Guest Editorials GUEST EDITORIAL: The "Ef" Word in-person TNA BFG review - PPV creates questions that need to be answered starting tonight
Oct 18, 2012 - 10:41:38 AM
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PWTorch VIP member Efren's Bound for Glory PPV in-person blog review first appeared in the Torch VIP Forum Blog section, which is available for VIP members. Find out how to create your own blog and interact with other VIP members by going VIP at PWTorch.com/GoVIP.
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Let's cut to the chase: I enjoyed Bound for Glory very much. I thought the work was fantastic, the layout of the show made sense, the matches told a story, the crowd was alive, and minus a few flaws, I would go back to a TNA event in a second.
1, 2, 3. New champion. Off the air, run to the garage, get on the freeway, listen to analysis, call in to the Livecast.
Wade Keller gave the show a thumbs up. Dot Net readers gave it a B. Chris Shore of Prowrestling.net gave it an F. Did I miss something?
I sure did. From a live show perspective, I enjoyed myself very much. From the Creative side, the show was horrendous.
Do you give TNA a pass for trying to sell PPVs by showing Austin Aries's win at Destination X or do you question why a live crowd willing and waiting to pump up the television audience was given a three-minute promo at the end of the Countdown instead of a match their first time here in Phoenix?
Do you give props to TNA Creative for jump-starting the show with a well-known name such as RVD winning the X Division Championship as a crowd-pleasing opener, or do you wonder why a 41-year wrestler coming to the end of his career won a title while 12 pounds over the required weight limit?
Do you cheer the chemistry/intensity between James Storm and Bobby Roode for a match that works every few years at a company's signature event, or do you cringe at the fact that while chairs weren't used, unprotected headshots were being handed out like Halloween candy in an age where concussion prevention is the new standard? And is everyone okay with the blood that spewed on everyone throughout the night?
Do you welcome back Matt Morgan as a legitimate force in the company, or hang your head a little that he wasn't introduced as part of Aces & Eights...and reintroduced to us in the middle of an Al Snow match?
Do you cheer an unexpected tag team taking the belts at BFG that the crowd didn't back, or do you shake your head when Eddie Guerrero is mentioned to get everyone cheering when nowadays it's as cheap as a Mick Foley (insert local city here) cheap pop?
Do you mock Tara for bringing out a Hollywood surprise as bad as Jessie Godderz as the audience chants "We don't know you!" or do you praise the heel for being so slimy with her new man that it might actually work?
Do you suspend disbelief to the point that your childhood hero is in front of your eyes taking care of business like he did in the 1980s, or do you wonder why a 59-year-old man who spent ten seconds plugging his company's biggest show of the year and the rest of the time talking about his sex tape looks sad and unbelievably fake taking down a faction one at a time that has kidnapped a human being, without a cop to be found?
And, finally, do you celebrate the feel-good Prodigal Son story that is Jeff Hardy and know that all will be well in the future in TNA, or do you ask why the simple celebratory victory scene didn't happen as BFG went off the air?
As TNA resets the year on Thursday night, these are all legitimate questions that need to be answered. TNA can go in many different directions, and it seems after Sunday night they need a compass to point them in the right direction.
A great show outside the bubble of TNA, more questions than answers inside it.
LIVE NOTES FROM BFG IN PHOENIX
- A TNA rep was warming up the crowd for the large merchandise tables right in front of the entrance doors. Aside from the Brown Bag Special, A Louisville Bat engraved with the name Sting and his HOF date was on sale for $50. That's right, you could carry an MLB bat around the arena. While I was initially frightened at the thought of things escalating with bats if it came to that, I didn't see one person who bought it.
- TNA had also brought a new replica World Heavyweight belt that was selling for $350 (only 15 in stock) that came with two Brown Bags. Close your eyes...that's how many I saw purchase that.
- I was AMAZED at the amount of leg room down on the floor. You literally could have put 2-3 more rows of seats in front of me. I am 6'1" and could extend my legs all the way out with room to spare. Quite comfy.
- Not much else to report from the live show except the timekeeper/bell ringer was not positioned at ringside. He was seated in the front row of the hard camera section that has no one in it. It was different to see the referee signal for the bell directly towards the hard camera. If you notice at the start of the Magnus-Samoa Joe match, Brian Stiffler signals for the match to start. I just happened to be looking over at the timekeeper and he wasn't even looking towards the ring! Stiffler signaled for the bell to ring a second time and then ding ding ding!
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