By Ryan Kester

Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Taped earlier in Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] The show began with Sting making his way to the ring. Once there, Sting called out Bobby Roode and Dixie Carter. Both individuals obliged. Sting assured Dixie that nothing would happen to her while he was out there. This guarantees something will happen to her.

Sting ran down Roode for assaulting Carter a few weeks back. Sting demanded an apology. Roode resisted at first, but he eventually relented with an insincere apology that turned into a verbal attack. Roode then proceeded to spit in Dixie's face.

Sting walked threateningly towards Roode and he tore off into the back… [C]

Ryan's Rant: I have no desire to see Dixie Carter on my TV and I have no idea why TNA feels it is necessary to use her. I'm not really sure what TNA was going for here, but it didn't get Roode a good kind of heat. This was by far not his bets mic work and the new suit look does him no favors. I can't tell if it was just an unnecessary use of Dixie or what, but this opening segment left me underwhelmed and unimpressed. Roode is capable of so much more than what we saw here.

1. Abyss defeated Samoa Joe in 7:22. The two men traded control several times before the show went to commercial… [C]

Back form commercial, Samoa Joe was in control and working though his move set. Immortal ran out and attacked Samoa Joe. The referee was distracted and Abyss hit a chokeslam for the win.

After the match, Abyss hit Scott Steiner with a Black Hole Slam. Bully Ray ran away from Abyss.

Backstage, Karen Jarrett told Madison Rayne to take out Mickie James. Karen also told Gail Kim that she had to take on Traci Brooks. Gail was not pleased… [C]

Ryan's Rant: Don't be fooled, the commercial break accounted for the vast majority of that match time. We may have had three minutes of action in-ring action. What we saw wasn't bad, there just wasn't a lot of it.

[Q3] Backstage, Gunner approached a very angry Sting and he begged Sting for another match against Garret Bischoff. Sting agreed on the terms that there would be no Flair and no Bischoff. So I guess Gunner's going to be wrestling himself. Ba-dum-ch.

Devon and the Pope made their way to the ring and called out Crimson and Matt Morgan. The big men quickly obliged. Devon congratulated the new tag champs and he talked about how they went from rivals to partners.

Devon talked about the fact that he won 23 tag titles in his life time and he ran down some of the teams he's beaten. Devon said that at Final Resolution he and the Pope will be new tag team champions. Devon shook Morgan's hand and his music played.

Pope cut the music and called Morgan and Crimson dumb honkies. That's lovely, TNA. Pope said it wasn't about the championships, it was about the money. The crowd cheered this. Pope said he was going to do whatever it takes to take the tag titles off of the big men.

A brawl broke out. Devon ran crimson to the back and Devon's grown kids attacked Matt Morgan with the Pope before hightailing it from the ring.

[Q4]... [C]

Ryan's Rant: That was a good segment immediately derailed by the Pope's latest turn and Devon's "kids," that appear to be older than me, acting like impressionable children for the umpteenth time.

Backstage, James Storm was shaking hands with some crew members.

2. Mickie James defeated Madison Rayne in 4:03. Rayne took an early advantage when she attacked James from behind. Rayne tried to choke out James with a sleeper.

Rayne hit a suplex and rolled it into a neckbreaker for a near fall. Moments later, James hit a very sloppy jumping DDT for the win.

Backstage, Garret was show walking through the locker room on the way to his match… [C]

Ryan's Rant: Good action and anything is better than what they had the Knockouts doing the past couple of weeks. Mickie James seriously needs to stop the DDT before she breaks someone's neck with it.

[Q5] Bully Ray and Scott Steiner were brainstorming on how to recruit Abyss.

A video package aired covering the Garret Bischoff/Gunner feud.

3. Garret Bischoff defeated Gunner in 1:12. Gunner immediately tore into Garret and he began working over his arm. Gunner started talking some trash and Garret rolled him up for the quick win.

Gunner assaulted Garret after the match and he set garret up for a piledriver. Eric ran out and called Gunner off before removing the floor mat to have Gunner finish the piledriver… [C]

Ryan's Rant: Garret's in ring body language reminds me of when a celebrity is put into a match and they "play" wrestling. He's just cartoonish. That segment was pretty much tailored to make me despise it. It featured family drama I don't find entertaining, a genuine wrestler jobbing to a promoter's son, use of the second hour ratings spike to benefit said promoter's son, and a wrestler getting pushed before he's ready. Wrap all of that in an unnecessary piledriver spot, and you have a segment that would normally make me turn the channel. It seems like every time I begin to get into TNA they do something asinine that just makes me roll my eyes.

Backstage, Garret was on a stretcher while Bischoff and Flair taunted him. Flair asked if Garret's legs worked. Ugh.

[Q6] James Storm made his way to the ring. Storm said he never backs down from a challenge and he called out Kurt Angle. Angle immediately obliged. Angle told Storm he was surprised that Storm was back already but Angle said he would not be so lucky at Final Resolution.

Angle said he thinks about Storm all of the time, and Storm told Angle that creeps him out. Funny. Storm said he wasn't going to be psyched out by Angle.

Storm said the last time he hit Last Call, he won the TNA title. He said the next time Angle is hit by it, he will crush Angle's skull. Storm showed he wasn't intimidated by Angle when he gave his back to him. Angle did nothing and Storm said it's real; it's damn real.

Backstage, Karen told Kim that Traci would lay down for her in their match tonight… [C]

Ryan's Rant: Phenomenal promo by Storm. I only covered a part of it here because that was one of those times the fan takes over and you just watch. Go out of your way to see that promo.

Backstage, Devon yelled at his boys. Pope showed up and Devon freaked out even more.

Hardy and Styles talked about being on the same page.

[Q7] 4. Gail Kim beat Traci Brooks in 2:08. Brooks laid down for a two-count and then proceeded to destroy Gail Kim.

Madison Rayne ran out and clocked Brooks with her Knockouts tag title and Kim covered Brooks for the win.

Jeff Jarrett and Bobby Roode talked about how they were going to beat their opponents in the main event… [C]

Ryan's Rant: More storyline than actual match and really only served to try and put heat on Kim and Karen. For me, that only served to make Gail look weak and she lost more than she gained with a cheap victory.

Christopher Daniels challenged RVD to a regular wrestling match at Final Resolution.

The announcers ran down the card for Final Resolution.

[Q8] 5. AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy beat Bobby Roode and Jeff Jarrett in 13:24. Hardy and Styles attacked before Borasch could finish his introductions. How rude.

The men brawled on the floor and for some reason the ref wasn't making a count. The match eventually made its way to the ring and Styles tweaked his knee… [C]

Back from the break, Hardy was working over Roode. Styles tagged in and took out both heels until Roode went after Styles' injured knee. Jarrett and Roode worked quick tags to weaken Styles.

Styles managed to hit a Pele Kick on Roode. Hardy and Jarrett got involved and the two men brawled to the back. Styles managed to roll Roode up for the surprise pin.

[Overrun] Roode attacked Styles after the match. He dragged him all over the ringside area attacking the injured leg. Cue the overly dramatic music and Impact went off the air.

Ryan's Rant: That match was ok. There were some fun spots, but there was absolutely nothing special about this match. Overall, this show was mediocre and felt like it dragged on forever. The one bright spot was Storm's promo, but everything else either underwhelmed or disappointed. As a go-home show, I would have to say this was a failure as it didn't entertain me and left me unexcited about TNA's current product.

If you have any questions or comments or just wish to chat with a fellow wrestling fan about whatever, then feel free to email me at ryan.kester@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter at @TheRyanKester.

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