iMPACT Wrestling Results (7/28): Ace in the Cage

Source: TNAStars.com

Opening Segment
Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring and calls Hulk Hogan to come out so they can end this once and for all. Angle says that Hogan has been blowing up his phone, but Angle figured that Hogan would have gotton the message after a few days of unanswered calls. Angle says that there is nothing appealing about Immortal because it is full of asskissers and is led by the two biggest scumbags in wrestling. Angle says that he is going to beat Sting for the World Title and because he has never beaten Sting without outside interference. Angle says that he will win at Hardcore Justice and he will prove that he is the best in the world. Angle asks Hogan if he knows what it is like to be the best in the world.

Hogan wants to know if Angle is calling him out because he wants to know if Hogan knows how it feels to be the best in the world. Hogan tells Kurt Angle that he knows what it is like to be the best. He knows what it is like when there was no Sting, Matt Morgan, RVD, or Kurt Angle. He knew what it was like when there was an Andre the Giant. He took the territories on his back and he made it into an international phenomenon.

He knows what it is like to have sixteen year old punks wanting to being like him. In 1984, when Angle was pooping in his diapers, he was packing them in so he knows what it is like to be the best. Now that he can see that they have this cleared up, he says that he was calling Angle because he thought that Angle had a vision of a higher level that he can work at: One that means Angle making more money. Hogan points out that Angle’s kids can’t eat his gold medals. Hogan says that he was going to offer Angle more money and Hogan points out that Angle is disrespecting him.

Angle says that the reason he is not kicking Hogan’s ass is because he respects Hogan. Angle says that he is not Ken Anderson. He cannot be bought. When he signed five years ago with Dixie Carter, he vowed to be the best in the ring. Angle says that he paid to see Hogan back in the day because he was different, he was the best, and he was one of a kind. Now the name Hulk Hogan means something different because Hogan can’t go any more.

Hogan tells Angle to stop because Hogan says that he is never going to step in this ring to wrestle again. After thirty years of being the greatest wrestler and eight back surgeries and hip and knee replacements. Hogan tells Angle that if he says something about his wife or family, he might have to take care of Angle. Maybe Angle is training for the Olympics because he didn’t pin his opponent in 1996. If Angle wants to fight him for his pride, we are getting close to seeing that.

Angle says that Sting was right and Angle says that he lit a fire under Hogan’s ass. Angle says that he wants to go back to the Olympics because the fire still burns. He tells Hogan to prove it if he can still go again. Hogan wants Angle to tell him straight so he asks Kurt Angle one more time. Angle says that if Hogan wants to offer him a lot of money to take care of Sting, why doesn’t Hogan just do it himself. Why not prove that he can do it one more time. Angle tells Hogan not to call him again.

Eric Bischoff enters the building and he is on the phone. He is given an envelope from the Network.

-Commercial Break-

Bound for Glory Series: Gunner vs. Rob Van Dam

Gunner takes RVD to the corner and chokes him with his boot, then shoulderblocks RVD. RVD shifts the advantage in his favor with a right hand and a leg-scissor pin attempt. Rob Van Dam gets planted in a tree-of-woe type slam in the corner and Gunner covers for two. Gunner picks up RVD, but he hits a right hand and a crossbody from the top rope and only gets two. Clothesline by Gunner only gets him two. Gunner Irish Whip’s RVD into the corner and charges after him, just to receive a kick in the jaw and a top rope thrust kick. RVD chokes Gunner in the ropes and goes for a slingshot leg drop to the apron, but Gunner gets out of the way. Gunner cuts RVD off in an attempted kick and sends him into the guardrail. Gunner brings RVD back in the ring and goes for a pin for a two count. RVD finds some momentum again with another kick and Rolling Thunder. Gunner rolls to the outside right after the move and RVD tries a baseball slide. Gunner body slams RVD into the floor. Gunner goes to the top rope, but RVD tries to knock him off to no avail. Gunner decides to get in the ring and try for a slingshot suplex for a two count. Gunner stocks RVD for a powerslam, but RVD falls and Gunner tosses him into a corner instead. RVD tries to go to the top rope, but gets powerbombed and pinned for two. Gunner hits an inverted knee for two as he starts to look at referee Jackson James in shock. Gunner goes for the F5, but RVD counters with a kick and nails a far-away Five-Star Frog Splash for three.

