TNA Impact Wrestling
Orlando, Florida (Impact Zone)
July 28, 2011
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Taz
Report by: Josh Boutwell of Wrestleview.com
This week’s Impact Wrestling opens up with Kurt Angle walking down the ramp to the ring. Kurt calls out Hogan and tells him to come down right now so they can “end this once and for all.” Hogan’s music hits and the Immortal leader makes his way down to the ring.
Angle says that all week long Hogan has been blowing up his and after 3 days of him not answering he figured Hogan would get the hint, but he just kept calling making him the same offer over and over. Angle says they have to get one thing straight, there is not one thing appealing to him about Immortal. Angle says Immortal is a bunch of ass kissers lead by the two biggest scumbags in the world. Angle says he will beat Sting at Hardcore Justice but it will be for the right reasons, for the World Title which he’s in this business for. He also says that he’s never beaten Sting before without outside interference and he needs to do that. Angle says he will beat Sting and when he does he will prove he is the best in the world. Angle asks Hogan if he knows how it feels to be the best in the world.
Hogan asks if that’s why he brought him out here, to ask if Hogan knows what it’s like to be the best and Hogan mockingly says “yeah I know what it’s like to be the best…when there was no Stinger, no Morgan, no RVD, no Kurt Angle, no Beer Money.” Angle says he even carried the business on his back and he put every small territory on his back until he turned this business into an international phenomenon. Hogan says if Angle wants to talk about a bunch of 16 year old punks buying a ticket because they want to be like him, they can cause that’s why Hogan was the best. Hogan says in 1984 when Angle was still pooping in his diapers he was selling out arenas. Hogan seems offended by that question from Kurty. Hogan says since they have that cleared up, the reason he was calling Angle was because he thought Angle had a vision for a higher level, one that means a lot more money in this business. He says he doesn’t care what Angle is making now or what he was backing “back in the day”, he wants to help Angle make a lot more money now. Hulk says after that now Kurt wants to disrespect him.
Angle cuts him off and says he’s not disrespecting Hogan and for the simple fact that he does respect Hogan is why he’s not kicking Hogan’s ass right now. Hogan laughs at that. Angle says he’s not Anderson and he can’t be bought. He says when he signed with Dixie Carter he promised her he would be the best wrestler in the company and he takes pride in that. Angle says he paid to see Hogan back in the day because Hogan was great and different, but now 25 years later the name Hulk Hogan brings on awhole new meaning. Angle says Hogan can’t go anymore and Hogan cuts him off.
Hogan says Angle is crossing a real dangerous line right and he says if Angle is thinking he’s going to climb into the ring again then he’s crazy. He says he will never wrestle again. He says he had to make a choice, after 30 years of being the best in the game and after 8 back surgeries, knee replacements, and hip replacements have forced him to make a decision between life and no life and he made the choice for quality of life. Hogan says before Angle even thinks about saying something about his wife or his kids he’ll prove to Angle he’s no fluke. Hogan says maybe Kurt has to beat Sting the “right way” and he suggests that maybe Angle is training for the Olympics now is because he really didn’t pin the guy in the Olympics and he feels guilty. He says maybe that was just a fluke too, but if he wants to call Hogan out and FIGHT him then he’s getting real close to seeing it happen right now.
Angle says Sting was right, he lit a fire under Hogan’s ass. Angle says he does want to go back to the Olympics but it’s because the older he gets the more the fire burns in him. Angle says he doesn’t doubt Hogan can still go but he needs to prove it to himself. Hogan tells Kurt to just spit out what he’s trying to say and stop beating around the bush. Angle says Hogan wants to pay him a bunch of money to take out Sting, why doesn’t he just take Sting out himself. Angle says every great warrior has one great fight left so why doesn’t he and Sting prove it. He tells Hogan not to call him again and then drops the microphone and leaves Hogan in the ring.
In the back a girl approaches Bischoff and hands him a certified letter, she says the network sent it for him.
