TNA Impact Results
August 20, 2014
Taped 6/27 in New York City
Aired on Spike TV
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The first Impact on Wednesday nights sprung late on the audience opened with Mike Tenay and Taz breaking down the "Hardcore Justice" themed Impact card. Just like two weeks ago, they're starting with a weapon-based brawl between Abyss and Bram without build-up.

1 -- ABYSS vs. BRAM -- Stairway to Janice match

The stunt brawl included trashcan shots directly to Abyss's head early on. Bram came up bleeding moments later on the outside, then avoided barbed wire in the ring. Capturing desensitivity to the simulated violence, as Abyss set up thumbtacks in the ring, the announcers shifted the discussion to previewing Dixie Carter's interview later in the show. Bram then shoved Abyss off a ladder through a barbed wire board. Bram scaled the ladder to retrieve Janice, but Abyss blocked and sent Bram into tacks with a Black Hole Slam. Abyss retrieved Janice, but Bram kicked Abyss in the crotch. Bram then smashed Abyss in the gut with the barbed wire board. Bram covered an injured Abyss for the win.

WINNER: Bram at 8:24. The same stunt brawl Abyss has had off/on for 10 years in TNA, now with the story of Abyss losing at his own game.

Backstage: A roving cameraman approached Ethan Carter III, Rockstar Spud, and Rhino to discuss their time in jail last week. ECIII jumped in front of the camera, leaving Spud and Rhino to have an intentionally awkward conversation in the background. ECIII vowed to hold those who are accountable accountable tonight.

[Commercial Break at 8:12]

[Q2] Backstage: Magnus caught up to Bram as he wandered down the hallway recovering from beating Abyss. Magnus was initially excited, but said he's not going to let Bram outshine him tonight. Magnus vowed to become #1 contender to the TNA Title tonight.

In-ring: Ethan Carter III led Spud and Rhino down to the ring for a promo. ECIII complained about his aunt, Dixie Carter, an "innocent woman," put through a table, which produced cheers for the mention of Dixie going through a table following ECIII's set-up. Carter said while sitting in jail last week, he had a moment of clarity. Not only does he blame Bully Ray, but the hired mercenary who did not get the job done, Rhino. "It's all your fault!" ECIII shouted in Rhino's face before running him down.

Rhino shouted back that he's looking at a dead-man if he keeps talking to him like that. Rhino growled about rather being dirt-poor than listening to another word from ECIII. Rhino told him to take his money and shove it. Carter then slapped Rhino across the face, causing Rhino to freak out. Spud tried to calm everyone down, but fists flew as Tenay noted ECIII will never hold himself accountable for Dixie going through a table.

Carter beat down Rhino on the outside, then continued to beat up Rhino back in the ring. Carter shoved peacemaker Spud aside, then knee-lifted Rhino across the ring. Carter stood tall in the ring before his music played and Spud acted stunned by what happened.

In-ring: Samoa Joe was found in a hallway. Joe talked to a roving camera about facing Low Ki tonight. Joe said Ki is too confident thinking he can take the X Division Title from him tonight.

PSA: Mr. Anderson talked about quitting smoking.

[Commercial Break at 9:25]

[Q3] Somewhere: The Hardys were found in the building. Matt Hardy talked about wanting to prove they are the best tag team of all-time, then Jeff Hardy talked about wanting to do something innovative in the tag division. Matt said the vision is being finalized.

Video Package: Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki attempting to re-capture the magic of the X Division from 8-10 years ago.

In-ring: Low Ki was out first to challenge Samoa Joe for the X Division Title. Nice outfit upgrade after appearing to wrestle in PJs the past few weeks, opting for more athletic-looking gear. Samoa Joe was introduced next to defend the X Title.

2 -- X Division champion SAMOA JOE vs. LOW KI -- X Division Title match

Strong feeling-out process early on, then Joe blasted Ki with a strike and went through his signature crowd-pleasing offense while carrying himself like a confident champion. Ki responded with a corner attack leading to rapid-fire kick-based offense. Joe and Ki went back and forth countering each other's moves, telling the story of knowing each other so well in the ring. Ki wanted a top-rope move, but Joe emphatically kicked Ki's feet out from under him. Joe capitalized with the Musclebuster for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Joe at 7:56 to retain the X Division Title. Fine match trying to advance the present-day X Division past a mid-2000s nostalgia show, but the division will always be held back by a lack of definition and TNA acting as if "the X Division" is a group of interchangeable, similarly-under-sized wrestlers. Joe as champ helps offset that, but it will take more than Joe as champ to address the issue.

