8/2 Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Live Coverage Review: Chavo Guerrero makes his in-ring debut, Kurt Angle vs. James Storm, and Austin Aries and Kenny King vs. Bobby Roode and Zema Ion

By Ryan Kester

Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Aired live from Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] The sound was out at the start of the show, but Austin Aries and Bobby Roode and Kenny King and Zema Ion were brawling around the Impact Zone. Earl Hebner corralled the four men into the ring.

1. Austin Aries and Kenny King vs. Bobby Roode and Zema Ion. Aries and Roode started the official match but Roode quickly tagged Ion into the match. Aries got the better of Ion and worked him over as he stared a hole through Roode.

TNA is airing tweets from fans live tonight in the bottom-left corner of the screen. That will get old quick. King and Aries continued to tear into Ion and they worked a series of quick tags to keep him on their side of the ring.

Roode managed to drag King out of the ring at one point and he rammed him into the apron. Ion followed with a dive on King and the heels took over the action….

[C] Back from the break, King got a hope spot but Roode and Ion managed to keep him off of his feet. The heels continued their assault.

[Q2] Aries eventually had enough and charged the ring to take out Roode. King followed with his finisher on Ion for the 1-2-3…

Austin Aries and Kenny King defeated Bobby Roode and Zema Ion in15:06.

Previously on Impact, Aces and Eights attacked a lot of people and James Storm was accused of being their leader…

Sting spoke with Hervey backstage. Sting said he was going to wait to hear from the horse's mouth about their allegiance to Aces and Eights. He said he would hear from them in about two seconds…

Ryan's Reaction: Fun way to open Impact. I would have liked to see this match later in the evening to give the X-Division guys more rub, but if it's not going to end the show, it might as well open it. I like the twitter scroll idea, but the execution is obstructive to the show. TNA would be better served using the scroll on the bottom of the screen as they have done before rather than a graphic that takes up a large chunk of the screen.

[C] Sting made his entrance and called out James Storm. Storm quickly obliged. Sting said he had some footage that was rather compelling. Sting narrated a recap of Aces and Eights attacking AJ Styles and running from Storm last week.

Storm called Aces and Eights cowards and said they ran from someone that was going to kick their ass. Storm cited Sting and Storm's history and said he never needed anyone to fight his battles for him.

Storm talked about how he was once jumped by Kurt Angle and he came back and beat him on three separate occasions. He said he didn't need anyone else to do it.

[Q3] Angle took his name drop as an invitation to join the party. Taz and Tenay checked in and continued to question Storm's character. Angle said that he and Storm had been through a lot the last year. Angle said he doesn't understand Storm's motives. Angle connected the dots between Storm and Aces and Eights.

Angle begged Aces and Eights to get involved in his match tonight. Sting got fired up and said he was going to be ringside during Angle and Storm's match. Angle got in Storm's face and told him he will make him tap out…

Tenay and Taz showed us a few of Styles' twitpics from Australia. They then recapped Claire's most recent accusations, focusing mostly on the creeper pics while my skin crawled off and hid in the corner…

Christopher Daniels and Kazarian spoke backstage about how they're going to throw a baby shower for Claire. How sweet…

Ryan's Reaction: Lord help me, the Claire storyline makes my head hurt. It's the one black mark on the recent TNA storylines and it could use an end. TNA continues to undermine Storm's character and I question the wisdom in doing so. Storm is not so over that he can really take an assault on his character, yet TNA is going after his and Styles' integrity with considerable gusto.

[C] Taz and Tenay hyped the hardcore BFGS matches that are worth 20 points at Hardcore Justice…

Bully Ray cut a brief promo before the match and he said he never trusted Storm. He promised to be at ringside during Storm's match. Robbie T floored ray before the match could start…

[Q4] 2. Bully Ray vs. Robbie E (w/ Robbie T) in a Bound For Glory Series match. Robbie E pounced on ray, but Ray quickly came back with a series of chops and a cutter for the quick victory…

Bully Ray defeated Robbie E via pinfall in 0:52 for seven points in the BFGS.

Earl Hebner gave Madison Rayne some romantic gifts backstage. Gail Kim came up to protest and Madison Rayne said Hebner would never screw over someone in a match so Kim had nothing to worry about. Nyuk nyuk nyuk…

Ryan's Reaction: Remember when is aid the Claire storyline was the one black mark on TNA storytelling? That was because my brain rejected the existence of the "Hebner is a hunk" story. Be that as it may, I'm still willing to give this a bit of breathing room because it looks like it's just Rayne trying to get a leg up in the Knockouts division. I reserve the right to change my tune if it takes a turn for the supremely stupid.

[C] Christy Hemme introduced Miss Tessmacher as a guest announcer.

3. Tara vs. Madison Rayne vs. Gail Kim vs. Mickie James to determine the new number-one contender. The participants made their entrances and thee show went to break…

[C] Kim and Rayne worked together to overcome Tara and James in the early stages of the match.

[Q5] Kim eventually took a dump to the floor and James early got the win off of a neckbreaker on Rayne. Kim recovered and broke the pin. Tara slammed Kim and went up top but Rayne recovered and swept her legs. James saved Tara from a Rayne assault.

Kim hit Tara with a superplex and all four women sold on the mat. Kim had the pin, but Hebner was too bust ogling Rayne. Tara hit Widow's Peak on Kim and rolled up Rayne for the pin, but Hebner again gave the win to Madison Rayne…

Madison Rayne defeated Tara, Gail Kim, and Mickie James in 7:25 to become the new number one contender for the Knockouts Championship.

