Impact Wrestling: Genesis (Review)

Welcome back Pro Wrestling fans and loyal readers of Rest Hold Party, I am your Local Hero, your Review Guy, Cameron Crash and this time, we are going back to the Impact Zone for this week's edition of Impact Wrestling, titled Genesis. We have 3 huge matches, including a Monster's Ball match involving the Knockouts and a 30 Minute Ironman match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, so without any further ado, let's get straight to the action!

The show begins with a promo from The Broken Hardys, talking about the green briefcase Brother Nero has in his hands and how is going to use it next week on Open Fight Night, when they were interrupted by the DCC, who issue them a challenge for their tag team championships. Decay then interrupt DCC, stating their desire to also fight the "Greatest Tag Team In All Space and Time". What seems to be just a promo turns into a skirmish, and now we have a Triple Threat Tag Team match for the TNA Tag Team Championships.

The match was a very fun one, quite the fast-paced endeavor as I did not find myself looking at my phone for a second during this match. In the end, the BROKEN BRILLIANCE of Matt Hardy and the nefarious Brother Nero are enough for them to obtain the victory and kickoff Genesis with a bang. While it was far from the best match on the card and definitely not a show-stealer, I can say that it was highly enjoyable from start to finish.
Rating: 3.5/5 

Preceding that incredibly fun match, we get the usual segment that once again turns the show from fun and exciting to outright cringe-worthy. If you guessed that it had something to do with either Maria Kanellis, Braxton Sutter, Allie or Laurel Van Ness, you guessed it right and should get a gold star. Basically the gist of these branching segments that we saw throughout the night (Yeah, it went THAT long) , was that Braxton and Laurel were on a dinner date and the woman in this situation was being obnoxious and so full of herself that Sutter was tired of it and left. It probably would've been quick and painless if it just lasted 5 minutes at the very least, but MOST OF THE EPISODE?! God, if I wasn't tired of this storyline a few months ago, I am surely tired of it now. Please for the love of all that's holy, JUST END IT!!!
Rating: 0.9/5 

Thankfully we switch gears from that awful segment, as Drew Galloway makes his way to the ring for a promo. He makes it short and sweet, and just declares an open challenge for his Impact Grand Championship. Moose answers it, and it doesn't even bother him at all.

Now this match was a really good one, as it was competitive throughout and did its job of furthering storylines while displaying a well-balanced exertion of physicality for most of the two rounds that it lasted for. My favorite part of the match was the powerbomb on the apron executed by Moose with a destructive amount of velocity directed at the lower back of the champion. The aggressiveness of the challenger in round 1 was not enough to regain the title, as Galloway came back with a vengeance in the second round, doing whatever it took to hold onto that silver belt, including but not limited to raking the eyes and two shots to the lower extremities. It all worked out at the conclusion of the match however, as "The Chosen One" was once again victorious.
Rating: 4/5

Following what has been a very solid feud and a series of matches with a level of storytelling and match-quality that is unusual for the Knockouts division, it culminates here in a violent and brutality-filled Monster's Ball between the "Death Dealer" Rosemary and Jade. Normally you would see men take part in matches with a deathmatch type of style like this, but these two women are tough as nails, and the match that they were about to give you was something you weren't prepared for as a fan of women's wrestling.

These two used everything that was at their disposal in what was simply a war. Kendo Sticks, Trash Cans, Steel Chairs, Thumbtacks and a barbed-wire board were all extensively taken advantage of in a display of what amazing storytelling and logical booking can lead to. There were spots that made me cringe for all the right reasons as well, including a lionsault off the middle rope onto a prone Rosemary who was lying under a barbed-wire board. Gail Kim rushed to the ring in order to check on her friend Jade, but got an array of mist in her face, proving that no good deed goes unpunished.

Although I enjoyed that match, I hope both competitors are okay and are able to continue competing, at a high level or otherwise.
Rating: 4.5/5

After what has mostly been a pleasant night of solid wrestling and fun television, we have reached our destination, the sole reason why most fans of Impact Wrestling tuned into the program on that night. Indeed, it is time for the main event of the evening. A 30 Minute Match for the top prize in this show. The TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

As you can imagine, this was a very engaging 30 minutes, as there was time not only devoted to the story at hand, but also given to what you were seeing in the ring and beyond. With Davey Richards not in the picture due to the Wolves' conversation in the backstage area, Bobby Lashley was dominating Eddie Edwards with everything that he had for most of this contest. Those first 10 minutes were not short on physicality however, as Lashley did three major moves to the champion during this time period. A Belly To Belly Suplex over the top rope to the outside of the ring, a nasty powerbomb neck-first on the steel ramp and a spear that looked like he ripped his smaller opponent in two.

Despite being ahead for most of this match. "The Destroyer" was hellbent on tearing him apart limb from limb. However it didn't quite work out that way, as in the bitter end of this contest, it looked like Edwards was gonna slay this beast once again. That also didn't happen either, because Lashley held on to his adversary's guillotine choke for the time remaining until the announcement of the victor was made. Simply put, Bobby Freakin' Lashley is once again champion.
Rating: 4.5/5

Overall rating: 3.45/5 

It was a really fun show for most of my time watching it. However, I sincerely hope that this storyline with Laurel Van Ness, Maria Kanellis, Braxton Sutter and Allie ends soon. I am sick and tired of it and it just drags the show down immensely. On a high note, it was fun to watch and there were a lot of notable moments that were pretty cool to see. All in all it was very watchable.
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Well I guess that's it for this review, I am and forever will be your Local Hero and your Review Guy Cameron McDonley. I'll hopefully see you soon with another blog!

Impact Wrestling Review: (10/20/16)

Salutations my readers, welcome back to the Party of Rest Holds! I am Cameron Mcdonley, the BROKEN Review Guy, and your Hero of Locals ready to bring you a review that once again emanates from the Impact Zone in strikingly beautiful Orlando, Florida! There is a lot to discuss with this episode of Impact, and trust me when I say this, it's gonna be one thrilling ride! Let's cut to the chase and get started on this fine Sunday morning!

Our entertaining two hours of Impact begins with Cody Rhodes in the ring, cutting an emotional promo about when he decided to be a wrestler, how his father told him to only go into the profession if you're the best and to be the best, you have to be World Heavyweight Champion. Eddie Edwards interrupted this passionate moment with one of his own, saying that even though he respects Cody, he will lose their match tonight because beating Cody proves that he is the best. Bobby Lashley made an exception to that, cutting off these two with a statement saying that whoever wins tonight is keeping it warm for him, and that whoever wins will get hurt. Usually I'd hate that they've been opening up the last three Impact episodes with a promo segment, but this one was the best of the three, with promos that had conviction behind them and the segment in general felt like legitimate emotion radiating off of these wrestlers. Enjoyable to say the least.
Rating: 3/5 

The match that kicked us off tonight on Impact was surprisingly one that the live crowd has been wanting to see for months on end, as "The Destroyer" Bobby Lashley squared off against Moose in what was a very physical and incredible match to watch. These two men definitely brought the best out of each other tonight, as these two had no problems just having a little more malice in their moves and a lot more athleticism mixed in with their exceptional realism and selling in that ring. Although I had a bit of an issue with Moose no-selling a vicious snap suplex in the beginning of the contest, throughout were moments I enjoyed, such as Moose hitting a senton to the outside, sending Lashley into a chair that broke upon the impact of his body, no pun intended. Both men kicked out of their own finishes, and each other's finishing maneuvers in this contest as well as each other's signature moves until Bobby Lashley went to the top rope and leaped off, catching his opposition with a spear for the pinfall victory. Mostly an exciting contest with a fun ending. Not much else to say.
Rating: 4/5 

We cut to the back where The Tribunal was cutting a promo when suddenly, the feed phased out and left us staring at these three men in masks sending us a message from whatever room they are at using CCTV footage. These men in masks obviously have a very dark plan, but what it is, is certainly unknown because these presumable humans speak very cryptically about the future of Impact Wrestling and their intentions. Incredibly intriguing, I hope this leads to something out of the ordinary in every positive way. This has the potential to be a very interesting angle, whether that be for good or bad reasons.
Rating: 3/5 

