Alucard

Agreed on all of this. I think AJ was taking some time off so they were writing him off for a bit.

Agreed on all of that, sums up my thoughts exactly. I was worried for any new fans coming in, having to see that battle royal first thing and being turned off right away

Triple main event delivered, especially Cody/Dustin which was just the best, so old school. The preshow felt really bush league with that battle royal lineup, the horrible comedy skit, and yeah I did think Excalibur in the mask is a bit silly but felt commentary got better as the show went on. Great main card though so good for them.

I loved the hardcore division of 2001. The Raven/Kane/Big Show WM match was awesome and the following Raven/Rhyno match at Backlash is really fun stuff. Later on we get RVD/Hardy delivering good stuff, memorable moments like Rhyno goring Jericho through the Smackdown set for it and I enjoyed Undertaker ending up as champion. Good times. I only wish they used Mike Awesome more/better.

Amen. Absolutely ridiculous exaggeration that was. Personally, I don't think Becky's had any great matches without Charlotte in a few years now. Massively cooled off since the Nia incident in November. Also agreed on Kofi - getting stuck with heatless Owens as his first post-Bryan feud is the 2019 equivalent of the new champion's first feud being Kane in years past, but worse.

Jordynne did officially sign last night for a 2 year contract

After the win, the commentary was all "they beat the champions and that must make them number one contenders which can happen now because the Wildcard Rule has opened pandoras box!!!" a mess indeed. Agreed. I don't mind Seth/AJ but 2 becky matches already destroyed my interest in the night and Kofi/Owens is one of the most boring title feuds ever. This show is finally killing off my interest in WWE with that bayley shit.

For what it's worth, it was a pretty fun 10 minute TV match.

they've been on Smackdown each week instead

One of my favorite things of that era was little mini-feuds of TV matches like this, loved the little series with Holly being presented as a threat, real solid matches. Holly was a great random TV match worker around this time.

I couldn't stand him in his WWE run when many were high on him but came to enjoy his work in TNA, starting with the Angle cage match which came off like a proper epic blowoff to a feud. Overall I liked him as a babyface better, he did get really over for a little bit there in early 2011.

Correct, new five year deal signed last month.

Agreed with all of the last several posts. One of the things I've loved about Callihan in Impact is the logical progression from feud to feud, from Eddie to Pentagon to Swann, it's all felt really organic and smart. I think Eddie Edwards has worked similarly going from the Callihan feud into the Dreamer feud into the Moose feud seamlessly, to the Eli angle and after this weeks Impact, a Killer Kross feud feels like a natural fit. Also agree on saving Tessa/Taya for BFG if possible. Even though it was last year's BFG match, obviously now it would have the role reversal. Whenever it happens, it should again be fantastic. Of the three big matches, I think the street fight on Impact tied the BFG match as my favorite of the series, great great stuff.

One thing I wish they'd do more of like they did in that 2016-2017 SDL era is use non-contracted guys for short runs, like bringing in the Headbangers as a tiny boost to a new tag division or bringing in the Spirit Squad to aid the excellent Miz/Ziggler feud. On the Lio Rush front, dude just comes off like he has a huge ego and thinks he's above anything and everything. Supposedly he's been offered a 5 year deal for $300,000, turned it down and wanted double that. Fuck that, nowhere near worth that as an in-ring talent. Average at best and easily replacable by any number of 205 guys. Off TV and not missed already.

Agreed, some really cringeworthy stuff through the the WM build and especially since, I think it's getting worse. On the other hand, I do think Lacey Evans has been fantastic playing her character and I hope she wins the title.

Agreed, the build to it made it so much better. I wasn't feeling Cage early on but I find it much easier to accept him as champion because they didn't rush to it, he actually had to suffer a loss and some setbacks, so the build to it made it feel earned and deserved.

All the big matches delivered a suitably big match feel. Love that about Impact, really strong builds. Cage's win felt earned, LAX/Lucha Bros felt like a real blowoff to an epic rivalry. Tessa has been so great, I'm interested to see her in a face role. Agreed that Swann/Callihan is something to really put Swann up another level, he's improved dramatically here compared to a lackluster WWE run. Looking forward to where everything goes from here.

I thought Aleister's little promo last night on SDL was really good, I'm down for more of that for when he does speak. I highly enjoyed Ricochet and Black as a team, thought they worked well together so it seemed soon to split them up already.

I'm looking forward to it, as usual with Impact PPVs. The sudden termination of Eli Drake took away one match. I'm assuming they'll add a couple more matches this week, but even at 5 matches - most of them have been built to very well.

Yeah turning Owens back to the same old tired character he's been for the past 4 years sucks when at least a face run could've seemed somewhat refreshing. I agree that a Shane title run would be preferable, he's been highly entertaining in this heel run thus far.

Hearing it's back on now, just postponed a week to June 23.

I recall Peyton looking great in a couple four way/three ways and then a title match with Asuka a couple years ago. Have never seen anything good out of Leva and disappointed AEW wouldn't go more original for a librarian rather than someone who always does dress up gimmicks.

Would dig that. Their match last August that headlined SDL was really great and their match this past week with the roles reversed was a pretty good little match as well.

My thought as well when I hear people suggest a lot of things that Impact does.. excellent use of backstage segments to further stories for those who aren't wrestling that week, vignettes for debuting wrestlers, more interviews, etc. Impact has been on fire in that regard the last few years.

Co-signed. Loved a lot of the PPV themes of that era.