Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

The cage is still big red and ugly, and this match is still big stupid and ugly. Wild brawling to start, before everyone clears out the way so Sonjay can get a flying head scissors. Petey scores with a jaw breaker and a spinning heel kick. Devine shows his lack of offence with a high knee. If that was just two exciting, Eric Young hits some high octane closelines. The Guns get a double team dropkick on a crotched Young. The Guns then get the missile dropkick flatliner combo on the super heroes. Everyone gets corner moves in on Jimmy Rave except for Devine who misses. Curry Man gets the hip attack and Shark Boy hits like the seventh closeline in this match. We then get a triple suplex in the centre of the ring which the crowd seem to like. Val and Christy look very hot at ringside. Petey gets his patternted side russian legsweep, but he ends up in a tree of woe where the guns double team him. Curry man tries to climb the cell but Shelley goes up to meet him. They battle but Curry man gets a jaw breaker on the top rope, Sabin runs the ropes and gives Curry Man a enzenguri on top. Shark boy Russian Legsweeps Sabin off top. Young gives Devine a neckbreaker off top and Everyone is battling up top. Curry Man comes off top with the Tokyo Dangerous back breaker on Dutt but as soon as he hits it he's closelined down by Rave. Lethal gets a superanna on Rave and Shelley follows up with a frog splash. We then get all kinds of over selling of Eric Young closelines. Eric hits an impressive double death valley driver. However Young is then diamond cuttered off top by the Guns onto Jay Lethal. This is much better than last year. The Motor City Machine Guns pose before Petey fights back and causes the guns to closerline each other. In a nice spot Petey counters the Sliced Bread into the Canadian Destroyer to give the crowd what they want. Shark Boy gives both Sabin and Petey a double top rope stunner. Rave scores with the move that rocked the world. Devine runs in with the Devine Sensation and then a sick moonsault off the cage onto Lethal. Curry Man gives Devine the spice rack and then military presses Dutt insanely hard into the corner. These guys seem inspired tonight. Curry Man and Dutt make their ways to the hole in the cage. Dutt manages to pull him down. Dutt and Lethal brawl upsidedown in a nice spot and Lethal escapes.
Quite the finish there, very well thought out. It was the usual throwaway spotfest to start the evening, of course management couldn't give two shits about any of these guys, the throwaway nature of the match just oozes "who cares". However, maybe it was the big crowd but tonight these guys seemed motivated and pulled out more than just the usual bag of tricks. The match had a solid structure and put a little effort into being more than just a spotfest and was all the better for it. Decent Opener. (**3/4)

They circle each other before locking up. Jay grabs a waist lock but Petey fights out and scores with a shoulder block before charging straight into a arm drag. Petey comes back with a weak arm drag and Lethal dodges a enzenguri then they go to a unique but rough and ready pinfall sequence. Lethal goes for the Lethal combination but Petey counters and goes for a Canadian destroyer but Lethal scrambles away. Lethal gets a closeline and a running back elbow for two. Jay Lethal then comes off top with a flying double axe handle for two. Petey misses a charge and Lethal hits a cartwheel and ranna. Petey goes to the outside and Lethal scores with a baseball slide and a top rope double sledge to the outside. Kahn then blocks off the ring and allows Petey to rest up.
Petey catches Lethal enter the ring and throws him head first into the turnbuckle. Petey then scores with a backbreaker spinning neckbreaker combination for two. Lethal fires back and goes for a sunset flip but Petey escapes and hits a nice slingshot gut buster. Petey then scores a jaw breaker and then a spinning heel kick. Petey hits a suplex and then applies a modified camel clutch. Lethal fights out quickly and elbows his way out. Petey counters the Savage Jaw Jacker with one of his own and then Petey hits the perfect Plancharanna and plays to the crowd. Back in the ring, Petey cinches in and front face lock. Jay Lethal fights out and unloads with jabs before scoring with a inverted atomic drop, and a flurry. Lethal hits the flying forearm and then the hip toss and basement dropkick combo. Petey slips out of a suplex but he can’t avoid a wheel barrow bomb for two. Petey does his flip up spot and gives Lethal a dropkick against the ropes. Petey then nails the spinning side Russian legsweep. Petey calls for the destroyer but Lethal blocks. Petey blocks the Lethal combination and then counters a ranna into a tight powerbomb. Lethal then counters the Canadian Destroyer into the release Dragon Suplex for a near fall! The crowd were big into these near falls. Petey avoids a springboard dropkick, both men counter roll ups before Petey locks in the Sharp Shooter. Lethal tries to make the ropes but Petey pulls him to the centre and holds the arm. Petey tries the destroyer but Lethal counters with the Lethal combination and heads to the top rope. Kahn then distracts the ref and Scott Steiner shoves Lethal off the top rope. Petey hits a brutal Canadian Destroyer which Lethal sells brilliantly. Petey has the pin but Val pulls the referee out and tries to explain what happened. Kahn chases Val but Sonjay comes out to protect her. In the ring Petey goes for a pin but Lethal grabs a quick inside cradle for the 1-2-3.
That finish really soured an otherwise solid match up. They weren’t in top gear but wrestled a solid and exciting match up the built up well and had some nice counters and near fall. Have to detract a little for that convoluted and totally unnecessary finish. (**3/4)

Booker and AJ start the match. Book does his usual chicanery to start the match. Booker unloads with a couple of knee lifts after a big stall. AJ dodges the arm wrench and hook kick. Book connects with an arm wrench and knee to the gut. AJ back flips over and lands on his feet off a back body drop attempt and then scores with a nice dropkick. Ray tags in and he works over Book in an arm bar. Booker comes back with a side walk slam and tags in Scott Steiner. Scott hits a closeline but misses his elbow drop. Ray goes for a flip flop and fly but Scott misses a closeline and Ray hits a rock bottom. Joe tags in and Joe and Ray hit a double shoulder block. Joe gets a running back elbow in the corner and follows with the spinning enzenguri. Joe wants Nash but he won’t tag in so Scott tags in Sting instead. Joe kills Sting chops and stiff kicks before unloading in the corner. Sting returns fire with chops and jabs of his own flooring Joe. Sting then drops an elbow before tagging in Nash. Nash lays in some knees in the corner. Nash goes for the picture perfect elbow but Joe puts a stop to that and tags in Devon. Devon dodges a closeline and scores with a flying shoulder tackle. A neck breaker on Steiner, a closeline on Book and a spinning reverse elbow on Nash for a near fall. Nash returns fire with a big boot and a big side salto for a two count. Scott tags in and locks in a bearhug and then turns into an overhead belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Booker T tags in and works over Devon in the ropes. Booker floors Devon with some unimaginative offence and then starts playing to the crowd. Devon tries to fight back but is cut off with a Housten Axe Kick for a near fall. Book then switches to a chin lock. Sting tags in and lays the boots in to Devon before tagging Steiner back in. Steiner puts Devon on the top rope. Devon shoves Steiner off top and nails a top rope diving head butt.
HOT TAG! Ray unloads on Nash killing him, odd choice. Ray hits a monsterous stinger splash and a back suplex for a two count. Joe tags in with the back chop, chest kick, senton back splash combo for a near fall. Book tags in and puts Joe in the corner. Steiner trips Joe and crotches him on the ringpost. Nash hits a sloppy looking short arm closeline and an elbow drop for a near fall. Sting tags in and hits a standing dropkick. Sting stands Joe up and hits another standing dropkick. Steiner tags in and gets a closeline and then hits the muscle kiss elbow drop. Steiner then cinches in a chin lock with a grape vine. Joe fights out but misses a closeline and Scott nails a Flatliner for two. Sting tags back in and hits a suplex. Booker tags in now and scores with the high knee strikes taking Joe down and out. They go to a knife edge chop battle, Joe wins but Booker clobbers him with a brutal Harlem side kick and its Spineroonie time. Scott tags in and puts Joe ontop and scores with a release overhead suplex from the top rope. Just in case we were having just too much fun Scott applies a chinlock. Luckily its short lived as Nash tags in and pounds the peat out of Joe before applying a leg choke in the corner. Booker chokes Joe on the ropes while Nash distracts the referee. Nash hits a big boot and tags in Sting, he goes for the top rope Stinger splash but Joe gets his knees up! Sting recovers and tags in Book who applies a abdominal stretch before tagging in Scotty. Scott charges full steam into an STJOE!
HOT TAG! AJ is in and he unloads on Sting with closelines, then its closelines for everybody. Nash gets an enzenguri, AJ Stingers Splashes everybody. Sting misses a closeline and AJ scores with a back suplex for a near fall. Joe gets a blind tag and gives Sting a T-bone suplex. Everyones in for a big brawl. Booker and Devon are left in the ring but Ray pops up and they hit the 3D. Scott hits a double closeline but is met with a BubbaBomb. Nash gives Ray a full nelson slam, AJ then clobbers Nash with a spring board flying forearm. Then Sting comes in and slaps AJ in the Scorpion Death Lock. Joe breaks the hold and goes for the Muscle Buster but Nash breaks it up with a low blow and Sting hits the Scopion Death Drop to Retain the title.
Boy oh Boy Joe must have pissed somebody off he’s been beaten decisively left right and centre. Its been a terrible year for Joe, he was in great shape at lockdown more over than ever and wrestling his second best match in TNA but since then he’s been booked into oblivion and now receives a mix and muted reaction. Of course he wins the crowd over when he starts wrestling but it’s just a real shame. This match started slowly and of course like all eight man non elimination tags felt completely inconsequential. There was a good sense of continuous action throughout and the rest holds were short and generally kept to a minimum. A fun match but the real let down in this match was the hot tags they weren’t very dramatically teased and didn’t really deliver much energy or excitement. Nevertheless a solid, entertaining but a very unepic underwhelming match up. (***)

Angle ambushes AJ on the way to the ring. Everyone is brawling all around ringside. AJ gets back in the ring and manages to knock Kurt off the apron. AJ then scores with the front flip diving plancha to the outside. AJ scores with a mexican dropkick on D-Von and closelines him over the top rope. Rhino scores with a spine buster on Kurt for two. Cage nails Ray with a pair of trash can shots for two. Ray scores with a monster back body drop on Cage. AJ scores with his slingshot flying forearm on Ray. In a ropey spot AJ gets a springboard back flip over Team 3D but just walks into a double flapjack. Rhino and Cage uses a ladder to take 3D out, Kurt nails everyone with chairs and then gives Cage and overhead release Belly to belly suplex on Christian Cage. Team 3D then sandwich Rhino with a pair of ladders. AJ gets a flying cross body off the top of the ladder but Kurt pulls the referee out. Kurt floors AJ with a european uppercut. Cage comes off the top of the ultimate X scaffold with an absolutely picture perfect flying crossbody on all three men, now that's a spot. Ray comes back and kills him with a ladder. Ray nails AJ with a steel chair but Rhino comes back and gives all three of the heels Gores. Rhino sets up a chair in the middle of the ring and he takes Devon onto the top rope but Ray makes the save and they score with the Dudley Device through the table for two, another nice spot. Devon seems to have a legit foot injury. Cage gives 3D a double closeline. Kurt misses a blind charge, Kurt counters the unprettier but Cage lands on his feet, they counter each others finisher ending in an ankle lock being counter into a roll up for two. Cage gets the diving reverse DDT. Kurt tries to catch him up top but is shoved off. Devon low blows Cage and they give Cage a 3D through a table off the apron. It's three on AJ but he dodges a closeline and Kurt nails Devon and then AJ scores with the running enzenguri on Kurt. Ray scores with a brutal super kick on AJ. Ray shouts "you didn't know I had that one did ya?", bwhahahahaha. We get some awkward moments as Ray sets up a table. Ray puts AJ on the table but AJ pops up and catches Ray on second rope and face busters Ray throught the table. AJ gives Devon a brutal drop toe hold through a table. AJ then does a brutal counter of an Angle Slam into a Styles Clash but it gets two! Devine runs in but misses with the kendo stick and AJ scores with the Pele. AJ points the kendo stick at Trigg on commentary and Angle scores with a Angle Slam for two! Kurt gets a ladder and shoves over the ref who hurts his ankle. Kurt sets up a ladder and a table, AJ puts Kurt on the table, AJ climbs the ladder Trigg climbs up the top rope nails AJ with the Kendo stick and Kurt recovers and scores with an Angle Slam off the ladder through the table for the win.
Well that was a total indie spotfest but the last few minutes with Styles and AJ were excellent and there were some real big impressive spots, however I could list the complaints for ever, selling, lame set ups etc...but it was fun, had it been the only gimmick match on the show it would have really stood out. (***)

Scott poses and Kaz gets a series of roll ups before Joe kills them both with a double closeline. Joe gets a running elbow and spinning enzenguri on Scott, and a running knee lift on Kaz. Scott is kicked to the floor like a bitch and then Kaz tries a springboard move but Joe nonchalantly walks away. Joe puts Kaz in a brutal half Boston crab, Joe sees Scott coming to break the hold and takes him down in a crippler crossface. Kaz tries to break that hold but Joe catches him with a dragon screw and then locks Kaz in a nice Texas Cloverleaf. Finally Scott sneaks up on Joe and breaks the hold. Good opening sequence. Scott lays some chops in on Joe but returns fire wtih a Tazplex before closelining Scot to the outside. Kaz catches a kick and hits a back leg sweep. Joe avoids a springboard leg drop and then counters a yakuza kick into a blue thunder bomb. Scott pulls Joe out of the ring and introduces Joe to the barricade. Scott then closelines Kaz on the outside and takes Joe up the ramp and suplexes him. Steiner then introduces Kaz to the barricade.
Back in the ring Scott puts Kaz on the top rope and hits an overhead release German suplex off top. Scott keeps Joe on the outside and then hits the closeline and bicep kiss elbow. Scott then goes to the ring apron and hits a diving closeline on Joe. Scott returns to the ring and puts Kaz on the top rope again and this time hits a super Samoan drop for a two count. Joe runs into a boot and Scott hits a spinning belly to belly on Joe, then hits two brutal sloppy overhead belly to belly suplexes on both men, ouch. Scott puts Kaz on top and locks Joe in the Steiner Recliner. Scott keeps Joe away from the ropes so Joe powers up into an electric chair drop and Kaz hits a torpedo dropkick on Scott in Doomsday device style. Kaz hits a kick combo ending in a spinning heel kick, he follows that with a springboard leg drop for two. Kaz flips over Scott but Joe kills him with a release half nelson suplex. Scott runs right into an STJOE and Joe looks for a suicide dive. Kahn distracts the ref and Scott hits Joe with a leap pipe as he tries the suicide dive. Kaz hits a big plancha and then a slingshot Oklahoma roll for two. Kaz then tries a slingshot DDT for two and head up high. Scott blocks the next slingshot mover and goes for a butterfly suplex but Kaz slips out and hits a Yakuza kick. Scott holds onto the ref allowing Petey to crotch Kaz. Scott then goes up top and hits the Frankensteiner and he gets a near fall as Joe makes the save. Joe boots Steiner and then hits a diving leg lariat off the second rope. Joe gives Kaz a diving Yakuza kick and a senton back splash. Joe hits the snap powerslam for two on Steiner. Joe puts Scott in the clutch but Kaz charges with a Yakuza kick but Joe dodges. Joe and Scott fight on the apron. Joe puts Scott ontop and Kaz knocks Joe off the apron with a sloppy springboard dropkick. Kaz goes for a Flux Capacitor but Scott is too heavy and he falls on top for a near fall. Kaz tries again but Scott throws Kaz off top to the outside. Joe runs in and hits a enzenguri on Steiner and immediately hits the Musclebuster for 1-2-3.
Well that was a pleasant surprise to end a horrible PPV, not a match of the year or a great main event but a perfectly good match up. Scott Steiner tried really hard and while he is awkward and sloppy he generated more movement and offence than we’re used to seeing from him. Kaz did a nice job of bumping around but his offence just isn’t credible in PPV main event matches. Joe was on top form here in a short action packed main event. (***)

