Source: Josh Boutwell of WrestleView.com
Impact opens up with highlights from last week and comments from each of the teams in the Tag Series.
Knockouts #1 Contenders Battle Royal
Taryn Terrell vs. Madison Rayne vs. Brittany vs. Havok vs. Rebel vs. Velvet Sky vs. Angelina Love
This is your more standard battle royal rather than the typical TNA Gauntlet style Battle Royal they use a lot. Every girl is in the ring at the same time. Havok’s wearing a pretty cool mask to the ring, it’s a gas mask but its glowing and blinking blue lights. She looks massive in size compared to the other girls. The bell rings and it is every girl for themselves! Havok lifts Madison up in the air by her throat and just hangs her there choking her before tossing her into the corner and continuing to choke her down. Havok lays out every other girl in the match as well, she hits a big Scoop Slam on Brittany. All the girls jump on Havok at once and take her down to her knees but she is able to power out and shove them away. Madison tries to kick Havok but she catches her foot and tosses her over the top eliminating her! Terrell jumps on Havok’s back and tries to choke her but Havok tosses her over the top as well! Terrell lands on the apron but Havok punches her knocking her to floor to eliminate her as well. Brittany hits Havok with a series of forearms but then eats a big clothesline from Havok. Havok tosses Madison around the ring by her hair and then starts choking her with her boot. Brittany attempts a hurricanrana over the top but Havok blocks it and Brittany lands on the apron. Havok nails Brittany with a big forearm knocking her to the floor and eliminating her as well. Velvet and Angelina double team Rebel in the corner but Rebel is able to pull the top rope down as Angelina charges at her sending Angelina over the top to the floor! Havok takes Velvet down but then Rebel jumps on her back and chokes her. Havok backs Rebel into the turnbuckles and hten goes for a Splash, but Rebel moves out the way and then she avoids a clothesline from Havok by doing a split! Rebel hits Havok with a back elbow and then she climbs up top and tries to kick Havok as she approaches her, but Havok grabs her foot and shoves her off the top! Rebel hits the ring steps and takes a really bad fall on her arm before hitting the floor to be eliminated. I believe Rebel broke her arm on that spot. It is down to Velvet and Havok now and Velvet throws a series of forearms and leg kicks at Havok, but Havok shrugs it all off. Havok grabs Velvet by the throat and tosses her into the corner. Havok lifts Velvet up to her shoulders but Velvet escapes and jumps on the back of Havok locking in a Sleeper. Havok Snapmares Velvet to the mat and then goes for a Leg Drop, but Velvet rolls out of the way and then hits the ropes and goes for a Cross Body. Havok catches her in midair and tosses her over the top to the floor to win the match!
Winner & NEW #1 Contender: Havok
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Clips of everything going on with Gunner and Sam Shaw lately are shown. Backstage Gunner asks if Shaw thinks maybe he should talk to his therapist but Shaw refuses. Gunner tells Shaw about Brittany asking about him and suggests that he go out on a date with her. Shaw says his mind is fixated on someone else and walks away.
MVP leads Kenny King out to the ring. MVP says that later tonight Lashley will break the spirit of Bobby Roode and crush his dreams saying that it will be a “Roode awakening.” MVP talks about the headlines that Chris Melendez has created by signing with TNA and then welcomes him to the ring.
Melendez comes out as clips of his win over Zema Ion last week are shown. King shakes Melendez’s hand as does MVP and then MVP says he just wanted to say that Melendez is without question an American hero. MVP thanks Melendez for everything he has done for this country but says that it is obvious that as a member of the military he is a “killer.” MVP says that his “squad” are the only killers in TNA so if Melendez decides to hang out with the right people he could make an “Impact.”
King says that it is about survival of the fittest in TNA and they like Melendez so they want him to roll with them. King says they want be giving Melendez anything, except maybe their bags to carry, and that he will have to earn everything. Melendez thanks them for the offer but declines it because he says he doesn’t need to be handed anything. King asks Melendez if he thinks he is better than he, MVP, or Lashley. King calls him “peg leg” and says that Melendez isn’t a star and says that King is the star. King asks for a referee to come down so he can take Melendez back to “boot camp” as MVP and King laugh at that joke.
