TNA Impact report
July 26, 2012
Live from Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] A video accompanied by narraration once again recapped the A.J. Styles-Claire Lynch drama, highlighting last week’s allegations, and pictures of Styles in bed with Lynch, and a bottle of booze. The video also recounted the beatings dished out by Aces and Eights, “Impact Wrestling starts now...”

The announcers hyped tonight’s matches, including Bully Ray facing Angle, and the debut of Chavo Guerrero.

Sting came out to the ring and addressed Aces and Eights, and the damage they did to Hogan. He announced that Dixie Carter had appointed him as the general manager of Impact Wrestling while Hogan was out. He said his first order of business would be calling Aces and Eight out to the ring, but instead he got Austin Aries. Aries said he admired Sting’s courage, but reminded him that battling Aces and Eight was a number game. “I have a statement to make, Aces and Eight, if any one of you shows here tonight, I’m jumping on you and making a statement,” he said. “That’s not a threat, that’s a promise.”

Angle came out next, and addressed his beating from Aces and Eight, and said he wanted to fight him for trying to take away his shot at the World Hvt. Title. Next up, Roode came out and said he was there to point out the obivous. “I know who’s behind this attacks,” he said “It’s a man who’s been in the World Title picture for over a year, it’s a man who has been pissed off at me, and jealous of me for a very long time, a man who’s jealous of you, Austin Aries, and a man who was scheduled to face you, Kurt Angle, right here last week on Impact.” He concluded by saying James Storm was behind Ace and Eight’s attacks.

As Roode was about to go on, Storm came up from behind him and started battling him into the ring. The scuffled around on the floor while the three other wrestlers stood around and watched. Angle eventually got involved and pulled Storm off as the crowd chanted “Cowboy.”

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Tara expressed her excitement for Chavo Guerrero being apart of Impact Wrestling. Kid Kash, said it would be interesting to see if their paths crossed, and Angle concluded by saying Chavo was one of the best technicians in the world.

Backstage, the roving cameraman pressed Roode on his allegations of James Storm being behind Aces and Eights. Roode kept suggesting it was him, and said he was leaving and that he was right even if no one believed him.

[Q2]

1 -- GAIL KIM & MADISON RAYNE vs. TARA & MICKIE JAMES

As the Knockouts made their way to the ring the announcers recapped Rayne’s crush on referee Earl Hebner. They also announced that next their would a be a four way match between the same participants.

Kim and Tara started out the match for their respective teams as Tara caught Kim an armdrag, and tagged James in for a running dropkick for a two count. Kim attempted to reverse a wristlock by taking to the top ropes for an armdrag, but it was countered by James. Rayne eventually tagged in, and got a bit flirty with Hebner, but was still able to take James down for a two count. Tenay hyped that Sam Shaw was going to get another Gut Check opporutnity after being jumped by Aces and Eights last week. Tara hit a twisting sideslam for a two count, and then tagged in James to execute a double Boston Crab. Kim tried to help Rayne with a dropkick, but she was caught in a double team maneuver of her own. Rayne rolled up James with an awkward looking pin attempt for a win that had James confused.

WINNER: Gail Kim & Madison Rayne via pinfall at 3:50.

Turner Reax: The women in TNA can actually go. Please, TNA, don’t bog them down with a love angle surrounding Earl Hebner. I get the whole comedy/drama thing, but let the actually funny duo of Young and ODB handle it.

Backstage, Sting told Aries he had too much on his plate with Aces and Eights to deal with the X Division, and that he wanted Aries to watch over the X Division tonight. Aries seemed flustered since he too wanted to deal with Aces and Eights, but he told Sting he would oblige and “make some cuts.” He walked into the next room where a few of the X Division wrestlers were waiting.

A video package for Sam Shaw aired. He said he was nervous, but that he was ready to go out there, and show everybody what he had.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Hernandez spoke about Chavo joining Impact Wrestling. He said he had one word for that, and said incredible in Spanish. Gunner and Ray spoke unfavorably of Chavo. Line of the night goes to Ray, “Didn’t I tell you to never bother me when I’m on my Twitter machine?”

