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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 3, 2015 14:25:17 GMT -5
When word leaked in late July that Spike TV was canceling TNA's Impact Wrestling, the promotion went into panic mode. Attempts to find a new home were stagnant, talent left the company, and booking went into a holding pattern for the rest of the year.
Everything changed in December 2014.
Panda Energy announced a new partner had purchased an interest in the promotion. Part of the conditions would be the new partner would take over the day-to-day operations of the promotion, leaving Panda as more of a financier. The result of this new partnership brought sweeping changes to TNA …
It was announced the TNA Television Championship would be reactivated, as there needed to be something for those not quite at World Championship level to strive for.
The X Division, however, would be retired. The new ownership believed the division had grown a negative perception, and it would be better to integrate X Division competitors back into the main body of TNA.
TNA would return to 12 monthly live pay-per-view events, starting in January, with Genesis.
There would be a massive talent upheaval. Many wrestlers left the promotion, including the TNA World Tag Team Champions The Wolves. The two vacant championships would crowned at Genesis. Likewise, many new talent had been contracted from the indies, including a massive injection of talent for the Knockouts division, which was now being called the Women's Division, and a huge surprise wrestler that would “shock the world”.
Likewise, there would be an upheaval in production values and staff all around, including a new play-by-play commentator.
And most amazing of all, TNA found a new home for Impact … prime time on Fox!!!
Who is this mysterious new owner? Will he or she make themselves known? Who would still be with TNA, who left, and what new faces would people see? Would TNA work on network television? All questions would be answered starting January 1, 2015!
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A few details ...
Promotion size is National, 86%. Got four good sponsors: Victoria's Secret, Orbit gum, Guinness beer, and Hanes. We have a developmental territory, but I'm not really utilizing it yet until I see how well the money rolls in. Market's doing well, but I just want to be sure.
Won't post a roster. Want it all to be a surprise.
Champions - World Men's: Bobby Lashley World Women's: Gail Kim Television: vacant Tag: vacant
Jed Shaffer ~Any questions?
Jed Shaffer ~
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Post by Michael Hayden vs. The World on Jan 4, 2015 1:38:38 GMT -5
Huh. I was thinking of doing a TNA Diary, probably during the Chris Sabin title run. Nice to see you take a stab at it.
This era of TNA is actually a good starting point, as this is a valid turning point for the company. You have several options to explore here, and with the possibility of several indy names joining, I'm interested to see what happens.
I am sad about the X-Division. While it may not have the same prestige it once had, it still helped to separate itself from WWE. The X-Division helped brig me into TNA, and served as a launching pad for a lot of characters, so hopefully it's brought back.
Ethan Carter III for Heavyweight Champ.
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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 9, 2015 22:53:06 GMT -5
I am sad about the X-Division. While it may not have the same prestige it once had, it still helped to separate itself from WWE. The X-Division helped brig me into TNA, and served as a launching pad for a lot of characters, so hopefully it's brought back. Sorry, no chance. I never liked the idea. Always thought it marginalized the faster, more innovative athletes into a "we swear it's not a cruiserweight" ghetto ... that was nothing but cruiserweights (and Joe ... and Siaki). I'd rather see guys like Aries treated as equals to Bully Ray and Roode. Oh, I've got special plans for that belt. Special plans. Jed Shaffer ~And the first show preview is NEXT!
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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 9, 2015 23:15:39 GMT -5
January 1st, 2015 on Impact Wrestling ...
It's a new year, and TNA is entering a new era!
The new ownership has stated that the first new PPV of the year for TNA, Genesis, will have a fatal-four-way main event, with "The Destroyer" Lashley defending the TNA World Men's Championship against three challengers yet to be determined. Who fills out those three spots is a road we start down tonight, as the new owner is giving sixteen men the opportunity to prove their worth in the ring ... but this is no tournament. Ownership has decreed that past achievements don't get anybody special favors; it's how the wrestlers handle their business in the ring that will plead their cases. Winners will be allowed a moment to speak on their own behalf, but bottom line, it's all or nothing. Who are these sixteen men? We have some of the names:
Former World Champion and current Director of Wrestling Operations Kurt Angle! Former Director of Wrestling Operations MVP! Nephew of TNA owner Dixie Carter, Ethan Carter III! The longest reigning TNA World Men's Champion in history, Bobby Roode! "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe! Bully Ray! Magnus! Eric Young! "The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy! "The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" Austin Aries A TNA original, "The Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm! Matt Hardy!
That only makes twelve ... and that's because the other four have been kept a surprise for showtime ... but the rumor is, there might be an old face or two, maybe some new faces too! Match-ups will be drawn at random, so there's no favortism shown to anybody in this unique "challenger's showcase". Who will step up and state their case to face off against the most physically dominant champion in TNA history? You can only find out, Thursday night at 9pm on Fox!
