TNA Genesis 2012 Results
Report by: Mike Johnson & PWInsider.com

Footage of TNA champion Bobby Roode arriving at the Impact Zone at 4:30 followed by footage of Hardy arriving at the building at 6 PM aired as Mike Tenay and Taz noted that we’d find out tonight whether Hardy, a “former World Heavyweight

Tons of pyro, followed by a welcome from Mike Tenay and Taz.

TNA X-Division champion Austin Aries vs. Zema Ion vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash

As Zema Ion walked to the ring, he tried to play up to rap star Rick Ross, who blew him off. Ross got a small chant for that. When the bell rang, Aries led the fans chanting and left the ring, leaving the others to compete. Sorensen, Kash and Ion all tried to catch the other with quick, rollups. Soresen missed a clothesline and then missed a clothesline, allowing Ion to take control. Sorensen went up and over to avoid a charge and nailed a rana, then an elbow in the corner. Ion caught him charging into the corner but Sorensen still caught him with a big suplex throw. They called it a modified Northern Lights suplex. Aries finally snuck back in and tried to sneak up but was caught in a series of roll ups. He escaped to the floor but was nailed by a Kid Kash pescado to the floor.

Sorensen prepared for a dive but was taken out by Ion. Ion prepared for a top rope moonsault to the floor but Kash nailed him and went for a top rope rana. Sorensen slipped underneath for a powerbomb so they ended up doing a Tower of Doom style spot. Aries returned to pick the bones, focusing on Ion. Aries went to the top but Ion shoved him off to the floor.

Ion went to the top and hit a sick twisting moonsault dive to the floor on Kash and Aries. Sorensen then came off the top with a big dive from the top onto all three. Back in the ring, Kash unloaded with chops and slammed Ion hard into the corner. He placed Ion on the top turnbuckle and went for a suplerplex but Aries whipped Sorensen into that corner. Kash crashed into ring. Ion nailed a top rope 450 splash and was pinned,

Kash was eliminated.

Aries nailed Sorensen with a 450 splash off the top as well but Sorensen kicked out. The crowd started to get behind Jesse, chanting his name. Ion didn’t like trying to out-do him and they went at it. Aries got the better of it and went for the Pendulum Elbow but was hit with a great flying bodypress by Sorensen. He went for the cover but Ion broke it up. Ion went right after Sorensen but was caught with a surprise small package for a three count.

Ion was eliminated. He argued with the ref, who missed Aries small packaging Sorensen. Aries got mad and let Sorensen up but was nailed with a DDT-esque move. Again, the referee missed the count and only counted two when he returned before Aries kicked out. Ion hid out at ringside. Neither remaining wrestler was aware as they battled in the corner above him.

Aries and Sorensen went back and forth with several near falls. Aries was drilled with a running boot in the corner. Sorensen went to the top but Ion grabbed his leg and pulled him, crotching him. Aries nailed a running dropkick on Ion, who was hanging over the turnbuckles and drilled him with a top rope brainbuster for the pinfall.

Your winner and still X-Division champ, Austin Aries!

Good opener. All four had moments where they shined, plus we saw Ion and Sorensen come out of their shells and add a little more depth to their characters. As a white meat babyface, Sorensen shows some real promise and you can see the crowd in Orlando starting to get behind him. Ion has really stepped up his game when it comes to playing to the crowd and showing his personality. Nice way to kick off the show.

Jeremy Borash interviewed Devon’s sons, Terrance and Terrell. Borash said they are 16 years old and he’s known their father over a decade. He asked them why they are acting the way they are. Pope Dinero showed up and they said it was because of this man. Pope said that he should pimp slap Borash but then who would have to to hold the microphone. He said they aren’t boys but are men. He said 2012 is going to be a year of reckoning for Devon. Pope said he is going to do something to Devon he will never forget. He said when they are done, they won’t have to deal with Devon’s black behind again and closed it out saying, “Daddy has spoken.”

Devon vs. Pope Dinero

Terrance and Terrell are at ringside. Devon stormed the ring and attacked Pope, kicking the hell out of him early. Pope whipped him into the ropes but nailed a leaping reverse elbow. Pope was sent to the floor. Devon followed and whipped him into the ring steps. Pope tried to crawl away but Devon caught him and rolled Pope into the ring. Pope tried to beg off and tried to apologize but Devon kicked him in the gut and began working him over with a series of right hands.

Devon went to the top but Pope staggered as he went to the top and bounced into the referee, who hit the ropes. Devon ended up crotched. Pope went to the ropes and leapt into a dropkick on Devon. He pulled Devon into the ring and mounted him with a series of punches.

Pope did a Tebow. I guess that’s going to be what every wrestler rips off for the next three months.

Pope hung Devon on the ropes and clotheslined him over the top to the apron. The crowd began chanting, “Let’s go Devon.” I don’t know if its just me but I ordered the show in standard definition due to issues with my cable provider and the crowd and audio sounds much larger than TNA PPVs have in HD of late. Pope worked over Devon on the floor and brought him back into to the ring for a two count.

Pope locked in a rear chinlock and the crowd rallied Devon. He mounted a comeback but was cut off by Pope. Pope began doing the Garvin Stomp. He screamed at Devon that he hated him and tossed him into the corner, under the turnbuckles, where Devon nailed the ringpost shoulder post down on the mat. Pope went to the floor, measured and kicked Devon’s head against the ringpost. He followed up and did it a second time.

Pope grabbed a front facelock back in the ring and then drove Devon’s head into the mat. He called Devon’s kids into the ring as the crowd chanted “You suck.” He told them to attack their father. They looked conflicted. One of them got down on his knee to check his father. Pope screamed at him, “I told you to get him” and when he was questioned, attacked him and tossed him to the floor. The other son pushed Pope and was laid out as well.

This fired up Devon and he drilled Pope with a series of rights and a big clothesline, followed by an Avalanche into the corner. Devon ducked a clothesline and nailed a powerslam on Dinero for a near fall. Pope escaped a Fireman’s Carry and nailed an uppercut. Devon came back with a flying shoulderblock off the ropes for another two count.

Devon missed a running charge in the corner. Pope set him up hanging in the ropes and snapped him with a neckbreaker. Devon pulled himself up in the corner stepped out of the way and caught him with a reverse 747 and scored the pin.

Your winner, Devon!

Solid match. They worked really hard and told a good back and forth story.

After the match, Devon’s sons entered the ring and they embraced their father, so they are all reunited.

Jeremy Borash interviewed Sting. Borash noted that Jeff Hardy’s road to redemption has been ten minutes. Velvet Sky showed up and said that she’s been looking for Sting all day. She pushed the idea of herself being the head of the Knockouts, cutting a promo on Madison Rayne and noting she’s been here for five years and has been loyal. She whispered a plan to prevent Rayne from interfering, saying that she had the crew working on something she called the “Velvet Touch”. Sting gave her permission to put it into play, but they didn’t say what it was. She left Sting said that Jeff Hardy gave himself the opportunity at redemption, not Sting and while Bobby Roode has been trying to one-up Sting, tonight it’s “Showtime.”

Rob Van Dam vs. Gunner, with Ric Flair

They locked up and fought for position. Gunner sent Van Dam into the ropes but Van Dam regained his footage and caught Gunner in a side headlock. Gunner slipped out and rode RVD to the mat and backed him into the corner with a series of shoulderblocks.

RVD flipped out of the corner and came off the ropes with a leaping kick. He countered an attempted knee with a leap-through into a roll-up. Van Dam nailed a crucifix but Gunner slipped out. RVD nailed a dropkick and they faced off. Van Dam kicked him out of the ring.

On the floor, Flair began giving Gunner advice. Gunner walked around ringside, trying to kill RVD’s momentum. Gunner returned to the ring and caught Van Dam with a kick to the gut. He overpowered Van Dan with a series of rights in the corner and whipped him into the corner hard, covering RVD for a two count. He continued controlling Van Dam with a sideslam. RVD kicked Gunner as he approached but was grabbed and dumped to the floor.

On the outside, Gunner slammed Van Dam into the guard rail at ringside. He teased doing his move on the floor but Earl Hebner got in his face telling him to return to the ring. Gunner ignored him but that distraction was enough to let RVD recover and drill Gunner. He draped Gunner on the apron and nailed a guillotine legdrop. RVD went to the top but was cut off by Gunner.

