TNA Impact on Spike TV
January 10, 2007

[Q1] Highlights aired from the Final Resolution pay-per-view... Backstage, Robert Roode arrived at the building. He was approached by Crystal regarding what happened to Sharmelle. He said he does not because “shit happens” in the wresting business... The opening montage aired...

1. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley beat Senshi and Elix Skipper. Action-packed opener with a supportive crowd. Shelley pined Senshi after he and Sabin teamed up to deliver a series of kicks. The crowd was behind the Guns throughout the match...

After the Guns split, Christian Cage walked out and cleared Senshi and Skipper from the ring. If Kevin Nash would have done that, everyone would accuse him of trying to bury the X Division. Christian took the mic and accused A.J. Styles of costing him the TNA Title at the pay-per-view...

Backstage, Crystal held a mic in Jim Cornette’s office, where Chris Harris was bitching about not getting enough television time. Corny booked him in a match against Judas Mesias. After Harris left, Samoa Joe entered the ring and vowed to handle the Kevin Nash situation during the show... In the parking area, Jeremy Borash welcomed Kurt Angle, Karen Angle, and A.J. Styles. Kurt announced that he would crown A.J. as a prince later in the show...

[Q2] [C] Inside Angle’s locker room, Styles fretted over Christian being upset with him. Tomko entered the room and told Christian he was on his own when it came to Christian...

2. Judas Mesias (w/James MItchell) pinned Chris Harris. On commentary, Mike Tenay referred to Harris as a habitual liar. Mitchell sat in on commentary and said Abyss has one week to tell the world his latest secret. Harris took control of the match, but Mitchell distracted the referee long enough for Mesias to spray the blood into the Wildcat’s eyes.

Powell’s POV: Um, which one of these guys was supposed to be the heel? And TNA officials wonder why they can’t get the Orlando crowd to root against Mesias.

Backstage, Crystal tried to talk Ms. Brooks out of challenging Roode to a physical confrontation. [C]

[Q3] A video showcased the Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim feud...

3. Petey Williams and Sonjay Dutt beat the Voodoo Kin Mafia (w/Roxie). The announcers focused on the tension between Kip James and B.G. James. [C] Miscommunication between Kip and B.G. allowed Sonjay to roll up Kip for a surprise win. Afterward, Sonjay planted a kiss on the lips of So Cal Val at ringside, while VKM argued in the ring. Kip insisted that B.G. tell him next week whether they will be partners for the tag title match that the latter won.


Powell’s POV: Who loses their temper and demands that someone shoot straight with them next week?

Backstage, Christian searched for A.J., who was hiding under a table with Borash and others... [C]

[Q4] Styles, Borash, and Eric Young talked under the table... A highlight video recapped the Team 3D vs. X Division story line... Backstage, Joe barged into Nash’s dressing room. Nash, holding a baseball bat, said Joe needs his wisdom. He handed the bat to Joe, who said, “I could kill you, man.” Nash turned around and said, “Yeah, but you won’t”... [C]

Powell’s POV: Joe doesn’t need a mentor. He got over in ROH and earlier in his TNA career by being a loner who plowed through whatever competition was placed in front of him.

A video aired from “earlier this week” of Tenay interviewing Booker T in an Orlando hospital lobby. A somber Booker said Sharmell has a shattered jaw, as clips of the angle with Roode aired. The clip stopped just short of showing Roode made contact with her face. Booker vowed revenge...

Powell’s POV: It’s hard to really get behind Roode in this case because it was presented as a mistake on his part. Granted, he didn’t ask for forgiveness earlier in the show, but he expressed remorse immediately following the punch, which they showed on television. Roode is heading to the ring now. Maybe he can change my mind.

Roode cut an in-ring promo. He expressed no remorse and took a few verbal cheap shots at Sharmell. Then he turned his attention to Ms. Brooks. “It is official, you are fired.” Roode called out Ms. Brooks. She went from being angry and confident in her previous interview to sobbing and looking sheepish by the time she hit the ring.

