Browsing: DJZ

Drew McIntyre (art credit Grant Gould © PWTorch)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

The following report originally published 10 years ago this week here at PWTorch.com…

TNA Impact Wrestling
November 25, 2015
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Aired on Destination America
Report by Mike McMahon, PWTorch contributor

Impact opens with a video package recapping last weekâ€s show. Tonight includes Rockstar Spud vs. Drew Galloway and Austin Aries vs. Lashley.

In-studio: Josh Mathews and Pope welcome us to tonightâ€s show. Pope says that tonight is do-or-die for Group U.K. and Mathews says that Davey Richards vs. Robbie E. will also happen tonight. As well as the triple threat match in Group X Division.

1 — TNA X Division champion TIGRE UNO vs. D.J. ZEMA vs. MANIK — World Title Series round-robin match

In this match, the first two wrestlers to score a pinfall or submission win will advance to the Round of 16.

A whole bunch of fast-paced action starts the match with leap frogs and jumps and flips happening everywhere. D.J. Z. turns Uno inside out with a clotheslines and then tosses Manik to the outside.

The action spills to the outside. Uno climbs to the top and lands a huge moonsault on D.J. Z and Manik on the outside.

Uno rolls Manik back into the ring. He has Manik tied up in some sort of submission hold, but Manik drop-toe holds him into a reversal. D.J. Z flies in with a dropkick to break up the hold. Uno tosses D.J. Z. to the outside and Manik comes from behind and snapmares him to the canvas.

Manik puts the boots to Uno with D.J. Z also down on the outside. D.J. Z back in the ring hits a springboard elbow on Manik. Uno tries to hit a tackle on Manik to the outside, but Manik ducks and Uno goes through the ropes.

D.J. Z hits a double tilt-a-whirl DDT on both men and pins Manik at the five-minute mark to earn a spot in the Round of 16.

The match now becomes a singles match between Tigre Uno and Manik. Manik lands forearms on Uno but Uno starts to fire back. Uno catches Manik in a moonsault attempt and hits a modified stunner but Manik kicks out. Manik applies a cross arm-breaker on Uno but he powers out. Uno then hits a split-leg corkscrew to get the pinfall win.

WINNERS: D.J. Z and Tigre Uno advance to the Round of 16

[MM Reax: Pretty good opening match. It wasnâ€t too long, and, as you would expect, offered some clear athleticism. The right two also went through. The only problem was that it was almost too fast, and at times felt hard to follow with such a high-paced speed.]

[Commercial Break]

In-studio: Back from the break, Drew Galloway is speaking in a video interview. He said in wrestling youâ€ll fall more than youâ€ll stand up, but the key is always moving forward. Galloway is in Scotland and said this was the longest heâ€s been home in more than a decade. He said everyone is grown up, all of his friends from home. Galloway said in pro wrestling youâ€re married to the job. Aside from winning the World Title Series, Galloway said his goal return home to the U.K. for the tour in January as the World Champion.

2 — ROCKSTAR SPUD vs. DREW GALLOWAY — World Title Series round-robin match

Spud and Galloway start with a handshake. Galloway looks huge in the ring compared to Spud. They circle each other at first and Spud fires off some punches after Galloway misses on a charge. Galloway lands a loud chop to Spudâ€s chest.

Galloway and Spud are on the outside and Galloway is ramming Spudâ€s back into the post. Galloway charges Spud but misses and goes crashing into the steps. Spud rolls the referee back into the ring and tells the referee to start counting for a count-out. Galloway is slowly getting back to his feet and barely makes it back into the ring at nine.

Spud goes for two quick covers, but Galloway kicks out. Spud goes to the top, goes for a cross-body, but Galloway catches him and slams him. Galloway charges Spud in the corner but Spud moved.

Spud hits a series of flying forearms in the corner and then a running dropkick in the corner. Galloway is holding his shoulder. Spud with a kick to Gallowayâ€s head. Spud goes for an Underdog, but Galloway tosses him aside and then lands a right hand.

On the apron, Galloway tries to power bomb Spud on the steps, but he seemed to second-guess himself. Spud lands a kick and goes back on the offense. Spud Charges Galloway but Galloway catches him and lands a Samoan Drop. Galloway is in the corner waiting for Spud to get up and then hits a flying boot for the pinfall win.

WINNER: Drew Galloway via pinfall.

