My World w/ Jeff Jarrett - Genesis 2009 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Let’s get into our topic! Genesis 2009! The Main Event Mafia is formed and and starting off hot!

We are back to the story between you & Kurt as Kurt cuts a promo on the Impact after Final Resolution, that Kurt had visions and delusions of grandeur of taking TNA to the top and that he did everything he could. He did the press and the more he did - his boss became jealous of him. That’s you Jeff. Kurt again says this line: "You see, Jeff, I hate you more than I've hated any other boss I've worked for, and we all know who I'm talking about."

I’m assuming at this point in time - your relationship with Kurt is still…good?

How excited were you to get back into the ring with him?

Eventually AJ Styles comes out and gets beaten down by the Mafia before the Frontline comes out for the save. Is it hard to program something where the whole company is booked against a faction?

You do an interview where you say from this point forward - you’re solely “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett, the wrestler. This was an on-camera transition not a backstage transition correct?

We unlocked some creative notes from TNA at the time - and in it a lot of the pitch and goal of the Main Event Mafia and Mick Foley, was to transition to TNX. Tell us about this thought process and maybe why it didn’t happen?

The X Division title is vacated and a lot of the TV will be taken up by a tournament. Do you think the Division needed to be reset and get back to what the X division was about in the beginning of TNA?

The first Impact features the first matches of the tournament…and the 2 matches on the show equaled 5 minutes. Doesn’t make it seem like it was a priority - is that a fair assessment?

After Alex Shelley’s match where he beat Jay Lethal - Chris Sabin called out Mick Foley about getting the briefcase with the TNA title shot in it. Suicide would come down and attack MCMG. What was the goal of the Sabin & Shelley and Foley storyline do you know?

Of course it isn’t an Impact without a match on a pole - and this time it’s a beer bottle in a bucket hanging on a pole match where James Storm took on Abyss. Storm gets the win and there’s beer bottle shots & chair shots on Abyss & Matt Morgan from Roode & Storm. Beer Money Jeff - what did you think of them at this point and did you see top level stuff from them in the future?

Brother Ray comes out to challenge Kurt Angle and agrees to have everyone leave and have it be a one-on-one match. The Front Line leave but of course the MEM don’t and they brutalize Brother Ray. Does this make the babyfaces look inept?

The Feast or Fired briefcases are revealed and Hernandez got the World Title shot. Were you expecting Hernandez to be a top star at some point?

Curry Man got the fired briefcase. Was it time to bring back Christopher Daniels?

The Impact gets a 1.16 rating and 1.6 million viewers with a .94 in Males 18-34 and .78 in Males 35-49. Why do you think the Main Event Mafia was able to hold viewership unlike anything in TNA before…and after?

From the Observer

Kevin Nash was talking retirement in the Windsor Star. “It’s getting to the point now where physically, I’m getting more beat up. I’ve got a couple discs in my neck that are bulged and I’ve gotta get fixed. When I don’t think I can bring anything to the program, I’ll definitely step aside.” He said he’d like to get into acting but with the state of the economy, it’s hard to get projects off the ground.

Was it just an up and down with Kevin every day about this?

It’s also reported in the Observer that the TNA video game had about 425,000 units sold but because Midway needed the game to be more successful to save the company - did TNA ever get the money or profits from the game?

Midway then announces that there will be a second Impact game coming - who was dealing with them during this time? Dixie?

The tour of the UK is upcoming and we’ll get more in depth on that next month - but it had to be exciting to see the success of the shows in England, Ireland & Scotland early on did it not?

The next Impact features Rhino being elevated to the next man to challenge Sting for the TNA title. Why Rhino to be Sting’s first challenger after he lost to Kurt the month before?

Cute Kip is brought in as the Beautiful People’s fashion consultant as the Sarah Palin impersonator was still hanging around with them and Kip is blown off and they get a makeover. Bro. What is this?

There’s also a ODB talk show with Christy Hemme where ODB points out that Christy goes commando and that the carpets match the drapes. What are we doing here Jeff?

