NWA-TNA Impact 1/18/2007

Written by: Bob Colling

National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 1/18/2007
From: Orlando, FL

Earlier in the day, Sting was backstage attacking Father James Mitchell. Sting was not in his ring gear or face paint. They are promoting this as Sting being completely out of character and as being Steve Borden. Borden put Mitchell in the trunk of a car to end the segment.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Team 3D and Brother Runt. Brother Devon and Ray tell Runt that they’ve been screwed over by wrestlers, promoters and friends. However, Runt screwed them over at the PPV and warn Runt to leave them alone and stay out of their way. Devon sits Runt down and tells him to not move.

Opening Contest: NWA Tag Team Champions LAX (Homicide & Hernandez) vs. Team 3D: Devon and Ray attack from behind and they brawl around ringside for the early advantage. Devon and Homicide begin the match in the ring with Homicide chopping Devon. Brother Runt is already at ringside as Devon hit a lifting reverse DDT. Brother Ray pulls Runt off the apron and brings him backstage. Hernandez slams Devon and Homicide hits a splash off the top for a two count. Homicide clotheslines Devon in the corner followed by a splash from Hernandez for a two count. Homicide hammers away on Devon and chokes him briefly. Hernandez hits a slingshot shoulder block for a two count on Devon. Hernandez misses a splash and Devon nails Homicide with a spinning elbow strike. Ray gets tagged in and cleans house with strikes. Ray backdrops Homicide followed by a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Homicide head scissors Ray, but Ray no sells to clothesline Homicide and slams Hernandez for a two count. Moody Jack comes to ringside to distract Team 3D on the microphone. Hernandez is given a slapjack and knocks Ray out with it to win the match and retain the titles. (*1/2. I’m glad there was a finish even if it had some level of interference. This was a rematch from the PPV and they could have easily done a non-finish.)

Backstage, Jeremy Borash says chaos has been unleashed. Abyss is freaking out throwing stuff around. This is likely because of what Sting did earlier.

Backstage, Gail Kim and Miss Tennessee (Jacqueline from WWE) are brawling in the women’s bathroom.

A video package from Final Resolution where Chrissy Hemme confronted Voodoo Kin Mafia and was told by Kip James she was a slut and should go back to the strip club. Hemme believes women deserve respect and they don’t need lay down for anything. Kip entered the scene and continued to insult her. Kip says that before you can go up you have to go down. Hemme slaps Kip, but BG played peacemaker.

The new NWA World Champion Christian Cage makes his way down to the ring for a promo segment. Cage says that he told everyone that he’d regain the NWA World Championship at Final Resolution. Cage will be wrestling Kurt Angle on February 11th at the PPV Against All Odds. Cage could go through the list of accomplishments for Angle, including biggest asshole. Kurt Angle makes his way out to confront Cage following that comment. Angle tells Cage to watch who he’s calling an asshole. Angle insults Cage by saying his life partner (Tomko) isn’t here to protect him. Angle wants Cage to hold onto the NWA World Championship because he’s going to win the title in three weeks. Angle spits at Cage, as well. Cage says that confidence makes them champions. Cage knows how to channel his emotions while Angle isn’t able to. Cage knows he needs to get in Angle’s head to know what makes him tick. Cage has gotten a consultant to help him with that. Cage says they think just like Angle and wrestles just like Angle. Angle wants to know who the consultant is, but Cage isn’t going to do that after Angle spit in his face. Angle asks if it’s Goldberg, which is not someone that wrestles like him. Angle asks if its Brock Lesnar but the fans chant for RVD. They brawl with Angle hitting a German suplex. Angle puts the ankle lock on Cage, but Cage bails to the floor.

Moments ago, Sting has brought Father James Mitchell to the same location that Mitchell had Abyss a couple of weeks ago. Steve Borden demands Mitchell tell him what Abyss is hiding. Mitchell says his name is Chris Parks and he was in there for six years, but Mitchell won’t tell Sting why. Mitchell says that Abyss is garbage and is a nobody. Mitchell uses Abyss for his meal ticket. Borden says he sees a human being in Abyss’ eyes. Sting goes back to choking Mitchell. Sting handcuffs Mitchell to the fence and says he can just rot there.

Paparazzi Productions is up next. Alex Shelley tells Borash to give him work when he has it. Nash is going to give the X-Division guys an extreme makeover. Austin Starr comes up and attacks Senshi leading to them brawling. They are kept apart by Lethal and Dutt.

