The show opens recapping the end of last weeks Jeff Hardy vs. Magnus 'Dixie Land' match. I was not taken aback at all by Magnus' swerve joining up with Dixie Carter. He is British, Rockstar Spud has been planting context clues considering Dixie Carter as a Lady and a royal and what not. Spud will be able to get Magnus over and I believe he will make a better champion than a 36 year old Jeff Hardy.
The matches advertised at the start of the show are Lei'd Tapa vs ODB and the Monsters Ball match between Joseph Park and Bad Influence. Lei'd Tapa is an impressive performer in the ring and ODB has always been my favorite TNA Knockout, in-ring. I think wrestling should have more of these larger women, while eye candy is nice, an amazon woman who could beat up some of the guys is a great thing to see.
The show begins with Rockstar Spud kissing Dixie Carters ass to the rightful boos of the Orlando crowd. Dixie plugs Magnus as the greatest champion ever. The fans want AJ. I can not rightfully say what the missing AJ Styles angle should end up like. According to the Bleacher Report, AJ will be back soon. Perhaps Magnus will have to defend his false championship against AJ's real championship, with Jeff Hardy being the third wheel in the match, due to his being screwed by the boss.
Speaking of Jeff Hardy, he comes to interrupt Dixie's boring unintelligible rambling, face painted blue and dressed to wrestle, in his trademark wife beater and cargo pants. Spud gets in Jeff Hardy's face, tells him to stick all the creatures up his 'backside' and Jeff chokes him out and starts yelling at Dixie, only to get jumped by the incomparable EC3. This entire Dixie Carter administration makes me miss people like Mike Adamle and Jonathan Coachman, anyone would be a better on screen authority.
Apparently Dixie has been trying to make a major announcement this entire opening segment, but has not been able to get her words out. Finally Sting comes out and the crowd goes wild. He puts her announcement down and announces that he is not going to leave the ring until he kicks the 'entitled crap out of EC3.' Sting suggests Rockstar Spud's sputtering self team up with Eric and Sting team up with Jeff Hardy, sounds like a great squash match, huh? Sting says it will make history, it must be true.
"That is not gonna happen, don't you tell me what these people want, don't take that tone with me, these are my fans, not your fans, I don't care what they want, I care what I want." says the brilliant Dixie Carter. She then goes on to book the Sting/Hardy vs EC3/Spud match despite saying it is not going to happen. The production crew plays her music, as she pleads for them to cut her music, she has an announcement guys! As she complains, they go to commercial anyways. I hope that was not supposed to happen, but since TNA is pre-recorded, it is hard to say.
I can not say I am looking forward to any of the three matches announced at this point in the show, we have two legends vs two nobodies, a female match, and a handicap match. The only thing I can hope comes out of this is that Joseph Park may finally stop being Joseph Park. Ah Dixie Carter is still in the ring. She says she has a major announcement, and then Gunner's music comes on, and he comes to the ring with his World Heavyweight Championship shot briefcase. He says he is cashing in his briefcase and Dixie says no, Magnus is over in Britain celebrating, she goes on to make her announcement and Gunner interrupts again, to say 'Let Magnus know, whether its this week or next, I am cashing this in and beating him.' Dixie goes on to make her announcement, and James Storm's music comes on. Taz asks if this is a rib, all the interrupting, it at this point is just a stupid little angle. No one has respect for Dixie Carter, I wonder why?
James Storm thinks he should have Gunner's briefcase, and it looks like we have seen the end of the watered down version of Beer Money. James Storm does not impress me as much as he did a couple of years ago, I believe his best years are behind him. Storm wants a match immediately, for the briefcase. Dixie says enough drama, if the match is going to happen, it is going to benefit her. She books the match between Gunner and James Storm and tells everyone at home to text there friends to tell them to tune in for the match. Great way to get rating. Dixie finally has a chance to make her announcement, but she does a terrible job of acting annoyed and says she doesn't feel like making her announcement so we will have to wait. The anticipation is killing me.
