TNA 2008: Rise of the Young Lions?

TNA IMPACT Preview for November 13th 2008

Following Turning Point the question on everybody’s lips is exactly how the TNA Young Lions will be able to bounce back from their humiliating night of losses against the Main Event Mafia. Samoe Joe and AJ Styles will appear in the IMPACT zone to talk about Turning Point.

Also, Christian Cage will be forced to join the Main Event Mafia as a result of his loss to Booker T last Sunday. Kurt Angle has stated that Cage will be formally inducted into the Main Event Mafia this week on IMPACT. Will Cage join the dominant group without argument?

Following Turning Point Mick Foley has signed a big night of TNA action. The war between the Main Event Mafia and the Young Lions will continue as Scott Steiner represents the Main Event Mafia against the monster Abyss, who will be looking for revenge following his loss to Kurt Angle, while Kurt Angle takes on Jay Lethal. Also, in six man tag team action Eric Young teams with the Motor City Machine Guns to take on Sheik Abdul Bashir and Beer Money Inc.

TNA News: Scott Steiner Injured, Cage staying, Raven to return?

- Scott Steiner picked up an arm injury during his match with Abyss, and will be out of action for at least six weeks. This is bad news for TNA, as Steiner has been a big part of the Main Event Mafia storyline. Scott Steiner has been injured a number of times recently, and many critics are saying its time for Steiner to consider retiring.

- Christian Cage has not yet signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment, and may remain with Total Non Stop Action if they make him a deal he deems acceptable. Christian believes that TNA’s schedule would allow him more time with his family, and if they can provide the money he’s demanding, then it looks like he will remain with TNA.

- TNA wants to put more focus on the X-Division, and it looks like it could once again become a focal point on its shows and pay per views. There are plans for the Curry Man gimmick to be dropped in the coming weeks and for Christopher Daniels to become a focal point of the revived division.

- There has been some talk of Raven returning to TNA on a short term contract to be involved in the Main Event Mafia vs. Young Lions feud. Raven has shown some interest recently in making a short return, but if so it is likely to only be for a number of months.

- World Wrestling Entertainment has recently cut a large number of development and lower card talent. TNA has evidently signed Katarina ‘Nikita’ Walters, who was known as Katie Lea in WWE to a contract to work in the Knockouts Division.

- TNA IMPACT was said to be great this week by those in the arena watching live and on internet message boards. The opening segment was the most watched off the night, followed by the ending segment between the Main Event Mafia and AJ Styles.

TNA IMPACT Preview for 20th November 2008

With three weeks left until Final Resolution 2008 the big question on everybody’s lips is who will walk into the event with the TNA World Championship around their waist. AJ Styles will challenge Sting for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship directly in the IMPACT zone. Also, Mick Foley has stated that he will make an announcement regarding the main event at the start of the show.

The Main Event Mafia will also be involved in another match during IMPACT, with Kurt Angle and Booker T taking on Abyss and Matt Morgan, who will be receiving a TNA Tag Team title shot at Final Resolution. Last week Booker T, Kurt Angle and Matt Morgan all interfered in Abyss’s match, so tonight they will all clash inside the six sided ring.

Also at TNA Final Resolution the Feast or Fired match will make its return. Who will feature in this match where both title shots and contracts are on the line? Tune into IMPACT over the next three weeks to find out the ten competitors.

TNA IMPACT Results for 20th November 2008

The TNA IMPACT opening video aired, followed by Mike Tenay and Don West running down tonight’s card, which is to be headlined by the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match between AJ Styles and Sting.

TNA’s primary shareholder Mick Foley kicked off IMPACT, making his way to the ring and cutting a promo on tonight’s blockbuster main event, as well as mentioning the return of the Feast or Fired match at Final Resolution. Foley then called out Christian Cage, who came out alone, and asked him where his allegiances lay. Cage told him that he has no allegiances to anybody, to which Foley told him that he has the right idea, before announcing Christian Cage as the special enforcer for tonight’s main event, and that if anybody else attempted to interfere in the main event, they will be fired!

Consequences Creed & Shark Boy vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Volador Jr.
A good fast paced X-Division tag team match to kick of the action tonight, and it looked to be a way for TNA to get some of the lower card involved in the show. Volador looked really good out there, and Creed is certainly one to watch for 2009, but by the end of the match, Creed got the pinfall over Tanahashi following the Creed-DT.
Winners: Consequences Creed & Shark Boy

Samoa Joe made his way to the ring, microphone in hand, and cut a promo on how his problems with Nash didn’t seem to be able to be settled over a singles match, and challenged Kevin Nash to a 5 vs. 5 elimination tag match at Final Resolution – the Main Event Mafia vs. The TNA Frontline. Kevin Nash, backed up by the TNA World champion Sting came out onto the ramp, and accepted the challenge, promising that at Final Resolution, there will be five members of the Main Event Mafia standing tall.

