By Jason Powell

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

The show opened with a recap of the Kurt Angle drama involving Jeff and Karen Jarrett... The show is called "Crimson Sees Red"... Kurt Angle headed into the arena as Mike Tenay and Taz checked in on commentary. Taz said they would address Abyss's medical situation during the show.

Jeremy Borash introduced Angle as pro wrestling's only olympic gold medalist. Angle recalled stating that he would retire from pro wrestling if he didn't capture the TNA Title at Bound For Glory. Angle said he hasn't wrestled since then (house shows must not count).

Angle asked the crowd how many of them would like to see him wrestle one more time. The crowd cheered. "Even if it's so I can beat the living shit (censored) out of Jeff Jarrett?" The crowd cheered again.

The Immortal music played. Eric Bischoff did the talking while Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, A.J. styles, Rob Tery, Beer Money, Kazarian, Gunner, and Murphy stood by. Bischoff told Angle to forget about wrestling. He said he should go raise horses or anything else. Bischoff said that if Angle is looking for an ass kicking, he came to the right place.

Styles led the troops to the ring while Bischoff, Flair, and the Jarretts stayed behind. Angle was quickly outnumbered by Immortal. The group on the stage mockingly chanted Angle's name. The Jarretts laughed and shared a kiss while the troops put the boots to Angle.

Crimson hit the ring carrying a wooden bat and ran off the heels. Flair took the mic and called Crimson a dumbass. Flair said Immortal is going to stick the new version of They "up their own asses." Flair said he's a god. Flair lifted the ban on Angle wrestling tonight. Flair said that if Angle wants Jarrett, he'll get him later in the show.

Jeff and Karen ran down to ringside and were not happy. Flair told them to calm down. Flair booked Angle and Crimson against Jarrett, Beer Money, Kazarian, Gunner, "and his pal." Flair said "f--- you" to angle, but it was censored. Flair teased heading into the ing, but James Storm held him back. "You're a dead man," Flair yelled... [C]

Powell's POV: A decent opening segment. Angle wrestling would feel like a bigger deal if they had played it up more than he was prohibited from wrestling first. Perhaps one problem is that Angle's ban from wrestling is self-imposed. It looks like they are shifting it to powerbroker Bischoff not letting him go back on his word, which is fine. They really need to abandon the NWO light music. There's no need to make people feel like it's a throwback faction when there are so many non-NWO guys involved.

Backstage, Bischoff wasn't happy that Flair is letting Angle wrestle. Flair got fired up while making his case. Bischoff said Angle "is a killer" and that's why Flair should be worried. Flair assured him that Angle is going down...

[Q2] The announcers hyped the Angle and Crimson vs. Immortal handicap match, an appearance by Dixie Carter, and the Mr. Anderson vs. Matt Hardy match... Ring introductions for the Knockouts match took place. The Beautiful People were on the same page as they were backstage getting ready to make their entrance. Winter showed up and asked, "Why are you doing this to us?" Love said Sky is her BFF. She told Winter to stay backstage. Winter threw a maniacal fit when Love left.

1. Mickie James, Velvet Sky, and Angelina Love beat Madison Rayne, Tara, and Sarita in six-woman elimination tag match when Love was the sole survivor. Jackson James was the ref for the match. Taz recapped the Beautiful People history. He said Angelina was the top hottie, and Rayne was the low hottie on the pole. Funny.

Sarita eliminated Sky with a roll up at 3:35 to keep their feud going. Mickie checked and took a shot in the corner from the elbow brace that Tara is wearing. Mickie pinned Madison after she landed on her own loaded glove. Sarita stepped in and rolled up James to eliminate her from the match around 4:45. [C]

[Q3] After the break, they showed highlights of Madison landing on her loaded glove. Love was holding her own with Tara and Sarita. There was a vocal Tara chant at one point, so the crowd wasn't feeling sympathetic for the outnumbered heel. Love fought off a double team and hit a big boot on Tara before pinning her. Sarita rolled up Love, but Love rolled through and got the pin...

Powell's POV: The crowd was kind of happy to see Love win, but they got really quiet as the match went on. There are a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, so it's probably just a case of them being burned out, as this show was the third of three tapings.

Backstage, Angle called someone on the phone and said he needed their help... [C]

Matt Hardy walked through the backstage who said Mr. Anderson thinks he's cool because he's says his name twice. "Well, I think it's stupid stupid," Hardy said. Matt said his only purpose is to make sure that Anderson doesn't even make it next Thursday for his title match against Jeff Hardy. Matt said he'll do it with "a smile on my face and cold blood running through my icy veins"...

Powell's POV: I can see softening up Anderson, but it's hard for Jeff to take the TNA Title back if his brother prevents him from appearing on the show.