Borash introduced Sam Shaw as part of the Gut Check challenge, Douglas Williams was revealed as his opponent.

2 -- SAM SHAW vs. DOUGLAS WILLIAMS -- Gut Check match

They went through a feeling out process as the Impact Zone audience seemed to be in favor of Shaw chanting “lets go Sam.” Shaw got some offense which the crowd responded favorably to, including a backbreaker into a neck breaker for a two count.

[Q3] After a body slam, Shaw took to the top rope, but on his way up some notable commotion was being in the crowd, distracting Shaw long enough for Williams to knock him off the rope. Ryan was revealed to be at ringside, and nailed Al Snow, who seemed to have come out of nowhere. Snow quickly pursued Ryan through the crowd. Douglas continued to take advantage of the distraction, and hit Shaw with a T-bone suplex. He followed up with Rolling Chaos into a bridge pin attempt for the win.

WINNER: Douglas Williams via pinfall at 2:38

Turner Reax: The crowd seemed to like Shaw more so than any other previous Gut Check competitor, but I wouldn’t even really be able to tell you that since, other than Joey Ryan, I’ve forgotten who even has competed in Gut Check. While it was good to see Williams back, I find these reintroductions TNA has been doing with the likes of Williams and the Pope to be a bit jarring. Where has he been this whole time, and why bring him back now? Williams doesn’t appear to be in the quite the shape he was in during his previous stint on television.

Back in the X Division office, Aries addressed the X Division competitors, and said it was up to him to decide who was going to face Zema Ion for the X Division title. The X Division competitors jawed off with one another, and each made their case for deserving a shot. Aries singled out Rashad Evans, and told him to get out.

A video hyping Chavo Guerrero aired. Chavo Guerrero debuts, next.

[Commercial Break]

Chavo, in a suit and a pink shirt, made his entrance to a strong audience reaction. On his way to the ring, Chavo stopped and hammed it up with fans at ringside. In the ring, he soaked up chants of “Chavo” as he said hello to the Impact Zone, and said “wow, I guess I know where I should have been the last few years, huh?” He said he was very humbled to be a part of Impact Wrestling, and said that the Guerrero family always conquered and became champion in every company and continent they’ve been in, except once, Impact Wrestling. He said he saw a full locker room of hungry talent looking to be the best, and to steal the show every night. He said that’s why he was here, to beat the best. Chavo said to mark tonight’s date on their calendar because it was time for him to be a champion in Impact Wrestling.

Kid Kash, accompanied by Gunner, cut him off and made fun of his family and his claims to being a legendary wrestler. Chavo said he didn’t claim himself to be a legend, but rather the audience did...I don’t know about that, Chavo.

[Q4] Kash continued to take shots at his family, including calling them drunks, which prompted Chavo to lash out and throw blows with Gunner ad Kash. The numbers game caught up to Chavo until Hernandez ran out to make the save. Chavo sent Kash out of the ring with a dropkick before Hernandez and Chavo shared and embrace.

Turner Reax: Good first showing for Chavo in TNA, and even better showing by Kash who is so unlikeable on the mic, in the best way. I’m okay with Chavo in Impact Wrestling, but he should tone it down a bit on the whole being a legendary wrestler thing. The crowd was happy to see him, but I don’t know if they were THAT happy.

Backstage, Angle confronted James about Roode’s allegations, and said he didn’t believe, but he had to make sure James wasn’t connected to Aces an Eights. James took exception to the allegation, but told Angle he would have his back if Aces and Eights tried to get involved with them tonight. Angle walked away while the camera showed Storm with a disturbed look on his face.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Storm, Prichard, and Taz tried to talk about Gut Check, but Snow wasn’t having it. After an outburst, Snow settled down allowing the judges to talk about Sam Shaw. Both Taz, and Prichard were complimentary of Shaw, but given Snow’s body language he seemed to disagree. They said to go out there and make a decision.

Another video package recapped the drama between Styles, and Claire Lynch. These are getting old...Styles made his out to the ring for his match with James Storm.

