TNA Impact, Corpus Christi, Live 04/18/13 (18th April) Full Review & Results

 

Welcome to this week's review of the latest TNA Impact Wrestling show which is once again live from Corpus Christi, Texas.

The show starts off with the free announcers; Todd Keneley, Mike Tenay & Taz talking about some of the things that are install from tonight's TNA. They start of with announcing there will be a title on the line, that being the Kenny King having his X-Division Championship on the line. They also talk about the in-ring return of 'The Phenomenal' AJ Styles as he faces 'The Cowboy' James Storm. They then look back at Bully Ray successfully retaining his TNA Championship last week in a Full Metal Mayhem match in Corpus Christi against Jeff Hardy, then shows a video of last week off the air as Jeff Hardy leaving for hospital on a stretcher with Hulk Hogan saying he's sorry.

There is then a backstage segment with Aces & Eights members' Devon, Garrett Bischoff and Wes Brisco. Devon warns Garrett & Wes not to take Kurt Angle lightly and to get the job done, that being getting the win over Kurt Angle. Devon looking frustrated at Garrett & Wes for not taking it serious as they need to get the win.

The first match of the night is a 2 on 1 handicap match, Aces & Eights (Garrett Bischoff & Wes Brisco) vs Kurt Angle. Showing the history between the three, showing Angle trusting the two before they turned on him and went to Aces & Eights. Angle starts things off taking it straight to Wes for the first couple of minutes, with no offence been applied to Angle yet. From the opening bell, Angle has been dominant over Garrett & Wes, Garrett now being the legal man, but soon after the commercial break, Wes sneaks in and low blows Angle so now Bischoff is now in control. After a spell with Aces & Eights in control, Angle gets back into things with repeated Clothes Lines to both Wes & Garrett and also delivering various Superplex's to the two. Angle started his three German Superplex's with the third holding on to both Wes & Garrett for a double German Superplex. Angle almost got the win over Garrett after delivering an Angle Slam, however Wes broke it up on two count. D'Lo Brown comes down ring side, and Angle applies the Angle Lock on Wes, Mr.Anderson then runs down to distract the ref as D'lo throws Garrett a chain and hits him on the back of the neck and gains the three count. Aces & Eights get the win on 6:56 with Garrett & Wes stealing one with the help of Mr.Anderson & D'Lo Brown.

After the match, D'Lo shouts for Wes & Garrett to get Angle which then see's Brisco getting Angle up for the Power Bomb and Garrett pushing the shoulders down for the double team. Anderson then cuts a promo with a mocking tone to his voice stating, Sting is nowhere to be seen since him and Hogan falling out, Jeff Hardy getting decimated and that Kurt Angle is shambles. He then does a shout out to AJ Styles saying the Aces & Eights are routing for him tonight.

It then goes backstage to Petey Williams talking about his X-Division Championship match and about it being a triple threat match, then goes to Zema Ion talking about what he thinks to not having to pin the champion to get the belts but hates he wouldn't have to be pinned to lose it.

Kenny King, X-Division Champion

Championship match up next, with the first challenger Zema Ion coming out to the ring first, then followed by the second championship Petey Williams and then the X-Division Champion Kenny King coming down the complete the line-up. King started the match taking it to both Ion and Williams, Clothes Lining Ion out of the ring. I then goes to the new camera called the 'X-Cam' which is worn on the head of the referee so that you can see all the high flying X-Division in the view of the referee. Kenny King was in control of the match, before Williams out of nowhere hit King with the Canadian Destroyer, which only got the 2 count before Ion broke it up. If this was a singles match then Petey Williams would be the new X-Division Champion! Petey Williams in control of Ion as King is laid outside of the ring. During this match, you can hear a very small percentage of the crowd 'Fandangoing'. Williams has been the closest to getting the win with two close two counts on Ion before King gets back to his feet, Williams flies through the ropes to take out King. King soon finds his feet once more before Williams taking him out of the match again to make it a 1 on 1 with Zema Ion. Looks like Williams has got the win as he applies the sharpshooter to Ion in middle of the ring, King runs in as Ion is trying not to tap out and gives a vicious boot to Williams then pins a worn out Ion for the 3 count. Kenny King wins on 6:03 with a pin on Zema Ion.

