On tonight’s edition of Impact Wrestling:

  • Sting and his coalition (including the returning Hulk Hogan) have issued an Open Fight Night challenge to The Aces & 8’s to begin the show.
  • The BFG Series continues to roll on (matches TBD)
  • Another indy wrestler tries to hit big on the latest edition of “TNA Gut Check”.

All of this and much more awaits you on the August 23rd edition of Impact Wrestling.

Impact Wrestling opens with the Aces and 8’s driving around on their motorcycles while a cheesy country song plays.

Previously on Impact: The Aces and 8’s get challenged by Sting for “Open Fight Night”, Hulk Hogan announces he’ll make his return to join the Stinger, and James Storm is attacked by the faction to end last week’s show.

Pyrotechnics fire off at the Impact Zone as Mike Tenay welcomes the home audience and runs down the happenings of tonight.

The music of Sting starts playing, bringing him, Kurt Angle, TNA World Champion Austin AriesJeff Hardy, TV Champion DevonAJ StylesBully Ray, and a bunch of others to the ring. Sting points to the Impact-Tron, which runs a slideshow of all the attacks the Aces and 8’s have perpetrated over the past few weeks. The crowd chants “WE WANT HOGAN!”. Sting says they, the victims, are ready to get revenge tonight. Sting invites James Storm to join them in the fight tonight, absolving him of all the accusations he has had to deal with.

Storm heads to the ring and grabs a mic. Storm has an idea: turn this “rasslin'” show into an “ass-whuppin'” show. Sting says Hulk Hogan is here tonight (why isn’t he coming out?) and then calls for the Aces and 8’s to come out. Two members of the group enter through the crowd and head into the ring. Angle and Storm beat them down easily. Storm and Angle take the mask off of one of them and it’s…I have no idea. Sting asks the unmasked one where the other guys are. The guy thanks Sting for attacking them, and says they are all in for a long and painful night. Sting punches him in the stomach and Angle stomps on him as we cut to commercial.

  • Thoughts: O…kay. That wasn’t that great of a start. Guess they’re saving the good stuff for later. Nice fake-out.

*Commercial Break*

We see a recap of what just happened four minutes ago, narrated by Tenay.

TNA Knockouts Champion Miss Tessmacher makes her way to the ring as we see a recap of her title win over Madison Rayne last week. She gets on the mic, and thanks Brooke Hogan for making a Hardcore Justice wrong into an Impact Wrestling right last week. Tessmacher says tonight is not about the Knockouts Championship (what?), it’s about something more personal. Tessmacher challenges her mentor and friend Tara to the ring for Open Fight Night. Tara makes her way out to accept the challenge, then Taryn Terrell makes her way out to referee the match.

Match #1: [TNA Knockouts Champion] Miss Tessmacher Vs. Tara in an Open Fight Night challenge

Tessmacher gets a quick armdrag to start the match off, and Tara applauds. They lock up and Tara responds with a couple of armdrags herself. Tessmacher tries one herself, but Tara lands on her feet and applies a side headlock. Tara gets whipped into the ropes and responds with a shoulder block. Tessmacher takes Tara down with another hip toss, and Tara responds with a couple of her own followed by a powerslam. Tara goes for the pin. 2-count.

Tara pushes Tessmacher into the corner, and Terrell gets in the middle to break them up. Tessmacher connects with a couple of fists, and Tara responds with a fist of her own. Tessmacher explodes with a series of clotheslines and a dropkick. Tessmacher goes to strike Tara in the corner, but instead goes with a series of shoulder blocks into the midsection. Tessmacher goes to the second rope and takes Tara down with a faceslam. Tessmacher heads to the top rope but Tara crotches her with a fist. Tara goes to the second rope and connects with a superplex. 1…2…3! Tara wins!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Tara (2:49)

  • Not enough time to get things truly going, but still had some good action. I’m also liking the story they’re telling between the two: the student wants to beat the teacher…but couldn’t. That’ll hopefully lead somewhere. (C)

Tessmacher and Tara hug afterwards, while Tenay plays up the story of Tessmacher not being able to beat her “teacher”.

We see the Aces and 8’s attack on The Pope from Hardcore Justice which broke his collarbone.

Sting is talking with the other BFG Series participants that still have matches. He solves the problem with The Pope’s departure from the series: Rob Van Dam, AJ Styles, and Robbie E will fight next in a triple threat match. Simple enough solution.

*Commercial Break*

Match #2: Rob Van Dam Vs. AJ Styles Vs. Robbie E in a BFG Series match

All three meet in the center and start jawing at each other. Robbie E slaps RVD and kicks Styles in the gut, but they quickly beat him up and hit a double elbow knocking him to the floor. Styles and RVD lock up, and RVD reverses a waistlock and transitions into a side headlock. Styles hits a couple of blows, but RVD rolls him up with a body scissors for a 2-count. Robbie E comes back in, but Styles and RVD take turns beating him up and he rolls right back to the outside.

RVD grabs Styles in a side headlock, and Styles whips him into the ropes. Styles hits a dropkick, sending RVD to the floor. Robbie E rolls in behind Styles who isn’t paying attention, and delivers a running clothesline. Robbie E lays a bunch of forearms to the back of Styles and chokes him with his boot. RVD rolls in and Robbie E stomps him and knocks him back out. Styles responds to Robbie E’s attack with a chop and whip into the corner. Styles hits a flying forearm. Robbie E gets Styles back in the corner as we go to commercial.

*Commercial Break*

We are back from break as Styles kicks out of a pinning attempt by Robbie E. Robbie E puts Styles in the corner and trash talks him. Styles fights out with chops and blows to the head. He whips Robbie E into the corner but misses the flying forearm. RVD jumps on the apron and Robbie E knocks him back off. Robbie E puts on a front headlock to wear Styles down. Styles fights his way to his feet and hits a jawbreaker to break the hold.

Robbie E hits an elbow to regain the advantage. Robbie E hits the ropes, but RVD pulls him out to the floor. RVD lays into him, and Styles flies over the top rope and onto both of them. All three men are down as the ref counts. Styles rolls RVD back into the ring and follows suit. Styles picks RVD up and hits a death valley backbreaker. He goes for the pin. 2-count. Robbie E jumps to the apron but Styles knocks him down with a clothesline, allowing RVD to hit a jumping kick from the second rope.

RVD hits a Rolling Thunder on Styles then a spinning kick on Robbie E followed by a standing moonsault for a 2-count. RVD backdrops Robbie E to the floor. Styles hits an inverted DDT for the 1…2…KICK OUT. Near-fall. RVD hits a savate kick and goes to the top but Styles crotches him. Styles goes to the top as well but RVD blocks the superplex and sends him to the mat. RVD hits the Five Star Frog Splash on Styles. RVD is out of it after the move, allowing Robbie E to run in and pin him for the 1…2…3! AWESOME.

Winner [via Pinfall]: Robbie E (12:54)

  • A good triple threat match that told a great story (Styles and RVD overlook Robbie E and pay for it). Even better it let Robbie E go over in a big way without sacrificing either RVD or Styles. Good move on TNA’s part and even though in hindsight I see how they foreshadowed the finish, I was taken aback by the victor. (B)

Jeff Hardy is heading to the ring next.

*Commercial Break*

Jeff Hardy makes his way to the ring. His painted on eyes continue to creep me out week after week. He gets on the mic and says hello to his “Creatures”. He says that his next match will not be a BFG Series match; he calls out Robbie T for the next match.

