TNA Impact Wrestling Results
January 19, 2012
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] The show opened with a recap of the ongoing Robert Roode vs. Jeff Hardy saga, including their non-finish at the Genesis PPV, plus Sting’s re-match announcement on last week's Impact and Bully Ray’s interference in the match.

James Storm made his way to the ring with his trademark beer bottle to a chorus of “Cowboy” chants. Storm declared his place as number one contender against Roode before Hardy interrupted him. Hardy made his case for a re-match against Roode after being “screwed.” Storm retorted with a line about him being screwed as well. “With all the screwing he’s doing he has a lot of child support to pay,” Roode said.

Roode’s music hit, and he came to the ring to inform both men that Storm’s number one contendership was void since there was no decisive winner to his match against Hardy last week. Cue Sting’s music. To rectify the situation, Sting made a match of James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy, with the winner becoming the number one contender.

Turner's Reax: So, James Storm's status as number one contender is void because of Roode losing his match to Hardy by disqualification? Only in TNA, I suppose. I figure this is a way to milk one more Hardy vs. Roode match out of their feud.

- A graphic was shown for Madison Rayne vs. Mickie James in a steel cage match later tonight.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

- Angelina Love greeted viewers coming back from commercial and called out Eric Young and ODB.

1 -- GUNNER (w/Ric Flair) vs. A.J. STYLES

Gunner came out first. A.J. then came out to a good reaction with a few “A.J.” chants. The match started with a series of chain headlocks that led to a stand-off before Styles scored with a dropkick. The announcers played up both wrestler’s time with Ric Flair and the current storyline with Kazarian siding with Daniels. Gunner had A.J. in a reverse bear hug that Styles broke out of, only to receive a big knee. A.J. hit a springboard forearm from the apron as Daniels and Kazarian made their way to the ring. A.J. then attempted a Pele kick that didn't look smooth and led to Ric Flair taking to the apron. Kazarian then interfered on Gunner’s behalf for Gunner to get the win. After the match, Gunner pulled back the ringside mat to further hurt A.J., but Styles escaped and ran out through the crowd.

WINNER: Gunner at 4:38. This win for Gunner should mean something, but I don’t know if A.J.’s star has enough luster to rub off on a wrestler in a meaningful way. Not to mention that Gunner won via interference. Also, like Crimson, I cannot connect with Gunner's character in any way. It does not help that Gunner has some of the cheesiest music in wrestling. It seems that TNA does not have a clue on pairing their non-main-eventers's theme songs with the performers.

- Backstage, Magnus was with Samoa Joe. Magnus talked about taking out Crimson, which prompted the team of Crimson and Morgan to get in their faces.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3] The show came back with Bully Ray confronting Sting to demand a World Title match. His request fell on deaf ears, as Sting took offense to Ray’s forwardness. The segment ended with Sting telling Ray to make an appointment next time they meet, which was followed by Sting pushing Ray against his chest and walking away.

2 -- TNA tag champion CRIMSON vs. MAGNUS

The match got off to a fast-paced start with both wrestlers running the ropes until Magnus caught Crimson with a clothesline. Taz mentioned Crimson’s absence from competition recently, but it obviously didn’t matter since Crimson caught Magnus with his Red Sky finisher to score the pin in just over a minute.

Post-match, Samoa Joe attacked Crimson. Joe and Magnus then double-teamed Crimson until Matt Morgan tried to make the save. A small “Joe’s gonna kill you” broke out as the heels (are they heels?) got back on the offensive, leaving Crimson and Morgan in the ring.

WINNER: Crimson at 1:10.

Turner's Reax: I'm still not sold on Crimson. I like the work from the other wrestlers in the program, but I feel they are all miscast in this makeshift tag team angle.

- TNA aired a plug for Bellator with Eric Young. Young was then consulted by a female “caterer,” who was on a first name basis with him. Young humorously referred to her as “Cyborg” and mentioned he doesn’t fight girls. ODB entered the picture and told Young that if he did a number on Love tonight, then she would do a number on him. (Eric’s bit was actually pretty funny. TNA’s version of Santino, I guess.)

