1/24 Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Live Coverage Review: Jeff Hardy vs. Christopher Daniels for the TNA Title, Bobby Roode vs. Hernandez, and Rob Van Dam and Christian York vs. Kenny King and Zema Ion

By Ryan Kester

Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Taped earlier in Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] TNA replayed the end of last week's Impact in its entirety, and showed some extra footage of Bully Ray and Hulk Hogan being helped out of the ring…

Taz and the rest of Aces and Eights made their way to the ring. Taz grabbed a mic and said he couldn't pass up on being part of the "machine" that is Aces and Eights. Taz said he is living by the vision of a higher power. Taz mocked the happy couple from last week and he said all they did was give Aces and Eights a chance to get to a higher level.

Taz turned his attention to TNA's authority figures. Taz said his contract says that he's bulletproof and if anyone touches him, he will own the place. He called himself Teflon Taz. He said that TNA had to deal with Aces and Eights and the higher power now….

Jesse gave Tara a pep talk backstage before they headed out to Tara's title defense… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: Decent opener. The higher power talk feels pulled out of someone's backside, but I am willing to roll with it for now if it means that Aces and Eights will start getting booked correctly.

[Q2] A video package hyping Christopher Daniels aired…

The Hervey cam found Bad Influence. Hervey asked how Kazarian would factor into the match. Kazarian said he was a certified manager in TNA. Daniels gave a quick promo about the importance of his title shot later…

Taz rejoined the announce team and he was in full heel mode…

1. Tara (w/ Jesse) vs. Velvet Sky for the Knockouts Championship. Sky went on offense early and she kicked Tara to the floor… [C]

Back from the break, Sky continued to dominate the match, but Tara managed to reverse a monkey flip attempt and began to work over the challenger. Velvet made her comeback and had Tara pinned, but Jesse distracted the ref.

Sky attempted a suplex near the ropes, Jesse tripped her, and he held her feet as Tara got the pin…

Tara defeated Velvet Sky in 9:36 to retain the Knockouts Championship.

[Q3] Hervey pestered Sting backstage about what the fallout for the wedding attack last week would be. Sting said he'd answer that question in the ring… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: Decent enough match, but Velvet Sky continues to disappoint in the ring. I really wish they found a different role for her in the company because she's over with the crowd, but she continues to look like a fish out of water between the ropes.

Kenny King and Zema Ion spoke backstage about their opponents for the evening. They bickered a bit and Zema Ion went to fixing his hair…

Joseph Park made his entrance with some inspirational music. Park said he's not the most athletic guy in the world, but he realized his place isn't in front of a courtroom; it's in TNA as a member of the roster. Park declared that he is here to be the best he can be in TNA.

Park hyped Open Fight night in Manchester next week and he said he is ready to compete in his first ever Open Fight Night. He pondered who he should choose as his first opponent. Park said he didn't want to kayfab everyone, but he would watch the tapes and scout the roster and next week the whole world would witness the television debut of Joseph Park.

Park promised to hold his own court next week and get the W...

Ryan's Reaction: The "kayfab" bit makes me facepalm every time I hear it, but otherwise I am loving Park. The act has really been a blessing in disguise for TNA, and I am glad they finally found a gimmick for this man that he is comfortable portraying.

[Q4] [C] 2. Rob Van Dam and Christian York vs. Kenny King and Zema Ion. The heels took control early and they began to work over RVD. Ion missed a 450 splash and RVD got the tag off to York.

York ran through King and hit a shining wizard for a near fall that was broken up by Ion. All four men brawled briefly, and RVD went up top only to be cut off by King. RVD fought off King but Ion shoved him to the outside.

York attacked Ion but King hit a blockbuster. Ion ran over and covered York for the pinfall victory…

Kenny King and Zema Ion defeated Christian York and RVD in 4:55

Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan arrived backstage. Hervey tried to ask them questions but Ray said they'd talk in the ring… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: Frantic, fun match. They worked an insane pace but managed to keep from breaking down into a spot fest. It was a short match, but it was also an enjoyable one.

Kurt Angle spoke with Samoa Joe, Garett Bischoff, and Wes Briscoe backstage. He said he's hurt, but he's still got work to do…

A video package covering the events leading up to the wedding last week aired…

Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan made their entrance. Bully Ray stopped by the announce booth and demanded to know where Taz ran off to, but gave up and he made his way to the ring.

[Q5] Ray said last week went from the best night of his life to a nightmare. He called Taz a scumbag and demanded to know where he was. Ray called Taz a coward. Ray said he didn't care that he got hurt, he cared about the people around him that got hurt. Ray said Taz hurt Sting, Hulk Hogan, and the woman he loved.

Ray promised that he would do unspeakable things to Aces and Eights in retribution. He told them to sleep with one eye open. He promised to kick their "M F'n Asses." Ray said his hands are tied until Hulk Hogan lifts his suspension.

Sting made his entrance. Sting said that Hulk Hogan's job was half-finished. He said Hogan needed to go all the way and lift Ray's suspension next week…

Austin Aries and Bobby Roode tried to talk each other up about who should face Hernandez tonight. Aries won the argument by referring to himself as a fluke… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: I liked and disliked that segment. Ray was great, but I'm not sure what Brooke was trying to do. If it was to look concerned, she only came across as bored. Sting did his best, but his presence felt like it was unnecessary as all he did was hype an event for next week. I respect what they were trying to do there, but the delivery was clumsy.

[Q6] A video package hyping Jeff Hardy aired…

Jeff Hardy gave a brief promo backstage about how he was going to expose Christopher Daniels later tonight…

3. Bobby Roode vs. Hernandez (w/ Chavo Guererro). Roode attacked Hernandez early, but Hernandez shrugged off the assault and tossed Roode around the ring. Roode continued to work over Hernandez, but the big man kept coming back.

Hernandez eventually gained the upper hand and ran through his move set. Aries ran out and moved Bobby Roode from the line of a Hernandez dive. Chavo attacked Aries and Roode hit a bulldog on Hernandez for the pinfall victory…

Bobby Roode defeated Hernandez in 5:25.

Kurt Angle was shown walking backstage…

Ryan's Reaction: Effective for the direction they're going with these men, but I really wish Roode and Aries weren't getting paired together. They're great heels in TNA and should be staying near the main event rather than doing silly skits with one another and being the focus of the tag division. Also, when are they going to give Roode a proper finisher?

[Q7] [C] A video package covering Kurt Angle's new feud with Mr. Anderson aired…

Angle made his entrance. He said he was tired of the Aces and Eights sneak attacks. Angle told Taz that he has no idea what revenge is. Angle promised to get his revenge next week against Mr. Anderson. Angle then called Anderson to the ring.

After a few moments, Anderson obliged. He came out of the Axces and Eights entrance and was decked out in fresh Aces and Eights attire. Anderson got in Angle's face and asked if he wanted to fight him next week several times. Anderson said he wanted to fight now and he started working over Angle.

Angle fought back and Anderson ran away. Angle their match next week and declared that it would be in a steel cage…

Hardy and Daniels were shown getting ready for their match backstage… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: Brief, effective promo. TNA is doing their damnedest to make next week feel like a big event.

Anderson fumed in the Aces and Eights clubhouse. Devon tried to calm him down and offered him a beer…

[Q8] 4. Jeff Hardy vs. Christopher Daniels (w/ Kazarian). Hardy took control early and he worked the crowd up to get them into the match. Hardy missed his slingshot corner dropkick and Daniels dumped Hardy to the floor. The show went to break at 1:43 into the match… [C]

At 5:34, the match returned with Daniels continuing to work over Hardy. He focused his attack on Hardy's neck. Hardy began to make his comeback and got a near fall off of a splash. Daniels hit a Death Valley Driver out of nowhere and locked in the Koji Clutch.

Hardy got his foot on the rope and reversed a superplex attempt to a front release superplex. Daniels got his foot on the rope. Hardy went for a Twist of Fate but Daniels reversed it into Angel's Wings. Daniels went for the BME but Hardy rolled out of the way.

Daniels went for another Angel's Wings, but Hardy got the reversal this time into a Twist of Fate. Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb and picked up the pinfall victory…

Jeff Hardy defeated Christopher Daniels to retain the TNA Title in 14:10.

Taz stood up from the announce booth and said he needed to get an interview with Jeff Hardy. Taz asked what Hardy is going to do when Aces and Eights destroys everything. An Aces and Eights member came out and smacked the back of Hardy's knee with a hammer. Hardy sold the injury to close the show.

Ryan's Reaction: Great match. I loved the back and forth action. I hope TNA comes back to this feud soon and we can get more form Hardy and Daniels. Tonight's impact was enjoyable. We had few matches, but most of them were of a good length, and the action we got was mostly solid. TNA is obviously focused on next week's show, but they managed to stay restrained in their efforts and didn't fall into a frantic pace. They sold next week's show well without making tonight feel like a complete throwaway.

If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter.