Here’s Impact in case you missed it:
From The Cincinnati Gardens Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio:
Hosted by “The Professor” Mike Tenay and Taz.
Former TNA World Tag Team Champion Adam “Pac Man” Jones and DeQuin Evans of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals were in attendance.
The Main Event Mafia (TNA Hall of Famer “The Icon” Sting, Kurt Angle, Magnus and Samoa Joe) open this week as Sting was happy with a weakened Aces and Eights (Bully Ray, Mike Knox and Garett Bischoff), but decided to leave. He stated that all of the Mafia members are being pulled in different directions, and that he himself has waged war on the entitled. Samoa Joe vowed to win back the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Magnus stated that while Kurt Angle is on the road to redemption, he’s on the road to destiny. Kurt agreed with Sting about the guys following their own paths, and he vowed to prove that he is worthy of being a Hall of Famer.
He was interrupted by Bobby Roode, who vowed that if both he and Kurt made it to the end of the Eight-Man Tournament, he will defeat Kurt for a third time. Kurt refused to wait, and wailed on Roode. After TNA Referees and Security ended the fight, Kurt demanded that Roode return to the ring and face him!!! Another fight ensued as the referees and security, along with Al Snow, “Irish” Pat Kenney (Simon Diamond), Magnus, Samoa Joe and Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels and Kazarian) fought to keep them separated. After the melee was stopped, Bad Influence antagonized both Jones and Evans and pushed them.
Jones and Evans then jumped over the barricade and bodyslammed Bad Influence!!!
1. A #1 CONTENDER’S KNOCKOUTS MATCH: Velvet Sky vs. Brooke Tessmacher vs. ODB.
THE REWARD: The winner will face Gail Kim for the TNA Knockouts Championship.
THIS MATCH WAS A NO CONTEST, COURTESY OF GAIL KIM AND LEI’D TAPA.
After the ruling, Gail Kim stated that she has no competition, and issued an open challenge to any female wrestler outside of TNA, with a shot at the belt if she is defeated.
In a segment called Friends of A.J., TNA World Heavweight Champion “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles sent a clip of him defending the title in Mexico’s Lucha Libre promotion AAA (Asistencia, Asesoria y Administracion/Assistance, Administration and Counseling).
Mike Knox and Garett Bischoff summoned Bully Ray to do an in-ring vote on the future of Aces and Eights. Garett labeled Bully poison, and as the vote was about to be cast, Mr. Anderson appeared to observe. Garett cast the first vote, and threw off his vest!!! So did Knox and Taz!!! Bully demanded that Taz put his vest back on, but he refused. He told him again, and Taz was ready to fight!!!
Bully blamed Anderson for everything, and Anderson challenged him to a No Disqualification Match in two weeks!!! Knox and Garett then attacked Anderson from behind, as it turned out to be a prank that was played by Bully, Knox, Garett and Taz.
Before the start of the next match, Bobby Roode demanded that Kurt Angle face him.
2. Ethan Carter III vs. Dewey Barnes.
THE WINNER: THE UNDEFEATED ETHAN CARTER III.
3. TAG TEAM MATCH: Bad Influence vs. Joseph Park and Eric Young.
THE WINNERS: BAD INFLUENCE.
Kurt Angle accepted Roode’s challenge, but Austin Aries appeared instead to tell Kurt that he will face him, not Roode next week. TNA President Dixie Carter booked them both in a Submission Match. Roode and Kurt went at it, and Aries joined in.
4. A FIRST ROUND, EIGHT-MAN TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT, FULL METAL MAYHEM MAIN EVENT: Jeff Hardy vs. TNA X Division Champion Chris Sabin.
THE WINNER: JEFF HARDY!!!
Jeff Hardy advances.
Match #1 and the main event are the highlight matches of the night!!!
Velvet Sky, Brooke Tessmacher, ODB, Jeff Hardy and Chris Sabin are the wrestlers of the night!!!
ANALYSIS: It seemed like this week was all about Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode.