Email This Article - Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

|

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 11/8:

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
NOVEMBER 8, 2007
AIRED ON SPIKE TV
TAPED 10/30 IN ORLANDO, FLA.

-They went to the parking area where Scott Hall stepped out of a car, smiling, clapping, and rubbing his hands together in excitement. Mike Tenay said tonight we'd all find out if he were Sting's mystery partner.

-The TNA Impact opening aired, then Tenay and Don West introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd. West and Tenay speculated on the scenario of Kevin Nash and Hall ending up on opposite teams on pay-per-view. West also plugged the six-man tag team match on the show with Kurt Angle, Sting, and Samoa Joe, plus Christian Cage vs. Kaz in the Fight for the Right tournament. Oh the suspense. Will it be Christian or Kaz who gets a title shot at Genesis? If this was the planned tourney final, how tough would it have been to build up Kaz over the last four weeks as someone with real momentum, showing off his strengths (be it in the ring or behind the mic - whatever justifies him being put in this slot in the eyes of the creative team), giving him big wins, and really talking him up as the surprise rising star of the season. Instead, he comes in relatively cold and completely unbelievable as a potential PPV headliner. Those little things add up - or better put, subtract from - the drama potential of these two hour shows.

Christian Cage [artist Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

1 -- CHRISTIAN CAGE vs. KAZ - Fight for the Right Finals

Tenay and West talked up this match as the biggest of Kaz's career. Too late. This build up needed to be stronger leading into this match. Kaz rose to the occasion by applying a casual antiquated side headlock at 1:00 (click, click, click). Christian escaped quickly and they did some rapid-fire exchanges leading to a cover by Kaz. Tenay plugged that the Road to Genesis would feature the basic cable premiere of last month's Ultimate X match from Bound for Glory. Christian got in Kaz's face and talked down to him. Kaz fired back by yanking Christian to the mat and ramming him multiple times into the canvas. Nice spot. Kaz has sustained offense for a minute. They fought on the ring apron. Kaz legdropped Christian to the floor as they cut to a break at 4:00.

[Commercial Break]

Tenay mentioned Scott Hall's name right after the break as Kaz took Christian to the mat with several kicks. They showed that during the break, Kaz whipped Christian into the steps at ringside. Christian fired back by throwing Kaz shoulder-first into the ringpost, after which Christian licked his left bicep somewhat seductively. West called it creepy. Kaz went on another offensive flurry. At 11:00 he nailed Christian with a solid flying roundhouse kick off the ropes. Nice spot. He followed with a slingshot DDT for a near fall. A "This is Awesome!" chant broke out. Kaz went for a legdrop off the ropes, but Christian rolled out of the way. Man, had they built this match up better, or more precisely, built up Kaz better over the last several weeks, this would really have been a showcase match for Kaz even if he lost. Christian bit Kaz and knocked him of the top rope, then hit a frog splash for a believable near fall. Christian raked Kaz's eyes and set up an Unprettier. Kaz flipped out of it and slammed Christian to the mat with a faceplant for a near fall (not a "believable near fall" because nothing was done to give us the impression Kaz had a chance to headline a PPV). A.J. Styles came to ringside, conditioning TNA viewers again not to pop for near falls because competitive matches almost never end until outside interference is in the mix. He dropkicked Styles in the ring and dropkicked Tomko when he arrived, knocking him of the ring apron as he tried to get into the ring. As the ref was occupied by Styles, Tomko hit Kaz from behind with a forearm. Kaz staggered toward Christian, who had slid a ladder over the second rope and knocked it into Kaz's head, then scored the pin. Cool finishing sequence. These finishes would mean something if they were the exception and not the rule.

WINNER: Christian in 15:00.

STAR RATING: *** - Very good TV match.

