Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 12/18/2008
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Rhino defeated Lance Rock
2.) Chris Sabin defeated Sonjay Dutt in the quarterfinals of the TNA X-Division Title Tournament
3.) Booker T & Scott Steiner defeated Abyss & Matt Morgan
4.) Kiyoshi defeated Consequences Creed in the quarterfinals of the TNA X-Division Title Tournament
5.) Christy Hemme & ODB defeated Raisha Saeed & Rhaka Khan in a street fight
6.) AJ Styles & Samoa Joe defeated TNA World Champion Sting & Kevin Nash in a tornado steel cage match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Rhino works over Rock with a kick to the midsection and hits a belly to belly suplex out of the corner. Rhino waits in the corner, but runs into a big boot by Rock. Rock punches Rhino on the mat several times and rams Rhino into the corner. Rock chokes Rhino briefly and drops Rhino with a right hand for a near fall. Rock controls Rhino on the mat with a sleeper. Rhino is decked over the back by Rock, but Rhino responds with a clothesline and shoulder rams Rock in the corner. Rhino hits a belly to belly suplex out of the corner again. Rhino waits in the corner and hits the GORE for the win. (*. Obviously an extended squash. Rhino is the number one contender to the World Championship, so they have a few weeks to make Rhino a viable contender.)
2.) Rhino grabs a microphone and calls out the Frontline to join him in the ring. Rhino says when they all decided to go against the MEM and fight for what they believe in they knew it would be a fight where there’d be blood and bones would be broken. Team 3D is not in the ring with them due to Brother Ray’s injury. Rhino says they will not forget what happened to Ray and the fight will continue. Rhino notes that Genesis is three weeks away and he promises to maul Sting and leave him in his sweat, piss, shit and blood. Rhino says they will raise the bar higher than MEM. AJ Styles chimes in and says because of Scott Steiner and Booker T’s actions they will be wrestling against Matt Morgan and Abyss. Styles hopes they get their heads ripped off. Styles notes he’s teaming with Joe against Sting and Nash inside the steel cage. Styles wants to act like animals inside the cage. Joe promises the beating on Ray will not compare to the beating he gives them. Joe isn’t good at fighting the good fight. Joe knows violence and their surrender will not be accepted. Joe finishes off by saying he’s going to kill them.
3.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle for an interview. Borash notes that the Frontline is here and brings up the Brother Ray beating. Angle promises there will be bloodshed, but it will be the Frontline’s. Angle says if you ask for the gun you’re going to get the bullet too. Angle is going to pay tribute to Jeff Jarrett and after Genesis Jarrett will be extinct. Angle has a special guest and promises we’re not going to want to miss this.
4.) Backstage, Lauren interviews Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley. Sabin has the opportunity to advance in the tournament tonight and tells Lauren she has the opportunity to be part of a Motor City meat sandwich tonight, too. Sabin understands what is at stake and is a former four-time champion. Sabin notes that Shelley hasn’t had the belt, yet. But, wants Shelley to savor the feeling. Shelley knows that Foley would want them to destroy each other in the finals. Shelley considers it a win-win because someone will have to win the title between them in the finals. In the end, Foley loses.
5.) Dutt knee lifts Sabin and keeps wrist control, but Sabin arm drags Dutt. Dutt backs Sabin into a corner, but Sabin delivers a kick to the midsection. Sabin avoids Dutt in the corner, but Dutt yanks Sabin off the middle rope to avoid a springboard. Dutt stomps Sabin on the mat as we see Bashir watching the match from the stage. So Cal Val chokes Sabin over the middle rope. Dutt boot scrapes Sabin and delivers a scoop slam. Dutt slams Sabin chest first over the apron. Dutt slingshots into the ring and casually kicks Sabin on the mat for a near fall. Sabin is met with a jawbreaker and a head scissors by Dutt for a two count. Dutt rams Sabin into the corner and delivers a few shoulder rams. Dutt stomps Sabin in the corner and taunts the crowd. Dutt snapmares Sabin and stomps Sabin all over his body. Sabin atomic drops Dutt followed by a clothesline and kicks Dutt over the head. Dutt stumbles into the corner and Sabin splashes Dutt. Sabin heads to the apron hitting a springboard clothesline for a two count. Sabin grabs Dutt, but Dutt eye rakes Sabin and tries for a Slice Bread, but sabin counters. Dutt avoids a piledriver by hitting a tornado DDT and a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Dutt avoids Sabin in the corner and hits a slingshot leg drop over the middle drop. Sabin catches Dutt, but Dutt breaks free and kicks Sabin. Sabin counters a hurricanrana into the Cradle Shock for the win. (***. A refreshing match where the action was non-stop and they countered each other very well throughout. I’m glad Bashir didn’t get involved and it was just a straight up match.)
