7-26-12 Impact results and thoughts

    Coverage and thoughts on the July 26, 2012 episode of Impact

The show starts with Sting coming out. He says that Hulk’s at home with a shattered hip because of the Aces and Eights. He says that Dixie has made Sting the GM while Hulk’s out injured. Then he calls out Aces and Eights. Then Austin Aries comes to the ring. Aries says that Aces and eights are about a numbers game. He says that they jumped the World Champion and that means they’re making a statement. Aries then says that if they show up he will make a statement on them. That’s not a threat, that’ a promise. Then Kurt Angle comes to the ring. He mentions how Aces and eights tried to physically hurt him and take away his shot at the World Title. He says that he wants to fight those SOBs too. Then Bobby Roode comes out. He says he’s not out here to fight anybody or to have their backs. He says that he knows who the guy behind these attacks is. He says that it’s a guy who’s been the World Title picture for almost a year. A guy who’s been pissed off jealous of him and Austin Aries and also a guy that Kurt Angle was supposed to face last week. Then Roode that the guy behind the attacks is James Storm. Roode says he knows the jealousy that Storm has and calls him a piece of crap. James Storm comes out and clotheslines Roode. Then they get in the ring and go at it while Angle, Aries & Sting watch. Roode rolls out of the ring and says the truth hurts. This was a good way to kick off the show.

Tara says she’s known Chavo since the day she first walked into wrestling and says him being in TNA will be awesome. Kid Kash says that he & Chavo have crossed paths in the past and we’ll see if they do in TNA. Kurt Angle says that he had great matches with Eddie Guerrero and also with Chavo. He says that Chavo is a good technician.

Bobby Roode is headed out of the arena and some guy asks him about his accusation on Storm. Roode says that he knows how Storm works but no one wants to listen to him. He says he knows what makes Storm tick and that the truth will come out. Then he takes his bags and is out of there.

Mickie James & Tara vs. Madison Rayne & Gail Kim. Madison & Gail win when Madison pins Mickie. Earl Hebner was the referee. Mickie got a roll up bridge on Madison but Hebner counted Mickie’s shoulders.

Sting is with Austin Aries and he says that he has Aces and Eights on his mind. Then he tells Aries to take the lead and take charge of the X Division and make some cuts. Aries says that he has Aces and Eights on his mind too. This made no sense. Sting was made GM and he just gave the job to Aries?

They show a Sam Shaw video with him saying that he’s waited for this chance and now he’s ready to take it. He says he’s more excited than nervous but he will show everybody what he’s got.

       

Hernandez says Chavo coming to TNA is incredible. Gunner comments on it too. Bully Ray says he’s just another Guerrero to beat up.

JB is in the ring with Sam Shaw. Shaw will face Doug Williams.

Doug Williams vs. Sam Shaw. Williams gets the pin. This was solid but short match. During the match the have “fans” holding up 87 % signs. Al Snow comes to ringside and Joey Ryan decks him.

Austin Aries is in the office with the X Division guys. He says that he will decide who will face Zima Ion for the X Division Title. Dakota Darsow, Rashad Cameron, Kenny King & Sonjay Dutt all say they should be. Sonjay says the only reason Ion won Ultimate X is because of the hairspray can. There’s a lot of chattering happening. Aries eventually eliminated Rashad from the hunt. There was a lot of talking here and I couldn’t make out everything that was said. My apologies.

They show the Chavo Guerrero video and he will make his TNA debut next.

Chavo Guerrero, Jr. comes to the ring. The fans chant his name. He says that he knows where should’ve been the last few years. He says that he is very humbled to be allowed to be in a TNA ring and he thanks the fans. He then says that there one thing that every Guerrero has done and that is be a Champion in every promotion they’ve been in. Chavo says that he sees hungry talent backstage and sees the eyes of the best. He then says that he is here to beat the best. He tells the fans to remember this date because it’s Guerrero time. It’s time for Chavo to be a Champion in TNA. Kid Kash & Gunner then come out. Kash asks if everyone in the family was a wrestling legend. Kash rags on Chavo and asks him what generation wrestler he is. Then Kash asks where Chavo’s family is. Chavo says the fans are his family. Kash says he’s not looking at these government funded j**k morons in the crowed. He asks Chavo where the rest of his family is. He asks where Mondo & Chavo are. Then he asks if they’re too old or too drunk. Then Chavo goes after Kash but then he & Gunner double team him. Then Hernandez comes out to even the odds. He & Chavo clean house & Kash & Gunner. This was a decent segment. Hernandez & Chavo vs. Kash & Gunner could be a good feud. I thought Chavo cut a good promo in his debut.

