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May 31st
On this day in history in ....
We start off with Edge attacking Evan Bourne in the ring. Edge yells at Bourne and he wants to know if Bourne wants to get in his face because it is his ring. We are told that Bourne wanted to take advantage of Edge’s promo time but it looks like it didn’t work. Edge tosses Bourne in the air, but Bourne with a double knee splash. Bourne with a series of kicks and a knee to the head but Bourne misses a jumping kick. Bourne does not miss a spin kick. Bourne goes up top but Edge moves when Bourne tries for the Shooting Star Press. Edge waits for Bourne to get up and Edge hits the spear.
Edge takes the mic and he breathes heavily before saying that what happened to Evan Bourne is what is going to happen to his opponents at Fatal Four Way. Sheamus, John Cena, and Randy Orton, no matter what he does and no matter how many times he proves his dominance, people like Evan Bourne disrespect him. The fans disrespect him. It all changes at Fatal Four Way. He is nothing like his opponents. John Cena is the ‘super hero’ and the strongest person in this industry. Sheamus doesn’t care who gets in his way because he will bulldoze through them and take what he wants. Randy Orton, the snake in the grass, waits to pounce and sink his fangs into the situation. Edge says that everyone gets into it and jumps on the bandwagon. Edge says RKO and they join in. Edge says that they are sheep who fell into the snake pit. At Fatal Four Way, he proves everyone wrong when he becomes a ten time WWE Champion.
Randy Orton’s music plays and he comes out to the ring. Edge says speak of the devil, the silent assassin, the Viper comes out. Edge says that Orton thinks he is going to do something to him. Is he going to coil up and try to drop him? Edge says that isn’t going to happen because they know that Orton is not 100 percent because of what he did to Orton at Over the Limit. Edge says that he is going to give Orton a chance because Orton will not win at Fatal Four Way and he will hurt Orton. Edge tells Orton to look into his eyes because he says that he is not kidding.
Orton stares at Edge and then hits an RKO. Orton goes to the turnbuckles to pose without looking at Edge on the mat.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that WWE goes to a lot of military bases and facilities.
Ashton Kutcher is online looking at stuff that Zack Ryder is saying. Eve stops by and gives Ashton a hug. Ashton can’t believe that Zack is talking smack about him. He wonders if Zack knows that Ashton is hosting tonight. Ashton mentions that he is in a movie called The Killers so he is going to ‘put a hit’ on Zack Ryder. The Miz stops by and asks Ashton if he wanted to see him because he wanted to know if Ashton wanted to be around the biggest star in WWE. Ashton mentions Bret Hart and he says that they talked about a match tonight against Daniel Bryan, who has a one night contract. Miz wants to know if he should be scared. Miz says that he will beat Bryan to a bloody pulp. Ashton says that will be tough after Daniel Bryan makes him tap out. Miz tells Ashton to get a Nikon camera to take pictures of what he is going to do to Bryan. Miz leaves and Ashton says that he could take Miz because he looks like he is a buck-five.
We see highlights from last week when R Truth defeated The Miz to become the new United States Champion.
Match Number One: R Truth versus Chris Jericho
Jericho has some words for Truth but Truth responds with a dance move. They lock up and Jericho with a side head lock. Jericho with a side head lock but Truth with a hip toss. Truth blocks a drop kick and he catapults Jericho to the floor and Truth with a pescado and we go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho has Truth in a reverse chin lock. We see footage from the commercial break when Jericho dropped Truth on the top rope and then he hit a baseball slide into the ribs, sending Truth to the floor. We are back to the live action and Truth with a punch and a rollup for a near fall. Jericho with an enzuigiri and he gets a near fall. Jericho chokes Truth in the ropes and stands on his back to add more pressure. Jericho punches Truth in the corner followed by a suplex. Truth with a flying forearm and punches to Jericho. Truth with a tilt a whirl head scissors followed by a side kick and he gets a near fall. Truth runs into a boot from Jericho and Jericho with a bulldog and then he goes for the Lionsault but Truth moves and Jericho hits the mat hard. Truth misses the scissors kick and Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Truth powers out of the hold. Truth with a sitout gourdbuster for a near fall. Jericho with a thumb to the eyes followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Jericho with a kick to the head as he taunts Truth and wants to know what’s up. Truth with a kick and then he does the split to avoid Jericho. Truth misses a side kick and Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho and he puts Truth in the hold but Truth with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: R Truth
The four men in the Fatal Four Way main event are in a tag match later tonight. We go to commercial.
We are back and Cole and Lawler talk about the Fatal Four Way pay per view. We take a look back at how Randy Orton got into the match because Batista didn’t want to wrestle and he quit the WWE.
Zack Ryder and Alicia Fox are in the office and he thinks that Kutcher hired Bret to take care of him. Bret says that he has bigger things on his plate and Alicia and Zack leave. The Hart Dynasty come in and he says that he signed the Usos to Raw but did not know that they would attack them last week. Bret says that he cannot cut them any favors since they are family. Bret says that the Usos are trying to make a name at their expense so Bret wants to know what they are going to do.
Before the match starts, Santino wants them to stop playing the Darth Vader music for William Regal. Santino wants to know why Vladimir comes out with Regal when he could be part of the greatest Tag Team in the WWE. The irremovable object and the irresistible force. Santino says that Eve has agreed to make love to Vladimir. Eve stops Santino and then he says that she would love for him to be his tag team partner. Santino mentions the cobra.
Match Number Two: Eve Torres and Santino Marella versus Maryse and William Regal with Vladimir Kozlov
The women start things off and Maryse with a knee and forearm. Eve with a drop kick and Maryse backs into the corner and tags in Regal. Santino comes in as well and Santino with a spin kick that catches some air. Santino tries for a leg trip but Regal does not budge and Regal with a knee and forearms. Regal with a forearm to the chest. Regal with an Irish whip and forearm to Santino. Regal with an Exploder Suplex and then he puts Santino in the Regal Stretch but Eve breaks it up. Eve and Maryse brawl and Kozlov comes in and Kozlov gives Regal a choke slam and Santino gets the three count as Kozlov and Maryse leave the ringside area.
Winners: Eve Torres and Santino Marella
Bret Hart is walking in the back and he is going to make an announcement for next week’s Raw. We go to commercial.
We are back with a video package to dedicate tonight’s show to the Armed Forces on Memorial Day.
It is time for the Raw General Manager Bret Hart to come to the ring. Bret says hello to the people of Austin and he says that it has been a long time. He says that he has been the General Manager of Raw for about a week and he has been having a lot of fun. He says that he got back together with Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long and next week, they are going to do something special. All Raw and Smackdown superstars will be there next week for a three hour Raw. Bret said that it would be good for the fans to participate so he wants some ideas from them. He says that if the superstars in the back have any ideas, they can tell him. Bret says that it is going to be a night to remember.
Ted DiBiase and Virgil come to the ring. Ted tells Bret that if him and Teddy Long are truly accepting suggestions, give him the show so he can be General Manager for the night. Ted says that he wants complete control. Ted says that he is willing and able to pay Bret and Teddy whatever it takes. Ted says that Bret is not too good to be bought. Ted reminds us about his dad and Ted Sr. used to say that everyone had their price. Ted says that Bret is part of everyone. Bret says that he can check with Teddy about that. Ted says that he can take care of Teddy, but Bret is too good for that. Ted says that Bret came back as General Manager because he needs money. Ted tells Bret not to let his pride get in his way. Ted says that Bret has to name his price.
Ashton appears on the TitanTron and he wants Bret to think about something. Ashton says that next week they can do a Raw Viewer’s Choice where they can pick the matches and stipulations for the show.
Bret thinks about it and says that next week will be a Viewer’s Choice night.
Vince McMahon makes his return to Raw and he comes to the ring. Vince wants everyone to cheer for him and then for Bret Hart. Vince says that Bret looks ten years older than he did at Wrestlemania. Vince says that he never looked or felt better. Vince says that he wasn’t doing to well at Wrestlemania when his entire family bashed him over and over and over and over with a steel chair. Bret says he did it 18 times and Vince says that would have injured a normal person. Vince says that he hoped that Bret got it out of his system and Bret says that he got most of it out of his system.
