TNA Impact Wrestling results
June 14, 2012
Live from Orlando, Fla.
Report by Scott Turner, PWTorch contributor

Thursday’s show opened with a narrated video package highlighting James Storm’s return to Impact Wrestling. The video recapped his loss to Bobby Roode at Lockdown, his daughter asking if he was going to return to the ring being the trigger for his return, and his win over the undefeated Crimson at Slammiversary.

As the show came into the Impact Zone, the ring was set up for an Ultimate X match with Zema Ion and Chris Sabin already in the ring. The announcers hyped the return of the Bound for Glory Series, and Roode defending the World Hvt Title against Mr. Anderson later in the night. Austin Aries came out to the ring, and joined the other wrestlers.

1 -- X Division champion AUSTIN ARIES vs. ZEMA ION vs. CHRIS SABIN - three-way Ultimate X match - X Division Title match

The match started with Ion immediately going to the cable above the ring in an attempt to grab the X Division Title. Sabin and Aries teamed up to stop him, and eventually fought amongst themselves. Sabin caught Ion with a Tornado DDT, and tried to get up to cables above the ring. He made it half-way there, but was stopped by Aries, who smashed Sabin’s head into the corners.

Aries took the offensive edge, and got both Sabin and Ion to the outside, where he followed up with a suicide elbow dive through the ropes. He went for the title, but Ion cut him off. It seemed like Sabin suffered an injury as Ion waited for what seemed like an eternity on the top rope. Aries returned the favor by stopping Ion, and tried to go for the title again. Ion tried to stop Aries, but was met with a huracanrana that Aries delivered falling from the cables. He followed up with a running dropkick in the corner, and a brainbuster on Ion allowing him to climb across the cables to unhook the X Division Title for the win.

WINNER: Austin Aries at 7:19

Turner Reax: An exciting match, but it was at the expense of the value of the Ultimate X gimmick. Ultimate X always lends itself to excitement and good spots, but it shouldn’t just be thrown out there, unadvertised, to open the show. It was clear that Sabin looked like he actually hurt himself when he landed on Ion on the outside. I hope his torn MCL is not too serious.

Afterward, Aries got on the mic and called himself the most complete package in professional wrestling. “They gave me an inch, I took yard,” he said. “Whether I’m the first match, or the last match, I’m always the main-event.” He said he didn’t want to earn respect, he wanted to take it. Hulk Hogan’s music hit, and he came out as the show cut to commercials.

When the show came back, Hogan was in the ring with Aries. Hogan said he never got the kind of goosebumps he got from seeing Aries wrestle, and called him the greatest thing he’s seen in the ring. Aries reiterated that he wanted to be in the main event, and Hogan said he could it make at Destination X. He said would only book the match if Aries gave up the X Division Title. Hogan said he believed in him, and said he was only having Aries drop the title in hopes of that it will take Aries to the next level. He told Aries he had a week to give him an answer.

A video package recapped the highlights from Slammiversary aired, along with an ad for an appearance from Sting.

Backstage, Joseph Park was eating with a group of people, talking about his match with Bully Ray at Slammiversary. Everyone fled as Ray came over demanding to know Abyss’s whereabouts. Ray flipped the table that Park was eating on and said he would not rest until he found Abyss.

Hernandez came out to the ring for a Television Title match against Devon. As Devon made his way to the ring, Hernandez caught him with a dive to the outside, and quickly threw Devon into the ring as referee Early Hebner started the match.

2 -- TNA Television champion DEVON vs. HERNANDEZ -- Television Title match

Hernandez immediately went for the pin, but only got a two count. He followed up with a hard clothesline for another two count. Devon tried to get back into the match, but was stopped by an elbow from Hernandez. He threw Devon into the ropes who ended up coming back with a spear. Devon got Hernandez in the corner, but he came back with a kick to the gut that allowed him to get up to the top rope. Hernandez attempted something off the top rope, but lost his footing and kind of just fell onto Devon for a two count. Devon came back with some offense and a spine buster for the win.

WINNER: Devon via pinfall at 3:34.

Turner Reax: Not much to it, but that sloppy bodyslam, or whatever it was off the top rope, looked ridiculous. A friend sitting next to me caught it, and he couldn’t help but laugh, capturing a typical reaction at home. The crowd seemed to like Devon, but he doesn’t do much for me.

A video aired a meeting between Styles and Dixie Carter from earlier in the day. Styles said he couldn’t do this with Dixie anymore, and that it was time to reveal the secret. Dixie said she needed to think about it. They both agreed to talk about it later tonight.

They announced that a Bound for Glory Series gauntlet match was next.

3 -- BFG SERIES GAUNTLET MATCH

Styles and Hardy paced around each other as the announcers drove home the point of the Bound for Glory Series. Hardy got Styles in a headlock, but Styles was able to get out and catch Hardy with a dropkick. Hardy returned with a dropkick of his own. Rob Van Dam came out to join the match and took out both Hardy and Styles with a series of kicks. RVD hit the Rolling Thunder as the show cut to commercial break

[Commercial Break]

The show came back from the break, and Ray and Magnus had joined the match. Not too much long after, Kurt Angle came out as the next entrant in the gauntlet match, and toe-to-toe with Ray in the corner. RVD and Styles exchanged kicks as Angle tried to eliminate Ray unsuccessfully so. The Pope’s music hit and came out to a pretty good reaction. Not too long after this, Hardy was eliminated by Ray after a boot to the face. Abyss came out from the under the ring and eliminated Ray as the show cut to a commercial break.

[Commercial Break]

The show came back, and Robbie E. was now in the match. RVD was then eliminated as Christopher Daniels was revealed to be the next entrant in the match. He was instantly met by a flying forearm from Styles. Styles then missed a kick on Daniels and accidentally hit Angle. Daniels then eliminated both Styles and Angle.

Samoa Joe came out next and cleaned house, eliminating Robbie E. in the process. Joe and Magnus faced off, and then began to exchange blows until Magnus eliminated himself after Joe held onto the ropes. Daniels was attacked by both the Pope and Joe as James Storm joined the match, and instantly eliminated the pope. He then eliminated Daniels with a clothesline over the rope, leaving only him and Joe. Storm won the match with the Last Call to Joe, who was on the ring apron.

WINNER: James Storm via elimination.

Turner Reax: That was more of a battle royale, but it was still a fun match that more or less highlighted TNA’s top stars. It was a nice touch that all storyline happenings were considered throughout the match. It’s only two appearances in, but I’m buying into the story of the rise and return of Storm.

Storm got on the mic and said that if wrestling was in his blood that his home would tell him. He talked about his daughter asking about him returning to the ring setting a fire under him, and thanked the audience for their appreciation. He made a promise that he came back to be the World Hvt champion. Storm said he prays that Roode will be champion by the time the Bound for Glory series is over.

Roode was asked how he felt about Storm’s return, and said he only returned because he was jealous of him. He said he had no problem fighting Storm, but that tonight he had to concern himself with Anderson.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Angle begged Styles to let him know what was going on. He said if Styles didn’t get it all straightened out that that it could cost them the Tag Titles. Style’s promised to get his head in the game.

4 -- TNA Knockouts champion BROOKE TESSMACHER vs. MADISON RAYNE -- non-title match

Tessmacher started the match with side headlock takedown, and a dropkick on Rayne. Rayne got back into match with some offense on Tessmacher in the corner, and followed up dropping her face first into the mat. Tessmacher came back with a series of elblows, and clothesline for a two count. She won the match with a sit out clothesline.

WINNER: Brooke Tessmacher via pinfall at 3:53.

Gail Kim and Brooke Hogan were shown talking backstage about Open Fight Night next week. Hogan wanted Kim to participate in a four-way match at the show for a chance to become number one contender for the Knockouts Title. Kim had a bad attitude about it, and said she deserves the shot since she hasn’t used her re-match clause. Hogan told her she does get a re-match, but at another predetermined time, and told her she wasn’t going to be a part of Open Fight Night, and to enjoy her vacation.

Backstage, Anderson said he hadn’t forgotten about how Roode had smashed a bottle over his head.

[Commercial Break}

5 -- TNA World Heavyweight champion BOBBY ROODE vs. MR. ANDERSON -- World Hvt. Title match

After a quick exchange, Anderson was able to hit Roode with a clothesline, and continued the offense in the corner. Anderson caught Roode with a supplex from the ring apron into the ring for a two count. Roode attempted to hit a cross-body over the top rope to the outside, but missed and landed flat on the floor.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Roode had Anderson in a sleeperhold in the middle of the ring. Anderson tried to regain his bearings, but Roode put a halt to that with a clothesline and a kneedrop for a two count. Anderson was able to land a series of strikes, a neckbreaker, and a kick to the head before getting caught in a cross face applied by Roode. He was able to escape and hit Roode with the Pittsburgh Plunge for a close two count. Roode was able to get Anderson in the cross-face again, this time for the win.

WINNER: Bobby Roode via submission to retain the TNA World Hvt Title.

Turner Reax: Good match made even better by the fact that Roode won CLEAN. I guess after taking a detour with Sting, Roode is back on track winning matches clean against bigger names in the company. Sometimes, Anderson’s ring work leaves a little more to be desired, but he was on tonight.

Backstage, Dixie Carter and Styles said they would reveal their story next week before sharing an embrace.

A video aired highlighting the announcement of Sting being the first inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame. They showed Sting walking backstage en route to the ring.

[Commercial Break]

After a video recapping tonight’s show and how it leads into next week, Jeremy Borash introduced Sting. Before he came out they aired an extended version of the video highlighting Sting’s career from Slammiversary. Sting finally came out and claimed Slammiversary was one of the greatest nights he’s experienced in pro wrestling. He said he one goal: “To take a big, huge, chunk out of Bobby Roode, and I did.” Sting said he felt that some of the talent in TNA deserves the same honor as him, and then began thanking people until a masked group of men came into the ring and jumped him. The show closed out with the three men beating on Sting.

Turner Reax: I am intrigued by who might be behind the mask, but didn’t necessarily care the way the angle played out. It almost feels tacked on, but I’ll reserve judgment for a bit and let the angle play out.

Overall, I thought this was a quality episode of Impact, and I really enjoyed most of what was presented. I look forward to next week’s show as it will answer a lot of questions created by tonight’s episode. Also of note, the Bound for Glory Series was a convoluted mess last year, but hopefully they get on track with it this year. Thanks again for reading and see you next week!

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