The brawl that closed out Impact continues as ReAction begins.  Security is trying to separate the two brawls but is having troubles containing the semi-final tournament competitors.  Calmer heads finally prevail as they all separate as we head into the ReAction intro.

Kurt Angle is then seen in the back and is approached by Anderson, who shakes his hand and he walks away.  Angle then meets up with Hardy in the back once more and the two continue to go at it as security quickly tries to break them apart.  Angle yells at Hardy and says his ass is his as No Surrender.

Anderson is walking around the production truck and he runs into the Pope who tells Anderson that he was the legal man in the ring, which is why he went for the pin.  The two then get into a shoving match and begin brawling in the parking lot as Tommy Dreamer and Jay Lethal have to pull them apart.

Kurt Angle is then with the docu-cam who says Hardy is stupid and didn’t get the job done tonight.  Angle says Hardy stabbed him in the back and he promises to hurt him at No Surrender.

A video package that focuses on the rivalry between EV2 and Fortune is aired.  Mick Foley talks about not missing a match in seven years and tonight he was taken out and was disappointed that he couldn’t go out there with EV2.  Kazarian says Fortune never backs down from a challenge and calls them the nucleus of TNA as they were the ones that built the company and why TNA is still around today.

Samoa Joe says he isn’t there to comply with what Jeff Jarrett wants him to do.  Kevin Nash disagrees with that statement and says he will pay the price for it.  Nash also says he knows Sting and won’t pass up a chance to join up with him one last time.  Jarrett thinks that Sting and Nash are playing politics and will do anything he has to do to stop them.  Joe also says that he was there for business and said that Hogan came with a few things that he wanted to hear, which the rest of the world will have to find out for themselves.

ReAction takes a look at Brian Kendrick who says he has been at home trying to figure out what his purpose really is are is setting his sights on Abyss for his own personal reasons.  Kendrick wants to challenge himself so he can realize that he is god.

The Impact Player of the Week is Jesse Neal and is part one of a two part series.  The package starts with footage of what happened on the USS Cole and how that changed him as a person.  Neal begins to break down talking about what happened and losing 17 of his shipmates on the attack, including his best friend and roommate.  Neal said the whole experience made him grow up very fast.  In 2002, Neal got out of the navy a pursued the dream of becoming a wrestler.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff talk about what they tried to accomplish in the ring before Abyss came in an interrupted.  Footage of what Abyss said in the ring is aired as the wrestlers chime in with their thoughts about what Abyss was talking about.  Kurt Angle says he is getting concerned because he seems to make his mark and make history.  Bischoff thinks it is starting to get a little bit frightening.

Footage of the confrontation between EV2 and Fortune is aired.  Matt Morgan is with the docu-cam and says that they are all sick of tired of waiting for their time to come.  He says their time is now, while James Storm says they will fight them to their last breath.

Tara and Madison Rayne is standing in the parking lot and say that they have to get in the heads of the Beautiful People.  Madison talks about how this was their plan all along and she knew what Tara was capable of and who to go to if she ever needed it.  Tara says that they are there not to be beautiful, but to be number one.  The Beautiful People wonder if this was Madison’s motive since last May and feel that she can talk the talk but can’t back it up.

We get some closing thoughts from the wrestlers about their matches at No Surrender this Sunday.  Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy talk about stepping up and being able to lead TNA.  Samoa Joe talks about how everyone wants him on their side when they go into war.  London Brawling talks about Chelsea being a distraction and how they need to focus on winning the tag team championship.  The voiceover guy then wonders who will be in the finals for the TNA World Championship when Impact returns in two weeks.

Video footage of D’Angelo Dinero, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson talking about tonight’s tag team match kicks off Impact.  Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff talk about this match being controversial and how it is needed to see who will step up and deserves to be TNA World Champion.

The Impact intro then hits and we head right into the Impact Zone where Hogan’s music is going off.  Hogan, Bischoff and Ms. Tessmacher come down to the ring where Hogan puts over the TNA locker room before calling the Fatal Four down to the ring.  Anderson, Dinero, Hardy, and Angle all come out to the ring one-by-one and Hogan tells them they have to raise the bar to another level as he doesn’t want to see what happened to RVD happen all over again.

Bischoff then chimes in and says it was controversial to put the four in a match together just three days before No Surrender, but it was necessary to help determine which one of the four of them is worthy of becoming TNA World Champion.  Just then, Abyss is seen walking towards the ring with Janice propped over his shoulder.  Abyss then enters the ring and says he has news worthy revelations from “them.”

Hogan cuts in and says he, and everyone else, knows “them” is Fortune and tells him to cut the crap.  Abyss says the “they” he refers to was never EV2 or Fortune, but “they” have told him that everything is in place and a date has been set – 10, 10, 10.  Abyss says that when they arrive, they will take over TNA and remove Dixie Carter and will exterminate Hogan, Bischoff and the rest in the ring until Hardy finally attacks Abyss and we head into a commercial break.

A video package highlighting the friction between the Beautiful People and Madison Rayne is aired.  This leads us into the first match of the night.

Match 1: The Beautiful People vs. Madison Rayne & the Motorcycle Woman
Both sides come out to the same music and attack each other in the ringside area before the match officially starts.  Madison Rayne then finds herself stuck between Velvet Sky and Angelina Love and tries to plead with them for a moment until the Motorcycle Woman comes in and clotheslines them both.

The bell finally rings and the Beautiful People works over Madison for the opening moments with quick tags in and out and they get a quick pin attempt but it is broken up.  Angelina then spears the motorcycle woman out to the floor and Velvet tries to put Madison away but the motorcycle woman nails Velvet with the motorcycle helmet from behind.  Madison then drapes her arm across Velvet to pick up the pin fall.

After the match, the two continue to beat on the Beautiful People and the motorcycle woman finally takes off her mask to reveal to the world what everyone already knew, and that it is Tara.  Madison and Tara celebrate in the ring as we head into a commercial break.

The docu-cam is with Stevie Richards who says he is not scared to face Abyss tonight and promises to step out of the shadows of his comrades and stand out on his own.  A ReAction video package then focuses on Abyss and the wrestlers talking about who “they” possibly are.  We are then told that RVD will speak next week for the first time since suffering the brutal attack from the hands of Abyss.

Match 2: Stevie Richards vs. Abyss
Richards attacks Abyss on the floor prior to the match and sends him flying into the steel steps, but Abyss fires back with a big boot to the face.  Abyss then rolls Richards into the ring to get this match started a continues with the beat down before grabbing a steel chair.  Abyss brings the chair into the ring and Richards hits a superkick into the chair that goes into Abyss’ face and he picks up the surprising pin fall.

Richards’ victory is short-lived, though, as Abyss quickly knocks him down and hits the Shock Treatment.  When then see a split screen where EV2 and Fortune are brawling in the ring and are being separated with security.  Since security has their hands tied, Abyss is able to continue beating down Richards until Brian Kendrick comes out and makes the save and runs with Richards into the back.

The docu-cam is with Mr. Anderson who says that he has had a rocky relationship with the Pope as Dinero comes in and the two talk about putting their differences aside for tonight so they can get the job done.  Dinero says Anderson better not screw him over in their match while Anderson wonders if he can trust Pope to make tags in and out of the ring.  The announcers then hype the main event and the match between Sting and Jeff Jarrett, which will also take place tonight.

Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Sabu, and Mick Foley are standing together in the ring.  Foley is limping around and Dreamer calls out Fortune for hurting Foley’s ankle.  Fortune comes out of the entrance tunnel and AJ Styles says they don’t get called out in their own house as they are the ones that make the rules.  Styles says EV2 doesn’t have a chance at No Surrender and he promises to embarrass Tommy Dreamer in his own house.  Dreamer says they don’t have to wait until Sunday and they can do it right now and challenges them to an 8-man tag team match.

Jeff Jarrett is in the back talking to Samoa Joe and tries to get him to watch his back once more.  Jarrett says it’s up to Joe to do the right thing but Joe says the one thing he knows about this business is that you should mind your own as he walks away.

The docu-cam is with Kevin Nash and Sting who say they want to mess with Jarrett tonight.  Sting says that he knows someone else will show up and when he does he is going to pull him in the ring.  Another docu-cam is with Jarrett and he says that he hopes that someone will stand up on his side tonight.

Match 3: Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting
Sting is wearing red face paint for this match and Mike Tenay informs us that the 8-man tag team match between EV2 and Fortune is set to take place tonight and it will be an elimination match.  The match between Jarrett and Sting starts and Nash gets involved by tripping Jarrett a few times and Jarrett goes after him but the numbers game is too much for him.  Sting goes after Jarrett on the floor and Jarrett tries to make a comeback, but Nash again gets involved and causes Jarrett to lose the match by pin fall.

Sting then begins choking Jarrett with a baseball bat until Hulk Hogan comes out of the entrance tunnel.  Hogan is able to cause a distraction as Samoa Joe comes in from the other side and takes out Nash.  Sting then yells at Joe and tells him he doesn’t belong there and backs off.

Another video package for Shore is aired that says coming soon.  We then head to the announce team as they hype the No Surrender card that takes place this Sunday on pay-per-view.

London Brawling is in the ring and Desmond Wolfe says while Queer Money and the Motorcity Cap Guns have been beating each other up, they have been beating every time of wankers that have been put in front of them on Xplosion.  Wolfe claims they are the best tag team in TNA and at No Surrender they will prove it.  Magnus chimes in and says the belts will be leaving the boys and coming over to the men on Sunday.

The Motorcity Machine Guns music hits as they come down to the ring and Alex Shelley says they are the best tag team in the world and they are not going to lose the belts that easily.  The two teams then trade insults which include sexuality, pubic hair and their manhood.  Chelsea is finally is brought into the mix and she rips into Wolfe’s manhood, which leads to a brawl between both teams.  London Brawling get the best of the champs as Chelsea and Wolfe continue to argue.

EV2 is in the back as Tommy Dreamer talks about all of them going down as the trainer is looking at Mick Foley’s ankle.  Brian Kendrick comes in and offers his services but Dreamer tells him not to get involved.  Foley says the only person that will name his replacement is himself and Foley says Kendrick is crazy enough to do it.  Kendrick thanks them for the opportunity as Dreamer tells him to be prepared.

Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle are seen talking in the back and Hardy reminds Angle that if he loses on Sunday his career could be over.  Angle guarantees that he will not lose at No Surrender as the two shake hands and leave.

Match 4: Fortune vs. EV2 (8-Man Elimination Tag Team Match)
Rhino takes a brief beating in the ring before he actually hits Kazarian with a dropkick and he tags in Sabu.  Sabu comes in and hits Kazarian with a flurry of moves and goes up to the middle rope where Douglas Williams shoves Sabu down to the mat.  Kazarian then rolls up Sabu for the three count to eliminate Sabu from the match.  Sabu then springs up and dives out at Douglas Williams and the two fights their way to the back.

Tommy Dreamer and Brian Kendrick both work over Kazarian as this match continues.  Robert Roode is tagged into the match and he powers Kendrick around the ring for a moment before turning it back over to Kazarian.  Kendrick and Kazarian go back and forth with pin attempts until Kendrick takes Kendrick out with a drop kick and picks up the pin fall on Kazarian.

Styles comes in and he and Kendrick go at it and Kendrick intentionally hits the referee with a dropkick.  The match then breaks down as other referees run out to check on Brian Hebner and Mick Foley walks out of the tunnel as we head into a commercial break.

We return to the action to see Kendrick has been disqualified from the match for dropkicking the referee.  Slick Johnson takes over the match and we see Beer Money wearing down Tommy Dreamer but he is able to tag Rhino into the match.  Rhino comes in and goes after all members of Fortune before finally hitting James Storm with a Gore but Roode is able to break up the pin attempt.

Rhino then gives Roode a belly-to-belly suplex and sets up for the Gore but Abyss comes and distracts Rhino as they begin fighting in the crowd.  Rhino is then counted out of the match for the third elimination as Dreamer is up against Beer Money and Styles.  Roode then takes down Dreamer and goes for a couple of quick pin attempts as Fortune begins to use quick tags in and out to wear down Dreamer.  There is some miscommunication, though, and Dreamer is able to pin both members of Beer Money in rapid succession.

It is all even with Styles and Dreamer being the final two left in the match.  Styles tries for the Styles Clash but Dreamer counters into a crossface but Styles is able to make it to the ropes.  Styles comes back with a dropkick and puts Dreamer in an armbar but Dreamer makes it to the ropes.  Styles then heads to the top rope but Dreamer meets him on the turnbuckle and takes him down with a superplex.

Dreamer then is about to put Styles in a figure four but Morgan hops on the ring apron and distracts Dreamer.  Dreamer is able to hang Morgan on the top rope as Mick Foley and Ric Flair begin going at it in the ringside area.  Shortly after, Styles pokes Dreamer in the eyes and hits the Pele kick to pick up the pin fall and the victory for Fortune.

After a commercial break we head right into the main event.

Match 5: Mr. Anderson & D’Angelo Dinero vs. Jeff Hardy & Kurt Angle
Angle goes right after Dinero as he and Anderson are arguing in the corner as the bell rings.  Angle tags Hardy in who scores a near fall on Hardy but the Pope is able to take Hardy down and tags Anderson into the match.  Anderson comes in and is able to score another near fall on Hardy after hitting a hard clothesline as Dinero and Hardy tag in and out to work over Hardy.  Hardy, though, is able to block an attempt at the Mic Check and counters with a Twist of Fate.

Hardy crawls back to his corner and tags in Angle who takes Anderson and Dinero down with a series of suplexes and goes for a pin attempt on Pope after hitting an Angle Slam.  Anderson breaks up the pin attempt and both Angle and Anderson connect with clotheslines.  Hardy then heads to the top rope and goes for a Whisper in the Wind but Anderson moves out of the way and hits Angle instead.  Anderson then hits the Mic Check on Angle as Dinero comes in and picks up the pin fall.

The celebration between the winning partners doesn’t last long as Dinero and Anderson go at it and fight their way out to the floor.  Meanwhile, Angle and Hardy start going at it in the ring until security comes out and breaks up the melee and Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Madison Rayne & Tara defeated the Beautiful People by pin fall.
- Stevie Richards defeated Abyss by pin fall.
- Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett by pin fall.
- Fortune defeated EV2 by pin fall in an 8-man elimination tag team match.
- Mr. Anderson & D’Angelo Dinero defeated Jeff Hardy & Kurt Angle by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight’s go home show started off with a huge opening with the Fatal Four, Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff all standing together in the ring.  Abyss then came out and gave a little more insight to “they” and announced that they have plans to reveal themselves on 10/10/10, which of course, is Bound for Glory.  Just when it started getting good, Hardy was seen attacking Abyss as we head went into a commercial break.

Nice little cliffhanger, right?  Makes you want to stick around and see what went down and what will come of this, right?  But we get nothing.  TNA decided to go right into the first match of the night, which had absolutely nothing to do with what just happened in the ring.  Furthermore, the announce team didn’t even give it a passing mention.  That was a horrible, beyond excusable, transition and pretty much killed everything that took place in the first segment.

At the very least, at least 10/10/10 is a lot cooler date than May 19th.

I was happy to see Samoa Joe walk away from Jeff Jarrett last week and not accept his offer to have his back.  I was also happy to see Joe once again walk away from another offer from Jarrett.  You can then imagine my displeasure when Joe finally did come out to Jarrett’s rescue during tonight’s broadcast.

The Jarrett/Hogan/Sting/Nash saga that nobody really cares about isn’t something that Joe should have been brought in to.  At the very least, at least it gives Joe some TV time, but to me it seems like punishment for his outburst in the production truck.  If this works out for the best for Joe, I guess I can live with it, but I have my doubts.

I was happy to see that TNA didn’t save the motorcycle woman’s unmasking for a live pay-per-view event as I believe that everyone and their mothers knew it was Tara hiding under the mask.  I just hope they have a logical explanation for why Tara is teaming up with Madison as she was the one that forced Tara out of TNA in the first place.

Rob Van Dam will speak next week on Impact, but in case you blinked you might have missed it.  You would think that something of this nature, you know, the former World Champion who was stripped of the title due to a brutal assault and hasn’t been on TV since, would get more than a graphic and a passing mention.  TNA really needs to learn when to hype things up and make them seem more special.

At any rate, No Surrender takes place this Sunday and I will return this weekend for my preview and predictions.

TNA, and professional wrestling in general, has had it’s share of memorable feuds.  Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes.  The Rock n’ Roll Express vs. the Midnight Express.  The Freebirds vs. the Von Erichs.  Now a new feud is on the horizon, and will take place over the course of a week on daytime syndication, as TNA is about to take over the Family Feud.

Yes, the classic TV game show is scheduled to tape five episodes with TNA stars going head-to-head with TNA Knockouts.  Tapings of the game show, which also take place at Universal Studios Orlando, will take place on September 4th, one day prior to No Surrender.  The names of who will all take part on the show have not been revealed.

The dates these programs are scheduled to air also have not been released, but one would think that TNA would promote the shows when the time is near.  I haven’t watched the show in several years, possibly over a decade, but I will make sure to tune in when these shows are on as long as I know about them ahead of time.  In the very least, it is good advertising for their promotion and will help get their name out to casual viewers.

Dixie Carter sent out a message on Twitter today about signing a talent that people have been asking about.  While she didn’t reveal who that person was, it does make the mind start to wonder as to who that person could possibly be.

The first name that immediately came to mind was Shelton Benjamin.  He is one of the few free agents out there that I would love to see in TNA as I think he was horribly misused in his time with WWE and could use a fresh start.  I know he has been spending time on the independent circuit as of late and is set to tag up with his former tag team partner, Charlie Haas, in an upcoming ROH event, so it might be a long shot if he is the one Dixie Carter is talking about.  I’d still welcome him into TNA with open arms and would love to see him there someday.

Mickie James is the second name that popped in my head when I starting thinking of potential wrestlers that would sign with TNA.  James had a lackluster end to her time in WWE and became the butt of several fat jokes at the expense of LayCool, although her talent outshines both of them in the ring.  Shortly after being released, Dixie Carter posted a note to Twitter saying she went and saw James perform her country music act in Nashville, TN.  James would be a great addition to the Knockouts division and has some history with TNA as she performed as Alexis Laree back in 2003.

Since I have former TNA wrestlers on my mind, could Christopher Daniels or Petey Williams be the person she is talking about?  In my mind, neither Daniels nor Williams should have ever been let go in the first place.  Daniels was released this past March, shortly after putting on a series of great main event matches with the likes of AJ Styles and Samoa Joe.  Williams, on the other hand, lost an “Off the Bandwagon” challenge match against Beer Money and was forced to leave TNA.  Both would be a sight for sore eyes once again in TNA.

Finally, a few hours after Carter’s tweet, D’Angelo Dinero posted a message to Twitter that mentioned the new signing and ended it with Carlito-esque statement “Now that… that’s cool!”  Could Carlito Colon be on his way to TNA?  Dinero followed up an hour later and said he didn’t mean anything with his previous statement and said that he didn’t know who it is and it was purely coincidental.  The cat may be out of the bag, though, or should I say the apple may be out of the bag?

I don’t know if the signing of Carlito would warrant the extra attention that this Twitter message is probably giving it, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Carlito in TNA.  I enjoyed Carlito for the most part during his run in WWE, but, like Shelton Benjamin, he was horribly misused.  He doesn’t have the technical skills of anyone else I mentioned, but he does have charisma and can be entertaining on the microphone.

Of course, I could be wrong on all of my guesses and it could be someone like Scott “Flash” Norton or the Ultimate Warrior.  Guess I’ll just have to wait and see like everyone else.

The brawl that ended Impact continues on ReAction.  The brawl begins to calm down a bit until Fortune and EV2 go back at it as the four tournament contenders stand in the ring, while the announce team go on a profanity tirade about Fortune and their actions.

A video package highlighting tonight’s ReAction show is aired as we head into the ReAction intro.  Tommy Dreamer is then seen looking for AJ Styles around in the back as we head into a commercial break.

A package highlighting the TNA World Championship situation is aired as we hear from Kurt Angle, who says a vacated title creates controversy but it had to happen and TNA went the right way with holding the tournament.  Angle then talks about Jeff Hardy and how he is only as good as his competitor.  As for Mr. Anderson, Angle says he doesn’t trust him or what he says.  Angle then continues with D’Angelo Dinero and says that he will be the future of TNA and believes he will be a champion sooner or later.

Rhino is with the docu-cam and says he has known Tommy Dreamer for years and that if he says he is going to kick AJ Styles’ ass, then he will kick AJ Styles’ ass.  He says that he doesn’t want to miss it and he feels the camera crew won’t want to miss it either.

Tommy Dreamer is continuing on his quest to find AJ Styles as we head into the next video package that focuses on the tension between Fortune and EV2.

Douglas Williams says he has dealt with a bunch of high flying morons and now he has to deal with a bunch of bingo hall backyard garbage fighters and calls them a joke.  Williams says he tries to bring an art form back to wrestling but EV2 brings that down.  The video focuses on Sabu and Williams going at it during Impact.  Williams calls Sabu the forerunner of what the X Division is today and says that style of wrestling does not work against him.

Abyss is seen talking about how “their” plan is going smoothly and how he plans to continue paving the way for them by destroying Rhino, Tommy Dreamer, Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam.  Rhino still wonders who “they” may be and if it is Fortune as they clam to be.  Rhino continues by saying that EV2 was supposed to have their night to say their goodbyes but people started to become assholes about it.  Williams sees it another way and thinks that they didn’t need to come out again after the show.

The FBI talks about losing to Beer Money and says that they will not be used as stepping stones and they will get back at Beer Money at another time.  Beer Money, on the other hand, thinks that everyone can take a back seat to Fortune and how they took out a couple of boys in the ring tonight.  Williams finally concludes the package by saying wrestling is a sport and there are rules and Tommy Dreamer needs to learn to abide by the rules.

Stevie Richards talks about AJ Styles and how Tommy Dreamer will take him out once he gets his hands on him.  Richards then warns Fortune that they will get their revenge after receiving the worst beating that any of them has ever gotten, Richards especially sends this warning to Styles.

Eric Bischoff talks about the World Championship tournament and how the four will compete in a tag team match just three days before No Surrender.  Bischoff says it is controversial but overcoming obstacles and adversity is what becoming a champion is all about.

Mr. Anderson says he came to TNA to win championships and that is what he will do.  D’Angelo Dinero says he doesn’t understand why the four are in a match together next week but thinks it can jeopardize his chances at winning TNA gold for the first time.  Jeff Hardy says he is upset over it but he will walk through it and keep on.  Hulk Hogan talks about putting all four in this match to put them through a test to see who the champion should be.

Angelina Love and Velvet Sky talks about Madison Rayne and her motorcycle bodyguard and say what happened tonight is only the beginning of what the two will do to them.  Madison Rayne admits that the Beautiful People got the better of them this week but they will get their revenge.  Velvet also issues a warning to wannabes (ahem… LayCool) saying that they will never be as good as the Beautiful People.

Generation Me are this week’s Impact Players of the Week as we are treated to some highlights of their great match against the Motorcity Machine Guns.  The two say they look up to the Guns and says it was an honor to be in the ring with them.  The two talk about being drug free and that they are there to put a positive spin on professional wrestling.  Footage of their past in the independent scene is aired and how they always knew they wanted to get into wrestling and now they are living a dream.

