The move comes at a bad time for TNA after this Tuesday’s episode, anchored by the spectactle that was the Final Deletion, led to Impact’s highest rating in over a year.
The company is all too familiar with the loss in viewers that changing time slots can bring. Impact’s time slot has been in seemingly constant flux since being canceled by Spike TV in 2014, but WWE’s decision to air SmackDown live on Tuesday put TNA in a tough spot, and they were forced to either stay on Tuesday against tough wrestling competition or change nights.
Pop TV released a video promoting the show’s Thursday night debut on Twitter.
The absurdity of “The Final Deletion” ultimately proved to be a success for TNA Wrestling.
According to ShowBuzzDaily, this week’s edition of Impact did 410,000 viewers on television, up from 322,000 viewers the previous week. It was the highest rated episode of Impact on Pop TV and the highest rated episode since May 2015.
TNA put a lot of effort into promoting the event and generated a significant social media buzz. They sent out screeners of the match and uploaded video of various people from the wrestling and film industries reacting to it.
TNA hopes that the buzz they created with the Final Deletion will lead to sustained ratings succes, and that will be tested with next week’s Destination X edition of Impact featuring Bobby Lashley vs. Eddie Edwards in a title vs. title match.
Given the success of the Final Deletion, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the organization think outside of the box with similar ideas and use similar promotional tactics in the future.
“The situation with Moose changed in the past week as well. WWE backed off on signing him at this moment due to a 2009 domestic violence allegation which led to him being suspended for a game when he was in the NFL. He was actually told not to worry by WWE with the idea it’s just a timing situation (given the recent situations with Adam Rose and Jerry Lawler) and not a closed door.
He was originally expected to be part of their September NXT introduction class with guys like Tommy End and Big Damo and most likely Roderick Strong, who did finish up here over the weekend. Moose has had offers from Lucha Underground, TNA, which offered the most money of anyone ($100,000 per year) and the door is open to staying here as well. Those at ROH view his future here as something that has changed a few times and it may or may not change again.
Right now they are going with the idea it could go either way. But the plans aren’t booked right now with him as a key part of things. The impression we have is it is most likely he will be elsewhere soon which rules out WWE as well. He was beaten a few times on TV and the PPV because he may be gone and was expected to be gone when the shows were first laid out. But the door is open for him to stay. The TNA offer was always the best one money-wise, but there is the feeling that if you go to TNA, you fall off the radar. Plus, nobody knows the future of TNA.”
At one time it appeared that Ojinnaka was headed to the WWE and would start at the Performance Center in September, but Dave Meltzer reported in last week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE backed off of signing the former football journeyman because of a 2009 domestic violence allegation that led to him being suspended from the NFL for one game.
Ojinnaka’s wife alleged that he threw her down the stairs during an argument over a female friend that he had friended on Facebook, and Ojinnaka accused her of trying to stab him with a pen. The two are now divorced.
Ojinnaka left the NFL in 2012 after a seven-year career with four different teams. After his time in football was over, the longtime wrestling fan decided to pursue a career in professional wresting and debuted in 2014 with Ring of Honor.
MLW also tweeted that Lucha Underground/AAA have not made an offer to Moose, but that TNA and ROH are still in play for his services.
Amid speculation that many former WWE stars have been approached with returning to the company due to the upcoming brand split, the possibility that free agent Kurt Angle could be one of those talents got some fans excited.
Unfortunately for those fans, that will be an unrealized dream as WWE officials confirmed Thursday that Angle is not returning to the company.
The story started when Angle was on Mark Madden’s Pittsburgh radio show on Monday and said that Paul Levesque had called him, but that no deal was in place. Although nobody officially said it, the story grew to a point where people said that a deal was done with a start date even listed.
The 47-year-old wrestler had his final TNA TV match in March, and has been working select indy dates with recent matches against the likes of Rey Mysterio Jr. and Zack Sabre Jr.
Ahead of this Friday’s ROH Best in the World ppv, Ring of Honor announced Wednesday that “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong would be leaving the promotion following Saturday’s TV tapings.
Strong has been a part of ROH off and on since 2003, and has been one of their longest-tenured performers outside of a brief TNA run. He and Austin Aries held the ROH Tag Team Titles, and he won both the TV and World titles in the company as well. In the ROH announcement, he didn’t list any reasons for leaving the promotion.
Over the past few years, he has had some outstanding matches with New Japan stars including classics with Okada, Nakamura, and Tanahashi. With WWE hiring like crazy for the roster split, one has to wonder if WWE is in his future or if he will return to TNA, where his ROH Generation Next team briefly reformed. New Japan would also be a fantastic match for his style, although one would think that if that was his goal, he would just continue with ROH.
Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez will have more on this news on the Wednesday night edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Last week on Impact, TNA President Dixie Carter and Maria Kanellis & Mike Bennett had a face-to-face confrontation, which resulted in Dixie slapping Maria across the face. Also, Bobby Lashley retained the World title by defeating Drew Galloway after Ethan Carter III accidentally hit Galloway with a chair. The other big news was the announcement that Gail Kim is the newest inductee into the TNA Hall Of Fame.
Tonight on Impact:
On tonight’s show, broken Matt Hardy goes one-on-one with Jeff Hardy in a six side of steel cage match in “Hardy’s Revenge”. Additionally, the show will likely address the fallout from Dixie’s confrontation with Maria & The Miracle.
Show Recap:
-We kick the night off with former TNA World Champ Drew Galloway. Drew says that EC3 is the reason he’s not world champion and calls him out. EC3 apologizes for costing Drew the title and says he accepts the blame. Drew doesn’t blame him, he wants to fight him. They argue about everything they’ve both done for TNA. EC3 rescinds his apology and Drew tells him he’s not an ass-kicker but an ass-kisser. They are about the fight each other when TNA champion Lashley comes out.
Both EC3 and Drew want to fight each other with the winner facing Lashley but he refuses it. Lashley informs them that he spoke with TNA management and Drew and EC3 will face Lashley and a partner. If Drew and EC3 win they get a title shot but if they lose, his partner will get the title shot. They agree and Lashley brings out his partner…King of the Mountain Champion Eli Drake.
TNA World Champion “The Destroyer” Bobby Lashley and King of The Mountain Champion Eli Drake vs. Drew Galloway and Ethan Carter III
Pretty good tag match. Josh and The Pope tried to explain how the stipulations for the match benefit Lashley. They said that it would be easier to face one guy instead of two on possibly consecutive nights.
The heels isolated EC3 in their corner and worked him over. Drew gets the hot tag and runs wild. Drew set up for the Claymore but Lashley cut him off. All four guys brawl in the ring. EC3 hits the One Percenter on Eli. Drew pushed EC3 out of the way and Lashley speared him. Drew took out Lashley and covered Eli to win the match. Both EC3 and Drew will receive title matches.
-In the back, Abyss and Crazy Steve ask Rosemary who she has been talking to. Apparently, she went to a mysterious person to help Decay. We’ll find out who it is next.
-Back from commercial, Lashley and Drew talk in the back. Lashley points out that he in control of Drew’s destiny because he can give the title shot to EC3 first.
-In the arena, Decay makes their way to the ring. Rosemary asks Crazy Steve and Abyss what they were before Decay. Crazy Steve used to be a voiceless clown and Abyss is now beautiful. Rosemary calls out Bram to the ring. Abyss and Steve don’t like that its Bram. Apparently, Decay wants Bram to join them. Bram says that Rosemary is kind of sexy but he’s no freak. He doesn’t do face paint. Steve spit the mist into Bram’s eyes and Decay jumps him. Rosemary told Bram that they’re not done with him.
-It’s now time for EC3 and Lashley to have their backstage confrontation. It’s similar to the one with Drew earlier. Lashley will let them know by the end of the night who he’ll defend the title against next week.
Jade vs. Marti Bell
Marti brings the weapon she used at Slammiversary to cost Jade the title. Jade teased using the same weapon but Earl stopped her. Jade had the advantage for the majority of the match until Marti blocked a package pile driver attempt. Jade went for a dive but Marti nailed her with the weapon to win the match.
-In the back, Maria and The Miracle are irate over what happen last week with Dixie. They’re going to deal with this in the ring.
-Back from commercial, Dixie approaches Lashley. Lashley flinched and mockingly asked Dixie if she was going to slap him. Dixie said, “don’t go there.” Dixie announced that Lashley will defend the title against both EC3 and Drew in next weeks main event.
-The Miracle and Maria are in the ring. The Miracle is upset because Dixie slapped Maria last week. Maria says she hasn’t slept and that it was an unprovoked attack. She called out Dixie to explain herself.
Dixie comes out with Billy Corgan. Dixie apologizes for letting Maria get to her and slapping Maria. Maria demands that Dixie step down as TNA President. The Miracle says his dad is a lawyer and he’s going to sue Dixie. Billy Corgan played a subtle heel and took Maria and The Miracles side although he denied that. Billy thinks that the heels are making good points and that Dixie has put the company in a tough position. Billy tells Dixie that she should take a leave of absence. Dixie walked away incredibly upset. Maria thanked Billy.
After Dixie leaves, The Miracle demands a world title shot from Billy. Bennett wants a title shot at Destination X. Billy noted that he and Miracle text each other sometimes. Billy tells Miracle he can have his title shot but he needs to be X Division champ. Billy makes Miracle challenging for the X Division title against Eddie Edwards next.
X Division Champion Eddie Edwards vs. “The Miracle” Mike Bennett w/ “The First Lady of Professional Wrestling” Maria Kanellis
As the match starts, Josh and The Pope remind us about Option C and that whomever is X Division champion by Destination X can trade the title in for a world title shot. Really good, fast paced match. The story of the match is that Miracle is trying to prove he can work the X Division style. Bennett attempted a springboard high-risk move but slipped and fell. Josh said he didn’t execute the move because he’s not a regular X Division guy. Miracle went for the M.I.P but Eddie slipped out. Miracle held onto the ropes and pinned Eddie. Miracle is the new X Division champion.
-In the back, The Miracle and Maria are in the middle of a photo shoot. Miracle promises to cash the title in and win the world title.
-In the locker room, Robbie E. is in the back waiting for Jesse Godderz. Robbie goes on Jesse’s Ipad. Robbie E. sees Jesse and Raquel having a secret meeting and Raquel tells Jesse not to tell Robbie.
-Braxton Sutter comes out for his match when Rockstar Spud interrupts.
Rockstar Spud vs. Braxton Sutter
Spud and Sutter have an impromptu match. Sutter misses a charge in the corner and Spud gets the brief advantage. Sutter makes his comeback and hits the flat liner to win the match.
Post match, Spud teases a babyface turn but low blows Sutter instead. Spud whips Sutter with his belt and leaves.
-Next we get a video package on the new TNA Knockout Champion Sienna. Her next goal is to eliminate future hall of famer Gail Kim
Six Sides Of Steel Cage – Broken Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy
Jeff came out first but before getting in the cage he went under the ring and filled the cage with a ladder, tables and chairs. The match can only end by pin or submission. Reby came out with Maxell on her back and introduced Broken Matt. She said not to call him crazy. Matt has new entrance music, which is a simple piano theme. Jeff jumps Matt to start the match. Matt gets the advantage with a running power bomb into the cage.
After commercial, Matt is still in control of the match. Matt used a ladder on Jeff and set up a table. Matt bit Jeff’s knee and hit the side effect on a chair. Jeff hit a twist of fate but Matt got right back to his feet. Jeff hit a second Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Jeff beat Matt with a chair but he kept getting back to his feet.
