Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 5/22/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) TNA Tag Team Champion Homicide defeated Brother Ray by disqualification
2.) Angelina Love defeated ODB
3.) Robert Roode defeated Matt Morgan in a King of the Mountain Qualifying Match
4.) TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong defeated Melissa in a $25,000 challenge match
5.) Booker T defeated AJ Styles in a King of the Mountain Qualifying Match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is standing behind Team 3D where Brother Ray is telling someone that they have each others back. Devon notices Borash and kicks him out of the area to end the segment.
2.) Homicide hammers away on Ray to kickoff the match. Ray shoves Homicide away a couple of times, but Homicide continues to deliver strikes in the corner. Ray stops Homicide with an eye rake, but Homicide chokes Ray against the ropes. Homicide pummels Ray with left hand punches in the corner and plays to the crowd. Ray elbows Homicide in the corner and tries for a slam, but Homicide breaks free. Homicide comes off the ropes and is met with a big boot. Homicide tries to fight back, but is stopped by another eye rake. Ray shoulder rams Homicide in the corner several times. Ray elbows Homicide to the mat in the corner. Ray slams Homicide to the mat and goes to the middle rope taunting Hector Guerrero, but misses a senton splash. Homicide punches Ray several times and comes off the ropes to deliver a clothesline to stagger Ray a couple of times. Homicide knocks Ray into the ropes. Homicide leaps off the middle rope to dropkick Ray. Homicide climbs to the top hitting a hurricanrana and a cutter. However, Devon enters the ring and whacks Homicide over the back with a kendo stick to cause a disqualification. After the match, Devon grabs a table from under the ring. Hernandez runs into the ring and cleans house to make the save. Hernandez pummels Devon in the corner with forearms. Hernandez grabs Devon for a powerbomb, but Booker T enters the ring and nails Hernandez with a kick. Booker and Team 3D beatdown LAX. Devon smashes Devon with a championship strike and Homicide is busted wide open. Brother Ray continues to yell at the camera taunting Hector Guerrero. Hernandez has been busted wide open as well. Brother Ray puts Homicide through the table with a powerbomb. (*. Homicide looked good towards the end, but the action left a lot to be desired. The aftermath was effective in wanting me to see LAX get revenge on Team 3D. I’m sure they are going to have a match at Slammiversary, and as long as LAX retain the titles I won’t mind it. I was surprised that Samoa Joe didn’t run out to make the save and attack Booker T.)
3.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash meets up with Karen Angle and asks how she’s holding up. Borash is excited for Karen and Kurt to be reunited. Karen tells Borash to expected the unexpected. Borash gets cornered by Awesome Kong and Saeed. Borash is told to read something and they’ll come back later. Borash reads the note that says $25,000 to wrestle fans.
4.) Backstage, Lauren interviews ODB. ODB has a chance for payback against Angelina Love. ODB hates the pretty wenches and big fake plastic boobies. ODB claims to be a real woman and forces Lauren to feel her natural boobs. ODB says that Angelina is going to feel her knockers coming down on her. ODB is going to put her flask between Angelina’s cheeks tonight.
5.) Love misses a clothesline and ODB spits booze into Love’s face. Velvet Sky gets on the apron, but drops down and is met with a kick by Love. Sky chokes ODB over the bottom rope as the referee is distracted by Love. Love rams the back of ODB’s head onto the canvas several times leading to a near fall. ODB forearms Love a few times, but Love decks ODB over the back and puts a sleeper on ODB. Love keeps a sleeper on ODB, but doesn’t get a submission. ODB gets to her feet and staggers around. ODB drives Love into the corner back first a few times to break free from the hold. ODB nails Love with a few clotheslines and tosses Love with a fallaway slam. ODB kips up and side slams Love for a near fall. Love punches ODB away and pulls ODB over the middle rope allowing Sky to deck ODB with her flask. Love covers and picks up the win. After the match, Love and Sky tease shaving ODB’s hair, but Roxxi comes out to make the save. Roxxi forearms Sky in the corner, but Love helps out. Roxxi kicks Sky and plants Love with a spinebuster. Roxxi grabs the clippers, but the referee stops Roxxi and allows Love to escape. Roxxi proceeds to nail the referee with the Voodoo Driver! (*. The match wasn’t anything special, but Roxxi came across well in the aftermath. I liked that she hit her finisher on the referee, too.)
