By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT
JUNE 12, 2010
TAPED IN ORLANDO, FLA.
AIRED ON SPIKE TV

[Q1]

-The narrator opened with this line: "Last week on TNA Impact, the world's biggest asshole solidified his alliance with" Jeff Hardy. The narrator also said he solidified his bond with the TNA fans. Other highlights aired from last week's show. The show's title: "A Flair for the Dramatics."

-They went to the Impact Zone with pyro blasting as Mike Tenay said TNA celebrates its 8th Anniversary live on PPV. He touted the RVD vs. Sting main event. They went to ringside where Taz talked about the head games Sting has been playing.

-A.J. Styles led Beer Money, Desmond Wolfe, and Kazarian to the ring. Taz wondered where Ric Flair was. Styles acknowledged that Flair wasn't there, so he would take control of the situation. He said the situation is that they've been booked by Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan in an eight-man tag match. He said being the Rhodes Scholar that he is, he knows an eight-man tag means four on four. He said the problem is there are five guys in the ring. (Vince McMahon would never let a Superstar on his show refer to himself and other Superstars as "guys.") Styles asked how many Beatles there were. He said the Fantastic Four were four strong. "And who could forget the Four Horsemen?" he asked. Fans cheered. Styles said he has a solution to that problem. He turned and said, "Kazarian, you're out, pal. You didn't make the cut. Hit the gym. Try again next year." Flair's music then played. Instead of Flair, Jay Lethal walked out dressed in a nice suit.

He stood on the stage and went into his Flair imitation. This wasn't as good as the first impression he did of Flair, but it's still quite good. Lethal said Styles isn't The Man and he can't beat him. He said there is only man in charge and that is the Nature Boy. Styles shouted back, "You're not the Nature Boy." Lethal told Styles that as far as he is concerned, he's looking at God right now. He said his shoes cost $500 and his suit cost $5,000, and whatever Styles is wearing he'd be ashamed to wear. Lethal said he will never be like him because he is the 16-time World Champion. He danced as he pulled off his jacket and did a Flair strut and then elbow-dropped his jacket. He said there will be an eight-man tag match tonight, and his partners include Abyss. Abyss walked onto the stage. He said Abyss told him that Chelsea "will be coming around the mountain when she comes." He revealed his next partner was Mr. Anderson. Lethal said he can't win "because look at the scrubs that you've got." He said his team, not counting Kaz, "will beat the piss out of all of you." He pointed out that there are only three of them. Lethal said "the big man counts as two." Wait, that's Matt Morgan's gimmick.

Lethal, Anderson, and Abyss moved to the ring. Lethal leaped at Styles over the top rope and tackled him. The heels five-on-three advantage gave them an advantage for a minute. Jeff Hardy's music played and he entered through the crowd and cleared the ring of the heels. Taz said he thinks that's the actual fourth partner. What was the point of having Lethal say Abyss counted as two, only to have Hardy be the fourth guy after all? Seriously, that just doesn't really make sense.

-A vignette aired on Brian Kendrick saying he has seen his full life start to finish through his third eye during serious meditation. He said he understands his true purpose and why he has a fire in his belly to be the best pro wrestler. He said his father was a paranoid schizophrenic and his mother was a genius. He said it had to be that way for him to fulfill his true purpose. He said he is in TNA to capture the X Division Title and help it creates its higher purpose. He said it's a title with no size, age, or sex discriminations. He closed: "Thank you for your time." Good segment. His delivery was odd, but effective, even if it did look like he was using a cheat sheet to his left at times for talking point, but that could have been stylistic, too. [c]

[Q2]

