IMPACT

August 23, 2007
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
thanks to: pwtorch.com

They open with a recap from last week with Pacman Jones, Kurt Angle bragging about screwing Samoa Joe, and Angle having to defend his wife against the Steiners tonight.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash found Kurt Angle driving up with his wife in the passenger seat. Angle pulled out all of his belts as Borash continued to badger him about putting his wife in harm's way. Borash offered to open the door, but Angle stopped and told Karen to get out of the car. Angle finally opened the door and forced Karen to walk out. She cut a promo on him and started screaming. Karen entered the building in a huff, then Angle said he needs a divorce. Borash asked if he needs help.

Mike Tenay, overstating TNA's level of relevance in any universe, said Ron Killings shocked the sports world by joining forces with Pacman Jones last week.

1 -- ROBERT ROODE & MS. BROOKS vs. KAZ & GAIL KIM

Roode and Brooks teased tension after Brooks was feathered at the PPV while Roode only watched. Per the formula, the camera followed Gail to the ring instead of the male talent. Roode then jumped Kaz before the bell. Tenay plugged the Mobile service while Roode isolated Kaz. He talked about everything else going on in TNA, then Kaz made a comeback. Gail then came in and went after Brooks while Kaz took Roode to the outside with a clothesline. Gail scored with a small package roll up on Brooks for the win.

After the match, Brooks and Roode had a brief argument. Roode told Brooks that he owns her and he would have her fired. Kaz then re-entered the ring and shoved Roode aside. Roode piefaced him, then Kaz came back with right hand blows. Kaz landed a big martial arts kick sending Roode to the floor. Brooks had a shocked look on her face, then Kaz took the mic. He said there are two things wrong with Roode. He called him a prick. He said Roode has no idea how to treat a real lady. Oh, this is good with Kaz and Brooks. Kaz then gave Roode a kiss on the cheek. She had a smile on her face.

WINNERS: Kaz & Gail in 3:00. As usual, the match was secondary to the post-match. A nice development for Brooks's character, as she's been stale for months. Kaz was secondary to Gail until after the match, so it was nice to see him get some focus. (1/2*)

They went to a video package on Christian Cage being in a somber mood at his home last Tuesday. Styles and Tomko were there to console him in his time of mourning. Christian said he didn't think he would be able to make Impact this week. He cried about his livelihood being taken away from him by Samoa Joe. Christian gave his final request just to make him proud. Styles said revenge is coming. Tomko wasn't convinced.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

They aired a video package on James Storm driving around town looking for Rhino. He drove down a street looking for Rhino, who he called a liar for saying he kicked the drinking. Storm went to some bars looking for a big fat guy. He went to the sleaziest place he could find, but he didn't find him. Storm said wherever there's alcohol, Rhino will be there. He walked into a bar and the owner told him to get out. A random drunk approached him, so Storm decked him. The bar owner kicked him out. Storm said he would find Rhino. To be continued...

Backstage in Jim Cornette's office, Kurt Angle demanded some tender loving care. Cornette sent Matt Morgan away, then Angle built up Karen Angle as a nice, lovely lady without a harmful bone in her body. Cornette started to cut a promo on Karen, but Karen snapped at Cornette. Angle told her to sit down and shut up. He asked Cornette how fair a tag match against the Steiners is. Cornette said it's fair tonight, but next week, they're having a lottery to determine Angle's partner for his title defense at the PPV.

They aired a Dustin Rhodes video package. He said Chris Harris choking on his own blood wasn't enough. Black Reign is going to downpour his blood on Harris until he feels his very last breath. Disturbing, again, in a change-the-channel way.

2 -- RON KILLINGS vs. ERIC YOUNG

Young ducked a clothesline, then played cat and mouse with Killings before knocking Killings to the floor with a clothesline. He followed with a suicide dive, brought to us by Superbad. They quickly cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

They returned after a five-minute commercial break with Killings landing a leg whip to the head. Tenay received word that Dustin Rhodes is in the Impact Zone watching the match-up and he's been cheering for Eric Young throughout the match. They cut to a shot of the top of the building where Rhodes was dressed for a NASCAR race. Killings continued to work on Young while Tenay and West talked about everything else going on in TNA. Killings then retrieved a chair and slid it into the ring. The ref tried to prevent him from using the chair, then Young kicked the chair into Killings's head. Young landed right hand blows, then he picked up the chair and teased using it, but the ref yanked it away. Young ignored the chair and went on the offensive before going up top. Killings and the ref had an exchange, then Killings caught Young with a chair shot to the head with the ref turning his back to look for something in his eye. Killings then hit an axe kick for the win.

