We look back at the events of last week as Aces & Eights ran wild, Kurt Angle demanded that Wes Brisco get a shot in the Gut Check, and James Storm got suckered into losing his title shot to Bobby Roode.
We then go to the Impact Zone, as Wes Brisco and his insanely chiseled physique are in the ring with Jeremy Borash, who says that if he's ready, it's time for his Gut Check!
Gut Check: Wes Brisco vs Garett Bischoff
Well, this is interesting. Wes goes behind and takes Garett to the mat with a waistlock. Bischoff gets a switch and floats around to a front chancery, but fails to hold him as Wes sits out and gets a fireman's carry. Bischoff tries an elbowdrop, Brisco rolls out of the way, and they have a standoff as Kurt Angle comes out to ringside to observe. They tie up and Garett takes Wes to the corner, breaks clean, and they trade side headlock takedowns before hitting stereo dropkicks at each other, and we're back to a standoff. Wes shoves Garett to the corner, Garett takes him down with a shoulderblock, but then Wes gets a shoulderblock of his own and Garett takes Wes down with a headlock now as Angle cheers both men on from the floor. Garett takes Wes down with another shoulderblock and they finally start trading forearms. Wes kicks Garett in the gut and hits a swinging neckbreaker for 1. Garett regains his feet and nails Wes with a clothesline, then gets him in a sleeperhold. Wes gets out and hits a corkscrew crossbody on Garett for 2, then they trade takedowns and pinfall attempts until Garett gets a flapjack on Wes. Wes suddenly gets a rolling leg cradle out of nowhere and gets the win.
Winner: Wes Brisco
With this win, Wes Brisco becomes the first guy to win his Gut Check match. Garett is a sportsman about it and he hugs Wes and raises his hand. This was really disjointed, and I have to say that I don't expect Garett to be Dean Malenko at this point in his career, but Wes was so built up that I really expected more out of him, and it seemed like he was out of position at several different points in the match. It could have just been nerves, so we'll see where he goes from here.
We go backstage to Al Snow, who is with each of the previous winners of the Gut Check. Snow says that tonight is their opportunity to make or break their careers, and they can challenge anyone they want.
We go to Team Angle's locker room, as Angle says that both men need to slow down the tempo and feel out the fans, but they both did a great job and he's happy for both of them.
Joey Ryan comes out to the ring and says that it's Open Fight Night for all the Gut Check winners, and that he didn't need to win Gut Check to be the biggest star to come out of it. He was born a star, and Hulk Hogan thinks he can control he and Matt Morgan by dividing them, but Hogan can't divide the tag champs, which is what they're going to become. That's why he's going to call out Chavo Guerrero tonight: because Matt is big, he's a "giant", and everyone knows that size matters.
Joey Ryan vs Chavo Guerrero Jr
Joey jumps Chavo on his way into the ring, but Chavo's latin temper comes out and he tosses Ryan into the corner and begins unloading on him. Chavo with a hiptoss and a rolling senton, then tells Ryan to get up as Ryan begs off. Ryan with a kneelift to the midsection, but he misses a charge into the corner and takes another flurry of offense. Ryan catches Chavo with a back elbow and nails him with a sweet dropkick to the jaw. Joey stops to play to the fans and makes a cover for 2, then locks Chavo in a neck vice. Chavo gets out and responds with an equally nice dropkick, then starts the fiery babyface comeback. Chavo with a flying headscissors and then his uncle's slingshot senton from the apron. Chavo with his uncle's Three Amigos, then he goes up top for the frogsplash. Matt Morgan slides into the ring and grabs Chavo by the neck, carries him out into the middle of the ring, and chokeslams him for the DQ.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero Jr by DQ
Hernandez finally runs in to make the save and Morgan skips on out. Nice of him to finally show up.
Austin Aries is backstage and says he can call out anyone he wants, and it's not someone who needs a gut check, it's someone who needs a reality check. He's going to make it a family affair, and the person he calls out will make everyone stand up and notice.
Sam Shaw comes out to the ring to say that it's a privilege to be a Gut Check winner, and since it's Open Fight Night, he wants to call out the first Gut Check winner and tells Alex Silva to get his ass out here.
