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January 6th
On this day in history in...
2008 - TNA held their Final Resolution PPV in Orlando, Florida. Here is Mike Johnson's original coverage of the show.
Welcome to the first PPV coverage of the New Year here on PWInsider.com!
TNA's Final Resolution 2008 opened with a video package for the show, followed by Mike Tenay and Don West wondering whether AJ Styles would side with Kurt Angle or Christian Cage tonight.
LAX vs. Jimmy Rave & Lance Hoyt (with Christy Hemme)
Hoyt and Homicide opened up with Homicide getting caught by Rave with a quick cradle. Homicide nailed a belly to belly overhead suplex, but was drilled into the corner. Hoyt tagged in and nailed him with a Fall away slam. Hernandez tagged in and faced off with Hoyt, which the crowd was into. They exchanged shoulderblocks against each other. Hernandez sent Hoyt out of the ring. Homicide attempted a tope con hilo but was cut off by Rave, so Hernandez hit a running dive out of the ring on Hoyt instead. The crowd was super hot for LAX.
LAX worked over Rave in the corner. Homicide nailed him with a dropkick to the face. They nailed Rave with a catapult combination that ended with Rave laid out over Hernandez' knees, complete with Homicide hitting a senton back splash across Rave's chest. Hoyt returned to the ring and slammed Homicide with a faceplant. Homicide fought back against both but was cut off with an inverted atomic drop. Hoyt nailed Homicide with a big boot to the face.
Homicide ducked under a double clothesline, setting up Hernandez hitting a springboard double clothesline into the ring on Hoyt and Rave. Hernandez catches Rave in mid-air and drilled him with a sit down powerbomb. Hernandez charged Hoyt but was caught with an elbow. Hoyt nailed a moonsault, but was caught with head scissors by Homicide. Homicide finally caught the tope con hilo to the outside.
Hernandez picked up Rave for a powerbomb, but Christy Hemme interfered, pulling Rave back down. Rave caught him with a knee to the gut and began working him over in the corner with punches. Rave went to the top but was shoved off and Rave crotched himself between the pole and turnbuckle. The female member of LAX stalked around at ringside. Hernandez set up Rave and nailed a Border Toss off the ropes for the pin on Rave.
Hernandez was attacked from behind by Hernandez. The female member went after Hoyt and lowblowed him. Christy went after her and was laid out. The female member finally unveiled herself as Shelley Martinez, formerly Ariel in ECW. Holy crap, she looked hot.
A really hot opener with everyone working hard. Good stuff. The crowd was really alive for the match since they love everything LAX does and let's hope this is the start of a new run for the team as it's blatantly obvious the audience loves them and wants to see them pushed. Hoyt and Rave had one of their better showing ever here as well.
We went to footage from "last night" from part one of the Drinking Championship Series between Eric Young and James Storm. Jeremy Borash and Crystal were the witnesses. They did a deal where James Storm won a contest where he got to take a drink anytime Eric Young said something that he had never done, but Storm had. Those things included going to the moon, killing a lion with his bare hands and being responsible for riots in Detroit in 1967. I didn't think it was funny, but that's just me.
Mike Tenay and Don West ran down the remainder of the lineup.
Backstage, Crystal tried to get comments from AJ Styles on whether he was siding with Kurt Angle or Christian Cage tonight. Styles said that he promised he would make a decision tonight, but the night wasn't over, so he still has time to think. Tomko told Styles he was completely wrong and was out of time because they have a title match with Kevin Nash and Samoa Joe tonight. Tomko said that he needs to make his suggestion sooner rather than later and if he screwed up tonight, his problems were going to be huge. Crystal asked again for a decision and Styles said he would let her know sooner or later.
They aired a video feature on Black Reign vs. Kaz.
Black Reign vs. Kaz.
