My World w/ Jeff Jarrett - Steiner Math [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Let’s get right into our topic - Sacrifice 2008.

Starting this new chapter with Samoa Joe as World Champion…what did you think Joe could do for the company?

We’re coming off the second most popular pay-per-view in TNA history but it seems like there’s a lot going on in TNA behind the scenes.

From the Observer

“Having a lot of heat was Rhaka Khan. The WWE Hall of Fame thing was pretty much left to slide because they just figured she's only been around wrestling a few months and even though word was out that TNA people weren't to attend (I don't know if Velvet Sky was given' an exemption because her boyfriend is a WWE wrestler), she went. They signed a trading cards deal and as part of the deal, everyone on the roster had to autograph 1,000 cards. It's a pain but it's part of the job. So everyone on the roster did it.

Apparently instead of signing the cards at the last tapings, she said she'd do it at home and fed-ex it in, which she did, and maybe one or two others did it as well although they were bigger stars. Then the head of the company called TNA, furious, because her signatures didn't match and they thought she had someone else forge some of the signatures. Worse, in some of the signatures, Rhaka was spelled wrong, and in others, Khan was spelled wrong. When confronted, she said the reason the signatures were so different was because she got tired and changed her signature. JeffJarrett made the call to just eliminate her from the set.”

Jeff - how does this all come to be? Did you make the call to punish her?

You’re also building to a big European tour in June - but were these shows set up to be profitable? Were they sold shows?

How important was the European market to the expansion of TNA?

The first Impact coming off Lockdown immediately sets up Samoa Joe vs. Scott Steiner as Scott is cashing in his briefcase from Feast or Fired as the next pay-per-view main event. Did you have faith in Scott being able to hang in there or was the plan always for Kurt to be featured and have it be a 3-way?

Sonjay Dutt & So Cal Val walk out of a woman’s bathroom together as Jeremy Borash interviews Black Machismo. This story between Sonjay - Jay - Val, what did you think of the 3 of them together?

Later on Lethal would retain his X division title over Johnny Devine but Petey Williams cashes in his briefcase and wins after hitting Jay with it to become the new X division champion. How confident were you Petey & Scott were about to hit it off and become a hot act?

From the Observer

“The reason Super Eric & Kaz were given the tag titles was because Tomko had major heat on him. Apparently he was asked not to do the 4/12 show in Osaka on the day before the PPV, and the day they had a fan fest, but he went to Japan anyway, so as punishment they took the belts. I'm not sure why it was Eric & Kaz who got the nod, as Tomko & Styles had been scheduled to do a program with LAX. ..”

Jeff - when do you hear about the issues about Tomko?

What did AJ think of the issues?

Did you lose faith in Tomko from that point forward?

Was there a long term plan to keep Tomko near the top of the card?

The title change is very quick as Cornette strips Kaz & Young of the titles because Super Eric wouldn’t admit he’s Eric Young. The plan was never to keep the titles on them but to punish Tomko is that fair?

There’s also miscommunication between Team 3D when Devon clotheslines Ray leading to Rhino getting the pin. Why now at this point is there talk of breaking up Team 3D?

From the Observer

“There was some internal disappointment with the rating this week coming off Joe winning the title (a 1.0 rating).”

Why did it feel like TNA never grew its audience? What was missing? How many focus groups - how much time spent - and how frustrating was it?

It’s not that it’s bad that TNA rarely had big number jumps, I mean they held their audience. But at the same time - it’s a common discussion about AEW holding steady after 3 years. And for how hot WWE has been - 3 years ago Raw was averaging 2.416 million viewers and Smackdown was averaging 2.168 million. In 2023 so far, and mind you Smackdown is on FOX now, network TV, but Raw is averaging 1.820 million and SmackDown is 2.336 million. What do you say to this?

From the Observer

“The buzz coming out of the TNA tapings last week was that Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett were not on speaking terms. No one seems to know what the beef was, but it was noticeable to many wrestlers and agents at the Lockdown PPV and the first night of the Impact tapings. For all I know, Dixie was angry with Jeff for leaving the seat to the office toilet up. However, there are several sources who believe the Dixie and Jeff relationship isn't as peachy as they would like everyone to believe. Dixie seems to let Jeff do his thing creatively, but they have butted heads several times in the past.