Jed Shaffer ~Now to write out this card, and a wrap-up of the other diary.
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magiconz
Trying Out for Tough Enough
Posts: 136
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Post by magiconz on Jan 10, 2015 18:26:11 GMT -5
Really interesting concept to decide who's gonna compete in the world title match. I like it. I'm a mark for tournaments but it's always nice to see something different.
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mlsq42
Featured on Backyard Wrestling DVD
Hey there
Posts: 304
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Post by mlsq42 on Jan 11, 2015 4:10:39 GMT -5
Ahhh, no DaTVey crossover? Ah well...
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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 17, 2015 16:43:46 GMT -5
Thursday, January 1, 2015
No email
Results for Impact:
-Segment #1- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #1 Singles match, one fall
The new era for Impact gets underway with the first of the eight “challenger's showcase” matches scheduled for the evening. Jim Ross – the new play-by-play man – informs the home viewers that the new owner has decided they don't need to be at every show like other authority figures, so instead, Jeremy Borash will announce the participants. The random name generator's first wrestler selected is Matt Hardy. The second comes up as a question mark; JR and Mike Tenay speculate that means it's one of the new owner's new talent acquisitions, and they are right. Through the curtain steps a man in a long fur trenchcoat whom everybody knows and pops for: JOHN HENNIGAN. The former John Morrison wows the crowd with his raw athleticism and skill, and while Matt has more years behind him, Hennigan is definitely no rookie. Matt is simply outclassed and outworked. After pinning the Hardy brother, Hennigan takes to the mic; calling himself by a few new nicknames (Chief Mojo Risin', and The Crawling King Snake) Hennigan tells everyone he's not here to make friends or make anybody happy but himself. He has a destiny unfulfilled, and the “island of broken toys that is TNA” is no match for a man who has “done the dance on the world's stage”. By the end of the promo, nobody is happy to see Hennigan anymore, but he couldn't care less, as his statement is made and his arrival is a success.
In ring/crowd/overall: 68/63/65 Star rating: **1/2 Notes: Matt Hardy is losing overness because of his weak gimmick. [Nobody told me this before.]
-Segment #2- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #2 Singles match, one fall
After the commercial, Jeremy Borash is in the ring, ready to announce the next random pairing. The first man picked is none other than the Director of Wrestling Operations, Kurt Angle. Borash calls for the second, but once again, the question mark comes up, putting Angle against a mystery opponent. Through the curtains steps a lanky individual, short hair and a full beard; Borash introduces him as DREW GULAK, a top indie star with a world championship resume in CZW and a strong mat wrestling background, per Jim Ross. Angle takes Gulak for granted to begin with, and he nearly pays for it, winding up in several near-fall and near-submission predicaments. But Angle's resilience proves to be an edge Gulak can't overcome, leading Angle to victory. Afterwards, he shakes hands with Gulak, and drops a bombshell announcement: with new ownership, he doesn't see the need for a confusing command structure, so he is resigning his post as Director of Wrestling Operations. But, he says, that doesn't mean he will stop being the face of TNA and representing all that makes it the best professional wrestling company on Earth. In ring/crowd/overall: 74/67/70 Star rating: **3/4
-Segment #3-
A video clip runs, grainy and black-and-white, showing a wrestler at different angles, but never the face. He's leaning on the ropes, sitting in the locker room with his head in his hands, and other shots that obscure his identity. Over it, a voice narrates, saying how he's not afraid to fight, not afraid to bleed, not afraid to fall, not afraid to end friendships, not afraid to make enemies, and not afraid to lose. The only thing he says he's afraid of is that he doesn't know when to stop … and everybody else should be afraid of that. The last image is of the wrestler, head in hands, and just before he can raise his head, the image fades to black. Three white words replace fade in: HE IS COMING. In ring/crowd/overall: 76 Star rating: n/a
-Segment #4- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #3 Singles match, one fall
Jeremy Borash is in the ring for the next match. The randomizer does its work and comes up with the name Austin Aries. Out comes the arrogant and skilled Aries, who snatches up the microphone before he can cue up the randomizer again. Aries says how coming into this year, he was all set to take the X Division to new heights, but the new “establishment” has decided the X Division is a “dirty word”. Aries lists off his accomplishments – longest X Division reign ever, originator of “Option C”, fifth triple crown winner, and the man who ended Bobby Roode's record run as World Men's Champ … and, he says, his next goal is to break Roode's record. Aries finally forfeits the stick back to Borash, and the next competitor is chosen: Ethan Carter III. The pompous, entitled nephew of Dixie Carter rips the mic out of JB's hands and gives a rant of his own, about how a “specimen of perfection” shouldn't have to “slum it” with “commoners” like Aries, and if the new owner knew what was good for business, he'd push EC3 into the main event all by himself. With that, EC3 tosses the mic in JB's direction without looking and the ref calls for the bell. The two have a definite clash of styles, resulting in not the world's best match, but definitely the most competitive yet, as both men empty their arsenal in an effort to make themselves look good. But try as they might, the one thing neither does is make that critical mistake, nor can they hit that critical blow. The result is the emotionally unsatisfying time limit draw, but that doesn't end the fight; EC3 and Aries continue slugging it out, until agents and referees pull them apart. In ring/crowd/overall: 71/71/70 Star rating: **1/2
