by James Caldwell, Assistant editor

TNA Impact on Spike TV
January 15, 2009
Taped Jan. 12 in Orlando, Fla.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The show started with a video package recapping what happened at the Genesis PPV on Sunday. Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin's classic match was briefly highlighted. Only appearance of the show, which is sad.

Impact Zone: Let's start it off with some talking after TNA promoted Angle vs. Styles with Foley as special ref for tonight's man event. Main Event Mafia came out, led by Kurt Angle. They're dressed in wrestling gear today. No Kevin Nash, who had surgery on Monday, according to Mike Tenay. Angle started the talking about taking a bullet for each other through ultimate sacrifice. He went back to Las Vegas three months that the Mafia will be the greatest array of champions ever assembled in the history of wrestling.

Angle said they have ended careers - careers that you really couldn't brag about, but careers none the less. Roll video of all the "hits" they've put out on wrestlers, including Samoa Joe, Christian Cage, Rhino, and Brother Ray. Back to Angle, who said he took out Jeff Jarrett for good at the PPV. He said they won their battles, but due to Mick Foley and Nash needing surgery, they did not win the war. Angle said they are all dressed for war and it comes to an end tonight. He said he is taking out - I mean "taking on" - A.J. Styles in the main event with Foley as special ref.

Angle surveyed the positive crowd reaction and sarcastically smiled before waiting out a "Foley, Foley" chant to say the Mafia looks at it like this: both of you (Styles and Foley) in the same place at the same time. "How good it will feel that for the first time, we will have a multiple hit tonight," Angle said.

Suddenly, LAX's music interrupted and Hernandez came out on stage with the Feast or Fired briefcase. (Briefcase was held by Shane Sewell, who's back in the zebra stripes for some reason.) Hernandez called out Sting since he was all dressed up to wrestle. He said he's cashing in his Hvt. Title shot right here, right now. Hernandez asked Sting if he's scared, brother. Sting consulted with Angle before they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

1 -- TNA World Hvt. champion STING (w/Main Event Mafia) vs. HERNANDEZ -- TNA World Title match

Back from break, Sting was in the ring with a t-shirt on ready to defend with the Mafia surrounding the ringside area. Hernandez took it to Sting early on, and nailed him with a slingshot shoulder tackle from the apron. He then shoved Sting half-way across the ring, which gave Angle pause for concern. Hernandez with a shoulderbreaker for a two count, which nearly got Angle in the ring. He then wanted the high-elevated suplex, but Sting countered into the Scorpion death drop. Sting started to work on Hernandez until Hernandez came back with clotheslines, ripped off his t-shirt, and put Sting up for the Border Toss, but the Mafia stormed the ring and attacked Hernandez for a DQ. Booker then wanted to smash Hernandez with the Legends Title belt, but Shane yanked the belt away and dumped Booker to the floor before Shane'ing up.

Post-match: Mafia started a lengthy beat down on Hernandez until Homicide made the save. Homicide had some good offense on everyone, with the heels feeding him for right hand blows. Angle cut him off, though, and started a beating on Homicide, who sold that like a pro. One of the best sells of a heel beating I've seen. A.J. Styles then stormed the ring and cleaned house before Booker surprised him with a straight superkick to the face. Angle then beat down Styles before nailing the Angle Slam. Suddenly, Team 3D emerged from the side of the arena and stormed the ring. Ray, returning to TNA with a faux hawk, beat down the Mafia. LAX then slid a table into the ring and 3D put Angle through the table with a powerbomb. Camera focused hard on Ray's face as he stared forward with great intensity. Sting then dragged Angle out of the ring as the Frontline stood tall.

WINNER: Hernandez via DQ in 4:00; Sting retains the TNA Title. That was a heck of a segment. I strongly dislike the DQ finish to Hernandez cashing in his title match, but LAX possibly being thrown in the Frontline mix will work very well. Intensity was definitely there for the "babyface comeback, cut 'em off, bring someone else in, and repeat" formula. Good segment. (*)

[Commercial Break]

Impact Zone: Back to the Impact Zone where Ray and Devon were still in the ring next to the broken table. Styles joined them in the ring for a little chat. Devon addressed Angle first. He said he's been involved in tag team wrestling his entire career, but they want to try their hand at singles action. He said he's not starting at the bottom, but going right to the top with Angle at Against All Odds. Ray then held up a piece of the table and screamed that he is back. Leaning on the top rope, he said the Mafia did not get the job done.

Ray said back in NYC, the real Mafia would have dug a hole six feet deep and buried him inside, then pissed on him. He said Angle's Mafia dumped him in a dumpster where he had a pie on his back. Ray went to Devon and said they have nothing left to do as a tag team, so if Devon takes Kurt, he wants Sting. Ray asked why. He said four weeks ago, Sting didn't attack him or do anything. Because he did something worse then all of them: "You did nothing." He said Sting let it happen, knew it was wrong, and you can't fool anyone much longer.

