5-17-12 Impact results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the May 17, 2012 episode of Impact

The show starts with Bobby Roode coming to the ring. He talks about how he beat RVD at Sacrifice in Van Dam’s kind of match. He says that RVD gave him one of the most grueling matches he’s had in his career, but he came out the Champion and proved everyone wrong again. Then he says that next week he will officially be the longest reigning TNA World Champion in TNA history. He says host a party and call it the “It factor’s celebration of domination”. Then he tells Hulk Hogan to come out. Hulk comes to the ring. Roode takes out a list of demands for his party. He wants his dressing room redecorated and wants 5 chilled champagne bottles. He also says he wants on green M&M’S. He also wants golden confetti from Canada to come down from the ceiling. Then Hogan takes the list and he says that out of all the champions he’s seen, that till Roode became champion people were stabbing each other in the back looking to become World Champion, but Roode ended that by becoming champion. He says that everyone is coming after him. Then he tears up Roode’s list. Then he says that next week is Open Fight Night. He tells Roode that he will defend his World Title. Roode complains and Hulk asks which title should be defended. Roode says he doesn’t care as long as it’s not the World Title. Hulk says Roode will defend the title tonight anyway. Then the whole TNA locker room comes out on the stage. Then Hulk says that there will be a series of matches tonight. He announces RVD vs. Bully Ray first. Then Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Anderson. He makes Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe third and finally a battle royal. The winners of those matches will be in a 4 Way next week. Hogan says that the winner of the 4 Way will challenge Roode for the World Title. This was a mixed bag opening segment. Roode cut a good promo as usual but Hogan of course was typical Hogan. I thought Hogan saying that everyone was stabbing each other in the back before he won the title was idiotic!

They replay Abyss’ promo at the end of last week’s Impact.

Rob Van Dam vs. Bully Ray in a 4 Way Qualifier. Ray gets the pin. This was a good match. RVD had his left elbow and left knee taped up to sell the injuries from the Sacrifice match.

Bully Ray is backstage and says that pissed at the Kardashians for jumping on the anti-bullying band wagon. Then Joseph Park comes in and apologizes for getting involved in his match Sunday. Then he mentions Abyss’ promo about staying away from the fire. He says Ray is the fire. Ray tells him to stay away. Decent segment.

They show last week’s MMA Uncensored with King Mo & Dixie Carter, where they talk about King Mo signing with TNA. I never heard of this guy before last Thursday and I don’t know why they brought him in. I wasn’t into this.

Gail Kim and Madison Rayne are backstage and Gail is complaining about having to face Brooke & Velvet. Madison says she’s going to fix her hair and wishes Gail good luck. Then Brook & Velvet show up and they say that Gail Kim cheated to win at Sacrifice. Then Velvet says that either she or Brooke will beat her for the Knockouts Title. This was dumb.

Battle Royal a 4 Way Qualifier. AJ Styles wins. This was decent. Madison Rayne watched from the stage. I guess the guy she has a thing for is in the battle royal.

Back from commercial and they recap the whole AJ-Daniels-Kazarian angle.

Back to the show and AJ says that he will beat Roode for the World Title. Then AJ tries to explain the Dixie photos. He says that they have been business partners for 10 years. Then he says that things aren’t always as they seem. Then Daniels & Kazarian come out. Daniels says that last week the world saw photographic proof of how he got to where he is today. Then Kazarian says that this hasn’t been about humiliating AJ but exposing a truth that AJ has benefited from for 10 years. Then Kazarian asks what the deal with the pictures is. AJ says he explained it all. Then Daniels says maybe they misunderstood one of the pics. Then he says that is why they have videos. Then Kazarian takes out a camera and they show a video of AJ & Dixie walking into a hotel room together. Daniels says more but AJ get upset. Daniels says he struck a nerve and that the truth hurts. AJ walks to the back all upset. This is really idiotic! What is the point of this storyline!?

Samoa Joe & Kurt Angle are backstage. Joe says that it’s a shame he has to go through Angle to get his title back. Angle says that it’s all about who makes the first move. Then he slaps. They brawl for a bit and then the other wrestlers come in to break it up. This was a good backstage segment.

Ken Anderson talks about his match with Jeff Hardy at Sacrifice. He talks the controversial finish and says he will give Jeff another shot tonight and will beat him again. Then he says that he will win the World Title next week. Decent promo.

They show clips from the AJ Styles-Samoa Joe-Christopher Daniels X Division Title match from Unbreakable in September 2005. This is one of the greatest matches ever in TNA!

Jeff Hardy vs. Ken Anderson in a 4 Way Qualifier. Jeff gets the pin. This was a really good match. Afterwards they hug each other.

Brooke Tessmacher vs. Velvet Sky vs. Knockouts Champion Gail Kim for the Title. Gail wins when she pins Brooke. This was a good back and forth match. Velvet gave Brooke here finisher and then Gail chucked Velvet out of the ring and pinned Brooke.

Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe in a 4 Way Qualifier. Angle gets the pin. This was a good match too. Bobby Roode came out to do commentary. Afterwards Bobby Roode stands on the stage and he and Angle taunt each other. Then Jeff Hardy shows up in the crowd. Then Bully Ray comes out and then AJ Styles does. They all stare down Roode to end the show. I liked having the 4 possible challengers coming out and facing off with Roode. Good ending.

I though this was a decent show overall. Roode’s opening promo was good as usual. I wasn’t into Hogan’s part of the segment however. The end with Ray, Jeff, AJ & Angle all staring down Roode was good and I liked the Joe-Angle match too. I thought Jeff Hardy & Ken Anderson a really good back and forth match and I liked the Knockouts match too. Both matches had good pinfall reversals. I’m not sure where they’re going with AJ, Daniels & Kazarian. This whole angle about AJ & Dixie is idiotic. The battle royal was solid too. I also like the RVD-Ray match. Ray was also good backstage with Joseph Park. I’m not into the Madison storyline but we’ll see how that plays out. I wasn’t into the King Mo piece that they showed from MMA Uncensored last Thursday either. But On the whole I thought this was a decent show.