I didn't get to watch Sunday's TNA Wrestling Genesis pay-per-view, but I did read the results.
Before the PPV, I read hints Ric Flair might be involved in AJ Styles' heel turn.
Those reports were correct, as at the conclusion of what looked to be yet another awesome match between Kurt Angle and Styles, Flair slid the TNA Championship into the ring and Styles blasted Angle with the title.
TNA Wrestling fans, as of Jan. 4 when I was live in Orlando, seem to like and respect both Styles and Angle, so presumably, they will side more with Angle now.
I think a heel Styles, led by Flair, will be great for TNA Wrestling.
It's too bad Angle isn't allowed another title shot. That's assuming the story lines stay true.
As for the rest of the show:
1. Six-sided ring dead. REACT: There was so little fanfare for this major change (TNA Wrestling used it since May 2004). This change should have happened Jan. 4. The crowd had a huge "We want six sides" chant at the beginning of the show. I loved Hulk Hogan's response to the crowd that six sides only got TNA Wrestling so far.
2. Speaking of Hogan. REACT: Much like Jan. 4, the crowd is reacting him as a heel. That's obviously not want TNA Wrestling wants, but it will continue to happen -- especially if it pushes Hogan angles with Jeff Jarrett and Sting, two TNA Wrestling favorites.
3. Brian Kendrick debuts and loses to Amazing Red. REACT: I've always been a big fan of Kendrick's in-ring work. I thought WWE didn't use him very well. I did think it was smart to have Kendrick lose to Amazing Red, who has done great in the X Division as its current champion.
4. Sean Morley (Val Venis) debuts and beats Christopher Daniels. REACT: I'm OK with Morley winning this one, even though the crowd dislikes him. He seems good for the business, no matter where he is.
5. Tara beats ODB. REACT: I was glad to see Tara win the TNA Knockouts Title in two falls.
6. TNA World Tag Team Titles change hands. REACT: I'm not surprised Matt Morgan and Hernandez beat The British Invasion. Morgan is a monster.
7. Bobby Lashley laid out by Abyss. REACT: Hogan. recently told Sports Illustrated's Josh Gross, on Lashley holding two jobs: "He's gotta make a choice, brother. We need to have a serious talk, He can (do MMA and pro wrestle) but he just needs to be a businessman about it. You can't stiff us just because you have to train for a fight. You can't put (Strikeforce) ahead of us; that's not going to work me. I'm going to fix that real quick. That's going to happen Sunday. I'm going to see what he's made of because I've been around too long to have someone like him to do business with." It looks like, at least for now, that Lashley is out with this injury angle. He can now focus on his upcoming MMA match, which is smart whether he comes back soon to wrestling or not.
8. Desmond Wolfe beats The Pope. REACT: Two great athletes here. I see more potential in Wolfe right now. And who is Wolfe's valet?
9. Eric Bischoff takes Jeremy Borash off television. REACT: I hope this is a temporary thing. Borash, while annoying to some, is awesome.
10. Beer Money beat Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman. REACT: It looks like there is trouble in paradise (in the story lines) with Nash, Waltman and Scott Hall. That's probably smart, as the fans aren't jumping on the Waltman and Hall bandwagon. Hall reportedly said he had a groin injury, but other reports say he was worried about how he looked in trunks. I guess he forgot his jeans?
11. Ken Anderson beats Abyss. REACT: It would have been stupid for Anderson to lose his debut. I hate how the fans dislike Anderson. This feud can continue.
12. Brooke Hogan. REACT: There were a few times where she got involved. She acted as being into the Morley character, while she also had ODB get in her face. It seems like the fans are turning on Brooke, too. Strange!
HOGAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT VINCE MCMAHON
Hogan, at the TV critics press event in California last Friday, said this about Vince McMahon: "My philosophy is different than the WWE model where Vince McMahon will ride someone until they drop. He will shoot them and eat them. A transition must be made between new stars and the old. Nothing has to be edgy and personal and pull the carpet out from under people. There's a way to make all of this work, but the focus has to be on the future, and that's one of the things that has to happen. And that's the biggest mistake that Vince McMahon made. My time should be over. I should be done and gone. There should have been two generations already that should have replaced me. But because things were executed correctly, I'm alive and well, and I can sell out any ring in the country right now."
REACT: Hogan makes good points here, for the most part. The focus should be on the future, but WWE doesn't push the rookies like it should. I do disagree with Hogan's comment about riding "someone until they drop." I don't think that's the case in WWE.
