TNA Impact on Spike TV Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] A highlight video of Spike TV aired. Your title of the week is “Say it Ain’t so, Joe.” The Impact intro aired…

Talon’s Take: This is my final recap as I will be taking a break for a while. Hope the show is good!

1. Brother Ray and Brutus Magnus fought to a No Contest in a New York City Street Fight in 3:30 Brother Ray jumped Magnus while he made his entrance. Early on Ray took Magnus into the crowd and threw him into a wall. Brother Ray went for a table moments later. Doug Williams. Rob Terry, Kiyoshi and Sheik Abdul Bashir jumped Brother Ray. Brother Devon assisted his “brother” by taking out everyone with a chair. Team 3D sent Kiyoshi threw a Table. It was announced as a No Contest…

Talon’s Take: There wasn’t much to that. At least we are seeing the continuation of the British Invasion/Team 3D feud. This should have been booked as a normal match.

Lauren tried to speak with Kurt Angle about Samoa Joe, who arrived in a nice car. Kurt Angle shook the hand of the driver then hugged Joe… [C]

Talon’s Take: I want to see how they explain Joe’s swerve and if it makes sense.

[Q2] Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, Booker T, Kevin Nash and the girls of the Main Event Mafia made their way to the ring.

Talon’s Take: Kurt Angle’s new look kinda resembles Randy Couture.

Kurt introduced himself as the new TNA World Champion. Kurt invited out the newest member of the Main Event Mafia, Samoa Joe. Joe had a new theme song, with some lyrics. Joe hugged the members of the Mafia. Kurt Angle called his plan a Masterpiece. Angle said after Samoa Joe returned with the Nation of Violence, Angle knew the Mafia had to sign Samoa Joe. Joe’s price tag was a little steep but that’s where Jenna Morasca came in. Her millions helped pay off Joe. Angle claimed Nash, Booker and Steiner took a bullet for the team. Angle said he proved his point by winning the World Title and “everyone” celebrating. Angle said he forgot to tell Sting but what he didn’t know, couldn’t hurt him.

Mick Foley’s music hit and the former World Champion made his way to the ring. He was accompanied by Rocco and Sal E. Boy. Foley said Kurt didn’t owe him an explanation but he did owe Sting one and Joe owed AJ Styles one. Foley claimed Angle owed him a rematch at Victory Road. Kurt Angle made fun of Foley for crying after Slammiversary and wanted him to cry for him. Kurt said he was the one with the power and he gets to choose his opponent at Victory Road. Foley said he pinned Kurt Angle at Slammiversary and any other match but King of the Mountain and Foley would still be champion. Angle said he wasn’t going to get upset or riled up. He told Foley that if he wanted something he would have to give something back. Angle said he would give Foley a proposal and they would work out an agreement…

Talon’s Take: There is more to the story. After Slammiversary I was slightly ticked off at TNA for possibly blowing the character of Samoa Joe. They haven’t done it quite yet so I will stay tuned. There are logic gaps in the swerve but I did expect much worse from the explanation.

Lauren ran into AJ Styles. AJ walked up to Kip James to find out where Joe was and Kip said he was with the Main Event Mafia… [C]

[Q3] Mike Tenay and Don West were on the phone with Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett said next week he would solve the problems between he and mix…

A vignette for Sarita aired. She will be debuting in 3 Weeks…

Talon’s Take: I am excited for that. Sarita is Sarah Stock, a very talented Canadian/Luche Libre style wrestler. She definitely can add to TNA’s Knockout Roster.

We went to commercials as Kevin Nash made his entrance… [C]

2. Kevin defeated Abyss in 4:15 We are back from break with the match in progress. Nash hit a flurry of elbows in the corner. Abyss reversed the Irish Whip and connected with an Avalanche in the corner. Both foughtt to the outside where Nash grabbed a steel chair. Nash missed and smacked the steel post. Abyss sent Nash into the Steel Steps. As Nash went to use a steel chair, with the ref distracted, Dr. Stevie came in and zapped Abyss with what looked like a taser. Nash pinned Abyss moments later. After the match Lauren checked on Abyss…

Talon’s Take: That taser spot looked really fake. It smoked and didn’t sounds anything like a taser. I never wish long Kevin Nash matches on the fans but we could have gotten more from this.

