411’s TNA Impact Report 07.09.09

Welcome to 411’s TNA Impact Report for 07.09.09. I apologize for posting this late as I got home late last night. Hopefully TNA can keep up their streak of steadily solid Impacts as we build toward Victory Road. Without further ado, here is the report for TNA Impact.

Impact begins with a recap from last week of the Main Event Mafia’s beatdown of Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett coming out and decking Foley with the guitar. Sting‘s revenge on the Mafia and stealing the TNA World Heavyweight Championship is showcased as well.

Tonight’s episode is called: “Foley’s Last Stand”.

Pyro goes off as Mike Tenay and Don West welcome us. Mick Foley’s music hits and he heads to the ramp to the ring in the Impact Zone. Foley has a bandage over his nose and stitches over his right eye from last week’s attack. Foley says that sometimes in life you have to make difficult decisions. Foley decides that TNA shouldn’t have two deciders in the front office. Tonight will be the night that either Foley or Jarrett steps down from their decision making job. Jarrett comes to the ring. He asks Foley if he even thinks about what he says before he speaks. Jarrett tells Foley that they are both cut from the same mold. Jarrett has a bandage on his forehead. Jarrett tells Foley that Mick Foley still has it. He mentions his TNA World Heavyweight Championship reign. Jarrett says that Foley’s quest to get a rematch has put TNA in danger. Jarrett informs Foley that no matter what happens at Victory Road, he will always be a legend in this business. Groovy. Jarrett asks Foley to start thinking. He asks Foley to start thinking about the future. They will build the company together to heights its never seen. Jarrett mentions that the Mafia has the chance to win all the TNA titles at Victory Road and that they can change it together. Foley calls himself stupid and says that he was angry. Foley tells Jarrett that they are “even-steven”. I remember that show. Foley says he needs to prove something to himself at Victory Road and that his title reign was no fluke. He says he has to do it against TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle. Foley screams that this time he will do it for the right reasons. For Jarrett and for the fans. Foley wants Kurt Angle to take on Jeff Jarrett tonight on Impact! Jarrett asks the crowd if they’re liking this. Jarrett says he’s going to tweak the match a little bit. He makes it a three-way dance with Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle vs. Mick Foley in a Non-Title match! Foley decides to let Kurt Angle decide on a Special Guest Referee for the Main Event. Jarrett says he cannot be a member of the Mafia or Matt Morgan. We’re in for a great Main Event tonight! Foley calls for Jarrett’s music in the spirit of unity. Jarrett smiles.

Lauren is with The British Invasion. Doug Williams has Homicide‘s briefcase and says he’s going to give someone an opportunity tonight to beat him fair and square for the case tonight. Brutus Magnus says that Williams is his hero. He doesn’t care for American wrestling fans. They are here for the big money. Man they need new attire. Magnus says that they are going to take their place on top of tag team wrestling.

The British Invasion come to the ring. Doug Williams’ open challenge for a Ladder Match. He challenges anyone in the back to come and steal the case away from him. He wants a real wrestler.

Match One: Ladder Match for the X-Division Briefcase: Doug Williams vs. Homicide

It’s HOMICIDE!!. Making his return tonight. The crowd gives him an iffy pop.. They meet in the ring and start slugging away. Homicide hits a corkscrew elbow. Clothesline follows by Homicide. Monkey flip by Homicide sends Williams to that mat. Homicide goes and gets the ladder. He stands it up in front of the briefcase. Doug Williams springs off the ropes knocking Homicide off of the ladder. Williams throws Homicide into the ladder in the corner, then it falls on Homicide. Williams sets the ladder up and begins climbing. He climbs very slowly. Homicide sends him off the ladder and over the top ropes onto the rest of the British Invasion. Homicide starts climbing again. Williams tries to come back in, but Team 3D grab him preventing him from getting in the ring. Homicide retrieves the briefcase and wins the match. Eh…

Winner: Homicide via briefcase retrieval.
Match Thoughts: 1/4*. Come on TNA. Another ladder match on Impact and of course it goes less than three minutes. They are really devaluing the legitimacy of the ladder match.

Bashir and Kiyoshi come out and attack Team 3D. Magnus hits an European Uppercut on Brother Devon. They slam Brother Ray and all celebrate in the ring after the five on three attack.

Tenay and West recap what the main event will be tonight and rundown the card for tonight’s Impact.

–Velvet Sky vs. Tara
-Non-Title: Beer Money Inc. vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
–Matt Morgan and Kevin Nash vs. TNA Legends Champion AJ Styles and Daniels
-Non-Title: TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle vs. Mick Foley vs. Jeff Jarrett

Earlier today, Mike Tenay had the chance to talk to TNA X-Division Champion Suicide. This should be interesting. Tenay reads the lyrics that Suicide wrote for his theme song. Suicide says he was in the darkness and felt the pain and torment. He says he was left with two choices, life or death. Suicide says that he was dead and chose to see the light. He calls himself the dark savior. He doesn’t represent the end. He represents the beginning.

TNA Bound For Glory V is coming to Los Angeles. Should be great. I attended last years and it was extremely fun.

The review Sting’s history with the Main Event Mafia going back to October of 2008. We get a full video package.

Sting’s music plays in the Impact Zone and he comes to the ring with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt and a microphone. He tells Kurt Angle that he’s got his belt and if he wants it to come and get it. In the meantime, he wants to talk to Samoa Joe. Joe out of the tunnel and to the top of the stage. He makes his way to the ring area. At Victory Road, we will meet Joe’s Secret Adviser. He says that because of people like Joe they formed the Mafia. He yells at Joe telling him that he has pissed him off. Joe looks Sting in the face. Sting is very heated. Joe says that he’s been instructed to keep his temper tonight and that Sting’s time will come. Sting wants to know who the Secret Adviser is. Sting says that Joe is not capable of doing this on his own. Joe tells Sting that he will find out at Victory Road. Sting wants to find out tonight and will find him tonight and tear him apart and feed him to the crowd. Sting leaves the ring. Joe smirks.

Lauren is backstage with Jenna Morasca. Lauren asks again Sojournor Bolt preparing Sharmell for the match at Victory Road. Jenna went out and paid Awesome Kong to train her. Nice. Lauren says it’s supposed to be Sharmell vs. Jenna, not Kong.

The #1 Contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship Booker T. and Scott Steiner come to the announcer’s table.

Match Two: Non-Title Match: TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money Inc. vs. The Motor City Machine Guns

Hopefully this match goes longer than three minutes. There are way too many heel tag teams now. Team 3D and Lethal Consequences are the only face teams. James Storm rides his cooler to the ring. Robert Roode follows. Booker T. is talking like he’s on crack tonight. Storm and Chris Sabin start the match. Storm targets the arm. Sabin shoots up and chops Storm. Storm goes for a backdrop, but it’s reversed. Sabin goes for an armdrag, but misses and falls to the mat. He slaps Storm in the face. Alex Shelley jumps off the apron and knees Storm in the face who is on the floor. Shelley tags in and they double team kick Storm for a two count. Sabin tags in and sledges the back of Storm. Double clothesline to Storm. Crowd begins to clap for Storm to get back in the match. Sabin chokes Storm in the corner with his boot. He tags in Shelley who sledges the back again. They miss the double clothesline and hit each other. Roode hiptosses Storm to their corner and tags in. That was hilarious. Roode dropkicks Sabin and spine buster’s Shelley. All four men are in now. Shelley and Sabin hit double clotheslines. A spirngboard dropkick by Sabin connects and Shelley covers and gets a nearfall. Storm kicks Sabin in the face. Backstabber by Storm. They hit the DWI on Shelley for the win.

Winners: Beer Money Inc.
Match Thoughts: **1/4. Short, but still a very good fast paced match.

Beer Money Inc. and Booker T. and Scott Steiner have a staredown. Booker and Steiner pose with the tag title belts.

TNA Knockouts Champion Angelina Love is backstage whining about spiders. Velvet Sky yells at her telling her that she is not her puppet and not her guinea pig. She says that Love leaving her at ringside last week with the spider was unacceptable. Madison Rayne just stares.

They air another video package of Sarita who will debuting soon.

Match Three: Velvet Sky with TNA Knockouts Champion Angelina Love and Madison Rayne vs. Tara

If Angelina doesn’t have Sky’s back tonight, then they are done for good. The camera man reaches out for Velvet Sky’s butt. Amazing! That alone was worth the view of this episode. Tara’s shirt says “Tara Rizing”. Take that Triple H! The Beauftiful People are afraid of the spider and they run to the outside during Tara’s entrance. Bell sounds and Tara hits Sky in the face multiple times. Shoulder thrusts in the corner by Tara. Irish whip into the corner, but Sky gets the feet up. Clothesline into mounted punches by Velvet Sky. She starts choking Tara. She doesn’t look intimidated. She throws Tara off by her hair. Boot to the chest and a pinfall attempt gets two again. Kick to the back of Tara and another cover gets a nearfall again. Tara is leaning over the middle rope and Love was going to hit Tara with the belt, but Rudy Charles stop her. Tara battles back. Clothesline. Punches. Scoop slam. Kick to the midsection followed by the Widow’s Peak and that’s all she wrote. Decent match.

Winner: Tara via pinfall
Match Thoughts: *1/2. Good little match.

Tara goes to get her spider. Angelina Love and Madison Rayne are screaming on the floor. Tara goes to put it on Sky. Love yells for Tara to stop. Love says that she will face Tara right now. Tara says no problem if the title is on the line. Angelina love agrees.

Match Four: TNA Knockouts Championship Match: Angelina Love(c) with Madison Rayne vs. Tara

Welp, we’ve got an added match here tonight. Bell sounds and this title match is underway. Love tries to use the title, but gets rolled up for two. Roll-up again for two. Small package by Tara for another nearfall. Love rolls to the floor. Rayne pulls Tara to the floor and Rudy Charles throws her out! Love starts punching Tara and throws her face first into the ring apron. Love throws Tara into the steel guardrail. Love chops Tara after some choice words. They go back in the ring and Angelina Love covers and gets a two count. Angelina Love hits a nice boot to Tara’s head. 1…2.. Kickout! Cover again gets two. Another pinfall attempt gets two again. Angelina Love starts throwing a fit in the ring. Tara fights back after Love hits the turnbuckles. Punches and slaps by Tara followed by clotheslines. All too familiar. Spinning backdrop gets a two count. That was a very nearfall. Tara screams. She picks Love up and hits the Widow’s Peak! She covers and wins the title!

Winner: and NEW TNA Knockouts Champion Tara
Match Thoughts: **. Good women’s match. Tara crying at the end showed how much it meant to her.

Tara does a victory lap with the title belt. He cries and points to all the crowd who cheer for her. Love is on the floor in shock that she lost the title. Tara is overwhelmed in the ring.

Lauren is at the bottom of the tunnel and is with the new TNA Knockouts Champion Tara. Tara says that she was at a point in her career where she thought she couldn’t have happiness. She says that anything can happen in TNA and is happy to being in the TNA family. She whips out the spider, Poison.

Mike Tenay and Don West rundown the card for the Victory Road Pay-Per-View.

–Jenna Morasca vs. Sharmell
–Matt Morgan vs. Daniels
– TNA World Tag Team Championship Match: Beer Money Inc.(c) vs. Booker T. and Scott Steiner
– TNA Legends Championship Match: AJ Styles(c) vs. Kevin Nash
– Samoa Joe vs. Sting
– TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Kurt Angle(c) vs. Mick Foley

Footage from earlier in the week where Abyss went to Dr. Stevie‘s office is aired. Abyss goes nuts on the receptionist. Abyss tackles Dr. Stevie telling him that he’s going to kill him. Abyss starts crying and sits on the couch. Stevie slaps Abyss in the face telling him that he needs him to focus. Stevie smashes a glass of water over Abyss’ head as we go to commercial. Alright.

Match Five: Matt Morgan and Kevin Nash vs. TNA Legends Champion AJ Styles and Daniels

This is almost a preview of the two matches from Victory Road. Daniels and Morgan begin the match. The crowd is hot for this one. Daniels tries chopping Morgan, but Morgan shoulders him to the mat. Morgan still wants that official spot in the Mafia. Daniels gets bodyslammed. Morgan misses an elbow drop and finds himself in a headlock. Daniels tags in AJ. Styles and Daniels hit a high-low on Morgan. Styles stomps away at Morgan. Flying knee drop connects for a two count. Morgan launches Styles into the corner then splashes him. Morgan tags in Nash who goes to work with elbows to Styles. Nash looks to be in great shape. Styles fights out and throws punches to Nash’s elbow. Styles runs into Nash’s elbow and both wrestlers tag in their partners. Daniels connects with a forearm. Big boot from Morgan connects to Daniels. Morgan is taunting Daniels whom is rolling round like a dead fish. Morgan covers for a nearfall. Morgan tags in Nash. Nash throws a right hand at Daniels’ ribcage. Knees in the stomach in the corner follow. Elbows next by Nash to Daniels. Morgan tags in and he kicks Daniels in the ribcage. Morgan toys with Daniels. Morgan takes off both elbow pads and elbows the heck out of Daniels in the corner. Another splash by Morgan. Morgan reverse chokeslams Daniels into the corner. Two count by Morgan! Morgan is frustrated. Nash holds Daniels and Morgan does to hit Daniels, but gets Nash instead. Daniels tags in Styles. Styles hits a dropkick on Morgan. Flying forearm connects for a two count! Style mounts and throws punches to Morgan, then runs and hits Nash off the apron. Styles dropkicks Morgan in the leg then kicks Nash in the throat. Morgan catches Styles and goes for a chokeslam, but AJ lands on his feet and hits the Pele. Daniels hits the Best Moonsault Ever. Styles hits a frogsplash for the three count and the win!

Winners: AJ Styles and Daniels when Styles pinned Morgan.
Match Thoughts: **3/4. Really good match. I enjoyed it a lot.

After the match Nash hits AJ from behind and Morgan chokeslams Daniels in the ring. Nash throws Styles into the ring steps. Nash slides a chair into the ring to Daniels. Morgan puts Daniels’ leg in a chair then leg drops it! Wow. Styles slams Nash’s head in the ring steps. Styles swings the chair at Morgan and misses. Morgan escapes.

Lauren is in the parking lot with Samoa Joe. A car pulls up and Sting who had a towel over his head attacks the driver. Joe comes from behind Sting with his knife and chokes Sting out.

Match Six Main Event Non-Title Three-Way Dance with Eric Young as the Special Guest Referee: TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle vs. Mick Foley vs. Jeff Jarrett

Eric Young is introduced as the Special Guest Referee which obviously favors Kurt Angle. The bell sounds and this awesome match is underway. Jarrett and Foley single out Angle and bop him with punches galore. Jarrett nails Angle with a beautiful vertical suplex. Foley picks Angle up and drags Angle’s head across to the top rope. Jarrett climbs on Angle in the corner and hits five punches before Young breaks it up. Foley throws punches at Angle. Foley runs off the ropes, misses Angle and hits Jarrett. Foley punches away at Angle again and hits an elbow. Foley clotheslines Angle to the floor. Foley follows and takes Angle into the guardrail. He scrapes Angle’s back and starts grabbing at Angle’s face. Tenay informs us that Angle has taken Daniels to the hospital. Foley throws Angle back into the other guardrail. Jarrett goes to the floor and hits the Stroke on Foley on the steps! We go to commercial.

Back from the break and Angle is stomping away at Jarrett in the ring. Snap suplex gets two for Angle. Angle applies a headlock. Jarrett gets to his feet and breaks the hold, but is belly-to-belly suplexed by Angle. Steiner comes to ringside and hits Foley with a lead pipe. Angle covers Jarrett and gets another two count. Angle keeps Jarrett grounded, but not for long. Jarrett elbows Angle three times and clotheslines him twice. Boot followed by a spinning DDT by Jarrett. Jarrett covers and gets a very nearfall. West mentions Eric Young’s consistency. Jarrett reverses the Angle Slam into an armdrag and hits the Stroke on Angle! Young goes to count and counts one……………………..then two……..then Foley breaks up the fall. Very slow count by Young intentionally. Foley puts a sleeper on Jarrett, but its reversed. Jarrett grabs his guitar and goes over Young. Foley applies Socko and the Mandible Claw on Jarrett. Angle hits the Angle slam on Foley for two. Jarrett slaps on the Figure Four on Angle. Foley breaks it up hitting Jarrett and goes for two. Angle tried tapping out in the Figure Four, but Young wouldn’t let him. Angle puts the Anklelock on Foley and Young rings the bell after Foley said he didn’t want to tap. Foley gets screwed! Angle gives Young a thumbs up.

Winner: Kurt Angle via “submission” on Mick Foley.
Match Thoughts: **1/4. Very fast paced match again. Wasn’t too bad, but it was more focused on the Jarrett vs. Young feud than developing into a good match.

Jarrett slugs Young inside the ring. Back body drop by Jarrett. Jarrett throws Young to the floor and they battle to the backstage area. Foley clotheslines Angle and puts the Mandible Claw on Angle. The Main Event Mafia runs to the ring with barbed wire bats and a spool of barbed wire. They have a five-on-one attack on Foley. They wrap him up in the barbed wire and Angle hits him with the bat. Angle gets his title belt back as well. The wire is wrapped around Foley’s face. Ouch. Rocco and Sal come out and are destroyed with the barbed wire as well. Foley is bleeding. More security comes out as the show comes to a close.

Final Thoughts: Great show inside the ring. It’s about time TNA started to stray away from the buttload of backstage segments. We finally got some solid matches and a title change. All of the feuds in TNA right now are great and developing very well. I recommend any TNA or wrestling fan checks out this week’s show.