TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, FL

[Q1] A new opening video aired showcasing the first 199 episodes of TNA Impact and fireworks lit up the Impact Zone. Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed us to the show...

The Main Event Mafia came to the ring in full force. Kurt Angle took the mic and said Bobby Lashley tried to make a name for himself last week. He said Lashley had an agreement to join the Mafia but went back on that agreement. Lashley's music hit and he came out to the ring.

Lashley said he did want to join the Mafia, but they weren't hungry anymore. He said he wanted titles and could not get them being in the Mafia. He said unlike Taz and Samoa Joe, he could not be bought. He had an offer for the Mafia they could not refuse.

Mick Foley's music hit and he came out to the ring. He said Kurt Angle said he was all about ratings and he put forth the challenge of Foley and Lashley vs. Angle and Nash, with both singles titles on the line. Angle looked at Lashley and accepted the challenge...

Tenay and West ran down the pretty loaded card for the 200th episode. The show would lead off with Hernandez vs. Samoa Joe...

Twill's Two Cents: Lackluster segment. Angle was willing to put the World and Legend's Title up on TV because he wanted to spike ratings? That was weak. I am intrigued by the main event though and am definitely looking forward to it.

[Q2] Hernandez made his entrance as the show went to commercial... [C]

1. Hernandez defeated Samoa Joe (with Taz) in 4:31. Hernandez impressed early with a delayed vertical suplex. Both men traded power moves and before Hernandez grabbed the advantage. Joe fought back and attempted a superplex. Hernandez pushed him off and hit a top rope splash for the clean win...

After the match, Taz and Joe were steaming as JB interviewed Hernandez on the floor. Hernandez said he was back, he was healthy, and he would become the first Latino TNA World Heavyweight Champion... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Wow; surprising finish. I wasn't thrilled with Joe losing an opening match on Impact, but I love that Hernandez got this win. That is the thing; Joe is not any less important because of Hernandez defeating him and Hernandez is elevated severely.

[Q3] Backstage, Joe was kicking things around. Taz told Joe Hernandez did not beat him, Joe beat himself. He then threatened the cameraman and told him to get the hell out of there...

Lauren interviewed Matt Morgan backstage. He said he wanted everything the Mafia had to offer, fame, fortune, and power. If he could beat Styles and main event the Hard Justice pay-per-view, he would be in. He said he was a PPV main event waiting to happen...

JB interviewed A.J. Styles in his locker room. Styles cut a promo on Eric Young and said their paths would cross again. He moved onto Morgan by calling him bigger, stronger, and more intimidating. He didn't care though and he would prevail to go on to Hard Justice... [C]

Back from commercial, JB interviewed Lashley and Foley backstage. JB asked Lashley where he has been after his one appearance at Lockdown. Lashley said everything was going to plan after beating Bob Sapp and planning to join the Mafia. However, he saw what Foley was fighting for last week and he made a last second audible.

Foley expressed the importance of winning one of the championships they have a shot at tonight. He said he was also fighting for own pride, not just his shares in the company. He was glad Lashley made the correct decision last week and it was the right decision for himself, their families, and TNA...

A short Matt Morgan video aired followed by Morgan's entrance. A similar video aired for Styles before he made his entrance... [C]

Twill's Two Cents: Nice touch by TNA to show the videos and place importance on this series.

[Q4] 2. A.J. Styles defeated Matt Morgan in the first match of a best of three series in 5:46. Tenay announced a Steel Asylum match at Hard Justice to determine the number one contender for the X Division Championship. Morgan dominated with his power in the first few minutes. Morgan applied what looked like a reverse chokeslam and threw him into the corner for a two count.

Morgan crotched himself on the top rope. Styles hit two dropkicks to take Morgan off his feet. He hit the springboard flying forearm for a two count. Styles countered a side suplex with the Pele. He hit a springboard 450 halfway across the ring for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: Typical power vs. speed match between these two. The finish with Styles was amazing. As good as he is, he always seems to impress.

Lauren interviewed Traci backstage. Traci said she was calling and emailing TNA for months trying to be a part of the show but they "had nothing for her." So, Kurt Angle showed her the money and she took it. Lauren approached her and said Traci broke her heart. Traci said the business was not for soft women, it was for "bitches like me." ... [C]

[Q5] A video aired showcasing Tara's history with The Beautiful People. Don West interviewed Tara and asked her about her ten year career in WWE. She said she loved WWE and left because she wanted her experience in the business to be positive. She said she watched Awesome Kong and that she was the best. West said The Beautiful People were the best in TNA. Tara said she came to TNA to prove she still has "it." ...

