Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 4/30/2009
From: Orlando, FL
Earlier today, Jeremy Borash tries to get comment from Jeff Jarrett regarding a meeting with the board of directors, but Jarrett provides none. TNA World Champion Mick Foley was part of the same meeting, and seemed to be in a better mood than Jarrett. Borash tried to get a word with Foley. Foley says he can’t be fired and says he works with Jarrett instead of for him. Foley tells Borash that friends fight sometimes. Foley thinks they’re going to be closer than ever before.
The Main Event Mafia led by Kurt Angle makes his their way down to the ring. Sting is not with them group still. Angle talks about how people close to him have referred to him as the Godfather. Angle says he’s the man in charge and knows how to make things happen. Angle just requires the proper respect to be shown. Angle knows that Foley didn’t realize there would be consequences for hitting him with a chair. However, there’s a price to pay. Angle has an offer for Jeff Jarrett that he can’t refuse. Angle is willing to give up leadership of the Mafia if he were to lose the four way match. Angle is going to do a hostile takeover on Foley. When someone messes with the godfather of the mafia they get the thorn of the rose.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with TNA World Champion Mick Foley. Foley didn’t hear what Angle said and Jarrett enters the office. Jarrett says he has every right to beat up Foley, but he’s going to do it on his terms. Foley wants Jarrett to have his back with the Mafia, but Jarrett tells Foley he’s on his own.
Backstage, Lauren interviews Kurt Angle regarding what he said moments ago. Angle tells Lauren when he says something he looks them in the eyes and does it. Angle promises he’s going to beat Foley and win the title. Angle calms down Scott Steiner because he needs Jarrett for Angle to get into the title match at Sacrifice. Steiner agrees.
MATCH #1: MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS VS. TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPION SUICIDE & AMAZING RED — TEAM 3D TOURNAMENT
NOTE: This is Amazing Red’s return to TNA since December 8th, 2005.
FINISH: Suicide pins Shelley following the Suicide Solution.
Bob’s Take: Red and Shelley kicked off the match where Red hit a springboard arm drag and a kneeling kick. Shelley ties Red up as a pretzel, and Sabin did nothing with that allowing Red to head scissors Sabin. Suicide keeps control with a press slam and press slammed Red onto Sabin. Red is tossed across the ring by the Guns. Sabin nails Red with a hesistation dropkick in the tree of woe after a baseball slide by Shelley. Red rolls over Sabin to kick Shelley and hit a nice DDT on Sabin. Suicide cleans house on the Guns hitting a rolling fireman carry on Shelley onto Sabin. Shelley almost pins Suicide after a Slice Bread. Sabin dropkicks Red off the apron. Red head scissors a kneeling Sabin and hit the Code Red on Shelley. Red corkscrews over the ropes onto Sabin. Suicide cleanly pinning Shelley isn’t a surprise. I’m glad to see Amazing Red back in TNA and he looked great and far better than Suicide. I feel like Suicide is the guy getting the push, but teaming him up with a returning Red, who is much better than the character is certainly an interesting choice. This is a good TV tag match.
Match Rating: ***1/2
Backstage, Lauren is with the Beautiful People for an interview. Madison Rayne looks scared about the prospects of her stretcher match with Awesome Kong. Angelina Love talks about incorrect events that were suppose to happen on paper. Love says they don’t sweat Awesome Kong. Sky says they have to get ready for a funeral, and Madison hopes it’s not hers.
A video package highlighting the recent happenings for Abyss and Dr. Stevie are shown.
Backstage, Lauren is mad to find out that Dr. Stevie has put Abyss in a match where Abyss can’t have weapons, but his opponent can. Abyss says Stevie thinks that getting hit with weapons will make him scared of them. Cody Deaner and ODB enter the scene. Deaner steps up to Abyss and says he’s ready to fight Abyss tonight. Abyss lifts Deaner against the wall, but storms off.
A video package highlighting Kurt Angle’s TNA career is shown.
