TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, FL

[Q1] A recap video of Sacrifice aired. Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed us to the show. They plugged Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim for the TNA Knockouts Title and LAX vs. The Motor City Machineguns.

All of the TNA stars stood in both aisles. Samoa Joe came to the ring and addressed them all. He offered them the chance of a lifetime. He said he should be able to pick his competition and Jim Cornette allowed him to choose four people to face in qualifying matches for the King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. He named off Robert Roode, James Storm, Tomko, and Matt Morgan as the four chosen by Cornette to face off in qualifying matches.

Joe said he wanted the best competition. He was looking for people who have not had their chance at the championship. Booker T’s music hit and he came out with a microphone. He wanted to know why he was not invited to the party and why he has never received his chance.

Booker said every time he enters the building, Joe runs the other way like a little bitch. Well, he did not call him that but he came close. Booker said Joe better pick him as one of the four. Joe said he did not care what Booker wanted. Booker punched Joe. Christian and Rhino came in and helped Joe fight off Booker. Booker challenged the three to a six man tag tonight…

Backstage, Kurt Angle and Frank Trigg were having a conversation. Borash asked Kurt how he was and what was going on with the Angle Alliance. Kurt had a written speech prepared for Karen and JB would hear it when everyone else did… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I was having computer issues but I was still able to take this in. I will have a “wait and see” attitude about this. I have always liked the idea of creating new main eventers. This might be a big chance for some new blood to rise to the top.

[Q2] An advertisement for Slammiversary aired upon the return from commercial. Tickets start at twenty dollars…

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Kaz, while Sonjay Dutt, Black Machismo, and SoCal Val stood by. As Kaz started talking, Sonjay and Lethal started freaking out. Lethal mentioned something about King Kong Bundy and Andre the Giant and took off…

1. Kaz, Sonjay Dutt, and Black Machismo (with SoCal Val) defeated The Rock N’ Rave Infection and Johnny Devine in 2:45. Very fast paced action in the first two minutes. Dutt tagged in and cleaned house. Kaz came in, hit a side kick and scored the pin…

Lethal called Val into the ring, grabbed a ring box, and dropped to a knee. Of course, Tenay and West talked over him. West said, “You better think this through, you better think this through.” He asked her to marry him at Slammiversary and she said, “Ooooooooooohhhhhh Yeahhhhhhh.” Sonjay looked pissed…

Twill’s Two Cents: Not much to the match. Another wrestling wedding? Who is booking this, Vince Russo? Oh yeah… West’s comment was hilarious.

A shot of Abyss in a padded room was shown… [C]

[Q4] Back from commercial, Tenay plugged Joe, Cage, and Rhino vs. Booker T. and two partners of his choice. West shifted gears to the “mysterious footage” of Abyss. He introduced a history package of the monster.

A “live” video of Abyss talking to us from the padded room aired. He called himself an addict and a masochist. He was addicted to pain. He said he was almost cured and he could go home soon… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Seeing that video of Abyss made me wonder how he is still alive. Shoot, he sure has a high pain threshold. He was covering up his face so I am not sure if he is coming back masked or not. I prefer him with the mask on. Remember what happened to Kane.

Backstage, Lauren was backstage with Joe and Kevin Nash. Lauren asked why Nash showed up with Scott Steiner at the PPV. He skated around the question. He said he thought wrestling was 90% mental and 10% physical and Joe thinks the opposite. Nash concluded by saying he and Joe are on the same page.

Joe said next week was next week but tonight, Booker was his concern. He said he respected what Booker has done but does not have to like him. He called him a bitter ex champion. Joe said Booker and his partners were in trouble tonight. He asked him, “Can you dig that, sucka.”…

A very good video aired showcasing the history of Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong. Nice job here by the production team…

2. Awesome Kong (with Raisha Saeed) defeated Gail Kim for the TNA Knockout Championship in 10:32. Early on, Kong backed Kim into the corner, but Kim used her quickness to her advantage. She went to the top and tried a hurricarana, and I was unsure if Kong powered out or dropped her.

Saeed distracted Kim, allowing Kong to take over. ODB came down to the ring to even things out. Then, Salinas, Velvet Sky, Christy Hemme, and Traci Brooks all came out. The announcers sold it as the Knockouts wanting to see the match up close. Kong had a knee to Kim’s throat in the corner as the girls on the outside had to be separated… [C]

[Q4] Kong was dominating coming back from commercial. In the corner, Kim locked in an armbar from her back, but Kong lifted her up and set her on the ropes. Kim tried to ram Kong but went down hard. Kong locked in a camel clutch.

