By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
NOVEMBER 11, 2010
TAPED IN ORLANDO, FLA.

[Q1]

-A video package aired with highlights of Turning Point including Stevie Richards challenging A.J. Styles, Pope's "Congregation" turning on him, and Jeff Hardy retaining his TNA Title against Matt Morgan. The show title: "Night of the Immortals."

-The new theme song for the Immortals aired. Eric Bischoff walked out doing the exact act that I associate with dominating WCW Nitro and Thunder during WCW's collapse, tapping his heart and sarcastically bowing as if his boos were cheers.

KELLER'S REAX: I can't believe 12 years later we're back to this - with similar results. It's not that Bischoff's isn't good at this role; it's a matter of whether he's the right person to be given this much TV time (which comes indisputably at the expense of actual wrestlers with bigger upsides) and whether the strong association with a once-dying horrible WCW product is the image you want to project to long-time fans (many of whom are very willing to invest in a pro wrestling product that simply "feels new" instead of rehashed).

Behind Bischoff was Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Ric Flair, Kaz, Douglas Williams, and A.J. Styles. Tenay said they'll talk throughout the show about Morgan's failure to capture the TNA Title from Hardy. Bischoff smiled and said he loves each and every one of the fans. He gloated about what an incredible night it was for Immortal. Bischoff said he knows a lot of fans who watch TNA also watch MMA and UFC "or whatever that stuff." He said Jarrett put on a mixed martial arts clinic at the PPV that "the entire Gracie family had to admire." He said he's an MMA specialist. Jarrett did some mock karate moves.

Styles then bragged about what he'll do to Richards later in the show. Bischoff praised Styles, saying, "Nicely done." Bischoff then introduced Jeff Hardy, who made a solo ring entrance. Hardy limped to the ring, then bragged about destroying Morgan and mutilating his dreams. The fans chanted "Over-rated!" Hardy acknowledged the chants: "Overrated my ass." He said he is the disciple and the chosen one. He said he drank from the holy cup of Hulkamania, which is why he is immortal.

Bischoff then shifted to introducing the "true immortal, Hulk Hogan." Was he implying Hardy is not the "true" immortal. Taz said it's a rare special attraction as of late to see Hogan in the Impact Zone. Hogan entered the ring and asked the crowd if they know what it feels like to be surrounded by family. He said when he came to TNA he insisted on one thing - Ric Flair - "because without Ric Flair, you just don't have a wrestling company." He said his phone has been ringing off the hook the last couple of weeks as he's been working out the next big thing for Immortal. He said in his absence, Flair has raised the bar and everybody in the company has either stepped up or got out. He said Immortal is working like clockwork, so he has a surprise for the champ.

From the rafters a new title belt was lowered as pyro blasted. Hogan presented it to Hogan and declared him the "greatest heavyweight champion of all times." He said he's not used to taking out the trash, but Dixie Carter and her old TNA company are represented by the old belt. He dropped it in the trash.

He asked if there is anyone left who opposes Immortal and dares challenge them, "then the only thing I can say is drop down to your knees and pray, brother." Pope stepped into the crowd. Bischoff asked what he wanted.

[Q2]

Pope said, "The prayers of the congregation have been answered because thePope has arrived." The crowd chanted his name. Pope said after what Bischoff pulled at Turning Point by paying off his family including his brother and cousins, tonight he's going to take his over-the-hill behind and put him in a casket and roll him up the ramp and, as if that stage was a cliff, roll him over the edge and watch him crash and burn. He said there's nothing he can do about it.

Samoa Joe's music played. Jarrett waved him to the ring. Joe told Immortal they shouldn't think Pope is their only problem tonight. He told Jarrett it's adorable he's walking around calling himself a mixed martial artist. He said it's adorable that he's calling himself a mixed martial arts fighter and shoot fighter. He challenged him to step into the ring with him because when he chokes him out, it'll take more than his two new hillbilly girlfriends to wake him up. RVD's music then played.

Rob Van Dam walked onto the stage and said all of the fun he's been having at his expense stops now. He said it's clear to him now that he only knows one friend who would stoop low enough to sell out because he wanted something that was his - Jeff Hardy. He pointed at Hardy and said he never won that title from him. He said he knows he has to live with the knowledge that he'll have to face him in the ring. He said that match will be tonight and he will leave the building the TNA Hvt. Champion.

