TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] Highlights aired from last week of the Sting and Kurt Angle bickering... This week's show is called "Main Event Mess"... Inside Jeff Jarrett's office, Jim Cornette threw a fit because he didn't want Sting and Angle to fight in an empty arena because it would be an insurance issue.

Jarrett said he didn't want there to be an Angle vs. Jarrett 3 because it could bring the company down. Mick Foley sat in the background on a couch and Jeremy Borash stood there with a mic until Cornette chased him away...

Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show. Tenay immediately questioned whether "TNA Founder" Jeff Jarrett would sign off on the empty arena match. They said this could be the most unique episode in the history...

Kurt Angle came to the ring wearing his wrestling gear. Angle said the only way the Main Event Mafia could be brought down is if it was brought down from the inside. Angle asked Jarrett to clear the entire arena so there wouldn't be any distractions. "All I want is me and Sting in the Impact Zone...

Powell's POV: They've been advertising the match all week, but now they're acting as if the match hinges on Jarrett's decision. I don't understand why he's even involved in this, although it's possible it will play into a future storyline.

Backstage, Lauren interviewed the Motor City Machine Guns. Chris Sabin did all the talking until Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed attacked them. They two teams fought until the commercial break... [C]

1. Motor City Machine Guns defeated Lethal Consequences in a street fight in 5:50. After the break, the two teams were fighting in the entrance area. Tenay said the bell sounded to start the match. We'll have to take his word for it.

[Q2] The two teams fought their way inside the ring. The Guns were wearing matching t-shirts and sweatpants. West put the two teams over as being four of the brightest young stars of the company. At 4:30, Lethal hit Sabin with the Lethal Combination on a chair for a near fall. Later, Shelley accidentally hit Sabin with the X Division Title belt. Sabin eventually recovered, picked up the belt, and hit Creed with it. Shelley made the cover and got the pin...

Powell's POV: Good action from start to finish. The fans were lively, but they seemed to be cheering the spots more than one team over the other. I don't think most fans know how they're supposed to react to the Guns.

Backstage, Borash interviewed Jarrett, Cornette, and Foley. Cornette said a decision has been made. He said he doesn't agree with it, but Jarrett is the boss and made the call. Corny said everyone other than the announcers, the camera crew, and the two wrestlers would be cleared from the building. Jarrett stood up and said it's going to be exciting... [C]

Inside the Mafia dressing room, Angle told Scott Steiner and Booker T that it had to be him or Sting. Steiner said it doesn't have to be that way. Booker got upset and talked about how he's travelled up and down the road with Sting. Angle said it could be a handicap match. Booker took offense. Kevin Nash stood up and yelled at everyone and had Booker leave the room.

The camera followed Booker and Sharmell into the hallway. A.J. Styles showed up and attacked Booker in his continuing pursuit to let everyone know he's a legend. Styles left Booker lying...

Beer Money and Jacqueline came to the ring to issue a special challenge. Storm swigged from his beer bottle. Roode opened the promo by saying that they've found the show to be extremely boring so far.

Powell's POV: I swear I'm not making up that last sentence.

[Q3] Roode bragged that they've taken down everyone faced. He said they have an idea that will raise the stakes in TNA. He said the idea is the "Off the Wagon Challenge." Storm took the mic and said it's the "my momma's tired of watching you on TV challenge." He said they will defend the tag titles, but if they win the match the person who gets pinned has to leave the company forever. Storm said the challenge is open to anyone, including Mike Tenay and Don West...

Powell's POV: Please let Tenay and West take the challenge.

Backstage, Roxxi and Taylor Wilde joked around about taking the Beer Money challenge. The Governor was still there doing her usual schtick. They switched the focus to the Beautiful People. They all laughed about the Beautiful People falling in horse shit... [C]

Powell's POV: Speaking of horse shit, that was awful. I'm all for keeping Daffney in TNA as a performer, but the Sarah Palin routine has to stop. The creative force who still finds this routine funny should be booked to lose to Beer Money later in the show.

The latest therapy session with Dr. Stevie and Abyss aired. Abyss lied back on the couch and said pain brings him pleasure whether it's his opponent's or his own...

