Impact: Some hits, more misses as Bound For Glory build continues

Bob Kapur

Impact: Some hits, more misses as Bound For Glory build continues

After a streak of strong episodes, this week’s Impact felt like a bit of a stumble. Some of the matches were pretty good, and Eric Young once again had a hot segment. But there was a lot of stuff that didn’t work and/or wasn’t helpful in building interest in the Bound For Glory PPV coming up in 11 days.

The show started with Moose yelling at Impact Executive Vice-President Scott D’Amore. Moose was upset that Impact hadn’t done anything about EC3 having stolen his TNA World Heavyweight Championship and thrown the title off of a bridge last week. He was also upset that he had a match against EC3 at Bound For Glory in an unknown location. D’Amore rightly called Moose on this nonsense, and said that he had more important things to deal with, namely a call from Rich Swann’s orthopedic surgeon who was going to provide an update on Swann’s condition.

Moose wandered around backstage and EC3 appeared on a video on a wall. EC3 made some cryptic remarks about crossing a bridge and Moose was able to figure out what that meant. God, can this storyline please come to an end already?

Match 1: Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie vs. Havok and Neveah vs. Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz

Early on, Neveah and Havok used their size and power advantage to hurt Valkyrie. Hogan then tagged herself in to take advantage of the opportunity to pin Valkyrie, but it backfired on her. Oddly, the two larger teams would freely tag each other in a few times. One would think that it would be the smaller duos who would want to join forces against Neveah and Havok. The match started off slowly, but picked up after some time, with some good moments, like Kiera hitting a running dive to Havok on the entrance ramp, and Taya doing a flying leap off the top turnbuckle onto Havok, Kiera, and Neveah on the floor. This left Tasha in the ring alone with Rosemary, and that was bad news for her. Rosemary hit the Demon Drop on Steelz to get the pin. This was fine, though the dynamic was a bit weird at times.

Winners: Rosemary and Taya Valkyrie

Backstage, John E. Bravo was having a meltdown on his groomsmen because of the costs of his upcoming wedding to Rosemary. His best man, Fallah Bahh came in and denied having stolen money from Hernandez next week, and Crazzy Steve and Swinger questioned whether he was being truthful about that. This led to Bahh challenging Steve to a match. They both stormed off, followed by Bravo. Cousin Jake tried to get Cody Deaner, Alisha Edwards and Johnny Swinger to practice their groomsmen dance, but they weren’t in the mood.

Backstage, Rosemary teleported into Havok’s dressing room and asked Havok if she would help her resurrect Father James Mitchell in order that he could officiate at her wedding. Havok said that she had banished him to another realm for a good reason. But that if Rosemary beat her in a match next week, she would help her.

Match 2: Fallah Bahh vs. Crazzy Steve

During his introduction, Bahh was shown trying to hide the wad of cash under his shirt. #DirtyThief Steve tried to trick Bahh into coughing up the money, but Bahh didn’t fall for it, and went on the attack instead lest his lie be exposed. Bahh hit a Low Cross Body that flattened Steve. But when he went for an Avalanche, Steve side-stepped him and then locked on a Sleeper. But Steve tried to get the money and Bahh woke up in a panic. Bahh was in such an anxious state about the money that he got sloppy and let Steve get behind him. Steve ripped off Bahh’s shirt, showing the wad of cash which Bahh had tied around his neck. Bahh was so surprised that he froze, and Steve rolled him up for the win. This was pretty much a comedy segment. The change in Bahh to a greedy Gollum type came from out of nowhere and is kind of strange.

Winner: Crazzy Steve

Three segments in and none of what’s happened has centred around the PPV, but rather the wedding, which will take on the episode after BFG. #CounterproductiveMuch

Backstage, Rhino tried to make amends with Heath who blew up at him last week. Rhino told him that he’d arranged for Heath to be included in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match at BFG, and that if either of them won that match, Heath would not only get a contract with Impact, but it would be the vastly-overpriced one that Scott D’Amore rejected last week. But there is a catch: if neither of them win, then Heath would never get a contract with the company. Ever. He also informed Heath to grab his gear, because they were going to be in a match tonight.

After Heath ran to the car to get his stuff, D’Amore came out of his office. He asked Rhino if he was ever going to tell Heath about the other condition – which is that if neither of them win the Gauntlet Match, not only would Heath not get a contract, but Rhino would lose his own. Rhino said that he wasn’t going to tell Heath about that part.

Match 3: Tenille Dashwood (w/ Kaleb), Tommy Dreamer, Brian Myers, Cody Deaner, and Johnny Swinger vs. Hernandez, Cousin Jake, Alisha Edwards, Rhino, and Heath

The odd team compositions here were explained by the teams being picked at random. The members of the winning team will meet in a 5-way match next week, with the winner getting the #20 spot in the Gauntlet Match at BFG. #ComplicatedAndConvolutedButLogicalToo

The story here was that both teams were pretty dysfunctional and nobody really wanted to compete in the match. Lots of stalling and some comedy in the early minutes, with not much really happening. Things picked up a bit when Hernandez and Dreamer squared off, but only for a very short moment. Dreamer finally forced Myers into the match, but he didn’t fare too well against Heath, who was on fire. Just when it looked like Myers was going to turn things around, Swinger tagged himself in. That was a bad move, as he immediately fell to a Wake Up Call from Heath and got pinned. This was too much silliness and felt like filler. Which maybe isn’t surprising, since the Gauntlet match seems to be simply a way to get everyone a spot on the PPV. But perhaps having a more serious match here would help give that match a little more gravitas. Which, you know, since Rhino’s career is on the line, you’d think it warrants.

Winners: Hernandez, Heath, Cousin Jake, Rhino, and Alisha Edwards

Backstage, Sami Callihan taunted Eddie Edwards about the damage Ken Shamrock did to Eddie’s leg on Sami’s instructions. Eddie tried to beat up Sami, but Shamrock jumped him from behind and beat him down while Sami recorded the beat-down and laughed.

Elsewhere, Jimmy Jacobs let Eric Young that his attack on Rich Swann last week may keep Swann out of Bound For Glory. Young scoffed at Swann’s chances, and then menaced Jacobs. Young said that he was going to the ring to demand a straight answer.

Match 4: Kimber Lee (w/ Deonna Purrazzo) vs. Kylie Rae

Kylie was uncharacteristically aggressive during this one, looking to repay Lee and Purrazzo for the injury they gave to Rae’s friend Susie last week. She hit Lee with some big moves early, including a hurancarana and a big kick to the face. They fought on the apron, with Lee trying to end things with a German Suplex off the apron, but Rae blocked it. But then Lee caught her with a big Powerbomb on the edge of the apron – ouch. Lee took over after that, stomping a mudhole in Rae and then hitting her with big chops, stomps, and a nice Delayed Suplex. Lee cranked on a leg submission that had Rae shrieking in pain, and then continued the power moves. Rae avoided a charge, and that gave her the chance to fire up and go on the attack again. She nearly got the win a couple of times after a Kylie Special and a running Senton in the corner, but Lee was able to kick out. Lee caught her in a running attack and dropped her with a Sky High, but Rae kicked out. She went for another, but Rae turned it into a rollup. Purrazzo tried to distract Rae from the outside, but Rae didn’t fall for it. Instead, she locked Lee in the Smiles To The Finish and Lee had no choice but to tap out. After the match, Rae wouldn’t let go of the hold. Purrazzo tried to attack Rae from behind, but Rae caught her and battered her around until Purrazzo ran away.

Good match. Angry Kylie is fun to watch, and this continued the good build towards her BFG title match.

Winner: Kylie Rae

Before the next match, the Good Brothers bragged about themselves, from their in-ring skills, their mic skills, and their negotiating skills (based on the huge cabbage they’re pulling down from their Impact contract). They said that winning the tag team titles will show how great they are.

Match 5: Doc Gallows (w/ Karl Anderson) vs. Mad Man Fulton (w/ Ace Austin)

Gallows started off with a big boot, but Fulton was able to recover, sending Gallows over the top with a huge clothesline. They brawled ringside, and then all the way up the entrance ramp, and were both counted out. Despite the match officially coming to an end, they continued to pummel each other into the commercial break. Back from break, and it was announced that the match was restarted as a No Disqualification, No Countout match. They fought around ringside, with Fulton waylaying Gallows with a lead pipe and a garbage can, with nobody safe from the carnage, including Ace Austin who got laid out. Gallows fired back with a beer can shot to the head, and then ultimately they fought their way back to the ring, where Gallows walloped Fulton with a steel chair. But then Fulton paid him back with a chair shot of his own, and then used a crutch to choke Gallows. Fulton was firmly in control when he set Gallows up in the corner for a Swinging Conchairto, but Gallows blocked it and took over. Gallows battered him for a bit and then ended things with a Chokeslam Bomb through a couple of steel chairs.

This was a really good brawl – a true slobberknocker as good ol’ JR would say. Austin and Fulton really need to end up getting the upset win at BFG, or else all the losses they’ve had in the buildup to the 4-way match will not have done them any favours.

Winner: Doc Gallows

Impact World Champion Eric Young came to the ring and demanded that someone give him an answer as to Rich Swann’s status for BFG. Backstage, Impact Executive VP Scott D’Amore took a phone call and got some kind of information about something from someone. He said that, in light of what the caller said, he had somewhere to be. #cryptic

D’Amore went to the ring, and Young got in his face, telling D’Amore to announce that Swann was not going to be able to compete at BFG, and that Eric would have the night off. D’Amore said that he spoke with Swann’s orthopedic surgeon who said that Young had done “additional and substantial” damage to Swann’s ankle. Eric ranted and raved and trash-talked both Swann and D’Amore. But then D’Amore said that Swann’s doctor had indeed cleared Swann to compete at BFG. Young snapped and attacked D’Amore, putting the boots to him and then going all berserker on him with fists. He locked D’Amore in an ankle lock and was going to snap it. But then Rich Swann ran down and made the save, sending Young scurrying in fright.

Moose drove to a bridge where EC3 was standing with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. They yelled at each other and exchanged insults. Moose went up to EC3 and socked him right in the face. They slugged it out on the bridge until Moose ultimately got knocked down and out. As EC3 gloated and tried to walk away with the title, Moose recovered and went after him from behind, ground-and-pounding EC3 and leaving him laying there all bloody. As Moose left, EC3 lay there bleeding, but laughing. In terms of building anticipation for the PPV match, this segment was a fail. The storyline was weak to begin with. But now, after the convincing beatdown by Moose, why do we need another match? Not to mention the fact that EC3 is supposed to be the good guy, but came across as incredibly unlikeable week after weak. Bad ending that took away from the strong segment with Young, D’Amore, and Swann.

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