By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

TNA Impact on Spike TV
December 25, 2008
Taped Dec. 10 in Orlando, Fla.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

We start with the credits from a James Bond movie. You know, I really liked Martin Rhodes and Paul Ramsden's work on the Safety Team. Well done, fellas.

In any event, the Impact Christmas edition started with a video package on the Main Event Mafia needing to control the wrestling business. "Experience that demands respect." They included footage of Christian taking a beating last month and Rhino being stuffed in a casket. "A hit with style?" is tonight's theme.

Impact Zone: On the broadcast, we start with Mick Foley coming to the ring to do some talking as Mike Tenay said the Mafia took out Samoa Joe and severely injured him. Foley waited out the obligatory "Foley, Foley" chant before wishing everyone a Happy Holiday. Foley said he's having a hardy time having a Merry day after the Mafia looked him in the eye and vowed no more gang-style hits last week. Now, Samoa Joe is injured and he was just released from the hospital.

Foley asked rhetorically what good is Kurt Angle's "code" when his word means zero. He said it's a Crock of Angle. And he's sending out a message to the Mafia that the next time there is a gang-land style hit, he might have to become personally involved. Foley said after Petey Williams, Brother Ray, and Samoa Joe - the blood-shed stops tonight.

Cue up the Mafia theme music and out walked Kurt Angle on stage with the Mafia following him. Haven't we seen this scene like a hundred times now? Angle said they have one big misunderstanding. Once again, the Mafia was not the aggressor, but the victim. Angle said when you put Nash and Sting inside a cage like savages, then s--- is going to happen. Heck, Styles won the match, but he left his partner in the ring. What did you expect Kevin and Sting to do? Angle said they are family and want Foley to be part of.

Foley paced around the ring, then Angle continued that regarding the terrible situation with Samoa Joe, let's just write it off as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Foley said he's in a bind because he needs the Mafia on that PPV card in January, but he can't make a match for the rest of them besides Angle vs. Jarrett for fear they'll put a hit out on their opponents. So, as a cheap excuse not promote anything in advance, let's give away Booker & Steiner vs. Styles & Brother Devon tonight.

Angle said you don't just give away PPV matches for free. He then asked about the two jobbers he's supposed to have a match against? Foley said Angle is facing Rhino tonight. So, give away a PPV match that just happened? Okay, that makes more sense...not. Foley said he might become physically involved if needed, and he'll have Jarrett ringside to watch Rhino's back. Tenay declared Foley just one-upped the Mafia. How did that happen? He booked a few matches that the Mafia will easily escape and end up one-upping Foley. Haven't the announcers been paying attention to the last ten episodes of TV?

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Jeremy Borash was in the locker room with Rhino. He has a TNA Title shot at the PPV for reasons we're not sure of yet. Rhino said the chase to Sting starts tonight with Kurt Angle. He said he's going to make Angle feel pain tonight - not like a human being, but like an animal. Rhino said winning the match means nothing to him. (Out for losing.) It's not about the 1, 2, 3, but giving pain to Angle for what they did to Petey, Ray, and Joe. Tonight, there is No Way Out, he said. There should be a Backlash and potential Armageddon on Taboo Tuesday right after Rhino's Unforgiven comments.

1 -- CHRIS SABIN (w/Alex Shelley) vs. KIYOSHI -- X Division Title semi-final tournament match

West was solid in the pre-match reminding the viewer of Consequences Creed having trouble with Kiyoshi in the first round because he didn't have a scouting report on Kiyoshi. Will Sabin learn from watching Kiyoshi in his first TNA match? Of note, ref Shane is back in the ring refereeing. Sheik Bashir walked out on stage with a towel wrapped around his head a minute into the action and sat down on a chair. Kiyoshi is pretty rough around the edges in his execution of moves, further underlying the point that he's a student of Great Muta. Kiyoshi missed with a top rope moonsault, then Sabin nailed the Cradle Shock for the pin and the win. Bashir had a non-reaction. Shelley celebrated with Sabin. He gets Shelley or Young in the finals.

WINNER: Sabin in 5:00. Match was irrelevant, which was unfortunate for Sabin, as the real X Division storyline of Bashir vs. Referee followed. (*)

Post-match: Bashir stormed to the ring to confront ref Shane, who slowly tried to walk away from the situation. Bashir grabbed him by the belt, though. Machinegun's music continued to play until Bashir threw his jacket at Shane. Shane started to Shane Up, then Bashir shoved him several times. He wanted Shane to hit him, then Bashir slapped him across the face. Shane started to rip off his shirt to take out Bashir, but the lights went down before Shane could get himself fired. Cue up Suicide flying to the ring. Bashir was shocked. Suicide then awkwardly attacked Bashir before clearing him to the floor.

Backstage: Lauren was with "Sarah Palin" and the Beautiful People standing in front of a group of rapid "dirty, germ-covered marks." Palin said these people are true American fans. Kip said if Angelina or Velvet gets touched, he'll drop said marks like a bad habit. Palin tried to calm them down before shoving them behind the guardrail to mingle with the germy marks. Inane segment.

[Commercial Break]

Video package: Jarrett vs. Angle. ... Earlier today: Mike Tenay sat down with Jeff Jarrett for a chat. Tenay kissed Jarrett's ass, then Jarrett kissed his ass. Merry Christmas. Tenay said he knew Jarrett had no intent of every getting back in the ring, but it really hasn't worked out that well. Jarrett breathed a heavy sigh, then said let's face it that they just don't get along. He wanted to build the entire organization around Angle two years ago, but something went wrong. Angle has lost his wife, kids, and dignity. In his mind, Angle thinks he's bigger than TNA. Tenay brought up the things Angle says about his family.

Jarrett paused to reflect without speaking, then said when Angle says those things, it turns his stomach. He's not the same guy he was two years ago. It's like there's a blank stare. How do you prepare for Genesis? Jarrett said it's easier than you think. At Genesis, you can throw all the technical wrestling out the window because it's going to be two guys fighting. What happens if Angle wins? Jarrett said losing is not an option. Not for himself, not for TNA, and certainly not for his family. He said this is one fight that he has to and will win.

Announcers: Tenay and West were shown discussing the Jarrett interview, then Kurt Angle slowly walked on set to chat about the interview. Angle cut off Tenay and asked him if he felt sorry. Angle didn't want an answer, though. He bumped West with the mic, then said he has no sympathy for Jarrett or his three little girls. It'll be a bloody fight at Genesis, but the fight starts tonight when he's in Rhino's corner. Angle said he'll cripple Jarrett and he's bringing Sting to the ring tonight to keep Rhino occupied.

Rough Cut: Another focus on Beer Money, Inc. James Storm compared this team to America's Most Wanted, with some photos of Chris Harris shown. Storm said Roode brings something to the table that Chris didn't bring, and Chris brought something to the table Roode doesn't bring. Roode said wrestling fans love to hate their team and they just click. He said they're the best tag team in the world, he thinks. Roode said BMI is going to continue being successful.

Backstage: Lauren was with Abyss and Matt Morgan. She said it's safe to say they've come up on the short end of the beer bottle every time against Beer Money. Morgan didn't like that, so he ripped the mic away and said things aren't funny. He went Rhino on Lauren and told her to scram. Morgan then looked deep into the camera and quietly said them vs. Beer Money at Genesis is going to be the final act. So, they have a tag title match scheduled? When was this announced?

