Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 1/8/2009
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Alex Shelley defeated Eric Young in the semifinals of the TNA X-Division Title Tournament
2.) TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong defeated Madison Rayne in a non-title match
3.) Matt Morgan defeated TNA Tag Team Champion Robert Roode
4.) Consequences Creed & Jay Lethal defeated TNA Tag Team Champions Beer Money Inc. to win the titles
5.) Kurt Angle defeated BG James in a no disqualification match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Young sidesteps Shelley, but runs into a boot in the corner. Young powerslams Shelley for a two count. Shelley works over Young in the corner with strikes and stands on th emiddle rope looking for a tornado DDT, but Young counters with a bridging suplex. Young trips Shelley, but Sabin yanks Young off the apron. Shelley slingshots to the apron and knee strikes Young into the railing. Shelley takes Young out with a suicide dive to the floor. Shelley rams Young onto the apron and back into the ring hitting a top rope crossbody for a two count. Shelley controls Young with a sleeper. Shelley boot scrapes Young and snapmares Young again followed by a kick to the back. Shelley knee drops Young for a two count. Shelley strikes Young on the throat. Shelley puts a neck vice on Young, but Young fights free. Young forearms Shelley coming off the ropes followed by elbow drops. Young misses a middle rope forearm drop. Shelley kicks Young a couple of times. Shelley spikes Young with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Shelley kicks Young in the midsection and tries for a Slice Bread, but Young avoids it. Shelley superkicks Young into the corner and tries for a monkey flip, but Young lands on his feet and kicks Shelley. Young flips to the apron and slides into the ring to scoop slam Shelley. Young heads to the top rope hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Young tries for a Death Valley Driver, but Young breaks free and sends Shelley into Sabin on the apron. Shelley sends Young into the ropes where Sabin delivers a kick and Shelley hits the Slice Bread to pin Young for the win. (**1/2. A solid enough match. Sabin vs. Shelley in the finals should be a great match on PPV. I feel like the expectation would have been Young going over to avoid the heels in the finals, but it’s a far better match on paper.)
2.) Sheik Abdul Bashir comes down the ramp to confront Shane Sewell, who was refereeing the previous match. Bashir slaps Shane on the ramp and shoves Shane a few times. Shane is starting to lose his temper, but Bashir pummels Shane with right hands. Bashir rolls Shane into the ring and continues the attack. Shane fights back with a leaping forearm smash off the ropes. Shane strikes Bashir and dumps Bashir over the top to the floor. Shane rams Bashir into the railing followed by strikes and chops. Shane strikes Bashir a few times, but Basir bails to the floor to regroup and avoid further conflict with Shane.
3.) Jim Cornette comes out to talk to Shane and Bashir. Cornette tells Bashir that he doesn’t understand that he’s a referee and not a wrestler. Cornette reminds Shane that he’s warned him. Cornette recalls saying it would be his job next time. Bashir is taunting Shane saying he’s a goner. Cornette has to keep his word and ends up firing Shane. Cornette tells Bashir to wipe the smile off his face. Cornette bets that Bashir thinks Cornette is an idiot. Cornette announces that Shane is fired for three days. Cornette says Shane is back on the payroll in three days as a wrestler! The crowd loves that. Cornette announces that Shane’s first match in TNA will be against Sheik Abdul Bashir at Genesis on PPV.
4.) The Main Event Mafia make their way down to the ring to cut a promo. Kurt Angle focuses on Mick Foley saying that a total shift in power will change in TNA. Angle asks who will be left when Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett are taken out. Angle says they will run the company the way they want to, which is why the MEM was formed. It was designed for them to be leaders who have honor, respect and dignity. Angle promises their vision will become their reality. Angle says Jeff’s friends blood is on is hand. Angle doesn’t understand why Jarrett would allow BG James in the ring with him and thinks Jarrett is sick in the head. Angle is feeling kind of high and giddy heading into Genesis. Angle declares he’s going to hurt Jarrett and will do everything he can to bring him down. Angle feels sorry for Jarrett not having any other options and has no way out. Angle says Jarrett’s whole world as he knows it will come to an end at Genesis. We see Jarrett and Foley watching backstage during this.
