TNA Impact comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 10, 2014) from Orlando, Florida, featuring the return of Dixie Carter. It's been promised that someone will, in fact, feel the WRATH OF DIXIE.
Scheduled for the show: A 10-man Gauntlet will kick off the show with the winner earning a title shot against Magnus at Sacrifice, The Wolves challenge the Bro Mans for the tag team titles, a Knockouts title number one contender match, and more!
To follow along as it all goes down come right back here at 9 p.m. ET to hang out with all your favorite folks from this neck of the woods when the show airs on Spike. Hanging out here is guaranteed to enhance your viewing experience.
Enjoy the evening, Cagesiders!
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RESULTS AND LIVE UPDATES
- The show opened with a graphic saying "In memory of WARRIOR". Very classy, TNA.
- Dixie Carter was shown pulling up in a limo. She was asked what she has to say tonight and wouldn't reveal, only saying she's got words but not right now.
- MVP was shown talking about the 10-men over-the-top-rope gauntlet match starting the show. He said Samoa Joe wouldn't be in it because he informed the office he couldn't (he reportedly has a concussion) but MVP said he found a replacement. Then he said, I kid you not, "the time for talking is over" and they cut to the match starting. They're learning!
- The Gauntlet match started with James Storm and Gunner, who brawled like madmen to get things going. They reminded us what a Gauntlet match is, essentially a Royal Rumble. Bobby Roode was out third. He teamed up with Storm to beat on Gunner. That is until Bully Ray came out fourth and no sold their offense. Ethan Carter 3 was out next and the ring was filling up with zero eliminations to this point. Bobby Lashley was the sixth entrant and the reaction for him was lukewarm, though this is TNA at Universal Studios. Crowd was actually okay. They set up Ray teaming with Lashley to put the hurting on EC3. Abyss was entrant seven. He came to the ring and did very little before Magnus' music hit and he walked out in street clothes. He sat down for commentary. The broadcast cut to commercial.
The commercial was a long enough that Sanada had entered at number eight and Eric Young came out as number nine. Willow was the final entrant and he got a pretty good pop from the crowd, all things considered. He was referred to as "the alter ego of Jeff Hardy". Rockstar Spud was advertised as doing a Twitter Q&A at that very moment and he suddenly arrived ringside in a wheelchair to help eliminate Willow. Sanada was out next after a choke slam from Abyss. Lashley was next out, courtesy of Roode, who was then tossed by Ray. Roode helped EC3 eliminate Bully right after. They were at that point when the action was relegated to two guys while everyone else sold. Gunner did his get hyped by head butting the turnbuckle bit but he was superkicked and tossed by Storm. The heels teamed up to beat down Young. They did the skin the cat elimination tease and Young ended up eliminating Carter. A funny moment happened when Young hit an elbow drop on Abyss and Magnus freaked out about Young stealing his move. Storm ended up eliminated by Young. Abyss came in to hit the Shock Treatment. They teased Young getting eliminated multiple times, though it never really looked all that close. Eventually, he got the upper hand and clotheslined Abyss over the top to win the match.
- After the match, Christy Hemme, new TNA Creative team member, came in for an interview. "I got one thing to stay (sic). MVP... you're number one contender has got a request. Get out here." They went to commercial after this. When the show came back, Hemme was gone and MVP came out clapping his hands. Magnus was still on commentary. The crowd chanted for MVP and Young said MVP is doing a good job. He went on to say his arm is messed up but this is live TV and anything can happen tonight. He earned a title shot at Sacrifice but he's feeling crazy tonight and he wants his world title shot tonight. MVP confirmed Young was asking for a title shot tonight despite the arm injury. MVP booked the match. Magnus put his headset down and picked up a microphone. He said it was okay because it would be Magnus rules and Magnus rules always win. MVP said that wouldn't be the case. If Magnus gets disqualified tonight, he forfeits the title. As for Abyss, he's banned from ringside. If anyone else gets involved in the match, they'll be fired on the spot.
- Rockstar Spud surprised Dixie Carter in her office with balloons. She was exasperated. He wondered if she saw the tribute. She said he sold her down the river. He said she misunderstood and she walked out on him. There was a knock at the door after she left and when he answered, it was Willow. He laughed, walked in, grabbed a plant, and started beating Spud up with it.
Editorial break: They started with a 30 minute match, which is good. That match had an awful finish, though. Think of any great back-and-forth to finish a Royal Rumble and imagine the opposite of that. That's what Young vs. Abyss was. So far, I'm just happy to know Willow will knock politely before attacking people with plants.
- Knockouts number one contender match was next. ODB vs. Angelina Love vs. Gail Kim vs. Brittany. There was a great spot late that saw Brittany hit a springboard off the ropes that could have been an easy pinfall attempt and instead she just stood up to get dropped by Love. The finish saw Love push Kim into the ropes, where Velvet Sky used some spray to blind her. Love got the roll up right after. So it's Love vs. Madison Rayne for the title at Sacrifice.
- MVP was backstage in his room and Dixie Carter walked in. He said she had 10 seconds to speak until he called security. She brought up how he beat up her contracted talent. He admitted to it, but said it was in retaliation. She threatened him with action while saying she came back to take care of a disgruntled wrestler. She wanted him to be in the front row ringside while she handled it. He said he would bring the popcorn.
Editorial break: Dixie's as awful as ever.
- Another backstage segment with Jesse and Zema Ion telling MVP that Robbie E missed a flight, so they couldn't defend the tag titles tonight. MVP confirmed to The Wolves that the missing of the flight was legitimate and the match couldn't happen tonight. Then he changed his mind and said either Robbie E gets to the ring in time to defend the belts but or Jesse will team with Ion in defense of them.
- Backstage interview with Magnus. He said Eric Young made a tactical error by running the Gauntlet then challenging him for the heavyweight title. He'll make "EY" pay.
- Dixie was out next. She got the mic. "Bully Ray, you and I have some unfinished business." The crowd chanted "we don't like you" before Bully came down. Once he hit the ring, he started the chant again because it was fun and this doesn't happen often in TNA anymore. After Bully started running Dixie down, she responded with a great one liner: "For a smart New Yorker, you're pretty dumb, huh?" That's good because it's true. She brought up Bobby Roode putting him through three tables in one night and if her "vast wrestling knowledge" serves her correctly, that's the first time that had ever happened. His response was to be sexist before saying he's still standing there. She asked why he double crossed her at Lockdown and cost her control of wrestling operations in her own company. Ray said it's not her company and never has been, it's the fan's company. A "TNA" chant broke out and Bully played to it. The production crew tried some crowd shots and they settled on people being terribly unenthusiastic. Ray talked about having respect and Dixie said everyone respects her. She paid him a lot of money and she said she wants it back. He said it was a lot and he spent it on a car and strippers, basically. She snapped when he tried to work his gimmick, ultimately slapping him in the face after saying she's still his boss. Bully acted like he might retaliate but before he could, Roode attacked him from behind. Dixie told him to get a table but after he set it up, Ray recovered and set him packing. This left him in the ring with only Dixie and a freshly set up table. The crowd wanted him to put her through it. So they cut to commercial.
- They came back from commercial and Dixie was just backstage. What the hell? Magnus was coming up to her asking what's going on and being upset she didn't wish him luck in his title match tonight. She said she was going to get on a plane, drink wine, land, drink more wine, then go to bed. That's her plan tonight. Magnus called her a "typical woman". She got upset about that, and rightfully so. She threw it in his face that he thinks his shit don't stink and good luck with his plan tonight. "Yeah, see you. I don't need you anyway. Wrath of Dixie my ass."
Editorial break: Did they really go to commercial on a big tease that Bully was going to put Dixie through a table and then come back and everything was normal like nothing had just happened? Did I just see that? And then Dixie is just telling Magnus she's going to go home and drink wine before taking a shower and crashing for the evening? This show.
- Tag title match was next. Jesse was out with Zema Ion, so Robbie didn't make his flight fast enough. At least that meant none of that ridiculous horn. They set up The Wolves to win the match but Robbie E showed up at the last second to drag the referee out of the ring. Certainly didn't see that coming from 10 miles away.
- They showed an interview that was shot "earlier today". She talked about Samuel Shaw and said she had made a decision about him. She said she wanted to meet him out in the ring to talk about commitment, then she walked off screen. Back from commercial, she called him out. Remember, she's on the Creative team now, so she had say in this. She started by telling the fans he's not a creepy bastard. "This thing between us is complicated but Samuel, I've had a change of heart. I think that you're just misunderstood." He said he's happy that she's finally seen the light and not to worry about the un-artistic cretins in the crowd. "I am none of the things they call me. I am simply the love of your life." She quieted him down and asked if he trusts her. He nodded his head yes. She asked if he would do anything that she asked him. He nodded yes. Would he go anywhere she asked him to go? He nodded yes. Then she bit his glove off his hands. She had him close his eyes while a video was shown of a truck that said "psychiatric services on it". Mr. Anderson jumped out the back door while Hemme continued to order Shawto keep his eyes shut. Anderson hit the ring and gave Shaw a Mic Check. Then he got goofy and said the commitment Hemme was talking about was Shaw getting committed to the "funny farm". Shaw sold like he was completely knocked out and Anderson was toying with him. Then, inexplicably, Anderson threw Shaw out of the ring, waking him up, and they ran to the back. Anderson threw him in the truck but Shaw kicked his way out and then ran away. Anderson didn't give chase, so Shaw is still on the loose.
Editorial break: Holy hell this show is awful. The Wolves consistently look ridiculous against the Bro Mans, of all teams, and the angle with Shaw continues to be just the dumbest thing. They have him over a barrel and Anderson, dummy he is, lets Shaw escape and doesn't even chase him. What a waste of time this was. Where is this ultimately going? Where could it possibly go?
- Willow cut a promo. "Maybe I'm crazy, subtract maybe." Okay. He said he cares deeply for revenge so he's challenging Rockstar Spud and EC3 to a handicap match next week. AHH HA HA HA.
- They announced TNA at the Manhattan Center in New York for a three day hit in June.
- Main event was next. Magnus vs. Eric Young, who came out not selling the arm and slapping hands with fans. Then he realized he should be selling it and stopped using that arm. Great start. Magnus took control of the match early and worked Young over. The match was all about Young selling the arm and fighting through it. Later on, after selling it the entire match, he completely stopped giving a shit and hit a clothesline with it, then the flying elbow on the same arm. He was lifting it up all around and pointing out at the crowd with it. This was awful. Magnus tried to cheat his way to victory but failed. The finish saw Young hit a piledriver for the pinfall. He is the new heavyweight champion.
Final Editorial break: Young's inconsistent selling of the arm killed this match.