By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
OCTOBER 28, 2010
TAPED IN ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with Mickie James and Tara brawling in the back. Madison Rayne jumped Mickie from behind. Angelina Love and Velvet Sky joined in. Sarita attacked them, making it three-on-three. The worked their way to around the Impact Zone backstage area and then finally to the ring. Tenay said Tara is upset with Mickie over causing her to be released. Ric Flair walked down the ramp with security guys Gunner and Murphy. When Flair stepped between Tara and Mickie, Tara hit him. Mickie slapped Flair seconds later. Flair told them to get a grip and calm down. He warned Mickie that if she ever slaps him again, he'll make a woman out of her. He said if they want to fight, they can fight in a three-on-three match later. A brawl with all six broke out again.

-The Impact opening then aired. Then Mike Tenay and Taz introduced the show. They hyped the Jay Lethal vs. Robbie E in a Jersey Shore Street Fight, a three-way TNA Tag Title match with Generation Me, Ink Inc., and the Machine Guns, and Jeff Jarrett vs. Mr. Anderson chain match main event, because if we've learned anything the last seven years, it's that Jeff Jarrett in a main event is a key to TNA getting to the next level. Tenay and Taz then commented on footage of The Pope wheeling a casket into the arena. [c]

[Q2]

-Tenay warned viewers about the graphic nature of the next video package. It focused on a heelish Jeff Hardy saying "he f---in' deserved it in reference to hitting Mr. Anderson in the back of a head with a steel chair. "Now you're seeing the real Jeff Hardy," Hardy said. "Let the blood flow."

-Backstage Flair walked into Eric Bischoff's office. Flair said he had to deal with "six chicks" acting like his ex-wives, trying to tear off each other's clothes and his clothes. Bischoff said he's the man for the job. Flair asked where Hogan is. Bischoff said he's taking care of some acquisitions "and I'm talking serious names." Flair and Bischoff turned on the chuckling security guards in the background. Bischoff chewed them out for allowing Kurt Angle to damn near kill them last week. He said that wasn't funny. He said they'd be fired if that repeated itself. Someone walked in and said "Eric, do you have a minute." Bischoff said, "Who?" He said: "I'm sorry, Mr. Bischoff. My apologies." He introduced himself as TNA's head trainer. "Whatever?" Bischoff uttered.

The trainer begged him not to put Anderson in the ring tonight after last week. Bischoff said that match will definitely take place. The trainer said the man suffered a concussion a week ago. He said it's unethical. Bischoff said this isn't the NFL. He said wrestlers are paid to wrestle and sometimes they get hurt. Flair said he bled like a son of a bitch against Mick Foley, where was he? The trainer said this is head trauma. He said the NFL is cracking down.

Flair said: "The NFL's ratings are going down and ours are going up. We're playing for real here, buddy." Bischoff said Hogan literally crawled out of a trauma unit to appear at Bound for Glory, "so the least Kenny Anderson can do with his boo boo on his little head is to take care of business in the ring." He said Ken Anderson is going to wrestle. Ian asked about Dixie's policy of protecting their athletes from head trauma. Bischoff said she's gone and it's a new era in TNA. He shoed him out of his office. The trainer wanted to be on record he was against it, then left. Bischoff and Flair shared a chuckle.

KELLER REAX: It's topical. Bischoff and Flair were at their smarmiest best. It's still too much talking backstage between people who don't wrestle, which is what's crippling this company's momentum at every turn. This felt like Bischoff's hissy-fit over having the all-important blunt chairshots to the head tool taken away from him because, of course, that's so vital to telling a successful story in wrestling that draws. At least he portrayed his "well then, where do you draw the line?" point of view as being that of a totally clueless douche bag heel without the ability to differentiate between the long-term effects of head trauma and superficial cuts or back pain.

-In the ring The Pope said he wanted to speak to his congregation in his home court. He vowed to put Abyss into a casket and send him straight back to hell. Abyss began to make his way to the ring through the bleachers. He said he hates to interrupt, but he comes with standing orders from Immortal Hulk Hogan and Bischoff. He said they have instructed him to extinguish the flame that is The Pope. He said his congregation comprises ignorant sheep. He said they are no longer safe, either. He said he is coming for all of the them. He then grabbed two "fans" in the crowd and dragged them away. Taz said Abyss is out of control. Tenay said with Hogan and Bischoff in charge, nobody is safe in TNA. Pope ran through the crowd to try to save those fans.

-Backstage Jeff Jarrett pleaded innocence that he didn't know how far Samoa Joe would fall when he threw him off the stage "because I've only been here since day one." He called Joe a "big fat tub of goo." He then told Anderson to go take some aspirin. [c]

[Q3]

-Flair flirted with a female TNA employee. Matt Morgan interrupted. He asked the women to give them a second to talk. Morgan said she works in TNA and said with all that's going on with Brett Favre, he needs to watch himself. Flair said women flock to him. Morgan asked if Bischoff was serious he was going to make Anderson wrestle. Flair said of course because why would Anderson get special treatment. Morgan said he's a two sport collegiate athlete and he's had a ton of concussions. He said it's more important than he and Bischoff are letting on. He said there are studies now and we know more than back in his day. Flair said now is his day. He said he's year-round. He said they, as Fortune, are a family and officially support Bischoff and Hogan. He asked Morgan to forget they even had that discussion. He said he was going to go find that woman to flirt with again.

1 -- ROBBIE E. (w/Cookie) vs. JAY LETHAL -- Street Fight

As Robbie E. walked to the ring, they showed a clip of Cookie's scuffle with J-Woww two weeks ago. Taz said he respects that Morgan spoke his mind, but it was risky to speak that way to Flair. Tenay said Anderson is suffering from post-concussion syndrome. They cheesed up the match by putting street construction signage at ringside to use as props. At 4:00 Lethal put a trash can over Robbie E.'s head and smashed it with a cane. Cookie yanked on Lethal's legs and then directed tanning spray into his eyes. Lethal rubbed his eye. Robbie gave him a neckbreaker to earn an X Divisio Title shot at the next PPV.

WINNER: Robbie E. in 5:00.

-Backstage the Beautiful People plotted revenge. When Velvet Sky left the room, the
mysterious lady in black appeared in the background again. Angelina Love asked her to stop creeping up on her. The mystery lady said it's the universe that brings them together. "Some call it fate," she said. She asked if she believes in fate. Love said she doesn't. Sky re-entered the room and the mystery women was - poof! - gone. In her place was the seamstress at her desk. Sky said Love is beginning to worry her with her hallucinations. [c]

[Q4]

-A video package aired on Bischoff planting a seed in RVD's head that EV2 has a double agent.

-In the ring stood Tommy Dreamer, Stevie Richards, Raven, Sabu, and Brian Kendrick. Kendrick was sitting in a corner in a white hooded robe reading something spiritual. Dreamer said RVD hasn't been returning their emails and phone messages, so he called him to the ring. Tenay said RVD has trust-issues given what he went through with Jeff Hardy. Taz said he understands Rob being freaked out. Dreamer said before this distrust goes any further, he wants to end it. He said they've known each other for 15 years. He pointed at Sabu and said he and his uncle The Original Sheik trained him. said when he was going through his own personal heel, RVD called him and told him "Dude, come to TNA, it's so laid back, you're going to have fun."

KELLER'S REAX: You gotta love that in the spirit of "shooting," Dreamer said RVD endorsed TNA - a pro wrestling promotion with blood, street fight, chain matches, etc. - is "so laid back," as if TNA is a spa or a casual Dot Com start-up with ping pong tables in the lunch room.

Dreamer said what happened last week with Sabu was an accident. RVD said he doesn't know whom he can trust anymore. He said Hardy opened him up like a frog being dissected for science. He asked if that was a product of his paranoia. Dreamer said Bischoff wants them to be divided, but they should all come together. He said Hardy has always been off and strange, "and now he's just a scumbag." He said he should remember history. He told RVD to remember what Bischoff did to their old company. He said he's always trying to destroy them.

Raven laughed in the background. RVD asked what he was laughing at. Raven said he's paranoid and maybe the weed he advocates he shouldn't be so involved in and find another cause. He said Bischoff is a twisted genius "like myself." He said he has him castrated, emasculated, and exasperated. He said he's a mess. He said they're his friends. RVD said what's really funny is that Dreamer doesn't realize that the stooge Bischoff has been talking about is Raven. He stepped into Raven's space and they went to nose to nose. The rest of EV2 stepped between them and pulled them apart.

Flair walked out with the rest of Fortune on the stage. Flair said he was looking at the epitome of dysfunction. He said Fortune is power, strength, composure, and goodwill. He said that makes the wrestling world go around, not punks talking about who trained whom. Flair challenged EV2 to a final match. Doug Williams steals those scenes with his subtle body language and facial expressions. Flair said Raven & RVD will team and wrestle A.J. Styles & Kaz later. Williams stepped up to Flair and wanted in. Flair told Williams to calm down. Robert Roode and Styles also tried to calm down Williams as Flair continued talking to EV2. [c]

-Fortune continued their heated discussion backstage. Williams said he's said what he needed to say, so there's no reason to "keep screaming and shouting like a bunch of irritating Americas." Kaz said he complains about their beer being too cold and for calling football "football." Williams said the truth is he beat him for the X Title. Flair stepped in and said he is a major part of Fortune and they are the power in this company. He said if he wants to wrestle tonight, he said he'll replace Kaz in the tag match. He told Kaz to put on his best suit and relax. They began joking around again as Flair said they'll never ice him again. James Storm said he's got women in the limo. Flair asked if they're normal as he followed him.

[Q5]

2 -- TARA & SARITA & MADISON RAYNE vs. BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE & MICKIE JAMES

Sky, Love, and James attacked Tara, Sarita, and Rayne at ringside before the match. Security members Gunner and Murphy tried to settle things down before the match officially began. Chaos broke out at five minutes with all six in the ring. Tenay said it looks like the start of the show. Mickie hit her implant DDT Rayne, but Tara jumped in and gave Mickie a Widow's Peak. Before she could make the cover, Sky and Love kicked her. Sarita then Tiger bombed Sky for the win.

WINNERS: Sarita & Rayne & Tara in 6:00.

-Backstage The Pope heard a woman screaming. He ran toward the sound. [c]

-A commercial hyped the TNA Turning Point VIP weekend in Orlando, Fla.

-Abyss was beating The Pope down backstage after the break. He swung a broom at him. Pope fought back. Abyss lifted and shoved Pope into a wall. Pope gasped as Abyss lifted the lid to the casket. He lifted Pope and dropped him in the casket, then closed the lid. Abyss then grabbed Janice. He bashed the casket with it, denting the lid in the process.

KELLER'S REAX: This feels so derivative of WWE's Kane-Undertaker storyline with caskets.

[Q6]

-After the break Generation Me stood in the ring. Max said TNA isn't about playing XBox 360 backstage. "It's all about me," he said. "Generation Me!" Ink Inc.'s ring intro then began. Shannon Moore reacted to GenMe apparently calling Ink Inc. "clowns" during the commercial. Moore said Matt & Jeff called from 1998 and they want their gear back. He said their tennis shoes are sweet, too. Moore said they're part of the one percent who express themselves by getting tattooed, pierced, or expressing themselves however they want. The Guns ring entrance began s they cut to a break. [c]

3 -- THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS vs. INK INC. vs. GENERATION ME

Taz defended GenMe. He said they grab life by short hairs and control it. What are we talking about, again? Taz made fun of the Guns for being thirty year olds playing videogames. He asked Tenay if at age 70 he's playing videogames. Tenay said he's not a day past 65. Taz and Tenay continued to bicker about whether the Guns have anything to gain by beating Team 3D before they retire. Neal backdropped Moore onto Buck at ringside. Sabin then dove through the ropes onto Buck. Six-way chaos followed in the ring. Neal and Moore hit a Mooregasm on Sabin, but as the ref counted, Max yanked the ref out of the ring. Moore dove onto Max at ringside. That gave the Guns the opening to give Jesse their finisher for the win.

WINNERS: The Guns in 6:00.

[Q6]

-Afterward, Team 3D walked out applauding the victory of the Guns. Brother Ray said TNA has the best tag team division in the entire world. Tenay brought back his catch-phrase "Amen!" for that comment. He said when they decided to retire, they wanted to go out against the best. He said they're now just waiting on an answer from them. Alex Shelley said they learned a lot from them. He said they're living legends. He said they've climbed the ladder now themselves. He said as People's Champions, he wanted to ask the people. He asked the crowd. They cheered. The Guns accepted the invite and they hugged Team 3D.

-Backstage the camera zoomed in on Bischoff on the phone with Hogan. He said that's good news and he's glad to hear "that went so well." He joked that Flair says he needs to work on that tan. Morgan knocked on Bischoff's door. Bischoff was happy to see him and welcomed him into the room. Morgan said he had an issue with Anderson vs. Jarrett. Bischoff said it's great business because it's great for ratings. Morgan asked if that's what it's all about. Bischoff said yes. Morgan asked if that's a little irresponsible. Bischoff said guys get hurt all the time, it's part of the game. Morgan said he gets it, but this isn't about the money or the ratings; it's about their well-being and safety. Bischoff began blinking rapidly as the stupidity of Morgan's argument. Morgan said it's more important than he's giving it credit for. Bischoff said everyone feels safe, and he doesn't give a sh-- (which was bleeped) about his safety. Bischoff said people should do what they're told when they're told to do it. Bischoff asked Gunner and Murphy to see Morgan to the door because he had business to take care of.

-Tenay plugged an "Up Close and Personal" feature on Hardy next. [c]

-Morgan approached the trainer and asked for access to Anderson. The trainer said he should be left alone. Morgan told him to breathe because he just wanted to talk to him, he has his word.

-Taz said he understands Morgan's concern, but he's going too far. Tenay asked if he endorses Bischoff's decision to force Anderson into the match. Taz said he shouldn't put words in his mouth. He said Morgan has gone too far in his crusade. Tenay said he's showing the courage of his convictions. They shifted to plugging TNA Turning Point's line-up: Mickie vs. Tara, Guns vs. 3D, and Anderson vs. Hardy.

-A video package aired on Hardy. He said as he watched the world from 25,000 feet above, it becomes more and more apparent that he was always in control of his own destiny and always above it all. "I was always better than everybody else," he said. He said he catered to the Creatures of the Night, but Bischoff and Hogan made it clear to him that their acceptance was meaningless. He said he is the here and now, the anti-Christ of professional wrestling.

KELLER'S REAX: The "antichrist" tag comes off as heavy-handed to me. It's like using ALL CAPS to make your point in print over and over.

[Q8] [c]

4 -- DOUGLAS WILLIAMS & A.J. STYLES vs. ROB VAN DAM & SABU

Raven got beat up two-on-one during RVD's ring entrance. RVD was in no hurry to get to the ring. He took a beating for several minutes early in the match. As Tenay complained about Bischoff, Taz asked if he hates him so badly, why did he work for him for so many years in WCW. Tenay said Bischoff was a totally different person back then. Flair came to ringside at 4:00 and KO'd Raven with a title belt. Taz said RVD didn't see Flair's actions, but instead just saw that Raven wasn't in the corner for a hot-tag. RVD attempted a comeback on his own, then looked around for his partner. Williams hit him with an uppercut and Style flew at him off the top rope. Williams followed with a flying knee off the top rope. Styles went for the pin and the ref counted to three. Williams was upset that Styles stole his glory. Raven was shown bleeding from his forehead at ringside.

WINNERS: Styles & Williams in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Good five minutes of action.

-Afterward RVD angrily called Raven into the ring. Raven waved him off and walked to the back. [c]

-Footage aired of TNA wrestlers on "Family Feud" with the 17th new host in the last seven years. A week of "Knockouts vs. Wrestlers" (as if Knockouts aren't wrestlers) Nov. 1-5. It's Morgan, Foley, Lethal, RVD, and Anderson vs. Tara, Sky, Love, Lacey Von Erich, and Christy Hemme.

[Q9]

-Jarrett's ring entrance took place as they went into the overrun. He called Anderson to the ring so he could "cave the other side of his head in." Mr. Anderson's music then played. Morgan walked out as Tenay officially ended Impact and said Reaction would begin next.

END IMPACT... START REACTION

-Morgan told Jarrett that no one in the back will listen to him. He said he thinks he might be able to talk some sense into him. He said he's probably wrestled with his share of concussions over the years, but he didn't know then what they know now about concussions. Morgan said he's agreed to donate his brain to the Sports Legacy Institute. He said they do research on the brains of former athletes, and it's something all sports are talking about. He said there are 50 year old athletes walking around with the brain of an 85 year old Alzheimer's patient. He said Jarrett has daughters so he knows he doesn't want that to happen to him. He said when a guy is down and he's had enough, he's had enough.

Jarrett grabbed the mic and said, "Are you freakin' kidding me, Matt? Do you think I give a damn about Anderson and his concusion?" He said he threw Joe off the stage without batting an eye. He said he's in it for survival. He said he doesn't care about Joe or Anderson or him after tonight. He said the massacre of Anderson is happening tonight and nobody can prevent that. He told Morgan to get out. Morgan began to leave, but then grabbed the other end of the chain Jarrett was attached to and hooked himself to it.

Morgan beat up Jarrett for a couple minutes in the ring and at ringside. Jarrett took control by yanking Morgan into the ringpost. When they rolled back into the ring, Morgan caught Jarrett wiht a chokeslam. When he signaled for his Carbon Footprint, Jarrett countered with a low blow and a Stroke for the win in this impromptu match.

Morgan wrapped a chain around Jarrett's neck afterward, but Fortune members ran out and gang attacked Morgan. Jarrett wrapped the chain around Morgan's neck and hung hum over the top rope as the show ended.

KELLER REAX: The whole concussion thing was handled tastefully in the specific sense that the heels were dismissive of the concern and the babyfaces (Morgan, Tenay) were compassionate and aware. I am suspicious that there's an ulterior motive here to make Morgan look like a sniveling wimp who can't tough it out, and this was the only way Bischoff et al who think this concussion thing is as overblown as global warming and racial discrimination could sneak their point of view on the show. But whatever the motives, what matters is whether it leads anywhere that works storyline-wise, and this was chapter one and inconclusive in that regard.

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