TNA Impact Wrestling Results
February 16, 2012
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Tuner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] The start of tonight’s edition of Impact, TNA recapped the events at Against All Odds focusing on the Garrett Bischoff Saga and the main event’s “controversial” finish. They also hyped tonight’s title match, Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy.

Bobby Roode made his way to the ring and facetiously thanked the crowd as they booed. Roode had Christy Hemme announce his name one more time to more boos from the crowd. Roode repeated the introduction, putting an emphasis calling himself the World Heavyweight Champion. Roode claimed that he overcame the odds and beat three other men in the main event of the Against All Odds pay-per-view. Roode said he relished in the fact that Sting had to raise his arm in victory after Roode claimed that Sting had been trying to screw him his whole total reign. The crowd started chanting, “We Want Sting,” as Roode continued to belittle Sting. Sting, without his bat, made his way to the ring wearing denim street clothes. He admitted that Roode got under his skin at Against All Odds, and that he let his anger get to him, which, in turn, screwed Hardy. To make amends for his interference at the pay-per-view, Sting booked a no time limit, no disqualification World Title match between Hardy and Roode and then announced that the match would take place after the break.

[Commercial Break]

Turner Reax: Welcome to my first Russo-less coverage of Impact Wrestling. So far, nothing seems different. Of course, I would be remiss to judge so quickly! I never like when World Title matches kick off a show. It always plays out as a hot-shot technique that usually ends in controversy (a/k/a a lousy finish).

The show came back to a shot of N.Y. Giant Brandon Jacobs sitting front row along with the host of Spike TV’s new show "MMA Uncensored Live," Mike Straka.

[Q2]

1 -- TNA World Hvt. champion BOBBY ROODE vs. JEFF HARDY -- TNA World Hvt. Championship match -- No Time Limit, No DQ match

Hardy went straight for the offensive on Roode for a quick exchange that saw him coming out on top. Roode went for Hardy, who took a back drop to the outside. He followed up with a plancha over the top ropes to the outside onto Roode. Hardy went for a chair and jammed it into Roode’s midsection followed by a shot to the back. The Charismatic Enigma took multiple turns smashing Roode’s head into the guardrail, ring apron, and the ring steps before Roode reversed another attempt at smashing his head into the ring steps. It was to no avail as Hardy quickly countered with a suplex on the outside.

After a suplex put Roode down again, Hardy picked up a chair and launched it at Roode’s back. The announcers asked who wanted Roode to lose the World Heavyweight Title more, Sting or Hardy. The two continued to fight on the outside at the bottom of the ramp with Hardy dominating on the offensive. Roode gained a bit of momentum before Hardy reversed his offense yet again Irish whipping Roode into the steel steps. Hardy hit Poetry in Motion, using the steel steps, on Roode, who was laying against the guardrail.

[Commercial Break]

Hardy continued his offense on Roode with a front suplex for a close two count. Hardy went to the top rope, but came crashing down when Roode pushed referee Brian Hebner into the ropes. Roode threw Hardy to the outside to catch his breath in the ring. The World champion took his time on the offense, and went for a piledriver on the ramp that Hardy reversed with a back drop. The announcers talked about Hardy’s redemption as he landed a leg drop to the back of Roode’s head on the ramp. Hardy threw Roode off the top of the ramp and followed up with a flying clothesline. He went for the Twist of Fate, but was thrown into the bottom of the stage by Roode, who unsuccessfully attempted a spear on Hardy who moved out of the way.

[Q3] The wrestlers made their way back into the ring, but before Hardy could get into the ring, Kurt Angle attacked Hardy, throwing him into the ring steps. Angle fed Hardy to Roode, who scored the pinfall after hitting the spear. Afterward, The announcers questioned Angle’s motives.

WINNER: Roode via pinfall in 16:45 to retain the TNA World Title.

Turner Reax: What did I tell you guys?! Even with the no disqualification stipulation, the end of the match was marred by a cheap finish. That was an okay television match that saw a lot of slamming into the ring steps, the ring apron, and the guardrail. The match never quite kicked into full second gear, but it looked like both guys were trying. It seems like TNA is going with Hardy and Angle in a program.

[Commercial Break]

Roode was shown backstage gloating about his victory over Jeff Hardy. He wondered what Sting had for him next before Sting entered the picture and let Roode know he would be booking a number one contenders match for his title tonight.

