TNA Impact - January 29, 2009

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Impact

 

As Dave Penzer was getting the crowd propped for the show, the Main Event Mafia of Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash & Booker T come down to the ring. Nash & Booker kick Tenay & West from the broadcast position and Steiner makes Penzer leave the ring. Nash & Booker are on commentary and Scott Steiner is the ring announcer.

 

Backstage, Kurt Angle has taken off Jeff Jarrett's office. Jim Cornette comes in and says he cannot hijack the TV show. Angle says no one can stop him, Jarrett is still home nursing his injuries.

 

Sharmell is now the backstage interviewer and is with ODB. She'll talks about her match with Kong, Raisha Saaeed, Sojourner Bolt & Rhaka Khan Sharmell says that MEM security escorted Taylor Wilde & Roxxi

 

4 on 1 Handicapped Match

Awesome Kong & the Kongtourage defeated ODB. Scott Steiner is absolutely hysterical "ring announcing" when

Kong pinned ODB following an Implant Buster.

 

Back in "Angle's" office. JB is trying to get Angle to drop this and not to hurt people. He said he's got Sting vs. Team 3D in a handicap match. JB said he's got it on good authority that Mick Foley is on his way here. Angle asks him who's side is he on. Kurt then gives JB a stack of MEM shirts to go and sell at the merchandise stand. And he better not pocket any of the money. He sends it back to Booker.

 

Sharmell is in the back with Rudy Charles, Andrew Thomas and Earl Hebner. She asks Charles & Thomas what are they gonna do for a living after Booker cripples them in the next match. Thomas says he's not a wrestler...yet Rudy says he's an accomplished amateur wrestler.

 

Booker T def Andrew Thomas & Rudy Charles when Booker pinned Thomas following a Book End. Total squash, Booker hit all his trademark moves on both refs. He continuously yelled at Hebner telling him to do his job & that this had nothing to do with him. Post match, Booker got in Hebner's face and bullied him until Shane Sewell ran in and attacked Booker. He got in a few hits & chops, but Booker wound up hitting him with a scissor kick.

 

Back with Angle ...Sting shows up and is like..you gotta be kidding me in regards to the handicap match against 3D.

 

Sharmell in the back with Matt Morgan. She says he's in for the toughest match of his life as he takes on Petey Williams, who has to have one hand tied behind his back. He says he's got sympathy for no one and for Abyss who is at home to watch this.

 

Between matches, Jeremy Borash is out selling t-shirts and questioning the actions of the MEM.

 

Matt Morgan def Petey Williams (Williams must have one arm tied behind his back)

 

Scott Steiner says :"I'd like to send a message to Barack Obama right now. Instead of building a wall to keep those Mexicans out, you should make a wall to keep those a****e Canadians from getting in." Steiner even took a fan's Canadian flag from ringside and said he wipes his a&** with it. He remained at ringside as Morgan just dominated Williams and instructed him during each pinfall to lift him up and punish him. Slick Johnson untied Williams while Morgan was distracted by Steiner.

 

Postmatch, Steiner got in the ring and instructed Morgan "to finish him" he wound up giving him a Hellavator and Steiner put him in the Steiner Recliner until Eric Young, Consequences Creed & Jay Lethal come in. Booker T then runs in with a microphone and continues commentary while beating on the fallen members of the Frontline.

 

Sharmell is in the back with the Motor City Machineguns. Sharmell mentions that members of the Frontline were getting beatdown but they were nowhere to be found, Shelley says they couldn't tear themselves from their high def plasma TVs.

 

Team 3D defeated Sting by DQ. Pre-match, Brother Ray takes the mic and says he feels bad for Sting. That this beating is going to be nothing compared to what his MEM brothers did to him 7 or 8 weeks ago. Scott Steiner attempts to announce but Brother Ray keeps interrupting him yelling Blah every time he tries to talk. Steiner announces 3D from Dunkin Donuts from the great state of Obesity. Angle, Steiner and Booker all got involved. LAX, Mick Foley and Abyss all came down to even the odds. Foley said that this experiment is over. Since Steiner likes to play with weapons, he'll have a weapons match against Abyss and tonight will also be a handicapped match with Kurt Angle taking on both members of LAX.

 

Don West, Mike Tenay & David Penzer all returned to their regular duties.

 

Jim Cornette announces at Against All Odds its going to be Booker T taking on Shane Sewell.

 

Abyss defeated Scott Steiner by DQ Weapons are only legal for Abyss. Steiner was DQ'd when Abyss went to hit Steiner with the ring bell and he hit Abyss with the lead pipe. Postmatch, Steiner was beating down on Abyss when Suicide made his entrance and helped Abyss before disappearing into the darkness.

 

Lauren is backstage with stars of a new show on Spike called Toughest cowboy and a live bull. Beer Money, Inc shows up and James Storm says he's the toughest cowboy.

 

Kurt Angle defeated LAX when Angle pinned Homicide following an Olympic Slam.

 

Explosion

 

Brutus Magnus def Eric Young

[Scroby 0]

It's going to be a fun show!

[The Truthiness 0]

Yeah them LAX guys are really getting pushed to the moopn, huh?

[Scroby 0]

To be fair, the spoilers don't say what happen during the match, it just says Angle pinned Homicide with the Angle Slam. We don't know what happen before that.

[The Truthiness 0]

Come on Scroby.

 

I'm tired of that "We'll have to wait and see shit" when it comes to TNA, especially when what we see is most of the time, worse then the actual spoilers.

[TheFranchise 0]

I'm tired of that "We'll have to wait and see shit" when it comes to TNA, especially when what we see is most of the time, worse then the actual spoilers.

[Scroby 0]

Come on Scroby.

 

I'm tired of that "We'll have to wait and see shit" when it comes to TNA, especially when what we see is most of the time, worse then the actual spoilers.

How can it be worse than the actual spoilers? You're already assuming the match sucks and it's a squash match with Angle squashing LAX. Besides that, it's the one of the few tv matches in the Spoilers that doesn't describe what happen during the match. So how can you complain about it, other than Angle winning?

[The Truthiness 0]

Come on Scroby.

 

I'm tired of that "We'll have to wait and see shit" when it comes to TNA, especially when what we see is most of the time, worse then the actual spoilers.

How can it be worse than the actual spoilers? You're already assuming the match sucks and it's a squash match with Angle squashing LAX. Besides that, it's the one of the few tv matches in the Spoilers that doesn't describe what happen during the match. So how can you complain about it, other than Angle winning?

 

Get off the shit, man. There no fucking reason Angle should be wrestling LAX solo and winning, period. It's fucking dumb, they could have easily just had him beat Homicide solo and left Hernandez out of it. But they couldn't do that, because they're fucking morons. So we'll get something along the lines, of Booker/Nash distracting Hernandez, and then Angle taking him out, then finishing off Homicide for desert. That is what they do, that is how the company operates, that is how it is always going to be. They're dumbasses.

 

 

But you know, I'll just wait and see, because it's not like them to do stupid shit 99% of the time.

 

Yeah, I'm sorry.

[CubbyBr 0]

This is gonna be great just because we'll have Nash and Booker on commentary for most of the show. Maybe they'll see how much better the show is without Tenay and West's annoying commentating and we'll have Nash as a third guy every week.

[The Truthiness 0]

That's thye only good thing that probably came out of the taping, no Tenay/West.

[Scroby 0]

Come on Scroby.

 

I'm tired of that "We'll have to wait and see shit" when it comes to TNA, especially when what we see is most of the time, worse then the actual spoilers.

How can it be worse than the actual spoilers? You're already assuming the match sucks and it's a squash match with Angle squashing LAX. Besides that, it's the one of the few tv matches in the Spoilers that doesn't describe what happen during the match. So how can you complain about it, other than Angle winning?

 

Get off the shit, man. There no fucking reason Angle should be wrestling LAX solo and winning, period. It's fucking dumb, they could have easily just had him beat Homicide solo and left Hernandez out of it. But they couldn't do that, because they're fucking morons. So we'll get something along the lines, of Booker/Nash distracting Hernandez, and then Angle taking him out, then finishing off Homicide for desert. That is what they do, that is how the company operates, that is how it is always going to be. They're dumbasses.

