TNA Reaction Report
October 14, 2010
Aired live on Spike TV - Official episode #9 (pilot aired 4/12)
By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

In the weekly effort to prop up Reaction's rating, the "Reaction hour" began with the opening bell for TNA Impact's main event #1 contender match. Winner gets Jeff Hardy at Turning Point in November.

MR. ANDERSON vs. ROB VAN DAM -- #1 contender match to the TNA World Title

Anderson dominated early on as the default heel in the match-up. After a couple of nice counters and exchanges, RVD hit a split-legged moonsault for a close nearfall. RVD then missed with a Five-Star Frogsplash and both men sold on the mat. Eric Bischoff then walked down from the back with a purpose and whispered in the ref's ear. Bischoff told ref Hebner to follow him out of the ring to the back. Hebner disappeared as RVD and Anderson continued to sell in the ring. Jeff Hardy then showed up with chair in hand. Hardy stormed the ring and cracked a chair over RVD, then Anderson's backs. Hardy proceeded to drop RVD with a Twist of Fate onto a chair while Anderson's arm was inside the chair. Rough looking spot. And, in now typical Impact main event fashion, the match concluded without a finish.

WINNER: No announcement in 11:00.

Still to come: More analysis of the 45 minutes of talk from the top of the show. Backstage, Jeff Hardy said Dixie Carter doesn't know anything about wrestling, especially compared to him, Flair, and Hogan.

Garage: Bischoff said Dixie painted a real rosy picture for Hulk Hogan, but those things didn't materialize. "At least not fast enough," he said. Bischoff said it's business and Dixie's taking it personal. He said he understands having had a company taken away from him in the past. He said hopefully it will make Dixie a wiser person. He paused. "Naw."

Impact recap: Dixie screaming at Hogan and Bischoff. "You little smug s---." Reaction: The Pope said he feels like he's in the Twilight Zone. He said he thought he had prophetic capabilities, but he didn't see it coming. He said this is bad. "It's bad. It's bad, man." They cut to Abyss with a promo. Bischoff said it's a different time and company. He said he's not sure Dixie can grasp that.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Jeff Jarrett paced around talking about having a family to feed. He had to do what he had to do. Samoa Joe was shown talking about there being no warriors in TNA. He said there are groups, but he needs no protection. Joe said he "these punkass bitches" forming groups will not matter because their foundations will crumble.

Back to Jarrett, who said he has to fight for what's his. He said he's going down fighting for what's his. Did you know he founded the company? They cut to a clip of 2006 when Kurt Angle joined TNA. Jarrett said he picked up the phone and "called Dallas" to get Angle on the roster. He said Angle made his life - he could talk for hours about what Angle did to him "outside of the ring." More politics and backstabbing talk. Jarrett said he's not worried about any issues in TNA and believes they're doing this for the good of the TNA fans. Is anyone interested in a quest for a championship or winning matches? Back to Joe, who said Jarrett shot to the top of his list on his imminent killing spree.

[Commercial Break]

Impact recap: "Fortune" and "Immortal" merged on Impact. They cut to Fortune backstage saying they're about business and they added two big names like Hogan and Bischoff to the franchise. Pope addressed Jeff Hardy. He said maybe Hardy got too close to Pope talking about money. Pope wanted to know if Hardy sold out for the money or if he was looking for an easy road to the TNA Title. He said he thinks it was all about the title. Pope said in the sport of pro wrestling, there are winners and losers. So, when you take a shortcut to obtain any recognition, it's not something to be proud of.

Impact recap: Dixie Carter confronted Sting about walking out on her and talking in tongues. Just plain English, Steve. They cut back to Fortune talking up each member of the group. Fortune talked over each other a bit before asking for smarter questions. Still to come: Hardy explains the heel turn and Anderson talks about not trusting anyone.

[Commercial Break]

Recap: Jeff Hardy and RVD were once friends. Now, they're bitter enemies. RVD said he keeps his inner circle real tight and now all that trust was thrown out the window. He said it's personal now. RVD said he's going to connect with him now...with a forearm. The voice-over man said Hardy was "tired of being held back." More jibberish talk. They cut to Hardy saying he used to worship the ring RVD wrestled in, but he learned RVD was just another politician.

Abyss had some words to share. He said Hardy gave so much of his body, soul, and time to his fans, but they never appreciated him. Back to Hardy, who said he finally took control of his popularity. He said if Dixie won't give him power, the Immortals will take it. Back to RVD, who said he took out Abyss at Bound for Glory, but if Abyss wants another piece of him, he'll give him another piece. Back to Abyss, who said they will not rest until RVD is banished from TNA.

Hardy also betrayed Mr. Anderson. They cut to Anderson getting his arm wrapped up after the Twist of Fate spot to end the "match" on Impact/Reaction. Anderson said that's twice, so shame on him for being fooled. Anderson called Hardy a POS and said he's coming for him. He doesn't trust anyone. He said he doesn't trust the cameraman, that guy, that guy, this guy, or that guy. He looked into the camera and told Hardy he hopes it was worth it. RVD talked about the Fortune and Immortal alliance. He put over their star power before saying he doesn't know what to think of them being "they," but it's not good.

[Commercial Break]

Impact Player of the Week: X Division champion Jay Lethal. They went inside the Lethal House to talk with Jay's family about his upbringing and his family supporting him during his wrestling career. Good feature. Well done.

Impact Recap: JWoww showed up on Impact to confront "The Shore." They cut to JWoww backstage saying it's funny to see Cookie and Robbie imitating them. After a clip from Impact of Cookie instigating a brawl with JWoww, they cut back to JWoww saying she never thought she would be involved in wrestling, but she could see herself "doing something like this" in the future. She said she has some TNA fever. They cut to a backstage shot of Cookie screaming at Robbie for not having her back. He said they proved to everyone they're better than "The Shore." Cookie said JWoww has it coming to her now.

[Commercial Break]

Next Thursday: With Dixie Carter ousted, who will be able to stop Immortal and Fortune? What's next? Styles said they'll take care of business down the road. Kazarian said they have plans. Roode said it will get better. Back to Pope, who said the group has great minds with over 50 years of combined experience and politicking. Pope said they wield the power now, but there's still a young warrior in the fight. He said he will fight until his last breath. Jeff Jarrett said good businesses are run by dictators. He said people will either be on or off their boat.

Back to a blood-stained Samoa Joe. Joe said every great organization is based on loyalty, honor, and respect. He asked if their soldiers will spill blood for their cause. Joe said every solider in his army will spill blood and put it on the line. He said he might be an Army of One, but his squad is a bunch of warriors. "They" have goons and thugs. He said when they get to the battlefield, it's always the warriors who prevail.

Back to RVD, who said Hardy couldn't beat him for the title, so he used the political mechanics to go to the right people to pull the right strings. He asked Hardy if it really felt good to win this way. RVD said Hardy did it for himself and he's pretty sure it's not feeling as good as it could have. Back to Abyss, who had a message to Dixie Carter. He said they removed the silver spoon from her mouth. Abyss vowed to turn TNA upside down, just like he prophesied.

Back to Hardy, who said Flair and Hogan finally understood his talent. He said they will reign supreme and lead TNA to becoming bigger than anyone imagined. End Reaction.

This was immediately followed by the start of "UFC-Lesnar" hyping a match-up between two competitors with an issue to settle at a set time on a set date with a title on the line. A very novel concept.

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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