-After the match Matt Morgan walked out and said mockingly applauded Christian, then said that was "another screwjob." Morgan said when Jim Cornette is gone, he calls the shots. Since when was it explained that Cornette's bodyguard was also in effect the assistant G.M. West said he should make things right because that was disgraceful. Morgan said he was throwing that match out and ruling it a no contest. Morgan talked too fast, but otherwise was good. He said at Genesis, he'll get his match against Kaz one-on-one in a ladder match. West yelled, "The Fight for the Right Tournament will continue at Genesis in a Ladder Match!"

-They went backstage to Jeremy Borash holding the mic for Kurt Angle, who was lamenting the arrival of Hall. Angle asked Kevin Nash if he's on good terms with him. Nash said maybe he wasn't the friend he should have been. Angle said, "What are you, Dr. Phil. You two are like a couple of women." That didn't make sense. Nash stood up and got in Angle's face. Nash told Angle to take a swing. Karen Angle popped up from the couch and screeched, "Enough! Enough!" She said the only way to find out his attitude is to go talk to him. She said she's going to take care of business. "Do you think you two can get along while mommy's gone," she said. Nash said he doesn't know how Angle puts up with that. Angle said he doesn't know, either. There are definite moments of chemistry between Angle and Nash, and miserably married guys at home might get a kick out of Karen's epitomising the nagging, grating wife, but the hand's been overplayed over the past couple of months. It also isn't great that Karen practically towers over Angle in height.

[Commercial Break]

-Crystal interviewed Christian backstage, with Styles and Tomko with him. Christian demanded to know who put Matt Morgan in charge. He asked who Morgan ever beat. He said he has a laundry list of people he's defeated. He said he pinned Kaz in the middle of the ring and should get a title shot. He said he shouldn't have to re-wrestle a match he already won, but on the bright side it's going to be "my match, the ladder match." Christian said there's only room for one at the top. Tomko told Christian that he's been with him since day one, but he needs to know who his no. 1 guy is - him or Styles. Christian said he's in a bad mood, so don't touch him. Tomko removed his hand from his shoulder. Christian told him he just did what he told him not to do: "Think. I told you not to think," he said. Christian then put Styles in charge until further notice. Styles said Christian is an inspiration for him. He said Christian is Donald Trump and he's the Apprentice learning from the best. Styles then took a few digs at Scott Steiner. Styles bragged about his collegiate wrestling credentials. He said Gainsville Regional College offered him a scholarship - Class D, Level 4, Region 3. He challenged Steiner to a five minute challenge for the most takedowns. He said he's going to start the fight and at Genesis, his boy Tomko will end it. Styles is okay at this role, but he's worthy of a role that seems originally cast for a Brian Christopher sidekick type. Styles could be a money-player in a featured X Division as a serious character. This is beneath him.

2 -- GAIL KIM vs. ALEXA JADE

West said there's a reason the have weight classes in collegiate wrestling, and Steiner is much bigger than Styles. What, do weight classes not matter in the pros? If what West said is true, then TNA should create weight classes, too. Otherwise, he's basically said that weight differentials predetermine outcomes, which really limits TNA if true as it's now structured. When Kim applied a headlock in the opening seconds, a group of fans chanted "This is awesome!" It seemed to be bewilder other fans. Not sure if they were mocking the women or marking out for the T&A. When Kim climbed to the top rope, Alexa knocked her off balance. Tenay plugged the TNA Mobile service with an exclusive hint at the mystery partner for Sting. At 3:00 another "This is awesome!" chant broke out for no apparent reason. Kim won shortly thereafter with her finisher.

WINNER: Kim in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* - Not bad.

-After the match, VKM walked out onto the stage as Kim celebrated. B.G. James told her to enjoy her time with the TNA Title because she won't be the woman leaving with it at Genesis. Roxxi Laveaux entered the ring behind Kim and slammed her face-first on the mat. Angel Williams entered the ring and powerbombed Roxxi to the mat, then held up Kim's belt. ODB entered the ring next and she gave Angel a fallaway slam. She then held up Kim's belt. Kim gave ODB a missile dropkick to get her belt back.

