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Impact Report for Dec. 20 - Hardy Vs Aries 3

Blaine van der Griend / December 21, 2012 - 12:37am

This week’s Impact kicks off…with a match (what a concept!).

Match #1: Devon vs. Kurt Angle for the TNA Television Championship

Devon is accompanied by Aces and 8s, so Angle grabs a microphone and says since Devon has back-up, he’s going to have back-up as well, which leads to Samoa Joe, Garrett Bischoff and Wes Brisco coming out. Devon is thrown out to the floor in the early going and there is a standoff between Aces and 8s, and Angle’s guys, which eventually turns into a brawl. As they are finally separated, Devon sneaks back in with a chop block on Angle, as we head to commercial. Back from break, Devon is firmly in control and is targeting Angle’s leg. Angle fights back and delivers a missile dropkick (which an injured leg?). He then takes Devon down with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for two. Devon answers back with a one-arm spinebuster for two. Angle responds with a trifecta of German suplexes. He then removes his straps and applies the ankle lock. Aces and 8s distract the referee, as Devon is tapping. Eventually, Joe, Bischoff and Brisco come back to get in the faces (or masks) of the Aces and 8s guys. This allows another masked man to sneak up from behind and level Angle with a pipe, giving Devon the win.

Winner: Devon by pinfall

Brooke Hogan is in her office with the four potential challengers for the Knockouts Title. They all argue, but Brooke quickly dismisses ODB, saying that there must be too much on her mind to distract her, with her husband Eric Young still on the shelf.

Kenny King is interviewed by the Reaction crew. He tells Jason Hervey that he doesn’t care how he won last week; the point is that he won. He adds that he’s excited to team with RVD tonight.

Match #2: Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan vs. Rob Van Dam and Kenny King

Ryan’s showboating in the early going does him no favours, as he quickly eats a spin kick from RVD, followed by a standing moonsault for two. King tags in and nips up after a Japanese armdrag to Ryan, but is quickly clotheslined back down by Morgan. As soon as Morgan gains the advantage for his team, Ryan tags back in, only to be met with some right hands from King. Ryan then distracts the referee, allowing Morgan to palm the back of King’s neck like a basketball and then reverse chokeslam him into the top turnbuckle. Van Dam reenters and nearly kicks Ron Burgandy’s mustache right off his face. King tries to build on that momentum, until Morgan sneaks in and stares King down. King makes a shrugs his shoulders, before making a quick exit to the floor, which leaves an opening for Morgan to drill Van Dam with the carbon foot print, and Ryan takes the pin.

Winners: Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan by pinfall

Footage from last week is shown of AJ Styles’ “walk away” promo.

Kazarian is then interviewed by the Reaction crew about this. He says he couldn’t care less that AJ might be done with wrestling. He says he’s more focused on Christmas coming up, and adds that he has a special gift in mind for his good friend Daniels. He then gets on the phone with someone named ‘Nick’ and asks how ‘Donner’ is doing.

Hulk Hogan comes out to the ring. He says it’s been a great year for Impact Wrestling, saying that there’s so much talent in the back that it’s almost impossible to determine who’s the greatest of the great. He says the company is giving the fans a chance to vote for who they would like to be the Impact Wrestler of the Year. He continues that that man (or woman) will be named on January 3. Hogan is then interrupted by Aces and 8s. Devon says Hogan is sadly mistaken if he thinks that 2012 was his year. Devon continues that 2012 is the year that Aces and 8s was born, and it’s the year that they have beaten the hell out of every single person in the back. He adds that 2013 will also be the year for Aces and 8s, and it will be the year that they will be revealed, but he says that Hogan will not be around to see any of it (by this time tomorrow, none of us could be around). As the group slowly heads into the ring to presumably get physical with Hogan, Bully Ray runs out for the save. Ray then offers his hand to Hogan, but Hogan just shakes his head and walks off.

Jeff Hardy is talking to himself backstage, saying that Austin Aries earned his respect in the two previous they’ve had, but after he tried to pay someone to take Hardy out, he’s lost that respect again. Hardy says if Aries wanted a title shot so badly, all he had to do was ask.

Brooke Hogan is with the Knockouts again. Velvet says that since her and Mickie kind of returned at the same time, neither of them have really had their moment. Brooke says because of this, she is going to dismiss Miss Tessmacher, so that one of the other two can finally get her opportunity.

Kazarian comes out to the ring and he is bearing gifts. There is also a Christmas tree in the ring with cardboard cutouts of Daniels and Kaz where the star should be (nice touch), as he says this tree has two stars. Kaz then brings out his partner in crime, Christopher Daniels. Daniels sits in a throne in the ring, as Kazarian says he has a very special guest for Daniels. With that said, Kazarian brings out Santa Claus, whom he says has the world’s biggest sack. Kazarian says that since Santa Claus is always so giving and generous, they would like to give him a gift. Kazarian gives Santa a present, which turns out to be a pair of Zubaz pants. Daniels then sits on Santa’s lap and Santa asks if he’s been a good boy this year. Daniels says he has and he got rid of the biggest loser in the history of Impact Wrestling. He continues that he would like to give his present to someone who really needs it. Daniels tells Santa to give some presents to AJ Styles’ kids, because AJ is such a failure that he won’t be able to give them anything at all. This is interrupted by James Storm. Storm says they can talk trash about AJ all they want, but he’ll be damned if he’s going to let them ruin Christmas. Daniels tells Santa that Storm is the reason that AJ Styles can’t challenge for the World Title until Bound for Glory 2013, which should put him directly on the naughty list. Storm gets in the ring and starts going after Daniels and Kaz, who are hiding behind Santa. Storm tells Santa that if he’s the real Santa, he would know what Storm asked him for. Santa says it has to be something country and asks if it was a Travis Tritt CD. Storm says it was a case of beer, and then proceeds to super kick Santa Claus out of his chair.

