TNA Impact Report (12/06/13) by Nicholas Sebastian
Impact Wrestling comes to us as usual from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida with an unseen Mike Tenay and Taz on commentary.
We open up with a video package about the TNA Heavyweight Title Tournament, with commentary from the competitors. We then go to the arena where Mike Tenay tells us about the two semi final matches that will take place tonight.
We learn that Jeff Hardy will take on Bobby Roode in a Tables Match and Kurt Angle will go up against Magnus in a Last Man Standing match. The winners will face each other in the finals for the vacant "Impact Wrestling" version of the TNA Heavyweight Championship.
Kurt Angle comes to the ring, microphone in hand to address the arena. He tells everyone in attendance that he's thankful for his health, his family and for the fans that support him. Kurt Angle gives props to Austin Aries for the incredible tournament match they had, then calls out his opponent this evening, Magnus.
The Englishman comes out and faces his former Main Event Mafia stable mate, Kurt Angle. The Olympian asks what happened last week as the injury he sustained left Angle alone to deal with four competitors. When Magnus answers it was his knee that gave out, Kurt Angle questions whether the man really has the heart of a champion. Magnus says that he has the hunger to be the champion and will prove it to Kurt Angle tonight.
Kurt Angle tells Magnus he's in the way of his destiny of becoming World Champion but is then interrupted by Bobby Roode. "The It Factor" talks of his own missed opportunity to become a champion at Bound for Glory 2011. He goes on to say that to become champion, as well as the heart and the hunger, you need a killer instinct like the one he possesses.
He's then cut off by Jeff Hardy's music. The Charismatic Enigma is dragging an upside-down table behind him. He tells Roode that all he has to do to make it to the finals of the tournament is put him through a table. We go to commercial as the crowd chants Hardy's name.
COMMERCIAL
MATCH 1: JEFF HARDY VS ROBERT ROODE
TNA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH - SEMI FINAL
TABLES MATCH
The bell sounds right after we get back from the break to start the bout. The goal of this match is to put your opponent through a table, pinfalls and submissions do not count in this type of contest.
The two men circle then Hardy rushes at Roode. A kick to Hardy's gut and a punch to the head has Hardy reeling and going towards the corner. Robert Roode follows him in there and delivers a series of kicks to the midsection as well as punches to the head that has the Charismatic Enigma crawling in the early goings of the match.
The referee breaks it up but Roode comes back again to try and get in some more punishment to his opponent. Hardy blocks the strike and starts to deliver his own offense to Roode. Repeated blows to the head and a kick to the gut have Roode backed to the ropes as Hardy throws him across to the other side. This is reversed by Bobby Roode who throws Hardy into the ropes. The Charismatic Enigma comes off the turnaround and hits a flying forearm on Roode.
Jeff Hardy connects with an inverted atomic drop to Roode who had just gotten up from the mat. This puts Roode onto his back with Hardy grabbing both his legs and coming down with a double leg drop to the groin area. Roode is in obvious pain, sitting up in the center of the ring. Hardy then delivers a low drop kick to the chest of Roode, making him roll away to the corner to recover.
He's followed in there by Hardy who then kicks him in the gut and strikes with two shoulders into the midsection. Jeff Hardy whips Roode into the opposite corner but is reversed once again. Hardy goes in chest first, grabs the top rope and jumps backwards behind a charging Bobby Roode. He then hits a drop kick to the back of his opponent and sends him down in the corner.
Jeff Hardy rolls to the outside and slaps the hands of some ringside fans. He folds up the legs of an outside table but as he's trying to get it into the ring from the apron, Roode plants a low drop kick right into it. This smacks the table right into Hardy, making him go almost full force into the metal guard rail. The table falls away to the outside of the ring.
Robert Roode goes to the outside and picks Hardy up off the floor by his hair. He nails a punch to Hardy's head then smashes his head off the ring apron. Roode then throws a dazed Hardy underneath the bottom rope and into the ring. Still on the outside, Roode folds up a table and slides it into the ring, and enters the squared circle with the intention of delivering more punishment to his foe.
Jeff Hardy has not gotten up since being thrown in to the ring and has spent the last little bit of time looking up at the lights overhead. Robert Roode goes over to deliver a stomp to the chest and then props up the table he brought in to the ring against a corner.
