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December 9th
On this day in history in ....
1986 - Ronnie Garvin & Barry Windham defeat Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev in Spartansburg, South Carolina to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.
1988 - Tatsumi Fujinami defeats Kerry Von Erich for the World Class Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan when Von Erich cannot continue due to blood loss. However, Fujinami refused to accept the belt, and returned the championship to Von Erich the next day.
1991 - Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto defeat Gregory Veritchev & Koba Krutanize in the finals of a tournament to win the FMW-based WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1995 - Tarzan Goto & Mr. Gannosuke defeat Cactus Jack & Tiger Jeet Singh in the finals of a tournament in Saitama, Japan to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship, which was being revived by the IWA promotion. However, the belts would be vacated when Goto & Gannosuke left the promotion.
1995 - ECW held their "December To Dismember" event at the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, Pennsulvania. The show was headlined by an "Ultimate Jeopardy" cage match, but the big news out of the event was The Sandman winning the ECW World Heavyweight Title by defeating Steve Austin and Mikey Whipwreck in a Three Way Dance. Here are the results of the show:
- Dances With Dudleys & Dudley Dudley defeated The Bad Crew.
- Taz defeated El Puerto Ricano.
- Hack Myers defeated Bruiser Mastino.
- The Eliminators defeated The Pitbulls.
- Raven defeated Tommy Dreamer.
- JT Smith defeated Tony Stetson.
- The Sandman defeated ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mikey Whipwreck and Steve Austin in a Three Way Dance to win the title. Austin pinned Whipwreck to eliminate him first, then Sandman pinned Austin to win the title. This was Steve Austin's second, and last, actual match in ECW (the previous month, he lost to Mikey Whipwreck in a singles match) although he did interviews for several more weeks of ECW television before going to the WWF.
- Public Enemy defeated The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Rey & Tom Pritchard).
- In an Ultimate Jeopardy Steel Cage match, Public Enemy, The Pitbulls & Tommy Dreamer defeated The Heavenly Bodies, The Eliminators, Raven and Stevie Richards when Dreamer pinned Richards. As a result, Richards was locked in the cage with all of his opponents for five minutes.
1997 - Bull Pain defeats Paul Diamond in Louisville, Kentucky to become IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion for the fourth time. The belt had been held up after a match between champion Pain and challenger Diamond ended in a double pin on November 11th. On the same show, Chip Fairway defeats Cash Flo to win the IWA Mid-South Television Title.
2001 - Two championships changed hands on the Pro Wrestling Noah event in Tokyo, Japan. Yoshihiro Takayama & Takao Omori defeat Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa to win the Global Honored Crown Tag Team Title, while Naomichi Marufuji defeats Tatsuhito Takaiwa for the Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Title.
2001 - WWE held their first Vengeance Pay-per-view in San Diego, California, headlined by Chris Jericho winning a mini-tournament to become the "Undisputed" World Champion. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:
WWF's Vengeance was a good show, with it's biggest grace being the choice of Chris Jericho as undisputed, which in this case means WWF, World Champion. It would have been all too typical of them to have given us Austin vs. Rock in the finale, but they went with a surprise and it worked. Now, if only they'll give Jericho a chance to get over as a heel Vince McMahon style corporate champion, rather than having him drop the belt to Austin or Rock on RAW or Nitro before the end of the month. All three of the matches for the undisputed title were good, though none were in the match-of-the-year range. That's probably to be expected as at least one participant in each match had to wrestle twice. Rob Van Dam vs. Undertaker was a decent gimmick brawl. The rest of the show was typical TV type matches that you could see on Smackdown. The Hardy vs. Hardy match was disappointing. Commentary was strong from Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler. The crowd was mostly hot, but not always. The opening promo was awesome, with footage of some past WWF greats, including some who are persona non grata.
Vince came out to do a promo about ass kissing. I guess he figured doing one on PPV wouldn't unpop the ratings. He said that one man could ever make him kiss ass, but that he was victimized on Smackdown by Rock, Austin, and Ric Flair all working in synch to force him to kiss Rikishi's ass. He said the fans may be laughing at his humiliation, but reminded them that he who laughs last, laughs best. Flair came out to a pop and said the fans paid to see a PPV show and it's starting right now. Whoooooo! Vince didn't appear to appreciate the interruption.
ALBERT & SCOTTY 2 HOTTY beat TEST & CHRISTIAN in 6:19. Albert & Scotty came out doing a full Too Cool imitation. Lawler kept making jokes about them being white boys who are "fly". The match was plenty stiff, and had good crowd heat. In fact, it was a good opener. Albert did a giant swing on Christian. I still don't think anyone has broken Kyoko Inoue's record on Cutie Suzuki from 1993 at Yokohama Arena. They did a good sequence where Christian tried the worm but got blocked, and it led into a series of spots by all four wrestlers. Scotty later did the worm on Test. Albert won for his team with a Baldo Bomb on Christian.
EDGE beat WILLIAM REGAL to retain the IC Title in 9:07. Regal did a good promo before the match. JR was worried that Regal might have brass knux again but Lawler assured him that wouldn't be possible since Regal flew in and couldn't have gotten knux past airport security. The early part was mat wrestling which didn't get heat. Regal suplexed Edge and pounded him. Edge tried to spear Regal from off the apron but hit the stairs. This allowed Regal to get some knux he had hidden under the apron. However, before he could use them Edge speared him and got the pin.
They did a funny segment where Kurt Angle visited Flair and said Flair was umpteen times WWF, WCW, and NWA champ but he never won a gold medal and was never undisputed champ. Angle kept going on and on about how he'll be undisputed champ by the end of the show. Flair just kept humoring him by saying he agreed, clapping his hands, etc..
Matt Hardy apologized to Lita for dragging her into his rivalry with Jeff. She said that as Matt's girlfriend, she'll always side with him, but as a referee, she has to call it down the middle. Matt said that was okay since he was confident of beating Jeff, and that after it was all over he would take Lita out to celebrate.
JEFF HARDY beat MATT HARDY in 12:30. The match had the least heat of the show, mainly because the fans just don't want to see this. There are some teams that just shouldn't be broken up. Edge & Christian was one. Likewise, imagine the Dudleys being broken up. Anyway, it was a disappointing match. The focus was on special ref Lita trying to call it down the middle, and Matt not liking it. They did a bunch of spots where she forced Matt to break a hold and he looked upset. Jeff sold a knee injury, and Matt went to work on the knee, with Lita trying to get him to back off. They did a couple of standard highspots, but not many. The finish saw Matt try to give Jeff a twist of fate from off the top. Jeff blocked it and Matt crashed to the mat, where Jeff swantoned him. Jeff went for the pin, and Matt draped his leg over the ropes but, naturally, Lita didn't see it and Jeff scored the three count. Matt was furious at Lita afterward.
Trish Stratus went to thank Rock once again and kissed him. Rock said that right now the only thing on his mind is kicking all those candy asses and becoming undisputed champ. But he said that after winning the main event, he'd let Trish smell what the Rock is cooking.
The Dudleys beat Big Show & Kane to retain the WWF Tag Ttiles in 6:49. Stacy Keibler was out there. The match was rapidly approaching five stars just for that. Actually, it was a standard TV type match. The Dudleys sold early for Show & Kane's power moves. Kane came off the top onto both Dudleys on the floor. Stacy came in and Show jerked her shorts down and spanked her pantied behind. The Dudleys came back and did the wazzup, which is no longer called that. It's weird how the WWF practically advertises that all this is staged, but they won't let the Dudleys use the word "wazzup" because it sounds cool and the fans might think the Dudleys aren't "bad guys". Kane accidentally nailed Show with a move off the top rope. Show got mad at Kane. This team's brand new and they're already breaking up. Show then accidentally walloped Kane. The Dudleys ended up 3D'ing Show on an exposed turnbuckle for the pin.
Lita tried to apologize to Matt in the locker room but he wouldn't listen and walked out.
UNDERTAKER defeated ROB VAN DAM in 11:04 to capture the Hardcore Title. They immediately left the ring and brawled through the crowd. UT took a flag from a kid and choked RVD. RVD did a moonsault off a barrier. UT hurled RVD over a rail, and it fell on him. They ended up brawling around the video wall with assorted objects. RVD used a fire extinguisher. UT tried to give RVD a Last Ride off the ramp but he grabbed the video wall to save himself. RVD hit a Van Daminator. UT used a chair. RVD came off an elevated area with a crossbody. The finish saw UT chokeslam RVD off the ramp through a table for the title win.
