New Years Honors: 2011 Awards

This has been a little while in the coming so apologies to all but it is now the New Year and we here at Canned Heat are presenting the best (in our humble opinion) of 2011 in TNA. 2011 has seen a number of changes within TNA and although we may not agree with it all we are celebrating the best and analyzing the worst of another year of material from the 'biggest wresting promotion in the US'.

Best Newcomer  - Austin Aries

Well not quite a newcomer, in the build up to Destination X, A Double made his return to TNA after a number of years in ROH and has been the centerpiece of the X Division ever since, beating Brian Kendrick for the title at No Surrender. 

Putting on entertaining matches, cutting entertaining promos and the only man who can pull off sparkly pants and a pink jacket Aries has added stock to the X Division although he has quickly outgrown the competition put against him and hopefully 2012 will see him move through the company, maybe even using his draw to reignite the TV title which would open up a number of exciting possible matches with the likes of Samoa Joe and Christoper Daniels. 

Notable Mentions: 

Jesse Sorensen - despite losing in the first round of the contract match leading up to Destination X Sorensen was given a contract and despite a generic character has shown enough in the ring to add some depth to the X Division. 

Best PPV - Destination X 

In a PPV calender lacking in any stand out gimmicks, TNA retrofitted their annual Destination X PPV with a novel concept, devoting the show entirely to the reborn X Division. In the weeks leading up to the show, we'd seen returning legends and a healthy injection of new blood showcased in an impressive series of qualifying matches. The victors moved on to an epic fatal fourway with a guaranteed contract on the line. As you may have guessed from our earlier entry, Austin Aries triumphed and began an impressive stint in the X Division, which runs to this day.

However, that's not to say the show only had a single notable match. The entire card was filled with gems not typically found on your average TNA show. Including an impressive Ultimate X match, a reignited feud between long standing ECW rivals Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn, a challenge match between TNA mainstays AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels, not to mention Brian Kendrick taking back the X Division Championship from the Monster, Abyss.  

Best Match - Kurt Angle Vs. Jeff Jarrett  (Slammiversary IX)

While the feud between Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett spanned several years and countless matches, it all came to a head in this summer's Slammiversary main event. In their previous encounters, Jeff Jarrett had consistently stolen victories through a variety of underhanded methods, but his luck was about to run out. The pair battled back and forth, resulting in a well earned Angle victory and a great ending to one of TNA's hallmark feuds.

Notable Mentions:

Hulk Hogan Vs. Sting (Bound for Glory) - While not a technically sound match, it proved to be one of TNA's most memorable moments of the year, with Hogan returning to his red and yellow roots and casting aside his Immortal stable-mates.

Motor City Machine Guns Vs. Beer Money Inc. (Genesis) - In a year bereft of quality tag team wrestling, I thought I'd include a nod to the last hurrah of this classic match-up. MCMG were soon hampered by injury and both members of Beer Money went on to challenge for the World Title.We won't see the likes of this feud again soon.

Best Tag Team - Beer Money Inc.

One of the greatest tag teams in recent years, an important cornerstone to Fortune and two great singles wrestlers, despite going their separate ways they were the best team of the year. 

Winning the titles at Genesis and holding them for a record setting 212 days; although a little help from Alex Shelley for stepping in at Slammiversary for the injured Roode; Beer Money Inc. had the fans firmly behind them and hanging on every word, beating off all competition and proving their worth in the BFG series. 

What tops Beer Money as the best tag team is that since losing the tag titles both have become World Heavyweight Champion, whats a better credential than that?

Notable Mentions:

Mexican American - the team that beat Beer Money, they drew heat although they were a cheap version of LAX, as of the past few months the lack of teams that have been around all can be said of at least they were a real team. 

Ink Inc. - again a team that weren't just put together and had a connection although now Jesse Neal has left the company leaving no actual tag teams in the division. 