[Q5] She told him to shut up and then asked if he gets off on abusing women. She said he lives a life that most people couldn’t imagine. “But at the end of the day, you’re just a prick named Bob.” Roode cut a promo and delivered his catchphrase. Jim Cornette rushed to the ring and stopped Roode from engaging in a physical confrontation with Brooks. Corny said he should suspend him for the rest of his life, but he wants to see what Booker does to him when he comes back. Corny promised Brooks that Roode would never touch her again. Brooks left the ring, but Roode’s female fan jumped over the guard rail and attacked her from behind. Roode introduced the mystery woman as Ms. Payton Banks... [C]

Powell’s POV: Nope, Roode didn’t convince me. Then again, he was stuck selling another angle and the Sharmell angle was almost forgotten by the time this segment finished. Roode is playing a part that he doesn’t fit. Even newer viewers who don’t remember Roode from his days in Team Canada know that he isn’t believable in his role. He doesn’t dress the part, nor carry himself in a manner that suggests he’s well off. He’s solid in the ring, but this gimmick is doing more harm than good.

Styles dressed up like Egyptian to hide from Christian. No, really...

4. LAX (w/Salinas) beat The Rock-n-Rave Infection. Back and forth action with both teams getting some spots in.

[Q6] Homicide hit his finisher on Rave for the pin. Selinas wasn’t asked to do much in her TV debut. [C]

Powell’s POV: Salinas could breathe some new life into this team. They just haven’t been the same since Konnan left the promotion. The problem is that while Salinas will help them when the cameras are on, she won’t be nearly as effective in fighting for the team backstage. The Rock-n-Rave Infection? Awful name.

5. Tomko squashed Shark Boy. Shark Boy used crutches to get to the ring. He was wrapped in bandages. Tomko destroyed Shark Boy, who didn’t get in a single offensive move. Afterward, Shark Boy was stretchered out of the ring.

Backstage, Karen asked Borash to leave a dressing room so that she could spend quality time with A.J. Borash left, but apparently the camera man was allowed to stay. Karen took A.J.’s costume off and told him seductively that he needs to step up and be a man. After A.J. got pumped up and stormed off to follow her orders, Karen rolled her eyes... [C]

[Q7] Backstage, Kaz introduced Crystal to his mouse Marlena. The mouse is actually the rat that belongs to Black Reign, who is Dustin Runnels, who was married to...oh, you get the joke. Please tell me this rat stuff wasn’t created just for this one joke...

In the ring, Styles took his seat on a throne, while Kurt introduced him as a prince, and Karen and Borash clapped. Angle went on forever while putting over A.J. for turning on Christian. Finally, Christian walked onto the stage and took verbal jabs at the Angles and Styles. Christian headed to the ring to go after Kurt and A.J., but Samoa Joe’s music stopped him. Joe walked onto the stage and demanded a title shot. Cornette and Matt Morgan walked out and said Christian and Joe deserve title matches. Cornette booked Styles vs. Joe vs. Christian for next week. If Styles wins, he gets a title shot or can give Angle two months without having to defend the title. [C]

[Q8] 6. Awesome Kong pinned Gail Kim to win the TNA Knockouts Title. It’s great to see this match in the main event slot, but it didn’t get enough hype during the show to feel like a major event. Kong was accompanied by a woman who was wearing a veil over her face. Borash introduced the match with both wrestlers already in the ring, which gives it that big boxing match feel. The women fought to the floor and up by the stage. Kong tried to spear Kim, but she moved and Kong went crashing through part of the stage. [C]

Back inside the ring, Gail landed a tornado DDT for a nearfall. Late in the match, Gail hit a drop kick. She attempted a huracarana off the rope, but Kong caught her and turned it into an Awesome Bomb.

Powell’s POV: A really good match that belonged in the main event spot. Having said that, I must also point out that Kong has a GLOW-like cheesiness about her. She looks menacing and corny all at the same time. I realize she’s an internet darling right now and her ring work certainly justifies the enthusiasm. Even so, her look needs a little work and those bulging eyes she flashes at the referee are more comical than anything.

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