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Impact: A wealth of title challengers
By
CHRIS SOKOL - SLAM! Wrestling
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Time to sit back and check out another edition of TNA Impact. We are fresh out of the gates after one of TNA's most successful (not necessarily match wise) PPVs, Final Resolution. With the arrival of Sting and a few fresh feuds already set out in front of us, it's time to dig in and see what we get on our road to Against All Odds.
We get a recap of the recent happenings in TNA
before jumping into our first matchup...
Match One - The Diamonds in the Rough
("Primetime" Elix Skipper and David Young) w/ Simon Diamond vs. Chris Sabin and
Sonjay Dutt
First of all, what is with Chris Sabin's hair? It seems like the new thing in TNA is getting streaks put into your hair. Works for some, but not for all. He doesn't look like Chris Sabin anymore. Regardless, the match went on with The Diamonds in the Rough gaining the upperhand thanks to their mentor Simon Diamond. Sabin and Dutt were able to overcome the obstacles, with Dutt landing a Hindu Press on Young for the three count.
Winners Via Pinfall - Chris Sabin and
Sonjay Dutt
Morphoplex Move of the Night - The Hindu Press
In the backstage area, "The Franchise" Shane
Douglas was able to catch a few words with "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, before
"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels interrupted. Daniels wasn't happy with
the news that Styles was the new number one contender for the X Division
Championship, especially since it was Styles that threw in the towel for Daniels
during his X Division title shot. The verbal war ended peacefully, but you
better believe these two aren't finished with each other.
As we arrive back from a commercial break, Shane
Douglas greets us outside of Sting's lockeroom. He informs us that if Sting
arrives to the arena, he will get an exclusive interview.
Match Two - Team Canada (Petey Williams,
"Showtime" Eric Young and A-1) w/ Coach Scott D'Amore vs. Ron Killings, Lance
Hoyt and Shark Boy
Everyone's favorite heel referee Dave Hebner made
his way down the ramp to take a few notes on this match. Team Canada cheated a
bit and played the numbers game to pick up some steam early on in the match.
Shark Boy used his biting tactics to mount a comeback, Killings and Hoyt
compounded the advantage, taking out the three stars from North of the Border.
With complete mayhem in the background, Williams and Shark Boy entered back into
the ring, with Williams finishing Shark Boy off with The Canadian
Destroyer.
Winners Via Pinfall - Team Canada (Petey
Williams, "Showtime" Eric Young and A-1)
Match Three - The James Gang (Kip and BG
James) vs. Kenny King and Buck Quartermain
This was a glorified squash match for The James
Gang, as they beat on the makeshift tag team of King and Quartermain. Kip put
away King with The Missouri Ride for the one-two-three.
Winners Via Pinfall - The James Gang (Kip
and BG James)
POST MATCH - Konnan and Homicide
made their way out and challenged The James Gang to a match at Against All Odds,
which was obviously accepted.
In the backstage area, TNA's Commissioner Larry
Zybysko stated that Sting would not be able to make it to Impact due to travel
problems. "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown made his way into the picture, finding
the contract for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Against All
Odds against Jeff Jarrett. Brown confiscated the contract and told Zybysko that
he was making the situation his business.
Match Four - Street Fight - "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles vs. "The Prince of Punk" Shannon Moore
Styles and Moore took it to one another, brawling
both in and out of the ring. This appears to be a promising feud. Styles had no
problem using the guardrail to his advantage, putting Moore in a desperate
situation. Moore fired back and attempted to use a steel chair to his advantage,
however his plan backfired and put him on the receiving end of some punishment.
Styles lost control of the match once again, allowing Moore to lock up and
attempt to force a submission out of Styles. This prompted Christopher Daniels
to make his way down to the ring and throw in a white towel on Styles' behalf.
Considering it was a street fight, the match continued. As Styles wondered what
was going on, he was rolled up from behind by Moore and counted down by the
referee, giving "The Prince of Punk" the victory.
Winner Via Pinfall - "The Prince of Punk" Shannon Moore
Back in Larry Zybysko's office, Team 3D came in and demanded matches against Team Canada and America's Most Wanted. Zybysko listened and is apparently going to work to get Team 3D what they want.
In the ring, "Captain Charisma" Christian Cage
told fans that he just got off the phone with Sting who promised that he would
make an appearance at next week's Impact. Jeff Jarrett came out next and told
Cage that he already ran Sting out of TNA, the situation escalated and the two
began exchanging blows. Monty Brown came out to help Jarrett, but Rhino evened
the odds again, helping Cage. Jarrett and Brown were knocked out of the ring, as
Cage and Rhino stared one another down with the Heavyweight title contract in
the middle of the ring. Abyss made his way down and began brawling with Rhino,
as the Jarrett and Cage brawl resumed, leaving Brown alone in the middle of the
ring with the Heavyweight title contract.
At least there are six (including Sting) worthy
contenders in the Heavyweight title scene. Kevin Nash will remain TNA's biggest
Heavyweight title contender mistake. With a mix of legends and up and comers in
the title scene, TNA can't go wrong.
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store
Show your colours! Order a TNA Team Canada shirt!
Chris Sokol is from Long Island, NY and
really admires the Shannon Moore look.