 

 

But you know, I'll just wait and see, because it's not like them to do stupid shit 99% of the time.

 

Yeah, I'm sorry.

It's not like the WWE or other indy promotions don't do the same angle. Stop acting like TNA is the only wrestling promotion who does this all the time.

 

"Oh no! TNA put over someone whose wrestling in a championship match at their next PPV by cheating and getting help from other stable members to win against one of TNA's top tag team!!!!!! TNA IS SOOOOOOO STUPID!!!"

[CubbyBr 0]

Get off the shit, man. There no fucking reason Angle should be wrestling LAX solo and winning, period. It's fucking dumb, they could have easily just had him beat Homicide solo and left Hernandez out of it. But they couldn't do that, because they're fucking morons. So we'll get something along the lines, of Booker/Nash distracting Hernandez, and then Angle taking him out, then finishing off Homicide for desert. That is what they do, that is how the company operates, that is how it is always going to be. They're dumbasses.

 

People were saying some of the same things about the Sting/Hernandez match two weeks ago after reading the show's spoilers. That turned out to not be so bad and I thought Hernandez looked good in the match.

 

I also agree that Kurt probably shouldn't be beating two up-and-coming stars but I don't think it's impossible to do it in a way that makes LAX look good.

[The Truthiness 0]

Come on Scroby.

 

I'm tired of that "We'll have to wait and see shit" when it comes to TNA, especially when what we see is most of the time, worse then the actual spoilers.

How can it be worse than the actual spoilers? You're already assuming the match sucks and it's a squash match with Angle squashing LAX. Besides that, it's the one of the few tv matches in the Spoilers that doesn't describe what happen during the match. So how can you complain about it, other than Angle winning?

 

Get off the shit, man. There no fucking reason Angle should be wrestling LAX solo and winning, period. It's fucking dumb, they could have easily just had him beat Homicide solo and left Hernandez out of it. But they couldn't do that, because they're fucking morons. So we'll get something along the lines, of Booker/Nash distracting Hernandez, and then Angle taking him out, then finishing off Homicide for desert. That is what they do, that is how the company operates, that is how it is always going to be. They're dumbasses.

 

 

But you know, I'll just wait and see, because it's not like them to do stupid shit 99% of the time.

 

Yeah, I'm sorry.

It's not like the WWE or other indy promotions don't do the same angle. Stop acting like TNA is the only wrestling promotion who does this all the time.

 

"Oh no! TNA put over someone whose wrestling in a championship match at their next PPV by cheating and getting help from other stable members to win against one of TNA's top tag team!!!!!! TNA IS SOOOOOOO STUPID!!!"

 

Again, stop defending the stupid shit.

 

 

I don't care who does it is stupid booking. Didn't like it when HHH was beating guys 2 at a time on Raw, didn't like it when HBK did it to Rated RKO.

 

 

It's dumb, but it just adds on to all the other stupid shit TNA does on a regular basis.

[The Truthiness 0]

People were saying some of the same things about the Sting/Hernandez match two weeks ago after reading the show's spoilers. That turned out to not be so bad and I thought Hernandez looked good in the match.

 

I also agree that Kurt probably shouldn't be beating two up-and-coming stars but I don't think it's impossible to do it in a way that makes LAX look good

 

I felt that was done poorly also, since all it did was build to a Bubba Ray promo.

[CubbyBr 0]

I would agree the post match was done poory with LAX basically leaving and giving 3D the ring to themselves. But as far as the actual match, which Hernandez basically dominated the majority of only to have 3 other people cost him the match, I believe was done alright.

[The Truthiness 0]

Of course it was done right. Hernandez choose to cash in his briefcase while the whole MEM was in the ring, and had just got through talking about how they were going to destroy TNA.

 

So it's not like, they were going to do everything in their power to ensure Sting walked out champion. Then after that, they just laid out LAX until 3D saved the day. Yeah, that was genius.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

The first half of the show sounds fun. I was upset about the end of the show...but then I watched the end of Raw. Even TNA can't win the stupidity battle this week.