Kurt Angle is backstage telling James Storm that Roode is full of crap. He asks Storm about having a connection to Aces and Eights. Storm says that if he has an issue he goes to that person firsthand and isn’t afraid of an ass whipping. Angle is convinced and asks if the Aces and Eights guys show up if Storm will have their backs. Storm says that he will.

Bruce Pritchard, Al Snow & Taz are backstage. Al is flipping out and says that Joey Ryan has his attention. Then they discuss Sam Shaw. Taz says he liked how he looked. Pritchard says he was distracted by Ryan too. Then he puts Shaw over. Taz again says that he thought Shaw looked good.

They air a video package recapping the AJ Styles-Claire-Daniels storyline. Can they please end this!?

They show the BFG Series board. Samoa Joe’s still in the lead.

AJ Styles vs. James Storm in a Bound for Glory Series Match. The match goes to a no finish when the Aces and Eights guys come in and attack AJ. The match was really good but I wasn’t crazy about the no finish. I’m also not into them hinting that James Storm is the guy in charge of this stable.

James Storm walks backstage and Jason Hervey mentions that the Aces and Eights guys never attacked him. Storm grabs him and says that he doesn’t need any assistance kicking someone’s ass and he walks off.

JB, Bruce Pritchard, Al Snow & Taz are in the ring. Sam Shaw comes out. Shaw says that he came up short but they all saw what he can do. He asks them to say yes. Al Snow goes first. He says that because of Joey Ryan he didn’t really get to see Shaw’s match. He says he’d love to say yes but he has to say no. Pritchard’s turn. He says that he got to see Shaw’s match. He votes yes. Time for Shaw to cut the tie breaker promo. Shaw tells Taz he is looking to show the same fortitude Taz showed in 99. Taz says that he loves Shaw’s energy. He tells him that he lost his focused during the match but Taz votes yes. Shaw’s all psyched. This was solid.

Aries is back in the office with Dakota, Sonjay & Kenny King. Each guy says why they should get an X Division Title match. Sonjay says that he would be X Division Champion if it weren’t for his shoulder being dislocated. Kenny says that he has the looks and the talent. Dakota says he’s different and not flashy. Aries says that the X Division is about flashy. He says that Dakota isn’t ready yet. He cuts Dakota from the hunt. Then Aries says that he hopes Dakota’s dad’s Repo business is going well. That was comical. This segment was better than the first.

Time to find out who gets the X Division Title match. Zima Ion comes to the ring.

Aries is backstage with Kenny & Sonjay. Aries says that the doctors aren’t sure about Sonjay’s shoulder so Kenny gets the match.

Kenny King vs. X Division Champion Zima Ion for the Title. Ion gets the pin. Bobby Roode comes out and rams Kenny into the ring post. Then he throws him back in the ring and Ion got the 3 count. Then Austin Aries comes out and attacks Roode.

Bully Ray is backstage. He says he’s not concerned about Aces and Eights. He says that they’d be shmucks to come after him. He then says that he respects Kurt Angle but Ray is the toughest guy Angle’s ever faced. Ray says he’s getting points. Good promo from Ray.

They announce that Bobby Roode will challenge Austin Aries for the World Title at Hardcore Justice.

Then they announce that Austin Aries & Kenny King will face Bobby Roode & Zima Ion next Thursday.

Back to the BFG Series board. Joe’s still in the lead.

Kurt Angle vs. Bully Ray in a Bound for Glory Series Match. Angle gets the pin for 7 more points. Afterwards the Aces and Eights guys come back out. They attack Angle. Then Austin Aries, AJ Styles & Sting come to the ring and a brawl breaks out. Then James Storm’s music plays and he hits the ring. He runs Aces and Eights off. Then Angle & Storm have words to end the show. This match was really good too. I’m not sure what they’re doing with Kurt Angle thinking James Storm is in charge of Aces and Eights.

I thought this was a decent show overall. Angle-Ray was a great match. I’m not sure why Sting was named GM only to stick Aries with the job. AJ Styles & James Storm had a really good match too. Too bad it ended with a no finish. Kenny King-Zima Ion was good too. The Gut Check segment was also decent. Chavo’s debut was good also. I liked his promo and having Kid Kash & Gunner come out was good also. Kash cut a great heel promo. I also liked Hernandez coming in to help Chavo out. The Knockouts tag match was alright but the finish was weird. This bit with Hebner & Madison being together doesn’t work for me. The Doug Williams-Sam Shaw match was decent but short. I knew Joey Ryan was gonna be there. I thought the opening segment having Sting, Aries & Angle all looking to get their hands on Aces and Eights was decent too. Overall I thought the show was solid this week.