Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida (Impact Wrestling Zone)
June 23, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Impact opens up with highlights from last week. In the back Jeff Jarrett is talking with Eric Bischoff about the BFG Series. What the hell? Jarrett pretty much says he wants to be in the series, Bischoff says Jeff lost and he has to go to Mexico. Jarrett says it was a ‘joke’ and he knows it but Bischoff says the network doesn’t know it and he says they promoted the stipulation so they have to live up to it. Bischoff says for Immortal to have the control and the power they want they have to expand. He says they need a bigger presence and they need to control Mexico. Bischoff says no one is better than Jarrett to do that. Jarrett says he hates Mexican food. Jeff asks Eric if Karen is really going to go to Mexico. Bischoff does the “money” sign and says “yep.” Bischoff tells Jeff to make it happen and Jeff says he has his work cut out for him. Jeff says “adios” and Bischoff walks off. Jeff looks off and says “Dos Double J?”
Eric Bischoff walks out to the ring to kick Impact Wrestling off. Bischoff calls Sting an ungrateful son of a bitch and tells him to get to the ring right now and Sting doesn’t make him wait.
The former TNA Champion makes his way down to the ring and his face paint is crazy as hell tonight, looks like he’s The Joker or something. Tenay says that Sting “lost it” last week and Taz says it looks like Sting “hasn’t found it yet” either and says Sting was “talking to himself” earlier today. Bischoff says he has something to say to Sting but unlike Sting he’s not a coward and will say it to his face. Bischoff asks Sting if he thought for a second he wouldn’t find out what Sting did last week with Hogan. Bischoff calls Sting an ungrateful son of a bitch again and says he did nothing but treat Sting with respect from day 1. Bischoff asks how much slack he has to cut Sting and asks him what he wants. Sting says what hurts most are his feelings and he fakes crying and says “Eric…you…cussed at me Eric!” and mocks him. Sting says before he snaps Bischoff’s scrawny little neck, and that’s exactly what he plans on doing, he’s going to tell Bischoff why they never got along. Sting says it’s because Bischoff is a con artist, a thief, and a liar. Sting says Bischoff is a lowlife and a loser and the scum of the earth. He finally calls him a dirtbag and starts laughing uncontrollably as Taz says he’s nut. Sting says Bischoff is a really bad virus or a cancer and like a cockroach that called in under the door, Bischoff ended up in TNA. Sting says cockroaches spread disease and that disease has spread to Hogan and it’s only a matter of time before Hogan’s eyes open.
Bischoff says no matter how hard Sting tries he will never get between he and Hogan and nothing Sting says will change that. Bischoff says the only thing that’s going to change is Sting. Bischoff says Sting may have a rematch on July 14th with Mr. Anderson but he has the ability to change that. Bischoff says tonight Sting will face Abyss to assure that even if Sting makes it to July 14th he won’t be in any shape to win anything let alone the belt. Sting says Bischoff said that with such conviction said it like Sting has a price to pay, but he’s wrong because Eric has the price to pay. Sting takes off his jacket and backs Bischoff into a corner.
Sting grabs Bischoff and starts beating on him! The fans go nuts as Sting beats down Bischoff and then drops him with the Scorpion Death Drop! Sting takes out the face paint and starts scribbling on Bischoff’s face. Sting has lost his damn mind. He turns to Bischoff and locks him in the Scorpion Death Lock! Sting laughs uncontrollably as Bischoff repeatedly taps out and screams in pain!
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Clips of the BFG Series Matches that were held at live events. Nice, I’m glad they didn’t ignore these matches and actually showed clips. AJ says ‘you win some, you lose some’ about his loss to Gunner and says he doesn’t make excuses. Heading into tonight Matt Morgan, AJ Styles, RVD, Gunner, & Scott Steiner have each earned 7 points while Bully Ray, Storm, Crimson, Pope, Roode, Devon, & Joe have yet to score. Tonight Beer Money faces Crimson & Matt Morgan while Bully Ray faces Scott Steiner one-on-on in the BFG Series.
