The Final Impact
December 20, 2013
By: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
For the second week in a row TNA only gave us three matches but unlike last week the quality was a hell of a lot better, and I’d rather have 2-3 good quality lengthy matches over 6 short, poor matches any day.
The opening segment with Hardy and Magnus played off of Hardy’s meeting with Dixie last week to try and plant the seed of doubt that Hardy would turn. I loved Hardy’s fire in the promo and I appreciate them trying to make us guess, despite spoilers being out there for nearly a month. But the seeds of a possible Magnus turn was planted months ago so it was a little late in the game to try and make us think they would swerve with another Hardy turn.
The opening match between Roode and Angle was stellar as it usually is between the two. I love 2/3 Fall Matches and this one was good, but I honestly don’t feel the built towards the third fall enough really. Regardless it was a really good match and both guys busted their butts. It’s going to be interesting to see where this goes. Angle having doubt is interesting and Roode looks really good coming out of this.
The Park stuff continues and it continues to bore the hell out of me. Just give him his mask back and let him throw people through barbed wire.
The Knockouts tag was really slow and plodding and Tapa is still unbelievably green. It’s also going to take Madison awhile to shake the rust off but it’s nice to see her back in the ring. The history between Gail and Madison will make this feud fun.
The Feast or Fired segment was atrocious. There is no other way I can say it, my God that was horrendous. They made it feel like a game show or one of those reality shows like “Apprentice” and it just came off horribly. Sting was actually pretty good in his role but that is not something I ever want to see again. Zema getting the X-Title shot was obvious but Gunner going for the World Title will be interesting to see. I’m thinking we are going to get a Gunner-Storm feud for the briefcase coming up, but who will turn? Storm or Gunner? I’m guessing EC3 will team with Spud for the belts. I can’t say I’m too disappointed with Chavo being gone, he really hasn’t done a whole lot since he and Hernandez dropped the belts.
I said before the Dixieland Match that I thought it would either be really good or really bad, no in between and for me it was really good, very entertaining. The name is the worst thing about the match, they have got to change that. Hardy’s promo before the match was very good and both he and Magnus worked really hard. Hardy still is doing absolutely insane bumps in these big matches and took several tonight. The dive off the cage was probably the higher of the two bumps but the spill on the ramp was definitely the bigger bump. The interference really hurt the match for me but I fully expected it with Dixie trying to have “her champion.”
Magnus as champion is good to see for him as he has worked really hard since coming to TNA, but honestly he just feels like a transitional champion. I like the guy, I really do, but I don’t know it just doesn’t seem like he can be “the guy.” Kudos for TNA trying to elevate someone new and Hardy for doing the job but I don’t know how well it’s going to work. How far in advance the next few Impact’s have been taped definitely doesn’t help matters.
I’m not going to talk about the AJ Styles rumors at all, I’ve heard them all and the only thing I will say is I fully expect him to remain in TNA one way or another. I hope I’m right but let’s face it I’m wrong more times than I’m right.
– Promo/Segment of the Night: Jeffrey Nero Hardy
– Match of the Night: Dixieland Match (***1/2)
– Overall Grade: B+
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