6.) Backstage, ‘Sarah Palin’ is with the Beautiful People and Cute Kip. Palin is trying to make their appearance acceptable for the White House. Palin isn’t a fan of their hair or makeup. Palin says they need to look more like the first ladies, such as Barbara Bush. Palin has brought professionals with her to make them over. Cute Kip chimes in saying they don’t need any experts. Kip is their fashion consultant and tries to tell Love and Sky this isn’t the real Palin, but he gets cutoff again. Kip proceeds to leave the scene frustrated.
7.) ODB’s Angle is up next hosted by ODB and her guest is Christy Hemme. ODB makes a joke that Hemme isn’t wearing underwear. ODB recalls Hemme as being a trampoline girl on the Man Show, which she did for five years. ODB brings up the Diva Search, which Hemme won in 2004. Hemme posed for Playboy and ODB mentions the carpet matches the drapes. ODB asks if Hemme ever saw Hugh Hefner naked, but Hemme insists she never did. ODB has a pet peeve where models think they can be wrestlers. Hemme feels blessed to be in TNA after having trained as hard as she could. Hemme knows she has a long way to go and a lot to learn. Raisha Saeed comes into the scene and attacks Hemme. Rhaka Khan hits ODB with a 2×4. Eventually security enters the scene to stop the attack.
8.) Backstage, Main Event Mafia are chatting with Mick Foley. Foley is a little concerned about what happened last week and suggests they went a little too far with their attack on Brother Ray. Foley notes that Brother Ray challenged Angle to a wrestling match and not a gang bang, which is censored. Angle asks Foley what he would have done. Foley says he would have met the challenge one on one. Angle asks how is that even possible and notes the business was built on brotherhood. Angle wants Foley to relax and have a good time. Foley needs Angle’s word that there will not be any more beatdowns, which Angle accepts.
9.) ODB is part of the Webography this week. ODB likes country music. Favorite food is BBQ wings, pizza, sausage and beer. If she wasn’t wrestling she’d be living in her parents basement. ODB’s life is all about her boobs. She wanted to be an American Gladiator and loves 902010. ODB would like to see through everything and says anything she wants comes true.
10.) TNA Roughcut is focused on TNA Tag Team Champion Robert Roode. Roode grew up in Canada and had a good foundation with family. Roode hated to lose at hockey and competed at a high level. Roode formally started training in April of ’98 and two months later started wrestling. Roode felt he was meant to be in the ring the first time he stepped foot in the ring. Roode never wanted to step away from wrestling and wouldn’t change anything.
11.) Abyss backs Booker into a corner to kickoff the tag match. Booker strikes Abyss a few times in the corner. Abyss shoulder blocks Booker to the mat and plays to the crowd. Booker kicks Abyss in the midsection and continues with strikes and a clothesline in the corner. Booker retreats and tags out to Scott Steiner. Morgan tags into the match as well. Morgan locks up with Steiner and backs Steiner into a corner. Steiner eye rakes Morgan and delivers a chop in the corner and against the ropes. Morgan knee lifts Steiner several times against the ropes. Morgan elbows Steiner coming off the ropes. Morgan drives Steiner to the mat with a side slam. Morgan connects with a leg drop for a two count. Abyss strikes Booker to the floor and Morgan splashes Steiner in the corner as the show goes to commercial.