[MM Reax: Very good match, where the announcers did a nice job highlighting that Spud needed to take chances in order to win. Very interesting spot where Galloway hesitated powerbombing Spud on the ring apron. Could just be a throwaway thing to show heâ€s a babyface, but it felt like there might be something more to that down the road.]

[Commercial Break]

In-studio: Mathews and Pope talk about the possible effects for Group U.K. if Grado beats Bram, and how that could create a three-way tie.

3 — BRAM vs. GRADO — World Title Series round-robin match

Grado does his dancing in the ring before the start of the match. The bell rings, Bram rolls him up, and the match is over in a matter of seconds.

WINNER: Bram via pinfall.

[MM Reax: Totally fine with this finish. This tournament is for the World Title. When you get to the Round of 16, things need to be taken more seriously than a comedy act.]

Mathews then throws to a video package hyping tonightâ€s main event between Lashley and Austin Aries.

[Commercial break]

In-studio: Back from the break, Pope and Mathews preview Jessie Godderz vs. Micah, which is up next.

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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4 — JESSIE GODDERZ vs. MICAH — World Title Series round-robin match

Micah is in control of the match early. After some arm drags, Jessie goes to the outside in order to compose himself. Micah gives chase and tosses him back into the ring. Jessie recovers and hits a backbreaker. Jessie hits a standing dropkick.

Meanwhile, Mathews plugs the next Impact tapings, with tickets going on sale. Mathews says next week all of the Round of 16 matches will happen. Micah then charges Godderz in the corner with a splash. Micah goes for a cover, but Godderz grabs the bottom rope.

After Micah pulls him to the middle of the ring, Jessie reverses and goes for a Boston Crab but Micah blocks it. Micah claims up to the top rope but misses a flying headbutt after Jessie moves. Jessie locks Michah in an Adonis Crab for the win.

WINNER: Jessie Godderz via submission.

Still to come: Robbie E. vs. Davey Richards.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, TNA airs a video package that recaps the action in Group Tag Team Specialists.

Mathews then throws to video of Kurt Angle in the U.K., promoting the upcoming tour. Itâ€s not an interview, but a pre-tape of Angle doing multiple interviews on radio and elsewhere.

Angle said heâ€s had the best matches of his career over the last two years. Angle calls this his “retirement tour for Impact Wrestling.†Angle said he had a great career from WWE to TNA and he was glad he would be able to retire in the U.K. Angle said that this is his last time in the U.K. this upcoming tour.

[MM Reax: The message seemed a bit cloudy. It was tough to tell if Angle meant this was just his final U.K. tour, or if he was ending his career altogether after the U.K. tour. After the tape, Mathews and Pope didnâ€t discuss it much.]

5 — ROBBIE E. vs. TNA Tag Team Champion DAVEY RICHARDS — World Title Series round-robin match

At the start of the match, Mathews said that the semi-finals of the World Title Series would take place Mumbai, India, which is interesting because right after this show, TNA announced that the India tour was canceled.

The match starts with a handshake and lock-up. Some wrestling holds to start the match, including a wrist lock by Richards and Robbie E. reversing into an armdrag.

A series of armdrags ends with an armlock. The action spills to the outside. Davey fakes a dive. Robbie E. has it scouted and ducks Richards†attempt for a running kick. Robbie E. goes to the apron and dives off with a cannonball to the floor.

Robbie E. gets back up and rolls Richards back into the ring and hits a flying clothesline. Robbie goes for a reverse DDT, but Richards blocks it and shoves him into the corner.

Richards hits a clothesline. Richards goes for a submission in a reverse Figure Four but Robbie E. gets to the ropes. Richards then lands a series of rapid offense including clotheslines off the rope. Robbie E. counters and hits a boom drop. He goes for a cover, but only gets a two count.

Robbie E. goes for a reverse DDT but Davey counters it with a snapmare. Robbie E. ducks a clothesline, but Richards rolls him up for a two count. Robbie E. goes for a sunset flip, but Richards hits a double stomp from a standing position. Richards goes to the top rope, but Robbie E. moves. Both men back up, and Richards hits a Creeping Death for the pinfall.

WINNER: Davey Richards via pinfall.

