Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 2/14/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Brother Devon defeated Shark Boy & Curry Man in a handicap match
2.) Scott Steiner defeated Petey Williams
3.) TNA Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Tomko defeated Samoa Joe & Kevin Nash in a non-title match
4.) Rellik defeated Eric Young
5.) Homicide defeated Chris Sabin & Jimmy Rave
6.) TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong defeated ODB in a street fight
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video package highlighting what happened at Against All Odds, is shown. Of note, Lethal retained the X-Title, as did Styles & Tomko. Abyss won the barbed wire match. Robert Roode bailed from his match with Booker T. Scott Steiner won both cases. TNA World Champion Kurt Angle retained the title thanks to Tomko turning on Christian Cage and helping Angle retain the title.
2.) Moments ago, Karen Angle arrived to the arena with Jeremy Borash. Karen tells Borash that Kurt has never done anything romantic for her. Eric Young runs over and tells Borash he’s wrestling a monster named Rellik, which is killer spelled backwards. Karen’s daughter tells Eric that there’s no thing called monsters. Karen tells Eric to figure it out for himself and she walks off with her daughter.
3.) Jim Cornette is standing in the ring to once again sign Samoa Joe to a contract extension. Cornette believes nothing wrong will happen tonight to allow Joe to sign the contract. Cornette brings out Samoa Joe to join him in the ring. Joe enters the ring and looks over the contract. Cornette offers to allow Joe to use his back to sign the contract. Joe is about to sign, but Christian Cage cuts into the segment to prevent Joe from signing, again. Cage tells Cornette to hang on a second because he has something to discuss with Joe. Cage reminds us that Joe was the special enforcer for his match at Against All Odds last Sunday. Cage says that Joe was suppose to secure a fair fight and took care of AJ Styles, but Joe left the backdoor open to allow Tomko to come in and make the biggest mistake of his life by costing him the TNA World Championship. Cage takes blame for getting screwed by someone he trusted. Cage isn’t saying that Joe did anything intentional and is asking for help to make it right. Cage asks Joe to be his partner tonight against TNA World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Tomko. Cage wants Joe help to take them out. Joe tells Cage that Cornette told him that the next opportunity at a title shot is for Joe. Joe thinks he may have not done the best job at the PPV, but he’s been dealing with a lot of stuff lately. Joe notes it’s been a while since he’s wrestled at the Impact Zone and agrees to team with Cage tonight. Joe shakes Cage’s hand and goes to leave, but Cornette stops Joe to sign the contract. Joe is offended that Cornette thinks TNA business is more important than his own business. Joe tells Cornette he’s going to take care of his personal business and when he’s done with that maybe he’ll sign the contract.
4.) Backstage, Tomko is interviewed and talks about Christian Cage being on his back for five years. Tomko didn’t need Cage to make him a star. Tomko says that he and Cage are over. Tomko says he’s going to have a chat with Kurt Angle later.
5.) Backstage, AJ Styles is sitting on the couch and doesn’t care about a tag challenge by Cage and Joe. Styles didn’t agree to the tag match and it’s not going to happen. Styles flips out hearing Cornette agreed to the match. Styles is upset about Karen renewing vows with Kurt. Kurt pokes his head in and asks if Styles has an issue with their vows. Styles is pissed that Kurt is marrying his woman and doesn’t care about being the best man.
6.) Earl Hebner says that Team 3D can’t compete against Shark Boy and Curry Man unless they are under 275lbs each since they lost at Against All Odds. Devon weighs first and he’s under the weight. Brother Ray weighs in and he’s over the weight. Hebner tells Ray he can’t compete. Ray tries to take his clothing and wrist tape off, but it doesn’t help his efforts. Hebner tells Ray that he’s far too over and he can’t compete. Thus, Brother Devon will wrestle in a handicap match.
7.) Shark Boy goes after Devon with strikes and stomps in the corner and taunts the crowd. Boy elbows Devon on the apron and hits a Thez Press to pummel Devon with strikes on the mat. Boy misses a forearm on the ropes and Devon delivers a spinebuster. Devon pummels Boy with strikes in the corner to maintain the advantage. Devon chokes Boy with his knee as Ray watches from the floor. Devon shoulder blocks Boy coming off the ropes and taunts the crowd. Devon headbutts Boy to the mat and tosses Boy to the floor. Ray rolls Boy into the ring and Devon gets a two count. Devon slams Boy to the mat and goes to the middle rope missing a diving headbutt. Curry Man gets the hot tag and slams Devon and dances on Devon’s chest. Curry delivers a jawbreaker and crotches Devon over the middle rope and hits a splash in the corner. Devine gets flipped into the ring and Boy hits a stunner on Devine. Ray whacks Curry with the scale and Devon pins Curry for the win. (*. I was figuring that Curry Man and Shark Boy would prevail here because of the handicap situation, but Team 3D doing their heel work with Devine and Devon going over should have been obvious to me. I didn’t realize that Team 3D would have a weight limit against X-Division guys was part of the stipulation.)
