Written by: Bob Colling
National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 11/23/2006
From: Orlando, FL
The new NWA World Champion Abyss and Father James Mitchell make their way down to the ring to start the program. Abyss won the title at Genesis by disqualification when Sting shoved the referee. Mitchell has a microphone and says he’s a proud father because Abyss is the champion. Mitchell tried to tell Sting to laugh with the sinners instead of crying with the saints. Mitchell proved that Sting is no different than everyone else at Genesis. Mitchell wants Sting to be honest with himself. Once you eat the fruit, you can’t put it back on the tree. Mitchell says that Sting walked down a path he once knew very well. Mitchell wants Sting to come home for good and they will welcome him with open arms.
Sting’s music hits and the former champion makes his way down to the ring. Sting has a baseball bat and swings at Abyss, but it’s an imposter. It’s revealed as being Christian Cage. Cage asks if that’s what he has to do in order to get a title shot. Does he have to embarrass himself by dressing up like a moron? Cage isn’t going to wait for Turning Point. Cage wonders what would happen if Sting didn’t make it to Turning Point.
Sting comes down from the rafters and lands on the announcers table. Sting says he’s going to get a rematch even if he has to go through Cage. Sting is in a really bad mood tonight and he’ll square off against Cage tonight. Sting enters the ring and Cage bails to the floor. Cage doesn’t care about Sting’s mood swings. Cage only cares about himself and wants Sting to put the number one contenders spot on the line. Sting accepts.
Prior to the first match, Kurt Angle has arrived to the arena.
A vignette narrated by Raven is shown. It’s Serotinin coming soon.
Opening Contest: The Naturals vs. AJ Styles & NWA X-Division Champion Christopher Daniels: Don West tells us that this will be final time that Styles and Daniels will team together. Daniels is worked over to start the match by being choked over the middle rope. Styles has been knocked of the apron. Naturals yank Daniels legs to keep him on the mat. Stevens drops Daniels with a right hand and Douglas delivers a strike, as well. Stevens drives Daniels down with a backbreaker. Styles comes off the top to hit a double clothesline and spin kicks Douglas. Daniels hits a back suplex on Stevens as Styles delivered a clothesline. Douglas stops Daniels with right hands, but is met with a boot in the corner. Styles and Daniels hit a leg sweep/clothesline on Douglas. Daniels slams Douglas and Styles hits a frog splash. Daniels hits a moonsault and pins Douglas for the win. (*. I think it speak volumes that the Naturals lost the final tag match for Styles and Daniels. I really don’t think that the Naturals are going to be a focus moving forward.)
Rhino comes out to celebrate with them, but Styles storms off and says that Rhino is their problem. Daniels tries to keep everything cool between everyone.
Eric Young goes to the announcers table dressed as a turkey and wished everyone a happy thanksgiving.
A video promoting Voodoo Kin Mafia as they continue their declaration of war against the WWE.
Jim Cornette is in the ring and says he’s demanded the NWA Tag Team Championships from LAX. Cornette introduces Petey Williams. Tenay hypes Williams up as a hero. Cornette praises Williams for showing his true colors. Williams knows that everyone knows he’s a Canadian. Williams knew what LAX was doing wasn’t right and he was the man to stop them. Cornette has a rig come down from the rafters and they raise the American flag. They play the national anthem, but LAX come out to cut that off. Konnan tells Cornette that he’s not turning over the titles. Konnan hands over some papers from their attorney. Konnan says that Cornette violated their first ammendant right. Williams attacks Konnan, but he’s quickly overwhelmed. Hernandez press slams Williams over Homicide’s knee. They lay Williams out and put the Mexican flag over Williams. AMW and Gail Kim come out and make the save until Konnan yanks Kim to the mat. LAX get the advantage on AMW. Kurt Angle runs into the ring and cleans house hitting a German suplex on Homicide and Hernandez. Angle stands tall. Samoa Joe’s music hits and makes his way down to the ring as Angle is left alone in the ring. We go to commercial.