Brooke goes to leave the ring and Ray grabs her hard by the arm, takes the mic and says she is done when he is done with her. Good line. Ray goes on to talk shit on Brooke, shes not much in the brains department, he kept her around because he had 'certain uses' for her. He says she honestly wasn't that good at certain uses. He says sometimes he has to shut his eyes and pretend she was Brooke Hogan.. I mean Brooke #1. Very strange ominous music comes on in the background, I guess a part of Bully's new evil gimmick. He threatens to piledrive her, then tells her he has one more use for her, she has to let people know what he is going to do with them, and he breaks up with her. Bully Ray got pretty creepy on the mic right there, this entire evil Bully Ray angle is poorly written, but it has potential. Is nobody on TNA's writing staff evil or insane, they sure have trouble making anyone seem to be either of the two.
Before the commercial break, we see another poorly written gimmick, the split-personality psychopath Joseph Park sitting backstage with Janice, the nail filled 2x4, the barbed wire roll and the bag of thumbtacks (the best Christmas presents Eric Young ever bought). Joseph Park's split personality angle is terrible, it has gone on far too long and no one will be able to look at Abyss the same again. Kane has never been as good since he unmasked, the Undertaker lost a lot of his mysticism when he became American Bad Ass and the Big Show became a jabroni when he went bald. Not saying Abyss is on the level of any of WWE's three stud giants, but years ago, I thought he had the potential to one day play with the big boys. Today, I would not be surprised if CHRIS Parks ever wins another major title.
Sting tries to hype Jeff Hardy up backstage, but Jeff's head is not in the game. Hopefully he is not stoned, this match is going to make history Sting said. I must make note that Sting is and has been my favorite wrestler for as long as I can remember.
The matches advertised at the start of the show are Lei'd Tapa vs ODB and the Monsters Ball match between Joseph Park and Bad Influence. Lei'd Tapa is an impressive performer in the ring and ODB has always been my favorite TNA Knockout, in-ring. I think wrestling should have more of these larger women, while eye candy is nice, an amazon woman who could beat up some of the guys is a great thing to see.
The show begins with Rockstar Spud kissing Dixie Carters ass to the rightful boos of the Orlando crowd. Dixie plugs Magnus as the greatest champion ever. The fans want AJ. I can not rightfully say what the missing AJ Styles angle should end up like. According to the Bleacher Report, AJ will be back soon. Perhaps Magnus will have to defend his false championship against AJ's real championship, with Jeff Hardy being the third wheel in the match, due to his being screwed by the boss.
Speaking of Jeff Hardy, he comes to interrupt Dixie's boring unintelligible rambling, face painted blue and dressed to wrestle, in his trademark wife beater and cargo pants. Spud gets in Jeff Hardy's face, tells him to stick all the creatures up his 'backside' and Jeff chokes him out and starts yelling at Dixie, only to get jumped by the incomparable EC3. This entire Dixie Carter administration makes me miss people like Mike Adamle and Jonathan Coachman, anyone would be a better on screen authority.
Apparently Dixie has been trying to make a major announcement this entire opening segment, but has not been able to get her words out. Finally Sting comes out and the crowd goes wild. He puts her announcement down and announces that he is not going to leave the ring until he kicks the 'entitled crap out of EC3.' Sting suggests Rockstar Spud's sputtering self team up with Eric and Sting team up with Jeff Hardy, sounds like a great squash match, huh? Sting says it will make history, it must be true.
"That is not gonna happen, don't you tell me what these people want, don't take that tone with me, these are my fans, not your fans, I don't care what they want, I care what I want." says the brilliant Dixie Carter. She then goes on to book the Sting/Hardy vs EC3/Spud match despite saying it is not going to happen. The production crew plays her music, as she pleads for them to cut her music, she has an announcement guys! As she complains, they go to commercial anyways. I hope that was not supposed to happen, but since TNA is pre-recorded, it is hard to say.
