IMPACT

June 2, 2006
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
thanks to: pwtorch.com

- We start with Jeff Jarrett running out to demand to know who his opponent is in the KOTM qualifying match. Mike Tenay didn't provide an answer. Jarrett brought out Scott Steiner to get some answers. They grabbed Don West and threw him into the ring. Steiner told Larry Zbyszko to answer his questions because there wouldn't be a show until he got answers. Instead, Sting's music hit. Sting took on Jarrett and Steiner. Jarrett tried to leave, but Raven cut him off on the entrance ramp. Raven, dressed a 1700's European composer, chased Jarrett into the ring. Sting landed a Stinger Splash on Steiner. Jarrett and Steiner took off. Exciting opening segment to set the stage for tonight.

- They did video promos for the James Gang-Team 3D feud.

1 -- AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (CHRIS HARRIS & JAMES STORM w/Gail Kim) vs. THE NATURALS (CHASE STEVENS & ANDY DOUGLAS)

Gail Kim looked three shades darker and The Naturals wore pants instead of customary spandex shorts. The Naturals double teamed Storm before the break.

[Commercial Break]

AMW worked on Douglas out of the break, exchanging in-and-out tags. Douglas made the hot tag to Stevens, who dropped Storm with a high knee. Gail Kim jumped on the apron with a foreign object. A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels ran out to prevent Kim from using the weapon. They pulled her down and grabbed the object. Daniels threw the object to Stevens, who refused to use it. He threw it back to Daniels. Daniels and A.J. left then Stevens turned around and took a handcuff shot to the face leading to the fall. Styles and Daniels had already walked off when Shane Douglas walked out. He observed the scene in the ring then left.

WINNERS: AMW in 4:00 of TV time. Effective for advancing the storyline to play out in three weeks.

- Jeremy Borash interviewed Alex Shelley backstage. Shelley made fun of Borash's delivery. Shelley said what he does with the video camera off the clock is up to him. Kevin Nash walked in and asked Shelley who he had lined up for him. Shelley said Jay Lethal. Nash asked if he had his camera ready. Shelley said he lost his tripod two weeks ago. Nash said, "I have your tripod right here." It took a few seconds for Shelley to get the phallic reference. Nash and Shelley shared a reference then Nash did bunny ears behind Borash.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- ALEX SHELLEY (w/Kevin Nash) vs. JAY LETHAL

Nash gave a quizzical look to Lethal, who stared him down before the opening bell. Shelley and Lethal exchanged right hands to the face within the opening minute. Lethal hit a drop kick followed by a belly-to-back suplex. Shelley came back with an arm drag take over. He worked on Lethal's left forearm and wrist. Shelley hit a suplex with the wrist locked, into a bridge for a nearfall. Tenay said Shelley aligned himself with Nash to "get over" and become a star. Shelley hit a charging double knee smash in the corner to Lethal's wrist. Lethal blocked a corner move then hit a quick double-foot drop kick to the chest. Lethal continued to favor the wrist as he delivered strong-arm clotheslines with the opposite arm. Lethal hit a cartwheel drop kick. Shelley kicked Lethal in the wrist and arm. Nash stood on the ring apron with his back to the match. Lethal reversed a whip to the ropes and Shelley crashed into Nash's elbow. Lethal quickly rolled up Shelley for the win.

Afterwards, Nash and Shelley attacked Lethal. Chris Sabin made the save. Sabin took the mic. He said it's no wonder Nash left the ring because this time, Nash couldn't attack Sabin from behind. He said he had an open date at Slammiversary to face Nash. Sabin told Nash to man up and challenge him. He closed by saying Nash should have heeded what his wife has been telling him for years, that "size doesn't matter."

WINNER: Jay Lethal in 5:00. Great wrestling match that was smartly put together focusing on Lethal's arm leading to a smart roll-up finish that didn't require Lethal to use the arm to win. Sabin delivered a good promo to set the stage. All around thumbs up segment.

- Samoa Joe did a video interview. He said he teamed with Sting for the PPV main event opportunity. He said Sting only wanted him there to have his back from "bell to bell." Joe said, "As soon as that second bell ran, I was done." Joe screamed into the camera, asking what Sting ever did for him. Joe said Sting took his spotlight as he was advancing up the ladder in TNA and he didn't owe Sting anything other than getting the job done. Joe addressed Steiner. He said Steiner's out of his mind if he thinks he can just flex his muscles and intimidate him. Joe said Steiner's timeclock is running out and the sands of time are dwindling. He said maybe Steiner isn't at the point where he can take on a younger star like him. Joe said Steiner built up his career and he probably doesn't want a "young punk" to ruin it. Give the X Division the mic and they deliver. Awesome promo.

