Source: Talon of TNAsylum.com
We kicked off IMPACT with a huge Manchester crowd. World Champion, Magnus and the rest of Team Dixie walked to the ring. Dixie said she didn’t lose a moment of sleep over MVP’s idle threats. Did they think she could lose control over her own company? She has something that MVP will never have, the World Heavyweight Champion. EC3 stood up for himself, saying he ended the career of Kurt Angle.
Magnus called the crowd “dirty, lazy slobs.” They make him ashamed to be British. He isn’t from the North and he isn’t a “paper champion.” There is no opportunity in Manchester. Magnus spoke about the story of Dixie finding him and signing him to a contract. Magnus addressed MVP saying they need to get the pecking order in place. It starts with him, goes to Dixie, everyone at his heels and then MVP. Magnus isn’t for sale and doesn’t sell out.
MVP walked out followed by Samoa Joe. MVP asked Magnus if he bought Dixie Carter and made a comment about getting a discount. MVP announced that Magnus would defend the World Title against Joe at Lockdown. At that moment, Gunner came out. Gunner called Magnus a paper champion. Gunner said he was tired of carrying around his briefcase. He will give Magnus seven days to prepare himself as next week, he is cashing it in.
Dixie spoke up and said Gunner may not have that case next week. Dixie announced that Gunner will face EC3 tonight. She announced that Gunner’s briefcase will be up for grabs. MVP said he wanted to play along, calling EC3 “C3PO.” MVP reminded her that EC3 has a tag title case. MVP wanted to grab a Ladder, hang both briefcases up and play winner take all. MVP said he would be glued to the monitor and if he saw anything, he would level the playing field.
Reaction: MVP was really good here. His line about Dixie and EC3 were both comical. Looks like we will be getting Gunner vs EC3 in a Ladder Match for both cases, next.
Gunner vs EC3
Ladder Match
Both briefcases are on the line here. Gunner went after EC3 right from the start. Gunner went for the Ladder but EC3 dropkick it into him from the apron. Gunner began using the Ladder on EC3, ramming it into his midsection. Gunner whipped Carter hard into the cornered ladder.
EC3 climbed the ladder but Gunner powerbombed him down hard. Gunner climbed the ladder but Magnus came out from the back and attacked him. All of a sudden, James Storm made the save and cleared the heels from the ring.
MVP popped up and said he gave them fair warning. MVP said he would treat them like a team. MVP changed the match to a tag team match with winner take all. Magnus and EC3 argued at ringside.
Reaction: MVP means business tonight. I like how he is leveling the playing field by being law. So far, so good for him in TNA.
Gunner and James Storm vs Magnus and EC3
Ladder Match
Gunner and Storm used the Ladder on their opponents.The heels got the advantage and took turns hitting front suplexes on Gunner onto the Ladder. Magnus and EC3 had a pissing match. EC3 tried to climb but Magnus pulled him down wanting to climb it himself. They started shoving each other which allowed James Storm to come in and clean house.
Gunner and Storm slammed EC3 onto a Ladder. Storm clotheslined Magnus and himself from the ring which allowed EC3 to climb the ladder. He ran into a Uranage by Gunner, who followed up with the diving headbutt. Gunner climbed the ladder and grabbed both briefcases.
Reaction: Aside from the spot of Gunner coming down with the cable, this was a nice short match. I am assuming all of the issues between Gunner and Storm are behind them since a tag title match is on the way.
Mr. Anderson was interviewed backstage. Tonight isn’t about a biker club or World Championship, its about a family. He showed a picture of his two children.
Backstage, the Bro Mans walked in on Rockstar Spud. The room had a big line down the middle of the room and was supposed to separate Dixie and MVP. The Bro Mans asked Spud how Gunner and Storm could get the case. They had an agreement not to cash in the case for a long time. MVP walked in and said that Dixie’s word means less and less. Spud threatened MVP with lawyers but MVP responded by threatening to strip the Bro Mans of the tag titles. MVP announced that tonight The Bro Mans will face the Wolves and a partner. He said they wouldn’t like who it is.
Reaction: Dixieland is a crumblin’…crumblin.’
The Bro Mans headed to the ring with DJ Zema for six-man action. The Wolves came out ready for their match.
The Bro Mans and DJ Zema vs Samoa Joe and The Wolves
The Wolves got a good reaction. The faces went right after their opponents. Richards hit a nice springboard kick on Jessie. The Wolves double-teamed Jessie for the next few moments. Edwards hit the Shining Wizard on Robbie for two. Another nice double-team from the Wolves when DJ Zema hit a cheapshot. This allowed the heels to gain the advantage.
The heels continued the beatdown for the next few minutes. Samoa Joe made the hot tag and was a house afire on the heels. He hit his series of signature moves including a back splash on Zema. Things broke down in the ring. The Wolves hit suicide dives to the Bro Mans. In the ring, Joe hit the STJoe followed by the Coquina Clutch for the win.
Reaction: Nice six man tag. Wolves looked really good in their debut. Joe looks like he is having fun again. This really motivates him to have better matches. A youth movement is exactly what TNA needed.
Backstage, Abyss choked a stage hand asking him what he is looking at.
Dixie Carter was backstage with MVP. Velvet came in and wanted Dixie to call off her match with Chris Sabin. Dixie said Velvet needed to earn her check and refused to call off the match. After she left, MVP questioned her. Dixie ran her mouth about MVP being a wrestler. Rockstar Spud crossed the line and ran his mouth at MVP. MVP stood up and asked Spud if he brought his gear, because he did. MVP vs Spud is going to happen tonight.
Reaction: Spud is hilarious. I like that MVP is a figurehead who also gets physical when he needs to.
Abyss walked to the ring wearing his hood. He didn’t have his mask on. Abyss said to keep the lights dim. He apologized saying he didn’t want things to happen this way but Eric Young wanted to prove that Abyss and Joseph Park were the same. Abyss called out EY to see what he has done.
Young came out and said he was just trying to help. Young got in the ring and said he proved last week that he wasn’t afraid of anything. He said Joseph Park asked for his help. Abyss pulled out his mask (with hair on it) and called it the reality of what EY did. He proved that he was Abyss. EY said he was his friend. He loves Abyss like everyone else does. He proved that Abyss and Joseph Park were the same person.
Abyss asked Eric who he was. Abyss asked EY who he was. He hasn’t been where he has been. Abyss showed EY his arms saying he carved his body to bits and has destroyed people’s lives. He has left carnage wherever he goes. He said he can’t be Abyss anymore. He can’t do what Abyss did with a conscience. Abyss said he needs help. EY said he could help him. Abyss yelled that he doesn’t need or want his help. They are done. Abyss said he needed to go away and fix this. He needs to fix EY’s mistake. He needs to find someone who truly understands him. He is going to fix this. Abyss grabbed his mask, dropped it and then left the ring.
Reaction: Wow, that was one hell of a promo by Abyss. He wasn’t that intimidating without his mask but when he started yelling, you could feel his presence. I am intrigued as hell to see the next step of his character. It looks like Joseph Park and Abyss are the same person, and they now realize it. I am thinking the Abyss character is going to spiral out of control.
Christy Hemme walked backstage when Samuel Shaw helped her put something away. Shaw said he agreed that they should keep it professional. They shook and then Shaw walked away. Shaw smelled his finger as he left.
MVP vs Rockstar Spud
MVP wore his power ranger attire for this match. Spud stalled early on, trying to stay away from MVP. MVP chilled in the corner waiting for Spud. Spud jumped MVP through the ropes and targeted the knee. MVP fought back with a flapjack. He hit the Ballin’ Elbow Spud. He then finished Spud off with the Driveby Kick for the victory.
Reaction: Squash match to remind fans that MVP is a wrestler. He busted out two of his signature moves here but we didn’t see him push himself.
Backstage, Bobby Roode stormed through the hallway in search of Dixie Carter.
We got a weird promo of Jeff Hardy talking all strangely and spinning an umbrella. He laughed and then dropped to the ground. Willow is coming.
Reaction: That was Jeff Hardy’s alter-ego Will O’Wisp. That was just bizarre, yet compelling. I left that segment thinking “What the fuck?”
Bobby Roode walked in on Dixie Carter. Dixie said Roode lost and called him a sore loser. Roode freaked out. He said Dixie owed him a title shot. She doesn’t want him as her enemy.
Velvet Sky made her entrance followed by Chris Sabin. Sabin said that since he was a gentleman, he would allow Velvet the first shot. He said all the attention was on her. He would close his eyes for her. He said he doesn’t know what he saw in her. He called her a skank. Velvet kicked Sabin in the knee and then the groin.
Sabin pulled out a cup and called her stupid. Velvet kicked him low again and then pounded on Sabin. All of a sudden, Alpha Female came out of nowhere and attacked. She locked in the vicious Full Nelson on Velvet. Sabin covered Velvet and Female counted the three.
Reaction: Alpha Female wrestled ODB on Xplosion a week or so ago, so this wasn’t as surprising as it should have been. Sabin played a good slimy heel. It makes sense to introduce a woman to protect him while also giving Velvet someone to feud against.
Bully walked backstage and then looked through a locker room. He found Mr. Anderson’s bag and grabbed him phone. He called Anderson’s wife from his phone and told her that when Mr. Anderson comes home, he will be in a coffin. He told her to tell the kids that daddy says goodbye.
Reaction: That was creepy. TNA has been doing good with their dark and weird characters. Interesting segment.
Bobby Roode was interviewed backstage. Roode admitted that he lost it earlier. He said this all has to come to an end. He said its over. He needs time to think and figure things out. Security showed up and told Bobby that he needed to go.
Reaction: Bobby Roode lost his smile. Is he teasing that he is leaving? I don’t think another main eventer needs a break.
Bully Ray vs Mr. Anderson
Casket Match
Bully wore his hooded sweatshirt in the ring. Mike Tenay announced that Dixie Carter will present a buyout offer for MVP tonight. Bully Ray wore a jersey for a rival British team. Anderson ripped the jersey off immediately. Anderson stomped on the jersey to the excitement of the crowd. Bully pounced on Anderson from behind.
Back from the break, Anderson had a chair and slammed it into a chair that Bully was holding. Anderson grabbed a table and set it up. A few moments later, Bully got the upperhand and pulled the casket in the ring. Bully crotched Anderson on the top rope and hit him with a chair. He hit a nice superplex on Anderson and attempted to put the lid on the casket.
Anderson (in the casket) fought off as Bully held the casket lid. The two brawled a few moments more. Bully picked up Anderson and powerbombed him through the table. Anderson tried to piledrive Anderson in the casket but Anderson got out and hit the Mic Check. Anderson grabbed the lid and put it on for the win.
Reaction: The action was good but that was the cheapest looking casket I have ever seen. It made TNA look pretty low-budget, which is unfortunate. I feel bad for people in England who end up passing away. That casket might break apart during their funeral.
Backstage, MVP sat backstage when Dixie walked in. Dixie wanted to cut to the chase. Dixie said MVP’s involvement would stop. She had a proposal for him. She wanted to buy his shares in TNA. She said wrestlers aren’t traditionaly good businessmen. She presented him with a contract, that had a significant amount of money. MVP looked it over and said it would be the single biggest payday he has ever seen. MVP said he didn’t come here for this. He came to TNA to make it reach its maximum potential. MVP tore up the contract.
MVP proposed a Lethal Lockdown Match. 4-on-4 with the winner assuming all control of TNA. They argued for the next few minutes. She said he would get what he wished for but it wouldn’t be what he wanted. The two put the stuff on the table on the other side.
Reaction: Well that match has alot of potential. I think its too early to give control to one or another. In this case, I am hoping Team Dixie wins as she is too entertaining of a character. Interesting little segment.
