Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 12/11/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Eric Young defeated Abdul Bashir in the quarterfinals of the TNA X-Division Title Tournament
2.) Alex Shelley defeated Jay Lethal in the quarterfinals of the TNA X-Division Title Tournament
3.) James Storm defeated Abyss in a beer bottle on a pole match
4.) Christy Hemme defeated Sojournor Bolt
5.) Brother Ray fought Kurt Angle to a double count out
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) A video package highlighting what happened at Final Resolution is shown. Suicide made his debut attacking the Motor City Machine Guns. Jay Lethal has a tag title shot. Kurt Angle defeated Rhino to wrestle Jeff Jarrett at Genesis. Al Snow was the man in Angle’s corner slapping Mick Foley. Main Event Mafia won the main event and thus Sting is still the TNA World Champion.
2.) Main Event Mafia make their way out to the ring to begin the program with Kurt Angle leading the charge. Angle says it happened exactly how he said it would. Angle has Jeff Jarrett at Genesis. Angle beat Mick Foley at his own game. Angle says it’s all fair in wrestling and anything else you do in life. Angle says it didn’t have to turn out this way with Jarrett. Angle left his former employer, and was happy to do so. Angle had visions and delusion of carrying the company to the top. Angle did everything he could to make it work. Angle claims the inevitable happened when he got more press and his boss became jealous of him. Angle claims Jarrett didn’t realize he was making money for Jarrett. Angle believes the more he got popular the more Jarrett tried to pull Angle down. Angle claims he hates Jarrett more than any other boss he worked for. Angle believes Jarrett tried to end his career, but now he has to wrestle him in four weeks at Genesis. Angle has never been more focused and says he feels nothing. Angle is cold and feels nothing for Jarrett’s family. Angle promises that nothing good will come out of this. Angle wants Jarrett to buy his daughters some great presents to remember their daddy.
AJ Styles makes his way out to confront the MEM from the stage. Styles believes Jeff Jarrett will show what kind of leader he is at Genesis and make an example out of Angle. Styles is out there to talk to TNA World Champion Sting. Styles has heard Sting talk about honor and respect for the past six months. Styles assumed Sting was talking about himself about respect, but notes the manner the MEM won their match when Nash screwed over Joe. Styles asks if that’s the correct way you do things. Styles can go home and look at his family knowing he did things the right way. Styles asks if Sting can look at his family knowing he did the right thing. Angle tells Styles to shut up and calls him a punk. Angle says Sting has done more in two years than Styles will do in his lifetime. Angle challenges Styles to confront Sting man to man. Styles wants Angle to leave the ring and allow him to confront Sting. Styles heads towards the ring as the MEM depart the ring aside from Sting. Styles gets in Sting’s face, but Sting strikes Styles. Styles pummels Sting in the corner until the MEM return to the ring and attack Styles. Eventually, the Frontline run to the ring and make the save. Angle promise that someone from the Frontline will be eliminated forever.
3.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley. Borash promotes Genesis on January 11th. Jarrett says Kurt Angle got one over on them. Jarrett isn’t going to balance his life as a wrestler and owner. Jarrett can’t afford to lose to Angle and he’s acting as a wrestler from here on out. Jarrett tells Foley he’s the only guy he can trust. Foley wants to pay MEM a visit. Jarrett declares that Foley has all the stroke in TNA now.
4.) We get some more focus on Final Resolution. Shane Sewell cost Bashir the X-Division Championship and Bashir attacked Shane. Thus, the title is vacant and there will be a tournament for the TNA X-Division Championship.
5.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley saying they’ve been the talk of the locker room lately and have a bit of a target on their back. Shelley tells Lauren she’s got the ability to point out the obvious. Shelley believes they are a target because they tell the truth. Shelley notes they get attacked by video game characters and thinks they need a cheat code. Shelley is going to get the X-Division Champions around his waist. Sabin didn’t speak.
6.) Young shoulder blocks Bashir followed by a hip toss and a scoop slam for a two count. Bashir rolls to the ropes to regroup. Bashir backs Young into a corner and delivers a boot to the midsection followed by a strike and chops. Young avoids Bashir in the corner and hits a leaping forearm smash for a two count. Young misses a splash in the corner and lays over the top rope allowing Bashir to kick Young to the mat and pummels Young with right hands. Bashir taunts the crowd and drops Young with a right hand. Bashir controls Young on the mat with a chin lock. Young tries to elbow Bashir, but Bashir scoop slams Young. Young blocks Bashir by getting his boot up. Young punches Bashir a few times and delivers a discus clothesline for a two count. Bashir elbows Young in the corner, but is caught coming off the middle rope. Young hits a Death Valley Driver, but misses a top rope elbow drop attempt. Bashir shoves Earl Hebner, but backs off. Bashir decks Hebner from behind. Young avoids a DDT and hits a bridging suplex for the win. After the match, Bashir tries to get his hands on Hebner, but Hebner escapes. (*1/2. It was okay, I suppose. I was a bit surprised Bashir would lose first round, but he’s clearly moving into a feud with Shane, so he doesn’t need the title.)
