IMPACT

November 9, 2006
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
thanks to: pwtorch.com

The show opened with a vignette on Abyss earning a bye to the final of the Fight for the Right tournament. After the opening montage, Mike Tenay introduced the show as the camera panned the crowd.

1 -- A.J. STYLES (w/Christopher Daniels) vs. ROBERT ROODE (w/Miss Brooks) vs. RON "THE TRUTH" KILLINGS (w/Lance Hoyt) -- Fight for the Right Semi-Finals

Styles and Killings hit flip dives out of the ring in the opening minute. Back in the ring, Styles scored some near falls on Killings. Roode broke up a pin attempt by Killings. They showed Chris Sabin, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Jerry Lynn watching the match from the rafters. At 5:00 Styles climbed to the top rope. Brooks grabbed his leg. Hoyt picked her up and threw her into the crowd. A fan threw a soda in her face "by mistake." She slapped him. Roode then shoved the fan. Styles avoided a Killings scissors kick and then rolled him up for a leverage pin. Tenay announced that Styles would face Abyss later due to the win.

WINNER: Styles in 6:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Just a bunch of rushed moves, but it never really developed into a match.

-Christy Hemme plugged the rest of the show.

[Commercial Break]

-A clip aired or Robert Roode chewing up Miss Brooks backstage. He preached to her obnoxiously that money is everything and he cost her a chance at a lot of money. He threw stuff around, pointed in her face, and screamed at her to get him another water. She stood and took it, but looked shaken.

-Shane Douglas stood in the ring and called out Brother Ray. Douglas said Ray disrespected him. Ray said he was catching him off guard. He said he's never disrespected him. He said he's known him a long time and has respect for him. He said he may not have liked what Douglas had to say to him, but he said he shouldn't hold a grudge. Douglas yelled at Ray. (I think there's comedy gold in filming Douglas working as a drive thru fast food employee who just yells at the top of his lungs: "Can I take YOUR order!" "Would you like that SUPER-SIZED!" "You're total is $13,74!" "Please pull up to THE NEXT WINDOW!") Douglas said regarding The Naturals: "They ain't resting on some washed up history, on some washed up legacy, from some washed up company." Tenay (needlessly) added, "Boy, that was stiff." Douglas slapped Ray. The Naturals then attacked Ray. They put Ray through a table. Tenay wondered where Brother Devon was. They cut backstage to a scene of Devon on his back and underneath a bunch of a stuff writhing in pain backstage.

[Commercial Break]

-Tenay and West introduced a clip of LAX interrupting an America's Most Wanted autograph session. LAX crushed Chris Harris's hand against a wall and then Hernandez gave the Border Toss to James Storm against a wall and onto the floor.

2 -- AUSTIN STARR (w/Alex Shelley, Kevin Nash) vs. PETEY WILLIAMS vs. JOHNNY DEVINE

Nash joined Tenay and West on commentary. Tenay asked Nash if he has "latched on" to the next hot property in TNA. Nash said Starr is the one benefiting from his relationship. (Should I be concerned that instead of building up Starr and Nash for six months at least, Vince Russo might break them up within the next three weeks before it has a chance for a breakup to mean anything?) Nash said he's not one to just jump on the winning bandwagon. When Devine hit a moonsault, Nash dryly said, "A move right out of my playbook." Tenay asked Nash about kicking Devine to the curb. Nash said they run a tight ship. After Petey shoved Shelley into Starr as he stood on the top rope, Petey finished Devine with the Canadian Destroyer. Nash talked to Shelley and Starr about their miscommunication that led to the lost chance to win.

WINNER: Petey in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Again, too short to develop into an actual match.

-After the match, LAX walked to the ring. Konnan repeated his mantra, "You can stop a revolutionary, but you can't stop a revolution." He said nobody attacked LAX from behind, a reference to AMW. Konnan addressed Petey as he walked to the back. Konnan invited him to join them next week because as a Canadian, he's surely been discriminated against. He invited him to join them in burning the Canadian flag. Petey smiled as Konnan reitterated his invitation. Konnan said their flags stand for honor and dignity. He said the American Flag stands for "lies, exploitation, and racism." He shook the flag, called it a rag, and said he was going to spit on it, pee on it, and burn it. Tenay and West expressed outrage.

[Commercial Break]

-Tenay plugged next week's Christian vs. Rhino main event barbed wire cage match. Then he interviewed them on split screen. Christian said it was asinine for Tenay to suggest Rhino had the advantage with the key to the cage and he should "slap his yellow of his teeth" in response. Christian said he is more agile, has more supple skin, nicer hair, grows better facial hair. He said if you want a complete list of what makes him better, ask Rhino's ex-wife. He said he is a ring general and nobody is smarter than him inside the ring. He said he will embarrass him for a final time next week. Rhino then responded by saying the bolt cutters Christian has will do him no good when they're shoved up his ass. Rhino said next week is his time to get revenge and he will make him bleed, cry, and beg for his life. Christian said he wishes they were in the same room right now. Rhino said he knows where he is and he's going to come get him. Christian paused, then looked behind his back and looked worried before the cameras cut off. Nice production of that segment.

-West gave an old HSN-style plug for upcoming house shows and DVD releases. He then plugged next week's TNA Prime Time Special. He said it would feature the in-ring debut of Kurt Angle. He then plugged the Genesis PPV including a Sting title defense. (That was the first time in the show either Angle or Sting were mentioned or shown on camera.)

-They showed James Mitchell and Abyss laughing backstage.

[Commercial Break]

-A commercial aired for the Sting DVD.

-A video aired hyping the Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle feud, with each wrestler speaking about the other. Angle said his reputation is on the line because Joe is undefeated, yet he (Angle) claims to be the best. Joe said Angle see his blood as his trophy. Joe said there is no doubt that he is a fierce and competitive warrior. He said nobody can hurt him like he can. Said Joe: "You can't train for me. You can't train for violence. You can't train for me." Joe said he didn't get into wrestling for accolades or recognition, he got into it because "this is what is what I am, this what I feel, this is what I train to be - a warrior." Angle guaranteed his match against Joe would be "match of the year." Joe concluded: "Kurt, you will be broken."

3 -- ABYSS (w/James Mitchell) vs. A.J. STYLES -- Fight for the Right Finals

As the bell rang, Daniels and Mitchell returned to the back, as ordered by TNA officials. West's wheezing kept scaring me during this show. I kept thinking my cell phone was vibrating on my desk every time he inhaled. Don't smoke, kids. In a cool spot, Abyss just knocked Styles to the ground as Styles went for a discuss punch. Tenay announced that the winner of this match would not only get the NWA Title shot on Nov. 19 at Genesis, but the winner would also face Kurt Angle next week on Impact. Abyss catapulted Styles into a chair propped in the corner of the ring at 6:00. They showed the X Division foursome watching. Sabin stretched and yawned. Pretty funny. He's really developing a distinct persona now. Styles came back with a flurry of punches from the mount position. Abyss splashed Styles and the ref in the corner of the ring. Christian Cage ran to the ring and attacked Abyss with a chair. Then he turned to Styles and KO'd him. West wondered what he was doing out there. Christian grabbed a mic at ringside and said he is the only true no. 1 contender in TNA. Then he walked to the back. The ref recovered and began counting both wrestlers down. He called for the bell once he got to ten. West said he didn't know what happened. Three other referees came to the ring and they all had a conference. Tenay said they needed a winner.

[Commercial Break]

The ring announced said the match would continue because of its importance. Styles went on the attack on Abyss. Styles scored a very near fall with a victory roll; in fact, he had a three count, but the ref stopped before three because it wasn't the planned finish. Styles went to the top rope, but Abyss grabbed him and dropped straight down. Mitchell ran back to the ring with a black bag. Daniels ran back to ringside (a couple seconds too late, forcing Mitchell to awkwardly stall for a few seconds) and took the bag away from him, then walked him to the back. Sabin charged into the ring and surprised Styles as he set up his Styles Clash, giving him an enzuigiri. Abyss the gave Styles a Black Hole Slam as West and Tenay both screamed "Nahhhhhahahahahaaaaaggreeehhhaaa!" Abyss scored the three count.

WINNER: Abyss in 15:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Solid action throughout, as usual with these two, despite the size and style difference. The interference was perhaps slightly overdone, but it all served a purpose.

-The cut to an image of Sting watching from the rafters.