I can not say I am looking forward to any of the three matches announced at this point in the show, we have two legends vs two nobodies, a female match, and a handicap match. The only thing I can hope comes out of this is that Joseph Park may finally stop being Joseph Park. Ah Dixie Carter is still in the ring. She says she has a major announcement, and then Gunner's music comes on, and he comes to the ring with his World Heavyweight Championship shot briefcase. He says he is cashing in his briefcase and Dixie says no, Magnus is over in Britain celebrating, she goes on to make her announcement and Gunner interrupts again, to say 'Let Magnus know, whether its this week or next, I am cashing this in and beating him.' Dixie goes on to make her announcement, and James Storm's music comes on. Taz asks if this is a rib, all the interrupting, it at this point is just a stupid little angle. No one has respect for Dixie Carter, I wonder why?
James Storm thinks he should have Gunner's briefcase, and it looks like we have seen the end of the watered down version of Beer Money. James Storm does not impress me as much as he did a couple of years ago, I believe his best years are behind him. Storm wants a match immediately, for the briefcase. Dixie says enough drama, if the match is going to happen, it is going to benefit her. She books the match between Gunner and James Storm and tells everyone at home to text there friends to tell them to tune in for the match. Great way to get rating. Dixie finally has a chance to make her announcement, but she does a terrible job of acting annoyed and says she doesn't feel like making her announcement so we will have to wait. The anticipation is killing me.
OPENING BOUT
The Cowboy James Storm vs. Gunner
(Winner gets a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship)
This match is actually one I have been looking forward to, it is good that it means something to, winner getting a title shot and all. While James Storm is far more charismatic, Gunner's brawling ability is superior to the Tennessee Cowboy's. This match will determine which one was the weak link of the ill-fated tag team.
The match starts off ok, going back and forth for a bit. Gunner gets on top with some elbow shots, then Storm reverses an Irish whip to hit some chops and roundhouse kicks. Gunner starts fighting back with chops of his own, each one being answered by another chop from Storm. (Woo!) Storm starts to pick up steam as the crowd starts chanting cowboy. He hits a hip toss, followed by a knee drop to the face and goes for the first pin, 1. 2, kick out.
Gunner takes advantage and hits a nice vertical suplex, followed by a failed pin attempt. Gunner locks on a rear chin lock (Cowboy, Cowboy, Cowboy permeates the arena) Storm fights his way out of the hold and enters into a game of punch-me-I-punch-you until Gunner grabs Storm and they both tumble to the outside. Outside of the ring, Gunner smashes James Storm's head off of the steel steps and veteran referee Earl Hebner disqualifies him! Using ringside props to smash peoples face off of is not like using a weapon and should not lead to disqualification, its not illegal to whip someone into the barricade, why would it be to throw them to the steps. Gunner and Storm brawl their way up the entrance ramp as referees make a futile attempt to stop them and the crowd chants 'Let them fight'.
Gunner takes advantage and hits a nice vertical suplex, followed by a failed pin attempt. Gunner locks on a rear chin lock (Cowboy, Cowboy, Cowboy permeates the arena) Storm fights his way out of the hold and enters into a game of punch-me-I-punch-you until Gunner grabs Storm and they both tumble to the outside. Outside of the ring, Gunner smashes James Storm's head off of the steel steps and veteran referee Earl Hebner disqualifies him! Using ringside props to smash peoples face off of is not like using a weapon and should not lead to disqualification, its not illegal to whip someone into the barricade, why would it be to throw them to the steps. Gunner and Storm brawl their way up the entrance ramp as referees make a futile attempt to stop them and the crowd chants 'Let them fight'.
Gunner and James Storm were having an alright match until we got the cheap ending. I had a feeling we would not have a definite winner, being as usually when a tag team with similar abilities that is remotely successful splits up, the bookers like to make a rivalry out of it. Knowing Impact Wrestling, I am sure we will still be watching Gunner fight Storm this Summer. While Storm being a former Heavyweight Champion will help Gunner be a more believable Champion when that inevitably happens, I think Gunner and Storm still could have made more progress as a team. I give this match **, one for the storyline, and one for the quality of the competition. Nowhere near what I expected to see.
