Soulpower
Guest
I've been thinking of doing a review for a while, and last night's ending gave me the bit of joy I needed to do this.
The opening video was pretty cool as they showed footage from all the feuds and made it look like it came from the 1940's.
We are live from the Impact Zone and your announcers are Mike Tenay and Taz (Or Tazz, depending on who you ask).
The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne) vs Sarita & Taylor Wilde (Finals of the KO Tag Title Tournament)
Wilde takes over early with a Scoop Slam on Sky. She tags in Sarita who gets a trio of quick nearfalls. Sarita and Wilde hit Double Moonsaults but are only able to get a two count. Sky tags in Rayne and she doesn't do all that well either. Madison reverse an Irish Whip by Sarita and is slammed head first into the mat. Sky is tagged back in and goes for a Sunset Flip but Sarita rolls through only to miss a kick. Velvet Sky hits a Curb Stomp (No, really!) for a two count. Madison is back in and hits a Neckbreaker for a 2 count. Sky is now back in and goes for a Clothesline but Sarita counters it into a Float Over DDT. Both Wilde and Rayne are now tagged in, and Taylor hits a Dropkick followed by a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker for a nearfall. All 4 ladies are now in and Sarita Dropkicks Velvet to the outside. Wilde grabs Madison in a waistlock which leads to a Springboard Dropkick/German Suplex Combo for the 3 count and the win!
Winners and the first KO Tag Champs:Sarita & Taylor Wilde
Match thoughts
retty good opener, if a bit short. Both Madison and Sky looked as good as they have at any point in their TNA tenures. Not really a surprise than Wilde and Sarita won, though I wonder if things would have been different with Angelina still around. (**1/4)
Taz and Tenay run down the rest of the show's card. Backstage, Sarita and Taylor celebrate with Lauren. Sadly, they didn't make out >_>.
Backstage, Kiyoshi (and the rest of the World Elite) interview Eric Young. He still hopes that Hernandez will join the group and announces he won't actually fight Hernandez.
Eric Young vs Hernandez
Forearm, Northern Lariat, Pounce, Headbutt, Border Toss and this one is over!
Winner:Hernandez
Match thoughts:This could have happened on Impact. I wonder if Hernandez's night is done?(Squash)
Backstage, Matt Morgan is interviewed by JB. He vows to rip the torch out of Kurt Angle's hand. It was actually a very good promo, and easily the best of Matt's career. X-Divison tite match is up now.
Samoa Joe vs Daniels (X-Division Title Match)
Daniels is rocking new short tights, that make him look like he's wearing diapers. Daniels uses his speed early and hits a pair of Dropkicks but is met by a Shoulder Block when he attempts a third one. Joe beats him down some and places him on the top rope, but Daniels pushes him off and hits a Headscissors that sends Joe to the outside. Daniels follows up with a Suicide Dive (Which is a lie, since Daniels is still alive!). Back inside, Daniels hits a Neckbreaker for a 2 count. He goes up top, but Joe hits the STJoe as Daniels was on his way down. Joe applies a Nerve Hold for a while, until Daniels manages to escape only to be met by a Snap Power Slam for a near fall. Daniels ducks a Chop, then and hits a Jawbreaker followed up by an Enzuguiri. Joe rolls out to the floor, but Daniels hits the Arabian Press to the floor. Daniels tries to lift Joe up (Yeah, good luck) but Joe was playing possum and rams Daniels into the ring post and then into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Joe starts working over Daniels legs and locks in a Heel Hook. Daniels makes the ropes, but Joe hits a Powerbomb transitioned into an STF, transitioned into a Single Leg Crab. Daniels comes back with a Flying Neckbreaker and hits a Codebreaker for a 2 count. He attempts a Back Suplex, but Joe counters and hits a Half-Nelson Release Suplex for a nearfall. Daniels counters a Samoan Drop attempt and hits an STO, he goes for the BME but Joe rolls out of the way. Daniels attempts the Last Rites but its countered into the Koquina Clutch and he is forced to tap out.
Winner:Samoa Joe
Match thoughts:Very good match, though not as good as their encounters in years past. My lone problem with the match came from Daniels forgetting to sell the leg after Joe spent a nice amount of time working over it.(***1/2)
Backstage, Mick Foley is upset for some reason. I wasn't paying attention.
Suicide vs Pope D'Angelo Dinero (Falls Count Anywhere)
No way in hell I'm doing a blow by blow recap of this. Lots of fighting backstage which saw chain-link fences, a golf cart among other things being used as weapons. Both men eventually make it to the ring. Suicide goes to the outside to get a table, but Dinero hits a Dropkick through the ropes that barely hits Suicide. They make their way up to the ramp and both men exchange blows. Dinero attemps a DDE (The former Elijah Express) but Suicide counters with a Dropkick. Suicide gets another table from backstage and sets it up just below the top of the entrance tunnel. Suicide hits a Finlay Roll then goes up top to the entrance tunnel and he... MISSES! Suicide goes through the table, and that's enough to allow Pope to get the pin and the victory.
Winnerope D'Angelo Dinero
Match thoughts: Pretty good match. There were a couple of miscues by both men, and I'm not a fan of two guys killing themselves in a match that no one will remember and was literally added moments before the show started. Still, it was entertaining for what it was (**1/2)
Cody Deaner vs ODB (Knockouts Championship Match)
Some funny stuff happened, ODB hit a TKO for the win.
Winner:ODB
Match Thoughts:It was better than expected, but it still wasn't much. At least the right person won the match (*)
Backstage, JB interviews Kurt Angle and he declares that there won't be a happy ending tonight.
Abyss vs Kevin Nash (Legends Title/50,000 dollars bounty match)
Hart v Michaels, Angle v Benoit, Danielson v McGuiness... Yeah, this match didn't resemble any of those. Lots of slow punching and kicking by both men. Dr.Stevie eventually makes his way to ringside. Daffney comes out with a Tazer but eats a Black Hole Slam. Nash takes Abyss' head off with a chairshot, but Abyss kicks out at 2. Abyss hits a Chokeslam for a nearfall. Abyss points to Foley (Who was at the announce table) to give him the barbed-wire baseball bat. The ref tries to stop Foley, and this allows Nash to tazer Abyss' balls (I'm not making this up) and get the win.
Post-Match, Stevie tries to leave with the money, so Nash hits a Jackknife Powerbomb and leaves with the money.
Winner:Kevin Nash
Match Thoughts:Well, it was better than ODB v Deaner (Not by a lot). The finish made me laugh, which is enough to get this match a (*1/2)
Backstage, we learn that Scott Steiner dislikes british people and all types of people that don't speak English... Never change, Scott.
Beer Money vs Team 3D vs Booker T & Scott Steiner vs Doug Williams & Brutus Magnus (Lethal Lockdown)
As was the case with the Falls Count Anywhere Match, I won't do a full recap for this. Highlights of the match include the obligatory Frankensteiner by Scott inside the cage, Rob Terry getting CRUSHED by a sickening Chair Shot, and Beer Money hitting a Double Suplex on Brutus Magnus on the top of the cage, leading to the single greatest Beer... Money! Exchange in TNA history. Back in the cage, we get a lot of finishers by everyone involved, leading to Beer Money hitting the DWI on Doug Williams (Not entirely sure about this) for the win.
Winners:Team 3D AND Beer Money (Wait, wut?)
Match Thoughts:The match itself was pretty good (Save for a spot in the middle where things were dead), but I don't know what was up with the rules. The announcers (And myself) were under the impression that this was all teams for themselves, yet 3D and Beer Money were announced as the winners. (***)
Backstage, Lauren interviews Rhyno who yells a lot. He says this isn't MMA and something something something, Gore, Gore, Gore.
Bobby Lashley vs Rhyno
At some point, they called Lashley arguably the best MMA fighter in the world.... Yup. This match was awful, boring and because no one asked for it, featured a ref bump (Because they need to protect Rhyno of all people). Rhyno actually got a lot of offense in, but eventually lost after Lashley countered a Gore attempt with a Punch. Yes, Lashley won with a Punch.
Winner:Bobby Lashley
Match thoughts:Crappy match with did NOT make Lashley look dominant. Why TNA felt the need to protect Rhyno with the finish is a mystery to me. Also, this match might have been a bigger deal if not for Lashley making his in-ring debut a while back on tv in a meaningless match (*1/2)
Backstage, JB is with Sting and AJ Styles. Sting says its showtime (Among other things).
We get some awesome video packages for all of the competitors in the main event.
Kurt Angle vs Matt Morgan vs AJ Styles vs Stin... Wait, what's this?
HERNANDEZ IS OUT! And he is cashing in the Money in the ban.. ehh... Feast or Fired briefacse in a fatal-four-way match? Apparently Hernandez doesn't want a cheap cash in and wants to earn his title win.
Kurt Angle vs Matt Morgan vs AJ Styles vs Sting vs Hernandez (TNA World Title Match)
Hernandez straight up kicks Angle's ass for a while, including hitting a delayed Vertical Suplex in which he held Angle up for about a minute (Maybe more). He hits a Clothesline and send Angle out of the ring. In the ring, Styles and Sting try to double-team Morgan. Back outside, Hernandez attempts a Border Toss on Angle, but Eric Young comes out and takes his knee out with a Nightstick and then hits a Piledriver on the outside (Not tonight, Hernandez). Angle goes after AJ as Morgan and Sting are left inside the ring. He hits the Elbows in the Corner then a Release Side Slam for a two count. Angle hits a Backbreaker to AJ on the outside. Angle is now in the ring and he are Morgan are working together to take out Sting. AJ eventually makes it back into the ring as he hits the Springboard Forearm on Angle. He attempts a Crossbody on Morgan but gets caught and Matt hits a Fallaway Slam. Morgan just starts dominating at this point and even hits an impressive Dropkick.
Morgan charges at AJ but Styles moves out of the way and hits The Pele (IT JUST COMES FROM OUTTA NOWHERE, MIKE!). Angle hits a Release German Suplex on Styles, but he gets hit with a Missile Dropkick from Sting. ALL FOUR MEN ARE DOWN! Sting, Angle and Morgan are now up, and Sting Punches and Scoops Slams Angle, then does the same to Morgan. He hits the Stinger Splash on both men. Sting goes for the 10 punches in the corner on Matt, but Angle pulls him down and hits an Angle Slam but the pin is broken up by Styles. Kurt goes for an Angle Slam on AJ, but he counters and hits The Styles Clash and goes for the pin but this time Morgan breaks it up. Morgan eventually hits a Big Boot on AJ and hits The Hellevator on Styles, but Sting now breaks the pin up. Scorpion Death Drop by Sting on Morgan, and now Angle breaks up the pin! Sting goes for The Scorpion Deathlock, but Kurt counters into The Anklelock. Angle pulls Sting to the middle of the ring, but Morgan hits The Carbon Footprint on Angle. Morgan charges at Sting, but Sting pulls down the rope and Matt flies to the outside while Angle is still knocked out in the ring. Sting and AJ have a stare down, but Sting decides to go after Morgan. AJ goes to the apron, hits the Springboard 450 AND GETS THE 3 COUNT TO WIN THE TNA WORLD TITLE! LET ME REPEAT THAT! AJ STYLES WINS THE TNA WORLD TITLE!
Winner:AJ Styles
Match thoughts:Other than Hernandez cashing in his title shot, I had no problems with this match. All four men worked hard and we got someone different winning the title. (***1/2)
Post-Match, Daniels hits the ring as confetti falls down. The fans rush the ring and celebrate with AJ Styles as the show comes to an end.
Overall thoughts:A mixed bag. That's the best way to describe this show, we had some very bad matches, some very good matches, and a GREAT finish with Styles winning the title. I won't recommend the entire show, but the ME, Lethal Lockdown and X-Divison Title Match are worth tracking down.
