Holy Gimmicks, Batman.



Looks fairly entertaining, but talk about Crash TV...

Whoa, Sabin is dropping the X title ALREADY?!? Sheesh.

Sabin losing the X title is really really stupid.

I'm guessing we'll see another Daniels/AJ feud that they honestly need to leave alone.

I thought it was dumb at first but I actually see the point. It does progress his feud with Jerry Lynn quite nicely. And I could see a rematch where Sabin does something really dirty to win the title back and it finally sets things off.

Otherwise good shows. It's kind of stunning that Russo joined the booking staff and suddenly the finishes got a lot cleaner.

Wow, after a really smartly booked PPV, they really fucked these shows up. No one else could think of an 18-man reverse battle royal but Russo. Sabin dropping the title already is really, really dumb. And they're giving us Angle/Joe WAAAY too early.

Umm.. ROBERT Roode and MS. Brooks? Was she carrying a laptop computer by any chance?

Oh yeah, TNA's gauntlet/battle royals/escape matches are another Logic in Wrestling thing. I mean, what would happen if there were three guys left in the ring and two went over the top in one big hug? Amazingly, they always have TWO guys left.

Wow, this sounds BAAAAAADDDD...

... I take back anything bad I've said about TNA's shows lately. NOTHING can be worse than some of the shit I read in that spoiler report. A REVERSE BATTLE ROYALE?!?!

Hahaha. I can see it now:

X-Division Match - Style vs. Daniels XVII~~~!!!


Yeah, not gonna lie, I'd probably buy it. ...You all would.

Don't worry RFS, TNA is gonna milk this for all that it's worth. I see this going for no fewer than two rematches on PPV (not to mention build-ups on Impact), and one will probably be an Iron Man match.

Remind me to send Vince Russo his congratulatory fruit basket.

Yeah, but the smart thing to do would be to keep the two away from each other completely until the anticipation is at an all-time high. Like until Slammiversary or something. Or do they figure Angle will be dead by then?

They might do just that and have this one have some bullshit ending.

Also, I don't think the blowoff for this one will be an ironman. I think they will either go steel cage, or submission match for that.

Submission would be the smart way to go. Choke vs. Anklelock. I imagine the build up would be killer.

Hey now, Joe vs. Angle anytime is a good time.

TNA TV tapings report
November 6, 2006
Orlando, Fla. at Universal Studios
Report by Alan J. Wojcik of (alanwojcik.com), PWTorch.com correspondent

This details the one hour show to air November 9th followed by the two hour prime time debut show to air November 16th. Mike Tenay and Don West's location has been spruced up for the move to 9 p.m. Several Spike TV executives sat near Dixie Carter and were introduced to the fans, mentioning a online Q&A on Spike's website before the 11/16 show airs. Jeremy Borash and Dave Penzer did a great job of keeping the crowd energized for the entire taping.

Before the doors were opened America's Most Wanted ("Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm and "Wildcat" Chris Harris) were signing for the fans when Konnan came out to confront them. Storm broke his beer over Konnan's head as LAX ("Notorious 187" Homicide and Hotstuff Hernandez) came from behind and attacked AMW. After the brawl Harris was carried inside the building but Storm not. Hernandez threw Storm Border Toss style into a concrete wall and it left Storm motionless on the ground. Storm's neck was immobilized by Universal medics and he was placed on a back brace awaiting the medics to arrive. We were taken into the soundstage at 6:30pm. I was told he might have hit the "funny bone" on the wall. Eventually he got his range of motion back and was part of the prime time portion of the show.

NOV. 9 EPISODE

(1) In the semi-finals of the Fight for the Right tournament, World X Division champion "Phenomenal" A.J. Styles ("Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels) defeated Robert Roode (w/Ms. Brooks) and Ron Killings (w/Lance Hoyt). Once Killings stopped dancing the match began when Roode shot his mouth off and he got decked. Styles and Killings got rid of him to the floor. Styles went to go out but Roode pulled Brooks in the way causing Styles to land on the apron. That didn't stop Killings who came out and over. Styles went in the ring and then over. The match came back to the ring where Roode avoided Killings forearm which decked Styles. Roode tossed Killings to the floor and focused on Styles' left leg with a half crab. Killings broke that up with a top rope dropkick as Jerry Lynn, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal and Chris Sabin looked on. Styles decked Roode with the Pele' kick and went up top but Brooks cut him off. So Daniels and Hoyt dragged her off and dropped her into the crowd where she paint brushed a fan. While this went on Roode followed out to check on Brooks and missed Styles pin Killings with a slingshot cross bodyblock.

