wrestling / TV Reports

411’s TNA IMPACT Wrestling Report 3.7.13

March 7, 2013 | Posted by Jonathan Sullivan

TNA Impact Wrestling Logo photo impactwrestlinglogo_zps682c0ae2.jpg

*****

An opening graphic paying tribute to the late William “Paul Bearer” Moody airs before the show begins.

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PREVIOUSLY ON IMPACT WRESTLING: Bully Ray is named the #1 contender to the World Heavyweight Title and teams with Lockdown opponent Jeff Hardy to defeat Bad Influence on last week’s show. Team TNA and The Aces and 8’s reveal their teams, with the former resulting in the return of Eric Young. Kurt Angle unmasks a member of The Aces and 8’s but is attacked from behind before he can tell us.

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Kurt Angle is walking backstage carrying The Aces and 8’s mask. He’s stopped by the mysterious interviewer who asks him about the identity of this mystery man. Angle says everyone will find out tonight and it not only affects him, it affects all of TNA.

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The pyro goes off at the Impact Zone as Todd Keneley welcomes the home audience. The music of Austin Aries kicks up and out comes 1/2 of the Tag Team Champions as Keneley introduces his announcing partners Mike Tenay and Taz. Tenay hypes Lockdown and the triple threat match for the Tag Team Titles that’ll occur on the show. Aries grabs a mic and says everyone is looking at the common denominator of greatness. Aries says he can’t get a hold of his partner Bobby Roode again this week but proved he could do it on his own by defeating Hernandez last week. Aries then recaps his “words of wisdom” for Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray from last week. He says both men disrespected him despite his “nice” words. Aries then calls out World Champ Jeff Hardy and challenges him to a match right here and right now. It’s not long until World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy comes out to answer the challenge. Hardy goes through his usual entrance routine but Aries attacks him from behind while he greets the crowd.

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Match #1: *TNA World Champion* Jeff Hardy Vs. Austin Aries in a Non-Title Match

Aries rolls Hardy into the ring to start the match proper. Aries whips Hardy into the corner and follows up with a running elbow followed by a snapmare into a pinning combination for 2. Aries connects with a kneedrop for another 2-count. Aries backs Hardy into the corner once more and continues working him over before choking the World Champion on the bottom rope. Aries pulls Hardy away from the ropes and covers him for another pinfall but only gets another 2-count. The action goes back to the corner, but this time Hardy fights back and hits the ten right hands of doom in the corner mount. Aries reverses an Irish whip and sends Hardy to the outside during an attempted headscissors attempt. Aries mocks Hardy as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

The action is back in the ring as we return from commercial break. Hardy ducks a clothesline and goes for a roll-up but Aries rolls through and dropkicks Hardy in the face. Aries covers Hardy but only gets a 2. Aries clubs Hardy in the back with a forearm than mockingly chants “Hardy! Hardy!”. Aries attempts a snap suplex but Hardy counters with a roll-up for a 2-count. Aries quickly retakes the advantage with a running clothesline for a 2-count of his own. Aries sets Hardy in the corner and delivers a open-hand chop followed by a left hand. Hardy kicks his way out of the corner but misses a splash sending him flying to the mat. Aries climbs to the second turnbuckle, mocks Hardy’s mannerisms, and hits a frog splash for the 1…2…KICK OUT. Aries gets in the ref’s face to argue about the count, giving Hardy time to recover and roll him up for 2.

Aries tries to hit another running clothesline but Hardy is ready for him and takes him down with a back kick followed by a jawbreaker and a corner splash. Aries reverses an Irish whip but Hardy comes gunning off the ropes with a clothesline. Hardy follows up with a second-turnbuckle splash for his own for the 1…2…KICK OUT. Aries blocks the Twist of Fate but Hardy takes him out to the floor with a headscissors. Hardy connects with a baseball slide, then a splash from the apron. Hardy rolls Aries into the ring and heads to the top but Aries knocks him to the apron with a left. Aries brings him back into the ring but Hardy connects with two Twist of Fates in a row. Hardy tears his shirt off to signal for the Swanton but in comes Matt Morgan who absolutely flattens Hardy with the Carbon Footprint. Naturally the ref rings the bell.

Winner [via DQ]: Jeff Hardy (12:20)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: A decent match but not as good as their previous encounters. Not by a long shot. Still I’ll never turn my nose at a Hardy/Aries match. The interference of Matt Morgan was surprising in a “really? Him?” kind of a way but Hardy made his Carbon Footprint look absolutely brutal and helped Morgan come across like a monster.

