By Talon
May 23, 2013
Tampa, Florida
IMPACT kicked off with a message about the Moore, OK tornado including a link to the American Red Cross.May 23, 2013
Tampa, Florida
Hulk Hogan made his way to the ring in front of the Tampa crowd. Mike Tenay referenced a "hometown Hulk Hogan" pop. Hogan talked about drinking a few in preparation for tonight. He said Shark Boy swam up to his beach and pounded one away with him. Hogan called them his family. He then referenced AJ Styles joining the Aces and 8s tonight. Hogan then called out a man who was with him through thick and thin, Sting.
Hogan told Sting he appreciated what he did. Hogan said the stipulation at Slammiversary didn't have to go down. Sting said he respected him but he wanted him to keep the stipulation. Sting said he needs to show up at Boston and take the power from Bully. He only needs one chance to take the title. If Sting can't take the title from Bully, he doesn't deserve to be champion. Hogan said he doesn't need to put the stip on the line. Sting got lost in his dialogue.
At that point, Brooke Hogan's music hit and she made her way to the ring. Brooke doesn't want Sting or Hulk to take blame for what she did. She drove a wedge between Sting and her dad because of her mistake. Brooke said she was the fly in the ointment. Brooke said she was proud of the Knockouts but she can't help but feel like she is responsible for everything. Brooke implied that she would step down as the VP of the Knockouts. Hogan tried talking her out of it when Bully Ray interrupted.
Bully wanted to know why they were taking the blame for everything. It wasn't their fault things went this way. When it comes to who is responsible, it is Bully Ray's fault. He turned TNA upside down. He runs the show around here. Bully does blame Brooke. He blames her for making him fall for her. Every time he wakes up and every time he goes to bed, he thinks of her. They have a connection. He still loves her. He will never take his wedding ring off.
Reaction: I couldn't tell you if Brooke resigned her spot as Knockouts VP. It was your standard opening promo (just like any of the others in the past few months). This is building towards the eventual Brooke Hogan heel turn. I could see it happening at Slammiversary costing Sting the title.
We got a Suicide vignette hyping his return, next!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Suicide vs Joey Ryan vs Petey Williams
Kenny King joined commentary. Joey Ryan substituted for Zema Ion, who is out with appendicitis. Suicide locked in an Octopus Hold and transitioned it into a pinfall. He followed it up with a nice headscissor. Joey Ryan missed a dropkick but connected with a Pumphandle Throw on Petey. He started oiling up but was taken down by Suicide. Suicide locked in a submission on both of his opponents before Petey reversed it.
Petey went for the Canadian Destroyer but Suicide got out. Suicide hit a spider-man like move in the ropes. Codebreaker by Petey on Joey. Suicide reversed a Powerbomb into a rollup but things were broken up by Petey. Joey Ryan broke up the Canadian Destroyer. Suicide hit a modified neckbreaker on Ryan. Suicide hit a Dragon Suplex faceplanted into a Gutbuster move.
Reaction: I was always a fan of the Suicide character so I am happy he is back. Whoever played the character was very good on his feet and didn't mess up one. I thought it might be TJ Perkins because of the spider move in the ropes. The finisher was also pretty damn cool looking as well.
Backstage, Chris Sabin walked into James Storm's locker room. Sabin said he heard Storm was looking for a tag team partner. Sabin said they were part of two of the greatest tag teams in TNA history. Storm said at Slammiversary he has the chance to win the X Title and then possibly trade it in for a World Title shot. Storm declined saying that Sabin needs to look out for himself.
Reaction: Sabin was one of my top choices for Storm's partner but now he is out. We know now that Option C hasn't been scrapped despite Destination X being scrapped. This decision makes me happy as it is a cool little hook for the X Title to mean something more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Backstage, Brooke stopped Bully and asked what he meant when he said he still loved her. Bully confirmed that he still loved her.
Mickie James walked into Velvet Sky taping up her knee. Mickie said she could go to Brooke and have them postpone the match. Velvet didn't want to give Gail the satisfaction for what she did to her. Mickie kept calling her, her friend.