Booker works over Abyss with strikes in the corner delivering several body strikes. Booker nails Abyss with a superkick and gets a two count. Steiner tags into the match and stomps Abyss on the mat. During the break, Booker kicked Abyss from the apron allowing the advantage to shift. Abyss hits a double clothesline. Morgan tags into the match and cleans house with strikes to Booker and Steiner. Morgan slams Booker to the mat, but Steiner decks Morgan from behind. Morgan nails Steiner with the Carbon Footprint for a two count. Abyss clotheslines Booker over the top to the floor. Morgan nails Steiner with a series of elbow strikes. Abyss rams Booker into the ring steps face first. Abyss sends Booker into the railing to keep control of the bout. Abyss scares Sharmell on the floor causing her to fall down. Abyss is remorseful saying he hasn’t hit her, which he didn’t. Morgan has Steiner, but Booker hits Morgan with a lead pipe and hits the scissors kick leading to the three count. After the match, Sharmell pops up clearing proving she was faking it. (**. Clearly the approach is that Abyss is the weak link to this team and Morgan is going to get fed up with this and add to the sympathy factor for Abyss. The action wasn’t too bad, and I don’t mind the finish here to advance the issues.)
12.) Webography focusing on Matt Morgan is next. Morgan loves all the Rocky movies. Morgan could watch them all in one day. Morgan reminds us of his athletic background including tryouts with the Pacers and Raptors. Morgan’s most memorable moment in his life was marrying his wife, Larissa. Matt considers marrying her the best decision of his life. Morgan is also proud of graduating fifth in his college class since he grew up having ADD and takes great pride in that.
13.) A vignette promoting Brutus Magnus coming to TNA soon is shown.
14.) Kurt Angle makes his way down to the ring and has his new DVD with him. Angle promotes the DVD featuring some of his best matches and is seven hours long. Angle says he’s out here to talk about someone twice the man he is, which is Jeff Jarrett. Angle talks about Jarrett’s history as he started wrestling at the age of 16. They are showing pictures from Jarrett’s younger days and Angle notes that Jarrett won Rookie of the Year in 1986. Angle brings up Jarrett’s run in the WWF and his title reigns. Fans chant for Owen Hart being mentioned. Angle also goes over Jarrett’s history in WCW. Angle mentions Jarrett creating his own company and in six years TNA has become a nationally known wrestling company. Angle brings up Jarrett screwing him over at Bound For Glory. Angle says the storybook comes to a tragic end at Genesis. Angle promises that Jarrett will drown in his own blood at Genesis. Angle says the wrestling community can live without Jeff Jarrett, but will his kids be able to. Angle shows a picture of Jarrett’s three daughters. Angle says they are going to become orphans after Genesis. Angle might have it in his heart to adopt them and make the kids his own.
Jeff Jarrett comes out to the stage without music and calls Angle a worthless piece of shit. BG James, Scott D’Amore and Terry Taylor come out to keep Jarrett back. However, Jarrett breaks free and nearly gets in the ring, but is held back and Jarrett yells that he’s going to kill Angle. Angle leaves the ring and is held back by security as well.
15.) Backstage, Jeff Jarrett is freaking out still while BG James tries to calm down Jarrett. Mick Foley enters the scene and BG tells Jarrett to relax as this is what Angle wants. BG puts some blame on Foley and leaves the scene as Foley doesn’t get a word out.