[MM Reax: Another very good match for Robbie E. in this tournament. Heâ€s not moving on, but he showed a lot during this tournament. Once TNA makes the move to Pop TV, with a much thinner roster, Robbie E. could be a guy that TNA pushes as an upper midcarder and he showed enough in this tournament that the fans should take him seriously in that role. He could absolutely be a guy TNA pushes in that tier just below the World Title.]

Still to come: Austin Aries vs. Lashley.

Mathews plugged a “Bracketbrawl†contest for the Round of 16.

[Commercial Break]

6 — CRAZZY STEVE vs. KENNY KING — World Title Series round-robin match

If Crazzy Steve wins this match, Group Wildcard will have a three-way playoff like Group X Division earlier tonight.

King starts the match with a headlock. Some holds to start the match with Steve reversing. King lands an arm drag and then taunts the crowd. They lock up again and King grabs a headlock. Steve shoves him off but King hits a shoulder tackle. Steve hits an arm drag and King looks impressed, offering a handshake but he instead goes for a drop toehold and secures a side headlock.

Wristlock by King. Steve reverses into a drop toehold and then honks his horn. King hits a spinning heel kick. King hits a suplex and then rains some right hands on Steve. King puts Steve in a submission but Steve wiggles out of it.

King hits a scoop slam and goes for a leg drop, but Steve moves and hits King with a flying elbow. Steve hits a series of left hands in the corner and starts to stomp King after King falls to the mat.

Steve honks his horn again and hits a running knee. King kicks out at two after a hurricanrana. Steve sunset flips King for a two count. Steve goes for a crucifix pin but King kicks out. Steve jumps at King but King catches him with a Coronation for the win.

WINNER: Kenny King via pinfall.

[MM Reax: Again, the right finish with the right guy moving on. Itâ€s good to see TNA weeding out the comedy acts and making the Round of 16 as serious as they can.]

Backstage: Austin Aries says that tonight is win or go home, just like the Playoffs. Aries said that Lashley is a physical specimen and he “has something going on between those ears.†Aries said Lashley knows heâ€ll need to be perfect in order to beat Austin Aries. Aries said that tonight, Lashley needs to be just a bit better than the best who ever lived.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, they air a clip from Mathewsâ€s YouTube show, where Robbie E. basically tells a story where Vince Russo hired him because he found out from Simon Diamond that Robbie E. was from New Jersey, and the Jersey Shore was popular at the time and Russo got him hired because of that.

[MM Reax: Of course he did. That sounds like the Vince Russo weâ€ve all come to know, now doesnâ€t it?]

7 — BOBBY LASHLEY vs. AUSTIN ARIES — World Title Series round-robin match

Lashley and Aries circle each other to start the match. Aries jumps the rope in the corner and hits a forearm. Aries climbs to the top and hits a missile dropkick.

Lashley bounces off the ropes after the dropkick and hits a running clothesline. The match spills to the outside where Lashley starts to take control with his power and strength. Lashley hits another shoulder block. Lashley goes for a vertical suplex but Aries tried to reverse it with knees to the head while Lashley held him vertical. That was a cool spot. Lashley goes for a cover but Aries kicks out.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Aries hits some elbows in an attempt to break a waistlock by Lashley. Lashley counters with a belly-to-belly suplex. Lashley goes for a spear but Aries moves and Lashley goes charging into the turnbuckle. Aries hits a series of kicks from there.

Back in the ring, Aries has Lashley for a suplex but Lashley reverses and puts Aries on his shoulder. Aries drops down and hits a discus elbow. Now in the corner, Aries hits a running dropkick.

Four minutes to go.

Aries hits a brainbuster, but Lashley counters with a suplex. Lashley charges Aries, but Aries sidesteps it and Lashley goes tumbling to the outside. Aries off the rope and goes for a suicide dive on the outside but Lashley moves.

Pope says thatâ€s why itâ€s call a suicide dive. Lashley rolls Aries back into the ring. Hebner is checking on Aries and Lashley is waiting for Aries to get up for a spear. Hebner is telling Lashley to wait. Mathews notes that the clock is ticking.

Lashley picks up Aries, but Aries drops back to the mat. Lashley sets up in the corner for a spear. Hebner is telling Lashley to wait because Aries is hurt. 90 seconds left. Aries fights back as Lashley picks him up. Lashley hits a clothesline. Lashley goes to the corner and tries for a spear but Aries reverses into a Last Chancery. Lashley makes it to the rope to break the hold.

Less than one minute left.

Aries goes to the top for a 450 splash, but Lashley moves and then hits a spear for the pinfall with just seconds left in the match.

WINNER: Bobby Lashley via pinfall.

[MM Reax: Excellent main-event match. If TNA is smart, now that theyâ€ve secured a new television deal, if Aries is not locked up by Ring of Honor, he should be a guy on TNAâ€s radar to re-sign. Heâ€s so good and can carry absolutely anyone on the TNA roster to a very good match at the very least, and in most cases, an excellent match. Lashley looked good here as well. There was some innovative counters and reversals in this match. Aries countering the spear into the Last Chancery was a bit clunky — it looked like Lashley just fell — but we havenâ€t seen that before. Aries using knees in an attempt to get out from the vertical suplex looked great.]

Up next: Mathews and Pope reveal the Round of 16 brackets

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Mathews and Pope show highlights of what weâ€ve seen tonight. Then back in the studio, Mathews and Pope reveal the brackets.

Round of 16 Brackets

Block A
Ethan Carter III vs. D.J. Z
Bram vs. Davey Richards

Block B
Lashley vs. Drew Galloway
Mahabali Shera vs. Eli Drake

Block C
Tigre Uno vs. Gail Kim
Eric Young vs. Kenny King

Block D
Jessie Godderz vs. Awesome Kong
Bobby Roode vs. Matt Hardy

Mathews then threw to some video clips of the participants talking about their Round of 16 matchups.

– ECIII said D.J. Z had a tough draw, and he had to consider the club closed, and then immediately turned to Matt Hardy.

– D.J. Z said that heâ€s not much different than ECIII. D.J. Z was definitely cutting a babyface promo, calling ECIII a “scumbag†and himself a “recovering scumbag.†D.J. Z said on any given night, even the best in the world can be defeated.

– Davey Richards said Bram is stronger and more violent than him. But he has a nation behind him.

– Eli Drake said heâ€ll move on from the Future Four to the Future One. Drake said heâ€s not dancing with Shera.

– Eric Young said Kenny King is in his way from being King of this world.

– Jessie Godderz said no man, woman, or Kong will stop him from behind the next World Champion.

– Roode said itâ€s win or go home, and his toughest test his next. Roode said he has nothing but respect for Hardy, but once in the ring, heâ€ll do whatever he has to do in order to advance.

– Hardy said said that Roode is not stopping the Matt Hardy train.

[MM Final Thoughts: TNA has done the best job it can with the World Title Series, considering these matches were taped months ago. First, you would never really be able to tell that they were. All of the commentary was kept current, obviously. Considering they had just hours of matches, without any storyline, this came together quite well.

There are some concepts here that, moving forward, TNA should continue to use. The roundtables were great. Even later in the series, when TNA went away from the roundtables and started airing some backstage and pre-taped interviews, it was working. The show had a much better flow to it than during the GFW invasion angle. The more wrestling, the better, and the last several weeks have been filled with nothing but wrestling.

Even at the end of tonightâ€s show, TNA simply had the wrestlers send in 10-15 second clips talking about their matches next week. You could tell some guys were doing the videos on their phones or on an iPad, but it worked. Itâ€s not rocket science.

As for who is advancing, most of the groups played out the way it should have. I would have liked to see Mr. Anderson go through, but that would have had to mean he was in a different group. ECIII and Lashley were the two that should have advanced out of Group Champions.

The Aidan Oâ€Shea character has a future in TNA, and given how theyâ€ve misused Kenny King over the last year, maybe you could make the argument that he could have advanced in Group Wildcard.

Finally, this tournament really helped elevate Robbie E. His push throughout this tournament didnâ€t feel forced whatsoever. It felt like a guy who was pushed up the card not in some silly angle, but by winning a big match and also hanging in there against the likes of Matt Hardy and Davey Richards in very competitive matches. He went 1-2 in his three group matches, but it definitely feels as though he was advanced considerably in this tournament.]

##

Final World Title Series Standings

Top two finishers from each group advanced. Bold means a wrestler locked in to advance. Italic means a wrestler did not advance.

Group Champions

1 — Ethan Carter III (7)

2 — Bobby Lashley (6)

3 — Austin Aries (4)

4 — Mr. Anderson (0)

Group U.K.

