I expect a lot of bashing that TNA had too many angles, and gave away too much, but I think the top priority is to establish the TNA brand, by creating buzz and excitement.  To judge their success based on “beating” Raw, or how many PPV buys isn’t a fair assessment of “success” at this point.  It’s better to judge their own ratings week to week.  And besides WWE practically brags about how PPV isn’t as important as it once was with their model.

Yeah, Sting vs. RVD is a 90’s PPV dream match, but seeing the match announced and finished within one minute, is a lot different from announcing this match a week ahead of time and having a 15 second match.  One is exciting the other is a rip-off.  This wasn’t a rip-off.  And after that great angle with the repeated bat beat downs, a RVD-Sting rematch probably has more heat anyway.  And Rob’s return was unbelievable, made him come across as a megastar, and was something WWE would never do (see Christian’s “return” in ECW.)

One big edge TNA has over WWE right now, is they are a Hell of a lot more convincing in their promos and their acting (except Abyss).  In particular Bischoff, Sting, Flair, and Hogan.  WWE is so overly scripted and they are such poor actors (except top guys like Batista, HBK, etc.) it’s insulting to watch.

And while we were all skeptical of how committed Hogan would be to this, he’s clearly dedicated 150% to helping TNA all around.  On paper one could accuse TNA of merely being a 90’s reunion, but it isn’t actually booked that way.  Almost everyone’s role (after Sting’s heel turn) is different from how it was in the 90’s, and I’m sure that was on purpose.  It’s booked as more of a continuation or sequel to the 90’s, which is the best way to utilize those names.  And TNA has also put a lot of effort into intermixing the “TNA” guys like Desmond, AJ, Young, Beer Money, etc. in with the big names.

While the Kurt Angle-Anderson angle borders on corny at times, the angle with all the soldiers and the lumberjack beat-down and celebration was actually pretty cool and was the best use of the military in an angle I’ve ever seen.

AJ Styles sort of drowns in his act with Ric Flair, but it is “Ric Flair”.  I don’t know how he comes off to people who never watched TNA before, but visually he looks more “boyish” than ever, which hurts this role.

And Jeff Hardy’s return was awesome too.  I keep expecting to see armed police at ringside, ready to cuff him and put him back in the clink, like he’s in TNA on some sort of work release.

If the goal is to be exciting and to create buzz, they knocked it out of the park.  And as a good sign, this was better than the Jan 4 show.  But to gauge for the long term, the best thing to measure is how TNA 2010 compares to WCW 1998 and 1994.  And from what I’ve seen, they have definitely learned their lessons.

Steve Te Tai (Inside MMA Correspondant)

                                              Thumbs WAY up
                          Best match-Flair/Styles vs Abyss/Hogan-(Pt. 2)
                          Worst match-Jeff Jarrett vs Beer Money
 
This was the most emotional, best-booked, most important wrestling show I've seen in a year. To say I was shocked would be a massive understatement. I never thought I'd say this about TNA, but I actually got MORE than I hoped for. What happened?!
 
1)Flair/Styles vs Hogan/Abyss (Pt 1)-I was immediately put off by Hogan's promo in the ring, worried it was going to last forever, like most of them lately. Instead, Taz announced the match was going to start right then. The intensity in the audience was ratcheted up a few notches, as were the performances. Hogan's punches were crisper (and closer), Abyss was thoroughly jacked, and Flair was his usual, awesome self. Styles was given less mic time, a good choice. When the lights went out, and Sting's music came on, the audience became manic, most probably assuming the Stinger was coming to help out the faces. To veteran watchers like my buddy and myself, it was obvious as soon as the lights came on that Sting's ever-present baseball bat was destined for the Hulkster and Abyss, and we weren't disappointed. Sting beat both Hogan and his partner with the bat, and  Naitch and the champ soon joined in. The babyfaces bladed, Abyss pretty deeply. The fans were mostly stunned silent, and it was nice to hear an audience reacting in an old-fashioned way to this intriguing flip. After the beatdown, as Flair and Styles were walking up the ramp, Hogan took the mic and challenged the heels to a No-DQ match later in the show. This part was a bit awkward, as Hogan made no mention on the man who was responsible for their bloody state.
 
Sting was shown backstage, walking by President Dixie Carter. When she tried to talk with him, he grabbed her by the throat and backed her against a door. "I don't owe you anything, Dixie!" Sting growled. Strong stuff, with announcers Mike Tenay and Taz looking appropriately shocked.
 
After commercials, Kazarian was in the ring. He cut a decent promo about the X-division leading the way for TNA in the future. He said he was the man to lead them. Out came Daniels, returning after a several week absence. After staking his claim as the man, X-div. champ Doug Williams made his way to the ring. Then Eric Bischoff, mercifully not in every backstage scene tonight, announced that instead of waiting for the next PPV, the 3 men would wrestle right now for the strap. Luckily, all 3 were in their gear, ready to go.
 
