Torch Feedback Thursday Night TV Reax #2: "TNA hasn't totally learned from its mistakes, but this episode had plenty of good signs"
Oct 3, 2009 - 10:24:42 AM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY
We are looking for Reax to last night's WWE Smackdown. Send your review and 0-10 score to pwtorch@gmail.com
-- 10/1 WWE Superstars Reax
Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: Orton video; Miz vs. Kofi. Worst: Sheamus vs. Reks. Another solid outing for Superstars and a good lead-in for the one PPV match. JTG vs. D.H. Smith on Smackdown was pretty good; Shad vs. Kidd was better. There isn't much left to the Cryme Tyme-Hart Dynasty feud without titles to gun after. Just about every sort of combination of standard matches has happened. Reks vs. Sheamus, oddly enough, suffered from the commentary. The match was okay, nothing fancy, but nothing embarrassing. Sheamus looked TOO pale tonight, making me wonder if he's being made up to look so. And Striker missed the mark on guessing that Sheamus was albino; Sheamus would also be void of his striking red hair. Sheamus would have to look like Edgar Winter to fit the term. What was the purpose of "relocating" Kofi's country of origin? I hope that it wasn't something to appease Al Sharpton with. I don't expect fans will suddenly make signs with Ghanan flags on them; that was just awkward. The match itself was perfectly fine; however, the storyline thefts were nowhere to be discussed on commentary during this match. Swagger was willing to give the title back right before the PPV when he wasn't this past week? Do I smell the jobber in that match?
-- 10/1 TNA Impact Reax
Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Foley-Abyss exchange. Worst: Traci vs. Christy. TNA hasn't totally learned from its mistakes, but this episode had plenty of good signs within it. Right out of the gate, there was follow-up to the tape-smashing conclusion last week. Just about every blank left last week was filled in this week, as well as nicely tying the segment to the Legends title match. Abyss is drawn as a groupie-like fan of Foley who would do anything to live up to his inspiration. Mick's oratory probably rings some truth in the wrestling world: not all those who are on the receiving end of the torch are truly worthy. From those I know who are familiar with Amazing Red, his little bit of a promo was his first words. It was a nice touch to have him celebrate his win and set his goal at winning the title. Wish I had more hope for his push, but at least he's at least acknowledged as alive. Was Creed sick before the match? I'd hate to think that his upchuck was the result of something during the match (Bashir's piledriver followed by the huracanrana). He didn't look very good afterwards, and I don't think it was selling. Didn't he not all that long ago suffer a fairly serious concussion? Tenay was all kinds of awkward putting over Playboy. I can understand the color commentator drooling to put over Traci's pictorial, but the starch-collared Professor? The match ended like every WWE Playboy match did...with a win by the opponent. For being The Chosen One, who is supposed to be so good, when has Traci Brooks actually won since the battle royal she wasn't even a part of officially? I'd be curious to see how the trick of Angle becoming the Abyss fan in the crowd was pulled off. Crowd gave it away in the moment, though, kind ruining what was some odd foreshadowing. Nothing personal against Lacey Von Erich, but the Beautiful People have now jumped the shark adding her in. Plus, that's one more female on the roster without giving time to the others who recently came on board. World Elite has been given something The Frontline never had: backbone in a faction feud. Eric Young is fabulous as the WE leader, and is being portrayed as very organized, eloquent, and controlled in his emotions. I still see a squashing of
World Elite in the future, but less so right now. A very good sign, indeed.
We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on these shows for a "TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on recent TV shows, click here.
THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.
He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.
He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).
He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)
REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.
Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.
The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...
-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars. **SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**