TNA iMPACT!
Orlando, Florida (Impact Zone)
April 21, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Impact opens up with highlights from Sunday’s Lockdown PPV focusing primarily on the Angle/Jarrett war as well as the TNA World Title Match and Lethal Lockdown. Angle says “I’d love to get my hands on him (Jarrett) one more time.” Sting says “I want Hogan in the ring, I want Anderson, I want RVD, I want everbody” as he was leaving Lockdown.
AJ Styles’ music hits and AJ descends down from the rafters right into the Steel Cage that is set up in the ring! Weapons are also all over the cage as well. AJ says, “I’m back!” and he says Bully Ray thought he ended AJ’s career but he was dead wrong and he says Ray should have seen his face when AJ showed up at Lockdwon (and if anybody hasn’t seen the pic AJ posted of Ray’s face after Lethal Lockdown on his twitter, you need to see it). AJ says he came to Lockdown for one reason and that reason was to peel Ray’s head like an onion and take him out. He says Ray wasn’t wheeled out to the hospital and AJ SHOULD have left Ray just like Ray left him, and that’s why he’s here tonight. AJ says they’ve got the cage up and all the weapons sprinkled around so that Bully Ray for once in his life can walk out to the ring, man up, and just face him like a man. AJ drops the mic and takes off his shirt and starts screaming and getting hyped up.
Bully Ray’s music finally hits and walks out onto the stage. Ray asks if AJ is serious and he asks AJ if he knows who he is and who he’s talking to. Ray says he IS the man and he’s the man that put AJ in the hospital for a month. Ray says he’s the man that Powerbombed AJ off the stage through a table. Ray says he’s the man that could come into that ring and beat AJ so bad he would never wrestle again. AJ dares him to get in the ring but Ray says he’s a man and AJ is a boy, Ray is a warrior and AJ is a nobody. Ray says if he comes down to the ring he won’t be so gentle with AJ this time and take it easy on him like he did last time. Ray says this time he’ll Powerbomb him onto the concrete and split his head open and then he’ll go to AJ’s house and take care of AJ’s wife and kids. AJ loses it and starts screaming and cussing at Ray daring him to get in the ring. Ray says taking care of AJ’s wife and kids doesn’t sound like such a bad idea and runs down to the ring, but he stops before he gets in the cage. Ray says that’s exactly what AJ wants but he has nothing left to prove to AJ. A big “you suck” chant starts and Ray says he could take AJ “out like that.” He says he’s taken AJ’s pride and he’ll take care of AJ again on his own time and then tells him to go to hell. As Ray turns around Daniels blasts him! Daniels tosses Ray into the ring!
Daniels locks the cage door and AJ starts blasting Ray with right hands! AJ tosses Ray into the cage wall repeatedly! Ray shoves AJ away and goes for a clothesline but AJ ducks and hits the Pele! AJ picks up a trashcan and nails Ray with it! On the outside Gunner and Daniels start brawling! They brawl all the way up the ramp and down the tunnel. In the ring AJ sets up a table and slams Ray’s head into it and then lays him out across it. AJ climbs up top but doesn’t stop there and climbs up to the top of the damn cage! AJ sets up for something off the top of the cage but Ray rolls off the table and runs out the cage door before AJ could hit anything. AJ stands on top of the cage and points down at Ray while Ray crawls up the ramp. Definitely a hot opening for Impact tonight!
Replays of Lockdown are shown again focusing on the Double main Event which saw Fortune beat Immortal and Rob Van Dam turn down Immortal as well as Sting retaining his title. Taz says that Ric Flair tore his rotator cuff in Lethal Lockdown and he just had surgery on it today. Taz suggests Flair may be out for quite some time. In reality Flair tore the rotator cuff back on TNA’s European Tour but decided against getting surgery so he could finish out the storyline with Fortune leading into Lockdown. Also, Tenay made sure to point out that it was Roode’s Fujiwara Armabr that injured Flair and that he was responsible for it so they may be setting something there for the future.
