Archive for the ‘TNA’ Category

Flair Says He’ll Be At WWE HOF, Ex-WWE Star Releasing Book

— Ric Flair told fans during an autograph appearance Thursday at a Walmart in Burlington, North Carolina that he will be “on stage” for WWE’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony WrestleMania weekend (March 31, 2012). Flair, who is under contract to TNA Wrestling, was advertised by WWE this week as one of the Four Horsemen to be inducted at the ceremony.

— Former WWE talent Jacques Rougeau has plans to release his autobiography in English next month. The book was originally released in French last month.

— Chris Masters, who considered Ultimate Warrior his favorite wrestler as a child, says he would like to see him face Kevin Nash in a mixed martial arts match.

“Id love to see warrior Vs. Nash mma style.How old are they again?Warrior practically needed a cain to get to the ring in Barcelona,” he tweeted.

(source: Pro Wrestling Torch)

Raw Segment Draws Lowest Rating In Years, Keibler On Fallon

— On Monday’s Raw, Eve made her way to the ring ready to battle Divas Champion Beth Phoenix, but instead of The Glamazon’s entrance theme playing, the arena went red and Kane’s music played. United States Champion Zack Ryder ran to the ring to try and help her escape to his car, which suspiciously had a flat tire. The segment lost 544,000 viewers to score a 2.39 cable rating. F4WOnline.com adds that it marks as the lowest-rated quarter hour for a non-holiday episode of Raw “in perhaps a decade.”

— Former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler is scheduled to be a guest on Friday’s edition of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The talk show program airs at 12:35 a.m. Eastern/11:35 p.m. Central on NBC.

— WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase appears alongside Mickie James at Frank & Son Collectible Show 16549 San Jose Ave. City of Industry, California on January 14 from noon to 2:00 p.m.

source: F4WOnline.com

WrestleMania Possibly Coming To NJ, CM Punk At Comic Con

— Triple H attended New York Giants’ practice Wednesday as they prepared for their NFL Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. According to PopTheCrowd.com, Triple H was in town with WWE officials to finalize a deal to bring WrestleMania 29 or WrestleMania 30 to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

— CM Punk has been announced to appear at Wizard World’s Philadelphia Comic Con on June 2, 2012 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Former WWE Diva Melina, WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Gail Kim are also scheduled to appear at the event.

— The 16th annual ECWA Super 8 tournament takes place on April 7, 2012 at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club in Newark, Delaware. Tommaso Ciampa won last year’s event.

*SPOILERS* TNA Impact Wrestling Tapings Results For 1/26

TNA Impact Wrestling

TNA taped the January 26th episode of Impact Wrestling on Tuesday night from Orlando. Here are the spoiler results, courtesy of reader Eric:

* Tara beat Mickie James and Velvet Sky in a three-way to become the #1 contender to the Knockouts Title.

* Alex Shelley beat Zema Ion.

* We go backstage where Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray are fighting. Bobby Roode pulls up in his truck and attacks Hardy. James Storm appears and goes at it with Roode. Sting runs everyone off.

* Eric Young and ODB beat Angelina Love and Winter.

* Sting, James Storm and Jeff Hardy come to the ring as does Roode and Ray. A brawl breaks out. Sting announces Ray & Roode vs. Storm & Hardy in a Tables Match for tonight.

* Matt Morgan beat Samoa Joe. Magnus and Joe attacked the champions after the match.

* AJ Styles comes out but is interrupted by Daniels and Kazarian. AJ vs. Kaz is made for Against All Odds.

* Jeff Hardy and James Storm beat Bully Ray and Bobby Roode in a tables tag team match. Ray attacked Storm and Hardy with a steel chair after the match and brought a table in. Impact ended with Ray putting Hardy through the table from the top rope.

Hogan Says He’s Shaving His Head and Mustache For Film Role

Speaking to TMZ, Hulk Hogan says he plans to shave off his trademark facial hair and skullet for a film role.

“I’m getting ready to go on some auditions. I’m getting ready to shave my head and my mustache. So that should be scary,” he told a TMZ cameraman who was waiting outside his Florida residence Wednesday.

The wrestling legend also said he feels better after undergoing dental surgery Tuesday night, which resulted in doctors removing a metal tack from his mouth and cleaning up the surrounding infection. In October he went in for dental surgery to get implants. The doctor performed a sinus graft, placing a donor bone in the mouth to support the implant. The TMZ cameraman asked Hogan where he got the donor bone.

“I think I got it from some dead… you know one of my dead ex-wrestling… aww I shouldn’t say it,” Hogan jokes.

The video and story is available here.

Ric Flair’s Status For WWE’s Hall Of Fame Ceremony

Ric Flair's 2008 HOF Induction

History will be made during WrestleMania weekend, as Ric Flair becomes the first wrestler to ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice. Flair, who was inducted by himself back in 2008, will join the Hall once again as a member of the Four Horsemen. With Flair currently under contract with TNA, the question is whether he will be able to attend WWE’s ceremony in person to accept his second ring.

Not only will Flair be the first time a wrestler is inducted twice, but it will also be the first time WWE has ever inducted somebody under contract to a rival promotion. Triple H reportedly called Ric Flair on prior to Monday’s RAW to inform him of the Horsemen induction.

Flair was at the TNA Impact tapings in Orlando when he got the call. TNA management was not aware of Flair’s induction prior to the news being announced on RAW. Most people within WWE are expecting Ric Flair to show up at the WWE Hall of Fame this year, regardless if TNA lets him or not.

Flair and Vince McMahon are said to be on good terms and the possibility of the Horsemen being inducted has likely been discussed between the two in previous conversations. The fact that Flair was featured in the video package on RAW as well as the press released that was issued this week has led some to believe WWE that Flair has already agreed to appear.

WWE wants Flair to be there and likely wants him to be involved in the Network when it launches.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Title Match Announced For Impact, Sarita Returning To The Ring

— ImpactWrestling has announced that Jeff Hardy will be getting another shot at Bobby Roode’s World Heavyweight Championship this Thursday on Impact Wrestling in a rematch from Sunday’s Genesis pay-per-view.

In another Genesis rematch, “Cowboy” James Storm will square off against Kurt Angle in a match to determine the #1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.

Matt Morgan and Crimson are advertised to compete this Thursday against Rob Terry and Television Champion Robbie E.

— Sarita stated Wednesday on Facebook that she will be wrestling at this Friday’s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre event at Arena Mexico. The TNA Knockout has not competed since taking a scary fall during a two out of three falls tag team match at the same venue on November 22, 2011. She slipped on the top rope while attempting to dive and fell flat on her face onto the wooden floor. She was placed on a stretcher while the match continued and subsequently hospitalized.

Roode Talks Hogan Burying Him, Jeff Hardy, Being Champion

TNA World heavyweight champion Booby Roode was recently interviewed by the UK’s SportsVibe.co.uk and had this to say about the following subjects:

Becoming TNA World Champion: “My dream when I got into this business was to become World Champion and that I am. I’m at the pinnacle of my career and it’s a moment I’ve waited for and worked for, for a long time so I’m going to make the most of it, take advantage of this opportunity and hopefully the gold will be around my waist for a long time. I’m enjoying being the bad guy again and really like the way my character is being portrayed right now; I feel right at home with it. For the most part I well and truly enjoy being on this side of the fence.”

The State Of TNA’s Tag Team Division: “There are always changes in wrestling. At the time when James and I became a tag team we just kind of took off straight away and basically became an overnight success. At the time, Team 3D were still going strong and Motor City Machine Guns were a young team, but a really good team as well. All three teams were given a lot of television time and the people in the offices were taken aback. We really made them write for us – which gave us TV time – and the tag team division had more of a focus on it then. Things have changed a little bit now, but we still have an opportunity to have some great tag team matches here in TNA and when the time is right the focus will be put back on the tag team division.”

Hulk Hogan Saying He’s Not Ready to Be Champion:  “The comments that Hogan made didn’t bother me in the slightest. People in this industry say a lot of things and you learn to take it with a pinch of salt. Honestly, I think what Hogan said has worked in my favour, it gave the little extra fire I needed and look where I am now, I’m the face of TNA.

