TNA Reaction Report
August 26, 2010
Aired on Spike TV - Official episode #3 (pilot aired 4/12)
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

After TNA Impact went off the air with the usual Impact ending where no one can trust anyone and everyone is out to stab everyone else in the back setting up a post-match angle with TNA, Fortune, and EV2.0, Reaction picked up where Impact left off. Mike Tenay and Taz voice-overed the brawl continuing inside the Impact Zone and the babyfaces continuing to tease tension among themselves. And Tenay is now anti-ECW playing the Michael Cole role. The post-Impact fight continued with Matt Morgan smashing security and trying to go after Mick Foley. The problem is pretty clear that Fortune and EV2.0 are just in the crazy cycle where there's no love and respect. The announcers kept cursing, ya know, because it's real now.

Reaction: Ric Flair is pissed off and done taking orders. Has Mick Foley's patience run out? Foley said Flair is here in his home. Also, Hulk Hogan will predict the next TNA World champion. Eric Bischoff was shown talking about the winner of the tournament proving he's the best in TNA. Next week, the four babyfaces are opposite each other in a tag match. Kurt Angle said he's nervous, but then again, he's always nervous. Mr. Anderson talked in the dark about coming ot TNA to gain titles. The Pope questioned the booking...by Bischoff and Hogan. Hardy said it's all about the World Title here in TNA. Still to come, Madison Rayne makes a promise and Jeff Jarrett reacts to Samoa Joe.

Backstage: Tommy Dreamer was shown calling out to A.J. Styles trying to track him down.

[Commercial Break]

Reaction: They showed RVD being hospitalized after events two weeks. Then, Carter, Hogan, and Bischoff made the "controversial decision" to make a tournament. Angle was shown shaking his head discussing this because it becomes "controversy" whenever you vacate the title. Angle said he has mixed feelings, but he understands management wanted to put together the eight best wrestlers in a tournament. Eight best wrestlers? Based on what criteria? The phantom Rankings that weren't even announced before the tournament? Anyways, Angle continued talked up the other three remaining wrestlers.

Jeff Hardy: can he defeat Kurt Angle at No Surrender and end his career? Back to Angle, who said Hardy needs to mind his own business. More tension being teased among the babyfaces. Angle said Hardy is "only as good as his competitor," saying if the opponent is "horrible," Hardy won't do well. It's a shoot, brother. Angle said Hardy needs someone to push him to push back. They cut to a clip from last week when Mr. Anderson acted serious telling Angle he respects him, booker man. "Have we seen this man's true colors?" the voice-over man said. Back to Angle, who said Anderson is tricky and he's never trusted him.

The Pope: Angle said he believes Pope is the future of TNA and will be champion years from now after his run. He said he believes it will happen very soon for Pope. The voice-over man re-hyped the quest for Bound for Glory. Next Thursday, Angle & Hardy vs. Anderson & Pope. Back to Angle, who said he learned you give everything you can give in the ring, but when you're in a tag match against competitors, you feel out how much to give. Angle said he's going to study and watch and get a good feel on where they are in their careers. It's a scouting opportunity.

Still to come: Impact Player of the Week - Generation Me. What is Madison Rayne's promise and what does Jarrett think of Joe? ... Backstage: Rhino was shown walking down a hallway in the Impact Zone saying he thinks Tommy Dreamer will kick Styles's ass if he puts his mind to it. He said Ric Flair and Fortune started something he can't finish. Rhino said you won't want to miss it.

[Commercial Break]

September 5: four are destined for greatness at No Surrender. ... Tonight, will Dreamer finally find Styles? Dreamer went looking for Styles again. ... Locker room: Doug Williams was shown talking about how much he can't stand the ECW wrestlers because they're not real pro wrestlers and are garbage wrestlers. Williams said he's trying to push pro wrestling to a new level by concentrating on the "wrestling." They went to clips from Hardcore Justice as Rhino said hwy "beat each other up just because of something they believed in." And that would be what? Rhino said they just wanted to re-capture that without people running in. he said they kicked each other's asses, then hugged it out afterward.

