11/18 Powell's TNA Impact Live Coverage: Ric Flair returns to the ring to face Matt Morgan, Jeff Hardy vs. Raven, Angelina Love vs. Mickie James to become No. 1 contender for the TNA Knockouts Title


prowrestling.net
MEMBERSHIP INFO | LOG-IN | CONTACT US | SUBMIT NEWS | ABOUT US
Insider News • Live TV & PPV Coverage • Hitlists • Results • Blogs

HOME | WWE NEWS | TNA NEWS | MMA NEWS | ALL NEWS | TV & PPV | ARENA REPORTS | VIEWPOINTS | PRODUCT REVIEWS | AWARDS



Dot Net App
GOT AN IPHONE, IPAD, IPOD TOUCH, SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB, OR ANDROID PHONE?

THEN BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR NEW FREE APP
(or SEARCH "pro wrestling" in App Store or Android Marketplace)

Dot Net Podcast
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DOT NET FREE PODCAST IN ITUNES OR CLICK HERE FOR LISTING OF LATEST SHOWS

TNA TV Reports


11/18 Powell's TNA Impact Live Coverage: Ric Flair returns to the ring to face Matt Morgan, Jeff Hardy vs. Raven, Angelina Love vs. Mickie James to become No. 1 contender for the TNA Knockouts Title
Nov 18, 2010 - 10:00 PM


By Jason Powell

TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.


[Q1] The show opened with an excellent video that focussed on Jeff Hardy... The show is called "Morgan Wooo's The Nature Boy." Yes, I still hate that TNA names their shows...

Ric Flair came to the ring in his suit and had SoCal Val hold the ropes open for him. Mike Tenay and Taz checked in on commentary. Flair looked to the crowd and mentioned that it was another packed house. Um, they don't charge an admission fee. Anyway, Flair announced that he will be the special referee of Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Morgan at the TNA Final Resolution pay-per-view.

Flair called out Morgan, who accepted the invitation to join Flair in the ring. Flair said Morgan's "Naitch" privileges have been revoked. He said only his friends are allowed to call him that. Flair told Morgan not to look to the crowd. "Keep your eyes on God," Flair said. Flair repeated the line when Morgan looked away. Hilarious.

Flair said that if Morgan doesn't like the referee decision, he has to beat Flair tonight. Morgan said wrestling Flair is number one on his bucket list and accepted the match. Flair got worked up and said he was going to humiliate Morgan for walking away from Fortune to be "a kiss ass good guy." Funny.

Flair said that when Morgan is backstage and his nuts start to shrivel up, it's because he's about to wrestle God. Morgan said he wasn't going to do his talking on the mic. He said he'd do it in the ring when he shoves his boot up Flair's ass..

Powell's POV: Flair was phenomenal here. I don't know how Morgan kept a straight face. I would have cracked up at a few of those lines.

Generation Me was shown walking through the backstage area. Tara wished them good luck and slapped Jeremy Buck on the ass. Max congratulated him. She said she'd be watching them "very closely"...

Powell's POV: Um, yeah, we kinda figured out she was into the young guys when she started wearing that cougar shirt around.

The announcers ran through the show lineup...

[Q2] 1. Generation Me, Robbie E, and Cookie defeated The Motor City Machine Guns, Jay Lethal, and Velvet Sky in 5:30. The announcers said Velvet and Sabin have been dating behind the scenes for some time. There was a fun spot with Velvet performing a twisting head scissors on one of the Bucks. In the end, one of the Bucks sprayed something into the eyes of Sabin and his brother made the cover for the win...

Powell's POV: I guess the revelation that Sabin and Velvet are dating explains why she stood around watching The Guns play catch recently. However, it doesn't explain why Sabin would bother playing catch while Velvet was around.

Backstage, Jeff Jarrett warmed up in MMA styles while wearing MMA gear... [C]

Backstage, Generation Me were gloating when The Guns showed up and challenged them to an empty arena match on TNA Reaction. Generation Me accepted the match...

