TNA Impact, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Live 04/25/13 (25th April) Full Review & Results

Welcome to this week's review of the latest TNA Impact Wrestling show which is live from Indiana Pennsylvania.

Things started off with security trying to stop The Aces & Eights from entering the arena but were soon intimidated and backed away and let them through.

The opening promo in the ring was James Storm as he walked down to the ring and starts talking about AJ Styles bringing the fight to him last week on Impact and that the new submission move AJ used hurt like hell. He then stated that he wants The Aces & Eights and that if they want to fight, just say it to his face rather than attacking him from behind. Then out come Bad Influence; Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels, who were surprisingly not bitter towards Styles hitting them both last week. However they did a shout out of their old faction Fortune and stated that the thing that TNA need to stop The Aces & Eights is the Fortune Four. This meaning they were proposing to band Fortune Four back together consisting of; Bad Influence, AJ Styles & James Storm. Styles looking on from the crowd looked intrigued however Storm soon showed how he felt about the idea and started hitting Bad Influence before they low blowed him and left the ring. The Aces & Eights then came out to capitalise.

When The Aces & Eights came out they soon got started as Anderson set up Storm for the Powerbomb and was going to put him through the table his team mates set up, AJ Styles still looking on from the crowd. Joseph Park came running down to save Storm, dropping Brisco, then Bischoff then finished with Anderson before The Aces & Eights got the better of him. Devon and Gallows had Park set up to go through the table. However TNA World Heavyweight Champion, the president of The Aces & Eights Bully Ray came out and told them to back off from Park, then him and TNA Television Champion Devon went old school and 3-D'd Park through the table.

All members od The Aces & Eights standing strong.

Once again The Aces & Eights are standing strong whilst another TNA superstar is at their feet. Joseph Park then got stretchered out of the arena. Bully Ray then cut a promo about them creating carnage and taking out all the fans heroes and that there is no heroes left and reals off the names of superstars they've taken out he finishes with the challenge he made last week and tells Hulk Hogan he's got till the end of the show to come out to The Aces & Eights.
Mike Tenay, Todd Keneley and Taz talk about the fact Hulk Hogan had left the building and they don't know why and don't know whether he is returning to the arena.

Taryn Terrell in TNA Wrestling

First match of the night saw Taryn Terrell come down to the ring to face Tara, ODB is still the knockout referee. As the latters entrance was happening camera's went back stage and saw Hulk Hogan return to the arena. Back to the match Terrell started the match in control of the experience knockout Tara. However it wasn't before long before she gained control with a very strong physical approach, shutting down any sort of comeback from Terrell. Tara is the one who has been closest to getting the win with many 2 counts, Tara in complete control of the match. A resilient Terrell finally came back in the match with a short spell of control showing the aggression she has shown towards Gail Kim. Tara again soon gained control with her ego at large as she toyed with Terrell, having her beat but not going for the pin and Terrell capitalised on Tara showing off and got the roll up and 3 count on 6:29. Taryn Terrell winner over Tara, great start to her TNA Knockout career beating two of the greatest knockouts in TNA history, first knocking off Gail Kim and now Tara.

Rob Terry in TNA Wrestling

A short backstage promo involving Robbie E and Jesse Godderz, Robbie giving the latter some encouragement against his former tag team partner Rob Terry. Look's like Robbie E hasn't wasted much time finding another bulked up wrestler to side with.

That being the second of the match of the night, Rob Terry vs Jesse Godderz. Terry came down to the ring first and as he turned expecting Jesse to come down, Robbie E's music hit and he came out with a microphone. Robbie E came down to introduce and I quote "The man who's gonna beat Rob Terry bro" this looking like, Godderz and Robbie E are aligning with one another. Terry started the match with dominance, throwing the someone the size of Godderz like he's some sort of rag doll. Robbie E, kept getting upon the apron distracting Terry which gave Godderz a way back into the match. Godderz offence didn't last long as Terry quickly seemed to have gained control but Godderz impressively standing his ground and keeping some sort of control. Terry then used his size and strength and caught Godderz mid-air and slammed him down to the mat which looked to be the 3 count however Robbie E pulled the referee's leg to break the count. After taking Robbie E out of play by throwing Godderz at him, Terry then got the three count by doing one of his many body slams to get the win. Terry beats Godderz on 3:14.

