TNA Wrestling: Kurt Angle and RVD Help Save IMPACT Thursday Night

When Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam stepped into the ring for the final match of the night on IMPACT, there was still hope the two veteran superstars could deliver an outstanding match.

They did just that.

The new brand of IMPACT was underwhelming with the exception of a few segments that will undoubtedly change course and direction in the next few weeks. Writers and hierarchy will determine how they will deal with “injuries” to Fortune, and the dominance of Immortal as the lead stable in the organization.

At 43 years old, Angle still has the look of a champion and being challenged by RVD, who was picked by Jeff Jarrett to face the 14-time world champion, is nothing short of brilliance. The show lacked the charisma and the snap it did last week, the first after Mick Foley announced major changes with the brand and the style of wrestling and promotion.

The vignettes were good and the interviews were more old-style NWA from the days of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Angle and RVD gave great interviews about why “wrestling matters” to them. This seems to be the catch phrase or mantra of the new order. It works in this style of programming because the older wrestlers who bring in the older generation remember the interviews, confrontations and personality brought to “shoot” style interviews.

As for wrestling, there was a lot to be desired.

Matt Morgan’s match with Jeff Jarrett was stale and predictable. The interference by Scott Steiner was bound to happen, but as a fan and viewer, I was upset that this continues to happen when Morgan, who could be a headliner if he put forth effort and was marketed much like Kevin Nash or a young Scott Hall, should be leading this pack of younger wrestlers.

Here are some other things I observed last night…

The idea by Mick Foley to have an improved and dynamic X-Division is brilliant. The younger high-flyers need to remain within the fold of wrestling. Wrestling used its smaller division throughout the years to produce some of the best mat wrestlers (Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerreroand Chris Benoit) EVER. TNA always used the X-Division as a selling point in bringing fans more action and more competition.

The confrontation between Velvet Sky and ODB is interesting, but Velvet Sky should be challenging for a Women’s Championship and seeking higher ground. I am not sure what the writers have in mind with this one, and will both women challenge for a championship at some time?

The Jeff Jarrett/Kurt Angle feud is coming to a head and finale, but the Karen Jarrett angle (no pun intended) is getting old. Whenever a female who is not a wrestler inserts herself in a match or something like this, it only dooms the angle itself. Let’s hope for the sake of the build-up the two superstars can deliver again.

The D’Angelo Dinero/Devon angle may work. But, it will take some development. I was hoping Dinero would at some point change face and become a favorite. Does not look like that is happening anytime soon.

And because there was not as much drama between Fortune and Immortal this week, besides the opening match between Bully Ray/Tommy Dreamer and AJ Styles/Chris Daniels, here is one fan who hopes it all breaks loose next week, “injuries” and all. Fans seem to be more excited when the two factions try to “get along”.