By Ryan Kester

Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Aired live from Orlando, Florida.

[Q1] Previously on Impact, Aries gave up his X-Division Championship to become the new number one contender and Dixie Carter and AJ Styles revealed that they had been helping an addict rather than having an affair…

Carter and Styles spoke backstage about how they were happy to be moving on. Styles said he was going to beat the piss out of Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. Carter thanked Styles…

Tenay hyped that we'd be hearing from Claire throughout the night about her relationship with Styles and Carter…

Tenay announced that all future BFGS matches will have a fifteen minute time limit.

1. Mr. Anderson vs. Rob Van Dam. Van Dam and Anderson traded some clumsy roll-up attempts to start, but Anderson slapped RVD and he began to work over RVD with a series of slams and suplexes.

RVD battled back and locked in an inverted STF. Anderson had to crawl to the ropes. RVD attempted a series of submissions while Taz and Tenay talked about the point advantage that comes from a submission victory.

RVD hit a northern lights suplex for a near fall. RVD went for a split-leg moonsault but Anderson got his knees up. Anderson went for the Mic Check but RVD elbowed out. Anderson hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.

Moments later, RVD reversed the Green Bay Plunge into a crucifix roll-up for the pinfall victory.

RVD defeated Mr. Anderson in 5:42.

Austin Aries made his entrance…

Ryan's Reaction: Good opening match. Their timing was off in the early going, but they pulled together a fun match without giving everything away in case TNA wants to return to this match later in the series.

[Q2] [C] Aries stood in the ring with the X-Division Championship hanging from the ropes. Aries said his decision wasn't an easy one. He said he defeated all it had to offer and even those beyond his division, but he wanted to make sure he still honored the title when he let it go. Aries recounted the new Destination X stipulation with the X-Division Title.

Aries said his days as the champion are numbered, but there would be a tournament held at Destination X to determine the new champion. Aries talked about how he went from earning a contract last year to earning a shot at the heavyweight championship at destination X this year. Bobby Roode's music interrupted Aries.

Roode made his way to the ring. Once there, Roode said that he couldn't get over how overconfident Aries was. Roode showed Aries the title and he referred to it as the real heavyweight championship. He referred to it as the most important thing in the industry and he said he made it so.

Roode referenced the twelve participants in the BFGS and how they are earning a shot at his title. He said Aries only got his shot at the PPV because of Hulk Hogan. Roode declared "Option C" a premature failure and he said he will make sure it is a failure at Destination X. Roode called Aries a kid and told him to get out of his ring.

Aries said it's his ring and he knocked Roode's mic out of his hand. Aries told Roode to make him leave. The two jawed off mic before Roode left the ring with a smirk…

A recap of Claire's performance form last week aired…

Backstage, Claire talked about how she met AJ Styles and where things started going bad for her. She said she never met Kaz and Daniels before but she couldn't believe how they tried to turn something god into something so terrible…

Kazarian was yelling at Daniels for lying to him about Styles…

Ryan's Reaction: The promo exchange between Aries and Roode was well done. They have chemistry on the mic that has worked quite well thus far. I didn't care for how quickly TNA moved on to some rapid-fire segments without allowing the exchange to set in. That's a fairly common TNA problem, but it takes away some of the impact from the stories they are trying to tell when they try to cram too much into one go. Still, strong promo segment that has me excited for their PPV match.

[Q3] [C] 2. Rubix vs. Sonjay Dutt in an X-Division Qualifier match. The two men traded a flurry of aerial maneuvers in an utterly chaotic opening minute. Dutt hit a springboard splash for a near fall.

Dutt hit a tornado DDT and followed with a moonsault into a Warrior's Way in an absolutely brutal spot. Dutt covered Rubix for the 1-2-3.

Sonjay Dutt defeated Rubix in 3:06

After the match, Dutt cut a brief promo about how he is gunning for the X-Division Title…

Ryan's Reaction: I apologize for the scant coverage there, but the match's pace was insane and it there was no way I could get anywhere near move for move. Sonjay has a lot of in-ring upside to him and he could be a boon for TNA if they get serious about the X-Division Championship again.

[C] A recap of Taeler Hendrix' Gut Check aired…

Last Thursday, Bruce Prichard, Al Snow, and Taz discussed Taeler's performance. Taz was all for Taeler but went off on those who came in with a sense of entitlement. Prichard asked if Taz would buy a PPV to see Taeler. Taz said maybe in a few months. Snow questioned if she'd get a big head…

[Q4] Bully Ray made his entrance… [C]

3. Samoa Joe vs. Bully Ray. Ray jawed with Joe to start. Ray gained control and hit Joe with a suplex…

[C] Back from the break, Joe was in control briefly, but Ray quickly regained control with a clothesline. Ray went back to work on Joe's midsection. Both men clotheslined each other and they sold on the mat.

[Q5] Ray started to target Joe's left arm and went for the submission win. Joe dragged Ray to the floor, but Ray smacked Joe's arm on the steps. Joe hit an inverted atomic drop and finally found some momentum.

Ray fought right back with an urinagi for a great near fall. Ray missed a splash from the second rope, but he lured Joe into a big boot on the floor. Joseph Park started to waddle towards the ring.

Park slapped Ray as the referee was distracted. Joe locked in a rear naked choke and Ray tapped quickly.

