By Chris Shore

TNA Impact Wrestling on SpikeTV
Aired live from Cleveland, Ohio.

[Q1] Aces and Eights opened the show with their ring entrance and Bully Ray said he was in a really bad mood. He said somebody is missing, his brother Devon. Ray said he was upset and wanted some answers, and turned to his brothers for answers. Eric Bischoff said he didn't know but he was just as mad as Ray was.

Knux said he was on the floor taking care of Rampage and Magnus. He said he did his part. Wes Brisco said he didn't know what happened while whining. Anderson said it is what it is. Ray said he agreed because his brother Devon had always been a disappointment, loser, and his sidekick. Ray said he had all he needed with the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy." Ray said he was giving Tito his own cut.

Anderson went nuts and asked Ray if he was crazy. He asked if they were done voting and if Ray was just going to patch in whoever he wanted. Ray said he was the president of the group and he would do what he want. He said Anderson better get in line before he put him in line. He called out Brooke and then told Anderson not to ever question him again. Tessmacher walked out holding a cut.

Ray started to give the cut to Tito, but Anderson jumped in between them again. Ray backed him into a corner and gave the cut to Tito. It was Devon's cut, so Ray ripped the name badge off. He held it in front of Anderson and dropped it. He went back and gave Tito the cut. He said what was done is done and if anybody had a problem they could get out. He said he wanted to watch and see who won the BFG series because he didn't have to wrestle until then. He said he also wanted to introduced his father-in-law to the only Brooke who had ever meant anything to him. He left, leaving the rest of the gang behind…

The announce team ran through the BFG matches…Backstage, Jeff Hardy cut a promo saying he made Samoa Joe tap out last year to get in while a video showed him pinning Joe. Facepalm. He said he was after revenge against Kazarian tonight because Kaz beat him in a ladder match…[C]

Shore's Slant: Ray was very good here but all of it was swept to the side by Anderson's actions. Oh please, oh please don't tell me they are turning him again. I don't mind some frustration, but for the love of all that is proper in wrestling leave this guy heel. His character can't take another turn.

[Q2] Hulk Hogan was shown arriving to the building…Kazarian made his ring entrance and the announcers told us Hogan had banned his two buddies from ringside, or they would all lose their spots in the BFG series. That might be something that would be important to use Hogan for, not just send it through the announcers. Jeff Hardy was out next…

1. Kazarian vs. Jeff Hardy in a Bound for Glory series match. After some back and forth, Kaz crotched Hardy on the top rope and hit an enziguri kick. Hardy came back and hooked a figure four to try and get the submission win, but Kaz made the ropes. Kaz reversed the Twist of Fate into a backslide for two and a pump kick for another two. Hardy came right back and hit ToF and the swanton for the win…

Jeff Hardy defeated Kazarian at 6:07 to win seven points in the BFG series.

The leaderboard showed that win put Hardy in the third spot…Backstage, the gang raised hell about Bully patching people in and not voting on things. Anderson said no one man was bigger than the club. They all toasted and agreed…ODB vs. Gail Kim to become the number one contender was hyped for next…

Shore's Slant: They have absolutely killed the BFG series for this viewer. I will be interested once the final four is chose, but they have completely destroyed this format as a viable option going forward, and they have no one to blame but themselves. At any rate, my guess is Hardy doesn't ultimately make it into the final four.

[Q3][C] A video recapped how AJ Styles joined the MEM last week and defeated Devon. The announce team hyped Styles vs. Bobby Roode for later…Gail Kim made her ring entrance. ODB was out next…

2. Gail Kim vs. ODB in a two out of three falls match to become the number one contender for the Knockouts Championship. Kim came out strong and hooked ODB in a submission that was part cloverleaf, part sharpshooter. ODB sold it for a while, but finally tapped out…Gail Kim won the first fall at 3:03…[C] During commercial, a cut in showed Kim still working over ODB's leg…

Back from commercial, it was more of the same from Kim on the leg. Kim reached down to grab Kim and ODB hooked a small package to win the pinfall…ODB defeated Gail Kim in the second fall at 8:25. The match is tied at 1-1. Kim dragged ODB over to the corner and hooked the corner figure four and held until the very last second.

