For my first TNA review, it seems the wrestling god (not JBL the other one) has decided to bless us with the rare event of a great episode of Impact Wrestling. The May 3rd edition of TNA saw the fallout from Sacrifice the previous week, and boy it did not disappoint. Before I get into the show I feel it is worth noting how important good shows like this are to Impact Wrestling at the moment. Dixie Carter and co have fallen on hard times recently, as their finance and ownership have been called into question. The recent relocation to a certain warehouse comes to mind. As for the product itself, it has been at most average, the importance of these coming weeks cannot be understated. With that said let’s get into the review.
OPENER
The show starts with gym bro Lashley ready to teach Drew Galloway why he is the most feared man on the TNA roster. The segment leads to a confrontation between the unsuspecting champion and Lashley during Drew’s gym session. The fight ends with the intervening gym members but not before Lashley and Galloway each get their fair share of offense in. Drew’s reversal of the guillotine choke into a powerbomb looked very vicious and the segment did a fantastic job at reminding the audience that Drew is a man with a target on his back.
After the opening segment, we are shown a video package focusing on the ongoing feud between EC3 and Mike Bennett after last week’s shock result. The decision to end the EC3 undefeated streak was and is still a good one in my eyes.
MIKE BENNETT v JEFF HARDY
So Bennett cuts a promo telling the crowd and everyone in the locker room that The Miracle is the best thing going in TNA, then suddenly we hear the atrocious sound that is Jeff Hardy’s theme music (God! That theme sucks so much). After a verbal exchange between The Miracle and The Charismatic Enigma, our first match is set. There is not much to say about this match though as it is cut short by Lashley as he spears both Hardy and Bennett.
After the attacks on Hardy and Bennett Lashley proceeds to hold the show hostage by demanding to speak to Dixie Carter. The president herself then comes out to set up our main event, Lashley v Hardy v Bennett to decide the number one contender, the special guest referee? None other than the champ himself Drew Galloway.
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Backstage we see Harley Qui- I mean Rosemary giving the rest of Decay a pep talk. The rest of this scene is super weird as we see Decay go through a sort of baptism by mist which is so very, very gross.
ABYSS v STORM
The segment is followed by the reveal of the newly unmasked Abyss. It seems that the unmasking of the grizzled veteran clearly reflects his new character as part of Decay. James Storm comes down to the ring to challenge Decay reminding them that Storm is the ‘S.O.B from Middle Tennessee’ (sounds a lot cooler when he says it). The match that follows with Abyss is a standard match. Storm and Abyss seem mostly even throughout but The Monster is able to get the upper hand with the help from partner Crazy Steve who spits in the face of James Storm so that Abyss can get the pin after a Black Hole Slam. The match was solid and showed that Storm and Abyss both proved a challenge to each other but Abyss using the help from Steve solidifies Decay as a championship unit.
IN RING SEGMENT: THE KNOCKOUTS
- Before coming out Maria totally rips into someone backstage
Maria comes to the ring with her usual self-confidence and begins her usual routine of patting herself on the back. Maria then calls out the current Knockouts Champion Jade to the ring, and after a slight delay she joins Maria in the ring. Maria tells Jade that she “sees her star shining bright” however according to Maria her vision for the Knockouts division are bigger than Jade so that is why Jade must lay down. Jade, of course, refuses to do this which leads to the introduction of a new Knockout, Sienna. Instantly her and Jade brawl, eventually leading to an absolutely brutal swing into the steps. The segment ends with Maria and Sienna standing tall over the fallen champion. This segment was a great way to progress the knockouts storyline. Both Jade and Sienna looked good and having them brawl instead of a match leaves me wanting to see them go against each other in the ring. However, the credit has to be given to Maria who once again carries a segment on the mic. She’s such a good heel that I have had to accept she has to be a bitch outside the ring.
KOTM MATCH
- Bram cuts a promo on how despite being the KOTM champ he is still his old self
- Bennett gives an interview again stating that
The King of the Mountain match type sucks. SUCKS. It is an absolute joke of a match concept. It is convoluted, messy and ridiculous. The participants in this match are the Champion Bram, Eli Drake, Andrew Everett, Jessie Godderz and Eddie Edwards. As always with a match with multiple people chaos ensues. The match itself is not too bad, there is no clear story in the match until we see Everett and Eddie engaged in a heated brawl displaying their distaste for each other. Then they leave… Wait, what? Why? Could they really not think of another way of getting wrestlers to stay out of the match in a match type that involves A CAGE?! (sigh). Returning to the action we almost get an Eli Drake victory but luckily we are saved from the smugness by a sensational Bram dropkick, with Bram going on to retain the championship. Considering this match was limited by one of the stupidest match concepts it was actually pretty good. Bram’s powerbomb on an aerial Everett looked brutal, Drake looked strong with his near victory and it is clear that this is the KOTM feud that will be going forward.
MAIN EVENT
- Drew Galloway assesses each of his contenders and why they should be given this opportunity.
- Matt, sitting in the dark covered by his hood, gives a weird promo. Not a fan honestly, seems like an odd character shift.
As we get ready for the main event The Miracle Mike Bennett makes his way out to the ring, but on his way our shining saviour graces us with his presence. EC3!What a guy! Anyways fanboyish reaction aside he cuts an INTENSE promo on The Miracle.
And finally, we get to the main event of the evening the triple threat match for the number one contender spot. The match starts off chaotically with all 3 men looking to do some damage. I did enjoy the corner beating that Jeff endured by a smug Bennett and Lashley who looks like he doesn’t give a fuck. Overall the match was very good and as expected Lashley picked up the win. The notable moments from the match include:
- The Swanton bomb onto the steel steps looked like it hurt a lot. Probably wasn’t worth doing honestly.
- Decay intervening against Jeff while Galloway was down and out. Jeff vs Decay seems like it will be a battle of the face paint. (that clapping from Jeff while he was laying on the steps made me cringe a little)
- The Lashley spear onto Jeff into the turnbuckle which looked awesome.
- The show closing out with a brawling Galloway and Lashley. Here’s hoping the feud remains this intense.
FINAL NOTES AND SCORE
- Tonight’s MVP: Maria
- Match of the Night: Main Event
- Moment of the Night: “Guess I’ll be your devil”
- Fuck the KOTM match type. Why do you have to take it up the ladder rather than take it down? Bram put it on the hook only to take it off seconds later. IT MAKES NO SENSE
The 3.5.16 episode of TNA Impact gets a 7.5/10. All the interesting feuds were developed on tonight. We have a clear path going forward and after this episode, the future for the Knockouts and World Heavyweight title picture looks bright.
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