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Out came James Storm riding his cooler to the ring. The crowd chanted "Cowboy" at him. He cut a promo on TNA's early days and said the company gave a bunch of young punks a chance, including names like Abyss and himself. He said that people used to tell him he wasn't going to make it because he was too country. He said that when he's gone, they'll say he lived life his own way. He said if you don't do that, get out of the way. He said that he wanted to take the opportunity in Orlando. The fans chanted "Orlando." He said in 14 years, he wants to be sitting at home and see someone else standing in the ring and saying Storm gave him an opportunity. He said 14 years ago, no one knew who he was and now everyone wants to drink a beer with him. He told Borash to call his opponent to the ring. It's Braxton Sutter.
James Storm vs. Braxton Sutter
Some nice back and forth wrestling early on. Storm nailed Sutter with a dropkick. Sutter recovered in the corner and they locked up again. Storm continued with control, even nailing Sutter after a leapfrog. Sutter went Storm up and over the ropes to the apron but was nailed with a right hand and then a neckbreaker in the center. Storm nailed a clothesline for a two count.
Storm came off the ropes but Sutter put his boot up. Storm caught it but was nailed by Sutter for a two count. Sutter nailed a series of clotheslines and ascended to the top. He nailed a flying bodypress for a two count. Storm was caught with a quick powerslam for another two count. Sutter nailed several chops but had his tornado DDT avoided. Storm went for one of his own but Sutter countered and hit a Northern Lights suplex into the buckles for a two count. Sutter continued to control the bout but Storm nailed a backcracker. Storm set up and nailed the Last Call superkick for the pin.
Your winner, James Storm!
Solid match.
After the bout, Storm showed Sutter respect and offered him a beer. They sprayed the crowd with beer.
TNA King of the Mountain champion Eli Drake did a promo backstage promising he wasn't going to lose the belt to Bram tonight. Drake is a good promo.
They showed footage of Kurt Angle becoming the second member of the TNA Hall of Fame.
TNA King of the Mountain champion Eli Drake vs. Bram.
Bram's power controlled the match early, including a clothesline over the top to the floor. Drake channeled his inner Jerry Lawler and teased walking out with the championship belt. Bram chased him to the stage, ducked a belt shot and drilled Drake. Bram worked over Drake on the floor around ringside, slamming him into the ring steps. It was all Bram beating him as Drake was trying to find a way to escape.
Drake was sent into the guard rail. Bram removed the protective mats at ringside. He teased an implant DDT on the floor but Drake backdropped him onto the exposed concrete. Drake worked over Bram but Bram shoved him off as he went for a move and they nailed a double clothesline on each other. Earl Hebner began counting them down but they returned to their feet and battled back and forth with punches.
Bram took control with a series of right hands. Bram nailed a running forearm in the corner, followed by a high knee. Drake missed a shot and was powerbombed by Bram Bram nailed the Brighter Side of Suffering/implant DDT but Drake rolled out to the floor. Bram went to the floor to retrieve him but was caught with a big knee as he returned to the ring. Drake nailed Blunt Force Trauma and scored the pin.
Your winner and still champion, Eli Drake!
OK match. They worked hard but it never felt like it got out of first gear.
Backstage, Mike Bennet was interviewed by Jeremy Borash. He promised to end EC3's retribution tour tonight. He said he was the best wrestler and had the hottest wife in wrestling. Good promo.
EC3 vs. Mike Bennett.
They locked up but neither man got the advantage. EC3 shoulder tackled him down several times but Bennett caught him with an an elbow to the face as he rebounded off the ropes. EC3 cut him off and worked him over in the corner with punches. EC3 began working over Bennett's right arm and chopped him down to the mat. EC3 took Bennett to the floor, where he was chopped hard against the guard rails. EC3 was sent into the railing and almost counted out.
When EC3 returned, Bennett continued working him over and brought him back to the floor. He draped EC3 on the guard rail and nailed a hangman's DDT off of it to the ramp. EC3 crawled back to the ring, where Bennett continued working him over and locked in a side chinlock. EC3 tried to make a comeback but was cut off and nailed with a neckbreaker. Bennett nailed a clothesline in the corner but ate one. EC3 went for a Stinger splash but missed.
Bennett picked up EC3 for a move but EC3 slipped out and nailed a sitdown powerbomb for a two count. EC3 tried to rally and went for the One Percenter but was shot into the ropes. Bennett nailed a great looking spinebuster but EC3 kicked up at two. Bennett nailed a right hand that sent EC3 stumbling into the corner. Bennett mocked him and nailed a splash in the corner, then nailed an Ace Crusher. EC3 popped up and drilled him with a clothesline before going down. The referee began counting each man down. Big EC3 chant, which led to dueling chants.
They brawled back and forth with right hands. EC3 nailed a clothesline and a back elbow and a jawbreaker. He nailed the Stinger Splash and a flapjack. He nailed the One Percenter but Bennett kicked up at the last second. They put over the idea that he got out of the finisher as a big deal. EC3 tried to follow up but Bennett rolled outside to the apron. He branned Bennett and nailed the TC3 on the apron but it appeared EC3 took the brunt of it. EC3 went to the top but was caught with an Ace Cutter in mid-air for a close two count.
EC3 locked in a Cobra Clutch. Bennett grabbed the referee's shirt, allowing a distraction when Bennett used a low kick to escape. He nailed a piledriver for a two count. EC3 caught him with a series of German suplexes. EC3 nailed the One Percenter but Maria Kanellis tossed a chair in the ring, preventing referee Brian Hebner from immediately counting the pinfall. When he finally did, Bennett kicked out. The crowd chanted for Kanellis to be tossed out, which would make sense, given Helms was tossed earlier.
EC3 and Bennett battled over the chair. Bennett nailed the Miracle in Progress on EC3 on the chair, who kicked out at two. Big EC3 chant. EC3 nailed the TC3 and The One Percenter for the pin.
Your winner, EC3!
They worked hard but while this was very good, it seemed like the crowd was there to cheer for EC3 but were not invested in the match and who won. It was a weird dynamic at times. I really wonder how much of the crowd reactions have been marred by the stress and sadness of what's happened in Orlando today. Still, enoyable bout.
They aired a video where Big Money Matt Hardy cut a crazy promo from earlier today.
Coverage will conclude on Page 3!
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