i know this isent a wrestling bloge im putting up but there have been alot of things going on in my life in the past few months and i havent been able to live up to my end of the bargan on doing TNA iMPACT and im sorry as soon as i feel better i would love to cover it for BWF
It’s the fallout from Destination X! Hulk Hogan has a special announcement pertaining to April’s Lockdown event, the TNA Knockouts are in action, and the TNA Tag Team Champions, Matt Morgan and Hernandez, will face each other one on one! It’s Totally Monday, it’s Nonstop save for the commercials, and it’s completely live Action! Let’s cross the line!
I know, I know. Last week I said I’d review iMPACT before RAW. Then I said at the end of this week’s RAW review that I’d review iMPACT in “a couple hours.” Here it is 12 hours later and I’m just now sitting down to review TNA’s show. Let’s get started!
———-X———-
I’ve finally gotten a copy of TNA iMPACT from last night. Sadly, I could’ve gotten a copy of RAW 3 times over before getting this, so maybe next week I’ll cover TNA live and WWE afterward. Before I begin though, I figured I’d share with you what I just experienced over on another wrestling website. I actually just had two people try to tell me that WCW went out of business because Ted Turner decided to get out of the wrestling business, that WCW’s ratings were strong and still beating WWE’s when they went out of business, and that television executives didn’t have anything to do with Nitro and Thunder getting canned and the company going out of business. Kids. *Shakes head.*
Anyways, let’s Cross The Line, shall we?
Impact opens up with highlights from last week and after the intro we’re going to go straight into the first match this week.
8-Card Stud Tournament Qualifying Match
Brutus Magnus vs. Mr. Anderson
Anderson reminds the fans that the ring is four sided, not 6 sided to get some heat as he does his intro. Footage of Anderson’s big win over Jarrett last week is shown as Anderson makes his way to the ring. Anderson and Brutus lockup and Anderson nails him with a knee to the gut and then lays in a couple of right hands on Brutus. Brutus blocks one of the rights and hits a series of rights of his own. Brutus beats on Anderson in the corner until the referee pulls him off which allows Anderson to hit a dropkick to Brutus’ knee. Anderson stomps on the leg and even the hand of Brutus before hitting an Elbow Drop on the back of Brutus. Anderson whips Brutus hard into the corner and then throws him headfirst into the top turnbuckle before putting the boots to Brutus in the corner. Anderson tries to throw Brutus into the top turnbuckle again but he blocks it and connects with a right hand, but Anderson comes right back with a right of his own and a kick to the gut. Anderson whips Brutus into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Magnus kicks him in the head and follows it up with a Big Boot. Brutus whips Anderson into the ropes and hits a Back Elbow and then hits a Straightjacket Slam for a nearfall. Brutus goes for the Tormentum but Anderson rakes the eyes of Brutus (the referee was behind Brutus so his vision was blocked) and connects with the Mic Check for the pin!
Winner: Anderson via pinfall (Mic Check)
In the parking lot Mick Foley arrives in his beat up ride.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
In the back Christy Hemme is with Angle. She asks him about his Qualifying Match with Tomko tonight, but he says he’s not worried about Tomko right now. He wants to talk about Hulk Hogan, he claims that Hogan is responsible for Syxx and Hall jumping him last week. Hogan says that’s who Hogan is and now he’s showing his true colors, but it ends tonight. He says Hogan should expect a visit from him tonight and he’ll have a really bad attitude.
At ringside Tenay and Taz hype up the card for tonight which will feature Tara defend the Knockouts Title against Angelina Love, Hernandez & Morgan defend the Tag Titles against 3D, and TNA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles going one-on-one with The Pope in a Non Title Match.
Eric Bischoff’s music hits and Mr. Bischoff makes his way out to the ring alone this week. Bischoff says it is so good to be in Orlando one more time. He says last week Hogan make it clear that Foley has to get on the same page with him but Foley made it clear that he just wasn’t willing to do that, but Foley’s music cuts him off before he can say anything more. Foley walks out to the ring with a serious look on his face. Foley says his reputation in wrestling is that there is something wrong in his head and it’s not because he’s willing to do things to his body that doesn’t seem right, but it’s because he likes just about everybody. He throws out names like Buff Bagwell, Paul Heyman, The Ultimate Warrior, etc. of guys that don’t have great reputations in wrestling yet he still likes. He says that Bischoff is the exception because he hates Bischoff’s guts! He calls Bischoff a ‘slick, little hustler’ and that he is the complete opposite of Foley. He says he loves wrestling and gave everything and would’ve given anything to get into this business while Bischoff came in as salesman and an announcer. Foley calls him the worst announcer in history but Taz says Foley must’ve never heard of Mike Adamle (okay, I about split my sides laughing from that one). Foley says that Bischoff weaseled his way into power in WCW and he says he can’t stand Bischoff. Bischoff says that may be true but this isn’t about him and Foley, it’s about whether Foley is willing to get in line in TNA. Foley says it’s about everyone and he says he loves being apart of TNA, but he always prepares himself for the worst case scenario which is why at 28 he was saving every penny he ever made. He says that’s why he was sleeping at the Red Roof Inn when he was WWF Champion and why he drives a ‘piece of crap minivan’ now. He says he did all that so he wouldn’t have to answer to idiots like Bischoff. He shows the camera two names that he wrote down on his hand (Jeremy Borash and Abyss) and says ‘how dare’ Bischoff mess with these guys lives. Foley puts over everything that Borash does for TNA behind the scenes and says that Bischoff not knowing shows how much little he cares about knowing what makes TNA tick. Bischoff what makes him tick is power and control. He then says since Foley won’t get on the same page with him and he’s going to have to turn that page and write the next chapter of the Mick Foley story. Foley mentions something he said in his book about Bischoff saying that power should be limited to those that are not in love with it. He says Bischoff has not learned a single thing since his failure in WCW. Foley says he was recognizable all around the world while Bischoff made reality shows with Chachi. Foley says with all due respect to his wife that he always told her that deep down wrestling was always his first true love in his life because that it was the first thing he ever loved that loved him back. He says he realized that that love might not last forever but he’ll be damned if he sits back and lets Bischoff have his way with the ‘woman’ he loves. Foley starts to leave the ring but Bischoff stops him and says Foley may want to look at those names on his hand because he still has their futures in the palm of his hands. Bischoff says that new chapter of the Mick Foley Story that he was just talking about starts tonight when Mick Foley faces Kevin Nash in a No DQ Match! He says he is a student of history and Mick has a history with Nash and he wants to see that history resolved.
In the back Abyss is watching a monitor when JB walks up and he asks JB if he’s going to be okay. JB asks him if it sounds like he’s going to be okay. JB says he worked for Bischoff 10 years ago and nothing has changed. He says when Bischoff is around nobodies okay. JB says he is just there to pick him last check and Abyss freaks out as JB walks off.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Christy Hemme is with Tara in the back. Christy asks Tara about her history with Angelina. Tara says when she first came to TNA Angelina and the Beautiful People made her life hell but since Angelina has came back she seems to be a different person. Tara says Angelina has her eye on the prize but she can’t take it from her and says she’s ready for Angelina.
TNA World Tag Team Championships
“Super Mex” Hernandez & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan (c) vs. Team 3D
Tenay mentions that if 3D wins then that would make them 24-time Tag Champions. Bubba and Hernandez will start the match off. They lockup and Bubba throws Hernandez into the corner and then they lockup again but this time Hernandez shoves Bubba into the ropes. Hernandez goes for a clothesline but Bubba blocks it and goes for one of his own, but Hernandez blocks his as well. Bubba grabs a side headlock on Hernandez and he shoves Bubba into the ropes and connects with a nasty shoulder block that sends Bubba crashing into the corner! Hernandez follows up with a Corner Splash attempt but Bubba moves and then whips Hernandez into the opposite corner. Bubba charges and hits a Corner Splash of his own. Hernandez kicks Bubba and grabs the top rope and pulls himself up to the top rope showing off that crazy strength and athleticism he possesses. Bubba connects with some nasty chops on Hernandez and then Press Slams him off the top! Bubba drops an elbow on top of Hernandez and gets a nearfall. Bubba tags in Devon and he lays in some elbows on Hernandez until Hernandez connects with a knee to the gut and quickly tags in Morgan. Morgan goes for a clothesline but Devon ducks and connects with a series of rights. Devon attempts to whip Morgan into the ropes but he reverses it only to eat a big Clothesline from Devon followed by a leg drop for a one count. Devon comes off the ropes but Morgan connects with a Discuss Clothesline for a nearfall of his own. Hernandez tags back in and locks a rear chin lock on Devon but Devon breaks it up with back elbows and then comes off the ropes only to eat a big shoulder block for another nearfall. Hernandez lifts Devon up and puts him on the top rope. Hernandez goes up top with him and goes for a Superplex but Devon blocks it and bites the forehead of Hernandez! Devon shoves Hernandez off the top and then hits a Diving Headbutt! Both men are down and they tag out at the same time. Bubba connects with some big jabs on Morgan and then attempts to whip Morgan into the ropes, but Morgan blocks it and attempts a clothesline. Bubba ducks it and goes for a German Suplex but Morgan counters with back elbows. Morgan goes for the Carbon Footprint but Bubba catches his foot to block it and then connects with the German Suplex! Hernandez comes in but eats a Samoan Drop from Bubba! 3D then hit the Reverse 3D on Morgan! 1…2…NO Hernandez breaks it up! Hernandez connects the forearms on both members of 3D but thy come back with a double shoulder block. Bubba hits a Scoop Slam and then Devon climbs to the top but the Nasty Boys run out and shove Devon off the top as the referee was checking on Hernandez! Hernandez goes for a clothesline on Bubba but he counters into a Bubba Bomb attempt. Hernandez blocks it and shoves Bubba into the Carbon Footprint from Morgan! 1…2…3 and they retain the titles!
Winners & STILL Tag Champs: Hernandez & Morgan via pinfall (Carbon Footprint)
The Nasty Boys bring a chair out and are about to lay 3D out further but Hernandez & Morgan come back and run them off. Hernandez and Morgan help 3D up and explain what just happened to them. They fist bump with the champs and walk out.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
“Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe vs. Jesse Neal
This is the first time we’ve see Neal since Hogan and company has arrived. Tenay reminds us that Joe still has a TNA Title show in the bank. Neal jumps Joe as he comes into the ring but Joe lays him out with a T-Bone Suplex! Joe lays into Neal in the corner with jabs and chops and then he whips Neal into the opposite corner and connects with a Running Back Elbow! Joe then lays Neal out with a Leaping Enziguri! Neal tries to fight back but Joe lays him out with a headbutt. Neal pokes Joe’s eyes and then hits a Running Forearm. Neal climbs up to the top and dives off the top with a Flying Cross Body but Joe just nonchalantly steps aside. Joe connects the some SICKENING open hand strikes and then he whips Neal into the corner and connects with the Flying Knee Strike! Joe puts Neal up top and hits the Muscle Buster and screams “AJ!” as he hits it! 1…2…3!
Winner: Joe via pinfall (Muscle Buster)
In the back Christy approaches Hogan and asks him how he feels about what Kurt said earlier. He doesn’t know what Kurt said so Christy tells him. Hogan says this is just another thing that he didn’t do that Kurt is blaming him for. Hogan says that he is easy to find so tell Kurt to come see him. Christy tells Hogan that Kurt said he would be coming for Hogan later and Hogan says he’ll be waiting.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Non Title Match
“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles w/Ric Flair
This a first time ever matchup right here! Taz likens Flair and AJ’s relationship to that of a great NFL QB with a legendary coach in his corner. AJ and Pope lockup and Pope gets AJ in a wristlock right off the bat, but AJ quickly forces Dinero into the corner so the referee will have to come in and break it up. AJ connects with a series of chops but Dinero pimp slaps AJ! AJ charges at Pope but he hits a drop toe hold and then floats over into a Front Chancery. Dinero transitions into a wristlock but AJ quickly reverses it and kicks Dinero in the gut. AJ goes for a scoop slam but Dinero blocks it and connects a series of Elbow’s to the top of AJ’s head. Dinero then mocks AJ and Flair and connects with a big right! Dinero whips AJ into the ropes and hits a Backdrop! AJ slides out to the floor to catch a breather and get some advice from Naitch.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Dinero shoves AJ into the ropes but AJ nails him with a shoulder block and then does the Flair strut! AJ comes off the ropes and Dinero goes for a backdrop but AJ blocks it and connects with an elbow and then a chop. AJ whips Dinero into the ropes and leapfrogs him and then connects with the Phenomenal Dropkick! AJ puts the boots to Dinero as he tries to get out of the ring and then catapults Dinero into the bottom rope in a sort of guillotine affect. AJ lights Dinero up with chops in the corner and Dinero answers him back until AJ connects with a big right hand and then he locks in a Camel Clutch on Dinero on the mat! Dinero gets to the ropes and then AJ chokes Dinero on the middle rope. AJ hits a Snap Suplex for a nearfall. AJ mounts Dinero and lays into Dinero with rights and lefts. Dinero comes back with some body shots on AJ and then he attempts to whip AJ into the ropes, but AJ reverses it only to have Dinero hit a Sunset Flip! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out and then connects with a big Running Back Elbow! AJ locks in a rear chin lock on Dinero now but Dinero gets to his feet and breaks it up with back elbows only to have AJ slam Dinero to the mat by his head. AJ puts the boots to Dinero and then measures Dinero for a big right hand, but Pope blocks it and connects with a series of rights and lefts of his own. Dinero ducks another right hand attempt and shows that amateur boxing history with his hand speed connecting with some beautiful body shots on AJ followed by a big right hook! Dinero hits an Atomic Drop and then a Flying Shoulder Block! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Pope is starting to get on a roll but AJ cuts him off with a rake of the eyes followed by a Leaping Enziguri! Flair talks trash to Pope from ringside and AJ goes for a Flying Forearm Smash in the corner, but Dinero moves and lights AJ up with a big chop. Dinero goes for the Coronation (Running Body Guillotine as the opponent is draped over the middle rope) but AJ moves out of the way hanging Dinero up in the ropes. AJ grabs Dinero and goes for a Vertical Suplex but Pope blocks it and rolls AJ up with a Small Package out of nowhere! 1…2…3!