As soon as Kaz hit the ring, he went right after Reign. He nailed Reign with a series of rights, then hit a springboard back elbow. He whipped Reign into the ropes, but Reign pulled himself out of the ring. Kaz followed and hit a running clothesline off the apron to the floor. He went to whip Reign, who reversed it, sending Kaz into the railing. Reign charged Kaz, who moved out of the way. Kaz kicked him onto the entrance ramp. Kaz followed him up the ramp, kicking him in the rear. Reign nailed a mule kick low from behind. He nailed a running kneelift, sending Kaz off the ramp to the floor. They said Kaz caught his hip on the corner of the stage.
Reign dragged Kaz back into the ringside area. Reign pulled Kaz through the ropes and nailed a neckbreaker. He then punched Kaz with a right, sending him down. He nailed an elbow and locked in a side chinlock. Kaz began battling out with elbows but put his head down and Reign caught him with a dropdown uppercut.
Reign began choking Kaz. He snapmared Kaz to the mat, then cinched in a rear chinlock. Kaz got to his feet as the crowd rallied him and began nailing punches to the gut, but was cut off. Reign nailed him in the jaw and covered him for a two count. Reign went back to the chinlock.
Reign missed a clothesline and was caught with a high cross bodyblock. The referee began to count both men down on the mat, but they returned to their feet at the count of eight. Kaz ducked a punch and nailed several kicks. Kaz drilled Reign with a spinning neckbreaker but Reign kicked up at two. Kaz avoided a Reign charge in the corner and hit a slingshot DDT for another two count.
Reign moved to avoid a legdrop and hit the Lights Out, but Kaz got his shoulder up at the last moment. Reign went for another, but Kaz got to his feet and nails the twisting DDT for the clean pin.
Your winner, Kaz!
Decent match. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary but it was solid.
After the match, Reign began coddling the cage holding his rat. Kaz took the cage and walked out with it. Reign began screaming that he wanted it back. Mike Tenay said, "Kaz is leaving Final Resolution with the rat."
Backstage, Jeremy Borash was telling Kurt Angle that after all they had done for AJ Styles, he still hadn't sided with Angle. Kurt questioned Borash for saying "we" and told him, "There's you and there's me and my wife. You are an interviewer." Angle then asked Borash for advice, but Karen cut them off and said they are going to do whatever they do during a time like this. She told Angle to worry about the match and she was going to take care of business. He said that every time Karen tries to take care of business, she gets them in trouble. She leaves and Angle tells Borash to follow Karen. Karen didn't seem to be wearing a cast, by the way. It was the usual type of silliness involving the Angles and Borash.
They aired a video feature on the TNA Knockouts title bout.
TNA Women's champion Gail. Kim vs. Awesome Kong - No DQ
I sure hope this is as fun as last month.
Kong charged Kim as she was on the apron, but Kim jumped down. Kim grabbed Kong's ankle and pulled her to the floor. They started brawling on the floor. Kong drilled her with a clothesline on the floor, then cleared the announcer's table. She teased a powerbomb on the table, but Kim fought back with a kick. Kong tossed Kim into the ring and smothered her with a boot to the throat. Kong snaps Kim across the mat by the hair, then choked her with a boot to the chin.
The announcers said an associate of Kong's from Japan was in attendance, according to rumors. Kong continued to work over Kim, who fought back with elbows. Kim tried to come off the ropes but was nailed with a spinning back fist. Kim fell backwards over the ropes, hanging upside down, before being shoved to the floor. Kim grabbed at her knee. Kong followed her to the floor.
Kong dragged her around ringside, but Kim began fighting back. Kong just slapped her down. Kong followed her around the ring, stalking her prey. She picked up Kim by the legs and swung her into the guard rails headfirst.
They brawled in the crowd. Kim fought back but was tossed onto the steps of the bleachers. Kong dragged her into the bleachers and choked her throat. Kim continued to fight back. She grabbed a plastic bottle from a fan and began beating Kong with it. Kong tossed her down the stairs to the floor. Kim fights back and dumps Kong over the railing back into the ringside area.
Kim grabs Kong with a hammerlock, then runs her shoulder into the ringpost. Kong just shakes it off and slaps down Kim. She rolls Kim into the ring and beats her down. Kong grabs a chair and drills it down but Kim moves and Kong slaps herself with it. With Kong dazed on the floor, Kim went to the top rope and dove off. Kong still caught her and tossed her into the ring. Kong beats Kim down with a punch to the back.
Kong grabbed Kim by the hair and beat her with a series of back fists. Kong went for a powerbomb, but Kim rolled out of the way to the mat. Kong went for a sitdown splash but missed. Kim avoided a charge in the corner. Kim came off the top but was caught. Kong nailed an inverted sitdown powerbomb, but Kim kicked out at the last second. Some in the crowd booed that, believing it was the finish.
Kong wasn't happy with the referee's count and powerbombed Slick Johnson. Kong went to the floor and got a chair, then nailed Johnson with it. Kim grabbed the chair and began beating Kong in the head with it. Kim went to the top and nailed a splash off the top, but the referee was out. Kim called for a second referee and Rudy Charles hit the ring. He counted, but Kong kicked up at the last second.
Kong nailed a chokeslam on Kim, who kicked up. Kong grabbed Charles and went to powerbomb him but Kim rolled up Kong, who crashed backwards with Charles atop of her. Charles counted three and Gail Kim got the victory.
Brutal, fun and a unique finish. This was officially the first great match of TNA for 2008.
Kong tried to go after Kim after the match but security and some of the other Knockouts hit the ring to separate them. The crowd chanted "TNA."
Backstage, Jeremy Borash followed Karen Angle into the men's room as she was looking for AJ Styles. He was there. She offered to relieve him of his tension and tried coming onto him. ODB came out of the stall after flushing the toilet, saying they should light a match. Ugh. Karen walked off and Styles was in awe that she liked him, she really liked him. I'm not liking any of the vignettes tonight.
They aired a video piece on Abyss vs. Judas Mesias.
Crystal interviewed Jim Mitchell. She asked him if he was going to reveal the secret tonight to the world. Mitchell said that the secret was one for Abyss to reveal and it was going to change the landscape of TNA. Mitchell says that tonight could be the night that Mesias tortures Abyss into revealing the secret. He said that Abyss was doomed to burn in hell if he didn't tell the truth. Typical good promo from Mitchell.
Abyss vs. Judas Mesias
Abyss and Mesias brawled around the ring. Mesias chopped him in the corner. Abyss reversed a whip into the corner but was caught with an elbow. Abyss nailed a clothesline, but Mesias came right back. Abyss pressed and dropped Mesias. Abyss clotheslined Mesias over the top to the floor.
Abyss followed him outside the ring and slammed him into the ringsteps. They brawled around ringside with Mesias being tossed into the steps. It was nothing compared to Kim and Kong. Mesias slammed Abyss' legs into a ringpost. He teased tying his legs to the post with the chain but the referee stopped him. Mesias began working over Abyss' knee.
He followed Abyss around the ring, kicking at the knee and nailing shots to the head. He leaped up for a faceplant but Abyss grabbed him with a chokeslam, then fell to the mat. Abyss went under the mat looking for something but the cameras showed Jim Mitchell had grabbed Abyss' sack of tacks. Abyss chased him up the rampway, allowed Mesias to clip his knee from behind.
Mesias shoved Abyss into the ring steps and Abyss fell over them. Mesias came off the top with a double axehandle but was caught with a chokeslam. Abyss hits a running charge into the corner, then nails a second back splash into Mesias' face. Abyss nails a sideslam for a two count. Abyss went to the floor and grabbed a chair. The referee tried to tell Abyss to stop but he ignored it, wedging the chair in between the top and middle turnbuckle. The referee tried to remove it but failed. Hey ref, how about DQing him then?
Mesias took over on Abyss. Abyss tried to run him into the chair and Mesias avoided it. Abyss kicked him low, then slammed him into the chair. Still no DQ. Abyss nailed the chokeslam, but Mesias kicked up at two. Abyss went outside looking for something. The cameras showed another bag brought out by Mitchell. Abyss produced a chair wrapped in barbed wire. The referee took it away and put it outside of the ring, taking forever. Mesias used the distraction to nail Abyss with a chair to the head, then nailed a frog splash for a two count.
