2007
Universal Studios Orlando
Orlando, Florida
February 11, 2007
Thanks to www.pwtorch.com for the reults!
COUNTDOWN SHOW
We start with a sign in the crowd: "Steiner stole Dutt's 'roids." Seriously,
they started the show with that.
Ringside, Mike Tenay and Don West talked about "the show that would be talked
about forever." They encouraged us to buy the PPV, but I still haven't heard
from one person who can watch the pre-show without ordering the PPV.
We saw Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe arriving in the building at 6:39 p.m. EST. Angle
had no comment. That's probably for the best. He might say something that makes
no sense. Joe was sporting a Dickies jacket and he screamed at Leticia that
Angle is getting the NWA Title tonight and then he's getting the belt from
Angle. He screamed at Scott Steiner through the camera.
Jeremy Borash was ringside to sell the PPV. We saw a video package on the Rhino
vs. Styles feud leading to their gimmick match tonight.
Leticia interviewed Jim Cornette backstage with Christy Hemme eagerly awaiting
to know who her opponent is. Cornette said no go on the opponent, but it would
be a tuxedo match. Basically, a bra and panties match. Christy screamed at
Cornette for thinking her career is a joke. She said they would see who has the
last laugh tonight.
PS1 -- JOHNNY DEVINE & KAZARIAN (w/Matt Bentley) vs. SONJAY DUTT & JAY LETHAL
Dutt came to the ring and flexed like a heavyweight wrestler. Tenay, apparently
forgetting that Serotonin's gimmick is to lose matches, couldn't remember when
they actually won a match. West said he doesn't remember any of Serotonin
matches (99.9 percent of viewers don't either), but he only remembers Raven
caning the losers. Devine gave Lethal a running powerslam into the corner before
landing a two-knee splash to the gut. He missed with a top rope moonsault and
Dutt took the hot tag from Lethal. He did the Batista/Warrior rope shake leading
to a springboard moonsault on both opponents. Dutt snapped off a huricanrana on
Kazarian, then went for the Camel Clutch, but Devine broke it up. The action
broke down with Lethal hitting a suicide dive on Devine on the outside. Dutt
went for a splash, but Bentley caught Dutt with a superkick behind the ref's
back. Kazarian then made the cover on Dutt for the win.
WINNERS: Devine & Kazarian in 5:00. The team whose gimmick is to lose just beat
a team from the X Division. It doesn't get any worse for TNA's Super Juniors
division.
After the match, Raven came to the ring. He told all three of them to assume the
position for the Kendo stick caning to the back.
Tenay said Leticia was backstage. It was Borash with Alex Shelley to discuss
some footage that Shelley shot. Shelley walked into the bathroom where Kevin
Nash was taking a leak. Shelley said he had some unbelievable footage he shot at
the hotel last night. "Snuff?" Nash asked. Shelley said it was just Eric Young
and Miss Brooks. Nash said they needed to check it out, then he finished up and
wiped his hands with a paper towel. Borash complemented him on his hygiene. Bob
Backlund then stormed out of a stall and wanted to know whether they were
discussing "per-no-graphy". Borash wasn't sure what to say.
Tenay said there hasn't been a more personal feud in TNA's history than Sting
vs. Abyss. They finally explained what a Prison Yard match is, which would have
been helpful when promoting the match on TV. We saw a video package on the feud.
Borash stood backstage with Abyss and Jim Mitchell to discuss the match.
Mitchell said Sting has painted a false picture of who he is. He claimed to have
taken a broken man out of the gutter, turned him into a World champion, and made
him a success. Mitchell said Sting has done nothing more than reveal Abyss's
secret and turn him into a basket case. He said the soap opera could have been
avoided if Sting minded his own business and kept his hands to himself. Mitchell
said "three bullets" and Abyss threatened to snap on Mitchell, who called
Abyss's bluff and told him to do something. Mitchell said one of them has to go
and it's going to be him or Sting for good.
