A recap of last week’s match between Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy, which of course ended in a controversial finish, kicks off Impact. We then head straight into the first match of the night.
Match 1: Rob Terry vs. Abyss
As Rob Terry is coming down to the ring we head to the back to see Rob Van Dam is being restrained by security. Jeff Hardy and Al Snow are also there and are trying to hold him back as well.
Abyss comes down to the ring with Janice and sets her up outside of the ring. Abyss then goes right on the attack but Terry is able to take Abyss down with a clothesline and a spin kick. Terry then slams Abyss down to the mat and picks up a two count over the monster. Abyss then mounts a comeback and drives Terry down to the mat with a chokeslam but Terry kicks out of the pin attempt.
Abyss then sends Terry out to the floor as we see Jeff Hardy and RVD walking around to the back and RVD is walking towards the Impact Zone. Back to the ring area, Abyss removes part of the guard railing and throws it at Terry which causes a disqualification. Abyss then picks it up a few more times and continues to slam it on Terry as RVD makes his way down from the crowd with a steel chair in his hands.
RVD is bandaged up as security and TNA agents step in the middle of the two to prevent anything from happening. RVD then lays out one of the security guards before gingerly stepping into the ring. RVD grabs a microphone and thanks the fans for the support and to tell everyone that he is going nowhere. RVD then calls out Eric Bischoff as we head into a commercial break.
We return to see Bischoff is standing in the ring with RVD, who is protesting not being able to defend the title he was stripped of but knows there is nothing he can do about it. He then wishes Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson good luck for being able to fight for the title but he wants first shot at it. RVD then talks about his condition and says that his doctor has given him clearance on 10-10-10. RVD says he wants to fight Abyss to get revenge and Eric Bischoff agrees and immediately books the match.
As RVD leaves the ring, D’Angelo Dinero’s music hits as he walks down to the ramp to meet Eric Bischoff in the ring. The Pope wants to know why RVD is getting a title shot right away or why people like Hardy and Angle are in the main event when they didn’t win their matches. The Pope then calls Bischoff a con man and Bischoff wants to discuss their matters in private as they both leave the ring together.
The docu-cam follows Lacey Von Erich into the woman’s locker room where the Beautiful People are sitting. Lacey goes off on them about how Madison Rayne and Tara beat her down last week before storming out of the room.
We then see footage of Bischoff’s and Pope’s talk during the commercial break where Bischoff grants Dinero a match against Samoa Joe and says if he can get through him then he will talk about a possible four-way for Bound for Glory.
Match 2: Jeremy Buck vs. Chris Sabin
Jeremy Buck comes out to the ring with his brother Max while Chris Sabin comes out by himself as Alex Shelley is still out due to the injury he suffered at No Surrender. Max Buck has his presence felt very quickly after the match begins as he trips up Sabin and is sent to the back for it. Sabin then takes control of the match but is showing some signs of the attack he suffered last week from Generation Me.
Buck is able to take control of the match and picks up a near fall after landing a neckbreaker. Buck continues to work over Sabin’s neck and shoulder area until Sabin is finally able to pick up a surprise pin fall with a quick rollup. Max Buck then runs into the ring and attacks Sabin as his brother also joins in. Generation Me then plants Sabin with another double team DDT before they grab Sabin’s tag team title.
We then see Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich walking in the back as they are challenging for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship coming up next.
A ReAction Rewind is aired where D’Angelo Dinero is talking about wanting to win the TNA World Championship and how he feels he is being held back. Jeff Jarrett talks about him and says he has an ego and tells him to go out there and perform and earn the respect of the wrestlers and fans.
Match 3: The Beautiful People vs. Taylor Wilde & Hamada (TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship)
The two teams go back and forth in the opening minute with all four getting a chance to be in the ring and get in some offense. Velvet and Taylor go back and forth with a couple of pin attempts before Hamada tags herself in and picks up a few pin attempts on Lacey. The match then breaks down and Madison Rayne sneaks in and hits Lacey in the back of the head with Tara’s motorcycle helmet. Taylor then covers Lacey for the pin fall to retain the titles. After the match, Velvet and Angelina Love check on Lacey as Angelina stares down Madison Rayne for what she did.
