By Jason Powell

Dot Net Members are listening to the new two-hour Dot Net Weekly audio show featuring Jason Powell and Chris Shore analyzing all the news of the week. They will also team up for a member exclusive audio review of TNA Bound For Glory on Sunday night. Join the members on the ad-free version of the website via the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

TNA "Impact Wrestling" on Spike TV
Taped in Knoxville, Tennessee

[Q1] The show opened with a recap of the Hulk Hogan and Sting angle that took place during last week's show... Mike Tenay and Taz checked in on commentary as Kurt Angle made his way to the ring for a promo. Angle stood in street clothes and had the TNA Title belt around his shoulder. He called out Bobby Roode for a final talk before their Bound For Glory match.

Bobby Roode made his entrance. Angle congratulated Roode for passing the test he set up for him by having him face the members of Fortune in various matches. Angle said he's not one of the Fortune members. "I'm Kurt Angle, the greatest wrestler to ever lace up a pair of boots," Angle said.

Angle boasted about his Olympic background and pro wrestling titles. He said he's dominated in TNA for five years. Angle promised all of "these idiots and you" that he will prove that he is the greatest wrestler of all-time when they meet at the pay-per-view. He delivered his "damn real" catchphrase and then offered Roode a handshake.

Roode teased shaking Angle's hand only to pull his own hand a way. Roode suggested that they have a no frills match by saying that no member of Fortune or Immortal get involved. He said he wants to see who the better wrestler is that night. "What you want is what you get," Angle said. He offered his hand and this time Roode shook it.

Angle left the ring. He stopped on the ramp and acted as if he forgot to inform Roode of something. He said Roode has another warmup match. Angle said Roode will have to face Gunner and Jeff Jarrett in a handicap match later on the show...

Backstage, a brawl had broken out with Jerry Lynn and Christopher Daniels brawling with A.J. Styles and Rob Van Dam... [C]

Powell's POV: A good verbal segment, and I can only hope that they live up to the tease of no outside interference in their pay-per-view match. I mentioned in the Dot Net Weekly audio show today that if Dixie Carter regains control of the company via the Hulk Hogan vs. Sting fight, I would have her announce that she will fire anyone who interferes in the main event. Angle was better than usual on the mic here. He sounded more focussed and serious. I would have left out the "damn real" catchphrase, because everything else sounded straight forward and didn't come across like a wrestling promo until he delivered that line.

[Q2] 1. Rob Van Dam and A.J. Styles beat Christopher Daniels and Jerry Lynn in 5:40. After the commercial break, Daniels and Lynn were working over Styles on the stage. They took him to the ring and referee Earl Hebner started the match. Van Dam made his entrance moments later. Late in the match, Styles set up Lynn for his finisher. Daniels teased interfering, but Styles saw him and scared him off. Styles hit the Styles Clash and scored the clean pin...

Powell's POV: Why in the world would a referee call for the bell to start the match when two guys were beating up one wrestler whose tag partner wasn't even in the ring? Perhaps the better question is that if this is way it works, then why doesn't every heel team take this approach going forward? It's a small detail that annoys me. The wrestlers did a good job, but I question the creative decision of having the babyfaces go over here. If anyone needed a win in this match, it was Lynn, and instead he did the job. If Lynn doesn't go over on Sunday (and I doubt he will), then I don't expect to see him stay in TNA, which is too bad.

2. Matt Morgan defeated Samoa Joe in 2:30. Morgan controlled the opening minute of the match.

[Q3] In the end, Morgan caught Joe in a roll up and got the pin. Afterward, Joe went after Morgan's leg and locked him in a submission hold. Morgan tapped out, but Joe didn't break the hold until Crimson came out with a chair and ran him off. Tenay pointed out that Crimson was wearing a walking boot and limping.

Samoa Joe stood on the stage and cut a promo. He complained about Morgan and Crimson saving one another. He said they are actually afraid to face one another. Joe suggested that they have a Triple Threat match at the pay-per-view. "You can either be the alpha or you can be friends," Joe said. Morgan and Crimson sized each other up in the ring as Joe smirked from the stage...

The announcers hyped Roode vs. Gunner and Jarrett in a handicap match, and the Hulk Hogan vs. Sting contract signing... [C]

Powell's POV: Decent logic from the Samoa Joe character about Morgan and Crimson. I'm not a fan of matches being added to big shows just days out. It cheapens the event and the match as far as this viewer is concerned. I'm happy to see all three guys on the company's biggest show of the year, but I think they should have told their story and announced the match sooner.

Mexican America stood in the ring, and Hernandez delivered a promo in which he basically implied that he wants to turn Ink Inc. into his prostitutes. Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore came to the ring. Neal said they are always complaining about the United States even though they live here.

Ink Inc. taunted Anarquia by asking him to show the tattoo they gave him a couple weeks ago. Moore said they could make everyone by happy by getting the hell out. Mexican America attacked Ink Inc.

