12/20 Shore's TNA Impact Wrestling live coverage: Championship Thursday with three title matches, headlined by Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship

By Chris Shore

TNA Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Taped at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] A graphic expressed TNA's sympathies over the shootings in Connecticut last week…The voice over rip-off from WWE recapped the past couple of weeks and hyped Championship Thursday…Mike Tenay, Todd Keneley, and Tazz checked in on commentary and ran down the known matches…

Kurt Angle limped to the ring and took a mic. He challenged Devon to a title match, which confuses me because I thought this was understood. Devon made his entrance with a handful of guys. Angle said since Devon wanted to bring his pack, Angle had a pack of his own. Samoa Joe, Wes Brisco, and Garett Bischoff made their way to the ring…

1. Kurt Angle vs. Devon (w/Aces and Eights) for the TNA TV Championship. Devon was dumped to the floor quickly. Both factions of men walked over and ended up fighting with each other. The ref ejected both groups as Devon clipped Angle's leg from behind…[C]

Back at 6:51, Devon worked the non-wrapped leg of Angle. Angle fought out, but Devon chop blocked him again.

[Q2] Angle hit a surprise missile drop kick and sold it hurting his leg. Both guys recovered and Angle hit a belly to belly for two. Devon came right back with a chokeslam type move for a weak kick out. Even though Angle couldn't hardly kick out, he slipped around Devon and hit the three amigos.

Angle locked in the Ankle Lock, but Aces and Eights ran out. Devon tapped while the ref was distracted. Angle's crew ran out, and that allowed an Aces and Eights guy slide in the ring and hit angle with a pipe and knock him out. Devon covered for the win…

Devon retained the TNA TV Championship at 11:06.

Backstage, Brooke eliminated ODB from consideration for the title match tonight…[C]

Shore's Slant: Pretty good match from Devon and Angle. I don't think it did much for the Aces and Eights storyline and presumed Briscoe and Bischoff turn, but at least Aces didn't lose again.

Kenny King cut a promo saying what happened last week was him trying to get a win, it was nothing personal with Rob Van Dam. He put over RVD and him being a great team together…

2. Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan vs. Kenny King and Rob Van Dam. Ryan and RVD started. Ryan played like a ninja, so RVD kicked him around. King tagged in and knocked Ryan around. Morgan got a blind tag and sneaked in to hit a huge clothesline on King.

[Q3] The heels worked in and out on King until Kenny did a cartwheel across the ropes and tagged in RVD. He and RVD cleared the ring, but Morgan recovered quickly and King split so Morgan could hit the Carbon Footprint on RVD. Morgan dragged Ryan over for the cover and win. Post-match, King made fun of RVD from the ramp…

Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan defeated Kenny King and Rob Van Dam at 4:52.

Shore's Slant: OK match. I don't mind the storyline with King and RVD so much, but they did a poor job of telling it here. They got where they wanted to go, but it was as clumsy and awkward as a virgin on prom night.

The "heel turn" from AJ Styles last week aired…Kazarian was asked about AJ walking. Kaz said AJ's boots were made for walking, and that's just what he did. Kaz said everyone was going to see how much he appreciated his friend with his Christmas present tonight. He ended the interview to answer a call from his friend "Nick" and asked about "Donder's" hoof and mouth disease…

Shore's Slant: Har har har

Hulk Hogan made his entrance to a lively pop. Hogan hyped voting for wrestler of the year and said they would have the results on January 3rd. Aces and Eights cut him off as they came to the crowd. Devon started to talk, but Hogan dared him to get in the ring. Devon said Hogan thinks 2012 is his year, but 2012 was the year Aces and Eights was born.

Devon said 2013 will be the year for Aces and Eights, and that they will also be revealed and "gold accomplished." Devon said one thing was for sure, Hogan wouldn't be around to see it. Aces started to close around the ring, but Bully Ray ran out and chased them off with his chain. Hogan stared at Ray for a while before walking off without a thanks or a handshake…

Shore's Slant: Hogan looks like a douche here. Not because he shunned Bully, just because he's a douche. I kid, I kid. I am confused at this move though. What id accomplished by having Hogan look like the overprotective jerk? It would make sense for Hogan to relent because of things like this and then have Bully turn on him, but I don't see the pay off by having Hogan continue to be suspicious of Ray.

[Q4][C] A replay showed Hogan walking off again…Jeff Hardy cut a promo about respecting Austin Aries, but losing it because he paid someone to attack him. He said he wasn't hard to find…Brooke cut Tessmacher because the other two were newly back and deserved their shot…Kazarian was show heading toward the ring with presents…[C]

Shore's Slant: At least it wasn't a stupid "internal monologue" moment from Jeff.

