12/5/13 Impact Wrestling Recap

We see an opening video for Impact Wrestling that focuses on the ongoing tournament to crown a new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. We then go into the new Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida, where Kurt Angle’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring.

Angle grabs a microphone and says Austin Aries gave him the fight of his life last week, and then calls out Magnus. Angle wants to know why Magnus left him high and dry last week. Magnus says he injured his knee and he couldn’t help. Angle says real champions fight hurt. Angle asks Magnus if he really has the heart of a champion. Magnus says he has the heart and the hunger to go through anyone who gets in his way and he will prove it tonight. Angle says they are friends, but Magnus, along with Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy, are in his way of destiny. Roode says he knows what it takes to be the World Heavyweight Champion, and he is going to be one step closer to the title tonight. Roode says Angle knows how tough he is and that Magnus will never be the World Heavyweight Champion. Hardy’s music hits and he comes to the stage and drags a table down to the ring.

Match #1: Semi-Final Tournament Tables Match for the vacant TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy
Roode backs Hardy into the corner and then back away, which allows Hardy to recover. Hardy comes back and drops Roode to the mat. Roode gets back up, but Hardy takes him down with a dropkick. Hardy kicks Roode into the corner and then rolls to the outside and slaps hands with the fans. Hardy grabs a table and slides tries to slide it into the ring, but Roode dropkicks the table and sends Hardy into the guardrail. Roode beats Hardy down on the outside and then tosses him back into the ring. Roode grabs a title and tosses it into the ring. He stomps on Hardy and then props the table up in the corner. Roode chops Hardy and tries to slam him into the table, but Hardy reverses. Roode drops Hardy with a big clothesline. Roode sends Hardy into the corner and charges, but Hardy catches him with a back-elbow. Hardy goes for the Whisper in the Wind, but Roode moves out of the way and Hardy almost hits the table. Roode sends Hardy to the apron of the ring and goes out there and they begin to brawl and both men eventually fall through a table that was set up on the floor as we head to a commercial.
We’re back and Roode positions a table in the corner. Hardy comes back and takes control of the match and sets Roode up on the top rope. The table is set up in the middle of the ring now, and Hardy attempts to suplex Roode through it. Roode fights out and drapes Hardy over the top rope. Roode goes to suplex Roode through a table from the ring to the floor, but Hardy fights out and knocks Roode through the table for the win.
Winner: Jeff Hardy.

Mike Tenay and Taz hype the Last Man Standing Match between Kurt Angle and Magnus for later tonight. We then go backstage and see Ethan Carter III getting makeup applied. He says he will challenge another TNA Legends later tonight as we head to a commercial break.

We’re back and we see a recorded interview with Dixie Carter from December 3rd. She says A.J. Styles is sending the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt to her, and she will have it tonight.

Match #2: Ethan Carter III vs. Earl Hebner.
Hebner lays down in the ring and Carter places a finger on his chest and tells Brian Hebner to make the count.
Winner: Ethan Carter III.

We see a video package for the feud between Bad Influence and Joseph Park. It is revealed that they will reveal the truth about Park later tonight as we head to a commercial break.

We’re back and we see footage of Samuel Shaw’s date with Christy Hemme. She walks away and he threatens the waiter. We then see footage of A.J. Styles defending the TNA World Heavyweight Championship around the world.

We see Sting arriving into the Impact Zone. We will hear from “The Icon” later tonight.

We see Dixie Carter backstage talking to some guys on the roster. She tells them the Feast or Fired Match will return next week.

Bad Influence’s music hits, and Christopher Daniels and Kazarian make their way to the ring. Daniels and Kazarian say they are about to reveal the truth about Joseph Park, but he comes to the ring. Park says they need to stop, because they have won. He says he is nothing but an attorney. Park grabs the envelope and rips it up. We see a video of Bad Influence at the law offices and Park, Park, and Park. They barge into Joseph Park’s office, but it is empty. They demand to know why the card they have lists Park, Park, and Park Law at the address, and a lady looks it up. She says Park, Park, and Park closed 13 years ago. Daniels asks Park what he has been doing for 13 years. Park asks Daniels and Kazarian to leave him alone and goes to leave, but Daniels stops him. Kazarian calls Park a liar and spits in his face. Bad Influence beats down Park until Eric Young makes the save. Bad Influence leaves the ring as Young grabs the microphone. Young challenges Bad Influence to a tag team match against himself and Joseph Park for next week’s Impact Wrestling.

We see Sting talking to Magnus backstage. He says Magnus has earned his way and Sting is proud of him. Magnus thanks Sting and says his respect for him is as high as it has ever been. Sting and Magnus shake hands and Sting tells him to tear it up tonight.

We see Rockstar Spud backstage and he says the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt has arrived and sends a guy to go get it.

Match #3: The Bromans (Jesse Godderz and Robbie E) (w/Zema Ion) vs. Gunner and James Storm
Storm and Godderz start the match out. Storm tosses Godderz to the corner and tags in Gunner. Godderz takes Gunner down with a dropkick. Godderz slams Gunner’s head into the turnbuckle and then stomps away on him. Gunner fights back, but then gets disqualified.
Winners via disqualification: The Bromans.

We see Sting walking up to Kurt Angle’s door, but Rockstar Spud stops him and tells him that Dixie Carter wants him to leave. Spud leaves to go get the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt and Sting laughs and walks away from Angle’s door.

We see Gail Kim and her husband, celebrity chef Robert Irvine. Irvine says nobody can tough the number one knockout in the world, and Gail says her open challenge is not much of a challenge since nobody is as good as she is.

We see Chris Sabin and Velvet Sky backstage. She is getting dolled up in the mirror and Sabin talks about defending the X Division Championship against Austin Aries next week.

Match #4: Open Challenge Match: Gail Kim (w/Lei’D Tapa) vs. Laura Dennis
Gail dominates the entire match, except for a brief offensive flurry by Dennis, and gets the win after hitting Dennis with Eat Defeat.
Winner: Gail Kim.
After the match, Gail hits Dennis with another Eat Defeat and then Lei’D Tapa lifts Dennis up before ODB makes the save.

We see Dixie Carter on the phone with Rockstar Spud. She wants to know where the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt is, and gets excited when Spud tells her that he has it.

Match #5: Semi-Final Tournament Last Man Standing Match for the vacant TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Kurt Angle vs. Magnus
The match starts off as a pretty standard back-and-forth affair before we hit our main event commercial break.
We’re back and Magnus power slams Angle down to the mat. Angle comes back and delivers a series of German suplexes to Magnus. Both men get on the apron and then they fall to the floor and Magnis drives an elbow into Angle’s midsection. Back in the ring, Angle drops Magnus with a suplex and goes up top. Angle goes for a moonsault, but Magnus moves out of the way. Magnus slams Angle down to the mat and goes up top. Magnus drives his elbow into Angle’s chest. Angle gets to his feet and Magnus charges, but hits the referee. Angle hits the Angle Slam, but the referee is down. Bobby Roode hits the ring and knocks Angle down from behind and then slams him to the mat with a fireman’s carry takedown. The referee begins to make the count for both men, and Magnus gets to his feet at the nine count to get the win.
Winner: Magnus.
After the match, Roode attacks Angle again, but Jeff Hardy makes the save and tosses Roode out of the ring. Hardy turns around and he and Magnus stare at each other. Hardy extends his hand for a handshake, and Magnus accepts.

We go backstage and Dixie Carter opens the box that the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt is in, but it turns out to be a plastic replica of the belt. Dixie has a breakdown as Impact comes to a close.

Quick Results:
1. Jeff Hardy def. Bobby Roode in a Tables Match
2. Ethan Carter III def. Earl Hebner
3. The Bromans def. Gunner and James Storm by disqualification
4. Gail Kim def. Laura Dennis
5. Magnus def. Kurt Angle in a Last Man Standing Match