoit, Ken Kennedy, and Booker T are about the only guys in the U.S. title divison that are really that great. Just because Shelly isn't in the X Divison title picture doesn't mean the divison sucks, there are guys like Petey Williams, Shelly, Sabin, Styles, Daniels, Joe, etc.

WWE has the talent, they just need to learn to use it by pushing talent like Brent Albright and Ken Kennedy and moving people like CM Punk up the main roster.


Chris Benoit, JBL, Finlay, Booker, Burchill, Regal, Kennedy ( I put these three in just like you put Shelley in). Lashley is the weakest link in that division and he's vastly improving with all of those guys.

Williams and Sabin are below average, and average in they're best night. Shelley is awesome, Styles is....Marufuji (a cookie for whoever gets the comparison), Daniels is a generic version of Styles and Joe is amazing.

The US division has less wrestlers but a better concentration of talent. Only Burchill could really be called a spot machine and he should learn with freaking Regal next to him.

Aries and Strong. Aries isn't that good(hes good, but overrated), Strong is great but he just doesn't compensate for all the other guys in the division.

WWE has the greatest concentration of talent in the world, its just that they don't use it very well. smackdown is awesome and could still be much much better.

Though really, all is lost as the diva searc will now be on both shows.

[EinBebop]

I thought I heard he was doing well. But I guess that means its because of a face. Punk seems more natural being a heel, IMO.I'd say it's because he's not adapting to the bland WWE style.

[and2]

No, I would say its because he doesn't have the bland, clean cut, Randy Orton look.

[Sigma]

Chris Benoit, JBL, Finlay, Booker, Burchill, Regal, Kennedy ( I put these three in just like you put Shelley in). Lashley is the weakest link in that division and he's vastly improving with all of those guys.

Williams and Sabin are below average, and average in they're best night. Shelley is awesome, Styles is....Marufuji (a cookie for whoever gets the comparison), Daniels is a generic version of Styles and Joe is amazing.

The US division has less wrestlers but a better concentration of talent. Only Burchill could really be called a spot machine and he should learn with freaking Regal next to him.

Aries and Strong. Aries isn't that good(hes good, but overrated), Strong is great but he just doesn't compensate for all the other guys in the division.

WWE has the greatest concentration of talent in the world, its just that they don't use it very well. smackdown is awesome and could still be much much better.

Though really, all is lost as the diva searc will now be on both shows.
It's all a mater or opinnion I personally think Benoit, Burchill, Kennedy, and Booker T are the only guys really worth watching in the U.S. divison. Finaly is a decent wrestler, but he isn't entertaining and he has a dumb gimmick. Lashely is a Brock Lesnar clone, just not nearly as talented, JBL is entertaining on the mic and mediocre at best in the ring, and Regal is great, but constantly under used and craped on with stupid angles.

[DarkHawk]

Woot 1.1 rating for this show...highest ever in TNA history :)