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 iMPACT Wrestling, December 1st 2011 Recap

Sting started things as he called out Bobby Roode to confront him about his recent behaviour and change in attitude. Roode for me really looked the part of the premier heel and World champion of the company right here, as he bragged about taking out Hardy and AJ Styles last week on iMPACT. Not only does he act the part with his mannerisms but he’s smartly dressing up in suits to bring across the perfect image for the character. Sting warned Roode that “for every bad choice that you make, there’s going to be a really bad consequence. And the consequences start right now Bobby!” Which cued AJ Style’s entrance to join them. The Stinger also warned of more consequences as Jeff Hardy also made his way out. Sting announced that it would be a three-way between AJ, Hardy and Roode in the main event of the show.

In the parking lot the Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett demanded that all the Knockouts (bar Gail Kim naturally) wash the wrestler’s cars in their lingerie after disrespecting her last week. Karen is starting to warm on me a little as Knockouts VP, although it doesn’t make much sense that she’s still in charge considering Dixie Carter took back the company and put Sting in charge of iMPACT.

Backstage Jeff Hardy and Jeff Jarrett began to fight until Jarrett scarpered. To be honest I’m just starting to grow tired of this feud now, hopefully both guys will move on after the next pay-per-view.

D Von and D’Angelo Dinero bested Ink Inc and Mexican America in a three way tag team match to become number one contenders. The actual match wasn’t terrible but wasn’t terribly exciting either. D Von had most of the offence as he cleared house and got the pinfall victory. I’d still rather see The Pope as a singles competitor, I feel he has more to offer there.  

The charismatic X Division champion Austin Aries announced that he had now out grown the X Division. That he was a level above all the other wrestlers in the division (which is true in most cases) and that he’d defeated every competitor available to him. He even suggested that they rename the X Division ”the A double division.” Kid Kash the interrupted him and reminded Aries that he had never defeated him fairly. So the champ agreed to give him a title shot to prove who was the better wrestler and to seal the deal they would shake hands, of course being pro wrestling it didn’t go down so easily and they both went to punch each other as they shook hands. Well at least Kash is a bit more interesting as a face at the moment.

Backstage Bully Ray tried getting advice from Scott Steiner in recruiting Abyss back into Immortal. I love the chemistry between these two, they honestly make me laugh out loud every time they’re in a segment together.     

Mickie James defeated ODB in an exciting and heated street fight. Definitely a wise choice on TNA’s part brining back ODB and Gail Kim to the Knockouts division. The standard has already taken a step up in my opinion and I’m looking forward to Kim taking on James for the title too, should be a solid match up.  

Taz and Mike Tenay began interviewing the injured James Storm via satellite until Kurt Angle interrupted and explained Storm had brought it all on himself after causing him to loose the World title. Angle then also challenged Storm to come to iMPACT next week to make their match official, doctor’s permission or no doctor’s permission. Storm naturally accepted.

Robbie E (c) defeated Rob Van Dam to retain his Television title in a pretty forgettable match up. RVD largely dominated it but as the referee was distracted by Eric Young confronting Rob Terry at ringside, Christopher Daniels entered the ring and took out Van Dam leaving him to be pinned by Robbie E.   

Bobby Roode defeated AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy in the triple threat main event. The bout itself was decent enough with the exchanges between AJ and Hardy being the highlight. Roode got the win after Jarrett pushed Hardy off the top rope as he was going for a Swanton attempt and Bobby grabbed the pin on Hardy. Earlier in the show Sting had warned Jarrett that if he interfered in the three way dance there would indeed be consequences for him, and he lived up to that promise. As punishment Sting put Jarrett in a steel cage match at Final Resolution against Jeff Hardy, and if Jarrett wins then Hardy has to leave TNA but if Hardy wins then he becomes number one contender to the World title. It should be a fitting end to their feud and an exciting cage match but I don’t quite understand why Sting as a face would add a stipulation that required Hardy leaving the company if he lost, a little odd right?