It’s the third week of the new show, and rivalries are already being formed.  However, most of them are not just within the NXT Rookies.  We’re starting to see a lot of fighting between NXT Rookies and the WWE Pros.  What happened last night? Find out here:

Backstage: Matt Striker gave us a rundown on the format of the show (I’m guessing he’ll be doing this every week).

Daniel Bryan & The Miz vs. R-Truth & David Otunga
WINNERS: Truth & Otunga via pin fall after Otunga hit a Spine Buster on The Miz

• Before match, The Miz warned Daniel Bryan, “You’ve proved nothing so far… if you are pinned in this match I personally make sure you never achieve your goal of becoming a WWE Superstar and I will throw you off NXT.”
• After match, The Miz keeps jawing at Daniel Bryan for them losing.

Video Package: Earlier today, Heath Slater talks about how he felt when Carlito spit the apple in his face last week.

Backstage: Matt Striker grabs The Miz after the match and asks if he let Daniel Bryan down tonight…

• Miz responds by gloating about his accolades and titles.  Bryan stops him and says, “Every single tag team partner you had, carried you!  If you’re so talented, how come you’re the one who lost tonight?!?”

Video Package: A look at Justin Gabriel.

Backstage: Matt Hardy talking to Justin Gabriel, “For the second week you’re in the main event… Last week you were great!  You beat William Regal with a gorgeous 450 Splash.”

• Gabriel asks for some advice going into his match tonight against Wade Barrett.
• Chris Jericho & Wade Barrett enter.  Jericho thinks Gabriel didn’t do enough last week to prove that he can take Barrett.
• Barrett tells Gabriel, “I destroyed Daniel Bryan in three minutes.  What do you think is going to happen to you?”

Heath Slater with Christian vs. Carlito with Michael Tarver
WINNER: Heath Slater via pin fall reversal

• Before match, Carlito had words for Slater saying “You should be begging me to spit in your face again!”  Carlito tried, but missed.

Video Package: A look at Darren Young.

Backstage: CM Punk is talking to his fellow Straightedge Society members about Darren Young, and he’s standing behind them.

• Young says to Punk, “I respect your straightedge lifestyle, but why can’t I live my life the way I want to live it?”
• Punk looks a little upset, “Ultimately the choice is yours, but straightedge can make anyone a winner, or you can do it your way and see where that takes you.”

Justin Gabriel with Matt Hardy vs. Wade Barrett with Chris Jericho
WINNER: Justin Gabriel via pin fall after hitting the 450 Splash

• After match, Jericho attacked Hardy from behind, throwing him out of the ring, leaving an opportunity for him to assault Justin Gabriel.  Jericho hit the Codebreaker and slapped on the Walls of Jericho.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

Sign of the night – “NXT = Botchamania”  I love it!

I also want to bring up to the fans that were in the arena watching the main event, if both guys are from outside the United States, chanting USA does nothing to boost either of them!  It just makes you look like idiots!

I saw The Miz getting pinned the second he opened his mouth for the pep talk.  WWE’s going to ride this rivalry into the ground with Miz and Daniel Bryan, which isn’t a bad thing.  Miz is entertaining and Bryan is well a bad ass in the ring.  At least we know when it gets to that point where they have to wrestle, someone will be able to carry the weight.

I’m glad they addressed the issue with the Straightedge Society and Darren Young, somewhat.  The Punk character is very pushy with his lifestyle choice, and I was a nice change to hear him say, “Ultimately it’s your choice!”  I have a feeling by season’s end we’re either going to see a bald Darren Young or a big blowout between Punk and Young!

Well, I think it’s safe to say that Justin Gabriel is right up there with Daniel Bryan as the front runners for the WWE contract.  Gabriel has now gone over in two main event matches with a 450 Splash.  The guy has great potential and much like Evan Bourne he’s quick, exciting to watch, and can fly!  That’s what the WWE Universe likes to see!

THANKS FOR MAKING YESTERDAY MY BEST DAY EVER ON DAILYDDT.COM!  WE SET A NEW HIGH FOR VIEWS IN ONE DAY!  THANKS TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS!

Continuing down the Road to WrestleMania, WWE now has to deal with another force, that of TNA Wrestling.  Here’s what WWE offered its fans on the first RAW of the new Monday Night War:

The Undertaker comes to the ring, “Last week has been symbolic of what Shawn Michaels‘ life has become since being number seventeen in the streak… Shawn’s obsession with removing this dark cloud will cost him the ultimate price, his career… It brings me no joy in saying this, but in three weeks Shawn Michaels’ career will rest in…”

• Interrupted by HBK, “Not tonight, you don’t get to finish your line… last week, I had an epiphany.  The reason I cost you the title was because I had to.  You last week interfered in my match and you didn’t have to.  It occurred to me, inside that cold black heart exists FEAR!”
• Taker responds, “Now if I were you, I’d choose my next words very carefully…”
• Shawn respond “FEAR!  You’re the only one who knows how close I came!  You tried to intimidate me.  You think I’d put that on the line if I didn’t think I’d beat you?  No one lives a perfect life Undertaker.  Nothing lasts forever, and at WrestleMania I’ll prove it!”
• Taker snickers, “I don’t know if I’m looking at a man full of pitiful desperation.”
• Shawn fires back, “Last year, I would’ve taken anything.  Count out.  DQ.  Just to get my hand raised.  Not this year.  That’s why I’m proposing no DQ, no count out.  It’s by pin fall or submission…”
• Taker looks like he’s pondering the idea.  “So it shall be.  You have chosen your own demise.  I see the fire, the passion.  I can see you honestly believe you can defeat me… not this year!  You may be the greatest to step in this ring, but on March 28th, I will open the gates ofhell and unlease a fry that no mortal man has ever seen!”
• HBK has a deadpan expression, “You keep telling yourself that… after WrestleMania the dark cloud is going to follow you and haunt you for the rest of your life.  The image you will see is HBK ending your undefeated WrestleMania streak!”

Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres & Gail Kim vs. Maryse, Alicia Fox & Katie Lea Burchill
WINNERS: Kelly, Eve, Gail via submission after Eve locked on a flying arm bar on Maryse

Backstage: Guest host and Illusionist, Criss Angel, and Hornswoggle are talking in the makeshift office.  The Bella Twins walk in and ask to be his lovely assistants.  Angel responds that he doesn’t normally use twins in his act, but decides to give them a demo of what he does.  He takes a piece of string, starts to eat it, and then pulls it out of the tear duct in his eye!

• Jillian Hall enter the room and wants to sing for Criss Angel, but thank God Criss makes her voice disappear!

ShoMiz makes their way to the ring.  The Miz talks about how John Morrison & R-Truth “earned” their way to a number one contender spot against them at WrestleMania, and he mocks them.

Non-Title Match
ShoMiz (The Miz & Big Show) vs. John Morrison & R-Truth
WINNERS: No Contest

• Right off the opening bell the referee lost total control of the contest as all four men started brawling on the floor.

Video Package: The rivalry between John Cena & Batista

Backstage: Josh Matthews with John Cena, “Batista was right last week.  I can’t beat him… Apparently he’s got my number.  The only thing I can do is go out there and beat him!”

Backstage: Evan Bourne is with Criss Angel and is appreciative that he’s got a Money in the Bank Qualifying match.

• Interrupted by William Regal and his NXT Rookie, Skip Sheffield.  Regal makes a comment at Bourne, his opponent later, and Bourne leaves.
• Sheffield wants to see a mind freak, so Angel obliges to Regal’s displeasure.  Has Regal write down a number on a pad of paper, and guesses it correctly.

Video Package: Downfall of Legacy at the Elimination Chamber.

Two on One Handicap Match
Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
WINNER(S): Rhodes & DiBiase via pin fall after DiBiase hit Dream Street

• After match, Rhodes hit his finisher, Cross Rhodes, and they mock Randy with his old pose.

Backstage: Josh Matthews with Batista, “I think Cena has never dealt with someone like me and it’s messing with his head… I will NOT get involved in his match tonight!”

ANNOUNCEMENT: Stone Cold Steve Austin will host RAW next week!

Triple H comes to the ring.  A video package is show of Sheamus jumping him last week.  Trips takes mic, “I respect what Sheamus did last week…”

• Sheamus decides to interrupt, “I’ll make a statement out of you at WrestleMania.  The question is, do you have the guts?”
• Trips responds, “You’ve had a great first year, but until you make a name fr yourself at WrestleMania, your accomplishments mean nothing!”  Trips then explains to him that there aren’t many people who’ve made their name offhim at WrestleMania and asks him if he’s willing to take that gamble?
• Sheamus backs off, but then tries to attack Trips.  A brawl breaks out all over the ringside area.  Trips stands tall as Sheamus backs up the ramp!

Backstage: Santino Marella introduces himself to Criss Angel and tries to show him a trick, the removable thumb!

• Angel shows him his Russian Roulette trick with 4 cups and a sushi knife.

Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Evan Bourne vs. William Regal with Skip Sheffield
WINNER: Bourne via pin fall after hitting Air Bourne

Video Package: Last week, Vince McMahon baits Bret Hart into a match at WrestleMania even though he has a broken leg.

Criss Angel comes to the ring and introduces the competitors for the main event of the evening.

Mr. McMahon takes the mic before the match begins and makes his match a Handicap Gauntlet match

Handicap Gauntlet Match
John Cena vs. Vince McMahon (Vladimir Kozlov, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Batista)
WINNER: McMahon via pin fall after Batista hit a Spear and a Batista Bomb on Cena

• Kofi Kingston tried to come out and save Cena but got a Batista Bomb for his trouble.
• After match, Batista stands in his spotlight over Cena’s prone body.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

The opening sequence was good, but not great.  All of a sudden HBK goes from being paranoid and pissed to confident that The Undertaker is afraid of losing to him.  I don’t know how believable that was.  Seriously, that doesn’t really happen in that short of a timespan.  It takes time to build yourself up to get to a point of confidence, especially against someone the likes of The Undertaker and “the streak.”

The women’s match was a waste of space on the card.  Not even worth talking about.

In all honesty, the best match of the night was the handicap match with all the members of Legacy.  It carried over the hour mark and went on for about ten to fifteen minutes.  It was great back and forth action, and we heard a chant of “RANDY! RANDY!” something I don’t think I’ve heard since back maybe during Evolution days.  Bravo to those guys for keeping my interest in a handicap match because usually they suck!

Criss Angel was a weak guest host.  Sorry, but even though I’m a fan of magic and the Mind Freak himself, he didn’t really bring anything to the table.  On a positive note, at least he didn’t call something SummerFest.  Looking forward to Stone Cold next week!

Main event was total BS.  I knew it wasn’t going to be something fair when it was announced last week by the Chairman.  It just doesn’t make sense to have a match against John Cena when you’re not a regular superstar.  It was mainly a way to get Batista and McMahon more heat going into WrestleMania, and it worked.

