iMPACT

June 19, 2008  – Recap by Sassy

 

Last week on iMPACT

 

Samoan Submission Machine Samoa Joe retained his TNA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kaz in 7 minutes.

In a World X Cup Tag Team Match, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley, Motor City Machine Guns, representing TNA defeated Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino, representing Japan, in 7 minutes. Great match!

In tag team action, Homicide & Hernandez of LAX, with Salinas & Hector Guerrero, defeated Cowboy James Storm with Jacqueline & Robert Roode in 10 minutes.

Gail Kim defeated Velvet Sky in 5 minutes.

In a World X Cup Preview Match, Alex Kozlov representing Team International defeated Curry Man representing TNA in 4 minutes.

Sonjay Dutt defeated Consequences Creed in 3 minutes.

In the main event Lumberjack Match,  Kurt Angle defeated AJ Styles in 7 minutes.

 

I never noticed this before any previous iMPACT broadcast but before this particular iMPACT came began, this appeared on my screen:

 

This program contains subject matter that may not be appropriate for all viewers.

Parental discretion is advised.

 

Black Machismo Jay Lethal is at The Pink Taco calling out The Guru Sonjay Dutt.

 

TNA Wrestling

CROSS THE LINE

 

FUR WILL FLY AT THE PINK TACO

 

iMPACT is broadcast from Universal Studios, Orlando, FL on the Spike TV Network

 

Ringside announcers: Mike Tenay and Don West

Ring announcer: David Penzer

Ringside valet: SoCal Val

Backstage interviews: Jeremy Borash, Crystal Loutham and Lauren

 

Booker T from Houston, TX

Vs.

BG James

 

Referee: Slick Johnson

 

The sound system has been terrible lately on iMPACT. I can’t hear the ring announcer for the music. The match begins before James even makes it into the ring. Booker is out on the floor taking out James. Booker finally rolls James back into the ring and the referee signals for the bell. This match is all Booker with James spending most of his time on the floor or on the mat. Booker has a championship title shot coming up against Samoan Submission Machine Samoa Joe.  Booker is showing Joe how tough he can be in the ring. The camera goes to the back to show Jeremy Borash with Joe watching Booker’s match on a monitor. Time: 5 minutes.

 

Winner: Booker T with an ax kick

 

Definitely not a wrestling match and there isn’t anything I can say about the match to make it better. We had a full five minutes of Booker beating up James. JB asks Joe about the match and about what Big Sexy Kevin Nash said about Joe not being able to beat Booker. Joe grabs JB by the jacket but Nash interrupts and Joe releases JB. Joe wants Nash to wrestle Booker and prove himself. Nash says that next week, he will do just that and we go to commercial break.

 

The audience sees a video of the World X Cup and its appearance in TNA.

 

World X Cup Match

 

Tyson Dux

&

Daivari

Representing Team International

Vs.

Chris Sabin

&

Alex Shelley, Motor City Machineguns from Detroit, MI

Representing TNA

 

Referee: Rudy Charles

 

I am not familiar with Dux in the ring and most of what I have seen of Daivari has been as a manager.  I am looking forward to seeing these two in the ring. The live audience is on their feet obviously cheering on Sabin & Shelley. Dux and Shelley begin the match. Dux is busy showing off his physique and I have to agree he has a solid build. It will be important for him to be quick as well as built against X Cup competitors. Shelley tags in Sabin who enters the ring from the top turnbuckle. Dux tags in Daivari who tries the same move Sabin used but gets caught. Dux is tagged back in and Sabin tags in Shelley so they can use a little double-team work on Dux. I’m not seeing much from Dukes and Daivari hasn’t been in the ring long enough to show us what he can do. Dux delivers a DDT and goes for the cover but Sabin enters the ring to break up the count. Dux tags in Daivari. Shelley delivers a suplex, Daivari tags in Dux and Shelley manages to tag in Sabin. Sabin tries to springboard over the top rope but Daivari grabs Sabin by the leg and slams him down to the floor. In the meantime, AJ Styles is backstage in the locker room beating down Tomko with a chair. In the ring, Sabin is in trouble and we go to commercial break in the middle of the match. Back to the action, Sabin and Daivari are still in the ring. Daivari tags in Dux, Dux enters the ring and then tags in Daivari again. They attempt a double-team but Sabin takes them both on and makes the tag to Shelley. Shelley goes after both men in the ring and the audience is loving every second of the action. Dux is outside the ring, going back around to his side of the ring. Shelley face plants Daivari and comes off the top with a frog splash. Shelley goes for the pin but Daivari gets a shoulder up at the count of two. Daivari is back to his feet and fighting back. Nice hurricanrana from the top turnbuckle. Daivari goes for the cover and gets a two count before Shelley kicks out. Sabin enters the ring to take down Daivari and to send Dux off of the ring apron. The double team doesn’t work but as Daivari comes off the top rope, he gets a double kick from Shelley & Sabin. Shelley goes for the cover but Dux is in the ring to break it up. Dux delivers a brain buster to Shelley and Daivari goes for the cover, getting a two count before Sabin breaks it up. All four are in the ring with Dux hung up on the top turnbuckle. Shelley delivers the sliced bread, goes for the cover and gets the three count on Daivari. Time: 9 minutes.

 

Winners: Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley, Motor City Machineguns, representing TNA.

 

I have to admit that it is difficult for me to follow the match with the keyboard when I’m so involved trying to watch the action. Although Dux and Daivari didn’t do a lot to impress me their first time out, I am betting they will be more capable in future matches.  Any match that showcases Shelley & Sabin is just fine with me and this match was no exception. All four of these wrestlers did a good job making this a fast paced entertaining match.  Best match of the night so far.

 

The World X Cup Standings are as follows:

 

Team Tan                                           1 pts

Team International                          0 pts

Team Mexico                                      0 pts

Team Japan                                        0 pts

 

Styles has attacked Kurt Angle in the parking lot and we go to commercial break.

 

Interview with Gail Kim regarding her career in wrestling with input from Scott D’Amore and Pat Kenney, TNA Agent. Gail Kim is one of my favorite women wrestlers and it was interesting to hear about how she made it through the ranks to get where she is today. Mike Tenay talks to Karen Angle via satellite and I skipped it (fast forward is my best friend), Lethal is still pacing around at The Pink Taco and we go to commercial break.

 

The audience sees a video of the belt whipping LAX received last week from Robert Roode & Cowboy James Storm. Jim Cornette is in the ring to tell the audience about a unique challenge.  The TNA World Tag Team Champions, Homicide & Hernandez of LAX enter the ring, accompanied by Hector Guerrero and Salinas. Cornette says that LAX wants to face Roode & Storm at Victory Road in a fan’s revenge lumberjack match. Twelve TNA fans will be around the ring and each of them will have a leather strap. Anyone trying to leave the ring will get smacked with the straps until they get back in the ring. Guerrero takes the mic and says that the Latino fire has been awakened in LAX. Guerrero signs the contract for LAX. Cornette calls out Storm, Roode & Jacqueline for them to agree to the match. Jacqueline appears alone and heads to the ring. Jacqueline says that she isn’t a baby sitter and she doesn’t know where Roode & Storm are. Salinas & Jacqueline nearly get into in the center of the ring but Cornette gets in the middle. Cornette says there will be a match tonight between Jacqueline and Salinas. He tells them both to come alone.

 

This is the $25,000.00 open challenge that Kong has issued to TNA female fans over the age of 18 and we go to commercial break. The volunteers are Kimberly and Taylor. Taylor. (There were three women but I didn’t catch the name of the first one.) The person chosen this week is Taylor.

 

Awesome Kong

With Raisha Saeed

Vs.

Taylor

 

Referee: Shane Sewell

 

I don’t know who Taylor is but she goes after Kong before they get in the ring. She rolls into the ring and waits for Kong to enter. Kong slams her to the mat. Kong motions to Saeed for a steel chair but the ref gets in front of Kong. As Kong takes the chair and heads toward Kong, Taylor dropkicks the chair into Kong’s face. Taylor works on Kong with the chair until the ref takes the chair away from her. Taylor comes off of the top turnbuckle with a dropkick and goes for the cover getting a two count. Kong rolls out to the floor and Taylor comes off the top turnbuckle to go after Kong on the floor but she gets caught by Kong and she gets sent into the ring post. Kong rolls Taylor back into the ring, delivers the Awesome bomb and gets the win. Time: 4 minutes.

 

Winner: Awesome Kong

 

I don’t know who this Taylor is in the wrestling world but she did a great job against Kong in the ring and on the floor. Even though I was fairly certain Kong had the win, Taylor made the match worth watching. Backstage Brother Ray & Brother Devon of Team 3D have put Rhino through a table and we go to commercial break.

 

JB is backstage with Dutt asking why he isn’t at The Pink Taco facing off with Lethal. Dutt says he’s in love with SoCal Val.  I’ll ignore the rest of this storyline.

 

World X Cup Preview Match

 

Alex Kozlov from Russia

Representing Team International

Vs.

Kaz from Anaheim, CA

Representing TNA

 

Referee: Rudy Charles

 

Kozlov didn’t do a bad job in the ring last week but this is Kaz he’s up against and Kaz has the ability to be awesome in a wrestling ring. You’ll have to forgive me if I give a sketchy review during the match.  I have a tough time watching Kaz in the ring and typing at the same time. Nice slingshot leg drop and Kaz goes for the cover but he can’t get the three count. Nice high kick by Kozlov that sends Kaz out to the floor. Kozlov springboards off of the ropes to take Kaz down to the floor again.  Kozlov rolls Kaz back in the ring and stops to put on his hat before going back to work on Kaz. Kozlov goes for the cover and gets a two count. Kaz goes for a roll up but doesn’t get the win. Kozlov goes for a backslide but only gets a one count. Kaz again goes for a roll up but Kozlov kicks out. Kozlov deliver some type of move that pulls on the arms and legs and all of those muscles. Kozlov back in the ring and Kaz delivers a DDT. Kaz drops Kozlov with a clothesline and then a dropkick. Kaz goes for the pin and gets a two count. Kozlov delivers a kick to the back of Kaz’s skull then goes out on the ring apron and springboards in but Kaz gets out of the way, delivers the wave of the future, goes for the cover and gets the win. Time: 6 minutes.

 

Winner: Kaz with wave of the future.

 

Kozlov did a great job of keeping up with Kaz during this match and, as always, Kaz did a great job in the ring.  I can live with this World Cup wrestling.  The matches are fast paced and interesting with a lot of moves, countermoves and some actual wrestling thrown in for good measures.

 

 

JB is backstage with The Instant Classic Christian Cage to tell him that The War Machine Rhino is out of action and now Cage has to find a new partner to face Team 3D and we go to commercial break.

 

TNA Rough Cut with Matt Morgan and his career in sports and wrestling to date.  To Be Continued…

 

Dutt shows up at The Pink Taco to face off with Lethal. We have a conversation about who Val really about before we have a battle in the bar. Lethal chokes Dutt, drops an elbow on Dutt’s chest, breaks a lot of bottles and bar glasses, slams Dutt into a wall before Lethal spears Dutt through a metal door and we go to commercial break.

 

JB is backstage with Team 3D. Ray picks on Cage and Ray says they know that Styles will be Cage’s partner.

 

Pride of Tennessee Jacqueline

Vs.

Salinas representing LAX

 

Referee: Slick Johnson

 

Salinas starts off the match with a few fists and a body slam before going up to the top turnbuckle. Jacqueline gets out of the way and Salinas meets the mat. Jacqueline is back on her feet and she takes advantage of Salinas’ error.

 

Winner:  The Pride of Tennessee Jacqueline

 

I know Jacqueline can wrestle and I’m a little disappointed to see that she is doing a Cowboy James Storm in the ring. Jacqueline delivers a t-bone slam and then showboats for the crowd. Salinas slams Jacqueline back first onto the mat. Salinas drops Jacqueline with clotheslines, slams her to the mat and goes for the cover getting a two count. Jacqueline delivers a DDT and then applies a submission hold.  Salinas taps out but the ref has trouble making Jacqueline break the hold.  Time: 3 minutes.

