TNA Impact 7/8/2010

Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 7/8/2010
From: Orlando, FL

A video highlighting the relationship between Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson opens the show. Hardy isn’t sure if he can trust Anderson, and that’s especially questionable since Anderson seemingly hit Hardy with a chair on accident last week.

Backstage, Mr. Anderson makes his way towards the ring with a steel chair to open the show.

Mr. Anderson enters the ring with a steel chair to cut a promo. Anderson asks if there are any creatures of the night in the venue, and then proceeds to introduce the leader, Jeff Hardy. Anderson talks about hitting Hardy with a chair from behind with a chair when Hardy wasn’t looking. Anderson promises that he didn’t do it on purpose. Hardy asks the crowd if that was true. Anderson tells Hardy that if he hit him with the chair on purpose he’d talk about it and brag about it. Anderson would have done that because he’s an asshole. Anderson thinks the world would be better off if there were more assholes. Anderson says they have a match tonight and he’s going to bring a chair with him. Anderson says that if he uses it then Hardy knows they have an issue. Anderson says if Hardy uses it on him, he probably had it coming. Anderson notes that it will prove that he has a problem with Hardy. Anderson walks off to end the segment. Hardy didn’t say a word and just chuckled a few times.

Earlier today, AJ Styles is talking about Ric Flair being disappointed in him. Styles can’t believe that he needs to prove himself and hopes that Flair is happy about the consequences.

Backstage, Jeff Hardy says that we’ll find out where Anderson is at tonight.

Opening Contest: Kazarian vs. AJ Styles: Styles tries for a backdrop, but Kazarian avoids it and they trade arm drags leading to right hands in the middle of the ring. Kazarian hammers away on Styles in the corner. Styles eye rakes Kazarian and stomps away on Kazarian in the corner. Kazarian monkey flips Styles out of the corner. Kazarian dropkicks Styles into the corner for a two count. Kazarian keeps a headlock on Styles as Ric Flair makes his way down to the ring. Styles elbows free from Kazarian and connects with a standing dropkick. Styles pulls Kazarian out of the corner and kicks Kazarian on the leg followed by a swinging neckbreaker. Styles drives Kazarian down with a backbreaker for a two count. Styles keeps Kazarian on the mat with a sleeper hold. Styles tries for the Styles Clash, but Kazarian counters. Styles ducks a clothesline, but Kazarian avoids it only for Styles to drop Kazarian over his knee out of a Death Valley Driver position. Styles forearms Kazarian and tries for a neckbreaker, but Kazarian holds onto the ropes and hits a slingshot leg drop for a two count. Kazarian sits Styles on the top turnbuckle, but Styles punches Kazarian off. Styles nails Kazarian with a pele kick. Kazarian dumps Styles to the apron and kicks Styles. Kazarian slingshots over to DDT Styles on the apron! They punch each other on the floor and that leads to a double count out. After the match, they continue to brawl on the mat until Ric Flair enters the ring. (**1/2. I enjoyed this for what it was. I wasn’t expecting an actual finish to the match by any means. They worked a good match and took advantage of the time they were given. I’m expecting Flair to eventually side with Kazarian and Styles turns face.)

Flair tells them that they are two of the best wrestlers today. Flair tells them that this is over and wants them to get together and stop being divided. Flair reveals that he has them in a tag match at Victory Road, but doesn’t reveal who they are wrestling. Flair demands that they get together and win at Victory Road otherwise they won’t be happy. Styles and Kazarian continue to bicker.

Backstage, Angelina Love has her back to the camera and takes her shirt off. She’s picking a bra to wear. That seems like a natural thing to do.

Second Contest: Angelina Love vs. Daffney: Love knee lifts Daffney to avoid an arm lock and continues with a clothesline and forearm smash. Daffney elbows Love and runs into a spinning heel kick. Love elbows Daffney to the mat out of the corner. Love puts a choke on Daffney, but Daffney breaks free with a jawbreaker. Love plants Daffney with a powerslam a couple of times. Love delivers a jumping flatliner to win the match. (1/4*. A very brief match with it clearly being a showcase for Love leading into her championship match.) After the match. Angelina Love cuts a promo saying that she’s sure Madison Rayne is watching at home because she doesn’t have the balls to be there. Love knows she’ll win at the PPV and be the first ever four time TNA Knockouts Champion. Rayne makes her way out and says that Love has underestimated her. Rayne wants to know what Love is risking on Sunday. Rayne asks if Love will put her fake breasts on the line or her fake weave. Rayne wants Love to put her career on the line. Love accepts the challenge. Love says there will be one special stipulation to their match. If Velvet Sky or Lacey get involved at any point then Rayne will be DQ’d and Love will win the championship. Rayne doesn’t appear bothered by that and walks off.

Backstage, Brother Devon says we’ll see what he says to Brother Ray tonight.

A video package promoting the feud between Jesse Neal, Brother Ray and Brother Devon is shown.

Brother Devon is in the ring with Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore calling out Brother Ray to straighten things out right now. Brother Ray remains on the ramp. Devon doesn’t understand what is going on and notes they trained Neal the same way they were trained. Devon says that Neal showed nothing but respect to them. Devon notes that Neal served the country and had been through hell before they got to them. Devon tells Neal’s story about his ship being blown up and his best friend dying. Devon demands to know what Ray’s problem is with Neal. Ray doesn’t answer to Devon and says he’s the leader of Team 3D. Ray says that Neal is a disrespectful punk and now Devon for being a disloyal partner. Devon doesn’t want his loyalty questioned and Ray demands an answer. Devon has loyalty to both men and doesn’t pick sides. Ray says he just spoke to Bischoff and reveals there will be a three way dance between Ray, Neal and Devon at Victory Road. Ray notes that their partnership could come to an end at Victory Road depending on Devon’s loyalty.

Third Contest: TNA World Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Samoa Joe in a non-title match: They trade forearms to start the match and trade kicks. RVD nails Joe with a step over heel kick. Joe stops RVD on the top with a strike and looks for the Muscle Buster, but Joe settles for tossing RVD off the top and onto the ramp. Joe chops RVD against the railing before returning to the ring. RVD spin kicks Joe off the apron, but misses a baseball slide and Joe takes RVD out with a suicide dive. Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Stevie Richards and Raven have arrived in the crowd again. Joe goes for a cover, but RVD kicks out. Joe chops RVD on the back and tries for a kick, but RVD counters with a rollup for a two count. RVD nails Joe with a dropkick to keep the advantage. RVD shoulder rams Joe in the corner a few times. RVD nails Joe with a running knee strike and a dropkick in the corner. RVD connects with a slingshot leg drop over the bottom rope. RVD covers Joe for a two count. Joe jabs RVD a few times and hits a snap powerslam. Joe keeps RVD on the mat with a headlock.

RVD struggles to his feet and elbows free followed by a spin kick. RVD clotheslines Joe, but runs into a vicious clothesline by Joe. Joe covers for a two count. Joe continues to chop RVD in the corner. Joe misses a knee lift and RVD kicks Joe followed by a springboard kick off the middle rope for a two count. RVD hits the rolling thunder splash for a two count. RVD leaps off the top to kick Joe on the jaw for a two count. RVD spin kicks Joe in the corner, but Joe charges out with a running clothesline to drop RVD. Joe plants RVD with an STO and a powerbomb for a near fall. Joe switches with a Boston Crab. Joe switches to a half Boston Crab, but RVD reaches the ropes. RVD fights back with right hands, but Joe headbutts RVD a few times. Joe counters a a rollup with a chokehold, but RVD escapes the body control. RVD kicks off the turnbuckles and rolls on top of Joe to win the match. (**1/2. The finish was a bit botched, but for the most part I enjoyed the TV match. They got a lot of time and Joe was made to look like a viable threat to RVD’s title even in a non-title match. It looks like the ECW guys may be trying to align themselves with RVD. This is the kind of the match that proved that Joe should be a fixture in the title scene.) After the match, Joe argues with the referee and slaps him. Joe puts the referee on the top rope and hits the Muscle Buster. Joe may have snapped.

Earlier tonight, Kurt Angle cut a promo saying that he likes pressure and that’s why he’s starting at the bottom of the top ten. Angle suggests Jeff Hardy watches his back when it comes to Mr. Anderson.

Fourth Contest: TNA X-Division Champion Douglas Williams vs. Jeremy Buck in a ladder match: Williams starts off with a shoulder block, but Buck comes back with an elbow and crossbody off the middle rope. Buck takes Williams out with a moonsault off the apron. Buck grabs the ladder and sets it up in the middle of the ring to try and grab the red X. Williams cuts Buck off with strikes. Williams puts Buck in the tree of woe before going to the ladder. Buck leaps off the top to dropkick Williams off the ladder. Williams uppercuts Buck into the corner and sets the ladder up in the corner. Williams sends Buck into the ladder, but misses a knee lift. Buck catapults Williams into the ladder. Buck is punched on the apron, but manages to kick the ladder into Williams. Buck connects with a slingshot facebuster onto the ladder. Buck begins to climb the ladder, but Williams stops Buck with an electric chair slam. Buck rolls to the floor. Williams climbs the ladder, but Buck leaps off the top to hit a sunset flip powerbomb. Buck kicks Williams coming off the middle rope. Buck unhooks the X and wins the match. (**1/2. It’s important to note that they were hyping up Williams being afraid of heights and had a hard time climbing the ladder as a result. Buck looked great in the match and his offensive felt fresh and unique. I was quite surprised by this one.)

A video package of TNA’s recent house show run in Brooklyn is shown. They drew a great crowd for the event that took place at a baseball stadium.

A pre-tape segment with Alex Shelley saying that he’s got a problem with Chris Sabin, is tag partner. Shelley says that Sabin use to be like him, until Sabin found out about Beer Money. Sabin isn’t fun, athletic or good looking anymore. Shelley wants parents to warn their kids about Beer Money.

Fifth Contest: Motor City Machine Guns & Hernandez vs. Beer Money Inc. & Matt Morgan: Roode and Sabin kickoff the match with both men getting wrist control. Roode sends Sabin into the corner and runs into a big boot. Sabin hits a hurricanrana and a forearm smash for a two count. Sabin tags in Shelley and slams Roode allowing Shelley to hit a slingshot elbow drop. The Guns double team Roode with a splash combo for a two count. Roode tags in Storm and Shelley sends Roode into Storm. Sabin tags in and elbows Storm in the corner. Storm is decked by Sabin on the apron, but Morgan big boots Sabin off the apron. Morgan legally enters the match and short arm clotheslines Sabin before casually stepping on Sabin. Morgan pulls back on Sabin’s arms and tag in Storm. Storm decks Sabin with a right hand into the corner. Sabin runs into a boot and a facebuster by Storm for a two count, but Shelley makes the save. Roode chokes Sabin on the mat and gets a two count after sending Sabin into the corner. Sabin fires back with strikes and spin kicks Roode to the mat.

Hernandez is tagged in and cleans house with clotheslines. Hernandez splashes Storm in the corner, but Roode decks Hernandez from behind. Hernandez tosses Roode across the ring with a shoulder block. Shelley rams Roode into the corner and Hernandez splashes Roode. Shelley drops Roode over the middle turnbuckle. Storm decks Shelley from behind, but Hernandez hits a slingshot double clothesline on Beer Money. Hernandez runs after Morgan up the ramp and backstage. Shelley and Sabin kick Roode in the corner. Storm has his beer bottle, but Sabin takes Storm out with a suicide dive! Shelley hits a crossbody off the top, but Roode rolls through with a handful of tights to win the match. (**. Not a bad TV match. I’m guessing the Guns will be winning the titles so giving Beer Money a cheap win here should allow for rematches. Morgan is really driving me nuts and becoming an act I don’t want to see on a weekly basis.)