Van Dam fought off a superplex attempt and sent Gunner down hard to the mat. Van Dam hit a flying bodypress for a two count, followed by a springboard Ryder Kick and Rolling Thunder for a two count. Gunner went to the floor. Van Dam went for a pescado but Flair pulled Gunner out of the way. Hebner and Flair argued, which allowed Gunner to nail the DDT on the exposed concrete.

Gunner rolled RVD back into the ring and scored the pinfall.

Your winner, Gunner1

As a match designed to build Gunner, it achieved its goals. RVD hit some of his offense, Gunner survived and in the end, put his DDT on the floor over as a massively dangerous move, putting out a former TNA champion with it.

RVD was stretchered out of the building.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash noted they would provide updates on RVD when they received them. He brought in Jeff Hardy, who was painted up to match the poster of the PPV. Hardy said that he doesn’t brag about what he’s done and what he’s going to do. He quoted his theme song and said he’s been resurrected. He told his creatures to “mount up” because “we got a World title to win.”

TNA Knockouts champion Gail Kim (with Madison Rayne) vs. Mickie James

A shark cage, with some of the bars painted pink, was brought out, so that’s the Velvet touch. Rayne refused to enter the cage. So Sky, complete with ring music, came out. Sky shoved her into the cage. They raised the cage into the air.

Kim attacked James and worked her over in the corner. She nailed a nice leaping clothesline and followed it up with a leaping knee to the back. James shocked her with a rollup and a bridge for a two count. James nailed a dropkick for another two count.

James unloaded with a series of forearms and a kick to the stomach. James went for a leg scissors into a rana but was shoved off. James landed on her feet on the apron but Kim grabbed her as she entered the ring and drove her face into the mat for a two count.

Kim drilled James with a forearm and a running knee in the corner. She whipped James into the opposite corner and nailed a horizontal splash into the buckles. Kim continued to work over James but was nailed with a dropkick, sort of, as she rebounded off the ropes for a bodypress. Kim regained control and locked in a Dragon Sleeper but James slipped out and turned it into an armdrag, then nailed several clotheslines.

Kim rebounded into the Octopus submission but James drove her into the corner and then down on the mat for a two count. James went for her DDT but Kim evaded it. She charged but was sent to the floor by James, landing in front of Velvet Sky. They had words. James did her leg scissors into the rana off the apron to the floor.

Back in the ring, James nailed a top rope Lou Thesz Press for a two count. Kim grabbed her by the hair and snapped James backward by the hair. Rayne tossed brass knuckles from the cage but the referee saw them bounce down and took them away. He handed them off to someone outside the ring. Rayne tossed another pair down but Mickie drilled Gail and used them as the referee turned. He caught James and called for the bell.

Your winner and still Knockouts champion by DQ, Gail Kim!

Very eh match. I don’t get why they would do the cage stip and not announce it in advance where they could try and draw with it, and then do a finish where the cage didn’t matter anyway. Really awful.

Jeremy Borash interviewed Bully Ray. Ray said he was nervous for a second when he was challenged for a Monster’s Ball match. He said that he’s the bully and the intimidator. He said he’s the king of these type of matches and he’s been doing them for a long time. He said he’s the real king of hardcore and men like Terry Funk and Mick Foley bow down to him. Ray said Abyss will lose and will lose bad. He said Abyss is going to crawl back to Immortal and kiss all of their feet. He promised that Abyss will be Immortal’s b***h once again. Good promo.

Monster’s Ball: Bully Ray vs. Abyss

There are weapons including barbed wire boards around ringside.

Ray bullied Socal Val as he came out. Always funny.

Abyss was ready to go but Ray backed off and walked around the ring a number of times. He nailed Abyss with a series of chairs to the back but it had no effect. Abyss nailed a chokeslam. Ray pulled a chain off his pants and swung it like a weapon as Abyss used a chair to avoid it and nailed him with a chair across the back.