After the match, we got backstage for a private moment between Bully Ray Dud.... oops, just Bully Ray, and Brooke Tessm... oops just Brooke. Brooke tries getting Bully to be sweet, 'I thought you loved me, I thought I was your Queen, whats wrong with you, blah blah blah blah. She concludes her tirade to a silent, angry looking Ray by saying she is going to the ring and is going to air out all of his laundry. He says, Brooke don't do that, and she just turns and walks her sexy ass off of our television set. I wonder just how dirty Bully Ray's sheets got with Brooke?
After the match, we got backstage for a private moment between Bully Ray Dud.... oops, just Bully Ray, and Brooke Tessm... oops just Brooke. Brooke tries getting Bully to be sweet, 'I thought you loved me, I thought I was your Queen, whats wrong with you, blah blah blah blah. She concludes her tirade to a silent, angry looking Ray by saying she is going to the ring and is going to air out all of his laundry. He says, Brooke don't do that, and she just turns and walks her sexy ass off of our television set. I wonder just how dirty Bully Ray's sheets got with Brooke?
We get a commercial, and get to see Brooke, looking less and less hot every day she is with Bully Ray, and she tells Bully to come out here and tell everyone the truth. We get 'we want D-Von' chants from the crowd as Brooke makes a terribly acted plea to Bully to fix things with their relationship. He turns away from her and her baby, baby talk turns real ugly and accusatory. She says Bully was supposed to be her ticket to fame and fortune, but now he is like a weird miserable high school kid who has no friends and nobody wants to talk to or look at. Then she starts screaming like a banshee for Bully Ray to look at her. He gets in her face and she insists she is not scared of him, I guess she never watched much Attitude Era wrestling, when Man on Woman violence was commonplace, Ray put several women through tables.
Brooke goes to leave the ring and Ray grabs her hard by the arm, takes the mic and says she is done when he is done with her. Good line. Ray goes on to talk shit on Brooke, shes not much in the brains department, he kept her around because he had 'certain uses' for her. He says she honestly wasn't that good at certain uses. He says sometimes he has to shut his eyes and pretend she was Brooke Hogan.. I mean Brooke #1. Very strange ominous music comes on in the background, I guess a part of Bully's new evil gimmick. He threatens to piledrive her, then tells her he has one more use for her, she has to let people know what he is going to do with them, and he breaks up with her. Bully Ray got pretty creepy on the mic right there, this entire evil Bully Ray angle is poorly written, but it has potential. Is nobody on TNA's writing staff evil or insane, they sure have trouble making anyone seem to be either of the two.
Before the commercial break, we see another poorly written gimmick, the split-personality psychopath Joseph Park sitting backstage with Janice, the nail filled 2x4, the barbed wire roll and the bag of thumbtacks (the best Christmas presents Eric Young ever bought). Joseph Park's split personality angle is terrible, it has gone on far too long and no one will be able to look at Abyss the same again. Kane has never been as good since he unmasked, the Undertaker lost a lot of his mysticism when he became American Bad Ass and the Big Show became a jabroni when he went bald. Not saying Abyss is on the level of any of WWE's three stud giants, but years ago, I thought he had the potential to one day play with the big boys. Today, I would not be surprised if CHRIS Parks ever wins another major title.
Magnus runs a heel promo as we return from commercial, saying the only reason Sting wanted him as the Main Event Mafia is because they were threatened by him. That makes sense, Sting, Angle and Joe having been such challengers for the championship over the past year. Maybe it was Rampage Jackson's devious idea to invite Magnus. One thing we can all agree on though, is that the New Main Event Mafia sucked, and Magnus had less business being a part of it than Rampage did.
Next we get the most charismatic trio on contract as ECIII and Rockstar Spud visit 'Madame' Dixie Carter to beg for her to cancel their big tag team match. DENIED.
Next we get the most charismatic trio on contract as ECIII and Rockstar Spud visit 'Madame' Dixie Carter to beg for her to cancel their big tag team match. DENIED.
Now it is time for a TNA video package, hyping the fact that Joseph Park is Abyss. Showing old clips of Abyss in Monster's Ball matches, ending with the question will Abyss finally be coming home? We see Eric Young with Park behind the curtain, Young says hit his music, and Abyss' music comes over the speakers as our puts lawyer friend Joseph Park comes out with his brothers old lady, Janice. Commercial time! At least they aren't doing commercials mid-match on a pre-taped show
After the break, Sting tries hyping Jeff up backstage, tells him he gets to check teaming with Jeff Hardy off of his bucket list. Jeff acts like his head isn't in the game, says he didn't show up tonight to wrestle, just to clear his chest to Dixie. Somebody better call the wahmbulance, nobody wants to see one of their role models get pinned by either of Dixie's good ole boys.
2ND MATCH
Joseph Park vs. Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)
(Monster's Ball Match)
Joseph Park vs. Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels and Kazarian)
(Monster's Ball Match)
'We begin with a stand-off, Park nervously holding Janice the wrong way on one side of the ring, while Daniels with a crutch and Kaz with a Singapore cane are on the other. Daniels and Kaz talk strategy for a second and then realize its Joseph Park and start swinging. Park goes down and flubs around. He starts to get up and gets whacked with the crutch by Chris then choked with the cane by Frankie.
They realize they don't need weapons and start hitting double team strikes on the man in the black track suit. Park stays on the mat for a good couple of minutes as Bad Influence goes out to gather all the weapons from the steel trash cans outside of the ring. They come back in and start stomping the shit out of Joseph as he repeatedly says Help! Help! Help! Help! Taz and Tenay wonder why Eric Young isn't helping, as if they don't understand the gimmick we have going on.
Kaz goes to hit Park with a chair, but Daniels wisely stops him and reminds him that they don't want Park bleeding. Park mounts a little bit of offense, hitting a weak hip toss on Daniels and body slam on Kaz. He then picks up the Singapore cane, takes too long pointing at Daniels and gets smashed once in the back with a trash can causing him to go down like a ton of bricks. Kaz throws Park to the outside and Bad Influence both follow him out. This, so far, is the worst Monster's Ball ever. They threw Park into the steps, and at least Earl did not throw the match out. Actually he should have thrown this out and let Gunner and Storm continue. The match is back in the ring.
Kaz goes to hit Park with a chair, but Daniels wisely stops him and reminds him that they don't want Park bleeding. Park mounts a little bit of offense, hitting a weak hip toss on Daniels and body slam on Kaz. He then picks up the Singapore cane, takes too long pointing at Daniels and gets smashed once in the back with a trash can causing him to go down like a ton of bricks. Kaz throws Park to the outside and Bad Influence both follow him out. This, so far, is the worst Monster's Ball ever. They threw Park into the steps, and at least Earl did not throw the match out. Actually he should have thrown this out and let Gunner and Storm continue. The match is back in the ring.
Tenay says Park started to bleed from the mouth a little bit, and next thing you know, he throws Daniels up and over the ropes then puts Kaz on the floor by sending him into a chair set in the corner from earlier in the match.. He puts a trash can on Frankie's chest and hits him with the "running" big splash. "Oh my God, my ribs Earl!" says Kazarian. Joseph Park locks in the Boston Crab, manages to hold it for a few seconds, until Daniels breaks it up with a crutch. Of all the weapons available (not many are really) Daniels is sticking with this crutch for real.
As Park rolls around like an idiot, Kazarian collects Janice from ringside. Meanwhile, Park is trying to crawl backstage, then Eric comes out and Joseph says he needs Eric's help! Eric Young goes to punch Joseph Park in the head until he bleeds, but Bad Influence knows the secret of Park and they attack Eric Young. At least self-mutilation and wrist cutting is not a part of Joseph Park's split personality gimmick.
