Scott asked me to take over for him on Impact. I’m not sure how long this will last but I’ve watched Impact every week for years so I’m well versed in how dull it can be.
Impact
Wrestling
Wrestling
Date:
August 15, 2013
August 15, 2013
Location:
Constant Center, Norfolk, Virginia
Constant Center, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators:
Tazz, Mike Tenay
Tazz, Mike Tenay
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
This
is another special episode with Hardcore Justice. The main event
tonight is Bully Ray vs. Chris Sabin for Sabin’s world title inside a
cage. We were also supposed to get the Main Event Mafia vs. Aces and
8’s in a loser (of the fall) leaves town match but it was postponed
to next week due to “unforeseen circumstances”, whatever that may
mean. The show should be fun tonight so let’s get to it.
is another special episode with Hardcore Justice. The main event
tonight is Bully Ray vs. Chris Sabin for Sabin’s world title inside a
cage. We were also supposed to get the Main Event Mafia vs. Aces and
8’s in a loser (of the fall) leaves town match but it was postponed
to next week due to “unforeseen circumstances”, whatever that may
mean. The show should be fun tonight so let’s get to it.
Bound
For Glory Series: Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kazarian vs. AJ
Styles
For Glory Series: Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kazarian vs. AJ
Styles
This
is for 20 points and it’s a ladder match. The clipboard hanging
above the ring has a piece of paper with the number 20 on it.
Keeping it simple I guess. Kaz goes to the floor to get the first
ladder but the other three block him from coming back in. Aries and
Kaz fight for the ladder on the ramp with Austin letting go of the
ladder to send Kaz to the floor. A top rope ax handle puts Kaz down
but AJ knocks Hardy to the floor as well. AJ dives onto Hardy to
take him down again and leave Styles as the only man standing.
is for 20 points and it’s a ladder match. The clipboard hanging
above the ring has a piece of paper with the number 20 on it.
Keeping it simple I guess. Kaz goes to the floor to get the first
ladder but the other three block him from coming back in. Aries and
Kaz fight for the ladder on the ramp with Austin letting go of the
ladder to send Kaz to the floor. A top rope ax handle puts Kaz down
but AJ knocks Hardy to the floor as well. AJ dives onto Hardy to
take him down again and leave Styles as the only man standing.
Kaz
gets in a ladder shot to put AJ down before climbing the ladder.
Aries comes back in and crotches Kaz against the ladder, leaving
Austin vs. Jeff in the ring. Jeff sends him to the floor but AJ
pulls the ladder away for a showdown. Hardy tries a quick Twist of
Fate but gets shoved off and sent to the announce table on the floor.
Kaz comes back in with a slingshot DDT to AJ but has to have a
forearm duel with Aries. Styles dropkicks the ladder into the back
of Kaz’s head but Aries backdrops AJ to the floor. The company is
living up to its name for a change as this has been nonstop action
since the bell.
gets in a ladder shot to put AJ down before climbing the ladder.
Aries comes back in and crotches Kaz against the ladder, leaving
Austin vs. Jeff in the ring. Jeff sends him to the floor but AJ
pulls the ladder away for a showdown. Hardy tries a quick Twist of
Fate but gets shoved off and sent to the announce table on the floor.
Kaz comes back in with a slingshot DDT to AJ but has to have a
forearm duel with Aries. Styles dropkicks the ladder into the back
of Kaz’s head but Aries backdrops AJ to the floor. The company is
living up to its name for a change as this has been nonstop action
since the bell.
Aries
runs interference to stop Jeff and AJ from going up the ladder before
sending Kaz head first into the post. Austin tries a climb but gets
pulled down by Hardy and Jeff knocks down the other two as well.
Jeff and Austin both go up but Kaz and AJ make the save, sending all
four guys down as we take a break. Back with Aries going up but
being pulled down by Kaz before he gets too far. AJ stops both of
them and hits the springboard forearm to send Austin to the ramp.
The ladder appears to be bent or broken.
runs interference to stop Jeff and AJ from going up the ladder before
sending Kaz head first into the post. Austin tries a climb but gets
pulled down by Hardy and Jeff knocks down the other two as well.
