Preview for Tonight’s Show:
- With Devon gone from TNA, the TV Title has officially been vacated and a new champion will be decided tonight on “Championship Thursday”. GM Hulk Hogan will hear the cases of four wrestlers (Samoa Joe, Magnus, Mr. Anderson, and Garett Bischoff) and decide which two will meet in the squared circle to decide the new champion.
- Speaking of Hogan, he promised the Aces and 8′s last week that he would meet them on their turf, a place known as “The Clubhouse”. Given their kidnapping and brutal assault of Joseph Park last week, will Hogan still go through with it? Also expect some sort of update on Park’s condition following said attack.
- TNA Gut Check prospect Evan Markopolous came up short last week in his match against Douglas Williams and tonight the TNA Gut Check judges (Bruce Prichard, Taz, and Al Snow) will meet and decide if he’s deserving of a TNA contract.
- With 3 weeks to go until they meet in the main event at Bound For Glory (peep the up to date lineup of the show thus far after the preview), TNA World Champion Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy will be both be on the show to continue building to the match and adding new wrinkles to their newfound rivalry. Will Aries once again attempt to try to prove that he can do anything Hardy can do?
- Bully Ray shocked TNA fans by defeating Aries in the main event of last week’s show. What does this mean for the superstar going into TNA’s biggest event of the year?
All of this and more (“more” meaning the X-Division, hopefully) awaits you tonight on a loaded edition of IMPACT Wrestling.
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Previously on Impact: The James Storm/Bobby Roode Open Fight Night brawl, Joseph Park gets kidnapped by the Aces and 8’s and murdered (not really) with a hammer, Austin Aries tries to prove he’s just as good as Jeff Hardy but fails by losing to Bully Ray.
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The pyro goes off as we survey the crowd at the Impact Zone in Orlando, FL. Mike Tenay hypes Championship Thursday and the TNA Gut Check decision. Tenay also announces Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy will team together tonight.
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“Not Quite the nWo Theme” hits, bringing out Hulk Hogan. He’s carrying the ominous black bat and uses it as an air guitar on the entrance stage (cute). The Impact crowd chants Hogan’s name as he gets into the ring. Hogan showboats for a bit before getting on the mic. Hogan says he and Aces and 8’s have a date (brother) and asks the fans to watch his back, jack. Hogan says tonight’s episode is a turning point for the company and reminds everyone Bound For Glory is only three weeks away. Hogan brings up Championship Thursday and the title up for grabs is the TV Title. Hogan says he wishes Devon was still here, but it’s time to move on. He guarantees that there will be a new TV Champion tonight.
Next on Hogan’s agenda is the James Storm/Bobby Roode feud. Hogan says the situation is so out of control, the TNA referees have given up so in order to straighten things out he’s putting them in a Street Fight at Bound For Glory. Hogan then announces the special enforcer for the match: MMA superstar King Mo.
With all of that out of the way, Hogan shifts his attention back to the Aces and 8’s. He says he’s going to their Clubhouse tonight and he’s gonna see what they’re made of. Hogan brings up the group’s transgressions, including cornering his daughter Brooke. Hogan says he’s going there for a fight, even if that means he has to go it alone.
That awkward transition brings out the returning Sting who has been off of TV for, erm, reasons I guess. Sting gets in the ring and grabs a mic. Hogan makes a joke about borrowing Sting’s bat, and Sting says “my bat is your bat”. Sting says back when Hogan became GM he promised to have his back and he still does. Sting says he’s going with Hogan to the Aces and 8’s Clubhouse. Hogan tells Sting to get another bat, because it’s on, brother!
- Thoughts: Decent opening segment, minus Sting being absolutely terrible at promos. The Storm/Roode announcement was not surprising but a welcome addition to Bound For Glory regardless. The addition of King Mo however didn’t exactly excite the Impact Zone or this reviewer. But concerning Hogan/Sting going to the Clubhouse I’ve just got to ask: are they going to bring the cops? I mean they’re going to know the location. And will the four competitors for the TV Title have the chance to plead their case to him before he even leaves? Hm. Just thinking out loud.