Abyss went to the floor and began tossing weapons that were in a trash can into the ring. As he returned, Abyss was nailed with a chain. Ray nailed him with a trash can but it had no effect and Abyss punched it. He nailed a splash in the corner but was clotheslined down. Ray grabbed a kendo stick but Abyss rolled out of the ring and pulled Janice out. Ray was freaked out and left the ring, saying he was out of here.

Ray went backstage. Abyss followed. I thought they were going to go to some backstage footage but immediately battled back down to ringside with Abyss in control. Ray thumbed him in the eye and drilled Abyss with a series of shots at ringside. Abyss fought back and tried to whip him into a barbed wire board that was standing up in the corner but Ray reversed it. Abyss hit it chest and shoulder first. Ray then slammed the board over Abyss. Abyss had a number of cuts on his hand and arm from the shots, but he still nailed Ray.

Ray tried to prevent Abyss from regaining control but failed. He was tossed into the ring. Abyss brought several sacks of weapons from under the ring into play. He grabbed a cheese grater and drilled Ray into the nether regions with it several times. Abyss spread tacks in the ring and grabbed Ray for a chokeslam, but was punched in the groin. Ray, still selling his groin shots, went to the floor and pulled out a table.

Ray tried to pull Abyss over but Abyss grabbed him and chokeslammed Ray through the table for a two count. Abyss tossed several barbed wire boards into the ring. Abyss set one up in the corner. Ray tried to use the legs of a table as a weapon but was punched down. Abyss tried to whip Ray into the board but Ray caught him with an Uranage onto a barbed wire board. He sandwiched Abyss between the boards and nailed a back senton splash. Squish! Abyss kicked out a two.

Ray grabbed Janice and measured to hit Abyss but was caught and chokeslammed into the tacks for a two count. The crowd began chanting, “This is awesome.” Ray came back to kick Abyss and nailed him with a trash can. Ray began lighting Abyss up with kendo stick shots in the corner. He killed Abyss with shot after shot, then went to charge Abyss for another but was caught with a Black Hole Slam into a barbed wire board for the pin.

Your winner, Abyss!

You knew what you were going to get with this one and you got it. After looking like they weren’t on the same page early, they really put together a great war of attrition. There were some nice twists that I didn’t expect, such as Ray taking the tack bump. There were a few rough patches early but they really told this nice story of two badass monsters beating the other down and coming back to give the other guy more punishment. Ray is better in 2012 than he’s ever been while the Abyss character feels much more rejuvenated than it has in years. If you like the style, Good stuff. The match got over with the crowd as it went into the bigger spots. Jeremy Borash interviewed Crimson and Matt Morgan. Crimson cut a decent promo saying what he does is destroy lives and that’s what’s going to happen tonight. He said Magnus and Samoa Joe beat some impressive combinations in the tournament but they are the champions. Morgan then cut a hell of a promo putting over the team and promised to show why he’s the most genetically jacked giant in wrestling today. Morgan is really underrated as a promo. When he’s on, he’s great. Some nice fire out of Crimson, who is still finding himself on the mic, as well.

TNA Tag Team champions Matt Morgan & Crimson vs. Samoa Joe & Magnus

Morgan and Joe started out face to face. Joe piefaced him and nailed several shoulderblocks to no avail. They exchanged strikes. Joe was kicked down but popped up to eat a clothesline. Crimson and Magnus tagged in. They went back and forth. Magnus drilled him into the corner but Crimson fought his way out and sent Magnus into the corner. Magnus went for a side headlock but was sent into the ring and drilled with a back elbow. Crimson locked in a cravate and sent Magnus into the corner. Morgan tagged in and nailed his rapid fire elbows in the corner.

Morgan nailed a running clothesline in the corner. Crimson hit an exploder for a two count. Crimson whipped him into the ropes but put his head down and was kicked in the face. Joe tagged in and nailed a big Uranage in the corner. Joe worked over Crimson, who fired back but was cut off. Taz went into this funny line asking if they had bears in Samoa after he said Joe was like a Samoan bear trap catching Crimson’s ankle.

Joe and Magnus tagged and worked over Crimson.

During the match, the announcers were told something was happening backstage. They went to a split screen of Bully Ray beating down Abyss backstage and working him over. They brawled out of camera range. So, the battle continues.