In the back, Beer Money made their way to the ring… [C]

[Q4] Back from break, new tag champions, Beer Money were in the ring. Robert Roode called themselves the greatest tag team in the world. He gave credit to Team 3D for being tag team legends. Roode said at Slammiversary, Brother Ray took his eye off the ball and Beer Money capitalized on it. Roode said Beer Money would grant them their rematch clause anytime and anyplace.

Scott Steiner and Booker T of the Main Event Mafia interrupted and made their way to the ring. Booker T asked Roode and Storm if they have ever heard of Harlem Heat or the Steiner Brothers? Scott Steiner said Kurt Angle and the Main Event Mafia are calling all the shots and the deal is already done. Booker claimed that Mick Foley will get a World Title Shot. He said Kevin Nash will get a shot at the Legends Championship and Steiner/Booker will get a shot at the Tag Team Championships at Victory Road. Storm called the Main Event Mafia another kneel and bob. They need to kneel and bob on the bottle. Funny! Booker said there would be two singles matches involved the two teams.
Team 3D came out and interrupted the two teams. Ray said Beer Money already gave them their rematch at Victory Road. Steiner battled the English Language and made it clear that at Victory Road they got the title shot. Ray said they were going to Mick to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse…

Talon’s Take: I enjoyed this segment. It proves TNA has a much deeper Tag Team Division than anything WWE offers. I wonder who gets the tag title shot at Victory Road, which by the way is coming together quite interestingly.

The Beautiful People were on their thrown awaiting the return from commercials… [C]

[Q5]3. Taylor Wilde defeated Daffney in a Match of 10,000 Tacks 2:30 You win this match by planting your opponent in the thumbtacks. Daffney attacked Taylor before the bell rang. There was a pole with a bag of thumbtacks at one corner of the ring. Daffney reached up and grabbed the bag of tacks but Taylor cut her off. Daffney fought back and poured out the tacks. Taylor fought out of a Suplex onto the tacks. Taylor sent Daffney into the tacks moments later…

Talon’s Take: This match had no hype and only desensitizes the fans to hardcore wrestling.

Lauren was with the Beautiful People who spoke about Tara, which is supposedly short for Tarantula. A tarantula then appeared on the shoulder of Madison Rayne as the other two ran off… [C]

In his office, Mick Foley was speaking to Team 3D. Devon complained about not giving them their rematch. Foley said he didn’t give a damn about them. Foley made Team 3D vs. Scott Steiner and Booker T where the winner would face Beer Money at Victory Road. Foley got on his knees and begged Team 3D to take the match. Devon reluctantly agreed. Borash asked Foley how Kurt would feel and Foley claimed he didn’t care…

4. Scott Steiner defeated Robert Roode in 5:40 Robert Roode outmaneuvered Steiner early on and hit a flipping neck snap. Roode signaled the crowd as he did the Beer Money chant and the fans played along. Steiner hit a belly to belly on Roode. Roode fought back with a few clotheslines. A flipping Neckbreaker got Roode a 2-Count. Steiner fought back with a Reverse STO for a two of his own. Steiner hit a backslide for the win…

[Q6] Jeremy Borash spoke with Kurt Angle. When asked about Foley, Angle said he doesn’t cross the boss. Angle claimed he was the Godfather of the Mafia, not Sting. JB said Sting was on his way. Kurt said he doesn’t answer to anyone, not even Sting… [C]

Jeremy Borash spoke with Mick Foley about Jeff Jarrett. Foley said he was in the mood for reconciliation and as long as Jeff Jarrett was willing to apologize he was open to it. Foley told his security to black out the MEM Logo on their shirt. Foley began to freak out about Kurt Angle being upset. He told Jeremy Borash to let him be…

Talon’s Take: Interesting character development. Will we see Mick Foley vs. Kurt Angle at Victory Road? Find out next week on Impact! The hype machine has begun.

