1.3 Impact Wrestling
by Jeff Hamlin ( hamlin37@hotmail.com) Twitter: @hamlin37
* In memory of Kacie Chamberlain*
The Big News: Mike Knox was unmasked as a member of Aces and Eights. Jeff Hardy will defend the TNA Heavyweight Title in an elimination match against Austin Aries and Bobby Roode. Hardy was also announced as the TNA Wrestler of the Year. Bully Ray was suspended without pay by Hulk Hogan. Want to know why? Because Ray came clean about dating Brooke Hogan. The suspension left the crowd confused, not to mention the viewers at home.
Jeremy Borash opened the show in the ring to announce the TNA Wrestler of the Year, based on fan voting. The five finalists were Bully Ray, James Storm (that's like saying Tony Romo is a candidate for NFL MVP), Austin Aries, Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy, who was the crowd favorite, of course. As Borash was set to announce the winner, Aries and Roode argued going down the ramp thinking they were both sure to win, but it was Hardy who got the nod to a big pop. Hardy got in the ring with a trophy that looked like one of Edge and Christian's old poses in 2000 WWF. Hardy says the votes by the fans mean as much to him as the TNA Championship. Roode took exception to that, saying when he was champion, the belt was the only thing that meant anything to him. Then why was he so mad about losing the Wrestler of the Year award? Aries interrupted Roode and said the voting was rigged. Something in wrestling, rigged? Wow. Aries and Roode argued over who should be the wrestler of year. Hardy stopped them and said he would face both of them in a triple-threat match for the World Title at Genesis. Hardy started to pose with the trophy, but got jumped from behind by Aries. As is standard cliche, the trophy was broken. Roode held Hardy so Aries could hit him with the trophy, but Hardy moved and Aries hit Roode. Hardy then gave Aries the Twist of Fate, then picked up the broken trophy and left.
Storm was in the back when an interviewer asked him about losing the Wrestler of the Year award. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian stepped in, and it was hilarious, as usual. Kazarian interviewed Daniels, who did a Storm impression about losing every big match over the past year and apologizing to the fans. Storm worked in references to Twitter and Facebook in challenging one of them to a match tonight. After Storm spit in Daniels' appletini, Daniels shot back that he had forgotten My Space.
James Storm defeated Kazarian in 4:03. Daniels acted like he was going to accept Storm's challenge, but Kazarian jumped Storm from behind. Storm made his comeback with Closing TIme and a Side Russian Leg Sweep, and a Randy Savage elbow drop for a two count. Daniels interfered and Kazarian hit a TKO. Storm caught Closing Time again and teased the Last Call, but Daniels grabbed Storm's leg, only to get kicked to the floor. Kazarian ran off the second rope, but jumped right into the Last Call for the pin. **1/4
Devon wanted a decision from Mr. Anderson about whether he will join Aces and Eights. Anderson wanted to chill out with the blondes he was hanging with a little more. Devon seemed willing to wait, but Doc wasn't as patient. Anderson said if they were going to do this, none of them should show Sting an ounce of fear later tonight. Anderson handed Doc his ball peen hammer. Devon asked another member if they had seen his baseball bat, which they hadn't. I wouldn't want to have to answer to Sting for stealing his gimmick.
Kenny King was backstage throwing all sorts of backhanded compliments to Kid Kash. There's a X Division tournament with four men with the winner facing Rob Van Dam at Genesis. King told him they could face each other in the finals, and Kash reminded him he had already been X Division champion twice.
Doc came to the ring with his hammer for his match with Sting and called him out. Doc waited and grew antsy, and after waiting awhile, a black bat fell from the roof. Doc went into hysteria, screaming frantically he wasn't afraid of Sting. After this stick work, let's just say I can see why C.M. Punk and Ray Gordy did all the talking when Drew Hankinson was in factions with them. They just cut to a commercial while Doc was ranting.
Brooke Hogan said she had not spoken to her father since last week, but would meet with him tonight.
2. Christian York defeated Kid Kash in 3:42. Kash pulled off a slingshot huracanrana to the floor, but Christian York gave him a dropkick after Kash attempted a springboard back in. York performed a half-nelson German Suplex. Kash has worked in crossfaces that he calls Tazfaces and pointed to Taz. York got the knees up on a twisting moonsault and caught a buzzsaw kick for a two count. Kash went for the Money Maker, but York turned it into a Mood Swing for the three count. **1/4
Chavo Guerrero did an interview saying they weren't afraid of Joey Ryan or Matt Morgan and would defeat them tonight.
