By Jason Powell

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

[Q1] The show opened with a recap from last week that included new footage from the weekend live events... The episode is called "Don't Be Roode"... Immortal was led to the ring by Eric Bischoff as Mike Tenay and Taz checked in on commentary. Bischoff said he has brains and a track record of success, and thus he's not giving up on the group.

"Do you think I give a damn about Fortune?" Bischoff asked. He said they were only in Immortal as a favor to Ric Flair. He said Flair owes him a phone call and it better happen soon. Bischoff tore into the members of Fortune. He said James Storm is a drunk, and said Robert Roode is another Canadian who is void of charisma.

Bischoff handed the mic to Jeff Jarrett, who called out Fortune. The group walked onto the stage with their three title belts draped over their shoulders and then flashed their hand symbol at Immortal in the ring. Jarrett told them to grow a set, come to the ring, and talk face to face with real men. Fortune complied by heading to the ring.

Jarrett apologized to Bischoff for what happened last week. He said he gave the four Fortune members a chance of a lifetime nine years ago when he hired them. "And this is how you repay me?" Jarrett asked. He ripped into the members of Fortune until Robert Roode pulled the mic away.

Roode conceded that Jarrett gave them each an opportunity. Roode said they took those opportunities and built TNA from the ground up. "We are the heart and the soul of TNA Wrestling, and deep down inside you know it's true," Roode said. He spoke about how tired they became of watching the "washed up has-beens who came and left" be treated like saviors.

Roode said they all had opportunities to go elsewhere and make more money, but they all stayed (well, except Kazarian) because of their belief in TNA. Roode said that if Jarrett doesn't like Fortune, he should grow a set and do something about it. Roode referred to Jarrett as slapnuts.

Jarrett threw the first punch at Roode. The two sides brawled and Fortune was quickly outnumbered. Kurt Angle's music played. Angle, Crimson, and Scott Steiner charged the ring and helped clear Immortal. Bischoff stood on the entrance ramp and made the throat slashing gesture...

Tenay hyped the official contract signing for Jarrett vs. Angle at the pay-per-view, then he and Taz hyped the two previously advertised matches... Backstage, Winter and Velvet Sky were in each other's faces bickering. Angelina Love entered the room and told them to stop. She said they need to get it together or they will all be killed in the ring during their match...

Powell's POV: Excellent opening segment with Robert Roode delivering arguably the best mic work of his career. His verbiage felt real and he did a nice job of firing back at Jarrett. Fortune is off to a strong start as the faces even though the storyline that led to their turn was disjointed.

[Q2] [C] Backstage, Bischoff spoke with Hernandez. He said he and Hulk Hogan always considered Hernandez a bad ass. He praised him for going to Mexico and becoming a huge superstar on his own. Bischoff said he and Hogan want to see Hernandez rise to the top in TNA.

Bischoff said the only thing Hernandez needs to do to earn big money is to hurt a few people along the way. Hernandez as all for it. They shook hands and then Hernandez went for a fist bump, which Bischoff ducked away from before realizing what Hernandez was doing...

Powell's POV: That wasn't exactly a hot return for Hernandez, but they established him as a heel right out of the gate.

1. Rob Van Dam, Brother Devon, and Samoa Joe defeated Bully Ray, D'Angelo Dinero, and Matt Hardy in a six-man tag tables match in 3:10. The wrestlers squared off with their pay-per-view opponents and each matchup was given a brief spotlight.

Bubba ended up jawing with Devon's sons at ringside. They jumped the rail and held him on the ring apron. Devon pushed Ray off the apron and through a table. Afterward, Devon and his sons celebrated in the ring together...

The announcers hyped Mr. Anderson vs. Matt Morgan for the TNA Title... Backstage, Jeff Jarrett and Karen Jarrett were in PDA mode while talking about the contract signing... [C]

Powell's POV: I wasn't a fan of the match because there was too much going on to get viewers excited about any of the singles matches they were trying to set up. The one program they opted to spotlight was Ray and Devon, and they gave viewers no incentive to pay to see the match since Devon and his sons got their revenge on Ray. Perhaps they'll put some heat on Bully Ray as the show goes on. They better. As good as he is on the mic, there's no good excuse for not letting him hype his match.

After the break, Karen and Jeff were in the ring together with a bunch of security guards behind them. Karen asked the fans if they liked the home video footage that aired. Karen treated it like another television show and said they were taking it on because they felt sorry for the fans and she wanted them to see how good they live.