Robert Roode, always methodical, picks Jeff Hardy up by the hair and puts him in the corner diagonally from the propped up wooden table. A chop to the chest of Hardy is followed by a hip toss attempt across the ring to the table, the intention being to put Hardy through it. Hardy has it well scouted, and reversed the move on Roode, attempting to put "The It Factor" himself through the wood. Roode puts on the brakes and doesn't allow Hardy the winning throw and the advancement to the final.
Jeff Hardy kicks Roode in the gut and puts a leg on the back of his bent-over opponent's neck. This allows him to back flip and get out of the hold Roode had on his arm with the hip toss attempt. Hardy runs at Roode to deliver some offense but runs right into a huge clothesline that puts him laying on the canvas.
Robert Roode picks up Hardy by the hair again but is met with some punches to the gut. A right hand and a kick to the midsection send Roode into an empty corner. Hardy tries to whip his adversary into the opposite corner but is reversed by Roode and is sent in there himself, back first. Robert Roode charges in full speed but is met with an elbow to the head that rocks him.
Jeff Hardy climbs to the top turnbuckle and goes for the Whisper in the Wind, only to catch air and canvas as his opponent moved out of harm's way and into another empty corner. From Hardy's position performing this aerial acrobatic maneuver, he almost struck that propped up table, very nearly ending the match himself with a mistake he just made.
Robert Roode bides his time, going over to a fallen Jeff Hardy. Once again he picks up his adversary by the hair and gets him in a fireman's carry. Roode slowly walks over to the propped up table but Hardy will have none of that as he repeatedly elbows Roode to the head. The momentum from the blows sends both men towards the ropes.
Jeff Hardy grabs the top rope and pulls himself onto the apron to get himself out of Roode's fireman's carry. He's met with a stiff shot to the head by Roode and Hardy comes close to falling off, just realizing there was a table set up just behind him on the outside.
Robert Roode goes out onto the ring apron to try and get Hardy to go through the table on the outside just behind and beneath them. He walks towards his adversary and is met with a kick to the gut. Jeff Hardy tries for his Twist of Fate finisher but is thwarted by Roode. Both men exchange repeated strikes to the head while holding the top rope and balancing precariously on the precipice.
Jeff Hardy delivers a kick to the head of his opponent and they both go through the table behind them, seemingly at the same time. We go to the commercial as the referee makes a decision on this situation.
COMMERCIAL
It was decided by the senior referee Earl Hebner that the match continue due to the fact both men went through the table at the same time. This conflicts with the rulings of both the referee in the match Brian Hebner, and the referee who came out from the back, Brian Stiffler.
At the resumption of the contest, Robert Roode throws Jeff Hardy underneath the bottom ropes and into the ring. Roode repositions the table propped up in the corner and goes after Hardy. The Charismatic Enigma delivers a few shots to Roode's midsection then runs off the ropes to deliver some more offense. Roode catches him on the turnaround and plants him with a spine buster.
Robert Roode moves the table in the ring so that it's in an upright position on its legs near another corner. Jeff Hardy is having a tough time on the canvas, as is verbally berated by Roode for not getting up to continue the bout. Roode delivers a kick to the side of a crawling Jeff Hardy and then picks him up by the hair once again. He gets his opponent up in the fireman's carry but Hardy is able to wriggle out of the predicament.
Jeff Hardy connects with a kick to the gut on Roode and then delivers the Twist of Fate right in front of the table. Roode falls back but is so close he just lies on the table and doesn't go through it. Jeff Hardy, seeing his chance, climbs up to the top rope in the hopes of delivering a swanton bomb on top of his opponent.
Roode foresees disaster and rolls off the table, lying down in front of the wooden furniture. Hardy jumps out further from the top rope, past the table to deliver a swanton bomb onto Roode who's still recovering on the canvas. Both men are thrashing around on the ring mat after the punishing aerial maneuver.
Jeff Hardy picks up Robert Roode and seats him on the top turnbuckle of another corner. He hits some shots to the head that have his opponent reeling and almost falling off the top turnbuckle he's seated on. Jeff Hardy moves the table over to the corner where Roode is. Hardy climbs to the second rope and gets Roode in a front face lock, attempting what looks to be a superplex from the top rope onto the table.
