LIVE SPOILERS from TNA Impact Tapings: Samoa Joe Decides About the Gold.

Please credit Alan J. Wojcik of http://alanwojcik.com if ued, thanks.

These are the 100% complete live spoilers from the TNA IMPACT Tapings. By the end of this evening we will know the fate of World X Division champion & new TNA World Tag Team champion Samoa Joe. Only during the first hour did we see any backstage interviews.



Hour one notes:



Jeremy Borash was sent by Jim Cornette to find World champion Kurt Angle. But he found Angle in a tanning bed and he refused to go see Cornette. Angle also accused Borash of “checking out his package.” Angle felt Samoa Joe was going to surrender the tag titles after was screwed over on Sunday.



(1) XXX (“PrimeTime” Elix Skipper, “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels & Senshi) defeated Serotonin (Raven, Havok & Martyr)

That’s right the multi-time former World Tag Team champions reunited last Sunday when Daniels became #1 contender to the World X Division title. XXX wasted no time in their trickery as Skipper went to lockup with Havok and Daniels jumped him from behind. The XXX advantage ended when raven hit Daniels in the back with the Singapore cane. That allowed Serotonin to take over Daniels in their corner of the ring. Martyr had Daniels in a front facelock when Skipper hit a slingshot move that let Daniels free so he could tag in Senshi. The end came for Havok who got hit with a Skipper legdrop, Daniels’ BME and Senshi’s Warrior’s Way.



After the match Frankie “the Future” Kazarian attacked Serotonin and left before he could suffer any real damage. Jeremy Borash came back to Angle’s tanning bed to find Angle tanning his buttocks. He told Angle that Cornette would fine him $10,000 if he didn’t come to the office. Angle got out of the tanning bed to find all of his clothes and two title belts missing. So he left the room in his bikini briefs. Mike Tenay & Don West were addressing the home audience when Team 3D crashed the party. They said they knew the Steiner Brothers were not in the building but were watching at home. Ray said they cost Team 3D their World Tag Team titles and wanted to repay them face to face next week. Devon didn’t like something Tenay said and he choked him as Ray grabbed the timekeeper’s hammer threatening to hit Tenay. Kurt Angle began his search for his clothing and he questioned the TNA locker room. He accused Shark Boy of smiling like it was a joke, so he attacked him. Maybe Angle wasn’t wearing his glasses broke by Serotonin last Sunday or he just didn’t realize Shark wears a mask.



(2) Voodoo Kin Mafia member Kip James (w/BG James & Roxxi Laveaux) defeated Lance Hoyt (w/Christy Hemme).

Both Kip and Hoyt fought a power match in the early moments until Kip sent Hoyt to the floor where he followed and laid in some punches. Hoyt tried to avoid the punches and Laveaux as best he could and the tide turned when Kip focused on Hemme instead of Hoyt. Hoyt attacked and took the match back to the ring. Kip fought back with a Thesz press and avoided a Hoyt boot to hit “the One and Only” to win. After the match Hemme tried to crotch shot Kip but got stopped and Laveaux came in to hit a Styles Clash-like move sending Hemme to the locker room in Hoyt’s arms.



Kurt Angle met with the TNA production crew trying to find his lost items. He told everyone he would count to ten and they could return his stuff. Poor David Sahadi had to endure Angle’s package being near his face as the countdown occurred. A cameraman decided to leave but Angle attacked him thinking he was the thief.



(3) “Instant Classic” Christian Cage & “Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm (w/Jacqueline Moore, a six pack of longnecks & Tomko) defeated “War Machine” Rhino & “Wildcat” Chris Harris.

These four men met in singles matches on Sunday night so Jim Cornette decided to let them settle their differences. Harris jumped Cage at the opening bell and went to work with the punches before tagging in Rhino. However Rhino took his focus off Cage for too long and looking for Storm cost him. Cage hit Rhino with a clothesline off the ring apron. Cage & Storm kept Rhino isolated from his corner for several minutes. Harris tried to aid Rhino but it only did harm as Cage kept the referee busy, Storm hit a running boot to the face. Somehow Cage ended up on Storm’s shoulders as Rhino was on the top buckle and Rhino raked Storm’s eyes. Rhino hit Cage with a clothesline and tagged into a fired up Harris. Rhino had Storm set for the GORE but Cage pulled him to the floor. Storm went for the Superkick but Harris blocked it and hit the Catatonic but Tomko pulled referee Rudy Charles to the floor. Harris looked for the referee and Dustin Rhodes hit him in the back with a chair. Storm crawled over and covered Harris to win. After the match the real fun began as Rhino attacked anyone that moved including Moore but Rhino picked her up for a powerslam. He made the mistake of losing sight of Tomko, who kicked Rhino in the face making Moore fall onto Rhino. When you thought things were done Abyss came looking for revenge on Cage. Cage hightailed it but backed into Sting and the baseball bat. Sting tossed Cage into Abyss for some retribution.



A nicely robed Kurt Angle came into the Impact Zone. Angle said he had a sense of humor and enjoyed being ribbed but the joking was over. He even accused the fans of stealing his stuff and putting it on E-Bay. That brought out Samoa Joe who came with his three title belts and Angle’s wardrobe plus the World title belt. Joe decided to make his announcement. He wanted to bury the hatchet with Angle so he gave Angle back his two title belts and clothing. Joe said like Angle he wants to find out who is the best in the world. Joe said at Hard Justice he wanted Angle one more time where the winner takes all the gold. Angle accepted and Joe headbutted him right in the forehead. Joe laid out Angle and then went for a table. But Angle escaped Joe’s clutches and drove Joe into the table, locking the Ankle Lock on Joe. Afterwards Jeremy Borash filmed some stuff for TNA Today.



Hour two notes:



(1) NO DQ match, Sting defeated Robert Roode (w/Ms. Brooks).

Not too sure what happened between these two to make it a no DQ match. Roode jumped Sting at the bell and the violence began. Sting fought back introducing Roode’s head to the top turnbuckles and followed him to the floor. Ting tossed Roode into the guardrails and the stairs as Brooks objected. Roode fought back but his piledriver but Sting backdropped Roode on the rampway. Brooks kept Sting busy as Roode got a chair and hit Sting in the back. Roode came back into the ring with a top rope clothesline for two as Eric Young came out painted like Sting. Roode ignored Young and hit Sting with a top rope knee for two before locking in a bear hug. Sting tried to escape so Roode backed him to a corner but his chest chops had zero effect. Sting was 100% fired up and took it out on Roode & Brooks. Roode avoided the Stinger Splash and fought off the Scorpion Deathlock, hitting Sting with a spinebuster for two. Brooks gave Roode a chair but Young took it and Sting won via the Scorpion Death Drop.



(2) Latin American Xchange (“Notorious 187” Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez) defeated Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & “the Future” Chris Sabin).

At the bell the Gun dropkicked Hernandez to the floor so they could double team Homicide for several minutes. The Notorious One fought back and tagged in Hernandez who tossed around the Guns. But the Guns fought back with a series of kicks to the head of Hernandez. LAX double teamed Shelley and sent him to the floor with a hurt back. Sabin escaped the Cop Killer but couldn’t avoid a LAX double team from the top rope.



The LAX celebration was interrupted by Team 3D who told them to hit the bricks; they only wanted the Steiner Brothers in the ring. LAX reluctantly stepped out of the ring as the show went to commercial. 3D egged on the fans waiting for the Steiner’s. The fans made fun of 3D member Devon who owns a smoothie shop in Florida. 3D got their wish and the Steiner Brothers hit the ring. Scott said no one calls out the Steiner’s they do the calling out. Scott said the Latin Nation were his favorite people after his injury during a TNA Event in Puerto Rico. Scott said he was upset he missed Slammiversary due to a trachea injury that nearly killed him. To the shock of everyone in the thank you to the PR medical team that saved him, Scott also thanked the fans for the well wishes he received. Ray said that Scott got injured by a second rate PR wrestler and Team 3D could take him out, even going as far as doubting the actuality of any injury. Scott showed off his scar on the right side of his chest. Ray said that injury was nothing compared to the ones in the ECW locker room. The arguing was not over as the Voodoo Kin Mafia came out to join the former World Tag Team reunion saying they were the best team in wrestling history. Scott said yeah the VKM was on top, on top of a heap of crap a everyone was watching WCW for 84 weeks in a row. Scott said he wasn’t medically cleared for a match but he could kick their asses with no permission needed. During the fighting Devon spit on a LAX flag and that brought out LAX to defend their flags and it looked liked the Steiner’s.



(3) No DQ match, “the Phenomenal” AJ Styles defeated Abyss.

This rivalry goes back to the weekly PPV days in Nashville where they tore down the Asylum even as they held the NWA World Tag Team championships. This was probably the bloodiest match in their rivalry. Styles hit a slingshot shoulder tackle and we were off and brawling. Abyss fought back with a running butt to the face in the corner. Abyss went to press slam Styles too the fans but Styles slid off only to be see Styles go over the ropes to the floor. Styles hit Abyss in the head wit ha chair and climbed into the fans, hitting a sort of springboard forearm from the seats. Abyss went back to the ring as Abyss tossed a chair in for some fun as he put the chair in between the buckles. Styles countered out of Shock Treatment but even after moves couldn’t avoid the chair in the corner. Abyss hit Shock Treatment for two and signaled for Doomsday. But Styles countered out of the Black Hole Slam and hit the Pele’. Styles went for a springboard move but Abyss caught him and hit the chokeslam for two as Tomko came out to ringside. Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam but Tomko broke up the pin. But the lights went down and up with Sting in the ring attacking Tomko. Abyss went under the ring and when he went for the bag of goodies he was dragged under ring. This left Sting alone to be attacked by Styles, Tomko and Robert Roode who joined the festivities. Abyss finally came out from under the ring a bloody mess. Christian Cage and his black shirt security appeared on the rampway and Cage grabbed the bag of broken glass, spreading it in the ring. But instead of Abyss, Tomko chokeslammed Sting into the glass. Styles got another bag from under the ring and it was thumb tacks spread on top of the glass. Tomko hit Abyss with the double chokeslam and Styles won via pinfall. Jeremy Borash came out to film more TNA Today stuff talking to Styles, Cage, Tomko and Roode. The TNA medical trainer had to come out and check on Sting & Abyss before he would let them go to the locker room for treatment.



Matches filmed for TNA Xplosion and TNA Today on the internet:



(1) Jerry Lynn defeated Basham via countout.



(2) Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & “the Future” Chris Sabin) defeated “the Guru” Sonjay Dutt & Petey Williams when Sabin countered out of the Canadian Destroyer, allowing Shelley to hit a top rope boot to Williams’ head setting up the Cradle Shock.



(3) “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal & “Showtime” Eric Young defeated Serotonin members Havok & Martyr when Young hit both men with a DVD and Lethal hit his Macho Man elbow drop.



Guesses and Official Matches for Hard Justice 2007:

(official) In a “winner takes all” match, TNA World/IWGP Heavyweight champion vs. World X Division/World Tag Team champion Samoa Joe

(Guess) Team 3D (Ray & Devon) vs Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Voodoo Kin Mafia (Kip & BG James w/Roxxie Laveaux) vs. Latin American Xchange (“Notorious 187” Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez) or an 8 man match of some kind

(Guess) “Wildcat” Chris Harris vs. Dustin Rhodes

(Guess) Abyss vs. “Instant Classic” Christian Cage

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iMPACT Preview for 07/19

details here

The short form is XXX will face Serotonin, Rhino and Chris Harris will face Christian and James Storm, and Samoa Joe will issue a challenge for Hard Justice.

Other stuff will happen as well.

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TNA iMPACT rating for 07/05/07

1.1/1.8

Fixed~!

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TNA Newsbits for 07/07/07

First, my impact recap is coming. I was unavailable when the show aired thursday, but I've got it on my HD just ready for the treatment...I'll not disappoint.

The Weekend edition of TNA Today is here

A selling point for this weeks iMPACT is the fact that Abyss will speak for the first time. I don't think he could be worse than Lashley.

Ultimate X returns at Victory Road.

I'll have more later.

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Kurt Angle celebrates Kurt Angle appreciation day this Thursday

iMPACT preview here

I think Kurt Angle appreciation day needs to be celebrated because you never know how long he'll be around to celebrate with and sad part is I'm only partly joking.

Oh, and for you spoiler types we've got those here

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Complete Live Spoilers From TNA Impact Tapings

Please credit Alan J. Wojcik of http://alanwojcik.com if used, thanks.


These are the LIVE SPOILERS leading into the TNA Wrestling Victory Road PPV. With the summer brings tourists who want to experience the live show and it was legit overflow today. So far locked into the main event of the PPV are World X Division champion Samoa Joe and TNA/IWGP Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle. Tonight we see if Team 3D can retain their World Tag Team titles to make the main event. No backstage promos or segments were shown to the live audience. We didn’t see Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Rhino, Basham, Damaja or “Wildcat” Chris Harris in action.



Hour one notes:



Mike Tenay and Don West spoke to the home fans probably about the three team match with the winner advancing to the PPV.



(1) World Tag Team champions Team 3D (Ray & Devon) defeated Latin American Xchange (“Notorious 187” Homicide & Hotstuff Hernandez) and “Phenomenal” AJ Styles/ “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels.

Yes it looks like Styles/Daniels reunited for this match, even though I seem to remember them saying they would never do it again. This was traditional tag as opposed to three men in the same time. The challengers attacked the champions at the bell but things went the other way as it became every team for themselves as 3D were sent to the floor and LAX got control of the match. Styles saved Daniels from the Border Toss but Homicide was not able to save Hernandez from a double team move. Ray missed a fat boy senton to Homicide but Homicide’s top rope move backfired as Ray got to his feet. Homicide recovered and took Ray to the mat with a chinlock. Some point during this match it looked like some ring boards broke from the impact of several 300 pounders. Hernandez tagged in to deliver more punishment as Styles/Daniels broke up any pin attempt. This went on for several minutes and probably through a commercial break. Daniels made a blind tag into the match and went to work on Ray. Somehow Ray got his ring awareness, hit Daniels with the Bubba Bomb and tagged out to Devon who took on 4 men at one time. All kinds of craziness ensued as 3D hit Homicide with the Wassup. Daniels went to the corner but got picked up by Ray as 3D hit the Road Warrior clothesline for two. Styles countered out of the Cop Killa and hit the Pele kick, followed by a frog splash/moonsault but got two. Hernandez hit Styles with the Border Toss but Devon pulled the referee to the floor. Hernandez and Ray hit top rope planchas onto the wrestlers below. Daniels fought off Devon’s power bomb and hit an STO but his attempted Angel’s Wings was blocked and he fell to the 3D.