Sam Shaw made his way to the ring for the Gutcheck Tournament. Alex Silva's music played but he never headed to the ring. The Aces and 8s' music hit. Wes Brisco grabbed a mic and mentioned taking out Alex Silva. Wes complained about not being in the tournament tonight. The Aces and 8s then headed to the ring and attacked Shaw. Brisco hit a modified neckbreaker move on Shaw. At that point, Magnus' music hit and the Brit cleared the gang from the ring.
Magnus said that what Brisco said doesn't sit with him. Magnus said Sam Shaw was just like them, young and hungry. Sam Shaw is the friend of Magnus. Magnus told Garett Bischoff to stop smiling or he would knock it off. Magnus said they didn't deserve to be in this tournament. They deserved to get their teeth kicked down their throats. Magnus announced that Brisco would get him right now.
Reaction: I hope this doesn't get Brisco a spot in the tournament. We are getting alot of fresh faces tonight (which is what I have been asking for). I expect we will get even more when the night go on.
Magnus vs Wes Brisco
Magnus attacked Brisco right from the opening bell. After a gutwrench suplex, Brisco recovered ringside with his stable mates.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Brisco was in control when we returned from break. He wore Magnus down with a sleeper. Magnus fired back with a Rebound Clothesline. He caught Brisco with a a Suplex. Magnus went up top but Brisco caught him. Bischoff and Doc interfered leading to a DQ win for Magnus. The gang beat on Magnus when Samoa Joe headed to the ring. The Samoan Submission Machine cleared the group from the ring.
Reaction: This might be leading to a Joe/Magnus vs Brisco/Bischoff tag team match at Slammiversary. No better guys to work with than Joe and Magnus. Nothing special about the match.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
A vignette aired for the TNA Hall of Fame. The second TNA Hall of Famer will be announced at Slammiversary.
Bully Ray was in the back with his gang. Bully didn't want to talk about Brooke. Bully said AJ Styles wouldn't let them down tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
AJ Styles was shown entering the arena on his motorcycle.
Mr. Anderson vs Kurt Angle
Anderson pounded away on Kurt Angle in the corner. Kurt got the upperhand and worked over Anderson in the corner. Keneley referenced the legendary Lockdown Cage Match between Anderson and Angle in 2010. The brawling continued for the next few minutes. Anderson locked in a Key Lock on Angle in the center of the ring.
Angle fired off clotheslines and then a Belly to Belly Suplex. He went for the Angle Slam but Anderson countered into a Fireman's Roll. Mic Check attempt reversed into a series of German Suplexes onto Anderson. Angle went for the Ankle Lock but Anderson pushed him off and hit a Mic Check for a nearfall.
Anderson went up top but Angle threw him off the turnbuckle with a Belly to Belly. At that moment, AJ Styles walked ringside. Taz hugged AJ at ringside. The distraction allowed Anderson to hit a low blow on Angle and then roll him up for the victory.
Reaction: Too much brawling for my tastes. Taz hugged AJ, who didn't hug back. They are teasing AJ being with the group but so far there aren't really any indications that he is. He isn't necessarily with the group, he is just against Angle.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Gail Kim was asked about her match at Slammiversary. Gail said there wouldn't be a match at Slammiversary because she took out everyone. Gail said she deserved the title shot at the PPV for being the greatest Knockout that ever existed. At that point, Taryn Terrell came out of nowhere and attacked Gail. TNA Agent, Pat Kenney pulled Taryn off while Gail Kim retreated.
Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez were on commentary as James Storm headed to the ring. Storm reminded everyone that at Slammiversary, he gets a partner of his choosing. Storm has been part of two of the greatest tag teams in TNA history; America's Most Wanted and Beer Money. Storm said woman love a good tag team...wrestler. Storm was interrupted by Bobby Roode and Austin Aries.
Bobby Roode said he is the king of tag team wrestling. Roode said the four years he was part of Beer Money were the worst years of his career and his life. Roode said the night he smashed a bottle over his head made him the proudest man walking the Earth. Roode wanted to know who Storm's partner at Slammiversary will be.
Bad Influence came out. Daniels made a joke about his opponents. Daniels called Chavo and Hernandez the luckiest team in Mexico. Kazarian called Storm a dumb dummy. Kazarian made a reference to the Christy Hemme/Austin Aries reference. He said whoever he picked wouldn't live up to their standard.