Jeff and Austin both go up but Kaz and AJ make the save, sending all
four guys down as we take a break. Back with Aries going up but
being pulled down by Kaz before he gets too far. AJ stops both of
them and hits the springboard forearm to send Austin to the ramp.
The ladder appears to be bent or broken.
Kaz
brings in another ladder to clean house but can’t climb up fast
enough. All four guys go up at the same time and AJ gets his fingers
on the contract but Aries shakes everything up with a sunset bomb to
Hardy. Kaz and AJ are left alone on the ladder and they fight over a
suplex off the ladder. Kaz rakes AJ’s eyes to put him down but
Styles shoves the ladder over, putting everyone down again.
brings in another ladder to clean house but can’t climb up fast
enough. All four guys go up at the same time and AJ gets his fingers
on the contract but Aries shakes everything up with a sunset bomb to
Hardy. Kaz and AJ are left alone on the ladder and they fight over a
suplex off the ladder. Kaz rakes AJ’s eyes to put him down but
Styles shoves the ladder over, putting everyone down again.
Aries
hits his running dropkick in the corner on Styles and goes up but
Hardy makes another save. Styles pulls Aries off the ladder and
loads up the Styles Clash but Kaz pulls in a downward spiral on AJ at
the same time. Kaz goes up but it’s Jeff making another save. Aries
comes out of the corner with a missile dropkick to take them both
down and goes up as well, but here are Roode and Daniels for a
distraction.
hits his running dropkick in the corner on Styles and goes up but
Hardy makes another save. Styles pulls Aries off the ladder and
loads up the Styles Clash but Kaz pulls in a downward spiral on AJ at
the same time. Kaz goes up but it’s Jeff making another save. Aries
comes out of the corner with a missile dropkick to take them both
down and goes up as well, but here are Roode and Daniels for a
distraction.
Styles
plays Shelton Benjamin by springboarding up to the ladder but Hardy
shoves the ladder over, sending both guys to the floor. Roode pulls
Hardy down as Daniels distracts the referee but Jeff kicks him off.
Daniels slips the appletini to Kaz and Jeff gets blinded, allowing
Kaz to get the win at 17:35.
plays Shelton Benjamin by springboarding up to the ladder but Hardy
shoves the ladder over, sending both guys to the floor. Roode pulls
Hardy down as Daniels distracts the referee but Jeff kicks him off.
Daniels slips the appletini to Kaz and Jeff gets blinded, allowing
Kaz to get the win at 17:35.
Rating:
A-. This was the simple formula
of take four guys and let them dive off stuff for fifteen minutes or
so. I’m not big on another faction in TNA because they’re already on
overload with them, but at least they’re not involved with the other
two. The action here was great though and they couldn’t have picked
a better opener.
A-. This was the simple formula
of take four guys and let them dive off stuff for fifteen minutes or
so. I’m not big on another faction in TNA because they’re already on
overload with them, but at least they’re not involved with the other
two. The action here was great though and they couldn’t have picked
a better opener.
Chris
Sabin talks about enjoying watching Team 3D put people through
tables. Tonight though, he’s going to be 3-0 against Bully Ray.
Sabin talks about enjoying watching Team 3D put people through
tables. Tonight though, he’s going to be 3-0 against Bully Ray.
Dixie
Carter is in the ring with the Main Event Mafia. She talks about
Angle being in rehab and how he’ll be there for an indefinite amount
of time. Here are the Aces minus Bully before she can get too far
into things though. Anderson talks about how the team only has a
week to find a replacement. He talks about how Magnus could be
leaving and says Magnus used to be the future.
Carter is in the ring with the Main Event Mafia. She talks about
Angle being in rehab and how he’ll be there for an indefinite amount
of time. Here are the Aces minus Bully before she can get too far
into things though. Anderson talks about how the team only has a
week to find a replacement. He talks about how Magnus could be
leaving and says Magnus used to be the future.
