9/27 Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Live Coverage Review: Championship Thursday to determine the new TV Champion, Hulk Hogan enters the Aces and Eights clubhouse, the Gut Check judging, and more

By Ryan Kester

Impact Wrestling on Spike TV
Aired live from Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] Previously on Impact…

Hulk Hogan made his entrance with Sting's bat. Hogan told Aces and Eights that they have a date. Hogan mentioned Devon's contract falling through and he said that tonight, on Championship Thursday, they would crown a new TV Champion.

Hogan turned his attention to James Storm and Bobby Roode. He said things were out of control, so they would settle their differences in a street fight at Bound For Glory with a special enforcer that will be revealed next week. He then said it was King Mo. Thank goodness, I was almost intrigued there.

Hogan recounted the Aces and Eights transgressions to date. Hogan reiterated that he was going to their clubhouse, even if he had to do so alone.

Sting took this as an invitation to come to the ring, and he said he wouldn't let Hogan go alone. Hogan said they need a second bat…

Ryan's Reaction: Solid opener that set the pieces in place for tonight. When I previously said that Hogan is best in small doses, this is the role I was thinking of. He fired up the crowd and set up the evening well and wasn't called upon to act.

[Q2] [C] Mr. Anderson's Bound For Glory memory was the Bound For Glory on 10/10/10…

1. Kurt Angle (w/ AJ Styles) vs. Chavo Guererro (w/ Hernandez) vs. Christopher Daniels (w/ Kazarian). The faces ganged up on Daniels early. Kazarian tripped Chavo and all six men got in the ring to argue as the show went to commercial... [C]

Back from the break, all the partners were kicked to the back. Kurt Angle was firmly in control and he worked over both men for a spell. Chavo hit the Three Amigos on Daniels but was cut off by Kurt when he tried for the Frog Splash.

Daniels rolled up Chavo as he argued with Kurt for the surprise victory…

Christopher Daniels defeated Kurt Angle and Chavo Guererro in 8:28.

[Q3] Hulk Hogan conducted the first round of Championship Thursday eliminations backstage with Mr. Anderson, Samoa Joe, Magnus, and Garett Bischoff of all people. Hogan eliminated Magnus first because he didn't want to listen to listen to Magnus and Joe argue anymore…

Tara was on the phone with her boyfriend when Brooke Hogan showed up and told her she had to earn her title shot in a match. Brooke then up and stole Tara's phone and chatted with her boyfriend as she left… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: Goodness, they packed a lot into one segment. I'm still not a fan of the backstage eliminations with Hogan as they are just another source to overexpose the man, but this was one of the better eliminations segments we've seen I'm not sure why anyone should be taking Bischoff seriously as he hasn't been on television for a long, long time.

2. Tara vs. ODB (w/ Erick Young) for the number one contendership to the TNA Knockouts Championship. ODB dominated Tara for the majority of the match.

Tara tweaked her knee on the floor and she was unable to make it to her feet. ODB persisted, however, and ended up in a roll up for the 1-2-3…

Tara defeated ODB in 4:40

A preview for the Gut Check judging was shown…

Ryan's Reaction: Solid work from both women. Tara seems so much more alive in this heel role and she's really having fun with the character.

[Q4] [C] Bruce Prichard gave Al Snow hell for getting physically involved with a citizen. Prichard said Snow is no longer a wrestler; he's an executive in TNA. Prichard mentioned the legal trouble TNA is already going through.

Taz entered and they moved on to Evan Markopoulos. They all agreed he had promise for a kid and he has a passion for the sport. Snow brought up how hard it can be on a wrestler and he questioned if an eighteen year old is mature enough to take it…

Bully Ray was backstage and Hervey asked him who his partner was going to be tonight. Ray gave him a non-answer and told the camera man to shoot his calves...

Hogan spoke with the three men in a hallway and he pondered if Garett Bischoff could hang with Anderson or Samoa Joe. Hogan put over Garett but he said it wasn't his time. Wise move, TNA… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: To be clear, I have no issues with Garett. He's green, yes, but he's no longer being shoved down our throats as the best thing in TNA. He simply hasn't received an ounce of attention and if he's anywhere near where he wrestled the last time he was on television, then he wouldn't be fit to be in a Gut Check match let alone trying to get over a title already hurting for prestige.

Bobby Roode informed Austin Aries that he would be teaming with Bully Ray tonight against Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy. Roode talked up Aries for a bit and compared him to Hardy to plant some seeds of jealousy…

[Q5] 3. Samoa Joe vs. Mr. Anderson for the TNA Television Championship. Samoa Joe took the early advantage and he went right for the rear naked choke. It was unsuccessful, but I like the sense of urgency in this match.

Joe locked in the RNC and Anderson tried to crawl to the ropes, but Joe kept switching the hold or hooking an arm and Anderson eventually passed out…

Samoa Joe defeated Mr. Anderson in 4:59 to become the TNA TV Champion.

A red-tinted hype video aired of Hulk Hogan and Aces and Eights…

Hogan was backstage talking to sting. A crew member showed up and had Hogan sign some documents for Prichard when Aces and Eights descended on the pair, beat Hogan to the ground, and abducted Sting…

Ryan's Reaction: I enjoyed the match, and I really enjoyed the way Joe was active and kept switching the hold to keep Anderson from the ropes. It made the tired way of handling submission finishers feel fresh.

[Q6] [C] The replay of the attack showed that Hogan was taken as well as Sting. I'm not sure what I saw earlier, but I could have sworn Hogan was on the ground. Someone call Liam Neeson…

The Gut Check judging began and Evan Markopoulos made his way to the ring. He was wearing pants this week, which helped offset his small frame that made him look younger than he already is. Markopoulos said he got his ass kicked, but he was here tonight.

Taz said yes, Prichard said no, and Markopoulos gave his kick-out promo. He kissed Snow's ass and mentioned where Snow was at in his career when Markopoulos was born. He strangely promised to get his as kicked more but to learn from it. Way to sell yourself, bud.

Snow said Markopoulos is the epitome of Gut Check and he had the passion needed for the business, but he is too young so he votes no…

Bane from Aces and Eights was with Sting and Hulk Hogan. He said the boss is on his way… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: I've made my feelings on how TNA has handled Gut Check before now, so I won't get too into it here. I'll simply say that this did nothing to make me care anymore about the concept than I did last week. They really need to shake this formula up.

Magnus' Bound For Glory moments included winning the TNA Tag Titles as part of British Invasion…

[Q7] Bane Sr. showed up and sat with his back to Hogan and Sting. He showed Joseph Park tied to a table and he told Hogan to bring two guys to Bound For Glory for them to take on two of the Aces and Eights guys. Hogan said he and Sting would fight them, but Bane Sr. said it wasn't about Hogan. He said if they win they get access to TNA, if Hogan's guys win, Aces and Eights go away.

Hogan told them to let Park go now. Bane Sr. said Park is their insurance and he will be let go once the match is over…

Jeff Hardy and Austin Aries were shown split screen walking through the back. Hardy has on some very lime green paint and it made me jump a bit when I looked at the television. If you're watching late, you've been warned… [C]

Ryan's Reaction: I'm glad that TNA found a way to up the stakes and have the big baddie of Aces and Eights appear without making himself known. This story has been treading water for a few weeks and it needed something to keep things interesting.

TNA replayed a chunk of the Aces and Eights video…

Taz and Tenay ran down the Bound For Glory card…

James Storm spoke backstage about why he was pleased with Hogan's announcement and how he was happy King Mo would be raising his hand at Bound For Glory. He apologized for Roode's condemned luck…

[Q8] 4. Bully Ray and Bobby Roode vs. Austin Aries and Jeff hardy. Ray and Hardy started the match, but they quickly tagged out. Hardy showed up Aries when he took out both Ray and Roode, and Aries looked pissed going into the break… [C]

Back from the break, Hardy was in control, but Roode swept his legs as he went for a moonsault and he landed awkwardly. The heels took control and began working over Hardy. Hardy got a tag off to Aries, but Aries was quickly overwhelmed and the heels turned to working over the champion.

Aries made a comeback and locked the Last Chancery on Roode, but Ray broke the hold. Hardy managed to overcome Roode and put him away with the Swanton Bomb, much to the chagrin of Aries...

Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy defeated Bobby Roode and Bully Ray in 13:55.

Aces and Eights dropped off Hogan and Sting and threatened to burn Park if they didn't behave.

Ryan's Reaction: Decent show. They are still failing to make it feel like the biggest show of the year is right around the corner and Hogan was overexposed way too much again, but they did give us some good wrestling and are at least beginning to set up the stories for Bound For Glory.

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.