-Segment #5-
Returning from commercial, the TNA World Women's Champion Gail Kim comes to the ring, the new championship belt on her shoulder. Gail says she's been in TNA a long time and had to deal with a lot of authority figures who made big promises and dropped the ball, like Brooke Hogan or Dixie Carter or MVP. She says she's like everybody else in the back, wondering when – or even if – this new owner will make their presence felt. But she does know one thing about this new owner: they've made a commitment to making women's wrestling matter, and she knows this because word in the back is there's a bunch of new wrestlers coming to the women's division in TNA. She says she's excited at the idea of squaring off against new faces and testing herself against the best the independent scene has to offer. She says “Hooters waitresses” and “wannabe swimsuit models” like The Beautiful People and all the rest of the division mainstays will find themselves looking at a new generation. Gail's soliloquy gets cut off when a woman in a baseball cap and sunglasses slides in the ring from behind and elbows her in the back of the head. She stands over Gail's body, removes the hat and glasses with a flourish and reveals herself: former TNA World Women's Champion MICKIE JAMES. She smiles and waves to the crowd, oblivious to the crowd hating on her for attacking Gail. Mickie looks down at Gail, a smile as big as all outdoors, and says the new owner didn't just bring in a bunch of new talent, he also brought in “real star power”. Mickie blows kisses on her way out, waiving like a pageant winner as she walks up the ramp. In ring/crowd/overall: 91 Star rating: Notes: Mickie James gained overness from this segment. Gail Kim gained overness from this segment.
-Segment #6- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #4 Singles match, one fall
The next match in the “challenger's showcase” kicks off with the first selection: former TNA World Men's Champion Magnus. Chants of “paper champion” echo through the venue as he, accompanied by Bram, walks down the aisle. JB activates the randomizer, and Magnus' opponent is revealed: former two-time TNA World Men's Champion Bully Ray. Smartly, Bully waits on the stage and calls out someone, his longtime tag team partner Devon, to stand in his corner and neutralize Bram. What follows once the bell rings is utterly stunning: a thorough, one-sided ass-kicking of Magnus, like an 80's WWF Wrestling Challenge jobber match. Four minutes, in and out, and Bully has Magnus' number without breaking a sweat. Bram is absolutely stunned at his friend's thorough, definitive and humiliating defeat, and lets Magnus know about on the way back up the ramp. Bully's post-match promo is short and sweet; instead of opening with his “do you know who I am?” catchphrase, he says that everybody knows who he is, he just showed what he can do, “the same thing I've been doing for damn near twenty years”, and that if that isn't enough to put him in the main event at Genesis, the new owner might as well hand Bully his release. In ring/crowd/overall: 71/78/75 Star rating: **3/4
-Segment #7- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #5 Singles match, one fall
JB is in the ring as Impact returns from commercial, ready for the fifth of the eight “challenger's showcase” matches scheduled by the new and mysterious co-owner of TNA. The randomizer runs its algorithm, and the first name it pulls out is a former TNA World Men's Champion, Samoa Joe. The hefty Samoan strides to the ring, looking energized and ready for whoever he draws. JB calls for the opponent, and it's another former TNA World Men's Champion, and in fact a triple crown winner to boot: CHRIS SABIN. Joe doesn't look fazed by the return of Sabin, but he quickly learns that Sabin has changed in his absence. There's a viciousness and a mean streak in Sabin that wasn't there before, and Joe isn't prepared for it. He puts out everything he has, but it's clear Sabin is just operating in a higher gear. Eight minutes in, Sabin scores with a shining wizard to the back of the head, and that's enough to put down the mighty “Samoan Submission Machine” for three. Sabin doesn't bother with a post-match promo, letting his dismantling of Joe speak for itself. Joe slumps in a corner once he gathers himself, head in hands, in utter disbelief at the events that just took place. Finally, he leaves, head cast down, muttering to himself on the way up the ramp. In ring/crowd/overall: 77/72/74 Star rating: ***
-Segment #8-
Once again, JB is in the ring, but just as he goes to introduce match #6, the lights go out. Through the crowd murmurs, one can hear some kind of activity in the ring. When the lights come back up, JB is down on the arena floor, looking up at the ring, and the man inside it. The crowd knows the man as soon as the lights come up; he is well known – infamous would be a better word – to TNA fans. He is JAMES MITCHELL, maniacal manipulator and demonic manager. Mitchell says that he has spent years, watching professional wrestling, waiting for “the perfect hell-storm” to come together; the arrival of a wrestler, “not simply a monster, but fear incarnate”. A monster, he says, that did not inspire fear because he could fall through barbed wire or wield a weapon or wear a mask. He looked for an unholy assembly of physical perfection, animal instincts, a machine's relentlessness, the resilience of steel, and the presence of a god … and a need for a mind to bring it all together. He says he found that man, and that man has already climbed the mountain … but with his help, that man will level the mountain so that no man can ever climb it again. Mitchell turns to the ramp and beckons out his new client … and out steps TNA World Men's Champion Lashley! As Lashley and Mitchell shake hands, Jim Ross asks the important question: if Lashley has aligned himself with the sinister Mitchell, what does that mean for his alliance with MVP and Kenny King? And what will the presumptive challengers have to say, now knowing Lashley is backed by James Mitchell? In ring/crowd/overall: 72 Star rating: Notes: James Mitchell gained overness from this segment.