2) Doug Williams vs Kazarian vs Daniels-After a rocky start, the three got into a comfortable rhythm, attacking with solid aerial maneuvers including the requisite dive over the top rope onto 2 men on the floor, performed my Kaz. In the end, Williams retained his title with a roll-up of Daniels. 
 
Dixie Carter announced Sting would compete later against a mystery opponent. Very good set-up, guaranteeing not many channels would be flipping. Although we were concerned about Sting's flip (how can anyone get real heat by turning on Hogan?), our anticipation was undeniable.
 
Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne vs Taylor Wilde and Sarita vs ODB and Tara for the vacant Knockout tag team title.
3) If the ratings don't climb dramatically every time the Beautiful People make their entrance, something is deeply wrong with the young men of today. While the actual work was not quite up to, say, Dynamite Kid vs Tiger Mask caliber, the match was short and sweet, with Velvet's genuine love for her job shining through. What a babe. Anyway, the People won when Daffney came to ringside and clobbered Tara with her championship.
 
Backstage, Christy Hemme was interviewing Pope. Wolfe suddenly attacked the Pope, beating his ankle with a chain, presumably postponing their apparently scheduled bout.
 
Jeremy Borasch interviewed the Beautiful People, as Lacey Von Erich continued to play the ditz role beautifully, and the effervescent Velvet Sky poured champagne over everyone. Borasch played along, splashing the formidable chest area of Sky with the bubbly. Lucky bastard.
 
4) Sting vs RVD-Just before the top of the hour, and what a perfect booking. The fans were going bananas for Van Dam, chanting 'RVD' well before his name or visage appeared on screen. He looked great, a little weight lost but very little apparent aging. He surprised Sting from behind, and got an immediate pinfall win. Again, perfect. Not bad for Sting, since he was surprised from behind, and a must-win for RVD. Afterward, in even more stunningly perfect TNA booking, Sting got all of his heat back and more by attacking Van Dam with the bat. A protracted beat-down had the fans frothing for help, when a bandaged Hulk Hogan (of course!) emerged, attempting to head to the ring, but meeting resistance from Bubba the Love Sponge and security. (Why?) Sting's wailing of 'Mr. Monday Night' continued, and with the Hulkster still being restrained, the man in black left the ring and hit Hogan with the bat several times, as well as members of security. This was a perfectly played angle, even with the unwelcome presence of Hogan. Despite Sting's age, an RVD-Sting program sounds better than anything the WWE has going. Especially with TNA's superior, adult-oriented ringwork.
 
So far, a legitimate A- for the program; it's nice to see some stiff shots and yes, a little blood. Call me a ghoul, but when guys are supposedly being pounded in the face with chairs, baseball bats, and ringposts, it's a lot easier for me to stay in that world when the performers are making some contact and showing some genuine battlescars. Maybe it's just me.
 
Kevin Nash and Eric Young came to the ring. Nash said Hall and Waltman were going to get one chance to stay in the company: a match against he and EY at the next PPV. Waltman and Hall stepped through the ropes and accepted, with one caveat-they wanted a huge, Hogan like contract if they won. Hall and Nash exchanged pleasantries, then shook hands. Waltman, however, slapped Young really hard. Bischoff appeared via bigscreen, saying the match was on, but if the heels lost, they had to disappear for good. He then said something about Young teaching the little bitch Waltman a lesson right now. After the slap, Young speared 'Pac, looking legit furious over the lovetap. After about a minute of tussling, and good stiff shots, Young got the pin following a piledriver. EY was really over with the fans, and while the show deserves props for getting the fans revved up, this was really a great crowd. Another perfectly booked segment.
 
Backstage, Jeff Jarrett was speaking to members of Beer Money about an apparent upcoming handicap match, when both men attacked him.
5)Jeff Jarrett vs Beer Money (handicap match). Mick Foley was special ref, still dressed in his suit from last weeks comedy skits. This was easily the weakest segment on the program, not to mention somewhat confusing. When did Beer Money turn heel? The team got the pinfall on JJ. Enough said about that one.
 
Backstage, Hogan tried to calm a grieving Brooke Hogan, looking all grown up in a really good way. Apparently she's being worked into the program. Why not? She's my favorite Hogan. Or, the only one I can stomach. More of Bubba telling Hogan that he shouldnt wrestle; Hogan, with the hilarious "My fans want me to" argument. Lo and behold, Earl Hebner appears, begging Hulk for his job back and a 2nd chance. Of course, no problem, and Earl would ref tonight's main event. Well, sure, who would have a problem with that?
 
