TNA Impact Wrestling Report
April 26, 2012
Taped in Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] Impact began with a video recapping the idea of Open Fight Night. After the video, Hogan spoke to all the champions backstage. Hogan reminded all the champions that they could be subject to a title defense tonight. He called Joe and Magnus the greatest tag team of all-time, and then told them that they would be defending their titles as part of Open Fight Night.

A new, Open Fight Night-themed, entrance video played.

Devon came out and reiterated that the Television Title would be defended on a weekly basis. He said he was a fighting champion, and that tonight he would be defending his title against his brother, “Bubba.” Ray came out and called Devon stupid, and said being in a ring with him for 15 years made him sick. He turned down the challenge and walked away as Devon made a beeline for him and proceeded to beat on him.

1-- TNA Television champion DEVON vs. BULLY RAY -- Television Title match

Ray and Devon started the match battling at ringside where Devon slammed a drink into Ray’s head. Back in the ring Ray tried to plea with Devon, but he wasn’t having it and continued to beat on Ray. Devon went to the top, but Ray hit the ropes sending Devon, groin first, onto the turnbuckle as the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2] As the show came back from the break, Ray was in control of the match, stomping on a floored Devon. He hit a big splash for a close two count. They exchanged punches accompanied with the audience chanting “yes” for Devon, and “boo” for Ray. Ray nailed Devon with a big boot and a clothesline, and a Bullybomb for a pair of believable nearfalls. Devon hit a spinebuster out of nowhere for the win.

WINNER: Devon via pinfall at 10:22

Turner Reax: Ray wasn’t bluffing earlier when he said he didn’t want to be in the ring with Devon because he would make him a star, well, kind of. Good effort for what was probably the most meaningful title defense for Television Title in the history of its existence. In no way do I want to see Ray and Devon feuding for an extended period of time, so I was okay with TNA just throwing the match out there.

Backstage, Aries made fun of Ray for losing, and teased getting his hands on him later in the night. Afterwards, Flair was asked if he was going to throw a party for Eric Bischoff. He said he was, and that he had been partying everyday for 63 years. He called Bischoff the greatest promoter in the history of pro wrestling.

An ad aired for Bischoff’s party, Gut Check, and Joe and Magnus’s impending Tag Team Title defense later in the night.

[Commercial Break]

Kazarian and Daniels approached Kurt Angle backstage and talked about his match with A.J. Styles last week. They gloated for a bit until Angle got in their face and told them to never get involved in any of his matches again.

Jeremy Borash came out to the ring, and thanked Hogan for the opportunity to air a grievance and call someone out. He singled out Eric Bischoff and called him out for getting liquored up and calling out employees on his Facebook page. He said if it was Bischoff’s last night that he wanted him to put down his Blackberry to come out and fight him as part of Open Fight Night.

[Q3] Bischoff came out as Borash called him out for drunk tweeting and asked him if there was a breathalyzer App on his iPhone. As Bischoff began to retort, Ray came out of nowhere and low-blowed Borash.

2 -- ERIC BISCHOFF vs JEREMY BORASH

Bischoff called for referee and pinned Borash for a three count as Ray filmed the whole thing on Bischoff’s iPhone.

WINNER: Eric Bischoff via pinfall at 0:03.

An ad aired for Gut Check.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Anderson talked about Bischoff. He said he was a douche bag and that he needed to go “bye-bye.”

In the ring Anarquia, accompanied by the rest of Mexican America, complained about not being considered for the Tag Title match later in the night. He said that no team or one man could beat them. This prompted Angle to make his way to the ring. Anarquia nominated Hernandez to wrestle Angle, but then blindsided him and took the match himself.

3 -- KURT ANGLE vs. ANARQUIA

Anarquia got a little bit of offense in, but Angle made quick work of him with a German suplex followed by the Anklelock for the submission win.

WINNER: Kurt Angle via submission at 0:55

Turner Reax: So, is Angle a babyface now? I would have liked to have seen Angle in real action, but at this stage of the game, Angle deserves an easy night here and there and it would have made no sense to give Anarquia any viable offense against the Olympian.

A video package aired highlighting tonight’s Gut Check participant, Alex Silva. He talked about his life growing up and how his father had died. Al Snow provided a testimonial and said Silva has a lot of heart.

Silva came to the ring with Snow as the show cut to a commercial break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4] Back from the break, Snow reiterated the premise of Gut Check and said he was the lead judge. Robbie E. was revealed to be Silva’s opponent.

4 -- ROBBIE E (w/Robbie T.) vs. ALEX SILVA -- Gut Check match

Robbie E. started by slapping Silva in the face, but Silva served him with a slap of his own. Robbie got the better of Silva until he missed a move off the top rope. Silva came back with a powerslam, but missed a move off the top rope. Robbie E. caught him with a DDT for the win.

WINNER: Robbie E via pinfall at 2:16

Turner Reax: I like that they didn’t have Silva win on the first Gut Check challenge. I don’t know if it was by design, but if they are going to be doing this on a regular basis, it was smart to not have a “rookie” beat someone on the actual roster.

Hogan was shown contemplating which tag team would be facing Joe and Magnus later in the night.

[Commercial Break]

Dixie Carter facetiously talked about what things she was going to miss about Bischoff. She mentioned him driving a wedge between her and Hogan, lying to her, and stealing her company (which Hogan was part of in the storyline).

Backstage, Hogan addressed the potential opponents for Magnus and Joe, and opened a forum for the wrestlers to make a case for why they should get the match.