How about some wrestling? Not yet. Need to do some more talking... Backstage: Jeremy Borash was with Styles and Brother Ray in their cute little Front Line t-shirts. They're seeking revenge on the Mafia for taking out their respective tag partners. Styles introduced some more personal stuff that Joe was informed his wife was having their first child just before the match last week. Now, Joe has to hold his own son in a sling. This is a pretty desperate storyline. Styles screamed that he's a man, come after me! Styles turned over a bench and stormed off, then Brother Devon said you can hurt Ray, but you can't hold him down. Mentally, though, Ray has started second-guessing himself, which has never happened before. Mentally, he doesn't think Ray will ever come back. But, he's here. Devon said Mafia has unleashed something they never should have unleashed. He said you will never, ever put Team 3D down for the count. Now that's a freakin' promo.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: More talking. Goodness gracious. Borash with the Machineguns now. Sabin said it's karma that he advanced to the finals of the X Division Title. He said the not-so-Great Muta wasn't good enough tonight. Now, Shelley has Eric Young and they could potentially face-off against each other. Shelley said they've run through his scenario and have no worries about Young, who thinks he's big, bad, and tough now. Young interrupted and Shelley asked what he's going to do about it. Young then attacked Shelley with a slap, setting off a brawl. Frontline tried to intervene, but Young and Shelley took their brawl from the back to the Impact Zone. Shelley choked Young while refs tried to intervene, then Shelley walked into a spinning clothesline from Young, who ended the fight-turned-worked-wrestling-match with a suicide dive onto Shelley and Sabin on the floor. In two weeks, it's the semi-final X Tournament match.

Backstage: Borash plugged TNA Mobile news with information on two top TNA stars recently ending contract negotiations. Lauren then "interviewed" the Knockouts standing by in their Santa outfits ahead of the Santa's Helper Knockouts brawl later on.

[Commercial Break]

Video package: Mafia hits. Hit #1 on Petey Williams. Hit #2 on the entire Frontline. Hit #3 on Christian. Hit #4 Brother Ray. Hit #5 on Samoa Joe in the cage last week.

Impact Zone: Scott Steiner came to the ring first for the second match of the card. Ridiculous number of segments in between wrestling matches. Booker and Sharmell then came out. Slow entrances to stretch this out before any wrestling occurs. Brother Devon came out first for the Frontline, then A.J. Styles. Before the bell sounded, they stretched this out even more with a pre-match tension building session.

2 -- SCOTT STEINER & BOOKER T (w/Sharmell) vs. A.J. STYLES & BROTHER DEVON

This started as a closed-fist punch-out brawl between Booker and Devon, then Styles and Steiner battled. Devon then tagged in and shoved a boot into Steiner's throat. Styles back in at 3:00 to work on Steiner, but Steiner shoved Styles into the corner. Styles broke free and pushed Steiner to the floor, then nailed a baseball slide kick. Action broke down on the floor with the Frontline in control as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

The action spilled to outside of the Impact Zone during the commercial break where Devon and Booker were brawling by a trailer. West reminded us it wasn't about a pin or getting a win. Is anything wrestling-related in TNA about actually winning a match? I don't even know why they have a ring. Styles and Steiner were brawling in the crowd with a split-screen of the action. Suddenly, the Mafia jumped Devon where Brother Ray was jumped two weeks ago. Nash and Angle pounded on Devon before hand-cuffing him to the wall. Booker followed with huge knee smashes.

Oh, we're back in the ring with Steiner working on Styles. After Styles re-gained control, Kurt Angle showed up in the ring. Styles fought him off, then knocked Nash off the ring apron. Angle was dumped to the floor. Booker then showed up and attempted an axe kick, but Styles hit the Pele kick. Mafia then jumped Styles after regrouping to beat down Styles. Steiner brought a chair into the ring. West was ridiculously over-the-top narrating this, then Frontline finally showed up to help prevent Styles taking the same fate as Joe last week. Mafia eventually beat down the weaker Frontline before Rhino stormed the ring to go after Angle. Rhino cleaned house, but Angle subdued him for Steiner to nail a series of chair shot blows to the back.

Mick Foley had enough and he stormed the ring to knock around the Mafia, who fed him for the big house-cleaning. Goodness, the washed-up executive shareholder > entire Frontline. That's going to help the younger stars in the credibility department. In any event, Foley cleared the entire Mafia with the help of Socko, then Angle talked trash from ringside. Foley wanted a mic. As if we haven't had enough talking on this show. We'll find out his thoughts after the break.

WINNERS: Who knows in who knows. Was there a match? What is a match? Is this a wrestling show? Foley being the one to clean the entire ring of the Mafia after everyone from the Frontline failed was just inexplicable booking. I know you have to hype Foley's return to the ring, but at the expense of the credibility of the entire Frontline roster after they failed to clean the ring just once in two months? Not worth it.