Footage from Xplosion is aired where Desmond Wolfe and Magnus defeated Ink Inc. to become the number one contenders to the tag team titles.  Wolfe says the Motorcity Machine Guns are a great team but they better be ready for them.

Hulk Hogan says that RVD got wiped out and they need to find a champion that can carry the company and is deserving of the title.  Angle says that the match on Impact is critical and he will need to step up and study his competition.

Jeff Jarrett talks about Samoa Joe and asking him to stand by his side but Samoa Joe says he wants nothing to with the King of the Mountain.  Joe says that he says Jarrett talked about people being selfish but the first three years he was around, Jarrett was a tyrant.  Jarrett, on the other hand, feels that he has done a lot for the young guys, including Joe, who he picked out from the independent scene.  Joe says he doesn’t care if they are from Fortune, EV2, Hogan, or anyone, people who stand in his way will be hurt.

Next week Fortune will go up against EV2 in an 8-man tag team match where Mick Foley says he and Ric Flair are not natural enemies but if they are forced into a situation there will be a confrontation.  Fortune is then seen leaving the dressing room but AJ Styles sticks behind as he gets a phone call.  Tommy Dreamer then sneaks into the room and begins beating him down as ReAction comes to a close.

A video package highlighting the formation of Fortune and the recent statements they have made in TNA and with EV2.  When then see Eric Bischoff pleading with Dixie Carter in the back telling her not to go out to the ring.  She says she it is a thing she must do and heads up the tunnel.

Dixie Carter comes down to the ring with a microphone and talks about her time being president of TNA.  She talks about how they became a family throughout all of their hard times and she isn’t going to allow anyone to hurt the company.  She then calls out Ric Flair as she has something to say to him.

Ric Flair’s music hits as the Nature Boy comes down to the ring and begins to lay on his charm on Dixie trying to get her back to his hotel room.  Carter isn’t biting, though, and tells Flair that he has failed in his mentoring of the young talent in TNA.  Carter calls his recent actions pathetic and then suspends Flair for 90 days without pay.  Flair then questions if Fortune is also being suspended as he and Fortune are one in the same.

On cue, Fortune walks down the ramp in suits with their titles slung over their shoulders.  Flair says Fortune is TNA and they are the best thing going in the business today.  Carter then reminds Flair that they were all in TNA before Flair came along and they will continue to do great things while Flair is on the sidelines.

That statement ticks Flair off as a man runs into the ring but is quickly taken down by the rest of Fortune.  Flair mentions that it is Carter’s husband and orders Fortune to beat him down as Hulk Hogan’s music hits.  Hogan, Kurt Angle, D’Angelo Dinero, Mr. Angle and Jeff Hardy all come down towards the ring to put a stop to the melee.

Hogan enters the ring and says that when he signed on with TNA he and Dixie had 50/50 control of the company.  He says he is going to override what she just said and not suspend Flair as that would be too easy.  Hogan then points to the four behind him and say that they are TNA, but Flair butts in and says Fortune is TNA.

Flair says that “they” are here now and that they are going to take over TNA but it will be on his terms when he is ready.  Hogan then says that Beer Money is already in a match but says his other four will take on his four tonight.  Fortune then leaves the ring as EV2 comes out and attacks them on the entrance ramp as we head into a commercial break.

The docu-cam is with Angle, Pope, Anderson and Hardy and Angle says the TNA World Championship is the most important thing for the four of them in TNA, however, it’s not about that tonight, and it’s about TNA.  Angle says the four of them will fight for TNA.

Match 1: Orlando Jordan vs. Samoa Joe
OJ comes with a necklace that has a Samoa Joe action figure on it before he begins to rub himself all over SoCal Val.  Joe then comes down to the ring and begins to pound on Jordan with a series of strikes but Jordan is able to fight his way back into the match and takes Joe down with a series of punches and a shoulder block.  OJ then gets distracted for a moment and licks Joe’s action figure that sets Joe off and he goes on the offensive.  Joe hits a t-bone suplex before hitting a muscle buster for the pin fall.

As Joe is still in the ring, Jeff Jarrett’s music hits as he comes down to the ring and asks for a microphone.  Jarrett tells Joe that it has been five years since Joe joined TNA and that he has come a long way since then.  Jarrett says that he feels he helped out a lot of young guys in TNA and wants him to be in his corner during his match against Kevin Nash.

Jarrett says both Nash and Sting are trying to tear down what he and the other young guys built up.  Jarrett says they are both in it for greed and selfish reasons and promises to take out Nash if he will help out with Sting.  Joe says he doesn’t choose sides because he doesn’t have to and he only plays for one team, and that is his own, before walking away.  Nash’s music then hits as their match is up next.

Match 2: Jeff Jarrett vs. Kevin Nash
Nash comes down to the ring and pulls Jarrett out of the ring and into the guard railing.  Nash then tosses Jarrett into the steps before finally rolling him into the ring. Nash continues on the attack by methodically picking Jarrett apart before trying to bring a chair into play but the referee takes it from him.  While the refs back is turned, Nash tears off a turnbuckle pad but Jarrett is able to throw Nash into it.

Jarrett finally gets into the match for a moment but Nash is able to take Jarrett down with a chokeslam.  Nash covers Jarrett but he is able to kick out at the last second.  Nash then tries for a clothesline but Jarrett ducks out of the way and puts Nash in a sleeper hold.  Nash, though, is able to crush both Jarrett and the ref into the exposed turnbuckle to break the hold.  Jarrett then rams Nash’s forehead into the turnbuckle and hits the Stroke but the referee is still out.

Sting, wearing red and black face paint, comes down to the ring and nails Jarrett with a baseball bat.  Sting then leaves the ring as Nash rolls over and covers Jarrett and the referee makes the slow count for the pin fall.  Sting then comes into the ring and pulls Jarrett up to his feet as Hogan’s music hits but Eric Bischoff comes out of the tunnel.

Bischoff asks Sting if he wants to show how far he has fallen by doing this to Jarrett.  Sting yells out that he wants Hogan and Bischoff says he is a little busy at the moment but he should be careful for what he wishes for.  Hogan then sneaks into the ring from behind and nails Sting with a chair and chases Nash out of the ring.  Hogan then checks on Jarrett as we head into a commercial break.

The docu-cam is with Hulk Hogan and Tommy Dreamer and Hogan says they are on the same team and asks EV2 to back off for one night as his Fatal Four will handle it.  Hogan then asks Dreamer to put Abyss on the shelf and Dreamer promises to take him out.

Match 3: Beer Money vs. the FBI
Beer Money goes right on the attack as Mike Tenay mentions that TNA has made it official that if any member of EV2 or Fortune interfere in the match, their contracts will be voided.  Robert Roode beats down Little Guido for a while before he is able to crawl to his corner and tag in Tony Luke.  Luke doesn’t last long before being hit with the DWI for the pin fall.

Little Guido tries to get some revenge after the match but Storm busts a bottle over his head.  Storm then nails Luke with a superkick before digging a shard of glass into Guido’s forehead.  Beer Money then poses with some Fortune finger poses and the announce team talks about their dominance and hype tonight’s huge main event.

EV2 is in the back as Tommy Dreamer is trying to motivate his team for what has happened to FBI.  Dreamer says he made a deal with Hogan and asks who wants to get Abyss’ head.  Stevie Richards steps up and says he will do it for RVD and for EV2.

The Beautiful People’s music hits as the reunited Angelina Love and Velvet Sky come down to the ring.  Angelina gets on the microphone and says that she has learned from her mistakes and that something was missing after her and Velvet parted ways.  Angelina then asks that her and Velvet should forgive and forget and move on with their lives.

Velvet says there is no sense in rehashing the past and she is willing to let bygones be bygones so they can pick up where they left off and continue dominating the Knockouts Division.  The two then hug in the ring as their music hits once again and Madison Rayne comes out to the ring with her motorcycle woman.

The two get in the ring and tells the two that they will never come out to the ring with her music or refer to themselves as the Beautiful People ever again.  Madison then runs down both Angelina and Velvet which causes Velvet to take Madison down as all four get into it.  Security then comes in to break up the fight.

The docu-cam is in the locker room with the Motorcity Machine Guns and are talking about the tag team that are gunning for them.  They then say they are going to relax a bit before their match and play some Rock Band as they break into Basketcase by Green Day.

Footage of Desmond Wolfe, Chelsea and Magnus walking around a shopping mall is aired.  They talked about dressing well as Chelsea somehow walks off with Magnus’ no limit credit card.

Match 4: Generation Me vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns
The match starts off with Chris Sabin and Jeremy Buck going back and forth for a moment until Jeremy gets the upper hand and GenMe hits a double team move on Sabin for a quick pin attempt but it is broken up by Alex Shelley.  The Guns then hits a series of double team moves on Max Buck to gain the advantage.  The champs then use quick tags and cut off the ring to work over Max while picking up some near falls.

Max is able to finally roll over to his corner and tags in his brother who flies into the ring and takes the Guns out.  Jeremy then drives Sabin’s head into the canvas after flying over the ropes but Sabin is able to kick out of a pin attempt.  Max then catapults Jeremy onto the top rope who does a moonsault out and onto the Guns.

Sabin is then rolled into the ring and Jeremy hits a splash and Max hits a standing moonsault at the same time but Sabin is able to kick out of the pin attempt.  Sabin is finally able to counter GenMe’s attack and holds Jeremy as Max hits him with a 450.  The Guns then take control as the take out Jeremy with the Skull and Crossbones for the pin fall.  After the match, the two teams then shake hands and show each other respect as the announce team hypes tonight’s main event.

The docu-cam catches Ric Flair going off in the back and says that he is the man and they are TNA.  Sting and Kevin Nash sneak in from behind and Sting chokes Flair out with the baseball bat and tells him that once they take out the big problem in TNA they are coming for him.

A strange techno video package is aired that says Shore is coming soon.  The announce team then hypes No Surrender and runs down the card.  They are then told there is a commotion in the back as we see Stevie Richards attacking Abyss in the parking lot.  Abyss fights back, though, and takes Richards out before grabbing Janice and swinging it at him but Richards gets out of the way.  Abyss continues to beat down Richards and tells him to tell EV2 that the same thing will happen to then that happened to RVD.

After a commercial break, Rhino comes into the ring and calls out Abyss.  Abyss makes his way into the building with Janice over his shoulder as Rhino meets him in the ringside area and begins beating him down.  Rhino then sets up for the Gore but Abyss is able to counter with a boot to the face.  The two then fight in the crowd as Rhino hits the Gore near the Spanish announce table.

The docu-cam is with Fortune and AJ Styles is there talking about building TNA from the bottom up and says he gave Dixie Carter an opportunity and he made her.  He goes on to say that he will tear down what he made if he has to.

Match 5: Fortune vs. Mr. Anderson/D’Angelo Dinero/Jeff Hardy/Kurt Angle
The match starts with both sides going back and forth until Fortune is able to isolate the Pope in their corner and wear him down.  Matt Morgan then allows the Pope to tag in Jeff Hardy and Hardy is able to land a series of offense in the corner but a distraction by Fortune allows Morgan to regain control after laying Hardy out with a hard clothesline.  Fortune then begins wearing down Hardy, even with the help of Ric Flair, and pick up a couple of near falls.

Hardy then begins to mount some offense on Douglas Williams before finally tagging Kurt Angle into the match.  Angle comes in and takes out Kazarian and Styles and locks Kazarian in the ankle lock as Styles comes in and breaks it up.  The match then breaks down with all eight landing huge moves in the middle of the ring.  Angle then hits the Angle Slam on Kazarian as the Pope tags himself in and picks up the pin fall.  Angle isn’t happy about it and the two get into a shoving match as Fortune comes in and picks up the pieces.

Beer Money comes down to help their group out as a table is set up outside of the ring.  Tommy Dreamer, Sabu and Mick Foley come out to help even the sides and they go after Fortune.  Sabu uses a chair and takes out Williams on a table as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Samoa Joe defeated Orlando Jordan by pin fall.
- Kevin Nash defeated Jeff Jarrett by pin fall.
- Beer Money defeated the FBI by pin fall.
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Generation Me by pin fall.
- Mr. Anderson/D’Angelo Dinero/Jeff Hardy/Kurt Angle defeated Fortune by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
I don’t know about you, but I was glad to see more and more of Fortune tonight and less and less of EV2.  I will admit that EV2 helped pop the ratings a bit a few weeks ago but their time has passed and TNA is back to doing what they need to be doing, focusing on the younger talent.  Have they done it in the best way, probably not, but is moving in the right direction.

For starters, I am really digging Fortune as a group but still feel that they are on the losing end way too much.  Sure, Beer Money dominated the FBI in their tag team match, and should have, but the main event was done horribly in my opinion and should have gone the other way.

For starters, Fortune is a solidified group that have a common goal, and that is to take over TNA – or tear apart TNA as AJ Styles put it.  Yes, the Fatal Four, or whatever it was that Hulk Hogan called them, are huge names in the business but they all have their sights set on the TNA World Championship.  At the very least they should have lost the match as a result of some tension between the four.  Having Fortune win the match but still have the post match brawl happen would have done wonders for the new group.

It wasn’t all about the young stars, though, as Hogan, Jeff Jarrett, Sting and Kevin Nash continued on with their pointless feud.  I really hated Jarrett asking Samoa Joe to look after his back before his match and I was very happy to see, or actually not to see, Joe take any part in it.  I can only hope that this angle ends quickly without bringing any young stars into it.

It seems that most fans outside of Orlando think that the typical fan inside of the Impact Zone is a bit jaded for the most part, but I have to give them credit for almost being deathly quiet during the Jarrett/Nash match tonight.  Even for Orlando, that was a very telling sign.  We can only hope this feud ends quickly and quietly… no pun intended.

At any rate, it was great to see Samoa Joe back and he doesn’t totally seem to be in the doghouse after his little blow up a few weeks ago.  I wish he would have squashed Orlando Jordan, but a win is a win at least.

There wasn’t too many great matches tonight, with Joe and Beer Money picking up easy wins and the Jarrett/Nash snoozefest, but the Motorcity Machine Guns and Generation Me put on one hell of a match.  Can I please see another Best of Five series for the TNA Tag Team Championship between these two teams?  The two are so similar that it is a lot of fun to watch them go at it in the ring.  The Guns are extremely hot right now and I am glad to see them get their due.

One thing that I have always disliked about professional wrestling is its tendency to have selective memories of the past.  It wasn’t too long ago that Abyss was going up against his therapist and bitter enemy Dr. Stevie.  Now the doctor is known once again as Stevie Richards yet none of their history was brought up during the altercation tonight.  Small aspects such as that really seem to bother me.

Oh well, selective history or not, it is great to see the original Beautiful People back together again.

The camera follows Abyss to the back and says to himself that he took out RVD and Tommy Dreamer for them.  Abyss says Jeff Hardy will be next as Hardy flies into the picture and the two get into yet another brawl.  The fight goes out to the parking lot and Abyss screams at Hardy and tells him that “they” are coming and are going to take over.

Abyss says he is next on the list and goes after Hardy with a chair but Hardy is able to defend himself and nails Abyss with the chair.  Hardy then smashes a board over Abyss multiple times before placing a ladder on the side of the production truck.  Hardy then climbs up and is about to dive off the truck but he is held back by Gunner and Murphy.  Abyss then promises that Hardy will be next and he will be next to RVD in the hospital.

We then preview tonight’s ReAction show that will feature thoughts from the four competitors in the TNA World Title Tournament, Madison Rayne and her hired muscle, EV2 getting contracts and we’ll hear from Mick Foley and his thoughts on Fortune.

A video package on the TNA World Championship is aired and how the title picture was turned upside down after RVD was taken out last week.  Footage of the four tournament matches are aired with Mr. Anderson saying that they are in the business to hurt people but Abyss took it too far last week.  Anderson says that nobody wants to win the title after what happened, but RVD knew what he was getting in to when he stepped in the ring.

Dinero and Angle also give their thoughts on participating in the tournament with the Pope saying he was close to winning the title once before and has an opportunity to get back to the top once again.  Angle says that he wanted to go through the top 10 but it has been thrown to the side because of RVD’s injury.  Angle said he wanted to do something different and special but he will readjust and promises to be in the finals.

The focus is turned to Fortune and last week’s beat down of EV2.  Brother Ray says Fortune took advantage of a situation and said he would have done the same thing if the opportunity presented itself.  Raven says the beat down last week was embarrassing and humiliating but they will even the score sooner or later.

Tommy Dreamer says hardcore wrestling is more than tables and chairs, it is all about giving it their all and entertaining the fans.  Brother Ray also says that EV2 was supposed to be a one night thing and it shouldn’t have been taken personal as it was something that the fans and Dixie Carter wanted.  Brother Devon chimes in and says when one of their own is attacked, the rest will gather up and get their revenge.

Dreamer then talks about getting TNA contracts but not in the most conventional way as they only got them as one of the buddies was taken out.  Raven says that they weren’t there to hijack the show, but since they were attacked they now will.  Dreamer says that Ric Flair may be the dirtiest player in the game, but they are the filthiest.

A video package then questions if Abyss has ties with Fortune and if they are calling the shots.  Kazarian is stopped in the back and says that Abyss has nothing to do with Fortune and walks away.  AJ Styles, on the other hand, says people will find out sooner or later and that’s what drama is all about.

Magnus is the Impact Player of the Week and is called the new breed of professional wrestler who is ready to take over TNA.  The video focuses on his start in pro wrestling at the age of 16 but Magnus still considers himself a rookie at the age of 23.  Magnus also talks about his time on the television show Gladiators and how he defeated Matt Morgan in his TNA debut at a house show in Glasgow, Scotland.

Magnus then says wrestling Kurt Angle in a singles match would be something he would love to do.  Magnus then talks about his time with the British Invasion and their reign at the top before their amicable split.  He then says he and Desmond Wolfe gravitated towards each other and decided to become a tag team since there is a natural connection with them both being from the UK.  Magnus then puts over TNA and being the Impact Player of the Week.

The camera is with Mick Foley who talks about his relationship with Ric Flair and how Flair was the force behind getting a try out with the NWA and respects him for it but there was some animosity between them for words that he had written about Flair in his first book.  Foley says they don’t have a friendship but have a delicate truce.

Madison Rayne is with the cameras and says that Angelina Love cheated to win the title last week and says that she will get her belt back in a pre-match interview.  Footage of the match is then aired with Madison talking about being thrown off after seeing her former partner come down to the ring.  Angelina talks about says she doesn’t care how Madison felt about it.

Madison talks about being pissed at first but realized that she isn’t there to make friends but she is there to make money and to win titles.  Angelina then says she doesn’t care who Madison has as her bodyguard and the voiceover guy tells us that we will get answers next week.

An Impact preview is aired that wonders what will happen when Fortune and EV2 come face to face.  EV2 and Fortune gives their thoughts on each other with Devon saying their mistake was that they didn’t take them out.  AJ Styles talks TNA isn’t backyard and they are professionals and nobody is going to come in and take away what he built.  Also, the Motorcity Machine Guns will also take on Generation Me and Samoa Joe will make his return to Impact.

Mr. Anderson, D’Angelo Dinero and Kurt Angle all give their thoughts on the upcoming tournament and Angle promises that he will still retire if he loses a match during this tournament.  Anderson meets up with Angle and tells him that he respects Angle because he continues to bust his ass when he has done it all in the wrestling business.  The two then shake hands as Anderson leaves and ReAction comes to a close.

Starman’s Thoughts
Another solid showing of ReAction this week, although it didn’t quite seem to have nearly as much energy as it did last Thursday.  This, of course, is due to the fact that it didn’t follow a hot angle like the beat down that took place last week, but it still served a purpose and helped further the storylines and put over some of the wrestlers.

I really dig the Impact Player of the Week and I think it did a good job giving a little background to Brutus Magnus this week.  Magnus has been around for a while now but aside from the fact that he was from the UK, nothing much has been said about him or his character.  I believe I learned more about him in five minutes tonight than I have in almost two years.  He still has ways to go, but this at least gives him some time in front of the camera.

One other thing I liked about ReAction is that it is used to set up next week’s Impact.  We got a preview of next week’s show, but I do hope that TNA doesn’t depend on using ReAction to solely do this.  For example, on Impact we saw that the Motorcity Machine Guns would be wrestling next week.  On ReAction, we saw that they would be going up against Generation Me.  This could have been said on Impact but wasn’t, nor was the fact that Samoa Joe would be making his return to Impact.  Things such as this would be better suited for Impact and reiterated on ReAction.

Aside from that, ReAction was a solid show yet again and I am really enjoying this style of broadcast.  It is a nice diversion from the standard weekly wrestling show.

Impact immediately opens with footage from 30 minutes prior to the show starting where Jeff Hardy is attacking Abyss in the back.  Abyss is able to turn the fight into his favor and brings Hardy into a nearly empty Impact Zone.  They make their way towards the ring and Abyss sends Hardy into the steps and the guard railing.  The two then brawl to the other side of the Impact Zone and out into the parking lot where the fans are still making their way in.  Security, in the form of Gunner and Murphy, come out and hold back Hardy as we head to a live shot of Eric Bischoff walking towards the ring.

Bischoff says he has never seen anything as horrific as he saw last week with the attack on EV2.  Bischoff puts the blame solely on Ric Flair and personally apologizes to Dixie Carter and tells her that Flair will be held accountable.  As for Abyss, what he did to RVD was borderline homicidal and he has no idea what is coming to him from Hogan and Bischoff.

As for RVD, his condition is worse than they thought and has 117 stitches and may have severe head trauma.  Bischoff then says when RVD can return, he will be welcome in TNA with open arms.  The show must go on, though, and they have decided to vacate the TNA World Championship.  As a result, a single elimination tournament will take place and will end at Bound for Glory.  The top eight contenders will participate in the tournament and it will all start tonight.

Match 1: Rob Terry vs. Jeff Hardy (TNA World Title Tournament)
Hardy looks to be moving a little gingerly around the ring and is wrestling in blue jeans and a tank top.  Hardy goes right on the attack but Terry is able to take Hardy down with a chokeslam.  Hardy is able to get back into the match and score a couple of near falls but he cannot keep Terry down.  Terry tries for a comeback but Hardy hits the Twist of Fate and then a Swanton Bomb for the pin fall.

Fortune is seen arriving to the Impact Zone as Ric Flair, Matt Morgan, AJ Styles, Beer Money, Kazarian and Douglas Williams all get out of a stretch Hummer and we head into a commercial break.

A video recap highlights the beat down of EV2 last week from the hands of Fortune.  The footage from ReAction with Dixie Carter telling Tommy Dreamer to get the guys to Impact next week to make things right.

The docu-cam sneaks up on Hulk Hogan talking on a cell phone and he says that he is thinking of quitting after what happened last week.  Hogan says he spent months building TNA around RVD and no he is out and is irreplaceable.