In another part of the backstage area, Jeff Jarrett told Gunner and Murphy that people want to see his MMA exhibition. He ordered them to make sure Kurt Angle didn't get in the building. Jeremy Borash hit up Jarrett about an introduction that was written for Hardy. Jarrett told him to introduce him right and then slapped Borash and told him to wipe the smile off his face.

[Q3] Jarrett said he has six students and wanted Borash in the ring to call the action. Jarrett continued to rough up Borash. He said he didn't sell out, he bought in. He said the company is being run the right way and "we're gonna make it profitable once and for all"...

Powell's POV: They're talking about making TNA profitable during Impact? That's just sad. Jarrett doing an MMA exhibition? That sounds corny, but we'll see.

A Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett video package was shown... [C] Borash introduced the "Double J Double M A exhibition." Jarrett's music played. Six guys came out in MMA gear. Jarrett followed them wearing MMA gear of his own. The announcers spoke about how serious Jarrett is about his MMA skills. No, really.

Jarrett entered the ring and did his best Tito Ortiz impersonation. Borash read the introduction. Jarrett ordered Keith in the truck to put up a disclaimer that the moves should only be performed by a trained professional. Jarrett demonstrated the first moves and the boring chants started.

Powell's POV: I think Jarrett performed more moves but I dozed off. I dreamt that TNA was written someone with legitimate talent who actually likes pro wrestling. It was wonderful. Velvet Sky was in my dream and let's just say I wasn't playing catch with Alex Shelley.

[Q4] Eventually, Samoa Joe's music played. He came out and challenged Jarrett to face him. Jarrett said that if Joe could go through two of his students, he would face him in a submission match later tonight. Joe tapped the first kid with an arm lock. Joe tapped out the next guy less than a minute later. Borash announced that Joe would now face Jarrett in a submission match.

Jarrett threw his students at Joe, who destroyed them all. Jarrett split. Joe turned his attention to Jarrett. The second student that tapped to Joe took a shot at him from behind. Joe destroyed the guy with a Muscle Buster. Jarrett ran to the back...

Powell's POV: I can't wait to see the ratings for that segment.

Backstage, Stevie Richards, Tommy Dreamer, and Brian Kendrick gave Raven a pep talk. Kendrick spoke about birds. Raven said someone has to give the birds to Immortal. he stood up and flipped both middle fingers at the camera. They actually censored Raven's Stone Cole salute. Sad... [C]

Powell's POV: For those wondering, yes, Velvet and Sabin are dating. Meanwhile, there's another wrestler and another Knockout that annoy the hell out of their co-workers by holding hands backstage like a couple of teenagers. I'd share their names, but I don't think the spouse of one of the performers would be too thrilled.

Jeremy Borash read a prepared introduction for Jeff Hardy. He gave an unenthusiastic introduction for Raven...

2. Jeff Hardy defeated Raven to cost Raven his job. The announcers said Raven was fighting for his job.

[Q5] Raven had Hardy set up for the Even Flow DDT, but Hardy countered with the Twist of Hate. Hardy followed up with the Swanton for the clean pin...

Powell's POV: It's oddly appropriate that Hardy is responsible for Raven's TNA demise, as his current character shares a lot of similarities to the Raven character.

Afterward, Dreamer, Richards, and Kendrick came out to console Raven. Hulk Hogan made his entrance and stood by Hardy on the entrance ramp. Hogan fired Raven and said, "Quote the Hulkster nevermore"... [C]

Tommy Dreamer was so concerned about Raven being fired that he stood in the ring by himself and called out Rhino. Footage aired of Rhino turning on Rob Van Dam last week. Rhino entered the ring and said EV2 knew that his contract expired after Turning Point. He said the EV2 guys didn't care, but Eric Bishoff did.

Rhino said Bischoff gave him the choice of employment or unemployment. He said he initially told Bischoff to kiss his ass, but he thought about it and realized that he was in TNA years before RVD and Dreamer. Rhino said they stole the spotlight and all the glory.

