A video recap of last week’s events airs in which Kurt Angle tried to make Sting lay down and allow him to become the new TNA World Championship. Sting refused and Angle challenged Sting to an empty arena brawl on tonight’s show. We head into Jeff Jarrett’s office where Jim Cornette is begging him not to let the match between Sting and Kurt Angle take place. Jarrett says he has no other options and he is going to let them beat the hell out of each other and hopefully solve their problems.
The Impact intro hits as we are welcomed to this week’s show as the broadcast team wonders if the empty arena brawl will go on and if we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Main Event Mafia. As they go on about this historic night, they are interrupted by Kurt Angle’s music as he heads out to the ring with a microphone in his hand.
Angle says that he is going to take a stand for the Mafia tonight. He says that Sting is destroying the Mafia from the inside and wants to take him out. Angle then asks Jarrett to clear the arena so there are no distractions before leaving the ring.
We head backstage where Lauren is with the Motorcity Machine Guns who will face Lethal Consequences in a no-holds barred street fight. Chris Sabin says that the Front Line locker room is starting to make them sick and says that they put others before themselves as they are suddenly attacked by Lethal and Creed and we head into a commercial break.
We come back to the program to see that the brawl between these two tag teams has made it to the ringside area and this match is officially on.
Match 1: Motorcity Machine Guns vs. Lethal Consequences (No-holds Barred Street Fight)
The MMG’s work over Creed briefly on the outside before double teaming Lethal in the middle of the ring. Creed is finally able to turn the tide by nailing Sabin with a chair as both he and Lethal begin working over Shelley. Lethal tries for a high risk move but Shelley is able to get out of the way and sends Lethal flying into a chair.
Lethal and Shelley head to the outside as Creed and Sabin begin fighting in the ring. Sabin tosses Creed onto a chair and tries for a Cradle Shock but Lethal comes in and assists his partner by driving Sabin into a chair while hitting the Lethal Combination. Lethal goes for the cover but Alex Shelley is there to break it up.
Shelley follows up by sending Lethal flying over the top rope and on top of a ladder that has been placed in between the ring and the railing. Sabin then nails Creed with the X Division Title and Shelley picks up the pin fall for his team.
Jeremy Borash is in Jeff Jarrett’s office and Jim Cornette says that a decision has been made about tonight’s challenge and says that although he doesn’t agree, the Impact Zone will be emptied of everyone except for the camera crew, the announcers and the two combatants. Jarrett says it is going to be very exciting.
We head into the MEM locker room where Angle tells Booker and Steiner that this match is going to go down regardless of what they think. Booker says that he has known Sting for years and has never been disrespected by him. Angle suggests that maybe it should be a handicap match then as Nash gets in between the two and tells Sharmell to take his husband out of the room.
As Booker leaves, Jeremy Borash asks him for his thoughts about what just happened. Booker doesn’t say much about the situation before he is brutally attacked by AJ Styles, who says that he will end his legendary status at Destination X before clocking him in the head with the Legends Championship.
Beer Money and Jacqueline make their way down to the ring with a microphone, who has a special challenge to issue. Robert Roode says that they have knocked down every tag team and being the fighting champions that they are, they have come up with an idea to raise the stakes in TNA and that is the “Off the Wagon Challenge.” James Storm grabs the microphone to tell us that any team may challenge for the tag team titles, but if they lose they have to leave TNA forever.
Lauren is backstage with Roxxi, Taylor Wilde and Gov. Palin who talk about the tag team challenge that Beer Money just issued. The subject turns to the Beautiful People and their attitudes. Taylor says that there are three against two and the Beautiful People’s odds suck.
Another therapy session between Abyss and Dr. Stevie is aired and Abyss talks about his love of pain. Dr. Stevie tells him that this will continue next week.
Match 2: Brutus Magnus/Sheik Abdul Bashir/Matt Morgan vs. Shane Sewell & the LAX
The match starts with a quick flurry of action before Morgan takes Sewell out with the Carbon Footprint. The team works together with quick tags and beat Sewell down and Bashir brings a chair into play, but Sewell is able to duck out of the way and makes the tag to Hernandez. Hernandez comes in and cleans house and hits Bashir with a Border Toss before tagging in Sewell, who connects with a top rope elbow and picks up the pin fall.
The next installment of Hardcore History 101 is aired and this week Mick Foley talks about matches where he hid in a cardboard box and eventually came out to attack Sting and hitting him with a top rope elbow drop.
Jim Cornette comes to the announce table and says that a team has come forward that hasn’t been together in a long time and has accepted the “Off the Wagon” challenge. When asked about the team Cornette says that we will find out when Beer Money finds out.
Lauren is with Scott Steiner who says that the Mafia needs to work a few kinks and will be stronger after tonight. As for Samoa Joe, Steiner says he would only need to be afraid of him if he was wearing a hamburger suit. Steiner says he has beat him before and will beat him again as Joe comes in and threatens Steiner, however, we actually see Joe, its just his arm. He warns Steiner that Joe is going to kill him.
After a commercial break, Lauren is backstage with Sojourner Bolt who asks about her shot at the Knockouts Championship. Bolt says that because they are tight, they will still go out to do her thing. Raisha Saeed comes out and tells her to keep quiet. Bolt tells her that no one tells her what to do and walks away. Saeed says that there is going to be a big problem.
Match 3: Angelina Love vs. Taylor Wilde
Love goes right on the attack before the bell rings as they two begin to brawl in the middle of the ring. Cute Kip trips Taylor from the outside and Rudy Charles sees it and sends Kip to the back. Love, however, is still able to take Taylor down with a neckbreaker and levels her with a clothesline to pick up a two count.
Taylor begins to mount a comeback and takes Love down with a backbreaker. Velvet Sky begins to distract the referee as he finds himself in the middle of Sky and Roxxi. With the referee tied up, the Governor trips up Love, who then tries to tell Charles about the interference. As Love is pleading her case, Taylor comes from behind and rolls Love up for the three count.
A video package for One Night with ODB is aired that shows animals having intercourse. On that note, fans please send in your videos.
Jeremy Borash is near the rafter steps with Sting who says whatever Kurt Angle wants, he will get. Sting says that it boils down to jealousy and says warns Angle that he is at his best when it is show time.
Another Rough Cut segment is aired about the Ultimate X Match. Hernandez, Chris Sabin, AJ Styles and others give their thoughts on how the smaller guys have the advantage as it is easier for them to crawl across the cables.
Match 4: Petey Williams & Eric Young vs. Beer Money (Off the Bandwagon Challenge)
Williams & Young come out to the Team Canada music and are wearing Team Canada jackets. Williams starts this match out against Storm and takes Storm out at the legs before tagging in his partner. Team Canada is working well together as Storm is finally able to tag in Robert Roode and Jacqueline causes a distraction long enough for Beer Money to gain the advantage as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Beer Money working over EY and Storm is able to pick up a near fall before he tags Roode back into the match. Roode and Storm continue to work Young with quick tags but Young is able to escape from an Eye of the Storm attempt and makes the much needed tag to Williams who comes in like a ball of fire. Williams is able to land a tornado DDT on Roode but he isn’t able to keep Roode down.
Team Canada begins teaming together against Storm, but Roode takes them both down. Young returns by sending Roode out to the floor as Hebner follows and tries to separate the two. With the referee tied up, Storm connects with a superkick on Williams as Roode slides back in and picks up the pin fall to end Williams’ TNA career.
After the match, a shocked Petey Williams stands in the ring as Eric Young tries to get the crowd cheering his name. Williams looks on with tears in his eyes as he hugs his Team Canada partner.
Lauren is backstage with Team 3D and Rhino and wants their thoughts on the upcoming match between Sting and Angle. Rhino says that usual matches are in controlled environments, but tonight none of that is present. Rhino hopes that they both survive tonight as Brother Ray asks why he cares about them as they don’t care about him and the rest of TNA. Ray hopes they injury each other tonight and hope that they are not around next week.
We then see footage of fans filing out of the Impact Zone and a shot of the vacant merchandise stand. The LAX is shown leaving and Lauren is standing by with the fans who are able to watch the match on the monitors. Lauren says that the fans are cheering for Sting and they are ready for the match. A video package of the Main Event Mafia and the turmoil between Sting and Angle is aired and the empty arena brawl is up next.
Match 5: Kurt Angle vs. Sting (Empty Arena Brawl)
Yes, Kurt Angle and Sting had their normal ring entrances during this match. The two stare each other down momentarily before they begin trading blows. Sting goes on the early offensive and sends Angle over the railing and onto the chairs but Angle is able to come back as the fight in the bleachers.
As they fight at the top of the bleachers, Sting tosses Angle over the top of the fence and down to the floor. As Sting heads down to the floor, Angle comes at Sting with a garbage can as they fight their way towards the ring. Sting brings a chair into play and Angle begins to beg and apologizes to Sting as Kevin Nash comes down. Suddenly, Angle’s tone changes as he begs Sting to hit him with a chair but Nash takes it away from Sting.
Steiner comes down as Nash begins to yell at Angle and tells him to make things right. Steiner tells Angle to shake Stings hand as Sting extends his arm. Angle slowly shakes his hand before spotting in his face. The two begin brawling some more as we head into a commercial break.
We return to hear Mike Tenay tell us that Sting and Angle have been separated as we a treated to highlights of the brawl. Lauren is standing by with Sting who says he has never been as disrespected as he was tonight when Angle spit in his face. An irate Sting then tells Angle that he is all in. Tenay and West briefly talk about Sting’s comments as we then go to the Main Event Mafia locker room where Jeremy Borash is standing by with Angle.
Angle says he wants Sting’s title and his life as he tells Nash that he is not one of them. Nash says that Angle is responsible for the mess as Angle begins yelling for Jarrett to make a match between him and Sting at Destination X.
Quick Results
- The Motorcity Machine Guns defeated Lethal Consequences by pin fall.
- Shane Sewell & the LAX defeated Brutus Magnus/Sheik Abdul Bashir/Matt Morgan by pin fall.
- Taylor Wilde defeated Angelina Love by pin fall.
- Beer Money defeated Petey Williams & Eric Young by pin fall in an “Off the Bandwagon” challenge match.
- Sting and Kurt Angle fought to a no-contest in an empty arena brawl.
Starman’s Thoughts
I was excited at the sound of an empty arena brawl between Kurt Angle and Sting. Sure the empty arena venue had been done before, but it still makes for an interesting match concept. However, the Impact Zone was emptied in such a way that there was really no way to decide a winner as there were no referees. So we basically got a main event that in no way would have a decisive winner. I don’t know about other fans, but that didn’t sit well with me.
I will say that I was impressed on how they promoted the match throughout the night and made it seem like it one of the most important events in a long time. I guess that may have added to my overall displeasure of it. Building a match up that wouldn’t have any type of officiating to make a three count is ridiculous in my mind. I don’t think I would have cared if it ended and didn’t have a clear winner as long as there was an official present to at least try to decide a winner.
With all of that said, I have to admit that it at least did what it was supposed to do and set up a real match between the two at Destination X.
Petey Williams had his last match in TNA tonight in a loss against the tag team champions, Beer Money. It is a shame that Williams left as he was one of the better X Division stars they company had in my opinion, but at least his exit wasn’t cut short. I have to give TNA credit that they were able to stick around after the match long enough to take in the cheers from the crowd and bask in the glory of his TNA career. Petey will be sorely missed in TNA that’s for sure.
Before I wrap this up I am going to go over some random bits and observations of tonight’s show:
- Why is Sarah Palin still around? I’m not talking about Daffney either, I’m talking about the impersonation. Seriously, it has gone on long enough.
- Was the crowd level piped into the Impact Zone for tonight’s show? Last week the crowd was brutally dead and tonight they seemed to be on fire.
- Hardcore History 101 just isn’t doing it for me. Mick Foley could be doing so much more yet he is doing these. Tonight’s installment really seemed like rambling to me. Not one of Foley’s finest moments.
- Did anyone aside from me notice that Don West said Robert Roode wasn’t the legal man in the match when Eric Young went after him on the outside, yet Roode slid into the ring to make the cover and picked up the pin fall shortly thereafter? It’s not like tags matter much in TNA anyway.
