Bust the Walls Up… or Something
I’ve missed recapping the last two PPVs, and since my link to Gerweck for TNA Genesis died, I figured I would be better served just recapping my recap that never was for the past month.
TNA Genesis (11.11.07): I think the funniest thing about this pay-per-view is that half the guys on the poster there weren’t on the show. I count only Abyss, AJ Styles, and JOE’S GONNA KILL YOU as the three that actually appeared on the show. I guess it would have just looked stupid to have seven different poses from Kurt Angle instead, considering how much the shows are built around the drunken pill-popper.
Seriously, Angle’s DUI arrest in September proves that he is still not okay, he is still an addict, and that he needs help. He quit WWE because he didn’t like the schedule and needed some time away from the ring, but then he showed up in TNA about a week later. Dude needs to stop before something stops him.
Anyway, here were the results:
- Abyss defeated Black Reign in a Shop of Horrors match. After the match, Rellik the Bull sprayed mist into Abyss’ face and put him in a box. Then, he and Goldblack through the box off a stage.
- Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin defeated Team 3D. Must be contract negotiation time again.
- TNA Women’s Champion Gail Kim retained over Roxxi Laveaux, ODB, and Angelina Love after Laveaux sprayed mist into ODB’s face. What, did Muta have a garage sale or something?
- TNA X Division Champion “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal retained over “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt. After the match, Team 3D went out, beat down both guys, and declared to the X Division that they were holding the title belt hostage. Hey, as long as it’s anybody but Kevin Nash.
- TNA Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Tomko retained over the Steiner Brothers.
- Samoa Joe defeated Robert Roode.
- Frankie Kazarian defeated Christian Cage in the Fight for the Right ladder match. Kaz now gets a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Yeah, right.
- In the main event, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash defeated Sting and the WORLD’S WORST KEPT SECRET PARTNER Booker T. Angle retained his title by scoring the pinfall.
I think that it’s now official TNA procedure for them to debut an ex-WWE jobber on the same nights as they debut ex-WWE stars. Must be an EEOC law or something. Anyway, not much to see here except for the debuts of Booker and the Bull (sounds like a Night Court spin-off). By the way, how many freako gimmicks do they need in TNA now, anyway? They would be better off spinning them off to ECW so the Sci-Fi Channel will stop complaining about the lack of sci-fi content.
Oh, and by the way, throughout the night, Eric Young and Cowboy James Storm were having a drinking contest, which Eric won. Meanwhile, that was pretty classless considering the speculation that Sting’s mystery partner was Scott Hall.
WWE Survivor Series (11.18.07): I read a really good argument against PPV on one of the indy bulletin boards that I frequent. Considering it’s $25 or $30 to buy a TNA show and $40 to $50 now to buy a WWE show, even getting a “good” show is not acceptable. For that kind of money, WWE needs to be delivering a Wrestlemania every month. The powers that be in Stamford will tell you that’s impossible, but just think of the stuff you could buy for $50 instead. The people that buy these average to decent shows month after month must either have a lot of cash flow, or they’re not paying rent for Mom’s basement.
Anyhow, the results:
- ECW Champion CM Punk retained over John Morrison and The Miz in a Triple Threat match. I’m actually shocked that Joey Styles and Tazz continue to have jobs considering that ECW generally only has one match per show. Good match between Punk and Morrison with Miz taking up space and taking the bullet for the champ with the GTS.