Best Knockout - Gail Kim

Having begun the year as a jobber in the WWE's ailing Divas division, no one could have suspected this would become the era of Gail Kim. Feeling rejected by management, Gail went so far as to intentionally eliminate herself from a battle royal on live television, just to see if anyone was paying attention! After only a handful of Twitter followers noticed, Gail handed in her notice. However, where any other competitor would've happily been granted their release, relations had grown so sour between the two parties, WWE management forced Gail to sit out the remainder of her contract, unable to go elsewhere for employment.

While being paid to sit at home and do nothing is most people's dream, Gail was itching to get back on the road and after only a brief hiatus returned to her spiritual home in TNA and made an instant impact. In her first appearance back, on the show following Bound for Glory, Gail laid out the new Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky and aligned herself with resident bitch and VP of the Knockouts, Karen Jarrett.

In the weeks that followed, Gail ploughed through opponents left, right and centre. One particular match against Tara was so decisive, it was a wonder Tara hadn't just laid down for Gail. Merely a few weeks after her debut, she was a Knockouts Tag Team Champion, and at the next PPV, the Knockouts Singles Champion as well. Never has there been a more decisive push for a Knockout. The fact she can eclipse all  other achievements of the Knockouts combined in less than three months is astounding.

Notable Mentions:

Velvet Sky - She had a fantastic 2011 and would've been my pick for the top slot had Gail Kim not stolen the show at the last minute. Her feud with ODB made for wonderful television, particularly their brawl which spanned the entire Impact Zone. Speaking of which...

ODB - At the beginning of the year, she wasn't even employed, but after a memorable feud with Velvet Sky and an epic quest to earn a new contract, ODB deserves some recognition. I'm even enjoying her current wild card tag team with Eric Young, which says alot in itself.

Most Undeserved Push - Crimson

He led the BFG series and would have won if Samoa Joe hadn't have put him 'on the shelf', he has gone through the year being 'undefeated', took part in a 'dream match' with Matt Morgan at Bound For Glory who are now tag team champions. Without paying much due's management seem to see something in him that currently I'm not getting, he doesn't get over with the crowds and the best I have seen him this year was when he was learning the ropes as Scott Steiner's partner at the beginning of the year.

Notable Mentions:

Garrett Bischoff - Just because he is Eric's son we should invest in him being able to wrestle, despite being a referee for year? Being thrown into big matches and down fans throats isn't the best way to win people over!

Jeff Hardy - Yes, he is one of the biggest names in the industry, but after his disgraceful turnout at Victory Road there is no way Hardy should be entering 2012 as the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, when he came back he should have been put at the bottom of the card and allowed to build his way back up and if he had earned it let him have a shot at the BFG series next year. 

Best Wrestler - Bobby Roode

Nobody can come close to Roode over the last 12 months, he has been apart of the longest reigning tag team champions, he won the BFG series despite starting with an injury and has ended the year as World Heavyweight Champion. 

The only thing that would have made Roode's year better is if he had gained the title clean from Angle at Bound For Glory, TNA dropped the ball a little as he had huge momentum going into this match and despite giving a good showing and only losing via Angle cheating the momentum was killed although kudos to him working with it and going on to become an entertaining fresh face in the main event picture. 

Notable Mentions:

James Storm - Roode's partner in crime for most of the year also had a decent run in the BFG series and then went over Angle in 3 minutes to win the World Heavyweight Championship. Storm is strong on the mic and has a lot to offer in the ring so should continue this momentum into 2012. 

Bully Ray - I wasn't keen when Team 3D split up as I remember when WWE tried to do this and ended up just pairing them back together but this time Bully Ray has done well on his own. Not only taking up a lead role in Immortal due to his strong mic work and heel promos he has had some hard hitting matches and did well in putting over Roode in the final of the BFG series, he's never going to be a main event draw but he does his job well. 

Kurt Angle - I can't mention best wrestler without mentioning the best wrestler EVER! His best work of the year came with Jarrett in the first half of the year as the two put on a strong series of matches, despite all his injuries still has it. 

Well that is our 2011 awards down, hope you agree, if not let us know your opinions and hoping the 2012 proves to be another entertaining year! 

