TNA Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Samoa Joe
Rob Van Dam got the pin while Joe had a Rear Naked Choke still locked in.
Ladder Match
X-Division Champion Doug Williams vs. Jeremy Buck
Jeremy Buck scored a huge upset by climbing the ladder and taking down the red X. It seems Williams has a fear of heights.
The Motor City Machines (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) & Hernandez vs. Beer Money (Robert Roode & James Storm) & Matt Morgan
Robert Roode pinned Alex Shelley with a handful of tights.
Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
Hardy got the pinfall after hitting the Twist of Fate.
Other highlights:
Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy talked things out in the ring at the start of the show. Even though they would be facing one another later in the show.
Angelina Love called out Madison Rayne after the match. Rayne suggested Love put her career on the line at Victory Road on Sunday. Love agreed, but planned ahead. She said she had met with the Championship Committee and if Lacey Von Erich or Velvet Skye interfere in the match in any way that Rayne would be DQ’d and Love would become the Knockouts Champion.
Devon was in the ring with Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore and called out Brother Ray. After going through a bunch of Jesse’s history Devon asked Ray what his problem with Jesse was. Ray started off by saying he doesn’t answer to Devon, and that he is Brother Ray, the leader of Team 3D. Ray went on to say how his problem is now with Devon because he is not a loyal partner. He went on to say that at Victory Road it would be Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal vs. Devon in a Three-Way Dance.
There was a public service announcement from Alex Shelly speaking out against Beer Money…Paid for by The Motor City Machine Guns and The Beer Money Are A Couple Of Tools Foundation.
Jay Lethal was in the ring talking about his upcoming match with Ric Flair at Victory Road, and to his mother who is apparently sick when Flair came out to interupt. Flair went on one of his usual rants trying to get into Lethal’s head.
After the Hardy-Anderson match out came Abyss carrying his new toy. (The 2X4 with hundreds of nails in it.) The ref got it away from him which allowed Anderson and Hardy to get the upper hand briefly. Abyss recovered and got a hold of the 2X4. He swung it at Anderson who ducked out of the way. It got stuck in the turnbuckle pad. Anderson grabbed the chair he had brought to ringside with him and crept up behind Hardy who was behind Abyss. He yelled for Jeff to move and hit Abyss with the chair. Out came Rob Van Dam. He took the chair from Anderson and hit the Van Daminator (Threw the chair for Abyss to catch and then hit the chair with a spinning round kick.) on Abyss. The three then stood int he ring celebrating. RVD and Hardy shook hands, then RVD and Anderson shook hands, but Anderson pulled him in close to remind him that Sunday they would be opponents.
It was a pretty good show leading into the Victory Road PPV this weekend. Built up just enough curiosity to get people to watch. It should really be a good PPV too. The Joe-RVD match was one of the best that has been on TV in a long time. I am sure it is the first in quite a few great matches between the two.
To open the show Abyss was on the ramp throwing steel chairs into the ring. It was a scene similar but on a smaller scale then that memorable scene that took place in ECW at one point. Before he got a bunch in the ring out came Hulk Hogan. He got in the ring and told Abyss to get in and fight him. Eric Bischoff came out to try and stop it though. Hogan got Bischoff to stand aside, but then security got in the middle. Then Bischoff got face to face with Abyss and smacked him while calling him an ungrateful bastard. Abyss took out the security guys and went after Bischoff, but Hogan hit him from behind with a chair. It didn’t phase him at all, he turned to Hogan and got another chair shot which also had no affect. Abyss was about to go after Hogan, but out came Jeff Hardy who took out Abyss briefly. The three of them left Abyss in the ring. As Mike Tenay and Taz moved on with the show Abyss walked over to the announce table. he pointed at Taz and did the “YOU!” thing. Taz threw his headset off and was prepared to fight, but security got involved again.
During the commercial Abyss continued tearing things up in the back. Hogan and Bischoff began talking about how they can cut him out of the company. Hardy demanded a match with him tonight and got it.
The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs. Ink, Inc. (Shannon Moore & Jesse Neal)
It was a decent match. Halfway through Devon came out and sat at the announce table. He said he wasn’t going to let Brother Ray interfere in the match. When Ray started to come out to the ring Devon stopped him and they began to argue. It was enough of a distraction though to allow Sabin and Shelley to set Neal up for a great double team move and get the pin.
Bischoff came out to officially announce the main event match as Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy. He did add a twist though. The special guest referee would be TNA Champion Rob Van Dam.
Next out was A.J. Styles accompanied by Ric Flair and Kazarian in a suit.
A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe
As usual, these two put on a great match. It ended with Joe slapping on the Coquina Clutch and Styles tapping out.
Flair was not at all happy, and the three of them held the all to familiar conversation they have been having for weeks in the middle of the ring. As Flair and Kaz walked up the ramp A.J. grabbed a mic. He told Kaz that he’d beat him like a crying little girl in the ring. He then challenged Kaz to a match next week. After asking Flair’s permission they agreed to the match.
To the back where Hogan and Bischoff were trying to convince Dixie Carter into taking some sort of action against Sting. She agreed after a bit of coaxing.
Desmond Wolfe vs. Brian Kendrick
Wolfe’s disagreement with Chelsea continued. Doug Williams came out to the announce table, but didn’t get involved at all. Wolfe told Chelsea that if she didn’t like it she should do something about it. She did, she walked back up the ramp in the middle of the match. It was enough of a distraction that Kendrick was able to slap on the Cobra Clutch and make Wolfe tap out.
The Pope D’angelo Dinero got a warm welcome back to the iMPACT! Zone. It basically brought him to tears, because as he said it is moments like this that let him know that it is worth it every time he gets into the ring. After he was done talking and saying he was at about 80% right now, out came Kurt Angle. Angle pointed out that their paths have crossed in his Top Ten battle. They will face one another at Victory Road. So much for the accelerated schedule. He will have to wait to Victory Road to move up any further.
After the break we reviewed the Jay Lethal – Ric Flair storyline. Then out came Jay Lethal to call out Styles and Flair, but he was interrupted by Matt Morgan coming out for their scheduled match. Morgan pointed out how Flair asked him to become part of Fortune.
Matt Morgan vs. Jay Lethal
Morgan controlled most of the match. He then sent Lethal out to the floor. As the ref checked on Lethal, Hernandez came down to the ring and behind Morgan. He hit him with a low-blow just as Morgan had done to him last week. Lethal took advantage of it and got the pin on Morgan.
To the back where Abyss was making a new toy. He was hammering nails into a 2X4. As he walked off carrying it he said, “This looks like it is going to hurt someone!” It certainly did! Now let’s see if Dreamer & Friends head down to ringside during the match before the Abyss match again.
TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne vs. Taylor Wilde
Madison Rayne wound up winning the match which was overshadowed by Dreamer’s entrance. Angelina Love came out after the match with a chair and drove it into Rayne’s midsection.
Sure enough, during the match Tommy Dreamer, Raven, and Stevie Richards headed down to their regular seats. As I stated last week, Rhyno can’t be far behind, and there he was with them! Once the fans spotted them they began chanting E-C-W! Finally they realize!
After the break we saw Serita in the back attacking what is now apparently her former tag team partner Taylor Wilde. Security eventually made it back there to break them up.
Dixie Carter finally tracked down Sting. She suspended him without pay for 30 days. Bischoff showed up with security to interrupt. Sting walked off and said to just make his suspension indefinite.
Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy
IT was a pretty good main event. In the end Hardy hit the Swanton Bomb and got the three count. After the match though Abyss beat both Hardy and RVD down. He then went in search of his new toy. Before he could use it out came Mr. Anderson with a chair. He hit the 2X4 with the chair and sent it flying. He then hit Abyss with the chair once, but as he wound up for a second time Abyss ducked out of the way and Anderson hit Hardy with the chair instead. The show ended with Abyss as the only one standing in the ring.
Hulk Hogan came out to start the show. He pointed out that the main event at the Victory Road PPV would now be a 4-way match for the TNA Title. Champion Rob Van Dam would be defending against Jeff Hardy, Abyss, and Mr. Anderson. As he moved on to address what Abyss did last week, out came Abyss. Abyss said that everything would change once “They” arrived. He said how they told him he doesn’t need the fans or Hogan anymore. Abyss then attacked Hogan and stuffed the Hall of Fame ring into his mouth. He also dumped out a bag full of broken glass. Out came RVD to put a stop to it. When Abyss got the upper hand out came Mr. Anderson. He hit Abyss with a chair a few times, but it had no affect. Hogan, RVD, and Anderson then left the ring. This all led to the main event match being Mr. Anderson vs. Abyss in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Velvet Skye vs. Angelina Love
This match ended the same way Angelina’s match with Lacey Von Erich ended last week. She DDT’d Velvet into a steel chair and left he laying in the ring. Velvet wins via disqualification.
Out next was Matt Morgan to call out Hernandez, but only because he knew Hernandez was in Mexico. After Morgan bad mouthed him a bit Homicide came out and attacked him from behind. Morgan beat him down in the end though.
Kazarian vs. Jay Lethal
Lethal kept his winning streak going by beating Kaz. While the match was going on however Ric Flair and A.J. Styles were in the back attacking Lethal’s brother who had come for a visit. While Lethal was celebrating Flair came on the screen to let him know what was going on in the back. Lethal took off looking for them in the back.
Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting
After Jarrett came to the ring Sting’s music began to play, but there was no Icon in sight. Then Sting was spotted up in the rafters. Jarrett went up after him. They fought as they came down the steps and headed back to the ring. As Jarrett had dragged him half way back to the ring the camera showed Sting was actually standing in the ring and the guy Jarrett was beating on really wasn’t Sting. Jarrett realized a bit too late and the real Sting came up behind him and put the bat across his throat. He then beat on him a bit with the bat. He left Jarrett laying in the ring, but not before saying “If you’re going to walk with them, you’re gonna go down with them.”
Apparently they want to up the time table as to when Kurt Angle will get a title shot. Instead of waiting to Victory Road to have #10 Kurt Angle face #9 Desmond Wolfe they are doing it tonight. At this rate it should give him his title shot at the August PPV. As long as he faces one a week and one at Victory Road.
Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe
Wolfe was too preoccupied with yelling at Chelsea throughout the match which gave Angle opening after opening to regain control of the match. Angle countered an attempt at the Tower of London and turned it into an Olympic Slam. He followed it up with the Ankle Lock to which Wolfe tapped out pretty quickly. As Angle took control at the end Chelsea got a big smirk on her face which turned to a huge smile when Wolfe tapped out.
Next out in the ring was X-Division Champion Doug Williams. He called Brian Kendrick out. Kendrick came out to explain their match at Victory Road. Apparently it is going to be an Ultimate X match, but it can also end by submission. Williams suggested they just walk away and conclude their affairs at Victory Road. Then Williams suddenly attacked, Kendrick saw it coming and reversed it and put the Cobra Clutch on Willaims.
After the commercial we go right to the back where we see Jesse Neal laying motionless while Shannon Moore is beating on Brother Ray. Security finally broke it up, but then out came Devon to pull security off of Ray. Devon then grabbed Ray and yelled at him a bit.
TNA Tag Team Tournament Finals
Beer Money (James Storm & Robert Roode) vs. Ink, Inc. (Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore)
Moore came out by himself since Neal was laid out in the back. Jesse would eventually make his way to the ring. Shortly after the match began Tommy Dreamer started walking through the crowd again. This time however he was not alone! Right behind him was a couple more familiar faces, Raven and Stevie Richards. Back to the in ring action…Beer Money hit the DUI and got the pin. They will now face The Motor City Machine Guns for the TNA Tag Team Titles at Victory Road.
Well if you ask me the “They” Abyss was referring to is probably Dreamer, Raven, Richards, and whatever else ECW talent they have convinced to come back to the ring. I am hoping and hoping Sabu is on the list. Balls Mahoney and Rhyno probably aren’t far behind. Taz keeps saying how Dreamer isn’t returning his calls, but I also hope that Taz gets in with the group, if only for support.
Interestingly enough Dreamer, Raven, and Richards were still sitting in the crowd for this next match.
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Abyss vs. Mr. Anderson
They used a chair and a Kendo Stick but didn’t go further than right outside the ring. Anderson went to the top rope to try for a Swanton Bomb, but Abyss got his knees up. Abyss hit a Shock Treatment backbreaker and got the pin. Abyss took Anderson up the entrance ramp to the stage. Once there he Chokeslammed Anderson off the stage. As Abyss stood there looking down on Mr. Anderson out came Hulk Hogan carrying a steel chair. It didn’t phase Abyss one bit. As he turned security came out to break it up really quickly.
Not a bad show really. Again, I can’t wait to see who else joins the ECW Reunion. Maybe Paul E. will even make an appearence.
Odd how Kurt Angle is suddenly in the opening match of a PPV. It either means they don’t think he is full back yet, or the show is so jam packed with great matches that they wanted to start off big and stay that way. Regardless, it is great to see Angle back in the ring.
Kazarian has let things with Ric Flair go to his head too much. He showboated a bit and wasted a lot of time repeatedly that kept giving Angle a chance to recuperate. At one point he raised his leg backwards to deliver a low blow. The referee was about to disqualify him, but Angle convinced him to let the match go on because he didn’t want to win like that.Wow, this was such a good match. If this is a sign of how the rest of the show is going to go then it might turn into the PPV of the year. They battled back and forth again and again. Kaz managed to block every attempt at the Olympic Slam and the Ankle Lock. The thing it, it only takes Angle locking it on once. He did indeed lock in the Ankle Lock and kept Kaz away from the ropes long enough to make him tap out. Welcome back Kurt Angle!
X-Division Championship Match
Champion Doug Williams vs. Brian Kendrick
Well they can’t ALL be top of the line matches like Angle-Kazarian. All in all it was a decent match. Williams retains his title after hitting a Tornado DDT from the middle rope and getting the pin.
During the first two matches of the night I saw so many suplexes that I began to wish that The Human Suplex Machine could put on his orange and black and get in the ring rather than just call the matches.
TNA Knockouts Championship Match
Champion Madison Rayne vs. Roxxi
After Madison talked way too long she asked Roxxi to put her career on the line if she were to lose the match. As Roxxi was agreeing Madison hit her in the head with the mic. It busted her wide open. Roxxi is almost as big a bleeder as Ric Flair is! the blood was just pouring from her forehead. Roxxi was controlling most of the match, but then Rayne got a quick three count to win the match. This apparently put an end to Roxxi’s TNA career…unless of course we suddenly see a masked knockout make her debut.
Jesse Neal vs. Brother Ray
Before the match started Ray decided to call it all off and apologize to everyone. As they walked back up the ramp together he turned and attacked Neal and threw him into the ring. the match would go on after Ray had the ref send Devon to the back. Ray had everything under control until all of a sudden in the crowd was an old friend. It was The Innovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer! It provided enough of a distraction that Neal was able to get the upper hand and pin Brother Ray for the win.
It is great to see Dreamer coming to TNA. If given the chance we will see that “He’s Still Got It!” Just be prepared, things are probably about to get a little more bloodier in TNA. It is strange because it was just a few hours before I watched this PPV that I was wondering if anyone from ECW would wind up in TNA since the WWE killed off the brand again. Dreamer joins quite a few other ECW alum in TNA. I just hope they let them be extreme again. With RVD in the company they could probably convince Sabu to come back too. Imagine a Fatal 4-Way Barbed Wire match with RVD, Sabu, Dreamer, and maybe Abyss if Mick Foley or Taz can’t be involved.
When it was time for the Matt Morgan – Hernandez match out came Morgan with a doctor’s note and a neck brace saying he couldn’t compete tonight. Before he got back up the ramp though, out came Hernandez to attack and drag him back to the ring. After the ref continually tried to get Super Mex to stop choking Morgan with a shirt, Hernandez lost his temper and grabbed the ref and tossed him across the ring. The match ended with him being disqualified. He went right back after Morgan outside the ring. He set up Morgan’s head against the ring post and was about to land a kick on his head, Morgan pulled referee Brian Hebner into the way and he took the full brunt of the kick right to his ribs. Morgan then ran off, and Hernandez followed back up the ramp. Other refs rushed out to help Hebner.
Monster’s Ball Match
Desmond Wolfe accompanied by Chelsea vs. Abyss
This match is bound to end with Chelsea helping Abyss win. Oh! Imagine a Monster’s Ball match instead of the barbed wire match I was hoping for earlier. Shortly after the match started Abyss pulled out a board with barbed wire attached to it. He set it up in the corner where someone would surely be landing later. At one point Wolfe pulled out a teddy bear wrapped in barbed wire. After he used it to hit Abyss with, Abyss knocked Wolfe down. He went and gave the teddy bear to Chelsea. Next he pulled out the bag full of broken glass. Wolfe decided it was time to leave, and held Chelsea in front of him as a shield until he had a chance to grab a Kendo Stick. The fight made its way up to the announce table. As he swung the Kendo Stick again Abyss reached out and grabbed him for a Chokeslam. He slammed him right through the floor in front of the announce table. Then Abyss dragged him back to the ring. This entire time Chelsea was still holding on to the teddy bear. Abyss then retrieved the board with barbed wire on it and laid it on the mat. He hoisted Wolfe onto the corner turnbuckle and attempted to Superplex him onto the board. Wolfe fought him off and hit a sort of Sunset Flip which slammed Abyss down onto the board, entangling him in the barbed wire. He went for a pin, but Abyss got a shoulder up. Abyss’s arms were all bloody again. Wolfe then slammed Abyss face first into the pile of broken glass. He was bleeding profusely now. Wolfe screamed for Chelsea to give her the purse. She did reluctantly, but then there were no Brass Knuckles in it. Then suddenly she tossed them over Wolfe’s head and right to Abyss. He landed a big punch and hit the Black Hole Slam followed by the pin. As I said before the match, Chelsea helped Abyss win the match. Chelsea walked off still clutching the teddy bear. A MUCH better match than I was expecting. Abyss puts his body on the line every time he steps into the ring. It would be nice to have a Monster’s Ball opponent that will do the same and bleed a bit.
A.J. Styles with Ric Flair vs. Jay Lethal
This was a great X-Division type match that was fun to watch. It is great to see the new management using Lethal in the ring again instead of as a Macho Man knockoff. Flair used his jacket to choke Lethal at one point, but other than that it was a classic X-Division match. Something that TNA needs more of! Then Styles poked Lethal in the eye which gave him a chance to slap on the Figure-Four Leglock. Lethal managed to get to the ropes and break the hold. As he went for the Styles Clash Lethal countered with a Half Nelson into a Suplex. He pinned him, but Flair dragged A.J.’s leg under the rope. Lethal then put on a Figure-Four of his own. Styles got to the ropes to break it, but not before the damage was done. As Styles was regaining control he started to climb the ropes but his knee gave out and he fell and smacked his head on the turnbuckle. As A.J. climbed the ropes again and leaped off Lethal caught him and in one single motion hit a Northern Lights Suplex into the pin. Winner Jay Lethal!
Flair was not at all happy. As he started to approach A.J. out came Kazarian to try and stop things from escalating. Flair and Kaz then left the ring with A.J. sitting in the corner all alone.
Beer Money (Robert Roode & James Storm) vs. Mr. Anderson & Jeff Hardy
After battling for a while Storm was about to hit a kick, but Anderson grabbed him from the floor. Hardy hit a Stunner and then a Swanton Bomb on Roode. As referee Slick Johnson was counting Storm dragged him out of the ring and then collapsed to the floor to make it look like it wasn’t him. It was an act that would have made Eddie Guerrero proud. Johnson thought it was Anderson and began yelling at him and walking him back to his corner. This gave Beer Money a chance to double team Hardy. Beer Money kept control of the match from that point, just not allowing Hardy to get the tag to Anderson. Finally there was a small opening where he went for the Whisper in the Wind, but Roode moved out of the way. As Roode lifted him from the mat Hardy hit another Stunner and then got to the corner to make the tag. At this point the match broke down, everyone was flying everywhere. Storm eventually hit the Eye of the Storm on Hardy. They then were trying to hit the Last Call on bloody Anderson, but Hardy pushed Storm out of the ring without Roode noticing. As he hoisted Anderson over Hardy caught him and pushed him back over. Roode had no clue what was going on and turned to look, only to see Hardy standing there. Then Anderson grabbed him and hit The Mic Check and got the pin. Anderson called for his mic to come down. He announced the winner of the match, “Jeffrey Nero Hardy………Hardy”, then Hardy took the mic and announced “and the other winner of the match, Mr. Anderson…..Anderson” He also wished TNA a happy anniversary.
