What I like: TNA Monday Night iMPACT (replay on Thursday)

For those of you that saw my other posts, I was at Monday Night Smackdown at the IZOD Center last Monday, and I didn't get a chance to watch iMPACT on Monday. Normally I attempt to watch both Raw and iMPACT at the same time, which ends up with me watching iMPACT during Raw's commercials. That is not really a problem as iMPACT normally is not a consistent show. Last Monday's iMPACT looks as sign that better times are coming for the young company. While I was at Monday Night Raw I was checking the Prowrestling.net app on my iPhone (my most used app), to keep up with what was happening on iMPACT. I was very surprised because it was looking like I was missing a very good show, a show that ended with Rob Van Dam winning the TNA title. I was so mad that I missed the show, that is I was mad until I caught the replay on Thursday.

The show opened with a hot segment that saw A.J. Styles coming out and giving a speech about how much the TNA world title means to him and how he has it because he is the best. He is interrupted by RVD who looks to challenge for the title, when Jeff Hardy comes out and calls A.J. cocky and basically tells him to put his money where his mouth is. Just as it looks like there might be some tension between Jeff and RVD, Hulk Hogan's music hits and he comes to the ring. Hogan praises all of the guys' passion in the ring and puts over the TNA world title. He books Hardy and RVD in a number one contenders match for the TNA world title. A.J. tells Hogan that he will not be ready to defend the title at the next pay per view and is looking for some time off. Hogan tells him that whoever wins the no. 1 contenders match will face A.J. in the main event TONIGHT. Now that is a way to open a show.

Naturally RVD vs. Hardy was a great match and a treat considering how we haven't seen this since their WWE days. Although not match of the year material, it was great to see these two in singles competition against each other. I personally enjoyed it because I haven't seen a real RVD singles match in quite sometime. RVD and Hardy showcased their signature spots, and Taz was great on commentary. Don't get me wrong he is always great on commentary the calling of this match just felt more personal. There were alot of near falls and although I knew that RVD was going to win the title later that night, I marked up quite a bit and thought hardy was going to win, which is understandable considering that they are two of my favorites. This match was just a preview for all the classics these two will undoubtedly have over the title. It was cool to see Hardy get behind RVD, effectively putting him over, in the interview that followed.

There were also some interactions between Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan that I ate up. I love Bischoff's character right now, it just seems like he knows something everyone else doesn't.

The A.J. vs. RVD match that closed the show was interesting to say the least. A.J. was fresh, compared to RVD who wrestled a hard fought match earlier it was cool to see the match play out knowing RVD would win the title. A.J. had an air of confidence throughout the match and remained in control for the most part. RVD got in some offense but they were mostly counters to A.J. The ending of the match saw RVD get the win after countering an A.J. springboard with a power bomb, then hitting the five star frog splash for the win. There was a celebration with confetti that matched RVD's ring attire that saw some of the locker room come out. It was cool to see Team 3D with RVD on their shoulders as I started an ECW chant in my room.

Overall it was a great show that lived up to the hype.