Until who knows when, I am out!
The opening video was pretty cool as they showed footage from all the feuds and made it look like it came from the 1940's.
We are live from the Impact Zone and your announcers are Mike Tenay and Taz (Or Tazz, depending on who you ask).
The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne) vs Sarita & Taylor Wilde (Finals of the KO Tag Title Tournament)
Wilde takes over early with a Scoop Slam on Sky. She tags in Sarita who gets a trio of quick nearfalls. Sarita and Wilde hit Double Moonsaults but are only able to get a two count. Sky tags in Rayne and she doesn't do all that well either. Madison reverse an Irish Whip by Sarita and is slammed head first into the mat. Sky is tagged back in and goes for a Sunset Flip but Sarita rolls through only to miss a kick. Velvet Sky hits a Curb Stomp (No, really!) for a two count. Madison is back in and hits a Neckbreaker for a 2 count. Sky is now back in and goes for a Clothesline but Sarita counters it into a Float Over DDT. Both Wilde and Rayne are now tagged in, and Taylor hits a Dropkick followed by a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker for a nearfall. All 4 ladies are now in and Sarita Dropkicks Velvet to the outside. Wilde grabs Madison in a waistlock which leads to a Springboard Dropkick/German Suplex Combo for the 3 count and the win!
Winners and the first KO Tag Champs:Sarita & Taylor Wilde
Match thoughts
retty good opener, if a bit short. Both Madison and Sky looked as good as they have at any point in their TNA tenures. Not really a surprise than Wilde and Sarita won, though I wonder if things would have been different with Angelina still around. (**1/4)Taz and Tenay run down the rest of the show's card. Backstage, Sarita and Taylor celebrate with Lauren. Sadly, they didn't make out >_>.
Backstage, Kiyoshi (and the rest of the World Elite) interview Eric Young. He still hopes that Hernandez will join the group and announces he won't actually fight Hernandez.
Eric Young vs Hernandez
Forearm, Northern Lariat, Pounce, Headbutt, Border Toss and this one is over!
Winner:Hernandez
Match thoughts:This could have happened on Impact. I wonder if Hernandez's night is done?(Squash)
Backstage, Matt Morgan is interviewed by JB. He vows to rip the torch out of Kurt Angle's hand. It was actually a very good promo, and easily the best of Matt's career. X-Divison tite match is up now.
Samoa Joe vs Daniels (X-Division Title Match)
Daniels is rocking new short tights, that make him look like he's wearing diapers. Daniels uses his speed early and hits a pair of Dropkicks but is met by a Shoulder Block when he attempts a third one. Joe beats him down some and places him on the top rope, but Daniels pushes him off and hits a Headscissors that sends Joe to the outside. Daniels follows up with a Suicide Dive (Which is a lie, since Daniels is still alive!). Back inside, Daniels hits a Neckbreaker for a 2 count. He goes up top, but Joe hits the STJoe as Daniels was on his way down. Joe applies a Nerve Hold for a while, until Daniels manages to escape only to be met by a Snap Power Slam for a near fall. Daniels ducks a Chop, then and hits a Jawbreaker followed up by an Enzuguiri. Joe rolls out to the floor, but Daniels hits the Arabian Press to the floor. Daniels tries to lift Joe up (Yeah, good luck) but Joe was playing possum and rams Daniels into the ring post and then into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Joe starts working over Daniels legs and locks in a Heel Hook. Daniels makes the ropes, but Joe hits a Powerbomb transitioned into an STF, transitioned into a Single Leg Crab. Daniels comes back with a Flying Neckbreaker and hits a Codebreaker for a 2 count. He attempts a Back Suplex, but Joe counters and hits a Half-Nelson Release Suplex for a nearfall. Daniels counters a Samoan Drop attempt and hits an STO, he goes for the BME but Joe rolls out of the way. Daniels attempts the Last Rites but its countered into the Koquina Clutch and he is forced to tap out.