Match 2: Jay Lethal vs. Mr. Anderson (TNA World Title Tournament)
Lethal and Anderson share a fist bump before they lock up to show a sign of respect to each other.  The two go back and forth with counter after counter and neither of them get the upper hand.  Anderson finally gains control of the match and picks up a few near falls until Lethal finally lands a back elbow.  Lethal then misses with a missile dropkick and Anderson comes back with the Mic Check for the pin fall.  After the match, Anderson picks up Lethal and shakes his hand before celebrating his victory.

Christy is with Angelina Love and says that Madison Rayne has cashed in on her rematch tonight.  Angelina says she isn’t scared of her or her little body guard but will not give up her title without a fight.  Angelina says she will also have backup of her own tonight.

The Motorcity Machine Guns footage from last week’s ReAction is aired.  We are then told that the Machine Guns will be in action next week on Impact.

Match 3: Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love (TNA Knockouts Championship)
Madison comes out on a motorcycle with the masked motorcycle woman.  Angelina, on the other hand, comes out with Velvet Sky.  The four then go at it around the ringside area and Madison rolls Angelina into the ring to get this match started.  Madison works over Angelina for a few moments until Angelina fights her way into the match.  Velvet then distracts Madison and Angelina hits Madison with a superkick to pick up the pin fall and retains her championship.  Velvet Sky then enters the ring and raises Angelina hand as they are attacked from behind by Madison and the motorcycle woman before they leave the ring.

Fortune is seen walking in the back as Mike Tenay wonders if there will be ramifications for their attack on EV2 last week.

Footage of Hardcore Justice is aired as well as the beat down EV2 got last week at the hands of Fortune and Abyss.  Fortune is seen standing in the ring and Ric Flair introduces his faction, which now includes Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan.  Flair then says that the circus act called EV2 makes him sick and they don’t belong in the business.  Flair says they are wrestlers and EV2 can kiss his ass.

AJ Styles steps in and says that they gave them a hardcore finale just as they wanted.  Styles says he is TNA and calls the Impact Zone the house that AJ Styles built.  He is then cut off by Dixie Carter who says she owns the house and brings out EV2 with her.  Dixie then says that none of the EV2 guys had contracts until tonight.  Dreamer then steps in and says they will get their revenge on Abyss and continues by challenging Styles to a hardcore match later tonight.

The docu-cam is with Kurt Angle who says he has a match against Douglas Williams tonight and says that he is only three wins away from winning the TNA World Championship.

Match 4: Douglas Williams vs. Kurt Angle (TNA World Title Tournament)
Williams gains early control of the match before tossing Angle out to the floor.  Williams then continues on the attack and goes for a pin fall but Angle is able to put his foot on the rope.  Williams then locks Angle in a submission hold but he is able to fight his way out of it and turns on the offense.  Angle picks up near fall after hitting a belly-to-belly suplex.  Angle then hits a series of German suplexes and picks up a near fall but Williams kicks out.  Angle then goes for an Angle Slam but Williams counters and tries for the Chaos Theory but Angle counters with the ankle lock to make Williams tap out.

Sting and Kevin Nash are seen walking in the back and Sting is back in his black and white face paint.  Mike Tenay says we will hear from the two up next.

The docu-cam is with Mr. Anderson who says he is in the final four but hates that it is due to what happened to RVD.  Anderson says, though, that the show must go on.

Sting’s music hits as he comes down to the ring with Kevin Nash.  Nash gets on the microphone and says he has a past with Sting but doesn’t respect any man more than him.  Nash continues to say that he is still in this business because he loves it and will not step aside just because he was asked to.  Jeff Jarrett then cuts Nash off and tells Nash that he will never change and it will always be about himself.

Jarrett continues on and says there is a locker room full of guys that are sick of what they are doing and says TNA is better off since Hogan and Bischoff came on board.  Jarrett then goes on and says he is going to beat both of their asses in the ring as Hogan’s voice is heard.  Hogan says Jarrett will not be going down to the ring by himself and says that everyone knows what Nash and Sting are all about.

Hogan and Jarrett begin walking towards the ring but the lights turn off as they get in the ring.  When the lights come back on we see Fortune in the ring and are taking everyone out.  Fortune then stand united in the ring and pose with some hand gestures as we head into a commercial break.

The docu-cam is with the EV2 guys and Tommy Dreamer wants Raven to see the bigger picture.  Raven wants to attack Fortune now but Dreamer wants to do it right as Dixie Carter was nice enough to give them contracts.  Raven finally agrees as he says they will make mistakes eventually.

Match 5: Matt Morgan vs. D’Angelo Dinero (TNA World Title Tournament)
Dinero starts out by taking Morgan down with a series of strikes in the corner and goes for a cover but Morgan quickly kicks out.  Morgan then comes back with a discus clothesline before hitting the Pope with a series of elbows.  Morgan then powers him down with a chokeslam but decides to talk smack instead of going for the pin.  The match heads out to the floor and Morgan tries to kick Pope’s head against the ring post but the Pope ducks out of the way and Morgan crotches himself on the ring post.  Dinero then rolls Morgan in and picks up the pin fall for the win.

We then see a graphic with the tournament brackets displayed as Jeff Hardy will face off against Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson will take on D’Angelo Dinero in the semi-finals.  The final four will take place at No Surrender.  AJ Styles and Tommy Dreamer are then shown walking towards the ring as the main event is up next.

Mick Foley is with the docu-cam and says he didn’t see what happened last week to EV2 since was taken out with one shot.  Foley says he is part of EV2 and there will be vengeance even though doctors say he isn’t ready to fight just yet.  Foley does say that he is willing to follow Tommy Dreamer every step of the way.

Match 6: AJ Styles vs. Tommy Dreamer
Styles and Dreamer go back and forth in the early moments and Dreamer is able to backdrop Styles over the top rope and onto the floor.  Dreamer follows him out there and continues beating him down before rolling Styles back into the ring.  Dreamer is able to pick up a pin attempt after a running slam and another after a pump handle slam but Styles is able to get his foot on the rope.

Styles begins to mount a comeback and opens up a wound on Dreamer’s forehead.  Styles then puts Dreamer in a headlock but Dreamer fights out of it with a backdrop.  Styles then comes back with a Pele kick and tries for a flying forearm but Dreamer is able to counter and takes Styles out with a DDT.  As Dreamer is crawling over to make a cover, Fortune begins making their way to the ring.  EV2, though, meets them on the ramp and begins taking them out.

As Earl Hebner has his hands full with all of the action in the entrance ramp, Abyss comes out from under the ring and takes Dreamer out with a Black Hole Slam.  Styles then covers Dreamer to pick up the pin fall.  Abyss is then seen walking through the crowd as EV2 and Fortune continue to battle in the ringside area.  Security tries to break things up as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Jeff Hardy defeated Rob Terry by pin fall to advance in the TNA World Title Tournament.
- Mr. Anderson defeated Jay Lethal by pin fall to advance in the TNA World Title Tournament.
- Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne by pin fall to retain the TNA Knockouts Championship.
- Kurt Angle defeated Douglas Williams by submission to advance in the TNA World Title Tournament.
- D’Angelo Dinero defeated Matt Morgan by pin fall to advance in the TNA World Title Tournament.
- AJ Styles defeated Tommy Dreamer by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
After the brutal beat down that ended last week’s show, Rob Van Dam has been stripped of the title due to the fact that he will be off of television for a while.  Eric Bischoff then announced an 8-man tournament to crown a new champion, with the four qualifying matches taking place on tonight’s show.

There really wasn’t any surprises as to the four who advanced to the semi-finals, but I did find it odd that all four are fan favorites.  There is not one heel among them.  What was even more odd was the fact that the two members of Fortune who were in the tournament lost their matches.  On an episode that was all about putting them over, these losses seemed out of place, especially considering that Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan are the new members of the group.

Fortune finally did get a win at the end of the show with a little help from Abyss as AJ Styles defeated Tommy Dreamer.  By the way, whatever happened to Styles defending the Television Title each and every week?  I think he has defended just once since making that declaration.

I hope I wasn’t the only one bored tonight during the exchange between Nash/Sting and Jarrett/Hogan.  I was actually expecting to see Jarrett turn on Hogan, or vice versa, and was glad to see the lights go out as I knew what was going to happen at that point.  Even while losing two of the three matches they were in, Fortune did make a name for themselves tonight.

Finally, it was good to see Angelina Love and Velvet Sky back together once again.  These two work great together but I still hope something more is done with the Knockouts Division and soon.  There is only so much the Beautiful People can do with all of their internal feuding before it really starts to grow tiresome.

We have a smooth transition from Impact to ReAction as Fortune continues its beat down of EV2.  A somber Mike Tenay tells us that this must have been what Abyss has been talking about when he talks about “they” and tells us that RVD’s injuries are very serious.

We then head back to see RVD being wheeled into an ambulance as Dixie Carter looks on with concern.  The voiceover guy says emotions are running high tonight and gives us a preview of ReAction that will take a special look at the Motorcity Machine Guns.

The wrestlers then give their thoughts on Abyss and who “they” are.  Kurt Angle thinks there isn’t anyone in particular and thinks that Dixie Carter needs to do something about it.  Mr. Anderson has the same frame of mind and Jeff Hardy cannot believe what Abyss has done to RVD and compares it to a horror movie.  Angle and Anderson also chime in about what happened to RVD and say that it was excessive and unnecessary.

Abyss begins to talk about doing what he set out to do and what they told him to do.  Kevin Costin, one of the trainers, begins to talk about RVD’s injury and says it is one of the worst injuries he has ever seen.

The focus of the show is set on the Fortune as the docu-cam sneaks up on AJ Styles and Kazarian who are talking about Dixie Carter bringing in talent who made their names elsewhere and how they get put ahead of the workhorses of TNA who put TNA on the map.  Kazarian says they have earned their spots and deserved their spots and it is their time.

Brother Devon is tending to wounds in the back and says he doesn’t know what happened at the end of Impact.  Footage of the brutal beat down is aired as we see Tommy Dreamer talking to Dixie Carter.  Dixie demands Dreamer to bring the EV2 guys back next week and says she will make things right.

Footage of the 2-of-3 falls match between the Motorcity Machine Guns and Beer Money is aired.  The Guns are seen in the back talking about being the best tag team in TNA and they are going to prove it to everyone.  They go on to say that they have teamed together for four years and had a slow rise to the top but they are the masters of the art of tag team wrestling.

The Motorcity Machine Guns are the Impact Players of the Week as we are treated to a video package highlight reel of the duo.  The Guns talk about their favorite type of matches, which is a straight up wrestling match, as they like to mix different styles of wrestling into one match.  They also talk about the competition in TNA and welcome challengers with open arms.

The video package then focuses on their history and how they came to win the TNA Tag Team Championship at Victory Road.  Chris Sabin says they are fighting champions and are going to prove that they are the best tag team in TNA.  He then talks about their series with Beer Money and says that they brought out the best in each other.

A video package featuring Angelina Love is aired, who just became the 5-time Knockouts Champion by defeating Madison Rayne.  Angelina talks about her match earlier and what it means to her.  Madison is then shown who says she is going to focus on getting her title back and says that she is the better wrestler than Angelina and has been busting her ass while Angelina was being fired.

Madison then talks about how her body guard threw everyone off during her match.  Velvet is shown who says that Madison cost her the tag team titles and she had it coming back.  Velvet then talks about her past relationship with Angelina and how they brought in Madison, who ended up getting a big head.  Velvet says she made Madison and was happy to see her get what she deserved.

The voiceover guy then tells us that Angelina will defend the Knockouts Championship next week on Impact.  Angelina calls herself a fighting champion and is has a lot to accomplish in TNA.

We get an injury update on RVD as Eric Bischoff is on the phone and says that it is a lot worse than what they first thought.  Bischoff says he hopes to get more information before the end of the show.

A video package that focuses on EV2 is aired and Tommy Dreamer says Hardcore Justice was done to have a curtain call for all of his brothers and way for them to say thank you.  Dreamer puts over AJ Styles and Kazarian but calls them pieces of garbage after what they pulled tonight.  More footage of tonight’s beat down is aired and Dreamer promises to show Fortune what hatred is all about.  Dreamer says the only way for Dixie to make this right is to have an eye for an eye.

A preview for next week’s show is up next as Abyss says he can’t wait to do beat down someone else next week.  The voiceover guy then wonders what is next for the Motorcity Machine Guns and Shelley says that any EV2 guys can assemble and bring it if they feel up to the challenge.  Angelina Love will also defend the Knockouts Championship and the voiceover guy wonders if EV2 has had their last stand or if it is just the beginning.

Kurt Angle talks about EV2 and thinks they are a great idea but they aren’t good for the long run as he’d rather see a group like Fortune succeed.  Hardy says he is willing to side with EV2 and help them out if needed.

The docu-cam catches up with Beer Money who say they are the best tag team in the world and needs to go for the gold to prove it.  Storm adds that he also wants TNA to surivive and wants to take out those who are just here to get a paycheck by any means necessary.

Starman’s Thoughts
At least for tonight, ReAction was a great way to cap off a great episode of Impact.  I enjoyed how there was a seamless transition between the two shows and kept the storyline of what happened at the end of Impact going throughout the entire broadcast.

I didn’t get to catch the pilot for ReAction when it aired back in April, but I do enjoy the style of this show.  On the surface it does seem a lot like a recap show, but it does do a good job in showing new footage of wrestlers giving their opinions and thoughts about the current angles.  It also did a good job of previewing next week’s Impact, which as I have stated before is one thing that is usually lacking.

If used properly, I feel that ReAction could be a great way for TNA to give more depth to their storylines and, more importantly, to the wrestlers themselves.  I’d gladly take an episode of Impact like the one aired tonight and have an hour long of build up and interviews to help bridge the gaps and give meaning to everything, than an episode of Impact that features six or seven rushed matches and lame comedy angles.

TNA has been on a roll tonight and fans can only hope that it continues.

We head right into the Impact Zone where Mike Tenay tells us that the fans will witness an Impact that is unlike any other ever seen.  Tenay hypes the pay-per-view quality matches and promises that Hulk Hogan has a huge surprise.  We then head right into the first match of the night.

Match 1: Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles (Non-title Match)
AJ Styles goes after Kurt Angle before the bell rings and tosses him out to the floor.  The ramp that usually goes up to the ring is gone and Styles is sporting a tattoo on the right side of his body.  On the floor, Angle connects with a belly-to-belly suplex before bringing the fight to the ring.  Angle then hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and goes for a cover but Styles kicks out.

Styles then comes back and sends Angle into the ring post which sends him out to the floor once again and Styles dives over the ropes to take Angle out.  Styles rolls Angle back into the ring and takes Angle out with a picture perfect dropkick but does a little too much showboating and only picks up a one count.  Angle then comes back with a backdrop, which takes them both out for a few seconds.

Angle then recovers and the two trade blows before Angle finally goes for a series of German suplexes but Styles kicks out of the pin attempt.  Styles then turns the tables by poking Angle’s eyes and hits a flying forearm but Angle is able to kick out at the last moment.  Angle counters an attempt at the Styles Clash and Styles counters an Angle Slam with a Pele kick for yet another near fall.

Styles heads to the top rope but Angle is able to get up and Styles drops to the canvas as Angle climbs the ropes and hits Styles with a moonsault.  Angle then puts Styles in an ankle lock but Styles rolls out of it and sends Angle into the corner.  Styles goes for another springboard but Angle knocks Styles off the rope.  Styles is able to comeback, though, and hits Angle with an inverted DDT for yet another near fall.

Styles begins to argue with the referee about his count as Angle recovers and hits Styles with an Angle Slam and picks up a near fall.  Styles is able to get up and distracts the referee as he tries for a mule kick but Angle is able to counter and grabs Styles’ leg and puts him in the ankle lock and makes him tap out.  Kurt Angle then celebrates briefly in the ring as we are told that Angelina Love challenges Madison Rayne for the TNA Knockouts Title, which comes up next.

Match 2: Angelina Love vs. Madison Rayne (TNA Knockouts Championship)
Madison is able to get the upper hand in the early part of the match by slamming Angelina’s head down on the mat.  Madison then follows with a neckbreaker before repeatedly slamming Angelina’s face into the mat.  Madison then picks up a couple of two counts before Angelina begins making a comeback.  Angelina takes Madison down with a couple of clotheslines before taking her off her feet with a big boot.

The motorcycle lady comes to the ringside area and Andrew Thomas begins to yell at her to get out of there as she is then hit from behind with a steel chair by Velvet Sky.  While the ref has his hands full, Madison hits Angelina with the title and picks up a two count as Velvet takes off the motorcycle woman’s helmet but she has a mask over her head.  The mystery woman kicks Velvet away and runs to the back and Angelina hits Madison with the Lights Out and she picks up the pin fall to become the new Knockouts Champion.

Match 3: Mr. Anderson vs. Matt Morgan vs. D’Angelo Dinero
Anderson and Dinero start out working together against Morgan until both of them break up a series of pin attempts by pulling each other off of Morgan.  Morgan then fires back with a double clothesline until he crotches himself on the top rope.  The Pope takes sends Morgan out to the floor with a missile dropkick and Anderson and Pope begin to exchange blows in the middle of the ring.  The Morgan looks on in approval as Anderson hits the Pope with the Mic Check.  As Anderson goes in for the pin attempt, Morgan tosses him out to the floor and steals the pin fall victory.

The announce team hypes Hulk Hogan’s huge announcement which will close out Impact and Taz wonders who will accept Jeff Hardy’s open challenge as we head into a commercial break.

Shannon Moore comes out for Jeff Hardy’s open challenge and says that he wants to prove that he can stand on the same pedestal as Hardy does.  No matter what, though, the two will be leaving as brothers.

Match 4: Jeff Hardy vs. Shannon Moore (Open Challenge)
Hardy and Moore go back and forth and mirror each other at times as this match gets started.  Moore then shows off his quickness and trips up Hardy, which leads to him going through the ropes and hitting the floor.  Moore then dives over the ropes and takes him out before rolling him back into the ring.  Moore then hits a moonsault and picks up a couple of near falls before the fight goes back out to the floor, where Moore sends Hardy down hard into the apron.  Moore then takes Hardy down with a hurricanrana before rolling him back into the ring.

Moore locks Hardy in a headlock and fights his way out of it to finally get the momentum of the match.  Hardy hits Moore with a Whisper in the Wind and picks up a near fall but Moore kicks out.  Hardy then hits a Twist of Fate and heads to the top rope and goes for a Swanton Bomb but Moore lifts up his knees to counter the move.  Moore then sets Hardy up on the turnbuckle and tries for a hurricanrana but Hardy blocks it and pushes him down to the canvas.  Hardy then hits the Swanton Bomb to pick up the pin fall.

After the match, the two celebrate Hardy’s victory together as the announce team hypes the best 2-of-3 match in the Best of Five series between the Motorcity Machine Guns and Beer Money and the Stairway to Janice match between RVD and Abyss as we head into a commercial  break.

Match 5: Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (Best of Five – 2 of 3 Falls for TNA Tag Team Championship)
During the ring entrances we are treated to a video recap of what went down in the first four matches in this series.  The bell rings and the crowd is extremely hyped up for this match.  They are most definitely not sitting on their hands during this match.  Chris Sabin and James Storm start out and fight to a stand still and finally tag in their partners.  The match then quickly breaks down as the Guns gain the advantage and Sabin nearly picks up the pin fall on Roode.

Beer Money is quick to regain the advantage and takes Sabin out on the floor before hitting a series of double team moves in the middle of the ring.  Sabin begins to fight his way back, though, and takes Roode out with an enziguri before tagging Shelley into the match.  Shelley takes both Roode and Storm out and goes for a pin attempt but it is broken up.  The Guns then hit an innovated double team move and nearly pick up the first fall but Roode is able to kick out.

The Guns then send Beer Money out to the floor and both dive out at them from different angles to take them out.  Storm, though, comes out and takes out Sabin with a DDT on the apron.  Beer Money then double teams and puts Shelley away with the DWI to pick up the first fall of the match.

The second fall begins right away and Roode tries for another cover on Shelley but he is able to kick out.  Roode and Storm work over Shelley but they do a little too much showboating as Shelley is able to tag Sabin into the match.  Storm is sent out to the floor and the Guns hit a double team move on Roode to pick up the second fall of the match to tie it at a fall a piece.

The third fall begins and bodies begin flying everywhere with Storm, Shelley and Sabin ending up out on the floor.  Roode then dives over the ropes and takes out everyone as we finally head into a commercial break.

We return to the match to see bodies everywhere in the ring and Beer Money takes out Shelley but Roode is unable to hold Shelley down for a three count.  Storm then sets Shelley up in the corner but Shelley is able to counter and stomps on Storm before tagging in Sabin.  Roode is also tagged in and is quickly taken down by Sabin with a hurricanrana and picks up a near fall after landing a tornado DDT.

The match then breaks down for a moment and the Guns hit Storm with a double team move but Storm is able to kick out of the pin attempt.  The Guns then come at him with a series of kicks but Roode comes in and takes out Sabin with a spinebuster as Shelley is taken out with the Last Call superkick.  Beer Money then goes for another DWI on Sabin but Sabin fights his way out.  Storm then inadvertently kicks Roode with a superkick and the Guns hit a double team move but Storm kicks out.  The Guns then hit it once more and Sabin picks up the pin fall to retain the TNA Tag Team Championship.

Match 6: Abyss vs. Rob Van Dam w/ Eric Bischoff as Guest Referee (Stairway to Janice Match for TNA World Championship)
Abyss’ lethal nail board, Janice, is hanging high above the ring for this match.  Abyss goes right for the weapon during RVD’s ring entrance but the champ runs down to the ring and kicks Abyss off the ladder to get this match started.  RVD then nails Abyss in the midsection with the ladder a couple of times before sending Abyss face first into the ladder.  RVD then finally makes a mistake by going for a Rolling Thunder but Abyss rolls out of the way and he hits the ladder as we head into a commercial break.

We get back into the match and see a ladder in the ring and a ladder set up between the ring and the railing.  Abyss is ready to go for a chokeslam onto the ladder outside but RVD is able to break free.  RVD heads into the ring and Abyss nails RVD with the ladder a few times but RVD fights back.  RVD nails Abyss with the ladder a few times before trying for a monkey flip but Abyss counters with a powerbomb.

Abyss then sets up a ladder in the ring and begins climbing up towards Janice but RVD begins climbing up the other side and the two trade blows as Abyss chokeslams RVD off the ladder and falls down himself.  Abyss then heads out to the floor and grabs a bag from under the ring and pours a pile of tacks and broken glass out onto the mat.  Abyss then positions RVD on the turnbuckle but RVD blocks any moves and flips over Abyss before powerbombing him into the tacks and glass.

RVD tries to keep things going but Abyss is able to take him down with a big boot.  Abyss then goes back out and pulls out barbed wire board and slides it into the ring and sets it up into the corner.  Abyss then tries to throw RVD into the board but RVD stops himself and sidesteps Abyss who goes into the board.  The board is stuck into Abyss and RVD hits the Rolling Thunder to drive it in further.

RVD then sets up the ladder as we see that Abyss has been cut open in various spots and is getting back to his feet.  RVD is able to get his hand on Janice but Abyss pushes the ladder down and RVD flies over the ring ropes and awkwardly onto the ladder that was set up on the outside.  Eric Bischoff goes out to check on RVD as Abyss climbs up and pulls Janice off the hook.  Abyss then goes out and rolls RVD into the ring and sets him up in the corner before he swings Janice at RVD but he ducks out of the way and Abyss plants the weapon into the turnbuckle.