Sam Shaw vs Alex Silva
Silva looks pissed off at getting called out, and he tackles Shaw as soon as he gets in the ring and drills him over and over with right hands. Silva hits a big backdrop and Shaw is in a bad way early on. Silva measures Shaw and drills him with another right hand before coming off the ropes with a double axhandle. Shaw is getting no offense in as Silva covers for 2, then whips Shaw to the ropes and drills him with a hard back elbow. Shaw rolls out of the way of a legdrop, but Silva goes right back on the offense and whips Shaw hard into the corner and follows him in with a charging clothesline. Silva gets a sleeperhold, Shaw gets to his feet and tries to elbow his way out, but Silva just yanks him down to the mat hard by the hair before singing Oh Canada to the fans. Silva with another hard double axhandle and then he gouges at Shaw's face. Shaw tries to fight out again, so Silva picks him up and slams him hard, then grinds his heel into Shaw's stomach. Silva backdrops Shaw again, but Shaw lands on his feet and spears Silva as he turns around. Now Shaw is on the offensive, and he starts pummeling Silva with right hands and dropkicks. Shaw with the Randy Orton backbreaker and then a neckbreaker, then he comes off the second rope with a legdrop for the win.
Winner: Sam Shaw
These two told a great story, and Silva came off like a major badass, building sympathy so Shaw got a good reaction when he started his comeback. These two have been off TV for months, so this was a great way to reintroduce both of them.
Eric Young and ODB come into Hulk Hogan's office with a turkey suit, asking Hogan to bring back the Turkey Suit Challenge. Hogan says it's Open Fight Night so they can challenge whoever they want, but to be careful of Aces & Eights. EY thanks Hogan as he heads out the door, and Hogan says he wants to be him when he grows up.
After we come back from commercial, Eric Young and ODB bump into Robbie E and Robbie T, and E says that the Turkey Suit Challenge ruined T's life, and to challenge him this year so he can make EY look like the turkey he is. Jesse Godderz and Tara walk by bragging about how he beat EY, so EY says he's going to challenge the both of them.
We take a look back at last week when Aces & Eights destroyed Brutus Magnus with the hammer, then we go to a video package looking at the history of Joseph Park and the torment he's suffered at the hands of Aces & Eights. From there it's off to the clubhouse, as Doc has his first Thanksgiving dinner as a full patched member of the gang. The VP throws another dart to decide tonight's target, and Devon sees who it is and says it's going to be a real Thanksgiving.
We look back at Christian York's time in the Gut Check, and then we go to the ring as York comes out to say that he spent sixteen years trying to get here, and now he feels like the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. Now that he has Lady Luck on his side, he says it's time to double down. He might be crazy, but he's going to call out someone he respects and admires...Jeff Hardy!
World Champion Jeff Hardy vs Christian York
Jeff goes right to the arm, York elbows his way out, and it turns into a game where York tries to hit big power strikes, Hardy uses his speed to dodge, and York gets a wristlock. Haryd tries to roll out, but York rolls with him. York gets a pair of nice kicks and a standing dropkick that sends Hardy stumbling backward into the corner. Hardy gets to his feet with a shocked look on his face as we go to commercial.
We're back, and Hardy seems to have turned the tide during the commercial, as he has York trapped in the corner while he fires boots at him. Hardy goes for the Whisper In The Wind, but York moves out of the way and Hardy eats mat. York whips Hardy hard into the corner and takes his head off with a clothesline. York counters a clothesline to an outside fireman's carry and then drills Hardy with a running knee for 2. York gets Hardy in a chinlock, Hardy fights his way out and hits the inverted enziguiri, but York rolls away from the springboard dropkick in the corner and Hardy crashes again. York comes off the top rope with a double stomp, Hardy moves out of the way, but York comes right back with a half nelson suplex. Hardy again is down in the corner, and York hits a rolling senton in the corner and then traps Hardy in a bizarre submission hold even I can't identify. It kind of looks like a double leg nelson with a crossface mixed in, but Hardy manages to escape when he gets to the ropes. York winds up and charges Hardy in the corner, Hardy moves out of the way and tries the Twist of Fate, York shoves Hardy off and hits a Twist of Fate of his own. York makes a cover, but Hardy gets out at 2. York has all the momentum as he waits for Hardy to get back to his feet, he tries the Mood Swing, but Hardy gets out and hits a gourdbuster, then goes to the top rope for the Swanton. York is up and nails Hardy, he goes for a superplex but Hardy counters to a top rope sunset flip into a powerbomb that folds York up like an accordion. Now Hardy has the momentum, and he runs York over with a series of clotheslines and a flying forearm. Hardy hits the Twist of Fate, the shirt comes off, Hardy hits the Swanton, and that's all she wrote.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Hardy and York shake hands and hug after the match in a show of sportsmanship, but Bobby Roode comes in while Hardy is waving at the fans and hits a spinebuster on York before spearing Hardy as he turns around. Roode takes the real World Title belt and tells Hardy that the title is coming back where it belongs at Final Resolution, then holds the belt up and says that he's the real World Champion, the revolution, and the belt is coming back home.
We look at Taeler Hendrix's time in the Gut Check, then Brooke Hogan comes up to Taeler as she's warming up backstage and says she is proud of her being the only female winner of the Gut Check. She tells her to go out and kick butt, because this is what she was meant to do.
Taeler Hendrix comes out after the commercial break to ask the Impact Zone how it's going, then says she's been working hard and wants to see how much she measures up to the gold standard, so she's calling out her Gut Check opponent Tara.
Knockouts Champion Tara vs Taeler Hendrix
They tie up and Tara shoves Taeler off, then goes behind and takes her down with a waistlock and slams her face into the mat. Tara is very aggressive as she comes in with a boot to the gut and slams Taeler hard in the middle of the ring. Tara with a hair Beell, then casually walks over and stomps Taeler before choking her on the bottom rope. Tara with a hanging neck submission before simply releasing Taeler and making her fall right on her face. Tara stops to make out with Jesse, but that gives Taeler an opening to dropkick Tara into Jesse and small package her for 2. Taeler with a hiptoss, then she ducks a couple of wild swings and gets a Blue Thunder Driver. Taeler headbutts Tara right in the jaw and fires off some left jabs and a hard right hand, followed by a flying crossbody for 2. Jesse is up on the apron distracting Taeler, Tara tries to dodge in from behind, but Taeler moves and hits a high kick to the face and covers for 2. Tara with a Triple H knee smash and then measures Taeler before knocking her silly with an open hand slap to the face. Tara picks Taeler up for the Widow's Peak and nails it for the win.
Winner: Tara
Eric Young and ODB are backstage, and they're...CARRYING A TURKEY SUIT!
EY and ODB come out to the ring with the turkey suit, and the annual tradition returns!
Turkey Suit Challenge: Eric Young vs Jesse Godderz vs Robbie E
EY goes after the referee as Robbie and Jesse watch him go, but then EY takes them both out with a double clothesline. Jesse jumps EY while he has his back turned and nails him with a dropkick, then argues with Robbie over who gets to beat him. Robbie sends EY to the ropes and nails him with a back elbow, then more arguing with Jesse. Robbie and Jesse hit a double flapjack on EY and then pose for the crowd, but Robbie tries to cover EY for a quick win, Jesse pulls him off and tries a cover himself, then they get into a shoving match with each other. Robbie gets a kneelift to the breadbasket and unloads with right hands, but Jesse returns the favor and yells at him until EY recovers and takes both men out. EY Flair flips to the apron, Rocker slides back in between Robbie's legs, and nails a back elbow for 2. Tara gets into the ring, but is quickly intercepted by ODB, and the two of them fight it out and rolls over the referee while Jesse is completel distracted by the altercation. EY Tullys him out to the floor, Robbie T tries to hold EY so E can nail him, but EY moves and E knocks his bouncer off the apron. EY disposes of Robbie and then gets an O'Connor Roll on Jesse for 3, and we have this year's loser of the Turkey Suit Challenge!