Jeff placed Matt on a table with chairs on top of Matt. Then he placed another table on top of Matt. Jeff climbed up the top tope and placed a ladder at the top. The ladder is wedged between the ring post and cage. Jeff climbed up the ladder and hit a Swanton on to the tables below. Jeff pinned Matt to win the match.
Next Time on Impact:
In Next week’s main event, Bobby Lashley will defend the World title against Drew Galloway and EC3 in a triple threat. Also, Sienna will defend the Knockout title against future Hall of Famer Gail Kim.
Here’s some notes on Wednesday’s TV tapings, courtesy of Jacob Cohen
These shows should air on 6/28 and 7/5.
– Braxton Sutter won an X Division Battle Royal to earn an X Division title shot. Afterwards, Shane Helms’ crew beat him down.
– Mike Bennett (who is the X champion after winning it Tuesday night after the show that aired last night was over) demanded the title match right away. Bennett then beat Sutter.
– Bram beat Rosemary via DQ as he wouldn’t fight her. She attacked him. He went to defend himself, but Abyss & Crazzy Steve ran in and attacked him. Rosemary stopped them and then started consoling Bram.
– Matt Hardy was in a wheelchair because of his beating in the cage match from Sunday, but he wants one more match with Jeff Hardy, but said he needs six weeks to recover from the last match. He proposes the loser gives up the Hardy name. Jeff agreed to the match. Fans started a “Yes” chant and Jeff acknowledged Daniel Bryan. Reby Sky and Jeff were arguing. Matt recovered suddenly got out of the wheelchair and attacked Jeff.. Matt then said the match would be in one week, but it won’t be at the Impact Zone, it’ll be at the ring at his house.
– Grado & Mahabali Shera & Tyrus beat Al Snow & Basille Baraka & Baron Dax
– TNA Champion Bobby Lashley won a three-way over Drew Galloway and EC3 to retain after the champ pinned EC3.
– Mike Bennett wants a match with Lashley for the title. Dixie Carter is back from her leave of absence (that didn’t last long but in the angle it was only one week) and said Bennett was disrespecting the X division title. Eventually, it was agreed he can cash in the X title for an TNA title shot if he retains the title one more time in an Ultimate X match against everyone.
– Eddie Edwards won Ultimate X and took the title back.
– James Storm beat KOTM Champion Eli Drake via DQ.
– Jade beat Marty Bell in a street fight
– Mike Bennett & Maria did an interview talking about how he was robbed of the title. Maria wanted Dixie to come out. Billy Corgan came out. Maria said she should be the President of TNA and told Corgan that either Dixie goes or she goes. Dixie then came out and said she wasn’t leaving, so Maria can leave. Bennett said they will both leave unless he gets a title match. Corgan said they are acting like spoiled children, and that Bennett had a title shot in the palm of his hands but he ruined it by losing. Corgan told them if they don’t like it here, they can leave. Bennett refused to quit, but said he will ruin Destination X.
– Jessie Godderz’s magic iPad found Rosemary and Bram making out. History says that doesn’t end well.
– Bro Mans & Raquel beat Abyss & Steve & Rosemary
It’s announced that at Destination X (likely the 7/12 show), TNA Champion Lashley and X-Division Champion Edwards will have a match and both titles will be at stake.
According to Pop TV, they will be replaying the Tuesday, June 14th episode of TNA Impact Wrestling at 9 PM EST Wednesday night due to the technical issues with airing the first-run show last night.
The show did air, but nearly two hours late in the U.S. It’s unclear what caused the problems but there were thunderstorms in Atlanta, GA, where the Pop TV transmitters are located. Of note, the show aired with no problems in Canada so it was not a problem with the show not being taped or not finished on time.
Here are results from the show which included the newest inductee announced for the TNA Hall of Fame. It was the first show after Sunday’s Slammiversary PPV where Bobby Lashley became the company’s new world champion.
Although billed as a live show, TNA actually tapes about two hours ahead of time when they bill the show as live. The company did tape a second show Tuesday, and are taping two more shows Wednesday before another expected round of tapings in July.