The fans chant ‘You Tapped Out’ and then Vince says that when Bret was given the opportunity to become the general manager of Raw, he jumped on it. Vince says that he allowed Bret to become general manager because maybe he is setting Bret up for something because he has been vengeful in the past. Maybe he is keeping his enemies close. Maybe he thinks Bret is the right man for the job. Vince says that Bret has been making the popular decisions and Vince says that he will be watching next week. Vince says that he will not always have easy decisions to make and you need to treat the fans like children. Vince says that he means it in the most complementary way. He says that you have to make decisions that might not always be popular but are the right decision. Bret says that he is ready for anything. Vince says that he is out here to wish him luck and Vince wants to know if Bret believes him and Bret is not sure if he believes Vince. Vince says that it is a wonderful story that a man who was banished 13 years ago from this show to return triumphantly to becomes the general manager. Vince says that he hopes Bret’s story has a happy ending.
Zack Ryder is in the back and he is wondering if Randy Orton is the one to take him out. Zack says that he is a future legend while Orton is the legend killer. Orton says that if he was there to take him out, he wouldn’t be talking now.
A door closes on Orton’s injured shoulder and it was Edge who slammed the door into Orton’s arm. Someone comes by to check on Orton and wants to get some help for Orton as we go to commercial.
We are back and in case you missed it, we see Orton being attacked by his dressing room door and Edge’s involvement in the attack.
They are checking on Orton and Cole wonders if Orton can team with John Cena or will we have the never before seen ‘Handicap Match’?
We see highlights from last week’s NXT when Michael Cole got in a cheap shot on Daniel Bryan. Then we see Miz and Bryan brawl while Cole runs down Bryan.
Match Number Three: The Miz versus Daniel Bryan
Bryan with a forearm and then he punches Miz. The referee pulls Bryan off and Bryan with an arm submission. Miz with a clothesline to the back of the head and Miz with crossfaces to Bryan. Miz with a running boot and he gets a near fall. Miz with a shoulder and punches followed by forearms. The referee pulls Miz off Bryan. Miz with the clothesline into the corner and Bryan goes down. Miz goes up top and hits a double sledge. Miz slaps Bryan but Bryan puts Miz in an Omoplata and Miz rolls through but so does Bryan and Bryan gets the three count.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
After the match, Miz attack Bryan from behind and throws him out of the ring. Miz with a kick to the head on the floor in front of the announce table. Miz tells Bryan to apologize to Cole but Bryan sends Miz into the announce table and then he throws Miz onto Cole.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cole says that he was assaulted again. Lawler says it was an ambush, kind of like the way the Usos ambushed The Hart Dynasty. We go to the Slam of the Week, which happens to be that ambush.
The Usos and Tamina are in the ring. They say that they have the world tripping over them. The only way to make a name for themselves is to put the Unified Tag Champions on their backs. He says that it was Jay and Jimmy Uso standing tall along with Tamina. Jimmy says that their family isn’t the only family that runs deep in this business. He says that their family goes back to the Wild Samoans. They are not the stereotypical Samoans. The bottom line is that they had to make a name and the Hart Dynasty happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Tamina says that they respect where the Hart Dynasty comes from. The WWE Universe respects the Harts but they do not respect them. Tamina mentions that her father is Jimmy Snuka and he was put in the corner for the first Wrestlemania. She says that isn’t going to happen no more. They were born and created for one purpose . . . to dominate.
The Hart Dynasty hit the ring and we have a six person brawl. They try for the Hart Attack but Tamina trips Kidd and then she clotheslines Natalya. They hit an alley oop Samoan drop on Kidd and then it is time for a triple splash from the top.
It is time to take a look back at what happened tonight between Randy Orton and Edge. We start off with Orton’s RKO in the ring at the start of the show. Then we see Edge attack Orton with the door to Orton’s dressing room later in the show.
We are back and it is time for a video for Ashton Kutcher’s new movie The Killers.
Zack has the mic and he says that Ashton Kutcher wants to mimic his movie and put a hit out on him. He says that Alicia has a great idea and that is why he is in the ring. He wants to know who the ‘hit man’ is. He says that Ashton doesn’t want to make him mad.
Ashton tells Zack that he will let him know who it is and Jerry Lawler comes into the ring and he sits in his chair. The Great Khali comes to the ring but Ashton says that it isn’t him either. Goldust comes out and we have our third red herring.
Zack says that he is paranoid and wants to know who it is. Ashton wants to know if Zack really wants to know, he will never see it coming.
Alicia gets on the mic and she says that she is tired of this joke. She gives the mic back to Zack but drops it and then Alicia with a leg drop to Ryder.
Ashton applauds Alicia’s job. He says that is why you don’t mess with the farm hand or his Twitter followers.
Sheamus and Edge meet in the dressing room and Sheamus tells Edge that he saw what Edge did to Randy Orton and he tells the fella that he liked it. Sheamus says that Edge was right but then Edge cuts off Sheamus and says that he has already weakened Orton so now they can both weaken John Cena. Sheamus says that if Edge takes advantage at his expense, it will be the last mistake that Edge makes.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a This Week in WWE History Moment. This week in 1998, the Junk Yard Dog passed away.
Next week, your guests hosts are the cast of the A Team.
John Cena has a mic with him when he comes to the ring. John has some unfortunate news for the WWE Universe. Due to the actions of Edge earlier tonight, Randy Orton has reinjured his shoulder and will not be able to compete tonight. Cena tells Edge that was a brilliant plan to leave him shorthanded on short notice, but everyone in the back hates Edge and Sheamus. He says that his partner is a human wrecking ball who would love to kick his teeth in.
Match Number Four: Edge and Sheamus versus John Cena and Evan Bourne
Edge and Cena start things off and Edge with forearms and punches to Cena. Cena with an Irish whip and a bulldog out of the corner and Bourne tags in and hits a knee from the turnbuckles to the arm. Bourne with a kick to Edge and he takes Edge to the mat and works on the arm. Edge with a forearm to the back but Bourne with a head scissors and drop kick followed by a spinning heel kick. Edge goes to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Cena punches Sheamus and Bourne is tagged in and he hits a running drop kick into the corner and he gets a near fall. Bourne with kicks to the leg but Sheamus with a back elbow. Sheamus sends Bourne into the turnbuckles and connects with a forearm to the back. Edge tags in and connects with a forearm to the back. Edge kicks Bourne and connects with forearms and he kicks Bourne in the head as Bourne hangs over the apron. Edge comes off the apron with a forearm to the back of the neck. Sheamus tags in and Edge holds Bourne for Sheamus to kick him. Sheamus tries for a suplex but Bourne with a knee to the head to get out of the hold. Bourne with a kick to the leg that staggers Sheamus as Bourne tries to make the tag. Sheamus picks up Bourne and pushes him away and then hits a double sledge to the head for a near fall. Edge tags back in and he kicks Bourne in the ribs. Edge with a hard Irish whip and he gets a near fall on Bourne. Edge with a boot to the head and he gets a near fall. Bourne with kicks but Edge with forearms. Bourne with an enzuigiri and both men are down. Bourne makes the tag and so does Edge. Cena with the two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle as the moves of doom are finished. Cena gets Sheamus up for the Attitude Adjustment but Sheamus with a thumb to the eyes and he hits a power slam. Sheamus misses the Pump Kick and Bourne with a kick form the apron. Cena with Attitude Adjustment and Edge tries for the spear on Cena but Cena moves and Edge hits the ring post. Cena tags in Bourne who hits the Shooting Star Press for the three count.
Winners: Evan Bourne and John Cena
In his latest editorial, Powell WWE because they want to "discourage complaints" made about their product "prior to 2008, before [Linda McMahon] began to think about using her fortune to acquire high public office and started cleaning up her act."