BFG Series
“Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner vs. Bully Ray
At least Christy Hemme is announcing that Steiner is from “Detroit, MI” now rather than “The University of Michigan in Detroit, MI” like she did at Slammiversary. As Ray comes to the ring clips of Bully Ray and AJ’s show stealing match at Slammiversary are shown. Tenay & Taz really put over how brutal that match was nicely. Steiner and Ray talk trash to each other and then they lockup and finally Ray hits Steiner with a big blow to the back and then an elbow to the back of the head. Ray lights Steiner up with a stiff chop and then he attempts a Corner Splash but Steiner moves and puts the boots to Ray. Steiner follows up with a Hip Toss. Ray tells the referee that Steiner threw him by his necklace. Steiner kicks Ray and then nails him with right hands. Steiner whips Ray into the ropes and connects with a Steinerline followed by the Elbow Drop. 1…no Steiner starts showing Ray up with pushups. Steiner puts the boots to Steiner in a corner and then whips him into the opposite corner. Steiner charges at Ray but Ray gets his boot up. Ray covers Steiner and gets a nearfall and then he covers again for a nearfall and again a third time. Ray talks trash to Steiner and beats on his back before hitting a Scoop Slam. Ray follows up with an Elbow Drop for another nearfall. He covers again and gets another nearfall. Ray hits Steiner with repeated crossfaces and then waits for Steiner to get to his feet and goes for the Bully Bomb, but Steiner blocks it and counters into a Back Suplex! Ray and Steiner get to their feet and exchange right hands in the center of the ring! Steiner gets the advantage and then whips Ray into the ropes and connects with a second Steinerline followed by another one! Steiner whips Ray into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Ray kicks him in the head only to eat a T-Bone Suplex from Steiner! 1…2…NO Ray kicks out! Steiner attempts to whip Ray into the corner but Ray blocks it and Steiner goes to whip him into the closet corner but the referee was there and Ray slams into him! Ray turns around into a Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex! Steiner grabs Ray and locks in the Steiner Recliner! Ray taps but the referee is still trying to recover! Steiner goes to the referee and tries to revive him and then turns around and walks into a shot from Bully Ray’s chain! The referee recovers, 1…2…3! Bully Ray gets on the board with 7 points!
Winner: Ray via pinfall (chain shot)
Bully Ray: 7 points
Steiner: 7 points
In the back Bischoff tells Abyss to take care of Sting and he wants to see bits and pieces of Sting all over the Impact Zone. He tells Abyss to get it done and get out of his sight. Anderson walks in and says Bischoff wanted to see him. Anderson is laughing and Bischoff asks if he thinks this whole thing is funny and calls him a smartass. Bischoff says he put himself in harm’s way for Anderson and Anderson laughs and says he was in the back eating a freaking hamburger when that happened so he has no idea what he’s talking about. Bischoff says they made sure Anderson could beat Sting at Slammiversary and he says Gunner softened Sting up and he was there for Anderson in the match. Bischoff asks Anderson if he wants what happened to him happen to Anderson or does he want to come over to Immortal and everything be okay. Bischoff tells Anderson to think about it and Anderson jokingly says “I hope you feel better” and walks out.
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In the back Steiner is looking for Bully Ray and throwing stuff around. He says Ray is a dead man. At the announce table talking about the X-Division Showcase Tournament and announce the 3-Way for tonight will feature 3 brand new stars that have never appeared in TNA. It will be Zema Ion vs. Federico Palacios vs. Dakota Darsow.
They show vignettes hyping the Zema Ion. Zema Ion is Xiima Shion who has wrestled all over the world including for AAA in Mexico. They actually have footage from his stints in Jersey All Pro Wrestling that they show during the video packages. Zema introduces himself and talks about being from Phillipines and being made for the X-Division. That was an awesome introduction.