There was then a backstage promo which started with Bad Influence approaching their former Fortune Four ally 'The IT Factor' Bobby Roode. Kaz & Daniels started off with Kaz referring to Hulk Hogan as 'Thunderlips' which was hit characters wrestling name in the film 'Rocky 3'. The motivation behind them approaching Roode was again to talk about getting Fortune Four back together and for them to take down The Aces & Eights. Kaz then talks about wanting the best form of Fortune Four, this not including 'The Cowboy' James Storm but the three of them and AJ Styles. Roode seems interested in the idea by referring to it as 'good times' but then asks about his current tag team partner 'A Double' Austin Aries. Kaz & Daniels tells him to forget about Aries and consider their offer. As they walk off it, the camera shows Aries listening in on their conversation.

Could this be the reuniting of one of if not the best faction we've seen in TNA or is it Bad Influence doing what they do best and causing trouble and playing games. Fortune Four for those who don't know started when Ric Flair got the four best TNA originals and had them as a heel faction this being; AJ Styles, Frankie Kazarian, James Storm and Bobby Roode. Fortune Four then sided with heel faction Immortal who was led by Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff. Fortune Four had a face turn when they was sick of taking a back seat to Immortal and turned on them, helping the fall of Immortal and the rise of TNA with Christopher Daniels joining the four. Fortune Four split up when Bobby Roode cheated to win against his long time best friend and tag partner James Storm to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. This was what caused the split up Fortune Four. Interesting whether they'll band back together or which group Styles will join.

Fortune in TNA Wrestling
Christopher Daniels, Bobby Roode, AJ Styles, Frankie Kazarian, James Storm

 

Back to the announcers desk, they talk about the match two weeks ago involving Bully Ray & Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. They discussed Hardy's injury and then went on to state that Hardy is considering walking away and hanging up his boots.

Chris Sabin, TNA Wrestling
Former X-Division Champion

There was then a promo of a returning TNA X-Division star, this being Chris Sabin! The video talked about his 2 torn ACL injuries first coming April 2011, then in June 2012 and that after 24 months in total of rehab he's returning next week on Impact Wrestling. Huge news one of the best TNA X-Division superstars from all time. Sabin being a four time X-Division Champion has held the championship for the longest combined reign totalling 338 days. Watch out for the return of Chris Sabin next week on TNA Impact Wrestling, HAIL SABIN!

2 Time and Current TNA Tag Team Champions
Hernandez & Chavo Guerrero

The third match scheduled for the night was for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. The current, 2 time TNA Tag Team Champions are the first to come down to the ring that being, Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez set to defend their titles for the first time since beating the challengers for the belts. Austin Aries then questions Bobby Roode about the proposition he received about get Fortune back together and finishes with if he doesn't win the belts back tonight he's only screwing himself. Bad Influence joined the broadcast group at ringside to watch and cover the TNA Tag Team Championship match.
Neither team really in control of the match, but the tension between the challengers start to show as Aries goes to make the tag however Roode isn't paying attention of the match is looking over at Bad Influence who gave him the proposition of banding back together Fortune earlier that night. A distracted Roode goes into the ring with Chavo the first to mount offence and tags in Hernandez who man handles both Roode & Aries. Roode gains control as he moves out of the way of Hernandez's suicide dive over the top ropes. The challengers now seem to be on the same page and start working together with each other with frequent tags to keep control of 'Super Max' Hernandez. Hernandez manages to get back into things and makes the tag to Chavo who comes in and starts controlling things, applying an offence on both Roode & Aries. It looks likes the challengers may get the win as Kazarian distracts both Hernandez and the referee which leads to a Spine Buster on Hernandez however counters the attempted double team move which soon followed. Again Kazarian distracts the referee as Hernandez has Roode up which allows Daniels to run into the ring and attempts to perform a double team with Roode. Hernandez avoids which leads to Daniels flooring Roode, Chavo Guerrero hitting Roode with the frog splash for the three count. Champions Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez get the win on 8:52 over challengers Roode & Aries

