Hello everyone and welcome to Crossing the Impact Zone, covering the February 14, 2013 episode. It’s week three in the UK and this time we come from London’s Wembley Arena. How will Aces & Eights respond after losing the Sting & Bully Ray in the big tables match last week? Also, Hulk Hogan announced that eight men will compete to decide who will get a shot at Jeff Hardy and the TNA World Title.
We open the show with Hulk Hogan making his way to the ring in a hot sounding arena. Hulk talks about how good the crowd is in Wembley then he announces that tonight there will be four matches to determine who gets a title shot at Lockdown. Rob Van Dam takes on “Cowboy” James Storm, Christopher Daniels verses Magnus, Kurt Angle battles Samoa Joe and the current tag champions face each other as Bobby Roode goes against Austin Aries. Hulk says he’ll be watching the matches and listening to the crowd and at the end of the night, he’ll pick the number one contender. Hulk then talks about Aces & Eights calling out the entire TNA roster, wanting to have a war at Lockdown. Hulk says he’s made Sting the captain of Team TNA and calls out The Icon.
Sting starts off by putting over the fans of the UK then says that he accepts the challenge of Aces & Eights, saying he’s going to look over the TNA roster, then he’s going to find a few “killers” to take on Aces & Eights at Lockdown.
Match 1 – Christopher Daniels w/ Kazarian vs. Magnus / Referee – Brian Stiffler
Daniels and Magnus exchange control at the beginning until Magnus floors Daniels with a shoulder block. Daniels rushes Magnus into a corner, delivering a series of shoulder blocks. Magnus regains control, catching Daniels off a cross body, then transitioning him from that position into a vertical suplex in a rather impressive display of strength. Magnus maintains control, ramming Daniels’ head into one turnbuckle repeatedly, then taking him across the ring and slamming him into another. Magnus rushes the corner, but Daniels side steps then distracts Stiffler so that Kaz finally comes into play, hitting a Hotshot on Magnus that leads to an STO from Daniels. Daniels maintains control, hitting a showstopper on Magnus and goes for a cover, getting a two count. Magnus finally breaks Daniels’ momentum out of a side headlock, but Kaz trips Magnus up as Daniels distracts Stiffler again. Daniels hits a series of shots to the back of the head of Magnus before taunting the crowd and going for a cover, but only getting a two count. Magnus starts to fight back with right hands to Daniels, but Daniels stops that with an Urenagi, then going for the BME, but missing and landing on his feet, then Magnus floors him. Kaz goes to the apron again, but this time Magnus catches him with a right hand, knocking him to the ramp way. Stiffler sees this and throws Kaz out. Kaz shows off his manager’s license, where Magnus takes it and throws it into the crowd, giving someone in the front few rows a rather lucky souvenir. Daniels rushes back to the ring and Magnus obliges him by backdropping him inside. Magnus lays out Daniels with the follow up clothesline, then drops him with a scoop up driver, then calls for and hits the diving elbow drop from the top and picks up the win. – Winner – Magnus / Grade – C+
This was an excellent match. I’ve always thought that Magnus was a bit underrated and this more or less proved it.
Backstage – Bully Ray & Brooke Hogan are in the back, Ray’s layed down, talking about being stopped by an injury and how he wanted to be World Champion and how his plans are kind of derailed. Brooke says she doesn’t know what to say. Ray says it’s Valentine’s Day and they’re in London, so he’s going to take her to buy some shoes, taking her to a nice dinner then going dancing. Brooke then reminds him to wear his wedding ring.
Backstage – Magnus talks about how from 19, wrestling has been his only occupation and how it was taken away from him by Aces & Eights. But he realized how badly he needed wrestling and he used his time away to fuel him. Magnus says he proved to everyone, especially Hulk Hogan that he has what it takes to be World Champion.
During Kurt Angle’s entrance to the next match, Todd Keneley brings up the IOC’s decision to remove wrestling from the Olympics in 2020. They then play and audio clip from Angle talking about how much of a shock that decision was and how he will join TNA & the rest of the competitive wrestling community to do whatever it takes to get that decision reversed.