Backstage, D’Angelo Dinero cuts a promo. Dinero doesn’t trust Mr. Anderson and was the reason he was out of action. Dinero has to focus on Kurt Angle and knows that he has to bring his A game at Victory Road.

Backstage, Kevin Nash is waiting for Eric Bischoff and he’s pissed about having to kiss Bischoff’s ass for a job. Hulk Hogan enters the room and doesn’t appreciate Nash getting a swerve to get Hall and Pac a contract. Hogan tried the Nasty Boys, but did it the right way and it didn’t work out. Hogan can’t help Nash out, apparently.

Jay Lethal is in the ring for a promo. Lethal says he was overwhelmed when Hogan made his match against Ric Flair. But, now he had to watch Flair attack his little brother and it ripped his heart out. Lethal promises to rip Flair’s heart out at Victory Road. Lethal talks about his mother being a little ill recently. Lethal says that he loves his mother and is going to make her proud of him when he beats Flair at Victory Road. Lethal will always have his mother in his heart.

Ric Flair makes his way out to cut off Lethal’s promo. Flair tells Lethal that he could give a rats ass about his mother. Flair thinks that Lethal’s mother is living through Jay because she wants a piece of Flair! Flair reminds Lethal who he is and notes that he’s been wrestling since he was fifteen. Flair tells Lethal that he’s crazy and if a woman experiences his touch, they seek him forever. Flair says that Lethal is dressed like a street punk with his jeans and sneakers. Flair wants Lethal to backup and knows that he’s in his head. Flair goes and says he can get any woman he wants. Flair talks about people wanting his body parts to see how his body works. Flair lists everything he’s been through and asks what Lethal could possibly do to him. Flair continues to mention that he’s a God and not a human. (that was an example of Flair slicing Lethal up on the microphone.)

Main Event: Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson: Hardy gets arm control to start the match, but Anderson gets up quickly. Anderson blocks a hip toss, but Hardy hammers away on Anderson. Anderson hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Hardy delivers a jawbreaker and kicks Anderson into the corner. Anderson avoids a dropkick in the corner and nearly pins Hardy. Hardy clotheslines Anderson for a two count. Hardy splashes Anderson in the corner, but is sent chest first into the corner. Hardy hits Anderson with the Whisper In The Wind for a near fall. Hardy waits for Anderson and tries for the Twist of Fate, but Anderson plants Hardy with a rolling fireman’s carry for a near fall. Anderson heads to the top rope missing a swanton bomb. Hardy connects with the Twist of Fate for the clean win. (1/2*. What a bizarre match and to have Hardy win cleanly so quick is not going to do Anderson any favors. Anderson sure seems to have been eating a lot of pins lately.) After the match, Hardy helps Anderson up, but Abyss makes his way out with his board covered in nails. Taz says that Abyss has named it Earl. The referee takes it away and Abyss is double teamed. Abyss connects with a double clothesline. Abyss chokeslams Hardy and big boots Anderson. The referee left the board with nails on the ramp. Abyss misses Anderson and it gets stuck on the turnbuckle pad. TNA World Champion Rob Van Dam runs into the ring and attacks Abyss with strikes. Abyss sends RVD through the ropes to the floor. Anderson has a chair and whacks Abyss over the back with it. RVD kicks the chair into Abyss face sending Abyss to the floor. RVD, Hardy and Anderson appear to be aligned against Abyss before their four way match at Victory Road.

Final Thoughts:
There was some good TV wrestling on the show, but some of the booking continues to make me scratch my head. Mr. Anderson has been eating a lot of pins in recent weeks and seems to be hurting his presentation. Lethal/Flair was entertaining, but really showed that Lethal doesn’t hold a candle on the microphone to Flair, who just destroyed him. It was a strong week for in-ring action and for that I’ll give it a thumbs up for Impact.

Thanks for reading.