1/7/15 Impact Wrestling Recap

The Starman returns to recap the first Impact Wrestling that aired live on Destination America.

Wrestlers, such as Bobby Lashley, Bobby Roode, Gail Kim, and EC3, are seen getting ready for tonight’s show as we see wrestlers talking about this being a new beginning and having a fresh start. Roode and MVP are seen giving the roster a pep talk as we see Roode and Lashley standing toe to toe outside the arena before getting into a huge brawl with the rest of the roster.

The roster fight their way into the Manhattan Center and onto the ramp and into the crowd as the fans begin a “TNA!” and a “This is awesome!” chants. The brawls continue for a few minutes until Kurt Angle’s music hits and breaks things up. Angle says he knows everyone wants to see a fight and says Low Ki, Taryn Terrell, James Storm & Abyss, and Bobby Roode will defend their championships tonight. MVP then steps in and begins to run his mouth as the fans start a “Shut the f*** up” chant that the censors have fun trying to bleep out. MVP continues to run down Angle and what he has become as Angle says he is done after tonight, however, he is become a wrestler once again. The last match he is going to book is a street fight between MVP and Angle, which is going to start right now.

Match 1: Kurt Angle vs. MVP (Street Fight)
Angle takes down MVP with a right hand as we head into a commercial break. The match continues as MVP takes control and tries for an armbar submission but Angle fights his way out and hits MVP with a series of German suplexes. MVP comes back with a leg submission but Angle makes it to the ropes to break the hold. The brawl makes its way out to the floor where MVP nails Angle in the leg with a steel chair before he begins to focus on the knee.

MVP rolls Angle into the ring and goes for a few pin attempts but Angle is able to kick out. Angle then counters MVP’s offense and puts MVP into the Ankle Lock, however, MVP is able to counter into a chokehold. Angle fights his way out of it and puts MVP once again into the ankle lock, but MVP is able to send Angle into the turnbuckle. Angle manages to come back and hits MVP with the Angle Slam and picks up the pin fall over MVP to win the first match on Destination America.

Angle poses for the crowd on the entrance ramp as the fans in NYC start a “You still got it!” chant. We then see the current TNA champions getting ready for their upcoming matches before heading into a commercial break.

MVP is confronting Kenny King in the backstage area and wonders where he was during his match before storming off to look for Bobby Lashley. We head to the new announce team of Josh Mathews and Taz who talk about how things have gone down thus far tonight and how the cameras are going to be everywhere tonight.

We then see EC3 and Tyrus who talks about promising to take apart Rockstar Spud last year and says he is going to do just that. We return to Mike Tenay who talks about hosting Impact Unlocked and how it is going to go beyond what you see during the regular broadcast. A sneak peak is aired where Tenay talks with James Storm and the formation of the Revolution and the recruiting process he has put the members through and that they are out for blood. This preview brings us into the next match of the night.

Match 2: The Revolution (James Storm & Abyss) vs. The Wolves (TNA Tag Team Championship)
Prior to the match starting, Jeff and Matt Hardy come out to get a closer look as we head into a commercial break. We return to the match and see the Wolves doe a series of dives through the ropes and onto the Revolution, which gets a “TNA!” chant started. The duo then hits Storm with a series of double team moves before picking up a near fall. Storm takes control of the match and turns things over to Abyss before this match begins to break down. A double team move nearly gives the win to the Revolution before Manik and Sanada try to get involved but they are stopped by the Hardys. Meanwhile, Storm nails Eddie Edwards with a Last Call as Storm picks up a pin fall to retain the TNA Tag Team Championship.

A recap of Roode/Lashley I from this past September is aired, in which Lashley defeated Roode to retain the TNA World Championship. The announce team hypes Roode/Lashley III before we see EC3 walking backstage and we head into a commercial break.

A recap of the first hour of tonight’s show is aired, which includes the opening brawl and Angle vs. MVP. We then see MVP confronting Lashley in the dressing room, who says Lashley would be where he is at if it wasn’t for him. Lashley then pushes MVP against the wall and says it’s not about MVP, but about him getting his title back tonight.

Jeremy Borash is in the ring and says he is proud to be a part of their first show on Destination America but is soon cut off by Ethan Carter’s music. EC3 promises to become the TNA World Champion in 2015, but before that happens, he has some business to take care of. EC3 then says he promised to take apart Rockstar Spud piece by piece and tells him to come out to the ring. Tyrus is then seen dragging Spud down the ramp and into the ring.

EC3 then pulls out a pair of clippers and says he is going to finish the job on Spuds hair, however, JB steps in and asks EC3 if he has already done enough and slaps EC3 across the face. Tyrus then takes JB down and crushes him in the corner as EC3 changes his plan and begins to shave Borash’s hair.

MVP and Kenny King are backstage talking about how they aren’t supposed to put their hands on each other before walking off and we head into a commercial break.

A video package on Roode/Lashley II is aired where Roode defeated Lashley by pin fall to become the TNA World Champion for a second time. A video package the highlights the X Division is aired

Match 3: Low Ki vs. Austin Aries (X Division Championship)
The two feel each other out during the first few moments and trade moves until Aries picks up the first near fall of the match. The match continues in the ring and out to the floor with Aries getting in most of the offense, until Low Ki counters with a submission hold. Aries manages to make a comeback and hits Low Ki with a brainbuster to pick up the pin fall and become the new TNA X Division Championship.

DJ Z runs down Robbie E’s accomplishments as he makes his way down to the ring. Robbie says he has returned and although he didn’t win a million dollars, he sure looks like he does. Robbie then talks down about Taryn Terrell as he music hits and she makes it into the ring for the battle royal.

Match 4: Knockouts Battle Royal
The match begins and the Knockouts start their battle royal and Rebel is quickly eliminated. The Knockoouts continue to go at it as Havok begins to use her size and strength. Taryn and Gail begin to work together and try eliminate her from the match, however, Havok takes out Gail and is then quickly eliminated by Taryn, who retains the Knockouts Championship.

After the match, Havok sets her sights on Taryn and chokes her out in the middle of the ring. The lights then go out in the Manhattan Center and come back on to reveal Awesome Kong standing in the ring. The two stare each other down as the fans start a “Holy s**t!” chant as referees come in to break them apart. Havok leaves the ring as Kong picks up a referee and choke slams him down to the mat.

Bobby Roode and Bobby Lashley are seen walking backstage and the two will have their third match against each other when we return to Impact Wrestling.

Match 5: Bobby Lashley vs. Bobby Roode (TNA World Championship)
The bell rings and the two exchange blows to get things started. Lashley picks up a near fall after hitting a delayed vertical suplex before Roode takes control of the match. Roode tries for a crossface and locks it in but Lashley reaches the ropes to break the hold. Lashley then heads out to the floor to regroup until Roode brings the fight out to the floor. The two trade hard blows before we head back to a split screen where security refuses to let MVP’s friends into the building. MVP then takes out the security guard as we head into a commercial break.

The match returns to the ring where Lashley is in control and begins to toy with him a bit. Lashley then puts Roode in a chinlock and then into a bear hug to try and wear down Roode. Roode fights his way out of the hold and nails Lashley a couple of times with clotheslines, however, Lashley refuses to go down. AA then hits Roode with a Double-A spinebuster, but Lashley kicks out once again.

Lashley then regains control and tries to take out Roode with a series of power moves, however, Roode is able to mount a comeback and nails Roode with a powerbomb for yet another near fall in this contest. Lashley then recovers and tries for a move similar to the Roode Bomb, however, Roode kicks out. Lashley recovers anad tries for a spear, but Roode moves out of the way and then nails Lashley with a spear of his own, however, Lashley kicked out after a count of two.

MVP is then seen walking towards the ring with Kenny King and two masked men in hooded sweatshirts. Meanwhile Lashley rolls up Roode for a pin attempt, but Roode kicks out and counters with a crossface. Lashley stands up out of the crossfac and Roode hits Lashley with a Roode Bomb, however, Lashley kicks out. Roode then puts Lashley in the crossface once again but Kenny King drags out the referee and knocks him out.

Kurt Angle runs down to the ringside area but is quickly taken out by MVP, King, and the two masked men. The two masked men then hop on the ring apron and reveal themselves to be Low Ki and Samoa Joe. Eric Young then runs out to the ring and chases them off with a steel chair before using that chair on Roode and takes him out. Lashley then nails Roode with a spear and the referee makes the three count as he becomes the new TNA World Champion.

The announce team can’t believe what they just saw and wonder what will happen next Friday night as Impact Wrestling on Destination America comes to a close.

Quick Results
– Kurt Angle defeated MVP by pin fall in a street fight.
– The Revolution defeated the Wolves by pin fall to retain the TNA Tag Team Championship.
– Austin Aries defeated Low Ki by pin fall to become the new TNA X Division Champion.
– Taryn Terrell retained the Knockouts Championship in a Knockout Battle Royal.
– Bobby Lashley defeated Bobby Roode by pin fall to become the new TNA World Champion.