They did something kind of brilliant on this show. They have two storylines running (one on both Impact and NXT) that aren’t connected and they briefly connected them in an intriguing way. Trick is challenging Hendry for the TNA Title…and Santana had declared his intention to challenge for that title now that he’s finished with Ali. One had nothing to do with the other…there’s a Santana rising story that if anything feels secondary because Hendry has been messing around with Trick on two shows for weeks.
Tonight they had Santana and Trick pass each other backstage, size each other up, and move on. Just that was enough to tie Santana‘s inevitable quest into the title program enough to make you start thinking about Trick winning the title at Battleground. Santana’s rise has been a great story…but he feels blocked by a babyface champion. To the point where I wondered if they'd give Kazarian a transitional reign just to finish the Santana story in a way that ensured a big babyface win reaction. If he beats Hendry…you’re kind of guessing how the crowd reacts. Hendry is ridiculously over in every building. If he wins it from an outsider heel, on the other hand….you‘re getting a massive pop…celebrating in the crowd…the storybook ending.
Now…I’m not saying either TNA or WWE wants Hendry to drop the belt right now. But planting that small seed was a clever way to open the door for it without having to do more than a look.
it still will be a reign, dumb Matt
