By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
SEPTEMBER 23, 2010
TAPED IN ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with a clip of last week's controversy between Dixie Carter and Eric Bischoff regarding how to handle the non-decision in the No Surrender main event between Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy. They showed footage from Reaction where Dixie refused comment and Bischoff said he's sorry if Dixie isn't happy but she hired him to make decisions.

-The title of the show: "They say... only the strong will survive"

-As Mike Tenay and Jeff Hardy introduced the show, there was a ruckus with RVD being restrained by Jeff Hardy and other wrestlers when he arrived. The storyline was RVD couldn't wait to get his hands on Abyss when he heard his entrance music.

1 -- ROB TERRY vs. ABYSS

Terry opened with... you'll ever believe it... a clothesline and his spinning wheel kick. Abyss soon took over, but Terry caught him mid-air and turned it into a powerslam. Abyss walked into his arms again and Terry turned it into a powerslam for a two count. That looked extra-choreographed. Tenay said he's hearing in his headset that RVD is still raising all kinds of hell backstage. Taz said he expects Hardy will talk sense into RVD. Abyss clotheslined Terry over the top rope. They went to a split screen of Hardy trying to talk RVD into chilling out and calming down. It looked like Hardy led RVD toward the main area of the arena. Abyss yanked off part of the security railing and then threw it into Terry's chest, prompting a DQ.

WINNER: Terry via DQ in 5:00.

-Afterward RVD made his way toward the ring through the crowd with a chair in hand. Abyss held his barbed wire board. Security and agents (including D-Lo, Al Snow, and Simon Diamond) came out and held chairs and ordered Abyss to the back. RVD entered the ring gingerly. He limped over to the mic. He had his neck, forehead, forearms, knee, and ankle all taped. He thanked the fans for their words of encouragement and concern. He said, "I ain't going nowhere." He asked Bischoff to please come out and to the ring and talk to him. That was met with total silence as they cut to a break. [c]

[Q2]

-RVD told Bischoff that when he was in California he had to learn about this tournament. He said he was quite upset when he heard it without having a chance to make his case. "I still don't know if this was out of concern for my well-being or a liability issue," he said. He admitted there is nothing he can do about it. He wished Hardy, Kurt Angle, and Mr. Anderson luck. He said one of them will soon be crowned with "my... the TNA World Championship." He said he wants the first shot at it and he's confident each of them will step up and do the right thing. RVD looked at Bischoff and said he hates being seen like this. He said he doesn't like people seeing him as vulnerable. He said his doctor has already given him a date of clearance. Bischoff applauded. RVD said the date is 10-10-10. He said he wants to return to face Abyss and change the way people look. Bischoff said he wants it and the fans want it, so it's done. He shook his hand and granted him his wish.

REAX: More emotions from RVD this week than last, that's for sure, and that's a good thing. It was still 20 percent of what it could have and should have been. Vast improvement over last week's nonchalant phone interview. It still looks crazy that he's wrestling on the card that is crowning the champion for the bel the was stripped of. At least they tried to address it by playing up that RVD is coming back sooner than before, and perhaps it was a "liability" issue or trying to "protect him." But if TNA were trying to protect RVD, why would Bischoff agree to let a limping, bandaged RVD face Abyss as soon as Oct. 10?

-They went to Taz and Tenay at ringside. They said there's no way, seeing RVD now, that he'll be at 100 percent at BFG.

-"The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero came out to his music with Bischoff still in the ring. Pope said he can smell crap a mile away and Bischoff is full of it. He said in the past month he's done what few men have been able to do. He talked about his recent big wins. He wanted to know why he isn't fighting for the title at BFH. Bischoff said he hopes he's not accusing him of what he thinks he's accusing of. Pope said he's not accusing him of anything. He said, "Being from the streets, I'm telling you that you're a con man, and I know it." Bischoff said they need to discuss this in the back privately like professionals, not this way, not this way, not now. Taz said Pope made some valid points.

-They showed Lacey Von Erich entering the make-up area where Angelina Love and Velvet Sky were seated. She sat behind them and looked upset. They asked if she was okay. Lacey said she's not. She ranted about Madison Rayne and Tara beating her up. She stormed out. Sky said she's never seen her upset before. [c]

-They showed the continuation of the Bischoff-Pope discussion backstage. Bischoff said if he can get past Samoa Joe, then they'll talk about adding him to the match and making it a four-way. Pope said he's out there. Bischoff wished luck to the man who accused him of being a con man.

[Q3]

1 -- JEREMY BUCK (w/Max Buck) vs. CHRIS SABIN

Sabin's shoulder was taped, selling the effects of the double DDT last week. Sabin scored a quick pin at 3:00 with a schoolboy after catching a charging Jeremy with a boot. Afterwards Jeremy and Max attacked Sabin. Taz sort of endorsed their aggression. After a double DDT he said they might have gone a little too far. They left with Sabin's TNA Tag Team Title belt.

WINNER: Sabin in 3:00.

