Hogan kicks off the top of the hour and relates how the Aces and Eights fooled everyone, including his company, his family, and himself. He continues to say that this conflict is no longer a battle for control but a war for survival. Hogan then recognizes the efforts of the TNA stars that answered his call to arms, calling the first four into the ring “the warriors that led the charge” – Samoa Joe, Magnus, Kurt Angle, and Jeff Hardy. He calls all four to the ring and thanks them for their efforts, then asks Hardy if the attacks he’s suffered will stand in the way of his rematch with Bully Ray. Hardy admits that he’s banged up, but he and the creatures want the belt back. More importantly, though, he wants the belt off of Bully by any means necessary, so to determine the best man to do that, Hardy proposes a four-way match between him, Joe, Angle, and Magnus. Hogan likes it and sets it as the main event for the evening.

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Chavo and Hernandez are the first ones out in front of this live Chicago crowd. They’re out there to get a shot at the tag titles, but before they’re even done with their entrance, the Aces and Eights come out and beat down the challengers. Devon introduces Bully Ray, who comes out, hugs Taz on his way to the ring, and proceeds to outline the myriad ways in which he pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes. Bully begins taunting Hogan in absentia, saying that the Aces and Eights did something at Lockdown that the NWO never could, then he dares Hogan to come out and fire the club.

Reaction: Where has this version of Aces and Eights been? These guys are badasses. They came out, rolled over everyone in their way, and threw down the gauntlet with authority. I couldn’t be happier with this storyline right now.

Backstage: Sting is fuming over Bully’s address, especially given the fact that Bully wouldn’t be there if Sting hadn’t vouched for him. He specifically says that Bully is digging Sting’s grave, and he has to go talk to Hogan to get a shot at fixing the problem himself.

Knockouts tag team match: Gail Kim and Tara vs Velvet Sky and Mickie James

Velvet and Gail start out first; Velvet begins with a couple of arm drags and a clothesline, then she tags in Mickie for some double-team action. Mickie kicks Gail into the corner and starts throwing some shots at Gail. Tara comes at Mickie from outside and Mickie kicks her off the apron, then hits an enziguiri for a cover. Gail catches Mickie off-guard and whips her at the ropes, then distracts the ref while Tara hits Mickie from behind as Impact goes to commercial.

*Commercial*

Gail tags in Tara, who nails Mickie with some shoulder thrusts in the corner. Mickie attempts to fight back, but Tara regains control and stretches Mickie on the ropes. Tara argues with the ref for a bit as Gail attacks Mickie in the corner, then Tara attempts a pin. She tags in Gail for a double slingshot suplex on Mickie, then Gail makes a cover. Gail chokes Mickie in the corner with her foot, but when she turns to argue with Taryn, Mickie hops up and hits Gail with a hurricanrana; the two Knockouts regain their feet and charge to the center of the ring only to take each other out with a double clothesline. Velvet and Tara tag in and Velvet hits two clotheslines, a spinning back elbow, runs over and knocks Gail off the apron, then sets up a headscissors takedown that transitions into a side Russian leg sweep. Gail runs in and knocks Velvet down, then starts taunting the ref, daring Taryn to do something, then piefaces her. Taryn responds by slapping the taste out of Gail’s mouth, which sets Gail up for a top rope Thesz press from Mickie. Mickie gets to her feet and gets hit with a Widow’s Peak from Tara, but Tara turns around and gets hit with an In Yo Face by Velvet for the win.

Velvet and Mickie win via In Yo Face for a pinfall

Reaction: Excellent tag team action from the Knockouts. I especially liked Tara’s stretch maneuver and Velvet’s transition into the side Russian. There’s even more heat between Gail and Taryn, and with Taryn already on probation, I can only imagine that Taryn will be disbarred or whatever it is that happens to defrocked referees and that Brooke Hogan will set up a match between the two.

Any match with Mickie and Velvet together loses a little bit of its luster, however, just because I keep waiting for Mickie to turn on Velvet. I don’t know if TNA intended to make a storyline out of Velvet getting the spot in the Montgomery Gentry video last year instead of Mickie, but Mickie gave Velvet a REEEALLY dirty look, enough that I thought Mickie was going to turn heel and start a feud with Velvet. Obviously, Velvet is the champ now, and with Gail being sidetracked by this business with Taryn and Tara’s apparently rudderless drift through the division, it would be a perfect time for Mickie to interject herself into the title picture at Velvet’s expense, and I think it would be a great feud.

Backstage: Bully proposes a toast to his brothers, and calls Brooke to mess with her. Bully is sent straight to voicemail, so Bully leaves a taunt for her and also has Brooke “tell dad I said hello”. Impact takes a break as the Aces and Eights laugh at Bully’s antics.

Reaction: It’s been so long since I’ve found an Aces and Eights segment entertaining. They’ve finally gotten away from just ripping everything off of Sons of Anarchy and actually letting their characters be themselves. Thank God for Bully.

*Commercial*

Robbie E vs Rob Terry

Robbie E begins by calling his loss at Lockdown a fluke, which pisses Terry off, prompting the ref to hold him back since the match hasn’t begun yet. Robbie starts attacking Terry over the ref’s shoulder, but as the bell is rung, Terry grabs him and throws Robbie up high to land on his face. Terry pulls him up and hoists Robbie in a delayed vertical suplex, but transitions and hits a power slam. Finally, Terry hits a modified power bomb for the win.

Rob Terry wins via modified power bomb for a pinfall

Reaction: Absolute dominance by the Welsh Colossus. I’m not even sure why this match took place, but hey, it solidifies Terry as a real threat in the ring, and Terry’s post-match celebration was fun, as well.

Backstage: Sting goes to Hogan for a shot at Bully, but Hogan bites Sting’s head off for backing Bully in the first place. After reaming him for about a minute or so, Hogan orders Sting out of his office, saying he makes him sick.

Reaction: Yeah, never mind that, if it weren’t for Sting, you wouldn’t have your job. One would think that there’d be a little more understanding between brothers, brother.

Video: AJ Styles over the past year, from Dixie/Claire Lynch to the scene with a presumed Aces and Eights member

*Commercial*

Backstage: Sting is accosted by Aries and Roode, who are both wearing shirts with “Dirty Heels” on them. Aries and Roode start throwing Sting’s mistakes in his face under a guise of commiseration, saying that Sting is the reason that they don’t have a match tonight, when Sting cuts them off and says that he just wants to fight. Roode sees dangers signs and sneaks away as Aries keeps talking, asking Sting if he wants to fight one of them and saying that they aren’t afraid. As Aries turns to ask Roode, though, he realizes he’s alone, and Sting says “I’m fighting you”. Sting walks off as Aries looks around and calls for Roode.

Reaction: I love how Roode saw the writing on the wall and and left Aries to die in order to save himself. I also like that these two have a team name now; it looks like we will be seeing a lot more of these guys together, and I could not be happier.

In-ring: AJ Styles is announced by Christy Hemme, but while his music plays, no one comes out. Bad Influence’s music hits, and Daniels and Kaz make their entrance, painted up like the Road Warriors. It is Throwback Thursday, and since they are in the Second City, Bad Influence figured they’d come out as the second best tag team ever. Daniels proceeds to call the Road Warriors “fake tough” just like AJ Styles, and that Bad Influence is the real deal, the original ring warriors and “the Legion of Boom”, then yells “Ohhhh, what a tush”, an obvious combination of his phrase “rear that makes the girls cheer” and the famous Road Warriors line “Ohhhh, what a ruuush”. James Storm cuts him and Kaz off, puts over both AJ and the Road Warriors, then tells them to decide which of them is going to get the crap kicked out of them.

Storm vs Daniels

Storm brings Daniels in unceremoniously and begins running roughshod over the Ring General, ending his onslaught with a high-elevation backdrop. He blocks a kick from Daniels and levels him with a right cross, then tosses Daniels into Kaz. Storm runs at the ropes but gets tripped up by Kaz so that Daniels can begin stomping on him, then make a hard whip into the corner that sends Storm sprawling. Daniels pulls him up and hits a few knees to the midsection to soften Storm up for a gut wrench. Storm fights out of it but Daniels corners him and hits Storm with a snapmare and a springboard moonsault into the cover. The two begin trading punches with Storm winning the exchange and going on a tear, hitting Daniels with a clothesline, an inverted atomic drop, and a running bulldog. Storm hoists Daniels up for the Eye of the Storm, but Daniels slips out and hits Storm with the urinagi, only to subsequently get hit with Closing Time from one side, then the other, then get pinned.

Storm wins via Closing Time for a pinfall

In-ring: Kaz attacks Storm from behind and begins a post-match beatdown by Bad Influence, but they are interrupted by AJ Styles coming down in street clothes. He runs the two out of the ring and stares them down. Storm joins him and dares Bad Influence to get into the ring, but AJ responds by dropping Storm. He looks down on Storm for a couple seconds, then stalks back out of the ring.

Reaction: That was a fun filler match, but the real entertainment came from Bad Influence’s promo before the match. I enjoy Throwback Thursday, and the lengths that Bad Influence went to riff on the Road Warriors paid off, I think.

As for the post-match stuff, everyone’s been saying that AJ would return for a heel run, but even so, I was surprised at the way he turned on Storm. Of course, it’s not completely out of the blue, considering that Storm did cost him a shot at the title for the next year. I guess I it was the way he made the initial save that threw me for a loop. At any rate, I’m looking forward to what AJ will do next week.

Video: Angle and Brisco at Lockdown

Backstage: Angle is walking the halls, presumably on his way to the ring, when Brisco appears behind him and calls his name. Angle starts to go after him only to be assaulted by the Aces and Eights and left lying on the floor as the club leaves.

*Commercial*

In-ring: Joseph Park comes out to his hometown crowd and beings recounting his successes, both legal and wrestling-related, but then he’s interrupted by Matt Morgan. Morgan grabs a mic and shoos Park away while he mocks Hogan’s mistakes with Bully, then declares that his biggest mistake was in giving Park a wrestling contract. Morgan tears Park a new one in outlining all the ways that Park is unfit to be in an Impact wrestling ring, then addresses Hogan once more by promising to eliminate Hogan’s mistakes, starting with Park. Morgan tells Park that the only way he gets to walk out of the arena tonight is to leave the ring immediately. Park fearfully begins to comply, and Morgan taunts him, saying that while he’s at it, he had better leave Chicago, calling it a dump of a city. Park stops what he’s doing, then climbs back in, saying that, in Chicago, they never back down from a fight, so Park takes off his jacket and gets ready. Morgan tells Park that he’s got it twisted, saying that they will fight on Morgan’s time, then heads out of the ring. Park turns away to retrieve his jacket, then turns right into a Carbon Footprint from a returning Morgan. Morgan looms over Park and informs him that that time is next week.

Reaction: Well, Joseph Park wouldn’t have been my first choice of opponent for Morgan, but I loved the segment. Park finally gets tested against an opponent that’s comparable in size, and we may even see an appearance from Abyss. My interest is certainly piqued.

Backstage: Aces and Eights are gathered backstage, where Bully addresses Hogan, saying that they’ve already taken out Chavo, Hernandez, and Angle, and practically pleads with Hogan to fire them. If he doesn’t, the Aces and Eights will destroy the show just like they did Hogan’s family.

Austin Aries vs Sting

Aries begins with his trademark showboating, then slaps on a headlock, only to be picked up and placed in the corner across the ropes by Sting. Aries starts to pose atop the ropes, but Sting cuts him off with a couple of field goal kicks to the midsection, then launches himself into a Stinger Splash, just missing as Aries rolls out to regroup with Roode. Aries gets back in and gets hit with an inverted atomic drop, but before Sting can get rolling, Roode trips him up and pulls Sting outside. Sting and Roode start trading shots when Sting throws Roode into the guard rail, then hits him with a Stinger Splash. Aries tries to catch Sting unaware with a flying ax handle from the apron, but Sting pulls Roode in his way and Aries accidentally takes out his own partner, then pays for it by getting thrown into the guard rail by Sting as Impact breaks for commercial.

*Commercial*

Sting is beating down Aries when Aries finds a gap in the offense and knocks the Icon outside. Sting gets back in and starts rolling again, eventually clotheslining Aries out of the ring. Roode starts distracting Sting, prompting the ref to throw Roode out, but Roode was successful in attracting Sting’s attention long enough for Aries to nail Sting from behind with a low blow, throw him outside, then hit him with a suicide dive. Aries dominates for a while with dropkicks galore, then starts to mock Sting by attempting the Scorpion Death Lock, but as he tries to work out how to lock it in, Sting kicks him away and hits Aries with a clothesline that turns Aries inside-out. Sting goes for the Scorpion Death Lock but Aries is able to slip out to the apron and catch Sting with a jawbreaker on the ropes when the Icon comes for him. Aries blasts Sting with a missile dropkick, but as Aries starts to gloat, Sting gets right back up and surprises Aries with an overhead press-and-dump. Sting misses a Stinger Splash and eats a dropkick for his trouble. Aries then hits the Stinger Splash and goes for the Brainbuster but is countered with a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting goes for the pin but fails, then hits the Stinger Splash and locks in the Scorpion Death Lock, only to be attacked by the Aces and Eights.

Sting wins via disqualification

Reaction: Sting looked magnificent in this match. It’s like, for about ten minutes, Sting was ten years younger. This is the kind of performance that reminds everyone why he’s called the Icon.

In-ring: Bully stands over Sting after the club has finished beating on him, saying that he used Sting, and he calls out Hogan as Impact abruptly goes to break.

*Commercial*

Hogan enters on his crutches and tells Bully that firing would be too easy, that if Bully wants a fight, that’s exactly what he’s gonna get. The TNA locker room responds to Hogan’s call and charges in to fight the Aces and Eights, but they find themselves over-matched. Even so, when the Aces and Eights swarm a man and beat him down, another gets up to take the fight to the club until Bully breaks out the chain and beats down each of the TNA stars. Bully then steps out of the ring and advances halfway up the ramp to Hogan, declaring that Hogan’s cavalry just got killed, and Hogan is left dumbfounded as Impact fades to a close.

Reaction: This is the most dominant that the Aces and Eights have ever been, hands down. Even though ring-filling brawls have been part-and-parcel for the Aces and Eights, they’ve never gotten the upper hand before the end of a show. This time, they not only got the upper hand, but they grabbed the gauntlet they threw down and TNA picked up and beat the hell out of everyone that stood in their way with it.

***

Overall Reaction: TNA kicked off their first live road show in style, no doubt about it. It’s a real shame that Spike seemed to want to smother this initiative in its cradle with that absolute screwjob it did with the commercial spacing, but despite that, TNA put on a quality product. If TNA can keep this up for the rest of its live road shows, TNA is going to be in a very good place.

Impact opens with a RIP splash page for Paul Bearer;

Angle is holding the VP’s mask and he promises to finally reveal who the VP is after keeping quiet for a week. He goes on to tell us that this will have rippling effects in the company and that no one is safe now.

Aries makes his entrance and, after telling us that he can’t find his partner, he addresses the fact that Bully Ray told him he’d never hold the world title again, so Aries calls out Jeff Hardy to show that he should be in the world title picture.

Austin Aries vs Jeff Hardy

Hardy comes out and makes his lap around the ring with the fans, but he’s interrupted as Aries flies out of the ring and hits him with a diving ax handle. Aries throws Hardy into the ring, takes off his shirt, and chokes Hardy with it before whipping him into the ropes and clobbering the champ with an elbow and covering Hardy. Aries gets up and drops a knee on Hardy for another cover. After that, Aries puts Hardy in the corner and unloads some shots there, followed by a choke on the ropes and a slingshot forearm drop to the outside. Aries goes back in and covers Hardy. Hardy manages to fight back and he goes for a headscissors takedown, but Aries tosses him out over the top rope instead, followed by some mockery of Hardy’s trademark dance as Impact takes a break.

*Commercial*

Hardy is back in the ring and he fights off Aries, but he’s thwarted when his sunset flip gets countered by a dropkick from Aries into the cover. Aries moves to haul Hardy up to his feet, but it’s Hardy’s turn to counter as he rolls Aries up with an inside cradle. Before Hardy can get any momentum rolling, though, he is cut off by a flying clothesline from Aries and is covered once again. Aries takes Hardy into the corner and boxes his ears, followed by some body blows. Hardy fights his way out, whipping Aries into the opposite corner and charging after him only to eat a turnbuckle when Aries ducks under the splash attempt. Aries scales the post and, after some more mockery of Hardy’s signature plays to the fans, hits a frog splash for the pin attempt. Aries gets frustrated and gets in the ref’s face about counting properly when Hardy grabs Aries’ trunks for a quick rollup. Hardy gets rolling with a free-leg kick followed by a jawbreaker, a splash in the corner and a clothesline. Hardy heads for the corner and kicks Aries away when pursuit is made, then, after Hardy plays to the crowd atop the turnbuckle, hits a frog splash of his own and goes for the cover. Hardy further punishes Aries with a headscissors takedown that sends Aries flying out of the ring, and Hardy hops out to the apron and levels Aries with a flying splash. Hardy rolls Aries in and scales the ring post, but Aries knocks him off and goes for the Brainbuster, only for Hardy to slip out and hit him with two Twists of Fate. Before Hardy can do anymore, though, Matt Morgan runs in and levels the champ with a Carbon Footprint, ending the match with a disqualification.

