4/14 Gessner's TNA Impact Coverage: The Final TNA Impact before Lockdown this Sunday and Mr. Anderson main events in a gauntlet match vs. Immortal

By Mark Gessner

TNA Impact on Spike TV
Taped in Orlando, Fla. at the Impact Zone

[Q1] The show opened up with a recap video of last week's show featuring the Rob Van Dam beating down on Mr. Anderson in the rafters, Anderson getting his revenge as special referee, and Anderson taking out Immortal. This week's show is titled "Hogan's Law."

The show opened as it typically does every week, Immortal coming out to the ring with the knock off NWO music. Hogan immediately put over the talent that was surrounding him in the ring and proceeded to call out Mr. Anderson.

Anderson got in the ring and Hogan told him that for weeks he has been telling Anderson that he can do things the hard way or the Immortal way and what he did last week was equal to spitting in Hogan's face. Anderson said that he used to respect Hogan but he is now surrounding himself with a bunch of, "sheep swinging from his nuts."

"I look in the mirror and say 'Mr. Anderson... Anderson," said Anderson."'you really are an asshole.' But how do you Hulk look in the mirror and not realize all these guys are up your asshole... asshole."

Hogan then slapped Anderson and Immortal jumped him. Immortal restrained Anderson and Hogan told him that their paths will cross again tonight and that Hogan will take him out on his terms.

Backstage, Velvet Sky was looking for Angelina Love. Winter stopped her and said that Angelina wants nothing more to do with her. Velvet said she will be calling out Angelina tonight in the ring.

Gessner's Glance: Typical opening segment for Impact. Immortal talks and then someone interrupts them leading to an angle or match later in the show.

[Q2][C] In Hogan's office, Immortal celebrated their beat down on Anderson. Bischoff got off the phone with "the Network." He said there would be a best-of-three series of matches between Immortal and Fortune with the winning team getting the one man advantage for Lethal Lockdown.

1. Orlando Jordan defeated Doug Williams, Jesse Neal, Crimson in 4:10

Douglas Williams and Jesse Neal started off the match. Neal had the early advantage with an arm drag take down before Neal was distracted by Scott Steiner and Shannon Moore outside. Crimson took down Neal with an exploder suplex. Neal recovered an hit a rebound second rope cross body on Crimson.

Moore continued to taunt Steiner on the outside and they began to brawl. Neal left the ring to help Shannon. From behind, Abyss interfered and attacked Crimson. He laid part of the guard rail on the mat outside and chokeslammed Crimson onto it.

Back in the ring, Magnus and Williams attempted to double team Orlando Jordan but Eric Young cut off Magnus and cleared him from the ring. Orlando hit the Gender Bender finisher on Williams to pick up the victory.

Gessner's Glance: Par for the course four man match in TNA fashion. Crimson showed some skill in the ring for the thirty seconds he was in the ring. At least continued the story line that Abyss would want revenge on someone who attempted to murder him with a 2x4 with nails in it. Forgettable match.

Backstage, Bully Ray met up backstage with RVD and told him that Hogan is going to offer him a spot in Immortal and told him that "the grass is greener on the other side."[C]

2. Matt Hardy defeated Kazarian in 5:12

Before the match, referee Earl Hebner sent both Immortal and Fortune to the back.

[Q3] Kaz went for the early roll-up pinfall. Matt kicked out at two. Matt began working on the neck of Kaz. He hit a neckbreaker in the ropes and gave him a slingshot into the middle rope. Matt went for the Twist of Hate but Kaz reversed it into a backslide pin that Matt kicked out of. Matt his two side effects and went to the top rope for a moonsault but missed.

Kaz hit a springboard missile drop kick from the apron and went for the pin but Matt put his foot on the ropes. As Kaz went up to the top, Matt pushed the referee into the ropes knocking down Kaz from the top rope. Matt locked in his Ice Pick submission and scored the win.

Gessner's Glance: The Ice Pick is a double underhook with body scissors. Imaging the set up for a double arm DDT and Matt then wraps his legs around his opponent like a fighter would in MMA going for a guillotine. Pretty cool unique finisher. Good TV match between Hardy and Kaz.

[C] Back from commercial, Madison Rayne and Tara were in the ring. A remorseful Madison said that over the last week she can not get what she did to Mickie James last Thursday. "If I could do it all over again," said Madison. "I would of backed the bike up and ran over her ass again." Madison then called out Tara for questioning what she has done over the past few weeks. Tara got into Madison's face but Mickie James' music played.

