Thursday 27 October 2016

WWF King of the Ring 2001 Review

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Welcome one and all to another hard hitting edition of Seanomaniac's Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling blog online that still wants Darren Young to be great again. As of right now, I am in beautiful La Rochelle in the west of France visiting my girlfriend; It is long distance and we do not see one another often enough so do not expect too many reviews at the end of the month but I also would like to announce that I work for WrestlingNewsSource.com! I will be producing their Flashback Friday segment so if you want to see more content from this fathead why not check it out sometime? Ok shameless plug out of the way, it is back to what you are here for and that is another pay per view review. I played around with the idea of doing a series on WCW from NWO until the end which could be fun but for now, I am focusing on my chronological journey through WWE pay per views. King of the Ring 2001 is the poison of choice tonight folks and I am looking forward to this pay per view. The card is not all impressive but the king of the ring tournament is always interesting as we will come to learn whether the concept was a sucess (Think Stone Cold, Triple H, Owen Hart) or whether it was a failure (Think Billy Gunn, Mabel and Ken Shamrock). Kurt Angle will also be battling WCW owner Shane Mcmahon in what is considered a classic and Stone Cold Steve Austin defends his WWF Championship against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit with the added twtist that possibly Benoit or Jericho could make the jump to WCW. Finally, we have DDP of WCW, the Master of The Diamond Cutter had been stakling The Undertaker's wife Sarah to earn the attention of The Deadman. It worked and now the two were going to tear it up in the ring. Just what part would WCW play in this battle? What could be on the horizon? Well, we all know but just for this review, suspend your beliefs as we chow down on WWF's King of the Ring 2001. Let's rock!

Opening Promo

I love the imagery of this promo with the throne and phrases such as my mind is spent, my body and soul are all but destroyed. Rattlesnakes, crickets and lightening make this a very dark and demented opening but I really like it, it sets the tone for the whole there is hell to pay! JR and Paul Heyman welcome us to the action!

DDP Promo




DDP comes through the crowd and says he is here at the arena, DDP wants to fight. The whole DDP stalker things was such a fail. Everyone knew DDP was with Kimberley why would he want Sarah? As well of that, the beginning of the feud was over DDP wanting Taker's attention so stalking Sarah was only to achieve DDP's original goal but DDP would later become obssessed with Sarah and she would pin him on Raw so yeah should I say anymore?

(King of the Ring Semi-Final Match) Kurt Angle vs Christian

Kurt Angle was looking to make history, they said no one had ever won The King of the Ring back to back and Kurt Angle said it was my night and I am going to become the only man ever to do it oh yes it's true it's dam true. However, Kurt would have to battle his long-time friend Christian in this semi-final match. The four semi-final spots were occupied by Team RECK which consisted of Rhyno, Edge, Kurt and Christian. Christian wastes no time by pummeling Kurt in the beginning, Kurt throws Christian ot the mat and stomps his former friend. Kurt misses a splash in the corner with Christian nailing a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Christian stomps Angle, sunset flip by Christian. Angle rolled out for an Ankle Lock but Christian kicked off the Olympic Hero. 

Massive belly to belly suplex by Angle, Angle shoves Christian to the floor. Angle and Christian smash one another into the steel steps before Angle drops Christian onto the barricade from the top rope. Gutwrench suplex by Angle, more stomps by Angle. Great back suplex for a two count, Christian battles back but Angle cuts him off with a knee. Snap suplex for a two count for The Olympic Hero, right hands by Angle. Quick inside cradle by Christian for a two, Angle counters Christian's reverse DDT into a suplex. Spinning heel kick by Christian, Shane Mcmahon appears on the entrance way. Angle clotheslines Christian and Kurt looks at Shane, Angle misses his beautiful moonsault. Christian pins Angle for a two count, backbreaker by Christian for a two count.

 Christian counters a german suplex, Christian was looking for The Unprettier and Angle rolled into The Ankle Lock. Christian reaches the rope, Angle looks for The Angle Slam and Christian counters for an Unprettier. Christian covers with victory in his grasp but Shan pulls out Christian. Christian stands on the apron and Angle capitalizes with an Angle Slam for the victory. The sequence of counters into finishing and signature moves was very entertaining, I would have liked to see more between these two with a little more of a clear direction as both were heels during the time so crowd reaction could have been better.

 Shane screwing with Angle by having him win this match was great as Angle could not figure it out before it was too late. Angle played the goofy clueless heel so well, I still miss this Angle from time to time.

Winner: Angle over Christian following an Angle Slam!


(King of the Ring Semi-Final Match) Edge vs Rhyno

Rhyno came into WWF around Wrestlemania time and the man is undefeated on pay per view. Rhyno looks like a monster and Rhyno spits on Edge to begin the match. Spinning heel kick by Edge, stomps and punches by Edge. Elbow by Rhyno, massive chops and clubbing blows by Rhyno. Edge elevates Rhyno to the apron, dropkick floors The Man Beast. Edge was looking for a powerbomb on the floor but Edge countered and hung Rhyno by his tender parts. Rhyno hotshots Edge onto the barricade, Rhyno exposes a second turnbuckle cover while the referee tends to Edge. Rhyno whips Edge right into the exposed turnbuckle.

 Rhyno stomps Edge in the corner, shoulder thrust into the ribs. Knee to the face by Rhyno, cover and a two count. Shots to the ribs by Rhyno who locks in a bodyscissors. Knees to the ribs and Michinoku Driver by Rhyno. Rhyno climbs to the top and nails a splash for a two count. Rhyno eats the top rope thanks to Edge with a hotshot, inverted atomic drop by Edge, neckbreaker drops the last ever ECW champion. Rhyno crotches Edge on the top rope, sunset flip powerbomb by Edge out of nowhere. Two count, spinebuster by Rhyno, Rhyno measures for The Gore.

 Edge spears at the same time and both men smash heads. Cover by Rhyno for a two count, O Connor roll by Edge for two. Rhyno kicks out and attempts The Gore. Edge dodges and Rhyno Gores the exposed turnbuckle, Edge drops Rhyno with the Edgecution! Edge picks up the win! This was a good match, Rhyno does not have a reputation as a super worker but I thought he worked the ribs of Edge reallt well in this match. The two had a lot of chemistry due to their upbringings together in wrestling and it really showed. The finish makes Edge look strong while also protecting Rhyno from looking like an absolute idiot.


Winner: Edge over Rhyno following an Edgecution!

(WWF Tag Team Championship Match) The Dudley Boyz vs Kane & Spike Dudley

Stone Cold Steve Austin had cost Benoit & Jericho the WWF tag team championships on Smackdown and The Dudleys are continuing to punsih their brother Spike for dating Molly Holly. Similar to ECW as Bubba and D-Von are complete dickheads to the supposed runt of the family. Spike has challenged the Dudleys to this match so who will be his partner ( just act if I did not spoil it in the title). Kane comes to the ring wearing the intercontinental title which did not really porsper even though Kane and Triple H were the last two holders as of this pay per view. Kane clotheslines The Dudleys and Spike is in with Bubba.

 Bubba tosses Spike at Kane, Kane catches Spike and hurls him at Bubba. D-Von tags in and Kane also tags into the match. D-Von punches have no effect, powerslam and a cover for two by Kane. Spike is in with D-Von, D-Von feigns injury and sneak attacks Spike. Tag to Bubba corner clubbing by Bubba. Knee to the face by Bubba, D-Von is legal and there is a huge corner clothesline and sidewalk slam combination. Kane saves Spike from being pinned, Bubba hammers Spike in the gut. 

Massive back body drop, Spike attempts a sunset flip. Bubba locks in a sleeper on Spike, huge powerbomb by Bubba Ray. D-Von is legal, right hands in the corner by D-Von. Scoop slam, D-Von ,isses a headbutt. Kane is legal hot tag baby! Kane mows down Bubba and D-Von, sidewalk slam on Bubba; D-Von is hurled to the floor, massive powerslam by Kane. D-Von makes the save way too late as the crowd boos the botch. Kane tags Spike and throws Spike onto The Dudleys. Kane clotheslines Bubba from the top rope for a two count. Dudley Dog on Bubba; cover and D-Von makes the save. Kane attempts a Chokeslam, What's up headbutt on Kane.

 Spike double dropkicks The Dudleys, Spike misses a Dudley Dog on D-Von and walks into a 3D for the win. Kane saves Spike from the tables and Chokeslams Bubba through the table. Nice match from these two, Spike was a good babyface due to his selling and size; Crowd loved Spike and wanted to see Spike beat his brothers. Kane looked dominant as was per usual and The Dudleys had to take out Kane to win because in a fair fight, they could not beat Kane & Spike.

