In the first episode of Impact! on Monday nights (other than a special event) TNA put up one of its strongest shows in month, gone were the stupid stuff such as ettiquite lessons replaced with lots of violence and wrestling angles. 

Opening segment: Hogan comes out with Abyss and says that they will start the match now against Flair/Styles.

Match 1: AJ Styles & Ric Flair vs Abyss & Hulk Hogan

Winner: No contest when Sting comes out and beats Hogan & Abyss down with the bats, leaving both a bloody mess after Flair and Styles hit them with steel chairs.  After security breaks things up Hogan gets on the mic and says its not over and that later tonight they will finish the match in a no DQ match.

Backstage Dixie Cater confronts Sting, Sting pushes her against a wall and says he owes her nothing.

Flair and Styles cut a promo saying they are ready for tonight while Abyss yells in the air asking "Why Sting Why?"

Backstage Brooke & Hulk Hogan's new girlfriend Jennifer talk backstage and are upset.

In the ring, Kazarian is in the ring talking about the X division, and how it will be the heart of TNA and the frontline of the new Monday Night Wars. Christopher Daniels comes out and says that he will lead the X divison and has been the X division for over 10 years. Doug Williams comes out and basically says that he is the X division as he is the current X division champion.  Eric Bischoff comes out and throws his support behind the X division and moves up Kazarian's title match to tonight making it a 3-way with Daniels.

Match 2: X-division Championship Match

Doug Williams (c) vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Kazarian

Winner: Doug Williams

After the match Shannon Moore comes in attacks Williams.  Bischoff then sets up a match for the title at Destination X between Moore and Williams.

After the match a very angry and upset Dixie Carter books a match with Sting and a "mystery opponent".

Match 3: Knockout Tag Team Championship Match

Titles were stripped from Awesome Kong & Hermmada for not defending the titles in the last 30 days (probably more like 90).  So there is a three way match to determine new champions:

The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky & Madison Raine) vs. Tara & Angelina Love vs Taylor Wilde & Sarita

Winner: The Beautiful People after Daffney hit Tara with a title belt

Backstage Christie Hemmie is talking to The Pope who will face Desomond Wolfe later in the show (though match ends up being dropped)  Wolfe attacks the Pope during the interview.

Backstage the Beautiful people celebrate with champagne and JB.  Pouring it all over each other.  Quick segment which was a good thing.

Video recap of what happened earlier tonight.

Match 4: Sting vs Dixie's Mystery Opponent

To no one's surprise Sting's opponent was RVD. 

Winner: RVD in a quick match.

Sting then proceeds to beat RVD down with the belt.  Hogan comes out to try to stop him but Bubba The Love Sponge & then security try to stop him.  Hogan then pushes his way to the ring only to get hit once again by Sting's bat.  Hogan is left laying on the stage. 

Kevin Nash & Eric Young come out and talk about "The Band".  Nash says he has a one night only contract for Destination X to face Hall & Waltman.  Hall & Waltman say that's not good enough and they want a "fat contract". (Looks like Hall is already fulfilling a fat contract).  Bischoff says that if they beat Nash & Young at Destination X then The Band will recieve an official contract if they lose they have to leave TNA forever (even though they have never been officially a part of it). Hall agrees and shakes Nash's hand, Young extends his hand to Waltman who then slaps Young.  Bischoff then sets up a match between the two with Hall & Nash banned from ringside.

Match 5: Eric Young vs Sixx Pac

Winner: Eric Young via the Pile driver

US Army guys come into the Impact Zone as Kurt Angle comes out and cuts a promo putting over the troops and telling Anderson that you don't mess with the military.  Anderson comes out says Angle is grandstanding by bringing out a "bunch of high school drop outs".  Before he can say too much more Angle is in the back and attacks Anderson dragging him to the ring.  Anderson once again gets the upper hand on Angle but before he can leave he bumps into some of the military who throw him back into the ring.  Angle then proceeds to beat down Anderson and it becomes almost an unofficial lumberjack match.  Angle hits the Angle Slam on Anderson then is lifted up on the soldiers shoulders.  Excellent segment that adds more heat to what could be a very good feud.

Backstage Bubba the Love Sponge is telling Hogan to stop it and reconsider his match tonight.  That he looks bad and has his family worried.  Hefner comes in and asks for a second chance, Hogan says no at first until Bubba steps in and tells him everyone gets second chances in life, Hogan agrees if he helps to make sure Hogan lives through the match and that Bubba stays out of Hogan's business.  Another good segment. 

Backstage Jeff Jarrett is in James Storms face for agreeing to the handicap match setup by Bischoff.  Beer Money then proceeds to beat down Jarret before Foley in his ref shirt tells them to get in the ring. 

Match 6: Handicap match

Beer Money Inc, vs Jeff Jarrett w/ Foley as guest referee

Winner: Beer Money Inc after referee Slick Johnson takes away the barbwire bat from Jarrett and is distracted by Foley

Abyss is backstage talking to Hogan, Brooke Hogan comes in crying, Hogan promises this will be his last match (I highly doubt that though). 

Match 7: No DQ Tag Match

Hulk Hogan & Abyss vs. AJ Styles & Ric Flair

Winner: Hulk Hogan & Abyss after Abyss hits AJ Styles with the Black hole slam

After the match Desmond Wolfe comes in and attacks Hogan & Abyss along with Flair and Styles, then The Pope comes in to attack Wolfe.  Finally Jeff Hardy comes in and and attacks Styles & Wolfe as the credits roll.

A great show and hopefully next week will be just as good as it unfortunately will be taped for now.  That is how to put on a great wrestling show that featured wrestling, great promos that served a purpose to either setup a match tonight or a match at a PPV, and featured lots of action and violence that WWE simply can't produce right now under the kids programming they are producing.  TNA definitely took this night seriously.