POST-MATCH: Matt Morgan sets up for a Carbon Footprint against the ring post outside of the ring but out comes Bully Ray who chases him off.

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Sting is backstage giving his “Lethal Lockdown” team a pep talk. Sting talks to each member individually then screams wildly. Sting says he’s going to start of the “Best of Three” series tonight against anybody willing to get into his face.

  • THOUGHTS: Sting channeled his inner-Roman Reigns with that guttural yell.

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LAST WEEK ON IMPACT: Kurt Angle takes the mask off the VP of The Aces and 8’s at the Clubhouse.

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Kurt Angle is on his way to the ring. The VP’s identity is (hopefully) revealed next!

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-Commercial Break-

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The mysterious interview catches up with Matt Morgan backstage and asks him to explain his actions. Morgan says he made a promise when he returned that he would gut through the entire TNA roster until he gets what he deserves and finishes with “I’m only getting started”.

  • THOUGHTS: Good promo from Morgan but it’s the same thing he’s been saying since he returned to TNA. Hopefully they let him actually do something this time before randomly shipping him off to the tag team division.

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STORYLINE RECAP VIDEO: Kurt Angle Vs. Wes Brisco

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The music of The Aces and 8’s brings out Wes Brisco. Brisco makes his way to the ring and grabs a mic. Brisco says that before Angle comes out to reveal the VP of The Aces and 8’s he has something to get off of his chest. Brisco says his father and uncle told him that Angle was the best wrestler they’d ever seen. He says he believed the hype until he had the chance to meet Angle and found out who he really is. Brisco says this Sunday he will use Angle as a stepping stone and after their match everyone will learn a Brisco is better than an Angle.

Kurt Angle makes his way out to interrupt Brisco, mic in one hand and the mask in the other. Angle says he remembers Brisco as a snot-nosed kid always asking him questions and begging for an opportunity to be in TNA. Angle says if you don’t respect Kurt Angle, you don’t respect the business. Angle says before he reveals the VP of The Aces and 8’s he’s going to get a head start on Sunday. Angle rushes the ring and the two start brawling around the ringside area. Pat Kenney, Al Snow, and D’Lo Brown come out to break the two up. The fight spills back to the inside and Angle rushes in only to be met with a nut shot by Brown. He and Brisco knock out Snow and Kenney. Brown and Brisco exit the ring, Brown with a mic and his mask. Brown says he’s going to spoil Angle’s big surprise by announcing himself as the VP of The Aces and 8’s. Brown tells Angle to “recognize that” then drops the mic as the show abruptly goes to commercial.

  • THOUGHTS: This has long been the rumored reveal on the internet so there wasn’t much in the way of shock value here. But as a D’Lo Brown fan I’m not totally against this. He has the potential to be a much better mouthpiece than Taz.

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-Commercial Break-
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D’Lo Brown is backstage with the other members of The Aces and 8’s. He tells Devon to take care of business in the ring then turns his attention to the camera. Brown asks Sting if he can trust his teammates this Sunday the way he can trust his brothers in The Aces and 8’s.

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Devon makes his way to the ring. His opponent, Sting, makes his way out second.

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Match #2: Sting Vs. Devon (Best of Three Series)

Sting attacks Devon right at the bell, but Devon takes him down with a running spear. Devon works Sting over in the corner with a series of rights which sends him down to the mat. Devon waits for Sting to get up then drops him with a clothesline and goes for the cover. 2-count. Devon wrenches the head of Sting to wear The Icon down. Sting gets to his feet and tries to elbow out but Devon stops the momentum with an eye rake. Devon follows up with a reverse neckbreaker for another 2-count. Devon connects with a scoop slam and heads to the second turnbuckle. Sting rolls out of the way of a flying headbutt and mounts his comeback with a couple of clotheslines that lead into the Stinger Splash. Sting then clotheslines Devon out to the floor and follows him out. Sting rams Devon’s head into the barricade around the ring until a fan randomly throws what looks like blood in Sting’s face. Devon rolls him in and covers him for the 1…2…3. Aces and 8’s go up 1-0.

Winner [via Pinfall]: Devon (3:19)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: Wait, what? That was the finish? Weird. I hope they follow up on that.