Shane Douglas came out and said he had a problem with Brother Ray of Team 3D. So out came Ray microphone in hand. Douglas said he put up with Ray's crap and condescending attitude. Douglas called him out on the confrontation during the reverse battle royal. Ray said he was caught off guard at these comments. Ray said if anyone had a grudge it should be him, ten years back to a "stuttering problem" in Philly. Ray said Shane came out one night and smacked him for no reason. Ray said this wasn't ten years ago and things have changed. Douglas said the Naturals weren't resting on a legacy of a washed up company. Douglas decked Ray with a bike chain wrapped fist and The Naturals (Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas w/ "the Franchise" Shane Douglas) came out to defend Shane. They decked Ray and then threw him into a folding table. On screen we saw why Devon couldn't come to his partner's aid, he was under a guard rail which was over his neck. TNA security came out and helped Ray out of the ring.

(2) Petey Williams defeated "Hotshot" Johnny Devine and Austin Starr (w/Kevin Nash and Alex Shelley). This was hard to keep up with so I am sorry if I missed some stuff. Starr avoided Williams and Devine's lockup but didn't avoid a knee to the face. Starr got on the offense briefly but Williams hit a facebreaker like move. Star went to knock Williams and Devine's heads together but he got hit with a double backdrop and clothesline. Starr broke up the Canadian Destroyer but didn't break up Devine's moonsault onto Williams. Starr broke up the pin and kicked Devine in the face. Starr went up top but Shelley got up to talk or something. Starr's crotch was met by Shelley's head. This allowed Williams to hit Devine with the Canadian Destroyer.

As soon as the bell rang LAX hit the ring, telling Williams he was an immigrant too. Konnan invited him to a flag burning they would hold next week. Hernandez brought a half mannequin dressed like Uncle Sam. Konnan said the American flag stood for racism and he was going to defecate all over it before burning it.

(3) In the final match of the Fight for the Right tournament, Abyss (w/Father James Mitchell) defeated World X Division champion "Phenomenal" A.J. Styles (w/"Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels). In the history of TNA this is one of the most heated rivalries dating back to the Nashville/Tennessee PPV's. Jerry Lynn and the trio mentioned before watched on again as Abyss showed off his strength advantage. Styles avoided a backdrop and hit a huricurana but couldn't suplex Abyss so he hit a flying head scissor followed by a splash to the corner. But his corner move met Abyss' boot. Abyss got a folding chair and wedged it in the second and top turnbuckle. Abyss decked Styles with a punch and set for a power bomb but Styles slid over the back. Abyss stopped the pin attempt by sling shotting Styles face first into the chair. Abyss followed with a corner splash of his own and went for Shock Treatment but Styles got out and went on the attack with punches and kicks. Abyss went for a corner splash but Styles went into Andrew Thomas and Abyss soon followed. Christian Cage came out and leveled both men with chair shots. Cage said the people were looking at the one true #1 contender to the NWA World championship. Thomas got to his feet and counted both men down. This brought out the other TNA referees to confer as spotlights flashed around the building. It looked like the match was going to be continued. Styles hit a top rope forearm but got two. Abyss grabbed him for a choke slam but Styles countered into a sunset flip for two. Abyss hit Shock Treatment as Mitchell came out with a bag of tacks but Daniels cut him off from handing the bag off. Andrew Thomas went out to break up Mitchell and Daniels. Styles hit another Pele' and went for the Styles Clash when Chris Sabin ran in and decked Styles with a kick to the chest. This allowed Abyss to the hit the Black Hole Slam and become #1 contender. As Abyss' hand was raised Sting looked on from the rafters of the soundstage.

In between shows Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme passed out foam Sting bats and steel chairs to make the primetime event look super. This is possibly the crowning achievement in TNA I have witnessed going back to 2002's taping in Huntsville, Alabama.

NOVEMBER 16 EPISODE

"Showtime" Eric Young and his entourage made their way in the venue as the pyro went off. It was followed by a shower of confetti that covered the entire building. Young said he wearing his suit lent to him by Uncle Leo. Young said he had an announcement for the fans but LAX interrupted him. Konnan was carrying an American flag on his shoulder as he ran down the immigration issues. He said he was going to deliver a message loud and clear to TNA and America. Before he got out the lighter AMW with Gail Kim, who fought with LAX and stopped the burning as security came out to join the incident. Guess Storm is ok and hell froze over as AMW got a huge ovation from the fans.