[Commercial Break]

[Q4] - Back from break, TNA aired a recap of last week's Garett and Eric Bischoff segment hyping Garett's mystery trainer. This was accompanied by a training montage narrated by Eric Bischoff, who put down his son.

Turner Reax: That was a cheese fest. It was like a bad Kung Fu movie with Garett taking down all the trainees in the gym.

- A promo aired detailing the events that led to tonight’s steel cage match between James and Madison Rayne. Footage aired of Rayne being consulted by Gail Kim, who informed Rayne that she is “there for her...”

3 -- MICKIE JAMES vs. MADISON RAYNE -- steel cage match

Mickie made her way out first to her “Hardcore Country” theme song. Rayne came out reluctantly with Gail Kim and assured her that she would be okay. After Rayne got in the cage, Kim left and made her way to the back, much to the dismay of Rayne. Rayne tried to escape the cage early, resulting in a sit-out powerbomb from James. James then landed an impressive running dropkick to Rayne’s face as she sat up on the floor. After mounting some offense, Rayne was once again overtaken by James and thrown into the bottom of the turnbuckle.

[Commercial break]

[Q5] The show came back at the top of the second hour with Rayne making an awkward attempt to get out of the cage. Rayne hit an impressive neckbreaker on the ropes followed by the obligatory cage match move of raking Mickie's face across the cage wall. This was followed by a suplex/neckbreaker combo from Rayne. Meanwhile, the announcers plugged tonight's main event of Storm vs. Hardy for the number one contender’s spot.

Rayne maintained offense for the next few minutes until James countered with a neckbreaker. James then won an exchange of blows, which led to Rayne raking James’s eyes. This was followed by a close two count. James regained her bearings and threw Madison into the cage twice before scoring the pin with a spiked DDT.

WINNER: Mickie James at 12:24.

Turner Reax: I thought that was much better than TNA's standard three-minute gimmick matches. Those girls took some sick, albeit sloppy, bumps. It’s nice to see a wrestling company portray women as more than mindless bad actresses like you may see in WWE.

- Backstage, X Division champion Austin Aries claimed that the audience wanted to hear him talk, so they would tune in to hear it. An ad for Storm vs. Hardy followed.

[Commercial Break]

- Impact returned with a shot of Velvet Sky and Tara congratulating Mickie on her won. Tara said, “You’re hardcore, like hardcore country!” Mickie then said something about taking Gail Kim to “Hardcore Country land...” They mentioned a possible injury James might be “suffering” through. It’s cool, though, because Mickie and her “besties” were going to celebrate over some champagne. If I didn’t know better, I would say James’s injury may come back to haunt her.

[Q6] In a TNA Reaction style promo, Hardy said that although he beat Roode by disqualification at the PPV, he doesn’t feel like a winner. He referred to getting another match with Roode in their “final confrontation” for the second time.

- Backstage, X-Division champion Austin Aries started an interview by declaring himself a tough “mother f’er” and explained that his flamboyant color scheme is part of mind games that he plays. He talked about maybe retiring with the X Division Title since no one can beat him. This set up his entrance to the Impact Zone.

Aries came out and continued to describe his glory before responding to the crowd’s chants of “You suck” with a question. “If I suck so bad, why am I still holding this?” he said, referring to his title belt. Alex Shelley then made his way into the Impact Zone. Aries downplayed his return saying, “Well, well, well...look what the cat dragged in.” Shelley noted the injuries that he and his tag partner, Chris Sabin, have shared and made clear his love of wrestling. He made several references to the Machineguns returning. According to Shelley, he came back before the return of the Guns with Sabin's blessing. After Aries downplayed Shelley’s manhood, Shelley made a challenge for the title. The segment ended.

Turner Reax: I felt that was a good segment. Shelley is a natural on the mic, the segment felt important, and the chemistry between Shelley and Aries is strong. It wouldn’t have made sense for Shelley to get a title shot right off the bat, so having to go through Aries’s handpicked opponent will establish credibility needed to be a worthy and, more importantly, a logical contender for the X Division Title.

- Backstage, a cameraman asked ODB what she wanted Eric Young to do to Angelina Love in their match tonight. As ODB was going into detail about Young's match, Winter attacked ODB from behind with a lead pipe and a whip.

[Commercial Break]

[Q7]

4 -- ERIC YOUNG vs. ANGELINA LOVE

Before the match started, Eric Young went straight for the referee. As the announcers plugged TNA’s event at Wembley Stadium next week, a big “EY” chant broke out. Any time it seemed like Love and Young were going to lock up, Young grappled the ref. Eventually, Love delivered a low blow that prompted a disqualification, followed by Winter’s entrance. Love and Winter double-teamed Young until ODB made the save. They cleaned house, then shared a kiss. Mike Tenay dubbed them as “Impact Wrestling’s favorite couple.”

WINNER: Young via DQ at 1:54.

Turner Reax: Even the announcers asked, “Was that even a match?” Eric Young is humorous, but is this even worth the television time that TNA is investing? This comes across like the Santino and Beth Phoenix storyline in WWE a few years ago.

- TNA aired a Reaction style promo with James Storm backstage talking about it being "his time" to be TNA World Hvt. Champion.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- JAMES STORM vs. JEFF HARDY -- #1 contender's match to the TNA World Title

Storm came out first, followed by Hardy, as Mike Tenay played up the idea that both wrestlers had been screwed out of their recent title opportunities. During Jeremy Borash’s announcement, which also included a plug for Direct Auto Insurance, a big “Hardy” chant broke out.

[Q8] Storm took Hardy down with a step-over headlock. Hardy then reversed into a leg scissors that led to Hardy applying a headlock on Storm. After taking on the offense Storm got his name chanted as the announcers led us into a commercial break.

[Commercial Break]

TNA came back from commercial with Jeff Hardy knocking Storm to the outside from the corner, followed by Hardy launching himself over the top rope onto Storm. Back in the ring, Storm scored two close nearfalls. Of note, Mike Tenay announced there would be a three-way match between Mickie James, Tara, and Velvet Sky for the number one contender’s spot for the Knockout Championship on next week's Impact.

Hardy hit a side Russian Leg Sweep followed by Whisper in the Wind for a close two count. Storm followed up with a close two count of his own after a Stunner out of a Death Valley Driver. Hardy then reversed a superkick from Storm into a Twist of Fate. Hardy took to the top rope for a Swanton Bomb that Storm was quick to stop. Storm went for a superplex that Hardy stopped, but Storm made his way back up for a successful superplex after a kick to Hardy’s head.

Prior to the finish, Bully Ray made his way to the ring to take out the referee. He then whipped both Storm and Hardy with a chain. Ref Earl Hebner made his way to the ring, only to be taken out. Ray then drank Storm’s beer and spit it in his face before taking out another referee. Sting made his way to the ring with a baseball bat to try to drive off Ray from the ring.

[Over-run] Bobby Roode came into the ring and used his belt to take out Storm and Hardy. Roode declared the match a No Contest and announced himself still World Hvt. Champion.

WINNER: No Contest in 10:00.

Turner Reax: I thought the main event was good, but it wasn't a blow-away match. Roode getting involved was predictable, but not necessarily a bad thing. That being said, I’m not really looking forward to a multiple-man match involving Storm, Roode, and Hardy, which TNA seems to be building to. I could go for Hardy and Roode one more time on PPV (does anybody even watch TNA PPVs?) as long as it sets up Roode to look stronger on his way to an eventual one-on-one showdown with his former partner. Overall, this was an okay edition of Impact that was saved by a fair Knockouts cage match and an engaging exchange between Aries and Shelley.

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