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1/10 Shore's TNA Impact Wrestling live coverage: Gut Check with new format and final hype for this Sunday's Genesis

Posted in: TNA TV Reports, MUST-READ LISTING
By
Jan 10, 2013 - 07:00 PM

By Chris Shore

TNA Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Aired live from the Impact Zone.


[Q1] The recap guy ran down last week's show. The pyro popped, and Todd Keneley, Taz, and Mike Tenay checked in on commentary. Sting's music hit immediately and he came to the ring with Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle. Sting said at Genesis he was looking for Doc, but tonight he and his two friends Shooter (Angle) and Killer (Joe) were calling them out.

Joe took the mic and said he would choke them all out. Angle was next and said he promised the masks would come off and they have started, but he wanted to know where Ken Anderson stood, so he was calling him out.

Anderson came to the ring area and took a mic. He asked where all of them were when Aces and Eights were beating him up. He said he was on his way to the ring to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sting when Aces and Eights tap danced on his brain, and Sting just left him there. He said he didn't understand what their problem was.

Angle said the problem was either Anderson was with them or they were going to fight. Anderson climbed in the ring and got in Angle's face. He said he didn't have to answer to Angle and he never really liked him anyway. Angle said the feeling was mutual and punched Anderson. Angle beat on Anderson as Anderson fled the ring…

The announce team hyped the tag team main event and played a hype video for Jake Bradley, one of the Gut Check competitors…Outside, the camera guy asked Brooke about her dad and Bully Ray. Brooke said she was going to talk to her dad and this time he was going to listen. She walked into the stage while talking on the phone to "Mark," Ray's real name…

Shore's Slant: Fair opening segment from an execution standpoint, but the story is a little weird. Do they not get to see what happens in the Aces and Eights locker room? Doesn't anybody watch the show back? Anderson may be a plant, but it's clear that Aces and Eights think he is on their side, why was there a question about it?

[Q2][C] Back from commercial, Xema Ion was in the ring. Kenny King got to make an entrance. Gee, wonder who wins this one…

1. Kenny King vs. Xema Ion. King kicked Ion to the floor and went for a corkscrew dive. Ion moved, but King landed on his feet. Ion slid back in the ring and hit a dive of his own in a cool exchange. Back in the ring, Ion hit a scary looking slam on the back of King's head for two, but he missed the 450 splash. King hit the Royal Flush for the win…

Kenny King defeated Xema Ion at 3:05.

Post-match, King took the mic and said he would be the new X Division Champion come Genesis. Backstage, Robbie asked someone to be his partner is his mixed tag match against Jessie and Tara. It turned out to be Ms. Tessmacher, who said Robbie disgusted her. He begged and said he would do anything, and she said she would tag with Robbie T. E. screamed about…[C]

Shore's Slant: No surprises on the King win. This means it will be King vs. Christian York at the PPV, with the winner facing RVD for the title.

Joseph Park was shown leaving OVW for the Impact Zone. He said when Hogan saw him tonight, he wouldn't be coming as a lawyer, but as a wrestler…Tara and her boo were in the ring. Brooke and the Robbies made their entrance as a video recapped Robbie T winning the Bro-off…

2. Jessie and Tara vs. Robbie T. and Ms. Tessmacher (w/Robbie E.). Jessie attacked Rob before the bell. Rob squashed him, so Jessie tagged out. Tessmacher came in and knocked Tara down. She did the sting face in the corner and Tara tagged out. Jessie took a huge powerbomb for a Robbie T win…

Robbie T. and Ms. Tessmacher defeated Jessie and Tara at 1:46.

[Q3] Post-match, Robbie T started fist pumping and then dancing with Brooke. He ended doing the Dirty Dancing lift and then kissing Brooke. Tessmacher and T left E in the ring looking flabbergasted…The Brian Cage hype video aired, and then both Gut Check contestants were shown backstage…[C]

Shore's Slant: I laughed at T and Brooke simply because it was so absurd. Otherwise it was a forgettable segment.