The MEM is seen hanging out with Mick Foley and it’s all in fun and good nature as they talk. It makes sense to get one over on the heels - but was it too soon for them to fall into a trap by Mick do you think?

Angle cuts a promo on you and shows pictures of you as a rookie and he really goes through your whole career and says that at Genesis - the storybook career comes to an end. You finally come out after he talks about your daughters and you’re held back by BG James, Scott D’Amore & Terry Taylor. This made it seem almost real didn’t it Jeff?

The beat down of Bully Ray is recapped and it’s pointed out that Sting walked away from it and didn’t participate. How much did Sting enjoy being in this group and having this type of character development?

Shane Sewell’s story is highlighted and how he almost was paralyzed and decided to become a referee instead but stood up for himself against Sheik Bashir. Was this a Dutch Mantel thing - Shane Sewell?

The main event of Impact is AJ Styles & Samoa Joe taking on Sting & Kevin Nash in a cage match and Styles would climb the back of Nash to get over the cage and get the win in 9 minutes.

From the Torch recap

“Afterward, Nash swung the cage door into Styles's face. Joe, though, beat up both Nash and Sting in the cage. Angle ran to the ring with a chair to break up a Joe sleeper on Nash. Booker T and Steiner joined in. Joe kicked the chair into Angle's face, then tossed Booker into the cage. When Steiner climbed through the ropes, Joe kicked the middle top rope to crotch Steiner. He set up a chair mid-ring, then lifted Angle for a Muscle Buster. Nash bashed Joe in the back with a chair. Steiner locked the cage door closed with a four-on-one advantage. "This is exactly what Mick Foley said they can't do and they're doing it," exclaimed West. Referees ran out to try to break into the cage. Nash kicked at them through the cage. Styles began to scale the side of the cage, but Nash bashed at his fingers with a pipe. Angle put Joe's arm in a chair. Sting stopped a charge of TNA Frontline members on the ramp with clotheslines. Steiner bashed Joe's arm with a pipe. The rest of the TNA Frontline tried to climb the cage, but the MEM kept fending them off with weapons as the show ended.”

You write off Samoa Joe here and it shows that Foley wasn’t able to trust MEM and they were going to destroy TNA as best they could. Perfect show ending angle…was this some of the best creative TNA had in its top programs at this point?

What do you attribute that to?

The 12/18 TNA show did a 1.17 rating and 1.6 million viewers, doing a 0.76 in Males 18-34 and 0.78 in Males 35-49, with the peak audience being Male teenagers at 1.07. It’s impressive how they’re holding here Jeff.

From the Observer

“Vince Russo wanted to push the Mick Foley vs. Al Snow feud at the recent TVs, but was overruled by Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett didn’t want Snow as part of the Main Event Mafia, feeling he likes the exclusiveness of an all-world champion group. Frank Trigg was likely to have become a member but when he didn’t clear his schedule to come in at the tapings, I don’t think it’s going to happen. The idea is Trigg has held titles in MMA so he’d fit into the group, plus he carries himself as a smug heel well.”

Jeff - chat me up about Vince Russo wanting Al Snow & Mick Foley to be a thing here?

The Wrestler is creating a lot of buzz at the time before its release. What did you end up thinking of the movie? Would you had liked to see TNA involved?

The Christmas episode of Impact features Foley coming for revenge from the Mafia. It’ll lead to him announcing matches for Impact - because at the end of the day they need the Main Event Mafia to help sell pay-per-views. Was that too much inside baseball Jeff?

The semi-finals of the X division tournament features Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley win their matches so they’ll face off for the vacant X Division title. Was this something they were excited about - working against each other?

