Worried for the February 3rd iMPACT!

[Rasha]

Obviously TNA is going for a big night with this week's Impact. Anderson versus Hardy alone is unusually big for a non-PPV, but there's much more with the hyped arrival of Crimson's "THEY," the MEM return teases, and the supposed resolution of the "legal battle" between Dixie and Immortal. With this being a live show and getting away from Orlando, it's a safe bet that the company will be swinging for the fences.

I just hope that they don't go crazy with it. Like many, I thought that the last Impact was one of the better shows they've done in a while. The storylines are in a good place and there's a good balance in the roster. Sure there are still glaring problems, but it's not like Bischoff, Russo, and whoever else is running the show is suddenly going to have a major philosophical change about how to promote wrestling. Time to stop crying about the same old shit and just look for improvement where it happens.

That said, I am worried that the "same old shit" will be on full display this Thursday. Not only do I fear Hardy winning back the title by whatever means, but I'm worried it's going to come with some ridiculous stunt involving "Nick Patrick 2.0" Jackson James and a final image of Bischoff or Hogan standing between Hardy and the camera. This seems to be a "perfect" time for the choppy, month-at-a-time booking style that plagued WCW in its dying days to rear its ugly head.

I'm worried that the resolution of the stupid "legal battle" storyline will be the dumbest point of the storyline yet. If it actually ends with a court order... then WTF is exciting about that? Dixie walking down the ramp with legal documents isn't exactly Stone Cold riding to the ring on a zamboni. The best thing they could do here is simply have one of the two parties use their fear of losing the legal battle as the impetus for cutting some kind of deal, or maybe both sides deciding they'd rather stop wasting money on lawyers and settle it in the ring. Just don't actually make me sit through someone's explanation of what a judge decided!

I'm worried that the MEM is coming back in name, look, and entrance music. You know why that worries me? Because it will suck! The Mafia wasn't the NWO or the IV Horsemen. Hell, it wasn't even Evolution! It makes TNA look small-time to pay homage to a group that was barely worth remembering simply because it was a big deal in their limited existence. Let Tenay and Taz point out the MEM history between Angle, Steiner, Sting, etc. If Vince paid off Nash and Booker and ruined the reunion, then just man-up and use the mix of vets and new blood and don't tag them with a stable name that neither makes sense or inspires nostalgia.

So yeah... I'm worried.

 

[SpecialFNK]

I wish TNA was having this Impact live, but apparently they are taping it tonight.

IMO Jeff Hardy will win back his title belt, probably with some interference from Immortal. then Immortal/Fortune will have all the title belts, and Bischoff will say that gives them all the power.

IMO this court thing could be in favour of Dixie, but maybe it will lead to a big match of team Immortal vs team Dixie. it would be much better if it could be settled in the ring, rather than in the courts.
could it be something good if in this power battle match, that is where AJ Styles turns on Fortune/Immortal and returns to being face to win back the company for Dixie?

I too am a little worried that TNA will somehow be disappointing.

 

[MisterRob]

It's going to be a swerve. Flair's going to come out and cost Hardy the match, helping Mister Anderson retain. Mister Anderson joins Fourtune as its leader (the way it should've been in the beginning), Forutune turns on Immortal and becomes the true "They", Fourtune has all the championships (besides the Television title) and AJ Styles (injured and out as he is) is gone from Fourtune so when he returns he can come back as a face and feud with them (and Anderson over the title).

BAM!

 

[onewayleeway69]

In my opinion mem were pretty damn gd but obviously booker and nash cant join so who can replace them who are former world champs? Lashley i would like to see return and be used proply but who could be a replacement for nash? Not morgan coz hes never been world champ.I hope tna holds a surprise and brings a forme wcw/wwe champ back that would be kool! but they most likey wont.
The court storys intresting as in you dont know where there going with it but my guess is tna dont know were there going with it either.
And the dude above me was right when he said jackson james will screw anderson that i agree with. Do you know why i agree with that? coz tna are making anderson keep that stupid pink tna world title. Why would they do that if they wernt planning on givin it back to hardy? that belt has spoilt andersons first reign as champ good going tna you only get 1 first world title run and andersons has been spoilt.
Anyways I guess we just have to sit back and watc what happens guys then complain about it the next on here hahaha cya then.

 

[MarchingOnTogether]

Now unfortunatley, I haven't been able to watch iMPACT! since Bravo was taken off my TV screen. Fortunatley Challenge will be picking it up so my problems are resolved but anyway...........

The only thing I can comment on is the return of The Main Event Mafia, I hate this idea. Now like I said earlier I haven't watched iMPACT! in recent weeks. But I think if there is going to be a faction to challenge Imortal it should only consist of younger wrestlers. The likes of Morgan, Anderson, and this Crimson guy should be the ones to challenge them. If Sting, Angle, and Steiner turns out to be a part of THEY well then chances are one of them will be seen as the leader, instead of letting a younger wrestler shine as a leader. I would be very dissapiopnted if THEY are MEM.

 

[Tech N9ne]

I definitely see what you mean...

As far as the way everything has been going lately in TNA, they seem to be pretty stable, at least compared to the usual crazy shifts in story lines, angles, teams, and even a guy being Heel or Face.

Maybe the stability of TNA lately has been the calm before the storm. I could totally see them going overboard on Thursday and just ruining everything.

I truly think they are in a good place right now. Most of the angles have a little substance and seems to be building well.