6.) A video package promoting the King of the Mountain match is shown. The package goes over the history of the match. It also goes over the rules of the match.
7.) TNA World Champion Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash make their way down to the ring to cut a promo. Joe says tonight he’s giving out his four picks to qualify for the King of the Mountain tournament. Joe notes they wanted the best and baddest. Joe says he’s wrestled this man both in and out of TNA. The first selection is AJ Styles. The second and third picks were simple. Joe says they’ve been champions wherever they’ve gone. Joe reveals the picks as Rhino and Christian Cage. Joe says that leaves them with their fourth and final choice. The man has been dominate and a world champion everywhere. Joe puts over the man as a top competitor. Joe picks Booker T, which seems to surprise Kevin Nash. Joe says if Booker T can make it through the tournament he’ll find Joe in the ring waiting for him. Nash grabs a microphone and asks Joe how can he watch Joe’s back if he’s not in the match. Joe says people don’t pay to see someone watch his back. They pay to see him be a real world champion. Nash notes that Joe has been a champion for two months and asks if Joe knows what it takes to be a champion now. Nash has a problem when someone doesn’t do what they’re told. Nash says when the machine breaks down, they break down. Nash isn’t going to allow the machine to breakdown and walks off to end the segment.
8.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle and Frank Trigg. Borash is excited about the reunion between Kurt and Karen. Kurt says that he’s nervous too that Karen is getting him back because he’s the best thing to ever be in her life. They walk into a bathroom and use the urinal. Trigg suggests that Kurt spend the night with Karen instead of going out for drinks. Kurt says that Karen is going to have a lot to do at the house since Kurt’s done nothing for a month. Trigg isn’t thrilled that Borash is always around, but Kurt tells Trigg that it happens and they walk off.
9.) Backstage, Lauren is with Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt and So Cal Val for an interview. Val is excited about their wedding at Slammiversary. Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave are there with Christy Hemme to audition for a spot as the wedding band. Hemme lip syncs and they notice her doing that causing an argument. Hoyt claims they have real instruments. Sonjay Dutt claims to have Ace Young and he’ll be there next week on Impact. Hoyt insults Young saying he only plays with himself.
10.) A video of Abyss sitting in solitary confinement is shown again. Abyss says they have been gracious to allow the cameras back into the room. Abyss talks about whispers in his mind and wants the blood and gore in his mind to leave him alone. In the room, he’s Chris Park. He will not rest until it sleeps. He will always by Abyss, but he’s an addict. Abyss knows he’ll never be better. It is time to go home.
11.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Robert Roode. Lauren notes that Roode dislikes politics, but must like what Cornette has done tonight. Roode admits maybe it is time to put a smile on his face, but he’s mocking her and says it took Cornette this long to notice his talents. Roode says the people in TNA realized they couldn’t keep him down any longer. Roode wishes Booker T luck, and takes credit for Booker seeing the light. Roode says that this business is controlled by what is going on in your brain and asks what qualifies Matt Morgan to be in the same ring as him. This could his only chance to challenge for the TNA World Championship. Roode declares we will find out that it pays to be rude at Slammiversary.
12.) Roode gets in Morgan’s face, but Morgan wants a test of strength, which Roode declines. Roode kicks Morgan on the thigh and goes to a side headlock. Roode comes off the ropes and avoids a big boot attempt. Morgan backs Roode into a corner, but misses a wild strike. Roode tries to send Morgan across the ring, but Morgan comes back with a backdrop. Morgan nails Roode with a big boot and plays to the crowd. Morgan misses a running big boot. Roode chop blocks Morgan’s knee as Morgan was stuck over the top rope. Roode wrenches Morgan’s knee over the bottom rope. Roode stomps on Morgan’s knee followed by right hands on the mat. Morgan shoves Roode away, but Roode delivers several strikes. Morgan tries for a chokeslam, but Roode eye rakes Morgan. Morgan kicks Roode away to avoid a figure four attempt. Roode strikes Morgan several more times. Morgan no sells strikes and grabs Roode by the hair. Morgan headbutts Roode to the mat followed by a right hand. Morgan side slams Roode and plays to the crowd. Morgan rams Roode into the corner head first. Morgan chokes Roode in the corner, but the referee grabs Morgan. Morgan lifts the referee up, and drops the referee to the mat. Roode trips Morgan and gets a rollup with his feet on the ropes to steal the match. (*. I don’t know why, but I dislike watching Morgan in the ring. He isn’t entertaining. The finish didn’t come across well here, at all. I’m glad Roode is going to get a main event spot, but something tells me he’s not going to shine.)
