411’s TNA Impact Wrestling Report 3.28.13

*****
PREVIOUSLY ON IMPACT WRESTLING: Bully Ray and The Aces & Eights overcome Hulk Hogan’s calvary. Jeff Hardy wins a four-way match to become the #1 Contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Title.

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The show cuts live to Jonesboro, Arkansas as Todd Keneley welcomes the home audience. Jeff Hardy immediately makes his way out as Mike Tenay reminds everyone he’s the number one contender. Hardy slaps hands with everyone at ringside and poses in the ring as Taz says he’s going to get dropped when he faces Bully Ray in a few weeks. The music fades out as Hardy grabs a mic. A loud “Hardy!” chant permeates from the Jonesboro crowd. Hardy says he’s not 100% yet but he is better than he was now that he’s earned the #1 Contendership. Hardy then brings up “Open Fight Night”, saying he needs to call someone out.

The Aces & Eights interrupt Hardy mid-challenge, led by Bully Ray. Ray tells the Jonesboro crowd to sit down and shut their mouths as the group make their way out from the back. Ray says he’s sick and tired of hearing Hardy’s voice and listening to him bitch and moan. Ray climbs the steps as The Aces & Eights spread out around the ring. Ray says they are The Aces & Eights and the crowd mostly boos, with some audibly cheering mixed in. Ray asks Hardy if he was getting ready to call him out and says he hopes not since this isn’t Corpus Cristi and the belt isn’t on the line. Ray says he wouldn’t want to see anything bad happen to Hardy in front his creatures. Mr. Anderson climbs the apron and grabs the mic. Anderson is in disbelief that Hardy is getting another chance, saying it happens all the time. Anderson says he and Ray never got the free pass that Hardy got because they don’t need them. Anderson says as long as Hardy isn’t burning down buildings or selling merch, the rules apparently don’t apply to him. Anderson tells Ray that Hardy is one giant disappointment after another. Anderson says Hardy was a disappointment at Lockdown and he will be a disappointment once again in Corpus Cristi.

Hardy finally has enough and launches Anderson off the apron. The Aces & Eights immediately rush the ring and beat Hardy down. The group holds Hardy as Ray pulls out the change, but out come Kurt Angle and company to clear the ring. Hardy gets on the mic and finally makes his “Open Fight Night” challenge: Mr. Anderson! Hardy’s theme hits as Team TNA and The Aces & Eights stare one another down.

• THOUGHTS: Not the greatest of opening segments, but Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson showed some awesome chemistry together. I hope they banter with each other more often, it’ll give The Aces & Eights some more personality.

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LAST WEEK ON IMPACT: Bad Influence helps Bobby Roode & Austin Aries retain their Tag Team Titles, then attack the champs right after.

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Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Hernandez are backstage talking. Guerrero says he’s sick of Bad Influence and their antics.

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And speak of the devil, here come Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Hernandez to the ring. Keneley questions who they will call out as we go to commercial.

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-Commercial Break-

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Chavo Guerrero Jr. hypes up the crowd as we come back from break. Guerrero says they were robbed of the Tag Team Titles and this week it’s all about payback. Guerrero says tonight is “Open Fight Night, holmmmmmes”. Guerrero says the winner of this next match will become the #1 contenders to the Tag Team Titles and calls out Bad Influence. Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian make their way out as Keneley brings up Guerrero & Hernandez continually being screwed out of the belts.

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Match #1: Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Hernandez Vs. Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) in a #1 contenders match

Guerrero and Kazarian start the match off, with the former taking the latter down with a couple of armdrag takedowns. Hernandez tags in and suplexes Guerrero onto Kazarian before splashing him for the first 2-count. Daniels tags in and runs right into Hernandez’s bearhug release suplex. Guerrero tags in and hits a senton on Daniels who’s draped over Hernandez’s knees. Daniels begs to the corner but Guerrero responds with a series of strikes. Daniels reverses an Irish whip but Guerrero backdrops him to the outside, the back of his head hitting the ring steps. Kazarian pulls down the top rope, sending Guerrero out to the floor. Bad Influence double-team Hernandez for a bit but Guerrero comes out to save his partner. Guerrero and Hernandez make their way out to the ramp and hit a double Air Mexico which gets a pop from the Jonesboro crowd. However Bad Influence rebounds quickly and are in control as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Kazarian stomps on a fallen Guerrero as we come back from break. Daniels tags in and hits a springboard kneedrop before Kazarian hits a springboard legdrop after tagging quickly back in. Kazarian follows up a pinning attempt with an over the head wristlock. Guerrero breaks free, ducks a clothesline and takes Kazarian down with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Daniels quickly tags in and knocks Hernandez off the apron, preventing the tag. Bad Influence try the the double team but Guerrero ducks a clothesline and they end up taking each other out. Hernandez gets the hot tag and splashes both members of Bad Influence in the corner then hits a double over the shoulder backbreaker on both men. Hernandez covers Daniels but only gets a 2-count.

Daniels bails to the apron as Kazarian attacks Guerrero on the outside then grabs Hernandez’s leg during a suplex attempt. Daniels goes for the cover but the ref sees the trickery and refuses to count to 3. Hernandez fights back and hits a double shoulderblock on both members of Bad Influence. Daniels gets his boot up during a corner splash and covers Hernandez with for the 1…2…the ref sees his feet on the ropes and refuses to count. Hernandez drops Daniels and tags Guerrero in, but Kazarian knocks Guerrero off the top turnbuckle and Hernandez takes him out on the outside. Daniels goes for the Angel’s Wings on Guerrero but Hernandez catches him with a slingshot shoulderblock. Guerrero then finishes Daniels off with a Frog Splash for the 1…2…3!

Winners [via Pinfall]: Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Hernandez (12:09)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: Good opening match and I enjoyed the false finishes brought on by the ref actually paying attention and doing his job correctly. The Double Air Mexico was a great spot and the highlight of the match. But I don’t know how many more matches between these teams I can take; eventually TNA needs a fourth tag team to shake things up.

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The backstage interviewer knocks on the Women’s locker room and Taryn Terrell opens up barely holding her top up. Terrell says it’s a big night as she makes her Knockout debut and she not only has the perfect person to call out, she has the perfect outfit to wear. She smiles and shuts the door.

• THOUGHTS: Yay a perky blonde female wrestler! I’ve been waiting for one of those to finally show up in a major wrestling company!

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-Commercial Break-

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After an awkward “Insta-Fact” touting Lockdown’s success, we see clips from last week where Taryn Terrell was fired a ref but reinstated as a Knockout. We go back live and out comes Terrell in wrestling gear that the announcers pretty much slobber over. Terrell is handed a mic and says she is so excited as it’s her first official night as a Knockout. Terrell calls out Gail Kim for Open Fight Night for obvious reasons. Kim’s music hits and her entrance video plays but it takes an awkward few seconds for her to finally make her way out. Kim grabs a mic and heads into the ring. Kim asks Terrell if she really wants to embarrass herself like that on national television. Kim says Terrell has not only rubbed her the wrong way, but others in the locker room. Kim asks Tara to come out and help her take care of business. Tara makes her way out alongside Jessie Godderz. Kim mocks Terrell for thinking she can hang with them. Kim attacks Terrell from behind and her and Tara double-team the former referee. TNA Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky runs out to make the save. Sky and Terrell clear the ring as the former’s music kicks back up.

• THOUGHTS: Taryn Terrell is no stranger to cutting promos but you could’ve fooled me tonight as that was absolutely wretched. Oof. After that though the segment got fun, if predictable, and I guess they’re setting up a tag team match for next week’s show. I should probably feel dumb for expecting Terrell/Kim this early.

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-Commercial Break-

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Velvet Sky and Taryn Terrell are backstage. Sky says that she has seen the abuse that Terrell has been getting over the past few months and wanted to do the right thing and help her out. Terrell runs off-camera and attacks Gail Kim in the hallway. Sky holds Terrell back while Tara holds Kim back.

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We cut back to the announce table where Keneley and Tenay hype up Gut Check, which happens again next week. A video then plays that showcases all of the contestants since the program started.

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Jeremy Borash is backstage and introduces the two competitors who will face off next week: a masked man named Magno and…“Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce! The two go face to face as Borash hypes their match for next week.

• THOUGHTS: Don’t even hold the match next week TNA, it’s obvious that Adam Pearce deserves the spot on the TNA roster. I was in shock when I saw him show up; seems like Pearce was someone who didn’t need to wrestle for either of the “big two”. But now that he’s gunning for it, I wanna see “Scrap Iron” in TNA so bad.

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Sting is stopped by a stage hand and yells a bunch of nonsense at him until it awkwardly cuts to commercial.

• THOUGHTS: Wait…what just happened? Was this not supposed to air before the commercial break?

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-Commercial Break-

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Jeff Hardy is in Hulk Hogan’s office. Hogan says he has booked a match between Hardy and Bully Ray will happen April 11th in Corpus Cristi. Hogan puts Hardy over for putting his guaranteed #1 contendership on the line last week and apologizes for locking him in a cage at Lockdown against Ray. Hardy says he doesn’t live for the past, he lives for the future and he looks forward to winning his belt back. Hogan gives Hardy permission to pick the stipulation for the April 11th match. The music of Sting hits and Hogan excuses himself from the meeting, saying he wasn’t supposed to be here.

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Sting makes his way out to the ring and the Jonesboro crowd is all about him. Sting gets on the mic and says Bully Ray swerved him and the whole world. Sting says he was wrong about Ray and he needs to fix the problem but the only way he can do that is by getting on the same page with Hulk Hogan. Sting then calls Hogan out for Open Fight Night.

“Not Quite the nWo Theme” hits and out comes GM Hulk Hogan, who walks to the ring without his crutch. Sting says this is going to be his third attempt to apologize and if Hogan doesn’t accept things might get nuclear. Hogan says he should have listened to his gut but thanks to people like Sting and Dixie Carter he let Ray in. Hogan says TNA is now in trouble because of Sting. Sting tells Hogan to stop blaming others for the decisions he has made. Sting says Hogan is the fearless leader who makes the ultimate decision and he needs to man up and take ownership of it. Hogan admits to being accountable for picking Ray as #1 contender as well as letting his daughter marry him. Hogan says he’s tired of listening to people and tells Sting to get the hell out of his ring. Sting tells Hogan to make him. Two security guys immediately walk in and separate the two. Sting is then led out of the ring and backstage by the two security guys.

• THOUGHTS: That was really good intense stuff. I don’t know what it really is leading to, but I really dug it nonetheless. Sting telling Hogan to own up to his decisions was great and the way he delivered it even scared me a bit and I wasn’t the one he was screaming at. Solid stuff. Would like another wrestling match though at some point.

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-Commercial Break-

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DURING THE COMMERCIAL BREAK: Matt Morgan calls Sting another Hogan mistake as he is led out of the building. Sting stops for a moment, squeezes his hands into fists, and walks away.

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STORYLINE RECAP: AJ Styles returns as a brooding and moody mute.

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James Storm makes his way out to the ring. Storm calls out AJ Styles for Open Fight Night. No music, no nothing. Storm looks into the Jonesboro crowd where Styles is standing there listening. Storm tells Styles this can handle it two ways: drink and talk about it, or fight it out. Storm says the choice is his, but before anything can happen out come Garett Bischoff, Wes Brisco, & D.O.C. to attack “The Cowboy”. Styles walks away as the 3 on 1 attack continues. Eric Young and Kurt Angle make their way out to even the odds and clear the ring. Angle calls them out for an Open Fight Night six man tag.

• THOUGHTS: AJ Styles, stalking in the shadows, all denim and attitude. It’s like a hillbilly Crow Sting. Unfunny and probably groan-worthy jokes aside, I like seeing him something different. And at least it finally gives Storm something to do. Speaking of “finally”, looks like they remembered that it was a wrestling show again! Phew!