Chris Jericho went to Flair's office and vowed to win the undisputed big one. He kept going on and on, too, and Flair just said, if you can win, more power to you.
They aired a great HHH video.
TRISH STRATUS beat JACKIE in 3:34 to retain the Women's Title. The crowd wanted puppies. So did Lawler. They tried a lot of stuff and looked like they hurt each other a few times. Trish won with a backslide.
Rikishi did a promo at WWF New York. He said he nearly had to have Vince's head surgically removed from his ass after the ass kissing scene on Smackdown. He said he's ready to back up his ass again.
STEVE AUSTIN beat KURT ANGLE in 15:00 to retain the WWF World Title. JR went through a quick pseudo-history of world title lineage, mentioning Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt and how by the 1930's there were several claimants to the world title. He kind of contradicted the show's theme by later saying Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt had been for an undisputed title. Austin immediately attacked Angle and pounded him. He also flipped him off. Angle brawled back but Austin hurled him out. Angle takes great bumps to the floor. Deadly looking floor bumps are either a sign of a great worker or a lousy one, in this case the former. Angle got the ankle lock but Austin made the ropes. Angle wrapped Austin's leg around a post and also applied the figure four around the post. Lots of chops. Angle hit the multiple German suplexes but missed on a moonsault. Austin hit multiple suplexes of his own. Angle hit his Olympic slam but only scored a two count. He threw a little tantrum as a result, allowing Austin to nail him with a stunner for the pin. Good match!
Trish was primping in front of a mirror when Test came in. She got all upset about him seeing her in a towel, which begs the question of why a cameraman was in there. Anyway, Test said she's the luckiest chick alive since she has a chance to be with a good looking guy like himself. He said he can't be fired, as if he can do whatever he wants. She threw him out. He can't be fired, but he can be thrown out. By the way, why wasn't her door locked?
CHRIS JERICHO beat ROCK to capture the former WCW World Title in 19:04. They traded standard spots until Jericho springboard dropkicked Rock off the apron. Jericho went on offense with suplexes and chops. Rock came back with a Samoan drop. There were some good near falls. Jericho hit a lionsault and shoved the ref when he only got a two count. Rock rolled through on a crossbody in a good spot. They ended up on the floor where Jericho tried to do a Rock Bottom through the broadcast desk. Rock blocked it and DDT'd Jericho through the desk. In the ring, Jericho blocked a Rock Bottom and hit the Breakdown. Jericho went for a People's Elbow, which Rock blocked and turned into a sharpshooter, but Jericho reversed that into the Walls. Rock made the ropes after a struggle. Rock hit a Rock Bottom but was still hurting from the Walls and by the time he went for a cover, Vince had arrived. Rock slugged Vince, gave Jericho a spinebuster, and hit another People's Elbow, dragging Vince into the ring in the process. However, Jericho low blowed Rock and got a pin with a Rock Bottom.
CHRIS JERICHO beat STEVE AUSTIN in 12:34 to become undisputed WWF World Champion. Austin ran in and attacked Jericho, who was exhausted from the prior match, before the bell even rang. Angle ran in and hit Austin with a chair. Rock then gave Jericho a Rock Bottom. Rock chased Angle to the back. The bell finally rang, with both guys laid out. Jericho recovered first. Austin made a comeback and sent Jericho out to the floor. They brawled out there with a lot of chops. Austin lifted up one of the mats and each guy ended up taking a partial bump on the exposed floor. Jericho tried to hook the Walls on the broadcast desk but Austin escaped. Back in the ring, Austin hit the post and sold it as an arm injury for the rest of the match. Jericho hooked the Walls. Austin made the ropes. There was a major ref bump. Jericho gave Austin a low blow and then gave Austin a stunner. Vince ran out and sent corrupt former WCW ref Nick Patrick in but Flair arrived and beat Patrick up. Vince nailed Flair from behind and posted him. Austin recovered and beat Vince up. Austin put the Walls on Jericho and he tapped (a little too quickly) but there was no ref. Booker T Who Doesn't Even Work For The WWF arrived and laid out Austin with the title belt. Jericho pinned Austin as the ref recovered. Good match, even with too much interference. Vince was shown getting the last laugh as his boy Jericho halted both Rock and Austin's Title dreams.
