TNA Impact review
October 1, 2004
Taped September 28, 2004 in Orlando, FL at Universal Studios
Aired on Fox Sports Net
Report by James Caldwell, Torch Team Contributor

- We open with the voice over man telling us that the days are drawing near until Jeff Jarrett takes on someone at Victory Road for the TNA Title.

- A clip from last week's main event when the Tag Titles switched hands to Christopher Daniels & James Storm built up the tag team turmoil between Triple X & AMW.

- Next up, a clip highlighting potential TNA Title contenders including Monty Brown, Raven, Abyss, and Jeff Hardy aired. Who will it be?

- Mike Tenay let us know that the location for Victory Road will be announced right here tonight on Impact.

(1) Jeff Jarrett defeated Brian Gamble at 2:00 in a Non Title Match. The TNA Champion entered the ring first and brought his guitar with him. Jarrett sent Gamble to the outside and brawled around the ringside area. Jarrett sent Gamble head first into the announce table then took him back into the ring. Jarrett ducked a spin kick, a very green, very poor, spin kick, then decked Gamble. Jarrett set up Gamble for the Stroke, then after a ten second delay, delivered his finisher. Jarrett with the cover for the pin and the win.

- After the match, Jeff Jarrett grabbed the mic and demanded Vince Russo let him know who his opponent will be at Victory Road. Jarrett picked up a chair and placed it on the announce table next to Mike Tenay & Don West. Jarrett sat down to wait for Russo as we went to commercial.

Match View: Jarrett just needed an excuse to get some face time on Impact. Nothing to this match other than to prove how green the wrestlers thrown at Jarrett are. I would prefer Jarrett just come out for a storyline segment rather than waste two minutes on a squash match.

- We came back from commercial to find Jarrett and Mike Tenay screaming at each other. Vince Russo finally entered the Impact Zone. Jarrett went to the ring to meet Russo. Russo entered the ring with a piece of paper in hand. Russo called Jarrett a child, then said he was going to tell Jarrett who his opponent is. Russo said the Outsiders just won't cut it, because the real talent is right here in TNA. Russo said there will be a tournament next week with Raven, Abyss, Monty Brown, and Jeff Hardy. Russo said the winner of the tournament will take on Jarrett at Victory Road. Jarrett said he got the answer he wanted then said he was going to bring some Outsiders to Victory Road since Russo couldn't get the job done. Jarrett left the ring and the segment appeared to be over.

A.J. Styles entered the Impact Zone. Styles told Russo to get back in the ring to answer some questions. Styles wanted to know when he was going to get his shot at the X Division Title. Russo said tonight, there's going to be a six man match tonight with the winner getting Petey Williams and a shot at the X Division Title at Victory Road. Russo said there will be no more hand outs for Styles. Enter Team Canada led by Coach Scott D'Amore.

D'Amore said Petey WIlliams to take on any top contenders. D'Amore said his boys from Team Canada deserve a shot at the Tag Titles...now. Russo said Team Canada will get the shot when they earn it. D'Amore suggested a #1 Contender Match pitting Team Canada vs. Vince Russo & A.J. Styles. D'Amore ranted and raved about Styles being in Russo's pocket, then Styles speared D'Amore. A brawl ensued with Petey Williams going right after Styles. 3 Live Kru entered the scene and went to town on Team Canada. Konnan, BG James, and Ron Killings stood side by side with Styles & Russo after clearing the ring of Team Canada.

- A video promo from Raven said he would destroy anyone he needs to including Abyss, Monty Brown, or Ron Killings in order to fulfill his destiny of recapturing the TNA Title.

(2) Raven defeated Mark Stephens at 0:58. Raven jumped Stephens before the bell rang then stomped a mudhole on him in the corner with roughly fifteen stomps to the chest. Raven with a clothesline off the ropes knocking Stephens down. Raven with a high knee to the face. Raven grabbed Stephens then dropped him with the Raven's Effect DDT for the pin and the win. To promote his match next week, we saw that Raven's chest had: "Die Monty Brown" painted on it. Tenay let us know that Raven will take on Brown next week on Impact in the First Round of the #1 Contender Tournament.

Match View: Basically, a chance to get Raven on TV. Raven pretty much disappeared after losing to Sonjay Dutt a few months ago. Now, TNA is throwing him back in the Title picture, so instead of featuring him against quality competition, they just fed a jobber to him. Not going to work.