Hardy wins via DQ

Morgan follows up by putting Hardy’s head against the ring post and backing up to get some momentum going for another Carbon Footprint, but Bully runs in with a chain for the save and steps between Hardy and Morgan. His fun interrupted, Morgan stalks back up the ramp, telling Bully that this business doesn’t concern him.

Sting is psyching up his team for the Lethal Lockdown match and the man advantage that they could earn tonight. Sting is first to bat to get his team the win.

Angle is on his way to the ring, presumably to reveal the VP of the Aces and Eights.

Morgan is reaffirming his promise to gut the entire roster if that’s what it takes for him to get both the respect and the title he deserves.

Wes Brisco comes out and says that before Angle comes out to make his big reveal, Brisco has a few things to say to Angle. Brisco used to respect Angle more than anyone based on what his dad and uncle told him growing up. Brisco wanted more than anything to be Angle – until, that is, Brisco learned that he could beat Angle instead. As Brisco is promising a victory for Aces and Eights at Lockdown, Angle comes out, holding the VP’s mask. Angle states that, if you don’t respect him, you don’t respect the business, and that he’s not going to wait ’til Lockdown to beat Brisco down. Angle charges down after Brisco, and once the scrum is engaged, TNA officials run out to get them separated, D’Lo Brown holding back Brisco and Al Snow and another official holding back Angle. Angle gets an arm free and points at D’Lo, yelling “That’s him!” Angle pulls free to go after him, but D’Lo cuts him off with a low blow, then knocks down Snow and the other official. D’Lo picks up the VP’s mask and a mic, declaring that he came down to reclaim a piece of club property and revealing himself as the VP of the Aces and Eights.

*Commercial*

Devon vs Sting

Sting kicks things off by unloading blows on the Sergeant-of-Arms, but  Devon turns the momentum in his favor with a spear, followed by some shots in the corner and ending with a chin lock. Sting starts to fight back, but Devon corners Sting once more with more shots, then hits Sting with a neckbreaker and a cover. Devon chokes Sting on the ropes for a bit, then hits a body slam, but Devon misses the diving headbutt so that Sting can come back with a clothesline, a Stinger Splash in the corner, and a clothesline over the ropes. Sting beats down Devon all around the ring, but his roll is stopped when a fan splashes water in his face and Devon takes advantage by slamming Sting face-first into the steps, then rolling Sting into the ring for the pin and the win.

Devon wins via pinfall

The Gut Check contestants are awaiting the judges’ statement about who will be cut and who will go on to step into the ring for Gut Check.

Velvet Sky is being interviewed about holding the belt again and how she feels about it, but she’s interrupted by Gail Kim. Gail projects surprise that Velvet isn’t sharing the title with Taryn Terrell, given how they both screwed her in the UK, and that she will get the belt back at Lockdown. Velvet doesn’t appear to be paying attention, so Gail demands to know if Velvet hears her. Velvet responds by slapping Gail across the face and asks if she heard that.

The Gut Check contestants meet the judges, Al Snow, Bruce Pritchard, and new addition “Nightmare” Danny Davis, the owner and operator of Ohio Valley Wrestling, TNA’s developmental territory. Bruce Pritchard stresses repeatedly that this has probably been the toughest decision to date, but Ivelisse is eliminated, and Tapa will see them in the ring shortly.

Chavo, Hernandez, and Velvet Sky vs Bad Influence and Gail Kim

Kaz and Hernandez kick things off, but Kaz tags out when Hernandez knocks him back. Daniels is in and he tries to pick up Hernandez for a body slam, but Daniels can’t get him up, so Supermex turns around and scoop slams Daniels. Hernandez tags in Chavo, who hits Daniels with a drop kick, then tags Hernandez back in. Chavo whips Daniels at the ropes then goes to the mat, forcing Daniels to jump over him right into the arms of Hernandez for a bearhug, then an overhead suplex-style toss. Hernandez picks Daniels up for a delayed vertical suplex but is interrupted by Kaz. Hernandez kicks him away, but Daniels takes advantage of the distraction and kicks Hernandez. Bad Influence goes for a double clothesline but Hernandez breaks through and hits them both with a clothesline. Chavo and Hernandez make a little tag team action happen and Chavo hits Daniels with a headscissors takedown, but he’s cut off when Gail Kim trips him up as he’s bouncing off the ropes. Daniels takes advantage of the situation, but when Daniels goes to bounce off the ropes, Velvet Sky trips him up. Daniels tags in Kaz, who hits Chavo with a swinging neckbreaker and a cover. Kaz tags Daniels back in, who unloads some shots in the corner. Daniels then distracts Taryn Terrell as Kaz and Gail attack Chavo in the corner. Daniels tags Kaz as he steps out to the apron, then hits a slingshot elbow drop followed by a slingshot leg drop from Kaz. Chavo tries to fight back, but Kaz puts him down with a dropkick. Daniels tags in and slaps on a chin lock, then abandons it to knock Hernandez off the apron and blow a kiss to Velvet only to eat a dropkick from Chavo. The Knockouts finally make their presence known in the ring as Velvet and Gail tag in. Velvet levels Gail with a clothesline followed by a headscissors takedown and a spear. Velvet goes for the cover but Daniels jumps in and pulls her off. Daniels starts to get in Velvet’s face and Velvet slaps him; Daniels grabs her but Hernandez intervenes and tosses Daniels away with a Get Off Me, only to get hit in turn with a missile dropkick from Kaz. Kaz gloats over having knocked the big man down when Chavo grabs him and backdrops him out of the ring. Chavo goes after him, but Kaz is able to restrain him as Daniels steps on to the apron and goes for a split-legged moonsault, but Chavo steps out of the way and Daniels just takes out his partner. Meanwhile, Hernandez is in-ring and he sees his opportunity, so he bounces off the ropes and dives over the top rope to take out both members of Bad Influence. Chavo and Hernandez celebrate having taken out their rivals for the tag team gold, but it looks like the celebration is premature as we see Gail Kim set up and hit Eat Defeet on Velvet for the pin and the win.

Bad Influence and Gail Kim win via Eat Defeet for a pinfall

Sting is furious at how he lost and put his team in jeopardy, and he talks about trust issues. With him are Magnus and Samoa Joe, the poster children for distrust, and they start arguing about whether Magnus can be trusted. Magnus ends by saying that sometimes he doesn’t even trust himself, but that’s immaterial as TNA is at war and it’s time to go fight.

An interview team goes back to AJ Styles’ house and he is clearly seen talking with a biker. As he starts asking AJ questions, AJ runs over, grabs the guy, and pins him against the van, then growls out a demand to leave.

Samoa Joe and Magnus vs Garett Bischof and Doc

Garett and Joe start off as Joe slaps on a wristlock. Garett tries to reverse it, but Joe retains control until Garett’s able to force a rope break. Joe unloads on Garett in the corner, but Garett’s able to force separation as he rakes Joe’s eyes. Joe regains control, however, by nailing Garett with a back elbow, and he tags in Magnus. Garett tries to catch him as he climbs in, but Magnus knocks him away. Garett rolls out of the ring and Magnus follows him out, but Doc blasts him from behind, opening him up for Garett to hit Magnus with ax handles before rolling him inside to choke him on the ropes. Garett tags in Doc, who whips Garett into Magnus and follows up with a monstrous splash. Doc lets loose some haymakers in the corner, pulls Magnus out with a lariat, then climbs the turnbuckles to hit Magnus with a flying ax handle. Doc cinches in the chin lock, but Magnus starts fighting back. Doc goes for a choke slam, but Magnus slips out and the two men hit each other with clotheslines. Joe and Garett tag in and Joe hits him with a clothesline and a fisherman’s suplex. All four men enter the ring and Joe and Magnus clear house with some tag team action, ending with a cover by Joe on Doc that is broken up by Garett. Magnus grabs Garett and throws him out, and we see a callback to a happier time for Joe and Magnus as Joe hits the back splash and enziguiri on Doc in the corner, followed by a snapmare by Joe into the flying elbow by Magnus, who gets the pin for his team.

Magnus and Joe win via flying elbow for a pinfall

Sting is with Eric Young, ODB, and James Storm. EY gives the promo of his life, saying that he’s been in a lot of wars, and every time he has stepped up. EY has been a clown for a while, but if Sting is looking for a punch line this time, he’ll be waiting for a while. Despite that, Sting picks Storm for the last match against Aces and Eights to secure the man advantage.

Gut Check

Lei’d Tapa makes her entrance with the judges already in the ring. Davis says yes to Tapa and Pritchard says no. Tapa is given an opportunity to convince Snow, and she states that, while she didn’t win last week, she believes her strength, character, and presence shone through. Snow says yes, and Tapa gets the contract.

Robbie E shows us the VIP sign he broke over Rob Terry’s head, saying that, at Lockdown, he will ensure that Big Rob never outshines him again.

Mr. Anderson vs James Storm

Storm starts off with a headlock, then transitions into a shoulderblock and a hip toss. Anderson comes back with a clothesline and throws some shots Storm’s way in the corner, ending with a hard whip into the corner and a pin attempt. Anderson unloads a couple of kidney punches on Storm, and though Storm is able to give Anderson another hip toss, Anderson checks him with a clothesline into another cover. Anderson slaps on the wristlock, but the Cowboy battles up to his feet and the two men trade shots in the center of the ring. Storm gets rolling with a clothesline, an inverted atomic drop, and a running bulldog, and after getting backdropped to the apron, he launches a round kick at the back of Anderson’s head. Anderson tries to regain the momentum with a spinning neckbreaker but Storm counters it with Closing Time. Before he can unleash the Last Call, however, Aces and Eights makes their way to ringside. Team TNA comes to head them off, but while the two factions are squaring off, Anderson ambushes Storm with a Mic Check and gets the pin, earning the man advantage for the Aces and Eights in the Lethal Lockdown match.

Mr. Anderson wins via Mic Check for a pinfall

Bully and Brooke meet up with Hardy. An exchange of mutual respect follows, ending with Hardy saying that he’s proud of Bully, and Bully saying that he’s never been proud of himself before, and that he doesn’t think he can be unless he can beat Hardy for the title. Hogan comes out and puts both men over, saying that they are the men that are going to lead TNA to the heights of greatness. Before he can continue, however, the Aces and Eights come out to attack Bully and Hardy, and Team TNA runs in to fight them off as Impact fades to black.

Personal Thoughts

I shouldn’t be surprised, but I continue to be impressed when TNA steps up and gives respect to the passing of a legend that had nothing to do with the company. It’s not something that we see the WWE do, and it’s refreshing that at least one company can ignore any competition and rivalry to give precedence to more important things.

I wonder where Roode has been? I hope that TNA is going to do something good with this, that it’s all their plan and not just something stupid like visa troubles or something like that.

Solid opening match, no question. I like Aries’ new gimmick of mocking his opponent’s gimmick, and I liked that Hardy responded later by showing what the real article was. Most intriguing, though, was the run-in by Morgan. I am so glad that Morgan is back and apparently flying solo. The only negative here is that, now, I’m more looking forward to Morgan feuding with the champ after Lockdown than I am about Bully vs Hardy at Lockdown itself.

D’Lo was a softball reveal from TNA. We’ve known for going on forever that D’Lo has been playing the role of the VP pretty much since the storyline began. I suppose after the surprise turning-of-coats from Taz and Mr. Anderson (and Garett Bischoff, depending on who you ask), TNA wanted to give us a no-brainer before blowing our minds (hopefully) with the leader’s reveal.

The match between Sting and Devon by itself was sort of throwaway, but I was somewhat concerned at the “fan interaction”. At first, I was positive that the fan was an Aces and Eights plant, since it looked like he was wearing an Aces and Eights cap, but when TNA released this little clip on Twitter of Sting being escorted from the ring, it looked very non-scripted. If it was all staged, Sting sold the hell out of that hit.

Not sure how I feel about the segment between Velvet and Gail Kim. On the one hand, Velvet getting the upper hand in this exchange is a plus, but on the other hand, I’m not sure that ignoring Gail and then bitch-slapping her is the most effective way to do that. If nothing else, though, this builds some additional heat between the two, so mission accomplished, I suppose.

I wasn’t expecting Ivelisse to be eliminated, but as I said before, I don’t think there was really a bad choice here. I was intrigued at Davis’ addition to the judges’ panel. Considering that half of the Gut Check contestants have gone through OVW at some point or another, it’s very appropriate. If anyone can replace Taz and be just as legitimate (if not more so), it’s him. At any rate, I am very glad to see that at least one new Knockout has been added to the division. If Ivelisse had been eliminated only to have Tapa be refused a contract, that would have been a real kick in the balls.

Great mixed tag team match. I liked the new tag team move by Chavo and Hernandez, as well. I still want to see them split up, but not quite as badly as I did before. It looks like they’re finally clicking as a team, and that can only be a good thing. As for the Knockouts action, it seems like TNA’s building for a successful title defense on Velvet’s part, considering how TNA likes to give the heel challenger a big win for the go-home show before losing on the big stage. Even if TNA sticks to this formula, I think we can expect to see a great match from the two this Sunday.

Well, it certainly looked like AJ was talking to an Aces and Eights member. TNA seems to want us to believe that AJ is part of the club, but I’m not so sure. TNA tried the same ploy with the infamous Claire Lynch storyline, so even if that was an Aces and Eights member, I’d be inclined to believe that it was the club approaching AJ to join them but he’ll decline. Judging by a tweet from the man himself, it looks like we’ll find out more in Chicago.

It looks Magnus and Joe are reconciled, which can only mean good things going forward. Perhaps they’ll try and regain their tag titles in the near future and the division will gain another much-needed face team?

I’m glad we’re not going into Lockdown by ignoring the Battle of the Robbies in the go-home show. Regardless of whether Big Rob lays the smackdown on his former charge or if Robbie E makes the Welsh Colossus pay for upstaging him, it should be a pretty entertaining match this Sunday.

The final match of three for the man advantage was a very solid match, surprisingly so for Mr. Anderson, who’s latest forays into the ring these past several months have been less than stellar. I guess this realignment with Aces and Eights has let him get his Asshole mojo back.

Well, it seems like the Aces and Eights felt the same way about the segment as I did, ’cause I thought all the glad-handing that went on there got to be a little nauseating. Hogan’s involvement, as per usual, was completely unnecessary; it’s only reminding us that, without his meddling, Bully wouldn’t have had this shot that he absolutely deserves.

I am getting pretty tired of nearly every show ending in a brawl with the Aces and Eights, though. Yeah, they’re bikers, and they’re wild and unpredictable and they don’t play by the rules, but can’t TNA find another way to showcase that?

TNA put on a good go-home show tonight. I think it would have been better if last week’s Impact had happened tonight, however. Matt Morgan’s return combined with that of EY’s (and especially the way he came back) would have really piqued interest going into Lockdown, IMO. Overall, though, not a bad way to lead into a PPV.

Bully Ray opens the show by coming out and playing to the crowd, then talking about how pissed off he is at Aces and Eights making his life hell, as well as those of the rest of the roster. He brings out Jeff Hardy and admits that he doesn’t think things went down as they should have, that Bully might not be the right man to face Hardy. Hardy recounts their personal history and tells Bully that he’s glad Hogan picked Bully as that’s who Hardy would have picked, as well, and that the best man will win at Lockdown. Bad Influence interrupts and tells them they’re both undeserving of a title match, that Daniels should have been the champ right now. Bully knocks away Daniels’ mic, takes his appletini and says real men don’t drink appletinis, then he and Hardy drive Bad Influence out of the ring. Bully then announces the main event: Bully Ray and Jeff Hardy against Bad Influence.

Sting sits down with Magnus and asks why he should choose Magnus for the team. Magnus recounts how TNA took a chance in hiring him at 22 years old, and since Sting was the only one to help him early on, now Magnus needs to repay the favor. Magnus isn’t just Team TNA, he’s Team Sting, and as for why he should be picked, Magnus asks why the hell not?

*Commercial*

Tara vs Velvet Sky

Tara literally kicks things off with a boot to the midsection of the champ, then hits a few shoulderblocks in the corner and tosses Velvet out to the middle by the hair for the cover. Tara whips Velvet to the corner but is repelled by kicks from Velvet, followed by two clotheslines and a back elbow into the headscissors takedown. Jessie grabs Velvet’s foot from outside and is rebuked by Taryn Terrell. Velvet hits Tara with a spear and a cover, but Jessie grabs her leg and pulls her off of Tara. Taryn gets into a shouting match with Jessie as Tara goes for a cover on Velvet, but no one is counting it. Jessie gets thrown out, and as Tara is protesting it, Velvet grabs her and hits the In Yo Face for the pin and the win.

