TNA moves to Monday!

It was TNA wrestling’s big night with the move to Monday so I decided to check out what the new kids on the block had to offer because let’s face it RAW has been less than compelling lately. I taped Vince’s show and haven’t watched it yet to see how they countered but I must say TNA came out of the gate strong with their first show. I’m not going to go in depth but I’m going to comment on each the matches.

The impact zone was ready to explode with the opening and the crowd was more hyped than usual. Hogan’s music is played and he and Abyss come out and the crowd goes berserk. The Hulkster still has it and just his appearance is enough for fans to go wild but the fact that we are getting match is even better. For those not following the storyline Hulk has given his Hall of Fame ring to Abyss to inspire him and that has drove Hall Of Famer Nature Boy Ric Flair insane. Ric and his new protégé AJ Styles jumped Hulk and Abyss and bloodied them that was the set up this grudge match with week with Flair coming out of retirement to get at Hogan. Flair comes in next with AJ who is sporting a look-alike trademark Nature Boy robe that frankly makes him look ridiculous. The whole mini Nature Boy storyline has seemed dumb to me but that where we are.

The match starts with Hogan and Flair facing off and doing there usual tricks but quickly evolves in to a beat down Hogan and Abyss. AJ and Flair have bloodied them again while a worried Brooke Hogan looks on. About this time the lights go out and we hear Sting’s music and the lights come back up with Sting in his late career trademark Crow the movie look with the black baseball bat in hand in the ring. It appears he has come to Hogan’s aid and backs AJ and Flair into the corner but suddenly he attacks both Hogan and Abyss with the bat. This is a surprising turn to me; I had heard that Sting would be back to oppose Flair that would eventually lead to a final match between the two. I had also heard that Hogan was going to turn heel in this match and betray Abyss, but that did not occur. Rightfully so, I think the crowd would have rioted because they were too hyped up over Hogan in his original yellow and orange outfit. Sting leaves and this allows Flair and AJ to further bloodied Hogan. They attempt to leave but Hogan grabs the mic and say the match will be finished later in the show and it will NO DQ so there will be a winner.

After the commercial break Dixie Carter wants answers back stage from Sting but he get physical with her and pushes her up against a wall and tells her he owes her nothing. This was a surprise since Dixie has kept her role with the company mostly off camera; she appears to be at least willing to become more involved in storylines for now. Next up TNA decides to show case one of their strengths of the X Division as Kaz comes out and talks about the division. I’m surprised to see him showcased due to his sex scandal that was a few weeks ago but I guess any publicity is good publicity. This devolves into an argument between Daniels and the current X-Division champ Doug Williams that Bischoff solves by making an impromptu match. It is a good match showcasing homegrown talent but ends with the champ retaining his title. On the way out of the ring Shannon Moore runs in an ambushes the champ Williams and then Bischoff announces he will get a title shot at Destination X the next pay preview.

Dixie continues her stepped up involvement back stage by announcing that Sting has signed a TNA contract and she’s putting him in action tonight against an opponent to be announced. The next match is a three-way match for the vacant women’s tag titles again showcasing another one of TNA strength’s that they have women who look good and can wrestle. The tag titles are vacant because of a dispute between TNA and Awesome Kong who has left the company. No loss as far as I’m concerned her huge bulk made it tough to make any of the other girl’s a credible threat to her. The match is between Taylor Wild and Sarita; the Beautiful people’s Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne with Lacey Von Erich at ringside and the returned Angelina Love and current knockouts champ Tara. The match has some pretty good heat going with the former Beautiful people leader Love raring to get at her former followers. Lacey Von Erich gets in on some action of course by interfering with the match. I am glad to see that haven’t give up on her yet. She can’t wrestle but has a great look and I’ve heard she has enrolled in a wrestling school to improve her skills. This match is again interrupted by Daffney who hits Tara with a title belt knocking her out so the Beautiful People can scoop up the win and the titles. The tag titles seem a perfect fit for the BP right now and should provide ample feud opportunity with Angelina Love. I’m really happy Daffney is getting a push, her crazy Goth girl bit is totally unique and she is headed for a title shot with Tara. She has brutally attacked Tara at least twice now and this should just add fuel to the fire when they finally meet. I hope it will be in cage here in St Louis at Lockdown and if it is I am planning on attending that one. I’m hoping Daffney will be TNA new monster to take Kong’s place.

It’s time for Sting’s match as he comes out to a chorus of boos and stands in the ring waiting for his opponent which I think might be Kurt Angle but we get another surprise as music is played and RVD’s name is on the jumbotron. Sting looks for RVD but gets hit from behind by him for a quick pin to which RVD celebrates by his usual climbing the corner to play to the crowd. I thought that would be it but Sting is really selling the heel turn and beats the hell out of RVD with his bat several times. Each time I think it’s over he goes back and hits RVD again. This prompts a bloodied Hogan to come out to stop it but he is being held back by security. Sting continues his assault on RVD and then hits Hogan with the bat in his ribs. Adding RVD to the TNA mix should be interesting

Next after the break Kevin Nash and Eric Young come to the ring with a contract to face Scott Hall and Shawn Waltman at Destination X, they call the pair out they have been feuding with since they turned on Nash for not getting them a TNA contact. They won’t agree to the match unless they get a permanent contract with TNA. Bischoff breaks in via video from backstage and agrees to them getting a contract if they win with the stipulation that if they lose they are gone. I’m not sure where this one is going neither Hall or Waltman are reliable since they have drug and alcohol problems. A fight breaks out between Waltman and Young that leads to a match. Waltman surprises me and holds his own and actually looks okay in the ring but loses to Eric Young.

US Army troops arrive to back up Kurt Angle and continue his feud with Mr. Anderson over the stolen medal that a soldier gave Angle but Anderson now has. The troops end up being lumberjacks around the ring as Angle gives Anderson a beat down. This feud has some legs and should continue for a while. Somewhere during the show I can’t remember where the Pope appears backstage for an interview that gets cut short by Desmond Wolf who attacks him and re-injures Pope’s leg postponing their match. Too bad the two homegrown talents are getting squeezed out of this broadcast by the newcomers. Jeff Jarrett appears in handicap match against the now little used Beer Money and gets beat down to continue Bischoff vs. Jarrett story line.

Before the main event a tearful Brooke Hogan appears back stage and begs her dad not to go out, but the Hulkster refuses but does agree to her wish for this to be his last match. Brooke’s acting ability in this scene is somewhat questionable. It’s main event time as the AJ/Flair vs. Hogan/Abyss match continues with No DQ. Many rules are broken and predictable Flair’s head is busted open along with Hogan again too. Pretty decent match with team Hogan getting the victory but Desmond Wolf decided to run into the ring and attack Hogan and Abyss too. AJ, Flair and Wolf continue their assault on team Hogan and bloody the pair more prompting the Pope to come to the rescue. He turns the tide for a moment but Wolf attacks his injured leg and now the three are getting beat on. I think the night is through with surprises but Jeff Hardy’s music is played and he hits the ring and cleans house on everybody and mostly on AJ Style to end the show.

Quite a first show, TNA came out strong and will have to be as Vince’s crew moves towards Wrestlemania. I’m sure Vince still won the rating war but Dixie Carter’s product was better tonight even with out seeing RAW yet. Whether TNA can put together this good a show week in and week out remains to be seen. Jeff Hardy legal trouble limits what they can do with him but I’d love to see him and AJ Styles go at it. RVD was rumored to be coming but was still a surprise to me and should work in the X-Division or in Main Events. Some of the TNA staples were missing No Team 3D, Machine Guns, or Rhino. Do they fit in the schedule of the new TNA? We’ll have to see.