411’s TNA Impact Wrestling Report 10.10.13

PREVIOUSLY…ON IMPACT WRESTLING: Jeff Hardy wants Ultimate X at BFG, Sting wants to “make” Magnus, Hulk Hogan quits TNA, AJ Styles fires the first shot in his war with Bully Ray.

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We go live to Tulsa, OK and pan the crowd as Mike Tenay hypes BFG on commentary. Tenay then announces that Jeff Hardy will face Austin Aries one-on-one. TNA President Dixie Carter makes her way out to the ring. Carter says that last week we all saw an egotistical fringe player believe his own hype which is why “he” isn’t here anymore and why “he” will ever be named once again. Carter says she doesn’t need anyone here to come in to tell him how to run her company, not Eric Bischoff or Stephanie LeVesque or any other has-beens. Carter turns her attention to AJ Styles, saying she sweetly asked him to leave the building last week but he had to show up and interfere in a match that he wasn’t involved in. Carter says Styles is not needed here and she’s changing her strategy. Carter announces Bully Ray can book Styles in any match he wants, but out comes Sting to super awkwardly interrupt.

Carter thanks Sting for being here and for caring about her. Carter says everyone in the locker room need to wake up because they are under her current review…including Sting himself! Carter says she remembers that Sting was the man who suggested Hulkemort for the GM position in the first place. Carter then admonishes Sting for making his own BFG match against Magnus. Carter asks Sting if he wants to be without a contract like Styles and while she doesn’t want that for him she’ll do it. Carter tells Sting he walked TNA to the edge of the cliff by booking that match and now she has to take it all of the way. Carter then books Sting and Magnus in a tag team match against Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. Carter says if they don’t win their match, neither one will be on Bound For Glory. Carter says if that happens Sting’s future is in the palm of her itty bitty hand. Carter condescendingly wishes Sting good luck to finally end this segment.

• THOUGHTS: Wretched. Absolutely wretched. Dixie Carter, who had been making strides over the past few weeks, completely tanked here. She ran through her lines like she was running a race (negating her two big announcements for this week’s show) and her overacting was almost infuriating to listen to. Sting was no better and this just felt like one giant mess of an opener. I’m glad Hulk Hogan is gone, but I’m not glad that this took his place.

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The cameraman interviewer interrupts Austin Aries. Aries says that Jeff Hardy is once again trying to steal his spotlight then puts over how he’s the longest reigning X-Division Champion in TNA history. Aries says he doesn’t like Ultimate X but Hardy does because he likes and needs the theatrics. Aries then says that he will become X-Division Champion at BFG then shoos the interviewer away as we go to commercial. This match is next.

• THOUGHTS: Good move following that horrible opening segment up with Hardy/Aries; that’s a good way to get this horrible taste out of my mouth.

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-Commercial Break-

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AJ Styles enters the arena and the interviewer asks him about “Bully’s Revenge”. Styles says he isn’t worried because he doesn’t back down from a fight. Styles says Ray knows that and Dixie knows that, then says he’s going to make her pay. Styles says at BFG he’ll have the leverage and the power when he wins the World Title.

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Austin Aries makes his way out for the opening contest. His opponent, Jeff Hardy, makes his way out second.

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Match #1: Jeff Hardy Vs. Austin Aries

Tenay calls this a “PPV-caliber matchup”, which is true and also came off ridiculous. Aries slaps on a side headlock then sweeps the legs and spins around the fallen Hardy and drops part of the elbow to the back of the head. Aries lays over the top turnbuckle in cocky celebration. Hardy gets the crowd clapping as Aries mocks him for it with his own sarcastic Joker claps. Hardy backs Aries into the corner and drives the shoulder repeatedly into the midsection. Hardy whips Aries into the opposite corner but runs right into an elbow. Hardy rebounds and catches Aries in mid-air with an inverted atomic drop. Aries recovers and connects with back to back armdrags, transitioning into an armbar. Hardy counters with a headscissors but Aries busts out with a headstand and connects with a dropkick for 2.