Mesias began working over Abyss who came back with a Black Hole Slam. Jim Mitchell distracted the referee. Abyss grabbed Mitchell by the throat, then grabbed Mesias as well. Mesias blew mist in Abyss' head then nailed his drill DDT into the barbed wire chair. Abyss was bleeding as Mesias scored the pin.
Your winner, Judas Mesias!
OK brawl but they couldn't follow the women, even with the weapons. As a set up match for Barbed Wire Massacre, it was fine.
Mitchell told Mesias to grab Abyss and asked him if he was ready to tell the truth. Abyss refused. He said they he was a man of his word and promised Abyss he would burn in hell. He pulled out a gas can and they poured it over Abyss. Mitchell teased lighting a match but security came to the ring and took them away, then left Mitchell and Mesias standing over the fallen Abyss. It seemed silly for security to save Abyss and then leave him in the ring. Unless they are building to a fire gimmick match, this makes no sense.
Crystal interviewed Kevin Nash. Nash said that the professional wrestling world was crazy and nothing was for sure. He said he and Joe both know that anything can happen and usually does. Crystal asked him what that means. Nash said that it means he will do what he usually does - put asses in seats, win championship belts and make a ton of money. Well, he knows how to make a ton of money, I will certainly give him that.
They aired a video feature on the mixed tag.
Crystal interviewed Booker T and Sharmell. Booker said she's not a wrestler, but she gets what she wants because she is his queen. He said that Robert Roode has to deal with Sharmell's alley cat side tonight. Sharmell said she would do her talking in the ring.
Booker T & Sharmell vs. Robert Roode & Ms. Brooks
They showed Robert Roode's "fan" in the crowd. Mike Tenay, talking about Booker being signed, said, "You know TNA management will do everything they can to improve the TNA product." Yep, he said that.
Roode backed off and walked out of the ring when Booker advanced on him. They finally locked up and Roode raked Booker's eyes. Booker came back with chops and punches in the corner on Roode. Roode whips Booker into the corner but Booker floats over and continues the chop assault.
Booker suplexed Roode, but Roode landed on his feet, then kicked Booker in the gut. He choked Booker by shoving him over the ropes. Booker came back with a series of kicks, but Roode caught him with a DDT for a two count. Roode nails Booker in the head with a series of knees, then dropkicks Booker down for a two count.
The crowd chanted for Booker. Roode tossed Booker into his corner but Ms. Brooks refused to take advantage. He berated Brooks. He whipped Booker and Brooks tripped Booker, but was upset with herself that she did. Brooks had some good facial expressions. Roode works over Booker's knee and cinches in a rear chinlock, using a knee to apply pressure to the back.
Booker made a comeback, but missed a spinkick and crotched himself on the ropes. Booker fell to the floor and Roode slammed him into the apron. He tossed Booker back into the ring and went back to the rear chinlock. Booker finally made a comeback, fighting off Roode with elbows. He whipped Bobby into the corner, but Roode missed a charge. Roode hit a Blockbuster off the ropes but Booker kicked up at the last second.
Roode made Brooks slap Booker. He tried to get her to do it again and she refused. He grabbed her, which the referee said was a tag. Brooks entered the ring and was speared and attacked by Sharmell. Roode grabbed Sharmell to allow Brooks to get control, then attacked Booker on the floor.
Brooks whipped Sharmell into the ropes and Roode grabbed her leg. Sharmell kicked him off but was rolled up by Brooks. Brooks was kicked off and clunked heads with Roode, then was rolled up for the pin by Sharmell.
Your winners, Booker T and Sharmell!
Roode and Brooks argued in the ring after the match. She finally slapped Roode, which the crowd loved. Roode tried to manhandle her, but Brooks kept fighting back. Sharmell hit the ring to grab Roode, but he turned around and punched her dead in the face. Everyone looked shocked. Booker came to the ring as Roode ran out shocked. Roode tried to say he didn't mean it. West left the commentary booth as Tenay immediately said that TNA wasn't going to accept anything like that. They teased Sharmell was knocked out as Booker cursed as Earl Hebner. They teased Roode broke her jaw.
Crystal interviewed Christian Cage. She said he could be the new champion tonight if he can defeat Kurt Angle and asked him if he had any help tonight. Cage said he never needed or will need any help. Cage said that he saw more potential in AJ Styles than anyone else and tried to give him tough love so he could approach his potential. Cage started ripping on Karen Angle for trying to seduce AJ, saying she was showing her age and that tonight she was going to have to explain why AJ finally realized where his loyalties lie. He promised that he would be the new TNA champion.
Mike Tenay and Don West said that Robert Roode went too far, accidental or not, and they would try to get an update on Sharmell later tonight.
They aired part two of the drinking contest where they had beer bottles taped to their hands and weren't allowed to leave the table until they were done drinking. It turned out James Storm peed himself, so Young won.
They aired a video feature on the Ultimate X match. As the Ultimate X was set up in the ring, Tenay and West reviewed the history behind the bout. They said Sharmell was taken to a local hospital with a jaw problem.
Team 3D & Johnny Devine vs. TNA X-Division champion Jay Lethal & The Motor City Machineguns
Brother Ray took the mic as they entered the ring. He said that the time has finally come for the Ultimate X match. He said that he and Devon have bene training for a very long time and are in the best shape of their career. Ray said he has the speed of a gazelle while Devon can move around like a black panther, then turned to Devon and said, "Oh my brother, power to the people." Ray said that Devine (who looks like Cassidy Riley's twin brother tonight) was made for a match like this.
Ray said that they are the best tag team that ever existed and are the greatest hardcore wrestler in the world. He then called Socal Val a two bit tramp and they are the masters of the table match. He said they are the masters of the TLC match and the best wrestlers the world has ever seen. He warned the referee that the X-Division wrestlers are "little cheating bastards" but was cut off by Jay Lethal's theme music before he could continue.
Lethal and The Guns hit the ring and everyone started brawling in the ring and outside of it. Sabin tossed Devon into the railing. Ray went after Alex Shelley's hands, playing off 3D caning the Guns' hands on Impact. 3D set up a table outside the ring. Alex Shelley tried to climb the ropes but failed. Chris Sabin had the same problem due to their problems. Lethal took out Devon and started to make his way across the ropes but Devine yanked him off the ropes and slammed him to the mat.
Devine climbed up to the cables but the Guns swung him and Devine crashed down in one of the sickest bumps I've seen in a long time. Ray clotheslined the Guns down. Ray tried to lift up Devon to grab the belt, but Ray's back gave way. Devon got on all fours but Ray was too heavy for him to stand on. Sabin dropkicks Devon to the floor. Ray grabbed him and tossed Sabin to the floor.
Ray tried to go across the cables but Jay Lethal climbed across and in front of him, taunting Ray before slipping off. Ray tried to make his way across but quickly slipped as he was too heavy. The crowd chanted, "You're too fat." Lethal tried to suplerplex Ray but was shoved off. Ray teased a top rope elbow but Lethal moved. He started across the cables but Devine pulled him down. Devine drilled Lethal's chest across his knees, then hit him with a curb stomp.
Devine started across the cables but was caught by Shelley who drags him down into an inverted atomic drop. Sabin nailed a DDT. Shelley went for a slingshot dive to the floor but Brother Ray moved and nailed Shelley's hands with the Singapore Cane. They took out Sabin with the cane. Devon tried to get on Ray's shoulders so Ray could walk under him as he propelled across the ropes. Lethal dropkicked Ray, then dove off the ropes to pull Devon off with a powerbomb variation.
Ray put Devine on his shoulders but Lethal jumped off the cables with an inverted frankensteiner. Ray drilled Lethal with a monster clothesline. Shelley accidentally took out the referee and was taken down by Ray. Ray pulled out a ladder match. Mike Tenay said there was an unwritten rule of pride ion the X-Division to never use a ladder in the Ultimate X but 3D were ignoring that.
