Tonight marks the first Thursday night show under the “Impact Wrestling” namesake, but it remains to be seen if the event will be different from past episodes in anything but title. Brian Kendrick will continue his quest to bring the X Division back to glory, which is enough to interest me in tuning in.
Speaking of the X Division, Kazarian will defend his title against the Monster Abyss by decree of Hulk Hogan. Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett will be on hand for an in-ring confrontation, confirming my fears that this feud is still far from over. There’ll be no shortage of knockouts action on this week’s show, as two women’s matches have been booked. Velvet Sky will participate in a handicap match against Angelina Love and Winter, while Madison Rayne will join forces with Sarita & Rosita in a six-knockout tag team match against Mickie James, Tara, and the awe-inspiring Miss Tessmacher. The Amazing Red (without the Sangriento mask) will collide with Samoa Joe in one-on-one action, and AJ Styles intends to call out Tommy Dreamer.
Lastly, there’s a match I feel the need to address. After a half-baked attempt to establish the Young Bucks as singles competitors, Generation Me will reunite on tonight’s Impact, an apparent admission that it was dumb to ever split them up in the first place. Their opponents? Matt Hardy & Eric Bischoff. I’m on the verge of lambasting the indisputable stupidity of this one before I even see it, but I’ll save the inevitable hatred that Eric Bischoff wrestling inspires in me for tomorrow’s reactions.
