I like the spoiler filled thread ftr. Saves me time

It seems most do and ABT is the only one that has a problem with it but he came in asking for discussion and left without doing any discussing himself so I just kept doing it how I have been. Think I might start adding the youtube recap along with what I've been doing already so anyone that doesn't want to scroll through my post can just check it out.

At least TNA actually makes an effort to go to India and rewards a hard-working talent over the past 14 years, who has been consistently over with that crowd, in order to appeal to a fanbase. Jinder Mahal is leading a SmackDown crew that has diminishing attendance at their live events, despite the Indian diaspora.

I just read that Naomichi Marufuji is working the Slammiversary PPV. Damn, that's an attention-grabber, from where I sit. I remember when all the hype from Japan used to be Pro Wrestling NOAH, specifically KENTA and Marufuji.

That is big and they haven't really done alot with NOAH since they came into the working agreement. They haven't said anytging about him in any of the lead up shows so he'll probably be working with someone like Shera or Suicide that dont have anything yet.

He's in that big tag title 4-way match.

Company took a nose dive after Misiwas death. Even ajpw is in better shape these days.

Watched a stream of the main event of "Slammiversary"... seemed pretty bad... dead crowd, mediocre match, etc.

Also Jeff Jarrett and all these GFW "executives" in suits walked out after Alberto won and started clapping and making the show all about themselves and stuff... as if people care about them.

All the Impact results I read seem to have like 10 segments centered around Bruce Prichard or some other boring "authority figure." Annoying ass self-indulgent booking.

Alberto said his match with Lashley would be better than Lesnar vs Joe. Based on the reactions I'm seeing, I certainly hope not.

WWE would have to pull a TNA and have Kurt and Booker help Joe in the match for that happen. Lesnar/Joe should be alot better but all I've seen of the Lashley/Patron match was in the highlights I posted which is the whole show in about 30 minutes.

I tried to watch bits of Slammiversary, mainly because in my eyes that's still TNA/Impacts/GFW's "Wrestlemania". Not Bound for Glory. Fucks sake.

But the whole show was just so boring. I couldn't get through more than a couple of minutes per match. Everything is so messy, hard to follow, it feels like the focus is never where it's meant to be.

Random nugget that irked me... in the 15-years hype video package, did we really have to SEE the narrator. Was weird as fuck. Some random black dude speaking to the camera in what SHOULD have been "that voice" you hear over the action, not see coming out of the guys stupid slab of a face. Aw well. It is TNA after all.

Yeah, they had a relationship with NJPW for a couple of years and they sent Suzuki-GUN over there to help out which did pull popularity back, but there was a falling out.

Props to Josh Matthews though. You'd never have guessed it after him being an announcer in WWE for ten years or whatever, but the guy's really athletic!

Yeah, it's a damn shame. Wasn't it basically a feeder system for New Japan recently? Then it got new owners or something.

I was wondering if he was supposed to be someone. I thought to myself "Surely that is not James Earl Jones."

Reading the show, it sounded pretty good, in truth. I like that they are sticking to their plans. The big hole they could have fallen into was changing direction every time the ratings don't immediately jump up. It's going to be a long process back. It sounds like there was some wonky booking in the Women's Title match, but hopefully they get their current crop of guys over and keep moving forward.

lol yeah

<iframe width="541" height="304" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_r8Apf2jRc8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yeah, they were bought by an IT Development company and haven't really recovered since they fell out with NJPW. I'm not sure a TNA partnership will help.

I'm...intrigued to see how these partnerships go. Jarrett having one with AAA and CRASH seems weird, but he's somehow managed to keep both masters happy. I'd rather they showcase New Japan guys in a way that isn't Okato, but the ship has probably sailed on that. Still, if Lashley makes an appearance in NOAH, it is probably better than it is worse for them. I don't think they can depend on that relationship to save them though.

The Impact preview kind of makes me want to watch. They're getting back there, they've just got so much ill-will to overcome.

I hope it's Juvi who stole the X-Division Title. Just saying.

Women's title match seemed really good. Also, DeAngelo Williams is a fucking natural.

Looking back at that AMW vs XXX cage match posted on the home page... I miss those days. When Elix Skipper does that walk across the cage... the crowd go insane for ages, the announcers lose their voices. TNA really felt like the next alternative to have a shot at becoming a big brand in the industry.

