Written by: Bob Colling
Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 6/10/2010
From: Orlando, FL
AJ Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Kazarian, and Beer Money make their way down to the ring to begin the program for a promo segment. Styles says that Ric Flair is not with them tonight. Styles is going to take control of the situation, but Kazarian doesn’t seem to be buying that. Styles notes they are in an eight man tag match tonight. Styles knows what that means and says that there are five guys in the ring. Styles that five doesn’t work and everyone knows that four is the lucky number. Styles tells Kazarian that he’s out and didn’t make the cut. Kazarian doesn’t appreciate being kicked out.
Ric Flair’s music hits.. but it’s Jay Lethal doing a Flair impression. Lethal says the Nature Boy is in the house and asks if he heard Styles say he was in charge. Lethal tells Styles that he’s not in charge and he’ll never be him. Styles insists that Lethal isn’t the Nature Boy. Lethal says he’s looking at God right now. Lethal talks about how much his outfit cost and would be ashamed of what Styles is wearing. Lethal says that Styles is wearing a Walmart outfit. Lethal takes off his jacket and slams it down before strutting and delivering an elbow drop. Lethal agrees there is an eight man tag tonight. Lethal introduces his team to compete in the main event. Abyss and Mr. Anderson will be teaming with him tonight. Styles continues to dismiss Kazarian and says they will all kick the piss out of them. Lethal makes his way to the ring and dives onto Styles and Kazarian leading to a brawl in the ring between everyone. Styles low blows Lethal and delivers right hands in the corner., Jeff Hardy makes his way out to even the odds and will be the last partner.
Backstage, Brian Kendrick says he’s seen his life from start to finish. Kendrick understands his family life and knows he’s here to capture the X-Division Championship. Kendrick believes his higher purpose will happen.
TNA X-Division Champion Douglas Williams comes out to watch the match at the announcers table.
Opening Contest: Homicide vs. Brian Kendrick: Homicide backs Kendrick into a corner, but backs away cleanly. Homicide decks Kendrick with a few strikes. Homicide chokes Kendrick over the middle rope. Homicide continues with a strike to the back a few times to keep Kendrick on the mat. Homicide gouges Kendrick’s eyes, but Kendrick fights back with forearms. Homicide knocks Kendrick down to the mat and continues with stomps. Homicide goes for the Gringo Killer, but Kendrick counters and runs into a back elbow. Homicide taunts the crowd and tosses Kendrick with an exploder suplex. Homicide nails Kendrick with a running knee strike in the corner a couple of times. Homicide hits a sit out slam for a near fall. Homicide blocks a clothesline, but misses a cutter attempt. Kendrick hits Homicide from behind and continues with forearms in the corner. Homicide sends Kendrick into the corner and delivers right hands. Homicide tries to use his wrist tape and succeeds when the referee is out of position. Kendrick fights back with a few forearm strikes and kicks Homicide to the ramp. Kendrick slams the back of Homicide’s head onto the ramp until the referee tosses Kendrick back into the ring. Homicide goes under the ring and grabs a toolbox. Homicide grabs a hammer and a screwdriver. The referee stops Homicide allowing Kendrick to deliver a kick to the face for the win. (*1/2. I didn’t like the finish as it just felt off. They were given a lot of time for the opening match and the action wasn’t all that bad. I think people don’t know how to take the Kendrick character at this point. I wish Homicide would have some sort of direction.)
Backstage, Brother Ray is being held back from Jesse Neal by security. They break free and begin to brawl for a bit.
In the ring, Jesse Neal is in the ring with Shannon Moore after a commercial break. Neal wants to talk to Brother Ray face to face like a man. Team 3D makes their way down to the ring and security has followed them. Ray gets in the ring and security joins them. Neal tells Ray to settle their issues like men if there are issues. Neal is pissed about being laid out and having a card put on them. Ray doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Ray says that Neal’s ego is getting out of control. Ray reminds Neal who he is and says he’s one of the toughest guys in the business. Neal has never done anything to disrespect them. Ray says that Neal is a nobody to him. Ray says that Neal was nothing more than a failure in the Navy before coming to them. Ray says that Neal will be a failure in the business after Slammiversary, too. Neal can’t wait to wrestle Ray on PPV. Ray calls Shannon Moore a bitch and to speak up. Moore says that Ray is a bully and a douchebag. Moore tells Ray to take his puppet and leave. Devon is offended by the puppet statement. Devon will give Moore a pass and Neal has a pass because they trained them. Devon never liked Moore from the beginning. Devon tells Ray to get his head on straight and leave Neal alone. Devon walks off. Ray attacks Neal from behind with a clothesline and runs off.