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Lethal wastes no time scoring with two closelines and the hip toss basement dropkick combo. Lethal counters an Irish Whip with a springboard handspring into a release Dragon Suplex sends Sonjay crashing to the outside. Lethal wastes no time and hits a suicide dive and then whips Dutt into the guard rail. Lethal drops Dutt throat first on the guard rail and then creates a ladder table and then flapjacks Sonjay onto it. Lethal whip Sonjay into the guard rail again but now Dutt is pissed and fights back and introduces Lethal to the ringsteps. Fast paced, decent start.
Dutt brings Lethal into the ring with a sling shot leg drop. Dutt plays to the crowd before charging Lethal, unfortunately for Dutt he’s back body dropped over the top rope and lands flat back on the ladder, nice spot. Lethal climbs the Ladder but Dutt springboards up to the outerside and bulldogs Lethal just short of the ropes, he’s sells the ropes anyway, but I’ll let that slide. Dutt climbs the ladder but Lethal takes him off and powerbombs him into the ladder. The crowd are really dead. Lethal could easily get the ring but Dutt is taking way to long. Anyway while Lethal stands around like a retard atop the ladder, Dutt balances a ladder on the middle rung and the middle rope. He pulls Lethal hard off the standing ladder onto the lying ladder. Dutt goes to the apron and hits a perfect slingshot front flip senton bomb. Awesome move, horrible horrible set up. The crowd chant “this is awesome.
Lethal scares Dutt off the top of the ladder by threatening to throw the other ladder. Dutt then watches Lethal as he fiddles around putting on ladder horizontal atop the erect ladder. Dutt tries to climb but apparently the other ladder is stuck. Then in a terrible spot, Lethal counters a sunset flip into a catapult but Dutt gets nowhere near the ladder and the crowd boo loudly. That was horrible, horrible. Lethal takes the ladder off top and puts the ladder between the middle ropes and hits multiple wheelbarrow shots into the ladder. Dutt recovers and crotches Lethal in the ladder and plays to the crowd, Dutt then tries to climb the ladder but a springboard dropkick takes him down. Dutt avoids a drop toe hold and slams Lethal face first into the ladder, he then puts Lethal in the tree of woe with his head between the rungs of the ladder. This is certainly creative. Dutt poses and then hits a running basement dropkick on the ladder. The crowd are happy again and chant “TNA”.
Dutt for some reason rather than climbing the ladder goes to the outside and creates a ladder table using two chairs and a ladder. Lethal attacks Dutt and goes for a power bomb but Dutt slips out and scores with a spinning back kick, a facecrusher and then a diving neckbreaker on the ladder. Don West then says he thinks “we should put a woman’s engagement over every match” NO NO NO, don’t give Russo Ideas. Lethal and Dutt climb separate ladders. Dutt lays Lethal on two ladders, he doesn’t crawl off for some reason, and Sonjay puts him in the camel clutch for a bit but then Lethal snapmares him off the ladder. Lethal first inexplicably climbs down the ladder, then obviously tangles his own leg in the ladder and gets stuck. Val comes to help him, remember this, and then Sonjay shouts at Val for freeing Lethal. Val cries and hides in the corner. Dutt climbs the ladder while Lethal consuls Val, Lethal chases after Sonjay and Val punches him in the balls and Dutt gets the wedding ring. Then they suck face massively on camera.
OKAY I AM PISSED OFF! I Ignored this rant when reviewing Bound For Glory but VUSSO IS RETARDED! Look if you are in cahoots you do not help the guy your planning to screw earlier in the match when you have no possible way of knowing that he’s not going to win, just to turn on him later! ITS TERRIBLE WRITING no one, repeat no one, in real life would think I’m gonna risk losing just to make my eventually actions more suprising, that’s just dumb. Furthermore if Russo’s argument is logic doesn’t matter as long as it’s shocking and surprises the audience BUT GUESS WHAT! If you do the same fucking senseless swerve ever single PPV it doesn’t fool the people your hoping to fool it’s just dumb. It was played out and dumb in 1998, its just plain bullshit now. Sorry rant over. The match its self had some very nice sequences and some creative spots that made the match feel fresh. However there were just too many lame moments, timing issues, overly cute set ups and then that one big botched spot (which the commentators still sold) that greatly detracted from another wise exciting match. Dutt and Lethal tried too hard, which isn’t really an insult I’m sure if they could have another go at it they’d nail a very good match unfortunately you don’t get second chances on PPV. Regardless a fun match but the ladder match has been far too over exposed in recent years and has lost most of its lustre, this match was yet another turning point in one of the worst feuds of the year. (***)

They lock up but nothing much comes of it. AJ gets a waist lock and powers AJ to the corner for a clean break. They exchange hammerlocks before Sting escapes with a snapmare but AJ immediately locks in an arm wrench but again Sting snapmares him and AJ hands on again and springs up into an arm wrench. The sequence goes one more time before Sting is frustrated and elbows his way out. Sting avoids a dropkick and Sting scores with a bulldog. Sting charges and gets killed by a lovely dropkick from AJ, Sting bails and takes his time. AJ gets frustrated and chases but Sting rolls back in.
AJ returns to the rings with a body slam and a knee drop. AJ unloads on Sting but Sting comes back press slamming AJ to the outside. Sting plays to the crowd. Sting whips AJ chest first into the guard rail, Sting then drops AJ onto the guard rail. Back in the ring and Sting runs right into a back breaker. “Let’s go AJ/Let’s Go Sting” chant rings out, AJ tries a hip toss but Sting locks in an abdominal stretch and pounds away at AJ’s ribs. AJ manages to counter the hold with a hip toss but Sting immediately flapjacks AJ onto the top rope. Sting lays in a few shoulder blocks in the corner and then continues to pound away. Sting gives AJ two hard chest first Irish Whips before applying for favourite hold and mine, yes that’s right kids the bearhug. Thankfully AJ fights out quickly so Sting instead lock him in the much more exciting Abdominal stretch. AJ fights out and they trade blows before AJ pops up with an enzenguri and both men are down.
AJ hits two closelines and then a back suplex. AJ is pressed to the apron and then follows up with his springboard flying forearm for a two count. AJ scores with a snap suplex for a two. Sting quickly tries for the scorpion Deathlock but AJ kicks him off. AJ misses a blind charge and Sting hits the Scorpion Death Drop for a near fall. Sting comes off top with a flying closeline but crashes and burns. AJ goes for the Clash but Sting kicks his legs and escapes. Sting then hits a pair of Stinger Splashes and AJ crumbles. Sting hits one last big Stinger Splash and he goes for a superplex but AJ counters with a sunset bomb. AJ pulls Sting into position and AJ nails a painful looking Spiral Tap. AJ says one more time. Kurt and Booker run to ringside but AJ knocks them off the apron. AJ goes for the pele but Sting quickly Evades and gets an Oklahoma roll for the 1-2-3.
A tricky one to rate as there were lots of rest holds and clumsy wrestling from Sting but it also had its share of exciting sequences. Something just didn’t click here, probably due to the massive styles clash (no pun intended, actually I lie), that held it back. Still plenty of action and a relatively dramatic ending to a match up I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. A rematch could definitely reach a higher level. (***1/4)

Kurt Angle doesn’t enter the match for five minutes. AJ and Tomko won’t get in the ring and let the clock tick before the faces bring them in. Christian dodges the back flip and Cage hits a second rope diving reverse elbow. Tomko tags in and hurls Christian into the corner. Tomko tries a military press but Christian slips out and gets a roll up for a near fall. Tomko comes back with a power slam for a near fall. The faces hold back Tomko and unloads with lefts and rights. AJ tries a sneak attack but he’s met with a brutal spear. Joe tags in and kicks the grab out of Tomko before hitting a enzenguri in the corner. Nash tags in and hits a body slam and an elbow drop. Christian tags in and Tomko powers him into the corner. AJ tags in and he battles with Christian on top back body dropping Christian off top. AJ then hits a perfect spiral tap. Nash comes in and big boots down AJ. Tomko boots down Nash, and Joe hits Tomko with the snap powerslam. Joe leaves the ring to wait for the arrival of Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle walks slowly into the arena before charging Joe and they exchange blows before Joe unloads with a series of knee strikes. Both men return to the ring and brawl some more. Kurt tries an Irish whip but Joe suicide dives through the ropes onto Tomko, nice spot. Christian is on the top rope but Kurt spots him and leaps to the top rope. Cage bites Angle sending him crashing to the mat. Cage then scores with a nice Frog Splash for a near fall. Kurt is pissed however and belly to belly suplexes Christian over the top rope to the outside. Kurt plays to the crowd and mocks the remaining faces. AJ dives off the apron crushing Cage against the announcers table. AJ slides Cage back in immediately and applies a chinlock. Cage fights out but is met with AJ’s lovely dropkick. Tomko tags in and he pounds the crap out of Christian. Cage fights back with chops and knocks the heels off the apron but Tomko stops the cage and spears Christian into the heel corner. Tomko then hits a very nice press slam into a fallaway slam combo for a near fall. Kurt mocks Joe and then locks the Ankle lock in on Cage. Joe breaks it but Kurt reapplies until Cage counters to roll up for a near fall. Cage counters the Angle Slam into a headlock. Kurt tries a back suplex but Christian headscissors AJ and back flips over Kurt, AJ tries a closeline but Cage hits the diving reverse DDT avoiding the closeline and killing Kurt and then Cage and AJ do a double closeline spot. Great sequence.
HOT TAG! Nash comes in and cleans house with some big slugs. He gives Kurt snake eyes and AJ the big side salto. Nash then kills Tomko with big boot. Nash hits the Jacknife Powerbomb on Kurt but AJ comes off top with a springboard dropkick on Nash’s bad knee. Everyone is down. HOT TAG! Joe cleans house. High knee lariat for Tomko, Joe counters a springboard ranna with a powerbomb and goes for the muscle buster but Kurt hits a blatant low blow! AJ hits the pele, Tomko hits the big kick, Kurt hits the Angle Slam and its only gets TWO!!!! Cage then hits the Unprettier on Kurt. Nash takes AJ to the outside. Tomko hits Joe with the decapitation closeline but Joe springs up and locks Tomko in the Kojina Clutch for the win.
Well that was too short to be epic but was very good while it lasted, start a little flat but once Kurt got in there it was just really exciting stuff. They threw in a couple of really interesting sequences but the match had the problem of all multi man tag matches that because everyone has to tag in and out and get their spots in basically none of the action mattered a jot before the final few minutes and there was of course no long term selling whatsoever. Nevertheless, professionally executed and a lot of all action fun. (***1/4)

