TNA Reaction Report
September 30, 2010
Aired on Spike TV - Official episode #7 (pilot aired 4/12)
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

In a now-weekly occurrence, Impact went off the air in the middle of the main event with Reaction picking up the finish. Kurt Angle was bleeding like a stuck pig against Abyss inside the steel cage. The referee was chokeslammed during this, then Abyss grabbed a key to the cage door. Suddenly, Mr. Anderson's music hit to bring out Anderson in a baseball cap. Anderson couldn't get inside the cage through the door, so he easily climbed over the cage wall and entered the ring to take it to Abyss. Abyss eventually gave him a Black Hole Slam, though. And Anderson is out.

The crowd chanted for Hardy as Abyss surveyed his damage inside the cage. Abyss began shaking the cage door, then he simply lifted it up and took the door off its hinges. Abyss then retrieved his barbed wire weapon and tried to use it on Angle, but Angle fought him off and grabbed Janice. And that's how your main event ends with no finish and no decision.

Still to come tonight: Flair-Foley, Sting talks to Reaction, and Vince Russo is back on TV.

Backstage: They showed Mick Foley getting some stitches after his verbal confrontation with Ric Flair during Impact. Foley said he finally stood on his own and stood up to Ric Flair. He said they did the stupidest thing trying to make each other bleed, but they "made magic." Foley said they'll do whatever they have to do to win their Last Man Standing match on October 7. Foley said he's going to "give people a match" that will make people remember the old Foley and Flair.

Russo: They went to comments from Vince Russo saying he was put in a position to where he had to work with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan. Russo said, "Everybody knows the history." Russo said he hasn't "let it go" what happened in WCW. Russo said they've "worked together as professionals" the last nine months in TNA, but he would like to see Hogan and Bischoff gone if he had his choice.

Reax: What history? Worked together at what? When has Russo even been introduced as a character? I get what they're trying to do by creating more questions around Hogan & Bischoff's motives, and Russo could add something to the show if he were actually introduced to the audience. But, Russo's appearance has no context in the storyline when Russo hasn't been introduced to the audience in six years and the casual TNA viewer has no idea who he is. This captures why TNA is stagnant, at best, by pandering to the handful of remaining fans left over from that era while carrying out ego trips and grudges. They can't create any new fans because no one knows what TNA is talking about, and if the audience does know, they don't care. It's just mind-boggling.

[Commercial Break]

Sting feature: Sting said he didn't agree with Hulk Hogan being signed by TNA. Sting said he hasn't changed. "Read between the lines," he said, trying to seem mysterious. Sting said any time they're live, the fans, people behind the scenes, and the wrestlers are going to "up the ante" with hidden agendas and motives exposed on the live Impact. Sting said he's tired of it and he's sure the wrestling fans are tired of it. They plugged the six-man tag match at Bound for Glory before going back to Sting's WCW promo from Impact.

Nash was shown talking about knowing sooner or later that someone would take a leap of faith to join up with them. He said Pope has come along. Pope said it's not about a common bond, but because the veil has been pulled from their eyes. Pope called them the Three Wise Men trying to enlighten the fans of TNA.

[Commercial Break]

Impact: Hulk Hogan called up Kurt Angle to take out Abyss. They cut to Angle talking about his history in TNA and the Main Event Mafia trying to prove he's the best wrestler in the world. Angle said Hogan gave him some positive vibes and he wanted to return a favor to Hogan to take out Abyss. Angle said his match against Abyss was just a brawl. He said he knows Hogan will be a little disappointed, but Abyss is a monster.

They showed Angle being stitched up with his face covered in blood. Mr. Anderson had a voice-over saying Angle is a machine. He said he'll watch Angle walk around backstage looking battered and bruised, but he goes out to the ring and something inside him snaps. They cut to the end of Impact with Anderson making the save. Angle said Anderson was the last person he expected to see out there. He said he can't buy Anderson being his best friend all of a sudden. Angle said he thinks Anderson made the save for his own reasons. Anderson said it doesn't do any good for him to beat a worn-out, beat-up, beat-down Angle at Bound for Glory.

A trainer ran down Angle's medical condition, including several cuts. Anderson said Angle kind of likes it. He said his favorite QB was always Brett Favre. Anderson said Favre will take a hit, but then come back with TD after TD. "That's Kurt Angle," he said. Angle said he's going to heal up, take some anti-inflammatory pills, and be ready for October 10 for the TNA Title. Angle said it's going to be real difficult for him to ask for time off "when the fans demand to see you every week." He said he has his work cut out for him at the PPV and he needs his rest beforehand. Back to Anderson, who said you don't want to miss it at Bound for Glory.

[Commercial Break]

EV2 promo: Back to Robert Roode and James Storm saying Dixie Carter brought in those "bingo hall wrestlers" to TNA and they don't deserve a spot in TNA. Storm said Dreamer doesn't know the difference between a wristlock and a wristwatch. Storm said Fortune is going to "end this" with EV2 at Bound for Glory. The wild card is Brian Kendrick. They cut to comments from Kendrick saying he was visualizing success, but his visions did not materialize. They cut to Styles with a heel promo saying it was too easy with Kendrick in the ring. Kendrick said there was outside interference, but he's not going to complain. Styles said he would like to slap the piss out of Kendrick again. Kendrick vowed to be on Impact each and every Thursday. The voice-over man plugged the Lethal Lockdown match at the PPV.

Tommy Dreamer: cage, weapons, tables, it doesn't matter. Rhino said they'll be in Lethal Lockdown to win, but to also make them feel pain and regret ever crossing their path. Dreamer said he likes getting the crap beat out of him before he makes the Tommy Dreamer comeback. Dreamer said they've been in riots and wars before, so they're not nervous.

Knockouts situation: They cut to footage of Miss T. playing Traci Brooks's role overseeing the Knockouts division. They showed an abbreviated version of the ear-piercing backstage meeting on Impact with Miss T. as the "new GM of the Knockouts" trying to create order with the Beautiful People v.1 and 2. Lacey Von Erich said they all want to take out Miss T. after she was somehow appointed to the position. Miss T. said she would like to just start all over with the division. She would change Madison's hair and take the belt from Angelina Love by putting it up for grabs in a four-way match. The voice-over man wondered if Miss T. has an agenda. I believe she answered that question already. Lacey said they'll make sure her power is taken from her.

[Commercial Break]

Bound for Glory plug: the PPV that will "change everything."

Impact Player of the Week: Brian Kendrick. He's a riddle wrapped up in a question mark. Kendrick said he's the product of a genius and a paranoid schizophrenic. Kendrick said he discovered pro wrestling at a young age and it made him happy. He said he decided when he was ten-years-old that he was going to make himself happy by becoming a wrestler. Kendrick talked up Hogan vs. Warrior as what captured his imagination. Then, it was Shawn Michaels, Curt Hennig, Steamboat, and Flair. They included TNA footage of Hennig and Steamboat from back in the early days.

Kendrick said he wrestles at a spiritual level. He said he likes the idea of the X Division and he would like to have the title so it can become what it should be. Kendrick said it's a belt that should be for anyone, but it seems like it's for high-flyers. He said the big guys don't come down to the division's level. Kendrick said perhaps the big guys fear the X Division because they're not as fast. Kendrick said he would like to capture the title and go after someone like Matt Morgan. Or even women. And if he lost to a woman, he's courageous enough to accept it. He wants to evolve and evolve with the title.

Up next: Samoa Joe, EV2, Foley, and more hype for the live Impact next week.

[Commercial Break]

Next Thursday: Before the Glory with everyone on the PPV card competing in the $100,000 Battle Royal. Plus, things heat up with the TNA Knockouts. Winner owns the rights to the Beautiful People. "Shore" makes their debut. Plus, Flair vs. Foley out to settle the score once and for all.

Mr. Anderson: Anderson said live shows are exciting and nerve-wracking. He said a "wise man" once said you can't screw up on live TV. ... Samoa Joe said he'll be ready for his opportunity at Bound for Glory and everyone will find out there's something bigger in the works. Joe said if he gets a live mic on the live Impact, Spike TV will probably regret it. ... Dreamer said Rhino and he love live TV. He said Bound for Glory will have the end of EV2 vs. Fortune with a payoff to the feud. ... Styles said he's ready to break some necks, then fly down to BFG on Flair Force One doing what Fortune does. ... Abyss asked the roving cameraman why he's so ignorant trying to ask him who "they" are. He said everyone will find out on 10.10.10 when the plan comes to fruition. Abyss also vowed to destroy RVD. ... Foley said he has a chance - maybe his final chance - to show the world what he's made of one last time.

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