Shirley Jackson's "Total NonStop Action Wrestling"

C-MIL · January 23, 2007

Marathon Oil Corporation Purchases Panda Ethanol Inc.

Marathon C.E.O. Clarence Cazalot Jr. announced Friday evening that the Houston-based company had come to terms to purchase Dallas-based Panda Ethanol Inc. from the Carter family for a reported 300-million dollars. The company is expected to keep PEI alive as to protect itself from international anti-trust acts as it breaks into the ethanol market.

"The United States is not the only country looking to lessen its dependence on Middle Eastern oil," Cazalot said, "Many countries in Europe and West Africa seek to do the same. Through our efforts, along with Panda's continued research and development of renewable energy sources, we hope to do just that, as well as lower costs for all consumers worldwide."

As stated earlier, Panda Ethanol will continue, under the management of a board of Marathon employees. Heading up this subsidiary with be Dr. Shirley Jackson., who also serves on the Board of Directors for the New York Stock Exchange. According to Jackson, her first order of business will be the economic stabilization of the company, including careful financial assessment of both Panda's Chinese plant and the limited liability company Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling, both of which have been money-losing efforts for PEI.

"Against All Odds" Results

February 11th, 2007

Overall Rating: 76%

Pre-Show Match: Austin Starr vs. Senshi

The originally scheduled pre-show match, Lance Hoyt and Ron Killings versus The Diamonds In The Rough was cancelled when Austin Starr came to the ring and complained about not being booked on the pay-per-view. He blamed Jim Cornette for the oversight, prompting the Director of Authority to come out. Cornette verbally tore into Starr, saying he was having a very hard time finding people willing to wrestle him at all. He added that he was actually on his way to fire Starr, citing "early spring cleaning" of the roster, but ran into Senshi who specifically requested a match with Starr. Senshi dominated the match from the opening bell, battering Starr with kicks before crushing him with the Warrior's Way flying stomp. However, before Senshi could score the pin, Raven led Serotonin to the ring. Bentley and Kazarian used a double superkick to knock Senshi out, then Devine delivered a moonsault to both competitors. As the pre-show closed, Raven claimed Serotonin were the true overlooked force in TNA and vowed to change that very soon.

Result: No-contest via double-disqualification at 8:31

Overall Rating: 75%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 90%

Six Sides Of Steel Match: A.J. Styles vs. Rhino

The ring crew assembled the six-sided cage during the show opening and subsequent hype by Don West and Mike Tenay, during which Kurt Angle and his "anger management" coach Scott Steiner arrived to the arena. After a video package detailing Styles' series of ill-gotten wins over Rhino, the match was on. Styles took control early with the rebound dropkick, causing Rhino to cut his forehead on the cage wall. Rhino avoided the backflip reverse DDT and hit a big spinebuster, then actually climbed up to the top of the cage. He attempted a big splash but Styles avoided the contact. Styles tried for the Clash but Rhino backdropped him into the cage, trapping him between the ropes and the cage. Rhino hit the Gore, breaking off the cage wall and crashing head-first onto the arena floor. Both men were out, but Styles managed to drape an arm over for the pin.

Result: A.J. Styles wins via pinfall at 18:09

Overall Rating: 79%

Crowd Reaction: 77%

Match Quality: 81%

Intergender Arm-Wrestling Match: Christy Hemme vs. Kip James - Special Referee: B.G. James

As the crew finished taking down the cage, Jeremy Borash was backstage with The Voodoo Kin Mafia and Christy Hemme for the intergender arm wrestling match. Offended that Kip didn't believe women had a place in wrestling, Hemme challenged him to an arm wrestling match last Thursday on iMPACT! B.G. agreed to referee the match while Borash served as play-by-play man. After repeatedly breaking grip, the two finally locked hands and started. Kip was shocked by Christy's strength and actually found himself nearly beaten before coming back. Christy fought her way back and beat Kip. Kip flew into a rage and flipped the table before storming off. B.G. said he was shocked and cowered away, asking Christy not to hurt him. Hemme said she had no problem with B.G., only Kip. B.G. quickly turned on the charm and asked her to hang out backstage with him, then changed his mind when he suddenly realized he was without "protection". Christy gave him a sly wink and said it was taken care of, then whispered in his ear. B.G. immediately called Kip back and reversed the decision, disqualifying Christy for illegally supplementing her estrogen levels before the match. Hemme then slapped B.G. and chased the VKM away.

Result: Kip James wins via disqualification at 8:01

Overall Rating: 56%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 50%

TNA X-Division Title Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Alex Shelley, with Kevin Nash

By virtue of winning the PCS at Final Resolution, Shelley earned a title match against Sabin. Sabin unloaded his remarkable arsenal of moves on Alex, breaking out an array of springboard dropkicks to keep the challenger at bay. Shelley escaped the Future Shock and ground Sabin's face into the mat with a series of headscissor thrusts, earning a strangle look from Nash and a "that was gay" chant from the fans. Shelley used a blistering enzuigiri to set up the shiranui, but Nash climbed onto the apron and called for a new strategy. He lifted his big boot over the rope and called for Shelley to chuck Sabin into it. Sabin reversed the whip causing Shelley to get a faceful of Nash's boot, then suffer the Cradle Shock to end it.

Result: Chris Sabin retains via pinfall at 20:55

Overall Rating: 68%

Crowd Reaction: 46%

Match Quality: 91%

Guaranteed Title Shot Match: Chris Daniels vs. Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe confronted Jim Cornette on iMPACT! about Kurt Angle receiving a world title shot for beating him, despite Joe never receiving one for having defeated Angle at Turning Point. Daniels interrupted the meeting, stating he too had been screwed over, never receiving a return match for his lost X-Division Title. Cornette ordered the two into a match with the winner earning a "guaranteed title shot". Daniels showed no fear, leveling Joe with a high kick before breaking out a string of suplexes. Joe caught him charging into the corner with a uranage throw, then crushed him with a senton splash. Joe propped Chris on the top rope, preparing for the muscle buster, when suddenly Tomko hit the ring. Joe managed to wrestle a steel chair away from him, but Tomko put his boot into the chair hard, causing it to collide with Joe's face. Daniels came to, saw the bloody Joe laying below him and dropped into a double jump moonsault for the pin. After the match, Leticia confronted Tomko as he came up the aisle, asking for a comment. All Tomko would say was that he was simply following orders as always.

Result: Christopher Daniels wins via pinfall at 22:29

Overall Rating: 82%

Crowd Reaction: 76%

Match Quality: 88%

Intergender Tag Match: Chris Harris & Gail Kim vs. James Storm & Miss Tennessee

Miss Tennessee easily overpowered Gail to start, but a huracanrana reversal to a powerbomb allowed Gail to get to Harris for the hot tag. Harris immediately went to work on Storm, lighting him up with punches. He attempted the Catatonic but Storm escaped and clobbered Harris with a brutal superkick. After a reverse tornado DDT, Storm was ready to put Harris away, but Tennessee insisted on doing so herself. She tagged in, allowing Kim to come in legally like the proverbial house of fire. Gail got dual rotation on a tornado DDT and pinned Miss Tennessee to give her team the win. After the final bell, Storm chewed his partner out for not letting him finish the job when he had the chance to.

Result: Chris Harris & Gail Kim win via pinfall at 12:25

Overall Rating: 67%

Crowd Reaction: 65%

Match Quality: 69%

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Team 3D

Homicide and Brother Ray kicked things off by lighting each other up with chops, eventually ending when Homicide threw a low kick and tagged in big Hernandez. LAX used a tremendous springboard Hart Attack to nearly put Ray away, but Ray soon came back and scored with the Deadly Bomb on Hernandez. Devon got the hot tag and dropped both champions with a flying shoulderblock, then planted Hernandez with the Deadlyville Drop. Team 3D set Hernandez up for their namesake finisher, but he stopped short and delivered the Cracker Jack to Devon. Homicide slipped behind Ray and drilled him with the Gringo Killa. Brother Runt rushed out and used the Acid Drop on Homicide in plain view of the referee, resulting in immediate disqualification. Having retained their titles, LAX took off, wanting no more of Team 3D.

Result: LAX retain via disqualification at 20:45

Overall Rating: 78%

Crowd Reaction: 69%

Match Quality: 87%

Grudge Match: Abyss, with Father James Mitchell vs. Sting

Before the match, Sting offered Abyss a handshake, attempting to appeal to the human within him. Mitchell ordered Abyss to attack, but the monster hesitated. The crowd chanted for Abyss to "shake his hand", but Abyss instead charged with a clothesline. Sting was nearly pinned by a powerbomb before being tossed him the ring. The battle went all throughout the iMPACT! Zone as Sting used the will of the people to rally back. Sting whipped Abyss into the guard rail and used a forceful Stinger Splash to send both back over the rail to ringside. Sting threw Abyss back into the ring and scaled the ropes, but Mitchell climbed onto the apron and grabbed a boot, refusing to let Sting go. By the time Sting kicked him off, Abyss was up. He caught Sting in mid-air and drove him down with a Black Hole Slam for the pin. After the match, Mitchell climbed into the ring and poured out a bag of tacks, then demanded Abyss dump Sting onto them. Abyss pulled Sting up, but then released him and instead grabbed Mitchell and Black Hole Slammed him onto the tacks!

Result: Abyss wins via pinfall at 13:45

Overall Rating: 81%

Crowd Reaction: 82%

Match Quality: 79%

NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Christian Cage, with Tomko © vs. Kurt Angle, with Scott Steiner

Before the match, Scott Steiner insisted on rubbing Kurt's neck and shoulders to help relieve tension in his "anger glands". Angle refused, citing his well-documented neck injuries, but Steiner insisted and viciously dug at Kurt's neck with his fingers. Angle was obviously not at 100% which the champion quickly picked up on as the match began. Cage planted Kurt with a devastating tombstone piledriver and continued to work the neck on the mat. After a series of German suplexes, Cage attempted a spinning kick, only to be caught and locked into the anklelock. Tomko quickly intervened to break up the hold, forcing the referee to call for he and Steiner to leave ringside. Steiner refused, saying it was vital to Kurt's anger therapy that he remain at ringside. Tomko begrudgingly left as Angle continued to physically dissect Cage in the ring. Cage somehow kicked out of the Olympic Slam as well as Angle's picture perfect moonsault. Angle hooked Christian for the Unprettier, but Cage's mastery of the hold allowed him to escape, launching Angle into the referee. Angle then escaped an Unprettier attempt and hit the big move, splattering Cage's face across the canvas. He locked in the anklelock and forced Cage to tap, but the referee was unable to register the decision. Steiner rolled into the ring and clubbed his patient with a big reverse clothesline, then locked him in the Steiner Recliner until he lost consciousness. Cage ended the show by rolling over and covering Angle for the pin.

Result: Christian Cage retains via pinfall at 25:02

Overall Rating: 88%

Crowd Reaction: 89%

Match Quality: 86%

TNA News & Notes
February 12th, 2007

Destination X & iMPACT! Tapings
TNA's next pay-per-view, "Destination X", airs live on March 11th from Universal Studios in Orlando. Universal will also host iMPACT tapings on February 13th and 27th with the first of shows to air on the 15th. Thus far, TNAWrestling.com has only confirmed one match for the tapings, the cancelled Lance Hoyt & Ron Killings versus The Diamonds In The Rough match from the Against All Odds pre-show.

House Show Plans
TNA has reportedly made requests that it's talent roster limit their extracurricular booking to as few as possible. As a result, even marginally used knockout So Cal Val has cancelled dates with Florida's Full Impact Pro. There has also been talk of extending several exclusive contracts. This rumor can apparently now be confirmed as both Kip James and Brother Runt have announced they are TNA exclusive talent and can only be booked by independent promotions through TNA itself.

Title News
Sources say head booker Vince Russo is quite pleased with the current roll call of champions and may stray from his penchant of hotshotting the titles. While all the championships were rumored to be changing hands, none did and it is believed TNA will be taking steps to develop more of a pool of challengers while giving each of the current heel champs an extended reign, save for the possible exception of X-Division Champion Chris Sabin.

Sting Unhappy?
News from backstage at Against All Odds is that Sting is none too happy about working with Father James Mitchell. Mitchell, an open Satanist, has reportedly been suggesting introducing several extremely controversial religious connotations to the Sting/Abyss feud, none of which have been accepted. It is believed that Mitchell's thumbtack bump following the match will serve as something of a swansong as his character is retooled. Meanwhile, the Abyss/Sting feud is expected to continue on.

Trademark Acquired
According to the USPO, TNA has trademarked "La Felina", the former ring name of knockout Gail Kim. This will apparently be added as a nickname as well as to her merchandise. Reportedly, the feline nickname is being added to coincide with that of "Wildcat" Chris Harris. Management seems to be quite pleased with the two as a group and has no current plans to split them.

Knocked-Up Knockout Knocked Out
TNA's Jackie Gayda, still on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child, has parted ways with the company. According to her website, Jackie's leave was covered by former majority owner Dixie Carter, who was forced to step aside after her father's energy company was purchased. Gayda also reported that more releases will be on the way as the new management team appears to have absolutely no regard for the continuity of the promotion. Jackie says her current goal is to reunite with husband Charlie Haas in WWE, which itself has recently done major roster trimming.

Scott Keith Rates The Against All Odds Matches
Christian Cage def. Kurt Angle, **** - Simply great.
Christopher Daniels def. Samoa Joe, ***1/2 - Great to see Joe give back to a guy who gave him so much.
LAX def. Team 3D, ***1/4 - I thought in TNA belts changed hands by DQ?
Chris Sabin def. Alex Shelley, ***1/4 - How much you want to bet Nash blew a quad on that finish?
Austin Starr n/c. Senshi, ***1/4 - MUCH better than the DIR/Hoyt & Truth would've been.
Abyss def. Sting, *** - A relatively clean job by Sting? And a good match to boot?! What's next?
A.J. Styles def. Rhino, *** - How many times is Russo going to pull out the broken cage wall bit?
Harris & Kim def. Storm & Tennessee, **1/2 - Shame AMW's first match as foes had to be bogged down by the girls.
Kip James def. Christy Hemme, * - If I give it a star, will TNA quit having arm-wrestling on pay shows?

This diary will be based off of the idea posted by God-Awful. Every Sunday, one member of the roster will be selected at random and released, regardless of their current station within the show. They will not be replaced, unless such a time comes where the roster depth falls below acceptable levels for EWR. At that time, a developmental territory will be added and new workers will be added to the roster, simply to make up the numbers. As far as injuries/rehab/quittings/stealings/contract expirations/suspensions/etc. are concerned, those wrestlers will be replaced, but their replacements will have equal or less overness to begin.

Roster

#0. Jeff Jarrett, Chosen One Main Event Heel, Unsackable

#1. Johnny Swinger, Staff Lower Midcard Heel

#2. Robert Roode, City Slicker Lower Midcard Heel

#3. Brother Ray, Extremist Upper Midcard Face, Also Working For PRIDE

#4. A.J. Styles, Highlight Reel Upper Midcard Heel, Also Working For PWG

#5. Sonjay Dutt, Fun Lower Midcard Face, Also Working For UWA & Zero-One

#6. Jerry Lynn, Staff Upper Midcard Face, Also Working For NYWC & UWA

#7. Kevin Nash, Obnoxious Non-Wrestling Heel

#8. Scott Steiner, Monster Main Event Heel

#9. Rhino, Man Beast Main Event Face

#10. Simon Diamond, Arrogant Manager Heel

#11. Shark Boy, Shark Boy Lower Midcard Face, Also Working For IWC

#12. Lance Hoyt, No Gimmick Lower Midcard Face

#13. Homicide, Angry Minority Midcard Heel, NWA World Tag Team Champion, Also Working For RoH & PWU

#14. James Storm, Arrogant Midcard Heel

#15. Christopher Daniels, Cocky Upper Midcard Face, Also Working For PWG & RoH

#16. Kurt Angle, Legit Athlete Main Event Face, Under Written Contract For 7 Mo.

#17. Chris Harris, No Gimmick Upper Midcard Face

#18. Raven, Unique Main Event Heel

#19. Eric Young, Fun Midcard Face

#20. Christy Hemme, Staff Manager Face, Under Written Contract For 26 Mo.

#21. Austin Starr, Arrogant Lower Midcard Heel, Also Working For RoH, FIP & Toryumon

#22. Miss Tennessee, Bad Ass Manager Heel

#23. Kip James, Degenerate Upper Midcard Face, Under Written Contract For 12 Mo.

#24. Sting, Mysterious Main Event Face, Under Written Contract For 30 Mo.

#25. Miss Brooks, Seductress Manager Heel

#26. Chase Stevens, No Gimmick Lower Midcard Heel, Also Working For CW

#27. Shane Douglas, Coach Manager Heel

#28. Senshi, Martial Arts Midcard Tweener, Also Working For JAPW & IWC

#29. B.G. James, Degenerate Midcard Face

#30. Jay Lethal, Blue Chip Lower Midcard Face, Also Working For JAPW & FIP

#31. So Cal Val, Staff Manager Face, Also Working For UPW

#32. Kazarian, Gothic Midcard Heel, Also Working For PWG & JAPW

#33. Brother Runt, Old School Midcard Face, Under Written Contract For 12 Mo.

#34. Ron Killings, Rapper Midcard Face, Also Working For AAA

#35. Chris Sabin, Arrogant Midcard Heel, TNA X-Division Champion, Also Working For PWG, IWC & Zero-One

#36. Christian Cage, Egomaniac Main Event Heel, NWA World Champion

#37. Norman Smiley, Comedy Midcard Face

#38. Devine, Gothic Lower Midcard Heel

~~#39. Jackie Gayda, Manager Face~~

#40. Jim Cornette, Commissioner Manager Face, Also Working For IWC

#41. Alex Shelley, Arrogant Midcard Heel, Also Working For UWA, PWG & Zero-One

#42. Tomko, Bodyguard Midcard Heel, Also Working For NJPW

#43. Brother Devon, Extremist Upper Midcard Face, Also Working For PRIDE

#44. Konnan, Angry Minority Manager Heel, Also Working For AAA

#45. Scott D'Amore, Coach Manager Heel

#46. David Young, Legit Athlete Opening Match Heel

#47. Petey Williams, No Gimmick Midcard Face, Also Working For PWG

#48. Abyss, Monster Upper Midcard Heel

#49. Samoa Joe, No Gimmick Main Event Tweener, Also Working For RoH

#50. Bentley, Gothic Lower Midcard Heel

#51. Hernandez, Angry Minority Midcard Heel, NWA World Tag Team Champion, Under Written Contract For 23 Mo.

#52. Elix Skipper, Legit Athlete Midcard Heel

#53. A1, Anti USA Opening Match Heel

#54. Father James Mitchell, Evil Preacher Manager Heel

#55. Gail Kim, Bitch Manager Face

C-MIL · January 24, 2007

iMPACT! Results

February 15th, 2007

Overall Rating: 76%

Joe's Gonna Kill You

iMPACT! opened with the reigning NWA World Champion Christian Cage, along with his entourage of Tomko and now, Scott Steiner. Cage explained the obvious, that he had used Kurt Angle's "anger management coach" to throw Kurt off of his game and defeat him. He turned his attention to Destination X, but said that since there was no clear-cut top contender, he'd instead take a month-long vacation. The vacation ended in an instant as the music of Samoa Joe hit! The Samoan Submission Machine entered, but Cage was quick to note that since Joe didn't win the guaranteed title match at Against All Odds, he had no reason to expect a title shot at Destination X. Joe said he wasn't at iMPACT for that, but rather to get revenge on Tomko! The two went nose-to-nose, but the World Champion quickly intervened. He said his posse was like the Three Musketeers, one for all and all for one. For all the times Tomko had protected him from harm, he insisted on returning the favor by wrestling Samoa Joe tonight! Mike Tenay and Don West questioned the champion's sanity as Joe simply said he'd be happy to go through Christian to get to Tomko.

Overall Rating: 76%

Ask And You Shall Receive

Backstage in his office, Jim Cornette was visited by Homicide and Hernandez, the NWA World Tag Team Champions. LAX insisted on learning the identities of their Destination X opponents right then and there so they would have ample time to prepare. Cornette told them that so many teams were eligible for a title shot, he had decided to start a tag team tournament tonight on iMPACT! Content to let the winners battle it out, LAX turned to leave. Cornette stopped them and said that the tournament would not be for a number-one contenders' spot. It would be for the titles themselves! Homicide and Hernandez were then sent off to prepare to defend their titles, still unaware of exactly who they would be facing.

Overall Rating: 80%

Tag Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Diamonds In The Rough, with Simon Diamond vs. Ron Killings & Lance Hoyt

With the tournament underway, the match previously scheduled for Sunday's pre-show finally occurred. In an ironic twist, it ended exactly the same way its replacement had. After dominating the Diamonds and eliminating Simon from the equation, Killings and Hoyt appeared poised for victory. Just then, Serotonin hit the ring and attacked all four men, with Bentley and Kazarian passing out superkicks and Raven spiking Killings with a DDT. The referee had no choice but to call the match off and give the tournament quite an auspicious opening.

Result: No-contest via double-disqualification at 5:08

Overall Rating: 64%

Crowd Reaction: 54%

Match Quality: 75%

Interview: Serotonin

After taking out Killings, Hoyt, Young and Skipper, the sinister quartet laid out their plans to turn TNA into their own "playground of depravity". Raven said it was no coincidence there were four members of the group and four championships to be held in TNA. After Kazarian, Bentley and Devine take the tag team and X-Divisions over, Raven promised to return to his "rightful place" as the NWA World Champion and usher in a new era of TNA, the "era of terror".

Overall Rating: 85%

A Reluctant Warrior

Backstage, Senshi quietly meditated. That is, until Austin Starr barged into the room. Senshi immediately put up his fists, but Starr begged him to relax, not eager at all to take another beating like he did on Sunday. Austin apologized to Senshi if he had ever done anything to disrespect him, including interrupting his meditation. He explained that beneath the glitz and glamour of "Austin Starr" was also a warrior who strived to compete in pure wrestling competition. He then humbly asked Senshi if he would enter Jim Cornette's tag team tournament as his partner. Senshi accepted the apology, but declined the offer, sternly stating he was a lone warrior and still unable to trust Starr. Starr agreed, then laughed obnoxiously as he told Senshi it was too late! He had already registered them as a team. Senshi threw a vicious kick to Starr's gut and sent him limping away, painfully groaning that he would see Senshi next week.

Overall Rating: 64%

Singles Match: Christopher Daniels vs. Devine

With an X-Division title match guaranteed, Daniels entered the match with full confidence. Devine was barely able to muster any offense before Daniels hit the Angel's Wings and finished him off, garnering a decisive victory en route to Destination X.

Result: Christopher Daniels wins via pinfall at 2:05

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 65%

Match Quality: 77%

Interview: A.J. Styles

Leticia made the mistake of asking A.J. Styles what he thought of former partner Daniels having a guaranteed title match. Styles coolly rejected the question and asked for one on a better subject, namely himself. He quickly noted that his victory at Against All Odds, lucky as it was, had cemented his status as the all-around best in TNA. He claimed that nobody was as versatile as he, easily adapting to Ultimate X, Six Sides of Steel, King of the Mountain or whatever the next match innovation TNA management could create. He said that life was too short to do the same things day after day, and as a former six-time X-Division Champion, even wrestling for that title had become mundane. He closed by saying his next match would be another TNA first, in some form or fashion.

Overall Rating: 70%

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Team 3D

LAX were shocked and upset when Team 3D were introduced as their opponents. Brother Ray and Brother Devon picked up right where they left off on Sunday, out-brawling the champions and punishing them with punches, elbow strikes and a particularly painful powerbomb to Homicide. Ray slammed Homicide down and held his legs apart for a Devon flying headbutt, then ordered his brother to get the tables! Homicide took the opportunity to tag in Hernandez, but the big man walked right into the 3D. Homicide broke up the pin and kick-started a four-man brawl in the center of the ring. As the chaos ensued, Brother Runt stumbled his way down the aisle and delivered a big double stomp to Hernandez' chest. Brother Ray quickly moved in and ordered him to leave, not wanting to risk another disqualification. Runt replied by giving his brother the Acid Drop! As Homicide dumped Devon through the table with a devastating Gringo Killa, Hernandez managed to cover Ray for the pin.

Result: LAX retain via pinfall at 11:04

Overall Rating: 83%

Crowd Reaction: 77%

Match Quality: 90%

Free?

In a dark recess of the studio, Father James Mitchell limped his way over to Sting and asked him where Abyss was. Sting, alarmed, wondered why Mitchell thought he would know. Mitchell explained that Sting had somehow severed his grip on Abyss' mind and lost control of the monster. He wanted it back. Sting laughed and said that nobody should have mental control over another. Abyss was free from Mitchell and on his own. This time, Mitchell laughed, telling Sting Abyss could never truly be free. He craves guidance and without it, he will destroy anything and everything in his path. Mitchell said Sting was wrong when he saw Abyss as an enslaved human, and now he will learn the error of his ways. Before walking away, Mitchell cackled sinisterly and wished Sting luck as Abyss' "new master".

Overall Rating: 77%

Non-Title Match: Christian Cage, with Scott Steiner & Tomko vs. Samoa Joe

Drunk with arrogance, Cage had the nerve to slap Samoa Joe as the two faced off for the first time. Joe fired back with a series of stinging slaps, chops and knee strikes, battering Cage into the corner before whipping him out and driving his meaty knee right into his face. Joe hurled Cage out of the corner and pinned him down with a double arm hold, but Christian slowly worked his way to the ropes for the break. Cage got desperate and went to the eyes, then dropped big Joe with a spinning heel kick. As his associates cheered him on, Cage pulled Joe up for the Unprettier. Joe quickly escaped and latched on the Coquina Clutch! Christian was trapped, but Steiner and Tomko rushed to his aid, putting the boots to Joe to break the hold. Joe fired back on all three but the numbers were just too great. That is, until Kurt Angle hit the ring! Angle quickly tossed Cage aside with a release German suplex and shot in on Steiner with a double leg takedown. Tomko tried to help out, but a Joe yakuza kick sent him up and over the top rope to the floor. Steiner managed to shove Kurt away and rolled out of the ring, leaving Angle and Joe as the last men standing.

Result: Samoa Joe wins via disqualification at 6:56

Overall Rating: 90%

Crowd Reaction: 84%

Match Quality: 96%

An Unlikely Alliance

iMPACT! closed with an incredible challenge for next week. Kurt Angle challenged the team of Tomko and Scott Steiner to face "the ultimate team", he and Samoa Joe! Joe locked on in disbelief, unable to fathom the magnitude of such an alliance as the fans roared their approval. Steiner retrieved another microphone and accepted the challenge, much to both Cage and Tomko's chagrin. Don West could barely contain himself as he and Tenay signed off, impatiently counting the seconds before Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle team up!

Overall Rating: 80%

TNA News & Notes
February 19th, 2007

Updated Destination X Card, Plus Rumors
According to TNAwrestling.com, two matches have been added to the card. The first will be the final round of the NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament, while the second will be Christopher Daniels' guaranteed title match.

Former NWA World Tag Team Champion Released
TNA has officially announced that B.G. James of the Voodoo Kin Mafia has been released from his contract. The decision to release James was met with resistance by minority owner Jeff Jarrett, as well as Kip James who has become an increasingly outspoken figure backstage since signing an exclusive agreement with the company. Ron Killings, Lance Hoyt and Konnan all also spoke out on B.G.'s behalf, but management ignored their pleas. It is expected now that Kip James will continue his non-wrestling feud with Christy Hemme, possibly turning heel in the process.

LAX/Team 3D Feud To Continue?
Agents in TNA have been incredibly pleased with the LAX/Team 3D rivalry, which is now expected to culminate in a table match at LockDown. While the teams will not meet at Destination X, the program should continue on iMPACT next month. However, Team 3D will be touring Japan following Destination X, making matters a bit difficult, especially considering the circumstances surrounding Brother Runt.

Exclusive Contract Update
Devine of Serotonin has agreed to an exclusive contract with TNA. TNA is pushing hard for agreements with Jim Cornette and Austin Starr as well. However, nothing formal has yet to come from those negotiations.

February 22nd iMPACT! Spoilers

Austin Starr & Senshi def. Serotonin
Team Canada def. Chris Harris & Gail Kim
Chris Sabin def. Sonjay Dutt
Tomko & Scott Steiner def. Samoa Joe & Kurt Angle

Edited January 24, 2007 by C-MIL

C-MIL · January 24, 2007

iMPACT! Results

February 22nd, 2007

Overall Rating: 74%

Tag Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Austin Starr & Senshi vs. Serotonin, with Devine & Raven

Senshi was thrown off his game considerably, thanks to the outrageous Starr whose cheers served more to distract his partner and encourage him. Bentley took full advantage of it, but when Senshi caught his foot during a superkick, he was left wide open for a series of quick kicks. Starr made a blind tag in and tried to steal the glory, but he was unable to put Bentley away. Kazarian made the tag and briefly took control, but Starr stunned him with a DDT and dropped the pendulum elbow into his chest. This time, it was Senshi that made the unwelcome tag and climbed up top, dropping both feet onto Kazarian's chest with the Warrior's Way, enough to earn the pinfall. After the match, Raven ordered Devine to attack, but the overmatched Serotonin member found himself battered by kicks and then on the business end of a Warrior's Way of his own.

Result: Austin Starr & Senshi win via pinfall at 3:54

Overall Rating: 72%

Crowd Reaction: 59%

Match Quality: 85%

Interview: Chris Harris, with Gail Kim

Backstage, Leticia asked Chris Harris about returning to the world of tag team wrestling for the first time since his split with James Storm. Harris laughed and said his new partner was "twice the man James Storm is", then introduced Gail Kim! Gail told Leticia girls love nothing more than gold, and there was no better way for her to get it than by defeating LAX next week for the NWA World Tag Team Titles.

Overall Rating: 74%

Robert Roode's Golden Opportunity

Elsewhere backstage, Robert Roode consulted his manager, Miss Brooks, about what he had just witnessed. He demanded she join him as his partner to face Harris and Kim in the final tournament quarterfinal. Brooks said she was way ahead of him and had entered Roode in the tournament last week. When asked who his partner was, Brooks groaned uncomfortably and conveniently realized the match was next and there was no time to discuss it. Roode followed her out to the ring, completely oblivious as to whom his partner would be.

Overall Rating: 61%

Tag Title Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Chris Harris & Gail Kim vs. Team Canada, with Miss Brooks

Robert Roode was appalled as the hometown hero of "an undisclosed location", Eric Young, was introduced as his partner. Former two-time NWA World Tag Team Champions together, Roode and Young gelled well and dominated Harris with a series of double-team maneuvers. Unfortunately for Roode, Eric's new penchant for pandering to the crowd prevented them from putting him away. Gail made the hot tag and took Young down with a flying headscissor, then tied him up in a unique submission stretch. Harris cut Roode off from breaking it up while Miss Brooks seductively taunted the referee. Just then, James Storm and Miss Tennessee hit the ring. Tennessee broke up the hold, but Storm shoved her away and shattered a beer bottle into Gail's face! Roode swooped in to make the easy cover and get the pin, but his celebration was cut short as concern fell over Gail as she screamed and frantically rubbed at her eyes. Even Miss Tennessee appeared to be worried the attack had gone too far. Storm, however, merely smiled and walked off.

Result: Team Canada wins via pinfall at 5:09

Overall Rating: 69%

Crowd Reaction: 64%

Match Quality: 75%

That's A First

Backstage, A.J. Styles approached Sting and asked him for help. Sting gladly agreed to help Styles however possible. A.J. asked the name of the match Sting once had in WCW in which he "ran off screaming while a stunt guy got lit on fire". No sooner had he asked than he thought of the name himself, the "human torch" match. Sting shot him an angry glare as A.J. asked if he thought it would be a good idea for him to have one of those matches, since he never had before. He quickly thought better off, saying no stuntman could ever move like him. With a smug smile, Styles walked away, leaving Sting to remember never again to offer help to that guy.

Overall Rating: 74%

Trouble In The Family?

Team 3D assembled in their locker room, waiting Brother Runt. Runt showed up a few minutes later, smiling from ear to ear. Brother Ray stood up and slapped the taste out of his mouth! He demanded to know what Runt thought he was doing last week. Runt struggled to remember, eventually saying he had no idea what had happened last week. Brother Devon refreshed his memory, pointing out that Runt had cost them the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Runt laughed and said he was sure he'd remember that, insisting it never happened. He then walked away, leaving his brothers completely bewildered.

Overall Rating: 73%

Paparazzi Productions Reborn

Kevin Nash and Alex Shelley sat together in silence, both deflated at their failure to capture the X-Division Title at Against All Odds. Nash insisted they needed a new idea to wow the people, something that would rescue their image after losing Austin Starr. After thinking for a moment, Shelley snapped his fingers and said he had it. He wanted to bring a new member into Paparazzi Productions, one that would get people talking. Nash gave him the green light and Shelley said it would all be ready to go next week. Nash then looked directly into the camera and held up a sheet of notebook paper reading "To be continued".

Overall Rating: 83%

TNA X-Division Title Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Sonjay Dutt

Former partners Sabin and Dutt held nothing back, going full throttle from bell to bell. Sabin took control with a spinning kick out of the corner, but Dutt quickly recovered and used a headscissor takeover. Dutt used the sprinkler to put Sabin down, then scored with a backflip reverse DDT. The end came after Sonjay failed to connect with the Hindu Press, enabling Sabin to use the Cradle Shock and put him down for three.

Result: Chris Sabin retains via pinfall at 6:13

Overall Rating: 74%

Crowd Reaction: 64%

Match Quality: 84%

A Plot Thickens, But Whose?

Jeremy Borash met up with Christopher Daniels backstage and asked him what he thought about the X-Division Champion, Sabin. Daniels said he respected him but felt his attitude was all wrong, especially for the X-Division. As Daniels spoke, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage approached him from behind. Cage interrupted him mid-sentence and told him to shut up, adding that Daniels was not a "main event player" and thus no one cared about his opinions. The two faced off and Daniels remarked that Cage didn't look so tough without Tomko and Steiner as his back-up, how he'd likely look from now on after Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle finish with them. Cage again told him to shut up. Cage insisted Tomko and Steiner would be able to handle Joe and Kurt, and if not, he would be at ringside. Cage then told Daniels to stay away from Tomko. When Daniels asked why, Cage said he knew why, then revealed that he had never ordered Tomko to interfere in the match at Against All Odds at all, accusing Daniels of doing it. Cage closed by wishing him luck in the Destination X title match, but warning him to stay away from his posse from now on.

Overall Rating: 81%

Handicap Match: Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner & Tomko, with Christian Cage

Originally scheduled as a tag match involving Samoa Joe, Angle and fans alike were crushed when Joe never appeared for the match. Mike Tenay and Don West assumed that Cage and his goons must have somehow gotten to him backstage before the match. Facing two-on-one odds, Angle was helpless as Tomko and Steiner took turns decimating him with high-impact moves. Angle managed to slip out of his ex-anger management coach's grip and applied an anklelock, but Steiner made it to the ropes. Kurt hooked Scott's waist and broke out the German suplex series, but Steiner ducked his head so Tomko's running big boot could connect. Back in control, Steiner attempted a belly-to-belly suplex, but was startled by the appearance of Samoa Joe on the ring apron. Angle capitalized and reversed, then began the long, slow crawl to Joe. As he reached up for the tag, Joe simply jumped down from the apron. Horrified, Angle begged him for the tag, but it was too late. Steiner dropped a big elbow across Kurt's back and dragged him into the center of the ring to apply the Steiner Recliner. Angle and Joe locked eyes in an intense stare-down, ending when Angle tapped out.

Result: Scott Steiner & Tomko win via submission at 13:00

Overall Rating: 79%

Crowd Reaction: 80%

Match Quality: 79%

Interview: Samoa Joe

After Cage, Tomko and Steiner left in celebration, Joe stood over Angle in the ring. He confessed that he hated those three, but that none of them had broken his undefeated streak. Angle had, and he vowed never to forgive him for it and definitely never to stand at his side as a partner. Joe closed by promising to recreate his one-man path of destruction again, this time making his way to the NWA World Heavyweight Title, but not before exacting revenge on every one of his enemies. The list included Steiner, Tomko and Cage as well as Kurt Angle.

Overall Rating: 74%

TNA News & Notes
February 26th, 2007

Ultimate X Rumors Confirmed
A representative from TNA has confirmed that Ultimate X will be returning to Destination X. Currently, rumors state that Chris Sabin will defend the X-Division Title against both Christopher Daniels and Alex Shelley in Ultimate X. However, another rumor suggests Daniels will instead be challenging for Christian Cage's World Title in a Russo-esque swerve. In either case, it is believed that Alex Shelley will leave Destination X with his first X-Division Title, as many within the company called for it to occur at Against All Odds.

Possible Details On Brother Runt's New Gimmick
According to Spike TV executives, TNA may be experimenting with a "drug addict" character in the near future. The creative department was requested to submit details to Spike execs in order to better address the issue of content rating for TNA iMPACT! It's currently believed the storyline will revolve around Team 3D's attempt to get Brother Runt off of drugs, but sources say network execs are a bit apprehensive to sign off on the angle.

Kazarian Released
Frankie Kazarian, former X-Division Champion and current member of Raven's Serotonin group, received a full release from his contract. He is still active with Jersey All-Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in California. No official reason has been given for his release.

Trademark Acquisitions Hint To The Next WWE Defector?
TNA has trademarked the following terms for future use: "Mr. Natural", "Texas Val" and "Caine". Coincidentally, or perhaps not, WWE SmackDown! superstar Glen "Kane" Jacobs' contract expires this year. WWE is expected to legally challenge the trademark of "Caine".

Team Canada Reunion
After the events of Thursday's iMPACT!, rumors are swirling that Team Canada will reunite on-screen, perhaps as a babyface team. TNA management has been very high on Robert Roode since he has adopted his new gimmick. There has even been talking of turning him babyface to feud with World Champion Christian Cage. TC alumni Eric Young and Petey Williams are both working as babyfaces while A1 has been long removed from television. The only other TC member on the TNA roster is Devine, a heel working with Serotonin. It is not believed that Scott D'Amore will return as manager of this team, but rather fellow Canadian Miss Brooks will assume the position.

TNA Star Injured In Georgia
At a Georgia Championship Wrestling show, David Young suffered a broken arm while delivering his patented spinebuster. He will miss approximately six weeks of action while recovering.

Sam_Van_619 · January 24, 2007

I love your stuff, so another diary is a-OK with me.

The concept of this one is good, I remember it being done somewhere before with WWE and a guy had to fire Christian after his first show, but I don't think that lasted too long. The way this diary is means that you have to be a versatile booker, long term plans will be pretty hard to do with this thing.

I like how you've started though. Lots of the characters interest me, and the storylines too. I like the concept for the tag team tournament, it's a great way to put over a new team (like Roode and Young). However I hope Roode doesn't go face (as hinted) because I think he'd be totally overshadowed by Young. Or maybe that's a good thing, I don't know.

The NWA title scene intrigues me. You've got Angle who's just lost his shot at the title, Joe who just lost his chance at getting one, and Daniels who has one but doesn't seem to be using it? I hope you don't go down the route of Angle/Joe again, I would love to see how you'd present a Steiner/Angle feud without Steiner being a stooge to Christian. Joe seems most likely to be getting the next shot, or is he going after Tomko? I don't know, I just hope it gets cleared up soon.

I'm liking AJ Styles' new troublemaker character, like we saw with the confrontation with Sting. But what has happened to Abyss? And Rhino?

Interested to see who Shelley can possibly be recruiting for Paparazzi Productions. If it's someone outside TNA, I'm going with Rod Strong, if it's not it could be one of a few guys. The "Mr. Natural" thing sounds like Chase Stevens is going heel to me, maybe it could be him.

Just as it looked like Serotonin were going to be getting a push, Kazarian is fired. That's the nature of the beast, I suppose.

So there's a few loose ends which need tying up, but isn't that the interesting part in a diary? I know I'll be reading to see what happens next. I hope you stick with this, it's looking good.

TheRyno · January 25, 2007

Does this mean that the 1997 WWF diary is dead? I hope not because if it is, that would make me a sad panda.

Not to discredit your talent but I'm not sure about this diary. What's the deal with the "let one person go every week" thing? Right now, it's not that big of deal letting go of guys like BG James and Kazarian but what happens when you get to guys like Daniels and Styles? And why replace them with Development guys? Within a few months, you'll have a ton of guys in Development and half your roster is gone. Is this something created by Shirley Jackson as a sure-fire way for TNA to fail and just write it off and get back to their oil drillin'? I don't know, maybe I'm missing the point or something but it seems way too gimmicky for me.

All things considered, C-MIL could write a Monkey Poo-Flinging Federation diary and it would go over like gangbusters.

C-MIL · January 25, 2007

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen.

Sam Van 619 - But what has happened to Abyss? And Rhino?

Sadly, it's only an hour-long show. That's a pretty lame excuse, so I'll add that they're both selling injuries from the PPV, both physical and psychological.

TheRyno - Does this mean that the 1997 WWF diary is dead?

After what happened the last time I did so, I'm VERY hesitant to call any diary I make "dead". I sort of fell out of love with WWF '97 after getting my PC fixed and being able to use bigger scenarios with EWR, so I wouldn't expect it to be updated any time soon.

TheRyno - What's the deal with the "let one person go every week" thing?

It was suggested by God-Awful in the "Crystal Ball" and seemed like a fun challenge. I have a very bad habit of plotting storylines very far in advance. Incidentally, that actually killed my first attempt at a TNA diary. With FUSE, I had several feuds that were stretching into their second year, while in WWF '97, I had yet to complete WrestleMania and already had the SummerSlam card booked out in full. With this, I have absolutely no chance to plan that far ahead and it's a nice little departure from the norm for me.

Right now, it's not that big of deal letting go of guys like BG James and Kazarian but what happens when you get to guys like Daniels and Styles?

They go, and I'll REALLY need to pull something together.

And why replace them with Development guys?

I'll only be adding developmental talent if EWR threatens my public image because my roster is too small. I'm playing this game with a WWE split, meaning TNA is actually fourth from the top. My ultimate goal is still to have TNA be a success, just with the additional challenge as a booker.

Is this something created by Shirley Jackson as a sure-fire way for TNA to fail and just write it off and get back to their oil drillin'?

The plot device of Shirley Jackson was only created to explain why TNA was so eager to restructure the company and gave no thought to how these releases would affect current programming. The goal is still to be a success, though. Actually, the entire backstory is a homage to a writer named Shirley Jackson, author of "The Lottery", which I immediately thought of once reading G-A's idea. It's totally gimmicky, but it's been pretty fun and challenging thus far.

All things considered, C-MIL could write a Monkey Poo-Flinging Federation diary and it would go over like gangbusters.

See? If only you had beaten G-A to the punch in the "Crystal Ball".

Anyway, thanks again for reading.

iMPACT! Results

March 1st, 2007

Overall Rating: 75%

The Destination X Main Event

iMPACT! kicked off with a psychotic Kurt Angle attacking a defenseless Samoa Joe from behind. Angle dragged Joe through the backstage are and out into the tunnel, then applied the anklelock for all the iMPACT! Zone to see. Angle told Joe he had two choices, agree to team with him against Scott Steiner and Tomko or suffer a broken ankle. The hold was broken by Director of Authority Jim Cornette, who threatened to fire Kurt if he did not release the hold. To appease both men, he made a colossal main event for Destination X He said Joe and Angle would be facing Tomko and Steiner, but not as a team. Instead, each would have seven days to find a partner for a triangle tag team match.

Overall Rating: 78%

Singles Match: Bentley vs. Sonjay Dutt

The opening match featured X-Division action at it's finest. Bentley had no idea how to counter the lightning-quick offense of Dutt as Sonjay unleashed an incredible barrage of kicks before snapping him down with the huracanrana. After a superplex, Sonjay used the Hindu Press to put Bentley down for three.

Result: Sonjay Dutt wins via pinfall at 5:53

Overall Rating: 73%

Crowd Reaction: 54%

Match Quality: 93%

Interview: Chris Sabin

During Dutt's celebration, Chris Sabin stepped through the tunnel with mock applause. He condemned the match as boring and said Dutt had proven exactly why he didn't deserve to be X-Division Champion. Sabin said that the X-Division was meant to be about “ultimate action” and that his match at Destination X would be just that, Ultimate X!

Overall Rating: 72%

Singles Match: Brother Runt vs. Mr. Natural

During his entrance, Mike Tenay and Don West explained that Chase Stevens had adopted a new look and name to fit. As the only Natural remaining in TNA, he now insists upon being referred to as Mr. Natural. Natural wasted no time displaying his new-found aggression on Runt, kicking him straight in the teeth before busting out the death valley driver. Runt rolled out of the ring and stumbled his way up the aisle to the tunnel, laughing inconceivably. By the time the referee had reached ten, Runt was long gone.

Result: Mr. Natural wins via count-out at 2:33

Overall Rating: 59%

Crowd Reaction: 41%

Match Quality: 77%

No Coal Miner's Glove

The arrogant A.J. Styles came to the ring, donning a “coal miner's glove”. He asked if fans remembered the infamous 1992 match between Sting and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, then confessed he had blocked it from his own memory because it was bad. Still, he had never competed in such a match and made an open challenge to anyone in TNA to face him. Sting's music hit and the enigmatic hero stepped out onto the stage. He said if Styles was looking for a new kind of challenge, he had one for him. Sting told him to put the glove away and have a different kind of first, a first one-on-one encounter with Sting! Styles considered it, noting that he had never wrestled Sting before and decided it would make a nice addition to the Destination X card. Sting smiled then said March 11th would feature another first to Styles, his first time submitting to the Scorpion Death Lock.

Overall Rating: 73%

At Death's Door

Shelley-Cam footage followed Alex Shelley and Kevin Nash to the Doubletree Hotel for the latest installment of Paparazzi Productions. Shelley stood before Room 66 and told Nash this was it. Nash wondered aloud what Shelley had cooked up, refusing to enter the room until he explained. Shelley asked if the name “Glen Jacobs” meant anything to Nash. Nash's eyes grew wide. He asked if Shelley meant “the” Glen Jacobs, “star of the smash-hit motion picture See No Evil”, then excitedly asked if Jacobs was behind the door. Shelley said no. It was his brother. Shelley pressed a button on the door, causing a loud “gong” to echo throughout the hall. As the door flew open, the shot cut to black. Nash let out a girlish scream as the words “To Be Concluded” appeared on-screen.

Overall Rating: 84%

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Team Canada, with Miss Brooks

Young managed to actually outwrestle Homicide early on, nearly putting him away with the Youngblood neckbreaker. Homicide managed to hit a back suplex to turn the tide, then tagged in big Hernandez. After punishing Young with power moves, Hernandez climbed the turnbuckles and launched into a diving headbutt. It failed to connect and Eric rolled to Robert Roode for the hot tag. Roode came in strong and dropped Hernandez with a Northern Lariat, then tossed Homicide from the ring as he tried to help you. Young tagged in and dropped the big elbow on Hernandez. He had Hernandez dead to rights, but Roode complained Young was stealing the glory. The challengers argued and Miss Brooks tried to calm the tension from the ring apron. Homicide slipped back into the ring and spiked Young with the Gringo Killa, then rolled Hernandez on top of him for the pin. Enraged, Roode stormed off, followed closely behind by Brooks, leaving Eric in a crumpled heap on the canvas.

Result: LAX retain via pinfall at 6:43

Overall Rating: 73%

Crowd Reaction: 62%

Match Quality: 84%

Unhappy Couple

Austin Starr again interrupted Senshi's meditation, informing him that the quarterfinal round draw between Lance Hoyt and Ron Killings and Diamonds In The Rough had resulted in them receiving a bye to the tournament finals, making them the challengers for the Destination X tag title match. Since Starr believed they were only ten days removed from becoming NWA World Tag Team Champions, he felt Senshi needed a makeover in order to look the part. He propped a fuzzy top hat on Senshi's bald head, then slipped on some diamond-studded sunglasses. Not amused, Senshi stood from up the lotus position and removed the sunglasses, placing them on Austin's face. A split-second later, he punched Starr right between the eyes, snapping the frames in two! Starr collapsed and Senshi delivered a few vicious kicks before throwing the hat onto him and walking away.

Overall Rating: 73%

Sacrifice

Candles lit a dark room somewhere in the soundstage as Bentley stood, tied in a crucifix position. Devine laughed maniacally as he foretold of Bentley's fate for losing to Sonjay Dutt. As Devine spoke, Bentley sniveled and sobbed, mascara streaking down his face. When Raven finally entered the room, donning a blood-covered butcher's smock, Bentley begged for mercy. Raven slapped him across the face and shouted that Bentley had brought it upon himself. Next week, Raven said Bentley would "know the true meaning of sacrifice", promising to teach him as he had taught Kazarian. Bentley screamed, Devine laughed and Raven wondered aloud if Bentley would "survive" his punishment or match Kazarian's fate.

Overall Rating: 83%

Singles Match: James Storm vs. Rhino

The Tennessee cowboy, minus Miss Tennessee, battled the War Machine in the iMPACT! main event. Storm employed plenty of shortcuts and dirty tricks to keep Rhino on the defensive for most of the match, but Rhino managed to counter a charge and score with a big spinebuster. Rhino waited for Storm to rise up, readying himself to deliver the Gore. Rhino rushed in, but Storm hit the deck and rolled out of the ring. There, he came face to face with Chris Harris! Dressed in street clothes, the Wildcat tackled Storm and began hammering away with big punches, forcing the referee to call for the bell. As he beat Storm down, he demanded James "fight like a man", angrily chastising Storm for attacking Gail Kim last week. Referees hit the scene to break up the fight, giving Storm a chance to slip away and take off running.

Result: James Storm wins via disqualification at 8:43

Overall Rating: 76%

Crowd Reaction: 75%

Match Quality: 78%

No Challengers Remain?

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage came to the ring as iMPACT! closed, looking quite satisfied. He claimed he couldn't wait for Destination X, specifically to see Tomko and Steiner take care of Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe once and for all. He also mentioned the Sting versus Styles match and Ultimate X as great additions to the card, lamenting the fact that he would be unable to defend his own championship. According to him, everyone with cause to challenge for the title was already booked for the show. His speech was interrupted by the entrance of Christopher Daniels which annoyed Cage to no end. After again being ordered to stay out of Cage's business, Daniels announced that Cage now was his business. Cage was perplexed, but the Fallen Angel explained perfectly when he revealed that his "guaranteed title shot", won at Against All Odds, was not specific to the X-Division Title. While he appreciated the prospect of recapturing the X-Division in Ultimate X at Destination X, the same match and event he first won the title in 2005, he instead announced he would cash the match in to challenge Cage for the World Title! The show ended with a tense stare-down between the two as the crowd threw their full support behind Daniels, chanting "next world champ".

Overall Rating: 81%

TNA News & Notes
March 5th, 2007

Spoiler-Free Destination X Card
Triangle Tag Team Challenge: Kurt Angle & ? vs. Samoa Joe & ? vs. Scott Steiner & Tomko
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Christian Cage © vs. Christopher Daniels
NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Austin Starr & Senshi
TNA X-Division Title Ultimate X Match: Chris Sabin © vs. ? vs. ? vs. ?
First Time Ever: A.J. Styles vs. Sting

iMPACT! Taping Spoilers, Plus Complete Destination X Line-Up

iMPACT! Results
Petey Williams def. Elix Skipper
Austin Starr def. Jay Lethal
Senshi def. Shark Boy
A.J. Styles, Chris Sabin & Christian Cage def. Chris Harris, Christopher Daniels & Sting

Destination X Card
Triangle Tag Team Challenge: Kurt Angle & ? vs. Samoa Joe & Abyss vs. Scott Steiner & Tomko
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Christian Cage © vs. Christopher Daniels
NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Austin Starr & Senshi
TNA X-Division Title Ultimate X Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Austin Starr vs. Petey Williams vs. Senshi
First Time Ever: A.J. Styles vs. Sting
Serotonin vs. Lance Hoyt, Rhino & Ron Killings
Tennessee Strap Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm

A.J. Styles Joins New Japan

NJPW has announced that A.J. Styles will replace Tomko on all future bookings for the company. Rumors say Tomko was pulled from New Japan cards and has signed an exclusive deal with TNA, but these have yet to be confirmed. Styles is not expected to miss any significant events for TNA, including house shows.

Rhino In The Doghouse?

Reports seem to indicate that TNA officials have been less than enthused with the War Machine's recent performances and are looking to lower his status on the card. Unconfirmed reports say this may also stem from Rhino's reluctance to agree to an exclusive contract.

Serotonin Loses Another Member

Devine has parted ways with TNA. This comes as quite a surprise, especially considering Devine had been slated to compete on the Destination X pay-per-view and had recently signed an exclusive deal with TNA. His recent performances, both in the ring and out, had met with favorable reviews from management, making his termination even more shocking. Given the release of Kazarian a week ago and the current storyline regarding Bentley's "sacrifice", it's been reported that Serotonin will be written out of storylines at Destination X.

Early Reactions To Mr. Natural

Sources close to Vince Russo say Chase Stevens' new gimmick has him excited. The gimmick is expected to be patterned after ECW superstar C.M. Punk's "straight edge" gimmick, cross-bred with the late Curt Hennig's "Mr. Perfect" act. Though their match on iMPACT! may not reflect this, it's believed Natural will have more matches with Brother Runt in the future, including a program on upcoming house shows. Both of these characters are considered pet projects of Russo's.

Edited January 25, 2007 by C-MIL

tsydrown · January 25, 2007

Love the idea C-Mil. The lottery is certainly a good way to keep you on your toes, I myself plan months in advance, so it'd be a real challenge losing someone so often as you're doing.

The write ups are great, not too long, not too short, unless it's really needed, ie. the Daniels squash over Devine, very short, but nothing more needed.

Storylines are going well. I'm into the whole Angle/Joe thing. But for me the biggest is yet to come, I reckon Daniels/Cage could be gold should it be booked correctly, and the ending to the 01/03 iMPACT! was really good, a nice way for Daniels to get that shove to the top, rather than a standard push. Not sure if you intended on it going that way, as it does seem very last minute, but whether planned or not, great work.

There's so many other positives to say about this diary. Too many TNA diaries at the moment are all the same, but this really does test both yourself and the readers.

Good luck with it, you've got a reader here.....

C-MIL · January 26, 2007

iMPACT! Results

March 8th, 2007

Overall Rating: 71%

Ultimate X Qualifying Match: Elix Skipper, with Simon Diamond vs. Petey Williams

Mike Tenay and Don West dropped the bombshell that six X-Division stars would have the opportunity to secure a spot in the Ultimate X match at Destination X by winning one of three singles matches on tonight's show. The first of which set a high standard as Williams and Skipper laid it all on the line. Petey got a close two count with a blockbuster flip neckbreaker, but Skipper rallied back and floored him with a roundhouse kick. The end came after Skipper blew the New School rope walk huracanrana, leaving him vulnerable to the Canadian Destroyer, from which no man can kick out. With his victory, Petey Williams returns to Ultimate X in just three short days.

Result: Petey Williams wins via pinfall at 6:21

Overall Rating: 70%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 80%

Arrogance Cubed

Backstage, Leticia held court as NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage, TNA X-Division Champion Chris Sabin and numerous time holder of both A.J. Styles assembled for an interview. Cage was asked his thoughts on Christopher Daniels, but his partners answered for him, saying that Daniels didn't have what it took to dethrone Cage at Destination X. Sabin added that Daniels only opted to challenge Cage to save himself the embarrassment of being defeated by him yet again, but Cage was quick to remind him that his NWA World Title was held in higher regard than Sabin's belt. Styles tried to cool the growing tension by saying Daniels was "old news", but let it slip that he believed himself to be the best man to hold both titles. The segment ended with the three massive egos struggling to come together as a team for the six-man main event.

Overall Rating: 79%

Sacrifice Interrupted

As Raven led the way, Devine dragged Bentley to the ring on a leash. Bowing before Raven, Bentley apologized profusely for failing his redeemer, begging for Raven not to do to him what he had done to Kazarian. Raven spoke of the endorphin rush associated with seeing one's own blood, calling it great motivation to change one's ways. Devine handed Raven a small dagger which he pressed against Bentley's throat. Raven apologized, calling it the only way he could learn, then handed Bentley the knife and ordered him to slit his own throat with it. Bentley's hand trembled as he raised the blade to his neck, but the disgusting ritual was ended when Rhino, Ron Killings and Lance Hoyt hit the ring! A pier-six brawl began, ending when Serotonin was tossed from the ring and dumped out at ringside. Killings grabbed a microphone and said Raven had crossed the line, promising to rid TNA of Serotonin at Destination X. Raven ordered Devine and Bentley to follow him out, incensed that his sacrifice had been interrupted.

Overall Rating: 72%

Who Gets The Last Laugh?

In what has become a weekly tradition, Austin Starr approached Senshi as he meditated. However, Starr was covered from head to toe by pads, complete with a football helmet. He refused to get close enough for Senshi to touch him, but said he had important news for his "partner". Starr told Senshi that, win or lose in their tag match, he would leave Destination X with championship gold. He revealed that he had signed up for an Ultimate X qualifier and, in the event he won, would join Chris Sabin and Petey Williams in the match. Starr finished by saying if he won the X-Division Title, he wasn't even going to bother showing up for the tag match and would leave Senshi to the mercy of LAX.

Overall Rating: 59%

Ultimate X Qualifying Match: Austin Starr vs. Jay Lethal

The two traded lightning-quick armdrags and dropkicks, matching each other move for move. That is, until Lethal ducked a spinning kick and bridged Starr into a German suplex. Lethal nearly got the pin with a top rope cross body block, but Starr managed to kick out at two. As Lethal attempted a dragon suplex, Austin swung back a kick to his groin, rolled him up and cinched the tights to get the duke.

Result: Austin Starr wins via pinfall at 4:26

Overall Rating: 75%

Crowd Reaction: 53%

Match Quality: 97%

Ultimate X Video

With three of the four participants decided, a video package examined the history of Ultimate X, beginning with the initial match in 2003 and leading up to Sunday's return of the X-Division's signature match. Defending champion Chris Sabin was featured prominently in the footage as he has the record for both most victories and most appearances in the match.

Overall Rating: 66%

Ultimate X Qualifying Match: Senshi vs. Shark Boy

Senshi surprised everyone, Austin Starr in particular, by revealing that he too had petitioned Jim Cornette for a qualifier. After a brief series of suplexes, Senshi put Shark Boy away with the Warrior's Way to join his partner in a double title opportunity at Destination X. Backstage, Starr watched on a monitor and was absolutely livid to see Senshi qualify.

Result: Senshi wins via pinfall at 2:16

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 82%

Dead Men Talking

In the continuing saga of Paparazzi Productions' quest for a new member, the Shelley-Cam found Alex Shelley and Kevin Nash seated uncomfortably on a small couch in a dark hotel room. Shelley offered to hold Nash if he was cold, but Nash broke character and grew very serious, asking Shelley what he was thinking in contacting Glen Jacobs' brother. Shelley didn't see a problem with it, besides the fact that he was "Paul Bearer's kid". Nash turned the Shelley-Cam around to reveal a casket located in the middle of the hotel room, then asked Alex again to say it wasn't weird. Shelley relented, agreeing it was "a bit strange", then asked Nash if they should open the box. Nash wanted to wait until Destination X, but Alex insisted they take a peek. The sound of lightning strikes broke out as Shelley put his hand on the casket and opened it, causing Nash to clutch his chest in terror. As the segment faded to black, Alex knelt over the ailing Nash and asked if it was his quad, while a pale hand extended out from inside the casket.

Overall Rating: 77%

Interview: James Storm

In a sit-down interview with Mike Tenay, James Storm addressed his brutal attack on Gail Kim two weeks ago. Miss Tennessee did not join Storm for the interview, during which Storm admitted the incident had caused some friction between the two. Storm insisted he was sorry for injuring Kim, but Tenay noted that he didn't appear to have any remorse moments after the attack. After continuing to press the issue, Tenay got Storm to reveal that he truly wasn't sorry and he couldn't care less if he had blinded her, launching into a string of deleted expletives and racial slurs. Tenay indignantly called Storm a coward and said he wouldn't face Harris one-on-one, but the Tennessee Cowboy rebuked the claim by announcing that he and Harris had agreed to terms and would wrestle at Destination X. Storm added that the match would be a Tennessee Strap Match to "keep Harris from running away".

Overall Rating: 65%

Six-Man Tag Match: A.J. Styles, Chris Sabin & Christian Cage vs. Chris Harris, Christopher Daniels & Sting

Both Styles and Sabin gave Daniels a beating, working over his knee for the first half of the match. Daniels managed to recover briefly after Cage tagged in and missed his flying frog splash, but his knee was too damaged to capitalize. Luckily, he was able to reach Sting for the tag. Sting quickly crushed Cage with a Stinger Splash, then smashed A.J. and Chris' heads together as they rushed to their partner's aid. Sting tossed Sabin from the ring and tagged in Harris who moved in for the kill. Cage tagged out to Styles and ducked out of the ring. A.J. launched into a springboard cross body block, but the Wildcat caught him and wound him up into the Catatonic. Styles escaped and schoolboy-ed Chris into a pin, hooking the tights to keep him down. After the final bell, Styles floored Sting with a suicide dive while Cage clipped Daniels' knee with his title belt, both eager to have the upper hand at Destination X.

Result: A.J. Styles, Chris Sabin & Christian Cage win via pinfall at 14:06

Overall Rating: 80%

Crowd Reaction: 77%

Match Quality: 84%

An Unbeatable Team?

As iMPACT! closed Director of Authority Jim Cornette ordered Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe to the ring, declaring the seven-day window to find a partner had expired. Angle entered to a raucous ovation, but did so alone. He explained to Cornette that he had found a partner, but he was not in the iMPACT! Zone at the time. Cornette was skeptical, citing the fact that most within TNA were unhappy that Angle had more or less taken the promotion over upon his debut. Angle said he understood, but assured Cornette that his partner would show up at Destination X, admitting that his partner had actually sought Angle out and not vice versa. Samoa Joe's music hit and he stepped out of the tunnel to the top of the ramp. Angle said if Cornette was worried about somebody being too antisocial to find a partner, it should be Joe and not him. Joe laughed and said his partner actually was in attendance and every bit as antisocial as he. Angle demanded to know, so Joe told him simply turn around. Kurt did, and came face to face with the monster Abyss! Abyss quickly grabbed Kurt and delivered the Black Hole Slam, then cast his menacing over the fallen Olympian as Joe warned Tomko and Steiner that Destination X would not be a matter of "win or lose" but rather a battle for pure survival.

Overall Rating: 73%

Destination X - This Sunday Night, Only on Pay-Per-View!

Triangle Tag Team Challenge: Kurt Angle & ? vs. Samoa Joe & Abyss vs. Scott Steiner & Tomko!

NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Christian Cage © vs. Christopher Daniels!

First Time Ever: A.J. Styles vs. Sting!

TNA X-Division Title Ultimate X Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Austin Starr vs. Petey Williams vs. Senshi!

Tennessee Strap Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm!

Serotonin vs. Lance Hoyt & Ron Killings!

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Austin Starr & Senshi!

Jay Lethal & Sonjay Dutt vs. The Paparazzi!

Pre-Show Match: Diamonds In The Rough & Mr. Natural vs. Team 3D!

Destination X - This Sunday Night, Only on Pay-Per-View!

billyzzz80 · January 27, 2007

I'm liking this diary, it's an innovative idea. That's a hell of a card you've got there.

C-MIL · January 28, 2007

"Destination X" Results

March 11th, 2007

Overall Rating: 77%

Pre-Show Handicap Match: Elix Skipper, Mr. Natural & Simon Diamond vs. Team 3D

Before the match, Brother Ray and Brother Devon found Brother Runt sprawled out backstage, completely unconscious. Immediately, they deduced that LAX must have assaulted him and returned the favor by jumping the NWA World Tag Team Champions during their interview. With Runt out of action, Ray and Devon had to go it alone together in a handicap match. The numbers game was too much for them early on but the heavily decorated duo battled back, eventually taking the upper hand. They tried to use the scoop slam/flying headbutt combination on Natural, but the former Chase Stevens wriggled. Moments later, he suffered the 3D. As Diamond and Skipper held the referee's attention, LAX rushed the ring and clobbered Ray and Devon with their title belts, leaving Ray prey for Natural's pin. As the pre-show closed, Hernandez chucked Devon over the top rope through a ringside table with the Border Toss, effectively handing them their receipt.

Result: Elix Skipper, Mr. Natural & Simon Diamond win via pinfall at 9:08

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 65%

Match Quality: 77%

Tag Team Match: Jay Lethal & Sonjay Dutt vs. The Paparazzi, with Kevin Nash

The pay-per-view opened in peculiar fashion as Alex Shelley and Kevin Nash, both donning hooded cloaks, wheeled a casket down the aisle to the ring. Halfway there, Nash stopped and told Alex to wait, saying that their entrance needed to last longer than the match to follow. Nash then introduced Shelley's partner and the newest member of The Paparazzi, calling him "a member of one of the screwed-up family in pro wrestling, not counting the Von Erichs, Harts, Guerreros or Jarretts" and boasting of the fact that he had never lost at WrestleMania. The casket was opened and out crawled Ring of Honor's Jimmy Jacobs, donning all black and painted with a pallid tone. Jacobs made a sharp gesture, causing fire to blast forth from each of the six turnbuckles, then dropped to one knee and stared at Lethal and Dutt, who were unable to hold back their laughter. Jacobs quickly attacked Dutt to kick off the match and, together with Shelley, dominated him with a series of tandem moves. Dutt reversed a Shelley Irish whip and walked the rope with the sprinkler, causing Nash to climb onto the apron and ask the referee to disqualify him for "gimmick infringement". Dutt responded by dropkicking Nash off the apron before tagging in Lethal. Lethal escaped Shelley's shiranui then blasted Jacobs with an enzuigiri, leaving him a helpless target for Sonjay's Hindu Press. Again, Nash intervened, causing Sonjay to leap at him with a flying huracanrana. Nash held his ground and powerbombed Dutt, then fed Jay a big boot as he charged in to help. With Sonjay unconscious, Jacobs folded his arms over his chest and scored the pin.

Result: The Paparazzi win via pinfall at 14:34

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 57%

Match Quality: 86%

Tennessee Strap Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm

Bound at the wrists by a long piece of leather, America's Most Wanted exploded. Harris dropped Storm with a clothesline and used the strap to strangle him before planting him with a full nelson slam. Uninterested in touching the corners for the win, Harris continued to choke Storm with the strap and pound away at his face, eventually drawing blood. In a desperation move, the Cowboy dove over the top rope, throttling Harris across the cable to take control. He climbed up top and scored with the Eye of the Storm reverse tornado DDT, then began making the rounds. As he went for his fifth turnbuckle, Harris stood and ducked a superkick, scooping Storm up for the Catatonic. Harris left the ring to retrieve a chair, but storm quickly ripped the strap from his wrist and fled the scene, forfeiting the match. Armed with a chair and a leather strap, Harris chased after him as they disappeared to the back.

Result: Chris Harris wins via forfeit at 9:54

Overall Rating: 80%

Crowd Reaction: 68%

Match Quality: 92%

TNA X-Division Title Ultimate X Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Austin Starr vs. Petey Williams vs. Senshi

The rules of the match varied slightly from the typical Ultimate X. The match started in tag team format with the pinned individual being eliminated. The three remaining competitors wrestled in a triple threat, again with the loser being eliminated. With two participants remaining, it became a race to the title belt, hanging precariously from the center of the crossed wires overhead. Despite being tag team partners, Senshi and Starr were on opposing teams in the first part. Starr teamed with Sabin while Senshi teamed with Williams. Starr absolutely refused to lock horns with Senshi at any point, tagging in Sabin whenever it came to that. With about eight minutes gone, Sabin used a low blow to escape the Canadian Destroyer, hoisted Petey up into the Cradle Shock and eliminated him. Starr wasted not a second before turning on his partner, imploring Senshi to help him eliminate the champion. Senshi refused and suffered a Blockbustarr flipping neckbreaker. Senshi quickly fired back with kicks, then locked Starr into a guillotine choke. Sabin broke it up with a dropkick to save Austin. He made a momentary truce with Starr, then quickly abandoned as Starr charged in on Senshi in a one-man kamikaze mission. Senshi crushed Starr with a sit-out fisherman's buster and pinned him at just over fifteen minutes. For revenge, Starr grabbed Senshi's foot and refused to let him climb the ropes, giving Sabin an opportunity to blaze across the wire and pull down the gold for the win.

Result: Chris Sabin retains via possession of the belt at 17:40

Overall Rating: 75%

Crowd Reaction: 66%

Match Quality: 84%

Tag Team Match: Lance Hoyt & Ron Killings vs. Serotonin

Originally scheduled as a six-man tag, Rhino and Devine were pulled from the match with minimal explanation. Raven insisted on starting off the match, calling Bentley "worthless". Killings and Hoyt dominated Raven with Ron bringing the axe kicks in no short supply while Lance busted out the big boots and clothesline. Raven ducked one of the aforementioned boots and clipped Hoyt's knee, buying him some much needed distance. Both men began crawling towards their corners with Raven winning the race. Raven shouted obscenities at Bentley, demanding that he tag in. Bentley just stood and shook his head, looking down at his clothes and rubbing off his face paint with a horrified expression. He dropped of the apron as Hoyt tagged in The Truth. Killings quickly nailed the axe kick and pinned Raven to win. After the match, Raven demanded Bentley stand and face him, calling him the weakest of all his Serotonin disciples. He said that Devine and Kazarian were useless, but were at least man enough to accept that fact and sacrifice themselves. He demanded Bentley stand before him and admit his failure with his blood. Bentley returned to the ring as asked, but swiftly closed Raven's mouth with a superkick!

Result: Lance Hoyt & Ron Killings win via pinfall at 6:08

Overall Rating: 69%

Crowd Reaction: 68%

Match Quality: 71%

"First Time Ever" Match: A.J. Styles vs. Sting

Styles launched into a suicide dive as sting approached the ring, beginning their match outside on the floor. A.J. blistered Sting's chest with chops before scoring with the Pele and tossing him into the ring. The Spiral Tap missed it's mark and Sting took control. With incredible athleticism, A.J. escaped a Scorpion Death Drop by dropkicking the top rope and backflipping into one of his own. Styles attempted the Styles Clash but Sting used a double leg takedown to escape, then applied the Scorpion Death Lock in the center of the ring, just as he promised he would do. From out of nowhere, Father James Mitchell appeared at ringside and climbed onto the apron. Sting released the hold, walked over and popped Mitchell in the mouth. However, as he turned back to A.J., he walked right into the Styles Clash.

Result: A.J. Styles wins via pinfall at 14:36

Overall Rating: 83%

Crowd Reaction: 83%

Match Quality: 84%

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: LAX © vs. Austin Starr & Senshi

As they made their way to the ring, a fight broke out between Starr and Senshi with hostilities carrying over from Ultimate X. Senshi battered Starr with kicks before slamming him into the ring steps and delivering a devastating Warrior's Way stomp from the top rope all the way to the arena floor. Satisfied, Senshi left for the night, leaving Starr at the mercy of LAX. Homicide and Hernandez pummeled Starr but were unable to put him away as the gutsy glam rocker refused to stay down. After a particularly close near fall, Homicide shoved the referee out of the ring. Team 3D hit the ring to finish what had begun on the pre-show, wasting Homicide with a 3D and double-teaming Hernandez at ringside. The referee awoke to see Starr covering Homicide and registered the fall, awarding Starr and the absent Senshi the titles! After the bell, Hernandez suffered a 3D through a table on the floor.

Result: Austin Starr & Senshi win via pinfall at 13:47

Overall Rating: 77%

Crowd Reaction: 65%

Match Quality: 89%

NWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Christian Cage © vs. Christopher Daniels

In a pre-match interview, Cage expressed disgust about not being in the main event, but said he understood since his opponent did not deserve a spot in the main event. Cage promised that after defeating Daniels, only top-flight TNA stars would receive a shot at his championship. Cage made a costly error by attempting an Unprettier too soon. Daniels escaped and countered with a uranage slam, then introduced the champion to the Best Moonsault Ever. Cage raised his knees to deflect the impact and regained command of the bout, grounding the high-flying challenger. Again, Daniels broke loose from an Unprettier attempt and busted Christian's lip with a dropkick. A second shot at the B.M.E. connected, but Cage lifted his shoulder for a nail-biting two-count. In the end, Daniels' first attempt at the Angel's Wings was reversed into yet another Unprettier, this time successfully executed. Cage hooked the leg and scored the fall, successfully defending his title and perhaps gaining a new respect for the challenger.

Result: Christian Cage retains via pinfall at 29:36

Overall Rating: 84%

Crowd Reaction: 80%

Match Quality: 89%

Triangle Tag Match: Abyss & Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Jarrett & Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner & Tomko

Kurt Angle shocked the world by revealing his mystery partner, former multiple-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett! Jarrett received a mixed reaction from the iMPACT! Zone audience and quickly removed himself from the equation after smashing a guitar over Scott Steiner's head and dragging him off through the crowd. With their partners gone, Tomko and Angle battled in the ring with Tomko using his size to subdue the Olympian. Angle managed to duck a big boot and hit Samoa Joe for the tag. Joe unloaded on Tomko, releasing all his frustration over Tomko's interference in his Against All Odds match with Christopher Daniels. After spiking Tomko with the muscle buster, Joe tagged in Abyss and offered him the chance to finish Tomko off. Knowing Abyss' capacity for violence better than most, Tomko quickly tagged Angle in. Angle paid Abyss back for the Black Hole Slam on Thursday by administering a series of German suplexes on the monster, then applying his anklelock. Abyss gutted through the pain and crawled to tag in Joe. TNA's fiercest rivals battled once more, this time with Joe the victor. After a crippling muscle buster, Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch and forced Angle to submit.

Result: Abyss & Samoa Joe win via pinfall at 15:57

Overall Rating: 77%

Crowd Reaction: 78%

Match Quality: 78%

TNA News & Notes
March 12th, 2007

Upcoming Schedule Including LockDown "Homecoming" Notes
Tomorrow night's iMPACT! tapings will be the final appearance for TNA in Orlando until next month. Three shows will be filmed consecutively at the tapings, all leading up towards April 1st's LockDown pay-per-view. LockDown will emanate live from TNA's original home base, the Nashville Fairgrounds. Sources within TNA say the move was called for after Jeff Jarrett's first appearance as a babyface in Orlando didn't receive the desired reaction. Management now questions Orlando's willingness to accept Jarrett as a babyface and feels he will have a better chance of getting face pops in Tennessee.

Shocking Release News
Just hours after Destination X left air, TNAwrestling.com reported that "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels would no longer be working with the company. Daniels reportedly received word of his release prior to the pay-per-view, yet insisted on giving 100% in his match with Christian Cage. Several TNA wrestlers petitioned management to shave minutes off of their matches and allow Daniels and Cage to wrestle a longer match. It was also requested by Jeff Jarrett that the triangle tag match be lowered down the card and the title match close the show. Mike Tenay and Don West made no mention of Daniels' departure during the match. However, the audience watching on the Spanish broadcast was notified of the situation, as well as told Daniels would tour Mexico in the coming months.

NWA World Tag Team Title Rumors
Is it heavily suspected that Jim Cornette will strip Austin Starr and Senshi of the NWA World Tag Team Titles during tomorrow's iMPACT! tapings. TNA has announced plans for a second "Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament" in May, featuring randomly paired teams of veterans and newcomers. The current belief is that the tournament will be amended to feature the titles at stake in the finals, tentatively scheduled for May 13th's Sacrifice.

Backstage Notes From DX
Kurt Angle was reported to be "very upset" backstage. He had verbal altercations with Vince Russo, Kevin Nash and Jeff Jarrett in three separate incidents. Angle was very quick to voice his displeasure with newcomer Jimmy Jacobs' gimmick, clearly designed to satirize The Undertaker. He was also upset about having to team with Jarrett as well as tap out during the main event. Unconfirmed reports suggest the match was heavily altered at the last minute due to Angle's friction with Jarrett. In happier news, TNA management was said to be "quite pleased" with the outcome of the pay-per-view.

Sacrifice News
According to graphics leaked from the TNA art department, TNA's Sacrifice will be promoted heavily around the fact it falls on May 13th, possibly including a "thirteen way dance" of some kind. Other matches rumored from the various images include Raven versus Bentley, Rhino versus Abyss, Alex Shelley versus Jimmy Jacobs and Kip James versus Brother Runt. In the image for the Raven/Bentley match, a noose is prominently displayed.

Ex-TNAer Files Suit
J.P. Parsonage, better known as Devine, has filed a breach of contract suit against TNA in the amount of 350,000 dollars. Devine claims this is the amount promised to him by TNA management after signing an exclusive agreement with the company just weeks before his termination. The matter is expected to be settled out of court.

Scott Keith Rates Destination X
Christian Cage def. Christopher Daniels, **** - The obvious MOTN.
Chris Harris def. James Storm, **** - The surprise MOTN.
Starr & Senshi def. LAX, ***1/4 - Weird, but good.
A.J. Styles def. Sting, ***1/4 - Nice little "styles clash", pardon the pun.
Joe & Abyss def. Angle & Jarrett & Steiner & Tomko, *** - Jarrett's back. God save us.
Sabin def. Starr, Williams & Senshi, *** - I hated this "elimination" UX two years ago and hate it now.
Paparazzi def. Lethal & Dutt, *** - Note to WWE: THIS is how you combine goofy gimmicks with WRESTLING.
Diamond, Natural & Skipper def. Team 3D, **3/4 - TNA's pre-PPV matches continue to improve.
Hoyt & Killings def. Serotonin, **1/2 - As Rhino watches from "The World" in New York. Heh.

C-MIL · January 30, 2007

iMPACT! Results

March 15th, 2007

Overall Rating: 74%

Anger Overload

Mike Tenay and Don West didn't even have time to welcome viewers to iMPACT! before sending the shot to backstage where a violent altercation was in progress. Director of Authority Jim Cornette, along with TNA security, arrived at the scene as Scott Steiner viciously assaulted Kurt Angle. As he pounded away on Angle, Steiner demanded to know why he brought Jeff Jarrett back to TNA. Security separated the two and Cornette had both ejected from the building, but not before creating a match for next Thursday between the two.

Overall Rating: 90%

Tag Team Match: Shark Boy & Norman Smiley vs. The Paparazzi, with Kevin Nash

Jimmy Jacobs made his iMPACT! debut alongside Alex Shelley as they battled TNA's most fun-loving duo. Shark Boy worked over Jimmy's neck briefly, but Shelley made the tag and leveled the finned one with a step-up enzuigiri. Smiley tagged in and wound Alex up for the slam, then gave him a little taste of the Big Wiggle. Jacobs tagged back in and tried to come back, but suffered the Dead Sea Drop by Sharky. Incredibly, Jacobs sat up seconds later and remained unfazed by Smiley's punches, eventually gripping him by the throat and planting him with a chokeslam for the pin. After the bell, Jacobs again summoned flames forth from the ringposts.

Result: The Paparazzi win via pinfall at 3:19

Overall Rating: 67%

Crowd Reaction: 57%

Match Quality: 77%

Parade Peed On

Backstage, Austin Starr, dripping with gold by virtue of holding both NWA World Tag Team Titles, boasted of his victory at LockDown to Leticia. He offered to let her wear one of the belts, but only on the condition it was later on in his hotel room and that would be all she would wear. Starr's celebration was interrupted by Kevin Nash as he led the Paparazzi back from the ring. Starr couldn't resist laughing in Nash's face, saying that he had made a mistake by picking Shelley over him in the PCS Challenge. Nash smirked and said Starr could win all the championships in TNA, but he would still be "just a gay Randy Savage wannabe". Shelley laughed and taunted Starr, then Jacobs menacingly told him to "rest in peace". As the trio walked off, Starr appeared genuinely upset that his efforts to impress Nash had failed.

Overall Rating: 73%

Interview: LAX

Elsewhere backstage, Jeremy Borash had the unfortunate duty of interviewing the irate former tag champions, LAX. Homicide told Team 3D that LAX hadn't started the war between them, but promised they would finish it. He answered Borash's question about the assault on brother Runt, claiming they had nothing to do with it. Hernandez considered Team 3D's attack unprovoked and warned them to stay out of their rematch next week against Austin Starr and Senshi.

Overall Rating: 69%

Singles Match: Elix Skipper, with Simon Diamond vs. Sonjay Dutt

Two of the greatest X-Division stars never to win the gold faced off, exchanging rapid-fire moves on one another. Skipper's reach advantage came in handy as he peppered Dutt with jabs, then floored him with a spinning kick. Sonjay rallied back with a spinkick, but after being crotched across the top rope during a sprinkler, Skipper used the New School rope walk huracanrana and the Play of the Day to end it.

Result: Elix Skipper wins via pinfall at 5:04

Overall Rating: 81%

Crowd Reaction: 63%

Match Quality: 99%

Interview: Chris Sabin

As Skipper celebrated, Chris Sabin walked out onto the stage, smugly cradling the X-Division Title over his shoulder. He bragged that three of the X-Division's best had failed to dethrone him at Destination X, proving he had taken his game to a level "beyond no limits". Sabin insisted, based on Skipper and Dutt's efforts, that he had outgrown the X-Division and demanded new competition. He issued an open challenge to anyone in TNA who had never competed in the X-Division to face him at LockDown for the title.

Overall Rating: 70%

Singles Match: James Storm vs. Matt Bentley

Bentley debuted a slightly new look after freeing himself from Raven's control at Destination X. Still donning his Serotonin garb, Bentley's face paint had been altered as two red streaks crossed his cheeks, painted as if they were bloody tears. Mike Tenay explained that they were in remembrance of Devine and Kazarian, Matt's former friends who had been forced by Raven to pay for their failures in blood. He had sworn to eventually wash their blood from his face, but only with Raven's own blood. He showed uncharacteristic fire as he battled Storm head-on, pitting his own superkick finisher against the Tennessee Cowboy's. The two wrestled an even match with both nearly connecting with their finishers on numerous occasions. In the end, Bentley got his in, but Raven hit the ring and DDTed him before he could make a cover. After being disqualified, Storm joined Raven in putting the boots to Bentley, then retrieved his own bullrope and offered it to Raven to hang Bentley with. As Raven tied the noose around Bentley's neck, Chris Harris rushed the ring and chased him and Storm away.

Result: Matt Bentley wins via disqualification at 7:01

Overall Rating: 69%

Crowd Reaction: 67%

Match Quality: 72%

Interview: Raven

As Raven retreated, he stopped at the broadcast booth and declared he would indeed have Bentley's blood. Raven said that, from the Nest to the Flock to Serotonin, nobody had ever left his side once he had established control over them. He vowed that Bentley would not break that tradition and would bleed at his feet before their rivalry was through.

Overall Rating: 82%

A Deal With The Devil

In a segment filmed at a remote location, A.J. Styles arrived at a dimly-lit church, announcing himself as a visitor. He claimed he had received a note telling him to come there. From deep within the shadows, Father James Mitchell stepped forth and applauded A.J., congratulating him on his win over Sting at Destination X. Realizing it was Mitchell that had summoned him, Styles had turn to leave in disgust, but Mitchell persuaded him to stay. He said he knew Styles was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, then asked how A.J. thought Jesus would feel watching him and Sting, also a well-known Christian, battle. Styles grew concerned but Mitchell assured him that Jesus was proud, calling Sting's belief into question. Mitchell said Sting was a traitor to Christianity, proven when he released the Scorpion Death Lock to attack Mitchell instead of "turning the other cheek" and focusing on his opponent. He called Styles a true believer and asked A.J. to show him the way to Christ. Styles admitted being skeptical, but if Mitchell truly wanted to accept Christ, he would help. Mitchell said he was being honest and time was short, saying he was afraid for his life. Jim Cornette had ordered Mitchell to face Sting in a cage at LockDown. Mitchell asked Styles if he thought two weeks would be enough time to absolve his many sins, but A.J. smiled and said he had a better idea.

Overall Rating: 72%

Tag Team Match: Christian Cage & Tomko vs. Lance Hoyt & Ron Killings

As the only man of the four to leave Destination X without a win, Tomko had much to prove as he locked horns with Killings, pummeling The Truth back into the corner. The NWA World Heavyweight Champion tagged in and dropped a big frog splash onto Ron, but Hoyt broke up the pin attempt. After reversing an Irish whip, Killings cast Cage into the corner, did a backflip, dropped into a split and punched him in the gut. Hoyt tagged in and leveled Cage with a running big boot then delivered the Texas Tower Bomb on him. Cage managed to slip a foot beneath the bottom rope in lieu of kicking out, then made a desperate tag to Tomko. Tomko countered a Hoyt spear with a boot to the skull, then flipped him into a Boston crab. Lance dragged himself across the ring and tagged Killings, but Cage charged in and attacked him, kickstarting a four way brawl. As the referee tried to extricate cage from the mayhem, Abyss charged down the aisle and Black Hole Slammed Tomko! Killings made the cover for the big win, then got out of dodge as Abyss lunged towards him menacingly. Abyss stood over the fallen Tomko, when suddenly Christian walked over and shoved him. Cage demanded the referee reverse the decision and award him the match by disqualification, but all he was awarded was a Black Hole Slam from Abyss.

Result: Lance Hoyt & Ron Killings win via pinfall at 11:26

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 67%

Match Quality: 76%

No Escape This Time

As Abyss stood over the broken bodies of Cage and Tomko, Samoa Joe's music hit. Joe sauntered out onto the stage with a sly smirk, stating that Tomko's luck had apparently run out. After forcing Angle to submit at Destination X, Joe had crossed him off of his hit list, leaving only Cage and Tomko. He said he could have crossed Tomko off as well, but he escaped without being choked out first. Joe promised Tomko wouldn't be as lucky at LockDown when he and Cage would be trapped within Six Sides of Steel against Samoa Joe and the monster Abyss. With the blockbuster main event set, iMPACT! came to an end.

Overall Rating: 72%

TNA News & Notes
March 19th, 2007

Breaking News: Sting Leaves TNA
In yet another shocking announcement, Sting's publicist announced Sunday morning that he will no longer be involved with Total NonStop Action Wrestling. According to sources close to the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Sting left TNA due to his planned involvement in a "sacrilegious" storyline involving A.J. Styles and Father James Mitchell, known internally as "the battle for Styles' soul". Rumor has it that Mitchell was to use the guise of accepting Christ to in turn convert Styles to "the dark side" by implicating Sting as "the Antichrist". Sting had reportedly filed numerous complaints about working with Mitchell, but at Tuesday's iMPACT! tapings, a match was made for LockDown featuring Sting against Styles, Mitchell and Rhino, collectively known as "The Holy Trinity". Segments developing the feud on iMPACT! are expected to be edited to explain Sting's departure.

More Details On TNA's "Homecoming"
TNA will return to the Nashville Fairgrounds on Thursday, March 29th for their "Homecoming" house show. Portions of the event are expected to be broadcast live on iMPACT! as it runs simultaneously on Spike TV. In a preview of LockDown, to follow three days later, the main event will be fought within the Six Sides of Steel Cage.

Possible Future Pushes?
It is expected that Matt Bentley will defeat Raven at LockDown and the feud will continue on into the May Sacrifice pay-per-view. TNA officials are looking at this as a "make or break" feud for Bentley, hoping he can get over as a serious babyface. In other news, Lance Hoyt, Robert Roode, Eric Young, Miss Brooks and A1 all agreed to exclusive contracts with TNA, possibly indicating brighter futures for all five. Agents were said to be quite impressed with Hoyt's performance against Tomko and Christian Cage and are once again looking at him as a potential main eventer, tentatively scheduled for a summer series against Tomko. The other four are all rumored to be involved in a Team Canada reunion angle. Lastly, Jeff Jarrett was overheard pleading with management on behalf of Kip James. Jarrett feels Kip has main event potential and has even suggested putting his own comeback run to the gold on hold to battle him in a series of matches.

Spoiler Alert: iMPACT Results, LockDown Card

iMPACT! Results
Senshi & Austin Starr def. LAX to retain tag titles. Team 3D interfered.
Chris Harris def. Raven. Matt Bentley interfered.
Chris Sabin def. Eric Young to retain X-Title. Clean match.
Kurt Angle def. Scott Steiner. Jeff Jarrett interfered.
Mr. Natural def. Kip James. Clean match.
Miss Tennessee def. Christy Hemme. Clean match.
A.J. Styles & Father James Mitchell def. Sting & Rhino. Rhino turned on Sting.
Team 3D def. Samoa Joe & Abyss. Abyss turned on Joe.

LockDown Card
Table Match: LAX vs. Team 3D
Abyss & Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage & Tomko
Hell's Gate Match: A.J. Styles, Father James Mitchell & Rhino vs. Sting
NWA World Tag Team Title Match: Austin Starr & Senshi vs. The Paparazzi
Music City Death Match: Jeff Jarrett vs. Scott Steiner
Xscape Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm
TNA X-Division Title Match: Chris Sabin vs. Kurt Angle
First Blood Match: Matt Bentley vs. Raven

C-MIL · January 31, 2007

iMPACT! Results

March 22nd, 2007

Overall Rating: 75%

Alex Shelley's Animal Kingdom

iMPACT! opened with Shelley-Cam footage of Senshi meditating backstage. Alex Shelley provided mock commentary, likening the footage to a nature documentary. As Shelley commented on Senshi's "gazelle-like focus", the proud warrior stood up and ordered him to leave. Shelley said it was for a "school project" but it was merely a diversion. As Senshi advanced on Shelley, Kevin Nash charged him from behind with a big boot to the skull. Nash told Senshi that was the proper way to throw a kick as Jimmy Jacobs folded the unconscious Senshi's arms in ritual position for a funeral.

Overall Rating: 79%

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: Austin Starr & Senshi © vs. LAX

With his partner laid out, Starr was again forced to go it alone against Homicide and Hernandez. Austin put up a valiant effort, even nearly putting Homicide away with a brainbuster, but he was no match for the combined forces of LAX. Hernandez tossed Starr from the ring with the Cracker Jack then rolled outside to retrieve him. Just then, Team 3D rushed out and attacked the big man, dropping him with a 3D in the aisle. Homicide pointed it out to the referee, hoping he would award LAX the titles by disqualification, but with only Homicide's word to go on, the referee made no such call. Senshi limped out from the other side of the iMPACT Zone, still feeling the effects of the kick by Nash moments prior. Homicide quickly looked to capitalize, hooking Senshi up for the Gringo Killa, but the warrior slipped free and rolled Homicide up for the pinfall. After the match, Starr shook off the cobwebs and realized Senshi had rescued both him and the titles, then happily offered one of the belts to Senshi. Senshi was wary, but eventually accepted the title. However, he rejected Starr's request for a post-match hug though, offering instead a respectful handshake. Starr smiled, then threw his arms around him anyway.

Result: Austin Starr & Senshi retain via pinfall at 8:13

Overall Rating: 79%

Crowd Reaction: 68%

Match Quality: 91%

Interview: Team 3D

Backstage, Jeremy Borash caught up with Team 3D as they celebrated a successful attempt to cost LAX the titles. Brother Ray said their assault was dedicated to Brother Runt, whom they still insisted was beaten up by LAX at Destination X. Borash informed them that LAX had denied responsibility, but Team 3D ignored him and continued to celebrate.

Overall Rating: 74%

An Unfriendly Reminder

Elsewhere backstage, Leticia met up with Kurt Angle for an interview about his upcoming match with former "anger management coach" Scott Steiner. Angle claimed not to know why, but said that Jeff Jarrett had actually approached him about teaming up at Destination X. He said Jarrett desperately wanted a piece of Steiner for some reason. Leticia asked if Jarrett was in the iMPACT! Zone, but before Kurt could answer, Chris Sabin walked up and interrupted. He said he just wanted to remind everyone that there was still time to answer his open challenge for LockDown. Angle told him to discuss it on his own time, but Sabin said he was only interrupting another "boring Kurt Angle speech" as it was. Angle verbally dressed the punk down, asking if he had ever even cut a promo in his career, mocking Sabin's skills on the microphone. Chris brushed the insults off by telling Kurt he was good where it counted, inside the ring. He held up the X-Division Title, asked Kurt where his belt was, then walked off with a smug chuckle. Angle muttered under his breath that he hoped somebody kicked Sabin's ass, and soon.

Overall Rating: 74%

Run Like Hell

Chris Harris' entrance was interrupted as James Storm's face appeared on the video wall. Storm jovially sipped a beer as he addressed his ex-partner, challenging him to a match at LockDown. He called for a special stipulation to "even the odds" and help Chris out. Pinfalls and submissions would not count, with the winner being the first man to successfully exit the cage. Storm said this stipulation would give Harris a fighting chance, since the "Pussycat" was more adept at running from a fight than winning one. Mike Tenay and Don West noted the irony of the defaming claim as it was Storm who forfeited their match at Destination X, running away himself. To add to the point, West wondered if he even had the guts to challenge Harris face to face at all.

Overall Rating: 67%

"Raven's Rules" Match: Chris Harris vs. Raven

Raven carted out a shopping cart, filled with weapons, but it was Harris who got first crack at them as he charged up the aisle and attacked. After rifling through the cart and smashing it's contents across Raven's body, Chris began to drag Raven back to the ring. Raven countered with a drop toe hold, smashing Harris' face into the handle of the cart, then flipped the entire thing over on him. After dumping the weapons onto him, Raven rolled the empty cart to ringside, but the Wildcat recovered and charged with a spear, breezing past Raven and running head-first into the cart! Harris was trapped in the cart's clutches and Raven pulled out a Singapore cane, taking aim on his kidneys. Just then, Matt Bentley rushed out and leveled Raven with a chair shot, busting his forehead wide open! The bloody Raven collapsed just as Harris freed himself from the cart, putting him in perfect position to make the cover and score the pin. After the bell, Bentley pounced on Raven and began deepening the wound with a series of rights and lefts.

Result: Chris Harris wins via pinfall at 9:31

Overall Rating: 78%

Crowd Reaction: 79%

Match Quality: 78%

Interview: Matt Bentley

With his hands covered in Raven's blood, Bentley took hold of a microphone and said he wasn't satisfied. He believed making Raven's bleed would free of him of the guilt of allowing Raven to sacrifice members of Serotonin, but he now realized it wasn't yet enough. He demanded Raven face him in a first-blood match at LockDown, hoping there he could quench his thirst for vengeance.

Overall Rating: 64%

Beware

Escorted by his beautiful girlfriend, Samoa Joe arrived at the iMPACT! Zone, only to find himself face to face with Tomko. Joe immediately put up his dukes and told his lady to get out of harm's way, but Tomko raised his hands and said he was quite content to save any fighting until LockDown. Tomko claimed he only wanted to warn Samoa Joe about Abyss. As the only person in TNA familiar with Abyss' past, Tomko warned that Joe was making a big mistake by inviting Abyss into a steel cage as a partner. Abyss, due to his mysterious and traumatic past, has a palpable fear of being confined in such a structure and is prone to uncontrollable rage in that instance. Tomko warned Joe that, whether he could trust Abyss or not under normal circumstance, he was by no means capable of trusting Abyss once the Six Sides of Steel surrounded him. Tomko then left, leaving Joe to wonder if his brilliant strategy was as well thought out as he initially thought.

Overall Rating: 50%

TNA X-Division Title Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Eric Young

Sabin surprised Young with a dropkick, then unloaded a string of spinkicks, springboard kicks and high kicks. Completely outmatched, Young quickly succumbed to the Cradle Shock and was pinned. After the match, Sabin took the microphone and again reminded all of TNA that his open challenge for LockDown was still unsigned, inviting any non-X-Division wrestler to take a chance and face him within Six Sides Of Steel.

Result: Chris Sabin retains via pinfall at 2:22

Overall Rating: 82%

Crowd Reaction: 69%

Match Quality: 95%

Righteous Vengeance

Sting rappelled down from the top of the iMPACT! Zone and stood in the ring, addressing A.J. Styles. He claimed he had always respected Styles, though he thought little of his attitude, and that it was an honor to face him at Destination X. Sting said he was worried that Father James Mitchell was leading Styles down the wrong path, just as he had done with Abyss for many years. Sting promised, as he had done with Jeff Jarrett, he would eliminate Mitchell from TNA before he destroyed it from within. First, Sting wanted Styles to stand with him in the ring and shake his hand, competitor to competitor. Styles came out and appeared ready to do just that, but from the catwalk high above, Mitchell called down to him, telling him it was a trap. Sting said it wasn't, but Mitchell said if Sting truly respected Styles as a competitor, he would have never released him from the Scorpion Death Lock at Destination X. Sting shouted for Mitchell to shut up, threatening to have the production crew hoist him back up into the rafters so he could deck him again. Upon hearing this, Styles booted Sting in the gut and delivered the Styles Clash, then called Sting a deceiver. He spewed forth more of Mitchell's rhetoric and said if Sting truly believed as he claimed, he would pray for Mitchell as a tormented soul trying to find his proper way into heaven. As Styles walked away, leaving Sting laying, Mitchell looked down with a sinister smile.

Overall Rating: 74%

Singles Match: Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner

Enjoying a considerable strength advantage, Steiner overpowered Angle as the match began. Unable to match Steiner's muscle, Angle was forced to dig deep into his amateur wrestling repertoire and suplex him to the mat, working him over on the canvas. Unfortunately for Kurt, Steiner too had considerable mat wrestling skills, displayed fully as he reversed a front chancery and ground Angle's face into the mat. Steiner taunted Angle by doing some push-ups as he made a cover, giving Kurt the opportunity to kick out. Angle's back gave out as he attempted an Olympic Slam, causing him to swing Steiner's legs into the referee's face. Steiner capitalized with the Steiner Flatliner and made a cover, but with no conscious official in sight, it was useless. The crowd erupted in mixed sentiment as Jeff Jarrett charged into the ring and reduced a guitar to splinters over Steiner's skull! When the referee came to, he missed the shattered guitar parts strewn about and only noticed Angle's pin, which he counted. iMPACT! came to a close with Jeff Jarrett standing tall, once again a fixture of Total NonStop Action Wrestling.

Result: Kurt Angle via pinfall at 9:44

Overall Rating: 91%

Crowd Reaction: 98%

Match Quality: 77%

TNA News & Notes
March 26th, 2007

Post-Production Notes For iMPACT!
This week's episode of iMPACT! was edited to remove all reference to Sting's challenge to Father James Mitchell for a LockDown match. It is expected, given the legal battles that have begun between Sting and TNA, that A.J. Styles' attack will be the final appearance of Sting on TNA television. Also filmed at the March 13th tapings, Sting was the victim of a three-on-one attack by Styles, Mitchell and Rhino, who turned on him in a tag team match. This footage too is expected to be cut from the broadcast. Given that the March 29th house show has added Rhino versus A.J. Styles as the main event, it is doubtful Rhino's turn will be acknowledged at all on television.

Yet Another Top Name Gone
Continuing it's cost-cutting measures, TNA has released Kevin Nash from his contract. Nash has not been an active wrestler for TNA for a long time, despite becoming a stand-out performer due to his backstage antics with Paparazzi Productions. However, management felt this alone did not warrant Kevin's exorbitant price tag. All announcements on the matter say Nash leaves on good terms and, perhaps with an adjusted contract, both parties are willing to do business together in the future.

Sting Wins Important Legal Battle
Despite receiving a buy-out of his contract extension, Sting has sued TNA and won, citing breach of contract in regards to his creative control clause. A Florida judge found TNA had broken the terms of the agreement by portraying Sting in a negative light and have awarded the former World Champion over a million dollars in damages.

More Kurt Angle Woes?
In what has become commonplace these days, Kurt Angle has again been rumored to be harassing TNA management. Angle was said to be upset after his match with Scott Steiner, complaining Steiner took physical liberties with him in the ring. According to an anonymous source, Angle has been heard saying he feels most of TNA's workers are unsafe and is afraid working for the company is jeopardizing his fragile physical state. In addition, Angle reportedly pushed to be added to the upcoming Jeff Jarrett/Scott Steiner match as a three-way. This request has been refused as management feels Chris Sabin is ready to be pushed to the next level, competing in a major pay-per-view match. While the subject of the match's finish has yet to come up, it has been called "unlikely" that Angle will job cleanly, whether he is asked to or not.

TNA Stars Added To Mania?!
Former NWA World Tag Team Champions Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles will reunite at AAA's TripleMania. They will challenge Octagon and La Parka (not formerly of TNA fame) for the AAA Tag Team Titles. The two are also rumored to be negotiating with Ring of Honor for a reunion there against TNA's Austin Aries (Starr) and Homicide. This information is according to a recent interview conducted with Christopher Daniels by RoHwrestling.com.

C-MIL · February 1, 2007

iMPACT! Results

March 29th, 2007

Overall Rating: 74%

Interview: Kurt Angle

Angle entered the iMPACT! Zone at the start of the show, brimming with pride over his win against Scott Steiner last Thursday. He wasted very little time in getting to the point, speaking of his desire to extend his list of accomplishments. He claimed that he had been on the fast track since transitioning into professional wrestling, running down his lengthy list of accolades, most acquired within his first year in the business. He then said his move to TNA was an experiment, designed to see if he could rise through the ranks even faster. By virtue of Chris Sabin's open challenge, he had a literal "golden opportunity" to do just that. Angle promised at LockDown to not only make his X-Division debut, but to dethrone Sabin and get his first taste of TNA gold.

Overall Rating: 93%

Singles Match: Kip James vs. Mr. Natural

Natural took his game to the next level by opening fire on the bigger, stronger James at the opening bell. Natural dominated the action, but made a crucial error when he tried scooping Kip up for a slam. Kip slipped behind him and tied him up for the Missouri Boat Ride, but Natural threw an elbow to break Kip's grip and sat out into a stunner, dubbed by Mike Tenay as the Natural Disaster. Three seconds later, Natural was victorious.