At that moment, Shark Boy came to the ring and posed on the top turnbuckle. Shark Boy (in his Stone Cold voice) said he swam all the way there to Tampa Bay. Sharky said he and Storm got alot in common woman, beer and kicking bass. He wanted to be the partner of Storm. Robbie E then came to the ring and made a case to why he should be Storm's partner. Robbie E said he would make Storm a champion. He carried Rob Terry for years. Their tag name can be Beer Bro, America's Most Bro, GTBB, Two Bros and a Baby, Drunk and Tan or Hairspray and Drink All Day. Shark Boy and Robbie got into it.
Gunner came out of the crowd with a full-length beard. He looked at Storm and then attacked Shark Boy and Robbie E. He hit a backbreaker on Shark Boy and then locked Robbie E in the Torture Rack. Storm said he would see Gunner at Slammiversary.
Reaction: That was a fun segment. Kazarian had a good line about the Hemme/Aries joke of an incident. The Shark Boy return was a good look back on TNA history. I also liked seeing Gunner tonight. Will he actually be the partner of Storm? That remains to be seen. He showed great intensity tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Joseph Park talked to Sting backstage. Park said the boys talked about him getting the strap at Slammiversary sounds like it hurt. Sting said next week it would be Bully Ray and Devon against him and a partner of his choosing, Abyss. He wanted Park to get Abyss here next week. Park denied being able to get it done. Sting said Park was kayfabbing him to the end. Sting said then that he wanted Park to be his partner. Park accepted.
Reaction: I like the mention of Park "kayfabing" as many feel that the Park and Abyss characters being the same. Sting acknowledged the storyline in this segment.
Mickie James vs Velvet Sky
Knockouts Championship
ODB was once again the referee. Velvet worked the arm of Mickie after the opening bell. The two chain wrestled for a few minutes. Velvet hit a basement dropkick on Mickie. Mickie locked in a Swinging Full Nelson move.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Mickie worked the arm of Velvet as we returned from break. Sky hit some sloppy clotheslines and then a back elbow. There was a very sloppy moment where the two just stood there. Mickie connected with a kick to the ribs of Velvet. Velvet hit a nice revolving Headscissor move.
Velvet was favoring her knee when Mickie clipped her knee from behind. She then hit a DDT on the prone Velvet. She immediately covered her for the win and the title. Mickie James is your new Knockout's Champion.
Reaction: The match was incredibly sloppy at points. I like the title change but was hoping for a more clear-cut heel turn by Mickie James. I felt Mickie should have turned during their first title match a month or so ago. TNA drags these things out for far too long.
In the Aces and 8s locker room, Bully was running down D'Lo. The gang toasted Mr. Anderson's victory over angle and then toasted AJ Styles being patched in, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
The Aces and Eights walked to the ring ready to welcome AJ Styles in the gang. The Aces do what they want, what they want. Bully called them the strongest unit. When someone screws up, they pay for it. He called D'Lo Brown a disappointment. He said one guy stepped up and that is Mr. Anderson. He is proud of him. Tonight is about AJ Styles.
AJ Styles walked to the ring through the crowd. Bully said everyone wanted him from Hogan and a possible Fortune reformation. He said AJ knows where the power lies in TNA. He wanted AJ to do something for him, and then handed him a beer. He said AJ never had a beer in his life but he wanted him to drink with him. He said he can give his heart to Jesus but his soul belongs to the club. At that moment, AJ gulped down the beer. He then ordered Anderson to give AJ his colors. Anderson help the vest open for AJ.
At that moment, Kurt Angle walked to the ring. He said he needed to see this moment with his own eyes. He told AJ that his legacy just went down the crapper. He said AJ disgusted him. He said AJ would see him at Slammiversary. He asked AJ if he wanted this. Bully told AJ to put the vest on. AJ finally obliged. Bully and AJ hugged in the center of the ring.
Kurt Angle then got in the ring but the Aces easily beat him down. Bully handed AJ a hammer and told him to take out Angle. AJ hit the knee of Angle in the center of the ring. At that moment, he started laying out members of the group with the hammer. AJ cleared from the ring and taunted the group on the walkway.
Reaction: The moment was predictable but fun. TNA dragged this out for awhile but hopefully now they can move onto what's next for AJ. His character is now a lone wolf. He has no allies, only enemies. He feels betrayed by TNA and by those who didn't believe him. Good final segment!