It's no secret that Jeff was against re-signing Sting to his big money deal. It's purely speculation, but maybe Jeff pointed out to Dixie that the Stinger has bombed in the ratings while appearing in the main event slot in each of the last four weeks. Maybe Dixie responded by reminding Jarrett that Sting might actually get over if he wasn't scripted to stand in the background and let Christian Cage do all the talking for him. Okay, I doubt Dixie would make that point, but I had to sneak it in there. Or maybe Jeff was upset because Dixie attended the Ring of Honor show the night before the PPV. Keep in mind that Jeff told at least one person in the company that they should not attend the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony because it could make the company look bad.”

Jeff - this isn’t the first time this is reported - but it’s one of the heavier ones coming out of the WrestleMania in TNA’s backyard, the big success of the Lockdown…but these points of you being against re-signing Sting…Dixie attending ROH…chat me up.

“Whatever caused the friction, sources say Dixie and Jeff don't have a great relationship. She's the type of person who likes to avoid confrontation and I've heard from multiple TNA sources who claim she has instructed them to present various ideas to Jeff without acknowledging that they came from her. There's even an office worker who has told friends that Dixie pulled him into an office and informed him that he was getting the pay increase he was seeking. However, the person was asked not to tell Jarrett about the raise because he was opposed to it. Again, I have no idea what their issues were at Lockdown or the TV taping, but it sounds like a strange dynamic exists between Carter and Jarrett.

Observers say they’ve had their differences in the past, but stated this was the first time that it was obvious to the wrestlers backstage that they weren’t getting along.”

Did this happen a lot? Were the times you & Dixie were at odds obvious the boys?

From the Observer

TNA issued a press release announcing their official “Cross the Line” advertising campaign encouraging wrestling fans to sample TNA and spread the word to other wrestling fans about TNA. “Cross The Line’ will encourage fans who have never watched TNA to try it, current TNA fans to recruit others, wrestling stars from around the world to cross the line and join TNA, and it’s the official launch of TNA’s revolution to call out the competition.” TNA president Dixie Carter said in the company’s press release that “the demand for TNA can’t be silenced.”

In what is still an odd visual, WWE.com published a story on the “Cross the Line” campaign on its website’s “Industry News” page. It also ran a story on Sonjay Dutt being featured on the cover of a rap album titled “The Underground Artist.”

When WWE starts covering wrestling news like it’s a legitimate news source and its covers this…how odd is that?

From the Observer

“Literally nobody could explain the tag team tournament for Sacrifice as it was set up originally. In all seriousness, if they just did a reality show on the TNA booking meetings and then encouraged people in the company to say what they really think at the production meetings when the ideas are discussed, it would be better than most of their television shows.

Whatever the original idea was, the joke was that Cornette would have to be Carl Sagan on an episode of "Cosmos" to explain it. Don West was at the meeting and just blurted out that he didn't get it. So it's been simplified.”

Do you remember Don West saying that in a production meeting? What was the goal of this tag team tournament other than to crown new champions because Tomko went to Japan?

Now let me attempt to explain this tournament. You start with eight regular tag teams. They have matches. Winners advance…and then 8 singles wrestlers (including all the major names like Sting, Booker T, AJ Styles & Robert Roode) are added to this. The eight names will be announced on the go-home Impact, and they will be put in a blind draw like the old Lethal Lottery and then the wrestlers won’t know who their partners are until they get into the ring at the pay-per-view. So the random 4 teams and the 4 previous winners will have a single elimination tournament taking up 7 matches on the show. JEFF - WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS? I don’t blame Don West for speaking up.

From the Observer

Rhaka Khan seems to be the new Juventud Guerrera in that every week there is a new story on her. They cut her slack because she's so new to the business. Another story last week is that after the PPV, she was at the Boston Airport to fly to Orlando for TV and called Bob Ryder (who handles travel) saying that they didn't have her ticket.

Ryder knew they did. Anyway, when she was dropped off at the sign at the airport that read "Jet Blue" and "Air Tram," she thought "Jet Blue," the airline she was flying back on, and "Air Tram," were one and the same. So she went to the "Air Tram" counter and got all frustrated when they had no ticket for her. . .

Is this real or a rib Jeff?

This woman is getting flown for TV but people like Curry Man (Christopher Daniels), Shark Boy, Lance Hoyt and others aren’t brought. I understand…the cost of flying people from their home to Boston, then to Orlando and then back home was super expensive. But did someone like Daniels deserve better than Rhaka Khan?

