Impact opens with footage from Sacrifice and shows Abyss driving Dr. Stevie down into a pile of thumbtacks, Joe bloodying Kevin Nash, Jenna Morasca throwing in the towel for Booker T, Beer Money winning the Team 3D Tag Team Tournament and Sting winning the leadership of the Main Event Mafia as he pinned Kurt Angle.
The Impact intro hits as we are welcomed to this week’s show that starts off with an X Division match for the X Division Championship.
Match 1: Amazing Red vs. Suicide (X Division Championship)
The bell rings and Amazing Red goes for a few kick pin falls before Suicide turns him inside out with a hard clothesline. As the match goes on we see a split screen of the MEM arriving to the Impact Zone and Kurt Angle walks slowly as his head is hung low.
Back to the match, Suicide drives Red down to the mat and follows with a dropkick. Suicide continues on the attack but Red takes him down with a spinning DDT. Red then catches him with a kick to the face and covers but Suicide is able to kick out. Suicide is able to turn the momentum one last time and hits the Suicide Solution and gets the pin fall.
We see the Main Event Mafia walking in the back and heading towards the ring. After a commercial break the group makes their way to the ring led by Sting, who is wearing a suit and is without his makeup. Sting gets on the microphone and says there are some things that are in need of a change. Sting says when the group started seven months ago it was about the group first and egos second and that it was about bringing honor, dignity and respect back into the business.
Sting says he knows he has lived up to his end of the deal and questions the rest of the members. He says Nash and Booker have let jealousy between the women get in the way of their mission. Sting then bans Sharmell and Jenna from the Mafia. Sting then turns his attention to Angle and says that he hired his own personal security without consulting the rest of the group, therefore, Sal and Rocco are now fired as Angle’s personal security.
Sting then addresses the group and asks if anyone has a problem to speak now about it but before anyone can say anything, Samoa Joe’s music hits as he comes out with a microphone. Joe puts them all on notice and says he has been given the task to take them all out one-by-one until it is just him and Angle. Joe says when that day comes his order is to kill him.
Jeremy Borash is with Mick Foley and asks about some King of the Mountain qualifying matches. Foley says Jeff Jarrett will be facing Eric Young and AJ Styles will take on Daniels. Foley also talks about some talks with the other shareholders and will address that situation by the end of the show.
After a break, Jeremy Borash is with the British Invasion who call out the TNA roster and challenge anyone to a ladder match and puts up the X Division Championship briefcase they stole from Homicide on the line. Borash then questions their relationship with Sheik Abdul Bashir and they play dumb about it before walking away.
Mike Tenay and Don West run down tonight’s card that will have the British Invasion open challenge, the Team 3D Tournament presentation, Sojo Bolt will take on Angelina Love for the Knockouts Championship and the first two King of the Mountain qualifying matches will take place.
Lauren is in the dressing room with Jenna Morasca who says that her decision to throw in the towel for Booker was the right thing to do. Sharmell then busts into the dressing room and starts choking Jenna until Booker comes in and pulls her away.
After a break, Lauren is backstage and is about to get ready for an interview with Sojo Bolt until Dr. Stevie walks up from behind her who tells her that he is going to give Abyss a live therapy session in the ring and says that he owns Abyss.
Match 2: Doug Williams vs. Cody Deaner (Ladder Match for X Division Briefcase)
Cody Deaner accepts the open challenge as Doug Williams just laughs at his opponent. Deaner tries to make a quick move up the ladder but he is slammed down to the mat by Williams. Mike Tenay mentions that Homicide is not in the Impact Zone to accept the open challenge due to a death in his family. Williams continues to work on Deaner but he is able to stop Williams from climbing the ladder.
Williams places the ladder on the mat and slams Deaner onto it but misses with a follow up leg drop. Deaner then backdrops Williams onto the ladder as the other two members of the British Invasion pulls the ladder out of the ring. Williams tries to sneak from behind but Deaner is able to toss him over the ropes and onto the ladder taking out all three members.
ODB then slides the ladder back into the ring as Deaner sets it up and begins climbing up. Williams is rolled back into the ring and is able to dump Deaner off the ladder and onto the floor as he had the briefcase in his hands. Williams then climbs the ladder and grabs the case to win the match. After the match, Sheik Abdul Bashir and Kiyoshi come and shake their hands.
Jeremy Borash is with Jeff Jarrett in the locker room who talks about his relationship with Eric Young and everything he has been through in TNA. Jarrett says he may have overlooked Young in the past and tonight he wants to leave it all in the ring and start all over. When Borash asks about Foley’s meeting Jarrett says he isn’t even going to answer that question.
Dr. Stevie is standing in the ring and calls out Abyss. Once Abyss makes it to the ring Stevie says he feels their therapy should be done in a public forum. Stevie talks about their addictions to pain, violence and the flowing of blood. Stevie says the difference between them, though, as that he is civilized and Abyss is unfit for society.
Stevie says that they are going to need to start the therapy all over and tells him to put a straight jack on. Once it is on Stevie pulls out a kendo stick as Lauren runs down to the ring and steps in between them. Raven then steps out from the crowd and stares down Stevie as he grabs the kendo stick and laces into Abyss’ forehead. Raven continues to beat Abyss with the kendo stick and Stevie tells Abyss that they are done for the week.