Immortal’s music cuts Tenay & Taz off and Rob Terry & Murphy walk out to the ring and get inside the cage. Terry says if AJ wants to play games, Immortals can play games too. He says that Beer Money may have won their match at Lockdown, but tonight he and Murphy have something to prove to Hulk Hogan. Terry says they are going to get payback for what Roode did to Flair. Terry says payback starts right now and that payback will be taking those shiny belts off of Beer Money!
Beer Money’s music hits and the Tag Team Champions make their way onto the stage. Roode asks if he heard Terry correctly, that they have just called Beer Money out and they want a shot at the Tag Titles inside the Cage. Terry says right now and Roode says they should ask the fans. The fans cheer and Roode says what the fans want Beer Money gives. Storm says “sorry ’bout yo damn luck!”
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TNA World Tag Team Championships
Steel Cage Match
Beer Money Inc. (c) vs. Rob Terry & Murphy
Back from commercials the match is already underway. Terry and Murphy are double teaming Roode in their corner. Terry picks Roode up and hits a Front Slam for a nearfall. Terry tags in Murphy and they whip Roode into the ropes and nail him with a Double Shoulder Block. Murphy covers Roode and gets another nearfall. Murphy shoves Roode into the ropes and thrusts a forearm into Roode’s back and then he does it a second time. Murphy tosses Roode into the corner and then tags Terry back in. Terry grabs Roode by the hair and then tosses him into the cage and follows up with a clothesline for another nearfall. Terry tags in Murphy again and Murphy puts the boots to Roode. Murphy taunts Roode and starts slapping him in the corner and then he whips Roode into the opposite corner, but Roode explodes out of the corner with a clothesline! The fans get behind Roode and he tags in Storm while Murphy tags in Terry. Storm connects with a series of rights on Terry and then he nails Murphy with a big right hand! Storm connects with a Flying Forearm on Terry in the corner and then he hits a Codebreaker on Murphy! Storm then ducks a clothesline from Terry and back kicks him in the gut. Terry falls to his knees and then Storm DDTs Terry as Terry was still on his knees! 1…2…NO Terry kicks out! Storm attempts to whip Terry into the corner but Terry reverses it. Terry then goes to charge at Storm but Roode catches him with the Double-R Spinebuster! Murphy tries to clothesline Roode but he ducks and Murphy runs right into the Last Call from Storm! Beer Money then hit the Beer Money Double Suplex! That move got a huge pop Sunday night and gets one here as well. Beer Money grabs Terry and hit the DWI! 1…2…3!
Winners & STILL Tag Champs: Beer Money via pinfall (DWI)
Tenay mentions that it’s another win for Fortune, and another loss for Immortal.
Earlier today we see Karen & Jarrett on a Carriage Ride or something with Jarrett putting over Karen helping him Sunday while Karen mentions Jarrett’s injured ribs. Jeff says tonight he will officially coronate Karen the Queen of the Mountain.
In the back Hulk Hogan is walking with a lead pipe in his hand.
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Hogan’s music hits and he walks out to the ring, lead pipe in hand. Hogan says the guy running the show is standing in the ring. He says he calls the shots and demands RVD come to the ring. RVD’s music immediately hits and RVD makes his way out to the ring. Wasn’t this show taped on 04/20? I’m just saying, RVD working on 04/20 is miracle.
Hogan says everyone in the building knows that RVD is a few fries short of a Happy Meal, but at Lockdown RVD blew his shot at joining Immortal. He says RVD just like Anderson made the mistake of his life and he’ll pay for it. RVD asks Hogan if he remembers back in the day, before he was such a heel, when all the boys showed him respect for carrying wrestling on his back. RVD says that he then turned that back on everyone for ratings and now everyone just wishes he’d get the hell out of the business. RVD says he may have not climbed the mountains that Hulk Hogan did, but everything he accomplished he did it with respect. RVD says 1) he’s a standup guy and 2) he’s “freaking amazing in the ring.” RVD goes super shoot on Hogan by saying “a wrestler can’t make a living in the ring just doing a Leg Drop now Hulky.” He says things have changed but RVD sure the hell want and then he throws the mic at Hogan! Hogan says RVD is on borrowed time and he mocks what RVD has done in the ring. Hogan says RVD has always been the big fish in a little pond or the little fish in a big pond. He says RVD’s career has been mediocre and without Hogan, RVD will always be a midcarder. Sting’s music interrupts him!