Backstage: TNA quickly cut away from the ring to find the Hardys walking into Team 3D's locker room for a chat.

Backstage: Jeremy Borash brought in Mr. Anderson to discuss facing Samuel Shaw tonight. Anderson shouted about being done with Samuel Shaw, asking Gunner if he's an idiot for working on Shaw. Shaw walked into the interview off-camera, accusing Anderson of not being a good friend. They started fighting as Impact cut to break.

[Commercial Break at 9:43] [Q4...]

[...Q4]

3 -- MR. ANDERSON vs. SAM SHAW -- I Quit match

Back from break, Anderson's music was playing in the arena as Anderson and Shaw emerged on-stage fighting in front of the audience. A bell sounded to officially begin the match. Anderson tried to use a wire to choke out Shaw, but Shaw reversed and tried to choke Anderson with the wire, but Anderson back-dropped Shaw to escape. Gunner then walked out on-stage to talk to Anderson, which gave Shaw an opening to attack Anderson and begin punishing him.

Now in the ring, Shaw sat down on a Camel Clutch, but Anderson refused to quit. Anderson came back with a shoulder submission, prompting Shaw to scream out in pain, but refuse to give up. Gunner tried to encourage Shaw to fight from the outside, then Gunner entered the ring, but Shaw said he quits. Gunner shoved Anderson, apparently upset with him taking liberties with Shaw.

WINNER: Anderson at 5:53. Still no reason to care about Sam Shaw's journey to respectability. Time to move on or try a different approach.

Backstage: The Hardys and Team 3D talked business instead of watching the previous match, then Matt & Jeff left the locker room. The roving cameraman asked Bully what that was about. Bully said it was an idea to elevate the tag division. But, they have one more piece of the puzzle to address. And, it's in the ring next.

Also Up Next: Mike Tenay talks to Dixie Carter.

[Commercial Break at 9:55]

[Q5 -- second hour] Last Week: Angelina Love attacked Knockouts champion Gail Kim after the show.

Backstage: Kurt Angle said Angelina's actions disgusted her. He said Angelina does not deserve a title re-match after her actions, but Gail came to her asking for the one-on-one match tonight. So, he granted Gail the match despite Angelina not deserving it. Angle warned Angelina to be careful what she wishes for.

Earlier Today: Bobby Roode surveyed the steel cage to discuss finally getting another TNA Title chance in the six-way #1 contender match tonight.

In-ring: The Hardys were introduced to the ring. Jeff spoke first about reuniting with Matt, then hyped the "Hardys" name being associated with tag team wrestling. Jeff said they've had some great matches in the ring, but they have to do better. By winning the matches? No, by coming up with an idea for a new match concept.

Team 3D was introduced to the ring to continue the conversation with the Hardys. With "EXIT" signs visible over Bully's shoulder, Bully talked about facing the Hardys one more time. But, with the TNA Tag Titles on the line. Bully said he would like to be TNA tag champs when they are inducted into the 2014 TNA Hall of Fame, but neither one of them are the tag champs. So, he thinks they need the tag champs out here.

Cue up The Wolves's theme music to bring out Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards dressed in street clothes. Eddie played the role of a 1990s fan hyping Team 3D and the Hardys before bringing things to today about wanting to be part of a conversation about being the best tag teams in history. Davey spoke next that both teams can have a shot at the titles anytime, anywhere. Tenay asked when it's going to happen.

Earlier This Week: TNA abruptly cut to Mike Tenay sitting at the edge of Dixie Carter's home bed to talk about going through a table. Dixie talked in a normal tone about injuries she suffered. Asked if she watched the video footage, Dixie said in a quiet voice that she watched it once and she felt sick to her stomach. Dixie said Bully made good on a promise to put her through a table and she came out with a broken back. She said she's going to take this time to focus on business outside of the ring. Dixie said people haven't seen the last of her, though closing that a Carter never forgets. She said this interview is over, then dropped the nice-person act blowing a whistle and yelling for Serge to come tend to her.

