On Friday, July 14, 2006 at 12:13 AM EST Full TNA iMPACT! Results – 7/13/06
Taped From: Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Don West
Report by: Ryan Droste (Droste@wrestleview.com) of WrestleView.com
-The show starts with Rhino in the ring with a red bag. He says he's had to make some decisions over the last several weeks since Vince McMahon came knocking on his door, wanting to give him a job. Rhino says he told Vince to kiss his ass, because he's TNA. The crowd erupts in a loud TNA chant. Rhino says Vince wants to start up ECW again, but how can you start up ECW when you don't have their last ever TV Champ and last ever World Champ on your roster. Rhino says he's the only man to unify those two titles, and in the bag is a title he's had for the last 5 years. He says he'd pull the belt right out of the bag, but Vince has sent him legal letter after legal letter to get back the title. Rhino says if Vince is a man and has the balls, he should come down to the Impact Zone to take the belt from him. He says he is the war machine, and he is going to do something that he should have done 5 long years ago. Rhino leaves the ring with the red bag, and he heads to the back. The camera follows him down a hallway in the back for a bit. Tenay and West talk about how they don't know what is going on. The camera picks back up with Rhino outside. He says he's sick and tired of people trying to ressurect the past. He says in TNA, there is the heart and soul of ECW on their roster (he mentioned names such as Shane Douglas and Team 3D). Rhino says the only thing left for ECW is a proper burial, because the company is dead. He drops the red bag in a garbage can. He says he is tired of Vince profiting off of their blood, sweat, and tears. Rhino dumps lighter fluid in the can. Rhino says, "Death to ECW, long live TNA." Rhino drops a match in the garbage can and it lights up in flames. He says he has an extreme challenge. It doesn't matter who you work for or whether it's a 6 sided, 4 sided or 8 sided ring, come to the Impact Zone and face him.
-The Impact opening airs.
Abyss (w/ James Mitchell) defeated Norman Smiley
Very short match, only a couple minutes, as you'd expect. Smiley got his "Big Wiggle" dance in at one point. Power moves such as a big boot and splash in the corner from Abyss. It ended with Abyss hitting the Black Hole Slam and getting the pinfall.
-The James Gang comes out after the match. BG says they came to find out if they can count on Mitchell and Abyss in their upcoming match where they will team against Team 3D. BG says he is going to make a deal with the devil, and he asks Mitchell if he promises Abyss will fight side by side with them at Victory Road. Mitchell shakes BG's hand. Abyss raises his fist, and BG again asks if he is with him. BG and Abyss bump fists. BG says it's official, Victory Road has just become Team 3D's own person highway to hell.
-A video package airs with Sting talking over highlights building up the 4 way number one contender's match at Victory Road. Sting talks about all of his opponents and how it's every man for himself.
--COMMERCIAL BREAK--
-A video package with Shane Douglas airs. He talks about training the Naturals. He says he had no idea how hard it would be, but he says he has sucked all of the negativity out of them. Douglas says it will be a completely different team you see in the ring this Sunday at Victory Road.
-A video package about the NWA Tag Champs, Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles airs. It has an interview with Daniels and Styles mixed in. They said they went out to find "Serelda" (not sure of the spelling) to balance the odds since Gail Kim had been costing them the tag titles. They say at Victory Road, it will be AMW's last chance.
TNA X Division Champion Senshi defeated Jerrelle Clark in a non-title match
Senshi hit some loud chops at the beginning. Clark got in a nice head scissors at one point. Senshi worked over Clark, and then Clark came back briefly after hitting a cross body off the middle rope. Senshi came back with some more loud chops and martial arts moves. He continued to work over Clark with lots of kicks, and then he hit the "Warrior's Way" (his double foot stomp off the top rope) for the pinfall.
-A video package airs about the 4 way match, this time featuring Scott Steiner's comments. He promised to become the next world champ, called Samoa Joe a "fat bastard", and said there is no way a Canadian can measure up to an American (concerning Christian).
--COMMERCIAL BREAK--
-Another "Road To Victory" segment airs, this time with Christian's comments on the match this Sunday. He says if it comes down to him and Sting, he won't have a problem taking him out.
-A "Paparazi Productions" segment airs. Shelley says his productions have gotten so big, they are going global. He says he needs Johnny Devine to be his asssistant. They talk about having a non-title match against Daniels and Styles tonight. They say they will make Kevin Nash proud.
