TNA IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI LIVE REPORT

Here is my live report from TNA in Grand Rapids.

First of all, there was no barriers like you're used to seeing at WWE shows. Those of us waiting outside were able to walk up to the wrestlers' cars after they arrived. Thankfully, none of us recreated the "Jericho incident".

We were allowed to wait in the lobby, and we could actually see the ring for a bit, and at least when I arrived, Rhaka Kahn and Jacqueline were training in it. Referees Rudy Charles and Slick Johnson were outside signing autographs as well.

When I arrived to my seat, I saw a backstage pass behind Jeremy Borash's ringside seat. I grabbed it, although I wasn't supposed to, as he hadn't announced it on Twitter yet! I had to put it back! But I was still able to go backstage later on.

One nice feature I heard was in between the general music playing was a prerecorded announcements that "the show would start in five minutes", and then later "we'll begin in 60 seconds." The show started exactly after that.

Attendence was probably no more than 1,000. The floor wasn't even half full, and the lower level was about 1/5 full.

Jeremy Borash and that other live events guy welcomed the crowd and did his usual speil to get the crowd excited, and it worked all night.

Atlas security was here. They must have lowered their price in this economy.

1. Chris Sabin defeated Jay Lethal with the Cradleshock. Nice home state pop for Sabin. Lethal was the slight heel here. The usual fun opener.

2. Jacqueline defeated Rhaka Kahn with a top rope tornado DDT. This was our "bonus match." Jacqueline was the babyface. When shw was on offense, it was hard-hitting and exciting. With Kahn was attacking, well..... she's still hot. It was what it was, a teacher working with a student.

3. Daniels defeated Eric Young with the BME. Young was a complete heel, with the crowd all over him. Daniels came out to the actual Disposable Teens song. Decent stuff again.

4. Rhino defeated Matt Morgan with a gore. Once again, great home state pop for Rhino. Morgan came out to Down with the Sickness. I wasn't feeling this one, and the finish was messed up when Morgan moved out of the way of the gore, but then took a weak one two seconds later.

Before Intermission, JB encouraged everyone to text to a number, for a chance to go backstage. It looked like he took the first number, and personally texted him a message.

5. Angelina Love defeated Taylor Wilde to retain the Women's Knockout Championship. I enjoyed this one. OK, it's not SHIMMER level, but the two put on a good match in which the crowd was into. After tonight, I'd say Love is underrated due to her diva look and gimmick, plus her association with Velvet Sky. She can work, that's for sure.

6. Suicide defeated Alex Shelley w/ Chris Sabin with the Suicide Solution to retain the X-Division Championship. This time, the Machineguns were the heels, although they got a fair amount of cheers. Suicide came out through the crowd. I believe it was the longest match of the night, and another fun one.

7. Beer Money Inc defeated the Main Event Mafia (Kurt Angle and Scott Steiner) with their finisher. Angle seems to be growing his hair, and a beard, out. Steiner took time to insult Michigan State and praise the University of Michigan. Beer Money encouraged the crowd to yell BEER and MONEY, and then, BIG OL BOOBIES! It was a solid main event. Give the MEM credit, as they didn't make Beer Money look like jobbers.

Borash announced that they couldn't bring everyone backstage, so they're bring backstage out here. 3/4 of the roster came out to sign autographs and take photos, while Kurt Angle stayed in the ring and pose with fans for $20. It was a long line, so they made some good scratch from it.

Surprisingly, Borash didn't say a PPV may come here. Looks like he's serious when it's mentioned at other shows.

The only no show was Samoa Joe, and that's understandable.

I'd say this one was better than the Bloomington show last year. The matches were hard hitting and of decent lengths all night and the crowd was into everything. Seriously, if they're in the area, GO!