I’d just like to throw my comment in on this as well. How do you exclude one of the first ever sports in the Olympics? I just don’t understand the reasoning of this decision and I hope something changes between now and 2020 so that this gets overturned.
Match 2 – Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle / Referee – Earl Hebner
Respected rivals face off again, this time for a shot at the World Title. The match starts with Joe flooring Angle with a shoulderblock. Angle fires off a series of right hands, cornering Joe with them, but Joe fights back, running into Angle in a corner and hitting an enzugiri style kick. Joe continues control, snap maring Angle down then hitting a chop to the back, a kick to the chest then a Senton before going g for a cover, getting a two count. Joe maintains control with a series of strikes, but Angle stops that momentum by catching Joe and throwing him with a belly to belly suplex. Angle gets to his feet first and hits a series of strikes on Joe, choking him with his foot in a corner. Angle maintains control, hitting a suplex and going for a cover, but only gets a one count. Angle picks up Joe, snap mares him down and puts on a rear chinlock. Joe fights his way out with strikes then runs, but gets taken down by Angle with a back elbow to the face as we go to commercial.
We come back and Angle is in control with a front face lock on Joe, but Joe fights out, hitting a pair of chops on Kurt. After a series of reversals, Joe hooks the ropes then side steps Angle, sending him out of the ring and leads to Joe hitting a flying forearm on the floor to Kurt. Both men reenter the ring and Joe catches angle with an atomic drop, then a big boot and a Senton drop, going for a cover but only getting a two count. Joe picks up Angle and goes for a powerbomb, but Kurt slips off the back and hits the triple German Suplexes, then gets up and sizes up Joe. Angle goes for the Angle Slam, but Joe slips off and hits a series of jabs. Angle reverses a whip into the corner, but Joe catches him coming in with the STO slam out of the corner. Joe picks up Angle, going for the Muscle Buster, but Kurt fights back with right hands then hits a missile dropkick that sets Joe up for the Angle Slam. Joe pops right up and gets the coquina Clutch on Angle standing in the middle of the ring, but Kurt backs Joe into a corner to break it, then takes him down and puts on the Ankle Lock. Joe looks like he’s going to tap, but he rolls through, sending Angle into a corner face first to escape. As both men recover, they run at each other and hit dueling clotheslines. As they start to get up, Garett Bischoff & Wes Briscoe hit the ring and attack the men, Briscoe on Angle and Bischoff on Joe, leading to the immediate disqualification. – Winner – None, No Contest / Grade – C+
This was a great match until the outside interference by Aces & Eights.
Post Match – After a brief moment of getting beat on, Angle and Joe finally start to come back on the young upstarts, who wisely get out of the ring and leave the ringside area.
Backstage – Dixie Carter talks to the other three competitors from British Boot Camp, Party Marty & the Blossom twins, talking about how even though Rockstar Spud won the competition, this is their opportunity to impress. Carter tells them to take it to another level tonight.
Match 3 – Mixed 6 Person Tag – Party Marty & The Blossom Twins vs. Gail Kim, Tara & Jessie Godderz / Referee – Taryn Terrell
The match starts with the guys as Godderz and Marty begin. Godderz stats off with a knee lift then a front face lock, posing for the crowd as he whips Marty off the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Marty comes back with a back kick, then snap maring him down and hitting a buzzsaw kick to the back of the head. Marty sizes up Godderz then runs, but stops and slaps him in the face. Godderz comes out of the corner and hits a kick on Marty then whips him into the ropes, but Marty throws on the breaks, hitting a back elbow as Jessie comes in then hits a moonsault into a cover for a two count. Godderz slides out of the ring as we go to commercial.