REAX: That's too short between those two, unless Sabin lost quickly as a way to sell his injuries. [c]

-The commercial hyping the "TNA: The Asylum Years - Volume 1" DVD mentioned Jeff Hardy, A.J. Styles, Sting, Lex Luger, Ken Shamrock, and "many more."

REAX: I'm sure it took a lot of restraint to not mention Jeff Jarrett by name, I'm sure. They showed C.M. Punk at the end, which is exactly the person to show if you want newer fans to buy it since he's the biggest name not in TNA right now that people might be curious to see early footage of. TNA didn't know what to do with Punk.

-Backstage The Pope said he's in TNA to acquire "the greatest prize in all of wrestling, the TNA World Heavyweight Champion." He said he feels he's being held back. They cut to Jeff Jarrett yelling at someone off camera complaining about The Pope needing to do what Kurt Angle and Hardy has done and try to get the reaction that they have. He told him to earn the respect of the fans like those two have. "Are you freakin' kidding me?" he asked.

2 -- LACEY VON ERICH & VELVET SKY vs. TAYLOR WILDE & HAMADA

Sky avoided a Hamada moonsault at 1:00 and then went for a clothesline. Wilde tagged in and scored two quick two count. Four-way action broke out at 2:00. Rayne ran in and hit Lacey from behind with Tara's motor cycle helmet. Wilde didn't see that, but turned and kicked Lacey and then scored the pin.

WINNERS: Hamada & Wilde in 3:00.

-They showed Tommy Dreamer, Mick Foley, Rhino, Sabu, Stevie Richards, and Raven entering the Impact Zone backstage. "Looks like the boys are back in town, Mike," said Taz. Tenay hyped that Joe vs. Pope was up next. [c]

-A brief video package aired on Jesse Neal.

-Dixie joined Tenay and Taz at ringside. She announced a special live edition of Impact which will feature a $100,000 battle royal featuring every wrestler on BFG. Taz joked about how he texted Dixie at 6:30 a.m. to try to get insight into what the big change in TNA is going to be. She said it will start to come out on Oct. 7 and she's very excited about it and hope fans will be, too.

[Q5]

3 -- THE POPE vs. SAMOA JOE

When Taz tripped over his words during Pope's ring entrance, he said, "First day with my new tongue." That's funny. Joe opened on offense with a variety of kicks. Joe applied a chinlock. Pope stood and escaped with a series of blows including a sledgehammer to the chest. He followed with a flying forearm for a soft two count at 3:00. Joe countered with a snap powerslam. A minute later, with Pope on offense, Jarrett walked out applauding. That distracted Pope briefly. Tenay said Jarrett came to ringside to offer support to Joe. Sting and Kevin Nash walked out and attacked Jarrett. Pope lifted Joe, but Joe slipped behind him and applied the rear naked choke for the win. Joe came to Jarrett's aid at ringside. As they brawled, they cut backstage.

WINNER: Joe in 4:00.

-Christy Hemme interviewed EV2 backstage. She said it looks like the boys are back in town. Dreamer said he just heard that they're going to be in a Lethal Lockdown match at Bound for Glory. He said if Sabu beats A.J. Styles later, they get the advantage against Fortune. [c]

[Q6]

-Mr. Anderson called Kurt Angle to the ring. He said he is what his t-shirt says, and noted that t-shirt is available at the TNA website. He said they are similar in that they don't play politics and they don't "swing from the boss's nuts." He added that in the case of TNA that would be impossible, but he gets his point. He said Angle is without a shadow of the freakin' doubt the absolute best in the business. He said at BFG he plans to be better than him by three seconds. Angle said he respects Anderson telling him that to his face. He said he wanted to be the best - better than Sting, Hogan, Flair, "all those guys" - and after ten years he accomplished all he set out to do. He said they have a bit of a problem at BFG because he promised everyone that if he lost in his way to regaining the TNA Title he would retire. He said Anderson must understanding that what he does in the ring is who he is. He said some people think he's some sort of freak. He said at BFG his respect for Mr. Anderson doesn't take precedence because he can't lose because without wrestling and those ropes and those fans, "I don't have anything; I have nothing." He looked relatively somber as he said that. He shook Anderson's hand. Anderson raised his arm and said, "Kurt Angle everybody... for the very last time." Taz said, "Hey, the guy's an asshole, right?"

-Backstage Flair gave a pep talk to the entire Fortune faction, with a focus on Styles regarding facing Sabu next. Then they "iced" him. Flair had no idea what that meant. Kaz said he had to get down on one knee and pound down the Smirnoff Ice. Flair did it and the faction acted like a college frat house cheering him on. And this is supposed to turn fans against this heel group how? They used that hand-held "roving camera" effect that gives everything more of a sense of authenticity. [c]

-Backstage Pope asked Nash and Sting what they want and what they're offering. Nash asked if he's been getting any info from any "broads." Pope said, "Maybe I have. Pope talks to broads all the time. What's your point?" Nash said: "Tessmacher." Pope said, "Tessmacher?" Sting said, "What do you think we've been fighting for all this time?" Pope said, "Count me in." Nash said, "Sweet." I'm lost.

