TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, FL

[Q1] Footage aired focusing on Kurt Angle and Matt Morgan’s shaky relationship, the TNA Knockout tag team championship tournament, and Dixie Carter’s first appearance on Impact. Tonight’s show is entitled “Mind Games.” ...

Sting and A.J. Styles drove up in Sting’s car. Lauren, looking absolutely gorgeous, asked Styles if he was still retiring. Styles said he had his gear and was here to work. Sting said TNA was about to grow up tonight. Kip James asked to park Sting’s car. Sting said thanks but no thanks. Kip told Lauren he used to have one of “those cars.” Lauren asked when that was. Kip said, “When I was over.” ...

Twill’s Two Cents: That was as entertaining as Kip James has ever been. Tonight has a “big show” feel to it.

The opening video aired and fireworks lit up the stage. Mike Tenay and Taz welcomed us to the broadcast. Daniels was at the broadcast and he said he was there to have a look at the X Division Champion, Samoa Joe...

1. Samoa Joe vs. Suicide in a non-title match ended in a no contest in 2:06. D’Angelo Dinero came down to interfere in the match and referee Earl Hebner called for the bell. Apparently, he had the time to have a conversation with announcer David Penzer to tell him he was booking a tag match pitting Joe and Dinero vs. Suicide and Daniels...

Twill’s Two Cents: Tenay put over nicely the fact that TNA Management has given the referees more power, so I guess they can book matches on the fly. Works for me. I love what they have done with Dinero so far.

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Eric Young. Eric said he guaranteed Hernandez becoming a member of the World Elite tonight... [C]

For the record, TNA set a viewership record in the U.K. for the month of August. They also set a record for copying WWE. I think both companies should do away with these statistics...

[Q2] Eric Young and the World Elite stood in the middle of the ring. Young said his good friend Bashir had something to say. Bashir took off his head dress so the fans could listen to him before judging him. Bashir talked about the war in Iraq. He said America would rather be weak than listen to the truth.

The fans chanted “U.S.A.” very loudly at Bashir. Bashir absolutely lost it and said Americans are simply oil hungry and weak individuals. He then said, “Thank you for your time” and handed the mic back to Eric Young. Young wanted to talk about Hernandez. His music hit and he came out to the ring.

Hernandez told Young to talk to him face to face. Young said he would never have it any other way. Young told Hernandez he would never be considered an equal to American fans. The fans chanted “Kick his ass” at Hernandez. Young wanted Hernandez to “come home.” Hernandez said he was home and the people were his “familia.” He said this was “our country.” He instructed Young to “love it, or don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.” ...

Twill’s Two Cents: I could do without the anti-America promos, but oh well. I thought the promo got them some serious heat, but then Hernandez came down and killed it. They should have let that play out a bit.

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Traci and Sharmell. They referred to their opponents tonight, Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed, “the elephant and her trainer.” Kong and Saeed were shown walking through the backstage area... [C]

Lauren started to talk about the tag title tournament and “Alex the camera guy” zoomed in on her boobs. Of course, it was Alex Shelley. Dr. Stevie persuaded Shelley and Chris Sabin to take out Abyss to earn the $50,000 bounty...

Twill’s Two Cents: With all due respect, I think Shelley is a fantastic cameraman. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be the Guns getting squashed.

[Q3] 2. Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed defeated Traci and Sharmell in the first round of the Knockout Tag Team Championship tournament in 3:16. Traci cowardly tagged in Sharmell because she didn’t want to face Kong. Saeed worked like a babyface with her quickness and crowd pleasing moves. Traci took over the offensive advantage and worked on the neck of Saeed.

Kong tagged in and obliterated Traci. Kong hit a second rope splash on Traci and Sharmell barely broke up the pinfall. Saeed tagged herself in and pinned Traci. After the match, Kong stared down Saeed as if she was pissed at her for tagging herself in...

Twill’s Two Cents: Honestly, I thought the Mafia girls would have won the match (and the tournament) due to underhanded tactics, so I was surprised to see them lose so quickly.

A Matt Morgan video aired followed by an extended footage cut of last week’s match between Morgan and Kurt Angle vs. Team 3D...

Backstage, Morgan entered the Main Event Mafia locker room. Booker was not happy to see him. Angle admitted he messed up last week but Morgan lacked experience. Morgan has only been in the business for seven years and Angle has been in the business for “almost a decade.” Funny.

Angle did not know Dixie Carter was in the building. Morgan told Angle there would be a four way at the pay-per-view for the title and Morgan would be one of the four challenging Angle. He told Kurt he would have his back like Kurt had his. He hugged Angle and took off... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Nice stuff from Morgan. He is unafraid of the Mafia and is obviously playing mind games with them. Gutsy.

The Source, “the most respected magazine in hip hop,” according to Tenay, ran a story on Homicide...

Footage aired of Jesse Neal and Rhino’s rocky history...

[Q4] 3. Jesse Neal defeated Rhino via reversed referee decision in 2:07. I am surprised Rhino still gets pyro. Rhino can still deliver a great promo. Rhino held out his hand to Jesse and then kicked him in the gut when he took the bait. Rhino beat Neal down into the corner and Jesse tried to fight back. Rhino hit a spinebuster and won the match...

After the match, Rhino gored Neal. The referee reversed his decision and awarded Neal the match. Rhino attacked Neal and Brother Devon came out to protect Neal. Rhino took off...

Twill’s Two Cents: I never understood how a referee could reverse a decision in a match that was already over. I am intrigued about Rhino being involved with Team 3D.

Backstage, Mick Foley in a old school courtroom wig, presided over who should be the next TNA Women’s Champion. Abyss entered and Foley gave him some groceries. He also told him to go easy on Alex Shelley because his kids loved him. Cody Deaner and ODB made their arguments. Foley determined the two would face at No Surrender for the title...

