With the Genesis pay-per-view this weekend, TNA used this week’s Impact Wrestling to set up the majority of the drama on the card.
It worked. The show was flat-out crazy.
After the Aces and Eights continued to decimate members of the TNA roster, Bully Ray pulled a rabbit out of a hat.
He proposed to Brooke Hogan.
She naturally said yes.
How this changes the TNA landscape is uncertain right now. However, this means that Ray will continue to get the consistent face push as a singles wrestler that has eluded him throughout his career. After his rise as a heel last year, Ray continues to prove all the doubters wrong.
He is easily one of the most versatile workers in the industry today.
The fun began right away as Mr. Anderson and Kurt Angle started an angle that, at the very least, could have provided some solid wrestling. With Anderson’s allegiances in question, it also tied into the larger Aces and Eights plot. Speaking of the club, with Mike Knox’s unmasking last week, the former WWE superstar had something to prove.
Boy, did he show up. Taking out Angle with a hammer, it didn’t matter that Knox was beaten by Sting later in the night. He’ll be fine, even after the Stinger hit Knox in the hand with his own hammer.
But Angle won’t be. Carried out on a stretcher, Angle will definitely be out for a few weeks.
Other angles included Joseph Park’s completion of wrestling camp and the Hogan family drama involving Bully Ray. Combine that with a slew of quality matches and TNA continued to provide entertaining television.
Matches:
X-Division Tournament: Zema Ion vs. Kenny King: Typical X-Division match as Ion and King traded high impact aerial maneuvers while King was on fire with kicks. Ion nearly botched his belly to back buster (he nearly folded King in half) and missed the 450, which allowed King to hit his F-5/Urinage combination for the win.
Jessie Godderz and Knockouts Champion Tara vs. Rob Terry and Brooke Tessmacher w/ Robbie E: Terry and Tessmacher toyed with the heel team before Terry Powerbombed Godderz for the win. After the match, Terry continued his dancing gimmick and ended up lip-locking with the sultry Tessmacher.
Gut Check: Jay Bradley vs. Brian Cage: It was the first time in TNA that two Gutcheck participants competed against one another. Bradley’s Big Boot and massive Lariat (the move that he won the match with) was what stood out most with him, while Cage’s athletic ability was more than solid.
Austin Aries and Robert Roode vs. TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy and James Storm: Early on Aries and Roode were more interested with cutting promo on one another and showing each other up than facing the high-energy duo of Storm and Hardy. Although both Aries and Roode had Hardy on the defensive for a nice chunk of time, finally working well together, Storm changed the momentum once he got the hot tag. With a slew of clotheslines, a Back Body Drop, an Alabama Slam and a Russian Leg Sweep among some other offense, Storm was on fire. Interference from Frank Kazarian and Christopher Daniels however took Storm out of the equation and gave Aries time to nail Hardy with the World Heavyweight title to give the good guys the disqualification victory.
Mr. Anderson vs. Kurt Angle: This match never happened. Mike Knox hit the ring soon after the match started and took out Angle with a hammer.
Sting vs. Mike Knox: Surprisingly, Knox held his own with The Stinger. With a style similar to Ray Traylor, Knox laid punches and clotheslines on Sting. The TNA legend made his way back by using the ring steps to his advantage. A minute or so later, Sting earned the win with his Scorpion Death Drop.
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