Say It Ain’t So, Joe (6/25 Impact Recap)

Impact opens with a recap of Slammiversary when Beer Money won the Tag Team Championship, Suicide and Angelina Love retained their titles, and Kurt Angle won the TNA World Championship with help from Samoa Joe, who said he has joined the family.

The Impact intro hits and we are welcomed to this week’s show and Mike Tenay says he wants answers from Samoa Joe. We then head intro the first match of the night.

Match 1: Brutus Magnus vs. Brother Ray (NYC Street Fight)
Brother Ray jumps Magnus on the entrance ramp and dumps him into the crowd. Magnus rakes Ray’s eyes and is able to turn things around until Ray sends him into the bleacher wall.

The fight makes its way into the ring and Ray brings in a table. Ray sets it up as Rob Terry, Doug Williams, Kiyoshi and Sheik Abdul Bashir come down and take Ray down. Devon comes in with a chair and hits Rob Terry and clears the ring. Team 3D then 3D’s Kiyoshi through the table as Andrew Thomas tosses this match out.

Lauren catches up with the new TNA World Champion in the parking lot and asks about her plan with Samoa Joe but Angle doesn’t answer. A Porsche pulls up and Joe gets out as the two embrace and walk away.

The Main Event Mafia’s music hits as they make their way down to the ring. Kurt Angle gets on the microphone and introduces the newest member of the Main Event Mafia, Samoa Joe. Joe comes down to the ring and Angle says he came up with the plan and said they took notice of Joe when he returned from his beat down and began kicking ass.

Angle said Joe had a high asking price and that’s where Jenna Morasca and her money came in. Angle says he had the members of the MEM took a bullet because that’s what families do for each other. Angle then apologizes to Sting for not being a part of the process but what he didn’t know didn’t hurt him.

Mick Foley’s music hits and he comes down to the ring with his personal security. Foley says he doesn’t need an explanation but Angle does owe him a rematch at Victory Road. Foley says it will be one-on-one for the World Championship. Angle says he doesn’t have any power any more and he has the right to pick his own opponent.

Foley begins to goad Angle into a rematch, however, Angle doesn’t bite and he tells Foley that he has to give something to get something from the Mafia. Angle suggests that they go to the back and work out an agreement and says he will meet him backstage.

Lauren meets up with AJ Styles but he doesn’t want to talk to her. He runs into Kip James and asks if he has seen Samoa Joe. Kip says he was just in the ring with the Main Event Mafia and Styles walks away.

A video package highlighting the history between Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley is aired. Mike Tenay says the power struggle between the two have TNA going in different directions. Tenay says they are awaiting a phone call from Jarrett and expect it at any minute. They then hype the night’s card that will feature Kevin Nash against Abyss and a Match of 10,000 Tacks between Daffney and Taylor Wilde.

Jeff Jarrett has called in and says the situation between him and Mick Foley has gone far enough and they will solve their differences next week for the benefit of TNA and everyone in it.

A video package hyping a new knockout named Sarita is aired. She will debut in three weeks.

Match 2: Abyss vs. Kevin Nash
The match starts during a commercial break and we return to the match to see Nash in and takes Abyss down with a clothesline. Nash methodically works Abyss over and wears the big man down and sends him out to the floor. Abyss pulls Nash out to the floor and they battle on the outside and Nash swings a chair at Abyss but he misses and Abyss uses the opening to take control of the match.

Abyss sends Nash into the guard railing and into the steel steps before rolling him back into the ring. Abyss brings a chair into the ring and sets it in the corner but it gives Nash time to recover who takes Abyss down with a big boot. Nash then grabs the chair and the referee turns his attention as Dr. Stevie comes in and takes Abyss down with a taser. Nash then covers Abyss for the win. Lauren comes out to the ring after the match and checks on Abyss as Stevie looks on.1

Beer Money comes out to the ring and say that they are the greatest tag team in the world. Robert Roode says Brother Ray and Brother Devon are two legends, however, they made a mistake and they capitalized on it to become the 3-time TNA Tag Team Champions. Roode then says they can get their rematch anywhere, any time or any place.

The Main Event Mafia’s music interrupts as Booker T and Scott Steiner come down to the ring. Booker asks Beer Money if they have ever heard of the Steiner Brothers or Harlem Heat. Steiner chimes in and says Kurt Angle is making the rules and the deal is etched in stone. Booker says Mick Foley will get a World Championship, Kevin Nash will get a shot at the Legends Championship and the two of them will get a shot of the TNA Tag Team Championship.

