By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
NOVEMBER 4, 2010
TAPED IN ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

[Q1]

-The show opened with Patchwork Grace's "Play Dead" playing in the background as they aired a recap of last week's concussion saga with Matt Morgan and Eric Bischoff, clips of the Morgan vs. Jeff Jarrett chain match from Reaction, and Fortune attacking him afterward.

-The show it titled "Kung-Fu Bischoff."

-They went back to Bischoff dressed in his karate uniform as Ric Flair gave him a pep talk about how Anderson is too chicken to show up. Bischoff and Flair headed to the ring. Mike Tenay said he was going to defer to Taz for analysis of Bischoff's martial arts background. Taz talked about all the legendary stories he's heard of Bischoff's background in martial arts and his training around the world and walking on hot coals.

Bischoff said earlier in the day he and Flair got on the phone with Hulk Hogan and they all agreed that Morgan no longer is part of Fortune or Immortal. He said as far as he is concerned he doesn't exist. He told Morgan to stay away from the Impact Zone and good luck in his future endeavors. He shifted to Mr. Anderson. He said he'll give Mr. Anderson a chance to face Jeff Hardy tonight as long as he can pin him first. He said he read his doctor's report and he's probably watching Impact at home with an ice bucket on his head. He said if he doesn't get his "skinny little white ass" to the ring despite a "concussion, broken arm, stubbed toe, whatever," he will never ever get a shot at Jeff Hardy.

He said just in case he could make it to the Impact Zone in the next two hours, he wanted to give him a taste of what he can do. He turned to the referee and complained about how he refereed last week in the Jarrett-Morgan match. The ref tried to explain himself, so Bischoff said he was calling him a liar. Flair said he talked back to him. Bischoff swept him and kicked him and then fired him. Taz backed Bischoff's actions. One fan chanted "Bischoff sucks!"

Keller's Reax: I wonder if Bischoff was clever enough put himself in the first segment on the show since there's a pretty good chance based on recent episodes that it'll be among the top ranked segments of the show. TNA tends to drive people away as the show progresses lately, so Bischoff may have put himself in a place to look like he's the top draw. On a more serious note, Bischoff has been a drain on audience levels lately, so this is an odd strategy to feature him at the start of the show without any other hook.

-The TNA Impact opening aired. Then Tenay and Taz listed a couple matches scheduled for the show.

-They cut backstage to Fortune. All wore sunglasses except Douglas Williams. Williams reacted to something they said with dismay or confusion, but the mic'ing was so bad I didn't understand a word they said. [c]

[Q2]

-They went backstage to Brian Kendrick reading aloud from a book to EV2 as he got a massage on a table. Rob Van Dam walked in and demanded to know whether Raven was a turncoat. Fortune then walked in. A.J. Styles told EV2 to kill each other and said one of them is going home at Turning Point. Styles got in the face of Rhino and he said he thinks it's going to be him. He called him "boring." Rhino popped out of his chair to spear Styles, but Styles moved and he speared RVD instead.

-A video package aired on Mr. Anderson's shoulder getting injured at the hands of Jeff Hardy, and Hardy saying he is the "antichrist of pro wrestling" and that Hardy deserved it.

-They went to Tenay and Taz. They interviewed Anderson on the phone. Tenay said things aren't looking good for his title shot against Hardy on Sunday. Anderson said the chairshot gave him the worst concussion he's ever had. Taz asked what it was like in the days after he received the concussion. Anderson said he was a little sore and had a bit of headache, but when the headache went away he lost his short-term memory. He said it was a scary feeling and he's not sure what's going to happen. He said he's on his way to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to be checked out. Tenay said Morgan has stepped up to the plate in his absence. Anderson said he appreciates that, but with everything that has happened, he's not sure even Morgan can be trusted. He said it'll take more than a few gestures to prove he has his best interests in mind. He said if Morgan is on his side, he'll have his back because friends are tough to come by. He sounded slower and unsteady in speaking. Taz said he did sound a little off. Tenay hyped that the Knockouts were action next.

-They went backstage to the Beautiful People in that echo chamber that is the Knockouts locker room. Velvet Sky asked Angelina Love to let her wrestle on her won because she has something to prove tonight. She told her not to take offense. As soon as Sky left the room, the mystery lady returned in the mirror. The mystery lady said she needs not be worried because she'll never be alone again. Love said she likes to be alone and she's going to go be alone now. She left the room and the mystery lady disappeared. [c]

1 -- SARITA vs. VELVET SKY

Tenay announced that RVD vs. Styles vs. Rhino had just been booked for the TV main event. Sky threw some weak-looking chops at Sarita in the corner. Sarita blocked a DDT attempt and then clotheslined a frustrated Sky. She went into sustained offense and a near fall. Sky fired back with more weak chops. Sarita punched her in response. Sky escaped an underhook powerbomb attempt and threw more weak chops. She followed with a running bulldog type move and a clothesline. Sarita went for a counter, but Sky leveraged herself into landing on Sarita for a two count. Sarita finally executed the double underhook powerbomb for the win.

WINNER: Sarita in 3:00.

Keller's Reax: I hope most people were staring at Sky's boobs because the action in the ring wasn't beautiful at all. Sky's offense is just weak and she continues to struggle to reach even just an average looking moveset and sense of realism instead of half-speed walk-thru. Sarita helped as best she could, but it was pretty tough to watch at times.

[Q3]

-Bischoff warmed up with Jeff Jarrett, punching pads Jarrett was holding. Jarrett told Bischoff, "You can't hit Anderson that hard!" Bischoff said Jarrett has already apologized Kurt Angle, so maybe he owes Samoa Joe an apology now since "you did kind of crush his face." Bischoff told Jarrett to lower the loves because "Anderson's not that tall."

Keller's Reax: When Bischoff is at his worst as a producer, he pulls out the karate uniform and plays a tough guy, just as he did when he challenged Vince McMahon on air to a fight just as WCW was beginning to crumble.

-Flair asked Kaz and Williams if they were up for wrestling each other. Fortune walked away, leaving Williams behind. Williams asked Christy if she had a second for him. She was talking to cameramen. A mic dropped from above, hinting that maybe Anderson was in the building?

2 -- MAX BUCK & JEREMY BUCK (Generation Me) & TARA vs. SHANNON MOORE & JESSE NEAL (Ink Inc.) & MICKIE JAMES


Taz said Generation Me remind him a lot of himself when he wrestled. Tenay said there is absolutely nothing they do that he did. Taz said he was like Generation Me when he was their age in terms of being self-centered. Tara rode to ringside on a motorcycle. Tara kicked Neal at ringside at 3:00.

[Q4]

Taz wondered about the mic dropping backstage. Tenay said it was a technical malfunction, "and believe me, it wouldn't be the first time," he added. Tara broek up a Moore pin on Max. Mickie dove onto Tara. Mickie then kicked Max in the head. Neal then picked up Max at which point Moore leaped off the top rope with a neckbreaker for the win. Afterward GenMe and Tara jumped Ink Inc. and Tara.

WINNERS: Ink Inc. & Mickie at 5:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4

-Backstage Orlando Jordan and Eric Young met with a counselor. He asked how long they had been a "couple." Young said they could really use a double-team finishing move. The therapist asked how Jordan feels about him taking control and being a leader. They broke into a bunch of puns about Young being "on top his whole life." They talked about "Brownies" and "Head" and other terms that are probably double-entendres. Young said he's had a lot of "partners" and been on a lot of "teams." He said he tagged with Generation Me, but nothing "felt as good" as teaming with Jordan. Their audience for this is whom? [c]

-Backstage Team 3D said they never thought they'd be as excited about a retirement match as they are. Brother Ray said the fact that they're wrestling the Machine Guns at Turning Point makes them feel great about it. The Guns (naively) said they're also excited to wrestle Team 3D and joked about the weight difference between them. Sabin said they're going to do whatever it takes to win because it'd be a great honor for them to beat them in their retirement match. He said they wouldn't be there in TNA if not for them because Team 3D blazed the path for them. Brother Ray said that's cool for him to say, but he plans to sleep Sunday night with his newly won titles that they're going to retire holding. Ray said no matter what happens, the fans will win.

-Jarrett talked about how he recruited Angle, but Angle made life a living hell for him ever since. Then clips aired of Jarrett hanging Morgan with a chain last week.

-Jarrett's full ring intro took place.

Keller's Analysis: Strategic or coincidence, I'm not sure, but usually there's a ratings boost at the start of the second hour, so Jarrett - who hasn't performed well in ratings when featured lately - is putting himself in a situation where he has a better chance to look like a draw, just Bischoff did in the first segment at the start of the show. This was done all the time in WCW by power-players to try to increase their leverage when it came to claims they could make to the boss. Now Bischoff may be the one playing the boss instead of the boss being played.

[Q5]

-Jarrett stood mid-ring and ripped on Angle for being weak. Jarrett said he had one word for Joe: "I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry." Taz interjected: "That's two words." It's actually five words, and the contractions could technically count as two words each. Jarrett said Joe is probably still recuperating from his fall, but he's a good guy and "good guys always come back, don't they Joe." More useless insider puns. Jarrett said he didn't want to ever hear fans chant "You sold out!" at him again. The crowd cooperated and chanted "You sold out!" Jarrett said, "The truth is, I bought in." He challenged him to a match at Turning Point. As Jarrett walked to the back, Joe broke his way up through the floor of the stage and attacked Jarrett. He threw him into the ring and beat on him. The crowd chanted, "Joe's gonna kill you!" Security team members Gunner and Murphy intervened, but Joe easily beat them down. In the mean time, Jarrett scurried out of the ring. Joe fumed as he stared down Jarrett.

-RVD backstage said he's looking out for himself, so forgive him if he's not loving all of his brothers because he's not even sure who's on his side. [c]

-They showed Bischoff stretching backstage. Tenay said Anderson is suffering from post-concussion syndrome, so how can he possible answer Bischoff's challenge.

3 -- A.J. STYLES vs. RHINO vs. ROB VAN DAM -- TNA World TV Title Match

Tenay reiterated that Bischoff booked this match-up. The referee held the TV Title belt in the air before the match. Styles got in RVD's face. RVD shoved him right into Rhino, who tossed Styles to the floor. RVD and Rhino exchanged a few words, at which point Rhino jumped to ringside and went after Styles. Styles reverse-whipped Rhino into the stairs, then returned to the ring and took on RVD.

[Q6]

When Rhino returned to the ring, Styles side-stepped a Rhino attempt at a Gore. RVD recovered and surprised Styles with a jump reverse sidekick to the chest. As RVD and Rhino argued again, Styles dove onto both of them and then rolled up RVD for the win to retain his title. Tenay said Bischoff wins in two ways: Styles retained the title while the RVD-Rhino tension increased.

WINNER: Styles in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

-Afterward Sabu, Stevie Richards, Tommy Dreamer, and Raven walked out to try to separate RVD and Rhino. RVD shoved Raven. Dreamer grabbed a mic and called for a truce. He asked RVD what's wrong in his head. He complained he won't call him back. RVD asked why he should trust him like he trusted Jeff. RVD said he's wondering who's going to attack him next. He asked why Dreamer is so defensive and asked what he's hiding. Dreamer said they're just playing into Bischoff's master plan. He suggested they "go old school" at Turning Point. By "old school," he means a match where he can use short-cut weapons to cover up for his lack of confidence he can have a full-fledged watchable match without apparatus involved?

-Tenay plugged Kaz vs. Williams was up next. [c]

-A soundbite aired with Abyss calling The Pope a false prophet. He said if he were for real, he'd know that Hulk Hogan will live forever. He said he's going to snatch what's precious to him - his congregation one-by-one.

4 -- KAZ vs. DOUGLAS WILLIAMS

Flair came out first and held up his fingers, then joined Taz and Tenay on commentary. Taz called it a real honor. Beer Money walked out to ringside to watch as the match began. Flair said, "The Cowboys are out!" Taz joked, "Better than the ones in Dallas." Flair said Keith Mitchell might be upset, but what's he going to do about it? Taz quipped: "Lose." Williams out-wrestled Kaz in the first two minutes.

[Q7]

Flair said Morgan had a chance to be part of the big time, but he bailed out on them too soon to achieve that. In the end, Kaz reverse-whipped Williams into Storm standing on the ring apron, then rolled him up for the win.

WINNER: Kaz in 4:00.

-Williams shoved Kaz in frustration afterward. Beer Money got between them. Flair joined them and offered a handshake to Williams. Williams tentatively accepted, then grabbed Kaz's hand while pointing at his face with the other. Flair tried to talk them into signing a sincere handshake. They briefly shook hands, then everyone stacked their hands in mid-ring.

-A soundbite aired with The Pope talking about finally getting Abyss one-on-one. He vowed to handle business like it's never been done before. He vowed to pimp slap him until there's nothing left of him other than his mask that he's used to hide his shame, then that's what he's going to do. [c]

-Back to Young lying on a couch talking to the therapist. The camera panned back and Young's head was resting on Jordan's leg. Jordan wore a loud one-piece purple disco-like outfit. Jordan held Young's hand and said he had something to tell Young. Jordan said, "I'm bi..." Young jumped in and added, "Polar!" Young said the doc is a scam because he knew that long ago. He asked the doc if he validates parking.

5 -- ABYSS vs. THE POPE

Pope went on the attack, but Abyss dropped him with a big boot and then worked over his taped ribs with a splash in the corner. When Abyss beat on Pope at ringside, Abyss got distracted by a fan yelling at him. The camera operator gave away the angle by swaying the camera to a fan seconds before Abyss turned to him. Abyss pie-faced one fan and yanked the other fan over the railing and punched him. Abyss yanked two more fans over the railing. He tore the shirt off of one fan before Al Snow, D-Lo, and others intervened. Pope entered the ring and challenged him to a Lumberjack Match at Turning Point. Pope said, "Since you've got hard-on for Pope's congregation," he wanted the fans to be his lumberjacks. Abyss said, "You're on!"

WINNER: No contest in 2:00.

[Q8] [c]

-Backstage Robbie E cut a promo about facing Jay Lethal at Turning Point.

-Tenay and Taz hyped the Turning Point line-up. Taz felt Robbie E is the favorite heading into Sunday. After a commercial aired for Turning Point, they showed Bischoff heading to the entrance tunnel saying that someone is getting their ass kicked tonight one way or another. In the background a worker yelled, "Hey, watch it, asshole!" That was a teaser that Anderson might be in the building. [c]

-A vignette aired with Jeff Hardy with all of the special effects as he talked about Turning Point.

-Bischoff made his full ring intro. WWE doesn't even have Cena make two full ring entrances on Raw per show. Bischoff must be a special kind of talent and draw, huh? Jeremy Borash got some face-time for the first time in a while as Bischoff handed him a statement to read. Borash read Bischoff's script doing the formal ring introduction as Bischoff warmed up next to him. Borash introduced Bischoff as weighing a "slim, trim 160 pounds with just a four percent bodyfat index and an eighth degree blackbelt in the discipline of karate." He said his record was 34-0, all by TKO, and called him the Indisputed TNA Kickboxing Champion of the World. He threw a bunch of other superlatives calling him a "artist, musician, best-selling author, role model, fighter, visionary."

Keller's Reax: That last part sounded like the inner-cover of a Mick Foley authored book! It's amazing how those who get creative control, with no evidence of TV ratings drawing power, somehow end up getting multiple ring entrances, storylines centered around themselves, and even TV main event matches and angles. Funny how that works.

[Q9]

Borash then moved to introducing Mr. Anderson as "the Impotent Warrior, the Russian with a Concussion, the Pussy-willow of Wisconsin, the President Obama of Head-Trauma..." Borash stopped and said, "This is ridiculous, he's not here." Bischoff made him go on, but then yanked the mic away from him. He said he wanted him to read the whole thing exactly as he wrote it. Bischoff admitted Anderson wouldn't be there and everyone knows it. He said millions, though, are watching because "the fans want to see me go." Bischoff proposed they fight each other - Bischoff vs. Borash. Bischoff then beat up Borash starting with a foot stomp.

Mr. Anderson's music then played. Bischoff stopped and looked at the stage with worry on his face. Morgan entered from behind and gave him a big boot. The fans cheered as the referee counted to three and Tenay closed out the show. Immediately, Reaction began with Morgan standing over a KO'd Bischoff with a contract in hand to take over for Mr. Anderson at Turning Point as Hardy's opponent.

Morgan signed the contract and told Bischoff to tell Hardy he'll "see his ass this Sunday at Turning Point." Tenay wondered if that made it official. Taz said he didn't know. The ref waved the clipboard in Bischoff's face to try to wake him. Flair walked to the ring and cut a promo on Morgan. He said in three days he has to face Hardy. Bischoff began to stand up and soak up this news that he missed while he was knocked out. Flair told Morgan to look into his eyes and listen to him. He said he will bleed, sweat, and pay the price of his lifetime. He threw the mic down and helped Bischoff to his feet and hugged him, then explained what just happend while he was down and out. Tenay said Flair made it official - Hardy vs. Morgan at Turning Point.

Keller's Reax: Is that too late to push a PPV main event? It might have been ideal to have this angle last week and then really reenforce it this week before the PPV on Sunday. Those who stuck around might be eager to see the new energized babyface Morgan try to take the title from Hardy, but there just wasn't enough stress on what it would mean for Morgan and TNA for him to walk out as champion, so I don't think the average viewer is thinking that Sunday could be a historic title change (such as that can exist in this rapid-title-change world we've lived in for the last 15 years).

(See James Caldwell's "Reaction" report for full details on the entire show.)

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