Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 12/27/2007
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Judas Mesias defeated Senshi
2.) Robert Roode fought Booker T to a no contest
3.) Motor City Machine Guns defeated TNA Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Tomko in a non-title match
4.) Gail Kim, Angelina Love & Velvet Sky defeated ODB, Jackie Moore & Roxxi Laveaux
5.) Elix Skipper defeated Samoa Joe by disqualification
6.) Booker T & Christian Cage defeated TNA World Champion Kurt Angle & Robert Roode
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video package promoting AJ Styles dilemma over who he will align with is aired to start the show.
2.) Backstage, TNA Tag Team Champion AJ Styles tells Crystal that he is on both teams and Karen told him he could be on both teams. Tomko chimes in and says Styles needs to make a decision. Tomko doesn’t forget they are tag champions and tells AJ he’s already made his decision and walks off.
3.) Mesias attacks Senshi from behind and delivers several stomps. Mesias chops Senshi in the corner several times. Mesias yanks Senshi down to the mat and then slams Senshi to the mat. Mesias stomps Senshi several more times on the mat. Senshi dropkicks Mesias and hits a springboard kick to knock Mesias to the canvas. Senshi delivers a few kicks to the chest, but an eye rake stops Senshi. Senshi drops Mesias to the mat, but Mesias comes back with a clothesline. Mesias hits the Black Out and wins the match. (NR. Honestly, it’s kind of hilarious to see Senshi to a job and do so in such a convincing fashion since the narrative has always been that Senshi tends to refuse to do jobs. He must be on his way out soon to justify this booking.)
4.) Backstage, Karen Angle walks into Kurt’s locker room and we see Jeremy Borash in a compromising position as it looks like Borash is giving Kurt a handjob, but he’s assisting Kurt with his shirts. Borash was just getting the wrinkles out of Kurt’s shirts. Borash asks about Kurt’s decision. Kurt tells Borash that the Angle Alliance was born at Genesis when Styles and Tomko joined him. Kurt asks Karen what he should wear, but Karen has a bit of an attitude. Karen is jealous about Sharmell getting attention and she doesn’t want to play second fiddle. Karen tells Kurt that Sharmell will find out there is only room for one queen at Final Resolution and she walks off.
5.) Backstage, Christian Cage is walking to the ring as the show goes to commercial.
6.) Christian Cage makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Cage hates indecision and that’s somebody who can’t make a decision and stick to the decision. Cage says there are three ways to obtain greatness. Some achieve greatness, some have it tossed on them and a select few are born great. Cage says he is one of the select few. Cage has embraced his greatness and he’s the biggest star in the company. Cage is the instant classic. He’s a two-time TNA World Champion. He stands in front of us as simply the champ. Cage says it is time for Styles and Tomko to make a decision. Cage says it’s not big enough for both Angle and Cage. Cage calls them out to the ring so that he can find out where their loyalties are.
AJ Styles makes his way down to the ring with a microphone in hand. Cage says that Styles forgot Tomko. Styles doesn’t know where Tomko is at. Cage says that he’s the boss and that he’s somebody that Styles looks up to and respect. AJ says he would take a bullet for Cage. Cage doesn’t know how many times he has to have the same talk with Styles. Cage takes credit for everything Styles has in this business. Cage tells Styles all the TV time and PPV appearance is because of him. Cage takes credit for the check he gets every week. Christian takes credit for the tag championships. Cage takes credit for AJ’s success in TNA before he even got there! Cage tells Styles that Kurt Angle is using him.
TNA World Champion Kurt Angle makes his way out to confront Cage. Angle can’t believe what Cage is saying. Angle says he won a gold medal on his own. Angle is the smartest man in TNA and doesn’t need AJ for his brains. Angle says that Cage is the only man who has been using Styles. Angle says that AJ is leaving with him. Cage says AJ is staying with him and they tug on AJ. They end up colliding and Cage accidentally hits Styles with the TNA World Championship. Angle tackles Cage and they continue to brawl. Tomko pulls Angle off and stands between the two men. Cage tells Tomko thanks for showing up right on time. Cage tells Tomko that he wants a decision from both of them by the end of the night.
7.) Backstage, Booker T and Sharmell are walking to the ring.
8.) Backstage, Crystal is with Robert Roode. Roode tells Crystal to shut up and not ruin his night. Roode believes his finally a main event act by wrestling Booker T. Roode had to embarrass Booker’s beast of a wife, Sharmell. Roode says the era of has beens will end tonight. Traci enters the scene and asks what Roode is trying to prove tonight. Roode tells Traci that she works for him and he’s sick of this. Roode tells Traci she will always do what he says. Roode tells Traci the only reason she exists here is to take orders from Roode. Roode tells Brooks to never disrespect him again and walks off.
9.) Karen Angle runs down to ringside and attacks Sharmell at ringside choking Sharmell. Booker grabs Sharmell, but Kurt Angle comes down and attacks Booker with Roode in the ring. Kurt pummels Booker with right hands. Booker avoids a double clothesline by bailing to the floor and grabs a steel chair. Booker grabs a microphone and says he knew Roode couldn’t do this man to man. Booker issues a tag challenge and he’s going to find someone for later.
10.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with AJ Styles. Styles is icing his head as Borash promotes the decision Styles needs to make. Styles doesn’t know what Borash is talking about. Styles can’t believe Cage would tell him that and asks Borash what he should do. Borash says he’d go ask people he trusts. Styles trusts Borash and Borash says AJ has to go with the Angle’s. Borash thinks AJ should avoid being on the B-team that Christian has. After all, Kurt is the TNA World Champion and Karen is the hottest woman in the company. AJ insists that they are all one team.
11.) Styles and Shelley kickoff the tag match. Shelley counters a wrist lock, but Styles counters with a takedown. Shelley arm drags Styles and delivers a scoop slam. Shelley goes to the apron to hit a slingshot elbow. Guns hit a drop toe hold/elbow drop combo and a baseball slide dropkick. Styles tries for a head scissors, but Shelley drives Styles down to the mat. Sabin hits a bulldog and Shelley manages a two count on the cover. Tomko hits a fallaway slam on Shelley as the show goes to commercial.
Eric Young is talking to Styles at ringside. Sabin arm drags Styles and jabs Tomko. Sabin trips Tomkp and nails Styles with a springboard clothesline. Tomko is met with a double kick in the corner. Sabin plants Styles with a spinning powerbomb. Tomko decks Sabin, but Shelley dumps Tomko to the floor. Styles eye rakes Sabin and forearms Shelley on the back. Sabin forearms Styles followed by a tornado DDT. Shelley hits a top rope frog splash, but Sabin only gets a two count. Shelley takes Tomko out with a suicide dive. Styles hits the Pele kick on Sabin. Styles gets distracted by Eric Young. The Guns manage to roll Styles up and get a three count. (*1/2. They kept a fast pace and the action was fine for what it was. However, the point of this was to drive home how distracted Styles is by the decision he needs to make.)
12.) Backstage, Team 3D and Johnny Devine are confronting Jim Cornette and Matt Morgan. Brother Ray says they are not competing in an Ultimate X match at Final Resolution. Ray says they are too big and muscular to compete in such a match. Cornette says that Team 3D have been attacking the X-Division for several weeks now. Cornette confirms the Ultimate X match is booked. Morgan steps in to protect Cornette when Devon grabs Cornette. Cornette says they can leave on their own free will or they can call somebody. Brother Ray says they will leave on their own. Cornette tells Morgan to take a walk for thirty minutes.
13.) TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky are walking towards the ring.
14.) Kim and Moore kickoff the six woman tag with Moore hammering away on Kim. Kim arm drags Moore. ODB enters and is taken down to the mat by Kim. Sky hits an axe handle off the middle rope on ODB. Sky kicks ODB over the back followed by a seated dropkick for a two count. Sky hits a head scissors takedown and ducks a clothesline by ODB. ODB catches Sky, but Love dropkicks Sky onto ODB followed by a double elbow drop for a two count. Love forearms ODB, but Roxxi yanks Love down to the mat. Love is triple teamed in the corner as the referee is distracted. Moore slams Love and connects with several crossface strikes. Roxxi tosses Love overhead with a suplex for a two count. Roxxi splashes Love in the corner and tries for a slam, but Love breaks free and pump kicks Roxxi to the mat. Love drops Roxxi with a kick and tags in Kim. Kim cleans house with clotheslines. Kim hits a head scissors/arm drag combo. Kim plants Moore with a neckbreaker for a two count as ODB makes the save. Sky knocks ODB to the floor and brawls with ODB. Love leaps off the top to hit a crossbody on the floor. Roxxi drives Kim down with a sit out slam for a two count. Roxxi tries for a piledriver, but Kim counters to hit the Kryptonite Krunch to win the match. (*. Kim is clearly on a whole other level than any of the women in this match.)
15.) Backstage, Jim Cornette says that Matt Morgan’s booking decisions got him a phone call from corporate. Cornette lists all the matches and Samoa Joe went home. Cornette is not happy with Morgan’s decisions. Jim tells Morgan if he’s gone than Morgan’s gone. Morgan signed for a letter that Cornette got. Cornette got a check thanks to the ratings and success. Cornette changes his attitude and seems more receptive. Samoa Joe enters the office and Cornette tells Joe he’s got to stop badmouthing the company. Joe tells Cornette he’s not wrestling tonight. Cornette tells Joe he can either wrestle or he can go home because he’d be fired. Joe agrees that the choice is his and walks off.
16.) Mike Tenay had a sit down interview with Abyss earlier in the day. Tenay hopes Abyss can shed some light on some questions. Tenay notes that Father James Mitchell wants us to call him Chris. Abyss says that Abyss is Chris Parks. Abyss says he’s known Mitchell for too long. Abyss tells Tenay that his mother raised him and he insists on that. Tenay asks about the secret that only Abyss and Mitchell know about. Abyss says the secret lives and dies with him. Abyss tells Tenay that he will never tell. Abyss gets up and removes the microphone before walking off.
17.) Joe is in street clothes while beating on Skipper. Joe chops Skipper a few times to control the match. Joe jabs Skipper to the mat, but Skipper delivers a kick. Joe stops Skipper with a powerslam. Joe pummels Skipper with jabs in the corner and shoves the referee. Skipper forearms Joe and walks the ropes, but Joe crotches Skipper. Joe drives Skipper down with the Muscle Buster, but pulls Skipper up at two. Joe puts Skipper in the tree of woe and stomps Skipper. Joe shoves the referee away a couple of times. The referee ends up calling for the bell and Joe ends up being disqualified. Joe doesn’t seem to care and proceeds to choke Skipper out. Skipper is bleeding from the mouth. Security enters the ring to stop the attack. Joe grabs a microphone and blames Cornette for his actions. Joe will take everyone out until he gets what he wants. Joe goes to rant, but his microphone is turned off.
18.) Backstage, Jackie Moore is checking on James Storm. AJ Styles is at a table with Eric Young and Borash drinking beer. Young talks about the decisions he makes throughout the day. Young rambles about his breakfast, lunch and dessert options. Young says options are with phones too. Young eventually realizes that Styles left.
19.) Backstage, Scott Steiner and Petey Williams are interviewed. Steiner is reminded about his decision to switch briefcases and now he’s got an X-Division title shot. Steiner is mad that Petey would lie to him. Steiner demands that Petey give him his title shot back. Petey tells Steiner that he guarantees he will be the next TNA World Champion. Scott promises to get his title shot back.