WINNER: Killings and advertisers in 9:00. More time spent on the commercial than on the match. Typical referee incompetence for a TV match. (3/4*)

[Q3]

After the match, Killings took the mic and built up Pacman Jones before bringing out his dawg. Jones walked out with a spraycan in hand. He embraced Killings, then Jones measured Eric Young for an NWO-style spraying. Killings said this is a great SportsCenter moment. "Sportscenter?! SPORTSCENTER?!" West screamed, ala Jim Mora with the famous "Playoffs? Playoffs?!" line at a press conference back in the day. Unintentional comedy at its finest. Killings and Jones embraced after finishing the job on Young.

Tomko and Styles arrived in the building and asked Jeremy Borash where Samoa Joe is. Team 3D then interrupted and Brother Ray said reality has a way of humbling you. Ray said they've been walking around TNA the last few weeks acting like a bunch of jerks. He humbly said they would like to apologize to the Steiners and the fans. Ray said this isn't the Team 3D that fans signed up to watch. He said they're not going to be a bunch of jackoffs anymore doing stupid stuff. Devon summed it up: we're sorry.

[Commercial Break]

Styles and Tomko were standing outside of Samoa Joe's locker room, then Joe flung the door open and brought Tomko in. Styles pounded on the door, then Joe flung it open again and Styles sheepishly asked if Tomko was in there. Joe then chased after Styles.

Back to the Impact zone, Styles was chased to ringside by Joe. They brawled into the ring where Joe landed right hand blows and a clothesline on Styles. Tomko then stormed the ring and distracted Joe, allowing Christian Cage to sneak in from behind and land a chair shot on Joe. Again, Joe looks like an idiot for being gullible. Unbelievable. Christian landed a chair shot to the head on Joe for the exclamation mark.

Backstage, Karen Angle was stretching while Kurt laughed to himself on a couch. Angle asked Karen if she's a wrestler or a baton twirler with her jogging suit. Borash held the mic while Kurt convinced Karen to have some faith in him. Karen grabbed Kurt around the neck and told Kurt to stick the belts where the sun doesn't shine. She left, then Kurt told Borash not to get married.

[Commercial Break]

Time for a James Mitchell dark promo. He congratulated Abyss on receiving his title shot at the PPV. Mitchell asked Abyss if he enjoyed the little surprise from under the ring a few weeks ago. He said vengeance will be his, as his son is coming. Judas Messias is about to be unleashed on the world. Mitchell pulled out the right hand of his son and held it to the camera before taking a drink from his goblet.

[Q4]

3 -- KURT ANGLE (w/Karen Angle) vs. RICK & SCOTT STEINER -- handicap match -- Steiners get five minutes with Karen if they win

Test...er...Scott started things off with Kurt. Scott landed a series of shoulder tackles to drive Angle back to a neutral corner. Angle then kicked Scott in the gut before landing a European uppercut. Scott quickly came back with an elbow-kiss drop before teasing Karen. Angle rolled out of the ring to console a concerned Karen before they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

They returned with the Steiners in control on Angle. Rick took a tag, then Karen grabbed Rick's leg to distract him. Tenay received a memo. Someone's winning the lottery: a four-way match to determine Angle's partner at Hard Justice and one-half of the tag champions. Christian vs. Styles vs. Sting vs. Joe next week. Tenay and West talked about next week's match while Angle worked on Rick. Angle went for the Olympic Slam, but Rick countered into a belly-to-belly suplex. Rick then crawled to his corner for a tag to Scott. Angle walked into a belly-to-belly suplex before Scott landed a series of open hand chops to the chest. The Steiners tried to set up a double team move, but Rick was distracted by Karen on the outside. Angle landed an Olympic Slam on Scott for a nearfall, then Karen ran through the ring and Rick gave chase. Angle then walked into a slam from Rick. Karen screamed as Rick came off the middle rope with a bulldog. Karen then distracted the ref allowing Team 3D to hit the ring and give Rick the 3D. Angle then made the cover on Rick for the win.

After the match, Team 3D gave Scott the 3D for good measure. Meanwhile, the Angles left with all the gold. West, who buys everything hook line and sinker, said he thought Team 3D was being so sincere backstage earlier. The Steiners brought a table into the ring and Ray landed a top rope powerbomb through the table. They stood tall over the Steiners to close the show.

WINNER: Angle in 11:00. And the crafty veteran tag team feud must continue! Match was good at times, but fell apart at the end with Karen running around wherever she pleased and the usual referee incompetence on a TV match. Post-match effectively built toward the next stage of Steiners vs. Team 3D. Meanwhile, the X Division wrestlers miss another payday. (*1/2)