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BFG Series Match
Gunner vs. “Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam
Gunner picks RVD up at the bell and slams him into the corner and stomps him down in the corner. He chokes RVD and then hits him with repeated shoulder blocks on him. RVD comes back with forearms on Gunner and then he rolls Gunner up with a body scissors out of nowhere! 1…2…NO Gunner kicks out! RVD locks in a side headlock but Gunner shoves him into the ropes and goes for a backdrop. RVD stops and kicks Gunner and then hits the ropes and ducks a clothesline. RVD attempts a spinning heel kick but Gunner blocks it and then lifts RVD up onto his shoulders by RVD’s leg! Gunner runs RVD into the corner hard and then he covers him and gets a nearfall of his own. Gunner waits for RVD to get up and then hits a Running Back Elbow for another nearfall. Gunner grabs RVD but RVD catches him with a Jawbreaker out of nowhere and then hits a Springboard Cross Body for a nearfall. RVD gets to his feet and eats a clothesline from Gunner for a nearfall of his own. Gunner whips RVD into the corner and then charges but RVD gets his foot up. RVD springs up top and hits a Diving Liger Kick! Gunner tries to climb out of the ring but RVD stops him and chokes him on the apron. RVD then goes for a Slingshot Guillotine Leg Drop, but Gunner rolls out of the way. RVD tries to climb back in the ring and Gunner goes to grab him but RVD hits a Shoulder Block through the ropes. RVD then sets up for a Springboard move but Gunner grabs him and slams him onto the top rope. RVD falls hard into the guardrail and then Gunner tosses him back into the ring and covers for a nearfall. Gunner tries to slam him into the turnbuckles but RVD blocks it with his foot and kicks Gunner with it. RVD then hits a Springboard Back Kick! RVD follows up with Rolling Thunder! Gunner rolls out of the ring before RVD can cover him and then RVD sets up for a dive but Gunner trips him and drags him out to the floor. Gunner scoop slams RVD onto the floor and then rolls him back in. Gunner climbs up top, something he doesn’t do often, and RVD knocks him off the top onto the apron. RVD climbs up but Gunner shoves him to the mat. Gunner climbs back into the ring and RVD grabs him but Gunner blocks whatever he was attempting and hits a Slingshot Suplex off the ropes on RVD! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Gunner grabs RVD and sets up for a Powerbomb but RVD drops down on his ass and grabs Gunner’s legs to block it. Gunner picks RVD up and whips him into the ropes. Gunner charges but eats a back elbow from RVD! RVD springs to the top but Gunner grabs him and ONE ARM Powerbombs him HARD to the mat! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Gunner starts taunting RVD pie facing him and then he attempts to whip RVD into the corner but RVD reverses it and then hits a Running Spinning Heel Kick on Gunner in the corner! Gunner explodes out of the corner with a Running High Knee out of nowhere! 1…2…NO RVD kicks out! Gunner grabs RVD and sets up for the F5 but RVD blocks it and lands on his feet and catches him with a spinning heel kick! RVD springs to the top and hits a 5-Star Frog Splash ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE RING! 1…2…3!
Winner: RVD via pinfall (5-Star Frog Splash)
In the back Sting is walking around in a suit.
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Back from commercials Bischoff is talking to Immortal in the back. Bischoff reads the letter Spike sent him and it says based on the success of Destination X, they expect them to help build and brand the X-Division and expect them to hire more X-Division stars A.S.A.P. and Bischoff reminds how Abyss was supposed to end the X-Division at DX. Hogan walks in and starts screaming about Angle and he says he’s a dead man. Hogan says the only thing he cares about right now is eliminating Kurt Angle tonight. Bully Ray says he volunteers Anderson to do it and Anderson doesn’t believe it. He asks Ray who he is to volunteer him for anything. Ray says if Anderson is afraid then Karen can take care of Kurt, but Anderson says he’s not afraid of anyone. He says he will fight Kurt Angle and Hogan shakes his hand and thanks him. Bischoff continues reading the letter and it says they expect more changes and then Sting pops up out of nowhere wearing his red suit. Sting is holding something covered in a cloak. Sting greets Jarrett and hugs Karen. Sting asks Anderson if he’s still pissed. Sting sits down in a chair next to Bischoff and says they’ll find out what’s in the box in due time. Karen calls him crazy and he thanks her.
Sting says he’s always had a great relationship with the network and in the last few days it’s intensified so much that they have decided to make HIM the new Network Executive for TNA. Immortal freaks out and Ray says he wears freaking makeup. Sting says Anderson definitely is going to be in a match with Angle tonight but it will be in a Cage! Sting screams at them and says he’s not done yet! Sting says Fortune will be surrounding the ring tonight just in case Immortal tries any funny business. Sting walks out with his little box or whatever that is and Hogan tells Bischoff to call the office now.
