January 17, 2010 09:33 PM EST
views: 154
As reported earlier, TNA's January pay-per-view, Genesis, opened up tonight with a new look. Gone is the long-time staple six-sided ring, exchanged in favor of the traditional 'squared circle' that has defined the sport for over a century.
-Thank God. The six-sided ring, no doubt meant to evoke images of the legitimacy of the UFC Octagon, was a ridiculous creation. If you ever watched many matches in the hexagon, it's clumsy and dangerous to wrestlers more accustomed to the four-sided ring.
The first match out of the gate was the 'X' Division championship, with champion Amazing Red facing someone billed only as a 'mystery opponent'. Turns out the mystery opponent was none other than Brian Kendrick, a.k.a. the former 'Spanky' from the WWE. Red defeated the debutting Kendrick with his 'Code Red' finisher.
-I really figured this would be Jeff Hardy's debut, seeing how he arrived to much fanfare at the live 'Impact' on January 4. Of course, in the interim, Hardy was indicted on multiple drug related felony charges, including trafficking, so he may be on ice for TNA until those issues are resolved. You'd hate to put a belt on him just to have him take it to the pen with him.
During the course of this match, it was announced that Bobby Lashley was refusing to wrestle Abyss later on the card.
-No kidding. There have been comments by Hogan lately that he wasn't happy with Lashley moonlighting in the legitimate world of MMA at the expense of his 'rasslin' commitments. I wouldn't expect Lashley back soon.
After the match, there was a backstage interview segment with Hall and Nash, with Eric Bischoff and Sean 'X-Pac' Waltman. Curiously, Waltman begged Hall to let him wrestle in his place. After being hesitant, Hall and Waltman engaged in a rock-paper-scissors contest, which Waltman won. It appears Waltman and Nash will face Beer Money later.
-Read, Scott Hall showed up tanked, so the fans that didn't want to see The Outsiders get double screwed by now having to see Waltman wrestle as well.
Sean Morley (Val Venis) defeated Chris Daniels with his 'Money Shot Splash'. No, you read that right. A guy that hasn't wrestled regularly for a major promotion in years cleanly pinned one of the most talented wrestlers on the planet today, for no reason.
-Hulk Hogan stated the new TNA would be different than the WCW he helped bury. Really? Morley pins Daniels? What's next in the new TNA? David Arquette wins the world title? That would be different.
Tara defeated ODB two falls to zero to recapture the Knockouts title.
Nobody cares. Moving on.
Matt Morgan and Hernandez defeated the British Invasion to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
Thank God, at least something happened that people can get excited about. Hernandez and Morgan are good athletes, good wrestlers and both share a fair amount of charisma. They aren't necessarily strong enough for either of them to win the World Title yet, but this is a good start. As far as British Invasion is concerned? You won't see them again. They don't fit into Hogan's plans.
