WARNING: This review includes spoilers of upcoming Impact Wrestling broadcasts
Manchester grapple fans were treated to a bumper night of in-ring action as the TNA Maximum Impact tour arrived at the Phones4U Arena on Friday.
An impressive roster of stars performed on the night including British world champion Magnus, The Cowboy James Storm, Gunner, Mr Anderson and Bully Ray.
One on one fights were outnumbered by feature bouts – putting on a ladder match, intergender match, handicap match and a casket match in one night is a nice touch from TNA for their loyal UK fans.
The show – over three hours long – was recorded for two episodes of the company’s flagship TV broadcast, Impact Wrestling, to be broadcast here in mid Feburary on Challenge.
Magnus – roundly booed despite being on home soil – wrestled in two matches, firstly alongsisde Dixieland stablemate Ethan Carter III against James Storm and Gunner in a ladder match.
EC III and Gunner put their respective number one contenders briefcases on the line and all four men put on an entertaining fight. Magnus stopped his partner from climbing the ladder and retrieving the briefcases (which would make EC III Magnus’ next title challenger) and the popular Storm and Gunner took advantage of the squabbling pair to take the win.
This result meant Gunner went on to challenge for the world title in the night’s main event. New investor MVP had previously warned any interference from Magnus’ Dixieland run in buddies would not be tolerated.
Despite this, Magnus signalled for help during the title fight, but was not expecting Storm and TNA’s new tag team The Wolves to appear rather than EC III, Rockstar Spud or the BroMans.
A brawl would ensue later when Dixieland did run in through the crowd, but fans were shocked as Storm turned on Gunner, allowing Magnus to retain his title.
Maybe it is not a total shock, as fans will remember, Gunner took out his partner in the Feast or Fired match to win a title shot in the first place.
The Wolves and MVP both made successful in ring debuts for TNA, with the exciting tag team of Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards picking up a strong victory over Bad Influence. MVP squashed Rockstar Spud in under two minutes.
Bully Ray’s descent into madness following the break up of Aces & Eights has led to some intreresting confrontations with Mr Anderson recently, but the two brought a new (maybe final) stage to their rivalry by competing in a casket match.
Despite the unusual match type and both men using the casket and other weapons (including a powerbomb through a table), this match didn’t seem to go down as well with the fans. It may be time for both men to find new rivals – currently their feud seems like a continuation of the overdrawn Aces & Eights storyline which dominated TNA for over a year. Mr Anderson picked up the victory.
Chris Sabin and Velvet Sky’s on/off relationship is now most definitely off, and culminated in a short lived intergender match. After some trash talking from Sabin, Sky took the upper hand with a well placed boot in her former beau’s crotch. Her momentum was abruptly stopped by the interference of imposing newcomer Alpha Female, who debuted in Glasgow the night before. Sabin picked up the win and was carried backstage by AF.
Samoa Joe took on the BroMans (all three of them) in a handicap match and the four man put on a fun fight. Despite the BroMans numerical advantage the Samoan Submission Machine’s size and brawn advantage paid off and he picked up a win.
There were also appearances from Eric Young, Abyss, ODB, Gail Kim, Madison Rayne and Lei’d Tapa, while Austin Aries succesfully defended his X Division title against Kazarian.
Overall, TNA’s wrestlers put on a brilliant night’s entertainment and it was good to see them putting in so much work. It’s obvious that they love performing in front of the big crowds they pull in the UK – much bigger than in their own country.
Such a demanding schedule (five shows in as many days) make it impossible for all the wrestlers to compete every day, but fans went home happy – most of the big names wrestled or appeared twice.
Bobby Roode and Kurt Angle made appearances despite not wrestling, with Roode cutting a retirement promo, with surprise results after TNA president Dixie Carter took to the ring with an unusual proposal.
To find out what Dixie was offering Roode, tune into Impact Wrestling on February 16 on Challenge.
TNA have already announced their return to Manchester on January 30 2015 for the seventh annual Maximum Impact tour.
Tickets go on sale on Friday via Ticketmaster, Gigs and Tours and direct from the Phones4U Arena box office.
Photo courtsey of Impact Wrestling, with thanks
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