TNA Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida
December 29, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
The final Impact of 2011 opens up with highlights from last week focusing on the drama in the Knockouts.
Gail Kim’s music hits and she and Madison Rayne make their way down to the ring. Madison calls Tessmacher & Tara out to the ring and TNT don’t make her wait long. Madison says she’s going to cut to the chase because the longer this gets dragged out the longer she and Gail are susceptible to the diseases Tara & Tessmacher are carrying around. Madison says that she told Tara & Tessmacher last week if they messed with her they would be fired, and they screwed with her so now they’re fired! Sting’s music interrupts the Banshee and he makes his way down to the ring.
Madison says she knows Sting is very busy so there is no reason for him to be out here because she knows he has so many important things to be doing. Sting interrupts her and says it’s not over until he says it is. He says that Karen was able to stay VP of the Knockouts because she had a legally binding contract until she was fired, and Madison does not have that contract. Sting says she has NO power and Madison keeps screaming (or shrilling) at him that she has the power because Karen gave it to her. Sting cuts her off and shrills back at Madison that HE has the power not her. Sting says he’s in charge around here and Gail Kim will defend her title tonight! Gail asks who she has to face and Mickie James music hits!
Mickie walks out onto the stage and blows a kiss at Gail. Damn, Mickie is looking good tonight. Sting says he’s going to keep an eye out on Madison too.
In the back Steiner is trying to pump up Abyss and he says they’re going to be the best team in TNA and he needs Abyss to be a monster.
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Wild Card Tag Team Tournament Semifinals
Abyss & Scott Steiner vs. Fortune
Clips of both teams advancing from the Quarterfinals are shown as they come to the ring. Kaz and Steiner will kick this one off against each other. Steiner taunts Kaz and AJ and then he locks up with Kaz. He shoves Kaz back onto his back and then kicks him and whips Kaz into the corner. Steiner hits Kaz with right hands and chops and then whips him into the ropes and goesf or a Clothesline but Kaz counters into a Crucifix Rollup! 1…2…NO Steiner kicks out. Kaz hits Steiner with a series of Forearm Smashes and then attempts to whip Steiner into the ropes but Steiner reverses it and goes for a Backdrop. Kaz stops and kicks Steiner and then hits a spinning heel kick for another nearfall! Kaz tags in AJ and AJ hits Steiner with forearms and then whips him into the ropes. Steiner holds onto the ropes and then AJ charges at him but Steiner catches him with a back elbow. Steiner then hits the ropes but AJ leapfrogs him and then connects with the Phenomenal Dropkick! AJ picks Steiner up but he pokes AJ in the eyes and then tags in Abyss. Abyss shoots in for a lockup but AJ ducks it and then hits Abyss with a series of leg kicks and chops. Abyss grabs AJ by the head and shoves him into the corner and then charges at AJ but AJ gets his feet up. AJ charges at Abyss but eats a Big Boot from Abyss! Abyss beats on AJ’s back with clubbing punches and then goes for a Powerslam but AJ blocks it and then hits an Enziguri! AJ hits the ropes and Steiner hits him from behind and then Abyss catches AJ with the Shock Treatment! Abyss chokes AJ on the ropes and then chases the referee away. Abyss tags in Steiner and holds AJ so Steiner can put the boots to him. Steiner then follows up with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex for a nearfall! Steiner hits AJ with chops and then whips him into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but AJ Sunset Flips him! 1…2…NO Steiner kicks out and then AJ rolls him up with a Small Package! 1…2…NO Steiner kicks out again but then Steiner catches AJ with an Overhead Belly-to-Belly Suplex as he gets to his feet! Steiner follows up with a Steinerline attempt but AJ ducks and hits the Pele out of nowhere! AJ tags in Kaz and Steiner tags in Abyss! Kaz hits a Springboard Back Elbow and then follows up with a Dropkick! Kaz tries to whip Abyss into the corner but Abyss reverses it and then goes for a Splash, but Kaz escapes him by sliding through the ropes to the apron. Kaz then hits a Springboard Missile Dropkick followed by a Springboard Tornado DDT! 1…2…NO Abyss still kicks out! Kaz charges at Abyss in the corner but Abyss moves and Kaz is able to springboard out of the corner with a Flying Cross Body attempt, but Abyss catches him in midair by the throat! Abyss goes for a Chokeslam but Kaz rolls him up in mid-move! 1…2…NO Abyss kicks out! Kaz gets to his feet and charges at Abyss again and again Abyss catches him by the throat! Chokeslam from Abyss! Abyss knocks AJ off the apron sending him into the guardrail and then stares at Steiner. He tags Steiner back into the ring but then nails him with a Black Hole Slam out of nowhere! Abyss grabs Kaz and throws him on top of Steiner! 1…2…3!