Robert Roode senses impending doom again and blocks Hardy's attempt at the win by hanging onto the top rope with his right hand. Roode punches his foe in the side as Hardy climbs up to the top corner now. Roode then tries for a forwards suplex, and ends up crotching Hardy on the top rope with the partial maneuver.
Jeff Hardy goes to the canvas in a heap as Robert Roode comes down off the ropes and goes to recover by lying on the ring apron. Both men are now trying to regroup and make it to their feet. Roode grabs Jeff Hardy by the hair and brings him to the ropes in a front face lock.
Robert Roode, on the ring apron, attempts to suplex Jeff Hardy onto the table set up behind him on the arena floor. Halfway through the move in an upside down position, Jeff Hardy knees Roode to the head and breaks free, floating down to the ring. He tries to kick Roode in the midsection but gets caught and ends up facing Roode on one foot. Jeff Hardy spins and with his free leg, nails Robert Roode with a back kick, sending him back first through the table on the arena floor behind and underneath him. The bell sounds and Jeff Hardy has won the match and advanced to the finals.
WINNER: JEFF HARDY
After the match, Jeff Hardy celebrates by playing up to the crowd and we're told he'll face the winner of the Angle-Magnus "Last Man Standing" match later on in the broadcast. The finals of the TNA Heavyweight Title Tournament will take place on the "Final Resolution" edition of Impact Wresting. This happens in two weeks on December 19th.
COMMERCIAL
We're shown two videos from Impact 365, events that went on earlier in the week. In the first one, Ethan Carter III getting makeup put on him backstage. He tells us that on tonight's show, he will challenge a TNA Legend and a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer to a match.
In the second Impact 365 video, we go to Dixie Carter's office. This past Tuesday, she received an email from the agent of A.J. Styles telling her she will receive the championship belt from him this Thursday on Impact. It is implied that these two videos foreshadow events that will happen later on in the broadcast.
The lights go out and EC3 comes to the ring for his match. He grabs the microphone and talks about the competitors he's faced and defeated since debuting in TNA. He goes on to describe his opponent as someone who's been in the ring with all the greats and goes on to name drop some legends. In a swerve, he then reveals his hand picked opponent to be referee Earl Hebner.
Earl Hebner tells him he isn't a wrestler, he's an official. Carter tells him he works for his family and will do as he says. He has Rockstar Spud the Chief of Staff bring out Earl Hebner's son, Brian Hebner to referee this match.
MATCH 2: ETHAN CARTER III VS EARL HEBNER
Ethan Carter III orders referee Earl Hebner to lie down in the center of the ring. After a bit of verbal resistance, Hebner lies down on the canvas. EC3 orders the bell to be rung and puts a finger to the chest of Earl Hebner. To a lot of boos from the crowd, he orders Brian Hebner the official to count the pin. Hebner apologizes to his father and counts the 1-2-3.
WINNER: ETHAN CARTER III
The bell rings and EC3 further humiliates the father-son referee duo by having Brian Hebner roll his father out of the ring then getting him to raise his hand in victory. Rockstar Spud is in the ring and orders Brian Hebner to do as EC3 says. The segment ends with Ethan Carter III and Rockstar Spud quite pleased at their antics.
We're shown a video package that chronicles the Joseph Park and Abyss saga, with what happened concerning the Bad Influence. We then go to Impact 365 footage and more foreshadowing of things to come. The Bad Influence are in the locker room and talk about the results of their last road trip. This is followed by a graphic where we're told that tonight, the Bad Influence will solve the mystery and reveal the truth about Joseph Park.
COMMERCIAL
We go to more video shot earlier in the week. Wrestler Sam Shaw is ending a supper with Christy Hemme, a follow up to the date we saw him ask her out on a few weeks ago. When Christy is away from the table, Shaw grabs the waiter and threatens him very menacingly for looking at his girlfriend. Things seem back to normal with Shaw when Christy Hemme returns.
Another video package follows, detailing the events of A.J. Styles leaving TNA Wrestling and defending his version of the TNA Heavyweight Championship in Mexico and Japan, and the ultimatum Dixie gave him to return the title to her within one week.
We cut to Dixie Carter talking on her cell phone and being interrupted by a delivery, most likely the one referenced earlier in the show. She's given flowers from a fan and becomes incensed it's not the World Heavyweight Title she was expecting.
Robert Roode is shown backstage going on and complaining about losing his TNA Heavyweight Title Tournament match to Jeff Hardy because he slipped and fell through the table.
