83 Weeks - TNA Against All Odds 2012 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

There’s a lot going on here early in 2012 as we’re going to be discussing Against All Odds. And one of the big things that drops on Monday Night Raw on January 9th is the Four Horsemen will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame - and obviously the biggest Horseman of all time is Ric Flair who is under TNA contract. When this happens … are you in the know? Was Ric? Anyone in TNA?

Are you part of the “negotiations” to have Ric be a part of this?

Is this just WWE acting like they can do whatever they want and you know that TNA will give in because they’ll believe this will help and they’ll be able to be part of it?

A big show is announced for January 28th as a TV taping at Wembley Arena and its expected to have at minimum 8,000 fans and as Meltzer says, “it’ll probably be the best atmosphere they’ve ever had at a taping.” The costs are insane, between shooting and bringing everyone over, but was this the right move at this time?

It also comes out that this will be the last set of TV tapings on the road. You have Spike TV paying for parts of the cost but the ratings weren’t moving at all. How big a setback is this for the company?

Our good friend Kurt Angle went on Sirius XM and he said had some shit to say Eric regarding 2011…”2011 was a subpar year for the company, and said the biggest problem was the lack of communication between the writing team and the creative team. He said he knows that the scripts are done, but then everyone starts changing things and the end result is a direction that the writers never intended in the first place. He said Vince Russo writes the shows, but Hogan and Bischoff and others change things at the last minute. He said he’s not against the changes and backed Hogan 100%, but felt this should be done a week before the shows and not at the last second. He noted Hogan changing the result of the Bound for Glory main event the night of the show. He noted that it worked out for the better, but he didn’t like that he and Roode found out at the last minute when he was trying to work a match with a torn hamstring and shouldn’t have been wrestling in the first place. He also said they haven’t done Samoa Joe justice.”

Eric - is this a fair assessment of TNA in 2011?

You’re doing some work outside of TNA as you & Jason sell “Daddy’s Home” to Nick at Nite with Scott Baio. The show will eventually have its name changed to See Dad Run…but what do you remember of this process?

On the 1/12 Impact show you come out for a promo and well I’ll let Dave Meltzer take over, “Eric Bischoff came out. He did a promo talking about Garett Bischoff. He said that Garett has no future in the business, no friends in the business, and he should give up his dream because your dreams will get you hurt. Garett came out and said that he does have friends and he’s not going anywhere. There was no reaction to this except they piped up the fake crowd noise. He said he’s got a new trainer. He wouldn’t say who it is so we’ve got a mystery trainer angle that absolutely nobody who saw the show noticed. He then grabbed Eric by the shirt collar and shook him. Garett’s delivery was good but his material wasn’t much.”

There’s a part of the show where Brooke Adams is disclosed as being Brooke Tessmacher and that she’s in a competition … the Hooters Dream Girl contest. Why is she in this competition? Because SHE WORKS FOR HOOTERS as well as being on TNA. Eric…what does this say about TNA when on television its said that she is also working as a waitress?

Robert Roode vs. Jeff Hardy main events this show…really because Jeff Hardy can’t go to England due to a prior conviction. The match ends in a no-contest after Bully Ray interferes.

Eric - be honest with me - are you checked out of TNA at this point?

The next week on Impact it just sounds like the promotion is spinning its wheels and Meltzer agrees, “The show was perfectly fine for what it's intended to be. Two hours of wrestling on television with no real purpose other than to fill two hours. There was some decent character development with Bobby Roode becoming a strong performer as heel world champion, a by-the-book angle in a tag team title program that doesn't promise much. There was a mystery–who is Garett Bischoff's secret trainer that appears to have captivated nobody, since nobody has asked about it or seems to even know there is such an angle even though he said it plain as day.”

Without Booby Roode and really your son’s mystery angle … there’s a X division that no one really cares about … and Robbie E is TV champion. Soooo yeah…

“Garett Bischoff was shown in an MMA gym training. He looks way too much like Ken Shamrock for my comfort. The whole skit was based on this mystery about who is training him. I would guess it would come out that it would be Hulk Hogan since there was talk and a few months back teases in the direction of building to Lockdown being Hogan & Garett Bischoff vs. Eric Bischoff & Flair.”