Tommy Dreamer is seen arriving to the Impact Zone with Mick Foley, Stevie Richards, Rhino, Sabu and Raven as we head into a commercial break.
A condensed of the video package from ReAction highlighting Jesse Neal’s past and his wrestling career is aired. We then join the announce team who has been joined by Dixie Carter who is there to hype a special live edition of Impact that will air on October 7. Dixie announces that there will be $100,000 battle royal that will feature every man on the Bound for Glory card. Dixie then talks about a change that will happen that will start to come out on that show.
Match 4: D’Angelo Dinero vs. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe goes right on the attack as this match starts and picks up a near fall in the process. The Pope tries to get in some offense but Joe continues to power him around and wears him down with a headlock. The Pope finally manages to take control of the match after landing a series of strikes and shoulder block which earns him a near fall.
The Pope then hits Joe with a neckbreaker and sets up for the DDE but he is distracted by Jeff Jarrett, who is coming towards the ring. Kevin Nash and Sting then come out and attack Jarrett as Joe locks Dinero in a rear naked choke and causes him to pass out. Joe then joins in on the attack in the ringside area as he begins to beat down on Kevin Nash as we cut to the back.
Christy Hemme meets up with EV2 and Tommy Dreamer says he just got done meeting with Dixie Carter and she booked them in a Lethal Lockdown match at Bound for Glory. Dreamer then says Sabu will go up against AJ Styles in a ladder match later tonight to decide who gets the advantage in the match.
Mr. Anderson comes out with a microphone and calls Kurt Angle down to the ring. Angle comes down and Anderson tells him that he is the absolute best in the business; however, on 10-10-10 Anderson plans to be three seconds better. Angle talks about wanting to be the best in the business and that he has accomplished everything that he has set out to do. Angle then promises that he will not lose as he would be nothing without wrestling. The two then shake hands as Anderson raises his arm for “one last time.”
The docu-cam is in Fortune’s locker room where Ric Flair is talking about Lethal Lockdown where the best in the business will get rid of EV2. Flair then gives AJ Styles a pep talk about his upcoming match against Sabu as Flair is iced. For those of you unaware, it is where someone hands another person a bottle of Smirnoff Ice and that person has to get down on one knee and chug it – unless they can block it with another Smirnoff Ice, of course.
Another video package for Shore is aired. This brings us back to the docu-cam where Kevin Nash and Sting are talking with the Pope. Nash and Sting want to know any information he can give them from any of the broads in the back. Nash specifically want to know about any information he can get from Miss Tessmacher and the Pope said he can be counted on.
A video package highlighting the feud between Fortune and EV2 is aired. A quick rundown of how Lethal Lockdown works is also featured which brings us into tonight’s main event.
Match 5: Sabu vs. AJ Styles (Lethal Lockdown Advantage Ladder Match)
A key for the cage door is hanging high above the match for this ladder match. Matt Morgan and Ric Flair also accompany AJ Styles to the ring. The match starts and Styles outsmarts Sabu early on but Sabu fires back with a clothesline. Sabu goes out for the ladder but Styles hits him from behind as the two begin to fight on the floor. Sabu hangs up Styles across the guard railing and then slides a ladder into the ring, but Styles gets up and removes the ladder from the ring.
Styles then hangs Sabu across the top rope before grabbing a ladder and bringing it towards the ring where Sabu sends it into Styles with a baseball slide dropkick. Sabu then sets up a ladder in the ring but Styles pushes him down. Sabu, though, is able to get back up and nail Styles with a ladder. Sabu tries to throw the ladder at Styles once more but Styles ducks and the ladder goes flying up the entrance ramp.
Styles fetches the ladder and nails Sabu with it before setting it back up in the ring. As he begins climbing the ladder, Mick Foley walks down towards the ring as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Sabu nail Styles in the face with a steel chair. Sabu continues on the attack and sends Styles out to the floor with a cross body block off a chair. A melee begins between Foley, Flair and Morgan on the outside as Tommy Dreamer and Kazarian also come out and begin fighting. Security comes out to break them up as the rest of Fortune and EV2 come out and brawl as the match continues in the ring.
Styles begins climbing the ladder and nearly gets the key but Sabu kicks the ladder down and hangs up Styles across the top rope. Sabu then springboards onto the top rope and takes out the action that is happening on the floor. Sabu goes back and begins to head up the ladder but he is pulled off by Robert Roode who gets a Gore from Rhino for his actions.
James Storm connects with a superkick on Rhino and Sabu tosses Storm out to the floor. Sabu and Styles begins to climb the ladder and Sabu knocks his opponent off as Storm pulls Sabu down and smashes a beer bottle across the back of his head. Storm then assists Styles up the ladder as he grabs the key to win the ladder match and gains the man advantage at Lethal Lockdown.
The docu-cam is with Jeff Hardy who is welcoming Rob Van Dam back from his injuries. RVD wishes Hardy luck and tells him that he will get the title at Bound for Glory. RVD then leaves the ring as Abyss enters the room and knocks down the camera man and he begins to brutally beat Hardy down.
A video package highlighting Abyss is aired in which it wonders if there is a group behind his actions. Wrestlers give their thoughts on the situation and how he becomes more and more insane each and every day.
Abyss is then seen carrying Jeff Hardy over his shoulder and to the ring with Janice in his other hand. Abyss puts Hardy down on the canvas and says that RVD was never supposed to come back and calls him ignorant for doing so. Abyss says that “they” gave him strict orders to remove him from TNA but made a mistake by leaving him still breathing. Abyss promises to correct that mistake on 10-10-10 where “they” will finally reveal themselves and begin the takeover of TNA. Abyss then promises to slaughter RVD at Bound for Glory before calling RVD down to the ring as Janice wants another piece of him tonight.
RVD limps out of the entrance tunnel with a steel chair and connects with a shot to Abyss’ head. RVD’s weakened state, though, doesn’t allow him to do much more as Abyss begins to beat the former champ down. Abyss then grabs Janice and stands tall over RVD as Impact comes to a close.
Quick Results
- Rob Terry defeated Abyss by disqualification.
- Chris Sabin defeated Jeremy Buck by pin fall.
- Taylor Wilde & Hamada defeated the Beautiful People by pin fall to retain the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship.
- Samoa Joe defeated D’Angelo Dinero by submission.
- AJ Styles defeated Sabu in a ladder match to gain the advantage in Lethal Lockdown.
Starman’s Thoughts
It has been a stage couple of weeks for TNA. Here we are just mere weeks away from their biggest event of the year and I’m not feeling much of anything towards what has already been booked. Seeing Fortune take on EV2 in a Lethal Lockdown match does nothing for me and RVD in a revenge match against Abyss isn’t much better. The three-way match to crown a new TNA World Champion looks good on paper but it has been a mess as to how they have gotten there.
Speaking of the main event, I will give Mr. Anderson and Kurt Angle credit for a great exchange in the ring today. While I hate the whole mutual respect shown between the two since they recently had a violent a bloody feud, they did get over the importance of the match and what is at stake, including Angle’s retirement stipulation. The one thing that was odd for me, though, was that Jeff Hardy was nowhere to be found during this. He is as much a part of the match as the other two are and not seeing him weigh in on things didn’t sit right with me.
Maybe I’m being a little too critcal due to the fact that Bound for Glory is just around the corner but one would think that TNA would step it up a notch in these final weeks and not give us Knockout train wreck matches and footage of Ric Flair being iced. Seeing this almost made me sick to my stomach, not for the fact that it was a nasty Smirnoff Ice, but for the sole purpose that Fortune should be portrayed as a bad ass heel faction and not in this light. Any bits of comedy should be stripped away from the group as they need all of the help they can get since they continually seem to lose a good majority of their matches.
