TNA Turning Point 2009 Review

It's time for a change. 2009 marked the year that TNA Wrestling decided to make its biggest decision yet in bringing in Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff into the fray. But before they were introduced to the audience, TNA brought out the goods for one of its most memorable PPVs of all time.

Match 1: TNA X Division Championship - Amazing Red (c) vs. Homicide
Let me just say how much I love Don West. I used to cringe at his voice on commentary but I eventually saw how much work he put in and how much he improved that I had no choice but to like the guy. But then TNA pulled the plug on him in 2009. However, he found a good spot as Amazing Red's manager. Really solid opening match here that saw the X Division wrestlers showcase their athleticism with action that was as crisp as it was fast. Good nearfalls and cool spots that led to Red hitting his patented Code Red finisher to pick up the win and retain the gold. Always wonder why TNA drops the ball on this division when they can put on great matches like this and pump the crowd up in the process.
Winner: Amazing Red
Rating: ***1/4

Match 2: TNA Knockouts Championship and TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships - ODB, Taylor Wilde and Sarita (c) vs. The Beautiful People
Okay, surely I am not the only one who hates it when TNA puts more than one title on the line in a match. I can't help but feel like it diminishes the value of the championships. Decent match here for what it was as Mike Tenay and Taz had themselves a time on the commentary booth. ODB scores the pin for her team as they all quickly retain their titles. Hard to take this seriously when the guys in the booth are more interested in making jokes rather than calling the action in the ring.
Winners: ODB, Taylor Wilde and Sarita
Rating: *1/2

Match 3: TNA World Tag Team Championships - The British Invasion (c) vs. Beer Money, Inc. vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
TNA really had something special with their tag team division around this time with these three teams being the true focal points. What really is there to say about this? The three teams had a great match and the action was as fun as you could watch for a match that never really got the time it deserved. I wish I could say more but we know who is in the ring and we know how capable these guys are of putting on a good match. Eric Young came out to help his guys of The British Invasion before Kevin Nash came out to get in his face. However, Nash ended up laying out James Storm which allowed The British Invasion to score a pinfall on Robert Roode inside the ring. Another strong contest for the night, would have loved to see them get more time here but they certainly had more matches afterwards to fill that void. I guess you can consider this an appetizer.
Winners: The British Invasion
Rating: ***1/4

Match 4: Six Sides of Steel - Tara vs. Awesome Kong
These two are definitely the standard bearers in the Knockouts division for the company and it is certainly cool to see them compete in a steel cage match. The complete opposite of what the WWE was doing with their Divas division at the time. Another good match here that suffered from a lack of time but the two certainly made the most of it. This was about as physical as you would be able to see between two women and they definitely held their own in the cage. Tara was ready to escape the cage until she turned around and dove off the top and took out Awesome Kong on the way down to pick up the solid win.
Winner: Tara
Rating: **3/4

Match 5: Rhino and Team 3D vs. D'Angelo Dinero, Hernandez and Matt Morgan
TNA also really loves to stuff guys in random tag matches for their PPVs and on occasion, it can make sense. Thankfully, the match worked here and Team 3D never got enough credit for their run in TNA, especially around this time when they were working as great heels. They told a great story here with the heels focusing their attention on D'Angelo Dinero who appeared to be the weakest link in the match as the team of Hernandez and Matt Morgan were the true threats in the match. Eventually, Brother Devon brought a steel chair into play as he hit Hernandez with a body shot before Rhino nails a Spear to seal the win. Good win for the heels and a good match to protect Hernandez and Matt Morgan to set up a future match with them and Team 3D.
Winners: Rhino and Team 3D
Rating: ***

Match 6: No Disqualification - Scott Steiner vs. Bobby Lashley
Falls also count anywhere in this grudge match that saw Scott Steiner stalking Bobby Lashley's wife leading up to this. If I'm correct, this also was Lashley's first PPV match for TNA and possibly his first match in the company. Regardless, the ring rust was definitely put on display here for Lashley and Steiner isn't necessarily the best opponent for him to adjust to the game because this match was as stiff as it could be. They did their best to hide their limitations in the ring by having the fight spill across the entire Impact Zone... which TNA feels the need to do at least once every PPV for whatever reason. Finally after some weak chair shots, Steiner drills Lashley in the head with a steep pipe to secure the win. Considering how much steam and how much stock they put into Lashley, wouldn't it make sense for him to win? Guess not.
Winner: Scott Steiner
Rating: **

Match 7: Desmond Wolfe vs. Kurt Angle
Speaking of making their debuts, Desmond Wolfe's debut in TNA was certainly one of the best and most memorable. The hype was huge for this on the internet during this time, it was almost obvious that this dream match was going to deliver. The question was, how big would it deliver? No bones about it, this was a remarkable match that really showcased why Wolfe belongs on the big stage and how quickly he is able to adapt to not only a person he's never wrestled against, but also to the new environment that surrounds him. Let's also give credit to Angle, he sold Wolfe's offense perfectly from both leading to the match and in the match itself, allowing the audience to understand Wolfe and his very different style of offense with a huge array of technical moves that many have never seen before. Match went on for about 25 minutes with Wolfe battling out of an Ankle Lock before finally submitting to a side triangle choke that looked like it was straight out of an MMA fight. Awesome finish for an awesome match between two of the smoothest wrestlers in the business.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Rating: ****1/2

Match 8: TNA World Heavyweight Championship - AJ Styles (c) vs. Daniels vs. Samoa Joe
Here it is, the biggest rematch in company history. For those who don't know, these three guys in AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Samoa Joe had what was arguably the greatest match in company history at Unbreakable 2005 for the X Division Championship. Four years later, the three compete again in the main event for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Pretty cool to see how things change but always remain the same. The buildup for this match was no joke either, they were sure to let us know of the history they had and how the friendship between Styles and Daniels was quickly deteriorating. As expected, this match was as fast as you could imagine with some of the sweetest moves and reversals that you wouldn't even be able to think of. Nobody had the advantage and everybody was getting in their offense at a fast rate. Incredible finish that saw Daniels hit a BME on Joe before Styles was able to hit a 450 Splash out of nowhere on the both of them with Daniels getting the brunt of it. Another fantastic match to close out the show on a high note. It's almost as if these guys had a chip on their shoulder after the company signed Hulk Hogan and they wanted to prove a point that they were still the mainstay and the reason to tune in every week. Styles going over was easily the right call, he was white hot at the time and the perfect guy to lead the company's charge into the new direction they were headed. While this did feel like an indy spotfest here and there, it was still a remarkable display of athleticism and professional wrestling at its finest.
Winner: AJ Styles
Rating: ****1/2

Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
This was easily one of the company's best PPV outings in a long time and maybe even in company history. It's almost as if bringing in Hulk Hogan into the company opened up the eyes of many of the wrestlers. Obviously, the two main reasons to go back and watch this show were the two last matches. Desmond Wolfe being introduced to the masses and the biggest rematch in company history definitely did not disappoint at all. Shame the company wasn't able to capitalize from this energy a year later.
Rating: 8.75/10