1/24 Shore's TNA Impact Wrestling live coverage: Velvet Sky vs. Tara for the Knockouts Championship, Fallout from Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan wedding, Christopher Daniels vs. Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Championship

By Chris Shore

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

[Q1] A video replaying the Taz turn opened the show. The video continued afterward and showed several people helped Bully Ray and Hulk Hogan from the ring. Todd Keneley and Mike Tenay checked in on commentary with an empty chair. Tenay, speaking directly to Taz via the camera, said he couldn't wait to hear what Taz had to say. Aces and Eights were shown arriving on motorcycles and partying out back. The opening video aired and Aces and Eights, being led by Taz, came to the ring…

Shore's Slant: Not for nothing, but that was a very cool visual with Aces and Eights arriving. They looked like a badass gang the way they were acting. At least they got something right with the group.

Taz cut a promo and said the reason he joined the gang was because it made sense and he was giving himself to a higher power. He said his contract made him bullet proof and he couldn't be touched. He closed by saying Bully and Brooke were just collateral damage and wished them luck with the gang and the higher power. Tenay said Taz was joining them at the announce table and they would ask more about the higher power…

Backstage, Jessie got Tara ready for her title match by talking about himself, her, and a Velvet Sky doll…[C]

Shore's Slant: A rambling promo from Taz and a terrifying moment when they started hyping the "higher power." I would have done anything I could to find a different way of saying that.

[Q2] A video hyped Christopher Daniels. Backstage, Kazarian said he would be managing Daniels. Daniels said he would be the World Heavyweight Champion of the World while sipping an appletini…Taz joined the commentary team and snapped at Keneley. He said hello to Tenay and Tenay said they had questions. Taz said he wasn't going anywhere…

Velvet Sky made her ring entrance and Taz didn't do the pigeons gimmick. Tara and Jesie were out next…

1. Velvet Sky vs. Tara (w/Jessie) for the Knockouts Championship. Taz refused to say "what or who the higher power is." Velvet hit a drop kick that sent Tara to the floor…[C] Back from commercial, Taz continued to duck questions from Tenay as Tara was in control. Velvet tossed Tara off the top rope and hit a weak neckbreaker. She covered, but Jessie had the ref distracted. Tara ended up hitting Jessie, but she also hit bridging suplex move and Jessie grabbed Velvet's foot to secure the win…

Tara retained the Knockouts Championship by pinfall at 9:28.

A video hyped Open Fight Night from England for next week…Sting was backstage and the invisible question guy asked him about the wedding and Aces and Eights. Sting said what he had to say he would say to the Impact Zone shortly…

Shore's Slant: Bleh. The first half hour of this show has been dreadful. Velvet just isn't good enough in the ring to be believable. She's a beautiful woman and I'm sure she works hard, but it just isn't working. Taz is more pissy if anything, and I would put this on DVR and watch later if I could. I imagine I can't be the only one watching who is thinking the same thing.

[Q3][C] Backstage, Kenny King was telling his reflection he was going to be champ. Zema Ion walked up and asked him what he was doing. King said tonight was about the X Division Title and told Ion to sit on the sideline and let him do the heavy lifting. Ion agreed and then talked to himself in the mirror…

Joseph Park made his entrance and said he wasn't the most gifted athlete, but he has learned his place isn't in a court room it was on the Impact roster. Park said even if he didn't get a win at Genesis, he was still working hard. He said next week was Open Fight Night in the UK and he was ready to go. He held up his passport for effect.

Park said he didn't want to kayfab anyone, but he would spend all week researching the roster and pick his opponent next week. He said he would make his TV debut and hold his court and get his win…[C]

Shore's Slant: After teaching my PC that kayfabe was an actual word, now I have to stop it from autocorrecting kayfab. Damn you Joseph Park.

[Q4] Ring introductions occurred for the X Division tag match…

2. Kenny King and Zema Ion vs. Christian York and Rob Van Dam. Ion and RVD started. RVD hit a couple of kicks and tagged in York. York tagged RVD back in quickly. King pulled RVD's hair when he hit the ropes, and the distraction allowed Ion to attack from behind. The announce team hyped King Mo fighting later on Bellator.