Velvet Sky & Ms. Tessmacher walk out to the ring. Sky says after what ODB & Jackie did to her last week she and Tessmacher took it upon themselves to ask for a match with them in a No Holds Barred Match! Velvet says TNA agreed to a match but there is one stipulation, since neither ODB or Jackie have a contract it has to be a straight up match.
Velvet Sky & Ms. Tessmacher vs. ODB & Jacqueline Moore
Velvet & Tessmacher meet ODB & Jackie on the ramp and the brawl is on! Earl Hebner tries to get them in the ring. Velvet throws ODB into the ring steps and Tessmacher throws Jackie into the ring apron. The two teams brawl around ringside for several minutes. Velvet slams ODB into the apron while Tessmacher chokes Jackie. ODB comes back kicking Velvet in the gut and then choking her. Velvet rolls into the ring and ODB follows as we go to a break.
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Back from the break Jackie is beating on Tessmacher in the ring with knee strikes. Jackie tags in ODB and she chokes Tessmacher in the corner and then slaps her repeatedly. Tessmacher explosed out of the corner with forearms but ODB cuts her off with a headbutt. On the outside Velvet trips Jackie and they brawl around ringside. In the ring Tessmacher hits a Jawbreaker out of nowhere! Jackie rolls into the ring and she and ODB cut Tessmacher off so she can’t tag in Velvet. Jackie tags in officially continues to beat on Tessmacher and then she connects with a Snapmare Takeover and locks in a chinlock. ODB tags back in and stomps on Tessmacher. Jackie tags right back in and puts the boots to Tessmacher while talking trash. Tessmacher tries to fight back again with a Forearm but ODB tags back in only to eat a Spear out of nowhere from Tessmacher! Tessmacher tags in Velvet and she nails Jackie & ODB with several clotheslines! She then hits a Double Clothesline! Tessmacher brawls with ODB out to the floor while Velvet chokes Jackie in the ring. ODB slams Tessmacher into the guardrail and then tackles Velvet in the ring and beats on her. Earl Hebner pulls ODB off Velvet and then Velvet kicks Velvet in the…ummm crotch. Jackie then covers Velvet as Earl turns around and gets the pin.
Winners: Jackie & ODB via pinfall (low blow)
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In the back Zema Ion is getting ready for his match and now we learn about Frederico Palacios who is from Argentina. We see more footage from AJPW of him while he puts himself over and talks about his hard work to get to TNA.
In the back Tara says she can’t wait until July 14th when she finally gets her hands on Madison Rayne where she will destroy her. Madison walks up and says Tara just can’t keep her name out of her mouth. Madison is giving Tara one chance to back out of this match and beg her for forgiveness. Tara says she’ll pass and Madison slaps her hard! Tara slams Madison into a wall and says “BITCH! YOU’RE MINE!” and tells Madison to never touch her again.
We cut to Beer Money where Storm tells Roode that he isn’t 100% so he shouldn’t be in the ring. Roode says he knows he’s not 100% and he hasn’t even been cleared to wrestle, but it’s not every day that you get a chance at the World Title and they have that chance in the BFG Series. Storm says Roode could seriously injure himself but Roode stops him and says they both got into the business to become World Champions some day. He says they’re the best Tag Team but the BFG Series is a chance for them to fulfill a dream. Storm agrees and that match is up next!
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In the back Steiner is threatening Immortal with a chain. Ray holds him off with a bench and he says he did the same thing to Steiner that Steiner would have done to him. Ray suggests Steiner joining Immortal and Ray says he did exactly what Steiner would have done. Ray tries to talk Ray into joining Immortal and says he’ll talk to Hogan & Bischoff. Steiner throws the chain at him and says he’ll think about it.
