TNA Impact Wrestling Review - November 18, 2015

Could Bobby Roode force Abyss to tap out?

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Awesome Kong def. Brooke to Earn 3 Points in the World Title Series

Along with Madison Rayne, I don't think anyone took Brooke as a legitimate threat in this World Title Series. One can make the argument that none of the women do, but at least Awesome Kong and Gail Kim have a chance. That said, Brooke has had some good matches in the Series and this bout with Kong was no exception. Her in-ring encounters with Kim and Rayne were slightly better, but only because this was more of a glorified squash match than anything else. If Brooke is indeed on her way out, she did more during her run than anyone ever thought she would.


X-Division Champion Tigre Uno def. Manik to Earn 3 Points in the World Title Series (Non-title)

As a typical X-Division style match, this was decent, but not as enjoyable as other X-Division matches we've seen in the Series. And as always, it's ridiculous Manik continues to wrestle with the mask on, but I understand why he is. It's amazing to think Tigre Uno has already been champ for almost five months and has had few title defenses under his belt. Hopefully when the Series is over with, TNA can focus more on giving him a meaningful reign as champ.

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Eric Young def. James Storm to Earn 3 Points in the World Title Series

Yes, even one month removed from Storm's NXT debut, he's still competing in TNA. How sad. Due to this being a heel vs. heel match, Storm was forced to play the babyface, and while that was slightly bothersome, it's not like it matters anyways considering he has since departed the company. That aside, this was a relatively solid match and Young was the right choice to go over because, well, he's in TNA and Stomr's been gone for months.


​Mahabli Shera def. Aiden O'Shea to Earn 3 Points in the World Title Series

Truth be told, I couldn't care less about O'Shea. I've said that countless times in the past and it's because we've learned little about him since his debut. Did anyone else find it strange that Shera was a heel for his previous matches in the Series yet he was a full-fledged face here? I don't know when this was taped in comparison to the other bouts, but it was a weird inconsistency. TNA is obviously high on him (despite the fact he remains a major work in progress), so it wasn't shocking he won here.


Eli Drake def. Crimson to Earn 3 Points in the World Title Series

Remember when Crimson was considered a big deal in TNA? Good times, good times. He hasn't improved all that much in the ring in his absence, but Drake can be a star with some character development. Was TNA so desperate for people to partake in this tournament that they had to call Crimson back? Regardless, Drake deserves to go far in the Series, but I wouldn't doubt it if he gets eliminated once he goes up against the bigger names.


King of the Mountain Champion Bobby Roode def. Abyss to Earn 3 Points in the World Title Series (Non-title)

It's almost depressing that these are the only TNA originals the company has left. Abyss has never been the greatest worker, but he can contest competent matches with the right opponent and Roode got a good match out of him. It didn't light the world on fire, but it was a serviceable main event that allowed Roode to score a big win. Although he has the King of the Mountain Championship, he's another guy I'd like to see go back after the TNA title.


​Overall Show

There are some weeks of the World Title Series where most of the matches are extremely entertaining, and there are other weeks such as this one where the in-ring action isn't anything out of the ordinary on the whole. While none of the matches were truly terrible, they weren't particularly memorable, either, so all you can really do is hope next week's episode will be better.