Coverage and thoughts on the April 5, 2012 episode of Impact
The show starts with Sting & Dixie Carter in the ring. Dixie says it’s a very big night for TNA. She says that she asked the entire roster to come out so that she can introduce a man who needs no introduction but she’ll give him one anyway. She welcomes Hulk Hogan. Hogan comes out, his pyro goes off and the fans chant his name. Hulk says it’s to nice to be back on Impact as the GM. Then he thanks Sting and Dixie for the second chance. He says that there will be new things happening with TNA. Then he says that he’s going to make some Lockdown decision and announces Matt Morgan vs. Crimson for the PPV and says their feud will end there. Then he gets to Gail Kim and says there will be a 6 Knockouts gauntlet match to find out who will challenge her for the title at Lockdown. Then he says that he and Eric Bischoff need to talk right now and he calls Eric out. Ric Flair tells Hulk Eric isn’t there but and Hogan tells Flair that Eric better show up. Then Bobby Roode’s music hits and he comes out and Hogan says that he showed up late. Roode says that he does whatever he wants. Then Roode says that there is nothing and no one that will stop him from being the greatest TNA champion in history. He says that at Lockdown he will successfully defend his Title against James Storm and says that until then “the champ’s outta here.” Then Hogan says that things have changed around here now that he’s in charge. Then he has Ken Anderson come in the ring and says that the fans want to see Roode face Anderson Dixie and Sting want him running Impact when he took control of TNA last fall!
Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle. Jeff wins by count out when Angle walks out. This was a good back and forth match. I wasn’t surprised the match had this kind of ending since I knew they would have a rematch at Lockdown.
Hulk Hogan is watching backstage and Kurt Angle comes in and Hulk says that Angle will face Jeff Hardy at Lockdown.
Ric Flair calls Eric Bischoff and Flair tells him that he has to get to the building. He says that Hogan’s back in power and Flair tells Eric to hurry to the building. Eric says he’s on his way.
Backstage promo from Bully Ray. The cameraman asks his prediction for the Storm-Roode match. He says that he will be the next World Champion and is tired of hearing their names. Then he says that he is going to deal with Austin Aries. Good promo like usual from Ray.
Bully Ray is in the ring and says that he is confused and he asks Austin Aries why a small guy like him would want to piss off a big guy like Ray. Ray says that he has eaten chicken wings that were bigger than him. Then Austin Aries comes to the ring and goes after Ray. He punches him in the corner but then Ray turns it into a power bomb. Then Ray gets the mic and asks Aries if he knows who he is. Then he walks out. This was a good segment. Ray cut a good promo and I liked Aries coming out and going after Ray.
They show Joseph Park from “earlier in the day” asking a catering guy if he’s seen Abyss. Then he gives the guy his card. This is getting old.
AJ Styles promo backstage talking about the Storm-Roode match. He says Roode is a dominant force but Storm might have the edge if he can get the last call on him. Then James Storm comes in and says that he would like AJ to be his opponent tonight. AJ agrees and says that it will be hard to hit the last call on him.
Mickie James vs. Winter vs. Tara vs. Angelina Love vs. Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky. Velvet wins when she pins Mickie. This was a good match but I’m not into the one pin stip in a multi person match.
Ken Anderson is backstage and he says that the same thing will happen to Roode at Lockdown that will happen to him tonight. Then Roode comes in with his security and he gives Anderson Anderson Anderson
They show James Storm and Jeff Hardy at some music convention and they talk about how awesome it was.
Time for Eric Young’s bachelor party. There’s a few random guys there and he has some lollipops. Then ODB comes in has some guy bring in a bowl of chicken wings. The other guys walk out. Then Young tells ODB that she’s the only one for him. Then ODB says that every night will be a bachelor party for Eric once they’re married. This was goofy but not as bad as I was expecting.
