TNA Impact report
August 2, 2012
Live from Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] Tonight’s show opened with Austin Aries, and Kenny King brawling with Bobby Roode, and Zema Ion around the Impact Zone. Aries, and Roode battled on the ramp as King, and Ion squared off at ringside. Eventually, Aries took to the top rope, dove onto Roode on the outside, and threw him back into the ring to officially start the match.

1 -- TNA World Hvt. champion AUSTIN ARIES & KENNY KING vs. X Division champion ZEMA ION & BOBBY ROODE

Early on, Ion got in a bit of offense before Aries was able to regain his composure, and tag in King for a double team maneuver. King hit a springboard leg drop, and got a close two count before tagging Aries back into the match. Aries hit a series of a elbow drops for a pair of two counts, and then tagged King back into the match, who continued to dominate Ion with shoulder blocks in the corner. King dodged a clothesline from Ion, who ended up taking out Roode, and awkwardly hit the referee. Ion finally got King on the outside, and after an assault from Roode, Ion hit a flipping senton to the outside. Roode finally tagged into the match, and continued to keep King grounded. After a suplex, and a knee drop gave Roode a close two count, he tagged Ion in, who continued to beat on King as the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, King and Ion were battling on the top rope with King knocking Ion off, only to have to Roode shove from the top rope to the outside for a nasty looking fall. Roode tagged back into the match, and kept King isolated from Aries, stomping on him in the corner.

[Q2] Eventually, King was able to get to Aries for the tag, but the referee missed the tag, and sent Aries back to his corer as Roode, and Ion stomped away at King in the corner. King came back with an atomic drop, and a spinning kick to the head of Ion for a two count that was broken up Roode. Aries, without a tag, took it upon himself to get involved, and hit Roode with a top rope missile dropkick, and followed up with a suicide dive to the outside. King hit Ion with his finisher for the win.

WINNERS: Austin Aries & Kenny King via pinfall at 15:05.

Turner Reax: It was a bit jarring at first with the brawl opening the show, but it was a nice change of pace from the usual opening recap video package. The match itself was fine, albeit a little a slow, but the crowd popped big when Aries finally got involved after King took so much punishment for a long period of time.

Aries and King celebrated in the ring as the announcers hyped tonight’s card.

The standard opening narrated video package was shown highlighting Aces and Eights, and the ambiguity surrounding James Storm, and his association with the group.

The roving cameraman caught up with Sting who was making his way to the ring to call out Storm, and question him about his alleged affiliation with Aces and Eights.

[Commercial Break]

Sting came to the ring and said there were a lot of questions, but not enough answers, and proceeded to call Storm out to the ring. Storm obliged, and without any hesitation made his way to the ring in his street clothes. In the ring, Sting said he did not want to believe Roode’s accusations of Storm being associated with Aces and Eights. Sting said that he came across compelling footage that put doubts in his mind, and proceeded to show the previous week’s Aces and Eights’s attacks, and how they have left Storm alone in both instances. Storm denied the accusations, and said “What I see is a bunch of cowards running from the ring when I came balling my big a** down here to kick some a**.” He alluded to the history between himself, and Sting, and reminded him that he never once needed anyone to come help him fight his battles. Storm reminisced about when Kurt Angle jumped him 9 months ago, and how instead of whining about it, he manned up and beat Angle three times, once for the World Hvt. championship. “And I didn’t need a damn soul to do it,” Storm said coldly to Sting.

[Q3] Angle came out to confront Storm, and said he didn’t understand his motives as he referenced the aforementioned “coincidences” surrounding Storm and Aces and Eights. He said that if Aces and Eights were in the building, and showed up during his match that would he kick their a****. Sting concurred, and said he to would be at ringside for the match. Angle got in Storm’s face, and

The announcers talked about A.J. Styles being on vacation in Australia, and showed some photos before airing a video to recap the allegations that Styles is the father of an impending crack baby.

Backstage, Daniels and Kazarian accused Styles of fleeing the country to avoid taking responsibility for his actions with Claire Lynch. They talked about how they were outstanding people, and said they were going to throw a baby shower for Lynch. Oh boy.

[Commercial Break]

Taz and Tenay ran through three BFG series matches announced for Hardcore Justice: a ladder match between Styles-Angle-Daniels-Joe, Falls Count Anywhere for Anderson-RVD-Pope-Magnus, and a tables match for Hardy-Storm-Ray-Robbie E.

Bully Ray made his way to the ring, phone in hand, as the announcers said he was tweeting. Ray himself played up his tweeting ways as he showed his phone to the camera. He got on the mic, and called out Storm. “I never trusted you Storm,” he said. “I’ve been here six freaking years. Don’t trust you.” He announced that he to would be at ringside for Angle vs. Storm later in the night. Robbie E. accompanied by Robbie T. came out next, and made their way to the ring.

