Impact opens with footage from Genesis, which crowned new tag team champions and a new X Division champion and featured a bloody brawl between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle. The Impact intro hits as we are welcomed to the show by Mike Tenay and Don West who inform us that there will be a #1 contenders match for the tag team titles, a knockout street fight and AJ Styles against Kurt Angle with Mick Foley as the special enforcer in the main event.
The Main Event Mafia’s music hits as the Mafia, minus Kevin Nash, come down to the ring sans suits. Kurt Angle gets on the microphone and says that the Main Event Mafia is the greatest assemblage of champions ever and they have accomplished everything that they have set forth on. Angle rolls footage of some of their “hits” and says that he has finally taken Jeff Jarrett out for good.
As for the rest of the war, it will come to an end tonight as Angle promises a double hit tonight on AJ Styles and Mick Foley in the main event. The music for the LAX hits as Hernandez comes out and says that both he and Sting are dressed for battle that they should have a match tonight. Hernandez cashes in on his World Championship shot against Sting and that match is up next.
Match 1: Hernandez vs. Sting (TNA World Championship)
The MEM surround the ring as this match begins. Hernandez knocks Sting down early with a couple of shoulder blocks and scores a two count after a backbreaker. Sting is able to counter a suplex into an inverted DDT to take control of the match. Sting continues to work over Hernandez until he takes Sting down with a clothesline. As Hernandez goes for a Border Toss, the rest of the MEM swarm the ring and Shane Sewell calls for the bell.
As Booker T tries to use the Legends Championship against Hernandez, Sewell grabs the belt away from him and gives Booker a back body drop over the top rope. Homicide then comes down to the ring to help his partner but the numbers game catches up to him as the Mafia begin beating him down.
AJ Styles comes out to the ring and cleans house with a series of rights until Booker levels him with a superkick. Team 3D finally run down to the ring as the LAX slides a table into the ring. Styles sets the table up in the ring as Brother Ray, who is sporting a new hair styles, powerbombs Kurt Angle through the table.
After a commercial break, we return to see Brother Ray mingling with the crowd before entering the ring as the fans chant “welcome back!” Brother Devon gets on the microphone and says that Team 3D is the tag team standard bearers, however, one thing that haven’t shown is how good they can be as single competitors. Devon then challenges Kurt Angle to a singles match at Against All Odds.
Devon passes the microphone to Brother Ray who tells the MEM that they didn’t get the job done. Ray says he hasn’t given much thought to being a singles wrestler, but since Devon wants Kurt, he wants Sting. Ray says he wants Sting because he did nothing when his Mafia buddies beat him within an inch of his life. Ray then challenges Sting to a match at Against All Odds for the World Championship.
Lauren is in the hallway with the Beautiful People who are celebrating in the hallway about being invited to the White House. Cute Kip says he has had enough and tells them that it is a rib and leaves them on their own.
We join Mike Tenay and Don West at the announce table who talk about the Angle/Jarrett match and we get to see video highlights of the match. Don West then goes over the injuries that Jarrett suffered during the match.
They then send it to Jeremy Borash who is with Kurt Angle as he is getting medical treatment. The doctor says he won’t clear him to wrestle. Scott Steiner volunteers to take his spot but Angle doesn’t want to hear another word and tells everyone to leave.
We see a video package featuring the Beautiful People’s time with the Governor. The Beautiful People then come down to the ring with “Gov. Palin,” as Tenay and West wonder if they don’t get what is going on in current events. The Governor says that the two of them passed every test and they are fit to be role models. She then gives a paper to sign to become part of her cabinet.
Taylor Wilde’s music hits as she comes out with Roxxi. Taylor says that they have been thinking of a way to get even with them for the past six months for making a mockery of the Knockout Division. Roxxi tells them that it is a fake Sarah Palin and that they have not been invited to the inauguration. Roxxi then says that they are about to “get mucked” as a bunch of mud falls from the ceiling as the fake Palin hugs Roxxi and Taylor.
We return to the show after a commercial break to see a cleanup crew in the ring trying to clean up the muck as we take another look at what just previously happened. Mike Tenay and Don West yuck it up before sending it Lauren who is standing by with the Kongtourage.
Sojourner Bolt tells “Popeye, the transvestite, and the butch,” that they are going to take the street fight to them tonight. We then see a TNA Rough Cut segment featuring Sojourner Bolt which talks about her childhood that totally negates the attitude she just showcased a moment earlier. Terry Taylor talks about seeing her at an independent show and knowing that she was going to be something big. Bolt says that she is learning more in TNA and is going to keep on learning.
Match 2: Kongtourage vs. Roxxi/Taylor Wilde/ODB (Knockout Tag Team Street Fight)
The bell rings with some quick back and forth action that sees all six knockouts in the ring at some point. Taylor picks up the first pin attempt after delivering a cross body block to Rhaka Khan. Khan quickly takes control of the match and tags Raisha Saeed into the match as we head into a commercial break.
We return to see ODB take Saeed down with a hard clothesline. Bolt and Khan pull ODB out of the ring and begin beating her on the floor as all of them get into it in the ringside area. Bolt rolls ODB back into the ring and begins to work her over until ODB pancakes her and they tag in Roxxi and Khan. The match breaks down once again as Roxxi hits the Voodoo Drop on Khan to pick up the win.
Booker T is with Kurt Angle and tells him to relax and that TNA belongs to them. Booker says Team 3D, Mick Foley and AJ Styles are the only ones left and wants Angle to let him take care of things. Angle tells Booker to give him a few minutes.
