Impact
Wrestling
Date:
February 27, 2015
Location:
Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Attendance:
3,300
Commentators:
Josh Matthews, Taz
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It's
off to England now after two pretty solid shows in Scotland. The
main story coming out of last week is MVP earning a World Title shot
by winning the gauntlet match, even though it was more of a group
effort from the Beat Down Clan. Other than that we have the
continuing story of Bram vs. Magnus, which should pick up again here
in England. Let's get to it.
We
open with a recap of the gauntlet match with Kurt Angle almost
surviving the entire BDC but finally getting caught at the end.
Here's
Kurt Angle who doesn't waste any time in calling out Lashley. Kurt
says Lashley doesn't have to respect him, but he needs to respect the
title. Last week Lashley didn't do anything to help him in the
gauntlet match, but Lashley rightly says that wasn't his fight.
Therefore tonight, it's MVP vs. Lashley and Angle won't be there to
help him. Lashley doesn't want his help because it's his own fight.
Angle says he won't help him and leaves.
Lashley
is about to do the same but the Beat Down Clan interrupts. Joe says
the BDC doesn't need luck because tonight, the Clan's MVP will win
the title by any means available. MVP says no one has Lashley's
back, so tonight the Clan gets its belt back. This wasn't bad but
the Lashley vs. Kurt exchange was kind of lame. Lashley didn't want
help so Angle emphasizes that he's not getting help? That came off
kind of odd.
The
announcers talk about what happened. I really like that they
emphasize that Taz used to be a World Champion. A lot of younger
fans might not have seen him in the ring (he retired about thirteen
years ago) so just throw in that he used to be a big deal. It gives
him some credibility instead of just letting him seem like some old
guy.
Mr.
Anderson/Rockstar Spud vs. Tyrus/Ethan Carter III
Anderson
does his intro and Spud gets in a quick intro of his own. Tyrus
reluctantly reveals his shaved head and no sells a right hand to the
face from Anderson. Mr. hammers away in the corner before it's off
to Spud for more of the same. A bite to the head only makes Tyrus
mad though and he plants Spud with a World's Strongest Slam. Does
that make him a mashed potato? Spud misses an elbow from Carter and
makes the hot tag to Anderson, who hits a pretty bad looking
neckbreaker for two on the big man.
The
fans chant for Spud as Tyrus hits Anderson low and slows things down.
Back to Carter for some right hands in the corner. I'm so glad his
arm injury hasn't kept him out of the ring for too long. Carter is
way too good to be on the sideline that long. Tyrus slams Anderson
down but COMPLETELY misses a Vader Bomb (his feet might have hit
Anderson's chest if Anderson hadn't moved but that's it), allowing
for the tag to Spud. An Underdog (Dudley Dog) drops Tyrus and
Anderson adds a low blow and the Mic Check, allowing Spud to get the
pin at 7:00.
Rating:
C-. This is as entertaining of
a feud as there is in wrestling right now. Spud
is nailing his underdog roll and Carter has mastered the idea of
being an evil heel that you want to see lose. Hopefully that leads
to the World Title for Carter, as he's probably the best heel not
named Bully Ray in years for TNA.
We
recap the formation of the Trio, which led to the Beat Down Clan and
helped Lashley beat Eric Young for the World Title. I always enjoy
seeing Eric Young in pain.
After
a break, Ethan promises to shave Spud's hair tonight.
Here's
Taryn Terrell to address Awesome Kong. Kong may have made her
intentions clear, so get out here so Taryn can do the same thing.
Instead here's Gail Kim to tell Taryn how tough Kong is. If Taryn
thinks Havok was tough, think about what Kong did to her. Taryn
knows what she wants and is ready for Kong anytime. Kim leaves and
the lights go out. Kong is in the ring and shrugs off everything
Taryn throws at her before planting her with the Implant Buster.
That could be deadly for Terrell.
The
BDC throws the camerman out of their meeting.
We
look at the BDC helping Lashley win the World Title back in January
and then attacking Lashley just two weeks later.
Austin
Aries might have a surprise for us tonight and holds up the
briefcase.
Chris
Melendez/Brooke vs. Robbie E./Angelina Love
I
still don't get the appeal of Melendez. Yeah it's impressive that he
can get around on one leg, but once you see that it's pretty much the
end of his usefulness. He's not bad, but he's a pretty generic power
guy other than the leg. Robbie gets in a cheap shot on Chris but
gets hammered down and suplexed for two. Off to Brooke vs. Robbie
with E. mocking her with Karate Kid crane poses, allowing Love to
sneak in with some shots to the back. Some dropkicks send Love over
to tag E. but eats a flapjack first. DJZ offers a distraction
though, allowing E. to shove Brooke off the top for the pin at 3:26.
Rating:
D. Eh it's a comedy feud so
it's kind of hard to really complain about this match. If nothing
else we get to stare at Brooke and E. is so over the top and insane
that it's a lot easier to sit through. As I said though, where was
Melendez at the end? He can't handle someone like the BroMans?
Carter
tries to go into Spud's locker room to shave his head but Anderson
makes the save after a break. Tyrus ran in to help out his boss.
Didn't we cover this
already?
Gunner
wants to know why Angle is leaving but Kurt says Lashley doesn't want
him around. That's not enough for Gunner who wants the old Angle
back. He slaps Kurt in the face but nothing comes of it.
Here's
Austin Aries with something to say. He's
thinking about cashing in this Feast or Fired briefcase tonight, but
here's Samoa Joe to interrupt. Joe
isn't going to allow Aries to cash in the case tonight because he can
have trained assassins on him at any given moment. Would those be
the ninjas in the panel vans? Aries wants to know where the old Joe
has gone and a challenge is thrown out. Joe says bring it so Aries
dives through the ropes to take him down.
Austin
Aries vs. Samoa Joe
Joined
in progress after a break with Aries hammering away in the corner.
Joe is too big to have his brain busted though and sends Aries out to
the floor. Back in and Joe stomps away before driving a knee into
Aries' ribs. This isn't the
most interesting stuff so far. They slug it out with Aries getting
the better of it, only to eat a running boot to the face and the
backsplash for no cover.
We
hit the bearhug on Aries for a bit before Aries low bridges him to
the floor. A big top rope ax handle nails Joe but the brainbuster
still doesn't work. Aries escapes the Muscle Buster and hits some
discus forearms to set up the Last Chancery. I'd buy that hold as
more of a threat if it ever won anything. Cue Kenny King with the
briefcase for a distraction, allowing Joe to put on the Clutch.
Aries sends him face first into the case (not a DQ because of course
not) and hits a 450 for the pin at 7:55.
Rating:
C+. These kind of matches feel
like they're just going through the motions more often than not.
There's almost no reason for these two to be fighting other than they
need something to fill in the card. It's not a bad match or
anything, but it just comes and goes and is another match on the show
that I won't remember later.
The
BDC comes in post match and puts Aries on the table. Low Ki hits the
double stomp to Aries' ribs but the table doesn't break all the way.
Instead, Joe adds a running backsplash to really send Aries through
the wood.
Lashley
says MVP has to go through him to win the title. He doesn't
need Angle's help either. WWE,
take note on how to keep your monsters short and to the point like
this.
MVP
praises Eric Young for injuring Roode last week. Young thinks
there's a hole in his heart and he has to fill it in with revenge.
MVP suggests getting some of
that revenge on Lashley for taking his World Title last year.
The
BDC has stolen Aries' Feast or Fired briefcase.
Noam
Dar vs. Rampage Brown
Both
guys are from British Boot Camp but before they can get very far,
Bram comes in to beat up both guys with Impaler DDTs at 0:54.
Bram
wants Magnus out here right now but he gets Grado instead. Grado
dances down and gets in Bram's face, only to get run over with ease.
The third implant DDT puts Grado down again but there's no Magnus.
TNA
World Title: MVP vs. Bobby Lashley
Lashley
is defending and runs him over to start before hitting a running
clothesline in the corner. Some more clotheslines set up a delayed
vertical suplex as it's all Lashley so far. Again, this is what
Reigns should be doing. MVP bails to the floor but the rest of the
BDC tries to interfere, earning then ejections as we take a break.
Back with MVP sending him into the steps for two and kicking the
champ in the back.
More
stomping ensues as we get to the core problem with MVP: he isn't the
most interesting guy in the ring. Kenny King and Samoa Joe are still
at ringside for a stomping as I guess only half of the team was
ejected. Back inside and MVP stomps away even more but both guys
collide to put them down again. Lashley charges into the corner and
plants MVP with a spinebuster for two. MVP tosses him with a suplex
but misses the Black Out.
A
spear drops MVP but the referee is bumped as well, as per the
contractually obligated ref bump in title matches. Cue Eric Young
with a chair to Lashley's back but Bobby Roode comes out to break up
a piledriver attempt. Young is gone so Lashley hits a powerslam on
MVP, but the BDC breaks up the pin again. Cue Gunner to take out
Joe, allowing MVP to hit the Play of the Day on Lashley for two. MVP
grabs a chair but Drew Galloway takes him down, allowing the spear to
retain Lashley's title at 15:45.
Rating:
C. The wrestling wasn't great
but this was about Lashley fighting off all odds to keep his title.
It's a basic story but TNA is pulling it off well enough. They
telegraphed the ending with Angle vs. Lashley earlier in the night
and I'm sure MVP will get the title one day, but the BDC is starting
to look weak without being able to get the big belt. There was too
much insanity here for my tastes but I've seen far worse.
Overall
Rating: C+. TNA
continues its nice roll with another good, although not great show
this week. Lashley vs. Angle vs. MVP is an interesting feud but
hopefully it doesn't add up to another triple threat match for the
title. The rest of the show is actually more entertaining that I was
expecting and the midcard is pretty easily more entertaining than
WWE's. However, is there a reason these guys are all fighting? A
midcard title wouldn't be the worst thing for TNA, but for now it's
surviving well enough.
Results
Rockstar
Spud/Mr. Anderson b. Tyrus/Ethan Carter III – Spud pinned Tyrus
after a Mic Check from Anderson
Robbie
E./Angelina Love b. Brooke/Chris Melendez – Shove off the top
Austin
Aries b. Samoa Joe – 450 Splash
Noam
Dar vs. Rampage Brown went to a no contest when Bram interfered
Lashley
b. MVP – Spear
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