By: Daniel Wilkenfeld, PWTorch Contributor

Where We've Been: Last week, TNA's HD debut featured a decent amount of crashing, and a whole lot of burning. The crashing mostly came in the form of Jay Lethal, after valiantly winning a title shot at the biggest PPV of the year, jobbing in an approximate 34 seconds (it is actually really hard to pick a number low enough to make it an exaggeration). The burning came in the form of three announcements with blockbuster content and lackluster delivery, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that much of the delivery came from the likes of Kurt Angle and Mick Foley (it wasn't their fault). The punch lines of the week were that Awesome Kong became your new TNA women's champion, Booker T became your new (and only) legends' champion, Sting became your new top heel by joining the Main Event Mafia along with Kurt Angle, Booker T, and Kevin Nash, and Mick Foley became your new major TNA stakeholder by spending years skimping on hotel rooms. Anyway, it seems like that should have been a hard show to screw up, and from the reax it appears that many of you think they weren't able to; I, however, give them more credit than that.

The Show: The Making of the Mafia

Last week's show is much more exciting in video recap form. Booker T's accent is still every bit as ridiculous. They remind us that Mick Foley offered Kurt the choice of becoming part of history or becoming history, and Kurt seemed actually pensive regarding his options.

We start the show right at the top with The Phenomenal AJ Styles, and wow, Joe is coming down to AJ's music (though with a mixed video package); poor Joe. AJ says that he's glad Mick is here. He also tells Mick "thanks, but no thanks" for his support, since they're going to fight this war on their own. AJ's been here since the beginning, from Tennessee to the Impact Zone. Fun trivia challenge: what was inaccurate about that statement? Since then, they've picked up new talent the likes of Sting, Angle, Nash, and Booker. Sting's name actually draws some boos, which is progress I guess. But AJ for one hasn't forgotten that three of those men already put one company out of business. Last week grew the company, when they debuted in HD live in Vegas, and AJ and Joe bled for the company in the process. But what is bothering him is that all the people in the back whom he thought of like brothers, stayed in the back. They all complain about how they don't get their shot, but if you want a shot you have to take it yourself, so he wants to know who will come join them. Jay Lethal's music hits, and he comes out, followed by Consequences Creed, Petey Williams, Eric Young, and ODB. Joe starts to thank them for coming out, when The Motor City Machine Guns' music hits. Is there a heel turn coming? Sure enough, Shelley says that Joe is leading them into trouble. Being from Detroit, they've heard from Kwame Kilpatrick what someone selling a lemon sounds like. Joe says that this is about all of them, and so it's in the Guns' self-interest to join up. Shelley doesn't believe it, and wants to know what Joe's ever done for him. Joe answers with a slap in the face. Some cool new music hits, and apparently it's the Main Event Mafia's. Rachael points out that Sting, sans makeup, looks like someone's high school principal. Kurt says that if AJ wants to talk about family, he's looking at it right here. He also says that they didn't go looking for this war; all they ever wanted was a "thank you". Nash says that he has something he's been wanting to get off his chest for a long time. The reason Scott Hall didn't show up at that PPV last year is cause he didn't think Joe was worth the rub, and, in retrospect, he was right. Nash says that if Joe wants a war, he's got one. Booker mutters incoherently, but then says something about how "it's all about the five." The announcers question whether that means the MEM is getting a fifth member, as apparently Sharmell doesn't count.

JB is in the back with Jarrett, who says that people like AJ want to fight their own battles, so he's planning to stay uninvolved. Mick comes in, and says that he's ready for his big proclamation later. He also says he wants to improvise a bit and address Sting.

[Commercial Break]

Not-Crystal is in the back with The Beautiful People, and Cute Kip is sporting a pink boa. That barely works when Hogan does it. Angelina Love points out that with the shift to HD everyone can see all of Not-Crystal's imperfections. Love also wants to know when Christy Hemme became a wrestler, and suggests she take her silicone boobs back to Playboy. Sky randomly punks out ODB, saying she can't figure out if she's a guy or what. When did ODB become involved in this?

(1) CHRISTY HEMME & ODB defeat THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (w/CUTE KIP)

Oh, I guess ODB became involved at the whim of the Random Match Generator 3001 (it got promoted after the shift to HD). Sky starts things off, beating Christy down to the mat. She goes for a Side Headlock, but Christy shoots her off and takes her down by the leg. Both women tag out; ODB takes Love down with shoulder block for two. Christy tags back in, and a distraction by Sky lets Love take control with a Spinning Wheel Kick. Christy is isolated for a minute or so, but when she and Love go for simultaneous hair takedowns she's able to get the tag to ODB. ODB nails an incoming Velvet Sky with a Fall Away Slam and a Running Power Slam, but Love breaks up the count at two. Christy Hemme kicks Love out of the ring, and when Kip tries to get involved Christy jumps out after him. Rachael reminds me that Kip was the sexist jerk when Christy tried to make a bigger role for women in wrestling than mere eye candy, but I'm positive we're not supposed to remember that. ODB puts Sky away with some sort of Sit Out Rock Bottom.

Not-Crystal catches up with The Motor City Machine Guns in the back, and Shelley reminds her that things aren't always as they seem. Joe pops into frame, and they tell him they appreciate what he's trying to do and they're ready to join up. Joe expresses some trust issues, and says they'll see who's on what side when the battle flares up.

[Commercial Break]

JB is in the back with Eric Young. EY says that he's been in the company since the start, and he doesn't even know who he is. JB gives him the eye to eye gesture, but Eric says that's not for tonight. Tonight is serious.

(2) ERIC YOUNG defeats JAMES STORM (w/JACQUELINE & ROBERT ROODE)

Eric Young, on his way to the ring, just smirks at his pyro without falling down. He takes it right to Storm, and the crowd seems cool with this more serious Young. He runs circles around the cowboy and takes him down with a couple of dropkicks. Storm is able to kick Young to the outside, then distracts the ref as Roode lays into him on the floor. Storm brings Young back into the ring with a Lifting DDT, then decides to work the Rear Chin Lock. Is there a reason that move exists? Young powers out, but walks right into a High Knee. Storm nails the Eye of the Storm, but it only gets two. Jacqueline distracts the ref while Roode gets up on the apron, but when he attempts to spit some beer he accidentally nails his own partner, whom EY rolls up for the win.
After the match Beer Money start beating down Eric Young, but The Motor City Machine Guns come down to make the save. They extend their hands to Young, who accepts the help. You know who personifies the old veterans coming in to TNA and taking advantage of the Young Lions' work? James Storm. What did he ever do for this company?

Not-Crystal catches up with an arriving Roxxi and a lead-pipe-wielding Taylor Wilde. She asks what they're here to do, but I can't make out the answer through Roxxi's string of profanities.

[Commercial Break]

We see another video package for Suicide. I give that gimmick two weeks till the fans turn on it brutally, and three months till TNA cans it.

Later on the card we have AJ Styles & Samoa Joe vs. Booker T & Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle vs. Abyss, and The Motor City Machine Guns in international X Division action.

Not-Crystal is in the back with Awesome Kong and Raesha Saeed, but before they can get to any real conversation Wilde and Roxxi burst in. Wilde takes the pipe to Kong's bat, then they dunk Saeed's head in the toilet. I realize she won a little dirty last week, but I'm not totally sure what Kong did to merit a lead pipe ambush.

[Commercial Break]

Sheik Abdul Bashir is out on commentary.

(3) THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS defeat TANAHASJI & VOLADOR

Tenay tells us that Tanahashi fought AJ Styles at Final Resolution 2006, which I have to admit to having no recollection of whatsoever. Volador was Team Mexico's representative in the Ultimate X Match that won them the World X Cup. Tanahashi and Volador start things off quickly. Volador tosses Sabin and somersaults over the ropes onto him. Tanahasi sets Shelley up in the ropes to take a Leg Drop from Volador, then holds him up to eat some sort of Leaping Code Breaker for two. Tanahashi lands a Back Splash for two. He sets Shelley up for a Scorpion Death Drop, but Sabin reenters the ring just long enough to break up the move, before being tossed himself. Volador comes in and Power Bombs Shelley to the mat, but whiffs on an attempted Springboard Moonsault. Shelley gets the tag, and Sabin knocks around Volador and Tanahashi some. Sabin nails a Sprinboard Clothesline, but Tanahashi breaks it up at two. Shelley tosses Tanahashi and Sabin hoists Volador up onto his shoulders; Shelley hits a Double Stomp onto a suspended Volador, and Sabin takes him down with a Cradle Shock for the win.
After the match Bashir flips out, kicking over his chair and going to the ring to talk some smack to Volador. Rhino comes in behind him and GOREs the living daylight out of him. Bashir, to his credit, was much better on commentary than his recent one-dimensional promos might have led you to expect.

[Commercial Break]

Not-Crystal is in the back with Christian Cage, who reminds everyone that Booker just made up his title last week. He accepts Booker's challenge, and says that while he isn't picking a side, if he were it wouldn't be the MEM's. He also doesn't see how Booker can be hunting lions one week and a gangster the next. Booker seems to be confused about who he is, unlike Christian Cage, who always is simply the champ. And he'll end up on the same side he always does—his own. This was good work here.

(4) AJ STYLES & SAMOA JOE defeat KEVIN NASH & BOOKER T

For those keeping score at home, AJ Styles gets to come out after Joe for the second week in a row. AJ starts in the ring, but his opponents seem reluctant to join him. Eventually Nash steps in and catches AJ with a knee to the gut. He hits some more big-man-offense, but AJ slides out to the apron and comes back with a Springboard Dropkick. Samoa Joe suddenly goes after Booker T on the outside with a Suicide Dive, apparently having just gotten a flashback to Booker's interminable series of matches with Christian over the Intercontinental Championship a few years back. Also, they needed a big spot before the commercial.

[Commercial Break]

Joe is taking it to Nash when we get back. That might be the first time in wrestling history that the faces have been in control though a whole commercial break. Nash finally creates some distance with an elbow to the face, and tags in Booker T. Booker works the knees, but Joe takes him down with a shoulder block. Interference from Nash on the outside gives Booker the chance to nail the Scissors Kick, but AJ breaks up the cover at one. Nash comes in and drops an elbow on Joe for two. A Side Slam gets one or two. Nash tags back in Booker, who hits his high kick for two. Then he cinches in a Key Lock, lest anyone become interested in this match. Joe starts to power out, but Booker awkwardly kicks him in the face. Booker makes a tag, and holds Joe down while Nash drops another elbow. Nash works over Joe in the corner, and distracts the ref while Booker provides the illegal assist. Booker tags back in, and goes for all his greatest hits by locking in a Sleeper. I could be wrong, but the crowd sounds like they're chanting "tap, tap tap"…to a Sleeper…on Samoa Joe. Que? Maybe it was just a badly organized "Joe" chant. Anyway, Joe reverses an attempted Scissors Kick into a Snap Slam, and gets the tag to AJ. Styles comes in, kicks down Nash, nails a Flying Forearm on Booker, and follows it up with his new Rolling Arm Bar. Nash breaks up the hold, but Joe comes back in to get Nash with the Kokido Clutch. Booker tosses Joe from the ring and goes for a Scissors Kick on AJ, but AJ steps away and nails a Pele for the win. The Young Lions come out to celebrate on the ramp.

Not-Crystal is in the back with Abyss and Matt Morgan. Please don't let Abyss talk. They ignore me, and he says that his burns are just a flesh wound. Morgan begs to differ, particularly as he's apparently been banned from helping Abyss in his match. When did that happen? Abyss remembers what Angle did to him two weeks ago, and he's ready for revenge. I prefer angry-crazy Abyss to sad-crazy Abyss, but prefer silent Abyss to both.

[Commercial Break]

JB is in the back with Sting, who says that no one has officially confirmed to him that Mick is his boss. He's going to go into this segment with an open mind, and he just hopes Mick isn't going to close it.

[Commercial Break]

Mick is out to the ring. Abyss vs. Angle gets top billing over a segment with Mick Foley and Sting? That's an odd choice. If I weren't recapping I would be tempted to go to bed after this segment. I mean I'm still tempted, but I'll try to fight it. Mick draws attention to the new, tricked out, Impact Zone. It does look better. Mick reminds us to call our friends to get them to vote, and says that once we're calling we might as well tell them that TNA is now in HD. As "Executive Shareholder", he's here to announce the main events at Turning Point: Sting vs. AJ Styles and Samoa Joe vs. Kevin Nash. To Foley's credit, he doesn't draw those announcements out, since we all knew they were coming anyway. He then expresses a polite interest in talking to the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Sting hits the ring, still sporting a suit and no makeup. Mick says that this is the first time they've been face-to-face in fourteen years, and the first thing he wants to do is give Sting credit for making his career back in 1991. Given his respect for Sting, it was hard for him to stand there last week and look out at Sting standing with the Main Event Mafia. He wants to know what everyone else wants to know—why Sting, why? Mick thinks that all of the pieces are here for something great—the hard workers and the big talent, and Mick sees Sting's job as both a champion and veteran to be the glue that holds those pieces together. But Sting has been a wedge instead of glue. Sting says that he wanted to be the glue, and he still wants the same thing as Foley for the company. But Mick respected people like Terry Funk, and that's what the new generation lacks. Mick thinks that they'll have to agree to disagree, but Sting cautions him that this isn't his (Mick's) war. That was fairly respectful actually—maybe Sting isn't as full blown a heel as we thought. He has been conspicuously quiet in the MEM promos.

