TNA iMPACT!
Orlando, Florida (Impact Zone)
November 11, 2010
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Off the heels of Turning Point Impact opens up with highlights from the PPV.
New music and entrance video for Immortal as Eric Bischoff leads the troops out. All of them except for Hogan and Hardy are out, including Fortune. James Storm brings a trashcan into the ring as well. Bischoff mockingly says they love every one of the fans and then he says Abyss “out Poped” the Pope at Turning Point. Bischoff then says Jarrett put on a MMA clinic at the PPV against Samoa Joe (referring to him “choking” Joe out). Bischoff calls Jarrett an MMA-master. Ric Flair grabs a microphone and says Immortal and Fortune dominate wrestling like no other and then AJ Styles shows the Fortune symbol and says it’s “all about fame and it’s all about Fortune.” AJ then talks about Fortune sending Sabu to the unemployment line at Turning Point and then he says he’s sending another one home tonight, but not by firing him. He says he’s going to break Stevie Richards neck tonight. Bischoff says the biggest moment at Turning Point was Jeff Hardy’s first TNA World Heavyweight Title defense which Bischoff called the “TNA Immortal World Champion.”
Jeff Hardy makes his way out to the ring still to a mixed reaction (who in the Impact Zone doesn’t get that they’re supposed to boo this guy yet?). Hardy says Turning Point was his coming out party and that he annihilated Matt Morgan. A big “overrated” chant starts at Hardy and he screams “overrated my ass” and then calls himself the “disciple and the chosen one” and he will forever be Immortal. Bischoff then says the night is about to get special and introduces Hulk Hogan!
Hogan comes out to the ring for the first time on Impact in a few weeks. Hogan still gets a lot cheers, some fans are just dumb. Hogan asks if we know what it feels like to be surrounded by nothing but family and then he says when he came to TNA the one thing he requested was Ric Flair. Hogan says without Ric Flair you don’t have a wrestling company. He says he’s been taking care of the next big thing for Immortal while Flair has been taking care of things in TNA while he’s been off doing his thing. Hogan then says he has a surprise for the Champ and the lights go out. A new Championship belt lowers down from the ceiling along with pyro. It is quite possibly the most horrible looking Title belt I’ve ever seen and I’m including the Spinning WWE Title and the Divas Championship. This thing is awful. It’s pretty much got Hardy’s face paint design on the faceplate and it’s freaking purple. Hogan hands Hardy the belt and then he throws the old belt into the trash can. Hogan says that belt represents Dixie Carter’s “old belt” and then Hogan says if there is anyone else left that dares to appose them the only thing they can do is pray. The Pope’s music then hits interrupting Sir Hulkster!
Pope walks through the crowd as Bischoff asks him what the hell he thinks he’s doing. Pope says the prayers of the Congregation have been answered because “The Pope has arrived.” A big “Pope” chant starts and then Pope says after what Bischoff pulled at Turning Point (paying off Pope’s own brother to turn on him) tonight he has a casket that he intended for Abyss, but he’s going to put Bischoff in it and then dump it off the stage tonight. Pope says there’s nothing that he can do about it either and then Samoa Joe’s music hits!
Joe walks through the crowd from the other side of the arena and he tells Immortal not to think that Pope is their only problem tonight. Joe tells Jarrett not to think for a second that he’s forgotten what they did to him and he thinks it’s “adorable” that Jarrett is walking around calling himself a Mixed Martial Arts specialist. Joe tells Jarrett to come “play shoot fighter” with him and then when he chokes Jarrett out it’s going to take more than just his “two hillbilly girl friends” (security) to wake him up. RVD’s music hits!
RVD walks out to the announce table and grabs a microphone. RVD says he’s sure by now that all the fun he’s been having at RVD’s expense stops now and he realizes now that EV2 really is a family and he only knows one person to stoop so low enough to completely sell out because he wanted something that was RVD’s. He says that person is Jeff Hardy and reminds Jeff that he never lost the belt in the first place. RVD says he takes great comfort in knowing that Jeff knows that one day he will have to face him. He says he’s making that happen tonight and he’s leaving the building the TNA Champion again! Now, Matt Morgan’s music hits!
The Blueprint walks out onto the stage and he says that he agrees RVD deserves his title shot but not before he gets his rematch first. Morgan says Jeff is no World Champion and he exposed Hardy at Turning Point and he even got the pin on him. He says if he gets the opportunity again he’ll expose Jeff’s ass again. Morgan says we all know who the puppet master pulling Hardy’s strings and that’s Hogan. Morgan says he worshiped the ground Hogan walked on as a kid and it wasn’t the prayer or the vitamins but Hogan’s integrity that drew him in. Morgan asks where Hogan’s balls are now because if he had a set he would stand up like a man and fight them! Hogan says if Morgan wants a fight then that’s what he’ll get! Hogan says he, Flair, and Bischoff will go to the back and put a battle plan together and he tells Morgan to be careful what he wishes for because if he wants a fight he’ll get one.
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In the back Hogan, Bischoff, and Flair discuss what just went down. Flair says he and Hogan don’t get old, they get great. Hogan talks about how ignorant Morgan is and Flair says Morgan just wanted to walk out and “Hulk up” in his own mind. Hogan suggests Joe vs. Gunner & Murphy (the security guys), Kaz vs. RVD and if RVD wins he’s the #1 Contender, and Matt Morgan vs. Beer Money & Douglas Williams in a Handicap Match. Hogan says if they want to fight Immortal will give them one.
Elsewhere Robbie E. and Cookie talk about his X-Division Title win at Turning Point and Cookie says she may not be a wrestler but she’s from Jersey and she knows how to fight.
Mixed Tag Team Match
Jay Lethal & Taylor Wilde vs. The Shore (Robbie E. & Cookie)
At Turning Point Robbie beat Lethal to win the X-Division Championship (and effectively bury what was left of that division deep down in the dirt). Cookie doesn’t look happy about this match as she comes down the ramp. Robbie didn’t seem to care too much as he just kept smiling and doing that stupid fist pump.
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Back from the break the bell rings and then The Shore bail out of the ring before Taylor or Lethal can get them. Taylor and Jay follow them out to the floor but the referee holds Taylor back and this distracts Lethal so Robbie can jump him from behind. Robbie rolls Lethal back into the ring but then eats a big right hand from Lethal. Lethal tosses Robbie into the corner and lights him with Knife Edge Chops. Cookie grabs Robbie’s leg and pulls him out to the floor to get away from Lethal. Robbie gets back onto the apron and says something to Cookie but then Lethal grabs Robbie and throws him back into the ring. Lethal beats on Robbie and then Robbie goes back to his corner and cowers so Lethal tags in Taylor which means Cookie has to get into the ring. Cookie runs away from Taylor and then just tags Robbie right back in. Lethal dives off the top with a Flying Cross Body! 1…2…NO Robbie kicks out! Lethal whips Robbie into the ropes and then hits a Hip Toss followed by a Cartwheel into a Dropkick! 1…2…NO Cookie breaks it up! Lethal chases Cookie out of the ring which allows Robbie to attack him from behind again. Robbie whips Lethal into the ropes and then goes for a Backdrop but Lethal leapfrogs him and then hits Robbie with an Armdrag as he turns around. Lethal holds onto the arm and locks in an Armbar and then Taylor tries to go after Cookie again but the referee holds her back. Robbie is able to reverse the hold on Lethal and slam him to the mat. Robbie taunts Taylor with the fist pump and then Cookie comes in and he and Robbie put the boots to Lethal as the referee holds Taylor back. Robbie covers Lethal and gets a nearfall. Cookie holds Lethal from the apron and Robbie charges but Lethal moves and Robbie was able to stop before he hit Cookie. Robbie turns around and right into the Lethal Combination from Lethal! Cookie runs in and jumps on Lethal’s back! Lethal shoves her off and then Cookie tries to kick him but Lethal catches her leg and then Taylor tries to come in but the referee stops her again. Cookie bails out of the ring and Taylor follows her. In the ring Robbie picks up Cookie’s boot (which came off when she got away) and blasts Lethal with it behind the referee’s back! Robbie covers Lethal and gets the pin as Taylor continues to chase Cookie.
Winners: The Shore via pinfall
A video package runs highlighting the career of Team 3D off the heels of their final match as team, losing to the Guns at Turning Point.
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Back from commercials Team 3D comes out to the ring possibly for the last time together. A “please don’t go” chant starts as they get into the ring. Bubba puts over their excellent match with the Guns at Turning Point and he says The Guns deserve to be the champions, and he’s proud they were able to help make Tag Team Wrestling in TNA mean something. Bubba says all good things come to an end and then puts over all of their accomplishments and they’re glad to have ended it against the Guns. Bubba thanks the fans and then Devon says whether the fans loved them or hated them they also showed 3D the respect and for that he thanks the fans because without the fans there would be no Team 3D. Devon says Bubba wants to fulfill his dream as a Rock Star and he has twin boys that, as far as he’s concerned, they’ll be the next Team 3D. Devon then does his “testify” line and they hug in the middle of the ring. They raise each others arms but then Bubba blasts Devon from behind when he turns around! Bubba then kicks Devon before he can get back up and stares down at his longtime tag team partner.
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Back from commercials a replay of Bubba attacking Devon is shown with Taz and Tenay discussing it.
In the back Eric Bischoff is talking to the referee’s and wants to know why Hebner had a “punk kid” refereeing the TNA Title Match. The “punk kid” interrupts Bischoff and says it’s his fault, he made a mistake at Turning Point (he counted 3 on Hardy but for some reason the match didn’t stop). Bischoff is still pissed Hebner let the kid referee the match and then Matt Morgan walks in. Morgan grabs the kid and says if anyone should be pissed it should be him but the kid made a mistake and says everyone screws up. He calls Bischoff a “walking screwup” and says Bischoff should give him a chance to make it up and appoint him the referee in the Handicap Match. Bischoff agrees and tells the kid to do his freaking job.
Handicap Match
Gunner & Murphy vs. “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe
Gunner & Murphy jump Joe before the bell and beat on him in the corner but that doesn’t last long. Joe fights them out of the corner but the numbers advantage works in their favor again. They beat on Joe in the corner again and Gunner hits a Jumping Knee Strike following a Running Clothesline from Murphy. Joe comes right back with jabs on Gunner and then he tosses him into a corner before whipping him into the ropes (where Murphy blind tags). Joe nails Gunner with a T-Bone Suplex and then he tosses Murphy into the corner and hits the Leaping Enziguri! Joe then lifts Murphy up onto the top rope and hits the Muscle Buster! Joe covers Murphy and gets the pin.
Winner: Joe via pinfall (Muscle Buster)
After the match Gunner attacks Joe again but Joe shrugs it off and slaps the hell out of him and then just destroys Gunner with slaps, punches, knee strikes, and kicks before locking in the Coquina Clutch! Joe chokes out Mr. Security but then Jeff Jarrett comes up from behind and hits Joe with the night stick he used at Turning Point! Jarrett continues to beat on Joe and then Murphy joins in and finally Gunner. Joe still tries to fight back but the numbers game gets the better of him. Jarrett locks Joe in an Ankle Lock and out of nowhere KURT ANGLE slides into the ring and hits Murphy with the Angle Slam! The fans came unglued when Angle ran out! Angle hits Gunner with a German Suplex and then stares down Jarrett! angle goes after Jarrett but he literally runs out of the ring and up the ramp! Angle looks down at Joe and helps him up.
In the back Bischoff is going nuts at Angle coming back. Flair says he’s taking this personal and Flair says Gunner & Murphy are done and Angle is a dead man. Bischoff leaves with Abyss.
