IMPACT 6/17/10

Impact opens with Eric Bischoff announcing that because of personal issues involving Scott Hall, they have stripped the Band of the TNA Tag Team Championships. He announces there will be a tournament to determine who will face the Motor City Machine Guns at Victory Road.

The Band (Kevin Nash and Eric Young) vs. Ink Inc. (Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal) in a semi-final match in the tournament. The Band jumps Moore and Neal to start the match. EY and Neal are in the ring. EY hits a diving elbow off the second rope for a 2 count. He tags in Nash. Nash hits knees in the corner and follows up with a punch and a pair of back elbows. Nash chokes Neal and when the referee backs him off, EY hits a clothesline from the apron. Nash tags EY back in and EY hits another clothesline. Neal fights back with a headbutt, but gets caught with a back elbow and EY covers for 2. EY chokes Neal and drops him with an elbow smash to the back of the head. EY hits a scoop slam and goes up top. He hits the elbow drop, but Neal kicks out at 2. Neal fights out of the corner and hits a big right hand to EY. Neal makes the tag and Moore comes in with a clothesline, dropkick and a spin kick. He hits the inverted atomic drop and a second spin kick for a 2 count. EY goes up top and Moore takes down Nash on the apron and goes after EY. Moore hits a huracanrana on EY off the top rope. He gets a 2 count, but Nash breaks it up before 3. Nash signals for the Jackknife, but Neal nails Nash with the spear. Neal picks EY up on his shoulders and he and Moore hit a diving neckbreaker/samoan drop combo on EY for the 3 count and the win.

Move of the Match: I’m going to give this to the tag team finisher from Neal and Moore.

Ric Flair comes out to the ring. Flair says he has a history making announcement.

In the back, Chelsea is talking to Abyss. Chelsea says she wants to be with Abyss. Abyss says that after tonight, she’s not going to want to be around him.

Back in the ring, Flair says he’s forming a new Four Horseman, but this group will be known as Fortune. Flair says the Four Horseman led everyday of their lives to be the best at what they were doing. He tells AJ Styles that Arn Anderson would grab the skinny kids out of the crowd, bring them into the ring and stomp a whole in them and that’s what AJ should be doing. He tells Kaz that Barry Windham would pick him up and throw him into the crowd. He tells Beer Money that Tully Blanchard and Ole Anderson would eat Beer Money for lunch. Flair says Desmond is the Lex Luger. He says he thinks he’s a big player, but until now, he’s never been anything. Flair tells Styles that he committed suicide by challenging Lethal and losing. Lethal comes out, with his own music (not Flair’s or Macho Man.) Lethal does his Flair impression. He says it looks like the Horsemen came there and took a dump in the ring. Flair gets mad and throws his shoe at Lethal. He challenges Lethal to show him what he’s got. Lethal takes off his jacket and drops the elbow on it. Flair says Lethal can’t be him. Lethal and Flair have a war of woos. Ric Flair is doing his taunts and Lethal does the knee drop to the jacket on the stage. Wolfe finally gets a microphone. He calls Lethal a cheap imitation of Flair. He challenges Lethal to a match tonight. Lethal calls that big talk from a man who can’t even control Chelsea. Lethal accepts Wolfe’s challenge. Lethal quotes Flair again and the other guys have to keep him from going after Lethal. Flair tells Wolfe that if he takes care of business, he’ll be the first member of Fortune.

In the back, Lacey Von Erich is getting a massage before her match with Angelina Love tonight.

Mr. Anderson is asked about his 3 way tonight with Hardy and Abyss. They ask if we’ll see the “real” Mr. Anderson tonight and he says that depends on who you think the real Mr. Anderson is.

Hernandez vs. Samoa Joe is up next. Hernandez backs Joe into the corner. They separate and lock up again. This time Joe backs Hernandez into the corner. Joe hits a series of shots to Hernandez. He hits a back elbow and jumping kick in the corner. Hernandez fights back, but gets caught with another back elbow. Joe gets sent into the corner, but sends Hernandez to the apron and slams his head into the turnbuckle. Joe runs at Hernandez, but Hernandez hits his slingshot shoulder block to Joe. Hernandez sets up Joe in the corner and hits a splash. Joe fights back, but gets caught with a big running shoulder block. Joe rolls to the outside and the referee goes to check on him. Matt Morgan comes in and hits Hernandez with a low blow. Joe gets back into the ring and hits an exploder suplex. He covers for the 3 count and the win.

Move of the Match: There were a handful of good moves in this match. I’m going to give this to Hernandez’s slingshot shoulder block.

After the match, Joe leaves the ring and sees the replay of Morgan’s interference. Joe goes back to the ring to go after Morgan. Morgan gets caught between Joe and Hernandez and just barely escapes the ring.

AJ Styles is in the back with Desmond Wolfe. AJ tells Wolfe he needs to get Chelsea in line.

Jeff Hardy is talking about his triple threat tonight. Anderson comes in and says “May the best man win… me.” As Anderson leaves, Hardy says, “@$$hole” and Anderson calls back, “Yes, I am!”

Douglas Williams is in the ring. Williams says that he has rendered the X-Division as it was redundant. Williams says the X-Division will now be synonymous with his ground and pound style. He says he will demonstrate it against his opponent, Max Buck. Buck counters Williams’ technical skill with his athletic moves. Buck hits a back flip into a head scissors takedown. He slingshots to the apron and comes back in. Buck goes for a cross body, but Williams catches him and hits the fall away Samoan drop. Williams hits a knee drop and follows up with a European Uppercut. Williams locks in a rear chin lock. Buck starts to fight back, but Williams locks in an abdominal stretch. He hits a knee in the corner and follows up with a snap suplex. Williams hits a gutwrench suplex and an exploder suplex for a 2 count. Williams goes up top, but Buck moves out of the way of his attack. Buck goes up top and comes off with a jumping diamond dust type move for a 2 count. Williams fights off Buck and hits his tornado DDT off the top for the 3 count.

Move of the Match: I have to give this to Buck’s diamond dust type move.

After the match, Williams looks to choke out Buck with the Cravate. Kendrick comes in and locks in a Cobra Clutch with leg scissors on Williams. Williams repeatedly taps out, but Kendrick maintains the hold until Williams goes limp.

They play a promo highlighting the feud between Sting and Jeff Jarrett. They announce that Jarrett will call out Sting tonight.

Angelina Love is in the ring. Angelina says every time a wrestler steps into the ring, they risk injury and every time could be the last time, so she’s not going to waste it. She calls out Lacey for their match. Lacey comes out and Angelina immediately nails her with a clothesline. Angelina sends her into 2 turnbuckles and hits her with 3 knees and a leg sweep. Angelina continues the attack in the corner and chokes Lacey. Lacey looks for a moonsault attack, but Angelina moves. She takes out Angelina’s legs and goes for a quick cover for 1. Angelina fights back, but Lacey manages to slam her to the mat. Lacey hits punches in the corner, but Angelina powerbombs her off. Angelina goes out and grabs a chair. Angelina picks up Lacey and DDTs her on the chair causing a disqualification.

Move of the Match: Lacey actually had some good moves in this match, but I’m going to give this to Angelina’s DDT on the chair (even though it caused the DQ).

Lethal is in the back with Hogan. Hogan tells Lethal he doesn’t need the impersonations to make it because he’s got the talent and spirit to stay at the top.

Jeff Hardy is in the back with Christy Hemme. Hardy says he would love nothing more to face RVD at Victory Road, but it all comes down to tonight. Anderson says that tonight, after their match, they’ll be able to hug it out and still be friends.

Beer Money vs. Team 3D is up next. Devon and Roode start out. Devon overpowers Roode. Roode goes for a hip toss, but Devon hits one of his own. Devon misses a leg drop and Roode hits him with a running neck snap. Roode goes after Devon in the corner and sends him into the other corner, but Devon moves and follows with a shoulder block for a 2 count. Devon tags in Ray and they hit their side slam/leg drop combo for a 2 count. Ray hits a scoop slam and goes for an elbow drop, but misses. Roode tags in Storm and they hit a double back body drop. Storm goes after Ray and rakes the eyes. Ink Inc. comes out to the broadcast table. Ray tags in Devon and they hit a double hip toss, wishbone Storm and hit a double falling headbutt. Devon covers for 2. Storm tags in Roode. Roode hits an inverted atomic drop, Storm hits a Russian Leg sweep and Roode hits the jumping knee drop for a 2 count. Roode and Storm hit the Beer Money Suplex, but Ray attacks them part way through their taunt. 3D hits the Doomsday Device for a 2 count. Devon looks for the 3D on Roode, but Ray notices Ink Inc. at the announce table and when Devon goes for it, all he hits is the flapjack. Ray attacks Ink Inc. and while the referee is distracted, Storm spits beer in Devon’s eyes and Roode rolls him up for the 3 count.

