5-23-13 Impact results and thoughts

Coverage and thoughts on the May 23, 2013 episode of Impact

The show starts with Hulk Hogan coming to the ring (This is really getting old. Why does Hogan have to start Impact every week?). He says it’s great to be home in Tampa, FL brother. He knew it would be special because last night word was on the street it would be heavy in the Sun Dome tonight. Then he saw Shark Boy sitting in a bar & they had a drink. Everyone here makes Hulk feel like family. This is his home & the fans are his family. The TNA roster is also his family & AJ Styles has decided to side with Aces & 8s. Hulk’s not gonna dwell on that. One of his brothers that’s been with him since day 1 is on his, that being Sting. He tells Sting to come out. Sting comes to the ring. Hulk tells Sting he’s gotta let him know he appreciates what Sting’s doing but the “never wrestling for the title” bit doesn’t have to happen. Ray’s not in charge, Hulk is. Sting wants Hulk to keep it the way it is. He knows he needs to take the world title & power from Ray. Sting only needs 1 chance & then he flubs his lines. Then he says if he can’t take the title off Ray he doesn’t deserve to be champion again. Hulk says Sting doesn’t have to put that stipulation on the line. Hulk’s running the show, not Ray. Out comes Brooke Hogan. She says she doesn’t wanna see them taking the blame for being dumb enough to fall for Ray. She drove the wedge between Hulk & Sting and between Hulk & herself. She was the catalyst for TNA going up in smoke & she’s tired of Hulk taking the blame. She says how the Knockouts division has grown but she feels like she’s ruined everything, so she wants to resign as Knockouts GM. Hulk tells Brooke to take care of business & handle Ray. Then out comes Bully Ray. He asks why these 3 are sitting out here taking the blame for everything. It’s not Hulk’s, Sting’s or Brooke’s fault. When it comes to whose fault it is, it’s Ray’s fault. It is his fault Hulk doesn’t know how to run this company, his fault that he stabbed Hulk in the back & Ray is the man who turned this company upside down. There’s 1 person in that ring he does blame & that’s Brooke. He blames her for making him fall for her. Every time he wakes up & goes to bed he thinks of Brooke. They have a connection. She knows Ray still loves her & he always will. That is why he will never take his wedding ring off. This was a typical opening Impact segment. It was weak. Hulk & Sting coming out at the start of the shows every week really has that old Nitro feel to it (and that isn’t good). Brooke was horrendous here too. I’m not sure if she remembers but when her dad & Sting were in WCW THEY WERE FEUDING! Ray was the only good part of this whole segment. His promo was good as usual.   

They show they Suicide returning video package.

Kenny King is on commentary.

Suicide vs. Petey Williams vs. Petey Williams. Suicide wins when he pins Ryan. This is was solid match but these 3 Way X Division matches aren’t doing the X Division any favors.

Backstage Chris Sabin comes into James Storm’s dressing room. Sabin says MCMG & Beer Money are 2 of the greatest tag teams in TNA history. He offers to be Storm’s partner. Storm says Sabin has a chance to become X Division Champion & then he might have a chance to cash that in to become world champion (They’re gonna be doing that with the X Title this year too?). Storm doesn’t wanna hold Sabin back & they wish each other luck. This was a decent backstage segment.

Backstage Brooke asks Bully Ray what he meant when he said he still loves her. He asks what it sounds like it means. He still loves her. This wasn’t great but Ray was decent here.

Then we see Velvet & Mickie. Velvet is taping up her ankle. Mickie asks if Velvet’s ready & then she offers to ask Brooke Hogan to call of their match. Velvet says what a good friend Mickie is but Velvet doesn’t want to give Gail Kim the satisfaction of watching Velvet sit this out. Mickie asks Velvet again if she will be ok. Then they hug & tell each other how good of a friend they are to the other. This was lame.

Sam Shaw comes to the ring for his match. Alex Silva’s music plays but he doesn’t come out. Then Aces & 8s music hit & Wes Briscoe, Garrett Bischoff & Doc show up. Wes Briscoe says Shaw should be thanking Wes because he left Silva lying in the parking lot. Wes then says that he deserves to be in this gut check tournament. Then Wes, Garrett & Doc beat down Shaw for a bit and then Magnus comes out & Aces & 8s bail. Magnus says there’s something about what Wes said that doesn’t sit well with him. Aces & 8s wanna gang attack Shaw. Magnus has known him since they trained at Harley Race’s camp & Shaw is Magnus’ friend. Then Magnus talks about how Aces & 8s took him out 2 weeks ago. Wes isn’t in this tournament because he doesn’t deserve to be. What he does deserve is to get his teeth knocked down his throat right now.

Magnus vs. Wes Briscoe. Magnus wins by DQ when Garrett & Doc come in. Then Samoa Joe comes to the ring to make the save. The match was decent & it was cool to see Joe back.

Backstage we see Aces & 8s. Ray doesn’t wanna talk about Brooke. Then he says after tonight Magnus will remember Wes Briscoe’s name. Anderson asks when AJ is coming. Ray says AJ will be there. Despite some disappointments in the club AJ won’t let them down.

They show a video package of Kurt Angle at Grand Central Station in NYC. He’s there to make sure wrestling remains in the Olympics. This was kinda cool.

Kurt Angle & Ken Anderson come out for their match. Break time.

Back from break & AJ Styles comes in the building on his bike.

Kurt Angle vs. Ken Anderson. Anderson gets the pin. AJ came out during the match & Taz hugs him. This distracted Angle & then Anderson hit Angle low & got the win. This was a good back & forth match & I thought the finish made sense.

Backstage camera guy asks Gail Kim about her match at the PPV. Gail mentions all the Knockouts she took out. She should be getting the Knockouts Title match, not Mickie James. Gail’s the greatest knockout that ever existed. Then Taryn Terrell come in & attacks Gail Kim. This was decent. Gail’s promo was good & Taryn coming in & attacking was ok too.

Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez are at the announce table. Chavo is on commentary.

James Storm comes to the ring. He says last week he was given the chance to wrestle at Slammiversary with a partner of his choosing. He’s been 1 half of 2 of the greatest tag teams in TNA history. AMW & Beer Money. & he has decided to do it again because women love a good tag team wrestler. Then out come Austin Aries & Bobby Roode. Roode says Storm wants to talk about the glory days & tag team wrestling. Roode is the king of tag team wrestling. Roode says the 4 years of Beer Money were the worst 4 years of his life. Storm says it’s not his problem Roode can’t hang drinking with the cowboy. Roode says the night he hit Storm with the bottle & became world champion he was the happiest guy on the planet. Then Roode asks what joke of a partner Storm will have at the PPV. Then out come Daniels & Kazarian. Daniel says he tell a joke. 2 weeks ago they proved the dirty heels couldn’t beat them and Chavo & Hernandez have been the huskiest tag team in all of Mexico. Kaz says that Storm turned down their offer to reunite. Kaz then says whoever Storm picks will not live up to the standards of the best tag team in the business. Storm tells the guys to shut up so he can say who his partner is. Then out comes Shark Boy. Shark Boy says a little fishy told him James Storm needed a tag team partner. Storm & Shark Boy have a lot in common. They both love fishing, drinking cold beer & kicking some bass. If we the cowboy should team with the Shark Boy give him a shell yeah. Then out comes Robbie E. E tells Shark Boy that Storm doesn’t wanna team with a loser, he wants to team with someone who will help make him a champion. That someone is Robbie E. E carried Rob Terry for 2 years & he can carry Storm. The south can meet the north. He has a list of team names. Beer Bro, America’s Most Bro, Gym tan beer Bro, 2 Bros & a baby and then hairspray & drink all day. That can be their theme song. Then Gunner comes out through the crowed, slides in the ring & then takes out both Shark Boy & Robbie E. Then he puts E in the Torture Rack. Storm & Gunner face off & Storm says he will see Gunner at Slammiversary. This was a bit too long. Storm’s promo was solid, Roode was good here too and Daniels & Kazarian were solid on the mic. I’m not sure why they had Shark Boy & Robbie E in this segment. Shark Boy doing the Stone Cold bit is hokey & Robbie E reading off the list of team names was terrible.

Backstage Joseph Park wants advice from Sting about his TV Title match with Devon. He heard about getting the strap. He’s not sure if he wants that. Sting tells him that getting the strap means getting the belt. Park hopes Sting beats Ray. Sting says that next week he will team with someone to face Ray & Devon. Sting wants to team with Abyss. Joseph says he’s not sure if that can happen. Sting asks if Joseph is gonna kayfabe him. Sting then says he wants to team with Joseph because how else will justice be served. This was a weak segment & I’m sick of having Sting explain the “in words” to Park.