Winner by Pinfall: RVD

Crimson is still in first place, and now Gunner and Crimson are tied for second, with Matt Morgan in third.

-Commercial Break-

Eric Bischoff is reading the letter from the Network to the members of Immortal. The letter says that because of the success of Destination X, they want to build and brand the X Division and sign new X Division talent. Bischoff yells at Abyss for not destroying the division at Destination X. Hogan storms in the room and he says that Angle is a dead man and he is on their agenda. He doesn’t care about the wrestling or the show. He wants Angle’s throat cut and eliminated. Bull Ray volunteers Anderson to do it. Anderson and Ray argue and Ray says that if Anderson is afraid, Karen can take care of Kurt. Anderson says that he is not afraid of anyone. Hogan and Anderson shake hands.

Eric says that there is more in the letter, but Sting enters and he has a cage covered with a black sheet. Sting says hello to everyone and he hugs Karen. Sting asks Anderson if he is still pissed off. Hogan tells Sting that he is in dangerous territory. Sting says that everyone is wondering why he is here and he mentions that his reds do not match.

Sting says that he has always had a great relationship with the Network and it has intensified. Sting says that he has been named the new Network Executive. Sting says that they put him in charge despite the protests of Immortal. Sting says that he heard about a match between Ken Anderson and Kurt Angle. The match is in a cage and Ray loves it because Angle cannot run from him. Sting tells them to calm down because he is not finished. Sting says that Fortune will be around the ring to stop Immortal from doing anything. Hogan wants Bischoff to call the Network.

Alex Shelley and Brian Kendrick are in the ring, Kendrick says some mumbo-jumbo, and Shelley translates that Aries is “a jackass” and one that needs to get down to the ring right now. Aries makes his entrance with a new tron. Shelley names down some names that made the X-Division and includes himself and Kendrick at the end. Shelley notes that Aries won his contract fair and square, but the X-Division has rules and you play or your out “you douchebag.” Aries says that he played their rules when he won his contract, and now he will play by his own rule, and his rule is “Win at all Costs.” Aries says he has had many Match of the Year candidates and a backlog of five-star matches, now he wants a five-star bank account. The end justifies the means and according to Aries, the end is him becoming the new X-Division Champion. Kendrick continues on his illegible rant and ends with that “he is the X-Division Champion.” Aries asks Shelly for a translation, and Shelley reminds Aries that he screwed him out of the title last week, and he petitioned the Network for a rematch: And he will get it at Hardcore Justice in a three-way match with Aries. Abyss’ music blares through the arena and he stands on the ramp and tells Kendrick that as much as the Network think they run the show, and as much as Sting “spews of the mouth,” that Hogan and Bischoff are running the show. He is getting his rematch with Kendrick tonight and he is going to kill the X-Division. Sting shows up on the tron and humorously asks if he’s on. He tells Abyss that he has more stroke than Hogan and Bischoff combined and Abyss will get his rematch tonight…in Ultimate X.

((Jarrett’s Jab – I really hate Kendrick’s character. I can’t take him seriously when I can’t understand him and someone has to actually translate for him. Aries shined in this and it is good to have a feud not centered on respecting each other for a change. I’m actually starting to like Sting, especially in his Network Executive role. I hope he starts to wind down his wrestling days and continues that role because I’m definitely hooked.))

-Commercial Break-

Matt Morgan is shown from earlier today and he tells that he’s never had an injury in nine years and now he has a torn pectoral muscle and has to drop out of the tournament. ((Jarrett’s Jab – Tough break for Morgan, who was close to finally getting a TNA Title shot. From what I have heard, he will be out for six weeks, but I take that as a grain of salt. Regardless, we here at TNAStars.com wish Morgan a speedy recovery.))

A clip package played from recent TNA House Shows showing the recent matches in the BFG Series.

Bully Ray is asked about his match with Crimson tonight. Bully Ray says that Crimson has been in Impact Wrestling long enough for a cup of coffee, and he’s been wrestling for 20 years. He’s a legend! He says he’s not worried and calls out AJ Styles, stating that they will be wrestling Saturday night in Houston, and just like the Last Man Standing Match, he will be the Last Man Standing, “Okie Doke? And I said that because I can!”

((Jarrett’s Jab – As much as the clip package shown helps the BFG Series, Bully Ray’s promo just doubled that. It makes the matches a big deal if a Wrestler talks about a match that isn’t going to be featured on television.))

-Commercial Break-

Bound for Glory Series: Crimson vs. Bully Ray

Ray starts with rights and clubby blows to Crimon’s back before forcing him in a corner and nailing him with right hands and a hard chop. Bully Ray goes for a pin, but gets two, so he uses Crimson’s shirt to choke him. Bully Ray goes for Crimson’s right knee which has a brace on it. Crimson gets his brace ripped off and his knee slammed to the ground. Bully Ray pounds on Crimson’s right leg and tries to rip the knee pad off. Bully Ray uses his boot to choke Crimson in the corner as Taz notes that Crimson has had zero offense thus far. Bully Ray tries a full nelson, but Crimson powers out and hits a Red Sky for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Crimson

-Commercial Break-

Eric Bischoff is yelling at someone on the phone and tells them that he wants the Network on the phone by the end of the show or they’re unemployed. He slams the phone down.

Madison Rayne tells the cameraman that she is getting a front row seat for the Tara/Winter match and get revenge for Tara putting Poison on her. Sting walks up and says what is in his cage is worse than Poison and if she gets anywhere near the ring, he will introduce them. Rayne runs away screaming while Sting chuckles and said “Well…that worked.”

TNA Knockout Tag Champion Tara vs. Winter

Earl Hebner throws out both Angelina Love and Miss Tessmacher. Tara attacks Winter from behind and then she slams Winter’s head into the mat. Tara sends her head into the turnbuckles and then gets a rollup and bridge for a near fall. Tara with a side head lock and Winter sends Tara into the turnbuckles. Winter hits several shoulderblocks but Tara locks in the tarantula in the ropes. Winter drops Tara’s throat on the top rope and then Tara sends Winter into the turnbuckles. Tara misses a slingshot leg drop from the apron and then she drops Tara’s neck against the middle rope and she gets a near fall. Winter with kicks and then she follows with a knee to the back. Tara with an elbow but Winter with a forearm. Winter tries for a slam but Tara blocks it. Winter slides into the corner and hits a clothesline but she can only get a two count. Winter with a back breaker for a near fall. Winter with kicks to Tara but Tara with a shot to the midsection. Tara with more punches followed by clotheslines and a back elbow. Tara with a slam and then she hits the standing moonsault. Tara sets for Widow’s Peak but Winter sends Tara into the corner and she hits a big boot and Winter tries for a swinging uranage. Winter kicks Tara low and hits a spinning uranage back breaker for the three count.

Winner: Winter

We see highlights from Brian Kendrick’s victory over Abyss thanks to the entire X Division to become the X Division Champion.

-Commercial Break-

Ultimate X Match for the X-Division Championship: Brian Kendrick vs. Abyss

Kendrick starts kicking Abyss’ legs and follows with a drop kick that barely staggers Abyss. Kendrick hits a leg lariat and then he goes to the opposite corner. Abyss connects with an Irish whip, but misses a charge into the corner. Abyss stops Kendrick from climbing the tower and he pulls him to the mat. Kendrick gets a drop kick but Abyss stays on his feet and back elbows Kendrick. Abyss jumps to get the belt, but he cannot reach it. Abyss climbs the turnbuckles but gets down to deliver more punishment to Kendrick. Abyss charges into a boot from Abyss. Kendrick tries for a tornado DDT but Abyss pushes him away. Abyss connects with a big boot to Kendrick and Kendrick is down. Abyss goes to the floor and he tries to shake the apparatus. Kendrick with a suicide dive to Abyss and Abyss finally goes down. Kendrick hits an enzuigiri and they return to the ring. Kendrick nails a tornado DDT and Abyss is down. Kendrick goes across the cable and he is about to get to the belt but Abyss pulls Kendrick down by his boot and hits a clothesline. Abyss punches Kendrick in the head and then he kicks him. Abyss sets for a running splash into the corner but Kendrick moves and Kendrick hits Sliced Bread #2 on Abyss. Kendrick climbs the tower and gets to the cable. Kendrick gets to the belt but Abyss pulls Kendrick down again. Abyss nails a splash into the corner and then he chops Kendrick. Abyss connects with another splash into the corner and he signals for a choke slam. Abyss goozles Kendrick for the chokeslam in the center of the ring and Kendrick grabs the belt and brings it down to the mat to win the match.

Winner and Still X-Division Champion: Brian Kendrick

((Jarrett’s Jab – This was a waste of time. The Ultimate X Match should be a rare match that lasts more than five minutes!))

Velvet Sky is walking in the back with Traci Brooks and Velvet wants to know why Traci wants ODB and Jackie back but Traci tells Velvet to trust her.

-Commercial Break-

We are back and Eric Young is on his continuing quest to find a television star to wrestle for the TV Title. Eric is talking with David Hasselhoff’s agent and Eric is trying to increase his brand name. Eric gets into his wrestling gear and the agent tells Eric to put his clothes back on. Eric is told to find an acting coach and Eric says he’ll be back in 48 hours. ((Jarrett’s Jab – If you are so bored you want to see more of this, you can at Impactwrestling.com))

Velvet Sky and Traci are in the ring and Traci tells ODB and Jackie how she knows that they like to crash the party through the back door, but they are invited to come to the ring. ODB and Jackie make their way to the ring and Traci says that she didn’t want to be caught in the middle but after seeing what they did to Velvet, she couldn’t stand back. Traci reminds them that she was the original Knockout and if it wasn’t for her, none of them would have their jobs. Traci says that she did not complain when she was told that her time was up. Traci says that she knows how this business works. She tells ODB and Jackie to be thankful that Velvet did not press criminal charges against them.

ODB says that she would be happy to end this after putting her foot up Velvet’s Barbie doll ass. ODB says that they lost their jobs when Velvet started rubbing all over the ropes and management went goo goo ga ga over her and brought in Velvet clones. She says that it has turned into a Hawaiian Tropicana Hooter’s Invitational. That means that there is no room for the ass-kicking women like her or Jackie. Velvet says that she wasn’t Velvet Sky when she was growing up. She was the runt who was being beaten up through high school. There were days when she didn’t want to go on the school bus but she didn’t tell anyone. She didn’t want them to worry about her. As she got older, she was no longer going to be a victim. She wasn’t going to be pushed around and get bullied. She says that is why the day she came to the company was the happiest day of her life. It was the greatest gift she ever could have received. She says that she earned it. Every broken bone or pulled muscle, she earned it. She says that she doesn’t owe anyone an apology for anything. She understands how they feel because this is one of the toughest businesses to survive in. She says that Jackie knows what she means. She suggests that if they want a job in TNA, ask for a job or showcase what they can do in the ring and earn their jobs. Velvet says that they can fight week after week and she will be the last one standing. She tells them to do whatever they want to do, but Velvet says that she is done being everyone’s punching bag. ((Jarrett’s Jab – I can understand what Velvet went through, but at the same time, regardless of the fact she actually did, she actually spent the better part of her TNA career as part of the Beautiful People and bullied O.D.B. I felt that should be acknowledged and would say that being the bully in the end doesn’t pay off.))

-Commercial Break-

Fortune is in the back and they talk about how they are going to make sure that Immortal does not get involved. Frankie suggests that if they happen to injure one of them before the match, it wouldn’t be so bad. Daniels asks AJ if he thought about what he brought up but he is interrupted by Sting and he asks them if they are ready to keep the bad guys out of the cage. AJ asks Sting what was in the cage. Sting says that it is for Eric Bischoff and he is going to give it to him right now.

Mr. Anderson versus Kurt Angle in a Steel Cage Match

Before the match, the members of Fortune make their way to the ring to prevent interference from Immortal.

-Commercial Break-

We are back and we go to Eric’s office and he wants to be put through right now. Bischoff says that he is doing great. He says that he would only feel better if he wasn’t treated like garbage by the Network they are working with. Eric asks them if they know who they are dealing with and what they are doing to them. He says that Sting is their problem. Eric wants to know what they mean that they haven’t talked to Sting for weeks. Eric is at a loss for words as Sting enters the office with the present.

Sting apologizes to Eric and he says that it has been bottled up inside him for the entire show. He says that the truth sets free so he wants to fess up. Sting says that he’s not the Network exec. He says that he concocted it in his head and he says that he is so sorry. Sting says that what boggles his mind is what happens when you wear a nice suit people listen to you and you get your way. You get stroke and it feels good for you. Sting opens the cage and he releases a bird and he says that they just want to peck at your eyes. He says that they can smell garbage from a mile away. Sting says that he is going to watch the cage match.

Inside the ring, Angle punches Anderson and connects with a shoulder in the corner. Angle hits some punches followed by an Irish whip but Angle misses a charge into the corner and Angle goes into the turnbuckles. Anderson kicks Angle in the head followed by an Irish whip. Anderson tries another Irish whip and a clothesline. Anderson gets a reverse chin lock. Angle tries to clock Anderson, but he hits a swinging neck breaker on Angle for a near fall. Anderson wails the back of Angle’s neck with forearms, stomps on Angle’s hand and then he chokes him. Anderson connects with a forearm to Angle followed by a suplex for a near fall. Anderson returns to the reverse chin lock but Angle starts hitting some elbows and Anderson returns to the chin lock. Angle with a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down. Anderson and Angle exchange punches with Angle gaining control and he hits a running forearm and back elbow. Angle with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Angle nails an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Angle waits for the Angle slam but Anderson escapes and he hits the rolling fireman’s carry slam for a near fall. Anderson tries for the Mic Check but Angle avoids it. Angle hits the three German suplex combination for a near fall. Angle goes for the ankle and he tries to roll Anderson over for the ankle lock and he applies it. Angle pulls Anderson into the center of the ring but Anderson rolls Angle up for a near fall. Anderson sends Angle into the cage and then Anderson hits the Mic Check for a near fall. Anderson asks for the door to be opened and Angle grabs Anderson and has him in the ankle lock as the door is closed. Anderson kicks Angle away and then Anderson with a clothesline. Anderson climbs the cage but Angle stops Anderson and hits a super belly-to-belly suplex and Angle gets a near fall on Anderson.

The members of Immortal make their way to the ring and we have a brawl. Hernandez and Anarquia join in the action on behalf of Immortal.

Meanwhile, Ray waits against the cage as he avoids the Immortal/Fortune brawl. Ray grabs Angle through the camera hole and then Anderson attacks Angle from behind and he kicks Angle. Anderson tells Ray to get him a steel chair. Ray gets the chair and he wants to know what Anderson called him. Ray holds on to the chair and that allows Angle to recover and he hits the Angle Slam for the three count.

Winner by pinfall: Kurt Angle

After the match, the lights go out and Sting is in the ring in his suit. Sting and Angle have a face off and then Sting raises Kurt Angle’s hand. Sting reminds Angle that it is only ten more days until their match at Hardcore Justice. ((Jarrett’s Jab – Good God, that was overbooked, I really hated the fact that when we got from commercial, instead of seeing the steel cage match, we get to see Sting with a crow!))