TNA Impact Insight 2.19.05

Posted by Steve Cook on 02.19.2005

2 points of view on Against All Odds, and Chris Candido owns you all!

TNA Impact Insight 2.19.05

Teaser: 2 points of view on Against All Odds, and Chris Candido owns you all!


Hello everybody and welcome to TNA Impact Insight! I am the Impact Playa Steve Cook, and this week we are coming off of TNA’s 4th pay per view, Against All Odds! Now, I didn’t see the show because I live in a dorm without PPV access. But I hear things from both extremes…first let’s hear from frequent e-mailer & TNA fan Mcliff.

”Against All Odds was once again another great TNA PPV. The only match that sucked terribly was the Jeff Hammond match. Nash and Jarrett surprisingly put on an entertaining match, though it was no wrestling classic. Funny how Jarrett found the loop hole in Dusty's no guitar rule and used a chello. AJ once again had the match of the night, 3rd PPV in which he did (Victory Road, Final Resolution, and Against All Odds). It was a ****1/4-***** match in my opinion, though I'm no wrestling writer and have only been watching for what's been close to 5 years (even though I read up on almost everything that's happened in wrestling since Starrcade '83 to get caught up with a lot of history in wrestling). Daniels must be credited as well and I liked how they only made it 2-1 falls instead of 6 falls in 30 min. The sudden death thing made it a lot more cool and made both men look strong. AJ was leaking blood almost like Austin at Wrestlemania 13! Wish Shane and Kazarian went over, when booked right, they remind me of Edge and Christian, though I hate to compare. Billy Gunn and Sean Waltman showing up was a shock. I'm glad Raven went over and I thought his match was fairly decent. Dusty Rhodes always knows how to do something to piss me off. First it was always trying to get Jeff Hardy the NWA belt, now it's his slick way of booking himself as a ladies man having Traci and Trinity by his side (yeah right).”

So there’s a favorable review, with some Dusty bashing thrown in. Good stuff, and as future note, anybody who bashes Dusty is going to get some space in one of my columns. It’s one of my favorite things to do, ever. On the other end of the spectrum we have 411 columnist Will English, in comments taken from a thread at TWTF.com’s message board.

”Yup.

Worst PPV ever.”

“This is fuckin ridiculous.”

“Man oh man, I don't even know if I can support TNA at ALL after this.”

“I'm sorry to say this, to Larry.

But as far as I'm concerned, after tonight, TNA is WORTHLESS to me.”

I should note that was posted during the main event….and Will didn’t even buy the show, he just based his hostile reaction off what he read. Pretty much like most IdubyaC folks. But there you have it, two different perspectives from one person who watched the show and one who didn’t. Who says I’m not fair and balanced?

Ah yes, we do have a show today. Monty Brown vs. Lance Hoyt is your main event, and we’ll find out who’s facing Jeff Jarrett for the NWA title at Destination X. So let’s get it started!

This is TNA…the new face of professional wrestling.

We open to pictures from Against All Odds featuring Jeff Hammond, Hardly & Jarrett. Not to mention Styles, Daniels, Waltman…and the New Age Outlaw? Can’t believe that name slipped out of WWE’s hands.

By name I’m referring to the actual name, not the wrestler. I can believe Billy Gunn slipped out of WWE’s hands.

IMPACT ZONE! HOT CHICKS! FANS! PYRO!

“Iron” Mike Tenay & “Dandy” Don West yap about Against All Odds some, then they kick it to footage from the Best Damn Super Bowl Road Show Period, where our world champion whacked Diamond Dallas Page with a guitar. Page sold it kinda like Terry Funk ripping off Fred Stanford. Jarrett had more luck that weekend than the Philadelphia Eagles, whose jersey he was sporting.