In the ring, Joe was finally nailed with a spear by Crimson. There was a chant of “We want Morgan” followed by “No We don’t!” So, Morgan is apparently playing the role of John Cena tonight. Morgan made the hot tag. He nailed Joe and drilled Magnus with a Fall Away Slam. He nailed Joe with an elbow and nailed Magnus with a suplex into a sideslam but Joe broke up the pin.

All four brawled in the ring. Crimson was sent to the floor. Morgan was caught between both challengers. He fought them off but was overwhelmed. Joe sent him into the corner and nailed a enziguiri in the corner. Magnus came off the ropes but Crimson pulled him off for a two count. Magnus and Crimson battled on the floor. Joe hit a dive into a forearm on Crimson on the floor. Crimson sent him into the ring steps as he tried to return.

In the ring, Morgan and Crimson nailed a double chokeslam on Magnus, scoring the pin.

Your winners and still TNA Tag Team champions, Matt Morgan and Crimson!

Match was solid but they lost some of their momentum when TNA went backstage for the brawl. They worked a hard pace but I felt that they really could have benefited from more time in the ring to tell the story. It felt like the highlights version of a match, not the full story. Hopefully, they get the chance to rematch it as I’ve really liked the Joe/Magnus duo and the champs are still finding their chemistry.

Jeremy Borash interviewed James Storm. Borash asked him if he was ready. Storm said he’s known Borash for 10-15 years and said he was going to turn the tables and interview Borash. He put the hat, glasses and beer in Borash’s hands. He said to Borash that if you beat Angle twice and had to beat him again, how would you do it. Borash said he didn’t know. Storm cut an awesome promo saying you have to believe in yourself and he believes. He said that the people would be chanting “You suck” at Angle. He told Angle he would be sucking in the ring and then he would swallow….James’ kick in his face. The live crowd popped for that line. Storm left then returned to deliver his “Sorry about your damn luck” line. Great promo.

James Storm vs. Kurt Angle

There was a “Let’s go Cowboy” chant early. Angle walked around ringside trying to dictate the flow of the match early. The crowd took to the “You suck” chant while they were doing some early back and forth wrestling, which was solid.

Storm tried to go for the Last Call superkick but Angle ran from the ring and went to the floor. The storyline is that Angle says it’s not a wrestling move but a bar room fight move. I never heard of Shawn Michaels winning any bar room fights but bet Chris Adams kicked some ass in his day.

Angle returned to the ring but saw Storm going for the superkick and ran off again. Slow start. Angle was caught with a punch and was sent to the floor. Storm jumped off the apron, nailing Angle. He caught Angle with a right hand on the floor. Storm kicked Angle in the corner when they returned to the ring and mounted the turnbuckles to rain down a series of right hands.

Storm was caught out of nowhere with an overhead belly to belly suplex. He stomped away at Storm in the corner. Angle draped him over the apron and drilled him across the chest several times. Angle stalked Storm in the ring and nailed a suplex for a two count. Angle controlled Storm and scored several two counts. He locked in a side chinlock but Storm began firing back with elbows to the mid-section.

Angle cut off Storm but was caught out of nowhere with a Side Russian Legsweep. Storm mounted a comeback with a series of clotheslines and a big forearm. He floated over and nailed the Backstabber for a two count. Storm whipped Angle but Angle spun around and began nailing a series of German suplexes.

They went back and forth until Storm caught Angle with a DDT for a two count. Storm went up and over. Angle scouted him well and went for the Olympic Slam but Storm slipped out. Angle cut him off with an elbow and hit an Angle slam for a two count. He pulled down his singlet and teased doing the superkick. He went for it but Storm caught his leg and nailed a backstabber to the chest for a two count.

Storm went to the ropes. Angle leapt up for a superplex but Storm was waiting for him and nailed him. Angle fell into the ring and Storm came off the ropes with a flying elbow for a two count. Storm set up for the superkick but Angle pulled the referee in the way. Storm cut the move off and was kicked low by Angle and a kick to the face.

Angle scored the pin.

Your winner, Kurt Angle!

