TNA Genesis 2012
TNA Genesis 2012 (1/8/2012)- Orlando, FL
FOUR CORNERS ELIMINATION MATCH FOR THE TNA X-DIVISION TITLE: Austin Aries(c) vs. Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion- 5.5/10.
JB, DEVON’S KIDS, & POPE SEGMENT- AWESOME!
DEVON vs. “THE POPE” D’ANGELO DINERO (w/Devon’s Kids)- 6.25/10. A good match that told a very good story… but it was WAY too early in this angle for that story! The kids only turned on Devon a few weeks ago, and now they are back with him already? WTF? If you want the reconciliation of the family to have a major emotional impact, you have to have to first have strong negative emotions for it to replace. All we had here was the turn. No promo with Devon’s kids trashing him. No spot where the kids wail on Devon because he won’t fight back. No spot with Pope using the kids as shields because he knows Devon will never hurt them. No emotional plea from Devon’s wife for her sons to come back home. Nothing at all. The kids turned on Devon a few weeks ago, and now they turned back. Okay then. Angle over.
VELVET SKY & STING- eh
STING & JB- They keep talking about Jeff “building the bridge of trust back”… but WE haven’t seen that at all.
ROB VAN DAM vs. GUNNER (w/Ric Flair)- 4.25. Disappointingly short.
Tenay keeps talking up Gunner’s “path of destruction”… but the first guy he put out (only a few weeks ago, and the only one who isn’t a trained wrestler) is back already, so it really isn’t that destructive.
JEFF HARDY PROMO- bad… but I least I now understand the opening words of Jeff’s theme song.
TNA KNOCKOUTS’ TITLE MATCH: Gail Kim(c) vs. Mickie James (w/Velvet Sky)- 3.5.10/ Gail and Mickie’s wrestling match is ruined by overbooking.
“Velvet’s Touch” turned out to be a very effeminate version of the “Penalty Box” from the King of the Mountain match, which Madison was locked in… and they then lifted it in the air, because apparently the cage wasn’t enough to stop her from interfering… I guess.
I really didn’t like them lifting the cage up into the air. As someone with a fear of falling from high places, whenever they do something like this, first and foremost on my mind is Owen Hart. Raising the cage (and Madison inside of it) is just an extra level of risk that is completely unnecessary, as it doesn’t help the match in any way. Furthermore, the last time that TNA did this (Final Resolution 2010), the person in the cage was able to cheat… and did so in a way that she wouldn’t have been able to do if she was in the cage on the floor! So, from a kayfabe point of view, this doesn’t always work!
AND… I CALLED IT! The cage STILL DOESN’T HELP!
BULLY RAY PROMO- okay
MONSTER’S BALL MATCH, IN WHICH, IF BULLY RAY WINS, ABYSS MUST REJOIN IMMORTAL: Bully Ray vs. Abyss- 7/10. I really liked Abyss’ no-selling here, as it fit well into the angle and showed us exactly what sort of weapon it was that Bubba was willing to risk his body to try to bring back to Immortal. Nothing says that heels can’t be brave… or even have admirable qualities.
MORGAN & CRIMSON PROMO- Morgan was great. Crimson was lame.
TNA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: Matt Morgan & Crimson(c) vs. Samoa Joe & Magnus- 5.25/10
JAMES STORM PROMO- okay
KURT ANGLE vs. JAMES STORM- 7.5/10. Another great match by these two. This match was also a solid example of why Tenay needs to be replaced. He didn’t sell any of the finishers, and he didn’t sell Kurt’s cheating at the finish until after the match during the recap segment… and even then he was just disappointed, rather than outraged.
BOBBY ROODE PROMO- very good
TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: Bobby Roode(c) vs. Jeff Hardy- 6.75/10. I would have given it 7, but the combination of bad psychology on the first Twist Of Fate and the stupid finish made me mark it down.
Overall, not a good show from TNA. Definitely not worth the money.
FOUR CORNERS ELIMINATION MATCH FOR THE TNA X-DIVISION TITLE: Austin Aries(c) vs. Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion- 5.5/10.
JB, DEVON’S KIDS, & POPE SEGMENT- AWESOME!
DEVON vs. “THE POPE” D’ANGELO DINERO (w/Devon’s Kids)- 6.25/10. A good match that told a very good story… but it was WAY too early in this angle for that story! The kids only turned on Devon a few weeks ago, and now they are back with him already? WTF? If you want the reconciliation of the family to have a major emotional impact, you have to have to first have strong negative emotions for it to replace. All we had here was the turn. No promo with Devon’s kids trashing him. No spot where the kids wail on Devon because he won’t fight back. No spot with Pope using the kids as shields because he knows Devon will never hurt them. No emotional plea from Devon’s wife for her sons to come back home. Nothing at all. The kids turned on Devon a few weeks ago, and now they turned back. Okay then. Angle over.
VELVET SKY & STING- eh
STING & JB- They keep talking about Jeff “building the bridge of trust back”… but WE haven’t seen that at all.
ROB VAN DAM vs. GUNNER (w/Ric Flair)- 4.25. Disappointingly short.
Tenay keeps talking up Gunner’s “path of destruction”… but the first guy he put out (only a few weeks ago, and the only one who isn’t a trained wrestler) is back already, so it really isn’t that destructive.
JEFF HARDY PROMO- bad… but I least I now understand the opening words of Jeff’s theme song.
TNA KNOCKOUTS’ TITLE MATCH: Gail Kim(c) vs. Mickie James (w/Velvet Sky)- 3.5.10/ Gail and Mickie’s wrestling match is ruined by overbooking.
“Velvet’s Touch” turned out to be a very effeminate version of the “Penalty Box” from the King of the Mountain match, which Madison was locked in… and they then lifted it in the air, because apparently the cage wasn’t enough to stop her from interfering… I guess.
I really didn’t like them lifting the cage up into the air. As someone with a fear of falling from high places, whenever they do something like this, first and foremost on my mind is Owen Hart. Raising the cage (and Madison inside of it) is just an extra level of risk that is completely unnecessary, as it doesn’t help the match in any way. Furthermore, the last time that TNA did this (Final Resolution 2010), the person in the cage was able to cheat… and did so in a way that she wouldn’t have been able to do if she was in the cage on the floor! So, from a kayfabe point of view, this doesn’t always work!
AND… I CALLED IT! The cage STILL DOESN’T HELP!
BULLY RAY PROMO- okay
MONSTER’S BALL MATCH, IN WHICH, IF BULLY RAY WINS, ABYSS MUST REJOIN IMMORTAL: Bully Ray vs. Abyss- 7/10. I really liked Abyss’ no-selling here, as it fit well into the angle and showed us exactly what sort of weapon it was that Bubba was willing to risk his body to try to bring back to Immortal. Nothing says that heels can’t be brave… or even have admirable qualities.
MORGAN & CRIMSON PROMO- Morgan was great. Crimson was lame.
TNA WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: Matt Morgan & Crimson(c) vs. Samoa Joe & Magnus- 5.25/10
JAMES STORM PROMO- okay
KURT ANGLE vs. JAMES STORM- 7.5/10. Another great match by these two. This match was also a solid example of why Tenay needs to be replaced. He didn’t sell any of the finishers, and he didn’t sell Kurt’s cheating at the finish until after the match during the recap segment… and even then he was just disappointed, rather than outraged.
BOBBY ROODE PROMO- very good
TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: Bobby Roode(c) vs. Jeff Hardy- 6.75/10. I would have given it 7, but the combination of bad psychology on the first Twist Of Fate and the stupid finish made me mark it down.
Overall, not a good show from TNA. Definitely not worth the money.