RVD then heads out for a chair and nails Abyss with the back with it.  RVD then sets up the barbed wire board over Abyss and goes coast to coast and dropkicks a chair into the barbed wire board into Abyss.  RVD then hits a Five Star Frog Splash to pick up the pin fall and retains the TNA World Championship as Dixie Carter and Terry Taylor applaud in approval.

After the match, the announce team hype Hulk Hogan’s major announcement and TNA ReAction, which is coming up next after Impact.  RVD is then seen climbing up a ladder in the middle of the ring as Hulk Hogan’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.  The pyro goes off as we head into a commercial break.

We come back to Impact and Hogan puts over RVD and says that he will be the one to take TNA to the top.  Hogan then goes on to say that Hardcore Justice raised the bar in TNA and has given them a shot in the arm.  Hogan says Dixie Carter has invited EV2 back to TNA and Hogan tells them to come out.  Most of the wrestlers from Hardcore Justice come down to the ring and congratulate RVD on his title defense.

Hogan again says that EV2 raised the bar in TNA and says that he bows down to them and respects each and every one of them.  Tommy Dreamer gets on the microphone and says that they raised the bar on Sunday, but the Machine Guns, Beer Money, RVD and Abyss all raised the bar higher tonight.  Dreamer then thanks the EV2 crew for Sunday night and thanks the fans for their support.

The lights then go out in the Impact Zone and when they return we see that Mick Foley has been laid out.  Fortune is standing behind them and begin taking EV2 out and say that it is their company.  The Sandman tries to come out and help but he is quickly taken out by Douglas Williams.  Abyss also comes out and sets his sights on RVD as the fans begin to chant “this is awesome!”  Ric Flair then walks down the ramp and applauds his team as we head to the back to see RVD laid out in a bloody mess by Abyss and Janice.  Flair then blames Dixie Carter for all of this as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Kurt Angle defeated AJ Styles by submission in a non-title match.
- Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne by pin fall to win the TNA Knockouts Championship.
- Matt Morgan defeated D’Angelo Dinero and Mr. Anderson by pin fall in a 3-way match.
- Jeff Hardy defeated Shannon Moore by pin fall in an open challenge match.
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Beer Money in a 2-of-3 match to win the Best of Five series to retain the TNA Tag Team Championship.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Abyss in a Stairway to Janice Match by pin fall to retain the TNA World Championship.

Starman’s Thoughts
The Whole F’n Show lived up to its name and was one hell of an f’n show.  It would be almost a dream come true if TNA did a style of show more like this week in and week out, but I doubt that will ever happen.  It was at least great for one night.

The main event of the night put RVD against Abyss for the TNA World Championship in a Stairway to Janice match with Eric Bischoff as the special guest referee.  Yes, there was a lot going on in that match in terms of stipulations, not to mention the fact that a nail board was hanging above the ring, but it was a decent hardcore ladder match.  I will admit, too, that I was surprised that Eric Bischoff did not factor into the match whatsoever.

While the main event was decent, it had a very high standard to live up to with both the Styles/Angle match and the 2-of-3 match between Beer Money and the Motorcity Machine Guns going on before it.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I can watch AJ Styles and Kurt Angle wrestle over and over and over again without getting tired of it.  This match was no exception, even though it was a foregone conclusion that the match was more than likely going to end with Angle winning.  I do have to say that it seemed weird to me that this was a non-title match for the Television Title, which is said to be defended on every television broadcast.  Since the match was between ranked contenders, though, I was able to look past that aspect.

The Best of Five finals between the Motorcity Machine Guns and Beer Money exceeded all expectations and was a great conclusion to the series.  Again, I thought it was weird to have a 2-of-3 falls match to end a Best of Five series, but I was able to look past it as the match was great.  I am an old school wrestling fan at heart and have a soft spot for the seemingly lost art of tag team wrestling and this series has filled a void.  The one question now is, where do they go from here?  I hope the Machine Guns and the rest of the tag team division keep the ball rolling.

I was glad to see the Knockouts Championship change hands without some stupid stipulation for once, but the happenings outside of the ring overshadowed what happened in the ring.  This was one of the low points of the night.

Another low point was the three-way match ending in about three minutes.  I was expecting more from this match, although Morgan did get a much needed victory and it left things open for a feud between Mr. Anderson and D’Angelo Dinero.

All in all, the Whole F’n Show was great and fans can only hope that TNA keeps this momentum going and keeps up with these types of programs.  Now, it is onto ReAction.

Quick results for the Hardcore Justice pay-per-view.

Match 1: Kid Kash/Johnny Swinger/Simon Diamond vs. the FBI
Tony Luke, Little Guido and Tracy Smothers were accompanied by Sal E. Graziano for this match.  Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger challenged the FBI to a dance-off and attacked them at the end of their routine.  The FBI would get in the last word, though, as Little Guido picked up the pin fall after hitting a facebuster on Diamond.

Match 2: CW Anderson vs. 2 Cold Scorpio
CW Anderson picked up a near fall over 2 Cold Scorpio after driving him down to the mat with a spinebuster, but Scorpio kicked out.  Scorpio then put Anderson away after connecting with a superkick and hitting an impressive moonsault leg drop for the pin fall victory.

Match 3: Stevie Richards vs. PJ Polaco
Stevie Richards is accompanied to the ring with Hollywood Nova and Blue Tilly, who is not the real Blue Meanie.  PJ Polaco, on the other hand, is actually Justin Credible.  Polaco played to the crowd a bit too much during the match and ended up costing him the match when Richards put him away with a superkick.

After the match, Polaco started began attacking Richards with a kendo stick when the lights went out and the Sandman appeared when the lights came back on.  The Sandman hit Polaco with the White Russian Leg Sweep before hitting Polaco in the head with the Singapore cane.

Match 4: Brother Runt vs. Al Snow vs. Rhino (Three-Way Dance)
This three-way dance was contested under elimination rules.  The match featured lots of back and forth action and it got a little hardcore with steel chairs, a guard railing, and, yes, even Head, was used during the match.  In the end, Brother Runt put Al Snow away after hitting the Acid Drop and Rhino quickly followed with a Gore on Runt to win the match.

Match 5: Kahoneys & Axl Rotton vs. Team 3D (South Philadelphia Street Fight)
Kahoneys (Balls Mahoney) and Axl Rotton issued an open challenge to anyone in the back, which Team 3D accepted and made the match a South Philadelphia Street Fight.  The two teams battled in the crowd and used everything including a frying pan, a cookie sheet, and even a Star Wars light saber toy.  Team 3D, though, delivered on their promise as they sent Kahoneys through a flaming table and picked up the pin fall victory.

After the match, the Gangstas, New Jack and Mustafa, came out and brought a kitchen sink with them.  The Gangstas attacked Team 3D with a hockey stick, a trash can and a staple gun, before hitting Joel Gertner with a guitar.  After all was said and done, the three tag teams hugged each other and celebrated in the ring.

Match 6: Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven (Mick Foley Special Guest Referee)
Raven and Tommy Dreamer fought a bloody brawl and used road signs, ladders and barbed wire against each other.  While choking out Raven with barbed wire, Hollywood Nova and Blue Tilly came down to the ring and took out Mick Foley and Dreamer.  Raven then handcuffs Dreamer to the ring ropes and brutally beats him with a steel chair before hitting the Raven Effect to get the pin fall victory.

Match 7: Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu
Sabu took the spot of the injured Jerry Lynn and has a shaved head.  Bill Alphonso accompanied both wrestlers to the ring for the match.  Sabu hit most of his signature spots in the match, including the Arabian facebuster, an Arabian clutch, and an Arabian skullcrusher, but it was RVD in the end that hit a Five Star Frog Splash for the pin fall victory.

After the match, RVD and Sabu shared a hug in the middle of the ring as the rest of the ECW stars came down to the ring to celebrate the event.  Dixie Carter even joined in on the celebration by having a beer in the ringside area as Tommy Dreamer thanked Carter for allowing them to hold one last show and tells the TNA stars that they set the bar and expect them to raise it.

Quick Results
- The FBI defeated Kid Kash/Johnny Swinger/Simon Diamond by pin fall.
- 2 Cold Scorpio defeated CW Anderson by pin fall.
- Stevie Richards defeated PJ Polcao by pin fall.
- Rhino defeated Brother Runt and Al Snow in a Three-Way Dance.
- Team 3D defeated Kahoneys & Axl Rotten by pin fall.
- Raven defeated Tommy Dreamer by pin fall.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Sabu by pin fall.

A video recap of last week’s actions with EV2.0 kicks of this week’s Impact, which includes Raven attacking Tommy Dreamer with a chair.  The Impact intro then hits as we are welcomed to this weeks broadcast that will feature a tag team match with Abyss & Raven taking on Tommy Dreamer & RVD.  Taz also promises that there will be a couple of surprises as he saw some familiar faces backstage earlier in the day.

Tommy Dreamer then comes out to the ring and calls out Raven to explain himself.  Raven comes out and Dreamer says he thought they patched things up between them but Raven says he will never forgive Dreamer for stealing his girl and Dreamer’s daughters should be calling him daddy.  Dreamer then walks up the ramp towards Raven and knocks him down but Abyss and RVD come out as a fight breaks out on the ramp.

RVD assaults Abyss with a chair and chases him towards the back as Raven drops Dreamer on the ramp with the Raven Effect.  As Raven does his signature pose, Mick Foley comes out and hits Raven with a barbed wire bat.  Foley then says that at Hardcore Justice, there will be a final showdown between Dreamer and Raven and Foley will be the special referee.

The announce team then run down tonight’s show that will feature an Ultimate X match between the Motorcity Machine Guns and Beer Money.  Ric Flair will also face off against Jay Lethal in a street fight.  They then hype the main event once more as they are interrupted by the music of the Beautiful People as our first match of the night is up next.

Match 1: The Beautiful People vs. Taylor Wilde & Hamada (TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship)
Taylor and Hamada both get a chance to work over Lacey, who lumbers around awkwardly before finally tagging in Velvet Sky.  Velvet is able to pick up a near fall on Hamada before tagging Lacey back in the match who comes in and misses with a couple of elbow drops and Hamada tags in Taylor as this match begins to break down.

Madison Rayne is seen standing in the entrance ramp and the mysterious motorcycle woman appears in the ringside area.  Velvet inadvertently slaps Slick Johnson, which takes him down for a very long time, and the motorcycle woman hands Lacey a chair which Taylor kicks into her face.  Johnson then makes the three count and we have new TNA Knockouts Champions.

After a commercial break we head right into another title match.

Match 2: Rob Terry vs. AJ Styles (TNA Television Championship)
Kazarian comes down to the ring with AJ Styles but Earl Hebner sends Kazarian to the back, but he doesn’t want to go.  Terry clotheslines them both out to the floor and Terry chases Kazarian to the back as we get this match started.  Terry begins to power Styles around the ring as Mike Tenay and Taz talk about Television Titles in the past.  Styles tries to mount some offense but it is blocked by Terry.  Styles finally turns things into his favor with a mule kick below the belt and follows with a 450 splash to pick up the pin fall.

Kazarian then runs down and celebrates the victory with Styles and they quickly run out of the ring as Terry begins to recover and argues with the referee about the finish of the match.

A video package highlighting Kurt Angle’s decision to fight his way through Top 10 contenders list and wants to prove to everyone that he is the best wrestler in the world, even at 41.  Angle says he is not ready to leave wrestling and doesn’t plan on losing any time soon.

The docu-cam is with Jay Lethal who says he cannot believe that he beat Ric Flair with his own move.  Lethal says he talked to Angle who said Lethal needs step up and be a man, and Lethal plans to do just that during his street fight against Ric Flair.

We see Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne fighting in the back and Lacey Von Erich gets in the middle of it and is knocked out.  Security finally separates them as Velvet is blaming Madison for costing them their tag team titles.  Velvet then tends to Lacey and calls out for help.

The Ultimate X match is up next but before the match starts, Robert Roode has a few words to share.  Roode says both teams have upped their game and taken the tag team division to new levels.  Roode says he and Storm plan on becoming the best tag team ever and will do that once they defeat the Machine Guns at their own game and become the 4-time TNA Tag Team Champions.

Chris Sabin offers a rebuttal and say that they are the best tag team in the world and the titles around their waists prove it.  Sabin continues by saying there are wrestling in their match and in their world.  Roode then say he has had enough talking and wants to get the match on, which will come up next after a commercial break.

Match 3: Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (Best of Five – Ultimate X)
We return from the break to hear the bell sound to get this match underway.  The Guns go straight for the X but Beer Money quickly cuts them off.  The Guns then send Beer Money out to the floor and hit a double cross body block from the top rope and out to the floor to get the quick advantage.  Sabin is the first one on the cable but ends up being pulled down by Storm.  The Guns take Beer Money down and Shelley locks them both in submission holds as Sabin again climbs the cables but Beer Money fights out and pull Sabin down.

Beer Money then takes over control of the match and Roode begins to slowly climb up towards the cable and the Guns are able to put their momentum to a halt as Shelley sets them up in the corner and Sabin hits his patented hesitation dropkick.  Shelley begins climbing the cable but Beer Money recovers and takes down the Guns.  Beer Money then takes some time to showboat a bit before continuing to ground the Machine Guns.  Roode then begins making his way across the cables but Shelley fights off Storm and pulls Roode down to the canvas.

Shelley begins working alone for his team and takes out both Roode and Storm and tries again for the X but Storm pulls him down and slams him down to the mat.  Sabin finally makes it back into the ring and tries for the X but crawls back to the corner and sends Storm crashing down to the canvas with a hurricanrana.  Roode recovers and hits Sabin with a spinebuster and Roode and Storm work together and go for the X but the Guns get up and knock them both down.

Shelley then takes Storm out with Sliced Bread #2 on the ring apron and they are both out of play.  Roode then climbs up the steel structure and begins walking across the cable as Sabin begins climbing across the cable on the other side.  Sabin is able to kick Roode off the cable as he crotches himself on the way down.  Sabin the pulls down the X to win the match and even the Best of Five series at two wins a piece.

We then see Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan and Ms. Tessmacher making their way towards the ring as we head into a commercial break.

Hulk Hogan’s music then hits as the group comes down to the ring.  Eric Bischoff says he wants to get right down to business and hypes next week’s Impact, which will feature PPV quality matches on SpikeTV.  Bischoff announces that Abyss will face RVD for the TNA World Championship in a stairway to Janice match and Bischoff himself will be the special guest referee.

Bischoff then continues by saying the fifth and final match between the Motorcity Machine Guns and Beer Money will take place, as well as Kurt Angle against AJ Styles, Madison Rayne against Angelina Love for the TNA Knockouts Championship, and Jeff Hardy has issued an open invite to anyone in the wrestling world.  Finally, a three way match between Mr. Anderson, Matt Morgan and D’Angelo Dinero.

Bischoff is then cut off by Kevin Nash’s music as he comes down to the ring and wants to know why his name isn’t on the card at all.  Hogan says he needs to open his eyes and step back just like he and Jeff Jarrett have done.  Hogan says it is time for the new stars to get the spotlight and take TNA into the next decade.  Hogan says the politics that Nash used to use are over, which Nash takes offense to.  Nash then goes at both of them as he tosses Bischoff down and hits Hogan with a mule kick.

Nash then goes for a steel chair and is about to use it on Hogan but Jarrett comes out and stops Nash from doing it.  As Jarrett is beating on Nash in the corner, Sting comes out with his old WolfPac face paint and nails Jarrett with a couple of shots with a baseball bat.  Sting then nails Hogan with a steel chair as we head into a commercial break.

After the commercial we see Christy trying to get a word with Kevin Nash and Sting about what just went down but they both just walk away.

Match 4: Orlando Jordan vs. D’Angelo Dinero
OJ tries to gross out the Pope by sucking on his own finger and Dinero pushes him down and tells him to just wrestle.  Dinero gets him in a waistlock and OJ begins to rub up against him and Dinero pushes him away.  OJ finally goes on the offensive and takes control of the match as Eric Young runs down the ramp and begins to pocket the money that dropped during the Pope’s entrance.  This distracts OJ as Dinero takes him down and hits the DDE and picks up the pin fall for the victory.

The Pope’s victory celebration is cut short as he is attacked by Matt Morgan from behind.  Mr. Anderson then comes down to the ring with a steel chair in his hand and chases him away.  Anderson and Dinero then get into an argument as they are separated by Gunner and Murphy of TNA security.  Dinero heads to the back as Anderson stares down both security guards.

Ric Flair is with Christy who says if any member of Fortune interferes in tonight’s street fight that Flair will be suspended for 30 days without pay.  Flair says that two men will walk the aisle and only one person will walk back.  Flair promises to show Lethal that he is a wrestling god and promises that Lethal will die tonight.

Match 5: Jay Lethal vs. Ric Flair (Street Fight)
Ric Flair comes down to the ring for this street fight in a custom made suit, while Lethal is wrestling in a tank top and blue jeans.  The bell rings and Flair quickly tears Lethal’s shirt off and hits Lethal with a low blow.  Flair then brings some weapons into the ring as Lethal sneaks under the ring and comes out the other side.  Lethal then hits Flair with a missile dropkick and follows with a huge back body drop.

Lethal then connects with a shot from a kendo stick that cuts Flair’s forehead open.  Douglas Williams is then seen walking around the ringside area as Lethal is ripping Flair’s pants off.  Lethal then pulls Flair’s belt off and begins whipping Flair with it before stripping Flair down to his underwear.  Lethal then hits a very bloody Flair with a superplex and goes for the cover, but Williams drags Lethal out to the floor.

Lethal then knocks Williams down to the floor and Lethal goes for the top rope and tries for a sunset flip and ends up pulling Flair’s underwear down.  As Hebner tries to finally pull up Flair’s underwear, Williams nails Lethal with the X Division Championship.  Flair then covers Lethal and Lethal puts his foot on the rope but Williams knocks it off and the referee doesn’t see it and Flair picks up the pin fall.

Abyss is then seen walking in the back with Raven and they both have weapons in their hands as they are heading towards the ring.

Christy is with RVD who talks about his upcoming week with his match tonight, Sunday and next week on Impact.  RVD says he takes everything one night at a time and he is focusing on his tag with Tommy Dreamer to take on Raven and Abyss.  After he wins tonight’s match he will focus on Hardcore Justice.  Just then Jerry Lynn walks in the picture and says he is focused on Sunday night as they will tear it up one more time before walking away.  Both RVD and Christy have surprised looks on their faces as they can’t believe Lynn is going to go up against RVD on Sunday.

Match 6: Abyss & Raven vs. Rob Van Dam & Tommy Dreamer
A fight between these two teams starts on the entrance ramp before the bell rings.  Abyss finally tosses Dreamer over the ropes to get this match officially started.  Abyss and Raven work together to wear down Dreamer and they pick up a couple of near falls in the process.  Abyss finally messes up in his attack and Dreamer makes the hot tag to RVD as Abyss tags in Raven.

RVD hits Raven with a flurry of offense and goes for the pin after hitting Rolling Thunder but Abyss breaks up the pin attempt.  Dreamer then helps RVD knock Abyss out to the floor and plants Raven down with a DDT.  RVD then heads to the top rope and hits a Five Star Frog Splash on Raven to pick up the pin fall.

Dreamer and RVD’s celebration is cut short as Abyss hits them from behind and Abyss drives RVD down to the mat with a chokeslam.  Abyss then picks up Dreamer for the same but Stevie Richards comes out and tries to stop him but Abyss quickly takes him down.  Rhino then comes in and takes Abyss down and tries for a Gore but Abyss takes him down with a quick kick to the head.

Team 3D finally run out and knock Abyss down and set up for the 3D but Raven takes them both out with chair shots.  The lights then go out in the Impact Zone and when they come back on the Sandman is seen standing in the ring with a kendo stick and takes Abyss and Raven out.  The EV2.0 guys then regroup in the ring as Mick Foley, Jerry Lynn, Al Snow and Simon Diamond make their way to the ring.

A video package highlighting Hardcore Justice is aired as the ECW originals give their thoughts on legacy of ECW and what it means to them.  Many of them talk about being given one more chance to go out on their own terms.

One last video package hypes all of the matches for next week’s “Whole F’n Show” and it says that it will showcase what TNA does best as this week’s episode of Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Taylor Wilde & Hamada defeated the Beautiful People by pin fall to win the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship.
- AJ Styles defeated Rob Terry by pin fall to retain the TNA Television Championship.
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Beer Money in an Ultimate X match.
- D’Angelo Dinero defeated Orlando Jordan by pin fall.
- Ric Flair defeated Jay Lethal by pin fall in a street fight.
- Rob Van Dam & Tommy Dreamer defeated Abyss & Raven by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
A few matches were booked for this Sunday’s Hardcore Justice, such as the main event of RVD against Jerry Lynn and Tommy Dreamer taking on Raven, but for the most part the whole card is unknown.  I’m not sure if this is a good move on TNA’s part, especially since the event is just three days away, but I’m guessing that TNA is banking on the names selling the event itself.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that a special one-off pay-per-view such as this didn’t overtake everything that TNA was working towards, but at least give the fans something more to look forward to this Sunday.  I hope that the matches will be revealed over the course of the weekend, but the matches will be meaningless for the most part as there is no substance to them aside from the whole event being one last reunion of sorts.

With that said, it was cool to see Jerry Lynn and the Sandman again.  I have to admit that I am a huge Sandman mark, ever since he downed an entire rum and coke drink that I gave him at an indy show several years ago.  He has had many problems in the past, but I am hoping that he has gotten his life back on track as he didn’t look to be too bad off in the ring tonight.

That’s enough reminiscing.  Time to move on.

Once again the Best of Five series stole the show in my opinion, but one thing really bothered me overall about tonight’s broadcast.  During his time in the ring, Hulk Hogan said that he and Jeff Jarrett have stepped back and are letting the new stars have their time in the spotlight.  This was then followed by a brawl between Hogan, Jarrett, Kevin Nash and Sting.  It was then followed by a street fight that featured Ric Flair and capped off by a bunch of ECW stars in the ring to end the show.

So much for stepping back and letting the young talent shine.

The ex-ECW stars are standing together in the ring and Tommy Dreamer has a microphone in his hand.  Dreamer says he knows there is a lot of buzz about the upcoming Hardcore Justice pay-per-view, however, since there are problems with a certain three letters of the alphabet, they will now be known as EV2.0.

Dreamer then thanks Brother Devon for coming back to the family but wants to know what is going on with Brother Ray.  Devon says he doesn’t know what is going on and calls him out so they can settle things once and for all.  Ray comes out and Devon says he wants to put their differences aside and wants to know if he is in or out.  Ray turns around and begins walking away as Dreamer stops him by saying this is about all of them doing it one last time for the fans.
Foley steps in and adds that they will have one hell of a show without him but it would make it so much better with him on board.  Foley says he will regret his decision down the road if he doesn’t join them for the show and says that he can settle his differences at a different time.  Taz then stands up from the announce table and tells Ray to just do it.  Brother Ray then walks into the ring and asks Devon to answer him one question, and that is if they are going to light someone on fire.

The fans begin to chant “EV2-point-0!’ and Ray says that it sounds like fun and adds his name to the list.  Ray begins the hug and shakes hands with everyone in the ring as Hulk Hogan’s music hits.  Hogan slowly makes his way down to the ring and says he wishes he would have known about all of this ahead of time because he could have given them a couple of surprises.  Hogan says, though, that he can’t wait to see hardcore ride once again.

Hogan goes on to say that he and Eric Bischoff has a surprise for the fans and Bischoff will be out a little later to announce the surprise.  Abyss’ music then hits as he comes out of the entrance tunnel.  Abyss says that “they” are not happy and are downright pissed off because this wasn’t part of their plan.  Abyss says that they hold Dixie Carter solely responsible and Hogan steps in and says that Abyss should hit the road because Tommy Dreamer is their guest.  Abyss says he was given orders to take Tommy Dreamer out and Dreamer steps in and says he would love to take on Abyss tonight.

Lacey Von Erich and Velvet Sky are seen arguing in the locker room when Madison Rayne walks in.  Madison says nothing will be accomplished if they don’t stick together.  Velvet gets in her face about Madison saying they don’t need them anymore and how she allowed a fourth member in the group.  Madison explains her actions and apologizes but Velvet won’t accept her apology.  After some begging from Lacey, Velvet finally gives in as all three hug each other.

Match 1: Sarita vs. Angelina Love (#1 Contenders Match)
A series of quick pin attempts between both competitors starts this match out with neither actually picking up a single count.  Sarita is able to gain control of the match and sends Angelina crashing to the mat after landing a clothesline.  Sarita then hits a back suplex but spends a little too much time showboating and isn’t able to put Angelina away.  Angelina then counters a second attempt at a back suplex and hits a spear and follows with a series of clotheslines.  Angelina then hits her Botox Injection kick and picks up the pin fall.

Eric Young and Orlando Jordan are seen in the back and EY is trying to find some matching attire but OJ wants him to focus.  EY says he is hopped up on rum candy at the moment but he has a foolproof plan and is bringing backup.

A video recap of what happened to Eric Young two weeks ago on Xplosion where he suffered a head injury. Since then, EY hasn’t been the same.

Match 2: Ink Inc. vs. Orlando Jordan & Eric Young
Eric Young brings out his backup in the form of a naked mannequin that is wearing a feather boa.  The bell rings and OJ goes right on the attack and takes Jesse Neal down and goes for a cover after hitting a swinging neck breaker but Shannon Moore breaks up the pin attempt.  Neal and Young are tagged into the match and EY tosses the mannequin into the ring and refuses to enter the ring.  Ink Inc. then hit OJ with a double dropkick that sends him into Young and Moore hits the Mooregasm on Jordan to pick up the pin fall.  EY then comes into the ring and tends to his broken mannequin as we head into a commercial break.

Ric Flair is standing in the ring with Beer Money, AJ Styles and Kazarian.  Flair says he is a wrestling god and a wrestling genius, which means that every match he is in has a return match clause to it.  Flair says the match will be a street fight next week and he better be ready.

Flair then goes on to introduce the group Fortune, who are standing with them in the ring.  Robert Roode says they knew it was only going to be a matter of time before they were a part of the group as they are the best tag team in wrestling today.  Roode then goes on to promise that they will become the four-time TNA Tag Team Champions tonight when they defeat the Motorcity Machine Guns.

Kazarian steps in a say they are not a bunch of angry rookies, but a group of seasoned veterans who happen to be the best at what they do in the TNA Galaxy.  AJ Styles says that they are the best because Ric Flair deserves the best and promises to give credibility to the Global Championship and declairs that it will now be defended as a Television Title.  Styles promises to honor the title by defending it on every broadcast and says it will start next week against Rob Terry, if he can get past Kazarian tonight.

Ric Flair then ends the promo by telling the women in the crowd that they will be at the hotel all night long.  Kurt Angle’s music then hits as he comes up his special entrance.  Angle says he is happy to hear that AJ Styles is going to honor the title by defending it all of the time, unfortunately, he is also going to honor his promise by defeating everyone in the rankings and AJ Styles is next on his list.

Match 3: Beer Money vs. Motorcity Machine Guns (Best of Five – Steel Cage Match)
The Guns scale then backside of the cage and catch Beer Money by surprise to start this match off.  The Guns then use their speedy offense to take control of the match and bust Roode open in the process.  Beer Money then catch Alex Shelley off guard and take control of the match and show off some double team moves of their own.  Shelley, though, is able to hits Roode with a hurricanrana off the top rope to turn the tide of the match and tags in Chris Sabin.

Sabin comes in and takes out both members of Beer Money before hitting a hesitation dropkick on James Storm.  Sabin, though, is turned inside out with a hard clothesline from Roode but Shelley comes back and sends Roode face-first into the cage.  Shelley then stomps down onto Roode from the top rope as the Guns turn their attention to Storm but he is able to hold his own and take control of the match, however, he isn’t able to keep Sabin down for a three count.

Roode and Storm begin climbing the cage as the fans chant “this is awesome” and Shelley stops them and sends them crashing down to the canvas.  Sabin the begins climbing the cage and stands up on the top before dropping down with a cross body block on both members of Beer Money.  The Guns set up for a double team move on Roode but Storm grabs a beer bottle and swings at Sabin but he dodges and Storm busts it over Roode’s head.  The Guns then hit a double team move on Storm to pick up the pin fall.

Mr. Anderson’s music hits but Matt Morgan comes out instead.  Morgan does Anderson’s usual mannerisms with the microphone, that slowly makes its way down to the ring.  Morgan then embellishes on his size and weight claiming to be near eight feet tall and over 400 pounds during his ring introductions.

Mr. Anderson’s music hits once again as the real one comes out and heads out to the ring.  Morgan asks if Anderson found it ironic that his very calling card, his microphone, left him in a pool of his own blood.  Morgan offers Anderson a free shot on him and Anderson nails Morgan below the belt.  Anderson then continues on the attack and gets in Morgan’s face but Morgan is able to come back and hits Anderson with a series of kicks before choking him with the microphone cable.

Jeff Hardy’s music hits as he runs down to the ring and stops the attack by beating Morgan down.  Anderson joins in once he recovers and security come in and hold Anderson back as Morgan comes in and clocks him.  Hardy then goes after Morgan but security holds him back as well.  Taz and Mike Tenay gives names to these security guards as D’Lo Brown, Al Snow, and Pat Kenney come out and tell the security guards that they overstepped their bounds as we head into a commercial break.

We recap what just happened in the ring as we head to the back where Christy is with Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson.  Anderson says that he knows what happened as both of the security guards have been trying to get into the wrestling business for years but had to settle with being security guards.  Anderson says they are trying to make names for themselves and they have finally made it as they are challenging them to a match later on tonight and tells them to bring Morgan with them.

Match 4: Kazarian vs. Rob Terry
AJ Styles distracts Terry in the opening moments as he is sent to the back by the referee.  It doesn’t matter much to Terry as Kazarian’s attempt at a sneak attack is unsuccessful.  Terry then hits Kazarian with a Freakbuster and scores the pin fall.

After a commercial break we return to see that the security guards and Matt Morgan have answered the challenge.

Match 5: Matt Morgan/Murphy/Gunner vs. Jeff Hardy & Mr. Anderson
Murphy starts out the match but Morgan tags himself in before he can do anything and wants to go up against Mr. Anderson.  Anderson comes in but Morgan tags Murphy back in, who tags Gunner into the match.  Anderson and Gunner finally lock up and Anderson takes him down with a swinging neckbreaker but Gunner kicks out of a pin attempt and tags Murphy back into the match.

Hardy is tagged into the match and tries to do a double team move with Anderson but Murphy takes him out with a clothesline.  Murphy tags Gunner back into the match and is able to block an attempt at a Twist of Fate but ends up being hit by a Whisper in the Wind.  Anderson is tagged into the match as Morgan gets into an argument with the referee and leaves the ringside area.  Anderson then hits the Mic Check on Gunner and Hardy follows with a Swanton Bomb to pick up the pin fall.

Christy Hemme catches up with Hulk Hogan in the back and wants a little inside scoop on Eric Bischoff’s big announcement.  Hogan says the announcement will be huge and the fans will love it.  Hogan says he will have a lot to say about it next week.

Eric Bischoff is then seen in the ring with Ms. Tessmacher and Bischoff says that on August 12 the fans will see something that they have never seen before.  Bischoff said that he was inspired by Dixie Carter and how she gives back to the fans and he and Hulk Hogan decided to raise the bar and take it to the next level.  Bischoff says he is going to give the fans pay-per-view quality matches right here on Impact.

As Bischoff begins to announce the main event he is interrupted by Abyss’ music.  Abyss comes down to the ring who says he got done speaking to them and they want him to make the main event.  He says it will be himself, RVD, a fifteen foot ladder and Janice.  Abyss says that he and RVD will have the most extreme match ever as they fight over Janice and he vows to rip the flesh off of RVD’s ass.  Abyss wants Bischoff to make it happen and Bischoff agrees to it.

RVD’s music then hits as he comes running down to the ring with a steel chair and sends it flying into Abyss’ face.   RVD then hits Abyss with the Van Daminator but catches the guard railing when he tries for a dive out to the floor off the middle rope.  Abyss then sets his sights on Dixie Carter but the TNA agents come out and put a stop to Abyss and take Janice away from him.

The music for EV2.0 hits as Tommy Dreamer comes down to the ring for tonight’s main event.  Dreamer grabs Janice from Al Snow as we head into the final commercial break.

Match 6: Tommy Dreamer vs. Abyss
We head back from commercial to see the match has already started and Dreamer is nailing Abyss with a trash can lid in the ringside area.  Abyss turns the tide by crotching Dreamer on the guard railing before rolling him into the ring.  Abyss then side slams Dreamer into a garbage can before hitting him in the head with a cookie sheet and a kendo stick.  Abyss then goes for a chokeslam but Dreamer fights back and hits Abyss with a cross body block and picks up a near fall.

Dreamer’s advantage doesn’t last long, though, as Abyss sends him into a chair that was set up between the ropes.  Abyss begins to climb the ropes for a high risk move but Dreamer recovers and puts him in the tree of woe before placing a trash can in front of Abyss and dropkicking it into his face.  Dreamer heads outside and pulls out a board with barbed wire on it and puts it in the ring.  Dreamer tries to DDT Abyss into the board but Abyss counters and knocks Dreamer down with a clothesline.

Abyss then heads out to the floor and grabs Janice and swings it at Dreamer but he ducks out of the way and Abyss puts it into the turnbuckle.  Dreamer then sets Janice up in the corner and tries to toss Abyss into but he is able to stop himself.  Abyss then turns around and punches a trash can into Dreamer face before chokeslamming Dreamer into the barbed wire board for the pin fall.

After the match, Abyss grabs his board but is cut off by Raven’s music who runs down to the ring with a steel chair.  The two stare at each other before Raven finally turns on Dreamer and drives him down into the chair with the Raven Effect as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Angelina Love defeated Sarita by pin fall to become the #1 contender to the Knockouts Championship.
- Ink Inc. defeated Orlando Jordan & Eric Young by pin fall.
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Beer Money by pin fall in a steel cage match to earn a victory in their Best of Five series.
- Rob Terry defeated Kazarian by pin fall.
- Jeff Hardy & Mr. Anderson defeated Matt Morgan/Murphy/Gunner by pin fall.
- Abyss defeated Tommy Dreamer by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
TNA is taking a small detour in the coming weeks and giving ECW their own send off with their next pay-per-view, which is now being called Hardcore Justice.  Having a pay-per-view such as this tosses a wrench into things a bit, but surprisingly it didn’t seem to toss Impact entirely out of whack.

Seeing that the show kicked off with the ex-ECW stars, who now call themselves EV2.0, in the ring, I figured we would get a hard sell on Hard Justice, which is less than two weeks away.  I was surprised, though, that the ECW angle only took up the first and final segment of the show.  I was expecting to see it take up the first through final segments of the show.

It would be unwise for TNA to do such a thing, which is why I fully expected it to happen.  Instead, though, we got a show almost entirely devoted to TNA’s current angles with a little bit of EV2.0 thrown in there.  Thankfully, it sounded that TNA is making it up to their own stars and current angles by holding a PPV quality Impact the following Thursday after Hardcore Justice.

I have to give TNA credit for doing this as it gives non EV2.0 stars something to work towards while they are taking over their normally scheduled PPV event.  A high quality show on Thursday, something that rivals WCW’s Night of the Champions, could also help pull in ratings for their show.  I haven’t heard much about it yet, but it would help wonders if this is a live broadcast.  That is highly doubtful, though.

Seeing as TNA decided to keep running their current angles, we got to witness a great cage match between the Motorcity Machine Guns and Beer Money.  I really wish that they would ditch the match stipulations and just go with a straight up best of five series, but when you get a cage match like the one tonight you really can’t complain too much.  Even with Beer Money up 2-0 before the match, it really did seem at times that Beer Money was going to steal the win and that added a lot to the already great match.  These two teams work great together and I am looking forward to next week’s Ultimate X match.

Some can make arguments that Ric Flair’s in ring time in TNA has been below standards.  I have heard people complain that Flair is being treated like a regular wrestler instead of a retired icon that he is and that his matches should be built up and hyped.  I can’t really argue with that complaint, but will give TNA a sliver of credit for announcing Flair upcoming rematch with Jay Lethal ahead of time.  Does it really need to be a street fight?  Probably not, but I did enjoy Flair calling himself a genius for putting a rematch clause in all of the contracts he signs.  Being a legend and in the business for so long, a little thing like that is believable.  A street fight though, not so much.

I will also credit TNA for trying, once again, to give the Legends… er, Global, I mean, Television Championship some meaning.  I said last week that giving the title to AJ Styles couldn’t make the title any worse and I am hopeful that the name change and the fact that it will be defended on a regular basis can help it out.  One has to wonder, though, if a Television Championship can work in today’s wrestling without becoming stale.  However, like I said before, it can’t be any worse than what it is now.

As the old saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fond.  Although this is usually true, I can’t help but think that is not the case with Orlando Jordan.  I was glad to see that he was toned down several notches this week, but I can’t say that I missed him while he was away from television.  I cannot believe, though, what has become of Eric Young.  I’m almost glad to say that I don’t get Xplosion in my area.  It was almost like a breath of fresh air when EY broke out of his comedy roles and now he is stuck in them once again.

Finally, a couple of quick thoughts…

I understand why TNA is using their own moniker for the ECW stars, but it didn’t sound right to hear the fans chant “EV2-point-0!”  I could understand an “EV2” chant, but the other one doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like the old “EC-Dub” chant once did.

I really hope that Kazarian was trying to make fun of WWE calling their fans the WWE Universe when he used the term TNA Galaxy.  I do not want to be referred to as the TNA Galaxy and hope that the term is never used as a legit slogan in the upcoming weeks and months.

A video package that focuses on Abyss and the locker room clearing brawl with the ECW invasion from last week’s Impact is aired.  Dixie Carter is then seen walking in the back as we are promised to hear from her as to why she invited the former ECW stars to TNA.

The Impact intro the hits as we are welcomed to this week’s show that will feature a match between Kurt Angle and Hernandez.  Also, Samoa Joe will take on Jeff Hardy for the first time ever and the Global Championship will be on the line, which is up right now.

Match 1: AJ Styles vs. Rob Terry (TNA Global Championship)
Kazarian comes down to the ring with AJ Styles for this match, while Rob Terry comes down by himself.  Styles tries to dance around the ring but Terry just powers him around and sends him crashing down to the mat with an impressive press slam.  Terry continues to work over Styles and tries for a pin attempt but Kazarian distracts the referee.  Terry knocks down Kazarian and Styles rolls Terry up from behind for a close near fall.  Terry then grabs Styles for a suplex but Kazarian trips Terry and holds his leg as Styles covers for the pin fall.  AJ Styles celebrates with Kazarian and the Global Championship in the entrance ramp as Terry is livid in the ring.

The announce team breaks down what happened last week with the ECW stars and Taz says he is shocked by it and cannot wait until he hears what Dixie Carter has to say about it.  They also talk about Mick Foley’s appearance last week and what he has to do with everything.

Sarita and Madison Rayne and talking to each other in the locker room as Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich walk in behind her.  Velvet gets into Madison’s face but she says she has better things to do as she will be getting her TNA Knockouts Championship back.  Lacey tries to play peacekeeper but it does no good.

The docu-cam catches up with Dixie Carter talking to the agents and yelling at them for what happened last week.  Pat Kenney sees the camera and gets up and closes the door.

Match 2: Taylor Wilde & Angelina Love vs. Sarita & Madison Rayne
Prior to the match, Earl Hebner grabs a microphone and tells Angelina Love that they have no proof as to who interfered during the match at Victory Road and that she must surrender the belt.  Angelina hands the belt over before clobbering Madison Rayne to get this match started.  The two sides then go back and forth for a moment before it breaks down once again with all four in the ring.  Angelina then hits the Lights Out before picking up the pin fall.

The motorcycle woman appears once again as the Beautiful People walk down the ramp.  The masked woman then enters the ring and lays some boots into Angelina as the Beautiful People wonder who she is.  Madison then hops on the bike and yells at Lacey to get on the bike with her.  Lacey is torn between the two but decides to go with Madison.

Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino, Stevie Richards and Mick Foley are seen walking in the back as we head into our next match up.

Match 3: Kurt Angle vs. Hernandez
Hernandez gets a good start against Kurt Angle and takes him down with a flying shoulder block before hitting a back breaker to pick up a two count.  Angle fights his way back into the match and picks up a near fall after hitting a belly-to-belly suplex off the middle turnbuckle.  Angle follows with a series of German suplexes before going for the Angle Slam but Hernandez counters and slams Angle hard down to the mat for a near fall.

Hernandez then tries for a Border Toss but Angle counters with an Angle Slam but it isn’t enough to keep Hernandez down.  Angle then heads to the top for a moonsault but misses and Hernandez comes back with a shoulder block that sends Angle flying down to the canvas.  Hernandez then tries for a long vertical suplex but Angle counters into an ankle lock.  Angle cinches it in and finally makes Hernandez tap out to pick up the victory.

Kevin Nash’s music then hits as he comes down to the ring and shakes hands with Kurt Angle on the way.  Nash grabs a microphone and calls out Jeff Jarrett as we head into a commercial break.  We return to see Jarrett come out and Nash tells him that after having a week to think about it, he says Jarrett is amazing at what he does and almost had him thinking that Sting was the problem.  Nash said he realized it wasn’t Sting, but Jarrett that is the problem.

Jarrett says he has no idea what he is talking about and hopes the fans aren’t buying into it.  Jarrett says Nash used his deceitful ways to get his buddies into TNA and hurt the company.  Nash steps in and says that the young stars are the victims and that he knows his place before calling Jarrett a selfish prick and walking away.

The docu-cam catches Dixie Carter pacing around in the backstage area as Kurt Angle walks up and asks what last week was all about.  Dixie says that he has to have faith in her and that it will only help TNA.  Angle warns her to watch out with the people she is dealing with.

Match 4: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy heads out to the floor to shake hands with the fans after the bell rings and we hear the voice of Eric Bischoff who is on the phone.  Bischoff explains why both he and Hulk Hogan aren’t in the Impact Zone and how they are team players and they are there to support Dixie Carter and her decisions.  Back to the match, Hardy is working over Joe in the ring and has him locked in a headlock.  Joe, though, counters with a jawbreaker and takes control of the match.

Joe hits Hardy with a series of blows and chops before sending him crashing to the mat with a kick to the head.  Joe then picks up a near fall after a snap slam and slowly goes back on the attack.  Hardy begins to mount a comeback and picks up a couple of near falls over Joe.  Joe again comes back with an atomic drop and a senton splash to pick up yet another two count.  Joe hits a powerbomb and goes into an STF submission but Hardy will not submit.  Joe slides into a crossface but Hardy is able to back into the ropes to make Joe break the hold.  Joe the tries for a rear naked choke but Hardy sends Joe into the turnbuckle before hitting a Whisper in the Wind.

Jeremy Borash then announces that only 30 seconds remain in the match as the two start trading blows back and forth.  Borash counts down and neither of them are able to pick up the pin fall.  Borash announces that it is a time limit draw as Joe is livid about the decision.  Hardy then goes after Joe once again but referees come out to separate the two.

The docu-cam shows a conversation between Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter and she tells him that she saw the look of disappointment last week in the eyes of the talent.  She wants his help to tell everyone that what is happening is a good thing and Jarrett says he will do his best.

Match 5: Matt Morgan vs. Mr. Anderson
Anderson goes for a couple of quick roll ups but Morgan easily kicks out as this match starts.  Morgan quickly comes back and stomps a mudhole in Anderson before picking up a two count.  Morgan lands a fallaway slam and picks up another near fall but Anderson kicks out.  Morgan then methodically picks apart Anderson with a series of clotheslines until Anderson counters with a Mic Check to pick up the surprising pin fall.

After the match, Morgan clocks Anderson across the forehead with his own microphone that busts him open.  Morgan then drops the microphone across his chest as Morgan slowly walks around the ring.

Match 6: Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (Best of Five – Street Fight)
The Machine Guns run right out and go after Beer Money as this street fight gets underway.  They focus on Roode on the entrance ramp and Sabin hits his patented hesitation dropkick on hitting Roode after running down the ramp.  James Storm begins to toss weapons into the ring as Sabin tries to dive out onto Roode but he holds up a chair and turns the tide into his team’s favor.

Beer Money isolates Alex Shelley in the ring but Roode runs into a steel chair that was set up in the corner.  Sabin then connects with a missile dropkick but Roode kicks out of the pin attempt.  Storm then spits some beer into Sabin’s eyes but he doesn’t stay down for a three count.  Shelley then comes in and starts taking people out with a kendo stick as Sabin takes Roode down with a trash can shot.

There are two referees for this match and the Machine Guns hit a powerbomb/Sliced Bread #2 on Roode but there is no ref to make the count.  Storm then comes in and hits Shelley with a beer bottle and takes Sabin out with a superkick.  Storm then revives the referee and makes the three count as Beer Money steals another victory over the Motorcity Machine Guns.

The docu-cam catches up with Brother Ray and Brother Devon who are arguing in the locker room.  Devon wants to know if he has the ECW stars back.  Ray says they have done it all and don’t need them as he walks away.

Christy Hemme is backstage with Rob Van Dam who wants to know what it felt like to be with his old friends last week.  RVD says he is proud of his past career and had a blast with his friends.  RVD goes on to say that he has no inside information as to what Dixie Carter’s big announcement will be and plans to watch it on a monitor so he doesn’t miss anything.

The announce team begin to ponder what Dixie Carter’s big announcement is and how they are interested in what she has to say.  Mike Tenay says that she owes the fans an explanation over what happened last week and doesn’t want to leave the situation open ended.  We are then treated to a video package of what has been going down over the past few weeks and we Dixie walking in the back as we head into a commercial break.

Dixie Carter comes out to the ring with her own entrance music and she is carrying a microphone in her hand.  Dixie says that TNA will always be about their fans and she has fun listening to them and has learned a lot from them.  She says that one thing she hears a lot of is that the fans love extreme hardcore wrestling and welcomes her ECW buddies to the ring.

Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Stevie Richards, Raven and Mick Foley all come out to the ring.  Dixie says the group in the ring represents what wrestling was all about in the 90s and doing it for the love of the business and the fans.  Foley says he should be thanking Dixie since the last time he was in the Impact Zone he was being fired.  Foley says she has given them all another chance and hands the microphone over to the ambassador, Tommy Dreamer.

Dreamer says he has watched TNA from the beginning and said that he saw many similarities in TNA and the original ECW.  He says he saw young stars making their names and legends reinventing themselves.  Dreamer goes on to say that he saw firsthand at Slammiversary the passion and love that goes into TNA and thanks Dixie for bringing that passion back to him.

Dreamer says he found that passion once in 2005 at One Night Stand and he had his closure… but then they brought it back.  Dreamer goes on to say that he got to see his friends get fired to the point that he had to quit because he couldn’t stomach watching something that he loved so much.  Dreamer then says that he started talking about the similarities in TNA with some of his old friends and they put this plan together.

Dreamer says it is not about an ECW invasion or a take over but it is about people who lost their jobs, the fans who chant it, and to make sure that their legacy is not destroyed.  Dreamer pleads for one night to have their legacy live forever and asks the fans if they want one more night.  Dixie finally steps in and says she just has one stipulation and they have complete control over it so they can do it the right way.  Dreamer then tells the Impact Zone that they are going extreme as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- AJ Styles defeated Rob Terry by pin fall to win the TNA Global Championship.
- Angelina Love & Taylor Wilde defeated Madison Rayne & Sarita by pin fall.
- Kurt Angle defeated Hernandez by pin fall.
- Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy fought to a time limit draw.
- Mr. Anderson defeated Matt Morgan by pin fall.
- Beer Money defeated the Motorcity Machine Guns by pin fall in a street fight.

Starman’s Thoughts
I am going to keep my thoughts about tonight’s show brief as I am fairly tired and need some sleep.  I have mixed feelings about the whole ECW angle at the moment and will take the time to sit back and see where they are taking this.

Just as Tommy Dreamer said during his promo, I also felt several years ago that TNA shared some similarities to the original ECW, but that doesn’t mean I want to see it again in 2010.  I have no doubt that Dreamer and company can put together a great nostalgia show, but it would have been so much better had WWE not done it already five years ago and tarnished the ECW name since then.

I also get the feeling that most of the current angles and storylines will get pushed out of the way to set this up, and that is not a good thing considering the little amount of television time they already have on a weekly basis. Like I said, though, I will let this angle grow some legs before I pass judgment on it.  At the very least, it should give TNA a slight buyrate increase.

Maybe it is because of the ECW-themed PPV coming up, but it seemed that TNA has been giving away some quality matches on free television.  There were two this week with Kurt Angle going up against Hernandez and Jeff Hardy facing Samoa Joe.

I stated before that I hate how TNA rushed into the Angle/Wolfe match last month and wished that all of his contender matches would be exclusive to pay-per-view.  I can understand that after a series of matches between Angle and Wolfe that they would decided to put that one on free television, but Angle and Hernandez could have been a special match given more time to let it build and more time to let them tell a story.  This was a wasted opportunity in my mind.

The Jeff Hardy/Samoa Joe match on the other hand was decent and didn’t give too much away.  I figured the match would end in a draw as Jeremy Borash pointed out prior to the match that there was a 10 minute time limit.  They also stalled a lot and didn’t give away too much and I could see this turning into a contenders challenge down the road.  This is a match that I would love to see given lots of time to develop on a PPV, it’s just too bad that TNA jumped the gun and tossed out their first meeting ever with very little build up.

After two weeks it is finally decided that Angelina Love is being stripped of the Knockouts Championship.  The title picture has been a mess in this division as of late but it seems that a solid angle is looming on the horizon that involves a good portion of the Knockouts.  Honestly, though, TNA couldn’t send out some other authority figure aside from Earl Hebner to strip Angelina of her title?

Finally, it is great to see Rob Terry lose the Global Championship.  Sure the title still doesn’t mean anything but it was doing absolutely nothing for him.  Giving AJ Styles another run with it couldn’t make it any worse.

A video package highlights the events that transpired at Victory Road this past Sunday with RVD retaining the TNA World Championship and the Motorcity Machine Guns winning the TNA Tag Team Championship.

We then head into the Impact Zone where the pyro goes off and we are told that after the tag team title controversy this past Sunday there will be a best of five series between Beer Money and the Motorcity Machine Guns.  Also Sarita and Taylor Wilde will meet in a street fight and Jay Lethal will face off against Jeff Hardy.

The newest Top 10 Contenders rankings is then aired which go like this: 10 – Rob Terry, 9 – D’Angelo Dinero, 8 – Kurt Angle, 7 – Hernandez, 6 – AJ Styles, 5 – Jay Lethal, 4 – Samoa Joe, 3 – Mr. Anderson, 2 – Jeff Hardy, 1 – Abyss.  The music for the number one contender then hits as Abyss comes down to the ring with his nail board in one hand and a side of beef in the other.

Abyss then gets on the microphone and tells RVD that they have a plan for him that involves Abyss and his little girl.  Abyss says it is beyond extreme and beyond anything he has ever done in the wrestling business.  Abyss promises to share the plan with him later on but he is waiting for final instructions from them.  Abyss then introduces his nail board and calls it Janice before sticking it into the side of beef over and over again.  Abyss then begins chewing on it and says RVD will soon see how much of a bitch his girl can be.

We then head to the back where Taylor Wilde and Sarita are going at it in the backstage area.  Sarita is shoving Taylor into the walls and clams that she is better than her and puts her in an armbar.  Mike Tenay tells us that the street fight between them is supposed to be coming up next.

We come back from the commercial break and Taylor and Sarita have made it to the arena floor and the bell rings for the street fight.

Match 1: Taylor Wilde vs. Sarita (Street Fight)
Taylor connects with a steel chair to Sarita’s face but she retreats under the ring.  Sarita then circles around and hits Taylor from behind and the two trade blows in the ringside area.  Taylor then comes back and shoves Sarita’s face into the ringside padding before throwing a chair at her.  Taylor then tosses Sarita into the ring post and guard railing and connects with a dropkick that sends Taylor into the crowd.  Sarita then comes back and starts choking Taylor with a fan’s purse and puts her out.  The referee calls for the bell and awards the match to Sarita.

The docu-cam catches up with RVD who said he isn’t scared of Abyss’ weapon.  He tells Abyss that he better be ready to use it and he better use it tonight.

Ms. Teschmacher is in the office and is yelling at someone on the phone and Kevin Nash comes in.  Nash says he has a meeting with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan but she tells him that they aren’t around.  Nash then begins to leave but turns around and schedules a new meeting with Ms. Teschmacher for 10:00 at night.

Match 2: Brian Kendrick vs. Douglas Williams (I Quit Match)
The bell rings and Kendrick goes right the attack but Williams quickly turns the match into his favor.  The referee keeps on shoving the microphone in Kendrick’s face but he won’t quit.  Williams begins beating down and putting Kendrick in submission holds but he still won’t quit.  Williams continues by hitting a series of suplexes before he pulling out his dueling gloves to slap Kendrick across the face.  Kendrick finally gets a bit of fire in him and comes at Williams with a series of kicks before locking in the cobra clutch.  Kendrick keeps the move locked in until Williams finally says “I quit” while tapping out.

Kendrick’s celebration is cut short as Kevin Nash’s music hits.  Nash comes out to the ring and Kendrick gets in his face and he answers back with a chokeslam.  Nash then gets on the microphone and says that he is tired of Hogan and Bischoff dodging him and says there is only one like him and he cannot be replaced.  Nash then says maybe they will start paying attention if he takes out a few of the young boys.

Nash begins to pick Kendrick off the mat as he is interrupted by Jeff Jarrett’s music.  Jarrett comes out and warns Nash that he could be suspended like Sting was if he goes any further.  Jarrett says it is not about them anymore and calls him an egotistical son of a bitch.  Nash stares down Jarrett and says if he is looking for trouble, then he has found it.  Nash then leaves the ring as Jarrett stands in the ring and thinks about what just happened.

After a commercial break the docu-cam catches up with Kevin Nash who is wondering why Jeff Jarrett is defending the very people who have taken over the company he created.

Match 3: Desmond Wolfe vs. Rob Terry vs. Samoa Joe
Terry and Joe join up to beat down Wolfe as Magnus joins the announce team.  Wolfe is sent out to the floor as Terry and Joe square off until Wolfe returns and breaks them up.  Wolfe sends Joe out to the floor and sets his sights on Terry and works over his knee before he starts yelling at Chelsea.  Wolfe then continues wearing down Terry’s legs while keeping Joe out of the ring.  Terry fights back into the match with a series of clotheslines but Joe comes in and takes Terry out with a kick from the middle ropes.  Joe then locks Wolfe in a rear naked choke and makes Wolfe tap out to pick up the victory.

After the match, Joe shows Terry a little sign of respect and leaves the ring as Magnus is drooling over Chelsea and her hot pink top.

The docu-cam is with Ric Flair and he promises that he will make a huge announcement tonight that will bring forth a bigger change that will send TNA in a direction that will spiral bigger and bigger.  Flair says he is doing it because he is Flair and he can.

Match 4: Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (Best of Five: Ladder Match)
A video recap is aired which shows the controversial tag team match from Victory Road that was restarted.  The first match in the best of five series is a ladder match and will be contested over who gets to name the stipulation in the second match.

Beer Money attacks the Machine Guns prior to the bell and they isolate Alex Shelley in the ring.  Chris Sabin comes back and helps out his partner and sends both members of Beer Money out to the floor before diving through the ropes and taking them out.  The Guns then bring a ladder into the ring but Beer Money is there and prevents them from using it.  Beer Money then sets the ladder up in the corner and crotch Sabin into it.

Roode then sets his focus on Shelley as Storm begins climbing the ladder but Shelley is able to get away and push the ladder down.  Storm then hits Shelley with a ladder and brings another one in the ring and uses it to crush Shelley.  Sabin then flies into the ring and kicks Storm hard in the face but ends up being turned inside out with a clothesline from Roode.

Roode begins to climb the ladder but Shelley hits him with a ladder.  The Guns then set up a ladder and drive Roode’s face into it.  Storm then recovers and takes out both members of the Guns, putting extra focus on Sabin to make up for the hard kick to the face.  Sabin, though, is able to hang Storm up in the corner and does the hesitation dropkick into a ladder that goes into Storm’s face.

The Guns then focus their attention on Roode and send him into a ladder that has been set up between the ring and the railing.  The Guns then take turns dropping onto him which gets the fans into a “TNA!” chant.  After seeing a few replays, we come back to see Storm take Shelley out by shoving a ladder into his face.

Storm then goes after Sabin who is climbing a ladder and the ladder is pushed over by Roode, who was shoved by Shelley.  Storm falls out to the floor and Sabin stays on and moves it into position while on the ladder.  The referee is also sent out to the floor and doesn’t notice Sabin fighting Roode off the ladder and grabbing the contract.  Storm then sneaks in from behind and smashes a beer bottle over his head and grabs the contract to win the match.

Abyss is seen in the back and using his nail board to smash open a watermelon.  Abyss is eating the fruit off his weapon as we head into a commercial break.

Match 5: Matt Morgan vs. D’Angelo Dinero
Morgan and Dinero feel each other out in the opening moments of the match.  Dinero is able to get in a flurry of offense and knocks Morgan down with a dropkick before hitting the codebreaker to pick up the surprising pin fall.

The Pope begins to celebrate his victory but Morgan knocks him down from behind before hitting a fallaway slam.  Morgan then lays Dinero out with a Carbon Footprint and sets him up for a big boot against the ring post but Mr. Anderson comes out to stop it from happening.  Anderson then rolls the Pope in the ring and Morgan follows but Anderson turns around attacks Morgan.  Morgan escapes the ring and yells at Anderson and tells him that he is done.  Anderson then extends his hand out to the Pope but the Pope is reluctant to shake his hand.  Anderson then backs off and walks away.

The Beautiful People are seen in the locker room and Lacey is telling Velvet to calm down about Madison.  Velvet says she has been acting like they don’t exist and then thinks she can add a fourth person into the group without telling them about it first.  Lacey wants to hear her side of the story and Velvet says she will and follow by putting her foot in her ass before walking away.

After a commercial break, Madison Rayne is in the ring and announces that she is protesting her disqualification loss at Victory Road.  Madison says neither of the Beautiful People interfered in the match and demands that the Knockouts Championship be returned to her in seven days or she will sue TNA for all that it is worth.

Lacey Von Erich and Velvet Sky then walk down to the ring and Velvet gets in Madison’s face and yells at her for bringing someone into their group without telling them first.  Madison said she did what she did what she had to and took matters into her own hands.  Madison then reiterates the fact that she doesn’t need them as the two stare each other down as Lacey tries to get in between them.

Angelina Love then comes out and interrupts the scrabble.  Angelina says she isn’t dumb and knows it was her on the motorcycle as she couldn’t have mistaken those fake boobs.  Velvet says it clearly wasn’t her as the person had a dumpy ass.  Velvet then says she has had enough and walks out of the ring and tells Angelina to have at Madison.

Madison then begins to yell at Angelina to walk down to the ring and hand back her Knockouts Championship.  Angelina enters the ring and tells Madison to try and take it from her.  The two then begin brawling in the ring as the mysterious woman on the motorcycle comes down to the ring and begins attacking Angelina as Lacey Von Erich is standing on the ramp.  Madison then goes out and grabs a chair and lays out Angelina with a DDT onto the chair.  Madison and the masked woman then leave on the motorcycle.

The docu-cam is with Jeff Hardy who says Jay Lethal defeated Ric Flair at Victory Road and he wonders if Lethal can defeat Jeff Hardy tonight.

Match 6: Jay Lethal vs. Jeff Hardy
Lethal and Hardy go back and forth in the opening minute with Hardy picking up a pin attempt but Lethal easily kicks out.  Lethal then dropkicks Hardy out to the floor and follows with a suicide dive through the ropes that sends Hardy into the guard railing.  We then see Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Raven and Stevie Richards heading into the Impact Zone.  The match returns to the ring and Lethal picks up a near fall after hitting a dropkick on Hardy.

Hardy comes back with a clothesline but Lethal quickly turns the match into his favor and picks up another near fall after hitting a missile dropkick.  Lethal shows some signs of frustration and tries to go for the Lethal Combination but Hardy counters with a Twist of Fate.  Hardy then heads to the top rope and hits a Swanton Bomb to pick up the clean pin fall.

Abyss is seen walking in the back with his nail board as we head into a commercial.

After a commercial break, Ric Flair is in the ring with AJ Styles and Kazarian.  Flair announces that he has picked the first two members of Fortune and they are the best two wrestlers in TNA, Styles and Kazarian.  Desmond Wolfe comes down to the ring and says he deserves to be in Fortune, not Styles or Kazarian, as they are interrupted by Abyss’ music.

Abyss comes down to the ring and clears everyone out and calls RVD down to the ring.  RVD’s music hits as he walks down the ramp towards the ring.  Abyss says it is time to share the plans that they have for him.  Abyss says they will be coming to TNA soon and will be taking over.  Abyss then challenges RVD to an extreme match by hanging Janice above the ring and use ladders, chairs, tacks, glass, or whatever they want.

RVD takes the microphone away from Abyss and says he really loves being champion and being able to set the standards when he is faced by a monster like him.  RVD then hits Abyss with the TNA Championship and begins taking him down with a series of kicks.  Abyss begins to fight back and takes RVD out with a big boot and a chokeslam.

Abyss then begins walking towards Janice as Mick Foley comes out of the entrance ramp.  Rhino, Stevie Richards, Raven and Tommy Dreamer then hop over the guard railing and begin beating Abyss down and take out the security that tries to stop them.  The locker room begins to spill out as talent, security, agents, and referees come out to try to stop the melee but to no avail.

During the brawl it appears that Al Snow and Pat Kenney is taking the sides of the former ECW stars.  Jeff Jarrett then comes out and trys to reason with people as police are brought into the ring.  Dixie Carter then gets on the microphone and yells at everyone to stop.  Dixie tells everyone in the ring that she invited them as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Sarita defeated Taylor Wilde in a street fight by submission.
- Brian Kendrick defeated Douglas Williams in an I Quit match.
- Samoa Joe defeated Desmond Wolfe and Rob Terry in a three-way match.
- Beer Money defeated the Motorcity Machine Guns in a ladder match in the first match of their five match series.
- D’Angelo Dinero defeated Matt Morgan by pin fall.
- Jeff Hardy defeated Jay Lethal by pin fall.

Quick results for the Victory Road pay-per-view.

Match 1: Douglas Williams vs. Brian Kendrick (Ultimate X for X Division Championship)
Although Douglas Williams revealed he has a fear of heights, Williams begins making his way across the Ultimate X cable towards the X Division Championship.  Brian Kendrick goes after Williams and wraps his legs around the champion before pulling them both down from the cables.  Kendrick takes the brunt of the fall and Williams puts Kendrick in a submission choke hold until the referee calls for the bell.

Match 2: Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal vs. Brother Devon
Brother Devon was locked in the locker room for a good portion of the match.  Once Devon made it to the ring, he went toe-to-toe with Brother Ray as the former ECW wrestlers looked on from the stands.  Jesse Neal then went for a spear on Ray but missed and hit Devon instead.  Ray then hit Neal with a Bubba Bomb to pick up the pin fall as the ECW wrestlers cheered him on from the stands.

Match 3: Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love (TNA Knockouts Championship vs. Career)
After some back and forth action between Angelina Love and Madison Rayne a mysterious woman rides a motorcycle up the ramp and towards the ring.  The woman, who is wearing a motorcycle helmet, sends Angelina into the steel ring post and the referee calls for the bell.  Due to the match stipulation, Angelina is awarded the Knockouts Championship even though it was never revealed if it was one of the Beautiful People behind the interference.

Match 4: AJ Styles & Kazarian vs. Samoa Joe & Rob Terry
Samoa Joe and Rob Terry were revealed to be the mystery opponents and worked well together in the opening moments of the match.  Joe then tries for a muscle buster on Kazarian but Desmond Wolfe runs down to the ringside area and pulls Joe out to the floor.  This gives Styles and Kazarian an opening for a springboard forearm and springboard leg drop double team move on Terry.  Styles then hits a springboard 450 splash to pick up the pin fall.  Styles and Kazarian briefly celebrate the victory after the match and Joe gets revenge on Wolfe by taking him out with a muscle buster.

Match 5: Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez (Steel Cage Match)
Morgan busted Hernandez open and started to exit the cage but decided against it and went back in.  Hernandez began to mount a comeback and climbed up to the top of the cage but missed with a splash.  Morgan then used the missed opportunity to handcuff Hernandez to the ring ropes and started climbing to the top of the cage.  Hernandez, though, busted out of the cuffs and dove through the cage door and onto the floor to win the match.

Match 6: Ric Flair vs. Jay Lethal
Ric Flair worked over Jay Lethal’s knee and locked him in the figure four and uses the ropes for leverage until the referee sees what is happening and makes him break the hold.  Flair then tries to wear Lethal down with a sleeper hold but Lethal fought his way out and begins to focus on Flair’s knee.  Lethal then locks Flair in a figure four of his own and makes Flair tap out to his own signature move.  Lethal then celebrates the victory as Flair gets in the face of Earl Hebner.

Match 7: Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (TNA Tag Team Championship)
The two tag teams fought and picked up plenty of near falls while the fans let out a “this is awesome” chant.  The two teams each scored a pin fall during a double pin with two referees but since there wasn’t a decisive winner, the match was restarted.  Soon after the match begins again the Motorcity Machine Guns hit a series of double team moves on Robert Roode to pick up the pin fall and win the TNA Tag Team Championship for the first time.

Match 8: Kurt Angle vs. D’Angelo Dinero (Contenders Battle)
Kurt Angel and D’Angelo Dinero went back and forth to start this match out.  The Pope picked up a near fall after hitting a facebuster but Angle came back and scored a near fall of his own after taking the Pope down with an Angle Slam.  Angle then put Dinero in an ankle lock but is countered with a rollup by Dinero for another near fall.  The Pope then goes for a sunset flip but Angle counters into another ankle lock and makes Dinero tap out.  Angle then helped Dinero to his feet and shook hands before leaving the ring.

Match 9: Rob Van Dam vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss (TNA World Championship)
Anderson, Hardy and Abyss all scored near falls on each other with the third person breaking up the pin attempt.  Anderson and Hardy then went at it with Hardy hitting Anderson with a Twist of Fate followed by a Swanton Bomb.  Abyss then grabbed Hardy and chokeslammed him onto Anderson and covered both of them as RVD hit a Five Star Frog Splash and covered Anderson to pick up the pin fall and retain the TNA World Championship.  Abyss then grabbed his nail board and took a swing at RVD but missed as he rolled out of the way as the Victory Road PPV came to a close.

Quick Results
- Douglas Williams defeated Brian Kendrick by submission to retain the X Division Championship.
- Brother Ray defeated Brother Devon and Jesse Neal by pin fall.
- Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne by disqualification to win the TNA Knockouts Championship.
- AJ Styles & Kazarian defeated Samoa Joe & Rob Terry by pin fall.
- Hernandez defeated Matt Morgan in a steel cage match by escaping the cage.
- Jay Lethal defeated Ric Flair by submission.
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Beer Money to win the vacant TNA Tag Team Championship.
- Kurt Angle defeated D’Angelo Dinero by submission.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy and Abyss in a four-way match to retain the TNA World Championship.

TNA’s Victory Road pay-per-view comes to us live this Sunday from the Impact Zone in Orlando, FL.  A four-way match for the TNA World Championship highlights the show and is one of the four title matches on the card.  Five additional matches round out the event.

- Rob Van Dam vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss (TNA World Championship)
- Ric Flair vs. Jay Lethal
- Kurt Angle vs. D’Angelo Dinero (Contenders Battle)
- Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez (Steel Cage Match)
- Douglas Williams vs. Brian Kendrick (Ultimate X for X Division Championship)
- Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (TNA Tag Team Championship)
- Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love (TNA Knockouts Championship vs. Career)
- AJ Styles & Kazarian vs. TBA
- Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal vs. Brother Devon

Rob Van Dam vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss (TNA World Championship)
When the newest Top 10 rankings came out, the top three places were undecided between Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy and Abyss.  A three-way match was booked to determine who would face RVD at Victory Road but it ended with a triple count out and this four-way match was booked.  Along the way, Abyss turned heel while Hardy and Anderson has had some tension between them.

On paper, this is a solid match but I didn’t particularly enjoy the build up to this match.  Seeing Abyss revert back into his monster persona was a much needed change and the inevitable tension between Hardy and Anderson was bound to come sometime, albeit a bit soon for my liking, but not much emphasis was put into the TNA World Championship or RVD.  Because of that sole reason, I am not looking forward to this match at all.

As Michael Cole always likes to point out, the champion only has a 25% chance of retaining his title in this type of match and the odds are stacked against him.  While RVD’s championship reign has gone downhill over the last month, I don’t feel that he will be dropping the title at Victory Road.  Mr. Anderson would be a logical choice but a feud with D’Angelo Dinero is around the corner, Abyss will more than likely continue his feud with Hulk Hogan and I don’t think TNA would allow Hardy to hold their main championship with his court case coming up.
Maybe RVD has a better chance of retaining the gold after all.

Starman’s Prediction: Rob Van Dam to retain the TNA World Championship.

Ric Flair vs. Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal has dropped the Black Machismo gimmick and has added a spot on impersonation of the Nature Boy to his repertoire.  Ric Flair didn’t find this amusing and took it out on Lethal’s brother by beating him down with some help from AJ Styles.  Lethal will now take on his idol as Flair makes his return to pay-per-view.

I’m not looking forward to seeing Ric Flair wrestling in the ring, but I am happy for Jay Lethal for getting the opportunity to wrestle someone of Flair’s status.  Lethal has taken out both AJ Styles and Kazarian lately, so I expect more of the same with this match.  This would be a huge win for Lethal and would do more for him than it will for Flair.  If Flair does pull out a win, it will probably be due to some interference.

Starman’s Prediction: Jay Lethal to win the match.

Kurt Angle vs. D’Angelo Dinero (Contenders Battle)
Kurt Angle is continuing on his quest to work his way up the Top 10 rankings by beating everyone on the list.  He defeated Kazarian at Slammiversary and recently defeated Desmond Wolfe on an episode of Impact.  Next in his sights is #8, D’Angelo Dinero, who is coming off a shoulder injury.  To add to the match, Angle stated that if he loses, he will retire from wrestling.

That added retirement stipulation gives this match a little something extra, but I don’t expect Angle to lose any time soon.  Angle will most likely make Dinero look good in the process and Dinero always has an excuse for losing as it is his first match back from his shoulder injury.  Even if Dinero isn’t at 100% for this match, it should be a lot of fun to watch.

Starman’s Prediction: Kurt Angle to win the match.

Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez (Steel Cage Match)
Hernandez recently made his return to TNA after his former tag team partner, Matt Morgan, put him on the shelf.  The two met in a match at Slammiversary but it quickly ended in a disqualification after Hernandez shoved the referee.  The two have crossed paths a few times over the last month and Morgan took out Hernandez’s former partner, Homicide, to show him what he is capable of.

I could see this match going either way.  Hernandez could win to get some sort of retribution for what Morgan did to him and his friend.  On the other hand, Morgan could win the match and impress Ric Flair to be invited to join his new faction.  It’s a tough call but I have to go with Hernandez on this one.  This could be a fun match as well with these two big men in the cage.  I also guarantee that Mike Tenay will let a ‘six sides of steel’ slip during the match.

Starman’s Prediction: Hernandez to win the cage match.

Douglas Williams vs. Brian Kendrick (Ultimate X for X Division Championship)
Douglas Williams and Brian Kendrick will have a rematch from last month’s pay-per-view, but instead of a straight up match for the X Division Championship, it will be a combination of an Ultimate X match and a submission match.  The title will be suspended above the ring but it doesn’t necessarily need to be taken down if the match ends with a submission.

It was recently brought out that Williams is afraid of heights and Kendrick has also added a cobra clutch submission move to his arsenal.  Seems like the deck is stacked against the champion in this match and this could be a good way to get the title off of Williams and on to someone else.  Williams has been great as a champion, but he can also be great as a challenger.

Starman’s Prediction: Brian Kendrick to win the X Division Championship.

Beer Money vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns (TNA Tag Team Championship)
Due to the personal troubles with Scott Hall, the Band was recently stripped of the TNA Tag Team Championships.  A short tag team tournament was then held with the winners facing the #1 contenders, the Motorcity Machine Guns.  Beer Money defeated Ink Inc. in the finals and this match was decided.

I really hope this is the time that the Motorcity Machine Guns get their due and win the TNA Tag Team Championship.  This team has been around far too long and has been fan favorites far too long not to have held the titles.  No disrespect to Beer Money, who are a great tag team in their own right, but this night better belong to the Machine Guns.

Starman’s Prediction: The Motorcity Machine Guns to win the TNA Tag Team Championship.

Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love (TNA Knockouts Championship vs. Career)
Angelina Love has shown quite the mean streak as of late and has personally taken out two of the three members of the Beautiful People.  Madison Rayne is the only one left and Angelina will face her in a title vs. career match at Victory Road.  It was also announced that if the Beautiful People interfere during the match, Madison will be disqualified and Angelina will be awarded the title.

Madison has been making a name for herself by retiring Knockouts with the title vs. career stipulation.  I have a feeling, though, that it will come to an end with this match as Angelina becomes a four-time Knockouts Champion.  I could even see Angelina being brought back into the Beautiful People group with Madison being tossed out.

Starman’s Prediction: Angelina Love to win the TNA Knockouts Championship.

AJ Styles & Kazarian vs. TBA
AJ Styles and Kazarian have been at odds as of late as they have both have been mentored by Ric Flair.  The two fought each other in a match that was aired this past Thursday on Impact that ended in a double count out.  Flair then came out and called them a special breed of wrestlers and booked them in a tag team match against an unknown tag team.  Flair promises that they won’t be happy campers if they lose the match.

It is hard to say who the two could be going up against and, quite frankly, I really hate these mystery opponents when it comes down to pay-per-view matches.  Since I do not know who the opponents are I am reserving the right not to voice a prediction for this match.

Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal vs. Brother Devon
Brother Ray has been at odds with Brother Devon and Jesse Neal for quite a while now.  Ray stated that even though Neal was trained at their wrestling school, he is still an ungrateful punk and called out his brother as he has problems with his loyalty.  Ray then went on to say that Eric Bischoff granted him this three-way match and says that Devon’s true loyalty will come out on Sunday.

This is similar to the match between Ray and Neal that took place last month at Slammiversary.  I predicted then that the match would either end with Devon turning on Neal and joining Ray in a beat down or it would cause friction between Team 3D.  I’m sticking with those predictions and will say that Ray and Devon won’t see eye to eye and begin a brotherly feud.

Starman’s Prediction: Jesse Neal to win the match.

That is the Victory Road PPV in a nutshell.  Unlike the last pay-per-view, I predict that we will see a couple of titles change hands, plus the fans are guaranteed to see at least one new champion crowned as the vacant tag team championships are up for grabs.

Overall, the card has a few week spots but a few of them (Angle/Dinero, Morgan/Hernandez, Beer Money/Machine Guns) could make up for the rest of the card.  It’s not one of the best lineups that TNA has put out, but it isn’t one of the worst either.

As always, live coverage of Victory Road will take place on Gerweck.net starting at 8PM EST.

Impact opens with a video package highlighting Mr. Anderson and his persona and whether or not he can be trusted.  The voiceover guy wonders if Jeff Hardy will ever trust Anderson again after what happened last week.    Anderson is then seen walking into the Impact Zone and is carrying a chair to the ring.

Anderson gets on the microphone and introduces Jeff Hardy to the ring.  Hardy comes out to the ring and Anderson tells Hardy that what happened last week wasn’t on purpose.  Anderson says if he was to hit him with a chair on purpose he would have bragged about it because he is an asshole.

He then goes on to say that he will be bring a chair to the ring for their match and if he uses it on Hardy, then he will know that there is a problem.  If, however, Hardy uses it on him, then he will have a problem with Hardy.  Anderson then walks away as Hardy stays in the ring with a confused look on his face.

The docu-cam is with AJ Styles who says is disappointed in himself but doesn’t understand why he has to prove himself by wrestling Kazarian.  Styles says that he hopes Ric Flair is happy with the outcome of the match as he will tear him apart.

After a commercial break, the docu-cam is backstage with Jeff Hardy who says he always questions people when they hit him with a chair.

Match 1: Kazarian vs. AJ Styles
AJ Styles goes right on the attack as the two go back and forth with a series of arm drags and blows.  Kazarian is then able to take Styles down with a monkey flip before picking up a two count after hitting a dropkick.  Kazarian then puts Styles in a headlock as Ric Flair makes his way to the ringside area.

Styles then turns the tide of the match with a dropkick of his own and picks up a two count after hitting a backbreaker.  Styles then puts Kazarian in a headlock before setting up for the Styles Clash but Kazarian is able to get out of the move.  Styles, though, comes back with a backbreaker and picks up another two count.  Kazarian follows by countering another move and hits Styles with a slingshot leg drop for another near fall.

Kazarian then sets Styles up in the corner and Styles fights him off before hitting him with a Pele kick.  Kazarian is able to come back and takes out Styles with a slingshot over the ropes.  They both land hard on the outside and end up both being counted out of the match.

Flair then comes in the ring and calls them both a special breed of man and says he got them a match together at Victory Road.  Flair tells them to bring it and says that they won’t be happy campers if they don’t win on Sunday.  Flair then leaves the ring without telling them who their opponents will be.

Angelina Love is seen getting dressed in the backstage area and is topless as she is trying to pick out what top she is going to wear to the ring.  Mike Tenay tells us that she will be up next on Impact.

Match 2: Daffney vs. Angelina Love
Daffney tries to put Angelina in an armbar but Angelina quickly takes control of the match and takes her out with a series of clotheslines and kicks.  Angelina then puts Daffney in a headlock but she escapes after hitting a jawbreaker.  Angelina quickly gets back into the match and hits the Lights Out to pick up the pin fall.

Angelina then gets on the microphone and warns Madison Rayne that she will become the first ever four-time Knockouts Champion.  Madison Rayne comes out and wants to know what Angelina is going to put on the line in their match.  Madison suggests her to put her career on the line and Angelina agrees but adds a stipulation.  Angelina says she talked with the championship committee and says if the Beautiful People get involved in the match, Madison will be disqualified and Angelina will win the title.

The docu-cam catches up with Brother Devon and asks what he is going to say to his brother if they run into each other tonight.  Devon says that we’ll see later tonight.

A video package highlighting the tension between Brother Ray and Brother Devon with the way they have been handling the Jesse Neal/Ink Inc. situation is aired.  Devon is then seen standing in the ring with Ink Inc. and calls Ray down to the ring to straighten things out.  Ray comes out and stands in the entrance ramp and Devon says the two of them trained Neal and he showed respect to them and the school since day one.

Devon also brings up Neal’s past in the military and how he served for his country and talks about more respect.  Devon wants to know exactly what his problem is with Neal.  Ray says he doesn’t answer to anyone but says his problem with Neal is because he is a disrespectful punk and he now has a problem with Devon since he has no loyalty.  Devon says his loyalty lies with the both of them and says he isn’t going to pick sides.

Ray then goes on to say that Eric Bischoff has granted him a match at Victory Road against Neal and Devon in a triple threat match.  Ray says Devon’s true loyalties will come out on Sunday.  Ray then walks back up the ramp as we head into a commercial break.

Match 3: Samoa Joe vs. Rob Van Dam (Non-title Match)
Mike Tenay says Samoa Joe feels that he should be ranked higher than his sixth spot as he beat AJ Styles last week and Sting has been suspended.  Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff then granted Joe this match to prove himself.

The match starts and the two exchange blows and kicks until RVD knocks Joe down with a spin kick.  RVD heads to the top rope and Joe gets up and tries for a muscle buster but instead shoves RVD down to the floor and the champ crashes into the entrance ramp. Joe then follows by diving through the ropes and onto RVD on the floor.  A shot of Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino and Stevie Richards entering the Impact Zone is aired as Joe rolls RVD back into the ring.

Joe goes for a couple of pin attempts but RVD fights his way back into the match and chokes Joe in the corner with his boot.  Joe, though, comes back into the match by taking RVD down with a snap slam and picks up another near fall.  Joe then tries to wear RVD down with a headlock but RVD fights his way out of it but Joe nearly decapitates the champ with a hard clothesline.

RVD is able to recover and get back into the match and takes Joe down with a series of kicks before connecting with a rolling thunder but only picks up a two count.  RVD then takes Joe down with a kick off the top rope but Joe kicks out of another pin attempt.  Joe then connects with another clothesline and the two are laid out on the mat.  They both make their way up and Joe sends RVD crashing down to the mat with a powerbomb and keeps holding the legs and puts RVD in a Boston Crab but RVD fights his way to the ropes.

Joe then hits RVD with a couple of head butts before putting RVD in the rear naked choke but RVD is able to standup and use the turnbuckle to shift the momentum and picks up the pin fall.  Joe is exhausted but cannot believe that he was just pinned by RVD.  Joe then stands up as RVD celebrates with the championship in the ring.  Joe just stares him down as RVD leaves the ring.  Joe then slaps the referee and gives him the muscle buster before leaving the ring.

Kurt Angle is with the docu-cam who says he is working his way up to the top as the pressure makes him a better competitor.  He then warns Jeff Hardy to watch his back when he is in the ring with Mr. Anderson.

Match 4: Jeremy Buck vs. Douglas Williams (Ladder Match)
The red ‘X’ is hanging above the ring for this ladder match.  The match starts and Buck takes Williams down with a cross body block before hitting a moonsault off the ring apron and crashes into Williams on the floor.  Buck heads out for a ladder and sets it up in the ring but Williams is able to take Buck out and begins to climb the ladder but is slow as he is showing a fear of heights.

Buck kicks him off the ladder but Williams comes back and sets the ladder up in the corner before tossing Buck into it.  Buck, though, moves out of the way of the following charge and flips Williams into the ladder.  Buck then faceplants Williams into the ladder and begins scaling the ladder for the X but Williams takes him out by slamming him down to the canvas.

Buck rolls out to the floor as Williams begins to slowly climb the ladder towards the top.  Buck recovers, though, and leaps onto the ladder and flips over Williams and takes him down with a powerbomb.  Buck then climbs the ladder and grabs the X to pick up the upset win over the X Division Champion.  After the match, Williams freaks out and throws the ladder out to the floor as we head into a commercial break.
A video is aired in which Alex Shelley explains that he has a problem with his tag team partner, Chris Sabin, as he was once just like himself but has changed after getting into Beer Money.  Video of Sabin laying on the couch and also slipping of the top rope is aired and Shelley warns parents not to let their kids end up like Sabin.  This brings us into a six-man tag team match.

Match 5: Beer Money & Matt Morgan vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns & Hernandez
The match starts and Sabin hits a flurry of offense and takes Robert Roode down with a hurricanrana before tagging in his partner for some double team moves.  Roode is able to tag in James Storm before Sabin is tagged back into the match.  Storm, though, distracts the referee as Matt Morgan takes Sabin out with a big boot on the apron.  Morgan is tagged into the match and toys with Sabin before tagging Storm back in.

Storm continues on the attack and turns it over to Roode who picks up a couple of near falls before Sabin finally takes him down with a kick.  Sabin then rolls to his corner and tags in Hernandez who takes out both members of Beer Money before setting his sights on Morgan, who bails from the ringside area.  Hernandez and Shelley then work some double team moves before Hernandez runs out after Morgan.  Back in the ring, Sabin takes Storm out with a dive out to the floor as Shelley hits a cross body block on Roode but Roode counters and picks up the pin fall.

The docu-cam is with the Pope who says he doesn’t trust Mr. Anderson but that’s not his problem right now.  Dinero says he is focused on Kurt Angle who has made it clear that if he loses, it will be his last match.  He says Angle is motivated and needs to bring his a-game to Victory Road.

Kevin Nash is seen waiting in a conference room and says he is still waiting to talk to Eric Bischoff.  Hulk Hogan finally walks in and says they still aren’t straight since he swerved them to bring his friends into TNA.  Hogan says that wasn’t cool with him and says he will talk to Bischoff to see how he feels before sending him his way.

Jay Lethal is in the ring and says that it ripped his heart out to see his childhood idol beat on his brother.  Lethal promises to tear Ric Flair’s heart at Victory Road and promises to make his mother proud by defeating Flair on Sunday.  Lethal is then cut off by Flair’s music as the Nature Boy comes walking down to the ring.

Flair says he doesn’t care about Lethal’s mother and warns Lethal that he is crazy.  Flair says Lethal doesn’t belong in the same ring and says in three days Lethal will have to go up against a god and will have his ass handed to him.  Lethal and Flair then stare down each other face to face before Flair leaves the ring.

The announce team then run down the Victory Road card and say that two of four competitors in the main event will be facing off right now.

Match 6: Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
Mr. Anderson comes down to the ring with a steel chair just as he said he would.  The bell rings to get this match started and Anderson picks up a two count on Hardy after hitting a neckbreaker.  Hardy fights back and takes Anderson down with a corkscrew flip from the ropes and picks up a near fall of his own.  Hardy then tries for a Twist of Fate but Anderson counters with a forward roll and picks up another near fall.  Anderson then heads out to the top rope and tries for a Swanton Bomb but Hardy rolls out of the way and hits Anderson with a Twist of Fate to pick up the pin fall.

After the match, Hardy checks on Anderson and Abyss’s music hits as he comes out to the ring with his board full of nails.  The referee takes the weapon away as Hardy and Anderson team up to go after Abyss.  Abyss, though, takes them both down with a double clothesline and takes Hardy out with a chokeslam and takes Anderson out with a big boot.

Abyss then takes his weapon back and swings at Anderson but he moves out of the way and he hits the turnbuckle.  Abyss rips the turnbuckle off the ropes as RVD comes running out to the ring.  Abyss quickly takes RVD out and out to the floor as Anderson and Hardy sneak in from behind.  Anderson has the chair in his hands and tells Hardy to get out of the way as he hits Abyss in the back.  RVD then takes the chair and hits Abyss with the Van Terminator that knocks him out of the ring.  RVD, Hardy and Anderson stand together in the ring as Abyss is seen climbing back into the ring as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Kazarian and AJ Styles fought to a double count out.
- Angelina Love defeated Daffney by pin fall.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Samoa Joe by pin fall.
- Jeremy Buck defeated Douglas Williams in a ladder match.
- Beer Money & Matt Morgan defeated the Motorcity Machine Guns & Hernandez by pin fall.
- Jeff Hardy defeated Mr. Anderson by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight was a decent go-home show for Victory Road.  Most of the major matches going into the card were highlighted and the TNA Champion, Rob Van Dam, finally got some much needed television time.

It has bothered me that RVD has been pushed aside the last few weeks in favor of his three opponents.  More attention has been give to Abyss’ heel turn and the possible tension between Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson with RVD pretty much absent for the most part until tonight.

RVD finally got to wrestle and put on a good match against Samoa Joe.  For television, it was one of the better matches that has been on Impact in a few weeks.  I was surprised on how long it went and that RVD scored a clean victory over Joe, although RVD needed some momentum going into the pay-per-view and Joe didn’t look weak in the loss.

It’s just too bad, though, that TNA didn’t hype this match very much and went up against the LeBron James press conference.  Yes, he is going to Miami for those who haven’t heard already.  Cleveland’s futility in all sports will now continue on for several more decades.

Douglas Williams, on the other hand, lost a lot of momentum going into Victory Road by losing a ladder match to Jeremy Buck.  Sure, it was a gimmick match and it did set up the fact that Williams has a fear of heights, but I just wish that Williams would have won the match, showing that he was capable of going up against Brian Kendrick in an Ultimate X match.  At the very least, Williams should have lost to a possible X Division contender, not a tag team wrestler like Jeremy Buck.

The exchange between Ric Flair and Jay Lethal was golden tonight and even though I am not looking forward to seeing Flair wrestle once again, I am looking forward to their match.  It still amazes me that no matter how incoherent Flair is, he can still deliver a promo better than most of the others on the roster.

It was also great to see that TNA brought in the Championship vs. Career stipulation prior to the pay-per-view this Sunday in the match between Madison Rayne and Angelina Love.  This stipulation was tacked on to Rayne’s match against Roxxi last month and it would have been more effective knowing about it ahead of time.  What makes the stipulation even better, though, is that the rest of the Beautiful People are barred from interfering in the match.

Finally, even though she lost, I enjoyed seeing Daffney in the ring.  The Knockouts Division isn’t what it used to be, but it is better with Daffney back in the picture.

As always, I will be giving my preview and predictions on Victory Road this weekend, so come back for that.

A video package highlighting the friendship and fallout between Hulk Hogan and Abyss kicks off Impact.  We then head into the Impact Zone where Abyss, who is now wearing a black mask, is tossing chairs into the ring.  Abyss then turns his attention to SoCal Val who trips on the mat around the ring and falls to the ground.  Abyss points at Val but he is interrupted by Hulk Hogan’s music.

Hogan comes down to the ring and kicks some chairs around and calls Abyss into the ring.  Eric Bischoff comes out and gets in the middle of them and tells Hogan that the situation is nuts and tries to talk him out of confronting Abyss but Hogan wants nothing of it.  Security then comes into the ring and steps in between the two and Bischoff slaps Abyss across the face.

Abyss then goes crazy and takes out security and turns his attention to Bischoff but Hogan hits Abyss with a couple of chair shots to the back.  Abyss grabs Hogan by the throat but Jeff Hardy runs out and hits Abyss with a Twist of Fate before hitting the Swanton Bomb.  Hardy then leaves Abyss lying in the ring as he walks off with Hogan and Bischoff.  Abyss gets up, though, and calls Hardy to the ring but security separates the two.

The announce team then tells us that AJ Styles will take on Samoa Joe in a match that will effect the ratings.  Before they can say anything else, Abyss heads to the announce table and points at Taz and stares him down as we head into a commercial break.

After the break, Bischoff is talking to Hogan in the back and they are talking about taking out Abyss and getting rid of the cancer.  Hardy is pacing around behind them and he says he has Abyss tonight as Hogan and Bischoff say they will cover his back.  Hardy promises to take Abyss down as we head into the first match of the night.

Match 1: Ink Inc. vs. the Motorcity Machine Guns
Shelley and Moore go back and forth in the opening moments before Ink Inc. takes control of the match.  Moore then sends both members of the Guns out to the floor before diving over the ropes and taking them both out.  Brother Devon is then seen joining the announce team and says that he is out there to make sure that Brother Ray doesn’t interfere in the match.

Back to the action, the Guns have taken control of the match and have isolated Moore in their corner.  Moore is able to make a hot tag to Neal and he takes out both Shelley and Sabin before nearly picking up the pin fall after hitting a spear.  Neal then sets up Shelley in the corner for a superplex and Ray begins making his way towards the ring.  This distracts Neal as the Guns hit a double team move in the corner and pick up the pin fall.

The announce team then tells us that D’Angelo Dinero will be making his return to Impact as they are then cut off by Eric Bischoff’s music.  Bischoff announces that Hulk Hogan has booked tonight’s main event being Abyss against Jeff Hardy.  Bischoff then announces that to call the match down the middle, Rob Van Dam has been selected to be the guest referee for the match.

Dixie Carter is seen walking in the back and talking on the phone as Mike Tenay wonders what she is doing here and we head into a commercial break.  Once we return the docu-cam asks Dixie what she is doing there but she just keeps walking by.

Match 2: AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe
Ric Flair and Kazarian accompany Styles to the ring for this match.  The bell rings and the two lock up and Styles hits Joe with a couple of chops but they have no effect.  Styles retreats to the floor to regroup and Joe goes on the attack when he comes back in.  Joe picks up a couple of near falls until Styles comes back and pokes Joe in the eyes before taking him down with a dropkick.

