by After a disastrous run in 2014 that saw almost every top star leave and them get their tv deal booted from SPIKE TV, TNA made the move to Destination America to kickoff 2015 in a last gap attempt to be relevant again. Live from New York, it wasn’t Saturday night, but rather Friday as the fledgling company came on with a new opening and new look, but sadly in the end, it was still the same old same old.
Let’s take a look at how it all went down on January 7, 2015 as TNA Impact took a shot at turning it around and failed.
A new opening for the show
The intro video changed for the first time in years, complete with new music and a inspiring backstage skit of several wrestlers getting pumped for a new era. It was actually kind of cool and different.
Opening Segment features Kurt Angle making several announcements.
The new opening saw a full-scale riot breakout all over the arena as the brand new Play by Play announcer Josh Matthews welcomed in viewers alongside Taz. Crazy to think, Mike Tenay who was the voice of the company for 12 years, was now gone.
After everyone powdered out, Kurt Angle stepped down as the Director of Wrestling Operations but not before he scheduled a street fight to take place between MVP and himself. Predictably, he defeated MVP to the delight of the small crowd. Before he stepped down he made the rest of the card a “Night of Champions” as every single title would be on the line.
Mike Tenay announces his new role
Tenay lets everyone know that he is in fact, not going anywhere, but rather hosting a series of backstage segments and interviews that will air each week after the show called TNA Unlocked, starting the following week. It was seen as a shoot, but seconds into the first one, you knew it was a work and absolutely terrible.
Bad News Good News
The bad news is that the Bro Mans are still here but the good news is, so are The Beautiful People.
Championship Defenses Galore:
The episode featured several title matches across the roster to kick off the new network era. These included
The Revolution retaining the TNA Tag Team Championship’s over The Wolves in a rock solid match.
Austin Aries defeats Low-Ki to win back the TNA X Division Championship in a five star instant classic as both men tore down the house.
The TNA Knockouts Championship was on the line in a Battle Royal with Taryn Terrell (c) vs. Havok vs. Gail Kim vs. Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky vs. Rebel see’s Terrell retain, but also the surprise return of Awesome Kong, which was a cool moment!
A title change complete with a new heel faction.
Bobby Lashley defeated Bobby Roode to capture the TNA World Heavyweight Championship after help from MVP, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, and Eric Young, marking the formation of the Beat Down Clan
So basically, it was a great show that nearly gave them the chance for fans to care about TNA again until they turned their most popular attraction, a guy they spent all of 2014 building. Eric Young, heel. I have no words….. TNA is going to TNA, especially in 2015 as they clearly learned nothing in 2014.
Here are the match results in short order.
1) Street Fight: Kurt Angle def. MVP
2) TNA Tag Titles: The Revolution (c) def. The Wolves to retain the titles!
3) TNA X-Division Title: Austin Aries def. Low-Ki (c) to win the title!
4) TNA Knockouts Title Battle Royal: Taryn Terrell (c) def. Gail Kim, Havok, Madison Rayne, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, & Rebel to retain the title!
5) TNA World Title: Lashley def. Bobby Roode (c) to win the title after Eric Young turns heel out of nowhere.