[Commercial Break]

- Brother Ray and Brother Devon were backstage with Jeremy Borash. Brother Ray said it was funny when James Gang did a mock promo eight years ago. Ray and Devon shared an awkward exchange. Brother Ray said James Gang crossed the line making fun of the Bingo Hall, ECW, and South Philadelphia. Boy, they're putting over WWE's third brand pretty strong here. Ray said there are people in the wrestling industry trying to bastardize ECW. Ray said they would defend the Bingo Hall next week. Wow. Served no purpose for TNA. WWE's third brand is getting some pretty good P.R. Maybe Team 3D should just admit they want to be part of ECW and get it over with already.

- Larry Zbyszko was trying to deal with a situation involving A.J. and Daniels. Daniels said they have no excuses for losing to AMW other than having to deal with the outside interference and Gail Kim. Daniels said they are clearly the better team. A.J. said they wanted the tag title match at Slammiversary and it would be the final time they ask for a title shot. Zbyszko granted them the title shot if they would stop bugging him. Slick Johnson walked in and said the new authority figure would be on the show tonight or next week.

- Jeremy Borash approached the Spanish announce table where LAX held signs in protest.

[Commercial Break]

- They did a video promo on Samoa Joe to promote the Joe DVD available June 6.

- Christian did a video interview discussing the King of the Mountain match. He said he would be the first person to walk in and out of the KOTM match as champion. Christian said Jarrett can't stack the deck against him because it's every man for himself. Sure he could. He could beat up Christian backstage before the match and leave him unconscious on the floor, leaving Christian with an uphill battle to try to enter the KOTM match with a legitimate shot at scaling the ladder to retain the belt.

3 -- JEFF JARRETT (w/Gail Kim) vs. RAVEN -- King of the Mountain qualifying match

The bell rang as Raven stood in the stands with weapons. Jarrett met him in the stands and they exchanged weapon blows to the head. Raven used a trashcan lid to subdue Jarrett and knock him down the bleacher steps to the entrance ramp. Jarrett recovered and rolled Raven into the ring. They spilled back to the outside and brawled through the stands. Raven landed right hands to the head. Raven placed Jarrett on a table covered in tablecloth below the stage. Raven went for a splash, but Jarrett moved out of the way and Raven ate the table. Exciting opening three minutes.

[Commercial Break]

Jarrett worked on Raven on the floor below the stage. They spilled to the concessions stands. Jarrett threw assorted food and snacks at Raven. Raven made a come back and smashed Jarrett against the giant Slammiversary PPV posters. They exchanged blows using food boxes. Raven suplexed Jarrett through another table. They brawled out of the Impact zone to a dark hallway backstage. Raven missed with a chair shot to the head. They fought back to the entrance tunnel backstage. Raven choked Jarrett with a chain hanging from the ceiling. They brawled through the entrance tunnel back to the entrance ramp. Raven hip tossed Jarrett to the ramp and Jarrett rolled all the way down to the ramp. Raven took Jarrett back into the ring. Raven grabbed a chair and smashed it over Jarrett's head. The only reason why it makes sense for the referee to allow this is because Tenay made a point earlier in the match that the referee wanted to decide on a clear winner to head to the KOTM match at the PPV. Of course, there was a ref bump in the corner, per the Jarrett formula match. Gail Kim slid a guitar into the ring. Nevermind. Raven applied a sleeperhold as Jarrett gripped the guitar. Blood flowed from Jarrett's mouth as Jarrett released his grip on the guitar. Jarrett slipped out then ate the seat of the chair with a drop toe hold from Raven. Raven grabbed the guitar, but Zbyszko hit the ring and took the guitar away. Raven turned around and took a low blow from Jarrett. Zbyszko grabbed the guitar from Jarrett. Raven quickly rolled up Jarrett for a nearfall. Jarrett and Zbyszko argued. Raven wound up the guitar and smashed Zbyszko over the head when Jarrett ducked. Jarrett quickly hit the Stroke for the win. Jarrett and Gail celebrated.

WINNER: Jeff Jarrett in 13:00. Heck of an exciting match. When trying to fill the final quarter hour of the show, an exciting wrestling match with an added sense of importance is imperative. This match delivered. Sure, there were the usual bag-o-tricks from Jarrett, Zbyszko, and Raven that hurt the credibility of the match and have reached beyond overkill, but the match was great for a television wrestling show trying to hold the attention of the audience for 15 minutes. Strong thumbs up performance.