TNA Impact Wrestling Review 15/02/12
Bobby Roode retained successfully at Against All Odds so he rightfully was the main focus of the show this week.
Impact Wrestling - Feb 15th 2012 Bobby Roode retained successfully at Against All Odds so he rightfully was the main focus of the show this week. Although you have to question why he made Christy introduce him twice, he must be a glutton for punishment. He also rightfully pointed out that its Stings own fault he is still champion. The Insane Icon didnt like this and so hit the ring and put him in a NO DQ, No Time Limit match against Jeff Hardy in the first match. Is anyone still drug testing Jeff? Only someone on drugs could devise such terrible entrances and face paint every week. Either way, they had a decent opening match which even had a few spots around the stage and ramp. Hardy was all over Roode for the majority, and only lost when Kurt Angle made a return and threw Jeff into the steps. This allowed Roode to use his new SPEAR finisher to smash Hardy and retain. But this wasnt the end of the night for Roode, because Sting interrupted his victory interview backstage and made a number one contender match for later on between Bully and Storm. Bully and Storm both got promos to build up the match, and I couldnt help but laugh when Storm punched a wall through during his. I bet that never gets filled, TNA probably cant afford that shit. At this point I should also point out that TNA had NFL New York Giants player Brandon Jacobs at ringside all night. And boy did he look bored. When the cameras went to him right in his face he did his best to not look awkward. But during matches when they were on the outside, every time the camera went past you could see he was just sitting there not even smiling or cheering. Im sure he got paid to be there, the least they could have done was tell him to ACT LIKE HE ENJOYED THE PRODUCT. But instead he just looked like he was being forced to be there until it was his cue to get involved. His cue came during the Number One Contender match between Storm and Bully. Bully Ray incidentally is everything a heel should be. He was believable in attacking Storms leg in this match and had no problem shouting SHUT UP BITCH at some fan at ringside. Hes a throwback to heels that just did everything they could to get heat, and hes always been great at it. Im still not massive on his ring skills and main event status but hes definitely always entertaining. Anyway, Storm pulled out the win from nowhere with his Last Call super kick and celebrated with Brandon Jacobs at ringside. This prompted Bully Ray to come over and spit a beer in Brandons face. Jacobs shoved him over and had to be held back by the ENTIRE TNA training staff. I think DLo just loves being on TV at this stage. After this, Roode made his presence known again only for Sting to interrupt AGAIN and make a match between Roode and Storm for Lockdown. Roode responded by booting Sting low and mocking his sunglasses. Sting since then has been playing it up on Twitter by writing Im done. TNA has clearly told its stars to post about this as almost everyone on the roster wrote some kind of response to the Stinger. Obviously Roode and Sting are heading for a collision very soon. Elsewhere on the show, the X Division had a decent tag match. Before the bell, TNA had an update on Jesse Sorensen who is regaining the feeling in his lower body. Was a nice touch of them to put together a video for him, but its TNA and I cant help but wonder how long it will be until they turn it into an angle. The new contender Zema Ion teamed with champion Austin Aries to face Alex Shelley and his partner Shannon Moore whos been shoe horned in to take Jesses place it seems. Austin Aries is another guy doing a great job as a heel, and his team picked up the win when Zema tagged himself in to prove to Aries how good he is. Aries showed him who was champ by sticking the belt in his stupid face. I actually get a kick out of Zema's hairspray antics. Only a true heel would have such little regard for the environment! He's also a rising star, and working closely with Austin Aries can only be good for him in the long run. The only other match of the show was a Knockouts Battle Royal for the Number one Contendership. Before the match Madison Rayne made up with Gail Kim and couldnt have made it more obvious that she was going to win. It was a terrible Battle Royal, and felt like it lasted forever. Madison was sitting at ringside pretending she wasnt entered, but ran in and eliminated Velvet Sky to shock us all. In other happenings on the show, Eric Young continued his comedy cavalcade by singing ODB a Valentines song. The camera made show not to sure his hands, just in case we caught the fact that he wasnt playing. After that shenanigans ODB obviously wanted to bang him, so off they went. Ric Flair, Gunner, Bischoff and CHELSEA came to the ring. And are we really still calling them Immortal? Theres no one left. Bischoff threw out some half assed excuse for Chelsea being there, and then she provided everyone with champagne and cigars which everyone took but no one smoked. There was seemingly no reason for this segment apart from them gloating about beating Garrett. But it wouldnt be an episode of Impact without Eric Bischoff getting himself a segment would it? Roode/Hardy, Bully/Storm and the X Division tag were good matches and as usual proved that in ring is TNAs greatest strength. At this point we STILL havent seen Abyss since he WON two pay per views ago now and Mr Anderson and Rob Van Dam are still conspicuous by their absence. AJ, Daniels and Kaz also didnt appear to further their storyline. TNA have always had trouble fitting everyone onto one show, yet still insist on having in show storylines that take up numerous segments. Roode and Sting could have been done in one segment, rather than taking up both the beginning AND end of the show. And I would gladly swap anything involving Garrett Bischoff and Eric Young for more RVD, Styles etc. A real mixed bag show, but pretty much what we've come to expect from Impact weekly.