1 -- BRIAN KENDRICK vs. HOMICIDE

Kendrick came out to his classic music ring entrance. Tenay asked Taz to translate Kendrick's comments. Taz said he thinks the gland he mentioned has something to do with rapid eye movement, passing a kidney stone, and a dingleberry. Tenay, trying to be funny (which he shouldn't), then replied: "Just what I thought. M.D. Manure Distributor. Tenay's voice cracked as he quipped that Homicide is the "poster boy for community college," whatever that means. Taz said he spent years in a community college. Doug Williams's music played and he joined Tenay and Taz on commentary. Williams said he has teamed with Kendrick, but he's a bit of a lunatic. Tenay said he's a loner. Williams said he can't even carry a conversation with him. He said he has wild unwashed hair. He said those two in the ring are more like gorillas in the zoo rather than monkeys in a circus. Kendrick escaped a Gringos Killer at 2:00. Williams and Taz cracked each other up as Taz tried to make sense of Williams and his accent and his pronunciation of the word "roof." Homicide choked Kendrick with tape. He later pulled a tool box out from under the ring and entered with a tool to use against Kendrick. As the ref scolded Homicide, Kendrick surprised him with a kick to the face and the pin. Williams said on Sunday he can handle Kendrick. He said he'll keep him down even if it takes all night. He said he has the discipline and technical ability.

WINNER: Kendrick in 6:00.

STAR RATING: *3/4

-Backstage Brother Ray got into a brawl with Jesse Neal. [c]

[Q3]

-In the ring Shannon Moore tried to calm down Neal. Neal called Ray to the ring for a man-to-man, face-to-face talk. Terry Taylor and Simon Diamond got some face-time in the ring as they tried to keep order in the ring when Team 3D walked out. Ray angrily asked Neal if he thinks he's bigger, badder, and tougher than him. He told Neal he is "one of the most legit tough guys in this business." Neal said he always looked up to him and gave him credit when credit was due. Ray told Neal that he's an absolute nobody and he doesn't need credit for him. He said he was an absolute failure in the Navy. He said after Slammiversary, if he has anything to do with it, he'll be an absolute failure in the wrestling industry, also. Moore said he is a bully and "the biggest douche bag on the planet." He told him to take his puppet and leave the ring. Ray told Devon that Moore just called him a puppet. Devon said he's going to give Moore a pass on this. He said Jesse automatically gets a pass because he is a product of theirs because they trained him. He said he never liked Moore from the get-go, but he understood the situation. He turned to Ray and told him to get his head on straight and "leave that kid alone." He dropped the mic and left the ring. Ray hit Neal from behind, then bailed out of the ring. [c]

-Tenay threw backstage to a video package of Sting beating up Jeff Jarrett and bloodying him at Sacrifice.

[Q4]

-More extended footage aired of the Sting-Jarrett angle including Sting's post-attack "promo" and Hulk Hogan walking out at the end.

-Backstage Bischoff and his assistant said they have a tag team partner figured out for him. "He's going to love you to death," Bischoff said. Morgan looked concerned. Bischoff said his tag partner is waiting with Hulk Hogan at the entrance tunnel. Morgan said, "There's no way he's here." [c]

-A taped interview aired with Jeff Jarrett sitting in down in a living room setting with his arm in a sling. Jarrett said he won't be at Slammiversary this year, but will be sitting next to his girls and he'll have to tell them why he's not there. He promised he's going to get answers from Sting.

-Matt Morgan walked out to the ring first. Then Hulk Hogan's music played and he stepped onto the stage. They showed fans bowing toward Hogan. Hogan said Morgan is the biggest crybaby he knows. He said he's alone because he's never seen anyone stab so many people in the back so fast. He said he'd probably steal fans' wallets while shaking their hand. He said all of that energy he is putting out is getting ready to come right back to him. He then introduced his partner, "Super Max" Hernandez. Hernandez charged to the ring and attacked Morgan. Hogan joined Tenay and Taz on commentary. Tenay made a big deal out of having Hogan on commentary. Hogan said the guys in the back need to know that what goes around comes around. Hogan said Hernandez could have been one of the top two contenders and he's glad he's back. After Hernandez beat up Morgan at ringside and in the ring, including choking him with tape, Hogan said he's got enough stroke that he's booking them against one another right now.

