By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT WRESTLING REPORT
NOVEMBER 10, 2011
TAPED IN MACON, GA.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

[Q1 - HOUR 1]

Note: TNA's Jesse Neal will be my guest on tomorrow's (Friday's) PWTorch Livecast. Email me your questions for him now at pwtorchlivecast@gmail.com or listen live (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pro-wrestling-torch) and call the show (646-721-9828).

-Highlights aired of last week's big happenings with Robert Roode turning heel on James Storm to capture the World Hvt. Title.

-Robert Roode made his ring entrance as Mike Tenay and Taz reacted to his heel turn. Taz said he had worked his whole life and career, scarified and scratched and clawed to become World Champ, but he got screwed at Bound for Glory and took an opportunity when presented with it to crack his "home boy" with a bottle to win the title. Tenay said he can't believe Taz was giving him the seal of approval. Taz said that's not what he's doing.

Roode entered the ring in a tight black shirt and slacks. He then said, "You're booing me? You're really booing me? Or are you chanting 'Roode! Roode!'" He called the fans morons for cheering for him last week. He asked them why they hates him. "Because I killed Beer Money? Because I did exactly what each of you Macon, Georgia hillbillies would have done given the same opportunity I had?" he said. He said it's a new generation, a generation of selfishness and he is the leader of the new generation. "Doing things the right way in today's society these days gets you absolutely nothing, gets you nowhere," he said. He said it's a dog eat dog world and last week he ate James Storm for lunch. He said, "That sorry, stupid son of a bitch didn't see it coming." He said that's Storm's fault. They did a split screen showing Storm watching on a monitor and having to be held back from charging the ring.

Roode said he came to the realization at Bound for Glory that after 13 long, hard years, opportunities like last week's only come along so often, so he made the most of it. He said today Storm, the fans' hero, is in some hole in the wall while he's the World Heavyweight Champion. Storm punched his way past security backstage and then fought them off on the stage. When Storm entered the ring, Roode scurried away. He yelled that Storm is a lunatic and a loser. Sting then walked out, called "the TNA Man in Charge" (which is at least better than "Powers that Be").

Sting walked out and asked Bobby where he was going. He said who would have ever thought he'd take the shortcut he took last week. He said if this is a selfish generation, he's taking the high road. He said he's booking a World Title rematch. Roode looked panicked and yelled "no!" Tenay said that's why Dixie Carter put Sting in charge of the "in-ring activity here at Impact Wrestling."

(WK Reax: That was okay. Pretty good, actually, for a first heel promo setting the tone for his new character. I'd like to know when he decided to turn on Storm. Was it when he saw the beer bottle and grew frustrated with his inability to beat him? He totally skipped over that great reaction he had when Storm seemed to look past him in his promo two weeks ago, which would have been a great detail to bring up as justification for his decision. Calling the fans names seems a little simple, but there was enough other depth that it was a good start. He carried himself well, too, in terms of look and body language.)

-Tenay and Taz plugged other key matches on the show including Ronnie's from Jersey Shore wrestling, a Knockouts Tag Title match, and A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels. [c]

[Q2]

-They showed Dixie Carter backstage with Bellator Fighting Championship president Bjorn Rebney backstage.

-A video package aired on Crimson vs. Matt Morgan booked for Turning Point.

[Q2]

1 -- CRIMSON vs. "THE POPE" D'ANGELO DINERO

Taz said just walking around backstage undefeated puts a target on his back. Taz warned that Crimson shouldn't look past The Pope, though. Pope got in most of the offense in the first few minutes, but Crimson caught him flying off the top rope and turned it into his Red Sky finisher for the sudden win.

WINNER: Crimson in 3:00.

-Gunner said his father taught him lessons if he disrespected him, and he's going to deal with Garett Bischoff that way in a just a few moments, teaching him about the chain of command he lived by in the military.

(WK Reax: Good, simple, believable delivery and promo from Gunner to promote a TV match.) [c]

2 -- GARETT BISCHOFF vs GUNNER (w/Eric Bischoff, Ric Flair)

Garett came out to no entrance music, dressed in a white sleeveless t-shirt and slacks. Gunner stared him down like a scene out of HBO's "Oz" series when a new young prisoner arrived in the cell block. Gunner turned his back to laugh and smile at Bischoff and Flair. When he turned back, Garett armdragged him. Gunner kept his back turned when he stood up, out of a sign of disrespect. He gathered himself and charged. Garett hit another armdrag and a high hiptoss. Then he hit a backdrop. Gunner bailed out to ringside. "I didn't see this coming!" exclaimed Tenay. Flair entered and shoved the ref, so the ref DQ'd Gunner. Taz said Garett surprised himself. Garett looked like a deer in headlights, presumably by design.

WINNER: Garret via DQ in 1:00.

[Q3]

-Robbie E. and Big Rob Terry knocked on Ronnie's locker room. Security tried to get them to leave. Eric Young answered it the door first, then Ronnie showed up. Robbie E. told Ronnie he's going to take him out. Ronnie shoved Robbie. Robbie jumped onto Terry's back and trash-talked him some more. [c]

-They showed a bloodied James Storm backstage lying against a brick wall.

3 -- ZEMA ION vs. JESSE SORENSEN

Zema made a comeback, but played to the crowd before climbing to the top rope. Taz chastised him for that. Sorensen moved out of the way of his top rope flip splash, then won with his finisher.

WINNER: Sorensen in 4:00.

(WK Reax: Good showcase match for Sorensen. Zema was a good opponent for him in this situation.)

-Kid Kash walked out afterward and said, "You're just so damn impressive, Mr. Ten Days in the Business." He said he's been in the business for 20 years and he's done it all, and nobody gave him anything, he took everything. He had a clipboard in hand and said at Turning Point, he has a contract for an X Division Title match against him and Austin Aries. He gave him the clipboard and mockingly called him a "superstar" and told him to sign it please. Sorensen signed it. Kash said he just made the biggest mistake of his life. Kash said his mother is really proud of you, "tell her I said thank you." Sorensen punched him and tackled him. Taz said Kash crossed the line with that comment. Aries then entered the ring and hit Sorensen from behind with a belt. Kash then gave him a scary looking hybrid powerbomb-piledriver that caused Tenay to shriek.

-Backstage Karen Jarrett told Gail Kim how beautiful she is, but Madison Rayne seemed to take exception with all of the praise Karen was lavishing on Kim, while ignoring her. Karen blew her off. Traci Brooks watched in the background.

(WK Reax: This seems a little quick to be teasing dissension between Kim & Rayne, but that's par for the course historically in TNA when it comes to new tag teams. In this case, though, at least it makes some sense with Karen's character being infatuated with the shiny new toy that is Kim. I hope they can draw this out for months and not rush it.)

[Q4] [c]

4 -- GAIL KIM & MADISON RAYNE (w/Karen) vs. VELVET SKY & MICKIE JAMES

They plugged Dixie Carter's Twitter account. Earlier they showed quotes from fans on Twitter saying what match at Turning Point they're most looking forward to. Tenay said they're still awaiting word on the physical condition of Storm and the status of the scheduled World Title match later. Kim shoved Mickie off the top rope a minute in, giving the heels the advantage. Kim then finished Sky with her boot-to-the-face dropdown finisher.

WINNERS: Kim & Rayne in 4:00.

-Tenay hyped Robbie's pro wrestling debut was up next. [c]

[Q5 - HOUR 2]

-Backstage Sting checked on Storm's condition. Storm's face was still covered in blood. Sting asked who did it. Storm said he didn't know what happened, but he said he was fine. He tried to stand, but he stumbled and fell back onto a chair. Sting asked him what city he is in. He didn't know and just shouted that he was fine.

-A video package aired on the Ronnie-Robbie E. stuff.

5 -- ROBBIE E. & ROBBIE T. vs. RONNIE & ERIC YOUNG

Ronnie wore blue jeans and a t-shirt. Robbie E. talked a big game, but then tagged out before locking up with Ronnie. Young challenged Robbie T. to a posedown and flexed. He then mistakenly went after the ref, creating a distraction that led to him punching Robbie T. in the corner. He then hit Robbie T.'s forehead. Robbie E. tagged in and stomped away at Young at 2:00. Robbie E. spit at Ronnie. Ronnie tried to get into the ring without a tag, but the ref stopped him. Robbie E. charged at Young in the corner, but Young moved. Ronnie then tagged in and he clotheslined Robbie, then bodyslammed him. Rob Terry took notes on the ring apron. Young then hit a top rope elbow and stripped down to his leopard bikini shorts. Ronnie made the cover and scored the pin as Young fought off Robbie T. Taz said, "Somehow Eric Young ended up in his underwear. I don't know what happened with that."

WINNERS: Ronnie & Young in 4:00.

(WK Reax: That was relatively harmless.)

-Backstage Jeff Jarrett cut a promo about his match coming up later, a six-man tag. Bully Ray said what happened on Bound for Glory was a fluke. Scott Steiner told Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dan to go find one of their skinny friends and they'll beat them all up. Steiner entered the locker room and said he's going to "take an Anderson right now." Ray told him to courtesy-flush because he had a lot of eggs earlier. [c]

[Q6]

-Backstage Mexican America instigated a brawl with Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore in the catering area. Neal told Mexican America to bring those belts to Turning Point because they'll become theirs.

-Tenay and Taz were joined by Rebney, the CEO of Bellator, the MMA promotion that Spike TV's parent company purchased and plans to replace UFC with in 2013, but currently airs on MTV2.

6 -- A.J. STYLES vs. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS

Tenay talked about Viacom's purchase of the majority of Bellator Fighting Championships. The announcers talked up the tournament format. Rebney touted that fighters control their destiny and earn their championships. Rebey said Styles is someone he thinks would have the best chance to transition into the Bellator Cage because he's such a great athlete. Taz said Dixie Carter would put up a fight to keep him. Rebney said no commission they fight in front of would let them bring a screwdriver into the cage. Styles nailed a Pele kick at 6:00 for a near fall. Daniels pulled a screwdriver out of the tool box that is kept under the cage. RVD ran out to ringside and yanked it away. That distraction led Styles to hitting the Styles Clash for the win. Afterward RVD and Styles shook hands.

WINNER: Styles in 7:00.

(WK Reax: It was a good TV match, but the commentary on MMA and the plugs for Bellator got in the way more than it helped since it took some of the focus off of what was at stake in the match and just calling the action.) [c]

-Tenay and Taz hyped the Turning Point line-up.

-Ring intros took place for the main event. First Immortal. Then Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy. They left the mystery partner a mystery going into the break. [c]

7 -- JEFF JARRETT & BULLY RAY & SCOTT STEINER vs. MR. ANDERSON & JEFF HARDY & ABYSS

After the break, Abyss was revealed as the mystery partner. Ray looked nervous and shocked. Jarrett threw a little fit. Steiner leaped to the floor as soon as Abyss entered the ring. Jarrett tagged out to avoid an early clash with Hardy. Tenay hyped the possibility of Roode vs. Storm up next.

[Q8]

At 6:00 Abyss hot-tagged in and went after all three heels, his former Immortal teammates. It didn't get much of a pop, but after Abyss's character has been so badly damaged in the last few years, it's no surprise. Ray attacked Abyss from behind, but Hardy then gave Ray a Twist of Fate followed by a sudden Swanton. Jarrett, the legal man in the ring, gave Hardy a Stroke, though. He then ate a Mic Check from Anderson. Steiner then gave Anderson a belly-to-belly. Steiner went after Abyss, but Abyss countered with a Black Hole Slam for the win.

WINNER: Abyss in 12:00.

(WK Reax: That was the right person pinning the right person. The going-on-50 Steiner should be used to put others over on TV at this stage, and Abyss storyline-wise should have gotten revenge on his former teammates. Hardy and Anderson got in big spots so they weren't lost in the mix.)

-They went to Tenay and Taz at the announce desk to address the scheduled main event. Taz said he didn't think Storm should compete tonight.

-Roode's ring entrance took place. [c]

-Storm's music played, but he didn't walk out at first. Then he stumbled onto the stage, covered in blood. Tenay asked, "What is he thinking?" He looked like he was right out of "The Walking Dead."

8 -- ROBERT ROODE vs. JAMES STORM

Storm charged into the ring with a surge of energy and tackled Roode. That was about all he had, though, and the ref soon called off the match. Roode even looked concerned and helped Storm to his feet. Roode then rolled up Storm and insisted the ref count a pin. The ref did, reluctantly. Styles, Kaz, and Sting ran out to check on Storm as Roode retreated.

WINNER: Roode in 2:00.

-Styles insisted on a match against Roode at Turning Point. Sting gave him his wish.

(WK Reax: This is another example of PPVs being a bump on the road that just gets in the way of the life-blood of TNA's existence, which is serving Spike TV with the weekly Impact Wrestling TV show. The PPV got in the way of the story they're telling, so they threw this last second main event out there, with the word "last second" never more literal than this. I would have worked quite well to put this exact situation at top of the second hour and then give Styles a chance to cut a promo to sell the PPV main event with a spirited babyface promo, while Roode could also react to the edict that he defend against Styles in just a few days.)

We suggest these recent related articles...

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/30: Final hype for Bound for Glory, Ciampa also wrestles on Impact, Dollhouse vs. BP, more; Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/23: ECIII defends TNA Title, #1 contender match, Hardy "quits" servanthood, two more title matches, more; Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/16: Team TNA vs. Team GFW for control of TNA, new Knockouts champion, more; Overall Reax