TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] A short video welcomed viewers to the second annual Turkey Bowl... The opening video was shown... Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show and explained the basics of the Turkey Bowl competition with the winner earning $25,000, and the loser being forced to wear a turkey suit...

The TNA Originals walked to the ring. The Motor City Machine Guns lagged behind and joked amongst themselves before ultimately joining the others in the ring. Rhino took the mic and said took the liberty of naming the group. They are now the TNA Front Line. He said soldiers want to be on the front line. He explained that when you fight for something you believe in, you will do anything for it.

Rhino said he fought to build a company in the past and the people respected them for it. He asked if the fans believed in them and would go to war with them. The live crowd cheered. Rhino went into the crowd and said the people believe in them and they believe in the people. "We will fight," Rhino said. The live crowd chanted TNA.

Rhino rejoined the wrestlers in the ring and addressed his match with Kurt Angle. He said it was up to A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe to take out the rest of the Main Event Mafia. Rhino said the other wrestlers in the ring lacked the experience. He said they were adding more members to the Front Line. "Tonight we will become an army, not just a force."

The Main Event Mafia entrance music played and they walked onto the stage wearing suits. Kurt Angle questioned whether Rhino was delusional. He said he would destroy Rhino just to get his hands on Jeff Jarrett. "I hear the Front Line likes it in the back door," Angle said. He said the fans want to be like the Mafia, but they can't because they're losers. Angle gave Rhino three seconds to rethink what he's doing or threatened that he'd end up in a body bag.

Rhino Kurt can kiss his ass. Angle started walking to the ring, but Scott Steiner stopped him. "A war is what you want, a war is what you got," Rhino said. He vowed to rip Angle in half at the pay-per-view with a gore. Tenay questioned whom Rhino had in mind to join the Front Line... [C]

Powell's POV: The Front Line isn't great, but it's a much better name than the unoriginal TNA Originals name. Angle was wrong to mock the name this quickly. Let the fans pick up on the name and maybe then.

[Q2] Backstage, Jeremy Borash informed Kurt Angle that Mick Foley had been named the enforcer of the Angle vs. Rhino match. Angle flipped...

Powell's POV: Poor use of Foley. He was just a special enforcer for Angle vs. Jarrett and it's just too soon for his involvement to feel special.

1. Rhino defeated Hernandez and Sonjay Dutt in a three-way Turkey Bowl match in 3:25. The babyfaces ganged up on Dutt early. Once they cleared him from the ring, Rhino and Hernandez squared off. Later, Sonjay came back and snuck in some offense on both opponents, but Rhino came back with a gore on Dutt for the win.

A Jeff Jarrett video aired. He spoke about founding TNA and how tough the journey has been... Backstage, Angle accused Jarrett of hiding behind Foley. "Where are your balls, Jeff?" Angle asked. Jarrett said he wants it to be a fair fight. He said that if the other Mafia members interfere, he'll personally come down to the ring to stop them. Angle said he will have someone watching his back... [C]

Powell's POV: Foley is the enforcer, the Mafia are going to interfere, Jarrett is going to run out, and Angle is going to have someone watching his back. Gee, do you think they'll overbook this match?

Backstage, Rhino told A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe that they could trust the guys he had in mind to be their partners. They entered the Team 3D locker room. Devon said they need Team 3D because they're like the Detroit Lions going up against the New York Giants. Rhino said Styles and Joe are in the same spot they were in 13 years ago. Rhino asked if Team 3D had another fight left in them. Brother Ray mocked him and asked if he's been watching his old ECW promos. Joe said they expect an answer from Team 3D by the end of the night. Ray told Devon that this lack of respect is exactly what the Mafia have been talking about...

[Q3] 2. Alex Shelley defeated Cute Kip and Consequences Creed in a three-way Turkey Bowl match in 3:45. Kip and Shelley worked together early. Creed held his own and got in plenty of offense against both wrestlers. In the end, Shelley caught Creed in a roll up and held the tights for the pin while Kip was outside the ring.

Powell's POV: Fun match. There was one spot where Creed danced and did the splits and looked like a goof when Kip punched him in the face before he could hit a move. Otherwise, Creed looked good despite taking the loss.

