411’s TNA Impact Wrestling Report 5.9.13

*****
“PREVIOUSLY ON IMPACT WRESTLING” OPEN: Sting buries the hatchet with Hulk Hogan then beats Matt Morgan to win a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Title at Slammiversary, Kurt Angle wants to know where AJ Styles stands.

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We go live to Tupelo, MS and pan the crowd as Todd Keneley welcomes the home audience. Mike Tenay hypes the Bad Influence/Aries & Roode tag team match (w/ James Storm as special referee) and Keneley hypes the six-man tag team main event.

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Sting and Kurt Angle make their way to Sting’s theme music and a loud ovation from the Tupelo crowd. Tenay questions who will join them in the main event tonight. Sting grabs a mic and says he’s going to show up at Slammiversary as the #1 contender and leave as TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Sting says he couldn’t wait until June 2nd and asked Hulk Hogan for permission to assemble a team for tonight’s main event. Sting says he couldn’t just settle for the best, he wanted the “best of the best” which is why he picked Angle first.

Angle is next up on the mic. He says there’s one guy who can turn the tide in the war against The Aces & Eights: AJ Styles. Angle calls Styles out so he can ask him something and out he comes, sulking to the ring. Angle asks Styles if he’s going to join them in the fight against The Aces & Eights. Styles doesn’t respond. Angle says he’s sick and tired of asking, so he demands Styles answer the question. Sting gets in between the two and says he wants to try this. Sting says he was in Styles’ shoes at one point, hiding in the rafters and being mysterious, so he understands but TNA needs Styles. Sting says the roar of the crowd is the house that AJ Styles built. The crowd starts chanting “AJ!” in response. Sting extends his hand but Styles doesn’t shake it so Angle runs over and says he’s tired of this crap. Angle says he’s either with them or against them so Styles walks away. Angle runs after Styles and spins him around. They shove one another and Styles takes his jacket off. The two start brawling on the ramp before a host of officials run out to break the two up.

Meanwhile back in the ring out come Bully Ray, Mr. Anderson, & Devon who attack Sting from behind. Devon lifts Sting up and Ray connects with the 3D. Angle runs back to the ring and chases The Aces & Eights trio off. Angle mouths off at The Aces & Eights as Sting lies motionless in the ring.

• THOUGHTS: So every time someone demands something of Styles, he walks away. Why has no one learned this yet? I enjoyed Sting/Angle doing the “good cop/bad cop” routine and it built the six-man main event for tonight up well so overall this was a good way to start the show (and a good way to start building a Styles/Angle match for Slammiversary). Will Sting recover and wrestle tonight? Will “The Icon” rise above the pain?!? Yeah, probably.

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-Commercial Break-

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The roving camera man catches up with AJ Styles and asks him if he’s really leaving. Styles turns, looks at the camera, then angrily walks out the door.

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Tara makes her way out for the first contest of the show, joined (FINALLY) by her boyfriend Jessie Godderz. Her partner, Gail Kim, makes her way out next and we see clips of her attack on Taryn Terrell last week. Their opponents, Mickie James and TNA Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky, make their way out next each to their own theme music. Naturally they hype James’ new album. ODB is in the ring ready to do some officiating.
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Match #1: *TNA Knockouts Champion* Velvet Sky & Mickie James Vs. Tara [w/ Jessie Godderz] & Gail Kim

James and Kim start the match for their respective teams. James takes Kim down with back to back forearms then dropkicks Tara when she attempts to intervene. Kim reverses an Irish whip and Godderz sweeps the legs while Tara distracts ODB. Kim applies a wristlock and looks for a tag but Tara is busy with Godderz. Tara gets her head back in the game and climbs the apron so she can tag in. Tara continues the assault, tying James up in a Tree of Woe. Tara gets a running head start and dropkicks James right in the face. Tara rubs noses with Godderz so Kim tags herself in since she’s actually paying attention.

Kim splashes James in the corner as Godderz fans Tara with his vest. Back in the ring James regains the advantage with a savate kick as Kim goes for a splash. Tara gets the tag but so does Sky and the Knockouts Champion takes it right to her rival with a running neckbreaker for a 2-count. Sky sets up for IN YO’ FACE but Kim runs in to stop it. Sky throws Kim into Godderz and both fall to the outside. Tara gets distracted by this and Sky hits IN YO’ FACE the second time around for the 1…2…3.

Winners [via Pinfall]: Velvet Sky & Mickie James (3:31)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: An okay match but Tara and Godderz kept it lively by being entertaining. I’m glad TNA remembered they are a couple after a few weeks of them not even interacting.

POST-MATCH: Kim yells at Tara then drops her with a short-arm clothesline. Kim drags Tara over to the ring post and applies the figure four. ODB runs over and pulls Kim off.

• THOUGHTS: So does that make Gail Kim the only heel Knockout now? Who’s she going to team with in the weekly Knockouts tag match?

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Bully Ray and The Aces & Eights celebrate their attack on Sting earlier. D-Lo Brown walks in and asks about this get together. Ray says Brown didn’t know about this one but there’s one coming up that they’re all invited to in the ring. Everyone walks off except Brown, who looks nervous as hell.

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-Commercial Break-

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Bad Influence meet up with James Storm backstage with a six-pack of beer. Christopher Daniels says they brought beer not to make good but to remind him how Bobby Roode screwed him over last year. Daniels then says the three of them should team up (Kazarian calls it “THREETUNE” instead of Fortune) and tells him to think about it. Bad Influence exit as Storm cracks open the first beer.

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D-Lo Brown Faces the Music

The Aces & Eights make their way out from the crowd, D-Lo Brown included who still looks nervous. Ray says they are The Aces & Eights and tonight he, Devon, and Mr. Anderson will take on Sting, Kurt Angle, and their “mystery partner”. Ray says they know damn well it won’t be AJ Styles then warns the wrestlers in the locker room not to team with Sting and Angle tonight.

Ray shifts gears to club business and tells Brown to take his kutte off and put it in his hands right now. Brown refuses to do so. Ray asks Brown one more time to do it, but Brown says no once again because his kutte is his life. Mr. Anderson gets in Brown’s face and says he quit in his match with Angle, and this club is no place for quitters. Ray tells Brown he let everyone down by losing to Angle then asks him how he’s going to earn his kutte back. Brown says he wants to kick Magnus’ ass tonight. Ray has a different idea: Brown is going to sit at the timekeeper’s area and watch D.O.C. kick Magnus’ ass instead and if he wants back in D.O.C. better win.

Everyone except D.O.C. and Brown exit the ring as Magnus makes his way out. This match is next.

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-Commercial Break-

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Match #2: Magnus Vs. D.O.C. [w/ D-Lo Brown]

We join the match in progress as DOC has Magnus in a headlock. Magnus escapes and gets the boot up during a corner splash attempt. Magnus goes for a move off the second-rope but falls right into the big boot. DOC works Magnus over in the corner with a series of rights and lefts. DOC whips Magnus into the corner and connects with a splash, followed by a short-arm clothesline for 2. DOC locks Magnus in a rear chinlock. Magnus elbows his way out but DOC kicks him and regains the advantage with a snap suplex.

DOC hits another corner Irish whip but runs right into a back elbow and a boot by Magnus. Magnus side steps a third corner splash attempt and hits a running clothesline. Magnus hits another running clothesline as the crowd goes wild. Magnus heads to the top but DOC catches him with a right hand. DOC heads to the second rope but Magnus knocks him off and hits the top-rope elbow for the 1…2…kickout! DOC distracts the ref and Brown tries to attack Magnus on the outside but Magnus sends him into the ring steps. Magnus rolls back in and DOC connects with a flapjack for the 1…2…kickout. Magnus reverses an Irish whip and Brown blindly grabs DOC’s leg. DOC yells at Brown and Magnus rolls him up for the 1…2…3.

Winner [via Pinfall]: Magnus (4:11 of TV Time)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: Okay match with a predictable finish. I like the idea of The Aces & Eights having a screw-up but since Brown was technically the second in command (as VP) it feels like it should have been someone else. That’s just me though.

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-Commercial Break-

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D.O.C. and D-Lo Brown enter the Aces & Eights backstage area and Bully Ray calls him a bitch. The Aces & Eights hold Brown down and Ray threatens to cave his skull in with a hammer. Mr. Anderson, however, interjects and convinces Ray to demote Brown to “prospect”.

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Hulk Hogan meets backstage with Sting and Kurt Angle. Hogan tries to take the third spot but Sting and Angle say that the doctor hasn’t cleared him to do it. Hogan says he got a wildcard call today to team with Sting and Angle…if he’s who he says he is. Sting votes for Magnus to join them tonight and Angle agrees. Hogan says if they’re comfortable with Magnus then he’s good with it, and says he has other stuff to take care of tonight.

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Austin Aries & Bobby Roode catch up with James Storm backstage, who’s now wearing a referee shirt. They offer him “beer wine” then Aries tells him Roode has something to say. Roode says he was always jealous of Storm being better than him in a very rushed awkward way. Storm is in disbelief but cheers Aries’ wine glass. Storm tells Roode that Aries beating him last year wasn’t a fluke then walks off.

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James Storm makes his way out to the arena. The #1 contendership match is next.

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-Commercial Break-

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Austin Aries & Bobby Roode make their way out for the next match and Christy Hemme mistakenly calls them “Kazarian & Christopher Daniels”. Roode angrily walk to the ring and Aries corners Hemme so she announces it correctly. Their opponents, Bad Influence, make their way out second.

• THOUGHTS: That might be my favorite botch of all-time and Aries/Roode covered it up beautifully. That was awesome.

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Match #3: Austin Aries & Bobby Roode Vs. Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) in a #1 Contenders Match [Special Ref = James Storm]

Kazarian and Aries start the match off. Kazarian grabs a wristlock and Aries speeds his way out into a wristlock of his own. Kazarian flips out and takes Aries to the mat. After a beat they lock up again and Aries takes Kazarian to the mat, spinning around him in an act of arrogance. Aries celebrates by laying on the top turnbuckle, Kazarian looking on in shock. Both men attack one another and rake each other’s eyes then go for the “phantom tag” which doesn’t work.

Roode and Daniels properly tag in and the former takes the latter down with a shoulderblock. Roode misses the follow-up elbow, and Daniels gains the advantage with a back elbow to the jaw. Roode angrily runs Daniels over with a clothesline and lays in with the knees to the gut followed by a Russian legsweep for 1. Roode reverses an Irish whip and Aries kicks Daniels in the back, allowing Roode to follow up with a reverse neckbreaker. Roode hits the running neck snap and Aries, who tags in, follows up with the elbow to the back. Aries goes for the cover but only gets 1 as he was distracted by Kazarian.

Aries backs Daniels in the corner and connects with a palm strike to the chest. Roode tags in and chokes Daniels with his boot. Aries then chokes him with his leg until Storm forces him off. Roode sends Daniels out to the ramp and goads Kazarian into distracting the ref, allowing Aries to hit Daniels with a top-rope fist. Aries throws Daniels back in and Roode covers for the 1…Daniels grabs the bottom rope. Kazarian gets into the fracas and now Bad Influence take control with underhanded tactics, sending Roode out to the floor. Kazarian beats on Roode as Daniels distracts Storm then rolls him back in.

Kazarian tags in proper and hits an elbowdrop for a 2-count. Kazarian chokes Roode with his boot then distracts Storm so Daniels can get his licks in. Kazarian hits a springboard legdrop and covers for the 1…2…kickout. Daniels tags in and heads to the second rope but Roode sends Kazarian right into his partner’s…unmentionables.

Aries gets the hot tag and immediately connects with a corner dropkick on Kazarian. Aries drops Daniels with a rolling elbow next. Daniels reverses a suplex into a roll-up attempt but Aries blocks it and sends Daniels flying into Kazarian on the outside. Aries gets a running start and connects with a suicide dive on Daniels and they crash into the barricade at frightening speed. Aries rolls Daniels back in and hits the Frog Splash from the top for the 1…2…Kazarian breaks the count.

Bad Influence double team Aries and go for the cover but Roode breaks up the count. Roode blocks the Kryptonite Crunch and hits a spinebuster on Kazarian. Roode is then taken out, leaving Aries and Daniels in the ring. Aries goes for the corner dropkick but Daniels kicks him in the face instead. Aries blocks the Angel’s Wings and Daniels blocks the Brainbuster immediately after. Daniels goes for a roll-up but Storm refuses to count due to Daniels holding the tights. Aries grabs a beer and spits it in Daniels’ eyes. Storm takes a swig of beer himself and Aries pushes him for some reason. Storm gets angry and goes for the Last Call but hits Daniels instead. Aries covers Daniels with one boot and Storm covers for the 1…2…Storm stops the count and lays Aries out with a Last Call. Roode and Kazarian stare in surprise while on the outside. Storm limps off to his theme song so I guess this match is over.

Winners: No Contest (11:43)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: An awesome match that had some tremendous action (Aries shotgunning a suicide dive that I thought killed Daniels) as well as some funny and entertaining spots that played off both teams’ love of cheating (the failed “phantom tags” were great). Everything was going so well…until James Storm had to ruin it and walk out after knocking Aries and Daniels out with Last Calls. A crap ending to a great match but I’m sure that’ll just lead to a triple threat match at Slammiversary…AGAIN.

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Members of The Aces & Eights attack Magnus backstage. Magnus gets to his feet and fights back, grabbing a piece of wood to take them out. But Knux comes out of nowhere and grabs Magnus’ arms allowing D.O.C. to smash something over Magnus’ head. The Aces & Eights conclude their beatdown, leaving Magnus in a broken heap.

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-Commercial Break-

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WRESTLER HYPE VIDEO: Suicide is returning.

• THOUGHTS: Suicide may be returning but Midway Games isn’t, am I right?

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LAST WEEK ON IMPACT: Chris Sabin returns to action and wins his first match back.

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TNA X-Division Champion Kenny King makes his way out all smiles and good times. King grabs a mic and says he’s their X-Division Champion. King says ever since he’s stepped foot in TNA he has been fantastic, spectacular, and exceptional. King says beating two people every week ain’t no thang because he always defies the odds. King then introduces Chris Sabin out to the ring. Sabin is confused as to why King has asked him out here. King says it would mean a lot if Sabin would tell the people his story. Sabin says he’s spent the last two years in rehab and his basement and how anguished he’s been away from wrestling. Sabin tells King he has no idea the drive and motivation that lives inside of him and King applauds that. Sabin says he has nothing left to lose at this point so every time he steps in the ring he’s going to fight like it’s his last night on Earth, and says he will be the new X-Division Champion next week.

King says Sabin is an inspiration and is a champion in his eyes. King says it would mean a lot for everyone to see Sabin hold the X-Division belt. Sabin takes it and King says that’s the closest he’ll ever get to the championship while he’s around. King says even with two good ACLs he wouldn’t be as good as King. King says he’s going to piss all over “Frail Sabin”‘s parade and tells him to give back the belt. Sabin throws the belt at King then attacks him. The X-Division Champion bails through the crowd as Sabin’s music kicks up. The two argue with one another.

• THOUGHTS: Kenny King is a damn good heel and this is easily the best segment of the night. His takedown of Chris Sabin and his mocking tone when talking about his comeback was tremendous and I’m glad they found a way to get a feud going despite the whole “every X-Division match is a triple threat contest” stipulation. Can I just see these two go at it without Petey Williams showing up?

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Backstage Bad Influence and Austin Aries & Bobby Roode are yelling at one another as James Storm is laid out in between them. A host of officials shoo them away and check the fallen Cowboy.

• THOUGHTS: Both teams had every right to beat Storm down since he screwed the #1 contendership match up. Good on them. Stop ruining things, Cowboy.

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-Commercial Break-

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The Aces & Eights (Bully Ray, Devon, & Mr. Anderson) make their way out from the crowd and stop by to slap hands with Taz before entering the ring.

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Main Event: Sting, Kurt Angle, & ??? Vs. The Aces & Eights (*TNA World Champion* Bully Ray, Devon, & Mr. Anderson)

Angle and Devon start the match off for their respective teams. They trade right hands in the center of the ring and Angle wins the shootout but Devon rakes the eyes to prevent more offense. Devon clubs Angle down to the mat but Angle reverses an Irish whip and connects with a clothesline followed by a release belly to belly suplex for the first 2 of the match. Devon rakes the eyes and tags Ray in. Ray clubs Angle down but misses a corner chop and Angle lands an armdrag takedown. Ray gets up and backs Angle to the corner but once again misses a corner slap and is the victim of an armdrag takedown. Sting tags in and Ray quickly tags out to Mr. Anderson.

Anderson gets the early advantage but Sting fights back with an inverted atomic drop followed by a dropkick. Anderson tries to escape but Sting crotches him on the middle rope to bring him back in. Angle tags back in and takes it to Anderson, stomping him down to the mat in the corner. Angle whips Anderson hard into the corner then covers for a 1-count. Anderson gets a knee to the gut to stop the offense and tags out to Devon. Devon whips Angle into Ray who connects with a clothesline on the apron. Sting accidentally distracts the ref, allowing for a brief 3 on 1 attack by The Aces & Eights.

Angle fights back with a series of rights but Devon rakes the eyes to stop him. Devon sends Angle into Ray’s boot which is sitting on the top turnbuckle. Ray tags in and repeatedly short splashes Angle in the corner. Devon tags back in Team 3D hit a reverse 3D on Angle. Ray knocks Sting off the apron. We cut to the backstage area where the rest of The Aces & Eights are laid out backstage. Who did it? We’ll find out after the break!

-Commercial Break-

Ray and Angle are both recovering in the ring as we come back from break. They get to their feet and Ray connects with a dropkick. Anderson tags in and takes Angle down with a back elbow. Anderson goes for the cover but only gets a 1-count. Devon tags in and drops Angle with a reverse neckbreaker. He goes for a cover after but only gets 2.

Devon grabs Angle’s head and twists it to further hurt the neck. Angle fights out but runs into a back elbow for another 2-count. Devon yells at Angle to get up as Sting tries to get the crowd motivated. Devon slams Angle to the mat and follows up with a legdrop. Devon mocks Hulk Hogan by listening to the crowd and posing. Ray tags back in and hits a reverse neckbreaker of his own. Ray slaps Angle in the chest but Angle ducks the second one and connects with an ANGLE SLAM.

Sting gets the hot tag just as Devon tags in. Sting attacks Anderson then lays Devon out with a running clothesline and Stinger Splash. Sting connects with the SCORPION DEATH DROP for the 1…2…the count is broken. Sting throws Anderson out of the ring and connects with a bulldog on Devon for the 1…2…Ray breaks the count. Sting and Ray go nose to nose and start trading fists. Sting sweeps the legs and locks on the SCORPION DEATH LOCK. Anderson runs in and breaks the hold, dropping Sting with a MIC CHECK. Anderson goes to the outside and sends Angle into the ring steps as Devon slides a table into the ring. Team 3D set the table up and signal for the 3D.

But before they can hit the move, out comes the returning Abyss. He lays waste to Ray and Devon, then chokeslams Anderson through the table. Abyss then catches Devon with the BLACK HOLE SLAM for the 1…2…3!

Winners [via Pinfall]: Sting, Kurt Angle, and Abyss (18:24)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: A good match with a very hot finish featuring the return of Abyss. Part of me marked out a bit as it’s been awhile since I’ve seen the monster, but the other part of me was sad that this probably means the end of Joseph Park. Oh well. Maybe there’s room for both? Either way this was a damn good way to end a show that started off slow but picked up steam in the second hour.

POST-MATCH: Abyss poses in the ring as Sting looks on in total shock until we cut to whatever SpikeTV is showing this week.

• OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS: When the first hour concluded I was ready to just call it a day on TNA but the second hour came back strong with a great King/Sabin segment, the announcement that a Gut Check winner would be in the Bound For Glory Series, and the return of long-dormant Abyss to the company. Solid as hell way to end the show and good on TNA for picking it up in the second hour to make it worthwhile in the end.

*****
When not covering Impact (almost) every Thursday for 411, Jon can be found writing about pro wrestling in 140 characters or less on Twitter as well as his own site Pro Wrestling Update.