Velvet Sky wins via In Yo Face for a pinfall

Aries is on the phone with Roode about a photo shoot and mentions that they have a three-way tag title match at Lockdown with against Bad Influence and Chavo/Hernandez, the latter of whom come up and interrupt Aries’ call. Chavo asks Aries if he thinks he can take him, which Aries does, then Chavo tells him that Aries won’t be fighting Chavo, but Hernandez.

*Commercial*

Kenny King is saying that he is the X Division when RVD comes up. King tells him they need to get something straight, and that there would be no X Division without him. RVD asks King if he can beat him, then sets up a title match for the night, but with a catch: if King loses, not only is this his last shot at RVD, but King will be out of the X Division.

Austin Aries vs Hernandez

Hernandez throws Aries into the corner where Aries tries to hit his signature pose but winds up ducking between the ropes to avoid contact. Aries and Hernandez go to lock up, but Aries slips behind Hernandez and clocks him, only to run right into a big boot. Aries gets to his feet and tries to throw Hernandez with an arm drag, then another, but Hernandez just throws Aries aside, then sends him over the ropes. Hernandez runs for his trademark dive over the ropes, but Aries cuts him off with a shoulderblock from the outside. Aries gets back in the ring only to be knocked down to the mat. Aries retreats to the corner and Hernandez goes for a splash, but Aries cuts him off again, this time with an elbow, but when Aries tries to capitalize with a crossbody splash, Hernandez just catches him and sets him up for a vertical suplex. Aries manages to slip out and shove Hernandez outside where Aries then hits him with a suicide dive, then Aries goes back up to the top rope and hits him with a flying double ax handle. The action goes back into the ring and Aries sends Hernandez into the middle of the ring with a snapmare followed by a kick to the head. Aries ascends to the top rope once more and mocks the traditional Guerrero dance, but he pays for his showboating when he misses the frog splash as Hernandez rolls into the corner and gets up to his feet. Aries comes after him but Hernandez kicks him away, then steps out to the apron to hit Aries with a slingshot shoulderblock. Supermex goes to the middle of the ring and hoists Aries up with an overhead press, then tosses Aries into the air like a pizza. Hernandez proceeds to pick Aries up again, presumably for a backbreaker, but Aries slips out and nails Hernandez with a discus forearm, only to be repelled with a Get Off Me from Supermex. Aries rolls out and has clearly had enough as he grabs his title belt and heads up the ramp, but Hernandez is having none of it as he chases Aries and hauls him back to the ring. Belt still in hand, Aries makes as if to strike Hernandez with it, but Hernandez catches him and dares him to swing. When Aries fails to do so, Hernandez snatches it away, looks at it, then makes as if to use it on Aries, but the referee takes the belt from him. As the ref takes the belt over to the corner, Aries pulls a chain from his wristguard and hits Hernandez with it, knocking Supermex out cold, then covers him for the win.

Aries wins via foreign object for a pinfall

Joseph Park and Sting are sharing some ribs, which prompts Sting to ask if he understands the wrestling version of a rib. Park recognizes the irony, then makes his pitch to join Sting’s team. Sting seems willing to hear Park out until he sees Matt Morgan walk by the office, and Sting hurriedly tells Park that he’ll think about it as he runs out after Morgan. Sting tries to sell the Blueprint on joining TNA, saying he’s got a big opportunity for him, but Morgan refuses, saying that Hogan must have put Sting up to it and that anyone who associates with Hogan is someone he wants nothing to do with.

*Commercial*

X Division Title Match: Rob Van Dam vs Kenny King

The match begins with a headlock from the challenger, but RVD responds with a side-headlock takedown. The two trade some more holds and RVD wins the exchange with an impressive German suplex. King demands that RVD be backed up, but once he’s on his feet, he steps back and motions for RVD to go ahead and play to the crowd, and when RVD turns his back, King dropkicks him to the outside. King goes for a corkscrew dive to the outside but misses, and RVD makes him pay with a split-leg springboard kick, followed by setting King up on the rail then hitting a spinning leg drop from the apron.

*Commercial*

We come back from the break to see King tossing RVD back with a suplex into the cover. RVD fights him off and hits King with a boot as King charges him, then goes for a bodyscissors takedown into the cover. King retreats to the corner only to be thrown out of it by a monkey flip; King manages to land on his feet, but when he turns around he’s hit with a spinning double-leg takedown. RVD hits Rolling Thunder and he goes to the top rope for the Five Star Frog Splash, then seems to reconsider and makes a rolling motion to the crowd, followed by a 450 splash attempt only to have King roll out of the way. King goes for the pin and seems to get it, but the ref demurs and says the match is still on. King gets RVD up on his shoulders and hits the Royal Flush for the pin and the win.

Kenny King wins via Royal Flush for a pinfall and the X Division title

Sting is walking the halls when Angle comes up to him. Angle asks about who made the cut for Sting’s team, so Sting shows him the list. Angle checks it out and seems to be taken aback at one of the names, then asks Sting if he’s sure about him; Sting admits that it’s a long shot, but desperate times call for desperate measure. Angle wishes Sting luck in handling his business, because Angle has some of his own to tend to.

*Commercial*

The Aces and Eights come out lead by Devon. Devon declares the club’s dominance, saying that all Sting is doing is promoting empty threats, broken necks, and shattered dreams, then introduces his team for Lockdown: Doc, Knox, Anderson, and Bischoff, led by himself. Sting comes out to introduce his own team, and begins with a killer, Samoa Joe. He then says that the next man is sorry for what’s about to happen, and Devon demands to know what he’s sorry about, prompting the entrance of the Cowboy, James Storm. Next, it appears that Magnus’ sales pitch paid off, because he is the fourth man on the team. Finally, Sting starts introducing his fifth man, but Anderson interrupts and tells Sting to get to the point. Sting announces that it’s show time, and Anderson cuts him off again, tells him to quit with the catchphrase and tell everyone who his last partner is. Sting crows out that it’s show time, and the camera pans to the center of the ring where “Showtime” Eric Young is standing. EY hits the Aces and Eights from behind, prompting the rest of Team TNA to charge the ring and engage in a brawl, then drive Aces and Eights out as they stand tall in the ring.

Aces and Eights are headed back to the clubhouse, furious at how they were shown up, and as they’re leaving camera range, the view pans to Angle, who starts following them.

*Commercial*

Gut Check Match: Ivelisse Velez vs Lei’d Tapa

Ivelisse begins by launching a leaping forearm at Tapa, but Tapa responds with a grip that looks like she’s setting up for a chokeslam, but she eventually drops it. Ivelisse manages to down Tapa with a hip toss, then goes for a guillotine choke only to be thrown down by Tapa. Ivelisse comes back by jumping on Tapa’s back and locking in a rear naked choke, but again Tapa gets out of it and slaps on a wrist lock. Ivelisse kicks Tapa away and bounces off the ropes, but she winds up eating a big boot from Tapa. Tapa levels Ivelisse with a clothesline followed by a scoop and a body slam. Ivelisse tries to fight her off, but Tapa responds with a headbutt, then whips Ivelisse into one corner, then the opposite. Tapa charges in, but Ivelisse is able to slip out of the way and Tapa slams into the turnbuckle, stunning herself. Ivelisse jumps back between the ropes and hits a DDT on the way in for the cover. The two competitors get back to their feet and Ivelisse executes a hurricanrana, only to be then caught by Tapa with a Samoan drop for the cover, which Ivelisse counters with another guillotine choke for a submission win.

Ivelisse Velez wins via guillotine choke for a submission

Hardy is preparing for his match when Aries comes in. Aries informs the champ that he’s actually rooting for Hardy at Lockdown, saying that Bully Ray is the golden child right now, much like Hardy was when Aries was champion, and that now Hardy knows how Aries felt. Aries wishes Hardy luck and leaves him to his preparation.

*Commercial*

 Robbie E has come to the ring, and he states that there comes a time when a bro must realize and admit that there is a bigger and better bro, and he calls Rob Terry out to the ring. Big Rob looks suspicious as he walks out to be met by Robbie E, who practically bends over backwards to ferry him into the ring. Robbie E admits that things between them have gotten way out of hand, and that slapping Big Rob was crossing a line; not only did Robbie nearly screw up them being bros, but he also endangered their friendship, and that’s very important to Robbie. To that end, Robbie proposes one last Bro-off to mend fences, and Big Rob eventually agrees. Robbie kicks things off with his outing, prompting a reluctant grin from Robbie T. Robbie E says he’s going to step out of the ring and give Big Rob the spotlight he deserves, and Terry begins his routine, only to be blindside when Robbie comes back with the picture frame from the ramp and smashes it over Big Rob’s head, leaving the frame around his neck. Robbie E turns around and gloats, completely oblivious as the Welsh Colossus slowly rises and turns to step behind Robbie. Robbie turns, sees Big Rob standing right on top of him, and leaves the ring in a panic as Big Rob tears the frame from around his neck and roars furiously.

Bully is prepping for the match when Aries shows up. Aries lets Bully know that he’s rooting for Bully at Lockdown, but before he can continue, Bully cuts him off and tells him to quit stirring things up. Bully tells him to get used to wearing the tag title because he’s not getting anywhere near the world title, then demands that Aries leave. Aries does so with a parting request to say hi to Brooke for him, prompting a muttered remark of “Wiseass…” from Bully.

Angle rolls up on the Aces and Eights clubhouse and tells the cameraman to follow him in.

Main Event: Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray vs Bad Influence

Bully and Daniels kick things off as they lock up. Daniels hits Bully with a knee, drives him into the corner, then lands a chop and walks away to gloat. Bully charges out with a clothesline, then puts Daniels in the corner for a brutal chop of his own, and then another. Kaz runs in to make the save, but Bully’s ready with a backdrop, only to get clotheslined from behind by Daniels. Daniels and Kaz hit a double suplex on Bully, then start with the Gangnam style as they taunt Hardy. Bad Influence turns around and gets hit with a double clothesline from Bully, who mocks them with his own version of Gangnam, then starts unloading on them both with shots. Hardy comes in and takes Daniels over the ropes, then joins Bully for a double cutter on Kaz as Impact goes to commercial.

*Commercial*

The action resumes fast and heavy as all four men enter and exit the ring at will with not intervention by the ref whatsoever until Hardy tags in and goes to the top rope only to be crotched by Kaz as Daniels catches Bully with an enziguiri and an STO into the cover. Daniels starts to set Bully up, possibly for the Angel’s Wings, only to be hoisted up on Bully’s shoulders. Bully drops Daniels back in an electric chair, and a fully recovered Hardy flies from the top rope and lands the Swanton Bomb for the pin and the win.

Bully Ray and Jeff Hardy win via Swanton Bomb for a pinfall

Angle has invaded the Aces and Eights clubhouse and is beating down Anderson. Once he’s down, Angle demands to know where the rest of the gang is when Devon barges in. Angle grabs a lead pipe and clobbers Devon with it, then spots the VP and starts an assault on him. The VP winds up on the ground and Angle decides to see who it is. Angle unmasks him and is floored at who he sees. Angle starts to demand an explanation when the rest of the club charges in and begins a beatdown on Angle as Impact fades to black.

Personal Thoughts

I’m glad that TNA is acknowledging how crappy their booking was. As for the opening segment itself, it promises a great main event, and I’m interested in seeing how it goes. Nice move with the appletini, but I hate that the mess got on that awesome Spiderman shirt.

Great promo by Magnus. I wouldn’t have considered Magnus for the team before, but now, if he’s not chosen, I’ll be upset.

The Knockouts match was short but well-done. Velvet really needs to work on that spear if she’s going to incorporate it into her offense, though. We don’t need competitors in two companies that can’t hit it properly, one is plenty, thank you. It is interesting, though, that Gail Kim is getting a shot at Velvet at Lockdown. Not sure what she did to earn it, exactly, but it should be good.

Again, a well-done match conducted by Aries and Hernandez, but I think the most notable thing is that Hernandez has finally abandoned the long shorts in exchange for some trunks. It’ll take a little getting used to, but it looks good. If nothing else, it lets him move away from the gangster image and present a more believable image as a face. As for the PPV match this builds toward, I am definitely looking forward to it.

I’m excited that Morgan is back on Impact in any capacity, which hints that he’ll be back in the ring soon. It would have been awesome to see him join Team TNA at Lockdown, but it really wouldn’t have made any sense whatsoever, so it’s just well that he refused. As for the initial half of the segment, as much as I love the character of Joseph Park, I’m glad that he’s not in the Lethal Lockdown match. Sure, if it had happened, we probably would have seen Abyss make an appearance, as well, but it would have been more of the same, and I’m ready for this particular storyline to start making some headway again.

RVD and Kenny King put on a spectacular back-and-forth match…right up until the end. Once RVD paused on the top rope, it seemed like he only decided to switch up the move right then when he motioned to Earl Hebner that he was doing the 450. After that, it went downhill. I have no idea why that first pin was thrown out; I can only assume that something was wrong with RVD, because when King pulled him up for the Royal Flush, RVD was practically dead weight so the finisher looked really sloppy. I hope RVD didn’t hurt himself, but ultimately, I’m glad that King is finally the X Division champ. Now, he just needs a face to go up against. I really hope it isn’t Christian York…

I could not be happier with the way this Lethal Lockdown match is shaping up. EY’s return was especially awesome, the way he was introduced by Sting and how he made an impact against Aces and Eights. Also, there were almost too many awesome beards in that ring. Of course, EY is the king of #TeamBeard, but Devon was growing a pretty respectable one; if he’d just grow a mohawk, he’d be the spitting image of Mr. T.

Wow, I was not expecting Lei’d Tapa to be that big from her video. To bring down a giant like that is very impressive for Ivelisse Velez, but honestly, both women put on a great match. Even though I’m pretty sure that it will be Ivelisse that gets the contract, I’d be content with either one winning.

Regarding the AJ Styles video, this all looks really familiar…oh, right, this is Bobby Roode’s video package from last year. And AJ riding away on a motorcycle? A pretty heavy-handed hint from TNA, isn’t it? I hope this is going somewhere other than where I think it is, because if AJ Styles is being placed at the head of Aces and Eights, I can’t see it ending well.

Well, I guess there’s no coming back from tonight for Robbie E. The Robbies are quits, and with Rockstar Spud not on the scene, it looks like Big Rob’s gonna be a solo act for a little while.

Excellent main event, well-paced with solid wrestling from both teams. It was entertaining to watch such a serious character like Bully doing the Gangnam dance, as well. For two men that will be beating the daylights out of each other in two weeks, Bully and Hardy work remarkably well together.

You would think that Angle would have learned by now that swimming isn’t the only activity that you should take a buddy for. I guess there wasn’t a whole lot of room left over for critical thinking processes when they rebuilt his neck into the tree trunk it is now. I’ll be very interested to learn who the VP is, though. All that remains to be seen is whether Angle will be in any shape to talk next week.

Overall, I wish this had been the go-home show. Matt Morgan and Eric Young have both made their returns, we had a great Gut Check Knockouts match where the winner secured the only submission win of the night, Kenny King is finally the X Division champion, and we have a great Lethal Lockdown match coming up. I could not be more ready for Lockdown.

Impact kicks off with an entrance by Hulk Hogan, who talks about the decision to name the Number One Contender to face Hardy being interrupted by Aces and Eights last week, then names the Number One Contender – Bully Ray. Bully Ray comes out in shock and questions Hogan, explaining that he is still injured.  Hogan restates himself so there is no misunderstanding. Bully Ray then suggests a main event: three guys from Aces and Eights against Bully, Sting, and (with a cue from the audience) Hogan. Hogan agrees, and the main event is set.

Aries and Roode are plotting revenge against Chavo and Hernandez when Bad  Influence comes up and congratulates them on taking it to the former champs. We learn there is an eight-man tag match coming up next as we reach the first commercial break.

Eight-Man Tag Match: James Storm, Chavo Guerrero, Hernandez, and Joseph Park vs Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, and Bad Influence

Daniels and Storm kick things off, Daniels shoving and the Cowboy slugging back. Daniels gets in a shoulderblock, but Storm tosses him up with a backdrop, then sends the Ring General over the ropes only to follow him when Kaz charges in and sends him over, as well. This starts a general melee as the remaining men climb in and take shots where they may, ending with the faces standing tall in the ring and the heels planning strategy outside as Impact takes a brief break.

