Source: TNAStars.com
Opening Segment
Open Fight Night on Impact Wrestling opens up with a video package highlighting the recent Aces and Eights attack, Devon wanting to recruit someone new, and the AJ Styles dilemma, and Austin Aries’ hunt for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
As fireworks go off inside the Impact Zone, TNA isn’t getting cheap welcoming you to Open Fight Night! To kick off the show out comes TNA’s resident Bully: Bully Ray in street clothes. Ray says it’s been various obvious that there is no doubt that Hulk Hogan and Bully Ray can’t get along. Ray says he doesn’t know what he has to do to prove that he’s trustworthy and he has a lot of respect for him and calls Hogan out to talk.
After Hulk Hogan’s theme song plays for a while, Brooke Hogan comes out as Hogan’s theme continues to play. Ray asks where her father is and that he wants to talk to him and Brooke mouths off that he’s not here and he knows. Ray keeps asking what does he know? And Brooke says that “we” have to go to see him and show him that he’s the man that she knows he is. Mouthful, isn’t it. The two walk off and Ray keeps saying “There’s nothing to know Brooke.” Thankfully the two walk off screen to the back so we can go to the commentators. Taz, Todd Kenely and Mike Tenay talk about if a challenge is issued, you have to answer and with that, out comes The Greatest Man That Ever Lived: Austin Aries. Aries tells the fans that what they say “really means a lot coming from such intelligent people.” Aries says that he’s not paid by the hour and everyone saw what happened last week, Bobby Roode screwed him out of the World Title. Aries notes that he did the same thing to Bobby Roode and tonight we’re going to break the tie because they’re men unlike Jeff Hardy and they will find out who deserves to be the next World Champion. Aries says that for the last main event, they’re going to take two wrestlers that only belong in the main event (Aries and Roode) to decide which wrestler takes out Jeff Hardy.
-Commercial Break-
Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring in his ring gear and Kenely talks about how Open Fight Night is right up his alley. Joe reminds everyone that this is Open Fight Night and he’s out here to pick a fight. He says that every week when Aces and Eights can’t get the job done on his own, they send a goon out with a mask and a hammer, so he calls him out so he can choke him out and take off the mask to expose what a little “moped riding bitch you are.”
Samoa Joe vs. Masked Aces and Eights Member
Joe unleashes an offensive fury with right hands and a sweet enzeguri in the corner. Joe goes for the mask, but the masked man goes for the eyes and hits a clothsline. The man chokes the former TV Champion on the second rope for a two count. Sleeper by the masked man and he keeps the offense with elbows to the back of the neck and knees to the ribs before Joe is able to try a Musclebuster. Inverted atomic drop by Joe and the seton connects and Joe quickly locks in the coquina clutch and drops down to the mat.Earl Henber rings the bell and the match is over.
Winner by Submission: Samoa Joe.
Joe signals that the mask is coming off, and but the rest of Aces and Eights rush the ring before he can start to get it off.
Robbie E and Robbie T are backstage and they get into a confrontation with Jesse Godderz. Robbie E says that since tonight is ‘Open Bro Night’, they should have a Bro Off.
-Commercial Break-
Kenny King is backstage telling Christian York that he’s impressed with the way he came in and took it to everyone because it’s so much like the way he came in. He knows Rob Van Dam is going to call someone tough out tonight, so he tells Christian to watch and take notes. King walks off and York shakes his head and says “where they find these guys. “
Robbie E and Robbie T come out to the ring where Robbie E tells us that it’s Open Bro Night, and he’s calling out the fake Robbie E, Jesse. He tells Jesse to get out here so he can show him what it’s like to be a real bro. Jesse comes out and tells E that he can refer to him as Mr Pectacular, but E reminds him that this is a Bro Off, and there’s three rules in a Bro Off: 1)it’s every Bro for himself, B)everything he does has to end in a bro. Since E is the Bro veteran, bro, he’s going to go first, bro, so he tells the DJ to hit his music, bro.