Sting is shown walking to the building. Mike Tenay comments that we haven't seen the Icon in over a month and wonders aloud what he could be doing at Impact Wrestling.
COMMERCIAL
Dixie Carter is shown addressing a group of wrestlers who we're told didn't make it into the TNA Heavyweight Title Tournament. She pulls away a dark drop cloth to reveal four suitcases and talks of the Feast or Fired Match she has planned next week. Three of the suitcases contain different title shots and one of them contains a pink slip, meaning whoever is in possession of that suitcase will lose their job.
We go to the arena to see the Bad Influence, Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, make their way to the ring. They announce that they will expose the truth about Joseph Park and are interrupted by the man himself as he comes down to the ring.
Joseph Park tells them the Bad Influence has won and that they need to stop what they're doing. Park takes the envelope with information out of Daniels' hand and rips it up in front of them.
Kazarian asks the people in the back to show a video where they go to Chicago to check out the law offices where Joseph Park allegedly works. In it, they're told by the administration that the offices of Park Park & Park closed thirteen years ago.
Christopher Daniels flat out asks Joseph Park what he's been doing for the last thirteen years if the law office he worked at has been closed. Park doesn't answer and just asks to be left alone.
Kazarian becomes incensed at the answer and spits in Park's face and calls him a liar. Christopher Daniels delivers a shot to the gut and it sends Parks down to the canvas. The Bad Influence hit him with some kicks and knees before Eric Young runs down to the ring to stop what's going on.
Eric Young tells the Bad Influence to stop their bullying suggests they better not knock on the Devil's door because he may answer. He challenges Kazarian and Daniels to a tag team match with Joseph Parks and himself on Impact next week. This is accepted by the Bad Influence as they back up the ramp and head towards the back.
We change gears and go to Sting talking to Magnus about his match with the Olympian Kurt Angle tonight. He tells Magnus he's proud of him and the Englishman returns the praises by telling Sting he respects him immensely. Before he leaves, Sting mentions rumors of Magnus having entitlement issues but that's laughed off by the two of them.
COMMERCIAL
After the break, we see Rockstar Spud tell an employee to look out for the deliveryman who will deliver A.J. Styles' world title to the arena.
Back in the arena we see DJ Zema Ion behind his music mixing equipment, antagonizing the fans in attendance with his super loud promo delivery coupled with annoying air horn sound effects. He introduces the TNA Tag Team Champions of the World, the BroMans, to a heavy chorus of boos from the crowd.
Jessie Godderz and Robbie E, the BroMans, make their way down the ramp with their adolescent antics, then stop to acknowledge their DJ Zema Ion with a triple fist bump.
MATCH 3: GUNNER & JAMES STORM VS TNA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE BROMANS
NON-TITLE MATCH
The BroMans are already in the ring as they await the arrival of their opponents, Gunner and James Storm. They're the former tag team champions and the team the BroMans won the titles from. Storm is drinking his trademark bottle of beer as he and Gunner, the modern day Viking, make their way to the ring.
The bell sounds and James Storm starts the match with "Mr Pec'tacular" Jessie Godderz. The two men lock up and James Storm quickly gets Godderz into a side headlock. Godderz breaks the hold immediately by throwing Storm into the ropes, but is met with a shoulder block that sends him down to the mat.
James Storm comes off the ropes to hop over his fallen opponent. Godderz tries for a hip toss on the turnaround but Storm is able to reverse it and throw the BroMans member across the ring.
A quick tag to Gunner results in a double team on Jessie Godderz, as the partners whip him back first into the opposite corner. Storm then throws Gunner in there who delivers a running clothesline, followed by a face plant by the cowboy that sends Godderz down to the canvas and reeling. Gunner, the legal man, is only able to get a one count on Godderz.
Gunner gets "Mr Pec'tacular" up to his feet but is met with a solid knee to the midsection. Godderz tags in his partner Robbie E, who immediately runs to Gunner, gets lifted almost eight feet into the air and dropped almost face first onto his chest and knees.
Robbie E gets up in pain and goes to the corner to recover. He is partially outside the ring when Gunner goes after him in. The referee pushes the modern day Viking away and on the distraction, is met with a slap to the face by his opponent. Lots of air horn sound effects by DJ Zema Ion when this happens.
