Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida (Impact Wrestling Zone)
May 26, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
Impact Wrestling opens up with a nice video package hyping the Sting and Anderson beef with a closeup of the Heavyweight Title.
We cut to the arena where we will kick off with a Tag Team Match.
Street Fight
Tommy Dreamer & Bully Ray vs. The Phenomenal Angels (AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels)
Dreamer is wearing an Impact Wrestling t-shirt. Daniels and AJ come out to the Fortune theme, and AJ is wearing a neckbrace. Tenay says that AJ was told NOT to wrestle tonight but he wants to get at Bully Ray & Dreamer so he’s going against the doctors orders. AJ goes fright after Dreamer and Daniels goes after Ray at ringside. AJ keeps holding his neck everytime he hits Ray. They brawl into the crowd right off the bat. Ray rips Daniels shirt of and chops the hell out of him. Dreamer tries to throw AJ over a wall as the fought up the steps but AJ stops him and tosses Dreamer off the balcony! AJ climbs up onto the balcony and dives off of it with a NASTY Plancha! AJ immediately grabs his neck again when he lands. Daniels pulls out a trash can and throws it into the ring followed by another one. They’re both filled with weapons. Daniels levels Ray with several shots with a trashcan lid to the head. Daniels kicks Ray and then nails him again. Daniels goes for the BME but Ray gets his boot up! Ray then hits a Rock Bottom! 1…2…NO Daniels kicks out! AJ slides into the ring and ducks a kendo shot and hits the Pele! He again grabs his neck but then picks up a trash can lid and charges at Dreamer but Dreamer gets his boot up. Ray tells Dreamer to rip the neckbrace off and he obliges. Dreamer starts hitting Ray in the neck with clubbing shots repeatedly. Ray then grabs AJ and hits a Hangmans Neckbreaker. AJ sells the neck like he just got shot. Dreamer hits a Neckbreaker of his own on AJ and then Ray picks him up and hits yet another Neckbreaker. Dreamer knocks Daniels off the apron as the two Immortals mock the fans. Ray picks AJ up and sets up for a Piledriver as Dreamer climbs up top. Maybe a Spike Piledriver?! Daniels jumps up and crotches Dreamer on the top rope! He then tosses Ray into Dreamer in the corner and hits an Enziguri! AJ gets to his feet and levels Ray with a kendo stick! AJ grabs Dreamer and lifts him up for a Piledriver and Daniels dives off the top! SPIKE PILEDRIVER! 1…2…3! Haven’t seen a Spike Piledriver in awhile.
Winners: Daniels & AJ via pinfall (Spike Piledriver)
Daniels and AJ celebrate as AJ still sells the neck holding onto it. Ray is pissed on the outside as Dreamer is laid out. Tenay says that AJ & Daniels beat Bully Ray & Dreamer at their own game.
In the parking lot Hulk Hogan arrives and then they hype the big Main Event of RVD vs. Angle for tonight. Up next is the “Scorpion Sitdown” with Sting.
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The Scorpion Sitdown
This is supposed to be a sitdown with Sting but it’s Mr. Anderson dressed up like the old school surfer Sting, he really does look a lot like Sting too with the spikes hair and everything. Anderson welcomes us to the very first ever “Scorpion Sitdown” and he says it’s a sitdown because its obvious “he” can no longer wrestle so he will do what every wrestler does in his twilight, have an interview segment. He welcomes someone from Sting’s past…DISCO INFERNO! Out comes Disco! Old school TNA fans will remember him wrestling back in the old Asylum as Glenn Gilberti. He comes out doing the disco dance and everything. Didn’t he used to be a TNA Agent at some point too? Don’t think he still is. Taz asks where Anderson…or well, Sting, dusted Disco off.
