By Wade Keller, Torch editor

TNA IMPACT REPORT by Wade Keller, editor
Aired June 7, 2007
Taped 5/29 in Orlando, Fla.

TOP NEWS FROM THE SHOW

-Christian talked Tomko into continuing to follow his advice and trust him.

-James Storm and Chris Harris had a long, wild brawl to end the show ending as a DCO.

WHAT HAPPENED: 1ST HALF

The show preview vignette advertised James Storm vs. Chris Harris as the King of the Mountain qualifier. Then Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show by yelling a lot.

(1) Robert Roode (w/Miss Brooks) defeated Jerry Lynn in 4:00. Lynn took Roode down with a head scissors to start. The crowd chanted "We Want Eric!" Tenay and West talked about Christian favoring A.J. Styles over Tomko last week, and that Tomko is upset. They said they still don't know who Christian's opponent will be next week. They aired a TNA mobile question of the week where they asked who Christian's opponent will be: (a) Jeff Jarrett; (b) Chris Jericho; (c) Scott Steiner; (d) None of the Above. They brawled at ringside at 2:00. Roode rammed Lynn into the railing, then rolled him back into the ring. A "Let's go Jerry" chant began. Tenay and West continued to talk about Christian. At 4:00 Lynn made a comeback and hit a DDT for a near fall. Roode gave Lynn a low-blow as Brooks distracted the ref, then he hit the Payoff (fisherman's suplex) for the three count. Fast-paced, but the usual frenetic pacing, and it didn't help that the announcers just seemed desperate to get in a bunch of unrelated discussion on Christian-Tomko-Styles. Not that in a short show it's not the right thing to do, but it does take away from the match in the ring. (*)

After the match, Eric Young ran out with a chair. Roode shoved Brooks into Young's arms to avoid him. He then backed her down in the ring with a chair. She backed right up into Lynn's arms. Lynn did some very strange mat stomping zombie routine, then grabbed her. As Young was going to hit her, Jim Cornette walked out and demanded that there be no violence against women by men. As Brooks celebrated, he said he didn't tell her she wouldn't get beat up tonight. He announced Brooks had to face Gail Kim. They showed a very, very, very, very happy guy in the crowd reacting to that announcement.

Leticia asked Tomko backstage if he ironed everything out with Christian this week. He said he couldn't reach him because he changed his phone number, but tonight he'll have nowhere to hide.

A vignette aired with Christopher Daniels narrating video of he and Sting. He said the strength of his convictions is too much for Sting to handle. He said you either get strength from or are consumed by your convictions. He asked him to make his choice.

Tenay interviewed Sting and Christopher Daniels in a strangely lit back area of the arena. Sting said Daniels told him he had something to say publicly. Daniels said when he lost the X Title, he didn't know what his future would be. He said he saw Sting, someone he looked up to, and he has applied what he told him to his actions in the ring every since. Sting told him he's not going down the same road he recommended and he's misinterpreting him. Daniels said he realizes he has to erase the gray area. Sting said he doesn't understand or know where he's getting his ideas. Daniels said maybe this isn't the forum for them to talk about this - on national TV. He promised to make things right between them. Sting told Tenay, "I wish I could believe him."

Leticia asked Gail Kim how she prepares on such short notice for her match against Brooks. Brooks then attacked her. Several TNA security members pulled them apart.

They went a Paparazzi Productions vignette. Nash asked Black Machismo who was next. He said, "Jake the Snake." Nash said no. It was Sonjay Dutt. Dutt walked in and said they should see things through his eyes. He called himself "The Guru." Machismo said there aren't enough colors in his outfit. Sonjay said it's about colors of life. Nash looked quizzically at him. Machismo said, in a non sequitur, "Jake Roberts ruined by wedding." He called himself "The Guru Sonjay Dutt." He began to meditate. Nash and Machismo began humming or whatever it's called when you make a noise while pretending to meditate.

Clips aired of the press conference where James Storm got into it with Frank Wycheck. Storm spit beer in his face and told him to grow some balls and get into the ring. They showed various local news stations covering it. Wycheck said he didn't expect an incident, that he was just there to promote the event. They showed anchors joking about how at these wrestling press conferences, controversy usually results.

Jeremy Borash interviewed Styles backstage. Kurt Angle walked up to Styles and told him he's going to cripple his ass before he gets to KOTM and there's nothing he can do about it. Styles got nervous and said he wanted to call Christian. He asked to borrow Borash's. Christian yanked him into his locker room covertly, apparently showing he's hiding from Tomko.

(2) Gail Kim beat Ms. Brooks in 4:00. Tenay said regarding Brooks: "She has a size advantage above the waistline, I know that much." Tenay said Slammiversary would make a great Father's Day gift. Kim made a comeback at 2:00 with a series of clotheslines and a knee to the head. Kim then sunset flipped her for the win.(1/2*)

After the match, Roode entered the ring. Kim went after him. Before he could fire back, Brooks yanked her away by the hair, then clotheslined her. Rood then stood over her and flicked his sweat on her.

WHAT HAPPENED: 2ND HALF

Tomko went looking for Christian backstage. Borash made some crazy weird faces.

A vignette aired with soundbite by Team 3D and the Steiners. Steiner said the time for them to kiss their ass is after the PPV when he says, "Pucker up."

Tomko continued shouting for Christian backstage as Leticia followed with a mic in hand. He found a disguised Christian reading a magazine in a cubicle. He grabbed him and threw him against a wall. He asked him why he screwed him out of a title shot. Christian said if he wanted to really screw him, he would have blown him off years ago when he first saw him alone backstage and offered him an autograph. He said, "I'm the one who took you in, took you under my wing." Ironically (or something), a picture of Big Bird was hanging on the wall. Christian said he put his neck on the line for him when he recommended him to TNA management. He said he tried to hand him a chair, but he didn't want it. He said he told him when they first aligned, "Do not think. That's my job. When it's your time to shine, I'll let you know." He said he got him out of debt and this is how he repays him. He said they can throw it all to the side and refocus on Christian because "you're time will come." He said he needs to find out who his opponent is next week. Tomko, somewhat defeated, frustrated, and resigned, said, "Fine" and walked off. Christian had a devious "mission accomplished" look on his face as Tomko walked off.

(3) Chris Harris wrestled James Storm to a double countdown in 17:00. This match began with 20 minutes left in the show, more than usual for the TV main event. They brawled into the crowd right away. Harris returned to the ring and dove off the top rope onto Storm and a security member. Nice looking spot. Storm ducked a chairshot and then sandwiched Harris's head in a chair. They cut to a break. After the break, Harris was bleeding heavily. Storm came up bleeding, too. "Somebody's going to get killed in this ring!" said West. They separated and each set up a table as fans chanted, "We want tables!" Harris threw a trash can into the ring. They entered the ring and stared each other down while holding trash can lids. They took turns smashing each other with them. They continued to brawl in the ring until cutting to another break at 12:00. Back from the break, Storm dove off the top rope with a somersault onto Harris, breaking the table. They fought to the entrance stage. Harris speared Storm through the stage platform. The ring announcer said both men need to respond to a ten count or they'll both be disqualified from the KOTM match. West said they both deserve a shot because of what they just put each other through. As the ref counted them down, Angle walked out. Samoa Joe came out to stare him down nose-to-nose. (***)

Angle and Joe got into a brawl at ringside. Angle wore his t-shirt which says on the back, "Tap or Snap." Why didn't anyone think of that sooner? That's a pretty cool catchphrase. They were pulled apart by TNA officials. Styles tried to hit Angle with a lead pipe, but Angle ducked and then applied an anklelock. They cut away to Borash interviewing Jim Cornette about his decision about something. Christian barged in and demanded to know his opponent next week. Cornette said it's going to be no problem because it's someone he's said is beneath him. Christian said, "Seriously?" They cut back where Angle and Joe were being held back from each other.

The Adrenaline Rush closing video aired with highlights from the show.

WHAT WORKED

-The Christian-Tomko dynamic remains fun.

-Storm and Harris put on a good main event.

-Nash, Machismo, and Dutt were funny, especially Machismo in his reaction shots.

-The Wycheck video package was well done.

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