8-23-12 Impact results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the August 23, 2012 episode of Impact

They start the show with Aces and 8s riding into the building.

The actual show starts with Sting, Kurt Angle, Austin Aries, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, Ken Anderson, Robbie E, Rob Terry, Gunner, Devon & Bully Ray coming to the ring. Sting says he told security to leave the gate wide open for Aces & 8s. Sting says they’re ready to fight and there’s a list of victims and they’ll remember the victims. They show still shots of the stable attacking the Hogans, James Storm and The Pope. Sting says these men right here are set to fight and so are the victims. Sting says that there was 1 victim who has now had the cloud of doubt removed from him. That being James Storm. Storm comes to the ring. Storm says if was on the other side of the fence he would’ve believed the accusations too. Then Storm says how about they turn this wrestling show into an ass whipping show tonight. Sting says when Aces & 8s decided to intimidate Brooke they pissed of Hulk. Sting says that Hulk is here and asks Aces & 8s where they are. 2 Aces & 8s guys come in threw the crowd. Sting tells security to let them come in. They get in the ring and the TNA roster pounds on them. They unmask 1 of the guys and Sting says he knows there’re more. Sting puts the mic to the guy’s mouth. The guy says that he is patched in and that the TNA guys are all in for a long painful night. Then Sting hits him in the gut and Angle kicks him out of the ring. This was a good way to start the show.

Brooke Tessmacher comes to the ring. She thanks Brooke Hogan for righting the wrong from Hardcore Justice last week. She says tonight isn’t about the Knockouts Title. It’s personal. She says she looks in the mirror and asks if she can beat her mentor and best friend. She calls out Tara. Then out comes Taryn Terrell to referee the match. Is she going to be the referee for all the knockouts matches?

Knockouts Champion Brooke Tessmacher vs. Tara. Tara gets the pin. This was a solid match. Afterwards they hug.

They reshow Aces & 8s attacking The Pope from Hardcore Justice. Tenay says that Pope is sidelined with an injured shoulder.

Sting is the office with RVD, AJ Styles, Robbie E & Rob Terry. He mentions Pope being out of the BFG series and that RVD, AJ & Robbie E were each supposed to have singles matches with him. Then he tells them that they will be in a 3 way match and Rob Terry is barred from ringside.

Rob Van Dam vs. AJ Styles vs. Robbie E in a Bound for Glory Series match. Robbie E wins for 7 more points when he pins RVD. This was a good match. RVD gave AJ a 5 Star Frog Splash. Both RVD & AJ were laying on the mat. Then Robbie covered RVD for the pin.

Jeff Hardy comes to the ring. He says this will not be a BFG series match. He calls out Rob Terry.

Jeff Hardy vs. Rob Terry. Jeff gets the pin. This was a short match.

Kazarian & Daniels are backstage. Daniels says that AJ thinks all the answers will be revealed tonight but not all the questions have been asked.

Sting is backstage telling Aces & 8s he’s easy to find. He says he will deal them the dead man’s hand.

They recap the AJ-Claire idiocy!

JB is in the ring. He says it’s time to reveal the results of AJ Styles’ paternity test. AJ comes to the ring. He says he’s sorry to his friends, fans who had to put up with this crap (boy is he right with that) and he’s sorry for his family. He says there’s a night he can’t remember but something happened with Claire. AJ says if he is the dad he will accept responsibility for the kid. However, if the kid’s not his he doesn’t want Daniels or Kazarian to say another word to him. Then JB introduces Claire Lynch but out come Daniels & Kazarian. Kazarian says that AJ is more concerned with protecting the AJ Styles brand then his family. Kazarian rambles on. Then he says that AJ has only been concerned about the phenomenal one, but starting now AJ needs to be concerned with the little one. Daniels says that Claire has come out in a vulnerable state and has asked AJ if he will do the right thing and he turned his back on her. Daniels says that Claire isn’t there. She’s in a Florida hospital. Daniels then says that he knows he and his fans wish her the speediest recovery. Daniels asks AJ if this was worth the aggravation he put Claire through. Then some woman comes to the ring. She’s Claire’s attorney and has been authorized to read the following statement. She reads that in January 2012 Claire was approached by Daniels & Kazarian to blackmail AJ. She says that Claire placed a sedative into AJ’s drink to knock him unconscious. She says that Claire hasn’t been pregnant. This was also part of the plan to screw up AJ’s life. Now she regrets it and hopes AJ and his family forgive her and that AJ is always the man everyone’s known him to be. Then AJ goes after Kazarian & Daniels and the bail. So the whole thing was a set up to blackmail AJ!? Terrible!! Most of what was said isn’t even worth recapping! This was absolutely painful!! Hopefully this is the end of this crap!!

They show a video package on Gut Check contestant Chris Lewie. He says that that wrestling was the first thing that he was proud to do in his life. He says that he was blessed to get the call from Al Snow to get the chance to be in TNA. He says that this is a fight and he is going to get the contract.

Aces & 8s are backstage and Sting shows up. Sting has a deck of cards and mentions a game of 52 pick up. Then he gets his bat. Then Sting & Hulk attack them. Hulk tells them if they ever look at his daughter again he’ll cut their hearts out and feed them to his dog. Then he Hulk growls. Sting says that Hollywood is back and it’s show time. This was really weird. Hogan growling was kinda funny though.

They have a video package on Alex Silva. He says that when he got the chance to be in TNA it didn’t feel real. Then he says that he will not stop till he achieves his goal. Good promo from Silva here.

JB is in the ring and says it’s time for Chris Lewie’s match. Out comes Gunner.

Chris Lewie vs. Gunner. Gunner gets the pin. This was a decent but short match. I’m not sure why they always have the Gut Check contestants lose.

ODB is on her phone asking Eric Young where he’s been. She says to bring her fried chicken.

Ken Anderson comes to the ring. He says that tonight is his final BFG Series match and that he’s saved the toughest and meanest guy for last. Bully Ray.

Ken Anderson vs. Bully Ray in a Bound for Glory Series match. Anderson gets the pin for 7 more points. This was a good match too. During the match the showed backstage and the TNA roster lay out more Aces & 8s guys.

The head Aces & 8s guy says that in about 3 and a half minutes Aces & 8s will deal out the dead man’s hand.

Sting and company make their way to the ring. Sting says that he’s calling them out. No more disappointments. “The victims are ready. Calling out Aces and 8s.” The fans chant for Hogan. Sting says maybe they should do an Aces & 8s chant. Then Aces & 8s come out and the brawl starts. The TNA guys beat the crap out of Aces & 8s. Some of them brawl into the crowed too. Then they show Hulk Hogan backstage. He & James Storm are beating down other Aces & 8s guys. There’s a lot happening here. Back in the ring Aries, Jeff Hardy & RVD are beating down more guys. Then a guy clotheslines Aries. Then Aces & 8s bring in a guardrail and a chair. They sit him in a corner and put the guardrail on the turnbuckle. Then they hold Aries to the guard rail and hit him in the arm with a chair. Then Bully Ray comes out and runs the Aces & 8s. guys off. Then Aces & 8s ride out of the building to end the show. This was really entertaining.

I thought this was a solid show overall this week. The opening segment was good and I enjoyed the brawl at the end. Most of the matches on the show were decent to good also. I liked the 3 Way and the Anderson-Ray matches the best. Tessmacher-Tara was solid too. The AJ-Kazarian-Daniels segment was painful. I’m hoping to God they end this!  Lewie-Gunner & Jeff Hardy-Rob Terry were both short. The backstage segment with Sting & Hogan attacking Aces & 8s was ok too but Hogan growling was weird and kinda funny. Overall I thought this was a solid to good show.