Anderson says Disco saw everything, the crappy Vanilla Ice flattop, the clown makeup, the Liberache outfits, and everything from Sting. Disco says it’s true he really is an asshole. Anderson says he is and it’s kind of his thing. Disco says he didn’t know why Anderson wanted him and why he flew him out all the way from Vegas but he gets it now. He says Anderson wants to know the truth about Sting and he’ll tell him. Why the hell does Disco look younger than some of the young guys? Disco starts to tell him but Anderson does Sting’s howl and then Disco starts again and Anderson screams “IT’S SHOWTIME” and howls again. Disco says Anderson can keep cutting him out but he’s going to listen to what he has to say whether he likes it or not. Disco says everything Sting always commanded was respect from everyone and whether Anderson likes it or not, Anderson knows he painted his face like every other kid as a Sting fan growing up. Disco says that’s why they call him an icon. Anderson says he’s had enough and he says this his show and Disco follows. Anderson says he didn’t fly Disco out to sing Sting’s praises and hang from his nuts, he flew him out to bury Sting. He says that’s what this was designed for. He asks if Disco has anything to add to bury Sting.
Disco says he isn’t going to bury Sting but he would like to ask Anderson one thing. He asks Anderson why he calls himself an asshole when in reality he’s just a dick. Anderson stares Disco down as the fans chant “dick” at him. Anderson asks Disco what he just said and Disco says he didn’t stutter and then stands up and calls Anderson a dick again while he does the disco dance and drops Anderson’s mic down from the rafters. Anderson grabs the mic and laughs and then nails Disco with it! Anderson continues to beat on Disco with the mic and he’s busted open. Anderson beats the hell out of Disco and then Sting’s music hits!
The real Sting walks down and jumps into the ring but Anderson bails out and escapes through the crowd as Sting checks on Disco who is leaking pretty bad in the ring.
Velvet Sky is walking backstage as Tenay says we’ll here from her tonight.
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Back from commercials Eric Young is searching for Gunner and walks into the bathroom looking for him. Young finds him and Gunner is about to beat the hell out of him, but Young asks 5 minutes to explain himself. Gunner gives himself one. Young says this whole thing is a big misunderstanding. He says he understands that he didn’t win the Battle Royal and he just mistakenly took Gunner’s belt after it. Young says he came up with an idea he came up with an idea to make Gunner 2nd in command in Immortal. Young talks about Hogan and Nash in ’99, the finger poke of doom. He suggests laying down for Gunner in the ring and he’ll give Gunner his belt back and Gunner will give him his belt back. He says he’ll earn extra points from Hogan for beating him. Gunner says either Young will lay down or he will put Young down. As Young walks away Gunner says he’s an idiot. More like a halfwit.
Velvet Sky walks down to the ring as we see a replay of Velvet beating Angelina & Winter last week and ODB’s surprise return. Velvet says she and ODB have some unfinished business to attend to and that sneak attack crap doesn’t work for her. She wants ODB to walk out there and tell Velvet what her problem is.
ODB walks down with no entrance music and gets into the ring. Velvet asks her what her problem is and ODB says about a year ago she got a phone call from management saying she was no longer needed in TNA. ODB says she tried to figure out if it was because she had no talent or her attitude or because she had no ability, but she said it was none of the above but it was Velvet’s ass that got her fired. Velvet asks how that is and she doesn’t have anything against anyone and everyone blames everything on her. She says that she’s sick of it and has earned her spot in TNA and she proved herself. She says everything she’s accomplished she’s worked her ass off for. ODB says if Velvet calls working her ass off laying on her back then yeah she did. ODB says working hard is not rubbing her thing on the ropes and breaking a sweat sleeping her way to the top. ODB calls Velvet plastic and talking about her silicone (pot meet kettle). ODB asks Velvet is she’s about to cry and she’ll give her something to cry about. She shoves Velvet down and starts beating the hell out of Velvet. ODB chokes Velvet and starts screaming at Velvet that she loves it on her back. She continues to punch away at Velvet and then she mocks the fans as they boo her. She goes back to beating on Velvet until security runs out and pulls ODB off. ODB breaks away from security and tries to hit Velvet with her belt but they pull her away again. ODB says “whores like you are my problem.”
Still to come is Jeff Jarrett vs. The Blueprint who was selected by Angle. Angle will face RVD who was selected by Jarrett.
We see a great video package highlighting RVD vs. Angle, really well done. Wow, this video package felt more like a PPV video montage than a TV match.