Tenay and Taz were joined Kazarian on commentary. Tenay said they were going to have three qualifying matches over the next three weeks. The winners of those three matches would advance to a No. 1 contenders match at the pay-per-view to earn a shot at the X Division Title...

2. Max Buck (w/Jeremy Buck) defeated Amazing Red and Chris Sabin in 5:10. Pop-up style promos from the wrestlers were shown as they made their entrances. Kazarian mocked Red for not being a good talker. Tenay said he thinks of Crimson when he sees Red, which led to hype for next week.

[Q4] There was a lot of two-man action with one man selling. Late in the match, Red went to the top rope, but Jeremy reached up and crotched him on the top rope. Max followed up with a DDT for the win while Sabin was nowhere to be found...

Powell's POV: Generation Me had very little heat and we still don't know much about them, so hopefully this is a step toward those issues being addressed. Typical X Division train wreck style match.

Backstage, Karen Jarrett expressed concern to Jeff Jarrett about the phone call Kurt Angle made. Jeff told her to stop with the conspiracy theories. Jeff said he was probably calling Dave (his manager) to get some protein bars for the match. Jeff asked Karen if they get a cut of Angle Foods. Funny. Karen continued to warn Jeff that she knows Kurt well and he's up to something...

Powell's POV: Good backstage segment. Karen was believable in expressing concern about what Kurt is up to, and Jeff was hilarious in dismissing her concerns. I loved the line with him inquiring about whether they get a cut of Angle Foods.

The announcers hyped the remainder of the show... A shot aired of Jeff Hardy walking backstage. Tenay said we'll hear from Jeff after the break... [C] Backstage, Velvet Sky complained to Angelina Love that Winter attacked her from behind. Sky said that if Love doesn't handle "that bitch," she'll do it herself...

A video package aired on the Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy feud with Jeff commentary included...

Jeff Hardy came to the ring for a promo. Hardy said he is troubled. "I'm troubled by you people," Hardy said. He called said the fans are "marks and internet junkies that don't care about me." He said he did the smartest thing he's ever done at Bound For Glory by taking the title and the money all for himself.

[Q5] Hardy said it was time to address The Asshole because the fans are a bunch of assholes. He said Anderson beat him at Genesis. "Mistakes happen," Hardy said. He said he's going to take the TNA Title back next week and said he would stick that moment up the asses of the fans.

Mr. Anderson's music played and he headed to the ring carrying the TNA Title belt (the Hardy version). Taz said it must kill Jeff to see someone else carry around the belt that was made specifically for him. "You sure do piss and moan a lot," Anderson said. "Bitch, bitch, bitch."

Anderson stole a line from Andrew "Dice" Clay by saying Hardy sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher. Anderson said that no matter what Hardy does there are still people who like him. Hardy was cheered, but mostly by women. Anderson got cheers of his own when he played for it. Anderson said he's going to leave next week as the TNA Champion...champion. Tenay said the time for talk is over and hyped the match for next week... [C]

Powell's POV: Solid verbal exchange. Hardy is doing a nice job as a heel. I still don't think it was worth turning the most popular guy they have on the roster, but he's making the most of his run as a heel. I didn't care for Anderson pointing out that the fans still cheer Hardy. Sure, he's getting some cheers in the Impact Zone, but not enough that it was necessary to draw attention to them.

The Eliminate The Hate spot aired... Backstage, Crimson said he'll always be there for his brother Red, but he received a very lucrative offer. He said next week we'll find out who the offer came from...

Powell's POV: They still have a lot of work to do with Crimson. I don't get the feeling that viewers are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what the next chapter of his story is.

Velvet Sky came to the ring and called out Winter, who eventually obliged. They fought at ringside. They fought into the ring. Winter was getting the better of Sky. Angelina Love ran out, pushed Winter off, and motioned for her to stand back. Winter didn't look happy, but she eventually smiled and left the ring. Sky was pissed and didn't want Love's help...

Powell's POV: The Beautiful People act has really cooled off. They've been overexposed and in clunky storylines. That stretcher where everything was about current or former Beautiful People members did more harm than good.

A shot aired of D'Angelo Dinero walking backstage...

[Q6] [C] Dinero made his entrance and headed to the ring for a promo. He said he always wears white because he's pure. He said he was going to do something the people would never do and that's confess. He looked to the crowd and said they know they are all sitting next to someone they can't stand.

Pope said the people are nice to one another, but they stab people in the back once the person they don't like leaves. Pope said people at home are sleeping with the enemy and stay together for kids. Pope said he's bigger and better than that. He said he's better than all the fans.

Pope got down on one knee. He stood up and said he doesn't like Samoa Joe. "I don't like you, I don't like who you are, and I don't like what you stand for," Dinero said. He asked who goes in this day and age and says he's going to kill people. He mocked the fans for chanting "Joe is gonna kill you."

Dinero said he's going to give one of his fans a chance to follow his lead. He said he's going to give a fan a chance to come in the ring and confess just like he did. Pope said he's out to save the world one smile at a time...

Powell's POV: Nothing particularly special, but I liked that promo more than most of the build to Joe vs. Pope. He's good on the mic, but I wish there would have been a definitive heel turn moment.

Backstage, Flair gave the guys facing Kurt Angle and Crimson a pep talk. He said Rob Terry looks like a million bucks, but he has to do something to earn his spot. After the troops left the ring, Eric Young showed up with the TNA Title belt and tried to be buddies with Flair, who knocked the belt out of his hand and said that's "a piece of crap we threw in the garbage." Flair threw Young out of his room...

Tenay hyped Dixie's appearance for after the break. He teased that there will be a verdict in the court ruling involving Dixie and Hulk Hogan that will be revealed next week... [C]

Powell's POV: Are they trying to make the original TNA Title belt as worthless as the Little Red Toy Belt That Nobody Cares About, er, the TNA TV Title? Does anyone who doesn't work for TNA find Eric Young to be half as funny as those who do work for TNA think he is?

[Q7] [C] A video recapped the formation of Immortal and Dixie Carter losing power to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff... The announces spoke to Dixie Carter by telephone. She said her lawyers have assured her that she'll win the case against Hulk Hogan and regain total control of her company.

After Dixie was finished, the announcers turned to Bischoff for a rebuttal. He said Dixie drinks her own Kool-Aid and doesn't know the difference between it and an 18-year-old Scotch. Bischoff vowed that Jeff Hardy will regain the TNA Title and Immortal will be in control of the gold. Bischoff said Hogan will prevail in the court hearing. He said he puts the "they" saga in the same category as the tooth fairy and Santa Claus...

Separate backstage shots were shown of Mr. Anderson and Matt Hardy... [C]

Powell's POV: The court hearing talk just isn't registering with me. What happens if Dixie regains control of the company? Does she fire Hogan and Bischoff? Eric has implied that having the gold gives them the power anyway. The whole thing just feels like a big reach. Is anyone anxiously awaiting next week's show to see if Dixie wins a court hearing? Have we really had only two matches so far?

3. Mr. Anderson pinned Matt Hardy in a non-title match in 4:05.

[Q8] After some back and forth action, Hardy hit the Side Effect on Anderson. Hardy went for a "nonchalant pin" and had his arm hooked by Anderson, who got the pin. Jeff Hardy ran out and attacked Anderson at ringside.

The Hardys worked over Anderson until Rob Van Dam ran out. Jeff split, and Rob landed some offense on Matt and cleared him from the ring...

Backstage, Angle told Crimson not to worry because they won't be alone... [C]

Powell's POV: The dead crowd strikes again. Their reaction to Anderson vs. Hardy was not what you'd expect the World Champion and the latest big name free agent to get. Granted, I don't think Anderson is being showcased well as the champion, and Hardy is already just another TNA wrestler, but I do think they would have received a better reaction if the same match had taken place on day one of the tapings rather than on day three.

4. James Storm, Robert Roode, Kazaian, Rob Terry, Gunner, Murphy, and Jeff Jarrett (w/Ric Flair, A.J. Styles, Karen Jarrett) defeated Kurt Angle and Crimson in a handicap match in 4:25. Taz spoke about the confidence of Angle and Crimson and assumed that the person that Angle spoke with on the phone must be the real deal.

At 2:05, Storm tried to superkick Angle. Kurt ducked out of the way and Storm took out the ref with the kick. The heels all went to work on their two opponents. Jeff Jarrett's music played and he came to the ring with Karen, who had a concerned look on her face.

The heels continued to rough up the two babyfaces. They eventually had referee Jackson James replace the original referee and make the count while Jarrett pinned Angle. Tenay called it bullshit (censored). Angry Mike Tenay sucks. The heels continued to wok over Angle after the match, while Crimson was roughed up by a couple people at ringside.

Matt Morgan's music played and he ran to the ring to help Angle and Crimson. Taz assumed Morgan was the person who Angle spoke with on the phone. The heels outnumbered Morgan. The lights in the studio went out. When they came back on, Scott Steiner was standing there wearing a suit with a pipe in his hands.

The heels fled as Steiner talked trash from the ring. Steiner looked down at Angle, who was sitting in the corner. Angle smiled and nodded at Steiner, whose music continued to play as the show went off the air...

Powell's POV: I'll let you decide whether Steiner warranted the hype, but I really liked the build throughout the show. Angle teased it, Karen did a great job of expressing concern, and Taz did a really good job of building it up on commentary during the main event. The flat crowd came to life for Steiner's return, and I think we're all assuming we'll see other old guys return next week. The build toward next week's show was well done, and I'm curious to see how it plays out on camera and in the ratings. Check back on Friday for the TNA Impact Hitlist.

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