20.) Dustin Rhodes makes his way down to the ring with security. Rhodes brings up Kaz and apologizes for being out there taking up time on the show. Dustin says that Kaz attacked him backstage for no reason. Rhodes says he doesn’t even know Kaz and doesn’t know why Kaz would attack him. Dustin wants Kaz to come out and tell him why he did what he did. Kaz makes his way out to the ring to confront Rhodes. Kaz tells Dustin that he hates rats and says he attacked Dustin because a rat was put on his face. Dustin doesn’t know what Kaz is talking about as he only sees rats in the back all over Kaz. Dustin tells Kaz he’s getting one more chance to apologize. Dustin ends up slapping Kaz and Kaz tackles Dustin followed by right hands. Kaz nails Rhodes with a running boot to send Rhodes to the floor. Kaz tosses Rhodes into the crowd. Rhodes slams Kaz face first onto the steps in the crowd. Kaz dives over the railing in the bleachers to take Rhodes out with a dive.
21.) Backstage, Kevin Nash is talking to AJ Styles, who is laying on the couch. Styles says he’s in a pickle right now and he’s torn between Christian and Kurt. Styles needs some advice from Nash. Styles apologizes for Turning Point. Nash says Styles is in a great spot because they both need him. Nash recalls being in a same spot with the NWO when there was Wolfpac and Black and White. Nash went with Wolfpac because it was stronger and he made the most money then. Nash tells Styles there’s nobody he can trust other than himself. Nash says AJ needs to think about who would screw him over.
22.) Booker T says he told them he was going to find a partner. Booker says it doesn’t matter if they like each other, but they do dislike them both. Booker introduces his partner, Christian Cage. Didn’t Booker refuse to be Cage’s partner just a few weeks ago?
23.) Cage and Booker get the advantage with right hands until Angle and Roode go to the floor to regroup. Cage and Booker stare at each other, but appear to be on the same page. Booker starts the match with Angle. Angle backs Booker into a corner and tries to punch Booker, but Booker nails Angle with a flurry of strikes. Angle kicks Booker to avoid a backdrop. Angle punches Booker against the ropes. Booker elbows Angle to the mat. Cage tags into the match, but Angle escapes to his corner and tags in Roode. Cage works over Roode in the corner with chops and strikes. Cage chokes Roode in the corner. Cage decks Angle a few times, but Roode nails Cage with a clothesline from behind. Roode mounts Cage with right hands. Angle kicks Cage in the ribs and drops Cage to the mat. AJ Styles walks to ringside with a chair as the show goes to commercial.
Angle hits a German suplex on Cage and punches Booker off the apron. Angle puts an ankle lock on Cage, but Cage breaks free. Cage kicks Roode away and tags in Booker. Booker cleans house with clotheslines. Booker nails Roode with a spin kick. Booker drops Angle with a spin kick and plays to the crowd. Booker does the spinarooni and plants Roode with the Book End, but Angle makes the save on the cover. Cage tags in and tries to hit the Un-Prettier on Angle. Angle breaks free, but Cage avoids the Angle Slam and they collide on a double clothesline. Styles tosses a chair down on the floor and walks off. Cage avoids Angle and connects with right hands in the corner. Roode stops Cage with a low blow from behind. Roode tries for a spike piledriver, but Booker punches Angle off the ropes. Booker scissor kicks Roode over the top rope from the apron. Cage plants Roode with the Un-Prettier to win the match. (**. A mostly basic tag match that felt like something you’d see at a live event. AJ not making a decision is a little bit annoying.)
24.) Christian Cage gets on the microphone and demands a decision from Styles. Angle says that he’s AJ’s boss and tells Styles to come out right now. AJ’s music hits and AJ doesn’t look thrilled coming out to the ring. Cage demands to know right now that Styles is coming with Cage. Angle demands AJ to say he’s with the Angle Alliance. Angle and Cage argue as the show ends.
Final Thoughts:
I’m not really liking that AJ Styles is being treated like a kid by Cage and Angle. If Cage is a face, I’m thinking AJ ends up with Cage. Action wise there wasn’t much going on this week. They were focused on storylines and that’s fine with me. Samoa Joe being on a war path fits him well and it’s believable. This is probably a skippable week, though.
Thanks for reading.