Powell noted that the complaints destroyed McMahon's first political run and noted that the depositions for the potential libel case would be entertainment in themselves, writing some potential questions he would pose:
"Mrs. McMahon, in the video playing now, who is the man in the wrestling ring with the microphone instructing that shapely young woman to undress and get down on her hands and knees and bark like a dog? Your husband? What do you think of that?"
"In this video who are the young women undressing, kissing, and touching each other sexually in the ring? What is conveyed by the big man jumping on top of them as they lie naked on the mat?"
"Mrs. McMahon, this video shows your husband and son pouring paint over the head of a wrestler who seems meant to appear mentally retarded. They beat him up and push his head into a toilet. Did you approve this scene?"
"In this video a bed has been placed in the ring. A man undresses a woman down to her bra and panties, simulates sex with her as they stand next to the bed, places her under the covers, follows her there, and emerges to toss her bra and panties on the mat. Your daughter is now WWE's creative director. Was this scene her idea?"
"The scene in the next video appears to take place in a funeral parlor, where a male wrestler undresses himself and then undresses the corpse of a woman in a casket before climbing on top of her. Is this meant to depict necrophilia?"
"This video shows your husband and daughter in the ring with the shapely young woman who barked like a dog in the first video. Your husband and daughter force her face into a slop bucket and your husband taunts her for having been 'daddy's little toy.' Then your husband pours the slop bucket on her head. In your campaign's television and radio commercials you describe yourself as a 'job creator.' What are the job descriptions of the women who undress in the ring, behave lasciviously, and are pushed into a slop bucket? If this stuff is not pornography, what is it exactly?"
Powell also noted that "people McMahon can't buy, she bullies."
2012 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the first live Impact Wrestling of the summer, covered here on PWInsider.com!
We kick the show off with wrestlers surrounding the ring for our opening match...
Lumberjack Match: World Champion Bobby Roode vs Sting
Roode tries to jump Sting before the bell, but winds up on the receiving end of a beating. Roode takes a Flair flip in the corner, but doesn't go to the floor. Instead, he falls back inside and continues taking a pounding. Sting with the Beell and a dropkick, but Roode avoids the Scorpion Deathlock. He starts to slide out to the floor for a breather, but remembers the ugly mob of lumberjacks and goes back in. Sting quickly attacks and sends him back out to the floor, where the lumberjacks beat him up and roll him back in. Sting dumps him outside for another 7-on-1 beatdown, then Roode rolls back inside and dodges a Stinger Splash, then throws Sting outside on the heel lumberjack side. Sting survives the pounding and goes back after Roode, who tries to escape to the floor and gets dumped back inside yet again. Roode lures Sting into charging him and dodges, sending Sting rolling out to the floor for another round with lumberjacks, then Roode finally gets an advantage when he comes back in. Roode gets an inverted bearhug, Sting escapes and goes for another Stinger splash, but Roode gets the boot up. Roode throws Sting back outside, but this time he fights back against the lumberjacks as we go to commercial.
We're back, and Roode gives Sting a vertical suplex for 2, then gives him a series of hard chops in the corner. Sting no-sells and slowly walks out of the corner just like he did in 1988, and this time he unloads on Roode and hits the Stinger splash. Roode rolls out to the floor on the heel lumberjack side, and they try to protect Roode as the babyface lumberjacks come around the ring after him, but Sting comes over the top rope and wipes everyone out. They go back inside where Sting goes for the Scorpion Deathlock, Roode counters to the Crippler Crossface, and Sting makes it to the ropes. Sting slides out the back on another suplex attempt and hits the Deathdrop, then gets Roode in the Deathlock right in the middle of the ring. Roode can't make the ropes and, with nowhere else to go, taps out.
Winner: Sting
Sting beat the World Champion, and I'm guessing that puts him in line for a title shot. Hulk Hogan comes out to applaud Sting and inform us that the main event of Slammiversary will be Roode vs Sting for the World Title. Hogan gives Sting a big thumbs up as an irate Roode clutches the belt with the classic "my number is up" look on his face.
