Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 11/27/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Rhino defeated Sonjay Dutt and Hernandez in the first round of the Turkey Bowl
2.) Alex Shelley defeated Consequences Creed and Cute Kip in the first round of the Turkey Bowl
3.) TNA X-Division Champion Abdul Bashir defeated Jimmy Rave and Matt Morgan in the first round of the Turkey Bowl
4.) Christy Hemme defeated Raisha Saeed in a number one contenders match
5.) Rhino defeated Abdul Bashir and Alex Shelley to win the 2008 Turkey Bowl
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) There’s a video package promoting the second annual Turkey Bowl. There are several football phrases used during the video package.
2.) TNA Front Line, which is the new stable name for the group of TNA wrestlers against MEM, make their way down to the ring with some generic music. Rhino led the Front Line to the ring along with Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Jay Lethal, Consequences Creed, ODB, Eric Young, Chris Sabin, and Alex Shelley. Rhino took the liberty to name their group TNA Front Line. Rhino says when you’re a soldier you want to be on the front line and you’ll do whatever it takes to succeed. Rhino says even when you feel like you can’t continue you push forward. Rhino talks about bleeding in the ring and building a company that they believed in and the people respected them for it. Rhino is willing to go to war with them and is willing to fight for a company that he believes in and will die in the ring for TNA. Rhino believes in it just like the fans do. Rhino asks the fans if they believe in them. Rhino asks the fans if they will go to war with them. Rhino heads into the crowd and tells his fellow wrestlers that they believe in them and they will fight. Rhino brings up Final Resolution and promises to take out Kurt Angle and rid him of TNA. Rhino tells AJ and Joe it is up to them to take out the rest of the MEM. But, they need partners. Rhino doesn’t think the other guys have the experience it takes to help them. Rhino says they are going to add more members to the Front Line and they will grow. They will become an army and not just a force.
MEM’s music hits and the Main Event Mafia join the segment from the stage. Kurt Angle is standing in front and asks if Rhino is that delusional. Angle says Rhino isn’t going to beat him and he’s actually going to destroy Rhino to get his hands on Jeff Jarrett at Genesis. Angle says he’s heard the Front Line likes it in the backdoor. Angle wants to know who they are trying to recruit and says anyone with half a brain is standing on the stage. Angle believes the fans love the MEM and thinks they want to live their pathetic lives through them. Angle suggests Rhino not let the last 15-years of his life be destroyed and hopes he’s not as stupid as he looks. Angle tells Rhino he’ll end up in a bodybag with his cronies. Rhino tells Angle he can kiss his ass. Rhino tells Angle if he wants a war then he’s getting a war. Rhino promises to rip Angle in half with a GORE, GORE, GORE! Angle is livid on the entrance way being held back by Scott Steiner.
3.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Kurt Angle regarding Final Resolution. Borash heard some interesting news and heard Jeff Jarrett appointed a special enforcer for Final Resolution. Borash reveals it is Mick Foley, which pisses off Angle and slams the wall. Angle storms off looking for Jarrett.
4.) Dutt dropkicks Rhino and follows up with right hands. Dutt kicks Hernandez, but Hernandez delivers an over the shoulder backbreaker. Hernandez wraps his shirt around Dutt’s neck and tosses Dutt across the ring. Hernandez splashes Dutt in the corner and Rhino shoulder rams Dutt causing Dutt to roll to the floor. Hernandez doesn’t budge on a shoulder block attempt and Rhino doesn’t go down either. Rhino knocks Hernandez down on a second attempt. Dutt returns to the ring and strikes Dutt several times on the mat. Dutt snapmares Rhino and keeps a chin lock on Rhino. Dutt avoids a back suplex and Hernandez hits a slingshot shoulder block on Rhino. Dutt kicks a charging Hernandez, but is caught coming off the middle rope. Dutt hits a hurricanrana for a two count and Dutt is sent to the floor. Hernandez missile dropkicks Rhino from the top rope. Dutt tries for a springboard, but settles for a dropkick on the knee and kicks Hernandez to the floor. Rhino hits a belly to belly suplex on Dutt and delivers the GORE for the win. (*. I mean, it would be a bit silly if Rhino lost this match following the speech and his position as a main event guy in this MEM feud.)
5.) Backstage, Kurt Angle is confronting Jeff Jarrett, but Jarrett is telling Angle that the decision is final regarding Mick Foley being the special enforcer at Final Resolution. Angle asks if Jarrett is that afraid that he’s hiding behind Foley to avoid wrestling him at Genesis. Jarrett claims it has nothing to do with them and everything to do with Angle’s thugs. Jarrett wants a fair fight at Final Resolution. Jarrett threatens to tear Angle’s contract if the MEM get involved. Angle tells Jarrett he’s going to crush Rhino at Final Resolution and then beat Jarrett at Genesis. Angle says he’ll have someone keeping an eye on Foley.