Jeff Hardy’s Return To TNA: “It has been well documented that Jeff has come back to TNA and has turned his life around. His passion for wrestling and the business is back stronger than ever before and his matches over the past couple of months have proven that.  There are still going to be some doubters, but I think that now Jeff is back to being the old Jeff Hardy and where my character is at – and with the top prize in the company at stake – I think the story we are going to tell and the match we are going to have will be great.”

To read the full interview, including Bobby Roode’s favorite wrestlers when he was growing up, getting to work with Ric Flair and more, head over to SportsVibe.co.uk.

Sky Comments On Rumor That TNA Thinks She’s Too Provocative

Velvet Sky stated on Busted Open (which airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Sirius 92 and XM 208 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.) that TNA Wrestling officials clarified to her an online rumor published on various wrestling websites last month indicating that they view her unfavorably: it’s untrue.

Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer reported in December that much of Karen Jarrett’s degrading on-air dialogue toward the wrestling starlet is based on how certain company officials legitimately perceive her. She immediately dismissed the rumor on Twitter, “LOL that RUMOR is so far from the truth. Don’t believe everything you read people…” She explains further on Busted Open.

“Honestly, I don’t know where that came from but I’ve spoken to the office. I get along with everyone great in TNA. As far as I know. If they have a problem with me then I don’t know, especially when it comes to the office. I’ve always been very respectful of the office and vice versa,” Sky says.

“I never had a problem with anyone in the office or in creative. That rumor is exactly what it is…a rumor. I don’t know where it started. The office talked to me about it and clarified it to me that it wasn’t true, and don’t believe it, it’s ridiculous. I didn’t believe it in the first place. When that rumor first started, I’m like where did that rumor come from? I get along with everybody. No one thinks that about me. No one thinks I’m too provocative.”

Kurt Angle Says 2011 Was A “Subpar” Year For TNA

TNA star Kurt Angle appeared on the Busted Open radio show this weekand spoke about a number of topics, including 2011 being a “subpar” year for TNA, Samoa Joe’s lack of push, a major last-minute change that took place at Bound For Glory, who he sees as the next crop of TNA main eventers and more. Here are some highlights of what Kurt Angle told Busted Open about:

2011 A “Subpar” Year for TNA: “I think that 2011 was a subpar year, I think We did a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong. The most important thing I would say is the lack of communication within the writing and creative team. When you have a written show and you present that to everybody and then they start changing things and it becomes a watered down version of what the writer wanted in the first place. Now you don’t know which way to go. We do have a lot of chefs in the kitchen. I think that is the hardest part for our company because when Vince Russo is writing the show and you have Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff and a few other people and other TNA writers changing it up the last second which I don’t disagree with what Hogan says, I agree with him 100 percent.

“But we need to regroup earlier, maybe a week earlier and get it done, change it up, make sure we have the right changes so that we can keep going with the story the right way. So I think 2011 was a confusing year, so this is what we are going to capitalize on in 2012. We are not going to make the same mistakes. I think Hulk Hogan will get with to Vince Russo quicker, I think Eric Bischoff will get with Vince Russo quicker. We will get the show written, get it done a week earlier instead the day of the show, and changing it up. It was just very frustrating. Because I’m a little bit of part of everything in TNA and I watch what’s going on and sometimes I get a little frustrated when I see what Vince Russo is trying to do and I see what the outcome is.”

Last Minute Changes At Bound For Glory: “We literally had a change in 2011 at Bound For Glory right before the match in the main event. In other words, somebody was supposed to win and it got turned to me winning that night. It worked out for the better, I’m not going to lie to you. So the change was good, but literally we didn’t hear about it until that night and me and Bobby Roode was like What?! I’m winning?! I have a torn hamstring and I can’t even wrestle.”

Samoa Joe’s Lack Of Push: “We have not done Joe justice. Whether it had to do with an attitude problem an attitude change. In wrestling you have to play by the rule book. Joe was a little bit of a rebel. I think that might have hurt his cause. I believe Joe is rational. I think we can still make Joe a big star again. I think Joe is a full time main eventer. I think we need to do it now because if we don’t do it now it will never happen.”

TNA’s Next Main Eventers “AJ Styles was there for a while. And then we pulled him down which I didn’t agree with. Now we got AJ up there, Jeff Hardy is here, Robert Roode, James Storm. We’re starting to get to a point where these guys are going to start full time and Kurt Angle and Sting can dwindle off and retire. That’s what we need to happen and that’s what’s happening now and I’m glad because I don’t want to leave TNA and leave an open spot there. I cant wrestle forever. As a matter of fact I am already talking retirement. It’s about making guys and putting them in my spot and making sure they are secure there before I leave.”

Busted Open radio can be heard every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Sirius 92 and XM 208 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

*SPOILERS* TNA Impact Tapings Results For Thursday

TNA Impact Wrestling

TNA taped Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling on Tuesday Night from Orlando. Credit to Eric for these results, set to air Thursday, January 12th:

* Mickie James beat Madison Rayne in a cage match.

* Bobby Roode comes out and talks about beating Jeff Hardy at Genesis. Roode calls out Hardy to shake his hand but Sting comes out and announces Hardy vs. Roode for the title tonight.

* Matt Morgan and Crimson beat Robbie E. and Robbie T. in a non-title match. Samoa Joe and Magnus attacked the tag champs after the match.

* Eric Bischoff comes to the ring and talks aout his son Garett. Garett eventually comes out and says he’s proud to be in TNA. The segment ended with Garett grabbing Eric by the collar and shoving him to the corner.

* ODB beat Winter.

* AJ Styles calls Kazarian to the ring. AJ wants to know why Kaz turned on him but Kaz doesn’t know why. Daniels comes out. AJ and Daniels end up fighting with Kaz pulling Daniels out of the ring and to the back.

* James Storm comes to the ring to talk about Kurt Angle, who also comes out. Before he can talk, Storm knocks the mic out of his hands. Storm cuts a promo on Angle and wants a rematch. Angle says he is moving onto the World Title when Sting comes out. Storm vs. Angle in a #1 contender’s match is announced.

* James Storm beat Kurt Angle to become the new #1 contender to the World Heavyweight Title. Another solid match from these two.

* Bobby Roode retained the World Title against Jeff Hardy as they fought to a No Contest when Bully Ray ran out and pulled the referee from the ring when Hardy was going for the win.

Velvet Sky Added Back To U.K. Tour, Angelina Selling Her Boots

— After stating on Twitter that she had pulled from TNA Wrestling’s upcoming tour of the United Kingdom due to “storyline changes,” Velvet Sky has been confirmed for the Jan. 28 double Impact Wrestling taping at Wembley Arena in London. It has also been confirmed that she will be having dinner with the winner of Challenge’s “Win Dinner With Velvet Sky” contest.

“YES!! @velvelholler will be in the UK to have dinner with our lucky @challengetv contest winners. She can’t wait!!” TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter tweeted Monday.

Sky added, “It’s true, I WILL now be on the LONDON tv taping! Also I’ll still be doing the dinner with the winner of the challenge tv contest! C u soon!”

The competition closes Thursday at 23:59 p.m. To enter, click click here.

— Angelina Love is auctioning off a pair of worn wrestling boots on eBay. The five-time Women’s Knockout Champion wore the boots numerous times while performing for TNA Wrestling from 2008 to 2011.

Velvet Sky Pulled From Upcoming Tour, Christy Hemme Performs

— Velvet Sky stated on Twitter that she will not be on hand for TNA Wrestling’s upcoming tour of the U.K.

“Due to a recent storyline change, I’m no longer on the UK tour. So sorry to all the fans that were wanting to see me, I will miss u guys,” she tweeted.

Sky had been heavily advertised for the tour and was featured in a contest in which a fan could have dinner with the TNA Knockout.

— Christy Hemme, who is an aspiring musician, performed on stage with her band Hemme on Saturday at the Anaheim Convention Center for the 2012 Easyriders Bike Show Tour. SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia and former WWE Diva Candice Michelle attended her performance.

— The IMPACT WRESTLING World Tour event on December 29, 2011 in Albany, New York drew 1,500 fans while the December 30, 2011 show in Poughkeepsie, New York drew 1,600 fans.

source: F4WOnline.com

Against All Odds Preview (Video), TNA’s German Tour Cancelled

– Rapper Rick Ross was at Sunday night’s TNA Genesis pay-per-view. Ross was shown on camera before the start of the TNA X Division Championship Match. He stayed for most of the show and was backstage visiting prior to the event going live.

– TNA has issued the following statement about the European tour in late January:

“The IMPACT WRESTLING World Tour events in Essen, Leipzig and Neu-Ulm, Germany, have been canceled. Tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.”

TNA issued the following message on the company’s German Facebook page regarding the Germany shows being cancelled:

“Unfortunately we have just reached an unpleasant message from Shooter Promotions, the organizer of the Maximum Impact tour 2012th Due to the unexpectedly poor clearance sales, the planned three TNA Wrestling shows are canceled. The already purchased tickets can be returned to the respective box offices.”

– TNA has released an official preview video for next month’s Against All Odds pay-per-view on Sunday, February 12. TNA is advertising Hulk Hogan and Rob Vam Dam for the event. Hogan has not been featured in TNA storylines since October.

The official list of talent advertised for the show includes: “Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, ‘Cowboy’ James Storm, A.J. Styles, Velvet Sky, Gail Kim, Mickie James, the high-flying superstars of the X Division, and many more!”

Preview For Thursday’s Impact – Opener & Match Advertised

Don’t miss Thursday’s TNA IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c, featuring the aftermath of the “Genesis” Pay-Per-View as the road to the February “Against All Odds” begins! If you can’t watch it on Thursday night, make sure to set your DVR to record it so you don’t miss any of the Total Nonstop Action!

Here is a preview of Thursday’s broadcast:

– Bobby Roode is STILL the World Heavyweight Champion, having beaten “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy in controversial fashion at Sunday’s Genesis, earning a disqualification by attacking the referee! The World Champion told us he plans to open Thursday’s broadcast to discuss his PPV win over Hardy! HOWEVER, what will Sting have to say about what happened? Will the General Manager Sting deal with Roode and his actions?

– How will “Cowboy” James Storm react to losing to Kurt Angle at Genesis? Obviously, Storm will be hellbent on revenge after what went down at the PPV, with Angle taking the easy way out to beat his nemesis after a low blow and kick to the head! Will Storm unleash hell on Angle this Thursday night? Plus, is Kurt Angle now next in line for another shot at the World Title?

– Also at Genesis, “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan and Crimson retained the Tag Team Championship against Samoa Joe and Magnus – but the champs won’t get any rest! Morgan and Crimson are scheduled to compete this Thursday on IMPACT!

– Plus, sources tell us AJ Styles is coming to IMPACT and he wants answers from Kazarian about what he did last week! Also, will Eric Bischoff speak out concerning the return of his son, Garett Bischoff?

All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c!

source: ImpactWrestling.com

TNA Genesis PPV Results: 1/8/2012

TNA Genesis 2012

Event: TNA Genesis Pay-Per-View
Airdate: Sunday, January 8th, 2011 (Pay-Per-View)
Location: The iMPACT! Zone in Orlando, FL
Results by TNAWrestlingNews.com

TNA Genesis Opener:

The show opens with Robert Roode being shown arriving to the arena. Roode has his title over his shoulder as he wheels in his suitcase, and Tenay and Taz talk about his match later tonight. Speaking of the match, Jeff Hardy is shown arriving to the arena as well. This takes us right into the pyro, and the first PPV of the year for TNA. They continue to hype the TNA World Championship match, before properly welcoming us to the PPV, and reminding us that there are three other title matches on the card.

The first title match of the night will be the X Division Championship match. Zema Ion is the first man to make his way out to the ring, and the crowd is hot, but he gets a weird reaction, probably because a lot of casual fans are unfamiliar with him. Ion gets a high five from rapper Rick Ross, who is in attendance, but Ross pulls his hands away when Zema goes for the low five, much to the delight of the crowd.

Kid Kash is out next to a fairly good reaction from the Impact Zone crowd.

Jesse Sorenson is the third man to make his way out to the ring in his goofy letterman jacket with a football in hand. He gives the ball to a little girl in the crowd, but seriously, someone needs to tell this kid this is wrestling.

The Champion, Austin Aries, is the last man to make his way out to the ring and he gets a mixed, but very loud reaction.

TNA X Division Championship Match
Austin Aries (c) vs. Zema Ion vs. Jesse Sorenson vs. Kid Kash

Aries drops out to the floor and every other guy in the ring immediately goes for roll ups. Ion is able to knock Kash to the floor from the apron before turning his attention to Jesse and hitting a big dropkick. Ion sends Sorensen into the ropes and eats a hurricarana for his troubles. Sorensen back flips over Ion in the corner and hits a nice bridging Northern lights suplex for two. Jesse lays in with a big punch but he’s pulled off his feet from the outside by Aries. Aries slingshots into the ring and goes for a springboard but Jesse gets his knees up. Everyone goes for a roll up on Aries before getting sent from the ring a little more harshly this time. Kash leaps over the top rope, crashing right into Aries.

Jesse goes up to the middle rope, but his legs are dropkicked out from under him by Ion. Ion goes to the top but he’s stopped by Kid Kash. Kash goes for a superplex, and Sorensen gets in a powerbomb on Kash at the same time for good measure. Aries goes for a quick pin on each man before sending Kash and Jesse out to the floor. Aries slams Ion to the mat and heads up to the top rope. Aries is pushed out to the floor by Ion who goes out to the apron and up to the top, hitting a beautiful twisting body press out on top of Kash and Aries.

Jesse comes in from out of nowhere with a springboard somersault press on top of all three of his opponents. Sorensen takes Aries back into the ring and goes for the pin, getting two. Sorensen stomps on Aries in the corner while Ion and Kash trade chops. Ion charges Kash and he ends up eating a low powerslam into the corner. Aries has things turned around and he’s choking Jesse in the corner with his boot while Kash heads up to the top to superplex Ion. Jesse whips Aries into the corner, knocking Kash down to the mat. Ion goes for a 450 and hits it, getting a three count.

Kid Kash is eliminated.

Aries hits a 450 on Jesse, but Jesse kicks out at two!

Aries and Ion trade forearms in the middle of the ring, but Aries is able to hit a chestbreaker/slam combo. Aries teases the pendulum elbow, but he eats a top rope cross body from Sorensen for another near fall. Jesse hits a suplex variation and goes for the pin, but it’s broken up by Ion, who goes for a pin of his own. Jesse tries to toss Ion to the outside and Ion catches himself on the apron. Ion comes back into the ring and finds himself caught in a small package by Jesse for three. The crowd is going nuts for Sorensen.

Zema Ion is eliminated.

Aries catches Sorensen in a small package, but the ref is distracted by Ion, arguing with him. Aries goes for the brainbuster, and Sorensen counters with the game changes. Jesse goes for the pin but Aries is still able to kick out at two. Jesse slams Aries to the mat, and Ion is shown hiding down on the floor. Jesse goes up to the top but he’s cut off by Aries. Aries tries to bring Jesse back into the ring, but Jesse falls on top of Aries for a two count. Aries sends Jesse into the corner, and charges in right after, eating a big boot to the face.

Jesse goes to the top, but Ion grabs on to his foot and crotches him on the top turnbuckle. Aries hits a big dropkick to the top of Jesse’s head, then goes up after him, hitting an avalanche style brainbuster from the second rope, putting Sorensen down for the three count.

Winner and STILL TNA X Division Champion: Austin Aries

Aries celebrates with his title, and tells the cameraman that it’s a great day to be great, before making his way to the back, belt in hand.

Backstage:

JB is backstage, and he’s joined by Devon’s sons. JB says he’s known both of them since he was six years old, and he’s known their dad for over a decade. Pope walks in and one of Devon’s sons says ‘this is the reason why’. Pope says he wants to slap JB, but who would hold the mic? He says Devon’s sons are men. He also says he’s going to do something to Devon that he’ll never forget. He says they aren’t going to have to deal with Devon’s black behind again, because “Pope- Daddy has spoken”.

– We get a quick video package that shows the events the led directly into the Pope/Devon match that looks to be coming up next.

The Pope vs. Devon

Devon takes Pope right into the corner and beats down on him for a bit. Devon misses a splash in the corner, but comes right back with a big clothesline. Pope reverses a whip, but Devon hits a back elbow and sends Pope to the outside with a clothesline over the top rope to the outside. Devon follows and smashes Pope face first into the ring steps and apron before sending him back into the ring. Devon follows and Pope asks for a time out.

Pope tries to beg off, but Devon won’t have it, slamming Pope to the mat, hitting a series of rights and a diving head butt to boot. Devon goes to the top, but Pope is able to shove the ref into the ropes to force Devon to crotch himself. Pope hits Devon with a dropkick from the second rope while Devon is seated on the top, but it’s not as impressive as it sounds. Devon falls to the mat and Pope hits him with rights before laying in with a big kick to the back. Pope picks Devon up to his feet and hits a front suplex, laying Devon out across the top rope, and hitting him with a couple of big kicks to the face before hitting him with a clothesline that sends Devon crashing to the apron. Pope smells blood and hits a baseball slide that sends Devon crashing out to the floor.

Pope heads out to the floor and sends Devon into the ring post before choking Devon on the barricade, and hitting a quick double axe handle from the apron. Pope sends Devon back into the ring and gets a quick near fall before locking in a rear chin lock. Devon is able to fight up to his feet and out of the hold, but he’s caught with a big back elbow from Pope, who stomps away at Devon’s knees, shoulders and elbows.

Pope stands over Devon and yells that he hates him, before Pope pulls Devon to his feet, and slides him under the bottom turnbuckle, shoulder first into the ring post. Pope heads out to the floor and kicks Devon in the side of the head while it’s set against the ring post. Pope backs up and hits Devon with another big running kick to the side of the head. Pope brings things back into the ring, looking over at Devon’s sons constantly, before laying Devon out with a big DDT.

Pope drags Devon into the center of the ring before calling his sons into the ring. Pope stands over Devon and tells his sons to look at their father. He tells both of them to start stomping on their father. They refuse and one of the boys actually checks on Devon, so Pope kicks him in the gut and throws him to the outside. The other brother tries to intervene, but he catches a right to the face.

Devon is up and he’s mad, hitting Pope with right hand after right hand before slamming him face first into the mat. Devon hits a big running splash in the corner and a running clothesline. Devon ducks a clothesline attempt from Pope and pulls him back close for a big powerbomb that’s good for a two count. Pope is able to come up with an uppercut out of nowhere, but Devon comes right back with a huge flying shoulder block.

Devon charges into the corner, but Pope moves and Devon crashes into the turnbuckle chest first. Pope swings Devon’s legs through the ropes and lays him out with a big neckbreaker. Pope tries for the DDE, but Devon moves and Pope catches himself on the corner. Devon grabs Pope and pulls him into the middle of the ring, hitting what looked to be the Edge-o-matic. Devon goes for the pin and gets the three count.

Winner: Devon

After the match, Devon’s sons make their way back into the ring looking apologetic. They approach their dad, and Devon is more than happy to offer them a hug, before the brothers hold up their dad’s arms in victory.

Backstage:

Tenay sends it to the back where JB is standing along with Sting. JB talks briefly about Hardy last year in his match against Sting, and his road to redemption. Velvet Sky comes in and says she needs to talk to Sting. She says since Karen Jarrett has been fired, the new Knockouts VP should show loyalty, and she’s the perfect candidate. She wants to talk about Madison Rayne, who’s unofficially made herself the VP, and Sky won’t have that. She asks if Sting has thought about who will replace Jarrett. She talks about the match between Mickie James and Gail Kim and says Rayne needs to be kept away. She whispers an idea in Sting’s ear, but Sting says the crew wouldn’t have time. Velvet says she’s been working on the “Velvet touch” and Sting only needs to pull the trigger. Sting says go for it. Velvet runs off and Sting turns to Hardy. Sting says Hardy has done a lot for himself and he’s in better condition than he’s ever been in. He says any night can be Hardy’s night. Sting says Roode is trying to one-up him at every turn but Sting is in charge, and Hardy will reinforce that tonight.

– Back out in the Impact Zone, Gunner makes his way out to the ring with Ric Flair in tow. He gets a lot of heat from the crowd. Rob Van Dam is out next, and the crowd seems pretty excited to see him.

Rob Van Dam vs. Gunner

Flair makes his way out to the floor and the bell rings. The crowd is 100% behind RVD. Both men lock up and RVD gets pushed off, only to come right back into another lock up and a head lock. Gunner pushes him off again and takes RVD down to the mat where the two trade holds. RVD takes Gunner over to the corner but Gunner is able to turn it around and he ends up burying his shoulder in Van Dam’s stomach. Van Dam ends up flipping over Gunner in the corner and hitting a springboard dropkick in the opposite corner. Gunner is able to catch Van Dam with a couple of strikes, but RVD uses his speed to roll up Gunner in a cradle for two. Van Dam taunts Gunner and hits him with a stiff kick to the face when Gunner charges him.

Gunner bails to the outside and gets some quick advice from Flair before making his way back into the ring. Gunner catches Van Dam with a kick to the gut and he backs him into the corner, continuing to work over the midsection. Gunner whips Van Dam into the corner hard and hits a corner clothesline, going for the pin and getting two. Gunner hits RVD with a side slam and goes for another pin for another two count. Gunner tosses RVD to the outside and he’s quick to follow, slamming RVD down on the arena floor before picking him up and throwing him into the ringside barricade. Gunner rips up the mats off the floor, and Earl Hebner argues with him, allowing Van Dam to recover a bit a drop Gunner with a big kick.

RVD sends Gunner back into the ring, hitting a slingshot leg drop from inside the ring out to the apron. RVD goes up to the top, but he’s stopped cold by Gunner who heads up after him and taunts RVD before trying for a superplex. Van Dam is able to hit Gunner with a front suplex to send Gunner to the mat before hitting a top rope cross body for a near fall. Van Dam goes up in the opposite corner and hits a big single leg missile dropkick before following up with rolling thunder. Van Dam goes for the pin, but he still only gets two. Gunner heads to the outside to consult with Flair. RVD dives to the outside and Flair pulls Gunner out of the way. Flair argues with Hebner, allowing Gunner to DDT Van Dam on the arena floor where the mats were pulled back. Gunner hefts Van Dam back into the ring and goes for the pin, getting the three count.

Winner: Gunner

TNA trainers, including Al Snow and D-Lo Brown, make their way out to the ring quickly after the bell to check on Van Dam, and paramedics are quick to follow with a stretcher. The DDT is to Van Dam is shown again as Gunner screams incoherently and slaps himself, making his way up the ramp to the back. RVD is put in a neck collar and then onto a backboard.

Van Dam doesn’t look to hurt, scratching his face and moving his arms around, trying to pull off the neck brace, but the paramedics keep RVD on the backboard and load him onto the stretcher. The neck collar isn’t really staying on at all. Van Dam is wheeled out to the back.

Backstage:

JB is backstage and he promises that TNA will keep us updated on the RVD situation. JB turns his attention to his next guest, Jeff Hardy, who’s face paint has gone to new levels of goofy. Hardy says he doesn’t brag about what he’s done, or what he will do. He says he’s been resurrected before calling out to his ‘creatures’, telling them to mount up, because he has a World Title to win tonight.

– This leads into a video package detailing the history between Mickie James and Gail Kim that has led to the next title match on the card.

TNA Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James vs. Gail Kim (c)

After the “Tale of the Tape”, a cage is shown ringside. It’s the same “penalty box” used in the King of the Match, although the bars are colors like white and pink, giving it the Velvet touch.

Mickie James makes her way out to the ring first to a huge pop from the crowd. The Champion, Gail Kim, makes her way out to the ring next, and of course she’s got Madison Rayne in tow.