We return with Chavo and Kaz in the ring as Chavo executes a headscissors takedown. Park tags in and gets in a couple of shots before Kaz fights out and sets Park on his heels, only to bounce off to little effect with a failed crossbody. As Park receives praise and encouragement from his teammates, Daniels comes in from behind and dives into Park’s knee from behind, taking him down. Kaz slaps Park, then reaches for the tag, and both Roode and Aries tag him. They start arguing over who’s the legal man, abandon the argument to go for a double suplex, only to start arguing again when they fail to get Park in the off the mat. Daniels tags himself in, pounds on Park for a bit, then sets him up and tags in K for a little tag team action, executing a slingshot elbow drop immediately followed by a slingshot leg drop from Kaz. Daniels tags back in shortly after, and after a few shots and a chin lock, the tag champs get frustrated by Bad Influence freezing them out, so Aries tags himself in. Of course, Roode takes umbrage with this, so he tags himself in, and Kaz tags himself in, as well. All four heels stand in the corner arguing as Park drags himself to his corner, but Park’s advance is halted by Bad Influence. Daniels and Kaz whip Park into the corner but Park hits a double clothesline on the rebound. Bad Influence goes for the tag, but the tag champs decide to leave them high and dry and leave the ring, making this match a four-on-two. Storm tags in and starts taking it to Daniels and Kaz, hitting Daniels with an inverted atomic drop and Kaz with a backbreaker and Closing Time before tagging in Hernandez, who levels Daniels to set him up for Chavo’s frog splash. Storm tags back in, hits the Last Call on Kaz before tagging in Park, who hits a splash from the second rope so that Chavo can get the pin and the win for the faces.

Chavo wins for his team via pinfall, set up by Park’s second rope splash

Robbie E vs Rockstar Spud

With Big Rob Terry standing at ringside, Robbie E gets in a surprise attack and kicks Spud from behind the ref. Robbie E talks all manner of smack as he smacks Robbie around, but Spud slides between Robbie’s legs and gets in a dropkick. Before he can get in anymore offense, though, Spud walks into a boot, and Robbie follows up with a forearm from the second rope. Spud fights back and ducks a splash from Robbie, hits a clothesline and a spinning DDT but misses with his attack from the top rope. Robbie E tries to take the clipboard to use on Spud, but Big Rob refuses to let go, so when Robbie turns around, he’s unarmed and subjected to a quick rollup by Spud for the win.

Rockstar Spud wins via pinfall

Robbie E begins berating Rob Terry, demanding an explanation, and ends by hauling off and slapping Big Rob across the face. The Welsh Colossus snaps, tears off his cardigan, and, with murder in his eyes, bellows in Robbie’s face. Robbie retreats to the ramp and beyond as Big Rob stalks out after him.

Jessie is psyching Tara up for the four-way title match, saying there are two constants, Tara will always be Knockouts champ, and Jessie will always be her boyfriend.

Four-Way Knockouts Title Match: Tara vs Gail Kim vs Miss Tessmacher vs Velvet Sky

The four competitors enter the ring, followed by Brook Hogan, who seats herself at ringside as Impact goes to commercial.

On our return, Taryn Terrell has just ordered Jessie to the back. The bell rings and the Knockouts fall to a general melee until Tessmacher is knocked out of the ring so Tara and Gail Kim can double-team Velvet. Tara hits a big boot, but Velvet starts to fight back only to be thrown into the corner so Tara can hit a splash, followed by Gail Kim’s signature shoulderblock swivel to the outside. Tara hits Velvet with a Spiderweb Slam then goes for the cover, only to have it broken up by Gail Kim, and the two heels start trading shots. Tara catches Gail coming off the ropes with a big backdrop, chokes Gail in the corner, then goes for a splash but misses as Gail ducks outside. Gail attacks Tessmacher as she’s getting to her feet, then goes for a body slam only to have it reversed so that Tessmacher can hit Gail with a running bulldog. Tessmacher rolls in and she and Velvet begin double-teaming the champ. Tara eventually catches a break and catches Velvet on the ropes with a jawbreaker, but is tossed inside by Tessmacher. Tessmacher charges at Tara, but the champ traps Tessmacher with a drop-toehold onto the ropes. Tara hits her former partner with a body slam followed by a moonsault from the top rope, but, as she’s getting to her feet, Velvet grabs her and hits the champ with an In Yo Face and goes for the pin, only to have it broken and subsequently stolen by Gail Kim. Having thrown Velvet out of the ring, that leaves Gail alone in the ring with Tessmacher, but it’s not good for the first-ever KO champ as Tessmacher hits her with a clothesline followed by a reverse bulldog. Gail manages to reverse the momentum and trap Tessmacher on the turnbuckle, where they trade shots for a bit as Gail tries to set up a superplex; any designs on Gail Kim’s part are foiled when Velvet runs over and brings both Gail and Tessmacher toppling down to the mat. Velvet covers Gail, who kicks out, then covers Tessmacher, who also kicks out. Tessmacher then tries to pin Velvet, but Velvet’s able to roll through and successfully eliminate Tessmacher, leaving just Velvet and Gail to contend for the title. Gail Kim slugs Velvet and whips her into the ropes, but Velvet catches her with a big boot, followed by a clothesline and a headscissors takedown. Gail counters with a dropkick and goes for the cover, but Taryn breaks the count when she sees that Gail’s grabbed the ropes. Gail hits Velvet with a boot and corners her for some shoulderblocks. Velvet attempts a pin in the corner but doesn’t manage to get Gail off her feet due to Gail holding on to the ropes. Taryn has to force a rope break by forcibly pulling Gail back hard enough to send her tumbling, and when Gail Kim gets to her feet, Velvet hits her with In Yo Face and gets the three count.

Velvet Sky wins via In Yo Face for a pinfall and is the new Knockouts champion

We see Hogan, Sting, and Bully talking up the main event, with Hogan saying how glad he is that Sting will be in the ring next to him, watching his back, and Sting and Bully telling each other how happy they are to be teaming up.

Garett Bischoff vs Samoa Joe

The match starts off with Garett ducking between the ropes to avoid contact with Joe, then dodging a round kick followed by a clothesline from Joe before rolling outside to taunt Joe a little bit. Joe winds up sliding out to chase Garett, who slides back in and ambushes Joe with ax handles as Joe follows. Joe gets to his feet and gets in some chops, but Garett fires back by clipping Joe’s knee when his back is turned. Bischoff begins stomping on Joe, then drops an elbow on Joe’s knee and focuses some offense there. Garett gets up, maneuvers Joe into the corner, and fires off some kicks there as Joe pulls himself up; once Joe is up, he rocks Garett with a slap and transitions into his signature jabs, but Garett counters with a kick to the knee and takes Joe down to the mat. Bischoff unloads with some more kicks, but Joe regains his footing and stuns Garett with multiple headbutts until Garett brings his hands up and rakes the eyes of the Samoan Submission Machine. Bischoff takes a page from the playbook of his mentor, Devon, and knocks Joe down with a leaping shoulderblock, then tries to wear him down with a rear choke. Garett is forced to transition to a side headlock as Joe starts to power out, then abandon the hold altogether when Joe hits Garett with a back elbow and a clothesline, followed by an inverted atomic drop and a big boot into the senton. Joe gets some revenge by scrubbing his boot on Garett’s face in the corner, then hits a big boot and a chop when Wes Brisco charges in to disrupt the match. Garett and Wes take Joe down and begin stomping on him when Kurt Angle runs down to the rescue.

Joe wins via DQ

Before Wes and Garett leave, Angle grabs a mic and promises all sorts of pain for Brisco, then announces that it will be Angle vs Brisco in the cage at Lockdown.

X Division Title Match: Kenny King vs Rob Van Dam

King catches RVD off-guard with a dropkick that sends the champ out of the ring. King jumps out and begins stomping, then scoops RVD up and rams him into the post a few times before dragging him over and choking RVD on the barrier. King rolls RVD into the ring and covers him, then hits him with a body slam. King goes for a springboard leg drop but misses, and RVD capitalizes with a couple of kicks, then takes the challenger into the corner for some shoulders and forearms there. RVD starts to go up top, but King grabs and yanks him to the mat and makes another pin attempt. King levels the champ with a 360 roundhouse kick into the chin lock. RVD manages to fight out of the hold, but King arrests the shift in momentum and tilts it firmly back in his favor by throwing RVD back down to the mat for the cover. King follows that with a suplex and a roll-through into the mount for some shots, then makes a couple of unsuccessful pin attempts. King tries the eye rake then shifts into a seated abdominal stretch, but RVD’s able to power out and hit King with a jumping spin kick. RVD clocks King with a temple kick, hits him with a couple of clotheslines, then knocks him down again with a side kick. RVD throws King across the ring with a monkey flip, but King lands on his feet and blasts RVD back into the corner with a pair of shotgun knees, followed by a Royal Flush and a cover. King pulls down his kneed pads for extra impact and breaks out the shotgun knees again, but they connect with the turnbuckle as RVD ducks away and King crashes to the mat. RVD hits the Rolling Thunder and lands the Five Star Frog Splash for the win.

RVD retains via Five Star Frog Splash for a pinfall

Brooke Hogan is trying to talk her father out of getting into the ring, then settles for making sure that Hulk lets Bully and Sting take point through the match so that Hulk doesn’t have to expose himself to too much harm.

Main Event: Devon, Doc, and Anderson vs Bully Ray, Sting, and Hulk Hogan

The Aces and Eights enter together, followed by Sting and Bully Ray, but Hogan is no where to be found as Bully and Sting are jumped by the Aces and Eights. Even with the element of surprise used against them, Bully and Sting are able to fight back and take the momentum firmly in hand as Impact rolls on to commercial.

We come back to see that order has been restored and Bully and Anderson are in the ring. Doc tags in and starts raining down haymakers on Bully, then makes a pin attempt. What follows is a clinic on the proper way to conduct a tag team match, performed by the Aces and Eights, as all three men engage in a beatdown on Bully. All things must come to an end, however, and so does the domination by Aces and Eights as Bully and Devon trade shots, and Devon walks right into a spear. Bully’s finally able to tag in Sting, who goes after a newly tagged in Doc. Sting winds up engaging all three members of the gang and still holds his own. Devon manages to grab and hold Sting from behind as Doc charges in, but Sting ducks away at the last instant so that Doc winds up clotheslining Devon. Sting hits Doc with the Scorpion Death Drop and goes for the cover, but Anderson breaks it up. Before Sting can respond, Mike Knox and Wes Brisco drag out Brook and Hulk Hogan, Hulk clearly having been the victim of a backstage assault. Bully charges out and chases away Knox and Brisco, leaving Sting to go for the Scorpion Leg Lock on Devon only to eat a big boot from Doc and get pinned.

Doc wins for the Aces and Eights via big boot for a pinfall

The whole of Aces and Eights rushes the ring to beat on Sting, leaving Bully to watch helplessly at Hogan’s side as Impact draws to a close.

Personal Thoughts

There were all sorts of things wrong with the opening segment. For one thing, what was the point of those four matches last week if Hogan is just going to ignore them and put over his son-in-law? I want to see Bully Ray hold the WHC as much as anyone, but this booking is horrible. Speaking of horrible booking, Hogan wrestling? There is no way this could end well unless you jumped in the Delorean and brought back ’80s Hogan.

The tag champs and Bad Influence teaming up? This can’t  be anything but entertaining. If TNA wasn’t hurting so badly for tag teams, I would almost hope for a new Fourtune, which Kaz and Roode actually call back to toward the end of the segment.

The eight-man tag match had nothing terribly spectacular, but it was pretty entertaining. Park’s antics combined with the tag champs being at odds with both Bad Influence and each other made for great watching. I can’t stress enough that I have trouble deciding if I’d rather see Roode and Aries team up with Daniels and Kaz or feud with them.

It’s inevitable that there will be an irreversible split between the Robbies, the only question is when that will be. I’m anticipating a realignment on Big Rob’s part with Rockstar Spud, and I’m hoping that they’ll team up against Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan when Morgan’s finally ready to return.

We were treated to an excellent showing by all four women in the Knockouts title bout. It was a good, solid match, and none of the competitors had to resort to suggestive maneuvers in order to get over with the crowd, to boot. I’m glad that Velvet was finally allowed to get over on Tara and take the title. It’s long overdue, and I can see Velvet holding the belt for some time to come.

I know this will be unpopular with some, but Joe and Bischoff had a good match. Garett looked pretty dominant throughout up to the string of moves by Joe that prompted the run-in by Brisco. Just going by this match alone, I could have seen Garett winning the match without interference, perhaps even without shenanigans of any sort.

As for Angle vs Brisco at Lockdown, I’m reserving judgment until I can see Brisco in a match (no, the Gut Check doesn’t count, because it can be argued that it was rigged by Aces and Eights). In the meantime, I remain cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, Angle generally delivers pretty good cage matches no matter who he’s fighting.

It’s honestly disappointing to see King go for the title so many times and fail on every single outing. Aside from that, the match was quality. King carried much of it, which is to be expected since RVD sometimes has trouble performing in the ring when he’s supposed to be fresh, let alone when he’s already wrestled earlier in the evening. It was intriguing to watch King adjust his kneepads for that second set of shotgun knees, because it suggests a more brutal side to King that we haven’t seen before, and I’d be very interested to see what would happen if King let it show more often.

There’s not a whole lot to say about the main event since not a whole lot went on here. Aces and Eights finally came out looking dominant for a change, despite a valiant effort by Bully and Sting. Honestly, though, I have to wonder if the rumors about Bully’s affiliation with Aces and Eights are true. Why else would Bully leave Sting high and dry once Hogan was saved? I suppose an argument could be made that he wanted to make sure at least his family was safe, but it just seems weird to me.

In short, tonight was an excellent show, it was well-paced, and it built well to Lockdown. I can’t ask for much more than that.

Impact kicks off with an onslaught of Hulkamania as the Immortal One himself comes out to a roaring London crowd. He puts over the crowd, then gets down to business. His first announcement is that he’s made four matches in order to determine who will challenge Jeff Hardy for the world heavyweight title at Lockdown next month, and they are as follows: Rob Van Dam vs James Storm, Christopher Daniels vs Magnus, Kurt Angle vs Samoa Joe, and Bobby Roode vs Austin Aries. His second announcement is that Aces and Eights has issued a challenge for Lockdown, and Hogan has responded by naming Sting, the greatest wrestler of all time, as captain of Team TNA. Sting takes the cue and makes his own entrance, which is also met with an uproarious response. He states his intention of finding three other men to join his team, and that he will be watching the matches tonight alongside Hogan.

Daniels vs Magnus

We roll right into the action after Daniels, accompanied by Kazarian, and Magnus make their respective entrances. Daniels slaps an armlock on Magnus, but Magnus is able to whip Daniels into the ropes and knock him down with a shoulderblock, then take him to the corner. Daniels is able to turn things around with some shoulders to the gut, but when the action leaves the corner and Daniels bounces off the ropes for a crossbody splash, Magnus catches him scoop-style, then transitions into a vertical suplex. Magnus rams  Daniels into the turnbuckle, but before he can capitalize further, Kaz catches him with a jawbreaker on the ropes, and it’s Daniels’ turn to capitalize with an STO. Daniels follows up with a neckbreaker into the cover, then slaps on a submission hold. Magnus battles out, but as he’s going to the ropes, Kaz grabs his foot and trips him up from outside. Daniels goes for the Best Moonsault Ever but misses, then eats a boot from Magnus. Kaz tries to interfere again, but Magnus knocks him away, then steps out after Kaz when the ref orders Kaz to the back. The ref jumps in between them, but Magnus is able to reach over, grab Kaz’s manager’s license, and throw it away into the crowd. Daniels attempts to take advantage of the distraction, but Magnus throws him back into the ring with an overhead toss, hits another big boot and clothesline, and follows with a driver. Magnus calls for his signature flying elbow and gets an enthusiastic go-ahead from the crowd, and Magnus finishes things up with that flying elbow for the win.

Magnus wins via flying elbow

We go to the back to find Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan together, and Bully laments the fact that the tear in his quad is holding him back from a shot at the WHC. Brooke consoles him, and Bully decides to shrug it off and not let his problem get in the way of their Valentine’s Day celebrations. Bully and Brooke go on their merry way as Impact cuts to commercial.

As Impact returns, it opens with a backstage promo from Magnus. Even though Magnus is only twenty-six, he’s been wrestling for seven years, three of them for TNA, so he’s got a great mixture of experience and youthful energy that the older guys in contention for the WHC don’t have. Add to that his injury at the hands of Aces and Eights, he’s taking the desire for revenge and converting into fuel for his tank, a tank that fuels his ambition and desire to be a top guy in the company. Impact cuts away to the ring as the second match of the night is about to begin.

Angle vs Joe

Before the action starts, we are treated to Angle’s pre-recorded comments about the IOC’s decision to remove wrestling from the Olympics. Angle goes on to say that these proceedings are a travesty, and asks TNA fans to join him in petitioning the IOC to reinstate wrestling as a core Olympic sport.

Well, while Angle and Joe may have a common enemy in Aces and Eights, they don’t hesitate in the least as they lock up. Joe gets Angle in a headlock, then knocks him down with a shoulderblock, and Angle rolls out to marshal his thoughts and revise his game plan. Angle jumps back in and catches Joe with a kick, then fires off some shots in the corner. Joe responds with some jabs as he battles across the ring to the opposite corner. Joe takes Angle to the mat and hits him with a chop to the back, followed by a buzzsaw kick and a knee drop into the cover. Joe hits with another chop and a couple of European uppercuts before Angle latches on and throws Joe in a belly-to-belly suplex. Angle hits Joe with some kicks in the corner, then suplexes him for a pin attempt. Angle follows with a snapmare into the headlock, which Joe manages to fight out of before getting leveled with an elbow as Impact goes to commercial.

