Welcome to this weeks episode of TNA Impact Wrestling, 1st August 2013.
First it goes over to the enterance of the arena to Taz who is stopped by Hulk Hogan's security team and told he isn't allowed into the building under Hogan's orders. Taz replies that he is pissed and he is going to take their jobs and goes off to make a phonecall.
To recap last week, Manik beat Greg Marasciulo and Sonjay Dutt in an Ultimate X Match to win the vacant X-Division Championship and be the first to hold the newly designed belt. The Main Event Mafia said they will ridden TNA of The Aces & Eights once and for all. The new TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Sabin began his reign of being a fighting champion by challenging the winner of the Ultimate X Match (Manik) to a non-title, champion vs champion match for tonight. Bully Ray brought his aterny out, demanding he gets the belt back. As things looked like Hogan & Dixie Carter were going to take the belt off Sabin, Hogan annouced it'll be Chris Sabin vs Bully Ray at Hardcore Justice for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in a Steel Cage Match.
Mike Tenay & Jeremy Borash on commentary announced one of the matches which the fans voted for regarding the BFG Series. It will be a dream match of two X-Dvision legends and for the first time ever in TNA Impact Wrestling, it will be AJ Styles vs Austin Aries as tonights main event. Tenay & Borash then talk about August1Warning and show the latest tape which was showed Thursday afternoon which stated the fans won't know when and wont know how but he will be here.
Outcomes one of tonights main event competitors, Austin Aries who recieves a decent reaction from the crowd. Aries starts off by congratulating Chris Sabin on beating Bully Ray and becoming the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Aries then warns Sabin he is now the hunted and that he will be the man to win the Bound For Glory Series. Aries then promotes tonights match between him and Styles stating that not just the fans but everyone involved in TNA have been dreaming of Austin Aries & AJ Styles since the moment he entered this company. He then dubs the match to being 'The Phenomenal One' vs 'The Common Donominator of Greatness'. Aries then rephrases the match stating that it is AJ Styles, the man who carried TNA on his back for a decade vs Austin Aries the man who will carry TNA on its back for the next decade. Once he finished, outcomes his former tag partner, 'The IT Factor' Bobby Roode. Roode tells Aries enough about dream matches and talks about nightmares stating when Aries beat him last year at Destination X it was a nightmare and that he has had a 'crap' year since losing the match. He then states everyone including himself has forgot what Bobby Roode is capable of inside a ring and reminds everyone he is the longest reigning TNA World Heavyweight Champion and that he is 'The IT Factor' of proffessional wrestling. Roode tells Aries he's going to back to his old self and that tonight he'll prove it pays to be 'Roode'. Aries tells Roode he hopes he gets his mojo and gets to the final of the BFG Series so he can beat him again.
Following this Bobby Roode's opponent comes out which is 'Super Mex' Hernandez. Roode not wasting anytimes runs straight at Hernandez and starts attacking him on the ramp. Following the commercial break, Roode is incontrol of the match. Roode looking more ruthless and aggressive than previous months just domination the hugely built Hernandez just blocking any attempt of a comeback from his opponent. Roode comes close to getting the win and 10 points after Henandez went airbourn and missed with Roode following up with a Crossface. Hernandez able to getting out of the hold gains some momentum and hitting Roode from running down the ramp and clearing the ropes hitting a shoulder block into Roode. With the ref having his back to the match, Roode hits Hernandez with a Low Blow and follows up with holding the tights and rolling up, Hernandez manages to kick out on 2. This seems to lead to Roode snapping like he did last week, as he starts throwing chairs into the ring aggressively. As the ref is clearing the ring of the chairs, Roode gets the 7 points and the win after hitting Hernandez with a beer bottle. This makes it official, the old selfish Bobby Roode is back and will win by any means neccessary.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Over backstage we see the Main Event Mafia; Sting, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Magnus & Rampage Jackson. Sting is asked if the Mafia have anything to do with August1Warning which he replies, they'll find out soon enough and Angle tells the camera man they've got an offer that The Aces & Eights won't be able to refuse. Also backstage we see ODB talking about her match with Gail Kim. Eric Young & Joseph Park backstage, with Young giving Park tips on how to not flip out and gives him something in a bag. Then over to Chris Sabin who approches Manik who talks about the mask he wears has given him an identity and that Sabin tells him to bring his 'A' game and that it was their hearts that brought them both the gold which they carry today.