7.) Backstage, Lauren is with the Frontline. Team 3D says he was proud to be by their side and take on the MEM. Brother Ray says they are the late generation of tough guys and they hope AJ Styles is next TNA World Champion. Brother Ray notes that Kurt Angle is planning to take one of them out, but they aren’t going to wait for that and they are going to take the fight to MEM. Ray takes a swig of ODB’s booze. Ray is going out there and offering Angle something he can’t refuse.
8.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash has an exclusive TNA Mobile update. Borash has news on who Jay Lethal is picking as his title partner. Mick Foley leaves MEM locker room cracking up a bit. Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Booker T, Sting and Kurt Angle leave the room laughing it up. Foley says he forgot how good the guys are sometimes. Foley was in there talking about the good times and walks off.
9.) Backstage, Lauren is with the Beautiful People and ‘Sarah Palin’. Velvet Sky thinks everyone is jealous of them for hanging out with Palin. Angelina Love says Palin is considering her part of her cabinet. Cute Kip is not buying this. Palin says they can’t go to the White House dressed like that. Palin brought some of her personal suits for them to wear.
10.) There’s a video package called Webography where Angelina Love talks about hating her job as a personal trainer and enjoys horror films and comedy movies. Love doesn’t like girly movies. Love listens to mostly rock music. Love thinks the most important thing in life is to be happy. Love likes to wrestle in the Northeast area and in Canada. She recalls wrestling in Mexico, which was a unique experience. Love grew up liking Cyndi Lauper. Love wants everyone to have whatever makes them happy in life if she had one wish.
11.) A video package promoting a modern day gladiator known as Brutus Magnus. He’s coming soon.
12.) Shelley works over Lethal in the corner to kickoff the match and taunts the crowd. Lethal battles back with jabs and hits a handspring back elbow. Lethal drops Shelley with a right hand. Lethal avoids a back suplex attempt, but Shelley goes to the ropes. Shelley runs into a heel kick by Lethal for a two count. Lethal heads to the top rope, but Sabin gets on the apron and is decked off. Shelley misses a clothesline and Lethal hits a suicide dive onto Sabin on the floor. Lethal shoulder rams Shelley and kicks Sabin. Shelley kicks the middle rope to low blow Lethal and hits the Kryptonite Crunch for the win. (*. Man, it’s frustrating to witness these matches in less than three minutes when they could do so much more.)
13.) Chris Sabin cuts a promo on Mick Foley. Sabin says Foley accomplished something at Final Resolution that the TNA Knockouts have been trying to do for months and that’s screw the Motor City Machine Guns. Sabin says they gave Foley a chance to fix it. Sabin wants what they won and deserve, which is the briefcase that has a tag title shot. Sabin says they are kind, polite, gentle, handsome men and offers Foley a second chance to fix it. Sabin suggests if Foley doesn’t fix it then he won’t like what happens. The lights go out and Suicide zip lines into the ring. Suicide cleans house on Shelley and Sabin. Suicide hits a messy DOA (Code Red) on Sabin to end the segment.
14.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Abyss and Matt Morgan. Morgan cuts off Abyss and asks what is wrong with Abyss for falling into their trap every week. Abyss keeps on apologizing and Morgan doesn’t even know when Abyss started to drink. Abyss explains trying to meet Family Guy characters, which Morgan can’t believe. Morgan tells Abyss that it’s not real. Abyss can’t believe this news. Morgan tells Abyss to stop being so gullible and wants to see the monster Abyss tonight. Morgan demands Abyss take James Storm out tonight.
15.) TNA Roughcut focusing on TNA Tag Team Champion James Storm is shown. Storm talks about work ethic on a farm. Storm grew up watching wrestling since he’s from the South. Storm loved the bad guys growing up. Storm talks about winning the State Championship in high school. Storm recalls hurting his shoulder and got into training as a wrestler a year later. Storm recalled quitting his job when he got a TNA contract.
