TNA Impact – 7/8/10

It’s the last edition of TNA Impact before the Victory Road PPV, and after last week’s controversial incident between “The asshole” and “The charismatic enigma,” how would their friendship fare going into Sunday’s four way dance for the TNA World Title?  Find out right here, right now:

Video Package: Mr. Anderson‘s transformation over the course of the past few months trying to earn respect from Jeff Hardy and the TNA fans.  Last week, Anderson “accidentally” hit Hardy with a chair when trying to aim for Abyss.

Mr. Anderson to the ring with a chair.  Asks for Jeff Hardy to come out to the ring.  Anderson tells Jeff that he didn’t do it on purpose… “if it was on purpose, I would tell the world about it and be proud because I’m an asshole!”  He then tells Jeff that in their match later, he’s going to bring the chair.  “If I use it, then you know we’ve got a problem.  If you use it, I might’ve had it coming, but I will in fact know I’ll have a problem with you.”

Video Package: Earlier, AJ Styles venting to the camera about how Ric Flair is disappointed with him and having to prove himself.

Kazarian vs. AJ Styles
WINNER: No Contest – Double Count Out

• Mid match, Flair to ring side.
• Post match, Kaz/Styles continue to brawl.  Flair breaks it up and wants to bring them together by putting them in a tag team match at Victory Road… No opponents named.

Backstage: We see the back of Angelina Love as she’s topless picking out her outfit for her match.

Daffney vs. Angelina Love
WINNER: Love via pin fall after hitting a Eurinagi Face Buster

• Post match, Love has a message for Madison Rayne (KO Champion)… “At Victory Road, I’ll be a 4x TNA Knockout’s Champion!”
• Madison to the ramp… “If I’m putting my title on the line, what are you putting up… those fake fun bags?  Why don’t you put your career on the line?
• Angelina responds, “Gladly… In fact, I talked to the TNA Championship Committee, and they added a special stipulation.  If Velvet Sky or Lacey Von Erich get involved in our match, you’ll be instantly disqualified, and the title will be handed over to me!”

Backstage: Brother Devon walking towards the ring area.  Cameraman asks what he’s going to say to his brother?  Devon says “watch and find out.”

Video Package: The drama over the last few months between Brother Ray & Jesse Neal has put Brother Devon in a tough spot.

Devon, Neal and his partner Shannon Moore are in the ring.  Devon calls out Ray, who comes to the ring side area.  Devon raves about Jesse and how he’s had nothing but respect for the wrestling business and them, plus he’s been through so much when he was in the Navy… He asks Ray, “What the hell is your problem with Jesse?!?”

• Ray responds, “First of all, I don’t answer to you.  I’m the leader of Team 3D, you answer to me.  Secondly, he’s a disrespectful punk, and now my problem is you’re a disrespectful, unreliable partner.
• Devon replies, “My loyalty is to both of you.  I don’t pick sides.”
• Rey is completely serious, “At Victory Road, it’s me versus Jesse… versus YOU (Devon)… We’re going to see where your loyalties lie… We’ll either continue on into glory or it’ll end that night!”

Non-Title Match
Samoa Joe vs. Rob Van Dam
WINNER: RVD via pin fall after countering Joe’s Rear Naked Choke with a bridging pin

• Post match, Joe’s pissed and attacks the referee, capped off by a Muscle Buster.

Video Package: Earlier, Kurt Angle talking about why he wants to climb the Top 10 ladder.

Non-Title, Ultimate X Preview Match
Doug Williams vs. Jeremy Buck
WINNER: Buck via removing the Ultimate X

• Post match, Williams, who has an Ultimate X match on Sunday against Brian Kendrick, is pissed and throws the ladder out of the ring.

Video Package: TNA Live event from NY.  TNA thanks the fans!

Video Package: Chris Sabin & Alex Shelly with a Public Service Announcement to prevent people from falling into the bad habit of Beer Money…

Beer Money Inc. & Matt Morgan vs. Motor City Machine Guns & Hernandez
WINNERS: Beer Money/Morgan via pin fall roll up by Robert Roode with a hand full of Shelly’s tights

• Mid match, Morgan runs for the hills, and Hernandez chases after him.

Backstage: “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero talks about his issues with Mr. Anderson putting him on the shelf, and how he’s got to keep his head straight for his match with Kurt Angle this weekend.

Backstage: Kevin Nash waiting on Eric Bischoff and venting about how he’s upset about his buddies getting fired.

• Hulk Hogan walks in and doesn’t appreciate what Nash did to get his buddies contracts.  He says to try to talk to Bischoff, but doesn’t think anything is going to work.

Jay Lethal is in the ring and looks pissed.  He’s still upset having to see Ric Flair beat up his little brother, and vows to rip out Flair’s heart!  Lethal then turns his focus to his sick mom.  He tells the camera that he loves her and hopes to make her proud on Sunday when he beats Flair.

• Interrupted by Ric Flair.  “I could give a rat’s ass about your mother…”  Flair rants about his career and then dogs Lethal for being a street punk from New Jersey… “You’ve got three days… I’m not human, I’m a god!”
• They go nose to nose and there’s tons of tension!

Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
WINNER: Hardy via pin fall after hitting Anderson with a Twist of Fate

• Post Match, Abyss comes to the ring with his new nail 2×4 weapon.  Referee steals it from him when distracted.  Brawl breaks out and Abyss is standing tall.
• RVD comes out for the save to no avail.
• Anderson picks up a chair and has Hardy move out of the way to waffle Abyss with it.  RVD then snatches the chair out of Anderson’s hands and hits the Van Daminator on Abyss.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

I was really disappointed with the finish of the Styles/Kazarian match.  The match itself was “phenomenal,” but because of the double count out it came to a screeching halt.  Ughh… Maybe they’ll give us another match next week if the tag team partnership fails.

Samoa Joe and RVD was another good match.  I love matches that have finishes like that.  One wrestler thinks he’s got the match won with a submission, but doesn’t realize that his shoulders are down, and the opponent is on top for the pin.  Great!

Looking forward to seeing what Jay Lethal and Ric Flair can do together at Victory Road.  There’s so much anger between them right now.  This has been one of TNA’s best feud build ups to a match in awhile.

Glad to see that Anderson/Hardy are on the same page now, but this Sunday the TNA World Title is on the line, so anything goes!