Outside the arena comes a stretch hummer limo with August1Warning inside. No one revealed as of yet. A reminder Austust1Warning does not work for Spike TV or TNA Impact Wrestling.
Over to the ring is the second BFG Series match with Gut Check Winner Jay Bradley set to take on Joseph Park with Eric Young in his corner. Eric Young passing Park head gear to try stop Park from bleeding and flipping out. Bradley starts things off by catching Park off guard and takes it to Park. Bradley in complete control with him getting a few 2 counts, however more intent and concerned about the head gear which Park is wearing. Park starts gaining momentum with a few choulder charges to Bradley and the a scoop slam. Joseph Park attempts to get the 10 points he lost from DQ by applying the Boston Crab, whihc Bradley manages to reach the rope. Bradley soon after manages to finally get the head gear off Joseph Park.Park manages to get the 7 points by reversing the Boomstick from Bradley and hitting him with a Fall Away Slam.
Winner: Joseph Park
Backstage to Main Event Mafia with Angle asking the guys if they know any additional information on August1Warning which they say no to. Sting then cheer about Bully Ray no longer being TNA World Heavyweight Champion and thats the first of two things they've managed to do. Sting says that there might need to be a sacrifice that they'll all need to make which is a big risk which they all say that they're ready to take.
Now we have it, a champion vs champion match. The new X-Division Champion Manik vs the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion Chris Sabin. The match starts off in typical X-Division fashion with both competitors reversing grapples with rolls and quick movements with flicks here and then with both keep hold of oneanother for a good period of the match. things slow down as Sabin hits Manik with a kick off the apron and takes the fight to him ringside which soon goes back to the ring. Sabin then keeps controls with various grapples on the mat followed by a few kicks. Manik soon gets back into things after a brilliant Head Scissors followed by various Spring Boards and gets a 2 count with another 2 count coming soon after following a Sit Down Powerbomb. The two soon go back and forth trading blows to each other with Manik hitting a very impressing combo of strikes and kicks. Sabin manages to hit Manik with the Hail Sabin to get the 3 count.
Winner: Chris Sabin
During the video replay of the Sabin & Manik match, Bully Ray comes out and attacks Sabin from behind. Manik attempts to help Sabin which is easily brushed off by Bully, but this gives Sabin time to get to his feet and take it to Bully hitting him with repeated strikes, chops and kicks. Sabin fired up sends Bully Ray retreating.
Outside with the camera on the white hummer limo which is for August1Warning who is then interrupted by Taz who isn't allowed into the building and because of this he goes to expose August1Warning. Taz then starts laughing and saying "you got to be kidding me" and talking about all the hype for this. The camera man then goes to the limo which inside isn't a man just a laptop with another warning video.
It is then announced that the fans have voted for Bad Influence will go one on one, next week it will be Christopher Daniels vs Frankie Kazarian. After a backstage promo it is showing tension between Daniels & Kazarian as they start by saying nothing will become between them but after Daniels refers to Kazarian as 'poor Frankie' Frankie isn't impressed. This leads to him saying he'll take the points next week, pooring out Daniels drink and then walks away.
Up next is Knockouts action between to proven former Knockout Champions. ODB vs Gail Kim. Starts off with the two going face to face and Gail shoving ODB down, ODB doesn't waste time to react and spears Gail and follows up with repeated strikes. The two then go to the ramp for a short period showing intent of the continuity of aggressive Knockout matches. The two having spells of control in the match early on with Gail Kim hitting an impressive drop kick on ODB. Kim attempts to using the ring post to apply the Figure Four Leg Lock on ODB, who manages to reverse by grappling Kim with her legs and hitting her head into the post. The two then go out to the ring and Kim attacking ODB after throwing her into the steps. The ref does a double count out which leads to the two going back and forth running at each other deliver blows
Match was a Draw
Over to AJ Styles who says everyone saying him and Aries will be a dream match that has never happened before is 'BS' and his match with Jeff Hardy was 'BS'. He then states he isn't that hopeful wide eyed kid he use to be instead he's that hungry greed powered man he's become and that if you can't beat them join them and says the BFG is about the time and the money that comes with it. He then tells Aries that tonight he will become his nightmare.