Lauren spoke to Eric Young saying his friends claim they don’t know him anymore. Young said he was an original and he was the court jester for TNA. Young said he doesn’t care about his former friends. Rhino approached him and said Young needs to explain himself. Young said they would settle it next week. Seconds later, Young headbutted Rhino. Jesse Neal came up to Rhino saying they would do it in their time. Rhino got pissed and shoved Jesse Neal into the wall… [C]

Talon’s Take: I like Young as a heel and hopefully TNA does something with him because he has potential to be a main event star.

[Q7] With Lauren, Booker T said he was 14-time Tag Champ with four different partners. Sharmell came in with a letter claiming that at Victory Road it would be her vs. Jenna Morasca…

Talon’s Take: Wow, I’m really looking forward to that match. History has proven that Jenna Morasca is a 5-Star Wrestler while Sharmell is one hell of a brawler!

5. James Storm defeated Booker T in 4:15 by Disqualification Don West mentioned that Sting banned the ladies from the Mafia but now they are accompanying their men to the ring. Booker took Storm down early with a high knee. Storm fought back with a huge blow to the head of Booker. Booker went for the Axe Kick but Storm countered. Sharmell handed Booker the beer bottle who smashed it into the head of Storm for the DQ…

In the back, Sting wandered the halls… [C]

[Q8] AJ Styles headed to the ring with a mic in hand. AJ said he didn’t even know Samoa Joe anymore. He called him to the ring to face him like a man. Joe came to the ring to answer AJ Styles. AJ said they had a plan at Slammiversary that one of them came home with the World Title. The fans chanted “You sold out” to Joe. AJ said Joe screwed TNA and the fans. AJ wanted to take Joe’s head off but he won’t. He asked who got into Joe’s head. Samoa Joe said AJ could ask him himself at Victory Road. Joe turned his back on AJ and Styles attack Joe.

Matt Morgan made his way to the ring and helped Joe take out AJ. Daniels came out and helped his best friend take out Morgan and Joe. The remaining members of the Main Event Mafia aided their new allies and began choking Joe and AJ. Sting’s music hit and the Icon made his way to the ring as the Main Event Mafia retreated. [C]

Talon’s Take: The battle lines are drawn! Morgan is with the new Main Event Mafia but who’s side is Sting on?

In the ring, stood Sting and the Main Event Mafia. Sting said he expected this from Angle but not from Nash, Steiner and Booker. Sting said it was Joe which is the reason they started the Main Event Mafia. Kurt Angle said he had nothing to do with Matt Morgan helping the Mafia. Morgan said Kurt had everything to do with it. Sting called Steiner a brainless jockhead. He said Booker didn’t care about anyone but himself. Nash said he stood by Sting throughout the Mafia’s whole history. Nash said he thought the idea of Morgan taking Sting out was a good one. Nash said Sting’s plan is bullshit and doesn’t work. Nash said it was about money. He said you can make either money or friends but you can’t make both. Sting brought up Nash’s son and what he saw in his dad. Sting told Nash to take him out.

Sting handed Nash his bat to take him out. Nash pretended to hit the other members of the Mafia but when he went after Sting, the Icon beat him to the punch. Sting took out the Mafia except for Joe, who laid out Sting with the other bat. The Mafia continued the beat down of Sting. The show closed as Don West said, “Sting, you’re out. Joe you’re in…”

Talon’s Take: I really enjoyed the final segment as it set the mood of where the new Main Event Mafia is going. The group isn’t fighting by the ethics it originally did. Now they are fighting for power and they left Sting’s carcass on the side of the road.

The show was heavy on promos and pre-tapes and light on action. I will say it again, you either love or hate TNA and this show did nothing to prove that statement wrong. I suggest if you are a fan, then keep on watching but if you are a critic, you aren’t getting change anytime soon!

I want to thank Jason Powell for allowing me to write for his site. I also want to give a shout out to two supporters on Dot Net in both GTS and Jase. I will be taking a hiatus and there is a big chance I will return. Please tell me what you thought about my reports and about Impact tonight. Email me at Talon_DR@yahoo.com

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