Austin Aries is talking into the camera backstage. He says this is the second time in a row that he finds himself in a championship match on Championship Thursday, but he says it’s a little different, because Hardy actually challenged him. Aries goes on to say that he has the advantage in this match, since this is a wrestling match and not a ladder match.

A promo airs to hype up Sting’s return on January 3. Sting says that he’s coming for Aces and 8s.

Aces and 8s are backstage, discussing the video. The VP says they’ll deal with that when the time comes, but then yells at them for what happened with Hogan. Devon tries calming the VP down, saying that he has an idea of someone who might be able to help them. They are apparently all in agreement on this, even though most of them are not enthusiastic about it.

Brooke Hogan is in Gorilla position with Velvet Sky and Mickie James. She gives Mickie the shot on the grounds that she got screwed at the pay per view. Velvet wishes Mickie luck, but then shakes her head and rolls her eyes, as Mickie walks off.

Match #3: Tara vs. Mickie James for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship

Mickie tries a handsprings victory roll, but only gets two. She then goes for a low dropkick, but Jessie trips her, allowing Tara to get a two-count. Jessie’s interference gives Tara a significant advantage, as she pretty much has her way with Mickie in the next few minutes. She violently whips Mickie into the fair corner, but wastes too much time going for a kiss from Jessie, which ends up costing her, as she barely gets two. Tara goes for her spinning sidewalk slam out of a firewoman’s carry, which she now calls the spider web (about time they named that move), but Mickie counters with a flying headscissors. Tara comes back with a standing moonsault for two. Mickie hits a neckbreaker for two. Tara goes for the widow’s peak, but Mickie wiggles free and hits the swinging DDT, but Jessie reaches in and pulls Tara out of the pinning predicament. As the power couple attempts to leave, Mickie meets them on the floor with a high crossbody. She then slaps Jessie and tosses Tara back in the ring. Jessie once again provides a distraction, allowing Tara to put Velvet Sky to shame with a facebuster for the win.

Winner: Tara by pinfall

Footage from earlier in the week is shown of Joseph Park’s next training session. Danny Davis is yelling at Park for not being aggressive enough. During training, one of the trainees smashes Park in the mouth, which causes him to snap and hit the blackhole slam on the poor guy.

Match #4: Jeff Hardy vs. Austin Aries for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship

Hardy gets the crowd right into it as he introduces Aries’ head to the turnbuckles. Aries fights back and tries a hilo, but gets nothing but knees. Aries fights back with a back elbow for two, but is unable to build any momentum, as he’s quickly clotheslined over the top to the floor. Hardy runs off the apron, but Aries avoids him and Hardy crashes into the guardrail. Aries then finally hits the hilo for two. Aries uses the top rope to elevate him for an elbow drop for two. Hardy retaliates with a flying headscissor into a faceplant out of the corner. He then comes off the top rope with an attempted splash, but Aries gets the knees up. Hardy rebounds and hits a modified gourdbuster. Hardy then plants Aries with a falling front slam and then delivers a big splash off the middle rope for two. Hardy again goes for the headscissors out of the corner, but Aries catches his legs and crotches him on the top rope. Aries follows up with a running dropkick in the corner. Hardy fires back with a reverse powerbomb. He then goes for the whisper in the wind, but Aries avoids it. Aries goes for the brainbuster, but Hardy blocks it and nails the twist of fate. With Aries not sufficiently weakened, Hardy goes for another one, but Aries counters. Aries comes off the middle rope right into an inverted atomic drop. Hardy then goes for a double-footed gut stomp, but Aries kicks him backwards into the referee. As Hardy checks on the ref, Aries delivers a low blow and then the brainbuster. A new ref comes to the ring to make the count, but he gets pulled out by Bobby Roode, who runs out to ringside. Roode then climbs in the ring and starts making the count, as if he’s the ref, because Aries has his back turned, as he is pinning Hardy. Roode stops the count at two, which causes Aries to turn around. Roode flips Aries the bird and then plants him with a double R spinebuster. Hardy gets back up and hits Aries with the twist of fate and then the swanton for the win.

Winner: Jeff Hardy by pinfall

The Reaction crew catches up to Hulk Hogan in the parking lot. Hogan says the first thing on his agenda in 2013 is to get everything straightened out in the World Title picture. Hervey then asks him if this thing with Bully Ray and Brooke has distracted him from dealing with Aces and 8s. Hogan says it isn’t a distraction, but then he sees Bully Ray and Brooke getting out of a car (I don’t know how these two did not see him there, as this is like three cars over). Bully Ray and Brooke start making out in front of the car (way to be discreet). After seeing this, Hogan is disgusted and drives off.

Final thoughts:

There wasn’t a lot accomplished on this week’s show that wasn’t already accomplished last week. At least we know that Sting is coming back on January 3 (he’s only been gone for a month. Did they really need to build this up?). I really liked the women’s match this week, but the other matches on the show were just forgettable. I’ll give them credit for at least doing something with Kenny King, and actually trying to establish a feud over the X-Division Title. Brooke Hogan has to be one of the most annoying characters on television right now, and I really hope that this angle doesn’t go longer than it needs to. The worst part is that it’s not going to lead to a match, unless Hogan gets back in the ring. I’d say this was just an average show though and I give it 5 out of 10.