MCMAHON’S IMPACT WRESTLING REVIEW 11/17: Who will be the next No. 1 contender for the TNA World Hvt. Title?

MCMAHON’S IMPACT WRESTLING REPORT
NOVEMBER 17, 2016
ORLANDO, Fla. — UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
AIRED ON POPTV

ANNOUNCERS: Josh Mathews, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero.

[HOUR ONE]

– Impact opened with a video recap of last week’s show, including the DCC beating down Eddie Edwards and revealing themselves as Bram, James Storm and a third mystery man.

– Josh Mathews welcomes us to the show as Edwards is on his way to the ring to cut a promo.

Edwards said that winning the World Title put a giant target on his back and he’s fine with that. Edwards went on to say that James Storm and his boys don’t care about titles or rules, but they care about creating chaos. Edwards said he was fine with a fight, and he said that he was not leaving the ring until he fights, demanding that someone come out.

The DCC appeared on the screen. They said that they bring chaos and they have taken a stand. The voice said that nothing can stop them, and this is their manifesto. The voice said that they will continue their mission, and Edwards’ challenge is accepted.

The lights come back on inside the arena and the DCC is standing on the stage in their masks. As they walk to the ring, Josh Mathews said that Kingston is the new member of the DCC, and he’s the newest member of the Impact roster. Kingston is, of course, Eddie Kingston.

After Kingston begins a 1-on-1 fight with Edwards, the rest of the DCC hits the ring and they begin to triple-team Edwards. Storm picks up the TNA World Hvt. Title and as Kingston and Bram hold Edwards, Jeff Hardy hits the ring to clear out the DCC. Hardy and Storm go face to face before Storm leaves the ring and the show crashes to a break. [c]

– Back from the break, Mathews shows highlights of the DCC beating up Edwards before Hardy makes teh save.

– Backstage, Edwards and Hardy are demanding a match with the DCC. Aiden O’Shea lets them into Billy Corgan’s office.

(1) JESSIE GODDERZ vs. ARON REX

Mathews points out before the match that this is a non-title match and will not be contested under Grand Championship rules. It’s a traditional wrestling match, where there must be a winner via pinfall or submission.

The match begins and Godderz goes right after Rex. They go back and forth at the start of the match before Godderz gets the upper hand with some uppercuts.

Later, Rex chokes Godderz on the ropes and throws crossface punches, asking if the referee is going to DQ him? Rex then drops a knee on Godderz for a two count.

Rex is being very aggressive, pummeling Godderz with punches on the ground. Pope points out that Rex won the Grand Championship fairly, but has changed his attitude recently.

The match spills to the outside and Rex throws Godderz into the railing. Back inside the ring, Rex uses the apron to blind Godderz before kicking him on the mat.

Godderz begins to make a comeback, raking Rex’s eyes. Mathews said that turnabout is fair play. Godderz tosses Rex to the outside of the ring and slams him on the ring apron before throwing his face onto a chair and the ringside steps. Godderz then grabs Rex’s face and rakes it on the steps.

As the match is getting very aggressive, Mathews plugs a “Hardcore Harvest sale on ShopTNA.com.” Alright?

The match is back in the ring and Rex dives, clipping Godderz’s knee. Godderz gets up and is able to lock on an Adonis Lock for the win.

WINNER: Jessie Godderz via submission in 8:00.

After the match, Mathews said that Godderz has earned another opportunity to challenge for the Grand Championship. Pope called it a definitive win.

– Backstage: Allie asks Laurel Van Ness what’s funny. She said that Braxton Sutter sent her a funny text message. Allie asked if Braxton texts her and Laurel said that he does more than text. Allie looks upset. Maria walks in and said no one wants to team up with Brandi Rhodes, and she specifically asks Allie, who said that she would never go against Maria. Sienna said that no one is dumb enough to go against them, right? Looking directly at Allie.

(McMahon’s Analysis: Decent opening match. Rex was getting a lot of heat in the middle and Godderz came back for a win in the end. Pretty simple and basic structure but it worked to further their feud. The only part that seemed out of place was where Godderz is in the middle of his fire and comeback and Mathews begins to plug some sale on ShopTNA.com. It’s a little thing, but it definitely could have taken the viewer out of the moment. It was a poor time to start hawking merch. But aside from that, this was a good opener.)

– Back from the break, Gail Kim was backstage with Jeremy Borash. She made the announcement she was going to make last week but it was interrupted. Gail Kim announced that she was injured and can’t be cleared right now, so she was relinquishing the Knockouts Title.

– Hardy and Edwards emerge from Billy Corgan’s office and said that they got what they wanted, and later tonight it would be a 2-on-3 handicap match.