Abyss made his way through the backstage area... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: The women’s division is so loaded that it needs tag team championships, but Cody Deaner is in a women’s title match? Horrible.

4. Abyss defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (with Dr. Stevie) in a $50,000 bounty match in 3:18. Abyss hit a double suplex spot and followed it up by chokeslamming Sabin onto Shelley. The Guns hit a very impressive double kick to the face while Abyss was stood up in the corner.

Shelley springboarded into Abyss on the floor, who caught him. Sabin followed with a suicide dive into both of them. Impressive. Abyss hit the shock treatment and a leg drop at the same time. Dr. Stevie interfered. Sabin springboarded into a black hole slam and Abyss scored the win...

After the match, the Guns attacked Stevie. Abyss applauded the Guns and entered the ring with a chair. Kevin Nash’s music hit and he came out to the stage... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I hate that the Guns lost a handicap match. I like that they saved some face after the match and I like the idea of Nash vs. Abyss.

[Q5] Nash said he wanted “Richards’” $50,000. He said Abyss put his nose in Nash’s business and called him a bitch. Dr. Stevie laughed his ass off as Nash headed backstage...

Taz and Tenay put over the rest of the night’s card, including Daffney vs. Hamada. Lauren interviewed Daffney backstage and asked her how she prepares for someone she has never seen. Daffney said she counts sheep, attacks them, drinks their blood, and wears them. She’s nuts...

5. Hamada defeated Daffney in 9:27. Taz called Daffney “zombie hot.” The Twilling calls her “regular hot.” Daffney attacked Hamada at the bell as Taz and Tenay ran down Hamada’s family lineage in the wrestling business. Hamada apparently asked for and received a no disqualification match. Twilling asked for a “full body massage” match with Velvet Sky but is still waiting to hear from TNA Management... [C]

[Q6] During the break, Hamada set up a table outside of the ring. Hamada got the crowd behind her after hitting a nice standing kick. Daffney scored a nearfall after a running knee. On the floor, Hamada set up Daffney on the table. She hit a perfect moonsault onto Daffney through the table on the floor.

The fans chanted “This is awesome.” Nice. Hamada rolled Daffney into the ring and hit a Michinoku Driver for the win...

Twill’s Two Cents: Awesome match. That was a lot of fun. Daffney was a bump machine while Hamada came with the very impressive and very diverse offense. Again, the women’s division is loaded and Cody Deaner is wrestling for the top women’s singles title on a pay-per-view.

The Beautiful People were looking for Madison Rayne... [C]

Velvet Sky and Angelina Love found Madison Rayne. Rayne has a mystery partner in the tag tournament. Rayne attacked TBP but my girls kicked her ass...

Tenay and Taz ran down the rest of the card for tonight and future live events.

6. Daniels and Suicide defeated Samoa Joe and D’Angelo Dinero in 7:56. Daniels hit a split legged moonsault for a nearfall on Dinero within the first minute... [C]

[Q7] Back from commercial, Daniels and Joe were in the ring together. Taz did a great job putting over the fact that it was a disadvantage for Joe to be in the ring with Daniels. With Suicide and Dinero in the ring, Daniels hit a split legged moonsault on Joe. Suicide scored a surprise pinfall on Dinero... [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Fast pace and enjoyable match. Despite the loss, Dinero looks like a star just working with Joe and Daniels. Suicide has a nice X Division feud with Dinero going that is not for the title, so this worked all the way around.

JB interviewed Dixie Carter and Bobby Lashley in a sit down interview. Dixie said TNA just signed a new three year deal with Spike TV. Lashley said he wanted to give 100% to both TNA and MMA. Of course, that is physically impossible. Dixie said she wanted Lashley to become the biggest name in both TNA and MMA. She wanted to see world titles on both of Lashley’s shoulders. She then announced Lashley would face Rhino at No Surrender...

Twill’s Two Cents: Dixie and Lashley came across very intelligent and well here, however, I was expecting to see Dixie speak in front of the live crowd. That may be nitpicking a bit, but overall, that was a solid segment.

[Q8] Kurt Angle joined Taz and Mike Tenay at ringside. Angle put over the Mafia while saying Morgan was a rookie with a lot to prove before joining the Mafia...

Twill’s Two Cents: A.J. Styles made his entrance and it was the first mention of him during the show. The retirement thing last week absolutely sucked. It made Styles look like a whiney quitter.

7. Sting, Hernandez, and A.J. Styles defeated Booker T, Scott Steiner, and Matt Morgan in 9:38. Sting wrestled in a t-shirt. Morgan and Hernandez stood face to chest in the middle of the ring. Morgan is tall. Hernandez hit a delayed vertical suplex on Morgan. He followed with a suicide dive over the top into all three of his opponents. Very impressive... [C]

Back from commercial, Styles was gaining the advantage on Scott Steiner. Angle badmouthed Lashley for trying both MMA and wrestling at the same time. He also kept going back and forth on whether or not he liked Morgan. Hernandez impressed by clearing the ring and scoring a nearfall.

Styles and Steiner fought to the floor. In the ring, Morgan was about to attempt the Hellevator on Hernandez but Steiner came in with a chair. They were both confused as to what to do. Hernandez pushed Morgan into Steiner’s chair. Styles hit the springboard forearm on Morgan for the pin...

After the match, Angle said Morgan could still be part of the Mafia if he learned to be a team player. Booker and Steiner laid into Morgan. Morgan attacked them both and stared down Kurt as the show went off the air...

Twill’s Two Cents: Good show. There is a lot of direction in the main event picture all the way down to the low card guys. I was glad to see Styles get the win here and the intrigue behind Morgan and the Mafia.

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

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