TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] Jeremy Borash interviewed Jeff Jarrett inside his office. Jarrett said he has to be ready for his match because he's been off for two years while Kurt Angle works every night. Borash spotted Angle's gold medal on Jeff's desk. Jarrett said he had big plans for the medal...

Powell's POV: It's nice to hear Jarrett acknowledge the long layoff. I'd like to see that be a big part of the way the match is laid out.

The Smashing Pumpkins song played while the narrator introduced the major angles and noted that this was the final stop on the road to Bound For Glory... The opening montage aired... Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show. Tenay said the match between Jarrett and Angle with Mick Foley as special enforcer is personal...

Christian Cage walked to the ring for a promo. He said people want him to pick sides in the veterans vs. young guys feud. Booker T and Sharmell (carrying the briefcase) walked to the ring. Booker said Christian turned A.J. into a star and now he's trying to take the spotlight. Styles came out and told Christian that Booker is taking Christian's role as the master manipulator. "He's pulling your strings like a little puppet," Styles said.

Styles asked Booker to tell him what the definition of respect is in his country. Styles told Booker to shut up because he doesn't want to listen to his stupid accent. That makes two of us. Jim Cornette walked to the ring and booked Booker vs. Styles with Cage as the special referee for later in the show.

Powell's POV: I enjoy Booker's comedy, but it's just too over the top for the serious storylines he's involved in.

Borash interviewed Sting in the rafters. Sting said he's taking a stand and losing is not an option... A shot aired of the Sears Centre in Chicago, the site of Bound For Glory... [C]

[Q2] 1. Cute Kip (w/Velvet Sky, Angelina Love) beat Rhino in a No DQ match in 4:30. Rhino set up a table in the corner and charged toward Kip, who moved. Rhino held up, but the women reached in grabbed his foot. Velvet sprayed "something" (as Tenay put it) in his eyes. Kip gored Rhino through the table and pinned him. Afterward, the women put the boots to Rhino until ODB and Rhaka Khan ran out for the save... [C]

Powell's POV: Kip adds nothing to the Beautiful People act, but they add a lot to his matches. Thanks for the distraction, ladies.

Backstage, Borash approached Angle and informed him that Jeff had plans for his gold medal. Angle said he'd let Jarrett make the first move... R

2. Consequences Creed defeated Petey Williams and Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt (w/SoCal Val) in an X Division No. 1 contender's match in 4:20. The dorky referee with the temper problem is in charge of the match.

[Q3] After some rapid fire action, Creed used a backslide to pin Sonjay...

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Sheik Abdul Bashir, who noted that he'd be facing a wrestler who wears the stars and stripes. He complained about America taking away his family again. "With my pain will become bloodshed," Bashir. He vowed to torture Creed in a much more physical way than America has tortured him... [C]

Powell's POV: I don't like the way they waited until the last minute to add this match to the show. This is their biggest event of the year and it just seems like a random X Division match rather than the major match on the company's biggest show of the year.

Mick Foley appeared on Karen's Angle. Mick commented on Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle...

Powell's POV: This segment was too short to pack a punch. By the way, that giant photo of Karen on the wall makes her look like an egomaniac.

The announcers ran through the pay-per-view lineup... Backstage, Rhino shoved Borash and cut a promo about what he's going to do to Cute Kip at the pay-per-view. I think he said he's going to "gore the whore"... [C]

Powell's POV: Why is this match on TNA's biggest show of the year?

[Q4] A video aired with Steve "Mongo" McMichael hyping his role as the special referee for the Monster's Ball match...

Powell's POV: Mongo did a better job of establishing this as a vicious hardcore match than anyone else has so far.

3. Abyss and Matt Morgan defeated Robert Roode and James Storm (w/Jacqueline) in a non-title match in 4:45. Before the match, Abyss pulled out some of his hair and handed it to a fan at ringside. Team 3D came out and joined the announcers on commentary. Brother Ray said he hopes Mongo is a referee than he was a football player, and he teased using a burning table at the pay-per-view.

Late in the match, Morgan hit a big boot and came up holding his knee. A short time later, Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam on Storm for the win... [C]

Powell's POV: Abyss and Morgan just pinned the tag champions, but it wasn't put over as a big deal. Team 3D was busy bragging about how many tag titles they've won after the finish.

[Q5] A video recapped the Jarrett vs. Angle hype with Foley's involvement...

Powell's POV: There's still nearly an hour to go, but they haven't done a good job of setting up the TNA Title match between Sting and Samoa Joe yet. It's really taking a backseat to the Jarrett vs. Angle hype.

Mick Foley came to the ring and said Brother Ray bastardized the red and black flannel vest. He asked the fans to hang in there while he tried to come up with a new wardrobe. Funny. The fans chanted his last name. He said his first appearance in TNA will hold a special place in his heart.

Foley said all the pieces are in place for a magic moment at Bound For Glory. He vowed that any friends of Angle or Jarrett who tried to interfere would be dealt with harshly. Foley said it was time to introduce the two contestants who will meet at BFG. Angle made his entrance. Jarrett came out with his guitar. The live crowd chanted, "Double J."