[LuckyLopez 0]

Of course it was done right. Hernandez choose to cash in his briefcase while the whole MEM was in the ring, and had just got through talking about how they were going to destroy TNA.

 

So it's not like, they were going to do everything in their power to ensure Sting walked out champion. Then after that, they just laid out LAX until 3D saved the day. Yeah, that was genius.

Haven't the Mafia proven that they'd do everything in their power to ensure Sting walk out champion in ANY situation? It strikes me as silly to reference the Mafia being ringside as an issue when the primary story in TNA is how they constantly beat down people as a group and play numbers games. Why would a run down the aisle change that? If anything the last 2 weeks were a small window in which the Mafia were a bit undermanned with Nash out.

 

My problem with that segment was (a) that Hernandez was stupid not to have Homicide with him when the match started. That's just silly writing and THAT was something that he should have done to offset the numbers. It would have been just as stupid if the Mafia wasn't there to start but that just highlighted it. And (b) TNA failed to follow up on it including the next week. But unfortunately that's been a common problem in TNA since the move to Spike. So many midcard stories take full weeks off to make room for the primary stories. We saw the same with the Guns not appearing on TV the Impact after having the match of the night on PPV. Its a problem, but not one terribly unexpected or particular. I'm also not sure it a major problem to the regular viewer as much as any prospective casual viewers (besides just wanting to see more of LAX and MCMG and less of the MEM). And it does seem like LAX gets the story followed up on this week. Far from ideal, but pretty common MO for TNA that I guess I've gotten used to.

 

Of course its purely subjective whether that segment was crap or brilliance. Your stand seems clear.

 

I'm not a fan of the looks of that main event but I'm assuming there's extra curricular. And I have no real problem with Angle beating LAX in a handicapped match if its booked to be a clusterfuck rather than the old WWE "main eventer dominates tag team because he's a main eventer." If its that I'll hate it, no doubt. And see it as an absurd move if only because you're burying a future X title contender, even if the tag team, undercard, and Hernandez are meaningless to you. But it seems like its a decent chance that LAX mixing it up with the Mafia and getting the main event is all an effort to get them involved in the top story and follow up on the Hernandez/Sting match. So if that's the case it seems likely to assume that they are protected in some way.

 

Whether that "protection" works? I have no idea. It might not even exist. But if I went into every Impact or set of spoilers assuming 99% of what they did was shit I would have stopped watching or caring at about the same time I developed that opinion.

 

 

EDIT: The rest of the show looks like it could be a lot of fun. But it also looks like it could drive many critics of TNA insane. Anyone understandably frustrated by the MEM domination in TNA, the Frontline/TNA ineffectiveness, and the lack of wrestling may well just see this episode as an increase of what they hate. I've had that argument with some friends already. But the way I see it, at 9 PM all those criticisms about TNA will be valid and they will remain valid at 11 PM. But for 2 hours TNA might put on a pretty entertaining version of that product. Sure, it would be better if it was bookmarked by a few weeks of great wrestling and a more balanced story, but it is what it is.

 

So I can see how those spoilers would send someone going in either direction. Its either a potentially fun sports entertainment episode or a strong example of what you hate about TNA.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

Between this show and the ending to Raw, it has been a sad, sad week for pro wrestling.

[The Truthiness 0]

Between this show and the ending to Raw, it has been a sad, sad week for pro wrestling.

 

 

 

Exactly, difference is nobody is defending how Orton was neuterd and rightfully so.

 

But fuck if I know why people are defending how worthless LAX and most of TNA faces are being booked.

 

 

[Broward83 0]

...why do I read these spoilers and get even more of a "HEY! Lets try to re-do the nWo" with the MEM?

 

*sigh*

 

There's no defending this shit Scroby...TNA is simply existing on borrowed time.

[dubq 0]

Holy shit that's a huge clusterfuck of a show. I don't even know who are faces, heels, MEM or Frontline anymore. Nor do I really care.

[2GOLD 0]

 

I had huge hopes for TNA when the MEM angle first started. Now they have taken it in a sad, sad direction. I see though that Suicide (AKA The Fallen Angel it seems) is still being built up though.