Move of the Match: I’m going to give this to the Doomsday Device.

In the back, Wolfe tells Chelsea he is a ticking time bomb. He says he will talk to her later and that right now she has a chance to redeem herself.

Desmond Wolfe taking on Jay Lethal is next. Wolfe pushes Lethal off the top before the match gets started. Tommy Dreamer is show in the crowd again. Wolfe hits his arm lock takedown and yells at Chelsea. Lethal goes after Wolfe, but Wolfe catches him with and arm lock takedown. Wolfe goes out after Chelsea and Lethal hits him from behind. Lethal brings Wolfe back into the ring. He hits a series of shots and a vicious dropkick. Lethal hits his springboard back elbow. He goes after Wolfe, but Wolfe sends him into the turnbuckle with a drop toe hold. Lethal dodges a clothesline and hits his back suplex neckbreaker for the 3 count and the win.

Move of the Match: I have to give this to Lethal’s new finisher. The back suplex neckbreaker is impressive.

After the match, Wolfe attacks Lethal. He hits his arm wringer takedown and Flair comes out. Wolfe holds Lethal so Flair can hits him with a series of shots. Flair hits a low blow on Lethal and Hogan’s music hits. Flair and Wolfe leave the ring as Hogan comes in. Hogan announces Jay Lethal vs. Ric Flair for Victory Road.

They list the current Top Contenders List.
10. Kurt Angle
9. Desmond Wolfe
8. The Pope
7. Jay Lethal
6. Samoa Joe
5. Sting
4. AJ Styles.
They again state that Bischoff, Hogan and Dixie Carter deadlocked about the top 3 slots, thus the triple threat tonight with Hardy vs. Anderson vs. Abyss.

Jeff Jarrett is in the ring and he calls out Sting. Jarrett asks Sting to take his glasses off so that Jarrett can look him in the eye when he tells Sting what he has to say. Jarrett reminds Sting that he called him when the company started. Jarrett says that every time their careers had crossed paths, they treated each other with respect. Jarrett says at Sacrifice, Sting tried to destroy him. Jarrett tells Sting they’ll have a rematch next week. Jarrett says next week he will be fighting for Bischoff, Hogan and most importantly, for the TNA fans.

The Main Event is next with Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy and Abyss facing off with the winner getting the title shot at Victory Road. Anderson and Hardy double team Abyss to start. They set Abyss up in the corner and Hardy goes for Poetry in Motion, but Abyss catches him. Anderson breaks up the hold by kicking Abyss. Anderson and Hardy hit a double back elbow, but Abyss catches them and goes for a double chokeslam, but they both kick him. Anderson and Hardy hit a double suplex on Abyss. Hardy covers, but Anderson breaks it up. Anderson covers, but Hardy breaks it up. Abyss takes down the 2 of them with a double spear. Abyss sends Anderson into the corner and sends Hardy into the other. He hits a splash on Anderson, but Hardy answers with a back elbow and hits Whisper in the Wind. Abyss rolls out to the floor and Hardy hits a slingshot dropkick. Anderson is up and he signals for the Mic Check, but instead of going after Hardy, he hits a baseball slide on Abyss. Anderson holds Abyss and Hardy springs out onto him. Anderson goes after Abyss, but the bell rings. Hebner has counted all three competitors out.

Move of the Match: I’m going to give this to the double suplex.

After the match, Abyss attacks both Anderson and Hardy. Abyss hits Shock Treatment on Anderson. Abyss goes out to the floor and hits Hardy with a Kendo Stick. Abyss pours broken glass into the ring. He hits Anderson with the Kendo Stick. Abyss picks up Anderson and puts him into the glass with the Black Hole Slam. Abyss goes back after Hardy and Hardy tries to fight back, but Abyss takes him to the stage and chokeslams him off the stage through the floor below. Hogan comes out and confronts Abyss. Hogan asks Abyss what this is all about and Abyss’ only answer is, “YOU!”