Now to the August1Warning stating you won't know where of how but he's here.
It then shows King Mo's Bellator match which he won which means he gets to go for the champinoship.
Bully Ray is backstage talking to his guys about the Mafia's offer for them and that all he's concerned about is getting Sabin into that cage and destroying him and breaking both of his knees and getting his title back.He tells Anderson he is in charge of taking care of the Main Event Mafia. It then shows that the fans have voted that next week in the BFG Series it will be the Mafia's 'Samoan Submission Machine' Samoa Joe taking on 'The Charismatic Engima' Jeff Hardy, Bad Influence taking on each other, Daniels taking on his partner Kazarian and also The Aces & Eights Vice President Anderson will take on Main Event Mafia's Magnus.
Now for the main event match, the match dubbed as a 'dream match' its 'The Phenomenal' AJ Styles vs 'A Double' Austin Aries. The match again like the earlier champion vs champion match starts with the two using quick grapples and reversals with neither being in control. Aries seeming to have Styles well scouted manages to get the slight uphand but that doesn't last long as Styles Drop Kicks Aries off the top rope then Sling Shots on top of him out on the floor.Styles then manages to gain control, using his slow non rushed approach which he has adapted to since returning to TNA. Styles then delivers a vicious Full Nelson Slam on Aries. Aries then manages to gain the advantage in the match and attempts to hit Stlyes with his Brain Buster finisher, Styles manages to reverse. Aries managing to keep momentum hits Styles with a flying drop kick off the top rope then one into the corner. Styles comes close with a 2 count as he reverses a Superplex off the middle rope and hits Aries with a Neck Breaker. Styles then goes to hit Aries with a 450 Spring Board Splash which Aries avoids and manages to apply his submission hold onto Styles to try and gain those 10 points. Styles reverses and applies the Calf Killer on Aries to try and get the ten points himself. Aries reverses and hits Styles with the Brain Buster which Styles kicks out at last minute. The two then fighting on the ramp, Aries went to hit Styles with the Brain Buster which Styles reverses with a Front Superplex. Styles then goes to do a finisher of his own to hit him with the Styles Clash, which Aries answers back and reverses with a Back Body Drops AJ off the ramp onto the floor. Aries then goes to hit Styles with a Suicide Dive out on the floor, with Styles getting out the way and sending him full momentum into the steel steps. Both back in the ring, delivering striker after strike with each other, Aries looking to have control and coming off the better but Styles manages to hit Aries with Pele. It looks like its going to be a draw as they've both got their arms across each other, however Aries manages to get the energy to get his shoulder up right at the end.
Winner: Austin Aries
Now to find out what the offer is that the Main Event Mafia are going to offer The Aces & Eights that they cannot refuse. Sting starts things off about talking about the goals of the Mafia and that they've achieved one and that they didn't get the fight that they wanted but then states to achieve the second they've got an offer that The Aces & Eights can't refuse. Just as it goes over to Kurt Angle, hits The Aces & Eights music hits and out comes Vice President Anderson leading the way followed by Devon, Knox, Garrett & Wes. Anderson says that the Mafia cheat and thats the reason why Sabin is champion. Anderson says if the Mafia like to do dirty, then they'll do dirty and that they're not backing down. Angle says if they're not going to back down then there is going to be serious consequences and that at Hardcore Justice there's going to be a match, any five members of The Aces & Eights will take on all five members of the Main Event Mafia and that they person that is pinned in the five on five will have to leave Impact Wrestling for good. Whilts the Aces talk amongst themselves it goes over to Samoa Joe who says they don't understand, and the match proposed isn't a negotiation. This then leads to a 5 on 5 brawl in the ring with Mafia looking stronger as they send Aces out to the ring. Anderson says if they want they've got and that they accept.
The lights then go off and music hits, here is August1Warning. The lights go on and there stands MMA legend Tito Ortiz standing on the stage, Tito Ortiz is August1Warning. The Aces & Eights and Main Event Mafia are left stunned, as the Mafia make sure Rampage doesn't go out to the ramp.
Thank you for reading
Kurt Johansson