LAX go right after Beer Money on the outside, Hernandez whips Storm into the steel guard rail and Homicide introduces Roode to the steps. Storm comes back and whips Hernandez into the rail. Homicide scores with a flying back elbow, LAX then get the corner closeline and the shoulder charge, then it a closeline and the catpult closeline senton backbreaker combo. Hernandez then scores with the mega stalling suplex as Homicide works the crowd into a frenzy. Homicide scores with a butterfly suplex for two. Homicide noggin knocks both heels off the apron. Homicide tries a dive but is pulled out and is double closelined. Hernandez then scores with a flying press to the outside as Hernandez lands on his feet and rips his shirt the crowd go nuts. Homicide gets the overhead belly to belly suplex. Jackie spits beer into Homicide's eyes allowing Roode to score with a Lariat. Its a corner closeline combo from Beer Money followed by a neck snaper from Roode and a knee drop from Storm. Roode scores with a tilt a whirl back breaker for two. He tries it again and Homicide lands on top for two. Roode comes back with a big boot for two. Beer Money then hit the double suplex and its the pose and time to shout "Beer Money!" that triggers a huge "LAX" chant. Roode gets a droptoe hold and clubs down Homicide. Storm puts Homicide on the top rope and scores with a DDT on the hanging Homicide. "Beer/LAX" chant. Homicide dodges a closeline but runs into a high knee. Beer Money give Homicide a wishbone splitter, Roode applies a chinlock and the crowd come to life. Homicide fights out and runs right into a back elbow. Roode scores with the three Amigos and mocks Eddie and blows snot. Roode goes up top and misses the frog splash. Hernandez gets the slingshot shoulder block and unloads with closelines and back body drops. Hernandez whips the heels into each other and gives them a Stinger Splash and a cracker jack for Roode and a spine buster gets two on Storm. Roode tries a sunset flip but Hernandez powers him up. Storm scores with an Enzenguri and Roode scores with the block buster for two. Hernandez comes back with a double closeline. Homicide scores with a double torpedo dropkick, Homicide gets a snap suplex and a big splash for two. Roode blocks the 187 and scores with the double A spinebuster. Hernandez gets a reverse torture rack bomb on Storm. Homicide gives Roode a 187. Hernandez then after a bitch slap gives Homicide a Border Toss to the outside onto beer Money, THAT WAS AWESOME! Storm low bridges Hernandez and the girls brawl at ringside, Homicide goes for the Cop Killer but Roode comes in and kills Homicide with the beer bottle to the eye for the win.
Wow that was a refreshingly awesome tag title match and damn its been awhile since the tag divisions hey day. The finish was a bit OTT but for impact that was a clean finish. Great action with some cool spots. (***1/4)

Christian thinks Tomko is the first entrant but when the lights come up AJ is in the cage and AJ is on the top rope and scores with a flying forearm. AJ beats the crap out of Christian Cage and hits a reverse elbow before applying a camel clutch. They run the ropes before AJ hits one of his picture perfect dropkicks. AJ mounts Christian and he unloads. Christian has had enough and he unloads on AJ before running into a reverse elbow. AJ tries the back flip reverse DDT but Christian tries to fight it off but AJ eventually hits it. AJ applies a brief chin lock before Christian kill AJ with a hard closeline. Christian comes off top with the frog plash but AJ manages to roll out of the way. AJ goes for the styles clash but Cage slips out and hits the diving reverse DDT. Christian then counters a ranna attempt with a sit out powerbomb. The crowd are rabid. Christian goes for the Unprettier but AJ counters with the Pele.
Brother Ray is the Next Entrant. Ray slams the cage door shut on AJ’s head and then locks Christian in a boston crab. Ray then begins to slam Cage’s head into the steel cage. AJ holds Christian back allowing AJ to hit a knife edge chop. Ray hits one of his own in turn.
Rhino is the Next Entrant. Rhino cleans house closelining Ray and suplexing AJ. Rhino prepares the Gore on Ray but as he charges AJ dives in with a dropkick to the face to break it up, very nice spot. Ray lays in some stiff open hand slaps while Christian chokes AJ on the other side. Christian applies a sleeper on Ray but Ray falls backwards to break the hold.
James Storm is the Next Entrant. Storm goes straight after Cage and nails him with the eye of the Storm before laying the boots in to Rhino. Rhino press AJ but he manages to catch his feet and scramble up the cage. AJ and Rhino brawl on the top rope. AJ kicks Rhino off and Christian and AJ brawl at the very top of the Cage. Ray dives against the Cage and Christian falls all the way to the floor.
Kevin Nash is the Next Entrant. Nash lays everyone out with forearms and then catches AJ coming off the Cage and gives him Russian snake eyes. Christian recovers and hits a lovely Salmon like leaping crossbody killing both Ray and Storm. Everyone is down as the crowd chant “Holy Shit”. Christian bitch slaps AJ as everyone brawls.
Brother Devon is the Next Entrant. Devon and Ray team up and launch Christian with a double flapjack straight into the cage. Team 3D then nails Rhino with a double shoulder tackle. Nash beats Devon down but all the heels come in with a variety of chop blocks. James Storm dropkicks Christian face first into the steel cage.
Matt Morgan is the Next Entrant. Morgan unloads on everybody. He gives AJ Styles and Brother Ray big boots. Morgan then launches Devon face first into the steel cage. Morgan then floors both of Team 3D with a double closeline. AJ front flips to escape a choke slam but gets swatted when he tries a headscissors.
Tomko is the Next Entrant. Tomko attacks everyone generically. The ring is really over crowded. Tomko and Christian brawl wildly. Devon gives Matt Morgan a low blow leg drop. There’s lots of plodding brawling. James Storm gives Cage a low blow headbutt as Tomko DDTs Rhino.
Sting is the Final Entrant. Sting kicks the crap out of all the heels with a variety of strikes. Sting gives AJ a brutal Manhattan Drop, Sting works the crowd and kills James Storm with a closeline. The top of the cage full of weapons lowers. Nash blocks a baseball bat shot by AJ with a Steel chair and kills him with a chair. Everyone is hitting everyone with weapons. Cage and Storm are on top of the cell hitting each other with trash can lids. Storm tries a suplex and nearly falls through the Cage. This is like amateur hour. Christian crotches Storm and then hits him with several trash can shots. Team 3D hit a 2D on Rhino before Nash and Morgan hits Stereo chokeslams. Tomko cleans house but Sting puts him in the Scorpion Death lock. AJ kills everyone with a kendo stick and then climbs to the top of the cell. AJ helps Storm laying him on a table. AJ climbs to the top of the ladder. They are really high up. Christian and AJ battle atop the ladder. Storm recovers and shoves the ladder over sending them crashing through the table atop the cell. Storm climbs back down the cell and drinks a beer. Storm then smashes the beer bottle over Morgan’s head but when he turns he’s met with a Gore which he monsterously oversells and that gets the 1-2-3.
Well that was a total clusterfuck of mess if ever I saw one, it was ridiculously sloppy and stupidly dangerous but was never the less fun and had for the most part enough action in between the stammering around. Messy but fun. (***1/4)

Petey is wearing a face guard to cover up a broken orbital bone. Kaz front flips out of an arm wringer, they trade arm wrenches until Kaz gets a clever pin for nothing. Kaz gets a couple of arm drags and a cross body for two. They lamely trade pins and then both take turns blocking each others finishers and then Kaz gets the seated turnbuckle dropkick. Kaz gets a spinning heel kick and a springboard leg drop for two. Rhaka Kahn gets in Kaz's face allowing Petey to score with a swinging DDT off the apron. Petey scores with a chest first hard Irish whip and Petey plays to the crowd. Petey scores with a really tight spinning heel kick and its more posing. Petey does some pedestrain work, Petey runs into a roll up in the corner. Kaz gets another roll up and Petey shoots Kaz to the outside, that looked terrible, but Petey makes up for it with the plancharanna. Petey scores with a back breaker and a neck breaker for two, the crowd are really into this show. Petey argues with the ref. Petey gets an arm breaker. "Let's Go Petey/Let's Go Kaz" with Petey getting bigger cheers. Petey gets a snap suplex and a arm scissors and face lock. Don West says Petey is wrestling like Scott Stiener, Scott fucking wishes. Kaz botches a flip over Petey and scores with with a diving Yakuza kick. Both men are down and the crowd are even big into the count. Petey misses a closeline and Kaz unloads. Kaz scores with a flying forearm and a back elbow. Kaz scores with the Harlem Spine Buster. Kaz dodges Petey and scores with a slingshot DDT for two. Kaz slingshot's Petey in and changes up to an ace crusher in mid air for two, really nice spot. "This is Awesome" nah this is pretty good. Petey gets a dropkick to the back and the Petey Pump Russian Legsweep. Kaz blocks a Canadian Destroyer and Petey ends up scoring with a bearhug DDT that was absolutely brutal for a near fall. Petey goes up top and Kaz gives him an Enzenguri and Kaz goes for the Flux Capacitor but Petey fights it off and goes for the Destroyer, its blocked and Petey gets an arm wringer onto the top rope. Kaz counters the Petey Sweep into a backslide, Petey counters to the Destroyer but Kaz counters to a reverse tombstone for a near fall. Kahn comes in and Kaz kills her with a brutal Yakuza kick that was fucking cool. Scott gives Petey the pipe he nails Kaz in the head and it only gets a near fall. Kaz has done a monster blade job, Petey counters a roll up into the Sharp Shooter but Kaz breaks it, Kaz counters an Oklahoma roll into a Wave Of the Future for a near fall! Scott gets in Kaz's way so Kaz Yakuza kicks him off the apron, Kaz goes for a sunset flip but Petey counters into the Canadian Destroyer for the win.
Very good match but pretty sloppy in places but a damn good opener with great action. throughout, dramatic if completely over the top finish the crowd are justifiably hot after that. (***1/4)

