Flair Country
07-13-2007, 02:36 PM
7/12 TNA Impact Recap
Last week, Team 3D retained the TNA Tag Team gold to finalize the main event at
Victory Road, in which they will take on Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe in the Match of
Champions. Plus, Sting promised that tonight, Abyss will speak for the first
time. What will he have to say and what else will go down as we head into
Victory Road? We’ll find out tonight on Impact.
Abyss’ music kicks off to start the broadcast as we head into the opening
contest. Abyss is wearing is usual mask and not the Sting face paint. Don
West brings up the fact that Abyss will speak tonight.
Match 1: Abyss vs. Lance Hoyt w/ Christy Hemme
Abyss starts off with a boot to the face of Lance Hoyt to knock him down and
then knocks him out of the ring with a clothesline. Abyss throws him around on
the outside for a while before rolling him back into the ring and then grabbing
a chair and placing it on the ring apron. That takes up too much time,
however, and Hoyt is on the attack as Abyss re-enters the ring.
Hoyt works over Abyss for a while and eventually misses with a moonsault off of
the top rope. Abyss comes back with a couple of clotheslines and then a
chokeslam, which earns a two count on Hoyt. Abyss then goes for the chair in
the corner, but Christy Hemme grabs it as they begin to fight over it.
Earl Hebner exits the ring and allows Hemme to distract him as Hoyt knocks
Abyss down from behind and sets the chair up on his face and gets ready to fly
coast-to-coast. Abyss recovers, though, and tosses the chair at Hoyt’s face as
he jumps down to the canvas. Abyss goes for the cover as Hebner enters the
ring, but can only keep his opponent down for another two count. Hoyt tries to
comeback and charges at Abyss but runs right into a Black Hole Slam and stays
down for the three count.
Winner of the Match: Abyss by pin fall.
After the match, Christy Hemme enters the ring to check on Hoyt as Abyss leaves
and goes under the ring to grab his black bag. Abyss re-enters the ring and
dumps the broken glass out as Basham runs out and grabs Hoyt out of the ring.
VKM come out and attack Basham and Hoyt while Hemme is left alone in the ring
with Abyss.
Tomko and AJ Styles run out to the ring and attack Abyss as Hemme escapes. The
lights go out in the Impact Zone as Sting appears in the ring and begins to
land in some shots with the baseball bat on Tomko and Styles. The duo leave
the ring as Mike Tenay and Don West talk about the four of them meeting in a
tag team match at Victory Road.
Sting hands his bat over to Abyss and grabs a microphone. Sting warns Tomko &
Styles that something bad is going to happen to them at Victory Road, and he is
going to let Abyss tell them about it. Sting hands the microphone over to
Abyss for the first time growls out, “Tomko… Styles… three days… click…
DOOMSDAY!”
The Impact intro finally airs as Mike Tenay and Don West hype tonight’s main
event featuring the “Team of Champions” of Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Team 3D
against Christian Cage, Tomko, AJ Styles and another partner to be announced
later. They then announce a 10-Man Ultimate X Gauntlet Match to decide the #1
contender to the X Division title.
Also on the card this Sunday will be a mix tag team match of Eric Young & Gail
Kim against Robert Roode & Ms. Brooks, James Storm vs. Rhino, Christian Cage
facing Chris Harris, Sting & Abyss vs. Tomko & AJ Styles and the Match of
Champions with Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe going up against Team 3D.
A video package featuring tonight’s main event is aired. In it, Team 3D say
that they have nothing against Samoa Joe, but they haven’t respected Angle
since the day he walked into TNA. Samoa Joe says that he feels better knowing
that he isn’t the only one that hates Angle. Angle loves the hatred and says
that Team 3D couldn’t even hold his jock.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with the Christian Coalition, who are all in a rage
in the backstage area. AJ Styles wants to know who the fourth person will be
to round out their team tonight. Cage tells Styles not to worry about it as
Robert Roode comes into the picture and is introduced as their partner. Roode
thanks Cage for the privilege to team with them as the two begin to ham it up
and walk off together leaving Styles and Tomko by themselves. Styles soon
follows and leaves Tomko with JB.
