Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 8/28/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Awesome Kong defeated Sojournor Bolt
2.) Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed defeated TNA X-Division Champion Petey Williams & Abdul Bashir
3.) Curry Man defeated Jimmy Rave
4.) Kurt Angle defeated Kevin Nash in a qualifying match
5.) The Beautiful People (Angelina Love & Velvet Sky) defeated Roxxi & TNA Knockouts Champion Taylor Wilde
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video package promoting Sting and wondering if Sting has aligned with Kurt Angle and Booker T to combat TNA World Champion Samoa Joe, AJ Styles and Jeff Jarrett. Tonight, we will get an explantation from Sting.
2.) Earlier today, Sting arrives to the building. Lauren walks up asking if we’ll hear from Sting. Sting tells Lauren that the time has come and tonight is the night.
3.) Bolt gets in Kong’s face, but is shoved away. Bolt shoves Kong and Kong shoves Bolt into the corner. Bolt forearms Kong in the corner and runs the ropes to deliver a couple of dropkicks. Bolt leaps off the ropes to forearm Kong. Kong stops Bolt with a strike and Bolt rolls to the floor. Kong sends Bolt into the guard railing. Mike Tenay announces that Gail Kim has left TNA. Kong sends Bolt into the ring steps. Bolt kicks Kong a few times and heads to the corner. Bolt leaps off the middle rope, but Kong clotheslines Bolt in midair. Kong backhands Bolt, but misses a spinning back fist. Bolt strikes Kong, but Kong delivers the spinning back fist. Kong hits the Awesome Bomb for the win. (*. It sucks that Gail Kim has left TNA and the rivalry between Kong and Kim will not have further installments. Kong continues to entertain by simply kicking ass.) After the match, Kong continues to beat on Bolt. Two chairs are setup and Kong tries for a powerbomb, but ODB runs into the ring to make the save. ODB throws chairs to clean house. ODB plants Kong with a tornado DDT and pummels Kong with strikes on the mat. Several officials come out to pull ODB off of Kong as ODB put an STF on Kong.
4.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with AJ Styles for an interview. Styles is always interested in the world title and recalls his history with Christian Cage. Styles thinks Cage is one of the best wrestlers in the world and they are both up for the challenge next week. Borash brings up Sting. Styles promises that Sting is getting his receipt for Hard Justice. Styles will hear Sting out and put his fist down Sting’s throat. Borash asks where Kurt’s gold medal is at. Styles simply says the medal is in good hands.
5.) TNA Roughcut is up next focusing on Consequences Creed recalling how he got a TNA contract. Creed got advice from Terry Taylor. Taylor says that he was most impressed by Creed’s charisma and work ethic. AJ Styles met Creed at NWA Anarchy. Footage of Creed getting the TNA contract at an NWA Anarchy show is shown.
6.) Lethal and Bashir kickoff the tag match with Bashir backing Lethal into a corner and nearly striking Williams when Lethal avoided Bashir. Lethal nails Bashir with a few elbow strikes and hits a top rope double axe handle for a two count. Creed tags into the match and double teams Bashir with strikes for a near fall. Bashir rams Creed into the corner and delivers right hands before tagging in Williams. Williams strikes Creed in the corner, but Creed splashes Williams in the corner. Creed goes to the apron where Khan yanks Creed off the apron to the floor. Williams rolls Creed into the ring for a near fall. Williams delivers a jawbreaker and a spinning heel kick to Creed. Bashir tags into the match and stomps Creed a few times before driving Creed into the corner and delivers chops. Creed counters Bashir, but is sent into the corner chest first. Bashir covers for a near fall. Williams tags into the match and stomps Creed in the corner. Williams scoop slams Creed and goes to the apron. Williams misses a slingshot senton and Lethal tags into the match. Lethal clotheslines and shoulder blocks Williams followed by a hip toss and a seated dropkick for a two count as Bashir makes the save. Lethal is double teamed briefly and hits a flatliner/DDT combo on Williams and Bashir! Lethal heads to the top rope, but Bashir shoves Lethal to the mat. Creed shoves Bashir off the ropes. Williams is distracted and Lethal rolls Williams up for the win. After the match, Bashir and Williams argue following the loss. Bashir shoves Williams, but several officials enter the ring to keep them apart. (**. Not a bad TV tag match. I’m wondering if they are positioning Lethal to be a contender following his feud with Dutt. I would have figured that Creed would have picked up the win to continue his momentum. Lethal’s flurry of offense was a bright spot in the match.)