From the Torch

They went to a sitdown interview with Tenay and Jarrett. Tenay wished Jarrett a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Tenay thanked Jarrett for letting him be a part of the TNA family. Jarrett said TNA wouldn't be TNA without him. Well, that's true. Tenay said Jarrett wanted to stay behind the scenes and not wrestle, but it hasn't worked out that way. Jarrett said he and Angle don't get along. He said their relationship has fallen apart. He said he hired Angle to replace him and build the company around him. Tenay asked what went wrong. Jarrett speculated that Angle, because he lost his wife, his kids, and his dignity, thinks he's become bigger than TNA. Jarrett said Angle no one wrestler is bigger than the organization. He said TNA needs Angle, but even more so Angle needs TNA. Tenay asked when the relationship got so personal. He said things he says about his family are tough to listen to. Jarrett said when Angle says those things, it turns his stomach at times. He said he's not the same guy he was two years ago. He said there's a blank stare in his eyes. Tenay said Angle is more focused than ever for their rematch. Jarrett said it's easy to prepare. He said it's going to be two guys fighting that hate each other. Tenay asked if Angle is victorious, what happens to the balance of power going forward. Jarrett said losing isn't an option for himself, his career, TNA, or his family. "This is one fight I have to and will win." Good interview segment.

How comfortable were you both with bringing up your families in this story?

Did you enjoy doing these sit down interviews with Mike?

Devon is positioned as a top member of the Front Line now with Brother Ray & Joe taken out. Was this something you were excited for with Devon? Did he think he could handle it?

That hour of Impact on Christmas by the way - only featured 4 minutes of wrestling. Was that on purpose because it was Christmas?

Steiner & Booker team up to take on Devon & AJ and of course it turns into a beat down before the Front Line come out for the save. Foley would come down eventually and put Mr. Socko on Angle and announces that he’ll make his in-ring debut for TNA at Genesis where he’ll team with Devon & Styles to take on Booker, Steiner & Nash. Was this just a way to get Foley comfortable being back in the ring? Was the first match of his not that big a deal in your mind considering he’s in a 6 man?

-A "Coming Soon" video aired on Brutus Magnus. TNA really needs to run the names for new wrestlers past Focus Groups before debuting them.

What did you see the future was for Nick Aldis?

The main event of Rhino & Kurt goes for a while because you’re at ringside to prevent interference but Kurt continues to mess with you when he can. He finally slaps you and you enter the ring after him to make it a DQ and it takes all the officials to separate the two and BG James calls Angle a stupid son of a bitch before Angle would hit him as the show ended. Look at you putting BG in the ring with Kurt - were you trying to make him retire officially?

The Christmas Impact does another good rating, a 1.0 with 1.4 million viewers. That’s a hell of a number for Christmas Jeff.

From the Observer

Homicide & Hernandez both signed new three-year contracts. I’m guessing the company promised to keep them together, because that was their biggest issue, that they were afraid they were going to be broken up.

Was this part of the deal to resign them?

“Frankie Kazarian’s luck continues to be bad. Just weeks after returning from a torn triceps, while doing a run-in at the 12/15 tapings, Kazarian suffered a torn biceps and underwent surgery that should put him out of action for another four to six months. This means the Suicide character, who was scheduled to debut in his first match around 1/12 (first TV after the next PPV after shooting the angle at the PPV, yes I know how backwards that sounds), would be on the shelf until around late March, and possibly longer. They will probably continue to show vignettes to build the character, and he’s going to be brought to TV to work backstage. There is at least talk of putting someone else in the costume to do run-ins to keep the character alive on television. Among those in discussions regarding doing the role for now include Christopher Daniels and Paul London. Low Ki’s name came up, particularly since he was at the shows this past week just dropping by, but his New Japan commitments wouldn’t allow him to be there at all the tapings. The joke is now they can make Daniels into Suicide and have him lose the feast or fired match again next year.”

What bad luck for Frankie. Why did it always seem to happen to him? Was it frustrating with the gimmick?

For New Year’s Day Impact aired a Best of 2008 show which did a .95 rating with 1.3 million viewers. Again - holding the audience pretty well there Jeff.

When 2009 begins - 6 ½ years into TNA - was this the best the company was running at this point?

When a year begins - how do you look forward and think about what you can do and what might happen?

