Source: Talon of TNAsylum.com
Eric Young and Abyss opened the show in a backstage brawl. They battled out to the ring where the referee called for the opening bell.
Abyss vs Eric Young
Monster’s Ball Match
Everything is legal in this match. EY used a pipe on Abyss at ringside. Abyss backdropped EY hard onto the floor. The Monster pilled out a table and set it up at ringside. He went for a Chokeslam but Young fought out. More plunder was tossed into the ring as some semblance of order was restored. While Abyss was distracted, EY hit a Suicide Dive onto him. EY looked like he was trying to remove the mask but couldn’t get the job done.
The battle continued in the ring. Abyss was crotched onto a chair courtesy of EY in the ring. Young got some momentum and hit a nice missile dropkick for two. Moments later, Abyss sent face first into a chair positioned in the corner. A chokeslam earned Abyss a two. The Monster went ringside and grabbed some thumbtacks. It was Abyss who ended up going into them when EY hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb off the turnbuckle for a nearfall. EY went up top again but an Abyss punch sent him crashing through the ringside table.
Abyss went under the ring and grabbed Janice (to a loud applause). When he went to use it, EY pulled Abyss’ mask off to reveal the face of Joseph Park. Park however hit the Black Hole Slam on EY for the win. After the match, Park looked confused and held up his mask and a mirror.
Reaction: I liked how the show immediately kicked off with a match. There were some really good hardcore moments. I am hoping with this development we will finally get a conclusion of this Abyss storyline. I am intrigued by where its going.
Backstage, Bobby Roode walked in on Dixie Carter. He had a contract for a match with Magnus. Roode said he did her dirty work for her. Dixie said she couldn’t do this. Dixie said she isn’t in control like she has been. Dixie didn’t know how to convince everyone that he was worthy of a World Title shot. She offered to book Roode in a match with Joe for a title shot at Lockdown. Roode said if she is feeding him to the sharks its gonna come back and bite her in the ass.
Reaction: It looks like Dixie’s World is crashing down upon her. First Magnus isn’t listening, then there are issues between EC3 and Magnus, then MVP is revealed as a new investor and now she can’t give Roode what she promised him. Things are looking dark for this President.
MVP made his way to the ring with his kickass theme song. He held up a sign that said “I am the #new investor.” MVP dropped a bunch of his catchphrases. MVP said he has been enjoying life on his own terms. MVP learned that there are always consequences for their actions. There are people at IMPACT who didn’t learn this. MVP said its time for a change. He said no longer with owners have no regards for the wrestlers or the fans. He loves wrestling and was tired of seeing this business get run down. MVP said he made money and invested it. He found some like-minded people who joined him in his investment. MVP talked up TNA’s potential but saying mismanagement has kept TNA from reaching it. MVP said that would never happen again.
MVP was about to go over his agenda when he was cut off by Rockstar Spud, who made his way out. MVP called Spud “Dixie’s lapdog.” Spud put his hand on MVP’s shoulder and asked him if it would be fair if he introduced himself to Dixie Carter. Spud wanted MVP to go backstage so Dixie could talk fairness with him. MVP said on the end of his outstretched arms are fists that he hasn’t forgotten how to use. MVP announced that with the blessing of the board, he has scheduled Magnus vs Kurt Angle in a non-title match.
Reaction: TNA explained how MVP could round up enough money to buy a significant share of TNA when he referred to other investors. I am interested to see if this comes into play down the line or if it was just an explanation. MVP was fair in his first promo. He seems comfortable on the mic again.
Backstage, Bully Ray stood by a Coffin. He talked about Ken Anderson. He said he would put him in a wooden coffin. The next person he sees, will go in the coffin and pay for Anderson’s sins.
We got an #IMPACT365 video with Chris Sabin talking about Velvet Sky breaking his heart. He wants to do something special here tonight.
The Hot and Spicy Curry Man made his way to the ring for a match against….Bully Ray. The Bully rolled the coffin to the ring and then got in the ring with Curry Man. Bully told him that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Curry charged Bully who took him down with a big boot. Bully hit his Piledriver on Curry while yelling “Anderson.” Bully then dragged Curry outside the ring and threw him into the Coffin. Bully told the camera that he would end Ken Anderson’s career.
Reaction: Oh, boy Curry Man. Wrong place, wrong time. I know we are supposed to feel creeped out by Bully but TNA ruined his aura in his last match against Anderson when he was shown up by Earl Hebner. I do however look forward to the Coffin Match next week.
Magnus was chatting with Dixie backstage. Magnus was complaining about his match with Angle. Dixie asked Rockstar how her makeup looked. Someone knocked and EC3 walked in. Ethan wanted to talk to Dixie but she said she didn’t have time for it tonight. Dixie said he will be her blood the next day. She told him to catch up with her in a week.
X Division Champion, Austin Aries headed to the ring. Aries started talking himself up. Aries said that the man makes the title. He has held every major title including the World Title. He also created Option C. Aries said his goal was to repeat what he did in 2012 and cash in his title for a World Title shot. At that moment, the music of the BroMans hit. Jessie and Robbie appeared on the entrance set and distracted Aries while Zema came out from behind him and laid out Aries with the briefcase.
Zema wanted to cash in his title shot now.
Austin Aries vs Zema Ion
X Division Championship
Aries kicked out after a nearfall. Zema continued the attack with a baseball slide to Aries on the outside. Zema with the Slingshot Tornado DDT for another two-count. Zema went up top but missed the corkscrew move. Aries hit a few power moves followed by the corner dropkick, the Brainbuster and the win.
Reaction: The Feast or Fired Briefcases really don’t mean as much as they should, in the scheme of things. They are too similar to MITB but the success rate of “cashing them in” isn’t anywhere as high. The X Division Title also doesn’t mean as much. Its primarily a device to put a wrestler over. There isn’t much of an X Division anymore.
Backstage, Christy Hemme wanted to talk to Samuel Shaw about last week. Hemme wanted to know what the deal with the mannequin was. Hemme said he was a great guy but she wanted to keep this thing professional. Shaw agreed but gave an evil look when she walked away.
Reaction: I am glad they explained that Christy saw the video everyone else did. Now Shaw will turn into some sort of weird stalker. The next logical step.
Bobby Roode complained about facing Joe tonight. Magnus walked up and said he needs to stop complaining. Roode said Magnus owed him for what he has done. Magnus ran his mouth but Roode said he would kill Joe tonight for a shot at him at Lockdown. He wished him luck against Kurt Angle.
Reaction: Magnus is a really good prick. You really want to see him getting his ass kicked especially with how he treats EC3 and Roode. Maybe we will see that sooner rather than later.
Dixie Carter was talking to Rockstar Spud when MVP walked in. Dixie wanted to start with her and talked herself up. She said she built TNA up from a fledgling little company to an empire. MVP asked how she did it and she said people love working for her. MVP asked about a few wrestlers but Dixie called them disgruntled employees. Dixie said MVP could get a good rub off of working with her. MVP said her reputation fuels his desire to work with her. MVP wanted to discuss the future of TNA in the ring. She didn’t want him pulling what he did earlier but he said it was fair.
Kurt Angle vs Magnus
This is a non-title match. Magnus and Angle chain-wrestled early on. Angle clearly looked like he was in pain. Angle hit three German Suplexes on Magnus and then went for the Angle Slam but Magnus got out. Angle caught Magnus on the top moments later and then locked in the Ankle Lock.
EC3 came out of nowhere and clipped the knee of Angle. He then kept attacking the knee of Angle. Angle and EC3 fought ringside. EC3 found a chair and targeted the knee of Angle with it. He locked in a Single Leg hook on Angle in the ring while the referee tried pulling him off. When he was finally pulled off, the referee threw up the X signal indicating a Kurt injury.
EMTs came from the back and brought a stretcher with them. EC3 sat ringside watching the paramedics load Angle onto the stretcher.
Reaction: The announcers highlighted this more vicious side of EC3. I am assuming this is to lead to some sort of feud between them in the future. Angle is scheduled for surgery so this is a way to write him off of TV.
Backstage, Samoa Joe checked on Kurt Angle. He yelled at the camera man calling Dixie Carter a vulture. Joe said she started a war with the wrong man. He will stand alone and defiant. He said they would all pay.
Elsewhere, Eric Young was interviewed. Young said now everyone including Joseph knows the truth about who he is. Now he doesn’t know what is going to happen.
Backstage, Chris Sabin was in the purple room. Sabin said a few years back, he and Velvet shared their first kiss. He said something special was going to again happen. He held a ring box and sat Velvet down.
Backstage, Chris Sabin told Velvet that every relationship has ups and downs. He said when she said it was over last week, that was the worst time. At that same time, a veil was lifted and he knew what to do. He then lifted the ring case for her. She was so happy and opened it. It ended up being empty. Sabin said he wanted her out of his life. He was so sick about hearing about her. He said he is going to prove that he was the real superstar of the relationship. He said next week, he wanted her one-on-one if she had the guts to show up. He left and Velvet was crying.
Reaction: You knew something like this would happen. It made Sabin like like a dick while getting sympathy for Velvet. I wonder if there will be a match next week or if it will just be some sort of angle.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Bobby Roode vs Samoa Joe
#1 Contender’s Match
Back from the break, Joe connected with a big right jab and continued assaulting him with chops and kicks. Moments later, Roode got the advantage and started targeting the neck of Joe. Joe battled back with some hard slaps but ran right into the Double R Spinebuster. Joe got right up and powerslammed Roode down.
Roode hit the Northern Lariat for a two. Roode went for the Roode Bomb but Joe fell out of the move. Roode countered the Coquina Clutch but ran into STJoe. A Musclebuster and Coquina Clutch gave Joe the victory. Joe will face Magnus for the World Title at Lockdown.
Reaction: Solid match that continued to establish Joe as a force who will challenge Magnus for the title. Joe hasn’t been pushed this well in years.
TNA President, Dixie Carter headed to the ring followed by her Chief of Staff. Dixie put over MVP and introduced him. Dixie welcomed MVP to TNA. Dixie said they came out here to share their vision for TNA. Carter put over World Champion, Magnus. She said he accomplished everything with dignity and integrity, setting the bar for his peers. She said everyone should try to emulate Magnus.
Dixie said that if everyone continued to follow her lead, they would all be very successful. She said in her eleven years, she has dealt with many partners and investors. She wanted to make sure her and MVP’s were good. MVP wanted to talk about changes. He said that learning about Dixie, they agree on one thing. He said they agree to disagree. She doesn’t know a wrist lock from a padlock. She has only created a field where her minions can compete on. He isn’t here to play at a Paula Deen party. He said her reign of terror is over. MVP said changes were going to take effect and her party is over.
Dixie and Spud left the ring pissed as MVP stood center stage confident.
Reaction: This segment really was to highlight the divide between Dixie and MVP and establish the fact that MVP wanted change. I don’t think anyone believed that MVP would be on Team Dixie so I don’t know if the segment was necessary.