Match 1: 10 minute time limit

Michael Shane (w/Kazarian & Mad Libs) vs. Ron “The Truth” Killings (w/B.G. James & Konnan)

Kazarian has a Mad Libs book in his back pocket. I wonder if that’s his going away present from somebody in the locker room. Konnan speaks on this, and then B.G. introduces the first NWA TNA Afro-American world champion. Truth is apparently eligible for the X Division now, as Tenay says this match is part of a series that will help determine who gets to be in the Ultimate X match at Destination X. The stipulations for this Ultimate X are a bit different from before, and quite frankly they’re kinda confusing, so we’ll go over that a little bit later. In more pre-match banter, there was a sign saying “Shazarian 4 Tag Champs”. I didn’t know Takerfan was in attendance for this week. Tie up into an arm wringer by Shane, reversed, into the corner, Shane with a kick, punches back and forth, Truth goes up top and hits a front dropkick. Punches, whip reversed, elbow by Truth. Shane then dumps Truth onto the apron, Truth with punches, but Kaz yanks Truth off the apron and punches away before putting him back into the ring! Scandal! Shane knocks Truth down and covers for 2. Slam by Shane, he goes up top but Truth gets up and crotches him. He picks Shane up and hits a fisherman’s shoulder breaker. That gets a replay! Punches, whip reversed, Truth does a cartwheel, splits under Shane’s punch, and kicks Shane! Another kick, then Kaz bounces Truth’s neck off the top rope. Shane tries a vertical suplex but Truth slips out, pushes Shane into Kaz, and hits the scissor kick for 3!

Your winner: Ron “The Truth” Killings (3:42)

My Insight: Pretty good match here, nothing too special, but nothing to complain too much about. One wonders how Truth will fit into the X Division, but at least they’re doing SOMETHING with him now. It’s good for 2 Traci moons, which I bet Shane & Kaz still miss.

Ultimate X commercial voiced by Darth Vader. OK…so basically it starts out as a tag team match. Once somebody is pinned it becomes a triple threat. Then when somebody gets pinned it officially becomes an Ultimate X match, and you have to climb the cables and such to get the X title belt. I like that they’re switching it up, but I dunno if it’s a good idea to have another one of these things just 2 months after the last one.

Against All Odds commercial…am I the only one disturbed by Mike Tenay yelling “Ride him baby!” during Waltman’s bronco buster?

Destination X commercial

Shane Douglas talks to Christopher Daniels. Daniels says the only thing phenomenal about A.J. Styles is his luck. But he won’t dwell on the past, instead he’ll bitch and moan about Duthy making him earn a spot in Ultimate X. But it doesn’t matter because he’ll run through the X Division, and it’s Gospel.

Match 2: 10 minute time limit

Buck Quartermain & Lex Lovett vs. The Naturals (Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas) w/Chris Candido

Candido is now a mentor figure to the Naturals, that or he’s using them in a plot to gain power in TNA. Hey, Tenay threw that out there. The jobbers are wearing matching white TNA shirts to the ring…how precious! Stevens & LL set it off, tie up, off the ropes, LL slips out of a hip toss but Stevens hits a clothesline. He drives LL’s head into the top turnbuckle and tags in Douglas. They double team LL in the corner, then Douglas hits a high knee. Punch and a tag to Stevens, head to the knee gets 2. Punches by Stevens, he drives LL’s head into Douglas’ boot, then they double team while the ref is distracted. LL does a chop, but Douglas chokes him on the rope while Candido yells at him. Douglas hits a low blow in the corner, whips him off the ropes, LL hits a Throwback! Ah, I remember when John Cena used that move, and other wrestling holds. Tag to Buck! Douglas hits an eyepoke, whip reversed and Douglas tumbles out of the ring like a drunk man. Stevens gets beat up in the ring as it’s breaking loose in Orlando! Buck suplexes Douglas back in the ring, and both Buck & LL hit Falcon Arrows for 2! Candido distracts Buck and Buck goes outside to fight him, which gives the Naturals the chance to hit the Natural Disaster on LL for 3!

Your winners: The Naturals (3:35)

Candido tosses Buck back in and they hit a Natural Disaster on him! The fans say they suck.

My Insight: Good stuff here. I’m liking the Naturals/Candido trio, as Candido can help them become better pure heels. All these Naturals need is some more seasoning, and having a veteran like Candido in their corner can’t hurt. I give this 3 Traci moons, one for each Natural & Candido. Buck & Lex are good for jobbing.

Against All Odds replay commercial

Traci walks up to the truck and sees Dustin Rhodes & AMW looking for something. They find a bull rope, and Dustin tells her to give the D.O.A. the contract for him vs. Raven at Destination X in a bull rope match. Smell the ratings! Serious question though…why doesn’t Dustin talk to his father himself? Shortly after this Abyss enters the truck and scares the crap out of Traci. Apparently he smells bad. He stuffs a rolled up paper in Traci’s pants and does his pose thingy. Traci is quite disgusted.

I can think of something I wouldn’t mind stuffing into her pants, but it ain’t a rolled up paper.

Thank you, I’m here all weekend!

Match 3: 10 minute time limit

Mikey Batts & Romeo vs. Phi Delta Slam (Big Bruno & Big Till) w/Trinity

Where’s Jerrelle Clark? Did he disappear along with Global Furry? I also have to point out that Romeo’s new hairstyle is butt ugly and these Phi Delta Slam guys are pretty fat. Romeo & Bruno start the match, tie up into the corner and Bruno hits a shoulderblock. Romeo with some punches, off the ropes, blind tag to Batts, shoulderblock to Romeo, Batts tries a leg lariat but Bruno just catches him and hits a back suplex. Tag to Big Till, Batts punches away on him with no effect whatsoever. Till whips him and hits a double chokelift into a slam. Tag to Bruno, double suplex. Whip, chop down by Bruno, tag to Till. Off the ropes, shot by Bruno, kick to the head by Till, and a clothesline by Bruno. That was pretty cool. Tag to Bruno, he kicks Batts, but Batts hits an enziguri, then tags in Romeo. Romeo tries dropkicks on both Bruno & Till, but neither feel like selling today. Off the ropes, kick by Bruno, then a sit-out powerbomb! Till’s up top….Tsunami splash! Romeo is dead!

Your winners: Phi Delta Slam (2:32)

We see a replay of Romeo’s demise, and Trinity has a paddle. Have I mentioned I’ve been a bad boy recently?

My Insight: Phi Delta Slam…you know, I shouldn’t like these guys because they’re big and fat and not full of the workrate. But that Tsunami splash is pretty damn cool. Could Trinity have brought in a better team than Traci? It might be possible. 2 Traci moons for this one.

Destination X commercial

TNAwrestling.com commercial

We’re back and here comes Dusty “I swear this is a pink and white dress shirt, not a tarp” Rhodes with Traci and a late arriving Trinity. He announces that Hardly will face Abyss in a falls count anywhere match at Destination X. Wee. Jeff Jarrett will be defending the title against Diamond Dallas Page. Which is DDP’s cue to come on out, go in the crowd, and go to the ring to cut his promo. BTW, my apologies for not pointing out that he actually called the pay per view “No Way Out” last week. There’s a guy you want representing your company. Anybody else wondering when David Arquette is going to come out for his title shot? He refers to himself as an anomaly. He says there is no better time than right now for him to become the NWA World Champion. “DDP”, says the monkeys. He gets them to say “It’s time” repeatedly. Man, his teeth are white. Feel the bang! Oh, here comes Jeff Jarrett. I miss his waiter outfits with the awesome white gloves. He says it’s time for DDP to get out of the ring so he can cut his monthly self-masturbation promo. Well, he doesn’t use those words, but it’s pretty much what he means. So of course JJ ends up charging the ring and fisticuffs ensue. JJ swings and misses with the guitar, DDP gets it…but out comes the New Age Outlaw to attack DDP. Then out comes Kevin Nash to attack the New Age Outlaw. Outlaw flies over the top rope, and DDP hits the Diamond Cutter on JJ. Play his music!

So let me guess…Nash turns against DDP for no reason at Final Resolution?

Victory Road DVD commercial

We’re back and A.J. Styles is stealing Christopher Daniels’ gimmick at the announce table. Poor Daniels.