There were go-go girls dancing in cages ringside to promote the LAX vs. Team 3D
match to start the PPV. There was also an Italian café set-up in the ring.
Someone in that company has experience working for Disney or a
catering/decorating service and loves designing all sorts of random sets.
Leticia was in the parking lot when Scott Steiner and Tomko pulled up in
Steiner's truck. Steiner screamed at Tomko to get his bags. He snapped on him,
then said, "I'm hungry."
West did his pre-show final sell in front of the strippers ringside. Brother Ray
then grabbed the mic from Don West and screamed that they want to the fight to
start now. They cut to one final video package previewing the card.
Live PPV review
The opening video package focused on Christian Cage equating himself to other
instant classics such as the Model T, sliced bread, the hoola hoop, bowling,
Elvis, and Pac-Man. Someone in the truck had too much time on his or her hands
with the echo sound mixer.
1 -- TEAM 3D (BROTHER RAY & BROTHER DEVON) vs. LAX (HERNANDEZ & HOMICIDE
w/Konnan) -- Little Italy Street Fight -- non-title match
Team 3D was still in the ring to start the PPV. LAX pulled a misdirection when
someone wheeled Konnan to ringside, then LAX sneak attacked Team 3D to start the
match. Ringside, Homicide hit a suicide dive on Bother Ray on the outside.
Hernandez then flew over the top rope and met a chair shot to the head from
Devon. Someone needs to fix Don West's audio. Ray then back body dropped
Homicide into the ringpost before missing with a chair shot. Action was going on
both sides of the ringside area with the crowd cheering something we weren't
seeing, so they decided to go for an instant replay. Brother Ray then tried to
dance with the strippers, but Homicide cockblocked with a chair shot to the back
of Ray's head. Back in the ring, LAX double-teamed Devon with a slingshot front
slam by Hernandez. Homicide pulled out a pizza cutter and sliced open Devon's
forehead. Ray then entered the ring with a cheese grater and smashed it over
Homicide's head. Suddenly, random Hispanic men filled the ring. Of course, Team
3D cleared them all. Homicide then took the diving headbutt to the crotch from
Devon. They set up a table, then Devon set up for another headbutt, but he opted
to splash the random Hispanic men. LAX double-teamed Ray, then Hernandez put Ray
through the table. Homicide followed with a top rope elbow drop and Ray kicked
out to show how tough he is. Devon came back with the Saving Grace lift-up slam
on Homicide for a nearfall. The Hispanic men held down Devon in the corner, then
Hernandez gave him a Border Toss. Homicide came off the top with an elbow drop
and Hernandez covered Devon for the win.
WINNERS: LAX in 10:00. Sloppy at times, but it was the type of action that was
expected. Of course, Team 3D wasn't going to lose clean to a smaller team, so
the outside interference wasn't surprising. (*1/4)
Borash was backstage with Austin Aries to discuss his unadvertised match against
Senshi. Starr said he's the most complete wrestler in TNA and he's shaken off
Kevin Nash's initial damage to him. Backlund popped into the picture from behind
to interrupt Starr's promo. Starr said he would physically change Backlund's
channel if he ever lays his hands on him. Starr stormed off. "Was that young man
trying to exacerbate me with his discourse?" Backlund asked. He paused and
looked at the camera.
2 -- THE AUSTIN STARR vs. SENSHI
Rapid-fire action early on with Starr playing the cocky heel distracting himself
by posing for the camera. Starr then hit a suicide dive on Senshi at 1:30. He
worked on Senshi's face with a leg vice in the ropes, then ripped off a hard
chop to the chest that put some life in the crowd. He missed with a Pendulum
elbow drop and Senshi came back with kicks to the chest, but Starr cut him off
with a dropkick for a nearfall. Starr missed with a clothesline and Starr
answered with a hard knock-down clothesline. Senshi tried to cauliflower Starr's
ears with kicks, then he missed with a corner splash and Starr applied a
Crossface Chickenwing. Senshi escaped and hit a dropkick before going up top and
missing with the Warrior's Way. Starr went back to the Chickenwing, then Senshi
took him to the mat. They had a pin exchange with Starr getting his shoulder up
in a bridge attempt by Senshi, but the referee counted a three. The referee
declared Senshi as the winner.
