My Impact Wrestling, 5th July 2012 Recap

Bully Ray announced that he was officially going live on Twitter. He also demanded that Joseph Parks come out so he could answer his challenge of a match. Joseph sure enough came out and had his match accepted by Bully for next week. A furious Parks once again let rip on Ray as he told him how sick he was of his bullying and attitude. Bully then revealed a restraining order against Park's brother Abyss, claiming that if he gets anywhere near him during their match he will be sent to jail. 

Devon (c) defeated Crimson to retain the TNA Television title in a pretty mediocre title bout. It wasn't bad, just unmemorable really. Afterwards Madison Rayne came out and looked to approach Devon but instead kissed referee Earl Hebner to reveal him as her secret crush.

I'm sorry but any storyline involving a referee in the past hasn't garnered up much interest and I don't see this being any different. Who is this going to get over? An elderly ref or an average female wrestler? Either way it already feels like a waste of time. I was hoping these lame storylines (including the current AJ Styles and Dixie Carter one) would stop after Russo's exit but I guess not.

Chris Sabin came to the ring on crutches and revealed that after discussing his latest injury with his loved ones and doctor they urged him to retire from the ring. World Champion Bobby Roode then joined him and called Sabin "pathetic" for "moaning" about his injuries like the rest of the X Division and then attacked Sabin's injured knee until Austin Aries chased Roode off. On a serious note this injury must have been a crushing blow to the talented Sabin who'd only just recently returned to action. I hope he recovers well and to see him back in the ring again some day.

Flip Cassanova defeated Dakota Darsow to qualify for the X Division title tournament. The bout had it's exciting moments, but was definitely not up to par with the other recent X Division qualifying matches on Impact. Cassanova to me just looked too reckless, he even broke Darsow's nose during the match with a corkscrew to the outside. Now I like wrestlers that are fast and agile, but for me Cassanova looked like he belonged on the indie scene more than a televised wrestling show.  

Brooke Tessmacher and Tara defeated Madison Rayne and Gail Kim in a mostly sloppy tag match. With the exception of Gail you would not have guessed that these female wrestlers have had years of experience in pro wrestling if you hadn't seen them before, it wasn't great to watch.

AJ Styles came out to talk about the allegations of him being the father to Claire Lynche's unborn baby and was soon interrupted by Christopher Daniels and Kazarian, who once again accused AJ of covering things up. Styles then stated that this was nothing to do with Carter or Claire, but to do with him and Daniels and his jealousy of his success.

Kenny King defeated Lars Only to qualify for the X Division title tournament. It was a great, red hot contest from start to finish (bar one slip up from Lars as he went for a Russian Leg Sweep kind of maneuver) and possibly the best qualifying match they've had. Both men also looked more solid and crisper than the two X Division wrestlers we witnessed earlier.   

Jeff Hardy defeated James Storm in a Bound For Glory Series match up. It was a superb main event, with intense action throughout. The fans were also loving it as the bout heated up and piled on the excitement towards the end.

Samoa Joe versus Kurt Angle in a BFG Series match was announced for this Sunday's Destination X, which should be a brilliant contest. 

Hulk Hogan called out Austin Aries to hand over the X Division title but was soon interrupted by Bobby Roode, who told Hogan to shut up and listen to him. The World Champ went on to claim that Hogan had given Aries and fans false hope by saying that AA could be the next TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Aries of course showed up and warned Roode that he would be the next World Champ at Destination X. After the two champions fronted each other up, Aries avoided a cheap shot from Roode and cracked him in the head with the X Division title belt.

I enjoyed the show ending segment, and have quite enjoyed the rivalry between Roode and Aries throughout really. They should have a very enjoyable title bout on Sunday.

