TNA Impact Thread

[Hammy]

* The broadcast crew of Mike Tenay, Taz and SoCal Val is announced by Dave Penzer. No Spanish announcers as there are referees sitting at the Spanish announce table.

* Kip James b. Serpent (Kevin Thorn) with the Fameasser. This may be a dark match, it may be part of the second half of next week’s episode. The pyro did not go off prior to the match.

* Kurt Angle comes out in his ring gear for a promo. He calls out Matt Morgan to talk before No Surrender. Angle says he’s on the verge of being the newest member of the Main Event Mafia. Sting comes out with AJ Styles. Sting can’t believe that Morgan believes Angle would have his back at No Surrender. He thinks Morgan should get in Angle’s face and talk trash. Angle says that Sting doesn’t want to pass the torch to AJ, he just wants his one last shot at glory. Angle admits he just wants to keep the TNA Championship. No Matt Morgan calls Angle out on it and says he’s just trying to use him. Why not use him tonight his match? Morgan tells AJ to use him tonight.

* It was announced in the previous segment it will be Daniels & AJ Styles with Sting in their corner vs. Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe with Matt Morgan in their corner later tonight. Also announced is Kevin Nash vs. Mick Foley for the TNA Legends Championship.

* 8-Man Tag Team Gauntlet Match is up now. Every ninety seconds someone comes out. Order of entrance: Brother Devon, Doug Williams, Robert Roode, Scott Steiner, Brother Ray, Booker T and finally James Storm. Brutus Magnus pinned Scott Steiner after a blind tag and a 3D.

* The Motor City Machineguns are out at their commentary table.

* Tara vs. Cody Deaner in a Mixed Martial Arts rules match is up next. MMA rules mean rope breaks. The referee is knocked out. Awesome Kong comes out and gives Tara a splash and Butterfly Buster. The referee comes too and calls for the bell, signaling a TKO. Tara was wearing Tapout shorts, shirt and hat. The Tapout logos had tape covering them.

* World Elite comes out. Rob Terry is carrying Homicide on his shoulder as Eric Young gets on the mic. Young says Hernandez comes out and joins World Elite or Homicide’s blood is on his hands. Hernandez comes out and beats up World Elite and clears the ring. Homicide swerves him and gives Hernandez a chair shot. Hernandez is beat down by World Elite. Homicide shakes hands with Eric Young and smiles then drapes the Mexican flag over Hernandez. Homicide is held up on the British Invasions’ shoulders and celebrates. He goes after the crowd for calling him a sellout.

* AJ Styles & Daniels w/Sting b. Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe after AJ reverses Angle into a chair as Morgan is holding and schoolboys Angle for the pin. Matt Morgan comes out later and sits in a chair at ringside. After the match Morgan is in the ring with Angle. Angle hit Morgan and Morgan gives him the Hellevator. Kurt Angle demanded it and go it - the featured bout tonight is Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan.

* The Impact opening airs and the pyro goes off now.

* The Pope D’Angelo Dinero b. Suicide via running knees.

* Rhino comes out for an in-ring promo. Rhino says he doesn’t play politics, he just comes week after week and does his thing. He name drops Christian Cage and says he got a superstar welcome. He says TNA took advantage and used his personal demons in TNA. Sure he likes to drink some, so what? Now he says he liked Jesse Neal but didn’t like his change in attitude and is going to kick his butt. That brings him to Bobby Lashley. He says this isn’t MMA. He’ll take a steel chair to him and make him bleed. He saw Dixie Carter talking to Lashley and wonders when the last time she talked to him was. Rhino signed the match because he wants to make Lashley bleed and stand over him while he begs him to stop beating him. Brother Devon comes out. Devon says Rhino doesn’t sound like he’s angry, he sounds like he’s a ****. Devon had to stop Brother Ray from beating up Rhino from beating up Jesse Neal. Devon brings up the young Rhino in ECW that they helped out and brought under their wing. Devon suggests he and Rhino put this behind them and go to the back and trade stories. Rhino attacks Devon and set up for the Gore but Brother Ray runs in. They fit until security and referees come in and break it up.

