IMPACT

December 14, 2006
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
thanks to: pwtorch.com
buy this episode from

We start with Kurt Angle looking for Samoa Joe backstage. Instead, he found Jremy Boash making copies. He threw him against the wall and demanded to know where Joe is.

- They cut to footage from Joe-Angle at the PPV. They showed the ref bump and finish with Joe forcing Angle to tap out.

- Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks were in the ring. Roode demanded that Eric Young come out and sign his contract to join Robert Roode, Inc. Brooks stood there despondent. Instead of Young, Kurt Angle came out and told Roode and Brooks to get lost. Angle ranted about tapping out to Joe. He fought back tears as he stopped in the middle of his rant. He said he gave Joe a rematch and a chance at redemption and now what he wants - no, telling Joe - is a re-match. Joe appeared on the videotron and reminded Angle that he said their match at Turning Point would be their last match ever. Joe said his sights are set on the NWA Title and as far as he's concerned, Angle has lost and now he's broken. "As far as a re-match, sorry, Kurt, We're done," he said. Angle left the ring and approached the announcers. He cut off Don West, who was reminding the viewers that Angle said he didn't want a rematch before the PPV. Angle held his head as if he were about to cry. He suddenly grabbed West and threw him down on the ground. He then put him in the anklelock and West screamed in pain. Tenay demanded that security show up. He wouldn't let go and security just stood there doing nothing.

- They did the Impact intro, then cut to Mike Tenay for a serious discussion on West being attended to by medics. Tenay comically talked to the voices in his head via the headset. "Yeah, I know how this goes, the show must go on," he said. Tenay tried to use his "that was real" voice as Ron Killings walked out for a match.

1 -- ABYSS (w/James Mitchell) vs. RON KILLINGS -- non-title match

Killings knocked Abyss to the outside early on. He then hit a flip dive onto Abyss. They cut to a shot of Sting standing in the rafters watching down on the action.

[Commercial Break]

Abyss slammed Killings into the ring steps ringside. They showed footage from during the commercial when security helped Don West out of the Impact zone. Abyss took Killings back into the ring and choked him on the ropes. Abyss went for the Shock Treatment, but Killings slipped out and hit a create-lots-of-movement flying fist smash. He missed an axe kick, but hit a spin kick. Killings followed with a kick to the groin in the corner for a nearfall. Abyss then rolled to the outside holding his groin. Killings chased Mitchell around the ring and we all know where this is leading. Killings chased Mitchell back into the ring and then walked into the Black Hole Slam back in the ring for the win.

WINNER: Abyss in 8:00.

- Jim Cornette joined Tenay on commentary. Apparently, he just ran wind sprints as he was gasping for air.

- Leticia was backstage with Christian Cage and Tomko. He threatened to do to her what Angle did to Don West. Christian said Abyss has to give him a rematch or else his dirty secret becomes public challenge. Suddenly, Brooks was chasing down Eric Young with a contract. Kurt Angle then grabbed Young and demanded to know where Joe is. Young had no answers.

[Commercial Break]

- They aired a video package on Serotonin

- Stage 2 of the Paparazzi PCS aired. Kevin Nash discussed the Bob Backlund pushup contest. Nash said Lethal has to go first because he's black. Lethal asked why it's the Backlund contest when he's not even here and Shelley said he's here in spirit. Austin Starr pulled out push-up aids. Those are legit and really work. Dutt put his rear in Starr's face for motivation. Starr did some one arm push-ups, then Senshi did some pushups and Nash asked if those were Warrior style. Dutt began doing pushups and Nash asked him if he had a Barry Bonds steroids tricep injury. While Dutt went down, Nash put a "I'm on steroids" sign on Dutt's back. Nash declared Lethal the winner. He said everyone should kiss the winner. Shelley approached Lethal because he saw something in his eye.

2 -- CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. PETEY WILLIAMS -- non-title match

Jim Cornette said there would be repercussions and fines for Kurt Angle based on his actions at the top of the show. Petey and Daniels exchanged control early on. Petey snapped off dropkicks before rolling through a head scissors for a nearfall. Tenay and West discussed everything except for the actual match in the ring before Daniels scored a nearfall. Daniels went for a split-legged moonsault, but Petey got his knees up to block the move. Chris Sabin then ran into the ring with Daniels's X title belt. Jerry Lynn ran into the ring and grabbed the belt. Sabin bailed, then Daniels gave Lynn a kick to the head. Suddenly, Petey rolled up Daniels from behin for the win.

WINNER: Petey in 5:00. Inconsequential match with two babyfaces going against each other, and with the commentators focusing on everything else. The real story was the ending, setting up a probable PPV match between Daniels and Lynn. It would be nice if the focus within the X Division went back to quality in-ring wrestling, rather than what a retired wrestler is up to every week. Don't get me wrong, Lynn could be a solid contributor to the in-ring product, but the goal should be to build up the active wrestlers. Now, Chris Sabin is being pushed aside in favor of a Daniels-Lynn feud.

- They cut backstage where Kurt Angle had Slick Johnson in an anklelock on the stairs. He scared off security, then tried to snap Slick's ankle off. And everyone rejoiced at the sight of this.