– Maria, Allie, Sienna and Laurel Van Ness make a ring entrance followed by Brandi Rhodes. Maria said that no one wants to be Brandi’s partner? She said that Allie gets confused sometimes, so she kicked her out of the ring and told her to go to the back.

Allie slowly began to walk to the back with an angry look on her face. Brandi said that she liked Allie, but she had someone else to be her partner. Madison Rayne’s music played and she came out, hugging Allie on her way to the ring.

(2) SIENNA & LAUREL VAN NESS (w/Maria) vs. BRANDI RHODES & MADISON RAYNE

The bell rings and Van Ness and Brandi start the match. Brandi goes to the outside and chases Maria around ringside. Maria rolls into the ring and Brandi catches her, but she can’t do anything because Van Ness breaks it up.

Madison Rayne tags in and begins the match with Van Ness. Madison hits several chops and then slaps Van Ness in the face before Sienna tags in.

Sienna then begins to work over Madison Rayne for several minutes. Sienna and Brandi get tagged in simultaneously. Brandi hits a clothesline but Sienna doesn’t move. Sienna then hits a kick but Brandi gets back with a clothesline and a dropkick.

Brandi hits a running back elbow and drops Sienna’s face across a knee for a two count after Van Ness breaks it up.

Madison kicks Van Ness out of the ring. Brandi picks up Sienna but Sienna kicks Brandi in the gut. Sienna tried for an AK47 but Brandi slid out of it and then hit a Shot of Brandi for the win.

WINNER: Brandi Rhodes & Madison Rayne in 6:00.

After the match, Brandi and Madison Rayne celebrate on the turnbuckles as Maria and her crew retreat up the ramp.

(McMahon’s Analysis: Brandi is coming around as a character, but there looks to be some nervousness there. That’s not a knock, it’s to be expected. I’d say that she doesn’t seem to feel 100 percent comfortable yet, even making her ring entrance. Bug again, that’s to be expected. … I liked that Mathews even pointed out in commentary that Brandi is inexperienced and still training. It explains things. Pope was good too, explaining that he thought that’s why Brandi chose Madison Rayne, because she had a lot of experience. That said, due to her lack of experience, I wasn’t a huge fan of the finish. If you spend time during the match telling us that she’s inexperienced and still training, giving her a win over someone like Sienna does a lot for Brandi, but it also makes Sienna look bad. They had done a nice job building Sienna as a real lethal threat in that division. I would have preferred Madison Rayne get the pin, or work a way for Brandi to pin Van Ness instead.)

– Back from the break, Matt Hardy is eating candy while deleting emails. Reby said that he never eats candy. Reby said told Matt to look at himself, he’s here deleting emails while Jeff is out fighting alone. Reby said that she had some video that she thinks will bring back Matt’s memory.

– Back in the arena, Mike Bennett makes his ring entrance for tonight’s No. 1 contender’s match. He’s followed by Lashley, Trevor Lee and ECIII.

(3) MIKE BENNETT vs. LASHLEY vs. TREVOR LEE vs. ETHAN CARTER III — No. 1 contender match for the TNA World Hvt. Title

All four men are in the match at once. The action is fast paced at the start, with all three taking out ECIII to begin the match. Lashley then hit Bennett and Lee with a double clothesline.

Lashley gorilla presses Lee over the top rope to the outside on top of ECIII as the show crashes to a break two minutes into the match. [c]

Back from the break, all four wrestlers are in the ring and Bennett and Lee are teaming up on ECIII. Lashley misses a shoulder to ECIII in the corner but does get out and hit a german suplex. Lee kicks Lashley and tries to roll him out, but yells at Bennett that he needs help. With Lashley then on the outside, Lee and Bennett double-team ECIII.

[HOUR TWO]

As the clock ticks to the second hour of the show, Bennett and ECIII hit a double suplex on ECIII and Bennett drops Lashley off the apron. Bennett goes after Lashley on the outside and Lee goes for a quick cover on ECIII but he kicks out.

Back in the ring, Bennett looks like he doesn’t trust Lee but they shake hands. ECIII lands chops on both but Bennett comes back with a power clothesline for a two count as Lee breaks it up. Bennett and Lee argue again. Bennett dropkicks Lashley off the apron again and throws him into the ring post on the outside. In the ring, ECIII is trading punches with Lee and Lee takes ECIII out with a huge dropkick.

Bennett throws shoulders into ECIII in the corner. Lee goes to the outside to work over Lashley while inside the ring Bennett hits a big boot on ECIII. Lee rolls in and quickly covers ECIII, but Bennett pulls him off. Lee and Bennett then trade rapid punches.

