9/17 Twilling's TNA Live Coverage: Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan with Kurt Angle on commentary, Kevin Nash vs. Mick Foley for the Legends Championship, women's tag team title tournament continues

TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fl

[Q1] Footage was shown of Hernandez vs. Homicide and various footage of the past of LAX. Hernandez taking out the World Elite and Homicide turning on Hernandez to join the group was shown. Tonight’s show is entitled “Love in a Hellevator.” Mick Foley (with his kids) and Kevin Nash were shown arriving to the arena...

Twill’s Two Cents: Nice touch promoting the Legends Championship match for tonight.

The opening video aired and fireworks lit up the Impact Zone. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, from their announce table, welcomed us to the show. They threw it over to Mike Tenay and Taz. Taz was aware of his announce colleagues and thought they opened the show well. Tenay said, “Instead of FTW, this is more like WTF.” Cute...

1. The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky and Angelina Love) defeated Tara and Christy Hemme in 4:17. It was sad to see TBP make their ring entrance. I’m a fan and proud of it. By the way, kudos to the camera guy for focusing on the money part of the entrance. The old WWF/WWE guy must have been offended or something.

Tara hit a nice snap suplex and followed up with a nip up. She hit the standing moonsault for a two count. Christy hit the FFG on Velvet, but Angelina broke it up. Madison Rayne came out to the ring and argued with Velvet. She tried to spray Velvet, but she moved and it hit Christy instead. Velvet rolled her up for the win...

After the match, Madison held up a paper bag with her picture on it. She turned it around and it said, “I’m sorry.” Angelina accepted the apology but Velvet was reluctant to do so...

Twill’s Two Cents: Glad to see TBP get the win and I hope they keep the gimmick going with Madison. I want to see Velvet and Angelina together, but if we cannot get that, I still want to see TBP move forward.

D’Angelo Dinero cut a promo on Suicide backstage. He then sexually harassed Lauren by saying he was going to put his hands on her later...

Suicide was shown walking through the backstage area... [C]

[Q2] An ad for Bound for Glory aired. Of course, there is also a pay-per-view this Sunday...

2. D’Angelo Dinero defeated Suicide in 3:37. Pope handed his gear to SoCal Val at ringside. Suicide ran to the ring and the match started with a brawl. Pope took over with a closeline/leg sweep combination. Shelley and Sabin chimed in on commentary. Shelley basically said Suicide was gay and they made fun of his oven mitts.

Shelley and Sabin made fun of Pope too for being a fan of “Twilight.” Tenay came back and said he was more of a “True Blood guy.” Score one cool point for Tenay. Suicide tried a top rope splash, but Pope blocked it with his knees. He then hit the DDE for the win...

Twill’s Two Cents: Hmmm, they built to this match for weeks and it was over in less than four minutes. It was good while it lasted, but damn, why not cash in on that mid-card equity they built up?

Tenay and Taz immediately ran down the card for the rest of the night. Rhino was shown walking through the backstage area... [C]

Lauren tried to interview Eric Young and the World Elite. Kiyoshi interrupted and became the interviewer. Young said Hernandez was a brother who lost his way. He said Homicide brought Hernandez to TNA and Hernandez, “in true American fashion,” only looked out for himself.

Young said he was signed to face Hernandez at No Surrender, but Hernandez was his brother and Young would not fight his brother. Homicide said the World Elite was his familia and Hernandez only cared about his singles career...

Twill’s Two Cents: Logical, but unspectacular segment.

[Q3] Footage was shown of Rhino beating the crap out of Jesse Neal. In the ring, Rhino said he sat back and watched other people pass him up. TNA finally decided to give Rhino “a push” by putting his personal demons in the spotlight. Rhino said he liked to have a few drinks and “black out once in awhile.” Some redneck guy in the crowd that looked like Cody Deaner cheered for that.

Rhino said he liked Jesse Neal’s story, but Jesse humiliated him in the ring. He then turned his anger to Bobby Lashley and Dixie Carter. The promo got very good here. He asked Dixie when the last time she called him was. He called Dixie “sweetheart” and “Toots” and reminded Lashley who he was facing at Hard Justice.

Brother Devon came out to the ring. He said Rhino did not sound angry; he sounded like “a little bitch.” He said his brother “Bubba” was pissed in the back, but Devon persuaded him to stay in the back. Devon reminded Rhino that Team 3D took Rhino under their wing when Rhino came to the original ECW.

