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Johnny Z, Bernie D On The Outs Again?

Posted: Jul 23rd 2009 By: CMBurnham

Ever since BLK-OUT defeated Impact, Inc. for the IZW Tag Team Titles, there seems to have been some issues between Johnny Z & Bernie D. So far those issues haven't led to anything. But might there be a bigger issue on the horizon?

In an interview posted on the IZW website, Johnny Z placed the blame for the title loss squarely in the lap of Bernie D. He called Bernie "inept" and had nothing good to say about his partner of 5 years. It seems like further evidence of dissention can be found in the FACT that when Johnny Z led Impact, Inc. into MSWA, he recruited IZW Tag Team & GPCW Wichita Mountains Champion Jermaine Johnson as his partner and didn't bring in Bernie D.

But a full-fledged falling out hasn't occurred and Impact, Inc. appeared to be functioning well when the hit the ring and attacked GPCW Champion Seth Allen and his opponent Se7en after a title defence. While Allen was able to get away, Se7en took the brunt of the beatdown until IZW & MSWA Mid-South Champion Aaron Neil came to his partner's rescue. He challenged Impact, Inc. to a tag team match right then, but GPCW commissioner J. D. Richards would not allow that match to happen. He acknowledged that Neil wanted to get his hands on Johnny Z, but said that if that was the goal, the only way it would happen that night was if he faced both members of Impact, Inc. in a Handicap Match. Neil needed little time to agree and the match was on.

In the early stages of the match, it was clear that Johnny wanted nothing to do with Aaron and he would frequently tag out, forcing Bernie to handle the brunt of this part of the match. Any time Aaron would be on the defencive, Johnny would gladly tag himself in, but as soon as Aaron started to rally, Johnny would tag out and force Bernie to handle the heavy work. This lack of co-operation eventually softened as things began to go better for Impact, Inc., but an unexpected return by Se7en spoiled things as he yanked Bernie off the ring apron while Johnny was going for a tag. Johnny then turned around and was nailed by Aaron with a spear and Aaron picked up the victory.

The next night, Johnny & Bernie both ended up in singles matches, but, as should come as no surprise to anyone, they accompanied each other to the ring. Johnny was facing IZW newcomer (and AWFUL & SWCW Champion) Kevin Morgan. Morgan used his size control a large early portion of the match, but at one point, Johnny went for a charge onto Morgan, who ducked and pulled down the top rope. This caused Johnny to sail over the top rope and land straight on Bernie. With Bernie down and Johnny trying to recover, Morgan waited until he got to the apron, then executed a suplex to bring him back in. But Bernie had the presence of mind to grab Morgan's leg, allowing Johnny to crash onto Morgan and then pin him. Again, things looked great for Impact, Inc. and Bernie was so confident that he challenged Eric Rose later on the show.

When Bernie & Johnny returned for that match, they said that Impact, Inc. was "1 and 0 for the night." This seems to have been a miscount, as fellow member Blake Albright scored a win over TOPW Oklahoma Champion Brandon Groom, but that's as may be. Bernie promised to make it "2 and 0" and seemed confident in his match against Eric Rose. Lots of outside intference by Johnny Z kept Bernie in the match longer than he might have lasted on his own volition. But again, Johnny's ego simply got in the way.

Bernie D hit an excellent Sky High on Rose and was preparing to get the pin, when Johnny Z waived him off and encouraged him to do it again. At first, Bernie seemed reluctant, but then he capitulated and began to haul Eric up for a second move. Eric turned that into a hurancanrana and held Bernie down for the 3-count. As the expressed their joy, Bernie looked dejected in the ring and Johnny Z looked unhappy as well. But it was a different unhappy. Unsupportive. Angry. Looking for someone to blame.

Impact, Inc. has seen dissention before. Last summer, a huge split occurred when Bernie D & Gary Tool left the group and feuded with the rest of the then-membership. That fued was resolved when Bernie turned on Tool in a tag team match, costing Tool his career. Could Bernie again be planning a revolt? If so, he doesn't seem to have a lot of people who would be willing to follow him. But he'd certainly be making a statement about confidence and esteem. And sometimes, that's more important than all the back-up in the locker room.

Tags: BLK-OUT, Impact, Inc., IZW, Johnny Z, Bernie D, MSWA, GPCW, Jermaine Johnson, Seth Allen, Se7en, MSWA, Aaron Neil, J. D. Richards, AWFUL, SWCW, Kevin Morgan, Blake Albright, TOPW, Brandon Groom, Eric Rose, Gary Tool