10/3 Impact Wrestling Results: Hulk Hogan Makes His Choice

Week #2 from the Razorback state opens up with highlights from last week and then the #1 Contender, AJ Styles, makes his way down to the ring. An “AJ” chant breaks out and AJ says he wants to be the first to say that he appreciates Hogan coming out and trying to smooth things over, but Dixie Carter once again shows her true colors. AJ says he’s not here to talk about Hogan and as much as he would love to bury Dixie he isn’t here to talk about her either. AJ says he’s here to talk about his opponent at BFG, Bully Ray. AJ says he knows exactly who Bully is (a play on Bully’s “do you know who I am?!” thing), Bully is the man that AJ is going to beat for the World Title and the man AJ is going to go through to get what he wants. He says on October 20th at BFG it’s put up or shut up time and he’s all in. AJ says his life is on the line because he doesn’t even have a contract anymore, and he hasn’t even seen the belt for over a year. He says he’s hungry for it and people call Bully the most dangerous guy in the company, but he begs to differ.

A&8’s music interrupts AJ and Bully makes his way down to the ring with Brooke Tessmacher. Bully sees AJ’s hat on the ramp and kicks it into the crowd. Bully says Dixie is really in AJ’s head and reminds AJ that he just said that he “hopes” to win the World Title. Bully says if he was a true champion then he would KNOW he is going to win, but because Dixie is so in his head that he even doubts himself. Bully says Dixie is a gorgeous woman, not as gorgeous as Brooke, but AJ doesn’t need to be worrying about her on October 20th. Bully says he better worry about him and then reminds AJ what he did to Hogan, Sting, Hardy, Anderson, and even his own brother. He asks AJ what he thinks he’ll do to AJ and AJ does know who Bully is. Bully says he’s the guy that beat AJ 2 years ago in a Last Standing Match. He says that AJ has nothing he wants but he does have something Bully wants to take. Bully says he wants to take AJ away from the fans which gets a big chorus of boos. Bully says he’s sick and tired of every arena chanting “AJ” which gets an “AJ” chant in response. Bully says after October 20th they won’t be chanting that anymore.

AJ says that Bully is no different than Dixie because he uses people and bleeds them for everything they’re worth, and then kick them to the curb like they never existed. Bully says he takes that as a compliment and AJ is a zero that better hope and pray to his God that he has a shot in hell at beating him, or he’s going to send AJ home without a contract or a belt back to his trailer with his miserable wife and kids. AJ says Bully seems like the one that isn’t focused and maybe he should get focused on his match tonight. Bully says he doesn’t have a match but AJ says Hogan must hate Bully as much as AJ does because he does have a match and Hogan told him who the opponent is. AJ says, “believe me when I say this, he’s going to kill you… Joe’s gonna’ kill you!” Bully Ray freaks out as AJ laughs as he leaves the ring.

In the back AJ approaches Dixie but she cuts him off and reminds him doesn’t have a contract and says he has one final obligation with TNA, at BFG. Dixie asks security to throw AJ out of the building. AJ says he’ll save security the energy because he doesn’t even want to breathe the same air that Dixie is breathing and leaves through the exit.

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Austin Aries is on commentary for the next match.

“The Pretty Boy Pitbull” Kenny King & Chris Sabin w/Velvet Sky vs. “Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy & Manik

Aries called Manik the “best looking man in this match.” Manik and Sabin start the match off against each other, but as they go to lockup Sabin turns around tags in King. King and Manik circle each other but Sabin distracts Manik long enough for King to attack him from behind. King stomps Manik down in the heel corner and then chokes him with his boot. Sabin chokes Manik as well and then King tags in Sabin and holds Manik as Sabin punches him. Sabin chokes Manik in the ropes and then slams him into the turnbuckles and tags in King. King whips Manik into the ropes and hits a back elbow and then taunts Hardy and covers Manik for a nearfall. Sabin tags back in and kicks Manik in the ribs and then goes for a Powerbomb, but Manik counters out of it and chops Sabin as he puts him in a wristlock. Manik then springs to the top dives off into a hurricanrana on King! Sabin kicks Manik and then tosses him through the ropes but Manik hangs on with the Spiderman. Sabin goes after Manik but Manik drops down and Sabin goes crashing through the ropes to the floor. Manik tags in Hardy who goes to work on King in the corner! Hardy attempts to whip King into the opposite corner but King reverses it and then charges at Hardy. Hardy gets his feet up and then climbs up top and dives off with a Splash! 1…2…NO King kicks out! Hardy tags Manik back in and then Manik attempts to whip King into the ropes but King reverses it only to get caught in a Spinning Octopus by Manik! Manik then transitions into a cradle, 1…2…NO King kicks out! Manik hits a European Uppercut and then we can see that the cut King suffered last week has been opened back up. King shoves Manik into the ropes and Sabin kicks him from the apron. King then catches him from behind slamming him across the ropes as King leaps over the top rope down to the floor! King rolls back into the ring and covers Manik for a nearfall. King puts Manik in a headlock and tags Sabin back into the match. Sabin hits a sliding dropkick as King holds onto the headlock. Sabin chokes Manik and then hangs him upside down in the corner. Sabin fakes like he’s going to do the Hesitation Dropkick but then stops and stands on Manik’s crotch! Sabin flips Manik off the ropes and gets a nearfall. Sabin tags King back into the match and then hits a Snap Suplex and floats over into a mount and reigns down right hands. King taunts Hardy and then hits a series of right hands. Sabin tags back in and hits a series of body shots as King holds Manik. Sabin chokes Manik and then whips Manik into the corner. Sabin charges at Manik but eats a boot and then Manik climbs up top and dives off with a Missile Dropkick! Both men are down now. Sabin rolls over and tags King into the match and as Manik reaches for a tag King grabs him by the leg and pulls him back. King goes for a Back Suplex but Manik lands on his feet and backs into the corner. King charges at him but Manik flips over him and then slides through Sabin’s legs and tags in Hardy! Hardy with a series of rights to both King and Sabin followed by clotheslines! Hardy hits a Flying Forearm on King and then the Leaping Mule Kick on Sabin! Hardy hits the Sitout Front Suplex on King! 1…2…NO Sabin breaks it up! King and Sabin whip Hardy into the ropes and then attempt a double clothesline but Hardy ducks and hits one of his own on both of them! Hardy goes for the Twist on King but Sabin hits him from behind with a Leaping Enziugri! King hits a Bridging Northern Lights Suplex on Hardy! 1…2…NO Manik breaks it up! Sabin shoves Manik back and then tosses him to King who goes for the Royal Flush, but Manik blocks it and shoves King into Sabin! Manik hits the Tiger Buster! Hardy climbs up top and dives off with the Swanton Bomb! 1…2…3!

Winners: Manik & Hardy via pinfall (Swanton Bomb)

Sabin attacks Manik and Hardy from behind after the match. Aries then hits the ring and chases Sabin away. Aries grabs a microphone and says that Sabin keeps talking about being greater than the greatest man that ever lived so he’s going to give him a shot. Aries says at BFG he’s challenging Chris Sabin, Manik, and Hardy to a 4-Way! Hardy grabs a microphone and says he has even better idea, he wants to do something he’s never done at BFG…ULTIMATE X! Manik says he’ll put the belt on the line!

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In the back Sting and Hogan talk about the Dixie Carter issue. Sting says last time they were in this situation was when Eric Bischoff was on that crazy power trip. Hogan says that when someone gets drunk on power this can happen and he thought no one could be worse than Bischoff but he found out wrong. Sting says he’s got Hogan’s back. Someone walks into Hogan’s office and says she has a gift from Dixie. Hogan opens it up and it’s a watch, Sting says it’s the same watch that she gave him at the Hall of Fame last year. Taz thinks it’s a bribe and Tenay says it may be a retirement gift.

Last Thursday a clip of Magnus bitching about EGO attacking him, he says he wants EGO in a Gauntlet Match and Sting can’t stop him. He says his knee is fine as he ices it.

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Gauntlet Match 
Magnus vs. EGO (Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, & Bobby Roode)

First up for Magnus in the Gauntlet Match is Daniels. Magnus attacks Daniels as he gets in the ring but Daniels hits him with an elbow. Daniels hits the ropes but eats a clothesline and then Magnus hits a series of European Uppercuts. Magnus whips Daniels into the ropes and then hits a Corkscrew Elbow for a nearfall. Daniels begs off and then goes to kick Magnus but he blocks it and hits a clothesline. Magnus charges at Daniels but Daniels escapes through the ropes and hits a jawbreaker onto the top rope followed by a clothesline. Daniels chokes Magnus and then hits a cross chop to the throat followed by a Snapmare. Daniels uses his wrist tape to choke Magnus and then hits another cross chop followed by a Bulldog into the ropes. Daniels then chokes Magnus in the ropes with a Hanging Headscissors. Daniels gets a nearfall and then puts Magnus in a chinlock. Daniels goes for the Angels Wings but Magnus backdrops him and then hits a clothesline followed by a Mafia Kick! Magnus then goes for a Back Suplex, but Daniels lands on his feet and hits an elbow. Daniels hits the ropes but Magnus is right behind him with a Lariat! Magnus climbs up top but Daniels grabs him by the arm and pulls him down across the ropes. Daniels hits a Flatliner and locks in the Koji Clutch! Magnus is able to reach the ropes and then Daniels drags Magnus towards the corner. Daniels goes for the BME but Magnus gets his boot up and then hits the MDD! 1…2…3!

Kazarian is up next. Kaz talks to Daniels on the ramp but Magnus attacks them both. Magnus tosses Kaz over the top rope but Kaz rolls out of the ring and begs off.

----COMMERCIAL BREAK----

Back from the break Kaz hits a Bicycle Kick on Magnus and then puts Magnus in a Front Chancery. Magnus uses his strength to lift Kaz up to the top rope. Magnus slaps Kaz but walks into a kick from him. Kaz then dives off the top but Magnus ducks and Kaz lands on his feet. Kaz hits the ropes and connects with a Back Heel Kick for another nearfall. Kaz chops at Magnus in the corner and then he hits a Snapmare and kicks Magnus in the back and covers him for another nearfall. Kaz talks trash to Magnus as he slaps him which pisses Magnus off. Magnus hits a series of right hands and then he whips Kaz into the corner. Kaz springboards out of the corner but Magnus catches him in midair and hits the Tormentum! Magnus climbs up top and dives off with the Flying Elbow Drop! 1…2...NO Kaz gets his foot on the bottom rope! Magnus goes for the MDD but Kaz blocks it and shoves Magnus into the corner. Kaz charges at Magnus but eats an elbow. Magnus climbs up top but Kaz catches him with a Bicycle Kick! Kaz then grabs Magnus off the top and attempts the Fade 2 Black, but Magnus counters into a rollup and he locks in the British Cloverleaf! Kaz taps!

Roode makes his way out to the ring but before the match Kaz chop blocks Magnus’ bad knee from behind! Kaz then twists the knee around his own leg and slams his knee down across it. Roode pats Kaz on the back and then climbs in the ring and starts stomping on the knee.

----COMMERCIAL BREAK----

During the break Roode continued to work on the knee of Magnus and back live Roode cannonballs down across the knee as he had it hung up in the ropes. Roode then puts Magnus’ leg in a knee bar before slamming it to the mat as he screams, “that’s why you don’t mess with EGO!” Magnus tries fighting back but Roode kicks him in the knee and then connects with a High Knee followed by a clothesline! Roode stomps on Magnus’ knee repeatedly and then tosses him in the corner and hangs his leg up in the ropes and kicks it repeatedly. Roode chop blocks the knee and then goes for another knee bar but Magnus uses his good leg to kick Roode into the turnbuckles. Magnus gets the crowd behind him but then Roode kicks him in the knee and connects with the High Knee again! Roode hits the ropes but Magnus catches him with the MDD out of nowhere! 1…2…NO Roode kicks out! Magnus locks in the Cloverleaf again but Roode starts punching Magnus in the bad knee which causes Magnus to collapse. Roode then charges at Magnus as he retreats to the corner but eats an elbow! Magnus climbs up top but Roode climbs up with him! Magnus shoves Roode off and then dives off with the Flying Elbow, but Roode rolls out of the way and Magnus grabs at his knee. Roode locks in the Crossface on Magnus! Magnus almost gets to the ropes but Roode stops and pulls him to the center of the ring and locks in an Ankle Lock and then drops down into a Kneebar! Magnus taps!

Winner: Roode via submission (Kneebar)

Magnus freaks out at ringside and starts throwing around chairs. Sting walks out to the ring and tires to calm Magnus down. Sting says he hates to do this publicly but Magnus is making a public display here so now he’s got to talk to him publicly. Sting tells him to chill and they’ll go backstage and talk about it. Magnus says he’s had enough of all the BS. He says Kurt, Sting, and Joe see “it” in him but he doesn’t have “it” in him. Magnus says when they were given the chance they took it but all he ever can do is get “that” close and blow it. Sting says it doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down but before he can say anything else Magnus interrupts him and says he doesn’t need another pep talk. Magnus says you’re either in or you’re out because this is a results driven business and right now he isn’t getting the results. Sting says he understands it and at one point he needed that one big match too but he didn’t get it by throwing a tantrum. Sting says he reached out and grabbed and Ric Flair gave him his chance. Magnus says he saw it with his own eyes and he looked up to Sting from his first day in the business. Magnus says he came one win away from the biggest show of the year but now nothing. Magnus says Flair put Sting on the map but who’s going to put him on the map. Sting gets in Magnus’ face and screams, “ME! ME AT BOUND FOR GLORY!” Magnus backs away and looks surprised as Sting offers a handshake. Magnus accepts it and the match is set!

Aries approaches Hogan in the back and breaks out a bottle of pills. He says it’s a bottle of vitamins and says he might need some extra vitamins for his decision tonight and maybe some extra prayers. Aries says he knows they haven’t seen eye to eye always but Hogan also gave him his shot at the World Title too and he appreciates that shot he gave him. Aries says Hogan has a decision to make tonight and he knows there has been two Hogans, the red and yellow Hulkster and the black and white Hollywood. Aries says his decision is kind of black and white because there isn’t a lot of gray area here. Hogan smiles and says he gets it.

A video package highlighting Hogan’s time in TNA is shown.

In the back Chris Sabin says he can’t accompany Velvet to the ring because he has to worry about his Ultimate X Match at BFG.

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A replay of what went down with Magnus and Sting is shown.

In the back Bad Influence sings Roode’s entrance as Roode celebrates the win. Roode says it was a group effort and Kaz says there is no I in EGO and Daniels says once again Magnus losses and once again he cries. Kaz says that Roode is going to get inducted into the Hall of Fame… the EGO Hall of Fame as the first ever inductee! Daniels says they’re breaking ground for the building in 2 months in some weird town in California. Kaz says they’re celebrating next week and it will be a black tie affair. They then start singing Roode’s theme again.

TNA Knockouts Title #1 Contenders Match
Velvet Sky vs. Brooke Tessmacher

Winner of this match faces ODB at BFG for the Knockouts Title. Velvet looks like her luggage must have been lost because all she’s wearing is an Impact t-shirt, some plain black tights, and black boots rather than her usual gear. Before Velvet & Brooke lock up Lei’d Tapa’s music hits and she walks down to the ring. She climbs in as Brooke bails out of the ring and Tapa attacks Velvet! Tapa hits a Big Boot and then starts stomping on Velvet as she chases the referee away. Tapa shoves the referee and then she hits a Samoan Drop!

Winner: NO CONTEST

----COMMERCIAL BREAK----

A video of some dude in a car is shown as he asks if they’re rolling. The guy walks into a building and throws his jacket on a random woman. The “Ethan Is Coming” graphic then appears. That was random as hell.

A vignette hyping up Gunner & Storm as a team is shown. Storm says that Gunner is a “straight forward, Christian man” while Storm likes to go out and party. Storm says Gunner is the saint while he is the sinner. Tenay announces that on the Pre-Show there will be a Tag Team Gauntlet where the winners will face Gunner & Storm for the belts on the main show. Bro-Mans, Bad Influence, Hernandez/Chavo, and Park/EY are the teams.

A video package highlighting Kurt Angle’s career is shown hyping up his return at BFG. That was one of the better video packages TNA has ever put together.

Non-Title Match 
“Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe vs. Bully Ray

Ray and Joe lockup as a “Joe’s gonna’ kill you” chant breaks out. Joe gets Ray in a wristlock and then twists the arm of Ray. Ray reverses it and transitions into a side headlock. Joe shoves Ray into the ropes and they run into each other but neither goes down. Ray dares Joe to hit the ropes and try a shoulder block which Joe obliges him with and then Ray goes for a clothesline, but Joe ducks only to eat a back elbow as he bounced off the ropes again. Ray talks trash to Joe and then slaps him in the chest but a pissed off Joe shoves him back and Ray retreats to the corner. They lockup again and this time Ray gets Joe in a waistlock and then Ray slaps him in the back. Ray goes for a big right but Joe blocks it and hits a series of jabs. Joe backs Ray into the corner and lays into him with rights and lefts followed by a headbutt. Joe whips Ray into the opposite corner and hits a Running Back Elbow followed by the Leaping Enziguri! Joe hits a Snapmare Takeover and then slaps Ray in the back and round kicks him in the chest! Joe goes for a Knee Drop but Ray moves out of the way and then goes for a clothesline, but Joe ducks and goes for the Coquina Clutch! Ray is able to uses his momentum to drop down and send Joe into the turnbuckles. Ray grabs his chain but the referee pulls it away but as the referee turns around to toss the chain out Ray hits Joe in the nuts.

----COMMERCIAL BREAK----

Back from the break Ray hits a clothesline on Joe and then he goes for an Elbow Drop, but Joe rolls out of the way as the fans get behind him. Joe and Ray exchange right hands but then Ray catches Joe with a knee. Ray hits the ropes but runs into a clothesline from Joe. Joe hits an atomic drop followed by a Mafia Kick and then the Backsplash Senton! Joe attempts to whip Ray into the corner but Ray reverses it and charges at Joe. Joe gets his foot up and then climbs up top and dives off with a Flying Leg Lariat! 1…2…NO Ray kicks out! Joe charges at Ray in the corner but Ray catches him with an elbow. Ray then grabs Joe and whips him into the corner where Earl Hebner got caught as well. Ray goes for a Big Boot but Joe sidesteps it and locks in the Coquina Clutch! Ray taps out but the referee is still down. Joe checks on the referee as Brooke slides the chain to Ray. Joe hits Ray from behind and then lifts him to the top rope. Joe helps the referee up and then turns around as Ray dives off and hits Joe with the chain as the referee watches.

Winner: Joe via DQ

Ray complains that he didn’t use the chain but Hebner says he saw it and DQ’s him. Ray knocks Hebner down and then tosses Joe out of the ring. Ray slams Joe into the announce table and tells Taz he’s going to piledrive Joe on the concrete. Ray pulls up the padding around ringside and then grabs Joe and sets up for a Piledriver! AJ Styles comes from out of the crowd and dives off the ring steps with a Flying Forearm on Ray! Security runs out but AJ runs through the crowd as the fans surround AJ so security can’t get to him!

----COMMERCIAL BREAK----

Dixie Carter comes out to the ring as the fans boo and she says she knows people aren’t happy with her lately, but people like the fans have no idea about the concept of business. She says she can’t be upset at them because they don’t know any better. Dixie says someone that does know something about business is Hogan and they have some business to take care of right now.

Hogan comes down to the ring and Dixie thanks him for coming out. Dixie says she knows what an amazing career Hulk has had but she wants to know if he’s ready to take that career to the next level. Dixie says the watch she gave him is a token of what could happen for them, but she has to know if he’s ready to take a ride on the “Dixie train” or is he going to force her to make a decision he will regret. A “Dixie train” chant starts, I’d like to ride that train (just saying).

Hogan thanks Dixie for the watch and he’s always dreamed about being a power couple with a powerful woman like Dixie in the business. Hogan says it’s amazing how high they could get but that is an amazing offer for someone else not him, because he quits! Hogan drops the mic and walks out of the ring.

Dixie chases him and tries to talk him out of it but Hogan brushes her off. Dixie tries to stop him from leaving and says he can’t quit. She even hangs onto his leg to try and stop him. Hogan leaves and Dixie starts freaking out screaming that she didn’t need him any way and he’s fired.