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Match #2: Kurt Angle, Eric Young, & James Storm Vs. The Aces & Eights (D.O.C., Wes Brisco, & Garett Bischoff)

Storm and Bischoff start the match off. Storm connects with a series of rights and connects with a Thesz press before laying in even more rights. Storm sends Bischoff head-first into the corner, but the latter reverses an Irish whip to the opposite side. Storm comes out with a clothesline then tags Young in. Young and Storm hit a double back elbow on Bischoff and Young covers him for a 2-count. Young hits a couple of rights but runs right into a clothesline. Bischoff covers Young for a 2-count and connects with a series of forearms on the back of Young’s neck.

Brisco tags in and hits a shoulderblock into the midsection. Young uses his agility to regain the advantage, hitting Brisco with a flying forearm for a 1-count. Angle tags in and chokes Brisco in the corner with his boot. Angle whips Brisco into the ropes and connects with a double forearm. Young tags back in and works Brisco over in the corner with a series of boots. Young slams Brisco to the mat and follows up with a running elbowdrop for a 2-count. Bischoff distracts Young, which allows Brisco to take him down with a running clothesline. Brisco gets a 2-count then tags Bischoff in. Bischoff does some damage and makes the tag to DOC as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Young escapes a reverse chinlock via jawbreaker as we come back from break. Storm tags in and starts taking The Aces & Eights on his own. Storm connects with a flying neckbreaker on Brisco but DOC pulls him down by the hair from the apron. Brisco stomps on Storm then tags DOC in. DOC whips Storm into the corner and hits a running splash before choking him on the second rope. DOC covers Storm for a 2-count. Bischoff tags in but gets caught with a series of rights. Bischoff kills the momentum with a back elbow and covers him for another 2-count.

Bischoff mounts Storm and connects with a series of right hands until the ref count forces him off. Brisco tags in and whips Bischoff into Storm in the corner. Bischoff then whips Storm out right into a Brisco clothesline. Brisco plays to the crowd for some boos then chokes Storm in the corner with his boot. Brisco goes for another cover, gets 2, then immediately transitions to a reverse chinlock. Storm gets to his feet and starts hammering his way out but Brisco throws him to the mat.

DOC tags back in and hits a series of body shots, but Storm escapes the corner and they run into one another, knocking both men down with a dual headbutt. Angle gets the hot tag and takes it right to the also tagged in Brisco. DOC runs in but Angle drops him with a German suplex. Angle drops Brisco with a suplex, then drops Bischoff with another German suplex. Angle pulls the straps down but out comes D’Lo Brown to distract him. Bischoff tries to hit Angle with a chain but he ducks and applies the Ankle Lock. Brisco sneaks up behind Angle and rolls him up for the 1…2…3.

Winners [via Pinfall]: The Aces & Eights (14:28)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: An alright match that felt like it went on a little too long, like they were just trying to kill time instead of put on a good contest. The ending was also screwy but that was to be expected and I’m still happy to see The Aces & Eights win matches again. All they needed was D’Lo Brown; who knew?

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Backstage Bully Ray toast to what just happened with Devon and Mr. Anderson. Ray brings up Jeff Hardy, and Anderson goes insane, saying he won’t even make it to Corpus Cristi and starts yelling and hitting things with the hammer. Anderson stalks off as Ray and Devon laugh about it, saying they almost feel bad for Hardy.

• THOUGHTS: Mr. Anderson is on tonight. Loved every time he’s been on the show this week.

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-Commercial Break-

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VIDEO: The New X-Division rules (triple threat matches, 230 lb weight limit) play as X-Division Champion Kenny King makes remarks concerning the changes.

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Jeremy Borash hypes the first TNA “One Night Only” PPV, centered around the X-Division, next weekend then introduces Sonjay Dutt. Borash says in order to get back into contention he’ll have to win a triple threat contendership match. Borash introduces his opponents for next week: Mason Andrews and…Petey Williams. This match happens next week.

• THOUGHTS: Petey Williams! PETEY’S BACK! I’m insanely excited about this; as dumb as the move is in theory I love the Canadian Destroyer. Also I’m glad he isn’t gassed out as much as he was when he was mini-Big Poppa Pump.

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STORYLINE RECAP: Bully Ray wins the TNA World Title and reveals himself as the President of the Aces and 8’s.

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Jeff Hardy makes his way out for the main event of this week’s show. His opponent, Mr. Anderson, makes his way out next through the crowd.

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Main Event: Jeff Hardy Vs. Mr. Anderson

Hardy takes it to Anderson right at the opening bell, but the latter pokes him in the eye to stop the attack. Anderson whips Hardy into the corner, but Hardy floats over and hits a headscissors which sends him out to the floor. Hardy heads to the apron and splashes Anderson on the floor. Hardy grabs Anderson and rams him head-first into the ring apron. Anderson grabs Hardy by the pants and throws him into the bottom part of the elevated ramp. They both make their way onto the ramp and Anderson chokes him on the second rope. Anderson backs up and runs full speed at Hardy, but the latter backdrops him into the ring to regain the advantage. Hardy is in control as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Anderson has Hardy in an armbar as we come back from break. We see clips of Anderson countering the Twist of Fate and taking control of the match during the commercial break. Back live Hardy whips Anderson off but runs into a pair of boots followed by an armbreaker for a 2-count. Anderson stomps Hardy some more and applies an armbar. Hardy escapes via armdrag, and the two trade right hands. Hardy blocks one of Anderson’s shots and wins the shootout, following up with a running forearm followed by the inverted atomic drop into the legdrop into the dropkick for a 2-count.

Anderson reverses an Irish whip but runs into the boots during a corner splash attempt. Hardy follows up with a second-rope splash for the 1…2…kickout. Hardy goes for Poetry in Motion but Anderson side steps it and repeatedly covers him for the win but he keeps kicking out. Anderson bumps the ref and out comes Garett Bischoff runs out to hand Anderson the hammer. Hardy ducks the hammer swing and connects with the Twist of Fate. Hardy takes the hammer and cracks Anderson in the gut with it, causing a DQ.

Winner [via Disqualification]: Mr. Anderson (10:49)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: Mr. Anderson was gold on the mic all night but when it came to actually wrestling…well not so much. This wasn’t bad per say but it wasn’t really main event-worthy either despite what Tenay tried to say. Cool finish though; didn’t expect Hardy to lose because he was the one beating people with hammers.

POST-MATCH: Hardy hits Bischoff with the hammer then grabs a steel chair from the outside. Hardy cracks Anderson with a chair on the ramp then hits the Whisper in the Wind to send both of them back in the ring. Hardy grabs a table from under the ring and slides it in. Hardy sets it up, then grabs a ladder from the outside and brings into the ring. Hardy sets the ladder up in the corner and grabs Anderson. Anderson knees him in the gut and goes for a suplex but Hardy blocks it and hits another Twist of Fate. Hardy lays Anderson on the table, then climbs to the top of the ladder. Bully Ray finally comes out and drags Anderson off the table. Ray then flips the table and the two escape. Hardy now has a mic and announces that their rematch in Corpus Cristi will be a “Full Metal Mayhem” match. Ray soaks in the news as we cut awkwardly to Bellator, ending this week’s show.

• THOUGHTS: Given Hardy and Ray’s history together, a Full Metal Mayhem is almost too perfect of a stipulation. Should be an awesome match, which is good because Hardy’s delivery of the announcement and the way it took forever to set it up (where were The Aces & Eights?) deflated it a little bit.

*****

RANDOM OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS: Not a bad episode of IMPACT this week but it was a transitional episode meant to hype up the next two weeks instead of focusing on the now. The segments were the stars this week over the matches, which were all okay but nothing altogether memorable or nothing we haven’t seen before. Sting and Hulk Hogan had a great and intense exchange, proving they both still can contribute in a positive way to TNA despite rumors to the contrary and Mr. Anderson was having a good night on the mic (not so much in the ring). Overall it was a good enough show, but I just wished they cared less about hyping every other show but the one they’re currently putting on.

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In addition to live Impact coverage (almost) every Thursday for 411, Jon also incoherently babbles about pro wrestling on Twitter and, starting April 5th, on his new website Pro Wrestling Update.