[Q5] Each potential team made their case, but Hogan still could not make a decision. He eliminated the Motor City Machineguns from the running, citing Chris Sabin’s knee, and said he would inform all potential participants later in the night as to who would be facing Joe and Magnus.

Brooke Tessmacher came out and said that her win last week was not a fluke. She said even though it wouldn’t be a title match that she still, as part of Open Fight Night, wanted a match with Gail Kim.

5 -- TNA KNOCKOUTS champion GAIL KIM vs. BROOKE TESSMACHER-- non-title match

Kim blindsided Tessmachaer as the bell rang and got a two count. Tessmacher dodged a forearm in the corner, but before she could mount any offense she was taken down by a clothesline from Kim. Kim picked her up on her shoulders and dropped her with a front slam, but Brooke came back with a pair of clotheslines and a dropkick. Tessmacher’s offense was put to stop by Kim as she called Tessmacher a joke. Kim missed a dropkick off the top rope, allowing Tessmacher to capitalize with a facebuster for the win.

WINNER: Brooke Tessmacher via pinfall at 3:54.

Turner Reax: Well, it looks like Kim is going to carry another talent-deficient Knockout to a title match on a TNA pay-per-view. I’m hoping Tessmacher’s win is foreshadowings Kim’s victory for their PPV match.

An ad aired for Bischoff’s party and the Tag Title match.

[Commercial Break]

[Q6] Backstage, Daniels and Kazarian seemed confident that they were going to be selected for tonight’s Tag Title match. They said if Styles wasn’t at Impact next week that they would reveal the secret they have hanging over his head.

A video package aired highlighting the match between RVD and Bobby Roode at Sacrifice.

Al Snow talked to Silva backstage, and said that he would get to him next week about his contract with Impact Wrestling. Roode came into the picture and talked down to Silva. He told him that he always had to be on his toes before punching him in the gut on his way out.

Once again, Hogan was backstage addressing the potential opponents for tonight’s Tag Title match. This time, he eliminated ODB and Eric Young from the running. He told Daniels and Kazarian, and Hardy and Anderson to meet him in the ring for his decision.

[Commercial Break]

Garett Bischoff shared his feelings about his dad leaving. He said his father had brought everything upon himself.

Joseph Parks approached Ray backstage and asked a very confrontational Ray about his brother, Abyss’s, whereabouts. Ray told him to shove it and left, as Parks laughed.

Joe and Magnus came to the ring, and were followed by the teams of Daniels and Kazarian, and Hardy and Mr. Anderson.

[Q7] Hogan came out and said that Open Fight Night had been a success, and that emotions were wild in the back. Much to the dismay of Daniels and Kazarian, he picked the team of Anderson and Hardy to face Joe and Magnus.

6 -- TNA World Tag Team champions SAMOA JOE & MAGNUS vs. JEFF HARDY & MR. ANDERSON -- Tag Title match

Joe and Anderson started the match off for their teams before Joe tagged Magnus, which prompted Anderson to tag Hardy in with a bit of force behind the tag. Anderson and Hardy tried to double team Magnus, but he caught on and put a stop it and tagged Joe in. Anderson put the brakes on Joe as he and Hardy seemed to be at ends before the show cut to commercials.

[Commercial Break]

The show came back to Anderson and Hardy having the offensive edge after Tenay said that Joe and Magnus had been in control of the match over the course of the break. Joe a got a nearfall after a series of double-team movies followed by a senton splash by Joe. Hardy caught Joe with a Whisper in the Wind followed by both Joe and Hardy getting the hot tag for their teams.

Anderson and Magnus were thrown to the outside, which allowed Joe and Hardy to continue to duke it out in the ring. Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on Joe, and then focused on Magnus on the outside as he beat on Anderson. Anderson tried to take advantage of a downed Joe, but ended up in a rear naked chokehold for the submission win for Joe and Magnus.

WINNERS: Samoa Joe and Magnus via submission at 10:56.

Turner Reax: Good match, and it was nice to see Joe and Magnus keep their momentum going with a big win over Hardy and Anderson.

As the champs made their way up the ramp, they were attacked by Kazarian and Daniels.

An ad aired for Eric Bischoff’s party.

[Commercial Break]

[Q8] Ric Flair came out to a ring decked out with a picture of Bischoff, a podium, a throne, and the assembly of Daniels, Kazarian, Gunner, and Ray. Flair said that everyone tonight was gathered to celebrate Eric Bischoff. Flair said the Impact audience were the rudest and most of out-of-line people he had ever met before he introduced Bischoff. He came out and took a seat in the throne as Flair gave Bischoff lip service and ran down a list of things he had accomplished in TNA. He thanked Bischoff and then gave the mic to Gunner, who thanked Bischoff for being a father figure to him. Flair presented him a Rolex watch as Ray told Bischoff that he was the wind beneath his wings.

Garett cut the party short and came with the Motor City Machineguns, RVD, Aries, and Borash. Borash said that if it was his last night as a part of Impact Wrestling, that they wanted to induct him into the “shed of shame,” a portable toilet. All the wrestlers fought at ringside while Garett and Borash locked Eric in the port-a-potty. They knocked it over as Eric came out covered in brown guck, presumably fecal matter, to close the show.

Turner Reax: While the first edition of Open Fight Night only produced one noteworthy match, it still remains and intriguing concept for the following editions to come. Some might complain about the lack of splash TNA made for the first Open Fight Night, but booking-wise I thought they played their cards right. Unfortunately, the only significant storyline progression made tonight was within the confines of the Bischoff saga. I really hope this is the end of it, but only time will tell. Thanks again for reading, and see you next week.

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