Due to the X-Division rules this result means Kenny King retains his X-Division Championship, Petey Williams wasn't pinned so will be in the next triple-threat for the Championship and because Zema Ion was the was pinned he is relegated to the qualifying triple-threat matches to try and get another title shot.

It went backstage to Magnus, talking about his TNA Television Championship match against Aces & Eights member, Devon. Magnus straight to the point stating he's going to take the championship off Devon. It then went to another backstage segment this time involving Christi Hemme and Brooke Hogan. First talking about the new Knockouts website, then Brooke talks to Miss Tessmacher and Mickie James wishing them good luck in their match tonight.

First to come out was Devon of the Aces & Eights, where the current 2 time TNA Television Champion is defending the championship against former Television Champion Magnus. As Magnus was coming out on the ramp, Mike Knox and D.O.C of the Aces & Eights came out to attack him. Magnus did well and was doing back and forth between Knox & D.O.C getting the better of the both before Devon runs up and hits Magnus with a chain. Knox & D.O.C then started beating down on Magnus, Devon again hitting him with a chain before the big two pick Magnus up and slam him down on the ramp. Another former Television Champion got involved as Samoa Joe came running out to protect his former tag team partner, with Aces & Eights just backing up on the ramp.

Due to the assault on Magnus the title match wasn't happening. Camera's then went to a infuriated Samoa Joe backstage who was calling Aces & Eights cowards and that they're not champions. He then goes onto saying that he will be meeting Devon later on in the ring.

There was a video package of AJ Styles and his situation before leaving TNA, his families reaction and the situation of his return. Will Styles join; Hulk Hogan and Team TNA, The Aces & Eights or his old friends who betrayed him in the past Bad Influence, Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels.

The next match up is a Knockouts match with the winner facing TNA Knockout Champion Velvet Sky. First out was Miss Tessmacher followed by her opponent Mickie James with ODB once more being the Knockouts referee. The match went back and forth, both competitors having their spells of being in control. Tessmacher in control hits James with her own version of what seems to be the 'Stinky Face' much more attractive from Tessmacher rather than former WWE star Rikishi. Mickie James soon turns things round, coming close to getting the win. ODB doing a good job keeping order in the match laying down the rules has a minor stare down with James. James wins on 7:40 by countering a Tessmacher roll up for the 3 count. Mickie James is the number 1 contender for the TNA Knockout Championship.

It goes backstage which shows AJ Styles that see's AJ Styles with Bad Influence talking to each other holding up their own spare top, then goes to the camera in a good mood saying that just happened and that the band are back together and both going off singing "we're the three best friends that anyone could have". Has AJ Styles re-joined Kaz & Daniels, joining Bad Influence or is it more games from the pair?

It then goes to Devon backstage telling to Joseph Park that they warned him to stay out of family business regarding Brooke & Bully, Bully hits him from behind and warns Park to stay out of business as he is being strangled by Devon with a chain. It then goes to Mickie James talking about how great it is for her to be number 1 contender again and that she's going to take that belt and saying that there is no one better than her. It then goes to James Storm talking about him and AJ Styles.

TNA Tag Team Champions, Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez

Bad Influence come out to the ring and Daniels grabs a microphone and starts cutting a typical Bad Influence promo, good and getting heat off the crowd. Daniels states that they're so close to convincing AJ Styles to join Bad Influence and side with them one more time. Kazarian says they've got him his own shirt and that because the OG's (meaning original TNA stars) are back together. they then turn their business to the new TNA Tag Team Champions, Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez saying they want a title shot and that they want a title shot. As they're wrapping things up in the promo former TNA Tag Team Champions, the 'IT Factor' Bobby Roode & 'A Double' Austin Aries come out saying they're the number 1 contenders. Daniels follows up with a dig about Roode being Canadian and that their opinions don't matter. Both teams trading insults in a good, quite funny promo which gets the crowd laughing. Bad Influence back up to Roode & Aries , because the champs have entered the ring un-noticed. The champs attack Roode & Aries and Chavo just states the reason they're better is, and holds the titles up.