Afterward, Starr grabbed chairs ringside and threw them into the ring out of
frustration. He took the mic and demanded the match be re-started. Starr sat
down in a chair, then Backlund hit the ring. He screamed at Starr, then Starr
slapped ihm across the face. Backlund removed his jacket and put him in the
Chickenwing. He took Starr out of the ring to the floor and ran him backstage
past So Cal Val and off camera.
WINNER: Senshi in 9:00. Hard to complain about a bonus match. Basic action that
you would see on TV if a three-minute singles match was tripled in length.
(*1/2)
Backstage, Borash interviewed Christian Cage. Tomko screamed at Christian that
he's tired of dealing with Steiner and his ego. He told Christian to set Steiner
straight. Steiner stormed the interview and said he would help Christian beat
Angle, but he's not working with the dumb redneck, Tomko, anymore. Christian
reminded Steiner that Angle took Steiner's spot, his paycheck, and food off the
table. He told Tomko to apologize, but Steiner didn't want to hear it. Steiner
said he's starting to think he wants Christian as bad as he wants Angle.
Christian screamed at Tomko to go fix it.
They aired a video package on Christy Hemme's recent problems with VKM. Kip
James is such a babyface in this feud, just based on how they presented
Christy's complaints.
3 -- CHRISTY HEMME vs. BIG FAT OILY GUY -- Tuxedo match
Christy walked out first followed by the BFOG. He came up to Christy and danced
near her. Christy slapped him to start the match. She stripped off the jacket,
then landed kicks to the gut. BFOG stripped off the jacket, then Christy mounted
BFOG and stripped off his shirt, which drew boos. She splashed BFOG in the
corner and they had some weird exchange in the corner. BFOG grabbed Christy's
pants, then BFOG slammed her to the mat. BFOG missed with a splash revealing a
thong hanging out of his pants. BFOG blocked a sunset flip and sat down
crotch-first on Christy's face. "That was like bad porn," West said, revealing
way too much information. Christy then stripped off BFOG's pants to win.
Afterward, Christy said she's not done and Cornette's plan backfired. VKM's
music then hit and Kip came out to a babyface reaction. He said the people
didn't come to see Christy vs. the BFOG. He said they came to see him strip. Kip
then teased taking off his pants before stripping off Christy's tuxedo shirt
revealing bra and panties. Christy stormed off and Kip smiled in the ring.
WINNER: Christy in 3:00. It is what it is. Kip is the babyface and Christy is
best-suited turning heel at this point. (n/a)
Backstage, Leticia tried to emcee the Alex Shelley viewing party, but Shelley
told her to sit down with Nash, Dutt, and Lethal. Shelley said they were viewing
an artistic masterpiece with Young and Brooks that he might take to Sundance.
The footage started with Miss Brooks on the phone in a hotel room. Well, we know
TNA didn't pay for this one. Brooks told Shelley to shut up while she was
getting ready. There was a knock on the door, then we saw "To Be Continued".
We saw a video package on Team Eckstein vs. Team Pierzynski.
4 -- DALE TORBORG (w/A.J. Pierzynski) vs. LANCE HOYT (w/David Eckstein)
Pierzynski mocked Eckstein and Hoyt's pre-match pose for the hard camera, then
Tenay said Torborg's wrestling credentials include playing the KISS Demon in
WCW. Pierzynski interfered early on by low-blowing Hoyt and slamming him into
the guardrail. Back in the ring, Torborg nearly dropped Hoyt on his head with a
suplex before choking him in the corner. Hoyt then came back with a turnaround
clothesline off the top rope setting up his comeback. Eckstein the hopped on the
apron and distracted the referee, which allowed Pierzynski to hit Hoyt in the
back with a steel chair shot. Torborg then covered Hoyt for the win.
