Impact opens with a recap of last week’s breakdown between the members of the Angle Alliance. The Impact intro hits and we are welcomed to the show that will feature a lumber jack strap match, a meeting between James Mitchell and Abyss, and the contents of the Feast or Fired cases will be opened during the show after all four compete in a match.
Christian Cage comes down to the ring by himself. Cage grabs a microphone and says that he got what he deserved last week and admits to being a “prick,” but no matter how many times he gets beat down, he always gets back up and continues to be that way. As for tonight, he will be in a tag team match with a partner of his choosing against Kurt Angle & Robert Roode.
Cage goes on to say that TNA isn’t big enough for both Angle and himself as Kurt Angle comes out with Karen and Robert Roode. Angle dares Cage to find a partner as nobody likes him in the back and says that he is right by saying the company isn’t big enough for the both of them. Roode gets on the microphone and says that he is done taking orders and doing Cage’s dirty work and is looking forward to meeting him in the ring.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with the tag team champs. AJ Styles can’t believe how bad his plans turned out – instead of one big happy family, they are all against each other. Tomko blames Styles for the breakdown saying that it was him that wanted to be with both teams, now they will have to choose sides.
A video package recapping the Feast or Fired match is aired, which brings us backstage to Petey Williams, who is standing by with Crystal. Petey says that after he wins his match tonight he will have the option to keep his case, trade his case or take $50,000. He is opting to stay with his case, though, as he knows his holds the TNA World Title shot.
Match 1: Christopher Daniels vs. BG James vs. Petey Williams vs. Scott Steiner (Feast, Fired or $50K Match)
The first person to score a pin fall or submission will have the option to trade his case or trade it in for $50,000. Williams and Steiner clear the ring and begin to have a pose off. BG James knocks Steiner out to the floor and Daniels sends him flying into the ring post. The two continue with their teamwork on Williams in the ring. Steiner re-enters the ring and delivers a smorgasbord of suplexes to James and Daniels to take control of the match. Steiner locks in the Steiner Recliner on Daniels, but James breaks the hold and sets up Williams for the pump handle slam, which is broken up by an ensuguri on James by Daniels. Daniels hits the Angel’s Wings on James but walks right into Williams and the Canadian Destroyer. Williams gets a two count on Daniels before Steiner pulls him off and delivers a belly-to-belly for the three count.
Jeremy Borash comes to the ring and plays host to a TNA’s version of Deal or No Deal, giving Steiner the option at fifty grand or one of the locked cases. Steiner plays to the crowd a bit and says that it is a lot of money, but he wants his World title shot. Steiner heads out to the cases and picks up the case that belonged to Petey Williams.
After a commercial break, the entrance ramp is set up with all four cases and the first case is about to be revealed, which is the case that now belongs to Petey Williams. The case is opened to reveal that Williams is the winner of the TNA World title shot. Steiner is irate for giving up that case.
Crystal is backstage with Kaz, who says he isn’t going to let his recent success in the ring get to his head. Christian Cage walks into the picture and tells Kaz that he is going to be his tag team partner tonight, since Kaz owes him for elevating his career after his fluke win over Cage. Kaz tells Cage to close his eyes and ponder the thought for a bit. Cage does so and Kaz leaves for his match against Rellik.
Match 2: Rellik vs. Kaz
Rellik is quick on the attack as the match begins, but ends up falling out to the floor as Kaz dropped the rope down as Rellik was charging at him. Kaz follows up by diving over the ropes and onto Rellik as we head into a commercial break. Upon returning we see Kaz hit a seated dropkick and a springboard leg drop which nearly picks up the victory. Rellik fights back and lands a boot on Kaz. Rellik tries to follow up but his move is countered into the Wave of the Future for the pin fall.
Black Reign comes out and attacks Kaz right after the match is over. Reign clubs Kaz with his Darkness Falls spike and then puts Misty the rat into a hood and places it on Kaz’s head. Security swarms into the ring and attend to Kaz as we head to the back.