From the Observer

I believe the new interview woman's name is Lauren Brooke, and because of the last name being so close to Brooks (as in Traci), Jeff Jarrett decided she shouldn't have a last name yet. They had their reasons for easing Crystal Louthan out, at least for now, which had nothing to do with her performance on the air. I think the public word is more that this new woman is prettier and more telegenic even if it's acknowledged she's nowhere. near as good. ...

Jeff - what was the reason for Crystal Louthan leaving the company?

Joe defends the TNA title on a indie show for North East Wrestling against Angle in Poughkeepsie in front of 1600 fans. When Joe takes a booking like this - a major TNA rematch - and its on an indie show - does TNA get a cut of this? Is this something that upsets you or something you’re happy with?

There’s talk of Bobby Lashley appearing at a show Booker T is putting on in Pasadena and that Kurt & Booker were both heavily attempting to recruit him into TNA. Was Bobby on your radar from the time he left the company? Did you think he could do big things in TNA?

The second Impact after Lockdown features Joe defending the TNA title in a rematch from Lockdown by taking on Kurt Angle. The Joe vs. Kurt match in Lockdown seemed to be a shift in how the product would be presented…but nothing really changes. Did you just think TNA - or wrestling as a whole - wasn’t ready for what Joe vs. Kurt did in that cage?

From the Observer

Jeremy Borash interviewed A.J. Styles. Styles kept peering into a room. Borash asked what that was all about. Styles said it wasn’t his business. Karen Angle walked out. Borash squirmed and said this isn’t a good idea. She said she made a fool of herself at the last PPV and she doesn’t belong here at Impact. Styles said she belongs with him. Borash asked what Angle will think when he sees this. Karen said he won’t find out. Borash said the secret is safe with him. So TNA has spent years bending over backwards to always have a reason behind cameras being present for everything that airs, and now they’ve got Karen ignoring cameras and Borash not even acknowledging the obvious to her—which is he has a mic in hand and there’s a camera five feet from her filming everything that just happened for TV?

This is some silly shit is it not Jeff?

From the Observer

Borash kneeled next to Kurt Angle backstage. Angle said he already knows his question before he could ask it. He said he never loses to the same man twice. He said he’s studied the Lockdown tape. He said after beating Joe tonight, at Sacrifice he’ll successfully defend his title against Rick Steiner. Borash said, “You mean Scott Steiner.” Angle said, “Whatever.” Borash then told him that A.J. Styles showed up and invited Karen Angle, who is here also. Angle’s concentration broke and he stormed away to go looking for them.

Where was this whole AJ-Karen-Kurt angle was supposed to go?

From the Observer

Lauren interviewed Cornette, who said TNA has too many spoiled wrestlers who need paid vacations and catering and things like that. He went off about what things were like in his day. He said he knows the wrestlers hate him. He said he hears their whispers behind his back. Cornette said someone stole a quart of strawberries out of his office fridge and he’ll find out who it was.

There’s an inside joke in there somewhere. Cornette said he’ll have news about a new concept match for Sacrifice at a later time. He said he’s the puppet master. Lauren said he’s starting to sound a little evil. He said she’s new and she’ll soon learn he’s just a good Christian businessman who likes the wrestlers to tow the line. He let out a hysterical laugh and walked away.

Was this an inside rib?

(4) Samoa Joe pinned Kurt Angle in 23:00 after Steiner KO’d Angle with a pipe. Cornette announced Joe vs. Steiner vs. Angle for the title at Sacrifice. Good match, but not their best. (***1/2)

How beat up was Kurt? Was he having physical issues?

Not only does this setup the 3-way at Sacrifice - but the next week on Impact, Petey & Steiner will team up to take on Joe & Angle. Two big matches within two weeks of each other for the TNA title - Joe putting up his career…and now they’re going to team up. Does that seem logical?

Also…Petey changes his entire look to be a little Petey Pump. Was that a creative idea or just something Petey did on his own?

From the Observer

They announced Tomko was injured doing a shoot fight in Japan to explain his suspension. Jim Cornette tells Styles he needs to pick himself a partner.

Is this just your way to get rid of Tomko? Were you all that hot?

The women are being promoted for a match where the loser of it will have their head shaved. Was the idea come up with first and then figured out who would have their head shaved - or vice versa?

Then…on May 1st…the best promo in TNA history - that I’m told was shot in one take…

Scott Steiner's math promo (TNA) - YouTube

From the Observer

“Steiner did one of the funniest interviews of the year. I don't know who scripted it, but it was a spoof on those cable TV ad graph commercials. Steiner said he had a 33% chance of winning since it's a three way, but then said since he's genetically gifted and Joe isn't, Joe's odds go down to 25%, and then his odds increase because Angle can't beat him and won't even try. He then threw out a bunch of numbers. What made it great was that Steiner was clearly botching the script left and right and forgetting words, but in the end, he said he had a 114% chance of winning.”

Jeff - this is the best it ever got in TNA right?

Cornette announces that the 8 people who will be in the tag tournament but won’t know their partners until they go to the ring - and it’s called the Egotistical 8. Huh?

On that Impact the show long storyline was AJ Styles trying to figure out who his partner would be for the Deuces Wild tag match. He goes to Kevin Nash to discuss it.

From the Observer

“Styles said he wanted Nash to be his partner. He said it’s big money. Nash said the big money is the World Title. Styles said Joe is the champion now. Nash began to stand up as he said, “Damn right he is.” There’s a little seed being planted that Nash ultimately is going to want a shot at Joe’s title. I’m not crazy about a segment that suggests the tag tournament that’s a huge part of the next PPV isn’t worth Nash’s time.”

Do you think that’s a fair criticism Jeff?

AJ would team up with Super Eric - because of course he did. And they defeat Rock and Rave Infection to get into the tournament for the vacant tag team titles.

From the Torch

TNA management is taking the stance that independent companies aren’t competition. A lot of people in management are fans of wrestling first and foremost, which is one of the reasons Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin were recently booked in ROH. Dixie Carter recently attended an ROH show in Boston, Mass. because she is a fan of wrestling. TNA realizes ROH offers something totally different from TNA, as do other independent companies. TNA still will not allow their talent to appear on PPVs or commercial releases from other companies, but will allow them to market events that TNA talent appears on such as ROH releasing their own DVDs from both nights through their website featuring Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley...

Why the change in the thought process? Was Dixie really a wrestling fan?

Going into May it seems like Impact is losing viewers. The average audience in February was 1.53 million, March was 1.40 million and April was 1.33 million. Does a drop like that worry Spike?

Matt Conway joins the company in early May as well, where did Matt come from and why was he brought in?

The X Division Terror Dome match is announced…where did the Terror Dome concept come from?

You just came off a pay-per-view which featured all cage matches - why another Domed match the next month?

From the Torch

Backstage, Cornette addressed a room full of TNA Knockouts. He said ever since he announced the big Makeover Battle Royal where one of them gets a title shot, but another gets shaved bald, he’s been accused of being a mean, bad person. He said he wants them to think of him as a father–figure. He said he’s concocted a match to give them a prize—an immunity match. The “girl” who wins the match is immune from getting her head shaved at Sacrifice. He said there will be a ten foot pole in the ring. He joked that looking around the room, a lot of those women have practice using a pole. He said barber shears would be at the top of the pole. Cornette said the TNA fans are paying their good money to see one of them get their head peeled like an egg in the middle of the ring, and he vowed it would happen no matter what.

When the match took place a few minutes later, there was a lot of climbing to the top rope and trying to scale the pole with other women yanking them down. At 5:00 Jackie knocked a number of women out of the ring and climbed to the top rope. ODB dropped her to the mat. Gail quickly scaled to the top rope and grabbed the shears to earn immunity at the PPV.

Looking back - it’s funny to hear Cornette say about the girls climbing a pole, but you’re presenting the Knockouts as the top ratings draw and that’s the scripted line? Doesn’t line up does it?

From the Torch

Borash interviewed Steiner and Angle backstage. He asked if they can get along long enough to see this through. Steiner pointed at Angle. Angle batted down his finger. Steiner said they have to work together for a common purpose. He said the World Title needs someone like them, not a fat–ass like Joe. Angle said he’s level headed and can handle it. He said he’s not sure if musclehead Steiner can handle it. Steiner said he can handle it. They shoved each other. Petey stepped between them and tried to talk them into getting along for ten minutes or less. He had magical powers and talked them down to being calm.

(5) Scott Steiner & Kurt Angle beat Samoa Joe & Kevin Nash in 5:00. In the end, Nash caught Angle and set up a chokeslam, but Steiner hit Nash with a pipe. The ref didn’t see it. Steiner covered Nash for the three count. Afterward, Angle stared down Steiner for making the cover himself. Steiner brushed off Angle and posed on the second rope. Angle came up behind Steiner and gave him an Olympic Slam and an anklelock. (*1/2)

This match was quite interesting because Kurt trying to get Kevin Nash up for the Angle Slam seems…off. It’s pointed out that Angle is down weight and proud of it - telling people he was at 200 pounds. Was this an issue with Kurt’s demons? Were you worried about him?

