Check out results, video highlights and exclusive ringside photos from Thursday's IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV! Tune in every Thursday night at 8/7c to see IMPACT WRESTLING LIVE! If you can't watch it Thursday night, make sure to set your DVR so you don't miss any of the Total Nonstop Action!
CAN'T SEE THE VIDEOS BELOW? CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE
WEEKLY IMPACT WRESTLING RECAP - By Thomas Sanders
Here’s what you missed on Thursday’s live IMPACT WRESTLING on Spike TV from Orlando:
Last week, after giving X Division Champion Austin Aries an ultimatum—relinquish the title for a shot at Bobby Roode on July 8 at Destination X or continue competing in the X Division— Hogan listened carefully as Aries shrewdly offered a third option: to preserve the integrity of TNA’s oldest championship, all future X Division champs deserve a shot at the World Heavyweight Title at future Destination X PPVs.
To the delight of the crowd, Aries took the ring again on Thursday to announce a new X Division champion will be crowned at Destination X via a tournament and the return of the Ultimate X Match. Bobby Roode immediately stormed into the ring, taking exception to Aries’ perceived arrogance and guaranteeing his failure at Destination X.
Mr. Anderson began the live IMPACT WRESTLING event with a raucous microphone entrance. Rob Van Dam took the match, though, with a devastating aerial assault and pin worth 7 points in the “Bound for Glory” series.
Destination X hopefuls Sonjay Dutt and Rubix clashed in an X Division match with tournament implications, but Sonjay Dutt’s perfectly executed double foot stomp from the ropes secured an impressive victory.
Rashad Cameron defeated fellow X Division star Mason Andrews in the night’s second tournament style match before Destination X. With their wins, Rashad Cameron and Sonjay Dutt have now claimed two of the eight spots in the tournament at Destination X for the X Division Championship.
Bully Ray and Samoa Joe squared off in a wild “Bound for Glory” series match. To the complete astonishment of Bully Ray, the lawyer from Chicago Joseph Park confidently strutted down the catwalk toward the ring mid-match and slapped Bully Ray in the face, leaving him vulnerable to a rear naked choke and submission victory from Samoa Joe. The victory gave Samoa Joe 10 points toward the “Bound for Glory” series, but the ultimate surprise of the night came when Joseph Park challenged Bully Ray to a match on IMPACT in just two short weeks.
One week after her live “Gut Check” match against Tara, TNA hopeful Taelor Hendrix pleaded her case one last time to the judges. With the crowd behind her, Taelor successfully received two out of three votes from management to become the newest member of the TNA roster and earn a Knockout contract.
In the evening’s Tag Team World Championship main event, defending champions Kurt Angle and AJ Styles stepped into the ring for a rematch against former champs Kazarian and Christopher Daniels. Kazarian had pleaded with Hulk earlier to assign him a new tag team partner after the duo’s allegations against Dixie Carter and Styles proved false last week, but Hulk refused, instead imploring Kazarian to “show his true colors.” Clearly frustrated with each other in the ring, Kazarian and Daniels stumbled through a vicious attack from a vengeful Styles that left even the referee knocked out. Just as all seemed lost for the bickering duo, Kazarian finished off Styles with a chair blast to the back and an easy three count victory.
With angry jeers flying at him from every angle, Daniels took the microphone to address the crowd for one last surprise: AJ Styles may not have had an affair with Dixie, but he is the father of Claire’s bastard child. Is AJ really the father? Tune in Thursday for the fallout from the controversy!