Teams run at each other and brawl by the entrance way. Shelley dives off the announce table onto Devon, in the ring Lethal gets a top rope double sledge and an over the top rope arm breaker. The guns double suplex Ray and then Lethal hits Ray with a Sign that says “Use my sign” of course a street sign is underneath. All three of the faces hit stereo planchas. Lethal gives Devine a back body drop and they whip all the heels into one another. Then the faces hit three simultaneous Tornado DDTs for three near falls. They throw weapons into the ring including an inflatable sex doll. The faces then hit three stereo trash can shots for simultaneous near falls. There’s lots of weapon brawling going on. Sabin hits Ray with a kitchen sink. In an overly cute spot. The Guns jump on team 3Ds back with sleepers but Team 3D double suplex Lethal from within the holds killing everyone. We get more three way weapons brawling with 3D getting the upperhand. Brother Ray then gives the sex doll a piledriver, oh dear. Devine then kills Lethal with his computer key board. The crowd want tables. Devine hits his suplex cutter move through a trash can for a near fall. Devine and Devon hold Lethal, Ray prepares to use the kendo stick but is cut off by the guns. The guns gets double spinning back kicks, then flying elbows in the corner on Devon followed by a high low for a near fall. Devon blocks an Irish whip and Ray double northern lariats the Guns. Then its 3Ds for both Shelley and Sabin then Lethal comes in with a springboard dropkick on Devon but Ray then turns him inside out with a lariat. Ray punches the crap out of Lethal before killing him with a wooden blank. Lethal flips off Ray who promptly kills him with a trash can. Val is crying and tells team 3D to stop, Ray pulls her into the ring and licks Val, Ray tries to use a cheese grater but Lethal saves with a cheese grater. Lethal his a diving top rope ranna on Ray then smashes Ray’s chair back into his face hard with a chair of his own. 1-2-Devon pulls the ref out. Lethal kills him with a plancha and back body drops Devine on the outside. Lethal returns to the ring with a springboard closeline on Ray for a near fall. Devine runs in but he’s caught with the Lethal combination for a near fall. Devon runs in and Lethal kills him with a superkick for a near fall. Ray then kills Lethal with a Bubbabomb for a near fall and its Table time. Lethal back body drops Devon out of the ring and then enzenguris Ray. Devine kills Lethal with the sign but he takes second swing and misses. Lethal takes the sign kills Devine with it causing him to fall backward onto the announce table. Lethal heads to the top rope and hits the Picture Perfect Elbow Drop through the table for the win.
Really enjoyed this one, it started with garbage match brawling and some spots that were just too silly, all the stereo moves were a bit too much but it really picked up. The final portion of the match was especially brilliant with the Guns being taken out the story of Lethal going nuts when they attacked Val and dramatically beating all three men alone was brilliant. Very well thought through match up and that elbow through the table was brutal. Unfortunately like Joe this was Lethal’s high spot for the year then it was all downhill from here, as he was booked into total oblivion with the terrible Sonjay feud. (***1/4)

The crowd chant "Thank You Jeff" but that doesn't stop Kurt from getting a double leg takedown. Jeff wriggles to the ropes to avoid a possible arm bar. Well that was a well wrestled start but isn't this supposed to be an intense blood feud? Kurt takes Jeff down and paintbrushes the back of Jeff's head. Kurt continues his promise to kill Jeff Jarrett with a life threatening side headlock. Angle scores with a couple of shoulder blocks before getting a side headlock takedown. Jeff comes back with a nice arm drag and Jeff locks in a side headlock, he most really be made about those threats to his children. Jeff hits a shoulder tackle of his own and then a headlock takedown of his own. Angle fights up and scores with a back suplex but Jeff doesn't release the side headlock. Kurt forces a break in the corner and unloads on Jeff with a european uppercut. Jeff hits a nice dropkick on Angle before closelining Angle to the outside. Jeff follows up with a really nice plancha. Jeff whips Kurt into the guard rail and then misses an axe handle of the apron and crashes and burns. Decent Start.
Kurt works over Jeff in the ring, choking him on the ropes. Jeff comes back with an inverted atomic drop, enzenguri and then a rope rider. Jeff starts to strut but Kurt kills him with a closeline. Kurt then nails a back breaker for two before returning to the headlock. Jeff fights out after a little while and fights out. Jeff leapfrogs Kurt and gets a school boy for two. Kurt responses with another lovely closeline for two. Kurt gets a two count from a snap suplex before returning to the chinlock. The crowd have really come to life now. Jeff fights out but is cut off by and eye rake. Kurt lays some shoulders in the corner but misses with a blind charge and hits the ringpost. Jeff hits a DDT and both men are down. Good middle portion.
Slugfest, Jeff explodes with two closelines and then counters Angle's closeline attempt with a blue thunder bomb for two. Kurt replies with an overhead release belly to belly suplex for two. Jeff counters the Angle Slam into a DDT for a near fall. Jeff puts Kurt on the top rope and looks for the super plex but Kurt fights him and tries the belly to belly but Jeff block and eventually scores with the superplex for a near fall. Jarrett counters a kick with a leg trip and Jeff locks in the figure four. Jeff gets a couple of near falls out of the hold before Kurt makes the ropes. Kurt dodges a closeline and Kurt scores with the rolling German suplexes for a near fall. Jeff counters an Angle Slam attempt with a arm drag. Jeff goes for a pile drive but Kurt back body drops Jeff, Jeff counters that with a roll up but Kurt rolls through that into the ankle lock. Jeff tries to make the ropes but fails a few times before Jeff flips out. Kurt scores with the Angle Slam but it only gets a near fall! Kurt is frustrated and goes for the Moonsault but he takes too long and Jeff manages to avoid it. Jeff dodges a closeline and kills the referee. Jeff gets the arm wrench and two knees to the gut before nailing a stroke, great sell from Angle there. Foley rolls in to count the pinfall but it only gets two. Kurt low blows Jarrett and goes to get a chair, Mick tries to stop Kurt but takes a brutal chair shot for his troubles. Kurt kills Jeff with a chair for good measure. Kurt is about to get the three count but Foley recovers and pulls the referee out of the ring. Mick gets the sock and applies the mandible claw on Angle. Foley releases Kurt and Jeff kills Mick with the guitar for the 1-2-3.
The convoluted finish hurt the match a little but all in all it was a good classic main event style match. Angle was in great form his selling was spot on in this match. The only real problem with this match was that it didn't fit the story of Jarrett and Kurt having a blood fued. The lack of intensity didn't really matter all in all as the match was solid regardless. Jarrett still isn't over, or at least not as over as he thinks he is, but there were some nice sequences, and Jarrett looked in really good shape for his first match back. (***1/2)

