By Wade Keller, Torch editor

TNA IMPACT
OCTOBER 26, 2006
TAPED TUESDAY IN ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

-Extended clips aired of Bound for Glory's top matches. Then the Impact opening aired, followed by Mike Tenay introducing the show as the cameras panned the crowd in the Impact Zone. Don West announced that Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe was scheduled as one of the top headline matches at the next PPV, Genesis. Then pyro shot off.

-Sting came out to his full ring intro, introduced as the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion. When the flashing lights show ended, and full lights came on, Christian was revealed to be standing in the corner. He said he didn't mean to rain on Sting's parade or steal his thunder, but he's been doing it long enough, he decided to return the favor. The crowd chanted, "You suck! You suck!" Christian said he thinks it sucks that he has to take part in the Fight for Your Right Tournament to get a shot at the title he never lost. Tenay interjected, "You've gotta earn that shot here in TNA, Christian Cage." Sting stood and listened. Christian said 17 wrestlers who couldn't carry his jock strap were going to get the same opportunity as him. "So this is the new and improved Sting?" asked Christian. "Let me tell you what I see. I see a man who's scared. I see a man who's terrified that he's no longer the biggest star in this industry because you know you're staring at the biggest star right here and he's Christian Cage." He told him that he's got the stroke to name his opponent at Genesis. He told him to stop hiding behind the make-up for the first time in his life. Sting grabbed the mic and said he could have shot at the title if he wanted one. Christian seemed satisfied, and began to leave the ring. Sting said it's not going to be at Genesis, it's going to be when he chooses. He then imitated Razor Ramon and said, "Say hello to my little friend." He then pulled down his pants... I mean held up his fist with a face on it... I mean he pulled out his baseball bat and hit Christian with it.

-Backstage Jeremy Borash said Kurt Angle would speak live in the Impact Zone for the first time. Samoa Joe interrupted and said he and Kurt already have had the chance to get to know each other. He hinted tonight they'd get to know each other better.

-Christy Hemme plugged the next segment.

[Commercial Break]

-Shane Douglas stood mid-ring and appeared to be having a difficult bowel movement in his pants while imitating Lewis Black again. He said the time has finally come for his no. 1 contenders to get their tag team title shot in front of the fans. He introduced The Naturals. As LAX headed to the ring, America's Most Wanted attacked them. They brawled in the crowd and to ringside. They threw LAX into the ring and the ref signalled for the bell to ring to start the match. Referees are so fair-minded.

1 -- LAX (Hernandez & Homicide w/Konnan) vs. THE NATURALS (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens) -- NWA Tag Team Title match

The Naturals, of course, got the early advantage. Tenay plugged that they'd have a special interview with Jeff Jarrett filmed right after Bound for Glory. West said, "You'll never look at Jeff Jarrett the same way again." At least they didn't build the show around that taped promo, but instead gave the impression at the start that Impact was about Angle, Joe, Sting, and Christian first and foremost. Tenay also plugged the move to prime time on Nov. 16. LAX came back at 2:00 after Konnan whipped Andy Douglas. Hernandez then Border Tossed him for the win. After the match, Douglas of course threw a fit. The Naturals fought back this time, slapping him to the mat. The crowd chanted, "Kick his ass." The Natruals looked a bit shocked at their actions. Douglas looked at blood coming out of his mouth, then he smiled. Tenay and West said that's what Douglas wanted out of them all along.

WINNERS: LAX in 2:00 to retain the NWA Tag Titles.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Too short to amount to anything. I'm not in favor of two minute tag title matches. It cheapens the idea of tag title matches, which if protected and portrayed as big deals between truly competitive teams, can be a draw. This situation isn't as bad as it could be because Konnan did interfere (although barely) and it was leading to an angle with the Naturals finally showing a sign of their killer instinct afterward.

-In the latest Eye Spy segment. Alex Shelley asked Kevin Nash if he thinks Austin Starr is better than him. Nash said, "No, he's not better, just different." Nash asked Shelley if Devine was down. Shelley said he was down. Nash said it was a case of insubordination since he began editing German smut films. Starr walked into the room. Nash said in one night he single-handedly brought back the X Division. Nash told Shelley to be sure to film every moment of Starr's matches. Shelley asked why. Starr said, "It's because I'm Austin Starr."

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Tenay and West at ringside talking about how TNA was mentioned in an article in the World Series program. Then they explained the Fight for the Right tournament. 18 wrestlers start outside of the ring. The first seven to get into the ring continue on. Then it becomes a regular battle royal to determine the tourney seedings. The finalists wrestle one-on-one to earn a bye to the finals. The winner of the tournament gets a title shot against Sting at Genesis. They went right to the match.

2 -- REVERSE BATTLE ROYAL with Senshi, Abyss, Christopher Daniels, A.J. Styles, James Storm, Kip Frey, Eric Young, Devon Dudley, Christian Cage, Raven, Brother Runt, Ron "The Truth" Killings, Robert Roode, Chris Sabin, Lance Hoyt, Kazarian, Sonjay Dutt.

Roode was the first in. Chris Sabin was second. They showed Maverick Matt dressed up in a Raven's Follower outfit, so another (needed) gimmick change for him. A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels were in next. Abyss was in next. Lance Hoyt was next in. Christian was about to enter, but Rhino stopped him. Killings made it in for the final spot. LAX and AMW brawled at ringside. Tenay plugged a Rhino vs. Christian barbed wire match for their debut on prime time on Nov. 16. They should have made a bigger deal out of the X Division Champion taking part in this since he should be portrayed as the equal champion to the NWA Champion.

[Commercial Break]

They went to stage two of the match, which was a traditional battle royal. Killings was first eliminated, making him the seventh seed. Sabin was the second eliminated. Styles and Daniels worked together and fend off Abyss. Miss Brooks interfered on Roode's behalf, leading to Daniels being eliminated. Styles eliminated Roode right afterward. Abyss threw Styles over the top, leading to Abyss and Hoyt as the final two.

[Commercial Break]

Abyss (w/James Mitchell) and Hoyt began their one-on-one match. Abyss gave Hoyt a big boot, then picked up a chair. The ref yankied it out of his hands. When Abyss turned to complain, Hoyt wound up and surprised Abyss as he turned with a big boot. He followed with a top rope moonsault for a near fall. The crowd popped for the move. Abyss then gave Hoyt a Torture Rack Drop for a near fall. Hoyt fired back with a dropkick, then put a chair up against Abyss. Hoyt pulled a Shane McMahon and hit a dropkick off the top rope across the ring into the chair into Abyss's face. That was only good for a near fall. A "TNA" chant broke out. Abyss fired back with a Black Hole slam seconds later for the win.

WINNER: Abyss in 20:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- The overall concept of the reverse battle royal was innovative. There wasn't enough long-term selling in that final match.

-They aired the backstage interview Borash conducted with Jeff Jarrett. Borash asked him if he underestimated Sting. Jarrett was broken up. He said he for more than half the match he had Sting's number. He said something transformede in him during the match. "I saw it when he walked down the aisle. He was a new Sting. Tonight, he was the better man." Borash asked him if he wanted a rematch next month. He asked him what was next. Jarrett said, "Home. I go home." He said in every athlete's career there comes a time you've got to step back to refocus and rethink your career. He said he's done more in wrestling than he ever dreamed of. He said he was a skinny punk kid "who carried this company on his back for four-and-a-half years, started it from scratch." He said along the way, maybe he dropped the ball on some personal things and professional things. He looked at Borash and said that he is going home again. He closed, "I have one last thought. The old saying be careful what you wish for. Sting, I know you will hear this. Be careful what you wish for because I'm exhuasted. There's a lot of pressure that goes with the position you're in now. I hope you're up to the task." Jarrett got up and walked away.

-Back at ringside, Tenay said that was a side of Jarrett they had never seen before. West said Jarrett was the type who would step on anything or anyone to get ahead. He said that revealed a heartfelt emotional side of Jarrett and he has a new respect for him. Tenay said the Angle in-ring interview was next.

[Commercial Break]

-A video montage aired on Kurt Angle's role as the ringside enforcer at Bound for Glory including the pullapart brawl with Samoa Joe earlier.

-Angle then came out to his full ring intro. He stood mid-ring and absorbed the loud chant of "Angle, Angle, Angle." he said a lot of people asked him why he left the "other place" and came to TNA. He said they asked if he was fired or quit. A "They Suck" chant began. Angle said he quit. He just wanted to wrestle for the best audience in the whole world. He put over the fans and then began his own "TNA, TNA" chant. He said the other reason he came to TNA was because there was no other company with the talent and wrestlers that TNA has. He said nobody compares to the talent that is backstage and he wanted to come to TNA to kick each of their asses to prove he's the best. "Because when you're the best in TNA, you're the best in the wole world." He said the one man in particular who made him want to quit was undefeated. A chant of "Joe's gonna kill you!" began. Angle asked the fans to hold on. "Am I terrified of Samoa Joe? Damn right I am. You would be too if you had to get in the ring with him." He said he loves fear, because that drives him to make his opponents tap out and break their ankles. He said one thing TNA forgot to tell him at the headquarters was that he didn't know Samoa Joe was a bleeder.

Joe charged to the ring and they had another pullapart. Angle again ended up on top. They were separated by security again. The crowd chanted, "Let them fight." Joe broke free and went after Angle again. They were separated again within a coupld seconds. They broke free again and brawled. Tenay said thehy've never had another situation like this in TNA. The locker room emptied and they succeessfully kept them apart... for about ten seconds. Joe broke free. West went nuts. They were separated again. Tenay said it's like those two men are possessed. Angle broke free and punched at Joe. Then they cut to the show-closing video recap.

-Strong show-closing angle with Joe and Angle. The reverse battle royal was convoluted like many TNA gimmick matches, but not bad in this case. They managed to slip in a variety of other angles such as Rhino-Christian and AMW-LAX. The Christian promo to open was strong, as it kept Sting from having to actually talk much.

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