(1) Samoa Joe defeated Jay Lethal. Joe jumped Lethal at the bell and the fight was on. Joe hit Lethal with his attack normal plan but he couldn't avoid a slingshot dropkick. Nor the in ring dropkick to the face as the fans chanted for Kurt Angle. Joe didn't like that so he hit Lethal with the standing STO before the Muscle Buster and the Kokina Clutch submission hold. After the match Sonjay Dutt decked Joe but he got hit with a powerslam and the Clutch. Chris Sabin ran out but left Dutt lying in the Kokina Clutch. Joe took the mic and said he wanted Joe's blood.

(2) In a tag team tables The Naturals (Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas (w/ "The Franchise" Shane Douglas) defeated Team 3D members Brother Ray and Devon. The bell rang and the fight went right into the people where everything was used a weapons even signs the fans brought to the event. Ray tossed Andy Douglas in the ring and 3D hit the Wassup headbutt to the package. 3D went under the ring and got two tables. Shane saved Andy but he took a 3D into one of the tables. Stevens and Douglas got on the attack as TNA officials cleared Shane Douglas out of the ring. The Naturals won when they double teamed Devon into a table but kept beating on them after the bell rang several times. Finally after decking several security team members, the Naturals left to a chorus of boos. It took several minutes to get the ring clear of security and Team 3D who left on their own power.

"Showtime" Eric Young was talked into coming out to the soundstage again to make his announcement. But once the crowd stopped chanting "Don't Fire Eric", Young was interrupted by Johnny Devine, Frankie Kazarian and Matt Bentley in some rather interesting attire. Kazarian said their redeemer had shown them the way. Just when things got interesting they were interrupted by the newly named Voodoo Kin Mafia (Kip and BG James.) BG said they had creative control and permission to do what they wanted. BG said they were declaring war on Vince McMahon, Michael Hickenbottom and Paul Levesque. Kip said 8 years ago those two guys started a group but they weren't allowed to be part of it, now its back and sinking like the Titanic. Kip called them the two biggest pieces of sh** but BG got the mic away before it got on the air. The crowd chanted you said sh**. BG said they were serious about the declaration of war on Vinny Mac calling the war VKM vs. VKM.

(3) In the Six Sides of Steel Barbwire match, "Captain Charisma" Christian Cage defeated "War Machine" Rhino. The top of the cage was wrapped with barbwire. Cage's wife sat ringside with Dixie Carter. Don Harris and his crew did an amazing job getting the cage up and down in fast time. There wasn't a referee inside so I guess it's over the top or through the door to win. After trading fists Rhino hit a backdrop and tried to send Cage into the fencing but it was blocked. Chest chops broke out and Cage countered out of a press slam into an inverted DDT. Cage's chairs were slid into the ring but Rhino hit two shoulder tackles to the corner. Cage stopped a third one by trying to scale the fencing but cut his hand on the barbwire. Rhino rammed Cage's face into the fencing several times and it made Cage bloody. Rhino got the key from his Tupperware box and taunted Cage with it. Rhino tossed the key out and sling shotted Cage into the fencing twice. Cage got in a crotch shot, with a cage toss and called for the bolt cutters which he hit Rhino with several times to the back. With Rhino down Cage climbed up and began to cut away at the barbs. Rhino started to come around as Cage continued to cut away. Cage came down and punched Rhino a few times before going back to cut more wire. Rhino went up to get Cage but got sent to the mat where Cage hit a frog splash. Cage began to climb up once more and got a leg over the fencing when Rhino caught up to him. Rhino forced Cage's face into the cut away barbwire before hitting a top rope back suplex. Rhino got to his feet and grabbed the straight jacket but Cage punched away sending Rhino to the mat again. Cage went back up top to the area he cut away and again Rhino caught him. Both men fought but it was Cage who came off with a top rope Unprettier! Cage grabbed the straight jacket and tried to put it on Rhino as the "War Machine" fought back. Cage got the sleeves attached to the top rope and he called for his folding chairs to be tossed in the ring. Rhino got a leg into Cage's package and somehow got his arms free of the top rope. He hit several moves and got the jacket off after a spinebuster. Rhino set Cage up for a chairscendo but Cage moved and hit Rhino in the ribs with the chair. Cage set the chairs up for a Unprettier but Rhino countered into a TKO which dropped Cage's ribs on the top of the chair. Rhino went for the GORE but Cage tossed a chair into him, but it was caught and Rhino smashed Cage in the head. Rhino went for and hit the GORE!!! However he sent Cage through the door of the cage and Christian Cage was declared the winner.

(4) "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels became World X Division Champion when he defeated "Phenomenal" A.J. Styles and "The Future" Chris Sabin. Before the opening bell Styles and Daniels shook hands. Styles and Daniels were jumped by Sabin. Daniels hit Sabin with a neckbreaker like move and dropped Styles on top, or was it the other way. Daniels and Styles hit Sabin with the High/Lo move but he avoided a backdrop, hitting a double enziguri. Sabin ripped away at Styles' face and locked in a surfboard which Daniels stopped, but Sabin raked his eyes. Styles went up and avoided Sabin, hitting Daniels with an inverted DDT and Sabin with a regular one. Styles hit Daniels with a sitout facebuster but Sabin broke up the pin. Sabin countered a corner whip and hit Daniels with an inverted DDT for two. Sabin went for a superplex but Styles brought them down with a power bomb. Christian Cage came out to ringside and said he was still undefeated and he was dropkicked by Styles to the floor. As Styles went after Cage, Daniels countered out of Sabin's Cradle Shock and scored a pin. Styles realized what happened and came back to the ring where, after talking, raised Daniels hand.

(5) In his TNA match debut, Kurt Angle defeated Abyss (w/Father James Mitchell). The noise was super loud for Angle's entrance to the Impact Zone. After backing Angle to a corner Angle slapped Abyss across the face. Angle went to the ropes but ran into the wall known as Abyss. Angle got a single leg takedown and went after Abyss' left knee joint. Abyss refused to submit and powered out of an Ankle Lock. Abyss punched Angle several times and hit a corner whip but the splash attempt met an elbow and Angle clipped out Abyss' leg. Angle went back to the knee joint with another submission hold but Abyss raked Angle's eyes. Abyss sent Angle chest first to a corner and hit Shock Treatment. Mitchell left and came back with a wheel barrel full of thumbtacks. Abyss sent Angle to the floor as the crowd booed. Mitchell whispered in Abyss' ear. Angle slid off Abyss' shoulder and smashed Abyss' head on the ringposts. Abyss raked the eyes again and sent Angle back into the ring where hit a standing suplex for two. Abyss clamped on a neckvise but Angle got to his feet so Abyss switched to a chinlock. Angle escaped with a back suplex and both men tried to beat Rudy Charles' count. Angle got off his Olympic German suplex trio but his Olympic Slam became a Black Hole Slam for two and a half. Abyss went for the choke slam but Angle countered into an Ankle Lock. Abyss fought for the ropes but Angle pulled him back to the middle of the ring. Abyss had the bottom rope for a second but Angle dragged again and sat down in the Ankle Lock to get the submission victory.

Once the match ended Samoa Joe hit the ring. Angle hit a Belly to Belly suplex. Joe hit an enziguri and went for the Kokina Clutch only to have Angle get the Ankle Lock. Joe escaped, got a chair and leveled Angle. Joe tossed angle back in the ring where Abyss was standing. Joe gestured and Abyss joined in stomping on Angle. The arena got dark and Sting descended from the rafters. Abyss went to confront him but Sting jumped off the platform he came down on and sent Abyss crashing into the tacks below. As Sting and Abyss fought away from ringside, Joe got to his feet and put Angle in the Ankle Lock. After a moment or three, Joe released the hold and locked in the Kokina Clutch on the bloodied Olympic champion. When Joe released the hold he took Angle's blood and smeared it on his chest.

Okay, wacky booking here in my opinion. Abyss wins the Fight for your Right tournament, then loses to Angle by submission. Styles just won the X-Division championship, loses to Abyss, and then in a three way. Christian is still undefeated, again beating Rhino, who is he going to face next ? AJ Styles ? If so, what ever happened to the rematch clause ? Sting vs. Abyss ? That's not a Pay Per View worth buying Main Event to me.

Eh, I think I am being too picky here.

TNA is far better than the WWE right now, and from show reports, Ring of Honor sounds far better as well.

After last night's Raw, I think a show consisting of me pitting my action figure against Scrooge's action figures would make for a better show.

Y'know...I believe there IS such a "show" on YouTube. I remember seeing some guy's video of his Matt Hardy action figure beating up an Edge figure. On the guy's bed. Complete with his own "crowd noise".

Everyone knows that Scrooge's collection would win. He has more Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan figures. That's where the power lies, brah.

Yeah, I've seen the action figure shows. They have the music for the wrestlers and everything.

Okay, well those action figure shows are probably more entertaining than Raw last night.

And while TNA's booking does sound stupid, it also sounds like something I'd like to watch, even if it's to laugh at a train wreck.

Yeah, like I said, the booking is wacky, but it's still leaps and bounds ahead of the WWE.

I didn't watch it, but everything I'm reading says the show came off way better than expected last night.