Madison sees the cage, and she absolutely refuses to get into it, but the referee lets her know that Sting needs her to do it. This brings out Velvet Sky, who makes her way out to a big pop and backs Rayne up. Velvet can’t open the cage, but the ref does, and Sky pushes Rayne into the cage where the door is locked behind her. Rayne is screaming as the cage is lifted off of the ground and slightly above the ring.

The bell rings and Kim jumps James, beating on her in the corner and choking her with her boot before hitting her with a big running clothesline in the corner and a huge flying knee to the back.

Mickie is able to roll up Kim for two before she snap mares her over and hits her with a dropkick to the face. James hits Kim with a kick to the gut, but she’s sent out to the apron and Kim catches her with a knee to the gut before bringing her in through the ropes and dropping her down on her face. Kim goes for the three count, but she’s only able to get a two count. Kim brings James back up to her feet and hits her with a couple of forearms, but she misses a spear in the corner and ends up out of the apron. Kim is able to his Mickie with a couple of blows that seats her in the corner. Kim sends Mickie across the ring hard, hitting a running spear the second time around.

Kim picks James up to her knees and hits her with repeated kicks to the back. Kim goes for a springboard cross body from the corner but she’s met with a dropkick to the face. Kim locks in a modified dragon sleeper, but Mickie is able to fight out of it. Mickie hits Kim with forearms, then clotheslines, then a back elbow and a flap jack driving Kim face first into the mat. Kim kicks away at Mickie and gets up to her feet, wrapping herself around James and locking in the octopus hold. James heads into the corner and bashes Kim into the turnbuckles before slamming her to the mat.

Kim goes for a DDT, but James is able to send her out to the floor instead where she crashes down hard. Kim argues with Velvet for a second, before she’s caught with a hurricarana to the floor by Mickie. Mickie sends Kim back into the ring and heads to the top, hitting a big flying Thesz press that’s good for another two count. Rayne drops some knucks down from her cage, but it’s just a distraction as the ref finds them and Rayne tosses her another pair. Mickie is able to grab the knucks, and she uses the to blast Kim, but the ref sees it and Mickie ends up DQ’ed.

Winner by DQ and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Gail Kim

Backstage:

JB is standing backstage alongside Bully Ray. Ray shoves and intimidates JB. Ray says this is Monster’s Ball. He says when Abyss challenged him to the match, he was a tiny bit nervous for one second, but he’s the intimidator and he does what he does, why would he be intimidated by a match like this. Ray says he’s the king of these kinds of matches. Mick Foley and Terry Funk bow down to him because he’s the king of hardcore. He says he’ll do whatever he needs to to destroy Abyss, then he’s crawling back to Immortal where he’ll kiss Ray’s feet, Bischoff’s feet, Steiner’s feet, and Gunner’s feet. He says after tonight, Abyss will be Immortal’s b**** again.

This segues directly into a video package showing the events that led up to Abyss challenging Ray to this Monster’s Ball match.

Monster’s Ball
Bully Ray vs. Abyss

Bully Ray is the first man to make his way out to the ring to a lot of heat from the Impact Zone crowd. Ray grabs a kendo stick out of a trash can that’s full of weapons ringside, and he uses it to intimidate So Cal Val before heading into the ring. Abyss is the next man to make his way out to the ring, and he gets a big pop from the crowd.

The bell rings, and Abyss gets himself pumped up, to the crowds delight. Ray and Abyss begin circling each other, but instead of locking up, Ray casually makes his way out to the floor where he surveys the weapons and looks angrily at members of the crowd. Ray makes his way back into the ring and Abyss charges, but Ray bails out to the floor again.

Ray makes his way back up to the ring apron, and slowly back into the ring. Ray ducks out between the ropes and grabs a chair, asking Abyss what he’s going to do now. Abyss heads out to the floor, where he grabs a chair of his own, blowing Ray’s mind.

Abyss heads back into the ring and gets the crowd pumped up by banging on the chair. The two swing chairs at each other for a bit, and Abyss drops his, so Ray lays in with a big shot to the back. Abyss is quick to come back, choke slamming Ray to the canvas. Ray is up right away and hits a big boot, but Abyss in turn, is up right away as well.

Ray grabs a chain out of his pocket at he begins swinging it around, so Abyss grabs a chair. Ray swings the chain into the chair, and Abyss comes right back, hitting Ray with a big shot to the back. Abyss heads to the outside and tosses a cheese grater, stapler, kendo stick, cookie sheet and a couple of trash cans into the ring. When Abyss heads back into the ring, Ray catches him with a chain shot to the back, and a trash can shot to the face, but Abyss punches the trash can back into Ray’s face.

Ray is able to come back and put Abyss down on the mat for a two count. Ray grabs a kendo stick and points at the top of the ramp, saying ‘You!’. Abyss bails to the outside where he grabs Janice. Abyss swings Janice at Ray and Ray bails to the floor, saying he’s out of here. Ray walks fast up the ramp and to the back. Abyss follows and Ray comes right back up the ramp and out to the ringside area, followed by Abyss the whole way.

Back by the ring, Abyss is able to catch Abyss with a thumb to the eye before he blasts him with a cookie sheet to the back. Ray hits Abyss with a couple of right hands before he’s able to whip Abyss face and shoulder first into the barbed wire board propped up on the ring post. Ray picks up the board and throws it into Abyss’ face and Abyss’ arm is cut open. Abyss comes right back, slamming Ray into the ring steps face first.

Abyss takes a walk around the ring and Ray follows, but Abyss sends Ray back into the ring. Abyss goes under the ring and grabs not one, but two black bags.

Abyss heads back into the ring and grabs the cheese grater, hitting Ray in the crotch and pulling it out in one swift movement. Ray drops down to his knees and Abyss turns his attention back to the two black bags. Abyss opens up one of the bags and pours out hundreds of tacks. Ray turns around and Abyss grabs him around the neck, but Ray drops to his knees and hits Abyss with a low blow.

Ray is still selling the cheese grater, but he’s way over the top with it. Ray goes to the outside and grabs a table, bringing it back into the ring and setting it up in the middle of the ring. Ray goes over to Abyss and drags him up to his feet, but Abyss comes right back, chokeslamming Ray through the table and down to the mat. Abyss goes for the pin, but Ray is able to kick out at two.

Abyss heads back to the outside where he grabs another of the barbed wire boards and tosses it over the top rope into the ring. Abyss grabs another barbed wire board and tosses that one into the ring as well. Abyss makes his way back into the ring and takes one of the board, propping it up into the corner right on the other side of the spilled thumbtacks. Ray grabs a piece of table, but he’s cut off by Abyss who drags him to his feet. Ray is able to hit a urunage, sending Abyss crashing into the barbed wire board. Ray goes for the pin but only gets two. Ray grabs the other board and lays it on top of Abyss before heading to the top rope and splashing down hard, sandwiching Abyss between the boards, but he still can’t get a three count.

Ray moves the boards out of the way and grabs Janice, but when he goes to swing at Abyss, Abyss catches him with a chokeslam, putting him down hard into the pile of tacks. The crowd is loving the match. Abyss goes for the pin, but Ray is able to kick out at two.

Ray is able to catch Abyss with a boot, then a trash can lid shot. Ray grabs a kendo stick and hits Abyss in the thigh, then the ribs, then repeatedly across the back. Ray pulls one of the barbed wire boards back out into the middle of the ring before continuing to wear out Abyss with more and more kendo stick shots. Ray taunts the crowd, who is not happy. When Ray turns around though, he walks right into a big black hole slam from Abyss right on top of the barbed wire board. Abyss goes for the pin and he’s able to get the three count.

Winner: Abyss

Abyss celebrates to the delight of the crowd as Ray continues to lay stuck in the barbed wire. Tenay reiterates that this result means that Abyss won’t have to rejoin Immortal, and thus, he is a free man from here on out.

Backstage:

Tenay sends it backstage to JB who is standing alongside Crimson and Matt Morgan. He says they’re defending their belts against an even more unlikely tag team than themselves. Crimson says he’ll give credit where it’s due, Joe and Magnus have been impressive. But they haven’t beaten anyone like the champs. Crimson says destroyed lives is what he does, and tonight is no different. Morgan says they’re the most dominant tag team titles, then he points out that Crimson is still undefeated, and tonight will be no different. Then he turns to himself, calling himself 7 feet of unadulterated terror, and tonight they’ll find out why he’s the most genetically stacked giant walking today.

