TNA iMPACT! taping results, according to Alan Wojcik:
These are detailed noted from the TNA Wrestling/Spike TV tapings to air this Thursday and May 25th. The next taping will be May 29th and is scheduled to be a three show taping to lead into the June PPV, Slammiversary. Before the show began we saw a trailer for the new “X Men: the Last Stand” film. On the TV side of the building with the Slammiversary poster was an X3 poster. The LAX (“Notorious 187” Homicide and Hotstuff Hernandez) escorted Konnan and Moody Jack Melendez to their announce table. Special thanks NWA World Tag Team champions America’s Most Wanted (“Tennessee Cowboy” James Storm and “”Wildcat” Chris Harris) who sat behind me and flicked beer bottle caps at my laptop. Notably absent from the event: Matt Bentley, Lance Hoyt, Roderick Strong and Austin Aries.
Hour one taping:
NWA World Heavyweight champion “Captain Charisma” Christian Cage made his way to the ring. Correction Cage made his way into the fans. Cage called Sunday’s match with Abyss one of the most satisfying victories of his career. He told the fans the title was theirs as much as his and entered the ring. He brought up Slammiversary and the King of the Mountain match. Cage said he would be the first champion to retain his title in that match. Out of the locker room emerged “Alpha Male” Monty Brown! Brown said he owed Cage one more POUNCE. Next to the party were “War Machine” Rhino, followed by Abyss, Ron “the Truth” Killings, Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner. The venue went dark and from the rafters emerged Sting. Seems like Cage has some challengers for his title. Things got cleared up a bit when Larry Zbyszko came on screen to tell everyone he had a list of the eight top contenders but only four would be in the Slammiversary match, so we will be having four qualifier matches before Slammiversary. On screen they showed Samoa Joe getting ready for a match.
(1) In a World X Cup tiebreaker match, Team TNA/USA’s “the Future” Chris Sabin (w/Team TNA/USA) defeated Team Canada’s Petey Williams (w/Team Canada and Scott D’amore).
Before the match Penzer told the fans that Larry Zbyszko ordered everyone to the back (then why have them come out in the first place?) Things were fast paced from the bell, especially when Williams hit Sabin with a slingshot huricurana to the floor. Williams brought Sabin back to the ring for the Canadian crotch anthem. Sabin was taken to the mat and stretched out but fought to his feet. Williams hit Sabin with a lariat. Williams sent Sabin over the top rope but Sabin grabbed and came back in with a slingshot dropkick Williams’ chin. Sabin fired back at Williams with an American anthem crotch stop and dropkick to the face. Sabin hit a spinning sitout power bomb for two. Sabin went up top but his move was countered into a wheel barrel facebuster. But Sabin locked in the sharpshooter and a Canadian Legsweep as Williams countered out of the Cradle Shock. Williams went for the end but Sabin countered again, hitting the Cradle Shock to win the trophy. When he went to retrieve the trophy, Kevin Nash came out and decimated it, followed by Sabin with an in ring power bomb. Nash took the house mic; once again he belittled Sabin and the X Division. Team USA and Jerry Lynn came out to check on Sabin, but they were too little too late.
Jeremy Borash stood with the eight competitors waiting for their qualifying matches. “Slick” Mark Johnson came out in new referee attire as Mike Tenay and Don West spoke to the home audience. Chase Stevens of The Naturals was in the ring as Scott Steiner charged out and argued with Mike Tenay & Don West about something not important enough for us to hear in the venue. Samoa Joe came out and confronted Steiner before entering the ring.
(2) NWA World X Division champion Samoa Joe defeated Chase Stevens.
Like their previous encounter on Xplosion, Stevens was outmuscled by Joe. In fact Stevens got locked in the Kokina Clutch and submitted. After the match Andy Douglas hit the ring to save his partner from further damage. On the babyface rampway stood “the Franchise” Shane Douglas. Could he be the new guiding force to take the Naturals back to the titles?
Jeremy Borash spoke to Team 3D about their Sacrifice/James Gang encounter. They also took a shot at the “Extreme” attitude brewing up north. Seems like we might see a “Last Team Standing match” with the James Gang and Team 3D coming soon.
(3) In a King of Mountain qualifier, Abyss defeated “War Machine” Rhino.
These two picked up right off where they left each other from previous PPV encounters. Rhino hit a corner move and went for the GORE but Abyss got his foot in Rhino’s face. Abyss sent Rhino to the floor and followed him out tossing each other into the barricades. Both men made it back into the ring but Abyss was the aggressor for several moments. Rhino fought off Abyss and defeat several times as Abyss focused his attack on Rhino’s neck. Rhino got on the offensive with a clothesline, two shoulder tackles and a belly to belly suplex. Bobby Roode and Scott D’amore hit the ring to repay Rhino for Sunday’s loss. Abyss slid to corner and when the time was right hit the Black Hole Slam to win and advance.
Hour two taping:
(1) In a four way X Division match, Senshe’ (Low Ki) defeated Alex Shelley, Shark Boy and Jay Lethal.
Senshe’ and Lethal began but Shelley tagged himself in and asked for Shark Boy. The two men traded armdrags and dropkicks but Shark got a two count. Shark went for ten punches but Shelley slipped out and dropkicked Shark’s knee. Shelley’s cockiness backfired as Senshe’ tagged himself in and chopped Shelley. Lethal hit Senshe’ with a second rope lag lariat but his top rope move became a Tower of Doom as Shark Boy brought the other three down from the top. As Shelley and Shark fought on the floor, Senshe’ went up top and did a double stomp to Lethal’s chest. Kevin Nash came out and picked on another injured X Division star, this time Jay Lethal. Shelley was there to film the whole thing.
Jeremy Borash observed Jeff Jarrett, Scott Steiner and Monty Brown as they readied for their possible King of the Mountain qualifier matches later tonight.
(2) The Diamonds in the Rough (David Young and “Primetime” Elix Skipper w/Simon Diamond) defeated “Phenomenal” AJ Styles and “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels.
The Diamonds jumped their opponents at the bell but this backfired as Styles and Daniels took over. Skipper was able to keep Styles away from his former XXX partner for some time. Styles blocked a suplex and hit one of his own before tagging in Daniels. Styles hit a highflying move to Skipper who was on the floor. Daniels hit Young with the Angel’s Wings but as Rudy Charles focused on the outside action, Chris Harris hit the ring and then hit Daniels with the nightstick. Harris put the incapacitated Young on top of Daniels and the pin was counted by Charles.
Sting spoke to Jeremy Borash about the changes TNA needed to make to succeed; specifically saying Jeff Jarrett needed to go. Sting said he would take care of Jarrett one way or another at Slammiversary.
Mike Tenay and Don West spoke to the home audience before Team 3D hit the ring. Actually it was the James Gang dressed as Team 3D. The James, sorry Team 3D spoke about how they have wrestled all over the…sorry Philadelphia. As Kip, sorry Devon kept repeating “Oh My Brother Testify,” BG, sorry Ray bragged about being the second best tag team. Finally BG got serious talking about how they pushed Cactus Jack/Terry Funk off a rampway in a dumpster. Lastly he accepted the challenge laid down by Team 3D.
Raven appeared on the screen talking about how he was glad his suspension was over and blamed Larry Zbyszko for his loss of the NWA World Title last September. Raven reminded the fans he won the King of the Mountain last year and he would do it again. Jeremy Borash spoke to Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner about their chances of qualifying for the King of the Mountain match. Steiner must have been involved in another match, as he claimed to have manhandled Samoa Joe at Sacrifice.
(3) “Canadian Enforcer” Bobby Roode (w/Scott D’amore) defeated Andy Douglas of the Naturals (welcome back Andy.)
Douglas looked in great shape and took out some pent up aggression on Roode. Douglas controlled the match until Roode caught him with a running elbow to the jaw. Roode went to work on Douglas’ back with forearms and suplexes. Roode took Douglas to the mat with a chinlock but Douglas fought to his feet and hit a running knee and a neckbreaker. D’amore got on the apron to distract Douglas and hit worked as Roode hit the Northern Lights Lariat to win. After the match Roode was going to hit Douglas with a chair but Chase Stevens came to save his partner. The bad news for the Naturals was all of Team Canada (minus Johnny Devine and Tyson Dux) also hit the ring. Rhino came out and speared A1 as the rest of Team Canada hit the bricks. Rhino told the fans he got Zbyszko to sign a match with Bobby Roode and anyone in Team Canada he chose, so he chose Scott D’amore. As Rhino stared down Team Canada, Shane Douglas spoke to the Naturals.
Ron Killings spoke to Jeremy Borash about his chances in the King of the Mountain qualifier later tonight. NWA World Heavyweight champion “Captain Charisma” Christian Cage joined Tenay and West to talk during the following match.
(4) In a King of the Mountain qualifier, Ron “the Truth” Killings defeated “Alpha Male” Monty Brown.
Brown cut off Killings personal dance party when he jumped the former champion. Brown turned away from Killings and was hit with a top rope dropkick. Brown sent Killings to the floor and into the barricades. Brown teased throwing Killings to the fans but he sent him back to the ring. Brown jawboxed with the fans and Killings hit a tope back onto Brown. The two men fought around ringside before coming back to the ring. Brown Irish whipped Killings but it was Killings who went on the offensive with a series of moves. Brown tossed Killings in the air and hit the Alpha Bomb for two. Brown went for the POUNCE but Killings grabbed the ropes and then rolled up Brown in a pin to advance.
In a match filmed for the upcoming TNA Knockouts DVD, Gail Kim defeated Traci Brooks when James Storm tossed his beer bottle into Kim who smacked Brooks in the head as Chris Harris distracted Rudy Charles.
The following were Xplosion matches:
(1) Team Canada’s A1 and “Showtime” Eric Young (Scott D’amore did commentary) defeated Sonjay Dutt and Shark Boy.
(2) NWA World X Division champion Samoa Joe defeated Diamonds in the Rough member David Young (w/Simon Diamond and “Primetime” Elix Skipper) despite facing a three on one disadvantage.
Announced matches for Slammiversary on June 18th:
In the King of the Mountain Match, NWA World Heavyweight champion “Captain Charisma” Christian Cage vs. Abyss vs. Ron “the Truth” Killings vs two more competitors.
In a Last Team Standing match, Team 3D vs. the James Gang (Kip and BG James)
“War Machine” Rhino vs. Scott D’amore and Bobby Roode
