Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 4/23/2009
From: Orlando, FL
A video highlighting Lockdown from last Sunday is shown. We’ve got a new TNA Knockouts Champion, TNA Tag Team Champions, and TNA World Champion. Bobby Lashley has also arrived in TNA.
Jeff Jarrett makes his way out to kickoff the program. Jarrett has the TNA World Championship over his shoulder. Jarrett is greeted with TNA chants and introduces the new champion, Mick Foley. Foley joins the segment. Foley has a cut on his eyebrow from Lockdown. Foley thanks the fans for their reception. Foley wants to acknowledge someone important. Foley turns the camera onto a TNA cameraman and thanks Dirk. Foley promises Dirk he has a job for a long time. Foley was willing to suffer a lot of punishment to win the title. Foley considers it bittersweet to win the title from Sting, but he saw a broken and emotionally shattered man. Foley thinks they won’t see Sting in the Impact Zone for a while. Foley wants a polite applause for Sting. The fans are chanting ‘We Want Sting!’ Jarrett awards Foley the title since he’s the founder. Foley raises the title in the air. Jarrett never would have imagined that Foley and Jarrett would be standing there under this circumstances when Foley signed with TNA. Jarrett puts over Foley as being the champion. Jarrett tells Foley that his first title defense will be at Sacrifice. The title match will be a four way match. Everyone in the match will be sacrificing something. Over the next four weeks, the challengers will be determined based on what they’re willing to sacrifice. Foley thinks he’s not getting this clearly. Foley considers it the Ultimate Sacrifice. Foley asks who is TNA Management. Foley says they are TNA Management and assumes Jarrett booked the match. Foley thinks Jarrett is jealous of Foley right now. Foley thinks Jarrett is resenting him for being the champion and Jarrett doesn’t have the gold. Foley is the general now and not just a soldier, and thinks that is upsetting Jarrett. Foley decides to book Jarrett into a match tonight. Jarrett suffered a hamstring injury at Lockdown, but Foley is still going to do it. Foley calls it a Cactus Jack Smack Attack. Foley is going to select items and thinks about who Jarrett’s opponent will be. Foley knows that Scott Steiner is angry with Jarrett’s actions at Lockdown and books Jarrett against Scott Steiner tonight.
Backstage, The Beautiful People are celebrating Angelina Love winning the TNA Knockouts Championship. Love says they can kiss their asses. Velvet Sky says they are going to throw a big party tonight.
Earlier today, Don West talked with the new TNA Tag Team Champions Team 3D. Brother Ray thanks all the fans for their support at Lockdown. Ray puts over Beer Money for bringing their best at Lockdown and they are the future of the business. Ray doesn’t think the tag team division is as strong as it could be. Ray introduces a tournament where the winners will get a check for $100k, a trophy and a title shot.
MATCH #1: LETHAL CONSEQUENCES VS. BEER MONEY INC. — TEAM 3D TOURNAMENT
FINISH: Roode pins Lethal following the DWI to advance.
Bob’s Take: Lethal starts off with a head scissors and kick on Storm for the early advantage. Creed delivers a springboard bulldog for a near fall. Creed keeps control on Roode with strikes, but is tripped by Storm. Lethal suicide dives onto Storm. Creed ends up diving onto everyone on the floor with a somersault dive. Beer Money hit a spinebuster/backstabber combo, which didn’t look great. Creed continues to be worked over by Beer Money. Creed and Storm collide on stereo crossbody attempts. Lethal cleans house upon getting tagged in. Lethal nails Roode with a missile dropkick. Lethal suplexs Storm as Creed hit a top rope crossbody. Lethal almost wins with the Lethal Combination on Roode. Storm superkicks Lethal leading to the DWI finish. A rather good tag match to kickoff the tournament and they kept a good pace to hold interest in the match. A clean finish is ideal for Beer Money to start their rebound from losing at the PPV.
Match Rating: **1/2
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Kurt Angle. Borash is surprised Jarrett didn’t join the MEM. Angle says nobody beat them at Lockdown, but rather they beat themselves. Angle admits made a poor judgement call by even trying to trust Jarrett. Scott Steiner chimes in and apologizes for what happened. Steiner says it’s twenty years down the tube with Jarrett. Steiner is going to treat Jarrett like a young punk tonight and he’s going to spit in his face.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Jeff Jarrett. Borash tells Jarrett that Scott Steiner isn’t happy. Jarrett doesn’t care how Steiner feels because he made a business decision at Lockdown. Jarrett says the Frontline bust their butt every night. Eric Young walks up and asks Jarrett what he needs to do to earn a chance. Young is looking for a shot. Jarrett asks Young if he’s aware about what’s going on. Jarrett has bigger issues to deal with instead of Young. Jarrett gives Young a chance by beating partners with Holiday, but Young doesn’t even know who Holiday is.
Footage from Lockdown is shown where Mick Foley got into his car after winning the title. Foley got home at four in the morning. Foley got his kids on the bus.
Backstage, Lauren is with Kevin Nash, Booker T, Jenna and Sharmell. Nash doesn’t think he’s got anything to worry about tonight with AJ Styles. Jenna and Sharmell bicker a bit. Nash cools things down and they walk off. Sharmell tells Booker to settle this or she will.
More footage of Mick Foley going through town as the new TNA World Champion.
Backstage, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels walk into Jeff Jarrett’s office. Styles apologizes for ever doubting Jarrett. Daniels says he owes Jarrett for bringing him back. Jarrett tells Borash that’s why he does the things he does for the young guys.
MATCH #2: TAYLOR WILDE VS. SOJOURNOR BOLT — NUMBER ONE CONTENDER LADDER MATCH
FINISH: Bolt retrieves the contract after hitting Wilde with brass knuckles.
Bob’s Take: You know it’s a TNA show when there’s a random ladder match. They both quickly climbed the ladder, but they are both knocked off. Bolt is sent into the ladder back first in the corner. Bolt back suplexs Wilde off the ladder to the mat. Wilde hit an electric chair slam. Bolt hits Wilde with brass knuckles at the top of the ladder to retrieve the contract. I don’t think this needed to be a ladder match.
Match Rating: *
Backstage, Jeremy Borash tries to interview Jeff Jarrett, but Slick Johnson enters the scene. Slick says his daughter called and has an issue with school. Jarrett walks off to make the call.
In the ring, the Beautiful People plug their trading cards before their TNA Knockouts Championship celebration. Madison Rayne is officially a member of the group. TNA Knockouts Champion Angelina Love joins the celebration. Sky says she’s happy for Love and asks if Love has anything to say to her fans. Love thanks all her fans for their support. Love knows times are tough with people losing jobs at burger joints and their trailers. Love knows the people really like her. Sky says they have a treat for Love and brings out the dancing boys. Three dudes come out to dance for the new champion. Awesome Kong makes her way out to stop the celebration. The Beautiful People runaway from Kong out of fear. Kong grabs one of the male dancers and hits the Awesome Bomb. Love looks terrified.
More footage of Mick Foley living life as the TNA World Champion and is getting a massage. Foley tips a blind woman one dollar, but says it’s twenty. Foley ends up giving her a $100.
MATCH #3: TNA LEGENDS CHAMPION AJ STYLES VS. KEVIN NASH
FINISH: Booker T scissors kicks Styles, but the referee saw it despite Sharmell’s distraction attempt. Styles wins by disqualification.
Bob’s Take: Nash works over Styles with knee lifts in the corner and is sporting a brace on his elbow, which he uses while striking Styles. Styles dropkicks Nash on the knee and a kick to the head for the advantage. Nash elbows Styles off the middle rope to the floor. Nash continues with a side slam in the ring, but can’t put Styles away. Styles battled back with a springboard forearm strike. Styles almost wins with a Pele kick. Styles misses a springboard 450 splash. Late in the match, Booker T scissors kicks Styles, which the referee saw and the match is thrown out. Well, that was a weak finish to the match, but the match itself was actually fine for what it was.
Match Rating: *1/2
Backstage, Jenna and Sharmell are arguing as Kurt Angle is trying to keep everyone united.
MATCH #4: NO LIMIT (NAITO & YUJIRO) VS. ERIC YOUNG & JETHRO HOLLIDAY — TEAM 3D TOURNAMENT
NOTE: Jethro Holliday is better known as Trevor Murdoch from WWE, and this is his return to TNA. He had been part of the Dupps back in 2002.
FINISH: Young pins Yujiro with a crucifix pin.