Powell's POV: Does anyone else find it ridiculous that Abyss goes to his therapy sessions dressed in his wrestling gear?

2. Shane Sewell and LAX defeated Brutus Magnus, Sheik Abdul Bashir, and Matt Morgan in 4:00. Tenay pointed out that Magnus was a UK Gladiator, and Morgan was an American Gladiator. The heels roughed up Sewell early in the match. All six guys were fighting each other in no time.

[Q4] Late in the match, Hernandez hit the Border Toss on Bashir. Hernandez tagged Sewell into the match. Sewell hit the top rope elbow drop on Bashir and scored the pin... [C]

Powell's POV: They should have just lied and said Bashir was on Iranian Gladiators.

The latest edition of Hardcore History with Mick Foley aired. He recalled the cardboard box gimmick he did with Sting, and the elbow he dropped on him... At ringside, Jim Cornette told the announcers that a tag team that hasn't teamed together in a couple years was reuniting to accept the Beer Money challenge...

Backstage, Lauren asked Scott Steiner, who was working out, if he was able to get through to Kurt Angle and "talk him down." Steiner said that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Steiner said that if Lauren wants to work out with him she has to take her clothes off. Steiner bench pressed while badmouthing Samoa Joe, who, of course, showed up and held the weights down on Steiner's chest. Joe said a nation of violence is coming and teased a match with Steiner for Destination X... [C]

Powell's POV: Only Joe's hand was shown during the video. I'm guessing it's not because he's self-conscious about his weight like Stephanie McMahon was when she had the "waist up" rule in effect.

Backstage, Sojourner Bolt told Lauren that she earned her shot at the TNA Knockouts Title and she plans to use it. Raisha Saeed entered the picture and said she talks too much. Bolt said only her momma tells her what to do and Saeed isn't her momma. Saeed said there will be big problems....

Powell's POV: Well, at least we know Momma Bolt is under the burka.

[Q5] 3. Taylor Wilde (w/Roxxi, The Governor) defeated Angelina Love (w/Velvet Sky, Cute Kip) in 4:15. Tenay said Spike TV rules prevent Kip from laying his hands on women, so Wilde actually has the numbers advantage. Of course, this led to Kip tripping Wilde early in the match. The referee saw it and made Kip go backstage. Later, that whacky Governor reached in and tripped Love, who bickered with the referee. Wilde rolled her up and pinned her...

Powell's POV: Spike TV should come up with a rule that bans Kip from appearing on camera.

A video teased the "Win a Date with ODB contest." It showed a bunch of animals having sex. No, really. They showed footage of a Southern guy named Buck Masterson saying ODB should take him on a date... [C]

Powell's POV: I believe one of the guys they showed in the video was indy wrestler Cody Deaner.

Borash interviewed Sting near the rafters. Sting said he was for the empty arena match... A Rough Cuts segment aired on the Ultimate X match...

Powell's POV: There were plenty of shots of Christopher Daniels in the video that aired for Ultimate X. Please tell me they're going to bring him back for the match.

[Q6] 4. Beer Money (w/Jackie) defeated Eric Young and Petey Williams in an Off The Wagon Challenge match to retain the TNA Tag Titles in 10:30. Tenay said Cornette promised fans a reunion. "And he was dead on," Tenay said. He reminded viewers that Young and Williams were part of Team Canada and hadn't teamed together in years.

They also recapped the rule that the tag title were on the line, but if one of the challengers was pinned by Beer Money, they would be forced to leave TNA forever. They cut to commercial a couple minutes into the match. [C]

After the break, the heels worked over Young until he made a hot tag. Williams hit some flashy offense on the heels. Young tagged back in and hit a great top rope leg drop for a near fall on Roode. Later, Jackie ran in and Petey caught her. He set her up for his finisher, only to take a superkick from Storm. Roode covered Petey for the win.

The announcers noted that Petey was eliminated from TNA as a result of his loss. Williams cried as the fans applauded him and chanted his name. West thanked Williams for his contributions to the company and said he's been a top member of the X Division...

Powell's POV: Nice reaction for Williams. Here's hoping it makes TNA creative think twice about their asinine statement that they don't have anything for him. If creative can't come up with something for Petey, then maybe creative is the problem.