Winners: The Dudleys over Spike & Kane following a 3D!

(King of the Ring Final Match) Edge vs Kurt Angle

Edge comes to the ring nursing his injured ribs, Christian had wished his brother good luck in the final as there seemed to be a little tension between the two men. Angle tells Edge that he is sorry for last week but he wants his friend Edge to forfeit the match so Angle is not fatigued going into the main event. Edge knocks Angle on his ass for Kurt's suggestion. 

Flapjack by Edge, kicks in the corner and punches on The Olympic Hero. Angle turns the tide and stomps the bejesus out of Edge. Edge fires back, nailing a spinning heel kick. Angle belly to belly suplexes Edge from the ring to the floor (scary bump but Edge is ok). Edge is rammed into the steel steps. Back suplex by Angle, cover and a two count. Snap suplex and a sleeper hold. Edge is propped onto the top rope; Edge fights off Angle and cradles Angle for a two count. Belly to belly suplex by Angle, cover and a two count. Snapmare, Angle applies a reverse chinlock.

 Edge survives and battles back, Edge is thrown to the floor by a focused Kurt Angle. Angle drops Edge on the barricade, Angle climbs to the top rope but Edge dropkicks the Olympic Hero. Edge hurricanranas Angle for a two count! Both men hammer one another on their knees, Edge drills Angle with clotheslines and a back body drop. Angle misses a dropkick, corner catapult into a cardle by Edge for a two count.

 Angle Slam is countered, Edgecution is countered. Ankle Lock is reversed into a victory roll for a close two. Edge nails The Edge O Matic for the win possibly but Christian distracts the referee. Angle and Edge continue brawling until Edge clothesline the referee by accident. Angle capitalizes with an Ankle Lock, Edge taps but there is no referee.

 Shane Mcmahon appears to spear Angle, Edge plants Angle with an Edgecution for the win. Another good match, I think Angle was easily the most entertaining superstar on the roster at the time. Body part work was excellent and Edge sold well. Angle even had the visual tapout to keep Angle looking strong. Edge played the babyface rĂ´le well and he was on his way to bigger and better things.

Winner: Edge over Kurt Angle following an Edgecution!

(WWF Light Heavyweight Championship Match) Jeff Hardy vs X-Pac

The leader of the X-Factor taking on the high-flying Jeff Hardy. Funny how WWF are promoting Fully Loaded as the next pay per view which did not happen as Invasion would take its place. Lockup and arm drag by X-Pac, side headlock and takedown by X-Pac. Shoulder block by X-Pac, Hardy pulls out an arm drag and a headscissors takedown. Jeff runs up the barricade and nails a clothesline. Jeff misses a Whisper in the Wind, Pac hammers the back of Jeff, abdominal stretch by X-Pac using the ropes. Jeff reverses the move before X-Pac flips Hardy to the floor.

 Springboard plancha by X-Pac, massive roundhouse kick by X-Pac. Jeff battles back to his feet but X-Pac nails a spinning heel kick for a two count. Kicks in the corner and it is a bronco buster? No jeff moves out of the way, Jeff nails a neckbreaker and his leg drop. Jeff whips X-Pac into the corner, X-Pac cannot dodge and we have another botch. The spot is redone with Jeff nailing a Whisper in the Wind, ten punches in the corner. 

Thumb to the eye and an X-Factor, Jeff puts his foot on the ropes and the referee counts the pin. Referee reverses the decision, Jeff and X-Pac battle on the top rope, Jeff pushes off X-Pac and nails a Swanton Bomb. That was ok, a little sloppy. X-Pac did come off as a massive tool so misson accomplished in this regard, just did not really gel together for this match.

Winner: Jeff Hardy over X-Pac following a Swanton Bomb!

(Non-Sanctioned Match) DDP vs The Undertaker

Throughout the night, there have been clips of DDP being filmed and being stalked like DDP did to Sarah. The more the clips played, the more DDP became enraged and annoyed. DDP snaps and is in the ring ready for tonight, it is revealed that Sarah had been filming DDP and Judgement Day is here for DDP. Taker appears on the ramp, Taker slowly stares down DDP while putting on his gloves for an ass-kicking.

 Really badass looking moment as DDP looks on at The Undertaker who shakes his head at Page. Taker is ready, DDP punches Taker in the beginning and then Taker hammers Page. Ground and pound by Taker, Stomps in the corner by The Deadman, DDP low blows Taker. Right hand by Page, Taker fights from his feet, more right hqnds from The American Badass. Sarah appears to film Taker brutalizing DDP.

 DDP is thrown into the timekeeper's area. Page retaliates with a chair shot to the back, Taker does not even sell this as Page is on his back seconds later after a tackle from The Deadman. More punches and kicks by The Deadman, Undertaker holds Page in front of Sarah's camera, Page begs for a break. Big boot to the floor by Undertaker and Page bails our of the arena. That was a disappointment, no referee, no moves and no finishes. This was truly a waste of a segment. I have no idea who decided on this but that was awful and if I was DDP or any WCW superstar, I would be worried about my career. DUD!

(Street Fight) Kurt Angle vs Shane Mcmahon

Angle had won back his medals from Chris Benoit, Angle was celebrating before WCW owner Shane interrupted the ceremony. Angle had been Angle Slammed by Kurt, Kurt challenged Shane to his type of match: a Street Fight! Angle comes out with a look of intensity on his face that would make Kenta Kobashi blush. Angle tackles Shane to the mat and suplexes the boy wonder six ways from Sunday. Angle clubs Shane and suplexes Shane to the mat. Massive knee to the ribs by Angle, make it two. 

More knees to the ribs, UFC Style. Shane catches Kurt's leg and takes down Kurt. Shane slides out of the ring while Kurt begs Shan to take the back and put perform The Olympic Hero. Shane takes the back and Angle teaches Shane you do not take the back of a God. Gutwrench suplex by Kurt, belly to belly suplex by Kurt. Another suplex, forearms to the face by Angle. Angle slaps Shane into next week before challenging Shan to tackle him once more. Shane leans into wrestle before kicking Kurt in the ribs. Massive clotheslines by Shane, Kurt takes down Shane.

 Shane builds momentum and drops Kurt to the floor. Angle is pissed and Shane runs from Angle. Shane runs into Kurt and knocks Angle down. Shane climbs the barricade behind the announce table and clotheslines Angle. Shane pulls out his kendo stick and wears Angle out before Angle tackles Shane into the ringpost in an act of desperation. Shane dodges a clothesline and clotheslines Kurt to the crowd. 

Shane armdrags Angle twice into the barricade. Shane spears Angle right into the steel steps, cover and a two count. Shane goes for a board and some trash cans. Angle is pouring blood above his right eye, sign to the back of The Olympic Hero. Cover by Shane and it is a two count. Angle knees Shane multiple times before Shane catches the foot and locks in The Ankle Lock. Kurt literally kicks out of his own move, Shane spikes Angle with a DDT. Sharpshooter by Shane Mcmahon, Kurt reaches the ropes but Shane drags Angle back. Angle grabs a kendo stick and nails Shane in the back of the head. Shane jabs Kurt, Angle is floored for a two count.

 Trash can to the head by Shane, more shots to the ribs, Shane places the can on Kurt and climbs the top rope. Shane produces a beautiful shooting star press but Angle moves out of the way. Cover and a two count for Kurt, Angle nails a fireman's carry and elevates Shane to the floor. Angle slams Shane into the barricade, kicks are on the menu for the WCW owner. Kurt attempted a suplex but Shane countered and as a result, Kurt had broken his tailbone (Yes legitimate injury right there). Angle grimaces which is no surprise, Angle and Shane exchange punches towards the stage. Kurt rams Shane into the iconic stage and in another iconic moment, Kurt belly to belly suplexes Shane onto the glass which does not break ladies and gentlemen (It was suppose to shatter but the wrong glass was ordered).

 Kurt belly to belly suplexes Shane right through the galss. Both men are pleading heavily from different body parts. Angle tries another suplex, it does not break and Shane lands right on his head. Angle hurls Shane through the glass and a bloody Shane bursts onto the stage. Angle with a broken tailbone and Shane cut up all over his face. Kurt uses a stage box to carry Shane to the ring. Angle wheels Shane into the ring and covers for a two count! Crowd cannot believe what they are seeing with this match. Kurt eats a low blow, trash can to the head of Kurt. Angle Slam by Shane with the last of his strength, arm over Kurt and it is two! Shane is caught by Kurt, catapult by Angle. Shane is draped across the turnbuckle, Kurt wallops Shane before placing a board beneath their feet.

 The board acts as a support mechanism as Kurt drives the air out of Shane with a top rope Angle Slam. Holy Shit indeed motherfuckers as Kurt gets the win with the move of the night! That was an amazing match, the star of the night was Kurt Angle. Angle was the most entertaining overall, he was fun to watch and hate while pulling out all the stops to make sure you were talking about him when all was said and done. Shane is a great performer, Shane always did something amazing and he stole the show along with Kurt. The match was entertaining, the bumps which went wrong really helped in a sadistic sort of way.

 With Kurt's broken tailbone and Shane's concussion and blood from the botched glass throws, it really helped sell the story of these two guys being through hell. I loved everything, Kurt's meanstreak, Shane's never say die attitude and the finish was just beautiful. To put it simply, you have to see this match.

Winner: Angle over Shane following An Angle Slam from the heavens!

(WWF Championship Match) Stone Cold Steve Austin (C) vs Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit



All night, Stone Cold Steve Austin had heard rumours of Benoit and Jericho winning the championship and taking it to WCW. Austin was paranoid and could not rely on his pal Vince Mcmahon as Vince was nowhere to be seen. Triple H was gone, injured in an infamous Raw main event where Jericho and Benoit defeated The Power Trip for the titles. Austin wonders whether Vince will make it for the main event while the challengers enter the ring. Just to ramp up the tension, Austin's partnership with Vince will end if Austin cannot walk away as the champion. 

Austin stalls for Mcmahon who is not coming as the two Canadians beat the tar out of Austin. We are in the crowd as Jericho & Benoit beat down The Rattlesnake. Austin elevates Jericho to the floor and Austin stomps on Benoit in the ring. Chops by Austin, Jericho & Benoit are chopping Austin. Flying forearm by Jericho who covers Austin, Benoit is not happy and they tease dissension. Austin continues to take a licking from Benoit & Jericho. Austin is hammered like a nail by the two challengers. Jericho wipes out Benoit with a spinning heel kick after Austin dodged the kick. 

Jericho goes after Benoit with stomps in the corner, Austin teams up Jericho to beat down Benoit. Lou Thesz Press is countered into The Walls of Jericho, Benoit shoves Jeircho into an exposed turnbuckle. Benoit suplexes Jericho to the floor, Benoit attempts a Crossface on Austin but the champion reaches the ropes. Snap suplex by Benoit, reverse elbow by The Rabid Wolverine for a two count. Benoit is elevated to the floor by Austin who stalls until he slams Benoit into the steel steps.

 Stomp to the ribs by Austin, chops by The Rattlesnake. Cover and a two count, Jericho is a bloody mess on the floor having smashed his head off the ring apron. Austin punches Benoit and hurls Benoit into Jericho. Leg across the back by Austin, huge stomps by Austin. Knees to the ribs and a Stunner is countered by Benoit. Benoit shoves Austin into the referee and Austin is nailed with a Stunner by Benoit! Benoit had the match won but the referee is down, belt to the face by Benoit. 

Jericho makes the save at two and a half. Benoit & Jericho brawl before Jericho flapjacks Benoit into the ring ropes. Austin tries to lock in The Walls of Jericho on Jericho but Jericho reverses and locks Austin in The Walls. Austin makes it to the ropes, spinebuster by the champion. Two count, knee to the face by Austin. Russian legsweep by Austin, sleeper by The Rattlesnake. Jericho counters Austin with a back suplex, both men chop and punch one another on their knees. Forearm by Jericho, clotheslines by Y2J. Dropkick to Benoit, modified bulldog on Austin.

 Austin puts his knees up to block The Lionsault, Jericho blocks The Stunner but cannot block The Lou Thesz Press. Benoit cracks Jericho by accident with the chair, Austin Stunners Benoit. Benoit falls to the floor and Austin covers Jericho for a two count. Austin props Jericho on the top turnbuckle and nails a superplex. Another superplex, cover and a two count. Austin drags Jericho for a third superplex, Benoit German suplexes Austin five times. Benoit is slowed down by a low blow by Austin. 

Jericho tries for The Walls, Jericho has The Walls and Benoit locks in The Crossface. Austin taps but the referee does not make a call as we cannot have co-champions. Benoit locks in The Crossface on Y2J, Jericho rolls over into The Walls. Benoit counters, chop war between the challengers. Massive snap suplex by Benoit for a two count, Austin grabs a chair. Baseball slide by Benoit knocks down Austin. Jericho & Benoit are both down when out of nowhere comes Booker T! Scissor Kick on Austin and Austin is back suplexed through the announce table.

 Austin would actually break his hand on the table, putting him out of action for a month. German suplex by Benoit on Jericho, Jericho rolls through into The Walls of Jericho. Benoit makes it to the ropes, Benoit flings Jericho into the ringpost. Benoit scoop slams Jericho, Jericho blocks the headbutt by slamming Benoit to the mat. Lionsault by Jericho on Benoit, looked sloppy but he nailed it. Two count for Y2J! Benoit & Jericho tumble to the floor, Jericho climbs the top rope.

 Jericho nails a moonsault but Benoit shoves Jericho to the floor. Headbutt by Benoit and cover, Jericho drags out the referee. Benoit clubs Jericho and nails a back suplex which would put Benoit out of action for almost a year. Austin pins Benoit off of the back suplex. Well, that ending came out of nowhere, as far as triple threats go, it was your standard affair with one man being down while the other two tear one another apart. All men worked hard with Austin barely walking away with the title.

 Referee bump was unnecessary as both men would get the visual tapout over Austin. Booker T's part was almost lost in the shuffle, I think the match would have benefited from a no-contest finish with Booker T screwing everything up along with the likes of DDP and other WCW stars. You could be running the risk of pissing off the fans who paid for a main event but what a buzz you could create with WCW screwing up a WWF main event.

Overall, WWF was an interesting pay per view, it would be the last WWF pay per view to feature the WWF roster before the influx of WCW & ECW stars. It would also mark the beginning of the WCW invasion which had so much potential yet would ultimately fail for a number of reasons. A lot of matches were solid to good, Kurt Angle was undoubtedly the star of the night and I am looking forward to his babyface run against Austin but that is a story for another time so join me next time for WWF Invasion 2001!




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Wednesday 19 October 2016

TNA Lockdown 2005 Review

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Well hello there! It has been some time since the last review right? Well I have a busy bunny, frequent trips and preparation for college graduation have left me a little low on energy but I am back and back with a bang! So ignore the cheesy puns, the atrocious grammar and stroke your dog by the fire as it’s time for another edition of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews! So I  thought to myself what would annoy me so much and make a good review at the same time? There is was only ever going to be one answer and that is TNA during 2005. You see TNA and I are not seeing eye to eye, it comes down to one problem really, I watch their pay per views. The matches are mostly fun and good but then, the main event comes along and shits all over everything else, making the whole experience a waste of time because I get so worked up over how the pay per view finished. These early pay per views really infuriate me but tonight, it could be something different as Jeff Jarrett is not the main event, it is AJ Styles vs Abyss for a future world championship opportunity! Things are looking up people! However, this is TNA Lockdown 2005, a pay per view where every match is contested inside of a steel cage. This is going to be repetitive, it is going to be boring but there could be some good matches mixed in there so I am done wasting your time, let’s rock!

Opening Promo

Darkness, lightening and a witch-like voice, it is the Lockdown cage. Six sides of steel, punishment and pain is all you will know. There is no escape, it does not take sides, it will feast on your soul and then some. So yeah you get the idea, cage = pain for everyone.

Chris Candido/Lance Hoyt vs Sonny Siaki/Apollo

Not too familiar with the story here if there is one, Candido was a pal of The Naturals but they are not here while Lance Hoyt was a bodyguard of Kid Kash. Siaki was at a lot of TNA shows but never really shined too much. Siaki starts with Candido and Siaki dropkicks Candido, Candido lands wrong his foot crumbles under him and Candido is out of this match as Siaki looks on concerned for Candido. To Hoyt’s credit, he works with Apollo and does not even look back as Candido is taken out of the cage due to his injury.

 Siaki starts hammering Hoyt, Hoyt big boots Siaki. Hoyt scoop slams Siaki and climbs high for a moonsault. Apollo makes the save, Hoyt fallaway slams Siaki into the cage wall. Siaki battles back, Hoyt rakes the eyes and crushes Siaki into the cage wall. More scoop slams and Hoyt climbs high but Siaki runs to the top rope and German suplexes Hoyt. Apollo superkicks Hoyt for a two count, right hands by Apollo. TKO by Apollo, Siaki nails a splash from the top rope and Siaki gets the win. 

Hoyt thinks of killing The Naturals but releases his grip. Douglas stupidly jumps Hoyt. The Naturals toss Hoyt into the cage twice, beat down goes on way too long but The Naturals lay out Hoyt. That match was fine considering the circumstances, eerie to see the injury to Candido as a blood clot from the operation to repair the leg of Candido would cost Candido his life. RIP Chris you were truly entertaining and you went way too soon.

Winners: Sonny Siaki & Apollo over Lance Hoyt following a big splash!

Dustin Rhodes/Dusty Rhodes Promo

We find out that Sean Waltman (X-Pac) and Jeff Jarrett  are chosen as the first two entrants in the Lethal Lockdown match while Dustin Rhodes is confident ahead of his battle with Bobby Roode in the two out of three falls Prince of Darkness Match.

(Prince of Darkness Match) Bobby Roode W/ Scott D’Amore vs Dustin Rhodes

A young Bobby Roode, the powerhouse of Team Canada vs Dustin Rhodes who had finished up with WWE. Rhodes and Roode throw bombs, Rhodes with the advantage. Rhodes pummels Roode in the corner, throat thrust by The Lone Star. Bionic Elbow by Rhodes, Roode uses the referee for a shield. Roode pins Rhodes immediately with a roll up and using the ropes for leverage. Roode is up 1:0! Rhodes nails Shattered Dreams on Roode, superplex by Rhodes. Roode recovers and cannot nail the piledriver, slingshot catapult into the cage by Rhodes.

 Hard Irish whips by Rhodes, Roode runs into a powerslam. Two count for Rhodes, Roode counters the bulldog. Rhodes nails a low blow but Roode shrugs off Rhodes a second time. Shoulder thrust by Roode, vicious right and knees by Roode. Knees by Roode, back suplex for a two count. Rhodes fights back, small package for a two count. Roode kicks out and hits a clothesline and a knee drop. Two count for Roode, reverse chinlock by Roode.

 Rhodes counters the chin lock with an electric chair drop, Rhodes smacks Roode around the ring. Rhodes and Roode trade blows before Rhodes smashes Roode into the cage. Curtain Call is blocked, Northern Lariat by Roode. Cover and Rhodes puts his foot on the ropes, Roode perches Rhode on the top rope. Roode was looking for a german suplex, Rhodes nails an avalanche bulldog for the pin. It is now 1:1!


The final fall is a Prince of Darkness match, both men are blindfolded, both men stumble across the cage comically while Rhodes uses the crowd to find Roode. Rhodes was looking for the bulldog, Roode slips out and we have more stumbling around the ring. Roode kills the referee, Scott D’Amore throws a chair into the ring. Coach D’Amore unlocks the cage, Roode nails D’Amore by accident. Rhodes cracks Roode with the chair and Rhodes gains the victory. 

Ok the match was alright, the last stipulation really took away from the seriousness of the feud, you have Team Canada one of your hottest heels act and a veteran like Rhodes who is mentoring one of your superstars and you have them trying to find one another while comically walking into things and knocking people out by accident. I understand they are not the big matches on the card but I am not sure comedy is what this feud needed.

Winner: Rhodes over Roodes via chair shot!

(X-Division Escape) Bentley W/ Trinity vs Sabin vs Shocker vs Sonjay Dutt

Ok so it is an elimination match until we are down to two when it becomes the first man to escape will be the winner. Dutt is so explosive and filled with confidence, I have no idea why he is not higher up on the card except for a lack of a real gimmick. Sabin was saved by Shocker who is a Mexican star so I am looking forward to seeing Shocker work. Bentley is part of a great little chicken shit heel act with Kazarian while Sabin has been left behind in the grand scheme of things for the X Division as the focus is on Daniels and Styles and a certain Submission Machine from Samoa will soon be tearing things up so it does not look too good for any of the guys in this match as it relates to the X Division.

 We have Sabin and Dutt start off as the other two wait on the apron. Nice little chain wrestling between the two, Sabin pushes Dutt off. Shoulder block by Dutt, fancy flips and jumps with a stand-off. Beautiful headscissors by Sonjay, hurricanrana by Sabin. Shocker and Bentley are legal, Shocker drills Bentley with a bulldog. Chops by Shocker, running facebuster. Double hiptoss by Dutt and Shocker. Dropkick by Dutt, Sabin is in and stomps Bentley. Tag back to Dutt, tag team moonsault and leg drop by Dutt & Sabin.

 Bentley earns himself a break by smashing Dutt into the cage, short-arm clothesline by Bentley. Bentley has Dutt in the tree of woe, Bentley chokes Dutt with his foot and dropkicks the son of a gun. Reverse chinlock by Bentley, Dutt fights back. Bentley boots Dutt in the face, two count for Bentley. Bentley tees-off on Dutt, Dutt is back with a headscissors takedown. Sabin is in, flying forearm by Sabin but Sabin is caught with an Alabama Slam into the cage by Bentley. Springboard DDT by Sabin drills Bentley, Shocker clotheslines Bentley. Scoop slam and a springboard moonsault.

 Dropkick to the knee and a La Magistral for a two count. Bentley chokes Shocker with his feet but we have Dutt grab a hold on Bentley and Sabin locks in a Boston Crab on Dutt. Dutt & Sabin begin brawling, Buckle bomb into a Liger Bomb by Sabin on Dutt. Shocker is pissed! TKO on Sabin for a two count, elbows by Shocker, Sabin drills Shocker with a kick to the head. Phoenix Splash by Dutt on Shocker but Bentley breaks it up! Bentley prevents a frankensteiner by Dutt into an Alley Oop. Superkick by Bentley on Dutt, Shocker lands a splash and Dutt is eliminated.


Tilt a whirl back breaker by Shocker on Bentley, Shocker was thinking of another splash but Sabin runs to the top and belly to belly suplexes Shocker. Bentley and Sabin are on the top rope, Trinity is climbing the cage to help Bentley but Traci tries to drop Trinity. Trinity kicks off Traci who appears to have broken her foot. Trinity climbs to the top and nails a moonsault from the top of the cage onto every man in the match. Traci is fine though because she clotheslines Trinity. Cradle Shock by Sabin on Bentley and we are down to two men!


Rules change as you can only win by escaping the cage, Shocker and Sabin smash one another into the cage before dropping to the mat. Shocker and Sabin are on top of the cage once more, they bang heads and fall to the floor but Shocker reaches the ground first to be declared the winner. That was certainly entertaining, Dutt was really a highlight in this match it is a shame he was being treated so poorly during this time. As well as that, Trinity continues to come off like a star with a moonsault from the top of the cage. Jeff Hardy eat your heart out as that was insane from Trinity. Incredible bumps and fast paced action, fun match from the X Division.

Winner: Shocker over Everyone Else through escape!

(Table Match) Raven vs Jeff Hardy

If you look back the idiotic concept of a table match inside a cage, this is an interesting match as it pits the hardcore Raven against an equally insane risk taker in Jeff Hardy. Jeff has a chair and wipes out the legs of Raven poetry in motion into Raven. The second time it does not connect as Raven dodges the move. Raven rams Jeff into the cage wall, Jeff’s head is kicked into the wall. Classic Raven with the drop toehold into the chair, right hands to the face by Raven. Raven scores with The Even Flow and places Jeff on a table in the corner.

 Raven runs full speed at Jeff but Jeff dodges and Raven crashes through the table. Chair across the back by Jeff, snap suplex by Hardy. Leg drop with the chair by Jeff, Raven is introduced to the cage wall. More right hands to the face by Jeff, Jeff stomps Raven in the corner. Hardy has opened up Raven, clubs to the back by Jeff. Raven blocks a suplex, Raven crotches Jeff on the top rope, facebuster by Raven with both men crashing to the mat.

 Jeff nails Raven with a Twist of Fate. Jeff sets up a table, chair shot by Jeff. Jeff climbs to the top of the cage, Jeff misses The Swanton as Raven moves out of the way. Unbelievable move but it is no surprise by Jeff Hardy. Raven cannot capitalize on Hardy as Raven did a little too much posturing. Raven low blows Jeff! Jeff Hardy gives Raven a taste of his own medicine with a drop toehold. Jeff is climbing the cage, Raven stirs and opens the cage door. Hardy lands groin first on the door, Jeff is on top of the cage and Raven blocks Jeff with a boot to the face. Great camera work of concerned women and children in the crowd who love Jeff as they wish Jeff would stop jumping off high things. Raven stomps the shit out of Jeff before setting up four tables.

 Raven and Jeff are fighting on the cage by the tables, Raven is laid out on the four tables after Jeff reverses a back suplex attempt. Jeff climbs to the top and leg drops Raven through every table. Another crazy bump for Jeff Hardy who has done some stupid shit over the last three pay per views but you cannot take it away from him. Jeff was at home taking high risk and it makes for an always entertaining watch.

Winner: Jeff Hardy over Raven following leg drop through tables!

(NWA/TNA Tag Team Title Match) Team Canada vs AMW ©

AMW are the undisputed kings of the tag team division, they had a hot rivalry with Triple X and ran over Team Canada to win the championships. Unfortunately, AMW have had a disappointing run thus far as they have no real heel tag team on their level. Team Canada are re-challenging for the titles in this cage match which is also a strap match. However, as Bobby Roode already competed, Eric Young is teaming with Petey Williams.

 Young and Storm are in the ring battling while Harris goes after Petey Williams. Young is dropped in between Harris & Storm, Young is yanked in a million different directions on top of the cage, Petey takes down Harris while Storm waits in the ring. Storm is alone in the ring as A1 smashes Harris with a title belt. A1 locks the cage so Storm is at a disadvantage while his partner cannot enter the cage. A1 hurls Harris into the guard rail, Petey and Young beat on James Storm in the ring. 

Clothesline by Young and foot to the face by Williams. Storms is a bloody mess, right hands to the face by Young. A1 continues to pummel Harris on the floor. Right hands by Petey and Young on Storm. A1 slams Harris into the announce table, Young whips Storm with the belt. Williams grabs an American flag and chokes Storm with the flag. Storm kicks out of a pin attempt and drops Young with a jawbreaker and an enzuigiri on Williams. Harris whips A1 into the guard rail, Harris tries climbing the cage but Young smashes himself into the cage to keep down Harris. Storm powerbombs Williams, military press slam into the cage wall by Storm. Young and Storm whip one another with Storm firing up on Young. Williams saves Young with a tornado DDT. 

Two count for Williams, double foot choke by Team Canada. Harris catches a break by nailing A1, Harris is finally in the cage. Double clothesline on Team Canada, Harris lashes both of the challengers. Spinebuster on Young and stalling vertical suplex on Williams. Young saves Williams from being pinned, Hart Attack on Young for a two count. Tilt-a-whirl Russian legsweep by Petey, Young is crotched by Harris. Williams locks in the sharpshooter on Storm, Young drops an elbow on Storm. Cover and a two count, Petey was looking for The Canadian Destroyer on Storm. Harris spears Petey in half for a two count.

 Young attempts a superkick, Harris blocks and Storm nails a superkick. Death Sentence misses as Williams drags Young out of the way. A1 passes Williams a hockey stick, Williams cracks Harris in the head. Two count for Williams, Williams has A1 pass him powder. Storm kicks the powder into Petey’s eyes. Petey Canadian Destroyers Young and walks into a Death Sentence as AMW retain. That was a well told story with Team Canada realizing that they could not beat AMW in a fair fight so they had a gameplan.

 Their strategy was to cheat and keep Harris out of the match but cheaters never prosper as Harris makes his way into the ring and the heels evil plans are thwarted as the good guys prevail. Second comedy ending to a Team Canada match, not sure I am happy with it due to Team Canada’s position on the card. I mean outside of Jarrett, they are the top heels in the company so having them lose comically is something I am not a fan of but I am not the booker and the deed is done so let’s move on.

Winners: AMW over Team Canada following Death Sentence!

(X Division Championship Match) Christopher Daniels © vs Elix Skipper

These two have history, two former friends who were an amazing tag team but now it all comes to a head in this match. Build has been disappointing for the sole reason that Skipper looked like a chump in the run-up to the match. Skipper was positioned as a big deal scoring some wins and he was in the match where Daniels won the championship. They had the opportunity to cement Skipper as a face by attacking Daniels outright but this did not happen as Skipper would trust and work with Daniels only to be rolled up like a chump by Daniels. Lock up and we have a clean break. Another lock up, Skipper takes the back, Daniels slaps on a side headlock, Skipper applies the same hold.

 Daniels knees Skipper, kick to the mid- section, Daniels counters and motions for Angel’s Wings. Skipper drives for the play of the day and Daniels counters. More roll ups and pin attempts with Daniels saying he knows Skipper inside out. Skipper slaps Daniels like the baldy bitch that he is and applies a headlock. Daniels counters, shoulder blocks and nobody moves. Skipper floors Daniels with a shoulder block, Daniels come back strong with forearms and chops.

 Skipper shakes it off and nails a beautiful double underhook suplex. Gutwrench suplex by Skipper and a back suplex. Two count for Skipper, headstand leg drop using the turnbuckle by Skipper. Skipper was looking for a reverse suplex but Daniels slides out and using a fireman’s carry, Daniels rams Skipper into the cage. Skipper sells the shoulder, Daniels kicks the arm. Armwringer and a deep armdrag by Daniels, right hands to the arm. Skipper is put down by Daniels who bends, twists and contorts the arm. Skipper dropkicks Daniels but Daniels answers back with a massive knee to the back that sends Skipper into the cage wall. Cross armbreaker by Daniels, Daniels chops the arm of Skipper, Hammerlock back suplex by Daniels, submission hold by Daniels who finds himself on the receiving end of multiple elbows by Skipper.

 Skipper slams Daniels to the mat, series of clotheslines and a spin kick by Primetime. Stiff kick to the spine, belly to belly suplex by Skipper who climbs high. Massive leg drop on Daniels, two count for Skipper. Daniels uranages Skipper, BME by Daniels for a two count. Daniels climbs to the top, Skipper crotches Daniels. Skipper is going to try to recreate his most famous moment as Skipper motions to walk the tight rope and nail a hurricanrana. Daniels drops to the mat, Skipper says screw you and crossbodies onto the referee and Daniels. Two count for Skipper when the referee recovers, Skipper could not get Daniels up for the Sudden Death, shoulder come backs to haunt Skipper.

 Daniels drops Skipper with an Angel’s Wings to retain his championship. That was a well fought match between these two, Skipper was fine and botch-free in this match which is an improvement over the other matches I have watched with him in them. I liked the story of Skipper fighting through the pain and in the end, he could not survive any longer as Daniels’ gameplan had worked but it just about worked.

Winner: Christopher Daniels over Elix Skipper following Angel’s Wings

(Lethal Lockdown Match) Team Jarrett vs Team DDP

It is unavoidable as Jeff Jarrett continues his feud with his former WCW associates Kevin Nash and DDP. I do not believe it was every explained but Sean Waltman has been trying to beat up The Outlaw and Jeff Jarrett. Waltman is dressed in his street clothes and there is no Kevin Nash for Team DDP so will there be a replacement? And no he did not tear his quad control yourself please! Jarrett comes out in jeans with a guitar and a bin full of weapons. Waltman runs up the ramp to beat on Jeff Jarrett! 

Waltman cracks Double J with a trash can as we are in the crowd. Lots of crowd brawling, Waltman beats on Jarrett on top of the announce table. Waltman cracks Jarrett with a cow bell, Waltman misses a chair shot on Jarrett. We are finally in the ring, Waltman rams Jarrett into the cage wall multiple times. Waltman misses the bronco buster as Jarrett dodges. Clothesline by X-Pac but we have Kip James from Team Jarrett entering the match. Waltman spinkicks Kip James but the two on one advantage proves too much for Waltman.

 Trash can lid to the head by James, James and Jarrett beat down Waltman with trash can lids. James rams Waltman into a trash can. Odds are evened up as DDP is next down to the ring. DDP has a kendo stick and he walks the crap out of James and Jarrett. DDP boots a trash can into James’ head and goes back to beating on Jarrett. DDP clotheslines James and Jarrett, DDP attempts the Diamond Cutter but James low blows DDP. Final entrant for Team Jarrett as Monty Brown is in, the freshly heel Monty Brown I might add. The heels use various weapons to beat down Waltman and DDP. 

Waltman is whopped into the cage repeatedly while Jarrett awaits the final entrant for team DDP. It is BG James! BG wipes out Jeff Jarrett and we have so many member of DX in the ring that I am getting flashbacks motherfucker! BG and Kip stand still not fighting one another, Waltman nails Kip with an X-Factor. Waltman nails Bronco busters on Brown and Jarrett. Brown Pounces BG and Waltman, DDP saves BG from being pinned. DDP drops Jarrett with The Diamond Cutter, Kip saves Jarrett. Waltman saves DDP from a FameAsser. Brown is rocked by trash can shots to the head, Double Pounce by Brown wipes out BG and DDP.

 Victory Roll by Waltman and Waltman pins Brown. First time around, Waltman botched the finish with Brown but it does not ruin the match. The match was not to begin with, certainly an easy pay day for those involved as there was a lot of lying down and weapon shots. Brown getting pinned upsets me too as the guy is just being stripped more and more of what made him awesome as time goes by and that claim that he could be world champion by me is looking more wrong with each and every passing pay per view.

Winners: Team DDP over Team Jarrett!

(Number One Contender’s Match) AJ Styles vs Abyss

Ok so Abyss had won a future world championship match by retrieving a contract in a match with Jeff Hardy at a view pay per views back but somehow, Abyss had lost his contract so Styles was able to make his way into a match with Abyss for a future world championship match. Styles topes out of the cage and onto Abyss, this match starts on the floor.

 Styles tries whipping Abyss, bad idea as Abyss reverses but Styles like a ninja slides under the guard rail and snaps off a hurricanrana on Abyss. Abyss throws a right at AJ which rocks The Phenomenal One. Styles jumps into the crowd after an Irish whip attempt and forearms Abyss. Ridiculous by Styles, the man is a human highlight reel. Styles attempted a senton on Abyss but Abyss sidesteps the daredevil. We are in the crowd as Abyss pummels AJ.

 Styles is tossed ringside by the monster. Big right hands by Abyss who is not happy with the crowd’s love for Styles. Styles fights back with chops and right hands, Abyss is hurled into the barricade. Abyss smashes the cage door on Styles’ face. It looks brutal as it appears Styles has been killed. Abyss does it one more time, it looks so violent. Great sell from Styles!

 Styles has donned the crimson mask, blood is everywhere and Abyss has his thumbtacks and his signature chain. Abyss wraps the chain around Styles’ neck, Styles frees himself from Abyss’ clutches but AJ cannot dodge the massive big boot. Styles is fighting to his feet, Styles dodges the chain once more. Abyss hot shots AJ into the steel chain which is on the top turnbuckle. Gorilla press slam into the steel cage, referee is constantly checking on Styles who looks like he is close to death. Abyss flings our hero into the steel cage, two count for the monster. Abyss has a vice grip on Styles, Styles is back on his feet.

 Abyss cuts off Styles with the flapjack! Abyss has his chain and drops it in the centre of the ring. Abyss was looking for a military press slam on the chain but Styles countered into a DDT. Styles smashes Abyss in the face with a nasty kick, headscissors takedown. Styles was looking for his springboard reverse DDT but he botches the landing. Styles recovers well to send Abyss head first into a chair. German suplex by Styles for a two count!

 Styles cannot get Abyss for a Styles Clash. Abyss has AJ, Chokeslam is countered into a victory roll for a close two count. Styles runs into a Black Hole Slam, Styles kicks out of The Black Hole Slam! Abyss unveils his thumbtacks and spreads the tacks around the ring. Abyss whips Styles for the Black Hole Slam, Styles countered and hammers Abyss with right hands.

 Abyss slows Styles with a knee, Abyss was looking for the powerbomb. Styles countered and dropped Abyss with a Styles Clash on the tacks. Two count for Styles off of The Styles Clash. Styles is climbing the cage, Abyss slams the referee into the cage to drop Styles who was walking the top rope. Abyss has his chain and is swinging for Styles. Abyss and Styles are now at the top of the cage. Abyss has the chain around Styles’ neck, Abyss is choking and hanging Styles.

 Abyss drops the chain, right hands by the monster. Abyss is thinking Chokeslam, Styles bites Abyss’ fingers and sunset flip powerbombs Abyss into the thumbtacks. AJ Styles gets the pin and will be facing Jeff Jarrett at Hard Justice! Well that was a nice change of pace in the main event, Styles is an athletic freak, he was flying around the ring and selling so well. 

Abyss was his typical monster self, annihilating Styles with his power and going for his weapons. I was interested in seeing how they would finish this match as I knew Styles was going on to face Jarrett. When Styles climbed the cage, I was worried he would just win by dropping down, rendering most of what was done in the ring such as the kickouts of one another’s finishes utterly pointless.

 However, it did not go down with that, Styles used what he had left to smash the monster into the tacks and get the pin with the last of his injury. Styles was up on his feet to celebrate the win immediately so I wished he had sold the effects of the match because his selling was good throughout the match but that is just me nit-picking.

Winner: Styles over Abyss following a sunset flip powerbomb on to the thumbtacks!


Overall, I do not know how to feel about this pay per view. Every match is essentially the same with every match being inside of the steel cage. The likes of the main event, the X division match, and the table match were fun for the spots involved, the likes of the tag match and the X Division title match were good for the stories they told despite my thoughts on Team Canada doing comedy and Skipper as a likeable babyface. 

I would say that the matches were more disappointing than exciting on this pay per view. The Lethal Lockdown match did not blow me away and could potentially be one of the worst I will cover during my time reviewing TNA and there is the fact that I cannot ignore which is every match is in the cage so the variety is really limited. I will finish with this, I enjoyed some of the bigger spots of the night on this pay per view but the concept of a pay per view full of cage matches is not a good idea! Hope you liked this and continue to come back for more! I am the Seanomaniac and I shall see you next time!



Monday 10 October 2016

TNA Destination X 2005 Review

A poster of a man with black gloves making a diamond shape with his hands.




Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome back to another review from the only wrestling blog that tells Curt Hawkins to face the facts: Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews! I am your host, it is a cold night here in Ireland and I am in the mood for some TNA. Sorry for the lame intro, I can’t bring myself to be overly positive at the moment as my internet continues to fail me. Destination X is the next pay per view in my line of chronological reviews, Jarrett’s reign of terror continues so expect to hear some scathing comments from myself as I dive head first into the TNA over-booked main event scene.

Opening Promo

Arabian sounding music plays as we are treated to some knowledgeable quotes and shots of TNA wrestlers in pain. Halfway the narrator kicks in and tells us of the action! Big matches of the night include The Outlaw (Billy Gunn) vs Kevin Nash, DDP vs Jeff Jarrett and Jeff Hardy vs Abyss!

Team Canada vs 3-Live Kru/AMW

TNA’s ultimate opening act are back once again. No Ron the Truth Killings this time as he is in an Ultimate X match later in the night so we have Konnan and BG James. Their partners in this eight-man tag match are the tag champions AMW, you know my thoughts on these two by now. They had a classic with Triple X in the cage, won the titles and have nobody to work with that comes close to them. Disappointingly, this is AMW’s role for the pay per view while Team Canada fall down the ranks of the card although at least Bobby Roode does not look like a lesbian Mordecai anymore as he grew out his beard (There are always positives).

 So BG and Young start us off, a lot of comedy here in this opening match, Storm comes in and Young is hopping out of the ring and it is so zany, it is hard to take note of what I am watching. Harris takes the tag and misses a shoulder thrust in the corner after Roode saves Young. Roode and Williams take turns working the arm of Harris with armbars and single arm DDTs.

 Eventually, Harris tags in Konnan who proceeds to rolling clothesline and Alabama slam everyone into oblivion, a pin attempt creates a huge brawl between everyone. Coach D’Amore climbs the top rope, Konnan drags the manager into the ring, celebrates wildly and gets nailed with a lariat from behind by Bobby Roode as Team Canada walk out victorious.

 That was a solid opener, the comedy could be seen as a little too much but I did not mind it at all. Not much in the way of story but they had eight minutes, Team Canada win to set up a tag team title match I guess? Can really see another reason for them winning if they are not going to claim they have a win over the champions so let’s see where they go from here.

Winners: Team Canada over AMW/3-Live Kru following massive lariat to chrome dome’s head!

Chris Sabin vs Chase Stevens W/ Andy Douglas & Chris Candido

Nice to see Candido, another wrestler who went way too soon, rip. Sabin is the babyface while Stevens is the heel, I am not sure what brought these two men to this point as Stevens is in a tag team with Douglas and Sabin was battling the likes of Petey in the X Division. 

These two have 6 minutes and they try to throw a lot into the match, Sabin wrestles circles around Stevens before Candido and Douglas interfere to help their partner. Stevens works over Sabin until Sabin rallies with clotheslines and a nice tornado DDT. Stevens thinks he has Sabin after a devastating big boot courtesy of his partner but Sabin reverses the pin to defeat Stevens.

 The heels put the boots to Sabin so Shocker, a Mexican lucha libre star runs to ringside and unveils himself to the TNA audience by whopping the heels’ asses. Not much to say here, didn’t feel like a pay per view match but more like an angle to get over Shocker.

Winner: Sabin over Stevens following fancy pin!

(Texas Bullrope Match) Dustin Rhodes vs Raven

Rematch from the last pay per view that I did not really want to see, Raven doesn’t want the bullrope but is forced to apply the strap. Rhodes takes the time to smash Raven into the Ultimate X structure, the ringpost and the turnbuckle.

 Raven does not get much in the way of offence, Raven blocked the bulldog and dodged a punch from Rhodes by using a chair but moments later, Rhodes nails Raven with the bulldog into the chair and that’s all folks. Just like that, it felt flat and had no real crowd heat, it just ends like a squash really, Raven never looked like a threat, never got in any sort of attacks, Raven was just beaten and that’s all to say.

Winner: Rhodes over Raven following a bulldog onto the chair!

Disciples of Destruction W/ Traci vs Phi Delta Slam W/ Trinity

So there can only be one secretary for director of authority Dusty Rhodes, Traci and Trinity picked two teams and they are battling out representing their woman. Trinity chose the team known as Phi Delta Slam who are two fat guys wrestling in basketball like gear while Traci picked The Harris Brothers.

 This is slow and difficult to care for as Phi Delta Slam beat on one of the Harris brothers for what seems like is an eternity. I will give Trinity props who took a big bump into the crowd for her team. The Disciples use the old switch-a-roo to outfox the Phi Delta Slam as a Harris Brother boots one of the fat guys into oblivion. Yeah this was slow and easily the worst match on the card.

Winners: Disciples of Destruction over Phi Delta Slam with a Big Boot!

Monty Brown vs Trytan

My boy Monty Brown who has been treated awfully as I predicted after his match with Jeff Jarrett now faces some guy that TNA has been building up as a big deal, a man known as Trytan. This guy is massive, Brown lays into Trytan who no sells it all. Super botched military press slam, really scary move there, call it nerves or inexperience, it looked nasty.

 Brown blocks the Chokeslam, Brown lowbridges Trytan but Trytan clubs Brown who misses a double axe handle. Massive chops by Trytan who rams Brown into the X structure and ring apron. Clubs and kicks by Trytan in the corner, shoulder thrusts and elbows to the face. Brown blocks a corner clothesline, Brown brings Trytan to his knees but Brown eats a Chokeslam.

 Brown kicks out at two, powerslam is blocked by Brown. Brown attempts a clothesline but Trytan is not down. Huge dropkick by Brown, fallaway slam by The Alpha Male. Brown was about to nail The Pounce but the lights are out, lights come back on and Brown Pounces a masked man in black.

 Brown pins the man in black but Trytan was up on the ramp. Brown does not even take the mask off the masked man. About from the scary botch, match was fine but I don’t think wrestling was such a kind career to Trytan.

Winner: Brown over Masked Man following Pounce!

(Falls Count Anywhere Match) Jeff Hardy vs Abyss

So these two battled at the last pay per view which was an ok match, Abyss was victorious by retrieving the contract containing a future world title match. Abyss grabs a chair while Jeff Hardy is posing, Jeff blocks the chair shot and goes to work on Abyss. Abyss was looking for Shock Treatement, Hardy sneaks out and clotheslines Abyss to the floor. Poetry in Motion by use of the chair by Hardy. Abyss rakes the eyes of Jeff and rams Jeff into the guard rail.

 Abyss and Jeff spill out to the backstage area. Abyss grabs a table as Jeff staggers to his feet, they are by catering and Abyss pulls out another table. Jeff slams Abyss into a wall and lays the monster on the tables. Jeff climbs a support beam to deliver a Swanton Bomb from about 12 feet in the air. Ridiculous bump from Jeff, Abyss is quick back to his feet as the two are coming back to the ringside area. Jeff is crotched on the guard rail, clothesline from the monster.

 Abyss gathers a few chairs, Abyss wedges a chair into the corner so Hardy dropkicks a chair into Abyss’ head. Big boot by Abyss floors Jeff, Abyss lays a chair on Hardy. Abyss climbs to the second rope, huge splash onto Hardy. Cover and it is a two and a half for Abyss. Abyss tries to deliver a second splash, Jeff drives the chair into Abyss’ balls. Two massive chair shots floor Abyss, two count for Jeff Hardy. Hardy is frustrated and rolls to the outside, Jeff grabs his signature ladder. Abyss and Jeff are climbing the ladder, Jeff knocks Abyss down and nails his signature ladder leaping leg drop.

 Two count for Jeff Hardy! Jeff attempted Twist of Fate, Abyss countered into Shock Treatment for a two count. Nice counter from Abyss on that one. Abyss runs into the wedged chair after Jeff dodges, roll up by Hardy gets a two count. Abyss crotches Jeff on the top rope, Abyss finds himself a table. Abyss has the table in position, Hardy is on the table and Abyss is climbing to the top rope. Jeff was playing possum and Jeff has Abyss for a hurricanrana but Abyss powerbombs Jeff through the table.

 Jeff battles from his knees, Abyss was thinking Chokeslam. Jeff low blows Abyss and Twist of Fates Abyss onto the ladder and Jeff gets the win! Abyss beats down Jeff after the match. Abyss has his bag of thumbtacks, Abyss whips Hardy into the ropes and wham! BLACK HOLE SLAM ON THE TACKS! That was an entertaining match, the finish was tame compared to what else had happened in the match so it felt a little flat for me. Spots were good, nothing went wrong so yeah, I liked this match.

Winner: Jeff Hardy over Abyss following A Twist of Fate on the ladder!

(Taped Fist/First Blood Match) The Outlaw vs Kevin Nash

Billy Gunn had cost Nash the championship in his match against Jeff Jarrett. Billy Gunn had also been talking to BG James (Road Dogg) which had caused friction within 3-Live Kru. Gunn is going by the name Kip James while the DVD named him as The Outlaw. Kip throws rights to the head of Nash, Nash cuts off James with two knees and an elbow. Massive closed fist by Nash, elbows to the side of the head of James.

 Nash is momentarily rocked by James before Nash clotheslines James’ head off his shoulders. Clubs to the back by Nash, James drags Nash by the ropes, right to the legs goes James as Tenay brings up Nash’s numerous knee injuries. James has a screwdriver, that is different but Nash blocks the screwdriver. Elbows to the head of James, Nash drills James with a fist, catapult over the ropes by Nash. Nash hurls James into the X structure and Nash has a chair. 

James avoids the chair shot with a low blow, James whacks Nash with the chair. James looks for more weapons, James exposes the turnbuckle, referee blocks the turnbuckle. Nash survives the exposed turnbuckle bump with a big boot. Snake eyes on the turnbuckle does not work, referee is blocking the path. James shoves Nash into the referee, low blow by Nash on James.

 Nash nails the snake eyes on the exposed steel, Nash does it twice to open up James. Closed fists into the head of James and James is busted open. Jeff Jarrett is here, Jarrett nails Nash with a title belt and a stooge comes down to the ring and works on James to remove the blood. Referee sees Nash is bleeding and we have a winner. 

Nash is not happy so James is hammered by a lot of punches before nailing a powerbomb. Nash would almost botch the move by tripping over. Lucky for Nash there were ropes to save Nash. That match was slow with not a lot of action, I liked the psychology of the chairs and exposed turnbuckles being used to open up both competitors. Finish was cheap and I do not want to see more Jarrett and Nash so this could mean disaster.

Winner: James over Nash following Shenanigans!

(X Division Championship Match) AJ Styles © vs Christopher Daniels vs Primetime Elix Skipper vs Ron The Truth Killings

Ok so get this, we start the match as a tag team match. The one who takes the pin is eliminated. We then have a triple threat match, the one who takes the fall is eliminated and when we have two people left in the match, we have an Ultimate X match. The big tease of the tag match is that Skipper could face Daniels. Skipper eats a dropkick from Truth, powerslam on Skipper. Cover and a bridge out by Skipper, double underhook suplex by Primetime.

 Missile dropkick by Skipper, Styles is legal and Styles wants Daniels. Truth goes to tag Daniels, Daniels backs away from the tag, he wants no part of AJ. Elbows by Truth, massive dropkick by Styles and Daniels cheap shots AJ. Corkscrew forearm by Truth, Daniels is legal. Right hands by Daniels, calf kick for a two count. Forearm shot by Skipper from the apron which allows Daniels to knock down AJ. Styles fights out of a submission before Daniels drops Styles into a crossface.

 Styles reaches the ropes with his foot, springboard moonsault by Daniels. Two count for Daniels, Styles fights back to his feet. Daniels misses a back suplex as Styles rolls out, enzuigiri by Styles. Truth is in, Skipper was not paying attention so Styles tags in Skipper. Truth kicks Skipper to the curb, top rope axe kick for a two count as Daniels saves his former partner. Truth clotheslines Daniels to the floor, tope con hilo by Styles. Skipper drills Truth with Sudden Death and we are down to three!


Disappointingly, we did not see Skipper and Daniels come to blows even though Skipper had been positioned as a face at the last pay per view. Skipper and Styles wrestle before we have a kicking war. Clothesline leaves both men down, Daniels starts climbing for the championship belt. Daniels climbs the cables to moonsault onto both men. That was cool, I thought he would stay up there until the X match starts but I was wrong. Daniels forearm shots Styles, Skipper is mad with Daniels. Daniels turns on Skipper, rights to the face of his former partner. Exploder suplex on Skipper, Styles is knocked to the floor. 

Skipper clotheslines Daniels, belly to belly suplex plants Daniels. Spinkick to the face, more forearm shots. Styles nails Primetime with a forearm, gutbuster on Daniels by Styles. Styles and Daniels are on the top rope, Skipper joins the two. Skipper is hanging from the cables, Skipper nails an inverted frankensteiner on Styles, Skipper powerbombs Daniels who was looking for a hurricanrana. Skipper kicks Daniels in the corner.

 Styles nails a shooting star press on both Skipper and Daniels. Styles nails both men with suplexes and kicks. Neckbreaker on Daniels for a two count. Styles was thinking Styles Clash on Daniels, Skipper saves Daniels with a spinkick. Skipper drills Styles with a Sudden Death after a botched counter from an inverted DDT. Daniels rolls up Skipper after the Sudden Death.


Daniels climbs the structure with Styles in a heap on the ground, Styles yanks down Daniels. Daniels is not happy, big clothesline as Daniels climbs to the prize once more. Styles drags down Daniels again, forearm shots and a backbreaker. Daniels headbutts Styles multiple times and with his last inch of strength, Styles scores with the Pele Kick. Both men are on the cables, Styles kicks off Daniels but Daniels rebounds with a spear, knocking down Styles.

 Daniels and Styles are by the cables once more, Daniels plants Styles with a uranage from the cables. Daniels is climbing the top rope, Styles joins Daniels. Daniels ram Styles into the structure, Daniels and Styles fall from the structure again. Both men try to grab the belt and again, both men fall. The two climb once more and fall to the floor. The referee was smacked on the way down, Styles pulls down the championship but there was no referee.

 Daniels drills Styles with the Angel’s Wings and places the belt on top of himself. Referee is revived and Daniels win the match. Ok so the tag match was disappointing, Truth was merely an afterthought and was treated as such with the match not lasting very long. The second part was more interesting with spots mixed in with the cables that weren’t really adding to the match, they felt more like oh let’s try and get a replay moves.

 With Skipper being a face at the last pay per view, I felt they had a real chance to establish him as such by kicking the crap out of Daniels yet they played really safe and he looked like such a dweeb as Daniels betrayed twice and then pinned him after hitting his finisher. So maybe the Primetime experiment is over? I don’t know but after this match, I certainly don’t care much for his gullible character. The final part was the most ridiculous as it was just climbing up and down the cable and falling off. 

That wouldn’t be that bad if they were building to each spot or doing moves in between to keep the opponent down but no, Daniels and Styles would knock one another down, climb up, knock one another down and repeat the cycle until the finish. I just thought it was boring and repetitive, you can only fall off the structure so many times and spring back to your feet before I stop caring. So it was decent but certainly, the weakest of all X division title matches I have seen so far.

Winner: Daniels over Everyone Else following retrieval of the belt!

(NWA/TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match Jeff Jarrett © vs DDP

You know what people love the most in the world? Rehashes of WCW from the year 2000, the greatest year in the company’s history. Super sarcasm levels right there but anyways, Jarrett wants to end DDP.

 There will be no Kimberly this time, there will be no David Arquette. Monty Brown and the likes of 3-Live Kru are at ringside to prevent there is no Guitars or Cellos used by Jarrett. We also have heels like Candido and The Naturals. Living Legend Larry Zbysko motherfuckers! DDP is waiting for Jarrett who slowly makes his way into the ring. Jarrett runs from DDP, the babyfaces surround Jarrett but do not touch Jarrett.

 DDP catches Jarrett on the floor after minutes of stalling, we are in the ring where DDP keeps ahead of the champion. Cactus Jack clothesline by DDP, DDP and Jarrett brawl into the crowd. DDP throws Jarrett over the Spanish announce table and pummels Jarrett who spins in a chair. Jarrett low blows DDP, Jarrett smashes DDP’s leg with a chair. Jarrett works the knee, figure four is countered. Roll up and a two count for the challenger, figure four is countered into a small package. Two count for DDP, stomps by Jarrett who struts afterwards, Page springs up and throws haymakers at Jarrett.

 Jarrett cuts off DDP with a shin breaker and a figure four. DDP reaches the ropes, sunset flip attempt, two count for challenger. Sleeper by the champion, DDP counters with a back suplex. Big boot by DDP, Jarrett is rammed into the turnbuckle. Clothesline and a two count for DDP. Diamond Cutter is blocked but Uranage is not blocked. Spiral Bomb by DDP, two count! Running Cutter is blocked, Candido grabs DDP’s leg.

 Stroke by Jarrett, cover and a two count. Babyfaces and heels brawl on the floor, Jarrett has his guitar. BG James takes away the guitar from Jarrett. Konnan has Jarrett, BG nails Konnan by mistake. Truth is confused as Konna is out-cold. Jarrett climbs the top rope, DDP shoves the referee into Jarrett. Diamond Cutter is blocked by Kip James who nails a FameAsser. DDP kicks out and damn you TNA! You have over-booking this shit again, X-Pac is here. Spinkick to Billy Gunn and Jeff Jarrett. Two bronco busters, James is knocked to the floor by X-Pac. DDP and Jarrett are left alone, DDP was thinking Diamond Cutter but a whole bunch of heels interfere and take Cutters. DDP wipes them all out like a true babyface and DDP is measuring Jarrett.

 Diamond Cutter but an attorney is in the ring, Brown is in the ring and wait a minute, Monty Brown obliterates DDP with a Pounce. Jarrett is on top and the referee counts a three! Ok so the TNA main event scene produces another over-booked performance as another babyface is moments away from glory only for Jarrett to prevail as he dominates everyone and they look stupid for even trying to beat the man. This time it was a heel turn from Brown. Honestly, I am interested to see Brown as a heel, the guy looked like he was about to become a star before he hit a wall known as Jarrett. Hadn’t been booked great since the loss to Jarrett despite winning so it could be a nice change of pace.

 On the other hand, I am really losing my patience with this main event match that TNA seem to have with all the interference and guitars and runs in like what was the point of X-Pac coming back for a second pay per view in the row and not screw Jarrett? You would probably forget about it in the sea of madness that was this match. The ring work was good from DDP and Jarrett especially considering one of the men was 48. I just want a clean finish in the main event at this stage or at least no Jarrett.

Winner: Jarrett over DDP following Godzilla like levels of Shenanigans!

Overall, this was one of the weaker shows that I have reviewed. There was not a lot of big matches on the card that delivered and the cheap finishes one after another in the three final matches were a bit much. AMW has a decent opener but look like they have nobody to work with for the titles on their level. Sabin had a tv match at best, Trinity vs Traci the team match was pretty bad. Raven and Rhodes had what felt like an extended squash while James vs Nash was slow though it had good psychology. The X Division match came off as lazy and a bit zany for the three matches in won while the main event is what I have come to expect from TNA. It was too much the first time I saw it and now it is just getting god damn ridiculous! See you next time for another review!