TNA Impact Wrestling report
August 9, 2012
Live from Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] Tonight’s show opened with the usual narrated recap video, this time highlighting the A.J. Styles/Claire Lynch drama, and the ambiguity surrounding James Storm, and his alleged association with Aces and Eights.

Bully Ray made his way to the ring, cellphone in hand, and tweeted. In the ring, Ray got on the mic, and said he was the leader of the “bully nation.” He pointed to his cellphone, and said it was his fire breathing twitter machine. He turned his attention to Storm, and said if there was anything he learned from Joseph Park, it was that if there is enough evidence stacked up against someone, that the person is guilty. He went on to say that he was going to prove that Storm was the leader of Aces and Eights. Ray began to boast about going to win his match at Hardcore Justice, and win 20 points.

As Ray began to list of reasons why Storm was the leader of Aces & Eights, Storm came out to the ring to confront Ray. Storm said Ray had no evidence, and had just bored the audience to death. He reitereated that he had nothing to do with the Aces and Eights attacks, and that he was more concerned with winning the BFG Series, and going on to win the Wold Hvt. Title. Storm said that in his neck of the woods, “If two guys have a problem, you draw a line, you put your fist, the other guy crosses it, and you kick the crap out of each other.” He gave Ray to the count of three to cross Storm’s imaginary line, or he was going to attack him. Ray backed off, and ducked through the ropes, and continued to jaw off at Storm.

As things were getting heated, Aces and Eights came up on the video screen, with the presumable leader in the front, and said, with a modulated voice mask, that they missed everyone last week, and that they were taking care of club business. He said Sting gave them an open invitation to be on tonight’s show, and that everyone was going to see a lot of them, but on their own time, and on their terms. Ray accusingly yelled “tell me that’s not you,” in Storm’s face.

[Commercial Break}

Back from the break, a video recapped Aces and Eight’s accepting Sting’s invitation for being on the show tonight.

[Q2] Pope was shown backstage cutting a promo about going on to win at Hardcore Justice, and getting 20 points in the BFG Series. He said that if he were to make it to the final four, that the World Hvt. Title would belong to him, and the congregation.

Mr. Anderson joined the commentary booth, and said both RVD and Magnus were going to be formidable opponents at Hardcore Justice, and that he didn’t like either one of them.

1 -- ROB VAN DAM vs. MAGNUS -- BFG Series match

The match started with the basic feeling out process, an awkward shoulder block, and with Magnus clotheslining RVD over the top rope to the outside. After slamming against the ring apron, Magnus sent RVD inside the ring for a two count. RVD tried to hit a crossbody on Magnus, but was caught in midair, and hit with a suplex. Magnus caught one of RVD’s kicks, but was then caught in a leg scissor rollup. After a kick a to the face of Magnus, RVD took to the top rope, and hit the 5-Star Frog Splash for the win.

WINNER: Rob Van Dam via pinfall at 3:21; RVD gets 7 points.

Turner Reax: Nothing special as Magnus continues to fall lower down the totem pole that is the BFG Series. I didn’t catch much of Anderson’s commentary as I tended to zone him out, but from what I gathered, he sounded pretty annoying.

Backstage, Bobby Roode was asked about tonight’s contract signing, and he said that there was some writing in the contract that he, and his lawyers were not happy with. He said he was going to take the contact, and shove it up Aries’s a**, and that if things weren’t changed to his liking that his lawyers might not let the main-event at Hardcore Justice happen. Ugh, it always really bugs me when wrestlers say they are going to shove things up other wrestlers’s you know what.

[Commercial Break]

A video recapped last week’s baby shower for Claire Lynch. “I know that you’re watching A.J., but this baby is coming,” she said. “Do the right thing A.J. for our baby!”

[Q3]

2 -- TNA Tag Team champions DANIELS & KAZARIAN vs. TNA Television champion DEVON & GARETT BISCHOFF -- TNA Tag Title match

Devon and Kazarian started out the match with Devon quickly tagging Bischoff in who hit Kazarian with a scoop slam for a one count. Kazarian tagged Daniels in who was met with a clothesline for another one count before Bischoff tagged Devon in. Devon hit a leg a drop for another two count, and quickly tagged Bischoff back into the match. Daniels tagged Kazarian in, and they hit a unique double team maneuver that saw Daniels armdrag Kazarian into a leg drop onto Bischoff for a two count. Devon tagged back into the match who cleaned house, but was eventually hit with one of the title belts by Kazarian for the win.

WINNERS: Daniels and Kazarian via pinfall at 4:08 to retain the Tag Titles.

Turner Reax: Not much to say about a pretty standard tag match against the champs, and a makeshift team no one cares about.

A video recapped Brooke Hogan receiving a message from Aces and Eights last week before Sting got on camera to say that Brooke was at home for her own safety. He said that Aces and Eights no-showed last week, but that this week was a new week, and that he was calling them out tonight.

[Commercial Break]

An ad aired for Hardcore Justice with each participant in the BFG Series getting a soundbyte to talk about what the BFG Series, and the TNA World Hvt. Title means to them.

In the ring, Robbie E., accompanied by Rob Terry, talked about his poor standing the BFG Series, and went on to say that he was going to win 20 more points at in his four-way tables match at Hardcore Justice. He called out Hardy, and replayed footage of him beating Hardy by count out three weeks ago. Robbie started listing off five reasons why Hardy would never be on his level, but only got to one as Hardy cut him off: he wears pink sweaters. Hardy came to the ring, and threw Terry to the outside. As he turned his attentions to Robbie E., Terry got back in the ring, and powerbombed Hardy through the table.

[Q4] Backstage, the roving cameraman asked Style about when he was going to comment on the pictures of him and Lynch. He said he had been thinking about over the duration of his flight back from Australia. He went on to say that she must have been really bad at sex for him to not be able to remember having sex with her. About the alcohol, Styles said he doesn’t drink, so he couldn’t have been drunk. Styles said he was jet lagged, and that he had to focus for his BFG Series match against Angle.

[Commercial Break]

As Tenay and Taz plugged the four-way ladder match at Hardcore Justice, Samoa Joe barged into the commentary booth, and snatched a headset to speak his piece concerning his match at the PPV, and the BFG Series. Joe promised to destroy all the competitors in his match at Hardcore Justice.

Styles’s music hit, and as he came out shoots of Lynch cheering for Styles at ringside were shown. Angle came out next for the BFG Series match.

3 -- A.J. STYLES vs. KURT ANGLE -- BFG Series match

Early on in the match Styles hit Angle with a dropkick, sending Angle to outside. Styles followed up with a crossbody over the top rope that Angle caught with the back of neck, and shoulders. After a shot of Lynch sitting near the action was shown the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Angle caught Styles low, and ran him into the corner, and threw him across the ring with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. The announcers played into the thought that was running through my mind, why Lynch was cheering Styles on after being so upset last week. Angle caught Styles with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a one count, and then locked in a sleeper hold.

[Q5] Both men hit the mat after a double clothesline as the crowd began to warm up. Once they got to their feet Styles landed a backbreaker on Angle, but was eventually caught by Angle for a series of German suplexes. Angle preyed over Styles for the Angle Slam, but Style’s countered with a Pele Kick for a close two count. Styles signaled for the Styles’s Clash, but Angle countered with the Angle Slam for another close two count. Angle dropped the straps signaling the Anklelock, but was unable to lock it in as Styles came back with a German suplex of his own.

Styles offense didn’t last as Angle got Styles in the Anklelock, but Styles countered again, and hit a flying forearm. Styles quickly followed up, and hit the Styles Clash, but Angle barely kicked out for a very close nearfall. Styles went up to top rope where he was met by Angle with another overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Angle took to the top rope himself for the moonsault, but missed setting Styles up for a springboard 450 splash, which he countered with a pair of knees. Angle quickly followed up with an Angle Slam for the win.

WINNER: Kurt Angle via pinfall 12:45; Angle gets 7 points.

Turner Reax: Even after multiple meetings from these two this match still felt fresh, and proved to be highly entertaining.

Another Aces and Eights video message aired. This time they listed off all the Impact personalities that had received the dead man’s hand, and that their next victim would be revealed tonight.

Literally one second later Anderson confronted Storm about the message from Aces and Eights that had just aired. He played into the accusations that Storm was involved with the group, and said if he was their next victim that they would be having a conversation about it, insinuating a physical confrontation. Storm looked as if he was ready to boil over with anger.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage Aries was shown on the phone arguing with whoever about Roode taking exception with the wording of the contract. Always the consummate interviewer. the roving cameraman caught up with Aries who said he was going to make it so Roode was comfortable, and that their match would happen at Hardcore Justice.

[Q6]

4 -- TNA Knockouts champion MISS TESSMACHER vs. GAIL KIM -- non-title match

The match quickly got underway as Tessmacher went straight for Kim as they brawled outside of the ring for a moment. Kim caught Tessmacher off the top rope, and dropped her, stomach first, across her knee. She proceeded to set Tessmacher across the second rope, and stood on her chest, pulling on the ropes for added effect. Kim kept Tessmacher at bay with the leg scissors, and once again dropped Tessmacher, stomach first, onto the knee of Kim. Tessmacher was eventually able to come back with a series of clotheslines, and proceeded to give Kim a stinkface. She hit a facebuster on Kim for the win.