TNA Impact on a Monday night again..?  Yes, this is really it!  The Monday Night War is back on!  The evening started out with a bang last night, so let’s get right to what went down:

Video Package: TNA Impact NEW introduction and theme.

Abyss & Hulk Hogan come to the ring.  Hogan takes mic, “It’s time to cut the clowning.  It’s time to take care of business.  Ric Flair, AJ Styles, you better get ready now!  This is TNA’s reckoning day!  Bring your asses to the ring!”

Abyss & Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair & AJ Styles
WINNERS: No Contest

• Mid match, Sting appears mid ring after the lights go out/on.  He stares down Flair and Styles, but turns and hits Hogan and Abyss with his baseball bat.  Three on two beat down.  Flair brings in a chair and busts open both Hogan & Abyss.  Sting walks out while Flair & Styles continue until security pulls them off.
• Hogan takes mic, “You and your puppet… this isn’t over.  We’ll finish this thing by night’s end… No DQ!”

Backstage: Dixie Carter tries to stop Sting, wondering what’s going on and why.

• Unlike Sting, he grabs her by the throat, pushes her against the wall and tells her, “I owe you NOTHING!”

Backstage: Jeremy Borash has reactions from Flair and Styles.  AJ first says, “If you want a do over Hogan, we’ll beat you up again!”  Flair grabs mic, “If I’m coming out of retirement, I’m going to make a statement heard round the world…  You want a restart, we’re going to finish the job.

Backstage: Abyss pounding the wall and screaming, “WHY STING?  WHY?!?”

Backstage: Hulk Hogan’s girlfriend is trying to console Brooke Hogan after she had to watch her Dad get beat up.

Kazarian is in the ring, “It was almost two years ago when I chose to walk away from TNA.  After soul searching, that doubt is gone!  I’m here to reignite the flame of the X-Division!”

• Daniels interrupts, “If anyone is going to lead the X-Division into battle, it’s going to be Christopher Daniels.  I, and I alone, will carry the X-Division to the highest of heights!”
• Interrupted by Doug Williams, “Let me assure you, the X-Division is alive and well because I am the X-Division Champion.
• Kaz interjects, “Seven years ago when WE were pioneering the X-Division, where were you?”
• The men argue back and forth for a little bit until Eric Bischoff interrupts them and makes an impromptu X-Division Title match between the three of them.

Triple Threat X-Division Title Match
Doug Williams (Champion) vs. Kazarian vs. Daniels
WINNER: Doug Williams via pin fall after hitting Daniels with the Chaos Theory Suplex

• After match, Shannon Moore runs in and attacks Williams.  Bischoff informs the champion that his opponent at the Destination X PPV is standing in the ring now… SURPRISE!

Backstage: Jeremy Borash is with Dixie Carter and she’s pissed off at Sting.  Puts him in a match tonight against a mystery opponent.

ANNOUNCEMENT: TNA Knockout Tag Team Titles vacated as Awesome Kong & Hamada failed to defend them within thirty days.

TNA Knockout Tag Team Title Match
Taylor Wilde & Hamada vs. The Beautiful People vs. Tara & Angelina Love
WINNERS: The Beautiful People via pin fall after Daffney snuck into the ring and hit Tara with the KO Title while ref’s back was turned

Backstage: Christy Hemme gets a word with “Pope” D’Angelo Dinero who begins to talk about his match tonight, but gets jumped by Desmond Wolfe who works over Pope’s leg/ankle with a chain.

Backstage: Jeremy Borash is with the NEW TNA Knockout Tag Champions, The Beautiful People who are ready to party it up with champagne.  (Not much of an interview).

Sting vs. Mystery Opponent (Rob Van Dam)
WINNER: RVD via pin fall after hitting Rolling Thunder

• Match was about ten seconds long because RVD jumped over the barrier and attacked Sting from behind.
• After match, Sting assaulted RVD with the baseball bat multiple times.  Hit a couple refs in the gut with the bat too.
• Hulk Hogan tries to come out and stop sting, but security gets in his way.  At one point Hogan gets too close to the ring and Sting jabs him in the ribs with the bat.
• Sting beats down on RVD some more and leaves.

Kevin Nash & Eric Young come to the ring and they have a one time only contract for Destination X.  There will be a match between Nash & Young taking on Scott Hall & Sean Waltman.

• Hall and Waltman make their way into the arena through the back door and down to the ring.  They start jawing at each other.  Hall calls Nash “Big Sellout!”  Hall says that he wants the big money contract when they beat them!
• Eric Bischoff appears on the screen, “If you beat Nash & Young, you’ll get your contract.  If you lose, you ride off into the sunset.”
• Deal is made, but Waltman slaps EY and a brawl ensues between the two.  Bischoff makes a match between EY and Waltman that instant as ref jumps in ring to break it up.

Eric Young vs. Sean Waltman
WINNER: Eric Young via pin fall after hitting a Pile Driver

A group of Army soldiers enter the arena and line the entrance ramp.  Kurt Angle’s music hits and he comes to the ring.  “Mr. Anderson, these men and women represent our country, who choose to leave their family behind to defend what we believe in!  These are the people who two weeks ago, you spit on!  Winning a gold medal is nothing compared to what these soldiers do!  It’s my duty to protect and serve these soldiers when bitches like you degrade them!  You don’t mess with an American soldier!”"

• Anderson appears on the screen.  He starts to talk smack about Angle and the soldiers.  Unknowingly while he’s ranting, Angle sneaks out of the ring to the interview set where Anderson is, attacks him, and drags him to the ring.
• Anderson hits Angle with the medal again in the head and tries to leave, but the soldiers block his path.
• Angle gets up and starts beating up Anderson some more.  He then throws him out of the ring multiple times to let the soldiers have their way with Anderson.  He then hits an Angle Slam on the loud mouth who isn’t talking anymore!
• The solders enter the ring and hoist Angle high as he holds the flag for all to see!