Sgt. Chris Melendez vs. “King of the Night” Kenny King w/MVP
Before the match starts MVP approaches Melendez to wish him luck but that allows King to blindside him. King puts the boots to Melendez and then continues to beat him down.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Back from the break King continues to beat on Melendez hitting him with a series of nasty chops in the corner. King chokes Melendez in the ropes and then mocks him with a salute. Melendez tries to fight back but King hits him with an Atomic Drop followed by a Spinning Enziguri! King mounts Melendez and rains down right hands before covering him for a nearfall. King blatantly chokes Melendez and then hits a Snap Suplex floating over into a mount and raining down more right hands. King puts Melendez in a chinlock and then he slams Melendez to the mat by his head. King hits the Cartwheel Kick on Melendez followed by a Leg Drop for another nearfall. King goes for the Royal Flush but Melendez counters into a rollup for the pin!
Winner: Melendez via pinfall (rollup)
King attacks Melendez after the match and hits the Royal Flush. King asks Melendez who the hell he thinks he is and again says that Melendez isn’t a star. He says Melendez can’t even defend himself so how the hell is he going to defend the country. King says that Melendez is a cripple not a hero and then says he is going to rip off Melendez’s leg and stick it up his ass.
Mr. Anderson runs out and chases King out of the ring.
A great video hyping up Lashley-Roode is shown.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Backstage Mr. Anderson talks to Melendez about what happened. He says that just because all of the fans respect him doesn’t mean all the boys in the back will. Anderson says they will deal with this.
TNA X-Division Championship
“Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe vs. “Notorious 187” Homicide
Homicide earned this shot at the title he once held by winning a Scramble Match two weeks ago. Joe won the title earlier this summer and has defeated Homicide once already this summer. They have a storied history together dating all the way back to their time in Ring of Honor years ago. Homicide and Joe lockup with Joe getting Homicide in a wristlock, but Homicide reverses the hold only for Joe to counter right back into a wristlock. They stalemate and then get in each others faces. Joe and Homicide exchange some stiff forearms before Joe gets the advantage with nasty jabs followed by an elbow to the top of the head. Joe whips Homicide into the corner and then hits a Running Back Elbow followed by a Leaping Enziguri! Joe hits a Snapmare Takeover and then slaps Homicide in the back followed up with a roundhouse to the face and then a Knee Drop for a nearfall. Joe puts Homicide in a wristlock and then begins headbutting Homicide’s hand before putting him in an Armbar. Homicide breaks the hold with right hands and chops but Joe cuts him off with a headbutt. Joe charges at Homicide but he drops down causing Joe to fall through the ropes to the floor. Homicide hits a Tope con Giro through the ropes onto Joe on the floor! Homicide rolls Joe into the ring and hits a series of elbows and then a Hangman’s Neckbreaker! 1…2…NO Joe kicks out and Homicide knees Joe and then climbs up top and dives off with a Flying Knee to the back of Joe’s head! 1…2…NO Joe kicks out again! Homicide slaps Joe and then hits the ropes but eats a Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex from Joe sending him into the corner for a nearfall! Joe shoves Homicide into the ropes and hits a Snap Powerslam for another nearfall. Joe lifts Homicide up to the top and attempts the Muscle Buster, but Homicide rakes his eyes and then hits a Flying Tornado DDT off the top! 1…2…NO Joe kicks out again! Homicide hits a lariat to the back of Joe and then they collide into each other with lariats at the same time. Joe goes for another lariat but Homicide blocks it and counters into the Gringo Cutta! 1…2…NO Joe kicks out! Homicide goes for the Gringo Killa but Joe blocks it and then goes for a Lariat, but again Homicide blocks it and counters into another attempt at the Gringo Cutta! This time Joe saw it coming and reverse it in midair into the Coquina Clutch! Homicide taps and Joe retains!
Winner & STILL X-Division Champ: Joe via submission (Coquina Clutch)
After the match Joe and Homicide shake hands but then James Storm and Great Sanada hit the ring and attack them! Storm wraps a bull rope around Homicide’s neck and chokes him out before Sanada nails him with that Sliding Superkick of his! Storm points at the entrance ramp and then someone with a hood over their head walks out and he removes it revealing a blue and silver mask. It is Manik in a new mask and all near blue and silver gear. Manik hits a Frog Splash on Homicide and Storm smiles as he looks at his protégés.
In the back JB is with The Wolves and reminds them that it is must win for them this week. Eddie says they came into this series with something to prove and their legacy is literally hanging in the balance tonight. Davey says most people will see their titles hanging above the ring but they see their destiny hanging there. He says that the Wolves belong with the legends and they prove that tonight and the hunt never dies.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
EY approaches Bobby Roode in the back and asks if he is ready for tonight. Roode tells EY to be quiet so he can enjoy the calm before the storm. Roode talks about the crazy year they have had and EY says after Roode wins it will get real noisy.
TNA Tag Titles Series Match #3
Ladder Match
The Wolves (c) vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Team 3D
3D won match number one and the Hardyz won match number two. If either of those two teams win this match then that team wins the Tag Titles, but if The Wolves win then they force a fourth and final match. The Wolves sprint to the ring and all three teams go at it! Matt Hardy has Devon in a Front Chancery when Davey hits Matt with an Enziguri causing Matt to DDT Devon at the same time! Bully and Jeff brawl to the floor and The Wolves hit Double Suicide dives onto them! Matt and Devon roll out to the other side and The Wolves follow up with Double Suicide Dives onto Devon and Matt as well! The Wolves set up a ladder under the belts but The Hardyz come in and Matt shoves the ladder over. Eddie hits an Enziguri on Matt and then sets the ladder back up as Davey beats on Jeff. Eddie climbs up the ladder while Davey holds Devon back. Bully pulls Eddie off the ladder but then eats a Leaping Enziguri! The Wolves slam the ladder into Bully and then into Matt as well! Bully tries to take the ladder away but they shove Bully into the corner and then nail Devon with the ladder! Jeff kicks the ladder and then springs to the top and hits a Whisper in the Wind onto the ladder and The Wolves! The Hardyz slam the ladder into The Wolves but Eddie leaps over it and hits a hurricanrana on Matt! Davey tosses Jeff to the floor and Bully grabs the ladder and does the airplane spin hitting everyone! Bully slams the ladder over Eddie’s back while Devon sets up another ladder. Bully hits a Scoop Slam on Davey and then Devon dives off the top of the ladder with the Wassup Diving Headbutt! Matt grabs another ladder and slams it into 3D! Matt sets the ladder up and climbs to the top but Eddie climbs up the other side and stops Matt from pulling the belts down. Devon shoves the ladder over causing them to fall across the top rope! Jeff slams a ladder into Devon’s face!
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Bully hits a Powerbomb on Jeff slamming him into a ladder which was set up like a teeter-totter on another ladder slamming the other ladder into the faces of Matt and Eddie! Bully sets a ladder up under the titles again and begins climbing up the ladder. Davey and Eddie Double Powerbomb Bully off the ladder! The Wolves set up two ladders side by side and begin climbing them but Devon and Matt begin climbing the ladders as well! Davey headbutts Devon causing them both to crash and then Matt hits a Twist of Fate on Eddie off the top of the ladder! Jeff sets up a ladder in the corner and then climbs to the top but Bully climbs up with him! Bully headbutts Jeff and Superplexes him off the top of the ladder! To explain just how high they were, Jeff’s legs actually hit the belts on the way down! Davey hits a Flying Forearm on Devon and then rains down forearms on him but Bully chops the crap out of him from behind and lifts Davey up to his shoulders! Devon climbs up top and dives off the top with the Dudleyville Device! Matt and Jeff begin hitting 3D with the ladder slamming it into them repeatedly! They then hit stereo Twist of Fates on them! Matt climbs to one corner and Jeff to the other! Matt hits a Moonsault on Bully and Jeff hits the Swanton on Devon at the same time! The Hardyz set up two ladders under the belts and begin climbing them! The Wolves come back in and pull the Hardyz off. The Hardyz fight them off and then Jeff sets up a ladder in the corner. They whip Davey into the ladder and then send Eddie into it as well! Jeff then dives off the back of Matt into Poetry in Motion onto Eddie and the ladder! Matt leans the ladder up against the ropes and lays Davey across it as Jeff climbs to the top rope! Jeff hits an insane Diving Splash off the top onto Davey and the ladder! 3D pulls a table out on the outside and The Hardyz go for a Double Sliding Dropkick, but 3D lift the table over them and then slam it into them! 3D sets the table up at ringside and Devon lays Matt across it! In the ring The Wolves have chairs and nail 3D with them as they climb in the ring! Eddie tosses a chair to Bully and when he catches it Davey absolutely cremates Bully with his chair! Davey hits Devon with the chair and then lays it across his back as Eddie dives off the top with the Ghetto Stomp! Davey sees Matt laying on the top rope and then dives off the top with a Ghetto Stomp sending Matt through the table on the floor! In the ring Eddie climbs up a ladder under the titles but Jeff Hardy sets up a ladder beside him and climbs up alongside Eddie. They fight with each other at the top of the ladder until Davey comes in and pulls the ladder out from under Jeff causing Jeff to take a WICKED bump falling stomach first across the ladder! Eddie reaches up and pulls the titles down!
Winners: The Wolves tying up the series at one win a piece
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Bram vs. “The Modern Day Viking” Gunner
Bram and Gunner lockup with Gunner slamming Bram to the mat. Gunner and Bram exchange some really stuff forearms before Bram gets Gunner in a side headlock. Gunner shoves Bram into the ropes and clotheslines him over the top to the floor! Gunner chops the hell out of Bram on the outside and tosses him back into the ring. Gunner hits a Swandive Headbutt on Bram for a nearfall and then he whips Bram into the ropes and goes for a backdrop. Bram stops and kicks Gunner before hitting the ropes again but he runs right into a T-Bone Suplex for another nearfall! Gunner hits Bram with a back elbow and then climbs up top and dives off with a Flying Knee! Gunner sells it like he hurt his knee on the move as Bram rolls to the floor. Bram grabs his leg and pulls him out to the apron and slams his leg into the ring steps repeatedly! Samuel Shaw walks out and screams at Gunner asking him if he’s okay. Back in the ring Bram puts the boots to Gunner’s knee and then he hangs it up in the ropes and cannonballs down across it. Bram goes for another cannonball but Gunner counters into a rollup for a nearfall. Gunner tosses Bram to the floor to try and regroup but Bram rolls back in and charges at him. Gunner sidesteps him and hits a series of clotheslines and elbows. Gunner hits a series of headbutts and then attempts a Powerbomb but his knee gives out and Bram stalks him in the ring. Samuel Shaw climbs in and goes after Bram but Bram sidesteps him and Shaw nails Gunner! For some reason the referee doesn’t call for the bell and Bram covers Gunner for the pin. That made no sense.
Winner: Bram via pinfall
After the match Gunner gets pissed at Shaw for the interference.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Backstage Gail Kim says she has no problems with Havok being #1 Contender but she has a problem with the way Havok has come to TNA trying to injure people. She says if Gail wants her title then she can come get it because she has never had issues fighting anyone.
Main Event
TNA World Heavyweight Championship
“The Destroyer” Lashley (c) w/Kenny King & MVP vs. “The IT Factor” Bobby Roode
Roode earned this shot after a victory over EY a few weeks ago. Lashley won the title earlier this summer and has been one of the most dominating champions in history while Roode was at one point the longest reigning World Champion in TNA history. This match gets the old school TNA Main Event Boxing style intros that they haven’t been doing lately. A big “lets go Roode” chant breaks out as the two competitors come face to face in the center of the ring. They lockup and Roode gets the champ in a wristlock but Lashley shoves him into the ropes and runs him over. Roode looks shocked at the power of the champ while Lashley stares him down. Lashley kicks Roode and starts laying into him with big right hands. Lashley whips Roode into the ropes and then leapfrogs him before laying him out with a clothesline. Tenay mentions that maybe Roode will want to try and “outwrestle” Roode but Tazz points out that Lashley was an All American amateur wrestler and not many would want to try and go hold for hold with him. Lashley picks Roode up but then eats a series of nasty chops from the Canadian. Roode hits the ropes and Lashley leapfrogs him again, but this time Roode saw the clothesline coming and he sidesteps Lashley sending him flying over the top rope! Lashley lands on his feet and quickly gets right back in the ring but Roode saw him coming again and hits a series of right hands. Roode hits the ropes and clotheslines Lashley over the top again! King and MVP regroup with Lashley on the floor to talk about a little strategy or at least calm down the pissed off monster. Lashley gets back in the ring and King distracts Roode allowing Lashley to blindside him. Lashley whips Roode into the corner and charges into an elbow from Roode. Roode kicks Lashley and then climbs up top but MVP grabs his leg! Brian Hebner saw it this time though and kicks MVP out from ringside! Lashley argues with Hebner as the fans sing “good bye” to MVP.
—-COMMERCIAL BREAK—-
Back from the break Roode dives off the top with the Blockbuster on Lashley! Roode hits a Corner Clothesline followed by an attempt at the Payoff, but Lashley blocks it and runs Roode back first into the turnbuckles. Lashley charges into a boot from Roode and then Roode climbs up top and goes for a Tornado DDT, but Lashley blocks it sending Roode flying across the ring. Lashley goes for the Spear but Roode counters into the Crossface! King grabs Roode’s leg to pull him closer to the ropes which causes Roode to go after him and break the hold. EY runs down and drags King to the back! In the ring Lashley grabs Roode and goes for the Running Powerslam but Roode counters into the Crossface again! Lashley fights it off and actually stands up and lifts Roode up into a slam showing off his power. Lashley stalks the downed Rooed and when he gets to his feet Lashley levels him with the Spear! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out! Lsahley goes outside and grabs his title belt but as he swings it at Roode, Roode ducks and hits the Roode Bomb! 1…2…NO Lashley kicks out literally at the last millisecond! The fans 100% bought that false finish! Both guys are down now and start to get to their feet at the same time and exchange some big right hands. Lashley kicks Roode and then goes for the Spear but Roode counters into the Double-R Spinebuster! 1…2…NO Lashley kicks out again! Roode attempts to whip Lashley into the corner but Lashley reverses it and Roode attempts to float up and over Lashley but Lashley catches him in midair and hits the Running Powerslam! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out yet again! Again another false finish the fans bought. A “this is awesome” chant breaks out now. Lashley puts Roode in a Torture Rack but Roode fights it off and lifts Lashley up for the Roode Bomb again! Lashley grabs the ropes to block it so Roode actually Roode Bombs Lashley over the top to the damn floor! Jesus Christ Lashley took a sick bump and how damn strong does Roode have to be to pull that off? Roode grabs Lashley and rolls him back in the ring and then Roode climbs up top, but Lashley catches him and tosses him off the top! Lashley goes for the Spear again but Roode leapfrogs him! When Roode lands he immediately grabs his knee as if he blew it out on the landing! Lashley goes for the Spear again but Roode sidesteps him and Lashley slams into the turnbuckles. Roode goes for the Roode Bomb again but his leg gives out and Lashley Spears him out of his boots! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL World Champ: Lashley via pinfall (Spear)
