Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 6/19/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Booker T defeated BG James
2.) Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin defeated Daivari & Tyson Dux in a World X Cup Match
3.) TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong defeated Shantelle Taylor in a non-title match
4.) Kaz defeated Alex Koslov
5.) Jacqueline defeated Salinas
6.) AJ Styles & Christian Cage defeated Team 3D
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) At the Pink Taco, Jay Lethal cuts a promo asking where Sonjay Dutt is at to confront him. Lethal is pissed that Dutt ruined his wedding to So Cal Val. Lethal promises Dutt will never forget this party.
2.) Booker attacks James on the floor with right hands and rams James into the railing head first. Booker continues with a chop against the railing. Booker rams James into the ring steps face first. Booker rolls James into the ring to start the match officially and continues to pummel James with strikes in the corner. James responds with right hands, but a heel kick by Booker stops James in his tracks. Booker mounts James with strikes. Booker knee strikes James several times and drops James with a leaping heel kick before taunting the fans. Booker snapmares James and keeps control with a sleeper on the mat. We see TNA World Champion Samoa Joe watching the bout. James fights free with strikes to the midsection. Booker nails James with a kick to the chest. Booker chops James to the mat and continues to taunt the fans. James fights back with right hands to stagger Booker. Booker knee lifts James and comes off the ropes with a scissors kick for the win. (*. Just an extended squash for Booker to get over as the number one contender for Joe’s title. Booker seems to be a bit more comfortable and invested in playing a heel character. He’s good at milking the taunts for a crowd reaction.)
3.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews TNA World Champion Samoa Joe. Joe asks if Borash is trying to suggest if he can’t beat Booker. Kevin Nash enters the room and tells Joe that part of it is because Joe hasn’t been where Booker has been. Joe tells Nash he can leave the locker room where wrestlers get ready. Joe is pissed that Nash is going around saying he can’t beat Booker. Nash tells Joe that he beat Booker in the past several times. Joe wants Nash to show him that he can beat the present day Booker. Joe considers everything Nash says to be bullshit until Nash proves it to him. Nash tells Joe that he’ll prove it to Joe next week when he beats Booker. Nash is going to show Joe how to make it mental and not a physical bout. Nash leaves and calls Joe a rookie.
4.) Shelley and Dux kickoff the tag match. Dux flexes to taunt Shelley and doesn’t budge on shoulder blocks. Shelley kicks Dux, but Dux responds with an elbow strike. Shelley trips Dux to the mat and delivers a dropkick. Shelley monkey flips Dux out of the corner and Sabin leaps off the top to arm drag Dux. Sabin strikes Daivari coming off the top. Daivari stops Sabin with a jawbreaker followed by a chop. Dux tags into the match, but Sabin slingshots Dux from the apron onto Daivari in the ring. Dux is slammed to the mat by the Guns and Sabin delivers a quick dropkick. Shelley surfboards Dux leading to a bulldog by Sabin for a near fall. Shelley chops Dux, but is met with a kick by Daivari on the apron. Dux spikes Shelley with a DDT for a near fall. Daivari kicks Shelley from the apron and chops Shelley to the mat. Daivari knee drops Shelley over the back and wrenches on Shelley’s neck. Shelley forearms Daivari in the ribs and delivers a back suplex. Dux gets the tag as does Shelley. Sabin cleans house with a leaping forearm to Dux and delivers a few kicks. Sabin splashes Dux in the corner and heads to the top, but is yanked down by Daivari on the floor. We go backstage where AJ Styles has attacked Tomko with a steel chair as the show goes to commercial.