Later tonight: AJ Styles takes on Christopher Daniels, the fans at home pick the challenger for the TV Title, and Brooke Hogan makes her debut as the top executive in the Knockouts division!
Madison Rayne is backstage ironing her sash and saying that she heard Brooke's going to be here tonight, and she's sure they're going to get along fine.
Bully Ray is in the ring saying he wants Joseph Park in the ring tonight, and asks if he remembers what he did to him last week. Just in case we forgot, he told the guys in the truck to play the footage of him beating Park up. He wants to fight Park right now, so Park (looking very worried) puts down his popcorn and soda and slowly makes his way down to the ring as Bubba yells at him to stop wasting time and just go. Park insists he doesn't want to fight, and Bubba says that's because he's a coward, his mother's a coward, his father's a coward, and most of all, his brother Abyss is a coward. That's finally too much for Park and he tries to come over the rail, but security runs over to stop him. Bubba yells at security to get away from him and let Park in the ring. Park doesn't look particularly enthusiastic about this and acts like he doesn't know how to get in the ring, and Bubba reiterates that he wants to fight him right now (crowd chants at him to fight), and Bubba tells him to come on, but Park insists he's not a fighter. Bubba says that's fine, but he'd like to change his plea to guilty because he left Abyss for dead. Park grabs him by the shirt and Bubba drops down to his knees as Park looks at the crowd asking if he should hit him, but Bubba says he'll sue Park if he hits him. Park thinks about it for a moment before letting Bubba go, and Bubba says that he's just like his brother because he's a coward. Bubba walks off, so Park picks the microphone up and tells Bubba to wait a minute, because if he wants to fight, they can do it right now. Bubba says that if he wants to fight, they can do it at Slammiversary.
During the commercial break, Jimmy Jay and Socal Val promoted the ShopTNA.com website and noted that Sting was going to be their star of the month. Jay said he was pulling for Sting at Slammiversary. They promoted the social media aspect of the show.
We see a video package looking at the undefeated streak of Crimson, which now stands at 462 days, and then we go to the back with Crimson, who says he can't be beaten.
Austin Aries is backstage chatting with D-Lo Brown as he gets ready to go to the ring, but sprays his hair and it accidentally sprays over his head and in Samoa Joe's face. He stops to glare at Aries, who doesn't even notice Joe as he heads to the ring.
X Division Title Match: Austin Aries vs Chris Sabin
They do a quick exchange at the start with neither man getting an advantage, Sabin winds up on the ring apron and goes for a sunset flip into the ring, but he's obviously never watched Austin Aries tapes, because Aries rolls through and hits a dropkick, followed by a leaping froggy elbow for 2. Sabin goes for a crucifix, Aries rolls through so Sabin gets La Magistral cradle instead and gets 2. Sabin goes back to the ring apron, so Aries dropkicks him to the floor and hits the heat seeking missile through the ropes. Aries sends Sabin back inside and goes up top, but Sabin hangs him in the Tree of Woe. Sabin misses a baseball slide, Aries misses an IED, and Sabin baseball slides Aries to the floor. Sabin hits a dive and seems to hurt himself, but has the wherewithal to pull Aries back in and hit a slingshot rolling neckbreaker for 2. Sabin goes for the Cradle Shock, Aries escapes, Sabin goes for it again but Aries rolls through the move and cradles Sabin for 3.
Winner: Austin Aries
Sabin looks really, really pissed as he rolls out to the floor, then we go to the back as Hulk Hogan and Taz talk about the Gut Check. Taz is happy for the chance to be a part of it, but wants Hogan to know that we're getting the real Taz tonight, and not everyone likes the real Taz.
During the commercial break, Jeremy Borash had all the TNA TV title challengers. Borash asked if there were any guesses as to who was winning the voting. Everyone cut a quick promo saying they were the one that was going to win the voting. Hardy said that he wished everyone good luck. RVD said that everyone was still working about his match at Sacrifice and he'd love to have a title shot and win the TV title. Robbie E said that he must have won because he's the only one who deserves to have the TV title around his waist.
