TNA Impact Wrestling TV report
January 19, 2012
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Report by Jay McQuade, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] The program opened with a recap of last week’s main event World Title match between Jeff Hardy and Bobby Roode, in which Hardy was screwed by Bully Ray.

To officially kick off the show, James Storm came out to the Impact Zone to cut a promo. He made note that he was indeed the No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship after defeating Kurt Angle last week. As he brought up Bobby Roode, Jeff Hardy made his way out to the ring. Hardy told Storm that he won’t get a shot at the title until he gets a fair decision in another match against the champion

On that note, Roode came to the ring and said that Storm’s No. 1 contendership is null and void because of the No Contest decision in his match last week, in which Storm was scheduled to face the winner. After Roode’s claim, Sting joined the conversation in the ring, where he made an announcement that Hardy would face Storm tonight in a new No. 1 contendership match. [CB]

[Q2]

An interview aired with Angelina Love discussing her issues with Eric Young. In the segment, Love challenged EY to a match tonight (that’s right).

1 – A.J. STYLES vs. GUNNER (w/Ric Flair)

The two locked horns into the corner, then Gunner shoved Styles into the corner. Styles escaped, then did his leapfrog-dropkick routine. Gunner left the ring in frustration, then came back to the ring, where he ax-handled Styles, then hit a vertical suplex. After a series of rest holds, Gunner tossed Styles into the ropes then hit a flying knee. Styles then gained momentum with a clothesline, and then he hit his signature springboard forearm. Kazarian and Christopher Daniels showed up at ringside, and Flair distracted the ref. During this time, Kaz hit a hard right on Styles, allowing Gunner to capitalize with a spike DDT to get the pinfall.

WINNER: Gunner in 5:00

After the match, Gunner set up for a piledriver on the exposed concrete, but Styles escaped.

Backstage, Magnus was with Samoa Joe discussing his upcoming match with Crimson, who showed up to the scene with Matt Morgan. The two left quickly and the match was announced.

Bully Ray was seen backstage speaking with Sting, where he demanded a title shot from him. Sting, by no surprise, denied his request. [CB]

[Q3]

2 - TNA tag champion CRIMSON vs. MAGNUS

Magnus attacked Crimson from behind to start the match. After hitting a hard clothesline, Magnus pulled off a vertical suplex. Trying to continue the offense, Crimson countered and hit the Red Sky to get the pinfall after a very short amount of time.

WINNER: Crimson in 1:00.

After the match, Samoa Joe rushed to the ring and beat down Crimson. Matt Morgan came to the ring to the aid of his partner, but was double-teamed by Magnus and Joe.

Eric Young was backstage discussing to himself that he doesn’t fight women. ODB approached EY in support and told him to "feed that skinny bitch a hot dog." [CB]

A recap of Garett Bischoff’s encounter with Eric Bischoff last week aired, where he said he would be shocked when he finds out who his trainer is. A pretty cool video then aired of Garett training and learning how to wrestle, but his trainer wasn’t seen.

[Q4] As mentioned last week, Madison Rayne would be taking on Mickie James tonight in a steel cage match. Rayne was backstage ranting to Gail Kim about her match, and was reluctant to compete tonight.

3 – MICKIE JAMES vs. MADISON RAYNE -- Steel Cage match

The match opened with James quickly attacking Rayne with a hard clothesline. As Rayne got up and went for the escape out of the cage, James got her in powerbomb position and delivered. After a dropkick, James hooked Rayne in a half nelson. Rayne then countered an Irish whip with a hard kick to the face. After James hit the ground, the show cut to a commercial break. [CB]

As the match resumed, James had control and performed a hard faceplant. As Rayne got up and went for the escape, she hit an elbow on James. As she was in control, Rayne then did a Miz-like backbreaker-neckbreaker combination, followed by her signature pushup facebuster. Keeping up the offense, Rayne did a running facebuster, and went for another one until being countered by James with a neckbreaker. The two exchanged punches as they were getting up to their feet, then Rayne hit a leaping forearm. She kept up the taunting, but James recovered and tossed her into the side of the cage, followed by a spike DDT to get the pinfall.

