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Wrestling’s 4R’s 3.25.13: WWE Smackdown & TNA IMPACT Wrestling Reviewed
How the 4R’s of wRestling Work!
Here is a quick explanation of the 4R’s. The column will run TWO times a week. We will group our feelings on the shows in various categories: The Right, the wRong and the Ridiculous. The Right is stuff that worked very well: a great promo, a great match and so on. PuRgatoRy is a section between the right and wrong. It shows equal traits from both sides that cannot be ignored and needs discussed. It is not a bad place per say, as things can get remedied or go the wrong way the very next week. The wRong is what it sounds like: bad matches, bad or boring promos and so on. The Ridiculous is stuff that had no right on TV: Stupid angles and so on. And there is always a possibility of a 5th R, which is as bad as they come. This column is supposed to be analytical, and at the right time very critical of the shows, it was the whole reason it was created. This is not a “mark” column, nor a “smark” column, our goal is to analyze the show from many different fronts, reward the good and call out the bad. We will not apologize for our opinions, they are as they are, whether positive or negative.
Impact 3.21.13:
By: Jack McGee
QUICK RESULTS:
Austin Aries and Bobby Roode © defeated Chavo and Hernandez via pin: this was fine follow up from last week. Chavo and Hernandez has a title match set, but were attacked by Aces and 8s, so this week they finally got the match. They had a good outing, both teams worked hard, and the finish saw Bad Influence get involved to cost Chavo and Hernandez the match. Aries and Roode retain, and are making me care about the titles, while Bad Influence will provide great foils, promos and matches as we head forward. I am all for this feud.
Aces and 8s Explained: Overall I really liked this, partly because Bully Ray was completely awesome, partly because this was some of TNA’s best video work, and finally because they worked really hard to recover the damage that had been done to Aces and 8s. I get that there was an end game, but I also agree with many that the stable should have been booked stronger than they were leading up to the reveal instead of a bunch of bumbling idiots. This was some great recovery work from TNA and just some well-done stuff. Here is the series of videos all in one, check them out and appreciate the good work.
Taryn Terrell is Fired – Taryn Terrell is Hired: This was so simplistic that I really liked it.
It was simple, it wasn’t overly complicated, there were no swerves and it all worked perfectly fine because there was a beginning, middle and end to the point that they are at. I also agree with Csonka, can she keep the tiny shorts please? PLEASE?
Jeff Hardy defeated Magnus, Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle via pin: And this was a fine main event to close the show. This was a match that meant something, the crowd reacted to it, it got time and it was quality. I did find it interesting that the crowd was very into Joe and Angle; but not Hardy who the company sees as a “rock star.” I also liked Magnus getting some run in the match; he’s young, talented, always getting better and could be a player in the near future for the company. Hardy winning is fine, as he needs to be the first to go after revenge, and that also hopefully means that he isn’t the guy to get the big revenge for the company. As I mentioned above, that should be and needs to be AJ Styles. This was a good way to close out a good show.
Opening Promo: While the show’s opening promo set up the main event of the show, I honestly feel that they didn’t need it, or at least they didn’t need to do it the way they did it. It simply felt as if that they were wasting time with the segment, which could have been easily set up backstage instead of trotting everyone out there, especially Hogan limping to the ring for five minutes. It just did nothing for me, they all stood there, Hulk offered Hardy his rematch and kisses the asses of Joe, Magnus and Angle for not getting their asses beaten as badly as the other guys, and then, Hardy says he may not be ready for the rematch, and suggests a four-way while the others stand their with the dicks in their hands. Take it backstage, they all want to beat down Bully Ray, they all want the title shot, Hogan rewards them for being warriors and the match is made Short, sweet, simple and to the point.