Knockouts Champion Velvet Sky vs. Mickie James for the Title. Mickie gets the pin to regain the title. This was a solid match.

Time for an AJ Styles video package.

Backstage we see Aces & 8s. Ray rags on D’Lo. Then Ray toast Ken Anderson for beating Angle. Then they have another toast to the guy they’re about to patch in, AJ Styles. This was ok.

Aces & 8s come to the ring. Ray asks if we know who they are. Everyone knows they’re Aces & 8s. They do what they want when they want. No one member of this club is more important than the other. They’re equals & they run TNA. When somebody in the club screws up they pay for it. D’Lo was a disappointment but there was 1 guy who proved himself, took the world by the you know what & crushed them. That’s Ken Anderson. Ray’s proud Anderson wears their colors. But tonight is about the guy they’re about to bring into their brother hood. Ray tells AJ to get in this ring right now. Out comes AJ. Ray says this a big night for AJ & the club. Everyone wanted AJ but AJ knows where the power lies. Ray wants AJ to do something he probably never expected. He knows AJ doesn’t drink but he wants AJ to drink with him. AJ can give his heart to Jesus but his soul belongs to the club. They toast & AJ chugs down the beer. Now for the important part. Ray tells Anderson to give AJ his colors. Anderson gives AJ an Aces & 8s vest. Ray tells him to put it on & tells Anderson to hold it open for him. Ray announces AJ as the newest Aces & 8s guy and then Kurt Angle comes out. He knew this day would come but he had to see it with his own eyes. AJ’s legacy just went down the crapper. Angle says that AJ disgusts him and then he tell AJ to be a part of this scumbag group. He will se AJ at the PPV anyway. Angle asks if this is what AJ wants. Ray says it is. Angle says he was talking to AJ. Ray says that he’s talking to a fellow club guy. Then AJ dawns the vest & hugs Devon. Then Angle gets in the ring and Doc & Knox beat him down a bit. Then Ray gives AJ a hammer & AJ hits Angle with it. They all raise their arms & celebrate and then AJ takes out a couple of Aces & 8s guys with the hammer and then he walks out. This ends the show. This was a solid segment but it was very predictable. Ray was great on the mic as always & I was ok with Angle coming out & ragging on AJ. The outcome though was never in doubt. They’re having AJ be the guy who walks alone & while it could be good, we have seen it before with Sting in WCW.

This was a mixed bag of a show. The opening segment was the predictable bit always starts the show off. I wish they’d ditch the old Hulk Hogan-Sting 15-20 minute promos. They’re just like how Nitro used to be. The closing segment was solid but it was very obvious that AJ wasn’t going to be in Aces & 8s. The segment with the tag teams was a bit too long. I thought that Storm, Roode, Daniels & Kazarian were all decent to solid on the mic here but having Shark Boy & Robbie in this segment was pointless. I was also surprised that Gunner returned to team with James Storm. The last time we saw Gunner he was a heel. How come the out of nowhere face turn? Velvet-Mickie was solid too & I was a bit surprised they put the title back on Mickie. Gail Kim’s promo backstage was solid also & Taryn Terrell storming in & attacking Gail was also decent. The Aces & 8s backstage segments were ok too, but that’s because they were mercifully short. I wasn’t into the Velvet-Mickie segment backstage. I thought it was weak & I also wasn’t into the Joseph Park-Sting backstage segment. I don’t get why they still have this dumb gag where Sting explains the “in words” to Joseph. Angle-Anderson good & AJ coming & having that distract Angle was decent. Wes, Garrett & Doc beating down Sam Shaw followed by Magnus coming in for the save was ok & I thought Magnus cut a decent promo here. The Magnus-Wes Briscoe match was also decent & I liked Samoa Joe coming out for the save to help out Magnus. I liked the backstage segment with James Storm & Chris Sabin too. The Ray-Brooke segment wasn’t the greatest but Ray was good. The 3 Way X Division match was solid but I’m not sure why they’re having all X Division matches be 3 Ways. So overall I thought this week’s show wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible either.