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Ivelisse Velez and Lei’d Tapa are shown backstage. They face the Gut Check after this commercial break.

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-Commercial Break-
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TNA Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky starts cutting a promo about being champion until she’s interrupted by Gail Kim. Kim puts Sky on warning for Lockdown and says she is undefeated at the PPV. Kim asks if Sky is listening and Sky slaps her in the face.

  • THOUGHTS: Wow that exchange was wretched. Jesus. Both ladies seemed so uncomfortable and their supposed “tension” came off completely fake. Dug Kim mentioning her undefeated streak at Lockdown though…even though that pretty much just sealed the deal for Sky to retain on Sunday.

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Gut Check Deliberation
Brice Prichard introduces Al Snow to the Taz’s replacement: “Nightmare” Danny Davis. Davis puts over Ivelisse Velez for skipping an MMA fight to wrestle last week. Snow puts over Lei’d Tapa and her unique look plus relation to The Barbarian. The other two judges say she’s green and Snow says she has potential.

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Bruce Prichard and the other judges meet with Ivelisse Velez and Lei’d Tapa backstage. Prichard eliminates Velez and says Tapa will go on to face deliberation. Velez says her goodbyes.

  • THOUGHTS: Nice change to the Gut Check deliberation, both in the new judge as well as eliminating one of the contestants before even going to the ring. I’m honestly shocked Velez was the one who got the ax considering she’s an MMA fighter and TNA is forced to pretend MMA is worth watching due to Bellator.

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The team of Chavo Guerrero Jr., Hernandez, and Velvet Sky make their way to the ring. A six-person tag team match is next!

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-Commercial Break-
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Bad Influence and Gail Kim finish their entrance as we come back from break. Taryn Terrell is officiating.

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Match #3: Chavo Guerrero Jr., Hernandez, & *TNA Knockouts Champion* Velvet Sky Vs. Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, & Gail Kim

Hernandez and Kazarian start the match off. Kazarian gets the advantage and sends him head-first into the corner. Daniels tags in and tries to bodyslam Hernandez but he’s too big and Hernandez reverses into a bodyslam of his own. Guerrero tags in and connects with a basement dropkick. He quick tags back to Hernandez who grabs a bearhug before turning it into a suplex. Hernandez goes for a hesitation suplex on Daniels but Kazarian comes in to break it up. They try to double-team Hernandez but he takes them both out with a clothesline. Guerrero tags in and hits a running senton on Daniels who’s draped over Hernandez’s knees. Daniels reverses an Irish whip but gets taken down with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Kim gets involved and turns the tide to her team but Sky then gets involved as well to give her team the upper hand. Sky and Kim get into it, which distracts Terrell long enough for Kazarian to club Guerrero from the apron.

Kazarian tags in proper and hits a running swinging neckbreaker on Guerrero for 2. Daniels tags back in and stomps Guerrero down to the mat. Daniels distracts the ref as Kim and Kazarian get their cheapshots in. Guerrero tries to fight out of the heel corner but Daniels rakes the eyes to stop him. Kazarian tags in and hits a slingshot legdrop for 2. Kazarian slaps on a reverse chinlock, but Guerrero breaks out of it with a series of elbows. Kazarian regains the advantage with an awkward spinning heel kick, which didn’t quite hit.

Daniels tags in and locks on a reverse chinlock of his own. Guerrero tries to break out again but Daniels clubs him. Daniels knocks Hernandez off the apron which distracts him long enough for Guerrero to drop with a dropkick. Guerrero and Daniels tag in the ladies, and Sky is all offense. Sky goes for the cover after a spear but Daniels pulls her off. Sky slaps Daniels in the face, but Daniels blocks the second one. Hernandez comes in to “save the day” and rams into Daniels sending him flying. Kazarian hits a top-rope dropkick on Hernandez but Guerrero sends him to the outside. Kazarian follows and holds him up for a Daniels springboard moonsault but Guerrero moves and he hits his own partner. Hernandez then takes to the air and takes out Bad Influence. Back in the ring Kim catches Sky with “Eat Defeat” for the 1…2…3.

Winners [via Pinfall]: Bad Influence & Gail Kim (7:23)

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After a recap of Sting’s defeat from earlier we cut to backstage where Sting, still covered in blood, repeatedly smashes a chair with his bat. Sting asks if he can trust his teammates. Samoa Joe says Sting can definitely trust him and Magnus chimes in by saying he’ll show everyone who he really is in the ring tonight. Joe and Magnus stalk off.

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-Commercial Break-
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This Week’s AJ Styles Update

We go to video footage shot in Gainesville. The camera crew see AJ Styles and pull over the car. They rush him and Styles immediately grabs the driver and tells him to leave. And…that’s it.

  • THOUGHTS: At least last week’s show had unintentional humor with Styles’ getaway. This week was just…pointless. Also TNA should stop harassing their employees. It’s rude and Human Resources would not approve.

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The team of D.O.C. and Garett Bischoff make their way out to represent The Aces and 8’s. Their opponents, Samoa Joe & Magnus make their way out second.

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Match #4: Samoa Joe & Magnus Vs. D.O.C. & Garett Bischoff (Best of Three Series)

Joe and Bischoff start off. Joe grabs a wristlock as the crowd chants “Joe’s Gonna Kill You!”. Bischoff reverses into a wristlock of his own but Joe counters back and reapplies his wristlock. Joe backs Bischoff into a corner and clubs him across the chest with forearms. Bischoff breaks off and runs right into a clothesline. Joe slaps Magnus to tag him in and the two argue for a bit before Magnus refocuses on Bischoff. Bischoff catches Magnus with a poke in the eye. Magnus whips Bischoff into the ropes, and Bischoff bails to the outside. Magnus gives chase, allowing D.O.C. to attack him from behind. Bischoff rolls Magnus back in and clubs him with repeated axhandles. Bischoff chokes Magnus on the top rope as the Impact crowd chants “You can’t wrestle!” at Eric’s son.

D.O.C. tags in and whips Bischoff into Magnus for a splash then follows up with one of his own. D.O.C. drops Magnus with a short-arm clothesline followed by a running splash to the back. As D.O.C. continues the offense we see a tweet from AJ Styles saying he’s going to show up “uninvited” on Sunday. Back to the action Magnus breaks out of a reverse chinlock but runs into a goozle. Magnus escapes it and both men go down to a double clothesline.

Bischoff tags in but so does Joe and Joe takes it to Bischoff. Magnus comes in and they double team D.O.C. before Joe connects with a senton. Joe goes for the cover but Bischoff breaks it up. Magnus drops Bischoff with a running clothesline then goes back to the apron so Joe can tag him in. Joe snapmares D.O.C. and Magnus follows up with the top-rope elbowdrop for the 1…2…3. The series is now tied.

Winners [via Pinfall]: Samoa Joe & Magnus (4:52)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: It was fun to see Joe and Magnus team up again and even finish the Aces and 8’s off with their old combo. Outside of that, not much to say about this contest. Didn’t really grab me. The AJ Styles tweet, though, was hilarious; he’s going to show up “uninvited” to a show the company he still technically works for is putting on? Come on.

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Lei’d Tapa makes her way to the ring. She faces the in-ring Gut Check next!

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-Commercial Break-

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TNA X-Division Champion Kenny King cuts a promo about defeating Rob Van Dam for the belt last week and says his dominance begins at Lockdown.

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Sting catches up with Eric Young, ODB, & James Storm backstage. Young says he may be the funny guy but he didn’t find what The Aces and 8’s did to him all that humorous. Young asks Sting to put him in the final match tonight and says there’s no punchline with him concerning this battle. Sting appreciates what Young is saying but picks Storm anyway.

  • THOUGHTS: Sting pretty much just said “that’s cute Eric but I’m going with the real wrestler” with that response. I almost want Young to turn on the team now.

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Gut Check Judgment: Lei’d Tapa

Jeremy Borash is in the ring with the Gut Check judges. He introduces all three to the Impact Zone. Bruce Prichard gets a lot of boos. Borash then introduces Lei’d Tapa to the ring. Borash asked Tapa if the judges saw her very best last week. The Impact crowd boos her out of the building. Tapa tells them to be quiet and says she showed everyone what she was capable of last week despite losing the actual match. Danny Davis is up first and says “YES!”. Before he makes his decision, Prichard says some nice words about the dearly departed William Moody. Prichard gets back to the issue at hand and his answer is “NO!”. Borash gives her a chance to “kick out” with a promo and pretty much says the same thing she said a few minutes. Al Snow also pays his respects to Moody then gives the final decision which is…”YES!”. Lei’d Tapa is the newest member of TNA, and the Impact crowd hates it.