BFG Series
Beer Money Inc. vs. “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan & Crimson
Morgan already has 7 points so a win here would give him the lead in the BFG Series. Tenay points out that ONLY the winner of the fall gets the points so both members of a team don’t get points for a win. Roode and Crimson will start the match off. They lockup and Crimson forces Roode into a corner. They break clean and then Roode ducks a lockup attempt and hits a Waistlock Takeover followed by a Front Headlock. Crimson gets to his feet and runs Roode into the corner. Crimson hits a series of shoulder blocks in the corner and then whips Roode into the opposite corner, but Roode floats up and over the charging Crimson. Roode lights Crimson up with chops and then he hits a Snapmare Takeover followed by a Rolling Neckbreaker as Crimson was seated on the mat. Roode attempts to whip Crimson into the ropes but Crimson reverses it and hits a big Shoulder Block and Roode sells it like he just got shot selling the shoulder injury. Roode immediately tags in Storm so Crimson tags in Morgan. Storm and Morgan lockup and Morgan tosses Storm backwards. They lockup again and again Morgan tosses Storm away. This time Storm ducks the lockup attempt and locks in a Waistlock. Morgan backs Storm into the corner and goes for the Back Elbows but Storm ducks them every time. Morgan backs away and then swings at Storm but Storm ducks and lights Morgan up with a big Uppercut. Storm then charges at Morgan but Morgan backdrops him over the top. Storm lands on the apron and hits a Jawbreaker on Morgan on the top rope. Storm slides back in and connects with a Codebreaker on Morgan followed by a Leaping Neckbreaker! 1…2…NO Morgan kicks out! Storm attempts to whip Morgan into the ropes but Morgan reverses it and Storm blocks that whip attempt and Back Kicks Morgan in the gut. Storm hits the ropes but eats a Discus Clothesline from Morgan for a nearfall. Morgan shoves Storm into the corner and nails him with those nasty Back Elbows. Morgan tags Crimson in and Crimson and locks in a Cravate. Tenay says next week AJ goes one-on-one with Gunner. Crimson nails Storm with repeated Knee Strikes followed by a Swinging Neckbreaker for a nearfall. Morgan tags in and eats an uppercut from Storm but then answers with a Michinoku Driver! 1…2…NO Storm kicks out! Crimson tags back in and throws Storm into the corner. Crimson goes for a Scoop Slam but Storm blocks it and hits the Backstabber! Both men are down now! Roode is getting the crowd fired up as is Morgan! Both men tag out! Roode ducks a clothesline from Morgan and hits one of his own but Morgan doesn’t go down. Roode hits another Running Clothesline and again Morgan doesn’t go down! Roode hits the ropes and dropkicks Morgan’s legs to finally take him down. Roode then attempts to whip Morgan into the corner but Morgan reverses it. Morgan then attempts the Carbon Footprint but Roode sidesteps it and Morgan gets his foot caught up in the ropes. Roode then starts putting the boots to that leg. Roode attempts to whip Morgan into the ropes but Morgan reverses it only to eat a Flying Forearm from Roode! Roode then knocks Crimson off the apron and climbs up top. Roode dives off the top but Morgan catches him by the throat in midmove! Morgan goes for the Chokeslam but Roode counters into the Fujiwara Armbar! Crimson breaks up the submission hold and then hits Roode with knees in the corner. Crimson attempts to whip Roode into the corner but Roode reverses it and sends Crimson into the Beer Money corner where Storm greets him with a Leaping Enziguri from the apron! Beer Money grab Crimson and hit the Beer Money Double Suplex! Morgan rolls back into the ring and Double Clotheslines Beer Money! Morgan whips Roode into the corner and charges but Roode gets his feet up. Roode climbs up top again and dives off with the Blockbuster! Roode sells the arm again and then Roode backdrops a charging Storm over the top into a Plancha on Crimson! Roode sells the arm again and then turns around into the Carbon Footprint from Morgan! 1…2…3!
Winners: Morgan & Crimson via pinfall (Carbon Footprint)
Matt Morgan: 14 points
Crimson: 0
Storm: 0
Roode: 0
Taz points out that it wasn’t smart for Roode to backdrop Storm over the top with the injured arm and Storm looks stunned that they were beaten.
