Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 1/17/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) TNA Tag Team Champion Tomko defeated Eric Young
2.) ODB defeated Angelina Love
3.) Kaz defeated Senshi
4.) Abyss defeated Lance Hoyt
5.) Robert Roode defeated Sonjay Dutt
6.) Christian Cage defeated AJ Styles and Samoa Joe in an elimination match to become the number one contender for the TNA World Championship
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) In the parking lot, Jeremy Borash greets TNA World Champion Kurt Angle, Karen Angle and TNA Tag Team Champion AJ Styles. They are in suits again, and Borash wishes he’d known. Kurt tells Borash he’s not part of their group. Kurt says that every night is a celebration with the Angle Alliance. Eric Young enters the scene to annoy the Angle Alliance. Kurt tells Young that Santa is in the limo, and Young goes into the limo. Kurt hypes up the triple threat tonight where if AJ wins Kurt gets a vacation until Lockdown. Borash reminds Kurt that AJ could go for the gold, but Karen suggests that AJ already made his decision.
2.) TNA X-Division Champion Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns make their way down to the ring to cut a promo. Alex Shelley talks about Team 3D issuing a challenge to them for Against All Odds. Shelley talks about if they lose the X-Division must disband. Shelley says they are good enough for the tag titles and Lethal has already pinned Kurt Angle and is good enough for the TNA World Championship. Shelley notes they can make a weight limit of 275lbs if they win the match. Shelley jokes that Team 3D wouldn’t be able to make weight. Team 3D and Johnny Devine make their way out to cut off Shelley. Brother Ray says he already weights 275lbs and Brother Devon is a little higher because he’s training for Mr. Olympia. Ray says they are in the best shape of their lives. Ray repeats the stipulation for the match at the PPV. Ray enters the ring to confront the Guns and Lethal. Ray wants to shake on it. Devine and Devon are in the ring, as well. They offer their hands for the handshake. They shake hands, but the Guns and Lethal attack from behind. Sabin whacks Ray with a kendo stick over the head. Lethal and Devine brawl up the ramp as security gets involved.
3.) Backstage, Crystal is with Abyss for an interview regarding the secret. Abyss says the secret emerges tonight over his dead body. The revelation will mark the end of Father James Mitchell and Judas Mesias.
4.) There’s an update on Shark Boy, who was sent home. Jeremy Borash was at Shark Boy’s home where Shark Boy is in a coma. The doctor makes various fish puns. Shark Boy’s family is there and they are wearing Shark Boy masks. They are all distraught over Shark Boy’s health.
5.) Eric Young is still in the limo, but Sonjay Dutt is telling Young that the limo isn’t locked. Young opens the door and runs to the ring for the next match.
6.) Young controls Tomko with a headlock, but Tomko counters only for Young to slide free and plays to the crowd. Young wants to shake hands, but Young fakes Tomko out. Tomko plants Young with a tilt a whirl slam and twists Young’s neck. Young breaks free with a Death Valley Driver and misses a springboard moonsault. Tomko decks Young with a lariat and wins the match. (*. I’m pretty sure I can get behind a Tomko push.) After the match, James Storm attacks Young hitting the Eye of the Storm and leaves Young laying. Storm takes the Drinking Championship back. Storm shares a beer with Tomko, but Tomko tosses Storm over the top to the floor. Tomko gives Young the belt and beer before walking off.
7.) Backstage, Christian Cage talks about telling all the time to stand for himself and Tomko is doing that, which is fine. Cage is still mad about AJ Styles. Cage says he’s going to prove he’s still the man and still the champ. Cage knows that Samoa Joe wants more money and insults Karen Angle. Cage is confident that he’s going to get another shot at Kurt Angle at Against All Odds for the TNA World Championship.
8.) Backstage, Crystal brings Dustin Rhodes to the layer of Black Reign. Dustin freaks out being in the room and freaks out. Dustin is crying telling Crystal that he shouldn’t have been brought there. Crystal and the cameraman leave the room quickly.
9.) ODB works over Love with strikes before the bell. ODB stomps on Love and pummels Love on the mat. ODB sends Love into the corner and delivers a strike. Love tries to fight back with a boot. ODB sends Love hard into the corner and hits a clothesline for a near fall. Love tries to fight back, but ODB cuts her off and rams Love into the corner. ODB leaps off the middle rope, but misses a dive and hits the mat chest first. ODB sells her breasts hurting. Love forearms ODB followed by a few chops. Love kicks ODB a few times in the corner, and hits a head scissors. Love drops ODB with a jawbreaker for a two count. Love nails ODB with a running knee strike and another boot to the face. ODB clotheslines Love coming off the ropes and plays to the crowd. ODB catches Love on a crossbody and hits a powerslam for the win. (*. It wasn’t too bad of a match. ODB started the match seemingly working as a heel, but she’s over as a babyface. I can tell commentary enjoys the fact that ODB stands for One Dirty Bitch.)
10.) ODB gets on the microphone and says she’s talking to the TNA Knockout Champion Awesome Kong. She notes that Kong has beaten everyone, but she hasn’t beaten ODB. ODB has a great idea for a match at Against All Odds for the title. ODB loves to fight and sometimes she likes to get whooped, but Kong won’t whoop her.
11.) Backstage, Crystal tries to enter Kevin Nash’s room, but he’s talking to someone. Nash is saying they will have success and money. Then it comes with fame and women. It turns out that Nash was talking to Samoa Joe. Joe gives Nash a fist pound.
12.) Back to the Shark Boy updates. Chris Harris is there and says this is ridiculous. Harris has to hangout with sharks to get TV time. Harris doesn’t find this funny. LAX enter the room to check on Shark Boy. Harris wants to know why he doesn’t have his own locker room and why he has to eat bad catering. Harris asks Borash where his limo is at. Homicide thinks that Shark Boy is dying. Harris says the only thing dying here is his career.
13.) Senshi works over Kaz with right hands for the early advantage. Kaz fights back with a few forearms. Kaz ducks a clothesline and nails Senshi with a clothesline. Kaz misses a few kicks and Senshi hits a somersault kick. Senshi delivers several kicks in the corner. Senshi chokes Kaz in the corner, but Kaz fights back with right hands. Senshi dropkicks Kaz for a two count. Senshi controls Kaz on the mat with a waist lock. Kaz elbows Senshi, but is met with a knee lift to the midsection for a two count. Senshi chops Kaz in the corner several times. Kaz rolls Senshi up out of the corner for a two count. Kaz dropkicks Senshi and delivers a leg sweep. Kaz hits a springboard twisting leg drop for a near fall. Senshi misses a splash in the corner and Kaz hits a pump kick into the corner. Kaz nails Senshi with a dropkick in the corner. Kaz plants Senshi with the Wave Of The Future for the win. After the match, Black Reign nails Kaz with the Darkness Falls weapon. Reign opens the cage and the rat isn’t there. Reign demands to now where the rat is at. Reign smashes Kaz over the head with the cage. Reign pummels Kaz with right hands. (*1/2. Senshi is on the way out similar to Chris Harris, so it’s no surprise he’s doing the job here. The aftermath with Reign and Kaz was fine. I’m not sure where they can go with the Black Reign character realistically.)
14.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Father James Mitchell. Borash asks to know the secret. Mitchell promises this is not a bait and switch. Mitchell is going to reveal a 20 year lie tonight. The secret will change Abyss life forever.
15.) Backstage, AJ Styles meets up with Tomko for advice. Styles says Tomko has been right on more than one occasion. Styles asks if he should take the title shot or give Kurt Angle a break for two months. Tomko tells AJ he’s accomplished a lot with Kurt and says AJ needs to make his own decision. AJ walks off confused on what to do.
16.) Abyss runs into an elbow in the corner. Abyss slams Hoyt followed by a splash in the corner and clotheslines Hoyt over the top to the floor. Abyss press slams Jimmy Rave over the top onto Hoyt. Father James Mitchell comes out and says that time has ran out. Abyss refuses to reveal the secret. Mitchell brings the cameraman with him as Hoyt works over Abyss with chops in the corner. Abyss fights back with chops and decks Rave off the apron. Hoyt drives Abyss down to the mat gut first and heads to the top rope. Hoyt misses a top rope moonsault and Abyss finishes Hoyt off with the Black Hole Slam. (1/2*. Basically a squash for Abyss.) After the match, Mitchell tells Abyss that he’s not going to find him. Mitchell talks about Abyss and his mother. Mitchell recalls Abyss being beaten at home and calls Abyss’s mother a whore. Mitchell doesn’t have compassion for Abyss. Abyss reveals that Abyss watched his mother shoot his father three times in the back. Mitchell says that Abyss can’t escape the fact that he betrayed the man who gave him life. Mitchell also reveals that Abyss last name is Mitchell and says that he’s the father! Mitchell suggests Abyss look in the mirror every time Abyss calls him a name. Abyss is emotional in the ring to end the segment.
17.) Backstage, Crystal tries to meet up with Abyss, but he’s screaming and yelling.
18.) Prior to the next match, Sonjay Dutt tries to get a kiss from So Cal Val, but settles for tapping her butt. So Cal Val seems to be giving positive vibes.
19.) Roode decks Dutt from behind and delivers a shoulder block. Dutt drop toe holds Roode and delivers a dropkick. Dutt runs into a big boot, but dropkicks Roode to the floor. Dutt takes Roode out with a somersault dive to the floor. Dutt rolls Roode into the ring, but Peyton Banks grabs Dutt on the apron allowing Roode to deck Dutt off the apron. Ms. Brooks comes down to ringside as the show goes to commercial.
Dutt runs into a spinebuster leading to a two count for Roode. Roode chops Dutt in the corner, but misses a splash and is kicked by Dutt. Dutt head scissors Roode to the mat. Dutt hits a springboard clothesline and goes to the apron hitting a springboard splash for a near fall. Dutt punches Roode from the apron and tries for a springboard, but Roode grabs the ropes. Roode hits the Payoff and pins Dutt for the win. (*1/2. It shouldn’t be a shock for Roode to prevail since he’s in a major feud with Booker. I’m glad it was a clean victory.) After the match, Ms. Brooks gets in the ring and brawls with Ms. Banks. Brooks slaps Roode and spears Banks! Roode holds Brooks to allow Banks to slap Brooks several times. Matt Morgan ends up sliding into the ring to make the save.
20.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with AJ Styles and Karen Angle. Borash asks Styles what he’s going to do. Karen says that AJ will do the right thing and that’s what Karen wants. Karen says when AJ does she’ll do the right thing for the Prince of Phenomenal.
21.) Backstage, BG James tells Kip James that his partner is on the way. Kip tells BG that he hopes his partner is a better man than him because then they’d both get their asses kick. Kip taps BG on the face.
22.) We go back to Shark Boy recovering when the Beautiful People enter the scene and check on Shark Boy. Angelina Love says that drastic times ask for desperate times. They tease doing mouth to mouth, but Shark Boy’s father jumps on him to get the mouth to mouth.
23.) Kip and BG James are in the ring where Kip confronts BG about the tag partner situation. Kip is pissed about giving BG the tag title briefcase and he’s not BG’s tag partner all of a sudden. Kip admits he’s older, but he’s always been there for BG. BG tells Kip to shut up and give him five minutes. BG says he’s been blessed by God to see some of his dreams come true. BG lists his accomplishments and says he’s had a hero since he was knee level. BG puts over his hero as being the man who made him who he is today. BG introduces his partner, Bob Armstrong as his partner. Bob Armstrong makes his way down to the ring. Kip embraces Bob and raises their arms in the middle of the ring.
24.) Back to the Shark Boy situation for the final time. Eric Young enters the room and tells Shark Boy he’s gotta fight. Young breaks a glass and Shark Boy’s eyes open. Shark Boy wakes up and acts like ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
25.) TNA World Champion Kurt Angle comes down to the ring to cut a promo. Kurt says two great things will happen tonight. First, AJ Styles is going to win the triple threat match tonight and he’ll a two month pass until Lockdown. Kurt promotes Global Impact airing after Impact and watch Kurt defend his other championship against Yuji Nagata.
