IMPACT

January 11, 2007
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
thanks to: pwtorch.com
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-They opened with clips of James Mitchell brow-beating Abyss against the fence in a prison yard. Then clips aired of the Kurt Angle-Samoa Joe brawl.

-Kurt Angle entered Jim Cornette's office. Angle asked what he wanted. Cornette said he's done everything possible for him including getting him a rematch against Joe and he let them fight last week. He said he's arranged for Joe to be nowhere near the ring tonight for his TV match. Cornette said he wants Angle at ringside when he asks for him. Angle asked why he'd want to do anything for him. Cornette said because he has the power to get him an NWA Title shot. Angle said he'd be there, but it better be worth his while. Cornette leaned back, rubbed his hands together, and said it was going to be worth his while.

-The TNA Impact opening aired, and then Mike Tenay introduced the show and hyped the top matches at Sunday's PPV. He also hyped Abyss vs. Tomko and VKM in San Antonio, Tex.

1 -- MAVERICK MATT (w/Kazarian, Johnny Devine) vs. KURT ANGLE

Angle dominated in the opening seconds. Kazarian yanked on Angle's leg from the floor, giving Matt a chance to blindside Angle with a clothesline. Matt stomped away at Angle in the corner. Angle came back with two clotheslines and three unreleased German suplexes. (At least Angle's not trying to keep up with Chris Benoit's totals these days.) Angle fended off interference from Kazarian and Devine. Then he applied an anklelock on Matt for the tapout.

WINNER: Angle in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Good action for a squash.

-A video aired previewing Angle vs. Joe on PPV.

-They showed Brother Ray and Brother Devon dressed in camouflauge and riding around in a military Humvee. Ray said LAX are disgraces to themselves, their flag, their country, the NWA Tag Team Titles, and the U.S.A. He declared war on them. D-Von hummed a patriotic song in the background.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed that during the commercial break, Raven repeatedly whipped Maverick Matt with a kendo stick across his back.

-Tenay and West wondered was a phone booth sized red cage was doing at ringside. It had a "reserved" sign on it, and they wondered who it was reserved for.

-Jeremy Borash interviewed Samoa Joe backstage. Borash noted that Joe didn't interfere in Angle's match. Joe said he agreed not to interfere, so he didn't. He said the bad news for Angle is that the match is over. He said he is going to hurt Angle worse than he's ever hurt before at Final Resolution. Joe said there are 50 minutes left in the show and he shouldn't turn his back for any one of them.

-Ring intros took place for James Storm (w/Gail Kim), Chris Sabin, and A.J. Styles. Tenay and West pointed out that Kim was reluctantly accompanying Storm to the ring. They showed a clip of Styles feining an injury and surprising Rhino for the pin at the last PPV.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- JAMES STORM (w/Gail Kim) & CHRIS SABIN & A.J. STYLES vs. PETEY WILLIAMS & CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & RHINO

Daniels got a hot-tag at 2:00 and cleaned house on the heels. He applied a submission on Storm. Sabin broke it up. Rhino nailed Storm with a Gore. Styles surprised Rhino with a flying clothesline off the ropes. Daniels then confronted Styles. Daniels knocked Styles down with a clothesline and a backdrop. Styles flipped off the ropes and clutches his leg as if he injured it after landing. Daniels hesitated for a second; Styles surprised him with a small package for the pin. Styles popped up with an "I did it again!" smile on his face.

WINNERS: Styles & Sabin & Storm in 4:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Good action.

-Borash interviewed James Mitchell backstage. Mitchell looked at the camera and addressed Abyss. He said for the first time in 18 months, he stands there alone without his monster. He said he doesn't know where he is or where he's been, perhaps sleeping in alleys or wondering streets lost in his own despair. He said all he knows is his weapon of mass destruction is no longer there. He said he backed him into a corner. He said he didn't want to do it, but now he has to give him an ultimatum. He said he will have to reveal his secret once and for all if he doesn't prove his loyalty. "I'm the only man you can trust," he said. "I'm not going to yell, I'm not going to scream, because I don't have to. But you think long and hard about what I said. It's time for you to make a decision or I spill the beans. It's time, Abyss, for you to come home once and for all. I hope you make the right decision." That was Mitchell's best promo to date in TNA. He branched out beyond the Satan character promos and did so convincingly and effectively.

