Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 10/23/2008
From: Las Vegas, NV
Matches:
1.) Christy Hemme defeated Velvet Sky
2.) TNA X-Division Champion Abdul Bashir defeated Jay Lethal to retain the title
3.) Beer Money Inc. & Team 3D defeated LAX, Abyss & Matt Morgan in a hardcore gauntlet match
4.) Beer Money Inc. defeated Team 3D
5.) Awesome Kong defeated TNA Knockouts Champion Taylor Wilde to win the title
6.) Kevin Nash & TNA World Champion Sting defeated AJ Styles & Samoa Joe
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video package highlighting the history of TNA and how they’ve reached this moment in their existence.
2.) This is the first ever live two-hour edition of Impact on the road in Las Vegas. It is also in HD for the first time.
3.) Hemme spears Sky to the mat and delivers several strikes on the mat. Hemme knee lifts Sky followed by chops. Hemme monkey flips Sky out of the corner. Love and Kip get on the apron. Love spray something into Hemme’s face and Sky rams Hemme onto the mat several times. Sky tosses Hemme across the ring by her hair. Sky steps on Hemme’s hair and pulls on her arms. Sky chokes Hemme on the mat to maintain control of the match. Sky chops Hemme against the ropes and rams the back of Hemme’s head into the corner. Hemme yanks Sky off the ropes to the mat. Sky misses a splash in the corner. Hemme clotheslines Sky and hits a forearm smash. Hemme ducks a clothesline and kicks Sky to the mat. Hemme drives Sky face first to the mat. Hemme hits a middle rope leg drop and pins Sky for the win. (*1/2. Honestly, I’m shocked that Hemme won cleanly here. I’m guessing she might be in line for a push in the Knockouts division since the Beautiful People have been the top heel group in the division for a decent amount of time now.)
4.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is sitting with Kurt Angle. Borash says Angle urgently called Borash. Angle claims to have a huge announcement that is bigger than Foley’s tonight. Angle says he needed to do something drastic and decided to change the face of professional wrestling forever. Angle made a few phone calls and the deal was done at midnight last night. Borash asks what this has to do with Booker T. Booker T is sitting with Sharmell and says that they are the best of the best. Booker says they are the lions of TNA and they will take what they want. They want respect from this point on. Kevin Nash is sitting there as well. Nash says this business is about money, power and respect. Samoa Joe didn’t give him respect. Nash tried to give wisdom to Samoa Joe and Joe spat in his face. Nash says Joe made this personal and that’s why he’s back. Borash thinks there’s an uprising backstage. Borash thinks the odds may be stacked against them. Angle says this business has been built on honor, dignity and respect. Angle tells Borash there is one more and he’s not going in with a stick, but there’s heavy artillery. Angle reveals another member.. TNA World Champion Sting. Sting says they tried to do things the nice way and they just wanted a little bit of respect. Sting talks about 75 years of experience amongst the four of them. Sting says there is no more asking, but now it is demanding. Sting walks off. Angle offers a toast to the Main Event Mafia. This is the birth of MEM.
5.) Outside, Lauren is waiting for the arrival of Mick Foley. Lauren promotes the enormous announcement. Foley ends up arriving behind Lauren. Lauren tries to get the announcement out of Foley, but Foley says he’s going to wait for later. Foley promises it is a big announcement.
6.) Booker T and Sharmell make their way down to the ring to cut a promo. Booker thanks the fans for their reception. Booker says he’s got something to change the landscape of pro wrestling. Booker opens his briefcase to reveal a bag. Booker reveals a championship out of the bag. It is the TNA Legends Championship. Booker says the title belongs to him and only him. Booker proclaims himself as the TNA Legends Champion.
