Post by fifthhorseman on Aug 7, 2018 23:08:01 GMT -5
FRIDAY NIGHT IMPACT
EPISODE 8
EPISODE 8
Cold open from somewhere in the bowels of Mandalay Bay, where Brian Pillman and Curt Hennig spoke into the camera.
Pillman: “Like we said a couple of weeks ago – Umaga, Cactus Jack, you don’t get to go straight to the top and challenge for the World Tag-Team titles. You couldn’t even control yourselves in a non-title match, so it seems to me, if anyone from the GIW championship committee is listening, you’re back at the bottom. And by the way, some friendly advice - don't piss off the Road Warriors.”
Hennig: “You’re looking at the best team in Global Impact Wrestling right now. You’re looking at the best team going today! The only reason we’re not wearing any gold right now is that we haven’t gotten a title shot since Final Destination, and even there, Brian and I were worn down to the bone doing double-duty in the King of the Ring tournament. The odds were completely stacked against us, but we didn't complain once. We have plenty of matches under our belts together now – we are a perfectly well-oiled wrestling machine. Edge and Christian, consider yourselves on notice… we are coming after your gold, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.”
Pillman: “Watch and learn tonight, boys, and count the days until Major Impact. And like Curt said… enjoy your reign while it lasts.”
30-second highlight reel of GIW action, then it’s lasers and pyro to kick off the show before the camera focuses on our host.
Lance Russell: “Hello wrestling fans, my name is Lance Russell, and welcome to Friday Night Impact. I’m joined by Global Impact Wrestling’s President and Chief Imagination Officer, Jeff Jarrett. Jeff, it sounds like you’ve booked a great main event for our next pay-per-view, Major Impact: GIW World Tag-Team champions Edge and Christian versus “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, and the “Loose Cannon”, Brian Pillman.”
Jarrett: “The proverbial ink is almost dry on that one, and we’ll be announcing more over the next few days. And trust me, every single one of them is worth the price of admission.”
Russell: “We have four outstanding matches in store for you tonight, so let’s get right to the action… and look who it is.”
CURT HENNIG AND BRIAN PILLMAN vs. the STREET PROFITS:
vs.
The young Profits managed to get some offense in early, but the clever veterans regrouped and found their form, making an example out of Dawkins in the process. Hennig’s unmatched technical expertise, combined with Pillman’s aerial game, was too formidable for their foes to handle, and the match was over in just a few minutes courtesy of a Perfectplex.
The confident victors walked up the ramp, gesturing to their unbelted waists… as they did, they wandered right past JJ Dillon, who was sitting in a private box, talking to WSBK, the Revival, and the Extreme Violence Connection.
COMMERCIAL
A pre-taped interview was shown, with Jarrett interviewing the GIW Intercontinental Tag-Team champions, the U.S. Express. However, the conversation wasn’t about an upcoming match, or the championships… it was about Gordy’s heritage. Jarrett started by saying, “Terry, I’ve known you for a long time. You’ve been cheered, you’ve been booed, but no matter what, you’ve always been respected as a no-nonsense professional wrestler. But the last couple of weeks, you’ve been taking some flak on social media about your ring wear – specifically, your use of the Confederate flag. Now, as a friend, as a fellow Tennessean, and as the guy signing your checks, I wanted to give you the chance to talk to the world.”
Gordy: “Well, appreciate it, Jeff, and yeah, there ain’t nothin’ to it. I’m a Southern boy, proud of where I’m from, Chattanooga, Tennessee. And I’ll always be a Freebird, too, deep down in my heart, even when I’m taggin’ with a great partner like Barry. But look – I don’t mean any offense by it.”
Windham: “Me and ‘Bamm Bamm’ have been down all the roads together, and I can tell you a lot of things about this man. He’s as honorable and trustworthy as they come, and if you’re judging him on what some radical fools are doing now or 150 years ago, just stop. He’s proud of his heritage, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Gordy: “So look... if you still got a problem with that, that’s on you – I ain’t a politician, I’m a wrestler. No agenda, no gimmicks, just one-half of the Intercontinental Tag-Team champions.”
WADE BARRETT (w/Nigel McGuinness) vs. TERRY GORDY (w/Barry Windham):
vs.
The British heels entered the ring first, and as usual, no one cheered. The U.S. Express followed, and they were met with a mixed reaction from the Vegas audience, with Russell astutely noting that the interview did nothing to assuage the GIW fans.
The match itself was a great one, between two evenly-matched competitors, proving that GIW could feature one-on-one bouts that rivalled any other territory. Despite their size, both men displayed amazing quickness as well. The battle itself lasted close to 14 minutes, and with title aspirations as stake, it was inevitable that McGuinness would get involved on the outside. Windham cut him off on the apron, but in the process, wound up colliding with his partner off a Barrett Irish whip. The two cracked heads, and the Great Briton quickly took advantage, hitting a fast Wasteland slam and scoring the minor upset. Needless to say, the Express was unhappy for a number of reasons.
COMMERCIAL
A vignette for the Addiction aired, hyping their debut on next week’s Friday Night Impact, transitioning into a video package from the WWE Big Event. After GIW King of the Ring champion Paul Orndorff used his partner’s interference to get past Curt Hennig, and Masato Tanaka pinned Wade Barrett, “Dangan” pulled off the shocking victory over “Mr. Wonderful” to earn his spot in the Battleground Elimination Chamber match.
OWEN HART/DAVEY BOY SMITH vs. the MAIN EVENT MACHINE:
vs.
Drake and a very irate Orndorff strode down the ramp first, and the reigning King of the Ring was none too happy about the video package he just watched. They were followed by the duo that cut their teeth in Stampede Wrestling. The MEM were not in the mood to wrestle, and they jumped Hart and Smith as they were mid-entrance, and the fight was on.
It was a see-saw battle for a solid ten minutes. Orndorff and the “Bulldog” traded power moves, and Drake brought his A-game, keeping up with the uniquely talented “King of Harts”. Thus, it was a bit of a disappointment when the Great Britons came back to ringside and stood just a few feet from the faces’ corner, trying yet again to recruit Smith into their fold. Their presence was suffocating, and while Hart argued with the two from the apron, “Mr. Wonderful” hoisted up Smith for a piledriver as his partner vaulted to the top rope, about to put the spike on it. Suddenly, Barrett sprang up and threw the former TNA World champ from his perch, prompting the referee to call for the bell, disqualifying the faces. The MEM departed, gloating over their cheap win, while the Great Britons, and Smith and Hart, jawed at each other in the ring.
COMMERCIAL
After a video package highlighting the frenzied action from last week’s main event was shown, Russell and Jarrett discussed the aftermath. The GIW President declared, “Major Impact is coming up real soon, and I’m proud to officially announce that the paperwork for our main event has just been filed with our lawyers and the GIW office: Edge and Christian will defend the Global Impact Wrestling World Tag-Team titles against Brian Pillman and Curt Hennig. I’ve also sent contracts out to Paul Ellering and Kevin Sullivan to get their teams in the ring against each other in a sanctioned match. Paul has already signed his, so now I’m just waiting on-“
As if on cue, the sinister Sullivan walked out to the announcer’s table with a twisted smile on his face. He put the paperwork on the table in front of Jarrett and said, “I hope you didn’t think that my men, Cactus Jack and Umaga, didn’t want a fight. They thrive on combat. They live to inflict pain and suffering on any team that crosses their path. And they fear no man, team, trio, or army, including the Road Warriors. Here’s your contract, signed, sealed, and delivered. But just remember… you asked for it.”
THE BRISCOE BROTHERS vs. the DUDLEY BOYZ:
vs.
The backstory was simple – the Briscoes were the new team in town, and the Dudleyz considered them the gatekeepers of GIW. Given the multiple World Tag-Team championships both teams won over the years, this was also an unofficial top contenders match as well.
For the first few minutes, the two teams worked at a deliberate pace, testing each other out. The tide turned with a simple eyepoke by D-Von, and the Dudleyz took charge, using their weight advantage via high-impact moves like splashes, shoulder-blocks, and slams. They separated Mark from Jay, but the younger Briscoe kicked out of every pinfall. He finally made the hot tag to his brother, and the former ROH World champ cleared house. It eventually turned into a chaotic brawl involving all four men, and after Bully Ray missed a shoulder-tackle, running hard into the ringpost, Jay rolled him up for the three-count at 17:49. The siblings bailed out of the ring while the “brothers” from Dudleyville yelled at them from the inside, guaranteeing that this feud was far from over as the cameras faded to black.