TNA Impact! Wrestling: Review and Thoughts (7/14/11)

The July 14th edition of TNA Impact! Wrestling opens with a video package featuring past episodes, focusing on Mr. Anderson and Sting.

Immortal members, who are dressed in tuxedos, immediately arrives to the ring, led by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.  Bischoff says they're all dressed up because they are going to throw Mr. Anderson a party. Mr. Anderson is introduced.  Hogan welcomes him to the Immortal family.  

Lights fade and its joker Sting sitting down on the chair.  Bischoff tells Sting that Mr. Anderson will take him out in the match tonight. Sting responds by saying he will win the TNA World Championship and get TNA back to Dixie Carter. Sting tells Hogan to look above and we see several clowns up in the rafters.  (Commercial)

We get a quick Bound For Glory series update.

The Pope versus Bobby Roode versus Samoa Joe (Bound For Glory series match)

 Your winner, Bobby Roode.  Good opening match.  With Roode on the board for Bound For Glory, it appears we could be seeing a potential winning dominance by Samoa Joe, who still has no points.

Match Rating: 3.5/5  

Backstage, Immortal is meeting in Hogan's office.  Hogan tells the group to get on Sting.  Suddenly, Jeff Jarrett and Karen Jarrett enter to give presents.  Jeff presents the belt he won in Mexico to Hogan. After, we see the Pope and Devon backstage.  (Commercial) 

Shannon Moore versus Austin Aries

Your winner, Austin Aries.  Good X-Division feature.  Glad to see they're following up with the division and continue to get time on TV.

Match Rating: 3.5/5

Backstage, Abyss is saying he will get the X-Division title back before one of Sting's jokers attacks with a baseball bat.  (Commercial)

Back from break, Tara and Madison Rayne talk about their match.  We see another joker character attack Scott Steiner.

Madison Rayne versus Tara

Your winner, Tara.  Decent Knockouts action.  Crowd completely behind Tara.  Rayne drew good on her current heel run.  

Match Rating: 3/5

Kurt Angle comes to the ring.  He announces his title shot for the TNA Heavyweight Championship at Hardcore Justice.  Angle talks about Sting, Mr. Anderson and his past history with both wrestlers.

Jeff and Karen Jarrett are rushing to get into their car and back to Mexico.  However, a joker is in the trunk and attacks Jeff.

Mexican America versus British Invasion (Tag Team Number One Contender ship)

Your winner, Mexican America.  Decent tag team action in the ring.  Would have liked to see the British Invasion come out on top.  Mexican America, in my opinion, just aren't very good both wrestling and on the microphone compared to the Invasion.  It would make a better match in the ring with Invasion and Beer Money.  

Match Rating: 3/5

Backstage, after meeting with Bully Ray, Gunner attempts to attack all four jokers but is beaten down. All joker's take off their masks and its members of Fortune (AJ Styles, Kazarian, Christopher Daniels, and James Storm). 

Sting versus Mr. Anderson (For TNA Heavyweight Championship)

 Your winner and new TNA champion, Sting.  Ok main event for the most part but really picked up in the end.  Sting winning the title gets him again closer to accomplishing his goals.  In hindsight, this is the second short-run title reign for Mr. Anderson.  I like seeing both as champion but Mr. Anderson needs a longer run.

Match Rating: 3/5

Overall Impact! Wrestling Rating : 3/5

Grade: B-

PERAGINE'S FINAL THOUGHTS:

Overall, TNA delivered a decent show to watch.  Looking at the positives first, a few matches were good to watch.  The opener three-way featuring Samoa Joe, The Pope and Bobby Roode was good. The X-Division match of Shannon Moore and Austin Aries was good as well.  Glad to see TNA using Aries right away.  Madison Rayne and Tara was not bad and the main event picked up towards the end. 

The show featured tons of swerves with Sting.  His joker character is getting stronger each week and more intense.  It showed in the main event, with the crowd behind him.  I was just fine seeing all of Fortune as a jokers and taking out Immortal because it makes sense to have them.  I, however, did not expect Kurt Angle to be involved in Sting's victory as another joker character.

Looking at the negatives, the Mexican America victory just wasn't a great choice.  A British Invasion and Beer Money match would not only be better but probably draw well.  As I mentioned, Mexican America are not the best speakers on the microphone and furthermore, can't live up to possibly becoming the TNA Tag Team champions.

Next week, with the matches advertised, should be a solid show to watch.  This week was a little decline compared to the past month of shows but was overall decent.