  • THOUGHTS: Wow the Impact zone was having none of Ms. Tapa tonight (probably because Velez was cuter and people are shallow like that). Regardless I’m glad she’s got the contact; at the very least she’s a breath of fresh air in the fragile-looking Knockouts division.

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-Commercial Break-

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Robbie E cuts a promo on his Lockdown opponent Rob Terry. He says “bro” a lot.

  • THOUGHTS: It’s getting to the point where the second I hear Robbie E talk I completely tune him out which sucks because he is entertaining…but that gimmick really needs to go. Really REALLY needs to go.

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Mr. Anderson makes his way out for the main event. His opponent, James Storm makes his way out second.

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Main Event: James Storm Vs. Mr. Anderson (Best of Three Series)

Storm slaps on a side-headlock and Anderson flings him off. Storm drops Anderson with a shoulderblock then blocks a hip toss attempt and hits one of his own. Anderson, however, responds with a clothesline flooring Storm. Anderson works over Storm in the corner with repeated rights until the ref forces him off. Anderson whips Storm hard into the corner, the force instantly knocking Storm to the mat. Anderson goes for the cover, only getting 2. Anderson applies an armbar and Storm armdrags him off but Anderson quickly regains the advantage and goes back to work on Storm’s left arm.

Storm and Anderson trade rights and Storm comes flying off the ropes with a double forearms before landing an inverted atomic drop and a bulldog. Anderson backdrops Storm to the apron and Storm kicks him in the back the head, following it up with a running neckbreaker. Anderson tries to send Storm over the top but Storm skins the cat back in. Anderson attempts a spinning neckbreaker but Storm counters with Closing Time as the rest of The Aces and 8’s make their way out to distract Storm. Team TNA and Kurt Angle come out to confront them on the outside. Storm allows himself to be distracted by this, which Anderson takes advantage of, hitting the Mic Check for the 1…2…3. The Aces and 8’s have the numbers advantage this Sunday!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Mr. Anderson (3:50)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: Not much of a main event there. Not surprised by the outcome as the heels normally have the advantage when it comes to War Ga…Lethal Lockdown. Team TNA has no one to blame but themselves on that one.

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-Commercial Break-

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Kenely, Taz, and Tenay quickly go over the big matches for this Sunday’s Lockdown.

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Face to Face: Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray

Bully Ray makes his way out alongside his wife Brooke Hogan. TNA World Champion Jeff Hardy then makes his way out, sans makeup and t-shirt sleeves. Ray says the word on the street is Lockdown will be the biggest TNA PPV of all-time then says in three days both of them will do what they do best: make pro wrestling history. Ray looks Hardy right in the eyes and says the fact that Hardy has battled back from so many demons is a bigger deal than his being World Champion and tells Hardy he’s proud of him. Hardy grabs the mic and says he’s remained champion through all the struggles and asks Ray if the beating he’ll be dishing out will be enough. Hardy says that no matter what happens he is also proud of Bully Ray for his accomplishments. Ray takes the mic back and says he’s never been proud of himself; the only way he can finally look in the mirror and be proud is by beating Hardy for the TNA World Title. Ray says he’s not going to escape the cage, he’s going to beat Hardy with his best move.

“Not Quite the nWo Theme” kicks up and out comes GM Hulk Hogan on crutches due to a knee operation. The pyro goes off for an extended period of time as Hogan begins to speak. Hogan calls Ray and Hardy the best two in TNA. Hogan says TNA is looking for the next leader and says he will be at Lockdown crutches at all. Hogan calls Hardy a great champion and tells Ray he believes in him and the whole crew loves him like a brother. Hogan says at the end of the day it’s a “may the best man win” situation. The Aces and 8’s charge out to spoil the lovefest to attack Hardy and Ray. Team TNA then comes out to even the odds. The chaos continues as we fade to Bellator.

  • THOUGHTS: Jesus TNA laid in the “mutual respect” thing on way too thick this week, eh? That was ridiculously over the top and frankly if Ray doesn’t turn and become the leader of The Aces and 8’s, it’ll all be for nothing. As for the clusterschmozz ending…par for the course when it comes to anything involving The Aces and 8’s and a generic end to an almost unbearable segment. Luckily the idea of Hardy/Ray is enough to keep me excited for this Sunday since the promos/build have been anything but inspiring.

*****

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Jonathan Sullivan

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