Instant Reaction - TNA Impact 7/17
By Benjamin Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist

Overall Score - 8.5

By trimming down the number of talking segments, increasing the quality of wrestling, and working in front of a better atmosphere, I thought TNA delivered its most cohesive and entertaining television show in a long time. Every single aspect of the show delivered on some front, from the great X Division gauntlet battle royal to the hard-hitting Hardy-Lashley main event. Storylines were developed without overexposing characters, each segment had its own time to breathe, and I came away from the show feeling satisfied yet ready for more. If this is the product TNA is keen on producing in the future, then I'm all in.

There are a few potential criticisms of the show, one of which is pertaining to the use of aging ECW talents throughout a large chunk of the program. On one hand, the ECW retread storylines have indeed been done to death, but I believe they have value in the right situation. Veteran stars like Tommy Dreamer appeased the New York crowd, while also putting over the current Bully Ray-Carter storyline and giving credibility to guys like EC3, who defeated Dreamer in front of his home market. I thought the ECW throwback open to the show was a great way to kick off Impact, keeping the crowd hot and making the show feel like a major happening. While the match itself wasn't a technical masterpiece, I thought it was fine for what it was and didn't overstay its welcome.

The true in-ring highlights of the program took place in the two title matches of the night. The X Division gauntlet battle royal was a real treat to watch, with many crisp high-flying spots and a fairly dramatic ending once it came down to Austin Aries and Sanada. It's competitive matches like these that can re-energize the X Division. Tonight showed that, if provided the chance, the talent can get the job done.

Impact's main event of Jeff Hardy vs. Lashley was shockingly entertaining. Lashley hasn't been known for his in-ring prowess, but I thought he delivered a quality main event with the challenger, delivering convincing nearfalls and brutal-looking bumps, most notably Hardy's insane swanton onto the steel steps. However, this match did highlight one of TNA's larger lingering issues: the announce team. Perhaps jaded for commentating on the product for too long, Mike Tenay acts as if nothing impresses him. He announces on two levels: conversation mode or mild yelling. He does not do enough to prepare the viewers for insane moves such as Hardy's swanton, calling these incredible feats as if they're a regular move. "Hardy's going up top! Wow, Taz, what a maneuver. Did you see that? Okay, let's move on to the next spot." On a show as good as I thought tonight's was, rough work such as this stands out even more.

These were the highlights of the program, but there was a lot else to enjoy. The Team Canada reunion match was fine, and the women's contest went way above my expectations. I thought the show-closing segment was strong as well, continuing to build a massive amount of heat for when Dixie Carter is finally put through a table. It feels fresh to have a consistently face authority figure, and James Storm is delivering great work as the slimy, dastardly, manipulative heel.

I believe Impact's first showing from New York was a rousing success. For any fans who have soured on the product lately, I encourage you to check out this week's program. To me, the company feels fresh and rejuvenated for the first time in a long while, and it's a pleasure to see.

Any questions or comments? Message me on Twitter @BTuckertorch!

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