TNA Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida (Impact Wrestling Zone)
June 14, 2012
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Fresh off the heels of this past Sunday’s historic “Slammiversary X” PPV Impact Wrestling opens up with a vignette focusing on James Storm making his return at the PPV after his time away from the ring for the past couple of months. Footage of him ending Crimson’s streak at the PPV is then shown before we cut to the arena where the Ultimate X structure is already set up!
Zema Ion and Chris Sabin are already in the ring as Austin Aries makes his entrance.
TNA X-Division Championship
Ultimate X Match
“A-Double” Austin Aries (c) vs. “The Motor City Machine Gun” Chris Sabin vs. Zema Ion
A-Double is coming off his spectacular defense of the X-Division Title against Samoa Joe Sunday night and this is the first Ultimate X since last Summer, and I believe the very first Ultimate X for either Zema or Aries while Sabin is competing in his 15th Ultimate X Match. Sabin also competed in the very first one way back in August 2003 against Michael Shane (aka Matt Bentley) and Kazarian. At the bell Zema immediately starts climbing up one of the scaffolds and grabs the cable as Aries and Sabin watch. Zema kicks in the air at them but they both grab Zema by the legs and treat them like a wishone! Zema falls to the mat and then Sabin & Aries Double Hip Toss Zema clear across the ring! Sabin hits a Flying Forearm on Zema in the corner followed by a Running Clothesline from Aries. Zema rolls out to the floor and Sabin grabs Aries for the Cradle Shock but Aries counters into a rollup but Sabin rolls through and goes for a round kick. Aries ducks it and then rolls Sabin up again into an attempt at the Brainbuster! Sabin blocks it and goes for a Lariat, but Aries ducks and both men hits the ropes. Sabin cartwheels over a sliding Aries and then he goes for a clothesline, but Aries blocks it and hits a Gutbuster followed by an STO and then the Pendulum Elbow! Sabin rolls out to the floor and Aries goes to climb up the scaffolding but Zema pulls him down and starts beating on Aries’ back. Zema hits the Hostile Makeover and then climbs up top and jumps up to the cables! Sabin pulls him down and then attempts to spring to the top but botches it and falls to the mat. He quickly gets back to his feet and grabs Zema by the head (who is on the apron now) and slams him into the turnbuckles. Sabin goes for a clothesline but Zema ducks and then comes in and goes for the Hostile Makeover again, but Sabin blocks it and lands on his feet. Sabin hits a Spinning Back Kick and then a Springboard Tornado DDT! Sabin climbs up top but Aries follows him up and hits him with a series of elbows. Aries grabs the cable and starts to climb toward the belt but Sabin hits him with a series of chops to knock him off. Sabin comes down and hits Aries with forearms and then climbs back up and grabs the cables. Sabin scales the cables and almost gets to the belt but Aries grabs him and pulls him down onto his shoulders. Aries runs Sabin into the corner and then into the opposite corner followed by a Spinning Fireman’s Carry! Aries sells dizziness from that one and then starts to climb up top as Sabin also sells the dizziness. Sabin falls into the ropes to knock Aries off but Aries lands on the apron and then catches Sabin with a jawbreaker onto the top rope followed by a Slingshot Somersault Splash Eddie Guerrero style. Aries then walks into a Springboard Tornado DDT attempt from Zema, but Sabin blocks it and then backdrops Zema over the top! Zema lands on the apron but Aries rolls backwards into a kick to the gut of Zema knocking him off the apron! Sabin charges at Aries but Aries backdrops him over the top into dive onto Zema on the floor! Sabin immediately sells the knee when he hits the ground and I don’t know if he landed back on the previously injured leg or is just selling. Aries dives out with the Heat Seeking Missile onto Sabin and Zema on the floor! Sabin looks hurt. Aries climbs up top and starts scaling the cable and gets all the way to the belt before Zema comes in and pulls him down. Zema hits Aries with a series of Forearm Smashes and then hits the ropes but eats a forearm from Aries! Aries goes for the Brainbuster but Zema blocks it and goes for a German Suplex. Aries hits Zema with a series of elbows knocking him back into the corner and the entire time this is going on Sabin can be seen on the outside still selling the knee. Aries charges at Zema but eats an elbow and then Zema climbs up top and starts to climb the scaffolding. Aries climbs up with Zema but Zema knocks him off with back elbows and Sabin is back in the ring now limping VERY noticeably. Sabin hits Aries with an elbow and rolls back out, that knee is hurt. It looked like he tried to go again but it just gave out him, that’s not good. Aries climbs back up with Zema and rakes the back of Zema and then shoves him into the scaffolding face first! Aries grabs the cable and starts climbing but Zema is back up and grabs him. Aries wraps his legs around Zema’s head and snaps off a Superrana off the cables on Zema! Oh damn! Aries hits the IED on Zema followed by the Brainbuster! Aries quickly climbs up and starts scaling the cables! He wraps his legs around the cables so no one can drag him down, and he pulls the title down! Aries retains!