Neal's real life girlfriend Christina Von Eerie hit the ring and roughed up the women. The announcers acted as if they didn't know who she was or what she was doing there. Inc. Ink took care of Hernandez and Anarquia. Neal told Mexican America to bring all the women they need to the pay-per-view "because we've got ours"...

Powell's POV: Von Eerie has worked on indy scene for five years, and has also performed in punk music bands. She is engaged to Jesse Neal. She has the look with the hair and tattoos to fit in with Ink Inc., and had it before she arrived in TNA, so she's not just playing the part.

[Q4] [C] 3. Jesse Sorensen and Brian Kendrick beat Austin Aries and Kid Kash in 4:25. The faces dove on Aries and Kash at ringside before the match. The lame Twitter comments were shown during the match again. Late in the match, Aries tried to hit Kendrick with the title belt, but Kendrick avoided it. Kendrick hit a superkick and Sliced Bread for the win...

A shot aired of Karen Jarrett and Traci Brooks walking backstage. Kazarian's whore to Eric Bischoff's character, er, delicate flower wife's breasts were pushing the threads of her bikini top to the limit... [C]

Powell's POV: I'm not a fan of running Twitter comments from fans during the matches. It's like they want to distract us from the matches with pointless fan comments. That said, it's better than WWE geeking out whenever they end up trending. I have less of an issue with the heels losing this match, as they are trying to establish that Kendrick is on the verge of winning the title since he was able to pin Aries here. Plus, it usually means the champion is retaining at the pay-per-view, and I'm all for that. I would go off on the ridiculous Kendrick character, but I've been there and done that.

Velvet Sky headed to the ring and did her usual routine to play to the horny male demographic. Mickie James came out dressed like she was glammed up girl at the hoedown.

[Q5] Winter and Angelina Love came out together. Karen Jarrett and Madison Rayne walked out arm in arm while Traci Brook's breasts followed closely behind. Karen said she had to fight like a banshee to get the Knockouts on the BFG card. She said nobody wanted them on the card. She said it's a night of prestige for the upper class, not for street walking ho's. She said she was mainly talking about Velvet Sky.

Velvet couldn't understand why Karen would think that. Keep in mind that this was only a couple minutes after she wiggled her ass while straddling the middle rope with her legs. Hey, I'm just saying. Karen continued the verbal assault and then said she is a role model for the entire female race.

"Maybe you're right Karen, but maybe you're not," Velvet said. Um, okay. She said Karen will respect her once she becomes the Knockouts Championship. Karen said it would happen over her dead body. Traci acted like Eric Bischoff's character was in the room by getting down on all fours and then Velvet pushed Karen over her.

The non-wrestlers were cleared from the ring, and heels who will meet in the four-way at the pay-per-view got the better of the faces. Security hit the ring and pulled them apart. On the stage, Karen scolded the whore who we're supposed to feel bad for because she slept with Bischoff's character three times in hopes of gaining power and didn't get her way...

Backstage, Bully Ray told someone that they were going to have a special enforcer in their match. "Who better than me?" he asked. Um, Kanyon? Ray started talking into the camera and said Mr. Anderson shouldn't screw up and piss off the enforcer or he might not make it to Bound For Glory... [C]

Powell's POV: The Karen and Madison pairing makes sense given that their characters have similarities. I'm underwhelmed by Impact as a go-home event thus far. The pay-per-view doesn't feel all that prestigious yet. Hopefully they can pull it together during the last 50 minutes of the show.

Backstage, A.J. Styles yelled into the camera about Christopher Daniels wanting an "I Quit" match at the pay-per-view. He said Tommy Dreamer nearly lost an eye when they met in the same match. Daniels attacked Styles and left him lying. He wrapped a cable around his neck and said he could end it now, but he wants the world to hear him say "I quit" at the pay-per-view...

Powell's POV: Dr. Evil would be proud of that approach. Hey, the reference isn't that dated since they are supposedly making a fourth movie, and the d-bag who played Random Task is in the news now that he's been revealed a torturing rapist/murdering lunatic.

Ring entrances for the next match took place...

[Q6] 4. Mr. Anderson beat Scott Steiner in 3:25 with Bully Ray as the ringside enforcer. @muyawesome wants to see Styles vs. Daniels and believes it will be a classic "I Quit" match. Hey, don't blame me for that useless info, blame TNA for running his/her Twitter message during the match.

The oversized mentally challenged muppet Abyss headed to the ring and wrapped a chain around his hand. Steiner held Anderson. Abyss tried to hit Anderson with the chain, but Anderson pulled away. Abyss hit Steiner with the chain, showed remorse, and Anderson pinned Steiner.

Gunner and Jeff Jarrett came out to yell at Abyss. He finally grabbed Ray by the throat, but then the rest of the Immortal crew attacked him. They set up a table in the corner. Anderson ran out to help Abyss, but Ray cut him off and then hit the Bubba Bomb on Anderson through the table... [C]

Powell's POV: I guess this means Abyss will interfere in the Ray vs. Anderson match at the pay-per-view. Yawn.