There’s a letter from US Rep Henry Waxman to the Officer of the National Drug Control Policy that WWE & TNA have not effectively dealt with pro wrestling’s steroids issue. How big a deal was this for not just you, but the industry?

TNA has a major Impact - enjoy the pun - at the Tokyo Dome as there’s an 8-man tag match with Kurt & Kevin Nash teaming with Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono - announced as the newest members of the Main Event Mafia - defeating Giant Bernard (Matt Bloom), Takashi Iizuka, Ishii & Karl Anderson. Were you looking to brand the Mafia into Japan like the nWo did?

What was the relationship like with New Japan at this point? Seems very solid.

Speaking of solid…

From the Torch

“TNA president Dixie Carter bought a million-dollar mansion in Nashville from country music star LeAnn Rimes. Carter, under her legal last name of Salinas, and her husband, Sergio, purchased the home in Nashville, Tenn. on October 30 for a cool $2.125 million. The actual value of the property was $1.986 million, so Rimes probably walked away with a net gain after real estate closing costs. The house was built on three acres of land in 2002 and has 13 total rooms, including five bedrooms and five baths.”

Not bad for Dixie huh Jeff?

With the ups in business - it seems the tickets for Genesis in Charlotte are not doing well.

From the Torch

TNA is strongly encouraging fans in the Charlotte, N.C. area to attend Sunday night's "Genesis" PPV at the Bojangles Coliseum, to the point of publicizing three special discount ticket offers to see Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett in-person. Considering WWE just ran house shows after the Christmas break in Charlotte and Greensboro, TNA has to fight for those last remaining entertainment dollars from Carolina wrestling fans. One of TNA's ticket offers is targeted for kids, where an adult can buy a full-price ticket and children under the age of 12 will pay $5 per ticket. Listeners to the John Boy & Billy morning radio show on 99.7 FM or NASCAR Hard Card holders can pick up $10 off a full-price ticket, with floor seats still available in the JBB offer on ticketmaster.

Was it a Charlotte issue? Do you think WWE running during that time period there was intentional to hurt TNA?

The go home Impact features Booker using his accent for the first time - slipping in and out of it. What did you think of Booker’s use of it and going in and out of it?

Consequences Creed - the now Xavier Woods & Jay Lethal won the tag team briefcase and they cash it it on this Impact and defeat Beer Money. Why the tag title change here when you’ve been building Beer Money against Abyss & Morgan all month?

The main event of Impact features Kurt Angle taking on BG James and Kurt gets the win in 10 minutes and of course afterwards it’s a beat down. Foley & you come out for the save but the damage is done. It leads to this promo:

-They showed Jarrett sitting on a chair mid-ring in shock with a mic in hand as Foley, Rhino, Styles, and Devon paced behind him. Jarrett addresses his comments to Angle while rubbing his forehead. He said words can't describe how he's feeling right now. He said, "This was between you and me. It had nothing to do with Brian. Nothing!" He said as the leader of TNA, he had "prided himself" on setting an example on the right way to do things every time. "Kurt, that's character," he said. "But this Sunday, Kurt, all I can think about is beating the [bleeped] out of you." He stood up and hung his head in the corner of the ring. He could barely keep his composure. Foley took the mic from him. The crowd chanted, "TNA, TNA." Foley said with all of this emotion going on, and seeing B.G. sacrifice himself for the well-being of his friend, he can't help but stand there and feel a little ashamed. He said two weeks ago he told the MEM that at Genesis he was crossing the line. He said he saw his face in brilliant high definition and in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think he looked pretty bad. He said one of his teeth is kinda gray, his beard is turning white, his skin is looking a little bit haggard. "Then I thought about all the reasons this was so," he said.