I guess by now, the formula is clear and most people just tolerate it. TNA is WWE's unofficial developmental company. It's hard to give a shit because you know any of the young guys will go off to WWE or NXT at some point, and the ex-WWE guys will go back to the WWE in a heartbeat if given the opportunity.

I use to really enjoy TNA back in the day. I guess they were the days when the line was still blurry. When guys like AJ Styles and Somoa Joe were "TNA guys" and it seemed ludicrous that they'd ever leave. Guys like Christian, Sting and Kurt Angle popping up was a huge deal back then, now it's almost a rite-of-passage to turn up in TNA after being future endeavored.

TNA have made a lot of mistakes over the years (my God, have they ever! How they made it to 15 years is beyond me!), but they've also had some good moments too. Ultimately, I think whether they "dig themselves out of this hole" or not, they're at the point now where there is no chance of shaking of the stigma of being WWE's developmental. There really isn't any loyalty to the brand any more. The guys that are there are only there because they're not in WWE or NXT.

All this cross-promotional stuff with Japanese companies etc... I don't know any of these guys, and it puts me off. Because there doesn't seem to be a definitive Impact roster any more. Just seems like any other open indie fed where everyone is just using it to get exposure to get WWE's attention.

Aw well. Great Balls of Fire next week! Yay!

Fucking hell dunno where all that came from.

Feel like Alberto will be the new member of LAX that Konnan was talking about after the tag title match. Only other person I can think of would be Hernandez and Alberto joining would be better I think.

Anthem kind of played it safe the first half of the year and nothing has really been must see. Like I said previously I feel like they're just trying to fill tv time matches have felt more rehearsed and over produced since Anthem took over. They were doing the same before with regards to TV but the matches seemed to better and talent had more freedom.

In my opinion they live and die with the X Division though. Since Hogan came in its been treated more as a cruiserweight title with occasional big men in matches. Tournaments are a big deal in wrestling today and with all these partnerships they have they could do a killer Golbal X Cup. X Division should be a showcase of different styles and sizes. Marufuji would be a great X Division champion and a guy you that could dominate the division I think. I'd like to see Mahabali Shera in the X Division as well. I've said it before but I feel like Caleb Konley is a guy they could build as their next AJ Styles but their focus has been on Low Ki and Dutt, which for playing it safe makes sense.

Would like to see the let loose now and let talent go out there and put on a show in the ring. Needs to have some bigger angles as well but with Jarrett back in charge its a little scary to think about that. Need to embrace their TV14 rating and be a bit more rough and allow some bad language but I've seen them beep talent and blur middle fingers which is something they didn't use to to do as much.

Gangster Del Rio or GTFO

Bah, who am I kiddin, I'm not going to watch it anyway.

Impact already spoiled who the new member of LAX is in the previews they sent to TV Guide and stuff... They also spoiled the result of the PPV main event and X-Division match...

http://www.tpww.net/2017/07/did-impa...tial-spoilers/

LOLGFW!!! :lol:

So is the promotion called GFW now? Or is it still Impact Wrestling?

The promotion itself was still called TNA at their head office with all the trademarks and shit, they just tried not to ever use it. Now that's called GFW so don't know if they'll call it GFW Impact or stick with impact Wrestling or what.

Yeah, when I was digging for matches each year, up until 2010 there's so much gold to choose from, then Hogan comes in and everything gets fucked up, but the still had Kurt and AJ (while Samoa Joe was being hilariously misused).

I've scheduled all the ones up until 2011 to go live each day. Still need to get the desire to do 2012-2017....

Haha yeah Hogan coming in was when my interest in TNA started to diminish. Of all the mistakes they've made I truly believe THAT was the biggest one.

Dave Meltzer reported that the company will be debuting their new title belts at the August 17th taping.

On one hand, WWE has done similar things like this in the past to "throw off" suspicion for the swerve later: most notably pointing away from the Billy Gunn KotR win.

On the other hand, this is The Company Formerly Known As TNA, and that seems like too smart of a play and instead they just simply fucked up with spoilers.

Kind of forgot about Impact tonight but watching now. Starting with a Slammiversary recap.

El Patron is out to start things off with both titles and his dad and brother. Says he's there to party.

Lashley out now calking Oatron an egomaniac for throwing this party.

Lashley claims Alberto's win was a fluke. Also said he'd build a wall around Dos Caras and El Hijo Dos Caras to keep them where they belong.

