TNA Impact Wrestling
Huntsville, Alabama (Von Braun Center)
September 8, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Impact Wrestling opens up from Huntsville, Alabama again this week with the video package hyping Jeff Hardy’s return with the TNA stars talking about Hardy’s personal problems airing. Then, clips from last weeks show focusing on the Sting/Angle title match.
We cut to the arena inside the Von Braun Center and Mr. Anderson’s music hits. The former World Champion makes his way down to the ring to a mixed reaction. Anderson says the last couple of weeks he’s been a man of few words, he just comes out, whoops some asses, bloodies some faces, and then he goes home and sleeps like a baby. He says he has to admit that he signed a deal with the devil when he joined Immortal. He says it was a business for himself, not a good one, and the fans can boo him for that bad business decision. Anderson then says because of one meddling scumbag in Immortal, Bully Ray, he’s on the outside looking in. Anderson says he has something to say to Bully Ray…he thanks him. He says if Immortal thought he was an asshole before they haven’t seen anything yet, and he’ll start tonight. He says he’s going to start tonight by going after Hogan’s new boy, Kurt Angle. Anderson says Angle has been so consumed with ducking Sting that he overlooked one tiny thing, that Anderson still has a rematch for the Title! Anderson reminds us that he never cashed in his rematch and tonight he cashes in on it! He says that he knows it won’t be Anderson vs. Angle alone and it’s just a matter of time before Immortal’s goofballs interfere, so Anderson won’t be alone either….Sting’s music hits!
Sting makes his way down to the ring now! Sting says last week Hulk Hogan and Immortal caused him to lose the Title Match but they didn’t take him out. Sting says he’s kind of like a fungus now, like one that starts at your pinky toe and works its way up. Sting says this week he holds the power of the Network and they have given him the authority to call the shots tonight because Sting will be the Special Enforcer! He says he’ll keep gnawing away at Hogan like a fungus until he takes away every ounce of power he has.
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TNA Tag Team titles #1 Contenders Match
British Invasion vs. D’Angelo Dinero & Devon
Winning team faces Mexican America at No Surrender for the belts, MA is on commentary for this one. Devon and Magnus start the match off. Magnus gets Devon in a Wristlock but Devon counters into a side headlock. Magnus shoves him into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Devon ducks and hits a Corkscrew Elbow for a nearfall. Pope tags in and Devon whips Magnus into the ropes, and Pope nails him with a Shoulder Block. Pope covers him for a nearfall of his own. Pope hits a series of elbows on Magnus and then has one for Williams as he tries to come in. Pope then turns around into a Big Boot from Magnus. Magnus beats on Pope on the mat and then tags Williams in. Williams put the boots to Pope and then hits him with a European Uppercut. Williams hits another European Uppercut and then he tags Magnus back in. The Brits hit their double team Straight Jacket Slam for a nearfall. Magnus whips Pope into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Pope ducks him. Pope then hits the ropes but eats a clothesline from Magnus for another nearfall and Magnus tags back out. Magnus and Williams whip Pope into the corner and then Magnus whips Williams into a Running Knee on Pope in the corner. Williams then tosses Pope to the center of the ring and Magnus dives off top with a Flying Elbow Drop! Williams covers and gets a nearfall. Williams holds Pope up and Magnus goes for a Running Big Boot but Pope ducks and hits a Spike DDT on Magnus! The Brits and Pope all down now. Pope tags Devon in and Devon hits a clothesline on Williams followed by a Running Shoulder Block off the ropes. Devon this a clothesline on Magnus and then a Corner Splash on Williams followed by a Sidewalk Slam for a nearflall. Devon hits a Hangman’s Neckbreaker on Magnus and then a Powerslam on Williams for another nearfall before Magnus breaks it up. Devon hits a Double Clothesline off the ropes on the Brits! Pope then clotheslines Magnus out to the floor! In the ring Devon picks Williams up and hits a Spinebuster. 1…2…3!