Magnus
says they only have a week to find someone new but they might just
pull someone out of the audience. Anderson says tonight is the start
of a new era for Aces and 8’s and the brawl is on. The Aces beat the
Mafia down with ease and stand tall. That’s rather impressive when
you have guys like Brisco and Bischoff on one side and a former MMA
world champion on another.
says they only have a week to find someone new but they might just
pull someone out of the audience. Anderson says tonight is the start
of a new era for Aces and 8’s and the brawl is on. The Aces beat the
Mafia down with ease and stand tall. That’s rather impressive when
you have guys like Brisco and Bischoff on one side and a former MMA
world champion on another.
Tito
Ortiz is here.
Ortiz is here.
Mickie
James vs. ODB vs. Gail Kim
James vs. ODB vs. Gail Kim
This
is a hardcore match and not for Mickie’s title. ODB runs them over
to start and hits her chest grabbing splashes on both girls in the
corner. Mickie pulls her out of the corner but Gail isn’t interested
in an alliance. Gail pounds on ODB as Mickie wedges a chair into the
corner. ODB is whipped into said chair and the other girls get a
stereo two count. Mickie rolls up Gail for two and they slug it out
with until Gail is sent to the floor. Kim sends ODB back inside and
goes to look for a weapon but gets a knee from Mickie instead.
is a hardcore match and not for Mickie’s title. ODB runs them over
to start and hits her chest grabbing splashes on both girls in the
corner. Mickie pulls her out of the corner but Gail isn’t interested
in an alliance. Gail pounds on ODB as Mickie wedges a chair into the
corner. ODB is whipped into said chair and the other girls get a
stereo two count. Mickie rolls up Gail for two and they slug it out
with until Gail is sent to the floor. Kim sends ODB back inside and
goes to look for a weapon but gets a knee from Mickie instead.
James
finds a kendo stick from somewhere and cracks ODB over the back
before choking Gail with it. ODB comes back in and pounds on them
with the stick before pulling one of her two bras out of the top to
choke both girls with it. Mickie gets in a shot and puts on the
figure four around the post as Gail chokes away but they can’t get
along again. ODB gets a shot from the flask and sprays Mickie in the
face but Gail breaks up the Bam. Another stick shot misses and ODB
hits the Bam on Gail on the chair for the pin at 6:48.
finds a kendo stick from somewhere and cracks ODB over the back
before choking Gail with it. ODB comes back in and pounds on them
with the stick before pulling one of her two bras out of the top to
choke both girls with it. Mickie gets in a shot and puts on the
figure four around the post as Gail chokes away but they can’t get
along again. ODB gets a shot from the flask and sprays Mickie in the
face but Gail breaks up the Bam. Another stick shot misses and ODB
hits the Bam on Gail on the chair for the pin at 6:48.
Rating:
D+. Did you know ODB was
uncouth and does stuff that isn’t proper or whatever you call it?
Don’t worry if you don’t because TNA will beat it over your head
until you get the idea. The match was nothing special and felt more
like a WWE style street fight with the really basic weapons and
little more.
D+. Did you know ODB was
uncouth and does stuff that isn’t proper or whatever you call it?
Don’t worry if you don’t because TNA will beat it over your head
until you get the idea. The match was nothing special and felt more
like a WWE style street fight with the really basic weapons and
little more.
Sting
yells at the Mafia and suggests Aries as a replacement.
yells at the Mafia and suggests Aries as a replacement.
Sting
pitches Aries a spot in the Mafia but doesn’t get an answer. Aries
does seem intrigued though.
pitches Aries a spot in the Mafia but doesn’t get an answer. Aries
does seem intrigued though.
Roode
says his plan is coming together.
says his plan is coming together.
Sting
tells the Mafia that Aries said no. Rampage has an idea and will
address it in the ring. Joe goes with him and Magnus has an idea for
Sting.
tells the Mafia that Aries said no. Rampage has an idea and will
address it in the ring. Joe goes with him and Magnus has an idea for
Sting.
We
recap Ray vs. Sabin in a nice, comprehensive video. To be fair
though there isn’t much to recap.
recap Ray vs. Sabin in a nice, comprehensive video. To be fair
though there isn’t much to recap.
Ray
is on the phone with someone he calls honey and says this hasn’t been
a normal relationship. Tonight is about Ray but next week is about
the two of them. “I love you too Brooke.”
is on the phone with someone he calls honey and says this hasn’t been
a normal relationship. Tonight is about Ray but next week is about
the two of them. “I love you too Brooke.”