Weird earlier Alberto called Lashley a bitch and the beeped it. Just now he called him one again and they didn't.

JB still calling it Impact Wrestling and only mention of GFW is talking about the titles. JB and Josh still cant get physical with one another or they are fired, Pope to for some reason.

Caleb Konkey vs Sonjay Dutt in a non title match.

Dutt win but Konley had a decent showing. Trevor Lee attacked Sonjay after the match and stole X Division title.

8 man tag match now, Eli Drake, Christopher Adonis, Fallah Bahl, and Mario Bocara vs VoW, Grado, and Eddie Edwards.

Edwards pinned Mario Bocara for the win. Joseph Park is out now to congratulate Grado but also has a paper that he showed Grado and Grado doesn't seem happy about it. They are leaving together, not sure whats going in there.

Matt Sydal vs Braxton Sutter is next. Sutter has Allie with him.

Sydal won with a shooting star press, short match.

Super X Cup is returning with a 8 man tournament. First round matches will be Sami Cavara vs Drago, ACH vs Andrew Everett, Taishi Isimori vs Davey Richards, and Desmond Xavier vs Edris Abraham.

Xavier vs Abraham is happening next.

Desmond Xavier won a decent match, was much better than I thought it would be. Xavier is very talented in the ring.

Marufugi vs Moose is next week for the Grand Championship which EC3 seems to take offense to with an outsider getting a title shot over him.

Rebel vs Sienna is next.

Sienna won by tap out.

Main event is next, rematch of Slammiversary with Patron vs Lashley.

Fell asleep on the match but this is how it ended.

Who does NOAH even have now, besides Marufuji and Ishimori, that would make a partnership beneficial to GFW.

I think GFW had the relationship before the Anthem buy out, so it probably made sense for them then. may as well honor the deal and hope to use any talent they do sign while giving their talent more dates.

So...Alberto joins LAX because Mexicans?

Lashley is still a charisma vacuum.

Konnan looks rough.

I still hate the name of the belt, but I'm fine with Moose beating Marufuji and then EC3 starting a feud with Marufuji. Could be good stuff.

New Japan/GFW would be the best relationship they could strike up, but that would probably jeopardize the GFW/AAA one. That being said, one with CMLL would probably be better anyway. They could maintain the one with Konnan and CRASH.

They really need to try and get themselves back on Spike. I think I read something about Spike not being interested, but maybe the branding change can re-open discussions. Just please, please, please keep Vince Russo away from things.

Who is doing commentary on the shows now? Sounds like it's back to Borash, Matthews & Pope. Get rid of Matthews & Pope and have Dutch join commentary. As the booker, he knows the direction things need to go, and the guy is a damn master on the mic. Borash & Mantel would do a great job at the booth, methinks. Have Matthews & Pope work as managers. Or just let them go. Whichever.

ROH works with both CMLL and NJPW. Dont see them droping ROH for GFW Impact. I wonder though if all the working agreements that GFWhad around the world still exists, which one of those was NJPW.

Not sure how they are going to work out the titles once they create new ones. The main titles have already been unified but still have the X Division, Impact Grand, and GFW NEX GEN Championships. Cody is the NEX GEN Champion and he's probably going to sign with ROH if he hasn't already. I also hope they scrap the round bull shit, Corgan did a great job in Impact but that is the worst thing he introduced.

What is that ROH relationship really worth to them though? Sinclair has a lot of money, but how much do they really pump in? ROH feels really...cold as a product. And I don't see ROH buckling the relationship if New Japan decided to branch out to GFW as well. It feels like ROH is the "little spoon" in it. The ROH product does feel more stylistically compatible with what New Japan puts forward though.

I imagine that it will just be GFW Heavyweight, GFW Impact Grand (I hate that name), GFW X-Division, etc. The NEX-GEN will probably just be dropped and never spoken about again with Cody gone, since that belt is basically the same thing. The elephant in the room is what to do about the Impact Grand. It feels like a proper mid-card title on Moose, but it's got that goofy shit and pre-existing stigma around it, but they've already created a mess with these titles. It wouldn't surprise me to just see it renamed to your traditional mid-cardy title -- Intercontinental, US or Television, to be honest.

Agree its a good title for Moose in the mid card. He's also took it and defend in NOAH and AAA. Could live with it being GFW Impact Championship and treated as a TV type title defended on Impact. Need to drop the rounds though.

