Segment 7: Gail Kim vs. ODB
Positives: TNA did a good job reintroducing ODB into the mix and making her seem capable of going toe-to-toe with the Knockout Division’s biggest stars.
These two did a great job proving that the Knockouts Division can deliver when Mickie James has the night off.
Negatives: It’s sort of strange that Gail Kim has gotten involved in two feuds with referees this year. Does she really have that big a problem with authority figures?
This was strangely executed screwy finish number two on the night. Kim and ODB brawled extensively on the floor, then they suddenly just got counted out. It was really unclear at what point the ref had started counting and at what pace he was doing so.
Segment Score: +1
Segment 8: Brooke Hogan Offers Bully Ray a Deal
Positives: No “Wardrobe Malfunctions.”
Negatives: Brooke doing something selfish to help Bully Ray feels a day late and a buck short in this angle. Her character would feel better gone than nuanced at this point.
Divorce is a sad occurrence that touches a lot of families. It seems a little coarse to be portraying illicit bargains being made surrounding a divorce as something people do to get ahead.
Segment Score: -1
Segment 9: A.J. Styles vs. Austin Aries
Positives: There was some really top-notch wrestling in this match, as both men are tremendous workers. The match also benefitted from Austin Aries establishing himself in a babyface early on in the show. The result of Aries’ promo was that the crowd actually understood who to cheer in an A.J. Styles match – remarkable.
There was a contrast in style and pace in this match that really worked. Styles didn’t fall back into his old habits and worked his WWE main event heel pace in a way that made Aries’ high-speed spots seem ridiculously exciting.
Negatives: This was strangely executed screwy finish number three on the night. When Aries and Styles fell to their backs with arms draped over each other, there was some conspicuous rearranging by Aries that looked more panicked than calculating. It’s always a shame when an excellent match ends with a deflating finish.
Segment Score: +1
Segment 10: Aces & Eights vs. Main Event Mafia/August 1 Reveal
Positives: The Main Event Mafia and Aces & Eights are finally having an all-hands-on-deck match in which somebody will have to leave TNA “for good.” This is what this angle should have built toward much, much faster.
Negatives: Tito Ortiz being revealed as TNA’s latest mystery man was tough to react to. Ortiz, Jackson, and the wrestlers at hand looked like they didn’t know what to make of the situation, so the audience and the people watching at home didn’t either.
Segment Score: +0
NET +/- SCORE FOR TNA IMPACT WRESTLING 8/1: +0
Haha, internet nerd pointing out a wrestlers social inadequacies, hilarious…Btw, the spit factor line was awesome,nice nitpicking though..