IMPACT

May 24, 2007
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
thanks to: pwtorch.com
 

We open with a recap of last week's show, focusing on the King of the Mountain announcement and Kurt Angle winning the first King of the Mountain qualifying match.

Ringside, Mike Tenay and Don West talked about Samoa Joe vs. Sting on the show tonight for the very first time.

They aired the usual TNA intro, then came back to the same crowd reaction opening. Tenay and West repeated themselves about Joe vs. Sting.

Team 3D came out to the ring in street clothes. Or, is that their wrestling gear? Not sure. In any event, they have new TNA tag title belts. Ray entered the ring and stared at a sign that read: "We hate 3D." Ray took the mic and told the Steiners to come out. There goes Tenay talking about the number of championships won by each team. I hate that stat. The most misleading stat in wrestling since it means Team 3D and the Steiners have lost the tag title belts at least 30 times. Here's a new stat: average number of days in a year each team held the belts. The Steiners entered the ring and Ray put them over as one of the greatest tag teams in the world. Scott finally cut off Ray and Tenay and said he doesn't need to hear it from Ray about how great they are. Scott asked Ray to name one tag team that Team 3D beat for the WWE tag titles. He said they were the first WCW tag champions and they spent most of their career in WCW, but not one time did they ever see Ray's name on the roster. "3D sucks" chant at this point. Scott talked about the ECW tag title belts. He said when they were tag champs, they traveled the world and defended the belts. Wrestled in Japan. Wrestled in front of 170,000 fans in North Korea. OK, let's establish some context that the "fans" didn't have a choice to attend or not attend. Scott said 3D never left the bingo halls. They should be called ECW city champs, state champs, or bingo hall champs. Scott said there is no world champion in ECW and Ray should know it based on the paychecks they received.

Rick then pulled out a long list of wrestlers the Steiners beat. Road Warriors. Four Horsemen. Nasty Boys. Samoan Swat Team. Outsiders. Luger & Sting. Midnight Express. Freebirds. Money, Inc. Simmons & Reed. Harlem Heat. Rock n' Roll Express. Scott then asked Ray to name any of those teams they beat. Ray then took the mic and said he doesn't understand why Scott is so hot at him. He said they actually respect the Steiners, unlike some of the young boy teams who come in with no respect. Scott said Team 3D's legacy doesn't mean s---. Devon took the mic and said there's one team that the Steiners haven't beaten: Team 3D. Scott then accepted a challenge for Slammiversary. Ray said he hopes they kick their asses at the PPV, so they can say they took Steiners's best and still won the match.

Backstage, Leticia was with Christian Cage and Tomko. Leticia tried to stir trouble between them, then Christian said Tomko told him that he thinks Leticia's getting fat. Christian then said he's not a tag team wrestler because he's a great singles wrestler. Tomko didn't respect Christian's authority and Christian said Jim Cornette booked them in a tag match against LAX because he doesn't respect him. Tomko whispered that Jim Cornette doesn't have anything against Christian except for Christian's huge mouth. Tomko hinted that he might know who Christian's opponent is for the King of the Mountain, but he wouldn't tip his hand since Christian never gave him that title shot.

[Commercial Break]

They cut to a TNA moment from June 19, 2005 when Raven won the NWA Title. Seems like forever ago.

They aired a video package on the Christy Hemme vs. VKM feud.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Kip James and Lance Hoyt about B.G. James's condition. Kip said B.G. is still laid up, but he'll be back next week. Kip gave Hoyt a pep talk that he needs to step up after they've been grooming him for several weeks. Hoyt said he's grateful for the opportunity VKM gave him while TNA management overlooked him. He said he's not afraid to hit a lady, either.

1 -- BASHAM & DAMAJA (w/Christy Hemme) vs. LANCE HOYT & KIP JAMES

Basham worked on Kip James in the opening minute. The heels then exchanged tags to keep working on Kip before he caught Damaja with a boot to the face. Kip and Damaja then knocked each other down with a double clothesline. Christy tried to get involved, but Hoyt grabbed her and escorted her up the entrance ramp to the back. That left Kip alone in the ring to take the leg lariat from Basham for the win. Hoyt then hit the ring after the match, but he was too late. Bashams bailed and Hoyt was left in the ring standing over Kip's fallen body.

WINNERS: Basham & Damaja in 3:00. Going through the motions in the ring, but there was storyline advancement with Hoyt failing VKM. (1/2*)

They cut backstage where Borash interviewed Samoa Joe. He said he was directionless and without a purpose until tonight when he receives his opportunity to face Sting with a King of the Mountain spot on the line. He said Sting is in the worst possible place in TNA: in his way. Joe said it's Showtime.

