Source: TNAStars.com
Opening Segment
As usual, the standard recap video opens Impact Wrestling, this week’s covering Sting’s relinquishing the GM position and trying to make “The Real” Hulk Hogan the new GM.
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode comes out surrounded by police officers and states that everyone that has tried to contact Impact Wrestling and say that they want Roode fired can “kiss my World Heavyweight Championship Ass!” Impact Wrestling will be nothing without him. Roode also states that he is a better man and world champion than Sting ever was, and for Dixie Carter got hers and told her to keep her nose out of his business and nothing was going to stop him. Last week, Roode’s lawyer explained he didn’t need to be here and the only obligation Roode has is at Lock Down, and after Victory Road, TNA has turned into a hostile environment. Roode states that the security guards are here for Storm’s protection.
James Storm’s music hits and Roode directs the police to stand in front of him and go after Storm. Storm heads up the stairs and Roode holds up the World Title and high-tails to the other side of the ring. Storm asks if Roode’s supposed to be a man, and asks what kind of man hits a woman. Roode reminds everyone what he did to Roode’s lawyer last week and tells “mall security” that he isn’t here to steal a t-shirt, he’s here to kick Roode’s ass. Storm tries to walk through the security wall and Bully Ray jumps him from behind. Roode and the security get out of the ring and after Storm hits a few shots on Ray, he follows. Storm tells them both to get back in the ring and he had a size 15 that will suit them fine. Roode agrees to a 2-on-1 handicapped match after Ray nods. Mike Tenay questions Storm’s judgment for taking on two men, apparently forgetting he did the same thing last week. ((Jarrett’s Jab – Roode and Storm had a great promo and despite me not wanting them to touch each other until Lockdown, I’m sure that Bully Ray will make this match interesting. More hype needs to be on the Lock Down main event and this is needed.))
Gail Kim and Madison Rayne are backstage and Gail says that the last month has been hard on their friendship, but she got Madison a present. Madison opens it up and it’s a big tiara because even though Gail’s the Knockouts Champion, Madison will always be the queen, and she just knows that Madison will kick the crap out of Velvet Sky tonight.
-Commercial Break-
“The Queen Bee” Maidson Rayne vs. Velvet Sky
Christy Hemme does introductions for this match from the crowd and Tazz could only talk about Hulk Hogan during Gail’s entrance. Madison jumps Velvet and uses her boot to choke Velvet in the corner. Madison uses the bottom rope to choker her more and then waves to the crowd. Madison turns it around with a dropkick as Tazz hopes Hogan becomes the new GM. Madison turns the tide with an Irish Whip and shrikes at her before running into her and face planting her. Madison goes for the — but Velvet counters and hits a few right hands before hitting a spear and a bulldog. Madison hits the In Yo Face for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Velvet Sky
Christy asks Velvet what’s next and Velvet whines that she never got her rematch and she’s putting the entire locker room are on notice.
((Jarrett’s Jab – Velvet is the weak link in TNA’s Knockout Division, and yet that’s who we are getting in the title picture now. Completely baffles me. How about Tara, or Miss Tessmacher, ODB or Winter, or even Angelina Love. And I get, but don’t care that Hulk Hogan is coming up next. Seriously, the commentary focus on the Knockouts in this match was far and in between.))
-Commercial Break-
Bully Ray and Bobby Roode are in some office backstage. Ray said neither of them have been BFF’s lately and Roode
Dixie and Hogan are in a park and Dixie said she needed to get away and Hogan said that he owes her that much. Dixie finds it ironic that after everything that has happened; she’s asking him to come back. Dixie talks about Bischoff, and Hogan says that it’s still his fault and it takes two to tango. ((Jarrett’s Jab – I’m sure glad SOMEONE finds this ironic, as everyone else thinks this is 2009. Personally I think I could do the job, and do it cheaper than Hogan, but that’s just me day dreaming. I just don’t agree with this being her only choice. Jeff Jarrett coming back as a face makes more sense than Hogan at this point.))
-Commercial Break-
Kurt Angle says he won’t give Jeff Hardy a rematch at Lock Down because he’s a bigger crybaby than his five-year old son. He said if he beats Ken Anderson tonight, he’ll get his match.
Christy Hemme is ready to introduce the next match, but Austin Aries interrupts her to come out. Aries says that this isn’t his appointed time, but since everyone else seems to come out whenever they feel like it, it’s his time to do that. He has a bone to pick with Bully Ray because he got beat by James Storm in two minutes, and he chose to take it out on Aries by jumping into the ring during his match. He’s Austin Aries, and when Bully Ray stuck that boot in his face, he created a problem because he’s Austin Aries, he’s not the biggest guy but he’s got a set of testicles bigger then both of Ray’s calves. He respects James Storm for standing up for himself just like Aries has done his entire career, so he’s got a great idea: he’ll team with Storm to take on Bully Ray and Bobby Roode.
Matt Morgan vs. Crimson
Morgan attacks Crimson on his way to the ring and they brawl into the ring where Morgan runs over Crimson with clotheslines and then sits on his chest and starts pounding him with right hands. Crimson fires back with right hands and elbows in the corner, but Morgan plows into Crimson with a clothesline in the corner and another one that sends him over the top rope and to the floor. Crimson drags Morgan under the bottom rope and rams him into the guardrail, then sends him back inside and covers for one. Crimson nails a spinebuster for two and then gets the three quarter nelson while ramming knees into Morgan’s head before turning it into a rolling neckbreaker. Morgan dodges a charge and Crimson runs shoulder first into the cornerpost and Morgan starts to mount a comeback with clotheslines and a side suplex. Now Crimson dodges a charge and dumps Morgan to the floor, but Morgan drags him under the bottom rope and batters him all the way onto the ramp. Crimson tries to piledrive Morgan, but Morgan reverses to a backdrop as the referee counts both men out.
DOUBLE COUNTOUT
They keep fighting all the way across the floor and around the stage, and then through the door and outside.
-Commercial Break-
Joseph Park is in the production truck outside the Impact Zone looking for his brother Abyss, and mentions when he played college ball and got to look in the production truck back then and compliments what a great job they. He leaves his card again and says to call him if they hear anything.
Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
Hardy runs Anderson over with a shoulderblock and follows with a hiptoss. Anderson sweeps his legs out from under himand goesback to a side headlock. They do more back and forth until Anderson punts Hardy in the gut and unloads with right hands to the ribs. Hardy fires back and gets the double legdrop to the crotch for 2, but comes off the ropes with a crossbody and gets powerslammed for two. Anderson with a series of elbowdrops and goes for the Mic Check, Hardy shoves him into the ropes and goes for the Twist of Fate, and then they come off the ropes and hit heads, sending Hardy tumbling out to the floor. Kurt Angle runs out and low blows Hardy, then rolls him back into the ring where Anderson hits the Mic Check for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Ken Anderson
((Jarrett’s Jab – This brought back bad memories of the matches they had before Jeff’s Victory Road debacle. Surprised they didn’t bring up the history, but I understand why.))
The music video to “Longnecks and Rednecks” featuring County Music duo Montgomery Gentry and Cowboy Troy airs. Did I mention you can buy the tune at ShopTNA.com?
Dixie Carter and Eric Bischoff arrive at the Impact Zone to hear Hulk Hogan’s decision.
Eric Young and ODB are trying to pick out ODB’s wedding dress and ODB discusses her appreciation of pearl necklaces. The girl selling dresses keeps throwing her boobs in Eric’s face, so ODB kicks her out and says she doesn’t need a dress as long as they can get married in a steel cage. ((Jarrett’s Jab – Eric Young segments should come with a pillow and a blanket…BORING!))
Eric Bischoff comes out and talks about the secrets of his success, which is mainly derived from getting up in the morning and making a checklist of things he wants to accomplish. He got rid of Sting, made sure Dixie couldn’t find someone who could even live up to even Sting’s abilities, and made sure to increase his own personal wealth, but the one thing he can’t seem to get checked off his list of things to do is his son Garett, who he invites down to the ring right now. Garett comes out and gives him the opportunity to “get out of the business now or get hurt.” He says that if he doesn’t get out now, he’s going to put him in a cage with Gunner at Lockdown. Garett says Eric has a hard time grasping this, so he reiterates that he’s not going anywhere, and if he thinks for a second that putting him in a cage with Gunner scares him, then he’s bigger idiot than anyone realizes. Eric can go backstage and tell Gunner that he’ll see him at Lockdown and he’d better bring everything he’s got. ((Jarrett’s Jab – How many more times are we going to see Garett Bischoff face Gunner? TNA is milking this more than AJ Styles/Christopher Daniels))
With Storm vs Roode at Lockdown only Seventeen days away, we go to a video package of Storm training at his home in Tennessee and talking about the beginning and end of Beer Money, and how he plans to win the World Title and earn his right to be the guy on top of TNA.
Hulk Hogan is arriving at the Impact Zone so we can find out his decision.
Bobby Roode & Bully Ray vs James Storm & Austin Aries
Aries and Ray start us off as Aries gets a huge reaction from the crowd. Ray tells him he’s got a real big mouth for a real small man, and yells “You wanna fight me? Too friggin’ bad.” and then turns around and tags Roode in. Roode immediately brings the fight to Aries and puts the boots to him in the corner, but Aries ducks a clothesline, cartwheels past Roode, gets backdropped to the apron, but hits a shoulderblock to the midsection and tries to slingshot in, but comes off the ropes and stumbles. Roode goes for a back suplex, but Aries slips out the back and hits a roaring elbow and points at Ray on the apron and motions for him to get in the ring and fight him as we go to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
Back from Commercial and Aries is chain wrestling circles around Bully Ray, who has an angry staredown with Roode, who motions for him to go back after Aries. Aries manages to duck around him and pepper him with punches and goes for the IED in the corner, but Ray gets the boot up and Aries smashes face first into Ray’s foot. Ray with a big splash and takes his time playing with Aries, picking him up in a waistlock and carrying him across the ring so he can tag Roode in and set Roode up to hit a series of offense and put the boots to Aries in the corner. Aries finally manages a missile dropkick that takes Ray out and he makes the hot tag to Storm, who comes in and unloads on Ray with right hands, an inverted atomic drop, and a clothesline. Storm drags Roode into the ring, but Ray nails Storm from behind before he has a chance to nail Roode. Storm with a Closing Time (Codebreaker) to Ray, and Roode tries to spit a mouthful of beer in Storm’s face, but Storm ducks and Roode spews in Ray’s face. Roode shoves Ray in front of Storm’s Last Call Superkick and covers him while Roode runs to the outside of the ring.
Winners by Pinfall: James Storm & The TNA X-Division Champion Austin Aries
Storm and Roode stare each other down, and now Hulk Hogan is backstage, and he’s…WALKING!
((Jarrett’s Jab – This is a Main Event match that showcased everyone, but can we once get a good match that isn’t overshadowed by the power struggle in TNA.))
-Commercial Break-
Dixie Carter is in the ring and asks Hulk Hogan to come out to the ring. Hogan comes on out to loud chants of his name, and Dixie says that she wants him to take the position. She asks him if he hears the people out there and the reaction they’re giving him, and that she needs a decision. Hogan says that this means a lot to him and he came here to do great things and got into some stuff he’s not proud of, but after Bound For Glory, he decided he didn’t want to be the guy he was and he’s tried to make peace with everything and he’s closed the book on this part of his life. Sting’s music hits and he comes down the ramp with James Storm, Jeff Hardy, Ken Anderson, AJ Styles, and a bunch of the other faces in the company. Sting says that Hogan is not going to deny Sting, Dixie, and he’s surely not going to deny the people because the writing is on the wall, and he wants to know what Hogan’s answer is. Hogan asks if we’re talking about a totally clean slate, Sting assures him that it is, and Hogan says he needs to know one thing for sure before making his decision: Impact Wrestling has a huge dark cloud and they’re in really deep with what’s going on here, but no matter how violent and deep things get, he needs to know that Sting’s got Hogan’s back no matter what. Sting says that’s easy because the answer is yes, but now he needs to know if Hulk Hogan’s going to take the reins and run this company like Hulk Hogan. Hogan says that since Sting has his back, it’s time to let the world know that Impact Wrestling has a new GM, brother. All the wrestlers Sting brought out give Hogan a hug and he wants to know what we’re going to do when the new GM runs wild on YOU? ((Jarrett’s Jab – For the love of all that’s sane, someone tell me why in the blue hell this ended the show. Hogan isn’t selling Lock Down, James Storm and Bobby Roode is and they need to realize it and realize it pretty quick. That’s what the focus of the show should be on. At the end of the day, Hogan as GM isn’t as important as Bobby Roode being World Heavyweight Champion. If that does happen, you have a major problem.))