* Semi-Final Match in the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament: The Beautiful People b. Tara & Christy Hemme. Madison Rayne came down and sprayed Christy Hemme in the face with a spray and Velvet Sky rolled Hemme up for the win. Madison has a bag and says she’s sorry. They accept her apology and she is once again a member of The Beautiful People.

* Hernandez b. Kiyoshi & Sheik Abdul Bashir in a Handicap Match after a Border Toss. After the match, Homicide runs out and distracts Hernandez so Eric Young can deliver some big chair shots to him.

* Alissa Flash vs. Cody Deaner in a lumberjack match features the lumberjacks beating Deaner up then throwing him into the ring so Alissa could pin him. The lumberjacks were Roxxi, Sarita, Tara, Taylor Wilde, Awesome Kong, Traci, Hamada, The Beautiful People, Sojo Bolt, Daffney and Christy Hemme. After the match, ODB comes out and knocks out Deaner.

* Dr. Stevie b. Jay Lethal via knockout with the Cobra Clutch in a match taped for Xplosion.

* Scott Steiner w/Booker T & Brutus Magnus w/The British Invasion b. Robert Roode w/James Storm & Brother Ray w/Brother Devon. The referee was distracted which allowed Williams to come in and hit Roode with a belt shot and allow Magnus to get the pin.

* TNA Legends Champion Kevin Nash b. Mick Foley via disqualification. Abyss ran out for no reason which caused the disqualification. Nash was beating up Foley prior to the run-in. Foley is mad and told Abyss he cost him the title. Foley no sold Abyss’ attempt at a hug as he left with Abyss’ barbwire baseball bat.

* Semi-Final Match in the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament: Sarita & Taylor Wilde b. Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed after Wilde hit a German suplex on Raisha into a pin. Kong was mad Saeed lost the match for their team and stormed off.

* Kurt Angle comes out and joins Mike Tenay and Taz on commentary.

* TNA X Division Champion Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan ends when Morgan gets too close to Angle at the announce table and he gets attacked. Daniels came out and fought Samoa Joe to the back. Angle gives Morgan an Angle Slam through a table to end the show.

[Hammy]

Best. Dark. Match. Ever.

I need a copy of that match 

[Hammy]

Last week’s edition of TNA iMPACT drew a 1.13 cable rating, down from the previous week’s 1.17 number. Both shows drew an estimated 1.6 million viewers.

Ratings tumbled during the second hour as the first hour averaged a 1.16 rating whereas the second hour drew a 1.10.

The broadcast’s ratings were dragged down by the final two segments of the show as the last half-hour averaged a 1.04 rating, which included TNA President Dixie Carter’s first appearance on iMPACT (alongside Bobby Lashley) and the main event six-man tag match of AJ Styles, Sting and Hernandez vs. The Main Event Mafia.

As per usual, the Knockouts drew the strongest ratings of the show. Though the number was not released, the highest-rated quarter-hour of the program was in an unusual spot in the third quarter hour. The 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. portion of the show featured Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed vs. Traci Brooks and Sharmell in a Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament match. Additionally, Hamada’s debut in TNA was a success as her match with Daffney helped draw a 1.20 rating in the fifth quarter-hour, with a 1.12 for the match’s conclusion in the sixth.

Makes you realise why they've added tag straps for them.

[Izzy]

Knockouts are great, but I don't watch for them - seems thousands do however...

[Hammy]

Just seen the episde from the other week, I can't believe nobody gave me the heads up on it sooner.

Kip: I used to own a car like that

Lauren: When?

Kip: When I was over

 

[Izzy]

What they are doing with Kip better be going somewhere - otherwise this is humilation of the highest order

I like Kip - he deserves better, either fire him or give him a run - but dont tear his efforts down

[Hammy]

What they are doing with Kip better be going somewhere - otherwise this is humilation of the highest order

I like Kip - he deserves better, either fire him or give him a run - but dont tear his efforts down

Doubt it has a purporse.