The Guns return to hit stereo enziguiris but Devine caned them down. Devine set up the ladder and started climbing up. Sabin tipped the ladder and Devine bumped off the ladder onto the tables outside the ring, which didn't budge. He bounced off them to the floor. 3D nailed Sabin with 3D. Lethal tried to come off the ropes but was drilled with the ladder in mid-air.
3D started to climb the ladder. Devon unhooked the belt and put it over his shoulder. Ray removed the ladder and once the referee saw Devon hanging, he called for the bell. Tenay called the finish the low point of the X-Division. West said it was a mockery.
Your winners, Team 3D & Johnny Devine!
I actually have no problem with the finish as it makes sense that 3D would want to mock the X-Division as they stole a victory. There was a lot of good bumps and everyone worked hard. 3D even mocked themselves with the spots poking fun at their girth early as well. Entertaining match, but not at the level of any previous UX match. It was more storyline stuff with a few big bumps, as opposed to full throttle insane stunts.
Crystal interviewed Samoa Joe, saying that while he and Kevin Nash didn't get off on the right foot, now they seemed to be on solid ground. Joe said they started off on the worst foot they possibly could. He said that maybe he was wrong about Nash and possibly even about Scott Hall. Joe said he and Nash have been training and he learned a few things that he didn't know about mind games and he thanked Nash for that. He told Tomko and Styles not to let their personal issues get in the way because Joe and Nash were coming to take their belts and destroy them. Joe said that maybe, just maybe, the old guard and the new guard would be champions.
TNA Tag Team champions AJ Styles & Tomko vs. Samoa Joe & Kevin Nash
Before the match, they said that TNA fears Sharmell suffered a broken jaw.
Styles and Joe started off. Every time they locked up, Joe smooshed him in the face. Joe grabbed Styles with a body scissors into a leglock, then tagged Nash. Nash hit AJ with an elbow to the head. Nash beeled AJ out of the corner. Styles ducked a pair of clotheslines and dropkicked Nash in the knee. Styles was kicked off, so Tomko tagged himself in. Nash snapped Tomko into the turnbuckle. Nash drilled Tomko in the corner with several knees.
Nash catches Tomko with a sideslam for a two count. Joe tagged in and they cleaned house on the champions. Joe fed Tomko into a big boot by Nash. Joe hit an overhead T-Bone suplex by Joe, but Styles hit a springboard dropkick to Joe to break up the pin. Tomko choked Joe.
Tomko chopped away at Joe in the corner. AJ began nailing Joe with punches. Joe fought back but Styles drilled him with a dropkick as Joe rebounded off the ropes. Styles and Tomko tagged in and out. Tomko nailed a short arm clothesline for a two count. Tomko drills Joe with a back elbow for a two count. Tomko and Styles continued to work over Joe.
AJ locked on a Muta Death Lock. Tomko nailed several chops and a DDT. Joe and Styles exchanged forearms. Styles teased going for the Pele Kick but Joe punched him in the face. Tomko nailed Joe from behind. That set up an AJ springboard move but Joe caught AJ and powerbombed him down. Tomko knocked Nash off the apron and charged Joe but was caught with a powerslam.
Joe went to tag Nash, who dropped off the apron and walked off. Styles and Tomko went for their finisher but Joe countered and DDT'd Nash. Joe laid out Styles, then set up the muscle buster on Tomko. Styles nailed Joe from behind. Joe caught him with an uranage. Joe nailed Styles with the muscle buster but Tomko dove onto Joe and broke the pin. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Tomko."
Joe applied the choke on Tomko but Tomko fell backwards. Joe almost fell out of the ring but pulled himself in. Joe was nailed with the Pele Kick. They drilled Joe with their finisher and scored the pin.
Your winners and still TNA Tag Team champions AJ Styles and Tomko!
Well TNA had Nash turn on Joe without ever putting the belts on them, which is fine with me. The match was OK, but below the notch of what you expect from Joe because it was all about the Nash storyline. Once Nash exited, it was good stuff all the way to the end. Interesting to hear such a pro-Styles and Tomko crowd though.
The final part of the drinking contest saw them doing shots. Borash pulled out the "He's gonna puke" line from Beyond the Mat. Storm spiked Young's drink so he would win. Storm gets to pick his match at the next PPV.
Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA champion Kurt Angle. He said that AJ didn't have a decision despite Karen Angle's best efforts. Angle didn't know what he was talking about, but was clued in. Kurt said that no one can resist Karen. Angle promised that Christian Cage's dreams of being TNA champion were going to be shattered tonight.
TNA champion Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage
The crowd was pro-Christian, even bringing back the old "You Suck" chant at Angle. Angle grabbed Cage in a go behind and took him to the mat. Cage made his way back to his feet with a side headlock. Angle catches him and tried to suplex him but Cage escapes and goes for a a kick. Angle catches his leg and takes him down. He goes for an elbow but Cage escapes and they face off.
Angle took over on Cage and caught him with an elbow to the sternum. He took Cage over with a side headlock, but Cage made his way back to his feet. He leapfrogged over Angle, then tossed Angle to the floor. Angle kicked the ring steps in frustration. He returned to the ring and got in Cage's face. Angle slapped Cage, who spit in his face. Angle and Cage began unloading back and forth with blows and uppercuts. Cage got the better of it.
Angle tried to suplex Cage to the floor but Cage landed on the apron. Cage used the ropes for leverage and kicked Angle to the floor. Cage nailed a high cross bodyblock off the apron to the floor on Angle. Cage dove off the top but was caught by Angle and suplexed over the ropes to the floor.
Angle began kicking and stomping Cage. Angle catches Cage with a knee to the gut as he rebounds off the ropes. Angle worked over Cage on the mat, but Cage fought to his feet and nailed Angle with several elbows. Angle cut off Cage's momentum with a back suplex.
Cage rolled out to the floor. Karen Angle approached Cage and slapped him in the face. No sign of AJ yet, so he's being left for the finish it appears. Back in the ring, Angle scissors Cage's body with his legs as he applies a neck crank. Cage finally kicked off Angle. Cage locked in a sleeper hold, then snaps him down for a two count.
Angle takes over and nails a moonsault off the top, getting a two count. Angle stalked Cage as he returned to his feet and went for a suplex, but Cage reversed it into a DDT. Cage makes a comeback with a series of punches and chops, then drills him with an inverted DDT. Cage goes to the top, but misses a frog splash. Angle scored a two count.
Angle nailed a German suplex, then a second. Angle stalked behind Angle for a third. Cage floated over and went for the Unprettier, but Angle turned it into an ankle lock. Cage kicks off but Angle held on, Cage went for a small package but Angle turned it back into the submission hold. Cage rolled up Angle for another near fall. They battle in the corner. Cage goes to the top and Angle tries to lock on the ankle lock while Cage is on the top rope. Cage kicks him off but Angle returns to superplex him into the ring. Cage gets his shoulder up at two.
Angle goes back to the anklelock. Cage escapes and locks on the sharpshooter in the center of the ring. Angle grabs Cage by the ankle and goes back to the ankle lock. Cage grabs the ropes. He goes for the Unprettier but is caught with a back suplex for a two count. Cage goes back to the top rope but is caught and suplexed off. Cage nails the frog splash for a two count.
Angle ducked a clothesline and Christian almost nailed the referee. Angle low blowed Cage and hit the Olympic Slam but only got a two count. Karen got on the apron to argue with the referee. Cage nailed the Unprettier for a two count. Karen distracted Cage on the apron, but Cage reversed the takedown into an ankle lock of his own. Angle was tapping but the referee was distracted.
AJ came down to ringside and removed Karen from the apron, then got on the apron to face Cage. He hugged Cage and then hit a springboard forearm from behind. Angle hit the Olympic Slam on Cage and scored the pinfall.
Your winner and still TNA champion Kurt Angle!
The match was really good but I don't think anyone was shocked by Styles turning on Cage. A more shocking turn would have been AJ laying out Cage and Angle both, telling them to go to hell and walking out with Tomko as his own man. Instead, we got the swerve that wasn't a swerve because we all expected it. The match itself was really good as both Cage and Angle really turned it on.
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Bang On Casino