ECIII clotheslines Lee and Bennett back and forth. ECIII hits an ECIII splash on Lee and Bennett while knocking Lashley off the apron again. ECIII flapjacks Bennett and Lee. ECIII grabs Bennett and Lee and tries for a double One Percenter but Lee and Bennett throw him off into a spear by Lashley.

Bennett hits a cutter on Lashley and then Lee drops Bennett with a Fisherman’s Buster for a two count.

Bennett hits a superkick on ECIII and Lee and then spinebusters both. Lashley then runs in and hits a spinebuster on Bennett. Lashley then eyes Trevor Lee and goes for a spear but Lee counters into a collision course for a two count. That was an impressive move.

Lee hits a double stomp on Bennett and kicks ECIII on the outside. Lee dives over the top to the outside, taking out ECIII and Lashley. Lee rolls ECIII back into the ring and climbs to the top. Bennett throws Lee off the top. ECIII takes out Bennett and Lee gets hit with a TK3 and then taps out in a sleeper/rear-naked choke.

WINNER: Ethan Carter III in 14:00.

After the match, ECIII walks quickly right to the back, with no celebration. Mathews said he finished his business.

(McMahon’s Analysis: Really, really good match. Usually these multi-man matches are a bunch of spots with no real meaning but this had a nice logical storyline that you could follow. They kept Lashley mostly out of the ring until the end, which was good. The collision course Lee countered the spear into was very impressive. Lee, in general, really shined in this match. They’ll have to watch out, though, if they want to keep him a heel because the crowd was really into him near the end of this match. If he’s going to keep putting up performances like this, he’s going to become a babyface pretty quickly.)

– Back from a break, Reby is showing Matt video from Maxel’s first birthday party. Matt asked how much the party cost. He sees Vanguard 1 and freaks out. Matt then is ashamed of mowing Jeff’s lawn, asking why he would do such an evil thing. Matt sees himself shooting fireworks at Jeff and he’s upset. Matt said he’s seen enough and he’s bothered by what he saw. Matt sneezes and said he’s coming down with a cold, and it must be the change in seasons.

– Up next, it’s Eli Drake’s Fact of Life segment. Eli said he was annoyed that ECIII became No. 1 contender again, but he learned to create his own opportunities. Drake said he knows ECIII just won his match, but Drake invited ECIII to come out and be his guest.

Drake said that the last few times ECIII wrestled for the TNA Title, he choked. Drake proposed that next week, ECIII wrestle Drake for that title shot. Drake said they had a chance to do something special, and ECIII could prove once and for all that he’s the man.

ECIII said he proposed the exact same thing he proposed to Drake a few weeks ago. ECIII said Drake’s quote was, “that sounds like a terrible idea,” and he declined. ECIII said the answer was, “nope!” and began to walk off.

Drake tells ECIII to hold on. He said he thought ECIII would want to prove something again, but he guesses not. Drake said he wanted to offer that if ECIII the same deal ECIII proposed him. Drake said that if ECIII accepts the challenge and Drake loses, he would not challenge for the TNA Title for one year.

ECIII said that he wants Drake in the title scene. ECIII said he’s only better when he’s being chased, and he wants everyone challenging for the title. ECIII said he wants this to be the best roster in all of wrestling, and they’re damn close, so he declines Drake’s offer.

But, ECIII said, looking into Drake’s eyes, he knows that Drake wants to be champion. ECIII said that Drake tasted defeat and it sucks. ECIII said he will accept the proposal for a fight. Who is the better man? ECIII said that Drake can have that match for a title shot if he puts one thing on the line … his voice. ECIII proposed that if Drake loses, he can’t speak for the rest of the calendar year.

Drake looked concerned as he thought about the offer and then accepted the offer. ECIII then took Drake’s microphone and dropped it.

– Backstage, Jade is about to cut a short promo and Decay comes in. Crazzy Steve said Jade’s decay will come at the hands of Rosemary. Abyss told Jade to go find Rosemary.

(McMahon’s Analysis: Good segment. I’m not sure that the stipulation that Drake can’t talk “for the rest of the year” is really all that harsh. Let’s do the math. The match presumably takes place next week, so if Drake loses, there will be five episodes of Impact where he isn’t allowed to talk. Oh, the insanity!)

– Back from the break, Jade is climbing in the rafters whispering for Rosemary, looking for her.

(4) BASILE BARAKA vs. MAHABLI SHERA

The match begins and Shera and Baraka are trading blows. Baraka drops Shera just as Mathews said he’s not sure that Baraka, as big as he is, can out-muscle Shera.

Baraka chokes Shera on the bottom rope while yelling at the camera, asking if we see what he’s doing?

In the corner, Baraka is throwing forearms at Shera’s chest, and Shera hulks up before hitting a right hand.

Baraka throws a right hand as Mathews plus another PopTV show. Baraka drops a leg on Shera for a two count. Baraka tries for a cross-body but Shera catches him into a powerslam. Baraka misses a charge in the corner and Shera hits a splash, followed by stinging right hands. Shera hits a shoulder tackle followed by a bodyslam. Baraka rolls up Shera for a two count.

Baraka hits another powerslam and then curls his mustache, signaling for a camel clutch. Baraka taps to give Shera the win.

WINNER: Mahabli Shera in 4:00.

Baron Dax runs in and attacks Shera from behind. The Tribunal then double-team Shera.

Al Snow runs to the ring with a whistle. He blows the whistle and Baraka tells Snow to get the hell out of the way. Snow, dejected, walks away but he runs back in the ring and attacks The Tribunal. Mathews said that Al Snow is trending worldwide on Twitter right now. Snow and Shera then shake hands.

– Up in the rafters, Jade finds Rosemary. Rosemary asked if Jade can hear it? Jade said she has no idea what Rosemary is saying, but she knows that she will be facing Rosemary for the Knockouts Title. Jade said she is not afraid of Rosemary. Rosemary said that’s good, because she will fill her need for blood. Rosemary said she wants the match inside a steel cage.

(McMahon’s Analysis: The “trending worldwide on Twitter” thing is something Mathews has done for a couple of weeks. It’s clearly a shot at WWE, but it makes Mathews just look petty and, if you don’t get the joke, it makes him look like an idiot. Just worry about your own product and your own announcing. We get it, WWE goes overboard with the trending on Twitter stuff, but leave it alone. To me, anyway, it doesn’t make him look cool, it makes him look petty. Do you really want to compare WWE and TNA, Josh? One show has 350,000 people watching it, and the other has almost three million. One company has to give away free tickets to a studio in Orlando, the other is selling out the Air Canada Center on Sunday. One is worth millions, if not billions, on the stock market and the other can’t pay its bills. You want me to keep going, Josh? But yeah, they say “trending worldwide on Twitter” a lot. That type of bush-league garbage does nothing to further TNA. Worry about yourself.

– Back from the break, The DCC enters the Impact Zone for tonight’s main event.

(5) EDDIE EDWARDS & JEFF HARDY vs. THE DCC (JAMES STORM, BRAM & KINGSTON) — 3-on-2 handicap match

The match starts fast and furious. Edwards dives on everyone on the outside. There’s a big brawl happening at ringside.

After some back-and-forth, the DCC has control of the match. This is just a brawl, though. There’s no tagging, and it’s a brawl on the outside. In the ring, Kingston throws Edwards with a belly-to-belly for a two count as the show goes to break.

Back from the break, Jeff is still down on the outside while Kingston chops Edwards. Storm and Edwards begin to double-team Edwards in the ring. Chairs get thrown in the ring while Hardy is on the outside.

Storm is directing traffic, telling something to Bram. Edwards begins to fight back on Bram but gets cut off with a knee. Edwards throws Bram to the outside but Kingston hits an STO inside the ring to drop Edwards again. On the outside, Hardy is smashing Storm with a chair across the back.

With the chairs setup in the ring, Kingston tried to suplex Edwards through the chairs but Edwards blocked it and suplexed Kingston through the chairs. Storm hits a back cracker and Edwards rolls to the ropes. Hardy hits the ring charged up and takes it to Storm.

Hardy hits a jawbreaker and charges Storm into the corner, but Storm sidesteps and throws Hardy into the corner, head first, through the turnbuckle and into a chair as well as the ring post. Storm hits an Eye of the Storm for a two count.

Storm picks up Hardy but Edwards hits a kick to Storm’s head. Bram runs in and clotheslines Edwards. There’s a table set up on the outside. Bram hits a DDT off the ring apron through a table on the outside.

In the ring, Storm and Hardy trade punches. Hardy hits a booth and a Twist of Fate. Hardy tried for a second Twist of Fate but Storm countered into a Last Call superkick for the win.

WINNER: The DCC in 14:00.

After the match, Storm calls Bram and Kingston back into the ring as Mathews shows highlights. Edwards and Hardy are shown out cold as the DCC celebrates on the ramp as the show goes off the air.

Final Thoughts: That was an impressive way for the DCC to debut in the ring. They brawled and beat up Hardy and Edwards for most of the match, as they should have with the 3-on-2 advantage. The suplex that Kingston took on the chair was impressive, as was the table spot with Bram. The are being built on their aggressiveness and what they want to do in order to change TNA, well this was a good way to begin their run.