Winner: Dinero via pinfall (small package)
After the match Dinero doesn’t even have time to celebrate as Flair gets in the ring and attacks him along with AJ! Flair lights Dinero up with chops and rights but Samoa Joe’s music hits and h runs out and makes the save! Joe with some nasty rights on AJ and then Flair turns Joe around and nails him with a chop but it has no affect on Joe! Flair freaks out and begs Joe off and then AJ chop blocks Joe from behind! AJ and Flair now double team Joe until Dinero makes the save for Joe! Joe clotheslines Flair out f the ring t the floor and then Dinero and Joe stomp on AJ until security runs out and holds them back!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Flair is on the mic on the stage and asks Joe if he wants to die tonight as security is still holding Joe & Dinero back. Flair says Joe should know better and says that this is the new TNA and Joe will get his a** beat! Flair makes fun of Joe about being Samoan and then starts to run away when it looks like Joe is going to break away from security. Joe grabs a mic and screams at Flair to shut his mouth before he stomps the rest of the nature out of his a**! Joe calls AJ a scumbag and Flair says no he’s the World Champion, but Joe tells him to shut his mouth! Joe says he doesn’t care when it was whether they were friends or they hated each other AJ was ALWAYS a warrior! AJ says he gave it all up for a overpriced suit and some wholesale hookers! Joe says he needs to remind AJ how to be a man and a champion and that’s why he is cashing in his title shot at Against All Odds! Joe says from this day until then he will have to go to sleep knowing he has to face the inevitable (pointing at himself) and wake up knowing he has to face the inevitable. Joe tells Pope he thinks they go give Flair & AJ a preview of what the inevitable is! Pope lays security out with some right hands and they chase AJ and Flair to the back!
In the back Christy is with Angelina. She asks Angelina if she is worried about BP getting involved and she says definitely. She says if she was still in BP she would get involved and says she taught them everything they know but didn’t teach them everything she knows. She says she would’ve never tried to replace Angelina Love because you can’t. Angelina says tonight is about her title shot and says success is the best revenge and she is awesome at revenge.
In the back Nash is with Eric Young when Bischoff walks in. Bischoff acts like he doesn’t know who Young is and he introduces himself. Bischoff asks Young to leave and then Bischoff sits down with Nash. Bischoff says he needs a favor from Nash. He says he needs Nash to destroy Foley tonight and Nash says he needs him to do him a favor but Pac and Hall still don’t have contracts. Bischoff says they are screwups and they won’t follow the rules. He says he’s sick of that and there is nothing he can do about it. Bischoff says that he can play to that same tune that Pac and Hall play to or he can go out and destroy Foley for him.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials footage is shown form 2 months ago when Foley jumped Nash in the Impact Zone after Nash set up the fake meeting between Foley and Nash.
In the back Christy is with Mick Foley and she asks if Foley is planning on falling in line. Foley says he will face Nash tonight and Foley says he is no longer mad at Nash, but the more he thinks about what Nash did to him the hotter he gets. Abyss walks up still freaking out and he asks Foley if he’ll fall in line. Foley says his job will be safe and Abyss needs to do him a favor and that’s promising him that he will stay away from the ring no matter what happens between Foley and Nash tonight.
8-Card Stud Tournament Qualifying Match
Tomko vs. “Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle
Angle immediately connects with a German Suplex on Tomko but then eats a Big Boot from Tomko! Both men get right to their feet and go nose-to-nose! Angle nails Tomko with a headbutt and then a series of rights and a clothesline that sends Tomko over the top to the floor! Angle follows him out and slams Tomko into the ring steps and rolls Tomko back into the ring. Angle charges at Tomko but eats a Snap Powerslam from Tomko! He whips Angle into the corner and nails him with a running Clothesline and then he grabs Angle and whips Angle into the ring post. Tomko hits a Powerslam for a nearfall and then locks in a Rear Chinlock on Angle. Angle fights to his feet and breaks the hold with back elbows and then comes off the ropes but Tomko grabs him by the throat and hits a Chokeslam. Tomko climbs to the top but Angle quickly gets to the top and hits the Belly-to-Belly Superplex on Tomko! Both guys are down now and finally Angle gets to his feet and hits the Rolling German Suplexes on Tomko! As he went for the third one Tomko blocked it and threw Angle into the corner. Tomko charges but Angle moves and hits the Angle Slam! 1…2…NO Tomko kicks out! Tomko comes out of nowhere with a Lariat! Tomko goes for the Chainsaw Kick but Angle ducks and hit more Rolling German Suplexes! This time Angle goes old school and connects with 5! Angle grabs Tomko’s ankle and locks in the Ankle Lock! Angle drops down to the and great veins the leg which causes Tomko to tap!
Winner: Angle via submission (Ankle Lock)
Mr. Anderson, Hernandez, Desmond Wolfe, & Kurt Angle are all now in the Tournament for Against All Odds with 4 more yet to be named.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Footage is shown from TNA’s tour of Europe this past week and then a nice video package highlighting the issues between Foley and Nash from the last few months is shown.
Nash enters Hogan’s office and he talks about the conversation he had with Bischoff and says he’s down, but he asks for another chance for Pac and Hall. Hogan says they’ve had enough chances and he has done everything he could for them. Nash says now more than ever they need him but Hogan says they’re acting crazier than they ever have now. Hogan says Nash just needs to get away from them but he wants Hogan to keep an open mind about them. Hogan tells Nash not to let them suck him again because ‘you know how they are.’
A video package is shown highlighting Angelina and the Beautiful People’s past.
TNA Knockouts Championship
Tara (c) vs. Angelina Love
Tara and Angelina lockup and Tara gets the advantage with a side headlock and then she hits a side headlock takeover. Tara holds onto the side headlock as they hit the mat but Angelina is able to roll Tara over and get a one count before Tara rolls back over. Angelina is able to counter out with a head scissors but Tara counters right back by rolling frontwards into a bridging pin for a nearafll. Angelina bridges out of the pin and right into a Backslide! 1…NO Tara kicks out!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Angelina and Tara are engrossed in a Greco-Roman Knucklelock as we come back from commercials and Angelina is able to lock Tara into Hammerlock and even hit a Hammerlock Armdrag holding onto the Hammerlock on the mat. Angelina puts her knee into the ribs of Tara and then locks in a wristlock but Tara is able to cartwheel out of the move into a wristlock of her own. I do believe we have a wardrobe malfunction here as Tara’s chest is blurred out! How did nobody get a picture of that of all the people that was there live (just asking)? Angelina with a single leg takedown for a nearfall and then she slams Tara headfirst into the top turnbuckle and then she slams her into the opposite turnbuckle. Tara comes back and slams Angelina’s head into the turnbuckle and then whips her into the opposite corner and charges at her, but Angelina is able to lift herself up onto the top rope over the charging Tara and then roll her up! 1…2…NO Tara kicks out! Tara comes back with a kick to the gut and then the Spider’s Web (Fireman’s Carry into Spinning Sidewalk Slam)! 1…2…NO Angelina kicks out! Angelina comes back with a forearm and then she whips Tara into the ropes and goes for the Botox Injection, but Tara ducks and goes for the Widows Peak! Angelina blocks it and counters into a rollup but Tara rolls through and gets the pin!
Winner & STILL Knockouts Champ: Tara via pinfall
After the match Angelina and Tara shake hands and Angelina raises Tara’s hand. It actually looked like Angelina tried to tell her about the boobage slipping out but the Beautiful People run out and jump Angelina. They put the boots to Angelina as Tara just watches and finally she lays out BP. Angelina throws some big rights as well as both girls clean house. Velvet is able to escape without Angelina getting her hands on her though.
In the parking lot Scott Hall & Syxx-Pac are shown sneaking around.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Angle walks into Hogan’s office and screams at him to explain to him how Hogan shakes his hand and then 10 seconds later ‘his cronies’ jump him. Hogan says he refused to give Pac (who Hogan refers to as X-Pac) and Hall contracts because they’re thugs and now Angle thinks he hired them to do his dirty work. Hogan says Angle’s temper is the problem here. Angle says he’s worried about Hogan’s agenda and says he doesn’t trust Hogan as far as he can throw him. He says he knows what Hogan is all about and he’s heard all the horror stories about the people he’s done business with. Angle says Hogan needs to understand that he won’t screw with him the way he’s screwed with ‘them’ and he needs to consider this his final warning. Hogan tells Angle he needs to do himself a favor and get out of his office, please. Angle slams his fists on Hogan’s desk and then storms out.
No DQ Match
“Big Sexy” Kevin Nash vs. “Hardcore Legend” Mick Foley
Kevin Nash does his best Raven impersonation by rolling a shopping cart full of weapons out to the ring while Foley brought out his trademark barbed wire baseball bat. Foley swings his bat at Nash who blocks the shots with a garbage can. Finally the trash can is beat up so bad that Nash just flings it at Foley (who knocks it away with the bat) and picks up a chair. Foley swings the bat at Nash more and he blocks it with the chair this time and then he picks up a hockey stick and hits Foley in the legs with it as he charged in with the bat. Nash picks up the barbed wire bat and tries to scrape it on Foley’s face but Foley blocks it and is able to hit a mule kick to Nash’s balls! Foley with a running forearm and now the brawl spills out to the floor where Foley slams Nash into the guardrail and then the ring apron. Foley gets back in the ring and grabs a picture frame but Foley hesitates which allows Nash to nail him with a Big Boot for the pin. That whole thing was VERY sloppy.
Winner: Nash via pinfall (Big Boot)
It’s shown that the reason Foley hesitated was because the picture was the stupid picture of him and Borash. We see Hall and Pac coming down through the crowd now! Hall and Pac attack Nash out of nowhere! Pac hits a vision Spinning Heel Kick and then Hall puts the boots to him! What the hell?! Hall turns his attention to Foley and stomps on him while Pac continues to beat on Nash. Hall and Pac taunt the crowd and Nash as everyone wonders what the hell just happened.
sorry guys i had family issues heres the show sorry its so late….
The show starts out with highlights of last week’s show focusing on the sagas going on with Bischoff and Foley and the Orlando Screwjob last week.
After the Impact intro Taz reveals that there will be an 8-Card Stud Tournament at Against All Odds for someone to earn a shot at the TNA World Title and the qualifying matches stat tonight. Hulk Hogan’s music hits and the Hulkster makes his way out to the ring accompanied by Eric Bischoff. Hogan calls Foley out the ring, I thought he was fired? Foley makes his way out with Bischoff looking none too happy. Hogan says things are going good in TNA right now but he wants to nip a lot of things in the bud. He says they are going to work things out between Foley and Bischoff right here and now, but Bischoff butts in and says that he fired Foley last week after he attacked him. Hogan says that a lot of buttons have been pushed so far while they’ve been in TNA and he’s never had a chance to work with Foley, but he sees a lot of good things for TNA in Foley. He sees that they can turn Foley into asset but Bischoff says he laid his hands on him last week. Foley says that last week he wanted to put his hands on Bischoff and he WISHES that he did, but with that tiny little laceration on his head that it’s obvious to everyone that Foley didn’t touch Bischoff. Bischoff says everyone saw him covered in blood last week and asks Foley if he expects anyone to believe him. Foley says they’ll believe it because if he had attacked Bischoff they would have carried him out. Hogan says he’s not saying he doesn’t believe Bischoff but they need to make sense of this situation. He tells Foley to either work it out or walk out.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
In the back Bubba the Love Sponge and Jeff Jarrett arrive backstage and Bubba tells Jarrett not to do him wrong because he “cashed in” his “friendship card” to setup this meeting with Jeff and Hogan tonight.
We cut to Christy Hemme and Mr. Anderson in the back. Before she can really say anything Anderson cuts her off after she introduces him as Ken Anderson. He says she needs to get it right, it’s Mr. Anderson. Anderson takes the microphone from her and says he has to do everything for himself. He says he doesn’t have a match tonight so it looks like he’ll have to book himself. Anderson issues an open challenge to anyone in the back and he doesn’t care if it’s Sting, Beer Money, the Guns, Samoa Joe, the cameraman, or Christy herself. Anderson says he’s praying that it’s Abyss and pleads to Abyss to accept his challenge. He says it doesn’t matter who accepts the challenge because the only name that will matter is….MR. ANDERSON! He started to walk off and when Christy said something he came back and screamed his last name in her face again, priceless.
At ringside Taz and Tenay discuss the 8-Card Stud Tournament. Tonight the qualifying matches begin and the matches are as follows: Wolfe vs. Morley and Daniels vs. Hernandez. They say that the results of this tournament will lead to a ranking (Top 10) system for the Heavyweight Championship going forward.