Backstage: Bubba The Love Sponge is with Hulk Hogan, “Just stop it!  Brooke is beside herself!”

• Hulk responds, “I didn’t want to go out there, but I’ve got to do this!”
• Interrupted by Earl Hebner who wants a second chance.
• Hogan tells him this is not the greatest of times, but BTLS convinces him to give him a shot.  Hulk tells BTLS to back off and tells Earl that if the match tonight gets out of hand, that he must promisse to stop things from going too far.  Earl agrees!

Mike Tenay & Taz run down the card for the Destination X PPV in less than two weeks.  (So much for it being an all X-Division Card)

Backstage: Jeff Jarrett finds James Storm and asks him if he was forced into this match tonight.  Storm gloats he volunteered.  Jarrett attacks him.  Storm’s partner Robert Roode saves his skin.  Mick Foley breaks up the fight.

Handicap Match – Mick Foley Special Guest Referee
Beer Money Inc. vs. Jeff Jarrett
WINNER(S): Beer Money via pin fall after hitting DWI (Drinking While Investing)

• Mid match, Foley handed the barb wire bat to Jarrett, but it was never used as referee Slick Johnson came out and took it from him.

Backstage: Abyss and Hogan are talking strategy as to who will start the match later.

• Interrupted by a crying Brooke Hogan who doesn’t really want her dad to go out there.
• Hulk tells her, “Don’t worry!  I’ve got Abyss out there with me!”
• She asks her dad to promise that there’s no more after this.  He agrees.

No DQ – Main Event Match
Hulk Hogan & Abyss vs. AJ Styles & Ric Flair
WINNERS: Hogan & Abyss via pin fall after double boots and a Black Hole Slam on Styles

• After match, Desmond Wolfe attacks Abyss with a chair.  Turns his attention to Hogan who blocks the chair shot, but gets caught by Flair with a chop block.  Three on two beat down.
• The Pope comes out to even the odds, but with his injury they are able to beat him down easily.
• Out of the back comes Jeff Hardy who cleans house. (TV broadcast ends 10 seconds too soon cutting off a Swanton)

QUICK THOUGHTS:

Well, even though this was a new version of TNA, I can’t help but feel like it had a little bit of extra excitement to it tonight.  It started off hot and stayed strong throughout most of the evening.

It’s good to see Sting back, but I’m not overly fond of the “new” “heel version” of Sting.  I’m guessing that it’s not really a heel, but version where Sting is in the middle of the spectrum.  He’s had such a great and storied history with Ric Flair that he sides with him more than he does with Hogan, especially because he was the one who first thought AJ Styles was the one who needed to carry the TNA torch.  It was also pretty messed up that Sting put his hands on Dixie Carter… You don’t put your hands on a woman like that, let alone the woman that signs your checks!

The X-Division match was great!  I really want to see more of this on Impact!  If Bischoff is really being honest when he says, “The reason why I came to TNA is because of the X-Division” he hasn’t shown it in past weeks.  I hope they take a step back towards the young, high-fliers and away from the old guys!

Rob Van Dam got a huge pop, from both the crowd (and me) and Sting’s baseball bat (multiple times).  What a way for a guy to come back to the business!  Get a huge win in about ten seconds over a wrestling legend, then have him beat you down with a bat after the match!  WOW!  I hope that this is actually a legit signing for the next six months or a year because if that was it for RVD, a one time only gig, that sort of sucks!

The segment with the soldiers was cool.  It’s good to see that TNA is going to support this story line and let Angle defend the honor of the USA and our troops.  It would be really screwed up if Angle lost when their feud comes to its climax.

It was very nostalgic to see Hogan and Abyss both “Hulk Up” and then hit the big boot!  It wasn’t the best match in the world, but it wasn’t a cluster f**k either!  I hope that this is the last time we see Flair and Hogan in the ring though.  It’s just hard to watch two former superstars in the ring who are shells of their former selves.  Bravo to them for getting back in there for the sake of TNA, but please if you want to help the business, stay on the sidelines.

Tonight marked the beginning of the ROH Television Title Tournament.  Eight competitors will throw down in the ring and when all is said and done, one will hoist up a brand new ROH Title and be declared a champion.  Here’s what happened tonight on Ring of Honor:

Video Package: ROH 8th Anniversary Show – Tyler Black defeated Austin Aries to become the NEW ROH World Champion

• After the show, Jim Cornette has words with Black as to why he was kicked in the head during the match and it gets heated.
• Also after the show, Aries demands he gets his rematch soon!
• Also after the show, Roderick Strong talks to Cary Silken, owner of ROH, about getting his rightfully deserved title shot against Black.

Video Package: Jim Cornette announces ROH’s next internet PPV on April 3rd called Big Bang.  Later tonight, Cornette will name the main event and who will take on Tyler Black for the ROH World Title.

ROH TV Title Tournament – 1st Round
Kevin Steen with Steve Corino vs. Rhett Titus
WINNER: Steen via submission after locking on a Crossface

Video Package: Cornette in a studio with Black, Aries, and Strong and he makes the announcement that the Big Bang main event will be a Triple Threat contest featuring all three competitors for the ROH World Title.  All competitors are a little upset.