ODB stood in the corner and dodged a Kim splash. ODB started her comeback and lifted Kim, but her knee gave out. Kim went back to the leg, but ODB rolled through and hooked a modified Boston crab. Kim almost made the rope, but ODB pulled her back for the submission victory…

ODB defeated Gail Kim in the third fall to become number one contender at 11:28.

Shore's Slant: An OK match. I'm not the biggest ODB fan so I'm always left wanting when she wrestles, but there isn't much to complain about here.

[Q4][C]

A commercial hyped the Knockouts PPV next week and called the Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim match "the most brutal women's match in history" (or something pretty close to that anyway). I laughed until it hurt. That was a great match, but let's try and keep some perspective here.

Backstage, Velvet Sky answered questions about ODB and wished her luck. She said she hated not being there the past two weeks but she had some personal issues at home to handle. The camera guy asked if that was Chris Sabin. She admitted they were together but they kept their business and personal separate…

Shore's Slant: But if you took time off from work to take some personal time with him because his work upset him doesn't that mix work and personal? Friggin' women.

Christopher Daniels freaked out on Bobby Roode backstage because of Hogan's decree. Roode calmed him down and talked him up for his match against Austin Aries.

A video recapped Aries interfering in the match last week. Jeremy Borash asked him about it backstage and Aries said he was a guy who did things on his own. He said he turned the Mafia down and he was for sure going to turn the other guys down after that.

Daniels walked up and said he was going to flatten Aries more than Miley Cyrus's ass. Or something. I was cracking up over it too much to remember the exact wording. Aries got in his face and they both stormed off to get ready…[C]

Shore's Slant: GREAT exchange between Aries and Daniels. That was a ton of fun, and I like Daniels more when he isn't being silly. Now I want to see that match. See how easy it is?

A video recapped the MEM putting Devon out last week.

[Q5] The Mafia made their entrance, sans Angle (of course) and Magnus. Rampage started off and said he wasn't going to wait until November to get his revenge on Tito, he was going to stomp a mud hole in his ass anytime he sees him. Joe took the mic and said they were in a hole last week, but AJ Styles stepped up like a man, and a Mafia member.

Sting took the mic and said a spot was open for Styles in the Mafia if he wanted, but either way, they did want to thank him personally and publicly. Styles made his ring entrance with the old music and did the change just before coming in the ring. He took a mic and said he appreciated them being out there, but he needed to do something by himself. He actually said it twice because the crowd chanted his name and he had to stop. The Mafia left him alone in the ring.

Styles said he knew everyone has questions, so he had answers. He asked if he was a member of the Mafia. He said he respected what they did, but he had worn the suit before and it didn't fit him. He said he had trust issues and started whining about getting stabbed in the back by his two best friends and having his dirty laundry aired.

He said maybe he finally learned what the business was all about. He said he couldn't make it any clearer, he was not with any one. He said he was better than the best in the world, he was AJ Styles, and the only person he could trust was Allen Jones. Styles started complaining about his job sucking. He yelled at Tenay and Dixie Carter that he deserved better.

Styles said he was always the guy they turned to when they brought in the next big thing, only to see them fail. He said he did what he had to do to feed his family, but he was hoping he would get fired. He said over the last two months he realized he liked being the go-to guy. The fans were chanting boring at this point. He said he could take the company on his shoulders again, so he was going to win the BFG series.

Bobby Roode's music hit and he made his ring entrance…

Shore's Slant: That promo was a rambling mess. I think it was supposed to be a worked shoot based on his contract status. If so, it’s a mistake to bring up CM Punk who had the exact same contract situation. Styles may be better than Punk in the ring (I said may, save the hate mail), but he's not even in the same zip code when it comes to mic skills. This is what I would play for Styles when I explained why his pay was getting cut. He and they may see him as the go-to guy, but he's simply never been charismatic enough to be the face of a company.

[Q6][C] 3. AJ Styles vs. Bobby Roode in a BFG series match. Styles went for the calf killer almost immediately, but Roode made the ropes. Styles kept trying for submission, but Roode hit a spinebuster. AJ came back with his flurry of strikes. Styles hit a nasty looking moonsault and tried for the submission. Roode kicked away, but Styles hit the Pele kick.

Styles went for a springboard move. Roode grabbed him and hooked the crossface on the way down. Styles made the ropes and Roode pulled him back and reapplied the hold. AJ rolled him up for two and then hooked the calf killer. Roode made the ropes again, but Styles hooked him for a small package and the win…[C]

AJ Styles defeated Bobby Roode at 7:11 to earn seven points in the BFG series.