James Storm says they were part of great tag teams but they need to get in line just like everyone else. Booker says the deals is already done and they will also be in singles matches against them tonight. Team 3D’s music hits and they come out to the entrance ramp and say they were going to be getting their rematch at Victory Road and they plan to be in the match. Ray says they are going to talk to Foley and give him an offer he can’t refuse and walk away.

A video package highlighting thumbtacks and their use in TNA matches. For the first time ever, two knockouts will battle in a Match of 10,000 Tacks.

Match 3: Daffney vs. Taylor Wilde (Match of 10,000 Tacks)
The bag of tacks are hanging from a pole in the corner of the ring. The match rings and Daffney goes right on the attack and she begins to pound Taylor with a series of punches. Daffney grabs the bag of tacks but Taylor is able to take her down with a kick to the midsection. Daffney recovers and takes Taylor down before spreading out the tacks onto the canvas. Daffney and Taylor begin to fight near the tacks but neither fall into them. Taylor is finally able to pick Taylor up and slam her into the tacks to win the match.

Lauren is with the Beautiful People and Velvet Sky says that no one from another promotion and tries to take over their turf. She then says that she understands Tara’s name is short for Tarantula as Madison Rayne suddenly has a spider on her shoulder and begins to scream.

We head to Mick Foley’s office where Team 3D is confronting them about their title shot. Foley says next week Team 3D can talk on Booker & Steiner and the winner will get a match against Beer Money. Brother Ray isn’t taking it and Foley begs them to do it. Brother Devon says they will do it. Jeremy Borash asks Foley how he thinks Kurt Angle is going to react to this and Foley says he doesn’t care.

Match 4: Scott Steiner vs. Robert Roode
The bell rings and Scott Steiner takes the early advantage but Roode is able to take Steiner down with a suplex but does a little too much showboating and allows Steiner to get back into the match. Steiner sends Roode out to the floor and sends him into the railing and stairs before taking him down with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex in the ring and picks up a two count.

Steiner continues to work over Roode and takes him down with a clothesline. Steiner picks Roode apart and puts him in a bear hug but Roode is able to escape and takes Steiner down with a clothesline. Steiner is able to counter a suplex and goes for the Steiner Recliner but Roode counters and sends Steiner into the turnbuckle. Steiner is able to follow up with a boot to Roode’s face a takes Roode down with a back slide for the pin fall.

Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle and wants to get his thoughts about Mick Foley tweeking Booker T and Scott Steiner’s match with Beer Money. Angle says he shouldn’t cross the boss and will deal with Foley next week. As for Sting, Angle is the Godfather and didn’t need to know about Samoa Joe joining the Mafia. Borash says that Sting is going to want answers tonight and Angle says he doesn’t have to give him any answers.

Jeremy Borash joins Mick Foley in the office and Foley says he is in the mood to reconcile with Jeff Jarrett next week. Borash also lets Foley know about Angle’s thoughts about his tweek to the tag team match. Foley says if Angle wants to deal with him he will be in his office.

A video package focusing on Eric Young is aired that shows his new attitude as it wonders how long he is willing to go. He is with Lauren in the back and he says he is one of the originals and he is sick of being the court jester. Rhino shows up and tells him to explain himself. EY says maybe he can talk to Foley and take care of it next week. Rhino suggests that they don’t need to wait until next week and Young returns with a head butt before walking away. Jesse Neal walks in and says they can deal with him on their own time. Rhino doesn’t like Neal talking to him like that and throws him into the wall.

Lauren is backstage with Booker T who says he has done it all in the wrestling business and tells that James Storm is going to be in trouble tonight. Sharmell walks in and says that she got the deal signed by Mick Foley and says that she has a match against Jenna Morasca at Victory Road before walking away.

Match 5: Booker T vs. James Storm
Booker T goes on the offensive the start this match out and sends him out to the floor. Booker rolls Storm back into the ring and begins to wear him down with a series of knees and kicks which garners a two count. Booker then misses with an axe kick and Storm takes Booker down with a neckbreaker and gets a two count of his own.

