TNA Impact TV taping report
June 19 & 20, 2014
Bethlehem, Pa.
Report by Randy Boone, PWTorch reader

TNA taped Impact and Xplosion on Thursday and Friday for episodes running through July 10. Next week's NYC TV tapings must pick up there running through the summer...

- Both shows went over four hours with no intermissions. The small crowds were crazy hot. I would say Thursday had 500-600 fans for the tape-delayed Impact and Friday was more like 400-450. As far as fan heat goes, nobody came close to Dixie Carter. She was drowned out by boos the entire time she talked every time she talked to the point that the live crowd couldn't hear a word she said.

- It wasn't clear which segments would be on which week's Impact, although the July 3 show has a Fourth of July theme, and the July 10 show is a "Night of Champions" type show where every match had "title ramifications."

Impact Spoilers

- Bram & Magnus beat Willow & Abyss in a Monster's Ball match. Willow went through a barbed wire board, Magnus takes the thumbtacks via Abyss, and although Abyss introduced Janice, Bram smacked him with it for the pinfall victory. Bram juiced.

- Eric Young lost his TNA Title re-match to Bobby Lashley. Young was pretty well over with the live crowd. Lashley really didn't have a lot of heat, as MVP and Kenny King did all of his talking.

- Gail Kim won the Knockouts Title from Angelina Love via her Eat Defeat finisher.

- After MVP was "fired" as Director of Wrestling Operations, Kurt Angle was "hired" to an authority figure position. Angle called out Willow and told him that he and the fans need Jeff Hardy. This set up Hardy's return in a 20-man battle royal. This also answered the question of how the Hardys will be the Hardys next week in NYC. Angle also reinstated referee Earl Hebner.

- Ethan Carter III beat Bully Ray in a Tables match after Rhino returned mid-match and gored Bully. Later in the show, Bully called out Rhino for an explanation, and Rhino turned hypocrisy back on Bully for "holding guys down" and not being there for Rhino when he got canned from WWE and TNA. Ultimately, Tommy Dreamer came out for the save. It looks to be setting up Bully & Dreamer vs. Rhino & EC3 & Spud & Dixie with Dixie and ECW and House of Hardcore all weaved into this. God only knows where it might go.

- Gunner returned and brought out Samuel Shaw, who apologized to Christy Hemme.

- The Wolves retained the Tag Titles in a three-way tag match. Good match.

- Austin Aries beats Sanada for the X Division Title in a really good TV match. They shook hands afterward.

- Bobby Roode confronted MVP, who came out in a wheelchair. Of course, Roode got punked out by Lashley and King. EY came out to help. Kenny King was a heat magnet both nights, while MVP is hilarious to watch and listen to.

- Gail Kim retained the KO Title in a four-way with Brittany, Angelina, and Madison Rayne. She pinned Angelina after Eat Defeat.

- Jeff Hardy won a 20-man battle royal. In the end, it was EY and Hardy. A good finishing sequence led to Hardy winning and a handshake. Hardy will get a TNA Title shot at Lashley "next week" (July 17, presumably). MVP and company came down, but Hardy got the best of Lashley.

- During the taping, Gunner beat Jessie Godderz, which may have been for Xplosion or an Impact match.

- James Storm beats Tigre Uno in an Xplosion match.

- Crazy Steve beat D.J. Zema Ion in an Xplosion match. People liked The Menagerie, especially Crazy Steve.

- I think I missed an Xplosion match, but that's the major stuff. I've followed TNA on and off and always heard good things about their live shows. I figured I'd go see them before their TV contract runs out, and I'm really glad I did. I had a great time both nights, and the crowds were super hot. Everybody put in a great effort, and I'd see TNA again in a heartbeat.

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