Backstage, TNA World Champion Mick Foley meets up with the Motor City Machine Guns. Foley needs their help despite their history. Foley needs some guys with fire and knows they have it. Shelley would like to help Foley, but they seem non-committal. Shelley tells Foley they have an issue with Suicide. Foley tells the Guns that it is Al Snow and thinks it’s Snow because they haven’t seen Snow since his one appearance earlier in the year. Sabin and Shelley walk off, but not seemingly aligning with Foley.
Backstage, Hernandez is seen laid out and it appears that the British Invasion have attacked Hernandez. Brutus Magnus has the Feast or Fired briefcase belonging to Hernandez.
MATCH #2: THE BRITISH INVASION VS. HOMICIDE — HANDICAP — TEAM 3D TOURNAMENT
FINISH: Rob Terry holds Homicide’s foot from the floor leading to the British Invasion hitting a Hart Attack top rope uppercut for the win.
Bob’s Take: Homicide comically just whacks Rob Terry with his briefcase, which Terry should have seen coming from quite a far distance. Homicide keeps the momentum on Williams with a neckbreaker, but Williams responds with a leaping uppercut. Magnus doesn’t fare too well upon his entrance into the match, but Williams cheap shots Homicide. Homicide delivers a missile dropkick to both men. Williams works over Homicide with strikes and a snap suplex. Homicide continues to be worked over a bit by Magnus and Williams. Magnus misses a top rope knee drop and Homicide overhead tosses Williams. Homicide spikes Magnus with a tornado DDT and ace cutters Williams. Homicide is holding his own against two guys rather well. It took Rob Terry holding his boot for the heels to prevail. This was actually an enjoyable handicap match, which is a rarity for me. I usually despise handicap matches, but they did well here.
Match Rating: **1/2
Another video package highlighting Kurt Angle’s career in TNA.
MATCH #3: MADISON RAYNE VS. AWESOME KONG — STRETCHER MATCH
FINISH: Awesome Kong wins after hitting two Awesome Bombs and Rayne is on the stretcher for ten seconds. After the match, Rayne is carried to the back.
Bob’s Take: Kong chokeslams Rayne to the mat early into the match. Kong delivers the Implant Buster and Rayne is clearly out of it. The rules of the match are you win after putting your opponent on the stretcher for ten seconds. Kong hits the Awesome Bomb though this match was over long ago. Kong delivers a second Awesome Bomb. This was what it needed to be for the angle.
Match Rating: SQUASH
Backstage, The Beautiful People check on Madison Rayne, who is still out on the stretcher.
The Motor City Machine Guns make their way out to cut a promo. Alex Shelley demands the people shut up and they call out Christopher Daniels or Suicide, whatever he wants to call himself. Christopher Daniels joins the segment by coming to the ring. Shelley believes Daniels is Suicide and runs down the facts that would point to Daniels as being Suicide. Shelley says Daniels has been begging to get his job back in TNA. Sabin says they are as smart as they look. Sabin says the time has come to ask Daniels some questions. Sabin asks why Daniels and Suicide have the same build and notes their asses are the same size. Sabin wonders why the fans chant Daniels name when Suicide is in the ring. Sabin calls Daniels a liar. Sabin says Daniels needs to make amends right now. Daniels responds by saying he doesn’t owe either of them an explanation. Daniels warns Sabin to backup or he’ll break his face. Daniels doesn’t have time for video games or masks. Daniels suggests they ask Suicide themselves. Daniels proceeds to attack the Guns because he’s pissed off. Daniels lays out the Guns rather easily and the Guns retreat quickly.
Backstage, TNA World Champion Mick Foley meets up with Samoa Joe asking Joe for some help tonight against the Main Event Mafia. Foley reminds Joe that Foley saw something in Joe early in his career. Joe casually walks off without saying a word. Foley thinks he’s going to need to go to plan C and gets on the phone to end the segment.
MATCH #4: ABYSS VS. CODY DEANER — WEAPONS MATCH
NOTE: Deaner can use weapons, but Abyss can’t.
FINISH: Abyss wins following a Black Hole Slam.
