Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 7/10/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) TNA Tag Team Champion Homicide fought Robert Roode to a no contest in a parking lot brawl
2.) Doug Williams defeated Masato Yoshino in the World X Cup
3.) Kip James, TNA X-Division Champion Petey Williams & Tomko defeated Eric Young, BG James & Matt Morgan in a falls count anywhere match
4.) Taylor Wilde defeated TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong to win the title
5.) Kaz defeated Ultimo Guerrero in the World X Cup
6.) AJ Styles, Gail Kim & ODB defeated Kurt Angle, Angelina Love & Velvet Sky
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video package promoting the feud between TNA Tag Team Champions LAX and Beer Money Inc. is shown. There will be an LAX gang car fight, apparently.
2.) Jeremy Borash is in the parking lot with Robert Roode and Homicide where they are having a parking lot brawl. Homicide and Roode ram each other into a car hood. Homicide chokes Roode on top of a car. Homicide smashes Roode over the head with a trash can. Roode knee lifts Homicide followed by strikes and sends Homicide into a trailer. Roode whacks Homicide over the back with a metal pole. Roode sends Homicide into a dumpster and misses a wild strike. Homicide hits Roode over the head with a street sign. Homicide tries for the Gringo Killer, but Jacqueline makes the save with strikes. A masked wrestler runs into the scene and attacks Homicide. Well, it’s James Storm. Storm handcuffs Homicide and Roode prevents officials from getting involved. Homicide has his arms handcuffed behind his back. Roode brings Homicide back into the arena and they head towards the ring. Storm rolls Homicide into the ring. Roode stomps Homicide several times. Storm nails Homicide with the Last Call. Storm whips Homicide with a strap several times. Hernandez enters the ring and makes the save with clotheslines. Hernandez splashes Roode in the corner and drops Storm with a backbreaker. Hernandez tosses Roode across the ring. Hernandez tries for a powerbomb, but Roode makes the save. Storm hits a neckbreaker and Hernandez is stomped on the mat. Hernandez delivers a double clothesline and grabs a strap. Hernandez whips Beer Money over the back with the strap causing them to retreat. The match ends in a non contest. (*1/2. It was hardly a parking lot brawl as it was mostly a brawl backstage. The crowd felt a little flat as they may have seen the beatdown angle a bit too much. I think it’s been a strong angle overall for Victory Road, though.)
3.) Sting’s music hits again as LAX remains in the ring. Sting is looking on in the rafters as Tenay and West wonder why he’s back in TNA.
4.) Williams backs Yoshino into a corner and delivers a forearm followed by an uppercut. Yoshino head scissors Williams to the floor. Yoshino hits a suicide dive to take Williams out on the floor. Williams yanks Yoshino off the apron and delivers another uppercut. Williams rolls Yoshino into the ring and delivers a knee strike for a two count. Williams drops Yoshino with a strike. Williams scoop slams Yoshino and delivers a knee drop for a two count. Williams sends Yoshino into the corner before hitting a gut wrench suplex for a two count. Yoshino hits a sling blade and both men are down for moment. Williams dumps Yoshino to the apron and is dropped over the top rope throat first. Yoshino hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Yoshino strikes Williams several times and head scissors Williams to the mat leading to a near fall with a rollup. Williams crotches Yoshino on the top turnbuckle. Williams double under hook suplexs Yoshino off the top for a near fall. Yoshino counters a powerbomb with a rollup for a near fall. Yoshino dropkicks Williams into the corner, but Williams responds with a rolling German suplex to pickup the win. (**. It’s a little difficult to care about these matches too much since most of these guys aren’t going to be involved with TNA after the tournament. Williams is an underrated wrestler and his style would be a lot of fun in the X-Division.)
5.) Backstage, Kurt Angle meets up with the Beautiful People. Kurt asks if they are insane because they have a match tonight and not a beauty contest. Angelina says the marks pay to see them because they are hot. Kurt tells them to do some squats or something. Love and Sky proceed to do a few squats. Love makes an erection joke and they put the brown paper bag over Borash’s head.
6.) Earlier today, Sonjay Dutt is teaching a yoga class with young kids. Lauren demonstrates some poses and Dutt is hitting on her. Petey Williams is there working out. Dutt tells Williams there are no free lessons and kicks him out. Jay Lethal runs into the class and attacks Dutt. Lethal pulls down a display of yoga balls and they land on Dutt. Dutt is protected by a bunch of kids. Lethal tells Dutt that he’s sick. Dutt tells Lethal that Val loves him and they are going to set her free.
7.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Taylor Wilde. Lauren notes that Wilde is an underdog tonight and has a chance to win the title and $25k. Wilde says that she’s nervous and can’t wrap her mind around what has happened the past few weeks. Wilde can’t think about anything else and knows that Kong wants to hurt her. Wilde promises to leave everything she’s got in the ring tonight.
8.) The six man tag match between Kurt Angle & Team 3D vs. Rhino, Christian Cage & AJ Styles is a fans choose the stipulation. The choices are falls count anywhere, tables or full metal mayhem. Seems like an obvious choice.
9.) TNA Roughcut focusing on Matt Morgan continues. Morgan promised to do things his way after being let go by WWE. Cornette believes that Morgan is on track to being one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling. Cornette thinks it’s just a matter of Morgan living up to the standard he set to become a star. Kurt Angle thinks that Morgan needs to listen to others and being a full time featured attraction. Morgan believes people have finally taken notice of him.
10.) Young and BG knock Petey off the apron as all six men are brawling to kickoff the match. Kip boots Morgan in the corner and delivers a jab. Morgan signals for a chokeslam, but Kip avoids it. Morgan splashes Kip in the corner and walks the ropes to deliver Old School for a two count as Tomko makes the save. Tomko tosses Morgan to the floor and delivers a few strikes. Tomko sends Morgan into the railing. Morgan tosses Williams into Tomko and nails Tomko with a bicycle kick for a two count as Petey made the save. Kip sends Morgan into the ring post. BG rams Kip into the railing chest first and Young tosses Williams over the railing into the crowd. Young pummels Williams in the crowd and brawl up the bleachers. Petey rams Young into the railing and locks in a Sharpshooter in the bleachers. BG decks Williams to make the save. Tomko tries to cover Morgan, but can’t get a three. Kip nails BG with the Fame-Asser on the ramp for a two count as Morgan makes the save. Young forearms Williams followed by a clothesline. Williams kicks Young, but can’t hit the Destroyer. Young hits a wheelbarrow suplex turned into a cutter for a two count. Young dropkicks Tomko to the floor. Tomko nails Young with a pipe to the face as Young tried for a suicide dive. Williams hits a slingshot hurricanrana to pin Young on the floor. (*1/2. It would have made a lot more sense for Morgan to have a showcase in this match considering the video packages promoting him. This was a harmless brawl.) After the match, Abyss makes his way down to the ring to make the save. Abyss decks Tomko to the mat and tries for a chokeslam, but Tomko breaks free. Abyss clotheslines Tomko over the top to the floor. Abyss grabs the lead pipe and quickly drops it. Tomko thinks Abyss is nuts.
11.) Kong works over Wilde with strikes in the corner. Kong shoulder blocks Wilde to the mat, but Wilde jumps on Kong’s back to deliver several strikes in the corner. Kong shoves Wilde away and is met with a dropkick. Saeed trips Wilde running the ropes. Kong chops Wilde as Roxxi comes down to ringside as the show goes to commercial.
Kong chops Wilde between the ropes while standing on the apron. Kong knee lifts Wilde and tosses Wilde across the ring. Kong steps on Wilde’s face in the corner. Kong splashes Wilde in the corner. Kong scoop slams Wilde and heads to the middle rope. Kong misses a splash attempt. Wilde dropkicks Kong several times to stagger Kong. Wilde heads to the top rope and missile dropkicks Kong for a near fall. Wilde is knocked to the mat as Kong stops her momentum. Kong misses a sit down splash and Wilde dropkicks Kong for another near fall. Kong overhand chops Wilde and shoves the referee down. Wilde tries for a crossbody and Kong trips over the referee leading to a near fall. Kong hits the Implant Buster for a near fall as Wilde kicked out! Wilde fights out of a powerbomb and ducks a spinning back fist to rollup Kong and wins the match! Wilde wins $25k and is the new champion! (**1/2. I’m a bit surprised, but it’s something diffferent and this should make Wilde a top Knockout for the company.)
12.) Jeremy Borash interviews Taylor Wilde on the ramp. Wilde says this is the greatest night of her life and that it proves dreams can come true.
13.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Kaz, who has his World X Cup pals with him. Kaz tells Borash that he’s not going to let Team USA to finish last. Kaz says they have broken their backs to put the company on the map. Kaz says tonight is all about pride and believes they are the heart and soul of TNA. Kaz isn’t going to let down his friends and isn’t going to let down TNA.
14.) Guerrero takes Kaz down to the mat to kickoff the match. Kaz counters with a wrist lock, but Guerrero counters. Kaz head scissors Guerrero and delivers a couple of arm drags. Kaz stops Guerrero on the top rope, but Guerrero hits a front suplex. Guerrero covers, but Kaz kicks out at two. Guerrero chops Kaz in the corner and delivers a clothesline in the corner. Guerrero does a hand stand in the corner before hitting a dropkick for a two count. Kaz strikes Guerrero in the corner several times, but Guerrero decks Kaz and sits Kaz on the top turnbuckle. Guerrero takes Kaz off the top with a reverse suplex. Kaz dropkicks Guerrero followed by a clothesline. Kaz kicks Guerrero followed by a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Kaz drops Guerrero over the top rope from the apron. Kaz tries for a springboard, but crashes to the mat and holds his knees. Kaz sits Guerrero on the top rope to deliver a kick to the face. Guerrero counters a hurricanrana attempt and hits a middle rope powerbomb for a near fall. Guerrero slams Kaz, but misses a moonsault. Kaz plants Guerrero with the Wave of the Future to win the match. (***. A good match. Kaz slipping off the ropes looked to be on purpose to sell a knee injury. I wish the World X Cup actually meant something, but it still comes across as filler TV to me.)
15.) Backstage, Lauren interviews AJ Styles, Gail Kim and ODB. Styles says they are on the same page compared Kurt and the Beautiful People. Styles puts over Kim and ODB saying look at what they’ve done for professional wrestling. Kurt respects them more than they’ll ever known and Kurt will respect them too. Kim thanks Styles for the kind words. Kim says this is about wrestling, which is what she loves. Kim says they opened the door for the Beautiful People and they are going to teach them a lesson. ODB chimes in and reminds everyone who she is. ODB says Beautiful People are all show and no go, which she hates. ODB promises they will get a facial they will never forget.
16.) Jim Cornette adds TNA Knockout Champion Taylor Wilde vs. Awesome Kong to Victory Road.
17.) Backstage, Kurt Angle meets with the Beautiful People who are tanning and doing their nails. Sky says you never know who could be out there and they need to look their best. Kurt says they only care about how they look and how big their boobs are.
18.) A video package promoting TNA World Champion Samoa Joe vs. Booker T at Victory Road is shown.
19.) Booker T makes his way out to the ring with a microphone to cut a promo. Booker calls out TNA World Champion Samoa Joe to join him in the ring. Joe makes his way out to join the segment. Booker tells Joe that he respects him. Booker wants to apologize for his past behavior and says he’s sorry. Booker is sorry for what is going to happen at Victory Road in Houston. Booker says Nash is right about one thing and that is Joe can’t beat Booker T. Booker looks at Joe as a paper champion who hasn’t beaten anyone. Booker asks who has Joe ever beaten. Booker knows that Joe can’t back it up. Booker lists guys such as Rick Martel, Steve Austin, and Chris Jericho as men he has beaten throughout his career. Booker promises this isn’t personal and it is just business. Booker offers his hand for a handshake and says may the best man win. Joe accepts the hand and pulls Booker in to confront him. Joe tells Booker he’s sorry for ever calling him out and ever saying his name. Joe calls Booker a punk and kind of spits in his face. Sting’s music hits once again. Sting appears on the ramp this time and has a microphone. Sting says they both have him hooked and wonders who is going to win at Victory Road. Sting asks the people who will win at Victory Road. Sting reveals he’s going to be at Victory Road to watch the match. Sting leaves.
20.) A video package of Gail Kim talking about Angelina Love and how Kim thinks Love is jealous when other people get attention. Kim is pissed about Love costing her against Kong in her rematch for the Knockouts Championship. Kim calls Love a selfish bitch. Love suggests Kim not to take her lightly.
21.) Love and ODB kickoff the main event. Love forearms ODB, but is met with a clothesline. ODB catches Love and hits a fallaway slam. Sky tags into the match, but Kim tags in and drop toe holds Sky. Kim is met with a knee lift and strikes by Sky. Kim clotheslines Sky in the corner followed by another clothesline. Kim arm drags Sky out of the corner and Sky tags out to Angle. Styles tags into the match and Angle backs off into a corner. Angle leg sweeps Styles, but Styles gets wrist control. Angle strikes Styles , but Styles responds with a scoop slam and a knee drop. Styles tries for a cover, but Angle kicks out at two. Angle uppercuts Styles and is met with a dropkick. Styles tries for a cover, but Angle kicks out again. Frank Trigg makes his way out to ringside. Styles sees Trigg as Karen Angle comes out as the show goes to commercial.
Angle delivers a backbreaker to Styles for a two count. Angle controls Styles with a body scissors and puts a chin lock on Styles. During the break, Trigg distracted Styles allowing Angle to gain the advantage. Styles gets to his feet and counters an Olympic Slam with a DDT. Styles and Angle trade right hands in the middle of the ring. Angle uppercuts Styles, but Styles drops Angle with several clotheslines. Styles nails Angle with a Pele kick. Angle backdrops Styles and they collide on stereo clotheslines. All four ladies are tagged in with Kim and ODB hitting stereo dropkicks and flapjacks. Kim slams Sky onto Love. Styles dives over the ropes to take Angle out with a somersault dive. Kim plants Sky with a neckbreaker to win the match. (**1/4. An average match and it was expected that the women would factor in the finish. Actually, Sky taking the fall makes the most sense as she’s not involved in the PPV match.) After the match, Angle and the Beautiful People attack. Karen low blows Kurt to prevent the ankle lock. Trigg enters and decks Styles from behind followed by a slam. Kurt puts the ankle lock on Styles and Trigg taunts Styles. Kim gets the brown paper bag treatment to end the program.
Final Thoughts:
I’d say this was a solid episode of Impact for the go-home show before Victory Road. Sting being inserted in some manner to the main event at Victory Road is a little weird. Booker really seems to be a guy who continues to be put on the back burner for some reason. Booker is in the main event, but whether it’s Nash or now Sting someone else is being used to draw interest into the match. Victory Road looks to be shaping up as a solid B-level pay per view outside of the core four events.
Thanks for reading.