By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT WRESTLING REPORT
OCTOBER 13, 2011
TAPED IN LEXINGTON, KY.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

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-The show opened with clips from the Hulk Hogan-Sting angle and hype for the Kurt Angle-Bobby Roode World Title match.

-Mike Tenay introduced the show with Taz as Kurt Angle made his way to the ring. No Impact Wresting opening or pryo this week.

Angle called Roode to the ring to have one last discussion before their PPV showdown. Angle said Roode did reasonably well facing the wrestlers he put against him in recent weeks, but none of them is as good as he is. He said he dominated the Olympics and won multiple world titles in every organization he's been in. He said he has dominated TNA the last five years with no one helping him. He said at BFG he promises all of the idiot fans that he will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt he is the greatest wrestler of all-time. He extended his hand for a handshake. Roode almost grabbed his hand, but then pulled back and grabbed the mic instead.

Roode said at the end of the night when the smoke clears, the person who survives their match will be the one with the bigger heart. He said in 1996 in Atlanta, Ga. he had the heart to overcome a broken neck and win a gold medal. He said he's been a machine in TNA every night. But at BFG he just wants to find out who has the bigger heart that's going to take TNA to the next level. Roode said he wants a one-on-one match with no Fortune, no Immortal. Angle said what he wants is what he'll get. Then they shook hands.

Angle jumped in with "one more thing." He said Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff have booked him in a match against both Gunner and Jeff Jarrett later.

(WK Reax: Good overall segment. One thing, though. I don't see the advantage of talking about "taking TNA to the next level." Shouldn't the state of the organization be a side effect of wrestlers fighting to win matches? Shouldn't Roode be worried about winning because he wants the World Title and the fame, pride, and fortune that comes with it, rather than doing something for some "greater good" as if TNA is a team playing against the WWE? I know that's how people talk behind the scenes in TNA management, but it's not really relevant as part of the on-air product. ECW eventually was built around the "us vs. them" marketing theme, which Paul Heyman brilliantly executed, but TNA isn't ECW. That's neither good nor bad, it just isn't. TNA won't "get to the next level" by promoting their product as being a bunch of wrestlers trying to "get TNA to the next level." TNA will actually get to the next level by building up stars on TV fans care about and putting on entertaining shows built around consequential matches between wrestlers fans want to see win and wrestlers fans hope to see lose.)

-They cut backstage to Rob Van Dam & A.J. Styles brawling with Daniels & Jerry Lynn. [c]

[Q2]

1 -- DANIELS & JERRY LYNN vs. A.J. STYLES & ROB VAN DAM

Daniels and Lynn beat up Styles all the way to the ring. As soon as Daniels threw Styles into the ring, the ref Dave Hebner called for the bell to start the match.

(WK Reax: This is one of those "MAKES NO SENSE" moments in that the referee signaled to start the match after Daniels threw Styles into the ring after he and Lynn beat him senseless on his way to the ring, and long before RVD got to the ring. Why would the referee ring the bell? Wouldn't he restore order first and make sure RVD was there? I don't agree with the booking approach where creating a sense of chaos is given more weight than having the referee act in a way that makes sense.)

Styles made a comeback and tagged in RVD at 2:00. At 5:00 four-way chaos broke out and RVD slingshot himself onto Daniels at ringside, then Lynn slidekicked RVD, and finally Styles flip dove onto all three. Back in the ring Styles flew at Daniels with a forearm. Daniels fought off a Styels Clash. Lynn entered so Styles gave him a Pele kick. Styles then gave Lynn the Styles Clash as Daniels retreated. It was good for the pin.

WINNERS: Styles & Lynn in 6:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- Good short TV match with high energy and good athleticism, which also gave all four personalities a chance to build their respective feud.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Daniels will be my guest on the PWTorch Livecast tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 ET. We will talk about Bound for Glory and take your calls live at 646-721-9828. You can also email a question for Daniels now to: pwtorchlivecast@gmail.com.
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-Tenay plugged the official Bound for Glory contract signing between Hulk Hogan and Sting, plus Scott Steiner vs. Mr. Anderson with Bully Ray as a special enforcer referee. [c]

2 -- SAMOA JOE vs. MATT MORGAN

Back and forth heavy-hitting action early including Joe nailing Morgan in the corner with a flying kick and then a running knee. Morgan leapfrogged a charging Joe and scored a surprise out of nowhere schoolboy three count.

WINNER: Morgan in 2:00.