Match 2: Havok vs. Kaz vs. Martyr (Last Spot in 10-Man Gauntlet)
Havok and Martyr start off together by teaming up against Kaz in the opening
moments of the match. Kaz begins to fight back and kicks Havok over the top
rope and onto the floor. Kaz then turns around and ducks under a superkick by
Martyr and knocks him off his feet with a leg sweep and follows with a bridge
pin fall for the win.
Winner of the Match: Kaz by pin fall to earn the 10th spot in the Ultimate X
Gauntlet match.
After the match, Raven comes down the aisle and cracks Kaz in the back with a
kendo stick. Martyr and Havok join in and all three of them get in some shots
with the kendo stick. They toss Kaz back into the ring where Raven blows his
nose in a rag and rubs it into his face as the other two continue with the
kendo stick shots. The three then celebrate together in the ring.
An Ultimate X preview is shown, which includes clips of Senshi, Jerry Lynn,
Petey Williams and Chris Sabin giving their take on the Ultimate X match. I am
assuming that those five will be competing in the match.
A pre-taped interview between James Storm and Don West in a bar is aired.
James Storm says that he poured beer on Rhino as a joke and maybe went a little
too far, but now that he knows Rhino loves alcohol they can be drinking
buddies. West tries to talk to Storm and show Rhino’s point of view on the
situation but it falls on deaf ears. Storm says that after Victory Road, the
drinks will be on Rhino.
A recap of Storm’s ex-partner, Chris Harris, is aired that highlights his five-
year career in TNA. He said that during his time with AMW, he always had a
desire to be a singles wrestler. Furthermore, his match against Cage at
Victory Road can either make or break his singles career in TNA, but after it
is over the whole wrestling world will know who Chris Harris is.
Ron Killings gets some air time in an anti-smoking PSA. Afterwards, another
James Mitchell video package is aired in which he states that Armageddon is
coming as his son is near. A message stating “Judas Mesias is coming” is shown
as it draws to an end.
A Paparazzi Production video is aired, and this time it features a debate
between Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley against Jerry Lynn and Bob Backlund with
Kevin Nash as the moderator. The two exchange words in which Alex Shelley
compares Jerry Lynn to the lead singer of Nickelback. The debate soon turns
into a brawl as Kevin Nash bids the viewers good night.
Match 3: Christian Cage/Tomko/AJ Styles/Robert Roode w/ Ms. Brooks vs. Kurt
Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D
Brother Devon and Robert Roode start the match off and Devon scores a quick two
count on Roode before Roode goes back into his corner and tags in Christian
Cage. Cage is reluctant to enter the ring and Devon tosses him in the hard
way. After a shoulder block, Devon scores another two count pin attempt before
tagging in Brother Ray.
After a Team 3D double team move, Brother Ray also scores a two count on Cage.
Ray then holds Cage up for a long vertical suplex – holding him up for nearly
20 seconds – and gets yet another two count.
Joe makes a blind tag into the match who comes in and takes Cage down with an
atomic drop and a senton backsplash that lands awkwardly on Cage’s neck. That
had to hurt. A few kicks and a knee drop later and Joe picks up a two count on
Cage, however, after the kick out, Cage is able to make it to his corner and
tag in Tomko.
Tomko and Joe begin trading blows with each other before Joe takes Tomko down
with an ensuguri. Roode tags back into the match and Joe makes quick work of
him and takes him down to the mat and then tags in Devon by smacking him in the
chest. Brother Ray doesn’t like the way he tagged in his partner and pushes
Joe, meanwhile, Devon continues to work on Robert Roode as we head into a
commercial break.