We cut to the ring where Brian Kendrick (bare footed) and Alex Shelley are standing. Kendrick says something about lust and ego and a bunch of crazy stuff and talks about cleansing Austin Aries’ ego. He hands a paper and mic to Shelley. Shelley translates what he just said and he says “basically what you’re saying is Austin Aries is a jackass.” Shelley says unfortunately he is an asshole they need to talk to and calls Aries out.
Aries comes down to the ring and grabs his own microphone. Shelley says he’s going to make it short and simple and he name drops Low-Ki, Jerry Lynn, AJ, Samoa Joe, Daniels, Shelley, and Brian Kendrick as men who worked their asses off to build the X-Division. He says they put their blood, sweat, and tears in doing so and they have respected each other for it. Shelley says Aries chose not to respect that last week. He says the X-Division is about hybrid wrestling: high flying, submission, fast paced, etc. but Aries is raking backs, pulling tights, gauging eyes, and hitting people with chains. Shelley says, “I’m going to give you one chance to play by the rules or you don’t play at all you douche bag.”
Aries tells the fans to hush and then he tells Kendrick it was nice of him to dress up for the occasion (Kendrick is wearing jeans with no shirt or shoes). He says they’re trying to tell him to play by the rules or don’t play at all which leads him to believe that they’re let to play with themselves which is something they’re probably used to. Aries said he played by their rules when he beat two men to qualify for Destination X and he did the same when he beat THREE guys at DX to win his contract, but now that he has his own contract he plays by his own rules. He says his only rule is to win at all costs. Aries says all they’re trying to do is please the fans but he doesn’t care about that and he has years of Match of the Year candidates and 5 star matches, but what he really wants is a 5-star bank account. Aries says he’s in TNA to win matches, take Championships, and make money and he doesn’t have to cheat because not only is he the greatest man to ever live but the end always justifies the ends. He says the end will mean he is the X-Division Championship.
Kendrick screams at him that he is the X-Division Champion and then rants about energy and dissolving and purifying the X-Division of Aries. He says Aries has termites in that soul. Aries asks Shelley to translate that for him. Shelley says Aries is talking about 5-star matches and he can take those 5-star matches and shove them up his ass because he ruined Shelley’s Title shot. He says he could have been a 2-time X-Division Champion but that’s okay because he petitioned the network. He says they have a new priority and that’s pushing the X-Division. He says he gets his rematch at Hardcore Justice in a 3-Way against Kendrick and Aries for the title!
Abyss’ music hits and he interrupts this little pow wow and asks Kendrick if he forgot about him. Abyss says Kendrick won’t make it to Hardcore Justice because as much as Sting and the network think they run TNA the reality is Hogan & Bischoff still call the shots. Abyss says they have given Abyss’ rematch for the belt TONIGHT! Abyss says tonight he’ll do what he should have done at Destination X and take that belt and kill the X-Division once and for all! Sting shows up on the screen and interrupts Abyss.
Sting says according to the network he has more stroke than Hogan & Bischoff combined. Sting says that match with Kendrick and Abyss at DX was great so he wants to see it again with a few tweaks. He says we are going to find out if monsters are afraid of heights because it will be ULTIMATE X! Kendrick laughs as Abyss goes nuts.
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In the back Morgan shows a NASTY bruise on his arm and he says he tore his right pectoral muscle (which is the same injury that Alabama’s Safety Mark Barron had last year, takes about 6 months to rehab). A very somber sounding Morgan says he has no choice but to pull out of the tournament and he’s gone 9 years without an injury and now when the BFG Series comes up and this happens. Morgan says his whole world ended when the doctor told him that he tore the muscle and he says the World Title is his world and he doesn’t want it, he NEEDS it.
Tenay and Taz discuss the injury and they wish him a speedy recovery and then discuss Hardcore Justice.
They take a look at the BFG Series Matches from last week’s live shows where Bobby Roode (2 wins), Bully Ray, Scott Steiner, Gunner, and James Storm earned points in the Tournament. They really focused on the fact that Samoa Joe lost 3 times in matches and put emphasis on how he was dominating the matches yet still fell. Crimson remains on top with 31 points while Gunner & RVD have 28 points to be in second.