Kings of Wrestling (Claudio Castagnoli & Chris Hero) with Shane Hagadorn & Sara Del Rey vs. Bravado Brothers
WINNERS: Kings of Wrestling via pin fall after hitting the KRS-1 (A double team variation of a Power Bomb)

• After match, Hero takes the mic, “If you thin that was a big bang, Briscoe Brothers we’re going to show you a big bang April 3rd because Kings Reign Supreme!”

Mike Hogwood & Dave Prazak fill us in that Necro Butcher has been suspended from TV because during the brawl he had with Erick Stevens that got out of hand, Necro put his hands and injured the ROH time keeper.

Backstage: Kyle Durdan is with Prince Nana and he comments on the situation with Necro as well as how he wants to recruit Skullkrusher Rasche Brown to his family, The Embassy.

Rasche Brown vs. Caleb Connoly
WINNER: Brown via pin fall after hitting the Burning Hammer

Backstage: Durden is with Colt Cabana who comments about the TV Title Tournament and loves the idea.  He also updates us as to what is going on with El Generico and his mindset after the betrayal by Kevin Steen.

• Interrupted by Steve Corino who warns Colt yet again, “Be careful who you stick up for!”

Video Package: The American Wolves fall from grace after losing the ROH Tag Team Titles.

ROH TV Title Tournament – 1st Round
Kenny King vs. El Generico
WINNER: Kenny King via pin fall after hitting the Royal Flush off the top rope

QUICK THOUGHTS:

I’m all for having a Television Title.  In fact, I wish TNA would get rid of that piece of garbage Global Title and turn that into a TV title.  My friend who’s an indy wrestler, Ryan Von Kool actually sent a message to TNA about that.  I hope that it happens.   Sorry, went off on a tangent, but back to the ROH TV Title Tournament.  The first two opening round match ups were pretty good.  Titus put on a good showing against Steen, but he was no match for the big man.  Generico and King put on a hell of a main event.  It would’ve been nice to see Generico win and still keep hope alive that he’d be able to get revenge on Steen in the finals, but it was not to be.

The Kings of Wrestling are back and looking directly at the ROH Tag Team Titles.  Briscoe Brothers, you better take notice!

Another Rasche Brown match where he just destroys a jobber…  Please ROH, give him someone who could possibly give him a run for his money already.  Hell, the ball is already rolling, why not start him pushing back against the guys who are trying to recruit him and let The Skullkrusher destroy them too.  I’d love to see Brown destroy someone like Ernie Osiris or Erick Stevens!

Now I know there was one mini battle that’s occurred already, but today is day one of the official return of the Monday Night Wars!  TNA from this day forth will be going head to head against WWE’s Monday Night RAW product.  It’s a mix of emotions for me when I think about tomorrow and what the future will hold for the professional wrestling industry.  It could bring about some great competition and story lines, but it could also show the failures in the armor of the respective companies.

When you look at the possibilities of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, the sky is the limit… or at least that’s what I’ve thought for the longest of times.  That is until Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff took over.  Before the new regime came in, I LOVED TNA.  You can ask people I’m friends with who watch wrestling.  I’ve said many of times that I was getting to a point where TNA was slowly becoming my favorite promotion to watch.  I loved watching guys like Petey Williams, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelly, Samoa Joe & AJ Styles fly around the ring and do their thing, not having to be under the watchful eye of a meticulous script or an overbearing producer.  The somewhat reckless style, younger talent, and different look of TNA was what drew me in.  Enter Bischoff and Hogan at the beginning of 2010, and the style changed.  In what used to be a two hour show with eight matches and minimal talking, TNA overnight became a two hour show with four matches and way too much talking!  The key question when it comes to tonight’s head to head match up is will TNA be successful with a similar format to WWE?  My gut reaction is no!  If TNA tries to beat WWE at it’s own game, THEY WILL FAIL!  It’s bad enough that they’re going against RAW on it’s own night, where it’s been for well over a decade, but they’re going into it with mediocre ratings.  TNA has barely held its weight in comparison to WWE’s now defunct ECW product and hasn’t topped WWE’s Friday Night Smackdown in the ratings, what makes them think that they can compete against RAW?

On the flip side, what can the WWE do to keep TNA at bay?  Well, right now WWE’s RAW product feels very stale to me.  If you follow my blog here on Daily DDT, you know I have my moments where I absolutely HATE the RAW show, and there’s some times where I can bare it, but there aren’t many times where I go “Oh my God!  That was amazing!”  With TNA in direct competition to RAW, the WWE will have to keep pushing product in a positive direction.  They cannot let it continue to stay stagnant.  Yes, WWE will probably dominate in the ratings week in and week out, but when it comes down to it, WWE cannot, repeat CANNOT, become complacent again.  They made that mistake once with WCW and they paid for it in the ratings and when it came to their talent roster.  WCW lured a lot of top names away and WWE started to flounder.  Now, in the scheme of things, I don’t think that TNA could steal talent away from WWE, but the one thing I know, and most wrestling fans know, is that Vince McMahon has an ego the size of Texas and has stated multiple times that he does NOT consider TNA Wrestling a threat to him or the WWE.  If he takes Bischoff and Hogan lightly again, he could end up with a fight on his hands.

So what could possibly be in store for tonight?  What can the fans expect?  Well, from what has been floating around on the internet, TNA has leaked a signing of former ECW and WWE superstar, Rob Van Dam.  There are also rumors that Sting will be making his return, as well as the possible return of the “Suicidal, Homicidal, Genocidal, Death-Defying” Sabu.  We also know that there is going to be a tag team match between AJ Styles & Ric Flair against Abyss & Hulk Hogan… ugghhhh!  There is also a video going around on TNA’s Youtube page that is trying to generate buzz about the opening five minutes of Impact!  On the WWE side, we know there’s supposed to be a match between Vince McMahon and John Cena in preparation for the Chairman’s match at WrestleMania with Bret Hart.  Other than that, the only thing really announced for RAW is the fact that it’s hosted by illusionist, Criss Angel.