It’s a hell of a go home promo from the both of you and the show itself does a 1.06 rating and 1.5 million viewers…and while that may sound like the same old old…it came up against the BCS Final of Florida & Oklahoma which drew 26.8 million viewers. Again - hell of a number up against some stiff competition…

The show does double of what the January 2008 pay-per-view did - from 20,000 to 40,000 buys. But the show is completely wrecked the day before…

From the Observer

TNA had spent months building to the Genesis PPV as its biggest show since April, based on two key matches, a several months in the making return match with Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett, as well as Mick Foley’s first match in the promotion.

When it was over, you were left with a lot of questions. And not the good kind.

There was a negative vibe about the show, largely due to the crowd and the look of the show.

The show doesn’t have the best lighting - it looked minor league…what was it about the arena that presented the issues?

The show does its biggest buy rate since Lockdown…but the show itself only drew 1500 fans. Is that a massive disappointment?

Speaking of massive disappointments…

From the Observer

Kevin Nash  was at the show and in some pain, but planning on wrestling and apparently ended up rushed to the hospital a few hours before the show started. There was fear of him having blood poisoning, and he underwent elbow surgery the next day.

Jeff - as this is going on - are you watching it all fall apart - are you trying to figure out what to do and how to handle it?

“1. In an unadvertised match, Homicide & Hernandez & Eric Young beat Sonjay Dutt & Jimmy Rave & Kiyoshi in an elimination match in 13:43 with Hernandez as the only survivor. The match was set up to highlight Hernandez, and would have worked with a storyline crowd, since they put him at a 3-to-1 disadvantage and he came back to win. But the crowd only reacted to spots. Fortunately for them, there were a lot of them, although several sloppy spots in the first few minutes. Crowd was into Homicide & Hernandez’s gimmick and popped big for a dive sequence starting about 8:00 in where Homicide first did a tope con hilo on Young, Kiyoshi and Rave. Dutt followed with a running flip over onto everyone, building to Hernandez doing his running dive over the top. Then they got to the eliminations, and never fully got the crowd back. Dutt pinned Young in 10:23 with his feet on the ropes. Rave pinned Homicide in 11:27 holding the tights. Hernandez really didn’t even sell match, as he’d already nailed Kiyoshi with a border toss for the pin in 12:45. He quickly used a power bomb on Dutt at 13:04, an a splash off the top rope on

Rave in 13:43. The last few minutes felt rushed.

Observer **¼

Torch **”

You just had to fill the card with this match considering everything that happened right?

“2. Alex Shelley pinned Chris Sabin in 16:38 in the finals of the X Division title tournament. There was no real babyface or heel here, and this was worked a technical style similar to the third fall of a championship match at Arena Mexico. Lots of holds, counters and near falls. Sabin used a tope early. Mike Tenay noted this match wasn’t as lame as the Bill Kazmaier vs. Oz match. Shelley did a somersault legdrop. Too many spots to list but Sabin used a roll of the dice and a Tiger suplex for a near fall. Shelley used an emerald frosien for a near fall. The crowd started to get behind Shelley. Fans at ringside were all standing the last several minutes and there were loud “This is awesome” chants, but the match did not have sustained crowd reactions. Shelley kicked out of Sabin’s cradle shock. Finish saw Shelley pretending to have an ankle injury. Sabin stopped, showed concern, and then Shelley used a school boy on him to take the title.

Observer ****

Torch ****¼”

Man these two Jeff - they could go couldn’t they?

“3. Shane Sewell pinned Sheik Abdul Bashir in 10:18. For a grudge match, they worked it more like a basic 1970s prelim match. Sewell is technically sound but just seemed to have nothing special going for him that will make him a star. It probably would have gotten over better in most other venues with the back story, but I’m not sure where Sewell would stand as a wrestler long-term. Sewell wore a ring outfit that looked somewhat like a ref shirt. Biggest pop was Sewell using the figure four. Bashir would get heat playing to the crowd but then it would quickly go quiet. Bashir and Earl Hebner started arguing and shoving each other. Bashir then chased Hebner around the ring in a circle that looked corny as hell, because Hebner doesn’t move very fast and Bashir wasn’t catching him. Sewell clotheslined Bashir and then pinned him after a sunset flip. All the refs congratulated Sewell after the match.

