TNA Impact (5/3/2009) Review: Jarrett-Angle Brawl An Unnecessary Distraction

The thing about TNA Impact is that it tends to assault your senses. It's understandable that with a roster of almost 60 and 2 hours of TV a week, it's hard to fit everybody in on the show, but TNA seems to stuff in so much that it sometimes appears they're not quite sure what they're doing themselves.

This week's Impact started off well, with Jeff Jarrett announcing that Kurt Angle had been slapped with a week's suspension for attacking him last week, and that his salary had been donated to a "worthy cause". This cause turned out to be the Front Line, who then paraded new suits they had bought with the money. Jay Lethal thought for some reason that wearing a suit made him Ric Flair. Eric Young spent very little of his portion on the suit, and most of it on surround sound for his gameroom, and invited Kurt Angle to 'come over and play anytime'. Now this was TNA's usual attempt to throw comedy in everywhere, but I didn't find it too out of place because these guys are supposed to be young and flippant. Then Kurt Angle proceeded to show up at the arena (because the rules don't apply to him), and took turns beating the hell out of Young, Lethal and Consequences Creed. He also tore their suits off to get his salary back. So far, so good. Angle played his part of the spoilt egomaniac who thinks he's above the system perfectly as usual, and TNA had just about managed to keep things logical.

This is where things got messy. Jeff Jarrett, deciding enough was enough, decided to go out and fight Angle. Sting tried to tell Jarrett to let him fight Angle, but Jarrett just pushed him out of the way. Jarrett then went to the ring, and after a 5 minite brawl, physically threw Angle out of the arena. Sting, or any of the Mafia members didn't even make an appearance. This 10 days before Sting and Angle face off in a match for the championship. It took the focus off the Sting-Angle rivalry, and I feel it was badly written. It made Jarrett look singlehandedly more powerful than the Front Line (what's the point of still having it, by the way) and the Main Event Mafia, and just added to the already overcrowded and muddled mess that is the TNA main event scene.

I would have had Jarrett go to the ring, brawl with Angle, only to have it broken up by the Mafia, who then proceed to beat up Jarrett. Then Sting comes out, and makes the Mafia step away. Angle then launches himself at Sting, and Jarrett goes for Angle. You could then have had Mick Foley come out to restrain Jeff Jarrett, while the Mafia separated Sting and Angle. This would have been a perfect way for the show to go off the air.

Other thoughts on the show:

• The verbal exchange between Mic Foley, Sting and the Main Event Mafia was very well done. The idea was that Foley was trying to convince Sting to quit the Mafia, who then came out and told Sting they still had a long way to go. Kevin Nash was especially good on the mic, while Foley and Sting were their usual great selves.
• On the subject of the Mafia, it was good to see Booker T show a little more seriousness this week after his recent cartoonish performances. However, that didn't stop the situation with him and AJ Styles getting ridiculous. Three policemen showed up to arrest Styles- wearing gas masks. Seriously, gas masks?? Did they think AJ Styles would let loose his arsenal of deadly biological weapons? I also couldn't see the logic of AJ being arrested for stealing a belt, but Samoa Joe (who revealed himself as one of the masked policemen) going scott-free for holding a machete to Scott Steiner's throat. Oh well.
• The Beer Money, Inc vs. LAX match was the best of the night, although it makes no sense why LAX would put their careers on the line when both Homicide & Hernandez have two huge title shots to cash in. The promo that Roode and Storm cut before the match was really entertaining too.
• The Knockouts match served no purpose at all. However nice it was to see The Beautiful People, the pleasure was quickly nullified by the women in the Kongtourage. Yikes.
• Alex Shelley had a decent match with Kiyoshi. After Shelley won, Suicide appeared again, taking both him and Chris Sabin out. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.
• Somebody needs to tell TNA the Abyss therapy sessions are not funny. At all. Probably the only thing that was as bad on this week's Impact was the continuation of the Don West-Mike Tenay rivalry. Wow, announcers feuding. Who wouldn't pay to see that.
• Speaking of Abyss, his former partner Matt Morgan, who beat Shane Sewell this week, is really impressive. A little more work on the microphone, and he's a main event waiting to happen.

Best Performers: (1) Hernandez (2) Matt Morgan (3) Kurt Angle

Best Match: LAX vs. Beer Money, Inc. (Off the Wagon Tag Team Championship Challenge)

Best Promo: Beer Money, Inc.

Line of the night: Mike Tenay (to Don West): I guess the next two hours with you will be about as much fun as an emergency landing in the Hudson river.