Afterward, Eckstein complained that Pierzynski had used a chair. The referee
took Eckstein at his word and called for a re-start. Rick Eckstein then handed
David a chair and David slammed it over Torborg's back. He hit a pumphandle slam
for the win.
WINNER: Hoyt in 5:00. Just a bad match. The re-start was inconsistent with
Austin Starr losing when his shoulders weren't even down, but we know TNA
doesn't think about consistency when putting together their shows. (1/2*)
Back to the viewing party, Shelley asked for feedback on his film. He said he
modeled his filming technique after Pulp Friction. We went back to Brooks
telling Shelley to hide in the closet. Eric Young walked into the hotel room
with fake roses and a half-eaten box of chocolate. She stripped off Young's
shirt and complemented him on his physique. Brooks reminded us that heels lie
when she said it's her first time, too. She held up a consensual sex contract...er...agreement
to join Robert Roode, Inc. that Young had to sign before they did the deed. To
Be Continued...
5 -- A.J. STYLES vs. RHINO -- Motor City Chain match
Styles came out first, then Rhino stormed the ring and chased Styles. We saw a
key on one pole and a nightstick on another pole. Earl Hebner held the chain in
the ring and hooked up Rhino to one side of the chain before telling Styles to
hook up to the other side. So, it's a dog collar/bull rope match that TNA should
have explained on TV to make things easier. Tenay said the winner would be
determined by pinfall or submission. The fight spilled to the outside early on
with Rhino slamming Styles into the guardrail. They had a tug of war near the
ringpost and Styles fell down hard on his back. Styles got up and Rhino pulled
him into the guardrail. Rhino then crotched Styles with the chain and West asked
the viewers to feel the pain Styles must have felt based on where the chain was
rubbing. This is too much from West tonight. Rhino set up for the Gore at 4:45,
but Styles caught him with a textbook dropkick. West then described Styles
stuffing the chain in Rhino's mouth and trying to split his cheeks open. We then
had a discussion of Styles trying to climb the pole to retrieve the key to
escape the chain, but Rhino pulled Styles down to the mat before he could grab
the key. Styles then came off the top with a springboard fist smash. He made a
cover, but it was only good for a nearfall. Rhino made a comeback and landed a
spinebuster in center ring for a nearfall. West then said Styles probably should
have taken the loss at that point to fight for another day, but that's not
something Styles would do. Tenay quickly caught on to the most absurd statement
West has ever made by reminding West that Styles willingly quit last month.
Styles grabbed the nightstick from Rhino and smashed it over Rhino's face to no
crowd reaction. Styles went to the other pole and retrieved the key to uncuff
himself. He then hit a top rope frog splash and stared down Rhino. Styles then
left the ring and walked up the ramp for no apparent reason. He walked back into
the ring and stomped on Rhino. He then wrapped the chain around the ring and
cuffed it to the ropes with Rhino still hooked up to the chain. Styles teased
him with the key, then hit the Pele kick for a small cheer. After doing too much
posing, Styles turned around and took the Gore, but Rhino couldn't reach Styles
to make a cover because he was tied up like a dog on a short leash. Earl Hebner
then got the only reaction of the match by casually kicking the keys over to
Rhino. The fans chanted, "You screwed A.J." Rhino uncuffed himself and made his
comeback. He slid a table into the ring and set up the Gore, but Styles ducked
and Rhino crashed into the table. Styles then made the cover for the win.
