Notes from Leon Peters and Peter Troiano from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
Superstars:
– Jack Swagger defeated Tyler Breeze. This was a fun 10-12 minute match. Swagger won clean pin via Swagger Bomb
Main Event:
– Ryback defeated Fandango after the Shellshock.
Smackdown (airing Wednesday in Canada and Thursday in the U.S.):
– AJ Styles defeated Heath Slater (with Axel, Dallas & Rose in his corner). Even with the building still not full, there was a big reaction and chants for AJ. Clean pin for Styles with the springboard forearm.
– D-Von Dudley (with Bubba Ray) defeated Jey Uso (with Jimmy Uso) after hitting a spinebuster.
– Dean Ambrose defeated Erick Rowan (with Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman) after hitting Dirty Deeds. Bray and Strowman went backstage after their entrance.
There was no post-show dark match. It was a long night of wrestling and people were drained by the end.
The WWE’s final two honorees for the Hall of Fame ceremony will be Snoop Dogg and Joan Lunden.
Snoop Dogg, who is related to Sasha Banks and has been on WWE television a few times over the years, will be the celebrity inductee. It had been rumored within wrestling for weeks and reported in past Wrestling Observer Newsletters that they were talking, and in wrestling circles, the belief was that it was a done deal.
Also reported at the time was Lunden, who will receive the Warrior award.
While the Snoop Dogg announcement was made via email, John Cena made the announcement on Lunden Monday morning on The Today Show. Lunden will be presented with the award on Saturday night by Dana, the widow of the Ultimate Warrior. Lunden, best known for her hosting Good Morning America was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, and very publicly battled through chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
“It is truly humbling to be honored by WWE and receive this year’s Warrior Award at the 2016 Hall of Fame induction ceremony,” said Lunden to WWE.com. “After being diagnosed with cancer, my first thought was to survive, but soon after, I changed my focus from my cancer to the fight against cancer, and my life took on a whole new purpose. WWE has welcomed me into their family, offering me warmth and support, as have so many of the WWE fans from around the world. It is a privilege to receive this honor.”
The ceremony will air live on the WWE Network with an edited verson airing on post-Mania Thursday after Smackdown on USA.
This story was updated Saturday evening with new details:
Preston City Wrestling owner Steven Fludder announced Saturday that he was told that Ethan Carter III was being pulled by TNA from his show on WrestleMania Sunday. The original booking was made by EC 3 and not by TNA, so this was a completely independent booking of which TNA was possibly unaware.
From Fludder:
“It saddens me to announce that TNA have issued the withdrawal of EC3/Ethan Carter from our April 3rd PCW show. The other international talent booked being Ken Anderson, Jade, Eddie Kingston and Cedric Alexander are all still confirmed to appear. WrestleMania weekend is the hardest time of the year to secure a replacement talent, but I have worked hard to secure somebody and subject to him finding his passport we may have another guest from the USA.
“I did reach out to TNA management, but was told, `Unfortunately nothing can be done. This is a network commitment and something he had no control over Considering TNA was publicly vocal about not being happy when AJ Styles pulled out of an agreement with them, it does seem double standards to me that the company would ask talent to back out of a deal that has been in place for many weeks.
“I have lost out financially, having paid for an extensive promotional campaign with EC3 clearly front and centre promoting his appearance, but most of all I feel for fans who have used their hard earned money and booked travel to see/meet EC3.
We have gone above and beyond to try to secure a replacement in tough times for those fans but it is a shame that when asked for assistance, TNA told us, `nothing can be done.’
I will in the future be thinking twice about using TNA talent to avoid repeat scenarios, as even WWE respects that when a date is agreed it is agreed to do not try to pull talent from it. I try to give my fans more than value for money and will continue to do so but even though I do take full responsibility for the change in the lineup, you know I will always be honest with you all.”