TNA Heavyweight Championship Match
Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Sting
This match wound up outside the ring soon after it started. This seemed to give Sting an advantage for a while. Sting kept control of things when they got back in the ring too. Finally RVD mounted a comeback using his biggest assets, his flexibility and kicks. Earl Hebner accidentally got hit in the eye. This led to hi wandering into harm’s way as RVD came off the top rope with a Flying Cross Body Block. Sting moved and Hebner got laid out. Sting went and grabbed his bat. Then all of a sudden Jeff Jarrett came down the entrance ramp. He took the bat and hit Sting in the face with it. RVD hit a Rolling Thunder and went for the pin, but Sting kicked out at two. After a few missed moves, RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash and got the three count to retain his title.
This is how a pay-per-view should go! Not even Wrestlemania does a PPV as good as this (mostly). From top to bottom it was one great match after another. The only exception was probably the Doug Williams – Brian Kendrick match. I admit I wandered off to get some chips shortly after that one started. I give them credit though, the part I watched of that match turned out to be decent. I loved how they piled so many Suplexes into the first two matches.
Even the Knockouts match was very good for a second straight PPV, let’s see the WWE do that. The problem with the last two Knockouts Title matches at the PPVs is the reason they were both very good wound up losing the match and their TNA careers in the matches. If TNA keeps letting the Taras who actually do Moonsaults and wrestle in matches, and the Roxxis who will continue on through the profusely bleeding forehead and the Knockouts Division will soon look like The Divas division.
So, in review, even though it was an amazing PPV TNA has to grow from this point to keep things going in the right direction. They need more all out wrestling matches like the Angle-Kazarian match, more Knockouts wrestling and putting it all out there, more exciting X-Division type matches like the A.J. – Lethal match, more people willing to put their bodies on the line like Abyss for a Monster’s Ball match.
Enter Tommy Dreamer, apparently he was the big surprise Dixie Carter Tweeted about earlier in the week. He is the perfect type of wrestler to put into a Monster’s Ball match with Abyss. Unlike Desmond Wolfe he too will get tangled in the barbed wire, land face first in the broken glass…and all the while love every minute of it.
On the horizon is the probably additions of people like Shelton Benjamin (and Charlie Haas on his coattails). Maybe even Mickie James, even though she won’t really fill that void left by Tara and Roxxi.
Also possibly coming soon… How do you make Team 3D relevant again? Well you put them in a battle with The Nasty Boys, of course. No wait, that didn’t work one bit, and everyone should have known it wouldn’t before they did it. Why not try breaking them up for a bit and have them fight one another in the ring? Yep, I am pretty sure we will see Brother Devon and Brother Ray facing off against one another in the middle of the ring at the next PPV.
The show started off with A.J. Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Beer Money, and Kazarian coming to the ring without Ric Flair. They started talking about how they found out that there was an 8-man tag match tonight. Styles pointed out how Kazarian didn’t count. Then out came Jay Lethal as Ric Flair. He really does do a great impersonation of him. After a bit we found out his partners were Abyss and Mr. Anderson. They rushed the ring, but the numbers game let the other five take control. Then Jeff Hardy came out of the crowd to turn the tide.
Brian Kendrick vs. Homicide
Homicide tried bringing in a weapon, the ref stopped him, but it gave Kendrick a big enough opening to hit a Super Kick and get the pin.
Next up we see Jesse Neal getting into it with Brother Ray. They moved it into the ring after the commercial. Neal was accusing him of being the one laying him and Shannon Moore out and leaving a card on them. He denied it of course. Shannon Moore finally spoke and wound up calling Devon, Brother Ray’s puppet. Devon kept a level head and gave him a pass because he was Jesse’s partner. Devon then turned and told Ray he needed to get his head on straight and leave Jesse alone. Devon then walked out of the ring. Ray took the opportunity to attack Jesse from behind and then run off.
They showed the entire Jeff Jarrett – Sting match from Sacrifice because Jarrett was going to be commenting about Sting later in the show.
To the back with Eric Bischoff telling Matt Morgan he will find out who his tag team partner was going to be at Slammiversary. Hulk Hogan was waiting at the ring entrance to tell him who it was.
First it was time for Jarrett’s comments. He said he would get his revenge, but not for quite some time. He still had his arm in a sling.
Out came Matt Morgan, then Hulk Hogan to tell him who his partner was going to be. His partner was going to be Hernandez who was returning from injury. Super-Mex looked better than ever. He charged the ring and dove over the top rope at Morgan. Hernandez controlled all the action. It ended with him choking Morgan out with his shirt. Hogan announced that at Slammiversary they would have a match. As they were strapping Morgan to a back board out came The Band who was supposed to be defending their belts against Morgan and Hernandez tonight. When they got to the ring the ref rang the bell and Eric Young pinned Morgan while he was strapped to the board. So much for Morgan’s return match.
To the back for an interview with Rob Van Dam. Sting came in and attacked him from behind. He left him laid out and walked off with the TNA Heavywieght Title over his shoulder.
Kurt Angle was in the ring for his first match since returning. His opponent was Amazing Red. It was supposed to be a tune up match for his match at Slammiversary against Kazarian. Red put up a pretty good fight and even got a couple of two counts. In the end Angle hit the Olympic Slam and got the pin. He then checked to make sure Red was ok and raised his hand.
To the back where Sting talked about lifting the veil so everyone can see the truth after he wins the belt at Slammiversary. He said the big word around here is deception. He actually painted it on the title belt.
After a big Slammiversary commercial it was time for another actual commercial.
8-Man Tag Team Match
A.J. Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Robert Roode, James Storm vs. Jay Lethal, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson, Abyss with Chelsea
This match went on and on. In the end it came down to the usual one person hits their big move, then an opponent comes in and hits their own on that person. As it cycled through Lethal launched himself into the ring, but Styles caught him and hit the Styles Clash and followed it with the pin.
To the back where Sting was taunting RVD a bit more. After the commercial Sting attacked RVD from behind. RVD finally turned it around. The fight went out to a concession stand, then below the bleachers, and eventually out towards the ringside area. They battled back and forth for a while. In the end Sting came out on top and laid the belt on RVD, telling him the belt was his until Sunday at Slammiversary.
Slammiversary is shaping up to be a pretty good pay-per-view. We will have to wait and see if that is true. Dixie Carter tweeted about having a big surprise for Slammiversary. I wonder what it could be? Maybe J.R. has landed, or perhaps it could be whoever left the cards on Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore? Or perhaps it could be someone who recently had his name moved to the alumni page at WWE.com after quitting during an episode of Raw? That would be nice, and really how hard would it be for Ric Flair to talk Batista into heading south? Again, we will have to wait and see. I just hope this surprise can live up to the hype.
The show started off with Sting coming out to the ring to talk. He pointed out how his actions have meanings and that soon enough everyone would know those meanings. He went on to say how when he takes the title away from Rob Van Dam at Slammiversary that everyone’s true colors will be shown.
Out came Eric Bischoff with a crutch under one arm. He told Sting how he is his own problem, not everyone else, and how he puts himself ahead of TNA, and everyone else. Then he said how the fans wanted to see Sting wrestle, and that his opponent was right behind him. As he started saying that the fans were chanting “Joe’s Gonna Kill You!” Sure enough it was Samoa Joe standing behind him.
As they began to fight out came Matt Morgan to jump Joe from behind. Soon after that out came RVD to help Joe. After it all broke down Bischoff explained how it wasn’t over yet. He made a tag match for the main event Sting and Morgan vs. Joe and RVD. At this point RVD grabbed a mic and suggested it be a 4-Way rather than a tag match. Bischoff said he didnt have the power to do that (since when?). He said he’d have to talk to Hogan, and sure enough out came Hogan. Hogan agreed to make the match a 4-way like RVD wanted.
After a commercial it was into the back with A.J. Styles complaining about just finding out that he had a 3-Way match with Kazarian and Jay Lethal.
Out to the ring finally (now 20 minutes into the show)…
Roxxi vs. Rosey Lotta Love
Madison Rayne came out and hit Roxxi in the back with her belt and then started screaming for Rosey to beat her. This caused a distraction to Rosey who was then rolled up by Roxxi for the pin.
Rayne then got in the ring and was not happy with Rosey. Rosey eventually grabbed her for a two-handed Chokeslam and left the ring. J.B. was there to interview her on her way out. She said how she would take on all of the Beautiful People at once. She ended the interview with what must be her tagline “I’m a whole lot of Rosey” and kissed J.B.
3-Way Match
A.J. Styles vs. Kazarian vs. Jay Lethal
It really is good to see Jay Lethal wrestling as Jay Lethal. At the start of the match Kazarian told Styles he could handle Lethal, so A.J. stepped out of the ring and down to the floor. Lethal took control right away, and when Styles saw an opening he attacked. Their bickering continued on and on. Each time it gave Lethal an opening to take control of the match. At one point Kazarian and Styles started going back and forth trying to outdo one another with a move. Their bickering once again allowed Lethal to recover briefly. Then Styles told Kazarian to step aside and see how it’s done. He told he was going to springboard off the rope and hit him with an elbow. As he tried though, Kazarian leaned on the rope causing Styles to fall flat in the ring. This allowed Lethal to shove Styles into Kazarian and into the corner, then rolled up Styles for the pin.
After the match Ric Flair told A.J. to go home and decide if he wants to be a champion or not. As Styles was leaving out came Kurt Angle. Styles walked right by him and Angle headed to the ring.