Winners: Fortune via pinfall
Bully Ray runs down to the ring after the match and starts screaming at Abyss.
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Back from the break Ray has a microphone and asks Abyss what that was he just did. Ray says he’s tired of Abyss and tired of him trying to push them around. He says Abyss won’t push him around anymore and he claims Abyss is the real bully. Ray says they got him girls, they helped him win matches, and did everything for him. Abyss snatches the microphone from Ray as he asks Abyss what he wants. Abyss asks if he really wants to know what he wants and Ray says yes so Ray says what he wants is Bully Ray at Genesis! Abyss says if Ray beats him at Genesis he will come back to Immortal no questions asked and Ray agrees to it! Abyss grabs Ray and tells him that he forgot to mention one thing, their match will be Monsters Ball!
Sting approaches Kurt Angle backstage to talk about what Angle did last week. Sting says tonight Kurt Angle will face a guy that kicks really well since Angle wanted to kick people last week, RVD! Angle isn’t too happy and as he starts to walk away Sting says “hey, Kurt one more thing” and then fakes like he’s going to Superkick Angle and Angle just about sh*ts his pants.
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In the back Ric Flair and Gunner talk about Gunner taking people out. Flair says that Gunner is a bad man and he’s going to keep taking people out. Gunner points to an Ambulance and tonight will be the 3rd time someone will get taken out in that courtesy of Gunner. He says that he’s a killer and he’s going to the top. Flair says that Gunner is going to be the man.
Austin Aries joins the commentary team for the next match.
Best of 3 Series Match #3
Contract on a Pole Match
Zema Ion vs. Anthony Nese
Zema won Match #1 and Neese tied things up last week. To win this one you must climb the turnbuckles and pull the contract down off the pole. They lockup and Zema knees Tony in the gut and then goes to climb up to the top but Tony pulls him down and hits a Roundhouse Kick. Tony hits a series of round kicks and then Zema attempts to come back with a clothesline, but Tony ducks and locks in a Waistlock. Zema hits a series of back elbows and then runs to the corner and floats up and over a charging Nese. Tony kicks Zema in the gut and then goes to climb up top but Zema pulls him down hard to the mat and then kicks Tony in the head. Zema goes to whip Tony into the ropes but Tony reverses it and then goes for a backdrop but Zema kicks him. Zema then goes for a clothesline but Tony avoids it by dropping down quickly to his back and then nipping back up to his feet and he connects with a back kick. Tony then kicks Zema in the face and follows up with an Enziguri to the back of the head! Tony goes to climb up the ropes but Zema holds onto his feet. Tony hits a Running Back Elbow in the corner and then kicks Zema in the head. He then hits a Running Knee to the face of Zema in the corner! Tony goes to climb up the corner but Zema dropkicks him into the turnbuckles! Zema mounts Nese and reigns down right hands on him. Zema hits a shoulder block and the corner but Tony shoves him back away from him. Zema charges at Tony but Tony pulls the top rope down and Zema goes flying over it to the floor! Tony goes to climb up the ropes but Zema grabs his foot and pulls him down to the floor. Zema whips Tony hard into the apron but Tony was able to get his foot up on the apron to catch himself. Tony hits a back elbow and then hits a Diving Moonsault off the apron onto Zema on the floor! Tony climbs up the turnbuckles and reaches up to grab the contract but Zema grabs his foot and pulls him down hard onto his cratch on the turnbuckles. Zema then climbs up ON Tony’s shoulders to reach the contract but Tony pulls him down and freaking German Superplexes Zema off the top! Tony climbs up and reaches for the contract but Zema is able to recover and shoves Tony off the top to the guardrail on the floor! Zema climbs up and pulls the contract down to win a shot at the X-Division Title at Genesis!
,b>Winner: Zema Ion via pulling the contract down
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Douglas Williams vs. Gunner w/Ric Flair
Gunner tries to take Douglas down at the bell but Williams uses his mat wrestling to turn it around on him and frustrate Gunner. Gunner gets to his feet and slams Williams into the corner but Williams comes back with a series of European Uppercuts. Williams then goes for a clothesline but Gunner ducks and shoves Williams into the corner. Gunner hits a Snapmare Takeover and then connects with a series of Crossface Blows and then picks Williams back up but Williams catches him with a pair of European Uppercuts. Williams then sets up for the Chaos Theory but Gunner shoves him into the ring post and then tosses Williams out to the floor. Gunner then tosses the referee away.