Was Garett training MMA in general at the time? He looked like he could do some shit then.

Was the plan always Hulk? Was there talk of of Hulk & Garett against you & Ric?

Mickie James beats Madison Rayne in a steel cage match. Mickie James returning to the WWE was a big deal last week. What did you think of WWE opening the forbidden door to TNA?

Jeff Hardy and James Storm main event this show and it ends in a…no-contest again when Bully Ray interferes. How many TV shows can you end with a non-finish without pissing somebody off?

Hulk Hogan heads over to England for the house shows in unadvertised trios matches and obviously a late addition because you would’ve advertised him correct?

On January 26th & 27th Hulk Hogan teams with James Storm & Sting to defeat Bobby Roode, Bully Ray & Kurt Angle…

And that’s it Eric. Hulk Hogan will never wrestle again. How surreal is it to look back and this is how it ended in the ring for Hulk?

Are you in the building? Did you know it at the time this was it?

The card is announced coming off the TV tapings which we’ll get to in London for the show: Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion, Gail Kim vs. Tara for the knockouts title, Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley for the X division title, Gunner vs. Garett, AJ Styles vs. Kazarian, Matt Morgan & Crimson defending the tag team titles against Samoa Joe & Magnus, and the main event is a four-way for the TNA title with Bobby Roode defending against James Storm, Jeff Hardy & Bully Ray with Sting as the outside the ring enforcer. This…isn’t a whole lot to push and market is it?

There’s a segment on the 1/26 show that teases the reveal of Garett’s trainer…

Garett's New Trainer....Revealed?

Eric you’re so good in this type of stuff. You had to at least be enjoying this right?

To write Jeff off TV since he can’t go to England there’s a main event with Hardy & Storm going over Bully Ray & Roode in a tables match but Hardy is the one who’s put through a table by Bully Ray. How hard is it to book TV to promote a pay-per-view when one of the main eventers can’t leave the country?

The London shows on the 2nd as we have two weeks to build to the show features this segment from the Observer, “Eric Bischoff did an interview and called out Garett Bischoff. Eric said that he saw who Garett’s trainer was and that he shouldn’t be getting involved in family business. He also asked Garett if he thought “he” would really help him. Garett then got a call on his cell phone and told Bischoff that he would be here later. The segment died alive. The crowd booed the segment like crazy, particularly Garett and there were loud “boring” chants.

Hogan wasn’t asked to be on the tour until a few weeks ago, when they decided to tape television, so it was more their call than him jumping on the bandwagon when the advances were good. The plan as things were scripted was for him to be revealed as Garett Bischoff’s trainer before Against All Odds, and that was a TV taping originally scheduled for Orlando. The funny thing is as much as everyone raved about the U.K. crowd, the Orlando crowds have been fine with Garett Bischoff, while U.K. crowds hated him, so the angle he was brought back for was one of the few things that actually would have played better at home.”

What was the reaction that you remember to Garett being like this and do you think this angle would’ve played better to Orlando?

“Garett Bischoff came out and he was booed like crazy. This was amusing only because he was doing this scripted speech thanking the fans for supporting him while they were booing him out of the place. Eric and Gunner came out. Eric said that his spies told him that "he's" not there. Obviously he needs better spies. Not to mention Sting had just told him that "he" was there. Hogan came out to the expected monster pop. Really this was an even bigger reaction than you'd expect. The segment ended with Hogan & Garett both pounding on Gunner, who rolled out. We were told the crowd booed Garett heavily but the way this was presented, Hogan was so over that you didn't hear Garett being booed at all on this segment. U.K. crowd was hot for Hogan who hadn't been there in something like 18 years. They surrounded Eric, but Gunner pulled Eric out of the ring to safety. Garett then did a promo saying how Eric didn't believe Hogan was with him. Didn't Eric see Hogan in that clip at the gym, and didn't Sting just tell him he was there? Hogan did a promo saying how TNA is close to being on the top of the mountain because they are doing everything right. Hey, it's a lot better than talking about how they are No. 2 on their own TV show.”