We get mild chants for Joe and Cage, the crowd are dead. Everyone brawls to start, Joe gets a jab flurry on Book. Cage works Roode on the outside. Book and Joe exchange chops in the ring and then outside the ring. Roode is introduced to the ladder. In the ring, Cage and Rhino get a double hip toss, while Joe chops the crap out of Book. Rhino gets the shoulder charge in the corner on Roode. Rhino and Cage get the double suplex. Cage is looking for the frog splash and Book shoves him to the outside and he takes a nasty bump with his knee hitting the apron. Book gets the arm wrench and side kick on Rhino for two. Rhino aviods a scissor kick and Booker blocks a gore with a knee, Rhino then closelines Booker over the top rope. Joe and Rhino hook it up, Joe gets an inverted atomic drop, the yakuza kick and the sloppy senton back splash. Joe dodges a splash from Roode non chalance, Joe unloads with the front and back chops and the knee drop for two. Christian blocks Roode's Fisherman's suplex attempt and scores with an implant DDT. Joe gets the slap combo and the corner closeline and the spining enzenguri. Cage blocks the muscle buster but runs into a snap powerslam, Booker then runs into a snap powerslam. Joe runs into a boot and then gets nailed with a spinning back elbow. Cage bitch slaps Joe and counters a ten punch putting Cage in the tree of woe. Samoa Joe then gets a diving Yakuza kick. Joe tries a dive but Booker pulls him to the outside and he unloads on Joe and introduces him to the penalty box and the announce table. Rhino runs straight into a Book End and that's our first pin fall. Booker is Elligable, Rhino is in the Penalty box for two minutes.
Book shoves Nash and takes the belt and ladder. Joe won't let Book grab the ladder so Book slugs him down. Joe and Book battle over the ladder and Cage baseball slides the ladder into both men. Roode comes out of nowhere with a block buster for two. Rhino is released. Cage blocks a piledriver and catapults Roode out of the ring. Cage and Rhino high five and then go to work. Rhino blocks the unprettier and Cage flips out of the back suplex, Rhino sets up a Gore but Joe trips him and crotches Rhino on the ringpost. Joe then gives Cage the STJoe. Joe then hits the corkscrew plancha onto Book, Roode and Rhino on the outside. Cage then follows up with a flying cross body from the penalty box. Terrible camera work. Cage then grabs a table and sets it up at ringside. Cage kills Joe with the ladder. Roode hits Cage who's holding the ladder with a chair and that gets a three count. Roode is Elligable and Cage is in the penalty box. Roode asks for the belt and Rhino gets school boy for three. Rhino is Elligable and Roode is in the penalty box. Roode won't go so Kevin Nash forces him into the box. Booker shoves Rhino off the top of the ladder. Joe dodges a scissor kick and locks Booker in the clutch Cage is then released and Cage comes off the top of the penalty box with a frog splash onto both men and scores the pin on Book. Cage is Elligable, Book is in the penalty box. Roode stop Cage and climbs the ladder, Joe gives Roode a german suplex off the ladder, he then gives Cage an ace crusher off the top of the ladder. Rhino scores with a Gore on Joe. Everyone is down as Booker is released from the box. Book snatches the belt from Nash and floors Nash with it, he then nails absolutely everyone brutally with the belt. Book poses and then goes for the belt but Nash comes back in and gives Booker a Jackknife powerbomb. Cage blocks a muscle buster landing on the apron, Rhino then gores Cage off the apron through the table. Roode nails Joe with the Northern Lariat, Roode then knocks Rhino off top to the outside. Joe gives Roode the enzenguri and the muscle buster on Robert Roode for the pin and he climbs the ladder for the win.
It was a pretty fun spectacle match, it still felt like ammatuer hour and very indy like but it definitely had some great sequences and fun moments, good main event. (***1/2)

They lock up and go straight to the corner for a clean break. Kurt grabs a leg and gets a wrestling takedown and schools AJ in the waist lock. Kurt gets a headlock takedown, AJ shoots him of but Kurt gets a shoulder block, AJ replies with two arm drags and a spinning arm drag sends Kurt bailing to the outside. Kurt gets a pair of european uppercuts but AJ replies with a beautiful dropkick and the crowd come to life. AJ explodes and kicks the crap out of Kurt before playing to the crowd. Kurt misses a blind charge and goes shoulder first into the ring post, AJ gets the springboard flying forearm for two. Kurt gets a back elbow and AJ takes a nice bump through the middle ropes. Tomko walks toward AJ so Earl Hebner throws Tomko out. While that's happening Kurt introduces AJ to the steel guard rail and security come out and demand that Tomko leave. AJ knocks Kurt off the apron and scores with the perfect front flip dive to the outside for two. AJ scores with a back breaker for two. AJ scores with a body slam and the Styles knee drop gets two. "Let's Go AJ/Angle" chant. Kurt sees a back body drop coming and gets a big over the shoulder toss. Kurt does it again while playing to the crowd Kurt locks in a hard side headlock. "Angle Sucks" chant. Kurt gives AJ a couple of hard face first mat slams. Kurt unloads from a mount and its back to the chinlock. AJ tries to fight out but runs into the overhead release belly to belly suplex. Kurt scores with a vertical suplex for a series of twos. Kurt goes to a nice camel clutch, AJ is bleeding from the nose. AJ fights out but Kurt runs right in with the kitchen sink. Kurk scores with a nice looking back breaker for two. Great selling on display by AJ. Kurt scores with some uppercuts in the corner and Kurt bitch slaps AJ. Kurt puts AJ on top and unloads, AJ does some great selling. AJ blocks the super plex, and scores with a super front suplex, nice spot and good struggle to set it up, it looked absolutely brutal from the reverse angle. Slugfest, Kurt gets a big European uppercut but runs into a roundhouse kick, AJ gets two closelines and a brutal spinning gutbuster for two. AJ gets the suplex neckbreaker spot for two. Kurt comes back with a hard Irish whip and the multiple german suplexes, brilliant sells from AJ, Aj counters the third and gets a realese German suplex and Kurt does the back flip sell. AJ misses the discus punch and returns the favour with the release German suplex for two. AJ explodes with an enzenguri and both men are down. Kurt catches a Stinger splash and gives AJ a release German Suplex into the turnbuckle for two. Kurt calls for the Angle Slam, AJ counters nicely into a DDT and that gets a near fall! AJ goes for the Clash but Kurt counters but AJ counters the counter to a sunset flip Kurt rolls through into the Ankle lock and AJ rolls him off into a turnbuckle. AJ explodes with the backflip inverted DDT for a near fall! AJ goes up and Kurt burst up top with the Super Angle Slam for two. Angle takes the straps down. AJ rolls through on the Ankle lock for two. AJ scores with the Pele out of nowhere for a near fall when Kurt gets his hand on the rope! AJ goes for the Clash but Kurt nicely counters to the Ankle Lock, Kurt pulls AJ back to middle away from the ropes. AJ kicks off Kurt and the ref gets bumped (ARGH!). AJ scores with the kip up ranna and it sends Kurt to the outside. Karen Angle appears looking hot with a steel chair and pretends to give Kurt the chair but instead distracts him so AJ can do the roll up into the Styles Clash for the win.
Really good match, had some slow spots at the beginning with the chinlocks but it didn't matter the action was really good, dramatic and was paced extremely well and played out nicely for maximum impact. Obviously would have prefered to see them go hell for leather but this was a nicely put together match. Would have loved to have had a straight finish but it was fine playing into the storyline. Hopefully somewhere down the line we get the perfect one on one match between the two. It did seem like the slower pace with the more empthasis on the single moves may have been done to protect Kurt's next which after all is a very good rationale for this style. Below Expectations but still good. (***1/2)
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They lock up aggressively but quickly wrestle to the corner for a clean break. Kurt Angle gets a waistlock takedown and controls Cage on the mat. Christian shoots Kurt off a headlock but is met by a shoulder tackle before Kurt reapplies the side headlock. Kurt dodges a closeline and yet again floors Cage with a shoulder block. Karen gets in a fans face at ringside as Kurt misses and elbow drop allowing Christian grabbed a side headlock. Kurt powers Cage to the corner to break the hold but Christian immediately takes Kurt right back down with headlock takedown. Kurt beaks the hold but runs into an elbow, Cage poses on the second rope but Kurt catches his axe hand and hits an over the shoulder suplex. Cage recovers and throws Kurt shoulder first into the steel ringpost. Kurt bails to the outside but Cage comes off top with a flying shoulder block to keep the pressure on. Solid Start.
Back in the ring Kurt catches Cage on top with a European uppercut and then Kurt pulls Cage off top by his legs and he lands really hard. Kurt scores with a vertical suplex for a two count. Kurt chokes Christian in the ropes and gets in Joe’s face. He does it again and Joe pops up on the apron to make sure the count is inforced. Kurt boots Christain and then hits a release overhead belly to belly suplex sending Cage hard over the top rope in a nice spot. Kurt tries to use a chair but Joe takes it away. Kurt shoves Joe and Joe floors Kurt with one shove. Kurt hits a European uppercut and then Angle Slams Cage onto the ring apron. Good build.
Back in the ring Kurt powerbombs Cage into the turnbuckles for a two count, Kurt unfortunately slows it down with a body scissors, Cage turns it into the mount and gets a roll up for two. Cage misses a closeline and Kurt hits the multiple German suplexes. Cage blocks the third and counters with a reverses with a german of his own, Kurt does the front flip sell and lands hard on his face. Cage hits a pair of back elbows and then a nice flapjack. Cage leapfrogs Kurt and hits the Edge-o-Matic for a near fall. Cage heads to the top rope and plays to the crowd, Kurt runs up to meet him but Cage shoves Kurt off and hits the Frog Splash for a nearfall. Kurt hits a hard chest first Irish whip. Cage counters the Angle Slam with an arm drag and then tosses Kurt who takes a nasty bump on the ring apron. Kurt and Cage brawl on the apron. Kurt tries the German suplex off the apron but Cage holds on to block, Cage goes for his rope rebound kick but Kurt blocks and applies the Ankle lock, stepping over the ropes and pulling Cage to the centre. Cage tries to flip him off but Kurt holds on and Cage has to dive to the ropes. Cage counters the Angle Slam with the Victory roll but Kurt rolls through to the ankle lock but Cage counters to a roll up for a very near fall! Kurt counters the Unprettier with an eye rake and Kurt hits the Angle Slam for a near fall! Kurt goes up top but Cage rolls out the way of the moonsault and Kurt crashes and burns. Cage heads to the top but Angle pops up twice with an Angle Slam off the top rope but it only gets two! There’s a big stream of spit coming out of Kurt’s mouth. Kurt bitch slaps Cage who response with a lightening Unprettier for a near fall! Cage dodges a closeline and the ref gets bumped. Joe slides in as Cage has Kurt in the Ankle Lock. Kurt says he won’t tap he grabs Karen’s hand and Cage pulls them both to the centre of the ring, and we get a pleasant view of Karen’s arse. Joe steps aside and Karen bitch slaps Christian. Cage threatens her but Cage and Angle tries to save the day but Cage sidesteps and Kurt kills Karen. Cage gets a leverage pin for a near fall and then we have an in ring collision. Joe takes the lifeless body of Karen out of the ring and sits her in a chair. AJ tries to use this break to interfere but Joe runs across and pulls AJ down as he attempts a springboard move and he smashes his jaw hard on the apron on the way down. Joe whips AJ hard into the barricade and then closelines AJ into the front row and they brawl. Kurt fetches a chair as Joe runs AJ out of the arena. Kurt and Christian and battle over the chair, Kurt blasts Cage in the balls and Kurt waffles Christian with the cage. Tomko runs out to make the save but after teasing attacking Kurt he of course turns on Cage and hits him with his finisher for the win.
God that was so overbooked. That was a shame because the match was really dramatic and Joe really added to the match as special enforcer. There was some really good action in there but there is just something about Christian that doesn’t click in Main Event matches and while he’s by no means bad, he just always falls short as a in ring performer. Very entertaining and dramatic but tragically overbooked and just missing that certain something, nevertheless a worthy main event. (***1/2)

Gail Kim charges Kim but gets swatted. They then work together but the Irish whip fails and Kong sends the two faces crashing into one another. Kim and Kong are whipped into one another in the corner. Kong charges and squashes Kim but ODB managed to dodge. ODB tries to toss Kim over the top rope and then Kim comes off the top rope with a flying leg drop sending Kong crashing outside. Kim gets a slingshot sunset flip and ODB and Kim exchange pinfalls but when ODB goes for a torture rack Kim slips out the back and scores with a hangman’s neckbreaker. Kim goes up top and instead of going after ODB she goes for a flying cross body to the outside on Kong but Kong Catches her. Kong looks to ram Kim into the post when ODB comes diving with a cross body of the apron to floor Kong. Great opening.
ODB unloads on Kim but Kim tries a leapfrog but ODB takes her down with a waist lock takedown and a front facelock. Kim escapes and tries a crossbody but ODB catches her with a fallaway slam and then showboats. When ODB turns Kim kills her with an awesome spear and the crowd erupt. Kim goes for a ten punch but ODB counters to a powerbomb but Kim counters with a sloppy headscissors taking ODB to the outside. Kim charges Kong whose return to the ring and gets squashed. Kong then kills Kim with the Vader butterfly strike. Kim evades an avalanche sliding to the outside. Kim tries a crucifix and Kong pulls her straight back up, Kim blocks the spinning back fist and scores with the code breaker. Kong then kills her with a closeline and throws Kim shoulder first into the ringpost. ODB attacks Kong with a chop block but Kong catches her and kills her with a closeline and a choke bomb. Kong goes for the awesome bomb but Kim runs up ODB’s back and levels Kon with a kick to the face. Kim and ODB play ping pong with Kong and then both Kim and ODB drink from the flask and play to the crowd. The faces then hit stereo missile dropkick for two twos as both women break the covers. Kim and ODB have a shoving contest before Kim floors her with the wrap around closeline. Kim goes for a cross body but is caught and by Kong but ODB crotches behind to trip Kong. Kim gets two before ODB breaks the cover. Kim floors ODB and Kong goes for an Awesome Bomb on Kim. She has her up but ODB gets a school boy and they have the double pin for a near fall. This is a really great effort. Kong kills ODB with a spinning back fist and then Kim tries a wheel barrow move but Kong sits out on it. Kong comes off top with a big splash for a near fall! ODB made the save. ODB and Kong have a slugfest but when ODB played to the crowd Kong hits her with the Implant buster. Kong goes to the second rope but this time she misses the big splash. Big “ODB” chant. ODB unloads with shoulder tackles but Kong won’t go down. ODB comes off the second rope with a Lou Thez press for two. ODB is tripped by Saeed and ODB gets distracted allowing Kong to hit the Awesome Bomb for the win.
Yet again TNA put on one of the best North American Woman’s matches that I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame that thanks to lousy writing, the baffling decision to release Gail Kim and then the lameness of Taylor Wilde in general, even if she is quite cute. The Knockout’s division used to be the best booked most entertaining division on TV, shame that’s changed but this was the last good match in the golden age. This was just brilliant with high impact moves, great sequences and near falls, they were as over if not more than the main eventers. The girls got their characters over, the story over and threw in plenty of good wrestling. A tribute to Gail Kim’s development, great match, all action, all awesomeness. (***1/2)

The crowd are on Kurt’s back and so is Abyss so he bails and takes a breather. Kurt dodges Abyss attempts to lock up and then bails. The commentary is so insanely annoying after doing the WWE Match of the year list its really noticeable. Abyss finally catches Kurt and unloads until the ref forces him off. Kurt tries a sneak attack but is met with a closeline. Kurt manages to dodge a closeline but he can’t avoid a big boot, and Abyss quickly hits the Shock treatment for a near fall. Abyss then closelines Kurt to the outside and they brawl through the crowd, obviously channelling the power of 1998. Abyss knocks Angle around with big clubs. Kurt tries to hide behind a fan but Abyss won’t stop coming. God I hate brawls through the crowd. Abyss tries to throw Kurt off the bleachers but Kurt hangs on and gives Abyss a rake of the eyes. Kurt jumps down a level to escape Angle. Finally they make it to ringside.
Kurt manages to slow Abyss with a rake of the eyes. Kurt walks up the ramp as Abyss is crawling after him. Kurt dives and hits a huge front flip tope off the stage onto Abyss, that was superb, not as hard hitting or natural as the one on AJ a few months back but it was very very pretty. The crowd clearly think it’s Awesome. Abyss throws Kurt face first into the stage and then goes for a choke slam but as Don West points out a kick in the nuts will stop that. Kurt Angle then spears Abyss through a dry wall in the stage. Both men have disappeared?
We go to the announces wondering where they are and then Kurt Angle comes flying through the dry wall on the other side of the stage, that was very cartoony but well done. Back in the ring Angle cuts Abyss of with a reverse elbow and a basement dropkick. Kurt now begins kicking out the injured leg of Abyss. When Angle charges Abyss catches him with a closeline. Abyss hits two more closelines and then a side walk slam for two. Kurt counters the shock treatment into the Angle Slam for near fall. Kurt rolls to the outside and grabs a steal chair but when Angle charges Abyss punches it back into his face. Abyss lodges the chair between the top and middle turn buckle. Kurt leap frogs to avoid the chair but Abyss catches him on the way down with a low blow and throws Kurt head first into the chair. Abyss then hits the chokeslam for a nearfall! Abyss lays a chair on Kurt and goes to the second rope. Kurt avoids the elbow drop and kills Abyss with the chair. Angle lays the chair on Abyss and Kurt scores with a nice moonsault for a nearfall! Kurt tries a flying crossbody but Abyss counters and goes for a Tombstone but Angle counters to the Ankle lock, Abyss counters kicking Angle off. Angle charges right into the Black Hole Slam but it only gets two!
Kurt rolls out of the ring and crawls away. Kurt escape past Dixie Carter to the Spanish announce table. Kurt throws the Spannish announcers of the stage and then tries to climb the scaffolding to escape but Abyss catches him and calls for a slam. Abyss lifts Kurt in a Gorrilla press but Kurt wriggles out and gives Abyss a European uppercut sending him off the stage through announce table. Kurt crawls down and gets the 1-2-3.
This is a really tricky match to rate. It’s definitely worth checking out but it’s not worth ordering the PPV or buying the DVD to see alone. The spots were all pretty good and relatively creative definitely felt fresh. The near falls were very good and exciting they totally had the crowd fooled on several occasions. However there was so much sloppy brawling, awkward moments and the brawl through the crowd was a total dirge. On the plus side the match told a nice story with Kurt running away and Abyss own aggressiveness and stipulation he wanted him actually allowing Angle to win and in away the sloppy brawling helped the ruff and rumble feel of the match. Someone needs to teach Abyss how to throw punches. If you can look past the flaws you’ll probably rate this match higher than I did, that said this is a strong (***1/2).