Angle grabbed a mic and said he came out to show Kazarian the proper respect before he becomes his first victim. He explained how his quest back to the TNA title will start with #10 Kaz at Slammiversary. Then Flair grabbed the mic to point out how much better he is in PRO wrestling than Angle is. He told him that until he feels the proper respect from Angle that he should leave the ring to with Styles. As Angle actually turned to leave Flair told him to hold on. He told Angle that he will actually leave first while Angle holds the rope for him. He just had to push his luck. Angle did hold the rope open for him, but as Flair began to style and profile up the ramp he grabbed him from behind and threw him off the ramp. Kaz then attacked Angle from behind, but Angle put a stop to that quickly. Flair then threw his normal tantrum.
To the back with Morgan talking strategy with Sting who walked away from him. Then after the commercial in the back with A.J. trying to figure out what he needed to do to get back in good with Flair. He figured out he needed to kill Jay Lethal and that he’d get a match at Slammiversary against him.
Then in the ring was Christy Hemme to introduce Mr. Anderson who apparently had a big announcement about his match at Slammiversary. He was a bit too distracted by Christy Hemme’s body to talk. After he got the crowd chanting “We Are Assholes” he said “This is going to be a censor’s nightmare.” Now on to his announcement. He said how Beer Money had a big blank next to their name for Slammiversary so he stepped up and put his name in the blank, but couldn’t do it himself. His partner was Jeff Hardy. Jeff pointed out why he was tagging up with Anderson..He is the funniest asshole he had ever met.
Out came Beer Money to interrupt. After Roode talked for a while the comedy ensued. Of course that led to Beer Money attacking, and security coming out to break it all up. Of course once they did break it up it was time for James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy.
James Storm vs. Jeff Hardy
They went back and forth quite a bit. In the end Storm tried swinging a chair at Hardy, but Hardy ducked. The chair bounced off the ropes and hit Storm in the head. Hardy hit the Twist of Fate followed by the Swanton Bomb and the pin.
Robert Roode vs. Mr. Anderson
This match wasn’t quite as long. In the end Anderson went for a Sunset Flip but Roode dropped down and at first hooked a leg, but then opted to grab the rope and got the pin.
Anderson called for his mic after the match. He just wanted to point out that he lost again, but that his opponents can only beat him by cheating. He said that is because he is no mere mortal, he is Mr…and he let the fans scream Anderson.
Next up…
Desmond Wolfe & Orlando Jordan vs. Rob Terry & Abyss (with Chelsea)
Jordan was checking out Chelsea, she slapped him. Then Wolfe yelled at both of them. Abyss attacked Wolfe while he was distracted and began beating on him outside the ring. Meanwhile Rob Terry dragged Jordan into the ring, hit him with a Chokeslam and got the pin.
After a commercial we see Jesse Neal laid out in the back with an Ace of Spades on his chest, just like Shannon Moore was seen last week. The mystery was who knocked them out and left the cards?
4-Way Match
Matt Morgan vs. Sting vs. Samoa Joe vs. Rob Van Dam
Sting wandered off at some point. While Matt Morgan was hitting RVD with elbows in the corner he spotted what looked like Hernandez in the crowd. This provided a distraction and Joe took advantage. He hit a Musclebuster but before he had a chance to pin Morgan, RVD hit him with a kick from the top rope. RVD then hit a 5-Star Frog Splash on Morgan and got the three count.
After the match Joe and RVD were face to face and Joe was not happy.
TNA iMPACT!
Episode Title: The Enigma & The A..H….
The show started off with Jeff Hardy calling out Mr. Anderson to ask him why he did what he did last week. As they talked out came A.J. Styles to complain about Mr. Anderson requesting a match with him tonight.
Triple Threat Tag Team Match
Ink, Inc. (Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore) vs. Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon) vs. The Band (Eric Young & one of the other two. We never got to see if it was Scott Hall or Kevin Nash because they didn’t get in the match.)
Devon was still unhappy with the way Brother Ray was acting. Ray grabbed a chair and was about to use it, but Devon grabbed it away from him. This distraction allowed Neal to hit a Spear on Ray and get the pin as The Band stood by and watched happily.
To the back where Ric Flair was talking to Kazarian. They were interrupted by A.J. Styles who was jealous that Flair was talking to Kazarian and not him. He was preparing Kaz for his match against Jay Lethal.
Jay Lethal vs. Kazarian
With Flair at ringside Lethal decided to put on the Figure-Four Leglock which did not make Flair happy. Flair went crazy trying to encourage Kaz to get to the ropes to break the hold. He did get to them with no help from Flair. After the hold was broken Lethal got distracted by Flair which allowed Kaz to roll him up from behind and get the three count with a handful of tights.
After the match Lethal and Kaz got back into it. He took Kaz out, but Flair was right there to attack. Lethal recovered and took back control, clotheslining Flair to the floor. Then out came Styles to attack. While he was beating on Lethal, Kaz shoved him out of the way. The two began to fight until Lethal hit them both with a single dropkick.
Abyss vs. Orlando Jordan
Chelsea got run over during the action. When Abyss went to check on her out came Desmond Wolfe. He hit Abyss over the back with a lead pipe. Wolfe and Jordan threw him back in the ring and began beating on him. Out came Rob Terry to even things up. Once Wolfe ran off Abyss went and carried Chelsea to the back whild Terry continued to beat on Jordan.
Out next was TNA Heavyweight Champion Rob Van Dam to call out Sting. Sting was up in the rafters to respond.
These HD clips in the back of discussions or people getting ready for a match are getting annoying.
To the back where Christy Hemme tells Roxxi she has a title shot at Slammiversary against Madison Rayne.
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Match
Champions The Beautiful People (Velvet Skye & Lacey Von Erich) vs. Taylor Wilde & Sarita
They finally got some skimpier outfits for Wilde and Sarita. Wow, they are getting Lacey to “embrace” her legacy. She finished off the match with a Claw hold into a Claw Slam (Chokeslam, but with a claw instead of a choke.)
After the match Puppet (a midget wrestler there to advertise the new Spike TV show Half Pint Brawlers) went into the ring and was high-fiving with the Beautiful People. Then as Velvet when to leave the ring he smacked her on the ass. She was furious. She backed him into Madison Rayne who then hit a DDT on him. Lacey went to check on him and he pulled her down to the mat with him and they started rolling around on the mat and “making out”. Lacey got up happy and finally left the ring.
Next Kurt Angle came out to sit at the announce table for the next match.
Desmond Wolfe vs. Jeff Hardy
Hardy went for a Moonsault off the top rope, but instead took out the ref with his one foot. Wolfe took advantage of the ref being down and out. He pulled out some sort of slapjack and hit Hardy in the head with it. He then followed it with the pinfall.
I was upset when Taz said “I don’t know what that is” when he saw Wolfe pulling it out. I was expecting a Yambag comment for sure!
Back from the commercial and Matt Morgan was in the ring to talk. He gave an open invitation to anyone in the back to come out and be his tag partner at Slammiversary. When no one came out he told “the little bald guy to come to the ring”. He was referring to Kurt Angle. Angle went to the ring as Morgan kept talking to him as if he were some nobody. They finally began fighting but security broke it up right away. Then out came Samoa Joe and Morgan ran from the ring.
Joe then spun around and got nose to nose with Angle, but Angle walked away before anything happened.
A.J. Styles vs. Mr. Anderson
Anderson (sorry had to do it)
After a pretty good match A.J. rolled Anderson up for the pin. He used a handful of tights and had a foot over the ropes to do it though.
After the match Anderson got his mic to come down and questioned A.J.’s victory. He then attacked A.J. which brought out Beer Money. They beat on him briefly. Then Jeff Hardy’s music began to play. He came down with a steel chair and cleared the ring. Hardy and Anderson finally shook hands once it was all over.
Six total matches. Overall it wasn’t that good of a show. Hardy and Anderson as a tag team has some potential though. Could be fun to watch. Nice to see Lacey using a claw, now if she could just master a dropkick like Kevin’s. I hope Kurt Angle gets started with his matches against the Top Ten soon. It would be good to see him back in the ring finally.
Show started off with Eric Bischoff coming out to the ring, but not before Mike Tenay announced that Kurt Angle was returning to TNA tonight. Woohoo, welcome back Kurt. Bischoff was out there to announce the Top 10 Contenders for the TNA Heavyweight Championship.
Here is the Top 10 he announced.
#10: Samoa Joe
#9: TNA Global Champion Rob Terry
#8: Desmond Wolfe
#7: The Pope Deangelo Dinero
#6: The Monster Abyss
#5: Mr. Anderson
#4: Jeff Hardy
#3: A.J. Styles
#2: Kurt Angle
#1: Sting
Bischoff explained how Sting would get a title shot at Slammiversary. He also announced that Sting would be facing Jeff Hardy later in the night. Sting attacked Bischoff with the bat, Abyss came in but Sting took him out too. Then Hardy came in and grabbed the bat out of Sting’s hand. They faced off in the ring for a minute or two with Sting getting the upper hand. Then Rob Van Dam made his way to the ring. During the distraction Hardy hit a Backstabber type move and then a variation of the Twist of Fate. As he climbed to the top rope Sting rolled out of the ring.
Roxxi made her return to TNA after recovering from breaking her ankle in two places during a match back on New Year’s Eve. So, of course it makes since that her first match is against TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne.
Roxxi vs. Madison Rayne
Roxxi showed very little ring rust! Out of nowhere she hit Rayne with the Voodoo Drop and got the three count. This was right about the time I started thinking to my self that ever since Madison won the title she has showed vast improvement in the ring.
Winner: Roxxi
After a montage of Kurt Angle’s career he came down to the ring. He looked happy to be back, and the fans were happy he was back. He announced that he was taking his name out of the running for the TNA title as the #2 contender. Instead he said he would start at the bottom and wrestle each of the top ten to earn his way through to becoming the #1 contender.
Rob Terry was talking in the back and announced the doctors told him his knee is injured in 4 different places, but it wasn’t going to stop him from going out to get a measure of revenge in his match against Orlando Jordan.