The TNA side of the story is that this was a booking made directly through Michael Hutter (Ethan Carter III) and it wasn’t theirs. They said that Hutter’s flight had not been purchased and as of Wednesday, he had not been paid a deposit. They also said Hutter had made an offer to make things up for being pulled late.
TNA had something come up for Hutter, but it was not said what it was other than it involved ECIII and James Storm, which will cause Storm to miss an appearance at WrestleCon. In the case with Storm, the booking was through TNA, the promoter had paid everything in full that was required and booked the flights, but TNA and Wrestlecon reportedly reached an agreeable solution to the product.
Under normal circumstances, if the booking was done through TNA, the company should try and send an adequate replacement, but with much of TNA’s top talent like the Hardys and Drew Galloway booked over WrestleMania weekend, that would be difficult. Bobby Lashley is booked in Mexico but that’s on the Wednesday prior to the Sunday.
In fairness, when it comes to WWE, similar situations have happened where major talent has had to pull out of outside commitments based on last minute changes in plans or things that come up.
Editor’s note: This was the show that was scheduled to be Daniel Bryan Appreciation Night, but was changed last minuted because of Bryan “asking for time off”.
Submitted by Mike Omansky
– Dolph Ziggler def. The Miz
Superkick and pin, in a fast paced back and forth opener.
– U.S. Champion Kalisto def. Rusev (w/Lana)
The finish was Rusev taking padding off the turnbuckle, throwing Kalisto into it, who then jumped up to use the Salido Del Sol finisher for the win.
After the match, Ryback came out and attacked Kalisto. Sin Cara ran in to make the save. Ryback returned to grab the microphone, and said that Kalisto and Sin Cara need to understand that a big man beats a little man every time and wanted a match with Sin Cara right now.
– Ryback def. Sin Cara
ShellShock and pin in under 3 minutes. No offense by Sin Cara.
– Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks def. Naomi and Tamina
Banks beat Naomi with a back stabber followed by the Banks Statement submission. Standard divas fare.
– Big Show & Kane def. Erick Rowan & Bray Wyatt (w/Braun Strowman)
Show uses knockout punch on Rowan. Kane, the legal man, used a chokeslam to get the pin. Fans were into the match. Wyatt looked good, and had strong offense on Show. Strowman interfered a few times along the way.
– Divas Champion Charlotte (with Ric Flair) def. Natalya in a non-title match
Charlotte rolled her up after a distraction on the apron from Ric.
– After this match, a special ring announcer for the next match was introduced: former WWE broadcaster and current ESPN on-air talent Jonathan Coachman.
Coachman said that he was asked to come back to WWE, and wanted to do it at MSG. He then wanted to introduce his friends, the Dudleyz. Dudleyz came to the ring, and Coachman said a number of fans had a question for them: “Where are the tables?” Bubba Ray became incensed, threatened Coachman; and out came the Usos.
– WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods & Big E) w/Kofi def. The Dudley Boyz and The Usos in a triple threat to retain the titles.
After all six were involved at the end, Xavier came off the top rope onto Devon for the pin. Long match, but pretty good. Fans were into New Day who got a face pop coming in and leaving. After the match, Coachman jumped back into the ring with New Day, took off his shirt to reveal a New Day shirt underneath, and danced with them.
– I-C Champion Kevin Owens def. AJ Styles to retain.
Finish was a pop-up power bomb and pin after an excellent wrestling clinic. Styles was well received, as was Owens. Match was full of good moves and counter moves. Crowd was getting tired, but still clearly into the match. Loads of classic Styles moves. Best match of the night. After the match, Owens wanted to attack Styles again, who of course tossed him around, Styles then took the mic to thank the fans and say that the Madison Square Garden atmosphere is everything that he has always heard about it.
– Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose def. WWE Champion HHH & Sheamus
Reigns pinned Sheamus with a sphere for the win. He got a mixed reaction coming in, although a little more cheers than boos. During the match, he was cheered once at a hot tag, but booed heavily hitting Sheamus, and another sequence against HHH. Ambrose got a huge reaction coming in. HHH also got a face reaction coming in. HHH at first didn’t want to face Reigns, but did come in when tagged to attack him. Good match overall.
Notes:
– The show lasted 3:30 including intermission. The crowd began tiring out by last two matches. However, they were still into them both.
– Return date: Saturday, July 16th – Tickets on sale after show at box office, and via Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster presale code: WWE GARDEN
Officially announcing what has been known for more about a year, WWE announced Friday that TMDK (The Mighty Don’t Kneel), a popular tag team from Japan, has signed with the company.
The team is made up of Michael Nicholls (Mikey Nicholls) and Shane Veryzer (Shane Haste), the top foreign tag team in Pro Wrestling NOAH until the arrival of the Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.) from New Japan as part of the Suzuki-gun invasion in early 2015.
The two had reached an agreement last year to leave NOAH for WWE in 2015, but in working out their contract with NOAH, Haste suffered a knee injury that required surgery which put everything on hold. Nicholls & Haste returned to NOAH earlier this month for their farewell tour earlier this month.
The team was named Best Tag Team in Japan in 2013, a very difficult honor for a foreign team to win. They twice held the GHC tag team championship, and had a super hot series of matches for the titles with Masato Tanaka & Takashi Sugiura, the Dangan Yankees.
Both originally came from Perth, Western Australia and wrestled for years on the Australian independent scene before starting as regulars in Japan after passing a tryout in 2011.
In a Youtube-exclusive match, Joey Ryan entered Aztec Warfare 2 by stealing a win. It was a pretty entertaining match, and includes more of Vampiro comparing Joey Ryan to ’70s porn stars. Pentagon Jr. tells Fenix he will take his title. Catrina tells him that his master may be dark, but he doesn’t know darkness – and we see her flash into a skeleton briefly. She tells him he isn’t in Aztec Warfare, and he says he has zero fear – she tells him that’s only because he doesn’t know true fear. Catrina tells Fenix he will breathe his last breath, while Mil Muertes will reclaim his title.
A large tribal celebration takes place while the crowd chants “aztec warfare!” Striker and Vampiro welcome us to the show, and Vamp is wearing a checkered shirt and not a hoodie or T-shirt for the first time ever on the show. It’s a bit weird. Fenix comes out while Striker comes up with 5,000 superlatives to describe him. Famous B and his date are here, in a white suit with a gold tie and a white dress with a gold feather boa respectively. Rey comes down and gets a huge reaction. Surprisingly, he isn’t in his El Rey gear that he had on URFight. Fenix moves aside to let Rey get his props and another big chant breaks out.
Fenix hugs Rey and they go to a tie-up. Lucha tumbling sequence sets up a revolving door headscissor. Fenix gets 2 off of one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen – a back-handspring Japanese armdrag. King Cuerno comes in and kicks both guys before hitting the Arrow of Death dive to Fenix on the floor. Rey kicks him off the apron to the floor and hits his Slip ‘n Slide splash under the ropes to the floor. Argenis returns and superkicks Fenix and Rey, getting a 2 on the latter. 619 hits Argenis and the frog splash hits to take Argenis out. Fenix dropkicks Cuerno to the floor and Johnny Mundo comes down before a commercial break.
We come back to Mundo walking down the steps – so we’ve missed nothing in-ring. Rey and Mundo face off and Mundo sends him into the corner with an uppercut. Fenix comes in and kicks Mundo into the corner before hitting a jumping yakuza kick. Joey Ryan comes down and Fenix gets 2 off a pair of kicks. Striker’s badly-edited voice work tells us that Joey won a qualifier, and Joey handcuffs himself to the barricade so he can’t be eliminate. Cuerno superkicks him for being an idiot. Famous B gives Joey one of his golden business cards. Prince Puma comes down and hits a giant jumping lariat to Fenix. Flying cutter to Cuerno! Double-jump SSP to a pile of luchadors on the floor! Sidewinder suplex is countered into a rana by Cuerno. Rey gets a cross armbreaker to Cuerno and he taps out!
Well, I sure didn’t see that coming. Jack Evans comes in and eats a beating. Rey climbs on Fenix’s shoulders for a splash onto Evans. Mundo pulls him to safety. Taya comes in as the first female entrant in Aztec Warfare this year. The remaining rudos and tecnicos get into a fist fight. Taya and Jack hold Rey down for the End of the World, but Cage (who is still a machine) comes down. He no-sells a dropkick from Evans and clotheslines him to death for a break.
Cage attacks Johnny before Taya tries to save him. She eats a nasty slam, and then Cage is tossed through Catrina’s office window. Mascarita Sagrada comes down and Cage recovers and lariats Johnny to Hell. Weapon X on the floor to Mundo! Puma hits a standing SSP to Mundo mid-ring to take him out. Marty the Moth comes down and Vamp asks if they should have a Most Creepy Title just for Marty and Joey. Marty takes off his shirt and swivels his hips before kicking Sagrada down. Eans hits a tornado kick, but Marty doesn’t feel it. Marty fishhooks Jack’s face before Drago comes down and we go to a break.
Evans goes for a Space Flying Tiger Drop, as you do, and Dragon sidesteps and kicks him. He kicks Joey as well and Drago fights with Jack in the crowd. Rey splashes Marty and takes him out of the match. Evans eats a crazy backdrop to the floor and hands face-first. The Mack comes down and hits a stunner on Marty. Cage and Mack slug it out and Mack hits a flying knee to send him down. Stunner to Cage while Puma chops Joey. Taya attacks Sagrada and Chavo comes down.
Drago apparently powerbombed Evans on the steps, but we didn’t see it. Well, he’ll regret that later for sure. Chavo locks on the camel clutch to take out Sagrada in an homage to Gory. Taya prevents a 619 to Cage and Mundo hits Cage in the head with a cinder block to take him out. Fenix German Suplexes Taya to take her out. PJ Black comes down and suplexes Drago on the steps. Drago tosses PJ’s face into the post. Aero Star returns from outer space and kicks PJ while Joey tells Aero to eliminate PJ. CANADIAN DESTROYER OFF THE TOP TO JACK EVANS takes him out.
Dragon Azteca Jr. comes down and dives onto the pile. Azteca makes use of his wacky kung fu training to kick PJ a few times. OVER THE POST SOMERSAULT DIVE TO MACK ON THE FLOOR. Texano comes down for an ad break. Texano hits a flip dive onto a pile on the floor. PJ hits a double stomp to the back of Texano for 2. Texano lands a powerbonb and eliminates PJ. Mil Muertes comes down as Striker calls him “The Dangerous Precipitation”. Pentagon Jr. jumps him and Rey and Puma double team Mil to pin him. Catrina yells at Vampiro to get the f*ck out of here.
Dario Cueto returns on the ramp and says THIS IS HIS TEMPLE and he’s the boss. He announces Matanza as the next entrant and the crowd goes crazy. As the graphic states, The Monster Matanza Cueto comes down. Matanza takes out Fenix with a rewind powerslam – guaranteeing a new champion. Mack’s stunner is no-sold a sick head-landing German gets the win for Matanza. Another German beats Aero Star! Texano chokes him with the rope, but the same powerbomb Texano used pins him here. He eyes a trapped Joey Ryan and rips the bars to free him so he can kick his ass. Multiple Karelin lift gutwrench suplexes beat Joey Ryan! Matanza is essentially a top 20 moves video on Youtube, and it’s fantastic for a movie monster character.