Styles begins choking Joe out and follows with a body slam.  Styles then tries for a suplex but he can’t get Joe up and Joe counters with a front face suplex.  Joe isn’t able to capitalize, though, as Styles takes him out at the knees before putting Joe in a headlock.  Styles then tries for an Irish whip but Joe counters with a forearm to the face.  Joe then hits a couple of clotheslines and hits a senton backsplash but isn’t able to keep Styles down.

Joe then sets Styles up in the corner and tries for the muscle buster but Styles is able to counter and takes Joe down with a dragon screw.  Styles then goes for the figure four leg lock but Joe counters into the rear naked choke and makes Styles tap out.  Ric Flair cannot believe what he just saw and heads into the ring and pulls Styles up to his feet.  Flair, Kazarian and Styles talk in the ring for a moment before the two leave Styles in the ring.

Styles gets on a microphone and asks Kazarian if he thinks this is funny to him.  Styles says he can beat Kazarian in the ring whenever he wants.  Styles then challenges Kazarian to a match next week and Kazarian agrees to it.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are talking to Dixie Carter and want to talk to her about Sting.  Bischoff and Hogan say he is dangerous but Carter says that this is not like him.  Kevin Nash walks in but they send him out as they are in a meeting.  Bischoff then continues and tells Carter to look at the facts as to what he has done in the past few weeks.  Hogan says she needs to draw the line and get rid of Sting.  Carter promises to do something about it tonight.

Match 3: Desmond Wolfe vs. Brian Kendrick (Submission Match)
Wolfe and Chelsea show some tension prior to the match as she reluctantly grabs his ring gear.  The match starts and Kendrick goes on the attack and locks Wolfe in a cobra clutch but Wolfe makes it to the ropes.  The match spills out to the floor and Wolfe focuses much of his attention to Chelsea as he continues to attack Kendrick.  The match returns to the ring and Chelsea begins walking away which distracts Wolfe.  This allows Kendrick to put the cobra clutch back on Wolfe and makes him tap out to win the match.

The docu-cam catches up with Tommy Dreamer in Yonkers, NY, but he refuses to answer any questions as he says he is on his own time at the moment.  A video package highlighting D’Angelo Dinero’s time in TNA is aired as the Pope makes his return to Impact and his congregation.

The Pope comes out to the ring and gets a strong reaction from the crowd.  Dinero thanks the congregation for the warm welcome back and says his shoulder is at 80 percent.  The Pope says he hasn’t forgotten about Mr. Anderson and he isn’t buying into his lying and deceptive ways.  He then says he wants to earn his way back up to the top to take on the TNA Champion once again.

Kurt Angle’s music then hits as he comes down to the ring with a microphone.  Angle welcomes the Pope back to TNA and says he is a big fan of his.  Angle says the Pope is the future but he is also working his way to the top of TNA.  Angle says the two will meet at Victory Road and wants to shake his hand before saying he will be victorious.

A video package highlighting the feud between Jay Lethal and Ric Flair is aired.  This all led up to Flair and AJ Styles beating up Lethal’s brother last week.

Lethal then comes down to the ring with a microphone and begs Flair or Styles to come down to the ring so he can get his revenge for what they did to his brother.  Neither of them come out, but Matt Morgan does.  Morgan says he was the first person Flair asked to join Fortune but he hasn’t made his mind up about it yet but says they did see eye-to-eye about kicking his ass.

Match 4: Jay Lethal vs. Matt Morgan
Morgan goes on the attack and begins to pick Lethal apart before taking him down with a fallaway slam.  Morgan then misses with a kick and crotches himself on the ring rope, which gives Lethal an opening.  Lethal takes Morgan down with a shoulder block and a dropkick to the face to get a two count on Morgan.  Lethal then goes for a springboard but Morgan catches Lethal and dumps him out to the floor.  As the referee is looking out to Lethal, Hernandez runs down and hits Morgan with a low blow.  Lethal then connects with a springboard dropkick to pick up the pin fall.

The docu-cam sneaks up on Abyss who is driving nails into a 2×4.  Abyss says with each nail they take more and more control of TNA.  Abyss then stares down his new tool and says it looks like it is really going to hurt somebody.

Match 5: Taylor Wilde vs. Madison Rayne (Non-title Match)
The match starts and Madison spears Taylor down to the mat and slams her head into the canvas a couple of times before starting to choke her out.  Taylor fights her way back into the match but they take each other out with double clotheslines.  Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Stevie Richards and Raven are then seen walking in the crowd as the fans start an “ECW!” chant.  Back to the match, Taylor misses with a cross body block and Madison hits her finisher to pick up the pin fall.

After the match, Angelina Love slides in with a chair and hits Madison with it.  Angelina then tries to plant her onto the chair with a DDT but Madison squirms out and exits the ring.  Angelina then taunts Madison as she walks up the ramp.  We then see Dixie Carter heading up to the rafters to confront Sting as we head into a commercial break.

After the break we see Taylor Wilde and Sarita fighting in the back and Sarita is beating the hell out of her former partner.  Sarita says she is sick of losing and that she knows she doesn’t give a damn about her.  Security then comes in to break them up as Sarita gets in one last hard slap.

The announce team then go over what just happened between the former Knockouts Tag Team Champions before running down the current Victory Road card.  We then head to the rafters where Sting greets Dixie Carter.  Dixie says she doesn’t know what Sting is doing but she put her in a bad position.  Dixie then suspends Sting for 30-days without pay but Sting says he doesn’t care about money.  Sting says he has been trying to tell her but she isn’t listening.  Sting says she is being conned as Eric Bischoff runs in and says the conversation is over.  Sting says the suspension can be indefinite before walking away.  Bischoff tells Carter that Sting is not going away and needs protection.

Match 6: Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy (Guest Referee Rob Van Dam)
Abyss carries his new nail-board weapon to the ring but Hardy doesn’t seem to mind as he goes right on the attack and knocks it out of his hand.  RVD tosses the board out and the bell rings to get this match underway.  Hardy knocks Abyss out to the floor and Hardy dives over the ropes and takes Abyss out.  Hardy then tries for the Twist of Fate but Abyss shoves Hardy into the ring post.

Abyss sends Hardy into the ring and continues on the attack and picks up a two count after a side slam.  Abyss heads out and grabs a chair but RVD takes the chair away from the Monster.  This gives Hardy an opening and he takes Abyss down with a Whisper in the Wind but he isn’t able to keep Abyss down for the three count.  Abyss then comes back with a big boot and a splash, but Hardy is able to kick out.

Abyss then tries for the Shock Treatment but Hardy counters with a Twist of Fate.  Hardy then heads for the top rope but Abyss knocks him down.  Abyss then tries for a chokeslam but Hardy fights Abyss off and sends him down to the canvas.  Hardy then hits the Swanton Bomb on Abyss to pick up the pin fall.  Abyss then recovers and takes out both Hardy and RVD.

Abyss then heads out and grabs his nail-board but Mr. Anderson’s music hits and he comes running to the ring with a steel chair.  Anderson knocks the board out of Abyss’ hands and swings the chair at Abyss but he ducks out of the way and he connects with a shot to Hardy instead.  Anderson keeps looking down at Hardy as Abyss gets up and takes Anderson out with a Shock Treatment.  Abyss is then standing tall in the ring as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Ink Inc. by pin fall.
- Samoa Joe defeated AJ Styles by submission.
- Brian Kendrick defeated Desmond Wolfe by submission.
- Jay Lethal defeated Matt Morgan by pin fall.
- Madison Rayne defeated Taylor Wilde by pin fall.
- Jeff Hardy defeated Abyss by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
Abyss got a much needed updated look and was the main focus of tonight’s show.  Jeff Hardy took on Abyss in the main event where the TNA Champion, Rob Van Dam, was booked as the special guest referee.  Unfortunately for RVD, this was all of the camera time he got this week.

I’m glad to see TNA taking the time to build a credible heel contender, but RVD should not be pushed to the background each and every week.  It is a shame that he has barely been on television the past three weeks and a lack of the champion is making me want to see this four way match at Victory Road less and less every week.

The Pope returned to TNA after being put on the shelf with a shoulder injury and I can tell you that he was sorely missed.  He didn’t seem to miss a beat while gone, in fact, it almost seemed like he improved with the time off.  Dinero cut a fine promo and it was good to see that he hasn’t forgotten about Mr. Anderson even though it appears he has made a face turn… or has he?  At any rate, it’s too bad that Dinero will most likely lose his first match back in TNA to Kurt Angle.

AJ Styles and Samoa Joe had a decent television match this week and I was surprised to see Joe win cleanly over a higher ranked opponent.  It almost begs to wonder if Samoa Joe will eventually turn heel, if he isn’t already as it’s too hard to tell at times, and be a member of Ric Flair’s Fortune faction.

The group will need a credible main event star to help get it over and if Styles isn’t going to be in the group, someone needs to step in his place.  No offense to Desmond Wolfe, Kazarian or Beer Money, but I don’t see them belonging in the main event title scene at this point.  Flair got a ringside view of Joe today picking apart his former protégé in the ring and I could see it moving beyond that.

While I’m on the topic of Wolfe, he really needs something better to work with.  He had one of the best debuts in TNA in quite some time but it has been derailed to the point that he might as well just be a jobber at this point.  It’s amazing to see how much TNA has dropped the ball when it comes to Wolfe.

Finally, this has nothing to do with TNA whatsoever (although he did take part in a TNA event in the past), I wish Ricky Steamboat a speedy and safe recovery from the brain aneurysm.

A recap of last week’s 3-way match and heel turn of Abyss opens Impact.  We then head to the Impact Zone as Hulk Hogan’s music hits and he comes down to the ring.  Hogan gets on the microphone and says because of the count out in last week’s main event, he has decided to book a 4-way match at Victory Road for the TNA World Championship.  The four will be Abyss, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dam.

Abyss’ classic music then hits as the monster comes down to the ring.  Hogan thanks Abyss for coming out as he wants to ask why he turned last week.  Abyss says he did what he did last week because “they” told him to.  Abyss goes on to say that “they” are coming sooner than he thinks and there is nothing he, Eric Bischoff or Dixie Carter can do about it.  Hogan wants to know what “they” are and Abyss says everyone will find out soon enough and they are going to take over TNA.

Abyss then takes off Hogan’s Hall of Fame ring and says he doesn’t need that piece of garbage anymore and begins choking Hogan before putting the ring down his throat.  Abyss then goes out and grabs a bag of broken glass and pours it on the mat as RVD’s music hits and he comes out and attacks Abyss but ends up being powerbombed by the monster.

Mr. Anderson then comes out and hits Abyss with a series of chair shots to the back but Abyss doesn’t go down.  Anderson then slides out to the floor and pulls out RVD and Hogan to keep them away from Abyss as Abyss begins to yell “they’re coming” into the camera as we head into a commercial break.

After the break the announce team recap what just happened as the docu-cam catches Hulk Hogan talking with Eric Bischoff and is confused as to what Abyss’ motivations are.  Bischoff wants to know what or who got to him and didn’t see him as that type of guy who would turn on him like that.

The Beautiful People are seen in the bathroom getting ready and Velvet Sky isn’t in a joking mood.  Madison Rayne says she needs to get her head in the game or Angelina Love will put her out in a stretcher later tonight.  This leads us into our first match of the night.

Match 1: Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky
The bell rings and Velvet kicks Angelina out to the floor but Angelina recovers and pulls her out to the floor and begins beating on her.  Velvet, though, is able to sends Angelina into the steel steps before sending her into the ring.  Mike Tenay then announces that tonight’s main event will see Mr. Anderson take on Abyss in a no disqualification match.

Back to the action in the ring, Velvet then hits the Skyliner and tries for another one but Angelina counters with a clothesline and a big boot.  Angelina then heads out for a chair but Velvet takes her down with an awkward takedown.  Velvet then tries for a DDT onto the chair but Angelina counters and takes her out with a DDT onto it as she is disqualified from the match.  Madison Rayne then comes out as Angelina says that she has taken two out and only has one more to go.  Madison says that she will not be winning the title.

The docu-cam catches up with Jay Lethal who is visited by his brother who says he cannot believe he is wrestling Ric Flair at Victory Road.  Lethal tells his brother that there is free food in catering as he knows how much he loves to mooch off people.

The docu-cam catches up with Kevin Nash and Eric Young and Nash is talking about distancing himself from Scott Hall.  Nash then tells Young that he shouldn’t be a part of it as the share an embrace and part ways.

Matt Morgan comes down to the ring and said he told everybody that he was walking out of Slammiversary as a winner.  Morgan says he doesn’t fear Hernandez and is calling him out right now.  The announce team state that Hernandez is in Mexico at the moment doing PR work but Morgan says it proves his point and Hernandez fears Morgan.  Morgan says he welcomes a cage match against him at Victory Road and will prove once again that he is better than him.

Morgan then begins to pose a little for the fans as he is attacked from behind by Homicide.  Morgan, though, takes him out and kicks his head up against the ring post, leaving Homicide lying on the ground.  Morgan tells the camera that this is what Hernandez has to look forward to inside the steel cage.

The docu-cam sneaks up on AJ Styles and Ric Flair in the back and Styles is worried about receiving a package.  Flair says he needs to stop worrying about the package and tells him to get his head into the game as they walk off looking for somebody.

Match 2: Kazarian vs. Jay Lethal
The match starts and Kazarian leap frogs over referee Slick Johnson to attack Jay Lethal and picks up a quick pin attempt.  Kazarian continues on the attack before putting Lethal in a headlock.  We then head to some commotion in the back as Ric Flair and AJ Styles are beating on Lethal’s brother.  Back to the match, Lethal fights his way out of the headlock and takes Kazarian down with a springboard elbow and nearly puts Kazarian away with a roll up.

Lethal then goes for the Lethal Combination but Kazarian counters and drives Lethal down to the mat.  Kazarian then tries for his inverted piledriver but Lethal counters and hits the Lethal Injection to pick up the pin fall.  Lethal then goes out and celebrates in the crowd as Ric Flair appears on the big screen and says this is an example of what will happen to him at Victory Road.

Jeff Jarrett is seen walking in the back as he is on his way into the Impact Zone to go up against Sting.  The announce team then hypes tonight’s main event of Mr. Anderson and Abyss but Jarrett and Sting are up next.

Match 3: Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting
Sting fails to come out of the entrance tunnel but is spotted in the rafters.  Jarrett leaves the ring and heads up the stairs to confront Sting.  The two fight their way down to the ring as another Sting then appears in the ring.  Jarrett brings Sting into the ring but then realizes that it isn’t the real Sting.  The real Sting begins choking Jarrett with his bat before hitting Jarrett with the bat.  Sting then grabs a microphone and says if Jarrett is going to walk with them, he is going to go down with them before leaving the ring.

A video package hyping Bound for Glory in October is aired.  The package reveals that it will take place on 10.10.10 live from Daytona Beach, Florida, and promises that one night will change everything.

A video package focusing on Desmond Wolfe’s debut and his feud against Kurt Angle is aired.  Wolfe is then standing in the ring and is going up against Angle once again in a match that will take place right now.

Match 4: Desmond Wolfe vs. Kurt Angle
The announce team bring up that Wolfe is ranked one spot ahead of Angle in the Top 10 Contenders rankings.  The match starts and the two go back and forth in the opening moments of the match until Angle misses with a shoulder block in the corner and ends up hitting the ring post.  Wolfe begins to focus on Angle’s arm as Chelsea looks on in disgust and the two share some words.

Wolfe continues to wear down Angle’s arm with a submission hold but Angle breaks out and tries for an ankle lock but Wolfe kicks him off.  Angle, though, is able to comeback and picks up a two count after hitting an belly-to-belly overhead suplex.  Angle then hits a series of German suplexes before trying to hit an Angle Slam but Wolfe counters and takes Angle down with a hammerlock takedown.

Wolfe then tries for the Tower of London but Angle is able to counter into the Angle Slam.  Angle then puts Wolfe in an ankle lock and he taps out shortly afterwards.  Chelsea is then seen with a smirk on her face from on the floor as Angle holds up eight fingers.

The docu-cam is with Mr. Anderson who says he has scars all over his body because of Abyss and his style of wrestling.  Anderson, though, says he is ready for whatever Abyss is going to throw at him tonight and will throw it right back at his face.

A video package focusing on Douglas Williams and his reign as the X Division Champion is aired.  Williams is then seen in the ring and says that he lives by a code of conduct and needs to re-educate the X Division in both wrestling and in sportsmanship.  Williams then tells Brian Kendrick to come out so he can be taught a lesson on professionalism and sportsmanship.

Kendrick comes out with a microphone and says the two will be in a match at Victory Road and they will be something for both of them.  Kendrick says it will be an Ultimate X match but it can also end by submission.  Williams then suggested that they both walk away and continue this at the pay-per-view but Williams decides to attack Kendrick.  Kendrick, though, puts Williams in a cobra clutch before leaving the champion on the canvas.

Abyss is seen talking to himself in the back and is saying that everyone will realize why he did what he did because “they” told him to do it.  He says they asked him to pave the way for them and his next target is Mr. Anderson.

After a commercial break we see Shannon Moore beating up Brother Ray as Jesse Neal is laid out in the background.  Security has to pull him off as Brother Devon comes in and yells at Ray for making a fool out of him recently.  Devon warns Ray not to test him.

Match 5: Beer Money vs. Ink Inc. (TNA Tag Team Championship Series Finals)
The Motorcity Machine Guns are with the announce team to see who they will take on at Victory Road for the TNA Tag Team Championship.  Shannon Moore also comes out to the ring by himself as Neal was just laid out in the back.  Moore, though, is able to hold his own and clears out the ring as Tommy Dreamer is seen walking in the crowd and is with Raven and Stevie Richards.

Back to the match, the numbers game catches up with Moore as Beer Money turns the match into their favor.  Jesse Neal finally stumbles his way out to the ring as Beer Money hits a series of double team moves on Moore to continue wearing him down.  Moore, though, mounts a comeback and takes out both Roode and Storm before tagging Neal into the match.

Neal comes in and this match breaks down as Moore sends Roode out to the floor before diving out on top of him.  Neal then blocks a superkick from Storm and nearly rolls him up but Storm is able to kick out.  Storm then takes a swig of beer and spits it into Neal’s eyes before Beer Money hits the DWI move to pick up the pin fall and advance to Victory Road to face the Machine Guns for the TNA Tag Team Championship.

The docu-cam sneaks up on AJ Styles and Kazarian arguing in the locker room and are talking about wrestling Jay Lethal.  Styles finally notices a package on the bench and rips it open to find a version of his action figure.  Styles gloats about having a figure made of himself, unlike Kazarian, and walks away.

Footage of Abyss and his actions from last week is aired in which he took out both Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson.  We also see what he did to Hulk Hogan from earlier in the show as we head into tonight’s main event.

Match 6: Abyss vs. Mr. Anderson (Falls Count Anywhere No Disqualification Match)
Anderson comes out and goes right on the attack and takes Abyss down with a Lou Thesz press.  Abyss rolls out to the floor and Anderson goes out and grabs a chair but Abyss punches it into his face.  Abyss then slides the chair into the ring and sets it up but Anderson sends him into it with a drop toe hold.  Anderson then hits Abyss in the back with the chair before going for the pin and picking up a two count.

Anderson then sets the chair up in the corner before going under the ring and grabbing a kendo stick.  Abyss follows him out and Anderson repeatedly connects with shots from the kendo stick until Anderson misses and hits the ring post.  Abyss then recovers and begins choking out Anderson before sending him into the entrance ramp.

Abyss then rolls Anderson back into the ring and begins hitting Anderson with a chair and places a chair on Anderson’s chest.  Abyss is about to give Anderson a splash but Anderson holds up the chair and crotches Abyss.  Anderson then tries for a Swanton Bomb but Abyss counters by holding up the knees.  Abyss then tosses Anderson face-first into the chair in the corner before hitting the Shock Treatment for the pin fall.

After the match, Abyss sends Anderson out onto the entrance ramp and is about to drop him off the entrance ramp like he did to Jeff Hardy last week but Anderson begins fighting back.  Anderson then tries for the Mic Check but Abyss counters and drives Anderson through a table from on top of the stage.

Abyss then stands there as Hulk Hogan comes out and cracks Abyss in the back with a steel chair.  The chair shot does not phase Abyss the two stare each other down and security steps in the middle of them.

Quick Results
- Velvet Sky defeated Angelina Love by disqualification.
- Jay Lethal defeated Kazarian by pin fall.
- Jeff Jarrett and Sting fought to a no contest.
- Kurt Angle defeated Desmond Wolfe by submission.
- Beer Money defeated Ink Inc. by pin fall.
- Abyss defeated Mr. Anderson by pin fall.

Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight was a solid show that seemed to have good focus and direction.  For starters, it was kicked off with a great opening that did a few things right – it focused on the huge story coming out of last week’s show, set up the main event at Victory Road, and opened a new compelling storyline with Abyss and whomever “they” are.

Unlike WWE with their anonymous general manager, I don’t see many different options when it comes to who Abyss may be talking about.  This may be too obvious, but my guess is with Tommy Dreamer and anyone else from ECW that they can get to come over to TNA.  Dreamer showed up just before Abyss’s match tonight, just as he did last week, and Abyss has been going back to his hardcore and violent style as of late.  I just hope this isn’t drawn out for months before it is finally revealed.

Kurt Angle and Desmond Wolfe had a decent television match this week even though it was predicable as to how the match was going to turn out.  Even so, I could watch Angle and Wolfe go at it time and time again without being bored.  I seem to be saying that a lot when it comes to Angle and the likes of Wolfe, AJ Styles or Kazarian.

One thing that I didn’t like, however, is that I was under the impression that Angle would be facing the contenders at the monthly pay-per-views instead of on Impact.  Yes, Angle/Wolfe has been done several times on PPV recently, but this is a bit different as it has a different angle working with it.  I guess I don’t mind it being on Impact but I feel that these matches could be special if given a good amount of time to work with.

Speaking of Angle/Wolfe, it was great to see TNA acknowledge their history with a very well put together video package.  There actually seemed to be a few great video packages on tonight’s show and it seems that TNA is really stepping up in that department.  Giving the fans a little extra like that can go a long way in getting the angle over with the fans.

Such was the case as the X Division Championship and Douglas Williams.  Before his promo tonight we were treated to a wonderful video package highlighting Williams’ time as the champion and how he wants to change the division.  The video package itself was small but it seemed to help out immensely as a lead in to his promo and confrontation with Brian Kendrick.  I hope we see more like that in the future.

Another thing I would like to see in the future is the return of the LAX.  I was a huge fan of that tag team and hated that TNA decided to break Homicide and Hernandez up.  I still feel that Hernandez could be a major player in the singles division, but there is no need for a rift to be between the former partners.  I hope that what happened tonight with Homicide signifies the rebirth of the duo.

Finally, one thing that really bothered me tonight was the lack of Rob Van Dam.  It isn’t hard to understand that the World Champion should be one of the main focuses of the show but he has barely been seen from over the past two weeks.  At least have him give some thoughts on the 4-way match at Victory Road or something.