From the Torch

Abyss has been off TV since February, but TNA announced this week on its website that he’s due to return: “TNAwrestling.com has learned that on Monday morning, a tape was delivered to the TNA Wrestling offices in Nashville, Tennessee, containing what some claim is new “disturbing footage” of Abyss. Abyss has not been seen or heard from since he left TNA Wrestling in February. You can watch the video from his last appearance below. TNA management plans to air the tape in its entirety this Thursday night on Impact on SpikeTV. Thus far, no one in management who has viewed the tape is commenting on its contents or the status of Abyss”

Why did you keep Abyss off TV for so long after the Mesias program fell apart? Did he need some time off or did he tell you that Ryan Fitzpatrick was going to lead the Bengals to the promise land in 08?

There’s a scary situation from that taping with Petey Williams. From the Observer

Petey Williams suffered either a broken cheekbone or a broken orbital bone. The first word was orbital bone, but people who were there that night thought it was a cheekbone. He was doing a six-way X Division match on the 4/29 tapings and caught a knee from Jimmy Rave. He knew he was hurt right away, and came back thinking it was a broken jaw. However, he had an indentation near his cheekbone. He was freaking out because he had no insurance, but Terry Taylor told him if he went to the hospital the company would pick up the bill, so he went. TNA desperately needs to make that a policy with everyone. No word on how long he'll be out. No decision was made because the booking meetings aren't until early in the week. Most likely, unless he'll be back quickly. they'll put the X Division title up to the winner of the new domed cage match.. .

The issue with a wrestler getting hurt - for the second biggest company in the United States - and he doesn’t want to go to the hospital because he doesn’t have insurance. Is that a bad look for the company?

How bad was the timing of this for Petey and for the company?

From the Observer

“There is no set time for a return, but Jeff Jarrett, who just turned 41 a few weeks ago, is not retired and for the past year has been waiting for the right time to return. The gist is Jarrett wants to return to have a major impact and be in the title picture, and the political situation with the title picture revolving around Angle ever since he came to the company has made it never the right time of late. Unlike WWE, which changes focus hourly, TNA actually has long-term direction decently well planned and you can see the seeds planted for future programs while the current ones are ongoing. The live crowds hated Jarrett with a passion, much of it not positive heat, when he was on top before, but so much has changed since then. It's a different audience that isn't as critical, the company is more stable so there isn't a resentment that he'd be holding them back due to ego. I think he'd be a fresh face in the mix and can be in some main events, but I hope to God that the days of the regular five ref bumps and 20 guys interfering in every world title match don't come back. . .”

What were you waiting for at this point?

“Steve Allison, who was one of the major executives at Midway Games, who left his position with the company not doing well, was hired by TNA as Chief Marketing Officer a month back. .. “

Did you bring in Steve Allison or was that Dixie? What did you think of him?

“Vince Russo wrote a great line that didn't make TV (apparently some sort of a sound problem and I wouldn't be surprised if they go back to it in a few weeks) but it Was in the Joe/Nash training session deal on Impact. Nash said to Joe, "Hey, Joe, show me how you get out of that sleeper." It was done in such a subtle way, like they're buddies. It's obvious they are building to Joe vs. Nash as a title program, although it won't be for months before they get there because it's a slow build.”

Did you see Joe vs. Nash being a big time top program at this point in time?

From the Observer

“There had been talk of using Tammy Sytch in a major role but some TNA wrestlers did a convention with her and came back with a negative report and it's not under consideration any longer.”

Who’s idea was it to bring Tammy Sytch in and was it ever actually considered?

Now the day or two days before Sacrifice, Kurt Angle gets hurt in Korea. When are you told about this?

From the Observer

“Angle suffered what he said were three cracked vertebrae and two herniated discs in his already thrashed neck in a 5/5 match in Seoul, South Korea, when, in a three-way match with Osamu Nishimura and Riki Passan, Passan accidentally dropped him on his head with a bodyslam.

During the week, the word in TNA was that Angle would miss the house shows, work the PPV, and then time whatever time off he needs to. He ended up deciding to attend the house shows, where he apologized for not being able to wrestle, talked about his injury and said he would be doing the PPV.

