I’m trying fans.  I am really really trying to enjoy TNA Impact wrestling.  Then there is a pay per view with a non title main event.  Which, when the booking of the match is considered, makes no sense.  But we’ll get to that!

Bully Ray comes out and says his usual crap.  James Storm comes out to shut him up and a match is made.  A very quick maybe only two minutes long match that Storm ends up winning.  Storm needs to continue to look strong and rack up wins.  Ray is, literally, a bully and as a bully he will sometimes talk to much crap and not be able to back it up.  Bullies to eventually get their asses handed to them.  The problem is, they will then come back to attempt and regain their power and your fear.  The Bully Ray character isn’t awful so hopefully this is followed up with at the weekly tapings.

Austin Aries (X Division champion) vs. Zema Ion.  Morbid though this will sound, the best thing to happen to Zema’s career is injuring Jesse Sorensen.  Austin is an amazing heel and he is out heeled in this match.  Well, nearly.  Live tweeting during your match is a very cocky heel thing to do.  Zema, because he’s a pretty boy, fits into the heel role nicely.  It may have been the best match of the night.

Crazy good promo for the return of the Motor City Machine Guns.  In the tradition of the Super Bowl commercial, or even morning in America to go that far back.  Hopefully their return continues to be built up into the event it deserves to be.

Samoa Joe and Magnus (tag team champions) vs. Crimson and Matt Morgan.  Sure Joe has a title once again but that doesn’t mean he’s being pushed.  The story is still about the former champs.  Crimson gets cocky, wants to work the whole match, and then abandons Morgan.  The champs have a great combo move, a snap mare into a flying elbow, but its an afterthought.  All the focus is on Crimson.  Granted he has a great look to him and could become something special.  But he has already been bounced through numerous stories and alliances in his short time in TNA.  Its tough to care about someone who’s personality constantly changes.

Robbie E issues an open challenge that after a LOT of stalling is eventually answered by Devon.  Devon wins the TV title to the shock of everyone.  When his former partner is being pushed in the main event, its a shock to see Devon with a singles title first.  Its also shocking that Devon wasn’t once on the mic, but the referee was.  When does the referee ever cut a promo?  Maybe Devon had a cold or a sore throat.  Anyways, one singles title isn’t a bad thing for Devon at this stage in his career.  It will be interesting to see what feuds he has and how he hangs in them.

Gail Kim (Knockouts champ) vs. Madison Rayne.  The build up for this match has been great but the match didn’t live up to my expectations.  It was a great match, one of the best Knockout matches I’ve seen in awhile.  But I was hoping for something larger here, although I couldn’t tell you what.  Both women got at it tooth and claw and there is a real threat that they will destroy each other.  It probably helps to wrestle another woman that is your in ring equal.  No danger of missed spots or lesser ability, just straight up wrestling skill.  Gail hits Eat Defeat for the pin and Madison sells it better than anyone previously.  It is a slightly goofy move and it has looked like shit because of who is selling the move.  Not Madison though.  I look forward to seeing more matches between the two.

Daniels and Kazarian vs. Mr Anderson and AJ Styles.

Talk about a match that didn’t click.  There were good moves, great spots and a lot going on in the match.  But it didn’t connect with the crowd or those at home.  Veterans always complain that the art of in ring psychology has been lost and this match should be the prime example.  It was fun to watch but every man in the ring should have been able to hold the crowd in their hands at this level.  This wasn’t the writers fault, this was a match without heart or passion.  AJ hits a Styles Clash on Kaz for the pin, but meh.

Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy.  We don’t watch or support people who wrestle while fucked up and risk injury or death to their opponents.  Not in my house!  Angle wins.  Moving on.

Bobby Roode (TNA World champion) vs. Sting in a Street Fight.  This is the point I was trying to raise earlier.  The only point to have a non title match is to have the challenger win, thus setting up a future title shot.  Roode wins this match, thus why not make it a title match?  The title wouldn’t have changed hands and the match would have had a little more prestige.  Sting gets beat and then Roode beats the hell out of him for the rest of the PPV.  Dixie Carter runs in to help Sting and Bobby spends his time beating Sting and scaring the hell out of Dixie.  Its abuse, its torture, and it would have been a very upsetting uncomfortable scene in the hands of a better actress.  Full credit to Dixie, a multi millionaire, to put herself out there for this angle.  She gets high marks for doing it, for the effort, but the execution was lacking.

Also, lets remember that she is in charge of this company.  She signs the paychecks.  And NO ONE comes out to help her.  Not a wrestler, nor Knockout nor whoever sweeps the floors at the end of the night.  There is no help for her.  I work at a place where many people hate the boss.  Yet when things have happened (drunk customers, etc.) in which we thought someone was going to get hurt help was there.  That’s for someone I don’t like.  There are people in TNA that say on camera they like Dixie.  Yet, no help comes.  I realize I shouldn’t be bringing logic into wrestling, but its such a lack of logic it takes away any enjoyment.