8-Card Stud Tournament Qualifying Match
Desmond Wolfe w/Chelsea vs. Sean Morley
Taz reveals that Desmond Wolfe told him that his valet’s name is Chelsea. You know I just remembered that Morley promised a few months ago that he would be coming back to CMLL soon (after he canceled his planned tour) and it doesn’t look like that will be happening anytime soon. That can’t do TNA and CMLL’s relationship any favors. Wolfe and Morley lockup and Morley locks in a wristlock right off the bat. Morley wrenches in on the arm with a hammerlock but Wolfe reverses the hold and Morley immediately grabs the ropes. Wolfe releases the hold but then he kicks the top rope (the arm was draped over the rope) and immediately hits a cross chop on Morley in the corner. Wolfe chokes Morley with his boot and then argues with the referee as he tries to get Wolfe to stop choking him. This allows Morley to recover and hit a series of clotheslines. Morley follows up with a chop and then he whips Wolfe into the ropes and nails him with a knee to the gut. Morley attempts to whip Wolfe into the ropes again but Wolfe counters into the Hammerlock DDT. Wolfe locks in a knuckle lock and then he places Morley’s hand inside of Wolfe’s own knee and drops back wrenching down on the hand and arm. Morley’s shoulders are down on the mat and it earns Wolfe a nearfall. Wolfe then grabs the leg of Morley and rolls him forward onto his stomach and puts Morley’s other arm (the first arm is still trapped in Wolfe’s leg) around Wolfe’s body and bridges back. He’s pretty much turning Morley inside out (I’m having trouble describing this obviously). Morley is able to free himself and roll backwards to escape the hold. He then grabs Wolfe by the feet but Wolfe kicks him off. Morley comes back with a body shot and then a big right hand. Morley goes for a DDT but Wolfe counters with an arm wringer! Wolfe charges at Morley in the corner now but Morley gets his foot up and then Wolfe goes for a Lariat. Morley ducks it and then hits a big back elbow followed by a clothesline. Morley hits a Neckbreaker but only gets a one count on that one. Morley throws Wolfe into the corner and shoots in for a clothesline, but Wolfe kicks that already weakened arm. Wolfe goes for the Jawbreaker Lariat but Morley counters it into a Half Nelson Slam! Morley climbs to the top for Money Shot but Wolfe crotches him and then hits the Tower of London! 1…2…3 and Wolfe advances to the tournament.
Winner: Desmond Wolfe via pinfall (Tower of London)
In the back Jeff Jarrett walks into Bischoff & Hogan’s office. Bischoff asks Jarrett where his attorney is and Jarrett apologies about all that. He says that Bubba got him to see things different and that he has done certain things in the past few years to break some people’s trust, but he wants to repair everything. Hogan says if this is the ‘old’ Jeff Jarrett that he knew when he first worked with the Jarrett family then he is all for it. Jarrett says if he has to start at the very bottom of the ladder he’ll work his way up. Hogan says they need help right now and Jarrett says he’s ready. Bischoff says he has an idea and says that Anderson just made an open challenge. He says Jarrett wants to get back in the ring and tonight Jeff Jarrett will make his TNA return against Mr. Anderson in the Main Event! Jarrett complains that h hasn’t wrestled in 7 months but Hogan says this is best for TNA. Jarrett says he’ll go get ready and Bischoff tells him good luck. He starts laughing as Jarrett leaves and Hogan says “damn, you’re stiff” and tells him to take it down a notch.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
After the break footage is shown from last week’s Orlando Screwjob. As if I really needed to see that again. Tenay says that Angle has been in TNA offices all week but cameras were denied access.
In AJ Styles lockerroom he and Flair are looking at a bunch of custom suits that Flair has gotten AJ. A beautiful woman is standing there with them as AJ says they’re going to be on a 30 day vacation. Styles is flirting with the girl and she tells she has a friend for Ric. Flair says he’s the ‘oldest ride, longest line’ (oh my god that is hilarious) and AJ says some things never change.
8-Card Stud Tournament Qualifying Match
“Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. “Super Mex” Hernandez
Daniels attacks Hernandez as he gets in the ring and puts the boots to the big man. Daniels lights him up with chops and forearms and then he slams Hernandez’s head into the top turnbuckle. Daniels attempts to whip Hernandez into the ropes but he blocks it and puts that massive knee of his into the gut of Daniels. Hernandez grabs Daniels and hits the Delayed Vertical Suplex. Hernandez goes for a clothesline but Daniels ducks it and then goes for a Sunset Flip, but Hernandez blocks it and then picks Daniels up by his throat and hits the Crackerjack! Daniels comes back by raking the eyes of Hernandez and then nailing an Enziguri. 1…2…NO Hernandez kicks out. Daniels puts the boots to Hernandez and then puts a nerve hold on him. Hernandez fights it off with back elbows but Daniels nails a jawbreaker and then an S.T.O. followed by an Asai Moonsault! 1…2…NO Hernandez kicks out! Daniels grabs Hernandez and goes for the Angels Wings but Hernandez counters it with a backdrop. Daniels comes right back with a Running Knee Strike to the back of Hernandez sending him through the ropes and crashing to the floor. Hernandez starts to get back in the ring and Daniels meets him but Hernandez nails him with a shoulder block through the ropes followed by the Slingshot Shoulder Block! Hernandez follows up with a clothesline and then he whips Daniels into the ropes and hits a big Backdrop. Hernandez hits the Corner Splash and then he takes his shirt off and wraps it around Daniels neck. He uses the shirt to Biel Throw Daniels clear across the ring. Hernandez goes for another Corner Splash but Daniels moves out of the way and hits a big Forearm Smash. Hernandez is down in the corner and Daniels charges but Hernandez gets his foot up and kicks Daniels in the gut. Hernandez then grabs the top rope and pulls himself all the way to the top. Daniels destroys him with a huge Uppercut and then he climbs up with Hernandez but he shoves Daniels off the top! Hernandez goes for a Big Splash but Daniels moves and rolls Hernandez up! 1…2…NO Daniels kicks out! He even used the ropes for leverage on that one. Daniels follows up with a series of Open-hand Palm Thrusts to the chest and ribs of Hernandez. Daniels comes off the ropes but Hernandez kills him with a huge Shoulder Block followed by an Overhead Gutwrench Slam! 1…2…3 and Hernandez advances to the tournament!
Winner: Hernandez via pinfall (Overhead Gutwrench Slam)
In the back we see the Nasty Boys and Team 3D walking towards the entrance ramp.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Mike Tenay is standing in the ring and he announces that at Against All Odds the Nasty Boys will face Team 3D for the very first time. He introduces the Nasty Boys & 3D for an in-ring interview. Brian Knobbs says “we are here to stay in TNA” to the camera and I just died a little inside. Security stops 3D from actually getting in the ring. Ray says the Nasty’s waited until 3D was gone to Japan before they came to TNA and trashed their locker-room and then they attacked 3D from behind the next week. He calls them a couple of punks and the Nasty’s like that. He says last week 3D wrapped steel chairs around their heads and the Nasty’s DON’T like that. Ray says everyone wants to know where the hell they’ve been for the last 10 years and then one of them spits at 3D. 3D try t get to them but security holds them back and Saggs spits at them again. Saggs says they’ve always been nasty and they’ll die nasty. Devon says that’s real cute but while they’ve been sitting on their ‘fat a**es’ for the last 10 years 3D has been winning World Tag Team Championships in every company they’ve been in including ECW, WWE, TNA, All Japan, and New Japan. Devon says no other tag team has ever accomplished what they have in the business. Knobbs calls off the names of teams they have beaten: Road Warriors, Steiner Brothers (speaking of Steiner’s where the hell is Scotty?), Hart Foundation, The Outsiders, Harlem Heat, and the list goes on. He says all those legendary teams have felt their wrath and now 3D is on their chopping block and come Valentine’s Day they’ll be knocking their teeth down their throats. Ray says they can take jabs at each other all day but the bottom line is everybody wants to see them go at it. He says Against All Odds it’s on and the fans start chanting for 3D.
In the back Christy is with the Beautiful People and she asks them how they feel about Angelina being back. Velvet says she’s sick of hearing about Angelina and she’s just wallowing in their shadow right now. Madison says she is ‘so 2009’ and BP have moved onto bigger and better (and dumber) things with Lacey. Madison says tonight they will show the world where the Knockouts gold belongs and they do the motion of it going around their waists which causes Lacey to say, “in our bellies?”
In the back Jarrett is getting prepared for his match tonight and looks nervous.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
In the back Lashley is in Bischoff’s office discussing his future with TNA. Bischoff says he talked to Hogan and he agrees with him that it took Lashley a lot of guts for coming in there last week and saying what he said but “you’re fired.” Security rushes in as Lashley looks like he’s about to jump across the desk at Bischoff and they drag him out of the office as Bischoff keeps screaming “you’re fired” at him. That’s the most emotion I’ve seen Lashley put it into anything he’s done in TNA. Bischoff says “taking out the trash” and laughs as they escort Lashley out.
6-Knockouts Tag Team Match
The Beautiful People vs. Awesome Kong, Hamada, & Tara
Taz says that he wishes he died and was reincarnated as the second rope and boy, I’ve never agreed with Taz more. I’d chew off my own arm to…let’s move on. Hamada and Madison will start the match off. Madison and Hamada look like they’re going to lockup but Madison backs off and taunts Hamada and the rest of her team which results in her eating a leg kick from Hamada. Hamada follows up with headbutts and chops and then she locks in an arm wringer and drops her elbow down on that arm. Hamada then puts a knucklelock on and climbs to the top and walks the ropes and springboards off the top with an arm drag! Hamada then locks in a wristlock again but Madison breaks it up with a kick to the gut and then she tags in Velvet. Velvet locks in a wristlock of her own and twists her arm while screaming at her before tagging in the uncoordinated one. Lacey wrenches in on the wristlock and immediately and thankfully tags in Madison. Madison continues to twist on the arm of Hamada with Hamada rolling through to break the hold and finally she hits a drop toe hold and then tags in Tara. Tara hits a series of big right hands on Madison followed by a Scoop Slam and then the Standing Moonsault! 1…2…NO Velvet kicks out! Tara lights Madison up with a chop and then attempts to whip her into the ropes but Madison reverses it and Velvet kicks her in the back as she hits the ropes. Madison hits a big Clothesline and gets a nearfall. Madison throws Tara into the corner and tags in Velvet. Velvet hits a series of shoulder blocks on Tara in the corner and then Velvet chokes Tara as Madison distracts the referee. Velvet whips Tara into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Tara ducks and they grab each other by the hair and slam each other to the mat at the same time. Velvet tags out to Madison and Tara tags in Kong! Lacey comes in with Madison to help out but they both eat clotheslines. Kong tags in Hamada and she delivers a dropkick to Madison. Hamada attempts to whip Madison into the corner but she reverses it and charges at Hamada. Hamada eats Madison up with a Front Kick as she came rushing in and Lacey comes into help but eats a sick roundhouse kick for her troubles! Hamada then hits an Enziguri on Velvet! Tara comes in and hits a Scoop Slam on Lacey and Hamada hits a Moonsault off the top! Tara throws Velvet out of the ring but Lacey hits Hamada in the back with the ugly stick as the referee was dealing with Tara and Velvet. Kong chases Velvet all the way to the back and Madison gets the pin on Hamada!
Winners: Beautiful People via pinfall
After the match BP takes Tara out with the ugly stick and put the beat down on her until Angelina Love runs out to make the save! Angelina takes out both Lacey and Madison and she chunks Lacey out of the ring violently.
In the back Hogan is talking with Hebner. Hogan asks Hebner why he rang the bell last week and Hebner tries to say that Angle hit the mat and he thought he tapped out. Hogan says something is wrong with this and there is a pattern with Hebner. He mentions Montreal and he wants to know the truth. Hebner tells him the truth is Bret didn’t screw Bret, Vince didn’t screw Bret, HBK didn’t screw Bret, he screwed Bret and that’s the same thing he did to Angle! Hogan asks him why and Hebner says it was for the money. He says he got a great big check from Flair and it was well worth it. Hogan says that’s unacceptable and he suspends Hebner indefinitely.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
In the back Flair, holding AJ’s belt, and AJ are talking when 4 gorgeous women walk in. Flair looks like he is in a trance at the girls and Flair starts spitting game to one of the girls. AJ says the other 3 are for him!
We cut to Bubba the Love Sponge approaching Foley. Foley says he thinks it’s likely he and Bischoff will come to an understanding and if not he isn’t hurting for money so it is what it is.
Kurt Angle makes his way out to the ring with a serious look on his face. Taz says that Hogan has placed Angle into a Tournament Qualifying Match. Angle says he’ll never forget he and AJ’s match at Genesis and says it was the greatest match of his life and that’s why he’s confused, disappointed, and most of all pissed off. He said they made an agreement that the match would determine to best in the world and it’s a match that would’ve been talked about for decades to come and one that he could’ve told his grandkids about. Angle says AJ disappointed him, the boys in the back, and the fans. He says AJ went from a hero to “punk a** b*tch” in one night (ouch). Angle refers to last week as the “Earl Hebner Screwjob” and he asks AJ if he really thinks Flair cares about him. He says Flair is using AJ and he’s trying to strip him of his innocence. He refers to Flair’s “dirtiest player in the game” moniker and asks if that’s how AJ wants to be seen. Angle says he has a Qualifying Match for the 8-Card Stud Tournament which means when he wins the tournament it will be Kurt Angle-AJ Styles one more time, but this time he won’t get past him. Hogan’s music hits and Hulk walks out to the ring. Hogan says that Angle accused him of being behind something that he wasn’t and he told Angle that he would get to the bottom of it and he did. Hogan says if it would’ve been 20-30 years ago things would’ve been a lot different and as the leader as TNA he functions on a total business level. He says after what happened last week with Angle spitting in his face that’s unacceptable and if it ever happens again he can consider himself unemployed. He asks Angle if they have an understanding and Angle says 1st off he apologizes for spitting on him. He admits he was wrong but he has to understand that he is leading to TNA and everything that happens in the ring Hogan is accountable for. He apologizes again for spitting on him and shakes his hand.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
As Angle was watching Hogan walk back up the ramp Syxx-Pac came out of nowhere and attacked him from behind! Pac lays kicks in to Angle and then Hall comes in as well and they trade shots on Angle! Pac hits the Snap Leg Drop on Angle and then Hall continues to put the boots to him!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
A replay of what just went down with Hall & Syxx-Pac jumping Angle is shown. In the back Pac and Hall are celebrating beating Angle up as security is escorting them out of the building and Hall says “see ya next week” while Pac says “damn right you’ll see us next week.” Tenay questions if you could take a worse path than what Pac and Hall have taken to try and get TNA contracts.
6-Man X-Division Tag Match
Motor City Machine Guns & Brian Kendrick vs. Generation Me & Amazing Red
This is Kendrick’s Impact debut and the first time we’ve seen him since his debut at Genesis. This is Generation Me’s first match since their upset win over the Guns a few weeks ago. Kendrick violently attacks Red as he gets in the ring throwing forearms and knees at Red. Kendrick charges Red in the corner Red moves out of the way! Kendrick rushes him again but again Red ducks it and Kendrick eats the turnbuckles. Red follows up with the Double-tap Dropkick in the corner and the Guns want a tag but Kendrick refuses and eats another dropkick from Red! Both Guns tag Kendrick’s back and they jump in the ring and whip Red into the corner. Sabin whips Shelley into Red but he gets his boot up and then hits the Rolling Enziguri over the back of Shelley onto Sabin! Red rolls over tags in Generation Me (I could tell which one actually got the tag). GM whip Shelley into the ropes and hit a Double Back Kick and then Jeremy lifts Max up into an Elevated Dropkick on Shelley! Sabin flies in with a Springboard attempt but Max catches him in midair and hits a Gutbuster and holds him over his knee and Jeremy hits the Corkscrew Neckbreaker over the knee of Max! Max covers Sabin and gets a nearfall. Max hits a series of forearms and hits the ropes but Sabin was right behind him with a Knee to the gut as he turned around. Sabin whips Max into the corner and hits a Flying Forearm and then kneels down as Shelley charges in and leaps off the back of Sabin, but Max ducks and then quickly rolls up Sabin with a side roll! 1…2…NO Sabin kicks out and Jeremy tags in now. Jeremy springboards off the top but Shelley catches him in midair with an Atomic Drop! Sabin hits a sliding dropkick to Jeremy’s legs and then Shelley grabs the head of Jeremy and rolls forward holding Jeremy’s head up for Sabin to dropkick the hell out of his face! Sabin covers Jeremy and gets a nearfall! The fans are way into this match. Jeremy connects with a forearm on Sabin as he played to the crowd and then tags in Red. Red ducks a clothesline and then hits a hurricanrana followed by a spinning heel kick. Red hits a back kick and then goes for Code Red but Sabin blocks it and Shelley knocks his head off with a Superkick as Red was still on the back of Sabin! Shelley kneels down and Sabin leaps off his back with a dropkick knocking Max off the apron! Sabin places Red up on the shoulders of Shelley overhead gutwrench style and the Guns hit the Thunder Express on Red but Kendrick blind tagged Sabin as he came off the ropes! Kendrick kicks Red in the head and then rolls him up in a cradle, 1…2…3 and the Guns & Kendrick get the win!
Winners: Machine Guns & Kendrick via pinfall (punt kick)
The British Invasion’s music hits after the match and all 3 of the Brits walk out to the ring Rob Terry case in hand! The Brits put the boots to Red and then Terry Chokeslams him! Terry grabs the briefcase but Magnus stops him and tells him to let Williams cash it in. They scream at him but Terry is resisting.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Williams and Red are wrestling!
TNA X-Division Championship
Amazing Red (c) vs. Doug Williams
Red hits the Red Eye off the top on Williams! 1…2…NO Williams kicks out! They show that Terry finally gave into Magnus in giving Williams the shot. Back to live action Red climbs to the top but Williams grabs him from behind and hits the Chaos Theory! 1…2…3 and Williams wins the belt!
Winner & NEW X-Division Champ: Doug Williams via pinfall (Chaos Theory)
Rob Terry does not look happy as Brutus & Williams celebrate the win.
In the back Jarrett is stretching for his match tonight.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Bischoff is having his man-to-man with Mick Foley. Foley asks who opened him up and if he paid somebody to do it or if he did it himself. Bischoff tells Foley to let it go but then Foley talks about something that happened at one of his kids birthday parties a few years ago. He says his son took a crap in a tunnel and everyone scattered except one guy that had to clean it up. Bischoff asks him what his point is and Foley says that he would rather be that guy cleaning up crap then working in a company for Bischoff. Bischoff says he understands that given their history and he respects it. He says two people close to him do want Foley here and that’s Abyss and JB. He says he has their careers in the palm of his hand and he might want to rethink his actions for their sake.
Bischoff leaves the office and tells the cameraman to follow him and he walks in AJ’s locker room with AJ and Flair partying with the girls. AJ does the Flair strut and asks which one of the girls wants a ‘shot at the title tonight.’ Flair talks about him being off for thirty days and AJ says after the girls he’ll need it. Bischoff congratulates Flair because they are stuck with him because Flair signed his contract before they took over and Flair ‘has some great attorneys.’ Bischoff says they may have thought they had 30 days off but he has news for them and at Against All Odds is coming up and everybody and that means everybody has to be ready to wrestle. AJ doesn’t pay it any mind and starts flirting with the girls again but Flair took it a little more serious.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Main Event
Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Jarrett
Jarrett came out to no music and no pyro, damn. Anderson taunts Jarrett with fake applause and then they play to the crowd with Anderson heeling it up. Anderson and Jarrett lockup and then brawl into the corner before Slick Johnson breaks them up. Anderson goes for a right but Jarrett ducks and connects with one of his own. Jarrett hits another big right and then Slick pulls him off again. They lockup again and this time Anderson locks in a side headlock but Jarrett reverses it until Anderson shoves Jarrett into the ropes. Jarrett answers back with a shoulder block and then another one. Jarrett hits a third shoulder block and then teased a big right hand which causes Anderson to fall backwards and beg off. Jarrett shoots in for another lockup but he eats the knee of Anderson and then Anderson follows up with right hands and clubbing blows to the back. Anderson taunts the “Jarrett” taunts from the fans and then slams Jarrett into the top turnbuckle. Anderson attempts to whip Jarrett into the ropes but Jarrett reverses it and hits a hiptoss followed by another one! Jarrett whips Anderson into the ropes and connects with a dropkick followed by a clothesline that sends Anderson over the top to the floor!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Anderson kicks Jarrett and then throws him off the apron into the ring post! Anderson taunts Jarrett again and then nails him in the head with repeated right hands. Anderson grabs Jarrett by the arm and slams it into the ring steps and then rolls in and out of the ring to break the 10-count. He rolls Jarrett back into the ring and then locks in a hammerlock and follows it up with a Hammerlock Slam for a nearfall. Anderson grabs that arm and locks in an armlock really working that arm over since he slammed it into the ring post. Jarrett is able to fight to his feet with back elbows and then whip Anderson into the corner. He charges at him but Anderson gets his boot up and connects with that same arm and then follows it up by grabbing that arm and slamming it into the mat with all of his body weight. 1…2…NO Jarrett kicks out! Anderson throws a forearm at Jarrett and then whips him into the ropes an goes for a clothesline but Jarrett ducks. Anderson goes for another one and Jarrett ducks again but when he comes back around Anderson locks in a Sleeper on him! Jarrett counts out of the Sleeper with a wristlock but Anderson reverses it back into a Top Wristlock. Jarrett fights it off again and comes off the ropes only to eat a shoulder block for a nearfall from Anderson. Anderson goes to the top rope and goes for the Kenton Bomb but Jarrett moves out of the way! Jarrett blocks a right hand from Anderson and connects with a series of big right hands and then he comes off the ropes for a clothesline, but Anderson counters it into a Mic Check attempt! Jarrett blocks it with back elbows and goes for the Stroke, but Anderson blocks it and hits a low blow as the referee was out of position and couldn’t see it! Anderson grabs Jarrett and rolls him up with a small package! 1…2…3 and Anderson gets the pin!
Winner: Mr. Anderson via pinfall (small package)
In the back we see Bischoff laughing at the monitor and saying “this is great” and then Anderson announces him as the winner. Anderson attacks Jarrett on the outside again and then rolls him back into the ring and hit’s the Mic Check! Another shot of Bischoff in the back is shown and Bischoff says “Jeff, it’s going to be a long, hard climb back to the top.”
The show kicks off with highlights from Genesis including the big heel turn of AJ Styles. For those that didn’t see the PPV we have a new look Impact Zone now. There is only one tunnel and it’s in the middle of the stage now with the big screen behind it and a smaller long screen to the side of it. The ramp now extends straight from the stage to the ring like WCW used back in the early 90’s and late 2000’s as well as what CMLL (in Mexico) uses a lot now. Also, there is no longer a 6-sided ring, TNA has switched back to the traditionally 4-sided ring.
We see the door to a limo open up and a slew of females get out followed by Ric Flair and AJ Styles. Styles is even rocking a Ric Flair-like suit. Following that the Impact intro hits.
Ric Flair’s music hits and the Nature Boy makes his way out to the ring with 2 of the beautiful women accompanying him to the ring. Taz on commentary puts over AJ’s decision to join forces with Flair as good for his career. Flair says that some things in life never change and he’s one of them. He says there are 3 reasons he came to TNA and he’ll explain all of them. He says #1 is that he hates Hulk Hogan! He says their lifelong feud will never be resolved until they settle it in TNA. He says #2 is for the past 20 years, people have asked him who the next Nature Boy. He says the answer was always nobody until 6 months ago when he started watching TNA and he saw the great Kurt Angle (who he puts over as the greatest wrestling technician of all time) and Sting (he says Sting is great but he’s not Ric Flair!) in the ring with a young man named AJ Styles. He says he’ll be working him until he leaves the business and says he’ll be the next AJ Styles. Flair says #3 is the story he’s about to tell. He was at the Hard Rock Café in Orlando when a beautiful ‘southern bell’ walked in and in no time they were up in his hotel room. He says all you could hear at midnight that night was this woman hollering “WHOOO!” all night long! He says Dixie Carter jumped up and said “You’re my man!” and asked him to sign a contract to TNA and he responded with a “Whoooo!” Flair welcomes out the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, AJ Styles, accompanied by another beautiful woman. The rest of the women kiss AJ as he gets in the ring and Flair hands him the microphone. AJ screams that he is the World Champion and the fans boo. AJ asks the fans if they have a problem with what they see in the ring right now and he says that doesn’t matter because what he sees is 3 beautiful women. AJ says he’s been in TNA for 8 long years and no matter the level greatness he’s achieved, TNA has never been known as the house that AJ Styles built. AJ says he has done it all in TNA and he is a TNA original. He talks about being one of the first wrestlers to actually sign with TNA and that he’s the only Grand Slam Champion in TNA’s history, but no one gives him the credit for putting TNA on the map. He says they give the credit to guys like Jarrett, Joe, Sting, Foley, etc. and he isn’t taking that from anyone anymore. He says now he’s a jet flying, limousine riding, kiss stealing, wheeling & dealing, son of a gun! Kurt Angle’s music hits and he walks out to the ramp staring a hole through Flair & AJ. Hogan is right behind Angle as well. Hogan says it looks like one big happy family in the ring right now and he said that Genesis would be Angle’s final shot at the TNA Title in 2010, but because of Flair sticking his nose in World Title business he has decided to change his mind because he can! Flair and AJ go nuts in the ring and Hogan tells Flair that he doesn’t run the show in TNA. Hogan says because of Flair’s interference at Genesis he’s going to give Angle another shot at the title and if Flair sticks his nose in the match he will strip AJ of the title and give it to Angle! Hogan says tonight AJ needs to get his game face on because he’s defending the belt against Angle! Hogan says it’s damn real! Angle never looked away from AJ or Flair the whole time they were out there. Huge Main Event tonight!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Mick Foley arrives in the Impact Zone and promptly starts trashing the place! He starts screaming for Bischoff as he walks off. At ringside Tenay & Taz run down the card for tonight which will feature the Nasty Boys official return facing Kevin Nash & Eric Young (teaming for the first time in over a month), Mr. Anderson’s Impact debut, and of course AJ and Angle in the Main Event!