-Segment #9- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #6 Singles match, one fall
Borash is back in the ring for the next match. The first competitor is called out, and it's the former Director of Operations MVP. The normally loud-mouthed MVP is nothing like normal; he looks rattled and distracted, no doubt reeling from the news of Lashley's sudden severing of their professional ties. Any hopes of a cupcake opponent go right out the window when the selection is made: “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy. MVP is downright irate and tries to bully the official to make another selection, completely forgetting that Hardy is coming down the aisle. That loss of focus gives Hardy an open door to carve up MVP like a holiday turkey. MVP gets a couple of shots in, but not enough to give Hardy any real scare of losing the match. Barely five minutes after the opening bell, MVP is counting ceiling lights and Hardy is has his hand raised. The former three-time TNA champ eschews a post-match promo, letting his handiwork speak for itself. In ring/crowd/overall: 71/82/78 Star rating: **3/4
-Segment #10- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #7 Singles match, one fall
The seventh match of the showcase kicks off first with the selection of “Showtime” Eric Young. EY asks for the mic before his opponent is named, and says how six months ago, he was the champion, and how he main-evented Slammiversary. EY says it was the greatest moment of his career to be standing tall at the end of the company's anniversary event as the top dog … and less than a week later, Lashley – with help from his friends – ended his championship run. He says he lays awake at night still, thinking about how MVP orchestrated his downfall … so seeing MVP get the rug pulled out from under him tonight not once but twice will make him a happy man … but not as happy as the day he finally gets MVP in the ring, one-on-one, with nobody to save him, so he can make him a couple inches shorter with the piledriver … after he beats Lashley at Genesis. EY's opponent is selected, and it's James Storm. Coming to the ring with a cowbell tied to a noose dangling from his neck, the dark, twisted Storm steps in the ring and looks at EY with hollow, dead eyes. When the bell rings, it's a knock-down, drag-out slug-fest between two warriors of the six-sided ring. EY, known for being far tougher than his size would indicate and equally as resilient, gives Storm everything he can handle, and it looks like, as the minutes tick away, that the match could go to the limit. In the closing moments, EY ducks a superkick that ends up putting out the lights of the ref. EY quickly kicks Storm in the gut, doubles him over and spikes him with the piledriver, but there's nobody to count the pinfall. EY goes to wake up the ref, and in doing so turns his back to the aisleway. MVP comes down, slides in behind EY and, as soon as he turns around, blasts him with the Drive-By Kick. MVP pulls Storm onto EY and then hits the skids as the ref starts to come around. Though groggy, the ref sees the pin attempt, makes the count, and three seconds later, Storm has a very tainted win over EY. In ring/crowd/overall: 67/74/71 Star rating: **1/2
-Segment #11- Championship Challenger's Showcase match #8 Singles match, one fall
The final match of the night, and the final match of the showcase, kicks off with the introduction of the first participant, the man with the longest reign as TNA World Men's Champion in the company's history, Bobby Roode. “The It Factor” gets on the stick and reads off his resume, about his record title run, about how he beat everybody the company has put in front of him, except Lashley, and how he has been with the company for so long and he is so synonymous with the company, he is “the DNA of TNA”. Roode stands in the corner, stretching and preparing himself for whomever the randomizer will select … only to get a question mark. Before the person even steps foot on the stage, he is talking, asking if he heard Roode right in calling himself the “DNA of TNA”. The owner of the voice steps into the light; it is CHRISTOPHER DANIELS. “The Fallen Angel” says hearing that makes him sick; he was with the company damn near from day one with Triple X; he helped define the X Division, and was in the company's first and only five-star match with Samoa Joe and AJ Styles … and time and again, the company pulled the rug out from under him while they “propped up false idols” like Bobby Roode. Daniels says he was jerked around and pushed out the door while “balding air guitarists brought in their buddies for quick paydays”; he proved his worth and paid his dues and watched “fat, broken down, retired cripples” get opportunities on name value. Daniels says he's back in TNA for one reason, to get what's been coming to him for thirteen years: the TNA World Men's Championship. Once the bell rings, the two are all over each other, trading holds and strikes like the two consummate professionals they are. It's a dead-even match, with neither man looking like he's going to make the critical mistake that leads to a loss, and neither man will let up on the pressure. Eventually, it spills outside, and the ref tries to get them to come back inside. When it descends into an outright brawl, the ref begins the count, but it doesn't last long, as Daniels manages to grab a chair and jabs Roode in the stomach with it. The ref calls for the disqualification, but that doesn't stop Daniels from battering Roode to a quivering mass with the chair. Daniels yells out to the crowd, asking if how they like their “hero” now, and if this is the man they think can save TNA from Mitchell and Lashley. Impact ends with Daniels standing on the ring ropes, taunting the crowd while Roode tries to pick himself up off the arena floor. In ring/crowd/overall: 74/84/80 Star rating: ***
Overall: 75
Friday, January 2, 2015
Email
We got a 5.03 rating for 'Impact Wrestling'! The attendance level was 3010 people. We made $90300 from ticket sales.
FWE, WWE, CMLL and AAA combined to release 111 talent and staff members.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
FWE, WWE, CMLL and AAA released another 70 talent and staff members and signed sponsorships.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Another 50+ releases by WWE, CMLL and AAA.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Another 30+ released by WWE, CMLL and AAA. WWE has now cleared out most of their developmental talent.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Another 20+ releases by WWE, CMLL and AAA. WWE released several non-wrestler talent in this wave of releases (Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, etc).
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Another 20+ releases by WWE and CMLL.
Jed Shaffer ~Next show should start to build more rivalries, get the storylines going a little more.
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Post by Ishmeal Insane on Jan 17, 2015 22:34:45 GMT -5
Nice, simple starting point. I like the debut of Gulak, looking strong in defeat. The pairing of Mitchell & Lashley is interesting.
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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 19, 2015 20:57:43 GMT -5
January 8th, on Impact Wrestling ...
Last week, pure chance selected sixteen men to plead their case for consideration to face TNA World Men's Champion Lashley by plying their trade. Only winners would be considered ... but only three would be chosen.
On the next Impact, the world -- as well as Lashley and his new manager James Mitchell -- will find out the first of three challengers, with the second next week, and the third in two weeks. Last week saw newcomer John Hennigan, TNA Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle, former World Champions Bully Ray, Jeff Hardy, James Storm and Chris Sabin win their matches. Which one of these six will get the nod?
The World Women's Champion Gail Kim got a huge surprise when Mickie James returned to TNA and made a statement by attacking the champ ... but before Gail was attacked, she let everybody know the women's division was set to get a major influx of talent. Tonight, two of these new talents will be looking to make a name for themselves, as they square off against The Beautiful People. Who are these two additions to the dvision? Will Angelina Love and Velvet Sky be able to spoil their debut, or were Gail Kim's warnings of a reckoning true?
The tag division, likewise, is getting more talent, and that's to help fill the vacancy left when the former champions left. Four teams will clash at Genesis in a Full Metal Mayhem match, and hanging above the ring will be those belts. Abyss has promised to bring in someone as insane as he is to pair up with to get the belts ... but standing across the ring from him will be a new pairing of existing TNA wrestlers: Samuel Shaw and Garrett Bischoff! And in another match-up, Magnus and Bram will square off against indie wrestling tag sensations Brian Cage and Michael Elgin, The Unbreakable Machines!
All this, plus Kurt Angle, Austin Aries, EC3, Eric Young, The Hardys, and much more
Jed Shaffer ~Having one show is challenging ...
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Post by Michael Hayden vs. The World on Jan 19, 2015 23:06:16 GMT -5
I'm honestly expecting Krackerjak as the partner. Just seems like it would be a perfect fit.
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Post by vince on Jan 24, 2015 9:49:33 GMT -5
I'm confused, so is your ROH iniverse finished now or on a break?
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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 24, 2015 16:33:14 GMT -5
Finished. I was running out of steam, as well as running into some roadblocks as far as available talent goes. It was a REALLY old data pack. Fresh start, more current data.
Jed Shaffer ~And I don't have to build a women's division from the ground-up.
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Post by Brain Of J on Jan 26, 2015 21:00:14 GMT -5
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Results for Impact:
-Segment #1- Tag match, one fall Garrett Bischoff & Samuel Shaw vs. Abyss & ?
