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Welcome to this week's TNA Xplosion report!
Lockdown 2014 - Samoa Joe vs. Magnus (aka Nick Aldis)
The only way to win is by knockout, submission, or pinfall.
Magnus was wary of facing Joe early on. Joe caught him with a kick to the legs, then tagged him with another. Magnus locked up with him, and they had some nice back-and-forth wrestling reversals on the mat.
Joe locked Magnus up in an arm wringer and began headbutting his hand and wrist. Joe peppered him with punches and chops. Magnus caught him with a hard right hand and locked in a side headlock. Joe made a comeback and worked over Magnus with all of his signature offense, including a Facewash, but missed a back senton splash.
Magnus worked over Joe but was sent into the cage twice. Joe trapped him against the cage and battered his head into it ten times, then splashed him into the cage and nailed an enzuigiri. Magnus was busted open, drawing the first blood of the show. Joe peppered him with punches to the wound and bit his forehead.
Joe continued working over the champion until Magnus caught him with a running knee from behind. Magnus then slammed Joe into the cage and threw him headfirst into it several times. Joe was now busted open as well. Magnus locked in a figure-four leglock. Joe tried to reverse the hold by turning it over, but Magnus escaped.
Joe charged, but Magnus used a drop toehold and locked in a Camel Clutch. Joe fought his way out and nailed a back suplex to escape. He fired back with a series of strikes and elbows. Joe whipped Magnus into the corner but was kicked away. Joe saw Magnus charging and nailed a powerslam, followed by a back senton splash.
Joe locked in a cross armbreaker. Magnus was able to make it to the ropes. Joe nailed him with a headbutt and placed Magnus on the top rope for the Muscle Buster. Magnus raked Joe's eyes, but Joe still tried to fight him off. Magnus kicked him down and hit a hell of a flying elbow. They battled back and forth with some stiff shots from Joe. Joe placed Magnus back on the top rope. Magnus tried to fight him off but was crotched on the ropes.
Joe set up for the Muscle Buster and nailed it. He then locked in the rear naked choke in the center of the ring. A hand (it looked like Abyss' arm) broke through the ring and grabbed Joe's arm. It dragged Joe underneath the ring as he tried to fight it off. The crowd turned on the finish and chanted, "Bullshit."
Magnus recovered and looked worried in the ring. After a minute, a pissed-off Joe emerged from the hole and stomped whatever was beneath him. Joe grabbed Magnus by the throat and choked him in the corner, trying to choke him out.
Abyss emerged from the hole (off-camera) with Janice and struck Joe from behind with the weapon before delivering a Black Hole Slam. Abyss and the fearful Magnus faced off, and Magnus smiled at him. Magnus then made sure Joe was out and locked in the rear naked choke. The referee lifted Joe's arm, and it fell three times. The last time, it almost looked like Joe was going to come back to life, but it was not to be.
Your winner, and still TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Magnus!
My original thoughts from 2014 report: An enjoyable match for 99% of its runtime. I wasn't a fan of the screwy finish at the end, but it does set up Joe vs. Magnus rematches and Joe vs. Abyss. I just feel like the last thing TNA needed at that point (and honestly, for the next few years) was a completely screwball finish in a big "money" match. The company had scorched so much earth over the years that it was ridiculous.
7/26 Impact: TNA X-Division Champion Cedric Alexander vs. Fabian Aichner
They went back and forth with some nice action early. Cedric got frustated early at Aichner escaping his holds. Aichner nailed a rolling senton and moonsault, sending Cedric to the floor. Aichner slammed his face into the ring apron. Aichner took a sponsorship drink, sipped it and poured the rest over Alexander. He tossed Cedric back into the ring. Aichner went for a springboard move but was shoved by Cedric and crashed down. Cedric was smashed down on the apron outside the ring.
Alexander suplexed him on the apron. Aichner was almost counted out but rolled back in at the last second. Alexander splashed him for a two count. Alexander worked him over with chops and scored with a knee to the mid-section. Alexander locked in an abdominal stretch and worked that hold as they went to commercial. Aichner and Alexander battled when TNA returned. Alexander nailed a German suplex and drilled another to score a two count.
Aichner made a comeback and hit a double springboard moonsault for a close two count. Aichner was setting up for a powerbomb but Cedric went for a Lumbar Check. Aichner escaped but was hit with a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Cedric hit a brainbuster but again, Aichner kicked up at the last second. Alexander, getting more and more upset, kept kicking at the challenger. He told Aichner he didn't deserve to be in the ring with him. They battled to the top. Cedric shoved him off and went for a flying move but was dropkicked as he came off the ropes for a near fall.
Aichner and Cedric battled. The challenger went for a powerbomb and nailed it but Cedric draped his foot on the bottom rope at the last second. Aichner's eyes were raked and he was dumped out of the ring. As Cedric argued with the referee, Eddie Edwards charged out and hit The Boston Knee Party on Aichner on the floor. He was tossed back in the ring, hit with The Lumbar Check and pinned.
Your winner and still X-Division Champion Cedric Alexander!
They worked over Fabian Aichner but Ricky Sosa, then Leon Slater made the save. Slater hit a big dive on Edwards and Alexander on the floor.
TNA's babyfaces stood tall.
Very good match, this was a lot of fun.
The #1 Don West Trending Topic was Cedric retaining the X-Division title.
Lockdown 2014: Bad Influence & Chris Sabin vs. Great Muta, TNA X Division Champion Seiya Sanada, & Yasufumi Nakanoue
Bad Influence came out dressed in a parody of Great Muta during his NWA run in the '80s. They referred to Yasufumi simply as "Yasu." There was a bit of a Muta chant when he came to the ring.
Sabin and Sanada started out. Sabin offered his hand, but Sanada wanted nothing to do with it. They locked up, and Sabin worked over his arm. Sanada and Sabin went back and forth until Sabin thumbed him in the eye and shoulder-blocked him down. Sanada blocked a hiptoss and locked in an abdominal stretch.
Yasu and Kaz tagged in. They exchanged holds until Kazarian clotheslined him down. Kaz missed a leap into the corner, was hiptossed down, and caught in a side headlock. Muta tagged in to a nice pop, nailed the corkscrew elbow, and locked in an STF. Daniels attacked Muta to break it up but was taken out with a thrust kick. Muta then sprayed the green mist into the air.
Yasu tagged in. He fought off Bad Influence but was knocked backward into the cage and grabbed at his neck. Bad Influence worked him over, and Sabin tagged in and dropkicked him while he was being held. The heels took turns tagging in and out, working over Yasu. They controlled him for a long stretch, but he kept kicking out.
Sanada finally made the hot tag and cleaned house but was cut off by Bad Influence. He ducked underneath, and Daniels accidentally clotheslined Kazarian. Muta tagged in and nailed Dragon Screw Leg Whips on everyone before locking in a leglock submission. He was double-teamed but sprayed green mist into Kazarian's face. Sanada nailed a stunner, and Muta followed with the Shining Wizard on Daniels. Sanada then hit a moonsault for the pin.
Your winners: Team Wrestle-1!
Original Match thoughts from 2014: A good, fun opener to kick off the show. There was some good wrestling throughout.
M by Elegance vs. Shazza McKenzie
M by Elegance was disrespectful early but that nearly cost her the match as Shazza caught her with several pinfall attempts. M went for a leapfrog but was pulled into a sunset flip attempt. McKenzie took M down but was distracted by Heather. That allowed M to nail a superkick and a German suplex for a two count.
M kicked away at Shazzs in the corner. McKenzie avoided a charge and caught M with a pinfall attempt but was hit with The Rear End. M rudely and disrespectfully kicked at Shazza's face. Shazza fought back and nailed some hard shots, fired up. McKenzie drilled her across the back and nailed a series of kicks to the chest. Heather tried to interfere but was kicked as well. McKenzie scored a two count but was cut off with a kick and hit with a driver. McKenzie kicked up but was worked over with hard shots to the back. This seemed to just anger McKenzie, who used a small packed for a two count.
Shazza nailed a stunner but Mr. Elegance distracted her. M nailed a boot, then hit a Coast to Coast dropkick for the pin.
Your winner, M By Elegance!
Shazza showed really good babyface fire. Enoyable main event. The Elegance Brand do a good job mixing comedy and arrogance as characters.
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