Footage from Sacrifice is shown where Jeff Jarrett was brutally attacked by Sting. Sting used the bat to pop Jarrett’s shoulder out of its socket. Sting also stomped Jarrett’s arm on the ring steps. Sting won the match in twelve seconds with the Scorpion Death Drop. Sting says that Jarrett is no exception from “those guys” and they will all pay. Sting told Hogan that the blood was on his hands.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff and Ms. Tessmacher are with Matt Morgan. Bischoff has got good news and better news. They have found a partner for Morgan at Slammiversary. Bischoff says that Morgan’s title match doesn’t have to wait for the PPV. Bischoff says it’s happening tonight and Hogan is waiting for him on the stage.
Jeff Jarrett shares comments regarding Sting and says that his shoulder was wrenched out of socket. He says that Sting wasn’t the same person and there’s a level of evil inside him that he’s never seen before. Jarrett says that he’s going to get revenge, but it won’t be anytime soon. Jarrett says that Sting isn’t being a man about Hogan and Bischoff coming into the company. Jarrett isn’t going to be at Slammiversary and he’s going to have to tell his kids why he isn’t at the PPV. Jarrett promises to get his answers when he gets back.
Hulk Hogan comes out before the next match and says that Matt Morgan is a crybaby. Hogan says that Morgan has stabbed everyone in the back and that’s why he’s by himself right now. Hogan reveals that Hernandez is Morgan’s partner tonight. Morgan can’t believe it. Hernandez attacks Morgan after leaping over the ropes. Morgan bails to the floor, but Hernandez follows and rams Morgan into the guard railing. Hernandez runs through Morgan in the ring and hits a splash in the corner followed by a huge spinebuster. Hernandez chokes Morgan with a towel. Morgan is knocked out from being choked out. Hernandez walks off. Hogan announces that Hernandez will wrestle Morgan at Slammiversary. Morgan is put on a stretcher.
Second Contest: TNA Tag Team Champions The Band vs. Matt Morgan & Hernandez: Morgan is on a stretcher, but the Band make their way out to the ring again. Young covers Morgan to retain the titles.
Backstage, Christy Hemme is with TNA World Champion Rob Van Dam. RVD says he’s going to show why he’s the World Champion. Sting is going to have to come and get it from him. Sting comes up from behind and hits RVD with a baseball bat. Sting chokes RVD and pummels RVD with right hands. Sting takes the championships and walks off. RVD recovers and goes to find the championship.
Kurt Angle comes out and cuts a promo saying that Kazarian will be his first victim in the top ten at Slammiversary. Angle says he’s preparing for the match by inviting the greatest X-Division wrestler to a match. That man is Amazing Red.
Third Contest: Kurt Angle vs. Amazing Red: They shake hands before the start of the match. Angle shoulder blocks Red, but Red comes back with an arm drag and head scissors. Red counters a suplex, but is tossed overhead with a belly to belly suplex. Red avoids a charging Angle and Angle falls to the floor. Red tries for a slingshot, but misses. Red leaps off the apron to hit a hurricanrana on the floor! Red misses a springboard and is decked by clothesline. Angle tries for the Angle Slam, but Red counters with a DDT. Red kicks Angle into ropes and goes to the apron hitting a springboard swinging flatliner for a two count. Angle tosses Red with a German suplex. Angle tries for the Angle Slam, but Red arm drags Angle followed by a head scissors and a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Red misses a corkscrew splash. Angle hits the Angle Slam for the win. (***1/2. That was a great sprint of a match. Kudos to Angle for giving Red so much offense and it really being a Red showcase segment. This has been the best thing in weeks on TV.)
Backstage, Sting says he has possession of the championship and this Sunday he will own it. Sting promises the veil will be lifted from everyones eyes. The word of the month is deception. Sting says that title represents deception and says that change is coming.