16.) Kiyoshi controls Creed with a headlock at the start of the match and shoulder blocks Creed. Creed dropkicks Kiyoshi on the knee and hits an elbow drop over the back for a two count. Creed dumps Kiyoshi to the apron, but is met with a shoulder ram. Creed is tossed overhead by Kiyoshi with a suplex for a two count. Kiyoshi strikes Creed several times and chokes Creed over the middle rope. Kiyoshi slingshots Creed backward and delivers a clothesline for a two count. Kiyoshi controls Creed with a nerve hold on the mat. Creed elbows free, but misses a clothesline. Kiyoshi delivers a reverse jawbreaker to the back of Creed’s head and kicks Creed several times. Kiyoshi dropkicks a kneeling Creed for a two count. Kiyoshi scoop slams Creed and taunts the crowd before heading to the top rope. Kiyoshi leaps off missing a diving headbutt. Creed strikes Kiyoshi a few times followed by a forearm strike and several clotheslines. Creed nails Kiyoshi with a strike and a leaping kick. Kiyoshi hits a somersault clothesline for a near fall. Kiyoshi hits Creed with a Eat Defeat and a reverse Death Valley Driver for a two count. Creed stops Kiyoshi with a jawbreaker, but Kiyoshi dropkicks Creed off the middle rope. Kiyoshi hits a top rope moonsault and pins Creed for the win. (**1/2. This has to be a massive upset since Kiyoshi is an unknown and making his debut here. I thought this was an enjoyable match, though I wish they’d put more of an effort in pushing Creed in the division.)
17.) Backstage, Cute Kip is arguing with Sarah Palin’s fashion choices. The Beautiful People are bit distraught about the lack of makeup, hair and clothing options. Palin tries to assure them they are still beautiful. Palin asks if they want to be wrestlers or role models. Palin says they could be bigger than Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie or Barack Obama. Love and Sky believe in Palin.
18.) Webography focuses on Traci Brooks. Traci likes all kind of music. Traci is a hockey fan since she’s from Canada. She also likes baseball. Traci says her favorite movie is one that she can sneak into a movie theater and make out with them. Traci would likely be working on a pig farm if she wasn’t wrestling. The most important thing in life is living your dream and never having regrets. Traci considers Sydney, Australia to be incredible. If she had one wish it would be to meet Stevie Yzerman and give him a kiss. He’s a retired hockey player.
19.) Earlier today, Mike Tenay interviewed suspended referee Shane Sewell. Shane has been suspended for two weeks. Shane talks about being a wrestler for the past fifteen years and having wrestled all over the world. Shane recalls injuring his neck in Puerto Rico and was told he could become paralyzed. Shane applied to be a referee and was thankfully hired by Terry Taylor. Shane doesn’t remember what happened at Final Resolution after being slapped by Bashir. Cornette has warned Shane that one more incident could lead to termination. Shane needs this job, but won’t be physically provoked. Shane says nobody is going to push him around and he’s not going to backdown from anyone. Shane will not leave TNA peacefully if Bashir gets him fired. Tenay wishes Shane luck when he returns next week.
20.) Webography focusing on Jay Lethal is next. Lethal says if he wasn’t a wrestler he’d be a bodyguard. Lethal listens to rap and says he has an album out. Lethal is doing this in his impersonator persona. Lethal says the one thing that is important in life is a great set of glasses. Lethal says when your future is bright you need glasses because they never come off. If he had a super power it would be control his rage. Lethal has an uncontrollable rage. Lethal says he gets fined quite a bit because he can’t control his rage. Lethal notes he can freak out like anyone else.
21.) Hemme and Saeed brawl on the floor while ODB takes care of Khan on the other side. ODB chops Khan against the apron. Hemme sends Saeed over the railing into the crowd. Hemme drops Saeed over the railing chest first. Khan avoids an elbow drop and works over ODB. Hemme gets in the ring, but doesn’t do anything while Khan chokes ODB. Hemme spears Khan upon turning around. Khan fights off both girls, but is met with a double shoulder block. Hemme knocks Saeed off the apron. ODB slams Khan and Hemme hits a split splash for the win on Khan. (1/2*. Really none of this was a street fight aside from brawling on the floor. So, this was a bit disappointing.) After the match, TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong attacks Hemme and ODB. Kong hits the Implant Buster on Hemme. Kong grabs ODB to also hit the Implant Buster. The lights go out and Suicide zip lines into the ring to make the save. Kong backs off from Suicide. Suicide disappears.