 

This was not one of my favorite matches involving Jacqueline. Salinas hasn’t been in the ring in one on one action enough for me to judge her quality of wrestling. After the match, Jacqueline removes her belt and whomps on Salinas before whomping on the referee. We go to commercial break.

 

Main Event

 

The Instant Classic Christian Cage from Tampa, FL

&

The Phenomenal AJ Styles from Gainesville, GA

Vs.

Brother Ray & Brother Devon

Team 3D

 

Referee: Earl Hebner

 

I am a big fan of Styles but the storyline he has been involved in lately has been a total turn off. Styles is perfectly capable of having feuds with other wrestlers without the garbage that has been thrown his way by the TNA writers. Cage and Styles go up the ramp after Ray & Devon before they get to the ring. The battle is going on outside the ring and the bell has not yet sounded. The ref is trying to get everyone in the ring but no one is paying attention. Styles finally rolls Ray into the ring as Cage continues to work on Devon outside the ring. Styles delivers a dropkick that drops Ray to the canvas and then tags in Cage. Ray delivers a back body drop that sends Cage down hard to the mat. Ray tags in Devon. Devon comes out with right fists and then uses the ropes to choke Cage. I never expect to see wrestling moves from Ray & Devon and Cage & Styles won’t be able to use much in the way of wrestling moves if they want to win this match. Cage goes for a pin but he doesn’t get the three count. Cage tags in Styles and Styles hits the ring post. Devon tags in Ray. Devon & Ray leave the ring and head to the back to find a table while Styles is down in the center of the ring. Cage dropkicks the table, sending it into Ray & Devon. Styles uses Cage’s back as a springboard and goes over the top rope to take Ray & Devon back down to the floor and we go to commercial break. Back to the ring, Styles is in the ring with Ray and Styles is down on the mat. During the commercial break, Devon delivered a neck breaker to Styles. Ray continues to work on Styles’ neck. Cage enters the ring but the ref backs Cage back out of the ring. Devon is in the ring and he goes for a cover but can’t get the three count. Devon delivers a leg drop and then stops to ask for applause from the fans.  He doesn’t get it. Devon tags in Ray but Devon misses a squash by Devon. Styles delivers a high kick to Ray’s head and then manages to tag in Cage. Cage takes on Ray & Devon in the ring and uses the ropes to choke Devon. Cage goes for the pin and gets a two count. Ray enters the ring and squashes Devon when Cage gets out of the way. Cage comes off with the frog splash but Ray breaks it up at the count of two. Cage gets caught in the 3D and Devon goes for the cover but Cage gets a shoulder up at the count of two. Styles tags himself in and comes over the top to take down Devon. Styles body slams Devon to the mat and goes to the top. Cage and Styles come off the top together and Styles goes for the cover but Ray is in the ring to break it up. Ray sends Cage to the floor outside the ring. Devon comes off the top with a clothesline and goes for the cover getting a two count. Ray is now in the ring but Cage is back in the ring, delivering a hurricanrana to Ray from the top turnbuckle. All four men are in the ring. Style nails Devon with a peleg and then the inverted DDT as Cage helps Ray over the top rope to the floor. Styles goes for the cover and gets the win. Time: 11 minutes.

 

Winners:  The Phenomenal AJ Styles & The Instant Classic Christian Cage

 

I was pleasantly surprised with this match.  Cage and Styles kept the action fast paced and Ray and Devon kept up. While Devon and Ray go about everything with a brute style, Cage and Styles used enough of their wrestling techniques to keep Ray and Devon from taking either of them completely out of the action.

 

After the match, Frank Trigg – and I don’t even want to know why suddenly Trigg is a big part of iMPACT – appears to jump on the ring apron and yell at Styles giving Angle a chance to attack Styles from behind.  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, my DRV cut off and I missed the rest.

 

 

 

 

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