By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
JUNE 18, 2004
TAPED THURSDAY IN ORLANDO, FLA.

-Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show.

1 -- MIYAMOTO vs. PRIMETIME vs. CHRIS SABIN vs. MICHAEL SHANE (w/Tracy) vs. KAZARIAN vs. HECTOR GARZA

Tenay and West commented on each wrestler during their ring intros. West called Primetime the "best wrestler never to have won the X Division crown." Sabin started against Kazarian, but obviously this was going to be a rapid-fire match with rapid tagouts and lots of spots without enough time to develop much of a storyline. West and Tenay began talking about the Jeff Jarrett-Vince Russo incident on last Wednesday's PPV. Did I mention how glad I am that we get to see another chapter in the Jarrett-Russo feud. Shane shook the top rope as Primetime attempted to walk it. He then head scissored Primetime off the top rope to the mat. Miyamoto tagged in at 2:30. He looked fine. A six-way free-for-all broke out at 4:00. Garza dove onto Miyamoto at ringside. Sabin dove onto Garza at ringside. Primetime then gave Kazarian his POD finisher. Miyamoto sprayed mist in Primetime's face. Shane superkicked Miyamoto and went for the cover. Sabin broke up the pin and head scissored Shane over the top rope to the floor. Garza entered the ring and stomped away at Miyamoto. He then motioned to the crowd for his corkscrew moonsault. He hit it for the win.

WINNER: Garza pinned Miyamoto at 5:56.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Solid fast-paced spotfest. These matches get across TNA's highspot style that outclasses anything WWE provides in that area, but doesn't do much to get across any one or two particular wrestlers or personalities. It's a trade-off.

-A plug aired for the Wednesday Two Year Anniversary PPV.

[Commercial Break - Including a plug for the Ultimate X Collection DVD. The ad still mentions NWATNA.com as the website, rather than TNAwrestling.com, which is the URL they now prefer to use, although both to the same place]

-Before the next match, America's Most Wanted attacked The Naturals, upset about what the Naturals did to them on Wednesday. Heavy D quickly broke up the scuffle.

2 -- SABU & SONJAY DUTT vs. THE NATURALS (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens)

Dutt hit both Stevens and Douglas with snap huracanranas. When West went nuts, he mentioned that "Sonjay may not be big, but..." They ought to never draw attention to the size of the wrestlers. There's no benefit to it. It's not what viewers are thinking about when watching, so why draw attention to it, even if it's to say it doesn't matter. Sabu hot-tagged in at 3:15 and went to work on Douglas. Fans chanted "Sabu, Sabu." He hit a springboard moonsault. The Naturals doubled him. Sabu flew back with a springboard clothesline on both. He followed with a flip legdrop on Douglas. He then put Stevens in a partial camel clutch. Dutt tossed a chair into the ring. Sabu leaped off of it with a moonsault onto Stevens. Dutt then went for the Hindu Press, but Stevens moved. The Naturals then gave Dutt the Natural Disaster for the win. Sabu cleared the ring of the Naturals after the match.

WINNERS: The Naturals at 4:56 when Douglas pinned Dutt.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- Good short tag match.

-A recap aired of Dusty Rhodes confronting Raven, and later Raven apologizing and promising to have a tribute to the Sheik on next week's PPV.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Shark Boy playing with the Popeye mascot at Universal Theme Parks with Tenay and West plugging it as a travel destination. "Something for everyone here in Orlando," said Tenay, who suggested they add TNA to their list of attractions.

3 -- D-RAY 3000 vs. ABYSS

Tenay said D-Ray is 21 years old and on TNA management's "Gut Check" (not ready for primetime, so to speak) list.

WINNER: Abyss at 1:23.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Just a squash, although D-Ray already belongs on the list of Top 20 Jobbers ever.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- A.J. STYLES vs. MR. AGUILA - Non-Title Match

Styles hit a delayed vertical suplex at 2:00. Kid Kash and Dallas watched from the stage. They distracted Styles, giving Aguila a chance to get control and toss Styles to the mat. Aguila then gave Styles a head scissors at ringside. Then they cut to a commercial.

[Commercial Break]

Styles hit Aguila with a Cliffhanger finisher, but Aguila kicked out. Styles then climbed to the top rope. Aguila shoved the ref into the ropes, knocking Styles off balance. Aguila then set up a superplex, but Styles punched out of it and hit a top rope sunset flip . He went for a Styles Clash, but Aguila blocked it at 7:25. Styles sold an injured back. Styles caught Aguila seconds later and hit the Styles Clash for the win. After the match, Kash and Dallas attacked Styles. D-Lo Brown made the save and played to the crowd.

WINNER: Styles at 7:39.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Nice TV match.

[Commercial Break]

-Clips aired of Roddy Piper and Sting making TNA appearances. They plugged the Hulk Hogan-Jeff Jarrett footage for next week. At least they're getting something out of that fiasco.

-Tenay and West were shown on camera for the first time, plugging the Two Year Anniversary PPV. West drew from his home shopping network roots and shouted, "You'd think it'd be $49.99 or maybe $39.99, but it's just $9.99." The matches announced were AMW vs. Misawa & Miyamoto, Styles vs. Kash, Trinity vs. Desire, Jarrett vs. Ron Killings, and the mini-luchadors.

-A video package aired on the Trinity-Desire feud dating back to Desire breaking her neck and Trinity "taking over TNA" during her absence.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Jarrett standing on presumably a Universal Studios set talking to peasant below as if he were a king.

5 -- ERIC YOUNG (w/Scott D'Amore) vs. RON "THE TRUTH" KILLINGS

Tenay welcomed this week's match judge Dusty Rhodes to the broadcast table. Killings went after young early with a clothesline. D'Amore tripped Killings to give Young the advantage. Jerry Lynn then charged to ringside to chased D'Amore away. Killings came back with a flying forearm and a powerslam. Killings had a problem with his right eye, which was swollen shut at the start of the match. West explained that Killings suffered the eye injury on Wednesday's PPV. It was nice of them to get around to addressing that three minutes into the match when in a "real fight," it would be a major factor in the match and something that they should be talking about as a concern for him on Wednesday. Killings took Young down with a wheel kick followed by an axe kick for a three count. Tenay undersold the finisher as Dusty talked through it.

WINNER: Killings at 4:10.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- Killings looked okay, but not quite at main event top tier babyface championship level the way he was presented. The lack of an interview hurts. As the World Title challenger, he should be introduced from scratch to viewers with a video, promo, and other details.

-Jarrett attacked Dusty with his guitar after the match, then went after Killings. Vince Russo walked out and lectured Jarrett about acting outside the bounds. He said he could suspend him without pay, but he doesn't want to take away Killings's opportunity to take his belt from him on Wednesday. Russo asked Jarrett to bring the guitar to the ring because if it's used, there will be a DQ on the spot, and under NWA rules if there is a DQ, the belt changes hands. Killings then went after Jarrett again, but Jarrett knocked him into the crowd with a guitar shot. 3 Live Kru ran out for the save. Tenay said, "That's absolutely incredible." Yeah, it's incredible that Russo cut the final promo for Killings instead of Killings himself. They did nothing to establish a bond between Killings and the fans. There's no reason to care about Killings. You either have to hate Jarrett or really like Russo to care about the match.

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