There’s a video package promoting Slammiversary and the main event between Sting and Rob Van Dam is aired.
Main Event: AJ Styles, Robert Roode, James Storm & Desmond Wolfe vs. Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson, Jay Lethal & Abyss: Roode and Lethal kickoff the main event. Roode knee lifts Lethal, but Lethal fires back with strikes. Roode chops Lethal against the ropes, but Lethal htis a handspring back elbow. Lethal chops Roode to the mat and tags in Abyss. Abyss hammers away on Roode in the corner. Abyss misses a splash in the corner and Storm tags in to work over Abyss. Abyss goes for a double chokeslam, but boots Styles. Abyss double clotheslines Roode and Storm. Anderson tags into the match and works over Storm’s left arm. Anderson tags in Hardy, who beats on Storm’s left arm, as well. Anderson axe handles Storm from the middle rope. Hardy also delivers an axe handle to Storm’s arm. Hardy hammers away on Storm in the corner. Hardy covers Storm for a one count. Wolfe tags in and Hardy hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Wolfe backs Hardy into a corner allowing Styles to shoulder ram Hardy a few times. Styles scoop slams Hardy and delivers a knee drop for a two count. Styles keeps a chin lock on Hardy, but Hardy elbows free and is met with an elbow strike. Styles elbows Hardy to the mat and tags in Wolfe. Wolfe sends Hardy into Storm’s boot in the corner for a near fall.
Hardy is sent into the wrong corner and is worked over by everyone. Storm tries for a cover, but Hardy kicks out at two. Beer Money hit a vertical suplex on Hardy. Roode knee drops Hardy for a two count. Roode chokes Hardy on the apron and Wolfe elbows Hardy while the referee is distracted by Roode. Roode catapults Hardy throat first into the bottom rope for a near fall. Lethal is tagged in, but the referee didn’t see it. Styles stomps on Hardy to keep control of the match. Styles hammers away on Hardy, but a jawbreaker by Hardy stops Styles. Hardy kicks Styles away and tags in Lethal. Lethal cleans house with strikes and dropkicks Wolfe off the apron. Lethal backdrops Styles followed by a back suplex into a neckbreaker for a two count. Wolfe plants Lethal with a DDT. Anderson hits the rolling fireman’s carry on Wolfe, but Storm nails Anderson with the Last Call superkick. Hardy hits the Twist of Fate on Storm. Roode connects with the spinebuster on Hardy. Abyss chokeslams Roode. Wolfe nails Abyss with a clothesline. Wolfe wants Chelsea to give him a chair. Chelsea takes her time doing so and Abyss punches the chair into Wolfe’s face. Styles hits a springboard forearm to Abyss. Lethal tries for a springboard, but Styles hits a powerbomb and the Styles Clash to win the match. (**. I’m kind of surprised that Styles got a clean win over Lethal just days before their PPV singles match. It feels like they want to elevate Lethal, but keep putting him in spots to prevent him from truly breaking out. The match featured the cliche spot of everyone hitting their big spots right after each other. It was a fine TV main event action wise, too.)
Backstage, Sting is cutting a promo and is wearing the gold around his waist. Sting says he’ll be waiting right there for RVD. After a commercial, RVD is looking for Sting and is attacked from behind. Sting sends RVD into a few things and pulls a table out from under RVD. RVD fights back with a few shots to the midsection. RVD sends Sting into a rack of clothing. RVD chokes Sting with the rack and sends Sting into the bleachers. RVD kicks Sting followed by several more strikes. Sting sends RVD into a trash can. They have gotten onto the ramp where RVD hammers away on Sting and they enter the ring. RVD chokes Sting with his own jacket. RVD rams Sting into the corner a few times. RVD dropkicks Sting in the corner and grabs a steel chair. Sting blocks being sent into the chair wedged in the corner. RVD superkicks Sting to get the advantage in the brawl. Sting manages to pull RVD face first Into the wedged chair. Sting smashes RVD over the back with a steel chair. Sting grabs a microphone and tells RVD that the title is his until Sunday to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
I found this to be an enjoyable episode of Impact as the in-ring action was good this week and they touched upon all the feuds heading into the pay per view. Would I buy the PPV because of this show? Probably not, but it was still a solid effort.
Thanks for reading.