By Jason Powell

Dot Net Members are listening to the 50-minute audio review of TNA Genesis that I recorded after the show last night. They will also hear my audio review of Raw later tonight. Join us on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership now via Prowrestling.net/amember/signup.php.

TNA Genesis Hits

Austin Aries vs. Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion: A good opening match. I'd like to get more X Division singles matches on the pay-per-views, but this was a good four-way match that provided ten minutes of rapid fire action. The live crowd got behind Sorensen, who has some serious long term upside. Ion continues to shine as a heel. The key for everyone in the X Division will be consistent mic time and character development, but the division has improved greatly from where it was when the company was delivering random X Division Thunder Dome matches and other countless man train wreck matches.

Gunner vs. Rob Van Dam: The right man went over given that Van Dam's contract is reportedly coming up soon. They've done a good job of establishing Gunner as a killer. I just hope they aren't building him up so that Garett Bischoff can take him down.

Abyss vs. Bully Ray: A minor hit even though the match didn't do much for me personally. The effort was there and the live crowd seemed to enjoy the hardcore element of the match. I was surprised that Bully Ray went the comedy route after Abyss worked over his balls with a cheese grater (yes, you read that right). He's been such a strong heel and has been great about going for genuine heat, so I was surprised to see him go the comedy route, especially in a hardcore match.

Matt Morgan and Crimson vs. Samoa Joe and Magnus: A minor hit. The Morgan and Crimson team is growing on me, but they need the right team to feud with. Samoa Joe has past issues with both men, but Magnus had no real issues with them going into the match, and it was predictable to see him take the double chokeslam for the win. If nothing else, though, it was good to see TNA find something for Magnus, who has shown good promo ability and charisma. By the way, Crimson's mic work is best in very small doses, and they did a nice job of having Morgan come in and deliver the longer and much better mic work during the pre-match interview.

TNA Genesis Misses

Overall show: Another creatively uninspired event that left most viewers shaking their heads at the company's refusal to deliver a satisfying main event finish. Four of the last five (I stopped counting) pay-per-views have ended with a screwball finish. I am fully aware of the fact that TNA is only doing 12 pay-per-view events because they are contractually obligated to do so. What I don't understand is why the company seemingly has a defeatist attitude regarding pay-per-views. I realize the real revenue is in the television contracts, but there's no justification for half-assing it with events that the most loyal members of the fan base pay good money to watch.

Call me crazy, but perhaps TNA wouldn't be losing money on pay-per-view if they had delivered more clean finishes and more inspired shows in the past. And perhaps they could actually turn the money losing venture into something profitable if they ever managed to deliver a series of truly memorable pay-per-view events and started to get people talking. Of course, the powers that be know better than frustrated viewers who are turned off by various aspects of the product. If you don't believe they know better, just look at their stagnant television ratings and rumored buy rates. Oh, wait... Seriously, skip the spin and make some significant changes.

Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy: This was wrong on so many levels. Roode and Hardy were on their way to delivering a solid TNA pay-per-view main event when they had to execute the latest abysmal finish handed down by people who refuse to acknowledge the damage they are doing with these repeatedly awful match finishes. For the second straight month, the Impact Zone crowd was left wondering where the babyface authority figure was to set things straight. And for the second straight month, we have to wait for Impact to find out what babyface GM.

I don't even want to hear the excuse the it's an acceptable finish because heels cheat. That finish left the live crowd expecting something that obviously should have happened and left many viewers with a bad taste in their mouths. Furthermore, how does this help Roode? He's just another pro wrestling heel who has to cheat to win matches. If TNA really wants to make a splash with Roode they would establish him as a force in the ring who can actually beat top babyfaces clean.

James Storm vs. Kurt Angle: It's times like this when I harken back to the days of listening to great humanitarian and philosopher Sir Randall Moss, who once yelled, "We expect greatness out of you, boy!" at first-year starter Daunte Culpepper. Okay, so Randy isn't exactly a renown humanitarian or philosopher, but the quote applies here, as TNA desperately needs greatness out of Storm and Roode.

In the case of Roode, they're handcuffing him creatively. That's not the case with Storm, who was obviously given a feud with Angle with the belief that Kurt carries just about everyone to their best matches. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case in this feud. This would have been a serviceable mid-card match, but as someone who is high on Storm's upside, I was left disappointed by the overall match and never once felt like the live crowd viewed Storm as the star that he should be.

Gail Kim vs. Mickie James: I was looking forward to a no nonsense title match between two of the better workers in the Knockouts division. Instead, I got a senseless gimmick added at the last minute that led to a predictably stupid finish.

Devon vs. The Pope: Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that the saga of Devon's sons appears to be over, but I can't ignore the fact that they went from striking their father with a chair to suddenly having reservations about putting the boots to him. We really sat through all the buildup with Devon, Pope, and the kids for that quick blowoff? The in-ring work was a nice surprise, but the whole storyline blew.

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