13.) Backstage, Kurt Angle is preparing to head to the ring. Angle looks like he’s wearing an oversized suit.
14.) Eric Young is on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee looking for Elvis. Eric is told my a man named “Kenny” that Elvis died in 1977, but Young refuses to believe him.
15.) Kurt Angle makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Kurt is there to introduce his wife, Karen to join the segment. Karen makes her way out and Kurt is smiling quite a bit as Karen joins Kurt in the ring. The fans are chanting “Karen Styles” and Kurt says he knows it has been a while. Kurt knows the past few months have been tough for Karen and that Karen knows her role. Kurt knows that Karen can put the past behind them. Karen asks if Kurt realizes what he’s saying to her and the effect it has on her. Kurt knows that Karen watches Dr. Phil, but this is real life. Kurt is who he is and that’s how he’s always going to be. Karen came out there with one shred of hope to make things work. Karen tells Kurt that she wants a divorce, but Kurt tells her to note say that. Kurt knows that he can change and can be the man Karen deserves. Karen tells Kurt that he’s not capable of changing. Kurt asks if Karen is seeing someone and asks if Karen is seeing AJ. Karen insists that nothing is happening between her and AJ Styles. Karen tells Kurt that Styles is a friend and has been there for her. Kurt gets down on his knees and begs Karen to give him a second chance. The fans are chanting they want AJ Styles. Karen puts down the microphone and doesn’t say a word before departing the ring as Kurt continues to plead for Karen to do it for the kids. Kurt yells that he can’t live without her and would do anything for her. Kurt gets emotional in the ring to end the segment.
16.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is telling Saeed and TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong that they can’t wrestle a fan for $25,000. Borash mentions the potential lawsuit and that there’s nobody else left for Kong to defeat. Saeed has the release papers already. Kong grabs Borash by the neck and Saeed threatens Borash.
17.) A video package highlighting the partnership between Scott Steiner and Petey Williams is shown. Steiner has been determined to make Williams tougher, which has mad Petey Williams the Maple Leaf Muscle. Williams will compete against Kaz at Slammiversary for the TNA X-Division Championship.
18.) Backstage, Lauren interviews AJ Styles. Lauren tells Styles that Kurt has accused Karen of being with Styles, but Styles insists they are just friends. Styles had to find a tag partner while Tomko was hurt, what else was he suppose to do. Tomko enters the scene and says it was a couple times too many. Tomko tells Styles he’s pissed that Styles lost the tag titles while he was in Japan. Styles tells Tomko he’s sick of this and tells Tomko that he’s not doing what Tomko and Kurt want him to do anymore. Tomko tells Styles he can be his own man on his own and walks off.
19.) Mike Tenay’s interview with Sting is shown some more this week. Sting has had brief discussions with Jeff Jarrett over the past year and says that Jarrett is missed around here. Jeff recently lost his wife to cancer. Sting talks about early memories with Jeff Jarrett in Tennessee.
20.) In the ring, Jeremy Borash is there with a ladder in the middle of the ring. Slick Johnson is in the ring with the championship. Borash explains the rules of the King of the Mountain match. They basically have the match setup in the ring and at ringside to make sure people understand the concept. Borash says it is time for the second qualifying match, but Borash gets cutoff by TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong and Saeed. Borash reminds them that he wants nothing to do with this as Saeed shows the briefcase full of money. Saeed demands Borash make the challenge or Kong destroys Borash. Borash solicits the crowd for a volunteer to challenge Kong for $25,000. Borash picks a woman named Melissa as the show goes to break.
