Taz’s inability to get into the arena was similar to the rest of this week’s storyline on Impact.
No one cared.
In the show’s final segment, The Main Event Mafia gave the Aces and Eight an offer they could’t refuse: a five-on-five match at Hardcore Justice where the person who gets pinned will have to leave the company for good. While that proposal sets the scene for an intriguing match in two weeks, it didn’t do anything to spice up the show.
The big surprise that was supposed to rock TNA, the arrival of MMA legend Tito Ortiz was cool, but if Ortiz’s role is going to be anything like Rampage Jackson’s in the Main Event Mafia, well, who really cares?
Like recent episodes of Impact, the in-ring performances this week were more than solid. If TNA could just get its act together creatively, they could still be a force.
But like an episode of “Battlestar Galactica,” history tends to repeat itself, over and over.
Matches:
Bound for Glory Series: Bobby Roode vs. Hernandez: A decent opener with a ton of back and forth action. After Hernandez missed a Splash from the top rope, Roode latched on the Crossface, but Hernandez wouldn’t tap out. After more strikes, Hernandez hit the Shoulder Block and then his Air Mexico maneuver. Hernandez couldn’t finish off Roode though. The former TNA Champion countered the Border Toss with a Low Blow and then went psychotic, breaking a glass bottle over Hernandez’s head for the win.
Bound for Glory Series: Joseph Park w/Eric Young vs. Jay Bradley: With the suggestion of Young, Park wore “regulation” head gear during the match so he wouldn’t bleed and “lose it.” Bradley beat on Park for a good 10 minutes, working on Park’s head. Making the typical face comeback, Park latched on the Boston Crab and even with his headgear taken off, he won with the Samoan Drop.
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Chris Sabin vs. TNA X-Division Champion Manik: This was a solid match. Both of these two traded counters for 15 minutes before Sabin won, thanks to a massive kick to the face and the Hail Sabin Driver. After the match, Bully Ray got involved, but Sabin was ready.
ODB vs. Gail Kim: Another solid, lengthy, pay per view quality match. Kim and ODB were stiff with one another and worked on the inside and outside of the ring. Eventually, the matched ended in a double DQ, as both competitors beat the tar out of one another and couldn’t get it back in the ring.
Bound for Glory Series: Austin Aries vs. AJ Styles:Â Both of these guys worked their tails off for 20 minutes. Styles gets uber mega bonus points for a beautiful Dragon Suplex during the match. Aries was no slouch either, as he hit wonderful strikes and showed the heart of a lion. After Styles kicked out of the Brainbuster, Styles countered the 450 with his knees. The action then went to the outside as both Aries and Styles took major risks and washed out. After the two traded strikes again, they both fell on the ring exhausted, but Aries was smart enough to put his arm on Styles to earn the win.
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