The debut of TNA iMPACT on Spike TV took place on October 1, 2005 at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL at the iMPACT Zone. October 1 was in the midst of their build for the inaugural Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View, which they were hyping as their biggest show of the year. Without this debut on Spike TV, I don't think Bound For Glory would've been hyped this way. Their debut on a more popular cable TV channel was a huge deal, and I think TNA used that momentum and stage to hype their next PPV in such a manner. It was a smart decision, and this episode of iMPACT acted as one giant infomercial for the show. During this telecast, there were a total of 4 matches and 14 segments. Everything was very fast-paced, which is what TNA embodied at the time. Total Nonstop Action was personified by the way the show was structured. Below, I will give notes on all 14 segments, followed by my overall takes at the end. I hope you enjoy this. Going forward, if you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know! I want you to enjoy reading this as much as I'm enjoying reliving this era of TNA.
SEGMENT 1: THE INTRODUCTION
Before the opening pyro in the iMPACT Zone, Barry Scott, the classic TNA voiceover guy, gives you an epic introduction to TNA Wrestling. While various clips of TNA mainstays from the time are shown, he gives special emphasis to the 4 champions of the company. Highlights of the X Division Champion AJ Styles are shown, as Scott calls him "perhaps the greatest athlete ever to enter the ring." I'm sold already. Up next are Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas, the NWA World Tag Team Champions, The Naturals. I guess they couldn't think of anything more creative or personal to say about the Naturals (they weren't very unique at all, to be fair), so Scott just said they "embody the very essence of TNA," whatever that means. And then the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, the "King of the Mountain" Jeff Jarrett. Scott says Jarrett has been a World Champion everywhere he has been. I guess the term "Intercontinental" technically covers the span of the globe, so in theory, that
is a World Championship... nonetheless, it was a great video with fitting music to make TNA feel like you were about to embark on an epic journey. Other stars like Monty Brown and Abyss are shown as a tease that the action you're about to see from TNA is unlike anything else in wrestling. After the hype package, the classic TNA iMPACT open comes on, and man I love this theme song. I used it years ago on my KHBM 93.7 morning radio show in southeast Arkansas. It gets the blood pumping. Immediately after, Mike Tenay gives his classic "TNA iMPACT, your 60-minute adrenaline rush is NEXT," followed by pyro that I would think the fire marshals of such a small venue would have a heart attack over. It was awesome. And now, it's time for the first match.
SEGMENT 2: AJ STYLES VS RODERICK STRONG
The first match of the night is what I've said for years is the greatest job match in the history of wrestling. The only reason I call it a job match is because it was an obvious showcase of AJ Styles, and Roderick Strong was not a mainstay of the company whatsoever. Strong was already in the ring as AJ Styles, the X Division Champion, made his classic entrance. My favorite version of "I Am" playing, the sparkling entrance at the tunnel, really cool blue and white attire, AJ Styles was so cool. Tenay immediately starts putting over AJ as the man "who personifies TNA." If you're keeping score, The Naturals embody TNA, and AJ personifies TNA. Tenay also says during the entrance that us, the fans, voted to see AJ in the first match on Spike TV. I'm not sure if this was a shoot or not, but it's a really cool way of putting AJ over as the fan favorite of the company, making the mid-card title holder feel important, and putting emphasis on the X Division. The first time we hear Don West on commentary, he's putting over Roderick Strong as the "Messiah of the Backbreaker." Tenay is putting over the 6-sided ring. The action gets going, and it's super fast-paced. Everything is so smooth from AJ and Roddy. The first thing I noticed, and remembered noticing 20 years ago, was the sound of impact on the mat. Every step sounds like it's high definition. Even the sound of the ring makes everything on this show feel snug and sound like it hurts. This was a showcase of AJ Styles. He starts hitting his big spots, starting with the beautiful dive over the top rope, landing on Roddy and the guardrail. Every time he did his dive, he honestly could've broken his back.
The dive was the first time I spotted the "white towels guy" in the crowd. I've always called him TNA's measuring stick. If that dude was jumping up and down and twirling his towels around, you were watching some cool shit.
Back in the ring, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels made his way to ringside, not happy to see AJ doing well in the match. This was to hype up "Iron Man 2" coming up at Bound For Glory. With the distraction, Roddy takes the advantage, hitting a backbreaker on Styles. After a short offensive burst, AJ takes the momentum back with a Pele kick, followed by a double springboard inverted DDT, and finishes up with a Styles Clash. This match was intense, AJ was visibly hyped AF, and not to be punny, it was total nonstop action. I've since learned that this match was an edit of two separate matches between the two on this night of tapings, as apparently during the first match they had some horrible botch and the crowd actually chanted "tape it again." I don't know how true that is, but the finished product is really good. Even though it's an enhancement match, it's actually one of my favorite matches. It's sentimental for me, because this was my first AJ Styles and Roderick Strong match. Both would go on to become two of my all-time favorite wrestlers.
WINNER: AJ STYLES
GRADE: *****
SEGMENT 3: RINGSIDE WITH MIKE TENAY AND DON WEST
Our commentators are hyping up your iMPACT debut on Spike TV. On the show, you'll see "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown in action. Rhino will take on Jeff Hardy. Last but not least, you'll hear all about CONTROVERSY IN CANADA.
SEGMENT 4: MONTY BROWN HYPE VIDEO
Monty Brown refers to himself in this hype video as "the most predatorial, territorial individual in the universe." It's so crazy that I love it. Footage of Monty with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots is shown as Barry Scott informs us that Monty has played in two Super Bowls. And of course, The Pounce is the highlight of the package... PERIOD.
SEGMENT 5: THE FRANCHISE INTERVIEWS MONTY BROWN
Shane Douglas is our backstage correspondent. Monty begins his interview by singing the Robert Plant's intro to "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin. Why? Who knows. Monty is very over-the-top here. The way he talks and things he says would be laughed at if it were anyone else. But the way he commits and seemingly believes everything he's saying makes me kind of "Haha wtf," but it works. He's just different in that way. He's off his rocker, and that's what makes him a threat. Monty walks away, and Franchise "gets word" in his ear piece that there's a commotion backstage.
SEGMENT 6: RAVEN IS THROWN OUT OF THE BUILDING
Raven is losing his mind backstage, attacking various security guards. He's swinging a trash can, and takes out on poor guy with a stiff shot from the bottom of the can, which I don't think I've ever seen done before. I laughed really hard. Security finally gets Raven apprehended and the Director of Authority, Larry Zybysko, demans Raven be removed from the building.
SEGMENT 7: MONTY BROWN VS SOME GUY NAMED LEX
Dale Oliver's version of "Down With The Sickness" plays as Monty Brown makes his unique entrance. The song is just preposterous, but I'll take this over the current WWE music any day. I miss the days of ripping off popular songs in wrestling. Monty gets going early with this dude named Lex. I have no idea who Lex is. They only mentioned his name one time on commentary and I couldn't tell what the last name was. But he also had LEX written across his ass, so we're just going to call him Lex. Lex took a beating here. Monty hits a fall away slam, and there is absolutely no give in the 6-sided ring. I remember interviewing Johnny Devine years ago, and he told me how much the ring sucked. It looks like it sucked. Monty wastes no time and hits Lex with the Pounce for the win, and Don West absolutely loses his mind. Monty Brown was being positioned as a STAR.
WINNER: MONTY BROWN
GRADE: *
SEGMENT 8: X DIVISION HYPE VIDEO
Another hype video used as an introduction for the new audience to the X Division. Barry Scott calls the X Division "the newest rage in professional wrestling." Highlights include Christopher Daniels, Sonjay Dutt, Chris Sabin, Samoa Joe, Petey Williams, and others.
SEGMENT 9: PETEY WILLIAMS VS ALEX SHELLEY VS CHRIS SABIN
As "The Canadian Destroyer" makes his entrance, the classic description of the X Division is given, "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits." Tenay spent some time here talking about how the Cruiserweights were the rage in the 90s, and the X Division is the next evolution of that. I interpret the intent here as to showcase a division of high flyers in a way that doesn't pigeon-hole them as an undercard division. Saying it's about "no limits" allowed guys like AJ Styles to break away from the X Division and be taken seriously in the main event title picture. It was a good formula.
Out next is Alex Shelley, dressed like 1998 Kaz Hayashi. This was early Alex Shelley, who hit his ROH Embassy pose after entering the ring. Out next was his future partner, Chris Sabin, who felt like the next big thing of the X Division. Again, just my interpretation, but it feels like Sabin was being positioned as the next AJ Styles.
While Tenay and West put over the Ultimate X match coming up at Bound For Glory, the action got started in the ring. Shelley showed off some great technical skills early, twisting Sabin into a ball, where he laid long enough for Petey Williams to toss Shelley and hit Sabin with a baseball slide dropkick. Commentary is teasing us with the Canadian Destroyer, and how we just have to see it to believe it. A couple notable spots throughout the match, a springboard stomp to the head of Petey by Sabin, which is very unique and another thing I don't remember ever seeing before, Shelley hit Sabin in the head as Sabin went for a springboard moonsault to the floor, which made him hunch over while standing on the middle rope, setting up for the MCMG tag team dive by Shelley before they were ever partners (this was awesome and a sweet setup for an unintentional double team). Afterwards, Sabin followed through with his springboard moonsault on both men, banging the hell out of both shins on the railing. Back in the ring, Shelley hits Sabin with Stephanie Vaquer's Devil's Kiss. A short-lived teaming of Shelley and Petey ends after a double suplex, when both men banged heads as they went to get back up in the ring. Sabin takes over, forcing Petey and Shelley to unintentionally attack each other a couple times. Petey hit his beautiful tilt-a-whirl Russian leg sweep. Petey then went for the Canadian Destroyer, causing commentary to lose their minds again, only for Petey to be caught for a Liger Bomb by Sabin. Sabin nails the Cradle Shock on Shelley for the win. After the match, Petey ambushes Sabin and nails the Canadian Destroyer to end the segment.
Babies are flying, Don West and Mike Tenay have climaxed, everyone is happy. This match was another great showcase, and each of them got their stuff in. Sabin went over, Petey got over. Textbook TV booking.
WINNER: CHRIS SABIN
GRADE: ****
SEGMENT 10: TITO ORTIZ
In a short backstage segment where Franchise asks Larry Zybysko about this "announcement" that's supposed to be coming, Tito Ortiz enters the shot and is invited into Zybysko's office. It's implied that Tito will be the special enforcer of the World Title match at Bound For Glory. The segment ends with Franchise ear hustling.
SEGMENT 11: 3 LIVE KRU HYPE VIDEO
This is another short video to introduce three more members of the roster. 3LK are shown using their prankster habits and the only notable takeaway here was Larry Zybysko calling them Larry, Moe, and Curly, but says even though they're ridiculous, they're tough. Alrighty then. They're taking on Team Canada next week on iMPACT.
SEGMENT 12: RHINO VS JEFF HARDY
This match is to hype up "Monster's Ball 2" taking place at Bound For Glory, between Rhino, Jeff Hardy, Abyss, and Sabu. This was one of those matches that felt like they were both just trying to get their stuff in, in their allotted time. It was back and forth the whole time, no psychology, no heat, and just a sequence of moves so the fans could see two former WWE guys. At one point, Rhino took the turnbuckles so hard, you could actually see the ring move. Hardy is distracted when Abyss makes his way to ringside, allowing Rhino to ambush him. Abyss enters the ring, and the lights go out. Tenay loses his mind again and says, "YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SIGNIFIES, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS" and I was begging for him to tell me what it meant. When the lights came back on, Sabu was in the ring. Sabu and Jeff Hardy take out Abyss and Rhino, hit simultaneous dives to the outside, and are left standing tall in the ring to end the segment. Monster's Ball 2 should be fun!
WINNER: NO CONTEST
GRADE: *
SEGMENT 13: CONTROVERSY IN CANADA
This was teased all night long. "Controversy in Canada" was a BCW event in Windsor, Ontario that saw Jeff Jarrett beat Raven for the NWA title with the help of Chris Harris and James Storm, America's Most Wanted. In 4 months, Jeff Jarrett lost the title to AJ Styles at Hard Justice, Raven won the title in King of the Mountain at Slammiversary, and now Jarrett was champion again. That sums up the short history of TNA up to this point. Backstage after the win, Scott D'Amore joins Jarrett and AMW and says he loves when a plan comes together.