7.) Backstage, Lauren interviews ODB regarding Awesome Kong. ODB says she’s doesn’t sweat Kong and wants her to bring it hard and rough because that’s how she likes it. ODB claims the zoo isn’t big enough for the both of them.
8.) Karen’s Angle is up next with Abyss as her guest. Abyss corrects Karen by saying his name is Chris Parks. Abyss sits down on the ground to make himself more comfortable. Karen says they know Abyss’s history in TNA. Abyss considers the mental hospital his home because they took care of him. Abyss is someone who destroys people, but he was taught that he’s Chris and he’s a good person. Abyss is part of him and always trying to get out. Abyss doesn’t know what is in store for Abyss or Chris. Abyss knows that Chris and Abyss are one. Abyss wants to wrestle and challenges anyone because he’s rehabilitated. Abyss asks Karen what she likes in a man now that she’s single. Abyss asks if she likes someone who snarls, whispers, or screams. Abyss wrote a poem for Karen. “Karen your skin is golden. Your eyes are brown. I could take you with me, but you can’t make a sound.” Abyss notes that has deep love for Karen and rips his hair out. Abyss laughs while Karen is terrified.
9.) Backstage, Lauren is with the Beautiful People and Kip James. Kip is fixing up Lauren’s hair and makeup. Lauren has enough and leaves the segment. Velvet Sky cuts a promo on facing Taylor Wilde and Roxxi tonight. Sky considers them a hideous duo and asks why the ladies can’t understand they are not in their league. Sky claims they are better than them. Sky says they are better than everyone and all the girls want to be like. All the boys want to be with them. Love chimes in and says there are plenty of women who want to be with them, but they don’t swing that way. Love reveals she’s wrestling Taylor Wilde at No Surrender for the TNA Knockouts Championship. Love promises she’s going to hurt Wilde and she’s going to pin Wilde’s cottage cheese ass.
10.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Kurt Angle and Frank Trigg. Angle gets pissed at Borash for saying he’s a former gold medalist. Angle reminds Borash that he still is a gold medalist and Styles hit him with a guitar to beat him. Angle hopes Styles shows up tonight because he’ll kick his ass. Angle isn’t going to sleep until he has the gold medal again. Borash tells Angle that Styles says he doesn’t have the gold medal and Angle is livid. Frank Trigg reminds Angle that he has a match with Kevin Nash tonight to get a TNA World Championship shot. Trigg tells Angle he’s not like Tomko who leaves his side to become a shoot fighter in Japan. Any problem that Angle has, Trigg has too.
11.) Curry takes Rave out with a somersault dive to the floor and sends Rave back first into the apron. Curry chops Rave and Hemme gets on the apron. Curry takes Hemme off the apron, but Rave leg sweeps Curry onto the apron. Rave rams Curry into the corner and delivers a few stomps. Rave covers for a two count. Rave clotheslines Curry coming off the ropes. Curry chops Rave several times and is met with a boot. Curry delivers a spinning heel kick to stop Rave’s momentum. Curry jabs Rave followed by a backdrop and a clothesline. Curry hits a springboard crossbody for a near fall. Curry hooks Rave for a suplex, but Rave counters. Rave knee lifts Curry and hits a shining wizard for a two count. Curry delivers a backbreaker out of the corner. Curry plants Rave with the Spice Rack and wins the match. (*1/2. A quick match, but Curry Man looked good and his offense came across impactful.) After the match, Hemme slaps Curry. Lance Rock enters the ring and Hemme low blows Curry. Rock hits a sit out slam. Hemme slaps Curry several times. Super Eric and Shark Boy make their way out to make the save. Rock and Rave bail to the floor to avoid further punishment.
