After a two week hiatus due to the holidays (and school, work, etc.), the IMPACT Wrestling coverage has returned! Sorry about the break; I’m sure you were all emotionally devastated.

IMPACT Wrestling 11/29 Preview:

  • “Championship Thursday” returns to the show and X-Division Champion Rob Van Dam is on tap to defend against a man of GM Hulk Hogan‘s choosing.
  • In addition, two other matches have been announced: #1 Contender to the Knockouts Title Mickie James will take on former champ Gail Kim and in tag team action, AJ Styles will team up with James Storm to face the former “World Tag Team Champions of the World” Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian.
  • At the end of last week’s Thanksgiving episode, Austin Aries accused Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan of having a “secret relationship”. Expect Ray, Hogan, Hulk, and even Aries to respond to the bombshell that is currently rocking the wrestling wo…okay that’s taking it too far.
  • The push to Final Resolution continues and the two men involved in the main event of that show, World Champion Jeff Hardy and former champ Bobby Roode, will be on hand for the show. In the interest of building the PPV expect at least a verbal showdown, if not something outright physical.
  • Wes Briscowill face the Gut Check judges who will decide if he gets a TNA contract or not. Expect his biggest cheerleaderKurt Angleto be on hand for this as well.

All this and much more on the last IMPACT Wrestling show of November!

*****

Previously on IMPACT Wrestling: Wes Brisco wins his Gut Check challenge match much to the joy of his mentor Kurt Angle, Aces and 8’s put Eric Young out for the foreseeable future, Austin Aries calls out Brooke Hogan and accuses her and Bully Ray of having a secret relationship.

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We are live at the Impact Zone in Orlando, FL. Todd Keneley welcomes the home audience and quickly hypes “Championship Thursday” before “Not Quite the nWo Theme” brings out GM Hulk HoganMike Tenay and Taz join Keneley at the announce table, who talks about Aries’ bombshell from last week. Hogan says his world almost self-imploded last week. He says as the GM he runs the show, but he’s also a father, and last week the GM and the father collided in the ring. Hogan says he wants to know the truth right now. He calls out Bully Ray, telling him he needs to fess up and tell him what’s going on.

Ray’s music hits and out he comes in street clothes (well, more street than his wrestling gear at least). Hogan tells Ray he needs to lay it out straight and asks him what’s going on between him and his daughter. Ray chastizes Hogan for not trusting him over the past two months and now he wants some answers. Hogan tells him to cut the crap and tell him what’s going on. Ray asks Hogan if he’s sure he wants to know the answers, specifically the answer to who the number one man in her life is.

Brooke Hogan‘s music hits, bringing out the woman in question. Hogan poses the same question to Brooke as he did to Ray. Brooke tries to say it’s not what he thinks, but Hogan interrupts and says he never wants to see her with another wrestler again. Austin Aries appears via ImpactTron to interrupt the proceedings. Aries says there are wrestlers waiting on him and we pan out and see he’s in Hogan’s office waiting for him to start “Championship Thursday”. Aries lays on Hogan’s desk and asks how Brooke can lay on something so uncomfortable, sending Hogan angrily walking to the back.

  • Thoughts: …That wasn’t half-bad. I was expecting the worst, but everyone played their parts well and Aries was especially awesome at antagonizing Hogan via ImpactTron. Compared to the “scandal” on the other show this is like watching an Oscar-nominated movie.

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IMPACT Hype: Championship Thursday for Rob Van Dam‘s X-Division Championship, AJ Styles/James Storm Vs. Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian.

Next on IMPACT: Mickie James takes on Gail Kim. We see shots of both women stretching and getting ready as we go to commercial.

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-Commercial Break-

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Gail Kim makes her way out for the opening contest. We see a clip from two weeks ago, where her opponent tonight Mickie James eliminated her from the #1 Contendership battle royal. “Hardcore Country” starts up, bringing James to the ring.

—–

Match #1: Mickie James Vs. Gail Kim

Kim goes for a quick roll-up, but James easily kicks out. They lock up, and Kim traps her in a waistlock. Kim sends James to the mat with a forearm, but James quickly recovers and chases her to the ropes. Kim kicks James in the gut and applies a wristlock. James tries to cartwheel out but Kim grabs her by the hair and drops her over her knee. Kim sends James face-first into the corner and follows it up with a running clothesline smash. Kim connects with the Terminus (HA!) for a 2-count.

