Csonka’s TNA Impact Review 10.20.16

Csonka’s TNA Impact Review 10.20.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– #1 Contender’s Match: Lashley defeated Moose @ 7:40 via pin [***]
– TNA Tag Team Title Match: Champions The Broken Hardys defeated The Tribunal @ 7:50 via pin [**¾]
– Mike Bennett defeated Mahabali Shera @ 2:55 via pin [NR]
– TNA Title Match: Champion Eddie Edwards defeated Cody @ 13:30 via pin [***½]

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– We get highlights from last week as well as a preview for Cody vs. Eddie Edwards.

Cody Talks: Cody said that life was about moments, and that is why he left his former employer, to get a chance at making moments and tonight he gets a world title shot. He tells a story about telling Dusty that he wanted to become a wrestler at age 15, and Dusty told him to be the best. To be the best he has to become the world champion, and promises to win it tonight. Edwards arrived, said that Cody was respected for his career and choices he’s made. He questioned Cody as to who he was, he spit off a little rhyme, and told Edwards that he’ll know who he is when he beats him for the title tonight. Edwards reminded Cody that he beat Lashley, and he will prove that luck had nothing to do with it and that he’s a worthy world champion. We then got a standoff, and Lashley then arrived. He promised to defeat whoever is champion when tonight is over, because he is a real fighter. And then Moose arrived. They went to commercial hyping the opening match. It was a fine, but lacking segment. They said all the right things, but there was a lack of an emotional connection for the live crowd and me. Also, they desperately need to get away from these long talking segments to open the show. WWE is dead set on them and I hate it, I keep saying that TNA can do small things that do not cost money to make their shows different, but they refuse to do so. I much rather would have seen some vireo packages, start with a quick X-Division match, and then another video package to hype the two big matches. The Cody vs. Eddie Edwards video that started the show was really good, I would have loved to see more of that or a pre-taped interview with the guys, staggered throughout the show to sell the matches.

#1 Contender’s Match: Lashley vs. Moose: They brawled right away, with Moose doing a Road Warrior Haw no sell on a suplex and sending Lashley to the floor with a dropkick. Lashley cut off Moose on the floor, and when they returned to the ring, Lashley took the heat and worked over Moose in the corner with shoulder blocks. Moose eventually hit the dropkick as Lashley was sitting on the ropes, and then followed with a completely out of control hoss dive. Back in, Moose hit the spinebuster and running senton for the neat fall. Lashley countered the game changer with a spinebuster, which got the near fall. Lashley hit the superplex; Moose popped up again and hit the spear on Lashley for a near fall. They traded strikes and kicks; Lashley avoided the game changer and hit the spear and Moose kicked out. Moose sidestepped the second spear and hit the game changer, but Lashley kicked out. Moose continued his attack, went for sky high but Lashley hit the spear off the second rope and scored the win. Lashley vs. Moose @ 7:40 via pin [***] I liked how this played out, Lashley had to earn his way back to the title, and looked good here. Also, they gave Moose a lot, and he was protected in the loss as he kicked out of the spear and Lashley had to use his murder death kill finish to win. The match was good, but would have been better in front of a crowd that had a pulse.

– Discount Shield (The Tribunal) arrive and say that the Hardys are weak and they will win the titles and take respect. We get a Los Ingobernables de Orlando (DCC) video to interrupt them.

– We get a Tyrus video package. He’s still a thing.

Eli Drake’s Fact of Life with Aron Rex: Drake ran down the crowd a bit and then introduced Aron Rex. Rex put over the Grand Championship. They bantered back and forth, but Drake says he respects Rex for winning the title and doing what he had to in order to keep the title. He left Galloway in the past and previously beat Edwards, which makes him the man. Drake says a bunch of guys are gunning for the world title, but not one of them have a thing on Drake, who will become the next champion, because he is bound for gold. Rex asked Drake where that leaves EC3, and Drake said EC3 is bound for the toilet and dumpster, because he is wasted potential. EC3 arrived because Drake hit the button several times and Drake ended the show. I do like the sit down set up for this segment more than the in ring, because it breaks things up and doesn’t feel as awkward. I was not a fan of the canned laugh track being used. Drake tends to get good enough reactions, and the fake tracks took away from what I felt was solid stuff from Drake and Rex, even with the abrupt ending.

Fact of Life Part II: Post break, EC3 was in the ring and said Drake had security to stop him from wrecking the set and taking an EC2 on his desk. EC3 wants to challenge Drake to a fight, and dares Drake to fight a champion. EC3 dared him to press the button because if he does, he’ll leave him for dead. Drake pressed it several times and EC3 went after him. He dove onto the security and they brawled. Rex separated them and EC3 took him out, and then Rex attacked and helped Drake. Godderz arrived to even the odds and we had a big pull part. That was a better follow up, and I like that Godderz was involved and not forgotten.

– Broken Rebecca played Broken Matt and The Nefarious Brother Nero to the ring. Brother Nero then sang obsolete. Broken Matt spoke about the attack by the Tribunal, and is insulted that they tried to take food away from King Maxel and Brother Nero’s daughters. Broken Matt has sentenced them to deletion.

TNA Tag Team Title Match: Champions The Broken Hardys vs. The Tribunal: They brawled at the bell with the Hardys taking control right away. The Hardys worked over Dax to begin, Dax eventually cut Matt off and he and Baraka started to work him over, using quick tags. The control did not last long as Matt tagged in Nero, he ran wild on Dax, hitting a DDT and that got 2 as Baraka made the save, It broke down, Baraka got tossed, but Dax cut off poetry in motion as the brawl continued. The Tribunal worked the heat on Nero, solid stuff as they largely kept the action moving and the crowd was into rooting for Nero. More double teams on Nero followed, and Dax covered for 2. Nero finally cut off Dax and got the tag to Matt. Forearms and head butts by Matt followed; he then tried to eat Baraka, biting away at him. A belly to belly followed as Matt’s mouth is all bloody from his feast. Side effect to Baraka, and that got 2. Dax would make the save, and they scored with the double spine buster for the near fall. It broke down, twist of fate to Dax by Nero. One for Baraka, and ten Matt hit one as well. The Hardys retained. Champions The Broken Hardys defeated The Tribunal @ 7:50 via pin [**¾] That was a pretty good match, with the crowd into the Broken Hardys and the match having a good flow. It was easily one of the Tribunal’s better outings, and they were perfectly fine in their challengers of the week role.

– Post match, a Los Ingobernables de Orlando (DCC) arrived and beat down the Tribunal as the Broken Hardys watched on.

– Allie was giving herself a pep talking a mirror, practicing a speech for Maria. Braxton Sutter arrived and asked of she was ok. He told her that she was not to blame for anything that happened. Laurel Van Ness arrived and hit on Sutter after sending Allie away.

– We get another commercial for The Fixer.

– We then get another video package from Los Ingobernables de Orlando (DCC). No one is safe, and this was their first attack. They are here to stay.

– Cody prepares backstage and Lashley arrives. He says there is a lot of pressure on him, because of the hype and legacy. Lashley doesn’t see it, but wishes him luck tonight. Cody says he doesn’t need luck and reminds Lashley that Edwards beat him. Lashley gave no fucks, and said their paths will cross sooner rather than later.

– We get highlights from Kim vs. Maria from last week.

Maria Talks: Maria, Allie and Laurel Van Ness make their way to the ring. Maria said that there was a conspiracy against her because TNA cannot handle the truth. She is the greatest knockout ever, and then says that Allie is to blame for all of her troubles. Allie tries to defend herself, but Maria ran her down and said she is to blame for her losing the title and for not being in charge of the knockouts. Laurel said to keep her, because they need her to carry their bags and order their sushi. Maria demanded an apology, and Allie refused and stood up to her and said that Maria was to blame. The crowd loves Allie. Maria says she needs to be taught a lesson, so Laurel attacks and beats down Allie. Maria then said that Allie should become a fighter, because she will face Laurel next week. It was a good segment overall, as the crowd loves Allie and had been waiting for her to stand up for herself. Commentary, for the first time in forever, actually added to something, explaining that while Maria lost her power over the knockouts, that she had control over Allie and could book the match. The Allie stuff works because it happened organically, the crowd decided that they loved her and they are now playing off of it well.

– Lashley met with Edwards and told him he was nothing but a feel good story, who will likely lose tonight. Edwards said that Lashley underestimated him and told him to bet against him, because his mind games will not work.

– Tyrus met with Shera and told him no more dancing. Shera apparently paid him to fight for him, but Tyrus said he will teach him to become a champion. Tyrus has handpicked an opponent for Shera tonight, Shera will be tested tonight. Tyrus was actually funny here, but loses cool points for suggesting Shera actually wrestle.

– EC3 and Godderz challenge Drake and Rex to a tag match next week.

Mike Bennett w/Maria vs. Mahabali Shera: Bennett has his music back this week, I guess the bills got paid. Bennett talked some shit and then attacked. Shera then fired up and slammed Bennett, who took a powder. Bennett stunned him off the ropes, which allowed him to take control when he returned to the ring. Bennett worked the chinlock, Shera fought to his feet and hit some body slams. A corner splash followed, Shera then worked a bear hug. Bennett raked the eyes and hit the miracle in progress for the win. Mike Bennett defeated Mahabali Shera @ 2:55 via pin [NR] It was a match, it was very boring, the right guy won and we move on.

– We get to see the Cody vs. Eddie video package again.

– DJ Z was here to talk about Team X Gold. He says it brings together new teams to see who is the best. He praises Mandrews and Sutter, and says they will set the standard. Rockstar Spud arrived and asked why he hasn’t been asked to participate. DJ Z says because no one likes him. Spud did not appreciate this and says he assembled a team, wand they will debut next week. His team is better than X, Y and Z. So we still have no real explanation for Team X Gold other than “six-man tags, because.”

TNA Title Match: Champion Eddie Edwards vs. Cody w/Brandi Rhodes: After the handshake, we were underway with them doing the basic babyface back and forth into the stand off. Nice energy from both guys and the crowd, and then worked through the break. Post break and they were still going back and forth until Edwards connected with a series of kicks to take control and score the first near fall. Cody fired back with a dropdown kick, they traded chops and Cody took Edwards to the mat and worked the arm. Edwards escaped and picked up the pace, Cody countered the suplex and hit the rebound lariat. Edwards countered cross Rhodes, and then caught Cody with a kick and sent him to the floor. Edwards then connected with the suicide dive, and followed with head butts. Back in the ring, Cody hit the disaster kick and sent Edwards to the floor. He then followed with the run up high cross to the floor. They brawled up the ramp, with Cody slamming Edwards to the ramp and then rolling him back in. Cody then spring boarded in, missed Edwards, and Edwards hit the backpack stunner for the near fall. Edwards then went up top, missed Cody and rolled through but Cody cut him off and hit a muscle buster out of the corner for a near fall. Cody looked to finish things off, Edwards fought off the American Nightmare and then beat on Edwards and challenged him to fight back. They traded strikes center ring. Cody set him up top and followed. Edwards tried to fight him off, but Cody hit the superplex and the both went for the small package, and Edwards got the win. Champion Eddie Edwards defeated Cody @ 13:30 via pin [***½] That was a really good main event, they worked at a great pace and the crowd was invested in what they were doing. The tendency when you bring in a guy like Cody is to give him most of the match and then the champion squeaks out a victory and looks not so good. But this was a very evenly worked match, with the champion catching the challenger to come away with the victory that also allows for a rematch because Eddie didn’t finish him, he was just smarter this time. The match was very good, the finish worked and I enjoyed.

– Post match they shook hands.

– Maria ran out and attacked Brandi and slammed her to the steps before Cody could make the save. Maria and Mike celebrated on the ramp, setting up the mixed tag, possibly for next week.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

Tonight’s show was a good show overall. Eddie Edwards got to retain his title in a very good match, Lashley earned a rematch for his title in a good match and the guys that lost (Moose and Cody) weren’t hurt in any way by the losses. They have some underneath programs rolling along smoothly, set matches for next week and I felt that the show had a nice flow. The weakest thing on the show was Bennett vs. Shera, and that wasn’t so much bad as it was completely boring. The show felt really easy to watch this week, moving along well and having a good focus.