2007 - Former NWA champion Ron Killings announced he had left TNA. Killings would later sign with WWE as R-Truth.
2008 - PWInsider.com broke word that WWE Diva Victoria was preparing to retire and leave the company. After she did, she later returned to the business and now wrestles as Tara for TNA.
2009 - ESPN's website featured an article on concussions in professional wrestling, using the death of Andrew "Test" Martin as the focus.
Highlights of the piece:
*Dr. Bennet Omalu, the co-director of the Brain Injury Research Institute, told ESPN that Martin suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- stemming from repeated blows to the head. Martin is the second former wrestler to be linked to CTE after Chris Benoit.
*The amount of CTE found in both Martin and Benoit were closer to that of the levels of Alzheimer's patients twice their age.
*In response, WWE issued the following statement to ESPN:
While this is a new emerging science, the WWE is unaware of the veracity of any of these tests, be it for Chris Benoit or Andrew Martin. Dr. Omalu claims that Mr. Benoit had a brain that resembled an 85-year-old with Alzheimer's, which would lead one to ponder how Mr. Benoit would have found his way to an airport, let alone been able to remember all the moves and information that is required to perform in the ring. WWE has been asking to see the research and tests results in the case of Mr. Benoit for years and has not been supplied with them.
*Former WWE Diva Dawn Marie was interviewed about the results of the tests of Benoit and Martin's brains, commenting, "I grew up with these people. It's devastating to think that their career choices -- and their passion, which is the same as my own -- destroyed them from the inside out, literally. In this business, we are constantly hitting our heads. I didn't wrestle a fraction of what they did, and I feel the pain every day. I can't imagine what they felt."
2010 - TNA broadcast Impact. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the TNA Impact Report here on PWInsider.com!
We start tonight's show with a video package recapping the main event of Final Resolution as Jeff Hardy successfully defended the TNA World Title against Matt Morgan and Eric Bischoff left Ken Anderson in a pool of his own blood.
We go to the office backstage as Eric Bischoff talks about how serious the situation is with Dixie Carter legally challenging their control of TNA.Bischoff says he and Flair know enough about lawsuits to teach a class, and they need all the titles because if the lawsuit goes the wrong way, they need all the leverage they can get. He asks AJ Styles to stand up, which he does, and Bischoff calls him the Chosen One, the Phenomenal One, the man who built TNA, and the man who lost the TV Title and cost them leverage. He tells AJ to sit down and then asks if everyone is on the same page. Rhino walks in and asks Bischoff where the contract is that he promised Rhino a few weeks back, so Bischoff writes NO in big letters on a piece of paper and tells Rhino there's his contract. Rhino says he promised him a contract, but Bischoff saw him lose to RVD. Rhino flips out and dives over the table onto Bischoff, and everyone else grabs Rhino and pulls him off.
We go out to the Impact Zone, and apparently what we just saw happened earlier because Bischoff, Flair, and all of Immortal and Fortune come out to the ring for our opening promo. Bischoff says that with great honor and pride, he and the rest of the group introduce the self proclaimed Antichrist of professional wrestling and the man who will be on the lips of wrestling fans for eterninty, THE immortal, Jeff Hardy. Hardy makes his way out to the ring, and I bet he's going to say two or three sentences and then stand behind Bischoff and Flair so they can talk. Bischoff says there's a reason Hulk Hogan chose Hardy to carry the banner for Immortal, because as great as Hardy is and will always be, he will only remain great when challenged by greatness. When Hardy retained his title at Final Resolution, he defeated a quality opponent, and Bischoff now asks Morgan to come out to the ring. Morgan comes out and joins them in the ring, and he's brought along a steel pipe...just in case. Bischoff tells Matt he knows what he's thinking, but there's no need for a pipe because nothing's going to go wrong here tonight. Bischoff says they're under the scrutiny of a judge in Texas and Dixie's hired proctologists who are looking at everything they do, so he has Bischoff's word that from this point forward, it's all about fair play. Bischoff says he watched the Final Resolution match a hundred times today, and says that Morgan could have beaten Hardy, and the fact that he didn't doesn't say anything bad about him, the reason he didn't beat Hardy was because he had a crappy referee, and if Morgan had a referee who knew what he was doing, things might have different. Morgan did the right thing when Ken Anderson went down with a concussion, and he came within an inch and because of that, he deserves a shot. After consulting with Hardy, Flair, and someone else to remain nameless, he's going to sign Morgan vs Ken Anderson with the winner getting a shot at Jeff Hardy. Morgan says that he just spoke with Anderson last night and he's still not medically cleared to wrestle, so the match isn't happening. Bischoff says he doesn't care, he's capable of wrestling and if he doesn't, he can go back to Green Bay and freeze there and walk away from the business, because he'll be damaged goods and they won't need him. The match is happening tonight, and Bischoff says to hit his music.