Global Champion Rob Terry vs. Orlando Jordan
Terry was hobbling while walking to the ring and all throughout the match. Jordan continually went after the bad knee. Terry put up a good fight for a while, but then Jordan got in one too many shots on the knee and took over the match. That’s when he REALLY went to work on the knee. Rob Terry wouldn’t tap out, but referee Earl Hebner called for the bell and then called for the trainers immediately after. Jordan still didn’t let go for a while though. He broke it then started leaving the ring, but came right back and locked on the submission hold again.
Winner: Orlando Jordan
In the back Jesse Neal wanted to confront Brother Ray about what he did on Sunday at the PPV. IT basically set up a definite match between Team 3D and Ink, Inc. in the near future.
Next up was a tag match between Beer Money and Jay Lethal and a partner of his choosing. Beer Money was under orders from Flair to take out Lethal.
Beer Money vs. Jay Lethal and TNA Champion Rob Van Dam
If nothing else comes out of this Lethal – Flair feud, it is nice to see Lethal as Lethal and actually wrestling again. Maybe the Macho Man has left the building for at least a while. Now to get him mixed back into the X Division mix.
In the middle of the match Mike Tenay announced that the Championship Comittee has moved everyone up a spot since Angle pulled his name out. Now the #10 spot was open. They said there will be an 8-Man X Division Battle Royale later in the night with the winner moving into the #10 spot.
After a pretty decent match Lethal hit a missle drop kick from the top rope to turn things around. RVD hit his Rolling Thunder, and then Lethal slapped on the Figure-Four Leglock which got Roode to tap out pretty quickly. As Lethal headed back up the ramp Flair came running down the ramp to attack him. They fought back and forth until they got in the back.
As RVD did a victory lap around the audience Sting was hiding and waiting. He was wearing a Sting mask to blend in a little. When rVD got close he jumped up and hit RVD in the head with a chair.
Next it was time for Chelsea to be given to Abyss. Wolfe said the only way Abyss would take Chelsea is over his dead body. He then hit Abyss with a low blow, then took out the two security guys. He then pulled a bottle from Chelsea’s bag, broke it on the ringpost and took the broken remains and sliced Abyss’s arm open. Abyss got the bottle away from him, hit the Black Hole Slam and then carried Chelsea off to the back.
The Band was in the ring after the commercial with Eric Young holding a mic. After he talked for a bit Ink, Inc. came out.
Eric Young vs. Shannon Moore
Brother Ray came down in the middle of the match, Neal cut him off before he got to the ring. This distracted the ref and Hall hit Moore in the back with the title belt as he hit the ropes. EY got the pin. Then Ray jumped Neal while he was in the ring attending to Moore. Out came Brother Devon to try and stop him.
Winner: Eric Young
8-Man X Division Battle Royale for the #10 Contenders spot
Participants: Kazarian, Homicide, Amazing Red, Generation Me (Max and Jeremy Buck) Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelly and Chris Sabin), and Brian Kendrick
Soon after the start of the match Kendrick disappeared. Part way into the match Ric Flair came out to watch Kazarian who he had spoken with earlier in the night. Then when it was down to Kazarian and Homicide, Kendrick finall showed his face. He shoved Homicide off the ropes and out of the ring. Kazarian then eliminated him and won the match.
Order of elimination: Amazing Red, Max, Shelly, Jeremy, Sabin, Homicide, Kendrick
Winner: Kazarian
Sting vs. Jeff Hardy
Sting controlled the entire match. Then the ref got taken out and landed on the floor. Sting was about to hit the Scorpion Death Drop on Hardy when Mr. Anderson came out of nowhere and hit a Scorpion Death Drop on Sting instead. Hardy rolled on top of him for the pin and the ref came back in to count. After the match Mr. Anderson wanted to talk to Hardy, but before he had the chance to get his mic Sting came in with his bat and took them both out.
Not a great show to follow-up the PPV. The Battle Royale was a bit of a waste. There was only one person in that match that they’d even consider giving a shot (another shot I should say) at the Heavyweight division, and he did win. I am expecting them to take the Global title from Rob Terry because he will be out for a bit with injury. Hopefully Orlando Jordan won’t wind up getting it so we have to see him more. They need to change his gimmick really soon.
I am not sure about this new rankings system. I mean it takes into account career record and titles held, and the same TNA stats. Then how is Samoa Joe only #10? It seems a bit to controlled by Hogan and Bischoff to make any difference.
Good to see Angle back, and should be fun watching him in matches against the top 10.
Number 1 Contenders Tag Team Match
Team 3D vs. Beer Money vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
My first comment is how much of a shame it is that these three teams have to have a match to see which one gets a title shot while the Ink, Inc. was handed their title shot because of Matt Morgan attacking them both individually. It is even worse because now Morgan isn’t even the tag team champions!
The Guns new Suicide Dive move is amazing! Shelly stands outside the ring on the second rope while pulling up the top rope to make the opening big enough for Sabin to easily dive between his legs and through the rope to the floor. In the end it was innovative offense like that which allowed the Guns to win the match and become the #1 contenders.
Chris Sabin pinned Brother Ray
Global Heavyweight Championship Match
Champion Rob Terry vs. Orlando Jordan
Jordan controlled most of the match, but Terry hit a Freakbuster out of nowhere and got the pinfall.
Winner and still Champion: Rob Terry
Jordan clipped him from behind on the entrance ramp after the match. He did so in the knee he had worked on throughout the match. He then laid out the title belt and rammed Terry’s knee into it.
X Division Championship Match
Actual Champion Kazarian vs. The guy who has the belt in his possession, Doug Williams
The best line of the PPV had to be Mike Tenay while talking about Kazarian taking a year off from pro wrestling in 2008. He said, “Many thought that it was career Suicide.” lol ::shakes head::
Kazarian had Williams on his shoulders but Williams slid off backwards. He then hit the Rolling Chaos Suplex and got the three count.
Winner and new X Division Champion, Doug Williams
TNA Knockouts Title vs. Career Match
Champion Madison Rayne vs. Tara
I wonder who gets custody of the spider when Tara loses and leaves TNA.
Tara went out the way she should…while actually wrestling. She hit one moonsault from the top rope onto Rayne who was nearly in the middle of the ring. She didn’t get the pin right after it so went for a second Moonsault off the top rope, but Rayne rolled out of the way. Rayne then got the pinfall.
Winner and still Champion: Madison Rayne.
Tara was given about 2 minutes to say goodbye in the ring before being told to leave.
What sets Tara apart and makes me hate to see her go? Here are 4 pics to help explain why. They are of her first Moonsault from the top rope. The one she normally does while standing on the mat is so impressive, but from the top rope here it was even more amazing. Look at where Madison is laying in the ring, and then look at where Tara lands. Show me another female wrestler doing moves like that today.
Tag Team Championship Match
Champions The Band vs. Ink, Inc. (Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore)
Prior to the match Kevin Nash pointed out that they will be doing things “Freebird Rules”. That basically means on any given night it could be any combination of Nash, Scott Hall, and Eric Young defending the titles. Tonight it was Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
The ref got knocked out by a Spear from Jesse Neal. Then out came Eric Young with a Kendo Stick that he tossed in to Nash. He didn’t get a chance to use it though. Neal hit a spear on Nash and then picked up the Kendo Stick. Before he could use it Young grabbed it from him, then out of nowhere Brother Ray tackled EY from behind. Brother Ray now armed with the Kendo Stick got into the ring and started yelling at Nash who was laying prone on the mat. Neal tried to back him up. This is when Ray turned and hit Neal across the head with the stick.EY came in and draped Nash over Neal and then revived the ref.
Winners and still Tag Team Champions: The Band
Hall of Fame Ring vs. Chelsea
Abyss vs. Desmond Wolfe
At one point Chelsea caused a distraction and threw in a set of Brass Knuckles to Wolfe, but Abyss still kicked out of the pin that followed. Abyss soon followed up with a Black Hole Slam followed by the pinfall.
Winner: Abyss…He now has Chelsea’s “services” for one month.
Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
Anderson had Hardy in a Fireman’s Carry on the second rope and was going for his little flip thing that he does. Hardy managed to block it and Anderson’s face was driven into the mat with Hardy’s weight on top of it. Hardy then went back to the ropes and hit a Swanton followed by the pin.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After the match Mr. Anderson reached his hand out for a handshake from Hardy, but Hardy walked away instead.
Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting
While Jarrett’s ring entrance music played there was a disturbance in the back. Sting was already beating on Jarrett who was busted up and bleeding heavily. Using the bat for leverage it seemed that Sting may have popped Jarrett’s shoulder out of place. The beating seemed to be endless. Then finally Sting threw him into the ring and the ref rang the bell for the match to begin. Sting hit the Scorpion Death Drop and got the pin.
TNA Heavyweight Championship Match
Champion RVD vs. A.J. Styles
A few minutes into the match Ric Flair grabbed RVD’s foot. Referee Earl Hebner saw it and made Flair leave the ringside area. He went and sat between Mike Tenay and Taz. He sat there until he couldn’t watch anymore. He got up and headed toward the ring while both men were down. He was stopped by Jay Lethal though who came out in a suit. They fought for a minute and then Lethal locked on the Figure-Four Leglock. While this was going on RVD blocked a Superplex from the top rope and wound up clotheslining Styles over the top rope. RVD leaped to the corner and hit the Five-Star Frog Splash followed by the pin.
Winner and still Champion: Rob Van Dam
This was a pretty good pay-per-view. The main event was actually exciting and fun to watch. Many times a PPV can be decent and then the main event doesn’t live up to the weeks of hype behind it. This was not one of those cases. RVD and A.J. put on a great show which catapulted Sacrifice from a decent/pretty good PPV to a well above average PPV. The Sting beating put on Jarrett will be remember for quite some time too. Can’t wait till the next TNA PPV. Now let’s see if Over the Limit can keep pace with this quality PPV.
TNA Knockouts Championship vs. Tara’s TNA Career Match
Champion Madison Rain vs. Tara
This match has quite a bit of history behind it, but moreso Tara against The Beautiful People as a group, rather than just Madison. It is a shame that this match won’t be surprising in anyway. Tara’s contract is up, TNA management doesn’t want to give her the raise she wants, and this will be her final match in TNA. I wonder if Vince will take her back or not.
My pick: Madison Rain wins, but only because of the situation behind the scenes with Tara.
TNA Tag Team Championship Match
New Champions Kevin Nash and Scott Hall vs. Ink, Inc. (Jesse Neal and Shannon Moore)
This match comes out of nowhere, with Hall and Nash just winning the belts on iMPACT!. Against Morgan Ink, Inc. had some history, but not against The Band. I don’t think this will be a very good match to watch.
My pick: The Band holds on to their new belts, at least for now.
Number 1 Contender’s Match for the Tag Team Championship
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Beer Money vs. Team 3D
This match would have been more interesting if they hadn’t just had a four-way match including Ink, Inc.
My pick: Team 3D wins to set up a title match between The Dudleys and The Outsiders.
Global Championship Match
Champion Rob Terry vs. Orlando Jordan
No comments here, other than I hope they decide to give up on Jordan’s gimmick soon.
My pick: Rob Terry wins.
X Division Title Match
Actual Champion Kazarian vs. Doug Williams who still considers himself the champion
Granted Williams never lost the title, and it was just the travel/volcano issues that cost him the title, but Doug Williams just isn’t “X”. He needs to fade back into obscurity as a tag team with someone.
My pick: Kazarian retains the title.
Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
This will be a good one to watch too. Hardy will be his usual self doing crazy things, and Anderson usually rises to the level of his opponent. This is another of those battles that was kind of thrown together. Mainly because they had no one better to put them up against at the moment.
My pick: Mr. Anderson wins in a controversial way. (I know, what a shock right?)
Jeff Jarret vs. Sting
This should actually be an interesting match, or at least I will be interested in it. There is a lot of history behind both wrestlers. They are both icons in their own right. Even if they are both past their prime I think it will be a pretty good match.
My pick: Sting wins a bloddy battle.
Hulk Hogan’s HOF Ring vs. Chelsea
Abyss vs. Desmond Wolfe
This match needed too much effort to create history between the two competitors. That said, it still has potential to be a decent match. Especially with it being the ring vs. Chelsea. I am curious to see what Abyss does with Chelsea once he wins her.
My pick: Abyss wins and gets his revenge.
TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Champion RVD vs. A.J. Styles
This return match should be very good. At a PPV both wrestlers will lay it all on the line and make it an amazing, fast-paced, and exciting match.
My pick: RVD retains the title.
So, all your life you’ve been imitating different wrestlers, right? How good is your Ric Flair? It could get you into “The Front Row” (said in my best Bob Uecker voice) at Slammiversary! That’s right, you and a guest will be flown to Orlando, Florida and be given the V.I.P. treatment at TNA’s biggest PPV of the summer, Slammiversary. The winner will also get the same treatment at the following night’s iMPACT! taping.
So get your expensive custom made suits out, or if you prefer your fancy ring entrance robe and start taping. What they are looking for are videos that are 60 seconds or less with you as Ric Flair challenging another TNA star to a match, or preparing for a TNA Tag Team title match with a partner.
At this moment I really wish I was still in touch with my old friend “P.J.”. We used to actually reenact certain matches and wrestling feuds. The one we did best was The Macho Man vs. Ricky Steamboat. He was so good as Macho. Flair & Macho as a team could win the contest. lol
Anyway, once you make your videos upload them to YouTube.com and email the link to the video to WalkTheTalk@tnawrestling.com . TNA will narrow it down to just the Top 10 videos and then fans will vote for the winner. The deadline to enter is Thursday May 27th, 2010 at 12AM ET. Voting will open on the 28th, and close on June 3rd, also at 12AM ET.
If you’d like you can also send me the link to your video. I will share then right here on this site to try and help.
Good luck stylin’ and profilin’!
Here is a link for you to get the official rules and regulations straight from TNA
The show started with Eric Bischoff coming to the ring. He introduced RVD, after a bit of talking where Bischoff wanted to make a match between RVD and Jeff Hardy, then he wanted to give him the night off because he hadn’t heard from Hardy. Out came A.J. Styles saying he wanted a match tonight and at Sacrifice. Then finally Jeff Hardy came on out wanting the original match. In the end it was turned into a Triple Threat match.
Tara vs. Taylor Wilde
Tara wins by pinfall after kicking Wilde in the midsection as she leaped from the ropes. Tara then removed her knee brace and began beating Wilde with it until Sarita came out to help.
To the back there was something going on with Chelsea and Desmond Wolfe. Apparently Chelsea is claiming someone attacked her.
Doug Williams vs. Brian Kendrick
Williams still has the X Division title in his possession and refuses to relinquish it to the actual champion Kazarian. Kaz came out and sat with Taz and Mike Tenay for a couple minutes during the match. Then he got up to go get his title. It caused enough of a distraction that Kendrick rolled Williams up from behind and got the pinfall. Williams didn’t care about the match and got right back up and ran to get his belt before Kaz could get it.
Generation Me vs. TNA Tag Champions Matt Morgan and Matt Morgan
Morgan took control immediately. He grabbed a mic and demanded to know who his tag team partner would be at Sacrifice. As he was about to drive his foot into the head of the one guy in Generation Me like he did to Hernandez out came Samoa Joe. Joe hit a kick, followed by the Muscle Buster and left Morgan laid out in the ring motionless.
Suddenly The Band’s music began to play. Out came Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Eric Young. That is when everyone noticed that Nash was carrying his Feast or Fired briefcase which contained a chance at a tag team title match whenever he wants it. They cashed it in, Nash got in the ring, stretched for a second and then pinned the still motionless Blueprint. The Band won the tag team titles!
Tag Team Champions AGAIN!
Four-way Tag Team Match
The Motor City Machine Guns vs. Beer Money vs. Team 3D vs. Ink, Inc.
Jesse Neal got the pinfall on Brother Ray to win the match despite being double-teamed.
Next match was supposed to be Abyss vs. Rob Terry
When Abyss’s music began he didn’t come out. To the back and surprise, surprise…the “police” were arresting Abyss for assaulting Chelsea.
Back in the ring Rob Terry was still standing and wondering what was going on. Orlando Jordan came in from behind and attacked him.
After the commercial Jordan was still in the ring and putting out an open challenge to anyone in the back. Out came Tomko. A bit more flabbier Tomko, but still Tomko.
Tomko vs. Orlando Jordan
Jordan choked out Tomko and the ref stopped the match, Jordan wins.
Bischoff tells Tara she has a match with Sarita now after what she did to Taylor Wilde earlier.
Sarita vs. Tara
Sarita started tearing off Tara’s knee brace, but the ref stopped her. Sarita accidentally hit the ref, and while he wasn’t watching Tara used the brace to hit Sarita over the head with. She then pinned her for the win, and hit her a couple more times with it after the match.
Triple Threat Match
Jeff Hardy vs. A.J. Styles vs. RVD
With some help from a distraction by Mr. Anderson coming out to attack Hardy, and the bottom ring rope Styles managed to win the match by pinning RVD.
After the match Hardy called Anderson back to the ring, but he decided to leave instead. Hogan came out behind him. Anderson swung at him, Hogan blocked it and landed a punch of his own. As Anderson was spun around Hardy was there to attack. In the end Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb off of the announce table down onto Anderson who was laid out on a table below.
After the commercial they showed some video footage captured by Lacy Von Erich while she was in the bathroom. It was Desmond Wolfe tearing Chelsea’s dress and then directing her rehearsal.
There was technically seven matches tonight, but again, some of them I wouldn’t really count. All in all it was a pretty decent show. Of course the final 5 minutes or so was an actual commercial for Sacrifice. At least they are doing it more straight forward than the WWE does. Vince always tries to mask the commercial in between action on the show. TNA just saved it for the end of the show and ended a few minutes early.
Match Results:
1 – Ink, inc. (Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore) vs.Doug Williams & Brian Kendrick
Ink, inc. wins – Neal pinned Kendrick after a Spear.
2 – The Beautiful People vs. Taylor Wilde, Serita, and Tara with all the Knockouts belts on the line.
The Beautiful People win – Madison Rain pinned Serita after Tara turned on her teammates.
Tara would later challenge Madison Rain to a title match at Sacrifice. Tara is putting her career on the line to get the title shot. Which means that is how Tara will make her exit barring any last minute contract agreement.
3 – Triple Threat Tag Match – Beer Money vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Team 3D
Match was thrown out due to outside interference from Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. After they came out Eric Young came out with a Kendo Stick. Instead of hitting Nash or Hall with it, he turned and hit 3D with it! Oh well, Nash went and got EY. I guess this means no HBK in The Band.
4 – Monster’s Ball Match – Abyss vs. A.J. Styles
Styles wins – Styles pinned Abyss after Flair and Chelsea distracted him, and Styles hit him with a Springboard Flying Body Splash into the tacks that Abyss had spread in the middle of the ring.
5 – TNA Championship Match – Champion RVD vs. Desmond Wolfe
RVD wins – RVD hit the 5-Star Frog Splash to end the match. After the match Styles came off the top rope with a kick to RVD’s head. He then announced that he was invoking his rematch clause at Sacrifice.
———
The show started with Hogan and Bischoff in a limo talking about “His plane lands in 7 minutes.” Hogan then commented about how all the big fish are jumping ship to TNA. At this point I really started to believe that my earlier guess that Shawn Michaels is coming to TNA could actually be right! We will wait and see now.
Mike Tenay then announced that the show would be moving back to Thursdays. They are playing it off as if the fans demanded it. Which is fine, Thursdays are better for iMPACT! anyway. As I said though, Vince should have a field day with this announcement.
Next up Ric Flair’s music began to play, but out came Jay Lethal stylin’ and profile in a nice new suit…complete with Flair’s Hall of Fame ring! Lethal is extremely talented. He can not only do a killer impersonation of The Macho Man, but he does an amazing Ric Flair impersonation. Out came Flair in an unhappy mood. Shortly after Flair started his tirade Lethal apologized and gave him back his ring and started saying how it was a dream come true for him, and that he was just messing around. Flair was still unhappy though, and smacked Lethal across the face, multiple times. After the third slap Lethal began to hit back with a slap of his own followed by three consecutive Flair-like chops to the chest. Right after Lethal slapped on the Figure-Four Leglock Styles, Beer Money, and Desmond Wolfe hit the ring. Next our was Abyss, he was followed by Team 3-D. Team Flair kept control of things though. Finally out came RVD with a chair to put an end to things. Team Flair quickly scattered from the ring.
Right after the melee the cameras went back to Hogan and Bischoff in the limo. Hogan had just gotten a text telling him about what Lethal had done. They decided to turn the limo around and head back to the iMPACT! Zone rather than continue to the airport to pick up “the big fish”.
Back from the break and RVD called them back to the ring, and they actually came back. The fight started right back up all over the iMPACT! Zone. Then all of a sudden Hogan’s music began to play briefly. He walked toward the ring taking each Team Flair member our with one punch. Once in the ring he and Flair hooked up, ending with Flair being flipped over the top rope to the floor. Then off to another commercial.
After the break and everyone was fighting AGAIN! After it gets broken up again Hogan starts making matches. First up Desmond Wolfe vs. TNA Champion RVD, next up A.J. Styles vs. Abyss in a Monster’s Ball match, and finally he added Team 3D into Beer Money’s match against the Motor City Machine Guns for a Triple Threat match. Going into the break we see Sting in the rafters pacing.
Back from the break and in the dressing room with the Beautiful People talking about their match with Taylor Wilde, Serita, and Tara with all their belts on the line. Then to the ring where Doug Williams is complaining about how he was stripped of his title due to the travel problems at the last PPV. He and Kendrick were to be in a tag match. Out came something you had to expect after seeing Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal’s hairdos standing together in the ring last week. Meet… Ink, Inc.. They are apparently the new #1 contenders for the Tag Team titles held by Matt Morgan and Matt Morgan.
Match #1 was here.
After the match Williams and Kendrick were bickering and out came Samoa Joe. He hit Williams with a clothesline and hit Kendrick with a Super Kick and dragged him to the ring where he hit him with a Muscle Buster. He then grabbed a mic and was going to say something, then decided against it. He threw the mic to the mat and walked back up the ramp.
Then to Flair in the locker room on another rant. Then to Hogan talking about his upcoming “summit” with Sting. Then in the middle of Taz and Tenay talking they get word that The Pope, DeAngelo Dinero and Mr. Anderson are fighting. It seems Anderson was wearing a dress of some sort, no clue why. He beat down Pope and then took his sunglasses on (Pope’s glasses) and walked off.
Match #2 and #3 here.
The premiere of The O-Zone show. This was such a waste of air time. If they let it go on again next week I will be very disappointed.
Match #4 and #5 here
The show wrapped up with the Hogan/Sting Summit. It came shortly after Sting had attacked Jeff Jarret in the back. Not much was accomplished by this meeting. Jarret came out to the ring grabbed Sting’s bat, which he had tossed aside, and hit him with it a couple times before Hogan stopped him. The End
Not exactly a stellar show from TNA this week either. The worst part of it was that they only squeezed in five matches. That has always been something TNA had the upper hand with, cramming more matches into a two hour show than the WWE. Maybe Vince learned from watching TNA and puts in more matches now, while Hogan/Bischoff have headed backwards in that department.
The show moving back to Thursdays will help TNA a lot. The move to Mondays was probably a bit premature, and they will be regretting it for some time to come. Just when things should have taken off even more than they were they took three giant steps backwards instead by moving the show.
Wow, I can’t believe I haven’t posted here in almost a year! I also got behind in watching the many hours of wrestling I watch every week. That didn’t happen until around October though. What brought me back to wrestling? It wasn’t hearing that Bret Hart was returning to the WWE, or that The Undertaker got burned during his ring entrance at a pay-per view. It was hearing that Hulk Hogan was coming to TNA.
When I heard that I rushed to get caught up with watching every TNA weekly show, and pay-per view since October. It was a week filled with A LOT of wrestling. I never did watch each week of the WWE. Instead I watched a pay-per view or three, then skipped ahead to Wrestlemania XXVI this past week. Of course by this point I was addicted again. So, I had to watch the Raw after Mania so I could see Shawn Michaels’s “farewell”. Then I also watched the rest of the Raws up to this past week. I also watched this week’s NXT and Smackdown shows. I was then glad I didn’t spend the many hours it would have taken to watch the rest of the Smackdown’s I had missed.
So, now for the actual purpose of this post. I have decided that once a year I will post about the current state of professional wrestling. It will always come about a month after Wrestlemania since it is the “Super Bowl of Pro Wrestling”.
The current state of wrestling is looking better and better I think. Now that there is actually a chance for there to be some competition. Granted the TV ratings aren’t looking too promising for TNA head to head against Raw.
The Whole F'n Show!
I love how TNA can actually get WWE talent to head south, and that they are giving some a chance to get back in the ring. Especially one of my all-time favorites… Rob Van Damme. RVD and Jeff Hardy as a tag team would be amazing if they could have stayed together. RVD as TNA Champion so soon after his return to the ring is nice though.
The WWE seems to be heading in the wrong direction. I mean I realize they are such a huge juggernaut that things can’t and won’t come crashing down, but if it weren’t for that it just might have. In the few Raws, pay-per-views, and the one Smackdown and NXT shows I did watch to get caught up, I must say it was mostly disappointing. Smackdown was totally unentertaining. The one point I thought the show was looking up was during Edge’s farewell before he heads to Raw. When Christian came out I was hoping they would become a tag team again, just like many others probably were. Instead it was for Edge to become a heel again, and for Christian to sort of disown him.
One thing that upsets me very much is McMahon’s insistence that if your name isn’t Ric Flair then you are NOT allowed to talk about any world title that doesn’t belong to the WWE…and even some that do belong to the WWE. On that Smackdown when Christian came out he was back to “never being a World Champion ever”. Sorry Vince, not only was he TNA World Champion, but you know that company/brand you pretty much ruined…ECW? Like I said, I missed a few months, so what actually happened to ECW? You killed it for this NXT rookie crap? Whatever happened to a guy proving his worth in Ohio or down in Florida? I haven’t seen the ratings for the show, but I am willing to bet they suck, and are probably worse than ECW ratings were. I am sort of happy to see Vince’s bastardized version of ECW is gone though. There was NOTHING extreme about ECW. I love how they would make a huge deal of the occasional match that was contested under “extreme rules”. Now if they would just kill off the Extreme Rules pay-per-view too.
The Raw shows I saw weren’t much better either, although they did have a few interesting matches. I really don’t see how they are beating TNA in ratings week in and week out. I just don’t see how Shaemus can get into the title picture. He should be wrestling Santino Marella and Carlito…not Triple H, Randy Orton, and John Cena. By the way, I got excited to see Cena and Orton as a tag team. Only to be let down when Orton left him alone in the match. You can turn Batista back into a heel, but can’t make Orton a fan favorite? Sheesh.
Now as for TNA… I know there are rumors of “politics” going on backstage and people being upset with how Hogan and Bischoff are running things. So much so that people are leaving the company over it. But really, Awesome Kong hadn’t been on TV for a while before they arrived, and Christopher Daniels has been on the outs for a while too. Now Tara is most likely leaving because they wouldn’t give her what she considered a small raise. This doesn’t surprise me a bunch. I mean if Hogan and Bischoff are in charge the Knockouts division is going to me more like the WWE Divas. More like The Beautiful People than the Litas and Gail Kims of women’s wrestling. To explain that comment a bit…yes they are all hot, but Lita and Gail can WRESTLE too, as can Tara.
The fact that TNA can sign talent like RVD, Jeff Hardy, and Mr. Anderson, not to mention keeping people like Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, and a lot of the talent that was in place before the change is a sign of good things to come for TNA. Sure they will lose a few that won’t get along with Bischoff, or even Hogan, but the benefits outweigh the losses they will have. That is of course as long as they realize that doing things like bringing the Nasty Boys along for the ride just won’t work. No one wants to see Saggy Nobs hanging all out in the ring! They need to limit Ric Flair’s in ring time too. Sure he is a legend, and should be allowed to do just about anything he wants, but no one wants to see him in the ring against Abyss. Use his mind (which at times he has obviously lost), not his beaten and battered body.
I even have the perfect way to let Flair bow out of the ring in a spectacular way. Have a Legends Battle Royale to set the seeding for a Legends Tournament. The entrants will be all the Legends they have on the roster, and however many more they can pull out of retirement for a month or so. People like Flair, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Sting, and Angle. They could surely get a few others who are just sitting around enjoying retirement. Then add in two or three “Future Legends” to the mix. Either pick them, or let them have their own mini-tournament to decide who gets in. Then if Flair wins he can walk away from the ring (yet again) and just stick around as a manager and front office guy helping drive the company in the right direction. (See my note later for one more additional Legend to join this match.)
One thing I am unhappy about since the beginning of the Hogan/Bischoff era is that entrance ramp. First you take away the Six-Sided Ring that had become TNA’s trademark. Then you add that elevated entrance ramp. There are a number of reasons the ramp is a bad idea. First, someone is going to get injured badly when they go out of the ring on that side unexpectedly and hit the ramp the wrong way. Second, it takes away the only real space outside the ring, now that it is square again. This pretty much kills like 85-90% of the excitement of the X Division…yeah that other signature thing TNA had going for it that no one else could touch. Some of the most exciting matches ever in TNA were those X Division World Tournament battles. Lots of guys you had never heard of putting it all out there risking injury and even their lives to do the crazy things they would do, at the speeds they did them. Bring more of that back and maybe the ratings would go back up.
Obviously TNA can’t just pull out of Monday nights. Vince would have a field day with it if they did. They need to find a way to do more live shows. they ratings are better for the live shows. They also need to find some way to move the show around. Sure having a dedicated crowd sitting in The Impact Zone is great, but if they moved around to some different locales it would help in a few ways. You would get more money in ticket sales, which could help offset the traveling and production expenses, and it would probably in turn increase the TV ratings. Even if it is the 10,000 people at the live show TiVoing it to see if they got on TV.