The leaderboard showed Styles out of the BFG final four by one point behind Daniels…[C]

Backstage, JB said they still had no comment from Hogan but he promised to speak as soon as the BFG matches are complete…

[Q7] Daniels made his ring entrance. Austin Aries was out next…

4. Christopher Daniels vs. Austin Aries in a BFG series match. Aries took control and setup for the pendulum elbow. Daniels rolled to the floor and they exchanged sliding in and out of the ring until Daniels hit a stiff kick on Aries. Daniels played it up a little while the ref checked on Aries and then went back to work once the all clear was given…[C]

Shore's Slant: Holy shit. It looked like Daniels tattooed Aries. Even Daniels looked shaken by it. I hope Aries is really OK and not trying to be tough.

Back from commercial, Daniels worked several rest holds on Aries. Daniels hooked an abdominal stretch and reached for the tope, but the ref caught him. Aries reversed the hold and managed to grab the rope for a brief comedy spot. Both guys teed off on each other and Aries knocked Daniels down and hit the pendulum elbow.

Aries hip tossed Daniels to the floor and finally hit his dive. He rolled Daniels in the ring and climbed to the top, but Daniels used the ref as a shield. Aries jumped off, and Daniels hit a sitout bomb for two. Daniels set Aries on the top, which led to a missile drop kick from Aries. Aries hit the corner dropkick, but Daniels reversed the brainbuster lift into a Cross Rhodes type move for two. Aries came right back with another drop kick on the ropes and a brain buster for the win…

Austin Aries defeated Christopher Daniels at 11:13 to earn seven points at 11:13.

The BFG final four are Magnus, Aries, Roode and Hardy…Backstage, Bully Ray told Tito that he sometimes feels bad about what all he has done for Hogan, but he gets over it quickly. He said he had Hogan where he needed him, but he wanted Tito to make sure everything stayed in line. Tito said he had it covered…[C]

Shore's Slant: So wait, Styles doesn't even make the final cut? What? This doesn't even make any sense! Why turn him baby, only to have him cut a heelish promo about being the savior of the company, and then not actually put him in the final four? What story are they telling here? This is a mess.

[Q8] Hogan made his entrance and played to the crowd. Hogan put over the roster for doing a great job while he was gone. He had the leaderboard put up and said the top four were there, but in his meeting with Spike they decided the match needed one more gauntlet match were the winner would get 20 points and any of the guys could advance.

Ray cut Hogan off as he started to talk about his next topic. He welcomed Hogan back and said some things had changed. He held up the belt and said he had that again. He started to introduce Tessmacher, but Hogan cut him off and said after a little time and a lot of money, he had divorce papers for Ray. He said that was it, they were done.

Ray sold being irritated and then recovered by saying he didn't care about Brooke Hogan. He said he used Hogan's daughter to get the title and Tito and the gang. He said he had everything he wanted and all he had to do was wait until Bound for Glory and watch it all play out. Hogan did Bully's "Do you know who I am?" bit and it got a good pop. He did it again and said he was the guy running the show and he was going to tear Bully's family apart just like Ray had done Hogan.

Hogan booked Ray vs. a member of Aces and Eights in two weeks (Hogan called them "Aces of Eights"). Bully flipped out and said he refused. Hogan said he was going to do it, and he was going to defend the title "this week" against his next opponent, Sting. Sting's music hit and he beat up Bully Ray to close the show…

Shore's Slant: Was Hogan drunk? I ask with all sincerity. He rambled more than usual, and then he flubbed the timing for the match with Sting, and said the name of Aces and Eights wrong. A mistake is one thing, but two in a row like that is odd for Hogan. Plus, he said the match was for the title. I thought Sting couldn't challenge for the title anymore. Did Hogan misspeak there or are they just forgetting the stipulation? This shit is terrible.

This was a mess of a show. The BFG series booking mistakes continued to be compounded by adding more matches. They need to get to the final four and quit dicking around with the prelims. There was some good wrestling, but most of that was covered by the stench of the terrible logic and poor storytelling. And AJ Styles needs to be worried that whatever TNA was offering him just dropped. Jason Powell and Will Pruett will have more tomorrow. Thanks for watching along tonight.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com or tweet me @TheShoreSlant with whatever is on your mind.

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