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Csonka’s TNA Impact Review 11.25.15
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TNA Impact Review 11.25.15
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– World Title Series Match: DJ Z defeated Manik via pin (@ 4:47) / Tigre Uno defeated Manik @ 7:57 via pin [**¾]
– World Title Series Match: Drew Galloway defeated Rockstar Spud @ 7:01 via pin [***]
– World Title Series Match: Bram defeated Grado @ 0:05 via pin [NR]
– World Title Series Match: Jessie Godderz defeated Micah @ 4:30 via submission [*½]
– World Title Series Match: Davey Richards defeated Robbie E @ 7:05 via pin [***¼]
– World Title Series Match: Kenny King defeated Crzzy Steve @ 5:30 via pin [**]
– World Title Series Match: Lashley defeated Austin Aries @ 14:48 via pin [***½]
– So after Matt Hardy won the TNA World Title at Bound For Glory, the title has now been vacated because of Ethan Carter III and the injunction that made way too much sense for a heel. Now, TNA now embarks on a very long World Title Series to crown a new champion. It’s a giant tournament, described as follows…
The World Title Series will feature a format very similar to soccer’s World Cup, with thirty-two members of the IMPACT WRESTLING roster competing for the TNA World Championship. The wrestlers will be divided into eight groups to begin round-robin group play. Winners receive three points, a draw receives one point and a loss earns zero points (matches have a 15-minute time limit). The top two point-getters from each group will advance to the field of 16 and a single elimination tournament where the competitor who wins advances and the loser goes home. The ultimate winner of the World Title Series will have survived the most grueling test in the history of wrestling and will be crowned the true and undisputed TNA World Champion.
Manik vs. DJ Z vs. Tigre Uno: The gimmick here is that the first two men to score a victory (pin or submission) will move on to the next round. They came out firing on all cylinders here, showing off what makes them different from the other performers and also trying to get the advantage, because they need a win here. They did a lot of the 2 in and 1 out formula, which has become the norm in these three way matches (not just in TNA), I wish that they could have deviated from the usual more, but the work was good. Manik locked in a double submission on his opponents at one point, which was cool. Uno and Manik both went for springboard dives, but DJ Z said fuck that and rolled out of the way and his opponents collided in mid-air. DJ Z picked up the first pin on Manik, and bailed to let the other two battle it out for the final spot. They had some nice back and forth here, some good counters and when Uno missed a spinning cross body, and started to favor the arm, Manik tried to work the arm bar, but Uno survived and got the ropes. Uno would escape the electric chair; suplex Manik to the corner and hit the sloppy split legged moonsault to pick up the win. This was a pretty good start to the show, it lacked that great flow that the really good X-Division matches have, but I enjoyed it overall. DJ Z and Tigre Uno now move on into the round of 16. While I am happy that DJ Z is getting some run, I am disappointed that TNA still has no idea what they have with Manik.
Drew Galloway vs. Rockstar Spud: Spud was fired up early using his speed to hit and run until Galloway got pissed off and took control. Spud kept fighting, but as they went to the floor Galloway repeatedly slammed him to the apron. Galloway’s aggression got the better of him and he basically ended up spearing the steps. Spud smartly tried for a countout, which they teased but Galloway made it back into the ring. It’s nothing big or overly special, but those little nods of being desperate for the win really add to the importance of the match. Galloway would post himself, and that allowed Spud to run wild and really get some nice chances to win. Galloway made a comeback and looked to piledriver on the apron, but he just couldn’t do it. The hesitation almost cost him as Spud got a near fall. Galloway got pissed again, hit an air raid crash and then the sick kick and that was all. They worked a nice big vs. little/underdog formula here, with Spud shining and Galloway’s over aggression putting him in bas positions. This was another enjoyable match, a hotter crowd would have made it even better, but this comes off better than the opener due to having a good story to get into.
Bram vs. Grado: Grado dances, so Bram rolls him up to pick up the quick victory. There you go.
Micah vs. Jessie Godderz: Basic back and forth to begin, and then Jessie took over and started to work the back of Micah. Micah then fired up and completely no sold the work from Jessie, which is frustrating because the finish was Jessie using his Adonis crab to pick up the win. I get that Jessie didn’t work him over for 10-minutes, but Micah never sold it at all and just ran through stuff like it never happened.
