By Jason Powell

Dot Net Members are listening to the 154-minute Dot Net Weekly audio show with Jason Powell and Chris Shore, and the 39-minute audio review of Impact Wrestling that Will Pruett recorded today. Join us on the ad-free version of the website via Prowrestling.net/amember/signup.php.

TNA Impact Hits

Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy: A good match until the bad non-finish. This was better than their pay-per-view encounter, as the live fans bought into several near falls. I wish they would have had the balls to end the match with Roode pinning Hardy after the Swanton miss. The Hit goes to the work of the wrestlers, but the non-finish of the match was a big Miss. Sure, it sets up what should be an entertaining feud between Hardy and Bully Ray, but the it further cemented Roode as a fluke champion rather than as a credible champion who could draw money. How many times have we seen a second referee run out to keep a match going? It's just another example of lazy booking.

Bobby Roode and Sting opening segment: Let me stress that I hate the way TNA continues to screw over their pay-per-view buyers by giving them crap finishes and then offering rematches with clean finishes on television. Having said that, this was Wrestling 101 with the heel champion gloating over a cheap win only to have the authority figure put him in his place and book the rematch. I like the way Roode is dressing the part. I still feel that he needs the right valet or manager (perhaps a Paul Heyman agent type).

James Storm vs. Kurt Angle: Storm's mic work setting up the match was great. The match itself was better than their match at Genesis. I didn't care for the way they gave Angle an out by saying he didn't have time to prepare for the match. What's worse is that he controlled a lot of the offense. Why diminish Storm's win? I wish TNA would have done a better job of keeping the Bobby Roode and James Storm feud relevant while they worked with other people, but I am still looking forward to seeing them feud over the TNA Title now that Storm is No. 1 contender.

Matt Morgan and Crimson vs. Samoa Joe and Magnus: Okay, so they didn't actually work a match. Morgan and Crimson won a squash and then Joe and Magnus did the big beatdown afterwards, which shows that this is a feud rather than a one off match. My guess is that Joe and Magnus take the straps in the UK, Morgan and Crimson split up and feud, and then The Motor City Machine Guns (once Chris Sabin returns) chase Joe and Magnus for the straps. Sure, I'd like to see Joe get a strong singles push, but I see potential in the Joe and Magnus pairing.

Bully Ray and Robert Roode: Bully Ray's excitement over trending on Twitter followed by Roode's dismissive response was a fun jab at WWE's obsession with the social media device.

A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Kazarian: Sure, we saw what initially appeared to be a similar story involving Bully Ray and Daniels (if memory serves), but this has some potential in getting viewers to tune in to see what Daniels is holding over the head of Kazarian to make him turn on Styles. I just hope the payoff is solid. Am I the only person who thinks Kazarian would have potential as a "California Cool" character? Either way, he's a talented guy who needs something to sink his teeth into.

Overall show: The first hour of the show was really flat, but the second hour featured two entertaining matches involving star power. As much as I despise the way they give away pay-per-view rematches and feel it's horrible for business, I try to separate the two while reviewing shows. The problem is that while I can do that, I'm not sure that the fans who paid $35 to $45 on Sunday night can do the same.

TNA Impact Misses

Direct Auto commercial: I can live with product placement when it comes across more natural, but the idea of shooting a worthless video outside an insurance company office looked embarrassingly low budget. Sure, they did their best to incorporate the Matt Morgan and Crimson storyline into the commercial, but the piece screamed minor league for both TNA and the insurance company. Factor in a current Knockout talking about her job at Hooters on the same show and the company looked as bush league as it gets. Hell, maybe they can train the ball carrying pig the St. Paul Saints use to haul the ring jackets backstage.

The Bischoffs: All that television time for what feels like an undercard storyline. I assume Garett's trainer will be revealed as Hulk Hogan and TNA will attempt to push this way up the card. That will be polarizing as there's no denying that Hogan has fans, but there is another portion of the audience that will despise it. I praised the younger Bischoff for playing the awestruck rookie character well. Unfortunately, his character gained confidence and he failed to play that part well.

ODB vs. Winter: The match didn't click with me even though I was happy to see Winter back on television. She's a good performer who got caught up in Vince Russo's ridiculous time traveling lesbians saga. Frankly, I see more potential in Winter than in the rail thin Angelina Love these days, which is a shame because I considered Love to be one of the top in-ring performers in the Knockouts Division at one point.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: