2-21-13 Impact results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the February 21, 2013 episode of Impact

The show starts with Hulk Hogan coming to the ring. He says that when he had decided who the number 1 contender was Aces & 8s stuck their nose in his business. Since then he’s had a week to think about who should challenge for the belt. This guy stood out above everybody and made it clear he is the only guy for the job. He brings out. Bully Ray (Why have the 4 match series last week if Hogan was going to give Ray the title shot)? Ray says he doesn’t know what to say. He’s in shock. He mentions that he partially tore his quad muscle in the tables match 2 weeks ago. Hulk says Ray is the toughest SOB in the company. Ray thanks Hulk and says there were other guys who deserved the title shot more than he does. He thanks Hulk; he’s always wanted Hulk’s respect and says the best day of his life was marrying Brooke. He wants to become world champion, but they have business to take care of. Then Ray suggests a 6 man tag tonight Ray, Sting & Hulk vs. Aces & 8s. Ray says dad lets kick some Aces & 8s ass brother. Hulk says you got it brother. This was a solid way to start the show. Hulk was ok here and Ray was good as usual but they best day of his life being marrying Brooke Hogan was weird.  

Aries & Roode are backstage. They mention Chavo & Hernandez screwing them up last week. Then Daniels & Kazarian come by. They congratulate Aries & Roode on beating Hernandez Chavo before they did. Daniels talks about the 8 man tag they have tonight. Daniels says to follow his lead. Daniels & Kazarian walk off. Then Aries & Roode bicker over who will follow whose lead. Good backstage segment.

Hernandez, Chavo Guerrero, Joseph Park & James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and TNA World Tag Team Champion Austin Aries & Bobby Roode. Hernandez, Chavo, Park & Storm win when Chavo pins Kazarian. This was a solid match. The heels couldn’t get along and Aries & Roode walked out.

Time for a Rock Star Spud video package. They show his confrontation with Robbie E.

Rock Star Spud vs. Robbie E. Spud gets the pin. This was a decent match. E was looking to use the VIP clipboard but T stopped him. That allowed Spud to get the roll up for the win. Afterwards E yells at T and slaps him. Then T takes his shirt off & E heads for the hills.

Brooke Tessmacher vs. Velvet Sky vs. Gail Kim vs. Knockouts Champion Tara in a 4 way elimination match for the Title. Velvet wins to become the champion. This was a good match. * Gail pins Tara * Velvet pins Brooke * Velvet pins Gail.

Hulk Hogan & Sting are backstage. Hulk tells Sting to watch his back. Sting says he’s ready. Hulk says he will watch Sting’s back too. Then Sting walks out and Ray asks Sting if he talked to Hulk. Sting says Ray will be teaming with Hulk and himself. Ray is thrilled to teaming with Hulk & Sting. Sting will make sure that Lockdown doesn’t even happen.

Mike Tenay mentions that cameras are going to be in AJ Styles’ house. There will be an update on him next week. 

Samoa Joe vs. Garrett Bischoff. Joe wins by DQ when Wes Briscoe comes in. They beat down Joe for a bit and then Kurt Angle comes out to make the save. Wes & Garrett bail. Then Angle says that he was the guy that got Wes Briscoe the TNA contract. He’s glad he did because the pain he will inflict on him will be 100 % legal. It will be Kurt Angle vs. Wes Briscoe in a cage match at Lockdown. The match was decent but the finish wasn’t surprising. Kurt Angle’s promo was good though.

X Division Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Kenny King for the Title. RVD gets the pin. This was a good match too.

Hulk & Brooke are backstage. Hulk says there’s no turning back. Brooke asks if he needs to do this. Hulk says that he’s been pushed around and humiliated. He needs to do this for himself and the family. Brooke was all worried and then I think she told her dad to have fun. That was odd.  

They have a video package and Jeff Hardy talks about facing Bully Ray at Lockdown.

Bully Ray & Sting vs. Devon, Doc & Ken Anderson. Devon, Doc & Anderson win when Doc pins Sting. Hulk was supposed to be in the match, but when his music played he didn’t come out. They played it a second time, no Hulkster. So it was Sting & Ray vs. the Aces & 8s. Ray was going for the “wazaap” head butt on Anderson but then Mike Knox and other Aces & 8s guys came out with Hulk injured and Brooke kidnapped. Ray stormed off to save Brooke. Sting had a Scorpion Death Lock on Devon but then Doc gave him a big boot and covered him for the win pinned Sting. Afterwards Aces & 8s beat down Sting as Ray, Brooke & Hulk watch from the entrance ramp. To end the show. The match was good. Having Aces & 8s come out holding Brooke captive and Hulk being injured wasn’t surprising though.

I thought this was a good show overall. The opening segment with Hulk & Ray was good. I’m not sure why they had the 4 match series last week if Hulk was going to name Ray the number 1 contender however. Also Ray saying that marrying Brooke was the greatest day of his life was kind of odd to hear, but he was still good on the mic. The 3 on 2 match at the end was good too but the finish wasn’t shocking. I enjoyed the rest of this show. The 8 man tag was solid. Daniels, Kazarian, Aries & Roode were really good here bickering with each other. The 4 way Knockouts Title match was also good. They all worked really hard. RVD-Kenny King was good too. Thankfully there weren’t too many backstage segments this week. The backstage segment with Roode, Aries, Daniels & Kazarian was entertaining. The Hulk-Sting/Sting-Ray segment was ok and the Hulk-Brooke one was thankfully very short. Joe-Garrett was decent but Wes Briscoe coming in was predictable. Kurt Angle’s promo saying that he was going to give it to Wes Briscoe at Lockdown was good. Rock Star Spud-Robbie E was decent and I was ok with the Rob Terry face turn. On the whole I liked this week’s show.