Here
are Jackson and Joe with something to say. Jackson talks about MMA
fans calling him a sellout for coming to wrestling. However now that
he’s in the Mafia, he feels like he’s in a family. He didn’t come
here to get beaten up though, so now he needs to ask an old training
partner for his help. Jackson calls out Tito Ortiz and plugs the
Bellator PPV several times. Rampage offers Tito the spot on the
Mafia team next week but Ray interrupts (to the wrong music) before
we can get an answer. Ray says he’d come in there right now if he
didn’t have a title match later tonight. Ray threatens them, Ortiz
is held back, that’s about it.
are Jackson and Joe with something to say. Jackson talks about MMA
fans calling him a sellout for coming to wrestling. However now that
he’s in the Mafia, he feels like he’s in a family. He didn’t come
here to get beaten up though, so now he needs to ask an old training
partner for his help. Jackson calls out Tito Ortiz and plugs the
Bellator PPV several times. Rampage offers Tito the spot on the
Mafia team next week but Ray interrupts (to the wrong music) before
we can get an answer. Ray says he’d come in there right now if he
didn’t have a title match later tonight. Ray threatens them, Ortiz
is held back, that’s about it.
Bound
For Glory Series: Magnus vs. Samoa Joe vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Bobby
Roode
For Glory Series: Magnus vs. Samoa Joe vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Bobby
Roode
This
is a tables match with the first person to drive someone else through
a table getting 20 points. Magnus jumps Roode during his entrance
and we start fast. They head inside as Joe and Anderson brawl on the
floor with no tables brought in yet. Joe throws the first one in
before taking Roode down with a powerslam. Anderson tries the
rolling senton on Anderson but Magnus makes the save. The Mafia
teams up to clean house but both of them try powerbombs through the
table at the same time. Anderson and Roode fight out and turn the
table over as we get a makeshift tag match.
is a tables match with the first person to drive someone else through
a table getting 20 points. Magnus jumps Roode during his entrance
and we start fast. They head inside as Joe and Anderson brawl on the
floor with no tables brought in yet. Joe throws the first one in
before taking Roode down with a powerslam. Anderson tries the
rolling senton on Anderson but Magnus makes the save. The Mafia
teams up to clean house but both of them try powerbombs through the
table at the same time. Anderson and Roode fight out and turn the
table over as we get a makeshift tag match.
Everyone
heads to the floor and Joe rings the bell on top of Roode’s crotch.
Anderson tries a Mic Check off the ramp through a table but Magnus
counters into a failed powerbomb bid. A low blow puts the Brit down
and Joe rings the bell again. The pairings switch off and Joe hits
the Ole kick minus the Ole on Anderson. Back inside Magnus’
powerslam through the table is escaped and he walks into the Roode
spinebuster. Everyone is back inside now and the Mafia is in
trouble. Joe is whipped into Roode for a clothesline, sending Bobby
to the outside.
heads to the floor and Joe rings the bell on top of Roode’s crotch.
Anderson tries a Mic Check off the ramp through a table but Magnus
counters into a failed powerbomb bid. A low blow puts the Brit down
and Joe rings the bell again. The pairings switch off and Joe hits
the Ole kick minus the Ole on Anderson. Back inside Magnus’
powerslam through the table is escaped and he walks into the Roode
spinebuster. Everyone is back inside now and the Mafia is in
trouble. Joe is whipped into Roode for a clothesline, sending Bobby
to the outside.
Joe
hits the suicide dive to take Roode out and Anderson gets caught in a
bad looking Snow Plow. The table is set again but Anderson takes
Magnus down with the Mic Check. Joe comes back in to chop Anderson
and loads up the Muscle Buster but Roode moves the table. Roode
sends Joe to the floor and puts Magnus on the table, only to get
crotched on the top by the Samoan. Cue Kazarian to distract Joe,
allowing Daniels to throw the appletini into Magnus’ face. Roode
powerbombs Magnus through the table for the 20 points at 10:20.
hits the suicide dive to take Roode out and Anderson gets caught in a
bad looking Snow Plow. The table is set again but Anderson takes
Magnus down with the Mic Check. Joe comes back in to chop Anderson
and loads up the Muscle Buster but Roode moves the table. Roode
sends Joe to the floor and puts Magnus on the table, only to get
crotched on the top by the Samoan. Cue Kazarian to distract Joe,
allowing Daniels to throw the appletini into Magnus’ face. Roode
powerbombs Magnus through the table for the 20 points at 10:20.
