By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

TNA Impact on Spike TV
September 28, 2006
Taped September 25 in Orlando, Florida
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

- We start with the Kurt Angle video from the PPV. Voice over man narrated clips of Angle in a warehouse at midnight. Based on how little interest there is in the product right now, that's probably the best way to keep UFC viewers hooked for the next quarter hour to see what the Angle video is all about.

- Mike Tenay introduced the show and hyped Kurt Angle coming to TNA. Tenay and West asked if there has been a bigger week for TNA than this week. West talked about Ultimate X at the PPV. They focused on Samoa Joe walking out of No Surrender with possession of the NWA Title belt. They discussed the time slot change then West talked about Angle. Tenay smiled as he hyped Bound for Glory on October 22. Plenty of introductions right off the bat to set the stage for what has happened since last Thursday.

1 -- LANCE HOYT vs. JEFF JARRETT -- Non-Title match

Hoyt came out first then Jarrett met him on the entrance ramp with a clothesline. He was in street clothes. Jarrett took Hoyt into the ring and whipped him. The Nashville Brawler took Hoyt to the announce table and rammed a chair into his gut. He then took him over the guardrail to the stands. Jarrett choked Hoyt across the railing then slammed Hoyt headfirst through the base of the wall. Back ringside, Jarrett picked up his whip and cracked it across Hoyt's back. The referee finally called for the bell when Jarrett continued to choke Hoyt. Why wait three minutes to call for the bell?

WINNER: Hoyt via DQ in 3:00.

- Afterwards, Jarrett took the mic and asked Jim Cornette if he really thought booking him in a match against Lance Hoyt was going to upset him. He took off his t-shirt and drew attention to the marks on his back. He said he was whipped like a trade slave. That's a remark to get heat, but without a grasp on the history of racism in this country, that's an ignorant statement to make. Jarrett said Samoa Joe walked off with his belt at No Surrender, but he would get it back.

- Jim Cornette hosted a press conference in a pre-tape. Wrestlers were next to Cornette on stage. He broke down the Bound for Glory PPV. He said Joe vs. Rhino vs. Runt vs. Abyss has been booked for Bound Glory. (If Joe doesn't win that match in less than one minute, they'll have damaged him.) He said Senshi vs. Sabin has been booked. (Cornette didn't announce that blow-up dolls were banned from ringside.) Cornette announced that Kurt Angle is coming to the promotion and before the end of the program, he would announce how Angle is going to be used at Bound for Glory.

- They showed Samoa Joe standing backstage holding the NWA Title belt.

[Commercial Break]

- A. Starr is coming at Bound for Glory. Austin Aries was in his Austin Idol outfit. In a pre-tape, he said TNA gets star struck at Bound for Glory.

2 -- SAMOA JOE vs. RAVEN

Joe piefaced Raven after the opening bell. Raven came back with a roundhouse punch. Joe shook him off and hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Joe kicked Raven through the ropes to the outside. He set up for a suicide dive, but Raven blocked with a chair shot. They showed Jeff Jarrett watching the match backstage. Brother Runt then ran into the ring and choked Raven before hitting a neck breaker. All this happened with Joe distracting the referee. Joe then applied a choke hold on Raven. Raven eventually passed out in the hold.

WINNER: Joe via submission in 2:00. Yes, Joe needed help from Brother Runt to beat Raven.

- Afterwards, Runt entered the ring. Joe pushed him around then Runt slapped him across the face. Joe no-sold then slapped and punched Runt across the face. Joe then press slammed Runt onto Raven on the outside. Abyss then walked into the ring. Joe and Abyss squared off before Joe landed hard strikes. Abyss came back with knee lifts. Joe ducked a clothesline then clotheslined Abyss over the top rope to the floor. Joe grabbed the NWA Title belt and walked away from ringside as the other three men brawled on the outside. Jim Cornette walked down and confronted Joe. He said he wanted the title belt back. Joe pulled it away from Cornette then told Cornette to tell Jarrett or Sting to come get it from him.

[Commercial Break]

- They aired a promo for Sting's upcoming DVD.

- They aired a video package on Rhino vs. Christian from No Surrender. They talked about Rhino's supposed medical problem going into his match before focusing on Rhino having a head injury during the match.

- Back to the press conference. Rhino said doctors have advised him not to wrestle for 12 weeks, but he's not sitting on the sidelines when he needs to settle things with Christian. He said it will be an Eight Mile street fight. Every big TNA match must have a gimmick. He told Christian to watch out at Bound for Glory.

3 -- TEAM 3D (BROTHER RAY & BROTHER DEVON) vs. BRANDON THOMASELLI & VON DORING

Team 3D returned to the promotion without any hype. Tenay talked about an incident in Mexico earlier this week. West said LAX brought 15 wrestlers to the ring to beat down A.J. Styles and he won't be on the show this week. Tenay said they would have footage from Mexico next week. Team 3D worked over Brandon in a neutral corner. They called for the 3D then dropped Doring with their finisher for the easy win.

WINNERS: Team 3D in 2:00. Feels too much like Raw from this past Monday with short, quick, inconsequential matches.

- Afterwards, Brother Ray took the mic. He said, "We're back." The fans chanted, "Welcome back." Ray re-introduced the team. He said they were leaving for a few months to refocus then chase for the NWA Tag Titles. Ray said they talked to the office today and they told them to just ask for a title shot and they could have it. He said they want their title shot when they earn it. "You don't hear that very often," West said. Ray said they would earn it the way pro wrestling was meant to be. He said they would pay their dues by starting at the bottom then working back to the top. Ray said the quest for the tag titles has just begun. Devon did his one line.

- Tenay introduced a video package on Jarrett vs. Sting. The same video they played a few weeks ago when Sting signed the contract to face Jarrett. They aired new footage of Sting with green streaks on his face paint.

- They showed Lex Luger at the press conference. He said this match with Jarrett means the world to Sting and he would bring something new that Jarrett has never seen before. Luger said Sting has come back with a purpose and he's going to be mentally focused and ready to put his career on the line. Buff Bagwell said Sting would come out victorious at the PPV. He said Jarrett can look forward to Sting going wild on Jarrett. The editing was too cute. It felt very manufactured without a "this is happening live" feeling to the separate comments. Obviously, the show isn't live, but it makes better TV to present it as if it's live.

[Commercial Break]

- They aired another video package on Sting with more clips from Luger and Bagwell talking about Sting. Luger looks to be about 60 years old. He said Sting came back to TNA to be part of a program with class to help build up the promotion.

- Borash was backstage with Jarrett, who called over Eric Young. He said he's giving Young a second chance to be on his good side. He told Young to get his title belt back. Jarrett told him to walk up to Joe and slap the taste out of his mouth or just steal it from his bag. Young muttered while staring at the floor. He said no then said he wouldn't get his title belt back. "I'll deal with you later," Jarrett said. Borash asked Young what was up. Young was serious and didn't say much. He grabbed Borash's hand and moved it up and down. Weird, yet intriguing.

4 -- ALEX SHELLEY & JOHNNY DEVINE & X Division champion SENSHI vs. CHRIS SABIN & JAY LETHAL & SONJAY DUTT

Sticking six men in a small window of time does not get anyone over. It hasn't worked for two years and it's not going to work all of a sudden now. The fans chanted, "No more Jackass" after the opening bell rang. Christian Cage interrupted Tenay and West for commentary. Shelley and Lethal were in the ring, but the camera focused on Christian talking. Rhino ran out and tried to go after Christian, but security held him back. Christian stared straight ahead at Rhino, who threatened him. Tenay screamed to keep him back. This is worse than Tony Schiavone talking about everything else on the show except for the Cruiserweight match going on in the ring during the Nitro era.

[Commercial Break with John Cena on TNA programming with a commercial for The Marine.]

Christian was still on commentary as action was going on in the ring. Christian and Rhino brawled on the outside. Christian stumbled backwards as security held back Rhino. Oh yeah, there's wrestling in the ring with those insignificant X Division goofs. "I guess we have to get back to the action in the ring and I'm sorry for the guys in the ring who are working their hearts out in the ring," West said. Yeah, I guess we do. How inconvenient to have a match going on in the ring. Shelley worked on Dutt in the heel corner. West said the Jackass stunts backfired on Chris Sabin at the PPV. Tenay plugged the Kurt Angle announcement later in the show. Shelley shot the finger to Sabin, which was blurred out, then Sabin spun out of a move and clotheslined Shelley to the mat. The action broke down in the ring. There were six generic looking men, all about the same height and build, in the ring with no character development to make anyone stand out here. Senshi landed a back hand slap on Lethal. Somehow, a suitcase ended up in the ring. The fans groaned and booed. Lethal then dropkicked the suitcase in Devine for the pin. The fans booed the babyfaces for winning the match.

WINNERS: Dutt, Sabin, and Lethal in 10:00. Disrespectful booking of what once was the lifeblood of this promotion in the form of the X Division. What Styles, Daniels, and Joe built with hard work, amazing matches, and compelling storylines, TNA has torn down with generic booking, lack of character development, and Jackass stunts. TNA obviously doesn't care about this division anymore. Anything they say otherwise is lip service to the wrestlers who deserve a better opportunity to perform their craft in the ring.

- They showed clips from LAX vs. Styles/Daniels at No Surrender.

[Commercial Break]

- The press conference was in the ring now. Cornette stood at the podium with Luger and Bagwell seated opposite Cornette. He called Bagwell and Luger "wrestling legends." Goodness. He said they have been with Sting, training and visiting with him. He said Sting is in the best shape of his career training for this match with Jarrett. Cornette talked up "the biggest match in TNA history" with title vs. career. He said he believes BFG would be the night Jarrett finally loses the belt. Cornette brought up TNA's big acquisition. He said Angle's involvement at BFG would be as special ringside enforcer. Yeah, that worked really well for Bret Hart's career at Starrcade 1997 when WCW took a red-hot free agent from WWE and stuck him in a secondary role with Sting and Hulk Hogan. Jarrett's music hit. He walked out to interrupt the press conference. Jarrett issued his ultimatum to Cornette about getting his title back by the end of the show. He said that before he addresses the special enforcer, he would address the belt situation. Cornette told Jarrett that if he wants the belt back, he needs to get it from Joe. Jarrett asked Cornette if he's the boss and lead authority figure or another impotent authority figure. Cornette said Jarrett had some erectile dysfunction of his own at No Surrender when Joe pinned him. Bagwell got in Jarrett's face. Jarrett knocked down Luger then stomped on Bagwell. Bagwell and Jarrett exchanged blows. Jarrett then cleared him to the outside. Samoa Joe's music hit. Joe ran to the ring and exchanged blows with Jarrett. They brawled in the ring with Joe selling Jarrett's punches to end the show.

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