The World Heavyweight Champion makes his way out to the ring. Hogan says no one invited him out here but Sting says he invited himself. Sting asks if he really just heard Hogan say RVD is a midcard wrestler and mediocre at best. Sting asks if he really just heard Hogan say RVD isn’t a Main Eventer. Sting says that might be hard for everyone to digest because RVD WILL be in the Main Event at Sacrifice against Sting for the belt! Hogan asks if Sting is “high too” and wants to know if he’s been smoking the same stuff that RVD has. Hogan says if he has he wants some too because he wants to be delusional too. Sting says he’s not delusional because when he came back to TNA he knew that Spike TV put in his contract that if Sting were to win the TNA World Title again then he would not only have the privilege but also the right to choose his opponents! He says he’s choosing Rob Van Dam for Sacrifice. Hogan says Sting and Spike are floating on a cloud but the network doesn’t have the guts to get in his face because he runs the show in TNA. Sting says the execs may not be here right now but they WILL be and if he wants to say something to them to their faces then he will. Hogan says since they aren’t here now then he’ll say something to Sting. Hogan says if RVD wants to get to Sacrifice then he has a big problem because tonight the guy that filleted RVD like a fish last year, Abyss, is going to be facing RVD TONIGHT and Hogan will be in Abyss’ corner! Hogan says Sting also has a big problem because Sting will face the man with the biggest chip on his shoulder in TNA, Matt Hardy! Hogan says Hardy is going to drop the bomb on Sting for what Sting did to his brother.
In the back Kurt is looking for Karen & Jeff and they tell him about the horse and carriage and he walks away.
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Back from commercials Madison Rayne shoves Tara out of the way and Madison says it was Tara’s fault that Madison lost her belt to Mickie. She asks how she knows that Tara and Mickie weren’t in cahoots the whole time. Tara says it was Madison locked in the cage one-on-one with Mickie and Madison asks where Tara was during the match. Tara reminds Madison that she told her to stay backstage during the match. Madison screams at Tara and tells her the only way Tara may be able to get back in her good graces is if they win the KO Tag Titles tonight. She says anything less than that is unacceptable.
Angle bumps into Eric Young in the parking lot and Kurt asks where Karen & Jeff are. Young says if they’re going to be Tag Team Champions than Kurt has to relax a little bit. Young pets the two horses and says he’s been hanging out with “Mongo and Sid, the two best Horsemen of all time” (I popped for that reference). Angle isn’t amused by Young’s halfwit bit. Young is feeding the horses beans and Angle says if he feeds them beans then they’ll sh*t all over the place. Angle tells Young to go get buckets for them to sh*t or they’ll do it all over the place. As Young walks away Angle says “buckets” and then laughs as he thinks. Oh lord, I think I know where this is going. Taz says Sting’s title will be on the line tonight against Matt Hardy.
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships
Rosita & Sarita (c) w/Mexican America vs. Madison Rayne & Tara
They again show the Spanish Announce Team as Mexican American comes to the ring. Anarquia says the stupid Americans can say goodbye to the red, white, and blue and then the Mexican flag drops down from the ceiling again. VIVA MEXICO!
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Back from commercials Rosita hits a Diving Hurricanrana on Tara. Tara tries to tag in Madison but Madison turns her back on her. Tara then slaps her on the back forcefully tagging her. Sarita tags in and as Tara and Madison argue Sarita shoves Madison and then nails her with a Back Suplex. Sarita then dropskicks Madison into the corner and puts the boots to her. Sarita attempts to whip Madison into the opposite corner but Madison reverses it. Madison then charges at Sarita but Sarita gets her boots up. Madison catches Sarita’s feet and then hangs Sarita up in the ropes and slams her to the mat by the hair. Madison follows up with a Big Boot and then she trash talks Rosita. Madison starts screaming at Tara. Hernandez & Anarquia distract the referee as Rosita gets into the ring and shoves Madison into a Lariat from Sarita! 1…2…3 and Tara just watched the pin rather than breaking it up.
Winners & STILL KO Tag Champs: Sarita & Rosita via pinfall (Lariat)
After the match Madison and Tara argue some more and Tara walks away from Madison.
In the back Jeff & Karen Jarrett are walking in the back dressed up.
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Back from commercials there is a crown and throne in the ring and Karen & Jeff Jarrett make their way out to it. The fans are sh*tting all over them. Jeff says Karen’s actions from this past Sunday truly brought a tear to his “masculine baby blue eyes.” Karen says for her risking herself to help him was an act of selflessness and true love so tonight he wants to share with the entire world that true love. He says the King of the Mountain is going to officially coronate his bride, the Queen of the Mountain. Jeff says he would like for everyone in the Impact Zone and everybody at home to stand up and salute as he proudly announces for the very first time the Queen of the Mountain. He then picks up the crown and puts it on Karen’s head. Some royal sounding music hits and she starts waving to the crowd as she stands. Suddenly something falls from the ceiling on top of Karen! It’s horse sh*t! Karen gets COVERED in it! Jeff doesn’t seem too interested in helping her and just throws her a scar as she begs for help. Karen starts screaming and Taz calls her “Queen Poopy.” Kurt Angle comes into the ring as Jeff begs him off and reminds Kurt of his ribs. Kurt laughs as he looks at Karen. Kurt grabs Jeff and Angle Slams him onto the damn throne! Kurt picks up the microphone and says if Karen thinks she’s in a world of sh*t now, wait till she sees what he has planned for her next. Kurt says he would never lay a hand on the mother of his children, but he knows someone that will. He says you can call her Ms. Angle but it’s strictly business and she’s all about pain and she can’t wait to meet Karen. Kurt says “one last thing, you may want to get that sh*t off your face before you leave tonight.” Kurt laughs at Karen as she screams in anger while he walks up the ramp.
In the back Hogan is pumping Abyss up and then Hogan notices Anderson in the distance and he tells Abyss to back up behind a wall. Hogan then approaches Anderson and says he has something for him and shows him the pipe. He says he needs a word with Anderson. Hogan asks Anderson if he would happen to know what exec that Sting is talking about. Hogan says Anderson blew his chance to be a part of Lockdown and Anderson mocks Hogan saying that he’s been getting screwed over week after week by not only Hogan but by the Network so he has to be joking. Hogan says he cannot stand being in the same room with Anderson and if this would have been 8 back surgeries ago this would have ended completely different for Anderson. Anderson dares Hogan to hit him but Hogan says it’s on his time. Anderson says he’s tired of Hogan’s idle threats and he’s bored with him. He says he must go be an asshole to someone else and walks away. Hogan then walks back over to Abyss and he tells it’s not Anderson’s time yet, but now it’s RVD’s.
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Replays of Karen’s sh*t bath are shown after the break.
“Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam vs. “The Monster” Abyss w/Hulk Hogan
This is a rematch from way back last year when RVD defeated Abyss in the Stairway To Janice Ladder Match and of course later on when Abyss put RVD on the shelf for a few months, and then RVD returned to face Abyss at Bound for Glory in Monsters Ball. RVD won both of those previous meetings. RVD attacks Abyss as he gets in the ring. Abyss shoves RVD and then goes for a clothesline, but RVD ducks and then connects with a STIFF Springboard Back Kick which if you have been reading the net you know knocked out several of Abyss’ teeth and caused him to have surgery today. You could clearly see Abyss immediately grab his jaw and then he we can see A LOT of blood in Abyss’ mouth. As RVD reaches down to grab Abyss you can tell that he realized Abyss was legit hurt as he instead of picking him up, hit a Corkscrew Leg Drop and then he set up for Rolling Thunder but Hogan grabbed RVD’s leg. Abyss gets to his feet and nails RVD with a Big Boot as he turns around. Abyss picks RVD and connects with a series of right hands on RVD in the corner. Abyss keeps reaching up and grabbing his jaw as blood continues to spill out. Abyss then connects with a Corner Splash on RVD and then he locks RVD in a Headlock. RVD tries to break the hold but Abyss cuts him off and then shoves him into the corner. Abyss charges but RVD gets a foot up. Abyss grabs the foot and swats it away and then attempts a clothesline, but RVD ducks and connects with a Back Heel Kick and then a front kick. Both men are down now. RVD gets to his feet and connects with Rolling Thunder! RVD springs to the top and dives off with the Flying Back Kick! Hogan swings the pipe at RVD’s legs but he side steps it and climbs out to the floor and gets in Hogan’s face. The referee gets between them and actually tries to kick Hogan from ringside. Hogan tells him that he runs the show. As they were arguing Hogan tossed the pipe into Abyss and Abyss blasts RVD with it! Abyss then hits the Black Hole Slam! 1….2…3!
Winner: Abyss via pinfall (Black Hole Slam)
After the match Abyss continues to beat RVD down and then he holds RVD as Hogan gets ready to hit RVD with the pipe, but Crimson’s music hits and he charges to the ring. Abyss swings the pipe at Crimson but he ducks and connects a big Spear on Abyss!
In the back Sting says he’s first in line in fighting to get Jeff Hardy back in TNA but Hogan is so flustered because Spike put one over on him. He mocks Hogan making him do what he does for a living, WRESTLE. Sting says he’s going to show up and wrestle because it’s going to be SHOWTIME!
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In the back Matt Hardy is holding Jeff Hardy’s custom World Title Belt and he says that it meant the world to Jeff, but Sting just threw it on the ground like it was a piece of sh!t and it meant nothing. Hardy says tonight he will take Sting’s World Title from him and tonight he will destroy everything Sting is.
Matt Morgan’s music hits and “The DNA of TNA” comes out to the ring fresh off his win over Hernandez in the Steel Cage Match at Lockdown. Morgan says he put an exclamation point at the end of his feud with Hernandez and with that behind him its time he gets back on track to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. Morgan says since everyone is just handing out World Title opportunities, Blueprint needs to be #1 on the list of contenders. He says the waiting game for him is stale and he’s sick of waiting for his time to come. He says his time is now and if he doesn’t get it then he’ll take it! Scott Steiner’s music interrupts Morgan!
Steiner walks out to the ring and let’s not forget back when Morgan was trying to get into the Main Event Mafia back a few years ago. Steiner says everyday that he wakes up he wakes up in a good mood but something happens and it never fails and something pisses him off. He says Morgan claims to be the DNA of TNA, but he says if he had Morgan’s genetics then he’d shoot himself. He takes that back and he says he’d kill himself and then hang himself. Steiner says Morgan will never have arms as big as him, never be as ripped as Steiner, and that’s because Morgan is what he is and he’ll never be Steiner. Steiner says another thing that pisses him off is Morgan says he deserves a World Title shot. Morgan says that’s right and Steiner says he’s a disrespecting piece of sh!t. Morgan tells Steiner to get the bass out of his voice but Steiner says the line for World Title shots starts behind him. He says he’s been a World Champion and he’s beaten guys better, bigger, and stronger than Morgan. Steiner says he’s the Genetic Freak and Morgan is beneath him just like Morgan’s girlfriend was last night! Morgan says he does respect Steiner and the reason he respects him is because Scott is the pioneer collegiate who made good and went on to Pro Wrestling. Morgan says he’s a two sport collegiate athlete and he looked up to Steiner. He also says Steiner is one of the first guys who brought the word athleticism back to Pro Wrestling so he does respect Steiner, but he then tells Steiner to never confuse his respect as a sign of weakness. Morgan says there isn’t a damn thing on his frame that’s weak. Morgan says if Steiner wants to do this or the fans want to see it then that’s fine with him. He offers his hand to Steiner and Steiner accepts it but then he kicks Morgan in the nuts! Steiner then hits Morgan with the Steiner Flatliner and locks in the Steiner Recliner. He talks trash to Morgan the whole time he has Morgan locked in it.
In the back Ms. Tessmacher says it’s been about 4 months since she’s been in TNA and there’s been a lot of changes. She takes her glasses off and says the only thing that hasn’t change is her will for the KO Championship. She says she’s been training this whole time and she has one thing to say to the “bitches” in TNA is Ms. Tessmacher is back.
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In the back Velvet Sky says Angelina Love has been her best friend for years and she went too far when she DDT’ed her last week and she knows that she’s not under her own power but she doesn’t know what to do. Winter walks in and tells Velvet to stop bitching about something she knows nothing about. Winter says it sounds like Velvet is trying to accuse her of something and she wants to know what that is. Velvet says she knows for a fact that Winter drugged Angelina and she’s going to go to the authorities and the only reason she hasn’t yet is she wants to take care of Winter herself. Angelina Love blasts Velvet from behind and then kicks her and throws her into the wall. Winter laughs and says next week they’ll clean the rest of this up. Oh lord that was awful.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
“The Icon” Sting (c) vs. “Cold Blood” Matt Hardy
Hardy actually wears Jeff’s custom belt to the ring. Immortal shows up between Sting and the ring as Sting was making his entrance, but then Fortune shows up and attacks Immortal! Fortune beats Immortal to the back as Sting watches it. Matt Hardy goes down to attack Sting but Sting blocks his shot and beats Hardy around ringside. As Sting was getting ready to toss Hardy into the ring Gunner shows up and attacks Sting from behind with a pipe! No DQ there because the match hadn’t started yet! Hardy rolls Sting in the ring and the bell rings as Hardy attacks the leg that Gunner hit with the pipe. Hardy slams the leg into the mat repeatedly but Sting kicks Hardy away with the free leg. Sting hits Hardy with lefts and rights but Hardy ducks the third shot and connects with a Sleeper Slam. Hardy climbs up to the middle rope and connects with a Guillotine Leg Drop for a nearfall. Matt climbs up top and goes for the Moonsault, but Sting rolls out of the way. Sting gets to his feet and limps over to Matt and locks in the Scorpion Death Lock, but as Sting rolled him over Hardy is able to break it and fling Sting aside. Hardy the chop blocks Sting’s injured leg. Hardy covers Sting and gets a nearfall. Hardy then starts working on the leg again slamming it to the mat and he gets another nearfall. Hardy grabs the leg and locks in a Half Boston Crab! Sting is able to roll over and kick Hardy with the free leg. Hardy goes for an elbow drop but Sting rolls out of the way.
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Sting hits Hardy with back hands and elbows back from commercials but Hardy shoves him into the corner and hits Sting with shoulder blocks. Hardy grabs Sting’s injured leg and ties it up in the ropes and kicks it. Hardy kicks the leg again as Sting limps away from Hardy to try and get some space. Hardy then elbow drops the leg and locks in a Knee Lock. Sting’s shoulders were down on the mat twice and Hardy was able to get nearfalls both times. Hardy elbow drops the knee again and again. Hardy then punches Sting and taunts the crowd. Hardy waits for Sting to get to his feet and goes for Twist of Fate, but Sting shoves him into the ropes. Hardy hits Sting with a back elbow and then climbs up top but Sting grabs him by the leg and slams him to the mat by it! Sting hits Hardy with rights and lefts and then a clothesline followed by a 2nd one and then a third. Sting goes for a Stinger Splash but Hardy moves and then charges at Sting but Sting Snake Eyes Matt in the corner and connects with the Scorpion Death Drop! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL World Champ: Sting via pinfall (Scorpion Death Drop)
Anderson runs out after the match and Mic Checks Sting! Anderson then grabs Hardy and hits the Mic Check on him! The mic drops down to Anderson and he says “hey Stingy, in case you didn’t know I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” Anderson says pretty soon it will be “1…2…3” and then he drops the mic.
In the back Karen is screaming about Kurt, still covered in sh!t, and she screams about the woman Kurt was talking about. Jeff tells her to shutup and Karen says this is bullsh!t but no Karen that was horse sh!t actually.
Hogan says Anderson is smarter than he looks and he had a chance to be Immortal. He says Lockdown was his final chance and this will be his demise. Hogan says he’s tired of the Network playing games and he says Dixie Carter is in some resthome in Nashville, he runs the company. Hogan says when the network grows a set and gets in his face they’ll realize what they’ve done.
Anderson says he doesn’t like too many people and if Sting & Hardy’s heads were on fire he wouldn’t piss on them to put them out.
Sting says he doesn’t care about the execs right now and screams at the cameraman and asks if he saw what just happened. He says revenge is on his mind.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Tonight was up and down coming off of what I thought was a really fun PPV this past Sunday.