[Commercial Break - a ten second update showed Storm making his entrance]

[Q5]

3 -- A.J. STYLES vs. JAMES STORM -- BFG Series match

James and Storm went through the feeing out process with some side headlocks, shoulder blocks, and armdrags before both wrestlers tried to roll each other up for pinfalls. Lynch was shown in the audience as Storm beat on Styles in the corner. Storm him Styles with a variation of a butterfly suplex for a two count, and followed up with a back body drop on a running Styles. Styles came back with high dropkick for a two count and took a second to regroup. Storm caught Styles from behind, which Styles countered by running into the corner sending Storm head first into the top turnbuckle.

Styles hit Storm with a suplex for a two count, and then applied a chinlock that Storm broke out of. Storm ducked a clothesline, sent Style onto the ropes, and hit a flying clothesline for a two another two count. Styles. The close two counts continued, this time with Storm kicking out after a high back suplex. The announcers started talking about Aces and Eights, and how the working environment has been uncomfortable for the past month. The wrestlers took to the top rope with Storm hitting a whirlwind crucifix powerbomb for a two count. Storm tried to go for an inverted ddt off the second rope, but Styles fought back only to get in a tornado DDT attempt. Styles countered and hit an overhead suplex into the corner. Styles took to the outside, and hit a springboard forearm for a close two count. Styles signaled for the Styles Clash, but Storm countered with the Alabama Slam for a dramatic, close, two count.

They fought on the ring apron, which led to Storm hitting a DDT on the corner of the apron, As Storm picked Styles up to capitalize on groggy Styles, he was hit an explosive Pele Kick, but was Styles unable to get the Styles Clash off. Storm hit the Codebreaker, and set up for the Last Call Superkick, but Styles blocked it hit another Pele Kick. Before Styles could capitalize Aces and Eights hit the ring and jumped him, and even took a shot at Earl Hebner. Storm was left untouched playing into the idea he is behind the group.

WINNER: No Contest at 10:39; according to Tenay, both wrestlers get 2 points.

Turner Reax: Strong showing from both men, that really picked up in the end with believable, and dramatic near falls. Here’s to hoping they don’t jump the gun, and align Storm with the Aces and Eights group.

[Commercial Break]

A video recapped what happened before the break with Aces and Eight.

The roving cameraman caught up with Storm, and asked him about being associated with Aces and Eights. Storm blew up and slammed him up against the wall. He said next time he accuses that he better know the truth.

[Q6] In the ring, Borash, and the Gut Check judges awaited for the arrival of Shaw. He made his way to the ring as Tenay called this “the moment of truth.” Borash asked Shaw if the judges had seen his best performance earlier in the night. He said even though he came up short, that he demonstrated he has the intensity it takes to make it, and asked the judges to vote yes on Sam Shaw.

Borash took to the judges, with Snow being first. Snow said he didn’t much of his match, and even though he would have liked to say yes in spite of Joey Ryan, he was going to have to say not. Prichard was next, and couldn’t believe him and Snow disagreed. He told Shaw he did “a hell of a job,” and gave him a vote of yes. Shaw was given the chance to make a final case for being part of Impact Wrestling, and played to Taz and the intensity he showed in the 90s. Taz got on the mic, and said he loved his athleticism, even though he took his eye off the ball, and lost the match, that his vote was yes. Shaw freaked out in the ring, and hugged everybody in the ring multiple times.

Turner Reax: Lets see if he Shaw ever gets another spot on television because given the way Gut Check has been going it seems like the only person who has lost has been given television time.

Backstage, Aries continued evaluating X Division wrestlers as they made their case for an X Division title shot. He eliminated Dakota Darsow on the basis that Darsow said he wasn’t flashy or pretty. Uh, okay?

[Commercial Break]

Zema Ion made his way to the ring before Aries picked Kenny King to face Ion for the title. He told Sony Dutt that he would eventually get his shot, but on the basis that his shoulder still may be injured, and that it has been six years, and he has yet to win the belt that he had to award King with the shot.

