Source: TNAStars.com
Opening Segment
A video highlighted the heel turn of Christopher Daniels and the main event that someone forgot needed an ending.
Sting said that Kurt Angle is brainwashed and his plan to split up Fortune will backfire. He calls out Bobby Roode to explain. Sting states that he believes that Roode can defeat Angle at Bound for Glory and the crowd starts a small “Go Bobby” chant. Sting put over Roode’s 13 years of experience and that he is championship material. Sting asked Roode to prove to everyone that he can be focused. Roode puts over Sting and asks Sting to make him a promise: To take care of Hulk Hogan. AJ Styles comes off and states on the bat he’s not with Immortal. AJ reminds everyone that other than the BFG Series, he hasn’t gotten a World Title shot since he lost the championship. He tells Roode that because he isn’t friends with the “right people, BROTHER” there is no telling when he’ll get another shot. Kurt Angle decides to join the party and puts AJ over as being a man that, like him, is proud of his in-ring work. He tells AJ if he beats Roode, he will get a World Title shot after Bound for Glory. And he says that he’s a man of integrity, he’s “just pissed off his former boss made him look like a jackass” ((Jarrett’s Jab – I’m just going to come out and say it, the WWE should take a lesson from this. AJ isn’t in the title hunt and he got put over as a main event player. Sting, an Icon in professional wrestling, gave his recommendation and made Roode look like a main-event star. THAT is how you build main event stars.))
-Commercial Break-
Austin Aries is on commentary and Austin Aries gives his take on the four competitors in the Ladder Match for the X Division Title Shot. Austin reminds the fans about Kendrick’s disrespect of the X Division Championship.
Ladder Match for an X Division Title Shot: Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash vs. Alex Shelly vs. Zema Ion vs. Brian Kendrick
Zema Ion throws Kendrick out of the ring to kick off the match. Aries puts over Kid Kash as a veteran who deserves a shot as Alex Shelly tries to bring a ladder in the ring and it gets dropkicked into his midsection. Soresen goes for the ladder but Kash roundhouse kicks him and DDTs Sorensen on the ladder. Kash sets up the ladder and climbs the ladder, but Kendrick dropkicks him off of it and goes for the contract. Ion grabs the leg and throws him out of the ring. Shelly grabs Ion and goes for the superkick, but kicks the ladder. Tradign right hands by fthe two and Taz asks Aries what his strategy would be. Aries hilarious says that he’d get the contract as fast as he could, Taz says that’s a great strategy and Aries adds that’s the reason he’s X Division Champ. Shelly goes for the contract, but Ion goes up top and dropkicks Shelly off of it. Kash throws the ladder into the corner and Ion plays Tug of War to get it. Ion flips him on to the ladder and turns around to try and suplex Sorensen in it. Sorensen hits a swinging neckbreaker sending Ion into the ladder and onto the floor. Sorensen sets up the ladder and climbs up, but Kash throws a chair into his back and Kash taunts the crowd before starting to climb it. Kendrick knocks him off and starts to climb it. Shelly races to the other side and gets thrown off. Kendrick grabs the paper on the clip board and signs it to make the match official.
Winner and NEW NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE X DIVISON CHAMPIONSHIP: BRIAN KENDRICK
Kazarian is in his trailer talking about the Styles/Roode match for later tonight and Karen Jarrett interrupts him. Jeff Jarrett shows up behind her and tells Kaz to get his ass to the ring, he has something to say to him. Karen flips Kaz’s hair and states that he should have known better than to mess with her. ((Jarrett’s Jab – I was afraid that Kendrick would win, and he did. Kendrick’s disrespect for the belt was noted on commentary earlier and it makes me question why he even wants the belt.))
-Commercial Break-
Ric Flair is seen entering the iMPACT WRESTLING Zone and yelling at someone on the phone. He tells them that he’s almost at their office.
Jeff Jarrett comes out and calls out Kazarian and tells him to bring his skanky lady with him. Kaz obliges and Jeff introduces himself as the founder of TNA and his wife as the heir to his throne. Jarrett reminds him that he hired him off the independent circuit, let him go to the WWE, hired him back, gave him his release when he didn’t “get the spotlight he deserve,” and hired him back three days later when he begged for it. Jarrett tells Traci about how no one else would give her a chance, and they hired her, out of all the women who wanted the job. Jarrett decides that he’s going to make Kazaian’s life miserable starting tonight and to get his”ten-cent whore” out of here. Kaz snaps and the two start brawling before Gunner blindsides him and hits the F5. ((Jarrett’s Jab – A great way to put Kazarian in the spotlight, but they made him look like a whiney douchebag in the process. I also liked the way he sold that F5, I’m not sure if that was intentional, but I wish Gunner would use that version more often.))