SEGMENT 14: BOMBSHELL ENDING
White pants Jeff Jarrett makes his entrance with AMW. Mike Tenay points out that Tito Ortiz was the enforcer of Jarrett's match at Hard Justice when he lost the title to AJ Styles. Jarrett begins his promo in the ring, and I love him to death, but God he was annoying on the mic. His cadence, voice, everything. He introduces "the smartest Canadian walking God's green Earth," Scott D'Amore, which I loved. D'Amore joins his new buddies in the ring, and if I never found out later that D'Amore was actually a wrestler, I never would've believed it. He straight up looks like an I.T. guy. D'Amore reminds Jarrett that when he needs help, Jarrett owes him a favor. And then the 3 Live Krew interrupt. There's a funny line here where Konnan tells Jarrett that TNA was built by the fans, and Mike Tenay loses it again and just screams, "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT!" I love Mike and Don. Konnan tells Jarrett to shut up and Jarrett challenges him to make him shut up. A big brawl ensues between the 6, but then Team Canada joins the fight.
Now it's time for the debut of TEAM 3D. BROTHER RAY. BROTHER D-VON. TEAM 3D.
How you just read that is how the commentary sounded. Mike and Don said Team 3D, Brother Ray, and Brother D-Von so many times that I almost forgot they were ever called anything else. That was 100% done so you, and more importantly, the WWE attorneys would know, TNA was in no way referring to this intellectual property as anything that could get them sued.
Nonetheless, this was a fun brawl. TEAM 3D hit a couple 3Ds on the heels and went for a third on Jarrett, who escaped like a coward. But before he could leave, Kevin Nash made his entrance with one of my all-time least favorite entrance themes, and Jarrett ran back into the ring to escape Big Sexy. Jarrett was hit with a What's Up from TEAM 3D, followed by a powerbomb by Kevin Nash. Nash says the NWA title is coming home with him at Bound For Glory. BROTHER D-VON gets on the mic and says he wants to give the people what they want. Tenay screams, "TELL US WHAT THEY WANT!" BROTHER D-VON challenges AMW to a tag match next week on iMPACT, and Don West screams, "YES YES WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE IT!"
END OF SHOW
Ok, this was so much fun for me. TNA in 2005 far exceeds anything being put out in the current products in wrestling. I don't know if that's good or bad. This was so nostalgic for me, and I honestly can't wait to watch the next episode. A few takeaways from this one:
- This was a great advertisement for Bound For Glory and infomercial for TNA. They spent time putting over pretty much everyone featured on TV. None more than Monty Brown. This dude dominated the first half of the show. Monty Brown was meant for greatness in wrestling.
- I took Mike Tenay and Don West for granted 20 years ago. These dudes screamed at me for 60 minutes and I loved every second of it. I know they were on some blood pressure medicine. While at times their commentary was cringe, there's something about it that adds to the attractiveness of the product. This was at a time when the trend was for commentators to slip one-liners in every time someone would take a breath during an in-ring promo. It happened in WWE and TNA for years. Mike Tenay was the only one I enjoyed when it comes to this. When D-Von teased giving the fans what they wanted, and Tenay just started screaming "TELL US WHAT THEY WANT," I laughed, but I was also getting hyped for it.
- They spent so much time hyping Jeff Jarrett being the new NWA Champion and so little time talking about Kevin Nash challenging him at Bound For Glory, I almost forgot that match was supposed to happen. The undercard matches had so much hype, that every match announced for the show feels like the same level of importance.
FINAL GRADE: *****
This was about as good of an introductory episode of a wrestling show as you'll see. For what it was, I don't think it could've gotten better. It felt like a big deal. This proves that not every match has to be a 20-30 minute classic. You can have a squash match that's intense, fun, and memorable. So much happened, that it doesn't feel like it was a 60 minute show. Often, WWE and AEW shows feel so long, but nothing really happens or gets established. TNA used a formula on 10/01/2005 that WORKED. I can't wait to watch the next iMPACT and be back here with you next week.
I hope you've enjoyed this, and I hope you'll keep coming back for more.