Winner & STILL X-Division Champ: Aries via pulling the belt down
A shot of Sabin on the floor tells it all, the look on his face tells the whole story. That knee is done.
Aries grabs the microphone and says that over a year ago he walked into TNA and made some pretty hefty claims. He said that there wasn’t a person in Impact Wrestling that he couldn’t defeat and he said that pound for pound he was the most complete package in wrestling and that he wasn’t just great, he was the greatest man to ever live. He says at first everyone thought it was just hot air but then they gave him an inch and he took a yard, they gave him a yard and he took a mile. Aries says everything they put on his tee he knocked it out of the park. He says whether he’s the first match, the 4th match, or the last match he’s always the main event. He says he’s always must see TV and he is “Mr. Moneysworth” but he’s not satisfied with the X-Division Title and things moving at a snail’s pace. Aries says he’s not here to earn respect, he’s here to take it. Hulk Hogan’s music cuts him off and the GM makes his way out.
Hogan looks down at Aries as they tease what Hogan will say to him after the break.
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Hogan is now in the ring with Aries and he says that he hears the chants for Austin. He says he can hear on the hoopla when Aries comes to the ring and he hears how loud it gets when he comes out. Hogan says Aries comes out week after week no matter where he is on the card and claims to be the Main Event. Hogan says wherever Aries is going in his career Hogan has already been there and he knows what it’s like to be in the Main Event, but the one thing he never got when he was there is get the goose bumps he gets when he sees Aries wrestle. He says Aries is taking his game to a new level and he can forget the “pound for pound crap”, he says Aries is the greatest thing he’s ever seen in the ring. Aries says he wants to be the Main Event and Hogan says if he wants to be the Main Event so bad he can make that happen at Destination X! Hogan says there is a catch and he has to put his money where his mouth is. He says he’ll give Aries one condition, he can’t have one man the champion of BOTH divisions so to get the World Title shot at DX he has to vacate the X-Division Title. Hogan says if he accepts it and wins at DX he’s the World Champion but if he losses that match then he walks away with NOTHING. Hogan says he and the fans believe in Aries and know he can do it but Aries says he’s busted his tail for that belt and now he just wants him to hand it over. Hogan says that’s not what he wants him to do, he wants him to be greater than he already is. Hogan says if he wins he becomes the World Champion and that is greatness personified. Hogan says he wants Aries to prove that he is the greatest man to ever live and he has one week to give Hogan a decision. Hogan and Aries shake hands as Aries holds up the belt.
All through tonight they will present “Slammiversary Moments” recapping the PPV and the first one is shown here as a great vignette recaps several key moments in the Aries/Joe match followed by clips of the Ray/Park match. In the Park talks with several people about the match when suddenly they all get up and leave and we realize why as Bully Ray comes into view. Ray shoves all the stuff off the table and gets in Park’s face. Ray asks Park where Abyss is and Park says he’s looking for him too. Ray spits on Park’s food and asks him again. Park says the last time he saw him was putting Ray through a table. Ray flips over the table and says he won’t rest until he finds Abyss and walks away.