A graphic hyped a match between Jesse Neal and Hernandez before they showed the footage of the “Tattoo Shop Attack.”
Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore get blindsided by Mexican America during their entrance. After beating them senseless on the outside, Hernandez delivers big spashes to both of them on the inside. Sarita and Rosita tag the two with spray paint. The match never officially starts.
Backstage Bully Ray is asked about Hogan’s announcement and he proclaims that not only does he know, he was the first Hogan told. He tells the camera man to get out of his face.
-Commercial Break-
James Storm is backstage and says that he’s not jealous of Roode and he’s happy for him.
In the Immortal Office, Ric Flair is yelling at Hulk Hogan and tells him to reconsider his announcement and that he can’t do it. Hogan said it was a done deal.
A nice video package plays highlighting what some may not even know is over a year-long rivalry that started at Sacrifice 2010. The video concludes with hyping the Tara/Madison Queen’s Qualifer match coming up next!
-Commercial Break-
Crimson is shown backstage and Tenay notes that Crimson said he would be back tonight.
Queens Qualifier Match: Madison Rayne vs. Tara
Madison Rayne hits on referee Earl Hebner during Tara’s entrance. Madison backs into a corner to stop Tara’s move. Tara twits Madison’s wrist and Madison gets to the rope for a break. Tara goes to take a swing and Hebner catches her arm, allowing Madison to waylay her before going back to fondling Hebner. Tara has finally had enough and hauls Madison into the air by the throat, Madison tries her “hit Hebner and pretend it was Tara” trick again, but Hebner catches on, tells Tara to get her, then turns her back while Tara starts working Madison over. Tara with a double handed chokeslam and then goes for the Widow’s Peak, but Madison scoops her legs and puts her feet on the ropes to get the win.
Winner by pinall: Madison Rayne
The camera man catches up with Christopher Daniels leaving the arena. Daniels says that he’s not wrestling, and there is nothing left to see, so he’s leaving. The camera man asks about the Styles/Roode match, and Daniels retorts by saying “did you not hear me when I said there’s nothing else to see?” He’s asked about facing Styles one more time and he laughs it off.
Crimson makes his entrance and calls out Samoa Joe. Joe says that Crimson should be lucky that Joe allowed him to walk and be here tonight. Joe said the only reason he allowed Crimson to be here is for him to be Joe’s bitch. Crimson starts to attack Joe. Crimson goes for a big boot, but Joe catches it and slings it into the steel barricade. Kicking Joe in the nuts he tosses him in the ring and stomps on the injured ankle. Morgan comes out and attempts the Carbon Footprint. Joe slides out and backs off from Morgan. Joe and Morgan face off before Morgan shows respect and leaves the ring.
-Commercial Break-
AJ is backstage and says that if Roode can beat him, he can beat Angle. AJ mentioned again that he’s a former world champion.
D’Angelo Dinero vs. Ken Anderson
The Pope makes his entrance and acknowledges Devon’s sons at ringside. The two start the match with a tie-up and Anderson ends it with a headscissor which Pope breaks out of. Anderson gets the sideheadlock, but that doesn’t last too long. Pope hits a right hand which the crowd isn’t receptive to, and Anderson hits a wild kick to the side of Pope’s head for a two count. Palm thrust by Anderson sends him reeling to the outside to try and catch a breather. Pope follows him and uses the ring as a weapon to ram Anderson’s head into, but Anderson turns the tables. Pope catches himself when he’s Irished whipped into the guardrail. One of Devon’s sons hooks Anderson’s arm and Anderson gets pissed. Devon ends up coming out and a screaming match envokes. Anderson gets nailed from behind with a kendo stick by Bully Ray and Pope, unaware, covers him for three.
Winner by Pinfall: ‘The Pope’ D’Angelo Dinero
Pope is back in the garage yelling at his kids and asking him what the hell they’re doing, and he blames Pope for this. Pope says this is just the boys trying to be men, and Devon says to let him call the shots and tells his sons not to open their damn mouths. Devon says that he and Pope are getting along, but to please not let this happen again, and then tells his kids to get out of here now. ((Jarrett’s Jab – It honestly is starting to make me sick to my stomach to see Devon’s kids being injected in this storyline. There training to be wrestlers…SO WHAT! I don’t see what the use is for them being there other than cheap heat.))