The camera showed Pope, Joe, and RVD all staring down the heels in the ring. Matt Morgan walked out and said no disrespect meant, but he deserves a title shot before RVD. He said he's no champion and he exposed him in the middle of the ring at Turning Point with a three count. He said if he was given another opportunity, "I'd expose that ass again, son, guaranteed." He said he can't put all the heat on him because Hogan is the one pulling his strings.

Hogan told him he's jumping on the wrong dog now. Morgan said as a kid he worshipped him. He said there was nothing he could do that was wrong to him. "It wasn't the prayers, it wasn't the vitamins, it was the integrity." He said that's the reason he's on the stage tonight. He asked Hogan where is that "never say die attitude." He added: "Where's your balls, Hulk." (Uh, that's a touchy subject since on YouTube you can get a glimpse of him flashing them at the camera.) Hogan said if Morgan wants a fight, he'll get it. Hogan said he, Bischoff, and "the greatest wrestler of all time" Flair will go to the back and decide his fate. He said he should be careful what he wishes for. [c]

-They joined the backstage conversation with Hogan, Flair, and Bischoff in progress. Hogan said as Flair was holding the fort together with glue, he was watching Morgan destroy his career. Flair said Morgan wanted to hear himself hulk up in his own mind, but now punish him. Bischoff said if they want a war, they'll get it. Hogan proposed that "Samoan Joe" (sic) take on Gunner & Murphy. He said RVD should face Kaz. He said Kaz is a better wrestler. He said if RVD beats Kaz, he becomes the no. 1 contender. Flair said that will never happen because Kaz is his man. Hogan said Morgan, "the new savior of TNA," should face Beer Money & Doug Williams. Bischoff called Morgan "Sasquatch." They all celebrated their great ideas. Bischoff told Flair and Hogan he had some referees to talk to.

[Q3]

-Backstage Cookie yapped with Robbie E. She said she may not be a wrestler, but she's from New Jersey and she knows how to fight.

1 -- JAY LETHAL & TAYLOR WILD vs. ROBBIE E. & COOKIE

Cookie and Robbie got into some sort of argument that led to Cookie refusing to enter the ring. They cut to a break after ring intros. [c] Back from the break they were arguing at ringside. Lethal took control of Robbie in the ring. At 2:00 Robbie tagged in a reluctant Cookie. Cookie tagged right back out to Robbie, forcing Wilde to tag Lethal back in. Lethal surprised Robbie with a flying crossbody block. Cookie broke up Lethal's pin attempt on Robbie. When Lethal turned toward her, Robbie jumped him from behind. Cookie held Lethal by his arms as Robbie charged. Lethal moved and Robbie stopped short. Lethal then surprised Robbie with a Lethal Combination. Cookie interfered again, but Lethal caught her kick attempt. He held her and called in Taylor. Cookie yanked her foot out of her boot so she could slide out of the ring. Robbie then used the boot to KO Lethal for the win.

WINNERS: Robbie & Cookie in 7:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Lots of shenanigans, not a lot of wrestling. It told the story it wanted to tell just fine, though.

-A brief video package aired on the Team 3D vs. Machine Guns storyline.

[Q4] [c]

-Team 3D made their way to the ring, shaking hands with fans. The crowd chanted, "Please don't go!" Brother Ray said the fans have to admit that was one hell of a match at the pay-per-view. He said the Guns deserve to be the TNA Tag Team Champions. He said he's proud it was teams like them that helped tag team wrestling in TNA mean something so teams such as the Guns, Beer Money, Gen Me, and Ink Inc. are around. He talked up their title history and said it was a hell of a run. Brother Ray thanked the fans. Devon took the mic and also thanked the fans, saying that without them, there would be no Team 3D. Devon said Ray is going to go on to be the biggest rock star in the world. Brother Ray said he's going to spend time with his kids and work on his wrestling school. Devon let out a final, "Oh my brother, testify!" He set down the mic. Ray applauded. Devon applauded. They hugged each other. Taz said they have goose bumps. Ray hugged Devon's arms. Taz said they had a great run and they're two great guys. As soon as Devon turned, Ray charged at him with a forearm. The announcers said nothing as Ray looked down at Devon face down on the mat. [c]

[Q5]

-A clip aired of Ray attacking Devon as Tenay said he doesn't get it. Taz said nobody expected to see what they just saw. (That's not exactly true.) They went to Taz and Tenay on camera. Tenay asked Taz if he had an inkling this was coming. Taz said he hopes there's a good reason Ray did that. They shifted to plugging the rest of Impact - Styles vs. Richards, Samoa Joe vs. Gunner & Murphy, Morgan vs. Beer Money & Douglas Williams, and RVD vs. Kaz. It's half a PPV line-up packed into one hour of TV with commercials.

-In his office, Bischoff chewed out the referees for the mess that happened in the main event at Turning Point, blaming Earl Hebner for appointing a junior referee to the main event. Bischoff said everyone thinks they had something to do with the bad call. The young referee, Jackson, admitted it's his fault that Matt Morgan isn't the champion because he made a bad call. Bischoff said he should be fired. Morgan entered and said he could hear Bischoff yelling at him from across the building. He said if anyone should be upset, it should be him, but he said everyone has screwed up. He said Bischoff is a walking screw-up. He told Bischoff to do the right thing and appoint Jackson the referee for his match against Fortune so he can redeem himself. Bischoff agreed to it, but told the ref, "Do your freakin' job!"

2 -- SAMOA JOE vs. GUNNER & MURPHY

Joe won quickly and decisively with a Muscle Buster on Murphy.

WINNER: Joe in 1:00.

KELLER'S REAX: Four minutes into the second hour this second match began, meaning through 64 minutes, there was only seven minutes of wrestling. The last time TNA weighed a show so heavily toward talk, it backfired (right after Bound for Glory). Will history again repeat itself.

-Afterward, Gunner got in Joe's face. Joe beat him up and applied his sleeper. Jarrett ran out and jumped Joe from behind with a night stick. Jarrett put Joe in an anklelock. Angle ran to the ring and gave Olympic slams to Gunner and Murphy. He turned to Jarrett who fled to the stage. Taz said nobody expected Angle at the Impact Zone, especially Jarrett.

-Backstage Hogan told Flair, Bischoff, and Abyss that "it's game on." Flair said Gunner and Murphy are done because they let them down. Flair also said Angle is a dead man. [c]

-Bischoff stood in front of a mirror in a bathroom. He told the cameramen to follow him everywhere because he wants it documented if Angle tries anything with him so he can sue him. Bischoff waved his hand in front of his nose and told Abyss to hurry up and "next time kill what you eat before you eat it." Pope then surprised Bischoff with a punch to the gut. He then waited for Abyss to flush and come out of the stall. Pope attacked him and kicked him onto the toilet. Pope was fuming as he grabbed Bischoff and shook him by his lapels. They cut away (just like a bad SNL skit that doesn't have an ending so they just cut away). Taz wondered where Pope was taking Bischoff. Well, they did have a camera back there and they could have followed him.

[Q6]

3 -- ROB VAN DAM vs. KAZ

Tenay said Rhino's TNA contract expired at midnight on Sunday and the new regime of Bischoff & Hogan did not renew his deal. They also acknowledged Sabu lost and has to leave TNA. Taz said EV2 is rapidly crumbling. Tenay said a win by Kaz over RVD could be a career-changer. Tenay said RVD finally realizes his true enemy is Jeff Hardy, so now he can focus on getting the belt he never lost in the first place back around his waist. As RVD rallied against Kaz, the ref got knocked down. Flair walked out with a chair. Rhino charged to the ring and knocked the chair out of Flair's hands. He entered the ring, turned toward Kaz, but then hit RVD with a Gore. The groggy ref made a three count.

WINNER: Kaz in 3:00.

-Rhino picked up the chair and stood behind RVD. Tommy Dreamer came out and got in Rhino's face, demanding an explanation for his actions. Rhino turned and began to leave the ring. Dreamer bent over to check on RVD. Rhino grabbed the chair and hit Dreamer across the back. Tenay wondered what is behind his actions. [c]

-The camera apparently did follow Pope and Bischoff. Pope had him in a production room backed into a corner. Pope asked Bischoff if he wants to be him. He put his sunglasses on him and said if he wants to be head of the Congregation, he ought to look like it. He put his hat on him, too, then slapped him and demanded he rap. Bischoff said "sizzle de-sizzle" or something like that. Some fans laughed. Bischoff said he was sorry as Pope slapped him around some more.

-Hogan told Abyss he wasn't supposed to let Bischoff out of his sight. Abyss apologized. Hogan told Abyss to get Bischoff and rip Pope's head off. "Yes sir," said Abyss.

-They went back to Tenay and Taz at the desk. Tenay said it seems as if Hogan has hit the panic button. Taz said that might be an exaggeration. They ten commented on the return of Abyss, the turn of Rhino, and Pope attacking Bischoff. Taz said Rhino's actions will just refuel RVD's paranoia. I don't think it counts as paranoia anymore when his worried have proven true. It's good that they're revisiting these angles as there's so many in one show, it helps them sink in at least a little if they revisit them.

-A.J. Styles made his ring entrance for the (almost never defend on) TV Title match. His opponent Stevie Richards attacked him from behind.

[Q7] [c]

4 -- A.J. STYLES vs. STEVIE RICHARDS -- TV Title Match

Tenay talked about the rich history of the World TV Title. He said the "masses" can associate with it because they can see it defended on TV. Taz said it has been prestigious title over the years. Stevie kept pace with Styles. Taz said he might be the only wrestler in TNA who can keep pace with him cardio-wise. At 4:00 Stevie caught Styles with a Steviekick as Styles spring-boarded toward him. Styles avoided a powerbomb and then slammed Stevie to the mat and gave him a modified or botched-looking Styles Clash. Richards landed powerbomb style on the back of his head and neck rather than face-down, and Taz and Tenay gasped like they had just seen Stevie's neck snap in half. Taz noted he has a surgically repaired neck.

WINNER: Styles in 5:00.

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

-Pope dropped Bischoff into a casket backstage. [c]

[Q8]

-Pope wheeled the casket to ringside. Abyss charged at Pope and attacked him. Pope fought back and kicked and stomped and kneed Abyss against the ring. Taz said he's never seen at this level of intensity and rage before. He threw Abyss against the casket. Bischoff popped over the lid and crawled out of it and gave Pope a low blow from behind. Abyss then took control and beat down Pope. Abyss and Bischoff wheeled the casket into the stage platform. Tenay let out an "oh my god" as if the casket breaking the wall of the stage was some sort of dastardly move to Pope instead. [c]

-Ring intros began for the main event with five minutes left in the second hour.

-A clip aired of the botched pin count by the referee when Morgan had Hardy covered. From the angles they showed, it was obvious Hardy blew that by kicking the ref late. The poor ref had no choice but to stop before counting three, crowning a new champion that wasn't planned, so Hardy gets the blame for screwing up his timing.

5 -- BEER MONEY & DOUGLAS WILLIAMS vs. MATT MORGAN

Morgan put up a good fight early, but the numbers overwhelmed him. It settled into Douglas concentrating on Morgan's left knee and leg. Storm applied a figure-four at 4:00.

[Q9]

Tenay announced that Bischoff is "pissed about something" and headed to the broadcast table. Bischoff showed up and said given the lack of respect he was shown has him running out of patience. Bischoff said Morgan better win tonight or he'll never get another shot at Hardy. Taz sided with Bischoff and wondered what is going on. Bischoff threw a fit and pounded the desk and insisted that he's a pro... "a professional pro," in fact. Bischoff told Tenay he didn't want to hear a word from him. Bischoff said he never thought Morgan had any talent. Morgan came back with a clothesline. Bischoff said Roode craps more talent in any given day than Morgan will have in his entire career. Morgan caught a charging Roode with a Carbon Footprint, then splashed Douglas in the corner. Tenay asked if Morgan wins will he really get a title shot. Bischoff insisted he's a fair man and he will get that title shot. Taz gave Tenay a hard time for assuming the worst about Bischoff and not treating him decently. Beer Money tried to suplex Morgan, but Morgan countered and suplexed both of Beer Money. As Flair jumped onto the ring apron, they arbitrarily signed off Impact, gave a brief closing credit, and then began Reaction.

Morgan knocked Flair off the ring apron, then took on Douglas one-on-one since Beer Money retreated up to the stage. Morgan finished Douglas with a Carbon Footprint for the win. Bischoff said, "Son of a bitch! Fire that referee"

WINNER: Morgan in 10:00.

STAR RATING: *

[For the rest of Reaction, check out James Caldwell's detailed report on the Main Listing.]

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