Morgan was supposed to wrestle Hernandez, but Morgan came out with his right arm in a sling claiming a weight lifting accident. So Morgan announced Ryan would take his place, which Ryan didn't look happy about but he did it anyway.
3. Hernandez defeated Joey Ryan by DQ in :55. Hernandez delivered an over the shoulder back breaker and the pounce period. Then Morgan threw off the sling and clothelined Hernandez, followed by a Carbon Footprint to Guerrero. Morgan then stared at the camera, and Mike Tenay said that when Morgan stares like that, he's staring directly at Hulk Hogan. Is this 1998 again? That's three guys, maybe four, feuding with Hogan now. And Hogan can't even wrestle. Well, he couldn't really in 1998, but you know what I mean. DUD
Kurt Angle thanked Wes Brisco and Garrett Bischoff for watching his back last week. Angle said that Samoa Joe would be his partner in a cage match against Aces and Eights tonight. Bischoff started to complain, but Joe mouthed off back to them. It seemed that Joe knew Brisco and Bischoff's ulterior motives. Angle cooled everyone down.
Hogan came down and called out Ray and Brooke. Hogan spouted off something about a Code of Ethics and wanted to know why he was making out with his daughter. Ray admitted he should have come clean about his relationship with Brooke and all the heat was on him. Hulk said he had tried to tell everyone in the locker room that Ray was no good, and Ray shouldn't even be in the business. Hogan then suspended Ray without pay. Ray was in disbelief, since I can't recall a wrestler being suspended because he was dating the bosses daughter. But I have seen a few pushes. When Brooke started complaining, Hogan ordered her to leave the ring. Crowd had a sour reaction. Then Hogan's music started playing and everyone cheered again.
Joseph Park is starting to make headway at Ohio Valley Wrestling. Danny Davis said he's in the gym 7 days a week and is constantly watching tape on his iPad. Park has slimmed down facially. Davis said Park could be a game changer, even though he tried to run him off within a few weeks.
4.Mickie James and Miss Tessmacher defeated Gail Kim and Tara in 13:08. Unusual to see a women's tag team match get this much time, but it was basic tag team psychology and some really hard work by Kim and Tessmacher that made this worthwhile. In fact, the Knockouts division as a whole has worked much harder in recent weeks. This got more heat than anything on the show thus far. Miss Tessmacher got out of the way of a charge by Gail Kim to tag Mickie James. As Tara tried to recover outside the ring with Jesse, Tessmacher hit them both with a plancha. James dodged another Kim charge and pinned her with the Mickie-D-T. **1/2
Roode and Aries complained about facing Hardy in a three-way match at Genesis. Hogan said there would not only be a match, but it would be an elimination match, so two men would be eliminated. That should help the match tons instead of that tired formula of one guy making saves. This led to the standard routine in three-way matches, where Hogan ordered Roode and Aries to tag next week against Hardy and a partner of his choice.
5. Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe defeated Devon and The Masked Member of Aces and Eights, who was later unmasked as Mike Knox in 11:45. As Angle was about to get in the cage, Doc came up from behind and rammed the cage door into Angle's head. Angle was in no condition to wrestle, so Joe was left alone against Mike Knox and Devon for awhile. Joe held his own until Devon and Knox double-teamer him. Throughout all of this, Angle was trying to get into the cage by tearing the door apart, but Doc kept him from getting in. Finally, Angle gave Doc a low blow, grabbed the key and got in the cage. Angle got some offense, but Doc later threw the cage door in his face. Angle juiced after that one. Devon missed a top-rope headbutt and Joe cut him off with a enzuigiri. Angle then pinned Knox with a Olympic Slam. ***
Postmatch, about eight members of Aces and Eights laid waste to Joe and Angle until Sting made his long-promoted debut. He cleaned house on everyone with his baseball bat until he got the Knox alone in the ring. Angle ripped off the mask, which revealed Mike Knox, in the shock of shocks. This time, Tenay and Taz identified him as a former WWE personality. They're teasing a Doc-Sting match, I assume at Genesis.