Pretty sure its a strong relationship same with CMLL. ROH has helped NJPW break into the US market with the War of the Worlds PPVs they've put on together. The talent exchange is probably the strongest part of it as guys like Elgin and War Machine just to name a few are huge in Japan. Guys like Lethal and Cole have defended the ROH title at Wrestle Kingdom and numerous tag teams have had solid runs in Jaoan. Now I think ROH has greatly benefited from the relationship as well with being able to use NJPW talent as well. Thats why I dont think they should drop ROH for GFW, everything is going great for all sides involved so there is really no reason to.

The rounds are dumb. I'm aware that New Japan have run ROH Title matches, but usually aren't they fairly cold parts of the show? I think Elgin is signed to New Japan first and foremost, but it's a good point about War Machine. I wonder how hard ROH contracts are to get out of though? I could see New Japan making a coup and taking a bunch of ROH guys who are only in the ROH thing for the New Japan prospects.

Yeah Elgin signed with NJPW for his most recent contract. Similarly the Young Bucks jumoed over to ROH. NJPW does seem to control the relationship though in my opinion, they have Bullet Club that ROH has heavily used. I believe the relationship with NJPW is a key to Cody picking ROH over GFW Impact. As I've said its working for all parties involved including CMLL so there's no reason to make any changes at the moment.

Show is starting with LAX introducing El Patron as their newest member.

El Patron doesn't seem to be that receptive of gaining membership. Says he's a leader not a follower.

Patron wouldn't join and LAX jumped him.

Lashley made the save and cleared the ring.

ACH vs Andrew Everett in a first round match of the Super X Cup is up next. Desmond Xavier has already advanced to the second round laat week.

ACH won with a brain buster. Good showing for ACH. Never really been a fan of his when he was in ROH. Kind of like Cedric Alexander as once they leave ROH they dont seem as generic.

Why do I get the feeling this is a set up on Lashley?

Gail Kim announced that she will be retiring at the end of the year.

This makes me sad. Selfishly, I mean. Good for her. I'd like to see her signed to a WWE contract. I think it would create a relative stir in today's scene.

Adonis is out now, has called tge Swolemates into the ring. Swolemates are two ripped dudes that have a new show on Pop debuting next week. They're have a fkex off.

AAA match with Octagoncito vs Damous

Octagoncito won the match.

Grado is looking for a Knockout to marry him or else he'll be deported.

EC3 is out on commentary for this Marufugui/Moose Grand Championship match.

Moose won round 1 and Marufugi won round 2.

EC3 hit Marufugi with the ring bell and was going to hit Moose but Moose hit him with a knee. Moose retains the Impact Grand Championship.

Trevor Lee will defend the X Division Championship against William Weeks. Wont take the belt off because he's afraid someone will steal the title. Lee is not the X Division champion and stole the belt himself kast week.

Lee won and Sonjay Dutt attacked him but Lee was able to get away with the title.

Ava Storie vs Larual Van Ness is next.

Laural Van Ness won and Grado has come to the ring.

Grado has a bottle of wine and a gift and he told Laurel she's the most beautiful girl he's ever laid his eyes on.

He asked Laurel in a date but Kongo Kong is now coming to the ring.

Grado just ran once Kongo showed up. Laurel seemed a bit interested but was hugging Kongo once he got in the ring.

Main event was LAX vs Patron and Lashley. Patron and Lashley won and LAX beat down Patron. Lashley didnt stop them this time though.

My phone broke and I went fishing but I'll post a few ICYMI videos later.

Back to watching live this week. It's Impact Wrestling day in Orlando and the Mayor of Orlando is the special guest ring announcer tonight. Impact is starting with Eli Drake, Chris Adonis, and EC3 vs Eddie Edwards, Marufugi, and Moose.

EC3 pinned Moose to win the match for his team. Hit a low blow on Moose while the ref wasn't looking.

Lashley in the ring now still wanting a title match and bad mouthing management. Says he'll break anyone in half who steps in front of him for a title shot.

He called out Bruce to name him #1 contender but Sydal ran out and interrupted Lashley who tried to ignore him but Sydal attacked him and hit a shooting star press on him.

Super X Cup match is next Davey Richards vs Ishimori.

Ishimori won a pretty good match. Hit a 450 splash for the win.