HE’S BACK!
Hey wrestling fans. I am the “Shockmaster” himself, Thomas Robinson and I’m here to talk to you about a shocking return on Thursday at the end of TNA IMPACT WRESTLING! Also, we have new developments in the AJ Styles storyline to talk about as well as everything else which includes 5 Hour Energy plugs, D-Lo Brown being treated like a bitch and tag team matches galore on Impact Wrestling!
First things first. Sting and Kurt Angle came down to the ring and called out AJ Styles, who they hoped would team with them in the 6 man tag team main event against the Aces And Eights that night. Angle demanded an answer from AJ, but as with his usual MO as of late, AJ remained silent. Sting then cut a promo about how AJ helped built TNA and talked about his accomplishment, but AJ was STILL silent and left the ring. Pissed off at AJ being “disrespectful” towards them, Angle angrily approached Styles on the ramp and the two scrapped in a good-old pull apart brawl. I love these sorts of segments. Pull-apart brawls are a great way to have the tension building up for weeks pour out, and it gets AJ doing something different from his old usual “silent treatment” as we’ve seen for a couple of months. However, this scrap leaves the Stinger in the ring by himself, wide open for an attack by the Aces And Eights. Mr Anderson, Devon and Bully Ray come out to attack Sting, with Devon and Ray dropping Sting with the 3D. A great way to start the show and build up the main event.
“Hardcore Country” Mickie James and the TNA Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky defeated Tara and Gail Kim in a knockouts tag team match. A very short tag team match that wasn’t really anything special to be frank. However, Gail Kim did attack her partner Tara after the match, continuing the “Gail Kim needs Anger Management” storyline. You’ve got to believe that something’s going to come out of this. At least I hope something does. Gail is quality in the ring, and I for one would not mind her getting another Knockouts title reign.
Next, Aces And Eights took to the ring to take care of “Club business” as Bully Ray put it. The TNA World Champion Bully Ray was pissed off at D’Lo Brown for losing an I Quit match to Kurt Angle last week. This was basically a segment to confirm that D’Lo Brown is in the “doghouse” right now with Aces And Eights, and Bully told D’Lo to give up his vest and accompany DOC at ringside for his match with Magnus. However, that match saw D’Lo inadvertently cost DOC the match. After this, a backstage segment which saw Bully threaten D’Lo with a hammer saw D’Lo downgraded to a “prospect” in Aces And Eights. In other words… D’Lo Brown has become the official bitch of the Aces And Eights. This was a great segment to show off tension within Aces And Eights, and to show off Bully Ray’s “tough love” towards his Aces And Eights members. It’ll be interesting to see if they replace D’Lo after a while or whether they’ll just have Bully makes examples out of everyone in the group.
Speaking of tough examples, group members DOC, Knux, Wes Brisco and Garrett Bischoff assaulted Magnus backstage in a brutal beatdown to the Englishman so he would not be able to team with Kurt Angle and Sting in the main event. Running out of time, Hulk Hogan said he had someone on the phone who’s ready to step up and get there to help them in the main event. I wonder who it could be?
Austin Aires and Bobby Roode had a hell of a tag team match with Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. I seriously enjoyed that tag match, and the 4 were really effective in the ring together. There was just one problem… the special referee James Storm. Urghhh. Really TNA? You just couldn’t let these two teams have a legit match? Storm delivered a Super Kick to both Daniels and Aires and walked out on the match he was supposed to officiate. A legitimately good tag team match ended because the referee decided to walk out. But of a disappointing ending if you ask me. Mind you, justice was served when James Storm was attacked backstage by what I’d assume was Daniels, Kazarian, Roode and Aires’ doing. Good. However, that does beg the question as to who the number one contenders will be. I hope it’s someone different. Hell, I’d take Robbie E and Jesse as the number one contenders. Brisco and Bischoff from the Aces And Eights going after the titles would be something new. Anyone other than the same old teams from the last couple of months.
Kenny King and Chris Sabin did a segment hyping up the triple threat match also involving Petey Williams for the TNA X Division title next week. Not exactly a great promo from either man, but the match next week speaks for itself. Chris Sabin, Petey Williams and Kenny King could produce something special next week, and it’s a match I’m very much looking forward to.
MAIN EVENT. Since Hulk Hogan’s mystery partner for Kurt Angle and Sting never showed up, it appeared to be a 2 on 3 handicap match with Angle and Sting facing Devon, Bully Ray and Mr Anderson. A decent main event with a cool but confusing ending. Aces And Eights got the advantage and it looked like Bully and Devon were gonna put Sting away with the 3D. However, we saw the return of “The Monster” ABYSS, who marched down to the ring to take on the Aces And Eights. Chokeslamming Anderson, dropping Bully Ray and hitting the Black Hole Slam on Devon, Abyss was whooping all kinds of ass. And Abyss would go on to… pin Devon to win the match. Wait. So it was a 6 man tag all along? I don’t get that ending. The match started off as a 2 on 3 handicap match and it for some reason changed into a 6 man tag mid-match? Talk about confusing.
But anyway, Abyss returning to TNA is brilliant. It’s been nearly a year since the Abyss character was last in TNA and him feuding with Aces And Eights will be a great sight to see. Personally, I think Abyss should really be the one challenging Bully Ray for the TNA title at Slammiversery and not Sting. However, I still think Abyss will get to Bully Ray eventually. Abyss has always been a favourite of mine, and I’m glad Joseph Park is out the way for now. Abyss coming back adds a little bit of spice to the TNA vs Aces And Eights war! I can’t wait to see next week’s developments.
Overall good show. It had a good opening and a great ending and it was a very enjoyable show overall with a great tag match with Daniels and Kaz vs Roode and Aires and other things. Great show.
The Armbar Express 