SUMMARY: Three years into Hogan's stint in the company, and things are morphing back into the nadir of WCW. Hogan has three separate programs going. The top two storylines in the company contain him in a prominent role. And for what? No one is still over enough to draw money on the road. Hardy hasn't been a draw as a champion because his program is relegated to the backseat. And the most entertaining act in the company, Kazarian and Daniels, are in a supporting role when they should have the tag belts, at least. It's the same thing that killed WCW's momentum in 1998. The show itself wasn't bad, but the company is still on a treadmill.
by Jeff Hamlin ( hamlin37@hotmail.com) Twitter: @hamlin37
* In memory of Kacie Chamberlain*
The Big News: Mike Knox was unmasked as a member of Aces and Eights. Jeff Hardy will defend the TNA Heavyweight Title in an elimination match against Austin Aries and Bobby Roode. Hardy was also announced as the TNA Wrestler of the Year. Bully Ray was suspended without pay by Hulk Hogan. Want to know why? Because Ray came clean about dating Brooke Hogan. The suspension left the crowd confused, not to mention the viewers at home.
Jeremy Borash opened the show in the ring to announce the TNA Wrestler of the Year, based on fan voting. The five finalists were Bully Ray, James Storm (that's like saying Tony Romo is a candidate for NFL MVP), Austin Aries, Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy, who was the crowd favorite, of course. As Borash was set to announce the winner, Aries and Roode argued going down the ramp thinking they were both sure to win, but it was Hardy who got the nod to a big pop. Hardy got in the ring with a trophy that looked like one of Edge and Christian's old poses in 2000 WWF. Hardy says the votes by the fans mean as much to him as the TNA Championship. Roode took exception to that, saying when he was champion, the belt was the only thing that meant anything to him. Then why was he so mad about losing the Wrestler of the Year award? Aries interrupted Roode and said the voting was rigged. Something in wrestling, rigged? Wow. Aries and Roode argued over who should be the wrestler of year. Hardy stopped them and said he would face both of them in a triple-threat match for the World Title at Genesis. Hardy started to pose with the trophy, but got jumped from behind by Aries. As is standard cliche, the trophy was broken. Roode held Hardy so Aries could hit him with the trophy, but Hardy moved and Aries hit Roode. Hardy then gave Aries the Twist of Fate, then picked up the broken trophy and left.
Storm was in the back when an interviewer asked him about losing the Wrestler of the Year award. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian stepped in, and it was hilarious, as usual. Kazarian interviewed Daniels, who did a Storm impression about losing every big match over the past year and apologizing to the fans. Storm worked in references to Twitter and Facebook in challenging one of them to a match tonight. After Storm spit in Daniels' appletini, Daniels shot back that he had forgotten My Space.
James Storm defeated Kazarian in 4:03. Daniels acted like he was going to accept Storm's challenge, but Kazarian jumped Storm from behind. Storm made his comeback with Closing TIme and a Side Russian Leg Sweep, and a Randy Savage elbow drop for a two count. Daniels interfered and Kazarian hit a TKO. Storm caught Closing Time again and teased the Last Call, but Daniels grabbed Storm's leg, only to get kicked to the floor. Kazarian ran off the second rope, but jumped right into the Last Call for the pin. **1/4
Devon wanted a decision from Mr. Anderson about whether he will join Aces and Eights. Anderson wanted to chill out with the blondes he was hanging with a little more. Devon seemed willing to wait, but Doc wasn't as patient. Anderson said if they were going to do this, none of them should show Sting an ounce of fear later tonight. Anderson handed Doc his ball peen hammer. Devon asked another member if they had seen his baseball bat, which they hadn't. I wouldn't want to have to answer to Sting for stealing his gimmick.
Kenny King was backstage throwing all sorts of backhanded compliments to Kid Kash. There's a X Division tournament with four men with the winner facing Rob Van Dam at Genesis. King told him they could face each other in the finals, and Kash reminded him he had already been X Division champion twice.
Doc came to the ring with his hammer for his match with Sting and called him out. Doc waited and grew antsy, and after waiting awhile, a black bat fell from the roof. Doc went into hysteria, screaming frantically he wasn't afraid of Sting. After this stick work, let's just say I can see why C.M. Punk and Ray Gordy did all the talking when Drew Hankinson was in factions with them. They just cut to a commercial while Doc was ranting.
Brooke Hogan said she had not spoken to her father since last week, but would meet with him tonight.
2. Christian York defeated Kid Kash in 3:42. Kash pulled off a slingshot huracanrana to the floor, but Christian York gave him a dropkick after Kash attempted a springboard back in. York performed a half-nelson German Suplex. Kash has worked in crossfaces that he calls Tazfaces and pointed to Taz. York got the knees up on a twisting moonsault and caught a buzzsaw kick for a two count. Kash went for the Money Maker, but York turned it into a Mood Swing for the three count. **1/4
Chavo Guerrero did an interview saying they weren't afraid of Joey Ryan or Matt Morgan and would defeat them tonight.