26.) Backstage, Jim Cornette is talking to Scott Steiner and Petey Williams. Cornette talks about the X-Division and how important it is so that Scott Steiner understands it. Cornette says the division is to prove that they’re the best in the world. Scott ends up taking his briefcase back and storms out of the office.
27.) Cage goes right after Styles with several strikes and stomps in the corner while Joe waits and stomps Styles in the corner, as well. Styles is double teamed and driven down with a double backdrop. Styles bails to the floor to regroup. Cage kicks Joe, but Joe comes off the ropes to nail Cage with a knee strike. Cage punches Joe into the corner. Styles pulls Cage to the floor and delivers a forearm strike. Joe misses a dive to the floor, but kicks Styles on an attempted dive of his own. Cage dives off the top to take Styles out with a crossbody. Joe hits a suicide dive to the floor to take both Cage and Styles out on the floor as the show goes to commercial.
Joe chops Styles in the corner to maintain control of the bout. Joe atomic drops Styles and delivers a big boot. Cage decks Joe from behind. Joe slams Cage onto Styles and nails both men with a kick to the chest. Joe knee drops Styles and collides with Cage on a clothesline. Joe nails Cage with a snap powerslam for a two count. Joe slaps Cage a few times, but Cage dumps Joe to the floor. Styles hits a springboard forearm onto Cage. Styles tries for the Styles Clash, but Cage reverses and locks in a Cloverleaf in the middle of the ring. Joe kicks Cage from the apron after Cage let go of the hold. Joe kicks Cage in the corner and sits Cage on the top turnbuckle. Joe tries for the Muscle Buster, but Cage breaks free. Cage avoids a choke and is sent into Styles on the apron. Joe tries for a slam on Cage, but the referee is knocked down. Cage tries for the Un-Prettier, but Joe counters with a choke. Styles has a chair, but misses both men. Styles whacks Cage over the head with a chair shot. Joe kicks the chair into Styles face. Joe tosses the chair to the floor and the referee disqualifies Joe. Matt Morgan comes out and tells Joe he’s gotta go backstage. Kevin Nash comes out and acts as a peace keeper as the show goes to commercial.
Cage chops Styles several times, but runs into a boot. Styles tries for a springboard reverse DDT and eventually drops Cage to the mat. Styles covers, but Cage kicks out at two. Styles mounts Cage with right hands. Cage chops Styles a few times, but Styles delivers a spinebuster for a two count. Styles slaps Cage on the face several times. Cage boots a charging Styles in the corner and avoids a splash. Cage nails Styles with a clothesline. Cage climbs to the top rope missing a frog splash attempt. Styles kicks Cage and tries for the Styles Clash, but Cage reverses with a reverse DDT for a near fall. Cage continues with chops in the corner and chokes Styles. Cage counters a hurricanrana with a sit down powerbomb for a two count. Styles nails Cage with the Pele kick. Styles goes to the top rope, but Cage avoids the move and hits a spear for a two count. Styles throat thrusts Cage and sends Cage to the apron. Styles backdrops Cage off the top rope and misses the Spiral Tap. Cage covers, but Styles kicks out at two. Cage leaps off the top looking for a splash, but Styles gets his knees up. Styles tries for the Un-Prettier, but Cage reverses into his own Un-Prettier and pins Styles to win the match. (***1/4. Joe’s elimination was dumb, but I guess they’ve got to protect him instead of having several loses in the span of a few weeks. Cage/Styles worked well in their segment and having Cage win clean was a great call. I didn’t think Kurt would get a couple months off from defending the title.)
Final Thoughts:
Father James Mitchell being Abyss father isn’t the secret since that’s been noted before, but I suppose Abyss allowing him to get shot three times is the big deal. It felt like a lackluster surprise to me. The Shark Boy segments weren’t that great, but I never knew how the Stone Cold impression started and now I do. It’s a decent episode that featured a lot of stuff going on. I’m not sure how much of it is good and how much of it is bad yet, though.
Thanks for reading.