12.) Backstage, Lauren is with Jim Cornette in his office. Cornette adds a match to No Surrender. It will be the Rock ’n’ Rave Infection & Christy Hemme taking on The Prince Justice Brotherhood in a six person tag match. Traci enters the room and she sits down. Cornette asks if Traci remembers the offer she made him a month ago. Cornette accepts the offer and tells Traci about how he gets videos from 700 women wanting to be part of the division. Cornette needs someone who speaks their language. Cornette doesn’t want to know anything and wants the girls out of his hair. Cornette tells Traci this is a business and wrestlers are products with a shelf life. Cornette wants her to remember that and they’ll get along well. Cornette walks off. Traci tells Lauren she may find out first hand what shelf life is all about.
13.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Booker T and Team 3D. Borash notes that Booker T could become TNA World Champion at No Surrender. Booker says it was a great night, but he stops due to Team 3D arguing over a jacket. Booker says he invited them to watch the Sting promo and tells them to be quiet. Booker says there will be no excuses at No Surrender because there will be no guitar. Booker wants to toast to good friends and good times. Brother Ray spills his drink on Sharmell and gets kicked out by Booker.
14.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Kevin Nash regarding his match with Kurt Angle tonight. Nash tells Borash that he did a favor for Jim Cornette a while back and Cornete owed him. Well, tonight he’s cashing in on that favor to get a shot at the title. Nash has been trying to find Samoa Joe and Joe is looking for Sting. Nash figures he can watch Joe’s back at No Surrender. However, if Joe isn’t focused there’s a good chance Nash could become champion for a sixth time.
15.) TNA World Champion Samoa Joe joined commentary for the next match.
16.) Angle bails to the floor to avoid a lockup with Nash at the start of the bout. Nash knee lifts Angle followed by a strike over the back and forearms Angle to the mat. Angle ducks a couple of strikes, but is caught on a crossbody and slammed. Nash misses an elbow drop off the ropes and Angle pummels Nash in the corner. Nash sends Angle into the corner to deliver a clothesline. Nash delivers a backbreaker and keeps Angle over his knee. Nash covers for a two count. Nash knee lifts Angle in the corner several times. Nash elbows Angle dropping Angle to his knees. Nash delivers an elbow strike to the neck. Nash chokes Angle in the corner and Angle staggers to the corner. Nash strikes Angle in the corner as the show goes to commercial.
Angle stomps on the left knee of Nash to keep control of the match. Angle forearms Nash to the mat. Angle works over the left knee with an elbow drop and keeps leg control. Angle locks in a figure four in the middle of the ring. Nash prevents his shoulders from staying down on the mat for three seconds. Angle keeps the figure four locked in for several moments. Nash manages to rollover and puts the pressure on Angle before reaching the ropes to break the hold. Angle stomps Nash on the knee several times. Nash plants Angle with a side slam and both men are down. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Nash decks Angle with a clothesline and delivers snake eyes in the corner. Nash puts Angle over the middle rope and splashes onto Angle’s back, but is hobbling due to his knee. Nash delivers a leaping shoulder block for a near fall. Nash clotheslines Angle over the top to the floor. Angle crawls to the announcers table and Nash swipes at Joe. Nash rolls Angle into the ring. Joe leaves the commentary table. Nash big boots Angle coming off the ropes. Nash tries for the Jackknife, but Joe gets on the apron and Angle low blows Nash. Angle hits the Olympic Slam and pins Nash to win the match. (**. I’m not entirely sure why Nash would swipe at Joe as a way to keep Joe focused, but it completely cost him the match. These two never had a singles match prior to this and there was never a blowoff to when Nash was acting as Angle’s doctor last year, so there was some meaning behind this bout that wasn’t even mentioned. It was a decent encounter that exceeded my expectations.)
17.) TNA World Champion Samoa Joe enters the ring as Nash remains on the mat. Joe paces back and forth as Nash gets to his feet. Joe confronts Nash about temper and tells Nash to practice what he preaches. Joe keeps taunting Nash about keeping his cool.
18.) A video package promoting the history of the guitar in TNA. There is also a video package promoting Jeff Jarrett.
19.) Backstage, Lauren is with So Cal Val, who is sporting a black eye. Val is mad about Lethal and Dutt acting as children and she’s had enough. Val says they are going to hang the ring above the ring and whomever gets the ring gets her. Val thinks it is the only way to get out of this nightmare.