Daivari controls Sabin with a waist lock before dropping Sabin to the mat and tags in Dux for a moment. Daivari returns, but Sabin nails both men with a kick to the head and tags in Shelley. Shelley hits a top rope crossbody onto both men. Shelley kicks Dux followed by a spin kick. Daivari tries to boot Shelley, but Shelley nails Daivari with clotheslines in the corner. Shelley drives Daivari to the mat with a facebuster and heads to the top rope. Shelley frog splashes Daivari for a near fall. Daivari rams Shelley into the corner and sits Shelley on the top rope to deliver a hurricanrana for a near fall. Sabin nails Daivari with a cutter and dropkicks Dux off the apron. Daivari kicks both Guns in the corner, but is met with a double superkick. Shelley tries for a cover, but Dux makes the save. Dux tosses Sabin to the floor and spikes Shelley with a brainbuster. Daivari tries for a cover, but Sabin breaks the count at two. Dux elbows Shelley in the corner, but is crotched in the tree of woe. Sabin nails Daivari with a boot in the corner and dropkicks Dux in the tree of woe. Shelley plants Daivari with the Slice Bread to win the match. (**1/2. Some pretty good consistent action. It lacked a key moment to really standout. Guns are coming across as a top face tag team and a tag title run could very well be in their future sooner rather than later.)
5.) Backstage, AJ Styles attacks Kurt Angle as Angle is getting out of his car. Styles rams Angle into the trunk of the car and rams Angle’s arm with the trunk. Styles turns over the body, and it’s not Kurt Angle. Instead, it’s Frank Trigg.
6.) A video package promoting Gail Kim’s career is shown. Kim discusses her start in the business and she knew she was meant to be a wrestler at the start. Scott D’Amore shared comments about meeting Kim and knew he wanted her there for as long as he could have her i Border City Wrestling. Pat Kenney talks about working with Kim in 2001 and how she wanted to learn about professional wrestling. Kim admits getting a WWE contract within two years could have been a little too quick, but she learned a lot.
7.) Karen Angle joins the show via satellite. Karen doesn’t remember her fight with Awesome Kong as it was her first fight ever. She’s lucky to be okay. Karen says Kurt wants her to stay hidden, but that’s not going to happen. Karen believes that Kurt has convinced everyone that something has happened between her and AJ, but nothing has happened. Karen tells Tenay that she will be returning to work next week.
8.) At the Pink Taco, Lethal is pacing back and forth waiting for Sonjay Dutt to arrive.
9.) Jim Cornette is in the ring and calls out the TNA Tag Team Champions LAX along with Salinas and Hector Guerrero. Guerrero has a belt with him to signify a strap. Cornette talks about Roode and Storm whipping them last week. They have made a challenge for Victory Road where it would be a fans revenge lumberjack match. Cornette says twelve fans would be picked and they’d be at ringside with leather straps. The fans will be allowed to whip the wrestlers to get them back into the ring. Guerrero says they have not forgotten what the “yellow back cowards” have done to them. They woke up the latino fire inside them. Cornette gives them a contract to sign. Jacqueline comes out to join the segment instead of Roode and Storm. Jacqueline isn’t a babysitter and doesn’t know what they are up to. Salinas steps up to Jacqueline and asks if Salinas is jealous because her breasts are real. Cornette ends up making a match between the two women, but it has to be one on one.
10.) TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong comes out with Jeremy Borash to begin the open challenge. Kong shoves two female fans in the front row. Kong stares at Shantelle Taylor and challenges Taylor.
11.) Taylor punches Kong from the front row and continues with a flurry at ringside. Taylor gets into the ring and calls Kong into the ring. Taylor strikes Kong, but is shoved away quickly. Kong tosses Taylor across the ring. Kong chops Taylor against the ropes followed by a knee strike and another chop to the chest. Kong tries for a powerbomb, but Taylor breaks free and dropkicks Kong. Kong stops Taylor with a clothesline. Kong is handed a steel chair and threatens the referee. Taylor dropkicks the chair into Kong’s face. Taylor whacks Kong over the back several times. Taylor dropkicks Kong, but Kong only staggers. Taylor heads to the top rope hitting a missile dropkick to knock Kong off her feet for a near fall. Kong rolls to the floor to regroup. Taylor climbs to the top rope and tries for a crossbody to the floor, but is caught and rammed into the ring post back first. Kong misses a spinning back fist and hits the post. Taylor is fired up, but Kong clotheslines Taylor on the floor. Kong rolls Taylor into the ring and tries for a powerbomb, but Taylor kicks Kong several times. Kong plants Taylor with a sit down powerbomb for the win. (**. TNA must see something in Taylor for her to get this kind of momentum on an unstoppable force that Kong has been presented as being. I enjoyed it.)
12.) Backstage, Team 3D have put Rhino through a table and they are taunting him. Tenay suggests that Rhino has been eliminated from the main event and wonders who Christian Cage could get to be his partner now.
13.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Sonjay Dutt. Dutt says he’s a man of love, peace and unity. Dutt doesn’t understand why Lethal would want to fight him. Dutt says he’s in love with So Cal Val. Borash suggests Dutt head to the Pink Taco. Dutt thinks Val loves him too.
14.) Kaz controls Kozlov with a wrist lock, but Kozlov counters with a hammerlock and a wrist lock. Kaz breaks free and arm drags Kozlov. Kaz runs the ropes, but Kozlov stops Kaz, but is met with a kick to the face. Kaz scoop slams Kozlov and hits a slingshot leg drop from the apron for a two count. Kaz misses a splash in the corner. Kozlov kicks Kaz off the apron to the floor. Kozlov hits a springboard dive to the floor. Kozlov puts his hat on and kicks Kaz on the back several times. Kozlov kicks Kaz on the mat leading to a near fall. Kozlov puts a sleeper on Kaz in the middle of the ring. Kaz elbows Kozlov to break free and continues with strikes. Kaz gets a rollup, but Kozlov kicks out. They bridge out of a cover and Kozlov manages a one count with a backslide. Kaz almost wins with a rollup. Kozlov takes Kaz to the mat and drags Kaz to the apron. Kozlov surfboards Kaz into the ropes, but lets go of the hold quickly. Kozlov tries for a side Russian leg sweep, but Kaz counters with a DDT. Kaz clotheslines Kozlov followed by a dropkick. Kaz elbows Kozlov coming off the ropes for a near fall. Kaz sits Kozlov on the top turnbuckle and delivers a strike. Kozlov elbows Kaz to the canvas. Kaz misses a big boot and Kozlov nails Kaz with a kick to the head. Kozlov misses a springboard splash attempt. Kaz hits the Wave of the Future to win the match. (*1/2. A fine match, but there wasn’t anything to get super excited about. They seem to be pushing Kaz as the face of the division.)
15.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Christian Cage for an interview. Cage says he left Rhino alone for five minutes and Rhino is laid out. Cage reveals that Rhino has a concussion and can’t compete tonight. Cage knows that Rhino will not be kept down for too long. Cage sees a phenomenal opportunity and not a problem.
16.) TNA Rough Cut focuses on Matt Morgan this week. Morgan talks about having severe ADD and starving for attention. Morgan put that energy into sports. Morgan was getting offers from Division 1 schools for basketball. Morgan signed with Monmouth to start as a freshmen. Morgan thought he could play in the NBA.
17.) Sonjay Dutt has arrived at the Pink Taco and asks Jay Lethal to hear him out. Dutt apologizes for the timing of what he did. Lethal is pissed that Dutt ruined his wedding. Dutt asks if Lethal has asked Val what she feels in her heart. Dutt tells Lethal that Val loves him and Lethal slaps Dutt across the face. They brawl for a bit at the Pink Taco. Lethal chokes Dutt with a rope and elbow drops Dutt off a ladder. Lethal dumps trash onto Dutt. Lethal spears Dutt through a door.
18.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Team 3D for an interview. Brother Ray insults Christian Cage and asks if Cage thinks they are stupid and dumb. Ray says they didn’t become tag champs by being dumb. Ray knows that Cage is going to grab AJ Styles as his partner. Ray wonders how Styles is finding the time to team with Cage when he’s been messing with Karen Angle. Ray says he’s going to take great joy in smearing Styles blood on his body as they’ve done before. Ray promises to try and break Styles neck and doing it for Kurt Angle. Ray hopes to spill their blood all over the Impact Zone. Devon chimes in and doesn’t feel bad for Styles. Devon warned Styles to stay out of their business since day one, but Styles keeps doing it. Devon wonders if it’s a southern thing. Devon proclaims there will be a massacre tonight.