[Q3] Kurt Angle's music played and he walked out by himself with a mic in hand. Tenay stressed that there won't be anymore "MMA exhibition B.S." He said it will be two guys who want to beat the hell out of each other. Security stood in the middle of the ring to keep the two sides apart.

Karen asked if security was there because of him. He said she wanted him to show their children that mommy, Daddy Kurt, and Daddy Jeff could all get along. "Just give me the damn papers and let's get this over with," Angle said. Jeff told him to watch his language because his kids were at home watching. Funny.

Jeff said he has nothing left to prove because he destroyed Angle at the last pay-per-view. Jarrett said he wanted to up the ante. He said that if Kurt wins, he gets soul custody of his two children. Karen protested. Jeff said that if he wins the pay-per-view match, Kurt has to walk Karen down the aisle when she and Jeff renew their wedding vows on March 3.

Karen wasn't happy and didn't wan to give Jeff the contract, but he eventually took it and signed his name. Jeff passed the contract over security and gave it to Angle. Kurt signed his own name while staring at Jeff, who said March 3 is going to be a magical night... [C]

Powell's POV: I could do without the custody stipulation and this was not Karen's finest mic work, but Jeff was great and Kurt played his angry and intense part well.

Ring introductions for the Knockouts match took place...

[Q4] 2. Sarita, Rosita, Madison Rayne, and Tara defeated Mickie James, Angelina Love, Winter, and Velvet Sky in an eight Knockout tag match in 2:55. Rosita is billed as Sarita's cousin. Rosita hit a nice moonsault on Velvet and pinned her clean to win the match for her team. Winter and Velvet continued to bicker after the match.

Mickie took the mic in the ring and said she's tried of being attacked from behind by Madison. She invited her to settle it in the ring... [C]

Powell's POV: Much like the six-man, there was too much going on there to really establish much, but at least they got Rosita's finisher over.

After the break, Madison and Mickie were in the ring. Madison said Mickie came to TNA to prove she's the best in the world. She said Mickie has had some impressive wins in TNA but not against her. Madison said every athlete comes to a point in their career when they have to hang up the boots and move on.

Madison said Mickie could stay and continue to be embarrassed or walk away while she still can. Madison said it was Mickie's call. She said she'd see her at Against All Odds, and then left the ring...

Powell's POV: Way to settle it in the ring! Er, um, not so much. A poor segment simply because Madison's dialogue didn't ring true.

A brief Jeff Hardy promo aired. He was backstage and said he would climb the ladder on Sunday and take back what's rightfully his... The announcers hyped Anderson vs. Morgan as shots of both men walking backstage were shown... [C]

[Q5] Kurt Angle entered Robert Roode and A.J. Styles's locker room. Kurt said he wished it was him in the ring while giving them a pep talk. Roode cut him off and said he could voluntarily remove himself from the match to give Angle a spot. Angle accepted the offer...

Ring introductions for the TNA Title match took place. Matt Morgan came out first. Mr. Anderson made his entrance and did his usual mic work on the stage before heading to the ring. Jeff Hardy's music played and he dragged a painted ladder to ringside and set it up. Jeff climbed to the top of the ladder. Tenay reminded viewers that Hardy will challenge the winner of the match on Sunday...

Powell's POV: This title match doesn't feel nearly as big as it should going in considering that it was advertised as last month's pay-per-view main event. Sure, it's been plugged throughout the show, but where was the mic work from both wrestlers to set it up? By the way, they really need to ditch Jeff Hardy's TNA Title belt.

3. Mr. Anderson pinned Matt Morgan to retain the TNA Title in 5:35. The match started with Hardy watching from the ringside ladder. Back and forth action to start with the two babyfaces trading offense. Morgan side slammed Anderson and Taz quickly put over the impact that the move has when it comes from someone Morgan's size.

Morgan threw a lazy clothesline and Anderson dodged, but Morgan came right back with a good clothesline moments later and remained on the offensive. The two faces traded punches in mid-ring. Anderson went on his first real run of offense and hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.

Anderson set up for the Mic Check, but Morgan dodged it. Morgan went for the Carbon Footprint, but Anderson avoided it. Hardy remained seated on the ladder watching the match. Morgan missed with another boot attempt and bumped to ringside. Morgan ended up snapping Anderson's neck off the ropes and Anderson bounced back and bumped the referee.

Hernandez came out and attacked Morgan at ringside. Hernandez rolled Morgan back inside the ring. Anderson pinned him. The announcers said they don't think Anderson ever saw the inference. Afterward, Hernandez attacked Anderson and set him up for Hardy, who performed the Swanton in mid-ring. Hardy held up the title belt and posed...