- Shane Douglas was backstage outside of the Championship Committee's meeting room door. Larry Zbyszko exited the meeting room and ripped on Dusty Rhodes for trying to run "a daycare center" rather than a wrestling company. Zbyszko indicated that he hopes Rhodes leaves the business for good. Douglas let us know that he will be standing outside of the meeting room for as long as it takes until he gets a sufficient update.

- A promo for Jeff Hardy aired that showed him lip synching to an alternative music themed song. So he can't speak, just lip synch? Great.

(3) Abyss defeated Luther Jackson at 1:20. Just like last week, Abyss entered into Monty Brown's "two minute squash match" slot on Impact. Great. The fans didn't know to react to Abyss and just sort of sat there staring at him. Jackson opened up with right hands, then took a clothesline. Abyss with chops to the chest. Luther ran into a right hand then Abyss squashed him in the corner. Abyss picked up Jackson and delivered the Torture Rack Slam, sending Jackson into a world of pain. Abyss with the Black Hole Slam off the ropes for the pin and the win. Tenay let us know that Abyss will take on Jeff Hardy next week in the TNA Title Contender Tournament.

Match View: Punch. Slam. Slam. Simple formula for Abyss. Too bad he's not facing quality opponents. For being such an agile big man, he can definitely contribute to the product. At least he's been placed in the #1 Contender Tournament. Let's see if that can help him become a superstar that he has potential to be. Of course, he will be wrestling Jeff Hardy and that certainly won't help him develop.

- Harley Race exited the Championship Committee meeting and spoke with Shane Douglas. Race said he was frustrated with Rhodes & Russo then said they should convene at another time and another location to settle Championship matters. Race left and Douglas said he wasn't leaving until he had a word with either Russo or Rhodes to speak specifically on the problems that can't seem to be resolved.

(4) The Naturals (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens) defeated Christopher Daniels & James Storm at 3:35 in a Non Title Tag Match. Daniels and Storm entered the ring separately, showing no signs of coexisting. Storm began the match with Stevens. Stevens did a little too much showboating, then took a clothesline. Storm with a huge side tilt o whirl slam, sending Stevens to the mat. Storm with a cover for a two count only. Daniels tagged in and went to work on Stevens. Daniels with some offense then a tag in to Storm. Storm missed a clothesline and Stevens showboated some more. He turned around and took a clothesline from Storm. Storm & Daniels exchanged rapid fire tags, working over Stevens with single and double team offense. Daniels measured Stevens and delivered a Rock Bottom slam. Daniels went for a Moonsault on Stevens, but Storm had picked up Stevens in a fireman's carry. Daniels missed the moonsault and laid on the mat. Douglas tripped Storm allowing Stevens to slip down from Storm. Stevens no sold the champ's offense then rolled up Daniels for the pin and the win.

- After the match, Daniels and Storm argued about the loss. Prime Time & Chris Harris entered the ring and bickered with the tag champs, defending their own natural partner. The Naturals laughed from outside the ring. Team Canada stood on top of the entrance ramp and smiled down at the chaos amongst the Champs.

Match View: The Tag Title situation is a very intriguing storyline that adds a lot to the product. However, having the Naturals completely dominated for an entire match, then score a pin, and not sell any after match offense from the Tag Champs was ludicrous. Combined, The Naturals must be in the dog house because they had one offensive move the entire match, the roll up for the win. I'm hoping for an eight team Tag Title Match at Victory Road. That's the only way to solve this.

- Shane Douglas was still outside the Committee Meeting. Dusty Rhodes exited the meeting and said there is a failure to communicate. Rhodes said the committee is interrogating him like he's a police suspect. Rhodes said TNA can put him out on an island, but he's still going to take care of his own business and agenda. Douglas assured us that he will get to the bottom of this. Thanks for the comforting guarantee.

- A promo for "Empire Saint" aired. It looked like TNA took Mordecai's WWE gimmick and threw it on this guy.

- Mike Tenay stood in the middle of the ring to let us know about the first ever Sunday PPV, Victory Road on November 7. Tenay said not only will there be a Sunday event, but the entire weekend will be dedicated to V.R. Tenay built up the suspense over where the PPV would be held a la Bob Barker, then said, "Orlando, Florida." The fans ringside went crazy, selling the announcement too well. Tenay wasn't done. Tenay let us know that Roddy Piper would be here next week on Impact to make a major announcement.