A backstage promo involving 'The Blueprint' Matt Morgan who yet again talks about Hulk Hogan making mistake after mistake and him going out to the ring to be face to face with Bully Ray would be his dumbest mistake yet. He then says he's heading to the ring to tell Hogan his solution and that he is invited to join Morgan in the ring.
Morgan starts by listing the mistakes of Hogan such as;

• Letting Bully Ray into his family
• Naming Bully Ray the #1 Contender at Lockdown instead of Morgan
• Ejecting Sting from Impact Wrestling
• Letting Jeff Hardy face Bully Ray for the title which leads to Hardy getting injured and stretchered out of the arena.

Matt Morgan in TNA Wrestling

Matt Morgan then calls out Hulk Hogan to hear what he has to say and give him a solution to solve all of his problems. Hogan then comes down the ring to join Morgan. Morgan offers his services to Hogan stating that he has no one else to rely on as The Aces & Eights have injured them all and due to him having no back up left they'll eat Hogan up and spit him out and that Morgan himself is the solution for Hogan. He then went on to talking about that no one on the roster has been waiting as long as Morgan for this opportunity, pleading to Hogan to give him the opportunity. Morgan being Morgan then says he'll be Hogan's solution and back-up at a small cost. Asking Hogan to name him the number 1 contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for Slammiversary. Hogan talks about Morgan being right and that he is capable of getting the job done, and that everything he said was right but then he then talks about that he was hoping Morgan would be 'the second coming of the mania' but because Morgan isn't stepping up and doing the right thing and wanting to be back-up at a cost. Hogan states it'd be a bigger mistake than the decision to make Bully Ray the number 1 contender for Lockdown. Hogan then goes on to stating that he'll go face to face with Bully Ray alone and finishes with the fact he and I quote "never heard Andre The Giant come out here and whine like a little bitch".

The Aces & Eights, more so Bully Ray talks about 3-D'ing Joseph Park and that its the first 3-D through a table in about 2 years. He then tells his members not to come out to the ring as he wants to deal with Hulk Hogan one on one.

An announcement comes up saying we have the chance to vote for one of the members who will be in the X-Division Championship number 1 contenders match. We can vote from; Rashad Cameron, Rockstar Spud & Suicide. The person I'm voting for it our very own, UK's very own, ROCKSTAR SPUD! However, I am left wondering about Suicide being in there, as it was both, Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian that where Suicide first time round. Therefore who's now Suicide? I encourage all readers to vote for Rockstar Spud, this young wrestler has bags of talent and an incredible level or charisma. You can vote on impactwrestling.com

Rockstar Spud in TNA Wrestling.

TNA Knockouts Champion
Velvet Sky.

The forth match of the night was for the TNA Knockouts Championship match. The champion Velvet Sky faces Mickie James who got the title shot by beating Miss Tessmacher last week in Corpus Christi, Texas. They start the match with a sign of respect for one an other, in the opening couple of minutes neither participant is in control of the match however on the 2 minute mark, Velvet Sky's knee injury shows as she buckles on a landing however Mickie James could only get a 2 count. Mickie James is going to work on Sky's bad knee, trying to weaken her down with various submission moves on the knee of Sky. The knee really showing, limiting Sky and making it hard for the champ to mount any serious offence. Mickie James is looking like the one most likely to get the victory with a couple of close 2 counts. The match came to an end 6:31 when Velvet Sky managed to roll up Mickie James and get the 3 count out of nowhere to defend her TNA Knockouts Championship.

