Video: James Storm wins the TNA heavyweight title from Kurt Angle on Oct. 20 Impact

by Geno Mrosko on Oct 21, 2011 12:15 AM EDT in TNA

It really is too bad that Kurt Angle has a busted up leg or this could have truly been a special match. Then again, the same applies to Bound for Glory this past Sunday and Bobby Roode.

Either way, there it is, ladies and gentlemen. James Storm is the new TNA heavyweight champion.

As a performer, through and through, he's better than his Beer Money partner, but it still felt odd the way they got to Storm winning the title, especially in the nature he did. However, the way they booked the entire thing was actually well done. It made as much sense as possible and sets up a potential big money feud between Storm and Roode.

My fear is they'll rush to get the title on Jeff Hardy, who is, admittedly enough, still as over as anyone on the entire TNA roster right now. But that's not reason enough to take the title away from Storm.

For his part, the Cowboy had this to say on Twitter:

All I can say is CHAMP #Jamesstorm

Indeed. It was a great moment for a guy that most definitely deserves it. Now let's hope he gets a nice run with it and isn't booked into the ground like so many others before him.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It reminds me a lot of Rhino circa 2004/2005

They did a gauntlet match if I remember right with the winner getting an immediate title shot. Rhino was booked super strong, the fans were going crazy for him, and in the end he won the title with a big celebration. It had a feeling like TNA might actually be making progress.

They then took the title off him I believe two weeks later to put back on Jeff Jarrett.

Storm winning the title meant something to the jaded TNA audience. It was a genuine moment that could have serious positive implications. So why don’t I have any faith on them following it up? :(

by Hawk52 on Oct 21, 2011 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

So.....why couldn't they give it to Roode on sunday when he wrestled for 20 minutes?

Oh, that’s right, because Hogan ~~had to have his moment at the cost of everyone else~~ said he wasn’t ready for the title.

So you hotshot the title match and do it in two minutes. Wow. That’s awesome.

by KalShadar on Oct 21, 2011 2:41 AM EDT reply actions

The last segment gave me chills.

It was awesome. Reminded me a many best ECW moments.

by TrailerParkTrash on Oct 21, 2011 6:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

They capped off an entire evening of talking

with a one-minute title match. Even if it is because Angle was injured, it made a lot of people look bad. Angle looked terrible by jobbing in one minute to Storm after cheating to beat Roode on Sunday. Roode looks bad for not being able to go over Angle in 15 minutes on Sunday when his tag team partner did it in one.

The wild card here is Storm. If they give him a strong title reign with good defenses and a decent buildup to a Roode / Storm angle for the title, then he will be legitimized as a main event competitor and may help to bring Roode up to that level with him. If they rush the angle in an attempt to get the belt on a “proven” guy (ex Jeff Hardy), then they will weaken Storm’s push and make the Roode turn look like Christian’s heel turn from earlier this year: illegitimate and weak rather than something that would build a main eventer.

As with all things TNA, the important thing is the follow-up. They can still salvage the train wreck that has been the BFG main event and this past episode of Impact if they really make Storm’s title reign and Roode’s push seem legit. Wait and see (and hope against all hope I suppose).

by Michael Jong on Oct 21, 2011 9:32 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Hoping against hope does...

Absolutely nothing considering none of us is on the creative team and have seen in the past what happens when you think that TNA will follow up properly after all the oops and all most moments that have been lost.

by pintnoir on Oct 21, 2011 11:46 AM EDT reply actions