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Back from commercials footage of Roode taking Flair out last week is shown and then Immortal attempting to injure Roode’s arm in response.
In the back Beer Money is in Eric Bischoff’s office. He says the doctor doesn’t think Roode should wrestle and they have to defend the belts at Slammiversary. Bischoff says if he isn’t cleared then they’ll get the belts stripped. Storm says Roode will never get cleared for Slammiversary and he has to know by next week. Bischoff mocks Storm being a hillbilly and suggests maybe Storm has some kind of redneck healing he can do. Storm says he can’t heal Roode but he can stick his foot up Bischoff’s ass. Bischoff says he could do that but he will never work in TNA again if he does. Bischoff says while they contemplate their future and Roode’s ability to heal under pressure they can think about that and he tells Beer Money “sorry bout your damn luck.” Storm slaps papers off of Bischoff’s desk and says “sorry bout your damn papers” as they walk out.
We get clips from Xplosion for the first time in a long time as Tenay talks about a confrontation that went down with Pope and Devon over Pope messing with Devon’s wife.
Pope backstage talks about Devon’s kids looking up to Pope and Devon’s wife looking up to him too. Pope says there is no better role model for them to look up to. Pope says Devon needs to chill and hop on his bandwagon too.
In the back Kurt Angle hypes up Morgan and says he knows Morgan can take out Jarrett and he says Morgan needs to focus on Jeff and Jeff only despite Karen being out there.
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“King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett w/Karen Jarrett vs. “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan
Jeff makes So Cal Val get out of her chair so Karen can sit in it! Earl says that isn’t happening and takes the chair and brings it to the ramp and says either she sits that far away from ringside or she goes to the back. Jeff pokes Morgan eyes and then climbs up top and hits a Flying Cross Body! 1…2…NO Morgan shoves Jeff off him. Jeff hits Morgan with a right hand and then tries to whip Morgan into the corner but Morgan reverses it and hits a big Corner Splash followed by his back elbows. Morgan then connects with a Sidewalk Slam for a nearfall. Morgan then whips Jarrett into the corner and sidesteps Jarrett’s attempted float over out of the corner. Morgan then grabs Jeff by the back of the neck and slams him into the turnbuckles. Morgan then goes for the Carbon Footprint but Jarrett sidesteps him and Morgan kicks the corner turnbuckles. Jarrett then starts stomping on that leg and then attempts to whip Morgan into the ropes but Morgan reverses it. Morgan goes for a back elbow but Jarrett ducks and then attempts a Cross Body Block, but Morgan catches him in midair and hits a Fall Away Slam! Karen hobbles to ringside as Morgan gets a nearfall. Morgan goes for a Powerslam but Jarrett blocks it only to eat a Michinoku Driver! Matt Morgan just literally hit a Michinoku Driver! 1…2…NO Jarrett kicks out! Karen hands Jeff one of her crutches as Morgan argues with the referee. Morgan shoves the referee away and walks right into a shot from the crutch. Jarrett then grabs Morgan and hits the Stroke! 1…2…NO Morgan kicks out and Karen and Jeff can’t believe it! Hebner argues with Karen as Jeff dives off the top. Morgan catches Jeff in midair by the throat! Morgan goes for a Chokeslam but instead drops him onto Morgan’s knee with a Chokeslam Atomic Drop! Morgan follows up with the Carbon Footprint! Karen trips Earl Hebner as he was going to make the count, Hebner argues with Karen and tells her to leave. Scott Steiner slides into the ring and hits the Steiner Flatliner on Morgan! He rolls Jarrett onto Morgan and then hides under the ring, 1…2…3!
Winner: Jarrett via pinfall
In the back Hulk Hogan is walking and Tenay says we’re going to hear from him next and asks where Mick Foley is. Maybe making more jokes about TNA house show attendance.
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Highlights of Bischoff attempting to take out the X-Division last week are shown with Joe killing Red, Abyss winning the X-Title, and Bischoff pinning Max Buck.
We cut to the ring where Bischoff is standing in the middle and telling the fans how he loves each and every one of them. They boo him relentlessly and he says people may ask him why he’s smiling right now, but he has a lot to be happy about. He says last week Hogan laid everything out for the Network last week and they finally understand Mick Foley has no clue about the wrestling business. He welcomes Hulk Hogan down to the ring.
