“What We All Fight For”
AJ Styles makes his way to the ring. He proved last night that he is the best wrestler in the world. After some more self-hype, Rob Van Dam interrupts. He says that times have changed and Styles isn’t the best wrestler in TNA anymore. RVD isn’t impressed with Styles and wants the top spot in TNA. Jeff Hardy comes out and says the movement has begun. He is going to complete his collection of world titles by becoming TNA World Champion. Hulk Hogan struts to the ring. We need some order around here Hulk! Look at me getting into my review like that. Hogan talks about the perks of holding a world title and makes a #1 contender match between RVD and Hardy tonight. Styles tries to yell at Hogan but that doesn’t get him very far. Hogan announces that the TNA World Title match will also take place tonight. They show Ric Flair finding out the news backstage. The man is not happy. This was actually an extremely effective segment with everyone playing their roles well.
Opening Match: TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich © vs. ODB and Daffney
Daffney connects with some knees to Sky. Von Erich catches Daffney with a handspring elbow. ODB tags in and cleans house. She hits a fallaway slam on Sky. Von Erich sprays hairspray into ODB’s eyes and Sky rolls her up to retain the titles at 2:41. Just a showcase for the Beautiful People. *
Jeremy Borash listens in on a conversation between Styles and Flair. They are not happy campers. Flair tries to build some confidence in Styles. He also demands a Team Flair vs. Team Hogan rematch.
Abyss and Jeff Jarrett make their way to the ring. They heard Flair’s challenge but states that the war is over. Abyss says that if RVD and Hardy weren’t in a match tonight already, they wouldn’t have a problem with the challenge. Team Flair interrupt and start coming towards the ring. They beat down Abyss and Jarrett until Rob Terry of all people makes the save. Eric Bischoff appears and makes the rematch official for tonight. He has a wrestler who will be joining Team Hogan along with Terry.
Matt Morgan approaches Shannon Moore backstage. He asks if Moore wants to be his partner next week. Moore says that he’s already preparing for an X Division Title match next week.
Hogan tells Bischoff backstage that he will never doubt him again. They talk about “he”, in reference to Team Hogan’s fourth man tonight. Bischoff will also be introducing a new ranking system next week. They make a few sexual jokes towards Bischoff’s hot assistant and call it a day.
Match #2: Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy
They dodge each other’s offense early on. After a commercial, RVD lands a leg drop from the apron. He follows with a slingshot leg drop and lands a flying crossbody back in the ring. He was somehow busted open in the process. Hardy kicks him into the turnbuckles and blocks a monkey flip with a lariat. Hardy leg drops into a pin attempt for a nearfall. RVD kicks him to the floor and adds Rolling Thunder in the ring. Hardy misses a corner dropkick and RVD hits a split-legged moonsault. Hardy responds with a gourdbuster but gets caught with a spin kick. He pushes RVD off the top but misses the swantan. RVD lands the Five Star Frog Splash for the win at 13:34. They worked hard and had great crowd reaction to boot. This is the kind of match that we rarely see on Impact. It carried a large sense of importance and actually felt like a big deal. I am actually largely impressed with TNA right now. Let’s see how long that lasts. **¾
Christy Hemme is with RVD and Hardy. They confirm that they’re still friends and view some highlights from their match. RVD has Hardy’s support and will now focus on Styles.
Abyss is giving a pep talk to Jarrett and Terry in their locker room. The man is inspirational. Terry is pumped! Abyss is excited to find out their fourth teammate and Team Hogan gets ready to make their entrance…
Match #3: Sting, Desmond Wolfe, James Storm, and Robert Roode vs. Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Rob Terry, and ?
They are using Lethal Lockdown rules but without the cage. Also, after the third participant enters, tag team rules will be implemented. Sting and Jarrett start. We see them brawling in the crowd after a commercial break. Sting attacks Jarrett with a chair. Jarrett returns the favor shortly after but gets irish whipped into a wall. In the ring, Sting misses a splash and Jarrett connects with a leaping lariat. They both connect with clotheslines as Wolfe enters the match. He tags in and attacks Jarrett with uppercuts. He divorce courts the left shoulder but fails to hit the Tower of London. Terry comes out next and cleans house. Orlando Jordan appears on the ramp. Terry powerslams Wolfe as we go to commercial. Back from break, Abyss and Roode have joined the match. Abyss chokeslams Roode and maintains control. Storm enters the match and allows Roode to catch Abyss with a neckbreaker. Abyss comes back with a side slam on Storm and tags in Jarrett. Team Flair gang up on Jarrett but he is able to fight them off. SAMOA JOE RETURNS!!! He overhead suplexes Wolfe and connects with an enzuigiri on Sting. Joe follows with an STO on Roode and adds a Muscle Buster for the victory at 17:04. This looks to be the rebirth of Samoa Joe and I absolutely love it. He entered the match, killed people, and left without celebrating. That’s the Joe I want to see. No more fake tattoos and “Nation of Violence” references. The match itself was solid and they did a good job with the format. I actually preferred this contest over the Lethal Lockdown match at the pay per view. **½
Ric Flair comes out but gets cut off by commercial. Back from break, we learn that it will be Flair vs. Abyss next week…ring vs. ring.
Match #4: TNA World Title: AJ Styles © vs. Rob Van Dam
Styles attacks before the bell. He reopens RVD’s forehead wound and lands a dive to the floor. After a commercial, Styles is in control. He drops down and RVD accidentally trips over him. Styles recovers like a pro by connecting with a beautiful dropkick. He starts targeting RVD’s left leg. RVD comes back with a spin kick and adds a few clotheslines. He follows with a monkey flip and Rolling Thunder. Styles answers with a figure four but RVD makes the ropes. Styles tries to reapply it but RVD turns it into a small package for a nearfall. Styles connects with a pele kick. RVD counters a springboard move into a powerbomb and hits the Five Star Frog Splash to become the new TNA World Champion at 8:30. Yes, this is a match I would have paid to see. Yes, title changes on free TV can sometimes be a bad thing. But for all the flack I give TNA, they made the right call here. RVD never reached his maximum level of popularity in WWE. Some of that is his fault, but wrestling fans are interested in RVD as a world champion. TNA built the match perfectly within this episode of Impact and the crowd was salivating to see RVD win the belt. These two have good chemistry and hopefully we will see a rematch down the line. **½
Confetti falls from the ceiling as RVD celebrates. The confetti actually matches RVD’s tights. Dear me. Jeff Hardy comes out to congratulate him. Hulk Hogan, Dixie Carter, and the face locker room also make their way to the ring. The crowd chants “RVD” as the show ends.
Overall: There have been times where I didn’t mind sitting through an episode of Impact. However, this was the first time I actually was interested and enjoyed recapping the show. Solid wrestling and intriguing storyline progression make a good team. Everything involving RVD was handled well and the return of Samoa Joe came off as a big deal. I’m not asking TNA to provide me with some epic title change every week. All I ask for is an exciting and sensible display of professional wrestling. This week was a great example of that.