Aries gets a running head start and hits a European uppercut to the back of the head for another 2-count. Hardy fights out of the corner with strikes but Aries sends him back in, splashes him, and hits a bulldog for 2. Aries hits a jumping elbow for another 2 then goes right into the rear chinlock. Hardy escapes with a jawbreaker then hits the float over headscissors, sending Aries out to the floor. Hardy catches him with a dropkick through the ropes, sending Aries into the broadcast table. Hardy climbs to the apron and takes Aries out with a clothesline. Both men are down as we go to commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Hardy connects with a dropkick to the back of a seated Aries as we return from the break. Hardy whips Aries into the corner but misses the follow-up splash and down he goes. Hardy tries to fight back but Aries boxes the ears. Hardy once again fights out of the corner but gets sent out to the floor right into the announce table. Aries climbs to the top and connects with a flying axhandle. Aries does a little victory run to some “ARIES!” chants then goes back on the attack. Aries climbs to the top once more and connects with another flying axhandle. Guy’s channeling his inner-Macho Man. Respect. Aries rolls Hardy back in and climbs to the top for a third time. Hardy dodges the missile dropkick attempt and mounts the comeback. Hardy hits his atomic drop/legdrop/dropkick combo and covers for the 1…2…kickout.

Aries reverses a corner Irish whip and sends Hardy to the apron. Aries connects with a hanging spinning neckbreaker then heads to the top rope once more. This time Aries connects with the missile dropkick. Aries revs up but Hardy gets his boots up during a corner dropkick attempt. Hardy connects with the float over powerbomb, but Aries dodges the Twist of Fate so he hits Whisper in the Wind instead. Hardy takes the shirt off and makes his way to the top. Aries dropkicks the rope, crotching Hardy on the top strut. Aries climbs the turnbuckles and connects with a massive BRAINBUSTER for the 1…2…3!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Austin Aries (14:19)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: A very good match with an awesome finish. That Super Brainbuster looked absolutely brutal. Opening segment forgiven.

Post-Match: Samoa Joe makes his way out to the entrance stage, mic in hand. Joe congratulates Aries on his win. Joe says that last week Aries put himself an X-Division Title match and Hardy turned it into an Ultimate X match. Joe announces that he will be FIFTH participant in the Ultimate X match. Joe says that come BFG “Joe is gonna KILL YOU”.

• THOUGHTS: Well it’s not like Joe had anything better going on so why not add him into the Ultimate X match? I’m all for it even if he’s just fifth-wheeling it.

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We catch up with The Bromans (Robbie E & Jesse Godderz) backstage. Robbie E asks Godderz about losing to ODB, and Godderz says there’s an asterisk to that. Godderz chides Robbie E about losing to both Park and Young, but Robbie E once again mocks him for losing to a girl. Godderz says he’s going to get rid of their biggest problem and walks off, Robbie E wondering just what that problem is as we go to commercial.

• THOUGHTS: LOL LOSING TO GIRLS IS SUUUPER EMBARRASSING AMIRITE? Stupid statement aside I’m pleasantly surprised The Bromans are getting more TV time. They usually vanish into thin air for long periods of time.

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-Commercial Break-

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EARLIER TODAY: Jeremy Borash is outside with Joseph Park and Eric Young who are sitting in a car. Borash announces that they’re going to be road-tripping to Bound For Glory and we can follow their activities via social media and whatnot. They go to leave but Young stops the car and they exit. Young says ODB has a match tonight and they can’t leave yet.

• THOUGHTS: Amusing segment, especially the end when Young realized his wife was wrestling. Let’s turn their road trip into its own miniseries.

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The Bromans are in the ring. Jessie Godderz calls out ODB. The Knockouts Champion obliges and out she comes, husband Eric Young in tow.