Kurt bails when AJ tries to attack and AJ rips on Kurt. Kurt gets back into the ring and bails again. A Third time Kurt bails to big boos. Kurt spits on AJ so AJ chases him around the ring and of course he pounds AJ when he comes back in. Kurt scores with a european upercut and a snap suplex for two, Kurt locks in a chinlock? "Let's Go AJ/Let's Go Angle" chant. AJ fights up and unloads on Kurt, stomping the crap out of Kurt. Kurt gets an eye rake on AJ and an uppercut but runs straight into a nice dropkick. AJ then closelines Kurt hard to the outside. AJ then follows up with a brutal front flip Tope for a near fall. The speed on that dive was awesome. AJ throws Kurt into the guard rail and gives Kurt a big kick. AJ gets the scoop slam and the AJ knee drop. Kurt begs off and then tosses AJ through the middle ropes. Kurt then introduces AJ to the guard rail and scores with a european uppercut. Kurt tries a whip into the guard rail but AJ jumps over the guard rail and tries a springboard off the guard rail but Kurt catches him and gives him a brutal double leg suplex into the guard rail for two. That was awesome, Kurt then introduces AJ to the steel steps. Aj begins to fire back knocking Kurt's plaster off his head. Kurt tries a suplex on the ramp but AJ counters with a snap suplex on the ramp for two. AJ slugs away at Kurt on the edge of the stage but Kurt dodges a right and scores with a realese German suplex onto the concrete floor, Kurt then scores with a cannon ball off the stage onto AJ! Kurt shouts "Whose too old" fucking hell that was cool. Kurt takes AJ in a headlock to ringside and introduces AJ to the announce table. Kurt scores with a stiff kick to the ribs of AJ. Kurt scores with a back breaker for two and Kurt slaps on the chinlock. AJ fights to the corner and explodes with an enzenguri. AJ gets a leap frog and Kurt runs into the turnbuckle, AJ gets a big knife edge chop but AJ runs right into a cocky overhead release German suplex. Kurt scores with a body slam fortwo and Kurt returns to the chinlock? Come on Kurt your better than that, you've shown it through most of this match. The chinlock goes on for quite a while. AJ fights out and unloads on Kurt with a flurry of strikes. Kurt dodges a closeline and they go to the cross body collision spot. AJ unloads with a flurry of closelines, Kurt blocks a leapfrog and puts AJ on the Apron but AJ scores with the springboard shoulder block. AJ buts Kurt in the torture rack and then spins Kurt into a blue thunder bomb for a near fall! AJ calls for the Clash but Kurt counters to the Ankle Lock, AJ kicks him off and Kurt runs into a hard spinebuster. AJ goes to the Top rope but Kurt pops up AJ shoves him off and AJ goes for a Dragonranna but Kurt counters to a Powerbomb pin for two but Kurt then tries a Styles Clash but Styles counters to a Ankle Lock and the heel hook and Kurt taps. The ref gets to a count of nine hopping.
AJ tries the springboard backflip DDT but Kurt steps back and scores with a absolutely brutal low blow, Kurt then scores with the rolling German suplexes four of them with a back flip release on the last one for a near fall! Kurt takes the straps down and AJ slips out of the Angle Slam and AJ scores with the Pele and both men are down. AJ crawls over for a near fall. Kurt slugs AJ on the top rope but AJ knocks Kurt off with back elbows but Kur pops up with a release German suplex for a three count and a count of 7.
Kurt then scores with an Angle Slam for a Three count and a count of 8. Angle tries an Angle Slam but AJ counters to the Styles Clash for a three count and then a count of 9.8.
AJ puts Kurt on the top rope and goes for a superplex but Kurt tries to suplex AJ out of the ring but AJ counters with a top Super DDT for the pin and the win! Holy Shit!
Really, Really Good match not quite great but boy oh boy was that an incredible finish, knowing Kurt's history you can't help but be scared for him and you can tell the crowd were shocked by that finish. The chinlocks from Kurt were again a let down and they soaked up three or four minutes but the rest of the action was excellent. An Extra 1/4* just for the finish. (****)

This is the MMA crossover style match. Kurt Angle is dressed in shorts, no shoes and taped hands. Kurt tells Karen to leave ringside and of course she complains for about five minutes and shouts don’t fucking touch me at the security.
Joe goes for a wild roundhouse and misses, and Kurt attempts a few jabs but Joe evades. Kurt avoids roundhouse and goes for takedown but Joe gets the ropes. Kurt gets a stiff leg kick, big “Let’s go Joe/Angle” chants, Kurt fakes a lock up and hits another stiff kick. Joe counters another kick with a leg takedown and he locks in a heel hook but Kurt scrambles to the ropes. Kurt gets a takedown Joe is too near the ropes and can’t hit cleaning. Kurt gets another really nice takedown and unloads with some big punches but Joe scampers and makes the ropes. Angle tries another leg trip but Joe just punts him in the face and gets front mount and tries to unload but Kurt gets his guard up and makes the ropes. Nice intriguing opening.
They lock up and Kurt hits a knee to the gut but Joe stomps on Kurt’s feet and scores with a Judo throw but Kurt covers up before Joe can unload. Joe tries to lock up but Kurt hits a nice suplex for a one count. Kurt then gets his head under Joes arm and locks in a tight choke but Angle makes the ropes. Kurt lays in big knees and strikes in the corner before cinching in a front facelock. The crowd are exchanging big Joe and Angle chants. Joe tries to fight back but runs right into an overhead belly to belly suplex for two. Kurt immediately goes to the ropes but Joe makes the ropes. Kurt levels Joe with an uppercut and goes for an arm bar but Joe rolls him over and Kurt has to break the hold. Joe unloads on Kurt but Angle just explodes with a lightening chop block and then cinches in a figure four leglock. Joe is right in the middle of the ring and Kurt gets a couple of two count. Trigg does a brilliant job of selling the hold. Joe tries to roll it over but can’t escape and Kurt gets another two two counts. Joe finally manages to turn it over and Kurt makes the ropes. Great stuff.
Kurt Angle wastes no time and starts kicking the shit out of Joe’s leg, Joe chops his way out of a hold and then absolutely MURDERS Kurt Angle with a brutal lariat and both men are down. They answer the count at eight and Joe unloads with closelines and a brutal running knee in the corner. Kurt goes up top but Joe kills him with an Enzenguri. Joe attempts the Muscle buster but Joe counters to ankle lock. Joe manages to roll out and Angle charges right into the STJOE for a nearfall. Joe hits a big boot to the gut and then a brutal powerbomb and Joe then at the count of two turns it into a sickening Liontamer, Kurts head and neck looks fucked. Joe switches to the STF and then to the crippler crossface but after thinking about tapping Kurt counters to the Ankle lock. Samoa Joe manages to roll back over and reapplies the crossface, this is some awesome stuff right here. Angle breaks free and rushes to the ropes. This is brilliant. Kurt Angle charges with a closeline but Joe counters back into the crossface and Kurt incredibly counters into an Angle Slam and then slaps on the Ankle lock, Joe tries to kick him off but Kurt hangs on and Joe thinks about tapping and instead turns it over and locks in the rear naked choke. Kurt uses the Referees shirt to pull his way to the referee, that was a great spot. Joe floats over a Angle Slam and slams Kurt hard into the side of the Cage then kills him with a Super Kick and finally the Muscle Buster puts Joe away.
Absolutely superb, I actually like this match better every time I watch it. It was a really brave decision to do an quasi MMA style cross over match and it worked perfectly. The submissions and takedowns seem vitally import and the big power moves seemed double important in the more realistic. The realism was the key to the match, taking away the stupid wrestling holds and replacing them with a more realistic offensive and defensive style was a great improvement and then when the wrestling moves came into the match the drama just picked up and up and up. Brilliant stuff, the only real contender to Flair-Micheals and possible the most realistic yet fun wrestling match of all time. (****3/4)

There was only one viable choice for Man of the Year for TNA this year. If this company lost Kurt Angle with a neck injury they'd be in dire straight on this evidence. Its a real shame they didn't go with for Quasi MMA style matches, I just mean with Joe and Angle, it would have been interesting to see if Angle and Cage or Joe and Steiner could have pulled it off. It could potentially cover up for Scott limitations. Anyway, must try harder TNA!