Foley handed the mic to Jarrett, who said TNA ultimately made a huge mistake in hiring Angle. "I'm just going to chalk that up to bad judgement," Angle said. Jarrett said things could have been different, but this is what Angle wanted. Jarrett pulled out Angle's gold medal and said, "You earned this, see you in Chicago." Jarrett handed Angle the medal.

Foley took the mic back and asked Jarrett if he has any last words. Angle shook his head no. Foley said he would like to see Jarrett and Angle shake hands. Jeff stuck his hand out. Angle eventually accepted the handshake. Jarrett's music played and he started to leave the ring.

Angle stopped Jarrett and called him back to the ring. He thanked Jarrett for giving him the medal back. He then asked Jarrett to go home and tell his daughters that he apologizes. After a pause, Angle added, "Because daddy's not coming home after Bound For Glory." Angle smiled and headed backstage... [C]

Powell's POV: Nicely done. I'm really looking forward to this match. Good final hype with Angle playing the prick to Jarrett's nice guy. Jarrett continues to deliver the best mic work of his career. I'm very impressed with how effective he's been in his new babyface role. BFG feels like a two-match show, so here's hoping they come up with equally strong final hype for the TNA Title match.

The announcers ran through the pay-per-view and announced that Rhino and ODB and Rhaka Khan vs. Velvet Sky and Angelina Love and Cute Kip in a bimbo's brawl has just been added to the show...

Powell's POV: That's much better than a Rhino vs. Kip singles match. Nothing against Rhino, but I have no interest in seeing Kip work a singles match on BFG. Then again, I'm not exactly crazy about seeing Rhaka wrestle.

[Q6] A Booker T video aired... Backstage, Borash interviewed Booker and Sharmell inside their dressing room. Booker was in full African accent mode. Booker said he would reveal what's inside the briefcase when the time is right... [C]

Powell's POV: Please let there be a new gimmick inside the briefcase.

4. Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed defeated Taylor Wilde and Roxxi in 3:45. Late in the match, Roxxi set up Saeed for the Voodoo Drop, but Kong broke it up. Moments later, Kong hit the Implant Buster for the win... [C]

Powell's POV: It's time to come up with a new name for Roxxi's finisher now that she's dropped the whole voodoo gimmick.

[Q7] 5. A.J. Styles pinned Booker T (w/Sharmell) in 9:23 with Christian Cage as the referee. Sharmell brought the briefcase to the ring with her. After two minutes of the wrestlers locking up and pushing each other around, they cut to commercial. [C]

They picked up the pace after the break, but this was more of a Booker-style match than an A.J. match. Plenty of punches and kicks from Booker. Styles came back with the Pele kick and took control of the offense. Late in the match, Booker suplexed Styles into a pin. Styles lifted his shoulder and Booker did not. After some confusion, Christian gave the win to Styles.

After the match, Booker charged at Christian, who punched him and cleared him from the ring. A.J. walked up behind Christian, who turned around and clotheslined Styles. Cornette came out and said he wanted this resolved tonight. He got pissed and booked a three-way between Booker, Styles, and Christian at Bound For Glory...

Powell's POV: Another late addition to the pay-per-view lineup. Odd strategy by TNA.

[Q8] Tenay hyped the Sting and Joe contract signing for after the break... [C] A video recapped the Sting and Samoa Joe feud...

Jim Cornette stood in front of a podium that was set up in the ring and introduced the contract signing. Sting came out first. Joe was out next with the TNA Title over his shoulder. Cornette announced that both men agreed that there would be no rematch. Sting signed the contract first. Joe glared at Sting, then signed the contract.

Cornette held up the contract and said the only thing left is to hold the match. Sting told Joe that it didn't have to be this way. "But here we are," he said. "It is what it is. I'll see you at Bound For Glory." Joe told Sting to do what he needs to do and he'll do the same. He said Sting is probably wondering why he hasn't attacked him physically.

Joe said "Kevin" taught him to be professional. "You're wrong about me," Joe said. "I do respect you." Joe offered his hand to Sting, who accepted the handshake. Joe pulled Sting toward him and headbutted him. Sting recovered and took a swing at Joe. A pull-apart brawl ensued. Joe freaked out in one corner as security struggled to hold hi back. Sting jawed at Joe from another corner while security held him back...

The Smashing Pumpkins' "Tarantula" played with footage of the band mixed with footage of the TNA wrestlers and the Bound For Glory matches...

Powell's POV: Good final hype for Joe vs. Sting. I can't believe they didn't make a bigger fuss over the "no rematch" stipulation. I also can't believe Don West yelled, "Oh, that's huge, that's what we've been waiting to here" after Cornette announced the stipulation. Who's been waiting to hear that? Did I miss something? Anyway, this was a newsworthy show and the hype for the top two BFG matches was really strong. Nice work. I'll have more to say about this show in the TNA Impact Hitlist on Friday.

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