IMPACT

November 2, 2006
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
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Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show by explaining the Fight for the Right tournament as clips aired of last week's tourney. Nothing was really clear at all once they were done regarding what was accomplished. They also showed a brief clip of Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe having a pullapart brawl. Then they were shown at ringside introducing the show. They plugged Christopher Daniels vs. Richard Roode, Lance Hoyt vs. Ron "The Truth" Killings, and A.J. Styles vs. Chris Sabin.

-They cut to clips of confrontations between Sabin and Styles taped earlier in the day. Sabin told Christy Hemme that people have been doubting his focus and abilities. He said Jerry Lynn was his number one critic. He said the fact that he holds the belt proves him wrong. Styles interrupted and told him to show some respect for the title. He asked if he has any idea "what Jerry Lynn's done for that title." Sabin called Styles a punk. They had a brief brawl. The screen said it was an hour later. Sabin interrupted a Styles promo. Sabin offered to put the belt up against him. Styles said that proves he has no respect, and vowed to get his. I still would have promoted the title shot last week to make it feel like a bigger deal this week, but at least there's now a reason built in why it wasn't promoted earlier - since Sabin offered to put the title on the line earlier in the day.

-The pryo shot off in the arena.

1 -- CHRIS SABIN vs. A.J. STYLES -- X Title match/Fight for Right Quarter Final

Tenay said it's as if he feels the world owes him everything. Styles jump-started the match with a tackle. They brawled out of the ring and then right back in. Tenay plugged the "Best of the X Division" DVD as Sabin had Styles in an early chinlock. The action picked up with near falls by both men after fast-paced exchanged. At 4:00 Styles caught Sabin with an elbow. Sabin fired back with a big boot in the corner. Instantly, Styles escaped Sabin's grip and rolled him up for a leverage three count.

WINNER: Styles in 4:00 to capture the X Title.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Way too short for a title match. Tenay and West needed to make a bigger deal out of how that's the shortest X Title match where the belt changed hands ever. It cheapens the title to make it seem almost commonplace for a match to end that quickly between the champ and top contender. The X Title matches have to seem a level above anything else in wrestling for the X Title to draw. This was not that.

[Commercial Break]

-They went to a video feature on Sting. Sting said he noticed that Jeff Jarrett seemed like a changed man when he faced him at Bound for Glory. He said he just learned that Jarrett is dealing with some heavy personal issues himself. He said he is literally walking thorugh the valley of death. Sting said the cancer for Jarrett is the World Title belt. He said in the past the belt has represented lust, greed, power, lying, cheating. He said not it represents honor, respect, dignity, and truth. He said the truth is, he's going to give credit to his maker, "God Almighty, because without him, I'm nothing." That's hardly monumental since so many athletes thank their god for their victories.

-Jeremy Borash interviewed Lance Hoyt and Ron Killings. Killings told Hoyt that he's his friend, but friends don't pay his bills. He said he's ready to separate men from boys. Hoyt said this is his first chance to be champion for the first time, so when he gets out there, if he gets a chance, he'll take his head off, then they can be cool afterward. Eric Young popped up, literally, behind Borash and asked if he's seen Jeff around. He told him to tell him he's looking for him, and to keep it between them and "the rest of the movement." The X Title angle and this promo are examples of Vince Russo's booking touch, where he's giving a sense of purpose to matches by having the wrestlers themselves talk about what's at stake and how it fits into their backgrounds and motivations.

-Hemme plugged the next Fight for the Right tourney match.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- LANCE HOYT vs. RON "THE TRUTH" KILLINGS -- Fight for Right Tourney

West wondered if Sting could resist the temptations that come with being champion. Tenay said he's never known a wrestler to not change once he became champion. West said the inner-peace that comes with his belief in God will have to carry him when he's tempted. Killings ducked a clothesline and went for an axe kick. Hoyt moved. Killings came right back with an axe kick that hit for the win.

WINNER: Killings in 2:00.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Just no time to even be a full-fledged match. Hoyt seemed really weak to lose so quickly.

-B.G. James and Kip James walked out afterward. B.G. apologized to Killings for interrupting his post-match celebration. He said ten years ago they were personally sought and scouted by guys who couldn't get thesmelves over. He said the world saw thorugh those two and saw who the real champions were. I have no idea what he's talking about, so I can only imagine how 99.9 percent of the rest of the viewers feel. He then talked about 3 Live Kru and said the upper echelon at TNA dropped the ball by not marketing them. He said if they can't find him work, he knows where to find it. Tenay and West wondered what that meant. Yeah, what does any of this mean? He told management to take the TNA hat and wipe their asses for it. He said they're done. West asked if they just quit. Kip accused B.G. of being politically correct. Kip was about to address TNA and Spike TV. His mic went dead. Kip took West's headset. As he began talking, his mic went dead again. They can do that? Why don't they do it more? Especially those dreadfully self-indulgent and repetitive Triple H promos from 2002 through 2005? I'm not a fan of angles that reference wrestlers not gettintg over or not getting pushes. Their gripes should focus on specific instances of not getting opportunities. "Being over" has nothing to do with "winning matches," and everything on a wrestling show should be based around either winning matches or settling grudges. "Getting over" means nothing, nor should there be references to "gimmicks" formed for marketing purposes.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- ROBERT ROODE (w/Miss Brooks) vs. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS

Tenay talked about how he's a corporation unto himself, with movie offers and Wall Street opportunities. This is a little "early-90s-ish." Daniels shoved Miss Brooks away when she distracted him as he was going to the top rope. Roode avoided a running knee by Daniels, then gave him a full nelson slam for a near fall. Dasniels came back and hit the BME. Brooks distracted the ref. Daniels then set up Angel's Wings on Roode. Brooks grabbed his leg. Roode then hit his Payoff finisher for the win. Styles ran to the ring to run off Roode and Brooks afterward.

WINNER: Roode in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Too rushed to feel like a competitive match.

-Daniels expressed frustration with Styles holding the X Title belt rather than being there for him during the match.

-Hemme plugged the main event.

[Commercial Break]

-A commercial aired for the Nov. 16 move of TNA Impact to primetime. It plugged that Kurt Angle's first match for TNA would take place that night.

4 -- RHINO vs. CHRISTIAN -- Aparatus on Poles Match

They brawled to the ring. Rhino settled into a chinlock after two minutes of fighting in the ring. Christian poked Rhino's eyes to gain an advantage. He climbed to the top rope. Rhino knocked Christian to the floor, then grabbed a key off a pole.

[Commercial Break]

They aired a clip from during the commercial of Rhino getting the straight jacket down. Christian made a comeback at 8:00 and climbed the pole to grab a wire cutter. Christian thought of using it as a weapon, but Rhino blocked him. Maverick Matt, with his new purple hair, attacked Rhino. Christian took the chairs off the final pole. Rhino, though, surprised Christian with The Gore. Rhino then put Christian in the straight jacket. Kazarian, sporting green hair, attacked Rhino. Matt joined in as Christian was lying an the ramp in the straight jacket, trying to worm his way to the back out of harm's way. Rhino hit Matt with a Gore, then drove Kazarian through a table propped up against the ropes.

WINNER: I have no idea. 8:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Not much wrestling and I didn't get the concept (it's like having to study for a pop quiz keeping track of everything TNA throws out way during these shows). They're at least finding something for Matt and Kazarian, since their year after year routine of changing gimmicks constantly, yet magically never actually having a gimmick, got old. This gives them an actual identity, or the start of one at least.

-A well-produced video aired of Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle working out and psyching up. Short, but well done. Probably the highlight of the show.

-The show-closing music video then aired with clips of the show, which was better than the show itself. The Cliff's Notes version of the show made you think you really missed something, although it would seem difficult to shorten and speed up TNA Impact any more than it already seems while watching it. At least the videos don't have any failed attempts at insider references and they never include chinlocks. Too many matches and too many gimmicky matches to fit into the 44 minutes they have.