In recent weeks, the big story in TNA has been the Main Event Mafia. At Turning Point, the story continued, as the MEM picked up four victories in four big matches and acquired the services of a new member.
The atmosphere was electric inside the Impact Zone, as the main event TNA Heavyweight Championship match took place between the MEM’s Sting and “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles. Both stars appeared to be ready to put on a show, and that they did.
The match began with a feeling out process and some chain. Styles went right after the arm of Sting and did his best to hold onto it and work it over. Sting fought back and the two went to the outside, where Sting rammed Styles into the barricades, before throwing him back into the ring.
Sting and Styles went back and forth on each other, exchanging blows. Styles came close to putting Sting out, but Sting fought back and hit the Scorpion Deathdrop for a near fall. Sting then connected with three straight Stinger Splashes, knocking Styles out.
Sting placed Styles up top and went for a superplex, only to have Styles reverse him and hit a sunset flip powerbomb, followed by some boots and a Spiral Tap. Styles had Sting beat, but he went back up top for another Spiral Tap, as Kurt Angle and Booker T ran out. Styles focused his attention on them and dove to take them down.
Back in the ring, Sting recovered and when Styles returned, Sting avoided the Pele Kick and rolled him up for the pin to retain the TNA Heavyweight Championship and give the Main Event Mafia a clean sweep at Turning Point.
TNA Turning Point 2008 PPV Report
The PPV began with hype video that featured the Main Event Mafia, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Jeff Jarrett.
Jeremy Borash was outside as The Main Event Mafia arrived. They blew him off, but Scott Steiner stopped to talk. He told Borash that the Main Event Mafia respected each other and said that they paved the way for the TNA stars. He then told JB to get the rest of their gear.
Mike Tenay and Don West did their usual welcome.
Match One – X Division Seeding Match – Sonjay Dutt w/ So Cal Val vs. Jay Lethal vs. Eric Young vs. Consequences Creed vs. Jimmy Rave w/ Christy Hemme vs. Petey Williams vs. Homicide vs. Tanahashi vs. Volador vs. Doug Williams
This was a great match. The match was contested with elimination style rules. Homicide’s elimination came after he dove out of the ring and landed in the crowd. The referee checked on Homicide and ruled that he could no longer continue, as Hernandez ran out to check on him. The match eventually worked its way down to Jay Lethal and Eric Young. Lethal and Young went back and forth, with Young landing a Northern Lights Suplex and picking up the victory.
Winner Via Pinfall at 18:00 min and NEW Number One Contender to the TNA X Division Championship – Eric Young
Match Rating – 7/10
After the match, Eric Young grabbed the mic, as Petey Williams and Consequences Creed got back into the ring. Young called out the Main Event Mafia and said that the boys of TNA would become men tonight.
Mike Tenay and Don West hyped the rest of the card.
Jeremy Borash was shown inside Mick Foley and Jeff Jarrett’s office. Foley’s son was sleeping in the office. Jarrett said that as the founder of TNA, he was responsible for the roster. He said that what happens in the ring happens, but outside the ring, he had to take charge. He then said that he would talk to Kurt Angle, while Foley went to talk to the TNA kids in the TNA locker room.
A package was shown for the Awesome Kong and Riesha Saeed vs. Roxxi and Taylor Wilde match.
Match Two – Awesome Kong and Riesha Saeed w/ Rhaka Kahn vs. Roxxi and Taylor Wilde
Roxxi and Taylor Wilde took the fight right to Awesome Kong and Riesha Saeed, jumping them at the bell. Nice back and forth match that saw Roxxi and Wilde take the win after Roxxi took out Kong on the floor with a dive and Wilde laid out Saeed with a bridging German suplex.
Winners Via Pinfall at 9:00 min – Roxxi and Taylor Wilde
Match Rating – 5/10
Jeremy Borash was with the Main Event Mafia, when Jeff Jarrett walked in and told them to be professional. Kurt Angle mocked Jarrett and said that he was nothing to them. Kevin Nash then told Jarrett that he really needed to talk to the kids in the other locker room and that the MEM was the future of TNA.
An Orlando US Army Vet came out to introduce Rhino.
Match Three – Grudge Match – Rhino vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir
Scott Hall and the ICP were shown in the crowd during this match. Sheik Abdul Bashir seemed to have things going his way, as he countered the Gore with a boot. He then mounted Rhino and began throwing right hands, until the referee pulled him off, giving Rhino the opportunity to get up and hit the Gore for the victory.
