8/17 TNA:iMPACT!

Tonight, TNA was given an opportunity to expand their audience due to the return of UFC programming as the lead in to TNA:iMPACT!. The big question is whether TNA can turn the increased viewers on Spike TV into TNA fans. To the benefit of TNA, Spike TV started the show several minutes later due to the overrun of UFC programming. Since UFC fans would miss the beginning of any other show on television, it is possible that they kept their TV on the channel. TNA needed to start the show with some great action in the beginning moments of the program before the UFC fans had an opportunity to change the channel.

TNA accomplished that goal by starting the show off with a very bloody altercation between the LAX and the tag team champions A.J. Styles and Chris Daniels. During this altercation, many TNA stars came to the ring to settle multiple differences. The segment ended with Sting challenging Jeff Jarrett to a match at the Bound for Glory PPV in two months. In the first few minutes of the show, potentially new fans got to see a lot of blood, the use of multiple weapons, and a sneak peek at a potential PPV main event. While it is unknown if this segment will be able to convert UFC fans into TNA fans, TNA deserves credit for opening the show with such a great segment.

Match Results:

• Chris Sabin, Sonjay Dutt, & Jay Lethal beat Petey Williams & The Paparazzi
  
• #1 Contender's Match for the NWA Tag Team Championship: Chase Stevens beat Frankie Kazarian, BG James, & Chris Harris
  
• Samoa Joe beat Ron Killings

Important Non-match Events That Took Place:

• A bloody brawl between the LAX and the team of AJ Styles & Chris Daniels ended with a huge brawl featuring many TNA stars.
  
• Sting challenged Jeff Jarrett to a title match at Bound for Glory.
  
• In a taped interview, Christian Cage said that the reason he turned on Sting is because Sting couldn’t get the job done despite his continual help at Hard Justice.
  
• Fired referee Earl Hebner attacked referee Slick Johnson.
  
• After losing the #1 contender's match, James Storm gave Chris Harris the double middle finger salute.
  
• Jeff Jarrett gave Sting a counteroffer. He will grant Sting the title match he wants only if Sting will put his career on the line.

Next Week on TNA:

• Border Brawl for the NWA Tag Team Titles: Champs A.J. Styles & Chris Daniels vs The LAX
  
• Christian Cage will address the iMPACT! zone about why he turned on Sting.
  
• Will Sting answer Jeff Jarrett’s challenge?