16.) Storm quickly tries to retrieve the beer bottle, but is stopped by Abyss. Abyss forearms Storm to the mat a few times. Abyss press slams Storm to the mat. Abyss tosses Storm over the top to the floor. Abyss signals for the bottle, but Storm has gone into the crowd and Abyss follows. Storm throws a drink into Abyss face and tosses Abyss over the railing back to the ringside area. Abyss punches a chair into Storm’s face. Abyss rolls Storm into the ring and delivers a splash in the corner. Abyss points to the corner and tries to grab the bottle, but Storm kicks Abyss off the ropes. Storm nails Abyss with the Last Call. Storm climbs the ropes and grabs the beer bottle. Storm tries to use the bottle, but runs into the Black Hole Slam. Abyss grabs the beer bottle and plays to the crowd. Jacqueline steals the bottle, but is stopped by Matt Morgan on the ramp. Jacqueline tries to hide under the ring, but Morgan grabs her. Robert Roode runs down and low blows Morgan. Roode whacks Abyss with a chair shot. Storm covers Abyss for the win. After the match, Matt Morgan saves Abyss from a double team attack. Storm breaks the beer bottle over Morgan’s head and Morgan is double teamed on the mat. Abyss enters with a chair to make the save. Morgan is bleeding from the back of the head due to the bottle strike. (*1/2. I mean, Storm didn’t even use the beer bottle so what was the point of the beer bottle on the pole stipulation? Abyss continues to lose matches and feels far less intimidating than he had been in the past. It’s almost comical how unserious I take him as a threat to anyone.)
17.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews the Main Event Mafia. TNA World Champion Sting is asked about AJ Styles accusations from earlier. Kevin Nash cuts in and says they agreed if he didn’t do it then they would have done it. Nash says the children got a taste of their own medicine. Nash insults Borash for playing for the other team, but never thought it would be for the Frontline.
18.) Brother Ray heads to the ring with a microphone to cut a promo. Ray says he’s standing in the ring and wants to talk to Kurt Angle face to face man to man. Kurt Angle heads to the ring with his own music to confront Ray in the ring. Ray is going to keep this short and sweet. There is potential for a lot of bad things to happen. A lot of bloodshed and broken bones. One or two careers could come to an end. Ray knows the MEM wants to destroy the Frontline and takeover TNA. Ray says the Frontline will not sleep until they rid TNA of the MEM. Ray likes hearing the fans chant for TNA. Ray also likes hearing the crowd chant “You Suck” even more. Ray gets reminded of Philadelphia when they chant for TNA. Ray asks Angle if they try to destroy each other and destroy TNA. Do they sell their souls back to the devil? Ray issues a challenge to Angle for a singles match tonight. Ray wants them to tell their respective groups to leave the ring and settle it between them. Ray offers a handshake. Angle accepts the handshake and doesn’t say a word the entire segment.
19.) Webography featuring Consequences Creed is next. Creed would be working with kids who have autism if he wasn’t wrestling. Creed talks about his history in music. Creed loves video games and is playing Little Big Planet on PS3. Creed likes Office Space, Super Troopers and Anchorman for movies. Creed says his family is important and achieving his goals. Creed wanted to be a wrestler growing up. Creed’s most memorable moment was when AJ Styles called him to be on the BFG pay per view in 2007. Creed would wish he could teleport and loves Jackie Chan.
20.) Backstage, Samoa Joe tells Brother Ray he’s wrong if he thinks they’re going to leave the arena for his match with Kurt Angle tonight. Ray doesn’t want them to really leave, but he gave Angle his word. Apparently, whomever wins the match the losers group will have to split. Sabin and Shelley don’t put up a fight leaving and Joe agrees to do it Ray’s way. Frontline leaves the room. Brother Devon tells Ray he’s out of his mind if he thinks he’s going to leave. Devon says Ray will be a moron to think MEM won’t be there because of a handshake. Ray thinks there has to be some good left in Angle considering his gold medal victory. Ray asks Devon to leave, and Devon agrees to leave.
21.) Backstage, Kurt Angle tells MEM he made a promise and they leave the venue with no issue. Booker T asks Angle if he’s sure he has this. Angle promises he’s going to kick Ray’s ass tonight. Booker says Ray is from the street and knows what Ray can do. Angle is ready for Ray tonight.
22.) Backstage, Beautiful People are backstage with ‘Sarah Palin’ and they are not thrilled with the outfits that Palin chose for their makeover. Palin claims they look like Beyonce. Cute Kip chimes in and says they look better than Beyonce and wants them to listen. Kip tries to say it’s not Palin, but he gets cutoff by Love. Love admits they’ve been distracted by Palin, but she’s excited about going to the White House. Palin walks off with them to continue the makeover.
23.) Feast or Fired reveal of the briefcase is next. Homicide, Hernandez and Curry Man are set to have their briefcases revealed. Borah notes that the briefcases have an X-Division Championship contract, World Championship contract and termination papers. Hernandez has his briefcase opened first and it is revealed to be a World Championship contract. Homicide and Curry Man are ready for their briefcases to be opened. Borash goes to commercial first as if this is American Idol. Curry Man has his briefcase opened next and he has been fired from TNA. That means Homicide won the X-Division Championship contract. Curry Man seems to not understand he isn’t get a title shot. Borash gets security to escort Curry out of the ring and back to NJPW. Curry thinks he’s going to sign a contract and is oblivious to what’s going on. Homicide and Hernandez celebrate their title contracts.
