10/6/11 Impact Wrestling Recap
Impact opens with a video package on Hulk Hogan and his announcement that he was going to be leaving wrestling. Tonight there are going have a celebration as Hogan is seen walking in the parking lot with Eric Bischoff.
We head into the Knoxville Civic Colosseum where Impact Wrestling is taking place. Beer Money’s music hits as Bobby Roode and James Storm make their way to the ring. James Storm talks about Hogan’s retirement and says it’s about time for him to take a back seat to the younger stars. Storm states that the two of them are wrestling in the semi main event and then tells Hogan to have fun trying to follow his match against Roode later on tonight.
Roode gets on the microphone and says his matches against Kazarian and AJ Styles were both physically and mentally exhausting, but they have proved that he is ready for Kurt Angle. Roode then asks Storm to bring everything that he has and tear the place down. Storm says he is going to bring it and he might be just a little bit better than he is. Storm says Roode has proved himself and he is going to Bound for Glory. Tonight, Storm has something to prove and tells Roode “sorry about your damn luck.”
Sting is seen walking around wearing a red suit and a Hulkamania shirt as we head into a commercial break.
Footage of Hulk Hogan’s arrival to TNA is aired back in January 2010. The announce team says they will be reviewing Hogan’s time in TNA tonight as Taz says tonight is the end of an historic era. We then head into the first match of the night.
Match 1: Gunner vs. Kazarian
The match starts and Kazarian takes Gunner down with a dropkick before clotheslining him out to the floor. Gunner is able to trip up Kazarian on the ring apron and begins to work over Kazarian’s arm before rolling him back into the ring. Gunner continues to focus on Kazarian’s arm until Kazarian comes back with a back elbow and a couple of kicks. Kazarian then hits a springboard leg drop but Gunner is able to kick out of the pin attempt. Gunner makes a comeback and tosses Kazarian into the ring post. Gunner then locks Kazarian in an arm bar and Kazarian taps out to give Gunner the submission victory.
Gunner continues to beat down Kazarian after the match is over. Trainers end up coming out to check on Kazarian as it is announced that the referee has reversed the decision and awards Kazarian the victory via disqualification.
After a commercial break, Mr. Anderson makes his way to the ring and says he is out here tonight to apologize for turning his back on his fans in a moment of weakness. Anderson says he learned a lot from his experience, such as Bully Ray is a giant douche bag. On queue, Ray’s music hits as he makes his way towards the ring.
Anderson says Ray has always gotten the upper hand on him over the past few months and wants one more match with him. Ray says he isn’t getting another match out of him but Anderson tries to get him to bite by challenging Ray to a Philadelphia Falls Count Anywhere match at Bound for Glory. Ray stares Anderson down before leaving the ring and we head into a commercial break.
James Storm and Bobby Roode are seen getting ready for their match. Eric Bischoff then runs into the camera man and says he doesn’t know how he feels about Hulk Hogan retiring. Bischoff says it’s an end of the era and it’s hard to realize that it’s all coming to an end after all they have been through together.
Brian Kendrick is backstage and is rambling on about Bound for Glory and Austin Aries. Kendrick then goes off on Kid Kash who walks up to Kendrick and takes him out before spitting on him.
Match 2: Mickie James & Velvet Sky vs. Winter & Madison Rayne
Angelina Love accompanies Winter and Madison to the ring for this Knockouts tag team match. The match starts as we are told that Kazarian is on his way to the hospital to be checked on. Back to the action, Mickie and Velvet work over Madison for a bit until she is able to hit a jawbreaker on Velvet and tags Winter into the match. Velvet takes Winter down and tags Mickie into the match and continues on the attack. Mickie picks up a two count after hitting a neckbreaker, however, Winter trips her up and Winter gains control of the match.
Winter and Madison begin to double team Mickie and use quick tags in and out to wear her down. Mickie is able to finally counter their double team offense and makes the hot tag to Velvet. Velvet comes in and takes both of her opponents down and nearly picks up the pin fall over Winter but Madison breaks the pin attempt. The match begins to break down and Angelina accidentally trips up Winter but Madison rolls up Velvet to pick up the pin fall for her team.
Jeff Hardy is seen walking around the backstage area as we head into a commercial break.
Another Hulk Hogan moment is aired where Hulk Hogan laced up the boots in a tag team match with Abyss against Ric Flair and AJ Styles. Kurt Angle is backstage with Eric Bischoff and says he can’t believe that Jeff Hardy is here and wants to take care of him. Bischoff tells Angle that he will get rid of Hardy once and for all on Angle’s behalf.
Eric Bischoff’s music hits as he makes his way down to the ring. Bischoff says he is out there to take care of an administrative detail before calling Jeff Hardy out to the ring. Hardy’s music hits as he joins Bischoff in the ring. Bischoff says he has worked with great men that have paved the way for them. Bischoff continues to say that he has made the most of his opportunities while Hardy continues to drop the ball.
Bischoff says Hardy has been given several chances in this industry and he is out of chances with him. Bischoff tells Hardy that the final straw was at Victory Road where he let everyone down by coming to the ring “all pilled up.” Bischoff tells Hardy to 12-step his way out of the ring, however, Hardy steps in and says he only has one thing to say as he hits Bischoff with the Twist of Fate. Hardy then says “screw you” before being chased out of the ring by Immortal and runs through the crowd.
Jeff Hardy is seen backstage after a commercial break and says he made a mistake and he is sorry. He says what happened in the ring tonight, though, was wrong and that if he is out of here, he is out of here on his own terms.
Another Hulk Hogan video is aired and this time is it focuses on Hogan taking 100% control of TNA away from Dixie Carter.
Match 3: Samoa Joe vs. Crimson
The bell rings and Crimson goes right on the attack and beats Joe down in the corner. Joe turns things around and gets in a few rapid fire blows before Crimson takes Joe down with a clothesline. Crimson then connects with some knees to Joe’s head and takes Joe down with a neckbreaker. Joe fights back and nails Crimson with a kick but Crimson is able to counter and takes Joe down with a suplex.
Joe rolls out to the floor and Crimson follows and sends him into the guard railing. Joe counters Crimson’s attack and sends Crimson’s leg into the railing before rolling him into the ring. Back in the ring, Crimson tries to battle back but Joe takes Crimson down with a chop block. Joe continues to work over Crimson’s leg and puts him in a leg lock but Crimson refuses to tap out. Crimson is then able to roll up Joe to pick up the pin fall to win the match.
Bully Ray is backstage and says Mr. Anderson is either crazy or has a big set of balls. Ray says he started his career in Philadelphia and that’s where he is going to end Anderson’s. Ray ends it by saying screw Anderson and screw Philadelphia, he’s from NYC as we head into a commercial break.
James Storm is walking backstage and says he is happy for Bobby Roode and he is happy for himself so he can show that he is one of the best in the business. Storm says Roode always walks around saying “it pays to be Roode,” however, Storm says he forgot his wallet.
A video package showing Roode training for his match against Kurt Angle is aired. Archive footage of Roode’s time in TNA is aired as he talks about the young stars who have been in TNA since the beginning and some of the veteran talent that have been brought in. Roode says it is now their time and he plans on doing that at Bound for Glory. Roode visits a hockey arena where he once played hockey and watched wrestling shows as his parents are interviewed and talk about his work ethic and determination. Roode says he doesn’t think anyone can hold him down now.
Match 4: James Storm vs. Bobby Roode
Jeremy Borash handles the formal introductions for tonight’s main event that features the first one on one match up between these two partners. The bell rings and the two lock up and the two go back and forth in the early going and counter each other’s moves. Storm and Roode then get into each other’s face and talk a little trash as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Roode and Storm mirroring each other with their moves. The two trade blows in the middle of the ring until Roode catches Storm with a boot and hits a neckbreaker from the middle rope to pick up a near fall. Storm is able to counter Roode’s offense and hits a Randy Orton DDT for a near fall of his own. Roode is able to then counter Storm and hits a spinebuster for another near fall. Roode heads to the top rope but Storm knocks him down and hits a superplex off the top rope. Storm then covers Roode, but he is able to kick out.
Storm goes for a superkick but Roode counters it and puts Storm is a crossface, but Storm is able to get his foot on the rope to break the hold. Storm then hits the back cracker for another near fall, however, the two end up colliding in the corner and also knocks down the referee. With all three out, Kurt Angle comes out and sends Storm into the steps before rolling him back into the ring. Roode finally recovers and covers but Storm kicks out of the slow three count. Roode then hits the Northern Lights Suplex and picks up the three count to win the match.
Hulk Hogan is seen walking around backstage as his retirement ceremony is up next after the commercial break.
Hulk Hogan’s music hits as he makes his way to the ring and does his signature ear move to the cheer of the crowd. Hogan says it was hard to swallow the fact that tonight was his last night in the business. Hogan says it is going to be hard to find a new hobby to take over for wrestling. Hogan then thanks the fans for everything as the fans start a “Thank you Hogan!” chant. Hogan then puts his trademark red and yellow weight belt on the mat and says it’s time to put Hulkamania to rest. Hogan says it is time for the celebration to begin as he is cut off by Sting’s music.
Sting comes into the ring and says he is sorry to come out and asks if anyone believes that Hogan is actually serious about retiring. Sting says he knows him better than anyone and says he has some compelling footage on Hogan. The footage is aired where Hogan asks Eric Bischoff if people really bought the retirement angle. The two bash Knoxville a bit as Hogan demands that the footage be turned off.
Hogan yells at Sting and says he ruined the wrestling business. Hogan tells Sting that he crossed the line and how he isn’t going to wrestle him, but he will fight him at Bound for Glory. Hogan then says if Sting can beat him, he’ll give the company back to Sting and Dixie Carter. Hogan then covers his mouth as he realized what he just said. Sting says he got what he wanted before leaving the ring. The announce team recap what just happened as Impact Wrestling comes to a close.
Quick Results
Kazarian defeated Gunner by disqualification.
Winter & Angelina Love defeated Mickie James & Velvet Sky by pin fall.
Crimson defeated Samoa Joe by pin fall.
Bobby Roode defeated James Storm by pin fall.