Speaking of Anderson, he's backstage watching a monitor and...get ready for this...CHEWING GUM!!!
We hit the opening video (still the Hogan version), and tonight Tara will perform live in concert, Jeff Jarrett will take an Open MMA Challenge, and Douglas Wililams defends the TV Title against Abyss.
We go backstage to Brother Ray, who says he's spent 15 years showing why he's the star of Team 3D and how anybody could have been his partner. Tonight, he's going to prove it, and he turns around to a guy who looks like Devon and tells "Devon" it's time to go. The guy says "Oh my brother, TESTIFY!" and flexes.
We're back, and Mike Tenay announces that due to travel issues, Ayako Hamada is unable to make it into the United States to defend the Knockouts Tag Team Title, so she and Taylor Wilde are stripped of the title and it will now be put on the line in a tournament, the first match of which will take place tonight as Angelina Love & Velvet Sky take on Sarita & Daffney.
Time for our opening match...
Brother Ray & "Brother Devon" vs Ink Inc
Team 3D (I guess that's what I'll call them) attack Ink Inc from behind to jump start the match and Bubba tosses Jesse to the floor and then starts to work Shannon Moore over. He tags Devon in and he starts unloading on Moore as Bubba shouts instructions from the apron. Devon whips Moore into the ropes and hits a flying back elbow and covers for 2, then rams Moore into Bubba's boot and Bubba tags in. Bubba whips Moore to the ropes and Moore gets a sunset flip, Bubba tries to drop on Moore's chest, but Moore moves out of the way. Bubba hurt his ass, but drags Moore to the corner and tags Devon in and tells Devon to give Moore a headbutt. Devon slams Moore and goes to the second rope for a headbutt, but Moore moves and makes the hot tag, and Jesse Neal comes in and starts tearing over Devon with clotheslines, knocks Bubba off the apron, and covered Devon for a close 2. All four men wind up in the ring and Bubba gouges at Moore's eyes and then slams Jesse and tells Devon to go up top for WAZZUP. He hits it and then does Devon's spinny/Last Rites thing, then Bubba shoves Devon and tells him to get the tables. Devon goes out to the floor and gets a table and slides it in the ring and they set it up, but Neal spears Bubba out of nowhere and Neal picks Devon up so Moore can hit the Mooregasm for the win.
Winners: Ink Inc
Bubba is not happy with Devon, and addresses his frustrations by kicking Devon in the back of the head and sets him up for the Bubba Bomb, but the real Brother Devon comes running out and chases him off. Bubba runs out to the aisle and hides behind So Cal Val.
We go backstage to Tara as she practices her singing, and Generation Me (who will apparently be her dancers) tell her she did good. Tara says they're outfits aren't TNA enough, so she takes their shirts off and likes that better. She sends them out to the ring and slaps them on the asses on the way out.
We go backstage where Christy Hemme, forever waiting for an interview, has Matt Morgan walk in and ask if she's seen Ken Anderson. She says she hasn't so Morgan goes off to search elsewhere.