Devon asked Rhino to clear his head and help everyone make TNA the best company “in the history of this business.” He asked Rhino to put everything behind them and go have some fun. He held out his hand. Rhino shook it and said the first step to making TNA the best company in the world was to kick Devon’s ass. He attacked him with the mic. Brother Ray came in and ran off Devon... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Very nice segment. TNA catches a lot of flack for mentioning other companies, but when it makes sense and when it is true, I am all for it. Rhino can be interesting when he is relevant and I like this program he is having with Team 3D.

Footage was shown again of Homicide turning on Hernandez to join the World Elite...

3. Hernandez defeated Bashir and Kiyoshi in a handicap match in 2:41. Hernandez still has that briefcase and he still carries it around. Hernandez quickly scored the win.

[Q4] After the match, Homicide came out to the ring and was attacked immediately by Hernandez. The distraction allowed Young to hit Hernandez with a chair. Homicide held the briefcase on Hernandez’s neck and Young hit it with the chair. Hernandez went “George Wells at WrestleMania 2” on us... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Well, we know who is not important in the World Elite. I’m all for strong factions, but if they are going to go NWO B Team on us, they shouldn’t include so many people.

Lauren interviewed ODB backstage and the theme of the interview was designed to put over the entire female roster as the best in the business. ODB said she was bringing home the “Knocked Up” title on Sunday...

4. Alissa Flash defeated Cody Deaner in a lumberjack match in 1:24. The entire female roster, face and heel, beat the crap out of Deaner on the floor. They rolled him back into the ring and Flash easily pinned him...

After the match, the women, including Awesome Kong and Tara, began fighting each other. As Deaner retreated to the back, ODB knocked him out with her flask... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I’ve been pretty vocal about Deaner in the women’s division, but I liked this segment and match. It was designed to show the depth and sheer talent volume of the women’s division. It should also further prove why Deaner should not be in a pay-per-view match for the women’s championship.

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Kevin Nash and said lots of women, and even a few men, wanted a chance to be Nash’s new valet. Nash was holding an open casting call tonight. A cookie cutter broad came in with a portfolio.

The second one came in and gave Nash some pictures. Lauren even said, “Those are beautiful pictures.” Lauren called Nash a pig and Nash sweet talked her. He gave her some wine and she was falling victim to his spell. A very large broad came in and Nash loved her. He even threw out a line courtesy of the Dos Equis guy...

Twill’s Two Cents: The unflappable Lauren fell prey to Nash and his cool demeanor. Very nice and let’s face it, a very positively humorous segment. Lauren has now been sexually harassed twice on tonight’s show, and she liked it the second time.

[Q5] Mick Foley cut a more serious promo backstage and said he was going to take back TNA slowly, beginning with regaining the Legends Championship. He said an old friend would reemerge tonight. “Have a nice day,” concluded Foley...

5. Kevin Nash defeated Mick Foley by disqualification to retain the Legends Championship in 4:19. Nash dominated the early portion of the match. Foley put Mr. Socko on early, but Nash continued his dominance. Taz did a great job putting over how “cool” it was to see two legends (no pun intended) go at it on Impact.

Abyss came out to the ring with his flannel and barbed wire baseball bat. Nash exited the ring the referee correctly called for the bell and disqualified Foley. Foley was pissed and Abyss tried to explain his actions. Foley took off...

Twill’s Two Cents: That was weak. I guess Abyss vs. Nash at the pay-per-view was more important than tonight’s match. The DQ was weak, but I hate it when someone will come into the ring and because they are not successful with their attack, even though their intentions are clear, the referee will not disqualify anyone.

Sobered up Lauren interviewed Brother Ray as his partner for tonight, Robert Roode, and their tag team partners stood by. Ray cut a solid promo about how they will work well together tonight because of mutual respect. When he was through, he asked what Roode had to say. Roode responded, “Testify.” ... [C]

[Q6] Lauren interviewed a hysterical Abyss backstage. Just wait until he finds out about Nash successfully seducing his woman. Abyss freaked out and started pulling out his own hair...

6. Scott Steiner and Brutus Magnus (with Booker T, Doug Williams, and Big Rob) defeated Brother Ray and Robert Roode (with Brother Devon and James Storm) in 5:02. This felt like a lumberjack match with everyone around the ring. Steiner started quickly against Roode hitting power moves. Roode however, scored the first nearfall after a big knee drop.