For the first time since October 2015, TNA Wrestling returns to world of pay-per-view with Slammiversary, the 12th such event in company history and the sixth held in Orlando, FL. The show is available on most major cable providers, as well as FITE.tv.
We’re looking for your thoughts on the show, so you can send a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.
For the second straight year, Drew Galloway finds himself in the main event as last year, he was involved in the King of the Mountain title five way. This year, he defends his title against a game challenger in Bobby Lashley who is looking to regain the title. Also on the show, the Hardy brothers do battle in a Full Metal Mayhem match and all of the organization’s titles are on the line.
X-DIVISION CHAMPION TREVOR LEE VS. EDDIE EDWARDS VS. DJ ZEMA ION VS. ANDREW EVERETT
This match was one big move after another — too much for the crowd at some times and getting them back in it for others. The finish saw Edwards win the title pinning Lee with an inside cradle as Lee went for his fisherman buster. Good opener. Gregory Helms was kicked out from ringside at the beginning after coming out with both Lee and Everett. Everett did a springboard twisting dive, took a backdrop onto the ring steps, and also did a super Frankensteiner off the top rope.
– EC 3 interview. He put over that Bennett was the first guy to pin him but that was a catalyst for becoming the best wrestler. Carter tried to get the fans to sing his song and only a few did.
– They showed a clip of Dixie Carter announcing Sting for the TNA Hall of Fame in 2012. They announced that the 2016 inductee would be on TV Tuesday night.
BARON DAX & BASILLE BARACKA (w/AL SNOW) VS. MAHABALI SHERA & GRADO
The match was really bad. The finish saw Dax have Shera over his knee like a backbreaker, and Baracka coming off the middle rope with a Bret Hart forearm. Snow uses a whistle as his gimmick which didn’t work 26 years ago with John Tolos and is only slightly better now. Snow’s gimmick is he wants wrestling to be great again. This match wasn’t a good example of that. Dax & Baracka are the former Marcus Louis & Sylvester Lefort from NXT with Lefort now sporting a shaved head.
– Gail Kim and Maria Kanellis are going back-and-forth in the back as they were supposed to wrestle but Kanellis has a broken hand. Kim said Kanellis is a liar, and said she’s wrestling with a bad knee. Billy Corgan is out as William Corgan. He said he’s got the X-rays and the hand was broken. Corgan, at first, seemed to be playing heel as he was wearing sunglasses. He showed the X-ray and said that the minute Maria is cleared, Gail will get the match. Maria said her hand may never heal and she may never be able. Corgan announced a triple-threat match with Sienna vs. Jade vs. Gail Kim for the Knockouts title and it’s starting…right now.
JADE VS. GAIL KIM VS. SIENNA FOR THE KNOCKOUTS TITLE
Another bad match. Gail had Sienna pinned with Eat Defeat but Allie pulled Kim’s leg. Kim attacked Allie and then went after Maria. Allie threw the belt in to Sienna but Marti Bell jumped in. Bell then turned on Jade and hit her with a cane, leading to Sienna pinning her. They did more than the prior match but the crowd wasn’t much into it and they tried cool moves but most of the stuff didn’t look crisp.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Bobby Lashley. He made Borash announce him as the new world champion.
JAMES STORM VS. BRAXTON SUTTER
Storm did an interview saying he’s been at every Slammiversary. He said 14 years ago a man gave punk kids like he, Abyss and A.J. Styles a chance. Storm said that people said he’d never make it. Fans were chanting Orlando. He said there’s a lot of guys who need an opportunity because 14 years ago, nobody knew James Storm.
This was a short and perfectly professional match that the crowd didn’t care about because they don’t know Sutter (the former Pepper Parks). Sutter survived both a backstabber and codebreaker, but was pinned after a superkick which was the one move that didn’t look good. Storm then drank beer with Sutter after the match. It felt like Storm was going to take him under his wing and then, one will turn on the other.
– Eli Drake interview with Borash. Drake is a really good promo. He called Bram a cross-eyed halfwit, and that Eli Drake is perpetual bad assery.
– They showed a clip of Dixie Carter inducting Kurt Angle into the Hall of Fame. With the exception of Earl Hebner, everyone in their Hall of Fame is gone from the company.
KING OF THE MOUNTAIN CHAMPION ELI DRAKE VS. BRAM
Not much to this at all. They did a few countout teases. The big spot was Drake giving Bram a backdrop on the floor after Bram had taken the mats off previously. Bram used a DDT, which they call the Brighter Side Of Suffering, but Drake rolled out of the ring. Drake got back in, hit a clothesline and got the pin.
– Mike Bennett interview. He said he was the best wrestler on the planet and has the hottest wife in TNA. At least the second one, you can make a good argument for.
ETHAN CARTER III VS. MIKE BENNETT
Carter won with a TKO on a chair and the One Percenter. The crowd was into it at the end, but this was a tough crowd for obvious reasons and also because most are people who don’t watch the TV and don’t know the stories. They both worked hard. Bennett kicked out of the first One Percenter. The second time, Maria threw in a chair, which distracted ref Brian Hebner so he didn’t start the count for several seconds. Bennett used his Miracle In Progress (Michinoku driver on a chair), but the ref was distracted and slow in counting. Carter kicked out of a piledriver. Not a great match, but easily the best since the opener.
– Matt Hardy did his preacher interview.
MATT HARDY VS. JEFF HARDY IN A FULL METAL MAYHEM MATCH
They did a ton of weapons. Both worked real hard. The match story is that the new Matt kept kicking out of everything including a Twist of Fate and senton as well as a Twist of Fate through a table. The finish saw Jeff come off the top rope, jumping over the post, and put Matt through a table, pinning him on the floor as it was falls count anywhere rules. Lots of ladder spots. Jeff opened a ladder that stretched from one side of the rope to the other, and Jeff put Matt through the ladder off the top. Matt powerbombed Jeff through a keyboard set up bridging the apron to the guard rail. The problem was there was little reaction to some of the insane kickouts.
– Decay interview.
TNA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS DECAY (ABYSS & CRAZZY STEVE) VS. BROMANS (ROBBIE E & JESSIE GODDERZ)
Rosemary is in the Decay corner and Raquel in the BroMans corner. Abyss & Steve retained as Abyss gave Jessie a Black Hole Slam and then powerbombed Steve on top of him. All action, good match. Robbie & Jessie are very underrated as a team, particularly with Jessie’s athletic ability. He had Steve in the Boston crab/Adonis crab twice and Steve tapped, but the ref had mist blown in his eyes the first time and missed the tap. The second time, Abyss saved him. The women also got involved for a spot.
– Drew Galloway said he’s worked 16 years to be the world champion in the main event on PPV. He said he’s been defending this title in multiple companies, and said he tapped out Kurt Angle so he sure as hell can beat Bobby Lashley.
TNA WORLD CHAMPION DREW GALLOWAY VS. BOBBY LASHLEY — KNOCKOUT OR SUBMISSION ENDS IT
Real good match. Lashley won the title clean in the middle when Galloway passed out from a head and arm choke. They kept the shenanigans out of this one. Galloway was bleeding afer missing a running flip dive and crashing through a table. Galloway came back and used a tombstone piledriver, but he missed the running kick and Lashley hit a big punch that led to him putting on the choke. Galloway used moves like an Emerald Fusion and a sharpshooter — both on the ring steps.
We’ll talk more about this show tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio.
Last week on Impact, Ethan Carter III was put in charge for the night. He had failed on his Road To Redemption and made a rematch with The Miracle for Slammiversary. Also, Matt and Jeff Hardy were featured in a series of very unique videos revolving a contract signing at Matt’s home in North Carolina and ended after Reby threw a fake doll at Jeff. This distraction allowed Matt to put Jeff through a table, which was done in slow motion.
Tonight on Impact:
Tonight’s Impact is the go-home show for Slammiversary this Sunday night. All the key matches are set and the rest of the card should be filled out by the end of the night. In tonight’s main event, The Miracle and Maria take on EC3 and Gail Kim in a tag match. Additionally, Sienna and Madison Rayne go one on one to determine the number one contender for the Knockouts title on Sunday.
Show Recap:
– We kick the night off with the deranged and twisted Matt Hardy making his way to the ring. Josh Matthews reminds us that we’re 5 days away from Slammiversary.
Matt took the mic and basically repeated everything he said for the last few weeks. He’s broken and it’s Jeff’s fault. He recaps the angle from last week and tells us that Jeff is out of his life. Matt wants his World title back and calls out current champion Drew Galloway. It must be noted that Drew has been really good in his role. Without saying anything, he was able to show that the new Matt disturbs him. Matt wants to be added to the main event at Slammiversary but Drew refuses and instead gives him a title shot tonight. It’s official for tonight; Drew defends the TNA title against Matt in the main event.
– TNA Knockout Champion Jade comes out and takes a seat at ringside so she can get a better view of the next match.
#1 Contenders Match Sienna w/ Allie vs. Madison Rayne
Madison is introduced before the commercial. When we come back, Allie and Sienna are on their way to the ring. Allie is doing the intro for Sienna as they walk to the ring. Allie reminds Jade that if she interferes, Madison will be disqualified. On commentary, Josh tells us that next week they will reveal the 2016 TNA Hall of Fame Inductee.
Sienna dominated the match with power moves until Madison made a brief comeback. Sienna used her finisher, which The Pope called the “AK-47” to put away Madison and become the number one contender. Post match, Jade and Sienna brawled with Jade getting the better of Sienna.
– Backstage, The Miracle and Maria recapped their respective feuds. They take on their Slammiversary opponents next.
– Next we get a video package on the Galloway vs. Lashley feud that is very well done. It recapped Drew winning the title, pushing Lashley as a killer and recapped all of thier wild brawls. They’ve done a really good job with the build to this match.
– Next we get a glimpse of Willow laughing. The announcers didn’t acknowledge it at all. Does anyone know where Jeff Hardy is?
– Now we get a video of King of The Mountain Champion Eli Drake on top of a mountain. He mentioned tonight’s Fact of Life Championship Edition.
– Back in the ring, its time for Fact of Life. Eli recapped winning the KOTM title and let us know that Bram will get his rematch Sunday. Eli introduced his guests, the TNA Tag Champs, Decay. So far, Eli has not used that ridiculous “Dummy, Yeah” Button. Decay discusses their match on Sunday until the challengers, BroMans, interrupt them. Josh and The Pope say that BroMans have a new look because they have a new manager. There was nothing new about them.
BroMans bring out Grado and Mahabali Shera to even the odds. Eli started using the “Dummy, Yeah” button and kept pressing the button over and over. Is there anything more annoying? Yes, there is and its Al Snow with a whistle. The Tribunal ran out and a huge brawl broke out. Al Snow was acting like a coach blowing on his whistle (insert dirty joke here). Bram joined the brawl and we cut to commercial.
The Tribunal (Basille Baracca & Baron Dax) w/ Al Snow, Decay (Abyss & Crazy Steve) w/ Rosemary and Eli Drake vs. Bram, Grado, Mahabali Shera and BroMans (Robbie E. and Jesse Godderz) w/Raquel
– We come back from commercial and a ten men tag match is in progress. All these teams are involved in matches at Slammiversary. The Pope says that he talked to Al Snow earlier and he wants to be known as “The Coach”. Al blew on the whistle the entire match. It was very similar to John Tolos’s “Coach” gimmick when he was briefly in the WWE.
Robbie hit a cross body off the top onto Decay and Jesse on the floor. Bram runs wild on The Tribunal and clears them from the ring. Eli uses a low blow and pins Grado to win the match for his team.
– In the back, Jeremy Borash interviews EC3 and Gail Kim. Like every week, EC3 cuts an awesome promo. He gets better and better each week.
– Backstage, Lashley approached Matt who was randomly kneeling. Matt again mentioned that Jeff is gone forever. Lashley isn’t letting anyone stand in the way of his title match on Sunday.
– The Miracle, Maria and Allie made their way to the ring. Maria has a bag with her.
– Next we get an UFC style weigh-in for the EC3 vs. The Miracle match for Slammiversary hosted by Joe Rogan…er…Josh Matthews. Of course it ended in a brawl.
Ethan Carter III and Gail Kim vs. “The Miracle” Mike Bennett and “The First Lady of Professional Wrestling” Maria Kanellis
Before the match, Maria takes the mic and announces that she will not participate in the match. Instead, her assistant Allie will take her place. Allie is surprised but luckily Maria brought Allie’s gear.
The Miracle teased starting the match with EC3 but he tagged out to Allie. Allie screeched at the top of her lungs until EC3 told her to shut up. Gail Kim tagged in and dominated Allie until Maria tripped up Gail. The guys tagged in and EC3 ran wild on The Miracle. EC3 sent Miracle to the outside. Allie attacked EC3, who no sold every slap. Gail hit a cross body onto Maria and Allie from the top to the outside. EC3 chased The Miracle to the back after Miracle tried to use a chair. Gail rolled up Allie to win the match for her team.
Post match, Sienna joined Allie and Maria in a beat down of Gail. They place Gail’s knee in a chair and Maria hit it with another chair.
– Before the commercial, we get another short glimpse of Willow, which the announcers didn’t acknowledge.
– In the back, we see Braxton Sutter warming up. Josh informs us that he’ll make his debut later tonight.
TNA X Division Champion Trevor Lee w/Gregory Shane Helms vs. Eddie Edwards
As Eddie made his way to the ring, we get a recap of Eddie getting screwed out of the X Division title 2 weeks ago in Ultimate X. Eddie and Lee brawled around ringside to start the match. They have a really good back and forth competitive match. These two should really be on Impact more often. It was full of fast paced action with intense shots and highflying moves.
Eddie was on top when Andrew Everett pushed him off but Lee only got a near fall. DJ Z came out but Helms took him out with a vicious shot. Helms hit Eddie with the X Division title and Lee pinned him to retain the title.
– In the back, Lashley and Galloway had a face to face. Drew said that if he can make Kurt Angle tap he could do the same to Lashley.
– Back from commercial, Gail is being checked on in the back. She’s in agonizing pain.
– We see the video of Braxton Sutter from last week. He wants to be world champion eventually.
Braxton Sutter debuts
They make a big deal out of Braxton’s debut. He seems very nervous which Josh and The Pope point out. This was a good debut for Sutter. It was basically a squash match. Sutter uses the downward spiral to win.
After the match, J.B. interviewed Sutter at ringside. The fans gave him a great reaction. He said he was going to be at Slammiversary. He ended the segment by saying, “its no B.S”, which are his initials.
– Next we get a typical Willow promo in the back.
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway vs. Matt Hardy
The Pope and Josh point out that they haven’t heard from Jeff but they did just see Willow.
Drew and Matt always have good matches against each other. Drew gave Matt a backbreaker on the apron and then Matt gave Drew a side effect on the stairs. Matt is in control of the match until Drew counters a submission attempt by Matt. Drew set up for the Claymore when Lashley ran in for the DQ. Pope explained that Lashley interfered because he wants to be the one to beat Drew.
Lashley and Drew brawled around ringside and to the back.
Matt’s in the ring and saying that he should be champion. The lights went out and when they came back on the fans in the front are all wearing Willow Masks. This freaked out Matt. Then four guys wearing Willow masks came out. Willow cut a promo on the big screen. Then Jeff’s music hit and Jeff Hardy came out, not Willow. Jeff and Matt brawl in the ring to end the show.
Next Time on Impact:
Next week on a live edition Impact, the show will revolve around the fallout and aftermath from Slammiversary. Plus, next week they’ll reveal the 2016 inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame.