Robbie E’s music hits and he dances. E tells Jesse to top that, Bro. Jesse’s music hits and he poses like Chris Masters posing routine while Tara acts like the Coyote in those old Tex Avery Cartoons. It’s sad that a 20 year old actually knows that. Anyways, Jesse ends it by powerlifting Tara. Jesse tells E that this is how you Bro Off…dude. E says it wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be, but there’s two problems: it’s bros not hos, and number three is that Jesse is automatically disqualified because he ended with dude instead of bro, Bro. Robbie E is about to announce himself as the winner, but Robbie T grabs the microphone and says there’s one more bro to go. T flexes to Jesse’s music, but then some new music hits and he does back rolls, one armed pushups, and pumps his fist at the crowd, he lifts Robbie E in the same way that Jesse lifted Tara. Jesse and Robbie E’s jaws are on the ground as he takes the microphone out of E’s hand and goes “BRO!” T walks up the ramp as Jesse, Tara, and E stare at him in shock.
((Jarrett’s Jab – That was a whole lot better than the train wreck I was expecting. Bigger Rob, a.k.a. Rob Terry made the segment along with Jesse’s facial expressions. For a comedy wrestler, he has some great skills and facial expressions. ))
-Commercial Break-
Rob Van Dam comes out to the ring and says that his efforts have obviously elevated the X Division, and this next X Division competitor is having everyone rave about his moves and his athleticism, so come on out to the ring…Christian York! King looks on shocked as York looks estatic as he walks up the tunnel.
X Division Title Match: Rob Van Dam vs Christian York
They go back and forth right off the bat with a fast paced exchange, RVD goes for the stepover leg lariat but York counters to a half nelson suplex. York hits a flying headscissors that sends RVD out to the floor. York quickly rolls him back inside and comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick. York hits a rolling neckbreaker on RVD for a close two. RVD whips York to the corner and goes for the rolling monkey flip, but York drills him in the face with a knee to block the move and goes up top and hits a double stomp to the back of RVD for another close two. RVD dodges a charging cannonball in the corner and counters a flying headscissors to a side suplex. York kicks out of a split legged moonsault at two, but RVD follows up with a springboard thrust kick and then Rolling Thunder. RVD goes to the top rope and hits the five star notebook splash for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Rob Van Dam
((Jarrett’s Jab – If they want York to be anyone in TNA, he’s going to have to beat somebody. He’s been beat by Zema Ion, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode and now Rob Van Dam. Something that bothered me throughout this match is Taz taking shots at Todd Kenely for knowing York’s moves. That’s something EVERY Announcer should know. He has also did that during all of Joey Ryan’s matches so far. They need to experiment with some new announcers to replace Taz and Tenay, they’re getting too complacent. I actually miss Don West, at least he didn’t seem bored calling the action.))
We go to the Aces & Eights clubhouse where Devon again says that the guy he has in mind tonight is a prima donna, but can be a big help to the group if they decide to bring him in. Doc comes in with a couple of girls and Devon asks him if he thinks they’ll do for tonight.
We then check in on Joseph Park’s progress at OVW where Park says he came from a long line of fighters like his brother Chris and his great grandfather Jebediah, who fought George Hackenschmidt in a bare knuckle fight and almost won. Danny Davis says he doesn’t want to crush anyone’s dream, but he sucked except when he got that nosebleed and went nuts last week. If he can channel that, he’s on to something because it got his attention.
Christopher Daniels and Kazarian are at the merchandize warehouse in the back and see that they still have no merch there even though they have Kurt Angle shorts. Bad Influence are asked what their strategy is for tonight, but Daniels says he doesn’t need strategy before picking up AJ Style’s shirts and putting them in a trash can.
-Commercial Break-
We look back at last week when Hulk Hogan told us to vote for TNA’s Wrestler of the Year, then Bobby Roode says that he knew Aries would call him out because he’s so predictible. He’s going to beat Aries and then go on to Genesis to beat Hardy for the title like he should have at Final Resolution.
The 1-3-13 video airs and like last week, it reveals that Sting is coming back next week.
Christopher Daniels comes out to the ring and says that he knows they told the fans that he and AJ Styles were doing it one last time at Final Resolution, but they really meant one last time until the next time. He gives the fans what they want, so he’s calling out AJ Styles! What appears to be AJ Styles comes out and does his full entrance, until the hood comes down and everyone learns that it’s really Kazarian. I’m almost shocked that no one saw that coming inside the Impact Zone. Kazarian does a pretty good impression of Styles and states that he’d love to fight Daniels one more time, but he knows he can’t beat him. Daniels beat him with his own Styles Clash, and he’s just some dumb hick from Georgia and Daniels is from Cali-frickin’-fornia. This has been the worst frickin’ year of his life, so he’s going to go find Claire Lynch, but Daniels interrupts him and says that nobody wants to see that. He apologizes to the fans for not giving them Styles vs Daniels one second last time, but they can feel free to worship them now and the two pose. Chavo Guerrero Jr and Hernandez come out and say they can make fun of people having a bad 2012, but Chavo and Hernandez had a pretty good 2012 since they beat them for the TNA World Tag Team Title. They’re going to finish 2012 with their foot up Daniels and Kazarian’s rears. They enter the ring, the bell rings, and we’re off! ((Jarrett’s Jab – That Claire Lynch line killed me! That and Kazarian’s AJ Styles impression, that was actually pretty good and got a great laugh from me. Best tag team of 2012, it’s not even a contest.))
TNA World Tag Team Title Champions Chavo Guerrero Jr & Hernandez vs Bad Influence
The champions tear right through the Bad Influence to start the match, with Hernandez hitting a splash on Kazarian for a two count. Daniels tags in and he gets ping ponged between the tag champions before Hernenadez nails an overhead release suplex. Daniels ends up in the champs corner as Chavo stomps him down and Hernandez chokes him from the floor. Hernandez comes in and hits a splash in the corner on Daniels and then backdrops him high. Daniels begs off as we take a commercial break
-Commercial Break-
Chavo is dumping Kazarian to the floor as we head back from commercial. Super Mex has Daniels up in a commercial-long delayed vertical suplex. Kazarian is tackled off the apron by Hernandez and then clotheslines Daniels out to the floor. He quickly rolls Daniels in and goes for a slingshot shoulderblock, but Kazarian pulls Daniels out of the way and Hernandez crashes and burns. SuperMex must be rolling in kryptonite as Bad Influence make frequent tags and keep him isolated. Daniels and Kazarian hit a series of double teams and trick the “veteran” Chavo to come in the ring so the ref has to restrain him. “Wrestling Royalty” as he put it should be smarter than that. Hernandez finally shoves Daniels across the ring and nails the POUNCAAA! to make some space. Monty Brown reference. Anyways to create some space and make a tag to Chavo, who comes in and cleans house on Kazarian. Chavo connects with a flying headscissors and a big monkey flip. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Chavo gains him another two count. Chavo hits the Three Amigos on Kazarian, but Daniels and Kazarian hit a Hart Attack on Chavo for two. Hernandez comes in and dumps both of them to the floor and the champions take them out with dives. Chavo rolls Kazarian inside and hits a slingshot rolling senton for 2. Kazarian goes for AJ’s springboard forearm, but Chavo dodges and hits a top rope frogsplash for the win.
Winners by Pinfall: Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Hernandez
Jeff Hardy is backstage telling the cameraman that he has all the respect in the world for Aries and Roode in the ring, but no respect at all for them outside the ring. Revenge is coming real soon, but he’ll enjoy watching the two of them beat the hell out of each other tonight.
((Jarrett’s Jab – Hold on a minute…Mexican America, the most boring team on the roster are stuck without challengers, and they beat the most over tag team in TNA when they’re desperate for challengers…that makes sense how exactly? Chavo and Hernandez desperately needs a program because I was starting to forget TNA even had Tag Team Titles.))
-Commercial Break-
We go to the Aces & Eights clubhouse with a bearded and ballcap wearing Ken Anderson. Anderson remembers what happened last time they had a run in, but Devon assured him he’d be safe there. Devon says it’ll be physical and then looks at the girls before stating ‘more physical.’ Anderson says he’s not sure this is his scene, but he’d like some time to…think about it.
Gail Kim comes out and says she knows exactly who she’s calling out. 2012 was her year and she was the longest reigning Knockouts Champion until someone came along and scored a fluke victory. She’s ready to end that chapter and erase those memories before she regains her gold in 2013, and she’s calling out Miss Tessmacher.
Gail Kim vs. Miss Tessmacher
Gail goes right after Tessmacher’s arm, but gets caught in a jackknife rollup for two. Tessmacher dodges a charge in the corner and unloads with forearms and stomps in the corner. Tessacher pulls up her shorts and gives Gail a stinkface, then knocks her to the floor when Gail tries to roll to the apron to escape. Gail is rolled in, but catches Tessmacher with a DDT, followed by a back suplex for two. Tessmacher blocks a top rope Frankensteiner and she gets Gail in a hanging Dragon Sleeper on the top rope, then releases Gail to hit a top rope clothesline for two. Gail catches Tessmacher with a big boot and a crossbody in the corner. Gail decides to add insult to injury with a stinkface of her own and goes for a back suplex that gets countered into a bulldog. Tessmacher is on a roll with running clotheslines and forearms, and then nails a Frankensteiner. Inverted bulldog by Tessmacher and then she goes up top and takes so long Gail rolls out of the way of Brooke’s top rope elbowdrop and hits Sole Food for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Gail Kim
Austin Aries is backstage, and he’s…WALKING! Bobby Roode is also backstage, and he’s…ALSO WALKING!
The 1-3-13 video airs again and we get a graphic that says that the team of Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle will take on Devon and the big masked guy inside a Steel Cage NEXT WEEK on Impact Wrestling, the fan-voted winner of the TNA Wrestler of the Year ballot will be announced, and Sting makes his return, all LIVE next Thursday night.
Bobby Roode vs. Austin Aries
Roode takes Aries to the corner and tries a right hand, but Aries ducks out of the way. Aries says it’s cool, and they do some chain wresting. They end at a stalemate and Roode tries for a handshake, Aries takes it and they both kick each other in the gut. Aries tries a leapfrog but appears to hurt his knee. Roode says he’s not buying this crap, and he kicks Aries in the knee and tries a spinning toehold. Aries kicks Roode off to the floor, dances around to show that the knee is fine. Aries gets ready to try a dive to the floor, but Roode pops back in the ring and they go nose to nose. At ringside we go away for this match to get in Jeff Hardy’s head! He thinks that he’s surrounded by animals (as he says) as he watches two men who don’t deserve to challenge for the World Title. ((Jarrett’s Jab – That’s funny, because you don’t deserve to have a job wrestling after having more second chances in wrestling than most people have in life. I’m also so tired of hearing Hardy’s thoughts, it’s unrealistic and they’ve actually cut away from a good match to do it.))
-Commercial Break-
“The It Factor of Professional Wrestling” Bobby Roode and “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” Austin Aries trade back rakes until Roode connects with a vertical suplex. Aries dodges a kneedrop and then dropkicks Roode’s knee out from under him. Roode dodges an elbowdrop. Roode goes for a superplex, but Aries blocks and they box each other’s ears repeatedly on the top rope, then thumb each other in the eyes before boxing each other’s ears again. Aries connects with three ear boxes in a row to knock Roode off the top, but Roode dodges a missile dropkick and tries a spear. Aries counters into the Last Chancery, but Roode goes to the eyes to escape and gets Aries in the Crossface. Aries goes to Roode’s eyes to get out and they trade punches and chops, Roode begs for mercy and tries a rollup with his feet on the ropes. Earl Hebner sees and stops the count, and Roode takes too long arguing with the referee and allows Aries to roll Roode up with a handful of tights. The referee sees again and stops the count, and Roode hits the Double R Spinebuster for a two count. Roode tries to use a chair on Aries, but Earl Henber takes it away and Aries hits a roaring forearm that gets two and opens up Roode beside his ear. Aries gets the chair and the Hebner takes it away. Earl Hebner has a mental meltdown and starts yelling at both men that he’s sick of this crap. Aries and Roode look at each other and then both hit simotanious kicks to the referee before dumping him out to the floor. They share a brief look of satisfaction before playing tug-of-war for the chair. Jeff Hardy’s music hits, and he comes in through the crowd and lays out both men.
((Jarrett’s Jab – A more eventful Impact than I would have guessed between Christmas and New Years, but I personally didn’t like how the show the faces won every confrontation with the exception of the Knockouts Match. I don’t think that Mexican America version 2 beating Bad Influence does anything and the belts haven’t meant less all year since the duo beat Daniels and Kazarian for them at Bound for Glory. Between Joe and Magnus, Bad Influence and Styles and Angle, the belts have meant a lot and have gotten some spotlight until Bound for Glory.
Jeff Hardy being able to outsmart the two biggest heels in TNA makes as much sense as hearing his thoughts. These two used every dirty tatic in the book during their match, but didn’t see Hardy coming in from behind, and weren’t able to get one move in 2-on-1? Hopefully next week Roode and Aries will gain some advantage over Hardy.))