TNA World Tag Team Championships
“Super Mex” Hernandez & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan (c) vs. British Invasion
This is a rematch from Genesis which saw Morgan & Hernandez take the Brits titles. Morgan and Williams will start the match off. Morgan attacks Williams and Magnus runs behind him and shoves Hernandez off the apron and then jumps Morgan from behind. That allows Williams to gain the advantage with a series of knees and forearms on Morgan taking him to the ground. Williams hits a European Uppercut and then comes off the ropes but eats a back elbow from Morgan. Morgan tosses Williams into the corner and hits his series of back elbows in the corner followed by a Corner Splash! Morgan then lifts Williams up and drops him to the mat. Morgan drapes Williams over the top rope and hits the Leapfrog Body Guillotine. Brutus tries to kick Morgan from the apron but Morgan catches his foot only to eat both boots of Williams as he hits a Sliding Dropkick through the ropes sending Morgan into the guardrail. Brutus drops down to the floor and stomps away at Morgan and then tosses him back into the ring. Williams hits a series of Knee Drops and then tags in Brutus who hits a Slingshot Elbow Drop from the apron for a one count. Brutus puts Morgan in a Sleeper as the Brits continue to beat on Morgan in their corner. Morgan starts to fight to his feet but Brutus flings him to the mat to stop that comeback. Brutus then comes off the ropes but Morgan catches him by the throat. Brutus rakes his eyes and then comes off the ropes again but Morgan hits a Discuss Clothesline out of nowhere! Both men are down now! Brutus is able to tag in Williams and Morgan tags in Hernandez. Williams tried to run over and stop the tag but he was too late and Hernandez nails him with the Slingshot Flying Shoulder Block! Hernandez hits a clothesline on Brutus and then a Corner Splash on Williams. Hernandez then absolutely kills Brutus with a Shoulder Block followed by Over the Shoulder Powerslam for a nearfall. Hernandez whips Williams into the corner but Williams attempts to float up and over Hernandez as he charged in. Hernandez catches him on his shoulder but Williams fights out of it and hooks Hernandez in a waistlock. Magnus runs in and hits a Running Front Kick to Hernandez and Williams nails him with a German Suplex into a bridge! 1…2…NO Morgan breaks it up! Rob Terry walked down to the ring with his Feast or Fired briefcase as all of this was going on. As the referee tries to make Morgan get out of the ring Terry tosses Magnus the briefcase! Magnus swings at Hernandez but he ducks and Magnus nails Williams! Hernandez covers Williams, 1…2…3 and they retain the belts!
Winners & STIILL Tag Champs: Morgan & Hernandez via pinfall
After the match Brutus and Terry argue at ringside and then Terry gets into the ring and tries to explain to Williams what happened. All of a sudden Mick Foley runs in with a steel chair and takes out the Brits! He Double Underhook DDT’s Williams! Not a good night for Doug Williams. Foley screams into the camera that Bischoff needs to schedule an appointment for him because he’s coming to see him TONIGHT!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials footage from Jarrett’s appearance on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show this week is shown. When Bubba called him Jeff hung up and then the second time Jarrett told him that TNA was doing fine without Hulk and his crew and then hangs up again.
In Hogan’s office he and Bischoff discuss Foley going crazy and Bischoff says he’ll handle Foley. Hogan says he’ll take care of ‘the other thing’ when Kevin Nash walks in. Hogan says Pac & Hall are out of control and Nash says Pac & Hall are his brothers. He asks for a little slack for them but Hogan says they only have one shot in TNA and Hall & Pac are out there clowning around. He tells Nash to just go out there and win his match with Young as his partner and forget about them.
Before the next match Christy Hemme talks with The Pope. He says he’s studied video after video of “Whoopie” (Jordan) including such hits as “Sister Act” and “Ghost”. He says he’ll expose Jordan tonight and he sees two pimp slaps in the future of Orlando Jordan.
Orlando Jordan vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
This is Jordan’s debut in TNA and his first time on TV in quite some time since his departure from WWE several years ago. Jordan has competed all over the place since leaving WWE including Japan, Europe, and Puerto Rico. Back on the January 4th show Jordan interrupted The Pope’s interview. Dinero is wearing medical tape around his knee putting over the way Wolfe worked over his knee at their great PPV match this past Sunday. Pope and Jordan lockup but stalemate until Jordan hits an arm drag. They lockup again and this time Pope gets a waistlock on Jordan and then transitions into a Full Nelson. Pop then takes a page out of Desmond Wolfe’s book locking in a Cravate (three-quarter headlock) on Jordan. Jordan grabs Pope’s leg and then hits a Back Heel Trip to take Dinero down. Dinero is able to reverse Jordan’s mount and lock in another waistlock. Jordan gets to the corner and Pope taunts Jordan and then breaks his hold. Jordan slaps the hell out of Pope and then Pope takes Jordan down hard and throws a series of big rights at him! Pope then hits two Pimp Slaps and then hits the running Body Guillotine as Jordan was draped over the middle rope! Pope starts to get back in the ring and Jordan charges at him but Pope gets his knee up and Jordan hits it. Dinero sells the knee like he injured it again as he climbs back into the ring. Jordan immediately grabs the leg and hits a Dragonscrew Legwhip! Jordan then hits the Blackout (Reverse STO) for the pin! Dinero continues to sell the knee after the match.
Winner: Jordan via pinfall (Blackout)
In the back Hemme is with Angle. Angle says we shouldn’t even be seeing AJ-Styles again but this isn’t the same AJ either. He says it makes him sick to see what Flair is doing to AJ but AJ is a big boy and he makes his own choices. Angle says tonight just was served when Hogan made this match and he’ll serve up his own justice when he takes the Title back from AJ.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Part 2 of Bubba calling Jarrett. Jarrett tells Bubba to stay out of it and he says maybe it was actually Hogan and Bischoff put WCW out of business.
In the back Eric Young approaches Kevin Nash and says he needs some answers from Nash. He asks Nash if he’s with them or is he with Hall and Pac. Nash says EY is his friend and he chose to be his partner because he saw something in him but he’s been with Pac & Hall for 15 years. EY says this isn’t about reliving history, it’s about making history. Nash says EY will fit right in with them and tonight they just need to take care of business.
A video package is shown of BP talking about Angelina Love leaving TNA and Lacey joining them and then Angelina’s return last week. Madison will be facing Angelina next!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
More stupid footage of Bubba and Jarrett bickering on the radio is shown. Bubba suggests that he and Hogan have a conversation behind closed doors and Jarrett wants Bischoff out of the meeting.
Bobby Lashley is in Bischoff’s office finally getting his meeting. Lashley says he thinks things have gotten way out of hand and he’s had enough of the craziness. He says he just wants to wrestle and he wants to stay in TNA. Bischoff says it takes a hell of a man to admit that he made a mistake. Bischoff says it was smart to not let Kristal run his business anymore and he finds it impressive that Lashley is coming to tell this to his face. Bischoff says he needs to talk to Hogan and they’ll have an answer for Lashley next week.
Angelina Love vs. Madison Rayne
Angelina has new entrance music and everything. Angelina eats a forearm from Madison as the match starts and Madison throws several rights at her on the mat. Madison then hits another forearm as Angelina gets to her feet and whips Angelina into the ropes. Madison goes for a backdrop but Angelina stops and slams Madison to the mat by her hair. Angelina then throws rights and lefts at Madison on the mat and continues to stomp on her. Angelina throws Madison headfirst into the top turnbuckle. Angelina attempts to whip Madison into the ropes but she reverses it and goes for a clothesline. Angelina ducks and hits the Botox Injection (Bicycle Kick) for the pin!
Winner: Love via pinfall (Botox Injection)
After the match Angelina strips Madison’s top off of her and then chokes her with it until Lacey and Velvet run down. Angelina kicks Lacey as she gets in the ring and nails Madison with a forearm as she gets back up. Velvet finally gets in the ring and was about to hit Angelina with the ugly stick until Angelina saw her and Velvet stopped before hitting her. Madison then grabbed Angelina by the leg and Lacey took the Ugly Stick and nails Angelina with it! All three then put the beatdown on Angelina and choke her with the Ugly Stick. Velvet slaps Angelina as Madison & Lacey hold her. BP then celebrate over the fallen former leader.
Bubba the Love Sponge is in the back with Syxx-Pac and Scott Hall. Bubba says he googled the term “screw ups” and their pictures were there. He asks them what they were thinking at Genesis. Pac says Bischoff and them know that that kind of stuff happens when they’re around and stuff happens. Hall tells Pac to “take another hit, Cheech” and then says Bischoff & Hogan said they want them to prove themselves and they did that at Genesis. He says at the end of the night he and Pac will be leaving with official contracts.
Hogan and Bischoff are walking towards the entrance.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Hogan’s music hits and he and Bischoff make their way out to the ring. Hogan says there is a lot of business that they have to take care of tonight. Hogan says he’s tired of Hall and Pac and them clowning around. He talks about them doing rock, paper, scissors to see who would team with Nash at the PPV and he wants to seem them wrestle, not the other junk. The Band’s music hits and Hall, Nash, and Pac walk out. Hogan says he just said he’s tired of their crap and the party is over. He tells Hall and Nash to hit the road. Hall and Pac are pissed and they try to get to the ring but security cuts them off and Nash tries to calm them down. Hogan tells them to get out of the building as the fans chant the “good bye” song at them. Now Mick Foley is walking out! Foley tries to get in the ring but security holds him back too and Bischoff screams to them that they’ll talk to in his office.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials security is still trying to drag them out. Finally Nash screams at them to stop and he tells them that he’ll fix it. Hall says Nash never let him down before so they leave peacefully.
The Nasty Boys vs. “Big Sexy” Kevin Nash & “Showtime” Eric Young
I wonder how many fans even remember the Nasty Boys, let alone give a crap about them? Why do I get the feeling that Young is the one that’s about to get buried here? Saggs and Young will start the match off. They lockup and brawl into the corner where Young gets the advantage with some clubbing forearms. Young attempts to whip Saggs into the opposite corner but he reverses it and the momentum flips Young up and over the top rope. Young lands on the apron and hits a shoulder block through the ropes on Saggs and then slides underneath his legs. He goes for a German Suplex but Saggs nails him with a back elbow. Saggs hits a series of nasty rights and lefts on Young in the corner and then whips him into the opposite corner and follows up with a running Clothesline. Saggs is being pretty stiff with Young. I don’t know if it’s him just being himself or what. Knobbs tags in and the Nasty Boys whip Young into the ropes and hit a Double Shoulder Block. Knobbs goes for an Elbow Drop but Young moves and tags in Nash. Nash slings Knobbs into the corner and throws forearms and knees at Knobbs. Nash then throws a series of back elbows and whips him into the opposite corner and connects with a Running Clohtesline. Nash goes for another one but this time Knobbs hits a back elbow and tags in Saggs who hits a clothesline on Nash for a nearfall. Saggs attempts to whip Nash into the ropes but he reverses it and hits a Big Boot followed by a tag to Young. Young hits a Diving Elbow Drop off the top, 1…2…NO Saggs kicks out! Knobbs pulls Nash off the apron on the outside and they start brawling around ringside. In the ring Young continues to throw right hands at Saggs as Knobbs throws Nash into the ring post. Knobbs gets back in the ring and attacks Young from behind. The Nasty Boys jump on Young in the corner and Knobbs rubs his arm pit in the face of Young. Saggs then whips Young into the corner and then whips Knobbs into a Splash on Young. Saggs grabs Young and hits the Pump Handle Slam for the pin!
Winners: The Nasty Boys via pinfall (Pump Handle Slam)
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
During the break 3D attacked the Nasty Boys with chair shots in the back! Bubba says “welcome back to Pro Wrestling!”
Footage of Mr. Anderson (formerly Mr. Kennedy in the WWE) making his debut at Genesis is shown. Mr. Anderson’s music hits and the Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia star makes his way to the ring. Anderson mocks the fans begging him to come to TNA and he says he is NOT in TNA because of the fans wanting him, he’s in TNA because Hulk Hogan called him and said he would get opportunity that he wasn’t given elsewhere (yeah, don’t mention that you were injured every 3 months). Anderson says he could come out and run his mouth about how great he is like everyone who debuts in TNA does but his father told him something when he was a young boy and that is that actions speak louder than words. Anderson talks about hitting Abyss with the brass knucks and how loud his actions were there. Abyss climbs in the ring behind Anderson as he’s talking about how he beat Abyss! Abyss stands behind Anderson laughing and telling the fans to be quiet as Anderson continues to run his mouth about Abyss. Anderson says he didn’t realize how big Abyss was but he also didn’t realize how stupid and clumsy he was too so he took advantage of it. He claims he beat Abyss clean. Anderson starts to do his little intro but Abyss taps him on the shoulder and then blasts him with a right hand! Abyss is on fire and he hits a Corner Splash on Anderson followed by an attempt at the Black Hole Slam but Anderson grabs the ropes and bails out of the ring. Anderson decides to fight another day .
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
In the back Abyss is appologzing to an irate Eric Bischoff. Bischoff says Hogan likes Abyss which is the only reason he still has a job. Bischoff says this is the 2nd time in a week he’s screwed up his show. Abyss asks Bischoff if he thinks he’ll be okay in TNA and Bischoff says that depends on Foley. He walks into his office where security is standing with Foley. Bischoff asks Foley if he’s alright and Foley says he has a few things to say to Bischoff. Foley says he has things to say for his ears only and Bischoff tells the security guys to leave and Foley can’t believe he’s willing to be there alone with him in this state of mind. Foley says Bischoff is a slick little hustler but he sees through him and he won’t let him destroy what he loves. He says he’ll stop Bischoff by any means and Bischoff asks if that’s a threat. Bischoff tells the cameraman to leave so they can talk alone and he closes the door.