[Q7]

-A video package aired hyping Lethal Lockdown including clips of Styles and Dreamer talking.

4 -- SABU vs. A.J. STYLES (w/Ric Flair, Matt Morgan)

Taz said this type of match is in his world and realm. Taz said he'd go with Matt Morgan because he's so tall he can just climb the top rope and reach the key. He then said that's an example of his Napoleon Complex kicking in. When Sabu was going to climb through the ropes to the ring apron, Styles kicked the middle rope into his "inseam." He followed with chops. Sabu countered with a head scissors takedown. Styles fired back with a chop out of the corner. Taz said this is a dream match for some fans. They fought at ringside where Sabu dropped Styles over the ringside barrier. Styles put a ladder on the ring apron. Sabu slidekicked it into Styles's chest and then threw the ladder and a chair into the ring at 3:00. Sabu set up a chair mid-ring. Styles re-entered the ring before he could leap off of it. He set up the ladder and began to climb it instead. Styles punched him to the mat. Sabu knocked Styles to the floor. Styles set the ladder on the ring apron. Sabu went for a slidekick, but Styles moved and then hit Sabu with the ladder at 5:00. Mick Foley then walked out toward the ring. They cut to a break with that as the cliffhanger. [c]

Sabu and Styles battled inside the ring after the break with Foley cheering from the opposite side of the ring as Flair and Morgan. Sabu knocked Styles over the top rope and tumbled out after him. Foley chased after Flair when Flair moved in toward Sabu. Morgan hit Foley from behind. As Morgan held Foley, Flair kicked him in the gut. Dreamer ran to ringside. Kazarian cut him off. Security pried them apart.

[Q8]

The rest of EV2 ran out followed by the rest of Fortune and they brawled at ringside. Sabu knocked the ladder over Styles climbed it. He then springboarded off of a chair onto the top rope and onto the crowd brawling at ringside. Sabu then re-entered the ring and climbed the ladder. Styles was still KO'd. Robert Roode yanked Sabu off of the ladder and clotheslined him. Rhino entered and gave Roode a big Gore. James Storm gave Rhino a superkick. Sabu knocked Storm out of the ring and climbed the ladder. Styles climbed the other side. Sabu knocked his head into the ladder and knocked him down. Storm yanked Sabu down and broke a beer bottle over his head. Storm helped Styles up the ladder as Tenay yelled, "Come on! He's pushing him up the ladder." Styles yanked down the keyholder giving Fortune the advantage at Lethal Lockdown.

WINNER: Styles in 14:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Lots of action, but felt like an assembly of spots more than a full-fledged match, something that often plagues Sabu matches given his big-spot style.

-Backstage Hardy gave RVD a pep talk. He said if he wins the TNA Title, he'll give him the first title shot. RVD thanked him and hugged him. Hardy told him to not do anything crazy out there. RVD left the room and the camera stayed focused on Hardy as he put on his t-shirt. Abyss then jumped Hardy. The camera tipped over, as if the camera operator fled was either attacked or fled and left the camera lying on its side. Abyss shouted, "10-10-10 my friend!" [c]

-A commercial aired hyping Reaction. It showed "docu-style" clips about Abyss with Angle and Bischoff saying he's getting nuttier and nuttier all the time.

-They replayed Abyss's attack on Hardy before the break. They showed Abyss carrying Hardy into the ring. He threw his limp body into the ring. Taz wondered what Abyss has already done to him and what more he planned to do to him. Abyss told RVD he brought his best friend Jeff Hardy to the ring with him. He told RVD that seeing him tonight was like seeing a ghost. "You were never supposed to come back. Never supposed to come back!" he said. "The mere fact that you did only proves one thing - and that's that you are just as ignorant and pathetic as I thought." He said "They" gave me strict orders to eliminate you from TNA. He said he made one mistake and that's leaving him still breathing. He said he will correct his mistake on 10-10-10. He said at Bound for Glory, "They will finally reveal themselves and begin the takeover of TNA!"

[Q9]

He again promised that he and Janice are not going to hurt or injure or maim him, but instead "slaughter" him. He said Janice doesn't want to wait until 10-10-10 as Janice wants a piece of him tonight. He called RVD to the ring. RVD's music played. He limped out to save his friend, but apparently only on invite. RVD threw a chair at Abyss's skull, then climbed up the steps and gingerly entered the ring. He threw the chair at his skull again. Abyss dropped to a knee. He got up, though, and overpowered RVD. Tenay said there was potential for further injury here. As Abyss hovered over RVD in the corner, Tenay said they were out of time on Impact, but Reaction was next.

REAX: Yea! Another death threat by Abyss which never works. They are doing a better job giving a sense of a lot of coming to a crescendo at the big PPV.

-Check out James Caldwell's report on Reaction for details on the continuation of this situation, with Ink Inc. charging to the ring and making the save on behalf of RVD and Hardy.

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