TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] The show opened with a video that focussed on several ongoing storylines. James Earl Jones narrator guy teased the first blood match effectively by saying it would shock people and blood would be shed... This week's show is called, "Who's Calling The Shots?"... The opening video aired...

Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show and hyped Samoa Joe vs. Booker T in a second round match to determine whether Kurt Angle's team or Jeff Jarrett's team will have the advantage in the Lethal Lockdown match...

The Main Event Mafia walked to the ring. As usual, Angle led the way and Sting was the last man in the line. However, Booker T and Sharmell were missing. The announcers said he'll have revenge on his mind when he faces Samoa Joe later tonight. Sting took the mic and invited Jeff Jarrett to join him in the ring.

Jarrett's music played and he walked to the ring in street clothes. Jarrett said he had business to take care of. Sting told him it would have to wait. Jarrett complained that Foley booked him in a match against Samoa Joe last week. He noted that he's facing Foley at the pay-per-view and accused him of pulling rank on Jarrett.

Jeff took offense and said the last thing he needs is for Sting to get up in his face. He started to leave the ring, but Sting stopped him and said Jarrett should just tell him if Foley is calling the shots. Jarrett said that's not the case. Sting said he was pleased to know he was dealing with the man in charge. He asked Jarrett to book Foley in a warmup match for Lockdown. "If you are truly running the company that shouldn't be a problem for you to pull that off, Jeff," Sting said.

Jarrett questioned what gives Sting the right to question his authority. Sting said he's been wrestling for 23 years and is still standing. "I am the TNA World Hvt. Champion and I'm still standing, Jeff," he said. Sting said he has a little stroke in TNA and therefore demanded that Jarrett book the match for Foley.

Scott Steiner stepped in and said Jarrett should think about taking the easier road (joining the MEM). Jarrett said it's not even an option. Steiner said he and Jarrett should go backstage and discuss it.

Before Jarrett could respond, the horrible Motor City Machine Guns music played. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin came to the ring with their New Japan Jr. Tag Titles around their waists. Shelley said they were backstage playing video games and overheard the conversation. Shelley also implied that Foley runs the company. He complained about being stuffed into a turkey suit because of Foley on the Turkey Bowl edition of Impact.

Shelley said he's thought about that moment every day. Shelley suggested the Motor City Machine Guns face Foley in a handicap match. Jarrett gave the Guns their match. Tenay questioned how Foley will react to Jarrett booking him in the match. He sent it backstage to find out...

Backstage, Jeremy Borash asked Foley about the match. Foley said he's looking forward to the match and put over the Guns as great "white meat babyfaces." He said he was going to tweak the match and then left the room before Borash could find out what he was talking about... [C]

Powell's POV: Good opening segment. I'm not a fan of handicap matches, but it's logical that the Guns would at least request a match that gives them an advantage. It was funny to watch Angle smile whenever someone asked Jarrett whether he or Foley is in charge of the company.

[Q2] A graphic thanked viewers for making last week's show the most watched episode in TNA history... Backstage, Borash stood between Foley and Jarrett. Foley praised Jarrett for booking the main event. He said he wanted to tweak the match and continued to get on Jarrett's nerves by pretending to play his guitar. After Foley left the ring, Borash asked Jarrett if something was bothering him. Steiner entered the room and they asked Borash to leave...

1. Sheik Abdul Bashir (w/Kiyoshi, No Limit) defeated Suicide in a non-title match in 4:00. Bashir tossed Suicide to ringside early. One of the No Limit members attacked him and threw him back inside the ring while the ref was distracted. Later, Kiyoshi entered the ring and kicked Suicide while the referee was distracted. Bashir DDT'd Suicide on the X Division Title belt and scored the pin. West played dumb about the belt on commentary. Afterward, the lights went out and when they came back on Suicide was gone...

Powell's POV: Mixed emotions on this result. Bashir needs some wins, but Suicide is showing signs of getting over and should continue to build momentum. It just feels like it's too soon for him to be losing matches.

A backstage shot aired of The Beautiful People and Madison Rayne walking together. Angelina Love was carrying a pair of scissors in her hand... [C]

[Q3] Backstage, Lauren interviewed Rhino and the sailor who served as the special guest ring announcer at Destination X. Rhino said he spoke to Petty Officer Neal and wanted him to share a story he told him. He told a story about losing a friend and fellow sailor that he had bonded with due to their mutual love of wrestling. Rhino offered to train Neal. Afterward, Tenay provide more details about Neal's story...