Its classic Russo booking, make sure every talent on the roster has a role/storyline no matter how small, he uses EVERYONE.

I'm all for having Kip responsible in some way for riding TNA of Angelina Love.

Or they could just explain the real situation as to why she has been canned/deported then in a few months time if/when they sort it, the storyline is Kip married her and they become the new power couple of the company and they... (Ok I'll stop now) 

[Izzy]

I'm a bigger Vince Russo fan than even Vince Russo

This weeks Impact - textbook 'Russo Swerve'

Loved it - did not see the Homicide heel turn, and that was among the best swerve's i've ever seen - Homicide carried into the arena - great touch!

Impact gets better and better from a creative viewpoint - with the other writers gone Russo is giving superb angles...

...but bizarrely, Id saw WWE is giving us better matches

The X division is all but gone now - but even when X division guys get matches, its slow WWE style

...John Morrison is easily (currently) the best wrestler around - and he's making AJ Styles look like utter rubbish

TNA needs to raise its game with its matches - we get a good amount of matches and with good wrestlers....but they just give adequate performances

...maybe this is their way of selling PPV's - traditionally Impact matches were so good PPV's were fairly pointless

[Hammy]

Xplosion Match
Kiyoshi vs. Amazing Red
Red wins after a running shooting star press when Kiyoshi misses a top rope moonsault.

Impact:
Show of course opens with the M.E.M. Already in the ring. Kurt says most of the Mafia retained their dominance, but claims he didn’t lose the title to AJ, he was screwed by Matt Morgan who “turned on him” during the match.  Kurt announces himself vs. Morgan at BFG.  Out comes World Elite arguing that THEY are the most dominant force noting that Eric saved Kurt from Hernandez and tonight Kurt will return the favor and help EY take Hernandez out.  Booker takes the mic tearing down W.E., Angle stops Booker and says he is a man of Integrity and will team with Eric Young tonight.

Suicide vs. Pope (Street Fight)
Pope attacks Suicide during his entrance. Few funny spots with of all things, a tambourine. Crown was totally into this one chanting out weapons for both men to use.
Suicide wins after a DOA on a trash can.
(Just a side note, Pope is WAY over in the Impact Zone)

Rhino vs. Brother Devon
Devon attacks Rhino during his entrance. Match ends in a no contest. They both are busted open and brawl til security comes out and tries to separate the 2.  Brother Ray comes in and orders to security to leave the ring. Ray screams at the two saying they should be fighting together. They stand in the middle of the ring and Ray raises both their hands and while Devon isn’t looking Rhino gores Brother Ray.

Backstage Segment with Mick and JB talking about finding the person who ruined the Tweet and Tweak Picture in Mick’s office.  Someone is selling their trading card for $300, they think this person is their perp

Coming out is the NEW TNA Champion AJ Styles. Saying after 7 LONG years he is champion.  The whole Impact Zone chants, “You deserve It.” He dedicates the title to the Fans and Sting as well.  AJ asks Sting to join him in the ring. Sting told its not about him its about him its about AJ. AJ recognizes Sting not pinning Kurt and going after Morgan so AJ can get the win. Sting gave AJ nothing and he earned the title. They go back and forth and AJ says he is going to do something for Sting so he gives Sting an opportunity to wrestle him for the World Title at Bound for Glory. They shake hands and its on.

Knockout Tag Titles: champions Sarita and Taylor Wilde vs. ODB and Tara
Great back and forth match. Kong comes out and fights Tara to the back. Champs win with the spring board dropkick/german suplex combo. Tara comes out and tries to explain to ODB what happened and they get in each others faces and Tara knocks the flask out of ODB’s hand.

Backstage JB and Mick interrogate Lethal Consequences about the picture. They don’t think it was them but accuse Alex Shelley.

X Division Title
Daniels vs. Homicide vs. Joe
Lots of working together between Joe and Homicide before they turned on each other. Finish was Homicide tapping out to the rear naked choke.  Funny note: Homicide went to get a chair out of the crowd and the person he got the chair from was none other than Vince Russo…oops, that probably won’t make the air!

