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CORNER CUBE FRIDAY 6/27 - TNA effectively sold the cheap magic trick on Impact Jun 27, 2008 - 3:43:17 PM
Last night's TNA Impact was quite the show. For whatever reason, the first thing that comes to mind is that ridiculous gimmick for Moose that's one part Duke the Dumpster Droese and one part T.L. Hopper. But, the gimmick stands out, so in TNA's world, it works.
TNA usually runs into the problem where there's too much packed onto the show and not much stands out. We all know the song and dance about throwing several potentially convoluted storylines against the wall to see what sticks. Last night, though it was very refreshing to see TNA take their time telling this week's stories.
One example was the Christian vs. Brother Ray match. Even though they were going for the "never before seen...ever...we mean it...really, please, pay attention" theme out of desperation to keep people tuned in for a Brother Ray match, and even though the glass table spot with Christian was absurdly cheap-looking, they sold the angle effectively.
A magician can stand on stage with a torn-up hat and a lifeless rabbit, but if he makes the audience believe it's a heck of a rabbit-out-of the-hat trick, then it works. (Will Arnett's George Bluth character from Arrested Development couldn't make it work.) TNA pulled off the cheap rabbit trick last night, even adding a medical update on Christian later in the show. Score one point for TNA in the injury angle category.
TNA typically overplays a weak hand in that situation, but the angle was given a chance to resonate with the audience after giving it time to breathe. Usually, TNA doesn't allow a segment like that to breathe, but they showed discipline to take their time without immediately jumping backstage to a meaningless interview or skit.
Elsewhere on the show, it was typical Samoa Joe fare with Joe thinking he has it all figured out, then being shown up by Booker T several times in the main event. It's frustrating watch the decline of Joe on TV each week. Viewers just want to see him kick some ass in the ring, not standing backstage in his touristy clothes listening to the silver fox Kevin Nash.
At this point, I'm saying it's in TNA's best interest to put the belt on Booker at the PPV in Houston and let Joe chase for a while. Unless TNA has a major plan in the works to take this negative presentation and completely turn it around with Joe presented as a credible babyface champion, it's not worth the trouble of him holding the belt right now.
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