So, I know most of you don’t pay any attention to TNA, which is sad and not good, but, they also have to give you a REASON to care first. Anyway, so last night was their Destination X pay per view. I didn’t watch it. I did read the results, and I’m going to just jot a few notes down on my reactions from reading it. Don’t jump me because I didn’t pay forty bucks. I’ll pay when they give me a reason to pay, and not having a title match does NOT strike me as a reason to pay.
That said, I think I would have really liked this one. I admit, no title changes, and no big returns, but it was still pretty well put together. There were loads of gimmick matches, and I’m a big fan of gimmick matches. I do think they need to serve a point, but at this stage in TNA’s legacy, I think it’s a good thing. Their writing is not strong and it will not make people shell out forty dollars. Gimmick matches might. This was definitely a solid effort toward building to Lockdown.
The first thing evident that TNA is on the right track is the fact that the first match was a #1 Contender’s Match for the TNA Tag Team Titles. I know, you’re probably confused by why this is important, so let me try to explain:
“In professional wrestling, a tag team consists of two or more wrestlers who are working together as a team. Often they are close partners and backstage friends who team with each other almost exclusively, while other times they are singles competitors who are booked together for just one match” (Wikipedia).
There, now that you’ve been reintroduced to the concept of tag team wrestling, maybe you can see why this is so important. It is something that COMPLETELY separates TNA from WWE. Vince has all but abandoned tag team wrestling, at least any serious attempts at it. Back when I started watching, tag team wrestling was an art form. There were actual teams, who came out to the same music, dressed pretty similarly, and did moves that required them working together – as a team. Now a days, we get teams with super creative names like, “London and Kendrick” and “Bob Holly and Cody Rhodes.” Back then, it was “The Hart Foundation,” “Demolition,” “The Road Warriors,” and “The Conquistadors.” Even ego maniacs like Hogan and Savage were dubbed “The Mega Powers,” and didn’t go by their names.
Alright, with that rant out of my way, let’s talk TNA Destination X again. So the first match is not only a tag team match, but it is a #1 Contender’s Tag Team match, insinuating that someone must care about these belts. The match featured The Latin American X-Change (LAX) V. The Rock & Rave Infection V. The Motor City Machineguns. LAX wins the match and the right to face the Tag Champs at Lockdown, furthering the story, but the important thing here is really that it got the crowd involved, and made it clear that Tag Team Wrestling is important to TNA.
In the next match, Jay Lethal, AKA “Black Machismo,” retained his X Division Championship against Petey Williams. I like this, because Steiner, So Cal Val, Sonjay Dutt, and Rhaka Khan all got involved in the match, on Lethal’s side, mind you, but Lethal still got the CLEAN win. After watching the few feeds I was able to find of this match, I can’t help but wonder why TNA is not pushing the X Division to the moon anymore. Once again, WWE is slacking, having gotten rid of the Cruiserweight Title, which was so important to them that the last (current) reigning champion was/is Hornswoggle. We all know WCW cashed in back in the day with the Cruiserweights. Why is TNA not doing the same?
I don’t even want to talk about Eric Young & Kaz V. Black Reign and Rellik, but I’m going to for three reasons. 1. It’s once again about Tag Team Wrestling. This is looking really strong in TNA, even if this match was not. 2. I want to bitch about the storyline, but since none of you probably know what it is, there’s no point. Suffice it to say, Eric Young is afraid of monsters, so Black Reign and the Dyslexic killer scare him. I’d hate to see what Kane or the Boogeyman could do to him. Finally, I just want to say that this match may not have been as bad as it looks when reading it. That’s sort of the downside to only reading a recap and commenting on it.
Awesome Kong kept her title against Gail Kim and ODB (No, Bryan, that is NOT a Wu Tang Reference.) From what I’ve read, it sounds like a Mariah Carey video – It would have been better without sound and without the ODB (Yes, Bryan, that WAS a Wu Tang Reference.) I know most of you think Awesome Kong is just another pretty face… God, I can’t even write that with a straight face… but this match sounds like it was pretty decent for a Women’s Match. Another area that WWE is totally failing in. They might keep giving us pretty faces, but WWE forgets that we actually want girls with talent as well. Don’t get me wrong, Mickie James is good, and Candice has come a long way, but some of the others should be kept out of the ring, even if they are in the latest issue of Playboy magazine.
Curry Man & Shark Boy V. Team 3D. The storyline of Team 3D attempting to make weight is ridiculous and has been done too many times to care. They each had to weight 275 pounds or less, or they would be fired. This freaken match, if you can believe it, was a Fish Market Street Fight. The end saw Brother Ray get something in his eyes, as Devon set up the 3D. Curry Man reversed, setting Devon up for it, and Brother Ray followed through, unaware he was taking out his own man. Curry Man and Shark Boy pick up the win. I guess, for me, this match was TOO Gimmicky. I like Gimmicks, but this one was just too much. I somewhat enjoy the mixed up ending, but otherwise, it’s no biggie. I do wish Christopher Daniels would just return instead of being CURRY MAN. That annoys me.
Booker T V. Robert Roode was ridiculous, but short. It was a “Stand By Your Man Strap Match” whatever the hell that means. The end upset me, because Roode went over with a dirty victory, knocking Booker out with a pair of handcuffs. This bugs me, because Roode is one of the true stars of tomorrow, if used correctly. I think he could have really used the rub by Booker to put him over, but instead, it comes off as he’s unable to beat Booker without help. Oh yeah, and The Screamin Demon Sharmell returned. Yay.
Elevation X matches sound like a great concept, but they never really are. It’s all just build up for the fall through the table 15 feet below. That part’s great, but the rest is always just stupid. Rhino and James Storm was no exception. TNA apparently tried to pull it off by showing how “concerned” the crowd was, but maybe they weren’t scared. Maybe they were just bored. Oh yeah, Rhino won. But really, with the end of this match, didn’t we ALL win?
The main event, while annoying because the title is not on the line, was well booked and worked well. Having Tomko tap to Joe’s Coquina Clutch makes Joe look like a bad ass monster before his title shot at Angle next month. Everyone else put in a great effort (Even Nash) and it shows.
All in all, it does not sound like it was a bad PPV at all, other than it being a little TOO gimmicky, even for me. I’d watch a replay, as long as I didn’t have to pay money.
Tags: Christian Cage, Destination X, Elevation X, Fish, Kurt Angle, LAX, Motor City Machine Guns, Samoa Joe, Shark Boy, TNA, Tomko, Wrestling, wwe, WWF
