Happy New Year! No, you are not seeing things, it is I, Chris with this week’s Impact Write-Up! Eleri is taking some time off and I’ll be helping out some with Impact. Now, you may ask why me? That’s simple. I own a season pass to Dixieland and I often randomly shout “My ring, my island!” a la Lei’D Tapa. All joking aside, TNA kicked off 2014 with a huge episode of Impact so let’s get to it.
First up is a match between 2013 Knockout of the Year, Knockouts Champion Gail Kim (as always with the fierce Lei’D Tapa) issuing another one of her open challenges, Which is answered by……. Madison Rayne!
I have to admit, I really enjoyed this. When Madison returned as a face I was interested to see how it would affect her style of work in the ring but she looked the best she ever has with her suplex/neckbreaker combo and a great spear among other things. Gail always looks flawless and this match was no exception. The spot where Madison got dropped right on her head was sick. The only thing I can say that I didn’t enjoy was Madison once again winning by a form of a roll-up. It’s okay every once in a while but two weeks in a row I’m not so sure about. I can’t help but wonder if she’s avoiding using the Rayne Drop for some reason. Could we possibly see a new finisher on the horizon?
So, since Gail stated when the challenge started that whomever could beat her would gain a title shot, Madison Rayne is the number one contender to the Knockouts Championship. I’m assuming this will take place at TNA’s next non Pay-Per-View, Genesis. I’m very interested to see where they will take this angle because I think Madison and Gail have worked fantastic together so far.
Up next is Velvet Sky managing her boyfriend Chris Sabin in his X-Divison Title match against Austin Aries.
You know… I was gonna try to be as nice as I could. I really was. But then I watched this segment. I was really trying to find something positive to say about the 2014 edition of Mike Knox and Kelly Kelly. But as I was watching this, I quickly realized that Velvet Sky may very well be the worst actress I’ve ever seen in my entire life. In addition to watching Velvet to write about her for this column, I was also trying to watch the match-up between the two fantastic wrestlers and found myself constantly distracted by Velvet’s facial reactions and constant shrieking. Remember back in 2008 when Velvet would cut these fantastic bitchy backstage promos? What the hell happened? I really enjoyed her 2011 storyline about her climb to finally winning her first Knockouts Championship but she’s kinda fell flat since then. I’ve been trying to find the positive in this storyline and finally figured out that the only way I would be able to enjoy it is if Velvet turns full on heel and becomes a cocky bitch like during The Beautiful People. Then, Sabin and Velvet can become this cocky power couple that pick on pretty much everyone around them. It’d be a lot better then the annoying whiny, crying Velvet that’s on my TV on a weekly basis now.
Up next may be the strangest segment I’ve seen in a long time. For those who don’t keep up with Impact 365, Ring Announcer Christy Hemme has had a budding romance with Samuel Shaw, who had his official in-ring debut.
I’m just going to say Christy should watch out because I’m pretty sure that Samuel Shaw’s gimmick is that of a serial killer! This may have been the strangest segment I’ve seen in a while but anything that gets Christy Hemme more airtime I’m automatically interested in.
Choo Choo! Fire up the train, It’s time to take a ride to Dixieland.
Madam Dixie Carter is just trying to crown her own World Champion Magnus when that evil AJ Styles decides to show up! He ruins the whole Dixieplan in Dixieland! Dixie’s acting has gotten so much better ever since she’s began her heel turn back in October and a lot of people may think I’m crazy but she’s honestly become one of my favorite heels in wrestling. She’s become my highlight of Impact every week and I always can’t wait to see what’s gonna come out of her mouth next, darlin’
Overall I think this was a pretty good episode of Impact for the Knockouts. Madison and Gail continue to work well together, and I’m really interested to see what ends up happening with both of the love angles, and Queen Dixie is epic as always. So until next time, Choo Choo, Darlin’.
– Chris
