By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

TNA Impact on Spike TV
February 19, 2009
Taped Feb. 10 in Orlando, Fla.

Let's see what the fuss was all about that led to TNA's largest viewing audience ever for Impact. First off, a video package on Sting playing with mind games with Kurt Angle leading to an Empty Arena match on this week's show.

Backstage: Jim Cornette was very concerned about insurance companies, lawsuits, legalism, etc. for Kurt Angle vs. Sting in an Empty Arena match. Mick Foley was chilling on the couch. Jeff Jarrett decided he had no choice but to let the Mafia destroy itself. Ya know, because the Frontline couldn't get the job done.

Announcers: Tenay and West hyped this show as one of the most unique shows ever in TNA history. Tenay has never been involved in anything like this. Blah blah blah. Tenay produced by TNA to be the king of histrionics, then Kurt Angle interrupted. The only way the Mafia can brought down is internally, Angle said. He told Jeff Jarrett to take advantage of this offer. Tenay has never seen Angle more determined or serious. More histrionics.

Backstage: Lauren was with Motor City Machineguns to talk about dissension in the Frontline. Sabin sarcastically said the Frontline locker room is starting to make him sick. They are kind, pay taxes, and give to charity. Always put others before them. Suddenly, Lethal and Creed jumped the Guns to pre-start a No Holds Barred brawl.

[Commercial Break]

1 -- MOTOR CITY MACHINEGUNS (X Division champion ALEX SHELLEY & CHRIS SABIN) vs. JAY LETHAL & CONSEQUENCES CREED -- No Holds Barred street fight

Back from break, action was on the floor ringside. The wrestlers worked a chair into the match to help tell the story, then Lethal introduced a ladder into the action. Sabin then worked on Creed's injured arm with a dropkick into an unfolded chair. Lethal saved Creed from the Cradle Shock, then the action broke down again in the ring. After a chair and ladder couldn't help the Guns secure victory, Shelley used his X Title belt to blast Creed in the head for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Guns in 6:00 of TV time. Match was fine, but not memorable. Too fast-paced in not enough window of time to allow the action to sink in. (*1/2)

Backstage: Borash was with Cornette, Foley, and Jarrett again. Cornette, whose TV authority role is fuzzy, deferred the call on Sting-Angle to Jarrett. Foley took some notes on a pad. Apparently his job is to record the minutes. Cornette said the arena will be cleared every human being except for camera crew, announcers, and the two wrestlers.

[Commercial Break]

Mafia locker room: Kurt Angle tried to give the Mafia a pep talk, but Booker T wasn't too pleased with Angle's line of talk about Sting. Angle suggested they make it a handicap match of Booker & Sting vs. Angle. Kevin Nash stepped in and tried to restore order, but Booker was tossed out of the locker room with Sharmell. Booker was comically shocked. Borash asked if this is the end of the Mafia. Booker let down his guard, then A.J. Styles jumped him in the hallway and said he'll take Booker's Legends Title. He is the one and only original. This whole angle really makes Styles come across like a jerk. Intentional or incompetent booking? You decide.

In-ring: Beer Money came to the ring for a very special challenge. Roode said they're issuing a very open challenge to the locker room. James Storm said in other words, they're having a "momma doesn't want to see you on TV anymore" challenge. He said they want to get rid of some talent and they can't come back under a mask, holding a camera, as an announcer, or any other position.

Backstage: Lauren was with Roxxi, Taylor Wilde, and fake Sarah Palin for a random promo. Roxxi cussed through some random promo about becoming Knockouts tag champion. Lauren thought the gig was over with Palin, but "Palin" apparently wants to keep screwing with the Beautiful People. Taylor told Angelina and Velvet their odds suck in a three-on-two deal.

[Commercial Break]

Therapy session: Abyss was on the couch as Dr. Stevie Richards took notes on Abyss's condition. Whose issue is it? Mine or theirs? They focused on Richards chewing the edge of his glasses, then his finger tapping the edge of his notebook. Same time next week.

2 -- BRUTUS MAGNUS & SHEIK ABDUL BASHIR & MATT MORGAN vs. LAX (HOMICIDE & HERNANDEZ) & SHANE SEWELL

Brutus was still sporting the ridiculous gladiator get-up. Morgan was on American Gladiators, Brutus was on U.K. Gladiator, so let's put them together! Homicide still has his briefcase from Feast or Fired for an X Division Title match. Hernandez still has a World Title match. Early in the match, Shane was on the floor and Bashir tried to use smack him with a steel chair, but ref Earl Hebner pulled Shane out of harm's way. Great impartiality. Action broke down in the ring, then Hernandez dropped Bashir with the Border Toss. He tagged Sewell, who went up top and landed a top rope elbow drop for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Shane & LAX in 5:00. Just not enough time to let this develop and give us something to remember. Fine while it lasted, but time to move along to the next segment. (*)

[Commercial Break]

Mick Foley Hardcore History: Foley talked about his days in WCW feuding against Sting in the early 1990s when Sting was one of the top stars in the company.

Ringside: Jim Cornette announced Beer Money will put their tag titles on the line against two men who haven't teamed together in a while. Cornette wouldn't reveal who they are.

Backstage: Steiner was pumping iron while Lauren asked how his closed door meeting went with Angle. Steiner then turned his attention to Samoa Joe. He called him a "fat bastard" and said he'll beat him worse than he's ever been beaten before. Steiner's bench press was interrupted by someone's left arm. Cue up a Samoa Joe voice-over vowing revenge on Steiner while the camera focused on Steiner coughing and wheezing while the bar was pressed against his chest.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Lauren was with Sojourner Bolt to talk about facing Awesome Kong for the Knockouts Title. How's it sitting with the Kongtourage? SoJo said she earned her title shot and if they want to do something about it, they can approach her. Raisha Saeed had enough and interrupted to tell SoJo she talks too much.

3 -- ANGELINA LOVE (w/Velvet Sky and Cute Kip James) vs. TAYLOR WILDE (w/Roxxi and "Sarah Palin")

Basically, TNA is playing the "no man on woman violence per Spike TV" card to explain why "Palin" is still around to eliminate Kip James as a factor in the match. Of note, TNA is referring to the fake Palin simply as "The Governor." Kip tried to interfere a minute into the match, but ref Rudy Charles gave him the boot. Order was restored and Angelina took control back in the ring. She had a pin, but ref Rudy was distracted by Roxxi and Velvet ringside. Governor interfered from ringside, then Angelina complained to Rudy when he returned to the ring. In the interim, Taylor rolled up Angelina from behind for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Taylor in 5:00. Standard Knockouts match featuring plenty of interference to keep the storylines afloat. Just a chance to get flesh and the stars on the TV screen. In that regard, the match really didn't matter at the end of the day. (3/4*)

Video promo: The sound of spring is in the air. Birds. Rabbits. Livestock frolicking. Suddenly, they cut to clips of animals humping, then a shot of ODB promoting her contest to earn a night with ODB. They showed random wrestling fans trying to win the contest. Scary stuff.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Borash brought in Sting, who was coming down from the rafters to talk about facing Angle tonight. He said he's in it to win it. And that's what it comes down to in TNA. Sting said that aside from a chosen few in TNA, if anyone else gets their hands on the TNA Title, it will be tarnished.

Rough Cut: Focus on the Ultimate X match. Hey, look, there's Sonjay Dutt. Hernandez said the Ultimate X favors X Division guys. Cue up a clip of the famous Samoa Joe cannonball dive onto Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles from their "peak of the X Division" PPV match three years ago. Brother Devon said this is a chance for the wrestlers to make a name for themselves.

Impact Zone: Team Canada's music hit and out came Petey Williams and Eric Young to challenge Beer Money for the TNA tag titles. They were sporting some sharp "Team Canada" member's only jackets. Out came Beer Money to defend the tag titles with Petey and Young's careers in TNA apparently on the line.