24.) Hemme and Bolt shake hands to kickoff the match. Hemme controls Bolt with a headlock, but gets out of a head scissors on the mat. Bolt gets a headlock, but Hemme counters with a head scissors of her own. Bolt breaks free from Hemme’s control and they have a standoff. Bolt takes Hemme down to the mat and keeps a front face lock on Hemme. Hemme counters with a hammerlock. Bolt knee lifts Hemme into the corner. Bolt drives Hemme into the corner face first and snapmares Hemme followed by a dropkick to the back. Bolt tries for a cover, but Hemme kicks out at two. Bolt scoop slams Hemme to the mat followed by an elbow drop for a two count. Bolt comes off the ropes, but misses a clothesline. Hemem strikes Bolt and delivers a clothesline. Hemme drives Bolt down to the mat face first. Hemme dropkicks a kneeling Bolt. Hemme heads to the middle rope, but Bolt slams Hemme to the mat. Bolt nails Hemme with a kick to the face for a near fall. Bolt tries for a powerbomb, but Hemme counters with a rollup for the win. (1/2*. Yeah, I didn’t care much for this one at all. I can appreciate the effort by Hemme, but she’s one of the weakest challengers for Kong.) After the match, Bolt slaps Hemme across the face. Hemme tackles Bolt and pummels Bolt with strikes on the mat. Officials run into the ring to try and maintain order.
25.) Backstage, Lauren catches up with Curry Man who is being escorted by security. Curry asks Lauren what’s going on. Curry understands he grabbed the fired briefcase, but learns it’s not a title match and that he’s now unemployed. Curry is carried out of the arena and asks Lauren to save him. They air a video montage of Curry Man’s career in TNA.
26.) Angle attacks Ray from behind in the ring during his entrance. Angle works over Ray with stomps on the mat. Angle chokes Ray over the middle rope and continues to pummel Ray on the mat. Angle delivers a back suplex leading to a one count. Angle stomps on Ray and delivers a few strikes. Angle continues to pummel Ray against the ropes and on the mat. Ray chops Angle and causes Angle to stagger. Ray taunts Angle leading to Angle to deliver another strike. Ray forearms Angle a few times, but an eye rake by Angle stops Ray. Ray clotheslines Angle several times. Ray hip tosses Angle coming off the ropes and delivers an overhand chop against the ropes. Angle kicks Ray, but misses a clothesline. Ray hits a release German suplex for a two count. Ray backdrops Angle over the top to the floor. Ray strikes Angle at ringside and rams Angle into the railing chest first. Ray slams Angle face first onto the announcers table and ramp. Ray charges, but misses a spear and crashes through the wall by the entrance stage. The show goes to commercial.
Ray avoids a chair shot by stroking Angle and Ray has been busted wide open at this point. Ray sends Angle into the wall. The referee has thrown out the match. They brawl backstage where Angle tries to escape. Ray sends Angle into one of the trailers outside. Ray whacks Angle over the back with a broom. Ray slams Angle face first onto a chair and into the trailer again. Angle misses a kick and Ray continues to chop Angle. Ray throws Angle onto some tables in catering. Ray decks security officials trying to get involved. Ray sends Angle into a wall again and Angle looks dazed. Ray says he’d end Angle’s career right now if he didn’t have a wife and kids. Ray is going to end the war right now. Angle begs off and wants to talk things out. Angle tells Ray he’s not with the Main Event Mafia. Ray is confused. Scott Steiner hits Ray over the back with a pipe and the MEM beatdown Ray. Booker hits Ray with a chair shot. Steiner hits Ray over the head with a trash can. Sting is just standing there not partaking in the attack. Sting actually walks away. Booker and Steiner beatdown Ray against the trash can. Ray tries to go after Nash, but is stopped by the MEM. Ray is dumped into the dumpster to end the segment. Kurt Angle says that nobody messes with the Main Event Mafia and screams into the camera. (**1/4. A decent brawl, but the apparent stipulation that the losing guys stable would disband made it obvious this was never finishing with a winner. The no contest is fine and the aftermath was effective. Sting is clearly not onboard with the antics of the MEM, but hasn’t officially stated as such. He’s been doing a good job with facials to make it evident he’s not on the same page as Angle, who is more and more the leader despite not being the champion.)
Final Thoughts:
As it stands right now the MEM/Frontline feud is obviously carrying TV and it’s leading to the guys being overexposed with the amount of segments they are in throughout the show. The undercard is lacking anything of substance or interest. The Beer Money/Abyss & Morgan feud has had some decent attention, but I don’t take Abyss seriously at this point. It’s a mostly average show, but leaning more towards a thumbs down.
Thanks for reading.