Winner Via Pinfall at 9:00 min – Rhino
Match Rating – 5/10
Lauren was shown in the TNA locker room with Mick Foley. The Motor City Machine Guns had some words with Foley, who was trying to support them. The Guns didn’t care what Foley had to say and continued to insult him, until a pull apart took place, forcing the Guns to bail. AJ Styles apologized to Foley for their behavior.
Match Four – TNA Tag Team Championship Match – The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) vs. Beer Money Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode) w/ Jackie Moore (C)
This was a great tag team match as both teams worked off each other very well. Beer Money Inc. continued to use their double team tactics en route to a victory. Jackie Moore got involved, only to be slammed down by Chris Sabin. Her distraction allowed James Storm to spit the beer in Sabin’s face, before Beer Money Inc. hit their DWI finisher on him for the win.
Winners Via Pinfall at 17:00 min and STILL TNA Tag Team Champions – Beer Money Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode)
Match Rating – 7/10
Jeremy Borash caught up with Booker T and Sharmell. Sharmell said that Booker would not comment, but she said that he was going to defeat Christian Cage and force him to join the Main Event Mafia.
A package was shown for the Booker T/Christian Cage match.
Match Five – TNA Legend’s Championship Match – Christian Cage vs. Booker T w/ Sharmell(C)
The stipulation going into the match was that if Christian Cage lost, he would have to join the Main Event Mafia. Cage had the match going in his favor and locked in a Texas Cloverleaf on Booker, until Sharmell got up on the apron and provided a distraction. She then slapped Cage. Booker attempted to run at him and almost connected with Sharmell. Cage capitalized on the mistake and hit the Bookend for a two count. He went for the Unprettier, but Booker countered. Cage rolled Booker up, only to be countered again, as Booker held onto the tights and got the pinfall.
Winner Via Pinfall at 12:00 min and STILL TNA Legend’s Champion – Booker T
Match Rating – 6/10
After the match, Booker T celebrated and said that he didn’t want to hurt Christian Cage, because he wanted to welcome him to the Main Event Mafia. He said that they would be having a meeting Monday.
Lauren spoke to Abyss and Matt Morgan. Abyss was confident that he would be okay to compete, but Morgan felt otherwise. He told Abyss that if he wasn’t okay, Angle would beat him. Abyss said that he was fine and he requested the Falls Count Anywhere match so Angle couldn’t hide. Abyss promised revenge for what Angle did to him.
A package was shown for the Kurt Angle/Abyss match.
Match Six – Falls Count Anywhere Match – Kurt Angle vs. Abyss
This was an all out brawl. Kurt Angle and Abyss fought all throughout the Impact Zone and then back into the ring. There were several near falls and close calls, as Angle was able to hit the Moonsault and Abyss was able to land a Black Hole Slam. After brawling both in and out of the ring, Angle and Abyss began climbing the scaffold. Abyss went to press slam Angle off through a table, but Angle escaped and hit an uppercut that sent Abyss through the table. Angle then made the cover on Abyss and got the victory.
Winner Via Pinfall at 18:00 min – Kurt Angle
Match Rating – 8/10
Kurt Angle and Abyss were both checked on after the match.
Lauren spoke to Samoa Joe who said that his match with Kevin Nash was not about getting respect, but about getting even.
A package was shown for the Samoa Joe/Kevin Nash match.
Match Seven – Samoa Joe vs. Kevin Nash
Samoa Joe was all over Kevin Nash and was bringing the heavy offense. Nash fought back and was able to hit Joe with two Jacknife Powerbombs for two near falls. Joe was starting to fight back when the referee got bumped, allowing Nash to hit a low blow. Nash then revived the ref and covered Joe, using the ropes to pick up the win.
Winner Via Pinfall at 12:00 min – Kevin Nash
Match Rating – 6/10
Jeremy Borash caught up with Sting who said that his will was stronger than AJ Styles’. He told Borash that he would kick Styles out of his house.
A package was shown for the AJ Styles/ Sting match.
Jeremy Borash came out to do the ring announcing for the TNA Heavyweight Championship match.
Match Eight – TNA Heavyweight Championship Match – AJ Styles vs. Sting (C)
Winner Via Pinfall at 15:00 min and STILL TNA Heavyweight Champion – Sting
Match Rating – 7/10
Overall PPV Rating – 7/10
