wrestling / TV Reports

411’s TNA Impact Wrestling Report 3.14.13

March 14, 2013 | Posted by Jonathan Sullivan

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*****

LAST SUNDAY AT LOCKDOWN: Bully Ray goes one-on-one with Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Title. Devon tosses Ray a hammer, who clubs Hardy with it to become the new champion. Ray then reveals himself as the President of The Aces and 8’s and the bottles start flying at the cage.

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We cut live to the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago, IL. Todd Keneley welcomes the home audience as we saw shots of the crowd. We join Keneley at the announce table, joined by Mike Tenay and Taz. They hype the return of AJ Styles as well as Bully Ray’s first appearance as new TNA World Champion.

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Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Hernandez make their way out for the opening contest, but as the two pose for the crowd out comes The Aces and 8’s to attack the duo. The group lays waste to the former TNA World Tag Team Champions. After they toss Guerrero and Hernandez from the ring, Devon gets on the mic and tells the Chicago crowd to sit down and shut the hell up. Devon says The Aces and 8’s will be dominating TNA from now on, then introduces the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion to the ring.

The Aces and 8’s Theme hits and out comes Bully Ray through the crowd. Ray stops to stare down the Chicago crowd that surrounds him then continues en route to the ring. Ray stops by the announce table to hug Taz then heads into the ring. Ray hands his TNA World Championship to Garett Bischoff and is outfitted with an Aces and 8’s vest. Ray does the Aces and 8’s pose and the rest of the members follow suit (except Mr. Anderson and Bischoff, weirdly enough).

Ray grabs the mic then drapes his TNA World Title over his shoulder. Ray asks the crowd if they know who he is, then introduces himself as the President of The Aces and 8’s and the TNA World Champion. Ray says he’s the man who made a fool out of Hulk Hogan and “screwed” Brooke Hogan. Ray says he’s also the guy who made a fool out of every TNA fan. He says for nine months, The Aces and 8’s pulled the wool over the fans’ eyes. Ray tells Devon and the rest of The Aces and 8’s how proud he was of them last Sunday for helping him win the World Title. Ray says when he drilled the hammer into the back of Jeff Hardy’s head, he never felt more proud. Ray says that it wasn’t originally supposed to happen like that; originally he was supposed to leave the cage when Bischoff and Wes Brisco arrived. Ray says that it didn’t happen due to the talk Hulk Hogan gave him before the match. The Chicago crowd chants Hogan’s name, briefly stopping Ray in his tracts verbally. Ray continues and says he couldn’t give a damn about Hogan’s advice and did in one night with The Aces and 8’s that the nWo couldn’t ever accomplish. Ray begs Hogan to come out and fire The Aces and 8’s from TNA. Ray tells the crowd to chant Hogan’s name all they want because he won’t fire them. Ray says when you ride with The Aces and 8’s you’ll never walk alone. The theme kicks up again and Ray raises the TNA World Title while the other members do the Aces and 8’s hand gesture.

  • THOUGHTS: Nice bait and switch to start the show, and a good promo from Ray. His explanation for the logic hole in the Lockdown main event was a little iffy, but at least TNA tried to fill that gap.

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We cut to Sting backstage, who’s pissed off at Bully Ray’s words. Sting promises to get his hands on Bully Ray and that starts by talking to Hulk Hogan first. Sting throws a bottle then yells at a random stage hand as he walks off.

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-Commercial Break-

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LAST SUNDAY AT LOCKDOWN: Taryn Terrell gets physical with Gail Kim and costs her the Knockouts Title.

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Gail Kim makes her way to the ring for the real opening contest as a picture-in-picture promo from Kim plays saying that Taryn Terrell is on probation while wishing Brooke Hogan the best. Kim’s partner, Tara, makes her way out second with Hollywood boyfriend Jessie Godderz. Their opponents, Mickie James and Knockouts Champ Velvet Sky, make their way out next each to their own theme music.
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Match #1: *TNA Knockouts Champion* Velvet Sky & Mickie James Vs. Gail Kim & Tara [w/ Jessie Godderz]

Sky and Kim start the match off. Sky slaps on a side headlock after blocking a kick, but is sent down with a shoulderblock. Sky trips Kim and takes her down with a Japanese armdrag followed by a regular armdrag. Kim tries for a hip toss but Sky blocks it and knocks her to the mat. Sky initially drags her to the wrong side then brings her to her own corner and tags James in. After a double-team move, James takes over and goes into a corner mount. Tara tries to stop her from connecting with rights but James pushes her off the apron and to the floor. James hits an enziguri for 2 but is kicked from behind by Tara as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Tara tags in as we come back from break to continue beating James down. James fights out of the heel corner but Tara floats over a corner splash attempt and ties her up in the Tarantula which she is forced to break due to having to use the ropes for the move. Tara distracts Terrell, allowing Kim to send James to the mat with a cheap shot. Kim rolls James back in and Tara covers her for a 2-count. Kim tags in and takes James down for another 2-count. Kim chokes James in the corner with her boot, then argues with Terrell while getting in her face.

This brief distraction allows James to connect with a hurricanrana out of the corner. James and Kim run at each other, both connecting with a clothesline. Tara tags in but so does Sky who immediately takes Tara down with a series of clotheslines. Sky ducks a clothesline and hits a tilt-a-whirl into a side Russian legsweep for the 1…2…Kim makes the save. Terrell gets into Kim’s face about it and Kim begs the ref to hit her. Kim piefaces Terrell, sending her to the mat. Terrell slaps her down to the mat and James hits Tara with a seated splash from the top. Tara takes James out with the WIDOW’S PEAK, then Sky takes Tara out with the IN YO’ FACE for the 1…2…3!

Winners [via Pinfall]: Velvet Sky & Mickie James (9:40)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: So Taryn Terrell causes Gail Kim to lose her match Sunday and all she gets is probation? Man even in wrestling the legal system is flawed! That aside, this was a good Knockouts tag team match and opener, with the added comedy bonus of Velvet Sky dragging her opponent to the wrong corner.

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EARLIER ON IMPACT: Bully Ray begs Hulk Hogan to come out and fire The Aces and 8’s, which he doesn’t do.

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We catch up with The Aces and 8’s backstage as they drink and hang out with one another. Bully Ray says that just in case Hulk Hogan does grow balls and fire them, he wants to propose a toast to the group. They all cling bottles and drink, and Ray then laughs and says he hasn’t heard from his wife for awhile. Ray calls her, but it goes straight to voicemail so he leaves a sarcastic message, even putting it on speaker so the rest of The Aces and 8’s can say hello. Ray tells her to call him back and to say hi to Dad for him. He hangs up and The Aces and 8’s celebrate their meanness as we go to commercial.

  • THOUGHTS: Bully Ray and The Aces and 8’s with a classic high school move there, but it was still entertaining.

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-Commercial Break-

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After a Slammiversary XI ad plays, the mysterious interviewer catches up with Hulk Hogan who refuses to answer any of the questions…at least not right now.

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Robbie E makes his way to the ring for the next match as Keneley and company recap his rivalry with former bro Rob Terry. Terry then makes his way out to the ring. Before the match can start Robbie E gets on the mic and says what happened on Sunday was a fluke. Robbie E says that tonight Terry isn’t going to be so lucky.

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Match #2: Rob Terry Vs. Robbie E

Robbie E immediately goes at Terry with a series of rights but is taken down with a shoulderblock. Terry then picks Robbie E up and tosses him to the mat with ease before faceplanting him. Terry hits a running back elbow in the corner then hits a powerslam after transitioning from a suplex position. Robbie E grabs Terry’s leg and Terry peels him off, picking him up and slamming him to the mat with a standing spinebuster for the 1…2…3.

Winner [via Pinfall]: Rob Terry (1:19)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: Yup still a terrible match. Thanks for reminding me I paid money to watch this on Sunday. Robbie E was somewhat entertaining though in taking punishment though so at least there was that.

POST MATCH: The cheesy music hits and Rob Terry celebrates his win by dancing and doing pushups and other “bro”-like things.

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We catch up with Sting backstage as he enters the office of Hulk Hogan. The two lock eyes and we cut awkwardly to a commercial.

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-Commercial Break-

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The Aces and 8’s are backstage, looking at the merchandise they took from the stand. Bully Ray tells D.O.C. to open up the program and the first person they lay their eyes on is their next target. D.O.C. does so and they start laughing and getting excited. Ray says it won’t be easy but they’ll get it done.

  • THOUGHTS: I take back my high school comment earlier; Aces and 8’s are in total fratboy dude mode…but with leather vests. Also I hope they stole that merch and didn’t accidentally give the company they hate more money.

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Back at Hulk Hogan’s office, Hogan is laying into Sting for trusting Bully Ray and now he’s TNA World Champion. Sting tells Hogan not to fire The Aces and 8’s because he has an idea. Sting asks for Ray tonight and says “we” need this. Hogan says there is no “we” anymore and tells Sting to get out of his office because he doesn’t have time for him and doesn’t want to see him right now. Hogan says Sting makes him sick just to get the awkward last word in like usual.

  • THOUGHTS: And once again Hulk Hogan ruins a very emotional and well-done performance with an insistance on summing up what just happened in one sentence. Stop it. STOP IT. Before that though this was actually really good and Hogan has a totally justifiable reason to be upset at Sting for causing him to ignore his gut feeling. All the “this is the end of the movie, BROTHER!” stuff was a bit wonky but it actually worked metaphor-wise. Far more than I expected.

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We cut back to the announce table as they hype up the return of AJ Styles tonight. They bring up his uncharacteristic behavior from the past few weeks, then segue into a video package about Styles’ horrible 2012 and the footage they caught of him in Gainesville, GA. He returns after this commercial break!

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-Commercial Break-

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TNA Tag Team Champions Austin Aries & Bobby Roode catch Sting in the hallway and sarcastically admonish him for not seeing the evil in Bully Ray. Roode says he should be embarrassed because he’s the reason The Aces and 8’s are running amok and why Ray is champion. Aries says that since The Aces and 8’s attacked their opponents earlier, they now don’t have a match tonight. Sting stops their motormouths with a loud “ENOUGH!”. Sting says he’s tired of talking and just wants to fight. Roode slowly backs away as Aries talks a big game then turns around to find his partner missing. Aries turns back to Sting, who tells Aries he’s fighting him tonight.

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The Return of AJ Styles
Christy Hemme introduces AJ Styles to the ring. His entrance music kicks up, but he doesn’t make his way out. The music is then interrupted by Bad Influence who make their entrance decked out like The Road Warriors facepaint and all (and with Christopher Daniels having Hawk’s double mohawk painted atop his bald head). Frankie Kazarian gets on the mic and says tonight they are bringing back “Throwback Thursday” and since they are in the “Second City” they are paying homage to the “second-best” tag team in wrestling history. Kazarian growls out “TELL ‘EM CHRIS!” then hands the mic to Daniels. Daniels opens with “WELLLLLLL” and says The Road Warriors were fake tough guys much like how Styles is fake tough and like how the Chicago crowd is fake tough. Daniels says that Bad Influence is the real deal and the original “Ring Warriors” and are the “Legion of BOOM!”. Daniels concludes with “OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH WHAT A TUSH!” and gives the crowd permission to worship them.

The music of James Storm hits and out comes “The Cowboy” to interrupt the proceedings. Storm gets in the ring and tells Bad Influence they don’t have to run anywhere. Storm’s mic cuts in and out as he says that the team Bad Influence is mocking was bigger, taller, and more over than they will ever be. Storm says he is allowing them to decide which one of their asses he’s going to kick. Kazarian bails to the floor, leaving Daniels to answer the challenge.

  • THOUGHTS: Well I can turn off the show now because I doubt it’ll get any better than this. Bad Influence were in top form tonight…and so was Storm in his innate ability to ruin Bad Influence’s (and my) fun. Storm really has nothing better to do, does he?

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Match #3: James Storm Vs. Christopher Daniels [w/ Frankie Kazarian]

Storm slingshots Daniels into the ring to start the match proper and is in complete control until Kazarian trips him from the outside. It’s Daniels’ turn to unleash some punishment and he does so by stomping Storm down in the corner. Daniels follows up with whipping Storm into the opposite corner with enough force to send Storm immediately to the mat. Daniels stands on Storm’s back to work the back over, then applies a waistlock to wear “The Cowboy” down. Storm breaks out but is caught with a headbutt to the midsection. Daniels follows up with a springboard moonsault for 2.

Daniels gloats to the crowd then connects with a couple of rights to Storm. Daniels’ cockiness is his undoing as Storm mounts a comeback with an atomic drop followed by a bulldog. Storm picks Daniels up and goes for the Eye of Storm but Daniels lands on his feet and connects with a Uranage. Daniels goes for the BME, but lands on his feet when he realizes Storm has moved. Storm, however, catches Daniels with the Closing Time. Kazarian distracts Storm to prevent the Last Call but Daniels rebounds with a proper lung blower for the 1…2…3.

Winner [via Pinfall]: James Storm (3:42)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: Weird way to finish the match but I enjoyed this for what it was…meaning not much. Impact is lacking in the action department tonight.

POST-MATCH: Kazarian immediately attacks Storm from behind and Bad Influence double-team “The Cowboy”. AJ Styles then makes his way out from the back and attacks them, sending them bailing out to the floor. Styles stares a hole into Bad Influence. Storm goes to talk some trash, but Styles levels Storm with a clothesline out of nowhere. Storm stares at the fallen Storm then exits the ring with a tormented look on his face.

  • THOUGHTS: Awesome. Styles has every reason to be mad at Storm, since he’s part of his downfall at the end of 2012. I like this AJ and his hoodied-up tormented persona.

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LAST SUNDAY ON LOCKDOWN: Wes Brisco beats Kurt Angle in a cage match with the help of D-Lo Brown.

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Kurt Angle is backstage making his way to the ring when Wes Brisco comes up behind to distract him. Angle turns around, allowing the other Aces and 8’s members (sans Bully Ray) to attack him from behind. They leave Angle laying then exit the scene.

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-Commercial Break-

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Joseph Park makes his way out to the ring in a suit and tie. Park says it’s a honor and thrill to be standing in front of the Chicago crowd tonight. Park says it’s been a pretty wild past few months for him, getting his first big “W” in the U.K. and winning on PPV at Lockdown. Park says all of this has made him reflect on the highlights of his life: #1 being graduating law school at the top of his class, #2 being making partnership with Park, Park, & Park and #3, the most important highlight, is standing in front of his hometown crowd. The Chicago crowd naturally cheers at the mention. Park says he grew up sitting baseline at all the Cubs games, and the crowd immediately boos because they’re apparently White Sox fans. Park then brings up the Blackhawks game to get the cheers back. Park says nothing has been as exciting as being part of the TNA roster and can’t wait for what’s next.

Out comes Matt Morgan to interrupt Park’s promo of celebration and happiness. Morgan grabs a mic as part of the crowd chants for him. Morgan mocks Hulk Hogan for the Bully Ray situation, then says out of all the mistakes the GM has made the biggest one concerns the “walking joke” known as Joseph Park. Morgan says the fact that Park was signed to a TNA contract is an abortion to the sport of wrestling. Morgan tells Hogan he’s going to eliminate his mistakes one by one…starting with Park. Morgan tells Park to get out of “his” ring before he knocks all the teeth out of Park’s head. Park goes to leave but Morgan insults Chicago so he steps back inside. Park gets on the mic and says that people from Chicago never back down from a fight and challenges Morgan to a fight “RIGHT NOW!”. Morgan laughs as Park takes off his sportscoat. Park puts his dukes up and Morgan says things are done on his time, not Park’s. Morgan shakes his head and pretends to leave the ring but catches Park with a CARBON FOOTPRINT instead. Morgan picks up the mic and says “and my time is next week!”. Morgan slams the mic on the fallen Park then laughs some more before exiting the ring.

  • THOUGHTS: Good promo/cheap pop stuff from Park, who remains one of TNA’s most endearing characters. As for Matt Morgan I really don’t know what they’re doing with him. He’s technically feuding with Hulk Hogan but let’s be real: the GM has bigger things to deal with than a dude with an impressive beard and a chip on his shoulder. In short Morgan is feuding with a guy who’s not even paying any attention to him. I’m kind-of pumped to see Park/Morgan next week though, if only to see how the former stumbles his way into a victory.

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-Commercial Break-

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Bully Ray congratulates The Aces and 8’s for their attack on Kurt Angle, then turns his attention to the camera where he once again asks Hulk Hogan to fire him. Ray lists the people they’ve taken out then says he’s destroyed Hogan’s family. Ray then alludes to destroying the show itself, then tells The Aces and 8’s that’s just what they’re going to do.

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A video package plays, mixing in Bully Ray’s turn with his wife Brooke Hogan’s reactions to his turn and reveal as the President of The Aces and 8’s.

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It’s main event time as Austin Aries makes his way out first accompanied by tag team partner Bobby Roode. His opponent, “The Icon” Sting, makes his way out second to a damn good ovation. It’s so loud, in fact, that Todd Keneley stumbles over his words.

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Main Event: Sting Vs. Austin Aries [w/ Bobby Roode]

Sting and Aries lock up, the former backing the latter in the corner. Sting breaks clean but Aries shoves him so Sting shoves back, sending him to the mat. The two lock up once again and this time Aries slaps on a hammerlock, followed by a headlock, then a single-leg takedown. Aries spins around Sting then boasts in the corner, laying over the top turnbuckle in self-congratulatory glory. Aries slaps on another side-headlock, but Sting picks him up and lays him on the top turnbuckle. Sting goes to back up then catches Aries with a right to the midsection. Sting kicks Aries repeatedly in the gut, the last one sending Aries flying off the top turnbuckle and onto the mat. Sting goes for the Stinger Splash but pumps the breaks when Aries bails out to the ring. Roode tells the ref to back Sting up as he gives his partner some advice. Aries rolls back in to face Sting, but Roode pulls “The Icon” out of the ring. Sting fights Roode off and splashes Roode against the guardrail. Aries tries to hit a flying axhandle off the top rope but he hits Roode instead. Sting then grabs Aries and throws him into the guardrail. Sting works the crowd as we cut to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

The action is back in the ring and Sting is still in control as we come back from commercial break. Aries fights back with a forearm but he’s clotheslined out of the ring. Roode tries to distract Sting, but the ref throws him out for being a nuisance. This distraction does end up working though as Aries goes on the offense, connecting with a suicide dive onto Sting on the outside. Aries rolls Sting and covers him for a 2-count. Aries hits a running elbowdrop for another 2. Aries continues the assault with a dropkick to the back of a seated Sting for the 1…2…kickout.

Aries backs Sting in the corner but Sting fights out with a series of elbows. Aries quickly regains the advantage with a dropkick to the knee. Aries continues to work over Sting’s knee. Aries goes to mock Sting by applying the Scorpion Death Lock but can’t figure out how to do it and Sting kicks him away. Sting starts fighting back with a series of rights, finally dropping him with a clothesline. Sting connects with a right elbow and Aries falls to the mat. Sting goes for the Scorpion Death Lock but Aries rolls out to the apron. Aries drops Sting throat-first on the rope then connects with a Missile Dropkick from the top rope. Sting immediately gets back up as Aries celebrates the move. He turns around and finds Sting standing. Sting catches him with a Gorilla Press Slam but misses the Stinger Splash. Aries hits the running dropkick in the corner followed by another. Aries goes for the Brainbuster but Sting reverses into the SCORPION DEATH DROP for the 1…2…kickout. Sting rebounds with the Stinger Splash and applies the SCORPION DEATH LOCK but in come The Aces and 8’s to ruin things.

Winner [via DQ]: Sting (15:16)

  • MATCH THOUGHTS: This has been a pretty bad episode when it comes to the action, but goddamn did I love this match. The Aces and 8’s interference was already expected due to Ray alluding to it earlier, but before then Sting and Aries put on a helluva match and probably Sting’s best match in forever. Awesome stuff. Now I wish the two had gone at it when Aries was still champion.

POST-MATCH: The Aces and 8’s members beat on Sting as Bully Ray gets on the mic and asks Hogan if this was memorable enough. Ray continues to call out Hulk Hogan as we cut to commercial.

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-Commercial Break-

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Bully Ray is still in the ring begging for Hulk Hogan to come out. Finally “Not Quite the nWo Theme” hits and out comes GM Hulk Hogan still on crutches. Hogan stays on the entrance stage and tells Ray that firing The Aces and 8’s would be the coward’s way out after all they’ve done. Hogan says they aren’t getting the easy way out because every dog has its day. Hogan says from this moment forward he is empowering every man and woman from the TNA locker room to band together in an attempt to eliminate The Aces and 8’s.

The music of Jeff Hardy hits and out he comes along with a bunch of other TNA roster members come out to attack. A big brawl ensues, but The Aces and 8’s eventually take control. Bully Ray enters the ring with a mic and asks Hogan “how’s this for memorable?” before attacking each TNA roster member with his chain. Ray then exits to the ramp and stares Hogan down with a smile on his face. Ray tells Hogan that was his calvary and his calvary was just killed by The Aces and 8’s. Ray asks Hogan what he’s going to do now. Ray and Devon stare Hogan down on the ramp as we fade out for this week.

  • THOUGHTS: Wow that was one of the lamer brawls I’ve seen as a wrestling fan. It started off hot, but it quickly petered out as it seemed no one had any idea what was going on and were just killing time waiting for Bully Ray to conclude the segment on the mic. Once Ray got on the mic though things got better and I liked the way Ray concluded, raising the “who will step up for TNA to stop The Aces and 8’s once and for all?” question. My money is on AJ Styles…or Crow Sting. Crow Sting has experience in trying to stop renegade factions, after all.

*****

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS: My expectations were running so high that this show was doomed not to meet them. However that doesn’t mean this was a bad episode; in fact I’d go so far as to say it was more good than bad. The undercard was pretty terrible, but Sting/Aries was excellent enough to forgive that and the Bully Ray-led Aces and 8’s is far more interesting and, more importantly, devastating. Although the 9 months of bad booking has hurt The Aces and 8’s, tonight went a long way in turning the tide.

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When not being 411’s go-to for all things TNA, Jon can also be found talking wrestling in 140 characters or less on Twitter and, starting Wrestlemania 29 Weekend, his brand new site Pro Wrestling Update.

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Jonathan Sullivan

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