6.) Backstage, AJ Styles asks Rhino how can they trust these people, but Rhino says to not worry. They walk into Team 3D’s locker room. Brother Ray knew it would be just a matter of time before Rhino came to them. Brother Devon calls them back and compares the teams as being a joke. Brother Devon tells them to not let the door hit them on the ass on the way out if they want to leave. Rhino tells Team 3D they are in the same spot they were in ECW. Rhino recalls making Team 3D bleed and they made him bleed. Rhino talks about the passion they had and they never gave up when people laughed at them. Rhino says they are blue collar kind of man and asks if they have another fight left in them. Brother Ray mock claps for Rhino saying he should win an Academy Award. Ray asks what is in it for them. Samoa Joe tells them maybe for once in their life they should do something right. Joe gives them less than two hours for an answer. Ray tells Devon this is what the MEM is talking about when they say there’s no respect.
7.) Kip and Shelley work over Creed in the corner with stomps. Creed kicks Kip, but Shelley trade chops with Creed. Creed forearms Shelley followed by a swinging neckbreaker. Creed hip tosses Kip and strikes Shelley. Creed drop toe holds Shelley followed by an elbow drop to the back. Creed takes Shelley out with a dive to the floor, but Kip decks Creed on the floor. Kip rams Creed into the ring steps face first. Shelley kicks Kip followed by a heel kick for a two count, but Kip kicks out at two. Shelley leaps off the apron to nail Kip with a knee strike. Shelley strikes Creed in the corner and delivers a running elbow strike. Creed clotheslines Shelley in the corner and delivers a somersault clothesline. Creed hits a springboard bulldog on Shelley. Creed jabs Kip several times, but Kip decks Creed with right hand and sends Shelley to the floor. Kip kicks Creed and runs the ropes, but is tripped by Shelley. Creed punches Kip to the floor. Shelley drops Creed throat first over the top rope, but Creed catches Shelley. Shelley counters and gets a rollup on Creed to win the match. (*1/2. Honestly, I have virtually zero interest in this Turkey Bowl gimmick.)
8.) Backstage, Lauren is with the Beautiful People who are sitting in royal chairs. Velvet Sky insults Lauren and says she smells like onions. Sky is mad that Cute Kip got screwed. Sky doesn’t understand why they aren’t on Final Resolution. A random guy hands a piece of paper to Angelina Love. Love is excited upon reading the paper. Love reads the letter and it’s Sarah Palin saying that she can’t make Final Resolution due to a moose hunting. However, she will be at Impact next week. Sharmell enters the scene saying Booker T wants to see them right now.
9.) Backstage, Jeff Jarrett is talking with Rhino. Jarrett says they are on the verge of busting through and needs Rhino to take care of business at Final Resolution. Rhino tells Jarrett he’s not going to let Jarret down because he knows what is at stake.
10.) TNA Roughcut focusing on LAX is shown. Homicide talked about meeting Hernandez on the indies and they clicked as soon as they teamed up. Hernandez considers Homicide a brother even though they’ve only teamed for three years. Homicide thinks they are one of the best teams in the business because they compliment each other well.
11.) Backstage, Lauren is with Team 3D to talk about the proposal. Brother Ray says nobody gives them an ultimatum. Ray says they can relate with the Frontline and they know what it’s like to be on the bottom and reach the top. Ray says they need to realize this is the wrestling business and you need to attend to business first. Scott Steiner enters the scene and wants to talk business. Steiner says they have an offer that Team 3D can’t refuse. Brother Ray suggests they listen to them.
12.) Backstage, Traci Brooks is telling Christy Hemme she can’t give her a match with Awesome Kong and reminds Hemme her injuries. Hemme remembers and has been training for three months to get another shot at Kong. Hemme admits it’s not a long time. Traci puts Kong over as an animal. Hemme asks what she needs to do because she wants it bad. Traci asks if Hemem can be ready in fifteen minutes. Traci books Hemme in a number one contenders match for tonight. Traci warns that Hemme is taking all consequences and she needs to make sure Cornette is good with this decision.
