It made sense that the last TNA Impact of 2012 was an Open Fight Night. It made even more sense that Bully Ray, a man who has worked tremendously hard all year as both a heel and a face started the show.
What didn’t make sense was the awkward segment between Ray and Brooke Hogan.
“He knows,†she said, alluding to her dad’s knowledge of their “relationship.â€
Fans were left in the dark the entire show and by the end of it all, Ray’s angle with the Hogan’s remains a mess.
But with the “Bro-Off,†the antics of Christopher Daniels and Frank Kazarian, another Sting vignette and the possibility of Mr. Anderson joining the Aces and Eights, Impact was at least entertaining.
With more of a focus on in-ring action than drama, TNA proved wrestling mattered this week, but with a lack of convincing storyline, the company relied on older angles than any real creativity and poise.
Matches:
Samoa Joe vs. Masked Member of Aces and Eights: Before the match, Joe promised to choke out the hammer-wielding member of the group and take off his mask. After he earned the easy victory with a submission win, he wasn’t able to de-mask the loser as the Aces and Eights hit the ring.
X-Division Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Christian York: A Rolling Neckbreaker and Half Nelson Suplex put York in the driver’s seat early, but RVD is always resilient. After York continued his onslaught, RVD countered the Dreamscape in the corner and then proceeded to hit the split-legged moonsault, his senton backsplash and finally the Five-Star Frog Splash for the win.
World Tag Team Champions Hernandez and Chavo Guerrero vs. Christopher Daniels and Frank Kazarian: Best match of the night, but dragged a bit. The champions were on the offensive throughout the early going. However the heels used a slew of tricks and quick tags to gain an upper hand. Hernandez made a hot tag to Guerrero, who changed the momentum. A few high-flying spots from the champions continued to add the drama. Guererro eventually won with the Frog Splash.
Gail Kim vs. Brooke Tessmacher: The younger Knockout, and her wedgie, had her way with Kim early on, but Kim took advantage and was able to kick out when in tough spots. Kim even kicked out of a top rope X-Factor. After Tessmacher missed the Top-Rope Elbow, Kim caught her with the Eat Defeat for the win.
Austin Aries vs. Bobby Roode: A fluid, high-energy encounter that saw both of these guys trying to out-heel each other. This felt like something out of a mid-90s ECW match, where two respected heels who have earned the fans respect battled for a chance at the title. This match had a plethora of counters, eye-pokes, Mongolian chops and near-falls. After referee Earl Hebner had enough, the heels took him out, leaving the door open for TNA Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy to clean house.
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