TNA Impact Wrestling Review - January 19, 2017

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Eli Drake, Trevor Lee, The DCC and TNA World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy def. TNA World Tag Team Champion "Broken" Matt Hardy, Mike Bennett, Mahabali Shera, Crazzy Steve and Jessie Godderz in a Race For the Case Match

As stupid as the Feast or Fired match was with employees legitimately being fired from the company (check out Chavo Guerrero's story from a few years ago for the full details), at least the concept seemed to make sense. I was beyond confused with the rules of this match and each briefcase containing a number. What if Jeff or Matt won a briefcase and decided to challenge for their own championship? And why was Jeff declared the sole winner of the briefcase but the entire DCC won theirs? Again, the match was a mess, and instead of giving the gimmick a makeover, they should have done away with it all together.

Lashley Called Out TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eddie Edwards

Every match Lashley and Edwards have had so far over the world title has been entertaining, but I'm getting tired of seeing the same faces in the title picture week after week. This has to be where Lashley regains the gold, right? Otherwise, why have him lose multiple times to Edwards? I enjoyed this verbal exchange, and although Edwards came off well, I thought Lashley especially shined. He doesn't get enough credit for being one of TNA's stronger talkers right now.

Brooke def. Deonna Purrazzo

Purrazzo might have made history by becoming the first woman to appear on WWE TV, TNA TV, and Ring of Honor TV in the matter of a month. It couldn't have happened to a more talented performer and I hope she officially signs with someone eventually. She scored an ample amount of offense here, but the focus was largely on Brooke making her comeback. She improved immensely in the ring in her final few years with TNA, so she's a welcome addition to the Knockouts roster and she already has a feud with Sienna lined up.

Eli Drake Hosted Fact of Life with TNA World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy, The DCC and Trevor Lee

I used to really love Fact of Life when it was taped in front of the audience, but with the fake laughter and whatnot added in, it doesn't come across the same way i.e. organically. Tyrus tried his best with this segment, but it dragged on and on and none of it made the slightest bit of sense, as I alluded to earlier. It played out pretty predictably and I was hoping Drake would come out of his feud with Ethan Carter III a bigger star. So far, that has yet to be the case (no pun intended).

Aron Rex and Rockstar Spud def. Robbie E and Swoggle

I know we're a mere two weeks into this thing, but Rex and Spud have yet to sell me on whatever this new gimmick is supposed to be. It isn't eliciting any real heat (though to their credit, it could take time) and the fact the commentators are constantly making fun of it by cracking subtle gay jokes doesn't help, either. This was "sports entertainment" garbage at its worst and should not have ended up on television.

Drew Galloway def. Moose to Win the Impact Grand Championship

Although I'm not a fan of these MMA-style matches more often than not, I thought Galloway and Moose made the most of it and contested a solid match. It was definitely one of the better bouts of its kind in my opinion and the hard-hitting tone it had helped. Galloway has thrived since turning heel over the summer and it's awesome he's finally cleared to compete. That said, was it wise for TNA to put their title on someone they don't know will sticking around through the remainder of the year? They could have easily taken the title off him later in the taping, but it simply struck me as odd.

Overall Show

Aside from the main event, which exceeded expectations and was built up fairly well throughout the night via the video packages, this was a throwaway edition of Impact Wrestling. The Race for the Case gimmick was hardly a selling point of this show for me, but thankfully, next week's Genesis episode will feature two title matches with the World Heavyweight and Knockouts Championships being defended in specialty matches.