8.) Backstage, Booker T is interviewed in the parking lot. Booker doesn’t care about the show and is worried about whether or not Robert Roode is going to show up to the show. Booker wants to snap Roode’s neck.
9.) Backstage, Rellik cuts a promo about sucking out Eric Young’s brain through his skull. He’s going to eat Young’s heart and poke his eyes out and drink it out of a martini.
10.) Scott Steiner was originally scheduled to wrestle Abyss. Abyss made a full entrance, but got to the ring and turnaround to head backstage and not compete seemingly not ready to compete after the barbed wire match. Abyss takes off his mask and leaves it on the ramp before walking off. The fans boo that decision as the show went to commercial,
11.) Scott Steiner cuts a promo saying he didn’t come here to look good, but rather to kick some ass. Steiner can demand an X-Division title shot or a World Championship match. Steiner says they are going to do things his way moving forward. Steiner introduces his favorite freak Rahka Khan. Steiner reminds us that nobody touches his freak and calls out someone to get their ass kicked. That ends up bringing out Petey Williams for a rematch from Against All Odds. Petey tells Steiner that he’s screwed him for the last time. Petey says he’s the definition of definition.
12.) Petey hits a slingshot codebreaker and pummels Steiner on the mat to start the bout. Petey dropkicks Steiner on the knee followed by a cutter. Petey goes to the top rope hitting a crossbody for a one count. Petey punches Steiner several times in the corner, but Steiner powerbombs Williams out of the corner. Steiner stomps Williams on the mat and hits a belly to belly suplex. Steiner chops Petey in the corner to maintain the advantage. Steiner clotheslines Petey and delivers an elbow drop. Steiner does a few pushups before hitting an overhead suplex. Steiner sits Williams on the top turnbuckle, but is shoved off by Williams. Williams kicks Steiner and hits a tornado DDT. Steiner misses a charging attack in the corner and tosses Williams away. Williams hits a hurricanrana for a two count as Steiner reaches the ropes. Williams gets an inside cradle, but Williams kicks out at two. Williams drop toe holds Steiner over the middle rope and delivers a dropkick to Steiner’s back. Williams kicks Steiner and tries for the Destroyer, but Steiner counters with a backdrop. Williams kicks Steiner and delivers a jawbreaker followed by a spinning heel kick. Williams heads to the top rope, but Khan crotches Williams as the referee is distracted by Steiner. Steiner slaps Williams on the top turnbuckle. Steiner hits a middle rope Samoan Drop for the win in the middle of the ring. (*1/2. So, Steiner is basically doing the character work he did in WCW with Khan being his freak instead of Midajah, right? It’s almost as if there’s not original thought for the veterans.) After the match, Steiner pulls Williams up and pats Williams on the back before walking off to show respect to Williams.
13.) Backstage, Kurt Angle is thanking Tomko for his help at Against All Odds. Tomko says he doesn’t regret what he did. Tomko sees the strength in numbers and can join the Angle Alliance if Kurt keeps his ego in check. Tomko tells Angle that he will not be his bitch. Tomko will do whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it. Kurt agrees to Tomko’s demands. Tomko isn’t going to Kurt’s wedding tonight, and Kurt is fine with that as he’s sure Tomko will send a gift in the mail.
14.) Backstage, Christian Cage has been laid out.
15.) Backstage, Karen Angle is excited to renew her vows with Kurt tonight. Eric Young enters the room and is freaking out about what Rellik said he’s going to do to him tonight. Karen is pissed about Young entering the room. Karen threatens Young that she’ll do a lot worse than Rellik.
16.) Samoa Joe cuts a promo saying he doesn’t know what happened to Christian, but he’s sure the tag champs did something. Joe brings out his partner, Kevin Nash.
