7/12 Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Live Coverage Review: The Austin Aries era begins, The Bound For Glory Series Continues, Joseph Park faces Bully Ray, and more

By Ryan Kester

Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Aired live from Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] The show kicked off with a recap of Aries' victory…

The previously on Impact recap aired…

1. Joseph Park vs. Bully Ray.Bully Ray toyed with Park as Tenay implored the audience to have DirecTV subscribers complain to their provider because they no longer carry Spike.

Bully Ray checked his Twitter as Park sold on the mat. Bully Ray retrieved some weapons, but he was taken down by park before he had a chance to use them. The crowd cheered park on as he retrieved a steel chair. Ray battled back and knocked park back to the mat. Ray began to work over Park with various weaponry.

Park had a few hope spots but Bully remained in control. Bully Ray began cutting a promo, and park hit Ray in the crotch with a cheese grater before blasting ray with a kendo stick. Park slammed Ray on a pile of thumbtacks. Ray came back and hit Park with a chain to pick up the win…

Bully Ray defeated Joseph Park in 8:02.

After the match, park saw his own blood. Park then hit ray with a Black Hole Slam. Park went back to looking mesmerized after the slam…

Backstage, Sting was shown ranting about the group that attacked him…

Ryan's Reaction: I love it when TNA shakes up the format and starts with a match, especially one that isn't interrupted by commercials or followed by a slew of backstage segments.

[Q2] [C] Backstage, Ray was picking tacks out of himself before he started asking who he was just out there with…

2. Samoa Joe vs. Rob Van Dam in a BFGS match.RVD and Joe traded control as the announcers discussed the importance of submission in the BFGS.

Joe went for a figure-four leglock which Van dam reversed into a small package for the three count…

RVD defeated Samoa Joe in 4:48 via pinfall for seven points.

Earlier today, Claire got cornered by cameramen asking if Claire had talked to Dixie Carter. She said she hadn't and although she had things to say, today wasn't the day to say them…

Ryan's Reaction: I like the story they are telling with Joe and his submissions. It's a simple one, but it makes sense for that type of thing to come out of the BFGS and it helps make the TNA Title feel important.

[Q3] [C] Hulk Hogan gave a Sting-esque threatening brief promo to Aces and Eights…

A recap aired of Styles vs. Daniels at Destination X. Poor Tenay had a night full of voice cracks…

Kazarian and Christopher Daniels stood in the ring. Kazarian mocked Styles and he said things were far from over. Daniels summoned Claire "Lynch" so now we know her last name.

Claire obliged and Kazarian helped her into the ring. Daniels said he understood the situation Claire was in and he again implied that Styles impregnated her. Styles made his way to the party and he seemed surprised that Daniels was moving around after their match last Sunday.

Styles said the story was over weeks ago, but Daniels said there was more to the discussion. Daniels said Claire needed to tell the world what she told him earlier. Styles called Daniels a prick as he tried to keep Claire quiet. Claire got sad again and she said Daniels was right. Styles screamed "what?"

Claire revealed that Styles did in fact knock her up. Styles seemed stunned as the show went to break…

Ryan's Reaction: Ugh. The participants tried but I am so checked out of this storyline. It's bad enough that Styles and Daniels have been dragging this feud out for over a year, but this angle is calling upon people to act that simply can't. They're doing their best, but their best just isn't good enough to make this level of drama believable.

[C] Styles was walking through the back with the Hervey cam when he turned on Hervey and yelled that he had no idea what was going on…

Mr. Anderson was shown discussing Kurt Angle before the tape cut to him stretching…

A Zema Ion/Jesse Sorensen video package aired complete with footage of Ion winning the X-Division Championship aired…

[Q4] Dakota Darsow cut a promo about how Sorensen is his friend and he said Ion was beginning to piss him off. He headed to the ring…

[C] 3. Zema Ion vs. Dakota Darsow in a non-title match. Darsow slammed Ion all around the ring. Darsow hit a springboard spear in a cool spot.

Ion came back with a springboard DDT followed by his new finisher for the quick victory.

Zema Ion defeated Dakota Darsow in 2:22.

After the match, Ion wrenched on Darsow's arm. Darsow cried in pain as Ion cut a promo and saying that he's not just f'ing pretty, but he's pretty f'ing dangerous…

Ryan's Reaction: I'm hoping that's not a way to write Darsow off of television. I like what he brings to the X-Division as a bigger mat-based wrestler. To balance out the usual X Division insanity. I'm still not sold on Ion as champion, but he seems much more comfortable with his character than he did the last time he was getting a push.

[C] [Q5] Austin Aries made his way to the ring. Aries said he proved everyone wrong. He said it wasn't just a great moment for him or for the company. He said it was a great moment for all of professional wrestling. He had to calm the crowd down as they were going out of their minds. He shushed them, which garnered a chuckle from me.

Aries said there was a new energy in Impact Wrestling. He said wrestling was ready for the next boom period, and he was the man to lead Impact Wrestling into the next one. He declared himself the most important wrestler, and TNA the most important company today.

Bobby Roode decided to join the fun and he slowly made his way to the ring with a stunned look on his face. Either that or he recently farted. No one can tell.

Roode looked around the arena and eventually made his way inside the ring. He grunted and fumed at Aries for a moment and tried not to cry. He kept saying "This, all of this" before continued to shake and grunt. He repeated the shtick far too many times.

Roode finally managed to say spit out "fluke" before storming off…

Sting and Hogan discussed Aces and Eights in Hogan's office. Devon and Garett Bischoff showed up and they offered to have Hogan and Sting's back. Hogan said they had things under control…

Ryan's Reaction: Well, that was painful to watch. Aries did a great job with his part but this version of angry Roode flat-out sucks. We've seen Roode intense before and that is wonderful, but this was cartoonish Roode and it was just bad.

[Q6] [C] Kurt Angle cut a brief promo putting over Mr. Anderson…

It was then Kurt Angle's turn to do some awkward stretches backstage…

Madison Rayne cutting a promo about how why she wanted Earl Hebner…

Brooke Hogan made her way to the announce table…

4. Miss Tessmacher vs. Gail Kim for the Knockouts Championship. Tessmacher was dominant early , but Kim quickly came back. Kim began to work over Tessmacher as Brooke discussed all the rings she booked the Knockouts for. Kim locked in the Cattle Mutilation out of nowhere. Tessmacher reversed it into a pin attempt.

Kim went for Eat defeat off of the top rope but Tessmacher shoved her off. Tessmacher followed with a flying elbow to put her challenger away.

Miss Tessmacher defeated Gail Kim to retain the Knockouts Championship in 5:12

Ryan's Reaction:That was the best match I have seen from those two. Great women's match.

[Q7] [C] Another recap of the Styles/Claire segment from earlier aired…

Claire was found backstage dodging the Hervey cam. She did a crazy face into the cam and told Styles to do the right thing…

Open Fight Night is next week…

Magnus cut a promo about how he is being overlooked. He talked about how he's facing James Storm soon and he was looking to make an example out of him…

Tenay and Taz ran through the current BFGS standings. Samoa Joe remains on top with 37 points to Storm's 36…

5. Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson in a BFGS match.. The two men did some chain wrestling to start. Angle gained control as the show went to break…

[C] Back from the break, Anderson hit Angle with a suplex and both men sold on the mat. Tenay complained about DirecTV again. Anderson went for the Mic Check but Angle reversed it into his rolling German suplexes.

Angle went for the Angle Slam only for Anderson to reverse it into the Green bay plunge for a near fall. Angle locked in the ankle lock before hitting the Angle Slam for another near fall.

[Q8] Angle locked in the ankle lock again. Anderson managed to get out, but Angle hit another Angle Sam for the 1-2-3…

Kurt Angle defeated Mr. Anderson in 11:39 to earn seven points in the BFGS.

Bobby Roode went backstage to breathe on Hulk Hogan and Sting before telling Hogan that they need to talk…

Ryan's Reaction: Standard Angle match. If you like the formula he works then this was plenty of it, but I've seen it so much it just feels a bit predictable. Sometimes less finisher spots is more.

[C] Bobby Roode said he wanted his rematch before Hardcore Justice. Hogan reminded him that next week is Open Fight Night and Roode should call him out, but he still has to wait until Hardcore Justice for the title shot.

Sting made his way to the ring. Sting said it was awesome to be there. Sting called out Aces and Eights and Hulk Hogan. Hogan's music aired but he didn't come out. Sting tried again to the same result. They tried a third time and nothing. The camera flashed to the back and Hogan was shown beaten down and Brooke was frantically chasing off Aces and Eights.

Sting started walking to the back only to be jumped from behind by the rogue group. The show went off the air with Sting cowering on the ramp.

Ryan's Reaction: The only thing about this group that I'm not really thrilled about is the name. Aces and Eights just sounds so much more lackluster than dead man's Hand. Besides that little picked nit, they have done a good job of establishing the group thus far. I am looking forward to where they eventually go with the new stable. Overall, this was a solid edition of Impact that gave a good mix of in-ring action and storyline progression.

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 at @TheRyanKester.