Eric Young was shown with a guitar he called “Bernadette” backstage and he acknowledged that he had forgotten to make Valentine’s Day special for ODB. He listed off a number of reasons as to why he forgot the big day, with beating his blind mother at backgammon being a particularly funny excuse. He said he was going to right his wrongs.

The show cut to Sting talking to James Storm and Bully Ray about competing for a chance to become number one contender for Roode’s title. After an exchange of words, both wrestlers agreed.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4] The show came back with a parental advisory leading into a Mike Tenay narrated recap of the injury Jesse Sorensen sustained at Against All Odds in his match against Zema Ion. They detailed how the injury came about and what the consequences of the impact entailed for Sorensen. After detailing Sorensen's condition, Tenay announced he was making strides in his recovery process.

2 -- X Division champion AUSTIN ARIES & ZEMA ION vs. ALEX SHELLEY & SHANNON MOORE

Moore and Aries started off running the ropes, leading to some grappling on the floor that Aries got the best of. Aries tagged Ion in and tried to throw Moore into the ropes, but was met with a springboard cross-body before Moore tagged Shelley in. Ion took advantage of Shelley pulling on his hair. Both wrestlers tagged in their respective teammates. Moore got the best of the opposing team and hit a springboard moonsault to the outside on Aries. Moore tagged in Shelley, who missed a Sliced Bread attempt after being throw into the corner. Aries tagged went for the Brainbuster on Shelley, but didn’t notice that Ion had tagged himself in and scored the roll-up victory on Shelley.

WINNERS: Zema Ion & Austin Aries via pinfall in 3:50.

Afterward, Ion and Aries had a stare down with Aries holding the belt over his head.

Turner Reax: Standard X Division showcase tag team match that was too short to be exceptional on the wrestling side. They did tell a story with Ion stealing a pinfall from Aries for their team’s victory.

Gail Kim and Madison Rayne were talking backstage about how they wanted to leave any animosity they had between them in the past. Kim said she was glad that Rayne understood how their friendship was supposed to work and that she loved her.

[Commercial Break]

[Q5]

3 -- KNOCKOUTS #1 CONTENDER MATCH -- Over-the-top-rope Battle Royal

A few of the women were already in the ring with Tara, Brooke Tessmacher, ODB, Mickie James, and Velvet Sky receiving their own entrances. Gail Kim and Madison Rayne came out together in their street clothes. Rayne took to the mic to let the Knockouts in the ring know they were lucky that Kim was gracious enough to let them fight for a number one contender shot for her title.

Winter and Brooke Tessmacher were eliminated almost immediately. ODB picked Rosita up over her and threw her the outside on top of the already eliminated Knockouts. Soon afterward, ODB and Mickie James were both thrown out of the ring. Angelina Love eliminated Tara with a dropkick as she was on the apron. Sky got a good amount of offense in on Love and Saraita until the number’s game caught up to her.

The crowd started chanting “Velvet” as the other two remaining Knockouts ganged up on her. They all took turns trying to eliminate one another before Love and Sarita once again began teaming up on Velvet Sky. Love hit Sky with a Botox Injection. Love tried getting her over the top rope, but Saraita double snuck up from behind and lifted her over the top rope. Sarita was eliminated when she made a dash for Sky, who ducked leading to her going over the rope. Sky, who thought she had won the match, was eliminated by Rayne, who ran in while Sky was celebrating. Afterward, Kim was shown ringside in disbelief that her “friend” would betray her.

WINNER: Madison Rayne via elimination in 6:36.

Turner Reax: That was a train wreck that resembled a WWE Divas showcase. Couple that with some faulty logic regarding Rayne’s participation in the match and you have a pretty forgettable segment, match, and winner.

Garett Bischoff and Gunner were shown walking backstage.

[Commercial Break]

[Q6] New TNA tag champions Samoa Joe and Magnus talked about their victory at Against All Odds and how good it felt to be champions. They talked about a re-match next week against Crimson and Matt Morgan and how they do not fear the opposing team.

A video package recapped the Bischoff saga, particularly the events that transpired at Against All Odds. Eric Bischoff came to the ring with Gunner, Ric Flair, and Chelsea. The announcers made a little fuss about Chelsea and how she had not been seen on television for a while. Bischoff thanked everyone in the ring with him for their victory over his son, Garett Bischoff. Bischoff said the occasion called for a celebration and called for a bottle of champagne and cigars. Bischoff told his son to put an end to his dream and to never think about stepping foot into his business again. He said, “good luck in your future endeavors.”