Backstage, Lauren stood behind The Beautiful People while they sat on their thrones. Angelina Love read a letter from Sarah Palin that said she couldn't attend the pay-per-view because she'd be moose hunting, but she would be at Impact next week. Sharmell entered the picture and said Booker T wanted to meet with them... [C]

Powell's POV: Don't hold your breath waiting for Palin to show up next week.

Backstage, Borash sat by while Jarrett gave Rhino a pep talk about remaining focussed on taking out Angle. Rhino said he knows what's at stake and he won't let Jarrett down.

Powell's POV: Rhino is stepping up nicely. His in-ring "rally the troops" promos are a little sappy, but they fit with the storyline. Nice work.

Another Rough Cuts segment aired on LAX. They talked about how they became friends three years ago. Homicide's friends talked about how they play off each other so well.

Powell's POV: Nice segment. I hope this is intended to strengthen the team rather than lead to a breakup.

[Q4] Backstage, Lauren asked Team 3D if they are going to join the Front Line. Ray said no one gives them an ultimatum. He said they know what it's like to be on the bottom and work toward the top. He said they helped build ECW and feels their pain. Nevertheless, he said it's a business. Scott Steiner walked into their locker room and invited Team 3D to talk business with them. "We've got an offer for you guys that you can't refuse," Steiner said... [C]

Backstage, Traci Brooks told Christy Hemme that she wouldn't give her another match with Awesome Kong because of how badly she beat her last time. Hemme begged for the match and said she's been training for three months. Brooks said she would give Hemme the match at the pay-per-view if she won her match later in the show...

Powell's POV: Series overacting by Hemme. The highlight of the match was watching Borash's facials as he held the mic between the two women.

3. Shiek Abdul Bashir defeated Matt Morgan and Jimmy Rave in a three-way Turkey Bowl match in 3:25. Shane Sewell was the referee for the match. Rave and Bashir played rock, paper, scissors to determine which one of them would lock up with Morgan first. They worked as a team, but Morgan got the better of them. At 3:00, Morgan hit a double fallaway slam. He went for a big boot on Bashir, but missed. He tumbled to the floor, which gave Bashir time to DDT Rave and score the pin. After the match, Sewell reluctantly raised Bashir's hand...

Backstage, Booker asked the Beautiful People to help Sharmell win her match at the pay-per-view. They asked for his locker room if they helped, which led to Booker spitting out his champagne. He eventually agreed and Sharmell wasn't pleased...

[Q5] [C] Backstage, Borash stood by while Angle tried to sell Team 3D on the Main Event Mafia. Angle told them they were saving the best for last by inviting them to be part of the faction. Ray said they were blowing smoke up their asses. Steiner handed them tailored suits to wear to make it official...

4. Christy Hemme defeated Raisha Saeed (w/Awesome Kong, Rhaka Khan) in 3:30. After some sloppy action, Hemme rolled up Saeed for the win. Afterward, Kong entered the ring and attacked Hemme. Khan joined in, but Hemme ducked under two double clothesline attempts and fled the ring.

[Q6] A pre-taped Mike Tenay interview with A.J. Styles aired. Styles said he believes Rhino can bring the young wrestlers together. Tenay asked him what the story is on his father that Sting keeps bringing up. Styles said his father came home drunk and shoved his mother up against the wall. Styles said he punched his father. He said he got his respect that night. He said he made sure that his brothers weren't going to be touched anymore...

Powell's POV: Um, I

Backstage, Lauren asked Sting for his comments on what Styles said. He said he doesn't know if he believes Styles. Kevin Nash defended A.J.'s father and said he guarantees he had it coming. "What if?" Sting asked. Nash said they had more important things to worry about... [C]

Powell's POV: Yet another sign that Sting won't be with the Mafia long term.

Backstage, Lauren interviewed the Motor City Machine Guns. Alex Shelley joked that he would take the $25,000 from winning the Turkey Bowl and buy Styles a personality, Samoa Joe a singlet, and Mick Foley a personality...

5. Rhino defeated Alex Shelley and Sheik Abdul Bashir in the three-way Turkey Bowl finals. Before the match, Borash held up a check for $25,000, and the referee showed off the turkey suit that the loser has to wear. Shelley and Bashir attacked Rhino to start the match. After 90 seconds of action, the show cut to commercial.