Storm continues to work over Booker and hits a snap suplex and nails Booker with 10 punches in the corner. Sharmell then grabs Storm’s beer bottle and hands it to Booker who breaks it over Storm’s head. Shards of glass also hit Earl Hebner as Rudy Charles and Slick Johnson come in to check on Hebner and they disqualify Booker for his actions.

AJ Styles comes out to the ring with a microphone and calls out Samoa Joe so he can face Styles like a man. Joe comes out with a microphone and a towel over his head and gets right in Styles’ face. Styles tells Joe that they had a plan for the match but he turned his back on Styles. Styles says Joe screwed TNA, the fans and himself due to his actions.

Styles wants to know who got in his head and Joe says you can ask him himself at Victory Road. The two then get into a brawl as Matt Morgan comes in to give Joe a hand. The two begin to beat Styles down as Daniels comes out to help Styles. The rest of the Main Event Mafia come out and the numbers game catches up with Styles and Daniels.

Sting’s music hits as he comes down the ramp with a baseball bat and the Mafia clears the ring. Sting gets on the microphone and says he expected these kinds of actions from Kurt Angle, but not from the rest of them. Sting says it was due to punks like Joe that they started the Mafia in the first place. Sting wants to know what else he has been kept in the dark about.

Sting questions about Matt Morgan’s involvement and Morgan tells Sting that Angle had everything to do with it. Sting questions the other members of the Mafia and calls Steiner a mindless jock and says that Booker only cares about himself. Sting says he expected more from Kevin Nash due to their history. Nash stands up for himself and says he was with Sting the whole time but he had to agree with Angle when he suggested that Morgan take him out.

Nash says Sting’s plan isn’t working while Angle’s plan is. Nash says it isn’t about dignity and respect, it is about money. Nash says people can make friends and make money, but they can’t make both and they decided to buy the two SOB’s they couldn’t defeat.

Sting tells Nash to prove him wrong and solidify his place in the Mafia by taking himout with a baseball bat. Sting hands Nash a baseball bat but pulls out another one and begins to swing at the members of the Mafia, however, Joe sneaks from behind and takes Sting out with a bat. The rest of the Mafia come into the ring and pick up the pieces as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results
- Brutus Magnus and Brother Ray fought to a no contest in a NYC Street Fight.
- Kevin Nash defeated Abyss by pin fall.
- Taylor Wilde defeated Daffney in a Match of 10,000 Tacks.
- Scott Steiner defeated Robert Roode by pin fall.
- James Storm defeated Booker T by disqualification.

Starman’s Thoughts
I wasn’t too thrilled on how Slammiversary ended. I really thought TNA dropped the ball with Samoa Joe siding with the Main Event Mafia. After seeing it play out this week, though, I am a little more forgiving as I have to say that I like the new direction they are going with the Mafia.

Sting has always been the extra wheel in the group and they finally replaced him with someone who shares their same vision. The whole respect and dignity aspect had gotten a bit stale as the MEM/Frontline feud fell to the wayside and having it be about money and power breathes new life into the faction. It does help to also have two younger stars in Samoa Joe and Matt Morgan by their side.

Sure, it does have plenty of logical holes in the angle, but it has gotten a lot better since the end of the pay-per-view on Sunday.

Tonight’s show had a huge focus on the Main Event Mafia, which had sort of lost its importance over the past few weeks as they were being picked apart by Samoa Joe. The group seemed re-energized tonight and three of the five matches featured one of the members. Two of them were decent if not forgettable, however, I really enjoyed the match between Scott Steiner and Robert Roode.

These two seemed to work well together and put on a good television match. Plus, unlike the other two matches that featured Mafia members, this one ended with a clean finish that came from nowhere. With the match ending like it did, Steiner didn’t come across as too dominate and Roode didn’t come across as too weak in the loss. It really helped set up the tag team bout next week in my opinion.

Finally, it was nice to see a video package hyping a newcomer to TNA. Much too often, TNA will just put a wrestler out there in a match with little to no hype at all. Many times a new person will debut one week only to have their name changed the next (i.e. nearly all of the Knockouts). This time TNA did something right with a debuting wrestler and gave the fans a little bit to look forward to.

For those who don’t know, Sarita is Sarah Stock, a Canadian wrestler who made her name wrestling as Dark Angel in CMLL. I, for one, will be looking forward to her debut in three weeks.