TNA Impact Wrestling Report
April 19, 2012
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] A montage of videos and pictures from Bobby Roode and James Storm’s main event match at Lockdown opened up this week's Impact. Storm said his loss was a tough pill to swallow and that he needed to go home to be with his family.

Roode, sporting a new, shorter haircut, came out walking gingerly to the ring. He said it felt good to be right, and to fulfill his promise of walking out of Lockdown after defeating James Storm in his home state of Tennessee, in front of his friends and family. Roode said he defeated everyone’s heroes, then ran through a list of every wrestler he has beat, and said there were no more heroes left for him to beat.

Mr. Anderson cut Roode off and joined him in the ring. He made a case for beating Roode, but Roode told him to get in the back of the line of all the contenders gunning for him. Jeff Hardy came out and said the only reason was still champion was because of Kurt Angle, but Anderson cut him off and told him he was here first. They started getting in each other’s face as Roode egged them on to fight each other.

Hulk Hogan appeared on the big screen and told Roode that he wanted him and all the other champions in the ring later tonight. He also announced that tonight’s main event would be Hardy against Anderson to become the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight title.

Turner Reax: It’s been a while since I’ve seen a segment like that. Given that the Storm and Roode saga is on what seems like to be a temporary hold, it makes sense to have some of TNA’s top babyfaces gunning for a chance at Roode and the Heavyweight title. I know he’s tied up in a feud with Crimson, but I’d like to see Matt Morgan in the mix, especially after hearing his interview with Wade Keller on the PWTorch Livecast last Friday.

An ad aired for Hogan’s announcement, A.J. Styles against Kurt Angle, and Austin Aries and Matt Morgan against Crimson and Bully Ray in a tag match.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

1-- X Division champion AUSTIN ARIES & MATT MORGAN vs. CRIMSON & BULLY RAY

Morgan and Aries quickly made their way into the ring. Aries went for Ray, leaving Morgan to get the better of Crimson in the ring until Ray came back to provide support for Crimson. Crimson hit a nasty-looking exploder suplex and then tagged Ray in. Ray focused on attacking Morgan’s right left, slamming it on the mat a few times.They exchanged tags a few times, and took turns working Morgan’s leg.

Morgan eventually hit a discus clothesline that bought him enough time to make the hot tag to Aries. Aries was able to overcome the number’s game and used a downed Crimson to leap onto Ray for a series of punches in the corner. Morgan clotheslined Crimson over the ropes, and was then met with a suicide dive from Aries. Back in the ring Aries teased a brainbuster on Ray, but countered with a roll up, using Aries’s tights for the win.

WINNERS: Bully Ray and Crimson via pinfall at 6:03.

Turner Reax: Good effort from all the wrestlers in the match. Aries is just plain awesome, and is TNA’s most apparent budding star. I don’t know if it’s TNA’s canned audience audio, but even at Lockdown it was Aries eliciting the most response from the crowd if it wasn’t either Storm or Roode.

Garett Bischoff was shown walking backstage.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3] Backstage, Hardy said he felt it was fair for Hogan to make the match between Anderson and himself as he felt it was both their turn for a shot at the title.

Garett came out to the ring with his Lethal Lockdown team, minus Aries. He said Lockdown was one of the biggest nights of his life. He thanked his team members, and said he couldn’t have done it without him. A.J. Styles took the mic and told Bischoff he had balls for taking a beating, and then getting back up to smash a guitar over his dad’s head.

Ric Flair came out and told the audience to shut up. He said that everyone in the ring was only there because of Eric Bischoff ("Bischoff" was bleeped out). Flair called Garett a disrespectful disgrace, and said all the wrestlers in the ring with him were punks. He said that next he would be having a part for Eric.

Turner Reax: Flair is right, the wrestlers do look like chumps for being in the ring with Garett, and donning the facade that they approve of him. So, the Bischoff saga continues, eh? Can’t say I’m excited, but I’ll reserve any further judgement until after Flair’s party for Eric B*******. Hey, they were bleeping it out on TV.

Backstage, Kazarian and Daniels addressed the secret that Daniels has been holding over Kazarian’s head. Daniels said that the secret never had to do with Kazarian, but rather Styles. He teased revealing it later tonight.

An ad aired for Styles vs Angle, which was up next.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Devon asked Magnus and Joe why Hogan wanted all the champions in the ring. None of them knew.

2 -- KURT ANGLE vs. A.J. STYLES

The match started with Styles trying to get Angle in a wristlock, but Angle was able to break out and throw Styles into the corner. Angle went for a German suplex, but Styles landed on his feet and threw Angle to the outside.

[Q4] Styles teased attacking Angle on the outside, but was interrupted by Daniels and Kazarian. Styles noticed Angle got in the ring and charged at him and was met an overhead belly-to-belly suplex to the outside. Angle went outside to confront Daniels and Kazarian, but Daniels told Angle that they were on his side. Once back in the ring, Angle was met with a Pele kick, which left both wrestlers on the mat as the show went to commercial.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Styles hit Angle with a flying forearm, and tried to follow up with the Styles Clash, but Angle tried to counter with an Angle slam that Styles countered with an arm drag. Daniels took Styles’s attention off the match with a paper that supposedly contained Styles’s secret. Angle rolled up with Styles for the pin.

WINNER: Kurt Angle via pinfall at 6:30

Turner Reax: It’s always a gem when these two get in the ring with each other. They made the most what they could with the little amount of time they were given. The belly-to-belly suplex over the top rope was wild. Also, I’m over the Daniels, Kazarian, and Styles story. For the most part it has led to weird storytelling and matches that are just okay given the caliber of the talent involved.

Backstage, Joseph Park asked Gunner if he knew where Abyss was. Gunner said he didn’t know, and to leave him alone. Park took exception to Gunner’s attitude, and asked him, one more time, where Abyss was. Gunner told him to go ask Ray, and to take his hands off of him.

All the champions started making their way to the ring for Hogan’s announcement starting with the tag champs Samoa Joe and Magnus, Knockouts champion Gail Kim, and TV champion Devon.

[Commercial Break]

Roode came out to join the other champions as a shot from backstage was shown with Hogan telling Rob Van Dam that he was going to part of tonight’s #1 contender match.

[Q5] Hogan made his way to the ring to the tune of a huge pop. Hogan said starting next week there would be change that would carry on once a month. He announced “Open Fight Night” where an outside talent would compete for an Impact Wrestling contract, that would be determined by a panel of judges. He also announced that on Open Fight Night any wrestler that makes a challenge to any wrestler will have his request honored. Roode took exception to the announcement, and Hogan told him that the champions are subject to having to defend their titles as well.

Devon told Hogan he agreed with his announcement and that he would be a fighting champion. Hogan told him that, from now on, the Television Title would be defended on a weekly basis. All the wrestlers, aside from Roode and Kim, seemed pleased with Hogan’s announcement.

Turner Reax: I like the idea of Open Fight Night, but TNA doesn’t need much more new talent. They have a deep and talented roster, but the problem is the way they’re booked. I just took a look at who is on the roster on TNA’s website and they already have so many wrestlers. It’s worth noting that TNA has a website up for wrestlers looking to be part of Open Fight Night to send applications in to.

An ad aired for Storm addressing his Lockdown defeat later tonight.

Christy Hemme announced that there would be Knockouts tag match and introduced the eight participants before they cut to break.

[Q6]

3 -- Knockouts champion GAIL KIM & MADISON RAYNE & SARITA & ROSITA vs. TARA & BROOKE TESSMACHER & VELVET SKY & MICKIE JAMES -- eight-Knockouts tag match

Sky started the match getting the better of Sarita and Rosita, but eventually was shut down by Kim. Kim posed for the audience long enough for Sky to take advantage of her being distracted. Rayne and James tagged in, but James was attacked by Sarita which allowed Rayne to get a two count. Rosita hit a few stiff kicks, followed by hurricanrana for a two count on James. Tara and Sarita fought in the ring, and Tara hit a standing moonsault after shaking her butt for three second too long. Tessmacher came in cleaned house which led to all the Knockouts to come out of their corner to fight around ringside. Sky distracted Kim, which led to Tessmacher rolling her up for the win.

WINNERS: Brooke Tessmacher, Tara, Mickie James, and Velvet Sky via pinfall at 5:36.

Backstage, Anderson talked about his match against Hardy and Van Dam to become #1 contender. He said he didn’t want Roode to think that he had forgotten about the bottle he had smashed over his head.

[Commercial Break]

Eric Young and ODB were shown lounging by the pool, talking about their honeymoon. ODB said she was over her jealousy, but Young got worked up once the pool attendant came and asked him them if they needed anything. Younger dropped his shorts, said he did his his best fighting in his underwear, and then told the pool attendant to leave.

[Q7]

4 -- TNA Television champion DEVON vs. GUNNER -- Television Title match

Before Devon could gain his bearings, Gunner attacked him which led to the wrestlers exchanging blows. Gunner went for couple quick pin attempts that Devon kicked out of at two. He was able to maintain the offensive edge until Devon nailed him with a spear out of an Irish whip attempt. Devon shifted the momentum in his favor and hit the spinebuster for the pin.

WINNER: DEVON via pinfall at 4:06.

Turner Reax: The match was fine for what it was, and I like the idea of the Television Title being more than a mere prop for some nameless, faceless wrestler to wear, but Devon isn’t the guy to place the burden of having a title defense once a week on. Someone like A.J. Styles would be better suited to have noteworthy matches on a weekly basis to build up the prestige that that Television Title sorely needs.

James Storm made his way to the ring as the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break]

An ad aired for the three-way main event between Anderson, Hardy, and RVD to become #1 contender.

In the ring, Storm said he was sorry to all the friends and family he let down by losing to Roode at Lockdown. He said he wasn’t just trying to beat Roode, but that he was trying to hurt him. Roode said it felt satisfying, but once he got to the back he started questioning whether he could win or not. He said Roode may have won the match, but that he hadn’t beaten him, rather that he had beaten himself. Storm thanked everyone for sticking with him, including his deceased father who he said was still proud of him. He alluded to Roode saying that his luck had run out, and got choked up to the point where he had to set the microphone down and leave the ring to the back.

[Commercial Break]

[Q8] An ad aired for next week’s show hyping Open Fight Night, Gut Check, and Flair’s party for he-who-shall-not-be-named without a bleep.

5 -- JEFF HARDY vs. ROB VAN DAM vs. MR. ANDERSON -- #1 contender match to the TNA World Heavyweight Title

As the match started, it seemed as if RVD was going to let Hardy and Anderson duke it out, but after ducking Hardy’s clothesline attempt Anderson went straight for RVD. Hardy got a two count on RVD followed up with a front suplex for a pin attempt that was broken up by Anderson. RVD tried to mount some offense, but Anderson got the better of him with a DDT.

Hardy hit Anderson with the Whisper in the Wind, which led to all three wrestlers cycling through all their signature moves on one another. Hardy hit Anderson with the Swanton Bomb, but was taken out by RVD. He hit the Five-Star Frog Splash on Anderson and caught Hardy in a backslide pin for the win.

WINNER: Rob Van Dam at 5:35

Turner Reax: This match continued the trend of pay-per-view quality on paper, but television quality in practice. Furthermore, it even ended in the fashion of another prominent trend throughout the night, the quick out-of-nowhere pin. I can’t say I’m very excited to see RVD in a PPV main event, but TNA has a few weeks to make it work. That being said, I don’t have much faith in them being able to do that, let alone deliver a match at the PPV that is worth a damn. TNA has burned me one too many times when I was excited for some of your pay-per-view matches, but Roode vs. RVD is already an uphill battle in gaining and maintaining my interest. Thanks again for reading and see you next week.

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