Impact Wrestling on Hulu Plus! Episode 1
Nov 22, 2014 22:17:19 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2014 22:17:19 GMT -7
Taped Friday, November 28th, 2014
Aired Thursday, December 4th, 2014
From SoundStage 20 in Orlando, Florida
The show opens with the announce team of Josh Matthews and Matt Striker signing on and welcoming the fans to the first episode of "Impact Wrestling on Hulu Plus!" They go on to talk about the success of the "Turning Point" iPPV, and talked a little bit about what went down there, as well as how it leads into tonight. Matthews details that tonight we will be taking a look at just two of the many exciting dimensions that make up the many angles of Impact Wrestling, as we begin the Impact Wrestling and Impact Wrestling Tag Team title tournaments here tonight as we prepare for the first three-hour live special, "Final Resolution" in just two short weeks, where both tournaments will conclude. They go on to direct things to Jeremy Borash in the ring, who's ready to announce the competitors in the first contest of the night. Striker says Impact Wrestling is about the action, and you're not going to find any better action in all of professional wrestling than right here on "Impact Wrestling on Hulu Plus!"
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title Tournament
American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) vs. Forever Hooligans (Alex Koslov & Rocky Romero)
The Wolves kick off the first taping of Impact Wrestling with a huge win over the very formidable tag team of Romero and Koslov. These two teams put on a very fast match, with lots of high energy tandem offense and high risk maneuvers. Richards and Romero have history teaming together, but there was clearly no love lost here as Richards tried to completely destroy "Azucar" in the end, delivering a brutal striking combination near the end that seemed to knock the Cuban star completely unconscious. Edwards would deliver a huge Tope to Koslov on the outside, and would make it in post-striking combination to help perform the Wolves' finisher, the Force of Nature, on Romero to really put an exclamation point on things and advance them in the tournament.
Out to the ring comes Chris Jericho and Seth Rollins, wearing dark suits and receiving mostly negative reactions. Jericho goes on to say that at "Turning Point", he defeated AJ Styles and dashed his dreams. He says he is a man of truth, so truthfully he will admit that it wasn't without a little help, and that help came from the future of the sport. Jericho says his days of being on the top of the sport are behind him. He knows it, everybody knows it, but what he can't stand are egotistical, hypocritical liars like AJ Styles who can't admit the same. He says the future belongs in the hands of a man like Seth Rollins, the pinnacle of the next generation of superstars in professional wrestling. Rollins takes the microphone and says that he's tired of guys like AJ Styles who have had their time in the sun, and yet they can't stand when others try to step out from the shadows. Rollins says that at "Turning Point" he may been relegated to the bottom, and while he had no chance of rising to the top, he was able to drag the so called "Greatest of All Time" down to his level... and he buried him in that darkness he's content to let others live in. Jericho takes back the microphone and says that it's that hunger and drive, that's what drew him to Rollins, what made him realize his potential, made him realize just how great he could be, and recognize that a man like AJ Styles, and if he's being truthful, even himself, was performing on the stage that should be occupied by a bright young star like Seth Rollins. He says at "Turning Point" it was about crushing the greed, the avarice that was the dream of AJ Styles. He says tonight, it's about what it should have always been about, and that's proving once and for all who the better man is, and that the same drive he saw in Rollins still drives the man he is, the "Lionheart" within him, which gets a notable positive reaction for nostalgic fans here in Orlando. He looks to Rollins and says that tonight he knows he and Rollins are competing in the same tournament, but he hopes to see him in the finals and may the best man win. Jericho and Rollins shake hands, and the fans give once again a mixed reaction until we hear a pulsing theme, and out from behind the curtain comes a man in black and blue trunks and a Mohawk with a darker complexion.
The man takes a microphone and introduces himself as Ricochet, Rollins' opponent for the night. He says Jericho might think he sees the future in a guy like Seth Rollins, but Ricochet says tonight is going to be about the rise of the man who will take this business to new heights, Ricochet! Rollins removes his jacket and shirt, getting a big reaction from the fans as he turns super intense, and tells Ricochet if he thinks he's got a shot, they don't have to wait, he'll fight him right now in his dockers! Ricochet doesn't waste time running down to the ring, and a referee hits the scene. Jericho flees from the ring and heads to the back, as these two exchange fists and kicks, and the match begins!
Impact Wrestling Title Tournament
Seth Rollins vs. Ricochet
Ricochet is rocked by Rollins' heavy hands early, but is able to catch him with a big Twisting Roundhouse Kick to set off a chain of big high flying moves for the aerial expert. Ricochet has come a long way from his roots as just a high flying sensation, showing off some good low shoot kicks and actually locking on an Indian Deathlock on Rollins at one point to work over his legs, getting the crowd behind him. Rollins would get to the ropes and then head to the outside, only to get caught with a Twisting Backflip Tope, but when Ricochet went up top to finish things with a Shooting Star Press, Rollins would get his knees up to block the high risk move. Rollins would go on to deliver a Running Single Leg Dropkick to Ricochet in the corner, followed by his Turnbuckle Powerbomb and then his Blackout Stomp to put an abrupt end to things, and it's clear Seth Rollins is going to be a force to be reckoned with in this tournament.
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title Tournament
The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) w/ "AK-47" Allysin Kay vs. The Juicy Product (David Starr & JT Dunn) w/ Kimber Lee
The story was pretty basic here, as these teams didn't have a lot of time but wanted to pack in a lot of action. The formula was simple, as it t went from the Machine Guns pretty well dominating early with quick tags and fast spots, to Dunn and Starr coming back with some superkicks and suplexes, followed by more fast spots, and then the Machine Guns saving things and hitting more hot tandem offense, leading to a Made in Detroit on Dunn that lead to a pinfall. At one point mid match we did see Kay and Lee mix it up after spending the early portion of the match running their mouths back and forth, getting a pop from the crowd for the cat fight aspect, and one has to think they will be facing off in the not so distant future.
We head backstage where Maria Kanellis is quickly trying to catch up with AJ Styles, who looks determined as he heads to his locker room. Kanellis asks if he has any comments about what Jericho and Rollins had to say tonight, or what happened at "Turning Point" and Styles stops and considers it, looking incensed. Styles says at "Turning Point", Jericho and Rollins may have tried to take away his dreams, but all they did was send him into a rage. Before, they were dealing with a motivated AJ Styles. Now, they've unleashed a DANGEROUS AJ Styles, and "Turning Point" for Chris Jericho should have been called "No Turning Back", because he did cannot be undone, and tonight, he will suffer the consequences! Kanellis looks genuinely taken aback as Styles concludes his tirade, stating that while Jericho might care about this tournament and while he wants to prove he can still be the "Lionheart", AJ Styles only has one thing on his mind, and that's ripping Jericho's heart out!
Impact Wrestling Title Tournament
"The Unbreakable" Michael Elgin vs. "One Man Nation" Uhaa Nation
Elgin and Nation faced off at "Turning Point" in a good, fast power based match, and this was pretty much a more refined continuation of that. These two knew each other a little better this time around, and the match felt a bit more crisp and intense because of it, with Nation really adding some snap to his offense and implementing more smack talk as he executed his holds. Elgin would try to rally much like he did at the end of the "Turning Point" match, but would miss the Spinning Back Fist and get caught with a Triple German Suplex from Nation. Elgin would try to roll to the outside, but Nation would follow with a big dive through the ropes to take him down, and the fans would cheer on Nation as he begins to rally. Nation puts Elgin back into the ring and comes off the top with a Big Splash, but Elgin kicks out. Elgin manages to deliver the Spinning Backfist out of nowhere, and looked to hit his Revolution Elgin Bomb, but Nation would reverse it and deliver a big Lariat, followed by a Running Powerslam, and then he delivers a beautiful Standing Shooting Star Press, and it's all over! The fans give it up for Nation as he advances in the tournament in a big way, evening the score with Elgin.
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title Tournament
reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls)
Fish and O'Reilly came out and seemed confident early, but Haste and Nicholls are far from slouches. TMDK have been everywhere and held titles in multiple countries, so they know what it is like to be put against tough odds and nobody had them winning this match. Nicholls, the bigger of the two Aussies, would get targeted early, as reDRagon would very brashly cut the ring off and try to wear down the powerhouse. Haste would eventually get the tag, and things would heat up in this match. Things would spill to the outside, and we would see Haste fly over the ropes to the outside, O'Reilly fly from the apron and drive a knee into the chest of Nicholls against the railing, and Fish would come off the top and Moonsault all parties involved in a big spot. TMDK would actually gain control on the outside, however, when it was all said and done, and back in the ring they would deliver their Double Tap finisher on Fish, with Haste nearly getting a three until O'Reilly broke things up in the very last second. O'Reilly would manage to deliver some huge kicks, knees, and elbows to Nicholls, but Nicholls would bulldoze him with a Lariat. TMDK would attempt to hit the Double Tap on O'Reilly, but O'Reilly would reverse it, delivering massive kicks and elbows to his opponents, knocking Nicholls to the outside with a running knee strike. O'Reilly would manage to block an attempted high knee from Haste, spinning and delivering a kick to his midsection. Fish is back up, and O'Reilly calls him over, leading to them executing their devastating Chasing the Dragon finisher, and it's all over. Fish would block Nicholls from re-entering to make the save, and reDRagon advance in the tournament!