Morgan was supposed to wrestle Hernandez, but Morgan came out with his right arm in a sling claiming a weight lifting accident. So Morgan announced Ryan would take his place, which Ryan didn't look happy about but he did it anyway.
3. Hernandez defeated Joey Ryan by DQ in :55. Hernandez delivered an over the shoulder back breaker and the pounce period. Then Morgan threw off the sling and clothelined Hernandez, followed by a Carbon Footprint to Guerrero. Morgan then stared at the camera, and Mike Tenay said that when Morgan stares like that, he's staring directly at Hulk Hogan. Is this 1998 again? That's three guys, maybe four, feuding with Hogan now. And Hogan can't even wrestle. Well, he couldn't really in 1998, but you know what I mean. DUD
Kurt Angle thanked Wes Brisco and Garrett Bischoff for watching his back last week. Angle said that Samoa Joe would be his partner in a cage match against Aces and Eights tonight. Bischoff started to complain, but Joe mouthed off back to them. It seemed that Joe knew Brisco and Bischoff's ulterior motives. Angle cooled everyone down.
Hogan came down and called out Ray and Brooke. Hogan spouted off something about a Code of Ethics and wanted to know why he was making out with his daughter. Ray admitted he should have come clean about his relationship with Brooke and all the heat was on him. Hulk said he had tried to tell everyone in the locker room that Ray was no good, and Ray shouldn't even be in the business. Hogan then suspended Ray without pay. Ray was in disbelief, since I can't recall a wrestler being suspended because he was dating the bosses daughter. But I have seen a few pushes. When Brooke started complaining, Hogan ordered her to leave the ring. Crowd had a sour reaction. Then Hogan's music started playing and everyone cheered again.
Joseph Park is starting to make headway at Ohio Valley Wrestling. Danny Davis said he's in the gym 7 days a week and is constantly watching tape on his iPad. Park has slimmed down facially. Davis said Park could be a game changer, even though he tried to run him off within a few weeks.
4.Mickie James and Miss Tessmacher defeated Gail Kim and Tara in 13:08. Unusual to see a women's tag team match get this much time, but it was basic tag team psychology and some really hard work by Kim and Tessmacher that made this worthwhile. In fact, the Knockouts division as a whole has worked much harder in recent weeks. This got more heat than anything on the show thus far. Miss Tessmacher got out of the way of a charge by Gail Kim to tag Mickie James. As Tara tried to recover outside the ring with Jesse, Tessmacher hit them both with a plancha. James dodged another Kim charge and pinned her with the Mickie-D-T. **1/2
Roode and Aries complained about facing Hardy in a three-way match at Genesis. Hogan said there would not only be a match, but it would be an elimination match, so two men would be eliminated. That should help the match tons instead of that tired formula of one guy making saves. This led to the standard routine in three-way matches, where Hogan ordered Roode and Aries to tag next week against Hardy and a partner of his choice.
5. Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe defeated Devon and The Masked Member of Aces and Eights, who was later unmasked as Mike Knox in 11:45. As Angle was about to get in the cage, Doc came up from behind and rammed the cage door into Angle's head. Angle was in no condition to wrestle, so Joe was left alone against Mike Knox and Devon for awhile. Joe held his own until Devon and Knox double-teamer him. Throughout all of this, Angle was trying to get into the cage by tearing the door apart, but Doc kept him from getting in. Finally, Angle gave Doc a low blow, grabbed the key and got in the cage. Angle got some offense, but Doc later threw the cage door in his face. Angle juiced after that one. Devon missed a top-rope headbutt and Joe cut him off with a enzuigiri. Angle then pinned Knox with a Olympic Slam. ***
Postmatch, about eight members of Aces and Eights laid waste to Joe and Angle until Sting made his long-promoted debut. He cleaned house on everyone with his baseball bat until he got the Knox alone in the ring. Angle ripped off the mask, which revealed Mike Knox, in the shock of shocks. This time, Tenay and Taz identified him as a former WWE personality. They're teasing a Doc-Sting match, I assume at Genesis.
SUMMARY: Three years into Hogan's stint in the company, and things are morphing back into the nadir of WCW. Hogan has three separate programs going. The top two storylines in the company contain him in a prominent role. And for what? No one is still over enough to draw money on the road. Hardy hasn't been a draw as a champion because his program is relegated to the backseat. And the most entertaining act in the company, Kazarian and Daniels, are in a supporting role when they should have the tag belts, at least. It's the same thing that killed WCW's momentum in 1998. The show itself wasn't bad, but the company is still on a treadmill.
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