We return to find Angle setting up a German suplex only to have Joe counter it and send Angle outside, then level Angle with a flying forearm shiver, suicide style. Joe follows Angle back inside and hits him with a big boot into the senton and the cover. Angle manages to catch Joe off-guard and hits him with the trademark triple German suplexes, but when he goes for the Angle Slam, Joe slips out and nails Angle with the ST-Joe. Joe tries to set Angle up for the musclebuster, but Angle fights him off and hits Joe with a missile dropkick. Angle successfully hits the Angle Slam, but Joe seems to shrug it off and catch Angle in the Kokina clutch, only to be run back into the corner and caught in an ankle lock by Angle. Joe manages to counter with a roll-through,but the two men catch each other with a double clothesline, and both Joe and Angle are down. As they get back to their feet, the match is broken up when Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff charge in and attack them, but Joe and Angle unite and fight off their attackers, standing tall even as the match goes to a “no contest”.

No Contest

We go backstage to see Dixie Carter with “Party” Marty Scurll and the Blossom Twins, where Dixie is preparing the three British Boot Camp participants for their upcoming match as the show goes to commercial.

“Party” Marty Scurll and Blossom Twins vs Jessie, Tara, and Gail Kim

Jessie and Marty square off and Jessie hits Marty with a knee, then slaps on a headlock, showboating and flexing as he does so. Jessie hits Marty with a shoulderblock, but Marty responds with a kick, followed by a snapmare and a buzzsaw kick. Marty charges at Jessie in the corner, and when Jessie flinches to protect himself, Marty stops and slaps Jessie across the face. An enraged Jessie tries to get some revenge, but Marty puts an end to that with a springboard moonsault, and we see Jessie retreat as Impact cuts to commercial.

Impact returns and we see Jessie tag in Tara to escape Marty, who is forced to tag in Holly Blossom. Holly bodyslams Tara, who also retreats and tags in Gail Kim. Hannah Blossom tags in and the twins execute a double elbow on Gail Kim, followed by a jumping back elbow from Hannah. Gail Kim comes back with a bodyslam attempt that’s countered by Hannah with a pin attempt. Gail Kim punishes the rookie and knocks her to the mat, then takes her to the corner, where Gail Kim tags in the Knockouts champ. Tara hauls off and slaps Hannah, then tosses her by the hair into the middle of the ring. Tara takes Hannah back into the corner and slams the rookie’s face into Gail Kim’s boot, and Tara tags in Kim. Gail Kim hits Hannah with a backbreaker for a pin attempt, then hits a brutal kick to the back to set her opponent up in the corner for her trademark dive and pivot to the outside. Tara tags in and hits Hannah with a big boot for the cover, then power slams Hannah to the mat, but when the champ goes for her standing moonsault, she crashes onto Hannah’s raised knees. Hannah is finally able to tag in her sister, and Holly explodes into action with a clothesline, followed by a whip into the ropes, a big boot, and, after taking down Gail Kim as she charges in to save her partner, tosses Tara back in a flapjack onto Kim. Holly then calls in Hannah for some tag team action, and Hannah hops up onto Holly’s shoulders for a splash onto Kim, then kicks Tara out of the ring. Jessie takes exception to this and begins advancing on Hannah, who distracts Jessie long enough for Marty to climb up to the top rope. Hannah jumps out and Jessie, smug over apparently scaring her away, turns around and eats a missile dropkick from Marty. Jessie rolls outside and is then taken out by a suicide dive from Party Marty. Inside the ring, Gail Kim catches Holly off-guard with an Eat Defeet and secures the win for her team.

Jessie, Tara, and Gail Kim win via Eat Defeet

After the match, Gail Kim takes the mic and announces her intention to take the belt from Tara, mockingly congratulates Taryn Terrell for doing her job “for once”, and calls Brooke Hogan out and demands she be granted a shot. Brooke comes out and gives Gail Kim her shot, then informs her that it will be in a four-way match against Tara, Miss Tessmacher, and Velvet Sky. Furthermore, to ensure that there are no shenanigans, Brooke will be watching from ringside.

The camera shoots backstage where Roode and Aries are planning strategy for their match later on, agreeing that they are on the same page as the show goes to commercial.

Rob Van Dam vs James Storm

The third contender’s match kicks off as RVD and the Cowboy lock up. RVD gets the headlock on Storm and hits him with a shoulderblock, but Storm retaliates with a toss and gets on the apron to deliver a kick to the back of RVD’s head. RVD regains the momentum with a spin kick, followed by a monkey flip out of the corner, a springboard kick, and closes with Rolling Thunder and a pin attempt. Failing that, RVD hits Storm with a scoop backbreaker and the split-leg moonsault. Both men trade shots for a little while, and Storm catches the X Division champ with an exclamation point DDT. The Cowboy follows up by catching RVD on the top rope with a Tennessee slam for the cover, then attempts Closing Time twice, the first foiled when RVD hangs on to the ropes but the second is successful. Storm tries to wrap things up with a Last Call superkick but RVD counters it and sends Storm sprawling. RVD goes up top for the Five Star Frog Splash, but Storm knocks him off. RVD kicks the Cowboy away as he tries to capitalize, but misses a double leg dropkick, and, upon regaining his footing, the Whole F’n Show is shut down by a Last Call for the pin and the win.

Storm wins via Last Call

Backstage, Hogan and his daughter are discussing something when Joseph Park shows up and tries to wrangle a title shot at Hardy. Park tells Hogan that he was told by the boys that things can get very political when title shots are on the line, so Park is going the whole nine yards with his politicking. Hogan tries to explain to Park what a “rib” is, but Park seems oblivious, so Hogan assures him that Park has his vote for the title shot “race” as we go to commercial.

We find on our return that Brooke and her father are still talking, and it turns out to be about Bully. Brooke is trying to get Hogan to give Bully the title shot because he’s family. Hulk tells her that he’d love nothing more than to have a son-in-law as the world champion, but as general manager, he has to remain objective. Hulk ends with a promise to take Brooke’s plea under advisement.

Roode vs Aries

The tag champs enter the ring, and Roode takes the mic, calling out Hogan for trying to derail him and Aries by pitting them against each other, and Aries follows up by assuring everyone that he and Roode are on the same page, and that they’re going to do what’s best for business. The mic and belts are set aside, the two men square off, and as the bell is rung, both Roode and Aries execute the Fingerpoke of Doom on one another, then motion for the other to fall down. An argument breaks out over who is supposed to give the fingerpoke and who is supposed to lie down, then Aries picks up the mic and tells Roode that he will be the bigger man. Roode interrupts and tells Aries that he’s clearly the bigger man, gesturing to himself, and Aries placates him by explaining it’s a figure of speech; clearly, Roode is physically bigger, but Aries is going to set aside his ego and lay down for Roode. Aries does so, and Roode sets up the pin, telling the ref to count. As the ref hits two, though, Aries pulls a reversal and tries to pin Roode. Roode kicks out, and the argument is renewed as we have a brief commercial break.

On our return, we see Roode and Aries shoving back and forth, then a lockup, and Aries is whipped into the ropes by Roode only to cartwheel past Roode into the corner to assume his trademark showboating pose on the top ropes. That goads Roode into charging into the corner only for Aries to slip off onto the apron, hit Roode with a shoulderblock through the ropes, then hit a sunset flip for the roll-up, only to have Roode drop on top of him for the cover and grab the ropes, which the ref catches. As the ref is censuring Roode, Aries ambushes Roode with a quick roll-up and puts his feet on the ropes, which the ref also catches. Roode and Aries berate each other for using the ropes, then start trading shots. Aries gets the upper hand with the discus elbow but walks right into a Double-R Spinebuster, and Roode goes for the cover. Failing that, Roode picks up Aries, who slips out and pushes Roode toward the corner. Aries charges in to have Roode grab him and put him up on the top rope. Roode climbs after him and goes for the superplex, but Aries blocks it and the two start throwing bombs on the turnbuckle. Aries finally dislodges Roode by boxing his ears, but he misses the 450 splash. Fortunately for Aries, he’s able to roll through the Impact and he traps Roode in the Last Chancery, but Roode rakes the eyes of A-Double and locks in the crossface, which Aries manages to escape by rolling up Roode for the pin. The two men get up and Roode goes for the fisherman’s suplex, which Aries counters and answers with the Brainbuster, which is countered by Roode. The two men begin trading holds, which ends in the ref getting knocked down. Roode goes outside and gets the chair while both Aries and the ref are down, but as he raises it, the ref gets to one knee and, thinking fast, Roode fakes getting hit with the chair to have the blame cast on Aries. Aries gets up and sees what happened, so, while the ref’s back is still turned, he fakes getting hit with a chair shot, as well. The ref gets up and turns around to find both men inexplicably down with a chair in between them. The ref tries to check on them, prompting both men to protest and claim that they were the actual victim. Fortunately for the ref, Roode and Aries are distracted by the entrance of Chavo and Hernandez, wearing Aries’ and Roode’s shirts, respectively, to taunt them. Roode and Aries step out to go after them, but the former tag champs lure them further up the ramp until the ref gets the count up to eight, when Roode and Aries realize what’s happening and race back to the ring, trying to trip each other up as they do so. Despite that, both Roode and Aries are counted out, and Chavo and Hernandez have a laugh at their expense as Roode and Aries try to convince the ref that they were both back in the ring first.

No Contest due to Double Count-out

The camera pans backstage to where Hogan and Sting are discussing Bully’s situation and the matches to determine Hardy’s opponent at Lockdown. Sting ribs Hogan a bit about the importance of the decision that rests on Hogan’s shoulders, getting Hogan so worked up that he almost heads down the wrong hall on his way to the ring. Sting gets in one last jibe about doing the right thing as Impact goes to commercial.

Hogan comes back out after the commercial break, and he’s getting ready to announce his pick for Hardy’s Lockdown opponent when Aces and Eights comes to ringside in force. The bikers circle the ring and are about to enter when Bully comes limping out, chain in hand. Bully climbs in and stands back to back with Hogan. The Aces and Eights pause to reevaluate the situation, but they’re clearly still intent on attacking until Sting comes out with cricket bats for him, Hogan, and Bully, at which point Aces and Eights finally retreats, leaving the three men wielding cricket bats standing tall in the ring as Impact fades to black.

Personal Thoughts

I’m glad that multiple people were in the running to face Hardy at Lockdown, though I would have preferred a legitimate tournament that minimized Hogan’s involvement in the decision-making process beyond selecting who would compete in the first place. Also, with Bully temporarily sidelined, it made sense that Sting would captain Team TNA at Lockdown, though whether that will remain the case between now and then is still up in the air. This moves Angle from the forefront of that fight and allows him and Joe to focus more on their beef with Brisco and Bischoff, at least in theory. I’m almost certain that Angle and Joe will be two of Sting’s three teammates, anyway, and Brisco and Bischoff on the side of Aces and Eights, so the move doesn’t really change things all that much.

I am, however, a little confused as to why Sting is only going to have three teammates, since a Lethal Lockdown match is five-on-five. Either Sting’s team isn’t going to be the team that TNA fields in the Lethal Lockdown match against Aces and Eights, or they’re cutting out the fifth man for each team. Personally, I wouldn’t mind the former option. Aces and Eights finally has some manpower with names (Devon, Doc, Knox, Brisco, Bischoff, and Anderson), so if Lockdown is where the VP and two others are unmasked, I could see there being two multi-man matches involving Aces and Eights. The only problem with that would be TNA’s side of the equation, and whether they could pull enough men for those matches that aren’t already tied up in title matches or other feuds. Given that eight men are still technically in the running for a spot against Hardy, I think we’ll have to wait ’til next week to get a firmer picture in this particular area.

Daniels vs Magnus was a very solid opening match. Magnus looked especially dominant, and I’m impressed at how well he plays the power game while still being as light on his feet as he is. Magnus didn’t get to showcase that while he was teamed up with Joe, and we haven’t seen much of him since then, so this came as a welcome and pleasant surprise. Daniels, of course, was excellent, both with his ring work and his crowd interaction. I especially liked the move to remove the covering for his index finger so he could still pull off the salute to the crowd and have it mean something (for those who are a little lost over this, Professor Google is an excellent authority on “obscene hand gestures in England”). It was also pretty amusing to watch Magnus strip Kaz off his manager’s license; I guess Kaz had better not interfere at ringside anymore if law enforcement is nearby.

Joe vs Angle was solid as well; you’re always in for a good show when these two are in the ring together. The run-in by Bischoff and Brisco at the end did make sense for storyline purposes, but I dislike the fact that, of five matches tonight, this was the first of two “no contests”. That suicide dive by Joe was also pretty sloppy. I think his foot got caught on the rope, so when Angle fell back on cue, Joe had lost some momentum, so it didn’t quite achieve the desired effect. Otherwise, though, no complaints about the match quality itself. Again, great showing.

The mixed tag match was good; I’m especially glad that we got to see what the other British Boot Camp graduates are capable of, and that they’re up to the task. Unlike with Samoa Joe, Party Marty’s suicide dive looked excellent…except for the part where he got so much air that he pretty much cleared Jessie’s head and crashed into the barrier. The way I see it, Jessie didn’t move far enough back to catch Marty, so, while I’m not saying that Jessie should be punished for being out of place, if it does turn out that Marty seriously hurt himself, the lion’s share of that blame should rest on the shoulders of Mr. Pec-tacular. The Blossom Twins held their own against two very good, very experienced Knockouts, and I was especially impressed with the team maneuvers. Obviously, being twins, the Blossoms have a lot of experience working together, but the splash by Hannah from Holly’s shoulders onto Gail Kim was great by any measure. Overall, Party Marty and the Blossom Twins did very well in their Impact debut.

RVD had one of his better showings against the Cowboy. Honestly, though, it wasn’t anything really special, which really bums me out. It’s sad when a match without botches that flowed well qualifies as a “better showing” for a wrestler, especially one like Rob Van Dam. Something else that perturbs me is that RVD is even in the running for the WHC at all. What happened to Hogan’s rule of one title per person? It’s one thing for a heel team like Roode and Aries to talk about taking all the gold, but it’s something else entirely for the X Division champion to fight for a spot to take another title, especially when it was Hogan that picked him to do so. It just reeks of inconsistency, and it needs to be addressed. Personally, I think that RVD vs Hardy could potentially be a great match, but that’s neither here nor there, since RVD lost the match against Storm. To end on a positive note, it’s great to see James Storm varying up his offense with the DDT, as well as apparently adopting a new signature move with that brutal-looking Tennessee Slam. Given the way that Storm has been drifting through the company lately, I have a hard time seeing him getting the shot against Hardy, especially since that would pit face against face, but he would definitely be one of the least objectionable should he be chosen.

Roode vs Aries was very light on actual wrestling. With that said, this was probably the match of the night. To open up with a double Fingerpoke of Doom, then argue about who’s supposed to take the fall? Priceless. I nearly fell out of my chair when both Roode and Aries faked a chair shot to try and get the other disqualified. I haven’t seen such an entertaining team in ages, and I hope they continue with this angle for some time to come. Having Chavo and Hernandez come out kinda cheapened things for me, however. I was expecting a single rematch, and then they would go their separate ways, but apparently, TNA is going to insist on keeping these two as a team, and they’re going to feud with Roode and Aries at length. It’s somewhat understandable, given the lack of depth in the tag division at the moment, but I am so done with Chavo and Hernandez as a team. I’d like to see them split up, have Hernandez team with Gunner, and put Chavo in the X Division and be the new RVD (read: vet that can put the younger talent over, which RVD doesn’t seem able to do).

The end of the show didn’t really do anything for me, aside from a momentary spark of interest at seeing Sting with cricket bats, which died upon remembering that Sting does this every time TNA is in the UK. Probably the only thing that segment did for me is make me realize that Aces and Eights actually has a sizable roster unto itself now, and that it could still potentially grow if the rumor about Jay Bradley also being a member is true. I’m not the least bit sure about where TNA is going with this angle, but I’m hoping that it’s worth my time.

Overall, this was a very solid show. The matches were excellent, the backstage promos helped move things along, and the feedback from the crowd was awesome to hear. I can’t wait ’til next week’s Impact for the second half of the London show. I’m especially psyched to watch Rockstar Spud in action, which Dixie hinted at in the backstage segment with Party Marty and the Blossoms, and I’m very interested to learn who it was that Hogan was going to announce as Hardy’s opponent.

Impact Wrestling kicks off with Aces and Eights entering the ring; they are joined by Garett Bischoff and Wes Brisco in full Aces and Eights regalia. Devon introduces Bischoff and Brisco, and Garett takes the mic, thanking Devon. Garett claims that his motivation for joining his new family is due to the disrespect shown to him, then hands the mic to Brisco, who accuses Hulk Hogan of forcing his hand. Brisco expresses his incredulity at the idea of a Brisco having to work his way up from the bottom, especially given that Hogan got his start because of Brisco’s father. Devon takes back over and warns Angle against coming back, then assures Hogan that they’re ready for the tables match, and they have an ace up their sleeve.