Match 3: Matt Morgan & Abyss vs. Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed (#1 Contenders Match for TNA Tag Team Championship)
Creed tries to use his speed to his advantage against Morgan but Morgan easily powers him around the ring to gain the early advantage. Abyss and Lethal are up next and Lethal tries to take Lethal down with a series of blows but Abyss answers back with a press slam. The partners are tagged back into the match as Creed uses some flashy moves but Morgan levels him with the Carbon Footprint as we head into a commercial break.
We return to see Morgan still in control as Abyss wants in but Morgan won’t make the tag. Morgan finally tags in his partner but Creed is able to tag his partner in as they both work together against Abyss before diving out on Morgan. Creed and Lethal take Abyss down with a double missile dropkick and nearly picks up the pin fall.
The action then breaks down as Abyss powerbombs Lethal on top of Morgan and the referee makes the three count as Abyss doesn’t know what is going on. After the match, Morgan piefaces Abyss and Abyss comes back swinging. These two begin trading blows before security comes in and separates them, but it they are too much for the guards.
Jim Cornette is talking to Kurt Angle who won’t let Kurt Angle wrestle tonight. Steiner and Booker fight over the spot in the main event and try to decide by playing “Innie Minnie Miney Mo” before Cornette says that Steiner is in the match. Cornette then warns that if anyone tries to interfere in the match that they will be fined and suspended.
Jeremy Borash is with Mick Foley who says he is not in a celebratory mood and is walking in pain after his match at Genesis. Foley says that Jim Cornette’s help isn’t needed and personal begs any member of the Mafia to get involved in the match as he is sick of all of the games.
Match 4: Scott Steiner vs. AJ Styles w/ Special Enforcer Mick Foley
Prior to the match, Steiner, with a pipe, and Foley, with a chair, stare each other down. Steiner toys with Styles in the opening minutes as Styles comes back and puts Steiner in a side headlock for a while before taking him down with a dropkick. Steiner rolls out to the floor and Styles dives over the rope and on top of him as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match and see Steiner take control of the match and picks up a two count on Styles after driving Styles down with a power slam. Steiner works Styles over with a belly-to-belly suplex before locking in a headlock. Steiner gives Styles an awkward suplex that sends Styles face-first into the canvas. Steiner then heads out to the floor and grabs a steel chair and sets it up in the corner but Styles tosses Steiner into it.
Styles fights back with a series of rights before taking him down with a flying forearm. Styles then tries for a splash in the corner but inadvertently catches Earl Hebner in the process. Foley checks on the referee as Steiner takes Styles down with a Russian leg sweep before nailing Foley with the lead pipe. Steiner then levels Styles with the pipe and makes the cover as Hebner begins to make the slow three count but Styles kicks out.
Steiner locks in the Steiner Recliner but Styles won’t tap out. Styles crawls over to the ropes but Steiner breaks the hold and pulls him back in the middle of the ring. On the outside, Foley puts on Mr. Socko but Hebner blocks Foley from coming in as Petey Williams comes in from nowhere and takes Steiner down with a missile dropkick. Styles then hits Steiner with the Pele kick and pins Scott Steiner. Petey Williams, AJ Styles and Mick Foley then celebrate the victory together in the ring as Impact comes to a close.
Quick Results
- Hernandez defeated Sting by disqualification.
- Roxxi/Taylor Wilde/ODB defeated the Kongtourage by pin fall.
- Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed defeated Matt Morgan & Abyss by pin fall to become the #1 Contenders to the TNA Tag Team Championship.
- AJ Styles defeated Scott Steiner by pin fall.
Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight’s broadcast started off with an unannounced match for the World Championship that was short and ended in a disqualification. That would be the only in-ring action we would see for the next hour, although that may have been expected due to the fact there was a pay-per-view last Sunday and the amount of injuries that the roster has sustained over the past few weeks.
Although I wish there was some sort of build up to Hernandez’s title shot, I didn’t mind the fact that it just happened out of nowhere. It gave it a spontaneous feel to it, although I hope that his title shot wasn’t wasted by this match. Something tells me that with the disqualification finish that he will get another shot and I think he deserves it. The short match that he worked with Sting was entertaining while it lasted.
One person who I find hard to believe deserves a title shot is Brother Ray. I will give Ray the credit he deserves as he looked rejuvenated tonight and was stellar on the microphone, but seeing Ray and Devon embark on singles careers isn’t something that I am looking forward to. I already seen this happen once several years ago and it didn’t do anything for me then either. Of course, I doubt we’ll be seeing Reverend Devon anytime soon, I think Team 3D should stick to what they do best – tag teams and tables. Ray against Sting for the World Championship does less for me than Sting vs. Rhino.
Brother Ray wasn’t the only one who came back this week as Petey Williams also made his return after suffering his “hit” from the hands of the Main Event Mafia. Maybe it was just me, but I was hoping for a “new” Petey Williams, which looked similar to the “old” Petey Williams, when he made his comeback to television. Instead, he still looks like a miniature version of Scott Steiner. You would think that since they are feuding together he would want to change his appearance but I guess not. It was good to see him back on television at any rate.
One person who I hope never graces my television set again is the fake Gov. Palin. We have endured months of these corny segments and for what? A muck bath? This is almost as bad as the “manure bath” DX gave to the McMahon’s and the Spirit Squad a few years or so ago. I wasn’t hoping for anything huge but this was a total letdown and ended up being a total waste of time. Thankfully it seemed to end tonight.
