This post is courtesy of our friends over at WRESTLING RECAPS! Thousands of pro wrestling reviews for you to mark out over!
Total Non-Stop Action presents Impact
Date: 2/2/2012
From: London, England
Tonight, TNA takes their show on the road as they are in London. James Storm competes in two matches against TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode and Bully Ray. We also find out who has been training Garrett Bischoff!
After a few videos highlighting the England tour, TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode makes his way out to the ring along with his friend Bully Ray. Ray tells the fans that despite how much they want to see Jeff Hardy tonight, they will not because they took care of him! Ray declares that we will never see Hardy ever again. Roode tells the crowd it great to be back in Ireland, but Ray makes sure to remind him where they are. However, the champ doesn’t care. Roode puts Ray over as the toughest man in the company and is glad to have him by his side. They want James Storm to come out to the ring to finish him off. Storm comes out but is warned by Ray to not make a move. Sting makes his way out to the ring as well. Sting assures the fans that Jeff Hardy is doing well and will be back in time for Against All Odds. Speaking of which, Bobby Roode will defend the championship against James Storm, Bully Ray and Jeff Hardy! Oh, and tonight James Storm will wrestle Bobby Roode and Bully Ray in single matches!
Opening Contest: Buckingham Brawl
TNA World Tag Team Champions Crimson & Magnus vs. Samoa Joe & Magnus
After a coin toss, Magnus and Joe are allowed to have two guys in the ring while the champs have one in at a time. This is a non-title match, by the way. Naturally, Magnus gets a good ovation from the crowd. The champs? Not so much. They don’t even come out with the championships. Crimson starts the match and is dropped by Magnus with a big boot. Joe follows up with a back splash for a two count early on. Crimson is worked on until he hits a nice exploder suplex on Magnus and tags in Morgan. Morgan cleans house with clotheslines and a fall away slam on Magnus.
Morgan drives Magnus down with a side slam but Joe breaks up the cover with a kick. Crimson spears Joe while Morgan clotheslines Magnus. Morgan misses a boot in the corner and Joe snapmares Morgan to allow Magnus to hit a top rope elbow drop for the win.
Your Winners: Samoa Joe & Magnus via pin fall
Match Rating: *1/4
Eric Bischoff comes out to the ring and says he is going to burst Garrett Bischoff’s dream of becoming a professional wrestler tonight. Garrett comes out and Eric tells him that his trainer is a coward and will not have his back in the ring, Garrett gets on the phone with his trainer and acts like he isn’t there. However, he swerves Eric and reveals that his trainer will be here tonight!
Second Contest: TNA X-Division Champion Austin Aries vs. Mark Haskins
Haskins is another guy from England. Aries taunts Haskins in the corner after taking Haskins down to the canvas. Haskins gets a take down on Aries and taunts the champion. Haskins hits a head scissors and a spin kick. Haskins avoids a head scissors and dropkicks Aries to the floor. Haskins tries a springboard but Aries knocks Haskins off the top rope before sending him to the floor. Aries hits a top rope double axe handle shot on the floor. Aries hits a slingshot senton splash and an elbow drop for a two count. Aries crotches Haskins on the top rope but misses a dropkick. Haskins hits a monkey flip out of the corner.
Aries misses a clothesline and Haskins hits a double springboard cross body for a near fall. Haskins hits an ace crusher but Aries kicks out at two. Haskins misses a shooting star press and Aries hits the brain buster before locking in the Last Chancery to win the match.
Your Winner: Austin Aries via submission
Match Rating: ***
Backstage, Sting prevents Eric Bischoff from leaving and walks him back towards the arena.
Third Contest: TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode vs. James Storm
Storm opens the match with an arm drag and a scoop slam. He gets a two count after a knee drop and a leg drop on the champ. Roode bails to the floor to avoid the Last Call. We go to commercial as Roode remains on the floor for a few moments. Roode has control when we return as he delivers a shoulder ram in the corner. Roode drives Storm down with a front suplex. Roode slams Storm chest first into the canvas but can’t put Storm away. Roode is working on Storm’s ribs with a waist lock. Storm nearly rolls Roode up for a win.