X Division Title Match – RVD (c) vs Zema Ion vs Kenny King

The first match of the night starts fast and furious with a double-team effort by Ion and King against the champ, but that proves to be very short-lived when King turns on Ion. RVD is sent outside, and King goes after him with a corkscrew dive over the top, but both men are subsequently leveled by a flip over the ropes by Ion. The action goes all over the place with men flying in, out, and over the ring in true X Division fashion. RVD eventually turns the momentum in his favor with a monkey flip that sends Ion clear across the ring, followed with a free kick to King, only to eat a tilt-a-whirl DDT from Ion, who goes for the cover. King breaks it up and picks Ion up for the Royal Flush, but as King swings him around, Ion counters with another pin attempt. Ion hoists King as though for a slam but swings King around to land face-first on Ion’s knee. Ion makes yet another pin attempt, but RVD pulls him away from outside. Ion attempts to get some retribution with a baseball slide, but RVD sidesteps as Ion falls out, then levels him and climbs into the ring. RVD hops up to the top rope and launches himself at Ion, who ducks under him; Ion and the champ exchange a few shots, countering each until RVD connects with a boot to the midsection. RVD goes for a crossbody, which Ion ducks, sending RVD crashing to the outside. Ion turns to find King charging his way, so he lifts King up to fall on the ropes, then hits a neckbreaker on the rebound for the cover. Ion showboats a bit too long and King puts him the corner for a flying back elbow. RVD hits King from behind but King is able to send RVD back over the top rope to the floor, only to get rolled up by Ion. Ion stomps on King to soften him up, then goes for a moonsault off the second rope only to crash onto King’s knees. King capitalizes with a flying double knee then hits with a Northern Lights suplex into the cover. RVD breaks it up with a Five Star Frog Splash, then pins Ion for the win.

RVD retains via Five Star Frog Splash

The camera cuts to Aries and Roode prepping for their own title match, and they agree that the key to their success is going to lie in setting aside their egos and following the same path. The two former champs walk off as Impact goes to commercial.

Impact returns with a quick recap of British Boot Camp, showcasing Marty Scurl, Rockstar Spud, and the Blossom Twins in their various trials, following with an announcement that Rockstar Spud, the winner of the British Boot Camp, would be coming out to address the crowd later. Before another commercial break, we see Bruce Pritchard and D’Lo Brown expressing their disbelief over the defection of Garett and Wes to Aces and Eights, especially lamenting the fact that their decision at Brisco’s Gut Check helped that along.

We come back to find that Jessie Godderz has entered the ring, and he informs us that since he’s been banned from ringside for Tara’s match that night, he will grant the Manchester audience an opportunity for a photo shoot. He’s interrupted by James Storm, who declares that the people aren’t there to take pictures, but to drink beer and watch people get beat up; he also reminds us that the only reason Jessie didn’t eat a Last Call superkick was because of Tara. Given that Tara isn’t here now, Storm figures he’ll do three things: drink beer, kick the teeth out of Jessie’s face, and give Jessie the photo shoot he asked for, but he won’t be smiling for it.

James Storm vs Jessie Godderz

Storm launches a beatdown on Jessie, but Jessie catches the Cowboy with a shot to the face that may or may not have been an eye rake. Jessie gets his own shots in while choking Storm in the corner, then wraps with an abdominal stretch. Storm gets out of it, blocks a clothesline from Jessie with a kick and counters with a Russian leg sweep. Storm lets loose a string of moves, beginning with a clothesline, an inverted atomic drop, then tosses Jessie around with an Eye of the Storm. Jessie lifts Storm over the ropes, where Storm lands on the apron to kick Jessie in the back of the head. The Cowboy jumps back in to give Jessie a a reverse neckbreaker, a slam, then hits Mr. Pec-tacular with Closing Time. Storm ends the match by serving Jessie with the Last Call for the win.

Storm wins via Last Call

After a quick commercial break, we roll right into the tag title match.

Austin Aries & Bobby Roode vs Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez (c)

Roode and Chavo start things off with a lock up, followed by an exchange of holds, and Chavo attempts to punctuate things with a shoulder block, but to little effect. They lock up once more, and Chavo executes a successful head scissors takedown. Roode retreats to the corner where Aries tags himself in. Roode disputes it until he sees Chavo tag in Hernadez, then hops out. Aries backs into Hernandez, then recoils in surprise as he turns and sees Supermex standing there instead of Chavo. Hernandez picks Aries up and places him across the top ropes in a display of power, but Aries turns it into his trademark lounge, which infuriates Hernandez. Aries hops off only to get picked up for a delayed vertical suplex; fortunately, Roode jumps in to make the save, and he and Aries prepare to suplex Hernandez, only for Chavo to jump in and turn things around where Chavo and Hernandez pull a double suplex on both Roode and Aries. Chavo tags in and runs to the ropes, but Roode grabs him and pulls him out, holding Chavo and calling for Aries to capitalize. Aries launches himself through the ropes for a suicide dive, but Chavo ducks away and Aries hits his partner instead. Aries looks at his handiwork in disbelief and Roode crumples to the floor, yelling “What are you doing?” as Impact cuts to commercial.

We come back as Chavo tags in Hernandez, who splashes Aries in the corner then goes for the cover, which is broken with a kick by Roode. Chavo tags in and dropkicks Aries. The two trade shots for a bit when Chavo picks Aries up and hits him with a bodyslam. Hernandez jumps in and holds Aries as Chavo drops down from the top with a flying ax handle. Chavo runs for the ropes and is hit by Roode from behind; Chavo clocks Roode, but the distraction pays off as Aries levels Chavo with a discus clothesline. Roode tags in and goes for the pin; afterward, Roode throws Chavo to the middle of the ring with a snapmare, then directs traffic as Aries leaps from the top with a flying elbow to the back of Chavo. Chavo attempts to fight back but is leveled by a clothesline from Roode, and Chavo is slapped into a rear chin lock first by Roode, then Aries as he tags in. Aries chokes Chavo on the ropes, then as he backs away and distracts the ref, Roode pulls Chavo out and rams him into the side of the ring. Aries hits Chavo with a flying ax handle, makes a pin attempt, then punishes Chavo by dragging his face along the ropes. Roode tags in and it looks as though Chavo will fight him off to make the tag, but Roode dashes those hopes with a drop toe hold. Roode taunts Hernandez as he puts Chavo in another chin lock, which Aries takes over once again as he tags in. Chavo manages to kick Aries away but Roode tags back in and stops Chavo from tagging out. Chavo attempts to hit Roode with a moonsault but misses, and the two men take each other out with clotheslines. In come Aries and Hernandez, and Aries gets hit with a few shoulderblocks before getting picked up and thrown at Roode by Supermex. Hernandez splashes Aries in the corner then picks Aries up over his shoulder and drops down for the backbreaker and the cover. Roode manages to break it up but gets knocked down with a shoulderblock. Hernandez gets sent out to the apron by Aries, but Supermex slingshots back and hits Aries with a shoulder. Roode and Hernandez trade some shots, an exchange that is won by Supermex with a commanding Get Off Me. Chavo tags in and hits two out of Three Amigos, but Aries drops out of the third and hoists Chavo up for the Brainbuster, only to have Chavo pull a similar escape and shove Aries into Roode. Annoyed with each other over the collision, Roode and Aries shove back and forth, and Roode storms out. Chavo hits the third suplex while Aries is distracted, then tags in Hernandez and climbs up to the top rope, ostensibly for the frog splash, but any offense is curtailed as Roode charges back in and pushes Chavo off the top, then jumps in and throws Hernandez over the top rope. Roode hits Chavo with the RR spinebuster, then directs traffic a final time as Aries flies off the top rope and hits Chavo with the 450 splash for the win and the titles.

Roode and Aries win via 450 Splash

The camera pans to Sting and Bully Ray rehearsing the call for tables backstage as Brooke watches when Hulk enters the room. Sting tells Bully and Hogan that they need to have this talk, and he and Brooke leave them to it. Hogan tells Bully that he set this match up so that Bully can prove he really is the good guy, but Bully retorts that he is not a good guy. He asks Hogan if he knows who he is, and tells him he’s Bully Ray, a very bad guy. Hogan responds with the assertion that this match will show everyone what kind of guy Bully Ray is, and that he’d better take care of Aces and Eights tonight. Bully Ray assures Hulk that he can already consider it done, and Bully walks out, leaving Hogan with a satisfied smirk as Impact goes to commercial.

Tara (c) vs Miss Tessmacher

The Knockouts action starts with Tessmacher’s entrance, followed by Tara walking out wearing what we can assume is Jessie’s shirt. Jessie’s absence is clearly felt by the champ as, even after the match begins,  she continues to call Jessie’s name. After a quick rollup attempt by Tessmacher, Tara regains control with a hip toss into the headlock. After getting shoulderblocked, though, Tessmacher is able to trip up the champ, then dropkick Tara for the cover. Tessmacher stomps Tara in the corner, then flies in for the stinkface. Tara rolls out to the ramp and Tessmacher chases her down, hauling the champ back into the ring. Tessmacher climbs up to the top rope, but Tara catches her and puts Tessmacher on her shoulders, dropping her into the Spiderweb Slam. Tara grabs Tessmacher by the hair and slings her across the ring, followed by a full nelson. Tessmacher manages to fight out, only to be grabbed the hair and thrown down on the mat as Tara climbs into the full mount and chokes her, followed by a pin attempt. Tara pulls Tessmacher up for a clothesline and another pin attempt; when that fails, the champ slaps on a headlock. After fighting to her feet, Tara gets clotheslined yet again, but responds with a few clotheslines of her own, then hits a hurricanrana and the Tess Shot for the win.

Tessmacher wins via Tess Shot

After a short break, Jeremy Borash welcomes Rockstar Spud to the ring, who introduces himself as the winner of British Boot Camp. He goes on to say that he’s finally realized his dream by being in this ring, in front of a crowd of thousands of his own countrymen, no less. Before he can continue, he is interrupted by Robbie E, accompanied by Rob Terry. Robbie E calls the decision to award Spud a roster spot a travesty and proceeds to insult him until Spud finally responds to being called a midget and advances on him. Big Rob interposes himself and stares Spud down, but when Robbie E starts talking more trash behind him, Robbie T apparently has a change of heart and kneels down so Spud can lean over him and slug Robbie E. As Robbie E retreats to the corner and Spud’s music hits, Big Rob begins to shake his fist in time with the music as he’s done in past weeks, but Spud grabs his arm and unfolds his index and pinky fingers into the metal horns, a gesture Spud uses as part of his entrance. Terry and Spud finish by raising the horns together and Terry walks out. At the top of the ramp, Big Rob turns to see Robbie E standing at the base of the ramp with a look of betrayal on his face; Big Rob responds by raising his fist and walking out.

Bully and Sting are preparing for their upcoming match as Brooke walks over and wishes the two luck, and the show goes to commercial as Sting crows out “It’s Showtime!”

Main Event – D.O.C. & Devon vs Sting & Bully Ray in a Tables Match

Devon and Doc enter first, followed by Sting and Bully Ray, who is wearing the Road Warriors’ style of face paint once again. Sting and Bully waste no time in entering and beginning a beatdown of Aces and Eights. The two assert their dominance into the commercial break, but before the fade-out, Sting gives Bully his blessing to use the Stinger Splash, which Bully uses to great effect.

On our return, Bully drops the elbow but Doc rolls away before it can hit. Doc hits Bully with a boot and sends him outside, where Doc proceeds to choke Bully with his belt. Meanwhile, Devon gets hit with a clothesline by Sting inside the ring. Sting bodyslams the Sergeant of Arms and calls for Bully, who has managed to turn things around and leave Doc lying on the floor outside. Bully climbs to the top rope and launches himself into a flying headbutt to the jewels of his brother, hitting Devon with his own move. Bully and Sting lead the crowd in a call to GET THE TABLES, and Bully obliges. As Sting and Bully set up the table, though, Doc and Devon attack them and prepare to suplex Sting onto the table; fortunately for Sting, Bully is able to move the table out of the way before the impact. Bully Ray gets thrown outside, the table is replaced, and Sting is placed atop it as the Aces and Eights rain down blows. Bully is able to grab Devon’s foot and haul him outside while Sting rolls of the table and catches Doc as he’s climbing the turnbuckle. Sting sets up the superplex, but Mike Knox comes in and moves the table before Sting can finish the move. Knox grabs Sting, but Sting ducks away as Doc charges in, causing him to take out Knox instead. Sting takes advantage of the confusion and hits Doc with the Scorpion Death Drop. Devon and Bully get in the ring and Devon starts beating on Bully, but each strike only serves to enrage Bully as he gets to his feet. Bully Ray begins Hulking up around the ring as Devon continues to rain down blows to no effect. Finally, Bully turns and points the finger Hogan-style, then begins throwing bombs of his own, following with a boot to the face and the signature leg drop, and Bully closes by hoisting up Devon and planting him through the table with a chokeslam for the win.

Sting and Bully win via chokeslam through the table

Brooke and Hogan join the victors in the ring for a post-match celebration, Sting and Hogan on either side pointing to Bully as he hugs Brooke and Impact fades to black.

Personal Thoughts

The X Division match, though a bit sloppy at times, was great. King and Ion carried a lot of that match while RVD spent a majority of the time outside. Honestly, I’m not certain that more involvement by RVD would have made it better. RVD is clearly past his prime, and as much as I think that King and Ion’s performance suffered from so much time on the road in such a short period of time, RVD could only be in worse straits. A great effort by all involved, but I’ll still be glad when RVD drops the belt so he can be in matches that are more his speed these days.

I am absolutely ecstatic that Roode and Aries are tag champs now. These are two men that know how to carry a title, and they can only do great things with the belt, as far as I’m concerned. Obviously, Chavo and Supermex will be getting a rematch, but I’m hoping that they’ll split up before too long. I never thought that Chavo and Hernandez made a very good team; personally, I hope that Chavo will start competing in the X Division. Unlike RVD, Chavo can still keep up with that sort of pace; it’s only the fact that he still insists on being Eddie Lite that causes me to be so down on the guy. As for Hernandez, I could see him being a strong contender for the TV title, but if he’s gonna remain in the tag title picture (as I suspect he will, considering his background), I think that Gunner would make an excellent partner for him. Both men are big and well-built, and while Gunner’s more conventional in his offense, I think the fact that both of them employ the power game so liberally would make the disparity of styles less obvious. I also think that Hernandez’s run with Chavo has helped to separate him enough from the stereotypical Latino hood image that a pairing with Gunner wouldn’t look forced. As for potential opponents for Roode and Aries, no obvious face teams present themselves at the moment, but some candidates would be Christian York, Magnus, James Storm, and Doug Williams. If things go the way I’m guessing, I could even see Rockstar Spud and Rob Terry make their alliance permanent and challenge for the tag team gold. If nothing else, we could see Bad Influence making a temporary feud with the Greatest Tag Team That Ever Lived to try and get the belts back. If nothing else, the tag division is looking a lot more interesting than it has in months.

The Knockouts match was fairly average. I still dislike how weak Tara is being made to look, especially with  the way that Tara was pining for Jessie for the first half of the match. I’m not even sure why we got this match again in the first place. I like the idea of multiple Knockouts being in contention for the gold, but I really wish that TNA would settle on a feud for Tara. Personally, I hope it’s Velvet; TNA has to make her return mean something, and winning the Knockouts title is the perfect way to do that. Unfortunately, for the time being, it looks like TNA still hasn’t gotten over dangling the carrot in front of her only to beat her down with the stick at the last second.

The main event wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was chock full of fun, nonetheless. I mean, we got Bully Ray in Road Warriors paint again, we got Bully’s hilarious reaction to the crowd chanting for tables, we saw Sting passing a torch of sorts by giving his blessing for Bully to use the Stinger Splash, we got to watch Bully Ray pay homage to Hogan by Hulking up and pointing the finger at Devon, and someone went through a table. Sure, it was cheap popcorn wrestling rather than a five-star buffet, but hey, popcorn is good, too.

All in all, it was a very entertaining show, and if the rest of TNA’s tour in the UK goes like this, I couldn’t be happier.

Whether you agree or disagree with my take on things, feel free to give me your opinion on what happened this Impact! You can leave a comment here on the article, or you can reach me on Twitter @atomicdeke. Thanks for checking us out here at Radio Influence!

On this Open Fight Night, taped in Manchester, England, we open to Bad Influence strutting their way to the ring in kilts and Braveheart face paint. After some obligatory crowd-baiting, in which Daniels claims his loss to Hardy was due to anaphylactic shock inflicted by Hardy’s toxic face paint, they are interrupted by Magnus, making his return after being sidelined by Aces and Eights. Magnus responds to Daniels’ insults to his homeland (that Daniels will return to the UK with the title and defend it against even the English, and who’s easier to beat than the English?) and challenges Daniels to fight an Englishman right there. Bad Influence tries to get in some cheap shots, but Magnus stands tall and and sends them both over the ropes and on their way. Magnus remains in the ring and addresses the circumstances of his absence, and tells us that he wants revenge, so he challenges Devon to come out and face him. Out comes Devon, and on we go with our first match of the night.