Eric Young (w/ Bashir and Kiyoshi on commentary) and Kurt Angle vs. Hernandez and Matt Morgan
Morgan and Hernandez win after Angle pulls Young in front of a bicycle kick.
Post match Bashir and Kiyoshi confront Angle and Angle lays them out. British Invasion comes down and stares Kurt down and then Booker and Steiner come out and stand at the top of the ramp. Kurt walks right past British Invasion to Steiner and Booker and the 3 leave together.

Backstage, Foley and JB with the Guns. Sabin says the duo would never make CSI because they were at ringside doing commentary when the picture was destroyed. The Guns point out the surveillance camera in Mick’s office and they will review that.

Jethro Holiday vs. Bobby Lashley
Lashley wins by submission and the 2 shake hands after the match.

Main Event Tag Title Match
Steiner and Booker vs. Foley and Abyss
Foley comes out with the surveillance tape and puts it with Taz and Mike Tenay. Foley double arm DDTs Abyss and then tags him in so Booker and Steiner get the win and retain. Foley gets a mic, Abyss destroyed the picture and Foley attacks Abyss and breaks it over his head. He blames him for stealing his bat, costing him the Legends Title, and destroying his most prized possession. JB comes out and tells Foley he’s learned his lesson. Foley goes to leave with JB but grabs his barbed wire bat instead and goes back in the ring to destroy Abyss to close the show.

[Hammy]

Colt Cabana b. Puma after hitting some type of shoulder buster. Cabana put Puma up for what looked like a butterfly suplex but put him on his right shoulder and dropped down. Cabana also came out to entrance music.

TNA iMPACT:

* iMPACT opens with an Abyss promo. He says he is not medically cleared to work tonight but he needs answers. He calls out Mick Foley and says he owes him answers. Mick Foley comes out with three TNA security guys. Foley questions why he would owe Abyss anything. He says does he owe Chris the 24 plus years of blood, sweat and tears? He asks does he owe him for paving the way for guys like Abyss? Does he owe him for the flannel shirt? Foley answers, no, he doesn’t owe him anything. Abyss says he just wanted to save Foley. He says the picture was an accident because he went to get the barbwire bat to help Foley and knocked the picture off the wall. Foley asks if he gave Chris permission to go into his office. He asks if he gave him permission to get his back. Foley looks back and says he didn’t need Abyss before. He questions if he needed him when he was flying off the Hell in a Cell. He questions if he needed him in Japan when losing flesh. He questions if he needed him when he lost his ear in Germany. Abyss says Foley is… no… was his hero. Abyss says he got into this business because of Foley. He says he got through the beatings from his dad by thinking of Foley. Abyss asks how did Foley repay him? He removes the bandage and shows the cut on his forehead. Foley says he got hurt too and was in the hospital too. Foley extends a peace offering of a new Tweak and Tweet connection. He says it’s not the original, it’s a cheap ripoff, an imitation, just like Abyss. Foley says Chris isn’t in the same league as him. Foley says he’s like the photo, a cheap imitation and a ripoff. He smashes the photo on Abyss and leaves. Abyss goes after Foley but the TNA security guys try to stop him. Abyss beats them all up while Foley gets away to end the segment.

* Amazing Red b. Sheik Abdul Bashir, Kiyoshi, Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed in a Ladder Match to win a TNA X Division Championship shot next week.

* TNA Legends Champion Kevin Nash b. Dr. Stevie w/Daffney in a non-title match after hitting the Jackknife Powerbomb.

* Christy Hemme b. Traci Brooks in a Battle of the Playboy Models after a sunset flip out of the corner. Traci attacked Hemme after the match and laid her out.