TNA Tag Team Title Match
Samoa Joe & Magnus vs. Matt Morgan & Crimson (c)

The bell rings and Morgan and Joe look to kick things off for their respective teams. Joe pie faces Morgan and hits him with two shoulder blocks, but Morgan doesn’t move. Both men trade rights, but Joe takes Morgan down with a Pele style kick, only to be taken right down with a big clothesline from Morgan. Crimson tags in, as does Magnus. Magnus catches Crimson with a boot to the gut and a couple of right hands, taking him into the corner for a bit, but Crimson turns it around, hitting him with a couple of rights in the corner. Crimson is able to blast Magnus with repeated knees to the face for a near fall.

Morgan tags in, ripping off his elbow pads and hitting rapid fire elbows in the corner before tagging in Crimson and launching himself into Magnus into the corner. Crimson suplexes Magnus hard and Magnus is able to score a kick to the chest and the tag to Joe. Joe comes in and he’s quick to take Crimson down to the mat hard. Joe peppers Crimson with repeated right hands before tagging back out to Magnus who comes in with a nice elbow drop for another near fall. Magnus clamps on a rear chin lock.

Crimson is able to fight out of the hold, but Magnus responds with a flying elbow for another near fall. Magnus takes Crimson into the corner and tags out to Joe. Joe comes in and hits Crimson with a couple of stiff kicks to the back and a big knee drop, but he still can’t keep the champ down for three. Joe tags back out to Magnus who comes in and hits Crimson with a big European uppercut, but then eats a kick to the chest. Magnus comes back with a big clothesline which puts Crimson down for another two count. Magnus tags back out to Joe.

Backstage footage is shown of Bully Ray beating down Abyss while Joe and Magnus double team Crimson in the ring. Joe wrenches away at Crimson’s neck, putting pressure on him before taking him to the corner, slamming him face first into the turnbuckle, and hitting him with another series of right. Crimson falls to a seated position so Joe brushes his boot across the champs face. Joe hits the ropes and Crimson comes up with a big spear out of nowhere.

Both men make the tag and Morgan comes in with a couple of big clothesline to Magnus. Magnus goes for a cross body but Morgan catches him and launches him with a fall away slam. Morgan takes Joe down with a big clothesline before splashing Magnus in the corner and hitting him with a big suplex that plants Magnus on the mat. Morgan goes for the pin but it’s broken up by Joe. Crimson is in but he’s tossed to the outside by Joe. Joe and Magnus double team Morgan, hitting the slam/elbow drop combo that got them this match, but the pin is broken up by Crimson. Magnus and Crimson fight to the outside, but Joe breaks it up with an elbow suicida dive to the outside, taking out Crimson.

Crimson is able to slam Joe face first into the ring steps, and in the ring, Magnus avoids a chokeslam from Morgan, but when he turns around, Crimson is in the ring as well and the champs hit a double chokeslam. Morgan pins Magnus and this one is over.

Winners and STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: Crimson and Matt Morgan

Backstage:

Tenay sends it backstage to JB who is standing along with James Storm. He asks Storm if he’s ready for Angle tonight. Storm asks how long JB has known him? In 10-15 years he’s only ever seen JB interview people and he wants to know how he looks on the other side. Storm puts his sunglasses and hat on JB and begins to interview him. He says that he believes that he can beat Angle for the third time tonight. He tells JB that he has to believe. He says when Angle heads out there tonight he’ll hear the crowd chanting ‘You Suck’, but at the end of the match, he’ll be sucking his foot down Angle’s throat. Before Storm leaves, he apologizes to Angle about his luck.

– This leads into a video package highlighting the last couple of matches between these two men, and the events leading up to this match.

James Storm vs. Kurt Angle

The bell rings, and we’re ready to go on what’s sure to be the best pure wrestling match on the card tonight. Storm and Angle circle each other, but Angle is quick to bail to the floor, where he walks around for a bit before making his way back up to the apron and into the ring.

We get a lock up and Storm is able to transition into a head lock. Angle fights him off but falls to a shoulderblock, then a hip toss. Storm goes for the Last Call, but Angle bails to the outside before he’s able to connect.

Angle slowly heads back up to the apron and into the ring again. Angle and Storm begin circling each other again and Angle catches Storm with a boot to the gut and a stiff forearm. Storm is able to drive Angle’s face into his knee and hit a nice neckbreaker. Storm teases the Last Call again and again Angle bails out to the arena floor.

Angle makes his way back into the ring and finds himself tossed back out to the apron. Storm dropkicks Angle’s face and sends him crashing out to the floor. Storm follows with a slingshot plancha over the top out on top of Angle. Storm picks Angle up to his feet and hits him with a wicked chop before sending him back into the ring. Storm follows and he immediately goes to work on Angle in the corner, hitting him with repeated rights. Storm continues to wear out Angle, climbing up to the second rope and hitting him with right hand after right hand, laying in with ten total. When Storm heads back to Angle though, he’s dropped neck first across the top rope, then hit with a release belly to belly suplex, sending Storm flying across the ring.

Angle heads into the corner and stomps away at Storm repeatedly before choking him with his boot. Angle heads to the outside and hits Storm with a clubbing blow across the throat while Storm’s head is sticking out under the bottom rope. Angle makes his way back into the ring and hits a snap suplex that puts Storm down for a two count. Angle locks in a tight rear chin lock, trying to grind Storm down.

The referee checks on Storm, lifting his arm up once, twice, but not a third time, as Storm is able to hang on and make his way up to his feet. Storm hits Angle with a couple of elbows to the stomach, but Angle comes right back with a running forearm, putting Storm right back down to the mat. Angle attacks Storm with a big kick to the back before hitting Storm with a leg drop to the back of the head.

Angle picks Storm up to his feet and hits him with a big short arm clothesline that’s good for yet another two count. Angle locks in another rear chin lock, grinding his arms across Storm’s face. Storm is able to fight up to his feet and out of the hold, but Angle hits him with a big clubbing blow to the back, knocking him to the mat. Angle sends Storm into the ropes and Storm blocks a clothesline before following up with a nice Russian leg sweep.

Storm hits Angle with a series of rights, then a couple of clotheslines and a nice running forearm. Storm goes for a slam but Angle avoids it. Angle goes for a slam but Storm avoids it and hits Angle with the backstabber, putting him down for a two count. Angle is able to respond hitting a German suplex. Angle holds on and hits a second suplex, and finally a third.

Angle heads up to the top rope and connects with a beautiful moonsault, but when Angle goes for the cover, Storm is still able to kick out at two. Angle locks in the ankle lock, but Storm is able to kick him away. Storm catches Angle with a quick kick to the midsection and a nice DDT, but he still can’t keep Angle down. Storm tries for the superkick again but Angle blocks. Angle tries for the Angle slam but Storm counters with an arm drag then hits a big kick to the back. Storm heads back over to Angle, and Angle is able to connect with the Angle slam the second time. Angle pulls down his singlet strap and Angle tries for the superkick but Storm hits the codebreaker and a cutter, but Angle still won’t stay down for three.

Storm heads out to the apron and up to the top turnbuckle, but Angle runs up the ropes. Storm pushes Angle off and leaps off the top rope, connecting with a huge elbow drop. Angle still won’t stay down though, kicking out of a pin at two. Storm goes for the Last Call, but Angle pulls the referee in the way. Angle shoves the ref, low blows Storm, and hits Storm with a superkick. Angle goes for the pin and he’s able to score the three count.

Winner: Kurt Angle

Following the match, Angle makes his way to the back, beaming the whole way, while Storm is shown in the ring grabbing his jaw and shaking his head. Storm calls for one more match with Angle while Angle continues to celebrate at the top of the ramp.

– Tenay and Taz turn their attention to the World Championship match, talking about it for a bit. They cut to the backstage area where Bully Ray is shown cleaning up his bloody knuckles. The cameraman asks where Abyss is, and Ray asks how he’s supposed to know. He says maybe Abyss took the rest of the night off.