The opening segment was really done well and the visual of AJ coming down from the ceiling into the cage was really cool. I think this feud between AJ and Ray can be freaking great stuff. Ray has been absolutely GOLD since the Bully Ray character turn and AJ is the ultra babyface. AJ-Bully Ray could actually end up being a really great match if they take it to a Street Fight/Falls Count Anywhere type of match. That should end up happening at Sacrifice and be one of the better matches on the card. Daniels-Gunner is kind of weird but it is interesting to see if Daniels actually takes the belt from Gunner. First because he’s already the ROH TV Champion so he would be the TNA TV Champion too. Also, a guy like Daniels can pick up where AJ and Doug Williams left off earlier this year by making that belt mean something. Daniels has done so much in the X-Division, he can always go back there, but at this point with him aligned with Fortune (and Kazarian in Fortune) that doesn’t seem like a good idea.
I really question the logic or even need to have a Steel Cage Match coming off of an all-Steel Cage Match PPV just 4 days earlier. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t know if they were trying to make people interested in buying the replay or what. The match itself was okay and did make Beer Money look strong by accepting a Steel Cage challenge out of nowhere and win the match. I’m not sure where they’ll go with Beer Money. With AJ feuding with Bully Ray, Daniels and Gunner likely starting one, and Kazarian has a feud already set up with Max Buck after he won X-Division Xscape and a title shot. It looks like Ink, Inc. is really the only logical choice at this point with them winning their match at Lockdown. TNA really needs to further the Tag Division and get some new challengers coming. There is a certain tag team tearing it up in ROH right now that would fit in perfect in TNA and they are former buddies of Kurt Angle. I’m just saying. Terry and Murphy are jobbers and really add nothing to the company at all. It blows my mind that these two still have jobs while Jay Lethal just got cut.
KO Tag action was okay but really just there to further the dissension between Tara and Madison and it’s obvious that feud is where we’re heading toward. With Mickie’s injury I could completely see Mickie dropping the belt to Tara and then Tara and Madison feud over the belt. Mickie would have the built-in feud with Tara when she returned. That is if her shoulder needs surgery.
The Karen Angle-horse sh!t stuff got a little chuckle out of me but it’s just weird how they’ve booked this whole feud. One minute they want to commit murder and the next it’s humor. I’m pretty confident on who the woman Kurt is teasing to come in is and I have no desire to see her in TNA. If you don’t know, just look up Isis the Amazon. She’s as green in the ring as Great Khali and is going to be random as hell for Kurt to bring her in.
Abyss-RVD was an okay match but I have to give Abyss a ton of props and respect for working that match (and the taping the next day) despite damn near all his front teeth being knocked out due to that stiff kick from RVD. That was a nasty injury and made him look like a beast in mind continuing to work afterward.
Ms. Tessmacher coming back in pointless, no need for her. She can’t work and is just a pretty face (and body).
The Beautiful People-Winter stuff continues to be dumb as hell and the segment tonight was AWFUL. Velvet’s acting was atrocious.
Morgan-Steiner is kind of random but at least they gave a reason for the feud I guess. I don’t see this match being very good though. Steiner is always great for a few laughs on the mic.
The Hogan/Sting/RVD promo was alright I guess but really the same old stuff but with Sting revealing he can choose his opponents. Whatever.
Hardy-Sting was actually pretty good, Hardy worked the hell out of Sting’s leg following Gunner’s attack on it, and the way Fortune came from behind Sting and jumped Immortal looked really cool. We got a clean finish which is always welcome in Russoville but kind of came out of nowhere which does work with the whole Hardy destroying his knee thing and Sting surprising Hardy from out of nowhere with the Scorpion thing. Anderson coming out leads me to believe we’re headed toward another 3-Way which I don’t mind because the build towards Lockdown was really good and they had an entertaining, but short match at Lockdown. A 3-Way with no cage could give them a little more freedom and could be even better.
–Promo/Segment of the Night: AJ/Bully Ray
–Match of the Night: Sting vs. Matt Hardy (**1/2)
–Overall Grade: C+
Scheduled for Next Week:
-n/a
Sacrifice Lineup:
-TNA World Title: Sting (c) vs. Rob Van Dam