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TNA IMPACT WRESTLING: INTERNATIONAL VERSION REPORT

By Bichon Rambo, WrestlersCourt.net on 2015-05-23 09:05:07

Results for the international version of TNA Impact for May 22, 2015:

We start with a video piece showing the recent history of the tag team belts and the formation of the best of five series between the Dirty Heels and the Wolves.

Josh Mathews and the Pope are at ringside at the announce table.

6-man X-Division elimination match:  Mandrews vs. Manik vs. Tigre Uno vs. Crazzy Steve vs. Argos vs. Rockstar Spud.

    Good match.  Argos hit a springboard moonsault off the top rope, taking everyone out on the floor.
    Mandrews scored a shooting star press off the top rope, taking everyone out again.
    Mandrews hits another shooting star press in-ring, but misses Manik.  Manik goes for the cover and Mandrews is eliminated.
    Argos hits a gutbuster on Crazzy Steve and eliminates him.
    Tigre Uno rolls up Manik and he’s eliminated.
    Spud hits the underdog on Argos and he’s out.
    Manik and Spud are the only ones left.
    Spud goes for the underdog, but Manik counters and hits a gutbuster for 2.
    Spud scores the underdog this time and goes over.

Video piece about the Bromans meltdown.  Then we see Jessie being interviewed in the back.  Jessie is cutting a promo on Robbie E., and saying that Robbie held him back.

Spud interview backstage about the match he just won.  He starts cutting a promo on Kenny King, saying that he will win the X-Division title again.

Jessie is in the ring now, cutting another promo on Robbie E.  DJZ comes out and tells him that Robbie E. is the one who got Jessie over.  He says that Jessie was nothing but a “Knockout’s bitch” when he first got there.  Jessie and DJZ start to fight.

    Jessie vs. DJZ – this was a really good match.  Lots of back and forth.  ‘Heel’ Jessie works well in the ring.
    Jessie hits the Boston crab for the tap-out by DJZ.  Jessie goes over.

Quick interview of Magnus in the back.  Magnus says that Mickie isn’t here tonight, but he’s going to send a message to Storm through one of his stooges.  He says he’s going to fight Khoya right now.

Video piece about the Mickie, Magnus and Storm angle.

Magnus gets to the ring and cuts a great promo on Khoya.  He says that Khoya carries that “big, long, thick piece of wood” to make up for the fact that he doesn’t “have a big, long, thick something else, somewhere else”.  Then Magnus says, “Don’t be ‘Khoya’ with me, come on out.”  Khoya comes out to the ring, not looking very happy.

    This was a really good match.  Lots of back and forth, inside and outside of the ring.
    Magnus was really relaxed and working the crowd.  He even kissed an older woman in the audience.
    Magnus hit a cover for 2, then another and another.  After the 5th cover, Magnus threw the referee onto Khoya, got down and counted for 2.  Magnus motioned a ‘2’ to the timekeeper.
    Khoya scored a couple of scoop slams on Magnus.
    Magnus hit the elbow drop from the top rope, followed by 2 side slams for the win.
    Huge pop for Magnus.  He had the crowd eating out of his hand.

Bram cuts an excellent promo backstage.  He says he hates everyone, and although he’s never met Bobby Roode, he hates him too.  They’ll be going one-on-one in the main event tonight.

Dollhouse video promo – then Marti Belle w/ Jade come to the ring.  Marti Belle vs. Rebel is next.

    Marti Belle tells Rebel to “say Dollhouse”, or they’ll rip her eyelashes out and her lips off her face.
    Rebel takes the mic and says “the Dollhouse”, but they’re not happy with her performance.
    Rebel takes the mic again and says, “the…Skankhouse”.  Then she and Marti Belle go at it.
    Marti Belle goes over.
    Not much to say about this match.

Interview in the back with Kenny King about Rockstar Spud.  Kenny says he’s more interested in his match with Mica tonight.  He says the interviewer shouldn’t be bothering him about that “stupid ass Rockstar Spud” and tells him to get out of his face.  This was really well done.

X-Division Championship match is next – Mica vs. Kenny King

    Good match.  Mica hit a backdrop on King.
    King responded with the double knees on Mica.
    King scores a fireman’s carry into a sidewalk slam for the win.
    King retains the X-Division title.

Bobby Roode backstage cutting a promo about the best of 5 series he’s in for the tag team titles.  He says he has a lot on his plate with his tag titles chase, but he’s going to bring it to Bram tonight.

Bram vs. Bobby Roode

    The guys put on a good show inside and outside the ring.  They worked a smart match.
    Bobby went for the Roodebomb but Bram grabbed the rope.
    Bram goes for the Brighter Side of Suffering, but Roode fights out of it.
    Bobby scores the Roodebomb and goes for the cover, but Bram rolls out of the ring.
    Bram hits a low blow and rolls Bobby up (with a handful of tights) for the win.

I thought tonight would be a throwaway, but it was possibly the best Impact I’ve seen in a while.  It wasn’t bogged-down in heavy storylines, with everyone pissed-off at someone else.  Magnus, who has always been played as stiff, was having fun and fully in control of the crowd.  They loved him.  Everyone did really great promos and the backstage shots looked like the backstage of a wrestling show…not a dark and misty Gotham City.  The talents and the product as a whole, felt relaxed and unforced.  Pope did a fantastic job announcing and I hope that’s a permanent spot for him (if he wants it).  He was another big reason that the product felt so much lighter tonight.  My only complaint was the Knockouts match.  I’d like to send TNA a DVD of Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks, just to show them what’s possible.

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