Match 4: 10 minute time limit

Shark Boy vs. Chris Candido vs. Chris “Ham Sandwich” Sabin

This is the second straight week SB & Sabin have been in a 3-way, maybe one of them will win this time. Candido eyepokes both of them at the beginning, then punches them each twice! He then turns around and mouths off to the crowd, then he gets punched around by SB & Sabin! God, I love Candido and his old school chickenshit heel tactics. They whip him off the ropes and hit a double dropkick that sends Candido to the outside. They both tease a splash, but go after each other instead. Headlock by SB, off the ropes, Sabin hits 2 arm drags and follows up with a rana. Candido comes back in and tosses Sabin onto the apron, then covers SB for 2. Sabin comes off the top and dropkicks Candido for 2. SB drops an elbow on Candido and gets 2. Sabin drops an elbow on Candido and gets 2. SB drives Sabin’s head into his knee, Sabin flips out of a back suplex but SB hits a reverse Stunner. Candido with a vertical suplex on SB, he tries one of the stalling variety on Sabin but SB dropkicks him and Sabin falls on top for 2. Candido then puts a sleeper on Sabin, SB puts one on Candido, and Sabin hits a jawbreaker, breaking up both holds! SB mounts Candido in the corner, Sabin tries a running powerbomb but SB slips out, whips Candido and Sabin back body drops him to the outside. Sabin & SB go back and forth until Sabin hits a kneebreaker and locks in a reverse figure 4. But with his positioning, Sabin can’t see Candido slip in and cover SB for the 3 count!

Your winner: Chris Candido (3:20)

My Insight: Damn, that was fun! I love Candido’s heel tactics, and the way he won this match was just perfect. Poor Sabin & Sharky…one wonders if this will form an alignment between them, or if they’ll just try to face each other 1 on 1 in an attempt to get a win. This was fun though, and I think it deserves 6.5 Traci moons. If it was longer it could have gotten 7.

Destination X commercial

Against All Odds replay commercial

We’re back with the same Against All Odds pictures from before.

Match 5: 10 minute time limit

Lance Hoyt (w/Kid Kash) vs. Monty Brown

Tenay mentions that Nash will face that damn New Age Outlaw at Destination X in a no-disqualification match. Wow, back in my day you only went to that after a long-ass feud. A tie up leads to absolutely nothing, another one goes to the corner and Hoyt hits a knee. He can’t whip Monty at first, but a couple hits later and Monty goes to the opposite turnbuckle, Monty replies with a series of clotheslines, and one of them knocks Hoyt almost over the top but not quite. Hoyt rolls outside and we go to commercial.

TNAwrestling.com commercial

Hoyt covers for 2 as we return, apparently Kid Kash helped Hoyt get the advantage while we were away. He chokes Monty on the top rope, whip, clothesline by Hoyt. He does a weird ass taunt and then chokes Monty. Kash then chokes Monty on the ropes. Hoyt with a running charge, then boots in the corner. Monty fights back, whip reversed, sidewalk slam by Hoyt gets 2. Monty hits a back suplex, 2 clotheslines, and a fallaway slam! ARE YOU NOT…ENTERTAINED? Punch to Kash, who was up on the apron…but Hoyt catches him with a big boot when he turns around. He wastes time while Monty is down for the count. A cocky cover gets 2. Hoyt tries a slam but Monty slips out, whips him and hits the POOOOOOUUUUUUNNNNNNNCCCCCCCEEEEEEE! And then the lights go out? It’s Tryton, that guy from all those promos! He’s big, and he’s pointing at Monty. Lots of smoke, and then he disappeared. If only smoke had the same effect on Jeff Jarrett.

Your winner: No Contest? (6:45)

Monty stares at the entranceway as we fade to the closing.

My Insight: The match was all right, but Monty shouldn’t be selling that much for Hoyt. Hoyt’s not going anywhere…hopefully…and Monty should be kept strong. I guess he’s feuding with this new guy now so JJ can keep the title for a couple more months. Wonderful. And nothing screams Dusty like a weird character with a weird entrance and disappearance, so this gets 3 Dusty Moons.

Overall Insight: This was definitely better than last week. Except for the lame main event, everything was pretty entertaining. Hell, I even got some enjoyment out of Phi Delta Slam. Who’da thunk that? All in all a pretty good week, though as always I have some reservations towards what’s going on in the main event scene.

Well, that’s all for this week. See ya Sunday for the news!