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TNA Television Championship
“Super Mex” Hernandez vs. Devon (c)
Both Devon & Mex are coming off wins this past Sunday as Devon teamed with Garett Bischoff in defeating The Shore while Hernandez beat Kid Kash. As Devon comes down to the ring Hernandez shows off his unreal athleticism with the Super Mex dive over the top onto the unsuspecting Devon! Mex tosses Devon back into the ring and immediately pins Devon, 1..2….NO Devon kicks out! Mex tosses Devon into the corner and then whips him into the opposite corner and charges but Devon moves. Devon grabs Hernandez and attempts a Hip Toss but he blocks it and then DESTROYS Devon with a nasty clothesline! 1…2…NO Devon kicks out! Hernandez picks Devon up but Devon fights back with right hands on him and then hits the ropes but eats a back elbow from Hernandez. Hernandez covers Devon again and again gets a nearfall. Hernandez then covers Devon again and gets another nearfall. Mex grabs Devon and locks in a Bearhug on the champ! Devon fights off the hold with shots to the side of Hernandez’s head but Hernandez hits him with a double chop and then whips Devon into the ropes only to eat a Spear from Devon out of nowhere! Devon hits Hernandez with a series of right hands and then hits the ropes and connects with a Flying Shoulder Block followed by a Neckbreaker and then a Diving Headbutt! Devon gets the crowd behind him as he charges at Hernandez and hits a Corner Splash and then bounces off the ropes walk into an oncoming TRAIN as Hernandez absolutely bulls over him with a Pounce! 1…2…NO Devon kicks out! Hernandez grabs Devon and picks up but Devon shoves him into the corner and connects with a clothesline knocking Hernandez down in the corner. Devon reaches down to pick Hernandez up but he kicks Devon in the gut and then grabs the ropes and flips himself up to the top rope! Hernandez slips on the top and then dives off with a clothesline, 1…2…NO Devon kicks out! Hernandez attempts to whip Devon into the ropes but he reverses it and then catches Mex with the Spinebuster. 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL TV Champ: Devon via pinfall (Spinebuster)
The footage from last week with the drama between Daniels, Kaz, AJ, & Dixie is shown.
Earlier today AJ tells Dixie he can’t “do this” anymore and Dixie says she tried to explain everything last week. He says they can’t keep this thing secret anymore and Dixie says people are going to get hurt but AJ says people have already gotten hurt. He says they have to get it out in the open tonight and she agrees but she says AJ has to keep his head in the game and not get hurt tonight because he has a match.
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Earlier today a pissed off Bobby Roode arrives at the arena.
BFG Series
Gauntlet Battle Royal
“The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. “Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy vs. “Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam vs. Magnus vs. Bully Ray vs. “Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle vs. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero vs. Robbie E vs. “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. “Cowboy” James Storm vs. “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe
20 points on the line here in the BFG Series. AJ and HARDY will kick this one off as the first two entrants. AJ and Hardy shake hands and then lockup and Hardy gets AJ in a side headlock and AJ attempts to shove him into the ropes, but Hardy holds onto the headlock. AJ finally shoves him off and then leapfrogs Hardy and connects with the Phenomenal Dropkick! AJ tosses Hardy into the corner and then tries to toss Hardy over but Hardy lands on the apron and hits AJ with a shoulder block. Hardy then hits Slingshot Dropkick on AJ! Hardy grabs AJ as RVD’s music goes off as he’s the next entrant, we have no timer so this could get confusing. RVD IS THE NEXT MAN IN! RVD runs down and hits AJ with a clothesline and then a spinning heel kick to Hardy followed by a Superkick to AJ and then a Spinning Dropkick to Hardy! RVD hits a Monkey Flip on AJ sending him across the ring and then he hits the Rolling Thunder on Hardy!
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Back from the break MAGNUS is also in the match now and BULLY RAY makes his entrance. AJ attempts to eliminate Magnus but he gets caught with an elbow from the British star. Ray immediately goes after Hardy and beats on him in the corner and then goes after everybody else. Ray cleans house and hits a Corner Splash on Magnus and then a Big Boot on RVD! Ray tosses AJ over the top but AJ lands on the apron and holds onto the bottom rope! We finally have a timer now as it ticks down and KURT ANGLE makes his entrance! Angle comes in and hits a German Suplex on Magnus and then one for Hardy! Angle grabs Bully and connects with a series of right hands and Ray answers with rights of his own! Angle chokes Ray in the corner and AJ and RVD tee off on each other with kicks on the other side. RVD tries to toss AJ over the top but AJ holds onto the ropes and bounces back in. Angle tries to take Ray over but Ray elbows him in the head. Magnus gets Hardy over the top but he holds on as well and rolls back in. The next man in is the returning POPE! Pope hits the ring and goes after Bully Ray and then RVD! He ducks a spinning heel kick from RVD and then catches him with the 4-Uppercut! Tenay says that Pope worked on the new Batman movie which I was unaware of. Pope hits an Atomic Drop on Magnus followed by a clothesline and then an STO on AJ! Ray hits Pope from behind and then grabs Hardy and tosses him over! Hardy lands on the apron but then absolutely gets DESTROYED by a Running Big Boot from Ray! Hardy goes flying off the apron and into the guardrail! JEFF HARDY IS ELIMIANTED! Ray goes after everybody else now but Abyss comes from under the ring and gets up on the apron behind Ray. Abyss grabs Ray by the throat and pulls him over the top! RAY IS ELIMINATED! Pope tosses RVD over the top but he holds on as we go to a break!
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Back from the break ROBBIE E is in now as everyone else still remains in the match. AJ and RVD are brawling in a corner as Pope comes over and tosses them both over! RVD lands on the floor but AJ holds onto the apron! RVD IS ELIMINATED! Magnus hits Pope from behind and tries to toss him out but Pope blocks it and slams him into the corner. The next man in is CHRISTOPHER DANIELS! As Daniels comes into the ring AJ comes flying off the ropes with a Springboard Flying Forearm! AJ then nails Daniels with a NASTY clothesline and then a back elbow! AJ immediately goes for the Styles Clash but Daniels shoves him away and then pokes him in the eyes. Angle comes from behind and grabs Daniels for a German and as he holds him AJ goes for an Enziguri, but Daniels ducks and AJ nails Angle! AJ realizes who he just hit and Daniels grabs him from behind and ELIMINATES AJ! Daniels grabs Angle and tosses him out as well! ANGLE IS ELIMINATED! Magnus attacks Daniels from behind as AJ checks on Angle on the outside. The next man in is SAMOA JOE! Joe hits the ring and clotheslines everybody! Robbie tries shoving Joe but he just shrugs it off and grabs Robbie by the hair and tosses him out! ROBBIE E IS ELIMINATED! Daniels hits Joe from behind and both he and Pope try to eliminate Joe but Magnus comes over and pulls them off. Magnus hits Magnus with a Mafia Kick and Joe absolutely LIGHTS Magnus up with a chop as the two partners stare each other down! Magnus and Joe exchange forearms in the center of the ring and Magnus hits the ropes and catches Joe with a Mafia Kick! Magnus hits the ropes and charges at Joe but Joe drops down and pulls the top rope down sending Magnus flying over the top! MAGNUS IS ELIMINATED! Joe and Pope take turns hitting Daniels with jabs and uppercuts as the next man in is THE COWBOY! The fans go nuts as Storm comes down and Pope immediately goes after him but Storm tosses the charging Pope over the top! POPE IS ELIMINATED! Storm whips Daniels into the ropes and backdrops him high into the air and then nails him with a clothesline and then the Closing Time! Storm goes for Last Call but Daniels blocks it, but then Storm transitions into a clothesline sending Daniels over the top! DANIELS IS ELIMINATED! Joe and Storm stare each other down as the TNA Originals circle each other. They exchange NASTY chops in the center of the ring and then right hands and forearms! Tenay reveals that the 12th and final man in the BFG Series will be whoever the loser of the World Title match tonight is (Roode or Anderson). Joe hits the ropes and connects with a Running Mafia Kick but Storm comes right back with a clothesline of his own! Storm whips Joe into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Joe stops and kicks Storm. Joe tosses Storm over the top but Storm holds onto the ropes and skins the cat back into the ring! Joe charges at Storm but Storm sidesteps him and Joe goes over the top. Joe lands on the apron and ducks a right hand from Storm and locks in the Coquina Clutch from the apron! Storm breaks the hold with a Jawbrekaer onto the ropes but Joe is able to balance himself and hang on! Storm hits the Last Call and Joe is gone! SAMOA JOE IS ELIMINATED!
