This week on IMPACT Wrestling:
- It’s “go home” time for TNA as the company attempts to build some buzz for this Sunday’s Turning Point PPV. Expect more matches to be announced, because of as of now the lineup is looking pretty light.
- Two matches have been announced for tonight’s episode: Sting/Kurt Angle Vs. The Aces and 8’s (two members) and AJ Styles Vs. Bobby Roode. The latter is a preview of the #1 Contenders triple threat match (the other participant being James Storm) happening this Sunday.
- At the end of last week’s show, a new member of the Aces and 8’s was revealed. We know him as Luke Gallows but tonight TNA should be christening him with his new Impact name and GM Hulk Hogan will be reacting to this stunning reveal.
- After what I think was a damn good showing last week, Christian York will meet with the Gut Check judges to find out his TNA fate.
Expect these happenings and so much more as the final push towards Turning Point commences tonight on IMPACT Wrestling.
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*SHOW RECAP*
–Previously on IMPACT Wrestling: The triple threat #1 Contendership match is set for Turning Point, Jeff Hardy turns his TNA World Title defense against Austin Aries into a ladder match, Luke Gallows (or whatever he’ll be called in TNA) is revealed as a member of the Aces and 8’s.
-We’re at the Aces and 8’s clubhouse where one of the members is yelling at Gallows. He says he isn’t even a full-patched member yet. The masked guy says Gallows has one week to prove that he’s worthy of being in the group. Devon says he can do so by teaming with him to take on Sting and Kurt Angle. Gallows says tonight he will “make this right”. He’s apparently known as the “Director of Chaos”.
-Cue the pyrotechnics as we go live to the Impact Zone. Todd Keneley welcomes the home audience and introduces his broadcast partner Jeremy Borash. Borash announces the huge matchups for tonight: Devon/Director of Chaos Vs. Sting/Angle and Samoa Joe/Chavo Guerrero Jr./Hernandez Vs. Magnus/Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian.
–James Storm makes his way out and sits in at the announce table to “scout” the first match, AJ Styles Vs. Bobby Roode. Styles makes his way out first for the match. Roode makes his way out second, and Storm says that his history with him ended at Bound For Glory.
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Match #1: AJ Styles Vs. Bobby Roode
Wristlock by Styles to start the match. Roode reverses into one of his own and brings Styles to the mat. Roode transitions into a front chancery, and Styles powers out and locks in a hammerlock. Roode reverses it into a side headlock. Styles sends Roode into the ropes, but Roode hits him with an elbow. Styles floats over in the corner and dropkicks Roode, who bails to the floor to regroup. Styles eventually makes his way outside and sends Roode into the ring steps.
Styles rolls Roode back in and connects with a bodyslam, followed by a running knee drop. Styles goes for the pin. 1-count. Roode kicks Styles and throws him into the corner. Styles fights back with a series of chops. Styles throws Roode into the corner and follows it up with a back body drop. Roode chops Styles in the throat and connects with a right. Styles reverses an Irish whip in the corner but misses a splash. Roode hits a clothesline from behind and goes for the pin. 1-count. Roode connects with a reverse neckbreaker as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
Styles is mounting a comeback as we come back from break. Shoulder block from Styles in the corner. Roode reverses an Irish whip. Styles tries to float over but Roode catches him and sends him throat-first on the top rope. Roode climbs to the second turnbuckle and hits a “Buff Blockbuster” for the 1…2…kick out. Roode connects with an elbow drop and tries another pin. 2-count. Styles starts fighting back but Roode sends him hard into the corner, sending him to the mat immediately due to the, erm, impact. Roode goes for another cover but is unsuccessful.
Snapmare from Roode followed by a reverse chinlock. Styles tries to power out but Roode keeps it clasped. Finally Styles fights out and connects with an enziguri, sending Roode face-first to the mat. Styles gets to his feet and hits the Styles Splash in the corner on Roode. Roode reverses an Irish whip but Styles sends him to the apron. Roode counters by dropping Styles over the top rope. Roode tries to continue the offense, but Styles crotches him on the top turnbuckle. Styles climbs up and connects with a hurricanrana for the 1…2…kick out!
Styles signals for the Styles Clash but Roode runs him into the corner. Styles catches him with a right but Roode catches him immediately with a spinebuster. Roode rushes him but gets sent head-first into the second turnbuckle. Styles rolls him up for a 2-count and transitions into the Styles Clash but Roode escapes. Styles then misses the Pele Kick and Roode connects with the Fisherman’s suplex for the 1…2…KICK OUT.
Roode rolls to the outside and grabs a chair. Storm gets off of commentary and heads to the ring. The ref tries to keep both separated, and Styles uses the distraction to hit a springboard cross body onto Roode. Styles and Storm then jaw back and forth, with Styles telling him to get lost. Styles rolls Roode back into the ring and tells Storm to “back up”. Styles goes for a springboard, but Roode hits the legs sending him spiraling to the mat. Roode quickly goes for the pin. 1…2…3!
Winner [via Pinfall]: Bobby Roode (14:54)
- Hell of a good match to start off the show but you could tell both men were saving their best for this Sunday. This went longer than I expected but I’m not complaining. And I’m glad Storm’s involvement stayed minimal. (B)
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–Austin Aries catches up with GM Hulk Hogan backstage. Hogan says “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” should be good enough to win the title and not steal it. Aries protests the Ladder match stipulation to his rematch at Turning Point but Hogan says that stays and Aries better hand over the stolen belt by the end of tonight or else. Aries walks away flippantly saying another person is drinking the “Jeff Hardy juice”. Fun fact: Jeff Hardy juice is illegal in 20 states.
-Commercial Break-
–Kurt Angle is backstage giving advice to Wes Brisco. Angle says the key to success is “timing”. Sting interrupts and makes a big deal out of the word “timing”. All three walk away. That was something. I like caffeinated Sting.
-Joseph Park is standing inside the ring. We see Park getting put through a table last week as Park talks about what happened. Park says last week made him feel great for unmasking a member at The Aces and 8’s. Park says his associates at his firm have been trying to talk about him out of his match request, but he won’t hear of it. Park once again says he wants his match with the Aces and 8’s. Park says only one man can make that happen: Hulk Hogan. Park begs him to be given the match and asks Hogan to stand by him this one time. “Not Quite the nWo Theme” brings out the TNA GM. Hogan says everyone is proud of Park for unmasking “The Director of Chaos” last week. However, Hogan says Park is not a wrestler and brings up the liability of the situation. Bully Ray comes out to give his two cents on the situation. Ray says he’s sticking up for Park, saying that he’s got heart, guts, and is a pretty tough S.O.B. Ray says Park wants The Aces and 8’s just as much as they do. Hogan says he’s running this company, not Ray. Ray says not only does he believe in Park but so does the crowd. The Impact Zone chants Park’s name. Ray asks Hogan why say no when it feels so damn good to say yes. The crowd chants “YES!” in approval/because they are a wrestling crowd in 2012. Hogan sticks out his hand and says “just this one time”. Park shakes it and hugs him. Ray then offers a high five of his own to Park, and shakes Hogan’s hand.
- Thoughts: Excellent segment. It’s so easy to get behind Park anyway thanks to the brilliance of the character, but Ray also defending his former rival was a great touch. Ray has turned into a way better face than I expected.
–Tara is backstage with Jesse Godderz. He brags about beating ODB last week while Tara rains all sorts of compliments on him. ODB stalks in and says the only power couple in TNA is her and her husband Eric Young. ODB then challenges them to a handicap match next! Tara and Godderz break out the hand sanitizer to prepare.
-Commercial Break-
–AJ Styles is yelling at someone off-camera, asking who made the call to let James Storm come out. Storm walks in and says that he came out on his own accord. Storm says Styles is the face of TNA, and asks him how it’s going to feel when the face of TNA gets kicked in.
–ODB makes her way out for the second match of the evening. TNA Knockouts Champion Tara and Jesse Godderz make their way out next. They hold hands and skip to the ring.
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Match #2: ODB Vs. [TNA Knockouts Champion] Tara/Jesse Godderz
ODB levels Tara with a clothesline and open hand chops Godderz. ODB rubs Godderz’s face in her boobs, then smashes him and Tara into each other head-first. The twosome duck an ODB clothesline and level her with a double elbow. Godderz bodyslams ODB and Tara chokes her until Taryn Terrell breaks it up. ODB fights back and sends both to the mat. ODB sends Tara back down with a dropkick, and then bodyslams Godderz. ODB grabs Tara and bodyslams her on top of Godderz. Godderz reverses an Irish whip but misses a corner splash. ODB hits one of her own and Godderz falls on his ass. ODB then sends Tara face-first into Godderz’s man parts. Double bronco buster from ODB on the “power couple” and Godderz rolls out of the ring. ODB hits Tara with a spear and goes for the cover. 1…2…3!
Winner [via Pinfall]: ODB (2:37)
- That was rather…easy. Weird. The match itself was entertaining though. I think I’m finally back on the pro-ODB side after many many many months away. Here’s hoping we get an actual Knockouts Title match out of this feud. And will Eric Young ever show up again or is he totally gone? (C)
Post-Match: Godderz distracts ODB, allowing Tara to attack her from behind. Tara then takes ODB out with the Widow’s Peak. Godderz opens the flask and pours its contents all over their fallen rival. Tara jumps into Godderz’s arms and they kiss as we cut to awkward commercial.
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-Commercial Break-
-A vignette for “Make an Impact” airs, TNA’s Hurricane Sandy relief effort. Buy a shirt.
–ODB angrily leaves a voicemail for Eric Young, saying he better show up to go against Tara/Jesse Godderz this Sunday at Turning Point. She angrily yells “I LOVE YOU!” then storms off.
–Gut Check Deliberation: Taz, Bruce Prichard, and Al Snow discuss Christian York‘s performance from last week while the ominous Gut Check music plays. Taz says it’s a “no-brainer”. Prichard questions if York can transcend the tag team stigma. Snow says there’s a precedent for that in TNA and brings up Beer Money as a good example. Taz says he doesn’t care about that, and says that York brought it. Snow says he’s still not completely sure. Prichard and Taz mock Snow’s ridiculous blue jacket and say they hope his decision making is better than his fashion choices.
- Thought: If they don’t give him a contract I’ll be legitimately shocked. Shocked. Seriously.
–Kurt Angle makes his way out for the next match as Keneley/Borash talk about how he was targeted by The Aces and 8’s a few weeks back. His partner Sting makes his way to the ring as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
-The Aces and 8’s theme hits as we come back from commercial. Mike Tenay and Taz are now on commentary. Devon and D.O.C. make their way out from the crowd. Sting and Angle attack them immediately on the outside before the bell even rings. DOC sends Sting into the ring steps. Devon lays into Angle with a series of rights but Angle fights back. Sting rakes DOC’s eyes and rolls him into the ring, starting the match.
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Match #3: Sting/Kurt Angle Vs. Devon/The Director of Chaos (D.O.C.)
DOC reverses an Irish whip but misses a splash and runs into a DDT courtesy of Sting. He goes for the pin. 2-count. Sting hits Devon on the apron but runs into a clothesline from DOC. Devon tags in and splashes Sting as DOC holds his arms. Snapmare from Devon followed by a falling forearm. He goes for the pin. 2-count. DOC tags back in and the two knock Sting to the mat with a double shoulder block. A running elbow drop followed by another from DOC. He goes for the pin. 2-count.
DOC connects with a suplex and goes for another pin. 2-count. DOC locks Sting in a reverse chinlock. Back elbow from DOC, who then tags Devon in. Devon gets a running start and connects with a legdrop. Devon goads Sting to tag Angle, but then suckerpunches Angle off the apron. Devon works Sting over in the corner and tags in DOC. Angle distracts the ref by accident, allowing a double team to occur. DOC takes Sting down then connects with a running splash for the 1…2…Angle breaks the count.
Sting starts fighting back, but DOC connects with a hard right to stop the momentum. DOC stands on Sting’s head until the ref forces him off. Devon gets in some cheap shots while the ref is distracted. Devon tags back in and hits a flying elbow. He goes for the pin. 2-count. DOC tags back in and sends Sting into the ropes. Sting and DOC level one another with clotheslines.
Angle gets the hot tag and attacks the also tagged in Devon. Devon reverses an Irish whip but Angle decks him. DOC attacks but Angle responds with an ugly dropkick from the second turnbuckle. Belly to belly suplex for Devon, release German suplex for DOC. Angle then connects with the Angle Slam on Devon for the 1…2…DOC breaks the count. Sting attacks DOC and locks him in the Scorpion Death Lock. Devon grabs Sting’s bat and attacks him and Angle to cause the DQ.
Winners [via DQ]: Sting/Kurt Angle (5:39)
- Eh, the match wasn’t anything great but did you expect a clean Aces and 8’s match? I wouldn’t and if I were them I wouldn’t let any of their matches end cleanly. That’s what the full access is for. Cool to see that there are now two unmasked members who can actually handle the action and give us a true visual representation of the group. But yeah this wasn’t much. (C)
Post-Match: Devon continues attacking both men until Bully Ray comes out to make the save. Ray grabs a table and sets it up in the ring. Devon escapes before he can be put through it, and Ray gives chase. Sting attacks DOC and goes to put him through the table, but two other Aces and 8’s members attack with hammers. DOC grabs Sting and chokeslams him through the table. One of the masked men hands DOC the hammer. He hits Sting in the gut with it then holds out his hand and smashes it. DOC continues beating Sting with the hammer. Finally out come Samoa Joe, Chavo Guerrero Jr., and Hernandez to run them off. Luckily the Aces and 8’s already did what they needed to do, so they ultimately win. Guerrero yells for some medics. The medics and trainers get into the ring to check on Sting. They help him out as we go to a recap of what just happened. Taz is speaking in solemn tones like someone died (no one did).
- Thoughts: Holy sh*t. That was…that was brutal. I’m still annoyed at them using hammers, since that kills people, but DOC’s repeated attack was ridiculously unnerving and brutal. I’m a little uneasy. I assume this is a good thing? Goddamn.
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-Commercial Break-
–Mike Tenay goes over the Aces and 8’s attack on Sting that we just saw, showing the footage all over again. That hammer attack is still making me wince.
–Gut Check Decision Time: Jeremy Borash is in the ring with the Gut Check judges Al Snow, Bruce Prichard, and Al Snow. Borash introduces the contestant, Christian York. Out he comes, decked out in his ring gear. Borash properly introduces the judges. Borash asks York if he put forth his very best effort last week in the ring. York says he knows he put forth his best effort and so does the Impact Zone (they cheer in agreement). Borash says it’s time for his…GUT CHEEEEEECK. Taz is up first: he says York did a great job last week and has a great look and more importantly has that “IT factor”. Taz says yes. Next up is Prichard. Prichard questions York if he really has it if he never made it to the big leagues during his 16 year career. Prichard says it might be because he’s never had a chance and votes yes. Christian York is the newest member of the IMPACT Wrestling Roster.
- Thoughts: Phew. York deserves the shot. At the very least he’ll make OVW one hell of an entertaining watch once he gets down there. I’m all for a Crimson/York feud. You guys watch OVW too, right? RIGHT?
–Austin Aries is on the phone as he walks backstage, interrupting a heated discussion between Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan. That’s all we get about that. Tenay announces that the six man tag team match is next.
-Commercial Break-
-A video package airs recapping the Austin Aries/Jeff Hardy feud and their upcoming Ladder match this Sunday at Turning Point.
-Tenay and Taz go through the Turning Point PPV lineup. New matches announced: RVD Vs. Joey Ryan for the X-Division Title, ODB/EY Vs. Tara/Jesse Godderz.
–Hulk Hogan is on the phone asking about Sting‘s condition, telling whoever’s on the phone to call him every five minutes with updates. Hogan walks into his office where Joey Ryan is waiting for him. Ryan asks Hogan to congratulate him on becoming new X-Division Champion and Hogan says he won’t congratulate him for something that hasn’t happened. Hogan turns his attention to Matt Morgan, telling him that he isn’t allowed to be in Ryan’s corner this Sunday. Morgan stands up and tells Hogan he has no idea who he’s dealing with. Morgan and Ryan leave, and Hogan ominously says “I do know” before chuckling.
–Magnus makes his way out for the six man tag team match. We see clips of his attack on Samoa Joe last week with a wrench. His partners, Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian make their way out next as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
-TV Champ Samoa Joe makes his way out for the face team…and then we go right back to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
-The TNA World Tag Team Champions Chavo Guerrero Jr./Hernandez make their way out to join their partner Samoa Joe.
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Main Event: [TNA TV Champion] Samoa Joe/Chavo Guerrero Jr./Hernandez Vs. Magnus/Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian
The faces rush the ring and take it right to Magnus/Daniels/Kazarian. They clear the ring of the bad guys and the crowd…barely reacts. Guerrero rolls Daniels into the ring, and these two start the match off proper. Guerrero connects with an uppercut, and Daniels then takes a couple of hits from Guerrero’s partners. Back suplex from Guerrero followed by a pinfall attempt. 2-count. Guerrero whips Daniels hard into the corner, but Daniels knees him and gets the tag to his partner Kazarian.
Guerrero takes him down with a drop toe hold and tags Hernandez in. Hernandez suplexes his partner onto Kazarian, then hits a running splash for a 2-count. Kazarian flips out of a suplex and hits a spinning heel kick before tagging into Magnus. Hernandez tags Joe in. He chases Magnus around ringside but Daniels holds him as he tries to slide back in, allowing Magnus to attack. Joe fights back but Daniels hooks his arm and Magnus connects with a cheap shot from behind.
Daniels tags in and Magnus distracts the ref while the former WTTOTW double team Joe. But Joe will not be stopped, and he beats Daniels in the corner with rapid fire blows. Corner splash/kick combo from Joe. Chop/kick combo from Joe next, followed by the running knee drop. Joe tags Guerrero in and bodyslams Daniels. Guerrero slingshots himself in, splashing Daniels. Hernandez then tags in, trapping Daniels in a bearhug which he turns into a release belly to belly suplex.
Guerrero tags back in and hits a basement dropkick. He goes for the pin. 2-count. Daniels reverses an Irish whip but gets knocked to the floor. Kazarian tries to intervene and Daniels attacks from behind. Daniels sends Guerrero into the guard rail, then distracts the ref as Kazarian gets in a host of cheap shots. The action moves back into the ring, and Kazarian tags in proper. He hits a running neckbreaker and goes for the pin. 2-count.
Magnus tags in and continues the hurt. He hits a series of rapid jabs to mock Joe, but they look way weaker. Magnus sends Guerrero into the heel corner and tags Daniels in. Daniels does a little Gangnam Style after an inverted DDT then goes for the pin. 2-count. Kazarian tags in and Daniels hip tosses him, allowing him to land a legdrop. He goes for the pin but Hernandez breaks the count. Kazarian traps Guerrero in a submission hold (digging his knee into his back). Guerrero fights out but Daniels holds Guerrero from the apron.
Guerrero ducks a clothesline and connects with a tilt-a-whirl headscissor takedown. Guerrero kicks Kazarian off and tags in Hernandez. Slingshot shoulder block to Kazarian, followed by a whole lot of attacks for everyone else. Hernandez sets up Kazarian for the Border Toss but Daniels pulls him out. They try a double clothesline but Hernandez breaks through. They then try a double suplex but Hernandez suplexes them both instead.
Joe and Magnus both tag in. Joe destroys Magnus for a bit, but misses the back splash. Joe recoups with a powerslam. Magnus attempts a corner splash but gets thrown down by Joe. Joe goes for the pin but Daniels breaks it up. He throws Joe to the floor, Hernandez throws him to the floor, Guerrero knocks Kazarian to the floor, and Hernandez hits an Air Mexico onto Daniels on the outside.
Guerrero and Magnus are in the ring. Bulldog from Guerrero. He heads to the top but Magnus knocks him to the floor after Kazarian holds him. Joe attacks Magnus and sets up for the Muscle Buster but Daniels gets involved. Joe locks a Kokina Clutch on Daniels, but he escapes with a jawbreaker then the WTTCOTW take Joe down. Magnus hits an elbow drop from the top rope on the fallen Joe for the 1…2…3!
Winners [via Pinfall]: Magnus/Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian (10:52)
- Not as good as Styles/Roode, but still a very fun main event match. Lots going on at once which was hard to keep up with, but I’m also old so take that for what you will. Everyone got a chance to showcase their big moves, and I’m pumped Magnus got to win the match for his team. This guy is a star in the making. (B-)
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–Austin Aries is stalking backstage with the World Title belt. He’ll be live in the Impact Zone next!
-Commercial Break-
–Bobby Roode is walking backstage. He says he loves it when a plan comes together. Roode says this Sunday is his “turning point” and the title will return to him. He compliments the camera guy on his vest, then says he’ll see him Sunday.
-We see yet another video of DOC destroying Sting with a hammer.
–Austin Aries makes his way out to the ring with the real TNA World Heavyweight Title. Aries says Jeff Hardy has been calling himself “the best wrestler on planet Earth” and he says that it’s overplayed. Aries says that he is the greatest professional wrestler in the universe and three seconds at Bound For Glory doesn’t change that fact. Aries says the Ladder match stipulation is proof that Hardy knows he can’t beat him again in a real pro wrestling match. Aries calls Hardy the greatest daredevil and risk taker the business has ever seen. Aries says that this Sunday, he guarantees that it’ll be the “fall” that Hardy doesn’t get up from or recover from, physically, mentally, or emotionally. Aries says he’s going to walk into the Impact Zone on Sunday, he’s going to beat Hardy at his own game. Aries says when he wins, he’s going to carry the “real” belt with pride and melt Hardy’s custom belt into a belt buckle. Aries says in order to make that happen, he has to hand this belt over to Hardy. Aries says he’s not going to do it; if Hardy wants the belt, he should come out to the ring like a man and take it from him. Aries takes off his coat as Hardy emerges from the entrance area. Hardy rushes the ring and the two start brawling with one another. Aries goes for the Brainbuster, but Hardy slips out and hits an ugly Twist of Fate. Hardy grabs both belts and motions above him. The hooks for the belts come down, and he places them on it. The belts lift into the air and Hardy climbs the ladder in the ring to show that he will emerge victorious. Aries gets back into the ring and pushes the ladder over, knocking Hardy to the mat. Aries places the ladder over Hardy and climbs the ladder. He removes his shirt and pulls the belts down to him as we fade to logo.
- Thoughts: I really wish the World Title storyline didn’t feel like such an afterthought but it is what it is. Good promo stuff from Aries and a hell of a visual with Aries knocking Hardy off the ladder. That was a brutal fall Hardy took; here’s hoping he makes it to the PPV in-tact. Unfortunately, and I hate saying this, I don’t think this is the storyline that will ultimately sell Turning Point buys. Which sucks because it’ll be a damn good match.
**[END OF EPISODE]**
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Overall Show Grade: B
- What I Liked: All four matches (Styles/Roode especially), Christian York winning the Gut Check, DOC attacking the hell out of Sting with a hammer, Bully Ray sticking up for Joseph Park despite their history with one another, no Hardy inner monologues, Aries pushing Hardy off the ladder (absolutely sick landing), the overall show and then some.
- What I Didn’t Like: No X-Division stuff, Eric Young not actually showing up to help push the mixed tag team match, Luke Gallows getting a dumb Aces and 8’s name (DOC? Really?).
Overall Show Thoughts:
- A really solid edition of IMPACT Wrestling and one of the best episodes I’ve seen this year. Every match mattered and entertained in one form or another, the storylines were solid, and even The Aces and 8’s did some interesting stuff other than brawl (seriously, the hammer attack was hauntingly brutal). If I didn’t already have to work Sunday I would order Turning Point in a heartbeat; they sold some buys tonight for sure. Seek this out if you can and if you disagree with me completely don’t hesitate to say so.
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