Kim drives James face-first into the mat then traps her in a head/arm scissors. Kim pulls back on the hair, adding leverage, then wrenches her down to the mat. Kim goes for another pin but James bridges out. Kim goes for a spinning toehold but James kicks her into the corner. She follows up with a flapjack, then kips up. James heads to the top turnbuckle and jumps over Kim landing on her feet. Kim connects with a front dropkick and goes for the pin, using the ropes for leverage, but Terrell refuses to count the fall. James counters the the Eat Defeat and follows up with a Mick Kick. James goes for the pin but only gets a 2-count.

Kim catches James in the midsection with a kick but James fights back and connects with a hurricanrana. James follows it up with a series of running clotheslines and a running dropkick. Kim tries to fight back but James counters with a neckbreaker for another 2-count. Kim counters the MickieDT, but James keeps at it and hits it in full from the second rope for the 1…2…3!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Mickie James (4:59)

  • Match Review: A good way to start off the show wrestling-wise, and a good Knockouts match to boot. 2 for 1 on that one. Although given the two involved in the match, it’s not surprising; Kim and James have wrestled one another enough times over the years that they can have a good match in their sleep. “Sexy ref” aside, the Knockouts division is the dominant women’s division in mainstream wrestling and I’m glad at least one of the “big two” seems to somewhat care about quality.

—–

James Storm is backstage talking to the mysterious camera man. Storm says he makes his own decisions and starts talking about how when someone mocks his family, especially his daughter, he gets mad. AJ Styles shows up and tells Storm to stop complaining because he can’t get another title shot until 2013. Storm tells Styles that he needs to get his head back in the game and to start tonight with their tag team match. Styles skulks off as Storm says he’s just trying to help him.

  • Thoughts: I missed the episode where Storm lost his #1 contendership to Bobby Roode but that doesn’t mean I’m any less mad about it. I can’t believe they went that direction. It’s like TNA is afraid of letting Storm break that glass ceiling. Ridiculous. This has nothing to do with this little segment, which was fine, but I just needed to get that out.

—–

-Commercial Break-

—–

Championship Thursday Deliberation, Part 1

Hulk Hogan barges into his office, yelling at Austin Aries for his comment earlier. The other contenders (Kid Kash, Zema Ion, and Kenny King). Hogan asks King why he should get the shot when he was “hee hee haw-ing” with Aries and has yet to make a splash. King says he lit it up while Hogan was out due to the Aces and 8’s. Ion says he’s the only one who’s kept the X-Division strong lately and deserves the shot. Kid Kash says he started the X-Division. Hogan dismisses King from the deliberation, then kicks everyone out of his office.

  • Thoughts: Kenny King left ROH to wrestle two matches in TNA, then disappear for three months only to reemerge for a quick dismissal from Hogan. You wonder if he’s regretting what he did yet?

—–

Bobby Roode comes out to the ring in his wrestling gear. He says that last week he made a statement by attacking Jeff Hardy after his match against Christian York. We see picture in picture footage of the damage he did. Roode says that last week was also Open Fight Night and Hardy got called out by a “nobody”, a “Gut Check rookie”. Roode says this is the same Gut Check rookie he laid out last week with one move while Hardy almost lost to him, and calls Hardy a “paper champion”. Roode says he will prove it at Final Resolution. Roode says if you want to make a name for yourself in TNA, you don’t waste time with Hardy, you call out the “longest reigning, most dominant reigning World Champion in the history of company”. His diatribe is interrupted by the music of York, who heads to the ring sternly and with malicious intent. Roode stops him and yells at York for interrupting him. He tells York to get out of his ring, and York responds with a slap. Roode rolls out of the ring as York grabs a mic. York says if Roode wants someone to call him out, he is calling him out. Roode and York yell at each other, and Roode rips off his shirt and says that York’s got him…and awkward cut to commercial.

  • Thoughts: More solid mic work from Roode, and a nice lead-in to his match against York. Unfortunately York’s mic work is, well, not that great and their whole yelling/overly aggressive hand gesture thing before the commercial break was more funny than they probably intended. Cool to see York is getting an actual shot on the TNA roster though…a shot at jobbing sure, but a shot nonetheless.

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-Commercial Break-

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Match #2: Christian York Vs. Bobby Roode

Roode gets a quick side headlock and transitions into a hammerlock. Roode goes back to the side headlock and takes York down with a running shoulder block when sent into the ropes. Roode heads back into the ropes, but York catches him with a hip toss followed by a couple of shoulder blocks of his own. York goes for the quick cover, but Roode kicks out and quickly bails to the outside. Roode pulls York out and sends him back first into the apron. York reverses Roode’s Irish whip and sends the former champion into the ring steps. York rolls him back in and goes to the top, but Roode crotches him.

York crumples to the mat, and Roode stomps on him a bunch before choking him with his boot. Roode picks York up and slaps him across the face. Roode sends York into the corner, but runs into an elbow and a boot on consecutive occasions. York tries to follow up but gets dropped with a clothesline when he comes rushing out of the corner. Roode follows up with a vertical suplex and goes for a second-rope move, but York gets the boot up. York starts fighting back with rights, but gets caught with a boot to the gut. Roode sends him into the corner, but York rushes out and hits a flurry of offense. York goes to the top and hits the double stomp followed by a running Dreamscape in the corner. York goes for the pin but only gets 2.

York goes for the Mood Swing but Roode blocks it. Roode goes for the Fisherman’s Suplex but York rolls him up for a close as hell 2-count. Roode tries to bail out, but York grabs him. York’s attention turns to the ref for a second, allowing Roode to clothesline him from behind. Roode locks on a crossface in the center of the ring for the submission victory.

Winner [via Submission]: Bobby Roode (5:18)

  • Match Review: York/Roode put on a damn fine match, with York looking like a star even in defeat and Roode not only selling like a million bucks but also reinforcing his heel-ish ways. I wouldn’t mind seeing them tussle in a longer matchup. TNA seems invested in York, which is interesting since he’s the last person I’d expect them to get invested in.

—–

Post-Match: Roode grabs a chair and chases off the ref. Jeff Hardy emerges from the back to make the save. He attempts a Twist of Fate, but Roode slips out and escapes to the ramp. Hardy checks on the fallen York while staring Roode down. Roode is all evil smiles and intentions.

—–

We go back to the announce table, where they talk about the series of attacks from The Aces and 8’s over the past three weeks first on Sting, then Magnus, and finally Eric Young. Tenay says we’ll hear from Young’s “wife” ODB later tonight.

—–

The Aces and 8’s Clubhouse

One of the members talks about their attack strategy and how they attack whomever the dart falls on. The member says that Christmas has come early because D.O.C. goes one on one with Kurt Angle next week. Devon interrupts and says he wants the TV Title back since he never actually lost it. He says he wants Samoa Joe next week and if Hulk Hogan agrees to this they will not raise any hell. Or as much hell. Or something.

  • Thoughts: Good callback on Devon never losing the TV Title. I was wondering if that was ever going to be brought up again. But let’s be honest: asking for a TV Title match is a pretty weak demand to prevent chaos. Aim higher, guys.

—–

Next on IMPACT: Preliminary Gut Check deliberation among the three judges after the break.

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-Commercial Break-

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The Gut Check Backstage Deliberation

Al Snow, Bruce Prichard, and Taz talk about Wes Brisco. Taz says Brisco is the first to win the Gut Check challenge and that means something. Prichard is uneasy about Brisco going a “million miles a minute”. Taz brings up Kurt Angle‘s endorsement, and Pritchard says that shouldn’t matter.

—–

Bruce Prichard is backstage talking to a stage hand. He tells him to let him know when “he” arrives. Kurt Angle shows up to make a last minute plea on behalf of Wes Brisco. Angle asks where Snow is, and Prichard says he doesn’t know, and Angle stalks off. D’Lo Brown walks over and says he hasn’t been able to get into contact with Snow and Prichard says it’s “not like him” to not show up.

  • Thoughts: Oh my god just have Brisco turn on Angle already this cheerleading nonsense is soooo annoying!

—–

Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian make their way out to the ring for the next match. Kazarian gets on the mic and says it’s ironic that AJ Styles is teaming with James Storm because he’s sorry ’bout Styles’ “damn luck”. He then says Styles is going to be haunted in 10 days when he hears Daniels announced as the winner of their match at Final Resolution. The former World Tag Team Champions of the Worlds celebrate their insult as we go to commercial.

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-Commercial Break-

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James Storm makes his way out for the face team. We see video of Storm pinning Styles at Turning Point, costing Styles a shot at the World Title for the next year.

