austin aries

Kurt Angle and AJ Styles vs. Hernandez and Chavo Ends in No Contest

What I Liked:

Impact starts off with some great tag team wrestling. I think it is very funny to see the career of two basic WWE guys now in TNA, in the same conversation. You would have never seen Chavo and Angle in a same storyline in the WWE. I did enjoy this match to start off Impact because all four guys are deserving of getting the spotlight. Chavo is always going to be Chavo, but he is able to help Hernandez gain some credibility and somewhat resurrect his career.Hernandez was the strength of the match, which included an athletic looking body block onto Styles. As the match continued, they focused on more of  a technical mat wrestling, with Chavo and Angle carrying the match. Kazarian and Daniels, the champions, come out and attack the men in the ring. Hogan sets up a triple threat tag team title match at Bound For Glory. Great match set up, and gives you a few weeks to impliment all 6 guys together. This could be an entertaining build for BFG.

Grade: B+

-Hulk Hogan is seen backstage talking to Joseph Park on the phone, who tells Hogan he has evidence on Aces and Eights.

-Dixie and Bruce Pritchard are backstage arguing about who is behind Aces and Eights.

Doug Williams Defeats Evan Markopolous

What I Liked:

This was another Gut Check, with Williams facing off against an extreme lightweight. Williams plays the William Regal role, a guy past his prime but can still work inside the ring and provide competition for younger guys.

What I Disliked:

This was not a good match, and had no interest from the crowd. The crowd simply zones out during the recent Gut Checks because they know most of these guys, they will never see again. Markopolous is quick, agile, but has NO good look to him. He does not look like he is a wrestler whatsoever.

Grade: D

James Storm vs. Bobby Roode ends in a Double DQ

What I Liked:

Since this was Open Fight Night, I expected this match to happen, but not really happen. I loved the fact that Roode came out and said that he was not going to fight. He is so good at really getting heat from the crowd. His way to connecting with this feud with Storm is great, and the backstory is even better. This may be the hottest feud going, due to the length and their ability to add pieces each week and each month. Both men just completely brawled with one another, as the match never really got started. I loved the snap suplex from Roode to finally give himself some offense. It was a great part of the realistic hatred between the two, or at least they seem that way. The aggression was excellent, and the fact that their feud will culminate at Bound For Glory makes me really interested in seeing what is going to happen next week. Well done.

Grade: A

-Hogan gets a call from Aces and Eights who say they have their own lawyer now.

-Austin Aries finds Jeff Hardy backstage and talks to him about their match. Aries says he wants what Hardy has, the cult following, the money, and the fame. Aries says he is the hungry one and is coming after Hardy at Bound For Glory, and not the other way around. He says he is going to beat him to get all of this. I love the fact that there is respect involved, but Aries is definitely doing it differently. He is bordering the heel persona he was so good at, while maintaining the popularity. That is a tricky line to walk, but he is doing it great.

-Tara comes out and talks about why she attacked Miss Tessmacher, her BFF. She says her Hollywood boyfriend reminded her that she is the best female wrestler, and that she should be champion She bashes the fans who cheer her, and then challenges Christy Hemme to a match. Hemme comes to the ring, reluctantly. She gets slapped until Tessmacher comes out and stops it. Tara runs off. You have to make a good story for the Knockouts Title match, and they are starting it here. Tara looks amazing and really has done everything in the world to get into better shape. She is very talented, and I am happy to see her back on top of the women's chase for the gold.

Grade: B

-Hulk Hogan comes out and says Aces and Eights kidnapped Joseph Park. The thugs come on the screen and says that Park was getting too close to their business. Park's computer gets broken and then he gets knocked out. I really do not understand why they are dragging it along so much. There needs to be the blame game again, make someone be the false leader to swerve everyone. I expect Jeff Jarrett, and many people do. They just need to do more right now, and they are running out of creative ideas.

Grade: C+

Bully Ray Defeats Austin Aries

What I Liked:

Our last Open Fight Night match is Aries calling out Ray. Ray comes out and is shocked to hear his name being called. The match itself was really good, physical, and showcased two of the company's elite. Ray starts off his offense the only way he knows, physical and hits a nice elbow drops to ground the faster opponent. As the match progresses, Aries comes back with a missle dropkick and continues his assault. The referee gets knocked out and this is where Ray takes advantage. Aries gets knocked out with a steel chain, and Bully Ray gets the victory. This was shocking to me, as I expected Aries to beat Ray, and one up Hardy. He did not do it, and I was alright with it. I think this is the best way to build a feud with two faces, make one look like he is losing his grip.

What I Disliked:

After the match, Hardy raises the title and gives it to Aries, sort of. The end was awkward to me and needed something else to happen besides a stand-off. Hardy and Aries need to scuffle a little each week until it boils over.

Grade: B+

Impact Wrestling Grade: B

Follow @JoshIsenberg4 on Twitter. Reaction, over.

TNA Impact Wrestling Results
By: Mike Killam for Wrestlezone.com

Impact kicks off with Kurt Angle and AJ Styles headed to the ring, as Mike Tenay and Taz welcome us to the show and run down the events of the last few weeks. 