Ray said Sting is starting to expose himself for the liar and cheat he really is. He said at AAO, he takes everything out on him and for the first time ever, he will become the World Hvt. champion. Ray leaned in close to the camera and went for the Batista line that if you want the bull, you have to deal with the horns. He threw up a Hook 'em Horns sign then hugged it out with Styles and Devon to close the segment. Great promo from Ray.

Backstage: Lauren caught up with the Beautiful People, Angelina Love, and Cute Kip. They were giddy about getting ready for the Sarah Palin trip to the White House. Kip wanted to get a word in, but they kept talking. Kip then interjected this is a rib. Angelina said they're tired of Kip trying to ruin the moment because he's jealous of the governor. Kip said he's going to stop because he's done everything he can do. He walked off, washing his hands of this and ready to pluck his eyes out having to be involved in this program.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Tenay and West solemnly described the Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett match from the PPV and went to a video package showing some of the highspots from the match. Back ringside, Don West said the injury list has a concussion, contusions of the kidney, broken heart. Oops, not that one.

Backstage: Kurt Angle was being tended to by medics with Scott Steiner hovering over him. Head medic dude said he can't clear Angle to compete tonight. Steiner screamed that he'll take care of him and it's just one match. Angle sat up and shouted that every match matters, man! He said A.J. Styles and Mcik Foley are going to be out there. The plan will be foiled!

[Commercial Break]

Video package: They went through the entire "Palin" and Beautiful People series of horrific events leading to the Beautiful People trying to make it to the White House.

Impact Zone: In some horrific white outfits, Beautiful People came to the ring with "Sarah Palin." Tenay complained about the storyline in the context that Angelina and Velvet are too dense to figure things out. West told them to read a newspaper and figure out that Palin didn't win. Finally in the ring, Palin read a decree from a piece of paper that they have passed every test to join her for their inauguration. They are fit to be role models after letting all their natural beauty show through. So, all they need to do is sign a document.

Palin handed over the document and the Beautiful Peeps signed whatever it was. Looked like a lot of words without too many paragraph breaks. Suddenly, Roxxi and Taylor Wilde walked out on stage with something they don't know. Taylor mocked them as two of the most plastic and phony biatches to grace a wrestling ring. See, for the past six months, they have been trying to get even with them for embarrassing the Knockouts division.

Taylor said they have been trying to pave the way, instead, Peeps have been making a mockery of the division with the fake nails, fake noses, and fake boobs. She said they are not divas, but TNA Knockouts. Once you take away all that make-up and slutty clothes, the only thing left are two dumb blondes. Some girl in the audience kept screaming the whole time. Ugh. Roxxi took the mic to continue the girl-on-girl verbal violence that there is no inauguration, no meeting the Prez, and that is not Sarah Palin. But, ya know, they need to finish the job. Time for them two hos to get mucked.

Suddenly, some brown liquid descened from the ceiling directly onto the Peeps. They were covered in the mud. Looked like some nasty diarrhea after a cheap dinner chilling in center ring. Fake Sarah then joined Taylor and Roxxi on the stage to laugh at the Peeps. Wonderful. Tenay said this is how you get revenge. And they just got mucked.

[Commercial Break]

Impact Zone: Back from break, TNA staff was busy cleaning up the muck with like two dish rags. Sorry to tell you, fellas, but that's not going to get the job done. After a replay of the mockery, Tenay and West were shown laughing hysterically ringside. What exactly did they do that was so wrong leading to this? Gosh, TNA can't even take a babyface moment and let it be; they have to keep rubbing it in like jerks.

Backstage: Lauren brought in Kong's Kongtourage for a promo. SoJo said they would take Lauren out where she comes from. She asked butch and ODB if they want to get ghetto taking it to the streets. Khan did something with her finger, then Lauren swung the mic over to Kong or Raisha for a word. No word.

Rough Cut: Sojourner Bolt was profiled. She said boys were intimidated by her, especially when she was a strong black female with muscles. Jeremy Borash talked about some infamous date where she beat up the guy who took her to McDonalds and ordered a #1 Big Mac instead of the double cheeseburger. Terry Taylor was shown talking about seeing Bolt a few years ago in Chicago at an independent show. Bolt said nothing has ever been handed to her and she's working hard to learn more. Solid babyface. Why the whole "let's get ghetto" heel gimmick? It's unnecessary when she obviously has enough personality to stand alone on her own.

Impact Zone: Kongtourage came to the ring for a six-Knockout tag match. Goodness, when was the last time we had a match on this show? Roxxi, ODB, and Taylor Wilde then came out as the opposition.

