As we prepare ourselves for Lockdown on
PPV, it seems only fitting that TNA jump starts the festivities with a Six Sides
of Steel Match on this edition of Impact. Team 3D gears up to do battle with
their Canadian foes from Team Canada, while Team USA prepares for the X Cup by
taking on The Diamonds in the Rough.
The show kicked off with Mike Tenay
standing in the ring, interviewing the unbeaten "Samoan Submission Machine."
Tenay put over the fact that in his tenure with TNA, Samoa Joe has remained
un-pinned, and has yet to submit, Tenay also went over the fact that Larry
Zybysko will be moving Joe up to the Heavyweight ranks. (Haven't I been saying
that for weeks?) Joe seemed confident in the move until a video package
played, revealing Joe's opponent at Lockdown to be "The Suicidal, Homicidal, Genocidal" Sabu. Good
pairing and a great way to bring Joe up to the next level. It appears as though
Joe vs. Christian Cage isn't far off either.
Match One - Six Man Tag Team Match
- TEAM USA (Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt) vs. The Diamonds in the
Rough (Simon Diamond, David Young and "Primetime" Elix
Skipper)
The Diamonds attacked Team USA before the
match officially got underway, cheating straight off the bat. The trio was able
to keep Team USA on the defensive for a bit, but once they got the offensive
back in their favor, their was no stopping them. Lethal and Sabin kept Diamond
and Skipper out of the way while Sabin planted Young with a Cradle Shock for the
win.
Winners Via Pinfall - TEAM USA
(Jay Lethal, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt)
In the back with Jeremy Borash, Team
Canada's Coach Scott D'Amore whined about having his men involved in a Six Sides
of Steel match, claiming that Larry Zybysko had something personal against them.
Zybysko defended himself, claiming it wasn't anything personal at all. D'Amore
wrapped things up, informing Borash that he would get the job done. After
D'Amore left, Mark "Slick" Johnson stepped in and asked if he could referee the
match, Zybysko shot down the request and told Johnson that Senior Official, Rudy
Charles was on the job. Is a heel ref turn or ref vs. ref match in the
making?
A video package featuring Steve Borden
played. Borden informed fans that he has been granted reinstatement in TNA and
will be returning at Lockdown with his army to take on Jeff Jarrett and his
army. He also stated that the match would be a War Games match, meaning that the
Six Sides of Steel would have a roof put on top, with weapons hanging down over
the ring. Borden finished off by saying that Steve Borden wouldn't be returning,
but Sting would be. Finally, the Sting angle is taking a turn for the
better.
Jeff Jarrett, "Big Poppa Pump" Scott
Steiner and Gail Kim made their way to the ring and tore apart The Naturals, all
the while screaming Sting's name. The Naturals had to be helped out of the
arena. With any luck, Steiner's wrestling ability will be on par with his beat
down ability.
Backstage, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong challenged Konnan to an Arm Wrestling contest. That should be... interesting.
Match Two - Six Sides of Steel -
Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) vs. Team Canada ("The Canadian Enforcer"
Bobby Roode and "Showtime" Eric Young)
Excellent match here. Young found himself
a bloody mess in this one, with his face raking against the steel. Both teams
went back and forth, with 3D getting the better of the exchange after Young
found nobody home on a top rope moonsault, leading to the demise of Team Canada
after a 3D. Young and Roode really stepped up to the plate a delivered, they
belong in that main event spot.
Winners Via Pinfall - Team 3D
After the match, America's Most Wanted and
the rest of Team Canada came out and laid out the Team 3D, putting Devon through
a table and showing the brothers that the feud between the teams is not yet
over. Team 3D has the NWA Tag title reign waiting for them, all they have to do
is claim it.
Up next was another Alex Shelley and Paparazzi Productions... production. This time Father James Mitchell was involved, as he stalked Christian Cage's wife Denise, and threatened her that
they were coming. With any luck, Alex Shelley will get his shot at Cage as well --
he's a talented wrestler you know.
Overall, another good edition of Impact,
it seems like some of the lagging storylines are starting to become more
appealing, while newer faces to the main event scene are starting to get the
recognition they deserve. If only Mark "Slick" Johnson could receive the same
treatment.
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
TNA Best of the Bloodiest Brawls Vol. 1 DVD
Chris Sokol is from Long Island, NY and is
starting a petition to make Mark "Slick" Johnson the new Senior Official of TNA.
Who needs Rudy Charles anyway?