WINNER: James in 7:00

[Q5]

(Part of the previous match bled into Q5)

Austin Aries was backstage telling the cameraman that he would be making his way out to the ring to cut a promo when the show comes back. [CB]

Mickie James was seen backstage celebrating her victory with Velvet Sky and Tara, who were very supportive of James.

Jeff Hardy was backstage, describing his recent endeavors and explaining that he needs the title.

An Austin Aries video package aired, where he displayed his verbal skills. Some of his wrestling highlights were also seen in the video.

[Q6] Speaking of Aries, he made his way out to the Impact Zone with a mic in hand. The fans chanted "You suck" throughout his speech, which included that there is no competition for him in TNA, so he would have to go elsewhere. After that comment, Alex Shelley surprised everyone by returning and he confronted Aries. Shelley said he was going to return only when Chris Sabin was ready and the Motor City Machinegins could come back together. However, he wanted to come back to challenge Aries for his X Division Championship. Aries said that if he can defeat another X Division wrestler, he can have a title shot.

ODB was backstage shouting about how she would like to see EY destroy Angelina Love tonight. On that note, Winter attacked her from behind and beat her pretty brutally. [CB]

[Q7]

4 – ANGELINA LOVE vs. ERIC YOUNG

Young was reluctant to take any kind of action against his opponent, so he grappled with the ref. After the ref made not to him that he is indeed not his opponent, he extended his hand out to Love, who rejected. Young then tried again with the ref, but Love then kicked him hard in the balls for the disqualification.

WINNER: Young in 2:00. (This match was brutal for me to call.)

Winter entered the ring and the two double-teamed EY. ODB then rushed to the ring at the aid of her friend and attacked both Winter and Love.

James Storm was backstage, discussing that he will not let Jeff Hardy stand in his way of the title. [CB]

[Q8]

5 – JEFF HARDY vs. JAMES STORM -- #1 contender match

The match kicked off with Storm performing two headlock takedowns, then Hardy countering into a head scissor into a headlock takedown of his own. Storm countered, then the two traded armdrags. Storm did a shoulderblock, but Hardy hit a clothesline, followed by a split legdrop. At this point, the show cut to a commercial. [CB]

As the match resumed, Storm charges Hardy in the corner, who countered and sent him to the outside. Hardy then hit a crossbody onto the outside, then took the match back into the ring. Storm then reversed an Irish whip, and hit a slingshot vertical suplex. Hardy then gained control and hit a Russian legsweep, followed by a sitout pin attempt. Continuing the offense, Hardy hit his signature Whisper in the Wind, but was short on the pinfall.

Gaining control, Storm hit a spinning crucifix toss, followed by an inverted tornado DDT. Hardy recovered and quickly hit the Twist of Fate. After attempting the Swanton Bomb, Storm countered and hit a leaping kick to the head of Hardy, followed by a superplex. As the two were on the ground, Bully Ray hit the ring and attacked the ref.

WINNER: No Contest in 8:00.

Post-match, Bully Ray attacked both Hardy and Storm repeatedly with a chain for a solid minute. Sting then arrived on the scene with a bat and took it to Ray. Bobby Roode then came to the ring and hit both Hardy and Storm with the championship belt. He then grabbed the mic and declared the match a No Contest, and the show ended on that note.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Just as it seemed like there was going to be a good main-event, they cut to a commercial in the first two minutes. Then, just a few short minutes after returning, the match had a lame finish. I was disappointed by how they handled showing the match on TV, because Hardy and Storm were great working together in the ring. The show as a whole was really nothing to write home about, as there was not a whole lot of wrestling (shocker, right?), and there was some ridiculousness that was just really unnecessary.

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