We come back to Godderz begging off from Marty and tagging in Tara, meaning one of the Blossom Twins has to come in. Blossom hits a pair of armdrags then a dropkick on Tara and goes for the cover, but only getting a two count then tags out to her sister. The Blossoms whip Tara off the ropes and hit a double sidewalk slam, leading to another two count. Tara retreats and tags out to Kim, who grabs Blossom by the hair, but she fights away from Gail and goes for a whip. Gail reverses it and sends Blossom in, but she puts on the breaks his a back elbow, then goes to the second rope and hits a flying back elbow and goes for a cover but only gets a two count. Kim hits a kick to the side of Blossom, but as Gail tries for the scoop slam, Blossom counters and drops Kim. Blossom goes off the ropes but gets kicked from the apron by Tara which allows Kim to floor her with a clothesline. Kim picks up Blossom, slamming her into Tara’s boot, then choking her with her own foot as she tags out. Tara pulls Blossom out of the corner and throws her down by the hair. Tara slams Blossom’s head into Kim’s boot and tags out, choking her in the corner. Kim pulls Blossom out of the corner for a back breaker then goes for a cover, but only gets a two count. Tara maintains control, hitting a forearm shot then whipping her into a corner and hitting the middle cross body, pulling her out of the corner and going for a cover, but only getting a two count. Kim picks up Blossom and tags out to Tara, holding her for a strike. Tara picks up Blossom, who tries to fight back, but Tara lowers the boom with a forearm shot and covers, but only gets a two count. Tara picks up Blossom by the hair and hangs her by the hair, throwing her down. Tara picks up Blossom again, hits the scoop slam then goes for the standing moonsault, but Blossom gets the knees up to counter. Tara grabs her foot, but Blossom kicks her away and tags out to her sister as Tara tags in Kim. Blossom hits a series of strikes on Kim, ending by whipping Gail hard into a corner. Tara comes in to try and break the momentum, but Blossom catches her coming in with a big kick, then the sisters elevate Tara into a flapjack, dropping her on top of Kim. The Blossoms set up for a double team as one runs off the ropes and jumps onto her sister’s shoulders in an electric chair style, hitting a splash on Kim and going for a cover, but it’s broken up at two by Tara. One of the Blossoms kicks Tara out of the ring and Godderz gets into the ring and tries to intimidate her, meanwhile Mary has made his way to the top rope and waits for Jessie to turn around, leveling him with a missile dropkick that sends him rolling out of the ring. Marty runs out of a corner and goes for a suicide dive, but he overshoots it, clipping Godderz but going head first into the barricades at ringside. Blossom picks up Kim, but Gail counters and hits Eat Defeat for the pinfall win. – Winners – Gail Kim, Tara & Jessie Godderz / Grade – C+
I have to say, I’m impressed by the Brits in this match, especially the Blossom Twins. In my opinion, not only are they better looking then another pair of twins who used to be in wrestling, but definitely a lot more skilled.
Post Match – Kim talks about how she proves she’s the most dominant Knockout in the company, then runs down Terrell. Kim then says Tara has something she wants back. Kim then says that Brooke Hogan has arranged for Tara to defend the Knockouts Title next week, calling Brooke out to give her what she deserves.
Brooke makes her way out to the ramp, just short of the ring. Brooke says she hears what Kim is saying and she’s going to give it to her, but that isn’t all. Brooke then brings out Miss Tessmacher then Velvet Sky, saying it’s going to be a four way elimination style match for the Knockouts Title next week. Brooke then says to make sure there are no shenanigans she’ll be watching the match herself from ringside.
We get a replay from Bellator from last week after Impact of Carter announcing the news few dates for Impact shows in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Corpus Christi, Texas & Atlanta, Georgia. She also announces a contract extension for Jeff Hardy & talks about how high she is on King Mo.
We then get a replay of the attack on Hardy by Aces & Eights from a couple weeks ago. Then a recap of what happened in the first two contender matches earlier in the night.
Backstage – Bobby Roode & Austin Aries talk about how Hulk is scared and trying to divide them tonight, but they have to stick to the play and do what’s right for business. They go back and forth as to who’s going to get what titles and who’s going to do what’s “right for business”.
