TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] The show opened with a footage from last week of the Main Event Mafia and Team 3D... The opening montage aired... Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show and questioned whether the Mafia would accept Team 3D's challenges from last week...

1. Alex Shelley defeated Chris Sabin and Sheik Abdul Bashir and Sonjay Dutt (w/SoCal Val) in a four-way for the X Division Title in 4:45. Tenay said there are rumors that Bashir and Dutt are working together. He questioned whether anyone could trust Bashir. Um, didn't Sonjay steal his best friend's fiance? Shane Sewell was the referee despite his repeated problems with Bashir.

The heels went to the floor and let the Machine Guns work against one another to start the match. The alliance between Sonjay and Sheik didn't last long. During the match, Sharmell walked to the ringside and watched the match. In the end, Shelley caught Sonjay in a creative rollup and scored the pin. After the match, Sharmell told Sewell that Booker wants to see him in his dressing room...

A shot aired of Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, and Sting walking backstage... [C]

Powell's POV: The opening match had decent action, but it was nothing special. Actually underwhelming considering the four wrestlers involved. I didn't like the way Sharmell came out during the match just to approach the referee afterward.

[Q2] Backstage, Booker T had Sewell sit down on a couch with him while Jeremy Borash held the mic. Booker scolded Sewell for putting his hands on him last week. Booker asked him for a favor. He wanted a match to end up with him, Scott Steiner, and Petey Williams in the ring. Sewell left the room without saying a word...

Powell's POV: I don't know what Booker was talking about, but I'm happy he abandoned the silly African accent.

Kurt Angle, Sting, and Scott Steiner walked to the ring for a promo. Angle addressed the Team 3D challenges by asking, "Who made you the bookers?" He said they could take their challenges and stick them up their "fat asses." He said there was no way he would wrestle Brother Devon, and there was no way Sting would face Brother Ray.

Sting stepped up and said, "Excuse me, godfather." Sting said no one would tell him who he can and can't wrestle. They didn't look pleased with one another. Sting whispered in Angle's ear. Jim Cornette came out and said Team 3D doesn't have the right to book matches, but he does.

Cornette announced Sting vs. Kurt Angle vs. Brother Ray vs. Brother Devon in a four-way for the TNA Title. Corny said the best way to win a four-way is divide and conquer. "We know that Team 3D can work together just fine," he said. "The question is whether Sting and Kurt Angle can work together." The Mafia didn't look pleased... [C]

Powell's POV: I'm guessing this is how they take the title off Sting and give it back to Angle. I've had my fill of three- and four-way title matches lately (thanks WWE), but this could be fun. If nothing else, they can help cover for Sting if he's still gimpy from knee surgery.

[Q3] A video recapped the homoerotic history between Scott Steiner and Petey Williams...

Powell's POV: Ain't nothin' gay about man-on-man bondage!

Tenay hyped the Petey and Eric Young vs. Booker and Steiner elimination rules match... Backstage, Lauren interviewed Petey Williams, who was still dressed like Scott Steiner, complete with the headgear....

Tenay interviewed Team 3D "via satellite from Japan." They showed off the IWGP Tag Titles. They said winning the titles in the Tokyo Dome is like winning any title in Madison Square Garden. West broke the news about the four-way title match. Ray cut a promo about Sting standing by while the other Mafia members attacked him. The audio cut out. Tenay said they lost the audio feed from Japan... [C]

Powell's POV: Obviously, Team 3D wasn't in Japan, but it was still kind of cute the way they had the audio feed cut out to make it seem more realistic.

Backstage, Borash interviewed Sting, Steiner, and Booker. He asked Sting what happened between him and Angle. Sting accused Borash of trying to stir things up. He said they're on the same page. "We haven't forgotten what this is all about, it's about respect," Sting said...

Powell's POV: This was supposed to be about elevating the young guys, but it looks like the Mafia, Team 3D, Rhino, Mick Foley, and Jeff Jarrett are all more important than the young guys.

Another Sojourner Bolt "Rough Cut" segment aired. Terry Taylor and Jeremy Borash recalled Bolt challenging Awesome Kong when during the fan challenge segments. They said she clearly earned Kong's respect...

[Q4] 2. ODB defeated Sojourner Bolt by DQ in 2:30. Even though Bolt said just last week that her mother is the only one allowed to call her "Sojo," the big screen entrance video listed her name as Sojo. Tenay announced ODB vs. Kong for the TNA Knockouts Title for the pay-per-view. Sojo jumped ODB to start the match. ODB eventually came back, but Kong ran in and kicked her for the DQ. Taylor Wilde and Roxxi ran out carrying weapons and cleared the heels from the ring...

Backstage, Lauren interviewed "The Governor." She bragged about making fools of the Beautiful People until they ran onto the set and attacked her. Lauren asked what they were doing as if she was surprised that they didn't see the humor in what "The Governor" did. Security entered the picture to help, but Cute Kip showed up and beat them up. He finally called off Angelina Love and Velvet Sky... [C]

Powell's POV: Damn, I was hopeful that Kip was out of the act.

3. Scott Steiner and Booker T (w/Sharmell) defeated Petey Williams and Eric Young in a tag team elimination rules match in 12:00. Sewell was the referee because he only refs matches with guys he has friction with. The heels worked over Young and eliminated him from the match roughly three minutes in.

[Q5] [C] Petey worked over Steiner with flashy offense. Steiner didn't really leave his feet, though, as he just sold it by crouching down. Finally, Petey hit a tornado DDT that Steiner took a bump for. Petey went for the Canadian Destroyer, but Booker ran in and broke it up. Steiner hit a fallaway slam off the top rope and went for a cover. The ref counted to two and Steiner pulled up Petey.

Steiner tagged in Booker, who also refused to pin Booker. Shane Sewell spazzed out over the heels refusing to pin Petey. Booker hit an ax kick and scored the pin. After the match, Booker made Sewell snap. Steiner and Booker teamed up and beat down Sewell. Earl Hebner kneeled on the ring apron and asked them to stop. Pussy... [C]

Powell's POV: I feel bad for Steiner. I don't think he's being lazy or trying to make Petey look bad. I think he's beat up and can't do as much as he'd like to. Maybe Sewell can cut his hair short dye his goatee to look like a medium Steiner. Ugh.

A video package recapped the friction from Matt Morgan and Abyss from last week...

[Q6] Morgan and Abyss came to the ring separately for an interview conducted by Lauren. Morgan said he's had a temper problem his entire life. He said it cost him NFL and NBA contracts, and incentives in his pro wrestling contracts. The worst part, he said, was that it cost him his friendship with Abyss.

Morgan and Abyss hugged. "It's okay, Matt, I accept your apology." He said he also has a temper problem and that's why he goes to therapy. Abyss invited Morgan to join him in therapy. Abyss said he has his entire family back. "I have my best friend Matt back, I have my girlfriend standing next to me, Lauren," he said. He picked her up and spun her around. He apologized to Lauren and then hugged Morgan again... [C]

Powell's POV: Morgan referred to Abyss as "Abby" for short, so I guess we finally know who the bitch is. All joking aside, I dig Lauren as the in-ring interviewer. She doesn't make stupid faces like Tenay does. She lets the wrestlers do their thing and never tries to steal the scene.

4. Beer Money (w/Jacqueline) vs. Abyss and Matt Morgan in a non-title first blood match. Tenay said there were referees at ringside with towels in their hands in case there is blood. As if the concept of having referees standing by with towels isn't stupid enough, I cracked up at Tenay saying "in case there is blood." Of course there's going to be blood. It's an f'n first blood match!

The wrestlers brawled in and around the ring. Late in the match, Morgan had a chair and backed the two heels into opposite corners. He teased swinging at both of them and then struck Abyss with the chair. The referee dabbed his towel on Abyss's head and called for the bell when he noticed blood on the towel.

[Q7] "Matt Morgan and Abyss are history," Tenay said. Morgan punched Abyss repeatedly. Security tried to run in, but Morgan roughed them up. "You did this, Abyss," Morgan said to his abused ex-bitch...

Powell's POV: The referee dabbed the heads of the wrestlers with a towel and then looked at it to see if there was blood. You know, because he wouldn't be able to spot the blood on their foreheads. WTF? Laugh out loud funny for all the wrong reasons.

The announcers recapped the Morgan and Abyss segment... Backstage, security helped Abyss until he snapped and told them to get away. He threw a fit and then shoved the camera man...

Powell's POV: Well, at least he still has his girlfriend Lauren.

A video recapped the history of Kurt Angle and A.J. Styles... Backstage, Borash interviewed Angle, who said he could have ended A.J.'s career several times, but he felt sorry for him. He said Styles took away his wife and family. "Tonight, I take away your livelihood," Angle said. "Tonight, I take away your career like I took away Jeff Jarrett's two weeks ago"... [C] Ring introductions for the main event took place...

[Q8] 5. Kurt Angle defeated A.J. Styles in a tables match in 12:15. The announcers noted that Foley, Jarrett, Rhino, Team 3D, and other Frontline members were injured or out of the country. Fast paced spot early with A.J. dropkicking Angle to pop the crowd. Kurt took his time getting back inside the ring. After another minute of action, they cut to break. [C]

Angle brought a table into the ring and cut his hand in the process. They fought around the table, which was turned on its side. Styles picked up Angle and crotched him on the side of the table. The announcers heralded this as an innovative move by Styles. At 11:20, A.J. hit the Pele kick and placed Kurt on the table.

Styles went up top, but Angle recovered and met him up top. A.J. fought him off and Angle landed with a portion of his body draped over the table. Styles leapt off the ropes, but Angle missed. A short time later, Kurt hit the Angle Slam through the table to win the match.

Afterward, Angle continued to attack Styles. He placed wrapped A.J.'s ankle in a chair and then stomped on the chair. Angle applied the ankle lock. He released the hold and the announcers pleaded with him on commentary to stop. Angle headed down to the announcers' table at ringside. Hurt them! Angle grabbed the house mic and said this was the beginning of the end for TNA. He said they were going to take out everyone one by one next week. "We're going to mark our territory Main Event Mafia style." He stood on the desk and yelled, "Look, Mom, I'm on top of the world"...


Powell's POV: Fun main event. Those two work so well together. The post-match attack was mellow compared to what he did to Jarrett and some of the other Mafia beatdowns. I like the promo at the end because it provided a hook for next week. I'll have more to say about tonight's show in Friday's TNA Impact Hitlist.

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