Impact Wrestling Title Tournament
Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor
Balor showed himself to be very intense and cut throat in this match, and while he was technically working as a heel, he didn't break any rules or take any cheap shots in this contest. Zayn had a much more "agreeable" demeanor, trying to show sportsmanship, but the Irishman wanted no part of it from the Quebecois. Balor showed a slight speed advantage and seemed to have the striking well in hand, but Zayn is so well rounded and would have more size and power on his side. Balor would try to break the spirit of Zayn with strikes and arm locks on the mat, telling the fans to shut up as he tried to break Zayn's spirit, but Zayn would battle back. Balor would deliver a snap suplex, rolled and then chained into a Brainbuster, getting a pop from the crowd, but only a two count. Balor would then head up top, but Zayn would avoid a Diving Foot Stomp coming his way. Balor would try to a vicious Front Dropkick to Zayn, but Zayn would roll out of the way, sending Balor into the buckles and onto the back of his head. From there, Zayn would manage to whip Balor and deliver a Helluva Kick in the corner, followed by a Wrist Lock, which Zayn would run up to the ropes and transition into a Springboard Tornado DDT, pinning afterwards as the fans cheered him on and he gets the three count to advance in the tournament!
Impact Wrestling Tag Team Title Tournament
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. Kings of Wrestling (Cesaro & Chris Hero) w/ Lord William Regal
The Young Bucks and the Kings of Wrestling are both just so good at what they do, and these fans couldn't really be asked off the bat to cheer for one side or the other. The Bucks were able to get the win in a big three way tag team match at "Turning Point", but in a two-on-two confrontation, this was either teams match. The Kings and Regal would help the fans pick their side with their tactics in the match, using many underhanded moves and played many mind games. They would also send Nick Jackson to the outside at one point, allowing Regal to lay the loafers to him before shoving him back into the ring and pretending like he did nothing off color. Both teams just have so many unorthodox techniques and a wide array of double team moves, so once things really picked up, the fans just were in for a real treat and you just had no idea how things would go. Matt Jackson would try to Springboard in at one point and deliver a 450 Splash to Hero, only to get caught with a European Uppercut mid-move in a jaw dropping sequence that seemed to hurt Cesaro a good bit while apparently knocking Matt Jackson unconscious. There's no question that was effective. Nick Jackson would look to take advantage of this, though, as Cesaro tried to get the feeling back in his arm, heading up top, but Regal would grab his boot as he did, distracting him! Hero would get to his feet, and would run and Yakuza Kick Jackson right on the jaw, sending him flying off the buckles and into the railing on the outside! Matt Jackson is showing signs of life here, but Hero grabs him from behind and lifts him into the Electric Chair position. Cesaro yells out, shaking his arm and telling Hero to drop him. Hero sends Jackson off his shoulders and Cesaro catches him coming down with another big European Uppercut, followed by an Elbow Smash right behind the ear from Hero, and this match is over! Matt Jackson has been completely destroyed as Regal applauds his team, and Hero pins Matt for the three. Cesaro seems to favor his arm a bit after the bell sounds, but he lifts both arms in celebration as the fans can't help but cheer the victorious Kings of Wrestling. One has to wonder, though, if things wouldn't have been different had Regal not stepped in, but with teams this good, you never know.