Hulk Hogan Returns to IMPACT WRESTLING

How big a deal is this to hear the reaction and how cool is it to see Hulk again come out to a ring?

Did you know at this time that Hulk would never wrestle again?

Should Hulk had been in the ring at this time?

Spike decides to advertise Hulk appearing on the show but there’s talk throughout the show before the reveal about this being a mystery. Is this just Spike knowing he’s going to be appearing not caring about the storyline and just worried about the ratings?

There’s some rave reviews in the Observer regarding Magnus … our friend Nick Aldis who we just had at our St. Louis show … were you seeing the ability of him to be a top guy at this time?

At the go-home Impact for the pay-per-view…”Hogan & Garett Bischoff came out. Hogan said how he’d known Garett since he was a child and how the U.K. fans were the greatest wrestling fans in the world, how they had always supported him, and asked the fans to give that same kind of support to Garett and help him become a big star. As soon as he said that, the loving Hogan fans started booing. It was described as the same deal when Rock tried to tell people he respected Cena the day after Mania and then they booed Rock. The fans did cheer Hogan except when he tried to put over Garett. Eric and Gunner came out and Hogan noted that he had already asked Sting for Garett vs. Gunner at the PPV. Eric gave Hogan a low blow. Eric & Gunner were beating down Garett until Hogan hulked up and punched Eric and he and Garett threw Gunner out of the ring and threw Eric over the top rope.”

Hulk Hogan Gives A HUGE Endorsement To Garett Bischoff

How’s Garett handling this? I mean the TV you can’t tell the boos but was this how you remember it?

So coming off these tapings and before Against All Odds the Observer reports that Vince Russo quits TNA.

“The story was something that was in place dating back months, as when David Lagana left ROH for TNA, we were told specifically it was for a writing job and that he was going to likely end up as the replacement for Vince Russo. The issue was that Dixie Carter was never going to fire Russo. Exactly what was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, is unclear other than Russo was not happy because he had lost power of the creative direction, which was being determined by Bruce Prichard, as head of creative, and Eric Bischoff.”

Is this how you remember it all going down? Vince just quitting?

What was it like working with Russo at the end?

So Against All Odds 2012 doesn’t start off great for the company. The night before the show Taz’s brother-in-law passes away so Taz does not make the show and Jeremy Borash steps in next to Mike Tenay. What did you think of Borash in this role and are you surprised he didn’t get more play in this role?

Well the show doesn’t begin great either for the company. From the Observer: “in the opener, a freak accident saw a scary situation with Jesse Sorensen. Sorensen was wrestling Zema Ion in a match where the winner would become the top contender for the X division title. Early in the match, Ion came off the middle rope with a moonsault to the floor. His right knee caught Sorensen on the top of the head and appeared to both knock him out and jam his neck. He was rushed to the hospital and unable to move, and was in intensive care.

After having a battery of tests done, it was determined he had a fractured C-1 vertebrae, which connects the head to the spine, and a swollen spinal cord. By the next day, he was able to move his arms and had feeling in his legs. He was having some control of his legs by press time. There is talk that he will eventually make a full recovery, but is going to be a long process. Kurt Angle, who visited him at the hospital on 2/14, said Sorensen was told it would be one year before he could return to the ring but Angle predicted Sorensen would make it back in four months.”

Eric - what do you remember of this situation? How scary is it? How do you determine the show continues? Walk me through it all.

What’s the mood like backstage?

The show goes on next up…”2. Robbie E retained the TV title pinning Shannon Moore in 9:31 in an unadvertised match. E called it the Robbie E Invitational, and challenged anyone to come out and get a shot at the title. Crowd was dead for this, but that could be said about everything. Moore came out. After one dropkick, E teased leaving with the belt but Moore attacked him on the ramp. Moore used an Asai moonsault. Moore got a near fall with a huracanrana off the top. However, with the ref distracted, Robbie T punched him from outside the ring and E got the pin after an implant DDT. *½”

Look it’s hard to get the crowd back up but it’s even harder when it’s these two in an unadvertised match. These guys are put in a terrible position but it is what it is. Was the TV title a dead title at this point?

