TNA Impact 1/19/2012

Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 1/19/2012
From: Orlando, FL

Tonight, Mickie James squares off against Madison Rayne in a steel cage, AJ Styles squares off against Gunner, a number one contenders match takes place and a X-Division wrestler returns!

The new number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, James Storm makes his way out to the ring. He talks about beating the best wrestler to ever compete last week. He is going to Against All Odds and whoop Bobby Roode’s ass. He looks to say his catchphrase, and right after saying it, Jeff Hardy makes his way out. Hardy says he has been getting screwed the last several weeks and tells Storm that no one should get a title shot until he gets one final match with the champ. Storm tells Hardy that he was screwed first and with all the screwing that Roode has been doing, you would think Roode would have a lot of child support to pay up. That cues the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Bobby Roode to make his way out. Roode tells us that since there wasn’t a winner between himself and Hardy at Genesis, then Storm’s match is null and void! Roode tells Hardy that he isn’t going to give him another title shot since he failed on two attempts within five days of them! You would think Roode has made valid points. Sting comes out and books a number one contenders match between James Storm and Jeff Hardy for tonight!

Backstage, Angelina Love is complaining about Eric Young touching her last week. She is so mad! She wants a piece of Young tonight!

Opening Contest: Gunner vs. AJ Styles
Styles gets a near fall after a backslide in the early moments of the contest. Gunner comes off the ropes and is met with a dropkick. Gunner returns to the ring and clubs away on Styles before hitting a snap suplex for a two count. Gunner nails Styles with a high knee for a two count. Styles battles back with a few clotheslines and hits a springboard forearm shot from the apron. Christopher Daniels comes out with Kazarian telling him to do what he says. That allows Gunner to get the cheap advantage for a moment but Styles kicks Gunner in the head. Kazarian gets on the apron and clotheslines Styles. The referee was distracted for that by Ric Flair. Gunner plants Styles with the DDT and wins the match.

After the match, Gunner goes to the floor and exposes the concrete floor. Styles breaks free from a DDT attempt and bails through the crowd.

Your Winner: Gunner via pin fall
Match Rating: **

Backstage, Magnus and Samoa Joe talk about Magnus wrestling Crimson tonight. Magnus is going to beat up the meat head known as Crimson. That brings Matt Morgan and Crimson into the scene. Crimson is going to end Magnus tonight. They will settle their issues tonight in the ring.

Backstage, Sting is talking to Bully Ray. Ray assures Sting to not be afraid as he isn’t going to smack him around. Ray believes he should have a title shot because he has been undefeated in a singles role. Sting decides to not give him a shot and tells Ray to set up an appointment next time. Ray says he will set up an appointment next time and Sting will have to listen to what he says. Sting ends the segment by slapping Ray on the chest and says he looks forward to the meeting. Ray didn’t respond to the slapping.

Second Contest: Magnus vs. TNA World Tag Team Champion Crimson
Magnus attacks Crimson before the bell and delivers a running clothesline for a near fall. Magnus continues his offense with a vertical suplex. Crimson hits the Red Sky after Magnus charges towards him and he gets the three count.

After the match, Samoa Joe runs into the ring and attacks Crimson. Joe punches the referee as well. Crimson is double teamed as Magnus gets in on the attack. Matt Morgan finally runs out and makes the save. Joe chop blocks Morgan’s knee and Magnus hits a sit out slam on Crimson. Magnus takes Morgan out with a top rope elbow drop. The champs have been left laid out.

Your Winner: Crimson via pin fall
Match Rating: 1/2*

Backstage, Eric Young is looking at a poster of a MMA fighter. ODB ends up going over and talks about his upcoming match against Angelina Love. He doesn’t think he is allowed to wrestle against a girl. ODB says that Young can do a number on Love, she may do a number on him. Young thinks they will hold hands.

A video promoting the Eric Bischoff/Garrett Bischoff issues is shown. The video also features Garrett wrestling several people. Garrett believes that his father will be shocked when he finds out who his trainer is.

A video hyping up the steel cage match between Mickie James and Madison Rayne is aired. We go to the locker room where Gail Kim to calming Madison Rayne down before the match.

Third Contest: Steel Cage Match
Madison Rayne vs. Mickie James
James attacks Rayne as Gail Kim heads to the backstage area. Rayne kicks James away in the corner and tries to climb out but is met with a sit out power bomb by James instead! James nails Rayne with a seated dropkick for a two count. James maintains control with a headlock for a few moments. Rayne kicks James right in the face to get the momentum as we go to commercial.

James flapjacks Rayne and heads to the top rope. Rayne knocks her off with a forearm shot. Rayne delivers a neck breaker dropping James’s neck across the top rope. Rayne is now driving James face into the cage. Rayne hits a snap suplex and a neck breaker for a two count. Rayne drives James face first into the mat several times while having a head scissors locked in. Rayne with a splash in the corner and drives James face first into the canvas again. James battles back with a neck breaker. James slams Rayne head first into the canvas and they trade several blows.

Rayne is knocked down by James with several clotheslines. Rayne stops the offense with an eye poke. James tosses Rayne into the cage back first through the middle rope. James hits a leaping DDT and wins the match.