Winner: Eric Young
Jesse refuses to wear the turkey suit, but the referee has a word with him and Jesse reluctantly puts the suit on with a little help from Tara. Eric and ODB celebrate in the ring, but suddenly Aces & Eights come in and surround them. EY tells ODB to run while he goes after the gang, but Devon takes his knee out with the bat and ODB watches helplessly from the floor as Aces & Eights hold EY so Doc can pulls his boot off and smash his ankle with the hammer. The VP holds EY's foot so Doc can nail him a second time, then Devon gets right in his face and asks him how that feels. Aces & Eights heads for the high ground as Al Snow and Pat Kenney run in, and ODB is still watching from the corner where I now realize she had been handcuffed by Aces & Eights. They bring a gurney out to ringside and begin to load EY's carcass up as we go to commercial.
Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian come out to the ring and take their shirts off so the fans can see the goods, then says he challenged AJ Styles to one last match at Final Resolution. The fans (or at least the assbags in attendance) might ask why he would do that, and it's because AJ's been having a tough time and he wouldn't be any kind of friend unless he was there to help. Kazarian then invites AJ out to the ring for a very friendly ass beating, and to consider himself called out.
Frankie Kazarian vs AJ Styles
Kazarian gets AJ right in a side headlock, AJ sends him to the ropes and they go back and forth until they trade a series of rollups, neither man can get a 3 count, but that doesn't stop Kazarian from gloating that he nearly got AJ on that one. Kazarian with a cheap boot to the gut and then yells at AJ that he failed, but AJ takes him out with an explosive dropkick and a flying headscissors. AJ with a snapmare and an indy kick to the back, then a Bret Hart backbreaker. Kazarian suddenly drills AJ with a huge clothesline that puts him down hard on the canvas, then Kazarian slumps AJ over the bottom rope and stands on his back to cut off the airflow to his lungs. Kazarian with a side salto for 2, then suplexes AJ onto the top rope and punts him in the chest to knock him out to the apron. Kazarian does the Gangnam Style dance as we look at a replay of that sequence, then AJ comes back into the ring with a fury, taking Kazarian out with a clothesline and a spinkick to the face. Kazarian pulls the referee in front of him to break AJ's momentum, then rolls out to the apron and slingshots in with a DDT. Kazarian tries a rollup while holding the ropes, but the referee sees him and stops the count. AJ hits the Pelle Kick and covers for the win out of nowhere.
Winner: AJ Styles
Austin Aries is backstage telling the Mystery Cameraman that it's time to stir things up around here because he's figured out the way things work around here. He's going to open Pandora's Box, and it's not going to be pretty...literally.
Austin Aries comes out to the ring and says he hasn't been getting a fair shake for the last few months out here, and feels like the deck has been stacked against the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived and that there's one name responsible for it all: Hogan. Since it's Open Fight Night, he wants Hogan to get his fake tan, bleach blond, big ugly ass out here. Aries then says he should be more specific: he wants Brooke Hogan to get out here. Brooke's crappy music hits and she comes out with a look of shock on her face. Aries says to relax because he knows she's not a wrestler and doesn't want her to wrestle him, but she's a Hogan and daddy's little princess, and he's tired of the name Hogan, because everywhere he's looked for 25 years now, all he sees and hears is Hogan, Hogan, Hogan. (the crowd starts a Hogan chant) Aries says he's sure that Brooke's tired of the Hogan name too, because it makes it real hard to keep her life private. He's sure she dreamed as a child of growing up, meeting the man of her dreams, and marrying him to get rid of the Hogan name. Maybe she imagined being a Trump or a McMahon, but she probably never imagined when she was a kid that she's be Mrs. Bully Ray and that there'd be little Bully Maniacs. He knows Hulk would never let her give the name away, and it's have to be Mrs Bully Hogan, and then he shows footage from a few weeks ago when he bumped into Brooke and Bubba having a discussion backstage that Aries walked in on, then he shows the footage from last week when Jesse and Tara walk in on Bubba in Brooke's office with his hand on her leg. Aries says that if Brooke was that starved for love, she didn't have to settle for the turkey, A Double would give her all the stuffing she could handle. Hulk Hogan's music hits and he comes wobbling out to the ring, but this is only a two hour show so Bully Ray comes sprinting out to chase Aries off as Hogan points at Aries and he'll be a dead man if he keeps it up. Now Hogan, Brooke, and Bubba have a really tense and awkward staring contest as Aries stands at ringside grinning gleefully at the mess he just made.