20.) Roxxi and Love kickoff the tag match with Roxxi shoving Love to the mat. Love gets some advice from Kip at ringside. Roxxi takes Love down to the mat and gets control with a front face lock leading to a one count. Roxxi keeps control with a wrist lock and tags in Wilde causing Love to bail to the floor. Love taunts Wilde from the floor saying she’s too smart for Wilde. Sky tags into the match to try her luck against Wilde. Wilde pummels Sky on the mat with right hands. Sky knee lifts Wilde, but Wilde hits a Thez Press and more right hands. Wilde stomps Sky and sends Sky into the corner to deliver another kick to the midsection. Wilde continues with strike, but Love nails Wilde with a makeup case as the referee was distracted. Sky chokes Wilde over the middle rope and delivers a snapmare followed by a kick to the back. Sky rams Wilde into the corner and Love enters to keep the advantage. Love snapmares Wilde followed by a seated dropkick. Love slams Wilde to the mat by her hair. The show goes to commercial.
Roxxi and Love tag into the match with Roxxi cleaning house. Roxxi tosses Love overhead with a suplex. Roxxi boots Love for a two count. Roxxi dropkicks Sky to the floor. Roxxi sunset flips Love for a two count. Love misses a pump kick and Roxxi delivers a spinebuster for a two count. All four men are brawling in the ring at this point. Wilde misses a middle rope crossbody. Roxxi tries for the Voodoo Drop on Love, but Sky sprays something into Roxxi’s eyes. Love hits a running bicycle kick and pins Roxxi for the win. (*. The Beautiful People are not good and they don’t entertain me in the ring. They are far behind the other women with their in-ring skills and it kind of takes me out of the matches.) After the match, Kip puts the brown paper bag over Roxxi’s head. Taylor Wilde slaps Kip a couple of times, but she’s double teamed by Love and Sky. Kip grabs scissors and teases cutting Wilde’s hair. However, Rhino runs into the ring and makes the save.
21.) Sting makes his way out to cut a promo to finish the program. Sting talks about having an interview with Mike Tenay a few months ago about retiring wrestling. Sting considered leaving wrestling, but the thought of what would happen handing the business over to the next generation. Sting knew it would be a mistake to do that. Sting knows that the new generation would spit in the face of the business just as they do to him. Sting recalls Samoa Joe taking things to the next step at Victory Road instead of taking the win. Sting considers Booker T a legend in this business, but Joe wanted to disrespect a legend. Sting did it because he wanted to help Joe and reason with him. Sting looked at Joe as someone who could carry the company into the future, but Joe flipped him off. Sting takes that as disrespect towards someone who made it possible for Joe to have a job in wrestling. Sting recalls Ric Flair helping him early in his career and he respected Flair for doing so. Sting knew without Flair he couldn’t be a wrestler. Sting turns his attention to AJ Styles, who has called Sting a coward. Sting doesn’t owe Styles anything and owes nothing to anyone. Sting paved the way for AJ Styles to be a wrestler. Sting thinks Styles should be thanking him. Sting considers most of the wrestlers in the back as spoiled rotten brats. Sting is going to bring respect back into this business one way or another. Sting wants someone to confront him face to face if they think he’s wrong.
AJ Styles makes his way out to confront Sting in the ring. Styles tells Sting that he’s dead wrong. Styles admits he looks up to Sting and assures Sting that he never disrespected him. styles says he helped get TNA started. Sting wanted to help Styles too because he looked at Styles as the future of the business. Sting says you can’t respect someone and call them a coward at the same time. Sting tells Styles that he took it further at Hard Justice instead of taking the victory. Sting puts over Angle as an Olympic gold medalist, which none of them have done. Sting is going to give Styles his baseball bat and turnaround to let Styles hit him with it. Styles takes the bat and Sting turns his back. Sting shoves Styles to use the bat. Styles goes to spin Sting around, but Sting blocks and plants Styles with the Scorpion Death Drop.
Jeff Jarrett’s music hits and Sting remains in the ring smirking as the show ends with Jarrett’s music playing, but no appearance by Jarrett.
Final Thoughts:
They are going into the old vs. new generation and I think it’s a great direction to go in. It could easily be a major TV storyline for many months if they don’t speed through it. The in-ring this week was mostly average, but not painfully dull. It will be interesting to see how they build into Bound For Glory and if the new vs. old is a major focus heading into their big event or if they wait to fully transition into the angle until after BFG.
Thanks for reading.