X-Division Title Match – New X-Division Rules: TNA launched the “Next Generation” of the X-Division this week, with mixed results. They made the new rules, 230-pound weight limit, all title matches are triple threat matches, and all contender matches are triple threat matches. I am not sure I like it. I feel that constant triple threat matches will get tiresome, and they really need to bring in some fresh talent to make it work. I will take a wait and see approach with it, TNA has a sketchy history with launching bold new ideas and then backing off after it becomes too much trouble for them to manage. The match this week was fine, a bit short and it had to get through some rough waters, but in the end it came off pretty well. I will agree with others that Dutt is a guy that should be back full time, and not being brought in to look good and put everyone else over, when he clearly has a lot to offer. Lets just hope that the latest vision of the X-Division will stick and the division gets back to being a fun part of the company.
The AJ Styles Saga Continues: I think most will agree that AJ Styles is not playing the part of Sting, TNA is WCW and the Aces and 8s are the nWo. Now I know that many will complain about been there and done that, but it isn’t exactly the same thing, and it isn’t the worst idea in the world. AJ, the guy that built the company, burned in a match that will not allow him to win the title he feels he needs. He leaves, disgruntled, and TNA wants him back and they want answers. I can see the reign on Aces and 8s going on for months, AJ returning, winning the BFG Series and defeating Bully Ray at BFG for the title and HUGE moment. That ‘s where I feel it is going, and from what I can see, a lot of people do. This week’s promo segment was fine, AJ stayed silent, Storm got to vent his frustrations, Taz tried to stir the pot and it mostly worked. I could have done without Tenay’s “are you on drugs and booze” deal, but it was solid. We’re definitely in a wait and see deal with this, but so far, it is fine.
Matt Morgan defeated Joseph Park via pin: Two things on this one put this into the wrong for me. First of all this was not a good match. It was five or so minutes of shit in the ring, neither guy looked good at all, and it was laughable when Morgan fell on his ass during his finish. Secondly, this felt so out of place on the show. Yes they set it up last week (which again they could have done without) but the show overall felt very focused: Aces and 8s reveal, X-Division relaunch, women’s angle, AJ follow up, make up tag match from last week; it all flowed well and made sense. This felt forced into the show, and I honestly think they could have done without it. It honestly would have made the show better.
Nothing
I really liked the show this week. They explained the Aces and 8s deal, and may have actually saved the nine months of shit booking for the guys that are not Bully Ray. They relaunched the X-Division, they continued the AJ Styles deal, Aries and Roode are still great and overall it was an easy show to watch. The last two weeks of TNA TV, in my opinion, has been a lot more fun to watch than WWE’s TV; especially this week. Show Rating: 7.9 As a reminder, I will be going by the 411 scale… 0 – 0.9: Torture |
By: Tony Acero
Smackdown! 03.22.13:
QUICK RESULTS
– Mark Henry Defeated Zack Ryder [NR]
– Dolph Ziggler Defeated Kofi Kingston [**1/2]
– Jack Swagger Defeated Chris Jericho [***1/2]
– The Phat Boyz Fought Team Rhodes Scholars to a No Contest [NR]
– The Miz Defeated Antonio Cesaro [*]
– Randy Orton, Sheamus and The Big Show Defeated 3MB [*1/2]
SWAGGER-JACKED: I love the fact that Zeb pronounces Mexican names better than my mother does. Solid match here, and although it was a repeat, it felt different. I’ve spoke about the Fandango character, particularly how I thought Curtis had talent and great timing, but hindering him with this gimmick could hurt him. Tonight, however, really stuck out as some sort of action on his part, and it felt right. I think the gimmick still needs work, but having him actually do something was great, and although there are many that don’t support the match he will be having with Jericho, we have to consider the fact that Jericho may very well have chosen Fandango. Who knows, maybe they road trip together or something. Anyways, for those that haven’t seen Curtis, he can go. The gimmick will (hopefully) be pushed down as his talent shines. Solid Swagger/Jericho match, and a build to a match that no one wants to see but can very well surprise a number of us. I did question the necessity for the stage setup during the match. Wouldn’t Jericho, hypothetically, have seen them dragging that big ass streamer-filled entrance thing onto the stage?