Hulk says Bischoff is exactly right and all it took was a good old fashioned sitdown. He says it was completely unanimous that there is only one man that can sail the ship around TNA and that’s Hulk Hogan. Hulk says after picking his brain for hours they realized that his genius for the business whipped out any motives they thought he had. He claims that with Foley sitting right there the Network gave him a standing ovation. He says it’s clear sailing from here on out but he walks to talk about Bischoff right now. He says what Bischoff did last week and single handedly wiped the X-Division that had been around for 9 years completely out was genius. Hogan says the X-Division just doesn’t matter and Bischoff was the only one that did something about it. BANG, BANG! Mick Foley walks down to the ring.
Hogan looks surprised that Foley is in the building. Hogan says no one invited Foley out there but Foley says he doesn’t need an invitation because he’s a network executive. Foley says Hogan may have fooled some people but after Hogan walked out the only thing he succeeded in doing was pissing the network off. Foley says once Hogan left he took Spike on a little trip down memory lane and reminded him how the X-Division was what put TNA on the map and that the X-Division was what made TNA different and what made this company better in his opinion. That’s a shoot if I ever heard one. Foley says they couldn’t have a show where “wrestling matters” without the X-Division so not only will the X-Division remain but it will soar to heights it never had previously. Foley says for the next few weeks he will be scanning the globe for the best X-Division wrestlers in the world and in July he will be putting all those guys together in a little thing they call ULTIMATE X!
Bischoff says he knows Foley spent his entire career bouncing his head off thumbtacks and that somehow makes him an expert on the X-Division, but he has to remind Foley that he has nothing to do with PPV so nice try. Foley says while its true it will be a PPV, the truth is that it’s the network that promotes the PPV’s so unless they think they can put on a PPV without the help of the network then he’ll see them at DESTINATION X! Hogan says since Foley thinks the X-Division is so great and is going to flourish so much then why wait! He suggests Foley do something to really help the X-Division and says he’s giving Foley the opportunity to face Abyss for the X-Division Title! Hogan asks if that Hardcore Legend is still alive or if it’s dead and gone and hiding behind the network. Brian Kendrick’s music interrupts them!
Kendrick, Generation Me, and Amazing Red walk onto the stage and actually does a little rhyme. He says, “god is talking through me, not to me, time to get moving, towards our…DESTINY. He says sons please don’t be nervous, for no one gets heard in my service. Gentleman you are the reptilians, we are here to eradicate.” Bischoff suggests Kendrick has been into RVD’s stash. Kendrick says his purpose is to eradicate Hogan and Bischoff. Hogan tells Kendrick and his three little pimples to get out of the ring. Kendrick thinks it’s funny how they want to put Foley in an X-Division match but asks wouldn’t it be even funnier if Kendrick was the brunt of that joke…BROTHER! Hogan tells Kendrick that if he has something to say he better say it before he crucifies him. Kendrick says he wants the match and Hogan mocks Kendrick wanting to fight Abyss. Foley agrees with it. Hogan says this will be even better than him popping that pimple. Hogan says the blood will be on Foley’s hands for this one. Foley hypes the X-Division guys up as Hogan & Bischoff laughs at them.
In the back Winter is giving Angelina Love a massage and she says the world will soon see them for what they are and the world will worship them. God, I hate this storyline. Winter says no matter what happens tonight she will be here.
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Non-Title Match
Mickie James (c) vs. Winter w/Angelina Love
Mickie and Winter lockup and Mickie gets Winter in a Hammerlock but Winter elbows her in the face. Winter grabs Mickie by the head and slams her to the mat and gets a nearfall. She then grabs Mickie but Mickie hits her in the stomach and then a series of Forearms. Mickie attempts to whip Winter into the corner but Winter counters into a gorgeous looking Bridging Northern Lights Suplex! 1…2…NO Mickie kicks out! Winter puts the boots to Mickie and then she picks Mickie up by the hair and taunts her. Mickie comes back with a Jawbreaker and then a Snapmare Takeover followed by a sliding dropkick! Mickie picks Winter up but Winter shoves her into the corner. Mickie answers with a back elbow and then she lifts herself up into the air and into the Mickiecanrana! Mickie follows with a Running Forearm and then a Flapjack! Mickie nips up to her feet and then she picks Winter up but Winter pokes her in the eyes. Winter then goes for her Swinging Backbreaker, but Mickie blocks it and hits the Mickie-DT! 1…2…3!
Winner: Mickie via pinfall (Mickie-DT)
Winter’s mouth looks like it might be busted open. Either the lip or tongue one. Angelina attacks Mickie and knocks her out of the ring. Angelina then starts stomping away on Mickie and punching her repeatedly. Angelina grabs Mickie and throws her into the ring steps! Angelina goes to check on Winter and then stares at Mickie.
In the back Abyss talks behind a cage and says that Bischoff has given him the greenlight to destroy Kendrick and he says he will systematically exterminate the X-Division. He says “its not about weight limits, it’s about no limits” and then begins reading from the “Art of War” and says “my invinsibilty lies in my defense, the possibility of victory lies in my attack” and then he picks up Janice and his belt and walks towards the ring. As Abyss walks away Kaz attacks him from out of nowhere! Kaz looks like he was hitting him with a pipe or something. Abyss screams in agony and then Kaz picks up Janice and says “you’re never going to use “her” again” and walks away.
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TNA X-Division Championship
“The Monster” Abyss vs. Brian Kendrick
Abyss is selling the injuries of Kazarian attacking him as he makes his way to the ring. Kendrick dives through the ropes with a kick onto Abyss on the floor! Kaz beats on Abyss relentlessly on the floor until Abyss shoves him away. Abyss goes nuts and charges after Kendrick but Kendrick sidesteps him and Abyss runs into the ring steps. Kendrick then starts kicking away at Abyss with Leg Kicks. Abyss rolls into the ring and Kendrick hits a Running Forearm on Abyss and then he hits the ropes but Abyss grabs him by the throat. Kendrick then bites his hand to block the Chokeslam! Abyss grabs him with the other hand but Kendrick slaps it away and then slides underneath Abyss’s legs and connects with a forearm and then a dropkick. Kendrick hits the ropes but eats a back elbow from Abyss. Abyss rakes Kendrick’s eyes in the corner and then picks him up and whips him into the opposite corner hard. Abyss then squashes Kendrick with a big Corner Splash. He then mocks the fans and picks Kendrick up and lays into him with right hands. Kendrick fights back with body shots and then hits the ropes and dives at Abyss but Abyss catches him in a Bearhug! Kendrick starts gauging Abyss in the eyes and punches away at him. Kendrick then hits the ropes but eats a Big Boot from Abyss! Abyss beats on Kendrick further and picks up and shows off his power with a Gorilla Press. He tries to throw Kendrick out of the ring with it but Kendrick blocks it and hits a Dropkick. Kendrick then hits the ropes and connects with another dropkick. Kendrick climbs up top and dives off with a Missile Dropkick! 1…2…NO Abyss powers out! Kendrick climbs up top again but Abyss rolls behind the referee so that the referee is standing between Kendrick and Abyss. Kendrick screams at the referee to move but this time allows Abyss to get up and hit the top rope crotching Kendrick. Abyss then pulls Kendrick into the Black Hole Slam! 1…2…3!
Winner & STILL X-Division Champ: Abyss via pinfall (Black Hole Slam)
Abyss looks into the camera and says, “in the Art of War Sun Tzu says “my invincibility lies in my defense” and tonight my defense was a human shield!” Jesus, are you kidding me? The Abyss character with LOGIC!
They once again play the video hyping up Angle vs. RVD.
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Back from the break Kurt Angle puts over how great RVD is and says this is good preparation for Jeff Jarrett at Slammiversary but he can’t look past RVD at all. He has to focus fully on RVD.
TNA Television Championship
Gunner (c) vs. “Showtime” Eric Young
Young is actually wearing Gunner’s TV Title to the ring, I guess it was the old World Title that Gunner took away from Young last week. Gunner gets in Young’s face and Young says he’s going to lay down for him. Gunner pokes him and Young sells it with a bump. Gunner reaches down to pin but Young reaches up with an Inside Cradle! 1…2…3!