Christian Cage’s music hits and Christian interrupts the segment. Cage enters the ring to confront Booker and Sharmell. Cage says when he hears the word legend it has a few different meanings. Cage says legend doesn’t look like a Lil John impersonator that speaks with a ridiculous accent. Cage believes a legend is a man with a track record that commands respect. Cage asks if Booker has respect. Cage notes that Booker didn’t anyone for the championship and created it on his own. Booker tells Cage tonight is a celebration and wants to ask Cage a question. Cage mocks Booker by doing some Lil John quotes. Booker is losing his temper, but regains composure. Booker says tonight is about Cage and not him. Booker tells Cage he’s a legend and Cage should join the Main Event Mafia. Cage appreciates the invitation, but says he’s not interested. Cage thinks Booker should wrestle someone for the TNA Legends Championship. Cage wants to wrestle Booker for the title at Turning Point. Cage doesn’t want the title or need it, but when he beats Booker it will piss Booker off. Cage walks off telling Booker that is a challenge in his country. Booker tells Cage he deserves a title shot and accepts the challenge. Booker tells Cage when he wins that Cage will join the Main Event Mafia no questions asked.
7.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Matt Morgan and Abyss regarding the gauntlet match tonight. Abyss is still holding his ribs. Morgan tells Abyss he’s not going to the ring. Morgan can’t be convinced that Abyss is feeling well enough to compete. Morgan talks about Abyss suffering third degree burns on 10% of his body at Bound For Glory. Morgan wouldn’t be a good friend to have Abyss in the ring. Abyss considers Morgan a dear friend and says he had a therapy session where he needs to speak for himself. Abyss describes the puss coming out of him. Abyss believes he’ll be okay and he’ll heal. Abyss tells Morgan they have unsettled business with Kurt Angle tonight. Morgan tells Abyss that’s not the case and Morgan is going to take care of business on his own tonight. Abyss says he has to do something about Kurt Angle.
8.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Jeff Jarrett for an interview. Borash wants to know the announcement, but Jarrett isn’t going to spoil Foley’s announcement. Borash asks if Jarrett is going to wrestle Kurt Angle at Turning Point. Jarrett says he’s not getting in the ring again and Angle will get over it.
9.) Bashir attacks Lethal before the bell and delivers a back suplex. Bashir taunts the crowd before hammering away on Lethal against the ropes. Bashir snapmares Lethal and keeps control on the mat. Lethal elbows free, but Bashir clubs Lethal over the back. Lethal head scissors Bashir and tries for a handspring, but settles for a dropkick. Lethal suicide dives Bashir on the floor. Lethal heads to the top rope missing an elbow drop attempt. Bashir plants Lethal with a DDT for the win. (*. Huh. That’s a bit weird. A decisive win by Bashir and in rather short order. Is Lethal in the dog house? Is Bashir getting a massive run as a heel champion?)
10.) Backstage, Lauren is with AJ Styles and Samoa Joe for an interview. Styles doesn’t know how it came to this. Styles talks about how they were told it was the best opportunity six years ago with the veterans to mentor them, but they are falling apart at the seams. Styles says this is about TNA and they’re going to prove it. Joe grabs the camera and says this is Nash’s fault. Joe is going to hunt Nash and get what is his. Joe is going to take Nash’s career for taking his championship. Joe will take anyone’s career that gets in his way.
11.) A video package promoting Suicide the video game character.
12.) Backstage, Rhino confronts Sheik Bashir. Rhino tells Bashir he is sick and tired of Bashir talking bad of his country. Rhino grabs Bashir by the throat and tells Bashir he’s going to deport Bashir in a bodybag. Bashir low blows Rhino and chokes Rhino on the ground. Bashir drops a lighting fixture onto Rhino and walks off. Lauren checks on Rhino to end the segment.
13.) TNA Tag Team Champion James Storm is the first entrant of the hardcore gauntlet. Brother Ray is the second entrant for the gauntlet match. Storm hammers away on Ray on the mat. Ray overhand chops Storm and the crowd is cheering for Ray. Ray overhand chops Storm against the ropes. Ray hip tosses Storm and delivers a clothesline. Ray scoop slams Storm and taunts the crowd. Storm avoids being sent to the floor.
The third entrance is TNA Tag Team Champion Robert Roode. Ray fights off Roode with jabs in the corner. Ray is worked over in the corner with strikes. Ray runs into a boor by Roode and kicked by Storm from behind. Roode hits a blockbuster on Ray followed by a double snap suplex. Storm chokes Ray over the middle rope.
Brother Devon is the fourth entrant and cleans house on Beer Money. Devon shoulder blocks Roode and drops Storm with a neckbreaker. Devon clotheslines Roode and delivers a clothesline to Storm after avoiding Storm in the corner. Ray side slams Roode as Devon leg drops Roode on the way down.
