Coverage and thoughts on the June 20, 2013 episode of Impact
They start the show with an “earlier today” film of Sting (in a suit & without the paint) outside & walking into the arena.
Then they show a Bound for Glory Series video package. This was good.
The actual show starts with 10 of the 12 guys who are in the BFG Series in the ring. Then predictably Hulk’s music plays & he comes out brother (Do they have to start Impact with him every week?). Hulk welcomes everyone to the BFG Series kickoff. Tonight is also open fight night & the 10 guys in the ring have already qualified for the series. What he wants to do now is bring out the 2 guys who won the first 2 BFG Series. First he brings out Bobby Roode and then Jeff Hardy. Hulk says tonight is the kickoff & all 12 guys will have their first BFG Series match because it’s open fight night. The fans for some reason got to decide on the TNA website if Jeff or Roode should call out someone. Jeff won the poll. Hulk asks who Jeff’s calling out. Then Aries says he wants to be the guy Jeff calls out, but that won’t happen. Jeff might be the most popular guy in the company but Aries has his group of fans too that always chant his name. Then Daniels tells Jefferson that Jeff should call out Aries, or Park, but not to call out Francois of himself. If he did Jeff would start the series with the most demoralizing defeat of his career. Jeff says Roode made it personal last week & he’s calling Roode out. Then all 12 guys go at it. This was a solid segment to start the show. However, I thought last week Roode already said that he was calling Jeff out for tonight. Then they have a poll on the TNA website to see if Jeff or Roode will get to call out someone. That I didn’t care for. That said I thought Aries & Daniels cut good promos & the brawl was good too.
Ken Anderson comes to the ring. He says being that it is open fight night & the start of the BFG Series he gets to call somebody out. He calls out Joseph Park.
Joseph Park vs. Ken Anderson in a BFG Series match. Anderson Anderson
Backstage Ken Anderson mentions that he won his match & tells Ray & Devon that he should be the next VP. Doc says he should the VP. He & Anderson argue. Ray says they don’t need to fight each other. Ray says they’ll the VP thing to a vote. Tonight however they have business that involves Ray’s “wife.” This was decent & short.
Jay Bradley is in the ring. The chip on his shoulder isn’t getting any smaller. The guy he’s calling out was world champion last summer. He calls out Austin Aries.
Jay Bradley vs. Austin Aries in a BFG Series match. Aries gets the pin for 7 points. This was a solid match too.
Backstage camera guy asks Sting what his agenda is. Sting says that he has a meeting. The mafia will rise & tonight it grows. Break time.
Back from break & Sting is talking to somebody. He says that motor bike gangs talk about brother hood and what beats that is a family. He asks whoever if he’s in. The guy shakes his hand.
Then Chavo gives Hernandez a pep talk for his upcoming match. Chavo says Hernandez is out there by himself tonight, no one has worked harder than Hernandez has & Chavo tells him to go get some points. This was ok. I feel a Chavo turn coming.
Hernandez comes to the ring. Out of all the people in this BFG Series there’s 1 loud mouth that really pisses him off. He calls out Daniels.
Hernandez vs. Christopher Daniels in a BFG Series match. Daniels gets the pin for 7 points. This was a decent match.
Backstage we see Brooke Hogan walking. I’m dreading her promo later!
Frankie Kazarian is in the ring. Everyone just saw the bad influence BFG Series domination. He’s calling out a guy Dixie thinks is the future of this company. He calls out Magnus.
Magnus vs. Frankie Kazarian in a BFG Series match. Magnus wins by submission for 10 points. This was a decent match too.
Backstage Hulk is on his cell. He says everything’s fine. Then Ray shows up behind him with a hammer. Hulk grabs him & tells him he’s a dead man. Hulk wants to do this right now. He tells Ray to take his best shot. Ray says he’s not the kinda guy who would hit somebody in the back of the head with a hammer. Ray’s her to talk to his “wife”. Hulk says Ray & Brooke are done. Ray asks Hulk why Brooke stopped Hulk from hitting Ray with the hammer. This was ok. Hulk was his usual self & Ray was good here.
Brooke Hogan comes to the ring (This is gonna be terrible). She says she’s so proud of the Knockouts division. She says the shows that are being talked about after Impact are all about the Knockouts. If the last few months are any indication of what’s to come, we’re gonna have a hot summer. There are some issues she would like to address & she has the Knockouts come out. Eric Young also comes out. Brooke says Mickie apparently needs a special introduction. Brooke introduces Mickie & she comes out to her music. Mickie thanks Brooke for letting her speak about the state of the Knockouts division. She’s proud to present the division on red carpets & music videos. Now she’s doing ads too. She tells Brooke that carrying the weight of the division on Mickie’s shoulders doesn’t hurt as much as Velvet’s knee. Brooke says this isn’t just about Mickie. Brooke has business to take care of. She asks if EY remembers the chat they had a year & a half ago. EY says he’s technically not a woman, but he’s the toughest dude standing in the ring. Then EY hands over the Knockouts Tag Titles and then says it’s national kissing day. Then he & ODB make out. Brooke says this division is about competition. Velvet’s been the heart & soul of the division. Brooke mentions that Velvet wants her rematch for the title. Then Mickie says the little pigeon is hurt and can’t fly this coup. Brooke spoke to Velvet’s Dr. and Mickie & Velvet can go at it next week. Gail says Brooke forgot about her. Gail wants what belongs to her now. Brooke says how awesome Gail’s match with Taryn at the PPV was. Then she tells Gail that she will face Taryn again, this time in a ladder match. This was mediocre. Brooke is awful on the mic. Mickie & Gail were good here though & I thought EY was comical here too. I’m also glad that they finally got rid of the knockouts tag titles!