Winner: Storm via being the lone survivor
Storm grabs the microphone after the match and says the last time he was here he was talking about how he thought his luck had run out. He says he went home and for the last 2 months he’s been spending time with his family on his farm, a place he built with his blood, sweat, and tears just like he did his wrestling career. Storm says that he had said if wrestling was still in his blood his home would tell him and a couple of weeks ago his daughter said to him “are you gone go back to wrestling?” and it wasn’t the question that got him but it was what she meant by it. Storm says he KNOWS what wrestling means to him but what he didn’t know is what it meant to his little girl. Storm says last Sunday and tonight coming down the ramp he didn’t know what he meant to all the fans who give him the crazy welcome as the fans chant “welcome back.” Storm says he made a promise to his self and his little girl and now he’s going to make a promise to the fans, he came back to be the World Heavyweight Champion again. Another “welcome back” chant erupts and he says if he didn’t make himself clear, “‘The Cowboy’ James Storm is BACK and Bobby Roode I want you to listen, because I hope and pray, oh God do I pray, that you will be the World Champion after the BFG Series is over with because that’s just going to be a bonus of whooping yo ass! Sorry bout yo damn luck!”
In the back Bobby Roode asks if he looks concerned or scared of James Storm, because he’s not. He says Storm came back because he’s jealous of Roode and if Storm wants to come back and get the Title away from him that’s fine with him because he has no problem facing Storm again one day. Roode says tonight he has bigger fish to fry, in the form of an asshole.
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More “Slammiversary Moments” are shown highlighting the amazing Tag Title match.
In the back Angle asks AJ what the hell is going on with him, mentioning him almost no showing the six man last week and now this week. Angle says he has to get “this sh*t” out of his head with Dixie because Daniels and Kaz are just going to keep screwing with him. Angle says if he keeps screwing up they’ll lose the belts and he wants him to promise that he’ll get straight. AJ promises to get focused and he apologizes to Angle.
More “Slammiversary Moments” this time focusing on Tessmacher shocking Gail Kim.
Non-Title Match
Madison Rayne vs. Miss Tessmacher
Apparently Tessmacher is going by MISS Tessmacher again rather than Brooke which I’m assuming is not to confuse her with Brooke Hogan (good lord). Tessmacher and Madison lockup with Tessmacher getting Rayne in a headlock and then connecting with a side headlock takeover followed by an armdrag and then a dropkick. Tessmacher hits a Drop Toe Hold and locks in a front facelock. Madison runs Tessmacher into the corner and then charges at her but eats a boot. Madison backs off and then charges again and again Tessmacher gets her boots up but this time Madison catches her feet and slams her to the mat. Madison slams her into the corner and then hits a Running Hip Attack followed by a Facebuster! 1…2…NO Tessmacher kicks out! Madison covers her again and again gets a nearfall. Madison whips Tessmacher into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Tessmacher hits her in the back and then connects with a Swinging Neckbreaker! Tessmacher follows up with a series of Forearms and then whips Madison into the ropes and hits a series of clotheslines and forearms! Tessmacher shoves Madison into the corner and mounts her and connects with a Diving Facebuster! 1…2…NO Madison kicks out! Tessmacher sets up for the Tesshocker but Madison blocks it and then goes for the Rayne Drop! Tessmacher counters with a knee to the gut and then hits a clothesline, 1…2…3!
