TNA Impact 7/29/2010

Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 7/29/2010
From: Orlando, FL

Tommy Dreamer is in the ring along with Stevie Richards, Rhyno, Devon, Raven, and Mick Foley. Dreamer says this is the loudest the Impact Zone has been since he’s been here. Dreamer hypes up Hardcore Justice. Dreamer says there was an issue with the WWE (without saying WWE). Dreamer says they are EV 2.0. Dreamer thanks Devon for being back in the family. Dreamer asks what is going on with Brother Ray. Devon doesn’t know what’s going on and says that Ray is causing their issues to get in the way. Devon calls out Ray to settle their issues right now. Brother Ray comes out to the entrance ramp and Devon says that EV 2.0 is their family. Devon asks if Ray is in or out. Ray doesn’t say anything and walks off. Dreamer calls out to Ray and says that Ray is his best friend. Dreamer says this is something different as they are doing this one more time for the fans. Dreamer wants to have one more night to thank the fans for their support. Mick Foley chimes in and says that with or without Ray they are going to have a great show. The show would be better with Ray being part of the show. Foley doesn’t want Ray to regret not doing the show later in his career. Tazz stands at the announcers table and tells Ray to “just do it, man.” Ray enters the ring and wants Devon to answer one question for him. Ray says “are we going to light someone on fire?” Devon responds with a head nod as Ray smiled at that. Ray agrees to be part of the show. Ray and Devon embrace.

Hulk Hogan’s music hits and Hogan makes his way out to the stage. Hogan gets pyro and takes his time getting to the ring to join EV 2.0. Hogan thinks it is really cool that they are going to ride again and thanks them for doing it in TNA. Hogan wishes he had known about this and would have had a few extra surprises. Hogan understands the hardcore thing and notes Dixie saying that they were important to the 90s as he was to the 80s. Hogan puts them over as being the best at hardcore. Hogan has a special surprise for the fans and Eric Bischoff will be out later to reveal that.

Abyss makes his way out to the entrance ramp to join the segment. Abyss hates to breakup the reunion and says that “they” aren’t happy and they are pissed off. Abyss claims the reunion was never part of their plan. Abyss says they blame all of this on Dixie Carter. Hogan doesn’t care what they have to say about it and suggests Abyss hit the road and get his head checked out. Hogan says that Tommy Dreamer is a guest here and nothing is happening until the PPV. Abyss claims that he’s been given a direction to take out Dreamer so there’s no PPV. Dreamer chimes in and says that he’d love to fight Abyss tonight.

Backstage, Lacey is talking with Velvet Sky when Madison Rayne enters the room. Rayne says they need to stick together to accomplish anything in TNA. Sky gets in Rayne’s face for her saying that she didn’t need them anymore. Sky is pissed they still don’t know who the fourth member of their group is. Rayne notes that Sarita and Angelina are wrestling tonight in a number one contenders match. Rayne offered them a spot and they declined. Rayne apologizes and wants a truce, but Love declines. Sky gives in and accepts a truce leading to them hugging.

Opening Contest: Sarita vs. Angelina Love in a number one contenders match: Love shoulder blocks Sarita for a two count. They have a standoff after trading pin attempts. Sarita cheap shots Love while the referee is out of position. Love nearly wins with a rollup. Sarita drop toe holds Love over the middle rope. They trade strikes in the corner until Sarita gets a two count after a snapmare. Love avoids Sarita int the corner, but Sarita connects with a clothesline and a few elbow drops. Sarita keeps a chin lock on Love for a few moments, but doesn’t get a submission. Sarita tosses Love with a back suplex for a two count. Sarita tries to use the trunks on a cover, but the referee saw that. Love battles back with forearms and a spear out of the corner. Love elbows Sarita followed by a spinning heel kick. Love clotheslines Sarita and waits in the corner to hit the Botox Injection to win the match. (1/4*. That was not a good match and the flow to the match was pretty bad. The crowd didn’t seem to care for this and I’m doubting that Love is capable of being a top face for the division.)

Backstage, Eric Young is with Orlando Jordan. Jordan needs Young to be focused and not joking around. Young says that he is a little messed up on rum candy. Jordan asks if Young is mentally challenged. Young admits that he’s not right after being dropped on his head and says that he has backup.