- Mickie James, Maria, Torrie Wilson, Michelle McCool & Kelly Kelly defeated WWE Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix, Jillian Hall, Melina, Victoria & Layla in a 10-Diva nonelimination tag match. Mickie James made out with Melina, and then kicked her in the head for the pinfall. Mickie’s actually a good wrestler, but I guess homophobia is her greatest weapon. Next…
- World Tag Team Champions Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch retained over Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes. All WWE needs to do is hire Erik Watts, David Flair, and
Teddy Hart, oops… and create a stable of 2nd-generation washouts to feud with Rhodes. Kid’s not too bad. After the match, Hardcore yelled at Rhodes for losing, that he knew Mad Mikey, and Cody’s no Mad Mikey. - Triple H, WWE Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio & Kane defeated Umaga, Mr. Kennedy, WWE U.S. Champion MVP, Finlay & Big Daddy V in a 4-on-5 handicap elimination match. Earlier in the show, MVP put himself over for taking out Matt Hardy’s knee, which ruptured his appendix, so Matt’s off Triple H’s team. But even better, before the match they did a bit where Kane got mad at Triple H for the Katie Vick thing in ‘02 and Jeff Hardy got mad at him for putting out of action (I’m assuming in ‘01 when they feuded over the I-C title) OMG WHAT CONTINUITY I THINK I FEEL MY TICKER FAILING NOW Triple H apologized and everyone’s happy. I guess Rey Rey had no problemos with him.
- ANYWAY, Kane was eliminated by Big Daddy V, Mysterio was eliminated by Umaga, MVP was eliminated by Hardy, Kennedy and Big Daddy V and Finlay were eliminated by Triple H, and Umaga was eliminated by Hardy leaving Triple H and Jeff Hardy as the remaining survivors.
- The Great Khali defeated Hornswoggle by DQ when Finlay interfered. Whatever.
- WWE Champion Randy Orton retained over Shawn Michaels in the match of 1,000 rules. Excellent match, with Michaels getting in the obligatory Survivor Series rib on Bret Hart for the 10,000th time, putting Orton in a Sharpshooter. Some Christian… anyhow, Michaels almost hit the Sweet Chin Music, but he stopped short, allowing Orton the RKO for the win. After the match, Orton ran down Michaels and demanded that he call him the future of wrestling, but Michaels tuned up the band and superkicked his jaw into Baltimore.
- SAVE US CHRIS JERICHO ALL OF US ON THE INTERNET KNOWS IT’S YOU
- In the main event, World Heavyweight Champion Batista retained over the Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell Match when Edge returned to run in and interfere. I seriously thought Dave was going to drop the title here, but with Edge’s return, the title scene on Smackdown finally got interesting, especially now that Mysterio is back too. Should be some good feuds in the future.
A good show? Maybe… still doesn’t mean I would have bought it for whatever outlandish price tag they’ve got on it right now.
And then of course, there’s Randy Orton, his monotonous robotic voice, and his subscription to Blue Ball magazine… tell me that wasn’t a shot in the arm that the INDUSTRY has needed for years. And then, the ratings don’t go up and people say that Chris Jericho’s popularity is overrated. No, more like pro wrestling’s popularity is overrated. Sorry, but the industry is still down, but maybe some more moments like that will make people stand up and take notice.
December 6th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I didn’t realise PPV’s were that expensive. Over here it is £15 for a WWE one (we get about 3-5 for free) with it getting replayed every few hours for like a week and you can watch it as many times as you wish. I think that is the case, I don’t have the money to throw away on them. The TNA ones are free but are on a delay of anywhere between 3-7 day.
Yeah the Kurt Angle DUI is worrying but TNA should have punished him by taking the belt off him to try and knock some sense into him. Instead he keeps it and seemingly gets more airtime.
Their PPV was about the average one we have come to expect with only the Joe & Christian matches probably worth checking out. Maybe the main event as well but if you did not guess Booker T then you need to get your brain checked.
I like Booker but all that does is increase the gulf between the top and mid/X-Division card and it is really hard to see any of TNA’s own guys step up to the next level if they insist on bringing in anyone who was ever associated with WWE.
Survivor Series was good for me outside of the Khali & Womens matches which you knew would be crap beforehand. I must say I did enjoy the backstage promo with HHH’s team, pretty funny.
Jeff Hardy: “You put me in the hospital!”
HHH: “Yeah, my bad.”
I’m happy enough Orton retained but I was absolutely shocked to see Michael’s use the Crippler Crossface. That was the last move you would have expected to see. Having Edge back is nice and will give SD! a much needed top heel, I was expecting him to screw over Dave so Taker would win but I think Batista will lose the gold at the next PPV.