Result: Mr. Natural wins via pinfall at 3:26

Overall Rating: 63%

Crowd Reaction: 62%

Match Quality: 64%

A True Test Of Trust

Backstage, Samoa Joe warily approached the monster Abyss, his partner in just three days' time. From behind his mask, Abyss seethed loudly as Joe confronted him about Tomko's claim that he couldn't be trusted. Joe said LockDown would be his opportunity to take both Tomko and Christian Cage out in one shot, but confessed he stood little chance against them if Abyss was too frightened to compete. Joe revealed that he had a tune-up match for them tonight and warned Abyss if he had any intention of betraying him to do it now and not then. As always, Abyss said nothing.

Overall Rating: 66%

Interview: Chris Harris

The Wildcat joined Mike Tenay and Don West at ringside where they briefly discussed the upcoming "Xscape" match at LockDown. Harris admitted the rules of the match did favor his opponent, James Storm, because he would be completely focused on beating Storm's ass than escaping the cage. When asked about Gail Kim, Harris said she was doing well but still recovering from the attack by Storm several weeks ago. He pointed to the camera and dedicated the upcoming match at LockDown to her.

Overall Rating: 70%

Knockout Exhibition Match: Christy Hemme vs. Miss Tennessee

Chris Harris sat in for commentary as Christy Hemme made her much-anticipated in-ring debut against Miss Tennessee. Don West noted it was ironic that James Storm did not accompany Tennessee to the ring but Tenay pointed out that there had been some serious problems between the two, dating all the way back to Against All Odds. Facing a disadvantage in strength, experience and agility, Hemme was easily dominated and put away with a running powerslam. After her victory, Tennessee left the ring, pausing briefly to look at Harris before hanging her head and walking off. Harris then politely excused himself and followed her out.

Result: Miss Tennessee wins via pinfall at 3:21

Overall Rating: 53%

Crowd Reaction: 63%

Match Quality: 33%

Interview: Jeff Jarrett

In a taped interview with Jeremy Borash, Jeff Jarrett spoke at length about his return to TNA. To begin, he addressed his many critics, reminding everyone that TNA was his creation and despite it's many passionate fans, nobody loved it more than he did. He admitted that there were points he used bad judgment, but insisted everything he had said or done in TNA was to help the company prosper. Of his extended rivalry with Sting, Jarrett said he realized Sting was only trying to correct the mistakes he had made but added that Sting had made mistakes of his own, especially in recent times. Jarrett then turned discussion to Scott Steiner whom he claimed manipulated him into bringing him to TNA. After seeing Steiner align with Christian Cage and attack Kurt Angle, Jarrett said he realized how bad things had gotten and immediately contacted Angle about joining forces at Destination X. He said Cage was making all the same mistakes he had made himself as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, confessing that holding the title "changes people". Jarrett too had tried to build an army and hide from challengers, but now realized that only hurt TNA and he would no longer stand for it. He closed by saying his next reign, which he guaranteed would come, would be vastly different than any previous, but first he needed to correct his mistakes and send Steiner back from whence he came.

Overall Rating: 89%

Interview: Austin Starr

Backstage, Leticia spoke of several TNA products available for purchase, but her sales pitch was interrupted by Austin Starr. Irate, Starr said he needed a moment to send a message to Kevin Nash and The Paparazzi. Austin condemned The Paparazzi's blind assault on Senshi last week. He said there was a time that he desperately wanted to impress Nash, but now realized Nash was simply a "has-been" leeching off of the stars of tomorrow to keep his name in the news. He claimed he knew better than to challenge Nash one-on-one, but offered The Paparazzi an NWA World Tag Team Title match at LockDown. The only catch was Nash would have to leave TNA forever if The Paparazzi lost.

Overall Rating: 71%

Tag Team Match: Abyss & Samoa Joe vs. Team 3D

As the very essence of teamwork, Team 3D were more than capable opponents for the somewhat tenuous alliance of Samoa Joe and Abyss. Brothers Ray and Devon lowered the boom on Abyss with their scoop slam/diving headbutt combination, then prepared the monster for the 3D. Devon tossed Abyss to the ropes, but he answered back with a colossal spear on the rebound. Samoa Joe tagged in and facewashed Devon before spiking him with the muscle buster. The pin was academic, but Brother Ray dropped an elbow to break it, just in the nick of time. Joe and Ray traded slaps and chops, ending when Ray ducked a shot and slipped behind Joe for the Deadly Bomb seated full nelson. Just then, LAX swarmed the ring and jumped Team 3D, dragging them from the ring for a beatdown on the floor. The bell sounded as the referee threw out the match, then called for reinforcement to break up the ringside mayhem. Meanwhile, Joe, still feeling the effects of the Deadly Bomb, asked Abyss to help him to his feet. Abyss simply his turned his back to Joe and walked away.

Result: Team 3D win via disqualification at 9:58

Overall Rating: 85%

Crowd Reaction: 77%

Match Quality: 94%

Viva La Mesa!

Referees swarmed the scene to pull LAX off of Team 3D, but Hernandez mightily shoved them aside as Homicide propped up a ringside table. He rolled Brother Devon into the ring, laid Brother Ray out onto the hardwood, then relieved Hernandez in holding the officials at bay. After pegging Devon with a few big punches, Hernandez hoisted him up into the Border Toss, launching him over the top rope through the Ray covered table on the floor! With that, LAX finally exited, leaving Team 3D lying amidst a pile of debris.

Overall Rating: 72%

Six Sides Of Steel Match: A.J. Styles, with Father James Mitchell vs. Rhino

After the break, iMPACT! cut to live footage from Nashville where the Six Sides Of Steel had been erected. Mike Tenay explained that a new, reinforced cage had been created for LockDown, and given the auspicious ending of their match at Against All Odds, A.J. Styles and Rhino had been tabbed by Jim Cornette to christen it. Rhino dominated A.J. early on, bouncing him from wall-to-wall inside the cage. Styles side-stepped a Gore, sending Rhino head-first into the cage. He launched into the Pele, but this time it was Rhino who dodged it, causing A.J.'s feet to clock the referee in the head. Rhino regained control with a spinebuster and made the cover, but it went unrequited. Styles avoided another Gore and sprang off the middle rope into a flipping reverse DDT, but Rhino slipped free and leveled him with the Gore. Another referee charged out, but he was followed by Father James Mitchell who whacked him with the cane. Rhino lay across Styles and hooked a leg, waiting for the original referee to regain his senses. The referee reached an achingly slow two-count, followed by the surprising ring of the bell. The ring announcer sadly declared that, due to the match being televised live, it was contested under a time limit of "T.V. time remaining", which had unfortunately expired.

Result: No-contest via television time limit expiration at 21:45

Overall Rating: 82%

Crowd Reaction: 78%

Match Quality: 86%

Taking Matters Into His Own Hands

Director of Authority Jim Cornette angrily marched to the ring and informed the live audience that the match would in fact continue. However, Cornette quickly added that because the home viewing audience would miss the ending, they could see it live this Sunday as a part of LockDown as the two faced off in a rematch. Cornette added a stipulation, since the Six Sides Of Steel wasn't able to stop Mitchell from interfering anyway, he would be locked inside the cage with the combatants. However, the perplexing decree was made clearer as Cornette noted that he would be handcuffed to the D.O.A. himself!

Overall Rating: 75%

LockDown - This Sunday Night, Only On Pay-Per-View!

Music City Death Match: Jeff Jarrett vs. Scott Steiner!

Tag Elimination Match: Abyss & Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage & Tomko!

TNA X-Division Title Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Kurt Angle!

A.J. Styles vs. Rhino!

Xscape Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm!

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: Austin Starr & Senshi © vs. The Paparazzi!

First Blood Match: Matt Bentley vs. Raven!

Table Match: LAX vs. Team 3D!

Pre-Show Match: X-Division Steel Cage Scramble!

LockDown - This Sunday Night, Only On Pay-Per-View!

Edited February 1, 2007 by C-MIL

C-MIL · February 3, 2007

"LockDown" Results

April 1st, 2007

Overall Rating: 79%

Pre-Show X-Division Steel Cage Scramble Match: Brother Runt vs. David Young vs. Elix Skipper vs. Eric Young vs. Jay Lethal vs. Mr. Natural vs. Petey Williams vs. Ron Killings vs. Shark Boy vs. Sonjay Dutt

Director of Authority Jim Cornette entered the cage during the pre-show and laid down a clipboard and a pen. He said it contained a contract for a match with the X-Division Champion and gave any TNA wrestler in the building until it was time for the pay-per-view broadcast to get it, then left the cage and locked the door behind him. Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt and Petey Williams all rushed out to be first, but were all forced to abandon their climbs in order to prevent the others from beating them to it. Lethal and Dutt, part-time tag partners themselves, decided to work together and hold down Petey. Dutt won the informal “rock, paper, scissors” match and began scaling the cage while Lethal chased Williams into the crowd. As Dutt climbed, Brother Runt ran out and followed him, then grabbed his head and dove from the cage, crashing through a ringside table. Medics arrived to the scene and carted both men out. After a brief intermission, the opportunistic Shark Boy came out and decided to go for it, but his ascent was interrupted by Ron Killings’ theme song. The Fairgrounds joined Killings in chorus, as did Shark Boy from atop the cage. While Sharky was distracted, Mr. Natural appeared out of nowhere and scaled the cage, shoving him off and down onto Killings below. Natural began to climb down into the ring, but Shark Boy and Killings recovered from the nasty spill and shook the cage. In a daredevil move, Natural vaulted over the cage into a highrise suicide dive, taking both men out. Again, medics arrived to cart the wounded out, stalling the match once more. As the clock ran down, it was desperation time. Petey Williams and Jay Lethal returned to claim the prize and continued their fight for the right to do so. Just then, Simon Diamond, armed with bolt cutters, led the Diamonds In The Rough to the ring. Elix Skipper and David Young made quick work of the exhausted duo while Diamond cut the lock off the door and opened. Young and Skipper climbed into the cage and moved in, with Skipper grabbing the clipboard while Young grabbed the pen. Elix asked for the pen, but Young asked for the contract, insisting he be the one to sign it. An argument began, but Simon stepped in to calm things down. As they worked it, from out of nowhere, Eric Young barreled down the aisle, swiftly scaled the cage and leapt off with a cross-body-block on all three. As the last man standing, Young collected the contract and pen, scribbled his name and ducked out of the cage before the Diamonds could recover.

Result: Eric Young wins via contract signing at 19:04

Overall Rating: 65%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 71%

TNA X-Division Title Six Sides of Steel Match: Chris Sabin © vs. Kurt Angle

Facing the stiffest competition of his title reign thus far and perhaps his entire career, Sabin tried to play it safe, a costly mistake when pitted against a foe as aggressive as Kurt Angle. Angle smashed Sabin's face into the cage wall and ground his forearm against his face, shredding his cheek against the mesh. Angle stomped Sabin down in a corner, but the champion grabbed his boot and took him down, applying Angle's own anklelock against him. Using the ropes, Kurt pulled himself, then tumbled forward to launch Sabin into the cage again. He tried for an anklelock of his own but Sabin countered with an enzuigiri. After scoring with the hanging dropkick, Sabin spiked Angle with the Cradle Shock and hooked a leg. Angle muscled out, forcing Sabin to rethink his strategy. Well aware his aerial ability surpassed Angle's, Sabin scaled the ropes and began climbing up the cage. At about halfway, Sabin was stopped by an Angle waistlock. Perilously balancing on the top rope, Angle tossed Sabin down with a harrowing Olympic Slam, covered him and scored the pinfall to get his first taste of TNA championship gold.

Result: Kurt Angle wins via pinfall at 13:48

Overall Rating: 84%

Crowd Reaction: 87%

Match Quality: 79%

Six Sides of Steel First-Blood Match: Matt Bentley vs. Raven

Bentley immediately targeted the not-yet-healed laceration across Raven's forehead, blasting it with kicks and clawing at it with his fingers before finally even tearing at it with his teeth. Matt borrowed a page from his uncle Shawn's playbook, dumping Raven on his head with a back suplex. Bentley made his way all the way up the cage and leapt into a Picture Perfect elbowdrop, but came up empty on the landing. Raven was quick to capitalize, hurling Bentley into the cage door with such force that it swung open, giving him a chance to sneak out and grab a steel chair. After a jarring clothesline, Raven propped up the chair and prepared to DDT Bentley onto the seat. Bentley shoved his way free from the front face lock, superkicked Raven so that he landed on the chair, then superkicked him again to knock him out of the seat. The referee checked in and noticed Raven's wound had reopened, ending the match. However, Bentley wasn't out of the woods yet. As Raven played possum on the mat, Bentley turned to leave the cage, walking right into a drop toe hold. He landed throat-first on the edge of the chair, then suffered a DDT onto it. Despite losing, it was Raven who walked out of the cage while medics had to tend to Bentley as he spit red gobs of blood out onto the canvas.

Result: Matt Bentley wins via drawing first-blood at 10:58

Overall Rating: 74%

Crowd Reaction: 75%

Match Quality: 75%

Six Sides of Steel Table Match: LAX vs. Team 3D

Tables lined the cage wall on both the exterior and interior perimeters, provided in no short supply by the production team. LAX jumped Team 3D during their entrance, attacking from behind before propping up their own table at the entrance tunnel. Homicide draped a Mexican flag over the table, then Hernandez hoisted Devon up for a spinebuster, snapping the table in two. LAX raised their arms in triumph, proclaiming victory without even setting foot inside the Six Sides of Steel. Their celebration was interrupted by Director of Authority Jim Cornette who told them that they were only half-finished. According to the rules, both members of a team must be put through a table for the match to end. Brother Ray took full advantage of the distraction and grabbed Hernandez, throwing him down the aisle into the ringside tables. He and Homicide brawled briefly, but Ray overpowered him and planted him with a powerbomb on the arena floor. Hernandez backed away as Ray chased him into the table-filled cage, but quickly found there was nowhere to go as the big man began hammering away with punches. Devon and Homicide slowly crawled their way towards the cage, but Homicide recovered first and put the boots to Devon before entering the cage to rescue Hernandez. Ray scoop slammed Hernandez, then caught Homicide coming in and scooped slammed him on top of his partner. Holding all four legs of LAX apart, he waited as Devon climbed the cage, then dove off with a flying headbutt to two groins! Ray ordered Devon to get a table, then pulled Hernandez up for the 3D. Thinking quickly, Homicide yanked the table out from underneath them, preventing his partner from going through it. With Hernandez down and out, Team 3D advanced on Homicide. Ray climbed the cage and Devon hoisted Homicide up, positioning him for a super powerbomb off the cage. Homicide threw caution to the wind and countered, delivering a death-defying huracanrana from the cage to the arena floor, sending both he and Ray through the stacked tables below! With Homicide's suicidal maneuver, Hernandez was left as the only man not to be tabled, thus making his team the winners.

Result: LAX win via breaking the table at 18:44

Overall Rating: 87%

Crowd Reaction: 77%

Match Quality: 98%

Six Sides of Steel Match: A.J. Styles, with Father James Mitchell vs. Rhino, with Jim Cornette

Mitchell and Cornette were handcuffed together as the third consecutive cage match between Rhino and Styles got underway. Eager to test the strength of the new reinforced cage, Rhino repeatedly flung Styles into the walls, nearly breaking them with his force. Styles managed to leapfrog an attempted Gore and floored Rhino with a dropkick, then climbed up to the top rope and splashed down with the Spiral Tap. Realizing an aerial tactic from the top rope would not be enough, Styles made the long trek skyward to the top of the cage where he perched and waited for Rhino to get up. Styles launched into a flying double axe handle, but Rhino met him in mid-air with an incredible flying Gore, sacking A.J. before his feet ever even touched the ground! Rhino made the sure-fire pin attempt, but Mitchell broke it up by whacking Rhino from behind with his cane, which he had concealed in his pant leg before the match. Rhino turned his attention to Father James, ripping the cane out of his hands and pitching it up and out of the cage. Cornette tried to warn Rhino, but Styles rolled him up in a schoolboy, nearly allowing the distraction to cost Rhino the match. As Styles dodged another attempted Gore, a tennis racquet fell from the rafters into the ring. Styles quickly scooped it up and blasted Rhino with it, stunning him long enough to score the pin. Styles then moved over to Cornette and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Mitchell rummaged through his pocket and located the handcuff key, then freed him. As they tried to chain the D.O.A. to the cage, Rhino stood and pulled them away. Cornette praised the heavens for Rhino's rescue, but the War Machine looked down to see the weapon that had incapacitated him. Immediately picturing Cornette with the racquet, Rhino accused him of aiding Styles and Gored him! The crowd cried bloody murder as Rhino, Styles and Mitchell fastened Cornette to the cage and beat the D.O.A. to a bloody pulp.

Result: A.J. Styles wins via pinfall at 14:02

Overall Rating: 87%

Crowd Reaction: 91%

Match Quality: 78%

NWA World Tag Team Title Six Sides of Steel Match: Austin Starr & Senshi © vs. The Paparazzi

Despite his career being at stake, Kevin Nash did not accompany The Paparazzi to the ring. Former Paparazzi alumni Shelley and Starr started the match, trading intricate counters as their partners looked on from the ring apron. After ducking a cross body block, Austin spiked Shelley with the Blockbustarr and hooked his leg for a pin. Jimmy Jacobs broke up the fall with an elbowdrop, giving Alex the chance to scramble to the corner. Jimmy tagged in and briefly took over on Starr, but Austin drove Jacobs' face into the cage wall during a Russian leg sweep, then tumbled to the corner to tag Senshi. Jacobs stood toe-to-toe with the proud warrior, rolling his eyes back. Senshi couldn't help but chuckle, prompting Jimmy to grip him by the throat. Senshi broke the grip with a kick to the leg, then launched into a vicious kick combo, ultimately ending with a sit-out fisherman's buster. Senshi climbed up top and delivered the Warrior's Way double stomp to the chest. Incredibly, Jacobs began to sit up after the impact, but Senshi stopped him with another double stomp, this time from a standing position. After pausing briefly to make sure Jacobs was done, Senshi made a cover. Starr held Alex back while the referee counted the fall. After the match, Shelley pouted in the ring as Jacobs slowly sat up, only to take a dropkick in the face from his own partner. With Nash officially gone from TNA and his partnership with Jacobs over, Alex Shelley laid Paparazzi productions to rest by breaking the Shelley-Cam against the exterior cage wall.

Result: Austin Starr & Senshi retain via pinfall at 10:10

Overall Rating: 70%

Crowd Reaction: 53%

Match Quality: 88%

Six Sides of Steel Elimination Match: Abyss & Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage & Tomko

The rules of the match were laid out by ring announcer Jeremy Borash before the opening bell. If a wrestler is pinned or submits, he must leave the cage. The last man standing wins for his team. Abyss was infinitely more concerned with his own confinement within the cage than his partner's, leaving Joe to go it alone against both Cage and Tomko. The two brutalized the Samoan Submission Machine with tandem offense, using a double suplex to drive the big man into the cage. Cage delivered the frog splash from the top rope, but Joe refused to stay down. Even the Unprettier failed to put Joe away. Finally, after wrenching away with an armbar, Cage and Tomko prepared to put on the finishing touch. Tomko climbed to the top rope as Cage wound Joe into the Unprettier. Joe shoved Cage face-first into the cage, unsteadying the ropes beneath Tomko and causing him to be crotched on the top turnbuckle. As Cage tried to shake off the cobwebs, Joe quickly spiked Tomko with the muscle buster and pinned him, eliminating him from the match. The eight minute double-team beating had taken it's toll on Joe, giving Christian a chance to capitalize as Abyss continued to claw at the cage wall, trying to escape. Cage pounded Joe in the corner, but with the crowd chanting his name, Joe soon found his second wind, returning fire with slaps and chops. He moved in with a clothesline, but Cage ducked, sending Joe colliding with Abyss. Startled and frightened, Abyss turned and began swinging wildly, clobbering Joe with punches and forearms. He whipped Joe into the ropes for the Black Hole Slam, but Joe hung on and took him down in an armbar. Once on the mat, Joe seamlessly wove one hold into another, strangling Abyss in the Coquina Clutch. Abyss refused to submit, but the rear naked choke cut off his air supply long enough to render him unconscious, granting him the only semblance of peace he had during the entire match. Abyss' arm fell thrice and the referee ordered him out of the cage, eliminated by his own partner. In the five or so minutes Joe and Abyss had battled, Cage was wisely conserving energy. Exhausted after eliminating two men, Joe was at Cage's mercy, none which he was granted. After arrogantly taunting Joe with slaps and stomps, Cage pulled him up for a final Unprettier. With his last ounce of strength, Joe broke free, gripped Christian's neck and collapsed into the Coquina Clutch. Cage held on for as long as he could, but eventually admitted defeat.

Result: Abyss & Samoa Joe win via submission at 22:47

Overall Rating: 78%

Crowd Reaction: 74%

Match Quality: 83%

Six Sides of Steel Xscape Match: Chris Harris vs. James Storm

Storm wasted absolutely no time ordering the referee manning the cage door to open it, looking to quickly escape the cage. However, Harris had a different agenda entirely, showing absolutely no interest in winning the match and instead focusing on hurting the Tennessee Cowboy as much as possible. After reducing James' chest to a deep shade of crimson by way of some vicious knife-edge chops, the Wildcat wound Storm up and planted him with the Catatonic. He began heading for the door, but stopped and continued putting the boots to Storm, looking to exact every last ounce of revenge possible. Storm caught a break by ducking a flying lariat, then scooped Harris up and drove him face-first into the mesh. With Harris dazed, Storm saw his opportunity to make a break for it. He clawed his way to the top of the cage, but left his leg dangling for too long. Harris grabbed an ankle and stopped Storm from escaping, climbing to the top to battle it out. Far above the ring, the Wildcat snatched Storm's head and flipped him into a devastating superduperplex! Both men writhed in agony on the canvas but Harris was the first to his feet. He began slowly scaling the cage, finally satisfied with the punishment he had dished out. At the top, too high up to climb back down, he watched in horror as Storm slowly began crawling his way towards the door. The dramatic race came to an end when Gail Kim rushed down the aisle and slammed the door on Storm's head, giving Harris the precious extra seconds needed to finish his descent and plant his feet on the arena floor. At ringside, Harris welcomed Gail back to TNA with a jovial embrace, then surprised her with a sudden kiss! Both seem alarmed at the emotion of the moment, but neither seemed to take offense as they walked away, smiling.

Result: Chris Harris wins via escape at 17:26

Overall Rating: 80%

Crowd Reaction: 78%

Match Quality: 82%

Six Sides of Steel Music City Death Match: Jeff Jarrett vs. Scott Steiner

LockDown closed with the first-ever Music City Death Match. From each of the six cage corners hung a guitar, completely legal to be used as a weapon by either man. According to the rules, after a pinfall or submission, wrestlers would have ten seconds to answer the referee's count. The match would only end when one was unable to. Proudly representing as the hometown hero, Jarrett wasted no time in going for the instruments, shattering a guitar over Scott's skull with a mighty swing. The genetic freak was too strong to be beaten that easily, putting his full strength on display by powering out of a cover. Jarrett grabbed his second guitar and took aim, but missed on the swing. Steiner answered back with a clubbing blow, but Jarrett countered a suplex with a small package, scoring the match's first pinfall. Steiner easily answered the ten-count at one, actually beating Jarrett to his feet. A Steinerline put Jarrett on the mat where he fell prey to a series of elbowdrops before being taunted by Scott's trademark push-ups. Steiner went to the corner and retrieved a guitar, but Jarrett had one as well. Dust filled the air as the guitars collided, but as it settled, Steiner drove Jarrett face-first into the debris with the Steiner Flatliner, dazing him long enough for the pin. As Jarrett struggled to answer the count, Steiner pulled down two of the final three guitars, keeping them close at hand. Jarrett found his feet at five, but one of the guitars found his skull by six, carving a deep gash across his forehead. Steiner again scored a pin but Jarrett again answered the count, this time needing until seven to do so. Steiner fired with another guitar, but Jarrett dodged the bullet and moved in close, grabbing the beefy arm and pulling him in for the Stroke. The surprise finisher was enough to get three, but Jarrett knew it would not be enough to seal the deal. He climbed the turnbuckles to pull down a guitar, then stood in wait for Steiner to answer the count. At six, Scott stood, giving Jarrett clearance for takeoff. Jeff leapt off the top rope with a guitar swing, but Steiner caught him in a bearhug in mid-air. With the world's largest arms closing in at his ribcage, Jarrett dropped the guitar as he struggled to breathe. Steiner prepared to belly-to-belly suplex him, but instead took a faceful of Jarrett's bloody head. A few more headbutts freed Jarrett, but Steiner moved in for the kill. As he did, Jarrett caught him with the Stroke, driving Steiner's face into and through one of the fallen guitars! After the pin, Jarrett picked up the only guitar to survive the melee and waited for Steiner to stand. He never did. At LockDown faded to black, Jarrett raised a guitar and saluted his hometown, battered, bloodied and bruised, yet victorious.

Result: Jeff Jarrett wins via standing ten-count at 15:24

Overall Rating: 74%

Crowd Reaction: 80%

Match Quality: 63%

TNA News & Notes
April 2nd, 2007

MAJOR Update: LockDown Match Reactions & Possible Spoilers
Despite winning the X-Division Title, Kurt Angle was unhappy with defeating Chris Sabin in the opening match. Angle's backstage behavior has become increasingly outspoken and he demanded bookers find a way for him to win the match without taking the title. The creative department insisted Angle leave LockDown with the title, however, relying on his star power to elevate the title's prestige. Angle was reported upset to learn he would wrestle Sabin in a return match during tomorrow's iMPACT! tapings. Expect Sabin to somehow regain the title.

Management is concerned that the Raven/Matt Bentley, once thought very highly of, will not translate into quality matches between the two. At 42 years of age, Raven is believed to be past being able to keep up with Bentley in the ring while Bentley is not seen as skilled enough to work a slower paced match. Raven has apparently petitioned TNA to recreate Serotonin and give him an army to do his fighting for him.

The finish in the LAX/Team 3D match was nearly changed after Konnan, still recovering from his kidney transplant, phoned TNA's home office and quit the company. Konnan has been quite vocal in his unhappiness with TNA's refusal to cover his medical expenses. This event caused major confusion with the creative department who believed Konnan would be returning to LAX in a matter of weeks.

There was a lot of fear regarding the reaction to Rhino's on-camera heel turn. As we reported before, Rhino initially turned heel at a recent iMPACT! taping, but the sudden departure of Sting forced bookers to edit the turn from television. There was talk of disregarding the turn completely, but because TNA will be returning to Universal Studios, the decision was made to re-turn Rhino on pay-per-view. TNA initially feared that fans would see the turn, possibly thanks to the internet reports, but were pleasantly surprised at the amount of heat Rhino got.

On the other hand, there is now concern over fan reaction to Austin Starr, who received a negative reaction from the crowd despite working as a face. Because reports of Kevin Nash's release have been widespread across the 'net, the crowd showed no interest in the "Nash must leave" stipulation, as it was already a foregone conclusion. Bookers also attribute the poor response to the preceding Styles/Rhino match which perhaps pumped up the audience too much for the tag title match to follow. To further compound the issue, Alex Shelley got cheers for attacking Jimmy Jacobs after the match which was intended to generate heat. In other news, hours after the show, it was announced Jimmy Jacobs would be leaving the company.

By virtue of his submission win over Christian Cage, it is believed that Samoa Joe will finally be placed into the NWA World Heavyweight Title picture. Joe/Cage is expected to headline May's Sacrifice. However, rumors have been accumulating for months that June's Slammiversary will feature Jeff Jarrett's babyface return to the gold, meaning Cage is likely to retain. Joe and Cage spent much of the night together going over match notes.

Management is apparently frustrated that the Chris Harris/James Storm feud, nearly five years in the making, will likely fail to elevate either into the main event. As homegrown stars, TNA officials have long believed the inevitable AMW breakup and feud would skyrocket one, if not both, to the NWA World Title. Many within the company blame Vince Russo for the failure, citing his inability or unwillingness to book a straight-up feud without any gimmicks. Even Gail Kim has reportedly taken some heat for her small part in the matter.

Despite being well-received by the crowd, there is already concern over whether or not Jeff Jarrett's babyface run will work. Less than a month into his return, he's already running the risk of being overexposed. To add to the problem, Jarrett's sabbatical has reportedly done very little to aid his cardiovascular health as he's carrying about twenty extra pounds. As minority owner of the company, Jarrett has been accused of skating by and doing the least amount necessary in regards to his in-ring performance.

In general news, Lance Storm, Scott Hall, Vampiro, Chris Kanyon and former TNA employee B.G. James were all spotted backstage. Since the Panda Energy buyout, management has been exceedingly strict about who is given clearance to events anymore. Nobody without a reason for attending is allowed on the premises.

The GutCheck Reopens
According to a press release, TNA has reopened The GutCheck, a training program for aspiring wrestlers to learn the ropes. The school will have two facilities, one in Nashville and one in Ocala, Florida, formerly the Funkin' Conservatory. Dory Funk Jr. will oversee training there while Terry Taylor will be in charge of the Nashville branch. It is rumored, though not confirmed, that Scott D'Amore's academy in Canada may also be added to the GutCheck network. According to the statement, anyone who can "survive" the rigorous training will be rewarded with a TNA contract.

Candido Cup Details Revealed
TNAwrestling.com provided a list of the eight "veterans" and eight "rookies" that will participate in the Chris Candido Memorial Cup tournament. Randomly paired teams of veterans and rookies will compete in a single-elimination tournament with the finals to take place at Sacrifice. In alphabetical order, the veterans are Jerry Lynn, Johnny Swinger, Kip James, Lance Hoyt, Norman Smiley, Ron Killings, Scott Steiner and Shane Douglas. The rookies are Alex Shelley, Austin Starr, Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal, Matt Bentley, Mr. Natural, Senshi and Sonjay Dutt.

TNA Stars Join World Japan
Abyss, Homicide, Low-Ki (Senshi) and Samoa Joe have all accepted dates with World Japan Pro Wrestling. These bookings come on top of their TNA dates as well as any other independent shows. They will not begin touring until after the Sacrifice pay-per-view.

Scott Keith Rates The LockDown Matches
LAX def. Team 3D, ****1/2 - HOLEY SHEETS!
Chris Harris def. James Storm, ***1/4 - Quite good, despite the all-too-typical finish.
Abyss & Samoa Joe def. Christian Cage & Tomko, ***1/4 - You just can't beat some "total Joelimination".
Austin Starr & Senshi def. The Paparazzi, ***1/4 - Solid match, lame crowd, they deserved better.
A.J. Styles def. Rhino, ***1/4 - Predictable turn finish, but the action was quite good.
Matt Bentley def. Raven, **3/4 - It could've been bloodier, especially for a Raven match.
Jeff Jarrett def. Scott Steiner, ** - Our hero. Yawn.
Kurt Angle def. Chris Sabin, no rating - Tuned in late.
Pre-Show Match, no rating - Tuned in late.

C-MIL · February 4, 2007

iMPACT! Results

April 5th, 2007

Overall Rating: 71%

The Sytch Is Back

Dubbed "The Holy Trinity", the team of A.J. Styles and Father James Mitchell, joined by the first time by Rhino, opened iMPACT! with an open invitation to anyone in TNA. All were welcomed "into the light", encouraged to join them in their fight to rid TNA of evil. Mitchell claimed that Sting, a false idol to millions, was first to go, followed by Director of Authority Jim Cornette who the deranged priest accused of "playing God" with his power. Their invitation came laced with a threat, for anyone not willing to follow their path would meet their doom. He said the group was protected by "someone above", either a reference to God or more likely whoever had tossed the tennis racquet into the cage at LockDown. Mitchell praised Rhino as the first to hear and answer the call, then asked if any others wished to step forward and find salvation in their righteous army. The iMPACT! Zone was shocked to see the first person to step forward, Tammy Lynn Sytch! Introducing herself only as "Tammy", she announced that she had come to TNA to help kick off the second Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament, in memory of her late lover. After suffering a hellacious beating at LockDown, Jim Cornette, the man she credited for giving her and Candido their first big break in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, had asked her to pass along a message to Mitchell and company. Cornette was a God-fearing man, but Mitchell was not God and would pay for the attack, as would his followers. Tammy said it would begin next week when Rhino goes one-on-one with Samoa Joe.

Overall Rating: 72%

TNA X-Division Title Return Match: Kurt Angle © vs. Chris Sabin

Angle decimated Sabin with a string of German suplexes, culminated by a waistlock takedown in the anklelock. Sabin reached the ropes to force the hold to be broken, then caught Angle charging in with a spinning kick. Sabin continued to fire kick after kick, softening Kurt up for the Cradle Shock, but Angle escaped the move and countered into an Olympic Slam. With that, he made the pin and successfully retained the X-Division Title.

Result: Kurt Angle retains via pinfall at 6:31

Overall Rating: 72%

Crowd Reaction: 83%

Match Quality: 78%

Interview: Eric Young

Backstage, Jeremy Borash patiently waited outside the Director of Authority's office, eager to ask questions of Tammy. As he waited, Eric Young approached him, donning a party hat. He offered one to Borash and explained he was celebrating his future X-Division Title shot, won on the LockDown pre-show. Borash congratulated him, then asked what strategy he planned to use against Kurt Angle. Young was stunned and continued to insist he was matched against Chris Sabin. Borash burst his bubble, revealing that Angle had indeed won the title from Sabin and had even defended it against him successfully. Young paused for a moment, then snapped his fingers. He told Borash he had a plan, but to keep it just between them. Borash agreed, but Young pointed out to the cameraman, whispering that he could not be trusted with the information. Young directed Borash to meet him later at an undisclosed location for full details. Borash asked where it was, but Young couldn't say, or else it would no longer be an undisclosed location.

Overall Rating: 62%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Selection #1

After Young returned to wherever, Borash entered the office to meet with Tammy. On Cornette's desk were two small tumblers, labeled "veterans" and "rookies". Tammy explained the spirit behind the Candido Cup tournament, telling of Chris Candido's inherent desire to help young talent learn, grow and develop. So too would the veterans of TNA be called upon to lend their experience to the next generation. With that, she began randomly pairing the first team, composed of veteran Norman Smiley and rookie Mr. Natural. Their opponents were revealed as rookie Alex Shelley and veteran Scott Steiner.

Overall Rating: 60%

Singles Match: Brother Devon vs. Hernandez

Due to the harrowing ending to the LockDown table match, neither Brother Ray nor Homicide was in any condition to join their partners at ringside for this one-on-one encounter. The match was more or less a slug-fest, largely dominated by the use of punches and clotheslines. Devon took control after propping Hernandez atop the turnbuckle, then yanking him down with a neckbreaker. Hernandez briefly battled back and hit the Cracker Jack, but Devon refused to stay down. As the match continued to degenerate into a brawl, both wrestlers spilled out of the ring. Just then, Elix Skipper and David Young rushed out, attacking both men from behind. Simon Diamond directed traffic as the Diamonds In The Rough waylaid the two, leaving them lying at ringside.

Result: No-contest via double-disqualification at 6:25

Overall Rating: 67%

Crowd Reaction: 69%

Match Quality: 81%

Interview: Diamonds In The Rough with Simon Diamond

As his team finished their assault, Simon took up the microphone, claiming he had grown sick and tired of the TNA tag team division. He criticized both LAX and Team 3D's lack of focus, blaming their rivalry to allow the NWA World Tag Team Titles to fall into the hands of Austin Starr and Senshi, a pair of X-Division guys not good enough to succeed in that division. Diamond said the last straw was the practice of randomly pairing wrestlers and calling them teams, claiming there was much more to tag team wrestling than just lumping a duo together. With the Diamonds In The Rough leading the way, Simon promised to usher in a new "golden age" of tag team wrestling in America in TNA.

Overall Rating: 67%

Nice To Beat You

Backstage, Scott Steiner warmed up with some cable curls, exercising his impressive biceps even further. Alex Shelley approached nervously, introducing himself. He notified Steiner, in case he didn't know already, that they were scheduled to compete in the next match as a team. Steiner simply ignored him and continued with his fitness routine. While Alex said he respected Steiner as the veteran, as a co-winner of the first Candido Cup, he offered to give him some pointers. Steiner immediately stopped and glared at Alex as the rookie meekly tried to backtrack, insisting he meant no offense. Shelley assured Steiner he knew full well that Steiner was a formidable competitor, only offering help for fear his Music City Death Match at LockDown had left the genetic freak at less than 100%. Shelley made the fatal mistake of reminding Steiner Jeff Jarrett had defeated him, causing the big man to fly into a rage and attack him. After wrapping the rubber cable around Alex's neck and smashing his face into a nearby wall, Steiner slipped on a pair of sunglasses and casually walked out.

Overall Rating: 79%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Round Handicap Match: Mr. Natural & Norman Smiley vs. Scott Steiner

Forced to head into battle without Shelley, Steiner made mincemeat of his overmatched opponents. After systematically breaking Natural down with clubbing blows, he crushed Smiley with a big slam. A double clothesline sent both men to the canvas where Steiner stacked the bodies and applied a double Steiner Recliner, forcing Norman to tap out. Single-handedly, Steiner earned him and Alex Shelley a berth into the semifinal round.

Result: Scott Steiner wins via submission at 3:28

Overall Rating: 63%

Crowd Reaction: 69%

Match Quality: 71%

Reunion

Gail Kim, still a bit giddy after LockDown, knocked on the locker room door and asking Chris Harris if she could come in. A voice told her to come on in, but she was shocked to open the door and find James Storm, seated in a chair, sipping a beer as he laced up his boots. Storm invited her in, saying Harris was going to be back shortly. Horrified, Gail turned to leave but Storm begged her to stay, placing his beer bottle on the floor to ease her nervousness. He apologized for assaulting her last month, jokingly claiming temporary insanity before saying he was just drunk. He stood and offered her his seat but Gail refused to cross the room. Just then, Harris arrived, equally alarmed to see Storm. He quickly stepped in front of Gail, demanding Storm leave her alone. Storm collected his bottle and raised his hands, saying the fight between them had ended at LockDown. He humbly admitted Harris was the better man, then saluted Gail as the woman behind him. His reason for visiting was to apologize and ask Harris and Kim if the band could get back together, wanting to ride again as half of America's Most Wanted. Harris firmly rejected the offer and ordered Storm to stay away from him and especially Kim, threatening violence if he refused. Storm flashed him a smile and the offer to reunite would remain on the table until he was ready to accept. With a tip of his hat to Gail, he excused himself for his match.

Overall Rating: 71%

Singles Match: James Storm vs. Jeff Jarrett

The iMPACT! main event featured two originals, both tracing their careers in TNA to the very beginning, going one-on-one. Donning a large bandage across his forehead, Jarrett outwrestled Storm in the opening moments, frustrating the Tennessee Cowboy and forcing him to resort to desperation fisticuffs. After peeling off the bandage, Storm busted Jarrett's face back open with his patented superkick. Jarrett kicked out of every pin attempt, including a particularly close call following a piledriver. Jarrett mounted his comeback after escaping the Eye Of The Storm and scoring with a DDT. Using the Stroke as the finisher, Jarrett made the pin, making his in-ring return to the iMPACT! Zone a success. Unfortunately, his joy was soon interrupted as Christian Cage hit the ring and blasted him with the championship belt.

Result: Jeff Jarrett wins via pinfall at 11:04

Overall Rating: 63%

Crowd Reaction: 74%

Match Quality: 63%

Gold In The Blood

Standing over Jarrett's fallen body, Cage raised the blood-covered belt above his head. Having heard Jarrett's criticism of his title reign, Cage said he had a long way to go before surpassing Jarrett as the worst champion in TNA history. He called Jarrett a liar, saying he had only ever used TNA to benefit himself. Cage claimed his 2005 departure from WWE had done more to bolster TNA's public image than anything Jarrett had done in three years as the top star. Despite his alleged change of heart, Cage said Jarrett was still the same selfish and self-serving person he ever was, secretly plotting to reclaim the NWA World Title for himself. Cage closed by saying that he fully understood, knowing himself how empty a feeling it is to be a "former" champion, to know how great the mountaintop truly is and yet not to be there. Cage offered Jarrett a title match, but advised him to work on accepting his role as former "king of the mountain".

Overall Rating: 92%

TNA News & Notes
April 9th, 2007

July Pay-Per-View On The "Victory" Road
In a press conference earlier today, TNA announced plans to host it's first international pay-per-view event. Emanating live from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, "Victory Road" is Sunday, July 8th. Raven, Abyss and Team 3D all attended the event, promising the Canadian fans a great show this summer. TNA has openly expressed interest in featuring local talent on the show, announcing weekly "GutCheck" tryouts from now until the pay-per-view. It is also believed an episode of iMPACT! will be taped in Canada as well.

TNA's Revolving Door Continues To Spin
Not even a week after being signed by the company, Tammy Lynn Sytch is already on her way out. TNA management was reportedly unimpressed with her performance as D.O.A. Jim Cornette's stand-in. A storyline injury was supposed to keep Cornette out of action until Sacrifice, but it now appears he will return at the April 17th iMPACT! tapings.

Spoilers: April 12 iMPACT!

Diamonds In The Rough def. Jay Lethal/Sonjay Dutt
Robert Roode def. Chris Harris by DQ
Shane Douglas/Senshi def. Ron Killings/Matt Bentley
Samoa Joe def. Rhino by DQ

C-MIL · February 5, 2007

iMPACT! Results

April 12th, 2007

Overall Rating: 76%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Selection #1

The show opened with Tammy in the D.O.A.'s office, selecting the next set of random teams for the Candido Cup tournament. Rookie Matt Bentley was paired with former NWA World Champion Ron Killings, while current NWA World Tag Team Champion Senshi was linked with "The Franchise" Shane Douglas.

Overall Rating: 61%

The Very Definition Of Sacrifice

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage entered the iMPACT! Zone, saying he had waited seven days for Jeff Jarrett's reply and wasn't about to wait a minute longer. He demanded Jarrett come out and answer yes or no on his challenge to a title match. When Jarrett did not surface, Cage laughed and said he knew Jarrett was going to show and knew he was going to agree to the match, so sure Jarrett's craving for the title would overpower any psychological ploy he looked to use. Sure enough, Jarrett's theme music hit and he came out, bearing a grisly line of stitches across his forehead. Cage again laughed at Jarrett's "addiction", asking how bad it hurt for Jarrett to see him with the title belt. Jarrett said it made him sick, but not from withdrawal, from disgust. He accepted Cage's challenge for a match next week on iMPACT!, but refused to make it a title match. Cage was shocked as Jarrett explained. He said that he had just returned from an extended absence while many others were leapfrogging him on the ladder of contention, making them more deserving of a title shot than him. Cage scoffed and told him the title opportunity was for Jarrett and Jarrett only, having no interest in defending against anyone else. Jarrett said Cage would indeed get a piece of Jarrett, but afterwards he would move on to Sacrifice where he would be forced to defend the title against a challenger of Jarrett's choice. Cage initially refused the stipulation, but Jarrett revealed he had already cleared it with Director of Authority Jim Cornette. As the segment ended, Mike Tenay and Don West wondered how Jarrett had done so, considerable the long standing bad blood between him and the D.O.A.

Overall Rating: 89%

A Call To Arms

Shane Douglas stormed into the locker room as Senshi meditated, demanding the rookie stand at attention. Douglas looked him over and nodded approvingly, telling Senshi he liked his style. However, Douglas didn't care how much Senshi meditated or how hard he could kick, he wanted him focused and ready to go. Douglas explained that he was only lacing up the boots to honor his "brother", the late Chris Candido, and that losing was not an option. Senshi coolly said that losing was never an option as far as he was concerned. Liking the sound of it, Douglas shook his hand, quite confident in their chance at victory.

Overall Rating: 82%

Tag Team Match: Diamonds In The Rough, with Simon Diamond vs. Sonjay Dutt & Jay Lethal

Eager to prove themselves as champions of a forthcoming golden age for tag wrestling, the Diamonds chose to let their teamwork tell their story for them. David Young brought the brute strength while Elix Skipper provided the finesse, seamlessly weaving their tandem offense together on Jay Lethal. After suffering a Young powerslam, Lethal somehow rolled away from a Skipper flying elbowdrop, tumbling to Dutt for the tag. Sonjay's breakneck speed put the Diamonds on the defensive as the Original Playa From The Himalaya nearly pinned Elix with a reverse victory roll. In the end, Skipper countered a flying headscissor into a backbreaker, then passed Dutt to David for the snap spinebuster and the pin. Simon Diamond patted his boys on the back after the match, but the trio were attacked by Team 3D! Brother Ray and Brother Devon got in some hard shots before the three could manage to escape.

Result: Diamonds In The Rough win via pinfall at 9:21

Overall Rating: 74%

Crowd Reaction: 63%

Match Quality: 85%

Interview: Team 3D

As the Diamonds In The Rough backed their way out of the iMPACT! Zone, Team 3D commandeered the microphone and called them out, claiming that the golden age of tag wrestling they craved so badly was standing right before them. Brother Ray said a lot of teams had come along and tried to make a name for themselves at the expense of him and his brother, but all pretenders to their throne as kings of tag wrestling had been turned away. As the preeminent team in the sport today, Team 3D promised to be the ones to captain TNA's tag team division and send the Diamonds back to the undercard where they belong.

Overall Rating: 69%

Gratitude With Attitude

Backstage, Ron Killings relaxed by listening to some music, bobbing his head to the beat. Matt Bentley approached him from behind, asking for a moment of his time. He reminded Ron of a recent iMPACT! episode, during his time under Raven's control in Serotonin. He admitted much of that time was hazy in his memory, but he vividly recalled Killings leading the charge to stop him from sacrificing himself to Raven. He thanked him but Killings wanted none of it. Ron said that Bentley deserved all the credit for breaking away from Raven's mental manipulation. Bentley said he was ready for a fresh start now that he was completely free of Raven and Killings thought there was no better way to begin than by winning the Candido Cup.

Overall Rating: 75%

Singles Match: Chris Harris, with Gail Kim vs. Robert Roode, with Miss Brooks

As the ladies sized each other up at ringside, the Wildcat launched a full-scale assault on Robert Roode, blasting him with chops before delivering a flying clothesline. Roode kicked out of the pin, but quickly found himself on the business end of the Catatonic wind-up slam. With her man in desperate need of help, Brooks, the seductive secretary climbed onto the apron and distracted the referee, causing Harris' pin to go uncounted. Gail Kim climbed up as well and tried to tell the referee of the cover, but Brooks shoved her off the apron to the floor. Concerned over Gail's physical well-being, Harris abandoned his pin and moved over to the ropes. Gail quickly recovered, pulled Brooks down and bitch-slapped her across the face. As a catfight broke out at ringside, Roode took advantage by climbing to his feet, then leveling Harris from behind with the Northern Lariat. As Roode moved in for the pin, James Storm charged the ring and nailed him with a superkick, causing an instant disqualification. Storm began unloading on Roode with punches, only stopping when Harris pulled him off. Victorious, Roode and Brooks quickly escaped to celebrate while Harris left soon after with Kim, leaving Storm behind.

Result: Robert Roode wins via disqualification at 5:16

Overall Rating: 74%

Crowd Reaction: 71%

Match Quality: 78%

Don't Hurt Eric

Leticia and X-Division Champion Kurt Angle conducted an interview backstage, marking Angle's first public address since winning the title at LockDown. Angle called the title win the first of many to come, clearly stating that his pursuit of the NWA World Heavyweight Title would run to his defense of the X-Division gold. He warned the X-Division wrestlers that the division had just gotten real, damn real. As he finished, Eric Young approached from behind, wheeling in a small cart. On it sat a large cake with the word "congratulations" scribed in frosting. Young applauded Kurt on his win, then handed him a small envelope. Kurt tore it open and read from the card inside aloud: "Congratulations on winning the X-Division Title. Even though I'm Canadian, you're my American idol. I would sing this in a song, but nothing rhymes with Eric. And the main thing I want you to remember is, when we wrestle, don't hurt Eric!" The crowd repeated the final three words, chanting them as Eric cut the cake and handed Kurt a piece. His hand trembled in fear, causing him to bump the plate onto Angle's chest and icing to drip down his singlet onto the X-Division Title at his waist. Angle shot him a stern glare and tore the card, scaring Young into running away screaming.

Overall Rating: 68%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Round Match: Matt Bentley & Ron Killings vs. Senshi & Shane Douglas

After an extended hiatus from action, Douglas returned to the ring to battle for the Candido Cup. Douglas controlled the opening moments, but soon insisted on bringing in the younger Senshi to pick up the tempo. Senshi annihilated Killings with vicious elbow strikes, then treated Bentley to more of the same after he tagged in. An attempt at the Warrior's Way flying stomp came too soon as Bentley kipped up off the mat and caught him with a surprise superkick as he descended from the top rope. Douglas broke up the pin attempt but Bentley remained in full control until tagging in Killings. The Truth blasted Senshi with an axe kick, then hooked him for his Truth Or Consequences gourdbuster. Just then, Raven poured out of the front row, jumped the guard rail and blasted Bentley from behind with a chairshot to the spine. Ever the opportunist, Douglas quickly moved in and hit Ron with a low blow while his partner suffered a ringside beatdown. Senshi cradled Killings into a small package for the pin.

Result: Senshi & Shane Douglas win via pinfall at 6:48

Overall Rating: 77%

Crowd Reaction: 74%

Match Quality: 80%

Interview: Raven

Raven ripped the microphone from the ring announcer's grasp and shouted at Bentley as medical personnel rushed to check on him. He said Bentley would never truly be free, not as long as he lived. The only way out of his mental snare was death, either Raven's or his own. Bentley had already proven, thanks to the failed Serotonin project, that he lacked the killer instinct to defeat Raven. In the end, he said that Bentley could fight all he wanted to, but eventually he would be forced to sacrifice his own life to truly win the war for his mind.

Overall Rating: 82%

Singles Match: Rhino, with Father James Mitchell vs. Samoa Joe

The main event, created a week prior by Director of Authority Jim Cornette as punishment for Rhino, was a true clash of the titans as both War and Samoan Submission Machines battled for supremacy. Joe took control early on with some suplexes, then took Rhino to the mat with an armhold. He tried to transition into the Coquina Clutch, but Rhino reached the bottom rope and slipped out to confer with Mitchell. Joe pounced with a suicide dive and dragged Rhino back into the ring, again trying to hook in the Coquina Clutch. Rhino backed into the turnbuckle to escape, then hammered away on Joe, softening him up for the Gore. Joe side-stepped the charge, casting Rhino shoulder-first into the ring post, then locked him in the Coquina Clutch as he fell back. Before Rhino could submit, Abyss hit the ring and stomped Joe to break the hold and end the match. With Mitchell calling the shots at ringside, Abyss closed out the show with a crushing Black Hole Slam on Joe, leaving Don West and Mike Tenay wondering if it was payback for the events of LockDown or if something more sinister was afoot.

Result: Samoa Joe wins via disqualification at 7:38

Overall Rating: 85%

Crowd Reaction: 84%

Match Quality: 87%

TNA News & Notes
April 16th, 2007

Candido Cup Notes
TNAwrestling.com has released the final four quarterfinalist teams in the Candido Cup tournament. Austin Starr and Johnny Swinger, Jay Lethal and Lance Hoyt, Jerry Lynn and Petey Williams and Kip James and Sonjay Dutt will all be featured on tomorrow night's iMPACT! tapings in the final two quarterfinal matches. The winning teams will join Alex Shelley and Scott Steiner and Senshi and Shane Douglas in the semifinal round.