Backstage Hulk tells Brooke she did a good job & now he wants her to leave. Brooke protests & Hulk says he doesn’t need anymore drama. Brooke gets in the limo & leaves. Hulk doesn’t need anymore drama? I also don’t need anymore Hogan family drama! This was a typical Hogan bit.
AJ Styles comes to the ring. He says it’s real simple. This isn’t about Aces & 8s, or TNA. This is about him. It’s about AJ becoming the next world champion. Not for the fame or glory but for the money. Everybody’s looking for a hero. If here’s learned 1 thing being in TNA the past 11 years it’s that this is no place for a hero. AJ is sick & tired of doing the right thing. He’s doing his own thing now. Then out comes Samoa Joe.
Backstage Ray is talking to Brooke on his cell. He asks why she would leave just because Hulk told her too. He wants to talk to her. Ray then tells Devon , Doc & Knox to make sure Brooke gets there.
Backstage Hulk is talking with Chris Sabin, Kenny King & Suicide. He says whoever the X Division Champion is after their match next week they have the chance to cash the belt in for a world title match on July 18. This was decent but I’m tired of the X Division matches being 3 ways.
Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode in a BFG Series match. Jeff gets the pin for 7 points. This was a good match too.
Cut back to Sting & camera guy asks him if he’s done for the night. Sting says he has some business to take care of. Camera guy asks if he means family business. Sting says it is & that the night is still young.
So here are the BFG Series stats after the first week: Magnus has 10 points, Ken Anderson, Austin Aries, Christopher Daniels & Jeff Hardy all have 7 and AJ Styles & Samoa Joe have 2.
Bully Ray comes to the ring. He says the BFG Series is off & running. 12 guys are fighting each other for a shot at his world title. Next week 3 X Division guys will face each other & the winner will get a shot at his title. That makes 15 guys who are trying to take him out. Ray will do anything & everything to keep his title. Look at what he did to Hulk & Sting. The last thing anybody wants is to face him. Ray wants to call somebody out but he doesn’t want to fight. At the end of the day, Ray’s a lover not a fighter. He tells Brooke Hogan to come to the ring. After a bit he tells Brooke to come out again. Cue the old Main Event Mafia music & out comes Sting. Sting gets the mic & he realizes there are no lone wolves that will peal the corporate seal of Aces & 8s, so he went back to his family. Ray asks what Sting knows about family. Ray’s the guy Sting beat single handedly & because of that will never get another title match. Sting says that doesn’t mean he can’t get retribution on Ray tonight. Ray says Sting has nothing left in the tank. All Ray has to do is snap his fingers & his family comes out right now. Sting has his back to Ray & he takes his tie & jacket off. Ray says that he will snap his fingers & his guys will come out & break Sting’s neck. Ray tells them to come out but they don’t show up. Then Sting throws his shirt on Ray. Then backstage we see that Aces & 8s have been taken out. Then Sting punches Ray & then chases him up the ramp. Ray backs up & then out comes Kurt Angle. He gets Ray in the ankle lock. Ray taps as Sting screams I told ya. This ends the show. This was a solid closing segment. Both Ray & Sting were good on the mic here & I wasn’t surprised that Kurt Angle is part the New Main Event Mafia since he was in the original faction.
I thought this was a solid show for the most part. The opening segment was solid. I wasn’t into the whole, “fans can vote on the TNA website to see if Jeff or Roode get to call someone out” bit but I liked the brawl. The Sting-Ray promo at the end was good too. Both guys were good on the mic & having Kurt Angle be the first Main Event Mafia guy wasn’t surprising. The Hogan family dram however is beyond old. The backstage bit where Hulk told Brooke to leave the building was hokey. The Knockouts segment was a mixed bag. Brooke is awful but I thought Mickie & Gail were good here. EY was comical too & I’m also glad they got rid of the Knockouts Tag Titles. The backstage Aces & 8s bits were ok. Hernandez-Daniels & Magnus-Kazarian were both decent matches, Jay Bradley-Austin Aries & Joseph Park-Anderson matches were both solid and the Joe-AJ & Jeff-Roode matches were both good. The backstage bit where Hulk was with Sabin, Suicide & Kenny was decent too but I wish they’d ditch the 3 way X Division matches. I also liked AJ Styles’ pre match promo. Overall I thought this was a solid show.
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