Observer *¾

Torch **¼”

Was it just not a compelling enough storyline to get the crowd into it you think?

“4. Robert Roode & James Storm regained the TNA tag titles beating champs Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed and Matt Morgan & Abyss in a three-way in 15:19. This didn’t work and the crowd was dead for 90% of the match. You had four babyfaces working together against two heels, and the faces couldn’t finish them, so who becomes the faces? Well, the crowd simply didn’t care. They did a spot where Jackie Moore fell down in Storm’s crotch and then Roode fell down like he was doing Moore from behind. The crowd reacted only to that and the dives, which included Lethal & Creed doing simultaneous dives, and ending with Morgan being about the biggest guy I’ve ever seen do an El Hijo del Santo style plancha and he really flew. Finish saw Moore distract Rudy Charles forever. I mean to the point of stupidity. Storm brought one of the belts into the ring but Abyss got it. Abyss went to hit Roode, who ducked, and Abyss hit Morgan in the head. Morgan sold it like he was out. Lethal than delivered an elbow off the top rope onto Roode and went to pin him. Charles was still looking the other way. Storm the superkicked Lethal and then put Roode on top of Morgan, and at this point Charles came in to count the fall. Morgan and Abyss argued after the match.

Observer *½

Torch *¼”

Was this just too overbooked in your mind Jeff? Was the last second title change a positive or negative for this match?

“5. ODB & Roxxi & Taylor Wilde beat Raisha Saeed & Rhaka Khan & Sojourner Bolt in 7:44. The winner of the fall gets a title shot at Kong, who is expected at this point to return on the 1/26 tapings. Terrible match. I have no idea why they just didn’t do an ODB vs. Saeed singles match, not that it would have been good, but it would have been a lot better than this. ODB pinned Saeed with a small package. Kong came out, moving gingerly, and there was a big pull-apart brawl, ending when Kong choke slammed ODB. You could see she was hurting because she barely got her up.

Observer -*

Torch ¾*”

This…I don’t know Jeff. Feels like a lot of regression in the Knockouts…

“By this point in the show Kurt Angle had told Jim Cornette that the Mafia went to Rhino’s hotel room and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Except that he refused it, so they took him in the limo to a vacant lot in Charlotte and beat him up. But they were nice about it and left him with cab fare, except Rhino is too beat up to wrestle and wouldn’t be coming. Rhino ended up coming back. Later, Cornette confronted Sting and asked how Sting could associate himself with these guys. Sting said that he hadn’t been to Charlotte in 15 years and wanted to wrestle for these people.”

The irony of that statement at this point TODAY isn’t it Jeff?

“6. Kurt Angle pinned Jeff Jarrett in 21:59 in a no DQ match. It was evident in seconds that the intensity here was at a different level from everything else on the show, and probably all but a few matches you’ll see this year. The two wrestled like they were possessed, in the sense they were two people working a real fight as opposed to two people performing a routine. Angle took a nasty backdrop where he went hard over the top to the floor. Jarrett tried to follow with a dive over the top, but he’s bigger and older and his leaping ability isn’t what it once was, as his look hooked the top rope on the way over and he went straight down. It could have been disastrous but Angle managed to block enough of his fall. Angle hit Jarrett with the ring bell and Jarrett juiced. They ended up brawling on the ramp and Angle used an Olympic slam off the ramp with both going through a table. Jarrett was actually thrown too far and most of him missed the table and he landed hard on his hip. Angle crawled to the ring. Jarrett crawled as well, selling his hip, which probably wasn’t much of an act. Jarrett covered in blood selling here was some of the best selling you’ll ever see. In the ring, Jarrett used a pedigree for a near fall. Angle brought in a chair but Jarrett dropkicked the chair into Angle’s face, and Angle juiced. Jarrett used the stroke for a near fall. Angle used a missile dropkick and an Olympic slam for a near fall. Jarrett also escaped an ankle lock. Jarrett moved as Angle charged hard into the corner. Jarrett got the guitar but Angle stopped him with a low blow. Angle grabbed a chair and the guitar and played to the crowd over which one to use, and waffled Jarrett hard in the face with the chair for a near fall. Jarrett came back but missed an enzuigiri and Angle put on the ankle lock. Jarrett reversed it into a front rolling cradle for a near fall. Angle tried another Olympic slam, but Jarrett countered with a DDT. Jarrett went for the guitar, but it was broken, so hit Angle with a chair. Angle was real smart