Winner & NEW TV Champ: Young via pinfall (inside cradle)
Gunner chases Young around the ring after the match but Young grabs the belt and takes off! Gunner chases him to the back.
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Main Event
“The Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle vs. “The Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam
Karen and Jeff Jarrett join Tenay & Taz on commentary. Why in the world are y’all giving her a headset? To my knowledge this is the FIRST time Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam have faced each other in a one-on-one match. I may be forgetting some random match they had on Raw or Smackdown years ago but I can’t remember a single match. I do remember the 3-Way they had with Stone Cold way back when RVD first came to the WWE (then WWF). They are giving this the full treatment, boxing style intros from Borash and everything. Karen wants a couple of Kurt’s teeth knocked out by RVD. He’s wearing a mouthpiece, Karen. I’m just saying. RVD and Angle circle each other as Tenay reinforces my point of this being a first time matchup. The two lockup and Angle gets RVD in a Side Headlock, but RVD shoves him into the ropes but eats a shoulder block. Angle hits the ropes but RVD drops down in a split so Angle leaps over him. RVD rolls backwards in an attempt to Monkey Flip Angle, but Angle grabs his foot and rolls him through. Angle grabs him by the waist and goes for a German, but RVD counters and goes for one of his own. Angle hits him with a back elbow and then hits the ropes only to eat a spinning heel kick and then a Superkick! RVD follows up with Rolling Thunder and Angle rolls out to the floor to catch a breather. Looks like RVD’s lip is busted open already. Angle climbs back into the ring and they lockup again. This time Angle gets him in a Side Headlock again and hits a Side Headlock Takeover. RVD fights it and fights up to his feet and shoves Angle into the ropes only to eat another shoulder block. Angle hits the ropes and RVD goes for a Backdrop but Angle kicks him. RVD then explodes with a spinning heel kick out of nowhere! RVD then hits a Rolling Monkey Flip out of the corner! RVD then hits the ropes but Angle catches him with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex! Angle picks RVD up and hits a Snap Suplex for a nearfall. He gets a 2nd nearfall and then he locks in a Waistlock on RVD on the mat. RVD fights to his feet and counters out of the hold and hits a back elbow. RVD hits the ropes but eats a Running Knee from Angle for another nearfall. Angle locks in a Rear Chinlock on RVD on the mat trying to ground the striker/high flyer. Angle puts his knee in the back of RVD as he pulls back on the hold. RVD fights it and gets to his knees and then up to his feet and breaks the hold with elbows, but Angle cuts him off with shots to the back. Angle tries to throw RVD into the corner but RVD blocks it with his foot and then connects with a Front Kick with the other foot! RVD connects with Forearm Smashes on Angle and then he attempts to whip Angle into the ropes but Angle reverses it. Angle goes for a Backdrop but RVD backflips over Angle. Angle tries to kick RVD but RVD catches his foot and hits the Stepover Heel Kick! RVD follows up with a Running Shoulder Block in the corner. RVD then attempts to whip Angle into the opposite corner but Angle reverses it. Angle charges at RVD but RVD hits him with a back elbow and then springs to the top and dives off with a Liger Kick! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! RVD hits Angle with a Forearm and then he attempts to whip Angle into the ropes but Angle counters into a German Suplex! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Angle measures RVD up and goes for the Angle Slam but RVD counters into a nasty Spike DDT! Both men are down now. RVD gets to his feet and climbs up top, btu Angle follows him right up springing to the top and connecting with the Belly-to-Belly Superplex! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Angle pulls the straps down and grabs RVD’s ankle and locks in the Ankle Lock! RVD fights it and pushes himself up with his arms and then and then rolls over and starts kicking the sh!t out of Angle! He finally kicks Angle off and then hits a Spinning Heel Kick! RVD climbs back up top and dives off with the 5-Star Frog Splash! Angle rolls out of the way and hits the Angle Slam! 1…2…3! Great match!