West pimped the upcoming events. He hyped that Jenna Morasca will be at the Fan Fest event in Philadelphia... Backstage, the Beautiful People and Rayne beat down Raisha Saeed and cut some of her hair off. "Oh, is Awesome Kong going to be pissed off," Tenay said... [C]

Powell's POV: I'm sure the wrestling fans will be lined up for miles to get Jenna's autograph. It's cool she's going to be there and she should help them score some mainstream media attention, but they have to know how silly it sounds to promote her appearance at a wrestling autograph event. Do you think "Survivor" would make a special announcement if they were bringing in Eric Young for their own fan fest?

The announcers recapped the Beautiful People attack and plugged Seth Rogen's "Observe and Report" film...

Another Rough Cut segment aired on Team 3D. They hyped their training center and discussed their reasons for opening it. Devon said there are veterans who don't want to pass the torch and don't realize that they have to in order for the business to succeed...

"Earlier today," Mike Tenay interviewed Sting in a sit-down segment. Sting spoke about how surprised he was that Foley hit him with two chairshots. He said he believes Foley is just coming after the World Champion. Tenay asked him what he thinks is going through Foley's mind. Sting said it was impossible to know what was going through Foley's head.

Tenay asked him about retirement. Sting said there would be no comeback from a major injury. He said his upcoming match against Foley reminds him of 1994 when Foley wrestled Vader in Germany. Foley lost part of his early during the match. He recalled Foley telling him with a smile on his face that he thinks he lost his ear. He said Foley is out of his mind and he knows that his match against Foley at Lockdown could be his last match...

Powell's POV: Great hype for their Lockdown match. I love the way Sting put over Foley for being so dangerous and unpredictable. Foley is trying to act deranged, but he's clowning around more than he should.

A shot aired of Foley walking backstage...

[Q4] [C] "Earlier today," Lauren chewed out Abyss for letting Dr. Stevie abuse him last week. She threatened to report him to the board of health, but Abyss talked her out of it. Instead, she said she was going to his next therapy session...

Powell's POV: Lauren can act! Not bad.

Foley came to the ring carrying a notebook that read "Crossing the Line." The live crowd chanted Foley's name. "To tweak or not to tweak - that is the question," Foley said. He held up his notebook and said it contained the beginning of his next book "Crossing the Line." He spoke about his son Dewey and held up a birthday card that featured the Guns. He told a story about his sons wanting to look like Alex Shelley and then showed photos. Foley announced that his match with the Guns would be a first blood match. He said no child will ever want to look like Shelley again by the time he's done. "I will carve that kid up like a Thanksgiving Turkey," he said.

Powell's POV: Sting's promo was so effective in putting over Foley as deranged, but Foley brought it right back to reality by talking about his family and showing pictures of his kids. The line at the end was nice, though.

Backstage, Borash interviewed Booker T while Angle and Mafia Security stood behind him. Booker said Sharmell hasn't been the same since Joe took her last week and took a serious tone about his match against Joe. Booker left the room. Angle said the match isn't about gaining the advantage at the pay-per-view. Angle said he would be with Booker and claimed that the "tribal manslaughter" would end... [C]

Powell's POV: Please let Angle be right about the tribal stuff ending. Did we really just go a full hour with four minutes of wrestling?

Highlights aired of A.J. Styles telling Samoa Joe that he would accompany him to the ring to counter angle. "As far as you're concerned, my nation of violence is a nation of one," Joe said. Styles responded by sarcastically asking, "Really?"...

[Q5] A video hyped the Lethal Lockdown match...

2. Samoa Joe beat Booker T (w/Kurt Angle) in 1:50. Joe attacked Booker to start the match and maintained control of the offense until Angle reached in and tripped him. Angle handed Booker a chair, but Styles ran out, took away the chair, and attacked Booker. A short time later, Joe powerslammed Booker and scored the pin. Joe didn't look happy that Styles helped him. The series to determine which Lockdown team has the advantage is now tied 1-1...

Powell's POV: It's nice to see Joe get a win rather than the DQ stuff he's been doing, but Booker kinda looks like a bitch for losing in less than two minutes when he was trying to avenge his wife. They are doing a good job of establishing tension between the babyface team heading into the Lethal Lockdown match.

The announcers recapped the previous match... The announcers ran through the pay-per-view lineup... Footage aired from Cody Deaner's date with ODB. They went to an amusement park and he was even more over the top than she was. She kissed him on the cheek to end the date and he celebrated as if he just scored with Megan Fox...

Another Rough Cut segment aired with Team 3D. Brother Ray said they're honored to be mentioned in the same breath as the best tag teams in history. Ray spoke about all the titles in all the promotions they've won...

Tenay hyped Steiner vs. Storm for after the break...

[Q6] [C] The announcers narrated a brief clip of Kevin Nash wooing Survivor chick... Backstage, Lauren interviewed the Guns. Shelley said they would put their tag title belts on the line because they were so confident they could beat Foley. Sabin said they're going to do what they do best "and that's make a name for ourselves." What?...

3. James Storm (w/Robert Roode) defeated Scott Steiner (w/Kevin Nash) by DQ in 4:25. Team 3D sat in on commentary to hype their pay-per-view match against Team 3D. Late in the match, Nash struck Storm with a lead pipe for the DQ. Team 3D ran in to scare off the Mafia, just as Beer Money saved them last week. West stole the moment by talking smack about Team 3D once they left the broadcast table...

[Q7] [C] Borash plugged information about a major wrestling personality who might be making his way to TNA...

Powell's POV: Tazz?

Borash interviewed The Beautiful People on their throne set. TNA is way to proud of their My Pie Sexy banner. Trust me, it's not that funny. Love said Saeed wouldn't make it for their match because they left her in a pile of her own blood, hair, and vomit. Could have done without that last one...

Powell's POV: Just in case you didn't actually watch the show, they never showed Saeed's face when the Beautiful People were cutting her hair.

4. Awesome Kong beat Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky (w/Velvet Sky) in a handicap match in 1:20. Kong went for the Awesome Bomb, but Rayne pushed Sky onto the Knockouts Champ. Rayne turned her head thinking the match was over, but Kong hooked Rayne's shoulders with her legs and scored the pin. Afterward, the BP tried to cut Kong's hair, but Taylor Wilde ran out for the save...

Another Lockdown video aired... [C]

Powell's POV: The videos are solid, but I feel like I saw them on WWE programing at least five years ago.

[Q8] Backstage, Borash asked Jarrett about his conversation with Steiner. He said he wasn't going to talk about that, but he teased that the final member of his Lethal Lockdown match would wrestle Kevin Nash next week. The winner of the match gets the advantage of having the extra man inside the cage to start the Lethal Lockdown match...

5. The Motor City Machine Guns defeated Mick Foley in a first blood handicap match to retain the New Japan Jr. Tag Team Titles in 9:30. Foley brought his barbwire baseball bat to the ring with him. As Foley walked to the ring, he exchanged a quick face-to-face glance with Sting, who is at ringside as the special enforcer referee.

West pointed out that he's never seen the Guns bleed in all the time they've been in TNA. Sabin dropkicked Foley on the floor, and then the Guns followed up with a double suicide dive that knocked Foley into the guardrail. [C]

Powell's POV: Funny line about the Guns never bleeding. They caught a bunch of hell from TNA management for refusing to blade during an angle with Team 3D months ago. They story goes that they've never bladed before and objected to bleeding in that angle. They were in the doghouse for months.

After the break, Sabin mocked Sting, who responded by pulling him to ringside and delivering the Scorpion Death Drop. Foley hit the double-arm DDT on Sabin and applied the Mandible Claw with a sock on his hand. The referee noticed blood on the white sock and tried to call for the bell, but Foley stopped him and the match continued.

Foley walked over and picked up a microphone. He said blood on the sock is not what he promised. He said he promised to bust Shelley open. "Shelley, I'm going to make you suffer," Foley said. Mick picked up the barbwire baseball bat and brought inside the ring with him. He started to rake the bat over Shelley's head, but Sting stood up and struck Foley with a chair. Foley bled and the referee named the Guns the winners.

After the match, Foley and Sting had a pull-apart brawl to close the show...

Powell's POV: The main event would have done more for Shelley had he worked a singles match against Foley. Working a handicap match against Foley and needing help from Sting didn't make the Guns look strong. The finish was cheap, but it served as solid hype for Sting vs. Foley. The show is improving, but they need to add good, meaningful matches to the mix. Four minutes of wrestling in the first hour just isn't enough. Check back on Friday for the TNA Impact Hitlist.

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