There's then a segment about The Aces & Eights showing their destruction over the past couple of shows and Bobby Roode saying there's not much TNA can do and that The Aces & Eights are in control with Jeff Hardy injured. Matt Morgan then talks about Hulk Hogan and his mistakes and talks about what 'mistakes' Hogan has made.

Second time lucky, we may get to see the TNA Television Championship on the line, as Samoa Joe is to face Devon for the championship following The Aces & Eights assault on Magnus. Joe started off the match the strongest, going full steam ahead to Devon, after a good spell, Devon starts getting the better of Joe, slowing the big guy down. Samoa Joe then picked up momentum once more and as he set Devon up for the Muscle Buster, Aces & Eights come down and as ref was distracted Anderson hit Joe and knocked him out cold with a pair of knuckle dusters. Devon gets the 3 count of 3:26 as Aces & Eights steal one once again. Anderson hit Joe square in the face with the knucks which makes Joe the third victim of the night.

The next match up between two TNA originals, 'The Cowboy' James Storm vs 'The Phenomenal' AJ Styles. Storm is in the ring first and as Styles is coming down to the ring, he changes his mind and tries to walk away again, so Storm takes the fight to Styles and attacks him on the ramp, before leading to the ring. As the match starts officially, Styles takes the fight to Storm, with the latter soon gaining control of the match which is soon changed and Styles is again in control of the match. Storm had a good spell in the match, before Styles countered a top rope superplex. Bad Influence come down to what seems to support and encourage Styles. Storm hits Styles with the Closing Time and attempts a Last Call Super Kick which Styles blocks roll's Storm into a new submission move which forces Storm to tap out on 6:21.

AJ Styles walking away from the match as Aces & Eights
James Storm

Bad Influence join Styles in the ring looking pleased about his win over Storm with a smug grin on his face as Bad Influence raise his hands which seems to show who he aligned with. Styles then lashes out and drops Kazarian with a Clothes Line and then drops Daniels with a kick to the head. Styles then leaves the ring as D'Lo Brown leads an Aces & Eights assault on James Storm him being their forth victim of the night. They then turn their attention to Bad Influence and start attacking the two.


Once again, to close the show its Aces & Eights in the ring with bodies at their feet as the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Bully Ray talks about victimising all the people they have and that their dominance and destruction should be blamed on Hulk Hogan and then calls Hogan out to the ring next week.

The Aces & Eights
D'Lo Brown, D.O.C, Bully Ray, Mike Knox, Mr Anderson

 

A good second consecutive show in Corpus Christi, Texas. Was good to see more changes to the X-Division, showing that TNA are trying to keep it relevant once again with the X-Cam. A good touch, something fresh and gives a different view to the X-Division matches. Bad Influence again interesting me, wasn't their best work but their promo's are still getting reactions from the crowd. Some progressions with AJ Styles, I like the heel Styles, got more edge to him and seems more physical. Was good to see him come back with a new submission move and get a win over James Storm. It now seems like he is going to go for The Aces & Eights with him dropping both Kazarian & Daniels. Only five matches in the night, with Aces & Eights cheating their way to a couple more victories, but on a good note they're still getting a wins which is a good thing regardless of their method. Interesting to see what's next install for AJ Styles, enjoying the exposure which the X-Division is getting once more. In conclusion a solid TNA Impact show.

Hope you've enjoyed reading this article, come back next week for the next review of TNA Impact.
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Kurt Johansson
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