20-Man Six Sides of Steel Gauntlet Match; Suicide vs. Kiyoshi for the X Division Championship; Sting

TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla.

[Q1] A highlight video of the Six Sides of Steel aired… This week’s title is “Captains, Cage, Chaos!”… The Impact intro aired…

Impact opened with Jim Cornette in the ring while the wrestlers of TNA stood on the rampway. Jim Cornette announced Mick Foley vs. Sting at Lockdown. Cornette also noted that tonight there would be a 20-Man Six Sides of Steel Gauntlet Match to determine the captains for Lethal Lockdown. Apparently the final two competitors in the match will be the captains for a 4-on-4 Lethal Lockdown Match at the Pay Per View. Cornette said it was a new day in TNA where everyone will be given an opportunity. Mike Tenay mentioned the ratings success from last week.

Kurt Angle came to the ring, grabbed the mic and guaranteed a victory for himself. He announced his team at Lockdown would be himself, Booker T, Scott Steiner and Kevin Nash. Angle said the Main Event Mafia dominated in the fall and they would continue to dominate throughout 2009 and there wasn’t anything these “jabronies” could do about it.

Jeff Jarrett came to the ring and said “the only j-brone around here is you”. Jarrett then confirmed his participation in tonight’s main event only to prevent Kurt Angle from winning. Jarrett then took a shot at Kurt Angle and before he could be beat down by the Mafia he was pulled from the ring by the remaining TNA Wrestlers ringside… [C]

Talon’s Take: Solid opening segment that hyped the main event which right now feels big time. I like the interaction between Jarrett and Angle as well. Why was Kurt calling everyone Jabronie?

[Q2] Mike Tenay ran down what happened moments ago between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle. Don West mentioned that Jarrett took a cheap shot on Angle...

Backstage Jeremy Borash was in the Main Event Mafia’s locker room. Jenna Morasca was in the room with Kevin Nash but quickly left. Scott Steiner (no longer wearing a hood but rather a bandana) handed Kurt Angle his pipe. When JB asked what Kurt was going to do with it, Kurt said “what do you think I’m going to do with it...”

1. Suicide defeated Kiyoshi to retain the X Division Championship in 4:15. Team No Limit accompanied Kiyoshi ringside. The fans chanted “Suicidal” early on. Team No Limit attacked Suicide outside the view of the ref. Kiyoshi hit a nice Belly to Belly Suplex. Kiyoshi missed a big splash from the top which allowed Suicide to regain control. Suicide got a two with a DDT. Kiyoshi fought back with the Widowmaker for two. Moments later Suicide sent Kiyoshi into Naito. Suicide then hit the “Suicide Solution” for the win…

Talon’s Take: Nice little match between Suicide and Kiyoshi. It appears the fans are behind the Suicide character as well.

Backstage Kurt Angle was with security going after Jeff Jarrett. He knocked down a pic of Jarrett hanging on the wall…[C]

During the break it was shown that Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle brawled but the wrestlers were separating the two. Jarrett promised to take out Kurt Angle then told one of the wrestlers to step up…

Talon’s Take: I like TNA involving other wrestlers in this feud.

Lauren interviewed The Beautiful People about Love’s comment about Awesome Kong last week. Love then kicked Lauren out of their locker room for touching her chair. Love announced they wanted the TNA Knockouts Championship. Velvet Sky told Madison Rayne to rip Kong’s braids from her head. Velvet said Kong would be their next victim…[C]

Talon’s Take: I am not to high on the Beautiful People’s newer backstage interviews but this one was pretty good.

A Rough Cut with Brother Ray aired. Ray talked about how he was going to train with Johnny Rodz but unfortunately went with someone else. Ray talked about how close he and Devon are. He said he and Devon are successful because together he and Devon know how to be successful. Ray said both are happy sharing the spotlight. Ray said if you don’t want to be half of the greatest tag team in the world, you shouldn’t be in this business...

A highlight video aired of the history between Team 3D and Beer Money Inc...

[Q3]Mike Tenay was joined by both Beer Money and Team 3D on-camera. Beer Money didn’t care that Lockdown was in Philadelphia while Team 3D claimed that Philly was where they were made. Beer Money said TNA was their backyard and after they beat Team 3D they would be the best. Ray referenced Tazz. Roode asked Team 3D if they knew what they got themselves in at Lockdown...