Borash is with Velvet Sky and Angelina Love, who toss out some sexual innuendos to Borash about being experienced, and then say they will defeat Jackie Moore & Ms. Brooks quickly as they have other things to attend to.
Crystal is with Ms. Brooks, Robert Roode, Jackie Moore and James Storm. Moore appears to be drunk and Brooks asks her to please sober up for their match. Moore responds by pouring beer on her partner as Brooks looks like she is about to attack her until Roode tells Brooks to respect Moore as she is a veteran. Roode then tells her to do something right for once tonight.
Match 3: Angelina Love & Velvet Sky vs. Ms. Brooks & Jackie Moore
Jackie Moore starts the match with a beer in her hand and doesn’t even spill a drop. Ms. Brooks takes it away and Moore tosses Velvet Sky around the ring for a while. Brooks is tagged in and continues to wok on Sky for a while until she is able to tag in Love. Love comes in and clears house in the ring and pushes Brooks into Moore, which knocks Moore off of the apron and onto the floor. Love then rolls up Brooks for the pin fall.
Brooks and Moore get into a shoving match and Roode steps in and tells Moore not to touch Brooks ever again. As for Brooks, she is an embarrassment that has never gotten anything right. Sharmell comes out to the ring and sticks up for Brooks but Roode tells her to leave before he does something he might regret. Booker T runs out to the ring as Roode quickly leaves the ring.
Cage is seen walking into Kevin Nash’s dressing room as he asks Nash to be his partner. Nash says he already has plans to do what he does best – sit around and get paid for doing nothing.
James Mitchell comes down to the ring and calls out Abyss. Abyss comes out and Mitchell claims to have made him the monster he is and that Abyss owes everything to him for all of his success he has had and ever will have. Mitchell then demands that Abyss tell the truth, but Abyss won’t speak and instead sets him up for a chokeslam until the lights go out in the Impact Zone. The lights come back on and Judas Mesias is behind Abyss and begins to choke him with a piece of barbed wire. Mesias cuts Abyss open with the wire and cracks him with a few chair shots as Mesias leaves Abyss a bloody mess in the ring.
Borash is with Booker and Sharmell as we see Christian walking around in the background. Booker tells Roode that he is screwing around with the wrong person as he finally catches a glimpse of Cage. Cage tells him that even though they have never seen eye-to-eye, but out of all the wrestlers in the company, Booker ranks at the top of his list of people to come to for a partner. Booker tells him that he will never be his partner.
Match 4: Chris Harris vs. Booker T
Prior to the match, Harris complains about being overlooked once again and not even being asked to be Cage’s partner. Booker and Harris go back and forth with both picking up near falls on each other. Harris dives at Booker, but he is caught and brought down with the Book End. Booker then follows with the axe kick for the pin fall.
It is now time to open the second Feast or Fired case. BG James is the next one who gets to see what is inside his case. The case is opened to reveal that he is the winner of the tag team title match. BG tells Borash that his partner is yet to be determined as Kip James begins to argue with him up the ramp.
Crystal is with Dustin Rhodes who talks about what it is like living with Black Reign as Kaz charges in and attacks him. Security has to come out and pull him off.
Match 5: Johnny Devine vs. Jay Lethal (Lumberjack Strap Match)
The lumberjacks for the match are Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Senshi, Elix Skipper, Shark Boy and Sonjay Dutt. The match starts and Lethal immediately tosses Devine to the floor as the X Division stars begin whipping him with the belts. Devine makes it back inside and returns the favor by tossing Lethal down to the floor. The lumberjacks tap Lethal with the straps as Devine goes out to get Lethal only to be attacked with the belts. Devine heads under the ring as we head into a commercial break. We return to see Devine being sent over the ropes to be beaten with the belts once again before being tossed back into the ring. Back in the ring, Lethal lands the lethal combination followed by the flying elbow to pick up the win.