– A video package airs, showing clips of both Champion Bobby Roode and challenger Jeff Hardy talking about each other. Roode makes some points asking how many chances someone should be given.

Backstage:

JB is standing backstage and he’s joined by Bobby Roode. Roode says this is pathetic, and disgusting. Not only does he have to stand with JB, but he also has to listen to these creatures of the night chant Hardy’s name over and over again. The crowd obliges by chanting Hardy’s name. Roode says Hardy is an embarrassment to the profession, the company, and Roode himself, and Roode doesn’t like to be embarrassed. He says in life, there is no redemption. You only get one chance in life. Look what he did with his one chance, he won the World Championship. He says he’s the Champion, and he’s the most selfish man in the world, and that means he’ll do whatever it takes night in and night out to stay the World Champion. Whatever it takes. Roode heads out.

– Taz and Tenay run down the Tale of the Tape, filling us in on brief stats for both men. We then get even more facts about what led up to this match, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were trying to kill time.

TNA World Heavyweight Title Match
Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode (c)

Jeff Hardy is the first man to make his way out to the ring, and he gets a huge pop from the crowd on his way down to the ring. Hardy makes his way up and down both sides of the ramp and all the way around the ring, stopping to shake hands with Rick Ross on his way, before continuing into the ring and posing on the turnbuckles to even more screams and applause from the crowd.

The Champion, Bobby Roode makes his way out to the arena next, and the crowd is giving Roode a bit of heat, but next to Hardy’s reception they sound like they’re sitting on their hands. They even begin chanting Hardy when Roode makes his way down to the ring.

Before the main event can begin, and to kill a little bit more time, we get formal ring introductions for both men. The crowd is still absolutely red hot for Hardy.

The bell rings and we’re finally ready to begin the match. We get a lock up from both men and Roode backs Hardy into the corner. Roode breaks clean and backs away into the middle of the ring. Another lock up and Roode clamps on a head lock. Hardy is able to push him off, but falls to a shoulder block. Hardy heads into the corner while Roode cockily struts around in the ring.

Another lock up from the two and Roode turns his attention to Hardy’s arm, wrenching and yanking at it. Roode takes Hardy down to the mat, but Hardy pops right back up and locks in a head lock. When Roode pushes Hardy off, Hardy knocks the champ down with a shoulderblock and locks in an arm bar. Roode pushes Hardy into the corner to force a break before driving his shoulder into Hardy and hitting him with a couple of right hands. Hardy comes back at Roode, hitting a headscissors to send Roode to the mat and following up with an atomic drop, double leg drop to the midsection, and low dropkick to the chest. Roode comes right back, kicking at Hardy before sending him into the ropes. Hardy kicks Roode in the chest before clotheslining him over the top rope and to the outside. Hardy hits Roode with a dropkick through the ropes before heading to the apron and leaping out with a big clothesline to Roode.

Roode is able to shove Hardy back first into the ring apron and scores with a big right hand, but Hardy reverses a whip and Roode ends up crashing into the steel ring stairs. Hardy positions the ring steps and uses them to launch himself into Bobby Roode who’s trapped against the barricade. Hardy sends things back into the ring and goes for the cover but he’s only able to get a two count. Hardy keeps the pressure on Roode, hitting him with an elbow to the back of the head and a back elbow, but when Hardy goes to the top, Roode pushes his feet out from under him and Hardy crotches himself on the top turnbuckle. Roode pulls Hardy back into a tree of woe and stomps away at him repeatedly.

Roode continues to stomp away at Hardy after he falls out of the corner. Roode hits Hardy with a backbreaker and goes for another pin but he only gets two. Roode continues on the offensive, stomping at Hardy before burying his shoulder in Hardy’s midsection in the corner, and whipping him across the ring hard. Roode goes for the pin but he still can’t come up with three, so he continues on with a big suplex, planting Hardy on the mat. Roode heads up to the middle rope and launches himself off with a big knee drop to Hardy’s face, but it’s still only good enough for a two count. Roode locks in a rear chin lock on a seated Hardy to continue to wear him down.

Hardy is able to fight up to his feet and out of the hold but Roode slams him right back down to the mat. Roode grabs Hardy and launches him under the bottom rope where he falls to the floor, crashing down shoulder first. Roode goes to the outside and grabs a fan’s sign, tearing it up before heading over to Hardy and stomping away at him while he sits against the guard rail. Roode picks Hardy up to his feet and drops him down throat first against the guard rail before sending him back into the ring and trying for a quick pin, only getting two.

Roode locks in another rear chin lock, wearing the challenger down and grinding away at him. Roode has a nasty bruise right on his shoulder blade. Hardy tries for the ropes, but Roode continues to drag him back into the middle of the ring to maintain the hold. Hardy fights up to his feet again, but when he tries for an enzugiri, Roode ducks it and immediately goes right into the crossface.

Hardy struggles, but he refuses to tap as he slowly inches his way toward the ropes. Hardy makes it to the ropes to force Roode to break the hold, but Roode holds on for four seconds before he breaks. Roode picks Hardy up to his feet and slams him right back down to the mat before heading over to the corner. Roode goes back up to the middle rope and mocks Hardy, but when he jumps off Hardy gets his feet up and Roode crashes into them face first and both men are down.

Roode struggles up to his feet first, using the ropes to help him get to his feet. Hardy is able to get up and he hits Roode with a series of rights, then a flying forearm, big clothesline and back elbow. Hardy takes Roode down to the mat with a big back body drop, then a nice kick. Roode sends Hardy into the corner and catches him on his shoulder, but Hardy fights out and hits a Russian leg sweep before putting Roode in a crazy pinning predicament. Both men struggle and Hardy puts Roode down to the mat, only for Roode to respond with a big spinebuster, but it’s still not enough to keep Hardy down for three.

Roode takes Hardy over into the corner and seats him on the top turnbuckle. Roode attempts a superplex, but Hardy holds on to the top rope and he’s able to push Roode down to the mat. Hardy teases the swanton, but Roode rolls to the outside and Jeff jumps down to the mat. Roode grabs his title and begins walking up the ramp to the back. Hardy doesn’t allow this to happen, attacking Roode from behind and bringing him back down and into the ring. When Hardy tries to get back into the ring, Roode catches him with a kick, then a fisherman’s suplex, holding on for a pin, but Hardy kicks out at two.

Roode pulls Hardy up to his feet and eats a boot to the gut and a twist of fate from Hardy. Hardy goes up into the corner and hits the whisper in the wind, but when he goes for the cover, Roode is able to kick out at two.

Hardy tries for another twist of fate, but Roode pushes him away and bails to the outside, grabbing the title and heading up the ramp a second time. Hardy attacks Roode from behind again and Roode smashes face first into his belt on the ramp. Roode is holding on to the title and he tries to use it against Hardy, but Hardy catches him with a boot and Roode drops the title. Hardy tries for the twist of fate but the ref breaks it up to get the title out of the ring. Roode rolls up Hardy with his feet on the ropes but Hardy kicks out at two. Hardy rolls up Roode, but Roode kicks out at two. Roode backs into the corner and begs off before kicking the ref in the crotch. Hardy hits the twist of fate, but it’s too late as the ref is already calling for the bell.

Winner by DQ: Jeff Hardy – STILL TNA World Champion: Bobby Roode

After the match… The crowd is extremely unhappy with the result, as is Hardy, who strips off his shirt, heads to the top rope, and hits a big swanton. Hardy grabs the championship and holds it up, before dropping it down across the body of the champion.

Hardy makes his way to the back while Roode hugs his title to his face in the ring. The PPV ends with Hardy and Roode staring each other down while Roode grasps and kisses the belt.

VIDEO – Velvet Sky Makes A “Surprise Arrival” At Genesis

The official YouTube account of Impact Wrestling has published a video of a surprised SoCal Val running in to Velvet Sky today outside the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida. Sky, who is not scheduled to compete at tonight’s Genesis pay-per-view event, says she is on a mission to find Sting.