Finally having Jericho back is a breath of fresh air and he looks in pretty good shape.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I don’t understand the need for Edge and Vickie Guerrero to be dating on camera.
December 8th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
For shock value perhaps. Or maybe it was to get some instant heel heat back on Edge as opposed to the fans cheering his return.
December 9th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Booker will be good for TNA (name and a face) as they prob are going to lose Sting to retirement and if Rusty predictions reign true–Kurt Angle could be seeing some sideline time to “deal” with his issues.
Jericho promo was money! (even if he didn’t look like the Jericho of old, specifically the hair and that sparkly vest)
I am still intriguied as to why Mr. Kennedy isn’t playing a bigger part and why the Rainbow-haired warrior and Ric Flair are?
December 10th, 2007 at 8:54 am
I suppose because Kennedy’s name came up in the fed’s investigation of that pharmacy? Maybe they’re afraid of bad publicity… also, I read an article recently where they’re afraid of putting too much on him at once since he’s been prone to injury this past year.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:02 am
A lot of stuff here:
–Kennedy isn’t getting pushed because 1) he’s got the whole pharm thing going against him and 2) he’s not over in any way as a heel–and 2.5) apparently, he’s not very sturdy but he’s a quick healer which may offset that.
–Booker T is fresh…for now. Unless they do something NOW–his rise to the top will be anti-climactic at best. He’s a superstar who has to “earn his keep” granted–but when you bring in a legit draw like he is–do you slow start him or jolt your audience with an impromptu title feud? TNA needs more “daring” storylines…it’s a shame that Booker T’s been bland so far…and a tangential connection to Angle in terms of a feud…the Karen/Sharm thing is the only glue holding that tension together currently.
–Edge’s return to heel-dom has been OVERKILL with the inclusion of sucking face with Vicki–which is gross…she looks disgusting…but this could also be a sign of how manipulative Edge is…if the audience is smark enough to get it.
–The writing and story logic on RAW has gotten so bad that I wonder if the McMahon family just needs to euthanize themselves as a favor to their own livelihoods. I’m going to sound like a snob here–but a plumber fixes sinks, a mechanic fixes cars, and–guess what–a TRAINED writer (with obvious wrestling knowledge) will come up with better story than antiquated work horses and corporate titty babies who don’t know a trope from a schema. :)
News leaks have already indicated that H doesn’t like J–the “savior” was like a shot of Vitamin C to the ailing WWE–he may help you with your cold–but he’s not a definite cure.
IMO.
Three things would help the WWE.
–HIRE YOUR SMART MARK FANS WHO ARE LEGIT WRITERS.
Guess what? They’d book fantasy matches with the talent you have on hand…and they’d tell you what sucks about the crap you have with honest fan appeal…and they’d care about your product.
–NIP YOUR SON-IN-LAW IN THE BUD.
I love the Triple H character but Levesque is starting to sound like a guy on the verge of his mid-life career crisis. He’s going to wrestle as long as Flair does…so tell him to can it. Undermining Jericho is lame and won’t get real air time where it would actually be good for the audience so the 10K people who read the wrasslin’ internet forums will talk…but what does it matter?
–START PUSHING YOUR YOUNGER ACTS
I smell odors of WCW on RAW these days…because your young upstarts of the attitude era…the few that are left…are the guys at the top now…and of course…they don’t want to move over.
Jeff Hardy is peaking–and they aren’t doing anything to alter his lame ass raver gimmick. Carlito is screaming to be let go–but he’s wrestling midgets. CM Punk is hated by the help but loved by the fans. And for the love of Christ will someone let Elijah Burke get more RAW TV time…he’s amazing.
I’m spent.
eks
December 11th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Eks you dropped some science..
Burke is a good grappler who has not been shown the proper attention/character developement. (Sumethin’ the WWE used to be great at)
Kennedy did get into trouble with the “juice” and feds..but what hand-ful of talent on either roster hasn’t been suspended for drug-use/bad behavior.
Edge makin’ out with Eddies widow is a new low even by VKM/WWE standards I must say..But, (wait) there was a Moolah funeral joke this past RAW so… :(