5/5 Powell's TNA Impact Live Coverage: Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff demand to know who is behind The Network, Jeff and Karen Jarrett call out Velvet Sky


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TNA TV Reports


5/5 Powell's TNA Impact Live Coverage: Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff demand to know who is behind The Network, Jeff and Karen Jarrett call out Velvet Sky
May 5, 2011 - 08:00 PM


By Jason Powell

TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla. at the Impact Zone


[Q1] A recap of last week's show aired... This week's show is called "The Network is Coming"... Hulk Hogan stood in the ring with Immortal. Sting and Rob Van Dam headed to ringside and wanted to get in the ring, but D-Lo Brown, Simon Diamond, and Al Snow stood between the two sides.

Hogan said he wanted Sting to tell him what he knows about The Network or Immortal would wipe him out. Sting stood at ringside and said there will be a Network representative on the show next week. Sting said "he...no, she" will talk to Hogan. Hulk wasn't happy. A brawl broke out. Immortal had the numbers until Fortune ran out for the save.

Robert Roode took the mic. Roode called Hogan a coward and told him not to take another step. Roode said he has pride and said Hogan does not. Roode said he busts his ass in the ring and earns every penny he makes. Roode said he's a blue collar worker who takes pride in providing for his children.

Roode asked Hogan what he's earned. Hogan sold it by acting upset and the other Immortal members had to hold him back. Roode said Hogan has "raped and stealed" from the company and the fans. Roode said Hogan ruins lives and crushes dreams. Roode complained that Jay Lethal was fired last week.

"My friend Jay Lethal came to work every week and did what he was supposed to do and he did it with a smile on his face whether it sucked whether it was great or whether it was indifferent," Roode said. Robert Roode introduced himself as "Bobby Roode" and said he's the man who will stand up to Hogan. Roode said things are going to change next week. "Next week, everything is going to change," Roode said...

Powell's POV: An excellent promo by Roode. I guess this is their way of trying to make him a blue collar guy despite the fact that he played the rich character. I wish there was a better way to do it, but I'm not sure how he could do that without acknowledging that he was playing a character. Nevertheless, Roode went after Hogan's character hard and hit on all the right points, and the Jay Lethal commentary was a nice touch.

The Jarretts went to Velvet Sky's room backstage. She answered the door wearing a towel. They told her to come to the ring and then exchanged insults... A shot aired of a luchador walking backstage. Mike Tenay, who was on commentary with Taz, said he would debut after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: It's a poorly kept secret that the new masked man Sangriento is actually Amazing Red. That said, there's nothing stopping the company from changing that when/if they ever unmask the character.

[Q2] Matt Hardy spoke backstage about how Robert Roode needed to be taught a lesson. Hardy said he is bringing in someone that will join him in challenging Beer Money...

1. Sangriento beat Suicide in 3:55. Tenay said Sangriento means blood thirsty in a blood sport. He also claimed that he's the hottest free agent in Mexico. Sangriento ended up winning the match clean...

Powell's POV: The presentation frustrated me. I would have waited at least a few weeks to go to the battle of the masked men. I can look past that because it would have taken some time get Suicide over enough to matter. It also felt a little convenient to see Sin Cara debut recently and then have TNA introduce this character. Even casual fans who watch both shows would see the look and overall presentation of Sangriento as second rate compared to what WWE is doing with Sin Cara.

Backstage, Hogan told Bischoff that he's tired of the crap with The Network. They questioned whether Flair was the man advising The Network. They agreed that they don't think it's him, but they also had no idea who it could be... [C]

Mexican America stood in the ring for the Cinco de Mayo celebration. Confetti fell and they had the Mexican flag lowered in the background. They eventually called for the Spanish broadcast team to join them in the ring, which was decked out with some decorations on the ropes.

[Q3] Anarquia put over Hector Guerrero, but Willie Urbina didn't get the same treatment because he's a Puerto Rican. Hector knelt down next to his broadcast partner and asked what they were doing. They told him that if he's with Urbina, then he's not with them.

Ink Inc. hit the ring and ran off Mexican America. Jesse Neal said they are not allowed to disrespect the flag or the country. Jesse told them to get their green cards and to let the door hit them on the asses on the way out. They unveiled an American flag and held it up in the ring...

The announcers hyped Bully Ray and Gunner vs. A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels for after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: Wait, when did Shannon Moore go from being the disrespectful punk rocker who was trying to lure his partner to the dark side to being the patriotic punk?

2. Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles fought Bully Ray and Gunner to a no-contest in 4:00. Tenay hyped Mickie James vs. Miss Tessmacher for the Knockouts Title for later in the show. At 3:20, Styles was going for a springboard move after working over Gunner. However, Bully Ray shook the ropes to knock him down.