* Tara joins Mike Tenay and Don West on commentary for Awesome Kong w/Raisha Saeed vs. ODB for the TNA Knockout Women’s Championship. Saeed shoved Tara so Tara goes after Saeed. This distracted Kong, who grabbed Tara, but it allowed ODB to schoolgirl Kong for the win. ODB is mad that Tara interfered and bumps her. She shoves her back and they exchange blows. Kong comes back in and cleans house by giving them both Implant Busters.

* Hernandez vs. Kurt Angle ends on a double count out. World Elite comes out and attacks someone and it turns into a pull apart between the Main Event Mafia and World Elite backstage.

* The Beautiful People come out for a promo. Velvet Sky says that due to contractual reasons, Angelina Love is no longer in The Beautiful People. Sky and Madison Rayne want to come clean and say they’re not proud of their actions in the past year. They say it was largely due to Angelina. Madison said Angelina turned them into monsters and made them do things they didn’t want too. Now that she’s gone they want to show their true colors and apologize for every heinous act they did. They want to start fresh with a clean slate. They call out Sarita and Taylor Wilde so they can apologize in person and wish them luck in their match at Bound For Glory. Sarita and Wilde come out as Velvet and Madison apologize and ask for forgiveness. They shake hands then The Beautiful People attack them. Taylor and Sarita get the upper hand but Lacey Von Erich makes the save. She beats up Taylor and puts the Claw on Sarita. She poses with The Beautiful People to end the segment.

* Eric Young vs. Matt Morgan was being taped when Kurt Angle hit the ring dressed as a fan. He hit Morgan with a chair. The Main Event Mafia come out and attack Young. World Elite come out and it’s a full on brawl. Every security guard comes out to break it up. The brawl is stopped then restarted. Agents Terry Taylor, Simon Diamond and Scott D’Amore come out to help. The brawl keeps stopping and restarting. Angle was dressed as a fan that had been in the crowd dressed as Abyss. At some point they switched out.

* Beer Money, Inc. join Mike Tenay and Don West on commentary and drink some beer with Taz. Team 3D & Lashley b. The British Invasion w/Rob Terry & Rhino after Lashley got the Dragon Sleeper on Doug Williams. Team 3D and Beer Money drink beer afterwards. Samoa Joe comes out and chokes Lashley out.

* Daniels b. Jethro Holliday with the Best Moonsault Ever. I don’t know for sure but I would imagine this would be an Xplosion/Webmatch.

[Izzy]

Whatever else people say about Kevin Nash - he's a master on the mike

His skits with Lauren are hilarious - something about the way he delivers his lines just cracks me up

...and Lauren is sooo fine.

[Izzy]

Tna matches get weaker and weaker - this weeks ladder match was a blown op, Nash v stevie had about as many moves as any match on RAW...

Russo is sorting out feuds and writing good stuff and the matches are booked well - but, but - it all falls apart when the bell rings.

Matches are far too short and delivered without any real care, hardly looks like they are attempting to   impress anyone...

[Hammy]

TNA iMPACT will air for three hours next Thursday, October 15th. The official announcement should be coming soon from TNA.

[Izzy]

Oh

wonder what they have planned?

[Hammy]

Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net is reporting that Mick Foley lobbied to have the finish changed for his tag team match with Kurt Angle against Abyss and Matt Morgan which aired this past Thursday night on TNA Impact.

Apparently, Foley did not like the planned finish of the match, which called for Mick to take the pin fall in the bout, and due to his backstage politicking, TNA shot the finish of the contest by having Dr. Stevie and Daffney come out and replace Foley mid way through the match. All of this was Foley's idea, however, after the match apparently bombed and TNA officials were unhappy with it, they decided to reshoot the match with the original plan which called for Foley to take the pin fall, which is of course the version of the match that aired on Impact last week.

Following the first taping last week, it's being said that Foley's backstage lobbying upset a few talents in the locker room, and several TNA sources feel that Foley was simply trying to avoid taking the pin fall in the match as opposed to him feeling that his idea was the better "creative" move. While it's being said that Foley did not put of a fight when TNA wanted to re-shoot the match, it was noted that his antics left somewhat of a bad taste in the mouths of several TNA talents.