My TNA Impact Wrestling, 8th August 2013 Recap

Photo credit: impactwrestling.com

Backstage Taz, accompanied by some other Aces & 8s members, told Mike Tenay to take the night off so he could take his spot back at the announce desk after being turned away last week. They then made their way out to the ring where Taz also threatened his superior substitute Jeremy Borash, claiming that "this is my desk."

Bully Ray  then stated that he was in a foul mood, not just because of Tito Ortiz's debut last week (I think many fans were in a bad mood after that) but because he and Devon were booked in a tag team match that night against Sabin and a mystery opponent from Main Event Mafia. So soon enough after asking him to come out to sort their contract for the World Title match at Hardcore Justice, Chris Sabin joined Bully and told him that he always believed he could best the former champ and will next Thursday.

Bully soon had enough and asked Hogan to also join them to sign the papers, but it was Brooke not Hulk that came out and read an email from her Dad (who was out of town) that revealed that if Bully fails to win the Steel Cage Match next week, he will not receive another World Championship opportunity. An angered Bully reluctantly signed the contract after being embarrassed by his wife, who claimed that he was "all talk and very little action."

Jeff Hardy pinned Samoa Joe in a decent Bound for Glory Series contest. I was personally expecting a bit more from this match up, but maybe that's just me being a bit picky. On the whole it was a fun bout, with both men on good form as they went back and fourth. Hardy caught Joe in the winning pinfall after Mr. Anderson (who'd provided guest commentary) stood up and distracted the 'Samoan Submission Machine'. 

Mr. Anderson won via DQ versus Magnus in a BFG Series outing. The disqualification occurred when Bobby Roode attacked Anderson with a chair, purposely costing the BFG Series leader Magnus points. It was a fair match, nothing that will leave a lasting impression from either man.

Before Tito Ortiz could explain why he was in TNA, Kurt Angle interrupted him and warned the MMA fighter that although he appreciates what he's achieved, he better respect his space in the company. The brash Bully Ray also came out and told both that he has no respect for them and that he could easily take them out, also ordering Tito to stay out of his way.

James Storm, Gunner and ODB bested Bro Mans (Jesse and Robbie E) and Mickie James in an enjoyable mixed persons tag bout. As usual Storm delivered a stellar display, being the standout wrestler for me here. It's a shame we don't see so much of Storm and Gunner as of late, they always seem to deliver. Afterwards Gail Kim attacked ODB before being escorted away by an official, allowing Mickie to also strike her.

Kazarian versus Christoper Daniels in a BFG Series match ended in a double count out after both men simply stood outside and waited for the count to hit ten. There was a brief period of actual wrestling that was decent enough. Bobby Roode then joined Bad Influence and revealed that they had joined forces to aid each other in making sure one of them win the BFG Series. It's a smart plan, and as a fan of all three it's intriguing too.

Chris Sabin and Kurt Angle defeated Team 3D (Bully Ray and Devon) in a solid main event. Before things got going Sabin pretended that Sting was his tag partner, allowing Angle to sneak attack their rivals. The match started off a little slow, but once it got going it was a fun watch, with effective near falls and even a table thrown in. Towards the end Bully and Devon were about to send the World Champion through a table after they'd 3D'd Angle, but Sabin managed to move out of the way and Bully went charging into it himself. Sabin finally applied a crossbody on Ray for the one-two-three.

Overall it was a fair Impact, not up to the standard of many superior ones this year but it still had some entertaining parts. My highlights were the mixed six-persons tag bout, Hardy versus Joe and the main event. Roode, Daniels and Kaz uniting is interesting too. 

My TNA Destination X, 18th July 2013 Recap

All hail Sabin. Photo credit: impactwrestling.com

World Champion Bully Ray opened Destination X by claiming that the challenger to his title later in the show, Chris Sabin, had no shot against him. He also boasted that it was the perfect night to end Main Event Mafia and that he was the "most hated man in pro wrestling, and that's just the way I like it!" 

Bully went on to call out his wife Brooke Hogan, who told him to "move on" like she now had, but he couldn't accept that. So the champ's furious father-in-law Hulk Hogan stormed out and told Bully that "enough was enough" and walked away with his daughter. As Bully continued to yell at them Kurt Angle and the rest of the Main Event Mafia appeared on the big screen and warned Ray that they'll be bringing the fight to Aces & 8s very soon.

Austin Aries pinned Bobby Roode in an enthralling Bound for Glory Series encounter. As usual these two worked brilliantly together, putting together exciting sequences and effective near falls. I don't think I could ever get tired of watching them go at it (mind out of the gutter). Afterwards a furious Roode, who has failed to obtain a single point in the series so far, began chucking around various items at ringside. 

Sonjay Dutt bested Homicide and Petey Williams in an entertaining three-way contest. In traditional X Division-style the match was fast paced with innovative wrestling from the get go, and to be honest with this level of talent (and three of my personal favourites from the X Division's past) the quality of the match was never really in doubt. As a result of the win Dutt qualified for the three-way Ultimate X match to crown a new X Division Champion next week.

Manik beat Kenny King and Chavo Guerrero in a largely enjoyable three-way to qualify for the X Division Title match. Although it wasn't quite as exciting as the previous affair it was still a fun watch.

The Main Event Mafia (Sting, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Magnus and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson) came to the ring and asked Aces & 8s to join them so they can settle things and finally rid the company of the gang that's been terrorising them since last year. But instead Mr. Anderson appeared on the big screen and goaded them into coming backstage to confront them.

So after the MEM began tangling with Aces backstage they were locked in a room so Bully Ray was able to crack Angle against a wall and then throw him into the back of a truck and send him on his way.

Greg Marasciulo outdid Rubix and Rockstar Spud in another stellar three-way to qualify for the X Division Title match. All three men provided worthy efforts, and although he still may have a bit of work to do in the ring, Rockstar Spud certainly showed character here. I'm glad to see Marasciulo (formerly Trent Barreta in WWE) appear in TNA. I always felt he was a solid talent and hope he's given more of a chance to show what he can do.

The charismatic Knockouts Champion Mickie James presented a VT of highlights from a gig of hers in Tennessee last week, renaming it "Mickie City." However she was soon interrupted by the number one contender to her strap Gail Kim, who called the champ "delusional" for believing that people were paying more attention to James' music than her Ladder match against Terrell last week. 

After a few more exchanges the two began attacking each other until they were separated by referees. As the two top female talents in the company I'm very much looking forward to their title clash. I'm also still really into James' new obnoxious heel persona, she's pulling it off well. 

Chris Sabin pinned Bully Ray (c) to obtain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in an eventful main event. The action was solid, with Bully logically targeting the formerly injured knee of the challenger and dominating for the majority, and the fans were very much into it.

While I did enjoy the outing, the outside interference between Aces and the Mafia did feel like overkill and spoil it a bit for me. Towards the end after the referee was KO'd by accident (which looked daft) the two factions faced off and brawled in the ring and ended up travelling down the ramp to the back. Meanwhile Bully had been handed a hammer, but Sabin managed to snatch it and crack the champ in the head as he went for a powerbomb and grabbed the momentous winning pinfall.  

Last year when Aries won it felt even more satisfying to me, maybe it was the build up and Aries' record-breaking X Division Title reign leading up to it, but I reckon it was due to his cleaner and more defining victory. Don't get me wrong I'm still excited by Sabin winning the strap as a big fan of his, and it certainly makes things interesting, but I just wish they'd had a simpler one on one match with the Mafia erasing Aces from the equation like they promised to last week.    

Overall it was a solid show, with not one bout failing to entertain and some enjoyable segments. My highlights were James' promo, Dutt versus Homicide versus Williams, the main event and Aries versus Roode. It didn't quite live up to last years Destination X but for an Impact broadcast it was a very satisfying and memorable show.  

My TNA Impact Wrestling, 25th April 2013 Recap

James Storm started things off by admitting that AJ Styles brought the fight to him in their bout last week, and then went on to call out Aces & 8s after they attacked him after the aforementioned match up. But instead Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels & Kazarian) joined 'The Cowboy' and  suggested that the answer to the Aces problem was teaming up to reform Fortune to counter the numbers.

After some heated words Bad Influence then double teamed on Storm and left him lying in the ring for Aces & 8s to finish off. This cued Joseph Parks to race out to his aid, but the numbers soon caught up to him and eventually Bully Ray and Devon went old school as they 3D'd Parks through a table. Bully then took to the mic and claimed that his gang had taken out every "hero" in the company. He also added that Father in law Hogan had until the end of the show to answer his call. 

Taryn Terrell pinned Tara in a fair outing that was hindered by it's duration. While the wrestling was largely stellar from Tara, I could only take so much of watching her dominate Taryn before it became dull. The bout would've benefited by being about half the length it was. 

Rob Terry beat Jesse in an unremarkable affair. Was you expecting anything else from these two? I at least found Jesse quite amusing with his segments with Tara, but he can't really pull it off solo.

Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez (c) defeated Austin Aries and Bobby Roode to retain the TNA Tag Team Titles in a solid and enjoyable bout from the opening bell. All four men gave worthy displays here, as standard for both teams when they meet.

After Bad influence tried to convince Roode to join up to bring back Fortune prior to the match, Daniels attempted to help Roode but instead struck him by accident and inadvertently aided the champs in retaining the straps. Whoops.

Matt Morgan came to the ring and listed off all the mistakes Hogan had made involving Aces & 8s and then called out the man himself. So sure enough Hogan came out and faced Morgan, who stated that 'The Hulkster' had no heroes left to take down the gang and claimed that he should pick him to face Bully for the World Title at  Slammiversary.

But Hogan refused to give Morgan anything and said that he had to confront the World Champion on his own man to man, although he gave no reason as to why. It was an odd segment, that didn't really achieve anything at all and gave us no answers. 

Velvet Sky (c) bested Mickie James to retain the Knockouts Championship in a passable outing. Certainly not Jame's finest performance, but she worked well here with a limited Sky, who picked up a (story line) knee injury early on.

Mickie's characteristics were quite heelish I felt, as she had no hesitation in going for Sky's injury and smiled as she went for certain attacks, I almost thought she was going to turn after Sky picked up the one-two-three with a quick roll up pin, but she didn't.

Finally Bully and Hogan faced off the ring after the champ had listed off all the men him and his gang had taken out. Ray then told Hogan that he'd finally killed Hulkamania, to which Hogan retorted that it can never die. So in the ultimate sign of disrespect Bully spat in his Father in law's face, which caused Hulk to (slowly) attack the champ and send him packing. 

As various Aces members then surrounded the ring, Sting made his return after turning out the lights. Just as it looked as though the 'Stinger' was going to attack Hogan, he predictably teamed with him to take out and chase off Aces. It was cringe-worthy watching the two older men slowly and completely unconvincingly take the fight to the younger, bigger and stronger wrestlers. But of course Hogan must have his way. It was a poor end to an average show.

Overall it was a largely forgettable and unremarkable Impact, with only one stand out match worth checking out (that being the tag bout) and nothing to get me excited for future storylines. The return of Sting has happened so often that I just have no interest in it at all by this point, and as I've said before (with no disrespect) his retirement should've come a long while ago. A big step down from last week's effort, but at least we have Chris Sabin to look forward to next week.

My TNA Impact Wrestling, 18th April 2013 Recap

Styles looking more serious then ever. Photo credit: impactwrestling.com 

Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff defeated Kurt Angle in a decent Handicap match. There were drab periods when Wes and Garett were in control, but once Kurt got going the action stepped up in quality and excitement. Kurt was pinned after Garett managed to crack him on the back with a chain handed to him by D'Lo Brown while the referee was distracted by Anderson at ringside.

Afterwards Wes and Garett double powerbombed Angle, with Anderson then speaking about how the company was deteriorating while Aces & 8s were on the rise, then wished AJ Styles luck for his match later on.  

Kenny King (c) bested Petey Williams and Zema Ion to retain the X Division Title in an entertaining Triple Threat contest. All three men looked stellar here, especially Williams who upped the overall standard of the bout with a great display.

Backstage Brooke Hogan spoke down to Mickie James and Brooke Tessmacher by claiming that she saw something "special" in them and  that was why she'd booked them in a number one contenders match for the Knockouts Championship. I mean, what has Brooke ever done in professional wrestling to give her the right to talk to female performers like that? How condescending, especially for someone of Mickie's talent and experience.

Before the Television Title match could begin, Aces & 8s members attacked Magnus, eventually double chokeslamming him onto the ramp. Devon was about to orchestrate more damage until Samoa Joe ran out to his ex-tag partner's aid.

Mickie James pinned Brooke Tessmacher in a good effort to earn a Knockouts Title shot in the near future. As usual James was on solid form, and Brooke also worked well here. My only slight gripe was the amount of disagreements each competitor had with the ref ODB, they're all faces so why would they need to add this to the bout?

Backstage Devon and Bully Ray attacked Joseph Parks with a chain after he once again brought up a rightful divorce between Brooke and Bully. In the end they left him in the shower with water pouring down on him, teasing him to cry. It was as if they were in school, not hardened gang members. 

Bad influence (Christopher Daniels and Kazarian) came out and bragged about their new tees, being close to convincing AJ Styles to join the team and a fictional film based on them (amusingly claiming that Morgan Freeman was going to portray Dixie Carter) almost entering production.

As they were also announcing their claim to a tag team title shot Austin Aries and Bobby Roode then interrupted them and announced that they were next in line for a title shot. After some hilarious back and fourth mocking (it really is worth a watch) the actual tag champs Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez walked in and attacked Roode and Aries, sending both teams packing.

Devon (c) beat Samoa Joe to retain the TNA Television Title in a short and pretty unremarkable title clash. The wrestling was competent enough but it lacked any real excitement. Devon grabbed the winning pinfall after Anderson snuck in (Earl Hebner was distracted by Wes Brisco at ringside) and struck Joe with a chain.

AJ Styles defeated James Storm in a solid main event. Both performers gave worthy efforts and as standard for them provided a match worth checking out, with smooth back and fourth wrestling. Styles grabbed the submission win with a leg lock after Storm had picked up a knock earlier in the bout, it was a nice logical finish. 

Afterwards Bad Influence celebrated with Styles, only for him to then take out the tag team and walk away as Aces & 8s attacked the duo and Storm. Bully Ray then took to the mic and stated that he'd taken out all of TNA's heroes because of Hulk Hogan, and demanded that he face him in the ring next week. He really is the last remaining endearing thing about Aces & 8s.

Overall it was a solid show for the majority, with most matches being above average for televised bouts with stellar action. My highlights were James versus Tessmacher, the Bad Influence segment with Aries and Roode, the X Division Triple Threat and the main event. Other than that it was still a fair Impact, with only the Brooke Hogan and dull Aces & 8s segments letting it down. 

My TNA Final Resolution 2012 Recap

Daniels applies the match-winning Styles Clash. Photo credit: impactwrestling.com

James Storm asked that Bobby Roode come on out to get his comeuppance after clearly paying Aces & 8s on last weeks Impact to attack both him and Hardy in the ring. But instead Kazarian joined 'The Cowboy' and accused him of being the biggest whiner in the company after AJ Styles and an alcoholic. Storm retorted by mocking Kaz a bit and then challenging him to a fight right there and then, so a referee made his way out and a brawl began. It was a fun start to the show, with the crowd eating up every word Storm had to say.

James Storm defeated Kazarian in a decent enough encounter. The action was solid for the most part, my only issue was the time allocated and the lack of it. I feel these two deserved a bit more to really deliver a more memorable match up.

Rob Van Dam (c) beat Kenny King to retain the X Division Title in a match that ranged from fair to average. Unfortunately too many sloppy moments spoilt the contest for me a bit, there were a few nice sequences between the two but it wasn't anything special. Leading into it I was actually expecting more, which is rare for me with a Van Dam match nowadays. At least the crowd in attendance seemed to like it with scattered chants of "This is awesome!" Easily pleased fans I guess.

Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez (c) won via DQ versus Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan, thereby retaining the TNA Tag Team Championship. The bout was largely passable, with solid enough wrestling but nothing that inspiring. Chavo and Hernandez gave the top displays here. The disqualification came after Morgan dragged the referee from out of the ring after Chavo had applied a Frog Splash to Ryan.

Austin Aries bested Bully Ray in a highly enjoyable contest. Both men gave terrific efforts here and clearly wanted to steal the show, especially Bully who gave one of his finest performances I've ever seen in a singles match. For the finish Hulk Hogan had to drag away daughter Brooke, who'd ran down to check on a bloodied Bully, which then gave Aries a chance to low blow Ray and grab the one-two-three. I have a feeling that AA and Brooke are having a fling and secretly plotting against Hogan and Bully here, just a theory.

Tara (c) beat Mickie James to retain the TNA Knockouts Championship in a worthy effort by both women. As expected with these two the action was above average from what you get from most female wrestlers nowadays in the US, as they actually take real pride in their craft and have worked hard on it over the years. Next up for Tara is the makeup covered Velvet Sky, so expect the quality to drop.

Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff beat Aces & 8s (Devon, Doc and two unknown members) in an eight-man tag match that didn't really get going until later on. For the majority it was a pretty lacklustre outing, with disappointing action that wasn't particularly engaging at all.

It wasn't until Joe made a hot tag to Angle that things livened up and all eight men scrambled in the ring, applying their respective signature maneuvers. As Doc then went for Angle with a hammer Garett jumped in to stop him, and Wes then clumsily speared a masked gang member out of the ring, which I'm sure will turn out to be a save as surely Wes is a member of the Aces & 8s too.

Christopher Daniels defeated AJ Styles in a terrific back and fourth match of the night. As standard with these two the action was technically faultless, with great sequences and drama to be had. Unfortunately my only gripe was the slight lack of intensity and heat, which I can only put down to the sheer number of times we've seen these two face each other.

