Sunday night, TNA Wrestling presented not only their first PPV of the new year, but also the first PPV within the Hogan/Bischoff era. With the addition of these two authority figures pressing the reset button of TNA, what can we expect from the new regime? Who is the huge superstar who made his debut? Let’s get to the review, and we’ll find out!
Genesis opened with a brand new set, featuring an upgraded stage, with a ramp way which stretched all the way to the ring apron, just like the setup from several original ECW events, as well as some old WCW PPVs. For the first time in nearly 5 years, TNA sported a new 4 sided ring. Way to separate yourselves from the competition TNA! To pen the show, Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff made their way to the ring, and welcomed everyone to the “All new IMPACT Zone”, which resulted in a chorus of boos. The TNa faithful preceded in a unanimous “We want 6 sides” chant! Hogan made a comment comparing the old 6 sided ring to a “Playpen”, to a very negative reaction. How dare he! Hogan basically tried to put over TNA, without much crowd support, and left it at that. So far, Hogan’s been in TNA for just a few short weeks, and he’s already been close to being booed out of the building several times. Go figure!
Amazing Red (C) Defeated Brian Kendrick To Retain His X Division Championship
[adinserter block=”1″]Red’s mystery opponent was revealed to be Brian Kendrick, who received a very warm welcome from Orlando. Kendrick wasn’t a face in this match, but wasn’t really a heel either. He remained pretty neutral, although I was getting the vibe that he may end up being a heel sooner than later. All in all, this was a pretty good match, and a good way to set the pace for the evening, although I think it could have gone a bit longer, as it seemed to end at the same time it started to pick up momentum. One notable spot was Red hitting a beautiful hesitated sommersault plancha from the top rope to the outside onto Kendrick. In the end, Amazing Red retained his title with Brain Damage, his victory roll flipped forward into a modified wheelbarrow face buster, as a wheel barrel body scissors finisher. (***)
Sean Morley Defeated Daniels
Before this match began, Morley did his standard mic work, to another chorus of boos. Throughout the entire duration of the match, the crowd was pretty much entirely behind Daniels. All in all, this was an alright match, but seemed to be a bit too slow paced, mainly because of Morley. After some very formulaic stuff, Morley got the win with the Money Shot, to the dismay of not only the fans, but to the dismay of myself. In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason why Morley should have gone over the much younger, more talented Daniels here. (**3/4)
Tara Defeated ODB (Former C) In A Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match To Win The TNA Knockout Championship
As I have said in the past, I feel that these are not the two women who would be best to represent the face of the TNA Knockout division. They have fought many times in the past, but have yet to really impress me. Last night was no exception. Although it was certainly watchable, this match seemed to be very slow paced, and seemed to drag on, however it did involve some keen ring psychology.
Winner Of Fall Number One: Tara
Tara captured the first fall fairly quickly with a roll up.
