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Jeremy Borash interviewed Aron Rex. Rex said his entire gameplan was out but the Grand championship would change the sport.
Eddie Edwards vs. Aron Rex to determine the first TNA Grand champion
They noted that each of them were trained by Killer Kowalski. They showed the unidentified Judges at ringside.
Round One: They locked up and Rex swept Edwards' legs and locked on a side headlock. Edwards nailed several dropkicks and locked on an armwringer. Rex revolved but was caught with a dropkick. Rex was chopped hard in the corner several times. Edwards kicks Rex in the gut as he was rebounded off the ropes. Rex caught him with a Side Russian Legsweep and drilled him with an elbow for a two count. Edwards nailed an enziguiri. Rex went to the floor but nailed Edwards with a forearm as he went for a dive. Edwards clotheslined Rex over the top to the floor, where he landed near a judge. Edwards tossed him back into the ring and clotheslined him over the top to the floor on the other side. Edwards nailed a dive but hit the railing harder than he hit Rex. Edwards ended the round drilling Rex again and again with forearms.
Edwards wins Round One.
Round Two: Rex got very aggressive attacking Edwards and nailed a suplex for a two count. He cinched in a side chinlock to wear Edwards down. He worked over Edwards, who fought back with some hard chops in the corner. Rex caught his leg in the ropes and drilled down with his knee, trying to hurt Edwards' wheel. Rex locked in an Indian Deathlock. The lights went out in the building. They used spotlights on the ring. Josh Mathews noted there have been power issues at Universal Studios over the weekend, which is true as the entire park lost power the other day. Edwards clipped him with a great clothesline and several two counts. Edwards, on the apron, kicked Rex as he charged. The lights came back on and the crowd popped. That was funny. Rex locked in a Cloverleaf variation, trying to force a submission. Rex stomped him in the back as they were running out of time. Rex tied up Edwards and drilled him with punches as the second round ended.
The Judges decreed that Rex won the second round.
Round Three: Edwards was caught with a clothesline as the round started. He stomped away at Edwards in the corner but was kicked down Edwards came off the top with a Codebreaker for a two count. They battled on the top with Edwards knocking Rex into the ring. He went for a double stomp but Rex moved out of the way. Edwards hurt his knee. Rex began beating down Edwards. He got caught on the top with a forearm as they had two minutes left. Edwards fought his off but missed a moonsault off the top. Rex went for the discus clothesline but was caught with a Edwards clothesline instead. Rex fired back with a forearm but Edwards rebounded with a shining wizard. They fought each other with punches as the clock ran out.
They kept fighting after the bell. Referee Brian Hebner tried to get between them. The crowd chanted, "Let them fight."
They went to the Judges as they went to the time limit. It was a split decision, 2-1 for the first Grand champion, Aron Rex!
The crowd had a mixed reaction to that. They hugged after.
The match was fine. They were in a hard situation as they lost all their momentum for the division and the tournament with Galloway being out injured after that great build towards the final.
Borash interviewed Rex after the bout. He said Edwards was a star and could get a rematch anytime. He said that tonight they made history but it's only the first part and to stay tuned.
TNA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Christy Hemme came out to be the special announcer for the ceremony.
Hemme said that Gail Kim was a legend in the business and what really cemented her legacy was that she built "this team", meaning the Knockouts division. She said Gail fights for all of the women who enter the ring and thanked her for her passion and relentless work at building the Knockouts division. She interviewed former Knockouts champion Taryn Terrell, who was expecting. Congrats to her and her family.
Terrell said Kim was a career maker. She said Gail took her as a beginner and made her a star. She said that Kim was in her mind the greatest female wrestler to have ever lived. She said she was proud to call Gail her friend and her mentor.
Hemme introduced Awesome Kong. Well, that one is a surprise. Kong said that there are not enough adjectives to describe how awesome Kim is. She said that Kim was the yin to her yang. She said Kim is loved by many and respected by all.
Hemme introduced TNA Chairman Dixie Carter. Carter said it is the biggest night of the year for TNA. She said she is happy to honor a woman who established and defined the Knockouts division. Carter put over Kim for being selfless in building up the Knockouts division. She introduced Kim. Kim came out with a pretty red gown on and kissed her husband Robert Irvine, who was in the front row, looking thrilled.
Carter continued to extol the virtues of Kim as the crowd chanted, "You deserve it." They went to a video presentation on Kim. It was really nice.
Kim said she's not known for speaking in this business, so she brought a list to make sure she doesn't forget anyone because the induction means everything to her. She said that for the past 16 years, she has experienced a lot of highs and lows but would never take back one moment or one thing. She said that without the lows, she could not have the highs and without the fight, she could not have success. She said that every person she ever stepped in the ring with helped her to get to where she is. She said the business exposed every insecurity she has ever had but it also brought her creativity, fearlessness, and self confidence and true passion.