Winner: Tessmacher via pinfall (clothesline)
In the back Brooke Hogan talks with Gail Kim and she says the KO Title is going to be on the line next week and she’s considering 4 girls for the shot and Gail is one. Gail doesn’t like that and says she should be the #1 Contenders and cuts Brooke off. Gail says she has a rematch clause in her contract so she doesn’t need Brooke’s help, but Brooke says she’s right too because her contract doesn’t say WHEN she’s going to get that rematch. Brooke says now she’s not going to get that shot next week she can enjoy a little vacation. Gail is not happy.
Clips from the 3-Way at Slammiversary are shown.
Mr. Anderson cuts a promo about Roode and says he hasn’t forgotten about Bobby hitting him with a beer bottle last month and he says he’s going to beat his ass.
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Footage of the World Title Match at Slammiversary is shown.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
“The IT Factor” Bobby Roode (c) vs. Mr. Anderson
Roode has ditched the 2007-era robe he broke back out at Slammiversary. Boxing style intros for this one and as I said at Slammiversary before the Main Event (on Twitter) this match will likely be more legit than the Manny-Bradley fight this past weekend (just saying). Roode and Anderson lockup and Anderson gets Roode in a side headlock but he gets shoved off and then Roode leapfrogs him, but turns around into a clothesline from the #1 contender! Anderson whips Roode into the corner and hits a Running Clothesline and then attempts to whip Roode into the opposite corner but Roode reverses it only to eat a clothesline from Anderson anyway! Roode rolls out to the apron but Anderson stops him and Suplexes back into the ring! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out! Roode begs Anderson off but that doesn’t stop him but as Anderson reaches down to grab Roode, Roode grabs Anderson by the tights and tosses through the ropes to the floor. Roode then goes for a Slingshot Plancha over the top but Anderson moves and Roode eats the concrete! Anderson whips Roode into the ring steps and then Anderson talks trash to him as we go to a break.
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Back from the break Roode has Anderson in a headlock on the mat as the fans get behind Anderson. During the break Roode came back with a clothesline on the floor on Anderson to take back control of the match. Anderson fights back up to his feet and fights off the hold with elbows. Anderson hits the ropes and Roode attempts to catch him with a knee but Anderson avoids it and counters with a rollup! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out! Anderson follows up with a Backslide but again Roode kicks out and then Anderson goes for another Backslide but Roode counters with an elbow this time. Roode then hits a Neckbreaker, 1…2…NO Anderson kicks out! Roode hits a Knee Drop the back of Anderson’s head and then covers Anderson for another nearfall. Roode goes back to the headlock and Anderson tries to fight back to his feet but Roode hits him in the back and locks in a chinlock. A “Bobby sucks” chant starts up as Anderson fights Roode off again. The two exchange right hands and then Anderson whips Roode into the ropes and goes for a backdrop but Roode kicks him and then tries to toss him in the corner. Anderson blocks it with his foot and then shoves Roode into the corner. Anderson charges but Roode catches him with an elbow and then charges back but Anderson hits him with a clothesline followed by a back elbow! Anderson then hits the Swinging Neckbreaker! Anderson picks Roode up and goes for the Green Bay Plunge but Roode blocks it. Anderson then goes for a roundhouse kick but Roode ducks only to eat a Spinning Enziguri from Anderson! Anderson goes for the Mic Check but Roode counters into the Crossface! Anderson almost taps but he’s able to roll Roode over into a pin! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out and then gets to his feet and charges at Anderson only to walk into the Green Bay Plunge! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out again! Roode rolls out to the apron but Anderson stops him from going down to the floor only to have Roode grabs his arm and slam it down across the top rope! Roode then puts Anderson in a hammerlock and slams him into the turnbuckles and immediately locks in the Crossface again! He has Anderson’s arm in an armbar at the same time! Anderson fights it and crawls his way to the ropes but Roode isn’t budging and Anderson finally taps!