Talon’s Take: Good interview that made this match seem important. So far the Lockdown build has been pretty good. It’s like TNA gets into hype mode every year at Lockdown but slacks the rest of the year.

After a Foley and Sting history video, Lauren joined Sting backstage. Sting said he didn’t know what he would say to Foley. Sting said their wasn’t anything logic about what happened last week. Sting said there wasn’t any excuses. Sting finally said he would come armed to the ring... [C]

Lauren interviewed Mick Foley who made a joke about “The Wrestler.” Foley said TNA love to watch two men hug and that there would be no need for violence.

Talon’s Take: That was a pretty funny interview!

[Q4] 2. The Beautiful People defeated Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed in 3:45. Again Madison Rayne brought the black bag with her to the ring. Kong tagged in and woman-handled Angelina Love and Velvet Sky. Angelina Love countered out of a backbreaker and hit a neckbreaker on Saeed. Kong went wild on Sky which allowed Angelina Love to hit the Lights Out on Saeed for the win. After the match My Pi Sexy was going to cut the hair of Kong but the Knockouts Champion cleared all three from the ring...

Talon’s Take: I guess TNA is trying to show that Kong has weaknesses now. During the match I noticed how many Suicide shirts their were, and there were a lot. TNA is really trying to get the Suicide character over.

We saw Sting and Mick Foley make their way to the ring. Foley was dancing around while Sting was serious... [C]

Sting came to the ring and took the mic. Sting asked Foley to come to the ring and explain what happened last week, which Foley did. Don West mentioned that Foley didn’t know when to give up the spotlight and sit on the sidelines. Foley explained that last week was a misunderstanding and they would be laughing by the end of this segment. Foley said after being beaten down by Kurt Angle he was in a groggy state. Foley changed history by saying Sting was more dangerous then it really was. Sting said it wasn’t funny and last week he was trying to protect Foley. Sting said Foley’s body was ravaged from his time wrestling. Sting said he was losing his respect for Foley.

[Q5]Foley called Sting a humanitarian and mentioned other people that needed Sting’s help. Foley said nobody was talking about the “other wrestling show in April” but rather Lockdown and the match between Foley and Sting. Foley said at Lockdown they wouldn’t relive history, they would be making history. Foley teased a big dive at Lockdown. Mike Tenay said the match would be in a new Six Sides of Steel never seen before…

Talon’s Take: TNA is on a roll tonight. Another money segment. I don’t think Lockdown is getting any more attention than Wrestlemania 25 even though Mania is pretty underwhelming.

The first two entrants in the Six Sides of Steel, Abyss and AJ Styles made their ways to the ring for the match which was after the break… [C]

Talon’s Take: The main event is going to get a little under an hour, I will have to see it to believe it!

3. Samoa Joe won a 20-Man Six Sides of Steel Gauntlet Match last eliminating Kurt Angle in 42:30. Abyss and AJ Styles started this match (who brought the Legends Championship with him. Mike Tenay mentioned that the only two men in this match who have been captain are Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle. Abyss hit the Shock Treatment as we counted down to one. #3 in the match is Alex Shelley who hit a Tornado DDT on AJ knocking down Abyss in the process. AJ hit a nice flying forearm on Abyss. The #4 entrant was Jay Lethal. Lethal took down AJ with a side kick from the top rope. Lethal hit a nice springboard on Alex Shelley. We went to break with Jay Lethal and Abyss in control. [C]

Talon’s Take: Good start to the main event. My concern is that a wrestler will be eliminated too early making him look weak.

[Q6] Matt Morgan made his entrance as we returned from break. Chris Sabin entered during the break and along with Alex Shelley worked together against the other three participants. Matt Morgan ran into a Pele from AJ Styles who then threw Morgan into Abyss who hit the Black Hole Slam eliminating Morgan moments later. Homicide entered at #7. Alex Shelley locked Jay Lethal in a Boston Crab. Scott Steiner was #8. He gave Steinerlines to everyone in the match as we headed to break again. [C]

During the break Homicide was eliminated and Consequences Creed made his entrance. The War Machine, Rhino entered as entrant # 10. Rhino went right after Steiner and ignored everybody else. Creed hit a Springboard Faceplant on Shelley that got a 2-Count before Chris Sabin broke it up. Jeff Jarrett entered at #11. As he was making his way to the ring he was ambushed by Kurt Angle. Angle smashed a chair across the arm of Jarrett taking him out early on.

