Source: Talon of TNAsylum.com
Dixie Carter was with Rockstar Spud and her attorney. Magnus walked up and asked the attorney what was going on? The attorney revealed that there was a board meeting this morning. The attorney told them that there was a hostile takeover happening. Someone has been buying up shares. Creed said things need to work on-screen. Tonight, Sting will have someone in his corner tonight. Magnus proposed to make the match a No DQ Match. The attorney said he could sell that. Things got heated between the attorney and Magnus. The attorney told Magnus to stand down until he got to the bottom of everything.
Reaction: There’s alot to digest in that segment. Someone has been slowly taking over TNA backstage and nobody has noticed. This gives Dixie Carter and opposition figure to battle against which will even things up for the faces. The attorney was irritating in this segment. I am compelled to see where this goes.
Magnus came to the ring with Rockstar Spud and EC3. Magnus accused Sting of slithering around and politicking to get someone in his corner. Magnus said he thought Sting was a man. The Icon headed to the ring to address the World Champion. Sting said Magnus was now ready to honor a deal, just like he did with AJ Styles. Magnus accused Sting of paying off a new investor. Sting said he had no interest in an investor but he will have someone in his corner. Magnus reminded him that tonight is a No DQ Match where Sting needs to pin him or make him submit. Magnus told Sting he couldn’t do that. He reminded Sting about BFG.
Sting said he did something; he dusted himself off, watched a tape of their match and knows what Magnus will do. Sting said that’s what makes them different. That’s what separates champions from paper champions. Magnus traded honor for greed. The fans chanted “paper champion” at Magnus. Magnus slapped Sting which caused Sting to go off on Magnus. The heels jumped the Icon in the ring when Samoa Joe headed to the ring and cleared out the heels. Sting announced that Joe would be in his corner tonight.
Reaction: Aside from Magnus’ horribly acted line about Sting being a man, this segment did a good job teasing the power of the new investor while also building to tonight’s monumental match between Magnus and Sting.
Backstage, Rockstar Spud ran up to Dixie Carter. Spud complained about Joe being involved tonight. Dixie suggested that they should take Joe out before the match. Spud suggested a match and then Dixie announced that Joe would face Spud. Dixie hyped Spud up while Spud worried. Dixie hoped that he didn’t get killed.
Gunner vs James Storm
Briefcase Match
Gunner has a new helicopter sound at the start of his intro theme. This is a pole match where the one who grabs the briefcase wins it. Both men tried going for the briefcase early on but things degenerated into a brawl. Both men brawled on the top turnbuckle where Gunner hit a nice Fallaway Slam off of the top.
Storm went for the Last Call Superkick but Gunner connected with the Uranage Backbreaker. Gunner went for the case but Storm stopped him. Storm hit a clunky Frankensteiner on Gunner from the top rope. Storm climbed up and grabbed the case. At the same time, Gunner came from under him and hit the Electric Chair off the top. The announcers highlighted that the winner needed possession of the case. Both men crawled to the case but Gunner ended up grabbing it for the win.
Reaction: You knew that when the announcers said the thing about having possession of the case, that we would get some sort of weird finish. Eh! I guess Storm would have a case of his own since he grabbed the briefcase first. The crowd was very quiet for this match by the way.
Kurt Angle was being interviewed. Angle said it was a rough four months. Angle said if he can’t beat Bobby Roode with so much on the line tonight, he doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame and doesn’t deserve to be in TNA right now.
An IMPACT365 video aired. Velvet opened a gift from Chris Sabin. Sabin’s letter said it takes forgiveness and commitment to be in a relationship. The letter told Velvet to bring the gift to IMPACT. It was revealed to be a lead pipe. Sky quickly turned the camera off.
Reaction: Quick guesses would say that Velvet turns on Aries to help Sabin win but that may be too obvious.
Austin Aries vs Chris Sabin
X Division Championship
Velvet brought a giant package with her to the ring. She entered a cage immediately at ringside.
Sabin accused Aries of cheating early on so Aries responded by pulling Sabin’s hair. The two continued to chain-wrestle where Aries locked in the Last Chancery (which Sabin broke with an eye rake). A few underhanded moves put Sabin in control. Aries rebounded with a few aerial moves. Aries went for the Brainbuster but Sabin broke out.
Sabin rolled out to ringside and grabbed Velvet’s bag. He looked in the bag looking for the pipe but it wasn’t in the bag. The distraction allowed Aries to to gain the advantage. Aries connected with the Brainbuster to win the match and the title.
Reaction: Velvet chose not to bring the weapon to IMPACT which will lead to further issues between her and Sabin. Again, I don’t like the hotshotting of the X Title between the two but hopefully this will progress the Sabin/Velvet relationship and move Aries on to something else.
We got a “Wolves” promo talking about the power coming to TNA. They asked why you would ask for the Wolves to prove themselves. The investor had the knowledge to let them dominate. The Wolves announced that next week in Glasgow, the investor will be revealed to the world.
Reaction: I am glad they didn’t drag out the investor reveal. It gives next week’s show a nice hook to it. Two of my top guesses for the investor are: Jeff Jarrett and MVP. Compelled to see who it is.
Kurt Angle vs Bobby Roode
Steel Cage Match
Roode had a new leather entrance coat that said “It Factor.” This match will start after the break.
This match can be won by pin, submission or escape from the cage. Angle started things off by tossing Roode around with suplexes. Roode quickly regained control and began to wear down the Olympic Gold Medalist. Roode went for a powerbomb but Angle reversed it by catapulting Roode into the cage and following it up with a few German Suplexes. Roode went for the Roode Bomb but Angle got out and connected with the Angle Slam for a nearfall.
Angle locked in the Ankle Lock but Roode conenected with the Enziguri. He followed it up with a Northern Lariat for a nearfall. Roode was favoring the ankle. Roode sent Angle into the cage and attempted to escape but Angle caught him. Both men rammed each other into the cage with Angle coming out on top.
Angle climbed to the top of the cage and decided to go for a moonsault off the top of the cage. Roode however rolled out of the way which sent Angle crashing down. There’s a loud “this is awesome” chant. Roode tried escaping the cage but Angle caught him by the ankle and pulled him back in. Roode nearly escaped again but Angle caught him and locked in the Ankle Lock. Roode rolled through and sent Angle into the cage. He followed it up with the Roode Bomb for another nearfall.
Roode climbed the cage again but Angle caught him with an Angle Slam off the top turnbuckle. Roode barely got his shoulder up at two. Angle tried escaping from the cage but Roode grabbed him before he escaped. They brawled on the top rope where Angle connected and sent Roode down. Angle then escaped the cage moments later and escaped moments before Roode crawled out.
Reaction: Very good cage match! There was alot of drama and some really good action. I am guessing both Roode and Angle move on from here and do something else on TV. This was a very fun feud.
Spud was worrying backstage when EC3 walked up. Rockstar said he had a minute, if he was lucky after the bell rang. EC3 tried to get Spud pumped up. Carter put over Spud’s fired. EC3 called Spud the British Dream. Carter said he sees a blinding rage in the eyes of Spud. EC3 called Spud fierce. Both men began yelling.
Reaction: Great segment! EC3’s lines and mannerisms were very great here.
The Bro Mans came to the ring and began talking smack. The Bro Mans wanted to pose in the ring because that’s “bromanteed” to sell. Robbie said Zema would cash in the case and win the X Title. Zema put over Jessie and Robbie for being the greatest champions ever. Zema said EY and Park were going down.
Eric Young ran to the ring and brawled with the Bro Mans trio. Tenay announced EY and his partner would get a shot at the tag titles next week. The numbers game caught up with EY when the music of Abyss hit. The Monster headed to the ring and went after the trio. He chokeslammed Jessie, Black Hole Slammed Robbie and hit Zema with the Shock Treatment. Abyss then grabbed EY by the throat but ended up pushing him away.
Reaction: They are putting the Abyss character over as someone who may not be controllable. I like that they are making the Monster out to be a dangerous person though.
Joe was backstage and updated the fans on his knee saying it was fine. Joe told Magnus he went from his comrade to a sellout. Joe said tonight was a Genesis. He would send a message and Spud would bear it. It starts with Rockstar Spud.
Kurt Angle was backstage. He said losing Sting would lose a cornerstone. Angle said if he loses, they may never see him again. Angle spoke to Sting from the heart. Angle said many people in the company know how important he is. Angle said he loves him. He wishes him the best and hopes he wins tonight. If he doesn’t win, then goodbye.
Reaction: This promo really leads me to believe that Sting loses tonight and he is done with TNA. I am surprised that Angle didn’t break down and start crying.
Rockstar Spud vs Samoa Joe
Spud was fired off, hit a series of strikes (that didn’t phase Joe) and shook the ropes. Samoa Joe began to dominate Spud for the next few minutes. Spud poked the eye and targeted the knee. This didn’t last as Joe continued to pummel him. He followed it up with the Muscle Buster and the Coquina Clutch for the easy victory.
After the match, Joe told Dixie that if any one of his guys wants to get involved, they would have to go through him.
Reaction: Nice domination of Spud. You would think Dixie would toss someone tougher at Joe just to prevent Joe from interfering.
Magnus vs Samoa Joe
No Disqualification Match (Title vs Contract)
World Heavyweight Championship
Samoa Joe was out with Sting, watching his back during this match. We got big match introductions for this match. The two tried to one-up each other but Sting kept coming out on top. Sting went for the Death Drop but Magnus escaped. Both men clotheslined each other down. EC3 walked to the ring and was met by Samoa Joe. Joe backed EC3 down as we headed into break.
Back from the break, Sting locked Magnus in the Scorpion Death Drop. Bad Influence and EC3 stormed the ring and attacked both Joe and Sting. Bad Influence went for a move but Joe took them out. Sting and Joe cleared the heels from the ring when Joe hit a Suicide Dive to the outside. Meanwhile, Sting continued the beatdown on Magnus in the ring. Sting hit the Scorpion Death Drop but Zema Ion pulled the referee from the ring. Moments later, the Bro Mans jumped Samoa Joe and sent him into the ringside steps.
The heels pounded away at Sting in the ring. All of a sudden, Kurt Angle stormed the ring and sent after the heels. He hit a series of suplexes on the heels. He then Angle Slammed the members of Bad Influence. This left Sting and Magnus in the ring where Sting hit a Superplex. Sting got a nearfall off the move. Sting accidentally hit the Splash on the referee.
Sting locked the Scorpion on Magnus in the ring. Bobby Roode came out and hit a vicious Northern Lariat on Sting. Magnus followed it up by hitting the Magnus Driver. Dixie Carter dragged Earl Hebner to the ring. Hebner hesitantly made the count. Magnus ended up getting the win to retain his title and send Sting from TNA.
After the match, Magnus held Sting contract above him and then ripped it to shreds. Sting laid there by his pieces of contract while Dixie, Magnus and EC3 stood above him.
Reaction: Again, you will get the same comments you got a few weeks ago in the AJ vs Magnus match. This had more action before all of the interference. This could very well be the last we see of Sting in TNA. I hope this isn’t the last image of TNA’s first Hall of Famer. He has meant so much to this company over the years.
I think the booking of this match really put over Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode. Magnus still needs to look more legit but at this point, it doesn’t bother me. I don’t know if we will see some of these names back in TNA but hopefully, we get an opposition force of credibility. We shall see next week with the investor.