17.) Styles and Tomko run to the aisle and all four men brawl on the floor. Joe chops Styles in the ring and delivers a running knee strike in the corner. Joe boot scrapes Styles a few times in the corner and delivers a running knee strike. Joe decks Tomko off the apron and delivers a headbutt and chop. Joe tries for a powerbomb, but settles for an elbow strike and a series of strikes on the mat. Joe comes off the ropes to deliver a knee drop for a two count. Tomko decks Joe with a strike to the back. Joe and Nash punch Tomko before dumping Tomko to the floor. Nash sends Styles into Joe and Styles is sent to the floor with a backdrop as the show goes to commercial.
Tomko blocks a suicide dive attempt by hitting Joe with a forearm smash. Tomko backs Joe into a corner and delivers a few chops. Joe jabs Tomko a few times, but is met with a back elbow strike. Tomko tries for a cover managing a two count. Styles tags into the match and stomps on Joe a few times. Styles rams Joe into the corner and Tomko tags into the match. Styles leaps off the top to hit a flying forearm smash and gets a two count. Tomko sends Joe into the corner and Styles hits a splash. Joe forearms Styles and nails Tomko with a kick. Joe tags in Nash, but the referee was distracted by Styles and didn’t see the tag. Nash moves the referee and goes after Tomko and Styles with strikes. Nash nails Tomko with a big boot. Styles shoulder rams Nash from the apron, but is caught and crotched on a springboard attempt. Nash decks Styles with a strike and chokes Styles. Kurt Angle comes out and punches Joe leading to Tomko hitting a modified Angle Slam and pins Joe. (**. I was not expecting Joe to take the pin here, at all. Nash is wearing street clothes and still isn’t the guy taking the pin. It’s clear that the long game is Kurt vs. Joe for the title, so this makes sense to build towards that. I’m surprised that Joe got pinned, though. Tomko seems destined for a major push.)
18.) Backstage, Samoa Joe says he witnessed a declaration of war and he’ll go to war with an unlikely alliance. Joe knows he needs to destroy the Angle Alliance to get a fair shot at Kurt. Joe wants Angle Alliance at Destination X. Joe issues a challenge for Destination X where Joe will team with Nash and Christian Cage against the Angle Alliance. Joe promises that the night isn’t over.
19.) Rellik backs Young into a corner, and Young is terrified. Young delivers a boot to the midsection, but Rellik doesn’t budge. Rellik nails Young with a big boot. Young fires back with a few strikes to stagger Rellik. Young elbows Rellik followed by a discus strike. Rellik grabs his mask and scares Young, again. Rellik decks Young with a clothesline and wins the match. (NR. I want to like Rellik, but I’m not sure if this character is going to last long in TNA.)
20.) Backstage, Hermie Sadler interviews Motor City Machine Guns, LAX and there’s two other NASCAR drivers. Sadler interviews the racers who are here to cheer on the wrestlers. Sadler asks Sabin about the similar aspects in the sports. Sabin says speed wins matches. Shelley wants LAX to quiet down and show green cards, but then says both sports have injury risks. Homicide cuts a promo, but is seemingly cutoff.
21.) Backstage, Booker T is waiting for Robert Roode to arrive.
22.) Christy Hemme does her annoying singing prior to the triple threat match. Jimmy Rave still doesn’t know where they are at and Hoyt does whatever he does.
23.) Sabin and Homicide double team Rave to start the match with strikes. Homicide hip tosses Sabin, but Sabin comes back with an arm drag. Homicide dumps Sabin to the apron, but Rave slams Sabin on the apron. Homicide nails Rave with a somersault suicide dive to the floor. Homicide tries for a double under hook, but Sabin breaks free. Rave nails Sabin with a kick to the face. Homicide tosses Rave overhead with a suplex and punches Sabin several times. Sabin counters a cutter with a backslide on Homicide for a two count. Sabin clotheslines Homicide, but springboards into a cutter from Homicide. Homicide nails Rave with a dragon screw leg whip. Rave recovers to hit a swinging neckbreaker on Homicide. Hoyt gets on the apron with a chair, but Hernandez breaks it up. Hermie Sadler comes down to protect his NASCAR friend. Montoya hits Hoyt with the chair anyway. Homicide pins Rave with a rollup. (*. I really wish they’d keep the NASCAR guys out of TNA, but I get the cross promotion attempt. The chair shot was weak, but I’m sure Montoya didn’t want to actually hurt Hoyt.)