Dreamer said he thinks Rhino is one of the greatest athletes to step in the TNA ring. Dreamer said he and RVD came to TNA because they were offered contracts by Dixie Carter. He said they came to TNA because they believe in the company and all the guys in the back. He said Rhino's deal expiring is part of the business and they had nothing to do with it.

Dreamer said Rhino sold out his friend. A "You sold out" chant broke out. Rhino said Dreamer and RVD are only thinking of themselves, so he is going to think of himself. Dreamer said he and Rhino are both fathers, and they are all in on this together. Dreamer said Raven and Sabu went down with a fight, but Rhino quit on them and the people.

Rhino grabbed Dreamer's bad wrist and then clotheslined him. Rob Van Dam ran out, but he ended up taking a gore from Rhino...

[Q6] A shot aired of Abyss pushing a casket through the backstage area. Tenay said the casket match between Abyss and Shannon Moore is up next... [C]

Powell's POV: Rhino was disappointing in that segment. He's never been a great talker, but I've seen him deliver better mic work. Dreamer was Dreamer. Why in the hell are Abyss and Moore having a casket match? I guess I shouldn't complain since at least we're about to get a match after having only two thus far. No, I don't count the Jarrett and Joe stuff.

Backstage, Matt Morgan told the camera that he won't make the mistake of getting starry-eyed while wrestling Ric Flair...

3. Abyss fought Shannon Moore to a no-contest a casket match in 5:35. An ad was shown for the Generation Me vs. Motor City Machine Guns empty arena match that read "no refs, no fans, no rules." I guess that means no titles. At 4:00, Moore performed a big dove over the top onto Abyss on the floor. Cool move.

Moore tried to get Abyss inside the casket and failed. They fought back inside the ring where Abyss hit a Black Hole Slam. Abyss dragged Moore toward the casket and opened the door only to find D'Angelo Dinero inside. Pope roughed up Abyss and the ref called for the bell...

Powell's POV: I guess Pope now has Undertaker powers or something. Maybe they'll show us how Taker does the casket trick on Reaction. I don't know what kind of deal TNA is getting on these caskets, but I'm guessing they could have taken that money and kept Sabu and Raven around for a bit longer. Don't get me wrong, the EV2 guys are not over, but neither is the company's new fetish for caskets.

A backstage camera followed Angelina Love as show walked. She said she's the leader of the TNA Knockouts locker room and wants to know everything about new Knockouts. She praised Mickie as a great wrestler and said Mickie will be facing a great wrestler. She said Mickie won't just be handed the Knockouts Title shot... [C]

[Q7] 4. Mickie James pinned Angelina Love in 5:45 to become No. 1 contender to the TNA Knockouts Title. Taz applied humor where it wasn't needed by talking about whether to go with the blonde or brunette and concluding that he wouldn't mind being with either. Tenay then spoke about what was still to come.

They eventually settled down and called the match. At 5:00, Mickie missed a move off the top rope. Love followed up with a big boot to the head and scored a near fall. Mickie came back with a DDT a short time later and scored the clean pin...

Powell's POV: TNA just doesn't know how to make anything feel important. This should have been treated as a major Knockouts match and instead the announcers were dicking and/or talking about anything but this match during the opening minutes. Then again, Vince McMahon would probably have these two singing a "I'm a little bit country, I'm a little bit rock-n-roll" duet. Still, it's frustrating that the Knockouts Division isn't showcased like it once was, particularly when they had a match they could showcase.

A shot aired of Brother Ray walking backstage. Tenay said we will find out what he has to say next... [C]

Powell's POV: Another example of TNA not knowing how to make something feel important. The announcers spoke about the Team 3D breakup during the last match, but that's about all we've head about it tonight. I'm not even a fan of the split, but if you're going to do it, you should make it seem important.

[Q8] Backstage, Love threw a fit by throwing chairs and beer bottles all over the place. She sat down in a chair and put her head in her hands. Winter showed up and said it was destiny that she would lose that match. Winter said things are going to fall into place...

Powell's POV: Nice and creepy. I continue to enjoy the Winter segments. Too bad the audio was so rough on that one.