Magnus vs Devon

Magnus hits Devon with a clothesline, whips him at the ropes, then sends Devon over the ropes. Magnus jumps outside and begins a beatdown of Devon, taking him around the perimeter and bashing Devon’s head into the guard rail. Magnus finally rolls Devon back in, but Sarge kicks the ropes as Magnus climbs in after him, and the momentum shifts in Devon’s favor. Devon hits Magnus with a clothesline, then chokes him on the ropes and throws him in the corner. Magnus attempts to fight out of it, but Devon cuts him off with an eyerake, puts him in the middle of the ring with a snapmare and a leg drop, followed by some mocking of Hulk Hogan. Devon pulls Magnus up to his feet, where Magnus begins unloading on the TV champ, but when Magnus goes to the ropes, Devon counters with a corkscrew shoulder block. Magnus gets choked in the corner, brought out with another snapmare, then gets slapped into a submission move with Devon clamping onto Magnus’ shoulder, digging into his trapezius. Magnus battles back to his feet but is cut off by a clothesline by the TV champ. Devon follows up with a body slam, but misses his trademark diving headbutt from the second rope. Once both men regain their footing, Magnus explodes with a couple of clotheslines followed by his own trademark flying knee. Devon looks as though he might rally after a boot to Magnus’ midsection, but Magnus catches him and plants Devon in a sit-out powerbomb. Magnus starts to cover, but Doc and Mike Knox rush the ring to bail out their comrade, only to be sent packing by Magnus.

Magnus wins via DQ

After a brief break, Joseph Park is in the ring. We are about to learn who he is to challenge on his official Impact Wrestling debut, but he’s interrupted by Robbie E and Robbie T. Little Rob ridicules Park, saying he’s not a wrestler but a hamster, just like everyone in the UK. Big Rob, being from Wales, takes exception to this, and Little Rob quickly backpedals by saying that, since Big Rob lives in the States, he’s practically an American now. With that little faux pas apparently smoothed over, Robbie E declares that it’s Open Bro Night and challenges Park to fight. Park accepts, and the match is on.

Joseph Park vs Robbie E

Robbie gives Park the boot and bounces off the ropes for a crossbody, to little effect; in fact, Park fails to budge an inch, and Robbie E just bounces off him. Little Rob is furious and begins kicking Park, but Park counters with a hip toss followed an arm drag. Park picks Robbie up and nails him with a body slam, but misses a splash off the ropes. Robbie E begins stomping Park with extreme prejudice, then levels Park with a clothesline from the second rope. Little Rob tries following up with a second rope knee drop but misses, gaining his feet only to be leveled in turn by a clothesline from Park. The recent OVW grad takes Robbie on a ride with a belly-to-belly suplex, then hits the second rope splash for the win.

Joseph Park wins via second rope splash

On return from commercial, we see Hogan arrive at the arena, followed by a camera pan to the ring, where Bobby Roode and Austin Aries are standing. Aries begins addressing the fact that, while he and Roode were at odds for some time, they’ve gotten on the same page, united in their disdain for the current champs in TNA. Aries announces that they will take each belt in the company, the Knockouts title, the TV title, the X Division title, and the WHC, which Aries says he’ll take himself, prompting a brief protest from Roode who says that they’d already talked about this. Aries then states that they’re starting with the easiest belts of all, the tag titles, prompting Chavo and Hernandez to come out and challenge Roode and Aries to fight. Aries agrees but with the stipulation that if, after a one-on-one fight, the tag champ loses the match, Roode and Aries get a title shot, to which Chavo agrees. Roode starts to take his shirt off for the match, but Aries stops him, saying that Roode’s already done the heavy lifting in one match and that he should let Aries take this one. Roode consents, and we roll into the next match of the evening.

Austin Aries vs Chavo Guerrero

Aries and Chavo begin by trading shots for fifteen or twenty seconds, followed by Aries picking Chavo up and dropping him on the ropes in the corner. Aries tries to capitalize with a slingshot over the ropes but lands on Chavo’s knees. Chavo turns around and gives Aries a taste of his own medicine by dropping hiim on the ropes, then steps out and slingshots over for a successful impact. Chavo puts Aries in the corner and begins stomping as Impact goes to commercial.

On the return, Aries is rolling out to escape an onslaught by the tag champ. Roode begins haranguing Aries to get him back in the ring, but Chavo boots Aries into Roode, then slingshots outside onto Roode, Aries ducking away and into the ring. As Chavo gets back up, Aries drills him with a suicide dive, then rolls him back in for the cover. Aries begins a beatdown of Chavo, quelling a rallying attempt in the process, then levels Chavo with a buzzsaw kick for the cover. Aries pulls Chavo up and boxes his ears, following with a hip toss into a headlock. Chavo fights back to his feet but Aries counters with a backdrop and a trip to the top rope. Chavo mocks the traditional Guerrero dance then goes for the frog splash but hits nothing but mat. On regaining his footing, Aries eats some punches and a dropkick from Chavo, who traps Aries in the corner with some shots, followed by a backdrop. Chavo attempts to start the Three Amigos but Aries escapes, only to be met with a rolling ax kick by Chavo, followed by a pin attempt. Chavo gets up and successfully executes the Three Amigos followed by the frog splash and the cover, but Roode jumps in, which prompts the entrance of Supermex, as well, which in turn distracts the ref from the count. Aries uses this disturbance to hit Chavo with a missile dropkick into the Brainbuster for the win, earning a title shot for him and Roode.

Aries wins via Brainbuster

On the return from commercial, we come back to find Kurt Angle preparing for his match with Mr. Anderson later, and he’s joined by Samoa Joe, Garett Bischoff, and Wes Briscoe. Joe makes it clear that he’ll be outside of the cage to back up Angle, but when Bischoff and Briscoe voice their support, Joe turns on them, telling them that no one asked for their help and that he and Angle aren’t there to carry them. Joe stalks out as Angle attempts to unruffle feathers, saying that Joe is just being Joe and that he appreciates their support

The scene cuts to Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan entering the ring. Bully makes another plea for reinstatement, saying that it was his love for Brooke that got him suspended, and that since Hogan won’t listen to him, to Brooke, or to the fans, Bully has to ask Sting for help with this one last time. Sting enters the ring in full regalia, ring jacket and all, and leads the crowd in a Hogan chant to get Hogan in the ring and change his mind. Hogan enters, states that he always does the right thing for his family, and since Bully Ray is family now, he is reinstated. Not only that, we also learn that Hogan is setting up a match for next week with Bully and Sting against two Aces and Eights members in a tables match, followed up by Hogan extending his hand for Bully to shake, who takes it. The camera pans backstage, where Velvet Sky is seen heading to the ring as Impact cuts to commercial.

When we come back, we get an announcement from Dixie Carter that all future shows will be done on the road. The camera cuts to Velvet entering the ring. She calls out the two reasons she’s not Knockouts champ right now, Tara and her “girlfriend” Jessie. Out comes the Knockout champ and her partner, and Velvet informs them that this challenge isn’t for a handicap match or even a singles match, but a tag match, and that while Tara and Jessie were in the back sipping on protein shakes, she was getting a partner that loves to drink, but one who’s drink of choice certainly isn’t a protein shake. The entrance music for the Cowboy, James Storm, hits, and the match begins.

Velvet Sky and James Storm vs Tara and Jessie Godderz

Storm and Jessie kick things off, and when the bell rings, Storm starts firing punches and finishes with a clothesline, following up with a toss into the corner for some more shots, then tosses Jessie onto the turnbuckle. Storm starts to circle when Tara reaches in and grabs Storm’s leg; Jessie uses the distraction to hit the Cowboy from behind and go for a quick cover. Jessie slaps on an arm lock, followed by a snapmare and another pin attempt. Jessie pulls Storm up when he’s surprised by a Closing Time that leaves both men on the mat. Both head to their corners and tag in the Knockouts, and Velvet charges in with a couple of clotheslines, following up with a head scissors takedown and a Russian leg sweep into the cover. They get up and Tara hits Velvet in the midsection with a knee, but Velvet catches Tara with a quick roll-up. Velvet gets the takedown on Tara, and when Jessie tries to intervene, Storm takes him out, leaving Velvet to set up and hit Tara with In Yo Face for the win.

Velvet wins for her team via In Yo Face

After a brief commercial, we get an update on Jeff Hardy’s condition, which basically amounts to “We’ll get some real news next week”. The scene cuts to Samoa Joe on the floor backstage, apparently the victim of an attack. Briscoe and Bischoff are standing by, trying to figure out what happened when Angle appears and tells Bischoff to take care of Joe while Briscoe joins him at ringside.

Main Event – Mr. Anderson vs Kurt Angle in a Steel Cage

Anderson enters first in his Aces and Eights gear, followed by Angle. Anderson jumps Angle once the door is shut and makes a quick roll-up. Anderson follows with another beatdown and tries to wrap with a suplex, but Angle manages to block it and get in a few shots before Anderson regains the upper hand. Angle is met with another onslaught before he’s able to get enough separation for a desperation move from the second rope that leaves both men on the mat. Once both men get to their feet, Angle hits Anderson with a clothesline into the German suplex, but when Angle goes for the Angle Slam, Anderson counters with a fireman carry roll-through into the cover. Anderson throws Angle into the cage, hits him with an elbow drop, then throws Angle into the cage once more before Angle counters with a throw of his own and an Angle Slam off the rebound, followed by a pin attempt as Impact cuts to commercial.

On the return, Angle is putting quite a beatdown on Anderson until Anderson interrupts it with an eye rake and clothesline combo. Anderson starts climbing to escape the cage, but Angles able to catch him and they trade shots while standing on the top rope. Anderson ends the exchange by dropping to the floor and pulling Angle down with the rope between his legs, then pulling Angle to the mat for the cover. Anderson goes to the corner and begins climbing again, but Angle catches him again and hits a devastating Angle Slam from the top rope for the cover. Angle pulls Anderson up and is caught by a Mic Check; Anderson makes the pin attempt, fails, then covers again. Anderson takes to the corner and begins climbing yet again, but Angle catches him once more and hits him this time with a powerbomb and a pin attempt. When that fails, Angle puts on the ankle lock; it looks as though Anderson might try dragging himself to the ropes for a break, but Angle drops to the mat to lock in the hold, and Anderson is forced to tap out.

Angle wins via ankle lock

Angle just gets to his feet before a member of Aces and Eights starts scaling the cage from outside. Briscoe manages to get the door unlocked before the biker gets in and yells for Angle to get out, but Angle orders Briscoe to jump in and lock the door. Angle and Briscoe face down the anonymous biker, but the biker removes his mask and reveals himself to be Garett Bischoff. Angle is dumbfounded and turns to Briscoe, demanding an explanation, but Briscoe appears as perplexed as he is. Angle goes after Bischoff in the corner but is attacked from behind by Briscoe with a diving chop to the back of Angle’s knee. Briscoe gets up and takes off his jacket to reveal an Aces and Eight cut, and he and Bischoff begin a post-match beatdown on Angle as the broadcast fades out to the sound of Tazz gloating over a plan well-executed.

Personal Thoughts

Obviously, Dixie’s announcement is absolutely huge and entirely welcome. It’s been patently obvious for years now that the Impact Zone has been a terrible place to host TNA and that TNA needed to start touring extensively. It seems that we’ve gotten our wish, much to the delight of the majority of not just fans, but members of TNA as well, judging by the tweets that have been sent out.

The matches tonight were pretty solid, but they didn’t particularly stand out, either. For instance, Magnus had a great return match against Devon, and it was good, solid ring work by both men, but it felt more like an obligatory “put over the hometown hero” sort of affair than anything.

I continue to be entertained by Joseph Park, and it’s interesting to note that Abyss didn’t make an appearance for the entire segment; Park has finally gotten over on someone on his own. I personally believe that Abyss will eventually return in full, and I look forward to it, but this seems to indicate to me that TNA isn’t anywhere near ready to abandon this storyline any time soon.

As for the Robbies portion of that segment, I can’t wait ’til Big Rob finally makes the separation and lays the smackdown on Little Rob. I was thinking that we might have been about to see it with that comment about the UK, but it seems that Robbie E was able to stave off the inevitable just in time.

Aries and Roode put in another great night of work, as per usual, and this outing against the current tag champs may have been the match/segment of the night. Aries and Roode’s mockery of the Guerreros was especially poignant, not to mention reflective of the discontent much of the IWC is feeling where Chavo is concerned. I’m looking forward to next week so we can see how Roode and Aries make use of their title shot.

Bully’s reinstatement was a foregone conclusion, as was Hogan’s change of heart. The only part of this segment that inspired any real emotion in me was Sting’s role in it, and those emotions were disappointment and not a little bit of anger. A year ago, Sting was THE man; he’d taken down Immortal, he turned Hogan back from the dark side, and he was on the warpath to clean up TNA. Now, though? He’s been reduced to Hogan’s PA; if anyone wants an appointment with Hulk, they have to schedule it with “Stingmon” (which is quite possibly the dumbest moniker Hogan’s ever bestowed on anyone, even worse than calling Angle the Cyborg). For God’s sake, the man is an icon and a legend, not a Digimon. I would almost welcome the rumors coming true about Hogan being behind Aces and Eights if it meant that Sting could be the Sting we know and love.

Velvet Sky teaming up with James Storm was an entertaining filler match. That’s really all I can say about it, aside from the fact that Velvet’s pre-match promo might have been the best she’s made since her return.

Angle vs Anderson wasn’t bad, but I’d hesitate to say it was deserving of being a main event. Watching Angle do the Angle Slam from the top rope was pretty awesome, but that was really all that stood out. Frankly (and it honestly feels weird to say this), Anderson needs to be put out to pasture. His promos lack conviction, his matches aren’t entertaining anymore, and he’s just not living up to his performances of a year or two ago. I don’t know why this is, considering that he’s quite a bit younger than Angle and his movements outside the ring display a vitality and exuberance that Angle doesn’t possess; perhaps Angle has some strange vampiric powers whenever he gets between the ropes? It’s the only plausible explanation to this really quite puzzling conundrum.

The post-match “unmasking” of Wes Briscoe came as no surprise; in fact, once Briscoe locked the door behind him, I was pretty much expecting it. Despite the rumors that have lingered on, though, I was honestly surprised to find that it was Garett Bischoff under that mask. There’s been some strong circumstantial evidence that backed this idea up, but I always dismissed it because I thought TNA wouldn’t turn Garett heel while his father was still fresh in our minds, since such a move would put young Garett right back in the middle of his dad’s shadow. Even faced with the fact that I misjudged TNA’s intentions so badly, I still feel that this move is a mistake. Briscoe’s betrayal of Angle was a foregone conclusion, just a confirmation of the rumors we heard from the outset, but even so, neither of these revelations advances the storyline at all. It just moves two rookies from one wrestler’s tutelage to another’s. Perhaps it will shift Angle and Joe from the forefront of the war against Aces and Eights so that Bully and Sting can take over, but that’s just a lateral shift, not an advancement. In reality, the last advancement we had was the unmasking of Mike Knox, considering his role in taking out wrestlers alongside Doc. The only things that will move this story along are the unmaskings of the VP and the leader, or the “higher power” as Tazz put it. Anything else is just dragging out the inevitable, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

Thanks for checking us out here at Radio Under The Influence! If you have any questions or comments about the events on tonight’s Impact or my take on them, you can hit me up on Twitter @atomicdeke, and I will be more than happy to read and respond to what you have to say!

Tonight’s Impact begins with a recap of last week’s wedding between Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan, which details how everything went to hell in a handbasket after Tazz revealed himself as part of Aces and Eights. An interesting tidbit we did not see on the regular broadcast was Bully dragging himself over to Hogan and the two clasping hands before being helped out of the Impact Zone.

We begin with an introduction by Mike Tenay and Todd Kennely, but not Tazz, who’s absence is quite conspicuous. We are told that Tazz will explain his actions later on in the show. The camera cuts to Aces and Eights welcoming arriving members and getting rowdy in the back,

After a new opening video, Aces and Eights head toward the ring led by Tazz, fully decked out in club gear. Tazz informs us that that life is all about taking opportunities as they come along, and that was the real motivation behind his taking the Aces and Eight cut as his own. The gang’s agenda of revenge and redemption also held a lot of appeal for him, not to mention the fact that he always makes a point to be on the winning side, which, in Tazz’s opinion, is the machine that is Aces and Eights. He also references a “higher power”, but never elaborates on that point. Tazz closes with a reminder to Dixie Carter, the front office, and Hulk Hogan that his contract is ironclad and, if any kind of action is taken against Tazz, he will have all manner of weapons in his legal arsenal to make TNA regret touching him.

The camera cuts backstage to where Tara and Jessie are preparing for Tara’s title defense against Velvet Sky. Jessie produces a Velvet Sky action figure and begins psyching Tara up by praising her and ridiculing Velvet via figurine as Impact goes to commercial.