21.) Melissa sidesteps Kong at first, but Kong quickly pummels Melissa with strikes and tosses Melissa to the floor. Kong kicks Melissa on the mat several times. Kong slaps Melissa to the mat. Kong knee lifts Melissa and again tosses Melissa to the mat. Kong runs through Melissa and hits the Awesome Bomb for the win. (NR. I understand the point of this is that there aren’t any other challengers for Kong because she’s beaten everyone, but it’s also a ridiculous turn of events.)
22.) Backstage, Lauren is with Team 3D and expresses her disappointment with what they did to LAX earlier in the night. Brother Ray claims what they did tonight was payback. Ray says they got screwed out of the tag titles because of Hector Guerrero. Ray says hey did what they do best and suggests Lauren was turned on by what they did. Ray warns AJ Styles to be a little worried about facing Booker T, who is sitting behind them. Booker says he’s been there for six months and this is the respect he gets. Booker is disgusted by locker room. Booker asks who else should he hangout with if not Team 3D. Booker promises that AJ Styles will be a stepping stone to his quest to be the King of the Mountain. Booker will prove he’s the heir to the throne. Booker is sick and tired of this poor treatment and tosses a locker down to the floor as Lauren leaves the scene.
23.) Booker backs Styles into a corner and taunts Styles before backing off. Booker knee lifts Styles a few times in the midsection. Booker continues with a chop in the corner followed by a forearm. Booker misses a heel kick and Styles fights back with strikes to stagger Booker into the corner. Styles backs off and sends Booker across the ring to hit a splash in the corner. Styles shoulder rams Booker in the corner. Styles misses a splash in the corner and Booker delivers a heel kick. Booker scoop slams Styles to the mat and mounts Styles to deliver right hands. Booker controls Styles on the mat with a chin lock. Styles elbows Booker followed by right hands. Booker nails Styles with a spinning heel kick and goes back to an arm bar. Booker knee lifts Styles several times, but Styles fights back with a dropkick to send Booker to the floor. Styles leaps to the apron and nails Booker with a springboard forearm smash as Tomko comes down to ringside. Styles manages a near fall and tries for another springboard, but Tomko trips Styles. Booker plants Styles with the Book End to win the match. (*1/2. I was not expecting such a short match between these two. Booker advancing is not a surprise considering he’s likely going to be feuding with Joe after Slammiversary anyway. Styles is busy with Kurt Angle and that allows a likely match with Kurt at the PPV.) After the match, Styles shoves Tomko as the show goes to commercial.
24.) Back from break, Tomko and AJ Styles brawl until Team 3D run into the ring to help Tomko. Styles fights Team 3D off with forearm strikes. Tomko has a chain and decks Styles with it. Styles has been busted wide open. Booker superkicks Styles to the mat. Brother Ray delivers a big splash and continues to pummel a bloodied Styles. Karen Angle runs down to the ring to try and prevent further beating. Karen lays over Styles to stop the beating. Karen slaps Brother Ray, but Ray shoves Karen to the mat (they cut away from it). Karen leaves the ring and heads backstage as Styles continues to be pummeled. Kurt Angle comes running down with a steel chair to make the save seemingly per Karen’s request. Kurt remains in the ring keeping them away with the chair. Kurt sees Karen covering Styles and that sets him off. Karen has Styles blood on her chest and face. Kurt proceeds to whack styles over the head with a sickening chair shot. Kurt taunts Karen with a bloodied Styles and claims it is her fault. Kurt yells that Karen deceived him to end the program.
Final Thoughts:
The in-ring wrestling was not good this week, at all. There wasn’t much redeeming quality to any of it. AJ Styles beating at the end was a good way to end the show, and I hope it is the end of AJ’s comedy focus. I want to see the old AJ who is a badass athlete. Styles vs. Kurt would be the most interesting match for Slammiversary. However, this episode of Impact wasn’t very good and I didn’t enjoy a good portion of it.
Thanks for reading.