[Q7] [C] After a few minutes of action, Rhino gored Shelley out of nowhere and scored the clean pin. Don West said no one needed to be humbled more than Shelley. The referees cornered Shelley and tried to convince him to put on the turkey suit. Mick Foley walked out just before the commercial break. [C]

Highlights aired from during the break of Foley presenting Rhino with the $25,000 check. In the ring, Foley told Shelley he wrestled a good match, but he lost and therefore he needs to put the turkey suit on. Shelley took the mic and said the ladies in the crowd wouldn't be happy if he put the suit on.

Foley laughed. He said Shelley is one of the most talented, dedicated, and electrifying young wrestlers he's seen in a long time. He told Shelley he could leave without putting the turkey suit on. However, he said there's a big difference between wanting and needing Shelley on the show. Foley said Shelley would lose his job if he didn't put on the turkey outfit by the count of 10.

Foley began counting. By the time he reached six, Shelley started putting on the turkey outfit. He put a leg in the suit and stopped. Foley told a lame joke about the size of Shelley's "giblets" and then laughed hysterically at his own horrible joke. Shelley put his other leg in the suit and then held up the head in front of his groin. "Oh, not from what I've been told," Foley cracked.

Shelley finally put the suit on. Borash introduced Shelley as the turkey of the year and then asked him for his thoughts. Shelley said he might get a great Myspace picture out of it. He flipped off Foley, who responded with punches and a DDT that left Shelley lying in a heap while wearing the turkey costume...

Powell's POV: I must admit that the turkey costume gimmick worked in this case because Shelley has been so cocky. I never thought Shelley would be the first wrestler that Foley would attack in the Impact Zone. I was surprised that the shot of Shelley holding the turkey head in front of his groin and Foley's comment made the show.

[Q8] A shot aired of Rhino, Joe, and Styles walking together backstage... [C] Another "Who is Suicide?" video aired...

Rhino, Joe, and Styles walked to the ring together for a promo. Styles took the mic and said time was up for Team 3D. The Main Event Mafia walked to the ring wearing suits. Angle said Styles was a young, smug, punk who was making another demand of the veterans. Angle introduced Team 3D as the newest members of the Main Event Mafia.

Ray and Devon walked onto the stage wearing suits while Angle clapped in the ring. West said they fit right in with the Mafia. He said the allure of being part of the Mafia was just too much for Team 3D. Once in the ring, Team 3D hugged the other Mafia members.

Ray took the mic and said he and Devon gave it a lot of thought. He said they came to the conclusion that the Mafia are right, but they also came to the conclusion that the Front Line is right. He said the arguments of both sides have merit, but Angle said something to them that stuck a nerve and got them thinking. Ray said it made them think about their future in the business.

Ray said their legacy was very important to them. He boasted about being 20-time champions. Ray said he wanted to be remembered as one of the great teams like the Road Warriors. Booker whispered in Ray's ear, and he said they want to be remembered like the Steiners and Harlem Heat.

Brother Ray said they want to be remembered as two warriors who gave their all in the ring. He said they want to be remembered as two guys who entertained people around the world and helped build one of the most legendary companies of all time - ECW. He said they could also be known as being part of one of the greatest collection of champions in history. "The Main Event Mafia is now complete," Ray said. He refereed to the group as the Magnificent Seven.

Ray said the Front Line is all about fighting. "You guys are all guts and all balls," Ray said. He said guts and balls are good. Ray opened his jacket and let the Front Line members pull weapons out of their pockets. "If being part of the Front Line is wrong, then I don't want to be right," Ray said.

Team 3D helped the Front Line attack the Mafia members. Ray called for a table. He and Devon teamed up to 3D Angle through the table, but Sting reached in and pulled Angle out of the ring. Tenay said Joe and A.J. had their pay-per-view partners in Team 3D. Styles, Joe, Rhino, and Team 3D held up their arms in the ring together...

Powell's POV: Nice angle. Sure, you could see the swerve coming because the numbers would have been too lopsided, but it was fun watching it play out. I do have to question whether this should have been saved for next week. If the rating drops significantly because of the holiday, then TNA might regret not saving this angle. The Turkey Bowl contest was weak even though the humbling of Shelley made sense. I hope TNA doesn't bring the Turkey Bowl back next year, but I'm guessing they will.

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