Hernandez is the fifth entrant into the match and hits a slingshot double clothesline on Team 3D. Hernandez backdrops Storm, but Roode kicks Hernandez. Hernandez shoulder blocks Roode and catches Storm coming off the middle rope to hit a sit out powerbomb. Hernandez pummels Devon in the corner, but Ray puts Hernandez on his shoulders and Devon hits a top rope clothesline on Hernandez.
Homicide is the sixth entrant into the gauntlet. Homicide missile dropkicks Team 3D and plays to the crowd before hammering away on Team 3D. Homicide elbows Devon in the corner and delivers a tornado DDT. Homicide avoids Ray in the corner and climbs to the top, and hits a hurricanrana on Ray. Homicide elbows Devon to the mat.
Matt Morgan is the seventh entrant and cleans house. Morgan big boots Beer Money and fall away slams Homicide. Morgan eliminates Homicide and then Devon. Morgan backdrops Hernandez over the top to the floor. Morgan decks Ray and Roode to keep control.
Abyss comes out as the eighth and final entrant despite Morgan tells Abyss not to do it. Morgan is eliminated by Roode from behind. Abyss is double teamed on the floor by Beer Money. The fans have voted that tables are legal for the match.
Ray sets up a table and Devon has lighter fluid. Abyss fights off Beer Money on the floor. Abyss gets in the ring and prevents the table being put on fire. Abyss punches Team 3D. Abyss is stopped by Devon with a low blow and Team 3D clothesline Abyss to the floor.
14.) Beer Money and Team 3D are now competing in a tag match. The fans want fire. Devon counters Roode and they hit the 3D on Roode through the table, but Jacqueline pulls out the referee. Storm spits beer into Devon’s face and picks up the win. (**. Obviously this is for both the gauntlet and the quick tag match afterward. I can totally see Morgan snapping on Abyss for not listening to him, so there’s some angle advancement there. If I had to guess, Team 3D looks to be the next team to chase Beer Money and that would require a babyface turn.)
15.) Kurt Angle makes his way out to the ring to cut a promo. David Penzer is shown with a bruise on his face due to Angle’s attack last week. Angle considers this a historical night due to the birth of the Main Event Mafia. Angle believes they will change the face of professional wrestling forever. Angle doesn’t care about Mick Foley’s announcement. Angle wants Jarrett to be a real man and look him face to face.
Jeff Jarrett comes out to the aisle to confront Angle. Jarrett is going to tell Angle something for the last time. Jarrett tells Angle it is over and it’s done between them. Jarrett says there’s no reason for him to be in the ring. Jarrett is passing the torch and suggests Angle do the same thing. Jarrett says it is time for the youngsters. Angle screams that he is TNA and the greatest wrestler that ever lived. Angle only cares about whooping Jarrett’s ass tonight. Jarrett tells Angle to take no as an answer. Jarrett says there’s a lot of people who would love to have a match with Angle.
Abyss is behind Angle and decks Angle with a forearm strike signaling for a chokeslam. Angle kicks Abyss several times to break free. Abyss tries for Black Hole Slam, but Angle breaks free and escapes to the floor.
16.) Backstage, Mick Foley is walking as Tenay continues to promote the big announcement.
17.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Raisha Saeed and Awesome Kong. Saeed calls Lauren a swine and asks how many times does Kong have to do this. Saeed says Kong is tired of Taylor Wilde and wants new blood. Saeed proclaims Kong will regain the TNA Knockouts Championship. Saeed is confident it will be Taylor Wilde’s last match period.
18.) Backstage, TNA Knockouts Champion Taylor Wilde is interviewed by Jeremy Borash. Wilde is going to go out there and do what she’s been doing. Wilde says she knows what Kong can do and Kong is going to have to end her career to beat her for the title.