Bob’s Take: Deaner hits Abyss with a trash can lid to cut Abyss, but Abyss is not hurt by it. Deaner spits some beer into the eyes of Abyss and continues to use weapons to stagger Abyss. Deaner drops Abyss with a vicious chair shot over the head. Abyss stops the momentum with a Black Hole Slam for the win. This was better than I expected as Deaner was a bit more entertaining than I thought he would be.
Match Rating: SQUASH
Backstage, Lauren interviews Daffney. Daffney says that Dr. Stevie is the best doctor she’s ever had. Daffney has to let all her aggression out. Daffney says she has something in common with Lauren. Lauren tells Daffney that she doesn’t think Abyss is interested in Daffney. Daffney laughs and walks away.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviews Booker T & Kevin Nash. Jenna and Sharmell are there bickering a little bit, as well. Sharmell says everything is resolved since Jenna was put on a leash. Angle yells for everyone to calm down. Booker and Sharmell leave the room. Angle apologizes to Jenna and they walk off to get a drink.
Matt Morgan makes his way out and says he’s going to drop a bombshell on Impact. Morgan is going to offer something the Main Event Mafia that they can’t refuse. Morgan is offering his services to the Mafia because he’s the future of the business. Morgan says the offer is available for a limited time.
Backstage, Lauren interviews TNA Legends Champion AJ Styles. Styles says Samoa Joe is on nobody’s page and Joe is a different person after having a few months off. Styles needs Joe to have his game face on otherwise they’re going to have problems. Styles doesn’t need the nation of violence. Styles needs his friend.
A video package covering Rhino training Jesse Neal. Rhino is giving Neal tough love and thinks Neal will succeed because he has the heart.
MAIN EVENT: TNA LEGENDS CHAMPION AJ STYLES & SAMOA JOE VS. BOOKER T & KEVIN NASH
NOTE: During the match, Bobby Lashley is seen arriving to the arena.
FINISH: Booker decks Styles with the championship to steal the victory. After the match, Styles confronts Joe and gets in his face asking why Joe is doing this, but nothing happens.
Bob’s Take: Styles and Booker kickoff the main event with some basic hammerlocks and general basic wrestling for a bit. Styles continues to work over Nash in the corner. Nash stops Styles with his trademark offense in the corner. Styles dumps Booker to the floor and nails Nash with a springboard forearm smash. Styles continues to take out Booker and Nash with a crossbody to the floor. Samoa Joe finally arrives for the match before the commercial. Joe and Styles almost fought during the break, but Joe cleans house upon entering the match. Joe pummels Nash with forearms, but doesn’t see Booker hitting Styles with the championship to win. For the most part, this was rather basic and once Joe came in there was no formula and it was brawling allowing for the cheap finish. This version of Joe is not connecting with me, at all.
Match Rating: *1/2
Backstage, Mick Foley is talking with someone off camera and knows that the person wants a major contract. Foley says he knows they have headlined WrestleMania, but Foley needs his help. Foley wants the person to hide in the closet and come out when Foley says “now”.
Backstage, Kurt Angle bursts into Mick Foley’s office and is ready to pummel Foley, but Foley delays the beating by mentioning the new contract. Foley says now several times, but nobody comes out. Angle chokes Foley on the floor and says he’s going to shove the belt up Foley’s ass. Angle is mad that Foley hit him with a chair. Foley laughs because it’s over a chair shot. Angle shoves Borash away. Foley tells Angle to hit him over the back with a chair and then they’re even. They don’t have a chair, so they decide on Jarrett’s guitar. Foley holds off since it’s Jarrett’s guitar and promises a chair will be there quick. Foley fakes a phone call and decks Angle with the phone call. Foley goes to the closet and reveals it was Mr. Socko. Foley shoves Mr. Socko down Angle’s throat. The lights go out and there’s a thud. When the light comes back on… it’s Sting!
Final Thoughts:
I feel like it has been months since there was a good episode of Impact. I’m considering this a good episode of TV. There was some quality action and the angle developments made sense and were entertaining, as well. The build to Lockdown was a bit rough, but we’re seemingly getting back on track as the build towards Sacrifice continues. I’m not sure what the point of showing Lashley walking in the arena was because he did nothing, but whatever.
Thanks for reading.