The Gorilla Press Reviews TNA Genesis
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Thursday, January 21, 2010
HIGH SPOTS
The Four-sided ring: Regardless of what or not an Impact Zone full of die-hard TNA purists appreciated the sudden switch to a four-sided ring, this is the equivalent to an employee deciding to start wearing a tie and tucking his shirt in as he or she looks to land a promotion. The whole idea that TNA needs to be an alternative to WWE is overrated, and even if it isn’t, TNA is going to need to do a whole hell of a lot more than to have a six-sided ring to be different. You want to get to the next level, TNA? Do what WWE does, but do it better and with a little more of an edge. Period. If TNA needs to be such an alternative to succeed, then will somebody explain to me why a Monday night show loaded with WWE castoffs drew them the biggest rating they’ve ever had?
Styles/Anlge: As always, the main event between A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle delivered. These two have an incredible chemistry together and TNA must have picked up on that late as they currently have plans to scrap the ‘Angle doesn’t get another shot at A.J.’ stip.
Mr. Anderson’s Return: Just the return. It was very well done with the lights going off, the spotlight coming on and a great pop for The Artist formerly known as Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Anderson is a ‘matchup wrestler’ where he needs to be paired with certain guys to get the best matches out of him, but not because he can’t work, because of the unorthodox style in which he works.
Amazing Red/Kendrick: This match wasn’t as good as I thought it was going to be upon seeing Kendrick strut to the ring, but it was good nevertheless. I love Kendrick’s theme music, and think he’ll be a good hand in the X Division as long as the powers that be can keep him focused. But Good luck with that.
LOW SPOTS
A.J. Heel Turn: This was almost one of my high spots, but after reading The Spoilers and finding out **SPOILER ALERT** That A.J. would be coached to be exactly like Naitch, I do not trust the TNA creative team to make sure A.J. doesn’t come out of yet another heel run looking like a clown.
Ric Flair was very instrumental in the main event at TNA Genesis
You don’t need to be a promoter to know that one of the fundamental concepts of professional wrestling is to emphasize the positive and hide the negative. A.J. Styles is a (for lack of a better word) phenomenal wrestler (positive) and an average talker at best (negative). If Styles wants to be an effective heel, he needs to cut epic heel promos to make up for the fact that his work is so fun to watch and is ‘liable’ to get fans on his side regardless of his heel status.
Like I said, Styles is an average talker at best, and I highly doubt he will be able to cut good enough promos to turn the fans against him leading up to any match he participates in. You want the most out of A.J. Styles? Don’t let him talk as much and place the emphasis on his in-ring work.
Shawn Michaels was a great heel despite having a babyface in-ring style. He could talk. He conveyed the right amount of obnoxiousness. He was cocky. He was good and he believed it. As good as A.J. Styles is in the ring, A.J. Styles is no Shawn Michaels.
Smark Alert! Sure, the fans are what make pro wrestling so great, but it sure is getting quite annoying hearing all these obnoxious Impact Zone purists carry on with their mean-spirited chants. Sure, if TNA wants the fans to buy into their product, they need to provide a better overall product for the viewing public, I get that. But these fans were chomping at the bit, waiting to virtually devour anything they weren’t used to.
I know you want wrestling. I know you don’t like Val Venis. I know you hate change. I know you want your six sided ring. I know you hate Brooke Hogan because she’s better looking than any girl you’ll ever get and would only date you if was for charity. I get it. But less is more, TNA fan.
While it’s great to have your own voice and be heard as a TNA zealot fan, if the fans keep up their obnoxious behavior, they will have a hand in the eventual downfall of The TNA mini-empire. Trust.
Mr. Anderson’s Match: If the plan was to have Mr. Anderson look like a million bucks upon his debut in TNA, that plan was a Fail. Abyss isn’t the guy you want in there with Kennedy as his Monster Heel Style mixed with Kennedy’s aforementioned unorthodox work is like oil and water. It will be interesting to see how Anderson adopts to the TNA style of wrestling, which is more fast paced and less watered down, however the powers that be need to be careful with who they put Anderson in there with. Then hope that Anderson’sopponent doesn’t have shoulder issues.
GRADE
TNA Genesis was supposed to be the dawning of a new era, yet with more new faces being thrown at the wall and more of the same nonsensical silliness on the horizon, TNA fell flat on its mission statement of ‘a new era’. I hate to say it, but we may be in for the same old befuddling shenanigans from TNA. It’ll just be more expensive this time around. C
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