[Commercial Break]

- They aired footage of VKM's million dollar challenge. B.G. questioned the audacity of Vince McMahon ordering parodies of WCW and Ted Turner back in the day, and now being upset with TNA's parodies of DX. B.G. reiterated the challenge to DX.

- Ringside, Tenay and Cornette analyzed the challenge, using no specifics. "The folks in Connecticut" might as well be the "guys up North." Angle then walked to ringside and grabbed So Cal Val. He dragged Val into the ring and grabbed a mic. Angle screamed that he wanted his rematch with Joe or he would snap Val's angle. Cornette walked into the ring and told him that he's lost his mind. Cornette said he and the fans want Angle to have his re-match. He said he read Joe's contract, which doesn't allow him to force Joe into a one-on-one rematch. Cornette decided the best solution would be a tag match. Oh boy! Cornette slowly explained what a tag match is. Angle wanted to know why this would convince Joe to grant him a rematch. Cornette said Angle could convince Joe during the tag match. He gave Angle his word that Angle and Joe would be in a tag match next week. "You better, or your ass is mine," Angle said. Cornette slowly backed out of the ring.

- They showed clips of the LAX-AMW match from the Turning Point PPV to set up the titles vs. team main event match tonight. They aired a soundbyte on James Storm complaining about having to listen to the Mexican National Anthem.

- Backstage, AMW and Gail Kim were interviewed by Borash. Harris had a patch over his right eye after taking glass to the eye. Harris said it was such a horrible feeling to see the Mexican flag raised. He said what hurt worse was Storm questioning his integrity. Harris said they had a heart-to-heart to make sure they're on the same page for their match tonight. Storm took a swig and said he apologized to Harris and Gail for his actions at the PPV. He said they wouldn't lose the match over his dead body.

3 -- LAX (HOMICIDE & HERNANDEZ w/Konnan) vs. AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (CHRIS HARRIS & JAMES STORM w/Gail Kim) -- NWA Tag Title match vs. losing team disbands

So, we can't get a promo from Konnan or Homicide before the match? They piped in boos and crowd noise that sounded like a bee buzzing around your ear during LAX's entrance. Konnan was locked inside a King of the Mountain cage before the match. The match broke down early on and spilled to the outside. AMW had control as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

LAX had control out of the break. Tenay asked Cornette for his thoughts on the Joe/Angle tag match. He booked Joe/Angle-Rhino/Styles for next week's main event. Harris regained control and tossed Homicide off the top rope into Hernandez. Storm took a tag that the referee didn't see, but Storm kept wrestling anyway. Finally, Rudy Charles forced Storm to his corner. Harris couldn't make a legal tag, so Homicide took control. Storm then re-entered the ring with a beer bottle and chased Homicide from the ring. Storm helped Harris to his feet and then smashed the bottle over his head. Storm rolled Harris over as Gail asked him what was going. Storm slowly walked out of the ring, then Homicide re-entered the ring and covered Harris to win. Petey Williams confronted Storm after the match, then they cut to a break.

WINNERS: LAX in 7:00 to retain the NWA Tag Titles. The focus was clearly on AMW, which had to be the case based on where they're going from here with a singles push for each former member. It sucks for LAX, since they were the secondary story. Harris had a decent singles run during the Wednesday night PPV series, and starting this current singles run as a sympathetic babyface is a good start. The problem is that TNA hasn't given the fans a reason to care about AMW lately, as their anti-LAX rhetoric didn't go over too well with the audience and I don't believe fans will be clamoring for an AMW vs. AMW singles feud. It's probably best to get the match out of the way, then let both men try their hand as singles wrestlers away from each other.

[Commercial Break]

- They recapped what just happened, then showed footage from backstage during the commercial when Petey got in Storm's face.

- Christian and Tomko walked out. Christian said Abyss's time is just about up to accept his challenge for the NWA Title. He threatened to reveal Abyss's dark past, but Abyss hit the button backstage to start playing his music. Abyss stormed the ring with Mitchell. Tomko and Abyss exchanged blows before Abyss clotheslined him to the floor. Christian tried to jump Abyss from behind, but it didn't affect him. Abyss choked Christian in the corner, then Tomko slide into the ring and clotheslined Abyss. He pounded on him before referees spilled into the ring to separate everyone. The fans chanted for Christian to tell the secret. Everyone wants information, don't they? Hebner then took a blow from Abyss, who then gave Rudy Charles the Shock Treatment. Cornette screamed that the referees need to be protected. Andrew Thomas took the Black Hole Slam, which led to Cornette jumping into the ring. Abyss threatened him with a chokeslam, then the lights went out and Sting was back in the ring. Sting pointed at Abyss and Mitchell. Suddenly, Abyss grabbed Mitchell by the throat. Sting bailed. The fans chanted, "Do it, Do it!" Abyss released Mitchell from his grasp, then saw that Sting had stolen the NWA Title belt. Sting stood on top of the ramp with possession of the belt as Abyss held his head in his hands. Intriguing ending, but I'm not a big fan of having two separate feuds going on at the same time for two months in a row leading to a PPV. Having a "triple threat" storyline going on continuously leaves a lot of ambiguity on the show. They need to find one issue and stick with it. Right now, it's Sting trying to save a soul and Christian threatening with secrets. Too much involved in the main program.