about getting his hands to block the chair shot. However, Angle reversed as Jarrett went

for the pin and got a three count. Post-match saw Angle put Jarrett’s ankle in a chair and started stomping the chair, with the idea he was breaking Jarrett’s ankle. Big-time beating which ended with Jarrett being taken out on a stretcher.

Observer ****½

Torch ****”

My goodness Jeff - what can you tell us about this and is this one of your favorite matches of all time?

“7. Sting pinned Rhino to retain the TNA title in 8:18. Rhino showed up with his clothes all torn up and had his head taped, showing a cut. Jim Cornette told him to wait and they’d do the match another day but Rhino grunted around. Even with the show long storyline to make him a babyface, Sting was the complete babyface and Rhino was booed by the crowd. Very little to this match, mostly Sting holding a long bearhug as obviously he was hurt. Rhino missed a splash off the top. Sting then used a scorpion deathlock but Rhino made the ropes. Finish saw Rhino miss a gore and Sting get the pin with the Scorpion death drop.

Observer *

Torch *¼”

With all the changes to the card - was Sting’s health an issue here as well considering the story and the angle here?

8. Mick Foley & A.J. Styles & Brother Devon beat Scott Steiner & Booker T & Cute Kip in 14:02. When Booker T, using his fake Idi Amin voice, announced Cute Kip as their third member I think everyone thought it was a joke. Then,, when people realized it was real, it was like this collective groan hit the place. They tried to push that Kip was a big star talking about him as a former IC champ, former hardcore champ (everyone and their mother held that title) and ten time tag team champion. But this guy was playing gay fashion designer a week ago and is best known for his ridiculous wardrobe. He cut a promo saying the Carolina Panthers suck to get heat. It didn’t get much heat. They ended up all fighting outside the ring and Rudy Charles ruled it a double count out in 8:22. Jim Cornette came out and said that he had been coming to Charlotte for 25 years and they don’t do things like that here. Well, actually they did, and that’s why, when Ric Flair does a talk show in Charlotte, everyone acts like pro wrestling ended in 1988. Cornette told Charles to restart the match. Booker then got on the mic and said the match was over because Cornette doesn’t have the authority to restart the match. Foley then got the mic and said that Booker was right, Cornette doesn’t have the authority to restart the match, but he does, and it’s now a hardcore match. And they don’t even know how Mickey Mouse that segment came across. Then they used the garbage can shots. Devon brought in a table. Foley was going to put Kip through the table but Booker used a low blow on Foley. Styles then from inside the ring, did a springboard splash onto the table on the floor putting Kip through it. Devon went to the top rope, slipped, but got back up and used a diving head-butt to the groin on Steiner. Match ended with Booker pinning Steiner after a DDT on a chair. The idea of the show was to tell a story that the Front Line was getting destroyed bad by the Mafia, but in the last match, the Front Line ended up winning at the end, which explained the match order. Unfortunately, people didn’t care about the feud, and nobody could follow Jarrett and Angle. Plus, for Foley’s first match back, there was nothing to hang his hat on. His knees and back are obviously in bad shape, but there was

no great worker for him to work against nor did they go the gimmick route like they did so often with Abyss using barbed wire or thumb tacks.

Observer **¼

Torch *¾”

Was anyone else considered for Kip’s spot?

Did this just mess it all up?

What was Foley’s reaction when all was said and done?

Should you & Kurt had been in the main event considering the change?

It’s still a good show - and looking back - Foley’s first match in TNA is almost always forgotten. Is that a regret?