Eric Young gets beat up on a bit in the ring, until Park rolls back in. Kaz swings the cane hard on Eric Young, who ducks and Joseph Park gets busted open, pretty bad. Joseph Park realizes the crimson mask has arrived and Abyss stands up. "You know what the realization means, transformation time!" says Mike Tenay. Bad Influence swing away with the Cane and chair, as Abyss does not sell the shots. He ends up catching the cane and punching Daniels, then punching the chair into Kaz's face. He takes them both out with the cane and follows up with Shock Treatment on Kazarian. Daniels wonders idly into the Black Hole Slam and the match is over.
The mad scientist is up to something. The visual of Joseph Park covered in blood does look pretty wicked. We can only hope that this transformation is complete. I would give this match a ** rating. The story needs some working on, but has been being built up reasonably well. The match went a good 10-13 minutes, but it really didn't pick up until the transformation took place, with Bad Influence being conservative to try to avoid the bloody Abyss, this hurt the match and caused a Monster's Ball to be more of a late WCW style hardcore match. 2 stars may be a bit generous, but this had some ok moments.
I would like to note that we are know an hour and 15 minutes into this 2 hour show, and we have only seen two matches. Before commercial, Jeff Hardy is on the phone, seemingly with his wife, and he alludes to the idea that he may have arrived at the arena to retire or quit Impact or something. It wouldn't be bad to see Jeff back in the WWE honestly.
Upon return from break, Tenay hypes January 16th's pay-per-view Genesis. Following this, we get another Magnus heel video promo, with our new Champion talking about the past few months of his career from his heel perspective. How he got screwed out of the Bound for Glory series. He talks about his win against Sting and talks about how he knows what to do to get where he needs to be. Boring promo, waste of air-time. If I see Magnus one more time tonight, he is losing a brownie point.
As Park rolls around like an idiot, Kazarian collects Janice from ringside. Meanwhile, Park is trying to crawl backstage, then Eric comes out and Joseph says he needs Eric's help! Eric Young goes to punch Joseph Park in the head until he bleeds, but Bad Influence knows the secret of Park and they attack Eric Young. At least self-mutilation and wrist cutting is not a part of Joseph Park's split personality gimmick.
Eric Young gets beat up on a bit in the ring, until Park rolls back in. Kaz swings the cane hard on Eric Young, who ducks and Joseph Park gets busted open, pretty bad. Joseph Park realizes the crimson mask has arrived and Abyss stands up. "You know what the realization means, transformation time!" says Mike Tenay. Bad Influence swing away with the Cane and chair, as Abyss does not sell the shots. He ends up catching the cane and punching Daniels, then punching the chair into Kaz's face. He takes them both out with the cane and follows up with Shock Treatment on Kazarian. Daniels wonders idly into the Black Hole Slam and the match is over.
The mad scientist is up to something. The visual of Joseph Park covered in blood does look pretty wicked. We can only hope that this transformation is complete. I would give this match a ** rating. The story needs some working on, but has been being built up reasonably well. The match went a good 10-13 minutes, but it really didn't pick up until the transformation took place, with Bad Influence being conservative to try to avoid the bloody Abyss, this hurt the match and caused a Monster's Ball to be more of a late WCW style hardcore match. 2 stars may be a bit generous, but this had some ok moments.
I would like to note that we are know an hour and 15 minutes into this 2 hour show, and we have only seen two matches. Before commercial, Jeff Hardy is on the phone, seemingly with his wife, and he alludes to the idea that he may have arrived at the arena to retire or quit Impact or something. It wouldn't be bad to see Jeff back in the WWE honestly.
Upon return from break, Tenay hypes January 16th's pay-per-view Genesis. Following this, we get another Magnus heel video promo, with our new Champion talking about the past few months of his career from his heel perspective. How he got screwed out of the Bound for Glory series. He talks about his win against Sting and talks about how he knows what to do to get where he needs to be. Boring promo, waste of air-time. If I see Magnus one more time tonight, he is losing a brownie point.
3RD MATCH
Lei'D Tapa (w/ Gail Kim (c)) vs. ODB
It's time for some Knockouts action, as Lei'd Tapa comes to the ring with TNA Knockouts champion Gail Kim, Taz compares Tapa to Octopussy (I am pretty sure he was referencing the Little Mermaids villainous Ursula character actually). Gail Kim talks shit on ODB, asks for Tapa's opinion, puts the mic to her face and pulls it away, foreshadowing! Lei'd Tapa is much larger than ODB, Taz comments on how ODB is more top-heavy than Tapa, (good observation, love ODB's chest). Odb hits a few shoulder blocks but can not get Tapa off of her feet. She goes for a body slam, but is unable to lift Tapa.
Lei'd Tapa is not a female Andre the Giant, she is nowhere near as large, even in proportion. Tapa is soundly in control, a couple of shots from Tapa, and some dirty choking moves and ODB is incapacitated. Lei'd Tapa goes for a powerbomb, maybe crucifix style, it didn't look like she knew herself, but ODB slipped out, hit a couple of shots to no avail as on the third shot, she takes a big boot from Tapa.
Tapa goes up to the second rope only to miss a terrible looking leg drop as ODB rolls away. ODB swings away with a series of chops, and begins with a series of running shoulder blocks. None taking her off her feet, ODB hits a weak dropkick, also to no avail. ODB hits the Stinger Splash, and Gail Kim provides a distraction, causing Tapa to hit her finishing move, which is like an F-5 into a Stunner, and gets the easy 1,2,3. Gail Kim comes in and tells Madison Rayne that Lei'd Tapa is going to kick her ass soon.
Lei'd Tapa is not a female Andre the Giant, she is nowhere near as large, even in proportion. Tapa is soundly in control, a couple of shots from Tapa, and some dirty choking moves and ODB is incapacitated. Lei'd Tapa goes for a powerbomb, maybe crucifix style, it didn't look like she knew herself, but ODB slipped out, hit a couple of shots to no avail as on the third shot, she takes a big boot from Tapa.
Tapa goes up to the second rope only to miss a terrible looking leg drop as ODB rolls away. ODB swings away with a series of chops, and begins with a series of running shoulder blocks. None taking her off her feet, ODB hits a weak dropkick, also to no avail. ODB hits the Stinger Splash, and Gail Kim provides a distraction, causing Tapa to hit her finishing move, which is like an F-5 into a Stunner, and gets the easy 1,2,3. Gail Kim comes in and tells Madison Rayne that Lei'd Tapa is going to kick her ass soon.
This match barely gets a measly *. ODB took jobbed to up and coming Lei'd Tapa who was not very impressive, she looks intimidating, but her offense is limited. It is unbelievable that ODB could not pick her up for a body slam, but was able to set her up for a fallaway slam later in the match. Knockouts matches can and have earned no stars several times before, the redeeming quality of this match was the good contrast in styles of wrestlers, its more impressive to squash ODB than it is Velvet Sky for instance.
Backstage, Chris Sabin and Velvet Sky talking about New Years Resolutions. Velvet says hers is to make their relationships even stronger. Sabin says his resolution is for Velvet to do anything necessary to make him win his X-Division title match with Aries next week or find a girl who will.
Backstage, Chris Sabin and Velvet Sky talking about New Years Resolutions. Velvet says hers is to make their relationships even stronger. Sabin says his resolution is for Velvet to do anything necessary to make him win his X-Division title match with Aries next week or find a girl who will.
Sting tries to hype Jeff Hardy up backstage, but Jeff's head is not in the game. Hopefully he is not stoned, this match is going to make history Sting said. I must make note that Sting is and has been my favorite wrestler for as long as I can remember.
Back from break, another Magnus video, talking about how Dixie discovered him and how she has always been there for him. I am officially tired of Magnus and his fake title reign. This whole angle is getting ridiculous and someone needs to get Dixie off of the television.