3. Jay Bradley vs. Brian Cage in a Gut Check match. Bradley played the heel and took quick control. Cage came back and hit a suplex over the top rope into the ring and a flying elbow drop for two. Bradley reversed the next whip and hit a diving lariat he calls the broomstick for the win…

Jay Bradley won the Gut Check match at 3:21.

At the Aces and Eights hideout, everyone partied with women until Anderson threw a hissy fit. They kicked the girls out and went to the table. The VP called out Mike Knox for losing his mask. Knox started to answer, but the VP cut him off. He said when Doc got unmasked, he earned his way back. VP told Knox to make it right or make it gone…[C]

Shore's Slant: Very basic and simple Gut Check match, but both guys looked respectable. I like Cage's look over Bradley's, but not significantly. Either guy would probably be a good pickup for them.

[Q4] Joseph Park stood in the ring. He put over wrestling camp as hard and then respectfully called Hulk Hogan to the ring. Hogan made his entrance to still too many cheers. Hogan congratulated Park on his success and then asked what he wanted. Park thanked Hogan and OVW trainer Danny Davis. He said he realized he was still a "green hornet" and said he was standing here as a wrestler.

Hogan said Park still needed time. He said it took him two years to get in the ring. They went back and forth for a little bit and then Hogan said Park could have his match if he would just leave him alone. Park hugged Hogan and left.

Brooke appeared on the screen and said she had been trying to get in touch with her dad but he was ducking her. She told him not to move, she was on her way out…[C]

Shore's Slant: Whatever about Park. It is what it is. But how in the blue hell is Brooke Hogan and Hulk Hogan the top of the second hour act? How terrible. Why not an actual wrestler in the normally highest rated segment? Who would have thought of that?

Brooke made her entrance and said Hogan had ignored her text messages and calls. She said he had never done anything like that in her life. She said she had a question and how he answered would say a lot about their relationship. Hogan said he had been asking a bunch of questions and didn't like the answers he was getting, so she should go ahead. Brooke asked if he was going to reinstate Mark. Hogan said "No" and stormed off…

[Q5] Backstage, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode bickered about their new shirts. Aries said they were two awesome guys and needed to be on the same page tonight and then they would deal with each other. They walked off arguing about their shirts again…A video hyped the feud between Aries and Hardy…

Shore's Slant: We waited through a commercial break for that? That was almost as bad as the lack of follow up with Sting's dropped bat last week. What a weak follow-up. Aries and Roode are funny, but that's your two top heels acting like idiots folks. Not a way to build sustainable storylines.

Roode made his ring entrance. Aries was out next. James Storm was out third, followed close behind by Hardy…

4. Bobby Roode and Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy and James Storm. Roode and Hardy started. Hardy won a quick exchange so Roode tagged out. Hardy took quick control on Aries too, and he and Storm sent both men to the floor. They shoved each other and stared off into the break…[C]

[Q6] Back from commercial, Aries distracted Hardy climbing the ropes long enough to let Roode knock Hardy down. Aries slapped the shit out of Roode to tag himself in. The heels continued to work in and out, but never quite working together. They started playing "anything you can do I can do better," and Hardy hit a chin buster on Roode to start the finish.

Storm got the hot tag and took out both heels. Storm covered Roode. Aries dropped an elbow to break the count, but Storm moved and Aries hit Roode. Storm hit Last Call on Aries, and he rolled to the floor. Daniels ran out and distracted the ref. Kazarian dragged Storm from the ring, but Storm whipped Kazarian into the stairs. Back in the ring, Hardy hit Twist of Fate and setup for another. Aries ran in and hit him with the belt, causing the DQ…

Jeff Hardy and James Storm defeated Bobby Roode and Austin Aries at 13:28.