RVD took the heat and hit a back kick on Ion to get away. Both men got tags and York hit a strong of offense on King. He covered, but Ion made the save. The match broke down. Ion tossed RVD to the floor and got a blind tag. He tried for a tornado DDT on York. York shoved him away, but King hit a blockbuster on York and Ion covered for the win.

Kenny King and Zema Ion defeated Christian York and Rob Van Dam at 5:03.

Post-match, the heels jawed with each other…In the back, the IQG (Invisible Question Guy) asked an arriving Brooke Hogan and Bully Ray about the wedding. Ray said they would do their talking in the ring and ordered the camera away…Taz said he had to take a phone call just before the show went to commercial…[C]

Shore's Slant: This feels like one of those WWE holding pattern shows that we get when they have six weeks between PPVs. That was my only concern about limiting the PPVs, TNA might take weeks off. That's what it feels like here. Mediocre match at best.

Backstage, Samoa Joe told Wes Brisco and Garret Bischoff that he appreciated the concern, but they weren't riding his jock like they do Angle's. They said all they wanted to know was how Angle was. Joe said to ask him themselves as Angle walked up. He shook hands with both men and Joe said he would get up with Angle later. Angle told his boyz he was beat-up but could still kick some ass…

A video recapped the wedding angle again. Ray and Brooke made their entrance and Ray walked over to find out where Taz was and Tenay told him he was gone. Ray yelled about it and they went to the ring. He said a lot of people were hurt last week. He said he expected it from Devon. He said he never expected it from Taz, who he called a scumbag and a coward.

[Q5] Ray said he doesn't care that he got hurt, it was who he hurt around him. He said they hurt Sting and Hulk Hogan, but the one they hurt the most was the woman that he loves. Ray said the things he was going to do to Taz, Devon, and every single one of the Aces and Eights he couldn't say on national TV.

Ray said he hopes they all sleep with one eye open because he wouldn't sleep one wink until he kicked all of their "m-f-in asses." He said the only way he could do that is if Hogan lifted his suspension. He said he realized Hogan was at home watching and resting up, but he begged him to lift the suspension.

Sting's music hit and he came to the ring. He said Hogan doesn't do anything halfway. He said right now Hogan has only gone halfway by walking his daughter down the aisle and giving her away. He said Hogan had to go all the way by announcing that Bully Ray is reinstated next week in the UK. Sting's music played and they celebrated…

A video recapped what happened between Austin Aries and Bobby Roode and the tag champs. Backstage, Aries said they could beat the team anytime they wanted, but tonight they had to decide who would beat Hernandez. Roode put Aries over and said it should be Aries. Aries agreed, but then put Roode over and said it should be him. They went back and forth like a "Who's on first" gimmick and Aries talked Roode into taking the spot, which Roode immediately tried to weasel out of…[C]

Shore's Slant: OK first of all, that was a GREAT promo from Ray. Up until he mentioned the suspension, I had completely forgotten he was suspended and was buying into the idea that he was staying baby for a while and could pull it off. The suspension line brought the story into focus for me, but I wouldn't mind seeing a Bully Ray babyface run sometime in the future. Second, Sting was bad. Really bad. But I would take bad Sting all day over goofy Roode and Aries. I don't get it.

A Jeff Hardy hype video recapped the triple threat match at Genesis. Backstage, Hardy tried to cut a promo, but it didn't make a lot of sense until he said Daniels would try to show what he is and Hardy would expose what he isn’t.

[Q6] Bobby Roode made his ring entrance as Taz rejoined commentary. They no sold him for a minute and then finally acknowledged his existence. Hernandez was out with Chavo next…

3. Bobby Roode vs. Hernandez (w/Chavo Guerrero). Roode started with strikes, but Hernandez hit a back drop and then a stall suplex that he held for close to 30 seconds. Roode rolled to the floor. He hit a clothesline on Hernandez when he came back in, but Hernandez super kicked out at one. Roode went to work on the neck and hooked a chin lock while the announce team bickered. This is what I get for saying the announcing couldn't be worse.