Winner:Samoa Joe
Match thoughts:Very good match, though not as good as their encounters in years past. My lone problem with the match came from Daniels forgetting to sell the leg after Joe spent a nice amount of time working over it.(***1/2)
Backstage, Mick Foley is upset for some reason. I wasn't paying attention.
Suicide vs Pope D'Angelo Dinero (Falls Count Anywhere)
No way in hell I'm doing a blow by blow recap of this. Lots of fighting backstage which saw chain-link fences, a golf cart among other things being used as weapons. Both men eventually make it to the ring. Suicide goes to the outside to get a table, but Dinero hits a Dropkick through the ropes that barely hits Suicide. They make their way up to the ramp and both men exchange blows. Dinero attemps a DDE (The former Elijah Express) but Suicide counters with a Dropkick. Suicide gets another table from backstage and sets it up just below the top of the entrance tunnel. Suicide hits a Finlay Roll then goes up top to the entrance tunnel and he... MISSES! Suicide goes through the table, and that's enough to allow Pope to get the pin and the victory.
Winner
ope D'Angelo DineroMatch thoughts: Pretty good match. There were a couple of miscues by both men, and I'm not a fan of two guys killing themselves in a match that no one will remember and was literally added moments before the show started. Still, it was entertaining for what it was (**1/2)
Cody Deaner vs ODB (Knockouts Championship Match)
Some funny stuff happened, ODB hit a TKO for the win.
Winner:ODB
Match Thoughts:It was better than expected, but it still wasn't much. At least the right person won the match (*)
Backstage, JB interviews Kurt Angle and he declares that there won't be a happy ending tonight.
Abyss vs Kevin Nash (Legends Title/50,000 dollars bounty match)
Hart v Michaels, Angle v Benoit, Danielson v McGuiness... Yeah, this match didn't resemble any of those. Lots of slow punching and kicking by both men. Dr.Stevie eventually makes his way to ringside. Daffney comes out with a Tazer but eats a Black Hole Slam. Nash takes Abyss' head off with a chairshot, but Abyss kicks out at 2. Abyss hits a Chokeslam for a nearfall. Abyss points to Foley (Who was at the announce table) to give him the barbed-wire baseball bat. The ref tries to stop Foley, and this allows Nash to tazer Abyss' balls (I'm not making this up) and get the win.
Post-Match, Stevie tries to leave with the money, so Nash hits a Jackknife Powerbomb and leaves with the money.
Winner:Kevin Nash
Match Thoughts:Well, it was better than ODB v Deaner (Not by a lot). The finish made me laugh, which is enough to get this match a (*1/2)
Backstage, we learn that Scott Steiner dislikes british people and all types of people that don't speak English... Never change, Scott.
Beer Money vs Team 3D vs Booker T & Scott Steiner vs Doug Williams & Brutus Magnus (Lethal Lockdown)
As was the case with the Falls Count Anywhere Match, I won't do a full recap for this. Highlights of the match include the obligatory Frankensteiner by Scott inside the cage, Rob Terry getting CRUSHED by a sickening Chair Shot, and Beer Money hitting a Double Suplex on Brutus Magnus on the top of the cage, leading to the single greatest Beer... Money! Exchange in TNA history. Back in the cage, we get a lot of finishers by everyone involved, leading to Beer Money hitting the DWI on Doug Williams (Not entirely sure about this) for the win.
Winners:Team 3D AND Beer Money (Wait, wut?)
Match Thoughts:The match itself was pretty good (Save for a spot in the middle where things were dead), but I don't know what was up with the rules. The announcers (And myself) were under the impression that this was all teams for themselves, yet 3D and Beer Money were announced as the winners. (***)
Backstage, Lauren interviews Rhyno who yells a lot. He says this isn't MMA and something something something, Gore, Gore, Gore.
Bobby Lashley vs Rhyno
At some point, they called Lashley arguably the best MMA fighter in the world.... Yup. This match was awful, boring and because no one asked for it, featured a ref bump (Because they need to protect Rhyno of all people). Rhyno actually got a lot of offense in, but eventually lost after Lashley countered a Gore attempt with a Punch. Yes, Lashley won with a Punch.