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Match #2: *TNA Knockouts Champion* ODB [w/ Eric Young] Vs. Jessie Godderz [w/ Robbie E]

Godderz gets in ODB’s face, trash talking her and flexing. Godderz fist bumps Robbie E, leaving him open to a whole lot of chops from ODB. ODB rubs his face into her cleavage then does so to Robbie E and Eric Young as well. Godderz runs at ODB, but she dodges the splash and rolls him up for the 1…2…kickout. Robbie E trips ODB from the outside, and Young immediately attacks him. The two brawl down the ramp and to the back. ODB goes to take a drink from her flask, but she’s interrupted by the music of Lei’D Tapa. Tapa stalks down the ramp and ODB drinks from her flask, begging her to get in the ring. Tapa runs in and attacks ODB, ending the match.

Winner [via DQ]: ODB (2:08)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: So that happened.

POST-MATCH: Tapa continues the attack, taking ODB’s head off with a big boot. Tapa goozles ODB then drops her with a fireman’s carry into an Ace Crusher. Tapa grabs the Knockouts Title and poses over her fallen foe.

• THOUGHTS: A much better mauling than her debut last week; I guess it helps when the person she’s attacking has some actual talent. Tapa going after the Knockouts Title already seems a bit quick but given how shallow the division is it’s not all that surprising. Also respect to Tapa for toning down the Khali-style yelling.

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Bully Ray is shown walking backstage. The mysterious interviewer asks him about this “Revenge Match” and Ray says he’s on his way to address this right now…meaning after the commercial.

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-Commercial Break-

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Bully Ray is backstage with Garett Bischoff and Knux. Knux and Bisch say they’re down to three members because of him. Ray says it’s not because of him it’s because of Ken Anderson. Ray says Ken is the one who put Devon’s career on the line and he’s the one who challenged him for the World Title. Ray says Anderson’s ego is what brought The Aces & Eights down. Knux says Ray didn’t have to piledrive him on the stage, and Ray admits that was a little too strong. Ray says they have to stick together and tells Knux and Bischoff that he wants them to be the reason AJ Styles doesn’t make it to BFG and why the World Title will stay in their club. Ray asks if they’re with him and they reluctantly agree.

• THOUGHTS: Sounds like Mr. Anderson is on his way back. Right on. Really good segment here, with Ray showing why he makes a tremendous leader, calming the dissent and rallying the troops to his side.

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Sting is backstage with Magnus getting ready for their tag team match. Magnus says he needed the kick in the rear-end and is ready for the biggest match of his career at BFG. Sting says BFG is where careers are made and legacies have been cemented in. Sting says BFG has been good to him and although he can’t ever challenge for the World Title again he still wants to show the world that it’s showtime. Magnus says they need to put that on ice because they need to beat Bad Influence in order to get that match.

• THOUGHTS: Sting and Magnus having to wrestle their way into facing one another is a bit weird but it’s a good way to show just how important this match is to both men. Good way to build it.

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The cameraman knocks on a locker room door and out pops the heads of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. They hype up the EGO Hall Of Fame induction, which is up next.

• THOUGHTS: I love you, Bad Influence. Don’t ever change.

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-Commercial Break-

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The EGO Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony

Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian come out, wearing the brightly colored suits from Dumb and Dumber. They make their way to the ring, which has a red carpet draped over and a ridiculous giant chair off to the side. Daniels approaches the podium to begin the ceremony. Daniels says not only tonight is the inaugural induction into the EGO Hall Of Fame but it’s Throwback Thursday so they dressed like the fans: the dumb and the dumber. Kazarian says there are many fraudulent HOFs out there, including the Baseball HOF and the Rock and Roll HOF, as well as the TNA HOF which has yet to induct Bad Influence. Kazarian introduces the first inductee into the EGO HOF: The Pride of Peterborough, Bobby Roode.

Roode makes his way out, wearing a real-person suit and white tie. Kazarian reveals a portrait of Roode, who then takes a seat in the giant medieval fairy throne. Kazarian says he could have written a novel about all of Roode’s accomplishments in wrestling but instead he made him a video. Kazarian points to the screen and a ridiculous HOF induction vignette where they dub over other wrestlers’ name with Bobby Roode’s name. It’s too amazing for words.

We go back live as Daniels calls Roode a true HOFer, unlike Sting. Daniels says Roode deserves to be in the HOF because he’s the longest reigning World Champ in TNA history and the PM of Suave and Debonair. Daniels introduces Roode as the first inductee into the EGO Hall Of Fame. Roode hugs Daniels and approaches the podium. He thanks everyone, then says this is an amazing moment. Roode says he needs to thank two amazing individuals, two amazing gentleman: Daniels and Kazarian. Roode gets “choked up” and composes himself, Kazarian handing him a tissue. Roode finally gets through it and says there is one special individual who needs to be recognized, for without the heart, desire, and God-given talent the HOF wouldn’t even exist: BOBBY ROODE.

Roode continues on, saying he is the man who deserves a HOF induction…not Kurt Angle. Roode says the only reason Angle is being inducted into the HOF is because of the fans. Roode asks the fans what Angle has done for TNA lately, then puts over his own accomplishments while downplaying Angle’s impact. Roode asks where Angle is right now and that’s our cue.

The music of Kurt Angle hits and out he comes, with a death stare that would make Dean Malenko jealous. Angle takes his shirt off and walks to the ring, mic in hand. Angle says he’s been gone a little while and asks Roode if Daniels and Kaz are his girlfriends (weak). Bad Influence attack and they receive suplexes for their troubles. Roode tries to bail through the ropes and Angle quickly gets the Ankle Lock on before managing to run out to the ramp. Angle tells Roode he just made the biggest mistake of his life and challenges him for Bound For Glory.

• THOUGHTS: From the ridiculous suits to the cheesy in-ring setup to the absolute perfection of the induction video, the EGO Hall Of Fame segment will go down as one of, if not the, best segment of the year. An amazing piece of TV I didn’t want to end. Angle making his return was excellent as well despite his terrible joke, and it has set up a match I’m definitely excited to see. WATCH THIS SEGMENT ON REPEAT, FOLKS.

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A shot of Brooke Tessmacher making her way to the ring is shown, followed by a shot of Velvet Sky, who’s nursing injured ribs from last week. Her boyfriend Chris Sabin is super chipper. This match is next!

• THOUGHTS: Nice try TNA but not even the threat of a Sky/Tessmacher match can ruin my EGO buzz! (Also side note Heel Sabin rules just walking around).

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-Commercial Break-

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Bobby Roode is backstage throwing a tantrum. He says that Angle made the biggest mistake of his life and challenges him for Bound For Glory. Roode screams and throws something.

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Velvet Sky makes her way out, boyfriend Chris Sabin in tow. We see clips of Lei’D Tapa destroying Sky from last week as they make their way to the ring. Sky tries to let those pigeons out but Sabin shields her booty. Nice touch. Her opponent, Brooke Tessmahcer, makes her way out second.

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Match #3: Velvet Sky [w/ Chris Sabin] Vs. Brooke Tessmacher in a #1 CONTENDERS MATCH

Tenay says Gail Kim is already facing ODB at BFG so this match is for the third spot in the title match. Tessmacher sends Sky to the mat and Sabin tells her to crush her neck as words of encouragement. Sky fights out of the corner and connects with rapid fire kicks, stomping Tessmacher down to the mat. Sky sends Tessmacher into the corner but misses a splash and Tessmacher immediately targets the ribs with kicks and strikes. Tessmacher rips part of the bandage off but Sky fights back and hits a sort-of Russian legsweep. Tessmacher chokes Sky then continues working over the now sort-of exposed ribs. Tessmacher tosses Sky out to the floor. Tessmacher tosses Sky back in then lets her own pigeons loose. Sky takes the opportunity and kicks her in the face. Sky hits back to back clotheslines followed by a back elbow. Tessmacher reverses an Irish whip but Sky catches her with a kick to the face followed by a bulldog. Sky covers for the 1…2…kickout.