The key question on everyone’s mind, what will I watch first?  Well, plain and simply, I have a DVR so I’m going to watch them both, but when it comes down to it, I am going to watch Ring of Honor on HDNet first since it starts earlier.  That is real wrestling.  The matches are must see TV, and the story lines happen like they used to, in the ring through competition and on the mic in a short interview.  If I have to choose between RAW and Impact, I think I’m going to watch Impact mainly because I really want to see RVD again in action.  I hope that they use him properly because I would eventually love to see him in a Five-Star match against AJ Styles.

So when the dust settles and the equipment trucks are packed up, who will be the winner?  The fans!  This resurgence of the Monday Night War could absolutely bring out the best in both companies in a best case scenario.  I hope and pray that each company will take this seriously and put out a brilliant product for the fans to consume.  If they do, I can only imagine the heights the business could reach once more.

Is the World Champion really rattled by the Rated-R Superstar?  Would there be more mind games played this week on Smackdown?  Find out for yourself.  Here’s what went down last night:

Video Package: Edge & Chris Jericho’s conflict last week building up to their title match at WrestleMania.

Edge comes to the ring.  He’s concerned about Chris Jericho at WrestleMania.  “He keeps saying the same things and he keeps getting speared!”

• Interrupted by Big Show.  “Tonight The Miz and I find out who we’re facing at WrestleMania… and tonight your luck runs out!”
• Sequence of jokes from Edge on Show including a Happy Gilmore, “I eat pieces of crap like you for breakfast!”
• Edge tells Show, “I will Spear you tonight!” Then makes him flinch.
• Show tries to attack Edge, and gets low bridged over the top rope to the floor.

Backstage: Teddy Long reading a magazine when he’s approached by Drew McIntyre.  “I was hoping that you’d set the record straight…”

• Long looks directly at the camera and says, “By order of the Chairman, Drew McIntyre’s alleged loss has been ex-sponged… Drew McIntyre is still undefeated.”  He then puts Drew in another Money in the Bank Qualifier.

Money in the Bank Qualifier
Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy with NXT Rookie Justin Gabriel
WINNER: Matt Hardy via pin fall reversal

• After match, Drew McIntyre throws a hissy fit because he lost his first match… again!

Backstage: Slam Master J is watching John Morrison’s new DVD and compliments him on it.  R-Truth enters to talk to Morrison about their tag team match up later tonight after Dolph Ziggler upset them both last week to steal their WrestleMania spot.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Dolph Ziggler
WINNER: Shelton Benjamin via pin fall after hitting Pay Dirt

Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Ezekiel Jackson
WINNER: Ezekiel Jackson via pin fall after hitting the Eurinagi in a total squash

Backstage: Rey Mysterio talking to his daughter.  Former ECW GM, Tiffany, comes in to baby sit for him while he goes to the ring for his match.

Straightedge Society comes out to the ramp.  CM Punk goes on a rant about how parents are ignorant for letting their kids idolize Mysterio thinking he’s a super hero.  He also complains about how Rey cost him the chance at becoming the three time MITB winner!

Luke Gallows vs. Rey Mysterio
WINNER: Mysterio via pin fall after he countered a power bomb into a pinning combination

• After the match, Punk tries to attack Mysterio, but Rey escapes unscathed.

Backstage: Big Show is approached by Chris Jericho who blows smoke up his ass about being the most dominant force in the WWE, and the encourages him to destroy Edge.

• Show says he’s not going to destroy Edge for him, but for himself!

Video Package: Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker; Past, Present, and Future

Unified Tag Team Title – #1 Contenders Match for shot at WrestleMania
John Morrison & R-Truth vs. Hart Dynasty (DH Smith & Tyson Kidd with Natalya) vs. Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard & JTG)
WINNERS: Morrison/Truth via pin fall after Truth hit the Lie Detector on Kidd

Backstage: Vickie Guerrero, Layla & Michelle McCool are talking.  They all make fun of Mickie James and then LayCool compliment Vickie on slapping Mickie last week.  They give her a “Simply Flawless” t-shirt.

• Beth Phoenix sneaks up behind them, LayCool leaves.  Beth asks Vickie when is she going to get her title shot?
• Vickie tells Beth that “she is Smackdown’s dominant diva and not to cross her!”

Big Show vs. Edge
WINNER: Edge via pin fall after hitting a Spear

• After the match, Chris Jericho tried to attack Edge from behind with the World Title, but missed and got Speared for his trouble!

QUICK THOUGHTS:

I like what the WWE is doing with Drew McIntyre.  He’s  now on a losing streak going towards WrestleMania and getting absolutely frustrated about it.  Maybe he’s NOT the golden boy like Vince McMahon once thought!

Benjamin and Ziggler put on a good show.  I’m looking forward to seeing them compete in the MITB match.

Ezekiel Jackson has arrived on Smackdown and everyone should take notice!  Let’s just hope that there aren’t too many more squash matches like tonight.  Zeke is already established from ECW, so he should be able to go right in an compete against guys like Matt Hardy.

The scariest part of the evening for me was when I saw that Mysterio was going to have a match against Luke Gallows.  It wasn’t because of the match up, but because of the fact that Mysterio’s daughter was there.  I thank the Lord that WWE didn’t do some crazy kidnapping angle with the Straightedge Society.  That would’ve been absolutely ridiculous!