-Karen asked Karen to stop staring at her breasts. She slapped him. Borash took a deep breath. Karen then entered Hall's locker room. She introduced herself, then tried to seduce him. She said she has an offer for her better than the reason he's actually there. She whispered something to him. Hall laughed and said, "Aren't you married." Karen said he can trust her. She took the toothpick out of Hall's mouth and stuck it in hers. Ewwww. I have it on good authority Hall has sushi for dinner before the taping and was picking out pieces of raw fish flesh from his teeth. Hall told her she should have a conference with her old man and tell him to smarten her up about the wrestling business. He said you can't trust the other wrestlers, the office, the promoters, or the rats. Karen gasped. Hall said if everyone wants to know why he's there, he's there because of Big Kev. He said it's between them. He told her take her sweet cakes back to the Olympic Champion and stay out of his and Kev's business.

[Commercial Break]

-Borash asked Karen how she was going to break the news to Angle and Nash because that did not go well. Karen said no problem, it's just back to the original plan. She excused herself for an appointment. She walked into the men's room.

-Tenay wondered what was going on with Karen in the men's room. Tenay again plugged the six-man main event.

-They showed a clip of Team 3D beating up X Division jobbers in catering, Shark Boy and Petey Williams. They powerbombed them through tables.

3 -- TEAM 3D vs. "BLACK MACHISMO" JAY LETHAL & ABYSS

After Machismo's ring entrance, Morgan walked out and handed Tenay a special announcement. The crowd chanted "Black Machismo" early. Tenay read the note that said Machismo would defend the X Title against Sonjay Dutt - because, you know, Dutt hasn't won a match in months. Tenay said that means all four titles are at stake on Genesis. Machismo dazzled Brother Ray early; Ray sat in the corner looking confused and surprised. Machismo hit both Ray and Devon with a springboard dual dropkick. Abyss tagged in and clotheslined Ray and Devon. He scored a two count on Devon after a sideslam. At 4:00 Ray took over on Machismo. Devon tagged in a applied a 1980s mid-card house show fake looking boring headlock. Machismo stood up and elbowed out of it. He hot-tagged Abyss at 6:00. He cleaned house on both Ray and Devon. Machismo hit a big flying elbow drop across the ring onto Devon for a two count. Remember, no sense getting excited about pin attempts in TNA until someone from outside interferes. In this match, it was Black Reign and James Mitchell coming to ringside. Abyss fought Reign at ringside and into the crowd. Lethal snapped Devon's neck over the top rope. Ray clotheslined at Lethal, but Lethal ducked and Ray hit Devon instead. Machismo scored a near fall. Devon hit Lethal with a low-blow, then they gave him a 3D for the win. As Reign and Abyss brawled in the back, Team 3D stacked Machismo on a table and whipped him with their belts. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin charged to the ring to make the save. The quickly knocked Team 3D out of the ring and celebrated.

WINNERS: Team 3D in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- Solid action. They had real potential to build up Machismo and Abyss teaming up with some fun interaction backstage before the match. That's a lost opportunity. It would have helped to explain how those two got linked up in this match in the first place.

-Angle demanded to know how things went with Karen. She said things didn't go well. Angle looked panicked. Karen said it didn't matter, she took care of business in another way. Borash whispered to Angle that she went into the men's room. She asked if he was some kind of stooge. Angle asked what she was doing in the men's room. Karen told him to trust her. Angle said he doesn't trust anyone. He said he was going to confront Hall. Nash just sat on the touch shaking his head.

END OF HOUR ONE REPORT


Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA!
VISIT OUR AFFILIATE - PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC & MMA NEWS & BLOGS:
VISIT OUR SISTER SITE - MMATORCH.COM

Upgrade to PWTORCH VIP: DETAILS & SIGN-UP INFO

(c) 1999-2009 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.