Then the last word we had, which was two days before the show, was that Angle was going to do the show, and it was questioned why he would even bother traveling to small house shows in his condition.

When the show opened, Angle came out of a limo and told Jeremy Borash that he was injured, and that Dr. Jho (Dr. Hae-Dong Jho of Pittsburgh, his neck specialist who performed a couple of operations on him already) told him he would be risking his career by wrestling. I guess because it's TNA, I think most people, myself included, actually thought it was a swerve and that he'd show up in the main event, and that's with knowing there was a real injury involved. Angle mentioned that he did wrestle in the Olympics and in Wrestlemania with similar injuries.”

How much panic goes into place when you find out 1/3rd - or 33.333829592375 percent according to Scott Steiner - can’t make it?

Now the show is flat from the year before, 25,000 buys for both 2007 and 2008. But it’s down 30,000 from Lockdown. How big a hit is that to you?

The show…and this is crazy considering the Scott Steiner promo…this is how it’s rated from the Observer readers…

• Thumbs up 33 (33.3%)
• Thumbs down 31 (31.3%)
• In the middle 35 (35.4%)

From the Observer

“After TNA looked like it was on the verge of a major breakthrough, forging its own unique direction of pro wrestling. Today, after the 5/11 Sacrifice PPV from Orlando, in front of the usual packed house of 900 fans, you wonder exactly what direction they are thinking.”

Did it just feel like bad luck for everything going on in TNA at the time?

From the Observer

“TNA also didn't announce ahead of time that Angle wouldn't be wrestling on the show. There becomes a question of when they knew. In the past, such as when Kevin Nash got ill the night before a PPV main event a few years back, the company made sure to get the word out at least on the Internet, and tried to make good by giving the people an unplanned world title change. We didn't get a clear answer on when the decision was made by Angle not to go.”

When was the decision officially made? Day off? Could you had done anything about it?

From the Observer

The other problem was evident within minutes. TNA has outgrown the Impact Zone in Orlando when it comes to PPV. I'd even like them to start taping in other venues, because fresh crowds are more enthusiastic and make the guys appear to be bigger stars. The Impact Zone was great for looking professional at the above-indie level that was how they looked at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

Was the issue you think that was hurting TNA as a whole was the Impact Zone? Why did everyone hate it? Was it time to take the bigger events out of the studio?

Why Kaz for the main event? Not saying he didn’t deserve it…but just a few months back he beat Christian in a ladder match on pay-per-view and then worked Kurt on TV, and then he was forgotten basically playing straight man for Super Eric. It’s circumstances - but seems like a miss doesn’t it?

“1. Team 3-D beat Sting & James Storm in 8:45 in the tag tournament.

Believe it or not, this was the sixth time in his career Sting was in a PPV opener. The story of the match was Storm was drinking in his corner and Sting was working the match by himself. In the very first match of the tournament, to establish that one of the participants had no interest in winning the belts, probably wasn't the way to start. The finish saw Storm climb to the top rope for some reason. Sting then slammed him off the top and Storm went through a table and Devon pinned him.

Observer *

Torch *½”

Is this what you think was established in this match? That someone was in there that would rather lose and cost their teammate the win then want to win the tag titles?

“2. Christian Cage & Rhino beat Robert Roode & Booker T in the tournament in 7:01.

Booker and Roode argued before the match. The finish saw Rhino pin Roode clean with a gore. Booker and Roode argued again after, and then Booker shook hands with Christian and Rhino after the match. As they turned their backs, Booker then hit both Christian and Rhino with chair shots to turn heel. With all the promos on the show that went nowhere and built nothing, they desperately needed a heel Booker promo to explain his actions.

Observer **

Torch *¼”

It’s kind of surprising Booker turns heel as he had been doing great as a babyface in the program with Roode and was really helping to elevate him. Why the turn at this point?

“3. Homicide & Hernandez beat Kip James & Matt Morgan in 4:13.

Kip made fun of how short Homicide was. Morgan accidentally kicked James and Hernandez pinned him. Nothing to this.

Observer 1/2*

Torch *”

So far the 3 random teams all lost. What exactly was the point of them being in there?

“4. A.J. Styles & Super Eric beat Awesome Kong & B.G. James in 5:29.