Match 4 – Rob Van Dam vs. “Cowboy” James Storm / Referee – Earl Hebner
The match starts off with a quick hand shake, then a lockup with the pair breaking quickly. They lock up again and RVD gets a side headlock on Storm then takes him down with a shoulder block. Both men run off the ropes with Storm stopping and dropping his head but RVD rolls over his back, only to get caught by James with a hip toss. Storm sizes up RVD in a corner and runs, but RVD elevates him over the top rope. Storm lands on the apron and hits RVD with an enzugiri from the outside. Storm gets into the ring and runs off the ropes only to take a spinning roundhouse kick from RVD. As Storm gets up in a corner, RVD runs in and throws him out of the corner with a monkey flip. RVD hits a running side kick on Storm in a corner then hits a springboard side kick and Rolling Thunder then goes for the cover, but only gets a two count. RVD picks up Storm and hits a backbreaker, then positions him for a split legged moonsault, going for a cover but only getting a two count. Storm starts to fight back against RVD, hitting a spinning kick and runs off the ropes, hitting a DDT on RVD and going for a cover, but only getting a two count. Storm picks up RVD, who fights back . RVD blocks a kick from Storm and goes for the spin kick, but James ducks it and sends RVD into a corner. RVD goes for a head scissor, but Storm counters and throws RVD down with an Alabama Slam and goes for a cover, but only gets a two count. Storm waits for RVD to get up and goes for Closing time, but RVD holds onto the top rope then goes for a springboard leg drop, but James rolls out of the way, then hits Closing Time and sizes up RVD for the Last Call. RVD gets up and blocks the Last Call, hitting the roll over spinning heel kick then going to the top, but Storm gets up and drops him with a right hand, causing RVD to land on the apron. Storm tries to ram RVD’s head into a corner, but RVD uses his foot to block it, then goes to the top and goes for Coast to Coast, but James rolls out of the way, causing RVD to hit hard on the mat. Storm gets up first from the crash and burn and sizes up RVD, leveling him with the Last Call and picking up the impressive win. – Winner – “Cowboy” James Storm / Grade – B
This was an excellent match. I can’t say anything bad about either guy here as they both turned in exceptional efforts. Seeing RVD try the Coast to Coast and miss was the most painful thing of the night.
Backstage – Joseph Park talks to Hulk Hogan, saying he needs to learn how to politic a bit looking for a shot against Hardy and taking it a bit too literally, saying he got posters, buttons and stickers to “Vote for Park”. Hulk then asks him if he understands what “A rib” is about when it comes to “the boys”. Hulk tells Park he’s okay with him.
Backstage – Hulk and Brooke talk about Bully Ray, saying he wants the shot so bad. Hulk talks about how everyone works hurt, but he has to keep an open mind as he’s about to go watch the Roode/Aries match. Brooke then says Ray got into the business because of Hulk, saying that he wants to be just like Hulk, saying that he’s never been champion. Hulk says as much as he’d like to have a son in law that’s World Champion, he has to be objective as GM.
We get a video package of Aries & Roode talking about and winning the Tag Titles in their quest to win all the gold in TNA.
Roode gets on the mic before the match, saying that it’s only taken one week to mess with he and Aries’ plan to take all the gold after finally winning the tag titles. Aries says the plan is so transparent, messing with the crowd a bit, then saying that the plan’s not going to work and they know what to do, calling for the “referees” to ring the bell.
Match 5 – Bobby Roode vs. Austin Aries / Referee – Brian Hebner
Aries & Roode both poke each other in the chest then argue as to who is going to lay down for the other. Aries gets on the mic again and they argue again as to who’s going to lay down, then Austin says he’s going to be the bigger man, where Roode says he already is. Aries has to remind him that it’s a figure of speech, but that he’s going to lay down for Roode. Aries then lies down and Roode goes for the showy cover, but Austin counters at two into a rollup, getting a two count also before Bobby kicks out. The two shove each other going into commercial.