4TH MATCH
Sting & Jeff Hardy vs. Eric Carter III, Rockstar Spud, Jesse Godderz and Robbie E (w/ DJ Zema Ion)
As the scheduled match between Sting/Hardy & Spud/ECIII is about to take place, Dixie's face appears on the big screen and she announces that this tag team match will be a handicap match with the TNA World Tag Team Champions the Bromans, Jessie Godderz and Robbie E, joining her Chief of Staff and nephew. I guess that makes the sides a little bit more even.
This match dragged along, with Jeff Hardy being beaten down by quadruple teams and dirty tactics until he finally was able to make the hot tag to Sting. Sting came out on fire, taking down all four competitors to a great pop from the crowd. At one point, Spud jumps on Stings back for a weak sleep hold, at which point Sting keeps fighting the Bromans with Spud on his back, he uses Spuds legs while he spins around as a sort of helicopter move, sending the Bromans into opposite corners. Sting hits both of the male model wannabes with good Stinger Splashes. Suddenly, Eric Carter III sneaks up and rolls Sting up with a school boy, hand full of tights and Sting stays down for the 1, 2, 3.
After the match, Jeff explains why he is so out of it, and it is because this was his last match with TNA. He tries explaining how Dixie Carter has made him crazy and how he has lost his will to fight. He foreshadows the future and makes this seem like a kayfabe leaving TNA angle more than the real thing when he tells the creatures of the night that he will return when the Sun shines on this dark kingdom. This match earns a mighty extra half star, **1/2. The star power of Sting and Hardy added a lot of pop to this match, while it would have probably been a better match just 2 on 2, the handicap match made it an acceptable way for ECIII to pin Sting, tights or not, that is a huge step for the guy who was beating local jobbers a couple of weeks ago.
Not the worst episode of Impact Wrestling, but that is a lofty title right there. With only four matches, none of which were very good, this was a terribly forgettable episode. On my Riordan Ratings Scale, I would give the episode *&3/4, the matches were mediocre and there were no great angles. The Magnus videos got annoying, and I can not see him being fake Heavyweight Champion for much longer. Jeff Hardy pretending to leave at the end of the episode is probably an attempt to get peoples minds away from the real news, that Jeff Jarrett, the founder of TNA and the King of the Mountain, left the company today. While he has not been on screen since December 2011, many believed a Jeff Jarrett return was just what the company needed with Hogan, Bischoff and Styles gone. Jeff Jarrett taking back control from Dixie Carter would have been a real Christmas Miracle. I guess Santa must have known that Impact Wrestling has not been good in 2013. There's always next year!
After the match, Jeff explains why he is so out of it, and it is because this was his last match with TNA. He tries explaining how Dixie Carter has made him crazy and how he has lost his will to fight. He foreshadows the future and makes this seem like a kayfabe leaving TNA angle more than the real thing when he tells the creatures of the night that he will return when the Sun shines on this dark kingdom. This match earns a mighty extra half star, **1/2. The star power of Sting and Hardy added a lot of pop to this match, while it would have probably been a better match just 2 on 2, the handicap match made it an acceptable way for ECIII to pin Sting, tights or not, that is a huge step for the guy who was beating local jobbers a couple of weeks ago.
Not the worst episode of Impact Wrestling, but that is a lofty title right there. With only four matches, none of which were very good, this was a terribly forgettable episode. On my Riordan Ratings Scale, I would give the episode *&3/4, the matches were mediocre and there were no great angles. The Magnus videos got annoying, and I can not see him being fake Heavyweight Champion for much longer. Jeff Hardy pretending to leave at the end of the episode is probably an attempt to get peoples minds away from the real news, that Jeff Jarrett, the founder of TNA and the King of the Mountain, left the company today. While he has not been on screen since December 2011, many believed a Jeff Jarrett return was just what the company needed with Hogan, Bischoff and Styles gone. Jeff Jarrett taking back control from Dixie Carter would have been a real Christmas Miracle. I guess Santa must have known that Impact Wrestling has not been good in 2013. There's always next year!
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