Solid match but well below the pace of your usual Kurt Angle bout. The finish really took the shine off the work, but told the story of Angle being a slimeball to steal the win with a cheap move after claiming he lost because Storm’s kick wasn’t legit. From that standpoint, it made sense but it came so out of nowhere, the finish was beyond flat.

Backstage, someone asked Bully Ray what happened to Abyss after they caught them fighting. Ray, who was recovering from his match, said that he didn’t know and blew it off, saying that maybe Abyss took the rest of the night off. Obviously, he was lying.

Bobby Roode cut a promo saying that he only needed one chance and one time to become the TNA champion because he’s the it factor of pro wrestling. He asked how many times was Jeff Hardy going to get another chance. He put himself over as the most selfish man in wrestling and would do whatever it takes to remain champion. Usual good Roode promo.

TNA champion Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy

Jeremy Borash did the big time ring introductions. Hardy received the biggest reaction of anyone on the show tonight.

hey did some feeling out process wrestling. Roode caught Hardy with a shoulderblock off the ropes and worked over Hardy’s arm. Hardy nailed several hiptosses and armdrags. Roode cut him off in the corner but was caught and nailed with a series of rights. Hardy nailed him with an inverted atomic drop and a legdrop for a two count.

Hardy clotheslined Roode over the top to the floor and then slingshot himself into a kick to the chest. Hardy hit a running clothesline off the apron onto Roode on the floor. The announcers noted that Hardy may have banged up the same arm Roode was working on. Hardy whipped Roode into the steps, then hit a dive off the steps into Roode, sort of a variation on the old Air Sabu move. Hardy hit his knee on the guard rail and was limping.

Hardy tossed Roode back into the ring and covered him for a two count. Roode cut him off and tied him to the tree of woe. He drilled Hardy and then nailed an over the knee backbreaker. Roode began focusing on Hardy’s legs and then whipped him hard into the buckles for a two count. Roode nailed a suplex and hit a kneedrop off the second rope for another two count.

Hardy began mounting a comeback while trapped in a side chinlock but Roode cut him off. He sent Hardy to the floor and Hardy nailed the floor hard. Hardy was lifted and dropped across the guard rail. Roode brought his challenger back into the ring and locked in another side chinlock. Hardy tried to make it to the ropes for a break but Roode realized and brought him back to the mat. The crowd tried to rally Hardy but Roode trapped him in a crossface.

Roode continued working on Hardy and went to the ropes but Hardy lifted his feet and kicked Roode as he came down. With both men down, referee Brian Hebner began counting both men down on the mat. Hardy and Roode fought to their feet and exchanged punches. Hardy got the better of him and nailed several clotheslines, a back elbow and a backdrop.

Hardy kicked Roode into the corner and clotheslined him. Hardy’s whip was reversed and Hardy was sent into the corner but Hardy went up and over and nailed a Russian legsweep for a two count. Hardy slipped out of a spinebuster attempt and sat down into a jawbreaker. Roode came back with a spinebuster for a two count.

Roode attempted a superplex but Hardy fought him off and sent him down hard to the mat. Jeff went to dive off the top but Roode rolled out of the ring and tried to walk out of the building. Hardy gave chase and clotheslined him on the ramp and brought him back to the ring.

As Hardy returned to the ring, Roode caught him with a kick and nailed a Perfectplex for a two count. Roode went for another move but Hardy caught him with a Twist of Fate into a stunner. Hardy came off the ropes and scored a close two count.

Hardy went for the Twist of Fate but Roode slipped out of it and went to the floor. He went to leave with the belt but Hardy attacked him on the ramp. Hardy dragged him back to the ring. Roode still had the TNA tile belt. Hardy ducked Roode trying to use it and nail him. He went for the Twist of Fate but it would have been on the belt so the ref stopped it and removed it. Roode grabbed Hardy and went for a pin with his feet on the ropes but the ref caught him and stopped it.

Hardy scored a near fall with a two count. Roode, realizing he was done for, smiled and kicked the referee in the groin. Hardy nailed the Twist of Fate but the referee called for the bell.

Your winner by DQ, Jeff Hardy!

The crowd immediately began chanting “We Want Sting” but he didn’t come out. Hardy laid out Roode and nailed the Swanton. He grabbed the belt and threw it down on Roode.