She said she had a lot of people to thank - the people who trained her and helped her, naming Ron Hutchinson, Scott D'Amore, Fit Finlay, Pat Kenney and everyone who worked behind the scenes in TNA. She thanked the people who were here in the beginning who grew tired of her saying she wanted to wrestle, naming Dixie, Dutch Mantel and Jeff Jarrett. She said that her family make her want to be a better woman. She thanked her husband Robert Irvine. Irvine got a big pop. She said that she's never met anyone who has inspired her more than him.
Kim thanked all the women that came before her - Victoria, Molly Holly, Jazz and Trish Stratus. She said the women in the TNA locker room are her sisters and she is so happy to share a locker room with her. Holly got her props for making her a great wrestler and for setting the stage for being a good person. Holly told her that if you are a good person, success will follow.
Kim thanked the fans and the company. She said she would not be standing here as a Hall of Famer without them and thanked them.
A nice speech and a really classy segment.
TNA Tag Team champions Decay with Rosemary vs. The Hardy Boyz with Reby Hardy.
Reby played Matt Hardy out on a grand piano. Jeff Hardy came out and sang the "Obsolete" song. The crowd was loving the hell out of this. Decay's got a great entrance.
All three members of Decay spewed mist at Reby before the bell. Matt and Jeff brawled with Steve and Abyss. A referee walked Reby out. Jeff dove over the top to the floor on Abyss. Matt went for the Twist of Fate but Rosemary grabbed his legs to distract him. There are tables and weapons all around ringside. Rosemary set up a table on the floor.
Abyss choked Jeff and chopped him on the floor. Rosemary and Steve both attempted to suplex Matt out of the ring but he escaped. Steve held a trash can on Matt and Rosemary nailed a Van Terminator. Steve bit Hardy's face. Abyss pulled out a staple gun and attempted to use it. Hardy fought him off and nailed a sunset flip but Abyss was able to fight being pulled down and stapled him in the forehead.
Matt Hardy attacked Abyss and slammed him into a barricade. He and Abyss brawled up the aisle towards the back. They ended up in the interview set. Hardy was sent into a ton of chairs, He sent Hardy into a table. It was a little too dark to really see what was happening. Jeff Hardy and Crazzy Steve battled to the area as well. The referee was knocked out.
Jeff Hardy sent Steve into some ladders and wood somewhere backstage. Steve flung a ladder hard at Jeff.
They went to an obviously pre-taped brawl, not that I am complaining given how good the previous videos have been. Hardy was crawling towards a bucket that was labeled Lake of Reincarnation. They went to a shot of Matt and Abyss brawling in front of the Universal Studios sign and parking lot. Jeff Hardy disappeared after having the water doused on him. Someone, likely Jeff, smashed pumpkins (get it?) at Steve. He demanded Jeff show himself. Hardy, dressed completely different, acted as if he was someone else and brawled with Steve. Matt and Abyss brawled in front of a car that honked at it.
Rosemary tried to help Steve but Jeff put a Jack-O-Lantern on her head She still spewed mist at him. Steve told her to go help Abyss. Matt and Abyss tossed each other into a truck. Abyss had Matt beaten. Rosemary brought Abyss Janice to use. Someone drove up in a truck and it was the worst representation of a redneck wrestling fan ever. He said he heard about this on a scanner and came to fight Abyss because he was on Team Delete. Rosemary laid him out.
Jeff Hardy turned into Willow and continued to brawl with Steve. Matt Hardy reappeared with fire on his hands and tossed it at Janice, which was set on fire. So,they burned Janice. It was tossed out of the truck. Rosemary drove off with Matt and Abyss brawling in the back of the truck. Rosemary pulled up at the Impact Zone and Vanguard 1 flew down and initiated it's anti-mist poison protocol and spewed something on Rosemary.
Willow and Steve brawled live back into the Impact Zone as the video ended. The crowd loudly chanted "TNA." Hardy and Abyss brawled from the truck back into the Arena. He suplexed Matt on the ramp. Willow disappeared under the ring and Jeff Hardy emerged. He and Matt nailed their double team moves on Abyss. Matt nailed a Twist of Fate. Jeff nailed a swanton off the top for a two count.
Everyone battled back and forth. Abyss brought barbed wire boards into the ring. Matt was almost chokeslammed but fought his way out. He poured thumbtacks over one of the boards and nailed a Side Effect on Abyss on the tacks and barbed wire He sandwiched Abyss in between the boards and covered him but Rosemary (a little late) broke it up.
Matt grabbed Rosemary on the apron. Reby returned and slipped under and powerbombed Rosemary through a table at ringside. Steve's face is wrapped in a chair and rammed into the ringpost by Jeff. Matt nailed a twist of fate on Steve, who still had the chair around his neck. Hardy set up two tables. Hardy set up a table. Matt told him he invites him for one night to indulge in his addiction. Jeff hit a crazy swanton bomb off the top of the ladder. Jeff scored the pin.
Your winners and new TNA Tag Team champions, Matt and Jeff Hardy!
This was awesome. If you enjoy the Final Deletion videos, you got everything you wanted but Senor Benjamin. I could have done with the fan who stepped out of the WCW "Ready to Rumble" movie but beyond this, it was creative and different and fun and a hell of a brawl. I truly sincerely enjoyed this.
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