 

But the sad thing is....he's just Sting to the MEM NWO.

 

I wish I could count on them making the reveal that it's Christopher Daniels stick in a positive manner but I'm losing hope. The writing and booking team have become really really lousy lately. And that makes me very disappointed.

[RedJed 0]

I'm getting bad visions of a redux of that horrible NWO Nitro episode where the faction took over and it just became a romper room of absurdity. This just sounds stupid as hell on paper, especially that once the show got back in "control" it just seems to get worse sounding from the spoilers. Wow, go TNA (note sarcasm).

 

Since Nash was nowhere to be found on this show, one can assume not only is Joe/Nash held off the next ppv, but Joe probably won't be coming back for a little while longer now. Probably for the best anyway, as it seems the company is in full burial mode of most of their roster. Nobody is really getting over here anymore.

[MillenniumMan831 0]

I get more of a nWo Souled Out 97 vibe from this show (since the matches also have ridiculous stips).

 

And I must admit, I'm really looking forward to how this show pans out on television. Impact is the ultimate watch-for-a-couple-segments-and-turn-off show for me but this sounds like a keeper on the DVR. Fuck the faces, I want to hear Steiner/Nash bury everyone.

[muzz 0]

I'm getting bad visions of a redux of that horrible NWO Nitro episode where the faction took over and it just became a romper room of absurdity. This just sounds stupid as hell on paper, especially that once the show got back in "control" it just seems to get worse sounding from the spoilers. Wow, go TNA (note sarcasm).

 

Since Nash was nowhere to be found on this show, one can assume not only is Joe/Nash held off the next ppv, but Joe probably won't be coming back for a little while longer now. Probably for the best anyway, as it seems the company is in full burial mode of most of their roster. Nobody is really getting over here anymore.

 

Nash was commentating with Booker.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

The weird thing is that MEM seem to side with some other heels sometimes. With the nWo, they were against everybody that wasn't a part of them, right? But MEM is supporting Morgan just because he's a heel, even though Morgan would be a young "TNA Original." I don't know what the direction is here.

[luke-o 0]

Fuck the faces, I want to hear Steiner/Nash bury everyone.

 

That's my thought.

 

Although this sounds like a badly booked show (and it does on paper), it should be really good fun to watch.

[LuckyLopez 0]

The weird thing is that MEM seem to side with some other heels sometimes. With the nWo, they were against everybody that wasn't a part of them, right? But MEM is supporting Morgan just because he's a heel, even though Morgan would be a young "TNA Original." I don't know what the direction is here.

Well I think for the most part the Mafia really aren't against the "Originals" or even "TNA" itself. They're just using Sting's whole "respect" philosophy as an excuse to protect their spots and beat down the next generation. Really its just about the money and power. So if Morgan isn't threatening to take their spot then no big deal. At least for the time being him keeping Abyss busy and doing a number on him probably saves the Mafia from having to worry about him.

 

I've thought all along that guys like the MCMG and Morgan could easily be presented as allies for the Mafia as long as they "showed the proper respect" and were ok with a pecking order. As long as they didn't look to take the spots the Mafia wanted then its a mutually beneficial relationship.

 

This latest "destroy TNA" thing Angle has seems to be rooted in his anger over Jarrett. Jarrett pissed Angle off so now Angle's trying to destroy his company, or something. But that was never the goal of the Mafia like it was with the nWo (or the WCW/ECW Alliance, or SEX in TNA/Russo's past). Although Angle's insanity may have made it that.

[garfieldsnose 0]

It's not like the WWE or other indy promotions don't do the same angle.

 

 

Scroby, TNA isn't supposed to be like WWE, and was doing a great job back in 2004-2005, but this past year or so has been brutal. It seriously is WWE lite and it has no reason to be, and that's where my frustration comes in. I don't care if any other promotion does it, it sucks no matter who does it. I can deal with WWE since I'm loyal and I probably will never stop watching, but with the potential of TNA continuing to be flushed down the drain, it gets frustrating. With a well-booked year or two, TNA could actually truly be some competition to WWE, but they are nowhere close right now.