My TNA Genesis 2012 Recap

Austin Aries (c) retained his X Division Title in the Fatal Four Way Elimination Match against Zema Ion, Kid Kash and Jesse Sorensen. It was a fast paced and entertaining enough opener to the pay-per-view, just let down a bit by the ending sequence. As you expect from the talent involved the action was pretty much non stop throughout, with a healthy dose of near falls and your typically entertaining X Division maneuvers. Austin Aries won after Sorensen (who was on top rope) had been distracted by an sore Zema Ion who had refused to leave after being eliminated by Jesse. This allowed Aries to apply his patented Brainbuster to Sorensen from the middle rope for a nice finisher to the match.
I personally felt it was a big mistake having Ion remain hidden at ringside from when he was eliminated, it just made it obvious to everyone (well if you're a wrestling fan you should've realised) that Ion was going to interfere and cost Sorensen the match. They should've had Ion go to the back after he'd been pinned, then had a lengthier period of Aries and Sorensen going at it with each of them pulling out their signature moves for near falls. Then when it looked like Jesse was going to the top rope for the win, Zema could've raced out to distract him as more of a surprise.      
Devon defeated D'Angelo Dinero in an average but occasionally heated bout. During the match up 'The Pope' called in Devon's two sons Terrence and Terrell and asked them to look at their beaten down father on the ground. They both clearly looked uncomfortable at the sight of this (even though they'd previously attacked their Dad with a steel chair with no quarrels strangely) so Dinero threw one of them out (I forget, they're twins remember?) and slapped the other. This gave Devon time to recover enough to make his heroic comeback and avenge his sons by defeating 'The Pope' one-two-three. Afterwards Devon also made up with his twins sons.
To quote The Miz, really? Really? I just feel like this storyline was ended far too soon. Dinero could've had Terrence and Terrell as his backup for a long while before they eventually turned on each other. All the build up to them turning on their own Father, only to have them then suddenly turn back once again this quickly. Cheers, Russo.  
Well that makes two finishes that were pretty weak in my view, let's see how the rest panned out then...
Gunner defeated Rob Van Dam in a passable but ultimately forgettable (usual for these two nowadays) bout. The match was back and fourth until Ric Flair (who'd accompanied Gunner) distracted the referee towards the end, allowing Gunner to DDT Van Dam onto some flooring he'd exposed on the outside and roll him back into the ring for the pinfall victory. It's quite a big win for Gunner, maybe TNA have big future plans for him? Not sure why, Gunner isn't bad, I just don't see anything particularly spectacular about the wrestler to be honest. But hopefully he'll prove me wrong. Afterwards RVD had to be stretchered out.
Okay, this ending I could get behind a bit more then the previous two if they really sell this RVD injury for a realistic length of time. It'll certainly make the fans take Gunner more seriously to take out a big name like Van Dam and only enhance his character.
Gail Kim (c) won via disqualification against Mickie James to retain her Knockouts Championship in a solid enough bout that just felt a little sloppy at places and an ending that gave it a bit of a tainted feel. Before the match began Velvet Sky had suggested to Sting backstage to add what she called a 'Velvet Touch' by having Madison Rayne locked inside of a cage for the duration of the title match to halt any interfering she may have planned, which 'The Stinger' agreed to. But towards the end Rayne threw down some knuckle dusters for Kim to use which the referee spotted. When he left to discard them Madison threw down another pair for the champ, but James thwarted the attempt and kicked her in the gut. Then, for a completely stupid and baffling finish (welcome to todays TNA folks!) James decided to use the knuckle dusters herself on Gail Kim right infront of the ref. Once again, really?
Abyss defeated Bully Ray in a surprisingly awesome Monsters Ball Match. The action and hardcore spots were constant but unlike many TNA hardcore match ups where they're just spot after spot for the sake of it, the action here was well planned out and not too over the top. The crowd in attendance certainly voiced their appreciation for it also. Abyss pinned Ray after Black Hole Slamming him onto a barbed wire table, although that wasn't as bad as Abyss being sandwiched between two barbed wire tables and then having Bully Ray come crashing down on top of him earlier on.
Matt Morgan and Crimson (c) defended their TNA Tag Team Titles against Samoa Joe and Magnus. The match up was mediocre for the most part, although there were moments of solid sequences in there. The most entertaining part for me was when the crowd began to chant  "We want Morgan!" with other fans then responding back with"No we don't!" Very funny. During the match we were also shown backstage footage of Bully Ray attacking Abyss.      
Kurt Angle defeated James Storm in the match of the night. From start to finish the bout was enthralling and technically superb. Certainly their best match together too in my opinion. The finish came after Angle low blowed Storm after using the referee to protect him from a Last Call Superkick, and applying his own superkick for the pin.
Tenay in his trademark move sent us backstage where someone queried a bloodied Bully Ray to Abyss' whereabouts. Ray answered with "I don't know. Where's he at?"
Jeff Hardy won via DQ against Bobby Roode (c) in a match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. This was very almost match of the night, the structure and pace were brilliantly executed. Both men put in a very good effort and worked hard to provide a worthy main event. For the finish Roode purposely low blowed referee Hebner to avoid loosing his World Title.
The crowd, which had been thoroughly into the bout, chanted "We want Sting!" after the finish. I don't blame them, it did feel like a bit of a let down after such a solid match. I can excuse one or two finishes of this fashion on a TNA pay-per-view card (it's come to be expected from that muppet Russo) but for the majority of the matches to end on screwy finishes is just inexcusable really. It's a shame, but I'd add that the last two matches are still worth checking out along with the Monsters Ball. 

My iMPACT Wrestling, November 17th 2011 Recap

Roode opened things up by claiming that he was the leader and star of Fortune during his time with the group and how he had now surpassed them all. Storm made an appearance also and was about to join Roode in the ring until security halted him and Bobby explained how it wasn't him that had jumped Storm backstage the previous week. James Storm vouched that he would "find the son of a bitch that jumped me from behind!" As security dragged him away AJ Styles began to beat down on Roode in the ring until once again the security intervened. AJ grabbed a mic and claimed that he would really get retribution from Roode by taking away his World title. Sting in his new position of authority granted Styles a World title rematch at Final Resolution in a thirty-minute Iron Man match against Roode while Storm recuperated from his attack, although he seemed all right earlier?

As Bobby Roode was leaving he threatened TNA owner Dixie Carter until AJ came to her rescue, so Bobby pushed AJ to the ground along with Carter. I was hoping we wouldn't have to endure any more of the awful acting from Carter anymore but it looks like she's getting involved again. Roode continued the attack on Styles as he was on the ground until he was forced away by various staff and wrestlers. For me Roode is definitely proving himself as the deserving top heel of the company and World champion right now. On the mic and in the ring he can deliver.

Backstage Samoa Joe confirmed Roode's claim that it wasn't him that attacked Storm last week and when asked if it was him by the cowboy he said it if had been he would"never have got back up," which instigated a brief brawl between the two.

Robbie E (c) defeated Devon to retain his newly-won Television title in a forgettable match. It was only short although Devon's offence was decent enough, the finish came when Devon's two sons came to check on D'Angelo Dinero after being attacked by Rob Terry. Distracted by this Robbie managed to apply a school boy roll up on Devon for the one-two-three. 

Jesse Sorensen and Brian Kendrick defeated Austin Aries and Kid Kash in a decent enough tag team bout. It wasn't bad but to me it's like they need some new life injected into the X Division. Aries is the perfect choice for champion right now, he's charismatic and he delivers in the ring but that's not enough without the exciting competition for him to face. Kash got pinned by Sorensen after Aries left him.

Next was the Knockouts gauntlet challenge to determine the new number one contender to Gail Kim. First up Velvet Sky pinned Rosita in about four seconds after planting her with the In Yo' Face. She then also pinned Brooke Tessmacher quickly after a one-handed bulldog. Angelina Love then pinned Velvet in a bit of a more competitive period of the bout after pulling up her tights during the pin. Mickie James pinned Love after she hit her with a kick in a decent period of the gauntlet. James next pinned Sarita in a flawed but entertaining part of the match, I wouldn't mind seeing these two have a proper one on one match up at some point. Mickie next pinned Tara in the most entertaining period of the bout filled with some nice submissions by Tara, although she lost to James who just went through two other Knockouts it was still made to look competitive between them. James also pinned the rather dull Winter with one of her signature kicks once again in an okay piece of action. James then eliminated the returning ODB, who's reception was quite luke-warm to be honest. Afterwards ODB attacked James and left her for the final entrant of the gauntlet, Madison Rayne. But James surprised her with a quick roll up pin for the victory. I for one am definitely looking forward to Mickie facing off against Gail Kim for the title.

Karen Jarrett confronted Jeff Hardy in the ring, claiming how he wasn't a "real man," like her husband. Jeff grabbed her and screamed that she would never get to him because"we are the creatures of the night!" Jeff Jarrett attempted to hit him form behind with his title belt but Hardy caught him and began the offence until both Jarretts left the ring. 

Matt Morgan and Crimson defeated Mexican America (c) to win the TNA Tag Team titles. The match was pretty average with some brief exciting spells now and then. To be honest I'm not sure how well Crimson and Morgan will do as a team, I just have a feeling that people will get bored of them pretty quickly but let's hope they prove me wrong eh?

Garrett Bischoff defeated Gunner in a brief and unexceptional bout. Both men looked okay but didn't look like they were giving it their all to me in the ring. Garrett got the pin after hitting Gunner with a DDT, which I thought seemed a little pathetic for Gunner since Garrett didn't really get any other offence in during the bout. I don't mind Garrett so far but if he's going to be taken more seriously then they need to bring him across as a potential new big name wrestler, even simple stuff like giving him real wrestling attire and a decent finisher.

James Storm announced that until he finds out who attacked him form behind he's going to hold everyone in the locker room responsible and then called out fellow Fortune member AJ Styles. Storm claimed that he had the most to gain after getting two World title opportunities from his attack. Things started to get heated between them until Kazarian arrived on the scene and convinced AJ to leave. After they both left and Storm was walking back down the ramp Kurt Angle attacked him form behind. He also Angle Slammed him in the ring and revealed that it was him that had attacked him backstage.