24.) Rhino comes out and cuts a promo. Rhino has a lot to say to one person and that’s James Storm. Rhino isn’t going to whine and cry about how Storm reintroduced alcohol into his life. Rhino says he allowed Storm to do that to him. Rhino declares that he screwed up and hurt everyone in his life. Rhino asks if Storm is a man. Rhino asks if Storm has balls. Rhino is happy to back and he’s here to kick ass. Rhino challenges Storm to a match at Destination X. Rhino wants to do it in the most dangerous match in pro wrestling. Rhino challenges Storm to an Elevation X match (scaffold). Rhino promises that Storm will not land on his feet. Rhino will rip into Storm with the GORE.
25.) Backstage, ODB is interviewed about wrestling Awesome Kong in a street fight. ODB says losing at the PPV isn’t a big deal. ODB has lost before and will lose again. ODB thinks that if they wrestled five times she’d win three times. Gail Kim enters the scene and tells ODB that she has her back tonight.
26.) ODB goes after Kong on the aisle with right hands, but is tossed down the aisle. Kong slams ODB onto the floor. Kong chops ODB on the floor and rams ODB into the apron. Kong has a chair and misses a chair shot hitting the post instead. ODB forearms Kong a few times against the railing. ODB misses a running splash and goes over the railing into the crowd. Kong rams ODB into the wall as the show goes to commercial. Kong rolls ODB into the ring as we see that Kong splashes ODB against the wall, which ODB did the same thing. ODB is tripped by Saed on the floor. ODB grabs Saed, but Kong gains control with chops against the ropes. Gail Kim comes out to ringside to confront Saed. Kong decks Kim from behind and sends Kim into the guard railing chest first. ODB punches Kong several times, but Kong sends ODB into the corner. ODB boots Kong in the corner and ducks a clothesline. Kong nails ODB with a clothesline. Kong gets distracted by Kim on the apron. Kim forearms Kong and Kong is punched by both Kim and ODB. Kim holds Kong on the apron, but ODB accidentally hits Kim. Kong manages to hit the Implant Buster for the win. (*1/2. I mean there’s not much to the street fight aspect of the match. I’m sure this is going to mean that Kim and ODB will have a match at some point for the number one contender spot. ODB could be a solid number two female babyface behind Kim.) After the match, Kim and ODB shove each other. Angelina Love and Velvet Sky come down to the ring and keep the women apart.
27.) Backstage, Payton Banks runs over to Booker T and apologizes for what happened at the PPV. She tells Booker that Robert Roode isn’t going to be there this week. Booker tells Banks to tell Roode if he doesn’t come next week then he’s going to Manhattan and he’s not going to be responsible for what happens to him. Jim Cornette runs over and understands where Booker is coming from. Cornette mentions that Booker will wrestle Roode at Destination X. Cornette is upset that Booker is scaring talent from showing up to TV tapings. Cornette books Booker in the main event next week against TNA World Champion, Kurt Angle!
28.) It’s time for the vow renewal for Kurt and Karen Angle. Kurt and AJ Styles make their way down to the ring as AJ is Kurt’s best man. Karen Angle and Jeremy Borash come out with Borash serving as the maid of honor. AJ is not thrilled to be serving as the best man since he’s in love with Karen. Kurt makes sure that it’s mentioned that he’s an Olympic gold medalist several times. Styles was about to raise his hand, but Borash tells him not to. Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash come out to object to the ceremony. Joe says they were going to wait in the parking lot to beat them up, but they couldn’t wait. Joe calls Karen a dime store gold digging skank. Joe and Nash make their way down to the ring and Joe punches Styles into Karen! Joe and Nash double team Kurt on the floor. Kurt is stripped of his clothing and beaten up the aisle. The minister got knocked around, too. Kurt is sent into the stage face first. Styles and Karen stand at the alter and they are announced husband and wife. Styles plants a kiss on Karen and Kurt can’t believe it on the aisle! Kurt can’t believe it! Styles is married to Karen!
Final Thoughts:
An average episode of Impact this week. The final segment with Styles and Karen getting ‘married’ is a bit corny, but I guess it gives some depth to the potential feud between Kurt and AJ that is bound to happen at some point. They are dragging out the Samoa Joe contract signing angle, which doesn’t bother me, but it has to conclude with Joe getting the next shot at Kurt. Booker/Roode feud continues to be the best feud on TV, at the moment. I’m sure Roode will get involved in Booker’s main event next week.
Thanks for reading.