Gunner and Daniels ended up outside the ring. Bully Ray pulled out his chain. Tommy Dreamer ran out and struck a fighter's pose in between Ray and the fallen Styles. You know what that means...heel turn. Dreamer hit a piledriver on Styles. Ray laughed. They headed to ringside and Ray said something to Dreamer, who headed backstage. Ray looked into the camera and swore on A.J.'s wife and kids that he's going to bust his ass...

Powell's POV: It looks like Dreamer was attacking Styles reluctantly. I'm guessing Ray is holding something over Dreamer, because Tommy's post-attack routine was not heelish. Then again, I don't know if the guy has ever played a heel character before, so maybe he just needs work in that department. Ray continues to be a fun heel, and Gunner continues to show a lot of potential.

[Q4] [C] Backstage, Tommy Dreamer threw a fit by pulling a locker down and punching the back of it repeatedly while letting out a primal scream... A.J. Styles spoke with Kazarian and Daniels. They all agreed that Dreamer's attack wasn't typical of him. "We're gonna get answers or Tommy Dreamer is taking a beating," Styles said...

In another part of the backstage area, Bully Ray told Matt Hardy to tell the mystery man hello. Ray said he put Dreamer between a rock and a hard place. He said Dreamer has to do what he has to do to keep himself in this company. Ray said Dreamer looks stupid, but he's not stupid. Ray said he's going to enjoy toying with Dreamer's head...

Powell's POV: Yep, Dreamer's the reluctant heel. Wasn't he pissed at Rhino for something similar a few months ago?

Backstage, Winter spoke to the spaced out Angelina Love. Winter said their souls were connected a very long time ago. She said she has gone through time to find her, and now she's come back to her. Winter kissed Love on the cheek...

Powell's POV: Time travel? I'm pretty sure that's a new one for Vince Russo. Hey, I liked "Lost" as much as anyone, but I really don't need time travel in my wrestling. Well, unless it's the old New Breed tag team, but that's another story. One can only hope that Winter is just a whack job and we're not really supposed to believe that she's been traveling through time. Hell, who am I kidding? I hope it turns out that she's Sam from "Quantum Leap." Look it up, kids.

Jeff and Karen Jarrett stood in the ring. Velvet Sky, who doesn't seem to mind that her best friend is being drugged every week, came to the ring. Karen accused Velvet of being Kurt Angle's mystery woman. Velvet said she's told her before and will tell her again that she has no idea what she's talking about.

Velvet said she'd never sink so low that she'd sleep with someone to get ahead in TNA.

Powell's POV: Note to self: There's no need to invest in TNA if you win the lottery.

[Q5] Velvet said her goal is to become the TNA Knockouts Champion. Velvet tried to leave the ring, but Karen pulled her back. Jeff stood between them. Karen questioned whether Velvet was going backstage to give Kurt a lap dance. Karen said she was fooled by Kurt for ten years, but she's smart to it now.

Karen via Hulk Hogan was able to book Velvet in a handicap match. Winter and drugged out Angelina (no, not the Jersey Shore chick) came to the ring. Kurt Angle came out and said he spoke with a Network representative who booked Jarrett, Winter, and Love vs. Velvet and Angle. Velvet invited Karen to be at ringside...

Powell's POV: The verbal exchange was disappointing. Karen wasn't as good here as she normally is. However, Jeff Jarrett was a riot with the facial expressions. The big smile he would flash whenever he was referred to as "Big Daddy" was great. Zombie Angelina makes it impossible to take anything she's involved in seriously. Oh, and if the Network is doing Angle favors, why would they still give the other side the numbers advantage and why wouldn't they make Karen team with Jeff instead of having Winter and zombie girl in the match?

Backstage, Bischoff bitched about Angle talking with The Network. He told Rob Terry and Murphy that they haven't shown him a damn thing. He said they were going to wrestle each other. He said the winner was in Immortal, and the other is out. "Thin the heard," Bischoff yelled as he walked away... [C]

Powell's POV: Terry vs. Murphy with the loser losing his job? Can we please get a double pin? The one time I actually want a crappy Russo finish is probably the one time we won't get one.

Backstage, Crimson was calling for Samoa Joe to come out and play...

3. Rob Terry defeated Murphy in 3:20. The crowd got behind Terry, who hit power moves and yelled a lot before pinning Murphy. Terry keeps his spot in Immortal, and Murphy is out...

Powell's POV: Rob Terry finally gets cheered only to keep his job in the heel faction. Murphy needs a gimmick overhaul immediately, assuming they're keeping him around.

[Q6] Backstage, Hogan watched the backstage monitor. He said he was done with both guys. "They're fighting for a spot in Immortal?" Hogan asked. "Are you kidding me?" Bischoff turned the focus back The Network. They said the people in the office know too much about the business. They agreed it could be anybody...