Before the second match TNA Management’s Jim Cornette joined Tenay and West for commentary. Before anything else happened “Instant Classic” Christian Cage, Tomko and a old school megaphone interrupted the proceedings. Cage told Cornette a laundry list of things about his career before running down “Wildcat” Chris Harris’ track record. Cornette got a real microphone and told him who exactly Chris Harris is, the guy who is using Cage’s head to shatter the glass ceiling in TNA. Cornette also mentioned Abyss was still hunting for Cage and Tomko. Cage said he wasn’t afraid of Abyss, so of course Abyss’ ring music played which made Cage/Tomko run for the nearest exit sign.



(2) In a TNA Knockouts match, Gail Kim defeated Ms. Brooks and “the Pride of Tennessee” Jacqueline Moore.

There was enough hatred between these ladies to fill Madison Square Garden. Moore and Brooks fought over who was going to beat up Kim, so they beat each other up as Kim recovered. Brooks kneed Kim in the back and sent her to the floor but Kim grabbed Brooks’ legs and she came outside. Moore went to baseball slide both ladies but only got Brooks. Kim used this opening to hit both ladies with a top rope plancha. The action came back to the ring but Kim got hit with a double team move. Both ladies laid in the kicks to the head and chest as Kim tired to fight them off when they both grabbed a leg for a half Boston Crab. But Moore and Brooks began trading slaps to the face. Both let go of the hold and went up top but Kim stopped Brooks and hit a huricurana. Moore went to pin Kim but Brooks hit a clothesline. Kim recovered and hit both ladies with headlock/head scissor takeover. Brooks went to pin Kim but Kim countered and Brooks ended up on the floor. Moore snuck up from behind to roll up Kim but Kim used her momentum to roll through and get the pin. This immediately led to Brook and Moore jumping Kim. Eric Young came out to save his new friend but Robert Roode came out to jump Young.



TNA/IWGP Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle made his way into the Impact Zone dressed like a millionaire. Angle told the fans the Victory Road main event would be partnered up in an eight man match next week. He pronounced tonight “Kurt Angle Night” and called the promotion “Total Nonstop Angle.” Next he verbally ripped his Victory Road partner, his opponents and proclaimed he brought SexyBack when Team 3D interrupted his soliloquy. Ray said if Angle brought SexyBack then he was the next centerfold for Playgirl magazine. 3D tried to convince everyone was working to make TNA the best promotion in the world. Insults were traded and Devon leveled Angle as Ray called for some lumber. To the shock of all Samoa Joe came out and attacked Team 3D but when Team 3D were gone, Angle hit Joe with the Olympic Slam into the folding table 3D set up.



Hour two notes:



(1) Abyss defeated Lance Hoyt (w/Christy Hemme)

These two are not strangers and Hemme could be the deciding element since Father James Mitchell was not with Abyss. Hoyt went for a move but ran right into Abyss’ boot and the action went to the floor where Abyss tossed Hoyt into the guard rails. Abyss tossed Hoyt back to the ring and got a folding chair, but Hoyt attacked when Abyss came back in. Abyss fought back and hit the corner butt splash. However Abyss’ second rope splash only hit the canvas. Hoyt took over with right hand punches to the face and hit a second rope legdrop for two. Hoyt went for but missed a moonsault as Abyss got to his feet and hit several clotheslines followed by a choke slam for two. Hemme got the referee’s attention as Abyss went to hit Hoyt with the chair. Hoyt blocked it and went up top but Abyss got the chair and threw it right into Hoyt’s face. Hoyt recovered and went for the boot to the face but when he began to run at Abyss, Abyss saw it and hit the Black Hole Slam. Abyss wasn’t done as he found a bag of broken pieces of glass and dumped them in the ring as VKM came out to fight Hoyt to the locker room. Hemme was all alone with Abyss when Tomko and AJ Styles hit the ring. The lights went down and up with Sting coming out to aid Abyss. Sting handed Abyss the baseball bat. Sting said he and Abyss would face Tomko and Styles on Sunday. To the shock of everyone Abyss spoke on the mic. He said Sunday would be Doomsday!!



As the broken glass was cleaned up Tenay and West spoke to the home viewers about the main event of the show.



(2) Serotonin members Kaz vs. Martyr and Havok.

