2/14/13 Impact

This Valentine's Day edition of Impact is again in the UK.

Hulk Hogan starts the show, getting a huge pop as usual. He addresses the World Title situation. 8 guys, 4 matches. Winners are who HH gets to pick from to decide the #1 contender to Jeff Hardy's title, and that title match takes place at Lockdown. Matches are RVD vs. James Storm, Christopher Daniels vs. Magnus, Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe, and Austin Aries vs. Bobby Roode. Hogan picks the #1 contender later in the night. The last two matches interest me the most because of the "friendship" each have -- or I guess it's more mutual respect.

HH next addresses Aces & Eights. Sting to the ring, and HH calls him the greatest wrestler ever. Huge compliment. Sting will captain a team to face A&E, and Sting wants to waste no time recruiting people. Perhaps AJ Styles will become a part of that team since he has to stay out of the title picture until at least October.

Christopher Daniels vs. Magnus: Magnus with the big home-country reception. Taz is still miffed that no A&E members are part of this #1 contenders tournament. Kaz gets involved multiple times in the match. Ref finally catches Kaz and ejects him. So much for that $20 license. Good power display from Magnus. Daniels is doomer after Kaz's ejection, and Magnus hits a top-rope elbow for three. *3/4

Bully Ray isn't in the title picture due to a quad injury during the tables match that aired last week. I've read the injury is legit, but still probably part of a storyline because Bully does wrestle at future TV tapings.

Magnus promo making his plea that he deserves to be the #1 contender for the World Title.

As Kurt Angle walks to the ring for his match, TNA plays a recorded statement Angle made concerning the IOC dropping wrestling for the 2020 Olympics. It's a decision that's been overwhelmingly panned by people everywhere. Even Taz breaks character to voice his displeasure at that decision.

Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe: A good match here that I wish had even more time. Highly competitive match. Big crowd reaction, especially for the Angle suplexes. Angle gets out of the rear naked choke, Joe counters the ankle lock. Double clothesline spot allows Garett Bischoff and Wes Brisco to get involved. Ref throws the match out. Angle and Joe fight off the attack this time. Seems safe to say Sting will recruit both Angle and Joe for his team. **1/4

Jesse, Tara, & Gail Kim vs. Party Marty & Blossom Twins: The three other participants in British Boot Camp get some in-ring action tonight. Rockstar Spud might have gotten the TNA contract, but this is a nice consolation prize. Marty showboats to the crowd a bit, while the twins showcase their tag skills. None of the announcers can tell which Blossom twin is which. The knockouts in TNA generally get more ring time than their WWE counterparts, so decent time given here. Marty's gotta work on his suicide dive because he looked like he got the worst of that by crashing into the barricade. Replays showed his face hit the bottom of the guardrail. Gail hits Eat Defeat on one of the Blossom Twins to score the victory. *3/4

Gail on the mic after the match demanding another Knockouts Title shot. Brooke Hogan comes out. Gail gets her title match next week on Impact -- but it's now a four-way elimination match to include Miss Tessmacher and Velvet Sky. Brooke Hogan will watch from ringside. Next week's episode is also in the UK.

Hannah and Holly Blossom (real names Lucy Knott and Kelly Knott) are basically what the Bella Twins were in WWE. Hannah Blossom captured the OVW Women's Title in her first match and it basically became clear that she didn't do it alone. Eventually, her real twin, Holly, is introduced to the wrestling world. They looked pretty solid in the ring. Each started wrestling training at 15 and now have 10 years of experience.

Again, TNA starts going on the road full-time starting March 14. First stop will be Chicago. Impact will also be in Jonesboro, AR, on March 28 and Corpus Christi, TX, on April 11. So perhaps two sets of tapings per city? I'd call that a smart move to again save on travel costs.

I guess Jeff Hardy couldn't make the UK trip (explains why the A&E attack took place), but Dixie Carter mentions he'll be back on Impact on February 28. Hardy scored a long-term deal, which is a great move because Hardy basically gets fans to watch the show.

James Storm vs. Rob Van Dam: Another competitive six-minute match. Several counters and nice crowd reaction. RVD tries that Van Terminator coast-to-coast dropkick and misses. Storm hits the Last Call and gets three. **

Joseph Park gets ribbed on what politicking is in the wrestling world. Fun.

Brooke pleads a case for Bully to somehow get into the World Title picture. Gotta butter up to daddy somehow. Hulk does the "I'll take it under advisement" way to get out of it all.

Austin Aries and Bobby Roode on the mic before the match. They accuse Hulk of being scared and still plan to take all the titles in the company. They say they're on the same page. Yeah right.

Austin Aries vs. Bobby Roode: Double Fingerpoke of Doom spot doesn't work. HA. Aries lays down for Roode, but then tries to steal the win himself. More jawjacking. Gotta love massive heel egos. Aries always seems to be the crowd favorite when these two square off, huh? Aries and Roode counter each other multiple times. Aries with a nice counter to the spear and hooks the Last Chancery. Roode gouges the eyes and hooks the Crossface. Aries shoves Roode into the ref, so more time for shenanigans. Roode slams the chair in the ring to make it appear Aries hit him with it, but then Aries does the same. Ref turns around to see the double KO with a single chair. WIN! Funniest part is how AA and RR are pissed at the other but still trying to sell the fake chair shot. Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez come down the ramp and lure the tag champs out of the ring. AA and RR then basically prevent each other from getting back in, so it's a double countout. Neither guy in the match was gonna be the #1 contender anyway. **3/4

Hulk comes out to announce the #1 contender. Before he can, A&E comes out to play. Bully Ray and Sting make the save. Sting even brought a few black cricket bats to the party. A&E retreats. No #1 contender announcement as the show ends.