By Chris Reed, Torch Specialist

-- 6/25 TNA IMPACT HITS & MISSES

(For an alternate Hits & Misses perspective, read Hubert O'Hearn's TNA Impact H&M column)

IMPACT HITS

Frank Trigg...err, Kurt Angle's Promo with Mick Foley: Thank goodness the belt is off of Mick Foley. I was never fond of him as champion from the word go. Kurt Angle may not be able to go to the length of some of the other people in TNA, but at least he's shown in the past that he can still go. It was nice to see the hyped-up, in-your-face, take no prisoners style of Kurt Angle back on the microphone. And he got things done the way he wanted to, Main Event Mafia style. Great promo overall.

Scott Steiner vs. Robert Roode and Booker T vs. James Storm: Great matches from all four of these individuals. And both matches had finishes that were successful in their own ways. The Steiner-Roode match focused on the strength of Big Poppa Pump, while the Booker-Storm match focused on Booker's conniving ways to get what he wants no matter what the cost. The focus on Steiner and Booker's collective tag team dominance is a good focus, and it makes sense for the Main Event Mafia to get every piece of gold they can get their hands on.

Eric Young Hits Another Money Promo: Eric Young is so spot on with his mic segments lately, it's almost enough to remember how much of a comedy act he was in the past. That is, if it wasn't for TNA and even Young himself reminding us every five minutes of that fact. His headbutt to Rhino was a perfect display of his frustrations. Now let's see these two in the ring.

Main Event Mafia Changes Gears: This one was a long time coming and finally well worth it. Sting as leader of the MEM wasn't being believed by many fans. You just can't have a face like Sting working as the leader of the top heel faction in TNA. And while Sting has always been focused on respect and honor, Kevin Nash summed it up best with the fact that he's always been about the money. That's been the real story behind MEM -- how much money, power, and control they can get. And the fact that they finally made that clear was perfect. The beat down on Sting was needed too. I'm not fond of the fact that Matt Morgan is being let into this group of champions, but what's done is done.

IMPACT MISSES

Brutus Magnus vs. Brother Ray - New York City Street Fight: Listen carefully. Do you hear the soft yet subtle sounds of thumping? That's me hitting my head upside my desk in frustration. Sure, it makes complete sense that Team 3D would want to beat the holy tar out of the British Invasion. But the whole basic concept of a Street Fight is that ANYTHING GOES! That means if the rest of the Invasion, Kiyoshi, Sheik Abdul, heck even if the entire third infantry division was to run in on the match IT SHOULD STILL GO ON! There should never be a reason for a no contest decision in a Street Fight match. And once again, TNA shoots themselves in the foot by giving away this gimmick match without advance notice. This entire match shouldn't have even happened. Have Brother Ray attack Brutus Magnus as he comes down to the ring, fine. Have the holy heck break out, fine. But don't advertise it as an actual match!

Abyss vs. Kevin Nash: A stun gun attack not seen and/or heard by the ref? I am officially convinced the refs are attending the Helen Keller School of TNA Officiating. The match was what it was, but the finish was just completely unbelievable and unwatchable.

Daffney vs. Taylor Wilde - 10,000 Tacks Match: I must continue to hit my head against my desk. A match stipulation of this magnitude, especially with it being the first ever 10,000 tacks match for the Knockouts should have had some kind of advance notice, or at the very worst been saved for a PPV match. Instead, TNA gave away for free yet another hardcore-type match with absolutely no notice. Please let this madness stop.

Samoa Joe Sells Out: Okay, let me do a little memory check here. Samoa Joe was one of the original founding members of The Frontline (remember them?) to try and take out the Main Event Mafia. He gets his behind handed to him in a backstage attack that puts him out for weeks. And then, because he got offered a snot-load of money, he decides to join the Mafia? No sense whatsoever here. This whole angle makes absolutely no sense at all. And my desk is getting a dent in it from my hitting my head against it in frustration.

Chris Reed is a new PWTorch Specialist covering TNA Impact with a weekly Hits & Misses column, replacing John Mezzera who is shifting his Thursday duties to the new WWE Superstars program instead.

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