JB is in the back with Kurt Angle, who seizes the mic and asks what more he has to do to get to Jeff Jarrett. He's already going through every wrestler on the roster, but he knows what really matters to Jeff, and none of us want him to go there. That part at least is certainly true.

[Commercial Break]

The Motor City Machine Guns have been granted a title shot at Turning Point. I don't really object, but why?

(5) ABYSS defeats KURT ANGLE

Angle ducks out of the ring before locking up, but then comes back in for a headlock. Abyss pushes him off and takes him down with a shoulder block, then shoves him back down to the mat. Angle tries to come off the ropes, but runs right into a clothesline. Kurt starts to walk away, but Abyss brings him back to the ring. The crowd is split about 65-35 in favor of Kurt Angle. Abyss hits a Side Slam for two, then clotheslines Angle out of the ring. Kurt tries to escape through the crowd, and Abyss gives chase.

[Commercial Break]

I ran out of lead time here on my DVR, and had to watch an ad where Mary Jo Kilroy promised to end partisanship, unlike her evil, Republican, opponent. In case you're curious, his ads are no better. I wonder if I can vote for AJ Styles?

Abyss has gotten to Angle, and whips him into the wall in the crowd. He finally takes Kurt back into the ring, and signals for a Choke Slam. Angle kicks Abyss's left leg, then chop blocks it out from under him. He starts stomping it, and continually chop blocks it out whenever Abyss tries to get back up. Eventually Abyss gets up quick enough to land a punch before falling back down. They both get to their feet, and Kurt tries to go with right hands. That turns out to be imprudent, as Abyss no sells the punches and takes Angle down with a Big Boot. He hammers him around the ring for a bit before nailing the Shock Treatment for two. He goes for a Choke Slam again, but Angle rolls through and picks the ankle. Abyss rolls out and hits a quick Choke Slam for 2.999999. Angle comes back with an Olympic Slam for two. Angle goes to the top rope for a Moonsault, but Abyss cuts him off with a Power Bomb. This is a shockingly legitimate Impact main event. I wonder how they'll screw up the ending. Kurt goes for a steel chair and whacks Abyss in the head (he uses the arm to absorb the punishment), and the ref calls for the bell. That timing was incredible—they managed to hit the exact moment when I started thinking about which screw job finish we would get.
After the match Angle works over Abyss with an Angle Lock and shots to the burned torso. Morgan comes out for the save and nails Kurt with a brutal looking Bicycle Kick. Nash and Booker come out to make the re-save, chair in hand. They squish Morgan and Abyss. The TNA Originals (I guess the "Young Lions" got renamed) back the MEM out of the ring. As they gloat, however, Big Poppa Pump comes out from the back and nails each of the Originals with a lead pipe one by one. Sting comes to the ring last and helps AJ to his feet, but AJ's a little grumpy and spits in Sting's face. The Stinger not surprisingly objects to that, and takes AJ down with the Scorpion Death Drop. The now five members of the Main Even Mafia raise their hands in the ring—Sting takes Angle's hand, but manages to sell subtle disgust in so doing.


Where We're Going: I like where they're going with the Motor City Machine Guns. It was pretty cool when they allowed Christian to be a faction buster, and it similarly makes a lot of sense to extend that sort of intrigue to some of the undercard. An emphasis on The Guns does make me a little worried about LAX's place on the card, as TNA seems physically incapable of pushing them both at the same time. It also assumes that there's a coherent plan behind the Guns' seemingly wishy-washy actions, which is probably expecting a lot out TNA booking.

Star of the Night: Abyss, for proving he can still work a decent main event match.

Overall: This was a definite improvement over last week. We got a legitimate main event match, and an even more legitimate major event that was not horribly oversold. I'm glad to see Steiner back, if only because his promos with Booker T are bound to be incoherent priceless-ness. The started a bit slow, but definitely picked up steam as it moved towards a strong ending. B+

Daniel is a graduate student at The Ohio State University. Some days he is sad. Good cheer can be sent to dawilk316@gmail.com

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