Impact kicks off in the ring, with the first of two matches tonight (and four overall) that will send teams to Genesis, where a four-way Full Metal Mayhem match awaits with the TNA World Tag Team Championships at stake. An unusual pairing, Garrett Bischoff and Samuel Shaw, approach the ring first and await their opponents, of whom the world only knows one. That one, Abyss, comes out first, mic in hand; he says he scoured TNA's locker room, looking for a “madman” to “dance beside him with the darkness” … and nobody fit the bill. But just when he thought he would have to go it alone, says Abyss, the monster he'd been looking for came to him. Abyss looks to the gorilla position, and out steps SAMI CALLIHAN. Once they get in the ring, they exhibit a perfect balance of speed, strength and ferocity. While both teams are newly formed, Shaw and Bischoff always seem on different pages, while Abyss and Callihan just seem to have that mental synchronization good tag teams need to succeed. Inside of seven minutes, Abyss and Callihan have Bischoff and Shaw counting ceiling lights and qualify for the four-corners FMM match.
In ring/crowd/overall: 70/58/64 Star rating: **1/2
-Segment #2-
Cut to backstage, where Taz is standing by. Taz introduces Matt and Jeff Hardy. Taz mentions how later on tonight, the first of the three challengers to Lashley will be announced, and it very well could be Jeff Hardy. Taz asks Jeff what it's like, waiting for word to come down from the new management about his future. Jeff answers that every minute feels like an eternity, waiting to hear if he's got the spot or not. But deep down, he knows something: if he doesn't get tapped this week, there's two more weeks … and if he doesn't get tapped this month, “there's always gold in Jeff Hardy's future”. Matt agrees, adding that if the bosses are too stupid to see Jeff is championship material, they started a quest for the TNA World Tag Team Championships the previous summer that they never finished. Jeff stops Matt, saying he's not even thinking about tag teams. Matt looks stunned, but tries to push it away, saying they'll cross that bridge when they come to it. Jeff says the road he's traveling on has no bridges. Matt is stupefied; Taz asks what Jeff means by that, but Jeff walks off, saying now isn't the time. Matt leaves, following his brother, trying to get an answer, but to no avail, as they disappear down the hallway.
In ring/crowd/overall: 73 Star rating:
-Segment #3- Singles match, one fall Eric Young vs. Crazzy Steve
The match feels like a tune-up or a sparring match for Eric Young, who handles the former clown prince of the former Menagerie stable with relative ease. It's as if EY is trying to make a statement once again to the powers that be for a spot at Genesis, as he is able to dispatch Crazzy Steve with little difficulty. But after the match, as his arm is being raised, MVP runs out and blindsides him. MVP gets in a couple stomps and calls for Kenny King … only King doesn't come out. MVP calls for King again, and gets the same lack of response. The third time, MVP goes to the ropes facing the stage and orders King to come out. Once again, the silence says it all; MVP flips out, threatening to run King out of the company if he doesn't show up. In the midst of his temper tantrum, MVP forgets about EY, who rises from the mat, spins MVP around, kicks him in the gut and spikes him with a piledriver. EY leaves the ring, taunting MVP on the way back, asking where his “boys” are.
In ring/crowd/overall: 58/49/53 Star rating: *1/2
-Segment #4-
A black and white video runs, similar to the one from the week before. This time, you see wrestlers distinctly … only they're all different, all from the history of TNA, and they're all crazy bumps and insane spots. From Elix Skipper's cage-walk-rana to Abyss landing on thumbtacks to AJ Styles' infamous Ultimate-X crash landing and many more. Over top, the voice from the week before, talking about how pain is the price to pay for glory in professional wrestling. He says those who run from pain will always suffer the worst, for their hearts and their wills can be broken. But those who embrace the pain can turn it into a forge for their heart, and a weapon against their enemies. He says he is bringing an arsenal to TNA, where he will fight, he will win, and he redefine pain to an entire company. Again, the video ends with the simple three-word sign-off of HE IS COMING.
In ring/crowd/overall: 75 Star rating:
-Segment #5- Singles match, one fall Rockstar Spud vs. Chris Sabin
Rockstar Spud, liberated from the degrading servitude of Ethan Carter III, walks to the ring with a visible sense of pride and self-worth. Sabin, meanwhile, comes down with an inflated ego, and he takes a moment to tell the nearest camera that he doesn't care who it is in that video, he's the “shot-caller” in TNA. Unfortunately for Spud, while his new liberated status has given him confidence, it doesn't give him the kind of killer instinct needed to deal with a competitor the temperament of Sabin, putting Spud on the defense for much of the match. Sabin makes a mistake about six minutes in, showboating on the top turnbuckle to somehow intimidate the mysterious newcomer to TNA, leaving himself open to a comeback by Spud. But just as Spud has some momentum going, his former employer EC3 comes down to ringside. The very sight of EC3 enrages and distracts Spud, allowing Sabin to blindside him. For good measure, Sabin hits not one but two Cradle Shocks, as if to show he is as sadistic as the man in the video hints at. EC3 sticks around to taunt Spud some more as he's laying on the mat, holding his head, saying how Spud will never amount to anything, and that if this is as bad as Spud thinks it gets, EC3 promises that the weeks and months to come will make tonight seem like paradise.