Sky kicks Tessmacher in the face and hits a running neckbreaker. Sabin covers Tessmacher once more but only gets 2. Sabin brings Sky over to give her more advice and work on a gameplan, allowing Tessmacher to run from behind and roll her up for the 1…2…3!

Winner [via Pinfall]: Brooke Tessmacher (3:55)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: Sabin’s ridiculous advice was funny and I liked how he accidentally cost her the match but everything else was terrible. They hit the air more than each other. Moving on.

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-Commercial Break-

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EARLIER TONIGHT: Ethan rolls into the arena. Exact same segment until it turns into a vignette hyping how awesome he is. His full name: Ethan Carter III or “EC3”. And yes he’s Derrick Bateman of WWE fame. That was pretty awesome.

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Bad Influence make their way out for the next match, now in their ring gear instead of their Dumb and Dumber suits. Their opponents, Sting & Magnus, make their way out second.

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Match #4: Sting & Magnus Vs. Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian)

Magnus and Daniels start off. Daniels grabs a side headlock and ducks back to back clotheslines, but Magnus catches him in mid-air and connects with a suplex. Sting gets his shot in and Magnus takes Daniels down with a right hand. Sting tags in for real and the crowd goes wild. Sting and Magnus hit Daniels with a double back elbow. Daniels backs Sting into the corner and connects with a right before tagging Kazarian in. Kazarian runs at Sting, but Sting takes him down with an armdrag. Magnus tags in and he and Sting almost collide. Kazarian attacks a distracted Magnus from behind, and Daniels fights Sting on the outside of the ring. This tag team contest continues after the commercial.

-Commercial Break-

Bad Influence are still in control as we return from the break. Kazarian chokes Magnus with his knee then hits the heel kick for 2. Kazarian applies a front facelock to further wear Magnus down. A “WE WANT STING!” chant breaks out. Magnus tries to break out but Kazarian drives an elbow into the back. Daniels tags in and rides Magnus down from the second-rope for a 2-count. Daniels immediately applies a rear-chinlock. Magnus escapes with elbows but runs right into a midsection shoulderblock from Daniels. Kazarian tags in and hits a slingshot legdrop for the 1…2…kickout. Daniels is back in after the ref realizes he should be paying attention, letting it slide. Daniels throws Magnus out of the ring and antagonizes Sting, allowing Kazarian to attack Magnus on the outside while the ref’s back is turned. Daniels covers but the ref won’t count because his feet are on the ropes.

Daniels applies another chinlock on Magnus and the crowd brings him to his feet. Magnus and Daniels exchange right hands. Magnus wins the shootout but Daniels responds with a jawbreaker. Magnus regains the advantage with a clothesline and both men are down. Sting gets the hot tag and the place comes unglued. Sting works over Kazarian, connecting with a faceslam for the 1…2…Daniels breaks up the count. Sting sends Daniels to the outside and tags Magnus back in. Magnus climbs to the top and hits the flying elbowdrop. Magnus says he’s not done yet and applies the Cloverleaf. Daniels attacks him from behind to break the hold. Sting tags himself in and hits a Stinger Splash on Kazarian, followed by a SCORPION DEATH DROP for the 1…2…3!

Winners [via Pinfall]: Sting & Magnus (10:58)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: A match I just couldn’t get into; it just wasn’t there action-wise and there was no suspense since it was pretty obvious who was gonna win. Attempting to set up tension with Sting tagging himself in was a nice touch but the ref missing it because he was busy dealing with Bad Influence took the wind out of those sails a bit. Sting/Magnus is now for real all over again, and it should be a match that happens (that was my Perd Hapley impression for those you Parks and Rec fans).