In the back Bully Ray is playing angry birds and says he isn’t worried about Crimson. He says he’s a freaking legend while Crimson has been in the business for a cup of coffee and he’ll beat Crimson when he wants to. Ray turns his attention to AJ Styles and says he’ll beat AJ this Saturday night in their BFG Series Match at a Live Event in Houston. He says AJ better not have forgotten him because he’s the one that beat his ass.
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BFG Series Match
Crimson vs. Bully Ray
As Crimson climbs in the ring Ray attacks him and beats him down. Ray slams Crimson into the corner and then rips his shirt off and starts slamming into him with shoulder blocks and a NASTY chop. Ray hits an elbow and then covers for a nearfall. He covers again and gets another nearfall and then he does it for a third time. Ray chokes Crimson with his shirt and then argues with the referee. Crimson tries a come back but Ray cuts him off and then slams him into the corner. Ray kicks Crimson’s legs out from under him and then starts slamming his knee into the mat. Ray slams the knee into the mat again and then stomps on the knee repeatedly. He pulls the brace off of Crimson’s knee and flings it away. He continues to slam the knee into the mat and then he elbow drops it. Ray locks in a Knee Bar and then he starts punching away at it. Ray chokes Crimson in the corner now and then he punches Crimson in the ribs and chops away at him. Ray lets Crimson get to his feet and then goes for the Bully Bomb but Crimson blocks it and catches him with the Red Sky out of nowhere! 1…2…3!
Winner: Crimson via pinfall (Red Sky)
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Bischoff is attempting to get the Network on the phone but is having no success, whoever he’s talking to tells Bischoff that they’ll “try” to get back to him.
In the back Madison says she’s going to sit front row for Tara’s match but Sting approaches her with his box or cage or whatever. He says he has something far worse than Tara’s spider and if she goes anywhere near the ring tonight he’ll let her see it.
Winter w/Angelina Love vs. Tara w/Ms. Tessmacher
Tara and Tessmacher are doing an entrance similar to the one Tara and Madison used to do. Before the match Hebner kicks Angelina & Tessmacher from ringside! Tara attacks Winter and starts pulling her hair and screaming at her. Tara slams Winter into the mat hard and then tosses her into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Tara then rolls her up and bridges for a nearfall. Tara then locks in a side headlock but Winter grabs her by the hair and slams her into the corner. Winter then charges at Tara but Tara lifts herself up into the air and locks Winter in the Tarantula! Tara then goes to grab Winter but Winter catches her with a Jawbreaker onto the top rope. Tara comes back by slamming Winter into the turnbuckle and then she goes for her Slingshot Somersault Leg Drop, but Winter rolls out of the way. Tara rolls onto the apron but Winter grabs her and then hangs her up in the ropes and slams her into the mat for a nearfall. Winter puts the boots to Tara and then starts working on Tara’s back slamming her knees into it. She then locks in a modified Surfboard but Tara fights out with back elbows. Winter cuts her off with an elbow of her own and then goes for a Scoop Slam but Tara counters with a knee and then she whips Winter towards the corner. Winter slides down under the turnbuckles before she hits them and then catches Tara with a clothesline! 1…2…NO Tara kicks out! Winter picks Tara up and hits a Backbreaker for another nearfall. Winter mounts Tara and reigns down right hands and then she starts stomping on her. Tara and Winter exchange right hands with Tara getting the advantage. Tara whips Winter into the ropes and hits a clothesline and then another one. Tara follows up with a Back Elbow and then she hits a Scoop Slam followed by her Standing Moonsault! Tara grabs Winter and sets up for the Widow’s Peak but Winter runs her into the corner and the connects with a Front Kick. Winter then picks Tara up and goes for her Swinging Backbreaker, but Tara blocks it. Tara then goes for the Widow’s Peak again, but as she picked Winter up Winter’s leg hit Hebner knocking him back. Winter blocked it and then low blowed Tara and hit her Swinging Backbreaker! 1…2…3!
Winner: Winter via pinfall (Swinging Neckbreaker)
Highlights from the Kendrick-Abyss X-Division Title at Destination X are shown to hype up the Ultimate X about to go down.