In ring/crowd/overall: 70/65/67 Star rating: **1/2
-Segment #6-
Cameras cut to the parking lot, where Mike Tenay is approaching Bobby Roode. Tenay asks Roode why he's standing around in the parking lot; Roode says that with the co-owner coming tonight to announce the first of the challengers to Lashley, he has the perfect opportunity to talk to him or her about how he was screwed by Christopher Daniels last week. He says he won't let the new co-owner make their announcement until he gets what's fair … and that's when Daniels comes from out of nowhere, slamming Roode into a nearby car. Daniels introduces Roode's head and body to much of the environment, bouncing Roode off truck trailers, the cinder block walls, the cement security parking pillars, and multiple cars. All the while, Daniels rants about how he is the one who deserves the shot; he asks (rhetorically) if Roode was the one who got one title shot his entire time in TNA, or if Roode was ever pushed out the door by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, or if he ever had to sit on the sidelines and spin his wheels while crippled old has-beens came in and took his spot. When the beating finally ends, Daniels kneels down over Roode's motionless body and says that as long as he lives, the only way Roode will see a title match is to leave TNA and earn one elsewhere.
In ring/crowd/overall: 88 Star rating:
-Segment #7- Tag match, one fall Angelina Love & Velvet Sky vs. ? & ?
Angelina Love and Velvet Sky approach the ring, doing their normal teasing-and-denying routine. Angelina says she's heard about this “new generation of women who are ashamed to be called Knockouts”, and how they're all just jealous they're not beautiful people, while Velvet promises to give “these poor, unfortunate trolls” a “proper makeover”, namely the kind that sends them running from TNA. But while what steps through the curtain isn't cut from the beauty queen (or strip club) cloth that the BP are, they are definitely not women to be intimidated by words. The first is indie wrestling staple MSCHIF; her distinct goth look catches the attention of Velvet and Angelina, to the point of physically revolting them … but perhaps a bit of fear as well. But it's Mschif's partner that really leaves them speechless; she is introduced as BRITANI KNIGHT, but most are familiar with her from WWE programming where she wrestled as Paige. The two stand side by side for a moment, smile at each other, then let loose in a pair of blood-curdling screeches that sound like cats in a blender. They rush the ring and have the Beautiful People frightened before a single punch is thrown. It only takes Britani and Mschif a few minutes to overwhelm Velvet and Angelina, scoring simultaneous pins inside of four minutes, officially proving Gail Kim's announcement of a new generation of women's wrestling in TNA.
In ring/crowd/overall: 56/74/68 Star rating: *1/2
-Segment #8-
JR and Tenay throw it to Jeremy Borash, standing in the ring, who introduces TNA Hall Of Famer Kurt Angle. Borash asks Angle if he's nervous about the announcement tonight. Angle replies that getting nervous about title shots was something that passed him by a long time ago; he is a warrior, and he is ready for any fight he's booked into. But one thing that does concern Angle is the the change in management; Angle says he's been in TNA a long time and has seen authority figures come and go. Angle says he bleeds TNA, he breathes TNA, and he represents TNA “every day in every way”, and he hopes the new co-owner understands that this fresh new start is a chance to present TNA to the world a new light, not to make it his personal playground. Angle says he's been with the company far too long to see it jerked around. Just as he's about to make some kind of vow, the music of James Storm kicks up. “The Cowboy” saunters to the ring and gets right in the face of Angle. Storm says “June 19th, 2002”, and asks where Angle was on that day, because Storm knows where he was; that was the very first TNA event, where he tagged with Psicosis against “a couple guys dressed like a pair of dicks”, and that he's been in TNA every day since then. Storm says hearing some guy who made a name for himself elsewhere say he lives and dies for TNA makes him sick. Storm says TNA survived without Angle, and when Angle's neck falls apart for good and he's steering a wheelchair with his chin, it'll still be alive and kicking … and maybe he can help that along. Storm tries to sucker-punch Angle, but Angle ducks and Storm's swing exposes him to Angle hitting a German suplex. Storm rolls out to the floor quickly, backing away from the ring, but the murderous look in his eyes says the issue isn't over … and from Angle's piercing glare, he's counting on it.
In ring/crowd/overall: 90 Star rating:
-Segment #9- Singles match, one fall Austin Aries vs. John Hennigan
Aries and Hennigan are men cut from the same cloth; both profoundly vain, both overflowing with confidence, and both highly skilled athletes. That translates to a lot of high-flying, innovative offense, and plenty from both men getting frustrated, as they're essentially fighting their own reflection. For a solid eight minutes, Aries and Hennigan go at each other at full speed, and there's at least six near-falls in that short period of time. What they don't count on is the incursion of Chris Sabin, coming out with a chair in hand. Sabin blasts Aries, then Hennigan, then proceeds to hit a Cradle Shock on both. Sabin yells out that nobody will outshine him, and he's destined for greatness.
