Yeah, I'd be scared too. Photo credit: impactwrestling.com
Devon once again announced that Aces & 8s plan to make 2013 their year where they take over TNA, and then introduced the newly revealed members of the gang Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff. Garett gave no explanation as to why he joined, just claiming that the fans gave him no respect, and Brisco berated Hogan for ignoring his phone calls for "two years" and making him work his way up in the company after what his family had done for him in the past.
Neither were particularly good promos, and I'm starting to get a horrible feeling of deja vu with Aces now, thinking back to Immortal's time with the drab and drawn out segments in the ring giving speeches.
Rob Van Dam (c) bested Zema Ion and Kenny King in a Triple Threat to retain the X Division Title. The bout started off scrappy, with rushed sequences that looked fairly messy and clumsy. Fortunately the quality improved towards the end and the pace was kept consistently fast throughout.
Jesse complained about being banned by Brooke Hogan from his girlfriend Tara's match up later on, and then gave what he felt the British fans wanted and began to pose for pictures. But he was shortly interrupted by James Storm, who predictably challenged Jesse to a match right there and then to shut him up and give the fans what they really wanted.
James Storm pinned Jesse in a passable encounter. The action was never spectacular but it was solid enough for the most part, with Jesse looking competent enough and Storm decent as usual. It was wisely kept short and sweet.
Bobby Roode and Austin Aries defeated Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez (c) to obtain the TNA Tag Team Championship in a highly enjoyable contest. The wrestling stayed to a consistently good standard throughout and all four men gave worthy efforts, providing a fun watch with pretty amusing moments of Aries and Roode's egos clashing. Towards the end Roode and AA accidentally clashed, leading to the 'It Factor' storming off, but this all turned out to be a clever (and believable) ruse as he would return a few moments later as the champs looked to retain their straps and help turn things around for the one-two-three.
Hulk Hogan informed Bully Ray that the main event versus Aces & 8s was his chance to prove that he was a "good guy" (he hasn't done that already?). Bully explained that after all they'd done to him and his wife, he was going to be anything but good that night.
Brooke Tessmacher beat Tara in a largely mediocre outing. Tara looked okay but far from one of her top displays I've seen, and Tessmacher unfortunately looked like she's taken a step back and gave an under average effort.
Rockstar Spud made his debut on Impact Wrestling after winning the TNA British Boot Camp contest, receiving a healthy response from the fellow British crowd. But briefly into his promo where he spoke about achieving a huge goal by getting into TNA, Robbie E, accompanied by Robbie T, joined him and claimed it was a travesty that he'd earned a contract. After finally having enough of the obnoxious E, Robbie T dropped down and allowed Spud to clock Robbie E in the face and send him packing. Afterwards T began dancing with Spud. I'm very hopeful for Rockstar in TNA from what I've seen so far.
Bully Ray and Sting defeated Devon and Doc in a Tables match. For the most part it was decent enough, nothing outstanding but fun, and the fans were certainly into it. I just failed to ever really get into it, and feel that if Sting had been replaced with a younger and more able wrestler (such as Samoa Joe) there would've been that bit more excitement it required. For the finish Bully 'Hulked Up' and put his ex-tag partner Devon through a table. Brooke Hogan and Hogan himself then joined them for the celebration.
Overall it was a fair to drab Impact, with the tag team title match and triple threat (once it got going) being the highlights. Unfortunately I never really got into the main event, although it wasn't terrible. The lack of Christopher Daniels and Kazarian, the two most entertaining things about TNA nowadays, was also disappointing, without them there were no decent promos.
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