13.) Bashir and Rave do some rock, paper, scissors with Bashir losing and being tossed by Morgan. Rave suffers the same fate and then they both get shoved down at the same time. Morgan sends Rave into Bashir in the corner to deliver a double splash. Bashir chop blocks Morgan, and hits a dropkick to keep control on Morgan. Rave and Bashir double team Morgan on the mat focusing their attack on Morgan’s knees. Morgan is worked over in the corner with stomps by both Rave and Bashir. Morgan continues to be worked over by the heels. Morgan backdrops Bashir and grabs Rave. Morgan knocks both men down with strikes. Morgan headbutts Rave to the mat. Morgan sends them into each other. Morgan hits a double crossbody for a two count. Rave strikes Morgan in the corner, but Bashir puts a sleeper on Rave. Morgan hits a double fallaway slam. Morgan hits the Carbon Footprint on Rave, but Bashir avoids it and Morgan falls to the floor. Bashir hits the WMD (DDT) on Rave for the win. After the match, Shane, the referee, refuses to look at Bashir while raising his hand. (*1/2. Since Rhino is in the finals there was no way Morgan was going to get there since Morgan would be a logical choice to win the tournament. Bashir winning is fine and I’m sure he’ll end up being the guy embarrassed.)
14.) Backstage, the Beautiful People meet with Booker T and Sharmell. Cute Kip says Booker wants Beautiful People to watch Sharmell’s back at the PPV. Booker promises to look out for them in the future. Angelina Love suggests if they help Sharmell win then they get Booker’s locker room. Booker spits his drink out and freaks out. They begin to leave, but Booker reconsiders and accepts the deal. Sharmell kicks Lauren out of the room.
15.) Backstage, Team 3D meets with the MEM. Kurt Angle says they are a family and live and die for each other. Brother Ray notes they don’t look like each other and says in wrestling it’s every man for themselves. Angle says they demand the respect they deserve. Angle thinks Team 3D needs to be with them. Devon takes issue with the notion that they need MEM. Devon asks where Kurt was weeks ago when the Frontline formed. Angle says they were saving Team 3D as their last great addition. TNA is the future of the business and the future of their careers. Scott Steiner gives them suits to join the group later tonight.
16.) Hemme takes Saeed down with a rollup for a two count on a couple of occasions. Hemme drives Saeed down to the mat face first for a near fall. Hemme is fired up as Saeed goes to the apron to regroup. Saeed avoids a dropkick by holding onto the ropes. Saeed scoop slams Hemme for a two count. Saeed sends Hemme through the ropes to the floor. Kong strikes Hemme at ringside and sends Hemme into the railing. Saeed curb stomps Hemme in the ring. Saeed covers for a two count. Saeed heads to the top rope waiting for Hemme to get up. Hemme avoids a missile dropkick. Hemme forearms Saeed followed by a facebuster. Hemme heads to the middle rope missing a leg drop. Saeed tries for a powerbomb, but Hemme counters with a rollup and pins Saeed to win the match. (1/2*. Hemme may be the least viable contender for Kong’s championship.) After the match, Kong attacks Hemme with a clothesline from behind. Rhaka Khan tries to help, but Hemme avoids a double clothesline and bails to the floor.
17.) Earlier today, Mike Tenay sat down with AJ Styles. Tenay asks if Rhino is the guy to lead the TNA Originals. Styles thinks Rhino can do it and talks about Rhino having won a World Championship before. Styles thinks Rhino can get people to find the light. Tenay notes that Sting has said that they don’t respect the MEM and they don’t respect each other. Tenay thinks Sting has a point. Styles says they are going to make mistakes and learn from them. Tenay brings up Styles past getting kicked out of his house as a kid. Styles clarifies that he didn’t get kicked out of his house. Styles recalls his father coming home drunk and his mother trying to leave. AJ’s father had knocked his mother out and he decked his father in front of his siblings. Styles says he got his respect that night and that’s why he left the house. Styles admits it was dysfunctional, but he knew his brothers saw something that ended. Styles had to leave at 15.
18.) Backstage, Lauren is with TNA World Champion Sting and Kevin Nash for their reaction to what AJ Styles just revealed. Sting doesn’t know how to feel about hearing that. Sting wants to believe Styles, but a lot doesn’t add up for him. Nash thinks Styles is full of shit. Nash calls Styles a spoiled little brat and guarantees Styles had it coming. Sting asks Nash what if Styles is right. Nash says they have more important things and that’s two new members.
19.) Backstage, Lauren interviews the Motor City Machine Guns and asks Shelley what he’ll do with $25k if he wins the Turkey Bowl. Shelley suggests they could buy Styles a personality and Joe a singlet, but suggests they don’t have money for that. Shelley thinks Foley could get better clothing to represent Impact and not look like he’s on Bum Fights.