Two weeks ago, Eric Young suffered a head injury on Xpolsion during a match with Suicide. So, that explains why Young is acting differently.

Second Contest: Eric Young & Orlando Jordan vs. Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore: Young has brought a mannequin to the ring as their backup. Neal and Jordan kickoff the tag match. Jordan clubs on Neal over the back for the early advantage. Neal fires back with forearms, but is knocked down to the mat by Jordan. Jordan stomps on Neal to maintain the advantage and chokes Neal. Jordan delivers a swinging neckbreaker and mounts Neal to deliver right hands. Moore gets in the ring to help Neal. Jordan tags in Young and Young throws the mannequin, which breaks. Jordan is dropkicked into Young knocking Young off the apron. Ink Inc. hit the Samoan Drop/blockbuster combo to pin Jordan for the win. (1/2*. I’m not really fan of Young going back to being a comedy character. It just feels like they don’t know what to do with Young and they went back what worked well a few years ago.)

Fortune is in the ring with Ric Flair having a microphone to cut a promo. Flair says there is excitement in the air. Flair says that he’s a wrestling God and a wrestling genius. Flair has a return match clause in all his contracts. Flair announces that he’s wrestling Jay Lethal next week in a street fight. Flair wants Lethal to be ready and calls him his “smallest black brother.” Flair welcomes Beer Money to the group. Flair puts them over with the ladies, too. Roode says it is an honor to be with Flair. Roode knew it was only a matter of time before they joined Fortune. Roode says they are the best tag team going today. Roode thinks they are going to win tonight and become the four time TNA Tag Team Champions. Flair puts over AJ Styles as the new TNA Global Champion. Kazarian chimes in and says they aren’t a silly gang of “angry rookies”, but rather four seasoned vets who are the best at what they do. Styles says they are the best because Flair deserves the best and respect. Styles renames the Global Championship as the Television Championship. Styles says that every TV and PPV he will honor the title. Styles says it starts with Rob Terry and he’s giving him rematch if Terry can beat Kazarian tonight. Flair finishes off telling the ladies that they will be at the hotel and running all night long.

Kurt Angle makes his way out to cutoff Fortune. Angle says he’s glad that Styles will honor the championship. Angle needs to honor his commitment, as well. Angle says that Styles is next in line in his quest to win the TNA World Championship.

Third Contest: TNA Tag Team Champions Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Robert Roode & James Storm inside a steel cage: Sabin and Shelley climb the cage from behind Beer Money and they hit stereo crossbody blocks to start the match. Storm is sent into the cage face first. Roode is also sent into the cage face first. Guns nail Storm with a few dropkicks and Sabin dropkicks Roode face first into the cage again. Roode has been busted wide open already. Shelley elbows Storm in the corner, but Roode crotches Shelley on the ropes. Storm plants Shelley with a middle rope neckbreaker. Storm pummels Shelley with right hands in the corner. Beer Money double team Shelley with quick moves off the ropes after a slam by Roode leading to a near fall. Roode keeps Shelley on the mat with a headlock. Shelley spin kicks Roode to the mat, but can’t tag in Sabin. Roode sits Shelley on the top turnbuckle and goes for a superplex, but Shelley counters ramming the back of Roode’s head into the cage and hits a hurricanrana off the top rope! Storm and Sabin are tagged into the match and Sabin cleans house. Sabin hits a missile dropkick off the top rope. Sabin puts Storm in the corner with Roode and hits a big boot to Roode followed by a dropkick to Storm. Sabin spikes Storm with a tornado DDT for a two count. Shelley kicks Roode and tries for the Slice Bread, but Roode avoids it. Roode nails Sabin with a clothesline. Shelley rams Roode into the cage and hits a top rope double stomp.