Impact Wrestling Musings 15/10/2011

- This week's show started off with a fairly by the numbers promo from our World Heavyweight Champion, Kurt Angle. Absolutely everything that you would expect from a go-home show leading into a PPV. Bobby Roode did much the same, while putting over all his virtues to win fan support this one last time.

- Having a "dominant" heel like Samoa Joe go on a year long losing streak just flat out doesn't make sense to me. Fans still want to chant "Joe's gonna kill you!" in every single match of his, yet TNA continue to book him looking weak and ineffective, completely defeating the point. I know they want Crimson and Matt Morgan to become bankable stars, but it shouldn't come at the cost of Joe's credibility.

- While I was somewhat interested in the addition of a female component to Ink Inc, TNA just devoted a fair amount of airtime to a feud that got bumped from the Bound for Glory card. Admittedly, they filmed this episode weeks ago and had yet to make the final decision, but someone must've had an inkling (pun intended *snigger*).

- Is it just me or has the recently flourishing X Division grown stagnant again? Everything always seems to come down to the same four men of Austin Aries, Brian Kendrick, Kid Kash and Jesse Sorensen. While all talented, it's the same combinations week in, week out and I'm quickly losing interest. In my opinion, they need to keep the X Division Title on Aries and move on to a fresh opponent that can bring something new to the table, because the Wizard of Odd ain't cutting it.

- The Knockouts promo was hilarious for two reasons - Karen Jarrett trying to be clever through rhyming (what is she, Etrigan the Demon?) and Velvet Sky needing to stand on tippy toes to get into Karen's eyeline!

- AJ Styles cut a very cool backstage promo, which added much needed depth to his feud with Christopher Daniels. Before this, their interactions had been abit shallow, but I really liked the idea that the feud had spilled over into their family life and now the wives weren't talking or the kids playing. Also, on an unrelated sidenote, Hulk Hogan has been running his mouth in interviews, claiming AJ Styles is a lost cause. I would like to refute this vehemently! The only major angle Hogan has thrown Styles' way in the entire time he's been there was playing Ric Flair Junior, which was disasterously miscast for a fan favourite family man like AJ. He proves every week that he's a top guy and deserves a mainevent spot, but is constantly held back because Hogan isn't looking for a wrestler as his next big thing. What a douche...

- Who the hell booked Ken Anderson vs Scott Steiner? I mean, I can just about tolerate Anderson in the ring, but Steiner is way past his prime and looks on the verge of keeling over in the ring with every passing match. Hell, I think it even inspired a few BORING chants from the live crowd. If TNA ever need to cut some fat and shore up their bottom line, let Steiner go and nobody would miss him, I guarantee it. I suppose the major moment from this segment was Abyss' screwup and subsequent beatdown from Immortal. I'm loathe to see anyone in Immortal, but with them losing yet another vital piece of the puzzle in Abyss, just who the hell is going to be left backing up Hogan and Bischoff.

- I really hope they don't have James Storm turn on Bobby Roode because Kurt Angle put doubt in his mind. Just because one guy is finding singles success, doesn't mean he immediately needs to feud with his former partner! Bound for Glory should end with Beer Money standing triumphant, hand in hand, ala Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero at Wrestlemania. But otherwise, Roode had an impressive display in his handicap match, even coming out the victor. The hero's journey of Booby Roode remains one of the best stories TNA has ever told. Just don't mess it up with the ending, okay?

- In an effort to get Jeff Hardy over with the fanbase again (not that he needed it), he saved Beer Money from a beatdown. A cliche move, but a neccessary one if they ever want Hardy to be useful again. Saying that, I'm utterly confused by his backstage confrontation with Jeff Jarrett. Neither of them are booked for the PPV, so frankly I don't even see the point of them being there, let alone making noise about them being in the building. What this says to me is that Hogan and Sting are going to make for such a piss poor showing, that interference from Hardy and Jarrett will most likely salvage the whole affair. Am I getting warm?

