3/1/12 Impact Wrestling Recap
A recap of the Sting/Bobby Roode saga kicks off Impact Wrestling. Last week, Sting booked himself in a match against Roode at Victory Road and left the champion lying in the ring at the end of last week’s show. We then see Kurt Angle backstage who is holding cue cards and promises to tell everyone why he hates Jeff Hardy.
The Impact Wrestling intro hits and Kurt Angle’s music hits as he makes his way down to the ring. Angle says he has been quiet for weeks as to why he attacked Jeff Hardy a few weeks ago. He says he has many reasons and wrote them all down on cue cards. Angle begins to read them, such as “Jeff Hardy has lots of hair, and he don’t.” Angle also says the way he Hardy dresses and the way fans flock to him, especially the female ones, irritate him. The number one reason, though, is how his own son has Hardy posters, t-shirts, and action figures in his room. Angle says Hardy is his son’s hero and then calls Hardy out to the ring.
Hardy’s music hits as he comes down to join Angle in the ring. Angle says his only solution to his problem is to have a match at Victory Road so he can destroy Hardy. Hardy then slaps Angle across the face and takes him down until TNA agents and referees run out to break up the melee. Hardy then grabs the microphone and says it’s on as the challenge has been excepted.
Bobby Roode is backstage and says what Sting did last week was unprofessional and bad for business. Roode says there is a locker room full of guys that are more deserving of a main event match as Austin Aries walks up from behind. Aries says he overheard what Roode was saying and says he voiced his opinion on Twitter but that didn’t go over too well. Roode then asks if he has five minutes as the two walk away to have a little chat.
Match 1: Kazarian and Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles (Gauntlet Match)
Before the match, Styles and proposes that when he beats them both, whatever the two of them have against him is revealed out in the open. Daniels begins to speak but Kazarian grabs the microphone and agrees to the stipulation. Styles then dives over the top rope and crashes into both of them before rolling Daniels into the ring to get this gauntlet match started. Styles powers Daniels around the ring while keeping one eye on Kazarian who stands ringside. Styles picks up a near fall after hitting a delayed vertical suplex before we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Styles take Daniels down with a dropkick before he turns his attention to Kazarian. The distraction allows Daniels to take control of the match but Styles is able to counter Daniels’ offense and connects with a Pele kick. Styles then hits Daniels with a flying forearm before hitting a backbreaker for a near fall. Styles sets up for the Styles Clash but Daniels counters and takes Styles down to the mat. Kazarian then comes into the ring and hits his inverted piledriver to cause a disqualification for Daniels.
Daniels is shocked over Kazarian’s actions as Kazarian then covers Styles to pick up the pin fall. Kazarian then leaves the ring as Daniels runs up the ramp to ask what he was thinking. Kazarian says they got the victory and walks away.
Madison Rayne is in the locker room and is hanging up blown up versions of Gail Kim’s trading card on the walls. The two apologize to each other for their actions as Gail tells Madison that she got Madison a special gift, which is a match tonight against ODB. Gail then leaves as Madison says she doesn’t want that gift.
Match 2: Madison Rayne vs. ODB
Gail Kim accompanies Madison Rayne to the ring, while Eric Young joins ODB ringside for this match. The bell sounds and ODB quickly takes Madison down and uses her strength advantage to wear Madison down. Madison then blocks ODB’s attempt at a bronco buster but ODB quickly comes back and levels Madison with a clothesline. ODB then hits Madison with a series of shoulder blocks and follows with a bronco buster. Madison begins to call out for help from Gail, but she has problems getting on the ring apron. ODB then drops Madison on the mat and picks up the pin fall. After the match, Gail apologizes to Madison not being able to help her.
Bully Ray is backstage and is talking to a stage hand and tells her that James Storm is the reason why he has been so pissed off lately. Bobby Roode and Austin Aries walk up and talk about Ray being embarrassed last week by Brandon Jacobs. Roode and Ray begin to argue for a minute before Aries steps in and says they all have a problem with Sting. Roode says they are going to do something about it and tells Ray there is room for one more before they walk off.
Earlier in the day, Velvet Sky was in the parking lot talking about how she should be the #1 contender as she was screwed over by Madison Rayne. Velvet says she is tired of people screwing her over as Sarita and Angelina walk in and begin to push her around. The two beat Velvet down before sending her into the wall. Mickie James runs in and chases them away before checking on Velvet. These four will be meeting in a tag team match later tonight.
Garett Bischoff is backstage and is surrounded by Eric Bischoff, Ric Flair, and Gunner. Flair tells Garett that he is giving him one week to come to his senses and realize that it’s not his time to be in his world. Garett says he appreciates the heads up before walking away. Bobby Roode, Bully Ray, and Austin Aries are seen walking together backstage as we head into a commercial break.
Bobby Roode’s music hits as he comes out to the ring with Bully Ray and Austin Aries. Roode grabs a microphone and says Sting is nothing more than an authority figure and is no longer a wrestler. Roode says he crossed the line last week by putting his hands on the champion and booking himself in a match at Victory Road. Roode then says that he is done and there won’t be a match at Victory Road.
Ray then grabs the microphone and says he thought it was all James Storm’s fault, but after talking with Roode and Aries, he realizes that it was all Sting’s fault. Ray blames Sting for allowing Brandon Jacobs in the Impact Zone and into the ring where Jacobs put him through a table, thus causing the biggest embarrassment of his career. Ray then says that he is done before passing the microphone to Aries.
Aries says he has been keeping his mouth shut the past few weeks but it has come clear to him that Sting doesn’t know when to step out of the spotlight. Aries says Sting is jealous of the three of them and talks about beating everyone put in front of him and still not sniffing the main event. Aries then says he is done as all three of them take a seat on the canvas.
The lights then go out in the Impact Zone and Sting appears in the ring with them when they are turned back on. Sting says he was just playing mind games when he said he was done. If the three of them are doing the same thing, then that’s a good thing, and asks what they meant by it. Sting says if they don’t have jobs they will be stripped of their titles and they won’t get paid. Sting then asks if the three are done.
Sting then agrees that Aries deserves a shot in the main event before booking the three in a six-man tag match against Magnus, Samoa Joe and James Storm. The lights then go out once again and Sting disappears from the ring as we head into a commercial break.
Footage of Jesse Sorensen and his mother is aired. The two talk about the thoughts that were going through their heads about his injury. Sorensen tells his mom that he won’t give up on his dream and how he wants to get back into the ring. Zema Ion is backstage and says he doesn’t feel remorse as that stuff happens in professional wrestling and that he is now the #1 contender.
Match 3: Shannon Moore vs. Zema Ion
The announce team talk about how disgusted they are about Ion’s comments. The bell rings and the two go back and forth with Moore planting Ion on the mat for a near fall. The match goes out to the floor where Ion levels Moore with a clothesline before rolling him back into the ring. Ion then takes Moore down with a missile dropkick before hanging him up on the ropes. Ion then hits Moore with a neckbreaker and heads to the top rope, but Moore knocks him down and takes him down with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Moore, though, misses with a moonsault and Ion drops Moore face first onto his knee to pick up the pin fall.
The announce team hypes the six-man tag team main event before saying the Knockouts tag team match is coming up next as we head into a commercial break.
Fans are interviewed talking about why wrestling matters to them and how Impact Wrestling live events are great. Fans talk about autograph sessions and the interaction the fans have with the wrestlers at live events.
Match 4: Sarita & Angelina Love vs. Mickie James & Velvet Sky
Velvet runs out to the ring and goes on the attack as all four go at it. Order is restored as Angelina and Velvet lock up in the ring. Velvet tosses Angelina around before tagging in Mickie, who takes Angelina down with a hurricanrana and a dropkick for a near fall. Angelina fights her way into the corner to tag Sarita into the match, who takes Mickie down and crushes her in the corner. Angelina then causes Mickie to fall out to the floor as Sarita dives through the ropes and takes her down. Mickie is rolled back into the ring where Sarita goes for a few covers before tagging Angelina back into the ring.
Angelina continues to wear Mickie down and picks up another near fall after hitting a side slam. Sarita is tagged back in and locks Mickie in a submission hold but she fights her way out before being leveled by a clothesline. Mickie then counters Sarita’s offense and makes the hot tag to Velvet as Angelina is also tagged in. Velvet hits Angelina with a flurry of offense and goes for the pin but Sarita breaks the pin attempt. All four begin to go at it and Angelina misses with the Botox Injection as Velvet takes Angelina down a picks up the pin fall.
James Storm is in the locker room with Magnus and Samoa Joe and says he will do his talking inside the steel cage at Lockdown. For tonight, though, Bobby Roode will get a little taste of what is to come. Magnus then says they may be a strange pairing but they will take it to the champ, the bully and the punk tonight. That six-man cage match is up next.
Mike Tenay talks about how Impact Wrestling received a letter from Abyss’ family concerned about his wearabouts. Footage of the last time Abyss wrestled at Genesis is aired where he defeated Bully Ray in a Monster’s Ball match but was brutally beaten down after the match. Ray is asked about Abyss but he says he doesn’t know where he is.
Match 5: Bobby Roode/Bully Ray/Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe/Magnus/James Storm
Jeremy Borash handles the formal introductions for this six-man tag team main event. Ray again takes the microphone from Borash and does his own introduction. The bell sounds as Magnus starts off against Austin Aries, who quickly takes Magnus down and does a little showboating. Magnus then levels Aries with a clothesline as he rolls to the corner to tag Bobby Roode into the match. James Storm then begs to be tagged in and Magnus tags him in. Roode then retreats to the floor as we head into a commercial break.
We return to the match to see Bully Ray pounding on Storm in the corner of the ring. Storm comes back and takes Ray down with a neckbreaker before tagging Samoa Joe in to the match. The two exchange blows in the middle of the ring before Joe finally takes Joe down with a leg lariet. Ray comes back and rakes Joe’s eyes before tagging Aries back into the match. Aries charges at Joe but Joe tosses him across the ring with a back body drop.
Magnus is tagged into the match as the tag team champs double team Aries for a moment before Magnus goes for a cover for a near fall. Aries goes over and tags Roode back into the match and Magnus tags Storm as Roode again retreats to the floor. Roode then comes back and tags Aries into the match as Storm brings him in the hard way before tagging Joe back into the match. Joe pounds Aries down to the mat and sets up for the muscle buster but Roode comes in and breaks it up.
Ray is tagged into the match who takes Joe down with a neckbreaker before tagging Roode into the match. Roode cuts off the ring and keeps Joe in their corner as he continues to wear Joe down. Ray is tagged back in and picks up another near fall after hitting Joe with another neckbreaker before tagging Aries back into the match. Aries picks up another near fall after hitting Joe with an elbow from the top rope.
The trio continues to utilize quick tags to wear down Joe and pick up near falls until Joe finally slams Roode down to the mat. Joe makes it to his corner and tags Storm into the match who takes out all three of his opponents. Storm hits Roode with a series of forearms and a back body drop until Ray comes in and takes Storm out from behind. Aries accidentally hits Ray with a missile dropkick as he is knocked out to the floor. Magnus and Joe then hit their double team finisher on Aries before Ray hangs up Joe on the ropes and Roode takes out Magnus with a spinebuster. Storm then hits Roode with the Closing Time and a Last Call superkick to pick up the pin fall.
Storm stands tall in victory as bodies are all around the ring. Storm celebrates with a beer as Ray comes in and kicks a steel chair into Storm’s face. Ray then stands over Storm and says he isn’t going to make it to Lockdown. Ray says he will take Storm out and then take Bobby Roode’s title from him at Lockdown as Impact Wrestling comes to a close.
Quick Results
– Kazarian defeated AJ Styles by pin fall in a gauntlet match.
– ODB defeated Madison Rayne by pin fall.
– Zema Ion defeated Shannon Moore by pin fall.
– Mickie James & Velvet Sky defeated Sarita & Angelina Love by pin fall.
– Samoa Joe/Magnus/James Storm defeated Bobby Roode/Bully Ray/Austin Aries by pin fall.
