WrestlingNerd Presents: TNA Impact Wrestling Review 7/26/12

What up wrestling fans, I'm the WrestlingNerd bringing you another written review. Today, we take a look at TNA Impact Wrestling 7/26/12. How do things turn out in TNA Land? Let's find out and start the review. 

We open up the show with Sting. Since Hulk Hogan had surgery and is counting more of his TNA money, we need an interim GM to take over, and it turns out to be John Laurinaitis….wait, wrong show. It turns out to be Sting. Ummm, didn't he step down since he couldn't handle the job? Then again, I'm probably the only one who would even bother questioning this. His first act as GM is to call out Aces and Eights. Yeah, the group that has kicked your ass twice and you're calling them out? This is what old age does to you. Austin Aries and Kurt Angle both arrive since they have a bone to pick with Aces and Eights. Bobby Roode arrives and claims he knows who's behind this stable. Bobby things James Storm is controlling A & 8. Why? Because we need to drag out the plot for 2-3 more months. Storm runs out and attacks Bobby for accusing him. The two fight for a while…..blah, blah, blah. Once the fight ends, Bobby says he will find proof that Storm is behind the attacks. Well, this is an interesting start to the show. I think for the next few weeks, they will be pointing fingers at who may be responsible for these attacks. This would be the theme as the show continued….If you want to call it that. Either way, I guess you can say that Roode has……Stormed out…..

Match #1: Gail Kim and Madison Rayne vs Mickie James and Tara

For establishing the storyline of Madison being interesting in referee, Earl Hebner, they really haven't done much with it. In fact, I don't think the established kayfabe was really a factor in this match. The match is about what you expect. The finish comes when Mickie goes for a bridge pinfall attempt, but both her and Madison's shoulders were down on the mat. Just before Earl counts to three, Madison gets her shoulder up, so she steals this match. Were you lost during that whole rant? Well, I wouldn't blame you. I had to watch this match a second time because it confused the hell out of me when I saw it the first time. I get what they were trying to do here, but it looked a bit sloppy. That's a great way to open up a show. A match that was confusing to determine the winner. We're in for a great evening, aren't we? 

Winner via instant replay: Madison Rayne and Gail Kim

Match #2: Sam Shaw vs Douglas Williams; Gut Check

Awwwwwww, I thought we were taking a break from this concept for this month? Well, because people demanded it……I think, the Gut Check is back. Shaw seems to be going with this extreme sports sort-of gimmick. I guess we need more extreme stuff in wrestling……or I should say EXTREME!!! EXTREEEEEEEEEMMMME!!! Well, he's EXTREMELY unimpressive and bland. Joey Ryan showed up in the audience during this match and punched one of the TNA agents (Al Snow, I believe. Don't quote me on that). I still find it hilarious that the guy "without" a contract has a working storyline; while two people have received a contract and have been ghost during this whole time. Because of Ryan's interference, Shaw took his eye off the ball. Douglas hits Chaos Theory for the victory. I wish I could utilize Chaos Control right about now. 

Winner via pinfall: Douglas Williams

Aries is backstage and…..Evaluates X Division guys to determine who gets an X Division title shot tonight? Isn't this supposed to happen during Open Fight Night? So, you can call tonight's show OFN 2.0 considering that half of OFN ended up on tonight's show. I really don't like this. It really just shows poor time management on TNA's part. Anyway, A Double cuts Rashard Cameron because his headband is a little blue. Sonjay Dutt, Dakota Darsow, and Kenny King still remain. Chavo Guerrero makes his TNA debut in the ring. He talks about the Guerrero legacy and how he wants to become a champion in TNA. Hey, the guy hasn't been champion in a long time…..Unless you count all those stupid segments with Hornswoggle. I'd consider that the Mockery Championship. Hmmm…..I just made myself sad for some reason. Anyway, Kid Kash and Gunner arrive. Wow, they REALLY didn't have anyone else available if they got these guys to interrupt. Did anyone else feel that Kash was completely drunk? He kept going in circles during his entire promo. They mock the Guerrero name until they fight. Hernandez arrives to even the odds. Not even in TNA, Chavo can't get the John Cena treatment. Joking aside, I look forward to what Chavo can do in TNA. The guy can still go, which is something considering his age. 

Match #3: James Storm vs AJ Styles; BFG Series

Kurt confronted Storm about the possibility of being the ring leader of Aces and Eights. Storm claims he's not running the show, but you get a shot of Storm being a little suspicious…..

Storm and Styles delivered a pretty good match. I advise checking this out since I think most of you would get an enjoyment out of this. The finish comes when after a ton of counters, A & 8 arrive and attack Styles and the referee. And then it…..Goes to commercial? Dafaq? That commercial break really seems out of place. Did the budget give out again? Oh well. Storm was the only one not attacked by the stable, leading to more theories that Storm is behind all of this. It appears somebody has some explaining to do. Hey, I just realized we didn't get another episode of All My Retards, starring Claire Lynch. PARTY!!!

No Contest; Both guys get 2 points

Gut Check…….Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Shaw gets a contract. Congratulations…..See you 8 months from now when you get your release. I'm not really big on this guy. His style can work for the X Division, but I think they got better guys for the X Division. Then again, getting a contract, via the Gut Check is like going into the witness protection program. You'll never see them again. Strange, isn't it? I think TNA is doing something illegal. In another backstage scene, Aries cuts Dakota. Being the son of the Repo Man does have its perks. Instead of being the first cut, he was the SECOND cut. Watch out for this guy cuz he's going…….Absolutely nowhere. 

Match #4: Zema Ion vs Kenny King; X Division Championship

Notice how every time somebody picks the opponent for these championship matches, they never win. I'm starting to think this whole OFN deal has completely fallen flat on its face. It's not a terrible idea, but I don't think it's being executed well. The match was okay, at best. The finish comes when Bobby comes back into the arena and attacks Kenny. Zema is able to take advantage and hits the Moonsault for the victory. After the match, Aries and Bobby fight each other. We would later find out that it will be Aries and Kenny vs Bobby and Zema for next week's show. It seems that TNA wants to give Kenny some spotlight, which I don't have a problem with. Personally, I'm not really big on Sonjay, so I don't mind him getting passed over. The guy can wrestle, but I find his personality dreadful at times. If you listen, you can hear the internet screaming their lungs at me for saying that.

Winner via pinfall and still X Division Champion: Zema Ion

Match #5: Kurt Angle vs Bully Ray; BFG Series

Once again, another good match. Lots of counters and great back and forth action. The finish comes when Kurt hits the Angle Slam for the victory. After the match, A & 8 arrive and attack Kurt. Styles, Aries, and Sting arrive to help Kurt out. I love this shot. You see Styles and Aries running, but you see Sting trotting along. It's like his body gave up on him. Somebody give that man a cane. The fight is pretty balanced until Storm arrives to help out the good guys…..or does he? After Aces and Eights leave, Kurt and Aries really question Storm's motives. Yeah, so I guess they want to put the focus on "who's the boss?" until they finally reveal who's controlling Aces and Eights. I highly doubt Storm would be the culprit, but at least it eats up time. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't reveal the boss of Aces and Eights until Bound for Glory. If that's the case, this could get very interesting or very stupid. For the time being, I don't have a problem with this approach, but I hope they can do their homework with this storyline. I don't think we need another Clair Lynch storyline running around now. 

Winner via pinfall: Kurt Angle

Overall Impression:

I really felt the filler nature for tonight's show. Sure, they did introduce the idea that Storm could be leading Aces and Eights, but I really don't see that as an argument to claim this show is a watcher. While the show featured a couple of decent matches, I just couldn't get into the show. I was bored during several parts of this show, and I'm sure that wasn't the idea. I really do wonder why part of the OFN concept ended up on tonight's show. I can't help but think that TNA is trying to include too many things in one show. I hate it when you cram a show because that's when it gets crowded, confusing, and hard to watch. I hope this is only a minor set back since I think TNA was starting to get on the right track. Of course, TNA still has a long, long, LONG way to go before challenging WWE. I know the IWC would say otherwise, but I think WWE comes out of this week looking better, especially since they gave you a pretty decent reason to tune in next week. Tonight's show is what I would consider average, but there isn't a whole lot to go off of here. You can possibly find yourself bored with it, but it's tolerable. Take of that whatever you will. That's gonna do it for the review and I hope you enjoyed it. As always, tell me what you thought of my review and tonight's show. I will see you guys and girls on the next WrestlingNerd show. See you next time.