Winner: Williams via DQ
On the outside Flair kicks Williams in the nuts and then he pulls the mat up on the floor and Gunner DDT’s Williams on the concrete!
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A vignette about Bobby Roode and his change in attitude over the last few months is shown with the footage of his family we’ve seen over and over along with clips of his promos and some of his antics including spitting in Dixie’s face and attacking Sting.
Roode’s music hits and the World Champion makes his way down to the ring. Roode says over the last several weeks a lot of people have expressed their opinions on him and some of those people have been his family and his friends. A big “you suck” chant starts and Roode says one of those friends actually came on the show and said that he was selfish but he says of course he’s selfish because he’s the leader of the Selfish Generation and the “it factor of pro wrestling” and the World Heavyweight Champion. Roode says he has flown that friend here to Impact Wrestling so he can come into his world and on his show and tell him face to face and man to man exactly how he feels about him. This guy’s name is Tracey Kelusky and he’s been a friend of Roode for over 20 years and a guy who he went to High School with. He says that he is a Professional Lacrosse Player and then he welcomes him down to the ring. A quick Google search reveals this dude is actually a member of the Buffalo Bandits in the National Lacrosse League (I actually had no clue there was a Pro Lacrosse league). Roode says that he’s been a little busy lately being the World Champion and all so he hasn’t been able to respond to Tracey’s texts and phone calls which is why he flew Tracey here to talk to him in the ring. He gives Tracey a microphone and Tracey says his friends and family can’t get ahold of him and asks who he is now. He says that Bobby has always been the least selfish person he knows and he asks who he’s become. He says that he misses his buddy Bobby and he’s sure his wife misses her husband and he’s the one that’s been driving his kids to Hockey practice not Bobby. He tells Bobby to come home and make it right.
Roode laughs at him and says that he has a 20,000 dollar piece of gold over his shoulder so he’s pretty right. Roode says there is nothing wrong with him and in High School Tracey was his lackey. He says the only reason would even talk to him is because he was associated with Bobby. Roode says his parents want to come on camera now and say they miss me but where were there his entire life and they’re only here now is for his money. He tells Tracey to NEVER talk about his kids ever again and now that everyone has had their 15 minutes of fame and according to his Rolex that time is up now. Tracey grabs his arm and Roode losses it grabbing him by throat and shoving him down. Roode starts beating on his friend until Jeff Hardy’s music hits and Hardy runs down to the ring to chase Roode away. Roode screams at Hardy that this has nothing to do with Hardy.
In the back EY and ODB get ready for their match.
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In the back Kurt Angle says James Storm will have to buy his buddies a few rounds next time they’re in the bar together after what happened last week. Angle isn’t happy about having to face RVD who he says split him open from ear to ear with a kick 10 years ago. He says Sting is out to get him.
Wild Card Tag Team Tournament Semifinals
ODB & Eric Young vs. Samoa Joe & Magnus
Clips of the two teams advancing are shown as they come to the ring. EY decides to come to the announce table and lockup with Tenay this week. Samoa Joe isn’t amused by EY’s goofiness. ODB and Magnus will start this one off. Magnus starts hitting on her so ODB slaps Magnus on the ass and then slaps him on the face! She chops Magnus repeatedly and then goes for a Corner Splash but Magnus tries to catch her with a clothesline. ODB ducks and then grabs Magnus by the head and smothers him with her chest (yes I’m serious). ODB then hits a Thesz Press on Magnus! EY grabs ODB and tags her because he doesn’t like Magnus getting more action than he gets. EY takes his pants off revealing his speedos and then Spears Magnus! EY attempts to whip Magnus into the corner but Magnus reverses it and EY flips up and over the top rope to the apron. EY hits Magnus with a shoulder block through the ropes and then slides underneath Magnus’ legs and connects with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex for a nearfall! EY hits the ropes and Joe kicks the crap out of him and then he walks into a Front Kick from Magnus. Magnus hits a Running Back Elbow to the back of EY in the corner and then tags Joe in. Joe hits EY with a series of jabs and then hits a Running Back Elbow in the corner followed by a Leaping Enziguri! Joe hits a Snapmare Takeover and then Magnus dives off the top into a Flying Elbow Drop on EY! Joe covers EY, 1…2…NO EY kicks out! Joe connects with a Forearm Smash and then whips EY into the ropes and connects with a huge Lariat! 1…2…NO EY kicks out again! Joe beats on EY in the corner again and then whips him into the opposite corner and charges at EY! EY avoids Joe and then connects with a Flying Forearm! 1…2…NO Magnus breaks it up! ODB comes in and dropkicks Magnus through the ropes to the floor! ODB takes a swig of her liquid courage as she sets up to square off with Joe, but Magnus comes in and grabs ODB and shoves her into Eric Young who was crouched up on the top rope crotching EY! Joe then grabs EY and hits the Muscle Buster! 1…2…3!