A Samoa Joe ‘Cross the Line’ video package aired.

LAX vs. Rock N’ Rave Infection
Mike Tenay made the point prior to the match that both of these teams will be involved in the Feast or Fired match at Final Resolution. Both of these teams had the mix of power and speed, but it with the Latin American Exchange that really utilised this to their advantage, hitting some superb double team moves, finishing Rave off with the Gringo Cutter for the win.
Winners: LAX

IMPACT cut to Samoa Joe backstage with AJ Styles. Styles told Joe that no matter what the result here tonight, whether he walked out with the TNA World championship or not, that he will have Samoa Joe’s back at Final Resolution.

Nikita vs. Angelina Love
Nikita continues her apparent mission to defeat both members of the Beautiful People in consecutive weeks, but this week she had a much tougher challenge as Love didn’t make life easy on Nikita. Both knockouts put on a great performance, but Love was the star of the match, and really sold everything Nikita threw at her, including the moonsault Nikita used to win the match.
Winner: Nikita

Post match the TNA Knockout’s champion Awesome Kong walked down to the ring, and despite Nikita’s attempts to fight her off Kong flattened Nikita, and would have continued doing so if Taylor Wilde and Roxxi hadn’t made the save.

A TNA Knockout’s ‘Cross the Line’ video package aired.

IMPACT cut backstage, where the Main Event Mafia was all talking to Christian Cage. Angle told him that he was a member of the Main Event Mafia now, and should be looking out for Sting tonight, to which Cage told him that he “knows what he has to do” before walking off.

Mike Tenay and Don West promoted Final Resolution, and officially announced Kevin Rudolf’s “Let it Rock” as the official theme for the event.

Booker T & Kurt Angle vs. Abyss & Matt Morgan
A really good tag team match that not only featured great storytelling, but also that Abyss & Morgan are ready to challenge for the TNA tag team titles at Final Resolution. Abyss really attacked Angle right from the start, and it is obvious that he still wants to get his hands on Angle one on one, while Booker T attempted to avoid getting in the ring at all times. The ending came with all four men brawling, when Angle attempted to lock the ankle lock on Abyss. Abyss powered out of the submission move, sending Angle out of the ring, and Morgan hit the Hellevator on Booker T only for Sharmell to distract Abyss so that Angle could roll up Morgan and use the ropes for the pinfall.
Winners: Kurt Angle & Booker T

IMPACT cut to Team 3D backstage watching the nights action on a TV screen when Kevin Nash walked in. Nash told Team 3D that they shouldn’t be watching the action, but that they should be in it. Nash then offered Team 3D a space in the Main Event Mafia, and told them that they should be smart and join the right side. Nash left and Team 3D just looked at each other. Brother Ray started to talk but Devon interrupted with “Don’t even think about it” to which Ray replied “Think about what?” before IMPACT cut to commercial.

TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sting vs. AJ Styles
Special Enforcer: Christian Cage
An incredible main event, made even better by the presence of Christian Cage at ringside, since everyone in the arena seemed to be on edge about what Cage would do. AJ really went for Sting from the very start of the match, at points looking like he wanted to injure Sting instead of pin him. Sting fought back, and controlled portions of the match, but AJ’s passion just looked like it would get the better of him, with AJ throwing every move in his arsenal at Sting. Styles was moments away from becoming the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion after hitting the Styles clash when Christian Cage broke up the pinfall by blasting AJ in the back with a steel chair, which led to the referee throwing the match out.
Result: No Contest – Sting remains TNA World Heavyweight Champion

Following the match the rest of the Main Event Mafia made their way to the ring as Christian hit AJ Styles with another chair shot. IMPACT came to an end with the Main Event Mafia welcoming Cage into the fold, while Samoa Joe helped AJ backstage.

TNA News: Roster cuts coming, Locker Room not happy with Angle

- TNA will apparently be cleaning out their roster over the next few weeks of unused talent. This could mean that some lower card guys that aren’t really being used will be leaving the company, while rumours are that some new talent may be brought in. Shane Sewell was silently removed from the TNA roster page earlier this week, so it looks like he’s already gone, while BG James was also released from his TNA contract earlier this week.

- Kurt Angle apparently got on the wrong side of the TNA locker room this past week after he refused to lose to Abyss and Matt Morgan in their tag team match. The original finish called for Morgan to pin Booker T following the Hellevator, but following Angle’s refusal to put Abyss & Morgan over the finish had to be changed. Booker T has apparently already had words with Angle over the incident, but the rest of the TNA locker room isn’t happy about the incident either.

- We have received word that Christian Cage has indeed signed a new contract with TNA, and will be remaining with the company. This was one of the reasons for his big heel turn this past week on IMPACT.

- This week’s TNA IMPACT has been reacted to very well by fans, with an online poll voting the Main Event Mafia/ Christian Cage backstage segment being the best of the night, followed by the Sting vs. AJ Styles main event.