Rating:
C+. This was fun but ran a bit
long. The ending being the same as the first one was fine but it
didn’t really surprise anyone. I’m not a fan of the 20 points thing
here because it sent Kaz and now Roode from the bottom to the top in
one night, basically making whole months worthless.
C+. This was fun but ran a bit
long. The ending being the same as the first one was fine but it
didn’t really surprise anyone. I’m not a fan of the 20 points thing
here because it sent Kaz and now Roode from the bottom to the top in
one night, basically making whole months worthless.
Anderson
and Ray get in an argument over Anderson costing Ray the title. Ray
doesn’t know if he can win and Anderson says the club is here to help
him. Anderson says he isn’t an enemy but Ray says he doesn’t seem
like an ally.
and Ray get in an argument over Anderson costing Ray the title. Ray
doesn’t know if he can win and Anderson says the club is here to help
him. Anderson says he isn’t an enemy but Ray says he doesn’t seem
like an ally.
Next
week it’s Jay Bradley vs. Hernandez vs. Daniels vs. Joseph Park in a
20 point street fight.
week it’s Jay Bradley vs. Hernandez vs. Daniels vs. Joseph Park in a
20 point street fight.
TNA
World Title: Bully Ray vs. Chris Sabin
World Title: Bully Ray vs. Chris Sabin
In
a cage with Sabin defending and if Ray loses, he never gets another
shot at the gold. After the big match intros we’re ready to go. I
think it’s pin/submission/escape here but the announcers don’t make
it clear. Ray scores a quick slam but Sabin pops right back up.
Another slam puts Sabin down even harder but he shoves Ray back.
There’s a third hard slam but Sabin comes back with some armdrags and
a dropkick to send Ray into the corner. Some forearms in the corner
set up a delayed dropkick but Ray sends him onto the top rope. The
champion comes off with a cross body for two and dropkicks Ray’s leg
out.
a cage with Sabin defending and if Ray loses, he never gets another
shot at the gold. After the big match intros we’re ready to go. I
think it’s pin/submission/escape here but the announcers don’t make
it clear. Ray scores a quick slam but Sabin pops right back up.
Another slam puts Sabin down even harder but he shoves Ray back.
There’s a third hard slam but Sabin comes back with some armdrags and
a dropkick to send Ray into the corner. Some forearms in the corner
set up a delayed dropkick but Ray sends him onto the top rope. The
champion comes off with a cross body for two and dropkicks Ray’s leg
out.
Sabin
goes up but gets crotched and LAUNCHED into the cage with authority.
I’m guessing Bully’s authority but it isn’t really clear. Back from
a break with Ray in full control and getting two off a big elbow
drop. He shouts at Sabin to hit him in the face and the champion
does just that, coming out of the corner with forearms to the face.
Ray gets caught in a backslide for two but takes Sabin’s head off to
regain control. Bully loads up a huge powerbomb but Sabin slips down
into a sleeper, only to have Ray ram him into the cage for the break.
goes up but gets crotched and LAUNCHED into the cage with authority.
I’m guessing Bully’s authority but it isn’t really clear. Back from
a break with Ray in full control and getting two off a big elbow
drop. He shouts at Sabin to hit him in the face and the champion
does just that, coming out of the corner with forearms to the face.
Ray gets caught in a backslide for two but takes Sabin’s head off to
regain control. Bully loads up a huge powerbomb but Sabin slips down
into a sleeper, only to have Ray ram him into the cage for the break.
Sabin
comes out of the corner with a nice tornado DDT but can’t immediately
follow up. They slug it out and the champion gets all fired up by
chopping Ray down. He actually hits a Death Valley Driver on the big
man but doesn’t cover. Sabin takes Ray’s Aces cut off and whips Ray
across the back with it, only to get kicked in the face for two. A
Samoan drop gets two on Sabin but Ray gets caught while climbing.