Winners: Joe & Magnus via pinfall (Muscle Buster)
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In the back Mickie James says she always knew Gail was a great athlete but now after being in the ring with Gail again she feels like has a better grip on what Gail will do to win now. She says she’s confident going into their match tonight because she knows that she’s better than Gail. Mickie says she was disappointed in herself for not getting the job done at the PPV but she’ll handle things tonight.
“Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle vs. “Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam
Angle and RVD lockup and RVD gets Angle in a side headlock. Angle shoves RVD into the ropes and they run into each other and then RVD goes for a back kick but Angle catches his foot. RVD then attempts to kick him with the free foot but Angle is able to avoid it and then he bails out to the floor to get away from the educated feet of RVD. They lockup again and Angle forces RVD into the corner where he rakes the eyes of RVD. Angle whips RVD into the opposite corner and then Angle charges at him. RVD attempts a Spinning Heel Kick as Angle charges him but Angle ducks it and then they stare each other down. RVD goes for another Spinning Heel Kick but Angle catches his leg so RVD goes for a kick with the other leg, but Angle ducks it so RVD rolls Angle up with a Body Scissors! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out and then as he gets to his feet RVD catches him with a Superkick that sends Angle into the corner! RVD hits a Spinning Dropkick to Angle in the corner and then RVD covers him but Angle grabs the bottom rope to break the count. RVD hits Angle with a front kick and then hits Rolling Thunder! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out again! RVD hits Angle with a kick to the gut and then he whips Angle into the corner and connects with a Running Spinning Heel Kick! RVD hits the ropes but Angle catches him with a Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex! Angle hits RVD with a series of right hands and then a Snap Suplex! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Angle locks in a Waistlock but RVD fights to his feet only to have Angle punch him in the back. Angle whips RVD into the corner and then charges but eats a Spinning Heel Kick from RVD! RVD hits Angle with right hands and then whips him into the ropes followed by a clothesline! RVD whips Angle into the corner and then goes for the Rolling Monkey Flip but Angle blocks it and then hits the Angle Slam! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Angle actually calls for a Superkick and goes for it but RVD sidesteps it and then hits a Stepover Heel Kick! RVD springs to the top and dives off with the 5-Star Frog Splash! Angle rolls out of the way and then quickly locks in the Ankle Lock! RVD fights the hold and reaches for the ropes but James Storm slides in out of nowhere and catches Angle with the Last Call!
Winner: Angle via DQ
James Storm stands over the KO’d Angle and slaps him on the cheek and laughs.
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In the back RVD says he loves being in the ring with Angle and he doesn’t need James Storm coming down to the ring and interfering in his matches. Angle says Storm is a moron and all he can do is cheat to beat him. He says the Last Call isn’t a wrestling move it’s a bar fight move. Storm says if you mess with a man’s friends, you may as well mess with their family and he doesn’t like for people to mess with his family. Storm says Angle just got a little taste of the Last Call.
Main Event
TNA Knockouts Championship
Gail Kim (c) vs. Mickie James
I believe this is the first Knockouts Main Event match in TNA since the Mickie/Tara Cage Match last year. This is a rematch from Final Resolution, boxing style intros for this one. Mickie rolls Gail up immediately and gets a one count and then she takes Gail down again with a double leg takedown and then flips over into a bridging pin! 1…2…NO Gail kicks out! Gail goes for a Roundhouse Kick but Mickie catches her foot and tosses it away. Gail then goes for a right hand but Mickie blocks it and connects with a right of her own! Mickie hits a Forearm Smash and then whips Gail into the ropes and goes for a backdrop, but Gail stops and kicks Mickie. Gail hits the ropes but Mickie catches her with a Thesz Press! Mickie hits Gail with several right hands until she shoves Mickie away. Mickie hits a Roundhouse Kick and then a Forearm Smash, and then she tries to whip Gail into the corner but Gail reverses it and charges at Mickie. Mickie hits her with a back elbow and then the Mickiecanrana out of the corner! Mickie hits a Sliding Dropkick to Gail sending her to the floor and then Mickie goes for a Baseball Slide Dropkick under the ropes to Gail on the floor, but Gail sidesteps it. Gail then swings at Mickie but Mickie counters into a Neckbreaker on the floor!
