(3) TNA X-Division Championship
Results: Joey Ryan showed some promise and innovation with a wicked DDT and second rope Swinging Neckbreaker. Van Dam with his standard arsenal of kicks and power moves; ultimately he’d win the match at 7:04 with the Five Star Frogsplash. After the match, Matt Morgan kicked RVD’s face off on the entrance ramp.
Review: I will admit that I’m not a big fan of the Joey Ryan gimmick, or his association with Matt Morgan. I think the two are extremely different, and honestly, they have nothing to do with one another. Ryan is working his way up the ladder as a rookie; Morgan is waging a personal war against Hulk Hogan. That happens to be good exposure for the young talent, but I do feel it’s keeping the “Blueprint” back from breaking out as that big star he claims he can, and should be.
That being said, he shows some tenacity in the ring. He and Van Dam put on an adequate title match, with very little to complain about. Except, perhaps, that neither guy really showed a hint of classic X-Division action. Where are my flips and “holy shit” moments? RVD is a legit heavyweight, and Joey Ryan doesn’t have the speed or moveset to be competing for the X-Division Championship. Their match wasn’t bad, just misplaced. The X-Division is dead, no doubt about it.
Rating: C