A promo backstage involving TNA World Heavyweight Champion, the president of The Aces & Eights, Bully Ray and his brother, the TNA Television Champion, the Sgt In Arms in The Aces & Eights Devon. These two talking about being the most dominant tag team in wrestling history and about the belts they're currently holding. They then go on to talking about leading the most dominant force in pro wrestling and the Ray is the guy that took out Jeff Hardy and that Jeff might be done for good. Ray finishes with talking about that they can't be stopped and tonight he's going to put the final nail in Hulk Hogan's coffin.
Brooke & Hulk talk backstage, Brooke asking Hogan not to go out to the ring and meet Bully as she's worried for his health.

First out to the ring is Bully Ray holding his TNA World Heavyweight Championship. He then reels a list of the stars and ask what the names have in common and that they're all victims of The Aces & Eights and that Hulk Hogan is the only victim left. The list consist of:

• Sting
• Magnus
• Samoa Joe
• Eric Young
• The Pope
• Kurt Angle
• Jeff Hardy
• Joseph Park
• James Storm

Hulk Hogan then comes down to the ring and gets face to face with Bully Ray. Bully try's to get into Hogan's head stating the only thing he see's if he looks into Hogan's eyes is pure fear. He then soon follows with a statement that he's the guy who's going to put an end to Hulkamania. Hogan replies saying he won't be able to put an end to it as Hulkamania will never die and then slammed the mic down which Bully soon followed. As they both get face to face with each other Bully Ray makes the first move by showing his lack of respect towards Hogan and spits directly into his face. Ray and Hogan with their backs to each other, Hogan rips his top off and does his famous 'YOU! point' to Bully Ray with then Ray doing the same. Ray makes the first swing but its blocked by Hogan who follows up and lands a punches of his own before Ray is able to escape. Hogan then hulks up taunting to the crowd getting them going as The Aces & Eights out at the ring with Ray telling them to surround Hogan. The lights then go off with Sting holding a bat in the middle of the ring aimed at Hulk Hogan who's leant against one of the turnbuckles. Bully Ray repeatedly shouting yes whilst stood not too far from Sting, however he then turns and points the bat at Bully and knocks his hat off, Bully manages to escape the ring as The Aces & Eights enter. This leading to Sting hitting all the members with a bat and Hogan dropping some members with a right hand. Sting then points the bat back to Hogan's face before walking off. You could still feel the tension of the two icon's which tells me this isn't the end between the two. Hulk Hogan is left stood in the ring, looking confused as the show closes.

For a while now I've been enjoying TNA Impact wrestling with The Aces & Eights storyline finally getting strong with a few other things that are happening with the company which is getting me interested. I thought the show opened very well with the tease of a Fortune Four reuniting, Bad Influence once again brought it when it came to their promos. I can't remember when they were poor in one of their segments, always coming up with new things, sticking to their gimmick and amusing the fans, also liking them having a dig at Hogan calling him 'Thunderlips'. I'm intrigued whether or not these two are genuine or not as they're known for causing trouble and playing games. Last week trying to get AJ Styles to join Bad Influence, this time trying to get him to reform with Fortune without James Storm. The show left us wondering whether Roode will accept their offer, seeming unlikely with the way his match turned out and also leaves us wondering where AJ Styles is going to set his loyalties, is it with Team TNA, The Aces & Eights or Fortune.
Due to the storyline being that The Aces & Eights have more or less destroyed the full locker room. I thought the match card was a little poor. Two knockout matches, a tag match which was ok and Rob Terry just squashing Jesse Godderz. I liked the segment with Matt Morgan, I found that his and Hogan's best piece together yet. Bit disappointed that he's still not wrestling in any serious matches and that he is still yet to be given his chance as the main guy with him only being a two time TNA Tag Team Champion. Overall I thought this was a decent show, mainly due to the promos and developments with the storylines that are currently happening. However once again TNA have left us looking forward to the next show. That being more development on the AJ Styles storyline and Fortune front. The return of X-Division great, Chris Sabin, the potential of Rockstar Spud being in the X-Division Championship number 1 contenders match and the return of 'The Icon' Sting.

 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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