Powell's POV: The match was good while it lasted and having Hardy on the ladder was a nice touch to sell the pay-per-view. They rekindled the Morgan and Hernandez feud. The match was poorly hyped, but it served as a setup to put heat on the heels.

[Q6] [C] The TNA live events ad aired... Backstage, Bully Ray sat with a towel over his head and called Devon's sons bastards. He said that if Devon's sons are all grown up, he should bring them to Against All Odds. Ray challenged Devon and his sons to face him in a street fight. "I'll turn your boys into men," Ray concluded...

Powell's POV: Good mic work by Ray, but viewers have zero reason to care about Devon's sons. They've seen them on television twice and haven't even heard them talk.

4. Robbie E Robbie E (w/Cookie) defeated Suicide and Brian Kendrick in three-way X Division contenders match. Robbie E cut a brief promo before the match. Taz, who clearly loves AWA on ESPN Classic, said Suicide has a similar body type as one of the Texas Hangmen. Funny. Robbie E ended up pinning Kendrick... [C]

Powell's POV: The contenders match at the pay-per-view will be Robbie E vs. Max Buck vs. Jeremy Buck. That's right, there's not a single babyface in the mix heading into the match. Let's just say this was not a grand return for Suicide since he didn't win the match, which his a shame given who is under the hood. Would it be too much to get a singles match on this show that doesn't feature other people getting involved?

[Q7] The eliminate the hate spot aired... Ink Inc. delivered a pre-taped promo. Shannon Moore said they represent one percent of society... The announcers hyped Beer Money and Scott Steiner vs. Gunner, Murphy, and Rob Terry as a new pay-per-view match and then ran through the rest of the matches...

Backstage, Devon delivered a promo while his sons stood at his side. Devon said his sons were minding their business sitting at ringside when Ray spat on them. Devon said it will be the three of them facing Ray on Sunday...

Powell's POV: I guess Bully Ray didn't see the anti-bullying add. I still have no real reason to care about Devon's sons. By the way, I totally want a mock Bully Ray "eliminate the hate" spoof.

Ring introductions took place for the Jeff Hardy and Jarrett Jarrett vs. Angle and Styles tag match... [C]

5. Kurt Angle and A.J. Styles defeated Jeff Hardy and Jeff Jarrett (w/Karen Jarrett) in 14:15. Jarrett avoided Angle early on and let the others handle the work.

[Q8] Jarrett checked in after Kurt had been roughed up. Angle fired back and caught Jarrett in the ankle lock, but Hardy broke it up quickly and went to work on Angle while Karen consoled Jeff in the corner. [C]

Angle went off on Jarrett with suplexes after the break. He went for the Angle Slam, but Jarrett avoided it and fled the ring. Angle followed and Jarrett caught him with a boot when Angle tried to follow him back inside the ring. Styles hit the springboard punch and got the clean pin.

As Angle and Styles were celebrating after the match, Jarrett low-blowed them both from behind. Hardy hit a Twist of Hate on Styles. The heels put the boots to Angle and Styles. Karen entered the ring and raised Jeff's hand. Fortune, Crimson, and Scott Steiner hit the ring. Immortal ran out for a big brawl.

The heels were in control of the brawl when Rob Van Dam hit the ring and caught Matt Hardy, Gunner, and Murphy with kicks. Matt came back and clipped Van Dam's leg. Hardy then dropped a knee on RVD's knee. Immortal regained control of the brawl. Jeff fired a shot at Roode outside.

Mr. Anderson's music played. Anderson hit the ring and ran off some heels and hit the Mic Check on Rob Terry. The announcers gave final hype to Sunday's Against All Odds pay-per-view...

Powell's POV: I'm not a fan of Jarrett losing clean in the main event because I think they need to establish him as being more of an in-ring threat rather than the typical chickenshit heel, but at least he got some heat back afterward. It was important to make Fortune look strong and having Styles win helped, but I don't know that it was worth having Jarrett lose clean while heading into a match against Angle.

Overall, I like most of the current programs and the storylines are entertaining, but the in-ring stuff is just chaotic right now. They need to slow down a bit and do a better job of focussing on particular programs rather than trying to cram everyone onto the show. Granted, this was a go-home show and I understand the need to promote all of the matches, but I question how effective some of the hype was when things were so chaotic during various tag matches.

That said, I am looking forward to Sunday's TNA pay-per-view more than the usual TNA event. I'll have more to say on Friday in the TNA Impact Hitlist.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: