TNA Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida
December 1, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
This week’s Impact Wrestling opens up with footage of Roode’s new found ways and comments from his father, mother, and wife about him cheating. They all say it’s not the Bobby Roode they know. His family claims he isn’t even talking to them now. AJ says it’s not about the title anymore, it’s about Roode being a “douche bag.”
Sting’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring dressed in all black. Sting says there are some of inmates around TNA attempting to run the asylum and things are getting out of hand. He says he’s the warden around here so he’s going to deal with some of these inmates. He calls Bobby Roode out and after a few seconds delay he finally makes his way out.
Roode reminds Sting that he’s the World Heavyweight Champion and he’s a little busy. He says time is money and Sting is wasting it right now. Sting says he doesn’t care about Roode’s agenda because he’s on Sting’s watch right now. He says that he told Roode two weeks ago when he put his hands on Dixie things would not be run his way, they would be run Sting’s way. Sting says for the most part everyone has been on their best behavior, at least as good as wrestler’s can be, except for Bobby. Sting says last week everywhere there was trouble there was Bobby Roode.
Roode says he’s glad that Sting liked it last week and it made for great TV. Roode talks about taking AJ and Hardy out at the end of the show. A “you suck” chant starts and Roode says Sting must have brought him out to thank him for saving Impact Wrestling and putting it on his back to carry it into 2012. Roode says “you’re welcome” and starts to leave but Sting stopped him. Sting says he brought him out to remind him that it’s his way and not Roode’s. He says for every bad choice Roode makes there will be a REALLY bad consequence. He says the consequences for last week start right now and AJ Styles’ music hits!
AJ walks down to the ring as Roode is none too happy. Roode says he sees how things are now, not only he makes him face AJ in an Iron Man Match but now AJ has Sting fighting all his battles for him. Sting says things are just getting started right now and tells him that there’s more consequences! Jeff Hardy’s music hits and Jeffery Nero Hardy makes his way down to the ring! Hardy says that he and AJ respect Sting’s authority and his decisions, but Roode says “screw Sting and screw his decision making.”
Sting says “screw you Bobby” and then says it’s going to be a 3-Way Dance, Roode vs. AJ vs. Hardy! Sting drops the microphone and walks out as Roode loses it.
Earlier today Karen Jarrett had several of the Knockouts in the parking lot wearing robes. Karen says last week she ordered the Thanksgiving Thong Throwdown and there were a few of them that decided to disrespect her orders. Karen says what she says goes and since they chose to disrespect her they will now wash 6 of the wrestlers in the back’s cars from top to bottom in bikinis. She says they have to get down on their knees and scrubs the rims which she says Velvet should have no problem doing. Madison takes off her robe and screams at the others to do the same. None of the other Knockouts are complying.
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In the back Jeff Hardy says he’s excited about getting his hands on Roode tonight because of what Roode did last week. Jeff Jarrett walks up to Hardy and starts screaming at Hardy yet again. Jarrett asks Hardy if he really thinks he deserves to be back in this company let alone in the Main Event tonight. Jarrett asks Hardy how many times a screwup gets a chance to screw up. Hardy says this is his last shot and he needs to get over it. Jarrett says if he wants one last shot he then punches him in the face. Jarrett slams Hardy into the wall and then starts choking. Jarrett slams Hardy into some doors or something nearby but Hardy comes back and tosses Jarrett onto some equipment cases. Jarrett gets away and takes off running with Hardy giving chase.
Cut to Eric Bischoff and Bully Ray somewhere else in the back. Bischoff says they don’t have any leverage anymore and he says this thing with his son is getting to him. Ray asks if he wants him to take him out but Bischoff says not yet. Bischoff says he can’t even think about his kid becoming a start in his company. He says they have a bigger problem right now and that’s Abyss. Bischoff says now that they need him he’s psycho. Ray says he’s never seen anyone pop right back up after he put them through a table. Bischoff wants to talk to Abyss and get him back on the team. Ray says Abyss is an unstable monster but Bischoff says he can do it. Ray says that maybe he and Steiner can work something out.
More footage of Roode’s family talking about Roode’s attitude change is shown.
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In the parking lot a bunch of hot, bikini clad Knockouts are washing cars while bitching the whole time. Tara approaches Gail Kim, who walks in, and says she’s disappointed with Gail. Gail tells Tara that if she had Tara’s body at her age she would be flaunting it to everyone. Karen walks in and says she’s so happy right now and tells them to get back to scrubbing. ODB then walks up to Karen and Karen says she has a match for ODB tonight. She says it will be a Street Fight with Mickie James and if ODB hurts Mickie then she will get a shot at the belt.
TNA Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Triple Threat
Ink, Inc. w/Toxxin vs. Mexican America w/Rosita & Sarita vs. The Pope & Devon
Last week in Mexico Sarita literally face planted off the top rope to the concrete in a match for CMLL but she doesn’t seem to be injured at all as she comes to the ring here. Pope and Devon hit the ring and the match is on. All 6 guys go at it until it clears out to just Pope & Devon standing tall in the ring. Hernandez rolls back into the ring and Pope catches him with an Atomic Drop and then a Running Shoulderblock for a nearfall. Pope picks Hernandez up but Hernandez kicks Pope away and then tags Jesse Neal into the match. Jesse comes charging at Pope but Pope catches him with a Snap Powerslam! 1…2…NO Jesse kicks out! Jesse shoves Pope away and Anarquia blind tags Jesse. Anarquia comes in and charges at Pope but Pope catches him with a Hip Toss! Pope picks Anarquia up and connects with a clothesline and then a series of elbows followed by a Palm Thrust. Pope knocks Moore off the apron and then turns around and ducks a clothesline from Hernandez! Pope clotheslines Hernandez over the top to the floor and then Anarquia charges at Pope but Pope drop toe holds him into the ropes hanging him up in the middle rope. Pope follows up with The Coronation! Hernandez then takes Pope out with a clothesline and rolls him back into the ring. Anarquia covers Pope and gets a nearfall of his own. Anarquia tags Super Mex and then whips Pope into a Slingshot Shoulder Block from Hernandez! 1…2…NO Pope kicks out! Hernandez takes his wife beater off and starts choking Pope with it. Hernandez picks Pope up and locks him in a Bear Hug. Pope fights the hold with Forearm shots and he finally breaks it. Pope then springs off the ropes but Hernandez DESTROYS him with a huge shoulder block sending him crashing to the corner. 1…2…NO Pope kicks out! Hernandez tags Anarquia back in and he puts the boots to Pope. Anarquia Scoop Slams Pope and follows up with an Elbow Drop for a nearfall. Hernandez tags back in and then goes for the Border Toss but Pope blocks it and then hits an STO! Both men are down now. Pope crawls to his corner and tags in Devon while Hernandez tags Anarquia back in! Devon comes in and ducks a clothesline from Anarquia and knocks Hernandez off the apron! Devon then nails Anarquia with right hands followed by an Irish Whip into the ropes. Devon lifts Anarquia high up into the air with a backdrop and then he knocks Ink, Inc. off the apron! Devon hits the ropes and connects with a big Shoulder block. 1…2…NO Anarquia kicks out! Devon sees Hernandez in the corner and walks over to him but Hernandez kicks him in the gut and then uses the ropes to flip him up onto the top rope. Hernandez sets up for a dive but Devon grabs him and Press Slams him off the top! Devon then hits a Double Clothesline on Mexican America! Jesse Neal tags Anarquia in and then Spears Hernandez into the corner! Jesse then turns around into a Spinebuster from Devon! 1…2…3!
Winners: Devon & the Pope via pinfall (Spinebuster)
In the back A-Double is walking towards the entrance way.
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X-Division Champion, Austin Aries, makes his way down to the ring. Aries tells the fans to keep it down for a second and then he says he has a bit of a problem. Aries says since the minute he stepped foot back in TNA he proclaimed that he’s the greatest man that’s ever lived, but he’s exceeded even his own greatness to a level that he couldn’t even comprehend. Aries says he breathed a little greatness into the X-Division but what he didn’t expect is that his level of greatness would be in a whole other league than the rest of the X-Division. Aries says he has single handedly defeated every X-Division star in TNA and there is no one left for him to defeat. Aries says its time that the division is renamed the A-Double Division. He says there is no one in TNA that can compete with him. Some chick screams when Aries mentions Jesse Sorensen, but Aries looks at her and says this isn’t a good looking contest, it’s a wrestling contest. Aries then says if it was a good looking contest he’d win that too. He says no one in TNA can hold a candle to him, but Kid Kash’s music cuts him off before he can say anything else.
Former TNA X-Division Champion and the man that Aries outsmarted at Turning Point, Kid Kash, makes his way down to the ring. Aries says Kash looks a little upset and he understands but he needs to relax. Kash takes the microphone from Aries and says that he couldn’t help but overhearing Aries say that he has beaten everyone in the X-Division. Kash asks Aries if that’s what he calls that little screwjob he did to him at Turning Point. Kash says they had an agreement to takeout Jesse Sorensen and Aries says they did that. Kash says HE took out Sorensen and Aries, like a little dog, slid behind him and pinned his ass. Aries says Kash did a good job taking out Sorenesen but Kash cuts him off and asks if he’s talking about a few weeks ago when he walked out on him in their Tag match. Kash says his mind is a little confused as to what Aries is trying to say so maybe he should tell him. Aries says Kash seems to have him confused with Jesse Sorensen because he ain’t no punk kid. He says he’s not Mr. 10 Minutes in this business and he’s been around the world and he’s a champion. Aries asks Kash where his belt is. Kash tells Aries to remember one thing and that’s long before Aries ever came into TNA he wore that belt longer than anyone else. Aries says if he thinks such a tough bastard and then he takes off his belt and lays it down the ring. Aries says if he’s so tough, all he has to do is shake his hand right now and he has himself a title match. Kash accepts the handshake and both men socked each other with their free hands at the same time both thinking the same thing obviously. Aries rolls out of the ring and Kash smiles at Aries as he backs up the ramp. Aries screams that Kash just sucker punched him and he ain’t no sucker. Aries says Kash “ain’t getting no title shot” now.
Earlier today Gunner was looking for Garret Bischoff.
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In the back AJ talks about the 3-Way and he says this match has the potential to get real interesting. AJ says he respects what Jeff is doing but he plans on winning this match. AJ says that Roode is on top of his game but he’s going to knock him off.
Gunner walks into a gym hunting Garret but some guy is smarting off to him so Gunner punks him out and pie faces him to the floor. Gunner continues looking and then he finds one of Garret’s friends. He starts slapping the guy around and beating on him. Another guy approaches Gunner and Gunner lays him out too. Another guy in a boxing ring tells Gunner to chill out so Gunner comes in and starts beating the hell out of him too. The first guy that Gunner took out screams at Gunner to leave. Gunner clotheslines the sh*t out of the guy and then starts choking him. Some big guy tries to pull Gunner off so Gunner lays him out and then starts yanking on the dudes arm in a Fujiwara Armbar. Gunner screams at the guy to tell Garret that he’s looking for him and he’s coming for him.
In the back Sting tells Jeff Jarrett that if he gets involved in the Main Event tonight than there will be consequences. Jeff says that Sting was out there in the ring when Hardy showed up in the condition he did. He wants Hardy gone but Sting asks if Jarrett is the new standard barrier around here. Sting says he’s known Jarrett for a long time so he knows he has a ton of skeletons in his closet too. Sting reminds Jeff that if he interferes there will be major consequences if he gets involved and Jarrett says he may be willing to accept those consequences.
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In the parking lot the Knockouts are still washing cars.