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*Commercial Break*
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Bound For Glory Memories (2010): Mr. Anderson talks about being in the main event of the show, and says the fans can expect him to kick some ass on this show.
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Bound For Glory Hype: Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian (c) Vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr./Hernandez Vs. AJ Styles/Kurt Angle for the TNA World Tag Team Titles
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Kurt Angle makes his way out to the ring for the opening contest, a singles triple threat match between the three teams. Wouldn’t that make more sense to do in the “go home” show? Oh well. His opponents: Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Christopher Daniels. Each wrestler is accompanied by his respective partner.
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Match #1: Kurt Angle (w/ AJ Styles) Vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/ Hernandez) Vs. Christopher Daniels (w/ Frankie Kazarian)
Daniels quickly exits the ring to goad Angle and Guerrero to lock up first, but they bring him in and take turns delivering uppercuts to him in the corner. Daniels falls to the mat and Angle stomps a mudhole in him. Guerrero then does the same. Angle and Guerrero whip Daniels into the opposite corner. Daniels sends Angle shoulder-first into the corner but gets dropped by a clothesline by Guerrero. Daniels whips him into the ropes and Kazarian trips him. Guerrero leaves the ring and starts arguing with Styles, thinking he was the one who did it. Angle/Styles and Guerrero/Hernandez argue on the outside as Kazarian rolls into the ring. All three teams then enter the ring and start arguing. The ref tries to maintain order as we head to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We return from break, with Angle caught in a wristlock courtesy of Daniels. We find out that all the partners of the three men in the match have been tossed from ringside. Angle fights out of the Daniels wristlock and hits a release German suplex, then gives one to Guerrero as well. Angle tries the Angle Slam on Guerrero, but gets clotheslined over the top rope and onto the floor. Guerrero hits a series of high-impact moves on Daniels and goes for the pin. 1…2…Angle breaks up the count.
Angle hits a belly to belly suplex on Guerrero, who rolls out. Angle follows this up with an Angle Slam on Daniels. He pulls the straps down and applies the Ankle Lock, but Guerrero slides in and rolls Angle up for a 2-count. Angle gets in Guerrero’s face and they start trading blows. Angle blocks a Three Amigos, and Daniels knocks him out of the ring. Guerrero hits the Three Amigos on Daniels and signals for the Frog Splash. Angle locks the Ankle Lock on Daniels as Guerrero goes to the top. Daniels pushes Angle into the corner to knock Guerrero down. They argue some more and trade blows. Daniels seizes the opportunity and hits the STO to get the 1…2…3!
Winner [via Pinfall]: Christopher Daniels (9:06)
- I took my eyes away for a second and didn’t see who Daniels actually pinned, so my bad on that. Still this was an okay, if not overly stellar triple threat match. They seemed like they were holding back a little bit. However Daniels was great as usual playing the bad guy, and the tension between all three teams were successfully highlighted. I’m looking forward to the BFG match. (B-)
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Championship Thursday Deliberations, Part 1
Hulk Hogan is with the four competitors in his office to figure out which two will face one another for the TV Title. Hogan brings up Devon again and wishes it didn’t end like this. Hogan asks Garett Bischoff why he should be there, and Samoa Joe/Magnus get on him for only being in the running because he was Devon’s tag team partner. Mr. Anderson and Samoa Joe make their cases after, with Joe saying none of the others deserve to face him. Anderson says he just wants to fight and Hogan asks him which one he would eliminate first; Anderson says Bischoff. Magnus brings up the importance of the TV Title and his worldly experience.
Hogan makes his first decision: Magnus is gone from the running. Magnus fails to open the foor correctly and the others make fun of him for it. Hogan asks Joe how he dealt with Magnus back when they were partners.
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Backstage, Tara meets Brooke Hogan but before they can talk, Tara takes a call from her “Hollywood boyfriend”. She finishes the call and Brooke tells her she needs to earn a Knockouts Title shot. Before she can protest, Tara takes another call from her boyfriend and runs her down to the mysterious man. Brooke takes the phone and says Tara has a match coming up next. She steals the phone and walks off while Tara asks who her opponent is.
- Thoughts: Hey, you can’t steal someone’s phone! You’re a Hogan, not a Lohan! (Oh my god I regret that joke already, please forgive me)
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*Commercial Break*
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Tara makes her way out for the next match. The winner tonight gets the shot at Miss Tessmacher at Bound For Glory. Her opponent tonight is…ODB. She still wrestles, guys! They remembered! She is accompanied to the ring by her husband Eric Young who cartwheels and locks up with referee Taryn Terrell. Sigh.
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Match #2: ODB (w/ Eric Young) Vs. Tara in a #1 Contenders Match
ODB takes it to Tara right at the start, tossing her around the ring. Tara bails to the outside and ODB chases her around the ring. They run back in, and ODB knocks her down with the power of her giant, erm, assets. Young is on the apron, asking for a tag (?!?). ODB whips Tara into the corner and follows it up with a running splash. Tara falls down and ODB hits a Bronco Buster in the corner. Tara bails to the outside once again.
Young and Tara jaw with another, allowing ODB to hit a baseball slide. ODB goes to the outside and spanks her. She smashes Tara head-first into the apron and rolls her back in. ODB gets back in and Tara offers a handshake. ODB instead picks her up by the hair, blocks a slap, and hits a short arm clothesline. ODB picks Tara hit and connects with the fallaway slam. ODB kips up and sends Tara back to the floor. Tara favors her right knee and tries to get Young to help her. ODB runs out and continues to beat her up. ODB rolls Tara back in and starts talking with her “husband”. Tara takes the knee brace off and Terrell checks on her. ODB gets back in the ring, but Terrell keeps her from continuing her attack. ODB asks her if she’s okay, and Tara rolls her up (complete with foot on the rope) for the 1…2…3!
Winner [via Pinfall]: Tara (4:43)
- Although Tara’s win was preordained given her feud with Tessmacher, I enjoyed that match a lot more than I thought I would. It was nice to see ODB do something other than “funny” skits with Young, although she seems to have gotten a lot slower in the ring. Hell even Young was tolerable when doing his schtick during the match. The action was decent and Tara sneaking her way into victory was also a nice touch. Shockingly enough, I may have liked this more than the triple threat match. Don’t fire me from the internet. (B-)
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Terrell helps Tara to the back. Tara turns back to ODB and Young in the ring and smiles.
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Bruce Prichard, Taz, and Al Snow are talking about Evan Markopoulos and whether he can handle the pressures of TNA despite being 18. The Gut Check is next!
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*Commercial Break*
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We see clips of Evan Markopoulos‘ match from last week. A decision on his TNA future will be reached tonight.
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Backstage, Bruce Prichard dresses down Al Snow for hitting Joey Ryan a few weeks ago. Snow admits to making a mistake and Prichard expects him to fix it. Taz walks in and we finally get a discussion on the current Gut Check contestant. Taz says he was pleasantly surprised, Snow says he has guts, and Prichard says he has shown the drive to get to where he is at such a young age. Snow brings up Markopoulos’ age as a negative.
- Thoughts: Can we just get this Snow/Ryan match signed already?
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The mysterious camera man catches up with Bully Ray. He asks Ray who his partner will be against Aries/Hardy tonight. Ray says it isn’t [insert goofy New Yorker name] then brings up his win over Aries last week. Ray says not to film him anymore, unless it’s his calves. The camera man zooms in on the calves at the behest of the mysterious interviewer.
- Thoughts: The way the mystery interviewer told the camera man to “shoot the calves” made me laugh. He was so excited!
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Championship Thursday Deliberation, Part 2
We are backstage with the three remaining contestants. Garett Bischoff says he can hang with the big dogs, and Samoa Joe laughs (truth laugh?). Hulk Hogan tells Bischoff that isn’t his time and eliminates him. It’ll be Joe and Mr. Anderson for the TV Title and that match is coming up next!
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*Commercial Break*
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Bobby Roode barges in on TNA World Champion Austin Aries. Roode says they have mutual respect, and tells him he’ll be partnering with Bully Ray tonight. Roode says he’s rooting for Jeff Hardy at BFG because then he can get another World Title match. But then Roode brings up how bad it would be for Hardy to become champion and tries to get in Aries’ head. Aries thanks him sarcastically and kicks him out of the locker room.
- Thoughts: I was having computer issues while this was going on so I may have missed some of the details (man I am not having a good night) but overall it’s this: Roode is trying to get Aries to turn on Hardy tonight during the tag team match. It was a solid conversation between both men, and I like Roode playing the Devil’s Advocate while also bringing up the fact that he wants Hardy to win so he can get another crack at the World Title.
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Match #3: Mr. Anderson Vs. Samoa Joe for the vacant TNA Television Title
Joe gets the early advantage, but Anderson fights back and both men try to catch one another in their finishing moves. They break off and start over. Joe pushes Anderson into the corner and lays into him. He whips Anderson to the opposite corner, splashes him, and then kicks him in the head. Anderson falls to the mat and Joe goes for the pin. 2-count. Anderson starts fighting back but Joe hits the ropes and knocks him back to the mat.
Joe continues the assault. He kicks him in the back, but Anderson ducks the second kick and rolls him up for a 2-count. Anderson hits a swinging neckbreaker and goes for another pin. 2-count. Anderson mounts Joe (giggidy) and delivers a series of rights. Anderson whips Joe in the corner but runs into an elbow during an attempted splash. Joe goes to the second rope, but Anderson hits him. Anderson picks Joe up and hits a swanton Samoan drop but Joe uses the momentum to roll Anderson up. 2-count.
Joe headbutts Anderson, but he ducks an attempted clothesline and delivers one of his own. Anderson measures Joe for the Mic Check. Joe fights out with a series of elbows. Anderson tries to roll him up, but Joe turns it into a Rear Naked Choke. Anderson starts fading. He goes for the ropes, but Joe pulls him away and brings him back to the center of the ring. Joe keeps the Rear Naked Choke locked on and Anderson passes out. Joe is the new TV Champion!
Winner and NEW TV Champion [via Knockout]: Samoa Joe (5:17)
- …Yeah that was an ugly match to watch. It didn’t ever really get going and the ending felt like it came out of nowhere. But still Samoa Joe is now TV Champion so there’s hope for that title yet! (C)
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We see a recap of Hogan’s feud with the Aces and 8’s.
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Backstage Hulk Hogan and Sting are talking strategy. A woman comes up and says Bruce Prichard needs him to sign some documents. She sprays them in the face with something and the Aces and 8’s attack them from behind. They cover their eyes and throw them into a mysterious white van. One of the members is nice enough to show that they have a video camera so we’ll get to see what happens after. At least they’re thoughtful.
- Thoughts: Alright that was pretty awesome. I was hoping the whole “anyone could a member of the Aces and 8’s” angle would come into play.
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*Commercial Break*
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We see a recap of the Aces and 8’s kidnapping Sting and Hulk Hogan.
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Impact Hype: Aries/Hardy Vs. Ray/Roode
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TNA Gut Check: Evan Markopoulos
Jeremy Borash is in the ring. He introduces the three judges (Taz, Prichard, Snow). Evan Markopoulos makes his way out to face his fate. He gets the crowd clapping for some reason. Borash asks him if he put forward his best effort last week and he says no because he lost but he’s here tonight (heh?). Taz is up first with his decision. He says Markopoulos is way ahead of the curve and has a future, so he says YES. Prichard is up next. He says he respects what Markopoulos has done so far, but thinks he needs more time so his answer is NO.
Markopoulos attempts to “kick out” with a promo and convince Snow to say yes. He brings up that when he was born, Snow was in Smoky Mountain Wrestling and says that he will take the ball and run it into the end zone. Borash asks Snow for his decision. Snow grabs the mic and says Markopoulos is the epitome of Gut Check. He says Markopoulos has passion, guts, desire, and talent but since he’s 18 he isn’t ready. Snow says NO. Markopoulos shakes the judges hands and leaves the Impact Zone.
Tenay then transitions into a sneak peak of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show on Nickelodeon.
- Thoughts: I would have gone with a no as well; Markopoulos didn’t do much to impress anyone last week but then again Gut Check never gives anyone a true chance to shine. At least he was better than Kris Lewie. The quick transition into the TMNT sneak-peek was a bit ridiculous though and undercut the whole Gut Check decision.
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“Live” from the Aces and 8’s Clubhouse, Part 1
One of the members of Aces and 8’s takes Sting and Hulk Hogan‘s masks off. They are tied to chairs. The member says the boss is on the way and they should get ready for the sit down. Awkward cut to commercial…NOW.
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*Commercial Break*
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Bound For Glory Memories: Magnus talks about winning the TNA World Tag Team Titles back during his British Invasion days. He says he will achieve bigger this year.
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“Live” From the Aces and 8’s Clubhouse
“The President” shows up and mocks Sting and Hulk Hogan. Hogan asks who he is, and he says it’s not important. “The President” apologizes for the way they kidnapped them but he couldn’t have Sting and Hogan “MapQuest” them. Hogan asks about Joseph Park and “The President” says he’ll get there. “The President” says locking them out of the Impact Zone has made their lives difficult but he has a proposition for them. “The President” then has a member of the Aces and 8’s wheel out Joseph Park who’s tied up to a table.
“The President” lays out his proposition: Aces and 8’s wants the two toughest TNA wrestlers to meet two of his toughest Aces and 8’s members at Bound For Glory. Hogan says he and Sting will do it but “The President” says it’s not about him; it’s about watching the Aces and 8’s wreck havoc. “The President” says if Aces and 8’s wins, they get full access to the Impact Zone. Hogan eventually agrees and asks for Park to be let go. “The President” says he won’t let Park go until after the match; Park is insurance. He does, however, agree he won’t be hurt in the mean time.
- Thoughts: I’m speechless. How absolutely ridiculous has this storyline become? I mean seriously. Wow. Just…wow. Also Sting had absolutely no reason to show up tonight since he didn’t add to the proceedings at all. Like, at all.
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Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy are headed to the ring for their tag team match, which is next!
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*Commercial Break*
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Tenay and Taz recap what we just saw before the commercial break. Aces and 8’s and Hogan agree on a tag team match for Bound For Glory. If the Aces win, they get complete access to TNA and the Impact Zone. Yadda yadda. You already read this, why am I recapping this?
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We join Tenay and Taz at the announce table who hype the match that was just illegally signed in a motorcycle gang’s clubhouse. They then go through the rest of the announced Bound For Glory card.
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James Storm cuts a promo in the back. He’s excited for the Street Fight and the chance to beat the hell out of Bobby Roode. He then brings up King Mo, and says all he needs Mo to do is to raise his hand after kicking Roode’s teeth down his throat. Also, sorry about your damn luck and such.
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The heels make their way out for (what I assume is) the main event: Bobby Roode first, followed by Bully Ray. The faces follow after, Jeff Hardy first and TNA World Champ Austin Aries second. Hardy is decked out in green facepaint. TNA is taking the TMNT sponsorship a little too seriously.
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Main Event: [TNA World Champion]Austin Aries/Jeff Hardy Vs. Bully Ray/Bobby Roode
Hardy and Ray start the match off. Ray gets the upper hand with a series of forearms. He puts Hardy in the corner and wears him down with fists and elbows. He whips him to the opposite corner, but Hardy takes him down with a head scissor followed by an armdrag takedown. Ray retreats into the corner. Aries tags himself in and he and Ray jaw at each other. Ray tags Roode in instead of fighting him. Aries easily overcomes Roode with a series of armdrags then delivers a drop toe hold to Ray. He lays in the corner as Hardy runs in and double clotheslines Roode and Ray. The bad guys retreat to the outside as we go to commercial.
*Commercial Break*
We come back from commercial to see Hardy splash Roode from the second rope for a 2-count. And now…another commercial! Yay!
*Commercial Break*
We’re back for real this time. Hardy is laying into Ray in the corner. Ray reverses an Irish whip but gets an elbow to the face. Hardy goes to the top rope, but Roode runs the apron and clips him off. Hardy lands hard on the mat. Ray drags Hardy to his corner and works over Hardy’s left knee. Ray elbowdrops Hardy and goes for the pin. 2-count. Roode tags in and lands a kneedrop. He goes for a pin of his own. 2-count.
Hardy starts fighting back and lands a jawbreaker followed by a really bad looking Twist of Fate (Roode took it like a Stunner). Aries gets the hot tag and starts laying into the also freshly tagged in Ray. Roode knees Aries in the back to break his momentum and Ray knocks him to the floor. Roode throws Aries into the ring steps as Ray eggs the crowd on. Roode rolls Aries back in and Ray steps on his hand while yelling “I BEAT YOU LAST WEEK! I SHOULD BE WORLD CHAMPION!”.
Roode tags in and they split Aries like a wishbone. Roode connects with a backbreaker. Aries tries to fight back but Roode runs him into the corner to stop it. Ray tags in and drops the axehandle on Aries’ lower back. Ray hits a standing splash and goes for the pin. 1…2…kick out. Ray traps Aries in a bearhug. Aries fights his way out of the bearhug and bites him on the forehead. Aries hits the ropes and dropkicks him in the knee to knock him down. Aries gets up and turns to Hardy. Aries doesn’t make the tag and instead fights Roode who has tagged in. Aries hits a flying clothesline from the second rope. Aries locks on the Last Chancery on Roode, but Ray makes the save. He knocks Hardy down for good measure. Ray attempts a clothesline but Aries ducks so he hits Roode instead.
Aries throws Ray and Roode into separate corners and delivers two corner dropkicks. Aries hits a suicide dive onto Roode who has rolled to the floor. Aries gets back in the ring and hits Ray with a Missile Dropkick. Roode gets back in while Aries showboats to Hardy, but Aries blocks an attack and connects with the Brain Buster. Hardy tags himself in and hits the Swanton for the 1…2…3!
Winners [via Pinfall]: Austin Aries/Jeff Hardy (14:02)
- That was a good main event, and helped accentuate the problems between Aries and Hardy. Having Aries refuse to tag Hardy and try to take out Ray and Roode by himself was a nice touch and Hardy picking up the win by tagging himself win was a good way to end the match. But…um…is this reminding anyone else of the CM Punk/John Cena storyline at all? (B)
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Backstage, The Aces and 8’s are bringing Sting/Hulk Hogan back to the Impact Zone. They remove the masks and prevent an attack by saying they’ve got Park. Aces and 8’s retreat into their white van as Sting yells at them. Sting unties Hogan as we fade to logo.
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Overall Show Grade: B
- Best Match: Austin Aries/Jeff Hardy Vs. Bully Ray/Bobby Roode
- Worst Match: Mr. Anderson/Samoa Joe (yeah yeah, let the hate mail begin)
- Best Segment: Bobby Roode trying to turn Aries against Hardy
- Worst Segments: TNA Gut Check, the Aces and 8’s kidnap Hogan and Sting (well it’s a worst and a best…I’ll have to sleep on it)
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Updated Lineup for TNA Bound For Glory 2012:
Austin Aries (c) Vs. Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Title
Miss Tessmacher (c) Vs. Tara for the TNA Knockouts Title
Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian (c) Vs. AJ Styles/Kurt Angle Vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr./Hernandez for the TNA World Tag Team Titles
James Storm Vs. Bobby Roode in a Street Fight
Two TNA Wrestlers Vs. Two Aces and 8’s Members (if Aces and 8’s win, they get “full access” to the Impact Zone)
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If you like the cut of Jon’s wrestling jib, you can follow him on Twitter or catch his other wrestling rantings on his own site The Pro Wrestling Nerd (look for a far less detailed but still detailed Impact review sometime tomorrow). Also he’ll probably be on Cops one day so keep your eyes out for that; meth is a hell of a drug.