TNA Impact! - Wednesday 28th July 2004
Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo welcome us to TNA Impact! The cameras cut backstage to Bret Hart, the Director of Wrestling Affairs for TNA. He is stood talking to Jim Neidhart (that gets a pop). Steve Corino, the TNA International champion walks past…stops…and turns around. Corino points at Neidhart’s (rather rotund) stomach. “Woah…Bret, you didn’t tell me you were going to be an uncle!” Corino laughs and walks off, leaving Neidhart and the DWA ashen faced.
David Flair vs Jeff Jarrett
Once again, David Flair opens the show with an impressive jobbing performance. Jeff Jarrett barely breaks sweat for the match, winning with the Stroke after five minutes. Flair rolls out and starts walking up the ramp as Jeff Hardy comes storming past him, into the ring. Jarrett, celebrating, turns around into a Twist of Fate. Jeff Hardy follows it up with a swanton bomb.
TNA TV Title Match
Chris Sabin vs Simon Diamond
The TNA TV title is defended next by Chris Sabin. Simon Diamond, seemingly forgotten man of TNA is out to challenge. The two styles clash, but the crowd seem to be getting into Chris Sabin matches. Maybe someone will let him start talking soon. Sabin let’s his wrestling do the talking however, winning in seven minutes with future shock
Andrew "The Test" Martin is in the ring after commercial break. Martin is upset with how his title match went down…yes he won, but by DQ. And last he checked, that doesn’t qualify him for a rematch. He calls out AJ Styles. AJ Styles runs down and hits the ring without his belt, and they brawl all the way back into the aisle, and eventually out of sight backstage.
America's Most Wanted vs Paris and London
American’s Most Wanted, on the back of a big win against Jeff Hardy and Jeff Jarrett at Summer Break have a match against the newly formed tag team of Air Paris and Paul London. Paris and London seem to have that good early chemistry that other teams of “two singles competitors thrown together in what seems to be a random pairing but will go on and form a formidable tag team for a long run” have. However, their relative inexperience at this level shows as AMW pick up the win with Death Sentence. As AMW celebrate the win, they are attacked by two large wrestlers. Vince Russo informs us that it’s The Warning, Tao and Tupa, a Samoan tag team. AMW are on notice!
Shane Douglas and The Hotshots come to the ring next. Shane takes a while, still being on crutches. When he eventually gets into the ring, he takes a microphone. Douglas says that Chase Stevens and Cassidy O’Reilly both remind him of someone. Yeah that’s right…himself. Shane said that he was once a young upstart trying to make a name for himself, and the Hotshots gained his respect by showing their balls to the big dog. Shane refers to himself and the Hotshots as The Franchise. Next week, he’ll invite another guy in the back, someone with unlimited potential to join the Franchise. Who could it be?
Mike Tenay, backstage reporter (there’s a fall from grace) catches up with Kid Kash. Kash is furious that he was cheated out of the title (conveniently forgetting that he himself had cheated in both matches to advance to the final) and challenges the Lightweight champion CM Punk for a match.
AJ Styles vs Steve Corino
In non title match, AJ Styles is up next against International champion, the Consistently consistent, Steve Corino. We’re assuming that somebody managed to separate Styles and Andrew Martin backstage. Steve Corino and AJ Styles had good chemistry. Styles went for the Styles Clash, but Corino managed to roll him back in a sunset flip type move. Styles rolled right back and picked up the victory with a bridging pin. Out of nowhere, The Test appears with a chair and swings at Styles. AJ ducks under the swing and rolls out of the ring. A furious Andrew Martin throws down the chair in the ring.
After commercial, John “Hawk” Bradshaw makes his way to the ring, grabs a chair and a microphone and sits down in the ring. John "Hawk" Bradshaw is not moving until Bret Hart grants him a title shot. Bret Hart makes his way out and states that Bradshaw has yet to prove that he is worthy of a title shot. Sting beat him at Summer Break, so if anybody is worthy of a title shot, it’s The Stinger. John “Hawk” Bradshaw reminds Hart that Sting only beat him with the aid of a steel chair. Bret then makes a triple threat match for later in the night between John “Hawk” Bradshaw, Sting and Andrew “The Test” Martin. The winner will face AJ Styles for the TNA Heavyweight Belt at Hard Justice.
TNA Lightweight Title Match
CM Punk vs Jeff Hardy
The TNA Lightweight champion defends his title against the daredevil, Jeff Hardy. In what you’d think would be a match of quality, their styles appeared to clash in a sloppy match. Kid Kash ran to the ring and slid in, attempting an attack on Punk. CM Punk ducked a clothesline which hit Jeff Hardy instead. Jeff Hardy wins by DQ. CM Punk throws Kid Kash out of the ring.
TNA Heavyweight Title Number One Contenders Match
Andrew "The Test" Martin vs John "Hawk" Bradshaw vs Sting
The crowd are into this match. The quality isn’t bad either. All three men are vying to become the number one contender to AJ Styles title. Bradshaw looks like he’s going to pick up the victory after a clothesline from hell on Sting. The Test breaks up the pin attempt. Martin and John Bradshaw trade blows while Sting recovers. Andrew Martin charges at Bradshaw, but John moves out of the way and Barry Windham pulls the top rope down. Martin goes over the top rope. Sting eventually recovers and has Bradshaw in a Scorpion Deathlock. John Bradshaw looks like he’s going to tap until Andrew Martin rushes in with a big boot to Sting’s face. Andrew Martin gains the pin and becomes the number one contender to AJ Styles title.