Holy crap!  I’m actually watching Impact.  And only a day after it aired.  What is this madness?  Well, I’m interested in what is happening with the Aces and Eights story.  Austin Aries was great.  Rob Van Dam got the X Division title.  Lets see what’s happening!

Christy Hemme looks great.   If WWE is going to continue to be PG then TNA is smart to put some sex front and center.

Why did I expect Bill Alfonso to come out with Rob Van Dam?

Rob Van Dam (X Division champion) vs. Zema Ion.

Who the hell did Zema Ion piss off?  Nothing against RVD.  He has won titles all over the world and is a great champion.  But why did Zema get no offense?  Very strange.  The match ends up being a squash and RVD gets the win.

Rob celebrates and then is attacked… by Matt Morgan?!  Didn’t he keep saying he was signed with WWE?  Morgan is with Joey Ryan, and I guess that’s Rob’s next challenger for the X title.  I am very confused, but in a good way.

Austin Aries with a brief segment.  Not bad but not good either.

The Shop TNA horror commercial is pretty clever.  Kudos for that one.

Chris Daniels and Kazarian come out to the ring.  They drop the racial bombs in order to piss off the new TNA tag team champions, Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez.  Sure, we’ll give you a rematch.  Well alright, but that wasn’t much.

Hulk Hogan debates on who should get a title shot.  Its down to Anderson, Storm, Angle and Bully Ray.  Anderson gets frustrated and I guess that’s enough to say he doesn’t get a shot.  Eh, alright.  The real story comes after when Mr Anderson and Austin Aries get into it.   Brief fight but it was so well done I’m ready for the match later tonight.  Well done.

Aces and Eights pick their next victim.  I’m still not totally sure who each guy is.  I’m sure TNA isn’t totally sure yet either.

Robbie T (with Robbie E) vs. Samoa Joe (TV champ)

I forgot many things in my time away from TNA.  I forgot there’s a TV title, that Robbie T is still under contract, and that Samoa Joe is still not being used well.  At least that third one might be changing.  This was a little more than a squash but Joe looked great.  Its all Joe and he tries to lock on the choke only for Robbie T to fight back not one, not two, not even three but four times!  The last time is by far the best.  Robbie drops back and lands on top of Joe.  That should be it but Joe sits up like the Undertaker (wrong company Kevin) like Michael Myers!  Keep booking Joe like this and the fans will be excited for him again.

Review of the Brooke Tessmacher and Tara feud.  Lot of booty shots.  So thumbs up here.

Hogan continues to debate on who gets the title shot.  Bully Ray wants to get back at his brother Devon, who is now in Aces and Eights.  Hulk agrees so Ray is out of contention.

Mr Anderson prepares for his match.

Mr Anderson vs. Austin Aries.

Its one of those matches where you can just feel something is being set up.  Fair wrestling, but nothing great until the plot point.  AA plants brass knucks on Anderson.  Kenny pulls them out and doesn’t know what to make of it.  The referee grabs them, they weren’t used so the match continues and now that the gimmick has been removed a good match takes place.

I’ll say it.  Austin is a much better wrestler than Anderson.  By far.  Sure Anderson is taller.  He also isn’t sure what his body should look like.  He’s smaller than he was in WWE, but he’s more defined and tanned than when I last watched TNA.  Austin meanwhile always looks good.

Not since Eddie Guerrero have I seen a better heel ending to a match.  Aries tries using the brass again.  Anderson knocks it loose, and picks it up.  Of course the referee sees this and warns him.  While the referee is distracted Aries hits Anderson with a different set of knuckles.  Then Austin rolls Anderson on top!  As if to imply that Ken hit him and knocked him down.  Its brilliant!  Austin then miraculously kicks out at two and then gets the TKO win.  Aries might be heel of the week.

Tara and whoever the hell this reality show guy is complain to Brooke Hogan about ODB.  Tara and ODB are incredibly talented.  The other two, ugh.  I’ll just pay attention to Tara and try to ignore the rest if there’s any other segments like this.

Miss Tessmacher vs. Tara (Knockouts champion, with Himbo).

Here’s the difference.  No women’s match on Raw.  Here we have one of the greatest women wrestlers of all time vs. yes, a model who worked her ass off and actually became a damn good wrestler herself.  Plus Tarryn is in there as well, because why not have a hot referee too?

Great work here.  Brooke as the underdog.  Tara as the evil backstabbing veteran heel.  The match is even a little trashy too, but a very good match.  Himbo provides the distraction.  Tara hits the Widow’s Peak for the win.  Tara makes out with Himbo after the match.

What in the hell?  They’re still making out.  Brooke Hogan comes out and I’m trying to not look directly at her for fear of turning into stone.  Tara is 41, Brooke is 24 and looks older than Tara.  Anyways, Open Fight Night next week will see ODB challenging Himbo.  I’m sure he has a name but I just cant be bothered. TNA should stop bringing in reality show people.

Joseph Parks visits with Hulk Hogan.  Joseph wants to take on Aces and Eights.  Could be interesting.

Is Bully Ray coming out to a remix of one of Sabu’s ECW themes?

Bully Ray cuts a promo on Devon, Aces and Eights and all related topics.  Devon comes out with four members of Aces and Eights.  Is that all that they have?  I’m so not sure.  Anyways, Bully and Devon go back and forth but its all to set up a match for Open Fight Night next week.  Not too bad.

Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan cut a backstage promo.  Morgan says he wont be held down anymore.  While playing second to Joey Ryan.  Best of luck next time Matt!

Gut Check returns next week and it will be… Christian York?!  Holy crap that’s a bit surprising.  For reals, best of luck to him next week. Hope its a hell of a match.

Hulk makes his decision.

Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy (TNA World champion).

“Jeff Hardy is holding all the gold.”  No.  No he isn’t.  He is holding one title and carrying the horrible second belt he created.  The thing that makes the WWE Divas title look like the all time winner of greatest wrestling title in history.

A fair match but both men have upset me so much in their careers that I cant enjoy it.  I keep expecting them to injure themselves, show up at less than 100%, etc.  Damn shame too because it is a good match.  I just have so many reservations against both men.

TNA should lose a row of fans and move that guardrail back two feet.  It seems like a small amount of space but it would really make things a little safer for the wrestlers, and give the cameramen a bit more room.

The match builds and builds.  Both men wrestle like they did, well, I’d say five years ago but I’m not entirely sure if that’s a safe number.  Both men wrestle like they just had time off and passed a wellness test!  Some great ring work and they are going as all out as two men their age and level can go.  Hardy ends up getting the win and TNA replays the winning moments.

Back from the recap and Hardy is down.  Austin snuck in and cuts a great promo on Hardy.  I’m all for A double winning the title once again.

Backstage, Aces and Eights are beating up Kurt Angle.  Eh, alright.

Overall not a bad show.  With Raw now at 3 hours TNA seems like a lighter treat.  Enough action and plots to get me back next week.  I think.