Now they will throw a wrench in probably every storyline going right now. I myself, am not and never was much of a MEM fan. I always thought they were an imitation or cheap rip off of most of the groups, or stables they have been compared to.

So yeah, I agree with the OP, I must admit, I am a little worried too.

 

[TheBWO]

Well I'm already lost on the show, because I watch it every week....and maybe it can be explained how the Pope turned heel (must have been a PPV turn), so it'll surely be a cluster$*)& by the time this is all over. Just hope that by the time it's all over, there is more Angle on the tube.....however,....if I had to put money on it, I STILL think at some point, Jarrett is going to pull the "double spy" routine and turn and get the company back for Dixie. Remember, it's "his" company (because he never lets us forget it).

 

[Jackal960]

As long as TNA changes their venue it can't go wrong. An audiance reaction would make slamming Andre arguably the biggest moment in wrestling history. A boring crowd would make a Rock promo lame as watching paint dry. Or just think of Rock and Hogan staring the crowd at WM and the crowd is looking blank, a few chants here and there, what a moment!

I don't know if you realized, but people watching impact says this more and more: "This weeks impact was one of the better ones." For the last couple of months you can realize more people start to say this. TNA is doing well i believe for some time with their storylines and everything. Of course when Hogan arrives, i always have the feeling the storylines will all connect to him, which upsets me more than anything. He should be there, but not throwing him to every important segment.

However, as i said everything starts with crowd reaction. You need a bigger crowd, and alive crowd... I think thats the next step for TNA to have a better show. Thats why i think this weeks impact will look even better.

 

[Calderownz]

It can go in many different ways. For example, Dixie could win the court case, but keep you waiting until the end of the show to get that done. They could then have Jeff cheat to win the title. Then, Dixie could say that she has control of the company and the match must continue. So, because of that, Anderson could retain.

Lots of things could happen. Still, I don't know what's happening. So, I'd wait to start deciding what is wrong about it or right about it. Otherwise, you go in with preconceived notions.

 

[marker]

I have big expectation for this impact. Not only because the many things is supposed to happen (hard vs anderson, hogan, dixie, crimsom, they,...) but also this is, i think, the first impact outside impact zone. I'm very curious to see the new setting. I hope it will be successful and Impact will go more to new places.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I have a feeling that the "legal situation" between Carter, Bischoff & Hogan and "They" will ultimately dominate the show and that everything else on the show will be little more than filler/window dressing and that's unfortunate. I might be wrong, I hope I'm wrong for that matter, and maybe all that will basically be supporting a strong card for the night.

I don't think I'm wrong, however, because Hulk Hogan is supposed to return and it just makes me think that it's going to be a night of Total Nonstop Hogan-Bischoff. Prior to Hogan's problems with his back, TNA cut back on his onscreen appearances considerably. In recent weeks so far this year, they've done the same with Bischoff as he hasn't been out there dominating every other segment or having 30 minute promo segments. When Hogan was on iMPACT!, however, he was the center of the show and everything else was weaved around whatever angle he happened to be involved in. I hope that TNA deviates from that formula but I've seen nothing whatsoever to indicate that they will.

I haven't read any of the spoilers, I almost never read spoilers, so I don't know what's going to happen. Booker T & Nash's defection to the WWE, even if it turns out to be a one night gig for them, could've tossed a huge monkey wrench into whatever plans TNA might've had. I'm not really expecting anything stupendous to happen.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

I can definitely understand where the OP's coming from. TNA tends to do too much in shows like that. Little portions of important things is better, in my opinion. They'll tape three months of swerves in one episode, at least that's what I'm guessing, it has happened before.

I expect "they" to be a pleasant surprise. Whoever they are, it's going to be good, TNA can't mess this one up. Nash and Booker are out of the picture, so it won't be old guys versus new guys. It'll be a mix of veterans and new guys VS mix of veterans and new guys, perfect.

I'm mostly worried about the World Title Match. I feel like Mr.Anderson will lose. That will get the IWC on TNA's ass (even more than they are on it now), but it could prove to be a good thing.

Perhaps if Anderson loses and Immortal has all the belts, "they" will be revealed and the next month or two will be focused on the good "they" taking the belts back and eliminating Immortal.

If Anderson wins then maybe Dixie will get her company back, "they" will be revealed and the next month or two will be about "they" eliminating the last remnants of Immortal.

Looking at it now, I think it will be better for the storyline if Hardy gets his belt back. It adds more tension and meaning to the storyline. If Anderson retains, then the faces become the hunters and that's not interesting.

That being said, you can't have a revealing of "they" without a big heel turn or a face turn, so let's explore the options here.

Face Turn - Who from Immortal could turn face, and cost Hardy the title? I know what you're thinking, I'm thinking the same thing. I'm thinking AJ Styles. Wouldn't it be great? Sure would. I also fear that ... Hogan might turn face. C'mon, it crossed your mind too and I'm trying to erase the image from my mine.

Heel Turn - Kurt Angle? Mr.Anderson? That's two heel turns noone will see coming, and hopefully we won't see coming.

So in the end, I expect "they" to be Angle, Steiner, Morgan, Anderson, RVD, Styles(or Sting) and Crimson. Immortal will be Double J, Hardy, Kaz, Storm, Roode, Abyss, Rob Terry. Seven on Seven. Sounds good to me.

I expect a surprise face turn by a member of Immortal too, preferably AJ.