[Commercial Break]

TNA moment from June 19, 2002 when Ken Shamrock won the NWA Title.

Backstage, Borash found Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks. Roode didn't want to talk about Eric Young just yet. Roode then said he wants his shot at the King of the Mountain match and Cornette needs to grant him his opportunity. He said he's going to be the next TNA heavyweight champion. He doesn't care if it's Sting, Angle, Joe, or even Jeff Jarrett. Roode said he's giving Young one week to answer his attorney's letter about Roode's property interest in Young's life and career.

2 -- LAX (HERNANDEZ & HOMICIDE w/Konnan) vs. CHRISTIAN CAGE & TOMKO

The opening bell sounded and they cut to ringside where Hector Guerrero was watching carefully. West plugged that TNA t-shirts are on-sale at Hot Topic right now. Fans were clearly behind LAX early on. Homicide caught Tomko with a big boot to the face, but Tomko easily tossed Homicide aside in the opposite corner. The camera then followed Konnan around ringside as he began jawing with Hector. Tomko slowly played around with Homicide before they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Konnan and Hector were still jawing at each other. In the ring, Christian used Homicide as his personal rag doll and hit a gut buster for a nearfall. Tomko then tagged in and hit a running powerslam for a nearfall. Hernandez then made a blind tag and hit a springboard shoulder tackle. He tossed Christian into the corner, then Christian went for a sunset flip, but Hernandez picked him up and hit the cracker jack overhead toss. Hernandez then launched Homicide onto both opponents. Hernandez cleared Tomko to the outside, then Homicide hit a sentaun splash on Christian while Christian was draped across Hernandez's knees. Ringside, Homicide started jawing with Hector. Tomko then re-entered the ring and kicked Hernandez in the face to set up Christian for a top rope frog splash for the win.

After the match, Konnan drove his crutch into Hector's throat, but Hector escaped and ran into the ring. Chris Harris and Rhino then hit the ring for no apparent reason and had Hector's back.

WINNERS: Christian & Tomko in 8:00. What's the point of the Hector vs. Konnan feud? We haven't been given reason to buy into this apparent feud. Match was fine, but Homicide was a rag doll and Christian was a rag doll when working with Hernandez. But, since TNA believes in the philosophy of Even Steven booking, everyone remains at the same level since Christian scored the pin and Homicide wasn't pinned. (*1/4)

Backstage, Borash was with Kurt Angle. Angle talked about Sting-Joe tonight and said he doesn't care about either man. He said they lost his respect weeks ago. Angle said each of them would do anything to win, but he's the only one to admit that he does it. He said he gives an opponent fair warning before he tries to cheat to win. And that makes it more admirable? Hey, guess what? I'm going to take your wallet, but it's not that bad because I'm going to tell you in advance. Silly logic. Angle walked off after suggesting he might be involved in the Sting-Joe match.

[Commercial Break]

TNA moment from June 19, 2005 at Slammiversary for Samoa Joe's debut match against Sonjay Dutt.

3 -- SAMOA JOE vs. STING -- King of the Mountain qualifying match

They danced around the ring after the opening bell. Both men paused when the fans started a "Joe's gonna kill you" chant. They locked up and Sting drove Joe to the corner before they had a clean break. Joe then caught Sting with an atomic drop. He went for a running kick, but Sting blocked and went for the Scorpion deathlock. Joe quickly slipped out, though, and applied a rear naked choke. Sting escaped, then went for the deathlock again, but Joe grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Three minutes into the match, Christopher Daniels came to ringside for a closer look. Sting went for a Stinger splash, but Joe moved and caught Sting with a leaping kick to the side of the head. They cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Joe was in control. We saw footage from during the break when Sting reprimanded Daniels for coming out ringside. Joe grounded Sting with a headlock, then he went for a suplex, but Sting countered with a reverse DDT. West explained the significance of the match that the loser could be out of the title picture for a while. Tenay said the participants for next week's qualifier would be announced after the match. He said Cornette might find someone outside of TNA since there's no glass ceiling. Whatever that means. Daniels then hopped on the apron and tossed a baseball bat to Sting, but Sting shoved Daniels off the apron. Joe then went for a baseball kick, but Sting moved. Daniels then caught Sting with a baseball bat shot from the outside. Joe and the ref didn't see Daniels's action, then Joe hit a Samoan Drop for the win.

WINNER: Joe in 11:00 to qualify for King of the Mountain. Basic, standard wrestling match. Nothing flashy, just a match. Of course, Daniels's interference ensured that Sting didn't have to do a clean job, but at least it sets up the issue for their match - probably at Slammiversary. (*3/4)

Tenay gave a quick plug that A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett has been signed for next week as a qualifying match.