I'm not having a go at either man, their matches have always been entertaining, but there's only so much of a good thing that you can take before you start to loose interest, and the lack of enthusiasm from the fans in attendance was also proof of that here. That could also be down to the fact that it's hard to believe that this really is their final ever encounter, I mean, we've heard that before. Daniels gained the victory by applying Styles' own finisher the Styles Clash after AJ took a dangerous fall from the top rope. 

Jeff Hardy (c) bested Bobby Roode to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in an intense and enjoyable main event. Both wrestlers worked hard and it certainly paid off as they delivered a worthy World title match, battling back and fourth with effective near falls and an excited crowd. While the build up wasn't anything outstanding I predicted that it'd be a good contest at least, which it was. During the bout Aces & 8s made their way out, but just stood there. After the bell rang they then proceeded to take out Hardy and an infuriated Roode, who had presumedly paid them off to help him win the strap.

Overall Final Resolution was a successful event, with a few match ups that were really memorable but most that I could give or take. The main event, Daniels vs Styles and Bully Ray vs Aries were the highlights for me, providing high quality bouts that you've come to expect from TNA pay-per-views over the last few months. The rest of the card was still decent enough and I couldn't call one match bad, so I can't complain. 

My Impact Wrestling, 15th November 2012 Recap

Wallop! Storm applies an impressive kick to Roode in a solid main event. 

Photo credit: impactwrestling.com

James Storm thanked all his friends, family, fans and people that didn't think he could do it for spurring him on to become number one contender to the World Title at Turning Point. Soon after Booby Roode joined 'The Cowboy' and toasted to his victory with a couple of beers and thanked him for beating AJ Styles last Sunday (the wrestler pinned or made to submit in the bout doesn't receive a World Title shot until Bound for Glory next year due to the stipulations).

He also went on to claim that Storm won the match off of his own hard work, and that he's going to fail miserably against Hardy in their title match. Storm simply retorted with a few punches and chased off 'The It Factor'. Storm challenged Roode to a match, but Roode would only accept only if he put his number one contendership on the line, so a furious Storm agreed.

Rob Van Dam (c) defeated Kid Kash to retain the X Division Championship in quite a sloppy encounter. There were decent moments here and there provided from Kash for the most part, including a nicely executed hurricanrana to the outside. 

Jesse beat Eric Young in a passable, if pretty unmemorable a match up. Jesse actually looked okay here as he gave his best display to date. He looks as though he's actually been working hard to improve himself, although there's still a fair way to go for him. Jesse grabbed the win after a distraction from Tara and ODB when they began brawling on the outside. 

Joseph Parks begged Hulk Hogan for another chance at Aces & 8s, but Hogan was adamant that he shouldn't ever be stepping in the ring again. In response Parks announced that he was going to leave to be trained properly in the ring and return ready for action.  

Before his following Television Title match Magnus was taken out by members of Aces & 8s, including Doc who once again attacked his victim using a hammer. Before Devon could strike with a baseball bat Bully Ray raced out and chased off the gang members. It seemed silly that it would take so long for anyone to come to Magnus' aid, they beat him down for a while here. To his credit Magnus did sell the attack quite well. 

Backstage Austin Aries encountered his former opponent Jeff Hardy and admitted that he put on a great performance against him in their Ladder match, but that he was forced to to beat a top wrestler such as himself. He also claimed that he raises the performance of any man he steps in the ring with, which is actually true for the most part. We then heard a strange inner monologue from Hardy after AA left, I'm still not sure how I feel about these. It just felt a bit out of place and too unreal for this particular segment, especially after quite an honest speech from Aries. 

Kurt Angle and Garett Bischoff bested Devon and a unknown member of Aces & 8s in a fair to average tag bout. Angle as usual was on good form, but most of the match just wasn't anything that special and felt more like filler for me, plus all the distractions hindered it a bit. Angle grabbed the win with a quick schoolboy after Wes Brisco ran down and went for Doc at ringside.

Mickie James bested Gail Kim, ODB, Madison Rayne and Brooke Tesmacher to win a Knockouts Battle Royal to earn a Knockouts Championship match. It was a decent effort from most involved, and it was especially nice to see the talented Kim and James in action again, it feels like it's been too long.

Aces & 8s informed Doc that he was out of the gang after some deliberation. But this turned out to be a joke as they handed him back his leather waistcoat at the door. It was a strange storyline this, and I'm not sure what it was meant to gain exactly.

A sour AJ Styles came out and spoke about all the bad luck he'd had over the last year, including being accused of being a father to a "crackhead's" child, loosing in the Triple Threat last Sunday and coming close to winning the BFG Series but just missing out. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian then joined him and claimed that all his issues this year were his very own fault, and called him a "complete and utter failure."

Styles responded by challenging Daniels to a match. Daniels accepted, stating that now was the perfect time to face AJ. It was a decent segment, and more proof that Daniels and Kaz are one of the best acts going in the company today.

Bobby Roode defeated James Storm to earn number one contendership for the World Title in an enjoyable main event. Both men put in solid efforts and provided a worthy main event calibre match up as they battled back and fourth. Earlier in the contest Roode exposed the top turnbuckle in the ring, which later came into play as he slammed Storm's head into it and scored the one-two-three with a quick roll up. I think the crowd were as surprised as I was as they went pretty quiet after Roode won. An unexpected win, especially considering Storm's current momentum. Roode versus Hardy should still be a good bout anyway.  

Overall it was a mostly watchable show, with a few unmemorable bouts but a solid main event and entertaining segment between Styles, Daniels and Kaz. Unfortunately a lot of what happened also felt more like filler to me, what was the point of Doc having his membership up for debate? I would've rather had another match in that time. 

My Impact Wrestling, 22nd June 2012 Recap

Hulk Hogan claimed that he will find out who the three attackers of Sting were last week and make things right for him. Hogan then babbled on a bit about the change coming in the company and called out Austin Aries for his decision on whether or not he'll take the World title match but have to give up the X Division Championship or turn it down. Or as Hogan put it "go for greatness, or go for broke," what a spit on the X Division title that was.

Austin Aries joined 'The Hulkster' and rightfully told him that the strap he held was worth too much to just give up and it deserved better treatment than that. So he gave the GM an "option C" which was that he would give up the title belt, but in the future any wrestler that held the X Division title would also be able to give it up for a World title shot. Hogan agreed to his terms and shook on it. An irate Bobby Roode then joined them both and warned AA that he will definitively beat him at Destination X in their World title match. Aries had already had enough of Roode and they began to then brawl on the ramp until security and such separated them both.

Mr. Anderson came out for his signature entrance and informed both men that it doesn't matter who'll win between them because he's going to win the Bound For Glory Series and defeat them. He also called out Christopher Daniels to face as part of the Open Fight Night (where any wrestler can challenge any other wrestler and they must accept).

Mr. Anderson defeated Christopher Daniels in a fair BFG Series match up. It was kept to a sensible length of time too, keeping the crowds interest and not going too long. 

We were shown a backstage segment with Brooke Hogan discussing who should be the next number one contender to the Knockouts title with ODB, Madison Rayne, Mickie James and Velvet Sky. It's hard to take anything at all Brooke says about pro wrestling seriously. She eliminated Rayne from the equation first.   

Robbie E issued a challenge to anyone else from the BFG Series to a one on one match. Unfortunately for him Kurt Angle stepped up.

Kurt Angle defeated Robbie E in a brief squash match via submission, whoch earns him extra points in the BFG Series.

Magnus defeated AJ Styles in an enjoyable bout after calling him out, which also earned him seven points. I quite like the fact that all these matches are really meaning something. It wasn't that long but it was solid while it lasted, Magnus has come a long way since his debut in TNA.

Gut Check Contestant Taeler Hendrix lost to veteran Tara in a passable contest. Hendrix looked a little nervous here and there but on the whole I liked her, and she showed me more than the likes of Tessmacher, Sky and Rayne already. I'd like to see her stay on.

Samoa Joe challenged James Storm after 'The Cowboy' beat him to win the Battle Royal last week. it was some nice mic work by Joe.

James Storm defeated Samoa Joe in a decent, if quite disappointing BFG Series match. It wasn't bad, just considering the talent involved I expected more. 

In another backstage segment with the three Knockouts and Brooke Hogan, ODB was eliminated from title contention after some discussion. It was based on the flimsy excuse that she's been busy with her wedding and honeymoon, which have now passed. Huh? 

D'Angelo Dinero defeated Bully Ray to earn himself seven points in an average contest. Abyss appeared through the crowd during it, chasing Bully into the ring and straight into Dinero who applied his finisher for the one-two-three.

Brooke Hogan gave some cheesy rubbish about how proud she was of Mickie James and Velvet Sky and announced James as the one getting the title opportunity. At least they picked the better wrestler here.

Brooke Tessmacher (c) defeated Mickie James to retain the Knockouts Championship in a pretty drab bout for the most part. It wasn't bad, just not particularly memorable or remarkable, a bit like the current Knockouts Champ herself. The crowd weren't really sure who to root for either, although there were a few boos for Tessmacher when she was on the offense. James also had a heelish manner about her here much like last week, expect her to turn on Tessmacher soon I reckon.

Jeff Hardy defeated Rob Van Dam in a fun BFG Series match up. The action in the first half just felt like RVD's usual TNA routine of phoning it in a bit but the second half stepped up in quality and had an exciting finish. 

Dixie Carter came out with AJ Styles and attempted to explain their situation, but struggled and was convinced by Styles to just leave. As they were about to go, a mystery woman came down and announced herself as Claire Lynch. She revealed that she was a close friend of Dixie and AJ's and that they'd been helping her recover from her addiction issues, not having an affair. Her acting was awful and this is such an anticlimactic conclusion to this storyline. I just hope that this will all be over soon, I don't think I could handle anymore of Claire and Dixie's attempts at acting any longer. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian then came down to the ring but were both taken out by Styles. 

My Impact Wrestling, March 15th 2012 Recap

James Storm started off Impact by addressing the TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode, claiming that he would exact revenge and win back the World title at Lockdown against his former tag team partner, he also warned him that he's going to "give you the ass whippin' of your life." Storm's mic skills really have come a long way in the last couple of years, I'd say he's certainly one of the best in the company at promos now. 

Shortly after Bully Ray joined 'The Cowboy' and reminded him about formerly kicking a steel chair into his head, Storm retorted by also reminding Ray that he defeated him to become number one contender to the World title. After some more exchanged words Storm made it clear he wanted to fight Bully right there before their match at Victory Road, but instead 'Calfzilla' informed Storm that he would be fighting Gunner that night, who made his way out and began brawling with Storm until they were separated. 

Madison Rayne defeated Velvet Sky in an average Knockouts contest after scoring a roll up pin while pulling on Sky's tights for the one-two-three.

Crimson defeated Samoa Joe in a decent to bit of a drab affair. Crimson grabbed the win after Morgan distracted Joe at ringside and quickly applied a spear to the 'Samoan Submission Machine'. It's a smart move on the booking teams part to turn Morgan and Crimson heel and the Tag Team Champs face. It was obvious even as bad guys that Joe and Magnus were a more popular team with the fans, due to having more charisma and ability in the ring.      

Austin Aries came out to celebrate becoming the longest reigning X Division Champion of all time, and preceded to present a montage of his reign as champ. The charismatic Zema Ion joined AA and claimed that last week in their bout he embarrassed the champion and proved that he wasn't as smart as he thought he was, he also warned him that the same thing that happened to Jesse Sorensen could happen to him on Sunday. Aries admitted that he admired Ion's bravado and his attempt to prove that he had "hair on his nuts" and decided to let him do the toast. Zema complimented the title reign but informed 'A Double' that it will come to an end at his hands and then threw a glass of champagne in the champ's face., which prompted him to throw Ion out of the ring.