Winner:Bobby Lashley
Match thoughts:Crappy match with did NOT make Lashley look dominant. Why TNA felt the need to protect Rhyno with the finish is a mystery to me. Also, this match might have been a bigger deal if not for Lashley making his in-ring debut a while back on tv in a meaningless match (*1/2)
Backstage, JB is with Sting and AJ Styles. Sting says its showtime (Among other things).
We get some awesome video packages for all of the competitors in the main event.
Kurt Angle vs Matt Morgan vs AJ Styles vs Stin... Wait, what's this?
HERNANDEZ IS OUT! And he is cashing in the Money in the ban.. ehh... Feast or Fired briefacse in a fatal-four-way match? Apparently Hernandez doesn't want a cheap cash in and wants to earn his title win.
Kurt Angle vs Matt Morgan vs AJ Styles vs Sting vs Hernandez (TNA World Title Match)
Hernandez straight up kicks Angle's ass for a while, including hitting a delayed Vertical Suplex in which he held Angle up for about a minute (Maybe more). He hits a Clothesline and send Angle out of the ring. In the ring, Styles and Sting try to double-team Morgan. Back outside, Hernandez attempts a Border Toss on Angle, but Eric Young comes out and takes his knee out with a Nightstick and then hits a Piledriver on the outside (Not tonight, Hernandez). Angle goes after AJ as Morgan and Sting are left inside the ring. He hits the Elbows in the Corner then a Release Side Slam for a two count. Angle hits a Backbreaker to AJ on the outside. Angle is now in the ring and he are Morgan are working together to take out Sting. AJ eventually makes it back into the ring as he hits the Springboard Forearm on Angle. He attempts a Crossbody on Morgan but gets caught and Matt hits a Fallaway Slam. Morgan just starts dominating at this point and even hits an impressive Dropkick.
Morgan charges at AJ but Styles moves out of the way and hits The Pele (IT JUST COMES FROM OUTTA NOWHERE, MIKE!). Angle hits a Release German Suplex on Styles, but he gets hit with a Missile Dropkick from Sting. ALL FOUR MEN ARE DOWN! Sting, Angle and Morgan are now up, and Sting Punches and Scoops Slams Angle, then does the same to Morgan. He hits the Stinger Splash on both men. Sting goes for the 10 punches in the corner on Matt, but Angle pulls him down and hits an Angle Slam but the pin is broken up by Styles. Kurt goes for an Angle Slam on AJ, but he counters and hits The Styles Clash and goes for the pin but this time Morgan breaks it up. Morgan eventually hits a Big Boot on AJ and hits The Hellevator on Styles, but Sting now breaks the pin up. Scorpion Death Drop by Sting on Morgan, and now Angle breaks up the pin! Sting goes for The Scorpion Deathlock, but Kurt counters into The Anklelock. Angle pulls Sting to the middle of the ring, but Morgan hits The Carbon Footprint on Angle. Morgan charges at Sting, but Sting pulls down the rope and Matt flies to the outside while Angle is still knocked out in the ring. Sting and AJ have a stare down, but Sting decides to go after Morgan. AJ goes to the apron, hits the Springboard 450 AND GETS THE 3 COUNT TO WIN THE TNA WORLD TITLE! LET ME REPEAT THAT! AJ STYLES WINS THE TNA WORLD TITLE!
Winner:AJ Styles
Match thoughts:Other than Hernandez cashing in his title shot, I had no problems with this match. All four men worked hard and we got someone different winning the title. (***1/2)
Post-Match, Daniels hits the ring as confetti falls down. The fans rush the ring and celebrate with AJ Styles as the show comes to an end.
Overall thoughts:A mixed bag. That's the best way to describe this show, we had some very bad matches, some very good matches, and a GREAT finish with Styles winning the title. I won't recommend the entire show, but the ME, Lethal Lockdown and X-Divison Title Match are worth tracking down.
Until who knows when, I am out!