Winner: Angle via pinfall (Angle Slam)
Tenay points out how Angle just proved that he can beat ANYONE in a one-on-one match in the world. Karen says maybe that’s so but she promises Jeff won’t be alone at Slammiversary. Angle and Jarrett stare each other down at the close of the show.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In a show that “wrestling matters” there still wasn’t enough actual “wrestling” but the overall show was still a lot better this week.
I liked that they opened the show right up with a match which is the first time they’ve done that in a really, really long time. Usually it’s the usual 10-15 minute promo from whoever. It was a really fun TV brawl with AJ getting a measure of revenge on Dreamer but still not being able to get it on Bully Ray just yet. Daniels is just kind of there but the match was good. AJ’s dive off the balcony was really cool.
I heard a ton of bad things about the Anderson/Disco segment but it was nowhere near as long as I figured (I had heard 20 and 30 minutes from some claims) but it was more around 5 minutes. Anderson looked like the douchebag he needs to be going against Sting.
The Velvet Sky-ODB stuff was okay but ODB’s problem with Velvet just isn’t very logical. Had she argued that TNA wanted her to be a Barbie like Velvet and that was her problem I could get with it. Regardless I’m just glad ODB is back and we’re getting to see her play the heel for the first time in a long time.
I have no clue where they’re going with Pope/Devon but at least some will know that Xplosion exists now.
Jarrett-Morgan was a solid match that Morgan looked really, REALLY strong in. Jarrett got the win while Morgan still looking strong and continuing the program with Steiner.
I absolutely loved the promo with Bischoff, Hogan, Foley, and the X-Division guys. I’m old school I guess in that seeing guys like Red, GenMe, and Kendrick standing in there with legends it looks good for them even with Hogan cracking jokes. Foley putting over that the X-Division is NOT going anywhere and even putting focus on Destination X which is two months away is a great sign, and I really, REALLY hope that the claim of searching the world for the best X-Division wrestlers in the world isn’t bullsh!t. Another World X-Cup or even just an International X Match would be great.
Abyss-Kendrick was another solid big man-little man match with Abyss yet again outsmarting his opponent. I know that a lot of people have nothing for Abyss and I’ve been like that for awhile but I’m digging this Art of War stuff with him. It shows he’s not just a dumb monster and he’s actually tying in all of these Sun Tzu sayings into how he wins while Kendrick still made a valiant effort. Now, as this goes on when an X-Division guy FINALLY takes down the giant and wins the belt back it could really do a favor for that wrestler. It looks like Kaz is that guy they have pegged for that spot and I like it. They made sure to let everyone know that Kaz isn’t leaving the X-Division behind as he attacked Abyss.
Mickie-Winter was definitely Winter’s best match in TNA so far and a solid TV match. I still absolutely despise this stupid Winter/Angelina thing and the segment they did before the match was one of the dumber ones. They setup something with Angelina attacking Mickie after the match so I don’t know if we’re heading towards Mickie vs. Angelina or Winter.
Just the thought of reliving the Finger Poke of Doom made my stomach turn but the spin on it with Young punking Gunner was a nice twist. I don’t know how I feel about Young getting the belt and I just don’t see how this is going to help elevate the belt. Yeah, Young can be funny sometimes but it gets old quick.
The Main Event was made to feel special all night long really emphasizing this was a first time matchup and all the video packages hyping it. The match itself was really good, a great TV match but you just know how great it could have been on PPV. My one complaint with it is despite the way they made it feel like a special match, a match like that should get a ton of build and be on PPV. It leads to possibly us getting that match and feud down the line maybe even for the belt though. Both Angle and Jarrett looked strong coming out of these challenges from both.
– Promo/Segment of the Night: X-Division
– Match of the Night: RVD vs. Angle (****)
– Overall Grade: B
Scheduled for Next Week:
-n/a
Slammiversary IX Lineup:
– TNA World Title: Sting (c) vs. Mr. Anderson
– TNA World Title #1 Contenders Match: Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett (if Jarrett wins he also gets Angle’s medals)
– TNA Knockouts Title: Mickie James (c) vs. Angelina Love
– Crimson vs. Samoa Joe
– Scott Steiner vs. Matt Morgan