In the back Abyss says he follows two warriors, Sun Tzu and Eric Bischoff. He says they both have taught him that it is better to take your enemies possessions and hold them in tact to destroy them. He holds up the X-Division Title. Abyss says tonight is Sting’s time and he will be destroyed. Abyss says “as Sun Tzu says, no nation has benefited from a prolonged war” and tonight he will take Sting out quickly but not TOO quickly.
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Earlier today Eric Young was searching for some television star but some guy tells EY that he won’t face EY. EY is searching for Popeye.
AJ Styles music hits and fresh off his brutal match with Bully Ray at Slammiversary AJ makes his way down to the ring. Tenay puts over AJ’s accomplishments as he comes down to the ring and Taz says that AJ has a huge announcement regarding Destination X right now! AJ says we are 3 weeks away from one of the most exciting PPVs of the year, Destination X. AJ says there are guys trying to just be a part of it and why? Because Destination X will be an ALL X-Division PPV for the very first time! AJ says To Whom It May Concern whether it’s Bischoff or Hogan or the Network, if TNA is having an all X-Division PPV then AJ is coming home to the X-Division at DX! A big “X-Division” chant starts and AJ says he understand that the 4-sides is traditional, but for one night only maybe they could bring back the six sides! AJ says he was the very first X-Division Champion and no one can take that from him but there were other guys that put their bodies on the line like Elix Skipper, Kid Kash, Low-Ki, and Jerry Lynn and he says those guys are responsible for the most amazing and excited movement in TNA. Samoa Joe’s music cuts him off!
Joe walks down to the ring, the 4-time X-Division Champion. Joe says he didn’t come out to disagree with AJ and says that AJ is absolutely right. Joe says that they and all the fans have a lot to be excited about when it comes to DX. Joe says if he had to name one man that pioneered what it means to be in the X-Division then that man would be AJ. Joe says but there is one cold hard fact that AJ is forgetting and that fact is the X-Division wasn’t hot until Samoa Joe got in TNA. Joe says the X-Division wasn’t taken very seriously until Joe ran rough shot over the entire division INCLUDING AJ. Joe says at the end of the day the X-Division went from being a feature to headlining PPV where it belongs. Joe says AJ may be the heart of the X-Division but Joe gave it it’s balls. Joe says he didn’t come out to start something he came out to suggest something. Joe says he can’t think of a better match to headline DX than…Fortune’s music cuts him off!
Christopher Daniels makes his way down to the ring yet another MULTI time X-Division Champion. Daniels says if there is going to be a discussion about the match that headlines DX then it’s only fair that the joins in. Daniels says when you talk about the X-Division the same names keep coming up in the discussion and he points at everyone in the ring. Daniels suggests at DX they give the fans what they want, the match they want to see one more time. AJ vs. Daniels one-on-one. Joe can’t believe that he said that rather than the 3-Way. A “what about Joe” chant starts and Daniels tells AJ to think about what TNA stands for and they come out and talk about Wrestling Matters. He says what better way to emphasize that then put the two best wrestlers in the company face to face. He asks AJ if he’s in and AJ says “lets do it!” Joe can’t believe it and gets in AJ’s face and says something as Daniels smiles and leaves the ring. That was not what I expected.
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In the back Kaz asks what that was all about. Daniels tells him not to overanalyze it and says Daniels vs. AJ, it get’s no better and it’s the spirit of competition. Daniels walks off and Kaz looks dejected. Joe walks up and says he had no idea they filmed the “Real Housewives of Fortune” in TNA too. Joe says he hopes that Kaz and the gals can get on the same page but admits it does make for some compelling competition. Kaz says what would make for some compelling TV would be if he smacked Joe upside his big ass head and it doesn’t concern him. As he walks off Joe grabs Kaz and slams him into the wall and then calls him a “punk bitch” and walks away.
We cut to another vignette hyping the X-Division guys, this time the son of Barry Darsow (Smash from Demolition), Dakota Darsow. He says he’s the “Greatest thing in the world” and he doesn’t limit himself. Dakota says he looks like a movie star, and acts like a rockstar because he’s a superstar.
Destination X Qualifying 3-Way Dance
Dakota Darsow vs. Zema Ion vs. Federico Palacios
At the bell Zema shoves Darsow off the top rope as he was posing to the crowd. One thing to note that I love, TNA actually put a graphic up on the screen that said “Ion in Light Blue, Palacios in Blue, and Darsow in Gold” to let the fans know who’s who if you can’t tell which would be really helpful here in my opinion with 3 brand new guys. Palacios grabs Ion in a Waistlock and rolls him up! 1…2…NO Ion kicks out sending Palacios into the ropes where Darsow grabs him and drags him out to the floor! Ion tries to grab Darsow as he starts to get back in the ring but Darsow hits a shoulderblock through the ropes and then kicks Ion in the head! Darsow climbs into the ring and covers Ion for a nearfall. Palacios comes back in and eats right hands from Darsow. Darsow attempts to whip Palacios in the corner but he reverses it and then hits a Running Dropkick in the corner. Palacios then tries to kick Ion but he blocks it and hits a Spike DDT! Ion covers for a nearfall before Darsow breaks it up. Darsow puts the boots to Ion and then hits a Vertical Suplex followed by a Splash and then a Knee Drop and then a Running Leg Drop for another nearfall. Darsow mounts Palacios and hits several right hands. Ion is up top and dives off with a Missile Dropkick on Darsow. Darsow rolls out to the floor and Ion chops away at Palacios. Ion then attempts to whip him into the ropes but Palacios reverses it. Ion leaps up onto the shoulders of Palacios but Palacios drops him down with an Electric Chair Drop. Darsow starts to climb back in the ring but Palacios dropkicks him through the ropes to the floor. Palacios then hits an Oklahoma Roll on Ion and gets a nearfall. Palacios goes for a Back Suplex but Ion blocks it and hits a Back Suplex into a Gutbuster! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! Ion celebrates the move and eats a Bulldog for his troubles from Darsow! Darsow hits Palacios with right hands and then puts the boots to Ion. Darsow hits a Back Elbow to Palacios and then charges at him but Palacios side steps him and sends him out to the floor. Palacios then walks into a Knife Edge Chop from Ion. Ion whips Palacios into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Palacios ducks and hits a Tope Suicida through the ropes onto Darsow on the floor! Ion climbs on to the top rope and hits an absolutely disgusting Corkscrew Moonsault on Palacios! Ion rolls Darsow into the ring and charges at Darsow where he leaps to the rope and then backflips off. He charges again but this time eats a boot from Darsow. Darsow climbs up top and hits a Diving Moonsault! 1…2…NO Palacios breaks it up with a Diving Double Foot Stomp off the top! Tenay says next week 3 more X-Division veterans fight! Palacios sets up for a Superplex on Ion from the top but Ion shoves Palacios off the top to the floor! Darsow hits Ion with a Leaping Kick and then he climbs up with Ion and sets up for a Frankensteiner but Ion shoves him off! 450-Splash! 1…2…3!
Winner: Zema Ion via pinfall (450-Splash)
In the back RVD talks about the BFG Series. He says the BFG Series has his name written all over it and this DX PPV getting so much buzz he might as well jump in on that too since the X-Division guys are just trying to be RVD anyway. Guess who walks up behind RVD?! That’s right “The NEW F’N Show” JERRY LYNN! RVD says he was X-Division before there was an X-Division, but Lynn cuts him off and says “don’t you mean WE were X-Division before there was an X-Division? I think so.” He walks off and RVD says “Jerry Lynn?” and smiles. AWESOME! That subtle sh!t is all that match needs!
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In the back Winter and Mickie James are brawling in the back as the Street Fight is already underway!
Street Fight
Mickie James vs. Winter
Winter tosses Mickie into a trash can and then talks trash to her, but Mickie answers with body shots and forearms. Winter punches Mickie in the face and then shoves her into some fencing. Winter whips Mickie with a strap REPEATEDLY! Winter says she’ll whip Mickie all the way to the ring if she has to. Winter chokes Mickie with the belt and then tosses Mickie out onto the stage. Winter slams Mickie into part of the stage but Mickie answers with kicks and punches. Mickie climbs up a part of the stage and dives off with a Thesz Press! Mickie grabs the belt and starts swinging at Winter. Mickie and Winter literally roll down the ramp to the ring brawling the whole way! Mickie tosses Winter at ringside by her hair but then Winter shoves Mickie into the guardrail only to eat Mickie’s boots. Mickie lifts herself up with the guardrail and hits the Mickiecanrana on Winter on the outside! Mickie rolls Winter into the ring and climbs up top. Mickie dives off the top with a Missile Dropkick! Angelina Love runs out and hits her Reverse DDT/Backstabber finish on Mickie and then Winter covers her, 1…2…3!
Winner: Winter via pinfall
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Main Event
“The Icon” Sting vs. “The Monster” Abyss
We get the Boxing Style Intros again this week. As Abyss is being introduced Sting goes ahead and jumps him! Sting takes it to Abyss with right hands and then he attempts to whip Abyss into the corner but Abyss blocks it and nails Sting with a right hand. Abyss shoves Sting into the corner but Sting explodes right back out with a HUGE shoulder block that takes Abyss down! Sting puts the boots to Abyss in the corner and then he whips Abyss into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Abyss kicks him. Abyss goes for a clothesline but Sting ducks and then clotheslines Abyss over the top! Sting climbs out tot eh floor and nails Abyss with rights and back hands but Abyss then side steps a charging Sting and Sting runs into the ring post. Abyss rolls Sting back into the ring and starts the beat down on Sting. Abyss hits Sting with right hands in the corner and then chokes him. Abyss chases off the referee and then hits the Corner Splash. Abyss taunts Sting and talks trash to him. Abyss picks Sting up and locks in an Armbar while twisting on Sting’s head. Sting fights it off with back elbows and right hands. Sting hits the ropes but Abyss catches him in and Chokeslams him! 1…2…NO Sting kicks out! Abyss can’t believe Sting kicked out. Abyss picks up the Art of War and reads it and then kicks Sting in the knee. Abyss then reads more and smiles. He grabs jacket and pulls out a glove wrapped in barbed wire! Abyss puts it on and swings it at Sting repeatedly but Sting avoids it. He back Sting in the corner and swings but Sting ducks and then clotheslines Abyss and then again. Sting charges at Abyss but Abyss hits a Big Boot! Sting gets right to his feet and beats his chest! Abyss rests in the corner and Sting hits him with a Stinger Splash followed by the Scorpion Death Drop! 1…2…NO Abyss kicks out! Sting looks down at Abyss and takes off the glove! Sting puts it on himself! Sting hits Abyss with the glove!
Winner: Abyss via DQ
Sting chases the referee off and then we see that Abyss is busted open from the shot. Sting threatens to hit Abyss again and does so as Anderson walks down to ringside. Sting hits Abyss REPEATEDLY with the glove staring at Anderson the entire time smiling.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Tonight was up and down and not as good as the last two weeks in my opinion.
The opening segment with Sting and Bischoff was beyond bizarre. Sting’s character has “snapped” and you can definitely play off the fact that he has been fighting this “cancer” for so long that it finally sent him off the deep end. The character reminds me of The Joker and it’s at least something DIFFERENT for Sting to do rather than the same thing we’ve seen for years. Sting was his most interesting last year when he was doing his “semi-heel” run where he was dark Sting. This character may actually be better suited for a heel but I’ll give it a chance.