WINNER: Styles in 16:00. It's pretty sad that the only strong crowd reaction
during the match came for Earl Hebner when he helped Rhino acquire the keys. Too
many gimmick matches have worn out the crowd and we haven't even had the Prison
Yard match. Decent action and Styles is a good heel, so that helped the match
from an entertainment standpoint. (**)
We went back to Alex Shelley for predictions on Part 3. Lethal said he's been
trying to get Leticia to go out with him, but she won't budge. They went back to
Young having to make a decision. He didn't want to sign the contract, but Brooks
took off her jacket to reveal lingerie. Young had a change of heart, then Young
signed the deal on Brooks's chest. She told Young to close his eyes, then Brooks
and Shelley left the hotel room. Brooks found Bobby Roode in the hallway and
presented the signature. Roode was mildly impressed. They left. And that was
that. Like the text messaging deal, over-promise and under-deliver. That should
be on TNA's letterhead. Nash wasn't overwhelmed by the footage and said Young
has no game. He referenced the astronaut driving to Orlando from Houston in a
diaper, then Bob Backlund stormed the set and asked what was the deal with the
pornography. He screamed at Nash, then everyone took off running. Backlund
screamed at the chairs and discovered that no one was paying attention.
6 -- CHRIS SABIN vs. JERRY LYNN -- X Division Title match
As Lynn stood in the ring with the full complement of lights, Tenay suddenly
screamed, "Who turned the lights out?" West said Lynn can do things no other
wrestlers can do in the ring. See, that's fine and dandy, but that doesn't mean
the guy can win matches. It's not a strong endorsement of a wrestler. Lynn
cleared Sabin to the outside early on and Sabin recovered in the ring. Sabin
told the cameraman that he has him this time. Sabin then stalled for several
minutes before the action spilled to the outside and Lynn sidestepped a splash
causing Sabin to crash to the mat. Back in the ring, Sabin worked on Lynn's neck
and back with a surfboard stretch. West said it was tough to watch...well, Lynn
taking a beating from Sabin. Sabin mounted Lynn in the corner, then rubbed his
face with his hands. Lynn made a comeback with right hand blows followed by a
series of dropkicks, not showing any effects of the work on the back. Sabin cut
off Lynn and hit a standing kick before landing a spinning powerbomb for a
nearfall. Lynn quickly came back with a TKO for a nearfall, then he went for the
cradle piledriver, but he held his back in pain. Sabin then rolled up Lynn and
hooked the ropes for the win.
WINNER: Sabin in 14:00 to retain the X Division Title. Decent action at times,
but fans have been trained not to care about the extensive work by the heel
because it usually doesn't play into the finish. It did here, but because Sabin
lacks credibility thanks to always cheating to win, the fans were quiet for the
majority of the match. (**1/4)
They promoted the Ultimate X match for the March PPV. Tenay then said they would
announce the new concept match on Spike tomorrow night.
Backstage, the camera found Kurt Angle's nameplate on a door. Samoa Joe stepped
out of the locker room sporting a backwards baseball cap and a t-shirt.
Robert Roode and Miss Brooks walked out to celebrate Eric Young signing the deal
to join Roode, Inc. Eric Young then walked out with a look of despair written on
his face. Roode said Young has had him baffled for months because he couldn't
figure out why the fans love him. He then figured out that Young relates to the
fans because they're all losers who would never know success. Roode said Young
would never be able to make love to a beautiful woman, like all the fans. Young
stole the mic and Roode told him to say something, but Young remained quiet.
Roode then held up his Kinkos-bounded contract and said he owns Young now. He
threatened to fire Young if Young tried to hit him. He said that Young would
eventually find out that it pays to be Roode.
Borash asked Christian whether everything was in order in his house. Tomko
mumbled someone, then left the interview set. Christian then said TNA is trying
to sell tickets by stirring up drama with his group. He said the time is 2006
and no one cares anymore about Angle winning a gold medal with a broken neck.
Christian was about to sign off, but Cornette interrupted and explained that the
NWA Title belt can change hands via DQ tonight. He said that if Tomko or Steiner
places his hands on Angle tonight and causes a DQ, Christian would lose the
belt.
We saw a video recap on the Gail Kim vs. James Storm & Miss Tennessee feud.