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are live from whatever studio in Orlando for the hottest talk show in wrestling today, the Fact Of Life! Starring one of the most ridiculous characters in TNA history, Eli Drake!
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Yes my readers, we are treated to another Fact Of Life segment, with his guest this week being none other than Aron Rex! Although the banter back and forth at times was very funny and comical, the piped in studio sounds were a bit on the irritating side after a while, which is my only complaint about this segment. EC3 entered the fray and attempted several times to goad Eli Drake into pressing the dummy button, until he finally caved in, causing a huge brawl on set as Ethan Carter took down security and punched Rex in the face to get to his enemy. Jessie Godderz attacked Rex from behind, causing this once comedic segment to become a haven for bedlam and violence between four men that have no love lost for one another. A very fun segment, albeit very much an annoyance at the start.
Rating: 3.5/5 

In our next contest was a TNA Tag Team Championship match, as the Broken Hardy's were pit against the men who attacked them last week, The Tribunal in what seemed like a very trying title defense. Baron Dax and Bastille Baraka were almost successful in gaining their first titles in TNA, but as usual, Broken Matt and the nefarious Brother Nero used their BROKEN Brilliance and their premonitions to defeat their opponents, allowing the champions to be the tag champs for another week. After the match, the feed cut off and the lights went out in the arena. When they came back on, the aforementioned three men in masks appeared and brutally assaulted the Tribunal, leaving destruction in their wake as they gave the Hardy's and Reby a deathly stare.
Rating: 3.5/5 

As per usual, when Maria Kanellis and her idiotic clique of imbeciles & retards make their ways to the 6-Sided ring, the show goes from enjoyable to a chore to watch real quick, as the 5 minutes or so that they're on screen feel like an eternity. It was the usual "I hate my assistant, let's humiliate this dumb human live on TV" shtick we get from these three hooligans every single week. Maybe there's a point that I'm not getting like I don't know, DRAWING SYMPATHY TO THE BABYFACE!
However, at this point you can't even make me feel bad for Allie, because she's such an incessant child that you even want to see her get pummeled. When you make the audience even hate the face in this situation, that's when you should really take a step back and most likely scrap this whole storyline before it hurts all of their characters' developments. Really, I want them all written off my television at this point, get them all off I beg of you TNA.
Rating: 1.5/5 

Following this segment was one that was equally as hideous (in a good way), this time with DJ Z cutting a usual face promo until Rockstar Spud came in with a mic and berated himself, DJ Z and the entire crowd. Talk about a miserable human being, this guy might be the most bitter man in this company next to Billy Corgan at the moment. Unlike the contrary from most fans, I enjoy when Rockstar Spud is on screen because he's what a heel should be. His character is a man with no redeemable qualities that you would pay to see get at least a receipt for his deplorable and bitter ways. While Maria has "get off my television" heat, Spud has the kind of heat that makes me want to see him get savagely beaten, and that my friends is the heat you want to attract in this business.
Rating: 3/5 

After an eventful Impact episode that has not felt like it's been two hours (more like one), we have reached our main event of the show. Cody Rhodes is the challenger, opposing the TNA Champion Eddie Edwards on the other side of the ring for this one of a kind contest. Even though Lashley vs Moose at the start of the show was exciting to watch, this one was certainly match of the night, as their styles meshed almost perfectly. There were many high spots, as well as holds that were exchanged between the two. Honestly a perfect blend of spots in the match if you ask me, because every move was sold exceptionally well, with no immediate relief after a high-octane shot which is not what you want in a match like this. Two athletes of their esteemed caliber should be able to put on a phenomenal performance, and they did just that. Neither man was able to finish the other off decisively however, as Edwards retained his tile by obtaining a pinfall victory with a school-boy   roll-up.
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Immediately after the match, Maria Kanellis *sighs* ambushes Brandi Rhodes from behind while Cody is alone in the ring. It's one thing if The Miracle is feuding with Cody, but is Maria is feuding with Brandi, God help us all. That's all I have to say.
Rating: 4.42/5

Full Show Rating: 4/5
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Honestly I have no further comments about this week's show other than the fact that this show for the most part did not drag, and was left thoroughly entertained with a few exceptions. Really nothing else to say.
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Well, that concludes things for this review, I'm the "Local Hero" Cameron Mcdonley signing off. Goodbye everybody and I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!