20.) Shelley and Bashir double team Rhino in the corner and against the ropes. Rhino hits a double clothesline and tosses Shelley to the floor. Rhino pummels Bashir with body strikes in the corner. Rhino shoulder rams Bashir in the corner followed by a belly to belly suplex. Shelley strikes Rhino against the ropes. Rhino plants Shelley with a spinebuster for a two count as Bashir breaks the cover. The show goes to commercial. Back from break, Bashir rams Rhino into the apron and Shelley kicks Rhino on the chest. Rhino tries to fight back, but Shelley puts a sleeper on Rhino. Rhino rams Shelley into the railing back first. Bashir tries to cover Rhino in the ring for a two count. Rhino strikes Bashir, but is met with a strike by Shelley on the apron. Shelley nails Rhino with a knee drop and Bashir leg drops Rhino, but they can’t agree on who will pin Rhino. Bashir drives Rhino down with a neckbreaker and they continue to disagree on the cover. Rhino is stopped by Shelley and Bashir again on a comeback attempt. Rhino is taken over with a double suplex. Shelley and Bashir deliver running strikes in the corner. Bashir nails Shelley with a clothesline for a two count. Bashir puts Shelley on the top turnbuckle, but Shelley atomic drops Bashir. Bashir sends Shelley into the corner chest first. They begin to trade right hands. Rhino clotheslines Bashir and GORES Shelley for the win. (*. I guess Shelley losing makes sense a little bit since on TV he’s had a bit of a cocky attitude and the turkey suit could humble him a little bit. I feel like TNA tries to make this a big deal, and it doesn’t translate to me.)
21.) Alex Shelley tries to avoid wearing the turkey suit. Mick Foley comes out and we learn that Foley awarded the $25k check to Rhino during the break. In the ring, Foley tells Shelley that he knew the rules and knew the stipulation. Foley insists that Shelley needs to put the turkey suit on. Shelley says if he puts the turkey suit on then none of the women will like that and doesn’t think Foley wants the female demo to go done to nothing for the episode. Foley shoots it straight and puts over Shelley as a great wrestler and wants Shelley on the show. Foley says it is okay if Shelley doesn’t want to wear the turkey suit. Foley says there’s a difference between wanting and needing Shelley. Foley has begun to deal with Shelley. Foley warns Shelley he will lose his job if he doesn’t put the turkey suit on. Foley is giving Shelley to the count of ten. Eventually, Shelley puts the turkey suit on. Shelley thinks he has no shot with Sarah Palin now and thinks the only positive is he gets a good Myspace picture. Shelley flips off Foley prompting Foley to hit Shelley with a double arm DDT after a few strikes. Foley suggests Shelley be thankful he still has a job.
22.) A vignette promoting Suicide is shown.
23.) TNA Frontline (Samoa Joe, AJ Styles & Rhino) make their way down to the ring. Styles says times up for Team 3D and they need to make a decision as to which side they will choose. Main Event Mafia’s music hits and they join the segment, too. Kurt Angle is once again leading the group down to the ring with TNA World Champion Sting noticeably behind everyone. They all head into the ring and Angle holds his arms up to suggest non-violence. Angle tells Styles he’s a young, smug punk making demands to another legend. Angle calls out the newest members of the MEM, Team 3D. Brother Ray and Brother Devon come out to the the MEM music and they are wearing suits. Brother Ray addresses the Frontline saying they gave this a lot of thought. Ray came to the conclusion that the MEM are right. Ray also came to the conclusion that the Frontline are right, too. Ray says Angle said something that struck a nerve and puts Angle over as being smart and they had to think about their future. Ray thinks the Mafia will grant them their future. Ray says their legacy is important to them and the most decorated tag team of all time. Ray wants to be remembered as one of the greatest tag teams like the Road Warriors, Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat. Ray wants to be remembered as warriors who always gave it their all in the ring. Ray also brings up ECW and their association. Ray puts over the greatest collection of wrestlers in the MEM and thinks the group is finished with the greatest tag team joining them. Ray says the Mafia offers power, money and they brains. Ray says the Frontline is all about fighting. Ray says the Frontline is all about guts and balls. Ray opens his jacket and there’s a weapon there saying “if being part of the Frontline is wrong then I don’t wanna be right.” The Frontline grab the club and attack the Mafia along with Team 3D! Team 3D has joined the Mafia! Styles and Joe bring a table into the ring for Team 3D. Kurt Angle staggers around, but Sting pulls Angle out of the the ring to save Angle from going through the table.
Final Thoughts:
I’m not a fan of the pivot to Team 3D joining the Frontline. The whole point of the Frontline was young guys fighting world champions. Rhino’s association is fine since he’s the veteran leader of the group and keeps them together. I’d much rather Lethal and Creed get the rub with the Frontline. Also, the Team 3D turn segment was very similar to their swerve on RTC in 2000. I’m not a fan of the Turkey Bowl gimmick, so this was a lackluster overall episode for me.
Thanks for reading.