[Q4] Mickie came out with her left arm in a sling. She said that a separated shoulder will not keep her from tearing Madison apart this Sunday in the cage at Lockdown. "At Lockdown Madison," said Mickie, "I will beat you within an inch of your life and show you how hardcore country I can be." [C]

Gessner's Glance: Do you really need to get over the name of your entrance music in a promo? Aside from that eye roll inducing closing line to the segment, good last sell for the TNA Knockout Championship match.

3. Jeff Jarrett, Hernandez, and The Pope vs. Matt Morgan, Samoa Joe, and Kurt Angler

The Pope and Hernandez were already in the ring as we came back from commercial. Jarrett, Morgan, Joe, and Angle all made their entrances. Jarrett teased starting off the match with Angle, but immediately tagged Hernandez in. We then went right back to commercial. [C]

[Q5] We came back from the break, with Morgan and Pope in the ring. Morgan went for the chokeslam but Pope escaped. Morgan back Pope into the corner and gave him the elbows to the head. Morgan went for the Carbon Footprint, but Pope clipped his knee.

Pope worked over the leg before tagging in Hernandez. Morgan discus clotheslined Hernandez and tagged in Angle. Hernandez pulled himself to the top rope and Angle ran the ropes and hit a belly to belly suplex throw. Angle tagged in Joe who cleaned out the ring. Joe went for the Musclebuster on Pope but Jarrett broke it up. Jarrett turned around and was saw Angle starring him down. Jarrett dashed to the back and Angle followed.

In the ring, Joe had Hernandez locked in the Kokina Clutch but Pope broke it up with a flying elbow off the top rope. Anarchia slid Hernandez brass knuckles but Morgan cut him off and cleared Hernandez from the ring. Pope picked up the brass knucks and blasted Joe in the head with them to score the pinfall victory.

Gessner's Glance: While a nine and a half minute match sounds really long for a TV show, let alone Impact, take into account that four minutes of it was commercial. The final minutes was chaotic but really good. The Angle/Jarrett storyline is furthered with Jarrett continuing to run away from Kurt. Pope got the dirty win to piss off Samoa Joe even more. And, Hernandez vs. Morgan is the never ending feud that's like running a treadmill- a lot of movement but not moving forward.

Backstage, Jeff and Karen Jarrett were shown running to a car. Karen said she forgot her purse and went to go get it but when she turned around she saw Kurt. Jeff drove away leaving Karen alone with Kurt. Kurt applauded her on her choice of husband. Funny.

Hogan (with a back brace) and Bischoff came out to the ring. Hogan called out RVD. RVD came out and Hogan said he was impressed by RVD pinning Sting last week following Anderson Mic Checking Sting. This led to Sting coming out.

Sting said that what Hogan was saying was a lie because RVD did not see Anderson lay him out and that RVD would never take a win that way. Sting said if RVD won the title fair and square this Sunday than he deserves it, but if he joins Immortal than he will have to win the title over his dead body. RVD left the ring.

Bischoff then told Sting that he was never the chess player that Hogan was. Hogan had out-manipulated Sting for the better part of their careers. "I feel a checkmate is in your near future," Bischoff said to Sting. Sting said, "wrong again," and then hit Bischoff with a Scorpion Death Drop. He backed Hogan into the corner but said he will take out Hogan on his own time, and left the ring. [C]

Gessner's Glance: Somewhat intriguing lead into Sunday to see whether RVD will join Immortal or not. Or, was Anderson attacking Murphy and Gunner last week a swerve for the sake of a swerve and he's the one who joins Immortal. They need a big name to replace Jeff Hardy for the faction to have at least a little credibility.

4. Abyss defeated James Storm in 3:21

[Q6] Storm opened the match by spitting beer in Abyss' face and clotheslined him out of the ring. Storm continued to beat him down outside the ring.

Mike Tenay announced that Angle vs. Jarrett at Lockdown will now be two-outta-three falls. First fall, pinfall. Second fall, submission. Third fall, escape.

In the ring, Abyss over powered Storm shoving him away and connecting with a big boot. Abyss beat him down before Storm dropped him with a flying forearm. Storm went up to the top and took down Abyss with a missile dropkick. Abyss kicked out and two. Abyss went for a chokeslam but Storm counted with a back stabber. Abyss was able to regain the advantage and took out Storm with the black hole slam to score the pinfall. Immortal will have the one man advantage for Lockdown.

Gessner's Glance: Storm showed that when the time comes for him to become a singles wrestler, he is ready. Average TV match though.