Kurt Angle talks about recently being the tag team champions, and being screwed over by Kaz and Daniels. He says they have a problem with the other contenders, Hernandez and Chavo Guerrero, as they both can't go after the belts at the same time. Because it's Open Fight Night, Angle calls them and we're going to start the show off with some tag team action! 

Kurt Angle & AJ Styles vs. Chavo Guerrero & Hernanez 

The match starts off but we can't see what's going on because the camera is focussed on the Spanish announce table. They go back to the ring and AJ is tagging in Kurt to deal with "Supermex" Hernandez. Angle takes him into the corner, and delivers blow after blow as he falls to the middle rope. Angle tries to take him down off the Irish Whip, but just bounces off big Hernandez and falls to the match. Supermex hits a big scoop slam and tags in Chavo. 

Chavo works the standard headlock, but Angle powers out with a back suplex. The gold medalist works his opponent over in the corner yet again, as the World Tag Team Champions (of the World) are shown atop the ramp looking over the action. 

Commercial break

AJ and Chavo are the legal men as we come back, as Guerrero hits a big back body drop and tags in his partner, who leaps over the top rope with a shoulder block. Hernandez takes him up for the Border Toss, but Angle gets involved and breaks it up. The double team isn't effective, however, as the brute takes them both out with a huge flying clothesline! Chavo back in as Styles tags in Angle, and things go crazy as all four men are in the ring hitting suplexes, Pele kicks and spinning wheelbarrow kicks. 

Angle locks in the Ankle Lock but Chavo rolls through and sends him back to the corner. Styles springboards off the top and apparently got the tag, but Chavo counters and hits the three amigos! Up to top for the Frog Splash, but he can't connect and AJ sets up for the Styles clash! The Champions hit the ring and the ref calls for the bell...

No Contest as a result of interference

Following the match Kazarian and Daniels beat down everyone in the ring. They try to leave but Hulk Hogan makes his way out with a baseball bat and cuts them off. He says he's got "99 problems and Aces & Eights is his biggest one" and says he's sick of all the controversy in the tag team division. Hogan officially sets up a triple threat tag match for the titles at Bound for Glory, between all three teams! 

Backstage: Al Snow is interviewed on his way to Hogan's office to discuss his actions last week. Snow puts over Gut Check tonight. 

Commercial break

Hulk Hogan is shown backstage talking to Joseph Parks, who is on his way to the Impact Zone. Hogan acts surprised that Joseph has "the evidence" in his hands, and tells him to come right to his office when he gets to the building. 

Commercial break

Backstage: Dixie Carter is yelling at Bruce Prichard, because they can't figure out who's behind the Aces & Eights. Al Snow interupts them as Dixie leaves them to discuss their business. 

Gutcheck Match
Doug Williams vs. Evan Markopolous

Williams pushes Markopol...he pushes Evan into the corner and slaps him straight in the face. Evan gets angry and tries respond, but Williams out-wrestles him at every turn. He tries for a Sunset Flip, but eats a big knee to the jaw instead. The crowd stars in with a small "USA" chant and the Gutcheck star hits a nice standing dropkick, but can't follow up on his brief offense. 

Doug Williams works over the rookie, who managed to get a small flurry of jabs in, taking him down to the mat and forcing the easy submission in about two seconds. 

Winner via submission: Doug Williams

Commercial break

We come back to the same James Storm and Bobby Roode video package from last week. Storm comes down to the ring and, like last week, says he's calling out Roode because it's Open Fight Night. He tells Roode it's not going to be a wrestling match, it's going to be a "man kicking a coward's ass" match. 

Bobby Roode answers the call, but shows up in a full suit and tie. He says he's not prepared to fight, and says Storm well never, ever (eeeeeveeer!) be as good as him. Roode says Storm will never, ever be a World Champion as long as he is a wrong, and refuses to fight. He says the feud is over between them, and tells Storm to fight somebody else, before walking off. 

Backstage: Roode runs into Hulk Hogan, who says he has to fight because of Bound for Glory. Hogan says he's got three minutes to make up his mind; he can fight, or Hogan will freeze his pay and take away any future title matches.

Commercial break

Roode makes his way back to the ring, taking off his suit, but James storm runs up to meet him. Storm takes him up to the ramp and bounces Roode's skull off anything he can find. They eventually take it back in the ring and the referee rings the bell. 

Open Fight Night
James Storm vs. Bobby Roode

Roode throws Storm to the outside, but when he goes out to take advantage Storm fires back and once again gains control. Roode gains it back though, sending Storm crashing into the guardrail. He slowly stalks his prey, returning the favor and throwing Storm into every surface around the ring, as the referee urges them to take it back into the ring. Roode tries to use a beer bottle, but Storm takes it from him and pours it into the mouth of a fan. Roode then tries to use a steel chair, only to smack the ring post and injury his own hand.

Storm is getting the fans involved, even having them put up their feet on the rails, and sending Roode crashing into them. Roode eventually fights back and takes it to Storm as a nasty fan in the audience is cursing him out and production has to sensor the volume. Roode hits a snap suplex on the floor as Storm writhes in pain. 

