IMPACT

August 24, 2006
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
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- We start with Jeremy Borash outside of the building with Brother Runt. Taxi Driver said he wanted Abyss in another match next week in a 10,000 thumbtack match. He said Abyss made the mistake of letting him live to fight another day. The camera panned up to find Raven sitting on top of a production truck smiling down at Runt.

- They recapped last week's promo from Jarrett where he counter-offered Sting with Sting's career vs. the NWA Title at Bound for Glory.

- Shane Douglas was in the ring to start the show. He said he doesn't want to brag, but he told TNA so that he took The Naturals back to the top of the mountain. Douglas said Chase Stevens represented the Naturals last week when he won the #1 Contender match. He asked if it's time for the newly Franchised Naturals to win the NWA Tag Titles. He told the fans to scream louder then he introduced Chase and Andy Douglas. They entered the ring and Douglas sent them to the corner.

1 -- THE NATURALS (CHASE STEVENS & ANDY DOUGLAS w/Shane Douglas) vs. ALEX SHELLEY & JOHNNY DEVINE

Devine made fun of Stevens so he landed a hard right hand and Devine slumped to the mat. Four-way action broke out before The Naturals cleared the heels to the outside before the break. A very bland first five minutes following a bloody and competitive UFC fight in the last quarter-hour of TUF.

[Commercial Break]

Predictably, Devine worked on Douglas in the corner out of the break. The heels continued to trade tags before Devine missed a moonsault. Douglas made the tag to Stevens, who cleaned house. Tenay and West hyped the NWA Tag Title match later in the show. Stevens ran over Shelley with a flying forearm then The Naturals hit a double team shoulder block on Devine. Stevens went for a powerbomb, but Shelley drop kicked Stevens in the back of the knees. Devine was able to take advantage and roll up Stevens for the surprise win. Afterwards, Shane Douglas entered the ring and cussed out the Naturals. "Is that what I've been teaching you?" he asked. Douglas said they don't belong in a TNA ring, nor do they deserve a tag title opportunity. Andy and Chase just stood there and took it.

WINNERS: Devine & Shelley in 7:00. The Naturals would probably be more over as babyfaces if they just decked Shane then went on a long winning streak to show Shane that they don't need him and they are perfectly fine on their own.

- Borash was with AMW and Gail Kim backstage. Borash asked about what happened last week. Chris Harris said they're like brothers and they don't see eye-to-eye on everything. Harris said they need to get their heads straight and figure out whether they're still a team or not. Storm said he doesn't like what's going on either. Harris asked if they're going to do it right or not. Storm didn't accept a handshake then he grabbed two beer bottles. He gave one to Harris then they knocked bottles and walked off with Gail Kim smiling.

[Commercial Break]

- They aired a promo for Bound for Glory. The voice over man said all of TNA's titles would be on the line. He said Sting, Samoa Joe, Jarrett Christian, and "the highflying stars of the X Division" would be on the show. Yep, nameless and faceless.

- Christian Cage walked out with his heel goatee and heel smirk and heel black dress shirt. There was a chair in the center of the ring. He sat down in the chair after taking the house mic. "You suck, you suck" the fans chanted before Christian could even start talking. He said Sting lied to everyone in the arena that he would be NWA World Heavyweight champion. Christian said Sting is a man of faith; a man of God. "When it comes to TNA, from the managers right down to the guys who scrape the floor that wish they could be like me, I am God." Rhino interrupted. He went face-to-face with Christian. Rhino said he's sick of Christian talking. He wanted an answer about why he turned on Sting. "Answer the question!" Rhino screamed when Christian began stammering. Christian said he knows about the long and storied history of friendship between Rhino and Sting. He said he remembers Sting being the first guy to see him out of the hospital from his broken neck. "Oh wait, that was me," Christian said. He asked who called him, boosted his morale, and checked on him. "It was me; I called you," Christian said. He asked if Sting was there when Rhino's wife called and threatened to take his child to Germany for Rhino never to see her again. He said it wasn't Sting; it was him who picked him up and hugged him. Christian said it's obvious Rhino has chosen Sting over him despite him always being there. He handed Rhino a chair and told him to smash him in the back with the chair. Christian told him to think about throwing away 10 years of friendship for someone who doesn't even care about him. Rhino clutched the chair and did the old Price is Right bit about turning to the crowd for advice. Christian asked him why he didn't hit him. "Is this really about Sting or is it because I have a nicer house than you, that I have a nicer car than you, and that I became a bigger star than you ever did?" Christian asked. Rhino spun Christian around and stood off before throwing down the chair. "Just what I thought, Rhino, I'm the only one around here with a set of balls," Christian said. Rhino said Christian is wrong that he doesn't need a chair to kick Christian's ass. Rhino decked Christian then hit a back body drop in the center of the ring. Rhino set up for the Gore, but Christian grabbed the chair then turned around and slammed it into Rhino's face when Rhino began to charge the corner. Rhino came up bleeding from the forehead. Christian landed another chair shot to the head. Christian grabbed another chair from the outside. He choked Rhino as the camera got a good shot of Rhino's bloody forehead. Christian placed Rhino face-first on the seat of one chair. He picked up the other chair then landed a conchairto shot to the back of the head. Tenay was indignant about Christian going way over the line. Wow. That's a wrestling segment right there. Christian holding Rhino's head in his hands while blood dripped down Rhino's forehead and Christian having that heel scowl on his face was a classic image.

[Commercial Break]

- Instead of reinforcing the hot angle just moments ago, they went to a video package on Earl Hebner, Larry Zbyszko, Slick Johnson, and Jim Cornette. He denied any involvement with Earl Hebner or Jeff Jarrett. Borash asked why Earl Hebner was fired. Zbyszko said he would have to ask Jim Cornette. He said Slick Johnson should be fired. Eric Young walked in because he heard about someone being fired. Zbyszko said Young has a match on Impact next week and if he doesn't win the match, he might as well pack his bags.

- They showed a ten-second recap of Christian's attack on Rhino in the previous segment. A half-effort in reinforcing the angle. James Mitchell joined Tenay and West ringside for commentary.

2 -- ABYSS vs. CASSIDY RILEY

Abyss attacked Riley after the opening bell. James Mitchell poured tacks on the announce table and told Brother Runt to imagine 10,000 of the tacks making new holes in Runt's body. Mitchell called for the doomsday device and Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam for the easy win. Afterwards, Abyss poured tacks from the black bag in the ring. He went nuts and smashed his fist into the tacks. Tenay plugged the 10,000 tack match next week.

WINNER: Abyss in 1:00.

- Christy Hemme said Sting will answer Jarrett and the NWA Tag Titles will be up for grabs up next. We're 40 minutes into the show and we haven't heard a peep from Styles, Daniels, or anyone from LAX.

[Commercial Break]

- In a pre-tape promo, Sting said he would put his career on the line against Jarrett at Bound for Glory. He said he would do anything to get the title on the line. They showed Sting signing the contract. A very cryptic video package with Sting hinting that he's fine with his career being over if he were to lose. They showed images of Sting's previous monikers, including Wolfpac Sting. Sting said there's only one signature missing, and it's not his.

- Mike Tenay held the contract with Sting's signature on it. Jeff Jarrett walked out and took the contract. He said they would have a public execution of the contract next week. Tenay said Jarrett is always so devious and just can't do something simple like sign a contract.

- A video package on the Daniels/Styles-LAX feud aired. Moody Jack introduced LAX to their revolution video package. Daniels and Styles were introduced then they ran to the ring in street clothes to start the brawl.

3 -- A.J. STYLES & CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. LAX (HOMICIDE & HERNANDEZ w/Konnan) -- NWA Tag Title match -- Border Brawl

Styles took Homicide to the outside and threw him into the guardrail. Styles slammed Homicide on the entrance ramp. Daniels punched and choked Hernandez on the opposite side of the ringside area. Homicide came back with a right hand and Styles bled from the forehead. Hernandez and Daniels fought to the broadcast position and Daniels splashed Hernandez. Daniels slammed a chair into Hernandez's gut before they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Hernandez tossed Daniels into the ring out of the break. Daniels answered with a forearm blow to the back. He kicked Hernandez in the head then covered him for a nearfall. Daniels choked Hernandez on the middle ropes as Homicide choked Styles outside of the ring. Hernandez caught Daniels in mid-air and hit a shoulderbreaker leading to a cocky cover for a nearfall. Homicide and Hernandez double teamed Daniels in the ring. Hernandez applied a modified Camel Clutch on Daniels as Homicide went back on the attack on Styles outside of the ring. Daniels ducked a chair shot from Hernandez then smashed the chair to Hernandez's back. Daniels went for a running splash in the corner, but Hernandez caught him in mid-air and pancaked Daniels on the seat of the chair. Daniels began to bleed. Homicide re-entered the ring and opened up the cut some more with straight right hands. Meanwhile, Hernandez slid a table into the ring. Styles entered the ring and took a chair shot to the head. Styles fired back with right hands then attacked Hernandez and clotheslined him over the top rope to the outside. Homicide caught Styles with a T-bone suplex then he walked into a clothesline from Daniels. Styles flew over the top rope onto Hernandez on the outside. Daniels went up top, but Homicide met him and crotched him. He set up the table then climbed up top. Daniels fought of a suplex then set up for Angel's Wings, but Konnan hit Daniels with the slapjack. That allowed Homicide to hit an Ace Crusher from the top rope through a table. He rolled over Daniels and covered him for the win to capture the NWA Tag Titles. Afterwards, Homicide celebrated with one belt as Konnan and Hernandez played it cool. Styles checked on Daniels, who was motionless on the table scraps.

WINNERS: LAX in 11:00 to capture the NWA Tag Titles. The match stipulation fit the feud at this stage of the game and they put together a fine brawl for TV. The post-match ending was rushed where the match finish happened and there wasn't a chance to truly absorb the significance of the title change.