After the match, the Motorcity Machine Guns hold Devine down as everyone takes turns getting their licks on Devine. Team 3D walk out with belts of their own and approach the ring but refuse to go inside.
After a quick recap of the earlier Feast or Fired case openings are aired, which brings us to the third case. Christopher Daniels says that he has faith that his case holds the shot at the X Division title. As for Steiner, he says he is in a lose/lose situation and even if he does get the pink slip, Cornette doesn’t have the guts to fire him. He then says that he will get his case back from Petey Williams. Both cases are opened at the same time and it is revealed that Steiner has gotten the X Division title shot and Daniels has been fired. The crowd begins to chant “Fallen Angel,” as Daniels walks back up the ramp, presumably for the last time.
Christian Cage is backstage with Samoa Joe and Joe doesn’t hear much of what Cage has to say before breaking out in a rant of his own. Joe says he is tired of being treated unfairly and being toyed with his contract. Cage says if he tags with him he will talk to management for him, but Joe still goes off and is bleeped out most of the time in his tirade against Cage, Angle and TNA. Cage then decides to go in his match alone.
Match 6: Christian Cage vs. Kurt Angle & Robert Roode (Handicap Match)
Christian starts in on the attack on Roode before his partner even makes is to the ring. Cage is able to hold his own against both of his opponents as the crowd begins to chant for AJ Styles. We head to a commercial break and return to see Angle in control of the match and has Cage locked in a headlock. Angle then misses with a moonsault which gives Cage an opening to regain control. Cage lands an inverted DDT and tries for a frog splash but Angle is able to roll out of the way. Angle rolls up Cage for a quick pin but Cage is able to kick out in time.
Some miscommunication between Roode and Angle gives Cage another opening and lands the frog splash for another near fall. Angle is able to recover and lock in the ankle lock, but Cage crawls to the ropes as Roode tags himself in. Christian goes for the Unprettier on Roode, but Karen causes a distraction as Angle kicks Cage below the belt. Roode and Angle deliver a spike piledriver on Cage and Roode makes the cover for the pin fall.
After the match, Angle and Roode continue to attack Cage as AJ Styles comes out but stops and watches the events unfold from the ring apron.
A promo for next week’s holiday spectacular is aired that seems to feature a ton of gimmick match, such as a Christmas chaos match, a double North Pole match and a reindeer ladder match.
Quick Results
- Scott Steiner won a four way match to win the Feast, Fired or $50K match.
- Kaz defeated Rellik by pin fall.
- Angelina Love & Velvet Sky defeated Ms. Brooks & Jackie Moore by pin fall.
- Booker T defeated Chris Harris by pin fall.
- Jay Lethal defeated Johnny Devine in a lumberjack strap match.
- Robert Roode & Kurt Angle defeated Christian Cage by pin fall.
Starman’s Thoughts
After two weeks of waiting, the contents of the Feast or Fired match were finally revealed. I’m not one to read spoilers, so I can honestly say I was a bit surprised with the outcome. I really thought Scott Steiner would be the one to get the pink slip – not Christopher Daniels. The whole Petey Williams World title match was unexpected as well. Something I do expect, though, is for those title shots to switch hands.
Steiner will end up with the World title opportunity, which is a shame as I really like what Williams is doing with his character. Like most of the other X Division wrestlers, Williams was just another plain face in the crowd who performed a killer finishing maneuver. I am digging this arrogant muscle man side of him mainly because it gives him a personality and it’s not something you’d expect. He is talented, that’s for sure, and I hope this adds a little more depth to him. At least they are doing something other than the “held back star” angle, which is certainly being overused and beginning to get on my nerves.
As I am on the topic of things getting on my nerves, let me give my two cents on Rellik. TNA really missed the boat with this guy as he could have been made into a pretty big mid-card monster. Instead he spends most of the time looking up at the lights with his shoulders on the mat. Week after week we are subjected to a match that he will inevitably lose, which takes away from the whole killer monster image he is trying to portray. Maybe instead of Rellik it should have been Resol.