1 — Drew Galloway (9)

2 — Bram (6)

3 — Rockstar Spud (3)

4 — Grado (0)

Group Knockouts

1 — Gail Kim (6)

1 — Awesome Kong (6)

3 — Brooke (3)

3 — Madison Rayne (3)

Group Wildcard

1 — Mahabali Shera (9)

2 — Kenny King (6)

3 — Aiden Oâ€Shea (3)

4 — Crazzy Steve (0)

Group TNA Originals

1 — Eric Young (9)

2 — Bobby Roode (6)

3 — Abyss (3)

3 — James Storm (3)

Group Tag Team SpecialistsÂ

1 — Matt Hardy (9)

2 — Davey Richards (4)
2 — Robbie E. (3)

3 — Eddie Edwards (1)

Group X DivisionÂ

1 — D.J. Z (9)

1 — Tigre Uno (6)

3 — Manik (6)

4 — Mandrews (0)

Group Future 4

1 — Jessie Godderz (6)

1 — Eli Drake (6)

2 — Micah (4)

4 — Crimson (0)

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Bobby Roode (art credit Grant Gould © PWTorch)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

The following report originally published 10 years ago this week here at PWTorch.com…

TNA Impact Wrestling TV Results
August 26, 2015
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Report by Mike McMahon, PWTorch contributor

Impact Wrestling opens with a video package highlighting last week’s show and the events of the last several weeks, including Jeff Jarrett being in control and Drew Galloway getting attacked backstage.

In-arena: The Hardys’s music plays and Matt and Jeff Hardy make their way to the ring as Josh Mathews introduces the broadcast. Mathews says that Matt Hardy wants another shot at the TNA World Title. Also on commentary, The Pope says that Matt Hardy has made it his mission to get another shot at the TNA Title.

Jeff Hardy begins the promo by apologizing for breaking his leg in a dirt bike accident, telling the crowd, “I’ll make it up to you.”

Hardy said no one gave the Hardys a chance to succeed in pro wrestling but “the creatures” believed. Jeff said that Matt needs one more shot at Ethan Carter III. Jeff said if Matt got one more shot, there was no doubt in his mind that Matt would become the next TNA World Champion.

Matt said that was music to his ears. Matt said that it’s been over a year since Impact Wrestling welcomed him back, and the support has been overwhelming. Matt said the last time he faced ECIII, it was an extraordinary match, and it could have gone either way. He said he truly feels he’s the man to carry Impact Wrestling into the future. He told ECIII he’s coming for the World Title.

That brought out ECIII and Tyrus. They were on the ramp and ECIII had a microphone. ECIII said that in 1999, when he was just a kid, he was there live for a match that changed his life. He said it involved ladders and the Hardys. So to have the opportunity to share the ring with two legends he couldn’t be more … disappointed.

He called the Hardys the “groveler and the gimp.” ECIII said he did what he does best, and he was victorious. The fans started chanting, “Hardy! Hardy! Hardy!” and ECIII said the people wanted another match, but they’re not getting it. He went to leave, but Jeff stopped him and asked him to explain to the people why he was a “jackass.” ECIII said he was a franchise and hood ornament of the company, as well as the World Champion.

ECIII said he’s a top guy, and it’s a spot Jeff should have, but he’s a daredevil who couldn’t stick a landing. Jeff said he wasn’t cleared to wrestle, but if someone would toss him a steel chair and beat the hell out of ECIII and Tyrus.

ECIII whispered to Tyrus, then said he was a giver of opportunities, and if the people wanted Hardy to have a re-match, he’d get one right now. But he said it comes with a caveat. ECIII said if Hardy wins, he gets the World Title. But, if ECIII wins, Jeff must become his personal assistant. ECIII then left the ring.

Announce studio: Mathews and Pope wondered if Matt and Jeff would accept that challenge. Mathews said Jeff needs to bet on his brother. Mathews also said that Jeff Jarrett is here and wondered if Dixie Carter would give him total control of Impact Wrestling.

Mathews then threw to a video highlighting the feud between Eric Young and Chris Melendez.

Backstage: Eric Young said that he won’t be responsible for what happens tonight. He said Chris Melendez made a fatal mistake asking for another match, and Young said right now, he’s taking his “fake leg.”

[Commercial Break at 9:14]

[Q2] Back from the break, Jeff Jarrett is entering the arena. He said nothing is definitive yet on if Dixie would name him in charge of the show.

In-arena: Christy Hemme introduced Eric Young and Chris Melendez.

1 — ERIC YOUNG vs. CHRIS MELENDEZ — if Eric Young wins, he gets Melendez’s prosthetic leg (seriously)

Young takes control early with some clotheslines, and Young puts the boots to Melendez while he’s down, following up with elbows. In the corner, Young is now dragging Melendez’s face on the ropes and fires off right hands in the corner.

On his knees, Melendez starts to fight back, but Young cuts him off with a knee. Young applies a rear chinlock and cranks on it. Melendez lands a modified stunner out of the rear chinlock and starts to get some offense. Young rakes the eyes and takes momentum right back but misses on a charge in the corner and Melendez gets a two count on a roll-up attempt.

After some wrestling near the ropes, Young schoolboys Melendez and puts both legs on the second rope to get the pin.

WINNER: Eric Young at 3:07.

Post-match, Melendez looks defeated as Young grabs a mic and screams at the fans to shut up before demanding Melendez’s leg. Melendez took off his leg and went to hand it to Young, who backed up and told him to “come closer,” as Melendez struggled to maintain his balance. He then tossed it to Young, who said it was going on his mantle. Young’s music played as he left the arena holding Melendez’s leg high above his head like a trophy.

[Reax: That was uncomfortable. The live crowd seemed to eat it up, though, and Young had really good heat. It didn’t sound like it was manufactured in post-production, either. There were some visual shots of the crowd and they looked genuinely heated. … Wrestling can be goofy at times but it shouldn’t cross over into an area where, as an adult fan, you’d be embarrassed to have the show on while your non-fan friends are in the room. That’s what this segment was, though. Personally, if I had a non-wrestling-fan friend in the room and this came on, I’d turn it off to save the “you watch this stuff?” lecture.]

[Commercial Break at 9:26]

[Q3] Back from the break, Mathews recaps what we just saw from Eric Young and Chris Melendez.

2 — X Division champion TIGRE UNO vs. D.J. ZEMA vs. SONJAY DUTT — three-way X Division Title match

A lot of quick footwork to start the match from all three men before D.J. Z dropkicks Uno to the outside. After some chain wrestling, Sonjay lifts Zema over the top rope and he lands on Uno on the outside.

Still on the outside, Uno brings Zema back into the ring and finds himself in control. Uno hits a springboard moonsault off the second rope for a two count and then misses a springboard corkscrew, which gives Zema the opening to take control. Dutt is still on the outside.

After a superkick and a double clothesline, all three men are down. Zema and Dutt are up and Sonjay got caught by Zema attempting a springboard. Tigre Uno hits a German Suplex and then a frog splash for the win.

WINNER: Tigre Uno retains the X Division Title at 4:46.

[Reax: The crowd was really quiet for this match, despite the good athleticism. Good match for what it was. They didn’t have time to do much, but Sonjay Dutt continues to look good.]

Backstage: James Storm is with The Revolution. He said tonight, it’s all about them. They aren’t going to get the “company” hold them down because they are the face of the company.

[Commercial Break at 9:39]

Back from the break, TNA aired a highlight from earlier tonight on the promo between Matt Hardy and ECIII.

Backstage: Matt and Jeff Hardy are shown talking backstage but we can’t hear them.

3 — TNA Tag Team Champions THE WOLVES (Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards) vs. THE REVOLUTION (Manik & Abyss) — TNA Tag Team Title match

[Q4] Abyss and Richards will start this match. They lock up and Abyss shoves Richards to the mat. He gets up and tags in Edwards, who suffers the same fate. Meanwhile, Mathews said: “Bully Ray is not coming back, the law is gone,” but he obviously didn’t mention Bully Ray’s signing with WWE earlier this week since this was pre-taped.

The match continues as Edwards hits rapid chops on Manik. Manik goes to the second rope but Edwards catches him and hits a cool-looking leaping stunner. With Abyss down in the corner, the Wolves a double dropkick. Edwards lifts Manik for a powerbomb and Richards comes flying to make it a Force of Nature for the win.

WINNERS: The Wolves retained the Tag Titles.

[Commercial Break at 9:54]

Video Package: Christy Hemme recaps the Knockouts calendar photo shoot.

In-arena: The Hardys are out on the stage for Jeff Hardy to answer ECIII. Jeff said ECIII is always using money to save his problem and making the people feel numb. Jeff said he’s accepting the challenge because Matt can’t lose. That match will happen next week.

[Reax: The first Hardy-ECIII match was great and this re-match feels like one of the more anticipated TNA matches in a while.]

Video Package: The (brief) history between TNA and Global Force Wrestling is highlighted, including Jeff Jarrett running Impact the last few weeks.

[Q5] Backstage: Dixie Carter is shown on the telephone.

4 — Knockouts champion BROOKE vs. VELVET SKY — TNA Knockouts Title match

Sky leads off with a side headlock and he hits a tackle very early into the match. Sky is in control for most of the match with little intermittent periods where Brooke had more offense. Sky and Brooke then trade right hands in the middle of the ring.

Both are down and getting back to their feet at the same time. Brooke hits a kick to the midsection and tosses Sky to the outside. They brawl around the ringside area and Brooke tosses Sky back into the ring. That’s when Jade and Marti Bell hit the ring and attack Brooke before turning their attention to Sky.

WINNER: The match ended in a No Contest due to interference; Brooke retained the KO Title.

Post-match, Sky tries to fight off Jade and Marti, then Rebel ran down to the ring. It looked like she was going to help Sky, but instead she kicked Sky and beat her down. Taryn Terrell then addressed Sky and Brooke on-screen, saying the ring was her house. Velvet Sky sold being out cold in the ring while Rebel, Jade, and Marti yelled and screamed in the middle of the ring, then celebrated.

Backstage: Bobby Roode was asked why he deserves to be in the #1 contender match to the King of the Mountain Title. He said tonight he’s going to prove to everyone why he’s the “it factor.”

[Commercial Break at 10:12]

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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[Q6] Back from the break, Mr. Anderson was shown backstage saying that tonight four of the best are competing for a shot at the King of the Mountain Title. Anderson said he could tell everyone how he’s the best, but his actions speak louder than words.

After he finished, the camera zoomed in on Drew Galloway, who looked mad while talking on the phone. He stormed off.

5 — MR. ANDERSON vs. JAMES STORM vs. BOBBY ROODE vs. BOBBY LASHLEY — Four-way match — Winner becomes No. 1 contender for the TNA/GFW King of the Mountain Title

Lashley and Anderson are sort of teaming up to take on Storm at the start of the match. Now that he’s on the outside, Anderson and Lashley go through a quick sequence of moves, all missing, and then stopping in a stand-off.

[Commercial Break at 10:24]

Back from the break, Storm and Roode are in control, beating down Lashley and Anderson in the ring. Roode tosses Lashley to the outside as Beer Money, Inc. briefly look to the crowd, who cheer for a reunion, but then Storm and Roode immediately come to blows.

Storm goes for a cover, but Roode kicks out at two. Roode hits a flying neckbreaker off the top on Storm and goes for a pin, but Anderson breaks it up. Anderson is in there with Storm, but Lashley clotheslines him out of the ring.

Lashley hits a splash on Storm and follows that with right hands to the head. Lashley is on the top rope and goes for a superplex on Storm from the top rope, but Roode hits the ring and turns it into an electric chair powerbomb. Anderson and Roode then fight on the top rope, but Anderson misses a swanton as Roode moves out of the way.

[Q7] Storm sets his sights on Anderson, hitting a clothesline and then follows him to the outside. In the ring, Roode hammers away on Lashley. Roode gets the upper hand on Lashley in the ring, but Lashley regains control with a clothesline. Lashley then goes for a standing vertical suplex, but Roode hits a knee while hanging in the air.

Roode has Lashley on his shoulders, but Storm breaks that up. He’s thanked by a Lashley powerslam. Anderson then flies back in the ring and hits a neckbreaker on Lashley for a two count.

Anderson hits the Mic Check on Roode and goes for a cover, but Storm breaks it up. Anderson catches Storm on top and powerbombs him. Storm and Roode then work together on Anderson. Storm tries to kick Roode, but Roode blocks it and hits the Roode Bomb, which is good for the three count.

WINNER: Bobby Roode at 14:23.

[Reax: Really good match that had an electric pace to it at times. They told a good story here as well, with Roode angling for this opportunity over the last several weeks and finally earning it here. The live crowd also ate up the teased Beer Money reunion, with Storm and Roode working together in the beginning of the match.]

In-studio: Mathews and Pope announce that Brooke, Gail Kim, and Velvet Sky will all be on the cover of the Knockout calendar.

[Commercial Break at 10:36]

Back from the break, TNA replayed Hardy accepting ECIII’s condition for Matt Hardy’s TNA Title re-match next week. Mathews runs down the card for next week’s show, including the Hardy-ECIII title match.

Backstage: ECIII says he wants Hardy to be at his best. ECIII says he’ll beat him, fair and square, and then Jeff gets to be on Team ECIII.

In-arena: Dixie Carter makes her way to the ring to announce whether or not she’ll allow Jeff Jarrett to run the day-to-day operations of Impact Wrestling.

Dixie said she has learned that when someone sincerely offers their help, you listen. You don’t let stubbornness get in the way of making a good decision. Dixie said successful companies have leadership that works as a team.

Dixie said that when Jeff Jarrett came back to TNA this summer, it was great. She said she knew the opportunity was there, but she was just as shocked as everyone when it happened. She said she was the happiest person when it did. She said she owed Jeff an important decision on their future, and asked that he join her in the ring.

Out came Jeff Jarrett, who was wearing a GFW t-shirt and was not accompanied by his wife, Karen. Mathews re-iterated that Bully Ray is not returning.

Jarrett said that he appreciated Dixie’s kind words. He said the new chapter in their relationship was out of the blue. Jeff said he founded the company, but it was the days, weeks, and years that came after that which made TNA so special, and it was his home for over 10 years.

[Q8] Jarrett said he knew that Dixie needed help and he’s glad she realizes that. He said TNA and GFW working together is a win-win-win. It’s a win for TNA, for GFW, and for the wrestling fan. But with that said, the momentum is going but he believed it needs to keep growing.

Dixie said the last few weeks have exceeded her expectations. She said that when Dixie and Jeff work together, they’re unstoppable. Dixie said the show needs a leader, she was talking to her team and they were all in agreement. Drew Galloway then interrupted her from the stage. He said he had something he needed to tell her right now. The show then suddenly crashed to a break.

[Commercial Break at 10:48]

Back from the break, Drew said he wouldn’t interrupt unless it was necessary. He said the TNA-GFW relationship has been awesome. Galloway he respects Jarrett, he’s a legend, and the father of TNA.

Galloway said that Bully Ray was attacked and then he was, and up until 20 minutes ago he wouldn’t be out there until he found this out. Galloway said someone must have seen something. Then he put his criminology degree to work for the first time in his life and he found something in the security footage. He said you don’t see faces, but you see the getaway car.

Galloway said there were two attacks, two rental cars and one name on both rentals – Jeff Jarrett. Galloway said he feels like an idiot for not figuring it out. Drew said he had everything to gain. He could gain power with Drew gone and one of his guys could win the KOTM Title with Drew out of the picture.

Jarrett swore that he had nothing to do with it. Jarrett got in Galloway’s face and said if he’s lying, he’d drop him where he stands. Galloway said if it wasn’t him, who was it? Karen then emerges from backstage and says it was her. Karen said she did it for Jeff. She said she did it for their family and for GFW.

Jeff yelled at Karen that he didn’t ask her to do this, but Karen said he deserves it. She said TNA is his company and he deserves it. Karen said one spark can cause a giant inferno. Jarrett then low-blowed Galloway. GFW’s roster hit the ring and beat down Galloway as Dixie ran from the ring.

Rockstar Spud ran down to help Galloway, but he was alone and he also took a beat down. The Wolves then ran down to help out, but they were immediately swallowed up by GFW’s roster. After the beat down, all of the TNA wrestlers were left lying in the ring while the GFW roster stood tall as the show went off the air.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Much better show than last week’s, which fell flat despite the Turning Point theme. They finally paid off the GFW-TNA rivalry with what looks like an actual invasion angle. The question is whether or not it’s too late. It’s almost hard to believe that Jarrett has been back on TNA television for two months. What has he done in that time? Won the KOTM Title? Perhaps it’s because he came back in the middle of a television taping, but it feels like they wasted several weeks where the iron could have been a little hotter. They’re going to have to do a good job building up the names involved with GFW, because no one has any investment in the brand itself. The angle could work, but it needs to be more than just a wrestling company without any television exposure – aside from Impact – invading Impact.

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