“3. Gail Kim retained the Knockouts title pinning Tara in 6:48. Madison Rayne came out with Kim. She was at ringside screaming obnoxiously. Rayne and Kim were yelling at each other and Rayne walked away. Borash noted that Kim has changed on the road and how she brings the Celebrity Chef guy with her to house shows (her fiancé Chef Robert Irvine). Kim worked on Tara's right leg most of the way and Borash talked about how she tore her ACL ten years ago and never had surgery. Kim has lost some weight. Tara landed the moonsault, but then started selling the right knee. She did a very realistic sell job. Tara tried the Widow's peak but the knee went out. Kim used a kneebreaker and Eat Defeat for the pin. Good for a women's match in major league U.S. wrestling. **¼”

These two were well ahead of their time in this business as evidenced by everything going on in the business currently. These two could go could they not Eric?

“4. Samoa Joe & Magnus won the TNA tag titles beating Matt Morgan & Crimson in 9:56. They put up the graphic for the X title instead of the tag title at first, but it was corrected. Mike Tenay and Borash pushed how Joe & Magnus like each other and how Magnus had a career night in London at the Impact show. They got heat on Crimson. Morgan hot tagged in and was cleaning house. Crimson speared Morgan when Joe got out of the way. Joe then snap mared Morgan and Magnus came off the middle rope with an elbow drop and got the pin. *¾”

Morgan & Crimson drop the titles and it’s smart to put Joe & Magnus together as Joe gives him a rub but man Aldis looks great here doesn’t he?

“5. Austin Aries pinned Alex Shelley to retain the X title in 15:07. This was easily the best thing on the show. They had the most crowd heat as well. But even here it sounded like a small group of fans were into it but most were quiet, as opposed to the other matches where it appeared nobody was into it. At one point Aries, after getting hit with a Rider kick off the top rope, rolled out of the ring, went underneath the ring and came out on the other side. Aries then knocked Shelley out of the ring and did his fast tope. When Aries tried it a second time, coming out the other side, Shelley was ready and backdropped him over the top rope. This set up Shelley doing a tope. Shelley did a great job of subtly selling his neck from this point forward. Shelley got a near fall with the emerald frosien. Aries used a kneebreaker and pendulum elbow. Aries also delivered a Death Valley bomb onto the ring apron, further working on the neck. He did a double sledge off the top rope to the floor. Shelley came back with the Sliced bread, but Aries got his hand on the ropes to stop the count. Aries did a running dropkick into the corner and a brainbuster in the middle of the ring but Shelley kicked out. That led to a "This is awesome" chant. Shelley with an inside cradle and a super kick and another kick but Aries kicked out. Aries then did Pride style knees to the head on the ground, followed by a brainbuster, and got the submission with the Last Chancery, a bridging chinlock. ***½”

These two are just amazing together. Both just great workers and the fact Alex Shelley isn’t on TV right now has to be his doing because he can do everything and get over like rover. Aries is Aries but these two’s history in Ring of Honor and X division stalwarts and it’s just real good. Go out of your way to check this out.

“6. Kazarian pinned A.J. Styles in 18:42. Some good wrestling here but the dead crowd hurt it and made it drag because they went so long. Kazarian came out looking unhappy and being forced to wear a Christopher Daniels T-shirt. Daniels was out with him and ordered him to wrestle in the shirt. That just led to a spot where Styles tore the shirt off him. One cool move was Kazarian slingshotting Styles into the ring and hitting the diamond cutter on him for a near fall. Styles did his moonsault into a reverse DDT for a near fall. Kazarian got a near fall with the downward spiral. Daniels was pounding on the mat to get the crowd into the finish and the crowd didn't react at all. Lots more near falls. Styles finally hit the Pele kick. With Kazarian down, Styles got on the apron and jumped to the top rope, seemingly for a springboard move on Kazarian, but instead, he balanced on the top, and moonsaulted backwards to the floor to take out Daniels. Crowd reacted big to that one. Styles went to springboard back into the ring but Kazarian caught him with the Fade to block, or Omori driver, and got the pin. **¾”

This story…is just…all over the place. Daniels has control on Kazarian and they’re going after AJ but almost a 20 minute match seems like a lot for this type of match. Was AJ wasted in the mid card here with this type of story?

