NWA-TNA Impact 2/8/2007

Written by: Bob Colling

National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 2/8/2007
From: Orlando, FL

Opening Contest: Abyss vs. Chase Stevens: Abyss attacks Stevens before the bell and clubs away on Stevens with strikes in the corner. Abyss sits Stevens on the top turnbuckle, but Stevens delivers a right hand only to run right into the Black Hole Slam giving Abyss a quick victory. After the match, Abyss attacks Andy Douglas hitting the Shock Treatment. Abyss is also wearing a new red mask. Shane Douglas makes his way out and security keeps Douglas away.

Sting appears on the big screen with his back to the camera. Sting turns around wearing Abyss’ mask and says he’s dealt with fire before. Sting accepts the challenge for Against All Odds. Sting says it is time for Abyss to face the world and face him tonight. Sting says they are coming to the end of this journey tonight when they meet face to face.

34% of the votes casted for who could be the special consultant were for none of the options. Goldberg was in second at 30%.

Backstage, Leticia is with Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe for an interview. Joe tells Angle that he’s been calling him a liar, but he’s never needed to be a liar. Joe has an investment in Angle and he will be the special enforcer for Angle as he’ll take care of Tomko. Joe tells Angle it is in his best interest to have his back. Angle knows that Joe has an agenda to be the NWA World Champion. Angle promises that Joe will get a title shot when he wins the title at Against All Odds. Angle wants to see what the consultant has taught Cage and wants to kick both of their asses tonight.

Backstage, Tomko is swinging a lead pipe hitting hand rails. Tomko is tired of messing with “this guy.” Cage says that things will go back to normal when he wins at the PPV. Cage tells Tomko to take the night off and is handed the lead pipe.

A video package recapping the recent attempted murder by LAX on a chef at a pizza shop. Devon promised hell to pay.

In the ring, Team 3D cut a promo. Brother Ray talks about his family last name. Bubba says he’s half pissed off redneck and half pissed off Italian. Ray says that LAX went after his closest uncle in the whole world. The doctors don’t know if his uncle will ever be the same again. Ray says they have to decide whether or not they continue to chase after LAX for the titles or do they go for revenge. They have chosen revenge. Ray says they pissed off the wrong Italian. They are going to have a little Italy street fight at Against All Odds. Ray says when you mess with the family someone is going to get whacked.

LAX’s music hits with Konnan being strolled out in a wheelchair. Konnan tells the fans to go straight to hell and doesn’t care if they like him or not. Konnan tells them to save their hot air for their blowup dolls. Ray tells Konnan to walk down to the ring and say that, but he can’t since he’s hurt. Konnan tells Ray that their uncle can thank them for the attack recently. Konnan accepts the street fight for the PPV.

Brother Runt comes out and is sent back to the bar. Homicide and Hernandez attack from behind and beat on Team 3D. Hernandez plants Ray with a spinebuster. Devon gets a board smashed over his head and Ray is laid out with a trash can shot. Homicide chokes Ray with a hanger while Hernandez traps Ray’s arm between the ring steps and apron to deliver chair shots. Team 3D is left laid out to end the segment.

Backstage, Christy Hemme is interviewed regarding her match at Against All Odds. Hemme doesn’t care who her opponent is and she is going to prove that she belongs. Kip and BG enter the scene with Kip promising to make it up to Hemme. Kip asks for how much a lap dance costs her. BG leaves because he’s not going to tolerate this behavior. Hemme and Leticia walk away after Kip says neither one is worth five bucks.

A video package promoting a chain match between AJ Styles and Rhino is aired. There is a key attached and there is a weapon a pole, apparently.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews AJ Styles. Styles says it’s about time that Angle and Joe have reached his level. Styles doesn’t care about either man. Styles has a triple crown champion by the time he was 26, two times. Styles says he can do things that other people can’t do. Styles hasn’t forgotten about Rhino and says that Rhino will be looking up. Christian Cage enters the scene and says he likes Styles and wants him to hit Rhino a few times for him. Cage thinks that Angle is delusional to think he’s more than supporting cast in TNA. Cage does have a consultant and asks what could Joe consultant him on.. losing to Angle, twice? Cage wants Joe to remember that Angle did beat him twice. Bob Backlund enters the scene and stares at Borash to end the segment.