Samoa Joe cuts a promo about being undefeated for eighteen months. Joe knew at some point a better man would have their hand raised and he’s not scared to admit that. Joe lost to a man to a champion who has been a champion everywhere he’s gone. He lost to an Olympic gold medalist. Joe wants a rematch. Angle thinks about it and says he’ll give Joe a rematch as long as they watch each others backs leading into Turning Point. Joe agrees to that stipulation.
Back to VKM declaring war on the WWE. They are trying to end the demise of the DX name with their bad skits. BG James is mad because Kip brought him to the Target store and not WWE headquarters.
Eric Young is in the crowd in his turkey outfit hyping the crowd. Bobby Roode comes out to the ring and insults Young calling him an idiot and calls Young an embarrassment to the sport. Roode wants his rematch with Young tonight. Roode knows that Young had to cheat to beat him. Roode wants Young in the ring as we go to commercial.
Second Contest: Robert Roode vs. Eric Young: Roode attacks Young on the floor delivering a few strikes and rolls Young into the ring to start the match. Roode stomps on Young followed by right hands. Roode backdrops Young and continues with strikes in the corner. Roode clotheslines Young in the corner. Roode crotches Young on the top rope and tries for a back suplex, but Young elbows free and misses a moonsault off the top. Roode tries for a piledriver, but Young counters with a rollup and pins Roode again. (1/2*. I thought they were going to start pushing Roode with his new manager storyline, but he’s being presented weaker and weaker.) After the match, Roode is livid with Ms. Brooks saying that he didn’t hire Brooks for her body. Roode is blaming her for this and says the fans don’t love him and they hate him. Roode doesn’t understand how they cheer for Young when he cheats. Roode storms off.
Earlier today, Paparazzi Productions had a meeting with the X-Division. They are having the PCS to find the best X-Division wrestler. Nash will find out if they are taking steroids. Sonjay Dutt is not going to piss in any cup. Nash wants them to all hold hands. Senshi is just sitting down staring at the guys. The X-Division guys leave the room.
Main Event: Christian Cage vs. Sting in a number one contenders match: Cage doesn’t realize that Sting is behind him during his entrance and Sting attacks Cage on the floor. Sting drops Cage over the railing chest first. Sting tosses Cage into the crowd and they brawl amongst the fans for a few moments. Cage drops Sting over the top rope as we return from commercial. Cage hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Cage chokes Sting on the mat. Cage chokes Sting over the middle rope. Cage lifts Sting’s shirt over his face and delivers a few chops in the corner. Sting taunts Cage and absorbs a few strikes. Sting drops Cage with a right hand and delivers a clothesline. Sting backdrops Cage and plays to the crowd. Cage blocks a backdrop with a kick to the chest, but Sting grabs Cage by the throat and press slams Cage to the mat. Sting hits the Stinger Splash in the corner followed by strikes. Cage pulls the referee into the corner and Sting accidentally splashes the referee. Sting tries fo the Scorpion Death Lock, but Cage eye rakes Sting. Sting counters the Un-Prettier with a Scorpion Death Drop and locks in the Scorpion Death Lock! A man wearing a hoodie comes through the crowd and attacks Sting! That man is Tomko! Tomko hits a fallaway slam. Tomko holds Sting allowing Cage to deliver right hands. Tomko hits a reverse TKO to lay out Sting. (**. It was a fine match as they kept a good pace for it. I like the debut of Tomko as he’ll work well as the muscle for Cage. We still don’t have a number one contender, but I’m sure this will lead to a triple threat match at the PPV.)
Final Thoughts:
A really average episode of Impact this week. The action wasn’t the best and I’m not liking the booking of Roode. Styles attitude change seems really similar to Chris Sabin, which waters them both down. Tomko entering the company is interesting and I think he could have a good run in Impact.
Thanks for reading.