Back in the ring and the refree is getting shoved around trying to get these two under control. The once again back to the outside and Storm blatantly shoves the referee, who calls for the bell. Neither Storm or Roode seems to care, as they take their fight into the fans and around the arena! Brian Hebner foolishly follows them and gets thrown into the guardrail. The cameras fade away as Storm throws Roode through a door and they disappear. 

No contest as a result of double disqualification

Backstage: Hogan is in the back with a security guy, who says Joseph Parks has parked at the arena but they can't find him. Hogan gets a call from the Aces & Eights, who now apparently have a lawyer of their own. Hogan says he's going to "give it some quick thought" and get back to them. 

Commercial break

The World Champion Austin Aries finds Jeff Hardy backstage. Aries makes a comment about Hardy's creepy eye paint. Aries says the fans are confused because they think Bound for Glory is all about Hardy coming after the World Championship, but Hardy has something that the Champ wants. Aries says he's "still hungry" and he wants all the things that Hardy has and has accomplished in professional wrestling. He says he wants flocks of mindless sheep to listen to his words, and wear face paint and wear silly things for him, and that he can do and accomplish anything Hardy has in this business. 

Tara makes her way out to a few boos. She says the Knockouts are asking why she did what she did "to her BFF Miss Tessmacher". She insults the fans who use her to get on TV with their signs. She says her new Hollywood boyfriend reminded her of what it takes to be a Champion. Tara says it's Open Fight Night and she surprisingly challenges Christy Hemme to a match! Hemme gets in the ring and gets insulted by Tara, who asks her who her favorite Knockout is. Christy still says "Miss Tessmacher" and Tara bullies her untill Tessmacher hits the ring and runs Tara off. 

Commercial break

Backstage: Brooke Hogan is yelling at Tara for her actions, and calling out Christy Hemme. Tara really doesn't care about anything she is saying, and says she's not in TNA to make friends, but rather to win Championships. Brooke threatens "consequences" next week, and again Tara doesn't care. 

The remixed NWO theme hits yet again, and out comes Hogan as he makes it all the way down to the ring this time. Hogan makes a comment about spray paint that goes way over (or under) my head, and says that Aces & Eights kidnapped Joseph Parks. He says he's ready to play "hardball" and is going to be in "their clubhouse" next week. The Aces & Eights leader says they took Parks because he was getting too close to their business. A "prospect" destroys a computer as Parks looks on behind a cage wall, before the prospect knocks out Parks himself. 

Commercial break

We come back to a video package of Jeff Hardy and Bound for Glory. 

The World Heavyweight Champion makes his way out, and says it was nice of management to play that Hardy video package right before he came to the ring. Aries wants to prove that anything Hardy can do, he can do better, so he's calling out Bully Ray for Open Fight Night. 

Bully Ray comes out and asks if his hearing is off, because he just got called out. A fan touches his back and he says if he gets touched again he's going to punch somebody in the face. He falls him an Austin Aries fan, because he "has no brain". Weirdly enough, Aries says that's not his fan, and if he touches Bully again he'll punch him in the face as well. Bully tries to say "do you know who I am?" but Aries leaps off the top rope and catches him! 

Open Fight Night
Austin Aries vs. Bully Ray

The Champ continues his advantage from the pre-match assault, but Bully gets back into it as he shoves Earl Hebner into Aries, knocking him to the floor. 

Commercial break

Bully is still in control as we come back from the final commercial break of the night. Aries breaks out of a stretch-style submission, but the Bully comes right back. Big splash on the mat, but he only gets a two-count. Standing elbow drop; yet again a two-count. Bully trash talks the Champion as he crawl back to his feet, and takes big left hands to the jaw. Aries goes right back down, and the trash talk begins as Bully delivers some strong elbows and screams "damn that was tight!" 

Aries kickout of another pin and Bully backs up Earl Hebner into the corner. He calls Hebner old and tells him he's the worst referee ever, before the veteran takes offence and backs Bully right into a attack from Austin Aries. Aries lands a hard discus eblow to the jaw, knocking his opponent back into the ropes and lands a beautiful missle dropkick from the top rope. The crowd chants for the Champ and tries for the Brainbuster, but Bully counters and sends him crashing into Earl Hebner who goes down. Aries locks in the Horns of Aries, but Hebner is out cold. Aries tries to revive the ref, but Bully hits him in the jaw with his steel chain and ends up picking the victory. 

Winner: Bully Ray

Bully asks for the belt after the match and poses with it over Aries after the match. He sets up to take out the Champ, but Jeff Hardy runs down to make the save! Bully bails from the ring as Hardy picks up the belt and raises it high into the air. Aries sees him and freaks out, taking the belt back and shoving his Bound for Glory opponent. The two stare down and exchange some unhappy words as Impact goes off the air. 

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That's tonight's Impact guys! Thanks for following along with Wrestlezone's exclusive coverage, and feel free to follow me on Twitter @MikeKillam.