We come back and the two men lock up, Aries backing Roode into a corner and getting a clean break, but Bobby shoves Austin. The pair argue about who the real World Champion should be. Roode whips Aries off the ropes, going for a clothesline that Austin ducks, then cartwheels around Bobby and lies out in a corner. Roode goes after Aries, who drops off to the apron and hits a shoulder block on Bobby and goes for a sunset flip. Roode drops down, pinning Aries as he grabs onto the middle rope, getting a two count before Hebner sees his hands on the rope and stops it. Roode argues with Hebner, but is spun around by Aries and they argue about who’s cheating who. They shove each other then lock up again. Roode sends Aries into a corner, Austin floats over and rolls up Bobby with his feet on the ropes for a two count before Hebner sees the illegal advantage. Roode spins Aries around and they argue about cheating and shove each other again then start trading shots, proving that Austin is very over with the crowd, the crowd cheering him as he hits a rolling elbow on Bobby. Aries plays to the crowd a bit then walks into a big spinebuster from Roode, who goes for the cover but only gets a two count. Roode picks up Aries, who slips off and slams Bobby face first into the middle buckle. Aries sizes up Roode and runs at him, but Bobby counters, elevating Aries to the top rope and hitting him with a right hand. Roode goes to the top rope, setting up for a superplex, but Aries hooks the top rope. Aries and Roode trade shots on the top rope with Austin gaining the upper hand by boxing Bobby’s ears. Aries stands on top looking for the 450 splash, coming off and landing on his feet as Roode rolls out of the way. Roode goes for the big spear, but Aries counters by jumping into a front face lock, then taking Bobby down and locking in the Last Chancery, which isn’t quite locked in right. Roode counters out with a rake to the eyes, then takes down Aries and locks on the Crossface. Aries counters by rolling up Roode, but only gets a two count. Roode goes for the Pay off, but Aries counters and goes for the Brainbuster. Roode counters then he and Aries trade position, leading to Austin shoving Bobby into Hebner. Roode floors Aries with a back elbow, then notices Hebner is down and leaves the ring, going for a chair. Roode slides into the ring with the chair and rather then hitting his partner with it, slams it into the mat and dropping, trying to make it look like Aries hit him. As Hebner slowly gets up, Aries sees what Roode is doing and follows suit, slamming the chair into the mat and dropping down, both ala an old Eddie Guerrero trick. Hebner finally turns around to see both men down and a chair laying between them in the ring, both of them claiming the other hit them with the chair, arguing about it as out come Hernandez & Chavo Guerrero, ironic wearing Roode & Aries’ shirts. Aries & Roode leave the ring to argue with Hernandez & Guerrero, not thinking about the count. As Hebner reaches 8, both Aries & Roode run to get back into the ring, but also try to stop each other as Brian reaches 10. As both men argue that they made it back to the ring the official decision is…. – Winner – None, Double Count Out / Rating – B-
I love when these guys go against each other, because it leads to some of the most entertaining matches of any show, both due to their antics as well as their actual wrestling skills. I, for one, would lose my mind over a tag title match between those two and “Bad Influence”.
Backstage – Hulk talks to Sting about being in the crosshairs of things, talking about Brooke trying to get him to give Ray a shot and being family. Sting says he’s in a tough spot, but he’s glad it isn’t him. Hulk heads out, but Sting tells him he’s going the wrong way.
We come back to Hulk making his way to the ring. Hulk says the vibe in the back is crazy due to the crowd. The crowd changes for Hogan, but he says it’s not about him, it’s about the eight guys who want a title shot. Hulk then says he has to pick one guy to go against Hardy at Lockdown. The crowd erupts into boos as Aces & Eights make their way out of the back and surrounding the ring. Bully Ray makes his way down to the ring, chain in hand with a bit of a limp. Ray looks to hold off the group with the chain, but they’re still outnumbered. That prompts Sting’s music as the Icon makes his way down with a pair of baseball bats and a black cricket bat, which sends Aces & Eights packing. We go off air with Ray yelling at Devon and no decision about the World Title shot.
This was another solid episode. I love seeing Impact from the UK, because the crowd is always so hot. It definitely adds an extra dimension to things. The show itself was greatly entertaining. A little more backstage stuff then I expected, but the segments were short and weren’t totally boring. All the matches were good, a couple bordering on great. – Overall Show Grade – B-
Also, I’d like to say again how much I really like the Blossom Twins. Between those two and Paige in NXT, they’re proving that Brittan can produce great female wrestlers who also look good.
Well, that’s all I have for this edition. Be sure to head over to Nikki’s latest edition of “The Way I See It” for her take on Impact and the news of the day. Also, be sure to come back this weekend and chat with the crew as they watch Elimination Chamber. So, until next time folks, take care, stay tuned and remember……listen to the stars, for they know all.
Dennis Gates Jr. (@knightnephrite)
http://knightnephrite.deviantart.com for photos
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