Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 9/16/2010
From: Orlando, FL
A video package promoting the match between Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle from No Surrender is shown. Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb to the floor during the match and broke Kurt’s ribs. Hardy notes that Angle pushed him to the edge and knows he’s gotta take things to the extreme. The match ended in a draw, which Angle didn’t realize there was a time limit to the match. Hardy notes that he partially wanted to continue, but also didn’t. Angle isn’t going to retire because he didn’t lose. Angle can’t go to the next round because he needs to beat Jeff Hardy.
Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy are standing in the ring as Eric Bischoff makes his way out with Ms. Tessmacher. Bischoff congratulates Mr. Anderson for winning his match and will be competing for the TNA World Championship. However, Anderson doesn’t have an opponent and that’s why both Hardy and Angle are in the ring. Bischoff puts over their match from No Surrender. The fans express their appreciation for the match, too. Bischoff ask the crowd to show their respect one more time for them. Bischoff says because they weren’t able to determine a winner they had to figure out a solution. Bischoff announces that at Bound For Glory, Anderson will be wrestling Kurt Angle AND Jeff Hardy to crown a new TNA World Champion.
Dixie Carter comes out and has something to say to Angle and Hardy. Carter wants to say something in front of the crowd. Carter says she’s proud of them for never giving up and working hard from bell to bell. Carter considers it one of her favorite matches in TNA. Carter knows that nobody was happy with the end result. Carter talks about Hogan overturning her decision on Ric Flair, which may have been correct. Carter reveals she’s going to overturn Bischoff’s decision. Carter books a match between Hardy and Angle tonight with no time limit and there must be a winner to wrestle Anderson at Bound For Glory.
Backstage, D’Angelo Dinero meets up with Sting and Kevin Nash saying he’s going to talk to Bischoff.
Earlier in the week, Tommy Dreamer was getting gas in Yonkers when a cameraman asked where does EV 2.0 go from here and Dreamer says “maybe we go home.” Dreamer drives off.
Opening Contest: Samoa Joe vs. Kevin Nash: Nash knee lifts Joe followed by several strikes in the corner and knee lifts to the back. Nash decks Joe to the mat with a forearm strike. Nash misses a clothesline and Joe hits a running boot. Joe continues with a clothesline and splashes Nash followed by a kick in the corner to knock Nash to the apron. Nash pulls Joe to the floor and rams Joe onto the apron face first. Nash clubs Joe over the back with a strike. Joe elbows Nash several times, but Sting gets involved and Joe fights off Sting with strikes. Jarrett gets involved as well brawling with Nash. Sting and Joe trade strikes on the floor while Nash forearms Jarrett. The referee ends up counting both men out. (1/2*. Well, that was lame. I guess it makes sense for the story, but lame.) After the match, they continue to brawl on the floor. Eventually, security comes down to do their job and keep everyone apart after a struggle to do so.
Backstage, Madison Rayne meets up with Lacey Von Erich and says she needs to get dressed for their tag title match. Tara is there, as well. Lacey says she hasn’t made her decision, but Rayne doesn’t care.
Backstage, Kevin Nash says they are just getting started as they are having a war. Nash says they aren’t going to make it to 10/10/10. Sting says now it’s starting to get fun.
We see footage from Xplosion where Jay Lethal recently pinned TNA X-Division Champion Douglas Williams in a non-title match.
Second Contest: TNA X-Division Champion Douglas Williams vs. Jay Lethal: Lethal and Williams trade strikes to kickoff the match. Williams slams Lethal and follows up with a knee drop for a two count. Williams avoids a boot in the corner, but Lethal kicks Williams away. Lethal chops Williams, but is stopped by an uppercut and a gut wrench suplex for a two count. Williams controls Lethal with a chin lock for a moment. Lethal fires back with a few strikes, but Williams uppercuts Lethal to regain control. Williams sends Lethal hard into the corner and manages a two count. Williams puts an abdominal stretch on Lethal, but doesn’t get a submission. Lethal fights free with chops, but is stopped by an elbow strike. Williams takes Lethal over with a snap suplex for a two count. Lethal punches Williams a few times, but a drop toe hold by Williams stops the momentum. Williams knee drops Lethal on the lower back. Lethal elbows Williams and backdrops Williams to the apron. Williams leaps off the top, but is met with a dropkick in midair. Lethal chops Williams and tries for a handspring, but Williams counters trying for Rolling Chaos, but Lethal counters with the Lethal Combination. Lethal heads to the top rope, but misses an elbow drop. Lethal avoids a tornado DDT and hits the Lethal Injection for the win. (**. They were sloppy in a few spots, and the finish didn’t seem to be obvious. Lethal’s career has taken a weird turn from feuding with Ric Flair and having a PPV match to working Xplosion and is now back as the X-Division Champion.)
Backstage, Abyss is dragging a body.
Backstage, Kurt Angle talks about Jeff Hardy proving that he’s a great wrestler. Angle has dislocated ribs, but he’s a champion and he’s going to Bound For Glory to regain the title.
Third Contest: TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions Hamada & Taylor Wilde vs. Madison Rayne & Lacey Von Erich: Wilde and Von Erich start off with Wilde getting a few near falls with a rollup. Von Erich rams Wilde into the corner, but Hamada tags in and hits a sunset flip off the top for a two count on Von Erich. Rayne tags into the match and forearms Hamada a few times. Von Erich hits a backhand spring elbow, but misses a second attempt. Hamada nails Von Erich with strike and a scoop slam. Hamada hits a top rope moonsault for a two count. Wilde tags into the match and hits a top rope crossbody for a two count. Rayne grabs Wilde on the apron and tags into the match to stomp Wilde to maintain control of the match. Rayne knee strikes Wilde followed by a clothesline. Von Erich tags back into the match to hit a double suplex on Wilde for a near fall. Hamada comes off the ropes to boot Von Erich and follows up with a headbutt. Wilde decks Rayne off the apron. The champs hit a Samoan Drop/swinging neckbreaker combo for the win. (*. I didn’t care for this.) After the match, Rayne screams at Von Erich. Von Erich shoves Rayne to the mat to standup for herself. Tara nails Von Erich over the back with her biker helmet. Velvet Sky and Angelina Love rundown to the ring to make the save.
Backstage, Tommy Dreamer is walking and says he has a message for Fortune.
Backstage, Jeff Hardy cuts a promo saying that he was onboard for the triple threat match, but that’s not happening. Hardy is here to work and beat Angle so he can wrestle Mr. Anderson at Bound For Glory.
Tommy Dreamer makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Dreamer says that EV 2.0 isn’t here and asks Fortune to come down to the ring and says there’s no tricks. Fortune make their way out to join the segment. Dreamer says he’s a man of his word and asked EV 2.0 to stay home. Dreamer wants to offer a truce and to end the issue so that his friends can stop getting hurt. Dreamer tried to make a difference when he first got into TNA. Dreamer thinks TNA is a special place and says he has personal connection with the group. Dreamer puts them over as the future of the company. Dreamer thinks this is his last chance and says he’s looking for a place to call a home. Dreamer puts over James Storm for his success as a tag team wrestler with AMW and Beer Money Inc. Dreamer thinks that Storm has more skill than Sandman, who is one of Dreamer’s best friends. Dreamer goes to Kazarian and notes that he got Kazarian his first job in WWE, but Kazarian left because he wasn’t happy. Dreamer reminds Kazarian that he wouldn’t have met his wife because of TNA. Dreamer goes to Matt Morgan who was just a bouncer at a nightclub. Dreamer recalls Morgan being humble and everyone thought Morgan could be the next Undertaker or Kane. Dreamer puts over Morgan as making it so that the next big man will be the next Matt Morgan. Dreamer reminds Bobby Roode that his tryout was against him. Dreamer offered Roode a contract with the WWE, but Roode turned it down to stay in TNA. Dreamer knows that Roode’s favorite wrestlers were Rick Rude and Mr. Perfect, and they’d say he has it. Dreamer gets emotional talking to Ric Flair. Dreamer simply tells Flair thank you. Dreamer knows that Flair doesn’t understand hardcore wrestling. Dreamer considers Flair a hardcore wrestler. Dreamer considers Flair the business and says the day Flair decides to not walk down the aisle will be the worst day in the business. Dreamer finishes off with AJ Styles. Dreamer says that Styles did something that nobody has ever made him say before and he did it because Styles is better than Dreamer. Dreamer puts over Styles for elevating