19.) Salinas mounts Jacqueline with right hands on the mat followed by a scoop slam. Salinas heads to the top rope, but misses a crossbody. Jacqueline works over Salinas and tosses Salinas across the ring a couple of times. Jacqueline knee lifts Salinas several times and dumps her to the floor. Jacqueline sends Salinas into the railing ribs first. Jacqueline tosses Salinas with a suplex. Jacqueline chokes Salinas over the middle rope. Salinas stands with Jacqueline on her shoulders to deliver an electric chair slam. Salinas decks Jacqueline with a few clotheslines. Salinas leg sweeps Jacqueline to the mat for a near fall. Jacqueline kicks Salinas followed by a DDT and locks in a front face lock. Salinas is forced to submit. (*. A clean finish for Jacqueline was not something I was expecting, at all.) After the match, Jacqueline uses a belt and whips Salinas over the back. Jacqueline does the same to the referee’s back before walking off.
20.) All four men start brawling on the floor during Team 3D’s entrance. Cage and Devon brawl while Styles and Ray trade blows on the floor, too. Styles chops Ray against the railing before entering the ring. Ray begs off, but overhand chops Styles. Styles nails Ray with a dropkick. Cage enters the match and works over Ray with strikes. Ray backdrops Cage coming off the ropes. Devon tags into the match and drops Cage with a right hand. Devon chokes Cage over the middle rope. Cage fights back with a few kicks to the midsection and elbows Devon charging the corner. Cage hits a middle rope uppercut for a two count. Styles tags into the match and punches Devon a few times. Styles misses a splash in the corner and crashes to the mat. Ray scoop slams Styles and Team 3D hits the What’s Up. Team 3D grab a table on the floor and return to the ringside area with it. Cage baseball slides the table into Ray and Devon. Styles takes 3D out with a somersault dive to the floor off of Cage’s back. The show goes to commercial.
Ray delivers an elevated neckbreaker to Styles. During the break, Ray prevents Styles from hitting a springboard and Devon hit a middle rope neckbreaker. Ray backdrops Styles and delivers a forearm strike to the back. Ray controls Styles on the mat with a chin lock and bites Styles forehead. Ray taunts Cage on the apron until Cage storms the ring, but is stopped by the referee. Devon enter and chokes Styles for a two count. Devon controls Styles on the mat with a sleeper. Devon clubs Styles over the shoulder and follows up with a leg drop. Devon flexes to taunt the fans some more. Devon rams Styles into the corner chest first and Ray tags in to double team Styles. Styles avoids Devon in the corner and kicks Ray on the side of the head. Styles crawls to the corner and Cage gets tagged into the match. Cage fires back on both Devon and Cage with right hands followed by a double clothesline. Cage drop toe holds Devon over the middle rope and chokes Devon. Cage tries for the Un-Prettier, but settles for modified neckbreaker after countering a lifting reverse DDT. Cage strikes Devon in the corner with right hands. Cage elbows Devon in the corner and Ray accidentally splashes Devon.
Cage catapults Ray’s back over the top rope and frog splashes Devon for a two count as Ray makes the save. Cage kicks Team 3D, but is met with an elevated neckbreaker for a two count. Styles nails Devon with a springboard flying forearm and knocks Ray off the apron. Styles slams Devon and heads to the top rope. Cage and Styles hit stereo diving headbutts on Devon, but Ray makes the save. Ray has Styles on his shoulders and Devon delivers a Doomsday clothesline for a near fall. Ray is stopped on the middle rope by Cage. Cage takes Ray off the top with a hurricanrana. Devon hits the lifting reverse DDT. Devon avoids a springboard forearm smash by Styles. Styles Pele kicks Devon and Ray is sent to the floor. Styles connects with a springboard reverse DDT on Devon to pickup the win. (**. I find myself not caring about Team 3D and I honestly hate that they are being used in a main event program on a regular basis. This was a basic tag match for the most part. I can’t recall the last time Styles ever won with the springboard reverse DDT.)
21.) Frank Trigg comes down to the ringside area and yells at Styles for attacking him. Trigg tells Cage to stay out of it. Kurt Angle storms the ring from behind and attacks Styles. Angle knocks Cage to the floor and puts the ankle lock on Styles. Angle kneels over Styles and says Styles found him and that’s how the show goes off the air.
Final Thoughts:
An average episode of Impact this week as there was some decent in-ring action. I’m glad there wasn’t an extended talking segment that tends to be the norm. It’s nice to break things up and not make the show predictable. They need to get Team 3D out of the main event picture quickly.
Thanks for reading.