Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 9/4/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Consequences Creed defeated Abdul Bashir in a number one contenders match for the TNA X-Division Championship
2.) TNA Tag Team Champions Beer Money Inc. defeated The Prince Justice Brotherhood in a non-title match
3.) Abyss fought Johnny Devine to a no contest
4.) ODB defeated Raisha Saeed
5.) Christian Cage defeated AJ Styles in a Four Way To Glory qualifying match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Kurt Angle makes his way down to the ring wearing a suit and sunglasses while having a microphone in hand to start Impact off with a promo in the ring. Booker T also makes his way out with Sharmell. Angle says that Samoa Joe is looking at what a real world champion should look like with himself and Booker T. They carry themselves with dignity, honor and respect all of which Joe would never have. Angle considers Joe a disgrace to the TNA World Championship. Booker chimes in and says Angle is right on the money. Booker says Sting spoke the truth last week in regard to the wrestlers today being spoiled and demanding everything when they’ve earned nothing. Booker says they are two champions and two gentlemen. Booker believes the title will be determined between himself and Angle the old fashion way at the PPV face to face between them. Angle believes at No Surrender they will take out the winner of Cage/Styles tonight with a snap of their finger. They are going to shove the guitar up Jeff Jarrett’s ass and then they’ll make an example out of Samoa Joe like the punk he is.
Christian Cage makes his way out to join the segment on the aisle. Cage couldn’t help but interrupt. Cage says Angle will have to worry about himself and not AJ Styles at No Surrender. Cage puts over Styles as the future of the business and they’ve patched up their differences from the past. Cage notes No Surrender taking place in his backyard. Cage hopes they are distracted because he’ll be focused on becoming a three-time heavyweight champion. Booker T gets fired up and asks what does Cage think he’s talking about. Booker thinks Cage is a fairytale dreaming politician. Booker thinks Cage should be rolling with them instead of the young guys. Booker says the young guys have not shown him any respect. Cage calls Booker Whoopi Goldberg and asks if Booker is worried about losing his spot. Angle chimes in and says they can do this either the easy way or the hard way. Cage asks what is the hard way and Angle begins to take off his suit. Angle runs up the ramp, but Cage fights Angle off and gets in the ring to brawl with Booker. Cage fights off both Booker and Angle for a moment, but the numbers game gets to Cage and Cage is beaten down. AJ Styles enters the ring and makes the save. Angle says he’ll make sure neither of them make it to No Surrender.
Jim Cornette enters the scene and says the fans deserve to see Cage vs. Styles without Angle and Booker sticking their nose into the main event. Cornette announces that if either one of them interfere in the main event than they both lose their spot in the main event at No Surrender. Cornette dares them to see if he’s bluffing.
2.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with TNA World Champion Samoa Joe for an interview. Borash asks if the guidance that Nash has given Joe is over with now. Joe talks about Nash telling him to not lose his temper, but Nash lost his temper and lost his match with Angle. Joe promises to put his hands on Nash next time he sees him. Borash brings up Sting addressing the fans tonight. Joe thinks Sting is going to talk about respect and tells Sting to earn some respect in TNA for once in his career. Joe says Sting takes money out of his pocket. Joe wants Sting to say it to his face, too. Joe will be out there for Sting’s comments.
3.) TNA Roughcut is up next. Terry Taylor says it took thirty seconds to sign Consequences Creed after Bound For Glory. Creed kept going to school while wrestling for TNA. Creed says it was one the best feelings he ever had competing at the PPV. AJ Styles believes Creed will hold titles in TNA and it’s a matter of time. Creed wants to know everything that goes on in the wrestling business.
4.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Sheik Abdul Bashir. Bashir tells Lauren it takes a lot of guts to talk to him a certain way. Bashir claims he is the victim and not the USA. Bashir says he had freedom and let him live the dream when he first got here. Bashir has given back to Lady American more so than what he has gotten. Bashir talks about giving unionized Americans work instead of illegals. Bashir denounces the terrorism attacks on 9/11, but at a snap of a finger all his wealth, success, safety and family was taken away from him. Bashir doesn’t mind torturing innocent people along the way. Bashir wants Lauren to let Lady America know he doesn’t love her anymore.
5.) Creed keeps wrist control and yanks Bashir down to the mat at the start of the bout. Bashir sends Creed into the corner, and yanks Creed off the middle rope by his hair. Bashir rams Creed face first into the corner followed by stomps and right hands. Bashir plants Creed with a back suplex for a two count. Bashir puts a chin lock on Creed in the middle of the ring. Creed elbows free, but Bashir puts a sleeper on Creed. Creed quickly counters with a sleeper and they end up colliding heads in the middle of the ring. Creed blocks being rammed into the corner and strikes Bashir several times. Creed nails Bashir with a couple of elbow strikes and jabs. Creed nails Bashir with a right hand after a split for a two count. Creed nails Bashir with a somersault clothesline for a two count. Creed waits in the corner, but misses a splash. Bashir uses the ropes in the corner to rollup Creed and wins the match. However, Creed argues about Bashir cheating and the referee asks the crowd. The match is restarted. Bashir attacks Creed from behind. Creed tries for a sunset flip, but Bashir grabs the referee. The referee kicks Bashir off of him and Creed is able to take Bashir down to win the match. (*1/2. I’m not a fan of the dusty finish nor am I a fan of the referee essentially costing Bashir the match. This doesn’t make Creed look like he’s a serious threat to the title.) After the match, Bashir wants the referee to hit him, but the referee is trying to cool things down. Bashir is still pissed about it and slaps Shane across the face. Shane snaps and ends up attacking Bashir with a flurry of strikes. Shane backdrops Bashir and clotheslines Bashir over the top to the floor. Shane realizes he snapped and Earl Hebner comes out to calm down Shane Sewell.
6.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Kevin Nash for an interview. Borash talks about Nash being a mentor for Samoa Joe and controlling his temper. Borash notes that Nash lost his temper last week. Nash admits he didn’t practice what he preaches and he tried to show Joe what it took and he fractured their relationship. Nash would like to talk to Joe, but doesn’t think Joe will listen to him. Nash thinks there’s a lot of truth in what Sting has been saying. Nash wonders if Joe will listen to Sting if he doesn’t listen to him.
7.) Backstage, Lauren is with the TNA Tag Team Champions Beer Money Inc. Roode and Storm are happy to announce something. They have been named the last two characters for the TNA Impact game coming out next week. Storm says he doesn’t play video games because he drinks too much. Roode explains to Storm about royalties and how they will make some money from it. The Prince Justice Brotherhood trio enter the scene and Super Eric says he will make sure they get taken out of the game due to their antics. Roode calls Eric a freak and says he’s a businessman who does whatever it takes. Curry Man chimes in and says he’s rich in Japan. Shark Boy insults Storm saying he drinks too much to forget about them kissing on a mountain somewhere. That leads to security keeping the teams apart to end the segment.
8.) A video package promoting Abyss and his recovery is shown.
9.) Backstage, Lauren is with the Beautiful People and Cute Kip for their announcement. Kip tells Lauren she will watch her tone and respect the Beautiful People. Velvet Sky says they have a special challenge for Taylor Wilde next week. They want to humiliate Wilde. Sky announces it will be a Beauty Pageant contest. There will be talent contest, evening gown contest, and swimsuit showdown. Sky promises they will show the world why Wilde will never be in their league. Kip has a few outfits for Love to try on.
10.) Backstage, Christy Hemme is seducing Curry Man telling him she likes it rough, too.
11.) Shark Boy takes Storm down with a Thez Press and right hands. Boy knocks Roode off the apron, but Storm stops Boy with a neckbreaker. Boy is rammed into Roode’s boot in the corner. Roode continues to work over Boy in the corner with strikes and boots. Roode back suplexs Boy for a two count. Boy fights back with several right hands. Boy delivers a facebuster over his knee and Eric gets tagged in, but the referee didn’t see it. Boy is met with a double suplex. We see that Curry Man has been attacked by Rave, Rock and Hemme in the parking lot. Eric gets the hot tag, but the referee didn’t see it again. Eric ignores the referee and backdrops Roode. Eric is stopped by the referee though. Storm superkicks Boy and Roode his the Payoff to pin Boy for the win. (*. Beer Money is a great team and this wasn’t all that competitive.) After the match, LAX music plays leading to Hernandez running off the tag champs. Homicide is on the ramp with a patch on his eye to attack the champs. Hernandez clotheslines Roode in the ring. Hernandez does the same to Storm. LAX beat down Beer Money in the ring. Homicide delivers a cutter to Roode to stand tall.
12.) Backstage, Abyss is sitting on the ground rocking back and forth prepping for his open challenge.
13.) Team 3D and Johnny Devine come out to answer the open challenge. Brother Ray talks about Abyss issuing an open challenge and calls him a moron. Ray says they accept the match on behalf of Johnny Devine. Devine is a bit shocked by this development.
14.) Devine sneaks up from behind to hit Abyss with a cooking sheet, but Abyss isn’t bothered and forearms Devine. Devine is given a trash can and whacks Abyss, but Abyss again doesn’t budge. Abyss tosses Devine over the top to the floor. Devine grabs a chair and delivers a shot, but Abyss ends up punching the chair into Devine’s face. Abyss chokeslams Devine. Abyss grabs a chair and goes to hit Devine, but stops. Team 3D enter the ring to attack Abyss from behind. Brother Devon tosses the referee to the floor. Brother Devon hits Abyss with a trash can. Matt Morgan makes his way out to make the save. Morgan cleans house with strikes. Morgan nails Devine with a big boot to knock Devine to the floor. Morgan tosses a chair to Abyss, but Abyss throws it down. (NR. I’m sure at some point Abyss will use weapons and the place will go nuts for it when he finally embraces it again.)
15.) Backstage, Lauren is with ODB. ODB is holding her butt suggesting she’s gotta poop because of beans. ODB kicks out a couple of guys in the mens restroom. They put fart noises in as ODB poops. ODB tells Lauren to not go in there.
16.) Outside, Lauren walks up to Sting’s truck upon arriving and asks for more insight, but Sting ignores her and walks into the building.
17.) ODB attacks Saeed on the floor and sends Saeed into the railing. Saeed manages to send ODB into the railing and delivers several stomps on the floor. Saeed clubs ODB over the back several times. Saeed rams ODB onto the apron face first. ODB is stopped on the apron by Saeed. Saeed dropkicks ODB off the apron to the floor. Saeed rolls ODB into the ring to continue the bout. ODB strikes Saeed, but is met with a forearm strike to the chest. Saeed scoop slams ODB and climbs the ropes. Saeed misses a moonsault attempt off the top rope. ODB plays to the crowd and ducks a clothesline. ODB clotheslines Saeed several times followed by a fallaway slam. ODB plays to the crowd some more and grabs her flask. ODB takes a shot and hits a running powerslam for the win. (*. There’s not much to this one. ODB is a good worker and I like her brawling style. ODB could be someone to replace the role that Gail Kim vacated upon returning to WWE.) After the match, ODB tries to take the mask off of Saeed, but Saeed is able to break free. ODB grabs Saeed on the floor and tries to pull the mask off again. However, Saeed escapes again until ODB tackles Saeed on the ramp. Saeed pushes ODB away again and runs backstage.
18.) ODB returns with the hood, but Awesome Kong clotheslines ODB from behind. Kong rams ODB back first into the ring post. Kong rolls ODB into the ring as the show goes to commercial. Kong hits the Implant Buster on ODB. Saeed slides a chair into the ring for Kong. Roxxi runs into the ring and also has a chair. They have dueling chairs until Saeed knocks Roxxi down from behind. Kong steps on Roxxi’s back. Kong clubs Roxxi over the back. Kong places a chair in the middle of the ring. Kong powerbombs Roxxi onto the steel chair to leave her laid out.
19.) Backstage, Lauren was with the Beautiful People and Cute Kip. Love shows off her outfit and they liked it. They did a brief pep talk to end the segment which had happened “moments ago”.
20.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with AJ Styles for an interview. Borash asks if Styles can fully focus tonight despite the issues with Sting. Styles hates that Borash brought it up. Styles should have put his fist down Sting’s throat instead of listening to Sting. Styles says Sting hasn’t done anything for them. Styles says Sting is no different than Angle and Booker T for jumping onto the bandwagon when TNA got onto SpikeTV. Styles is fired up about being on the road all the time earning his money while Sting is at home doing nothing. Styles respects Christian Cage. Styles says they’ve always done what they’ve said they’d do. Styles is going to win tonight and win the TNA World Championship at No Surrender.
21.) Styles tries for waist control, but Cage takes Styles down and gets a front face lock. Styles counters with a wrist lock and switches to a headlock. Styles shoulder blocks Cage, but Cage does the same for a one count and they have a standoff. Cage tries for a suplex, but Styles gets an inside cradle for a two count. They trade a series of pin attempts. Styles kicks and chops Cage to gain the advantage. Cage punches Styles, but is met with an elbow in the corner. Styles forearms Cage through the ropes to the floor. Styles goes to the apron and shoulder blocks Cage. Cage avoids a springboard by knocking Styles to the floor. Styles avoids a crossbody attempt on the floor. Styles hits a sliding head scissors on the floor as the show goes to commercial.
Cage delivers a neckbreaker for a two count to keep control of the match. Styles chops Cage and comes off the ropes, but is met with a forearm. Cage covers Styles for a two count. Cage snapmares Styles and delivers a kick to the back. Cage chops Styles in the corner several times. Styles responds with chops to control Cage in the corner. Cage kicks Styles and sends Styles into the corner, but is met with an elbow. Styles tries for a springboard reverse DDT, but Cage counters. Styles hits the springboard reverse DDT on a second attempt for a two count. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Styles dropkicks Cage coming off the ropes followed by a clothesline and an elbow strike. Styles misses a splash in the corner and Cage decks Styles with a clothesline. Cage heads to the top rope missing a frog splash. Styles kicks Cage and tries for the Styles Clash, but Cage avoids it. Cage tries for the Un-Prettier, but Styles counters hitting the Pele kick for a near fall. Styles heads to the apron looking for a springboard, but Cage avoids it and comes off the middle rope to uppercut Styles for a two count. Cage climbs to the top rope, but Styles stops Cage. Styles hooks Cage for a suplex, but Cage shoves Styles off and hits a top rope frog splash for a near fall.
Styles throws Cage to the floor, but Cage quickly gets to the top rope. Styles stops Cage with a strike and backdrops Cage off the top rope. Styles gains footing on the top rope missing the Spiral Tap. Cage tries for the Un-Prettier, but Styles shoves Cage into the referee. Frank Trigg slides into the ring and hits Styles with a kendo stick. Cage takes advantage despite not seeing the interference and hits the Un-Prettier to win the match. (***. Of course there’s interference to finish the main event. Trigg getting involved does not make feel good about where Styles is headed for No Surrender. The action here was good as they clearly know each other well and they worked a good pace match to keep interest in the action.)
22.) A length video package highlighting the recent happenings involving both Sting and Jeff Jarrett is shown.
23.) Sting comes out to cut a promo and he’s out there to talk about the lack of respect. Sting thought he’d get booed out of the building, but to his pleasant surprise that didn’t happen. Sting is blown away by the fans for cheering him. Sting knows that the fans want to bring respect back into the business. Sting knows that without the fans there isn’t wrestling or TNA. Sting also knows he wouldn’t be there without the fans. Sting wants to revisit Victory Road one more time when Booker T was beaten down by Samoa Joe. Sting says there was a percentage of fans that wanted Booker T to be taken out by Joe. There was a percentage of fans that wanted Kurt Angle to be taken out by AJ Styles at Hard Justice. There was a percentage of fans that wanted AJ Styles to use the baseball bat on Sting last week, too. Sting agrees that fans should be part of the show. Sting knows the fans know who they are who can’t be the show. Sting is drawing a line in the sand. Sting asks the fans where do they stand.
TNA World Champion Samoa Joe makes his way out to the ring through the crowd. Joe says he’s going to stand on Sting’s throat. Sting asks if Joe wants to beat him up. Sting is going to do the same thing for Joe that he did for Styles last week. Sting gives Joe the bat and shoves Joe before turning his back. Sting wants Joe to hit him with the bat. Joe says he doesn’t need Sting’s respect nor does he need the bat. Joe has a baton, but Kevin Nash comes out to join the segment. Nash knows he’s the last person Joe wants to see right now. Nash wants Joe to do it straight up. Sting hits Joe with the bat and hits the Scorpion Death Drop. Jeff Jarrett’s music plays as Joe is laid out. Sting grabs the microphone and says next week he wants to talk to Jeff Jarrett.
Final Thoughts:
A good main event caps off an entertaining overall episode of Impact this week. I’ll give credit to TNA for making most of their segments serve a purpose whether they are good or bad. They tend to not have many filler segments. I feel like there was more purpose to the show this week and they advanced most of the feuds for No Surrender.
Thanks for reading.