Bully said TNA had no more heroes. He has defeated everyone. Bully stated that he deserved to be in the TNA Hall of Fame. Bully called out Dixie Carter but the GM Hulk Hogan accepted. Hulk said that he had to give Bully Ray his due; he defeated Sting on Sunday. Hulk said all Summer long, the BFG Series will be going down. Next week, the twelve BFG Series will be announced in their official "selection show." Hogan announced that tonight it will be Bully Ray vs the man he screwed over twice, Jeff Hardy.
Hardy walked to the ring while Bully freaked out. When Hardy got in the ring, Bully got out. Bully told Hogan that he couldn't do that but Hogan disagreed. Hogan announced that tonight he would make Hardy feel comfortable. While the World Title won't be on the line, the match will have a monster ladder. He said that the thing hanging above is a ball-peen hammer. Hardy pulled out the hammer and taunted Bully with it. Whoever gets to the hammer first tonight gets to use it.
Reaction: Big match announced tonight with the Ladder Match. Interesting that Hogan moved right along from Sting, who he claimed would save TNA. I would be pissed if I was Sting.
We got a BFG Series video highlighting the competition.
Chavo Guerrero spoke with Hernandez backstage. Chavo said he was frustrated. Chavo announced that both men were added to the BFG Series. Hernandez wanted to shake Chavo's hand. Chavo said he taught him alot but not everything.
Reaction: I don't know if both men are actually in the series or just in qualifiers in the series. If they are in that means that Chavo, Hernandez and Jay Bradley are three of the twelve men in the series.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Hernandez vs Chavo Guerrero
Bound For Glory Series Qualifying Match
One of these men will move onto the BFG Series. Hernandez powered through Chavo with a big shoulder block on Chavo. Chavo fought back with a bit of chain wrestling including a big arm drag on Hernandez. Chavo went for a few European Uppercuts on Hernandez. Tenay announced that over the next two weeks, they would determine the other eleven BFG Series participants. Chavo locked in a modified Armbar on Hernandez, who power him up into the corner. Chavo went for a Crossbody but Hernandez caught him and hit a belly to belly suplex.
Hernandez hit a avalanche in the corner and then followed it up with a backbreaker for a two count. Hernandez missed a Slingshot Shoulder Block and then ran into the Three Amigos but Hernandez blocked the third. Chavo went for the Frog Splash but Hernandez got hit knee up. Hernandez lifted Chavo for the Border Toss but Chavo reversed. A series of rollups led to Hernandez pinning Chavo with a high stack. Hernandez moves onto the BFG Series. Chavo was clearly frustrated after the match but pounded fists with Hernandez after.
Reaction: Is this the start of a Chavo heel turn? The match wasn't anything special but I liked the story of Chavo being pissed that the younger Hernandez beat him.
Backstage, Rampage Jackson arrived backstage. He joked around with both Gunner and James Storm.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Devon came to the ring through the crowd. Devon said that Abyss had something he wanted. He said the Slammiversary match wasn't a sanctioned match. He wanted him to give him his Television Title. Joseph Park interrupted. Park walked to the ring and said Devon robbed him of his title shot. Park said was going to whip Devon but while he was talking, took down Devon with a double leg.
Park followed it up with a few shoulder blocks but Devon quickly took him down. Devon used the mic to smack Park in the head. He continued pounding on Park including sending him into the turnbuckle post. Devon was going to use a chair on Park when Abyss' music hit. The Monster never came out. Devon said if Abyss didn't want to come out then he would find him. Meanwhile, Park was shown to have a bloody mouth and started to go into his weird mode.
Reaction: I like the story despite the obvious nature of it. It has a certain cheesy element but it is still interesting to watch. I was surprised that Abyss wasn't stripped of the TV Title because of Sunday but that might still happen.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Devon and Knux were backstage searching for Abyss. They were so far unsuccessful.
Robbie E headed to the ring. Robbie said he was the MVP of the 2012 BFG Series. He said he beat Jeff Hardy who won the thing. He even got five point. Robbie said after he wins his qualifying match, he might get 10 or more points. Whoever his opponent is, is going down. Samoa Joe made his entrance.
Robbie E vs Samoa Joe
BFG Series Qualifier
Joe went right after Robbie, pounding him into the corner. Enziguri was followed by a Musclebuster attempt. Robbie fought out but landed hard after a Crossbody attempt. Joe hit a few of his signatures and then connected with the Musclebuster. He followed it up with the Rear Naked Choke for the win. Joe is in the BFG Series.
Reaction: Robbie was funny here, playing his douchebag character. This will be Joe's third year in the BFG Series. I hope he has a good year because he had good support at Slammiversary.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Mickie James approached Velvet Sky backstage. She brought her a Georgia Lottery Ticket. She apologized for last week. She said everything moved in slow motion. She said Taryn Terrell stole her moment and then her match at Slammiversary. Velvet Sky said she was ready to go and challenged Mickie for a rematch. Mickie said she already had a match against someone that Velvet overlooked as champion. Mickie sarcastically said she would be ready when Velvet was.
Reaction: Mickie was good here. I like her over-the-top character. She is dodging Velvet now while rubbing it in her face.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Jeremy Borash introduced Rampage Jackson to the ring. Jackson had a weird howling theme mixed with some generic noises. He slowly made his way to the ring. Jackson said he was a pro wrestling fan, which is why he started knocking people out. Rampage said he came to TNA to be the best and beat the best. Rampage was then interrupted by the Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle.
Kurt said if Rampage wanted to beat the best, he was staring at him. Rampage might be the best in the cage but this was his ring. Angle said when he is ready, Rampage will have to go through him. The two shook hands before Rampage pulled him in tight. The exchange ended there.