The match returns with Roode in control of the match. A replay of what
happened during the break shows us that both Roode and Styles had a part in
gaining control of the match from Brother Devon. Back to action, Roode scores
a near fall on Devon and then tags in Cage as Ray and Angle exchange words on
the ring apron.
The Christian Coalition begins making quick tags while working on Devon,
however, Devon counters a move by Tomko and drives him down to the mat with a
DDT. This opening allows Devon to make the tag into Joe as Tomko tags in
Styles. Joe takes down all four of his opponents before landing a jawbreaker
and a body slam on Styles for a two count. Joe then lands a powerbomb and pin
combination on Styles, but Styles rolls out and into a STF submission hold.
The rest of the Coalition enters the ring as Team 3D does the same and a melee
ensues. Kurt Angle, however, decides to stay out of it and looks on from the
floor. Styles and Ray fight to the outside of the ring as Joe begins to take
care of both Cage and Roode in the ring.
Joe rolls out of the ring as Team 3D enters and lands a double team maneuver on
Roode. Tomko pulls Devon out of the ring as Cage goes for the Unprettier on
Ray, but his move is countered as Brother Ray hoists him up on his shoulders
and Devon takes him down to the mat with a flying clothesline.
Team 3D then lands a 3D on Roode as Tomko enters the ring and clears Team 3D to
the floor. Joe enters and takes Tomko down with a Death Valley Driver before
being taken down by AJ Styles with a Pele kick.
Joe comes back, though, with a powerful clothesline that turns Styles inside-
out. Joe then goes for the muscle buster on Styles, but Angle enters the ring
for the first time and takes Joe down with a chop block. Joe still manages to
drive Styles down to the mat and Angle is there to pick up the scrapes to score
the pin fall and win it for his team.
Winners of the Match: Kurt Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D by pin fall.
After the match, Kurt Angle quickly heads up the ramp with both of his titles.
We are then treated with a Victory Road music video featuring the song On the
Last Day by Twelve CC’s.
Quick Results
- Abyss defeats Lance Hoyt by pin fall.
- Kaz defeats Havok and Martyr in a three way match to determine the last spot
in X Division Gauntlet.
- Kurt Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D defeats Christian Cage/Tomko/AJ Styles/Robert
Roode by pin fall.
Match of the Night
- Christian Cage/Tomko/AJ Styles/Robert Roode w/ Ms. Brooks vs. Kurt
Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D
Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight was not quite as good as Impact has been over the past couple of weeks,
but it was a solid show to say the least.
It was nice seeing an Impact start off like it did tonight with a match right
out of the chute, instead of the traditional Impact opening of recap, intro,
and announcers hype show. I will also say that I was extremely happy to see
that Abyss was in his normal garb with his usual mask and not wearing the Sting
makeup.
I was concerned with him speaking for the first time, but when it happened, it
came across great. I think that keeping him on limited microphone time as they
did tonight can add another dimension to his character, while still retaining
the monster image he has created for himself. I will admit that, for once, TNA
did something right for a change.
I will say that the low point of the night was the Paparazzi Productions video
segment. For the most part, most of the segments that have aired over the past
several months were entertaining to say the least. Tonight’s clip, though,
seemed to just be a way to get some people on the program. I am starting to
think that the whole Paparazzi Productions piece has run its course and it is
time to move on to some other things - without Kevin Nash.
The main event was a decent match, granted it only took place to further the
main event for Victory Road. Prior to the match, Team 3D talked about having
nothing against Samoa Joe, however, during the match some tensions arose and
will add a little more to their match on Sunday. Angle, of course, was great
in being the sneaky champ who swooped in to score the victory and then swooped
out just as quickly with both of his championships in his hands.
As for Victory Road, I will say that I am still not sold on the idea of the
Match of Champions, however, after last month’s horrendous pay-per-view, it is
good to see that they booked an event this time around with some fresh match
ups with some sort of build up.
Of course, I will be doing my usual preview and predictions this weekend, so
make sure you return to see what is on tap for the pay-per-view as well as all
of my thoughts about the card.
Gerweck
Last week, Team 3D retained the TNA Tag Team gold to finalize the main event at
Victory Road, in which they will take on Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe in the Match of
Champions. Plus, Sting promised that tonight, Abyss will speak for the first
time. What will he have to say and what else will go down as we head into
Victory Road? We’ll find out tonight on Impact.
Abyss’ music kicks off to start the broadcast as we head into the opening
contest. Abyss is wearing is usual mask and not the Sting face paint. Don
West brings up the fact that Abyss will speak tonight.
Match 1: Abyss vs. Lance Hoyt w/ Christy Hemme
Abyss starts off with a boot to the face of Lance Hoyt to knock him down and
then knocks him out of the ring with a clothesline. Abyss throws him around on
the outside for a while before rolling him back into the ring and then grabbing
a chair and placing it on the ring apron. That takes up too much time,
however, and Hoyt is on the attack as Abyss re-enters the ring.
Hoyt works over Abyss for a while and eventually misses with a moonsault off of
the top rope. Abyss comes back with a couple of clotheslines and then a
chokeslam, which earns a two count on Hoyt. Abyss then goes for the chair in
the corner, but Christy Hemme grabs it as they begin to fight over it.
Earl Hebner exits the ring and allows Hemme to distract him as Hoyt knocks
Abyss down from behind and sets the chair up on his face and gets ready to fly
coast-to-coast. Abyss recovers, though, and tosses the chair at Hoyt’s face as
he jumps down to the canvas. Abyss goes for the cover as Hebner enters the
ring, but can only keep his opponent down for another two count. Hoyt tries to
comeback and charges at Abyss but runs right into a Black Hole Slam and stays
down for the three count.
Winner of the Match: Abyss by pin fall.
After the match, Christy Hemme enters the ring to check on Hoyt as Abyss leaves
and goes under the ring to grab his black bag. Abyss re-enters the ring and
dumps the broken glass out as Basham runs out and grabs Hoyt out of the ring.
VKM come out and attack Basham and Hoyt while Hemme is left alone in the ring
with Abyss.
Tomko and AJ Styles run out to the ring and attack Abyss as Hemme escapes. The
lights go out in the Impact Zone as Sting appears in the ring and begins to
land in some shots with the baseball bat on Tomko and Styles. The duo leave
the ring as Mike Tenay and Don West talk about the four of them meeting in a
tag team match at Victory Road.
Sting hands his bat over to Abyss and grabs a microphone. Sting warns Tomko &
Styles that something bad is going to happen to them at Victory Road, and he is
going to let Abyss tell them about it. Sting hands the microphone over to
Abyss for the first time growls out, “Tomko… Styles… three days… click…
DOOMSDAY!”
The Impact intro finally airs as Mike Tenay and Don West hype tonight’s main
event featuring the “Team of Champions” of Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Team 3D
against Christian Cage, Tomko, AJ Styles and another partner to be announced
later. They then announce a 10-Man Ultimate X Gauntlet Match to decide the #1
contender to the X Division title.
Also on the card this Sunday will be a mix tag team match of Eric Young & Gail
Kim against Robert Roode & Ms. Brooks, James Storm vs. Rhino, Christian Cage
facing Chris Harris, Sting & Abyss vs. Tomko & AJ Styles and the Match of
Champions with Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe going up against Team 3D.
A video package featuring tonight’s main event is aired. In it, Team 3D say
that they have nothing against Samoa Joe, but they haven’t respected Angle
since the day he walked into TNA. Samoa Joe says that he feels better knowing
that he isn’t the only one that hates Angle. Angle loves the hatred and says
that Team 3D couldn’t even hold his jock.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with the Christian Coalition, who are all in a rage
in the backstage area. AJ Styles wants to know who the fourth person will be
to round out their team tonight. Cage tells Styles not to worry about it as
Robert Roode comes into the picture and is introduced as their partner. Roode
thanks Cage for the privilege to team with them as the two begin to ham it up
and walk off together leaving Styles and Tomko by themselves. Styles soon
follows and leaves Tomko with JB.
Match 2: Havok vs. Kaz vs. Martyr (Last Spot in 10-Man Gauntlet)
Havok and Martyr start off together by teaming up against Kaz in the opening
moments of the match. Kaz begins to fight back and kicks Havok over the top
rope and onto the floor. Kaz then turns around and ducks under a superkick by
Martyr and knocks him off his feet with a leg sweep and follows with a bridge
pin fall for the win.
Winner of the Match: Kaz by pin fall to earn the 10th spot in the Ultimate X
Gauntlet match.
After the match, Raven comes down the aisle and cracks Kaz in the back with a
kendo stick. Martyr and Havok join in and all three of them get in some shots
with the kendo stick. They toss Kaz back into the ring where Raven blows his
nose in a rag and rubs it into his face as the other two continue with the
kendo stick shots. The three then celebrate together in the ring.
An Ultimate X preview is shown, which includes clips of Senshi, Jerry Lynn,
Petey Williams and Chris Sabin giving their take on the Ultimate X match. I am
assuming that those five will be competing in the match.
A pre-taped interview between James Storm and Don West in a bar is aired.
James Storm says that he poured beer on Rhino as a joke and maybe went a little
too far, but now that he knows Rhino loves alcohol they can be drinking
buddies. West tries to talk to Storm and show Rhino’s point of view on the
situation but it falls on deaf ears. Storm says that after Victory Road, the
drinks will be on Rhino.
A recap of Storm’s ex-partner, Chris Harris, is aired that highlights his five-
year career in TNA. He said that during his time with AMW, he always had a
desire to be a singles wrestler. Furthermore, his match against Cage at
Victory Road can either make or break his singles career in TNA, but after it
is over the whole wrestling world will know who Chris Harris is.
Ron Killings gets some air time in an anti-smoking PSA. Afterwards, another
James Mitchell video package is aired in which he states that Armageddon is
coming as his son is near. A message stating “Judas Mesias is coming” is shown
as it draws to an end.
A Paparazzi Production video is aired, and this time it features a debate
between Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley against Jerry Lynn and Bob Backlund with
Kevin Nash as the moderator. The two exchange words in which Alex Shelley
compares Jerry Lynn to the lead singer of Nickelback. The debate soon turns
into a brawl as Kevin Nash bids the viewers good night.
Match 3: Christian Cage/Tomko/AJ Styles/Robert Roode w/ Ms. Brooks vs. Kurt
Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D
Brother Devon and Robert Roode start the match off and Devon scores a quick two
count on Roode before Roode goes back into his corner and tags in Christian
Cage. Cage is reluctant to enter the ring and Devon tosses him in the hard
way. After a shoulder block, Devon scores another two count pin attempt before
tagging in Brother Ray.
After a Team 3D double team move, Brother Ray also scores a two count on Cage.
Ray then holds Cage up for a long vertical suplex – holding him up for nearly
20 seconds – and gets yet another two count.
Joe makes a blind tag into the match who comes in and takes Cage down with an
atomic drop and a senton backsplash that lands awkwardly on Cage’s neck. That
had to hurt. A few kicks and a knee drop later and Joe picks up a two count on
Cage, however, after the kick out, Cage is able to make it to his corner and
tag in Tomko.
Tomko and Joe begin trading blows with each other before Joe takes Tomko down
with an ensuguri. Roode tags back into the match and Joe makes quick work of
him and takes him down to the mat and then tags in Devon by smacking him in the
chest. Brother Ray doesn’t like the way he tagged in his partner and pushes
Joe, meanwhile, Devon continues to work on Robert Roode as we head into a
commercial break.
The match returns with Roode in control of the match. A replay of what
happened during the break shows us that both Roode and Styles had a part in
gaining control of the match from Brother Devon. Back to action, Roode scores
a near fall on Devon and then tags in Cage as Ray and Angle exchange words on
the ring apron.
The Christian Coalition begins making quick tags while working on Devon,
however, Devon counters a move by Tomko and drives him down to the mat with a
DDT. This opening allows Devon to make the tag into Joe as Tomko tags in
Styles. Joe takes down all four of his opponents before landing a jawbreaker
and a body slam on Styles for a two count. Joe then lands a powerbomb and pin
combination on Styles, but Styles rolls out and into a STF submission hold.
The rest of the Coalition enters the ring as Team 3D does the same and a melee
ensues. Kurt Angle, however, decides to stay out of it and looks on from the
floor. Styles and Ray fight to the outside of the ring as Joe begins to take
care of both Cage and Roode in the ring.
Joe rolls out of the ring as Team 3D enters and lands a double team maneuver on
Roode. Tomko pulls Devon out of the ring as Cage goes for the Unprettier on
Ray, but his move is countered as Brother Ray hoists him up on his shoulders
and Devon takes him down to the mat with a flying clothesline.
Team 3D then lands a 3D on Roode as Tomko enters the ring and clears Team 3D to
the floor. Joe enters and takes Tomko down with a Death Valley Driver before
being taken down by AJ Styles with a Pele kick.
Joe comes back, though, with a powerful clothesline that turns Styles inside-
out. Joe then goes for the muscle buster on Styles, but Angle enters the ring
for the first time and takes Joe down with a chop block. Joe still manages to
drive Styles down to the mat and Angle is there to pick up the scrapes to score
the pin fall and win it for his team.
Winners of the Match: Kurt Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D by pin fall.
After the match, Kurt Angle quickly heads up the ramp with both of his titles.
We are then treated with a Victory Road music video featuring the song On the
Last Day by Twelve CC’s.
Quick Results
- Abyss defeats Lance Hoyt by pin fall.
- Kaz defeats Havok and Martyr in a three way match to determine the last spot
in X Division Gauntlet.
- Kurt Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D defeats Christian Cage/Tomko/AJ Styles/Robert
Roode by pin fall.
Match of the Night
- Christian Cage/Tomko/AJ Styles/Robert Roode w/ Ms. Brooks vs. Kurt
Angle/Samoa Joe/Team 3D
Starman’s Thoughts
Tonight was not quite as good as Impact has been over the past couple of weeks,
but it was a solid show to say the least.
It was nice seeing an Impact start off like it did tonight with a match right
out of the chute, instead of the traditional Impact opening of recap, intro,
and announcers hype show. I will also say that I was extremely happy to see
that Abyss was in his normal garb with his usual mask and not wearing the Sting
makeup.
I was concerned with him speaking for the first time, but when it happened, it
came across great. I think that keeping him on limited microphone time as they
did tonight can add another dimension to his character, while still retaining
the monster image he has created for himself. I will admit that, for once, TNA
did something right for a change.
I will say that the low point of the night was the Paparazzi Productions video
segment. For the most part, most of the segments that have aired over the past
several months were entertaining to say the least. Tonight’s clip, though,
seemed to just be a way to get some people on the program. I am starting to
think that the whole Paparazzi Productions piece has run its course and it is
time to move on to some other things - without Kevin Nash.
The main event was a decent match, granted it only took place to further the
main event for Victory Road. Prior to the match, Team 3D talked about having
nothing against Samoa Joe, however, during the match some tensions arose and
will add a little more to their match on Sunday. Angle, of course, was great
in being the sneaky champ who swooped in to score the victory and then swooped
out just as quickly with both of his championships in his hands.
As for Victory Road, I will say that I am still not sold on the idea of the
Match of Champions, however, after last month’s horrendous pay-per-view, it is
good to see that they booked an event this time around with some fresh match
ups with some sort of build up.
Of course, I will be doing my usual preview and predictions this weekend, so
make sure you return to see what is on tap for the pay-per-view as well as all
of my thoughts about the card.
Gerweck