They begin to trade right hands in the center of the ring. Roode kicks Storm in the gut. Storm has Roode on the top rope and hits a hurricanrana! Storm clotheslines Roode a few times and hits the Back Stabber! Storm heads to the top rope! Storm hits a top rope elbow drop but Roode kicks out at two. Roode counters a Russian leg sweep and has the Crossface on Storm! Storm rolls over and reaches the ropes to break the hold. Roode avoids the Eye Of The Storm and Roode hits the fisherman suplex for only a two count! Roode gets up and shoves the referee, who shoves him back. Roode goes to the floor and grabs his championship. Storm hits Closing Time when Bully Ray comes out to distract Storm. Roode hits the spear and wins the match.
After the match, Sting runs out to save Storm from Bully Ray who attacked Storm afterward.
Your Winner: Bobby Roode via pin fall
Match Rating: ***1/4
Fourth Contest: TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim vs. Tara
This is another non-title match. These two are meeting at Against All Odds, too. Tara connects with a few arm drags and a scoop slam before hitting a standing moonsault for a two count early on. Kim spears Tara in the corner when Madison Rayne distracted Tara. Kim drops down onto Tara with a splash across her back on the apron. Kim tries for a sunset flip but Tara blocks it only to be kicked by Kim anyway. Kim keeps the advantage with a running clothesline after working on Tara’s leg. Kim heads to the top rope but misses a missile dropkick. Tara fights back with a snap suplex and a back drop. Tara drops Kim with a snap powerslam! Rayne enters and accidentally hits Kim with a punch. Tara finishes Kim off with the Widows Peak to win the match.
Your Winner: Tara via pin fall
Match Rating: *1/2
Garrett Bischoff returns to the ring and thanks the fans for their support. Eric Bischoff and Gunner prevent the announcement from happening because he says the trainer isn’t really here. Hulk Hogan ends up coming out and hammers away on Gunner with right hands. Gunner saves Eric as Garrett and Hogan celebrate.
Backstage, Hogan talks to Garrett about how Eric is a target now. He also believes that TNA is close to greatness and believes it is their destiny to achieve it.
Main Event: James Storm vs. Bully Ray
Storm already has his ribs taped up as Ray backs him into a corner. Storm backdrops Ray but is met with a knee lift in the midsection by Ray. Ray drops Storm gut first across the top rope and casually stands on his ribs to keep the upper hand. Storm has the tape on his ribs ripped off as Bobby Roode comes out to ringside to root on Ray as we go to one last commercial break.
Sting makes his way down to the ring with a paddle and circles Roode around the ring for a second. Ray has a bear hug locked in on Storm to weaken his ribs some more. Ray drops a few elbows but Storm kicks out at two. Ray drives his knee into Storm’s ribs to punish Storm some more. Ray comes off the ropes and splashes down onto Storm for a near fall. The fans are actually chanting that they want Devon. Ray misses a back splash off the middle rope. Storm makes his comeback with several clotheslines. Storm drops Ray throat first across the top rope and hits a top rope cross body for a two count.
Ray stops Storm with a side slam but that’s not good enough. Sting ends up chasing Roode around the ring after he entered the ring and Storm hits the Last Call on Ray to win the match.
Your Winner: James Storm via pin fall
Match Rating: **
Final Thoughts:
This was by far the best episode of Impact this year, and I’m willing say we won’t see anything close crowd reaction wise from TNA this year. The fans in England are great and the show really seemed to go by rather quickly. I’m giving this show a big thumbs up. The Aries/Haskins match was good. Storm/Roode was a really good television match and it was just an all around enjoyable show. Dear TNA, keep taking your show on the road if you wish to succeed.
Thanks for reading.