In ring/crowd/overall: 82/73/77 Star rating: ***
-Segment #10- Tag match, one fall Bram & Magnus vs. The Unbreakable Machines
JR passes along that the announcement of the first challenger for Lashley will be coming shortly, so the second tag team title qualifier will happen now. Magnus and Bram come out, showing no worry about facing a team they've never seen before. But they are not prepared for just how well Brian Cage and Michael Elgin work together. Amazingly, it's Bram who keeps his team in it, putting up a hell of a good fight against the two muscle-bound grapplers from the indie circuit. But Bram can't do it all, as Magnus is just sloppy and disinterested, and against Elgin and Cage, nothing less than 100% is good enough. Magnus ends up eating the pin, and when he and Bram leave ringside, Bram is hectoring him, demanding answers for his “awful” performance. Meanwhile, in their very first night, The Unbreakable Machines vault themselves into contention for the company's tag gold, alongside Abyss & Sami Callihan and two other teams yet to be determined.
In ring/crowd/overall: 70/60/65 Star rating: **1/2
-Segment #11-
When Impact returns from commercial, TNA World Men's Champion Lashley is in the ring with his manager James Mitchell, awaiting the announcement. What they get surprises them, as well as everybody else in the house: Christy Hemme, dressed in a very professional suit and skirt that comes to the knees. Christy enters the ring as Mitchell and Lashley watch her with heads tilted to the side like dogs. Hemme asks for a mic and says that she is now the executive assistant to the new co-owner, and she has been asked to come tonight and make the announcement. Mitchell flips out, saying he and his client are insulted that the new boss finds it insulting that he or she can't show their face in front of the most dominant world champion in wrestling. Mitchell says it doesn't matter who Christy announces as a contender, because they're running into the “buzzsaw” that is Lashley. But before she makes her announcement, Mitchell says he wants Christy to carry a message back to her boss; if he disrespects them again with such a blatant snub, somebody will pay for. Christy, to her credit, shows no fear from Mitchell's hinted threat and picks up where she left off, asking the six men who qualified last week to come out. One by one, they come out – Bully Ray, Jeff Hardy (accompanied by his brother, Matt), James Storm, Kurt Angle, Chris Sabin and John Hennigan … except it only takes a few moments for the situation to break down. Hennigan comes out last, and doesn't bother lining up, instead grabbing Sabin from behind and throwing him into the barricade. The attack inspires James Storm to surprise Kurt Angle with a superkick and then jumps on him, raining down with punches. Matt immediately steps in between Bully Ray and Jeff, but Jeff turns Matt around and demands to know what Matt thinks he's doing. Lashley takes the opportunity to slide out and go after the last man standing, Bully Ray, but Bully catches him and starts peppering him with right hands. With the situation deteriorating, Christy just makes the announcement and has security escort her through the crowd: the first challenger is Bully Ray, who just so happens to floor Lashley with a big right hand as Christy makes the announcement. Bully realizes he's gotten the nod, rolls in and starts stalking Mitchell, telling him Lashley's time is coming up. Bully backs Mitchell into a corner, tormenting him, telling him he shouldn't have come back and that he backed the wrong horse. Bully asks his catchphrase question - “Do you know who I am?” - to which Mitchell, suddenly smiling, replies; “A dead man.” Bully turns and gets speared almost clear out of his boots by Lashley. Impact ends with Mitchell and Lashley standing tall, holding the belt over the fallen Bully, while agents and trainers try to defuse the chaos outside.
In ring/crowd/overall: 83 Star rating:
Overall rating: 73
Friday, January 9, 2015
Eric Young didn't like being booked against Crazzy Steve.
We got a 5.10 rating for 'Impact Wrestling'! The attendance level was 3003 people. We made $90090 from ticket sales.
15 more firings between WWE and CMLL.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
WWE made one more firing: Hornswoggle [The key to victory!]
Sunday, January 11, 2015
No relevant email
Monday, January 12, 2015
No relevant email
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
No relevant email
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
No relevant email
Jed Shaffer ~One contender down, two to go.
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Post by vince on Jan 27, 2015 12:00:21 GMT -5
Paige and MsChif as a team? Good call, think I had them paired before with good results. And The Unbreakable F'n Machines excellent. Currently working on a completely new concept think I rushed in like a bull in a china shop last time
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mlsq42
Featured on Backyard Wrestling DVD
Hey there
Posts: 304
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Post by mlsq42 on Jan 28, 2015 7:08:48 GMT -5
The Knight Terrors is something I can get behind.
EDIT: Although the Knight Mares could work too, just reinforce that a mare is a female horse...
And I guess Hornswoggle was hiding behind a couch or something and got found a day late?
And I wouldn't like being booked against Crazzy Steve either.
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