Robbie E vs. Davey Richards: Robbie has been working hard to shed a lot of his old gimmick and become a more serious wrestler, which I have appreciated since this is for the title. He’s had good outings, and was set up with the right guys to make the change. They did a lot of back and forth wrestling early, with Robbie keeping up with and even getting the advantage on Richards. They kept a nice pace in the match and the flow was really good, simply put they worked the right match and worked well together. Richards slowed things a bit, not in a bad way, as he worked his submission game. Robbie really showed good fire here, and again showed that he can be more than an over the top gimmick; I hope to see more of that going forward. After some nicely done back and forth, Richards picked up with win with creeping death. This was another good match, and easily the best thing on the show so far.
Kenny King vs. Crazzy Steve: Steve did some wacky stuff as King was serious to begin, the attitude changed when Steve pulled off a Japanese arm drag and kip up. Steve started to actually wrestle a bit, leading to King trying to kick his head off. King actually worked well with Steve, and while this wasn’t great, it was easily the best Crazzy Steve singles match he’s had because he didn’t do all annoying comedy, he mixed things up nicely overall. This ended up way better than I thought, I honestly expected a disaster. King won with the royal flush.
Lashley vs. Austin Aries w/Thea Trinidad: These two have worked well together in the past, so I expect some good stuff here. They told the power vs. speed story early, working to the strengths of both. Hey did a really cool spot where Lashley went for the delayed vertical suplex, Aries repeatedly got knees to the head and Lashley dropped to his knees but then popped back up to finish the suplex. They worked through the break, and when we came back Lashley was tossing Aries around. He then posted himself, and this allowed Aries to take control of things for a short time. They did a good job of teasing the possible without slowing things to a crawl, which is always appreciated. Like in one of their previous matches, Aries crashed and burned on a suicide dive, which allowed Lashley to take control. Aries was roughed up and favoring his shoulder, but managed to counter a spear into the last chancery. Lashley survived in the last minute, Aries went up top and then rolled through on the 450 and Lashley turned him inside out with a spear to pick up the win. The final stretch was slowed as they sold the injury, but this was an overall blast to watch. These guys continue to have good chemistry.
– They then did the reveal of the round of 16 matches to close out the show.
– HERE IS THE ROUND OF 16
Group Knockout:
* Gail Kim: (2-1) – 6pts
* Awesome Kong: (2-1) – 6pts
* Brooke: (1-2) – 3pts
* Madison Rayne: (1-2) – 3 pts
Group X-Division:
* Tigre Uno: (3-1) – 9pts
* DJZ: (3-1) – 9pts
* Manik: (2-1) – 6pts
* Mandrews: (0-3) – 0 pts
Group TNA Originals:
* Eric Young: (2-1) – 6pts
* Bobby Roode: (2-1) – 6pts
* Abyss: (1-2) – 3pts
* James Storm: (1-2) – 3pts
Group UK:
* Drew Galloway: (3-0) – 6pts
* Bram: (2-1) – 6pts
* Rockstar Spud: (1-2) – 3pts
* Grado: (0-2) – 0 pts*
Group Champions:
* Ethan Carter III: (2-0-1) – 7 pts
* Lashley: (2-1) – 6pts
* Austin Aries: (1-1-1) – 4 pts
* Mr. Anderson: (0-3) – 0 pts
Group Wildcard:
* Mahabali Shera: (3-0) – 9pts
* Kenny King: (2-1) – 6pts
* Aiden O’Shea: (1-2) – 3pts
* Crazzy Steve: (0-3) – 0 pts
Group Tag Team Specialists :
* Matt Hardy: (3-0) – 9pts
* Davey Richards: (1-1-1) – 4pt
* Robbie E: (1-2) – 3pts
* Eddie Edwards: (0-2-1) – 1pt
Group Future Four:
* Eli Drake: (2-0-1) – 7 pt
* Jessie Godderz: (2-1) – 6pts
*Micah: (1-1-1) – 4 pt
* Crimson: (0-3) – 0 pts
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