7 -- JAMES STORM & JACKIE MOORE vs. PETEY WILLIAMS & GAIL KIM
Jackie wanted a piece of Petey early on, and Petey responded with an atomic
drop. Gail then tagged in and hair-tossed Jackie around the ring. She speared
Jackie to the mat and went for right hand blows, but the ref separated them.
Jackie went running to Storm's crotch for safety, then Gail shoved Jackie's head
into Storm's crotch. Petey tagged in and took a clothesline after Jackie kneed
him in the back from the apron. After working on Petey for several minutes,
Storm hit the Eye of the Storm and tagged in Jackie, who dropped an elbow for a
nearfall. Petey then caught Jackie with a back drop suplex and Storm tagged in
to take a double-foot dropkick to the back. He followed with the Russian
legsweep, then he called for the Destroyer. Jackie blocked the finisher with an
eye rake, then Gail entered and landed right hand blows. She went up to and
landed a missile dropkick, but Storm broke up the pin. Gail then rolled up
Jackie and had the pin, but the ref was talking to Petey. Jackie then shoved
Gail into Storm's leg or knee and Gail recoiled to the mat. Jackie made the
cover for the win.
Afterward, Storm missed with a beer bottle show and Petey picked up the bottle.
Jackie then jumped on Petey's back and Petey flipped her to the mat. Storm then
caught Petey with a superkick. Suddenly, Jackie gave referee Rudy Charles a DDT.
Storm called for the end, then they set up Petey for the Death Sentence, but out
of nowhere, Chris Harris ran into the ring sporting an eye patch. Storm bailed
from the ring, then Gail checked on Petey as Harris called out to Storm.
WINNERS: Storm & Jackie in 9:00. Entertaining at times and they held the
interest of the crowd. We'll probably get Harris vs. Storm next month or at
Lockdown in the cage. (*3/4)
We saw a video package on the Sting vs. Abyss feud. Borash then found Sting
backstage with a giant green light flashing in the background. Sting talked with
the mask on, so we couldn't understand much of what he said. Sting said he's
been living behind Abyss's mask for the last ten days, which has given him a new
perspective on Abyss's life. He said Mitchell is sucking the life out of Abyss
and it's time for him to silence Mitchell tonight. Sting said the end times are
here.
8 -- ABYSS (w/James Mitchell) vs. STING -- Prison yard match
The winner is the person who can put his opponent into the cage cell first.
Abyss walked out and Tenay talked about the various caging and weaponry
surrounding the ring. They showed the cell hanging above the ring. Abyss then
walked outside the building where the match was scheduled to start. Sting came
to the ring next and checked on the barbed wire surrounding the ring. He walked
to the back and chucked a trashcan into Abyss to start the match. Abyss then
threw Sting into a dumpster, but we saw that Sting landed softly on a piece of
plywood. Abyss then took too long setting up a table below the dumpster and
Sting met him with a board shot to the face. Sting then splashed Abyss from the
dumpster through the table. That's something you'd see in a backyard wrestling
match. The fight then spilled into the Impact Zone where Sting landed right hand
blows before throwing him into the barbed wire wrapped around the ringpost.
Sting pulled out a barbed wire baseball bat and slammed it over Abyss's back
several times. He then called for the cage to be lowered at 4:00. The camera
zoomed in on Abyss's arm covered in blood. Sting then knocked Mitchell off the
apron and pulled the belt from Mitchell's waist to smash him in the face with a
loaded fist. Sting landed belt shots to the back and we saw that Mitchell was
bleeding from the forehead. Abyss made the save and slid a table in the ring. He
then grabbed a WCW Saturday Night-style flashing red light from the turnbuckle
and shattered it over Sting's face for a big pop. He then tried to shut the door
on Sting in the cage, but Sting over-powered him. Abyss retrieved a barbed wire
board and set it up in the corner, but Sting made a comeback. He ran into the
Black Hole Slam, though, and Abyss took the mask off Sting. He shoved Sting into
the cage and tried to shut the door, but Sting fought him off again and kicked
the door into Abyss's face. Sting followed with Stinger Splashes and the
Scorpion Deathdrop, then Mitchell ran into the ring and Sting put him in the
Scorpion Deathlock. Abyss made the save for Mitchell and set up the table in the
ring. He then tried climbing the cell, but Sting recovered and set up the barbed
wire board on the table. Sting then powerbombed Abyss off the cell through the
barbed wire and the table. The fans jumped up and down, then Sting threw Abyss
into the cage and locked the door to win the match.