Backstage Eric Young and ODB decided that they'd get married in the ring on Impact. Was there ever any doubt?   

Gail Kim defeated Mickie James in a solid match up involving the two best Knockouts and female workers in the company in my opinion. My only gripe was that the finish, where Kim struck James with her title belt while the ref wasn't looking, you could see coming from a mile way. 

During a video package there was then an audio fault with delayed sound which carried on through to the following match. You wouldn't hear of this happening in WWE would you? 

Mr. Anderson defeated Christopher Daniels in a surprisingly entertaining bout, with a good effort by both men. During the match Taz, in his usual wisdom, comically commented that the chubby looking Anderson's "body looks good, definitely in-shape." It's like TNA has it's very own Jerry Lawler.

Kurt Angle's 5-minute challenge versus Garrett Bischoff ended in a draw after the Olympic Gold Medallist failed to defeat Garrett in time. The actual bout had been rather dull, with a few signature impressive maneuvers from Angle. Afterwards Kurt attacked the referee and Garrett in frustration until Jeff Hardy came to his rescue.

James Storm defeated Gunner in a forgettable but okay contest. Not really any more to add to be honest.

After the contract signing between Roode and Sting for their No Holds Barred match at Victory Road, the World Champion reminisced about the time he won the World title. He went on to theorise that Sting had a personal vendetta against him because he was "jealous" since he'd now passed his prime while Roode was just hitting his. He also accused 'The Stinger' of stealing the spotlight from the younger wrestlers and claimed that he should've left the business "a long, long time ago." 

Sting then decided to toss the table and chair over and spread face paint onto him and Roode, then beat on the champion until Roode fled from the ring. 

My Impact Wrestling, February 9th 2012 Recap

Bully Ray started off Impact by calling out his "pal" the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Bobby Roode. Once Roode had joined him Ray immediately began firing questions in his direction, asking why he hadn't been covering his back when he foughtJames Storm last week like he'd been covering his. Roode tried to calm Bully down and explain that his problem wasn't with him, but with the thorn in both their sides Sting. Who at that very moment made his way out to the ring.

'The Stinger' announced himself as the special enforcer for the World Title Fatal Four Way Match at Against All Odds on Sunday. He also booked a tag team match pitting himself and James Storm against Bobby Roode and Bully Ray. It wasn't the greatest segment but at least they kept it short, Ray is doing a very credible job in his role at the moment. You can tell how hard he's been working to improve his singles career. Same goes to James Storm also.   

Christopher Daniels defeated AJ Styles in a solid enough contest, although certainly not their best. The London crowd were thoroughly into it and created a great atmosphere. Daniels grabbed the one-two-three after a reluctant Frankie Kazarian handed him a pair of brass knucks which 'The Fallen Angel' used to strike AJ in the head.

Magnus, accompanied by tag partner Samoa Joe, claimed that they were no longer in the "UK" or "her majesty's United Kingdom. Tonight, this. Is. England!" To an understandably big pop. He went on to say that he he'd proven the theory wrong that him and Joe wouldn't work as a unit. He also stated that they were a well oiled machine, the team on everyone's lips (maybe a slight exaggeration there) and that's why at the Against All Odds pay-per-view him and Joe will win the TNA Tag Team Championships.

This of course cued the current Tag Team Champs to make their way out, Crimson andMatt Morgan. Morgan stated that the "talking is done" and they all began to brawl once again, chasing off the number one contenders.

Alex Shelley defeated Austin Aries and Douglas Williams in an exciting and nicely executed Triple Threat bout. For me personally I would've like to have seen it allocated a bit more time, but that's my only complaint. Shelley got the pin on X Division Champion Aries after applying a Sliced Bread.

Just outside the Wembley Arena Knockout Champ Gail Kim attacked Tara, dragging her inside and taking her out. 

Hulk Hogan and Garrett Bischoff made their way to the ring, Hogan receiving a big ovation. 'The Hulkster' requested that the fans give all their passion that they give to him, and pass it over to Garrett. Soon Eric Bischoff, accompanied by Gunner, joined them as Eric asked Hulk "Just who in the hell do you think you are?!" And questioned his involvement with his family business. He went on to say that Hogan's day has passed (it has) and he'll deal with his son his own way. 

Hulk then announced a match for Sunday, Garrett versus Gunner. Straight after Gunner and Eric began attacking Hogan and Garrett. This was of course until Hogan decided to (as usual) take over and be the big hero as he threw Gunner out of the ring and helped Garrett take out his Dad.  

Velvet Sky defeated Mickie James in an average Knockouts match up. No offence to Sky but she is no Gail Kim in the ring, and it's hard to get back to the standard of title bouts James and Kim had recently. After the match Mickie looked quite peeved about the loss (Velvet scored the win via a quick roll up pin) perhaps a heel turn is in her future?   

Sting and James Storm defeated Bobby Roode and Bully Ray in an exciting and fun main event. From start to finish I was really enjoying the bout, all men put in a solid effort here and it was a nice end to TNA's two tapings in England. Sting forced Roode to tap with the Scorpion Deathlock as Ray just looked on at the champ with Roode's World Title in his hands. 