Bully Ray walks into Steiner’s locker room and asks Steiner what they’re going to do about Abyss. Steiner asks Ray went out with Abyss’ girlfriend or something and Ray gets pissed and says no. Steiner says he understands that because she’s fat. Steiner says most men want freaks and they start talking about what freaks they’re going to use. Steiner says he has freaks 9 days out of the week but Ray says there’s only 7 days in the week. Steiner says he’s the big bad booty daddy and it’s nonstop for him. Ray screams at Steiner to use “ENGLISH!” Steiner says he’s got some freaks for him and they walk to find the freaks.
Street Fight
ODB vs. Mickie James
ODB tries to jump Mickie on the ramp but Mickie Spears her! ODB comes back and tosses Mickie down the ramp! ODB and Mickie brawl around ringside and ODB slams Mickie into the apron. ODB looked like she was reaching for something in her top but I think she was just adjusting the girls. ODB tosses Mickie into the ring but Mickie catches her with several forearms as she comes into the ring. ODB fights back and then catches Mickie as Mickie went for a Thesz Press. ODB slams Mickie into the corner and then goes for a Splash, but Mickie sidesteps her! Mickie pulls ODB to the floor and slams her down hard and then covers her as apparently it’s Falls Count Anywhere too. 1…2…NO ODB kicks out! Mickie attempts to whip ODB into the ring steps but ODB reverses it! ODB chokes Mickie on the guardrail but Mickie fights her off. Mickie then uses the guardrail to lift herself up and go for the Mickiecanrana but ODB blocks it and Powerbombs Mickie onto the floor! ODB covers Mickie and gets a nearfall of her own. ODB grabs a fans water and takes a swig and then she drags Mickie through the crowd. ODB taunts Mickie which allows Mickie to come back and nail ODB with a Forearm. Mickie then whips ODB into a wall! Mickie and ODB brawl into the backstage area. ODB grabs a trashcan and slams the lid down on Mickie! ODB then picks up the rest of the garbage can and slams it down on Mickie’s head! ODB covers Mickie, 1…2…NO Mickie kicks out! Mickie picks up a cookie sheet or something, as does ODB, and the two start swinging them at each other like swords. ODB kicks Mickie and then hits her with the cookie sheet. ODB drags Mickie by the hair around backstage and slams her into a wall. ODB chops Mickie but Mickie shoves ODB away and then grabs a nearby broom and hits ODB with it. Mickie starts beating ODB back into the crowd. They brawl back to ringside and ODB kicks Mickie and tosses her back into the ring. ODB slides a chair into the ring and then climbs in and bends down to pick it up, but Mickie rolls her up into a Bridging Rollup! 1…2…NO ODB kicks out! Mickie nails ODB with right hands until ODB cuts her off with an uppercut. ODB whips Mickie into the ropes but Mickie springs off with a clothesline followed by a 2nd one. Mickie kicks ODB’s knee and then hits a Sliding Dropkick! 1…2…NO ODB kicks out! Mickie kicks ODB and goes for the Mickie-DT but ODB blocks it and counters into the Fall Away Slam! ODB nips up to her feet and then grabs the chair. ODB goes to swing the chair at Mickie but Mickie ducks and then Mick Kicks it into ODB’s face! 1…2…3!
Winner: Mickie via pinfall (Mick Kick)
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Back from the break Taz and Tenay interview James Storm live “via satellite” The Rocky-style from his home in Nashville, TN. Storm talks about the concussion he was diagnosed with being worse than he thought and he says he’s not cleared to wrestle yet. Storm says Kurt Angle needs to be man-to-man instead of attacking him from behind. Kurt Angle walks to the announce table and takes a headset and asks Storm how it felt to have his head busted open and laying on the floor bleeding wandering if he would ever wrestle again. Angle asks what his daughter was thinking when that happened. Storm looks like he’s about to stab someone and says if Kurt wants to know how it feels he’ll definitely find out when he gets cleared to wrestle. Kurt says Storm robbed him of the title and he had less than 90 minutes to get ready for that match. Storm says that’s not his problem and when you’re the World Champion you have to be ready for anything. Angle screams at Storm that it IS his problem and tells him to come to Impact next week and they’ll make a match at Final Resolution official. Storm screams at Angle that he will be here next week and when he looks him in the eyes he will know he’s not scared. Storm says he’s not coming to wrestle Angle, he’s coming to beat his ass!
