TNA Reaction Report
September 23, 2010
Aired on Spike TV - Official episode #6 (pilot aired 4/12)
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Like last week, Impact spilled over into the "Reaction hour" with Abyss proclaiming that "they" will take over TNA at Bound for Glory. Abyss then called out Rob Van Dam while standing over Jeff Hardy's body. RVD came to the ring selling injuries and tried to mount a comeback, but Abyss squashed him in the corner. Impact went off the air three minutes past the top of the hour.

Reaction picked up with Abyss standing over RVD. Ink, Inc.'s music then hit to bring out Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal to land some fancy dropkicks on Abyss as a few females in the Impact Zone shrieked. Abyss eventually walked away from the ring and vowed to finish the job at 10-10-10. He warned Dixie Carter that she will be unemployed.

August 12, 2010 revisit: RVD was taken away on a stretcher after Abyss tried to kill him. The text read: "A man's life was in jeopardy." Dixie Carter and Eric Bischoff hugged. They cut to footage of RVD overlooking the water from his home in Los Angeles quietly vowing to return for revenge on Abyss. Abyss was shown talking about his mistake letting RVD breath when he should have killed him. Abyss vowed to fix his mistake on 10-10-10.

Backstage: The roving cameraman asked RVD why he came back when he can't be 100 percent. RVD was in the dark during this. It looked like the Blair Witch Project. They cut to Shannon Moore talking about watching Abyss taking out Jeff Hardy on a backstage monitor. He said he wouldn't watch his best friend take a beating like that. Why did he take five minutes to make the save, then? They cut to footage of Jesse Neal saying he had to do the right thing making the save for RVD and Hardy. RVD was shown sitting down in a chair saying everyone's probably surprised he returned, but he's Mr. TNA. Asked about the championship committee stripping him of the title, RVD said he's going to change. I'm not sure what he was trying to say there. He sold struggling to piece together his words before walking off.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Bischoff comments: He said he didn't expect to see RVD here this week. It was advertised last week. Bischoff said he didn't expect RVD to demand a match against Abyss at Bound for Glory. He said he knows what RVD is capable of when he's properly motivated. Bischoff called him a friend and said he admires him, but they had to strip the title "for business." Bischoff added they felt it was in TNA's best interest and in RVD's best interest. They cut to clips of RVD's in-ring promo from Impact. Bischoff said the look in his eyes sold him on booking the match vs. Abyss. He said he saw the emotional reaction from RVD that he was looking for. As for The Pope, Bischoff said it's apparent something has "bitten him in the ass."

They cut to The Pope saying he's being overlooked and he's curious why. He lost the tournament match at the PPV; what's there to complain about? They cut back to Bischoff noting the same thing that Pope lost at the PPV. Last week: Kevin Nash talked about "workers" getting paid. Ya know, show ponies. They cut back to Bischoff, who said he thinks Nash and Sting are bitter being at the end of their careers. As for Pope aligning, he said misery loves company. Bischoff told Nash not to accuse people of things they're not guilty of.

Back to The Pope, who sent a message to Bischoff that he can smell a rat...and a crap before he steps in it. He said Bischoff is full of crap and he's going to wipe his feet clean. Back to Bischoff, who hyped "Before the Glory" on October 7. Bischoff said the stakes are getting higher and the pressure is intensifying just before the live TV show.

GenMe focus: They focused on Generation Me injuring Alex Shelley at No Surrender. Chris Sabin was shown talking about GenMe demanding the tag titles because the Machineguns have an injury. Sabin said it hasn't been 30 days, so they don't have to relinquish the tag titles. Yet, TNA stripped RVD of the TNA Title before 30 days was up due to an injury storyline. They cut to GenMe saying they aren't going to wait around and "pay their dues" when they want instant gratification. They cut back to Sabin saying they're going to beat respect into GenMe.

[Commercial Break]

EV2 vs. Fortune focus: EV2 are "men of conviction." Christy Hemme was shown catching up with the Village People backstage to get thoughts on the Lethal Lockdown match at Bound for Glory. They cut to Mick Foley sitting on a golf cart saying he feels underutilized. He said he feels like he rarely gets the microphone and Dreamer seems to be the "mic guy" now. Foley teased the "verbal showdown" with Ric Flair and said he needs Flair so he can feel like himself again. Foley said he likes to be peaceful, but that's now what this business is about. Wait, doesn't that contradict Brian Kendrick's EV2 "leadership?" Foley said he needs the mic to discuss his issues with Flair in front of the public.

[Q3]

Backstage: Flair gave a pep talk to Fortune to hype Lethal Lockdown at the PPV. He talked to them about being in the cage to take out EV2 once and for all. Matt Morgan was sitting down here apparently so he didn't tower over the rest of the group. In the hallway after the "meeting," Robert Roode talked about Sabu being an ugly, old guy and said it's a mismatch at the PPV. The voice-over man said Fortune believes they have the advantage. James Storm said they thought Brian Kendrick was a Star Wars fan jumping in the ring. Roode said he saw Tommy Dreamer's "fat ass" flopping around in the ring with Kendrick. They mocked Kendrick and Dreamer's size to conclude the bit.

[Commercial Break]

Samoe Joe profile: Joe is fueled by a lack of respect. Joe said he signed up to fight. For everyone that has something to say, he has something to shut them up with. They cut to Nash saying Sting came to him with some information and he listened to what he had to say. Nash said it made sense to him and he was looking for allies. He said he watched Jarrett's package before the PPV and Jarrett claimed to be the innocent "choir boy." Nash noted Jarrett told Sting to put down the bat at No Surrender, but Jarrett used the bat to win. He said that once this plays out, he hopes people will see they were right. Back to Joe selling his jaw after Nash and Sting attacked him on Impact. There was lots of yelling and grunting in the background as Joe talked about never being more joyful than right now because everyone knows where everyone stands. Joe said they'll settle the issue at Bound for Glory.

They cut to Jarrett saying Nash and Sting are preaching and gaining followers. They cut to Nash being asked who else is on his bandwagon. Nash said Pope knows and he feels the same way they do. Nash added that Pope is waiting to make the proper entrance. They cut to a hallway shot during Impact with Pope assembling with Nash and Sting. Back to Jarrett, who said everyone is in the business to win the TNA Title. He said the champion at Bound for Glory sets the bar for the rest of the year. Jarrett said the winner will have to answer to management, TV executives, and the merchandisers.

Nash put over Hulk Hogan as the "ultimate worker" dating back to WCW "watching how he manipulated that company." Nash said it's a shoot, brother. He said when he was "booking the show," Hogan shot down ideas because it would cost him money. Nash said he wanted Hogan to play a commissioner role, but Hogan shot it down. He said Hogan had "creative control" and he would turn down Nash's format sheets 30 minutes before Nitro.

They cut back to Joe saying he's not about being a "hero" and telling people to take their vitamins. Joe said Bound for Glory is a step toward the TNA World Hvt. Title. He said Pope has been complaining about not getting a fair shot, but what about Joe? Joe said he doesn't need people to feel sorry for him because he put himself in the hole, so he's going to dig himself out. He said it's all good because he's always pulled himself out.

[Commercial Break. A quick spot aired for "The Good Guys" on Fox tomorrow night with Matt Morgan in the villain role.]

[Q4]

Impact Player of the Week: Shannon Moore. They stated his July 27 birthday and showed early clips of Shannon on the independent circuit. Moore said he hears the term "eat, sleep, and breathe something" and that applies to him with pro wrestling. Moore said he used to idolize Hulk Hogan and now he gets to consult with him backstage. Moore said his road to recovery after a car accident took him back to the independents. They focused on his high-flying style and taking a risk being a thrill for him.

After focus on Ink, Inc. forming a unit, Moore said he was looking to win the X Division Title, but he decided there was more out there for him with the TNA Title or the TNA Tag Titles. Moore said he saw a drive and desire in Jesse Neal, so they decided to form a team. He said they're going to win the belts eventually. They focused on his tattoos being a "road map of where he's been" in life. Moore said he wants to promote individuality through his look.

[Commercial Break]

TNA Title picture: Mr. Anderson, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy. They are all focused on becoming champion. Kurt Angle said Hardy comes out of nowhere and Anderson is very calculating. He said they're each raged animals in different ways. They cut to Anderson, who plainly stated he's an "a--hole." Anderson said he doesn't know if he would bet on him in the title match, but he's a different man now. He said that before Lockdown, Anderson had a conversation with Angle where Angle said he was a "fan of his work," but now he has his respect, especially after their war at Lockdown. Back to Angle, who said everyone is letting off a little steam before the PPV. He said they'll probably talk some trash and just survive going into the PPV.

[Q5 -- over-run] They focused on RVD being stripped of the title. Anderson said RVD lost the title because of Abyss and not because of anything RVD did. Hardy was shown saying RVD deserves the first shot in his eyes. Back to Angle, who said the "whole thing is messed up." Angle mock coughed at RVD saying he's Mr. TNA because he's Kurt Angle. Angle said he'll eventually get his shot at RVD in the ring, but he respects RVD taking a back seat to let the three of them battle over the title.

Back to RVD, who called them "replacements" for his title. RVD said he wants the first shot at the winner and he knows they're going to put up the belt against him. RVD said everyone knows the winner at BFG isn't the real champion until he goes through him.

Next week: Tommy Dreamer said Fortune wants a tag team lumberjack match and he's tired of dealing with this crap. Mick Foley said he can't do anything on his own anymore because he's in a broken state with his ankle. Foley said he missed a TV taping because he couldn't get off the couch. Foley entered promoland saying it makes him sick laying down in the ring because he's not the man he used to be. He said he's going to demand mic time from Dreamer because he was pretty good at one time in his career. Foley said he wants a face-to-face with Flair for a verbal discussion. Next week on Impact, Foley said he's walking out to the ring under his own power and they're going to have a conversation.

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