Backstage, Kurt Angle talks with Jim Cornette wanting to know what Christian Cage is talking about. Cornette promises he has no idea and suggests that Cage is getting into Angle’s head. Angle has to worry about AJ Styles tonight and not mind games by Cage.

Second Contest: Lance Hoyt vs. James Storm: Storm attacks Hoyt from behind, but is taken down to the mat. Hoyt continues with a clothesline and a flapjack. Hoyt goes to the top, but Storm shoves the referee into the ropes to crotch Hoyt. Storm hits an elevated reverse DDT out of the corner and allows Miss Tennessee to get a few cheap shots in. Storm misses a splash in the corner and Hoyt hits a clothesline followed by a big boot. Dale Tolberg and AJ Pierzynki from the White Sox’s distract Hoyt allowing AJ to deliver a chair shot and Storm hits a superkick for the win. After the match, Tolberg sends Hoyt into the ring steps. Storm press slams Gail Kim into the ring to save Miss Tennessee. Storm plants Kim with the Eight Second Ride. Petey Williams attacks Storm, but is nailed by a superkick. Hoyt is having marker colored on his forehead. (*. It’s quite bizarre to see Tolberg involved in a storyline in 2007. Probably one of the least relevant WCW acts of all time still gets time to shine in TNA. That’s unreal. I like the partnership between Storm and Tennessee, though.)

Backstage, Jeremy Borash is promoting the main event when Eric Young enters the scene. Young says that his friend is off the pill and needs protection making a condom joke. AJ Styles exits Cornette’s office and promote his match with Kurt Angle. Styles asks what Angle has really done. Styles doesn’t think Angle has really earned anything. Styles isn’t impressed by Angle winning a gold medal. Styles won a blue ribbon for his county and he’s not bragging about it.

Outside the venue, Steve Borden has arrived and is being followed by a camera crew.

Main Event: AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle: Angle takes Styles down to the mat and slaps the back of his head a few times. Angle clotheslines Styles followed by an uppercut into the corner. Angle stomps on Styles in the corner. Angle tosses Styles overhead with a belly to belly suplex. Angle continues to beat on Styles on the mat with strikes. Angle uppercuts Styles when Tomko makes his way down to the ringside area. Angle avoids a splash in the corner and tosses Styles overhead with a suplex. Angle is distracted by Tomko allowing Styles to kick the middle rope and causes Angle to fall to the floor. The show goes to a commercial break.

Styles keeps control on Angle with a chin lock. Styles kicks Angle on the side of the head for a near fall. Styles nails Angle with a springboard forearm smash for a near fall. Styles slides in with a steel chair and misses a chair shot as the referee is distracted. Angle hits the Angle Slam onto the chair for the win. (*1/4. It’s absolutely crazy that they’d do this match and basically have them do a watered down match with minimal action and actually have Angle pin Styles. There’s no need for his match to happen.) After the match, Christian Cage runs down and attacks Angle leading to all three men beating on Angle.

Rhino slides into the ring and goes after Styles leading them to brawl to the outside. Samoa Joe runs into the ring with a steel chair to chase Tomko and Christian Cage from the ring. Angle has gotten up and realizes it was Joe. Christian Cage says that he was going to give a clue and suggests that Joe may be the consultant.

There’s a recap video of what we saw on the show aired.

Steve Borden comes down to the ring and wants to talk to Abyss. Abyss makes his way down to the ring and Borden says it is time for Abyss to start talking. Borden wants to know what Abyss is hiding and why he was in prison. Abyss can’t speak on the microphone and Borden starts pressuring Abyss. Borden is trying to help Abyss and gets in his face while poking Abyss with a baseball bat to the midsection. Borden will go to the public records and find out for himself. Abyss is left in the ring screaming saying “no!”

Final Thoughts:
Action continues to be secondary, but they are doing a fine enough job with the angle advancements for the feuds. Sting/Abyss is a little corny and stupid. I mean, Borden is obsessed with what Abyss did and he can simply go into the public records to find out. Angle/Cage has a fine story attached to it, but I hope Angle doesn’t win the title. To some extent Angle feels rushed to be the top guy. Obviously he deserves that spot, but a gradual rise would have been more beneficial. They need to avoid wasting dream matches like they did here. If you want Angle on TV, there’s enough guys on the roster to feed to him like they did with Maverick Matt, for instance.

Thanks for reading.