TNA World Champion Sting chimes in saying he never had a problem with Rhino until he sided with them and this is all about respect and dignity. Sting swore he’d get respect no matter how much sweat was spilled, including his own. Sting promises it will be showtime for Rhino at Genesis. Kevin Nash grabs a microphone and tells Sting he doesn’t think the war will be over at Genesis. Nash recalls a time when his dad told him to not put off what he can do today until tomorrow. Apparently, his father called him Big Sexy. Nash notes the wrestlers they have taken out including Petey Williams, Brother Ray and Samoa Joe. Nash suggests they don’t wait and just take out Jarrett and Foley tonight. Scott Steiner warns Foley made the mistake in touching them first and he’s no longer untouchable. Booker T knows they are watching this right now. Booker declares they are coming for them tonight. Booker says their punk asses belong to the Mafia to end the segment.
5.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett. Borash reminds them that MEM have predicted their antics before. Brother Devon and AJ Styles enter the scene telling them they will survive by sticking with them. Devon gives Foley Brother Ray’s flannel. AJ Styles tells Jarrett that he took chance on AJ and TNA and thus he’s able to provide for his family. They have their back.
6.) Earlier today, the Governor brought the Beautiful People to a farm. Angelina Love notes that Cute Kip isn’t there because he said he’s done with this. Governor is considering this to be charity work. Velvet Sky says they are giving girls, but wants to know why they are at a horse farm. Governor says it’s a great place for growing tomatoes. Velvet is going to get sick when Angelina tells her they are picking up horse shit.
7.) This is Madison Rayne’s TNA debut.
8.) Kong backs Rayne into a corner, but Rayne breaks free. Kong misses a strike and Rayne delivers a few forearm strikes. Rayne dropkicks Kong, but Kong doesn’t go down. Rayne runs into a body strike by Kong. Kong tosses Rayne across the ring by her hair. Kong steps on Rayne’s face followed by a big splash in the corner. Kong throws Rayne to the floor, but Rayne is rolled back into the ring by Khan. Kong nails Rayne with a short arm clothesline. Kong plants Rayne with the Awesome Bomb for the win. (NR. A mostly one-sided match as expected.)
9.) Backstage, Lauren chats with Abyss. Abyss thinks it’s bad between himself and Matt Morgan because Morgan will not talk to him. Abyss knows a way to make things right with Morgan. Abyss warns Beer Money to not mistake his kindness for weakness. Abyss notes that his therapist said that the key to any relationship is communication. Abyss warns the old Abyss may always revert and come back out. Abyss laughs manically as Lauren doesn’t want that to happen. Abyss to relieved that Lauren isn’t mad at him. Abyss doesn’t know if he could handle his girlfriend and best friend both mad at him. Lauren is a bit confused by the notion they are dating.
10.) Backstage, Lauren is with LAX. Homicide and Hernandez both have title shots in their briefcases. Homicide says they are happy to have their briefcases. Homicide believes they will win the X-Division and Heavyweight Championships. Lauren asks if this is the end of LAX. Lauren says she’d never start such rumors. Homicide tells Lauren they are just like diamonds and LAX is forever.
11.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin to talk about their title match at Genesis. Borash asks if the title match will get in the way of their team. Sabin asks if the X-Division Championship is more important than their bond. Sabin thinks about it while Shelley insults Foley calling him Duke Droese since he smells like trash. Shelley believes they are the best tag team in wrestling. Shelley thinks their bond is bigger than the X-Division Championship. Mick Foley enters the scene and says he can’t worry about them stinking up Genesis, because they are capable of stealing the show. Foley warns if they stink it up they will be gone from TNA.
12.) There is a video recapping the 2008 year in TNA.
13.) TNA Roughcut focusing on TNA Tag Team Champions Beer Money is shown. They’ve wanted to team for a long time, and they are both happy. James Storm still wants to be TNA World Champion, but he’s now a champion. Roode has always wanted to dedicate his life to wrestling. Storm considers his daughter the most important person in his life. Roode wants to leave a legacy behind that he entertained people and was one of the top wrestlers to ever compete. Storm wants to be remembered as a tough SOB who entertained the fans.