Winner & STILL World Champ: Roode via submission (Crossface)
After the match a deranged looking Roode stares a humbled Anderson down in the corner.
In the back Dixie and AJ talk about the secret and Dixie says she needs a week to get things in order and next week they will get everything out in the open. AJ says it’s even effecting his matches and Dixie says they’ll get through this next week and then they hug.
More clips from Slammiversary are shown this time focusing on Sting’s induction into the Hall of Fame (if you care to check out my thoughts on Sting’s induction check out the article I wrote earlier this week: http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1339536622).
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The Gauntlet from earlier is recapped when we come back from the break. Taz and Tenay hype up OFN next week and anybody in the BFG Series can call each other out. Replays from Ultimate X are shown followed by the offer from Hogan.
JB introduces the EXCELLENT Hall of Fame induction video for Sting from Slammiversary. JB introduces Sting and the now “HALL OF FAME Icon” makes his way down to the ring. Sting says it’s obvious that Slammiversary will go down as one of the greatest nights that he ever experienced and he says people ask him how that could be true after what Roode did what he did. He said that can be so because leading up to Slammiversary Sting made it his goal to take a big huge chunk out of the hide of Bobby Roode no matter the outcome and he did just that. Sting then says that being the very first person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is something he can’t even describe how much that means to him. The fans chant “you deserve it” and Sting says that he can say that there are several others that deserve that honor just as much as him and he means it. He says he wants to thank some people right now and he wants to start with Jerry Jarrett and Jeff Jarrett because they are the ones that started TNA. Sting then says he wants to thank Dixie Carter but before he can say anything else a masked man hits the ring and attacks Sting!
Several other masked men join in as well and put the beat down on Sting big time! They’re each wearing bandanas over their face rather than masks and I’m truly lost as to who this is. They’re 3 fairly large dudes that are putting an absolute beating on Sting! TNA closes with the 3 men continuing to stomp on Sting!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Wow, what a great show tonight! Man, I truly had fun watching tonight and we got a TON of stuff started so let’s get right into things.
The Ultimate X didn’t go overboard with a ton of spots tonight and I’m going to guess that Sabin’s injury may have had something to do with that, but it was still a fun match and the one big spot (the Superrana off the cables by Aries) was crazy. The true story here, though, was the promo by Aries and Hogan afterward. First off, I have to give a big kudos to Hogan there because I have gotten down on him so many times but he really did his best to get Aries even further over in that segment, he really did. Aries was great and I have to say the proposition that Hogan made to Aries was interesting. I’m typically against the champion not dropping his belt and Aries losing to a young X-Division wrestler would be a nice rub for that person, but right now may not be the best time for Aries to be doing that with as white hot as he is. Plus, it leaves it open for Aries to come back down the line and say “hey I never lost the belt” and have a feud waiting for him because Aries isn’t taking the strap at Destination X if they go this route. Having a really nice one month (or even two) feud with Roode would be really good for Aries and the promos would be epic, not to mention the ring work.
The one downer here was the Sabin injury, this guy has had one of the worst years I’ve seen from an athlete in a long while. This guy goes several months last year (actually on into 2010 I think) without his partner (at a time when they were hot) after his partner got hurt and the VERY night his partner returns Sabin blows his knee out and spends an entire year on the injured list. He’s finally able to come back and barely 2 months of being back his partner leaves TNA and now it looks like he may have reinjured that very same knee. Rey Mysterio is walking proof that you CAN come back from multiple serious knee injuries but he is the exception, not the rule. We just have to hope and pray that it’s not as serious as it looked and Sabin may have just gotten scared more than anything (but I don’t think that’s the case). It really looked like Sabin was finally starting to get comfortable again too, a damn shame.