Bob’s Take: This is a bit bizarre because they’re seemingly acting as if Jethro has been in TNA, but this is his debut as the character. Young and Yujiro kicked off the tag match, but not much is done. Jethro looks to be in great shape. Jethro delivers a nice full nelson slam for a near fall on Yujiro. Naito gets the tag to clean house with Yujiro. Jethro avoids Yujiro coming off the top with a double boot to the face leading to Young’s hot tag. Young fights off Bashir and Kiyoshi to pickup the win. There’s not much to this match and it feels random to have Young teaming with Jethro.
Match Rating: *
Backstage, Lauren interviews TNA Legends Champion AJ Styles. Styles admits that Nash had his A-game. Styles walks up to Samoa Joe, who just arrived to the arena. Styles asks if Joe knows how to respond to phone calls. Joe tells Styles his problem is with everyone. Joe tells Styles there are no friends and it’s just his nation of violence.
Earlier today, Lauren and Abyss met with Dr. Stevie. Stevie says a piece of paper doesn’t measure their intelligence. Lauren is upset with Dr. Stevie for assaulting Abyss. Dr. Stevie, who is Stevie Richards, leans in to Lauren and says he’s a recovering addict, too. Stevie has experienced the same pain. Stevie considers Abyss to a brother to him. Stevie apologizes to Abyss for what he did to Abyss at Lockdown. Stevie is trying to transfer the aggression elsewhere. Stevie needs Lauren’s help, and she agrees. Before we can hear his plan, the scene comes to an end.
Mike Tenay interviewed Daniels. Daniels talks about his friendship with AJ Styles and how they have named their kids after each other. Daniels talks about losing his job sixteen months ago. Daniels blamed everyone for losing his job. Daniels recalls watching the show and seeing the MEM and how MEM said TNA was nothing before them. Daniels felt like he knew more than everyone. Daniels says it is time for the world to realize he belongs in the same spot.
More footage of Mick Foley’s like as the TNA World Champion is shown.
MAIN EVENT: JEFF JARRETT VS. SCOTT STEINER — CACTUS JACK SMACK ATTACK MATCH
NOTE: This is essentially a weapons match.
FINISH: Jarrett hits Steiner with a guitar and delivers The Stroke for the win. After the match, Kurt Angle hits the Angle Slam on Jarrett. Angle puts the ankle lock on Jarrett, too. Steiner recovers to put the Steiner Recliner on at the same time. Mick Foley leaves commentary to make the save with a chair. Angle and Steiner bail. Foley waffles Jarrett with the chair.
Bob’s Take: Jarrett wastes no time using weapons on Steiner such as a kendo stick and crutch. Jarrett continued to nail Steiner with a bunch of weapons including a traffic sign wrapped as if it’s a fans sign. Steiner uses a pogo stick gets clotheslined off the pogo stick. That’s hilarious. Steiner suplexs Jarrett onto a trash can. Jarrett delivered a DDT onto a trash can. Steiner tosses Jarrett with a suplex and kept control locking in the Steiner Recliner. Steiner avoided the Stroke by ramming Jarrett onto a chair. Steiner puts a trash can over Jarrett and hits Jarrett with a crutch. Steiner actually kicks out of the Stroke. Steiner drives Jarrett down with a middle rope Samoan Drop. Jarrett gets out of the Recliner again by hitting an electric chair slam. Jarrett wins moments later. The match is just full of weapons shots and is fairly slow and plodding.
Match Rating: *
Jeff Jarrett has a microphone and tells Foley he’s the only man to blame for the bad decisions. Jarrett knew Foley was a whack job six months ago when he was fired. Jarrett says this isn’t business anymore, but its personal. Jarrett promises to shove a pink slip up Foley’s ass.
Bobby Lashley’s music hits. Lashley appears at the top of the ramp and stares at the ring. Kurt Angle continues to have a smile and is happy to see Daniels. Jarrett is frustrated.
Final Thoughts:
The heavy focus on Angle, Foley, and Jarrett continues to be a bit boring and repetitive. The wrestling this week wasn’t too bad as the opening tag match was enjoyable for the time they were given. Lashley coming into TNA doesn’t feel like a big deal since it’s been a couple of years since he was relevant. I’ll consider this an average week of Impact.
Thanks for reading.