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TNA X-Division Championship
Ultimate X Match
Brian Kendrick (c) vs. “The Monster” Abyss
I believe this is Abyss’ first Ultimate X Match, it’s Kendrick’s 2nd. The last time he was in Ultimate X he lost to Douglas Williams at last years Victory Road. No goofy robe for Kendrick tonight. Kendrick attacks Abyss at the bell hitting him with leg kicks and a dropkick. He connects with another dropkick and then he goes to climb up the cables, but Abyss pulls him down and goes for a clothesline. Kendrick ducks and then hits Abyss with a forearm. Kendrick attempts to whip Abyss into the corner but Abyss reverses it. Abyss charges at Kendrick but he side steps Abyss and then hits a Round Kick! Kendrick climbs up Abyss and tries to climb up the scaffold to get to the cables but Abyss pulls him down. Kendrick hits a forearm and then slides under Abyss’s legs and connects with a Back Heel Kick. Kendrick hits the ropes again but Abyss catches him with a back elbow. Abyss tries to leap up and grab the title rather than climb and he actually touches it with his finger tips but can’t pull it down. Abyss climbs up to the top rope but before grabbing the cable he has second thoughts and climbs back down and starts punishing Kendrick more. He goes for a Splash in the corner but Kendrick gets his boot up and then dives off the top with a Diving Tornado DDT attempt. Abyss shoves Kendrick off and Kendrick lands on his feet. He charges at Abyss but eats a Big Boot. Abyss goes out to the floor and tries to shake the X-Division Title down by shaking the scaffolding and event tries to rip it apart so it falls apart the X-Division Title falls down. As he gets frustrated with the belt not falling Kendrick dives through the ropes with a Tope Suicida onto Abyss on the floor! Kendrick hits Abyss with an Enziguri and then Abyss rolls back into the ring. Kendrick dives off the top with the Diving Tornado DDT! Kendrick climbs up top and starts scaling the cables! He almost reaches the belt but Abyss grabs his leg and pulls him down and then clotheslines him. Abyss hits Kendrick with repeated right hands in the corner and then puts the boots to him. Abyss then screams at Kendrick to get up and goes for the Splash but Kendrick sidesteps him and hits Sliced Bread! Kendrick climbs back up and scales the cables! He grabs the belt but Abyss grabs his leg again and pulls him down and hits him with a right hand. Abyss hits the Corner Splash this time and then he hits Kendrick with a NASTY chop. Abyss hits yet another Corner Splash and then he taunts the crowd. Abyss grabs Kendrick by the throat and goes for the Chokeslam but as he lifted Kendrick into the air Kendrick grabbed the X-Division Title! He hangs on it and as Abyss tries to pull him down Kendrick falls down with the belt!
Winner & STILL X-Division Champ: Kendrick via pulling the belt down
That was an awesome finish!
After the match Abyss freaks the hell out while Kendrick celebrates his win.
In the back Traci and Velvet are talking about ODB and Jackie.
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Eric Young is continuing his quest to find a Hollywood star. He meets with David Hasselfhoff’s agent and he shows him his belts. The guy says he has no idea what Young wants from him and Young starts stripping his clothes off for some reason. He tells Young to find himself an acting coach if he wants to be a real actor.
Velvet Sky and Traci are in the ring and Traci says she’s personally inviting ODB and Jackie to come down to the ring. They oblige the “original Knockout” and walk down to the ring. Traci says she was once a Knockout and reminds us she was the original knockout and if it wasn’t for her none of the girls would have a job. She says management thought it was time for her to move aside for some fresh faces, but she didn’t come across the barricade and attack the new girls like ODB (ODB says she should of). She says she didn’t do that because she knows how the wrestling business does and ODB & Jackie of all people should know as well. She says before this goes any further and they end up with “more” on their criminal records they’ll end this tonight. ODB says she’ll be happy to end it right after she puts her foot up Velvet’s plastic Barbie Doll ass. ODB says she and Jackie didn’t lose their jobs until Velvet started rubbing her “pootie tang” on the ropes and she says the Knockout division has turned into a Hooter’s Invitational which leaves no room for real ass kicking women like she and Jackie.