Two chicks are walking backstage and I’m assuming they’re some of Steiner’s freaks.
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The video package they’ve been teasing all night with Roode’s family is finally shown. Roode says that a guy like Angle, the best in the world, having to cheat to beat him at BFG opened his eyes to the way things are. One of Roode’s friends says that Roode thought it was his time and his reaction after that match was indescribable. Roode’s father talks about the way Roode won the belt and he says it doesn’t matter to Bobby but it does matter to him. Roode’s sister says he isn’t the same person and his mother says that something in Roode just snapped after the BFG match. Roode says he’s the one putting food on the table and paying the bills. His wife says she had to tell her kids that it wasn’t right for “daddy” to cheat and turn on his friend. His mother says she doesn’t think he realizes what he’s doing to the family. His sister says she would rather Roode loose the belt than to have the guy he is now as a brother. His father wants his dad to start over and do it the right way.
Backstage Roode says that doesn’t bother him one bit and he says his family thinking he’s a “user” is a joke because they’re the users. Roode says to go ask his family how dinner was because he’s the one that bought it. Roode says to ask how the new car drives because he bought it. Roode says he got in this business to be the World Champion and he is. Roode says he’ll prove to Sting tonight why he is the champion and AJ & Hardy have nothing on him.
TNA Television Championship
Robbie E. (c) w/Robbie T. vs. “Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam
Robbie shoves RVD and then RVD nails him with a kick. RVD then hits a series of shoulder blocks in the corner followed by a Spinning Heel Kick! RVD then hits a Rolling Monkey Flip! RVD clotheslines Robbie over the top rope and then RVD hits a sliding dropkick through the ropes onto Robbie! RVD then sets up for a dive but Robbie T. stands between them stopping RVD. RVD looks at him and then does a little Hulk Hogan pose to mock him. Robbie E. slides in behind RVD and tries to kick but RVD catches him! RVD then hits a Stepover Heel Kick followed by Rolling Thunder! RVD calls for the 5-Star but he sees Robbie T. walking over. He attempts to sweep RVD’s legs but RVD jumps over the sweep and then kicks him! Robbie E. puts the boots to RVD as he was distracted. Robbie whips RVD into the ropes and connects with a Back Elbow for a nearfall. Robbie then hits a Fist Drop followed by a Diving Fist Drop off the top! 1…2…RVD kicks out! Robbie whips RVD into the corner and then charges but RVD gets a boot up! RVD hits Robbie with a series of right hands but Robbie cuts him off with a knee to the gut. Robbie then whips RVD back into the corner and charges but RVD catches him with a spinning heel kick! RVD goes to pick Robbie up but Robbie grabs his tights and flings him to the floor! Robbie T. was about to attack RVD but Eric Young runs down with a fire extinguisher! The referee goes down to get between them as RVD rolls back into the ring. Robbie tries to slam RVD’s head into the corner but RVD blocks it with his foot and then kicks Robbie. RVD springs to the top and hits the 5-Star Frog Splash! Christopher Daniels comes from out of the crowd and nails RVD with the Angels Wings! He rolls Robbie back over RVD and the referee slides back in, 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL TV Champ: Robbie via pinfall
The two chicks come from Abyss’ spot with their hair messed up and literally walking with a limp. One of them asks “what just happened” as Taz says they don’t call him a “monster” for nothing.
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The Knockouts are still washing cars when Tara nails Angelina with a sponge. All the girls start brawling and this is officially awesome. They’re all wet…I’ll leave it at that.
Several of the wrestlers walk up to watch the catfight and then Gail starts spraying them with a water hose.
Main Event
Non-Title Triple Threat Match
Bobby Roode vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. “Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy
Boxing style intros for this one which is apparently brought to us by Wrangler Jeans, where’s Brett Favre? As the bell rings Roode fakes like he’s going to lockup with the other two but then slides out of the ring and tells the other two to go at it. Jeff and AJ look at each other and then AJ goes down to the floor to go after Roode. Hardy drops down to the floor on the other side to surround Roode. AJ nails Roode with a right hand and both exchange rights on Roode! AJ connects with a clothesline and then rolls Roode back into the ring! Roode wants a timeout but Hardy nails him with a right hand they bounce Roode back and forth between each other with right hands. AJ & Hardy whip Roode into the ropes and connect with a Double Clothesline. Roode tries to clothesline them both himself but they duck and then hit a Double Backdrop! They then Double Clothesline Roode out to the floor! Hardy sets up for a dive but AJ stops him and goes for a dive of his own. Roode moves out of the way, AJ lands on the apron, and Roode grabs his foot. Jeff Hardy hits a sliding dropkick to Roode to knock him off AJ.
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Back from the break Roode is on offense now, but AJ comes back on him and attempts to whip Roode into the ropes. Roode reverses it sending AJ into Hardy on the apron knocking Hardy off! Roode grabs AJ and hits a Back Suplex! 1…2…NO Hardy breaks it up! Roode hits Hardy with a right hand and then puts the boots to him. Roode slams Hardy into the corner and puts the boots to him some more. Roode then starts stomping on AJ. Hardy comes out of the corner and tosses Roode into it and nails Roode with right hands. AJ comes over and starts hitting him with right hands of his own. The referee pulls Hardy off of Roode which allows Roode to poke AJ in the eyes and then slap Hardy on the back of the head to make Hardy think it was AJ. Hardy gets in AJ’s face and shoves him. AJ shoves him back and the fight is on! They lockup and start brawling all around the ring. AJ shoves Hardy into the ropes and then leapfrog shim and connects with the Phenomenal Dropkick! 1…2…NO Hardy kicks out! AJ goes for a Vertical Suplex but Hardy blocks it and connects with a Leaping Back Kick. Hardy then hits a Russian Leg Sweep and then rolls backwards to his feet and Leg Drops AJ’s legs into a crazy pin! 1…2…NO AJ kicks out! Hardy picks AJ up but AJ catches him with a Leaping Enziguri out of nowhere! Roode slides back into the ring and slams AJ into the ring post! Roode quickly covers Hardy, 1…2…NO he kicks out! Roode puts the boots to Hardy and then drops an elbow on him for another nearfall. Roode picks Hardy up and slams him into the corner. Hardy tries to fight out but Roode catches him with a knee and then whips him into the ropes and connects with a Back Elbow followed by a Knee Drop for a nearfall. AJ tries to climb back in but Roode dropkicks him to the floor and then spits on him. Roode chokes Hardy on the ropes and then picks him up. Roode and Hardy trade right hands in the center of the ring and then Hardy attempts a whip into the ropes but Roode counters into the Double-R Spinebuster! 1…2…NO Hardy kicks out! Roode picks Hardy up and goes for the Payoff but AJ comes from literally out of NOWHERE with the Springboard Flying Forearm on Roode! AJ follows up with a series of clotheslines and then he attempts to whip Roode into the corner. Roode reverses it and then charges at AJ but AJ catches him with a back elbow and then he springs out of the corner with the Phenomenon! AJ screams at Roode to get up and then he goes for the Styles Clash but Roode blocks it and backdrops AJ over the top! AJ lands on the apron and then sets up for a springboard move but Roode shoves Hardy into the ropes causing AJ to land hard on the top rope! Roode then tosses Hardy out to the floor hard. Roode grabs AJ and tosses him back into the ring. Roode hits the Payoff! 1…2…NO Hardy is able to come back in and break it up! Hardy hits a Leg Drop to Roode’s sternum followed by a sliding dropkick and then a clothesline! Hardy follows up with a Sitout Front Suplex! Hardy then hits the Twist of Fate! Hardy climbs up top for the Swanton! Jeff Jarrett climbs over the guardrail as the referee was looking at AJ coming into the ring, and Jeff crotches Hardy on the top rope! Roode grabs Hardy and covers him, 1…2…3 AJ wasn’t able to break it up!