Magnus and Ray tagged in. Ray hit a couple of huge chops. Magnus hit a suplex on Ray after Ray was hit by Steiner. Ray took the extended beating. Ray hit the Bubba Bomb on Steiner and tagged Roode, who cleaned house. With all four men in and out of the ring, Roode hit the Payoff, but Magnus hit Ray with one of the IWGP belts, allowing Steiner to get the win...

Twill’s Two Cents: Predictable, but the idea is to sell the pay-per-view, so with that in mind, this segment (match) did its job.

Sarita and Taylor Wilde played patty cake backstage before heading to the ring... [C]

Footage was shown of Kyle Vandenbosh, TNA, and Dixie Carter working with the Boys and Girls Club. Good stuff...

Bobby Lashley was shown leaving a gym or something. The guy at the counter asked about Hard Justice. Lashley said, “I’m going to knock his ass out.” ...

Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed made their entrance. Taylor Wilde and Sarita followed. Footage was shown of both teams advancing in the tournament. Taz said Taylor and Sarita were “the female version of us, complete with the entrance and everything.” Funny...

[Q7] 7. Taylor Wilde and Sarita defeated Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed in the Knockouts Tag Team Tournament in 4:31. Saeed did the early heavy lifting on Sarita. Kong tagged in and continued. Sarita kicked out of several nearfalls. Taylor finally tagged in and hit several pleasing babyface spots.

Kong broke up a pinfall and Sarita knocked Kong to the corner. She went after Kong and both women went to the floor. In the ring, Taylor pinned Raisha after a German suplex with a bridge...

After the win, Kong looked really pissed. Lauren interviewed Taylor and Sarita as ringside. Sarita threw her had and fist up throughout her verbiage, as if she was saying “Yo” at the end of each of her sentences... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I know TBP vs. Kong and Saeed would have been a heel team vs. a heel team, but I would have gone with that in the final. Taylor and Sarita are just two women wrestling as a team, hardly the message TNA should be sending. They are saying any two women could become the first tag team champions.

Tenay handled the TNA Live announcements. Taz plugged Bound for Glory. Backstage, JB interviewed Kurt Angle and asked him about his three opponents at No Surrender. Angle said he was the best and guaranteed victory on Sunday. Taz and Tenay ran down the entire No Surrender card...

Lauren interviewed Sting and A.J. Styles backstage. She asked them how they could be opponents despite their new relationship. Sting said both he and Styles wanted to be the best. Styles said he had more respect for Sting than Sting will ever know. Cheesy smile and all, A.J. said neither of them would have it any other way than to do everything they could to win on Sunday... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: There is a pay-per-view on Sunday and that was the first we saw or heard from anybody involved in the main event, and Matt Morgan has not appeared yet. That is a flaw in this broadcast, which has been entertaining.

[Q8] Extended footage aired of the rocky relationship between Kurt Angle and Matt Morgan. Kurt Angle came out to the announce booth. He said he has been to the announce table so often, he had a new job as a commentator. Samoa Joe and his bath towel came out to the ring. That thing is larger than the one Val Venis used to wear...

8. Matt Morgan defeated Samoa Joe by disqualification in a non-title match in 3:52. Morgan played to the crowd and Joe kicked his ass from behind. Joe dominated early but Matt followed with his fast elbows in the corner. He then hit an avalanche and side suplex. He smiled like a goon and looked over at Angle. That seemed to be a theme in this match.

Morgan set up Joe for the Hellevator, but Joe countered with a series of kicks and a suplex. Morgan bounced up and hit a chokeslam. He set up Joe for the carbon footprint and Joe slid to the floor. Joe pulled Morgan with him and they fought to the floor. Joe threw Morgan over the announce table. Morgan’s appearance pissed off Angle and Angle attacked Morgan.

After the bell rang multiple times, Morgan and Angle continued to brawl. Daniels came out and fought with Joe. Both fights continued as the show went to an oddly placed commercial... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: It was not long enough to blossom into anything, but the post match brawls were well done. What’s up with going to commercial that will restart the broadcast with just one minute left in the show?

Back from commercial, Angle and Morgan fought threw several referees and security people. If Shore was writing this report, he would say 3482759392084855 referees tried to keep them apart. Angle finally ended it by hitting an Angle Slam on Morgan through the announce table. He stood over Morgan to close out the show...

What did you think of the show? Feel free to let me know by shooting an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com.