Match #3: Jeff Hardy Vs. Robbie T in an Open Fight Night challenge

Robbie T tries to attack at the bell but Hardy ducks and uses his speed to gain an early advantage. Robbie T answers with a powerful clothesline. Hardy tries to fight back but gets a forearm to his back for his troubles. Robbie T whips him into the corner and catches Hardy when he tries to jump over. Robbie T hits a powerslam for a 2-count. Robbie T begs Hardy to get up and rushes him in the corner. Hardy gets an elbow up, followed by a corkscrew from the top rope. Hardy goes for the pin and gets a 2-count.

Hardy hits three clotheslines on Robbie T, the third knocking him off his feet. Hardy hits an inverted atomic drop and knocks him to the ground. Robbie T pushes him off with his legs and goes for a clothesline. Hardy ducks and hits the Twist of Fate. Hardy takes his shirt off and heads to the top rope. Hardy connects with the Swanton for the 1…2…3!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Jeff Hardy (2:32)

  • I appreciate that this match actually had a story behind it and a reason to exist, but it was too short to really make much of an impression otherwise. (C)

Backstage, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian hype up the paternity test results for AJ Styles coming up next. Daniels offers Kazarian a sip of his Appletini but Kazarian refuses it because it’s disgusting.

  • Thought: Appletinis are actually kind of delicious. Who wants to rip up my man card?

*Commercial Break*

Backstage, Sting continues to call out the Aces and 8’s. Sting says he’s not hiding and is easy to find. He challenges them to find him backstage and he’ll deal them “the Dead Man’s Hand” then laughs in a ridiculously goofy way. Was that an outtake?

Video Recap: The AJ Styles/Claire Lynch storyline.

The Paternity Test

Jeremy Borash is in the ring with the paternity test and says it’s time to reveal the results. He introduces AJ Styles to the ring. He comes out, still clutching his midsection after his triple threat match earlier. Borash hands him the mic. Styles apologizes to his friends, family, fans, yadda yadda for having to go through all of this. Styles says there’s a night he can’t remember where something did happen with Claire. But while he doesn’t know what happened, he knows this: if he is the father, he will accept responsibility for and take care of that child. But if that child is not his, Styles doesn’t want Christopher Daniels or Frankie Kazarian to say another word to him as long as they live.

Borash introduces Claire, but out comes Daniels/Kazarian instead. Kazarian says that he’s still more concerned with protecting the AJ Styles brand instead of his own flesh and blood (the supposed Claire-baby). Kazarian says Styles makes him sick and says “selfish pricks” like him are responsible for childhood bullying and other such epidemics. Kazarian says that starting now, Styles will need to be concerned with the “little one”.

Daniels says not to worry about the damage Styles will cause the child in the future, but to worry about the damage he’s done currently to Claire and the unborn baby. Daniels said she asked for his care, but all Styles did was turn his back on her. Daniels said the mental stress became physical stress, and Claire is not here because she suffered a “placental disruption” and is in a hospital. Daniels wishes her the speediest of recoveries.

As Daniels continues to lay into Styles, a mysterious blonde lawyer-looking woman gets in the ring. She is Grace Stein, the attorney for Claire. Daniels tries to stop her but Stein tells her to get his hands off of her. Stein reads a statement prepared by Claire and it turns out that she was a pawn in a scheme to blackmail AJ Styles. This includes those hotel photos, which were created for this purpose (she slipped him sedatives in a soda he was drinking). It also turns out that Claire was never pregnant in the first place. SHOCK. AWE. Stein concludes the statement by saying Styles is the man the fans always knew he was (gag me with a goddamn spoon, someone). Stein exits the ring immediately after her statement.

Styles hits the Pele Kick on Daniels and attempts to jump Kazarian as well, but they both bail out of the ring. Styles celebrates the news in the ring.

  • Thoughts: Well at least the big part of the storyline is over. And yes, this was as cheesy as you probably expected it to be. Maybe even cheesier. But the crowd was firmly behind Styles and played the faux-Maury Povitch audience part well. Now let’s hurry up and finish this feud and give all three of these guys something new to do.

Video Package: TNA Gut Check contestant Kris Lewie. He has had a hard life (prison and poverty, etc.). We also see photos from his time on the indies. He says this is no storyline, this is real. Lewie says there’s no way to provide for his family, so he’s motivated to win the Gut Check. Lewie puts over his in-ring abilities.

  • Thoughts: Please, lay it on thicker. I beg you. Jesus.

Backstage, members of the Aces and 8’s are walking, when Sting shows up behind them and distracts them by being crazy. Sting throws a bat over them, and Hulk Hogan hits them in the face (at least that’s what they wanted it to look like). Hogan grabs one of them and threatens them if they ever get near his daughter again. His anger breathing is very Ultimate Warrior-like. Apparently “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan is back and it’s Showtime.

  • Thoughts: Awesome. I like the idea of a crazy, almost feral Hulk Hogan looking for revenge. However I don’t like the fact Sting reverted into his stupid goofy “Joker” persona after playing it relatively straight for the past couple of weeks.

*Commercial Break*

Video Package: Alex Silva talks about winning the TNA Gut Check. He’s currently in OVW. Dreams do come true!

Jeremy Borash introduces Gut Check contestant Kris Lewie then introduces his opponent: Gunner.

Match #4: Kris Lewie Vs. Gunner in a TNA Gut Check match

They jaw at one another, and Lewie hits two armdrags followed by a shoulderblock. Lewie takes him down against and tries another pin. 2-count. They lock up and Gunner gets the upper hand. Gunner lays into Lewie in the corner, but Lewie ducks a fist and hits a series of blows himself. Gunner retakes the advantage with a clothesline and goes for the pin. 2-count. Gunner whips him into the ropes and hits an elbow.

Gunner puts Lewie in the corner and hits another elbow. He whips him to the other side and continues laying into him. Gunner whips him across the ring again but misses a splash attempt. Lewie gets three right hands, followed by a running clothesline. Lewie picks Gunner up and hits a Samoan Drop. Lewie heads to the top rope, but misses a splash. Gunner picks him up and hits his finisher for the 1…2…3.

Winner [via Pinfall]: Gunner (2:58)

  • That was an ugly match with a couple of blown spots and boring action. I hope Lewie’s backstory is made up because he doesn’t deserve the TNA contract. At least not right now. (C-)

Mr. Anderson is headed to the ring for Open Fight Night next!

*Commercial Break*

A promo for No Surrender, their next PPV, airs.

Backstage, ODB is on the phone with Eric Young and is yelling about fried chicken and such. She then propositions a guy off-camera.

  • Thoughts: OH MY GOD I DON’T CARE.

Mr. Anderson comes out to the ring. Anderson says that tonight is his last BFG Series match-up and challenges Bully Ray for Open Fight Night.

Main Event: Mr. Anderson Vs. Bully Ray in an Open Fight Night challenge/BFG Series match

Anderson gets a headlock, but gets sent to the ropes and shoulder blocked to the mat. Ray tries to follow it up with an elbow drop, but misses. Anderson gets a waistlock, but Ray reverses out and lays some forearms to Anderson’s back. Ray attempts a backdrop but gets kicked in the face. Ray, however, quickly fights back and hits a backdrop suplex for a 2-count. Ray sends Anderson shoulder-first into the ring post as we go to commercial.

*Commercial Break*

We are back from break in time to see Ray get two near-falls after an elbowdrop. A “Devon’s Better!” chant breaks out, which is funny (and horribly untrue). Ray measures Anderson and connects with a clothesline for another 2-count. Ray connects with a couple of forearms on the side of Anderson’s head. Ray hits a suplex for another 2-count. Ray smashes Anderson’s foot to the mat in the most awkward way possible.

Ray sends Anderson into the corner face-first and continues the assault. Ray bodyslams him, and goes to the second rope. Ray misses the Vader Bomb (does anyone ever connect with it anymore?), and both men are down trying to recover. Ray and Anderson get to their knees and trade fists back and forth. They continue to trade blows as they get to their feet, but Ray knees him in the mid-section. Anderson recovers and goes on an offensive flurry, ending with a neckbreaker for a 2-count. Anderson whips him in the ropes and connects with a spinning heel kick for another 2-count.

Anderson measures Ray and picks him up but Ray is too heavy so he falls (WHAT?!?). Ray tries to capitalize but only gets a 2-count. Ray goes to the second rope but Anderson grabs him and hits the rolling Samoan drop for a 2-count (the same move he couldn’t do five seconds ago). Anderson heads to the top but Ray crotches him. Ray goes to the second rope and superplexes Anderson to the mat. Both men are down, again.

Meanwhile backstage, members of Aces and 8’s are getting beaten up by random TNA wrestlers.

Back to the match, Anderson ducks a kick and gets a Bully Bomb for his troubles. Ray goes for the pin. 1…2…KICK OUT. Anderson escapes a second Bully Bomb attempt and hits a Senton from the top rope for the 1…2…KICK OUT BY RAY. Ray ducks a clothesline, but runs into The Mic Check for the 1…2…3!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Mr. Anderson (12:14)

  • I think the crowd at the Impact Zone was more into this one than I was. It wasn’t a bad match per say, but it was pretty by the numbers for the bulk of it. They just didn’t have great chemistry together, at least for this match. Oh well, the ending sequence was pretty good at least. A letdown after a string of good BFG Series main events over the past few weeks. (C+)

Backstage, the leader of the Aces and 8’s says they’re going to unleash hell…right after this commercial break!

*Commercial Break*

Sting and the entire TNA locker room head to the ring. Sting calls out the Aces and 8’s for the 9 billionth time this month. Another “We want Hogan!” chant breaks out. After a whole lot of stalling, the Aces and 8’s finally come out and a giant brawl ensues both in the ring and outside of the ring. Only one member remains in the ring. The fight spills into the crowd. More members of the Aces and 8’s keep appearing.

Backstage, James Storm and Hulk Hogan are attacking other Aces and 8’s members. AJ Styles is also backstage throwing down. Back to the Impact Zone, the fight continues. Austin Aries, Jeff Hardy, and Rob Van Dam are standing tall in the ring. Back to the backstage area, Hogan is choking one of them out with a bat. Now we’re outside and the fight continues. Back in the ring, the three who stayed behind are dealing with even more members of the Aces and 8’s.

In the ring, Aries is outnumbered and is getting beat up. They bring in a guard rail and a chair. They lay the guard rail on the top rope and pin Aries’ hand to it. One of the members smashes his arm with a chair. The Aces and 8’s stand tall for a moment until Bully Ray runs out to scare them off.

Outside of the Impact Zone, the remaining members of the Aces and 8’s escape via motorcycles as we fade to TNA logo.

  • Well…that was certainly a giant mess. But it was a giant mess on purpose. A fun and crazy all out brawl for what it was but we still didn’t get any answers. And seriously, how many members are there? It seemed like 20 of them just came out of nowhere. As for their attack on Aries…I think someone has been watching too much WWE in regards to breaking arms and such. I’m torn on this end; on one hand, I’m glad that the brawl finally took place but on the other hand it was just a gigantic clusterschmazz. Hm. I just want them to at least unmask one of these guys already.

Overall Show Grade: C

  • Best Match: AJ Styles/Robbie E/Rob Van Dam
  • Worst Match: Kris Lewie/Gunner
  • Best Segment: The End of Show Brawl (yes I ultimately enjoyed it minus the holes and lack of development)
  • Worst Segment: ODB’s phone call to Eric Young (I beyond don’t care about them anymore)
If you like the cut of Jon’s wrestling jib, you can find him talking incessantly about it on Twitter or on his own rasslin’ blog The Pro Wrestling Nerd, or possibly even outside of your house (don’t worry I’m 91% kidding about the last one).

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