Winner: Roode via pinfall
Sting walks out after the match and stops Jeff Jarrett from going anywhere. Sting says he told Jarrett there would be consequences so at Final Resolution it will be Jeff Jarrett vs. Jeff Hardy in a Steel Cage! Only way to win the match will be to escape the cage! Sting says if Jarrett wins the match Hardy will leave TNA but if Hardy wins the match Hardy earns a shot at the World Title at Genesis! Karen Jarrett walks out and starts screaming at Sting. Sting says he just had another good idea and to make sure that Jeff’s “husband” (he repeats it again to make sure Jeff understands he was calling Karen the man) doesn’t interfere in the match Karen will be handcuffed to Sting during the match! Karen starts freaking out and Sting mocks her.
FINAL THOUGHTS
First off, I want to say I have absolutely no problem if this trend of only 4 matches with at least 2 matches with good length and good quality continues I’m fine with it rather than 7 matches with all of them going about 2-5 minutes.
I thought tonight’s promos were some of the best we’ve had all year. Roode/AJ/Hardy/Sting set up the Main Event for tonight and had Sting make sure everyone knows there’s consequences to disobeying him. Roode was really strong and I love the “I don’t care about anyone else” thing. The vignettes with his family really did well to drive that home as well.
The Storm/Angle segment was excellent and I loved how fired up both guys got. Angle wants to kill Storm for “robbing him” and Storm wants to kill Angle for nearly “killing” him. Nothing complicated, just simple and effective.
Aries/Kash was the most promo time the X-Division has had in months and both guys did a great job with it. I’ve been saying for months Kash needs a Title feud but the only problem here is that both guys are heels and both characters are dicks. There are several babyfaces in the division (Zema Ion for example) that really haven’t gotten much of a shot to be going with heel vs. heel here unless this is turn to turn one of them babyface (though I don’t see it since both are so great at being bad). I loved the ending where both guys went for the cheap shot, driving home they’re both assholes.
The Gunner thing hunting Garret was actually okay because it was cool to see him beating the crap out of people for a change rather than jobbing to a scrub like Garret.
I have no idea where Abyss/Bully Ray is going and don’t know if I want to know.
I also have no idea where they’re going with the Knockouts stuff, they’re obviously doing it where Karen is torturing the Knockouts and making them do the things they hate, but I don’t know where this goes.
Mickie-ODB was EXCELLENT, they beat the hell out of each other and made it feel like more than just a random match. The story made sense too, ODB wanted that title shot so she was going to “hurt” Mickie and Mickie wanted to keep her shot so she would do anything to stop that.
The 3-Way Tag Match was okay but this division is hurting so bad right now. Save us Chris Sabin. Where is the British Invasion by the way?
RVD-Robbie was pretty much a squash match there to continue the Robbie-EY stuff and RVD-Daniels. Nothing too bad, nothing good.
Main Event was a really good match with a lousy finish. All 3 guys worked hard though and put on an entertaining, well paced match.
QUICK RESULTS:
1)TNA Tag Titles #1 Contenders 3-Way: Pope & Devon def. Mexican America & Ink, Inc.
2)Street Fight: Mickie James def. ODB
3)TNA TV Title: Robbie E. (c) def. RVD to retain the title!
4)Triple Threat: Bobby Roode def. AJ Styles & Jeff Hardy
– Promo/Segment of the Night: Aries/Kash
– Match of the Night: AJ/Roode/Hardy (***)
– Overall Grade: B+
Scheduled for Next Week:
– Abyss vs. Samoa Joe
– Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne
– Jeff Hardy & AJ Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett & Bobby Roode
– Kurt Angle & James Storm faceoff
Final Resolution Lineup:
– TNA World Title 30-Minute Ironman Match: Bobby Roode (c) vs. AJ Styles
– Steel Cage Escape Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/Karen Jarrett handcuffed to Sting at ringside)
– TNA Knockouts Title: Gail Kim (c) vs. Mickie James