Kong looked so much shorter than B.G. it was a gimmick killer. She wasn't even taller by much than Styles, so her aura of a gigantic person was exposed. Kong used a chokeslam on Styles. Kong did her spinning backfist on Styles. Eric slammed Kong onto James and then Eric took out Kong with a tope. The finish was supposed to be Styles doing a springboard splash onto James. However, Styles slipped on the ropes and fell on his face, landing way short. You could see B.G., as the veteran telling Styles to put him in a small package, and he did.

Observer *1/4

Torch 3/4*”

Did anybody else think putting Kong in this was going to expose her? Do you think it was  a good idea looking back?

So literally every random team lost in the first round - was it just easier to get everyone on the card this way so there wasn’t stories for them to have singles matches or?

“5. Kaz won the escape from the Terror Dome in 10:32 to earn his way into challenging for the title in the main event as well as getting an X Division title match from Curry Man, Sonjay Dutt, Consequences Creed, Shark Boy, Jimmy Rave, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Johnny Devine and Jay Lethal.

The original plan for this match was for Petey Williams to be in it and for it to be for the title. I'm guessing Williams would have won, because if Kaz was booked to win the title originally, they would have just made it for the title.”

Do you know or remember what the original plan was before Petey got hurt?

Is this too many people in such a small space? I mean the cage is unique and really built for flyers - who designed this?

“The usual assortment of fast paced creative moves. Kaz used the flux capacitor off the top on Curry Man. Devine did a reverse backstabber coming off the ropes on Kaz. Devine then used his Devine intervention on Creed. Kaz climbed up through the hole in the roof to win.

Observer ***1/4

Torch **½”

Did Kaz embrace this spot to be in - and did you talk with him about being in the main event? Was there ever any thought on anyone else being in the spot?

“6. Team 3-D beat Christian & Rhino in 9:52 in a tag tourney semifinal.

Johnny Devine gave Bubba a kendo stick after Rhino gored Devon. Devine then distracted ref Slick Johnson while Bubba nailed Rhino with a kendo stick shot and Devon got the pin. The wrestling was good but crowd was flat, likely over seeing the same guys a second time.

Observer **1/2

Torch **”

How tough is it to book a tournament and not have the crowd burn out on them? Was Team 3D stale at this point?

“7. Homicide & Hernandez beat Styles & Super Eric in 7:30 in the other tag tourney semifinal.

Good match but a flat crowd which didn't know how to react to two face teams. Finish saw Styles have Homicide pinned with an inside cradle. With the ref distracted, Hector Guerrero ran in and rolled Styles so Homicide had him in the inside cradle for the pin.

Observer **1/2

Torch *¼”

I mean not for nothing - AJ is kind of a face at this point? Marrying Karen, his tag team partner deserts him, he’s teaming with Super Eric. Did you know AJ & Kurt were going to be a long term plan at this point?

LAX vs. Team 3D is now set for the finals but first…

“8. Gail Kim and Roxxi Laveaux co-won the women's Battle Royal in 3:43. Also in were Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Rhaka Khan, Salinas, Christy Hemme, ODB, Jacqueline, Traci Brooks and Gail Kim.

This was worse than most WWE women's matches, ironic after seeing a commercial that played putting over how the TNA women were better than WWE in the "Cross the Line" ad campaign. Camera work was had as they missed a few eliminations early on. It was one of those Battle Royals where people were going out so quick it was silly with Salinas, Sky and Brooks out immediately before Khan dumped Hemme. ODB, Love and Jacqueline all combined to throw out Khan. Kim threw out Jacqueline and Laveaux threw out ODB and then Love.

Observer DUD”

I mean Jeff - this is bad. Like real bad. With not all the women up to the level of Kong & Kim - how do get them to this level if you’re going to be doing battle royals?

“9. Kim beat Laveaux in a weird version of a ladder match with a hair vs. hair stipulation in 4:46.

It actually was kind of clever because with Kim having immunity, basically that meant that if Laveaux won, then Love would get her head shaved. They put Love at first in the chair I guess so she couldn't run. Love interfered giving Kim a ladder. Kim monkey flipped Laveaux on the ladder. Kim also did a sunset flip powerbomb on Laveaux off the ladder and Laveaux did a splash and a spinebuster on Kim on the ladder. Laveaux was bleeding and climbing but Sky ran in and knocked over the ladder and Laveaux was taken out by the top rope. Kim then climbed up to win.