[Commercial Break at 10:13] [Q6...]

[...Q6] Announcement: Mike Tenay said Christy Hemme is pregnant and expecting her first child in December.

Last Week: James Storm tortured Sanada in a cabin somewhere.

Next Week: The Great Sanada is revealed.

4 -- KO champion GAIL KIM vs. ANGELINA LOVE (w/Velvet Sky) -- Knockouts Title match -- Last Knockout Standing

Gail hit the ring running chasing Angelina around ringside as the bell sounded. Gail was relentless continuing to attack Angelina in the ring and out of the ring until Velvet helped cut off Gail. Angelina couldn't put Gail away, though, and Gail made a comeback before suplexing Angelina off the top rope onto a chair below. Referee Earl Hebner began a ten count, Velvet tried to revive Angelina from the outside, Gail reached her feet, and Angelina was unable to answer a ten count, giving Gail the win and the feud via the visual of Angelina completely conquered.

WINNER: Gail at 8:15 to retain the KO Title. The end of one chapter setting up the start of a new chapter for Gail's title run.

Up Next: Steel cage #1 contender match.

[Q7] [Commercial Break at 10:30]

Earlier Tonight: The Wolves, Hardys, and Team 3D agreed to a Tag Title match.

Backstage: Kurt Angle said he's going to make sure the Tag Title match happens, but it will be a series. The first team who wins two matches in the series wins the belts. He said the winner of each match picks the stipulation for the next match in the series.

In-ring: TNA World champion Bobby Lashley, MVP, and Kenny King came out on-stage. MVP was without his crutch. On the mic, MVP went back to Slammiversary when he was supposed to challenge Eric Young for the TNA Title, but he got hurt. Instead, his ace, Bobby Lashley, stepped up and said he's got this. And, Lashley got the job done. MVP, playing the role of Paul Heyman, then ran down Lashley's conquests - Eric Young, Jeff Hardy, and Austin Aries. MVP said the winner of this cage match has already lost because Lashley is at the top of his game right now.

Prior to the competitors being introduced, Tenay broke down the rules: the winner is the first one to escape the cage. As refs jogged down to ringside, Aries was introduced as the first competitor. Eric Young was out next leading to break.

[Commercial Break at 10:41]

[Q8] Gunner and Magnus were introduced during the break, then James Storm left his cabin in the woods to compete in the #1 contender match. Out last was Bobby Roode as the other five wrestlers waited patiently in the ring to mix it up.

5 -- SIX SIDES OF STEEL CAGE MATCH -- #1 contender match to the TNA World Title

Taz pointed out that everyone was wearing black trunks except for Eric Young, who was sporting New York Rangers-themed blue trunks. Basic multiple-person fighting early on, then Impact cut to a break two minutes into the match.

[Commercial Break at 10:50]

On the way back from break, TNA ran a trailer for their next PPV, Bound for Glory, still scheduled for October in Japan. Back in the arena, wrestlers teased escaping the cage, only to be yanked back inside the cage. Meanwhile, Roode put Storm in a Crossface, prompting Storm to tap out, but it did not matter per the rules. The wrestlers then set up stereo Tower of Doom spots with three men on one side of the ring and three on the other side.

Roode and EY found themselves the only two men left standing after the Double Doom spot, then locked eyes and began climbing out of opposite sides of the cage. EY hit the top of the cage first, scaled down, and Roode caught up to him on the other side to drop down to the floor at the same time as EY.

The bell sounded and the refs who jogged down to ringside at the start came back into play by raising the hand of the person on their side of the cage. TNA went to a split-screen replay showing a simultaneous landing. They did the spot where one ref held up one wrestlers's hand in victory, but the other ref yanked his arm down to hold up the other wrestlers's hand. Impact signed off with no resolution to the matter.

WINNER: Young & Roode tied at 11:56. Fine episodic storytelling trying to stretch out the resolution of a main event to next week. TNA hasn't over-used this tool in the toolbox as much recently, making it passable and not as groan-inducing as in past eras.

Next Wednesday: The Wolves vs. Team 3D vs. The Hardys series begins.

Alert: We're looking for your 0-10 score and comments on this show for an "Impact Reax" feature on PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Impact, email to pwtorch@gmail.com.

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