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Bischoff is talking about suing Angle if he attacks him and that’s why he has the camera crew with him. He’s in the bathroom and Abyss is apparently taking a sh*t. The Pope walks in and punches Bischoff with a big body shot! Abyss flushes a toilet but then eats a barrage of punches from Pope as he walks out of the stall! Pope then kicks Abyss back into the stall and grabs Bischoff and drags him out of the bathroom!
Kazarian vs. “Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam
Kaz is wearing the new Fortune t-shirt out to the ring. If RVD wins his this match he’s the new #1 Contender to the TNA Title. Tenay says on commentary that not only is Sabu gone from TNA but Rhino’s TNA contract expired Monday morning and Bischoff and Hogan will not renew it. Kaz dropkicks RVD in the corner before the bell and then he whips RVD into the ropes and hits a Hip Toss Slam. Kaz rakes RVD’s eyes as RVD tried to fight back and then he attempts to whip RVD into the corner, but RVD reverses it. RVD then hits the Running Monkey Flip on Kaz out of the corner. RVD then hit’s a second one sending Kaz way up into the lights! RVD follows up with a Running Spin Kick in the corner and then a Cartwheel into a Standing Moonsault! 1…2…NO Kaz kicks out! RVD whips Kaz into a corner and then nails him with a series of Forearms and Shoulder Blocks. RVD Snapmare’s Kaz out of the corner and then hits a Springboard Back Kick! RVD plays to the crowd but by doing so allows Kaz to catch his breath and then catch RVD with a back elbow as he grabbed Kaz. Kaz tries to throw RVD into the corner but RVD kicks Kaz in the face and then he whips Kaz into the corner. RVD charges in with a Running Clothesline but Kaz moves out of the way and then climbs up top! Kaz dives off top with a Flying Cross Body but he doesn’t just catch RVD, he catches the referee as well! Kaz ducks a clothesline from RVD and then goes for a kick but RVD catches his foot and hits the Stepover Heel Kick! Ric Flair walks down to the ring with a chair but Rhino comes from out of nowhere and knocks the chair out of his hand. The announces are trying to figure out why Rhino is even there as Rhino stalks Kaz! Rhino then turns around and Gores the holy hell out of RVD! Kaz covers RVD and the referee turns around, 1….2…3.
Winner: Kaz via pinfall (Gore)
After the match Rhino grabs the chair and climbs into the ring with it but Tommy Dreamer runs out and slaps it out of Rhino’s hands. Dreamer tells Rhino to get out and then he checks on RVD but when he turns around Rhino picks the chair up and blasts Dreamer with it!
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In the back Pope tosses Bischoff into a wall and continues talking trash to him and tells Bischoff to “ANSWER HIM” but as Bischoff starts to say something Pope cuts him off and tells him to SHUT UP! Pope says if Bischoff wants to be Pope and take his congregation then he has to dress like Pope and he puts his chain and shades on Bischoff. Pope then pulls out his du rag and puts it on Bischoff’s head and then slaps him and tells Bischoff to “rap to me.” Bischoff attempts to rap “shizzle mo dizzle” and then Pope slaps him again and tells him to rap to him like the Pope raps to the congregation. Bischoff says ‘amen’ and then Pope slaps him some more and then Pope says he has something else for Bischoff and drags him off.
In Hogan’s office Hulk is asking Abyss why he let this happen and then tells Abyss to leave and not come back until he finds Bischoff and rip Pope’s head off.
TNA World Television Championship
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles (c) vs. Stevie Richards
Stevie attacks AJ on the ramp and tosses him into the guardrail. Stevie then throws AJ into the ring steps and rolls AJ into the ring.
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Back from commercials Richards Backdrops AJ and gets a nearfall and then he clotheslines AJ over the top to the floor! Richards follows him out and chops AJ on the floor and then back in the ring AJ kicks Richards as he tried to get back in the ring. AJ then hits a Springboard Moonsault as Richards was hanging through the ropes! 1…2…NO Richards kicks out! AJ throws Richards into the corner and throws a big right hand at Richards. AJ hits a Snapmare Takeover and then locks in a Chinlock on Richards. AJ hits Richards with an elbow and then Richards fights back with right hands. Richards whips AJ into the ropes and goes for a dropkick but AJ holds onto the ropes. AJ then hits an Elbow Drop and puts the boots to Richards. AJ hits a second Elbow Drop and then locks in another Rear Chinlock. Richards fights to his feet and he nails AJ with chops and right hands. Richards hits the ropes but AJ leapfrogs him and then hits the Phenomenal Dropkick! 1…2…NO Richards kicks out! AJ chops Richards in the corner repeatedly and then he chokes Richards. AJ charges at Richards but he backdrops AJ over the top. AJ lands on the apron and then punches Richards in the back of the head. AJ then hits the ropes but Richards catches him with a huge clothesline out of nowhere followed by another one! Richards then hits a Back Elbow and then a Swinging Neckbreaker! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Richards mounts AJ in the corner and brings down the right hands and then he tries to whip AJ into the opposite corner but AJ blocks it only to eat a big right hand from Stevie! Stevie then charges at AJ but AJ moves out of the way and Richards gets crotched in the corner! AJ goes for the Springboard Flying Forearm but Stevie catches him with the Stevie Kick out of nowhere in midair! 1…2…NO AJ got his foot on the bottom rope! Stevie is fired up now as he picks AJ up and goes for a Powerbomb but AJ blocks it. Stevie goes for a clothesline but AJ ducks and Stevie almost hits the referee but he was able to stop. AJ slams Richards to the mat hard and then he grabs Stevie and hits the Styles Clash! Oh god, Stevie didn’t tuck his head in time and got folded up like a damn accordion with that move shades of Frankie Kazarian several years ago back in the Asylum Days when I thought AJ had broken Kaz’s neck. 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL TV Champ: Styles via pinfall (Styles Clash)
Stevie’s moving his arms and legs.
In the back Pope is still slapping Bischoff all around the back and he even hits him with a huge Uppercut and then throws him into the casket and rolls him on.
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Back from commercials The Pope rolls the casket out to the ring. Abyss attacks Pope from out of nowhere and he chokes Pope at ringside. Abyss tries to pull Bischoff out of the casket but Pope nails Abyss with crazy rights and lefts. Pope is destroying the Monster and then puts the boots to Abyss as he falls. Pope slams Abyss’ head into the casket and then he pokes Abyss in the eyes. Bischoff opens the casket back up and climbs out and then he low blows Pope as Pope was still beating on Abyss. Abyss grabs Pope and beats on him now and tosses Pope into the casket! Abyss rolls the casket over the stage and slams into the side of it sending it crashing through!
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Handicap Match
Beer Money, Inc. & Douglas Williams vs. “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan
Beer Money & Williams jump Morgan at the bell but Morgan fights them off. The numbers advantage gets the better of Morgan but Morgan comes right back with a Double Clothesline on Beer Money! Morgan goes for a Double Chokeslam on them but Morgan clips him from behind. Williams beats on that same knee and then locks him in a Knee Lock. Williams Knee Drops it and then tags in Roode. Roode puts the boots to the injured knee and then elbow drops that same knee repeatedly. Storm tags in and Beer Money double teams the knee and then Storm locks Morgan in a Knee Lock. Storm distracts the referee and Roode comes in and elbow drops the knee again behind the referee’s back. Williams tags in and locks Morgan in a crazy Knee Lock and then he drags Morgan’s leg out of the ring and slams it on the apron. Storm tags back in and locks in the Figure Four on Morgan! Morgan fights it and rolls over! Roode tags back in as Eric Bischoff walks out to the announce table. Roode dropkicks Morgan’s knee and Bischoff says if Morgan doesn’t win this match he will never get a shot at Jeff Hardy. Roode locks Morgan in a Boston Crab but Morgan reaches out and grabs the ropes. Roode continues to stomp on Morgan and then he hits the ropes but eats a clothesline from Morgan out of nowhere! Morgan cant capitalize because of the knee. Roode tags Williams in and eats a clothesline from Morgan and then another one! Morgan knocks Storm off the apron and then he hits Roode with a Big Boot. Morgan hits Williams with a Corner Splash and then the Sidewalk Slam! 1..2….NO Storm breaks it up! Beer Money double teams Morgan and goes for the Beer Money Double Suplex but Morgan blocks it and Double Suplexes Beer Money! Ric Flair gets up on the apron and screams at Morgan.
