Away from the 20-point Bound for Glory Series gauntlet match, this episode of Impact was quick and dirty. The matches were routine. The storyline development minimal. As a whole, the show was nothing special.
The announcement of the No Surrender matches of Bully Ray and the obviously now solo Mr. Anderson and AJ Styles and Austin Aries however are important. Those matches will be enjoyable and while they won’t sell the event alone, they are steps in the right direction.
Regardless, TNA is still void of direction and soul. And with the horrible writing that engulfs every episode, it’s doubtful a savior will come along anytime soon.
Matches:
Mike Knox w/Bully Ray and Brooke Tessmacher vs. Chris Sabin: It was Knox’s first real singles match on Impact and the big man looked solid as he slowly, but confidently dismantled Sabin. Naturally after ten minutes of selling Knox’s offense however, Sabin made a trademark comeback. After a Dragonscrew leg whip on the apron, Sabin hit a Missile Dropkick. After Bully Ray threw in a hammer, Knox dropped it after a Sabin basement dropkick, allowing Sabin to use it for himself and earn Knox the win via DQ.
20-Point Last Chance Bound for Glory Gauntlet: Mr. Anderson, Hernandez and Jay Bradley were the first participants eliminated, while Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe and Kazarian soon followed. In an interesting move, Magnus was eliminated, leaving Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode and Austin Aries left. Aries and Roode were then eliminated, leaving old rivals Styles and Daniels to square off. After the two traded offense for a minute or two, Styles won after he clotheslined Daniels out of the ring.
Garret Bischoff and Wes Brisco vs. TNA Tag Team Champions James Storm and Gunner: Bischoff and Brisco attacked the champions before the bell and the match continued. Storm and Gunner battled back and had little problems with the young heel team, but Bischoff and Brisco fought hard. With the referee distracted, Bischoff used a steel chain on Gunner for the dirty win.
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bully Ray vs. Sting: After Ray ranted before the bell, Hulk Hogan are sure Tito Ortiz was escorted from the ring area and made the match a no DQ. After a few minutes of offense, the rest of the Aces and Eights got involved and beat on Sting after he put Ray in the Scorpion Deathlock. Soon enough, the Main Event Mafia came to help Sting. After the MEM cleared the ring, Sting reversed a Piledriver, but missed the Scorpion Death Drop. Sting then applied the Scorpion Death Lock again, while Anderson refused to give Ray the hammer to finish off Sting. After the match, Anderson swerved Ray and announced that he would take on Bully Ray at No Surrender, for the title.
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