Bully Ray made his case for being number one contender backstage. He referenced his calves and said people call him “calveszilla.” Funny. An ad aired for his match tonight against Storm for the number one contender’s spot.

Turner Reax: At least they kept this week’s spotlight on the Bischoff saga short. I just cannot get into this program. I don’t care about Garrett, Eric, Gunner, Flair, or Hogan. If the payoff is eventually Garett beats Gunner, what will that accomplish? Gunner has some wins, but it’s not like he’s been established as a star in viewer’s eyes, let alone a forced to be reckoned with. On Ray’s calves, holy moly, those things look unreal.

[Commercial Break]

Christy Hemme interviewed Mike Straka backstage, and they talked about Spike’s new MMA show, "MMA Uncensored Live."

Young was shown backstage confronting ODB about his Valetine’s Day shortcoming. He sang ODB a song detailing his love for her. ODB accepted Young’s apology by slapping his you know what...

[Q7]

4 -- BULLY RAY vs. JAMES STORM -- #1 contender match to the TNA World Title

Storm was on the offensive first, which led to Ray gunning for the corner to break any hold Storm put him in. The two battled in different corners of the ring. Ray went to work on the legs of Storm and then removed his left boot. The disrobing of Storm’s left leg continued as Ray removed everything down to Storm’s sock. Ray put Storm into a single leg crab, wrenching back on the exposed leg. Storm kicked out of a pin attempt after Ray barely got a two count. The show went to commercial break as Ray continued the attack Storm’s leg.

[Commercial Break]

The show came back to Ray still working on Storm’s exposed leg. Any offense Storm began to mount was put to halt by Ray. Referee Earl Hebner received a snot rocket to the face from Ray, which was gross.

[Q8] Ray began to mock Storm, but it blew up in his face, as Storm hit a codebreak and then a superkick for the win.

WINNER: Storm via pinfall in 12:00 to become number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Title.

Storm celebrated in the ring with some beers and called in N.Y. Giant Brandon Jacobs over the guardrail to drink beer. Ray came up behind Storm and laid him out. He then got into Jacobs’s face and antagonized him by spitting beer into his face. Jacobs pushed Ray onto the floor and before he could get to him Storm got up and held him back. A bunch of agents came from backstage to assist Storm in holding Jacobs back. In the ring Storm held up Jacobs’s arm as the show cut to commercial, but not before Mike Tenay announced that Storm would get a chance to speak, and that Sting would announce the date for Storm’s title match.

[Commercial Break]

Back from commercial break, Taz and Tenay recapped the match between Storm and Ray and Jacobs’s involvement afterwards. Backstage, Storm and Jacobs talked about what happened after the match and Jacobs said the “last word hasn’t been understood yet.” Jacobs said next week payback was coming and that Ray should watch out.

In the ring, Sting said he needed to speak to Bobby Roode. Sting relished in Roode’s discontent over having to defend his title. He announced that Storm vs Roode would occur at Lockdown, which prompted Roode to kick Sting in between the legs. Roode continued to beat on Sting and then put on Sting’s sunglasses on and hit him with a shot to the head. Sting began to bleed as Roode continued his beat down on “The Insane Icon.” Roode told Sting that he should learn to mind his own business as the show came to a close.

Turner Reax: Good segment that put some (presumably partially canned) heat on Roode. I’m glad to hear that they are holding off on Storm and Roode’s next showdown until one of TNA’s bigger pay-per-views. Regardless of it being a gimmick pay-per-view, Lockdown generally feels like a special event.

Overall, Impact continued its streak of solid, yet unspectacular, shows. That being said, there was a good amount of wrestling on the show, a lot of the storylines were furthered or given a direction, and the celebrity involvement didn’t feel completely unnecessary like the Jersey Shore cameos they have had. Thanks again for reading and see you all next week!

We suggest these recent related articles...

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/30: Final hype for Bound for Glory, Ciampa also wrestles on Impact, Dollhouse vs. BP, more; Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/23: ECIII defends TNA Title, #1 contender match, Hardy "quits" servanthood, two more title matches, more; Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 9/16: Team TNA vs. Team GFW for control of TNA, new Knockouts champion, more; Overall Reax