Gunner is not amused and he turns to face Robbie E again, but the BroMans member bails out and comes back into the ring much closer to his corner, facilitating a tag to his partner Jessie Godderz. Gunner runs to enemy territory and delivers a forearm blast to the head of Godderz on the apron, then hip tosses him into the ring to continue the match.
Godderz is dazed and grabs at his back in pain as Gunner then nails him with an elbow to the head. This sends him down, crashing to the mat. A quick pin on Jessie Godderz gets a two count as the member of the BroMans is able to kick out of the cover.
Gunner smashes Jessie's face into the top turnbuckle and then inflicts a vicious chop to the chest that's heard throughout the arena. A series of punches to the head and gut of Godderz has the man crumpled in the corner, his back against the lowest turnbuckle for support.
The referee calls for the clean break as Gunner backs away from the corner. Robbie E runs down the apron and surprises Gunner with a clothesline from the outside, sending him down. This brings about more annoying air horn sound effects from Zema Ion, DJ for the BroMans.
An incensed Gunner goes outside to chase after Robbie E, leaving Godderz to recover in the corner after his assault. Robbie E comes into the ring with Gunner close behind then gets behind Jessie Godderz, who comes between them to deliver a shot to Gunner's head. This is blocked by the modern day Viking, who responds with an elbow to Jessie's head.
Robbie E, still in the ring, runs across the ring to administer a cheap shot forearm to the back of Gunner. He scurries out of there as Godderz takes advantage of the distraction to deliver a standing drop kick to the modern day Viking. A hook of the far leg and a pinfall attempt nets the Bromans team a count of one.
Jessie Godderz is still in control of the match as he hits a weary Gunner with a punch to the jaw. Godderz smashes Gunner's head into the top turnbuckle then places him back first into the neutral corner. An elbow to Gunner's head and a bunch of swift kicks to the gut have him sitting up on the ring mat in the corner, his hack against the bottom turnbuckle.
Gunner manages to make it to his feet and punches his way out of the corner with shots to the head of Jessie Godderz. Gunner is countered with a knee to the gut and an elbow to the back of the neck. Taking advantage an opponent on his knees, Jessie Godderz hits a couple of elbow to the shoulder that has Gunner staggering around.
Jessie Godderz brings Gunner against the second rope and is choking the life out of him as the referee calls for the clean break. Godderz backs away but tries to go right back on the offense. An attempt to throw Gunner to the ropes is reversed and the modern day Viking uses his considerable strength to pick up Jessie Godderz and deliver a fall away slam.
Both men are down as Gunner finds some life in him, gets up and is able to tag in his partner James Storm. The cowboy comes running out of his corner and delivers a couple of running clotheslines to Jessie Godderz. Storm throws his opponent into the ropes only to have it reversed and he runs them himself. On the turnaround, Storm nails Jessie with a flying forearm followed by a shot to the head and a reverse atomic drop.
James Storm comes off the ropes to deliver a falling neckbreaker to Jessie Godderz. Robbie E, seeing the trouble his partner is in, runs into the ring and right into a couple of right hands by Storm. The cowboy grabs a hold of him and throws him through the ropes and onto the arena floor.
Jessie Godderz is slow to make it to his feet, stumbles around and is caught with Storm's Closing Time maneuver, a double knee facebreaker. The crowd is screaming their approval as Storm seems to be preparing for, the Last Call Superkick.
James Storm nails his finisher on Jessie Godderz in the center of the ring. As Storm goes for the pin and the victory, Robbie E comes into the ring and spits a mouthful of the cowboy's beer into Gunner's face. In an absolute rage, Gunner tackles him and then attacks Robbie E in the ring, getting on top of him in the ring and delivering relentless punches to the head.
The referee is distracted from the pinfall attempt by Storm and tries to break up the melee between the other participants in the bout. Storm clearly has had the pin longer than a three count but due to the brawl between Gunner and Robbie E, is unable to get the referee's attention.
Gunner is possessed with punishing Robbie E for what he did. Referee Brian Stiffler tries to pull him off to stop the assault but is shoved off by a very angry Gunner, sending the official flying across the ring. The referee calls for the bell as James Storm goes over to break up Gunner and Robbie E. James Storm and his partner are disqualified because of Gunner's physical assault on the referee.
WINNERS: TNA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE BROMANS
Gunner and James Storm have words after the match, with the cowboy telling him they had the match won. Dissension is hinted at between the two men as the BroMans celebrate their disqualification victory with their DJ Zema Ion.
We go backstage now to find Sting about to enter Kurt Angle's locker room when he's stopped by Chief of Staff Rockstar Spud. He tells Sting to leave by order of Dixie Carter. Spud leaves to go retrieve the package he & Dixie have been waiting for while Sting, bewildered at the goings on backstage, walks away without seeing Angle.
Another Impact 365 video shows us TNA Knockouts champion Gail Kim in an empty arena kissing her husband, celebrity chef Robert Irvine. Gail Kim goes on to say that her open challenge is a joke because of the quality of her opponents. Robert Irvine says the challenge is a waste of time and that his wife Gail Kim should only wrestle if they can find someone who can beat her.
A short clip of X-Division Champion Chris Sabin and his girlfriend Velvet Sky is shown, with Sabin seeming to practice a promo for a championship match next week against Austin Aries.
MATCH 4: KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION GAIL KIM VS LAURA DENNIS
NON-TITLE MATCH
The Knockouts Champion Gail Kim comes down the entrance ramp with her bodyguard, the imposing Lei'D Tapa. The announcers reference her previous comments about the lack of quality competition for her open challenges.
Her opponent then comes out, Gail Kim's fellow Canadian Laura Dennis. Dennis comes to the ring, waves to the crowd and stands near the corner as the bell goes.
Gail Kim runs toward her distracted opponent and hits a forearm that sends her to the corner and a couple of quick kicks to the midsection. Gail Kim then hurls her opponent into the opposite corner by her hair, smashing her face into the top turnbuckle.
Laura Dennis grabs her jaw as she staggers out of the corner. Gail Kim grabs her by the hair, gets her to her feet and then connects with a forearm uppercut. Kim brings her up by the hair again and delivers a punishing straightjacket neckbreaker to her opponent. The Knockouts Champion covers and seems headed to an easy victory when she herself pulls up her opponent by the hair at two.
Gail Kim punishes Laura Dennis with a kick while she's down and an e;bow to the head after pulling her up by the hair once again. Laura tries to recover in the corner but the Knockouts Champion charges her and connects with a running forearm to the head.
Lots of boos from the crowd for Gail Kim. She continues to verbally berate Laura Dennis, then pie faces her in an act of humiliation. Gail Kim kicks her fallen adversary to the small of the back, picks her up by the hair and delivers a knee to the gut. A forearm smash to the back of her opponent continues Gail Kim's domination of the match.
Laura Dennis is then thrown into the corner, her face hitting the top turnbuckle. Gail Kim then boots her boot to the neck, choking her opponent and only stopping when the referee almost counts to five. A kick to Laura's gut and then a running midsection splash has Kim's foe crawling away from the corner holding her stomach.
Gail Kim walks the apron and slowly makes her way back into the ring. She continues the humiliation and disrespect of her adversary, then gives her a kick to the head for good measure. The verbal bashing by Gail Kim continues as the Knockouts Champion just gets right in the face of her opponent.
Laura Dennis sens to have had enough as she delivers a hard open-hand slap to Gail Kim. The force is enough to send Kim off the ropes. Gail Kim comes back with a strike off the turnaround but is blocked. Dennis replies with an elbow to the head and a running clothesline. The flurry of offense has the champ reeling as Laura Dennis comes off the ropes with a strike to the fallen Gail Kim and goes for the pin attempt. Laura Dennis only gets two as Kim is able to kick out.
Gail Kim stands in the corner to recover from the onslaught. Sensing the momentum going her way. Laura Dennis charges in after the Knockouts Champion, only to be met with both boots to the face. Gail Kim takes advantage by applying a twist of the left arm to a stunned Laura Dennis, followed by her trademark Eat Defeat finisher, a backwards fall while pulling on the arm and keeping her boot to the face. The three count is just a formality as Gail Kim defeats Laura Dennis.
WINNER: TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION GAIL KIM
After the match, Gail Kim delivers another Eat Defeat to her defeated opponent, as Lei'D Tapa got Laura Dennis in a fireman's carry to inflict more punishment.
Suddenly, ODB's music hits and she comes running down to the ring to make the save. Lei'D Tapa goes for a strike to ODB but is blocked and then given two forearm smashes and a kick to the gut. Gail Kim tries to help out her protégé but is met with a clothesline that sends her down.
Lei'D Tapa misses with a lariat of her own and ODB responds with a series of shots to the head and jaw that back the larger woman to the ropes. ODB then runs the ropes and with all that momentum is able to clothesline the giantess over the top rope and onto the arena floor. Lei'D Tapa is able to land on her feet but is clearly angry at the turn of events. From the outside, she reaches up and grabs ODB by the neck, but is quickly stopped by Gail Kim as the two of them back up the ramp and leave.
COMMERCIAL
MATCH 5: MAGNUS VS KURT ANGLE
TNA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH - SEMI FINAL
LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
The introductions are made and the bell sounds to start the main event. The goal of a last man standing match is to bring your opponent to a point where he can't get to his feet to answer the referee's ten count. Pin falls and submission do not matter in this type of match. The winner of this match will go on to face Jeff Hardy for Dixie Carter's "Impact Wrestling" version of the TNA Heavyweight Championship in two weeks.
The competitors lock up and Magnus forces Kurt Angle into the corner, forcing the referee to call for a clean break. Both men go to the center of the ring and circle each other again. Kurt Angle gets behind Magnus and takes him down, trying for a front face lock but unable to lock it in.
Both men are back in their feet again as Kurt Angle delivers a single leg take down that puts Magnus on his back. The Englishman pushes Angle off with his other leg and both men are up once again and circling each other in the center of the ring.
A collar and elbow tie up has Magnus transitioning into a standing wrist lock to Kurt Angle. The Olympian is able to reverse it and put Magnus in the same predicament. Angle twists the arm behind his opponent's back allowing for Magnus to get Angle into an arm bar. He then takes Kurt Angle down to the canvas with his legs scissoring the arm and maintaining the hold.
Kurt Angle, still on the mat, flips Magnus over and onto his belly and goes to grab the Englishman's foot as he gets out of the hold. Magnus, sensing the ankle lock, quickly gets away and makes it to his feet. Both men go to the center of the ring and circle each other once again.
Magnus gets Kurt Angle in a side headlock. The Olympian struggles then tries to throw the Englishman to the ropes in an attempt to break the hold. Magnus holds on and goes nowhere. Kurt Angle changes strategy and lifts Magnus to connect with a side suplex. The hold remains locked in as Magnus now has Kurt Angle on the mat.
Kurt Angle works his way up to his feet during the rest hold and manages to throw Magnus to the ropes, breaking the long headlock. A shoulder block from Magnus on the turnaround sends Angle down. Magnus then runs the ropes in the other direction, hopping over a fallen Kurt Angle to cross once but encountering an overhead belly to belly suplex coming back.
Magnus arches his back in pain as the referee begins his count. He uses the ropes for support and gets to his feet at the count of six. Angle comes toward Magnus and blasts him with a couple of shots to the head then throws his across the ring towards the far ropes.
A reversal by Magnus sends Angle running the ropes. Magnus bends to attempt a back body drop but Angle foresees the move and delivers a kick to the should coming off the ropes. Magnus responds with a running clothesline that sends the Olympian to the mat. The referee starts a count as Angle makes it to his feet at five.
Magnus follows Angle into the corner and follows up a punch to the head with a forearm uppercut to his opponent. Magnus continues his offense with an elbow to the back of the neck and then another forearm uppercut, all the while keeping Angle in the corner. Magnus pulls Angle out of the corner and lift him up to try for a body slam, only to have the gold medalist float over, land on his feet behind him and run the ropes.
Both men come at each other and hit each other with flying clotheslines. The referee starts his count as Magnus is quick to get up. He hits Angle with another clothesline then goes to the corner to wait for the referee's count on his opponent. A five count has Angle on his feet but bent over, as Magnus delivers some forearm smashes to the back. An uppercut to Angle seems to rouse the Olympian as the two rivals start trading blows as we go to the break.
COMMERCIAL
Before going back to the match, we see Dixie Carter and Rockstar Spud in her office. Dixie is very happy holding the unopened package she received from the agent representing A.J. Styles.