Sabin tries a rana out of the corner but drops Ray down on his
shoulder, sending Ray across the mat, clutching his shoulder and
screaming in pain.
comes out of the corner with a nice tornado DDT but can’t immediately
follow up. They slug it out and the champion gets all fired up by
chopping Ray down. He actually hits a Death Valley Driver on the big
man but doesn’t cover. Sabin takes Ray’s Aces cut off and whips Ray
across the back with it, only to get kicked in the face for two. A
Samoan drop gets two on Sabin but Ray gets caught while climbing.
Sabin tries a rana out of the corner but drops Ray down on his
shoulder, sending Ray across the mat, clutching his shoulder and
screaming in pain.
Hail
Sabin is countered into a suplex and Ray wants the door open. Sabin
tries to slide past Ray but gets pulled back in. Ray misses a charge
and sends the referee into the cage, knocking him out cold. Sabin
hits a missile dropkick on Ray but there’s no referee to count the
pin. Anderson slams the cage door against Sabin’s shoulder but Sabin
pops right back up. Anderson: “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” Cue the
Mafia for the save but Ortiz hits Rampage with the hammer, allowing
Ray to kill Sabin with the powerbomb for the pin and the title at
18:08.
Sabin is countered into a suplex and Ray wants the door open. Sabin
tries to slide past Ray but gets pulled back in. Ray misses a charge
and sends the referee into the cage, knocking him out cold. Sabin
hits a missile dropkick on Ray but there’s no referee to count the
pin. Anderson slams the cage door against Sabin’s shoulder but Sabin
pops right back up. Anderson: “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” Cue the
Mafia for the save but Ortiz hits Rampage with the hammer, allowing
Ray to kill Sabin with the powerbomb for the pin and the title at
18:08.
Rating:
C+. Good cage match here but
you knew the swerve was coming. Ortiz turning (was that a turn? I
don’t think he was ever a face to begin with) isn’t really a surprise
and it was pretty obvious that Ray was walking out with the gold.
It’s a good cage match but the lack of any drama really didn’t help
much.
C+. Good cage match here but
you knew the swerve was coming. Ortiz turning (was that a turn? I
don’t think he was ever a face to begin with) isn’t really a surprise
and it was pretty obvious that Ray was walking out with the gold.
It’s a good cage match but the lack of any drama really didn’t help
much.
Overall
Rating: B. This was a really
solid show and with the extra matches that are scheduled for next
week it would have been even better. If only there was a way to have
all the stuff you get on TV plus a bit more, say on a different night
of the week to make it feel special…..nah that would never work.
Anyway this was the usual good stuff from TNA when they try and have
no Hogans dragging them to a grinding halt. The problem I see for
TNA though is they pretty much have three stories going: Ray’s
ongoing story, the Series and the Mafia vs. the Aces and 8’s. If you
don’t like those, you’re out of luck. Good show tonight.
Rating: B. This was a really
solid show and with the extra matches that are scheduled for next
week it would have been even better. If only there was a way to have
all the stuff you get on TV plus a bit more, say on a different night
of the week to make it feel special…..nah that would never work.
Anyway this was the usual good stuff from TNA when they try and have
no Hogans dragging them to a grinding halt. The problem I see for
TNA though is they pretty much have three stories going: Ray’s
ongoing story, the Series and the Mafia vs. the Aces and 8’s. If you
don’t like those, you’re out of luck. Good show tonight.
Results
Kazarian
b. AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy and Austin Aries – Kazarian pulled down
the clipboard
b. AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy and Austin Aries – Kazarian pulled down
the clipboard
ODB
b. Gail Kim and Mickie James – Bam on a chair to Kim
b. Gail Kim and Mickie James – Bam on a chair to Kim
Bobby
Roode b. Magnus, Samoa Joe and Mr. Anderson – Roode powerbombed
Magnus through a table
Roode b. Magnus, Samoa Joe and Mr. Anderson – Roode powerbombed
Magnus through a table
Bully
Ray b. Chris Sabin – Powerbomb
Ray b. Chris Sabin – Powerbomb
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