My Impact Wrestling, January 26th 2012 Recap

We kicked off Impact with Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray brawling with each other backstage. The Bully Ray and Hardy fight felt a little too fake and lacked intensity for my liking. It then carried on to the outside where TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode jumped out of his car and helped Ray take out Hardy. James Storm then came to Hardy's aid, but this was short lived as he was also taken out by the duo. But never fear as Sting then jumped in and chased off Bully and Roode, baseball bat in hand. 
Tara defeated Velvet Sky and Mickie James in a Triple Threat Match to determine the number one contender to Gail Kim's Knockout Championship at Against All Odds. The bout itself was rather sloppy, and at times almost looked like they weren't sure what they were supposed to do next. Disappointing, considering the high standard of Knockout matches we've had recently.
In the ring 'The Stinger', accompanied by Hardy and Storm, called out Roode and Bully Ray. The brawling continued briefly as they arrived but was halted by Sting. After a suggestion from 'The Cowboy', Sting decided to book a tag team Tables match between the four that night.
Alex Shelley defeated Zema Ion in a solid and thoroughly enjoyable X Division bout. It's certainly nice to see the talent of Shelley back, not just to freshen up the X Division but for Impact Wrestling in general. As per the agreement with X Division Champ Austin Aries last week this also means that Shelley will face Aries for the title at Against All Odds, which should be a superb encounter.  
We were then shown footage of Eric Bischoff paying a visit to his son Garrett Bischoff's regular gym where he trains to discover who his secret trainer is. But as a shocked Eric discovered who it was, he forced the cameras away so we couldn't see. Drat! 
ODB and Eric Young defeated Winter and Angelina Love in an average comedy tag bout.
Matt Morgan defeated Samoa Joe in an entertaining match up. Fortunately for our sakes, Morgan's offence was limited and the superior Joe lead the bout. Afterwards a sour Magnus and Samoa Joe once again took out Crimson and Morgan.
AJ Styles came to the ring and voiced his confusion over the hold that Christopher Daniels has over Kazarian. Kaz and ''The Fallen Angle' then joined Styles and Kazarian was about to talk, but was ordered by Daniels to hand over the mic. Daniels lectured AJ on once again coming to the ring and "complaining" about something. He also explained that "Frankie Kazarian doesn't owe you a damned thing." Styles asked Kazarian to come into the ring and shake his hand all all will be forgotten. But Daniels refused Kaz permission to do so and then proposed a match for Against All Odds between AJ Styles and Kazarian, ordering Kaz to ask Sting for the match. To be honest I'm growing a little tired of this storyline, I'm hoping they end it quite soon and move on.     
James Storm and Jeff Hardy defeated Bobby Roode and Bully Ray in a solid and worthy main event tag team Tables match. The sprawling action was well executed and nicely paced. The finish came when Storm elbow dropped Roode through a table in the ring. 
Afterwards Bully Ray brought in a steel chair and continued the assault on Storm and Hardy. He then powerbombed Jeff into a table from the top rope for a nice finish to the show.

My Impact Wrestling, January 19th 2012 Recap

'The Cowboy' James Storm opened up Impact by giving Bobby Roode a heads up that when he faces him for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship "I am going to whoop your ass." Jeff Hardy soon joined the number one contender and explained that "no one is getting a title shot against Roode until I have my final encounter,"after being screwed against Roode for the title at both Genesis and on last weeks Impact Wrestling. Bobby Roode then explained to James Storm that since his match with Hardy last week had no official winner, that made Storm's number one contendership null and void. Sting as the authority figure then booked a number one contenders match up between Storm and Hardy to settle things. 
Gunner defeated AJ Styles in a solid enough bout. AJ was his usual impressive self, it's just Gunner that still isn't wowing me between the ropes. I haven't seen anything particularly outstanding from him as of yet. Gunner scored the win with a DDT afterKazarian clotheslined Styles from the apron, as ordered to by Christopher Daniels.
After the match Gunner, along with his accomplice Ric Flair, attempted to DDT AJ onto some exposed concrete flooring at ringside as he's done to RVD and others. But AJ was fortunate enough to break away form it and escape. My only complaint here is that AJ looked a little cowardly with his escape, he should have fought back a bit in a more heroic fashion in my opinion.    
Crimson defeated Magnus in a brief and pretty worthless encounter. After Crimson got the one-two-three Samoa Joe and Magnus began to double team him. This carried on until Matt Morgan raced in to his tag partner's aid. But his offence didn't last long as Joe and Magnus began to get the upper hand on him, eventually leaving the Tag Team Champions out on the floor after performing their new signature double team maneuvers.    
We were then presented with a VT of Garrett Bischoff in pro wrestling training. There's definitely a lot of potential for Garrett if he can prove himself in the ring. 
Mickie James defeated Madison Rayne in a surprisingly entertaining cage match. Both women put in a superb effort and really upped the heat towards the final third of the bout. Probably the most impressive performance I've seen out of Rayne in the company too. Very enjoyable and definitely worth checking out.
The charismatic X Division Champion Austin Aries once again complained that there is no competition for him, that no one is at the 'AA' level. But just as he was about to depart the ring, Alex Shelley (with a new look) came out to a huge reception and challenged Aries to a title match. Aries then accused Shelley of "latching on" to Chris Sabin's coattails for the last few years, and that before that he was "a nothing." Aries decided that if Shelley could go to the locker room and find another X Division wrestler and defeat them then he would accept his challenge of a title match. But Shelley wanted to go one better and asked the champion to pick a challenger for him. It was a nice segment between the two most charismatic wrestlers in the division right now. Should be a terrific feud.   
Backstage Winter and ODB began to brawl until Winter cracked ODB in the stomach with a lead pipe and began whipping her with a belt.  
Eric Young won vis disqualification against Angelina Love after Love low blowed him. It was a forgettable comedy match. Afterwards Winter and Love began beating on EY until ODB came to his rescue. Together they took out the duo of Love and Winter. 
James Storm versus Jeff Hardy ended in a no contest. It was a solid main event that had action that very rarely let up at all during it. The match ended when Bully Ray crept in and took out the referee Brian Hebner with his chain, along with Hardy and Storm. As referee Brian's dad Earl Hebner made his way out to check on his son Ray struck him with a big blow to halt him. He also spat out some of Storm's beer into his own face for good measure and carried on the assault a little more. This carried on until 'The Stinger' chased him off with his signature baseball bat.
Never missing an opportunity, World Champ Bobby Roode then entered the ring and KO'd both Hardy and Storm with his Title belt. Gloating in this, he grabbed a mic and announced the match a no contest and himself the most dominant TNA World Champion ever.    