Former X-Division Champion Leaves TNA For IWC
In an interview conducted in Japan, Chris Sabin revealed that he has severed business ties with TNA. According to Sabin, TNA insisted that he drop his bookings with Zero-One and worked exclusively with them. Sabin refused and the decision was made to grant him a full release. TNA contracted Zero-One workers Alex Shelley and Sonjay Dutt will remain active with both promotions. Sabin's good friend and training partner, Petey Williams, has been tabbed to replace him in the Candido Cup tournament. Sabin also promoted an upcoming appearance for the International Wrestling Cartel in which he team with Jerry Lynn to challenge Austin Aries and Low-Ki for the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Simon Diamond will be in their corner while Jim Cornette will manage the champions.

Border City Wrestling News
After months of inactivity, Scott D'Amore's BCW promotion will resume operations in June, under the designation of a TNA developmental territory. While he will serve as the promotion's in-ring authority figure, Jerry Jarrett has assumed control of the book. Despite his disappointment over being ousted from creative control, D'Amore agreed to an exclusive contract with TNA and will continue to work closely with BCW. TNA has floated three developmental contracts out to coincide with BCW's reopening. Florida-based TNA enhancement worker Buck Quartermain, ex-RoH manager and BCW alum Jade Chung and exciting Ultimo Dragon trainee Rip Impact have all agreed to work for BCW in the hopes of one day joining the TNA roster. So Cal Val, currently in the doghouse after reportedly no-showing a TNA photo shoot, has also been added to the BCW website as well.

Truth Rumors
Ron Killings will tour Puerto Rico with Savio Vega's IWA promotion. Rumors suggest this is part of a trade agreement between IWA and TNA. Upon his return to TNA, Killings may resume his partnership with Matt Bentley. Road agents were said to be very impressed with the duo's chemistry.

C-MIL · February 6, 2007

iMPACT! Results

April 19th, 2007

Overall Rating: 78%

Revenge Is Hell

For the second week in a row, Father James Mitchell and A.J. Styles opened iMPACT! by inviting anyone in TNA to join them in their pursuit to rid TNA of evil. Father James Mitchell further explained the concept of the Holy Trinity, labeling himself the "father", Abyss the "prodigal son" returning to the fold last week and Rhino as the "holy spirit of destruction". A.J. grew concerned about not being named as part of the group, but Mitchell assuaged his fears, claiming Styles had a "higher calling" and would soon serve as "savior" to all. They turned to the entrance tunnel and asked for the next "seeker of salvation" to come forward. Instead, they were confronted by Director of Authority Jim Cornette, making his first appearance since the brutal beating he suffered at LockDown. Cornette claimed it would take an act of God to remove him from office and that the Holy Trinity's attack fell far short. Mitchell dared Cornette to do his worst, claiming no one in TNA could defeat them, specifically naming Samoa Joe who they left laying last week. Cornette agreed any wrestlers he could assemble to face them would be at a disadvantage, so he forced the three to compete amongst themselves in a triangle match. Not wanting Mitchell to have enough time to scheme out of it, Cornette called for Rhino, Abyss and a referee and ordered the match begin that instant.

Overall Rating: 87%

Three-Way Match: A.J. Styles, with Father James Mitchell vs. Abyss, with Father James Mitchell vs. Rhino, with Father James Mitchell

All three turned to Mitchell for guidance at the start of the match. Unwilling to favor one over the others, Mitchell was speechless. Styles assumed the leadership position, arrogantly demanding that Abyss, the newest member of the team, lay down for him. Abyss lunged menacingly towards Styles, causing Rhino to attack him from behind. As a willing disciple of Mitchell's, Rhino respected Styles' aforementioned "higher calling" and agreed to lie down, but Abyss broke up the pin. Rhino and Styles tried to work together, whipping Abyss into the ropes, but Abyss bounced off and dropped them both with a double clothesline. Abyss hurled A.J. from the ring, but Mitchell climbed onto the ropes and distracted him, allowing Rhino to set up and hit the Gore for the win. Styles, Rhino and Mitchell made a quick escape, leaving Abyss behind. At ringside, Mike Tenay and Don West openly questioned whether or not Mitchell truly had control of the monster of if he had misunderstood the reason for Abyss' attack on Samoa Joe.

Result: Rhino wins via pinfall at 4:54

Overall Rating: 87%

Crowd Reaction: 84%

Match Quality: 91%

The Price Of Sacrifice

D.O.A. Jim Cornette settled into his office backstage, muttering to himself that it was good to be back. Not long after taking his seat, Cornette was visited by Jeff Jarrett who thanked him for agreeing to his request. Cornette explained that, with a win over Christian Cage in the main event, Jarrett would be the number-one contender. However, he confessed that the only reason Jarrett was given the opportunity was because he had promised to pass it to somebody more willing. Jarrett confirmed that was his intention, but Cornette warned that he didn't fully trust Jarrett to do it. He promised, in the event Jarrett's well-documented selfish streak flared up, Cornette would make his life a living hell in TNA from now on.

Overall Rating: 91%

A Bright Future

Elsewhere backstage, Jerry Lynn approached Petey Williams as Williams taped his wrists, preparing for his match. Lynn stopped by to tell Petey he was very proud of the way Williams had progressed in TNA over the past year, especially in regards to his attitude. While praising the skills of current champion Kurt Angle, Lynn said there was no doubt in his mind that Petey would one day again wear the X-Division Title, possibly even the NWA World Title. Williams thanked Lynn and said he too believed championship gold was in his future, but claimed his sole focus at that moment was the Candido Cup Tournament.

Overall Rating: 61%

Tag Team Match: Diamonds In The Rough, with Simon Diamond vs. Team 3D

Team 3D's planned to send the Diamonds spiraling back down to the bottom of the card, but David Young and Elix Skipper simply wouldn't go without a fight. The two punished Brother Devon with tandem offense before taking their turns wearing him down further. Borrowing a time-honored tactic from WCW's Harlem Heat, the Diamonds broke out the Heat Seeker elevated missile dropkick, nearly putting Devon away with it. Devon ducked a double clothesline and came up big with a double flying shoulderblock, giving him the upper hand long enough to tag in big Brother Ray. After seeing Ray waste David and Elix with punches and elbow strikes, Simon Diamond tried to intervene. Devon cut him off and joined Ray in administering the 3D to him. The interference had failed, but the momentary distraction was enough. Ray turned around and walked right into Young's devastating snap spinebuster. As Young made the cover, Homicide and Hernandez hit the ring and attacked him and Skipper, dishing out a dose of revenge for the Diamonds' attack on Hernandez two weeks ago. The attack quickly backfired as the Diamonds In The Rough were awarded the match by disqualification, but LAX felt little remorse in costing Team 3D a possible win themselves.

Result: Diamonds In The Rough win via disqualification at 9:26

Overall Rating: 81%

Crowd Reaction: 72%

Match Quality: 91%

June 2002

Footage of the very first match in TNA history aired as part of an advertisement for June 3rd's Slammiversary pay-per-view. In it, wrestling fans around the world got their first look at the X-Division as division pioneer Jerry Lynn led future NWA World Champion A.J. Styles and Senshi, then known as Low-Ki, in six-man tag team action against The Flying Elvises. Five years later, TNA continues to deliver the same quality action.

Overall Rating: 66%

Naughty By Nature

Backstage, Norman Smiley visited Mr. Natural, his randomly selected partner in the Candido Cup Tournament. Smiley told Natural he remembered his early career and said that he had suffered plenty of losses, asking Natural not to be discouraged but rather to learn from the experience. Natural scoffed, saying the only thing Smiley had learned from his early losses was how to lose, noting it became a common theme throughout his career. He told Smiley he didn't need any of his advice, but rather Smiley could use some of his. He told Norman to stop dancing and pandering to the fans and start wrestling. He especially advised him to stop using the Big Wiggle, calling the motions "not natural". Smiley smiled and said wiggling and screaming were natural for him, as was entertaining the great fans in TNA. Natural finished by saying Smiley could entertain all he wanted, but next week on iMPACT!, he was just going to lose again. Norman said that was fine, as long as he had fun doing it.

Overall Rating: 75%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Round Match: Jay Lethal & Ron Harris (replacing Lance Hoyt) vs. Jerry Lynn & Petey Williams

Eager to lock horns with one of his mentors, Lethal insisted on starting the match of with Lynn. The two grappled but Jerry's experience proved superior to Jay's exuberance as Lynn capitalized on a few rookie mistakes and grounded the 20-year-old high-flyer. Petey tagged in and picked up right where Lynn left off, but soon found himself overpowered by Big Ron as Lethal tagged out. Harris dominated Williams before tagging Lethal back in for a tandem running big boot/tiger suplex combination that nearly put Petey away. Williams hung on, dodged a Lethal dropkick and tagged Lynn back in. Shortly afterwards, Lynn spiked Jay with the cradle piledriver and made the pin.

Result: Jerry Lynn & Petey Williams win via pinfall at 5:19

Overall Rating: 69%

Crowd Reaction: 60%

Match Quality: 78%

No Laughing Matter

Moments before a scheduled interview with Kurt Angle, Jeremy Borash was approached by a nervous Eric Young. Young begged Borash to put him over to Kurt during the interview, encouraging him to convince Angle not to hurt him during their match. Borash asked what Young wanted him to say. He was told to say Young was his best friend, but Borash confessed that he wasn't willing to say that. Young, on the verge of tears, suddenly darted off as Kurt Angle approached. Borash asked about next week's title defense against Young, to which Angle got very angry. He said he was sick of Young's comedic antics and promised to put a stop to them once and for all. He admitted to wearing goofy hats and singing "kumbaya" in the past, but added that once he stopped all that his career flourished. He closed a warning to Young, saying next week's match was ultimately going to be the best thing for Eric's career, but that it was going to hurt immensely.

Overall Rating: 75%

Interview: Raven

From the darkness of the soundstage's boiler room, Raven explained the concept behind his Serotonin project. He described it as an "experiment", designed to take the most worthless members of the TNA roster and brainwash them into believing they were championship material, testing the theory of "mind over matter". He called the experiment a failure, claiming it only proved that the test subjects were hopeless before it even began. In an effort to clean up the mess, he had planned to sacrifice them, which he had done to both Kazarian and Devine. Bentley, however, had resisted. Raven insisted Bentley did not deserve to live, especially after the Serotonin project had corrupted his mind. He told Bentley he wasn't a champion, just a fool who believed Raven's affirmations. In fact, the only reason Bentley even resisted succumbing to the sacrifice was due to the confidence Raven had instilled in him. Nevertheless, Raven promised to finish what he had started and inevitably kill off Serotonin once and for all. Bentley's belief in himself would not be enough to sustain him without Raven's corruptive influence.

Overall Rating: 91%

Non-Title Match: Christian Cage vs. Jeff Jarrett

With the ability to name Christian's Sacrifice opponent at stake, Jarrett fought like there was no tomorrow, punishing Cage with punches, kicks, stomps, slams, suplexes and anything else he could think of. A clothesline sent Cage over the top rope to the floor, but Jarrett lost control of the match as it ventured outside the ring. After slinging Jarrett into the guard rail, Cage hooked him for the Unprettier. Jarrett escaped and Stroked Cage in the aisle, but Tomko ran out and kicked him in the head before he could drag Cage back to the ring. As the wrestlers slowly made their way back to the ring, the referee abandoned the match to forcibly eject Tomko from the building. Cage and Jarrett dropped one another with a double clothesline, ending with both staring at the ceiling. Just then, A.J. Styles ran out to the ring. He pounced to the top rope and launched into the Spiral Tap, splashing down onto Christian Cage. The crowd watched in disbelief as Styles slid out of the ring and watched on as the referee returned, just in time to see Jarrett drape an arm across Cage's chest. As iMPACT! closed, Don West expressed his sheer disgust in the prospect of Jeff Jarrett aligning with Father James Mitchell and The Holy Trinity.

Result: Jeff Jarrett wins via pinfall at 12:00

Overall Rating: 83%

Crowd Reaction: 87%

Match Quality: 74%

TNA News & Notes
April 23rd, 2007

Scott Steiner Released
Despite clinching a spot in the semifinals of the Candido Cup tournament, Scott Steiner bid farewell to TNA earlier this weekend after over a year with the company. Steiner stayed home for Tuesday's round of iMPACT! tapings, but was scheduled to appear at the May 1st tapings, though not to wrestle. Instead, he was set to kick off a feud with Alex Shelley, insisting Shelley wrestle the semifinal round for their team alone. With the amount of active storylines building, the creative department quickly found out a Steiner/Shelley match would not be easy to fit on the Sacrifice card. Upon learning he would miss out on pay-per-view bonus money, Steiner rejected the suggested storyline and opted out of his contract. According to inside sources, there is a possibility he may appear at the May 1st tapings to do one final job.

Details On Hoyt, Harris, Lynn, Cornette
On the night of Tuesday's tapings, Lance Hoyt was involved in a car accident while on his way to Universal Studios. The damage was said to be minor, but Hoyt was admitted to the hospital and treated for a broken hand. Sources say he will be good to go in time for the 5/1 iMPACT! tapings.

With Hoyt unable to appear, there was quite a scramble backstage to scrounge of a replacement "veteran" for the Candido Cup tournament. Ron Harris, who was working security at the event, was pulled out of retirement and paired with Jay Lethal for the abbreviated match. He wrestled in the same clothes he wore to the arena. Minority owner Jeff Jarrett made the official call to book Harris and was said to be very impressed with his performance, considering the circumstances.

Another wrestler whose performance in that match drew favorable reviews was X-Division pioneer Jerry Lynn. Lynn, who has worked as a road agent since 2004, is said to be in as good a shape as ever and is rumored to be considering a full-time return to the ring. He wrestled at Final Resolution in January and keeps a fairly active schedule on the independent circuit, making expectations for ring rust relatively minimal.

In other news from the tapings, it is expected that Jim Cornette will reprise his feud with Jeff Jarrett. According to an anonymous source, the feud will begin at Victory Road in a spoof of the infamous Montreal screwjob, internally referred to as "Controversy in Canada 2". Fans from 2005 may remember the first "Controversy in Canada" during which Jarrett and America's Most Wanted screwed Raven out of the NWA Title.

X-Division Outrage
Several of the X-Division wrestlers have expressed frustration with the creative department's current treatment of the division. While in the past the X-Division Title has been treated on par, or at least close to on par, with the NWA World Title. However, the division under Kurt Angle's reign has virtually fallen apart. Many feel the belt is now viewed as more of a prop, especially considering Angle's on-camera declaration that pursuing the NWA Title is an equal priority as defending the title. Even the Slammiversary ad, chronicling the division's past, bothered A.J. Styles who now truly believes he has outgrown the division. Ironically, despite receiving a healthy push in the tag team ranks, Elix Skipper has petitioned the creative department to book him in more X-Division style matches, believing it to be the best outlet for his abilities.

Spoilers: 4/26 iMPACT! Results

Norman Smiley def. Mr. Natural
Chris Harris def. Robert Roode
Austin Starr & Johnny Swinger def. Kip James & Sonjay Dutt
Eric Young def. Kurt Angle by DQ

C-MIL · February 7, 2007

iMPACT! Results

April 26th, 2007

Overall Rating: 72%

Singles Match: Mr. Natural vs. Norman Smiley

After being eliminated in the opening round of the Candido Cup Tournament, the randomly created team of Natural and Smiley disintegrated, setting the stage for iMPACT!'s opening bout. Natural attacked Smiley as he danced for the crowd, blasting him with chops before nearly snapping his spine with a wheelbarrow suplex. He scaled the ropes and splashed down with a shooting star press, but Smiley kicked out. In the end, Natural attempted the Natural Disaster ace crusher, only to find himself pinned by a schoolboy roll-up. As Norman wiggled his way out of the iMPACT! Zone, Natural pleaded his case to the referee, insisting his shoulders were not down for three.

Result: Norman Smiley wins via pinfall at 4:08

Overall Rating: 73%

Crowd Reaction: 69%

Match Quality: 78%

Less Flash, More Smash

Austin Starr strutted his way into the locker room, coming face to face for the first time with Candido Cup Tournament partner Johnny Swinger. Austin introduced himself and offered a handshake, but Swinger just looked at him and scowled. Austin took offense, but Swinger explained he had seen Starr's look and heard his rap before. Swinger was all too familiar with the cocky attitude, having embodied it himself for most of his career. Swinger told Starr he should take a cue from the likes of Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and even his own partner, Senshi. Johnny said he had adopted a flashy gimmick in his stints with WCW and WWE, but it never got him anywhere beyond Saturday Night and Heat. According to Swinger, aggression is the key to success in the world of wrestling. It was too late for him, but Swinger promised to uphold the ideals behind the Candido Cup and help his rookie partner succeed by refusing to let Starr repeat the mistakes he had made.

Overall Rating: 60%

Interview: LAX

Footage, filmed on the streets, followed LAX through their turf as they explained their stance regarding the TNA tag team division. Hernandez said Team 3D should know by now that their time as the top team had come and gone, but added that the Diamonds In The Rough's time would never come. He claimed LAX had given the NWA World Tag Team Titles more credibility than any champions before or since had, boasting about elevating the titles to another level of prestige. Homicide chimed in, promising to do it again once they were finished with the Diamonds.

Overall Rating: 68%

My Way Or The Highway

Sonjay Dutt met up with his Candido Cup partner, Kip James, backstage. Dutt was pleased to have Kip as a partner, praising his extensive accolades in the tag team division. Dutt even joked that if they went all the way in the tournament, perhaps they could add the NWA World Tag Team Titles to the list. Kip shot Dutt a strange glare before telling him they were most decidedly not a team and only wrestling together because of the tournament, which Kip condemned as stupid. He told Sonjay his only goal should be to stay out of his way and to not screw up the match. James then stormed off, leaving Dutt completely overwhelmed by his reaction.

Overall Rating: 80%

The Rage Of Cage

Elsewhere backstage, A.J. Styles sat in the dark, kneeling in prayer with Father James Mitchell. Mitchell thanked God for revealing His plan to them and asked for the strength to execute it, as per His will. As they finished, Christian Cage approached him from behind and demanded to talk to Styles immediately. Mitchell stood to address him, but Cage slapped him and again called for Styles. He demanded to know why Styles had cost him his match with Jeff Jarrett the week prior. Styles faced him and apologized, calling it part of a divine plan that Cage could not understand without praying for enlightenment. Cage told him to cut the religious crap and explain, but Mitchell answered for him, saying it was A.J.'s destiny to become NWA World Champion at Sacrifice. Virtually confirming he had somehow aligned with Jeff Jarrett, Mitchell swore that A.J. would make Christian live up to his name at Sacrifice.

Overall Rating: 87%

June 2003

Footage of TNA's 51st weekly pay-per-view event was revisited, featuring the infamous then-four-sided steel cage match between Triple X and America's Most Wanted. With a daredevil Death Sentence from the top of the cage, AMW started their third reign as NWA World Tag Team Champions. The highlight package closed with a reminder that TNA's fifth anniversary, Slammiversary, is June 3rd.

Overall Rating: 68%

No Longer Wanted

Wiping a crocodile tear from his eye, James Storm watched the footage from over Chris Harris and Gail Kim's shoulders, reminiscing about the days. He startled the two by asking how it felt to watch that again. Harris scowled at him, then told Gail to leave the building. Gail reminded him that Jim Cornette had only barred her and Miss Brooks from ringside for Harris' rematch with Robert Roode, but Harris still insisted she leave the iMPACT! Zone. He was unable to take her with him to the ring and not willing to leave her alone backstage, especially with Storm nearby. Kim relented and left, wishing him luck as she walked away. Storm smiled and said he was glad to finally have a chance to talk one-on-one with Harris, asking when he wanted to reform America's Most Wanted. Harris made it clear that, under no circumstances whatsoever, would he ever agree to team with Storm again. He told the Tennessee Cowboy to move on, get over it and above all else, stay as far away from him and Gail as possible. With that settled, Harris made his way to the ring, leaving behind an angry ex-partner.

Overall Rating: 68%

Singles Match: Chris Harris vs. Robert Roode

By decree of the Director of Authority, Jim Cornette, neither Gail Kim nor Miss Brooks were allowed to join their man at ringside. Harris, somewhat distracted by his confrontation with Storm moments before, quickly fell victim to Roode's offensive strikes. A vicious DDT nearly put Harris away, but the Wildcat managed to kick out just before three. Roode came up empty as he attempted a Northern Lariat, turning around only to take a stiff gut spear. After busting out a few high impact moves, Harris scored with the Catatonic and made the pin. The iMPACT! Zone cheered Harris as he scaled the turnbuckles in celebration, but quickly changed their tune when James Storm ran out, pulled him down and blasted him with a superkick.

Result: Chris Harris wins via pinfall at 7:55

Overall Rating: 74%

Crowd Reaction: 70%

Match Quality: 78%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Quarterfinal Round Match: Austin Starr & Johnny Swinger vs. Kip James & Sonjay Dutt

James insisted on starting while Swinger bowed out to let Starr begin, eager to see what the rookie was made of. With an overwhelming height and power advantage, Kip easily dominated the tag champion, using a gorilla press slam and standing dropkick to put him on the canvas. Starr fired up and came back swinging, knocking Kip into the corner. Sonjay tagged in and floored Austin with a spinning heel kick, then dished out much of the same to Swinger after he tagged in. Swinger battled back and hit the Swing Shift cobra clutch leg sweep, then tagged in Starr and demanded he finish Sonjay off with a submission hold, wanting Dutt to beg for Austin's mercy. Austin ignored the suggestion and climbed up top, opting for a more flashy finish. Dutt quickly rallied and climbed up for a super huracanrana, but Starr hung on to the rope and thwarted the move, then delivered the Blockbustarr for the win. As the winners argued over the method of victory, a dazed Sonjay apologized to James. Kip would have none of it. He spun Dutt around and delivered the Missouri Boat Ride, leaving the Original Playa in a heap on the mat before storming out. Swinger pointed to the move as a perfect example of the intensity he wanted from Austin, but Starr knelt down to check on his X-Division brethren. Finally, Swinger threw his hands up and walked out on Austin, fed up with his total lack of aggression.

Result: Austin Starr & Johnny Swinger win via pinfall at 7:05

Overall Rating: 70%

Crowd Reaction: 71%

Match Quality: 71%

And The Challenger Is...

Jim Cornette came to the ring and introduced number-one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Title, Jeff Jarrett. He quickly asked Jarrett whether or not he would accept the May 13th title match against Christian Cage for himself or if he would "sacrifice" it and give it to another TNA star. Before Jeff could answer, A.J. Styles' music hit and the Phenomenal One came out, along with Father James Mitchell. Styles apologized for being early but said he couldn't wait to make it official and begin training for Sacrifice. He said he knew how disgusted it made Jarrett to see wrestlers enter TNA from "up North" and immediately take over, then promised to bring the NWA Title back home to a homegrown TNA star. Styles reminded Jarrett that he had been with TNA since it's genesis five years ago and had turned down many offers to leave, claiming his loyalty should be rewarded. Before Jarrett could address that point, Christian Cage's music hit and he and Tomko came out. Cage laughed at Styles' belief that Jarrett was going to turn over the shot instead of keeping it for himself, again referring to Jarrett's greed. Furthermore, Cage mocked Styles' stupidity by claiming that if he had instead helped Cage to win last week's match, Cage would have gladly given him a shot at Sacrifice as payback. He said A.J. had committed "career suicide" by helping Jarrett. Cornette silenced both men and demanded to know Jarrett's decision. Able to speak for the first time, Jarrett said that both Styles and Cage were right. Styles was correct in thinking Jarrett would name a homegrown TNA star as challenger. However, Cage was correct too in thinking it would not be A.J. Styles. Instead, Jarrett stunned Cage by ordering him to defend the title against the man who had forced him to submit at LockDown, Samoa Joe. The iMPACT! Zone erupted in approval, save for both Styles and Cage who were livid. Immediately they put their personal differences aside and attacked Jarrett, stomping away on him until Samoa Joe charged out and chased them away. Joe and Jarrett locked eyes in an intense stare-down, ending with a respectful handshake between the two.

Overall Rating: 76%

Eric trembled in fright as the champion moved in on him, slapping him around before taking him down to the canvas. After grinding Young's face into the mat, Angle pulled him up and drilled him with a German suplex. He made a cover, but pulled Young's shoulders up before three, not yet satisfied. With every bone-jarring suplex he delivered, Angle relished with sadistic glee at Eric's plight. After several aborted near falls, Young finally got the point of Kurt's actions and gave him what he wanted, competition. He fired a few punches and twisted Kurt into a neckbreaker, desperately trying to put him away however possible. Angle quickly recovered and delivered a triple German suplex combo, then paused and waited for Young to stand for the Olympic Slam. Just then, from out of nowhere, Petey Williams rushed into the ring and flipped Young into the Canadian Destroyer, spiking him head-first into the mat. Mike Tenay and Don West looked on in shock as Petey fled the scene, grinning from ear to ear. Meanwhile, the referee called for the bell and disqualified Angle for the interference. He barely managed to escape as the psychotic Olympian lunged towards him, screaming in anger as the show came to a close. In the end, Eric Young lay unconscious in the center of the ring, completely oblivious to the fact that he was now the X-Division Champion.

Result: Eric Young wins via disqualification at 10:17

Overall Rating: 76%

Crowd Reaction: 75%

Match Quality: 78%

TNA News & Notes
April 30th, 2007

Sacrifice Main Event Program Ends Before It Begins
In news broken earlier this week, the Christian Cage/Samoa Joe title match announced on iMPACT! has been cancelled due to an injury suffered by Cage. Cage will require surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow. TNAwrestling.com has not officially commented on the matter, but the Sacrifice page on the site has not announced any matches. The creative department is expected to hash out the details at tomorrow night's iMPACT! tapings, including a timetable for Cage's return. It is not believed at this time that Christian will be stripped of the title.

Team 3D Leave TNA
On the Bubba The Love Sponge show, Brother Ray announced that he and Brother Devon will not be taking any more bookings with TNA. According to Ray's comments, he received a full release from the company, at which time Devon formally resigned. Ray said neither were interested in a singles career and would only take independent bookings as a tag team. Ray's comments were carefully tempered as not to offend TNA management, possibly suggesting the duo may return after their summer tour in Japan.

Possible Spoilers From Tomorrow's iMPACT! Tapings
The 5/3 and 5/10 episodes of iMPACT! will be taped tomorrow night at Universal Studios. In addition to the announcement of the final card for LockDown and the semifinal round of the Candido Cup Tournament, the following events are heavily rumored to be taking place. The cancellation of the Samoa Joe/Christian Cage match for Sacrifice will be explained, possibly to include Cage being stripped of the title. Eric Young versus Petey Williams may be added to the Sacrifice card, possibly as a number-one contender's match or as a three-way with X-Division Champion Eric Young. Also, LAX is rumored to be turning babyface to continue their feud with the Diamonds In The Rough.

New James Gang?
It has been reported that bookers plan to link Kip James and James Storm as a heel team called "The New James Gang". Agents have been said to be very concerned about Kip James' ability to work in singles matches, especially since he has fallen out of favor with bookers for mailing in performances. It is likely that their first feud with be with Chris Harris and a partner, most likely Sonjay Dutt. Management is said to have soured on the idea of pushing Harris as a singles star based on the crowd reactions to his matches with Robert Roode.

Former "Extremist" Signs Deal
Former wrestler for both the original ECW and the WWE-owned ECW brand C.W. Anderson has agreed to terms with TNA. Anderson was released from his WWE deal in January after seldom appearing on the Sci-Fi Channel's ECW broadcast. He is expected to compete at tomorrow's iMPACT! tapings.

C-MIL · February 8, 2007

iMPACT! Results

May 3rd, 2007

Overall Rating: 68%

Why, Petey, Why?

After the opening video package, footage from the locker room was shown as Petey Williams arrived to the iMPACT! Zone. He was immediately confronted by Jerry Lynn about his actions last week. Petey tried to ignore Lynn but Jerry persisted, refusing to leave until Williams explained. Williams went face to face with Lynn, saying he owed him no explanation and even if he did, Lynn could never understand. Lynn asked if Petey was in some kind of trouble but Williams refused to comment further, simply walking away.

Overall Rating: 70%

Singles Match: Elix Skipper, with David Young & Simon Diamond vs. Homicide, with Hernandez

Skipper scored with the New School rope walk huracanrana midway through the match, but Homicide was close enough to the ropes to drape his foot over the bottom one, breaking the pin. At ringside, Simon Diamond accused Hernandez of moving his partner's foot, insisting the referee disqualify Homicide. Hernandez defended himself by popping Simon in the mouth with a punch. Inside the ring, Homicide tried to wind Elix up in the Gringo Killa, but David Young rolled in and broke it up as Simon and Hernandez' brawl distracted the official. Young hit the snap spinebuster and slipped out undetected, but Elix failed to capitalize as an attempted moonsault with Skipper taking a gut full of knee. In the end, Hernandez proved to be the difference maker. He pointed the referee to Simon and David at ringside, then leveled Skipper with the Border Toss behind his back, leaving Elix prey to a Homicide pin. The Diamonds got the last laugh, however, as they left LAX lying after a three-on-two beat-down.

Result: Homicide wins via pinfall at 9:36

Overall Rating: 65%

Crowd Reaction: 59%

Match Quality: 87%

Consolation

Backstage, Jim Cornette warily approached Samoa Joe with news of the Sacrifice title match's cancellation. Cornette apologized profusely, saying that Christian Cage had been refused medical clearance and, according to NWA bylaws, would be unavailable to defend the title. Joe glared angrily at him, but Cornette begged off, claiming that if he could legally order Cage to defend, he would. He promised Joe would have another opportunity at the title as soon as possible, as well as offering Joe a match with Tomko at Sacrifice. Joe scoffed, calling a match with Tomko no consolation for losing out on a championship opportunity. Cornette agreed it was bittersweet and again promised Joe he would receive the title match promised to him by Jeff Jarrett once Cage was physically fit to compete.

Overall Rating: 80%

Interview: James Storm

Asked by Leticia why he again betrayed former partner Chris Harris last week, James Storm said that one way or another America's Most Wanted would be reunite, even if Storm had to beat Harris into it. Leticia told him she thought it was a stupid plan, but Storm countered that by saying she was a stupid bitch. He likened her to Gail Kim, saying all the women of TNA should be seen and not heard. He blamed Gail for the entire rift between the two and said, once she was out of the picture, he was sure Harris would come to his senses and reform AMW.

Overall Rating: 60%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Semifinal Round Match: Austin Starr & Johnny Swinger vs. Jerry Lynn & Petey Williams

Despite their friction at the top of the hour, Lynn and Williams proved to be the more cohesive team as Swinger refused to take the tag from Starr. After being outwrestled by the incomparable Lynn, Starr's knee was chipped away at by Petey's kicks. Barely able to stand, Starr dropped his head into position for the Canadian Destroyer. Swinger finally came to his partner's aid, kicking Petey in the face as he moved in for the flip piledriver. Both rookies tagged out, bringing Lynn and Swinger in, but Johnny took a shortcut eye rake to gain the early advantage, then mercilessly pummeled away on Lynn with kicks and stomps. Lynn made a sudden counter with an enzuigiri and crawled to the corner for the tag, but as he made it, Kurt Angle ran out and pulled Petey off the apron. He drove him into the ringpost, then applied an anklelock out on the arena floor. Trapped, Lynn had to venture back into battle, ultimately succumbing to a Swinger DDT. After the bell, Swinger continued to pound away on Lynn, demanding Starr join him. Starr not only refused, as actually pulled Swinger off. Meanwhile, Kurt continued to wrench away at Williams' ankle as payback for losing the X-Division Title. Moments later, Kurt was blindsided as Robert Roode ran out and clocked him from behind with the Northern Lariat.

Result: Austin Starr & Johnny Swinger win via pinfall at 11:34

Overall Rating: 65%

Crowd Reaction: 66%

Match Quality: 81%

June 2004

In the latest historical video package, TNA's second anniversary was revisited as Jeff Hardy made his TNA debut in singles action against then-X-Division Champion A.J. Styles. By taking the then-former WWE superstar to the limit and beyond, Styles proved that TNA was a much tougher mountain to climb than most outsiders would think. Three years later, TNA continues to take wrestling to the limit and beyond as they climb to the top. The video closed with a reminder that June 3rd will be the fifth anniversary celebration, Slammiversary.

Overall Rating: 68%

A Funny Story

Backstage, Styles approached Samoa Joe as the would-be number-one contender sat alone, seething. Styles chuckled and offered to tell Joe a funny story. In the story, Styles described a guy who entered TNA and kicked off an extensive winning streak, going through anyone and everyone in his path in pursuit of the NWA World Title. Just as he was about to reach his goal, the opportunity dissolved before his very eyes. Styles laughed hysterically, but Joe didn't find it nearly as amusing. Joe offered a funny story of his own, stating that Styles and Christian Cage's attack on he and Jeff Jarrett last week. When Styles requested the punchline, Joe said that D.O.A. Jim Cornette had called for a tag team match between the four as a result, but since Cage was injured, Styles would have to find somebody else. A.J. immediately turned to find a partner, but was stopped and told "the funniest part", that Joe was going to kill him.

Overall Rating: 75%

Singles Match: Enforcer C.W. vs. Tomko

Introduced as "Enforcer C.W.", the former C.W. Anderson came to the ring for his iMPACT! debut against fellow debutee, Tomko. Whether C.W. brought his A-game or not will never be known because Tomko jumped him before the bell, dropped him with a clothesline, slammed him and booted him in the skull for a decisive victory.

Result: Tomko wins via pinfall at 0:55

Overall Rating: 61%

Crowd Reaction: 61%

Match Quality: 76%

Welcome To Splitsville

Backstage, Austin Starr and Johnny Swinger were engaged in a heated argument. Starr said Swinger's post-match assault on Jerry Lynn was out of line while Swinger was fed-up with Austin's passive demeanor. Starr wanted to sit down and settle the issue before Sacrifice because, regardless of their internal strife, the team had clinched a spot in the tournament finals. Swinger laughed and offered his final piece of advice for Austin, saying nothing in wrestling in accomplished by talking. Swinger exited, warning that if Starr were to follow, it would result in physicality.

Overall Rating: 59%

Hangman's Horror

Raven came to the ring and took a seat in the corner. He said he was tired of playing mind games with Matt Bentley, ready to end the game once and for all. It was time for Bentley to suffer for his sins and the Serotonin project to be destroyed once and for all. Bentley's voice called back to him, but he was nowhere to be found. As Raven looked around for him, Bentley laughed and claimed Raven had become as obsessed with him as he had Raven. Bentley offered a different perspective on the Serotonin project, saying it wasn't a failure but rather too great a success. In his zeal to create a group in his own image, Raven had taught the three too well. Bentley said Raven had always succeeded because he was willing to take a match to any length in order to win, even if it meant destroying himself. Once Raven had instilled that principle in Serotonin, he realized they had the tools necessary to beat him at his own game. Bentley promised to do just that at Sacrifice, but added that a standard match wouldn't be enough. A noose slowly lowered from the ceiling as Bentley laid out a challenge for a Hangman's Horror Match. Raven stepped back in horror, realizing that perhaps Bentley was right, he had created the monster that would now destroy him.

Overall Rating: 83%

Tag Team Match: A.J. Styles & Abyss, replacing Christian Cage, with Father James Mitchell vs. Jeff Jarrett & Samoa Joe

As Father James Mitchell struggled to lead the monster Abyss to the ring, Samoa Joe took out every ounce of his frustration on Styles, smacking him around in the corner before administering a demoralizing facewash. After toying around with Styles for a bit longer, Joe delivered the muscle buster and left the Phenomenal One lying in the center of the ring. Jarrett requested and received a tag and came in to take his turn at beating A.J. down. After laying in a series of kneedrops, Jarrett pulled A.J. up for the Stroke, but Styles slipped free and flipped backwards into the Pele. Instead of capitalizing, Styles rolled out of the ring and demanded Abyss tag in, joining Mitchell in trying to persuade the monster to enter the match. They forced Abyss into the ring but Jarrett clobbered him from behind with an axehandle blow. Abyss spun around and booted Jeff in the face, then hoisted him into Shock Treatment. After a Black Hole Slam, Abyss made a cover, but Styles broke it up, wanting to claim the pinfall himself. Abyss would have none of it and swung Styles into a Black Hole Slam! Jarrett crawled to Joe for the tag and the Samoan Submission Machine finished Styles off with the Coquina Clutch. Horrified, Mitchell commanded Abyss to attack, but Abyss answered any question over whether or not he was with The Holy Trinity by gripping the zealot by the throat. Rhino ran out to help out, but Abyss countered a Gore with a Black Hole Slam. As the show faded to black, Joe, Jarrett and Abyss stood tall while The Holy Trinity limped their ways out of the iMPACT! Zone.

Result: Jeff Jarrett & Samoa Joe win via submission at 11:07

Overall Rating: 73%

Crowd Reaction: 83%

Match Quality: 82%

TNA News & Notes
May 7th, 2007

MAJOR Recap: Samoa Joe “BTR” Interview
In a two-hour interview with the Between The Ropes radio show, Samoa Joe spoke candidly about nearly everything under the wrestling sun. Here now is a recap of that interview.

On Sacrifice
He said it was unfortunate Christian Cage was injured but that's the nature of the business. He hopes fans will still order the PPV despite the match being cancelled, but he could honestly understand if some didn't. If he could have done it his way, the match would've been cancelled as part of a storyline and Cage's injury would have never been addressed on television. He said his and Tomko's match wouldn't disappoint and both were committed to stealing the show. He said that he was 75% sure he would have won the title, but could not confirm it. TNA management was concerned about his Japanese tour coming so quickly on the heels of Sacrifice and would not definitely say he was going to win, but he thought that was the plan.

On Being Champion
He said he wasn't sure if winning the NWA Title would be able to live up to the expectations of the fans, especially based on his run as RoH champ. He said there was no way he would ever get a two-year run as champion in TNA because fans would get sick of it fast. He said he wouldn't want to be top champion in a promotion unless he was 100% devoted to it, as he was with RoH in 2003.

On TNA In General
He admitted things backstage had been tough, thanks to the new management, but that the company was making money and progressing well since the Marathon takeover. He put over Dixie Carter over as a great boss, saying she created a real sense of camaraderie and family that had lasted beyond her involvement with TNA. He said Jeff Jarrett needed to be more aggressive and insist on bringing in the top names released by WWE. He believes TNA could get The Rock, thanks to their light schedule, but that he doubted it would happen.

On The Recent Releases
He called them mostly stupid, but some necessary. He said firing Christopher Daniels at Destination X would go down as one of the biggest blunders in wrestling history, right alongside David Arquette. He said Sting's termination was a bad move too, but admits that TNA was overpaying him. He also thinks TNA could have done more with Frankie Kazarian.

On Ring of Honor
He said RoH was definitely going to go national in 2007. He tabbed either Bryan Danielson or Christopher Daniels as the one who will dethrone Homicide of the RoH Title. He thinks the Pure Title should be brought back due to the size of the roster. He will be accepting fewer and fewer dates with them, mostly against NOAH talent and other “dream match” scenarios.

On World Wrestling Entertainment
He says the roster split is crippling the company, especially ECW. He believes TNA will overtake them as the #1 company as long as they keep developing talent that can perform in the ring. He says WWE's main mistake is not turning it's better workers into stars and vice versa. He claimed he taught John Cena how to rap and issued a public apology for it. He said he had a written agreement with World Japan Pro Wrestling that didn't expire until April of next year so he couldn't even begin to negotiate with WWE, calling his chances of working for Vince McMahon before that less than zero.

On World Japan
He will be on a red-eye flight after the iMPACT! tapings on Tuesday, May 15th and will return the morning before Slammiversary. While in Japan, he will be booked solid every night. He said the atmosphere was much wilder and the bumps were more brutal. He said he has several scheduled matches with Abdullah The Butcher which he was excited about. He will be joined by TNA's Abyss, Homicide and Senshi, as well as former TNAer Kid Kash. He said the toughest person on the tour by far was Aja Kong because it was impossible to stop her with a punch in the balls. He said there were a few people on the tour he wasn't fond of, but didn't name names.

“E.C.W.” Legal News
Hours before Tuesday's tapings, the TNA legal department received surprising notice from the WWE legal department that “C.W. Anderson” had been licensed to WWE during Anderson's brief run with the company. WWE never used the name, instead calling him “Christopher” as not to confuse viewers with the CW Network. The creative department scrambled to come up with a new name, eventually settling on “Enforcer C.W.” or “E.C.W.”, for short. WWE is rumored to have contacted the CW Network about exploring a potential infringement suit against TNA, meaning Anderson may be in store for yet another name change in the near future.

Another TNA Wrestler Released
This weekend, TNA announced the release of Norman Smiley. Smiley's release comes as something of a surprise as he was in the midst of his most prominent role with the company since his debut, embroiled in a lower midcard feud with Mr. Natural. Prior to that, he had worked in an enhancement tag team with Shark Boy.

iMPACT! Spoilers: 5/10 Results Plus Sacrifice Line-Up

Results
David Young def. Hernandez
Kurt Angle def. Robert Roode
Shane Douglas & Senshi def. Alex Shelley
Chris Harris, Norman Smiley & Sonjay Dutt def. James Storm, Kip James & Mr. Natural

Sacrifice Card
Styles vs. Jarrett
Samoa Joe vs. Tomko
#1 Contender's Battle Royal
Bentley vs. Raven
Starr & Swinger vs. Douglas & Senshi
DIR vs. LAX

Edited February 8, 2007 by C-MIL

C-MIL · February 9, 2007

iMPACT! Results

May 10th, 2007

Overall Rating: 76%

Exorcism

A backstage commotion interrupted the iMPACT! opening segment. The camera crew joined Rhino's assault on Abyss in progress as the War Machine stomped the monster's guts in while Father James Mitchell stood over him, splashing holy water into his masked face and calling for his internal demons to flee. Abyss stumbled to his feet, then got Gored viciously into the wall. As backstage officials arrived to break it up, Mitchell promised Rhino would beat the devil out of Abyss at Sacrifice, regardless of whether or not TNA officials would allow it or not.

Overall Rating: 81%

Singles Match: David Young, with Elix Skipper & Simon Diamond vs. Hernandez, with Homicide

Hernandez overpowered Young to start, but Diamond tripped him up, giving David a chance to hit a half nelson gutbuster. After a series of high-impact moves, Young whipped Hernandez into the ropes for an attempted snap spinebuster, but Hernandez countered with a spear then planted Young with the Border Toss. Realizing Simon was going to interfere again, Homicide rushed over and attacked him, dragging him away from the ring. Hernandez tried to take out Skipper, the other possible interference, but his suicide dive missed his mark. Elix delivered the Sudden Death air raid crash and pitched Hernandez back into the ring for Young to make the pin. The Diamonds In The Rough's celebration was a mobile one as LAX, no longer in fear of being disqualified, took up chairs and chased them out.

Result: David Young wins via pinfall at 6:07

Overall Rating: 73%

Crowd Reaction: 67%

Match Quality: 79%

Matches For Everybody, Almost

There was a packed house in Director of Authority Jim Cornette's office as James Storm, Kip James and Mr. Natural all descended upon the D.O.A.'s desk, each with a demand. Natural wanted another crack at Norman Smiley at Sacrifice, while Storm insisted another match between he and Chris Harris be added. Kip was by far the most vocal, asking for a match with anyone at all, completely sick of being overlooked by TNA management. Cornette told them all to relax, claiming they all had a scheduled match at Sacrifice. He cleared up the confusion by revealing that the three would join twenty-seven others in a thirty-man over the top rope "gauntlet", with the winner earning a guaranteed shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. All three were ecstatic, but Cornette said that, because they insisted on making demands, they would all see action later on in a six-man tag match. Whichever wrestler was pinned would lose their spot in the gauntlet.

Overall Rating: 76%

Interview: A.J. Styles

Black and white footage of A.J. Styles, alone in the empty iMPACT! Zone, aired. Styles called the venue the "house of Styles", claiming to be the most pivotal figure in TNA history. He grew angry with Jeff Jarrett's claim that he created TNA, saying his own contributions to the company were just as important as Jarrett's, if not more. Styles said viewers tune in to iMPACT! to see the stars of the future, not past rejects from failed companies, including WWE. When Jarrett selected Samoa Joe to give his Sacrifice title shot to, Styles said it was just another attempt to sabotage TNA by the King Of The Mountain. He noted the irony that Sting had come to TNA to get rid of Jarrett, only to be ousted by Styles and The Holy Trinity. He promised to preserve the future of TNA by eliminating Jarrett at Sacrifice, then end TNA's fifth year as NWA Champion at Slammiversary.

Overall Rating: 75%

Singles Match: Kurt Angle vs. Robert Roode, with Miss Brooks

Born of Roode's attack on Angle last week, Kurt's rage propelled him into battle as he crippled Roode with an Olympic Slam within the opening moments of the match. He neglected to make a cover and instead applied an anklelock, only to be attacked from behind by Petey Williams. The match was quickly thrown out, but Roode and Williams continued their assault. After a Northern Lariat, Petey positioned Kurt for the Canadian Destroyer, shouting his intent to snap Kurt's neck on national television. The move was thwarted by X-Division Champion Eric Young who came out swinging wildly, chasing the cowardly Canadians away. As Petey and Robert fled, Young grabbed a microphone and challenged them to a Sacrifice tag team match, then turned and helped Angle up. Angle seemed surprised, but proud that his beating of Young had apparently cured Eric's edginess.

Result: Kurt Angle wins via disqualification at 2:38

Overall Rating: 78%

Crowd Reaction: 78%

Match Quality: 79%

June 2004

In the latest Slammiversary advertisement, the inaugural Slammiversary pay-per-view's main event was revisited, featuring Raven's shocking appearance and victory in the King Of The Mountain match. By virtue of his victory, Raven became the first wrestler in history to hold championship in all four of the major promotions: WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA.

Overall Rating: 91%

Interview: Raven

After watching footage of his greatest triumph on a small portable television set up in whichever dark corner of the soundstage he had made his momentary nest, Raven it against the wall, smashing it to pieces. Calling it the last time he felt pain, joy or sadness, he confessed a part of him died after losing the NWA Championship. Turning his focus to Sacrifice, he said it would be his first step towards reclaiming the title by sending a clear message to everyone within TNA that he was still a force to be reckoned. He vowed to hang Matt Bentley and put him in his rightful place, at the bottom of a mountain of broken bodies which Raven would one day stand atop.

Overall Rating: 94%

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Semifinal Round Handicap Match: Alex Shelley vs. Senshi & Shane Douglas

Mike Tenay and Don West explained that Scott Steiner had been suspended from TNA, pending extensive psychological evaluation, which forced Alex Shelley to go it alone in the semifinal round of the tournament. Douglas insisted on starting the match off, but after taking a series of harsh kicks to the knee, he enlisted the aid of Senshi to fight the battle for it. Shelley superkicked Senshi but the martial artist quickly recovered and unloaded with elbow strikes to back Alex into the corner, then hacked away at him with kicks. Senshi launched into a handspring elbow, but Shelley slipped out of the corner and dodged the blow, then snatched up Senshi for a shiranui. Senshi slipped free, blasted Alex with a back kick and caved in his sternum with the Warrior's Way to put an end to Shelley's gutsy efforts.

Result: Senshi & Shane Douglas win via pinfall at 4:25

Overall Rating: 77%

Crowd Reaction: 78%

Match Quality: 78%

An Unlikely Ally

Backstage, Austin Starr hurled his cell phone against the lockers in frustration as Jerry Lynn approached to thank Starr for his help last week. Starr welcomed him, but said saving Lynn had cost him his partner. Johnny Swinger refused to team with Starr at Sacrifice, choosing to let Austin go it alone against the other finalist team. After seeing Douglas and Senshi decimate Alex Shelley, Starr worried there was no hope for him to win the Candido Cup. Lynn apologized for his inadvertent role in splitting the team, but Starr surprised him by asking him to replace Johnny. Jerry stammered a bit, but Starr insisted it was only for one match and asked Lynn to consider what Chris Candido would do. Lynn begrudgingly agreed, but said they needed to start immediately on developing team chemistry, urging Starr to follow him out.

Overall Rating: 63%

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Chris Harris, Norman Smiley & Sonjay Dutt, with Gail Kim vs. James Storm, Kip James & Mr. Natural

With the defeated wrestler eliminated from the thirty-man gauntlet, none of the combatants were terribly eager to jump into the ring. Eventually, Chris Harris and Kip James locked horns with the Wildcat dominating the exchange. Harris tagged in Dutt who gained a measure of revenge on Kip with the sprinkler. Unfortunately for Sonjay, a huracanrana attempt found him on the business end of powerbomb, causing both men to drop to the mat and crawl to the corners. Smiley and Natural tagged in simultaneously and rekindled their rivalry in center-ring. Smiley dominated briefly but Natural scored with a dropkick and brought in the Tennessee Cowboy to finish him off. Smiley dodged a superkick, tackled Storm and treated him to the Big Wiggle before bringing Harris back in. Storm survived long enough to tag in Kip James, but Harris hit the Catatonic moments later to score the pin and cost Kip his spot in the gauntlet.

Result: Chris Harris, Norman Smiley & Sonjay Dutt win via pinfall at 7:18

Overall Rating: 71%

Crowd Reaction: 71%

Match Quality: 72%

Interview: Samoa Joe

The show ended with an appearance by the Samoan Submission Machine. Joe came to the ring with a message for NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage. He said he realized fans were disappointed about the title match cancellation, but that it was no comparison to the disappointment he felt. For two years, Joe had dominated TNA, enjoying the most impressive won-loss record in the company's five-year history. Just as it was his time to ascend to the true pinnacle of wrestling, fate stole it away from him. While Cage will be watching Sacrifice at home in a sling, Joe promised to walk into the ring and continue to prove why he is the uncrowned NWA Champion by destroying Tomko, along with however remained as he entered the gauntlet as the thirtieth and final entrant. He left with a final message for Cage, wishing him a speedy recovery because when he returned, Joe was going to kill him.

Overall Rating: 69%

Sacrifice - This Sunday Night, Only On Pay-Per-View!

Non-Sanctioned Match: Abyss vs. Rhino!

A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett!

Samoa Joe vs. Tomko!

30-Man Over The Top Rope Gauntlet!

Hangman’s Horror Match: Matt Bentley vs. Raven!

Eric Young & Kurt Angle vs. Petey Williams & Robert Roode!

Chris Candido Memorial Cup Tournament Final: Austin Starr & Jerry Lynn vs. Shane Douglas & Senshi!

Diamonds In The Rough vs. LAX!

Pre-Show Match: Kip James vs. Lance Hoyt!

Sacrifice - This Sunday Night, Only On Pay-Per-View!

Shirley Jackson's "Total NonStop Action Wrestling"

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