Main Event
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles (c) vs. “Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle
AJ’s new entrance has the lights go out and him appear on the ramp with the pyro going off. Taz says he likes the new AJ Styles and I have to agree. AJ jumps Angle at the bell and throws right after right at Angle but when he turns around to taunt the crowd Angle levels him with a clothesline! Angle follows up with a European Uppercut and then a series of right hands. Angle with another European Uppercut but AJ comes back with a knee and then a chop. AJ attempts to whip Angle into the ropes but Angle reverses it and hits a BIG Backbody drop! AJ decides to bail out to the floor and Angle follows him. AJ then slides back in the ring and when Angle rolls back in AJ puts the boots to him. AJ hits a forearm and then comes off the ropes but Angle hits a Titl-a-Whirl Backbreaker out of nowhere for a nearfall! Angle follows up with a Snap Suplex for another series of nearfalls. Angle throws AJ into the top turnbuckle and then puts the boots to him Stone Cold-style in the corner (that means he stomped a mud hole in him and then walked it dry). Angle attempts to whip AJ into the opposite corner but AJ reverses it only to eat a Diving Clothesline from Angle out of the corner! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Angle goes for the German Suplex but AJ holds onto the ropes and hits a low blow as the referee tries to get Angle off of AJ.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
During the break AJ hit the Phenomenal Dropkick (shown during the cut-in during commercials) on Angle. Back from commercials AJ and Angle are trading rights in the center of the ring until AJ pokes him in the eyes and then hits a Chop Block on Angle’s knee! AJ must’ve went and learned a few things from Auburn. AJ actually locks Angle in the Figure Four! Angle’s shoulders are down on the mat and AJ gets a nearfall out of it but eventually Angle is able to drag himself to the ropes to break it. Angle is able to comeback on AJ blocking his punches and connecting with ones of his own and then a clothesline! Angle whips AJ into the corner and charges but AJ gets a foot up. AJ charges at Angle but Angle connects with an Overhead Belly-to-Belly Suplex! Angle then goes for the Angle Slam but AJ counters with an armdrag and then goes for a clothesline, but Angle ducks and hits the Rolling German Suplexes! Angle hit 3 of them on that one and went with a Release German on the last one! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Angle goes for the Angle Slam again but AJ blocks it and then ducks a clothesline and hits the Pele out of nowhere! AJ picks Angle up and goes for the Styles Clash but Angle counters with a backdrop. AJ hangs onto Angle for a rollup, but Angle rolls through and locks in the Ankle Lock! AJ fights t get to the ropes but Angle drags him back and then drags him back to the ropes again as AJ almost got to them again. Finally AJ rolls though and locks in an Ankle Lock of his own! The bell rings immediately, what the hell?! AJ is announced as the winner via submission!
Winner & STILL TNA World Champ: Styles via submission (Ankle Lock)
Flair comes out and he along with AJ and Hebner leave. Hogan walks out and is saying something to Angle and Angle screams that it’s “bullshit” and he doesn’t need this. He says he can go back to the WWE! He says “I QUIT!” and then spits in Hogan’s face! Angle continues to scream things at Hogan and Hogan look on pissed at Angle.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
During the break Angle continued to scream obscenities at Hogan and then came to the announce table and grabbed a chair from Tenay and started beating it against the set and then threw it across the stage. Eric Bischoff walks out to the ring with blood coming down is face. Bischoff grabs a microphone and screams, “Mick Foley, you are fired!” to a chorus of boos as Impact goes off the air.
In recent years, the National Football League has garnered a reputation as the “No Fun League.” From banning excessive touchdown celebrations to cracking down on tailgating and drinking at games, the NFL has certainly earned that moniker. Total Nonstop Action wrestling earned themselves a similar name from the fans at their “Impact Zone” in Orlando, FL. A speech from TNA Director of Production Steve Small left some fans chanting “Totally No Fun” at a recent taping of TNA’s weekly television program, “TNA iMPACT!”
In his speech, Small referred to the TNA fans as “cast members” and advised them against cursing, “flipping birds” and throwing up gang signs. Small announced that anybody caught on camera making such gestures or holding up signs deemed offensive to the company will be moved elsewhere.
So, does Small’s speech make TNA just as bad as, or perhaps worse than, the NFL?
Referring to the fans as “cast members” – which earned a few screams of “pay us, then” and “where’s our checks?” – is certainly a little odd. At least the NFL hasn’t sunk to that level. While it stands to reason that the TNA fans are more a part of the show than NFL fans, they’re still there to have a good time and enjoy the show. The TNA fanbase have been an integral part of the show for the last 8 years, and to take away their ability to express themselves could hurt the product as a whole.
Apparently, the catalyst for this newfound censorship of the TNA audience was their live “iMPACT” broadcast on January 4, 2010 where fans chanted “bullshit” at the outcome of a match. The fans were audibly upset when TNA wrestler Homicide caused a hotly contested “Steel Asylum” match to end in a no contest when he used a weapon to try to take out his opponents. The audio was censored altogether on the program and only ended when popular wrestler Jeff Hardy emerged from the audience.
Will TNA’s censorship of it’s “cast members” in the audience result in a fan backlash against the product? I’m sure we’ll find out in time.
-30-
Sorry its late guys and gals i had some family issues…so here we go…
The show kicks off with highlights from last week’s huge 3-hour live Monday Impact. Inside the arena we get the debut of the Young Bucks!
Generation Me (Max & Jeremy) vs. Motor City Machine Guns
For those that don’t know Generation Me is the team of Nick & Matt Jackson also known as the Young Bucks. A VERY popular tag team on the INDY scene here in American competing for such promotions as Ring of Honor, CHIKARA, PWG, and Dragon Gate USA. This is their first official match in TNA (they already had a tryout match). Matt is the dark haired one and Nick the blonde. Matt and Saban start the match off. They trade counters and reversals of wristlocks until Sabin connects with an arm drag and then a drop toe hold. Sabin tags in Shelley and puts a wristlock on Matt as he gets in the ring, but Matt breaks the hold and then attempts to whip Shelley into the ropes as Taz finally says that his name is Max and Nick is known as Jeremy. Okay that would’ve been nice to know before the match TNA. Shelley reverses the Irish Whip and Sabin comes in as well. They hit a Double Slam and then sandwich Max with double roundhouses to the head. Jeremy springboards into the ring with a dive attempt but they kick Jeremy in the gut in midair. The Guns then light Jeremy up with round kicks to and throw him to the floor. Sabin hits a Snapmare on Max and then throws him into Shelley’s boot and tags Shelley in. Shelley hits a Snapmare of his own and then locks in a Sleeper as the fans chant “Young Bucks” now. Max fights to his feet but gets lit up with a Knife Edge Chop as we see The Outsiders & Sean Waltman arriving to the arena. Max reverses a whip in the ring and kicks Shelley but then catches a boot from behind by Sabin. Sabin tags in and then The Guns whip Max into the corner and then Sabin whips Shelley at Max. Max backdrops Shelley over the top to the floor and then Sabin eats a boot as he charges at Max. Max follows up with an insane Springboard into a Twisting Diamond Cutter off the top on Sabin! Jeremy tags in and he hits a clothesline followed by a Springboard Dropkick to Shelley as he tried to get back into the ring! Jeremy hits a back elbow on Shelley and then a sliding dropkick to Shelley on the outside. He turns his attention back to Sabin and connects with an Atomic Drop and then quickly goes to the apron and hits a Standing Moonsault off the apron onto Shelley! Holy crap this guy isn’t fast, he’s damn sudden! Jeremy with a shoulder block to a charging Sabin and then a Slingshot X-Factor! 1…2…NO Sabin kicks out! Max tags back in now and they whip Sabin into the corner. Jeremy whips Max into Sabin but eats his boot and then Jeremy charges. Sabin gets his boot up but Jeremy catches it only to eat the other boot from Sabin with an Enziguri. Sabin grabs Jeremy and goes for a Running Bulldog but Max sends his teeth into about the 10th row with a nasty Superkick! Generation Me then hit a Double Backbreaker followed by an insane double team move! Jeremy held Sabin face down over his knee as Max ran the ropes and did a Twisting Neckbreaker on Sabin onto Jeremy’s damn knee! 1…2…NO Sabin still kicks out! Max holds Sabin as Jeremy comes off the ropes but Sabin gets a boot up on Jeremy and then hits an Armdrag on Max. Shelley tags back in and hits a Flying Back Kick off the top on Max! Shelley goes for a German Suplex but Max hits a back elbow and then comes off the ropes but Shelley is right behind him. Shelley goes for a clothesline but Max ducks and hits a Spear! Jeremy dives off the top with a Springboard Frog Splash as Max hits a Standing Moonsault at the same damn time! It’s like one fluid motion; these guys are so in sync! 1…2…NO Sabin breaks it up! Jeremy shoves Sabin out to the floor as Shelley drags himself up in the corner. Jeremy charges at him but Shelley gets his boot up and then catches Max as he charges in and hits a Reverse STO sending Max headfirst into the middle turnbuckle! Sabin then springboards off the top with the Springboard Flying Clothesline sending Jeremy out to the floor! Sabin with a Spinning Back Kick on Max and then Sabin lifts Max up and onto Shelley’s shoulders. Sabin comes off the ropes and hits the Thunder Express (Powerslam/Diamond Cutter combo)! 1…2…NO Jeremy breaks up it! Sabin grabs Jeremy and throws him back out to the floor! Sabin then goes for a Slingshot Cross Body over the top but Jeremy moves out of the way! In the ring Shelley goes for the Sliced Bread but Max blocks it. Shelley then grabs a waistlock on Max but Max turns around backs into the corner. Jeremy comes flying in and delivers a Superkick as Max ducks and Jeremy nails Shelley! Max lifts Shelley up and hits the Rolling Firemans Carry Slam and then Jeremy flies off the top with a 450 Splash and then Matt hit’s a Flying Moonsault! It’s the More Bang for Your Buck! 1…2…3 and Generation Me get the upset!
Winners: Generation Me via pinfall (More Bang for Your Buck)
In the back the Nasty Boys are still in 3D’s lockerroom and are still trashing it. Someone knocks on the door and it’s 3D trying to get in. Nasty Boys taunt them from inside and Devon says the joke is over and let them in. They refuse to let 3D in as they continue to beat on it.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Hogan is talking about the insane match that Angle and AJ had last week and he says they need to know if AJ can do it again and follows up by saying Genesis will be Angle’s last shot at the TNA Title in 2010 if he doesn’t beat AJ. Hogan hypes up TNA further and talks about Genesis and he says they have attracted one of the ‘biggest names in wrestling’ and he will make a huge impact at Genesis. Wow, more?
Kurt Angle’s music hits inside the arena and Angle makes his way out to the ring fresh off by far the best match in Impact’s history (in my opinion) last week. Angle says he wants to give AJ his credit and he says that AJ proved he wasn’t a fluke. He says that he proved that Sting handed him nothing and that he has earned everything on his own. Angle says he gave everything he had last week and AJ was the better man but says that only for that one night. He says that when 2 great athletes get in the ring, ‘one win some, you lose some’ and the true champion is the man that can get that last big win. He says at Genesis it will be him. He says “It’s real, it’s damn real” and then AJ’s music and then World Champion makes his way out to the ring to a huge reaction from the crowd. AJ says he can appreciate Kurt taking his loss last week like a man and not making excuses. He says he does agree with Angle and says if they had a series of matches he would win some, and Kurt would win some, but after the war was over AJ would still be holding the belt. AJ says Hogan and everyone watching wants to see them do it one more time, but he reminds that Angle it will be Kurt’s last shot in 2010 if he loses. Angle says he’ll only need one more shot to win it and then they shake hands in the center of the ring and do a mini-hug. Angle leaves the ring leaving AJ holding the TNA Title up in the ring.
At ringside Taz and Tenay hype up Genesis further but then we see that masked man attacking AJ on the ramp! He throws AJ into the guardrail and then tosses AJ back into the ring. The masked man levels AJ with a Lariat and then he finally unmasks! It’s AJ’s former tag team partner, TOMKO! The fans boo Tomko as he taunts the crowd and then leaves the ring smiling at AJ.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials they show a replay of what just went down with Tomko and AJ. In the back Christy Hemme is with the Outsiders and Waltman and she actually refers to Waltman as Syxx-Pac. I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him refereed by that name in 6 years. Bubba the Love Sponge interrupts Christy and tells her to go freshen up so he can ask the tough questions. Bubba says no one has seen or heard from Mick Foley since the attack last week and he asks if they know where he is. Nash says ‘The Band’ is back together and Bubba interrupts him and says he’s not giving him anything. Hall says “what happens in the band, happens in the band” and Bubba gets frustrating and sends it back to ringside. I do not like that guy.