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, January 5th 2012 Recap

Sting called out Jeff Hardy and congratulated him on his progress since his return to the company and remarked on the similarities between them both, with the 'Stinger' mentioning a time when he was "dealing with my own demons," too. He also gave Jeff his own "personal endorsement." As he said that the TNA World Champion Bobby Roode made his way out with Kurt Angle and Bully Ray. Roode queried Sting as to why he doesn't endorse himself, Ray or Angle rather then Hardy. As Roode continued to abuse Hardy, James Storm, accompanied by Abyss then joined them. 'The Cowboy' commented that Angle wasn't the same man he was a few months ago, and that he was looking a "little scared." Abyss then snatched the mic off of Angle and told Bully Ray that he and Immortal used and exploited him, and that they still need him but "I don't need Immortal anymore." In the same vein as Teddy Long, Sting made a main event for the night pitting all six men against each other in a six-man tag team bout. 
Gail Kim and Madison Rayne (c) defended their TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles against Mickie James and Traci Brooks. The match up itself was quite average for the most part, although it started off pretty excitingly and heated. I quite like the idea of Kim and Rayne holding on to the titles for a little while longer, they're a believable unit to me.
Gunner versus Rob Van Dam ended in a double count out. The action wasn't bad but as with most of these two wrestlers matches in TNA the bout was ultimately quite forgettable. After the bell rang Gunner attempted to piledriver Van Dam onto some exposed flooring (his trademark as of late) but was thwarted on both his attempts. First by RVD himself then by members of the backstage staff. 
Jesse Sorensen and Zema Ion defeated Kid Kash and Austin Aries in a solid and fast paced tag team bout. There seems to be a rivalry brewing between Ion and Sorensen so I wouldn't be shocked to see them tangle over the title in the near future.  
Backstage we witnessed AJ call his tag partner Kazarian for their match up next. As they left, Christopher Daniels (unknown to Styles) appeared from a hidden spot in the dressing room where he'd been obviously talking to Kaz.  
Samoa Joe and Magnus defeated AJ Styles and Kazarian after Kaz abandoned AJ during the match and joined Christopher Daniels on the ramp, leaving him to be attacked and pinned by Joe. The final match of the Tag Team tournament to determine the number one contenders for Genesis was entertaining at parts, although maybe a slight disappointment considering the calibre of talent involved. AJ's time in the ring was the definite highlight for myself. 
Abyss, James Storm and Jeff Hardy versus Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle and Bully Ray ended in a no contest after all six men began brawling with one another. Up until that point the match had been strong at times with a heated (if not a bit baffling) ending to the match and the show.  

My Impact Wrestling, December 29th 2011 recap

In a rare moment, the Knockouts started Impact off with Madison Rayne (accompanied by tag team partner Gail Kim) informing Tara and Tessmacher that they were both"fired!" Sting decided to intervene in quite an amusing moment when he informed Rayne that she had, in fact "no power," or authority over the Knockout division. He also added that Gail Kim would have to defend her TNA Knockouts title against Mickie James that night. I'm so glad that they gave Sting this role as the GM (or whatever the title is) of Impact, I'm finding him more endearing now then I have for months.     
Kazarian and AJ Styles defeated Abyss and Scott Steiner in the tag team tournament to determine the new number one contenders. The actual bout itself was quite decent actually, considering Abyss and Steiner were on one of the teams. The finish came after Abyss turned on Steiner by Black Hole Slamming him and dragging Kazarian's body over for the cover.
After the match Bully Ray confronted Abyss and claimed that he was sick of him pushing people around, and called him a "bully." Ray carried on to query Abyss by asking "What do you want?" To which 'The Monster' replied "I want you. I want Bully Ray." Abyss then added a stipulation to his proposed match against Ray at Genesis, that if he lost he would once again join the ranks of Immortal. Bully accepted the challenge, that was before Abyss added that their match would be under Monsters Ball rules.  
Zema Ion defeated Anthony Nese in a Contract On A Pole Match to earn himself a spot in the Fatal Four Way Match at Genesis for the X Division title. While the match up was solid enough, it felt a little average compared to their previous two bouts on Impact to me.   
Douglas Williams won via disqualification against Gunner after Gunner had pushed over the referee. Up until that point the match had been quite heated, with plenty of shots shared between the two. It's just a shame it was so brief, especially with a wrestler the quality of Williams competing which we unfortunately don't get to see often enough for my liking. Afterwards Gunner once again applied a DDT to Williams on the outside of the ring to exposed flooring. Why couldn't he at least take out someone average like Anderson?
World Champion Bobby Roode introduced his friend Tracy Koleski, who he'd flown in from Canada, to bring him into his "world" as he put it. Koleski asked Roode why his demeanor had changed so much and queried "Who have you become?" After he had supposedly ignored all calls from his friends and family. Roode laughed at his friend and claimed that "there is nothing wrong with this picture" and called Tracy his "lackey" while they were growing up. Roode then resorted to attacking his ex-friend until Jeff Hardy raced out to his aid.
Samoa Joe and Magnus defeated ODB and Eric Young in another tag team tournament match up. The bout itself was entertaining enough, the moments with ODB in the ring were mainly for comical effect. It's also nice to see the solid Samoa Joe and improving Magnus being made relevant once again in the company.
Kurt Angle defeated Rob Van Dam via DQ when James Storm entered the ring and super kicked Angle. The bout had been decent, although you could tell it wasn't either mans best effort. 
Gail Kim (c) defended her TNA Knockouts Championship against Mickie James. The main event was a superb and intense contest, and proved how entertaining female wrestling can and should be. Both wrestlers clearly take pride in their work and you could see that they wanted to make the most of a rare main event spot for them both. Gail Kim grabbed the one-two-three after a masked woman ran in and attacked James from behind, most likely Rayne, although Tenay and Taz both mentioned Madison so maybe that's too obvious? Melina making her debut perhaps?
For all of TNA's flaws (of which there are many) their women's division far exceeds WWE's. Could you honestly imagine Beth Phoenix facing Kelly Kelly or Eve Torres in the main event of a Raw or SmackDown? Of course not. I'm not saying that WWE doesn't have some talented female wrestlers, just that they're not utilised correctly nowadays. Long gone are the days of Trish Stratus and Lita I'm afraid guys and girls.