[Commercial Break]

-In the PCS skit, the fifth and final competition, Kevin Nash supervised the Texas Hold 'Em game. Sonjay Dutt said he has never played before. Alex Shelley asked, "Have you been living under a rock? Or in India?" Dutt said, "Enough." Nash peeked at Shelley's cards. When Austin Starr asked for a beer, Nash said he was out. There were six bottles next to his chair. Nash said Shelley and Starr each had 20 points so they'd wrestle a 10 minute match at Final Resolution, and if there was no winner, the judges would decide. Shelley asked who the judges would be. Nash said to let him worry about that. Final Standings: Lethal had 18 points, Senshi had 17, and Sonjay Dutt had 15.

-Tenay and West were shown at ringside. They wondered about the reserved cage at ringside. They plugged the Final Resolution line-up. Cool graphics presentation.

-Borash interviewed Chris Harris, who had an eye patch. He solemnly said he has a risk of losing his vision. He said he doesn't know what his future is as an athlete or whether he'll ever return to the ring. He said he can't believe Storm did this to him. He said he's still hurt and confused. He said he doesn't get what's going through his mind. "This was my brother, man." He said they will never be able to look back at what America's Most Wanted has done together and look at the success they've had and do it with a smile.

-Back at the arena, Brother Ray and Devon "sniper attack" Konnan during the video interview, said Tenay. Team 3D stood in the ring with Hernandez and Homicide checking on Konnan on the floor in the crowd. Ray said they've got a war on their hands. Devon closed with his signature phrase.

[Commercial Break]

-Borash said he was awaiting Team 3D for an interview. Eric Young walked up to him. Borash asked if "his friend" needed the protection they talked about last week. Young said he's been taking some pills every day at 4 p.m. Young said he's tender in the pectoral area. He asked Borash to feel it. Borash said no thanks. Team 3D walked into the picture and cut a final promo about their tag match. Good intensity and delivery.

-They went to the latest Voodoo Kin Mafia segment. They stepped out of a bus, but they were at an Alamo rental desk instead of "The Alamo." They drove to The Alamo and read historical signs on the side of the building. They looked all over for Michael Hickenbottom. B.G. said there's one thing left for them to do, and that's declare victory on Sunday.

-Tomko's ring entrance took place. He had Christian with him. Cornette was standing in the ring waiting for them. He said he had a short announcement. He restated that Tomko wouldbe barred from ringside on Sunday, so to be fair, he's going to lock Christian in a cage at ringside for this match. Christian said the fans in the crowd are his peeps and not one person in the arena wants to see him locked in that cage. He said he wanted to know who was going to put him in there. Cornette said if he doesn't go along with it, he loses his title match on Sunday. Cornette said he has a guy who owes him a favor who would be more than happy to do the honors for him. Out walked Kurt Angle. Angle, the guy who snapped the ankle of Joe's lady friend last week is now positioned to be cheered by forcing a declared heel Christian into a cage. Angle backed Christian into the cage, then dangled the keys to the cage in front of him. If a fire broke out in the arena, I hope Angle would think of unlocking Christian before running for the exit.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- ABYSS vs. TOMKO

James Mitchell walked out with the NWA Title belt. No sign of Abyss. Abyss walked out of the other side of the arena. Mitchell's jaw dropped when it sunk in that Abyss chose to enter the ring without him. As Abyss looked at Mitchell, Tomko attacked Abyss from behind. Abyss came back and clotheslined Tomko over the top rope to the floor. Angle remained at ringside. Christian tried to find a way out of the small cage. At 2:00 Tomko kicked out after a chokeslam. Tomko fired back with a clothesline. When Tomko brought a chair into the ring, Abyss kicked it into his face. Joe then attacked Angle from behind at ringside, throwing him into the cage. Then he slammed his head into the ringside table several times and went for the rear naked choke. Angle slipped into an ankelock attempt. Joe escaped and sent Angle head-first into the table. Security came out and separated them. Christian reached under the cage door and grabbed the keys, that fell out of Angle's hands. Christian escaped the cage and broke up the pin by Abyss on Tomko after a Black Hole Slam. The ref called for the DQ.

WINNER: Abyss in 4:00 via DQ.

STAR RATING: *

-Christian and Tomko double-teamed Abyss in the ring. Joe and Angle brawled at ringside. The lights then went out. When they came back on, Sting stood in the ring with the bat. He hit Tomko. Christian bailed out. Abyss raised Sting's arm in the air, but then lifted him into the air. Mitchell entered the ring and signalled toward Abyss to drop him. Abyss dropped Sting with Shock Treatment. Abyss then called for Mitchell to hand him his belt. Mitchell did. They clutched hands. Mitchell laughed maniacally and raised Abyss's arm.

-A music video aired giving a final push to the top matches at Final Resolution