“AJ Styles…Whooo!”
They show Ric Flair and AJ Styles exiting a limo with some ladies. Flair has definitely influenced Styles’ wardrobe at this point.
Flair makes his way to the ring. He says that he hates Hulk Hogan and wants to settle the score in TNA. Flair also claims that he’s found the next Nature Boy…AJ Styles. The last reason Flair came to TNA was because he had the ability to make whatever amount of money he wanted. AJ Styles is introduced to some boos. Styles asks the crowd if they have a problem with Flair and himself. He’s done it all in TNA and hasn’t gotten his due credit. Wasn’t Styles just feuding with Daniels over this? Styles isn’t taking a backseat to guys like Jeff Jarrett anymore. Kurt Angle and Hulk Hogan interrupt. Hogan states that because of Flair’s interference at Genesis, Angle will get another shot at the TNA World Title. As Hogan is talking, Angle just stares at the ring…AND DOESN’T BLINK ONCE!! The man is amazing…and he has a TNA World Title match tonight! TNA! TNA! TNA! TNA! So basically…don’t take stipulations in TNA too seriously.
Mick Foley enters the building and is not happy with Eric Bischoff.
Opening Match: TNA World Tag Team Titles: Matt Morgan and Hernandez © vs. Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams
Morgan hits his machine gun elbows in the corner on Williams. He follows with a side slam but gets caught with a baseball slide. The British Invasion take over until Morgan clotheslines Magnus and makes the tag. Hernandez hits a slingshot shoulder block on Williams along with a gut wrench slam. The British Invasion hit a yakuza kick-german suplex combination on Hernandez. Magnus tries to use the Feast or Fired briefcase but hits Williams. Hernandez covers to retain the titles at 3:57. I actually don’t mind the booking here. If the British Invasion are moving on to do different things, this was a good way to continue a storyline and give the British Invasion their rematch at the titles. **
Big Rob gets yelled at after the match. Mick Foley comes out and attacks the British Invasion with a chair. He looks into the camera and calls out Eric Bischoff for later tonight.
Hogan and Bischoff are in their office. Foley will be taken care of and Hogan will take care of “the other thing”. Kevin Nash walks in and Hogan tells him that the crap with Hall and Waltman needs to stop.
Match #2: Orlando Jordan vs. D’Angelo Dinero
They trade control early. Dinero gets slapped and then takes down Jordan. Jordan finds an opening and dragon screw leg whips Dinero’s injured leg. Jordan hits a flatliner for the win at 3:02. I’m all for injuries from past matches coming into play. However, this just made Dinero look bad. Dinero is a future star without a doubt and this was the definition of “counterproductive”. ¾*
Christy Hemme is with Kurt Angle. Justice was served when the TNA World Title match was made for tonight and Angle will serve some justice later.
Eric Young confronts Kevin Nash backstage. He wants to know where Nash’s allegiance is. Nash dodges the question and just says “let’s take care of business tonight”. Well played Kev…well played.
I just want to make a note that they have been playing clips of Jeff Jarrett on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show. Due to the absurdity of it, I’ve just been kind of ignoring them. Of course, if I’m using that logic, why didn’t I ignore Orlando Jordan beating D’Angelo Dinero in three minutes with a flatliner?
Bobby Lashley is in Bischoff’s office. He thinks that this whole situation has gotten out of hand and he wants to wrestle in TNA. Bischoff says that it’s good that Lashley is not letting his wife get into his business anymore. Russo booking leads me to believe that she’ll show up next week with Scott Steiner.
Match #3: Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love
Ten minute time limit? Cool. Love holds nothing back, connecting with some punches and boots. Love hits a bicycle kick for the victory at 1:05. Why bother even having a match? ½*
Lacey Von Erich and Velvet Sky come out to attack Love. Love is able to fight them off until she falls victim to the numbers game.
Bubba the Love Sponge is with Scott Hall and Sean Waltman. They say that their actions at Genesis are what draw ratings. What they need to understand is that Genesis was a pay-per-view. Hall claims that they will have contracts by the end of Impact. We can only hope.
Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff come to the ring. Hogan is tired of seeing clowns, aka Hall and Waltman, run around TNA. The Band interrupts but security comes out to take care of Hall and Waltman. Nash tries to settle the situation. Meanwhile, Mick Foley tries to enter the ring but security stops him as well.
Match #4: Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags vs. Kevin Nash and Eric Young
Sags lays in some punches in the corner on Young and hits a corner charge. The Nasty Boys follow with a double shoulder block. Nash tags in and connects with a big boot on Sags. Young adds a flying elbow drop. Nash is taken to the floor and the Nasty Boys use some double teaming on Young. Sags hits a pumphandle slam on Young for the win at 3:09. The Global Title looks really good right about now. Of course, it’s never defended so who cares? Mike Tenay says that the tag teams of TNA need to be put on notice…because of the Nasty Boys. I don’t know anymore. ½*
Mr. Anderson comes to the ring. He came to TNA because Hogan believes in him and he has new opportunities. He gloats about his win at Genesis but Abyss appears behind him. Anderson doesn’t realize this, until he gets punched. Abyss lands a corner charge. He goes for a Black Hole Slam but Anderson escapes.
Abyss apologizes to Bischoff for the previous attack. Bischoff says that if Hogan didn’t like Abyss, he’d be gone. Bischoff leaves to talk to Mick Foley. Security leaves the room and Foley tells Bischoff that he sees right through him. Bischoff makes the camera man leave and we’re out.
Match #5: TNA World Title: AJ Styles © vs. Kurt Angle
Styles attacks at the bell but gets taken down with a clothesline. Angle hits a back drop along with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Styles blocks a german suplex and goes low. He lays ins some stomps as we head to commercial. During the break, they show Styles connecting with a dropkick. Back from break, Styles takes out Angle’s left leg with a chop block. He locks in a figure four but Angle makes the ropes. Angle comes back with some clotheslines followed by an overhead suplex. Styles armdrags out of the Angle Slam but falls victim to rolling german suplexes. Styles connects with a pele kick. Angle synchs in an ankle lock. Styles reverses into one of his own…and Earl Hebner rings the bell? Oh my. Styles retains his title at 9:26 via screwjob. How else is one supposed to feel about this? Is it possible that anyone out there besides whoever the hell is booking thinks that this was a good idea? Jesus Christ. **
Angle is livid. Hogan comes down to the ring and Angle tells him that he quits. Angle spits at Hogan…THIS IS JUST LIKE MONTREAL!!! How cool. We go to commercial. During the break, Angle went nuts and broke things. Mike Tenay asks if Hogan was involved in this. Eric Bischoff walks out and he is bleeding. He announces that Mick Foley is fired. Thank God this is over.
Overall: I actually can’t believe I sat through this. Take a look at what I watched:
-TNA going back on their stipulation to make sure we get a clean finish between Styles/Angle. And then the rematch ends with the wackiest finish possible.
-Orlando Jordan…ORLANDO JORDAN beating an upcoming star in three minutes. I understand they played up the leg injury but it takes more than a dragon screw leg whip.
-The Nasty Boys wrestling Kevin Nash in 2010.
-A complete rehash of the Montreal Screwjob, complete with Bret (Angle) spitting in Vince’s (Hogan’s) face.
Worst episode of Impact I can ever remember watching. Avoid this garbage at all costs.