22.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews TNA World Champion Sting and Kevin Nash. Borash brings up Sting’s campaign for respect has been tossed aside considering what happened last week. Sting doesn’t have the words right now and asks Nash. Nash says nobody has more integrity than Sting and scolds Borash for doubting Sting. Nash has never shown disrespect to Sting as they have beaten each other down. Nash has always wanted the money Sting made. Nash never spat at Sting whiel AJ Styles did. Nash claims the Frontline started this by attacking them with weapons. Nash can’t do this alone tonight and asks if Sting is with him. Sting says he is and grabs his bat.
23.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Mick Foley for an interview. Borash says Angle threatened Foley, but Foley was in the locker room with them. Foley understand why Jarrett is upset. Foley understands Angle says things that he doesn’t mean and is going to let it slide. Borash asks which side Foley is on. Foley says he’s not on a side. Foley mentions Alex Shelley has disrespected him several times over the past few weeks. Foley tells Borash he’s going to consider his options and isn’t a fan of what happened to Brother Ray last week. Foley says Mafia gave him their word that there wouldn’t be any more gang style attacks. Foley is going to make decisions that are right for business.
24.) Joe and Styles get the advantage on Sting and Nash at first. Styles blocks being sent into the cage by Sting. Joe prevents Nash from escaping the cage. Styles shoulder rams Sting in the corner. Styles sends Sting into the cage. Joe works over Nash in the corner. Joe and Styles team up to send Sting into the cage face first. Joe elbows Sting over the face. Styles manages a two count on Nash. Joe chokes Sting over the top rope as the Mafia can’t get any momentum. Joe jabs Sting several times to the mat leading to a near fall. Sting is met with a double elbow strike for another two count as the show goes to commercial.
Sting hammers away on Styles in the corner while Nash punches Joe on the other side. Sting chokes Styles followed by a body strike. Nash big boots Joe coming off the ropes. Nash sends joe into the cage face first. Sting sends Styles into the cage, as well. Sting stomps Styles on the mat several times. Nash misses a clothesline and Joe hits a running boot. Joe continues with a senton splash and a knee drop for a two count. Sting punches Joe into the corner, but Styles nails Sting with a dropkick for a near fall. Joe pummels Nash with strikes in the corner and delivers a kick. Styles continues to work over Sting in the corner. Joe climbs the cage, but Nash is up and rams Joe into the cage face first forcing Joe to drop down. Joe lifts Styles into the corner onto Nash’s back. Styles climbs the cage to escape and wins the match for the Frontline. After the match, Joe is double teamed in the cage. Nash prevents Styles from getting back in by slamming the cage into Styles face. Joe fights back with blows and sends Nash into the cage. Joe forearms Sting off the apron to the floor. Joe puts a choke on Nash as Kurt Angle runs down with a chair. Angle misses a chair shot and gets the chair kicked into his face. Joe sends Booker into the cage and kicks the middle rope on Steiner. Joe picks up Angle looking for the Muscle Buster, but Nash nails Joe over the back with the chair. Steiner locks the cage door. Joe continues to be destroyed the Mafia. Referees try to get in the ring, but they can’t. Styles tries to climb the cage, but is stopped by Nash. Sting is on the floor. Angle puts Joe’s arm inside a chair. Sting clotheslines the Frontline on the ramp. Steiner smashes Joe’s arm on the chair with a pipe. Steiner delivers another strike with the pipe. Frontline can’t get in the cage. Angle puts the ankle lock on Joe as the show comes to an end. (*1/2. So, the match itself wasn’t anything great, but the aftermath certainly delivered on intensity and I like how the Mafia is continuing the gang warfare even though they told Foley they wouldn’t. It’s worth noting that Sting didn’t directly partake in the beating on Joe. Frontline winning the cage match was the right call considering the aftermath.)
Final Thoughts:
I’m going to consider this a good show as they progressed stuff fairly well. The X-Division matches were good and I enjoyed the aftermath of the cage match. Kurt/Jarrett segment was good, too. A better episode than recent weeks.
Thanks for reading.