Last of all, at the end of the night, Edge has the final words… SPEAR, SPEAR, SPEAR!

It was a sad, but happy day for TNA.  As of yesterday, TNA is no longer on Thursday nights, but the good news is that we’re going to get a Monday Night War again!  A lot of what went down last night was build up for Monday’s big LIVE show.  Here’s what went down:

Video Package: Ric Flair & AJ Styles respond to Hulk Hogan giving Abyss the Hall of Fame ring and decide to attack them, leaving The Hulkster bloody in the process.

Styles and Flair come to the ring with four beautiful women.  Flair takes the mic, “We’ve had a week to think about things, and Hulkster we want to apologize and give back to TNA…”

• Hulk Hogan and Abyss come out to the ring.
• Flair offers to “set Hogan up” and points at his ladies saying that he could have one of them or all four of them if he wanted.
• Hogan responds, “I don’t need to bum a cigarette off you.  I don’t need you to buy me a drink.  I don’t need you to give me a hit of Viagra brother.  I promised I wouldn’t lace up my boots up, but after what you did to me last week, everything has changed.  In four days, Hulk Hogan and Abyss take you to school… The only thing left to say is, what are you gonna do…”
• Abyss finishes the sentence, “When Hulk Hogan and Abyss-a-mania runs wild on you!”
• Flair jumps on mic again, “Two years ago, I retired left on the highest possible point, but I’ll be glad to do something I’ve never done, beat you on national television.”
• AJ chimes in, “When you (Hulk) wrestled, you were king.  Now I’m king.  I’m the champ… all I’m saying is pump the brakes!”
• Styles and Flair go to leave and are interrupted by Eric Bischoff who tells AJ to not go anywhere because he’s got business to take care of… AJ will defend his title in a Four Corners Match against Abyss, D’Angelo Dinero & Desmond Wolfe.”

Backstage: Jeremy Borash is with Desmond Wolfe & Chelsea.  Wolfe responds to the announcement, “Someone closes a door on me, I’ll kick it down… tonight, I don’t need to beat the man to be the man!”

• Chelsea then asks Desmond for the “pretty ring” that Abyss has.  Wolfe says to her, “consider it done!”

Backstage: Eric Bischoff is on the phone with someone and he criticizes their idea for wanting to start a football league to compete against the NFL!

• Jeff Jarrett enters.  Bischoff beats around the bush about TNA business with Jarrett, but decides that Jarrett is the right man for the job to “get this company flowing again…”  Bischoff hands him a plunger and tells him to go clean the men’s room.
• Jarrett says, “Bring it on Bischoff!”

Four Way Non-Title Match
Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelly) vs. Generation Me (Max & Jeremy Buck) vs. Beer Money Inc. (Robert Roode & James Storm) vs. Matt Morgan & Hernandez
WINNERS: Beer Money Inc. via pin fall after Storm hit the last call on Morgan and Roode got the pin

Backstage: Sean Morley and Slick Johnson in Bischoff’s office.  Eric says to them, “I’ve been pushing Jeff Jarrett and I forgot to tell him he’s got a match tonight.  Falls count anywhere, no DQ.  Jeff Jarrett vs. Sean Morley.  You can find him in the men’s room… finish this for me!”

Backstage: Kurt Angle enters the office and needs to talk to Hulk Hogan.  He asks Hogan to let him take care of Flair and Styles.  “You’re too important to go out there.  You stay here and do your job, and I’ll go out there and do mine!”

• Hogan responds, “I appreciate it, but this is my last shot… I need to earn this respect for myself!”

Video Package: Mick Foley’s Etiquette School – Part 1

Backstage: Sean Morley and Slick Johnson reach the men’s room.  Slick makes a bell sound and Morley busts into the  restroom to attack Jeff Jarrett.

Falls Count Anywhere Match
Sean Morley vs. Jeff Jarrett
WINNER: Sean Morley via pin fall

• Slammed Jarrett’s shoulder with the door multiple times.

Backstage: Christy Hemme is with “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero.  He says, “They tried to take the Pope out, but Pope has returned…  Pope is going to leave the Impact Zone with the TNA World Title!”

Video Package: The drama going on within the ranks of The British Invasion.

Non-Title Match
Doug Williams (X-Division Champion) vs. Big Rob Terry (Global Champion)
WINNER: Big Rob via pin fall after hitting a spine buster

• After the match, Brutus Magnus came out and had a two on one with Williams to beat down Big Rob.

Backstage:  Doctor working on Jarrett’s shoulder when Bischoff sneaks in to the room.  Jarrett’s pissed at him, “What are you doing?  Let’s get back to business.  No more game!  I’m sick of your crap!”

• Bischoff responds, “You want a match in a ring?  I hope you’re a quick healer because I’m going to give it to you tonight.  Get ready!”

Video Package: Mick Foley’s Etiquette School – Part 2

Video Package: Mr. Anderson vs. Kurt Angle from Against All Odds when Anderson bloodied Angle with his own Warrior Medal, and the war that has erupted since then.

Kurt Angle’s music hits, but out of the tunnel comes Anderson dressed like Angle in a bald cap, red/white/blue singlet, and a necklace with a sheet pan attached to look like the medal that said “loser.”  He takes the mic and mocks Angle some more calling him, “The most injury prone wrestler in the world… I think I broke my neck for the seventeenth time!”  He then makes a comment about all the things he said about supporting the troops was to make the crowd feel bad for him.