2 -- ROXXI & ODB & TAYLOR WILDE vs. KONGTOURAGE (RAISHA SAEED & RHAKA KHAN & SOJOURNER BOLT w/Knockouts champion Awesome Kong)

After a mid-match commercial break, the action broke down when Roxxi took a hot tag from ODB. After an awkward exchange, Roxxi finished off Khan with the Voodoo Drop for the win.

WINNERS: Team Roxxi in 11:00. ODB gets the next title shot, but Roxxi scored the win and ODB was the babyface in peril here. Match was there, but Khan is just not natural at all in the ring. So forced. (*)

Backstage: Booker sat down with Angle to tell him to chill, just relax, man. They got this. Booker said they have A.J. taken care of. He's a hick from the sticks. Booker told Angle they need him long-term, so just chill and let them take care of this. Aight, man? Angle, still holding his neck, asked for a few minutes to think.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- MATT MORGAN & ABYSS vs. CONSEQUENCES CREED & JAY LETHAL -- #1 Contender match

Winner gets Beer Money, Inc. for the tag belts at the February PPV. Before the commercial, Creed got cocky trying to work on Morgan, so Morgan gave him the big bicycle kick to the face to knock him to the mat. Cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Morgan was trying to do things by himself. Abyss wanted a tag, but Morgan refused and kept working on Creed. Morgan finally gave in and tagged in Abyss, who quickly accepted a boot to the face and lost control of the action, allowing Lethal to hot tag in. LC took out Morgan on the floor with double suicide dives, then back in the ring, Lethal nearly pinned Abyss. Action broke down in the ring and Abyss accidentally threw Lethal down onto Morgan. Abyss panicked, then Lethal draped an arm over Morgan for the pin and the win.

Post-match: Abyss again tried to apologize, but Morgan shoved him. Abyss then snapped on Morgan and landed blows before security stormed the ring to separate the two. Abyss broke free and tackled Morgan. They did the pause, attack, pull-apart, quiet it down, attack again before sending it to the back.

WINNERS: Lethal Consequences in 8:00. Cartoonish ending leading to the post-match of Abyss and Morgan finally blowing up on each other. Follow-through is key. (*)

Backstage: Jim Cornette talked to Angle about needing a main event tonight with a packed house, and since Angle is out of commission, he needs to pick someone to fill the spot. Steiner and Booker argued about taking the spot, so Booker decided they settle it ghetto style. They wanted to do it eenie, meenie, minie, moe. Argument ensued until Cornette stepped in and decided for everyone that Steiner's in the match. Cornette said if anyone interferes, he'll fine all of them and inflict punishment. Mafia was having nothing to do with that, so they yelled at him until he walked off.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Borash caught up with Mick Foley backstage. Foley was not happy with the Mafia taking this situation so lightly. He said he's not worried about the Mafia trying to gang-attack the Frontline because he welcomes any violence after they took them out at the PPV.

4 -- SCOTT STEINER vs. A.J. STYLES -- Mick Foley as special enforcer

Referee is Earl Hebner with Foley on the outside shouting encouragement to Styles despite being an impartial special enforcer. Of sorts. Styles landed the patented dropkick in center ring at 3:00, then he splashed Steiner on the floor before they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

After Steiner worked on Styles back from break, Steiner wanted to introduce a chair. Mick Foley gave him a sharp word that set Steiner back momentarily and allowed Styles to recover and knock Steiner into the chair. Styles then followed with the flying forearm smash for a two count. Steiner then stumbled into the corner and accepted a leaping clothesline. Styles wanted a second, but ref Hebner got in the way to take a ref bump. What a shock. Mick checked on Hebner, then slid into the ring. Meanwhile, Steiner grabbed a pipe and love-tapped Foley on the back to subdue him. Steiner then smashed Styles with a pipe shot and the ref came to and slowly counted a close nearfall.

Steiner put Styles in the Recliner at 13:00 and Hebner asked if he wanted to give it up. Styles refused and crawled to the ropes, but Steiner broke it up and clubbed Styles on the back of the head. Foley then grabbed his Socko and teased going after Steiner. Suddenly, Petey Williams showed up ringside and came off the top with a dropkick on Steiner. He then scampered out of the ring and hid below the ring. Styles hit the Pele soccer kick and pinned Steiner for the win.

WINNER: Styles in 14:00. Typical over-booked TNA Impact main event, but a nice surprise of Petey returning to help turn the tide against the Mafia. Mafia might need another hit to get some heat back, though. With this sudden change in momentum to the Frontline, there isn't much of a conflict right now. TNA either leans too far one way or too far the other way. Need to strike a balance. (**)

We welcome your 0-10 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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