POST-MATCH: Magnus slides into the ring and stares Sting down, mad about what just happened.

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Dixie Carter confronts AJ Styles backstage. Carter says he doesn’t need to face Bully Ray at BFG and hands him a check. Carter says he could buy a lot of trailers with that money or start a foundation for illiterate redneck kids. Styles says it is quite a lot of money and you can buy a lot of stuff with it…except him. Styles rips up the check and throws it into her face before walking off. Carter says she didn’t sign the check anyway and walks off in a huff.

• THOUGHTS: Angry Styles from over the summer would be pissed at Current Styles for ripping that check up since all he wanted from wrestling was the money. A hokey segment but Carter was much better here so at least it wasn’t the trainwreck the opening segment was. She still needs to slow down though; her sarcastic quips don’t play well when she doesn’t give them a second to sink in.

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-Commercial Break-

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The Aces & Eights make their way out to the ring, TNA World Champion Bully Ray leading his two troops into battle. Ray yells at Tenay and boots him from the announce table. Ray gets on the headset. Their opponent, AJ Styles makes his way out second.

• THOUGHTS: I’m not saying Bully Ray is an improvement over Mike Tenay but I’m also not NOT saying that.

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Main Event: AJ Styles Vs. The Aces & Eights (Garett Bischoff & Knux) [w/ Bully Ray & Brooke Tessmacher]

Styles goes right at them before the bell, sending Knux out to the floor with an enziguri. Bischoff fights Styles off with a series of rights, but Styles fights back and hits a massive flying corner clothesline. Styles brings Bischoff to the mat with a snapmare and follows up with a kneedrop. Styles continues his decimation of Bischoff, stomping a mudhole in him. Bischoff connects with a throat chop but Styles catches him with a kick. Knux tags himself in and attacks a distracted Styles from behind. Knux picks Styles up and drops him throat-first on the top rope. Knux catapults Styles throat-first into the second rope and covers for 2.

Bischoff tags back in to continue the assault. Styles fight back but Bischoff drives a knee into the gut, following up with a double underhook suplex for the 1…2…kickout. Knux tags in and puts the boot to Styles’ midsection. Knux climbs to the second turnbuckle but misses the flying legdrop. Styles mounts his comeback, taking Bischoff down with a spin kick. Styles gets sent to the apron and hits a springboard forearm on Knux. Bischoff grabs Styles from behind and Knux accidentally hits his own partner with a right hand. Knux gets taken out with a Pele kick and then tries to roll-up Bischoff but it’s more of just an actual pin for the 1…2…3.

Winner [via Pinfall]: AJ Styles (4:47)

• MATCH THOUGHTS: Ehhhhh.

POST-MATCH: Ray hits the ring and tells the other Aces & Eights members to watch. Ray takes his chain and repeatedly whips Styles with it. Ray throws his hat at Bischoff and tells him to hold it. Ray continues the assault with the chain. Styles gets to his feet and runs right into a backdrop, which sends him right onto the ramp. Ray poses over the fallen Styles and yells at him as we conclude this week’s episode.

• THOUGHTS: Solid beatdown to end the show and build the Ray/Styles match but it still doesn’t feel like a BFG main event to me. Honestly Angle/Roode and Sting/Magnus feel like more important matches. But that’s just me.

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS: After that horrifyingly bad opening segment I was nervous that this episode was going to snap Impact’s two-week streak of good episodes but Hardy/Aries and the EGO Hall Of Fame prevented that from happening. It took a dip in quality this week but not too much and it was still a very fun two hours of TV. And seriously that EGO Hall Of Fame segment? Pure unbridled gold. I can’t wait to watch it again when I get the chance. The hype for the BFG main event doesn’t feel all that special and there was some iffy wrestling, but overall this is an episode worth watching. Good stuff.

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When not covering Impact (almost) every Thursday for 411 Jon can be found running, and writing for, his own site Pro Wrestling Update as well as on Twitter.