Thursday Wrestling Viewing

Thursdays consist of WWE Superstars(previously on WGN, now on WWE.com) and TNA's lone television product Impact...

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WWE Superstars.com

Trent Baretta vs. Tyson Kidd(w/ Michael Hayes):  ...wait, Michael Hayes?!?  Yup, "P.S." is back in a managerial role and is not at a loss for words.  Jack Korpela mentions the "Freebird Rules", something Baretta would know from his FCW days with Caylen Croft and Curt Hawkins.  Tremendous matchup between two talented wrestlers...well, they're both fired.  Also on the chopping block is Matt Striker as he did a great job of putting over the managerial factor in the matchup.  Kidd counters a Dudebuster DDT attempt into a modified spinebuster and hangs onto the legs to hook the Sharpshooter...tappity-tap.

Vladimir Kozlov vs. Zack Ryder:  Zack pulled off an upset win over Vlad in their previous encounter...can he make it two in a row?  Kozlov clotheslines Ryder over the top, but Zack takes advantage of the environment by running Vlad into the ringpost.  Scott Stanford and Josh Mathews discuss Ryder's Youtube show...if Michael Cole was out there, he'd be ignoring the people in the ring to put himself over.  Kozlov sends Ryder floorward once again before throwing him back in, but Curt Hawkins runs out to grab Vlad's foot!  Vlad kicks him away, but the distraction is enough opening for Zack to hit the Rough Ryder for the victory!  The Edgeheads/Broskis ride again!

Chris Masters vs. Drew McIntyre:  Drew uses the ring to his advantage as usual, wrapping Masters' leg around the turnbuckles and targeting the bad wheel.  Ringpost figure-four!  Masters can't use his usual power game and McIntyre keeps up the pressure, getting a near-fall with a single-leg jackknife cradle.  He attempts a standard figure-four, but Masters kicks him completely out of the ring...cue El Big Comeback.  Samoan Drop, flying shoulderblock off the second rope, and Skyhigh...for two.  Drew takes another shot at the leg and sets up for the Future Shock but Masters backdrops his way out of it.  McIntyre tries for a backslide but Masters is too strong and flips him forward...straight into another Future Shock attempt, but Masters counters out of THAT predicament only to take another kick to the knee.  Drew's frustration gets the better of him as a blind charge hits the ringpost shoulder-first...and Masters gets the Masterlock for the upset win!  This was an eventful edition of Superstars...

TNA Impact

Women's Champion Mickie James & Miss Brooke Tessmacher vs. Madison Rayne & Tara Varon:  If Mickie retains against Madison at the PPV, Tara is freed from her contractual obligation to Rayne.  The two couldn't get along, leading to Tessmacher upsetting Madison with a victory roll.

They teased repeatedly that Matt Hardy would be teaming with brother Jeff to challenge Beer Money Inc. for the Tag Team Titles at Sacrifice.  However, Hardy had someone different in mind, someone who knows Cowboy James Storm very well...Wildcat Chris Harris!

Sangriento d. Suicide with the Sangre Cutter.

Mick Foley made an appearance as the new "network representative" and introduced Kurt Angle's tag team partner to face Jeff Jarrett and Karen Angle-Jarrett at Sacrifice:  Chyna!  Foley also rebranded the organization as simply "Impact Wrestling" with the tagline "Wrestling Matters!"  I've heard that song and dance a few times...actions speak louder than words, guys.

Samoa Joe vs. Tommy "Crimson" Mercer vs. Abyss:  Issues all around here...Crimson faces Abyss at Sacrifice.  Joe takes exception to the hype of Crimson's undefeated streak as Joe himself went unbeaten for almost two years in TNA.  Good matchup between the heavy hitters...Abyss hits the Blackhole Slam on Joe, but Crimson spears Abyss and steals the pin on Joe.  Joe, being the lone wolf that he is, leaves Crimson to take another beating from Abyss.

25-Man Battle Royal:  Winner gets the next Heavyweight Title shot after Sacrifice(where Sting defends against Rob Van Dam).  Eliminations as I saw them:  Douglas Williams, Brutus Magnus, Orlando Jordan, El Anarquia, Jesse Neal, Shannon Moore, Robbie Eckos, T.V. Champion Phil Gunner, Eric Young, X-Division Champion Frankie Kazarian, Matt Hardy and Tag Team Champion James Storm(elimination each other), Robert Roode(pulled to the floor by Hardy), Christopher Daniels, Shawn Hernandez(by Matt Morgan), Matt Morgan(by Scott Steiner), Scott Steiner(thanks to an assist from Morgan), Brother Devon, "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero, A.J. Styles(by Tommy Dreamer), Tommy Dreamer(by his own "ally" Bully Ray).  We settle into the final four and the sportz entertainment kicks in as Ken Anderson and Bully Ray go THROUGH the ropes(not eliminated) and Jeff Jarrett gets a huge assist from Karen to eliminate Angle.  This brings Chyna out and she personally tosses JJ over the top, then nearly gets a hold of Karen before her loving (second) husband pulls her to safety.  That leaves Anderson and Ray to finish things up...and Anderson eliminates Ray for the victory!