[Q7] Backstage, Lauren interviewed Rhino while Team 3D stood by. Rhino babbled on and on about the importance of referees protecting the wrestlers. He said the referees won't be there to make sure no one gets hurt or killed when Sting and Angle face off later in the show. "I hope and I pray that they survive," Rhino said. Pussy.

Brother Ray pretty much agreed. He said they're both nothing but poison to the company and he hopes they cripple one another. He said he has a stack of singles to spend at the strip club. Devon said he had a girl he thought Rhino might like. "She's not fat, is she?" asked Rhino. Devon said she might be a little big boned... [C]

Powell's POV: Why do they always come up with ways to make Rhino seem like such an emo pussy? By the way, the TNA wrestlers should take up a collection to buy him a new Lions jersey. Jon Kitna? Really? Is he shopping at the discount store? I'm all for supporting your team (even if they did finish 0-16), but it's time to upgrade to the Calvin Johnson jersey, pal.

Lauren stood outside the building and was surrounded by fans with really bad teeth. She said the fans were clearly rooting for Sting... A video recapped the Sting and Angle storyline... Borash stood outside the building and asked fans with better teeth whether they thought Sting or Angle would win. The three fans he polled all said Sting...

At ringside, the announcers discussed the Sting vs. Angle match. West said it was going to be a fight and a war. Tenay said history was about to be made... Even though no one was in the building, Angle still made his usual entrance. Tenay said Sting's entrance was coming up after the break... [C]

Powell's POV: Good energy outside the building. It gave Sting vs. Angle a big match feel. Those shots definitely gave this a big match feel.

[Q8] After the break, Sting made his entrance as a shot aired of fans cheering for him outside the building. A separate shot aired of the other Main Event Mafia members watching the match from gorilla position.

5. Sting fought Kurt Angle to an apparent no-contest in an Empty Arena match in 7:00. Sting took control early and yelled, "Kurt Angle, I'm going to kill you." They fought at ringside and into the stands, where Angle struck Sting with repeated punches. They fought to the edge of one section of seats. Sting flipped Angle over the fence and caused him to fall to take a big spill onto the concrete. Angle came back a short time later and yelled, "I hate you."

They fought their way back to ringside as a shot aired of the fans cheering outside the building. Angle called Sting a "stupid son of a bitch" and wound up to hit him with a chair, but Sting kicked him. Sting got the chair. Angle begged off and said he was sorry. "Please, I have kids," Angle said.

Kevin Nash walked down to ringside and stood next to Angle and Sting. Angle's tune changed. He dared Sting to hit him. Sting wound up to hit him with the chair, but Nash stopped him. Nash yelled at Angle to make it right as Scott Steiner stood by. Sting offered his hand. Angle shook it, then spat in Sting's face. Sting attacked Angle and they traded more punches. "I hate you," Angle yelled. Mafia security jumped between the two wrestlers and held them apart as the show cut to commercial... [C]

Powell's POV: So much for the empty arena.

The announcers recapped the Sting vs. Angle fight. "What we have seen tonight is the implosion of the Main Event Mafia," Tenay said. He said they could never be the same and he can't believe that Angle spat in his face...

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Sting, who screamed about never being that disrespected in his career. "I'm all in, Kurt," Sting said. "You hate me? The feeling is mutual." Back at ringside, Tenay said he met Sting nearly two decades ago and he's never seen him in that frame of mind...

Backstage, Borash stood in the Mafia locker room while Angle threw a hissy fit and Nash stood behind him. Angle said he wants his title. Nash said Angle caused this, not Sting. Angle called for Jarrett and said he wants to face Sting at Destination X. "Jarrett, I know you're listening," Angle said. "Make it happen"...

Powell's POV: I hated the non-finish to a match they built up that much. Good intensity during the match. It sounded silly to have the fans watch on monitors outside the building, but the shots of them cheering added to the match. They had a good rating for last week's show and built up this week's main event nicely, so it will be interesting to see what type of rating they drew for this week's show. It will also be interesting to see how many of those fans don't tune in next week because they were pissed off by the non-finish. I'll have more to say in the TNA Impact Hitlist on Friday.

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