The Beautiful People are all together once again, including Cute Kip, and they are headed to the ring for Angelina Love’s title match. Before their match, though, Jeremy Borash catches up with Raven and asks why he attacked Abyss. Raven says that he may have done it for the attention or because he missed TNA, or that he may have did it because he can.
Match 3: Angelina Love vs. Sojo Bolt (TNA Knockout Championship)
Sojo Bolt starts the match out with a couple of quick rollup attempts but Love is able to kick out. Angelina is able to take over control of the match with a drop toehold and she is able to pick up a couple of near falls after a brief flurry of offense but Bolt is able to kick out. Bolt begins to mount a comeback and drives Angelina down to the mat as Madison Rayne causes a distraction that allows Angelina to get a spray bottle and she sprays it into the eyes of Bolt and is able to pick up the pin fall to retain her championship.
After the match, Love gets on the microphone and brags about her victory over Bolt. She then turns her attention to Cute Kip and asks why he is still hanging around the Beautiful People. Angelina says she fired him a month ago and she says the days of him riding their coattails are over and calls him an embarrassment to TNA and to himself. Security come into the ring and escorts Cute Kip from the ring.
On to other things, Love asks that there be some new women to take on in TNA so she doesn’t have to keep on beating the same knockouts over and over again. Theme music hits as Victoria comes down to the ring and quickly takes down both Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne. She then turns her attention to Love as they trade blows and takes her down with the Widow’s Peak.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with Eric Young who says he is the one people to go to in TNA when something needed to get done and then he was quickly forgotten once it was done. EY says everyone will take notice of him tonight and it will be a night that Jarrett never forgets.
After a break, the Motorcity Machine Guns and Lethal Consequences are standing together and say that they are together as they want to know who Suicide is. Lethal throws out some old references as Sabin and Shelley look on in disbelief.
Mick Foley comes down to the ring and promotes next week King of the Mountain match between Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash and says it will be fought under Lethal Lockdown rules. Foley then begins to talk about coming overwhelming odds and becoming TNA World Champion. Foley then says that he needs to stay champion for the good of the company in the coming years and says that he will put the title up against all odds at Slammiversary but will defend the title only once a year after that.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with AJ Styles and Daniels who says that the fans are going to get the best tonight. Daniels says he is out to prove to the world that he is one of the best in the business. Samoa Joe comes in to the picture and apologizes to Styles for his actions. Joe says he snapped but he is right in the head now and wants to get back to how they were. Style promises that they will talk after the match.
Match 4: Eric Young vs. Jeff Jarrett (KotM Qualifying Match)
Jeff Jarrett tries to shake EY’s hand prior to the match but Young blows him off. Young and Jarrett go back and forth with shoulder blocks and dropkicks before EY goes for the first cover and gets a two count. Young goes for a sunset flip but Jarrett is able to counter and gets a two count of his own. Jarrett then takes control of the match and goes for a figure four by Young counters with a rollup and gets another two count.
Young slams Jarrett down to the mat but misses with a moonsault and Jarrett hits the Stroke but EY is able to get his leg on the rope. Young tries to make a comeback but Jarrett rolls EY up and scores the pin fall to qualify for the King of the Mountain match. After the match Eric Young sticks out his hand and the two shake hands but EY takes Jarrett out from behind. EY focuses on Jarrett’s leg and hits it with an elbow drop from the top rope before leaving the ring.
Jeremy Borash catches up with Eric Young in the parking lot and EY says that if he wants answers to ask Jarrett if he will ever be forgotten about again.
Team 3D is in the ring and introduce the winners of their tournament, Beer Money. Robert Roode and James Storm come out to the ring as Team 3D starts a “Beer Money” chant. Brother Ray says that they are proud of their accomplishment and says that they should be proud to work in a company that puts a focus on tag team wrestling. Team 3D then presents Beer Money with a pair of trophies and a check for $100,000 for winning the tournament.
Robert Roode thanks Team 3D for the opportunity to be in the tournament and prove to everyone that they are the best tag team today. Roode says that they will do just that at Slammiversary in case they don’t believe that fact. Ray grabs a six pack of beer and share a beer together.
We then join the announce table who preview’s next week show that will feature the Impact debut of Jesse Neal and Kevin Nash against Samoa Joe in a Lethal Lockdown match to qualify for the King of the Mountain match.
Suddenly the ring has two rappers as they are singing AJ Styles theme music. The match between Styles and Daniels is next.
Match 5: AJ Styles vs. Daniels (KotM Qualifying Match)
The match starts and Styles locks Daniels in a headlock as the fans start a “TNA!” chant. Daniels is able to get out of the hold and the two go back and forth in the opening moments. Styles is able to get Daniels out to the floor and takes him out on the floor as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Styles taking Daniels down with a neckbreaker but it isn’t enough to put Daniels away. Daniels fights his way back into the match as it heads out to the floor once again. Daniels rolls Styles back into the ring but misses with a cross body block. Styles fires back with a flying forearm but Daniels is able to turn it around once again.