The Beautiful People w/Lacey Von Erich vs. Awesome Kong & Hamada
Velvet & Madison see Angelina Love in the front row! Angelina is back! Velvet & Madison run over and hug her and then Lacey comes over and sarcastically shakes her hand. They wave at Angelina and then get back in the ring. This is a non-title match. Velvet and Hamada start the match off and Velvet mocks Hamada before the lockup. Hamada forces Velvet into the ropes and we get a clean break but when Hamada turns around to walk off Velvet grabs her by the hair and slams her to the mat and then reigns down rights on her. Velvet whips Hamada into the corner and then hits a Corner Splash followed by a Running Bulldog for a nearfall. Velvet slams Hamada into the corner and then tags in Madison. Madison hits a series of shoulder blocks in the corner and then tags Velvet back in. Velvet chokes Hamada and then BP together grab Hamada and taunt Kong by holding Hamada in the center of the ring. Hamada slips underneath them and then leg sweeps both and tags in Kong! Kong comes in and slams both BP by their hair to the mat. Kong whips Velvet into the corner and then whips Madison into her and follows up with the Corner Splash! Kong hits the Awesome Bomb on Madison! You could count to 100 on that one, Kong & Hamada get the win.
Winners: Hamada & Kong via pinfall (Awesome Bomb)
Velvet and Lacey check on Madison in the ring after the match and then Angelina jumps the guardrail and gets into the ring as well! Angelina checks on Madison but then turns around and slams Lacey to the mat hard! God, I have been waiting for someone to do that for a long time. Angelina then Spears Velvet and starts nailing her with rights and lefts and puts the boots her kicking her out of the ring! Angelina tosses Velvet into the guardrail! Angelina screams ‘you didn’t think I’d be back did you’ at Velvet.
In the back AJ bursts into Bischoff’s office and wants to know where Hogan is. Bischoff tells AJ to settle down and then says Hogan is taking care of some other business. AJ says he wants to take care of Tomko and Bischoff says he understands that. He says he doesn’t blame AJ but he asks what he proposes he do about it. AJ says he wants Tomko tonight and Bischoff can’t believe that AJ would do that with his match with Angle only 3 days away. Bischoff says he needs a Main Event tonight and if he really wants this match then he’ll put his title on the line tonight in the Main Event against Tomko and AJ tells him to ‘book it!’ They shake hands and it’s on!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
During the commercials Beer Money were looking for Bischoff. Back from commercials JB walks into Bischoff’s office and he’s on the phone with someone who he says has a ‘bright future in TNA.’ JB wants to know where Mick is and Bischoff says it was JB who let Mick in last week. He says what happened to Mick is on JB. Bischoff tells JB to take responsibility for his actions and if he wants to know where Mick is then he should find him because he doesn’t know and doesn’t care. He tells JB if he ever disobeys him again it’ll be the last breath he takes in the Impact Zone. Beer Money finally find Bischoff and Roode says they don’t have a problem with he or Hogan, but they do have a problem with his boy (Outsiders & Waltman). Bischoff asks what makes them think their his boys. Storm says they are the best tag team in TNA and they don’t appreciate being jumped behind in a company they helped build. Storm demands a match with the Outsiders at Genesis! Bischoff asks Storm what he’s drinking and Storm hands him the bottle. Bischoff takes a swig of Storm’s beer and Storm and Roode can’t believe he just did that (you can’t touch Storm’s beer!). Bischoff says he’ll get back to them on the match for Genesis and then says thanks for the beer.
Lethal Consequences vs. Team 3D
Lethal Consequences are making their way out to the ring for a tag match when Bobby Lashley runs out and jumps them from behind! He tosses Lethal into the ring steps and then hits a Spinebuster on Creed in the ring as Kristal looks on from the outside. Bobby hits the Dominator on Creed as Tenay & Taz talk about Lashley wanting out of his TNA contract. Kristal gets into the ring with a microphone and asks if they have Bischoff’s attention yet. She says they still haven’t had their meeting with Hogan and until they do every member of TNA’s roster will be destroyed one by one. She says this is just the beginning.
Team 3D’s music hits (they were supposed to face Lethal Consequences) and they make their way out to the ring with an axe in hand. Bubba lays Lethal out at ringside and then they hit the 3D on Creed in the ring for the pin. Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed burial complete.
Winners: 3D via pinfall (3D)
Bubba grabs the microphone and says last week they were in Japan wrestling and says that reporters in Japan asked them about the Nasty Boys showing up in TNA and calling 3D out. Bubba asks where the hell the Nasty Boys have been for the last 10 years (hilarious) and he says so Hogan comes to TNA so the Nasty Boys ride his coattails right through the front door. Bubba questions how Hogan could walk with Knobbs and Saggs ‘fat a**es sitting on his coattails’ (potting calling the kettle black there). He says they had to dress in the hallway like a couple of ‘young boys’ tonight but now they are going to go back and take their lockerroom back while holding up the axe. They leave and walk to the back! Bubba and Devon walk to the door and Bubba destroys the door with the axe. When they get in Devon asks what the smell is. The Nasty Boys then jump them from behind! The Nasty’s put the beatdown on 3D beating them with everything just about that was in the room. They then slam Devon into the lockers and Knobbs welcomes them to ‘Nastyville.’ Saggs pours a drink on Devon and then throws it at Bubba.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Tomko talks about them tagging together a few years ago and claims that he led the team and taught Styles everything he knows. He says AJ forgot about him.
Sean Morley (formerly Val Venis) makes his way out to the ring. Tenay says Abyss vs. Lashley at Genesis has just been added to Genesis. Morley tells the ladies he’s arrived and he says he and TNA were made for each other (get it?). He says he used to make a living with a different type of T&A but he says he’s a brand new man. He says he’s now a director, producer, and online distributor of some of the most creative and dramatic films ever made. Sean says that last week when he walked into TNA that’s when everything fell into place for him and he says he knew TNA was poised to explode, but they were missing one crucial element and that element is a film division. He says that’s where he comes in. He says his films will be works of art but Christopher Daniels music hits and he makes his way out to the ring. Daniels shakes Sean’s hand and then says he didn’t want to interrupt him but he wanted to be the first to welcome him in TNA. Daniels says he loves his idea and he wants to pitch a screenplay to Morley. Daniels pitches an idea about a hero doing business with a slick talking sleazebag and it has a bunch of twist and turns but he says the best part is the end when the sleazebag ends up in the gutter where he belongs. Daniels then hits an STO on Morley out of nowhere! Daniels puts the boots to Morley and then hits a Rock Bottom on him followed by the BME! Daniels tells the fans to shutup and then he says Morley will bring his ‘art’ to TNA over his dead body. Daniels says he doesn’t know how Morley got there but he can take his ‘brand of crap’ and get out of TNA. He says everything out of Morley’s mouth makes him sick and then says he didn’t fight his way back into this company to bring his filth to TNA. He is beating on Morley the whole time he’s talking trash but Morley is able to get in a right hand on Daniels and then a clothesline sending Daniels out to the floor! Morley tells Daniels to get back in the ring but he decides against it.
They show a vignette of Tara and ODB talking about their match just signed for Genesis with Tara saying that ODB cheated to win last week. It’s going to be a 2/3 Falls Match! Jeff Jarrett arrives to Impact with somebody in a suit.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
“Super Mex” Hernandez & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan vs. Beer Money Inc.
Tenay says this Sunday Hernandez & Morgan get a shot at the Brits for the Tag Titles! Okay can someone explain to me why L.A.X. was broken up if they were just going to have Hernandez be put right back into a tag team? They keep referring to Outsiders & Syxx as “The Band”, is that what they are actually calling themselves? Storm and Hernandez will start this match off and they lockup in the ring but Hernandez quickly slams Storm into the mat. Hernandez then charges at Storm but he ducks and nails him with a big Uppercut! Storm then charges at Hernandez but he backdrops Storm over the top only to eat a Leaping Enziguri from the apron followed by a Neckbreark from Storm! 1…2…NO Hernandez kicks out! Roode tags back in and Beer Money hits the Beer Money Double Suplex! As they did their taunt Hernandez tagged in Morgan and he hit a Double Clothesline on them! Morgan hits a series of knees and back elbows on Roode in the corner and then hits a Corner Splash followed by a Sidewalk Slam. Roode comes back with a knee to the gut on Morgan and he tags in Storm. They whip Morgan into the ropes and go for a double clothesline but Morgan runs through it and then grabs Beer Money by their throats! They block the Double Chokeslam only to eat a Slingshot Double Clothesline from the apron by Hernandez! Morgan tosses Storm out to the floor and Roode is coming back on Hernandez with chops but he eats a nasty Shoulder Block that sends Roode out to the floor too! Hernandez takes to the air with the Super Mex Dive over the top onto Beer Money! Rob Terry jumps Hernandez on the outside causing the DQ!
Winners: Morgan & Hernandez via DQ
Morgan and Hernandez beat on Terry up the ramp and through the tunnel as Beer Money is pissed in the ring at what just went down. Now The Band is walking down to the ring! Pac is the first in the ring and he jumps Storm but they take him out and Nash comes in now to even up the odds! Hall is and he gives The Band the advantage. The Band starts beating on Beer Money! Roode makes a mini comeback but they take him out again. Security finally comes out to break everything up and then Bischoff’s music hits and he makes his way out to the ramp!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials they show replays of the beating The Band just put on Beer Money and then we see footage of Bischoff talking to Beer Money. He tells them to be careful for what you wish for. Back ‘live’ Bischoff is in the ring now with The Band. Bischoff says he doesn’t know what to do with them, last week it was Foley and this wee it’s Beer Money. Pac says he thought that’s what Bischoff wanted but he says no that’s not true. Bischoff says the only thing that makes sense to him is to make a match, and Hall interrupts him and says “where I drink all that guys beer”. Wow, Scott really? Bischoff says the match he’s making is Hall & Nash vs. Beer Money for Genesis! We get a shot of Sting looking down on The Band again.
Backstage Tomko talks about when he suffered a shoulder injury while he sat home with AJ’s star starting to rise. He says he called AJ and he never called him back when AJ won the belt. Tomko says he feels that AJ was saying that he didn’t need him so that’s when he decided to make AJ remember what his role in TNA really is.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials they show more shots of Sting in the rafters again.
Desmond Wolfe vs. “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe
D’Angelo Dinero is at ringside on commentary and Tenay says they will have a rematch at Genesis. I guarantee certain people on the internet will talk about TNA is already forgetting about Joe’s title shot because he doesn’t bring the briefcase to the ring with him (despite Tenay and Taz talking about it everything he’s on TV). Joe and Wolfe lockup and Joe throws Wolfe into the corner and starts throwing a series of nasty jabs, body shots, and kicks! Joe whips Wolfe into the corner and hits a Running Back Elbow followed by a Leaping Enziguri! Joe then stomps on Wolfe in the corner but Wolfe comes back with an elbow to the gut and then a European Uppercut and a forearm smash. Wolfe comes off the ropes but eats a Snap Powerslam from Joe! Joe slams Wolfe into the top turnbuckle and then lights him up with a chop and then locks in the Coquina Clutch but Wolfe quickly backs Joe into the corner and hits a back elbow. Wolfe then goes for a Running Clothesline but Joe hits a Standing Rock Bottom in midair! Joe picks Wolfe up and hits a headbutt and then a jab and follows up with an Irish Whip into the corner, but Wolfe boots his boot up in the corner stopping his momentum. Joe goes for a clothesline but Wolfe rolls underneath it and charges at Joe again. Joe again counters with the Rock Bottom in mid air but this time Wolfe counters it into a Side Headlock Takeover! Wolfe then hits a Superkick followed by the Hammerlock DDT! Wolfe hits the Running European Uppercut on Joe in the corner and then charges again but Joe hits a back elbow and then front kick. Joe climbs to the top but Wolfe quickly runs over and punches him in the gut. Wolfe goes for the Tower of London but Joe blocks it and locks in the Coquina Clutch on the top rope! Wolfe fights the hold and is able to reverse into the Tower of London! 1…2…3 and Wolfe gets the clean pin!
Winner: Wolfe via pinfall (Tower of London)
After the match Wolfe screams at Pope and says if he can beat Joe think about what he can do to him. He says he will destroy Pope but this Sunday he’ll get ‘funky like a donkey’ and drops a coupled of expletives on Wolfe.
Outside the arena we see Ric Flair arrive in a limo!
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Tomko talks about the attacks on AJ and says he even teamed with AJ a few weeks ago in a 10-Man Tag to fool everybody. He says now there’s no more masks its just him and AJ and he finally gets a title shot.
Jarrett and the guy he brought with him bursts into Hogan & Bischoff’s office where we see Hogan for the first time tonight. Jarrett says they need to talk but Hogan tries to tell him he’s busy and Jarrett responds by shoving everything off Hogan’s desk and saying that he’s doing the talking! Jarrett says he wants to talk about HIS company, the one he founded and put on his back. Jarrett then tells Bischoff to go take a seat because it doesn’t have anything to do with him. Jarrett says that last week Hogan said Dixie Carter gave the young guys in TNA a chance but none of them are worth a damn, never have been and never will be! Jarrett says there isn’t enough talent in TNA to fill a coffee cup. He says it’s him and it’s always been him. Jarrett says that’s why he has his attorney and he wants every word that’s said tonight and what was said last week. He says that Hogan is close to defamation of character but Hogan asks what character Jarrett has. Jarrett says he has a ton of character and Hogan knows it. He says he founded TNA and Bischoff cuts him off and says he is so sick of him saying how he founded TNA and put his blood and sweat into it. Bischoff says if he wants to hear facts and he says that the facts are that TNA would’ve been out of business in 3 weeks if it wasn’t for Dixie Carter. He says Jarrett conned Dixie and every wrestler that’s been in TNA into believing that he had some magic potion to turn everything around. Bischoff says TNA will turn around but it’ll turn around because of he and Hogan, not because of Jarrett. He tells Jarrett to take his con up the street or he can lace up his boots and compete like everybody else. Jarrett tells Bischoff to sit down and shutup again. Jarrett asks Hogan if he’s going to sit behind that desk and let Bischoff run this company and he gets up and says that he signed a contract to run TNA but nothing in it says he can’t kick Jarrett’s “hillbilly a**.” Hogan suggests that Jarrett gets to stepping and he and his lawyer back out of Hogan’s office, but Jarrett says they haven’t heard the last of him. Bischoff says Jarrett needs an attitude adjustment and Hogan says they’ll help that out.
At ringside Tenay and Taz hype up Genesis. The card will be Amazing Red defending his X-Division Title against a mystery opponent, Wolfe vs. Pope, Lashley vs. Abyss, The Outsiders vs. Beer Money, ODb vs. Tara in a 2/3 Falls Match, Morgan & Hernandez against the Brits, and finally AJ-Angle the rematch if AJ retains the title tonight! Also a major talent acquisition will be revealed.
Ric Flair’s music hits and he comes out to a huge ovation!
Main Event
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles (c) vs. Tomko
Flair is at ringside on commentary for this match. Flair says he had never met AJ before so he just wanted to meet him last week and that’s all it was: the greatest World Champion ever meeting the World Champion now. AJ was pacing back and forth as JB starting the usual boxing-style intros and he just couldn’t wait anymore and jumps Tomko before the first introduction can be made! AJ throws several rights at Tomko followed by knees as well until Tomko shoves him off. Tomko goes for a clothesline but AJ ducks and throws more rights and kicks forcing Tomko to bail out to the floor. AJ follows him out and slams Tomko’s hand down on the ringsteps and then slams it into the post. Back in the ring AJ throws more rights at Tomko in the corner and then a series of knees as we see Kurt Angle walking out towards the ring as AJ chokes Tomko in the corner. AJ then hits a Running Dropkick and then notices Angle walking toward the ring. This allows Tomko to come back and throw AJ out to the ring. Angle walks up to the announce table and gives a handshake and a hug to Flair. Tomko drags AJ back into the ring and hits a Running Powerslam for a nearfall. Tomko with rights and chops on AJ in the corner and then AJ comes back with a body shot followed by more rights to the head. AJ comes off the ropes and ducks a clothesline but then eats a Big Boot from Tomko for another nearfall.
—COMMERCIAL BREAK—
Back from commercials Tomko hits a Snap Powerslam, 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Tomko chokes AJ in the ring repeatedly as the referee tries to pull him off. AJ comes back with rights and lefts but Tomko cuts him off with a knee and then goes for a Powerslam but AJ blocks it and hits an Enziguri followed by the Pele out of nowhere! 1…2…3 and AJ retains!
Winner & STILL World Champ: Styles via pinfall (Pele)
After the match AJ continues to beat on Tomko but when he turned to grab his belt Tomko jumps him! Angle runs in the ring and chases Tomko off! Angle picks up AJ’s belt and hands it back to him. Flair takes off his headset and looks at AJ. AJ looks back at Flair as Angle offers a handshake and AJ walks away from Angle. Flair smiles at that and nods his head as AJ walks up the ramp. Angle looks on at what just went down as Flair looks back.
A hype video for AJ-Angle is shown to end Impact and it was pretty good with both AJ and Angle talking about the match. A lot like the Beyond the Glory stuff they did for Bound for Glory. Just a note that from here forth TNA Epics will be following Impact every week. It’s a best of kind of show that shows some of the best matches in TNA’s history. Tonight’s is based around Kurt Angle (featuring his bout with Jeff Jarrett, his Last Man Standing against AJ in 2008, and his first PPV match against Joe). All the matches are introduced with both competitors in the match talking about it.
Let’s get one thing out of the way, just so we can focus on the big picture: I’m not involved in tonight’s Monday Night Wrestling head-to-head programming as SpikeTV’s “TNA Impact” steps up against USA Network’s “WWE Monday Night Raw.”
Ironically, the fact I took my first vacation since 1993 lead to the rumors of my involvement, and those rumors ended up taking on a life of their own.
Since I’ve never actually enjoyed a “road trip” with my children, I figured it was time to experience a little bit of Americana with The Heyman Kids, and we set out on our little insane adventure. While I checked in regarding the Hustle (and other projects) frequently … ok, at first, obsessively, but I learned to relax a little … key words being “a little” … I didn’t respond to many calls or emails.
And that’s when the rumors got out of hand. “Heyman’s bringing in RVD and Ken Anderson…” “Heyman’s opening up the show on January 4th…” “Heyman is a 75% lock to start on Impact.”
I wish someone would have taken some action on that percentage. My money would have been on the 25% that I wasn’t showing up.
I’ve been the subject of rumors before, but when close friends in both WWE and TNA (sorry Dixie, WWE still gets top billing for now) are calling and emailing, convinced I’m hiding the secret that I’m appearing in Orlando on January 4th, it’s a bit stunning.
I always try to torment Jim Ross (one of my favorite pastimes) when he lets Internet reports bother him to such an extent that he’ll address them on his website (and, just to be fair to my pushing-60-but-still-better-than-any-other-kid-out-there former colleague, I’ll post a link to his site: http://www.jrsbarbq.com), but for the first time, I understand the need to do so. I hate addressing rumors (even when they’re true), because you’ve set the precedent for giving comment. Therefore, the next time there’s a ridiculous rumor, and you decide not to comment, people take your silence as confirmation there’s something to the story, because otherwise you’d address it.
I left the wrestling business on December 4, 2006 when I shook Vince McMahon’s hand after a rather volatile meeting with him and Stephanie, and I’ve never looked back. Some projects, like THE HEYMAN HUSTLE, are out in front of the public already, and there’s a ton of others in the works. I’m in no rush. I’m taking my time. I’m enjoying my family. And (here comes the segue), I’m looking forward to what happens out of this Monday Night head-to-head programming on SpikeTV and USA Network.
If you’re wondering why I’m not referring to tonight’s “1st Monday Night War In Almost A Decade” as a collision between WWE and TNA, it’s because this evening’s head-to-head competition has very little to do with the professional wrestling / sports entertainment industry.
Here’s the poop, at least from my perspective: SpikeTV’s Doug Herzog and Kevin Kay smell blood. And that blood they smell is the bleeding caused by the erosion of Raw’s fan base. Slowly but surely, Raw’s core audience is getting older and older, and the indescribably-important “youth audience” is not being replenished. Despite World Wrestling Entertainment’s Push-to-PG, the Goliath of Monday Night Cable Programming’s product is stale, and the terms “hip,” “happening,” “socially relevant,” or “pop culture phenomenon” don’t apply to Vince McMahon’s flagship cablecast anymore.
Raw, however, remains a powerhouse. Even the much-maligned “low 3′ ratings” are still way better than anything SpikeTV is pushing, and keep in mind Spike is the television home of the Ultimate Fight juggernaut. A decade past its heyday, Monday Night Raw is the driving force behind USA Network’s 4th consecutive sweep of the annual Cable Ratings Wars.
That, in and of itself, makes Vince McMahon a very influential person when it comes to NBC-Universal Executive Bonnie Hammer, who runs both USA (home of Raw) and SyFy (home of the WWE-owed ECW). For those of you keeping score, NBC is in a real state of flux. While Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts and NBC-Universal President Jeff Zucker prepare to defend Comcast’s takeover of NBC before a Senate Committee later this month, Bonnie Hammer continues to be the rising star in the NBC-U family. Long regarded, along with Oprah Winfrey and Valerie Schaer as one of the sharpest women in all of television, Hammer’s power lies in the fact USA is the crown jewel of the NBC-U television empire. Forget the network. Their business model collapsed, along with Zucker’s Midas touch, when the Jay Leno Experiment exposed the network as not budget-conscious, but simply desperate-for-programming.
USA, meanwhile, forged ahead. Under Hammer’s masterful guidance in 2009, USA drew a record 3.27 million viewers in primetime, a 14% improvement over its 2008 delivery. For the period spanning Dec. 29, 2008, through Dec. 27, 2009, USA swept ad-supported cable’s three top TV demos, averaging 1.49 million adults 25-54, an increase of 11% versus 2008, while also delivering 1.32 million viewers 18-49 (up 5%). The network also held off former WCW-home TBS to take the 18-34 demo, drawing 616,000 viewers.
Not only is USA surviving, it’s thriving. And heavy hangs the head that wears the crown.
Doug Herzog and Kevin Kay’s target for Twenty Ten: Stop Bonnie Hammer.
Bonnie Hammer’s easy weekly ratings boost: Vince McMahon’s Monday Night Raw.
In the cutthroat world of television, the next step was a “gimme.” Go after Raw. Put a dent in the already-dented armor of the Still-Standing-Giant.
So Herzog and Kevin Kay, along with “In Your Face” SpikeTV execs Sharon Levy and Brian Diamond decided to dip their toe into the shark-infested Monday Night waters. Looking at Spike’s positioning, you have to admit, it’s a pretty smart move. There’s no way for Spike to lose. Tonight, TNA will deliver three hours of primetime programming for the network, and next week, the network will air a live “UFC Fight Night” featuring Gray Maynard vs Nate Diaz.
Wait a minute. No Kimbo? No GSP? No update on Brock Lesnar? Doesn’t sound like a major head-to-head UFC vs WWE confrontation, does it?
That’s because UFC is simply putting on an event when their host network, SpikeTV, wants to pay them for the programming content Zuffa can deliver. As a matter of fact, UFC is not getting into the hype. Dana White is too focused on his own business (and StrikeForce, and anyone else wanting to get into MMA) to think this is a fight with WWE. The controversial Ultimate Fight President even laughed at the insinuation there would be a Monday Night War when he noted “I’m not trying to beat (WWE) on Monday night. I don’t think we would beat (Raw). Those guys pull killer ratings. It’s been like the highest rated show on television forever. We’re just putting a fight on Monday night because Spike wants us to.”
EXACTLY!
SpikeTV wanted UFC to deliver programming for Monday Night, January 11th, because the execs at Spike want to see where Raw is vulnerable. Even if TNA bombs tonight, it truly doesn’t matter. The network is going to pick apart not only the Demo-trending, but also the minute-by-minute ratings for Raw and TNA. Where did Raw lose viewers? Did TNA pick any of those viewers up? What caused the television viewership to change channels? What caused them to stick with what they were watching? Where can the counter-programming work to Spike’s advantage?
The real story of tonight’s head-to-head battle is not Vince McMahon vs Hulk Hogan, or the re-emergence of Eric Bischoff, or Stephanie McMahon’s vision for the future vs Dixie Carter’s vision for her company. It’s about SpikeTV executives’ decision to curb the enthusiasm (oy vey) of Bonnie Hammer and NBC-U’s 4th consecutive Cable Grand Slam.
So bring back Bret. Let Hulkamania run wild. Hand Eric Bischoff a mic, and let him declare it’s1995 all over again. Bid on Ric Flair’s “Whooooooo!” Make short term and long term offers for Rob Van Dam, Ken Anderson, and the remaining members of the Ring of Honor roster.
The key for TNA to take advantage of this programming decision is to use the increased attention to finally BRAND their company. Pick a direction, and stick with it. So far, the only hype has been Hulk Hogan declaring himself “The Vince McMahon of TNA” (sounds like the opening line for a Wrestlemania return),
and everyone else saying “The Monday Night Wars Are Back! The Monday Night Wars Are Back!”
I need a reason to care about AJ Styles. Seriously, how anyone in TNA can look at themselves in the mirror and accept the fact AJ, the promotion’s World Champion and one of the most consistent performers in the industry for over half a decade, is not nearly as well known as Sheamus is simply a crime. I like Sheamus’ push, and think WWE made a fantastic decision to elevate a new character into the main event, and present him not as a fluke, but as a real deal.
But for Sheamus to be so much better known to the general public at this point in his career than AJ Styles is not only a sign of WWE’s marketing success, but TNA’s most glaring failure.
I know why as a fan, Sheamus is to be hated. I don’t know why, as a fan, I am supposed to care about AJ Styles. I need a reason to believe in the Motor City Machine Guns. Besides being every school boy’s masturbatory fantasy, why should I spend my time thinking about Lacey Von Erich? Is Awesome Kong the Cris Cyborg of pro wrestling? If so, demonstrate that to me.
TNA has a chance to capitalize on its home network’s desire to derail USA Network’s momentum. Character development and TNA-brand-building are key. Tonight, TNA has the opportunity to declare to the public something far more substantive than “check out a bunch of former WWE big name stars in a six sided ring with some of our own guys who aren’t quite so recognizable.”
Tonight, TNA has a chance to deliver. Deliver to their own audience. Deliver to the 8pm Eastern Time curiosity viewers Hulk Hogan’s involvement may bring in. And most importantly, deliver a market study for SpikeTV execs to learn a little more about the true Ultimate Champion of the Monday Night Cable Wars:
Bonnie Hammer.
WOW he had alot to say and you know what its ALL TRUE but i bet VINNY MAC is kinda pissed