everyone he gets in the ring with and says Styles is the best in-ring talent going today. Dreamer would have tried to tear Styles eye out just as Styles almost did to him. Dreamer wants to shake Styles hand because AJ is better than him. Dreamer offers his hand, but Styles gets the microphone. Styles can appreciate what Dreamer has said about them all. Styles says Dreamer is all heart. Styles credits Dreamer for taking a company in Philadelphia and making it a revolution. Styles notes that Dreamer has never asked for respect, but he’s always gotten it. Styles respects Dreamer and will shake his hand. They shake hands. Styles mentions being the only man to make him quit. Styles doesn’t need Dreamer’s endorsement and doesn’t need dreamer leading to Fortune jumping Dreamer. Brian Kendrick slides into the ring and covers Dreamer, but he’s beaten up, too. Security finally comes out to make the save.
Brian Kendrick grabs a microphone to cut a promo. Kendrick wonders if any member of Fortune is brave enough to wrestle him right now. Kendrick says they feed off of fear, but he’s above that. Kendrick believes he’s a descendent God. After a commercial, Matt Morgan accepted./
Fourth Contest: Matt Morgan vs. Brian Kendrick: Morgan clotheslines Kendrick to start the match and follows up with a big boot. Morgan is competing in his dress clothes. Morgan holds Kendrick over the top rope and delivers a kick to the midsection. Morgan continues with a series of elbow strikes in the corner. Morgan splashes Kendrick and hits a fallaway slam. Morgan rolls over for a two count. Morgan tosses Kendrick into the corner and signals for the end. Kendrick nails Morgan with a running boot and pins Morgan for the win. (DUD. This is just bizarre booking. Fortune segment gave them heat and then the biggest guy in the group does a clean job. Unreal.) After the match, Morgan cuts a promo saying he’s not ready because he’s wrestling in a suit. Morgan wants it stricken from the record book. Morgan has a temper tantrum.
Backstage, D’Angelo Dinero meets with Ms. Tessmacher and says he needs to talk to Eric Bischoff, but Bischoff is busy. Dinero hits on Tessmacher and she teases that she’ll squeeze him in.
Backstage, Abyss has someone chained up and another person laid down tied up. Abyss teases to use Janice, but switches to Bob, which is a branding iron and brands the guy laying down. Of course, we don’t see it.
Rob Van Dam calls into the show and says he’s been working out and trying to improve his overall conditioning. RVD admits that Abyss has set him back, but he’s feeling good. RVD promises to be back better than ever. RVD isn’t too happy about being stripped of the TNA World Championship and wanted to take TNA to new levels. RVD says he vacated it because he was forced to take some time off. RVD says he’s going to be in the Impact Zone next week and dares anyone try to stop him.
Generation Me, Max & Jeremy, make their way out to the ring to cut a promo. Jeremy asks if the fans saw what happened to RVD and how he got injured and stripped of the title. Max chimes in and says that what happened to Alex Shelley at No Surrender he doesn’t think Shelley will be around for a very long time. Max says people have realize they are Generation Me and they represent the Me generation. It’s all about them. Max mentions that it took the Motor City Machine Guns five years to win the tag titles. Max says they aren’t here to pay any “dues” because they know what they want. They always get what they want. What they want is for Chris Sabin to come down to the ring and hand the TNA Tag Team Championships over to them.
TNA World Tag Team Champion Chris Sabin makes his way down to the ring and he’s pissed. Sabin goes after Generation Me decking them with several strikes. Sabin is outnumbered and beaten down by Generation Me. Generation Me plant Sabin with a double elevated DDT. Sabin is left laid out to end the segment.
Main Event: Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy in a no time limit number one contenders match: Angle backs Hardy into a corner, but cleanly breaks away. Hardy gains control with a wrist lock and keeps arm control until Angle arm drags free and gains arm control. Hardy reaches the ropes to cause a break. Angle shoulder blocks Hardy and puts a headlock on Hardy. Hardy boots Angle in the corner several times. Hardy slides Angle into the post shoulder first and delivers a baseball slide dropkick to send Angle into the post again. Hardy follows to the floor and delivers a strike before returning to the ring. Hardy drives Angle down with a front suplex for a near fall. Hardy keeps Angle on the mat with a chin lock. Angle elbows Hardy several times and they trade strikes. Angle sidesteps a charging Hardy and Hardy crashes to the floor. Angle dives over the top to take Hardy out with a dive on the floor. Mr. Anderson comes out and heads to the announcers table as the show goes to commercial.
Angle and Hardy collide on a double clothesline in the middle of the ring. Angle clotheslines Hardy a few times. Angle backdrops Hardy coming off the ropes. Angle uppercuts Hardy into the corner, but runs into a boot. Angle tosses Hardy overhead with a belly to belly suplex. Angle tries for the Angle Slam, but Hardy counters with the Twist of Fate for a two count. Hardy heads to the top rope, but Angle runs the ropes and hits a moonsault for a two count. Angle pulls down his straps and puts the ankle lock on Hardy. Hardy nails Angle with a spin kick, but Angle keeps the ankle lock on Hardy. Hardy kicks Angle away and delivers another kick. Hardy climbs to the top rope and shits the Swanton Bomb. Hardy covers, but Angle kicks out at two. Hardy tries for the Whisper In The Wind, but the referee is taken out on accident. Angle hits the Angle Slam. Earl Hebner slides in and makes a two count. Angle hits a second Angle Slam, but Hardy kicks out at two. Angle works over Hardy with strikes in the corner. The match is continuing on TNA Reaction as Impact has run out of time…
Angle hits a snap suplex for a two count and controls Hardy on the mat with a body scissors. Angle stops Hardy with a knee lift to the midsection. Angle controls Hardy with a sleeper on the mat, but doesn’t get a submission. Hardy ducks a clothesline and forearms Angle a few times. Hardy clotheslines Angle in the corner followed by a dropkick. Hardy goes for a cover, but Angle kicks out at two. Hardy clotheslines Angle over the top to the floor. Hardy rams Angle back first into the apron and rams Angle face first onto the apron. Hardy sends Angle ribs first into the railing. Hardy sends Angle into the ring steps, as well. Angle responds with a German suplex in the ring and holds on to hit several more suplexs. Angle tries for a cover, but Hardy kicks out at two. Angle leaps off the top and misses a splash. Hardy misses the Twist of Fate and Angle goes for the ankle lock. Hardy tries to reach the ropes, as the original referee gets to his feet. Angle falls backward with the ankle lock and both men have their shoulders down during the hold. The referees count to three on both men and it leads to a double pin. It’s a draw. (***. This may be the dumbest way to do a double pin draw. It was painfully obvious when Brian Hebner got back into the ring that they were setting something up. It’s a solid main event for Impact, but a horrible finish.)
Eric Bischoff makes his way out and is storming towards the ring. Bischoff goes over to Dixie Carter and they come to an agreement. Bischoff is in the ring and puts over Angle and Hardy for their intensity for the match. Bischoff says that neither man has anything more to prove. Bischoff declares that at Bound For Glory it will be Anderson vs. Angle vs Hardy at Bound For Glory. Dixie is seen in the front row saying “are you serious?” and she walks off. Angle and Hardy shake hands.
Final Thoughts:
It’s almost as if the main event did absolutely nothing. The opening segment should not have had Bischoff wanting to book a three way match for Bound For Glory. As we end up with that anyway, it’s as if we wasted two hours and these guys wrestled for no reason just to do the original idea. Matt Morgan’s booking was rather questionable, as well. There’s a lot of bizarre decisions and it wouldn’t be TNA 2010 if it were any other way.
Thanks for reading.