Winners & NEW Tag Titles #1 Contenders: Pope & Devon via pinfall (Spinebuster)
In the back Angle says he’ll believe it when he sees it on Jeff coming back tonight. Angle then says he’ll take out both Sting and Anderson tonight. BELLATOR Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez, then walks in and shakes hands with Angle. Alvarez and Angle talk and then walk away together.
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The BFG Series Final Four hype up the Finals and each cut promos on each other. Roode says if Gunner thinks he’ll slow down now he’ll find out that it “pays to be Roode.” Ray says there’s no way in hell a bully will let a Cowboy stand in his way, but Storm says he’s been in TNA since day one and he helped build the company so people like Ray could come in and reap the benefits. He’s coming to whip Ray’s ass.
The Final Four are in the ring with Borash but Ray takes the microphone from him and kicks JB out. Ray already getting big heel heat. Ray says he will give Beer Money respect where it’s due, he says he’s a tag team God, and if anyone knows a great tag team when he sees them it’s him. Ray says Beer Money is a great tag team and they will go down in history as one of the greatest tag teams. Not just in TNA but all over the world. Ray then says he knows what’s going through both Storm & Roode’s minds right now. Both of them want to win the BFG Series so bad and go on to win the TNA Title, but neither one will admit to one another because that’s the one thing that tag teams never talk about. Tag teams never look at each other and wonder how successful they could be solo, every successful tag team has done it. Ray says Gunner is willing to sacrifice and he knows what’s right for Immortal is for Ray to win the BFG Series and go on to win the Title, but the question is can Beer Money put their egos aside to make sure one of them wins it. Ray says they’re both selfish and that’s what Pro Wrestlers are. Ray asks what they’re going to do, share the title. He says he wants to wear Beer Money down tonight in the Four Corners Match because if one of them gets hurt tonight they won’t be able to compete in the Finals. Ray says he’s the next World Heavyweight Champion.
The fans chant “shut him up” and Roode says he thinks they want him to shut the hell up. Roode asks how long Ray has known him and then he asks if he really thinks any of the crap Ray just said will really get in his head. Roode says he is 100% right about one thing, Beer Money will go down in history as one of the greatest Tag Teams of all time. Roode says he and Storm both have their eyes set on becoming the next World Champion. He says it’s always been a dream for both of them and the same goes for every wrestler to ever get in that ring. Roode says they understand that only one can win it and they both understand that there will only be one man that will walk out #1 Contender and challenge for the belt at BFG. Roode says the better man will walk out and then he asks who that better man will be Sunday. Roode asks if it will be Roode or Storm because it sure as hell won’t be Gunner or Ray. Roode promises the Beer Money fans no matter what on October 16th whether it’s he or Storm, they will both be there to share the celebration together because at the end of the day no matter will ever come between them or kill Beer Money.
Storm says he couldn’t have said it better himself…SORRY BOUT YO DAMN LUCK!
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Eddie Alvarez highlights air and then he joins Taz and Tenay on commentary. Taz asks him to punch Tenay.
TNA Television Championship
“Showtime” Eric Young (c) vs. Robbie E.
This is the first actual TV Title defense on TV in several months. Young trips Robbie and then walks over him. Young then hits a Flapjack and stands on Robbie taunting him. Young attempts to whip Robbie into the corner but Robbie reverses it. Eric flips over the top rope to the apron and eats a knee from Robbie. Robbie gets a nearfall with his feet on the ropes. Robbie whips Young into the ropes and hits a Russian Leg Sweep and another nearfall with his feet on the ropes. Robbie taunts Young and chokes him on the ropes. Robbie follows up with a Scoop Slam and then he dives off the middle rope with a Diving Elbow. He starts to pin Young again with his feet on the ropes but Hebner doesn’t even count this time. Robbie argues and Young pulls down his trunks revealing some of Robbie’s “GTW” tights. He then hits Robbie with right hands and then a Flying Forearm followed by a Scoop Slam. Young dives off the top with a Flying Elbow Drop! 1…2…NO Robbie kicks out! Young goes for the Piledriver but Robbie blocks it and then goes for a Back Suplex. Young blocks it and hits the Spike Piledriver! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL TV Champ: Young via pinfall (Piledriver)
Rob Terry runs down to the ring and attacks Young! Terry hits a Last Ride Powerbomb on Young.
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In the back RVD walks into Jerry Lynn’s locker room and says that Lynn screwed him over and asks if he has something to say. Lynn says it’s always been about RVD ever since they had their feud. Lynn says RVD is the one that the companies always call and then they call Lynn to put him in the ring with RVD because it’ll be a great match. He’s good enough for that but not to get a contract. Lynn says he had to get a job in a warehouse and asks him if he knows what’s that like. He says Hogan and Bischoff smartened him up and told him that Lynn is every bit as good as RVD. Lynn says he told Bischoff that he’s wrong because he’s BETTER than RVD. Lynn says he screwed RVD and RVD punches him and then kicks him into the wall. RVD asks Lynn if he still thinks he’s better and says he’s standing over him now and tells him to go back to waiting for his phone to ring.
In the back Velvet and Mickie talk in the back and Velvet holds her belt and says she’s wandered what it would be like to wear it. Karen Angle walks in and congratulates Mickie (sarcastically) on winning the belt, and says Winter gets her rematch at No Surrender. Karen says there’s more to wrestling than just shaking her ass so Velvet better get to working and she could lose a few pounds.
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Jeff Hardy is shown arriving in the building.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Special Enforcer: Sting
“Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle (c) vs. Mr. Anderson
Anderson with the first shout out to Bama of the night, he does his usual intro for this one. A big “Angle sucks” chant starts as the bell rings. The two lockup and brawl into the corner but break clean. They lockup again and this time Anderson gets Angle in a Side Headlock. Angle breaks the hold and counters into a Hammerlock and then a side headlock of his own. Anderson shoves Angle into the ropes but then eats a shoulder block. Angle runs the ropes and Anderson goes for a Hip Toss but Angle blocks it and hits a Side Headlock Takeover. Angle holds onto the headlock on the mat but Anderson fights to his feet and breaks the hold by shoving Angle into the ropes. Anderson hits a back elbow and then puts the boots to Angle in the corner. Anderson tosses Angle into the adjacent corner but Angle pokes him in the eyes. Angle then charges at Anderson but Anderson ducks and hits a Swinging Neckbreaker for a two count! Anderson whips Angle hard into the corner for another nearfall. Anderson whips Angle into the corner and charges but Angle gets his boot up and then connects with a clothesline. Angle then locks in a headlock and Anderson fights to his feet and breaks the hold with elbows. Anderson hits the ropes but eats a knee lift from Angle for a series of nearfalls. Angel locks in a chinlock and Anderson again fights the hold with back elbows. Anderson whips Angle into the ropes and goes for a clothesline but Angle ducks and then both men hit running clotheslines on each other! Both men are down. Both get to their feet and exchange right hands in the center of the ring. Anderson this a clothesline and then a back elbow. He follows up with another clothesline and then he attempts to whip Angle into the corner. Angle reverses it and then charges at Anderson but Anderson gets his boot up. Anderson charges at Angle out of the corner but Angle catches him with a Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex! 1…2…NO Anderson kicks out! Angle goes for the Angle Slam but Anderson blocks it and hits the Green Bay Plunge! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Anderson goes for the Mic Check but Angle blocks it with back elbows and then ducks a clothesline and hits a series of 3 Rolling German Suplexes! 1…2…NO Anderson kicks out! Angle grabs Anderson and locks in the Ankle Lock! Anderson fights the hold and rolls Angle up! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Mic Check! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Nice reaction for the false finish there. Anderson picks Angle up and Angle shoves his arms away causing Anderson to hi the referee. Angle then hits a low blow followed by the Angle Slam! 1…2…NO Sting pulls the referee out! Sting tells the referee what happened and Angle goes nuts telling him to stay out of the match. Angle goes for a clothesline on Anderson but east the Mic Check! Hebner slides back in, 1…2…NO Gunner comes from out of nowhere breaking up the count!
Winner: Anderson via DQ (Angle retains)
Immortal runs down and beats down Sting and Anderson. A “Hardy” chant starts up as Immortal is beating the hell out of Sting & Anderson.
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In the Immortal locker room they are celebrating the beat down they put on Sting & Anderson. Bischoff stops them and says to take the party outside because he’s on the phone. He tells whoever it is to repeat what they just said. Apparently whatever it was didn’t make him happy.
Angelina Love & Winter vs. Mickie James & Velvet Sky
Winter lost her Knockouts Title to Mickie last week, her rematch is this Sunday on PPV. THE PIGEONS ARE LOOSE IN BAMA! Mickie and Winter are going to start the match off but Winter decides to tag Angelina in instead. They lockup and Angelina tosses Mickie across the ring by her hair but Mickie comes right back and exchanges rights with Angelina. Angelina whips Mickie into the ropes but then eats a back elbow in the corner followed by the Mickiecanrana! Mickie hits a clothesline but eats a clothesline from Angelina as Winter distracted her. Angelina whips Mickie into the ropes and Velvet blind tags in as Mickie ducks a clothesline. Mickie hits a Snapmare Takeover on Angelina and Velvet follows up with a sliding dropkick. 1…2…no Angelina kicks out. Angelina comes back with a jawbreaker and then tosses Velvet into the corner and tags Winter in. Winter slams Velvet into the corner repeatedly but Velvet comes back and slams Winter into it. Velvet whips Winter into the corner and hits a Monkey Flip. Velvet then hits a Headscissors Takeover/Side Headlock Takeover combo on Winter & Angelina! Velvet then hits a Spinning Head Scissors on Winter! Velvet hits the ropes but Angelina trips her and then Winter slams Velvet into the corner. Winter and Angelina double team Velvet in the heel corner and Velvet fights out. She hops over Winter and tries to tag out but Winter stops her and hits a Bridging Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Angelina tags back in and knocks Mickie off the apron. Angelina attempts to whip Velvet into the ropes but Velvet counters into a Bulldog. Both girls are down. Angelina tags Winter in and Velvet tags Mickie in! Mickie dives off the top with a Thesz Press on Winter and then she knocks Angelina off the apron! Mickie hits a clothesline on Winter followed by a Forearm Smash. Mickie then this the Hangman’s Neckbreaker on her for a nearfall before Angelina breaks it up. Velvet jumps Angelina. Angelina comes back and tries to whip Velvet into Mickie but the babyfaces reverse it and hit Double Dropkicks on the heels! Angelina pokes Velvet’s eyes and then grabs Mickie but Velvet Spears Angelina! Mickie grabs Winter but Winter spits that mist into Mickie’s face and covers her for the pin.
Winners: Angelina & Winter via pinfall (mist)
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Back from commercials Austin Aries makes his way down to the ring to a chorus of boos. Aries tells the fans to be quiet and show some respect to Eric Bischoff’s favorite X-Division star. Fans are booing the hell out of Aries. Aries says everyone knows Kendrick is a strange little man but what they don’t know is that he’s a big hypocrite. Aries says Kendrick preaches competition and peace but then he turns around and attacks him from behind. Aries says Kendrick can’t stand that Aries is the shining star of the X-Division and he tells Kendrick to come down and face him face to face. Kendrick doesn’t make him wait long either.