A recap of Angle questioning Storm earlier aired…

Bobby Roode bragged about how his seed of distrust had spread throughout all of TNA. He promised to join the might-as-well-be-a-lumberjack match later…

Aries showed up and said he will join the might-as-well-be-a-lumberjack match later…

Sting spoke with Brooke Hogan, who was still distressed over Aces and Eight's attack on her father Brooke said she would be down in the might-as-well-be-a-lumberjack match later. Oh wait, no she didn't, but she might as well join the party. Brooke sold her fear for Aces and Eight and Sting made sure she was still able to run the Knockouts division. Someone brought in a manila envelope and Brooke ran from Sting's office…

Ryan's Reaction: This is the most convoluted way of setting up a lumberjack match that I have ever seen. I'm fine with them having that match. Especially to ward off an Aces and Eights attack, but the way everyone is promising to be out there is coming off quite cartoonish at this point.

[Q6] [C] ODB and Eric Young spoke backstage about how Brooke Hogan has been bugging ODB about not defending the Knockouts Tag Team Championships. Young plugged his new fishing show. Young grabbed a belt and ran to hide so they wouldn't have to defend them.

4. Chavo Guererro Jr. (w/ Hernandez) vs. Kid Kash (w/ Gunner). Kash got some shot in early, but Chavo quickly took over and put his move set on full display.

Kash hit an offensive flurry, but Chavo came back off of a failed moonsault from Kash. Chavo hit the Three Amigos and the Frog Splash for the pinfall victory…

Chavo Guererro defeated Kid Kash in 4:42

Dixie Carter backstage said that it's way past time for AJ Styles to step up and address the accusations levied against him…

Kazarian and Daniels were shown carrying gifts backstage…

Ryan's Reaction: I miss Chavo's old move set. I understand using Three Amigos and the Frog Splash to honor Eddie, but he changed his repertoire so drastically that it's always felt more like exploitation than it has tribute. Try as he may, Chavo is o Eddie and he comes off as trying to be Eddie-lite. It hurts hi considerably because Chavo can work such a quicker style that fits him better, but he simply chooses not to. Getting past my personal reaction to Guererro's style, this was a solid first match for Chavo that did a good job of establishing him to any unfamiliar TNA viewers.

[Q7] [C] Angle spoke to Wes Brisco backstage about his dream to be a wrestler. Devon and Garett Bischoff showed up to pledge their help for covering Angle during his match later. The more the merrier!

Daniels and Kazarian stood in the ring explaining that Styles was down in Australia and likely impregnating someone. They invited Claire into the ring, who was conveniently seated at ringside.

Claire joined the pair in the ring and Claire got a sparkly necklace to wear. She was all smiles as Daniels explained that he has two children and knows the importance of pregnancy. Daniels said Styles had been treating her like crap, so they were there for her tonight.

The first present contained a ton of diapers. The second was a series of AJ styles action figures, signed pictures, tag team belt toys and a few t-shirts. Finally, another gift contained a baby doll with a miniature Styles vest. Claire turned to the camera and screamed that Styles needed to do the right thing. Ugh, that woman gives me the creeps…

Ryan's Reaction: Yep, this continues to be terrible to sit through, in no small part due to Claire's terrible acting. Daniels and Kazarian were actually fun here and they have served as the bright spot in this bad story, but Claire his simply channel-changingly bad.

[C] Joseph Park spoke backstage about how he was now representing some of the TNA talent. Park ran up to String and said he "didn't want to kayfab" him but he was looking for clients. Sting said he was good but asked about the Black Hole Slams from a few weeks back. Park said he didn't know what Sting was talking about…

Taz and Tenay hyped Pope vs. RVD for next week as well as AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle and Bully Ray vs. James Storm…

5. Kurt Angle vs. James Storm in a Bound For Glory Series match. Despite all of the promises, no one was at ringside for the match.

[Q8] Angle and Storm chain wrestled to start with neither man gaining an upper hand. Sting eventually made his way out to ringside. Devon and Garett made their entrances.

Storm went for an early Last call but Angle caught his foot. Bully Ray made his presence known at ringside…

[C] Back from the break, an exhausted Storm hit Angle with a series of knees and a hanging DDT. Bobby Roode made his entrance, quickly followed by Austin Aries.

Angle hit his rolling German suplexes. Angle went for an Angle Slam but Storm rolled out. Angle hit an awkward Last Call and went for the ankle lock. Storm battled out and hit the Angle Slam for a near fall.

Angle locked in the ankle lock. Storm sat in the hold for a long time but he managed to roll over and kick Angle off. Storm hit Last call and covered Angle for the win…

James Storm defeated Kurt Angle in 13:29 via pinfall to earn seven points in the BFGS.

Angle shook Storm's hand after the match and gave him a hug. Storm grabbed a mic and he called out Aces and Eights. Bobby Roode grabbed a mic and he said they're not here because he already beat Angle. Roode said that Storm is the man behind the attacks and the whole world knows it.

Bully Ray snuck up on Storm and attacked. Aries and Roode and Bully Ray and Storm brawled to end the show.

Ryan's Reaction: The match was ok, but it's just a rehash of what we have seen from all of the recent Kurt Angle main events and the formula, which is normally a good one, is beginning to get stale from repeated use. The match was in no way helped form the many cuts to various guys walking out from the back. It made things so much clunkier than they needed to be. Despite the lackluster main event, this show was a very solid and entertaining edition of Impact that continues TNA's trend of entertaining television. TNA still has a few gremlins to work out of their show like technical issues, pacing, and Claire Lynch, but overall they are producing consistently entertaining television.

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.