Winner Of Fall Number Two: Tara
Tara also ended up winning her second straight fall, therefore winning the match and the title. She picked up the victory with the Widow’s Peak. (**1/2)
“The Blueprint” Matt Morgan and Hernandez Defeated The British Invasion (Former C) (Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus) To Become The New TNA World Tag Team Champions
This match was about what you expect between these two teams, featuring a very sufficient amount of action. Bot teams meshed well together, and hit several impressive double team maneuvers. After a moderate length matchup, Hernandez hit magnus with his Dominator variation, followed by a picture perfect Carbon Footprint courtesy of “The Blueprint”, allowing the three count, crowning new TNA World Tag Team Champions! As I’ve said many times before, I am a big fan of the newly formed team of Hernandez and Morgan, and really look forward to seeing what they bring to the preverbal table as tag champs in the new year! (***)
Desmond Wolfe Defeated “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
Although this was a really good match, the crowd seemed to be fairly dead at this point, which I believe hurt this match a little. Putting the crowd reaction aside, this was a good, solid wrestling match, with plenty of innovative submission maneuvers on the part of both men, as well as several near falls. Great ring psychology was implemented beautifully on the behalf of Wolfe, who religiously worked on “The Pope’s” knee throughout the duration of the entire bout, as a way to eliminate “The Pope’s” ability to hit the D’Angelo Dinero Express. After a good 15 minutes of solid wrestling, Wolfe got the clean win after hitting an explosive lariat taking “The Pope’s” head off! Glad to see Wolfe get some redemption tonight, and I look forward to seeing more of the feud between these two future world champs! (***1/2)
Beer Money, Inc Defeated “The Band” Kevin Nash and Syxx -Pac
[adinserter block=”2″]As most of us already know, Scott Hall is currently suffering from sort of groin injury, so to my excitement, Pac replaced him here. Overall, this was another alright match, but was really hurt by the methodical Kevin Nash, who in my opinion seriously needs to consider hang up his boots for good. Pac looked fine though. As one would expect, the crowd was unanimously behind Beer Money. After another matchup filled with pretty formulaic action, the ending came when Hall started down the ramp, and then attacked a fan at ringside, ripped him over the guardrail and everything! Not sure if this was planned or not. With the distraction, James Storm hit Nash with a superkick, allowing Rude to score the pin! I’m elated that Beer Money was given the victory, and have gained some new found respect for “The Band” for helping these younger guys go over. (**3/4)
Ken Anderson Defeated Abyss
It turns out, as expected, that the mystery superstar coming to TNA was in fact Ken Anderson, who appeared on the entrance way, doing his notorious mic segment, and no he didn’t say Mr. Kennedy…Kennedy, he said Mr. Anderson… Anderson. I have no major problems with Anderson in TNA, however I don’t think he coming to TNA is reason to hype “A huge superstar” coming to TNA for weeks on end. Now if this were RVD or Paul Heyman or something, that would be one thing, but I can assure you, Ken Anderson is no RVD! Anyway, earlier in the evening Abyss attacked, his scheduled opponent, Bobby Lashley, in the back room, supposably trying to protect Bischoff. He was now to face a replacement, Ken Anderson. Overall, Anderson received a pretty positive reaction from the fans, although he did have his share of naysayers. This wasn’t a very good match in my opinion, for I wouldn’t even expect these two to mesh well together. They have completely different styles, and have no in ring chemistry. After what I though was a lackluster 10 minute match, Anderson got the pin with a shot to Abyss’ temple with a pair of brass knuckles. Looks like we may end up seeing Anderson as a heel, and rightfully so, for I’ve always enjoyed him a lot more as a heel than as a face. (*3/4)
AJ Styles (C) Defeated Kurt Angle To Retain His TNA World Heavyweight Championship
So far in the evening, nothing had been very satisfying, so by this time I was really craving some great wrestling action. All in all, I was a bit disappointed with this match, for I expected it to top their other past bouts, or at least match them. Although a very good match, this wasn’t exactly great. It seemed to be paced a lot slower, and was a lot less exciting than their recent match of IMPACT. It seemed like both men toned down their styles a bit, in order to add more ring psychology to the contest, and attempt to tell a more vivid story. You can thank Hulk Hogan for this! I don’t know about you all, but personally, I’d rather see a stellar wrestling match between two of the greatest wrestlers in this country, than have a bedtime story told to me! I’m not six years old anymore! For crying out loud, this is professional wrestling! If I wanted to listen to a good story I’d watch Cartoon Network! Alright, I’ll admit that I may have over exaggerated a bit, well maybe a lot, just now, but there is some truth to that theory. A big part of professional wrestling is telling stories in the ring, but in my opinion, there is no need to slow down the pace, contents of a match in order to do so. Now there are exceptions like spot fests and such, but in this case, it would have been the best decision to just go ahead and let Kurt and AJ go out there and wrestle at their very best, which tells a story in its own, and make for a very happy fan base. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Pleasing your fan base? Anyway, in the end of this match, Ric Flair, who had made his way down to the ring earlier, ended up breaking up a pin attempt fro Angle, by pulling the ref to the outside! While the ref was down, Flair prompted AJ to use the title belt on Angle, and AJ obliged. He hit Angle in the skull with the belt, and got the win! Flair and AJ posed to end the show. Looks like we’re now going to see a heel partnership between Ric Flair and AJ Styles, which could really do wonders to AJ’s persona. (***3/4)
Overall, I felt that Genesis was a very plain show, with nothing terrible, but nothing great either. Most of the card, with the exception of a few matches, seemed to be very methodical or slow paced. It’s hard to tell whether this is Hogan’s doing, or if some of the guys just happened to have an off night, but if this is Hogan’s doing, I truly think he’s making a major mistake, for all that will accomplish is blending in with the competition, and making is so that TNA is no longer a unique product. I can only hope that Hogan leans from his mistakes here, although that’s pretty doubtful considering it’s still undecided as to whether or not he learned from his mistakes in WCW of not. In conclusion, it is still far to early to tell, but if Hogan doesn’t start letting these guys just go out there in wrestle, this could potentially spell disaster, if not the end of TNA.
Overall, I’d give Genesis…
(6/10) And I’m being generous at that!
Todd Frizzell is from Columbus Ohio, and has been a huge professional wrestling fanatic for the last ten years. Todd is very interested in all aspects of pro wrestling, including what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling. Todd is very excited to write about his passion, and will try his best to entertain and provoke the wrestling fans.
Order TNA: Kurt Angle: Champion on DVD by clicking here.
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Order Hulk Hogan’s autobiography, My Life Outside the Ring by clicking here.
It wasn't a great PPV because there wasn't that much build before it besides Hogan's appearance and AJ vs. Angle. I really don't know how a six sided ring can be viewed as a good alternative to WWE. People may like to chant curses and see wrestlers in hardcore X Division matches, but the new audience TNA is trying to attract does not. Like Hogan said, you had it and it only got you so far. It's not like Hogan as complete control over everything like he did in WCW. Dixie Carter makes the decisions for her company at the end of the day. I thought it was great to see Kendrick and Kennedy debut. Although the smarky crowd ruined it for everybody. I loved TNA' s new set and ring. It attracted a lot of new viewers because a lot of people couldn't take TNA serious with the six sided ring.
The arena looked like a cheap version of ECW. ECW was popular, but only with a certain group of audiences. TNA is trying to attract new audiences because the ones they had before, didn't achieve anything. If TNA loses a hundred smarks to gain a thousand new viewers, who cares? It's more entertaining now then it has ever been. I love the AJ Styles heel turn with Ric Flair. I don't know why people don't want TNA to be like WWE as far as being a household name. I won't start worrying until we see celebrities and leprechauns in the ring.
Remember how "great" TNA was over the past 2 years? Rock N Rave Infection, Pac Man Jones, Danny Bonaduce, and freakin Jenna Morasca? Not to mention Cody Deaner. Are you telling me that made TNA look cool and unique? That was awful. At least with Bischoff, Flair, and Hogan TNA is more credible now. AJ is champ with Ric Flair, and all the TNA originals hold the other titles. What's the problem? I would rather sit through a 3 minute Nasty Boy match any day then a Cody Deaner trailer park match. TNA looks like a real show for once. They just need to move out of the Impact Zone, and they will attract new and larger audiences.
Whether people like the PPV or not, the majority of us would kill to be there. I can sit through a 2 minute Orlando Jordan or Bubba the Love Sponge promo when TNA has such great talent and more publicity now. TNA is in its early stages. I think we will see TNA take off huge in the next few months. If people don't like the changes I guess they can watch a leprechaun beat Naploean Dynamite on Raw. If you are into that sort of thing.
I agree with most of the ratings except the main event. I thought it was a good 4 star match and probably Angle/AJs worst match against each other which says ALOT. I didn't mind the swerve at the end and if it keeps Flair as a manager then it could be a good thing.
I would also bump the rating to 6.5/10. It was a decent show for a PPV with terrible build.
The biggest complaint I have about the show is that it felt like a WWE PPV which isn't a good thing.