Your Winner: Mickie James via pin fall
Match Rating: **1/4

Backstage, Austin Aries wants everyone to stay tuned to hear what he has to talk about tonight.

Backstage, Tara and Velvet are celebrating Mickie James victory with her. Mickie tells them she still has to get her hands on Gail Kim. James is going to fight through a knee injury to get her hands on Kim.

Backstage, Jeff Hardy says he is desperate for a payoff and wants Bobby Roode in a no disqualification
match because that would be fair.

A video promoting Austin Aries current reign as the TNA X-Division Champion is aired. Aries doesn’t think there is anyone in the company who can beat him for the championship.

Austin Aries makes his way down to the ring. Aries continues to say that he has beaten everyone in the company and no one can beat him. He says if he wasn’t the best he wouldn’t have the championship around his waist. Aries knows that he is the greatest man to ever live. Aries believes he has to go somewhere else to get some competition. Alex Shelley makes his way out! Shelley talks about the injuries himself and Chris Sabin have had in the past year. He turns his attention to Aries saying that he couldn’t beat the piss out of a urine soaked sponge. Yikes! Shelley is sick and tired of a douchebag being the champion of his division. Shelley reminds us that the last time they wrestled Aries beat him after hitting him in the groin. Aries says that shouldn’t have hurt because there isn’t anything there anyway! Aries tells Shelley that he should just go home and wait for a partner. Shelley gets in the champs face and demands a title shot! Aries wants Shelley to find a guy in the backstage area and beat them to earn his shot. Shelley tells Aries he can pick his opponent and he will wrestle Aries at Against All Odds.

Backstage, Winter viciously attacks ODB with a pipe and her belt.

Fourth Contest: Angelina Love vs. Eric Young
Young is stalling for several minutes because he doesn’t want to wrestle Angelina. Young continues to lock up with the referee and has the referee back Angelina into a corner. Love low blows Young and loses by disqualification.

After the match, Winter and Angelina beat down Young until ODB runs out and attacks Winter. ODB cleans house as the fans cheer for Young. ODB kisses Young in the ring to end the segment.

Your Winner: Eric Young via disqualification

Backstage, James Storm says he has been in TNA since day one and believes it is his time. It is time to show everyone that he is capable of being the TNA World Heavyweight Champion again!

Main Event: Number One Contenders Match
James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy
Storm controls Hardy early on with a side headlock. Hardy gets out of the hold with a head scissors and takes Storm down with a side headlock. Storm shoulder blocks Hardy but runs into an elbow shot. Hardy clotheslines Storm and delivers a double leg drop. Storm avoids a splash in the corner as we go to commercial.

Hardy backdrops Storm to the apron and knocks Storm to the floor. Hardy takes Storm out with a cross body over the top rope. Hardy attempts a cover back in the ring for a two count. Storm fights back with a slingshot suplex for a two count. Hardy takes Storm down with a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. Hardy comes off the top to hit the Whisper in the Wind for a near fall. Storm attempts the Eye of the Storm but Hardy gets out of it. Storm hits twisting face buster of some kind but Hardy kicks out at two. Storm is looking for the super kick but it’s blocked by Hardy. Hardy hits the Twist of Fate and goes up top but is cut off by Storm.

Storm attempts a superplex but Hardy tosses him off. Storm recovers and kicks Hardy in the head. That allows Storm to hit the superplex on a second attempt. Bully Ray has come out to ringside, which I didn’t even notice. Ray knocks the referee out. Ray attacks both Storm and Hardy with his chain. Earl Hebner wobbles his way down but is punched by Ray as well. Ray spits beer onto Storm and continues the attack. Ray knocks a third referee off the apron with a right hand. Sting makes his way out with a baseball bat and attacks Ray! Sting chases Ray to the backstage area.

Bobby Roode is now in the ring and he whacks Storm with the TNA World Championship. He nails Hardy with the championship as well. Roode grabs a microphone and announces that he is the most dominate champion in TNA. He also does Christy Hemme’s job by announcing that his match is a NO CONTEST to end the show.

Final Thoughts:
The opening segment was a fine way to promote the main event. I find it kind of amusing that Jeff Hardy continues to use excuses as to way he couldn’t win the championship from Roode. They may be valid reasons, but hearing a babyface complain is kind of annoying.

Gunner is clearly being positioned to be a top player for TNA this year. The match with Styles was okay, but it was more of a way to progress Styles issues with Daniels and Kazarian. Anyone else find it funny that RVD was written off television, but appears on the house shows? That’s weird to me.

The cage match between James and Rayne was a fine match. It was obvious that James was going over and she is clearly the main person to challenge Gail Kim for the TNA Knockouts Championship.

It’s about time that TNA found a guy to feud with Austin Aries. Alex Shelley returning to television is great! Those two are surely going to have great matches. I’m looking forward to that.

Lastly, the main event was a good match until the same old bullshit finish. It obviously sets up a three way between Storm, Hardy and Roode, but it could also set up a four way with Ray in the mix. I would even be interested in seeing a match between Ray and Sting. I think that is a possible match for TNA.

Overall, it was a good edition of Impact. There wasn’t really a bad segment on the show. Good job TNA!

Thanks for reading.