Samoa Joe defeated Bully Ray in 12:54

After the match, Park called Ray a jackass bully and he recanted his past with being bullied. Park said it ends tonight. Park said he's sick of Bully Ray's actions, and so are the fans. Park challenged Ray to a fight in two weeks…

Claire and Carter discussed the picture with her hugging Styles. Claire continued to be disgusted with how they perverted something innocent. They said the hotel room was going to meet Claire clean. The phone call was about a surprise party for Serg. Claire was not at the party…

Kazarian told Hulk Hogan how he was being deceived for the past six months. Kazarian said he cannot tag with Daniels due to his integrity. Hogan told him to forget his integrity and to be accountable. Hogan told Kazarian to prove who he is tonight. Hogan kicked Kazarian out of his office…

Ryan's Reaction: I can't pretend to be thrilled to se e the Claire drama dragged out more than ti was last week. The story feels so full of plot holes and like a cop out because TNA lost track of where they were going with the story originally. It would be easier to take if the people called on to act could handle the drama needed for the angle, but they simply aren't. Before all of that brouhaha, Joe and Ray had a good match together. I was surprised to see ray dominate for so long, but Joe sold well for his offense.

[Q6] [C] Madison Rayne approached Garett Bischoff backstage and asked what her crush was like. Garett told her good luck and left…

Brooke Hogan got Miss Tessmacher a campaign with Direct Auto Insurance. Gail Kim showed up and asked for her rematch. Tessmacher said she's love to rematch Kim. Brooke spoke up and told Kim she will have her rematch next week…

4. Rashad Cameron vs. Mason Andrews in an X-Division qualifier. Andrews sent Cameron to the floor early and followed with a corkscrew dive. Rashad battled back and worked over Andrews with a series of chops and kicks.

Rashad missed a moonsault and Andrews fired up before hitting a springboard cross body for a near fall. Rashad knocked Andrews to the floor before hitting a dive of his own. Andrews caught Rashad with huracarana form the second rope.

Rashad hit a jumping Mic Check/Little Jimmy for the pinfall victory.

Rashad Cameron defeated mason Andrews in 3:41.

After the match, Rashad said everyone in the audience is seeing the beginning of the Rashad Cameron movement. He corrected Hemme on how to call his hometown...

Ryan's Reaction: Good, quick match. It had a more consistent flow from the earlier qualifier. I like Rashad's look. He's different and he looks like he could serve as a good aggressive heel for the division. I wish he had a less generic finisher, though, as I would prefer his move set to match the uniqueness of his look.

[Q7] [C] Jeff Hardy and James Storm stood in Hogan's office. Hogan was on the phone with Sting for a moment before giving a brief update on his health. Hogan said both men have been looking great recently and he wanted to have the two men face off next week to determine who was at the top of the pack…

The Gut Check Judging began and Jeremy Borash introduced the judges. Taeler Hendrix came out to face the panel. She did her full entrance.

Judges said they were ready; Hendrix said she showed that she was hungry and ready. Taz said yes. Snow was about to say something when Joey Ryan showed up at ringside and jawed with Taz. Snow called out security. Snow said no.

Hendrix cut a promo about how someone gave each of the judges a chance at one point. She said she will show how hard she has earned it and she will show how bad she wants it and that she can shine.

Prichard called Hendrix green, inexperienced, and he questioned if she was tough enough. However, he said she has heart, desire, and class. He said yes…

Styles and Kurt Angle spoke backstage and psyched each other up for their match…

Ryan's Reaction: I don't care for these segments. They usually consist of one or more judges cutting down the Gut Check participant, and that's really unhelpful when trying to get a new person over. Let's hope that Hendrix has a better showing than the original winner, who has now been on TV less than the only man to have been rejected thus far.

[Q8] [C] 5. AJ Styles and Kurt Angle vs. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian for the TNA Tag Team Championships. Kazarian and Styles started the match, and Styles quickly gained control. Angle and Daniels tagged into the match and Daniels managed to get the better of Angle.

Daniels and Kazarian worked a series of reluctant quick tags. Angle and Styles worked together to work over Daniels. Kazarian refused to help Daniels and the two jawed on the floor as the show went to commercial…

[C] Back from the break, Daniels had Styles locked in a rest hold. Daniels scored a running STO for a near fall. Daniels went for a springboard moonsault but Styles got his legs up. Styles got the hot tag to Angle, and Kazarian tagged in for Daniels.

Angle tore Kazarian apart and hit his three rolling German suplexes. Daniels jumped into take Three Germans of his own. Kazarian hit a firemen's cutter for a great near fall. Kazarian went for Fade to Black but Angle rolled through into the ankle lock.

Styles tagged in and took out both Kazarian and Daniels. Daniels threw Angle into the referee. Daniels retrieved a chair and set up to hit Styles. Kazarian stole the steel chair from Daniels and Styles caught Daniels with the Pele Kick.

Styles set up for the Styles Clash and Kazarian blasted him in the back with the chair. Daniels covered Styles and Kazarian retrieved the referee for the 1-2-3.

Christopher Daniels and Kazarian defeated Kurt Angle and AJ Styles to become the new TNA Tag Team Champions in 11:44.

Daniels grabbed a mic and pointed out that Claire is pregnant and he claimed that she's pregnant with Styles' bastard. Carter and Claire acted upset at ringside.

Ryan's Reaction: Two things coming out of that. I'm happy to see the Daniels and Kazarian team continue if for no other reason than TNA's tag division is on life support at the moment. I can't say I am thrilled about more of Carter, Claire, and Styles being called upon for a high drama story, but that's certainly where they are going. I hope TNA has a better plan with the rest of this story than another lackluster and eye-roll worthy end to this tale.

The match itself was well wrestled and it capped off a solid edition of Impact. We got plenty of good wrestling including two very entertaining X Division matches along with a solid promo exchange between the TNA champion and the number one contender. Really, the only parts of this show that I didn't enjoy were those featuring the Claire and Styles story. Otherwise, this was an entertaining edition of Impact.

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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