4 -- TNA tag team champions BEER MONEY, INC. (ROBERT ROODE & JAMES STORM) vs. ERIC YOUNG & PETEY WILLIAMS -- TNA Tag Titles vs. Careers

Tenay clarified that the person who is pinned or submits is gone from TNA forever. West said it requires trust between tag partners and who better than former Team Canada mates...who haven't teamed together in years. But, we'll ignore that point. Jackie became involved early on. Young then found himself taking a beating on the floor before they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Young continued to take a beating. Petey finally took a hot tag and blocked the Payoff from Roode. He then dropped Storm on the outside with a springboard huracanrana. Petey and Young double-teamed Storm up top, but Roode blocked them and landed a double powerbomb while Storm was superplexed out of the Tower of Doom spot. No long-term selling, as the action picked right up. Ref Hebner was distracted, then Jackie missed with a top rope splash on Petey, who stalked Jackie for the Destroyer. Roode made the save, though, and Storm smashed Petey with a superkick. Roode made the cover and ref Hebner slid back into the ring to make a three count.

Post-match: West declared that Petey is gone from TNA. Petey then sat on the mat in quiet reflection while he gasped for breath. Young consoled him, then Petey looked around the arena absorbing the moment. Petey began crying, then Tenay thanked him for his contributions the last five years.

WINNERS: Beer Money in 13:00 to retain the TNA tag titles. Typical Beer Money match with ref incompetence, interference, and the champs retaining the belts. Petey leaving TNA with these TV conditions was fine in the wrestling tradition of a Loser Leaves Town match. (*1/2)

Backstage: Lauren was with Rhino (random) and Team 3D for their thoughts on Sting vs. Angle. Rhino cut a slow promo about the respect the Mafia has lost. Brother Ray asked Rhino what's up with him caring about the Sting vs. Angle match. He said they should be hoping they kill each other tonight. Hopefully when they return next week, neither one will be around.

Impact Zone: They showed fans starting to leave the Impact Zone. The show's not that bad! Is it?

[Commercial Break]

Exterior shot: They showed LAX hopping in their car to take off. Lauren was then outside with fans who were allowed to watch Sting vs. Angle on a monitor.

Impact Zone: Tenay narrated the scene of a completely empty arena. No ref, no fans, no security. And most importantly, no control. West said it's next. Tenay said history is about to be made. Kurt Angle's music played, then Angle emerged on stage. Wait a second, why is the man in control of the entrance music allowed to remain in the building? He could be a mole in the Mafia. Angle vs. Sting next.

[Commercial Break]

Impact Zone: Sting came out for the main event. Backstage, they showed the Mafia watching the action on a monitor at the base of the entrance tunnel position. Apparently it's an Empty Impact Zone only match.

5 -- KURT ANGLE vs. STING -- Empty Arena match

Angle and Sting met center ring and exchanged right hands. Lots of stomping on the mat. The action moved to the floor where Angle lost control of himself punching Sting. Suddenly, a split-screen of random TNA fans screaming while watching on a monitor. The action moved into the grandstands where Angle fell "15 feet" to the floor. Moments later, Super Shane was back on his feet attacking Sting. "I hate you!" Angle shouted. He landed a low blow back ringside, then Angle grabbed a chair and vowed to end Sting's career. Sting blocked with a kick to the gut, then he cracked the chair over Angle's back. Angle suddenly changed his tone like a good heel and said he's sorry. He played the "I've got kids" line, which Sting said is a bunch of bull.

Kevin Nash suddenly showed up. Angle urged Sting to hit him. Hit me! Hit me! Sting started to wind up, but Nash pulled the chair away. Steiner held Angle back, then Nash spanned on Angle to make things right. "Make it right!" Nash shouted. Sting then extended his hand and reminded Angle that no matter what happened after the PPV, things would be good. Family, man! Angle then shook Sting's hand, but he spit in Sting's face. They brawled until Mafia security intervened.

[Commercial Break]

Impact Zone: Tenay and West narrated clips of the brawl. ... Backstage: Sting screamed that he's never been so disrespected in all of his career. Sting said if Angle hates him, then the feeling is mutual. Whenever, wherever. He'll put the title on the line. ... Impact Zone: Of course, we have to close with histrionics from Tenay that he's known Sting for 20 years and he's never seen Sting in that mindset before. ... Mafia locker room: Angle snapped about wanting Sting, his title, and his life. Nash watched Angle lose his cool, then he told Angle he's responsible and blamed him. Angle wanted to know where Jarrett is. He wants Sting vs. himself for the TNA Title.

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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