Oh, and the minor exchange between Cole and JBL was hilarious!
Cole: What is he doing?
JBL: He’s Fandangoing.
I don’t know why I found that so funny.
PHAT BOYYZZZZZ: This was a setup for a Mania match, and I’m ok with it. I’d rather have Cody and Damien taking the titles away from Team Hell No, but we need at least one match for the kids, right?
HENRY DOES WHAT HE DO: Sometimes, we wrestling fans just want to see shit happen, and if you weren’t the least bit excited when Ryback and Henry had themselves an old-fashioned stand-off just before imploding! They gave Ryback the upperhand here, and Henry continues to have the best dialogue ever! This is simple booking that works, especially considering the players.
THE SHIELD: The Main Event was alright, but the tension between Show, Sheamus and Orton seemed kinda forced. I’m sure the match is going to be great, I smell a heel turn for Orton, and I think that will mean a win for The Shield, I just don’t know what they’ll be doing after. Anyways, can’t complain too much, since we knew what we were getting. Kudos to 3MB for being a great job squad.
MIZ TV: The Miz still sucks as a face, and I think it’s just because it all feels so damned forced! Just stop! Anyways, this segment didn’t go on all that long, but it did feel somewhat unnecessary, and not like they couldn’t have done something like it in the back – without The Miz. He really didn’t need to be there, and his interjections came off as annoying. Other than that, I thought Orton playing peacekeeper was interesting, and the moment I heard Cole agree with me was the moment I knew Orton was going heel. I don’t know if he’ll go full heel during the match (you never go full heel, right?), or afterwards at Mania, but I think it’s coming. All in all, it made the match we knew was going to happen official, and set up the main event, so it wasn’t offensive, it just wasn’t needed.
DOLPH V KOFI ∀ : First off, I have to confess that I’m a bit bothered with the fact that all of a sudden, Dolph is on a winning streak. In typical WWE fashion, they want you to forget everything prior to the last few weeks as they try to force the fact that Dolph has been “on a winning streak at the right time.” It’s kind of insulting. Still, this was a good match – although there are really only so many times we can see Dolph v Kofi. Another issue I had with this match – and this is going to sound completely out of character for me – was the amount of time they focused on the commentary booth during the match. I LOVE AJ, but I can stare at her on my own time. Having her on commentary was so-so, but the point was made in the fact that you could hear her voice. There was very little reason to take the camera off of the action, and the WWE is known for doing this. I find it a bit insulting to the story that’s being told in the ring, and to be fair, I just want to see the match.
Ah, I feel better
THE MIZ: So apparently, there’s going to be a match with The Miz and Wade Barrett. That’s all fine and dandy, but why the fuck did we have to have Cesaro lose to Miz in under three minutes, get a jobber’s entrance, and be considered an afterthought to a feud that has nothing going for it. Seriously, what’s the story here? And more than that, who cares? Neither man is focusing on the title around Cesaro’s waist cuz it doesn’t mean a damned thing, nor does Cesaro. And what’s with Miz going all heel at the end there, by locking in a submission after he already won? This was all kinds of wRong and I just don’t get their mentality regarding it all.
RECAPS: I know, I know, it’s Mania season, but damn there was a lot of RAW on tonight’s Smackdown…
NOTHING
I thought a few matches were good, but I’m not sure stuff really advanced here outside of Jericho and Fandango. The six-man, we already know what was going down. I enjoyed the Henry and Ryback interaction, and Swagger and Jericho had another great match, but I did feel a little under whelmed this week. Not upsetting, just…made me curious because it felt like a holding pattern, and I’m expecting excitement in every show leading to Mania. Is that asking for too much? SHOW RATING: 7.0 |
YEAR IN REVIEW (PPV) by Csonka:
TOP PPVs:
TOP PPV MATCHES:
http://www.twitter.com/411wrestling
http://www.twitter.com/411moviestv
http://www.twitter.com/411music
http://www.twitter.com/411games
http://www.twitter.com/411mma