2 -- BULLY RAY vs. ROBBIE E. (w/ Robbie T.) -- BFG Series match

As the referee tended to Robbie E, Robbie T. took advantage of the distraction and laid Ray out. Robbie E. quickly capitalized, and was all over Ray. It didn’t last for long though, as Ray came back with a series of chops and a cutter for a win.

WINNER: Bully Ray via pinfall at 0:56; Ray gets 7 points.

Turner Reax: Quick and painless. I continue to question Robbie E’s inclusion in the BFG Series.

[Q4] Backstage, Earl Hebner was shown giving Madison Rayne a bunch of standard relationship gifts such as chocolates, a stuffed animal, and some flowers. Kim came into the picture, and tried to reprimand Rayne for talking to Hebner, who she felt might try to screw them in their four-way #1 contenders match, which he was officiating. Rayne assured her that Hebner would never do, and walked off.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Hemme welcomed TNA Knockouts champion Brooke Tessmacher to the broadcast table. The participants in the four-way #1 contenders match made their entrances with Tessmacher talking about each participant as they made their way to the ring.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- TARA vs. MADISON RAYNE vs. GAIL KIM vs. MICKIE JAMES

The match got underway as soon the show came back from the break, with Tara going straight for Kim. Eventually, Kim and Rayne ganged up on Tara, but things began to boil over when Rayne went for a pin attempt. James got back into the match pulling Kim to the outside who threw her into the ring steps. Tara hit a sidewalk slam, and went for the pin attempt, but Kim was quick to put a stop to that.

[Q5] The double-teaming from Rayne, and Kim on Tara continued until Kim sent herself into the corner, shoulder first after Tara dodged a shoulder tackle attempt. Mickie got back in the back with a neckbreaker on Rayne for a two count that Kim broke up. Tara dropped Kim, neck first, on the top rope, and then followed up with a flipping leg drop over the rope into the ring. She tried to take to the rope, but was met by Rayne who was yanked off the rope by James. Kim picked up where Rayne left off, and hit Tara with a top rope superplex. Kim went for the pin, but Rayne had Hebener distracted. James threw Kim out of the ring, and cleaned house. She too tried to go for the top rope, but Kim was there to push her off. In the ring, Tara hit the Widow’s Peak on Kim, and then caught Rayne with an ambiguous roll up for a three count, which Hebner ruled in favor of Rayne.

WINNER: Madsion Rayne via pinfall at 7:30 to be come the #1 contender for the Knockouts Title.

Turner Reax: I am really not enjoying the angle with Rayne, and Hebner. It reminds me of something from TNA television circa 2009, and that’s not a good thing. The match itself was fine, but the least qualified Knockout won the match.

A video recapped the confrontation between Storm and Angle before the roving cameraman caught up, backstage, with Roode. He said he was going to be at ringside, and prove that Storm was behind the Aces and Eights’s attacks. The camera panned over to show Aries, and he said that he would be at ringside for tonight’s main-event as well.

Sting was shown in his office with Brooke Hogan as they talked about her father’s condition after getting jumped by Aces and Eights. Brooke said she had never seen her dad not be able to get up, and fight back. Sting promised her that he would get to the bottom of it, and said he also promised her father that he would watch over her. She said she was freaked out, and that she was going to try to watch out over the Knockouts Division. A deliveryman handed Brooke a folder, and said he was to deliver it to her immediately. She opened the manilla folder to reveal Aces and Eights’s signature hand. She stormed off as Sting called for her.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, ODB confronted Young about their lack of title defenses during their reign as Knockout Tag Team champions, which ODB referred to as the “Knocked Up champions.” Young plugged his upcoming television show on Sunday, and came up with the idea of never having the belts be together at the same place so they could never be stripped of the titles. He ran away as ODB complained about never receiving her fried chicken.

[Q6] Kid Kash, accompanied by Gunner, came out as last week’s happenings with Chavo Guerrero, and Hernandez were replayed. Chavo Guerrero came out with Hernandez to the tune of the most generic, stock, “cholo” sounding theme song TNA could find.

4 -- CHAVO GUERRERO (w/Hernandez) vs. KID KASH (w/Gunner)

Kash and Chavo went through some chain wrestling that at one point saw Kash mock the trademark Guerrero dance. Chavo went behind Kash, but was caught with elbows, and a clothesline, taking him down to mat. Kash mounted Chavo, and laid into him with a series of blows. He hit a backbreaker for a two count, and went for a moonsault that Chavo countered with a pair of knees to the gut of Kash. Chavo hit a spinning head scissors, and followed up with a drop kick for a two count. As Chavo went for the brainbuster, Gunner took to the ring apron to cause a distraction, but to no avail as Chavo came back with Three Amigos, and a Frog Splah for the win.

WINNER: Chavo Guerrero via pinfall at 4:42

Turner Reax: A good first showing for Chavo, who seems to be more motivated than he was in his final days in WWE. I get hyping new talent as they make their way into the company, but I think after this initial honeymoon period wraps up that TNA would be ill advised to shove Guerrero down the throats of viewers. It was good to see they toned down the groan inducing “ wrestling Legend” talk surrounding Chavo from last week’s show.

Backstage, Dixie Carter gave her take on the Styles and Lynch drama. She said she understood being blackmailed, but that it was way past time for Styles to step up and set the record straight.

Daniels, and Kazarian were shown making their way through the backstage area with gifts in hand. Claire Lynch’s baby shower is up next.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Angle was shown talking to a man who was later identified as Wes Brisco. He talked about his aspirations behind being a pro wrestler, and asked Angle to put in the good for him to Hogan. Devon and Garett Bischoff came into the picture, and promised to have Angle’s back during his match tonight.

[Q7] In the ring, Daniels and Kazarian took potshots at Styles before the baby shower. They invited a confused looking Lynch, who was sitting at ringside, into the ring. Daniels told Lynch that being pregnant is one of the most important times in a woman’s life, and that she deserves to be surrounded by people that love her. They began to open gifts, the first one being diapers. Lynch opened the second gift, action figures of Styles, pictures of Daniels, and replica World Tag Team Titles. The third gift was a baby doll adorned with Style’s trademark hooded vest. Lynch played heel, and graciously accepted every gift. She looked into the camera, and addressed Styles, and said she needed Styles to do the right thing for their baby. She screamed it into the camera a few more times, as the crowd began a “please shut up” chant. Seriously, please shut up.

[Commercial Break]

Joseph Park was shown backstage, and announced that he was handling legal representation for some of the roster. He caught up with Sting, who played into the mystery behind Park coming out of nowhere with a Black Hole Slam on Ray.

Taz and Tenay broke down the BFG Series leaderboard, and announced RVD vs. The Pope, Styles vs. Angle, and Storm vs. Ray for next.

Storm and Angle made their entrances for the main-event.

5 -- KURT ANGLE vs. JAMES STORM -- BFG Series match

As Angle and Storm went through the feeling out process, a shot of the newly introduced Wes Brisco was shown, and the wrestlers who vowed to be at ringside for the match started making their way out.

[Q8] Sting was the first out as Storm had Angle in an armlock. Next up, Bischoff and Devon came out as Storm continued to keep the offensive edge with a Thesz Press. Angle came back with an overhead belly-to-belly release suplex. Ray come out through the audience to join the rest of the wrestlers at ringside. Angle preyed over Storm as the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break - There was a ten second update that saw Angle dump Storm to the outside.]

Back from the break, Storm hit Angle with a draping DDT from the second rope. The two wrestlers made their way to their feet as Roode, and Aries made their way to ringside. Storm hung Angle up on the ropes, and hit him with a running forearm. Angle regained the offensive edge, and hit three consecutive German suplexes. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Storm reversed it only to receive a stiff looking kick to the head from Angle. Storm reversed an Anklelock attempt, and hit the Angle Slam for a two count. Angle locked in the Anklelock, but Storm refused to tap as the announcers played up the idea of potential long term injury to Storm’s ankle. Storm eventually caught angle with a kick to the head, and followed up with the Last Call Superkick for the win.

WINNER: James Storm via pinfall at 13:32 ; Storm gets 7 points.

Turner Reax: Despite two commercial breaks, or depending on how you want to look at it, one very long break, the match was a lot of fun. Storm went over clean, and it added intrigue to accusations being thrown out about Storm being associated with Aces and Eights all while building up his credibility as singles wrestler.

After the match Angle, and Storm shared an embrace as Aces and Eights was nowhere to be found. Storm got on the mic and called out Aces and Eights, but still nothing happened. Roode got on the mic, and drew attention to them not coming out when Storm was in charge of the action. Ray attacked Storm, which led to Aries and Roode brawling as Angle threw his arms up in confusion to end the show.

Turner Reax: For better or worse, TNA continues to stick to its established storylines. I give them credit for sticking to their guts, and trying to be as logical as they can be about it, but a crack baby pregnancy storyline that is playing out at a snail’s pace, and an outsiders storyline isn’t what I would consider must see television. All-in-all tonight’s edition of Impact was good, and had a handful of lengthy, good matches.

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