TNA DVD Review - Global Impact! Japan

TNA DVD Review: Global Impact! Japan


By Phil Allely

Back in 2008 TNA struck a deal with New Japan Pro Wrestling (still today they have contact there) this release features an event held in the infamous Tokyo Dome venue where TNA stars faced off against some of NJPW’s finest.

Japanese fans are so different than UK and US ones they fully appreciate high-risk moves, set-pieces and in-ring moments, but they are unusually quiet until a match ends and then they show their appreciation. So with this in mind TNA’s performers were forced to tell more of a story and work without the crowd reaction they are used to on home shores. Of course the hometown guys were in no such position and made the TNA crew prove themselves.

This was also of course back when TNA used a six-sided ring and NJPW favoured the traditional four-sided version, so the crew were already working under stressful conditions.

Apart from a few interesting pre-match interview segments the main reason to seek out this release are the quality of the matches on offer.

Things kick off with a three man tag team match, featuring TNA’s Christian cage, Petey Williams and AJ Styles against NJPW’s Milano Collection AT, Minoru and Prince Devitt. This is an enjoyable encounter and one that shows how well TNA’s roster can blend together as a unit when needed.

Wataru Inoue’s defence of his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship title against Christopher Daniels is a superb display of endurance and athleticism.

Next up Abyss tackled Manabu Nakanishi in a pretty good big man brawl. Abyss of course taking things to the extreme for the benefit of the 30,000 in attendance by bringing his bag of thumb tack along for the trip.

Team 3D’s hard core match with Makabe and Yano proved how well that team worked in 2008. The combo’s both seemed to savour the brutality of what they were doing and gave their all in pleasing the crowd. Outside interference, weapons shots and more all brought this up to an above average level.

The following match is a great treat for long time wrestling fans, featuring former WWE and WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions the Steiner Brothers against the huge duo of Giant Bernard and Tomko (defending their IWGP tag gold). This title match is one that proves that the Steiner boys can still hold their own against the best NJPW can offer.

The main event for the IWGP championship that saw Kurt Angle battling Yuji Nagata was a superb example of how Angle even in his battered sate of body can pull off some of the best matches possible no matter who he faces. Angle’s IWGP belt on the line made this a really gruelling match up.

Global Impact is a great example of how TNA’s roster can fare against some of the world’s finest grapplers. The match-ups are well received, the participants are all firing on all cylinders and not one bout falsl below the above average mark.

Global Impact is available now from www.tnawrestling.com and all good retailers