Hernandez and Devon had a solid match going on until the clunky finish when Hernandez had trouble on the top rope and Devon had trouble getting Mex up. I really was hoping that Hernandez was going to be given a nice run with them bringing him back but Devon gets another meaningless win and that belt continues to be worthless.
The Gauntlet Match was really good and really fun and everybody looked great. It was awesome to see Pope back out there (TNA really dropped the ball on this guy) and he looked reenergized tonight. The moment when Storm and Joe stood off against each other was really cool and the finish was great, but the promo from Storm afterward was even better. Damn, he was on fire tonight!
Tessmacher and Rayne a short but decent match that was just there to put Tessmacher over and make her look good (which Madison can do with just about anyone).
Roode and Anderson had a really great TV Main Event and that was the best singles match Anderson has had in quite some time. The clean finish was nice for Roode and made him not just look smart but also very strong.
I was blown away by the end tonight as I thought it was just going to be a simple thing with Sting thanking the fans and different people and it would be a nice “happy” ending for the show, but they threw a curveball at us. I have NO clue who the guys that jumped Sting are, the first thought I had was Jeff Jarrett when the first guy came in (but he looked bigger than Sting and Jeff is definitely not bigger than Sting) and then the other two guys jumped in and I was clueless. AAA did pop into my mind but all 3 guys looked white and I’ve heard NOTHING of a AAA invasion into TNA storylines so I’m still lost. It was definitely a great hook for next week though, as is whether or not Aries will accept Hogan’s proposal.
I’ll close out tonight with a rundown of the BFG Series for those that don’t remember or don’t know what it’s about (and I am very happy they are bringing it back this year).
It’s a point driven Tournament that will take place from now until No Surrender when the top 4 in points will meet in a Playoff to decide the winner of the Tournament. The winner faces the World Champion at Bound for Glory in the Main Event.
There will be singles matches, tag matches, and even some gimmick matches (like the Gauntlet Match tonight and last year they had Ladder Matches and things of that nature that can earn bonus points). A man earns 10 points with a submission win, 7 points with a pinfall win, 5 points with a countout win, 3 points with a DQ win, and two points in case of a draw. If you are disqualified in a Tournament match then you will LOSE 10 points! Matches will take place on Impact, at live events, and at PPV and every week TNA will update us on what happened during the week at live events and sum up the standings. The current standings are below and will be at the bottom of every Impact recap each week until the end of the tournament.
QUICK RESULTS
1) TNA X-Division Title Ultimate X Match: Austin Aries (c) def. Chris Sabin & Zema Ion to retain the title!
2) TNA TV Title: Devon (c) def. Hernandez to retain the title!
3) BFG Series Gauntlet Battle Royal: James Storm def. Samoa Joe, Magnus, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, RVD, Kurt Angle, Robbie E, Christopher Daniels, Bully Ray, & The Pope to earn 20 points in the BFG Series
4) Miss Tessmacher def. Madison Rayne
5) TNA World Title: Bobby Roode (c) def. Mr. Anderson
– Promo/Segment of the Night: Storm/Aries & Hogan/the Sting beatdown
– Match of the Night: Roode vs. Anderson (***1/2)
– Overall Grade: A
BFG Series Standings
1) James Storm (20 points)
2) AJ Styles (0 points)
Jeff Hardy (0 points)
Kurt Angle (0 points)
Samoa Joe (0 points)
Mr. Anderson (0 points)
Bully Ray (0 points)
The Pope (0 points)
Robbie E (0 points)
Rob Van Dam (0 points)
Christopher Daniels (0 points)
Magnus (0 points)
Scheduled for Next Week:
-TNA Knockouts Title: Miss Tessmacher (c) vs. TBA
-BFG Series Matches
Destination X Lineup:
-TNA World Title: Bobby Roode (c) vs. TBA (possibly Aries)