4 -- X Division champion ZEMA ION vs. KENNY KING -- X Division Title match

King went for Ion in the corner, but Ion called for the ref to break it up so he could fix his hair.

[Q7] Shortly after, King hit Ion with a high dropkick, and a big back splash in the corner. King took the ring apron, and hit a springboard crossbody for a two count. King tried to go to top rope, but was knocked to the outside by Ion, who followed up with a flipping senton over the top rope to the outside. He proceeded to choke out King on the rope, and then dropped a pair of knees to the back of King’s neck for a two count. Ion shot King hard into corner multiple times before King came back with a float over sunset flip for a two count.

As Ion tried to mount a comeback, King was able to stop him with a jumping spinning heel kick. King landed another spinning heel kick, this time to the back of the head of Ion, and followed up with a cradle suplex. King threw another kick sending Ion to the outside, and took his turn diving to the outside with a corkscrew press over the top rope to the outside. As King was about to take to the outside, Roode interfered and beat on King enough for Ion to take advantage with a moonsault for the win.

WINNER: Zema Ion via pinfall at 6:05 to retain the X Division Title.

Turner Reax: A fun television X Division match with the right person winning. Ion is fun to watch, and his in-ring work, thus far, has been excellent.

Roode boasted at ringside until Aries interjected himself and attacked Roode. Roode ran to the back as Aries looked like he was about to take to the ring to check on King.

Backstage, Ray said he wasn’t worried about Aces and Eights, and that they would be schmucks if they tried jumping him. He said he respected Angle, but that he was going to get the 7 points, and beat Angle.

[Commercial Break]

A video package recapped Aries’s World Hvt. Title win at Destination X.

The announcers hyped that next week Roode and Ion would team up to face Aries and King in tag team action.

The announcers looked over the Bound for Glory Series leaderboard before both wrestlers made their entrances for their match.

[Q8]

5 - BULLY RAY vs. KURT ANGLE -- BFG Series match

Angle and Ray sized each other up as the crowd chanted “USA.” After a couple of lockup attempts, Ray and Angle attempted their respective signature moves, the big boot, and the Angle Slam. Angle went for the Anklelock, but Ray quickly made his way to the ropes. Ray eventually hit a piledriver on Angle for a two count, but Angle’s arm was under the ropes, preventing the ref from making a count.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Angle began to mount a comeback as he clotheslined a charging Ray to the floor. Angle caught Ray with a release overhead suplex, but was unsuccessful in trying to hit the Angle Slam, and found himself the victim of a Bully Bomb for a close two count. Angle came back with a series of German suplexes, and applied the Anklelock which Ray rolled out of. Ray and Angle exchanged a series of strikes and chops, until Ray was able to land a Rock Bottom type of maneuver. Angle ducked a big boot, and hit the Angle Slam for a close two count. Angle went to the top rope for a moonsault, but Ray had him scouted and moved out of the way. Ray went for a cutter, but Angle pushed him out of it only to get caught with a big boot for another two count. Angle was finally able to hit the Angle Slam for the win.

WINNER: Kurt Angle via pinfall at 11:55; Angle gets 7 points.

Turner Reax: A solid television main-event for a great match-up. I’d like to see these two more as a win over Angle might be exactly what Ray needs to be considered a true top player. Don’t get me wrong, his work is among some of the best stuff going on in wrestling, but he feels like he’s one notch below, perception wise, being a threat for the World Hvt. Title.

Immediately after, Aces and Eights hit the ring and began to jump Angle. Aries, Styles, and Sting hit the ring to fight off Aces and Eights. The numbers game caught up to them, and when Storm came to join the calvary Aces and Eights almost nonchalantly left the ring. The other wrestlers jawed off at Storm as the announcers announced that next week Angle and Storm would be meeting in a BFG Series match to close the show.

Turner Reax: Given the lack of 20,000 beat downs like last week’s edition, I think it’s to go out on a limb and say this week’s episode was much better. Next week’s hook of Angle and Storm should be worth checking out given they don’t cop out and deliver another Aces and Eights beat down. Who am I kidding? Thanks again for reading!

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