Velvet says they don’t know anything about her and when she was grown up she was the runt and she was the one that got bullied and picked on. Velvet says she never backed down and as she grew older she told herself that she would never be a victim again. Velvet says she told herself that she would fight for herself always regardless of the consequences which is why the day she came to TNA was the greatest day of her life. Velvet says she EARNED her spot and talks about all the pulled muscles, broken muscles, and fists to the face she’s suffered. She says she doesn’t owe ODB or anyone else an apology, but she does understand the way they feel because this is one of the toughest businesses to survive in. She says Jackie should know that more than anything. Velvet says if they want jobs why didn’t they ask rather than showing up and attacking her like two thugs. Velvet says they can come out and fight it out every week and she will ALWAYS be the last one standing, and the ball’s in their court and she’s done being anyone’s punching bag. She leaves ODB and Jackie in the ring.
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In the back Fortune discuss talk about being Lumberjacks tonight and they mention they have a 6-Man Tag with Immortal at Hardcore Justice. Daniels asks AJ if he thought about what they “talked about” and AJ asks him if he’s serious. Then Sting walks in and asks if they’re ready to keep the “bad guys” out of the cage tonight. AJ asks what’s in the cage and Sting says it’s a surprise for Eric Bischoff and he’s going to give him right now.
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In the back Bischoff is still trying to get the Network on the phone and he finally does, and he screams at them and asks them if they know what Hogan & Bischoff means to Spike TV. The person tells Bischoff that he hasn’t spoken to Sting in weeks and Sting walks in and Sting says he’s had something bottled up in him all show and he’s about ready to explode. He said the truth will set you free and he fesses up to not being the Spike TV Executive. Sting fakes crying and Bischoff is about to go nuts. Bischoff says he’s nuttier than he thought and then Sting what boggles his mind is what happens when you wear a nice suit. He says people listen to you when you wear a suit. Sting then shows Eric what’s in the cage and it’s a crow. The crow flies towards Bischoff and lands on his computer. Sting says he’ll go right for the eyeballs and he says they can smell garbage from a mile away. Sting locks Bischoff in the room and says he’s going to go watch the Cage Match.
Main Event
Steel Cage Match
“Olympic Hero” Kurt Angle vs. Mr. Anderson
This is a rematch from Kurt and Mr. Anderson’s show stealing Steel Cage Match at last year’s Lockdown. Fortune is surrounding ringside to keep anyone else from trying to get in the cage and interfere. Angle jumps Anderson as they were watching what was going on with Sting and Bischoff. Angle hits Anderson with shoulder blocks in the corner and then he whips Anderson into the opposite corner. Angle charges at Anderson but Anderson moves and Angle slams into the cage. Anderson puts the boots to him and then whips him into the corner hard. Anderson whips Angle into the opposite corner and then connects with a clothesline for a nearfall. You can win by pin, submission, or escaping the cage. Anderson locks Angle in a Headlock and Angle fights to his feet and counters with an arm drag. Angle hits a series of rights but then Anderson counters one into a Spinning Neckbreaker! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Anderson stomps on Angle’s hands and then chokes him and connects with a Vertical Suplex for another nearfall. Anderson locks in a side headlock and Angle fights it off with back elbows and then he hits the ropes but Anderson catches him in a Sleeper. Angle counters it with a Back Suplex! Anderson and Angle trade rights in the center of the ring now. Angle gets the advantage and whips Anderson into the ropes and hits a series of back elbows and then he whips Anderson into the corner. Angle charges but Anderson gets his boot up but then walks into an Overhead Belly-to-Belly Suplex! 1…2…NO Anderson kicks out! Angle sets up for the Angle Slam but Anderson blocks it and hits the Green Bay Plunge! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Anderson goes for the Mic Check but Angle counters with back elbows and then hits his Rolling German Suplexes! He hits a series of 3 and then covers for a nearfall. Angle locks in the Ankle Lock! Anderson rolls through and gets a rollup, 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Angle goes for a German Suplex but Anderson blocks it and hits a series of elbows and then shoves Angle into the cage! Anderson then hits the Mic Check! 1…2…NO Angle kicks out! Anderson tries to escape through the door but Angle grabs him by the leg and locks in the Ankle Lock again! Anderson rolls over and kicks Kurt off and then connects with a clothesline. Anderson tries to climb up the cage and climb over but Angle quickly scales to the top and hits a SUPER ANGLE SLAM! 1…2…NO Anderson kicks out! Immortal runs down now! Fortune cuts them off and the brawl is on! Mexican America runs down now and attacks Beer Money! Bully Ray snuck in through the crowd and hides under the ring. He grabs Angle’s tights, reaching through the hole that the camera man uses. Angle turns to knock Ray’s hand away and Anderson attacks him! Anderson tells him give him a chair so Ray grabs the chair and opens the door. They start arguing about what Anderson called him (I think he called him “sweetheart” or something). Ray taunts Anderson with the chair keeps pulling it away when Anderson goes to grab it, he lets go and Angle hits the Angle Slam again! 1…2…3!
