Welcome to the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of TNA IMPACT on POP! Tonight on the heels of his victory over Bobby Lashley and the subsequent beating he incurred last week, Eddie Edwards is set to defend his TNA World title against Cody! Be sure to come back here at 8PM EST for all the action!
-We open with a recap of Gail beating Maria for control of the Knockouts then Cody and Eddie talk about their match tonight. Cody comes out alone without Brandi. Cody talks about being from Georgia and being a fan of country music, saying tonight is something significant and he left WWE because he wants to create moments. He talks about his match tonight then tells a story about his father, telling about how he was about to tell Dusty he wanted to be a wrestler. Cody says he got quiet then said told him he would be fine with it, only if he was the best. Cody then promises he'll become the champion tonight as Eddie comes out. Eddie says he respects Cody and talks about how he has always been able to reinvent himself. Eddie says TNA fans embrace them for who they are. Eddie asks if Cody truly knows who he is. Cody says he's Eddie will know who he is when he beats him tonight. Eddie says he's champion for a reason, that he beat Lashley and that he will prove luck had nothing to do with it. They face off then Lashley comes out. Lashley says he sees the future, him destroying whoever wins the match tonight. Lashley says neither of them are real or a real fighter and whoever stands in his way will get hurt as Moose comes out as we go to commercial.
Lashley vs Moose
They exchange strikes then Moose sends Lashley to the outside with a dropkick, following him to the outside, but Lashley drives him into the post then hits a suplex on the floor. Lashley drives his head into the steps then rolls Moose back into the ring, Lashley dropping Moose with a series of strikes in the corner. Lashley goes to the top rope, but Moose drops him with a dropkick to the outside, Moose diving out onto Lashley then putting him back into the ring. Moose hits a powerbomb then a senton for a quick 2 count, Lashley hitting a dominator for a close 2 count. Lashley hits a superplex, but Moose is right up and spears Lashley for a close 2 count of his own. They exchange strikes then Lashley spears Moose for a close 2 count, following up with a second spear, but Moose counters it and hits the Game Changer for a very close 2 count. Moose goes for Go To Hell, but Lashley hits a spear off the top rope for the pin and the win.
Winner: Lashley via pinfall
-The Tribunal are interviewed then we get the mask guys again who say they're coming tonight as we go to commercial.
-We get Eli Drake with another Fact of Life segment. Eli says he's bound for gold and starts talking about the fans to a laugh track playing in the background. Eli brings out Aron Rex who says it took him a long time to get to compete for a title and it means a lot to him. Eli says he didn't like Rex when he came in because he said some stuff and compliments him for getting and keeping the title. Rex talks about Drew Galloway and Eddie Edwards, Rex making fun of Jesse Godderz. Rex asks where to get a dummy button then Rex asks where it leaves EC3 since he's bound for gold, Drake saying EC3 is trash and will never be champion again. EC3 comes out and Drake has them go to break as we go to commercial.
-EC3 is in the ring and says he's going to destroy the set of the Eli Drake show. EC3 challenges him to a match, begging him to press the button which he does over and over while Rex tries to figure out where the sound comes from. They start fighting, Rex trying to break them up then Rex and Drake double team him until Godderz comes out and attacks Rex. They're broken up as Matt and Jeff come out, Reby playing the piano. Jeff sings his song on the ramp as they make their way to the ring.
The Hardys vs The Tribunal TNA World Championship Match
Matt and Jeff are in control as we come back as the match starts, Jeff focusing on Baraka, tagging in Matt who focuses on the arm of Baraka. The Tribunal alternate tags, but Matt tags Jeff in after Dax misses an elbow drop. Jeff goes for a Twist of Fate, but it's countered and Jeff turns it into a DDT. They go for Poetry In Motion, but Dax counters and pounds on Jeff. Dax tags Baraka in then Dax gets back in after a spike slam for a quick 2 count. Baraka gets back in and hits a leg drop then a rear chin lock, dropping him with a cross body. Baraka tags Dax back in then do a double team for a quick 2 count. Jeff hits a leg sweep then tags in Matt who bites Baraka in various parts of his body then a bulldog for a quick 2 count. Matt hits a Side Effect for another quick 2 count then Dax comes in and they get a quick 2 count. Jeff hits a Twist of of Fate on Dax then another one for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Hardys via pinfall
-The masked guys attack The Tribunal then say no one is safe and they are there to stay as Lashley comes up talks to Cody. They then recap the women's title match last week.
-Maria, Laurel and Allie come out and Maria says that there is a conspiracy in TNA because it can't handle the truth. Maria blames Allie for everything that's happened, saying she might just get rid of her. Laurel says people like Allie and the fans serve people like her and Maria. Maria tells Allie to apologize and say she's the one to blame. Allie says she's not to blame and Maria is then immediately regrets what she said. Laurel attacks her then Maria says she'll have a match with Laruel next week.
-Eddie and Lashley are backstage, Lashley saying he'll lose, Eddie saying it's all mind games and that he beat him.
Mahabali Shera vs Mike Bennett
Mike chops Shera who hits a scoop slam, Mike stomping on him in the corner then puts a rear chin lock on Shera. Shera powers out then scoops Mike a few more times, whipping him into the corner then splashes him before putting on a bear hug. Mike rakes Shera in the eyes then hits the MIP for the pin and the win.
Winner: Mike Bennett via pinfall with the Miracle In Progress
Eddie Edwards vs Cody TNA World Championship Match
They shake hands to start the match then lock up for a clean break. Cody puts a side headlock on, but Eddie powers out, dropping Cody for a quick 2 count as we go to commercial.
We come back with Eddie with a headlock on Cody then hits a shining wizard, following up with a series of strikes. Cody counters then chops Eddie in the corner, going for an armbar, but Eddie gets to the ropes. Cody goes for Cross Rhodes, but Eddie counters and sends Cody to the outside. Eddie dives out after him then tosses him back into the ring, but Cody hits The Beautiful Disaster, sending Eddie to the outside. Cody suplexes Eddie on the ramp then puts him back into the ring, Eddie hitting a chin checker for a close 2 count. Eddie goes to the top then Cody counters, hitting a muscle buster for a close 2 count. Cody goes for the American Nightmare, but Eddie counters then they exchange strikes in the center of the ring. Cody sits Eddie on the top rope then hits a suplex, Eddie rolling him up for the pin and the win out of no where.
Winner: Eddie Edwards via pinfall