Kim fought out but Kong thwarted her comeback with a huge closeline. Kong scored a nearfall as the viewers scored a nice angle of Kim’s ass. Kong went to the middle rope and missed a splash. She hit a Codebreaker, followed by a huge spear for a nearfall.

Kong hit a spinning back kick for a nearfall. Kim went to the middle rope and hit a blockbuster for a two. She then went to the top and hit a senton. The announcers counted with the referee for two. The girls fought on the outside.

Gail went to top but Angelina Love pushed her into the ring. West said she “cracked her knee.” Thanks Dr. West. Kong hit an Awesome Bomb for the pinfall victory…

Twill’s Two Cents: This was not their best match, but it was still very good. With the divas at ringside, the nearfalls, and the announcing, this had “big match” written all over it. The fact that the title of my report tonight listed this match first, as well as the execution by the two, show how TNA is doing something very right with this division. Too bad they do not treat the X Division in the same manner.

After the match, Gail was being tended to by ODB, Traci, and Salinas. Tenay sent us to commercial… [C]

Back from commercial, Tenay and West sold Kim’s knee injury. They said for the second time Kim did not win the match because of Angelina Love. Kong is pretty good guys.

They showed a video of “As the Angles Turn,” showing the history of Kurt Angle, A.J. Styles, and Karen Angle. They played some cheesy soap opera music. After the video Kurt Angle came to the ring…

[Q5] Angle had balloons with him. He said Karen did not kick him out of the house, she left him. He asked the fans for their support. He said he injured his neck and asked for more compassion and decorum from the Impact Zone. Funny.

Angle looked into the camera and read an “apology” letter. He said Karen was miserable without him and he was sorry. He said she needed to get her priorities straight. He said if she understood the TNA Championship was first, his gold medals were second, the kids were third, and she was fourth, they could work it out. Technically, she is third because she takes care of the kids.

Angle said romance was for sissies. He said he was willing to forgive her for being a bad wife. He asked that Karen show up next week, walk him down the ramp, and open his car door. He asked her to help nurse him back from his injury. He said, “I love you, and oh, say hi to the kids.” Tenay reacted disgustedly… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I think it is funny that Kurt came to TNA so he did not have to be in stupid skits. However, he is hurt now and that was comedic gold. His serious tone in saying things so ridiculous and chauvinistic was spot on. I wonder why he brought balloons even though he knew she was not there. If Angle gets healthy, I look forward very much to an extended program with Styles.

Back from commercial, the voiceover guy, promoting the Destination X DVD, said Elevation X was “the ultimate test in wrestling.” Huh?!…

Backstage, JB, Salinas, and Hector Guerrero were celebrating. Homicide butchered the English language a little bit but still gave a solid promo. He said the missing piece was Guerrero. Hector said they were starting a revolution and asked the Latino nation to support them…

3. LAX (with Salinas, Hector Guerrero) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns in a non-title match in 4:32. The fans are confused to whether or not to cheer LAX. Salinas was helping Gail Kim earlier, so I guess they are face.

Homicide and Shelley started. Homicide hit a sweet release belly to belly suplex off of an irish whip. Hernandez came in and hit a back breaker. Sabin and Shelley hit some very quick double team moves, including a springboard dropkick/faceplant combination. Frequent tags by the Guns allowed them to keep the advantage.

Homicide regained the advantage by hitting a t-bone. Hernandez came over the top rope and double closelined both opponents. He set up Shelley for the Border Toss but Sabin broke it up. Hernandez hit a double suplex. Homicide went to the top and hit the 5150 for the clean win…

Twill’s Two Cents: Imagine with me for a moment. Say TNA builds up the Guns as legitimate contenders over the next few months and gives LAX an impressive title reign. Then they put them in the ring together, slow it down a little bit, and give them 20+ minutes. That would be a great match and potentially, a great feud.

[Q6]Backstage, JB asked Booker what his problem was. Basically, he asked him why he turned heel. Brother Ray came in and told JB to get lost. He called him a moron. Booker said when he came here, TNA then had the most decorated champion in history, and the five time (repeat four more times) WCW Champion. Devon gave a promo, calling Team 3D the best team ever and Booker T. “royalty.”… [C]

Back from commercial, West plugged TNA live events and they showed a stupid video of Eric Young looking for Elvis in Memphis…

Tenay introduced a pretaped interview with Sting. He asked him to talk about his career from the beginning. He dropped the names of Rick Bassman and Jim Hellwig (Warrior). He said Jerry Jarrett was the only guy that wanted him. He called Hellwig the original Rock. He talked about The Blade Runners tag team and how he and Hellwig parted ways on unfriendly terms…

Backstage, a behind the back shot of Roxxi Laveaux walking to the ring was shown… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I am not sure if a Sting history lesson is needed in 2008. The Eric Young stuff is terrible.

[Q7] Backstage, Lauren interviewed the Beautiful People. Lauren asked how they could be so cold as to make fun of Roxxi. Sky called Lauren a “beotch.” Love called Lauren a barbie wannabe. They bullied her around. Sky said the cameraman could shoot all he wants, but could never touch the Beautiful People…

4. The Beautiful People defeated Roxxi Laveaux and ODB in 4:17. In my opinion, Velvet is ridiculously hot and Angelina is not. The faces charged the ring and began brawling. West said Roxxi looked like Sinead O’Connor. That is original.

Roxxi worked over Angelina Love early. Love took over and slowed down the pace. Sky came in and continued the attack. Sky locked in a modified Octopus/Abdominal Stretch. Love ran across the ring and knocked ODB from the apron.

Roxxi finally tagged ODB, who came in off the top rope and cleared the ring of both opponents. She slammed Sky on top of Love. She hit a running powerslam for a nearfall. All four women came in. Sky was trying to sunset flip ODB and Love dropkicked her. Sky rolled her up for the win…

Twill’s Two Cents: The match was not long enough to become anything important, but all four of these women are very relevant in a loaded women’s division.

Backstage, Lauren interview Christian Cage and Rhino. Cage said he has never liked Booker T. and that he has always known Booker has always been a piece of shit. Rhino grabbed the microphone from Lauren and said he and Team 3D built a company from Extreme. He said he would beat them and drag their bloody bodies down memory lane… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Is tonight “Refer to every other company night?”

[Q8] 5. Samoa Joe, Christian Cage, and Rhino defeated Booker T. and Team 3D in 10:13. Joe opened up with Devon. He went after Booker, allowing Devon, and then Ray, to hit him with shots. Joe hit a second rope leg drop/rocker dropper for a one count. Outside of the ring, the other four men brawled. Christian flew from the top rope, taking out Ray.

Joe and Devon fought to the outside of the ring. Ray raked Christian’s eyes and West called it, “what a great rake of the eyes.”…

Twill’s Two Cents: Ahhh yes, the old Greco Roman rake of the eyes.

Brother Ray went to the Spanish announce table and shoved Hector Guerrero… [C]

Back from commercial, Devon worked over Rhino by pushing his neck and throat against the middle rope. He hit a huge leg drop and scored a two count. Ray came in and the overall pace of the match has slowed considerably.

Rhino punched Ray in the stomach and Tenay called it “the generous midsection.” Wow, Tenay temporarily removed the stick from his ass for a split second. Ray hit a rock bottom for a nearfall that Joe broke up before tagging Booker in. All three heels continued to work on Rhino, however, Rhino turned the tide by hitting a spinebuster on Brother Ray.

Joe got the hot tag and hit hard forearms on Team 3D. He splashed both men in the corner and hit Devon with a huge kick. Booker finally came in and the two exchanged shots before Joe hit a leg lariat.

Apparently there is a no tag rule because Hebner stood there like a goon as all six men fought in the ring. After four of them fought to the outside, Joe hit a snap powerslam on Devon in the ring for the win…

Immediately after the match, Ray ran over to the Spanish announce table and started beating the crap out of Hector Guerrero. Devon came over and assisted Ray. Booker came over with a chair and finally, the face team figured out what was going on and ran off the heels. Joe tended to a bloody Guerrero as the show went off the air…

Twill’s Two Cents: What the hell was Hector watching? Did he not see Ray coming right at him, especially when he approached him earlier? Does his monitor work? I guess an LAX vs. Team 3D program is interesting; I don’t know. Christian and Rhino have nothing to do right now. I am not liking the idea of a Joe vs. Booker program because I just do not see Booker as a main eventer. I do like Joe as a stand-up, bad ass champion who challenges and defeats challengers left and right.

Did you enjoy the show? Like a typical TNA show, it traveled at about 100 mph. Let me know what you thought. Email me at dotnetrich@gmail.com.

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