8/4/11 Impact Wrestling Recap
A recap of last week’s show where Sting played mind games with Immortal by acting like he was a network executive. We then head into the Impact Wrestling Zone where Immortal is standing in the ring and Bully Ray has a microphone in his hand.
Ray introduces Immortal, which includes Jeff Jarrett, and when he finally gets to Mr. Anderson, Ray just calls him an asshole. Ray then says it has always been Immortal against Fortune and the town isn’t big enough for the both of them. Anderson steps in and says the ring isn’t big enough for him and Ray. Anderson says Ray screwed him last week in his match against Kurt Angle and says he hopes it was worth it as he is an vindictive person.
Ray gets in Anderson’s face and reminds him that he lost the World Championship after being a part of Immortal for just one week. Ray then says that he is the man in charge when Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are not around as Anderson says neither of them are booked for Hardcore Justice and challenges him to a match. Ray then spits in Anderson’s face as the two begin to brawl only to be seperated by the rest of Immortal.
Fortune’s music hits as they come out to the ring and brawl with Immortal in the middle of the ring. Fortune clears the ring but it looks like James Storm has hurt his back. The announce team then hypes tonight’s card as Storm takes on Hernandez in one of three Bound for Glory Series matches. Also, we will see the contract signing between Kurt Angle and Sting for their match at Hardcore Justice.
We then see Miss Tessmacher stretching in the backstage area as she will be taking on Madison Rayne, and that match is coming up after the commercial break.
Match 1: Madison Rayne vs. Miss Tessmacher
Mickie James joins the announce team for commentary for this match. Tessmacher comes out with her tag team partner, Tara, but Earl Hebner sends her to the back. The bell rings as Tessmacher lands a few blows on Madison but Madison quickly comes back and slams Tessmacher’s face into the mat. Madison then tosses her around the ring but Madison turns her attention towards the announce table as Tessmacher rolls Mickie up to pick up the pin fall.
After the match, Madison takes Tessmacher down as Mickie James leaves the announce table and makes her way towards the ring, but Angelina Love comes out and takes her down. Winter then comes out and helps beat down Mickie and lays her out with the Knockouts Championship. Winter then poses with the title as Mickie is laid out by her feet as we head into a commercial break.
We are treated to live event footage featuring matches for the Bound for Glory Series. Robert Roode is interviewed and says he scored some more points and will make his way to the main event of Bound for Glory. James Storm says it is now his time and he will prove that he is the best.
The updated standings are shown and Crimson is on top with 40 points with James Storm in second with 33. There is a four way tie for third as RVD, Gunner, Bully Ray and Robert Roode all have 28 points. Matt Morgan is fourth but is out of the competition with 24 points, followed by Devon with 23, AJ Styles with 21, Scott Steiner with 14, the Pope with 7 and Samoa Joe still at the bottom with no points.
Match 2: Devon vs. AJ Styles (Bound for Glory Series Match)
Devon greets his wife and two kids in the ringside area before this match starts. The bell rings as the two go back and forth in the opening moments of the match. Styles takes Devon down with a dropkick and picks up a near fall as we see the Pope sit down with Devon’s family in the ringside area. Devon see this and his attention is diverted as Styles takes Devon down with an arm bar but Devon is able to reach the ropes.
Styles then tries to go for the Styles Clash but Devon counters it, however, Styles is able to hit Devon with a Pele kick. Christopher Daniels makes his way ringside to cheer on Styles and diverts his attention as Devon rolls him up and picks up the pin fall to earn seven more points in the surprising victory. The Pope is seen celebrating with Devon’s family as Styles and Daniels are seen arguing up the entrance ramp as we head into a commercial break.
We join the announce team who talks about the upcoming World Championship match coming up this Sunday at Hardcore Justice. We then see a video package that focuses on the Sting/Angle match and are treated to video of the history between the two of them. Kurt Angle talks about how they are in the best shapes of their lives and how the fans will remember this match for the rest of their lives.
The Pope is backstage and talks about how he will earn seven or 10 points against Samoa Joe tonight. Pope then talks about his upcoming match against Devon at Hardcore Justice and hopes that they still have a bond with each other when it’s all over as we head into a commercial break.
Match 3: D’Angelo Dinero vs. Samoa Joe (Bound for Glory Series Match)
Matt Morgan joins the announce team for this match and has his arm in the sling. The bell rings as Pope is able to dodge all of Joe’s offense in the early going. Pope finally connects with a dropkick and takes Joe down with an arm drag to take control of the match. Pope then hits Joe with an atomic drop and follows with a series of elbows as Devon makes his way to the ringside area.
Joe begins to fight back and puts Pope in the rear naked choke to make Pope submit. Joe refuses to release the hold, though, as the referee reverses the decision and disqualifies Joe from the match. Joe then chases referee Jackson James up the ramp as the Pope is awarded three points for the disqualification win.
Joe is backstage and says the people that run the company don’t want him anywhere near the gold because he is a threat and a problem. Joe says they have tried to kill him but he will not go silently. Joe says they are responsible for his actions and the blood will be on their hands.
Beer Money is backstage and Storm is laying on the couch saying that he tweaked his back. Roode tells him that he can’t compete in a street fight like that and offers to take Storm’s spot. Storm agrees to it but says he will be going out there with Roode as we head into a commercial break.
Bully Ray is backstage talking on the phone with Hulk Hogan. Ray tells him that Mr. Anderson is wrong for Immortal and says that he will not apologize to him for what happened earlier. Ray finally breaks down and says that he will apologize out of respect to Hogan.
Match 4: Hernandez vs. Robert Roode (Street Fight)
The bell rings as the two go at it and Roode clotheslines Hernandez out to the floor. Roode slings himself over the ropes and on top of Hernandez before he grabs a chair and nails Hernandez in the midsection and across the back. Roode begins dumping weapons into the ring as Hernandez recovers and sends Roode into the steel ring post. Hernandez goes for the cover on the floor but Roode kicks out as Hernandez then rolls Roode into the ring.
Hernandez begins whipping Roode with a belt and chokes him out before he levels him with a clothesline. Hernandez goes for another cover but Roode is able to kick out as the fight again goes out to the floor. Hernandez sends Roode into the steel steps before rolling him back into the ring where Roode nails Hernandez with a trash can lid. Roode then connects with a trash can before taking him down with a superplex. Both men are laid out in the ring and Roode nails Hernandez a few times with a kendo stick as they get back to their feet.
Roode then hits a neckbreaker from the middle rope but Hernandez is able to kick out of the pin attempt. Hernandez is able to get back into the match with a shoulder block and goes for a Border Toss but Roode counters and takes Hernandez down with a spinebuster. Roode then locks Hernandez in an armbar submission and Hernandez taps out, however, the referee has his hands full with the rest of Mexican America. Roode turns his attention to Anarquia as Sarita runs in and hits Roode in the back with a kendo stick. Roode chases her out of the ring as Hernandez rolls up Roode for the pin fall.
Bully Ray walks into Mr. Anderson’s dressing room where Ray tells Anderson that he has respect for this business and the people that came before him. Ray then apologizes to Anderson for offending him and offers to shake Anderson’s hand, but Anderson refuses to shake it. Ray tells Anderson that he doesn’t apologize to many people and Anderson finally shakes his hand as Ray buries a knee in Anderson’s gut before walking away.
Kurt Angle is seen with the guys in the production truck as we are told that we will revisit the empty arena brawl match where Sting took on Kurt Angle later on tonight.
Match 5: Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley
Aries attacks Shelley before the bell to get this match underway. Shelley fights back and picks up few near falls after connecting with a kick to the back of Aries’ head. Shelley then sends Aries face first into the turnbuckle as the announce team tells us that several new X Division signings will debut next week on Impact Wrestling. Shelley then locks Aries in a figure four but Aries is able to break the hold. Aries then takes control of the match and knocks Shelley out to the floor.
Aries flies off the top rope and onto the floor to take Shelley out before rolling him back into the ring and picking up a few near falls. Shelley is able to come back and takes Aries out with a kick from the top rope that knocks him out to the floor. Shelley then dives through the ropes and takes Aries out on the floor. Shelley rolls Aries back into the ring where Aries tries for Sliced Bread #2 but Shelley counters and sends Aries into the turnbuckle. Aries then tosses Shelley out to the floor before he puts on Shelley’s vest to mock him.
Aries then wraps the vest around his fist and is going to use the spikes on Shelley but Earl Hebner takes it away from him. Shelley then sets up for the Sliced Bread #2 but Aries counters and shoves him into the turnbuckle. Aries then hits Shelley with a brainbuster to pick up the pin fall and win the match. Aries then grabs a microphone and says he defeated Shelley with a clean wrestling maneuver. Brian Kendrick then heads to the ring and chases Aries out as Aries celebrates on the entrance ramp.
Eric Young is seen driving around in Los Angeles and is on his way to taking some acting lessons. After some brief lessons, she says he maybe not be fit for acting and asks him to leave as it has been a waste of her time.
Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle in the production truck as he is there to give some commentary and thoughts about his empty arena brawl with Sting. Angle talks about walking out with many injuries as we are treated to footage of the match. Angle says this match was a fight but he wants to make this a match to remember.
After a commercial break, we see Sting arriving to the Impact Zone as his contract signing with Kurt Angle will take place later on tonight.
Match 6: Gunner & Scott Steiner vs. Crimson & Rob Van Dam (Bound for Glory Series Match)
RVD goes for a quick pin attempt to get this match started but Steiner kicks out and levels RVD with a clothesline. Steiner then sends RVD down to the mat with a full nelson slam before he tags Gunner into the match. Gunner continues on the attack but RVD connects with a kick and tags Crimson into the match. Crimson powers Gunner around the ring but a distraction by Steiner allows Gunner to regain control.
Steiner is tagged back into the match and continues to work over Crimson. Steiner picks up a near fall after hitting a belly-to-belly suplex before tagging Gunner back into the match. Gunner picks up a near fall on Crimson but Crimson is able to turn the tide after catching him in midair and slamming him down to the mat. RVD and Steiner are both tagged in as RVD takes Steiner down with a series of kicks and connects with a Rolling Thunder for another near fall.
This match begins to break down with Gunner and Crimson going at it in the ring while RVD and Steiner go at it on the floor. Crimson is able to take Gunner out with a spear as RVD heads to the top and hits a Five Star Frog Splash. Steiner enters the ring and drives RVD to the mat and picks up a near fall over RVD. Steiner puts RVD on the turnbuckle but Crimson takes Steiner down as RVD hits a Five Star Frog Splash on Steiner to pick up the pin fall and earns seven points.
Christy Hemme meets with RVD and Crimson ringside as RVD says he will beat everyone to earn a shot at the World Championship. Christy says the two will be meeting at Hardcore Justice as Crimson says it was a honor to wrestle along with RVD but says he will walk out on top at their match this Sunday.
Sting and Kurt Angle are seen walking backstage as their contract signing is coming up after the commercial break.
The announce team hypes the Hardcore Justice pay-per-view as they run down the card. We then head into the ring where the red carpet is laid out and Jeremy Borash introduces the competitors in Hardcore Justice’s main event. Kurt Angle comes out first and is followed by the World Champion, Sting.
Borash hands the contract and pen over to Angle who signs the contract. It is then Sting’s turn and he signs the dotted line to make the match official. Borash then turns the microphone over to Angle for his final comments. Angle says Sting is one of the few wrestlers he respects and says his career is a testament to who he is. Angle says their match is strictly business and their match will end in a handshake, but promises to walk away with the World Championship.
Sting is then given the microphone and says he no longer feels like laughing anymore. Sting reverts back to his serious character and thanks Angle for the kind words and says it is important to him that he had an effect on Kurt Angle. Sting then says he is a big fan of Angle’s and admits that Angle is the best all around wrestler that he has ever faced. Sting gives Angle credit for his skills in the ring and at the Olympics, however, the World Championship is his life blood and he needs it to right what is wrong in the company. Sting says he has made a vow and will bring the company back to its rightful owner and tells Angle that he will have to nearly kill Sting to take the title away from him. Sting then leaves the ring as Impact Wrestling comes to a close.
Quick Results
– Miss Tessmacher defeated Madison Rayne by pin fall.
– Devon defeated AJ Styles by pin fall in a Bound for Glory Series Match.
– D’Angelo Dinero defeated Samoa Joe by disqualification in a Bound for Glory Series Match.
– Hernandez defeated Robert Roode by pin fall in a street fight.
– Austin Aries defeated Alex Shelley by pin fall.
– Rob Van Dam & Crimson defeated Gunner & Scott Steiner by pin fall in a Bound for Glory Series Match.