James Storm vs. AJ Styles. Storm gets the pin. This was a good back and forth match. Afterwards Storm helps AJ up and they shake hands. Then AJ gets a beer bottle to Storm. Then Storm gets the mic and says that next week he wants Bobby Roode to look him in the eye one last time before he kicks his teeth down his throat.
Hulk Hogan & Sting are backstage and Hulk tells him to go home recover. Sting agrees but he says it’s not easy for him. Hogan says that Sting might get better faster than he thinks. Then he tells Sting that he will call him if things get crazy. This makes no sense at all.
They show these 2 country guys backstage and then James Storm comes in. Then Bobby Roode comes in and rags on the guys. He then mentions that he was also a friend of Storm’s till he hit him with a beer bottle. He says that he will do the same in 10 days. Then he spits water at them and they go after him.
Time for the long awaited return of The Motor City Machine Guns.
Ric Flair is backstage and Eric Bischoff shows up. Flair is flipping out about Hogan making matches for Lockdown. Then Eric says that Hulk needs to know that Flair is a 2 time Hall of Famer. Then he says that he will put Hogan back in his box. I wasn’t into this. I’m really tired of this Hogan-Bischoff saga. I’m also tired of Ric Flair!!
Hulk Hogan is in the ring saying that everyone is ready for Lockdown. Then he tells Eric Bischoff to come to the ring. Eric comes out on the stage and says that it’s ironic that they’re on opposite sides. He says that he never would have imagined this. Then he says that it makes sense because they have a lot of differences (not that I know of) but the main difference is that Hulk doesn’t have a vision that others can base their lives and careers on. He calls Hulk an opportunist and says that he will tag on to anything that he will most likely benefit from while he on the other hand is a leader (whatever). Hulk says that Eric is a leader at blowing hot air. Then Hulk says that rather than Garrett vs. Gunner Eric should set up a team and Hulk will have Garrett form a team and they will face at Lockdown. Hulk says that if Eric’s team wins then Garrett will be off the TNA roster but if Garrett’s team wins then Eric is out of TNA and Eric will never use the Bischoff name again. Eric accepts. Then Hulk says that at Lockdown the battle of the Bischoffs ends at Lockdown. Who cares about any of this!? I really hope to God that this storyline does end at Lockdown!
They show a James Storm video package with Storm saying that there’s been a huge turn in a year. Than they have Roode’s wife and she said Storm and Roode were close friends. Storm says that Bobby is an animal but he knows deep down that Storm will knock his lights out. Storm talks more about how he’s gonna beat Roode at Lockdown. This was a decent video.
Bobby Roode comes out and he has his security guys with him but referee Brian Hebner kicks them out. Then Anderson
Ken Anderson vs. TNA World Champion Bobby Roode. Roode gets the pin after hitting Anderson Anderson
I thought this was a mixed bag episode overall. Hulk’s opening promo was a typical long Hulk Hogan starts the show kind of promo and the Anderson-Roode match was ok. I was ok with Storm & Hulk coming out afterwards. I was surprised that Hulk reversed the decision of the match since that makes sense and usually whatever makes sense doesn’t happen. The rest of the show was hit and miss. It was good to see Chris Sabin back. The match wasn’t much but it nice to see him back in the ring and their match with Magnus & Joe should be good. Hopefully that will happen at Lockdown. I couldn’t stand the Hogan-Eric Bischoff promo! I am so sick of both these 2 guys! Please let this end already! Get Flair off my TV too!! James Storm & AJ Styles had a good match and so did Jeff Hardy & Kurt Angle. The Eric Young-ODB stuff was typical Young comedy but not as bad as usual. Probably because it was short. The Knockouts match was but I’m not a fan of the first pin or submission wins. I like when multi person matches are done with elimination ruling. The Austin Aries-Bully Ray segment was good too. Ray cut a good promo and Aries just going after him made sense also. I’d love to see these 2 in a singles match. I think it could be fun! On the whole I thought this was a mixed bag edition of Impact.
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