Sabin misses a splash and Storm plants Shelley with the Eight Second Ride, but is kicked by Sabin. Sabin tries for a hurricanrana on Roode, but Roode rams Sabin into the cage back first and Storm hits a backstabber for a near fall. Roode begins to climb the cage, but Shelley stops both Roode and Storm. Shelley crotches Roode and hits a jawbreaker on Storm. Sabin climbs to the top of the cage and leaps off hitting a crossbody onto Roode and Storm. Storm accidentally hits Roode with a beer bottle. Guns hit a neckbreaker/top rope splash combo on Storm to win the match. (***1/2. I’ll never understand following tag rules in a steel cage, but luckily they broke out of it throughout the match. It’s a good match and showed that the Guns wouldn’t be restricted by the cage. One thing to note here is that it’s is quite clear and obvious to me that Robert Roode is a main event guy. His look and his work just stands out among everyone else in the match. He’s an absolute stud and should break free from the tag ranks.)

Mr. Anderson’s music hits, but instead it is Matt Morgan. Morgan demands the microphone to be dropped down so he can mock Mr. Anderson. The microphone slowly makes it way down for Morgan. Morgan says it is his honor to introduce himself to the fans. Morgan puts himself over while mimicking Anderson’s promo style. Anderson’s music hits again and Anderson appears on the entrance after the lights go out. Anderson has a microphone from the rafters and taunts Morgan for how easily he got his microphone. Anderson makes his way towards the ring to confront Morgan. Morgan wants Anderson to relax. Morgan thinks it is ironic that the microphone he has is the same one that left Anderson laid out and bloodied. Morgan taunts Anderson saying he’ll let Anderson hit him for free, but knows that Anderson is too scared. Anderson drops down and punches Morgan in the groin. Anderson hammers away on Morgan with right hands on the mat. Morgan gains control with stomps on the mat. Morgan chokes Anderson with a microphone cord. Jeff Hardy’s music hits and Hardy runs to the ring to make the save for Anderson. Hardy beats on Morgan with strikes and stomps. Security enters the ring and they hold by Anderson. Morgan drops Anderson with a right hand, but Hardy gets a shot on Morgan. Gunner and Murphy are manhandling Hardy and Anderson. Several TNA officials also get in the ring to stop the brawling. D’Lo gets in Gunner’s face asking what he’s doing to end the segment.

Backstage, Christy Hemme interviews Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy. Anderson knows that Murphy and Gunner have been training to be wrestlers for ten years, but had to settle for security. Anderson says their mission to get noticed has work because they are wrestling Anderson and Hardy tonight. Anderson wants Morgan with them, too.

Fourth Contest: Kazarian vs. Rob Terry: Kazarian dropkicks Terry from behind as the referee ejected AJ Styles from ringside. Kazarian ducks a clothesline and is driven down with a spinebuster for the win. (NR. Wow. I feel bad for Kazarian.)

Fifth Contest: Jeff Hardy & Mr. Anderson vs. Matt Morgan, Murphy & Gunner in a handicap match: Morgan and Anderson kickoff the match. Morgan bails before any contact and tags in Murphy. Murphy tags out to Gunner to actually start the match. Anderson shoulder blocks Gunner and blocks a hip toss with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Murphy works over Anderson with stomps in the corner. Murphy continues with a shoulder ram in the corner to control Anderson. Murphy misses a spear in the corner and Anderson almost wins with a rollup. Hardy tags into the match and tries to splash Murphy off of Anderson’s back, but is met with a clothesline in midair. Hardy kicks Gunner and back elbows Gunner in the corner leading to the Whisper In The Wind for a two count. Anderson tags back into the contest and punches Gunner against the ropes. Murphy yanks Anderson down by his neck, but Hardy decks Murphy off the apron. Morgan looks like he’s bailed on the match. Gunner is driven down by the Mic Check and Hardy hits the Swanton to win the match. (1/2*. Why wouldn’t you just have this match right after the segment that made this a match to begin with? This essentially made Murphy and Gunner look like they are nobodies and it didn’t do anything for me entertainment wise. It’s kind of amazing that this is the best they can come up with for Anderson and Hardy right now.)

Backstage, Christy Hemme runs up to Hulk Hogan before he leaves the arena. Hemme wants a little information regarding Bischoff’s announcement. Hogan promises it will be something the fans love. Hogan promises to have a lot to say next week when he returns.