WINNER: Miss Tessmacher via pinfall at 3:30

Turner Reax: I used to be down on Tessmacher, and her in-ring ability, but I’ve been impressed with her run as Knockouts champion. That being said, how many times is she going to beat Kim?

After the match, Hebner held up Tessmacher’s arm in victory as Madsion Ranye’s music hit to cut off the celebration. Rayne made her way into the ring, planted a kiss on Hebner, threw him to the ground, and then blew a kiss to Tessmacher as she made her way out.

Backstage, Joseph Park talked about the contract signing for the match between Roode and Aries. He spoke in legal jargon for a quick, funny segment. I can’t believe how much more I like Park as a naive lawyer, as opposed to the neurotic, and annoying Abyss.

[Commercial Break]

Footage of last weeks match between Aries & King against Roode & Ion was shown to introduce a video package highlight Kenny King. He spoke about making the biggest gamble in career by dropping everything he was doing to come to Impact Wrestling. King said he would measure his success when he has held up as high as wrestlers such as Angle, and RVD. He spoke about his desire to win the X Division Title.

[Q7] Sting came out to the ring, and called out Aces and Eights, but not before the contract signing between Aries and Roode. Both wrestlers made their way into the ring, with Roode exhibiting a bit of attitude. He called Sting stupid for asking him if he had a problem. The exception he took with the writing in the contract stated that if he were to lose at Hardcore Justice that he would not receive another title shot. He verbally attacked Sting for always having a problem with him, and said that unless the contract was changed that he would not be wrestling on Sunday.

Aries cut him off and found it peculiar that if Roode thought Aries’s victory was a fluke that he would want a contract with a rematch clause. Aries suggested to forgo the contract, and instead insisted on a “gentlemen’s agreement” that no matter who won, that there would be no rematch. Things looked as if they were about to boil over, but Roode went in for the handshake before throwing water into the face of Aries. Aries tried to pursue Roode, but Sting held him back. “You’re scared, and you know it,” exclaimed Aries.

Ray vs. Storm in a BFG Series match, up next.

[Commercial Break]

Chavo Guerrero, Hernandez, Kid Kash, and Gunner spoke about each other, and their match at Hardcore Justice.

The announcers ran through the Hardcore Justice card before breaking down the Bound for Glory Series Leaderboard.

[Q8]

5 -- BULLY RAY vs. JAMES STORM -- BFG Series match

Ray exhibited a bit of apprehension to locking up with Storm, and played into the fear that Aces and Eights were going to jump him for being in the ring with Storm. The crowd chanted “lets go Cowboy,” as Storm delivered a series of clotheslines, but could not knock Ray off his feet. Ray hit the big boot, and threw Storm to the outside as the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break]

The show came back to Ray missing an elbow drop, but still being to able shut Storm down, and lock in a legbar. After the exchange, Ray hit a clothesline for a two count, and continued to prey on Storm with blows to the head. Storm mounted a comeback with back body drop, and a kick to the back of the head. Before he could capitalize, Ray came back with a urinagi for a two count.

Storm was able to make his way to the top rope for a crossbody on Ray for a two count. Storm once again took his chances on the top rope, this time getting dropped on the turnbuckle after Ray hit the ropes. After turning Ray back, Storm went for a top rope elbow drop, but missed and was hit the Bubbabomb for a close two count. Out of nowhere Ray hit the Bully Cutter for the win.

WINNER: Bully Ray via pinfall at 10:46; Ray gets 7 points.

Turner Reax: Wow I didn’t see that one coming, but as I for advocated for a few weeks ago it was nice to see Ray get a clean win over top talent. It was no Styles vs. Angle, but it was still a damn good match.

After the match Ray quickly got on the defensive, preparing for an Aces and Eights attack. Suddenly, the group appeared on the big screen, and said that on Sunday they were coming Ray at the PPV. Ray flashed Storm a look of confusion and questioned Storm, as if he were truly the leader of the group, if they were really coming for him as the show signed off.

Turner Reax: Well at least there wasn’t beat down after beat down like two weeks ago, but there sure was a lot of Aces and Eights nonsense. There’s a lot of good matches with storylines falling by the wayside because of all the television time Aces and Eights are getting. Nonetheless, this was still a solid two hours of television with two standout matches for television, and I’m looking forward to Sunday’s Hardcore Justice pay-per-view. Thanks again for reading, and see you next week.

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