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We're a day away from TNA's huge Bound For Glory PPV. However, the tag team titles will not be on the PPV, but rather they will be defended right here on Impact. While we're on the subject of big matches, a six-man mayhem match will cap off this week's show. So without further ado, sit back, relax and embrace yourself for the Impact!
Match One - "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe vs "Primetime" Elix Skipper w/ Simon Diamond
This match was a kickfest turned squash as Joe hit the Muscle Buster and locked in the rear naked choke.
Winner Via Submission - "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe
They played a video package hyping "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. These video packages were an excellent idea, and a useful tool in introducing new fans to the TNA talent.
Next up was a video package about TNA's six-sided ring, something else that puts TNA over the top.
Match Two - NWA World Tag Team Championship Match - The Naturals (C) vs America's Most Wanted
The Naturals jumped the gun and went right to work on AMW, with Andy Douglas getting catapulted via a backbody drop over the top rope, to the floor, on top of them and Chase Stevens following that up by hitting a shooting star press to the floor. Gail Kim came out to help AMW as we went to a commercial break. Coming back from the break, AMW, with the help of Kim, took the advantage, busting Douglas open with one of the championship belts. All four men got involved, but with Douglas bleeding, Stevens was pretty much on his own. With the referee knocked out from a charging Harris, The Naturals hit The Natural Disaster, but there was nobody to count. Kim tried to get involved, but wound up hitting "The Tennesee Cowboy" James Storm with a huricanrana. The Naturals went to hit her with The Natural Disaster, but "The King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett interfered, leading to Stevens getting cracked in the head with a bottle for the one-two-three. After the match, the beat down on The Naturals continued. They lost Jimmy Hart, they lost the titles, what's next?
Winners Via Pinfall and NEW NWA World Tag Team Champions - America's Most Wanted
That match was followed up by a video package hyping another TNA innovation, The Ultimate X match, while at the same time, putting over the competitors who will be in the match at Bound For Glory, Michael Shane / Matt Bentley, Petey Williams and Chris Sabin. Thanks to Mike Tenay, we also find out that The Ultimate X match is coming soon to Spike TV.
Match Three - Bobby Roode w/ Coach Scott D'Amore vs Ron "The Truth" Killings w/ BG James
Prior to the match getting underway, James did his little spiel on the mic. Roode attacked Killings, but his turn in the driver's seat did not last as long as he would have liked it to. Killings came back and hit a huge tope con hilo to the floor. Roode, along with D'Amore, grounded Killings as Kip James made his way to ringside. In the back Konnan and Apolo were watching a monitor, prompting Konnan to make his way to ringside as well. Kip James and Konnan came to blows as BG James and security broke things up. A-1 and "Showtime" Eric Young joined D'Amore, interfering in the match. Roode was able to capitalize on the distraction and break a hockey stick across the back of Killings.
Winner Via Pinfall - Bobby Roode
"The Franchise" Shane Douglas stood backstage with "The Monster" Abyss, "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown, "The King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett and Father James Mitchell. Brown got up in Jarrett's face, before Jarrett set the record straight with him. He then acknowledged Abyss and told him he had the same deal as Brown, worry about the match first and the title later. Abyss and Brown would both be good contenders if given the opportunity again.
Match Four - Six Man Mayhem Match - "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown, "The Monster" Abyss, "The King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett w/ Father James Mitchell vs "The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy, Lace Hoyt and "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
*Storyline Error -- Supposedly all four men in the Monsters Ball 2 match from the PPV will have been locked up for 24 hours prior to the match. But to the average fan, here they are competing in the main event of this show at 11 pm ET Saturday night.
In the early goings, Styles, Hoyt and Hardy took turns beating on Abyss, before all six men got involved. Jarrett tried to attack Styles from behind, but was met with The Pele Kick. Coming back from commercial break, Styles was in firm control, taking out everybody single handily, but when Styles went for a Styles Clash on Abyss, Jarrett hit him from behind, getting control back for the heels. With newfound hope, Brown proceeded to beat down "The Phenomenal One" before tagging in Abyss. After squashing Styles with a splash, Abyss made the tag to Jarrett who was met with a dropkick. Jarrett made the double tag to Abyss and Brown who caught Styles off a springboard. Styles made the double tag to his partners and the match turned into a brawl. Hardy hit the Swanton Bomb on Abyss, but Brown broke the pinfall up. Hoyt then knocked Brown out, but this time Jarrett made the save. Styles and Jarrett went at it, but when Jarrett tried to lock in the Figure Four, he was met with an ensiguri. Styles hit a suplex and went to the top rope, only to be shoved off by "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. Jarrett went for The Stroke, but Brown interrupted it, hitting Styles with The Pounce for the pin. After the match, a beat down ensued on Styles, before "The Suicidal, Homicidal, Genocidal" Sabu and "The Man Beast" Rhino came down. Sabu dove to the floor just as Kevin Nash's music hit and Impact came to a close.
Winners Via Pinfall - "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown, "The Monster" Abyss and "The King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett
Fairly solid Impact, too bad there had to be interference in every match except for one. TNA needs to realize that brawls are not the only way to showcase all of their talent. They need to break things up a little better than they have been. There action and shows have been much better, but their way of handling certain situations is still questionable.
Chris Sokol is from Long Island, NY.