Impact Zone: Foley said just when he thinks he's out, they drag him back in. Foley said Mafia has given him no other choice but to become personally involved. So, how about we give the Mafia a little Christmas present. Rhino, Devon, and Styles were left standing in the ring behind Foley, who booked a six-man tag at Genesis. Foley & Devon & Styles vs. Booker & Steiner & Nash. "Yes!" West shouted. Foley said Mick Foley is crossing the line. Rhino was indifferent. Or just tired. Everyone hug in the ring. Sting stood on stage in his suit non-reactionary. Tenay and West then broke down the Genesis PPV card.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- ODB & ROXXI & TAYLOR WILDE & CHRISTY HEMME vs. Knockouts champion AWESOME KONG & RAISHA SAEED & SOJOURNER BOLT & RHAKA KHAN -- Santa's Workshop Knockouts street fight

Some creative outfits you might see at a tacky Christmas party. Except for Bolt, who apparently missed the memo and sported a leopard-print outfit. Roxxi was an elf. Hemme was an aerobics instructor with candy-cane-striped socks. Kong entered the ring and over-powered Hemme, but Hemme hopped on her back and everything completely broke down. Ref Rudy Charles threw his hands in the air like he just don't care. Kong vs. Hemme is at the PPV in a lumberjill match, by the way. Taylor knocked Raisha off the apron into a mosh pit below on the floor that looked more like a corporate event where someone falls backwards to test the trust of his or her co-workers. Taylor then came off the top with a cross body block into the mosh pit. Back in the ring, Khan grappled Taylor and gave her a step-over kick before licking her hand. Taylor then rolled up Khan, who freaked out at the thought of being part of a wrestling move, and scored the pin for the win.

WINNERS: Team Taylor in 6:00. Just an excuse to get several Knockouts in the ring at the same time. Better-than-average build up for Hemme vs. Kong at the PPV. (*)

[Commercial Break]

Impact Zone: Sting came to the ring first to stand in Kurt Angle's corner for the main event. Angle came out, then Jeff Jarrett came out with guitar in hand to stand ringside for Rhino. After Jarrett posed in the ring and stared down Angle, Rhino came out to face Angle.

4 -- RHINO (w/Jeff Jarrett) vs. KURT ANGLE (w/TNA World Hvt. champion Sting)

Rhino had plenty of offense early on with Angle distracted by Jarrett ringside. Angle then came back at 2:00 with a smashing elbow smash. Angle then spit on Jarrett, who stormed into the ring. Refs were suddenly on the scene to hold back Jarrett, who we are reminded is talent and not office anymore. Let's let the cooler heads prevail during the break.

[Commercial Break]

Rhino made a comeback from an Angle waistlock and landed multiple right hand blows before nailing a forearm to spring free. But, both men knocked each other down with a clothesline. Rhino then came up with a clothesline and a shoulder tackle in the corner before landing a suplex. Angle teased the Olympic Slam, but Rhino countered with a spinebuster. Angle then slapped on an Anklelock, but Rhino kicked him through the ropes to the floor. Jarrett talked trash, then Angle slapped him and side-stepped Jarrett, who crashed into the guardrail.

Back in the ring, Angle re-applied the anklelock, which has no credibility anymore because no one taps out to the move. Jarrett had enough and took off his shirt before storming the ring to attack Angle. Ref Hebner threw the match out. A brawl broke out until security intervened to set up a pull-apart brawl. Terry Taylor and B.G. James tried to enter the scene as Angle slowly reached out and grabbed Jarrett's golden locks. B.G. got the camera time to tell Angle to control himself. Angle then decked B.G., who was laid out to close the show with the focus on him.

WINNER: Angle via DQ in 10:00. Okay match, but just standard Impact TV fare with Rhino in there. He's a roleplayer who shouldn't be asked to carry a main event match, and he's fine when put into the roleplayer slot. Finish was inevitable. For starters, it's a TNA TV main event where a match can't just end. There must be a post-match to take precedence over the contemptuous in-ring action, and now the sympathetic figure is a TNA agent not booked for the PPV. Awesome. (*1/2)

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for an "Impact Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Impact, click here.

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