Powell's POV: Well, we can safely rule out the TNA creative team members as The Network advisor. Come on, it was too easy to pass up.

A shot aired of Mickie James walking backstage... [C] Backstage, Crimson carried a sledgehammer (will Kurt Angle bitch about gimmick infringement?) as he confronted Samoa Joe. They both spoke angrily about staying out of each other's way or something...

Powell's POV: Does anyone else find it odd that Tessmacher was asking The Beautiful People to train her, then disappeared for a few months, and now she's getting a TNA Knockouts Title match without actually doing anything to earn it?

4. Mickie James defeated Miss Tessmacher to retain the TNA Knockouts Title in 3:30. Tessmacher went into stripper mode for her entrance. Yes, she stopped short of showing off the goods, but it was fun while it lasted. She dropped her glasses intentionally and then bent over in front of Earl Hebner to pick them up. Tessmacher put up a fight early and the announcers put her over, but James scored the clean pin.

[Q7] After the match, Madison Rayne and Tara walked onto the stage. Madison boasted that she was the longest reigning, and most giving TNA Knockouts Champion of all time. She claimed she gave Mickie a rematch even though she wasn't contractually obligated to. She asked Mickie to give her a rematch at the pay-per-view.

Mickie granted her the match, but she said their was a catch. Mickie said she put her hair on the line to get her match. Madison said she'd put up anything. Mickie said that if she wins, the contract Madison has with Tara is null and void. She said Tara would be free to resume her career in TNA. Madison agreed. Tara mouthed "thank you" to Mickie...

Powell's POV: Nice segment. Sure, you could argue that Mickie should have forced Madison to put her hair on the line, but she's a babyface and that was a babyface gesture. Tessmacher has a ways to go in the ring, but that's a hell of an entrance.

Backstage, Brian Kendrick led Amazing Red and a couple of other X Division wrestlers. He said they were going to Bischoff for answers. They said what happened to Jay Lethal wouldn't happen to them...

Powell's POV: All this Jay Lethal talk has me wondering whether it's only a matter of time before he returns to TNA. The guy is getting mentioned more in the first show after his release than he was during his last few months with the company combined.

A TNA Sacrifice aired for the May 15 pay-per-view...

Kendrick led the X Division crew to Bischoff and asked why they are sitting on their hands and why Jay Lethal is gone. Bischoff said he really cares about their careers and wants them to succeed. He said the secret for them is to grow a foot and a half. Bischoff threw coffee at Kendrick, and said he doesn't want to take crap from "a bunch of sawed off runts" like them...

Powell's POV: They're reliving real life history of Bischoff throwing a cup of coffee at Eddie Guerrero back in the day. Was that both of the Young Bucks with Kendrick and Red? Aren't they feuding? Does angry Kendrick mean his Moment of Zen has finally passed?

A video focussed on Sting and Rob Van Dam and their match at TNA Sacrifice... The heel entrances for the main event took place...

Powell's POV: Do you think Sam will leap again once Angelina finally breaks down and kisses Winter?

[Q8] Velvet Sky and Kurt Angle made separate entrances. Jeremy Borash stood in the ring and introduced the main event (the previous introductions were handled by Christy Hemme)...

5. Kurt Angle and Velvet Sky beat Jeff Jarrett, Angelina Love, and Winter (w/Karen Jarrett) in 8:15. The show cut to commercial early in the match. [C] After the break, Velvet DDT'd Love and Winter simultaneously and ended up pinning Winter. After the match, Kurt took the mic and said he hopes this win moves Velvet one step closer to winning her dream of winning the TNA Title.

Angle told Karen that Velvet isn't the chosen one. He said she's someone that Karen can't even fathom. He said the chosen one will take out Karen so that he can focus on Jeff. He said the chosen one will be here next week so they can meet face-to-face. "It's real," Angle said. "It's damn real, bitch"...

Backstage, Hogan and Bischoff walked out to the parking lot and spoke about whether Flair or Vince Russo are the network adviser. They found "You're Next" spray painted on their car. They assumed it was done by Goldberg. However, Kendrick and his X Division cronies were shown laughing as they drove away over Hogan and Bischoff falling for it...

Powell's POV: I like the gimmick of having Borash step in and introduce the main event. He's a good ring announcer, and it reminds me of Michael Buffer introducing the WCW Nitro main events back in the day. No, I'm not comparing Buffer and Borash, but I think that's the vibe they are going for. The problem is that the mixed tag just didn't feel like a big main event.

The tease at the end of the show for the mystery woman was solid. We'll get the mystery woman and The Network advisor on the same show next week. Tonight was kind of the usual TNA Impact show, but I do like the way they are building up a couple of stories for next week's go-home show for TNA Sacrifice. I'll have more to say in the TNA Impact Hitlist on Friday.

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