Impact opens with a video package that focuses on the fallout between the Christian Coalition and the Angle Alliance with AJ Styles in the middle. After the package, we see Crystal backstage with AJ Styles & Tomko. Crystal asks AJ if he has made up his mind about which side he will be on. Styles says he has and it will be for both sides. Tomko wonders how he can do that when both Kurt Angle and Christian Cage hate each other. Tomko then tells Styles to make up his mind soon as he already has his made up.
The Impact intro airs as we are welcomed to the show by Mike Tenay and Don West, who tell us that AJ Styles & Tomko will be in action against the Motorcity Machine Guns, Robert Roode will take on Booker T and Abyss will speak.
Match 1: Senshi vs. Judas Mesias w/ James Mitchell
Mesias overpowers Senshi in the opening moments of the match. Tenay announces that Mesias will be facing Abyss at Final Resolution as Senshi finally gets some offense with a pair of dropkicks and a flying kick off the rope that knocks Mesias to the ground. Senshi misses the Warrior’s Way and Mesias turns him inside-out with a devastating clothesline. Mesias then lands the Straight to Hell to pick up the victory.
Borash is with the Angle’s in their dressing room. Borash wonders what Angle thinks about the tag team champs not picking a side yet as he heads into Final Resolution against Cage. Angle says they joined the Angle Alliance at Genesis and they are old enough to make their own decisions. Karen Angle begins to give off some attitude and says that since Sharmell has come into TNA, she has gotten all of the attention. Kurt thinks his problems with Tomko and Styles are more important as Karen says there is only room for one Queen in TNA, and that is Karen Angle before storming off.
Christian Cage comes into the ring and grabs a microphone. Cage says he hates indecisions and invites the tag team champs to come down and tell him where their loyalties lie. AJ Styles takes the offer to come out but Tomko is absent. Cage tells Styles that everything he has – the TV time, the PPV matches, the big paychecks – are all because he is aligned with Cage. Christian even takes credit for AJ’s three World title reigns even before Cage arrived in TNA.
Cage begins to tell Styles that Angle is using him as Kurt & Karen Angle make their way to the ring. Angle says he doesn’t need to use Styles since he already has brains and brawn. Both Cage and Angle begin to tug on Styles as they come to blows. Styles pulls Angle off as Cage grabs a title belt and swings at Angle but nails Styles by accident instead. Tomko finally comes down and separates Angle and Cage. Cage grabs a microphone and tells Tomko that he wants both his and AJ’s decision by the end of the show and walks off.
Crystal is with Robert Roode backstage and Roode says that he will prove he is main event caliber when he defeats the washed up has-been, Booker T. Roode and Ms. Brooks get into an argument as Roode tells Brooks that she will never have a mind of her own and Roode walks off.
Match 2: Robert Roode vs. Booker T
Prior to the bell, Karen Angle comes down to the ringside area and attacks Sharmell. Booker T pulls Sharmell off as Kurt Angle comes out and nails Booker from behind before tossing him into the ring where both Angle and Roode stomp on Booker. Booker is able to escape the ring and grabs a chair and a microphone and proposes a tag team match since Roode won’t fight him man-to-man. Booker tells them that he will introduce them to his partner later.
Borash is backstage with Styles, who has an ice pack over his head. Borash tells Styles that he should go ask everyone he trusts for their opinions to help him make a decision. Styles asks Borash for his opinion and he sides with Angle, stating that Christian’s team is the B Team. Styles wants it to only be one team – him, Tomko, Angle and Cage. Borash tells him that he is dreaming and walks off.
A nice video package highlighting the Ultimate X match at Final Resolution between Jay Lethal & the MMG’s and Team 3D with Johnny Devine is aired. Speaking of the Motorcity Machine Guns, they are up next.
Match 3: AJ Styles & Tomko vs. Motorcity Machine Guns (Non-title Match)
Prior to the match, Styles walks ups to the announce table and asks Tenay and West for their opinions. West tells Styles to do what is best for him. The match starts and the MMG’s are in total control as it appears Styles’ head isn’t quite in the match. Tomko comes into the match and delivers a fallaway slam on Shelley as we head into a commercial break.
Upon returning we see Eric Young at ringside giving Styles his opinion. The MMG’s are back in control as Sabin almost scores a pin fall on Styles after delivering a powerbomb. Styles manages to fight back and lands the Pele on Sabin and sets up for the Styles Clash, but is distracted again by Eric Young who hops on the ring apron. The distraction is enough for the MMG’s to rollup Styles and the both hold him down in plain sight of Earl Hebner (I guess that is legal now) for the pin fall.
After the match, Tomko and Styles argue in the ring as Styles leaves and follows Eric Young up the entrance ramp.
We head to Jim Cornette’s office where Crystal is with Cornette, Matt Morgan, Johnny Devine and Team 3D. Brother Ray refuses to participate in an Ultimate X match saying they are highly tuned professionals, not monkey that climb up on ropes. Cornette fires back and says that as far as he is concerned the match is booked and will take place at Final Resolution. Team 3D come back with some immature insults before leaving the office.
A video package highlighting the Knockout Championship is aired. It focuses on Awesome Kong stalking Gail Kim and wanting to end her reign at the top.
Match 4: Roxxi Laveaux/Jackie Moore/ODB vs. Angelina Love/Velvet Sky/Gail Kim
The action goes back and forth in the opening minutes of the match with each participant getting their fare share of ring time. The match begins to break down and Angelina Love takes Moore, ODB and her partner Velvet Sky with a flying cross body block from the top rope and onto the floor. In the ring, Laveaux scores a near fall on Kim after driving her down to the mat with a sit-out powerbomb. Kim comes back and lands a neckbreaker slam on Laveaux to pick up the win.
Cornette is with Matt Morgan in his office. Cornette says he just got a phone call from the TNA corporate offices about Morgan’s match making last week. Morgan tells Cornette to relax and hands him a letter from the corporate office praising the ratings and the fresh matchmaking ideas. Samoa Joe walks in and Cornette tells him he is in a match tonight. Joe says he doesn’t feel like wrestling and Cornette gives him the option of either competing or getting fired. Joe says the choice is his and leaves the office.
The interview segment between Mike Tenay and Abyss is aired. Abyss says that his name is Chris Parks and that his mother raised him, not his father. Tenay asks about the secret between Abyss and James Mitchell. Abyss says he will never tell the secret and that it will die with him. Tenay tries to pry some more but Abyss just leaves.
Match 5: Elix Skipper vs. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe comes to the ring, but he is in street clothes. Joe goes on the offensive before the bell even rings and manhandles Skipper. Elix Skipper tries to mount a comeback and walks the top rope, but Joe knocks him off balance and delivers the muscle buster. Joe covers but pulls Skipper up before the three count. Joe ties Skipper up in the tree of woe and gets in a shoving match with the Paul Orndorf looking referee. The ref has had enough and disqualifies Joe. Joe doesn’t seem to care and locks the rear naked choke on Skipper anyway. Security come into the ring to break it up as Joe grabs a microphone. Joe blames is actions on Cornette and warns him that he will keep on doing this until he gets what he wants but before he can say much more his microphone gets cut off.
We head backstage where AJ Styles is with Eric Young who discusses the types of choices he makes everyday, like deciding between Count Chocula or Frankenberries for breakfast. Styles hears enough and leaves as Young continues to babble on and on.
Crystal is backstage with Scott Steiner and Petey Williams. Steiner tells Williams that he lied to him and demands that he gets his original briefcase back. Williams refuses and guarantees 1000% that he will be the next TNA World Champion. Steiner tells Crystal, or “Caroline,” that he will get his title shot back.
Dustin Rhodes comes out to the ring with TNA Security with a microphone. Rhodes tells Kaz that he doesn’t even know him and wonders why Kaz attacked him last week. He then asks Kaz to come down to the ring to explain his actions. Kaz comes out and says that he attacked Rhodes because Rhodes put his rat on his face. Rhodes doesn’t know what Kaz is talking about and gives him a chance to apologize. Kaz doesn’t so Rhodes slaps him across the face, which leads to Kaz once again attacking Rhodes before security steps in, but it doesn’t help much as the two end up fighting in the crowd anyway. Kaz heads for the bleachers as Rhodes walks away and Kaz leaps over the fence and drops down on Rhodes and a couple of security guards.
Just as the action gets going we are sent back to the dressing area where AJ Styles is talking with Kevin Nash. Styles asks for his advice and Nash tells him he is in a great place as both Cage and Angle want and need him by their side. He tells him that there are no friends in this business and asks him to think of which one will stab him in the back.
Match 6: Robert Roode & Kurt Angle vs. Booker T & mystery partner
Prior to the match, Booker T gets on the mic and says that even though his partner don’t get along great, they both hate Angle & Roode. Booker then introduces his partner, Christian Cage. Booker and Cage clear the ring to start the match. They continue to have control until Angle is able to distract Cage long enough for Roode to nail him from behind with a clothesline. AJ Styles is seen walking down to the ringside area and takes a seat on a chair to watch the action.
In the ring, Cage makes a much needed tag to Booker, who comes in and cleans house. Booker gets down with a spinarooni and nails Roode with a Book End with a cover but only gets a two count as it is broken up by Angle. Cage makes a blind tag into the match and both Cage and Angle take each other down with a clothesline. Styles gets up from his chair and looks like he is going to give it to someone but instead throws it down and walks back up the ramp. Booker then takes care of Angle while Cage lands the Unprettier on Roode for the pin fall.
After the match, Christian Cage demands that AJ Styles gives his decision about which side he will be on. Angle seconds that thought and tells Styles to get out to the ring. Styles meets the two of them in the ring as Angle and Cage each try to get in his ear and help him make a decision. Styles looks like he is about to answer as he grabs both of their microphones but Impact goes off the air before that can happen.
Quick Results
- Judas Mesias defeated Senshi by pin fall.
- Robert Roode vs. Booker T was thrown out before it started.
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated AJ Styles & Tomko in a non-title match by pin fall.
- Gail Kim/Velvet Sky/Angelina Love defeated Roxxi Laveaux/Jackie Moore/ODB by pin fall.
- Elix Skipper defeated Samoa Joe by disqualification.
- Booker T & Christian Cage defeated Kurt Angle & Robert Roode by pin fall.
Match of the Night
- Roxxi Laveaux/Jackie Moore/ODB vs. Angelina Love/Velvet Sky/Gail Kim
Quote of the Night
“Oh, come on, AJ, grow you some balls here and make a decision sometime tonight.”
- Don West on AJ Styles leaving the ringside area during the main event.
Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight’s show had a good feeling to it for the simple fact that it seemed like everything got some sort of attention. AJ Styles’ decision was the center of tonight’s show, but it didn’t overpower it.
It was almost surreal to have some sort of mid-card build up between Dustin Rhodes and Kaz. Usually, a match between the two would have been tossed onto a pay-per-view card with nothing more than last week’s backstage attack. Now I am being given a reason to care. I guess that is my Christmas gift from the company.
I would be amiss if I didn’t also bring up the rest of the highlights in form of the great tag team action from the Motorcity Machine Guns and the Women’s division. It would have been nice to see Awesome Kong in the picture somewhere, but the well produced video packages will suffice. TNA isn’t up to the level off the WWE video production department, but all of the video packages aired tonight weren’t too shabby either.
Hopefully, this style of program will carry over into the New Year, along with some better booking, to regain the momentum and drive TNA seemed to have lost over the course of the past year or so. Here’s to hoping for the best in 2008.
Now, for some random thoughts … Was it just me or did Brother Devon look like Barry Bonds with a goatee? I may have been influenced by his shirt that had “Get Juiced” on it … The Women’s six-woman tag team match was fun to watch. Week in and week out I am constantly amazed at the fact that these women are not only gorgeous, but they are indeed good wrestlers in the ring. I honestly cannot name another time when a women’s division was so good from top to bottom … Why was Cornette yelling at Matt Morgan about making AJ Styles wear a reindeer suit last week? Wasn’t it Cornette himself that threatened AJ Styles a month ago that he would have to wear a turkey suit or be fired after the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving? … Speaking of being fired, Jim Cornette sure does threaten people with that a lot. I have been with my current company for four years now and I have not once been threatened with that, though my boss isn’t a hot-blooded Kentuckian either. I think I am going to count the number of times Cornette uses that line next year and keep a weekly tally.
That wraps it up for this year. I hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and have a happy New Year.