Backstage, Kurt Angle entered James Storm's locker room and tried to stir the pot by pointing out that he may have attacked him last week, but his own tag team partner still pinned him after the fact. Storm said Roode told him he didn't know. Angle laughed off that notion...

The cameras caught up with Jeff Jarrett and Gunner in another part of the backstage area. Jarrett did all the talking while Gunner went into "Mean" Mike Enos mode (see the Destruction Crew in the AWA days)...

Mike Tenay and Taz hyped the pay-per-view and ran through the lineup...

[Q7] A video package focussed on the Angle vs. Roode match. This video included Angle and wasn't entirely about Roode...

Powell's POV: An ongoing problem in pro wrestling is that I don't take pay-per-view hype from the announcers seriously. It's not entirely their fault as they have to hype some crappy shows and lose credibility in the process. The issue here was that Tenay didn't seem any more excited about this show than any other pay-per-view he hypes throughout the year. He just doesn't have that extra gear to kick into with the hype or in his play-by-play calls.

Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, and Gunner made their entrance for the handicap match... [C]

5. Bobby Roode beat Gunner and Jeff Jarrett (w/Karen Jarrett) in a handicap match. Roode tried to bring a chair inside the ring, but color coordinating referee Brian Hebner stopped him. The heels worked over Roode early on, and the ref didn't seem to have any concern about breaking up double teams.

Jarrett and Gunner mocked the Beer Money dance. Roode recovered and double clotheslined when they turned around. Later, Roode avoided The Stroke and hit a spinebuster on Jarrett. He locked him in a Crossface and let it go when Gunner entered the ring. Roode put Gunner in the Crossface and got the submission win. Scott Steiner and Bully Ray ran out after the match. James Storm ran in for the save, but Gunner struck him from behind.

[Q8] Kurt Angle came out and was just about to punch Roode when Jeff Hardy's music stopped him. Hardy ran out and cleared the heels from the ring. James Storm wasn't happy to see Hardy. Jeff offered his hand to Roode, who hesitated before eventually shaking it. Storm came around and both Beer Money members held up Hardy's hand...

Powell's POV: I guess the idea is that Roode is on such a role that he was able to get by two men. Unfortunately, the post-match beatdown left me wondering whether we're going to get a bunch of run-ins despite Angle agreeing that there wouldn't be any earlier in the show. Fans know that heels go back on their words all the time, so even if TNA is serious about a no nonsense main event, this sent the wrong message. I also didn't like that the last Roode segment featured he and Storm giving their endorsement to Jeff Hardy. Roode is challenging for the belt, not Hardy.

Split screen shots aired of Hulk Hogan and Sting... [C]

Backstage, the guy who isn't challenging for the TNA Title spoke about getting his forgiveness from Beer Money. He was about to put over the guy who is going to challenge for the TNA Title when Jeff Jarrett showed up and yelled at him. Jarrett said he's been there from the beginning with Hardy and they have a friendship that most people don't know about. Jarrett told Hardy not to step foot in Pennsylvania. Hardy said he was going to buy his ticket for Philadelphia...

Powell's POV: Hardy can sell some pay-per-views, but I just don't like the way the focus that was going to Roode switched to Hardy. Are Hardy and Jarrett wrestling at the pay-per-view? I'm not even sure after watching that segment.

Jeremy Borash was in the ring where a table was set up for the contract signing. Hulk Hogan made his entrance first and then Sting followed. They both sat down. Sting signed the contract first, and then Hogan did the same without a word being uttered. Borash asked if they have any final words.

Hogan stood up and pushed the table over. Sting stood up as Hogan cut a promo. Hogan said Sting avoided him until the 11th hour and said something about dropping his down card with the scary face. He said Sting should be careful with what he wishes for. Hogan said his wrestling career is over, but he will fight Sting now that he's embarrassed him in front of the people who support him.

Hogan said there will be no games played and no interference. He said it will be man on man and gave Sting his word on it. They shook hands. Eric Bischoff came out with a mic in hand. He said that he's going to kick Sting's ass if there's anything left of Sting once Hogan is done with him.

Hogan used the planned distraction to attack Sting with a chair. Bischoff laughed from the stage and applauded as Hogan choked Sting. Hogan had his foot on Sting's throat in the corner as the show ended...

Powell's POV: Hey, they finally put heat on someone other than Kurt Angle. Overall, this was a step back from the level of shows the company has been producing and it couldn't have come at a worse time. It's a shame because the build to BFG has been strong, but they failed to deliver a strong final sales pitch for the majority of the matches they focussed on. By the way, they are now advertising that Jeff Hardy will be at Bound For Glory on Sunday, but they are not advertising him for an actual match. I will have more to say about the show in the TNA Impact Wrestling Hitlist on Friday, and Will Pruett will be by with an All Access Podcast.

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