Post-match, Daniels fought with Storm to the back as Roode and Aries beat up Hardy. They closed with the two of them holding up the title belt but pulling against each other in a comedy moment…Backstage, Brooke was on the phone with Ray and asked him to come pick her up…[C]

Shore's Slant: Meh. An OK match, but not one I'm going to remember. I still don't like Aries and Roode acting silly, but I've come to expect it now.

In a trailer out back, Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan started cutting a promo when Chavo and Hernandez were shown outside. They came in and attacked Ryan and Morgan and got the better of them…The announce team ran down the Genesis card, including Park vs. Devon and a Knockout's Gauntlet match…A video hyped the triple threat match…

[Q7] Mr. Anderson made his ring entrance, self-entrance and all. Angle was out next. Anderson bailed to the floor and Angle took the mic. He asked when Anderson became a bitch. He told Anderson to get in the ring or he would come after him. Anderson continued to stall, and Knox ran in the ring and hit Angle with the hammer.

Knox hit Angle on the back of the neck with the hammer and fled when Wes Brisco, Garett Bischoff, and Samoa Joe ran out. Knox joined the rest of Aces and Eights in the crowd and smiled as Angle was stretchered out.

Sting made his ring entrance and took a mic. He told Devon to call off the troops and he would call of his and send Knox to the ring. Aces and Eights seemed to like the idea…[C]

Shore's Slant: Zzzzzzz. The Aces and Eights have lost all their juice. I really couldn't care less. What a shame. This was a good story, but they have killed it.

[Q8] 5. Sting vs. Knox. They seem to just be calling him Knox. Hebner let Sting hit Knox with the bat to get him to drop the hammer, but he prevented Sting from going farther. Um, OK? The fight went to the floor and Sting slammed Knox into the stairs three times. Back in the ring Sting hit the Scorpion Death Drop for the win.

Sting defeated Knox at 3:27.

Post-match, Sting got the hammer and started to go after Knox, but Devon called for him to stop. Aces and Eights had Brooke Hogan. Devon told her to "Shut up, bitch," and told Sting if he touched Knox it would end badly for Brooke. Bully Ray ran from the back and hit two Aces and Eights guys to make the save. Hogan walked out on the ramp and rubbed his chin…[C]

Shore's Slant: What a mess. I'm guessing this is where Hogan comes around. Ray only hit two guys and then the rest just backed away. Perfect wrestling cover.

Hogan said he guessed he was supposed to fall down and kiss Ray's feet for making his life a mess. He said Bully was a fake and not the man for his daughter. Ray said Hogan's so delusional now he's talking crap to one of his best friends in Sting. Ray said he loved pro wrestling and he didn't think he could love anything as much as wrestling.

He took Brooke's hand and said, "But then your daughter came into my life." He said the funny part was, she came into his life because she was apologizing for Hulk. He said it was too fast, and Hulk threw his mic down. Ray said he could throw a mic down too. Ray said it was too fast again, and then he stammered out how he felt.

Ray got on one knee and said he loved Brooke and asked her to marry him. The place went nuts and Hogan looked shocked. Brooke said yes and kissed Ray. Hogan was furious. Ray said he wanted to do it next week on Impact. She said yes and Hulk left the ring and walked to the back while Ray and Brooke continued to kiss in the ring…

Shore's Slant: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I try not to steal other people's thoughts, but Jason Powell summed this up perfectly on Twitter: "Two old guys talking with the best heel in TNA who isn't currently a heel and the daughter of one of the old guys. Order Genesis!" What an absolute waste of a moment to sell the PPV. And now you only have four to sell TNA. You would think they wouldn't piss away 25 percent of their PPV business like that.

All in all, a weak build for Genesis and a poor show. It went by fairly quickly, but the Hogan saga took up way too much of the show, Aces and Eights is out of gas, Bully Ray is wasted as a babyface, Aries and Roode are killing their acts with comedy garbage, and a poor go home for the PPV. Yeah, bad show. Jason Powell will have the Hitlist tomorrow. 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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