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TNA XPLOSION RECAP FOR 1/17/25
- The show starts off with a replay of a steel cage match between Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode at TNA Genesis 2014.
Stuart Carapola provided this coverage of the match on PWInsider:
Steel Cage Match: Kurt Angle vs Bobby Roode
Angle goes to town on Roode right from the bell, suplexing him over his head and mounting him in the corner to repeatedly drill him in the head. Roode is undeterred, carries Angle out of the corner, and powerbombs him into the cage. He covers for 2, then whips Angle to the corner and charges in with a clothesline. He waits for Angle to get to his feet before nailing him again and choking him on the ropes with his boot. Angle picks Roode's legs out and catapults him into the cage, then hits a couple of rolling German suplexes before Roode gets free and flattens him with a spinebuster. Roode covers for 2, but Angle gets free and hits the Hacker Slam for 2, then gets Roode in the anklelock. Roode rolls forward and sends Angle crashing into the cage, then nails him with a northern lariat and covers for 2. He tells the referee to open the door, but changes his mind and climbs the cage instead. Angle is up and holds onto Roode, and they wind up fighting on the top rope, and I think we all know how that'll end. Indeed, they ram each other's faces into the cage until Roode collapses to the mat. Angle could try to escape, but I think we all know his crazy ass is going to try something insane. Indeed, he gets one foot over the top before he changes his mind and shifts over to the corner, plants his feet, and thrusts himself over with a moonsault...that Roode sees coming and rolls out of the way of. Angle hits so hard he actually bounces a few inches off the mat, and Roode tells the ref to open the door. Roode makes it clear out the door, then slows down to give Angle a chance to come over and drag him back up the steps and into the ring with the anklelock. Roode kickis Angle off and makes it back out the cage and plants his hands on the floor, but instead of throwing his body all the way out, he again waits for Angle to come drag him back in with the anklelock. Roode rolls forward and sends Angle crashing into the cage again, then hits the Roode Bomb and covers Angle for a VERY close 2. Roode tries to climb out again, but Angle runs up the ropes and hits a Hacker Slam that sends Roode sailing three quarters of the way across the ring. Angle crawls over and makes a cover, but Roode kicks out at 2. Angle climbs the cage again and gets one foot over by the time Roode catches up to him and drags him back inside and onto the top rope. They trade punches until Roode slips and crotches himself on the top rope, then collapses ot the mat. Angle makes it the rest of the way over and starts climbing down as Roode goes out the door, and we get a split screen to watch both men's progress because it's that close, but Angle manages to drop to the floor before Roode gets all the way out.
Winner: Kurt Angle
- The Don West “You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me!” top five trending topics for this week in TNA Wrestling are TNA Genisis happening this weekend (TNA Xplosion airs on Youtube after the event was finished), the first live edition of TNA Impact in 8 years, TNA teaming with Blcksmth apparel, Jordynne Grace vs. Tessa Blanchard at TNA Genisis and Nic Nemeth vs. Joe Hendry at TNA Genisis.
- Around The Ring with Gia Miller is next and this week’s guest is Judas Icarus, the two first talk about their friendship outside of the ring. Miller says her New Years Resolution is to not let people interrupt her interviews, Icarus and Miller share tips with each other over how to handle when other people interrupt her interviews.
- Highlights are shown from the match between Trent Seven and Leon Slater from this past week’s TNA Impact.
- The TNA World Title Match between Nic Nemeth and Joe Hendry from TNA Bound For Glory 2024 air.
Here are Mike Johnson’s thoughts on the match from his live blog:
The TNA title bout with Joe Hendry vs. Nic Nemeth was good, but also a bit of a disappointment when it was revealed they weren't closing the show. Hendry had some real momentum going into the show, so the finish here was a little crushing, especially after all the good work involved and Kazarian's great job as the heel referee. I don't know that Bradshaw getting involved and killing everyone with Clotheslines from Hell and helping Nemeth getting the win with the story being Nic didn't know was what TNA fans were looking for out of this story. Perhaps it'll be Bradshaw vs. Nemeth in Texas in January? I'm really curious to see what they do to reboot Hendry, unless he's heading off to WWE a lot sooner than expected. I will say this - the Kazarian stuff was so well done, it totally camouflaged the eventual JBL appearance. Unless there's been a major change, I believe Hendry has a little over a year left and I am really stunned TNA didn't decide to go all the way with him and build around him, but we'll see.
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