Daniels tries to put Styles away with the BME but Styles counters and hits the Pele kick. Styles tries for the Styles Clash but Daniels counters and tries for the Angel’s Wings but Styles counters that with a hurricanrana with a rollup and is able to keep Daniels down for the three count.
After the match Styles and Daniels shake hands as Shane Douglas comes out from the crowd and he lays out Daniels with a blow to the head with a chain wrapped around his fist. Douglas leaves through the crowd once as Styles comes out to check on Daniels and Impact comes to a close.
Quick Results
- Suicide defeated Amazing Red by pin fall to retain the X Division Championship.
- Doug Williams defeated Cody Deaner in a ladder match for the X Division briefcase.
- Angelina Love defeated Sojo Bolt by pin fall to retain the Knockout Championship.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated Eric Young by pin fall to qualify for the King of the Mountain match.
- AJ Styles defeated Daniels by pin fall to qualify for the King of the Mountain match.
Starman’s Thoughts
From top to bottom this has to be one of the better episodes of Impact that has aired in a long time. TNA really seems to be firing on all cylinders and have added a bunch of new faces and elements to add a little extra something to their product.
For starters there were a few new, yet familiar, faces on tonight’s show including a returning Raven and Shane Douglas, plus Victoria made her TNA debut. I will make no bones about it, I have been and will continue to be a huge fan of Raven and it was good to see him on television once again. Maybe it was just me but he seemed to be full of life in his promo tonight and I hope there are plans to keep him in an active and worthwhile storyline.
The involvement of Shane Douglas is interesting as I am wondering if this is leading to an active wrestling role within the company. The last TNA fans remember of the Franchise is his time managing the Naturals but I’m sure Douglas has something to offer in the ring still. If Foley can still wrestle, I’m sure Douglas still can.
What is interesting about the two is the fact that both of their runs in TNA seemed to have both ended abruptly and their roles were suddenly dropped. As I mentioned, Douglas was managing the Naturals when he ended the experiment with them after they continued to lose. Raven, on the other hand, led a group of misfits with Serotonin but that really didn’t go anywhere. Both were released from his contract shortly after those events.
I have stated before that it seems TNA is trying to right the wrongs of some of their past booking decisions. Both Douglas and Raven are former World Champions so they have some recognition but both were horribly used towards the end of their time with the company. I am hopeful that the booking department has some sort of long term plan for both as they are both great talents in the ring and on the microphone to have on the roster.
The other new face on tonight’s broadcast was that of Victoria, a former WWE Women’s Champion. A big void was left when Gail Kim left TNA and Victoria could be the one that finally fills those shoes. Victoria was horribly misused towards the end of her WWE career (much like how Gail Kim is horribly being used now) and I think that she will be a great fit for the Knockouts Division.
Since I am on the topic of faces in TNA, I really hope that this is the last time we have to see Cute Kip. I don’t want to see him as Cute Kip, Kip James, The Outlaw, Mr. Ass, Billy Gunn or any other persona. Please, just keep him off television.
Aside from all of the new talent that appeared on the show, there were other aspects that I enjoyed and/or wasn’t expecting. For starters, I really enjoyed Sting stepping up and taking control of the Main Event Mafia. I wasn’t expecting much from him winning the role as the Godfather so it totally blew away my expectations. I am also intrigued as to where they end up taking this angle.
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange between Team 3D and Beer Money. I liked how Beer Money came off as confident in their abilities, however, it wasn’t too cocky and still keep the respect between the two teams in tact. I really was expecting a sneak attack from Beer Money at some point when they were toasting each other, but it didn’t happen. Another great booking decision in my mind – keep that respect there.
After his match against Jeff Jarrett, Eric Young turned heel and I am hopeful that this leads somewhere for EY. Since the breakup of Team Canada, Eric Young has been one of the most misused talents on the TNA roster.
He has been stuck in feuds with Robert Roode and James Storm that were drawn on for far too long, then stuck in a superhero gimmick and things finally looked up for him when he was a bit more serious with the Front Line. That didn’t seem to stick either and now he has turned heel. I’m not sure how much I will enjoy EY as a heel (he never really came across as a heel with Team Canada in my mind) but I am open to the idea if it means he will be given some time to shine for once.
Out of all of the good that came out tonight, there was, of course, some that didn’t quite sit right with me. One thing that really bothered me was the fact that the British Invasion was able to book a ladder match with an item that doesn’t belong to them. I will give TNA credit for pointing out that Homicide wasn’t present at the Impact Zone to take part of the open challenge, but why wouldn’t TNA management in some shape or form just take the briefcases back and give them to their rightful owners?
The other aspect of tonight’s show I didn’t particularly enjoy was Foley’s announcement about being able to defend the TNA Championship only once per year. On the surface, the stipulation is only implied for Foley so my first impression is that Foley will for sure lose the title at the King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. With that said, though, this is TNA and there always is a good chance of this happening. I hope I am wrong on that.
Great Review, as always.
I really appreciate what you do; you’re the best TNA reviewer on the internet imo, so keep it up!!