• Angle comes out pissed and a melee ensues.  At the end of it all, Anderson hit Angle with his own trademark Angle Slam and steals the Warrior Medal.

Backstage:  Abyss runs into Hulk Hogan in the hall wanting to talk to him.  “I didn’t have a good childhood.  My mother never let me watch TV, but I snuck up those stairs to see you Hulk.  I begged her to take me, and she surprised me once.  She bought me a ticket and took me… Last week, you’re bloody and running down your face and onto my scars.  You gave me this ring.  I have your power.  I can do this on my own.”

• Hulk tells him, “You and I are one.  We’re family.  What happened out there wasn’t your fault… Now you have the power.  You’re going to protect me… All those people who believe in me, believe in you!”

Video Package: The history of The Beautiful People and the drama that has ensued over the past few months since Angelina Love’s return.

• Video of earlier in the day when The Beautiful People attacked her during a photo shoot with a belt.

Angelina Love hits the ring and calls out Velvet Sky who comes to greet her.  Melee ensues between the two ladies.  Angelina gets the best of the encounter until Madison Rayne & Lacey Von Erich come out and the numbers game gets the best of her.

Backstage:  In the office, Bubba The Love Sponge confronts Hulk about his match next week.  “People won’t tell you what you need to hear… you have the best mind in the industry, don’t end up in a wheelchair.”

• Hogan tells him, “After what I’ve been through, I’ve got one shot… The one thing that ever loved me was this business.”
• Bubba responds, “What else do you have to prove?  Don’t be a mark for yourself.  You don’t need to wrestle!”

Video Package: Mick Foley’s Etiquette School – Part 3

Video Package: The conflict between former “band-mates,” Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & Sean Waltman.

Tomko vs. Jeff Jarrett
Winner: Jeff Jarrett via sunset flip pin fall

• Bischoff shown backstage pissed off!

Backstage:  Bischoff talking with Hogan about the match next week, expressing his concern.  Hogan responds to him, “You told me if push came to shove you’d stand by me… If I don’t make this right there’s no tomorrow.  They punked me out when they punked Abyss out!”

TNA World Title Match
Desmond Wolfe with Chelsea vs. Abyss vs. “Pope” D’Angelo Dinero vs. AJ Styles with Ric Flair (Champion)
WINNER: AJ Styles due to referee stoppage when Pope refused to tap to the Figure Four with a torn Achilles tendon

• After the match, a three on one beat down (Styles, Flair & Wolfe) ensues on Pope and Abyss jumps back in the ring to save him.
• Flair goes under the ring and grabs the barb wire baseball bat and hits Abyss from behind.  Three on one against Abyss now.
• Hulk Hogan comes to ring.  Flair tries to hit him with the bat, but Hogan counters and takes the bat.  He hits Flair with it and busts him wide open!  Referees and security are forced to break things up.
• Hogan takes the mic, “That’s an example of what happens in four days!”

QUICK THOUGHTS:

The tag team match at the beginning of the show was such a waste.  Now hear me out.  The reason I say that is because TNA doesn’t give them enough time to really do anything.  The Guns got their one spot.  Gen Me got their one spot.  Hernandez and Morgan got theirs and then Beer Money got the win.  Match over in like eight minutes.  Seriously… In a four team tag match you only go eight minutes.  I’ve seen Gen Me go 20 minutes plus in a ROH main event!  Let the boys go out there and perform!  Don’t handcuff them with a BS time limit.  If you give quality matches on the weekly programming, you’ll get more people buying PPVs to see the HIGHEST quality matches!

Again, Anderson/Angle keeps me interested.  I was hoping that Angle would exact some revenge, but it ended up being Anderson who got the upper hand.

I’m sick of the Jeff Jarret/Eric Bischoff angle they’re doing.  We’ve seen the boss feud with his employee before, and Jeff Jarret is NOT Stone Cold Steve Austin.  This is very boring and I wish that it would go away!

The Mick Foley Etiquette School was a waste of time.  It was just a way for Foley to crack jokes at some lady who was teaching him about manners.  It wasted a good five minutes or so of programming.

Well that was a very odd sight… seeing Hulk Hogan swinging a barb wire baseball bat.  Never thought I’d ever see that one!  I hope that next week’s main event tag team match between Flair/Styles and Hogan/Abyss isn’t a cluster f**k of a match!  I know that they’re doing it for the ratings, but I’ve been a Hulkamaniac since I was little and I really don’t want to see this match up.  I pray that it’s just bearable!

I want to leave you with this thought.  TNA has a PPV coming up this month called Destination X.  It’s an all X-Division PPV.  Did you even know that?  If you didn’t, I understand.  TNA is dropping the ball when it comes to this PPV.  Its only two weeks away and they really haven’t hyped it up at all!  Shame on you TNA!  This could be the biggest PPV of the year because there are fans that like watching the X-Division guys fly around the ring in their spot fest matches!  I’m one of them!  I really hope that the next couple of episodes we actually get to see a promo or a card listing for it.  As of right now, I think there may be only one match set and that’s Doug Williams defending the X-Division Title against Kazarian.  It’s reasons like this why my passion for TNA is slowly dying, and it’s a damn shame!

This post is going to be short and sweet.  Check out this video of Hulk Hogan & Jimmy Hart in the studio on the Jim Kerr Rock ‘n Roll Morning Show.  Hogan makes mention of a signing and makes a gesture to Jimmy.

Does this mean that TNA has signed, “Mr. Monday Night” “The Whole FN Show” Rob Van Dam?  Tune in to Monday night, March 8th to LIVE TNA Impact on Spike TV to find out!  You know I’ll be watching!!!