In Hogan's office, Bischoff was on the phone with "the Network." He said he knows that there is a wrestler pulling the strings and that he wanted to know who the rat was. The Network responded by apparently saying, "in time," and then hung up on Eric.

[Q6] Velvet Sky came out to the ring and called out Angelina. Angelina came out to Winter's music with the intrinsic look on her face. She speared Velvet. Angelina then got a chair from ringside and brought it into the ring. She gave Velvet a reverse DDT. She then picked her up and gave her another reverse DDT, this time onto to chair. She showed no emotion or facial expression throughout the entire attack. Winter came to the stage and called Angelina to the back, and she followed.

Mike Tenay and Taz then ran through the card for Lockdown this Sunday from Cincinnati. [C]

Gessner's Glance: This angle is "wrestle-crap 101." Viewers can suspend their disbelief only so far. This angle really pushes it. Why can The Beautiful People just be the ratings juggernauts they used to be without this BS and Winter be the good woman wrestler that we saw on WWE?

5. Mr. Anderson vs. Immortal in a gauntlet match ended in a no-contest at 10:19

[Q7] Murphy began the match for Immortal. Murphy got the early advantage with a body slam into the ring ropes. Murphy went to work on Anderson's leg that got caught in the ropes. Murphy went to knee drop Anderson's leg, but Anderson moved and picked up the pinfall after hitting a Mic Check.

Mr. Anderson defeated Murphy at 1:28

Rob Terry was next. After Anderson went for two quick rollups, Terry dropped him with a clothesline. Terry continued to work over the leg. Terry locked in a standing leg bar and then slammed Anderson down. Anderson got to his feet and hit a Mic Check out of no where to defeat Rob Terry.

Mr. Anderson defeated Rob Terry at 3:19

TNA Television Champion Gunner was next for Immortal. Gunner continued to work over the injured knee, beating on it in the corner. Anderson came back with a flurry of offense, including a spinning neck breaker. Anderson went for the Lambeau Leap but his knee gave out on him. Gunner went for a clothesline but Anderson ducked it and hit another Mic Check.

Mr. Anderson defeated Gunner at 5:12

Bully Ray was the final member of Immortal in the gauntlet. Ray beat down on Anderson with punches and kicks as Anderson struggled to get back to his feet. Ray put him in a tree of woe in the corner and pounded on his leg. An audible "you can't wrestle chant" broke out.

Gessner's Glance: Really? You just had green as grass Murphy and Gunner in the ring, along with the TNA Wellness Policy poster-boy Rob Terry in the ring, but you choose that Bully Ray can't wrestle. Wow Impact Zone. Wow.

Ray went to the second rope and went for a splash but Anderson cut him off and hit a Lambeau Leap on Ray for a two count. A boo-yay punch exchange took place between Anderson and Ray before Ray dropped Anderson with a big boot. Ray tossed Anderson out to the floor.

[Q8] Ray dragged Anderson up the ramp up to the spot where he powerbombed AJ Styles off the stage a few weeks ago. Hogan's music played and he came out to the stage. Hogan ripped off his back brace and put Anderson into position to powerbomb him himself. Sting came out with his bat and stood behind Hogan. Hogan let go of Anderson and turned around after Ray warned him that Sting was there. Abyss tried to attack Sting from behind but Sting cut him off and started beating on with the bat. Sting then took out Ray with the bat. Sting then stood over Anderson and pointed the bat at his head before backing away. [C]

Gessner's Glance: It's exactly what you expected it be. Anderson beating the three rookie for lack of a better term wrestlers in Gunner, Murphy, and Terry, and then Ray going to pick up the scraps. Surprising to see Sting help Anderson not get powerbombed off the stage, but he can play it off as it was a chance to nearly attack Hogan who narrowly escaped.

Backstage, TNA did the quick hit interviews that they have closed out the last few weeks with. Beer Money said they are going to destroy Immortal Sunday. RVD was silent when he was asked where his head was. Anderson said, "I've been here for a year and a half. I came to win the f---ing title and I will at Lockdown." Sting said this Sunday will be "show time." And the show closed out with Hogan saying that if Sting wants a war, he's got one.

Gessner's Glance: While I liked the "Hervey cam" when it was introduced, ending shows like this really waters it down. It was an innovative and creative way to interview wrestlers at first and something we never saw. Doing six interviews in two minutes, makes it less effective and less special.

Thank you all very much for clicking the link that brought you to my coverage of TNA Impact. If you have any thoughts, questions, comments, or critiques, feel free to email me at kliq4life28@gmail.com or tweet me at Twitter.com/MarkGessner.