(5) A.J. Styles defeated Kid Kash & Amazing Red & Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin & Kazarian at 8:33 in a 6 Man #1 Contender X Division Match. Alex Shelley came out sans Goldylocks, thank God. Shelley and Kazarian started things off. Kazarian with a stiff kick to the face on Shelley. Chris Sabin entered the ring and took a boot to the face from Kazarian. Everyone brawled in the ring with Amazing Red delivering a top rope kick to Kash. Styles and Kazarian brawled in the ring with Kid Kash entering to double team Styles as we went to commercial.

Back from the commercial, a full out brawl was going on in the ring. Amazing Red and Kazarian were in the ring going at it. Kazarian set up Red with a Boston Crab. Shelley with a double foot kick to Red's face. Shelley clotheslined Kazarian off the ropes then went to work on Red. Shelley tagged in Kid Kash who stomped on Red. Kash with an elevated side slam followed by a cover for a one count only. Kazarian tagged in and dropped Red with a kick to the gut. Kazarian with a slingshot leg drop off the apron. Kazarian with a cover for a two count only. Shelley tagged in and slapped Red. Shelley picked up Red and choked him. Red countered an Irish Whip with a drop toe hold. Red with a back flip splash and a sweet bull dog out of the corner. Red with a sweet modified Sunset Flip piledriver. The four other competitors entered the ring to break up Red's pin attempt. Styles with a plant slam on Kazarian. A high spot fest ensued with bodies flying all over the place. Red was flipped over the top onto Kazarian on the outside. Kash with a somersault splash on Kazarian & Red. Back in the ring, Sabin dropped Shelley with a right kick. Sabin with a splash over the top rope onto Kazarian. Shelley & Styles were left in the ring. Shelley with a Face First Plant which Styles bounced up from. Styles turned a pin attempt following a huracanrana into the Styles Clash. Styles made the cover for the pin and the win before Kazarian could break it up. Styles gets the X Division Title shot at Victory Road.

Match View: Real nice showcase of the X Division Talent. However, as I've said before, there is no character development or build up for anyone except for Styles. Let the other X Division stars shine! Why should I care about who wins the #1 Contender spot when Styles is the only one who has expressed interest. Why would I want Amazing Red or Chris Sabin to win the match if they don't cut a promo to express their desire to win the belt? It seems like it's just a match, that win or lose, won't affect the wrestlers afterwards. For example, you want to get the feeling from Chris Sabin that if he doesn't win this match, he's going to be thinking about in bed before going to sleep. You want to connect with the wrestler that if he doesn't win, he's going to have a hard time sleeping tonight. You never get the sense that the X Division Title means anything to these guys. TNA needs to allow the wrestlers to show they care and in turn, will make the fans care. Right now, none of that is going on.

- Quick five second promos aired from Dusty Rhodes, Raven, and Monty Brown. Next week on Impact: Raven vs. Monty Brown and Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss. Good thing Jeff Hardy was such a featured talent this week to hype for next week. Way to go.

Closing Thought: This show felt like it was going about 150 MPH, when 100 MPH would have sufficed. Too much stuff going on, with no retention available for the fans. I understand Impact is supposed to be quick, fast paced, etc. However, just throwing random events together without any recap or focus after each event doesn't allow for solid build up. For instance, the tag title scenario is a very hot storyline that TNA can center Impact around for a good fifteen minutes. Instead, the Naturals win, some teams bicker, some smiles are exchanged, and that's it. Tenay & West could have discussed the situation in detail after the commercial break and indicated feelings, reactions, etc., to give us a chance to information provided by the storyline segment. Instead of letting it soak in, Impact moved onto another rapid fire segment. Impact can throw all the action, storylines, and matches they want at a viewer to make the show seem "fast, slick, and cool," but that doesn't mean it's going to stick. What Impact needs to do is make the key storylines stick with the viewer, not bounce right off like a rubber ball as the next segment comes around. TNA needs to have confidence in the product and focus specifically on certain aspects of the action, without throwing everything at us, like "here it is, deal with it." Every segment needs to mean something. Right now, Impact doesn't give off that feeling.

As always, feel free to send in your feedback on today's show. I welcome all comments at revenge_nwo@yahoo.com. See everyone next week for the #1 Contender Tournament on Impact.

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