According to Penzer, the winner is the final qualifier to an Ultimate X match at Victory Road. Early on this was a handicap match with Kaz fighting for his life for several minutes. But nothing Martyr and Havok did led to a pin or submission. Kaz dumped Havok to the floor as Martyr went for the superkick but Kaz saw it and heel tripped Martyr and rolled over into a pin. Kaz may have won the match but Raven came out and with the help of Havok & Martyr, used their kendo sticks to beat Kaz into submission.



Before the main event Tenay and West talked to the home viewers again, possibly running down the PPV lineup.



(3) TNA/IWGP Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle, World X Division champion Samoa Joe and World Tag Team champions Team 3D (Ray and Devon) defeated “Instant Classic” Christian Cage, “Phenomenal” AJ Styles, Tomko and Robert Roode (w/Ms. Brooks)

According to announcer Dave Penzer this is the first time in TNA history the three championships were on the same side in a match. The title holders came out separate and argued the whole match while their opponents came out as a group. Roode and Devon started out with some brawling but worked their way into wrestling as Devon took over. Roode tagged out to Cage who was reluctant to enter so Devon pulled him in the ring before tagging out to Ray who held Cage for eternity before hitting a suplex. Joe tagged in and unleashed several moves on Cage but got two for his effort. Cage finally tagged out to Tomko who traded forearm shots with Joe but couldn’t avoid an enziguri. Roode tagged back in and Joe went back to work before slapping Devon into the match. While Ray, Joe and Angle argued, Roode hit Devon with a spinebuster and the tide went to the other side of the ring. Roode, Styles, Cage and Tomko took turns beating down Devon but didn’t get the pin. He survived long enough to tag out to Joe as Tomko tagged out. Joe hit Styles with a powerslam and locked in an STF but Styles friends jumped in. Angle remained on the floor as the fighting went all over. Ray countered out of the Unprettier and Cage got hit with the Road Warrior clothesline and then 3D hit Roode with the 3D. Joe grabbed Styles and sent him into Cage who was climbing the top rope. Joe went for the Muscle buster but Angle came in, tripped up Joe and pinned Styles. As Angle split, Team 3D faced off with Samoa Joe in the ring.



Matches taped for TNA Xplosion/TNA Today:



(1) “Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm (w/“the Pride of Tennessee” Jacqueline Moore) defeated Senshi. Moore slid the beer bottle in and the referee picked it up. Senshi saw this and when he turned around he got hit with a Superkick.



(2) “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal defeated Petey Williams with the top rope elbow drop. Before the match “the Guru” Sonjay Dutt came out and blessed the ring, the fans, Williams and the announce booth.



Announced Victory Road matches:

TNA/IWGP Heavyweight champion Kurt Angle & World X Division champion Samoa Joe vs. World Tag Team champions Team 3D (Ray and Devon)

“The Instant Classic” Christian Cage vs. “Wildcat” Chris Harris

“Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm vs. “War Machine” Rhino

Sting & Abyss vs. “Phenomenal” AJ Styles and Tomko

In an Ultimate X match to name a new #1 contender Kaz vs. I have no idea because TNA’s site has no information.





BREAKING NEWS!!! "MATT BENTLEY: MY PERSPECTIVE"

The DVD you have been waiting for is finally here!


To Japan and back, through all the major promotions, Matt Bentley has entertained while perfecting his craft and learning new and innovative styles. He's always had one goal in mind: Giving the fans his best performance. Sit down with Matt and relive his journey from the beginning at the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, through his Independent career to his work with worldwide promotions. You'll have a ringside seat for unforgettable tables matches, 5-Star ladder matches and rare, never-before-seen matches. Enjoy a view of the professional wrestling world from Matt's perspective.

To order, send $20.00 plus $5.95 for shipping (total of $25.95) in check, cash, or money order payable to:

Matt Bentley
P.O. Box 951371
Lake Mary FL 32795-1371

To order through Paypal, click the button on his MySpace home page, www.myspace.com/realmattbentley

The first 25 orders will receive an autographed copy of the DVD and an autographed photo.

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TNA iMPACT Rating for 06/28/2007

The show did a 1.2/1.9 for the show with the Kurt Angle Vs. Rhino Vs. Christian Cage match spanning the entire episode. Seeing quarter hours would be interesting but alas I have not.

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TNA News and Notes: 06/28/2007

iMPACT Preview for 07/05 here

News and Video from tonight's show here

TNA announces dates in Kansas and Iowa here

See TNA live monday or find out how here

Video preview for the Best of Abyss here

Euan's favorite performer writes her latest column and you can read it here

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Casey's Commentary: TNA iMPACT 06/28/2007

Welcome to TNA iMPACT coverage. Lets see if I can get through this, I failed with ECW on Tuesday.

Show opens with a video recap of Cornette explaining the Victory Road main event from last week.

We open with West and Tenay talking about tonight's world title match. A video airs with comments from Angle, Rhino and Christian.

Tale of the tape, followed by the entrences of all the participants.

We even get the UFC style intros...

Samoa Joe gets an intro and I believe he's going to do commentary. Nice of TNA to let him be close to the ring for his run-in.

Instead of commentating...Joe decides to comment to Angle by beating him up.

Match has not officially started, so we go to a...

Commercial Break!!!
I liked the way they hyped up the match, made it seem special. The rest of my commentary for the show is behind the cut.



Match 1: Rhino Vs. Christian Cage Vs. Kurt Angle - TNA Championship

There's not a lot happening I feel like writing about.

TNA is doing a deal where you can vote for 3D's opponents on TNA mobile.

1. LAX
   
2. AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels
   
3. The Naturals

Yeah, I'm voting for the Naturals...don't know about you. The top 2 teams get the shot.

They are talking about how later in this show there will be an X-division showcase match including Eric Young. Its smart...you want to make it seem like other stuff is planned even if it isn't, so as to not telegraph finishes and match length.

Commercial Break.
Match is ok, but I wouldn't call it anything special at this point.

A Victory Road commercial airs or something.

We're back and I apologize for this recap. I've got 2 people here and it is hard for me to focus on what's hapening. Add to that, the fact that its just a standard match and I do my best work talking wacky angles and stuff...and this just isn't what I wanted to be.

Oh, yeah, somewhere in here Christian was attacked by Abyss. I apologize for not knowing where, I'm just finding it hard to focus.

Tomko and Styles go outside where Abyss and christian were fighting and they attack Abyss while Rhino and Angle wrestle in the ring.

Then, we go to another...commercial Break!!!

We're back and Rhino gores Angle through a table in the ring, just a few seconds later.

Christian has a nearfall...but Harris brings him out of the ring.

Tomko and Styles come in the building to take Harris off of Christian.

I expect more people to interfere...and right on Cue, Abyss re-enters the picture.

Here comes Sting to help Abyss and it is the parade of TNA stars~!

Commercial Break!!!

Back from the break and we're back with people fighting all over the place. Tomko is bloody, Sting is fighting Styles...there's about 600 guys out here.

A bunch of stuff is happening now but amazingly, its all in the ring involving the 3 wrestlers...but then again, they just showed Storm and Tomko spitting beer so maybe not.

Angle hits the Olympic slam, and gets the pin.

Winner: Kurt Angle

My Thoughts: Hard to really say, my mind is just not in this.

Interesting experiment though and I commend them for that.

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Some news and notes from TNA

I've decided I've had enough of the Benoit coverage for now, but this is a Combat Sports blog and as hard as it is to believe other stuff is happening in Wrestling, MMA and boxing.

TNA has a tease for Team 3D's opponents on next Thursday's iMPACt. One of the 2 teams is speculated to be LAX...and a title switch would not shock me.

Christian Cage was awesome on TNA today

Christian and Rhino offer comment on their big title match

I'll be back with MMA news in awhile.

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TNA iMPACT rating for 06/21

The show did a 1.2 which is a series record.

It will be real interesting to see next week's rating. I hope it is high to show TNA that they can have 1 match or longer matches on iMPACT and not hurt the rating. So if you're ever going to watch TNA...make sure it is next week.

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iMPACT Preview for 06/28

One Night...One Match...One Title

Rhino Vs. Christian Cage Vs. Kurt Angle.

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Casey's Commentary: TNA iMPACT 06/21/2007

Welcome to our live iMPACT coverage. This raises the question, can it be live coverage if the show is taped?

Before I start I must make 2 statements:
1. I'm really hungry but can't eat until I'm done with this show.
2. I want it to end quick so I can eat and pick Strikeforce and with that out of the way, click behind the cut and refresh your yada yada for all the latest bla bla bla.



TNA...We are, surprised he's back to recapping this show.

We open with Abyss on a mission backstage. We know this because he's grunting a lot and Don West told us that's what he's doing.

Slammiversary recap, showing the highs and lows from Sunday. Too much focus on the lows, not enough on the highs.

Oh, I decided I couldn't wait to eat so I'm typing and eating. This is another reason these recaps are award winning...as soon as someon gives me the reward I've rightfully won.

Impact opening, the one you've come to know and love and loathe.

Jim Cornette is in the ring and is going to announce the main event for Victory Road. He asks for all the TNA champions to come to the ring. Lethal heads out, followed by 3-D and then Angle.

Cornette says the match of Champions will be at Victory Road. The world and X champions will team to face the tag champions. All the titles on the line, if you score a pin then you win the match and the title of the man he pins.

If Angle or Lethal pins one of 3-D then that man wins both belts and can pick his partner. Tonight and for the next 3 weeks, all the titles are defended. Win and you're in, lose and your replacement wins your title and your spot. It will be great to see Jay Lethal main event a TNA PPV...whatya mean that might not happen?

