James Caldwell, Torch Contributor

TNA Impact Review
November 12, 2004
Taped November 9, 2004 in Orlando, FL at Universal Studios
Aired on Fox Sports Net
Report by James Caldwell, Torch Team Contributor

Friday Afternoon Take: Well, well, well, if it isn’t WCW rearing its ugly head in the form of TNA. On this afternoon’s show, we’ll be seeing Jeff Hardy & A.J. Styles team up against The Naturals as well as a major announcement from the KOW. You’ll find out what that is in a second. We’ll also see the 3 Live Kru in what I believe is the shortest match in the history of TNA Impact. I’ll have to check that against their other one minute and under matches seen here the last few weeks. Let’s dive into this week’s TNA Impact Recap.

------

- We saw Raven shouting at Larry Zbysko, demanding a re-match with Monty Brown here tonight. Larry granted Raven’s wish.

- Mike Tenay stood in the center of the ring to recap TNA Victory Road, which took place last Sunday. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and TNA Champ Jeff Jarrett entered the Impact Zone to interrupt. Scott Hall, looking somewhat presentable, said he was ready for a party on December 5, Turning Point. He asked Nash and Jarrett if they were going to be ready for the party. They both agreed they would be free. Kevin Nash took the mic and said he didn't have a script for this interview, so he was in a foreign position and ready to say anything he wanted to. Nash gave us a history recap spanning 1991 as Oz in WCW when he was a “j-brone” followed by his 1993 debut with Shawn Michaels in WWF as Diesel. Nash told us about the clique, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall & X-Pac & Shawn Michaels & Triple H. Nash said “They held all the belts, wielded all the power, and most importantly, made all the money.” Nash took us to 1994 when he was the WWF Champion and Scott Hall was chasing the IC Title when the infamous Madison Square Garden "breaking kayfabe cage match" took place. Nash brought up the nWo, where "one of us was even booking for awhile." Nash said they had all the power, all the money, and everyone hated us. Same thing with the nWo in WWE. Nash addressed a fan who told him to wrestle. He told the fan that he must not have seen much of his career because he doesn't wrestle...he lets someone else do it. Nash said a new group was being formed: The Kings of Wrestling. Nash addressed the wrestlers in the back that everyone was going to hate them and they were going to run all the guys in the back out of TNA. Nash told the wrestlers that without him and Hall, there would be no guaranteed money. Nash said they were going to make everyone in TNA hate them, and then own the company.

Jeff Jarrett took the mic and said that after Randy Savage made his debut last week, he was left in a pool of his own blood in the back and hasn't been seen or heard from since. He must not have been saying his prayers and taking his vitamins. Jarrett said Hulk Hogan couldn't leave fast enough when he saw Hall and Nash backstage. Brooke must have had another audition. He said Sting has an open invitation to come out of the rafters any time he wants. Jarrett said that the Kings of Wrestling were going to take out two of the top dogs in TNA right here tonight.

- A video recap of the 20 Man X Division Gauntlet aired. We saw a series of amazing high spots with a boisterous crowd in the background.

- After a commercial break, we came back to see a victory Road recap of Hall, Nash, and Randy Savage's respective debut last Sunday.

(1) 3 Live Kru (B.G. James & Konan & Ron “The Truth” Killings) defeated Matthews & Kage & Stevens at 0:32. We started off with all three members of the Kru working on one of the jobbers, who Mike Tenay and Don West were too distracted to point out the identity of. Konan and James held up jobber #1 leading to Killings scoring a scissors kick that barely glanced off the side of the jobber’s head. James made the cover for the win.

After the “match,” Team Canada entered the ring with hockey sticks and destroyed 3 Live Kru. Larry Zbysko entered the ring and waved to the back for some help.

Match View: The role of jobber is deteriorating faster than Yassir Arafat’s health. Tenay and West didn’t even mention the names of any of the jobbers involved in the match. All they get is their name in the Fox Box at the top of the screen. Twenty minutes and less than one minute of wrestling.

- We saw a limo pull up in the backstage area. Tenay screamed that Shane Douglas would get to the bottom of this. THANKS, TENAY. I DON’T THINK I COULD HAVE LIVED WITHOUT THAT REASSURING STATEMENT!

- Another Victory Road recap showed Kid Kash ruining the Jimmy Snuka & Roddy Piper Piper’s Pit segment.

(2) Kid Kash (w/Dallas) & Kazarian & Michael Shane (w/Traci) defeated Hector Garza & Psicosis & LA Park at 1:59. We began the match with Kid Kash & Psicosis. Psicosis tagged in LA Park who scored a top rope missile drop kick. Hector Garza entered the ring leading a six man brawl. The action broke down in the ring until Dallas became involved from the outside, pulling Psicosis and Park out of the ring. Dallas laid out Psicosis and LA Park on the outside, sending each one crashing into the guardrail. Boy, wouldn’t a Dallas vs. Kevin Nash match be interesting? Hector Garza was alone in the ring with Michael Shane. Traci distracted Garza allowing Kid Kash to enter the ring. Kash used his coconut to smash Garza across the face, laying him out. Kash made the cover for the win.