We go to the group of judges, who critique Joey Ryan's performance last week in the Gut Check. They debate his 70s persona, and Taz said it bothered him that Ryan didn't seem to look like he was going into a fight for his life when the X Division Champion entered the ring. He has another chance to make an impression tonight, and we'll find out later if he gets a contract.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with the four contenders for a TV Title shot tonight: Robbie E, Ken Anderson, Rob Van Dam, and Jeff Hardy, and we have very little time left to vote at impactwrestling.com.
But enough of that wrestling stuff, here comes Dixie Carter and her entrance music (which sounds like the chick from the Cranberries getting strangled), and she says how hard it is to believe that TNA is celebrating ten years at Slammiversary, and she thanks everyone who helped get them there, including the fans. On September 10th (which I guess is when Impact is happening in her mind), they will announce the first TNA Hall Of Fame inductees, but tonight is a special night as well, and we may have heard some exciting things coming up for Impact Wrestling. They have the best female wrestlers in the world, but she wants to take them even further over the next ten years, and she needs someone really awesome to do that. She can't impress how smart and enthusiastic this person is and how great she is about thinking outside the box, and that woman is...BROOKE HOGAN! She gets booed out of the building, but comes striding out with a big smile on her face nonetheless. Dixie and Brooke talked it over, and Brooke told Dixie to tell her dad, but Dixie's really looking forward to everything she's going to do for them. Brooke thinks this is great, and she wants to thank everyone for welcoming her there with open arms (more boos mixed in with applause), and Brooke says she grew up in wrestling and loves this just as much as Dixie does, but she has big, yellow boots to fill and she's taking this very seriously, and she can't thank everyone for the opportunity because she's going to work her butt off.
Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian are backstage and they can't believe that Dixie didn't touch on the AJ Styles thing, but they'll have something else to say after Daniels beats AJ tonight.
During the commercial, Jeremy Borash was backstage with the TNA TV title challengers. Other than some silliness with Robbie E, which was cute, nothing much here.
We look back at another Slammiversary moment, when Christian Cage jumped from WWE to TNA back in 2005. We then go backstage to the contenders as Jeremy Borash announces that the winner of the fan poll, with over 40%, is Jeff Hardy.
TV Title Match: Devon vs Jeff Hardy
Boy, have these guys been in the ring with each other a million times, or what? They chain wrestle for a bit in the middle of the ring, Devon comes off the ropes and takes Hardy down with a shoulderblock for 2, Hardy gets a rollup for 2, and then Devon gets a rollups of his own for 2. Hardy with a flying headscissors, but Devon just rolls over him with a clothesline and plants Hardy with a slam. Hardy dodges a diving headbutt and hits the inverted enziguiri, then comes off the top rope with the Whisper In The Wind for 2. Hardy charges Devon in the corner, but Devon charges and Hardy shish kebabs himself in the corner, allowing Devon to hit an elevated neckbreaker for 2. Hardy escapes another slam attempt and hits the Twist of Fate, then does the chick screaming t-shirt removal. He goes to the top rope, but Robbie E and Robbie T run in and attack him to draw a...
NO CONTEST
They go after Devon as well, and Devon joins into the fray as he and Hardy take the Robbies out.
We catch up with James Storm, who seems to have mentally calmed himself down since being home and riding horses with his daughter. He says that Bobby Roode calls himself the It Factor of professional wrestling, but this (indicating his home) is his It. Storm isn't sure if it hurt more losing to Roode, or seeing the looks on the faces of people who came to watch him beat Roode. He doesn't like letting people down, but he made his decision. His daughter asks if he's going back to wrestling, and Storm decides to cut this interview off.
We go to the ring where Jeremy Borash introduces the Gut Check judges: Bruce Prichard, Al Snow, and Taz. Jeremy asks Bruce if they've seen enough to decide whether he gets a contract or not, and he says they have, so Jeremy calls Joey out to the ring. Ryan says he's a big deal, people know him, and he's trending worldwide on Twitter. 87% of the fans on impactwrestling.com said yes to Joey Ryan, but JB asks the judges what they thought of Joey. Bruce says he saw him last week and this week, and he's a hell of a talent, but after 12 years in the business for Joey, his answer is no. Al Snow says that he doesn't like Joey and his attitude because he acts like he already has a job here, but it's not about whether Al likes him, it's whether he has the potential to be a star, so Al says yes. We come down to Taz, and Jeremy gives Joey the chance to explain one last time how he belongs in Impact Wrestling, and Joey says that for Bruce Prichard to ignore 87% of the fanbase is irresponsible. Joey thinks Taz knows that Joey is too good to not have a contract, and he doesn't want to leave money on the table. Taz says that if that's the promo he wants to use to get in the door, he's out of his mind. He says that he's forgotten more about wrestling than Joey has learned and the answer is no. Joey gets right in his face, and Taz said he didn't cut the promo of his life, and to get back on the road and come back down the line to prove him wrong.
During the commercial break, Jeremy Borash and Earl Hebner recounted the Gutcheck segment. Earl Hebner said that Joey Ryan was a lucky man to speak to Taz that way and live. Hebner said he was getting ready to referee AJ Styles and Daniels and was excited to be on live TV. Borash brought in TNA Production Manager Steve Small, who said he was excited to be there. Borash said that they were bringing in people who normally don't get interviewed on camera since they were around to give fans a look into the backstage scene. Brian Hebner was interviewed. Hebner said that if Joey Ryan had dialed it back a little, he may have had a chance but he pushed too hard and "that was a no go."
We go to London, where Bobby Roode tells a group of fans that he was here defending his title five months ago, and nobody thought he could defend his title against the top stars in TNA, but he showed them and became the longest reigning World Champion in Impact Wrestling history.
It's main event time!
AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels
Daniels slaps AJ in the face and runs, AJ chases him to the floor, around the ring, and back inside where he takes Daniels out with a dropkick. Daniels sees a leapfrog coming and jabs AJ in the face, AJ winds up on the apron and they fight over a suplex, but Daniels drops AJ's throat across the top rope, then gets a running start and drives AJ off the apron and into the guardrail as we go to commercial.
During commercial, Jeremy Borash asked Robbie E who was going to win Styles vs. Daniels. E said that he didn't care because he was upset the hamsters out there voted for Jeff Hardy, not him. He said that he deserved to get the title back. Borash asked him what happened out there. E said that they deserved hamster beatings. Borash said E only received 8% of the vote. Robbie T didn't like that so Borash signed off.
We're back, and Daniels has AJ in a nasty wristlock, then stomps him in the ribs and hits an Arabian moonsault for 2. AJ fires back with forearms and chops, but Daniels whips him fact first into the corner, AJ slips out the back on a suplex attempt and takes Daniels out with a leg lariat. AJ with more right hands and the twirly rack bomb for 2. Daniels drives AJ into the corner and puts him on the top rope, but AJ blocks Iconoclasm. He drops to the apron and hits the springboard forearm, kips up, and goes for the moonsault deathdrop, Daniels snapmares out, and AJ hits the Pelle kick. AJ goes for the Styles Clash, Kazarian runs out to distract AJ and allows Daniels to roll AJ up for 2, but AJ hits the moonsault deathdrop on the second try and gets 3.
Winner: AJ Styles
Kazarian runs in and beats the crap out of AJ, but Kurt Angle runs out and tears through the tag team champs by himself. He puts Kazarian in an anklelock, but Daniels comes in and hits Angle low, then they hit Goozle Elimination. They tie Angle to the ropes with zip ties, then lay AJ out with one of the title belts before giving Angle a shot as well. Daniels takes a mic from So Cal Val, and he says that they've showed pictures and video, but people still don't believe him, so he has proof positive of the affair between AJ and Dixie straight from their own mouths. They play a phone call where Dixie tells AJ to come over and not tell Serge, while AJ says he wouldn't miss it for the world and asks how much time they have until he gets home. It sound to me like they're planning some kind of surprise birthday party for Serge, but Dixie comes out to the broadcast booth freaking out and telling "Dave" to cut it, and she yells "That's it, you're through!" as we go off the air.
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