Cornette asks if there are any questions and Angle wants to know where his celebration is for winning sunday? Hey Kurt, its called budget cuts.

Angle says Cornette has no idea what he's doing. In other words, he fits right in around here. Crowd is hostile towards Kurt. Angle decides to celebrate by thanking himself for making it all possible. He thanks himself for doing what he said he was going to do. I guess he's officially a heel. He thanks himself for putting TNA on the map. He shouldn't thank himself for something that hasn't happened. He also thanks himself for being the best wrestler in TNA. He tells the crowd to blow off because they're indecisive.
He encourages the crowd to keep hating him and is pissed they chanted "Joe's gonna kill you". He runs through his catchphrase and then Cornette starts talking again. I don't like this new Kurt Angle, it seems he's got an ego problem. I can't get along with men that have big egos, I hate them.

Cornette is on a rampage ranting about Angle getting paid to compete. I love Jim Cornette going back to the Midnight days.

Cornette announces Angle will face 2 former champions next week for his spot in the Championship Challenge. He then says that Lethal will face a former champ in Chris Sabin and another former champion, Samoa Joe. So much for Lethal's title run.

Commercial Break!!
The segment set up the main event, wasn't too hard to understand and the promos were ok. However, I must insist that TNA steal UFC's tagline and call the show TNA Wrestling's 'victory road: Brings the Champions'

JB is backstage and says TNA is negotiating with a main eventer looking to jump to TNA...and if we want to know who, we need to subscribe to TNA mobile. Ok, they have to know that they're doing the Mean Gene thing and it has to be a homage. Seriously, it just has to be. Although I'm not sure I'd call Bicky Randeras a main eventer.

Macho Lethal does an interview and says he'll win or something.

Match 1: Robert Roode/James Storm Vs. Eric Young/Rhino

I want Eric Young and Robert Roode to never appear in a match with one another ever again, sadly I never get what I want.

Here's whatyou need to know about this match.

Ice Cream sandwiches are good.

Storm superkick and pin gets his team the win.

Winners: James Storm and Robert Roode
After the match, Rhino goes on a rampage, and Don West says he's never seen Rhino do this. West must not watch Discovery Channel or Animal Planet.

Commercial Break!!
Match was too short to amount to anything, JB shilling TNA mobile like Mean Gene is painful and Black Machismo still rules even if he's getting fucked tonight.

We're back and we get a reminder of the main event.

We go to the Jeff Jarrett interview from Slammiversary. I'm not going to make any comment regarding this.

I do however, still want to eat.

Mike Tenay is back and using the quiet voice, like Dixie Carter's limo blew up. Ok, we saw the interview on the PPV and now it has aired on Impact. They can put it on the website but lets just move past this.

The interview was moving and powerful and I'm afraid they're going to exploit it just to be like WWE and I don't want any part of death angles. I hate the Vince one, I hated the Eddie Guerrero storyline and I'll hate this too if they keep going back to the well. They said it, got their touching moment, and I hope that we just leave it at that. Anything more would just ruin the moment which, no joke, moved me incredibly.

Commercial Break!!

Latisha Klein tries to interview Joe. Joe threatens to kill her and she runs away. He then threatens to do very bad things, bad things indeed to Kurt Angle. He says until he's done with what he has to do, there will be no more interviews.

Match 2: Chris Harris Vs. Raven

Tenay and West are talking about the video. What did I just say?

I almost forgot Raven was still around, hopefully I'll be able to succeed next time.

Havoc (Johnny Devine) and Martyr (Matt Bentley) are at ringside while Kaz (No, not Hayashi and that's too bad cause he ruled) is missing and the announcers make a point of it.

Kaz comes out when Havoc and Martyr interfeer, he attacks Raven and Chris Harris gets the win.

Winner: Chris Harris

Just when you think that we're going to see Serotonin implode, Christian Cage appears on the screen. He talks to Harris, mainly telling him how great he is and the stars he makes. He blames Harris for him not winning the belt at the PPV. He says that at some point he and Harris are going to put on a show. "Cats" is the early favorite.

Christian is yelling for Tomko and Styles at the end of the interview. We find out that it is Abyss as he beats Christian all the way down to the ring. Abyss has a barbed wire bat but like an idiot takes his sweet time and Tomko and Styles hit the ring for the save. Note to Abyss, don't waste time. Abyss clears the ring and we head to a...

Commercial Break!!!
It is nice that TNA is making main events longer, but these other matches are still short to mean anything. Christian cut his usual good promo and the Abyss thing was so, so at best.

Why would the Valtrex people think iMPACT is a good show on which to advertise? I mean it is supposed to prevent the spread of herpies, but I watch iMPACT and women don't even talk to me. My friends watch iMPACT and women don't talk to them either. I don't understand, they're advertising on a show that is a better way to prevent the spread of herpies than the product they're selling.