Kendrick is wearing a suit this week, with a briefcase and everything. Aries looks shocked by the new attire. Kendrick says he understands why Aries ridicules him and he’s been ridiculed his entire life. Kendrick says he’s been known to talk in a riddlely way that people don’t understand so today he’s enunciating and ‘dressing for success.’ Kendrick says his definition of success is whoever dies with the most toys wins. He says he’s even wearing shoes tonight and Aries says he should thank his dad for loaning him the suit for the night. Kendrick asks the fans if they like this version of Kendrick and they boo. Kendrick says he hates this guy and says the clothes represent the materialistic world that cowards strap themselves to. Kendrick goes off on a rant about suffering and desire and materialistic people. Aries says he has no idea what Kendrick just said and he doesn’t have any idea how many voices he has in his head right now but he needs to understand that the belt he’s holding will be Aries’ this weekend. Aries says the only time Kendrick has a pair of balls is when Aries’ is sitting on Kendrick’s chin and he calls Kendrick a fake and a fraud. Kendrick says Aries is lucky he’s a peace loving man…and then he blats Aries! Kendrick goes for Sliced Bread but Aries bails out as Kendrick goes nuts in the ring and holds up his belt as Aries backs down.
In the back Hogan is happy as he comes into the Immortal locker room but Bischoff takes him down by saying the Network just called and because of what Immortal did tonight at No Surrender Angle defends the belt in a 3-Way against Sting & Anderson! Hogan goes nuts. Hogan says he’s had it with the network and he says he’s going to check his contract and he’s going to put a stop to this whole thing.
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Tenay & Taz run down the card for No Surrender.
Main Event
4-Corners Match
Bully Ray vs. “Cowboy” James Storm vs. Bobby Roode vs. Gunner
This is a special preview match for this Sunday’s BFG Series Finals. Ray & Gunner come to the ring together and Beer Money does as well. This one will be under Tornado Rules with all 4 men in the ring at the same time. Samoa Joe is heading down to the ring to finish off the BFG Series participants but Matt Morgan cuts him off! Morgan and Joe brawl at ringside but security separates them as things get kicked off in the ring. Ray and Roode, Gunner and Storm pair off. Storm hits a clothesline on Gunner but eats one from Ray. Ray then slams Storm into the corner but Roode cuts him off and hits a series of punches and kicks on Ray. Beer Money whips Ray into the ropes and connects with a Double Clothesline followed by one on Gunner. Roode and Storm come face to face now but Ray jumps them. Roode whips Ray into the ropes but Gunner blasts Roode for a nearfall. Ray tells Gunner that he’s supposed to win. Ray lights Roode up with a chop and then he knocks Storm to the outside. Gunner whips Roode into a clothesline from Ray for a nearfall. Gunner hits a series of shoulder blocks on Roode in the corner and Storm hits a Leaping Enziguri on Ray from the apron. Storm dives off the top with a Flying Cross Body! Storm whips Gunner into the ropes and hits a clothesline followed by a Facebuster and then a Neckbreaker for a nearfall. Storm then walks into a Big Boot from Ray and then Roode rolls Ray up! 1…2…NO Ray kicks out! Roode attempts to whip Ray into the corner but Ray reverses it only to eat a boot from Roode. Roode dives off the top with the Blockbuster on Ray and then he whips Gunner into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Gunner kicks him. Gunner then hits the ropes but eats the Double-R Spinebuster from Roode! 1…2…NO Ray breaks it up! Roode tosses Ray out to the floor and then he and Storm come face to face again. They then see Gunner and kick him and hit the Beer Money Double Suplex for a huge pop. Ray comes in with a double clothesline on Beer Money from out of nowhere! Rock Bottom on Storm! 1…2…NO he kicks out! Bully Bomb on Roode! Gunner knees Ray in the face out of nowhere! 1…2…3!
Winner: Gunner via pinfall (Running Knee)
Up next Jeff Hardy speaks.
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We haven’t seen Jeff Hardy since the unbelievably embarrassing incident at Victory Road back in March. For the 2 people out there that don’t know, Hardy was obviously in no shape to compete (likely high) but convinced TNA that he could do it and have a short match with Sting. Hardy stumbled to the ring and was obviously not able to compete. Sting Death Dropped him and then held him down for a forced 3 count to end one of the most embarrassing moments in wrestling history. Hardy has been suspended ever since.
Jeff Hardy’s music hits to a big ovation and he walks slowly down to the ring. Hardy takes in the reaction from the fans for awhile and then says he doesn’t deserve that reaction. Hardy thanks for the network for allowing him to speak tonight and then he says the last time he was seen in this ring he was pathetic, he was messed up. Hardy says he had a Main Event match with a guy he looked up to for a long time and he failed miserably. Hardy says he let everyone down. He says he let himself down. Hardy says he walked into the building today and he almost felt hated because there are so many people in the back that hate him right now…and they have every right to be. Hardy says he can’t change what happened at Victory Road but he can admit that he hit rock bottom that night. Hardy starts to get emotional. Jeff’s voice is cracking and he says he can’t expect for everyone to forgive him and give him another chance, especially everyone in the back but all he can do is ask. He asks for one more shot. A HUGE “one more shot” chant erupts and he says again “all I can do is ask.” Hardy drops the mic and leaves the ring to the “one more shot” chant again.
FINAL THOUGHTS
First, I wanted to say that Sunday I’ll be covering TNA’s “No Surrender” live here on Wrestleview.com as well as on Wrestleview’s official Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wrestleviewcom/149066991773549) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/wrestleview) pages. So if you’re not able to catch the PPV follow along here on the site or on Facebook or Twitter.
To the show, I’m going to start with the Hardy speech. First, it was short and sweet and he said all of the right things. Was it genuine? I don’t know, I want to believe it was and the fact that it’s been said that Hardy apologized to the entire TNA locker room before the show that night I tend to believe it may have been. It seemed to be Hardy showing emotion in the ring for the first time that I can recall, I mean what looked to be legit emotion. If Hardy is truly cleaned up and is truly ready to move forward, then fine but I obviously have my doubts as most people do. All we can do is hope that he doesn’t burn TNA again.
The opening promo with Anderson and Sting was okay and set up the Main Event for the show, it was short as well. The Match with Angle-Anderson was placed weird on the card, right in the middle. I’m guessing they just didn’t want it competing with the Hardy promo at the end. The match itself was solid until the screwy finish.
I really liked the Final Four promo with all the guys putting importance on wanting the World Title and fighting for it.
I don’t understand for one second why in the world Devon & Pope are going for the belts. The Brits are really the only other legit tag team in the company right now that’s healthy that can face MA for the belts but they put MA with the team that’s tagged together a whopping 2 times before. The tag division needs to be rebuilt quickly.
Austin Aries-Kendrick had an excellent promo, Aries drawing a ton of heat.
Knockouts action was solid.
Lynn-RVD looks to be setting something up for BFG.
Young-Robbie was just there and nothing good about it. It was pretty much just there to talk about the MMA guy.
The 4-Corners Match was good and I liked the finish. I really loved the teases with Beer Money but the fact that they never touched each other. All of those teases plus them saying they’ll never split is obviously planting the seeds for just that.
Overall another solid show on the road heading into No Surrender.
– Promo/Segment of the Week: Jeff Hardy’s apology/Austin Aries promo
– Match of the Night: 4-Corners (**1/2)
– Overall Grade: B
Scheduled for Next Week:
– Sting vs. Ric Flair (if Sting wins, he gets Hogan at BFG)
No Surrender Lineup:
– TNA World Title Triple Threat: Kurt Angle (c) vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Sting
– BFG Series Finals Match #1: Bully Ray vs. James Storm
– BFG Series Finals Match #2: Bobby Roode vs. Gunner
– TNA X-Division Title: Brian Kendrick (c) vs. Austin Aries
– Matt Morgan vs. Samoa Joe
– TNA Knockouts Title: Mickie James (c) vs. Winter
– TNA Tag Team Titles: Mexican America (c) vs. The Pope & Devon
BFG Series Standings:
1) Bully Ray (49 points) **
2) Bobby Roode (42 points) **
3) Gunner (42 points) **
4) James Storm (40 points) **
5) RVD (35 points)
6) AJ Styles (24 points)
7) Samoa Joe (-10 points)
*Matt Morgan, Crimson, The Pope, & Devon have been eliminated due to injury.
** Advances to the finals.