Keith Watanabe * NET 2.0

WOW! The show was a weird mix, but the ending is EXACTLY what pro-wrestling ought to be about! The TNA Impact debut of Kurt Angle with the confrontation with Samoa Joe needs no explanation. The heat was off the charts level and hopefully a positive indication of things to come. It had that "real" feel where the focus of what the promotion should be doing. I don't think anyone really expected that headbutt which was just so nasty followed up by an Angle slam would be so incredible. Instead, of TNA welcoming Angle, it was Angle welcoming TNA in this manner! Of all the competitors lined up, for once you get a feeling that Samoa Joe has a LEGIT opponent. i think that's why people were so pumped. Joe had sliced through everyone in TNA practically. but with Kurt around, you have real doubt where things can go either way. Sting is old news. Christian had his shot. Steiner is a genetic freak but no where near his levels in the early 90's. Jarrett, as Samoa Joe stated, is a paper champion. Enter Kurt Angle. I don't think having them face off immediately is a bad idea. In fact, I think they SHOULD do it now. forget the slow build. did you hear those people in the building? that's what people want to see? if they put off this feud, who will Joe beat? his only real threat is Sting or a return job to Steiner (but he's been gone so you can't say anything there). Kurt should beat Joe immediately, grab the title, have a year run and make Joe chase after it. at this point, i don't think there's any money in Sting vs Kurt Angle. the fans know differently and Sting is just too old and 90's to make a difference at this point. however, it is Kurt Angle's time to run with the title and the movement probably should be something like Sting over Jarrett, Christian over Sting (while Joe and Kurt Angle have their first face off with Joe receiving his first loss), then Kurt over Christian. if you don't book Kurt that way, then the other way is the "knock him off the mountain" booking where he just extends open challenges to anyone. make it a fair game. no faces, no heels, just bring the intensity. i've talked about it before that the thing Kurt brings is the realness of a fight. do the mat based wrestling and have him win in fast shoot fights that mimick the UFC/K-1. this is TNA's big chance to go in a different direction and would earn that claim that would change the wrestling world. it would be an area the WWE wouldn't be able to compete in on the basis of business. they can keep the X-division style, but branch out in a shoot style which is something the WWE isn't doing (and where UFC is succeeding and gaining ground). i think that TNA could score big if their main events weren't goofy and litered with gimmicks. if they were handled like a UFC shoot fight, people would buy them because of the believability factor. I mean, for instance, if Kurt Angle could take down Jarrett in 20 seconds, that would make a huge statement in the direction of TNA. then it would be up to the individual talent to go toe-to-toe with Angle on that style. the fringe benefits is not having to come up with silly interviews and gimmicks for the main event until someone knocks down Angle. also, without the silly gimmicks and neck breaking style, potentially people's careers can be extended. with the X-division and this shoot style availability, i think people would buy TNA as being more athletic, which is how they can brand themselves, rather than just an "alternative" to the WWE. focus on the moves, the psychology of matches rather than just the sports entertainment side. people like Nash can come along, and i don't have a problem as long as 1) they actually contribute something beneficial and work off their strengths; 2) it doesn't detract from the main focus of the product. my 2-en