Brother Ray stood in the ring and said he was going to give the fans an explanation because he's in a good move tonight. He said it was 15 years ago that he created the best tag team finishing move in the history of the business. Wow, Brother Ray created the Doomsday Device and the Veg-O-Matic? Nope, he was talking about 3D.

Ray said Chris Sabin didn't kick out of 3D because he's a tougher wrestler or a better wrestler. Rather, it's because Velvet's va-jay-jay powered him to do it. Wait, no, that wasn't it either. Ray said it's because Devon is weak. Ray said he is Shawn Michaels and Devon is Marty Jannetty.

Ray said that if anyone out there is wondering who Jannetty is, that's his point exactly. He said Devon is nothing more than a sidekick. Ray said he could have been successful with any of their brothers as a tag team. Ray left the ring...

Powell's POV: Tenay asked Taz for comment and he responded by saying, "I don't quite know what to say. I think Brother Ray laid it out, laid out why he did what he did." Um, thanks for the insight, I guess.

Tenay hyped Flair vs. Morgan. He said that if Morgan wins, he picks the referee for Final Resolution. If he loses, he also loses his title shot... [C]

Powell's POV: All of Flair's in-ring appearances are the ultimate examples of TNA officials not having a clue about how to make something feel special.

Flair made his entrance for the main event. Morgan was out next. Both wrestlers received favorable reactions...

5. Matt Morgan defeated Ric Flair. A "Morgan" chant broke out after the bell. Early in the match, Morgan backed Flair into the corner for his elbows, but Flair pushed Morgan into the referee. The ref sold this like he'd been shot by tumbling across the ring and falling to the floor. Flair hit Morgan with a low blow.

[Overrun/TNA Reaction] Morgan and Flair fought to ringside where Flair bladed. Morgan took control of the match as they headed back to the ring. Fortune hit the ring along with Douglas Williams. The four main Fortune members attacked Morgan, but Williams didn't play along.

Williams eventually decked Styles and James Storm, but Robert Roode cut him off. Morgan cleared the other two Fortune members from ringside and gave Williams the thumbs up. Morgan hit the Carbon Footprint on Flair. The referee miraculously recovered at just the right time and made the slow three count to give Morgan the win.

The camera shifted to Williams standing on the stage with a smirk on his face. The Fortune guys threw a fit. Inside the ring, Morgan wiped Flair's blood across his own chest. A woozy Flair shadowboxed at ringside while the Fortune members tried to calm him down. Funny. Tenay said we'd find out on Reaction who the referee will be...

Powell's POV: Morgan gets to pick the referee for his pay-per-view match against Flair. I won't spoil it for those of you who plan to watch Impact. The road ends here for this report, though. The main event was a typical Flair match. It does frustrate me that Flair matches are treated like any other match in TNA, but it's just par for the course. I'll have more to say about this show in the TNA Impact Hitlist on Friday. Thanks for watching along with me tonight.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE:


READ OUR INSIDER NEWS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE! BECOME A MEMBER FOR JUST $7.50 A MONTH (or less with a year-long sub) - GET THE FIRST LOOK AT EXCLUSIVE INSIDER DOT NET NEWS, TONS OF EXCLUSIVE AUDIO CONTENT, MEMBER MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, START YOUR OWN BLOG, AND VIEW THE SITE WITHOUT ANY ADVERTISING: SIGN ME UP (or MORE INFO)



RELATED ARTICLES FROM MGID AFFILIATE SITES...



MEMBERSHIP INFO
Become a Dot Net Member right now for $7.50 a month or $66 a year ($5.50 a month avg.). Get exclusive audio, first-look insider news, Forum access, member blogs, more...

CLICK FOR SIGN-UP INFO


The Current Must-Read List
ACCESS PREVIOUS MUST-READ ARTICLES

Vote In Our Latest Poll


Dot Net Free Podcasts
CLICK FOR FULL LISTING OF ALL PODCASTS

Latest from Our Affiliate Site

_pwtorch.com_
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PWTORCH HEADLINES

© 2008-2012 LAST ROW MEDIA LLC • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -- PRIVACY POLICY