3. Awesome Kong (with Raisha Saeed), ODB (with Cody Deaner) and Tara defeated The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne, and TNA Knockout Champion Angelina Love) in 10:06. Tara and Angelina began the match. Angelina enjoyed an early advantage but Tara hit a powerslam for a nearfall. TBP broke up the pinfall and chaos ensued. ODB tagged in and dominated Madison Rayne... [C]

Back from commercial, Kong tagged in and Tara gave her a dirty look. Kong decided to beat the shit out of Tara and they fought to the back. A shot of the Motor City Machine Guns in the crowd was shown. They had signs that said, "Conspiracy Theory" and "Yes, we work here." ...

Twill's Two Cents: Glad to see the Guns again and I hope this leads to big things for them.

[Q6] The finish came with TBP using their advantage to take care of ODB. However, Cody Deaner jumped on the apron and distracted Angelina. She taunted him and he planted a huge kiss on her. ODB rolled Angelina up for the win...

Twill's Two Cents: They rushed into the Kong vs. Tara stuff and ODB winning was good for her. TBP are going to have heat no matter what, so regardless of the predictable finish, this did not do them any harm.

Eric Young and his crew were shown walking through the backstage area... [C]

A video package aired of Eric Young turning on the TNA Originals to join The World Elite...

The World Elite made their way to the ring, with music and a video, and Eric Young had a pair of hair clippers in his hand. Brutus Magnus introduced Eric Young as the leader of World Elite. Young asked everyone who was laughing now that he was the center of attention.

Young said he had to move from Canada to make it in professional wrestling. Young said the rest of the world hated the United States. He said the fault does not lie with country, it lies with the disgusting people that live in the United States. He said he was only cheered when he made people laugh.

[Q7] He said from here on in, they would be who they want to be and he would be who he wants to be. He started to shave his own head. "The entertainment stops and the violence begins." He called out Team 3D and said he was pulling the strings...

Brother Ray told Eric Young to "love it or leave it" in regards to America. He called the World Elite a bunch of punks with big mouths. He got a "USA" chant started from the crowd...

4. The British Invasion defeated Team 3D in a tables match to win the New Japan Tag Team Titles in 9:35. The match started with Team 3D hitting the ring and beating up all five guys... [C]

Back from commercial, Doug Williams was working on Brother Ray outside of the ring and Brutus Magnus and Brother Devon fought into the crowd. Ray finally got Williams back into the ring. Everyone tried to interfere but Ray hit bionic elbows on all of them.

Devon grabbed a table and rolled it into the ring. The Invasion came back and suplexed Ray, but Devon moved the table out of the way. Dave Hebner took a ref bump. Rob Terry came in and took out Team 3D. Devon powerbombed Magnus through a table, but Young hit Devon with a belt and set up him as if he went through the table. The referee saw it and rang the bell...

Twill's Two Cents: Ugh. What was that? Six on two? Anyway, fun brawl I guess that ended predictably after the ref bump. With a six on two advantage, the Invasion should not have needed a ref bump and screwy finish to get the win.

Tenay plugged the main event... [C]

[Q8] Footage was shown on the Comic-Con Event that TNA was the highlight of...

Backstage, Dr. Stevie screamed "Fifty thousand dollars" over and over again. He threw cash at Lauren and was clear he was putting a $50,000 bounty on the head of Abyss...

Twill's Two Cents: $50,000 seems to be a popular dollar amount in TNA.

Footage was shown of a training session with Rhino and Neal but it was interrupted by live footage of the Mafia beating up Foley and Lashley. Lashley was knocked cold and security ran off the Mafia... [C]

Back from commercial, James Storm and Robert Roode were fighting backstage with Booker T and Scott Steiner. They took out the cameraman and they cut back to the wide shot to show the entrance of Angle and Nash. Lashley's music hit and he did not come out. Foley's music hit and he did not come out either. They were about to announce Angle and Nash as the winners but Foley's music hit again and he came out...

5. Mick Foley and Bobby Lashley defeated Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash when Foley pinned Nash to win the TNA Legends Title in 6:31. The match started as a handicapped match as Foley gutted out the attack and took what Nash and Angle had to offer.

[Q9] The extra fifteen minutes began with Foley hitting a double arm DDT on Angle and following up with a mandible claw. Nash hit a big boot and Angle locked in the ankle lock. The lights went out and Sting's music hit. When the lights came back on, Sting was in the crowd pointing at Angle and Nash with his bat.

The lights went out again and when they came back on, Lashley was in the ring with a wrap around his head. Lashley took out Angle and Nash at the same time. He hit a spear on Nash and Foley pinned him to win the Legends Title.

Twill's Two Cents: When the lights went out, Angle was the legal man and Foley pinned Nash, so don't be surprised to see that pointed out next week. Average match on an average show. Hernandez beating Joe was the highlight of the show for me.

What did you think of the show? Feel free to let me know by shooting an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com.

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