We go to a training video of Robert Roode working out back home in Canada, as well as shots of his wife and kids. This was actually a really good video, and it looked at the emotion and importance Bobby Roode is placing on this and what it means for him to get into the ring with Kurt Angle, who he wants to remind of what it felt like for him when he won his first World Title.
It’s main event time!
Bobby Roode vs AJ Styles
Feeling out process to start as they exchange headlocks, but Roode rams AJ hard into the corner and then hits a snapmare and goes for the Perfect Necksnap, but AJ dodges out of the way and goes back to the side headlock. Back and forth sequence off the ropes and Roode holds a dropkick to dodge a dropkick, but AJ caught him on a second attempt and goes to a chinlock. Roode tries to hiptoss AJ to the floor, but AJ lands on the apron and tries to springboard back into the ring and Roode catches him in a fireman’s carry and hits a gutbuster that seems to have injured Roode’s knee as well. Roode rolls out to the floor to catch a breather, then rolls back in and catches a baseball slide to the knee from AJ. AJ with a Muta Lock, but Roode makes the ropes, so AJ breaks and goes back to the knee with more kicks. They trade forearms in the middle of the ring until AJ cold cocks Roode with a leaping enziguiri. Roode ducks a wild swing and hits a uranage for 2, then sits AJ on the top rope and just drills him in the face to send him tumbling to the floor. AJ comes back in with the springboard forearm and then a Bret Hart backbreaker, but Roode dodges the springboard 450, goes for the spinebuster, AJ blocks and goes for the Clash, Roode rolls through, AJ rolls through that and tries the Clash again, Roode rolls through into a sunset flip for 2, AJ tries the Pelle Kick, Roode dodges and locks AJ in the Crippler Crossface and AJ taps.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Roode goes to check on AJ and helps him back to his feet. They shake hands and share a hug, and AJ tells him he’s ready and he’s the next World Champion. ((Jarrett’s Jab – Good match, not a fan with the beginning though. It may be me, but all of the restholds in the beginning took forever to end.))
Hulk Hogan is backstage, his big announcement is up next!
-Commercial Break-
The Mystery Cameraman tries to ask AJ Styles for comments, but Bobby Roode comes in to check on him, and AJ says that he had his doubts, but Roode just got rid of all those doubts. The MC asked AJ if he brought his best, and AJ says he absolutely did and that he’s never missed the Pelle Kick before. AJ says Roode’s got it, and makes Roode promise that when he wins the title, he’ll give AJ a shot.
Okay, it’s time for Hogan’s big announcement. He feels like a million pounds have been lifted off his shoulders, and all the soul searching he’s done the last few months have brought him to the conclusion that the Hulk Hogan run has been the best of all time for over three decades. He thought about his first day in the business when Hiro Matsuda broke his leg and taught him respect, and from there he got lucky and got the big break and got to face Andre in front of 93,000 people, sold out Madison Square Garden over and over. At the end of the day, Hulkamania could go on forever, and after everyone that helped him get to where he is today, he had the chance to come to TNA and make a set of difference. He’s been here almost two years and when he sees guys like Fortune, RVD, Jeff Hardy, and everyone else stepping up, he realizes that every second he’s been here has been worth it. He gave them everything he knew backstage and he did all he could to help the company. We go backstage to Sting who says he’s going to win an Oscar for this acting job. Hogan says he’s made the decision and this is the end of the road for him, and he wanted to tell the fans first before anyone else, even his wife. When he bottomed out, he lost his money, his family, and his health, the only thing he didn’t lose were the fans, and the only thing that’s been with him since day one has been the fans. After he lost everything, the guys in the back were there for him and nobody else knew that, but he’s decided this is it and he’s done. Roode, AJ, and everyone else are up and running and they’re the stars of the future, so next week, he’s inviting everyone to come to Knoxville next week as he holds a celebration and that’s the last we’ll see Hogan in this business.
Sting is backstage and says that Hogan’s talking about friends, and we can bet that Sting will be there next week celebrating with the Hulkster. ((Jarrett’s Jab – I loved what I saw in the ring. It looked very sincere and bound to get sympathy from the fans…and then Sting cuts in. That ruined any sympathy Hogan may have. Sure, they already taped it, but still. Look at the money to be made with Hogan merch, that probably was made. One seed of doubt can ruin anything. And Sting just ruined this whole segment.))