We return to a promo by Bad Influence for the main event of Daniels vs Hardy for the WHC, followed by Tazz taking his place at commentary and beginning what is sure to be a continuing feature of adversarial dialogue between play-by-play and color commentators.

Knockouts Title Match – Tara (c) vs Velvet Sky

Velvet enters first, making her sans-catsuit debut on TNA since her return. Tazz enforces the notion of a more serious heel by completely ignoring Velvet’s entrance in favor of lambasting Todd and Tenay. Tara and Jessie follow shortly thereafter, and as they go through their traditional entrance of Jessie lifting Tara over his head, Tazz comments that they are his favorite couple.

The action starts with a quick roll-up attempt by Velvet while Tara’s back is turned, followed by a headlock, another roll-up and another headlock. The two get up and Tara goes off the ropes, but Velvet hits her with a Japanese arm drag and strings together two clotheslines and a Russian leg sweep that causes Tara to roll out to get her wind back as the match cuts to commercial.

We return to find that Tara’s gained the upper hand and put Velvet in the corner. Tara charges in, but Velvet swings her legs up as though for a head scissors, kicks Tara in the head, then kicks her away. Velvet gets up on the top rope and lets loose with a crossbody splash into a pin attempt. Velvet puts Tara in the corner with some chops and shoulders to the gut, then whips Tara into the opposite corner. Tara is ready, however, and counters the attempted monkey flip from Velvet with a roll-up. Tara picks Velvet up and drives her into the mat and follows with a snap suplex into the pin, but Velvet kicks out. Tara gets up, then steps on Velvet’s abs into a standing moonsault for another failed cover. Tara executes a rear choke, and Velvet attempts to rally by driving a couple of elbows into Tara’s midsection, but Tara counters by grabbing Velvet by the hair and throwing her to the mat. Tara attempts to capitalize by going to the top rope, but Velvet catches her off-guard and throws Tara into the middle of the ring in a desperation move. As they get up to their feet, Velvet blocks Tara’s punches and counters with some of her own, followed by two clotheslines, a head scissor takedown, and a slam into the pin, but Tara manages to escape the three count when Jessie gets up on the apron and distracts Taryn Terrell. When Velvet tries to turn the ref’s attention back to the match, Tara charges from behind, but Velvet ducks out of the way, leaving Jessie to take the hit. Velvet makes a pin attempt, then attempts to suplex Tara, but the champ counters mid-move and covers Velvet, getting a little assistance from Jessie holding Velvet’s foot for the three count and the win.

Winner: Tara via mid-move counter and shenanigans by Jessie

After the match, we get our first segment of the night for Open Fight Night next week, which will be taking place in Manchester, England during TNA’s UK tour. Following that, we go backstage to find Sting getting ready to make an address in-ring, but first we cut to commercial.

On our return from break, Joseph Park’s entrance music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Park gives a brief recap of his time in TNA since arriving to look for his brother Chris (you know, Abyss), and he asserts that, while he may not be the most graceful competitor, he gives everything he does his best, and his place in the ring, not in front of a judge and jury. Park also promotes Open Fight Night in the UK, and hints that he will make his Impact in-ring debut, and says he will deliberate over who he will challenge in Manchester next week. He ends by declaring that, in one week’s time, he will hold court in the ring and “get that W”. The commentary team discusses Open Fight Night as Impact goes to commercial.

We find Kenny King in the locker room, psyching himself up for his upcoming match when he is interrupted by his partner for the night, Zema Ion. The two trade barbs for a bit before King tells Ion to sit back and watch as he does the heavy lifting, and Ion claims that he was the best X Division champion the company has ever seen, and that he doesn’t need anyone telling him how to look good.

X Division Tag Team Match – Kenny King and Zema Ion vs Rob Van Dam and Christian York

Kenny King and Zema Ion enter together to King’s music, followed by RVD and Christian York. They get right into the action with RVD and Ion starting out. Ion gets RVD in a headlock, then gives the X Division champ a kick and a knee before RVD turns things around by throwing Ion up and hitting him with a drop kick. RVD tags in York who kicks Ion, whips him into a corner and, as Ion stumbles out on the rebound, bounces off the ropes to hit Ion with a running knee. York places Ion in the headlock as he tags in RVD. RVD hits Ion with the monkey flip and we see Ion pleading with the champ before RVD dropkicks Ion into the corner. RVD whips Ion at the ropes, but Ion slips out and King grabs RVD by the hair from outside. RVD makes King pay by knocking him off the apron, but RVD pays in turn when Ion nails him from behind with a knee to the back. King tags in and takes the champ down for some ground ‘n’ pound. King tags in Ion, who stomps RVD then runs across the ring to attack York. RVD attempts to rally, but Ion stops him with an eye rake, then whips the champ into the corner and puts him on the mat. Ion attempts to capitalize by climbing to the top rope but misses with the 450 splash, and both men are down. RVD moves to tag in a fresh Christian York, and when Ion grabs his leg to deny him that, RVD hits him with a free kick, and RVD makes the tag while Ion does the same with King. York explodes into the ring, hitting King with a clothesline, a Russian leg sweep, then completes with a flying knee and a pin attempt that Ion breaks up. Chaos ensues as RVD enters the ring, putting all four men in the ring at once. King goes outside and takes York with him, RVD slams Ion to the mat then goes for the split-legged moonsault, but King saves his partner by pushing RVD into a crotched position on the turnbuckle. Ion kicks RVD off to the outside as York re-enters the ring. King catches York and hits him with the Blockbuster, but as King showboats, Ion steals the pin and wins the match. King is clearly incensed by this, and they argue about it on their way out. Tazz makes the comment that he has to leave for a few minutes for a phone call regarding club business as the camera pans away.

Winner: King and Ion via Blockbuster

The scene moves to the parking lot as Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan arrive at the Impact Zone, and Bully answers the cameraman’s questions by telling him in no uncertain terms that they will do their talking in the ring. To the ring they proceed as Impact goes to break.

We return and see Samoa Joe in the locker room with Garett Bischoff and Wes Brisco. Joe begins by telling them that he won’t be safeguarding them the way that Kurt Angle did. Wes bristles at the condescension, but Garett tries to smooth things over by claiming that, since Joe seems to be the only one in contact with Angle since his injury, they just want to know how Angle is doing. Joe tells them to ask him themselves as Angle enters the room. Angle tells them that he’s not yet at 100%, but that he doesn’t need to be in order to kick some ass.

After another recap of the wedding, Bully and Brooke make their entrance, starting first at the announcer’s table as they ask Tazz’s whereabouts. Unfortunately for them, Tazz still seems to be away on his phone call. The couple make their way to the ring, and Bully takes the mic. He remarks that, on what should have been the happiest day of their life, Bully and Brooke experienced a nightmare. Bully says that he would have expected this of Devon, but not from Tazz, and Bully calls him a scumbag and a coward. Bully goes on to say that, in attacking those near and dear to him, Aces and Eights have ensured that Bully will not rest until he destroys every single member of Aces and Eights, and that they had better start sleeping with one eye open. The only problem with that is that Bully can’t lift a finger unless Hogan lifts the suspension, so Bully turns to the camera and implores Hogan to reinstate him. Sting comes out and lend his voice and support, declaring that Hogan never does anything halfway, and that in order to avoid doing that, Hogan needs to reinstate Bully as a member of the TNA roster. The scene closes with Sting heading back up the ramp and Bully and Brooke hugging in the ring.

The camera moves backstage to Austin Aries and Bobby Roode holding a strategy session to determine who will face Hernandez later on. Roode comments that, with his quickness and agility combined with the destructive power of the Brainbuster, Aries is the perfect opponent for Hernandez, but Aries counters with the fact that Roode is clearly “the power guy”, and that Roode is better suited for the match since he can match the strength of Supermex. Roode and Aries continue to try and throw each other under the bus until Aries catches Roode in a verbal trap and wishes Roode luck against Hernandez.

Roode vs Hernandez

After the commercial break, we have Roode and Hernandez, accompanied by Chavo, enter the ring respectively. The two lock up, and Hernandez throws Roode back. The two come together again, but Roode slips behind Supermex and hits him from behind, driving him into the corner with boots and fists. Roode whips Hernandez to the opposite corner, but Hernandez reverses and throws Roode up into a backdrop on the rebound. Supermex picks Roode up for a suspended vertical suplex, holding Roode for almost thirty seconds before dropping him. Roode rolls out to the apron and, when Hernandez comes for him, rakes the eyes then hits him with a jawbreaker on the ropes. Roode climbs in as Hernandez staggers away and executes a neckbreaker for a pin attempt. Roode gets up and stomps Hernandez, puts Supermex in a corner, hits the snapmare followed by a neck snap. Roode pounds on Hernandez some more before making a quick cover, then strings together elbow drops, a jumping knee drop, and wraps with a headlock. Supermex powers up and slams Roode back in a corner, then charges in and is lifted over the ropes onto the apron. Roode comes after Hernandez, but Supermex slingshots over the ropes with a flying shoulder block, then whips Roode into the corner and follows him with a big splash. Hernandez picks Roode up over his shoulder and hits Roode with a backbreaker, but Roode reverses things and kicks and chops Hernandez into a corner. Roode backs up, then charges in, but Supermex throws Roode across the ring with the Get Off Me that sends Roode rolling out of the ring. Hernandez gets ready to dive outside over the ropes, but puts on the brakes as Aries runs down the ramp and moves Roode out of the way. Not appreciating the intervention Roode starts a shoving match with Aries until Chavo runs over and attacks Aries. Hernandez watches as Roode takes advantage of the distraction and hits Hernandez with a running bulldog from behind for the pin and the win. Chavo jumps in to check on his partner while Roode rolls out and begins bickering with Aries, Aries saying “I saved you! We did it!” and Roode retorting with “I did it!” as they go up the ramp.

Winner: Bobby Roode via running bulldog

The scene cuts to Angle backstage on his way to the ring as Impact goes to commercial.

Angle enters the ring after the break, riffs on Tazz’s remarks at the top of the show and tells him that the only one getting revenge will be Angle, then calls out Mr. Anderson. Anderson arrives in full Aces and Eights regalia, and Angle challenges Anderson to fight next week at Open Fight Night. Anderson declines, saying he doesn’t want to fight Kurt next week, then says he wants to fight right now and gets in a cheap shot. Anderson puts Angle in the corner, but Angle explodes out of it with a clothesline and attempts to put Anderson in an ankle lock, but Anderson escapes. Angle announces that he and Anderson will face off one more time at Open Fight Night in the UK in a steel cage.

After a backstage promo from Bad Influence for the main event, and Devon attempting to calm Anderson down after the announcement of next week’s steel cage match, we find ourselves at the main event.

World Heavyweight Championship Match – Hardy (c) vs Daniels

Bad Influence enters, Daniels in his Ring General attire and Kaz brandishing his manager’s license, followed by Hardy with his belts and the subsequent lap around the ring.

The two men lock up, which ends in a headlock by Hardy. Daniels counters by putting Hardy in the corner and pounding on him. Hardy tries to get out with a head scissors takedown, but Daniels counters and throws Hardy out of the ring. Daniels and Kaz showboat a bit as Impact cuts to a commercial.

We return as Daniels attempts a cover. A quick replay shows that Daniels kept the official distracted as Kaz attacked Hardy outside of the ring. Daniels slams Hardy to the mat and follows with a shot to the back, starting a pounding by Daniels on Hardy around the ring. and Daniels finishes with a headbutt. Daniels hits Hardy with a variation on the neckbreaker and goes for the cover, then puts Hardy in a hold. Hardy attempts to escape, but Daniels grabs Hardy by the hair and plants him in the mat. The two get up and Hardy surprises Daniels with a short lariat, and the two trade shots as they make their way back to their feet. Hardy settles into some familiar offense with a clothesline followed by an inverted atomic drop, the leg drop into the drop kick, then hits Daniels with a free kick for a pin attempt. Failing that, Hardy gets on the second rope and hits Daniels with a body splash for another cover. Daniels catches Hardy by surprise in the corner with a Death Valley Driver for a cover of his own, then tries the submission route until Hardy is able to break the plane with a foot on the rope. Daniels throws Hardy in the corner and begins unloading on him, but after putting Hardy on the turnbuckle and scaling the top rope, Hardy seizes the momentum and plants Daniels in a devastating front suplex from the top rope; amazingly, Daniels retains enough ring awareness to put his foot on the rope to break the ref’s count after Hardy makes the pin. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, but Daniels counters into the Angel’s Wings for the pin attempt. Daniels attempts the BME but misses, and Hardy follows with a Whisper in the Wind, which also misses, and Daniels goes for the cover. Daniels attempts a second Angel’s Wings, but Hardy counters with a successful Twist of Fate, drop kicks Kaz to prevent possible interference, then climbs to the top and hits the Swanton Bomb for the win.

Winner: Jeff Hardy via Swanton Bomb

Tazz gets up from the announcer’s table and begins an impromptu interview of the champ, asking what Hardy will do when Aces and Eights destroys everything and leaves Hardy lying in the ring, distracting Hardy while an anonymous gang member sneaks in from behind and takes out Hardy’s knee with a hammer. Tazz mentions with a sneer that he was about to warn Hardy to watch his back, and the ref checks up on Hardy in the corner as the show fades to black.

Personal Thoughts

This was an excellent show overall. It was a little short on matches, only having four the entire night (not counting the brief in-ring brawl between Anderson and Angle, of course), but the quality of three of the four matches certainly outweighed some of that.

The Knockouts title match was rather lackluster. Both Tara and Velvet seemed like they ran out of gas almost from the beginning, and that made what could have been a five-star match into just an average outing. Personally, I’m glad that Velvet wasn’t wearing the catsuit tonight, not because I necessarily prefer her old gear, but simply because I thought of the new look as more of a temporary plug for her new clothing line, not a full-time change. I was rather surprised to find that Jessie was the star of the Knockouts portion of the show. His pre-match promo was excellent, and his contributions during the match were done very well. I wasn’t a big fan of his initially, but he’s definitely been growing on me of late. If he maintains this level of aptitude in his promos and starts getting more matches, I could see him making quite a big name for himself.

The X Division tag match was excellent. The problems that have been observed in both York and RVD regarding their fluidity of movement seem to have disappeared, and there was definitely enough action going on at any given time to prevent the appearance of a spotfest that is so often attributed to X Division matches. There’s certainly nothing wrong with a spotfest from time to time, but it is good to see that X Division wrestlers are just as capable of good, solid ringwork as well as high-flying, jaw-dropping spectacles in and out of the ring.

Roode vs Hernandez wasn’t mind-blowing or revolutionary, but it was a very quality match for both men. Roode’s technical skill proved to be an excellent foil for the raw, unbridled strength of Supermex, and Aries’ contribution was well done, also. I’m still not sold on Chavo, though. He was all but absent during the match, and running around the ring to hit Aries from behind rather than executing some impressive aerial maneuver from in-ring was a huge waste. I don’t know if the problem lies with TNA or Chavo himself, but Chavo is obviously capable of being more than a pale shadow of Eddie Guerrero, and the sooner he starts acting like it with his character and ring work, the better for everyone involved.

The main event was phenomenal, as should be expected from wrestlers of the caliber of Jeff Hardy and Christopher Daniels. While I’m aware that it’s almost ludicrous to expect Hardy to drop the belt at this juncture, I would have been ecstatic should the match have ended with the Fallen Angel holding the strap. Somehow, Daniels is probably the most underrated wrestler that TNA has, and he clearly deserves just about any shot and opportunity he gets. I honestly hope that this is a signal that TNA will make a habit of doing something with Daniels besides turning him into fodder for AJ Styles.

Bully Ray, as per usual, was on fire, possibly from standing too close to his Twittah machine. I’m glad that he’s turning back to the problem of Aces and Eights, and I hope we see the feud reignite in earnest next week in the UK. As far as Brooke goes, I hope that she comes back soon so that the mistress of the night that was on Bully’s arm tonight can go back to whatever it was she was doing before.

I’m rather disappointed that Sting has been relegated to such an insignificant role as being Bully and Hulk’s go-between. Yes, Sting’s getting up there in years, but the man can still put on amazing promos and better-than-average matches. I cannot understand for the life of me why TNA is dropping the ball with him so consistently.

Joseph Park continues to amuse and entertain. I honestly dig his entrance music that harkens back to the old crime and court shows of the ’80s and ’90s. Tonight’s promo was excellent, as well. Even so, I can’t wait for a full-time return of Abyss. He’s been absent far too long, and I’ve missed seeing the monster in the ring. If there was some way we could see both Park and Abyss full-time on Impact, I could die happy.

Again, there were a few down points in tonight’s show, but overall I thought it to be a very decent showing by TNA. If they can cut back on some of the in-ring talking segments and get a little closer again to that whole “Wrestling Matters” mantra they introduced some time ago, we’ll be getting somewhere.

Thanks for checking us out here at Radio Under The Influence! If you have any questions or comments about the events on tonight’s Impact or my take on them, you can hit me up on Twitter @atomicdeke, and I will be more than happy to read and respond to what you have to say!

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