Winner: Angle via pinfall (Angle Slam)
Ray screams at Anderson and says “you lost, your fault” at him. The lights go out and when they come on Sting is in the cage standing in front of Angle. They come face to face and then Sting raises his arm. Sting says “just 10 more days, Kurt” and Angle snatches away from Sting and walks away.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Before I rant a little bit I want to say that I actually enjoyed both Gimmick Matches tonight, BUT it was just too much. We had a Ladder Match this week and now this week an Ultimate X Match AND a Steel Cage Match? Not only that but we just had an Ultimate X less than a month ago. That’s just too much. You make gimmick matches like that pointless by just doing random ones. Now with that said, I’ll move onto the show.
The opening segment with Angle and Hogan was okay but it kind of confirmed all of our fears (that most have had since Lockdown) that we’re heading to an eventual Singles Match with Hogan and Sting. The fact that it would be painful to watch is one thing, but the fact that it could potentially cripple Hogan if anything goes wrong is the biggest thing. Hogan needs to stay away from the ring.
I enjoyed Sting in his “exec” role and the reveal that he was just messing with Immortal was pretty cool too. That is a role that I think would be great for Sting in the future (I still hold out hope that he will retire from the ring at BFG). Sting as Spike’s appointed authority figure could be very good.
RVD-Gunner was a solid matchup with both guys working well and Gunner looking great in the match. I’m starting to think more and more that RVD is going to win this tournament and turn heel, which will be awful. He should be putting guys over at this point.
The X-Division promo was EXCELLENT (well Aries and Shelley were excellent) and that 3-Way at the PPV should be a show stealer. We actually got a promo for the X-Division and it worked well. Give us more!
The Ultimate X was really good as well, told a great story between Kendrick & Abyss, and I LOVED the finish. That was really creative.
Crimson-Bully Ray was going pretty well when it abruptly ended. That was weird.
Winter-Tara was a nice back and forth match with an overbooked finish.
The Knockouts promo was AWFUL. Absolutely terrible.
Angle-Anderson was a really good TV Main Event, good match with an overbooked finish. I have no idea where they’re going with the Bully Ray-Anderson tension unless they’re going towards Anderson being too much of an “asshole” to be able to even get along with other “assholes” and becomes a loner again.
Overall a lot better show this week then the last couple of weeks.
–Promo/Segment of the Week: X-Division
–Match of the Night: Steel Cage (***)
–Overall Grade: B
Scheduled for Next Week:
– BFG Series: Devon vs. AJ Styles
– BFG Series: Samoa Joe vs. The Pope
– BFG Series: Scott Steiner & Gunner vs. RVD & Crimson
– Alex Shelley vs. Austin Aries
– Ms. Tessmacher vs. Madison Rayne
– Street Fight: Hernandez vs. James Storm
– Official Contract Signing between Sting & Kurt Angle
Hardcore Justice Lineup:
– TNA World Title: Sting (c) vs. Kurt Angle
– TNA Tag Team Titles: Beer Money (c) vs. Mexican America
– TNA Knockouts Title: Mickie James (c) vs. Winter
– TNA X-Division Title 3-Way Dance: Brian Kendrick (c) vs. Austin Aries vs. Alex Shelley
– 6-Man Tag Team Match: Fortune (AJ Styles, Kazarian, & Christopher Daniels) vs. Immortal (Abyss, Gunner, & Scott Steiner)
BFG Series Standings
1) Crimson: 38 points
2) Gunner: 35 points
3) Rob Van Dam: 28 points
4) Devon: 21 points
James Storm: 21 points
Bobby Roode: 21 points
Bully Ray: 21 points
5) AJ Styles: 14 points
Scott Steiner: 14 points
6) The Pope: 0 points
Samoa Joe: 0 points
*Matt Morgan has been eliminated due to injury.