- The closing contract signing between Sting and Hogan was downright terrible. They both looked completely disinterested, lacked any intensity whatsoever and even when it came to the traditional upturning of the table, Hogan did it in such a lazy manner, I actually laughed. The man has absolutely nothing left to offer the company and he knows it. The fact he's just had a contract extension for another two years must be a vain cash grab because it's certainly not that he wants to be there. The ultimate insult being that we've probably seen every move Hulk has left in his repetoire. He'll smack Sting with a chair, "punch" him a few times, back him into a corner, choke him with his foot and that's pretty much all he'll be able to do. Thank god there's a worthwhile mainevent in Kurt Angle vs Bobby Roode, as if this PPV was being sold soley on the merit of Hogan and Sting, TNA would be in serious trouble.

Bound For Glory: The Preview

We are only days away from the biggest date in the TNA Impact Wrestling calendar, the marquee Pay Per View event for the company, Bound For Glory and the excitement is building up here at Canned Heat so what better time to have a look at the event on paper match by match and hopefully get everybody as excited as we are for this blockbuster event. 

TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match: 
Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode

Where better place to start than the main event of the evening, the match that has been building up since June when the BFG series was announced, 12 wrestlers had the opportunity for this shot but it was Beer Money's Booby Roode who came up trumps once the dust had settled. In very much a 'Rocky' way Roode has been billed as the underdog, going into the BFG series carrying a shoulder injury but overcoming all the odds and looking every bit the main eventer on the road to this match which if this were a movie he would end up with the gold around his waist come Sunday night but Kurt Angle is the best for a reason and wont be so easy to overcome, especially in his home state. 

This match has potential to be the match of the year, Roode has shown over the last few months that he can step up with the best in the business and Kurt being one of the all time greats always brings his A game and will want to show why he is the best and add another scalp to his collection as he looks to extend his title reign. 

With this match being yet another Immortal vs. Fortune battle it runs the potential to suffer from a run in which I hope management has decided to go against as far too many matches recently have suffered from multiple run in's and with this being the grandest scale would cheapen the result and the PPV as a whole as both of these guys have what it takes to put on a classic one on one match with no interruptions. 

The two should rise to the challenge and blood sweat and tears will be shed in the most unpredictable and exciting title match of the last year!

Sting vs. Hulk Hogan

10 years ago we would have been billing this battle as the biggest of the year but it is hard to be excited about this 'match'. Hogan said on Impact that he will be fighting Sting rather than wrestling him, but it has been months in the making and I can't help but feel it will be the biggest anticlimax the business has seen in a long time.
The only compelling thing about this match is the fact Hogan said the fate of the company will depend on the result, with him giving up control if Sting wins which would end Immortals vice like grip on television time, booking and revolving door champions.
I hope these two prove me wrong and provide an entertaining match worthy of the biggest PPV, don't get me wrong as both are legends of the business but with Sting being the only active athlete in the match and Hogan only a few months after a major back operation I can't help but think this match will be a massive Immortal beat down.  

Full Metal Mayhem: 
Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn

This rivalry needs no introduction as it has so much history which was reignited at Destination X and what better place to hold this match than in the ECW home town of Philadelphia!
At Destination X the two provided a solid match which was arguably RVD's best in TNA in some time and I hope the two go all out to try and steal the show in what will be a homage to ECW. The atmosphere for this match should be electric with the crowd eating up the hardcore action and I can only imagine this match will involve a number of high risk bumps that will invoke a number of 'Holy Shit' chants.
It's difficult to predict who is going to walk out the victor in this match, that is if either of them are able to walk out afterwards, but either way the crowd will be the ultimate winners.  

Falls Count Anywhere: 
Mr. Anderson vs. Bully Ray

Again another match that is playing to the hardcore nature of Philadelphia and I expect these two to deliver a hard hitter all over the arena and possibly even further. The two have been at each others throats since Anderson joined Immortal and all things came to blows once Anderson dropped the title much to the displeasure of Bully Ray.
This brawl will be brutal and ones the live crowd should lap up if done correctly and should be another hit for the PPV, again it is yet another match where it is difficult to pick a winner and hopefully Bully Ray's pride will keep Immortal out of the action. Lets all start the chant now "we want tables"!

I Quit Match: 
AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels

The second match where the history can do it's own talking, mainly as we don't have enough room here to document it! This match has come about after the Fortune stable mates and best friends have fallen out with Daniels heel turn as he lost at Destination X and then won the rematch on Impact.
I'm not crazy about the stipulation, as I Quit matches are historically not matches that stick in the memory, mainly as they concentrate on submission moves by this may be different as AJ and Daniels are two of the best talents in TNA with a high flying approach.
AJ has never lost an I Quit match in TNA before but records are there to be broken, as both athletes bring the best out of each other so we can expect one hell of a contest and with it being the biggest stage to perform there will no doubt be some crazy bumps taken in this battle of one up man-ship and could be another show stealer.

X Division Championship:
Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick

A rematch from No Surrender with the roles reversed with the wizard of odd looking to regain the title he lost a month ago. Although it is unlikely that he will be successful as it very unusual for a title to be handed back and forth between athletes and I hope A Double has a lengthy spell with the belt around his waist.
Despite the outcome being pretty predictable the journey should be a good one as both have the ability to put on a great match, so expect some hard hits mixed with some high flying action.   

TNA Knockout Championship: 
Winter vs. Velvet Sky vs. Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne

The champion, two former champions and the fan favourite who is yet to become champion, Winter will have her hands full trying to keep hold of her title. 
In very much a similar angle to the Heavyweight Championship, all of the challengers have earned their spot in this match by winning one on one matches against selected other knockouts to stamp Karen Jarret's authority over the division. 
This match should be an interesting affair as a number of conflicting attributes come into play between all the dynamic personalities entering the ring, but whether Winter uses red mist to win or Velvet Sky rises to the top for the first time in her career we will be entertained by the ability and storytelling of all four knockouts and I can not call who will come out the victor.  

World Tag Team Championship: 
Mexican American vs. Ink Inc.

I was actually looking forward to a match between two actual teams with a bit of history between them rather than a team knocked up in one show but this match has been dropped from the card onto the pre-show which is a shame although does allow the other matches more time.
Although not actually on the PPV this match should still be solid and hopefully be exciting enough to entice people to buy the event and give a good account for what is left of a tag division in TNA, it will no doubt be won by Mexican American as title very rarely change hands on a pre-show.  

Triple Threat:
Samoa Joe vs. Crimson vs. Matt Morgan

The late addition to the card is no surprise as funnily enough in my first edit of this preview mentioned all three as missing from the card, so either TNA management have inside info to this blog or were just on the same wavelength. 
Although I'm sure this match will be interesting but I don't think it will add very much to the Bound For Glory card which is already stacked with what should be great matches, this could have been held back and given greater importance at Turning Point but is being showcased here most likely in an attempt for us to try and like Crimson as we all know he is going to win as that undefeated streak isn't going anywhere just yet. 
I'm glad Samoa Joe gets an outing on the biggest stage of the year but I would prefer it if he were matched with someone who would bring out the best in him, just as I am not a huge fan of 'big' guys.
The tension between all three could work out and if all three raise there game I may end up being pleasantly surprised. 

The event is solid throughout the evening and the outcomes of all the matches are unpredictable, providing run in's are kept to a minimum and clean finishes are implemented in the important matches we could be about to witness the best PPV of the year.
There are a few things missing from the card, the obvious one being the lack of a TV Title match, as TNA's second title seems to have just disappeared from the company in recent months. As we have mentioned here a few times this title needs building back up and this would have been the perfect opportunity to give someone else the belt and defend the gold week in week out. 
Besides the TV title there are a number of big names missing from the card including the likes of Gunner, James Storm and the King of the Mountain himself Jeff Jarrett to name but a few but I wouldn't be surprised if one or two showed up through out the event although hopefully not ruining any of the matches.
Jeff Hardy is also scheduled to make some sort of appearance but what capacity that will be in is anyone's guess. 
All that's left to say is roll on Sunday! (or Wednesday for us in the UK)