[Q3]

-Afterward, an embarrassed Joe attacked Morgan's left leg. Crimson came out with a chair to make the save. Joe fled the ring. Crimson was limping. Tenay observed there might be a protective boot under his jeans. Joe grabbed the mic and said every time he's about to finish off Morgan, someone runs out to save his ass. Joe said what he sees in the ring are a couple beta males who are scared of each other and afraid to fight one another. He said as a result, they get together like a couple of bitches and take on the alph-ass-kicker. He challenged them a three-way fight where there are no friends. Taz said he likes Joe's proposal.

(WK Reax: Nice try from Joe trying to make sense of a situation where a heel is challenging two babyfaces to a three-way. It should be the other way around, and until the last dozen years, it always was the other way around - a babyface would challenge the heel (or heels). Joe comes across as a brave bad-ass by volunteering to put himself into a situation against two babyfaces who appear aligned. So I say "nice try" in that he did the best he could with the booking to make it seem like he would have a reason to be confident taking on both of them. But really, Booking 101 (and common sense storytelling) would dictate that 99 out of 100 times the face should challenge heels. If Morgan and Crimson end up not getting along, then Joe will have been right, but how does that make him a heel? If Morgan and Crimson do get along and work together, Joe will get sympathy for having the odds stacked against him. There's just no winning in this situation and it really does fly against decades of common sense booking practices.) [c]

-Hernandez, Anarquia, Rosita, and Sarita (Mexican America) stood in the ring. Hernandez challenged Ink Inc. to the ring and vowed to pimp them out with their cute hair and facepaint when he's done with them. Ink Inc, walked to the ring. Jesse Neal asked the heels if they live in America, despite all of their complaining week after week. The arguing turned into a brawl. A new woman with tattoos and spiked hair ran out and helped Neal and Shannon Moore clear the ring of the four heels. Tenay's voice cracked as he asked, "Who is that!?" Ink Inc. tried to show off the tattoo they gave Anarquia at the tattoo parlor, but it must be embarrassing since Hernandez yanked Anarquia out of the ring before Ink Inc. could strip him of his shirt. [c…]

[Q4] […c]

3 -- KID KASH & AUSTIN ARIES vs. BRIAN KENDRICK & JESSE SORRENSEN

Aries wore his hot pink feathered vest to the ring. Kendrick and Sorrensen jumped the heels at ringside, at which point of course the referee rewarded them by calling for the bell to ring. Again, that makes zero sense to reward wrestlers for attacking their opponents before the bell by starting the match with the attackers at the advantage. The heels isolated Sorrensen for several minutes until Kendrick hot-tagged in at 3:00. Kash mistakenly elbowdropped Aries. That led to a shoving match between the heels. Sorrensen dove at them, but Aries moved and actually pushed Sorrensen into Kash. Aries then swung the X Title at Kendrick, but Kendrick ducked and then gave him the Sliced Bread onto the belt for the win.

WINNERS: Sorrensen & Kendrick in 5:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

-They showed Karen Jarrett backstage with Traci Brooks. Tenay said they were headed to the ring. [c]

-Velvet Sky walked to the ring. As Sky rubbed against the bottom rope, Taz said, "Let the pigeons disperse." Mickie James came out next pretending to almost expose her breasts - well, the 15 percent that wasn't already showing. And third out was Winter, accompanied by Angelina Love.

[Q5]

Finally, Karen, Madison Rayne, and Traci walked out. Karen told the women she expects them to make her happy on Sunday. She looked at Mickie and Sky and said she had to fight to have them put on the card because "nobody wanted you on the card." She told the booing fans to shut up and listen. She said Bound for Glory is a night for the upper class, not the five-and-dime street hooker hoes. "Mainly, I'm talking about you, Velvet," she said. Sky asked what her problem with her is. Karen said she's a role model "for the entire female race." She said they all look up to her, which is why she is where she is and Sky is where she is. She laughed. Sky said they'll find out when they're on an even playing field "because there will be a time you will respect me because I will be the next Knockout Champion." Karen said, "Over my dead body!" Traci kneeled behind Kare, so then Sky shoved her over. As Karen and Traci left, the rest of the women in the ring to into a brawl. Karen scolded Traci and said she'll be scrubbing toilets after what she did.

(WK Reax: They established a hook for the Knockout Title match, which is fans taking satisfaction in showing up Karen by cheering Sky to victory. This does make Mickie seem like a third-wheel in this, though.)

-Brother Ray cut a promo backstage saying he's the biggest, baddest special enforcer, so he warned Anderson not to do anything to piss him off because he might not make it to Philadelphia for BFG if he does. [c]

-Styles complained to the roving camera that now their wives won't talk to each other and their kids won't play together all because Daniels had to insist on another match. Styles said he's not one to quit, so he challenged him to an I Quit match. Styles told him to ask Tommy Dreamer what it's like to be in an I Quit match with him. As Styles was about to get in a pick-up truck, Daniels attacked him. He choked him with a cable and said he could end it right now, but he can't wait for the world to see him make him say I Quit. He slapped him and called him a bitch, then walked away.

[Q6]

4 -- MR. ANDERSON vs. SCOTT STEINER with Bully Ray as special ringside enforcer

Scott Steiner came out first. Mr. Anderson introduced himself on the stage next. Bully Ray distracted Anderson at the very beginning of the match, giving Steiner a chance to take the early advantage. Anderson made a comeback at 2:00. Bully Ray interfered again, so Anderson hit him at ringside with a clothesline. Back in the ring, a recovered Steiner hit Anderson with a low blow. The ref didn't do anything about it. Soon, on a TNA show, a ref will DQ someone for doing that. Abyss ran out to ringside with his fist wrapped in a chain. He entered the ring and swung at Anderson as Steiner held him. Anderson ducked, so Abyss hit Steiner. Anderson then covered Steiner for the win.

WINNER: Anderson in 4:00.

(WK Reax: Taz inexplicably defended Steiner's low-blow of Anderson, saying, "You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes." Shouldn't the babyface announcer help the heels get the heat that moves like that are supposed to generate by criticizing him, not praising him? Tenay didn't even speak up, either. Booker T has this problem on Smackdown, too.)

-Afterward Jeff Jarrett, Bully Ray, and Gunner got in Abyss's face and called him stupid and told him to stop screwing up. How many times is Abyss going to turn? He grabbed Ray by the throat once he had enough verbal abuse. Jarrett, Steiner, and Gunner attacked him and beat him down in the corner. Ray slid a table into the ring and set it up. Anderson ran out for the save, but he was soon overwhelmed. Ray slammed him through the table. [c]

-Backstage Angle told James Storm that he had all week along to think about how he could have defeated Bobby if it weren't for him. Storm said he had all week to think about what he did to him last week. Storm said he knows the mind games he's playing trying to break them up. Storm said he talked to Bobby, and Bobby had no idea that Angle interfered before Bobby pinned him. Angle said if that sits well with him, it sits well with him, too.

(WK Reax: They're going way way too fast into hinting at a Storm vs. Roode feud. That should come no sooner than next year's BFG, where it would really be a big deal if they let it simmer that long and let Bobby hold the title that long. It will take a one year title reign to really make a title reign in and of itself become a big draw. Right now title changes are so frequent they've ceased to mean anything, so there's no upside to switching the belt very often anymore. Storm should be a good friend to Roode for 10 months and then they can come up with a storyline where one or the other, due to a misunderstanding, hints as a heel turn or wanting a match-up.)

-Elsewhere backstage Jarrett said tonight the outcome will be different than recent weeks for Roode.

-They went to Tenay and Taz who gave a final plug for BFG, billed as "our signature event." They ran down the entire line-up. They threw to a video package on Roode vs. Angle.

[Q7]

-A video package aired on Roode, who said he thinks people identify with him as an everyday regular, hard working guy. He said long-time wrestling fans can identify with some of the older wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Sting, Kurt Angle, and Ric Flair. They showed Hogan, Steiner, Sting, Booker T, Kevin Nash, and Mick Foley as he said that. He said it's time for a change, time for a fresh face to move into that top spot. Then they went to Angle talking about how important that World Title is to him. He said no matter how times you win it, each time feels like the first time. He said Roode doesn't have the experience of being the World Champion, so Roode has the pressure on him. He said Roode has the pressure of the world on his shoulders, whereas he has already proven himself. Back to Roode, he said this is the biggest match of his career. Angle said Roode might beat him one out of 100 matches, but if he has just one match, he has a 99 percent chance at victory. Roode said he's going to beat the best wrestler in the world and it'll be the biggest, hardest battle of his life.

(WK Reax: Good sports-like video package for a lot of reasons. Very UFC-like. Segments like that help the fan get totally immersed in the world TNA creates the same way viewers get immersed in a movie where they end up rooting for the hero to win.)

-Jeff Jarrett, Karen, and Gunner walked to the ring. [c]

5 -- JEFF JARRETT & GUNNER vs. BOBBY ROODE

Tenay noted that no Jeremy Borash main event ring intros this week, "and who can blame him." Roode made a comeback at 4:00 after blocking The Stroker and then hitting a spinebuster and applying an STF. Gunner jumped in, so Roode put the STF on him instead, and Gunner tapped out.

WINNER: Roode in 4:00.

[Q8]

-Afterward Jarrett went after Roode, but Roode fought back. Ray ran out and low-blowed Roode from behind. Steiner entered, too, and stomped on Roode. Ray dropped an elbow on Roode's crotch. Storm ran out for the save. He punched Jarrett, Ray, and Steiner, but Gunner hit him from behind. The four heels beat on Storm as Angle walked to the ring. Jarrett hit Storm with his Mexican Title belt. Angle told Ray (calling him "Bubba" off-mic) to lift Roode so he could punch him, but then Jeff Jarrett's music played and he ran out. Hardy energetically attacked Ray in the corner, then gave Jarrett a Twist of Fate. Hardy extended his hand to Roode, but Storm wasn't buying it and he pushed Hardy's hand away. Hardy tried again, and Roode thought about it. Taz said he should shake his hand after what he just did to save his rear end. Roode finally shook his hand. Hardy got in Storm's face. Storm wouldn't let him leave the ring. He then looked over at Roode and they nodded, then together they raised Hardy's arms. Storm then gave Hardy a quick hug.

(WK Reax: The downside of that segment is that Hardy, as the returning mega-star, is running the risk of overshadowing Roode. It helped that Roode, Storm, and Hardy shared the stage together, but it didn't feel like a full fledged pitch by Hardy for fans to support Roode at BFG.) [c]

-Hardy talked to the roving camera backstage about trying to earn people's forgiveness. He said, "Tonight, I saved the next World Champion." Jarrett barged in and said he was going to throw up listening to this. He said he was there day one when he walked into the business and they've always shared a friendship that not many people know about. Jarrett said he is no longer part of the company. He said in three days, the company he founded has the biggest show in its history and he doesn't want him anywhere near Philadelphia. Hardy tried to walk away. Jarrett said he wasn't done and asked him what he was doing. Hardy said, "I'm going to buy my ticket to Philadelphia, fuh-lounder!"

-Borash introduced the contract signing segment for Hulk Hogan vs. Sting. Hogan walked out first, then Sting. Borash said they both have read and agreed to the terms of the contract. He asked them sign it. Hogan shoved the clipboard with the contract over to Sting. Sting happily signed it. Hogan then signed it, but he didn't look at all happy about it. This is probably the last angle Hogan ever does for a wrestling match. By probably, I mean over 50 percent, but not 99 percent. In that sense, this was a historical segment. Borash asked if either had any final words. Hogan stood up and tipped over the table. Hogan said he has been watching Sting dance around him for over 30 years (going back to 1981?!?!). He said they had a brief encounter, but Sting was very happy when that was over.

Hogan said he's seen his song and dance, and he could have found him sooner. He said for him to come to TNA in the twilight of his career when he was in TNA to help the company and make things right and get the company back on track, something that he and all of his TNA Originals couldn't get done, he dug down as low as he could go and went ahead in the 11th hour when he was at peace in his career, he "dropped his down card with the big scary-man face on it." He said he's there to tell him if he doesn't understand that if he wanted Hogan, "you got the real damn Hulk Hogan now." He said that's all he ever wanted, so he has it. "Be careful what you wish for," he said. He complained that Sting embarrassed him the way he has in front of all of the fans who support him and are loyal to him, so this will be the fight of his life and there will be no games played, no interference, and no pieces of the puzzle that he can't figure out. He said he has his word it'll be one-on-one on Sunday.

Eric Bischoff walked out and said there's one little piece of business left. He said he laid his hands on him two weeks ago, so if there's anything left over when Hogan is done with him, he's going to kick his ass. Hogan hit Sting from behind with a chair. Bishoff laughed as Hogan choked Sting in the corner. Tenay told fans with a final pitch, "You've got join us this Sunday as Sting fights Hulk Hogan at Bound for Glory in Philadelphia."

(WK Reax: Of course, there is a risk with making the final pitch for the show Hogan vs. Sting. It would have gone a long way to have Tenay add to that final line a mention of Roode challenging Angle. Roode-Angle is at risk of seeming overshadowed by Hogan-Sting, and the job of TNA is to let Hogan-Sting be what it's going to be, but go out of their way to be sure it doesn't look like Angle-Roode is just a supporting match on the Sting-Hogan card. Otherwise, the segment was fine as in the end Hogan acted like a heel. The problem is last week Hogan blurted out that if he lost, he'd give power back to Dixie Carter. That was at this same TV taping. Yet in the second half of the taping that aired this week, that BOMBSHELL that Hogan couldn't believe he even said in a weak moment of rage wasn't even acknowledged by the announcers or Hogan or Sting. I mean, if you're going to do it in the first place, then go all the way with it, otherwise don't do it. To any viewer for whom what Hogan said last week was a big deal, they have to be let down this week by it being ignored.)

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