Dragon hits kicks and elbows and a springboard dropkick slightly budges him before a huge Giant-style chokeslam takes Dragon Azteca Jr. out. Chavo talks to Cueto to make a deal, but Cueto tells him to off him. STANDING SSP BY MATANZA TAKES OUT CHAVO! Puma and Rey attack Matanza, but Rey gets tossed to the floor. A forklift-style fallaway slam and a German take out Puma! It’s down to Rey and Matanza for the Lucha Underground Title. Rey tries to use speed, but a big lariat takes him out.
Rey kicks the knees, then the balls while Striker quotes Jebediah Springfield. An enzuiguri sets up the 619, but Matanza catches him! Rey finally hits it and sends him down! A rana off the top is met with a powerbomb into a rewind powerslam for the win! Cueto proudly declares that his brother is now the Lucha Underground Champion. This wasn’t as good an overall match as the first Aztec Warfare, but it still flew by and was a far better Rumble match than any Royal Rumbles have been this decade. Matanza was booked flawlessly, and unlike every other “monster” character of the past 20 years, actually busted out athletically-impressive offense beyond chokes, chokeslams, and lariats. They made him a very unique monster act and did more to make him a star in one night with him than TNA has done in 13 years with Abyss. To see all the screenshots for the show, just click here.
Last week on Impact, Drew Galloway shocked everyone in the Impact Zone when he cashed in his Feast or Fired World Title contract and defeated Matt Hardy for the TNA World Title. This was after Hardy had defended the title against Ethan Carter III and Jeff Hardy in a tripe threat match. Also, “The Destroyer” Lashley bullied Josh Matthews around and then speared The Pope to cement his heel turn.
Tonight on Impact:
On tonight’s Impact, Drew Galloway makes his first appearance as the new TNA World Champion. Additionally, TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money issues an open challenge to any tag team from the past or present for the tag gold.
Show Recap:
–We kick the night off with the new TNA World Champion Drew Galloway making his way to the ring. Josh Matthews and The Pope welcome us to the show and to the Impact Zone. The Pope is back at commentary after being taken out by “The Destroyer” Lashley last week.
Drew talks about the show last week and winning the world title. He makes a proclamation that he wants everyone to look at Impact and at the TNA world title differently. He paraphrases a quote from JFK and says, “don’t ask what the title can do for you, ask what you can do for the world title.” Drew promises to put TNA on the map again.
Matt Hardy, Reby, Tyrus and Rockstar Spud interrupt Drew. Matt’s furious over Drew “stealing” his world title. He says it’s such a crime he should have called the cops. Matt is demanding his return title match tonight. This brings out Matt’s brother, Jeff Hardy. Jeff feels that he deserves a title shot more than Matt. Jeff and Matt argue back and forth when suddenly, Eric Young and Bram attack Jeff outside the ring. Inside the ring, Matt, Tyrus and Spud jump Drew. Bram and EY set up a table on the outside. EY started to set up Jeff for the piledriver off the ring apron through the table and then we cut to commercial.
Back from commercial break, Jeff fights off EY and everyone brawls in the ring. EY sets up to piledrive Drew off the apron through the table when Ethan Carter III runs down and makes the save. EC3 also wants a world title shot. This brings out “Miracle” Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis. Surprise of the night, Mike Bennett also wants a world title shot. TNA President Dixie Carter comes out because there aren’t enough people in this segment. Dixie announces that everyone will participate in a number one contenders gauntlet match later.
-Backstage, Beer Money is walking to the ring trying to guess who will accept the open challenge tonight. They mention past teams from TNA including: L.A.X, Triple X and Pac-Man Jones and Truth. They laugh at the mention of the last team. Storm guesses America’s Most Wanted. Roode points out that’ll be impossible for Storm to face himself.
-Back from commercial, Jeremy Borash is backstage and discuses tonight’s gauntlet match. A tumbler is already set up backstage and J.B brings in Mike Bennett to choose his number for tonight’s gauntlet match.