Backstage: Sabu was shown saying he wants Doug Williams. Back to Williams in the locker room, said Sabu brings "that style" EV2.0 is known for and was a forerunner of the X Division style. He said unless Sabu concentrates on his ground game, he won't be able to overcome him because he's used to high-flying tactics. With things reaching a boiling point, here's Abyss. Abyss was shown stroking Janice and saying "they" have a plan that's going very smoothly right now. Abyss said he will pave the way by destroying Rhino, Jeff Hardy, Dreamer, and Rob Van Dam. Back to Rhino, who said he thinks Fortune is "they." He said you never know in wrestling and basically said he doesn't know how the storyline will turn out. Rhino continued to curse. Back to Doug Williams, who said they showed EV2.0 a lesson. Rhino said they just wanted to say good-bye, but (bleep) (bleep) (bleep).

Williams said it wasn't just the PPV, but they decided to show up on Impact. James Storm said they are TNA and have been around since the very beginning. Mamaluke and Guido said they aren't stepping stones for anyone right now. Robert Roode, talking about their match vs. FBI on Impact, said that's what happens when you send little boys to go after them grown men. Roode said it was only the beginning. Mamaluke said they might have picked up the tab for Beer Money, but they just need another shot. Back to Williams, who said they try to promote the art form of pro wrestling, while EV2.0 comes it at like they're undisciplined brawlers, which means no respect. Williams said it's a sport and there are rules. He said Dreamer needs to learn the rules. He was asked if he plays by the rules and he took the question in stride, saying with a straight-face that he does.

[Commercial Break]

Still to come: A look ahead to EV2.0 vs. Fortune in an eight-man tag main event next week. ... Backstage: Stevie Richards said it's pretty funny A.J. Styles is saying this is the house he built. Richards said his good friend, Tommy Dreamer, is going to wrap his fist around Styles's head. He tossed out the "receipt" word. Ya know, because it's real. Richards said the night has only just begun. He said it's about to get a lot worse for Styles tonight.

Next week: TNA Title tournament participants in the tag match. Backstage, Eric Bischoff dramatically set up Hogan's proclamation to put the contenders in a tag match right before the PPV, saying it's "unprecedented" and "controversial." It is? Bischoff said they're trying to make money for this company. Bischoff said the champion will prove his merit and if it has to be in a tag match, then so be it. Backstage, Mr. Anderson talked about his journey through the independents and said he came to TNA to get the job done, whatever it takes.

Pope was backstage next. He said he can't believe this is being done and he doesn't understand it. Pope said he's just coming off his injury and now that could be jeopardized with this tag match. He said he knows Hogan and Bischoff want to give the fans the best, but it's questionable what's going on. Pope talked about Angle snapping on him in the main event, and there's no way he wants to team with Angle. Jeff Hardy was shown next saying he's a little upset with the tag match. It's a shoot, brother.

Backstage: Hulk Hogan said they need a champion after RVD was wiped out like a tsunami. Then why are they waiting two months to determine a champion? Hogan said he over-rode Dixie Carter's decision and the decision is final to do this tournament and tag match. It's a shoot, brother. This show has degenerated into a mind-numbing and laughable mix of "worked shoots" that just comes across so messy and inefficient.

Mystery biker: They transitioned into a series of clips on the mystery biker woman hanging around with Madison Rayne. Angelina Love and Velvet Sky said they're messing with the wrong "bitches." Madison said her bodyguard has her own retribution to get. Back to Velvet and Angelina, who said they created a group like no other. She said people have tried to be like them and join their group, but there's no replacing them. Velvet sent a message to the "not cool" wannabees that they'll never be like them. They needed some direction on that promo, as it was aimless and all over the place.

[Commercial Break]

Impact: They cut to footage from Impact where GenMe faced the TNA tag champs Motor City Machineguns. Highspots. Guns get the win. Backstage: Matt Jackson was shown talking about it being an honor to be in the ring with the Guns. He said they've watched their matches for years and they wish the result was different. Nick Jackson said it's their dream.

Impact Players of the Week: Generation Me. Nick talked about their faith and believing they could get to this point. Matt said he feels they were brought to this spot to change the perception of wrestlers. He said they're drug-free and don't party. Matt said they want to change the business. The broadcast cut to old-school footage of the Guns growing up as backyard wrestlers and then becoming "indy tag team champions." Such a derogatory term used by TNA meant to be an insult.

Back to the Jacksons saying they didn't have a back-up plan besides being pro wrestlers. Nick said everyone thought they were crazy. Cut to a clip from December 2009 when they had a try-out match with the Guns before Dixie Carter announced they were officially part of the roster. Nick said the art form of tag wrestling has been lost, but he believes TNA has brought it back. Matt said they could have wrestled elsewhere, but they believe they have an opportunity to show off their art form. Fine and good, but there needs to be something on competing for titles and trying to earn more prestige by winning matches. It's not the Jacksons, but the entire theme of TNA's product and this show (outside of Anderson's comments) talking about a "style" or an "art form," but no talk of winning championships or matches. Without a quest for titles or victories, there is no purpose.

[Commercial Break]

Xplosion clips: Magnus and Desmond Wolfe winning a tag match with the help of Chelsea. They included clips of Jeremy Borash and Taz on commentary. At No Surrender, it's the Guns vs. Wolfe & Magnus for the tag titles. Backstage: Wolfe said they're a fantastic team and the Guns have been having some great matches with Beer Money, but they better be ready. He said they will be a force to be reckoned with. Instead of "having great matches," the verbiage needs to be, "the Guns won matches and won more matches than Beer Money, so they're a force to be reckoned with." It's about winning, not "having a good match" in the context of a wrestling show.

Backstage: Hulk Hogan said he heard Dixie's words earlier, but she needs to remember they're running the company together. Hogan said everyone has "run hard" and he's "run hard," but this company is on the brink of destruction, so they need to find a champion. Then, why wait two months? Hogan said it's his decision and they're going to find out who their champion should be.

What's next for Jeff Jarrett? Jarrett said he just wanted Samoa Joe to stand by his side against Kevin Nash tonight. Jarrett said he wants Joe to help him cut the "cancer" out of TNA, being Sting and Kevin Nash. Backstage, Samoa Joe said Jarrett is talking about the other guys being selfish, but for the first three years he was in TNA, Jarrett "held us all down." He said Jarrett built an "iron fist" keeping them down. Back to Jarrett, who said he felt "huge disappointment" when Joe turned him down. He said he's stated many, many times in interviews that he's done a lot for the young guys in TNA. "For Joe to flat out turn me down when it's no secret I was the guy who picked Joe from the independent scene, that hurt," he said in a true laugh-out-loud moment on the show. Back to Joe, who said everyone is on his list if they stand in his way. He vowed to hurt people.

Mick Foley backstage: Foley talked about himself...and Ric Flair. He said they'll run separate if away from each other, but if put in close confines, they'll inevitably butt heads. Foley said he needs Flair to put the spark in him. He said he doesn't feel like fans have seen the "real Mick Foley" for a long time. He said when he means the real Foley, the guy who put Cactus Jack on the map.

Backstage: Ric Flair walked up to Fortune to say they are TNA. Everyone clapped it up as Matt Morgan towered over the smaller guys. Flair told them it's time to go out and party at the best strip clubs in town. Styles was left along in the locker room when his phone rang. He said he'll catch up with them in a second. No one was on the other line. The door slowly opened behind Styles and Dreamer walked in, apparently walking right past Fortune. Dreamer beat up Styles a bit, then shut off the roving camera as the show cut to credits.

FINAL THOUGHTS: There is so much potential for this show, but this attempt at "worked shoots" aimed at "the Internet" is so inefficient and a complete waste of time. It's just maddening how many tools TNA has at its disposal, but completely wastes them with an out-dated approach that should have died in the late 1990s. The productive promos from the show are wiped out by the attempted "worked shoots."

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "TNA TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Reaction, click here.

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