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Last night's Impact featured Kurt Angle taking on Kevin Nash in a Four Ways To Glory Qualifying Match, the return of Sting, and more.
The centerpiece of the program was Sting’s long-awaited promo explaining his actions in recent weeks. The Icon stated that he decided against retirement a short time ago because the new generation of TNA wrestlers were incapable of carrying the company and referred to today’s young stars as “spoiled, rotten brats”. Sting said he paved the way for wrestlers such as AJ Styles to make it in the business and even claimed that Styles should thank him for paying his mortgage every month. The Stinger defended his attacks on AJ and World Champion Samoa Joe at the past two TNA PPVs by pointing out their desire to seriously injure opponents Kurt Angle and Booker T rather than being content with victory. Sting expressed his frustration over a perceived lack of respect from younger wrestlers and spoke of his admiration for Ric Flair - whom Sting considers a mentor - during the early years of his own career. Styles entered the ring and denied ever disrespecting Sting. The multi-time World Champion handed AJ his baseball bat and challenged The Phenomenal One to strike him with his back turned. Styles eventually spun Sting around and attempted to level him, but the WCW legend blocked the blow and delivered a Scorpion Deathdrop on AJ. Sting stood over a fallen Styles and Jeff Jarrett’s music began to play as the show concluded.
Awesome Kong was attacked by ODB following her match against TNA newcomer Sojourner Bolt. ODB drove the Knockout powerhouse into the mat with a tornado DDT and had to be pried off of Kong by a horde of referees and security guards. This was possibly done to establish ODB as the new top female babyface following Gail Kim’s departure, although I feel she was given too much offense against Kong - who is supposedly a destructive monster heel - after months of playing third babyface fiddle to Kim and Taylor Wilde.
The WhoIsSuicide.com image briefly flashed across the screen once again during a Booker T promo. The website is centered around an individual seeking to avenge a severe beating, which resulted in he or she having to wear a mask in order to disguise their scars. There has been speculation that Kaz will return under this gimmick, although the character does not seem to fit his persona. Abyss would be the most likely candidate for this angle should TNA Creative decide to add another element to his current storyline.
Samoa Joe joined Don West and Mike Tenay for commentary during Kevin Nash’s Four Ways To Glory qualifier against Kurt Angle. Nash slapped Joe across the face at one point during the contest, prompting The Samoan Submission Machine to jump onto the ring apron and distract the referee. This allowed Angle to hit Big Sexy with a low blow and deliver an Olympic Slam for the victory. Joe badmouthed Nash following his loss, but the seven-footer ignored the insults and walked away.
In other news, Jim Cornette officially placed Traci Brooks in charge of the Women’s Division by appointing her “Knockout Law” and SoCal Val expressed her frustration with the Jay Lethal-Sonjay Dutt feud, announcing that whomever retrieved her wedding ring (presumably in a Ladder Match between the two at No Surrender) would win her hand.
This was a decent episode of Impact, although the closing segment featuring Sting and AJ Styles stood out to me as the obvious highlight. Some are calling this a full-fledged heel turn for Sting, but I am not convinced just yet. Although his promo contained several heel overtones, neither Sting nor Styles were presented in a clearly defined role.
Match Results: Awesome Kong over Sojourner Bolt via pinfall … Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed over X Division Champion Petey Williams and Sheik Abdul Bashir via Lethal’s pinfall on Williams … Curry Man over Jimmy Rave via pinfall … Kurt Angle over Kevin Nash via pinfall in a Four Ways To Glory Qualifying Match … The Beautiful People over Knockout Champion Taylor Wilde and Roxxi via Love’s pinfall on Roxxi.
Views: 476
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