Eric Bischoff is in the ring with Ms. Tessmacher to reveal his announcement. Bischoff wants everyone to takeout a pen for August 12th, 9pm ET. Bischoff says the fans will see something they’ve never seen before. Bischoff credits Dixie Carter for motivating him. Bischoff says Dixie is doing the right thing to do for EV 2.0 and hiring back Mick Foley after he fried him. Bischoff and Hogan are giving back to the fans. Bischoff says they are going to give PPV quality action on Impact and credits Dixie again. Bischoff is cutoff by Abyss. Abyss has Janice with him and Bischoff says he doesn’t want any trouble. Abyss got done speaking to them and says they want him to make the main event for August 12th. Abyss says they want a ladder, RVD and Janice involved. Janice is going to be hung up from the rafters and they are going to have an extreme match. Abyss tells Bischoff that he’s going to climb the ladder and rip RVD’s flesh off his ass. Abyss says that they told him that only Bischoff can make this happen. Bischoff gives in to Abyss demands and Abyss says that Bischoff chose wisely. Abyss didn’t forget when Bischoff slapped him. Abyss says that Janice wants to show Bischoff what a real bitch is, but RVD runs down with a chair and smashes Abyss with it followed by a kick. RVD stomps on Abyss in the corner. RVD dropkicks a chair into Abyss in the corner. Abyss baseball slides Abyss to the floor and misses a dive hitting the guard railing chest first. Abyss threatens Dixie in the crowd. D’Lo and Pat Kenney come out with chairs to hold off Abyss. Al Snow has stolen Janice from Abyss.

Main Event: Tommy Dreamer vs. Abyss in a hardcore match: Snow gives Dreamer Janice, and Abyss looks scared. After a commercial, the match has started with Dreamer hitting Abyss with a trash can lid around ringside. Abyss drops Dreamer over the railing groin first. Abyss wedges a chair in the corner, but Dreamer delivers a trash can shot to Abyss a few times. Abyss side slams Dreamer onto the trash cans, but doesn’t go for a cover. Abyss hits Dreamer over the head with a cooking sheet. Abyss hits Dreamer over the back with a kendo stick. Dreamer fights out of a neck vice and eye rakes Abyss. Abyss tries for a chokeslam, but Dreamer elbows free. Dreamer ducks a clothesline and hits a crossbody. Dreamer clotheslines Abyss for a two count. Abyss elbows Dreamer in the corner and sends Dreamer into a chair in the corner. Abyss lays a chair over Dreamer’s body and goes to the middle rope. Dreamer stops Abyss and puts Abyss in a tree of woe. Dreamer hits Abyss with a kendo stick and puts a trash can in front of Abyss’ face. Dreamer baseball slide dropkicks a trash can into Abyss’ face. Dreamer goes under the ring to get a barbed wire board. Dreamer continues with a kendo stick shot to the back. Dreamer tries for a Death Valley Driver, but Abyss kicks Dreamer on the knee. Dreamer counters a chokeslam and tries for a DDT, but Abyss counters with a clothesline. Abyss goes to the floor and grabs Janice. Abyss misses a shot in the corner and Dreamer almost wins with a rollup. Dreamer sets Janice in the corner, but Abyss avoids it and punches a trash can into Dreamer’s face. Abyss chokeslams Dreamer onto the barbed wire board to win the match. (*1/4. It’s a weak main event and the hardcore stuff just wasn’t very good, quite frankly. They’ve made a big deal about Tommy Dreamer coming into TNA and he loses cleanly in his first match with the promotion. I understand the decision since Abyss is challenging RVD for the TNA World Championship, but it quickly weakens EV 2.0 for the leader to lose his first match and in a speciality match that has defined his career.)

Raven runs down to the ring with a steel chair to save Dreamer. Raven instead turns on Dreamer with a chair shot to the back. Raven plants Dreamer with a DDT onto a steel chair and taunts Dreamer. Raven licks Dreamer’s face a few times to end the show.

Final Thoughts:
Aside from the steel cage match, this show is just baffling to me. Brother Ray seemingly throws away his heel turn to be part of Hardcore Justice. Dreamer is brought in as a big deal and loses his first match with the promotion. We’re going back to ECW 95 with Raven turning on Dreamer for them to have a feud. I don’t think I would have ever guessed Raven closing out an episode of Impact in 2010. TNA is relying on ECW well after there was any value attached to the brand. This was a bad overall episode of Impact.

Thanks for reading.