iMPACT Wrestling Results (12/29): Ending the Year with a Screech

Source: TNAStars.com

Opening Segment
Impact Wrestling opens with a recap of Sting firing the Jarrett’s, Madison Rayne becoming Executive VP of the Knockouts Division, and making Tara and Brooke Tessmacher face each other.

The last edition of iMPACT Wrestling for 2011 opens up with the Knockout Champion Gail Kim and her Tag Team Champion Partner, Executive VP of the Knockouts: Madison Rayne. Rayne yells for Tara and Tessmacher to get out t the ring now, and the team obliges. Rayne tells them that last week, that if they screwed with her, they would be fired. Rayne proceeds to fire them and the four argue. Sting’s music hits and out comes the “Man In Charge” Sting. Tara and Miss Tessmacher clap as the smiling Stinger gets in the ring. Rayne tells Sting that it’s ok, and she has it under control. Sting tells Madison that it isn’t over, until he says it’s over. Sting said that Karen was the VP because she had a legally binding contract, and Madison doesn’t. Sting mocks Rayne’s screaming comically and also adds (in his mockery of Rayne’s Voice) that Gail Kim will defend her Knockout’s title tonight…against Mickie James. Sting adds that he’s going to be watching Rayne tonight. ((Sting mocking Madison’s shrieking was absolutely side splitting for me. I love that TNA highlights their Knockouts Division so much. Not too thrilled about a big match, in this case a title match, with no promotion on free TV, but that’s the unfortunate norm around TNA lately.))

Steiner tells Abyss that they are the best team, and he needs Abyss to be a monster tonight.

-Commercial Break-

Wildcard Tag Tournament Semi-Final Match: Scott Steiner and Abyss vs. Fortune (AJ Styles and Kazarian)

I’m not sure if Fortune is still active, but Kazarian flashed the sign and AJ still has the logo on his tights so I’m assuming it is. Steiner and Kazarian start it off. Steiner poses before he starts by throwing Kazarian in a corner. Kazarian tries and eventually gets Steiner rolled-up for two. Spin kick by Kazarian gets him two and he tags in AJ. AJ takes to Steiner with rights and after missing once, hits his dropkick. Steiner rakes the eyes of AJ and tags in Abyss. AJ rotates between kicking the left leg and chopping Abyss before he throws AJ in the corner and hits a big blow to the back. Abyss takes him on his shoulder and AJ hits an enzuigiri  and Steiner hits AJ from behind. Abyss hits the Shock Treatment, but doesn’t go for the pin. Steiner gets the tag and boots AJ in the gut, then hits the Belly-to-Belly suplex for two. Steiner hits a hard shot the back and then chops AJ. AJ rebounds off the ropes and almost gets two. AJ small packages Steiner for two, but Steiner comes back with an overhead suplex. AJ uses the ropes to get up and hits Steiner out of nowhere with the Pele kick. AJ tags in Kazarian and Abyss gets tagged. After a shoulder from the top rope, a dropkick, missile drop kick and a tornado DDT, Abyss is on the ground, but Kazarian only gets a two count. Kazarian reverses a choke slam into a cradle for two. Abyss hits the choke slam and sucker punches AJ from the apron right into the guardrail. Abyss tags Steiner in and Abyss hits the Black hole Slam and drags Kazarian on top of him.

Winners by Pinfall and advancing into the Finals: Fortune (AJ Styles and Kazarian)

Bully Ray hits the ring to help Steiner and cuss out Abyss as we head to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Bully Ray asked what the hell was that, and stated he was tired of Abyss pushing him and Steiner around. He pauses to ask Steiner if he’s ok, and calls Abyss a bully. He reminds him that he got him girls, which he would never be able to get. Ray asked what he wants to be back in Immortal. Abyss asks if really wants him to know what he wanted, and he said he wants Bully Ray at Genesis. Abyss said if Ray wins, he’ll rejoin Immortal with no problem. Abyss “reminds” to tell Ray that their match will be a Monster’s Ball Match.

Sting stops Kurt in the back and he laughs about what Kurt Angle did last week. Angle says that he cowboyed up. Sting tells Angle that he could have a match tonight. Angle says that he needs a warm up match for Genesis. Sting suggests someone who can kick people in the face. Angle suggests “one of the X-Division guys” and then said he can take two. Sting says that it is someone who kicked Angle so hard it split his face from ear to ear. Angle says that he is not going to do it but Sting says that it will happen. Angle does not want to wrestle Rob Van Dam, but Sting tells him it will happen.

-Commercial Break-

Best Two out of Three Series – Match Three – CONTRACT ON A POLE MATCH: Zema Ion (1) vs. Anthony Nese (1)

The X-Division Champion and the “Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” Austin Aries is on commentary for this match. Ion hit a few clubby blows to Nese’s back before going for the contract and being taken down quickly. A Quick back-and-forth between the two leads to Nese going and failing to get the contract. Nese hits several kicks and an enzuigiri, but Ion holds on to the leg. Nese hits a big boot in the corner and Nese goes for the contract only to get dropkicked from behind. Nese hits a few kicks before Nese sidesteps and Ion goes flying over the top rope. Nese takes too much time to go for the contract and Ion pulls him outside. Ion tries to whip him into the apron, but Nese blocks and hits a moonsault from the apron and goes for the contract. Nese gets to the pole, but Ion crotches him and tries to climb over him. Nese german suplexes him from his position and uses his strength to get out of the tree of woe and go for the contract. Ion pushes him off into the guardrail and gets the paper himself.

Winner of the Best out of Three Series: Zema Ion

Aries on commentary notes that he will bring a lot of skill and hair product to the match at Genesis. ((Jarrett’s Jab – There was a few good spots, but I wasn’t that big of a fan of this match. Aries is a better commentator than Tenay too. I’d love to see him and Taz call a match))

-Commercial Break-

Douglas Williams vs. Gunner (with Ric Flair)

Douglas Williams makes his to generic rock music in his British Invasion gear and modified British Invasion tron. Gunner goes for Williams at the bell and slams his head into the turnbuckle. Williams is able to catch him off guard and get a few right hands in kicks in before Gunner takes control again. Gunner chokes Williams on the bottom rope and hits several ‘crossfaces’ as Taz called them, and Williams got a few uppercuts before Gunner throws him into the ringpost and shoved referee Brian Hebner aside.

Winner by Disqualification: Douglas Williams

Ric Flair low blows Williams and Gunner DDTs him on the concrete floor. Bobby Roode is shown walking backstage and will talk…next! ((Jarrett’s Jab – William’s place in this match could have easily been taken by Shannon Moore. Why TNA has an established tag team in the British Invasion and won’t use him is about as confusing as letting Alex Shelly sit around and wait on his tag team partner to heal for the past four months when he’s a former X-Division Champion.))

-Commercial Break-

Another video showing Roode’s family plays before Roode makes his entrance. Taz states that he respects Roode for doing whatever he had to do to win the belt. Tenay mentions his title defense at Genesis with Jeff Hardy as Roode grabs a mic. Roode tells the audience that over the past several weeks, people have expressed his opinions on Bobby Roode like his family and friends. He says that one friend took the time to come on the show and call him selfish. Roode tells him to “tell me something I don’t know” and reminds everyone that he is the leader of the Selfish generation. He tells everyone that spent his own money to fly his friend here to tell him to his face. He tells everyone that his name is Tracy Kowleski and calls him his good friend. Roode apologizes for not getting back to him and says he’s busy being the World Heavyweight Champion. He tells him that he flew him so he can say how he feels face to face. He gets him a mic and Tracy said that his family and his wife has tried to call him, and no one knows who he his anymore. Tracy calls him one of the most unselfish people he’s ever known, and asks what has he become. He tells a quick story about Roode playing sports and passing the credit. Roode says that he isn’t sure what he perceived, but in High School, Tracy was his lackey. Roode said that his parents ‘missed him’ and asked where he’s been his entire life and said they just want money. He said he wanted his sister for the last thirty-five years, but she now decides to show up.  He tells him to never talk about his kids. Tracy puts his hands on Roode and then he beats up Tracy. Hardy comes out to a lukewarm reaction and Roode runs up the ramp. ((Jarrett’s Jab – Nothing but cheap heat here for Roode and it isn’t good at all. If they have to bring his family and friends on TV for him to get a reaction, that’s very telling in a bad way. I’m so scared that they are going to hit the panic button at Genesis and give the belt to Hardy. And that’s the last thing TNA needs to do and the last thing I want to see, and with a whole three months of wrestling and one feud under his belt since coming back, that very well could happen.))

Eric Young is backstage and calls him the best tag team. ODB talks to him to get him to calm down. Eric talks some crazy talk about getting other bodies and said they are in love. EY asks ODB if they should kiss.

-Commercial Break-

Angle says that he is being forced to face a guy who doesn’t know how to wrestle. Now Angle has to worry about protecting his jaw and his face. He says that Sting has not been fair dealing with him. Angle says that he is a wrestler and he is better than everyone. He doesn’t have to prove anything to James Storm or Rob Van Dam. He wants people to wrestle him. ((Jarrett’s Jab – He does have to worry about his teeth wrestling RVD.))

Taz and Tenay hype the double main event for tonight with Kurt Angle taking on Rob Van Dam and Gail Kim defending her Knockouts Title against Mickie James.

Wildcard Tag Tournament Semi-Final: Samoa Joe and Magnus vs. Eric Young and ODB

EY tied up with Mike Tenay at the announce table and then acknowledge the ODB chants from the crowd. ODB and Magnus start off the match. Magnus walks around ODB, and then strokes her hair. ODB puts her finger to his lip and checks out Magnus before slapping him. OBD comes at Magnus with several open hand slaps before smothering Magnus between her breasts. The two roll around the ring. EY tags himself in and drops his pants.  EY hits a spear, follows with right hands and then hits a Belly-to-Belly suplex for two. EY chases the ref and Joe kicks him in the back. Magnus throws EY in the corner and elbow’s the back before tagging in Joe. Joe hits several right hands and then a kick, followed by a elbow drop by Magnus for two. Joe sends EY off the ropes and runs him over with a clothsline for two. Joe gets several shots before EY hits a flying forearm for two after Magnus makes the save. ODB knocks Magnus off the apron and drinks from the flask. Magnus throws ODB into the corner, crotching EY. Joe hits the Muscle Buster and gets three.

Winners by Pinfall and advancing into the Finals: Samoa Joe and Magnus

((Jarrett’s Jab – Whoever keeps finding a way to get EY on TV needs to be fired. Absolutely beyond horrible and made Magnus and Joe looking weak heading into the finals by being bested by a woman and a man that thinks that the referee is a wrestler. Luckily Joe and Magnus will be facing Fortune in what should be a great tag match for the finals and hopefully can regain some heat heading into the match.))

-Commercial Break-

Mickie James is interviewed backstage and says that she feels she has a better idea on what to expect from Gail and she is really confident. Mickie says that Gail is an incredible athlete, but she is better. The interviewer asks if the has to kick it up to another gear for the champ tonight, and Mickie puts over the entire knockout roster by saying how hard they work and most of them are former champions.

Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam

A tie-up leads to Angle getting a headlock, RVD is able to slide out after rebounding off the ropes and Angle slides out of the ring. Another tie-up leads to Angle backing him in a corner and raking the eyes. Angle ducks a kick and reverses an enzuigiri into a ankle lock, which gets turned into a pin attempt by RVD. RVD gets a superkick and Rolling Thunder for two. RVD hits a few right hands and kicks before backing Angle into a corner and kicking them there. Angle is able to hit a belly-to-belly suplex and a snap suplex for a two count.  Angle cinches in a bear hug and RVD is able to get to his feet, but Angle strikes the back and whips him in a corner but eats RVD’s boot when he charged in after him. RVD hits a few right hands and then several clotheslines. Monkey flip by RVD is blocked and turned into an Angle Slam for two. Angle drops the straps and tunes up the band, but misses a superkick. RVD hits a spinkick and goes up top, but Angle ducks out of the way of the Five Star. Angle locks in the Ankle lock. Storm slides in from behind, whistles to get Angle’s attention and nails Angle with the Last Call Superkick and the ref shrugs and then rings the bell.

Winner by Disqualification: Kurt Angle

Storm stands over him and Taz states the obvious by noting he’s out cold. Tenay hypes the Main Event Knockouts Title match that will happen right after this break.

-Commercial Break-

Rob Van Dam says that he wanted to win the match. He did not need James Storm to come to the ring to interrupt the match. Angle says that Storm is messing with the wrong guy. The Last Call is not a wrestling move, it is a bar fight move. You don’t kick people in the head, you wrestle and Storm doesn’t know how to do it. James Storm says that he doesn’t like people messing with his family and Angle got a quick taste of what happens when you taste the Cowboy’s boot. Angle says that the first one didn’t count because he only had ninety minutes to get ready. The next one will matter.

Knockouts Championship: Gail Kim (c) vs. Mickie James

Tenay noted that Gail has no one in her corner to help her out now, and Taz asks him if he really thinks Gail can’t do it on her own.  Mikie rolls her up at the bell for two. James hits a few right hands, gets kicked, but gets right back with a Lou Thez press and right hands. Mikie gets thrown in the corner and hits a hurricanrana. Dropkick by Mikie sends Gail to the outside. Referee Earl Hebner stops Mickie from diving, but she tries a baseball dropkick, but Gail drags her outside. Mickie hits a neck breaker and Earl checks on them as we head to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Back from the commercial, the two are battling on the floor and Gail hits a DDT on the floor and slides in the ring. Taz notes that this is a women’s match main eventing a show, and asks who does that. Gail throws Mickie into the turnbuckle and into another one before she starts posing. Gail stomps on the right ankle of Mickie’s and hits a clothesline for two. Gail grabs the hair when Mickie rebounds off the ropes and Gail Kim locks in the keylock and Mickie was able to roll over, but gets nailed by a double-ax handle. Gail slaps Mickie several times, which causes her to come up and hit several shots, but Gail is able to quickly lock in the Octopus hold. Tenay hypes the Japanese move and says it’s from the Inoki Handbook (as in the legendary Antonio Inoki.) Mickie is able to get out, but Gail locks it right back on. Mickie charges into the turnbuckle, but can’t break it. Mickie rolls back, getting Gail in a pinning predicament so she has to break. The two trade of rights, and Gail hits a missile dropkick from the top rope for two. Gail goes for the Eat Defeat, but Mickie hits a superkick. Gail charges at her and eats the turnbuckle. Mickie throws her into the turnbuckle and starts to run through her with clotheslines. Mickie goes up top, but Gail slides out of the ring. Mickie hits a Lou Thez press and tweaks her right knee on the landing. A masked person comes through the crowd and nails James with the Eat Defeat and hides under the ring. Gail slides into the ring and covers James for three.

Winner by Pinfall and STILL Knockouts Champion: Gail Kim

A camera gets under the ring and it shows Madison Rayne with blue and white facepaint as Gail celebrates with her titles.

((Jarrett’s Jab – Nice that the final Impact of 2011 ended with a great women’s match. The ending was stupid with two Disqualification finishes tonight, and the second run-in in a row on the show, but a good edition of Impact aside from that and any second featuring Eric Young. Hope everyone has a happy new year and check back here on TNAStars for all the latest TNA news. ))