Hernandez started his comeback and hit an over the shoulder back breaker and a shoulder tackle that knocked Roode to the floor. Hernandez started to dive on Roode, but Aries ran out and shoved him out of the way. They shoved each other and argued until Chavo ran over and attacked Aries. Roode sneaked in behind Hernandez and hit a bulldog for the win. Aries and Roode argued over if "he" or "they" did it…[C]

Bobby Roode defeated Hernandez at 5:30.

Shore's Slant: The second hour has been much better than the first. It's almost night and day. Fun little match considering Hernandez's in ring skills fall on the continuum of scary to boring. I still hate the silly act with Aries and Roode, but this was an entertaining match. Also, Roode needs to grow his hair back. I'm just not buying the short hair anymore.

[Q7] A video recapped Angle's beat down at the hands of Aces and Eights while Mr. Anderson watched. Angle made his ring entrance and said he was going to seek revenge for what has happened to him and all the others who have been hurt by Aces and Eights. He said next week was Open Fight Night and he said he would fight Mr. Anderson. He asked Anderson to come out because he had something to say to his face.

Anderson's music hit and he made his entrance through the crowd with an Aces and Eights vest. Anderson got in the ring and Angle over and over if he wanted to fight him next week. He finally said he didn't want to fight him next week, he wanted to do it now. Anderson punched Angle and beat him down in the corner while Taz cheered. Angle recovered and hit a clothesline. He grabbed for the ankle lot, but Anderson rolled from the ring. Angles said he could run, but next week they would be in a cage match…[C]

Shore's Slant: Taz's lack of interest is starting to show through big time. He said Anderson should get out of the ring quickly and then said "Thank God" when he escaped. That's not how a heel is supposed to frame things, even if that is technically what he is saying.

At the Aces and Eights hideout, Anderson yelled for the "hookers" to shut up. Devon told him to chill out and enjoy what they had in the clubhouse because Devon would make sure Anderson had a plan next week. Ring entrances occurred for the main event. Jeremy Borash had the old school ring introductions and the bell rang just before the quarter break…

[Q8] 4. Christopher Daniels (w/Kazarian) vs. Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Daniels tossed Hardy to the floor almost immediately and Kazarian climbed in the ring to celebrate…[C] Back from commercial, a video showed Kazarian beating up Hardy on the floor during the break. Hardy hit a front suplex off the second rope and Hardy grabbed his legs and butt. He covered, but Daniels put his foot on the rope.

Hardy went for Twist of Fate, but Daniels reversed into Angels Wings for two. Hardy rolled out of the way for BME. Daniels landed on his feet and Hardy ran up for Whisper in the Wind. Daniels moved and Hardy crashed to the mat for two. Daniels went for Angels Wings again, but Hardy reversed into a ranna. He hit Twist of Fate and that knocked Daniels into Kazarain, who had climbed onto the apron. He hit another Twist of Fate and followed with the Swanton for the win…

Jeff Hardy retained the TNA World Heavyweight Championship by pinfall at 14:13.

Post-match Taz took a mic and said he wanted to interview Hardy. An Aces and Eights guy ran out and hit Hardy in the back of the left leg with the hammer and then ran off. Taz said he was about to tell Hardy to watch his back and walked off. Hardy sold the leg injury to end the show…

Shore's Slant: A fine but uninspiring match to close the show. This is the injury angle they used to get Jeff off the UK tour? Holy crap! If I was in the UK I would be pissed. At least beat him down, not just give him some lame hammer treatment. Weaksauce. Overall a bad show that had a better second hour than first, but not good enough to save the show. Jason Powell will have more tomorrow on the TNA Impact Hitlist and Will Pruett will have his Impact audio review as well. Thanks for watching along 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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