Reaction: Rampage wasn't great in his delivery. He talked to fast and wasn't loud enough. I am excited for his potential though. A Rampage vs Angle Match intrigues me and that looks to be the direction TNA is going with this. Is this the match we will get at this year's Bound For Glory? Will Rampage be ready?
Backstage, Hardy talked about tonight's Ladder Match. Tonight is the time for revenge.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Bully Ray asked Mr. Anderson backstage if he has seen D'Lo. Anderson said he had a headache. Bully said the best thing to happen to the group is kicking him out. Anderson mentioned the open VP slot. Bully complained about the Ladder Match rematch. Bully then complained about the gang not being represented in the BFG Series, which he would address right now. Anderson asked if Bully needed help in the Ladder Match. Bully said a good VP would make that call.
Austin Aries, Bobby Roode and Kenny King vs James Storm, Gunner and Chris Sabin
Storm, Gunner and Sabin won their respective titles at Slammiversary. Tenay mentioned Sabin cashing in the title for a World Title shot at Destination X this Summer. Sabin took down King with a number of arm drags to start the match. Sabin took down King with a headscissor before Aries and Roode cheapshotted him. Everything broke down in the ring leading to Sabin diving on the heels at ringside.
Roode quickly gained control on Sabin. Storm eventually tagged in and took down his opponents before Aries hit him with a neckbreaker. The villains wore down Storm in his corner. King connected with a Springboard Leg Drop. Eventually Storm fought back and sent Aries into Roode. He made the hot tag to Gunner, who went to town on his opponents. Slingshot Suplex on King before Roode broke things up.
Aries went for a corner dropkick but Gunner sent him outside. Things broke down with everyone hitting their moves. Sabin countered a Kenny King move and hit his "All Hail Sabin" cross-legged driver to pick up the win for his team.
Reaction: Good match to put the new champions over. Sabin will be challenging Bully Ray for the World Title this Summer so he needs some big wins. This was one of those needed wins.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Devon and Knux continued searching for Abyss. They looked to have found someone as they stormed into a locker room.
Brooke Hogan talked with Taryn backstage. Brooke praised Taryn for her match at Slammiversary. Taryn said she was focusing on the Knockouts Title. Taryn asked Brooke if she was still in love with Bully. Brooke told her to keep it about wrestling and not focus on that.
Mickie James vs Taeler Hendrix
This is Taeler's first match since Thanksgiving. Mickie cheered her on as she made her entrance. James mocked Taeler for little moved. Taeler locked Mickie in a nice arm wringer. Taeler kept getting little pieces of offense in the match. Mickie got a little more aggressive with a headlock and then a shoulder block. We got what sounded like a "Cena Sucks" chant followed by a "Yes" chant. Mickie shook Taeler's hand again.
Taeler caught Mickie with a back kick but Mickie went down holding her knee. She was clearly feigning but when Taeler checked on her, Mickie caught her with the roundhouse kick for the three.
Reaction: Its nice to get some fresh blood in the Knockouts Division. I am a fan of Taeler. She should offer a few new feuds for the girls of the roster. By the way, Mickie is doing great so far in her new role. She plays the perfect obnoxious heel.
Once again, Devon and Knux were looking for Abyss. A shadow was shown grabbing Knux from behind. Abyss was then shown going after Devon. The Monster laid out both Knux and Devon. Abyss stood over Devon and told him he would take the TV Belt into the abyss.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
We got highlights of the Slammiversary Main Event. They showed the Tweet from Sting that talked about how he fought Bully Ray alone on Sunday. His future will be discussed next week. Also AJ Styles vs Kurt Angle in a BFG Qualifier. It was also be Bad Influence vs James Storm and Gunner in a tag team BFG Qualifying Match.
Reaction: Interesting that either AJ or Kurt will be in the BFG Series and not both. I am intrigued if Sting felt betrayed by the TNA roster and where that leads with his character.
Jeff Hardy vs Bully Ray
Ladder Match
Hardy dove on Bully as he made his entrance. He followed it up with a big clothesline, a headscissor and a clothesline from the apron to the outside. He continued mauling Bully before pulling a Ladder out from under the ring. He was going to climb the Ladder but Bully pulled him out of the ring.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Bully was dominating Hardy in the corner as we returned from break. He hit a knee whip on Hardy to work the leg. Hardy fought back but ran into a huge back body drop from the bully. Bully picked up the ladder and drove it down into the challenger. Bully followed that up with a Big Boot moments later. He mocked Hulk Hogan by doing his taunts.
Bully locked in a full nelson but Hardy countered into a DDT. The two exchanged rights with Hardy coming out on top. Leg Drop to Bully's groin followed by the dropkick. Hardy set up the ladder and began climbing but Bully cut him off and knocked the Ladder down. Hardy sent Bully in the corner and then dropkicked the ladder into his groin.
Hardy once again climbed the Ladder but was once again knocked off. He was knocked off again moments later. A third attempt was also unsuccessful. Bully then attempted the climb on his own, and was successful in grabbing the hammer. He targeted Hardy with the hammer but Hardy caught him with the Twist of Fate. Hardy caught the hammer after it flung in the air.
Hardy went to use the hammer but Bully ran away. In the backstage area, Bully Ray screamed for his belt. Hulk Hogan appeared behind him and was going to hit him in the head with the hammer but Brooke rushed up and screamed "no." The three looked at each other before Bully walked off.
Reaction: The Ladder Match was solid but the non-finish was disappointing. Hardy clearly had the upperhand before things ended. The Hogan/Brooke/Bully drama was a strange way to close the show.
