8/21/08 TNA Impact!

For likely one night only, I will do a rating for Impact because school will definitely get in the way over the next three months.

Star rating key:
(negative stars) = Huh?! (BS finish; most squash matches)
DUD = Boring match (or could not enjoy the match)
1/4* to 3/4* = It had watchable moments.
* to *3/4 = Average match.
** to **3/4 = Above average match.
*** to ***3/4 = Great match; usually saved for PPVs
**** to ****3/4 = Match of the year candidate
***** = The rarest of all matches. A classic.
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8/21/08 TNA Impact!:
Hernandez vs. Robert Roode: Love the fast start to the match. Awesome delayed vertical suplex from Hernandez. Impressive balanced assault (power and aerial) from Hernandez. Good mix of high flying moves, power moves, and ground attacks. Interference knocks the rating down a peg, but it was entertaining interference. **1/2

"Showtime" Eric Young & B.G. James vs. Motor City Machine Guns: Great chain wrestling and kicks from Sabin. Extremely fast-paced match with outstanding tag team wrestling from the Guns. I think the only complaint I would have is that it was too quick a match; certainly it would be longer on a PPV. **3/4

"The Blueprint" Matt Morgan vs. Frankie Capone: Just your usual squash match. However, I'll be more favorable in the rating because: (1) Morgan's moveset is impressive for a 7-footer, and (2) the crowd enjoyed the beatdown. But since it was a squash, I wouldn't necessarily put it on a PPV. 1/4*

Booker T vs. Rhino: This was a qualifying match to be one of three challengers for Samoa Joe at No Surrender. I liked Rhino going to the top, even though he missed the move. I liked the fact that both men had their finishers countered in some way because it gives the match more dimension. It didn't blow me away because the pace was so slow, but it was a decent match. **

"Maple Leaf Muscle" Petey Williams vs. Consequences Creed (X-Division Title): Again, great chain wrestling from two TNA wrestlers. There were a lot of flashy moves, which got me into the match. Great counters and aerial attacks. Extremely fluid wrestling. Everything was going great until the interference, which is an automatic deduction in the rating. Sheik Abdul Bashir again made his presence felt, and based on the reaction after the match, Bashir wants to get into the X-Division Title picture. Despite the ending, it was an excellent match. ***1/4

Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim (TNA Knockouts Street Fight): Again, I loved the fast start. Brawling in the stands is another big plus in my book. Nice double axe handle from Gail in the stands. Gail delivered some nice shots to Kong with the chair. Raisha Saeed took some Singapore Cane shots...kudos to her. I would have loved a little longer of a match, but there's only so much to do when there is such a size difference. Apparently Gail Kim is headed to WWE; TNA will be sorry to have lost such talent. **3/4

AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle (Ladder Match; for Angle's Olympic gold medal): AJ Styles had beaten Angle for Angle's Olympic gold medal the previous week, and this was Angle's way of trying to get his medal back. Nice fast start. Booker T tried to get involved, but Samoa Joe was there to take out Booker. Good use of the ladder as a weapon. The crowd is always going to be going nuts when two of TNA's best workers go at it. Great mix of wrestling, using the ladder, and counters. The mystery of the guitar strikes again, allowing Styles to grab the gold medal. Nothing real innovative; just a straightforward ladder match. ***