“I need to find Sting. I am so determined to talk to Sting—I am sick and tired of what’s been going on in this Knockouts division,” she tells Val regarding her unexpected appearance.

“Someone needs to take a stand and if no one else is going to step up to the plate, it’s going to be me.”

She continues to Val, “If you want to know what it is that I have to talk to Sting about so desperately, watch the pay-per-view later—you’ll find out on the pay-per-view.”

Impact Taping From London’s Wembly Arena, Knockout-Hooters

— TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter announced Friday that the organization will film Impact Wrestling during their tour of England later this month. She tweeted:

“BIG NEWS FOR TNA. We will film Impact from Wembley Arena in London on 1/28! Cannot tell you how excited I am! Details to follow.”

It will mark as the first episode of Impact to be held outside the United States.

– Brooke Adams (a/k/a Brooke Tessmacher) is one of the featured girls in the Hooters Dream Girl contest. This Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on the SPEED Television network, Adams will be competing with 15 other Hooter girls for the cover of the Hooters Magazine, a $10,000 grand prize and the coveted title of Hooters Dream Girl 2012. TNA is encouraging fans to vote for Adams as favorite Hooters Dream Girl following the broadcast. Details are available here.

– James Storm and Velvet Sky appear at Direct Auto Insurance 1811 South Irby Street Florence, South Carolina on February 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information call 843-629-8841.

Kurt Angle Says WWE Has No Respect, Comments On McMahon

The New York Post has published an interview with TNA Wrestling star Kurt Angle discussing his Olympic aspirations. The interview includes discussion of his professional wrestling career, and he explains how he made the transition between the professional and amateur ranks.

“It was a complete career adaptation. It wasn’t a step above, going from amateur wrestling to pro wrestling, it was going from real wrestling to sports entertainment,” Angle said. “A lot of people put me up there as far as saying he’s one of the best ever. And I’ve only been wrestling for 11 and a half years. I think that Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, guys who have put 30 years into it deserve it. Me getting that praise after only 11 years—it’s not fair.”

Though Kurt Angle has not competed inside a WWE ring in over five years, his impact is still seen today. The Olympic Gold Medalist, however, does not appreciate his moves and style being replicated.

“When Jack Swagger copies my ankle lock and Randy Orton does my Angle Slam, it’s disrespectful,” Angle said. “I didn’t come up with the Ankle Lock, Ken Shamrock came up with the Ankle Lock but I waited until he retired to do the Ankle Lock. That company has no respect for me.”

Despite his displeasure with WWE grapplers using his moves, Angle is grateful that he has been able to parlay Vince McMahon’s vision for him into a successful career in both WWE and TNA Wrerstling.

“I love Vince McMahon. He came up with the Kurt Angle character,” Angle said. “He ran with it and then I was able to run with it. I thank him for the opportunity he gave me. Vince McMahon was one of my best friends, period. Now I’m loyal to Dixie Carter.”

Tara Wants Former WWE Diva In TNA, TNA Reaches New TV Deal

— Jillian Hall stated in her newly released shoot interview with RF Video that while she has had no official discussions with TNA Wrestling officials, Tara had been persuading her to join the Orlando based organization. Hall, however, does not feel she is in shape to continue wrestling full-time since she gained a lot of weight due to her pregnancy last year.

— Sky Deutschland in Germany announced that they have extended their contract to carry TNA Wrestling programming for another year. The deal includes airing Impact Wrestling on Sky Sports and pay-per-view events on Sky Select.

— TNA Wrestling has released new T-Shirts featuring Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Velvet Sky, ODB and more.

— Samoa Joe faces Christopher Daniels in a Maximum Impact tournament match on this week’s episode of TNA Xplosion. The winner of the eight-man tournament will receive a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship during TNA’s tour of the U.K. in January.

source: PWInsider.com

Preview For Thursday’s Impact – Three Matches Announced

Three matches have been announced for this Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling on Spike.

* In the main event, Jeff Hardy will team up with James Storm and Abyss to take on World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, and Bully Ray.

* In tag team action, Knockouts Tag Team Champions Gail Kim and Madison Rayne will defend the straps against Mickie James and Traci Brooks.

* The finals of the Wild Card Tournament will be held to determine who challenges Matt Morgan and Crimson for the World Tag Team Championship at Genesis as AJ Styles and Kazarian take on Samoa Joe and Magnus.

World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy will go face-to-face one last time before their match at Genesis.

Update On RVD’s TNA Contract Status, TNA Inks New TV Deal

— Regarding Rob Van Dam’s contract status with TNA Wrestling, we can confirm that his current deal expires in March. Power Slam Magazine wrote in their latest issue that RVD is seriously considering returning to WWE once his contract expires.

— The official Twitter feed of Impact Wrestling announced Wednesday that TNA Wrestling has signed a new television contract. The statement reads:

“We have signed a new multi-year TV deal with SuperSport network in Africa, with current TNA programming now airing throughout the continent!”

— Angelina Love appears at Top City Autograph Show at the Office Too 3251 S Topeka Blvd. Topeks, Kansas on Feb. 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Click here for more information.

Update On Rob Van Dam Possibly Returning To WWE

Regarding the online rumor of Rob Van Dam returning to WWE, Power Slam confirms in their latest issue that RVD is seriously considering returning to the organization once his contract with TNA Wrestling expires. The magazine adds that the feeling is mutual as people in WWE want the master of the Five-Star Frog Splash back.

“RVD from what we’re told would receive a warm welcome in WWE,” the magazine says.

Providing that no contract extension has been reached since his arrival to TNA Wrestling in March 2010, it would appear that Van Dam will be a free agent in the near future. It was reported in 2010 that RVD had signed a two-year contract with TNA.

During his hiatus from full-time wrestling, Van Dam said he would consider returning to WWE if and when he felt ready.

“One thing that’s for sure is that WWE and I do have a good-faith understanding that if and when I’m ready to return that I’ll be talking to them. They look forward and hope that we’ll be doing business again,” he told the Baltimore Sun during an interview.

Van Dam, who turned 41 years old last month, performed for WWE from 2001 to 2007. Should RVD return to WWE, he would join a select group of former WWE world champions—Booker T, Kevin Nash and Mick Foley—who joined TNA and ultimately returned to the Stamford based organization.

Mickie James Is Most Popular On Google, Rating For Impact

— Mickie James was the most searched for female wrestling talent on Google.com in 2011, according to statistical data compiled by the Wrestling Observer. She is trailed by fellow TNA Knockout Velvet Sky, Michelle McCool, Vickie Guerrero, Beth Phoenix, Eve Torres and Gail Kim.

— The final episode of Impact Wrestling of 2011 garnered a 1.16 cable rating, with 1,510,000 viewers. This is up from the prior week’s show, which drew a 1.03 cable rating with 1,360,000 viewers.

— Gunner stated on Twitter that he faces Rob Van Dam on this Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

— Matt Morgan and Gail Kim appear at Direct Auto Insurance 700 North Military Highway Norfolk, Virginia on Feb. 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 757-455-9072 for more information.

source: PWInsider.com

Jesse Neal Says TNA Refused To Pay Medical Bills For Neck Injury

Jesse Neal revealed during an interview with Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com that TNA Wrestling refused to pay his hefty medical bills stemming from a neck injury he suffered at the May pay-per-view event Sacrifice.

The injury occurred during the conclusion of the match pitting Ink, Inc. against Mexican America when Hernandez executed a dominator-like finisher on Neal. An MRI showed he had a bulged disk after being spiked into the mat.

Neal said TNA paid for the initial MRI but refused to cover any of the other medical costs related to the injury—which he still must pay. “It’s my name, it’s going against my credit…It’s hard to swallow sometimes,” Neal says.

Neal wasn’t booked for any matches until October as a precaution following the neck trauma. The Florida native says he returned a lot quicker than he was supposed to. He adds, “Of course I was still hurt, but when you’re sitting on your ass at home, you’re making no money, and I had to get back into it.”

Neal parted ways with TNA last month after organization officials asked him to relocate from Florida to Louisville, Kentucky to further his wrestling training in Ohio Valley Wrestling. He was unable to comply with their request because the money they were offering “wasn’t even anything close to live on.”