Afterward, Sting tried to choke the life out of Mitchell until security hit the
ring to save Mitchell from further damage. Abyss reached out to Mitchell from
inside the cage, then Sting left.
WINNER: STING in 12:00. Satisfying conclusion for Sting fans after a well-laid
out gimmick match. Nothing too tricky or difficult to follow for Sting or
viewers at home. (**3/4)
Borash sat backstage with Kurt Angle to discuss the title match. He said he has
never seen Angle more focused on the World Title. Angle slowly looked up and
said when he came to TNA, he knew he was the best in the world, but he had to go
through some tough wrestlers first. He said he didn't think he could take the
pain or physicality from Joe at times, but that's readied him for Christian.
He's about carpe diem and he said he's going to take the belt from Christian.
9 -- CHRISTIAN CAGE (w/Tomko) vs. KURT ANGLE -- NWA Title match
West said Joe would be available to assist Angle during the match. Angle came
out first, followed by Christian and Tomko, then Borash handled the formal ring
intros. Tomko was then given the boot from ringside and Tomko threw a fit on the
way out. After one minute of stalling and mat wrestling, Samoa Joe's music hit
and Joe walked out with a chair in hand. Joe then sat down in a neutral corner
to watch things more closely. Angle went back on the offensive and quickly went
for an Anklelock, but Christian slipped to the outside and took a double-foot
kick to the chest. Joe watched with a smirk as Angle gave Christian an overhead
slam into the ringpost before taking him back into the ring. Christian took
control with a chinlock, then he flung Angle to the outside. Angle came back
with another Anklelock, but Christian spilled over the ref to break the hold,
then low blow Angle and hit the Unprettier for a close nearfall. Angle then came
back with seven consecutive German Suplexes, but Christian kicked out of a pin
attempt. A.J. Styles then ran to the ring and Joe chased him from ringside. Back
in the ring, Christian hit Angle with something, but the camera missed the
in-ring action because they were following Styles and Joe. Tenay said it was a
chair shot. Christian then hit the Unprettier again and Angle barely kicked out.
The ref then took a bump at 15:00 and Angle hit a low blow followed by the
Olympic Slam. He had a pin, but the ref was down. Joe threw him into the ring
and Angle scored a nearfall. The ref took another bump, then Tomko and Steiner
interfered with a lead pipe, but Angle cut them off. Joe then saved Angle and
they had another staredown before Joe flew through the ropes with a suicide dive
onto both men. All three fought to the back while Christian measured Angle back
in the ring. Angle played opossum and put Christian in the anklelock and
Christian tapped out at 18:30, but the ref was still down. Christian then
grabbed the lead pipe and smashed it into Angle's shoulder. Christian woke up
the ref, then hit the Unprettier again and made the cover for the win.
Afterward, Christian celebrated with Tomko and Steiner, who seemed to be on the
same page now. A few objects were thrown into the ring to close the show with
Christian standing tall in possession of the belt.
WINNER: Christian in 20:00 to retain the NWA Title. Good drama. Good action for
the most part. Of course, there was the usual over-booking and outside
interference since it was a title match main event, but that was expected if
Christian was going to retain the belt. There's no way Angle was going to lose
clean to Christian. If you knew coming into the match to expect the
bag-of-tricks, then it probably didn't take away from your enjoyment of the
match since it wasn't as bad as previous TNA PPV main events. There's definitely
room for disappointment with the outcome if you're an Angle fan or if you
believe Angle is the right guy to hold the title right now. (***)