—–

Match #3: AJ Styles/James Storm Vs. Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian

Styles and Kazarian start the match off. A competitive lock up results in a waistlock from Kazarian. Kazarian backs him into the corner and backs up. Styles rushes him, but Kazarian takes him down with a drop toehold and applies a front facelock. Kazarian transitions into a side headlock as they get to their feet. Styles sends Kazarian into the ropes and attempts a dropkick but Kazarian ducks it, sending him to the mat. Styles sadly tags out to Storm.

Kazarian goes for a kick but Storm catches it then lays into him with a series of right hands. Storm takes him down with a running reverse neckbreaker. Daniels tags in and is the victim of a back body drop. Styles tags back in and they go for a double elbow, but Storm is the only one who hits it. Styles goes for a knee smash, but misses and Daniels takes advantage. Kazarian tags in and Daniels hip tosses him, creating a legdrop. Kazarian dropkicks Styles into his corner, causing Storm to tag in. Storm takes it to Daniels and Kazarian. Storm connects with an Enziguri and goes for the lung blower, but Daniels holds Kazarian’s hands to prevent it.

Daniels tags in and stomps down Storm in the corner. Apparently Daniels/Kazarian are now known as “Bad Influence” apparently according to the announcers. Daniels slams Storm to the mat and tags Kazarian in. They do their springboard elbow drop/leg drop combo and Kazarian goes for the pin. 2-count. Storm breaks out a chinlock, but Daniels interferes on the apron to allow Kazarian to hit a spinning heel kick. Kazarian goes for the pin, but only gets a 2-count.

Daniels tags in and hits a running forearm in the corner. Daniels/Kazarian celebrate with a Gangnam Style dance, allowing Storm to break out of the corner and tag Styles in. Styles takes it to both men, connecting with a drop down neckbreaker on Daniels. Styles hits a springboard forearm on Daniels and attempts a splash on Kazarian on the outside, but Kazarian easily moves and he eats ringside floor. Daniels rolls him back into the ring as Kazarian knocks Storm from the apron. Daniels/Kazarian hit their double team finisher for the 1…2…KICK OUT. Kazarian holds Styles’ arms and Daniels gets a running start, but Styles kicks him in the gut. Storm pulls Kazarian out and sends him into the ring steps. Storm secretly tags in. Styles goes for a Pele but misses completely. Storm comes in and drops Daniels with the Last Call Superkick for the 1…2…3!

Winners [via Pinfall]: AJ Styles/James Storm (7:07)

  • Match Review: An okay match overall, but I really enjoyed Styles playing up the whole “loss of confidence” angle by continually messing up and botching spots. Having Storm as the guy to help him makes sense too since he had an issue of his own this year. Also I hope Daniels/Kazarian never do the Gangnam Style thing ever again. Ever. Again.

—–

Post-Match: Storm tries to celebrate with Styles, but Styles brushes him off and exits the ring looking embarrassed and down on himself. Storm celebrates with a beer in the ring.

—–

Still to Come on IMPACT: RVD defends the X-Division Title and Wes Brisco faces the Gut Check judges.

—–

TNA reveals the location of its big March PPV Lockdown: the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX!

  • Thoughts: The Alamodome? Really? Isn’t that a bit too, erm, big given the size of their fanbase? They are going to paper the sh*t out of that crowd.

—–

Championship Deliberation, Part 2

The three remaining contestants make their way back into Hulk Hogan‘s office. Zema Ion references Pastamania and his old reality show, and Hogan tells him to stop kissing ass and sit down. Kid Kash then makes his case for getting the title shot. Austin Aries then gives his reasoning. Hogan eliminates Kash and Ion, giving Aries the shot. Okay.

  • Thoughts: “You made fun of my daughter…have a title shot, brother!”

—–

-Commercial Break-

—–

TV Champion Samoa Joe is backstage. He says that Devon didn’t lose the belt, he abandoned it so he stepped in to take over. He then asked Devon to step up next week then promised he will lose.

—–

Doug Williams makes his way out for the next match. Joey Ryan makes his way out to the stage, mic in hand. Ryan awkwardly tells Christy Hemme he’s got “the next one” then makes generic sexist remarks. He then introduces Williams’ opponent Matt Morgan. Out Morgan comes in Hulk Hogan‘s stolen cape.

  • Thought: Hey Hulk now’s a good time to call the cops and get your cape back. Or just take it while he’s wrestling. Either way you can easily solve this.

—–

Match #4: Doug Williams Vs. Matt Morgan (w/ Joey Ryan)

Williams tries to take it to Morgan, but Morgan uses his size and power to level him with a clothesline. Morgan elbows Williams in the corner then chokes him with his boot. Morgan drops Williams with a side slam, then stares into the camera (no Jim Halpert face though). He throws Williams in the corner, but Williams kicks him off. He attempts a second rope move, but Morgan catches him and delivers a chokeslam. Morgan measures Williams and connects with the Carbon Footprint for the easy pinfall victory.

Winner [via Pinfall]: Matt Morgan (2:14)

  • Match Review: Matt Morgan is an impressive man to look at, but oh my god he’s so boring in the ring. This match didn’t change my mind at all. He’s lucky Joey Ryan is paired with him to give him at least a little entertainment value.

—–

Bruce Prichard and D’Lo Brown are backstage continuing to question the whereabouts of Al Snow. Brown offers to stand in for Snow in the Gut Check deliberation and Prichard agrees to it if Snow doesn’t show up.

  • Thoughts: So Brown takes out Snow to guarantee Brisco winning the Gut Check, thereby having two secret Aces and 8’s members as a legitimate part of TNA. Respect.

—–

-Commercial Break-

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The announcers hype up next week’s show, including D.O.C./Angle, Joe/Devon, and a six man tag team match featuring a bunch of competitors I wasn’t paying attention to due to something in the real world distracting me.

—–

Wes Brisco Faces the Gut Check Judges

Jeremy Borash brings out Wes Brisco to the ring. Bruce Prichard grabs the mic and announces that Al Snow didn’t show up tonight and no one has heard from him. Prichard says the show must go on and announces D’Lo Brown as his replacement. After that whole spiel, the actual judging begins. Prichard starts off and brings up his history with Brisco’s father and how he’s watched him grow up. Prichard says his match last week wasn’t great; he won but it wasn’t what he knows Brisco is capable of. However Prichard knows what Brisco can do and gives “YES!” as his vote. 

Taz is the second one up. He brings up Kurt Angle and says that it means a lot to him that he has the endorsement, but votes “NO” saying that Brisco isn’t ready yet. Brisco gets on the mic to convince Brown he deserves the spot. Brisco says all he’s ever dreamed about was wrestling and that he’s not doing it just for him but he’s doing it for his fans and family. Brisco asks Brown the chance to prove himself. D’Lo Brown is up to make the final decision. Brown thanks Taz and Prichard for letting him stand in for Snow. Brown says Brisco’s match last week left him conflicted and part of him doesn’t know if he’s ready to be on the TNA roster. Brown, however, says that if it’s good enough for Prichard it’s good enough for him and answers “YES!”

Wes Brisco has won a TNA contract.

Angle and Garett Bischoff come out to embrace Brisco immediately following the news.

  • Thoughts: Woo? I don’t know, I didn’t catch his match last week but I assume a Brisco/Bischoff match is worth skipping. This is all leading somewhere that seems predictable. Let’s see if they go that route.

—–

The mysterious interviewer tries to ask Hulk Hogan outside of his office about eliminating two people at once but Hogan brushes him off. Bully Ray stops him and asks why Hogan didn’t come to him to kick Austin Aries’ head in instead of Rob Van Dam. Ray accuses Hogan of mixing business with personal, but Hogan responds and accuses him of the same thing. Hogan angrily walks off while Ray stares a picture of Hogan hanging on the wall, sighing.

  • Thoughts: Ray’s got a point; you don’t reward someone’s disrespect with a title shot. That’s ridiculous. Also if Ray wasn’t so damn good this storyline would be horrible.

—–

-Commercial Break-

—–

ODB is backstage talking to the mysterious camera man. ODB talks about how she finally got a hold of her hubby Eric Young and they were going strong until the Aces and 8’s attacked him and shattered his ankle. She says she knows where he is, in the hospital, then starts breaking down and walks away saying she can’t do this.

—–

The announce team run down the three big Final Resolution matches.

—–

Austin Aries is backstage with Hulk Hogan. Aries says getting this title shot was his plan all along so he could get his World Title plan. Hogan says he knows then sarcastically wishes Aries luck in his match tonight. Aries exits to the Impact Zone, making his entrance for the main event. TNA X-Division Champion Rob Van Dam makes his way out next. Jeremy Borash handles the in-ring introductions and also plugs Wrangler Jeans because money, bro.

—–

Main Event: Rob Van Dam (c) Vs. Austin Aries for the TNA X-Division Title

RVD backs Aries into the corner, and Aries hides in between the ropes to force a break. Aries grabs a headlock, but RVD turns it into a wristlock. Aries reverses it, then RVD reverses back. RVD lays into Aries, backing him into the corner. RVD whips Aries into the ropes but gets a boot to the face. RVD hits a leg scissors takedown and goes for a pin. 2-count. Shoulder blocks in the corner from RVD followed by a kick. RVD goes for a dropkick, but Aries puts on the breaks to avoid it. Aries goes for a springboard senton, but hits knees instead. RVD attempts to follow up with the Rolling Thunder, but Aries rolls to the outside. RVD hits Aries with a baseball slide instead, then hits a dive over the top rope and onto the former champ. Both men attempt to recover as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Aries backdrops RVD to the apron then shoulder blocks him to the floor. Aries revs up and goes for a suicide dive but RVD jumps to the apron and connects with a kick or something. It was awkward looking. RVD stays on him and drops him stomach first on the guardrail. RVD goes to the apron and attempts his spinning legdrop, but Aries moves out of the way and he hits nothing but steel. Aries grabs him over the rail and connects with a reverse neckbreaker, cracking his back. Aries rolls RVD in and goes for the pin but only gets a 2-count. He tries for a series of other pinfall attempts, but fails at each one.

Aries puts RVD in a seated position and hits a running uppercut to the back. He goes for another pin and gets another 2-count. Aries tries to send RVD face-first into the top turnbuckle, but RVD blocks it and kicks him in the face. Aries ducks a clothesline and spikes RVD with a DDT. Aries goes for the pin. 2-count once more. Aries tries for a Rolling Thunder of his own but can’t quite complete it and finishes with a splash instead for a 2-count. Aries jumps to the top turnbuckle RVD-style, does the jokey “RVD” taunt, then goes for the Five Star Frog Splash. RVD moves and Aries eats canvas.

RVD kicks Aries away, ending with a springboard back kick. RVD delivers more corner shoulder blocks and a spinning kick. Aries drops to the mat and finally connects with the Rolling Thunder. RVD follows up with a Split-Legged Moonsault but Aries gets his foot on the rope during the pin attempt. Aries ducks a kick and hits a rolling forearm. Aries mocks RVD once more and gets an elevated dropkick for his troubles. RVD goes back to the top rope and Aries pushes him off, sending RVD face-first into the guardrail.

Aries rolls RVD back in, then grabs a mic for some reason. Aries mocks RVD’s state, saying that his “messed up hair and heavy breathing” reminds him of Brooke Hogan. Aries says he’s going to be the new X-Division Champion and drops the mic. Aries goes to finish RVD off, but out comes Bully Ray to cause the DQ.

Winner and STILL X-Division Champion [via DQ]: Rob Van Dam (12:30)

  • Match Review: On one hand I was excited to see the X-Division main event tonight’s show. On the other hand, this match was only a means to an end in the grand scheme of things and the focus was more on Aries/Hogan than the actual X-Division Title. And to add insult to injury the match itself wasn’t even all that great. Good hype saying “first meeting ever” but poor execution. Disappointing.

—–

Post-Match: Aries rolls out of the ring to prevent a Ray attack, but out comes Hulk Hogan to the entrance stage, leaving him in a rough spot. Luckily for him though Hogan is more concerned with Ray and the two stare one another down. Ray accuses Hogan of still not trusting him as the show concludes.

*****

Overall Show Thoughts:

  • Not a bad episode of IMPACT Wrestling this week. The wrestling itself was of good quality, with 3 of the 5 matches standing out as better than average. The Bully Ray/Hulk Hogan/Brooke Hogan storyline is a bit stupid, but thanks to Ray (and even the Hulkster) it’s actually working pretty well for me. Unfortunately in terms of building Final Resolution it didn’t do its job. The main event was barely paid attention to at all, with just a minor run-in to push that feud which barely constitutes a feud. Also the Aces and 8’s demanding a TV Title match to prevent them randomly attacking people seemed weird; aren’t they about chaos and not about winning championships? Weird. Either way I was entertained overall in terms of the episode by itself, but they’re gonna really need to sell the PPV hard next week to encourage any buys. They wasted this week in that respect.
  • Best Match: Christian York Vs. Bobby Roode
  • Best Segment: The opening segment between Ray/Hulk/Brooke/Aries.

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Jon appears courtesy of his own wrestling site The Pro Wrestling Nerd. You can also follow him on Twitter if you so choose.

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