3/19 Talon Robinson's TNA Impact Coverage: Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle and Sting, Team No Limit vs. The Motor City Machine Guns; Governor vs. Madison Rayne

TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.


[Q1] Highlights of Destination X aired … This week’s title is “Sting….Whose side is he on?”… The Impact intro aired…

The Main Event Mafia made their way to the ring. Interestingly enough, Scott Steiner was wearing some sort of mask over his face probably to “conceal the scars of what Samoa Joe did to him”. Kurt Angle said everything he said would happen at Destination X ended up happening. Angle grabbed a mic and said that Destination X was the biggest screwjob since the Montreal Screwjob. Angle said Sting tried to fake an argument with Foley but you “can’t work a worker”.

Sting grabbed the mic and said he only had a problem with Angle and not the Main Event Mafia. Sting said he owed Kurt nothing. Nash agreed with Sting, then said he owes the Main Event Mafia something since the past few PPVs. Nash said Sting has something to prove to him and questioned his antics with Mick Foley. Sting asked what they wanted him to do, and Angle asked him to be his partner tonight in the main event against Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley.

Jeff Jarrett came out and reminded Angle that he is not a member of management and doesn’t make the matches. Angle complained that Jarrett was protecting Sting then called Sting a liar. Sting said that Foley is on the inactive list. Foley came out and confronted Sting and said he never said he wrestled his last match. Foley said he proved to the world that he could watch a match like anybody but he isn’t an enforcer, he is a wrestler.

Foley said he was up for the main event. Jeff Jarrett took the mic and said it wasn’t what Foley wanted. Jarrett said there was a locker room full of wrestlers waiting to wrestle but Angle said he didn’t want them, he wanted Jarrett. Angle tried to goad Jarrett into the match telling him to “man up”. Jeff Jarrett then made the match and said that it all ends tonight… [C]

Talon’s Take: I am not sure that Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley vs. Sting and Kurt Angle is the biggest Main Event in Impact history even though it is a pretty good match. Again, TNA really needs to hype big matches like that in advance to really benefit from it. This was a pretty good segment that had a pretty real feel. However, I think TNA needs to mix up how they open a show.


[Q2] Back from break Mike Tenay and Don West ran down what just happened prior to the break...

A video highlighting Suicide and the Ultimate X match aired...

1. Team No Limit defeated Motor City Machine Guns in 5:00. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin wore the IWGP Junior Tag Titles to the ring. Mike Tenay mentioned that Global Impact 2 would return to TNA very soon on Spike TV. This match was a non-title bout, not for the Jr. Tag Team Titles. No Limit hit a series of moves on Alex Shelley early on to take control. The Motor City Machine Guns fought back with a series of moves of their own. Naito with a huge dropkick on Shelley. Naito reversed the top rope Hurricanrana into a rollup for the win...

Talon’s Take: Good match with some solid action. We didn’t see a spotfest but rather a solid tag team affair. Nothing great but a good TV match nonetheless.

[Q3] James Storm and Robert Roode of Beer Money came out and laid out both members of Team No Limit. Robert Roode called out Team 3D. Roode said that even though Beer Money has beaten everyone they are still disrespected. He said he knew Team 3D would ask for a rematch and Beer Money wanted the same thing, at Philadelphia in Six Sides of Steel at Lockdown. Roode said when they beat Ray and Devon they would finally get their respect. Ray offered to put the IWGP Tag Team on the line against the TNA Tag Team Title, so when they win they will be 22-time tag team champions. The four then had a staredown... [C]

Talon’s Take: A good exchange between two of the top tag teams in the world. There were a few things edited out of the promo that took place live but that is why the show is taped. I am excited for Beer Money vs. Team 3D at Lockdown.

Jeremy Borash was in Management’s office with Mick Foley. JB hyped one of the most “notorious”celebrities being a part of Lockdown. Jeff Jarrett stormed in angry that Mick put him in a tough position asking him what he was thinking. Foley gave a metaphor about pie and how he could go a month without pie unless it was put right in front of him. Foley tried to pump up Jarrett. Foley said do it for the business and the fan... [C]

Talon’s Take: Good metaphor and the build for tonight’s show has really begun. There was a three minute segment in between two commercials. What is this, football? The rating this quarter hour will probably take a big drop.

Back from break we saw a recap of Destination X’s “Win a Night with ODB.”Cody Deaner was shown as the winner…

[Q4] 2. ODB and Taylor Wilde defeated Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed in 4:00. Cody Deaner was shown in the crowd cheering on ODB. Raisha got ODB in a Spinning Toe Hold until ODB fought out and made the hot tag to Taylor while Saeed tagged in Kong. Kong went for a Gorilla Press Slam on Wilde but Taylor reversed into a rollup for the win. After the match Kong attacked ODB but Cody Deaner came out through the crowd for her save. He went face to face with Kong until Cody turned his hat around and scared off Kong... [C]

Talon’s Take: I still don’t know about Deaner. He could be a fun character but with TNA’s issues as being considered a redneck company by some fans, I wonder what this will do for their image.

JB got a few words with Kurt Angle in the MEM locker room. JB shared a few of his notes with Kurt Angle. His notes discussed the main event at Destination X. JB asked Kurt if he though that any of his actions on Sunday resulted him in Kurt losing. Kurt said he had no other choice but tonight we would find out which side Sting is on.

[Q5] 3. Sheik Abdul Bashir defeated Samoa Joe by DQ in 1:00. Joe took the fight immediately to Bashir. Referee Rudy Charles tried to intervene but Joe took him out resulting in a Disqualification. The match was very short. After the match Samoa Joe dragged Sheik Abdul Bashir to the back... [C]

Talon’s Take: Samoa Joe looks kinda out of shape to me. He looked worn out before the match even began. You know with Joe going wild on everybody, it would be an adequate way to drop wrestlers from the roster.

Lauren was standing by with the Beautiful People. Velvet Sky said Cute Kip is on a secret probation until further notice and she will not speak of Cute Kip again. Angelina Love said what everyone sees is years of hard work. Madison Rayne was quiet during the whole segment. Velvet Sky said tonight isn’t about the three count but about hurting the Governor...

Talon’s Take: So that explains Cute Kip’s absence. It was fun knowing him while it lasted (or not).

In the ring, Jim Cornette called out the new Legends Champion, AJ Styles. Mike Tenay mentioned that AJ Styles was the first ever Grand Slam Champion. Cornette congratulated Styles for his win and said that when Booker T signed the contract he signed over the championship and the belt. AJ said that the win was a big win for the TNA Originals and TNA. AJ thought about Rhino and Team 3D but the Originals have to do it for themselves.

AJ Styles said he would give anyone in TNA a fighting chance at the Legends Championship. Booker T came out and began talking jibberish and really fast and I think he challenged AJ to a match. AJ Styles called Booker T a paper champion. Styles said he wasn’t going to do anything. Sharmell said AJ stole the Legends Title and that Booker would get the championship back on his own time...[C]

Talon’s Take: Aside from Booker T’s talking, this segment was pretty good. This whole angle would be more effective if the title was a TV Title or something along those lines instead of a Legends Championship. I like the Frontline/Originals getting a good step in the right direction.

[Q6]4. The Governor defeated Madison Rayne in 2:30. Madison Rayne came to the ring with the Beautiful People and was carrying a black bag of some sort. The Governor didn’t even get an entrance. The Governor had the pin on Rayne but the referee was distracted. The Beautiful People attacked Governor as the referee was distracted.

There was a lot of arguing between Don West and Mike Tenay at this point. The Governor reversed a suplex into an inside cradle for the win. After the match The Beautiful People attacked the Governor and cut off some of her hair. The fans chanted “We want Roxxi” during this aftermath...

Talon’s Take: It’s like the Don West heel switch came on during the match as he was a big time heel during this fight. I think Roxxi could really benefit from this angle involving the Beautiful People since she was a victim of Angelina Love and Velvet Sky last year.

Backstage Samoa Joe was hanging Sheik Abdul Bashir upside down and had the knife to his throat. Joe said nobody wanted Bashir here and told him to go back to where he came from. Joe then beat Bashir with a Kendo Stick viciously... [C]

Talon’s Take: Wow! I don’t know how to feel about this. I still don’t like the knife but Samoa Joe is looking psychotic. I hope Bashir isn’t leaving TNA as I think his character benefits the product. I still don’t know what to think about this segment.

[Q7] We got a Rough Cut segment with Brother Devon who talked about how he got in the business and how he first met Brother Ray. He said he and Brother Ray balance each other out...

Jenna Morasca was shown in the crowd... We went to commercials as the stars of the main event made their entrances...[C]

[Q8]5. Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett defeated Kurt Angle and Sting in 11:00. Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett started things off with a little technical wrestling. It was announced that next week there would be a 20-Man Six Sides of Steel Gauntlet Match to determine the Captains for Lethal Lockdown.

Mick Foley tagged in against Kurt Angle and took down the Olympic Champion. He took out Angle with a big clothesline t the outside to the floor. MEM Security tried to interfere but Foley fought them off. Kurt Angle used the distraction and nailed Foley with a chair. Team 3D came out and fought the MEM Security to the back. We went to commercials as Foley was laid out unconscious. [C]

Talon’s Take: I am extremely happy that TNA announced the 20-Man Gauntlet Match ahead of time. Big time matches like that need advanced hype and TNA thankfully gave it just that.

Back from commercials Kurt Angle was in control over Foley. They ran down what happened before the break and showed an Olympic Slam on Foley I missed previously. Kurt Angle teased a tag to Sting but then taunted him. Angle kept on beating on Foley to a point where Sting came in and told him that it was enough.

Angle knocked Sting off the apron but the distraction allowed Jeff Jarrett to tag in. Angle reversed the Stroke into an Ankle Lock which Jarrett rolled through knocking Angle into the referee. Jeff Jarrett was going to hit Sting with his chair but Sting grabbed it from him. However Mick Foley smashed a chair across the head of Sting. Foley then pinned Sting for the win... [C]

Talon’s Take: Interesting main event that saw too many outside forces play part for my liking but what else can you expect? Foley looked very heelish by hitting Sting with a chair, who prior to that moment played very little part in the match.

Sting grabbed a mic and said if Foley wanted back in the ring he should have just said it. Sting referenced “Hardcore History 101” and how Sting made Foley’s career. Sting said he was going to end Foley’s career. Sting then challenged Foley to a match at Lockdown.

In the back Mick Foley said he didn’t know what just happened. Foley said Sting inspired him when Sting decided for him that he had enough. Foley accepted Sting’s challenge for Lockdown as the show came to a close...

Talon’s Take: I will be completely honest, I loved this show. There wasn’t anything horrific and it even made me nearly forget the abortion that was Destination X. I am excited for Sting vs. Mick Foley, I am excited for next week. I am actually excited for the TNA product.

Tell me what you thought by emailing me at Talon_DR@yahoo.com