REACTION BONUS
Morgan decks Flair! He turns around and eats a series of headbutts and European Uppercuts from Williams! Williams follows up with a Running Knee and then he hits the ropes and goes for a Cross Body but Morgan catches him in midair and hits the Fall Away Slam! Beer Money & Flair bail out on Williams leaving him all alone! Morgan hits Williams with the Carbon Footprint! 1…2…3!
Winner: Morgan via pinfall (Carbon Footprint)
After the match Jeff Hardy shows up on the screen and he talks about controlling people with your thoughts and making people think that fiction is reality. And then Jeff Hardy comes from behind Morgan and hits him with the title belt! Hardy then hits the Twist of Hate followed by the Swanton Bomb!
Final Thoughts
Tonight was a lot like the Turning Point PPV. It wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t very good either, kind of dull at moments. That said it did have it’s moments.
The opening segment was a pretty hot segment with the babyfaces coming out and setting up the feuds that will anchor this Immortal stuff. I hate, hate, hate, hate that Title Belt. It was ATROCIOUS! Divas Title ugly. With that said, I don’t mind it now. Simply because of the reports that it’s just for Hardy (kind of like the Stone Cold Smoking Skull belt) and that’s a pretty easy way to get cheap heat. I hate them throwing the old belt in the trash though. My question is when someone else wins the belt will they have a new belt or will they go back to the old belt? If you haven’t seen the new belt:
The Mixed Tag Match was REALLY boring. I’ve said it a million times I hate The Shore characters, they’re just dumb. Cookie looks good and Robbie proved at Turning Point he can go in the ring, but those characters are just awful. Robbie just doesn’t fit in the X-Division either. It just blows my mind you have a guy like Red on the roster but put this guy over him. Jarrett has said a 100 times he’s going to rebuild the X-Division, Robbie E. is not the guy to do it with. That Division is buried in the dirt right now.
Samoa Joe looked like a badass again but after Angle came out he was kind of second fiddle. The return for Angle was great and the fans went nuts. A Joe & Angle vs. Jarrett & maybe AJ could be a good PPV match.
Kaz vs. RVD is a Dream Match for some and was solid while it lasted but just too damn short. TNA has got to do a better job of putting longer matches on TV, these 3-5 minute matches are getting old. Rhino turning made sense storyline wise with the contract expiration. EV2 needs to end.
AJ vs. Stevie was really good, back and forth action. Probably Stevie’s best singles match since coming to TNA. The Styles Clash was scary and like I said in the play-by-play we saw that type of thing years from Kaz. I’m guessing they had something else planned for the injury angle but just went with that after the bad bump. Supposedly Stevie is fine thankfully.
Pope showed a lot of great emotion and fire during his stuff tonight and got a lot of attention but the feud with Abyss just doesn’t interest me very much. He should be feuding with a guy like AJ or Hardy.
I hate Handicap Matches and we got two tonight, not good. I did like how Fortune worked on the big man’s knee the whole match. Beer Money bailed on Williams and most people saw that coming at some point.
Overall just an okay, kind of dull show.
–Promo/Segment of the Night: Opening segment
–Match of the Night: AJ vs. Stevie (***)
–Overall Grade: C –
Scheduled for Next Week:
-n/a