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The Specialists
HITS & MISSES - TNA SLAMMIVERSARY PPV 6/21: Raven's promo and Daffney's bumping, X Division KOTM match, West a Hit, Tenay a Miss Jun 22, 2009 - 10:30:09 AM
Goofy Mick Foley – Hopefully his loss of the TNA Championship won't mean his wacky backstage segments with Borash will stop, because Foley brings a comedic element that is unique to TNA. His threatening to defend the belt once a year is so ludicrous, it's hilarious.
Raven's Nest Promo – Shot somewhere backstage in a somber blue filter, everyone hit his or her spots here. Stevie Richards is great as the smug and sadistic "professional therapist," and his suggesting that Lauren may need therapy gets a chuckle. Daffney's facial expressions and fooling with Lauren's hair added to the insanity of the scene. Raven is having more fun than it seems like he's been having for a while. He just may have come up with a few lines of the year in this one.
Monster's Ball – The ladies really went above the call of the duty here, showing that they weren't afraid to "cross the line." Daffney in particular bumped like a champ, most obviously with the thumbtacks spot, but also with taking the plunge through the table and appearing to smack the back of her head on the ring steps. Raven and Abyss kept the match moving on their end, as well. It's easy to dismiss this kind of match as "garbage," but not all hardcore matches are created equal. This was an example of one that grabbed your attention, like the scene of a car crash.
Don West – This guy is the best announcer in wrestling, period. Always entertaining, West almost makes you cheer the heels in every match. Contrasting him with mediocre Mike Tenay's attempts at getting the babyface point of view shows how he's carrying the commentating on TNA's shows.
Beer Money – I didn't think their match was a sure Hit, but they have really come into their own as a premier tag team. I see BMI as a much truer tag team that the always-lauded Miz and Morrison team that was winning "Best Tag Team" honors all last year, mostly due to the great potential of John Morrison. Beer Money has managed to carve an identity out that works that fans can identify with, and they're doing it while playing a tweener role between heel and babyface.
X Division King of the Mountain Match – High spots at their best, this match was perpetual motion with a minimum of risk. Ladder matches have a tendency to pack in unnecessarily risky spots for a fleeting moment's satisfaction. This match was a great way to start the PPV, and Alex Shelley needs to be recognized with a main event push down the road. Sabin's personality has come out since teaming with Shelley, as well.
PPV MISSES
Sting-Morgan – I'm not putting all of the blame on Morgan, either. It just didn't seem like these two really clicked, but it got really bad toward the end with a series of botches. A missed move here or there isn't going to bother me much, but take match that wasn't given much time, add a stipulation that doesn't make much sense, and you get this clunker. Sting really should have taken control of this one, but he didn't. Whatever they were planning with Morgan, they shouldn't pull the plug based on just this outing, though.
Mike Tenay – Maybe it's being the babyface announcer having to sell the fans on the "correct" viewpoint while Don West is the heel commentator. Maybe it's that Tenay is a better analyst than play-by-play man. Whatever the reason, Tenay regularly seems forced and whiny, and this especially came out comparing Team 3-D to Freddie Blassie back when Tenay watched him in Los Angeles, calling 3-D "old school." Tenay is cringe-worthy, and hearing him try to go barb for barb with West isn't working. Better to have him as the long-suffering straight man to West's humor.
Eric Gall is a Hits & Misses Specialist covering TNA PPVs. He also writes the "On the Contrary" column looking at hot topics in wrestling.
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