Ray vs. Steiner was a decent match but I hope very few of the BFG Series Matches have screwy finishes like this. I have no problem with Steiner joining Immortal, it’s not like he’s doing anything else.
I LOVED the X-Division vignettes that they did for all 3 wrestlers. Great stuff there and it gave us a chance to get to know them a LITTLE more. I had seen Zema Ion before, the last time he was masked and in AAA a few years ago, but I had never seen Darsow & Palacios. All 3 looked good and they put on a really fun spotfest, X-Division match. Yes it was a spotfest but it was entertaining as hell. This Darsow kid really looks like he could be a potential star. He has a good look and can wrestle and can definitely talk. His little promo was the best of the 3 and I loved that “I look like a movie star and act like a rock star because I’m a SUPERSTAR” line.
RVD-Lynn was VERY brief but that match really doesn’t need a lot. I’m sure they will do more in the coming weeks but this was fine to make people talk. A lot of fans were very disappointed when Lynn had to pull out of their scheduled match at Hardcore Justice last year due to injury so this is a GREAT way to make up for that, and I’m anticipating it.
The AJ-Daniels-Joe promo was really good and I (along with everyone else) was anticipating the AJ-Joe-Daniels III announcement, but Daniels chimes in and wants AJ-Daniels again. Joe was pissed and then attacked Kaz so this thing can go a few different ways. They can have AJ and Daniels want Joe because he beat up Kaz leading to the 3-Way which is what everyone wants to see OR they can do AJ-Daniels and Joe-Kaz at DX which will both be great but not what most want. Then they could also just add BOTH Joe and Kaz to that match and make it a 4-Way which would add another dynamic to that classic match.
Jackie/ODB vs. Velvet/Tessmacher was a mess and just not very good.
Crimson & Morgan vs. Beer Money was a really good match and Crimson/Morgan made up a really nice big man tag team. They’re obviously going to continue to sell the shoulder injury for Roode and this could end up being the cause of the Beer Money breakup, but I think it’s a perfect way to have Roode “overcome” everything and WIN the BFG Series. I know TNA loves Crimson & Gunner too but if anyone other than Roode wins the BFG Series it could be really disappointing. RVD and AJ do not need it and of the other guys the young ones are the only ones that should have a shot.
Winter and Mickie actually had an entertaining Street Fight going on before the Angelina involvement.
I liked the set up for Tara-Madison for 07/14, they’re obviously setting that up to be a big show kind of like “The Whole F’N Show” they had after Hardcore Justice.
Sting-Abyss was nothing special but Sting turning the tide and actually DQing himself after it looked like Abyss was going to do the same was different. Sting looked absolutely nuts beating on Abyss repeatedly with that glove but it made Abyss look like sh!t at the same time.
By the way TNA just announced on their site that next week will be presented for the FIRST TIME with “limited commercial interruption” which would have been nice for them to announce tonight on TV.
– Promo/Sement of the Night: AJ/Joe/Daniels
– Match of the Night: TIE – X-3 Way, Beer Money/Morgan & Crimson (**1/2)
– Overall Grade: C
Scheduled for Next Week:
– BFG Series: AJ Styles vs. Gunner
– BFG Series: Samoa Joe vs. Devon
– X-Division 3-Way featuring 3 former X-Division stars
– Elimination Match: Mickie James, Ms. Tessmacher, & Tara vs. Winter, Angelina Love, & Madison Rayne
Destination X Lineup:
– AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
– TNA X-Division Title: Abyss (c) vs. Brian Kendrick
– Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn
– Ultimate X: TBA vs. TBA
– X-Division Tournament Finals: Austin Aries vs. Zema Ion vs. TBA vs. TBA
BFG Series Scoreboard
– Matt Morgan (14 points)
– AJ Styles (7)
– Gunner (7)
– Scott Steiner (7)
– RVD (7)
– James Storm (0)
– Bobby Roode (0)
– Crimson (0)
– The Pope (0)
– Devon (0)
– Samoa Joe (0)