Members of the U.S. Army lined the ring entrance, as Kurt Angle made his dramatic first appearance of the evening. Kurt cut an outstanding promo, with Mr. Anderson as his verbal opponent. Anderson appeared backstage, called the servicemen "high school dropouts" (which was pretty funny), but was instantly attacked by Angle. They took it to the ring, and when Anderson tried to escape, his exit was blocked by the "dropouts". Angle tossed him into, then out of the ring. The Army boys beat and stomped Anderson, and in a great segment, Angle tossed the villian thru the ropes to all 3 open sides, with Anderson receiving an Army pounding each time. Finally, Angle took a trounced Anderson and leveled him with an Angleslam. He then spit on him, stood over him with the U.S. flag, at which point all the boys came into the ring and hoisted Angle up on their shoulders. The smile on Kurt's face made me think this wasn't a work, for a minute anyway. That's good stuff. The crowd chanted "USA!" with gusto, and this segment was another winner.
 
6)Ric Flair/AJ Styles vs Hulk Hogan/Abyss (Pt. 2). No DQ.
The match began with the same intensity as the earlier bout, and both Flair and Hogan bled liberally. Flair, especially, looked like pre-rock n wrestling, territory-time Flair, with blood everywhere. Hogan bit Ric's head, getting the juice on some lucky fans at ringside. Ok, i'm a ghoul. The time of the match was perfect, no down time, and Abyss got the pin on Styles with a black hole slam. Again, perfect. Desmond Wolfe came to the ring, aiding the heels. Pope ran to the ring, selling his earlier ankle injury, and joined the babyfaces. As the heels were getting the upper hand, Jeff Hardy appeared to a tremendous pop. He knocked down the heels, then began climbing the ropes for an apparent swanton attempt. The televised portion of the show ended then.
 
In summary, this could be the 2 hours that saves pro wrestling. While there were minor annoyances, they seemed totally insignificant by the end of the program. And by not featuring the tag champs, Samoa Joe, or Team 3D, it showed how deep the roster has gotten, mostly in a positive way. Wonderful stuff, a show that im sure will get destroyed in the ratings by another anemic, soft Raw, but which will be seen on DVR, talked about, and you-tubed enough to garner the organization's biggest ratings ever next week. Guaranteed. Oh, wait, Steve Austin's hosting Raw next week? OK, the week after. A+

Derek Hamel

Watched the show and Brooke Hogan summed up my feelings when she cried "I can't watch this."
 
There were so many issues with its live launch.  It was car wreck television at its worst; it was Russoriffic.
 
The much ballyhooed-on-You Tube "First Five Minutes" was expected and, to be honest, a smart hook to start the show. Flair and Hogan are household names, and Abyss and Styles should get a rub working with them.
 
Then...the show went downhill.
 
Sting returned as a heel, to team with Flair and Styles to bloody Hogan and Abyss.  Later, he choked Dixie Carter while growling that "he didn't owe" her "an explanation."
 
Considering that he's pretty much been The Babyface throughout his career, an explanation for his actions would have been nice.
 
The women's tag title match was blink-and-you-miss-it. That the champagne did not explode when Sky popped the cork was minor league. All that had to be done was to have a backstage hand shake the bottle before the segment. How hard would that have been?
 
The X-Division 3-way was the best match on the show. However, there was no introduction of the characters and why first time or casual fans should care about them.
 
Was Rob Van Dam's debut burial written by his enemies in WWE? He did not have an opportunity to explain why he signed with TNA after pinning Sting with the rolling thunder. Instead, 10 baseball shots later, RVD, "the hottest free agent in wrestling," was just another guy.
That Hogan had to come out to try to save RVD really made him look strong.
 
"Designation X." Was Nash drunk? As an aside, it certainly was a nice touch when Hall admitted he did not know who Eric Young was.
 
That it took Angle maybe 20 seconds to find Ken Anderson did not help the perception that The Impact Zone At Universal Studios is miniscule.
 
Also, since Young and Angle got their revenge on free TV does not make me want to buy Destination X. Perhaps showcasing Sabin, Shelley and The Young Bucks would. 
 
"Beer Money wants to get noticed"? Aren't they the No.1 contenders for the tag titles? At least Tenay and Taz asked "why would they do this?" Viewers had to have asked themselves the same thing.
 
More questions:
 
Again, is Bischoff a heel or a face? Is he a heelish face? Why did the Hogan family's personal trama overshadowed the rest of the show?
 
The no-DQ match was just a regular tag. Watching Hogan and Flair was sad. The 50-something Hogan and the 60-something Flair were moving slowly and akwardly.
 
That Wolfe, Dinero and Jeff Hardy came out for the post-match brawl emphasized what ails TNA. The match was dreadfully slow but the brawl was fast paced.
 
TNA needs to highlight its strengths: Youth and speed, while maximizing whatever Q value Hogan, Flair and the other veterans have.
 
 
Denis Gorman