[Q7] Jeff Jarrett was being tended to as Naito from Team No Limit made his way to the ring as #12. Naito hit a cross body on Black Machismo for another 2-Count. Naito and the Motor City Machine Guns hit a triple dropkick to Consequences Creed. Naito missed a Corkscrew Splash. Jay Lethal then hit the Lethal Combination on Shelley to eliminate the former X Division Champion. #13 was Kurt Angle. Angle went right after Jeff Jarrett on the outside. Kurt then went in the ring and locked Consequences Creed in the Ankle Lock to eliminate him. Kurt Angle then hit Chris Sabin and Jay Lethal with Olympic Slams eliminating them from the match. [C]

Talon’s Take: I like the storyline development with Jeff Jarrett possibly being out of the match. Should he remain out of it, whomever goes head to head or eliminates Kurt Angle will look better. Boy did Creed, Lethal and Sabin look weak by being quickly eliminated by Angle. I feared that would happen.

During the break Naito was eliminated while Shane Sewell made his entrance. Moments later Shane Sewell was eliminated by Kurt Angle. #15 was Sheik Abdul Bashir, who went right after Rhino. AJ Styles got a two count on Angle. Next out was Booker T. The Main Event Mafia had definite control at this point. Booker took the fight to AJ Styles. Booker hit the Bookend on Styles and eliminated the face of TNA. Booker talked trash as the referee helped AJ from the ring. As Booker turned around Rhino hit him with a Gore and pinned Booker eliminating him from the match. AJ Styles and Booker T brawled to the back as #17, Yujiro made his entrance. Abdul Bashir, Steiner and Angle triple teamed Abyss and Rhino. After shaking the hands of Bashir, Angle hit him with the Olympic Slam to take Bashir from the match. #18 was Eric Young. Scott Steiner and Kurt Angle hit a double Bookend on Abyss to eliminate the Monster. Angle eliminated Eric Young following an Olympic Slam.

[Q8] Rhino Gored Yujiro eliminating him from the match which was quickly followed by an Olympic Slam from Angle to eliminate the War Machine. Hernandez then entered and fought off Steiner and Angle. Hernandez hit a backbreaker on Steiner. As Hernandez was going to Border Toss Steiner, Angle pulled off Big Poppa Pump and hit the Olympic Slam again this time on Hernandez to eliminate Super Mex. As the final countdown went to zero Cornette was seen telling Jeff Jarrett to come to the ring. However the Mafia quickly gained the advantage on the King of the Mountain. Mike Tenay noted that the cut on Steiner’s head was due to Samoa Joe. Jarrett hit the Stroke on Steiner to eliminate him bringing it down to Jarrett and Angle. Jeff Jarrett hit the Stroke on Angle and was going to pin him however Scott Steiner came in and distracted the referee. Angle then eliminated Jarrett minutes later.

Samoa Joe the real #20 came to the ring and quickly took down Kurt Angle. Angle hit an Angle Slam on Joe, who quickly got up. Samoa Joe hit a big time Muscle Buster on Kurt Angle to pick up the win. Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe are the two team captains for Lethal Lockdown...[C]

Talon’s Take: Aside from the quick eliminations of the X Division guys, I really liked this match. Samoa Joe is out of shape but he got another big win tonight. I thought it would have been better if Joe eliminated both Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner but we can’t take away from Jeff Jarrett, can we?

Back from the break we recapped what just happened. Jim Cornette was on commentary and being badgered by Don West...

Jeremy Borash was with Kurt Angle who said he eliminated Jeff Jarrett three times in that match. Kurt said at Lockdown he would eliminate Samoa Joe at Lockdown. Angle said the Main Event Mafia would never die...

Elsewhere Lauren was with Samoa Joe. Joe said he wasn’t interested in being captain but was in to torture the Main Event Mafia. Joe said he would be at Lockdown and his blade would be coming with him...

Talon’s Take: Joe’s not interested in being captain, I wonder who will be the captain. Hopefully we see the return of the Fallen Angel in this match as he would be a good fit for Samoa Joe’s team.

This show was even better than last week’s show. I hope the rating is huge because if TNA’s product is like this they will attract more fans. There was tons of wrestling tonight. A possible answer to the wrestling delivered on other shows?

Tell me what you thought by emailing me at Talon_DR@yahoo.com

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