-Back in the arena, Beer Money makes their way to the ring. Storm rides to the ring on the boozer cruiser again. Robbie E. and Jess Godderz reunite BroMans and accept the open challenge.
TNA Tag Team Champions Beer Money (James Storm & Bobby Roode) vs. BroMans (Jesse Godderz & Robbie E)
BroMans gets the advantage on Beer Money by isolating Storm. James makes the hot tag to Roode who runs wild. Jesse gets the Boston crab on Roode but Storm saves him with a super kick. Beer Money hits the DWI on Robbie E. for the pin and the win.
-Backstage, Decay cuts another creepy promo. Decay challenges Eddie to a street fight.
-Back from commercial and in the back, J.B welcomes us back but EY and Bram interrupt him. They pick their numbers and suddenly Willow (Jeff Hardy’s alter ego) appears and disappears. EY notices and freaks out.
-Eddie Edwards makes his way down to the ring and grabs the mic. He calls out any member of Decay for a fight.
Street Fight: Eddie Edwards vs. Crazy Steve w/Decay (Abyss and Rosemary)
As Decay make their way to the ring Eddie Edwards runs out and brawls with Crazy Steve on the ramp. Crazy Steve gets the advantage after tripping Eddie up on the steel steps. Steve and Rosemary throw several chairs into the ring. Steve sets up a chair in each corner of the ring. Eddie turns things around on Steve and ends up throwing him head first into each chair. Steve and Rosemary collide and Eddie rolls up Crazy Steve for the three count.
-Backstage, Maria Kanellis cuts a prom on Knockouts champ Gail Kim. She promise that the action she going to take next is going to change the Knockouts division.
-Back from commercial, Dixie Carter is talking to “The Destroyer” Lashley backstage. She mentions that Lashley is lucky to only get a fine for attacking Josh Matthews. She gives Lashley what he wants but neither mention exactly that is.
-Jeff Hardy and EC3 both cut a promo setting up tonight’s main event. They both pick their numbers and seem happy with what they chose.
TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim vs. “The First Lady of Professional Wrestling” Maria Kanellis
This match doesn’t end up happening. Gail Kim and Maria Kanellis make their way to the ring. Maria grabs the mic and brings out The Dollhouse. Maria tells The Dollhouse that they all have so much potential but lacked the proper leadership. She tells them to break up The Dollhouse and become women. Maria went to TNA management and asked them if she could give her title shot to a member of The Dollhouse. Maria orders The Dollhouse to compete in a triple threat. They argue with Maria as we cut to commercial.
Jade vs. Marti Bell vs. Rebel
Back from commercial and the match is in progress. Maria joins Josh and The Pope on commentary. She’s giving up her title shot at Gail Kim to the winner of this match. Apparently, The Dollhouse is no more and breaking up. The crowd is a bit dead for this match. Jade and Marti double-team Rebel. Both try to pin her and use a double submission on her. They argue about who should beat Rebel. Rebel makes a come back against both.
On commentary, Maria promises to change the Knockouts Division. Pope mentions that he has Maria’s Playboy. Marti powerbombs Rebel, who hits a superplex on Jade off the top rope. Jade pins both Marti Bell and Rebel to win the match to become the number one contender for the TNA title.
-In the back, Matt Hardy, Tyrus and Spud choose their numbers for the main event. Matt went first and didn’t like his number. Matt then looked at Spud’s number and switched with Spud.
-Back from commercial, Grado and Mahabali Shera discuss the party they’re going to have next week to celebrate Grado getting his job back with TNA. Shera mentions that Odarg The Great owes him fifty dollars. Grado says Odarg owes him fifty-five dollars. Apparently, Shera is the only person not to know Grado and Odarg are the same person despite being Grado/Odarg’s only friend.
-Next we get a flashback from last week of the closing moments of the triple threat title match and Drew Galloway winning the World title.
-TNA World Champion Drew Galloway comes down to the ring again. He mentions that there’s going to be “no more talking” and more action from now on. “The Destroyer” Lashley makes his way down to the ring. Lashley has a brief stare down with The Pope. Josh thanks Pope for saving him last week. Lashley takes the mic and the crowd chants, “no more talking”. They argue and Lashley announces that Dixie has agreed to put him in the gauntlet match. Drew is tired of the talking and wants to fight Lashley. Suddenly, the lights go out and EC3 is the second entrant in the match.
Gauntlet Match: “The Destroyer” Lashley, Ethan Carter III, Rockstar Spud, “Miracle” Mike Bennett, Eric Young, Tyrus, Bram, Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy
The match has the same format as The Royal Rumble. EC3 and Lashley are the first two entrants and start the match off. Number 3 is Rockstar Spud and EC3 beats him all over the ring. Lashley attacks EC3 from behind. Spud and Lashley double-team EC3. Number 4 is Mike Bennett. Lashley stares down Bennett but Spud convinces Lashley that all three should work together which they do. The next entrant is Eric Young who attacks everyone. Tyrus is the next entrant and as he makes his way to the ring, EC3 tosses Spud out of the ring for the first elimination.
Back from commercial, Bram is now in the match as Lashley runs wild and knocks everyone down. Lashley eliminates Tyrus after hitting the spear. EY and Bram try to double team Lashley but Lashley is able to eliminate both. As Lashley poses, The Pope leaves commentary and eliminates Lashley. The Pope and Lashley fight to the back. Matt Hardy is the next entrant and he exchanges shots with EC3 right away. Matt and Bennett double-team EC3. Jeff Hardy is the final entrant and runs wild attacking everyone in sight.
We’re down to the final four, which are EC3, Mike Bennett, Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy. Bennett charges EC3 who drops down and Bennett goes to the outside for the elimination. Bennett then helps Matt Hardy eliminate EC3. The final two are Matt and Jeff Hardy. They exchange shots back and forth. The crowd is solidly behind Jeff. Matt tosses Jeff over the top but he hangs on. Jeff then back drops Matt over the top rope and to the outside to win the match.
Post match, Jeff celebrates in the ring and TNA Champion Drew Galloway stands on the ramp. They have a stare down to end the show.
Next Week on Impact:
Next week, Drew Galloway has his firs title defense against “The Enigma” Jeff Hardy.
Results from Saturday’s tapings in Orlando, FL. Here’s what you missed from Friday’s tapings.
– Al Snow came out for essentially a do-over of an angle he did Friday which included a re-do of his match with Mahabali Shera. Once again, Snow won by hitting Shera with a chain.
– Michael Bennett and EC 3 had a confrontation during a segment calld “Fairy Tale Time with Mike Bennett”. After going back and forth, they announced that “next week” was the Sacrifice show and they would have a no DQ match.
– Maria Kanellis won a match where all the women (Gail Kim, Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne, Jade, Marti Bell and Rebel) were in a ladder match to determine who would be in charge of the Knockouts division.
– Bram beat Eric Young in a falls count anywhere match to win the King of the Mountain championship.
– Andrew Everett beat DJ Zema Ion after a low blow
– Decay kidnapped Gail Kim, and agreed to release her only if Beer Money gives them a tag team title shot. Being gentlemen, they agreed to do so.
– TNA Champion Drew Galloway beat Tyrus to retain.
– Maria came out and ran down the entire Knockouts division. Gail Kim came out and blamed her for her kidnapping. Maria said she would be changing the division and she announces Gail Kim vs. Rosemary.
– Rosemary beat Gail Kim with tons of interference from Crazzy Steve and Maria. Rosemary blew green mist in her face.
– Matt Hardy went to a no contest with Jeff Hardy in an I Quit match for the Hardy name. Jeff dove off a very high lighting grid with a swanton and put Matt through a table. Matt went out on a stretcher and was rushed out by the paramedics. They sold it as a big injury.
– Eli Drake is doing a new Talk Show called “Facts of Life”, replacing the idea they had for Ken Anderson. This week featured The Bromans.
– Decay (Abyss & Crazzy Steve) beat Beer Money in a “Valley of Shadows” match to win the tag team titles. This is why.
– Jeff Hardy did an interview and hoped that he beat some sense into Matt Hardy. Rockstar Spud and Reby Sky were out to hassle Jeff, leading to some physicality between Jeff and Spud.
– Mike Bennett beat EC 3 with a cradle — EC 3’s first pinfall loss in TNA.
They announced there would be another set of tapings in a month but didn’t announce the dates.
Notes from tonight’s TNA tapings in Orlando for early April:
– Velvet Sky beat Marti Bell after Earl Hebner kissed Bell. Earl Hebner then sold like he had a heart attack after counting the finish. Stuff like this is when you know the goose is cooked.
– Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy argued and it ended up with a match between the two of them set. The loser can no longer use the name Hardy. Stuff like this is when you know the goose is cooked.
– TNA Tag Champions Beer Money retained the tag titles in a four-way over The Bro Mans, Eric Young & Bram and Decay.
– Maria Kanellis, who helped Jade beat Gail Kim, asked Jade to hand her the Knockouts title. She refused.
– DJ Zema Ion beat X-Division Champion Trevor Lee in a non-title match so that likely sets up a title match.
– Mike Bennett beat EC 3 via DQ when he used a chair.
– Al Snow did an interview talking about how he broke Grado’s arm. Grado is back home and missed the last few days of tapings so I guess that’s the reason behind it. Mahabali Shera attacked Snow which set up a match.
– Knockouts Champion Jade beat Madison Rayne to retain.
– Matt Hardy & Tyrus beat Jeff Hardy & Dre Galloway when Matt pinned Jeff after hitting him over the head with a hammer. Lashley destroyed Galloway after the match.
– Eric Young announced he was leaving TNA and taking the King of the Mountain title with him. He said that he quits and Bram quits. Bram has signed 16 contracts and can’t quit. He and Eric start arguing over who is a loser. Bram wanted a title shot but Young kicked him low, gave him a piledirver, and then pulled out scissors and cut Bram’s beard.
– X Divison Champion Trevor Lee retained over Eddie Edwards and DJ Zema Ion. Andrew Everett knocked Edwards off the top rope to set up the pin.
– Al Snow did the bitter old man gimmick saying he hates what wrestling has become…basically copying the Alex Riley gimmick in NXT. He said how all the fans are stupid, they go on the Internet and complain but they still watch every week. Well, most of them don’t.
– Al Snow beat Mahabali Shera using a chain.
– TNA Champion Drew Galloway said he has broken ribs from being attacked by Bobby Lashley. He’s not cleared to wrestle, but he challenges Lashley to come out and fight. Instead, Spud & Tyrus come out and beat him down including using a chair. Tyrus said he’s cashing in his briefcase for a title shot with Galloway next week (taped Saturday).
If you need some entertainment and courtroom drama is your jam, you can live stream the Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker Media trial live below. What a time to be alive, eh?
If you haven’t been following the case, Hogan (aka Terry Bollea) is suing Gawker for $100 million for publishing a clip of a sex tape of himself and the wife of Bubba Clem (aka radio host) Bubba The Love Sponge), along with a long article to accompany it in 2012.
At the basis, Hogan is claiming the post is a violation of his privacy, claiming the video was made without his consent or knowledge. Gawker is claiming their post is protected under the First Amendment because of Hogan’s past discussing his sex life.
A six-member jury will ultimately make the call.
If you’re looking for in-depth analysis and conversation about the case, check out the Figure Four Weekly newsletter archives for some in-depth analysis from our David Bixenspan. You can also follow trial analysis and thoughts on #HulkvsGawk on Twitter.