19.) Wilde ducks a clothesline, but Kong knocks Wilde to the mat and misses a splash. Wilde elbow drops Kong on the back and heads to the top, but is met with a clothesline in midair. Kong covers for a two count. Kong tosses Wilde across the ring and delivers a chop against the ropes. Kong chokes Wilde in the corner. Kong splashes Wilde in the corner. Wilde strikes Kong a few times, but Kong chokeslams Wilde to the mat for a near fall. Kong tries for a powerbomb, but Wilde hits a facebuster. Wilde dropkicks Kong and dropkicks Kong. Wilde heads to the top rope hitting a missile dropkick for a near fall. Wilde hits a hurricanrana for a two count on Kong. Saeed pulls Wilde off the cover and Wilde strikes Saeed. Kong grabs Wilde to hit the Awesome Bomb for the clean win and wins the title. (**. A short match, but a decent match. Kong being the champion is probably the best decision and now we can enjoy someone chasing her title.)
20.) The Main Event Mafia are talking backstage as Sting and Nash head toward the ring for the main event.
21.) Nick Bockwinkel is shown at ringside watching the show.
22.) Styles hammers away on Nash in the corner followed by shoulder rams. Nash knee lifts Styles to avoid being sent into the corner. Joe tags into the match, but Nash tags out. Sting is slapped by Joe and they trade right hands. Sting eye rakes Joe, but Joe delivers an elbow and a kick in the corner. Styles tags back into the match and works over Sting with a scoop slam. Styles knee drops Sting before decking Nash on the apron. Sting stops Styles with a jawbreaker and Nash clotheslines Styles from the apron as the show goes to commercial.
Styles strikes Sting a few times and sunset flips the champ for a two count. Styles nails Sting with a Pele kick and both men are down. Nash tags into the match as Joe gets tagged in as well. Joe pummels Nash with strikes and ducks a clothesline to deliver a big boot and a senton splash for a two count. Joe headbutts Nash against the ropes followed by jabs and Sting accidentally splashes Nash in the corner. Joe tosses Sting over the top to the floor. Nash hits Joe with the TNA World Championship and pins Joe for the win. (*1/2. I think it is obvious that Main Event Mafia are going to dominate television a little while to give them a ton of steam for when the youngsters fight back.) After the match, Styles attacks Nash and Sting. Joe puts a choke on Nash as Styles pummels Sting in the corner. Kurt Angle and Booker T enter the ring to assist their pals. Booker decks Styles with the TNA Legends Championship. Styles and Joe have both been busted open. Main Event Mafia stand tall in the ring.
23.) Mick Foley makes his way out to the ring for the major announcement. Foley talks about people saying he’s made a lot of money in the business. Jeff Jarrett brought up rumors that have been following Foley for twenty years that Foley is a cheap guy. Foley says there’s not a lot that goes into his looks.
Kurt Angle makes his way out to confront Foley. Angle is joined by the other members of the Main Event Mafia. Angle confronts Foley about his insults towards him and headbutts Foley to the mat. Angle asks if Foley thinks this is funny now. Foley stumbles to his feet and tells Angle this is still kind of funny. Foley says Jarrett asked if he’d be willing to make a major investment in TNA. Foley tells Angle that he just headbutted his new boss. Foley does a Vince McMahon impression, but doesn’t say Ange is fired. Instead, Foley tells Angle he’s free to work in TNA if he wants to. Foley says he invested in TNA because you invest in something you love and care about. Foley cares about TNA and loves the business. Foley believes everyone in the company for making TNA something. Foley mentions they could feel something major happening while they were in WWE. Foley thinks they are on the verge of being apart of something very big. Foley asks if Angle wants to be part of history, or be history. The choice is up to Angle. Foley plays to the crowd as confetti falls from the ceiling. Angle stares down Foley from the aisle. Main Event Mafia ask Angle on the aisle what is going on, but we don’t hear the answer.
Final Thoughts:
I think we’re entering an entertaining era of TNA as the Main Event Mafia is a star studded group and should have some good matches with the young core. TNA needs to capitalize on this and allow the young guys to fully prevail over the veterans. It’s a tough task to do, but from a decision standpoint it’s the best option. Foley being the boss is a tired authority figure angle, so I’m not all too excited for it. It’s an interesting choice to have all the heels (aside from Hemme) winning the matches on the live episode. I’m sure the reasoning was that Foley being the new boss would outweigh the heavy heel winners for the show. I’ll consider this a bit underwhelming of an episode for such a big moment in TNA history.
Thanks for reading.