14.) Roode attacks Morgan from behind with right hands in the corner. Roode chops Morgan a few times followed by a right hand. Morgan blocks being sent into the ropes and claws Roode’s head. Morgan elbow strikes Roode several times in the corner. Roode avoids a bicycle kick and bails to the floor. Morgan strikes Roode on the floor a few times before ramming Roode into the railing chest first and chops Roode over the chest. Abyss grabs the tag champs and rams them into each other. Morgan tries for a slam, but Jackie Moore gets in the ring to eye rake Morgan as the referee was distracted on the floor. Roode works over Morgan with strikes and elbow drops on the mat for a near fall. Roode knee lifts Morgan and rams him into the corner. Roode hits a middle rope blockbuster for a near fall. Roode controls Morgan with a sleeper on the mat. Morgan is met with a boot in the corner, but catches Roode coming off the middle rope to hit an atomic drop. Morgan clotheslines Roode followed by a dropkick. Morgan nails Roode with the Carbon Footprint. Morgan decks Storm off the apron and backdrops Roode to the floor. Roode is acting like he’s hurt his leg and stays on the floor as a trainer comes out to check on the knee of Roode. The referee calls for the bell ending the match. (**. The match was going fine and the finish is a classic heel antic, but it appears that Roode isn’t ‘faking it’ and it actually ended. Though, in reality, I don’t believe Roode is truly hurt.)
15.) Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed come out with their tag title briefcase and they are out there to cash in their briefcase whenever they want. Lethal declares they are cashing in right now. (This feels like a heel tactic, right?
16.) Storm backs Creed into a corner to kickoff the tag title match. Creed decks Storm to the mat, but Storm slaps Lethal and is met with double team strikes. Storm misses a clothesline is decked to the mat again for a one count. Storm works over Creed with a strike, but runs into a boot. Creed hits a somersault clothesline and tags in Lethal. Lethal sunset flips Storm allowing Creed to deliver a neckbreaker for a two count. Lethal nails Storm with a double axe handle for a two count. Creed returns to the match and clotheslines Storm in the corner. Creed hits a springboard bulldog for a two count. Storm stops Creed with a jawbreaker and misses wild strikes. Creed runs the ropes and baseball slides Storm. Storm yanks Creed off the apron, but Lethal suicide dives onto Storm. Creed covers Storm for a two count. Creed returns to the match and stomps Storm followed by a scoop slam. Creed heads to the top rope, but Jackie gets on the apron to distract the referee and Roode crotches Creed. Storm covers for a two count as the show goes to commercial.
Storm decks Creed with a clothesline. Roode tags into the match despite the knee injury. Creed is taken over with a double suplex. Roode nails Creed with a clothesline and strikes Lethal off the apron. Roode is hobbling around the ring as Storm cheap shots Creed. Storm declares he tagged in, but he faked it. Storm throws Creed through the ropes to the floor. Jackie attacks Creed for a moment. Jackie throws Creed back into the ring and Storm covers for a two count. Storm headbutts Creed into the corner and accidentally collides with Roode. Creed shoulder blocks Storm coming off the ropes and both men are down. Lethal is ready for a tag on the apron. Creed rolls over Storm’s back and Lethal tags in to deliver a flurry of strikes. Lethal nails Storm with a few flying forearm smashes and a clothesline. Lethal heel kicks Storm for a two count. Lethal heads to the apron, but Storm avoids the springboard. Storm spins around and drops Lethal to the mat for a near fall. Storm ducks a strike and tries for a backstabber, but Lethal holds onto the ropes and hits the Lethal Combination. Creed grabs Jackie on the apron as Lethal hit a top rope elbow drop. Lethal kicks Roode on the knee and Roode lands face first onto the briefcase. Lethal whacks Storm with the briefcase and picks up the win to win the tag titles. (**1/4. It’s a fine tag match, but I feel a bit conflicted since I like the team of Lethal and Creed, but I do not like the manner they won the titles. It’s not the kind of victory where I can feel like they truly won the titles. This is the way a heel would win the titles. Roode is hurt and Storm isn’t even in his ring gear. It feels a bit cheap and I don’t think the audience can get behind this victory.) After the match, the new champs celebrate while Morgan and Abyss are not thrilled on the ramp.
17.) Backstage, Lauren is with the TNA Frontline celebrating the tag title win. Jay Lethal brags about the Million Dollar Man missing some gold now. Lethal says the win was for all of them. Creed doesn’t think this title win could have come at a better time. Creed says from now on the consequences are lethal. Brother Devon tells Lauren they know what is at stake tonight and they are going to let the new champs enjoy their victory.
18.) Backstage, Jeremy Borash walks up to Jeff Jarrett and BG James chatting. BG James says he’s been listening to Kurt Angle talk about Jarrett’s kids and wife. BG is going to shut up Angle and declares this is something he needs to do. BG is emotional and walks off saying he has to do this.
19.) Back to the horse farm where the Beautiful People are picking up horse poop. Angelina Love says this doesn’t feel right. Love thinks she looks like a couch from the 1970s. Love doesn’t like this at all. Governor knows that they are use to getting by on their looks, but that’s not how it goes. Governor promises that next week they will sign papers to make them members of her cabinet and they will go to the White House. Velvet and Angelina celebrate this news, but then fall into the horse poop pile.
20.) BG attacks Angle on the aisle during Angle’s entrance. BG rams Angle onto the apron face first and continues with a right hand on the floor. BG eye rakes Angle on the floor. BG rams Angle onto the timekeepers bell before sending Angle into the railing ribs first. BG continues with right hands, but Angle eye rakes BG followed by right hands. Angle continues to pummel BG on the floor several times. BG strikes Angle on the floor several times. Angle sends BG face first into the ring post to stop BG’s momentum. Angle pummels BG on the floor as BG is busted wide open. The show goes to commercial as Angle continues t o pummel BG.
Angle chokes BG over the bottom rope to keep control of the bout. Angle puts a sleeper on BG to keep control on the mat in the middle of the ring. BG elbows Angle and comes off the ropes, but is met with a knee lift to the midsection. Angle goes back to a sleeper in the middle of the ring. BG fights free with forearm strikes, but Angle eye rakes BG. Angle misses a clothesline and BG jabs Angle several times followed by another forearm and a knee drop for a two count. BG kicks Angle and hits a pump handle slam for a two count. Angle takes BG down, but is kicked away. BG misses a splash in the corner and Angle hits the Angle Slam, but BG kicks out at two. Angle pulls his straps down and grabs BG for a suplex, but BG holds onto the ropes. Angle breaks BG’s grip and hits a German suplex, but BG fights back with elbow strikes. BG kicks Angle, but Angle backdrops BG and locks in the ankle lock. BG manages to reach the ropes to break the hold, but Angle doesn’t remove the hold since it’s no disqualification. Angle sits down with the ankle lock. BG is forced to submit. (**1/2. Realistically, this was far better than I ever expected it to be. I’m sure it helped that they made this a personal issue from two weeks ago and it ties into the feud with Jarrett very well.)
21.) MEM make their way down to the ring, except for TNA World Champion Sting. Angle is given a chair and pummels BG with right hands in the middle of the ring. Angle puts the chair on BG’s left ankle. Angle stomps the chair to seemingly break BG’s leg. Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley run into the ring to chase off the MEM. Kurt Angle looks into the camera and promises to break Jarrett’s ankle, too.
22.) BG James does a stretcher job. Jeff Jarrett is sitting in the ring a bit emotional about what has just happened. Mick Foley, Brother Devon, Rhino and AJ Styles are in the ring, too. Jarrett says words can’t describe how he feels right now. Jarrett says the issues were between himself and Angle. It had nothing to do with BG. Jarrett has prided himself on setting the example by doing things the right way every time. Jarrett says that is character, but this Sunday all he can think about is beating the shit out of Angle. Jarrett looks in the camera and calls Angle a SOB. Jarrett is comforted by the Frontline for a moment. Foley grabs the microphone and says he can’t help but feel a little bit ashamed. Foley brings up how he said he was going to cross the line at Genesis. Foley couldn’t help but see himself on the HD screen and how he looks bad. Foley has a dead tooth and his beard is white. Foley says his tooth is grey because the same tooth went up his nose and it didn’t take back into his mouth. Foley walks a little slower and stumbles when he talks. Foley admits he’s not a handsome man, but his a hardcore legend. Foley says he’s coming home at Genesis. Foley knows he can’t do it alone at Genesis and Rhino is competing for the TNA World Championship. Foley will draw strength from Brother Devon and AJ Styles. Foley provides words of warning and says for one night he will be as good as he ever was. Frontline embrace to close the show.
23.) A video package promoting the feud between MEM and the Frontline is shown.
Final Thoughts:
Heavy on angle advancement, but I thought this was a good episode of Impact and they promoted Genesis rather well. Angle vs. Jarrett is the marquee match and I think it’s worthy of buying at this point. The MEM vs. Frontline feud is heating up and I’m interested in the feud, which I’m sure is going to lead into Lockdown in a few months. Genesis has a solid card overall.
Thanks for reading.