Back to the match, Magnus is firmly in control as he delivers a knee to the midsection of Kurt Angle, followed by a standing wristlock. Magnus then picks up Kurt Angle and connects with a Death Valley Driver in the center of the ring. The Olympic gold medalist is in obvious pain as the referee begins the count. Kurt Agle gets up at the count of six.
Magnus gets his arms around the midsection of his opponent, but has it reversed as Angle gets behind him. Angle locks in his arms and delivers an impressive six successive German Suplexes to Magnus before letting him go and going to a corner to await the referee's count. Magnus slowly crawls to the ropes and uses them to get to his feet at the count of eight.
Kurt Angle goes full speed at Magnus who's near the ropes. A shoulder to the midsection of the Englishman sends both men through the middle top ropes and tumbling out onto the arena floor. The referee goes outside and starts counting both men.
Magnus gets to his feet at eight and Angle is up right after him. Magnus gets to the ring apron but is grabbed by Angle who takes hold of his midsection. Angle looks to be attempting a devastating German Suplex off the apron and onto the floor.
Both men are on the precipice as Magnus holds onto the top rope for dear life, trying to stop Angle's maneuver. A few quick elbows to the Olympian's head breaks the grip and sends Angle down to the arena floor. Kurt Angle is down and out, looking up at the arena lights when Magnus runs off the ring apron and connects with an elbow to the heart.
The referee begins to count both men again but Magnus makes it up at eight, with Angle struggling right afterwards, using the barricade for support. Magnus throws Angle underneath the bottom rope and right into the ring. The Englishman climbs to the top rope but his offense is thwarted by Angle. The gold medalist makes a quick recovery, runs up to the second turnbuckle like he's climbing a stepladder, then delivers an overhead belly to belly suplex to Magnus.
The referee starts his count on Magnus after the devastating move by Kurt Angle. Magnus barely manages to get up at nine when Angle gets on the offensive once again. A kick to the gut, a front face and then a snap suplex by Angle all serve to wear down an already weary Magnus. Angle climbs to the top turnbuckle facing away from the ring and attempts a moonsault on his fallen competitor.
Magnus is able to muster up enough strength to roll out of the way as Angle crashes and burns. Both men get back up to their feet at the count of five. Magnus, on what must be just pure adrenaline, picks up Kurt Angle and just slams him down back first. He then goes to the top rope and hits a huge elbow drop to Angle's sternum.
Angle is almost motionless as the referee gets to nine. He grabs the ropes and uses them for support as the beats the count and makes it to his feet. Magnus runs at his foe but Angle moves out of the way, causing the Englishman to clobber the referee and send him down to the canvas.
Kurt Angle, off the distraction of the referee getting hit, grabs Magnus and delivers his patented Angle Slam. Kurt Angle is screaming at the incapacitated referee Brian Hebner, since Magnus is down and a count isn't being made.
From out of nowhere, Robert Roode sneaks up behind Angle's back and delivers a running clothesline to him. Angle goes down to his knees while Magnus and the referee, both still down, are oblivious to what's going on around them. Robert Roode then gets Kurt Angle in the fireman's carry and connects with a Death Valley Driver that sends Angle down in a heap.
Roode shakes the referee to revive him and the official starts the count on both men who are down. Magnus gets up at the count of nine while Kurt Angle is unable to answer the ten count and stays down. Magnus staggers and falls again, but still has gotten the victory and goes to the final in two weeks against Jeff Hardy.
WINNER: MAGNUS
After the match, a smiling Robert Roode rushes to the ring to continue his attack on the fallen Kurt Angle. He rains rights on the top of Kurt Angle's head and then verbally assaults him.
Just as suddenly, Jeff Hardy rushes to the ring to make the save. He goes at it with Robert Roode until the "It Factor" is able to make his escape through the ropes and out of the ring. Magnus and Hardy turn to face each other in the ring. The two finalists in the TNA Heavyweight Championship Tournament shake hands in a show of sportsmanship.
We then go to see Dixie Carter and Rockstar Spud in what looks to be the control room for the broadcast. Dixie is very happy at the match-up in the final taking place in two weeks, and then fawns over the box containing the championship belt.
The box is opened by Rockstar Spud only to reveal a small children's toy belt. Dixie is angry, upset and beside herself at what A.J. has done. Impact ends with a promo from A.J. Styles laughing at the trick he pulled and inviting Dixie to come down to the trailer park in Gainesville, Georgia to take the real belt from him herself.
END