Match View: Words cannot express how bad the wrestling on Impact has become. There was absolutely no point to this match other than Kash using the coconut as a diss on Jimmy Snuka. The problem is that Snuka will never enter the ring against Kash in a match, so why dwell on a storyline that won’t draw? You can’t just throw wrestlers out there for no reason. It makes no sense.

- Shane Douglas was in the back investigating the limo situation. No one was inside the limo, leaving Shane Douglas dumbfounded, which apparently wasn’t a new feeling for Shane.

- We took a look at the Monster’s Ball match from Victory Road when Monty Brown defeated Raven & Abyss in a brutal hardcore battle.

(3) Alpha Male Monty Brown defeated Raven at 4:14. The match began with Raven accepting right hands from the Alpha Male. Raven fought back with a drop toe hold sending Brown face first into the bottom turnbuckle. Raven, favoring his ribs after the beating he took at Victory Road, was sluggish trying to work over Brown with boots in the corner. Raven picked up Brown and sent him to the outside. Brown hopped up and landed right hands to Raven’s face. Raven countered a right hand and delivered one of his own. Raven sent Brown back first into the guardrail with a Russian Legsweep. Raven took Brown back into the ring where he landed left hands to the face. Brown fought back with right hands from his knees. Brown kicked Raven in the face then scored a T-Bone Suplex. Brown went for a powerslam, but Raven slipped out and scored a super kick. Raven with the cover, only scoring a two count at 2:50. Brown reversed an Irish Whip and scored the Pounce on Raven. Unfortunately, the referee, Rudy Charles, took the brunt of the Pounce leading to Abyss entering the ring. Abyss scored the Black Hole Slam on Brown. Raven appeared to have the match in hand until Diamond Dallas Page entered the ring and delivered the Diamond Cutter on Raven. Brown rolled up Raven as the referee recovered, then scrambled over to make the three count. Abyss stood at the top of the Impact Zone ramp and was restrained by a man hidden under a black robe, who I’m assuming is the Sinister Minister. DDP shook hands with fans in the stands as Brown stood over Raven.

Match View: Ok, TNA has officially become WCW. There’s no doubt about it. The returning superstar appearances, the ref bumps, the interference-laden matches, the rambling promos, etc. This is classic WCW in the dying days of the company. This match was set up to be a good one until all the interference completely took away from it. Specific things I noticed in this match were a) Monty Brown isn’t good at selling offense from opponents or at least making it look believable and b) Raven has to whisper every single spot in his opponent’s ear.

- A video promo for Chris Sabin aired which indicated that Sabin’s career will reach a turning point when he faces Petey Williams at the next TNA PPV, appropriately named Turning Point, for the X Division Title. Sabin has promised to counter the Canadian Destroyer with a counter of his own. I thought Hector Garza’s Gauntlet Match victory at Victory Road was supposed to give him a #1 Title Shot. Whatever.

- Petey Williams was in the back with Shane Douglas. Williams warned Chris Sabin that he will fall victim to the Canadian Destroyer and suffer the same fate as A.J. Styles.

(4) Chris Sabin defeated Alex Shelley at 2:13. Shelley, sporting his third different look in the last three weeks, came out prepared to battle with Sabin. Sabin and Shelley locked up with Sabin scoring a huricanrana. Sabin was distracted by Petey Williams, who entered the Impact Zone. Shelley took advantage scoring a drop kick and snap mare take over. Sabin ducked a clothesline in the corner then hit a jaw breaker. Sabin connected with a reverse jaw breaker followed by a swinging face slam. Sabin with a Fireman’s carry which Shelley slipped out of. Shelley with a Pump Handle Slam into Face First Slam. Shelley with a cover for a two count only. Shelley ran into a gut-first spinning heel kick. Shelley took a side kick to the head leading to Sabin scoring the Cradle Shock, a cradle fireman’s carry into Michinoku Driver for the pin and the win.

After the match, Petey Williams ran into the ring and went for the Canadian Destroyer. Good to his word, Sabin countered it and scored the Cradle Shock, laying out Williams. Sabin stood over Williams’ fallen body as Tenay screamed that Sabin had countered Williams’ uncounterable move.

Match View: Barely two minutes for an X Division Match? You’ve got to be kidding me. These are two world class athletes who deserve a lot more time to tell a compelling story in the ring. Oh that’s right...TNA doesn’t care about telling a story in the ring with quality wrestling. It’s all about annoying promos and skits that mean absolutely nothing. I must have forgotten that the X Division has no characters or two dimensional wrestlers who have a story to tell in the ring. My bad.

- Shane Douglas found DDP walking to his limo in the backstage area. Douglas wanted to know what DDP was up to based on his interference in the Raven vs. Brown match. DDP indicated that he had some unfinished business with Raven, telling him “never more.” DDP hopped into the limo and sped off.

- A video package recapped the TNA Title Match from Victory Road including Jeremy Borash not speaking out of his nose. We saw Kevin Nash and Scott Hall laughing as they smashed guitars over Jeff Hardy’s head leading to Jeff Jarrett grabbing the TNA Title to win the Title Match.

- We saw a video recap of the TNA Victory Road Fan fest where fans touted their love for TNA as TNA stars such as A.J. Styles described their love and passion for TNA. Too bad they’re going to be run out of town by the “Kings of Wrestling.”

(5) Jeff Hardy & A.J. Styles defeated The Naturals (Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas) at 5:16. Mike Tenay said that Jeff Hardy should be the TNA Champion right now if Jeff Jarrett hadn’t stacked the deck against him at Victory Road. The match began with A.J. Styles vs. Andy Douglas. Styles ran Douglas into the ropes leading to a tag for Chase Stevens. Styles scored an amazing drop kick on Stevens. Hardy tagged in and the two babyfaces scored a series of tag team maneuvers. Hardy took Stevens head first into the top turnbuckle. Tenay said that the TNA locker room needed alliances like Hardy & Styles. Here we go with a nWo vs. WCW storyline. Styles tagged in and went for a suplex on Stevens, but couldn’t get him in the air. Douglas tagged in and took an arm drag from Styles. Styles with an arm bar take down which Douglas countered with an eye rake. Styles shook it off, but ran into a full nelson back breaker. Douglas covered Styles, but scored a two count only. Douglas dragged Styles’ face across the top rope leading to a tag in to Stevens. Stevens and Douglas drove Styles face first with a combination face slam across Stevens’ knee. Styles landed right hands to the gut after Stevens took too much time. Styles ran into a clothesline leading to a two count on the pin attempt. Stevens went up top for a top rope maneuver. Stevens with a sledgehammer smash off the top. Douglas received a tag and went up top. Douglas tried a double axe handle smash, but Styles countered with a punch to the gut. Hardy tagged in and clotheslined Stevens. A reverse Twist of Fate followed by a true Twist of Fate laid out Douglas. Stevens took right hands to the face. Hardy took Stevens off the ropes and delivered a back body drop, but not just any back body drop. Styles caught Stevens in mid air and delivered Styles Clash. Styles with the pin and the win.

Match View: It’s so sad seeing A.J. Styles having to be the guy to be worked over for five minutes every time he teams up with Hardy. Hardy has not sold anyone’s offense on Impact for more than one minute...ever. It’s always Styles who has to be relegated to job boy. Otherwise, a good main event match that featured Styles’ signature high spots including a unique Styles Clash with some help from Hardy.

- Styles and Hardy stood in the ring as Kevin Nash & Scott Hall “walked” to the ring. Jeff Jarrett came out from behind the two babyfaces and clocked Styles with a chair. Hardy turned around and took a chair in the face. Hall and Nash entered the ring leading to Hall, in all his beer belly glory, scoring the Outsider’s Edge on Styles just as Nash scored his signature Jackknife powerbomb on Hardy. Jarrett celebrated the end result as the babyfaces laid in the center of the ring, eyes closed, and hearts defeated.

Closing Thoughts: Words cannot describe my utter dislike for TNA as of this moment. I mean, I know it’s not my company to run into the ground, but as a viewer and wrestling fan, I cannot fathom how anyone would allow such crap to take place within a company. Jeff Jarrett lets any old flame saunter back into the company for a free ride at a paycheck and open mic time with nothing to give back to the company. All these wrestlers have 100% of the leverage in the relationship. Randy Savage simply walked out of the company. DDP can come and go as he pleases. Hall and Nash can take an extra five minutes and run their mouths like they own the joint. It’s disgraceful, it’s ridiculous, and it just makes for awful programming. The worst thing about it is that the locker room sees this sort of behavior from Hall and Nash as accepted protocol. It’s not even punishable because TNA has no leverage with which to punish the Outsiders. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin barely get two minutes for what could have been a solid match up. Instead, it’s a quick high spot match that doesn’t stick in your mind, tell a story, or mean much, if anything. And who do they thank for that? Mr. Nash, who just had to be the cool person that he is and run his mouth at the top of the show. TNA is a disgrace to wrestling and needs to examine themselves beginning at the top because they will not be in business if there are no wrestlers left to perform in the new “Kings of Wrestling” organization. Nash can be the smart aleck that he is and warn the wrestlers in the back that they will hate him for what he’s going to do. The problem is, once all the wrestlers leave, there won’t be anything left of TNA where he can run his mouth uncontrollably. I like to call it diarrhea of the mouth. Kevin Nash, you my friend, have a severe case of it.

As always, feel free to send me feedback on today's show at revenge_nwo@yahoo.com. I'm open to any and all reader comments. I'll be checking in with a full Victory Road Recap as well as more commentary on Kevin Nash’s disease in the "Sunday Brunch," on Sunday afternoon, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax

CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES

CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING