Impact: One Steiner deserves another

Impact: One Steiner deserves another

By CHRIS SOKOL - SLAM! Wrestling

We are back with another edition of Deal or No Deal... err... WCW Nitro... err, TNA Impact. That's right, this is TNA Impact, not some highly-rated TV game show, not some Ted Turner wrestling program, this is Spike TV's adrenaline rush. Somebody better tell Sting that, as we return with another edition of the guessing game on this week's edition of TNA Impact.

In the back, Jeremy Borash approached Gail Kim and Jackie Gayda who were seen arguing with one another. America's Most Wanted walked in and told Kim that she'd better keep Gayda under control. Trouble is still brewing between the ladies, is a wrestling match in the forecast?

They recapped last week's edition of Impact, which included appearances by Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell. Is this going to be WCW all over again, or can TNA find the right mix of stars and use them appropriately?

Match One - NWA World Tag Team Championship Match - America's Most Wanted ("Wildcat" Chris Harris and "The Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm) w/ Gail Kim and Jackie Gayda vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

This was an excellent opening match, one of the better matches on Impact in the past couple of weeks. Tons of double teaming by AMW, but Daniels and Styles were able to gel well together and get the offence going. Styles slammed Storm, but Harris pulled the referee out before he could count the three. Gail Kim got involved and was nearly hit with the Styles Clash, but a Storm superkick allowed her to flip off a beautiful huricanranna, leading to a roll up and hook of the tights for the win.

Winners Via Pinfall and STILL NWA World Tag Team Champions - America's Most Wanted ("Wildcat" Chris Harris and "The Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm)

TNA returns to PPV on May 14 with Sacrifice.

Next up was a promo hyping the Impact debut of Senshi. He's an awesome addition to the X Division, and great pick up by TNA.

Match Two - World X Cup First Round Match - Team Canada ("Hotshot" Johnny Devine and "Showtime" Eric Young) w/ Coach Scott D'Amore vs. Team Mexico (Shocker and Magno)

Alex Shelley came out to ringside to film this match with the Paparazzi Cam. This was a special match, as SLAM! Wrestling's contributing columnist, "Hotshot" Johnny Devine made his return to action in a TNA ring after surgery, required in part because of being stabbed about a year and a half ago. However, things didn't end up the way they planned, after some great lucha wrestling, Shelley's appearance on the ring apron proved to be detrimental to Team Canada, as Devine was whipped into him and cradled for the three count, much to the chagrin of Coach Scott D'Amore.

Winners Via Pinfall - Team Mexico (Shocker and Magno)

WORLD X CUP STANDINGS
Team USA - 2 points
Team Mexico - 2 points
Team Canada - 0 points
Team Japan - 0 points

Larry Zybysko came out and joined Mike Tenay and Don West, announcing that at Sacrifice, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels would get a rematch for the NWA World Tag Team Championship against America's Most Wanted, but this time around, Jackie Gayda and Gail Kim would be barred from ringside. At this point, Raven came through the crowd and chased Zybysko to the back.

They recapped the Sting/Jeff Jarrett feud, which led us into...

WHAT YOU THINK

Wow. Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell, Rick Steiner all in TNA. Who's the next WCW has-been you'd like to see?
Judy Bagwell - 6%
Johnny B. Badd - 18%
Tank Abbott - 11%
No more! I beg you! No more! - 65%

Sting, Jeff Jarrett and "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner all making their way to the ring. Sting offered Jarrett one last chance to make a choice, with only one man in the back to choose this time. Despite Steiner's pressure, along with the crowd reaction, Jarrett opted to pass on the chance to accept, forcing Sting to choose his own partner on the next edition of Impact. Sting, with a little help from Christy Hemme, revealed the star behind the tunnel to be none other than Rick Steiner. Apparently it won't be brother vs. brother.

Next up they played clips from Paparazzi Productions interview with Kevin Nash. Nash showed a chart he drew, showing a spike in ratings when he was champ. Funny stuff here and surprisingly Nash did not get injured during the filming of this segment. Amazing.

Mike Tenay and Don West chewed up Nash, pitching us to...

Match Three - Alex Shelley vs. "Captain Charisma" Christian Cage

It's a good thing TNA management finally put this match together, as Alex Shelley is certainly deserving of the spot. This was an entertaining match, with Cage dishing out a beating for most of the match. He even took a break to commentate the match and film the beating. Shelley got in a few shots, but they were not enough, as he was sent into the turnbuckles and planted with an Unprettier for the win.

Winner Via Pinfall - "Captain Charisma" Christian Cage

Cage grabbed a mic and called out "The Monster" Abyss, claiming he would get his title back.

We then shot over to a backstage promo, where Father James Mitchell and "The Monster" Abyss sat with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Mitchell cut his usual promo, in other words, an excellent promo, telling Cage that they were keeping the belt.

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Chris Sokol is from Long Island, NY and is happy that Johnny Devine has finally returned to a TNA ring. Score one for SLAM! Wrestling.