Ratings will improve greatly simply by making one rumor come to pass. IT has been rumored that the legendary Jim Ross might be joining TNA. That would be incredible! His wrestling mind, his commentating in a seat between Mike Tenay and Taz, and the pull he would give the company could be what they need to put them over the top. By pull I mean, if Jim Ross is in TNA there will be more talent interested in coming into TNA. Ross is well respected just about everywhere, especially the locker rooms. Many would gladly join the company knowing Good Ole J.R. could help them along.
Anyway, now one last comment and my ratings to finish up this post.
HBK to TNA?
During last week’s TNA Impact! Hall and Nash were asked what they would do now that Six Pac/Shawn Waltman was hurt. Nash made a comment about how maybe next week they would have someone else with them. So, here is my thinking on the matter. “The Band” as they have been being called needs to be “tuned up” a bit. Adding some Sweet Chin Music to their set list would be a great improvement. Shawn Michaels had his WWE Farewell speech a little over a month ago. The WWE Draft just happened, which usually coincides with talent contracts running out and being renewed. So, is The Heartbreak Kid free to head south and join The Kliq/The Band, whatever you want to call it? He would also be joining Sting, with whom he had done a TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) show with, and friend Ric Flair whom he retired a little over two years ago at Wrestlemania XXIV. They could just pull Sting into the group and start calling themselves The Wolfpack again. HBK would fit nicely into my Legends Tournament that I mentioned earlier too.
My Ratings:
Show/Company – Grade
WWE Friday Night Smackdown – D
WWE Superstars – F
I have watched this show all of about 5 times since it debuted. It just isn’t interesting.
WWE NXT – F
Watched this once and most of it was on fast forward. lol
WWE Raw – B
Needs more improvement
WWE Pay-Per-Views – B
They still manage to mix in 1-3 matches in between the waste of time matches that make the shows entertaining.
WWE Overall – C-
If TNA can find the right formula before the WWE can find a way to make things more nteresting the McMahon Empire could take a bit of a hit.
TNA Impact – B
It is still an exciting show each week, unlike the WWE shows usually. However, they need more X Division mixed in, and probably less Hogan/Bischoff storylines. Just like the McMahon storylines and every week appearances it can get old real quick.
TNA Pay-Per-Views – B+
They can really put on a great 3 hour pay-per-view. There are times when the filler matches can get annoying, but overall they are slightly better than the WWE PPVs.
TNA Overall – B
They are headed in the right direction despite what TV ratings show. They still just need to convince more people to try the brand. Once they do they could quickly become fans. As I have said numerous times – MORE X Division again. Let them fly! You have some of the greatest wrestling minds in the company, use them.
The show started with Jeff Jarret coming to the ring carrying the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. He called Mick Foley out to present him with his new title belt. Foley came out even dressed in a suit jacket for the occasion. Mick started off by thanksing Derek the camera man that handed him the barbed wire bat. There was a closeup of the 25 stitches he had to have above his eye. He then went on to thank Sting, and asked the crowd to give him a polite round of applause for him because he didn’t think we’d see Sting in the iMPACT! Zone for a while. then Jarret presented him with the title.
Then Jeff notified Mick that his first title defense would be at the next pay-per view, Sacrifice. He said TNA Management decided that the match would be a four way match. If mick got pinned he would sacrifice the TNA title, the other three competitors would also sacrifice something if they were to be pinned. The decision as to who the three opponents would be will be based solely on what each person is willing to sacrifice. Mick at this point says that he and Jeff are TNA Management, and he had not made this decision, so that means it was Jeff that decided this would be the match. He accused him of being jealous, and then went on to say since Jeff put him in a match now he would put Jeff in a match tonight. Problem is, Jeff Jarret tore his hamstring at Lockdown. That didn’t matter to Mick. He deicded the match should be against a member of the Main Event Mafia, more specifically Scott Steiner. He kept calling the match the “Cactus Jack Smack Attack”.
After an annoying celebration by the Beautiful People, and a commercial break we go to a tape from earlier in the day where Team 3-D apparently has a big announcement. they start by thanking the fans, and Beer Money for bringing their A-Game to Lockdown. They appreciate being able to wrestle in a company where tag team wrestling is alive and well. They want to help breathe new life into the TNA Tag Team Division though. They are creating the Team 3-D Tag Team Invitational. The winners of the tournament will receive a trophy, $100,000, and a shot at the TNa Tag Team titles. He went on to say that there would be teams from all over the world competing in it.
We then went straight into an opening round (Quarterfinals) match in the invitational.
Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode & James Storm) vs. Lethal Consequences (Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed)
It seems Beer Money didn’t have a return clause in their contracts. This truly was a good match. The tag team division in TNA a bit better than the WWE. Storm hit the Last Call to the back of Lethal’s head, and then they hit the DUI. Roode got the pin on Lethal. Beer Money advance to the next round.
Knockouts Title Contract Ladder Match
Taylor Wilde vs. Sojournor Bolt
This match had a little bit of action. In the end Sojo pulled out a pair of brass knuckles and used them while they were both at the top of the ladder. The shot knocked Wilde to the mat and Sojo grabbed the contract.
After a break we get to witness the Beautiful People celebration. First they officially welcomed Madison Rayne into My Pi Sexy, and then they formerly introduced the new TNA Knockouts Champion, Angelina Love. Velvet andMadison got a present for Angelina, three male strippers. Halfway through their in ring dance out came Awesome Kong. The Beautiful People scattered, so Kong grabbed one of the male dancers and power bombed him.
Legends Title Match
Champion A.J. Styles vs. Kevin Nash with Jenna Morasca
The match went back and forth a bit. A.J. seemed to have the advantage. then Booker T and Sharmell came down to the ring. Sharmell distracted the referee, while Booker delivered a kick to Styles. The ref saw it and disqualified Nash.
Quarterfinals Match in the 3D Tag Team Invitational
No Limit vs. The Outlaw Jethro Holliday & Eric Young
Most will remember Jethro as Trevor Murdoch who was released from the WWE a few months back. He was in slightly better shape than he was in the WWE. Despite some interference from Sheik Abdul Bashir and Kiyoshi, EY got the pin to advance his team into the next round.
Mick Foley came down to help call the main event Cactus Jack Smack Attack
Jeff Jarret vs. Scott Steiner
There were weapons scattered all over the iMPACT! Zone. They made pretty good use of everything from a trash can and a street sign from the crowd to a plastic Santa Claus and a pogo stick. In the end Jarret used his favorite weapon of choice, a guitar to the head, followed by The Stroke, and a three count. Kurt Angle ran down to the ring and hit the Angle Slam. He then slapped on the Ankle Lock. Steiner came over and put on the Stener Recliner at the same time. Mick Foley got up and went to “go protect the founder.” He hit Angle with a chair, then Steiner left the ring when he saw the chair. After Jarret got back to his feet Foley hit him with the chair.
After a commercial break we see Daniels, and Styles in the ring with Jarret. Jeff has a mic and talks about how he knew Mick was a whack job when he hired him 6 months ago, and then told him next time he see him he is going to shove a pinkslip up his ass.
At this point Lashley’s music began to play. Once again, Jarret didn’t look happy, while the Main Event Mafia looked extremely pleased.
It was a good quality show for being right after a pay-per view. The invitational Tag Team Tournament should be entertaining all the way through. I can’t wait to see what other surprise teams show up. Good to see Trevor Murdoch collecting a paycheck from a major company again.
I see the makings of a great four way match coming up at Sacrifice. Quite possibly could be Sting with his career on the line, Jarret with his company on the line, and Angle with something I am not sure of on the line. Maybe the Main Event Mafia will have to disband if he loses. That would be a classic title match for sure! Icons, Legends, and Founders, Oh My!
During the half hour preview we got to see Danny Bonaduce facing Eric Young inside the 6 sides of steel. Some might remember Bonaduce was a part of the Hulk Hogan Celebrity Wrestling show, and did rather well. The match was nothing special, but Bonaduce held his own in the match. He hit a decent Swanton Bomb. In the end EY wrapped him up for a three count. After the match they exchanged a handshake, but then as EY turned away Bonaduce hit him from behind with the pair of nunchuks he had been using during the match. As he choked EY out, Rhyno came into the ring and waited for his chance to charge. Bonaduce laid on his back after a devastating Gore.
X-Division Championship Match
Champion Suicide vs. Jay Lethal vs. Consequences Creed vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir vs. Kiyoshi
Competitors are eliminated by pinfall or submission until there are just two remaining. At that point the winner is the first to escape from the six sides of steel. As always this X-Division match was fast paced and exciting. Kiyoshi was eliminated, followed by Consequences, and finally Jay Lethal. That left Bashir and Suicide fighting to escape from the cage. Suicide controlled most of the action. He climbed to the top of the six sides of steel and fought off Bashir’s attempt to stop him. Then Kiyoshi came back out, but security stopped him before he could interfere. Suicide saw Bashir trying to open the door so he could beat him to the floor and decided to leap from the top of the cage down onto the group of security and Kiyoshi to retain his X-Division title.
Queen of the Cage Match
Madison Rayne vs. Sojournor Bolt vs. Daffney vs. ODB
After battling for a few minutes ODB got the pinfall on Sojournor Bolt to become the Queen of the Cage. Cody Deaner joined her in the six sides of steel for a celebration.
Three Team Tornado Match for the New Japan Jr. Tag Team Championships
LAX (Homicide & Hernandez) vs. No Limit vs. Champions The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
Tornado rules means that all six competitors will be in the ring simultaneously, no tags needed. There was action everywhere in this match. Hernandez’s power controlled the early part of the match, but in the end it was the Guns that outlasted the competition. Sabin got the pin on Nito to retain their New Japan Jr. Tag titles.
Doomsday Chamber of Blood Match
Matt Morgan vs. Abyss
Before a competitor can win this match his opponent must be bleeding. Once your opponent is bleeding then and only then you can score a pinfall or submission. Morgan busted Abyss open early with a chair shot to the head. Abyss was losing a lot of blood. After Morgan took out the referee with a flying crossbody from the top rope Abyss woke up. He took a large shard of glass and drove it hard into Morgan’s forehead. It ripped him open, I believe it cut Abyss’s hand as well. Now both men were eligible to pin or make the