“7. Gunner pinned Garett Bischoff in 11:58 with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan in the corners. This match just didn't work as the semifinal and they went too long and really exposed Bischoff. Garett came out to Hogan's music with Hogan to insure a reaction and the crowd was into Hogan. Not super loud like usual, but louder than anyone on the show besides Aries and Shelley. They didn't react to the match and it was opening match quality. Gunner was trying to carry it but wasn't good enough to do so. The big spot saw Eric slap Garrett in the face. This led to Hogan going to the other side of the ring and decking Eric with one punch. Crowd popped for the punch. Before the match, Eric did an interview and said he was bringing a flag for Hogan to throw in when Garett takes too much of a beating. Gunner was beating him up most of the way with Hogan telling Garett to fight back. Finally Hogan got on the apron, and Hogan looked like he was ready to throw in the towel. Garett told him not to, with the idea that he showed guts. But Gunner then hit the DDT for the pin. ½*”

Was it too long Eric? Was the finish right? Could this had been better if it was shorter?

“8. Bobby Roode retained the TNA title in a four-way over Jeff Hardy, Bully Ray and James Storm in 15:05 with Sting as outside the ring enforcer. Dead response to both Storm and Roode. The ones they saw as the stars were Hardy and Sting. In fact, Hardy's reaction was roughly four times as loud as that for Storm. Roode got no cheers and very few boos. Roode asked Ray to work together like old times. Ray walked out of the ring as his answer. Storm and Hardy then double-team Roode, so the psychology was bad from the start. Roode went to spear Hardy, but before he could connect, Ray bounced off the ropes and nailed Roode with the old pounce period. Then Ray accidentally ran into ref Brian Hebner and the match went right to hell from here. Ray used the Bubba Bomb on Hardy, but Hebner was selling on the floor and there was no ref to count. Well, except Sting, who was tending to Hebner and ignoring what was going on in the ring. Sting was trying to revive Hebner while Ray was upset. Ray was yelling at Sting, but Hardy gave Ray the twist of fate. Again, no ref to make the count. Roode then speared Hardy, but Storm gave Roode a codebreaker and a superkick. By this time Hebner had recovered, went to count, but at the count of two, Ray pulled Hebner out of the ring. Ray then shoved Sting. Storm went for a plancha on Ray, who moved and Storm's plancha took out Hebner. So now Hebner was completely out. Roode used a spinebuster on Ray but no ref. Hardy did the twist of fate on Roode but missed the swanton. By this point Storm, Sting, Hebner and Ray were outside the ring. Hardy was laid out in the ring. Roode went to where SoCal Val was sitting and grabbed the title belt from her to nail Hardy. Sting jumped into the ring and took the belt. Roode and Sting started arguing. Roode started poking Sting in the chest, but Sting did nothing. Then Roode shoved Sting, and again Sting did nothing. Roode called him gutless and dared Sting to hit him with the belt. Sting did nothing. Then Roode spit in Sting's face and Sting went for a belt shot, Roode moved and he nailed Hardy. Roode went for the pin. Sting wouldn't count. Roode yelled at him to count. After Roode covered Hardy for a long time, Sting went down to count, slow, but Hardy didn't kick out and he counted three, all mad he did so. It may read good but it came off bad. *¾”

My goodness Eric. That’s so much. Dave even says it may read good but it came off bad but no it read bad and it was bad. Is this just too fancy & cute booking?

Against All Odds gets a 45% thumbs up, 43% thumbs down and 12% thumbs in the middle by Wrestling Observer readers. What say you Eric?

The show gets somewhere between 7-8,000 buys. Is that a shock or surprise to you?