Second Contest: TNA X-Division Champion Chris Sabin, James Storm & Austin Starr vs. Rhino, Jerry Lynn & Senshi: Lynn and Storm kickoff the six man tag with Lynn hammering away on Storm followed by a crossbody off the ropes for a one count. Sabin yanks Lynn down by his hair and Storm connects with a side slam. Storm tags in Starr and hits a knee drop. Starr manages a two count on a cover attempt. Starr rams Lynn into the corner face first to keep control. Lynn fires back with right hands, but Starr hits a leg sweep only to miss an elbow drop. Lynn tags in Senshi and Senshi chops Starr several times. Senshi connects with a forearm smash and dropkicks Storm into the corner. Senshi hits a springboard kick to Starr. Sabin decks Senshi from behind, but Rhino gets involved and sends Sabin over the top to the floor. Senshi heads to the top rope and is shoved off by Storm. Starr spikes Senshi with a brainbuster for the win. (*. A super quick match, which continues to be a little frustrating. These kinds of matches should be given more time to let everyone shine.)

Paparazzi Productions is up next. Nash Clinic is the theme this week. Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal are with Nash, who takes responsibility for Sting and Samoa Joe. Nash is also plugging new dolls for Joe and Sting. Nash promises to help make Lethal and Dutt into big stars.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash is spying on Eric Young and Traci. Traci is hanging out ion her lingerie thanking Young by a printer. Traci wants to show her appreciation for Young helping her out against Roode. If Young signs the deal then he teases he’ll get to be with her. Traci tells Young that she loves him and walks off.

Sting makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Sting hypes the prison yard match. Sting brings down the prison cage from the rafters. Sting says the cage is a living hell. Father James Mitchell is in the cage and has been beaten up. Abyss makes his way out and tries to attack Sting, but is knocked down on the aisle by Sting. Sting has a chair and whacks Abyss over the back and head. Sting beats on Abyss with a chair but misses a chair shot hitting the cage. Abyss chokes Sting and Mitchell chokes Sting with his belt. Abyss whacks Sting against the cage with a chair shot to the face. Sting has been laid out.

A vignette promoting Christopher Daniels is shown. Daniels has doubted his purpose for too long. That doubt is over and now he seeks the truth.

A vignette of Ron Killings returning soon is shown.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Dale Tolberg and AJ Pierzynski of the Chicago White Soxs. Tolberg says they came as fans to watch the matches. They are going to bring it to Lance Hoyt at the PPV. AJ claims he did nothing wrong and wonders where David Eckstein has been. Lance Hoyt enters the scene and Johnny Damon whacks Tolberg over the back with a steel chair before walking off.

Main Event: NWA World Champion Christian Cage & AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe: All four men are in the ring brawling with Angle and Joe getting the advantage. Joe works over Styles while Angle brawls with Cage on the floor. Joe runs into an elbow in the corner. Styles misses a springboard reverse DDT attempt as Joe just walks off to the side. Cage tags in and runs into a snap powerslam from Joe for a two count. Joe jabs Cage followed by a chop to the mat. Joe nails Cage with a running knee strike in the corner. Joe continues with a jab. Styles nails Joe with a springboard forearm smash as the show goes to commercial.

Cage stomps on Joe to keep control of the match. Joe slams Cage out of the corner and Angle is ready for a tag in the corner. Styles and Angle get the tags with Angle cleaning house with clotheslines. Angle tosses Styles a few times with a German suplex. Angle tosses Cage with a German and flips Styles over with a suplex. Angle dumps Cage to the floor and hits the Olympic Slam on Styles for a near fall. Styles connects with a Pele kick on Angle. Styles heads to the top rope, but Rhino appears allowing Angle to hit a top rope Olympic Slam while Joe chokes out Cage to win the match. (*1/2. Imagine if this match was given ten minutes and was allowed to tell a story instead of getting less than half that time and fails to be an entertaining match. It’s a disappointing main event.)

After the match, a masked man attacks Rhino and Joe with a lead pipe. Angle removes the hood and mask and it’s revealed to be… SCOTT STEINER! Angle hammers away on Steiner until Cage hits Angle with the championship from behind. Steiner decks Angle with a clothesline followed by an elbow drop. Steiner does a few push-ups. Steiner puts the Steiner Recliner on Angle using the pipe for extra leverage. Cage is taunting a knocked out Angle to end the program.

Final Thoughts:
Quite a bit going on as they touched base on all the major angles heading into the PPV, which is quite the accomplishment in an hour program. The only negative for that every angle seemingly had the heels standing tall laying out the faces. Scott Steiner returning is fine with me as I’ve always been a big Steiner fan and I think a match with Angle would be interesting to see. Overall, I think this a fine overall episode despite repetitive angle advancements.

Thanks for reading.