Impact Wrestling Title Tournament
"Lionheart" Chris Jericho vs. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
The fans were all pumped up for this match, and neither man seemed ready to back down. This wasn't wholly expected, as many would have guessed Jericho would have tried to stall and back off from a fight with the fuming Styles, but it was clear that wasn't what this match was about. It seemed like Jericho genuinely wanted to make good on his word, and he took a beating in the process to do so. Styles and Jericho would mix things up with furious fists early, as Styles tried to bull Jericho over, tackling him and both men would roll under the ropes and to the outside. The fans would see nothing short of a fight early, as Jericho would take advantage on the floor with a knee, throwing Styles head first into the railing and then stomping him repeatedly, nearly getting himself disqualified as he choked him with his boot and would receive many boos from the crowd. Jericho would then send Styles into the turnpost shoulder first with a whip, and then went back to choking him, this time with his hands on the floor, and had to be pulled off of Styles physically by the referee. Jericho would roll Styles into the ring and deliver a big Punt Kick, trying to win the match after that, but Styles would kick out. Jericho would attempt to lock on the Liontamer from here, looking for the submission, but Styles would pull him down into a Small Package, but instead of attempting a pin, would go right back to punching Jericho in the face, followed by a series of knees to his head! Jericho would try to cover up, but Styles would just start wailing would his back with windmill clubbing hammer blows, which had to hurt the kidneys. "COME ON, AND FIGHT!" is what Styles would yell as the fans cheered him on and the referee tried to back him off. Jericho wouldn't shy away, though, storming up and tackling Styles into the corner, and then driving his shoulder into his midsection. Jericho would drop Styles with a Lariat in the corner, before hitting him with a Knee Scrapes and Boot Scrapes as he sat against the bottom turnbuckle, running in a circle and then delivering a dropkick across his face! Josh Matthews on commentary mentions that he thinks this match may be stopped just from the brutality, as Styles appears to be bleeding from his mouth. Jericho attempts to pull Styles out of the corner from the ground with a Powerbomb, but Styles reverses it by backflipping and landing on his feet! Styles would deliver a one-two punch combination, followed by a low kick, then a spinning backfist, and then finally tries for a Lariat, but Jericho catches it, taking Styles down into a Fujiwara Armbar, but Styles rolls through and both men are up, leading to Styles delivering a very hard Dropkick. Both men stagger up, and Styles delivers a huge Discus Lariat! Jericho is clearly hurting, but rolls to the buckles and tries to pull himself up and defend himself, but Styles rushes over, looking exasperated and possessed, and delivers a series of knees, pulling Jericho out from there and delivering a Snap Suplex into the turnbuckles, getting an "AHHH!!!" from the crowd! Jericho rolls out of the ring, maybe reconsidering his choices now, but Styles dives right outside onto him, and continues to pummel him with closed fists! It's Jericho who now seems to be bleeding from his forehead, as Styles picks him up from the floor and tosses him into the turnpost! Jericho flops against the railing, and Styles rushes, leaping and smashing him with a Superman Elbow Strike, sending the "Lionheart" into a crumpled heap on the floor. Styles calls for the end and sends Jericho into the ring, who's face is now about half covered in red. Styles heads to the top turnbuckle, and he flies off, trying for the Spiral Tap, but Jericho rolls with what little energy he has left and avoids it! Styles holds his back, and he clearly didn't see that coming. Jericho manages to pull himself up and he rushes Styles as he turns, and he goes for the Codebreaker, but Styles reverses it, grabbing Jericho's left leg and he sinks it in right in the middle of the ring! The Calf Killer! The Calf Killer is locked in and Jericho doesn't waste a lot of time tapping out, as he went for his best shot, failed, and he's clearly had enough.
The bell sounds, and Styles isn't letting go, seemingly enjoying Jericho's screams and pleas as he smiles, wide eyed, and additional help heads down to the ring to help coax Styles to release the hold. Styles finally is persuaded to let go, and Jericho rolls and gets himself out of the ring and he hopes out of harms' way as he continues holding his leg on the outside. Styles doesn't let the referee raise his hand, choosing to simply leave as he's being announced as the winner, and Styles can be overheard saying, "I'm not done..."
Cameras follow Styles backstage, and he can be seen overturning chairs and bursting into rooms, and he's yelling out, "ROLLINS! ROLLINS, COME OUT AND FIGHT ME!" He finally comes across Rollins, who's in street clothing, wearing a hat with his bag over his shoulder trying to vacate the premises. Rollins drops the bag and prepares to fight Styles, and he seems ready! The boys and road agents, as well as referees, manage interject before much of a blow can be landed, and it's Rollins who starts antagonizing Styles, saying, "YOU WANT KNOCKED OUT AGAIN!? YOU WANT KNOCKED OUT AGAIN, B----!?" Rollins removes his shirt again, trying to get at Styles now as the two are being separated and told to take a walk and blow off the steam, and the show then comes to an end.