Crowd booed Kim winning a lot due to the outside interference, so they had to do a spot where Kim started fighting Sky and Love or else she'd have left as a heel. They shaved Laveaux's head which brought out a loud "Fire Russo" chant. She was bleeding from the forehead making it more of a graphic visual. Love and Sky were laughing at her with her head shaved. Laveaux with a shaved head looked a lot like Nate Diaz. Crowd loudly chanted "Roxxi" when it was over. Even though the crowd crapped on Russo, as far as getting someone new over, this was effective for everyone involved except Kim.

Observer **1/4

Torch *”

Was there concern about Kim getting heel heat because she won? Was that under any consideration?

The visual impact of Roxxi being cut and then having her head shaved - did you think you made a new babyface star?

“10. Homicide & Hernandez beat Team 3-D in 8:48 in the tournament finals to take the tag team title. There was one point where 3-D went to pin Homicide, who wasn't legal and the ref wouldn't count and it killed the crowd. The big moves were good but actual wrestling looked sloppy in points. Filish saw Hernandez give Devon a border toss and then Homicide came off the top rope with a frog splash. The idea was he was honoring Eddie Guerrero doing that move.

Observer **

Torch **¼”

With having Hector involved and them now babyfaces - is the hope that this sort of reboot LAX would really get moving again in the latino market - considering the crowd at Backlash in Puerto Rico you can see why it was a focus for TNA.

“11. Joe retained the TNA title over Kaz and Scott Steiner in 14:27.

Kaz got no reaction coming out and the crowd was flat. Steiner mostly did suplexes, some of which looked scary because of landings on the back of the head. He suplexed Joe on the floor which looked almost like a brainbuster.

Rhaka Khan distracted ref Andrew Thomas and Steiner was given a pipe by Petey Williams. Williams' face didn't look swollen or anything. He likely isn't going to be out for a significant length of time since they didn't strip him of the title. Joe didn't see this and came through the ropes with a tope, but Steiner hit him with the tire iron.

Kaz tried the flux capacitor on Steiner off the top but Steiner blocked it and fell on top for a near fall. He then tried it a second time, but Steiner threw him off the top rope to the floor. With Steiner on the top, Joe went over and picked him up with a muscle buster for the pin. This was the best match on the show. I think it would have been considered an excellent match if it was on the road, but between the lack of caring of Kaz and overall flat crowd, it didn't come across like a PPV main event should.

Observer ***1/4

Torch ***”

This match was what it was being thrown together last minute and Kaz already wrestling once, but man does this ever come across like Joe is not a big deal after last month being a big deal. Was there a way to avoid that do you think? One-on-one with Scott and he just destroy him?

From the Torch

The show featured a series of angle teases to make you think the main event would be filled with interference. But it was a swerve. Kevin Nash arrived with the Steiners. Jeremy Borash's role is the instigator so he told Samoa Joe about it. Then he'd go back-and-forth. Rick Steiner claimed he was only there to support his brother. Scott asked Nash to turn on Joe, promising him the first title shot if he helped him win the title and noting that everyone knows he's only using Joe anyway. Nash said he'd think about it. So everyone expected Nash and Rick Steiner to run in, and neither did. Joe eventually threatened Nash, who claimed he was in the limo picking Steiner's brain. Joe didn't buy it and threatened Nash. They teased Nash would show up in the main event with the idea you wouldn't know he was going to help, but in a swerve, he never came out.

Jeremy Borash as an instigator is a tremendous role but he’s also one of the announcers so it kind of hurts his credibility don’t you think?

There was never any cohesion between Joe & Nash - did you think there was money in the two working against each other?

“There was a major snafu as they aired the commercial for Slammiversary, announcing a King of the Mountain match and showing Joe as champion. They probably should have waited until after the main event to air that. But it fell flat live.”

Do you consider that a snafu - or is that just one of those things that happens when you’re trying to promote the next main event before this months main event takes place?

“It appears they are dropping Super Eric for now, because on the PPV, Eric Young came out and talked about the next PPV being in Memphis (actually the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, MS). The gimmick is they will be doing vignettes where Eric is looking for Elvis and vowing that Elvis will be in his corner on the PPV. There will also be a wedding ofJay Lethal and SoCal Val, to complete the Randy Savage & Elizabeth deal they've been doing for months. I think that means Sonjay Dutt has to put a snake in one of the wedding gifts, to scare Val to death and gnaw on Lethal's arm.”

Did Super Eric run its course and it was time to move on? How invaluable was Eric to the company with all these roles and gimmicks he’s done over the years?