A video recapped the AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels feud. Kazarian made his ring entrance bearing gifts. The ring had a Santa Claus throne and Christmas tree in it with Daniels and Kaz at the top. Kaz cut a rhyming promo and introduced Daniels. Daniels sat in the throne. Kaz introduced the guy with the biggest sack he had ever seen, Santa Claus.

[Q5] Santa came to the ring handing out candy canes and took his place on the throne. Kaz gave Santa a pair of Zubaz for his gift. Somewhere Will Pruett just had an orgasm. Daniels sat on Santa's lap and Santa asked if he had been good. Daniels said he had been so good; he got rid of the biggest loser in TNA history. Santa said he would grant Daniels his wish. Daniels said he wanted to give his gift away and wanted Santa to bring something to Styles's kids because he sucked.

James Storm music cut them off and he came out and said he didn't care if they talked junk about AJ, but he wasn't going to let them destroy Christmas. Daniels told Santa to put Storm on the naughty list. Storm said he should get in the ring and give them a reason to put him on the naughty list. Storm got in the ring, but Santa talked him down. Storm quizzed Santa over previous Christmases and then super kicked Santa to end the segment…

Backstage, Austin Aries mocked the internal monologue stuff from Hardy and said he would have to speak to be understood. He said everybody would understand him when he won the title back…Brooke Hogan was shown heading toward the ring to make her decision…[C]

Shore's Slant: Swing and a miss from Daniels and Kaz. I didn't find it funny at all.

Sting was revealed as the 1.3.13 person, and he was coming for Aces and Eights as a whole, and DOC first…Aces showed concern about Sting coming back, but the VP cut them off and said they needed more help. Devon said he had someone who was arrogant at times, but was probably pissed off enough to help out. They all voted to allow Devon to reach out for a sit down…

[Q6] Brooke picked Mickie James and told Velvet Sky to watch the match because she might be next. Velvet was not happy…

3. Mickie James vs. Tara (w/Jesse) for the Knockouts Championship. Mickie started fast, but Jesse tripped her to allow Tara to take control. Mickie got the knees up on the standing moonsault and ran her comeback. Mickie hit the DDT, but Jess pulled her from the ring. Mickie hit a Thesz press from the top rope to the floor on Jesse, but he grabbed her leg when she went to get back in the ring, allowing Tara to hit a face buster type move for the win…[C]

Tara retained the Knockouts Championship at 6:56.

Shore's Slant: No reason to believe the title would change hands leads to an uninspiring match. This show is starting to drag on. They had almost an hour in between matches. That's too much of a gap.

[Q7] A Joseph Parks training video aired. He sucked until his nose got busted, then he acted like Abyss…Ring entrances occurred for the main event, and Jeremy Borash handled the old school ring introductions…[C]

4. Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Championship. The bell rang as soon as the show came back from commercial. Aries was dumped to the floor twice by Hardy. On the second, Hard tried to dive on him from the apron, but Aries moved and Hardy crashed and burned into the break…

[Q8][C] Back from commercial, Aries worked the back of Hardy with strikes and rest holds that wrenched on the back. Tazz sold it as preventing the Swanton. Aries lifted for the brain buster, but Hardy powered down and hit a front suplex. Aries reversed a head scissor attempt and tossed Hardy onto the ropes to retake control.

Aries hit a drop kick in the corner for two. Hardy reversed the next whip and hit a powerbomb lift that went all the way over. I forget the name of the move, but it's a cool spot. Hardy hit a Twist of Fate, but Aries was almost immediately on his feet. Aries ended up on his back with Jeff ahold of his feet. Aries kicked him away, which pushed Hardy into the ref.

Aries hit a low blow and then the brainbuster. He called for a ref and covered Hardy. A ref slid in the ring, but Bobby Roode pulled the new ref out. Bobby rolled in and counted two. Aries looked back and saw Roode, who flipped him off. Aries stood, and Roode hit a spinebuster of Aries. Roode left and the first ref recovered. Hardy hit another Twist of Fate and the Swanton for the win…

Jeff Hardy retained the TNA Championship at 18:02.

Hogan was shown walking through the parking area. He was being interviewed by the off camera guy and Hogan said not to worry about the Brooke and Bully thing. In the background, Brooke grabbed Bully Ray and pulled him in for a kiss. Hogan got in his car and sped off while the off-camera guy tried to ask him about it. Off camera guy said "Holy shit," to close the show…

Shore's Slant: Feels like we've seen that match before, doesn't it? This was a mixed bag show for me. The show was paced much, much, much better than the last few recorded shows were, so that's a plus. But I also don't think they bring their A game to taped shows. This felt like just enough caring to make it irritating. The main event felt like a big match cover up instead of a big match.

That said, the Brooke and Bully thing is so dumb I can't stand it. They had me sold after the one promo Bully and Hogan did together very early, but it hasn't been good at all since. I honestly don't get it, even as the father of four girls. I don't see what the big deal is. Thanks for watching along with me tonight.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

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