First feedback to UFC on Versus and TNA Destination X

Jason McNeil

What's the sound of 246 pounds of shit hitting the floor?  I dunno, ask the people at
ringside during the Dos Santos-Gozaga fight.
 
Everyone is saying how on paper this was the best free TV card, but I don't see it.
Buentello and Kongo?  Two never-will-bes?  (Although I'll never question Buentello's
toughness after pulling his own finger back into joint).  Sakara vs. Irvin, the very
definition of an undercard curtain jerker to put on the main card just in case it doesn't
suck?  And don't get me started on Gonzaga who has had the two most boring modern UFC
matches by anyone NOT named Heath Herring and who should be sending a percentage of his
purse to Cro Cop every year for single-footedly keeping him employed.  And Brandon Vera,
who has more supposed potential than the entire NCAA Division I Wrestling championships
but has more second chances than Darryl Strawberry and Josh Koshchek combined, without
nearly the talent of either.
 
That said, I go thumbs in the middle.  I watched to see Dos Santos and Jones destroy
frankly insulting opponents for their ability levels.  And there I was not disappointed.
 
Hey, just an idea here, how about we go over the rules with the fighters beforehand,
mmkay?  Sheesh.
 
Best matches, Dos Santos and Bones, for destroying those other two bags of crap.
 
Worst matches - the other two.  I missed Clay Guida for this?  How do you put one of your
top ten, if not top five fighters in the fucking prelims over Sakara and Irvin or
Buentello and Kongo?  Seriously?  Please tell me the logic here because I can't see it.
Why waste him on a fight thousands will see?
 
Sometimes I thank God I have HD Net.
 
Mike DeGeorge

TNA Destination X

Thumbs Down

Best Match: Four-Way for #1 Contenders

Worst Match: Hall/Six-Pac v. Nash/Young

I know that people used to joke that Hogan and Flair would be feuding until they were in wheelchairs, but I never believed it until I saw this show. Talk about a clusterfuck of a finish that left a bad taste. I guess this qualifies as a main event push for Desmond Wolfe, but the hole in the ring was an apt metaphor for what is missing in TNA - logic and knowledge of the business.

There was room on this show for Nash, Hall, and Six-Pac, but not for Wolfe, Pope, Samoa Joe, RVD, or Jeff Hardy? Come on! Give up the pretense!

The best chant of the night was "Same old shit" during the Nash/Hall/Six-Pac debacle. Although we were spared the Nasty Boys tonight, it really is Hogan and Bischoff giving their old pals a payday from the new marks with money. An old scam that keeps on getting played, whether it's Wrestlicious or TNA.

Who actually SCRIPTED for Doug Williams to say that the once-innovative X Division is supposed to be "catch-as-catch-can" wrestling? Even if it's an attempt to build heat because he's going to the champ who DOESN'T wrestle that style, why turn off the remaining segment of your fan base that buys these PPVs for the X division performers who knock themselves out, even when they don't get pushed?

The scripting was beyond inane on this show. If Bischoff is really going to put together the Monday and Thursday numbers to claim that they broke a viewership record, bravo for him. If TNA's goal is not to make money or increase PPV numbers, but to "break WWE's ratings record" for RAW, perhaps Bischoff could have Spike show IMPACT every night of the week. Then he could add together all the .8 and .7 ratings until - totalled - they broke RAW's average of 3.6.

Jeff Cohen
Flushing, NY 

UFC Live on Versus feedback
Thumbs Up
Best fight: Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera
Worst fight: None
 
Hi Dave
I really enjoyed the show tonight. Big kudos have to go out to the officiating as there were some tough calls to make and the referees made them. I don't know if I've seen a show with two point deductions in one night. And the call in Sakara v. Irvin was perfect as it stopped the gith in case it was an eye-poke and to protect from further damage but then fairly gave the fight to Sakara.
Jon Jones is so amazing. It is hard to believe that he can be so entertaining and so dominant and effective at the same time. I hope he makes it through to a title match without a loss (I don't count the last one) and if this happens nothing could stop me from ordering the show.
Dave Musgrave
Markham, Ontario

 

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