Live from Norfolk, Va.

The show opened with a video feature... Highlights aired from earlier in the day of Jeremy Borash interviewing Kurt Angle, Tomko, and A.J. Styles as they arrived at the building. Styles asked about Karen and Kurt told him to stay focussed on their match... Mike Tenay and Don West checked in from ringside...

1. LAX defeated Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, and the Rock-n-Rave Infection (w/Christy Hemme) at 10:36 in a number one contender’s match. Lance Hoyt walked to the ring wearing a Slash-like hat and said he’s not the baby’s daddy. I dig “The Maury Show” as much as anyone, but that was corny. Tenay said fans could still vote on whether Jim Cornette should overturn the finish of the Angle vs. Christian Cage match and alter the main event.

At 3:30, Hernandez dove over the top rope onto one of his opponents at ringside. He ripped off his t-shirt as the live crowd cheered. Cool spot. In the end, Hernandez hit the Border Toss on Rave for the win. The crowd was very pleased with the outcome.

Powell’s POV: What have the Infection done to earn a spot in a number on contenders match? Why didn’t they just throw them in the Curry Man and Shark Boy match and either turn that match into a three-way tag match? The action was fine and I don’t have a problem with the Infection’s work. It’s just that horrible, horrible gimmick.

After the match, a shot aired of Jonny Fairplay and Joel “Truck” Anderson from “Survivor” sitting in the crowd along the entrance aisle. The TNA graphic referred to Joel as “Joel Micronesia,” while Tenay noted that both men appeared on “Survivor Micronesia.” Rock on, production team...

Powell’s POV: A reader just informed me that they misspelled Fairplay’s first name by including an “h” in Jonny. I went back and checked via DVR and the reader is right.

A video recapped Petey Williams’ relationship with Scott Steiner and Rhaka Khan...

2. Black Machismo defeated Petey Williams (w/Rhaka Khan) at 11:39 to retain the X Division Title. Before the match, Tenay noted that Brian Hebner was debuting as a TNA referee. The live crowd was really hot for the match. Most of the fans at ringside stood throughout the match.

Late in the match, Scott Steiner ran out and pushed Machismo off the top rope. Petey hit the Canadian Destroyer and had the pin, but SoCal Val pulled the referee’s legs to break up the count. Khan walked toward Val, but Sonjay Dutt ran out and stood in front of Val. Back in the ring, Machismo rolled up Williams for the win.

Powell’s POV: Good match. You’re either into the gimmicks or you’re not, but that was a fun match and the live crowd was

Backstage, Crystal interviewed Samoa Joe, Kevin Nash, and Christian. Crystal asked Joe if he thought the poll would have any influence on Jim Cornette’s decision. Joe said he’d get Angle in a singles cage match next month. Christian and Nash took turns cutting brief promos. Nash said he might even start the match and really surprise his opponents...

Powell’s POV: What? They originally hyped that Cornette was letting the fans make the decision for him. I guess the joke is on all of us who spent the entire weekend voting repeatedly. Wait, you guys voted, right?

3. Kaz and Eric Young defeated Rellik and Black Reign at 10:02. The live crowd popped when Young tagged in two minutes into the match. He kicked Reign low from behind, but he tagged out the moment the “monster” turned around and looked at him. At 5:30, Kaz was looking for a tag, but Young jumped off the apron when he saw Reign walking toward him.

At 7:00, Young tagged in and pumped himself up. However, Rellik sat up and looked at him, so Young ran backstage, leaving Kaz to work the match alone. At 8:45, Young returned wearing a mask and a superhero outfit. He hit a Double Death Valley Driver on Rellik and Reign and scored the pin for his team.

Powell’s POV: Good lord, I was right. Here’s what I wrote my preview of the show: Please tell me this isn’t setting up a goofball comic book character or another lame impersonation character.

Backstage, Borash joined the Angle Alliance in bitching to Cornette that it would be a mistake to let the fans decide whether Angle or Christian won the match. Funny, he didn’t seem to mind it when he was introducing it on TNA Today. Team 3D walked in and joined the Angle Alliance in complaining about Cornette screwing “the good guys”...

4. Awesome Kong (w/Raisha Saed) defeated ODB and Gail Kim at 11:33 in a three-way match to retain TNA Knockouts Title. The women took turns selling injuries early on to create one-on-one matchups in the ring. At 7:45, ODB took a swig from her flask. Gail took the flask and took a swig of her own. They teamed up for a double missile dropkick from opposite corners. Later, ODB was tripped up by Saed. ODB grabbed her, but Kong attacked her from behind and followed up with the Awesome bomb for the win.

Powell’s POV: There was plenty of action with all three women in the ring and it was really good. ODB and Gail teamed up on Kong several times, but they also went after each other. The best match on the show so far and it’s not even close.

Cornette walked to the ring and said it was good to be back in the South after so many years. He said Team 3D had to make weight or they would be out of the company for good. However, he said the weight gimmick would end tonight if the made weight.

He turned his attention to the Angle vs. Christian finish. He said replayed showed that Angle’s foot actually the ground first. A backstage shot showed the Angle Alliance and Borash celebrating. However, Cornette said he was not going to go against the fan vote and 100 years of tradition by overturning a referee’s decision. He said the Angle Alliance better be ready for the fight of their life because the decision stands...

5. Curry Man and Shark Boy defeated Team 3D (w/Johnny Devine) at 13:15 in a Fish Market street fight. Ray and Devon made weight. Devine handed them chocolate snacks to celebrate. They raised their hands and were rolled up from behind to start the match. There were fish, poles, and nets set up in the aisle.

At 3:30, Curry placed a cupcake on the end of a fishing line. Ray took the bait and was pulled into the ring. No, I’m not kidding. Later, Team 3D threw fish at Tenay and West. Back inside the ring, Ray French-kissed a fish and then used it as a weapon. Again, I swear I’m not making this up.

At 10:00, Curry spread Ray’s legs in the ring and then Shark performed the old “Whassup” spot, only in this case he slammed a fish into Ray’s balls. The poor crowd chanted for tables throughout the match, but every time they did they were treated to another fish spot.

At 12:40, Devine tried to throw powder at Curry, but he ducked and Ray caught the powder in the eyes. Devon set up Curry for 3D, but Curry reversed it and the blinded Ray 3D’d his own partner. Ray celebrated while Curry pinned Devon, not knowing his owner partner was being pinned.

Powell’s POV: The writers are humoring themselves and they don’t care how many fans they turn off. Yes, there are people who will find this funny, but I don’t think it’s worth pissing off the fans who don’t. Am I wrong on this? I encourage you to send me an email for a feedback article if you enjoyed this segment more than I did.

After the match, Ray stopped near Survivor Joel and Fairplay. He said something to Fairplay and then shoved Joel back into his chair. Joel stood up and tried to swing at Ray, but security stepped in quickly. Good shove. The crowd was surprised...

Backstage, Angle elected to sit out the first five minutes of the match. Once Angle left the ringside area, Borash informed Styles that Karen will have a bombshell announcement at Impact on Thursday...

A video recapped the Booker T vs. Robert Roode feud...

6. Robert Roode (w/Payton Banks) beat Booker T (w/Traci Brooks) at 7:58 in a strap match. Banks and Brooks wore similar outfits. Decent action and pretty much what you’d expect from a strap match. Late in the match, Brooks attacked Banks and took handcuffs from her at ringside. While the ref was down, Brooks tried to throw the handcuffs to Booker, but Roode hit him from behind with a low blow. Roode grabbed the handcuffs and struck Booker with them.

Afterward, Booker bickered with the referee until the security guards came out and removed him from the ring. Brooks stood against the ropes and Banks gave her 10 hard lashes across the back while Roode cheered her on. Afterward, Roode came in and struck Brooks. Sharmell ran out and whipped Roode and Banks. Referees and security ran in to stop her and she whipped them. Cornette came out and she whipped him. Finally, security grabbed Sharmell and took her backstage.

Powell’s POV: The crowd was dead until Brooks and Banks started mixing it up at ringside. The strap shots were really stiff. The crowd popped when Sharmell came out and whipped everyone.

Backstage, Crystal interviewed James Storm, who said he hasn’t had a drink all day because he doesn’t think people should drink and then fight over two stories in the air...

A video recapped the Storm vs. Rhino feud...

7. Rhino defeated James Storm (w/Ms. Jackie) at 6:10 in an Elevation X match. Storm came out and climbed the scaffold with a six-pack of beers. Rhino came out and joined him at the top but Storm climbed down and teased leaving. Rhino threw a few beer cans at Storm and eventually climbed down and attacked Storm at ringside. They slide tables and garbage cans into the ring and brawled.

There was one table leaning in the corner of the ring and another set up in the middle when Jackie got involved in the match and Rhino chased her to the top of the scaffold. Storm climbed the scaffold on the other side with the intention of sneaking up on his opponent, but Rhino let Jackie climb down and turned his attention to Storm.

At few minutes into the scaffold action, Storm hid underneath the top of the platform on the scaffolding and cracked a beer open. The fans pointed out Storm. Rhino couldn’t get to him, so Rhino ripped the structure open. Storm spit beer in his face, but Rhino crotched him on one of the bars. Storm hung over the ring by his hands and feet. Rhino kicked his stomach and Storm fell through the table. Afterward, EMTs came out and carried Storm backstage on a stretcher.

Powell’s POV: The match time is the total number of time they actually spent on top of the scaffold together. Storm’s backside and feet hit the table and he took the rest of the bump on his back. The fans didn’t seem overly impressed with the bump Storm took, but they didn’t seem disappointed either.

8. Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash and Christian Cage defeated Kurt Angle and Tomko and A.J. Styles at 12:31. Angle spent the first five minutes of the match backstage per the match stipulations. Standard action through the first five minutes. Joe stood at the bottom of the ramp waiting for Angle, who charged at him. They traded punches and knees at ringside. At 6:30, Angle caught Christian on the top rope and tried to suplex him, but Christian bit his head, pushed him to the mat, and followed up with a frogsplash for a nearfall.

At 11:30, Styles hit the Pele on Joe. Tomko followed up with a kick to the face and Angle hit the Angle Slam for a nearfall. Moments later, Christian and Nash cleared Angle and Styles from the ring. Joe locked Tomko in the rear naked choke for the submission win. The announcers ran through video highlights of the main event and the babyface team posed for the camera to close out the show...

Check back later tonight for the Destination X Hitlist.

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