--COMMERCIAL BREAK--
NWA Tag Team Champs Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles defeated The Paparazi (Alex Shelley & Johnny Devine) in a non-title match
Shelley and Styles started off the match. Shelley took advantage after a poke in the eye. Styles then reversed an armbar and tagged in Daniels. Tenay announced that Cornette has announced Rhino vs. Monty Brown for Victory Road, since they both have been offering open challenges. Devine interfered to allow Shelley to gain advantage on Daniels. Devine came in and continued to work over Daniels. They double teamed Daniels in the corner. Daniels came back with a tilt a whirl backbreaker. The hot tag was made to Styles. He cleaned house on both members of the opposite team, and then continued working over Devine. Styles went for the Styles Clash, but Shelley broke it up with a kick to the head. Shelley then brought his camera and tripod in the ring. Serelda came out and had a tug of war over the camera with Shelley, which allowed Daniels and Styles to take out Devine. Styles hit the Styles Clash on Devine to get the pin.
-AMW and Gail Kim came out after the match. Serelda and Kim faught to the outside, and AMW and Daniels/Styles faught in the ring. Harris handcuffed Daniels to the bottom rope. AJ tried to fight off everyone, but Storm took him out with a superkick. AMW, Shelley and Devine stood over their fallen enemies.
-A video package building up Zbyszko/Raven airs.
-Ref Slick Johnson is shown passing out those photoshopped pictures of a bald Larry Z to the crowd. Larry comes out and chases him around the Impact Zone.
-Another "Road To Victory" segment airs, this time with Joe's comments. He said he came to TNA to be the man, and after Sunday the world will know "the man is on his way."
--COMMERCIAL BREAK--
-A video package with Jeff Jarrett's comments airs. He says he had nothing to do with Zbyszko or Hebner's actions. He says he'd take a lie detector test on it. He gives comments on all 4 of the men fighting for the number one contender's spot. He says whenever he gets backed into a corner he always wins.
-Jeremy Borash is backstage with Scott D'Amore and Team Canada. He says great teams have defining moments, and tonight is their's. He calls every member of his team a winner, until he gets to Young. He says if Young doesn't get his head in the game, all of his deepest and darkest fears will come true. D'Amore tells his team to "seize the moment." They walk away chanting "Canada", except for Young who lags behind with a disappointed look on his face.
Team 3D (Brother Ray and Devon), Jay Lethal & Rhino defeated Team Canada (Petey Williams, Eric Young, Bobby Roode & A-1 Ralphz w/ Scott D'Amore)
Offensive control went back and forth early. Rhino got a hot tag late in the match and cleaned house on Team Canada. Young was on the outside pleading with D'Amore about wanting to get into the match. Lethal hit a crossbody on A1 and the match broke down. Devon and Williams ended up in the ring by themselves. Williams went for the Canadian Destroyer, but Ray came in and they hit the 3D. Devon then took out Young with an inverted DDT. Ray took out Roode with the Bubba Bomb. Ray was taken out by A1. Lethal and A1 were then left in the ring. D'Amore came in the ring and took out Lethal with a hockey stick as the ref was distracted. Brother Runt came out and took out D'Amore with his bulldog out of the corner. Runt then came off the top and took out Team Canada members on the floor. Rhino gored A1, and Lethal came off the top with a flying headbutt to score the pinfall.
-Eric Young went to the announce position, absolutely petrified, and begged for help from Don West. Team Canada must now disband.
-A video package ended the show with highlights from tonight's show.
Closing Thoughts: Another entertaining show. The show was packed with four matches, but it still came off fairly well and not overly rushed. Having the Senshi and Abyss squash matches allowed the other 2 matches a bit more time.
The "Road to Victory" segments were a nice way to get all of the members of the main event at Victory Road face time without them actually appearing live on the show. Also, the show didn't overload on backstage segments like had been a problem lately.
The Rhino thing which was hyped all week was executed well. The whole challenge thing is obviously going to go nowhere, because no outsiders are going to come into the company. Eric Bischoff challenging Vince McMahon back in WCW anyone? Also, didn't Kurt Angle give almost the exact same challenge, word for word, barely over a month ago for One Night Stand? I guess we'll have to see how TNA continues to push the angle and how it develops. This was the strongest promo I've seen out of Rhino in a very very long time. He was never allowed to give promos like this one when he was in the WWE. It's looking like he's about to receive a big push, and after his performance tonight things should move forward with that. It'll be interesting to see how they book the match with him and Brown at Victory Road, because it also seemed like Brown was in for a big push just a couple weeks ago. I'm guessing a non-finish in that match.
The main event was a pretty solid match, and it will be interesting to see what is done with all of the members of Team Canada as they go out on their own now. The usual TNA style of having a commercial during the middle of what is already a short match is a little questionable, but good other than that. It'd be nice to see Petey Williams get involved in the X Division Title picture again now that he's on his own.