TNA Reaction Report
September 2, 2010
Aired on Spike TV - Official episode #4 (pilot aired 4/12)
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

After TNA Impact went off the air with the four semi-finalists in the TNA Title tournament coming to blows after the TV main event, they picked up with referees and security trying to break up the fight. Tenay said he believes Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff made the wrong decision putting them in a tag match before the PPV. He said there's potential for injury before PPV. Suddenly, a graphic flashed on the screen that Impact "returns in two weeks." They didn't note during the Impact broadcast that next week's show is pre-empted. As the wrestlers eventually made it to the back after their brawl, Taz said it made for "good TV" to have them brawl, defending the decision-making.

After the Reaction video intro, they cut to Angle and Anderson backstage. Angle had subtitles telling Anderson that Hardy was "selfish out there" and he's going to show him what's up. Mr. Anderson walked off. Angle then shoved Hardy, who shoved back. They had a brawl that was eventually broken up by security. Angle told Hardy he's his at No Surrender.

Back to Anderson, who was ranting and raving backstage. The roving cameraman wanted to know what just happened out there. Anderson talked trash on Pope, who walked up to Anderson. Pope said he was legal and he got the pin. He said the goal was to win, so he won the match. Anderson put his hand in Pope's face, setting off another brawl backstage. They fought into a puddle of oil. Tommy Dreamer and Jay Lethal eventually separated them.

Back to Kurt Angle, he said Jeff Hardy stabbed him in the back and he's going to hurt him. He vowed to break him at No Surrender.

After they ran through the happenings to come tonight, they cut to Mick Foley talking about himself and never missing a match due to injury. He said that it's either the pain threshold not there or Mother Nature catching up to him that he couldn't be out there for EV2 in the eight-man tag on Impact. They cut to Rhino, who said he's been here in TNA for "six long, f----- years" bleeding for TNA. He said they're going to keep going until they beat Fortune.

They cut to Kazarian, who said they are the nucleus of TNA and he doesn't care if Dixie wants to bring in "one of her boys," Fortune will prevail. Styles walked into the shot and said they built this company. Kazarian said they "built this company" and guys coming into TNA have a job because of their work. Robert Roode joined the promo to say they are TNA and the EV2 guys are a bunch of "washed-up, rehabbed-up" wrestlers who don't belong in TNA. James Storm said, "They can suck it." Styles then talked about ratings.

Coming up: more from Fortune, Kevin Nash on Samoa Joe, Brian Kendrick gone mad, Hogan and Bischoff talking, and Bound for Glory "D-Day for TNA."

[Commercial Break]

Samoa Joe video: They focused on what side Samoa Joe is on between Jarrett and Nash/Sting. Nash said Joe says he stands alone, but his jaw says differently based on Joe punching him on Impact. More "power struggle" talk. Nash said he recognizes Joe siding with the team that's signing the checks with Hogan and not going with two guys at the end of their run (him and Sting). Jarrett said they're playing locker room politics, back-office politics, political politics, Senate politics, House of Representatives politics. Okay, he stopped at back-office. On the next Impact (in two weeks) will Joe stand tall alone after No Surrender?

They cut to Joe, who said what he did was business. Jarrett said he's had several heart-to-hearts with Joe and brought up Joe having a recent hiatus. He said Joe keeps everything bottled up and other times, he wears his heart on a sleeve. Jarrett said Joe needs to find a balancing act.

Brian Kendrick: does he gain strength from a higher source? Is his direction the right one, though? Kendrick was shown talking about whether he's regained his focus. He said Abyss has been smashing people and he's a madman. He said he has "I am" vs. Abyss's "they." Kendrick said he's guided by his own convictions. More mumbo-jumbo talk from the voice-over man led to Kendrick saying there is no one but him. He said if he challenges himself, he can overcome "nothing." Bizarre skit.

[Commercial Break]

Still to come on Reaction: four men in the semi-finals at No Surrender. Plus, what does Hogan have to say about D-Day on 10/10/10?

Impact Player of the Week: Jesse Neal. They cut to clips from October 12, 2000 with the news reel footage of the USS Cole explosion. Jesse Neal said that moment changed him as a human being. Neal said he was outgoing and living by the moment before that. He said after that, he saw his brothers and sisters screaming in pain. Neal said he didn't know pain like that; he felt their pain. He teared up recalling their attempts to save as many as they could, but he lost his best friend and roommate. Neal measured his words talking about his life stopping at that point. He said something snapped inside him that made him grow up "real fast." The voice-over man said he decided to become a wrestler after that. Neal said he's not taking s--- anymore and, inside him, something snapped that can never be fixed. Neal gritted his teeth and said it takes every muscle in his body to control this anger inside him. "It is very real. It is so real that I break down sometimes and cry that I'm so built up with this rage and anger," he said. To Be Continued...

Up next: Hogan and Bischoff "shine some light" on Abyss's statement on Impact. Also, Fortune lays down the law. Who will be in the main event at Bound for Glory?

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Hogan and Bischoff were shown talking about Abyss ruining the agenda for the night trying to get the final four tournament competitors in the ring to set the stage for...the tag match on Impact. Bischoff said Abyss claims "they" are still out there and are not Fortune.

The show cut to footage from Impact with Abyss promising "they" will be revealed at BFG on 10/10/10. The voice-over man described Abyss's craziness. They cut to Kurt Angle mocking Abyss's claims, saying he's starting to get a little concerned because Abyss seems sincere and not crazy anymore. Angle said Abyss is trying to make history and vow that something big is going to happen. Bischoff said Abyss gets a little more crazier every week, so he doesn't know what to make of it yet.

Impact footage: A.J. Styles's promo on EV2 and Tommy Dreamer from Impact, with Dreamer rebutting to set up the four-on-four elimination match. They cut to A.J. Styles from "earlier tonight" saying he's not going to play Dreamer's game. He had his name on his suit jacket because it's custom-made. Styles vowed to "beat the piss" out of EV2 in the main event. They showed Styles pinning Dreamer in the elimination tag.

Matt Morgan was shown talking that they're going to run over EV2 and run them out of TNA. "Those fat slobs and doorknobs need to get out of this business," he said. Morgan said he's sick and tired of waiting for their opportunity to come to be the stars of the promotion. They cut to a quick soundbyte of James Storm saying they'll run EV2 out of wrestling if they won't leave.

[Commercial Break]

Beautiful People feature: Madison Rayne explained how she formed a working relationship with Tara, who was revealed as the mystery biker on Impact. Rayne said Tara pushed her to the limit, earning her respect. They cut to Velvet Sky and Angelina Love knocking Tara when she was walking around backstage under the hood. The voice-over man talked about Tara having her sights set on the Beautiful People and the Knockouts Title. Tara then talked about getting her mind right taking time off and now it's ass-kicking time. She said she sees the belt around her waist pretty soon. Which group is supposed to be likable in this? Madison and Rayne came across more likable, yet they've been presented as heels on Impact, but the BPs came across like heels in this bit. Anyways, Rayne vs. Sky at the PPV, then in two weeks when Impact returns, they'll find out who's on top of the Knockouts division.

[Commercial Break]

Final PPV sales pitch: Kurt Angle vowed to win at No Surrender with his career on the line and he'll be ready to win the TNA Title at Bound for Glory. Angle said he's been waiting since last year to "raise the bar." What does that even mean? Such an empty phrase. Jeff Hardy said he's been World champ three times, but never in TNA. He said he's just looking to complete his collection of titles. Hardy said to be in a "fresh and unique company" like TNA, it means a lot to lead the company as champion. Hardy said he thinks he could be on that scale of champion representing RVD.

This Sunday, Angle vs. Hardy and Pope vs. Anderson. Also, Styles looks to take out Dreamer. Backstage: Styles cut another promo on EV2 and Dreamer. Kazarian said this isn't some "gimmick," but feelings they've been feeling for years.

No Surrender: Nash & Sting vs. Jarrett & Joe. Backstage: Samoa Joe cut a promo talking himself up as the warrior everyone wants on their side. Back to Nash, who said when "Steve and I" talked about this, it's not about "a storyline," but it's "real" with their legacy on the line.

Backstage: Rhino said egos are getting out of hand. Bleep bleep bleep. People are trying to hurt each other with "reality" coming to the forefront. Backstage: Sabu talked about Doug Williams. Plain and simple - he's going to kick his bleep.

Backstage: Desmond Wolfe and Brutus Magnus talked about Chelsea mocking Wolfe's genitals. Magnus said they took care of the TNA tag champs on Impact and they'll take the gold at the PPV. Magnus said he doesn't care about the other stuff. Wolfe shook his hand. Magnus has so much charisma; it just oozes off the screen even in a 15-second bit.

No Surrender: Championships, power, control up for grabs. Hardy said he's trying to make the best of a bad situation with RVD out of the picture now. Impact in two weeks: Exclusive interviews after No Surrender with focus on who will be in the main event at Bound for Glory. Back to Angle, who said Hardy stabbed him in the back and he's going to hurt Hardy at No Surrender. "Jeff Hardy is a piece of (bleep) and I'm going to beat him at No Surrender," he said. Cue up the credits.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Again, they have such a great tool with this camera presentation, but the show comes across so messy trying to mix "worked shoot comments" with discussion of ongoing storylines that it essentially renders whatever happens on Impact fake b.s. that shouldn't be taken seriously. Some of it works when they're talking up matches, but it's washed out by the "this is a shoot, brother," type comments. It's like that new Spin Cycle with the backstage agents talking about their roles "taking the vision of creative and sharing it with the talent," then in the same interview acting like they're kayfabe predicting who's going to win the Angle vs. Hardy and Pope vs. Anderson matches.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "TNA TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Reaction, click here.

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