[Q5]

Security and trainers walked to the ring and strapped Morgan into a stretcher. As they lifted him, Scott Hall, Eric Young, and Kevin Nash's music played and they walked to the ring. The ref called for the bell. Don't even ask how that makes any sense.

2 -- ERIC YOUNG & SCOTT HALL & KEVIN NASH vs. MATT MORGAN

Young entered and covered and pinned Morgan. Okay, that's cute and clever and all, but also completely totally stupid because it makes a mockery of any sense that anyone running TNA has any sense of fair play. Tenay said The Band beat the system once again.

WINNERS: The Band to retain the TNA Tag Team Titles.

-Christy Hemme interviewed Rob Van Dam who said Sting is going to have to come get the belt from him. Pretty phoned in and generic. Sting then attacked RVD from behind as Hemme shrieked. Sting threw the belt over his shoulder and walked away. [c]

-Taz commented on a replay of Sting choking out RVD. When RVD woke up, he asked where his belt was. When he was told Sting took it, RVD popped up and went looking for him.

-Kurt Angle came out to his music. Tenay talked about Angle's goal of beating everyone in the top ten. Angle said from center-ring that his first victim on Sunday at Slammiversary will be Kazarian, an X Division Champion. He said to warm up for that, he invited a friend of his to wrestle him tonight and throw everything at him including the kitchen sink. He said this opponent is the best X Division Champion of all time. Out came Amazing Red.

3 -- KURT ANGLE vs. THE AMAZING RED

Tenay said he likes the thinking of Angle wanting to warm up against Red. Taz said it's not easy preparing for X Division Wrestlers, but Red can help him do that. Red took Angle down with a head scissors. He smiled and Angle looked back at him with a sense of respect. Red dove at Angle at ringside and took him over with a snap huracanrana. Back in the ring Red continued on his offense including a springboard at Angle into a DDT for a two count. When Red missed a top rope corkscrew dive, Angle fired back with an Angle Slam for the sudden decisive win.

WINNER: Angle in 3:00.

[Q6]

-Sting backstage talked in a deeper voice without the surfer dude intonations and bragged about having RVD's belt. He showed that it has "Deception" drawn on it. "Change is coming," he said. "It's Showtime." [c]

-A video package aired on the history of TNA with clips of the first TNA event eight years earlier. They showed clips of Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, and eventually Dixie Carter, who said they've grown TNA one fan at a time. She said it's so exciting to see the growth of TNA. Hogan said they've grown consistently over the last eight years because they're "in a sweet spot." He said the talent works like it's the main event. "I'm just happy to grab the end of the train and hang on," he said. Angle said the reason TNA keeps getting bigger and better is because of the wrestlers, including the "home-grown talent," has continued to elevate themselves. It transitioned into a plug for Sunday's Slammiversary main event between RVD and Sting. Sting said it's almost becoming comical to hear people ask, "Why, Sting, why?" He said he won't give a full-blown explanation, but he is assuring everyone there is meaning behind his actions and the World Title does have meaning and impact to him and gives one power. The narrator said Sting needs the belt to get closer to his goal in TNA. RVD said if Sting wins the title, it's a dark day for TNA. Then soundbites aired with other TNA wrestlers including Morgan, Styles, and Jarrett.

-They showed RVD searching backstage for Sting and his title belt. He was climbing the stairs to the rafters when they cut to a break. [c]

[Q7]

4 -- JAY LETHAL & JEFF HARDY & ABYSS (w/Chelsea) & MR. ANDERSON vs. A.J. STYLES & BEER MONEY & DESMOND WOLFE

Tenay said this is a star-power packed main event. Roode got hit early by various members of Lethal's team. When Anderson tagged in, some fans chanted "Mr. Asshole." Hardy then tagged in and the girls screamed for him. Taz said he doesn't think Anderson and Hardy have enough chemistry to compete with Beer Money. Styles tagged in and got in some offense against Hardy at 3:00. Wolfe tagged and continued the offense against Hardy. When the heels teamed up on Hardy in the corner, Lethal charged into the ring for the save. Anderson followed. The heels continued rapid tags and isolated Hardy. Lethal got a hot tag at 9:00. He showed nice fire as he went after Styles. Wolfe interfered and DDT'd Lethal. Anderson went after Wolfe. Storm superkicked Anderson. Hardy gave Storm a Twist of Fate. Roode gave Hardy a spinebuster. Abyss chokeslammed Roode. Wolfe then gave Abyss a power lariat. Wolfe then demanded that Chelsea give him the folding chair she was sitting on. Wolfe said in three more days she'll be his. He yanked the chair from her, but she was hesitant. Abyss punched the chair into Wolfe's face. Styles hit Abyss with a springbaord forearm. Lethal then springboarded toward Styles but Styles caught him and powerbombed him, then gave him the Styles Clash for the win. Tenay and Taz touted the matches at Slammiversary involving these eight wrestlers. They showed Anderson had a bloody nose.


WINNERS: Team Styles in 10:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Nice to not have a match on TV of that length not interrupted by a commercial break.

-Sting again showed off his defaced TNA Title belt that said "Deception." He told him he wasn't going to make it that easy to find him, but keep looking. [c]

-Back from the break Sting was beating up RVD backstage. RVD came back and choked Sting with a bar or pipe. RVD dragged Sting to the ring and continued the beating. The crowd chanted, "RVD! RVD!" This is just so much to give away of RVD vs. Sting. I think the real selling point of this match was seeing these two iconic wrestlers who had never wrestled each other before standing in the ring together. They've really used up that mystique with what amounts to a more traditional build to a match without that special trait and history. RVD wedged a chair in the corner, but Sting fended off RVD's attack. RVD fired back, though, with a superkick. Sting threw RVD face-first into the chair. Sting followed with a chairshot to the back. Sting threw the vandalized belt onto RVD's chest. He said it's his until Sunday. So the TV show ends with Sting getting the better of RVD without cheating and giving him his stolen belt back while vowing to win it officially on Sunday. The bookers kinda messed up here. Heels don't give back stolen property. Heels shouldn't get the better of babyfaces in an even-up brawl. Heels shouldn't vow to win the belt fair and square. There's no need for revenge for RVD. There's no emotion that final angle riled up that would send people scurrying to pre-order the event. It just doesn't really do what it's supposed to, and in the process of sending the wrong message, it gave away a ton of the intrigue of just seeing those two fight. Bad finish to an middle of the road show.

FINAL THOUGHTS (5.0): Middle of the road show. I like the long matches without commercial breaks. I think that's a big deal that's flying a bit under most people's radar in terms of reestablishing the intrinsic value and "it can end any second" sense of urgency any match should have. I hope WWE follows suit...

I'm not following Styles's character at all right now week to week. I just don't sense he has any constitution that guides his actions other than a jostling, inconsistent, and impulsive writing team. It seemed he was going babyface and this week he was back to totally unlikable and heelish...

Doug Williams is one of the most believable and entertaining acts right now. I'm not sure about matching him against Brian Kendrick, who is a potentially interesting character but hardly that dynamic babyface fans are going to pay to see take on the big-talking European champ. TNA just doesn't get how to tap into people's emotions regarding giving them someone to root for and against. It's like they're not even trying...

RVD vs. Sting at the end was all backwards, with Sting being a mix of honorable in his actions and dishonest and heelish. RVD seemed less inspired on the mic than I've seen since his ascension to the centerpiece babyface role...

I think there are some advantages to writing four weeks of TV at once, but the real downside is this booking team loses its sense of pacing. Since they write and tape everything all at once, it feels like four shows that should be watched a day apart each rather than week apart each. They really lose momentum on some storylines and character development over the course of the four weeks...

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