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Notes In Observance – Impact Wrestling 3/9/17: Make Impact Great
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 3/9/17)
Make Impact Great
– The opening video began with a look back at the various moments of the company now formerly known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). As you’d imagine, there were shots of AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Jeff Jarrett. Given Styles and Joe made their names here, but have gone on to bigger places. Cough, cough. Anyways, more highlights included Monty Brown’s infamous cage tightroped huracanrana at Turning Point 2004, random shots of tope con hilos to push the “no limits” X-Division and soundbites from Don West because it just doesn’t count without him. They also showed Kurt Angle’s headbutt to Samoa Joe in their hot feud from 2006-2007. Ironically, it’s almost 15 years to the month when TNA emerged on the scene. The basis of the video stated that change was inevitable and we’d have to live with it. There was a flashy new opening montage/theme that was eh. We guess this will be more like Anthem’s “Impact” than anything we’ve previously seen.
TNA One Night Only: Live! 2017 Reaction
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Genrally, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s “One Night Only” Pay-Per-View specials are reminiscent of themed filler with a few marquee matchups, but ultimately nothing special.
Last year, we made an exception to cover a “Live!” edition of the show which featured The Miracle/Maria’s debut and Beer Money’s return.
A year later, Beer Money’s gone, but Miracle/Maria remain. They half-heartedly pushed the show on the previous night’s Impact Wrestling, so with this now an apparent tradition and with the company under new ownership, we figured why not see what happens?
The thing with TNA so far in 2017 was that we had fears of major changes, but two shows in, it’s apparent they’ve retained a lot of 2016’s flavor, which was fine with us because that was probably the company’s best creative year.
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 12/1/16: The Decayed Crusade
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 12/1/16)
The Decayed Crusade
– The opening video put over The DCC, as they took out Broken Matt Hardy and gave him amnesia upon a wild backstage brawl. We relived the journey by Matt’s family to jog his memory back, as they tried everything from footage, hypnotism and the Lake Of Reincarnation to no avail. Finally, it took Matt begging “the seven deities” to give him a sign before lightning struck him down and to Reby’s delight, Broken Matt was back. Those few weeks of Ice Cream Social/Engineer/Peach Cobbler Matt were fun, but the return was key to the next step in the war (should we call it that?) against The DCC.
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 11/10/16: The Reveal
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 11/10/16)
The Reveal
– The opening in-ring segment with Ethan Carter III, Eli Drake, TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Edwards, The Miracle, Maria and Moose was standard as far as what we’ve seen on the mic from all involved here, with the mission to push specific programs. Of course, we knew that Drake would challenge Edwards for the belt later as per his “Bound For Gold” briefcase. We also had Miracle and EC3 in a clash over who was rightful to challenge for the belt next. Everybody spent a good minute to put themselves over before Moose came down to commence the physicality. In the end, it was apparent this was used to hype the match to follow.
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 10/27/16: Treat Or Delete
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 10/27/16)
Treat Or Delete
– Nothing screams “Happy Halloween” like a visit to the Broken Hardy Universe. Thank god for this gimmick, because it makes holiday themes fun again. The opening video “documented” a “Hardy All Hallow’s Eve” gathering and a pumpkin patch that Senor Benjamin/Vanguard 1 composed. Broken Matt Hardy had another “pree-muh-neeee-shunnnn” that an outsider would come to the compound and deliver a looming message. Brother Nero also ate magical corn or something to that extent. This was awesome.
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 10/20/16: The Dream That Won’t Stop
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 10/20/16)
The Dream That Won’t Stop
– The opening video was a good mashup of current storylines, as we saw the outcome of last week’s Moose-Ethan Carter III main event to determine who’d face Lashley this week where Moose cleanly stood victorious. Also featured was Maria’s downfall, as she lost the TNA Knockouts Championship and then control of the Knockouts Division to end her “reign of terror” and lastly, we saw how the main event match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship between Champion Eddie Edwards and Cody was set up. This was a decent show on paper with some can’t-miss stuff.
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 9/29/16: The Road To Glory
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 9/29/16)
The Road To Glory
– Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has held a tight ship en route to its biggest show of the year, Bound For Glory. With it just three days away, we were left to wonder how the hype machine would finish things off. Were we ever in for a surprise. On top of it, we already had a decently hyped show with the announcement last week of a Lethal Lockdown main event where TNA World Heavyweight Champion Lashley and Ethan Carter III would each captain teams and whomever won would decide the stipulation of their World Title match to take place at BFG. The opening in-ring segment with Jeremy Borash, EC3 and Lashley had the simple goal to hype the main event as we also found out the Captain’s picks. Predictable, but we liked it since it clashed all the BFG feuds together under one umbrella. Lashey’s team consisted of himself, Drew Galloway, TNA Knockouts Champion Maria and The Miracle. EC3’s team consisted of himself, Aron Rex, Gail Kim and Moose. Afterwards, we had a great promo exchange between EC3 and Lashley. EC3 expressed his need to beat Lashley at BFG because nothing else mattered besides the belt while the bully Champ put over that he was different from the past guys EC3 beat because he could kick his ass. The twist out of this was Lashley’s acceptance of EC3’s challenge to meet him out alone in the cage to be the first two in the main event.
Notes In Observance – TNA Impact Wrestling 9/15/16: Moose Blood
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 9/15/16)
Moose Blood
– When we last left things with “Delete Or Decay,” it was the Broken Hardys who were left shattered, yet intact. The opening cutscene followed up on this, as Broken Matt Hardy discussed how his “platoon was nearly destroyed” with Vanguard 1 missing, Brother Nero badly beaten, Señor Benjamin kidnapped, Rebecca emotionally traumatized and King Maxel nearly abducted. There was a bit where Matt “rejuvenated” Nero in the “Lake Of Reincarnation.” Can’t make this stuff up, but it continued to poke fun at past TNA gimmicks, notably Jeff Hardy’s heel Immortal persona circa 2011, tacky belt and all. Hilarious stuff. The theme of the Hardys was Matt using Jesus-like healing powers to get his family back to where it was before DOD. We left here with the knowledge that Nero was back. Matt now set his attention to Señor Benjamin. That’s where we’d head to the arena.