We're back with a James Mitchell promo. I've missed his promos. The gist is that he found his new man and he's coming. Mitchell referred to him as his son. Well, it doesn't say much for his parenting skills if he had to go thousands of miles to find him as he claimed. As I've said so much before, the man is Ricky Banderas former WSX champion. If you're mad I spoiled it, get over it.

We're back to Mike Tenay who completely ignores what we just saw to talk the main event.

Oh, my mistake Tenay mentioned the video during the Samoa Joe enterence.

Match 3: Samoa Joe Vs. Chris Sabin Vs. Black Machismo Jay Lethal

It is a 3-way match for a TNA title that involves Samoa Joe as the challenger. If you don't know the finish then you should just quit life.

Commercial Break!!!
This show has a lot of commercial breaks. We get a commercial for the reairing of the last 2 episodes of TUF and for the Finale on Saturday. There will be coverage of the show here on the site cause we're great that way.

We're back for the last 4 minutes of the show...yeesh, TNA needs to work the commercials better.

Remember when I said you should know the finish? Joe hit the musclebuster on Sabin and got the pin. Sabin for those who have forgotten since the top of the show, was in fact not the champion.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Cornette comes out, says that Joe is in the match of champions and then he announces that next week Kurt Angle will defend against Rhino and Christian.

My thoughts: The show was inoffensive. The matches were too short and I thought I was watching Battleground with the frequency of the commercial breaks. TNA has always had those quick segments but it really hit me tonight just how fast they can be at times.
Nothing was horrifically stupid, and I didn't want to run screaming from the room. I've heard good things about next week's match but we'll see what commercials do to it.
Biggest complaint, well it is 2. I hate that Lethal's title reign was so short and that they put the title back on Samoa Joe who doesn't need it in the typical TNA way of having him lose without being pinned.

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2 stars quit TNA before tonight's tapings

According to Dave Meltzer Konnan and Ron Killings both quit before the tapings. Both men plan to work for AAA in Mexico.

Killings had just returned from a knee injury while Konnan had been the mouthpiece for the Latin American Xchange. As far as LAX goes, I suspect either they'll get a new mouthpiece or Homicide will be given the opportunity to talk.

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iMPACT Preview for 06/21

You can read the gory details here

Long story short, Kurt Angle will appear, Jim Cornette will announce the main event for Victory Road (a new concept is mentioned, *shutter*) and you can see the following matches:

Rhino and Eric Young Vs. Robert Roode and James Storm
Chris Harris Vs. Raven

We'll have spoilers as per usual at some point tomorrow.

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Impact thoughts for 06/14

I had my nephews at the apartment, so that does not for a good live recap make.

However, i did watch the show and it was fine. There was nothing as great as last week's Christian Promo and Main event, but it was all pretty solid. Nothing was really nonsensicle but a couple of things were needless.

TNA is hopefully starting a pattern of longer main events between last week and this week.

They still didn't do a good job of making me want to see the PPV, although they did make me want to see the Abyss-Christian thing continue.

Only other thing I can say about the show is that nobody's car exploded so that's a thumbs up.

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06/14 iMPACT Preview

You can read it here

This is where TNA's taping schedule kills them. Basham and Damaja team with the Steiners to face Team 3D and Voodoo Kin Mafia.

Sure, you could argue that TNA shouldn't have had the Steiners in such a high profile match before Slammiversary but then by that same logic, nobody should wrestle before a scheduled PPV bout.

If TNA is going to do more shows and stuff, they eventually have to readjust their taping schedule or these injury problems will multiply.

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Ratings for Thursday

TNA: 1.0/1.6

Ultimate Fighter: 1.1/1.9

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iMPACT quick thoughts

No full iMPACT recap this week, I wasn't in the mood, though I did watch the show.

The good:

1. The Chris Harris Vs. James Storm main event. It went about 20 minutes and it was a fantastic match and well worth checking out.
   
2. Christian's promo with Tomko where Christian reminded Tomko of all Christian had done for him. This has to be seen to be appreciated.
   
3. Gail Kim was in multiple segments.
   
4. Black Machismo, but then he always makes this list.
   
5. Jerry Lynn and Robert Roode had an ok TV match and the Women's match was also fine.

The bad:

1. Sting and Christopher Daniels, I don't know why we're supposed to care.
   
2. They should've just let the main event end the show instead of having Angle, Styles and Joe do whatever it was they did.
   
3. Frank Wycheck...meh.
   
4. Not so bad as sad, Team 3D and Steiners video package, and sadly there will be no match.
   
5. Sonjay Dutt's new character...it is in the bad category for now just cause the segment was so short.

I didn't hate this show because of the main event and Christian's promo. In fact, I could live with segments like those every week until the end of time. Plus, the more Gail the better the show for me.

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TNA and UFC Ratings for 05/31

TNA: 0.9
TUF: 1.2

Wrestling Observer

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