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Back from the break Mickie and Gail are brawling around ringside. Mickie hits Gail with a forearm and then slides her back into the ring, but as Mickie tries to get back in Gail dropkicks her through the ropes knocking her back down to the floor! Gail grabs Mickie by the hair and pulls her through the ropes and starts kicking her and then slams her to the mat face first. Gail tosses Mickie into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Gail hits a Shortarm Clothesline and gets another nearfall. Mickie tries to fight back with right hands but Gail cuts her off and slams her back down to the mat by her hair. Gail locks in a Hammerlock on the mat on Mickie and Mickie is able to roll through to counter the hold into an Armdrag, but Gail gets right back to her feet and connects with a Running Axe Handle. Gail taunts Mickie by trash talking her and slapping her, but that fires Mickie up and she connects with a series of right hands. Mickie grabs Gail in a Waistlock but Gail quickly gets to the corner and shrugs Mickie off. Gail then charges at Mickie and hits the Spinning Headscissors into the Octopus! Mickie fights the hold and is able to get to the ropes to break it. Gail follows up with kicks and forearms and then she attempts to whip Mickie into the corner, but Mickie reverses it. Mickie charges at Gail but Gail catches her with a back elbow and then locks in the Octopus again but Mickie tries counters this time by slamming Gail into the corner repeatedly but Gail holds onto it! Mickie is able to roll back onto her back into a pin on Gail, though! 1…2…NO Gail kicks out forcing her to release the hold! Gail kicks Mickie in the head and then connects with a Forearm Smash followed by a whip into the corner. Gail charges and hits a Running shoulder block! Gail climbs up top and hits a Missile Dropkick on Mickie! 1…2…NO Mickie kicks out! Gail kicks Mickie and then goes for the Eat Defeat but Mickie counters into the Mick Kick! Mickie slams Gail into the corner and then hits a series of kicks and forearms followed by a clothesline and then a running forearm! Mickie then hits a Flapjack! Mickie climbs up top but Gail rolls out to the floor to avoid the dive but Mickie dives out to the floor with a Plancha! Mickie sells the knee as she landed and limps around with it. Mickie rolls Gail back into the ring and continue to sell the knee. Gail Kim rolls out to the floor again and sells an injury causing the referee to go check on her. Another masked woman slides in behind Mickie and hits Madison Rayne’s Rayne Drop! The masked woman slides under the ring and Gail rolls back in! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL Knockouts Champ: Gail via pinfall
We see a shot of the masked person under the ring and it’s actually face paint rather than a mask and it’s definitely Madison.
QUICK RESULTS:
1) Wild Card Tag Tourney Semifinals: AJ Styles & Kaz def. Scott Steiner & Abyss
2) Best of 3 Series Match #3 Contract on a Pole: Zema Ion def. Anthony Nese
3) Douglas Williams def. Gunner via DQ
4) Wild Card Tag Tourney Semifinals: Samoa Joe & Magnus def. EY & ODB
5) Kurt Angle def. RVD via DQ
6) TNA Knockouts Title: Gail Kim (c) def. Mickie James to retain the title!
Wild Card Tag Team Tournament
– Quarterfinals: Abyss & Scott Steiner def. Hernandez & Robbie T. (12/15)
– Quarterfinals: Samoa Joe & Magnus def. Robbie E. & Douglas Williams (12/15)
– Quarterfinals: AJ Styles & Kazarian def. Christopher Daniels & RVD (12/22)
– Quarterfinals: Eric Young & ODB def. Shannon Moore & Anarquia (12/22)
– Semifinals: AJ Styles & Kazarian def. Scott Steiner & Abyss (12/29)
– Semifinals: Samoa Joe & Magnus def. ODB & Eric Young (12/29)
– Finals: AJ Styles & Kazarian vs. Samoa Joe & Magnus (01/05)
– Promo/Segment of the Night: Bobby Roode
– Match of the Night: Gail vs. Mickie (***1/2)
– Overall Grade: B –
Scheduled for Next Week:
– Jesse Sorensen & Zema Ion vs. Kid Kash & Austin Aries
– TNA KO Tag Team Titles: Gail Kim & Madison Rayne (c) vs. Mickie James & Traci Brooks
– Wild Card Tag Tourney Finals: Magnus & Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles & Kaz
– Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, & Bully Ray vs. Jeff Hardy, James Storm, & Abyss
Genesis Lineup:
– TNA World Title: Bobby Roode (c) vs. Jeff Hardy
– Kurt Angle vs. James Storm
– The Pope vs. Devon
– TNA X-Division Title Fatal 4-Way: Austin Aries (c) vs. Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion
– TNA Tag Team Titles: Crimson & Matt Morgan (c) vs. Wild Card Winner
– Monsters Ball: Abyss vs. Bully Ray
– TNA Knockouts Title: Gail Kim (c) vs. Mickie James