We now head out to the entrance ramp where Tara performs Broken, her entrance song. Watching her badly lipsynch while she and Generation Me attempt to dance is hilarious. Predictibly, Mickie James walks out and nails Tara, but Generation Me grab her and Tara takes a couple of free shots. The music continues to play as Eric Young comes out to make the save and chase off Generation Me while Tara and Mickie fight down the rampway and to ringside until security comes out to separate them. The crowd chants "let them fight", so Mickie obliges by breaking free and going after Tara again. Security pulls them apart again, but they break free and continue fighting. Mickie rolls into the ring and motions for Tara to join her, and grabs a mic and says that enough is enough and she's tired of this. She says that neither of them likes the other, so there's only one way to settle this. It's obvious she can't do anything by herself, so she challenges Tara to a steel cage match. Only one of them is walking out, but they don't need to wait for Genesis, they can do it tonight. Hardcore Country starts playing, so Mickie takes it as a cue to jump out of the ring and go after Tara yet again.
We go backstage to Beer Money with Gunner and Muffin, and Robert Roode tells them to go out and rough up the Motor City Machine Guns. Gunner and Muffin leave, and James Storm asks Roode to spot him a few bucks so her can go on a beer run. Roode says he just gave him money, but Storm says he ran out of beer so Roode slaps off a few greenbacks.
We go elsewhere backstage to Jeff Jarrett, who says he's had people everywhere congratulating him on his victory over Samoa Joe at Final Resolution. But now it's time to go on to something new, so tonight begins the Double J MMA Challenge, where he will give some lucky fan the chance of a lifetime. Sounds like a riot waiting to happen to me.
Back to the ring...
TNA World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns vs Gunner & Muffin
Beer Money's music hits before the match, and they come out and join Taz & Mike Tenay at the broadcast booth as Gunner & Muffin to attack the Guns from behind. Sabin gets tosses out to the floor as Gunner puts the boots to Shelley and then tags in Muffin, who chokes Shelley on the second rope and then stands on his head. Gunner tags back in and gets a rear chinlock on Shelley, then just blatantly chokes him before releasing and covering for 2. Gunner goes back to the chinlock, then tags Muffin back in and Muffin chokes Shelley with his boot, then catapults him into the second rope and taunts Sabin to come in the ring. Muffin tags back in and now he chokes Shelley with his boot, but misses a charge and Shelley makes the hot tag and he comes in and cleans house on Gunner and Muffin. Muffin charges but Sabin pulls down the ropes and Muffin sails out to the floor. Guns set Gunner up for the Skull & Bones, but Muffin comes in with the nightstick and nails Sabin and that gets the DQ.
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns by DQ
The Guns snap and grab the nightstick and go nuts beating Gunner & Muffin down and choke them out as Beer Money is speechless at the broadcast booth.
We go back to the Beautiful People's locker room where Winter walks in on them and wishes them luck tonight. Velvet asks who that is, and Angelina says that's the girl she's been seeing all this time and that she'll tell her all about it on their way to the ring.
Sarita and Daffney are backstage, and they're...WALKING!
Matt Morgan is backstage and finally found Ken Anderson. He asks Anderson if he heard what Bischoff said, and Anderson said he did. Morgan asks what the verdict is, and he says he's going to wrestle. Morgan can't believe it, but Anderson says he has no choice. Morgan says he's doing this because he stood up for Anderson and turned his back on Immortal and Fortune because he had a choice to make. Anderson says it was the right choice and he thanks him for that, and he's shown for a while now that he's appreciative of that fact, but they're both wrestlers and this is what they do, and every once in a while, you're going to get an owie on the back of your head. Morgan says he knows better than that, and Anderson says damn right he knows because he was sitting home for the last two months, and Morgan asks him if he wants to be home for the next 20 years. Anderson says he has someone to be his doctor, and he's confident that he's going to clear him to wrestle. Morgan says this is BS and it's not 1945, Anderson's going to get himself hurt. Anderson asks Morgan if he's going to hurt him, and Morgan takes offense to that and walks out on him.
Time to begin the tournament!
Knockouts Tag Team Title Tournament - Opening Round: Sarita & Daffney vs Angelina Love & Velvet Sky
Sarita grabs the mic before the match and says this is really starting to become a joke because every time Velvet Sky gets in trouble, she always goes running back to Angelina. Sarita says she kicked her scrawny little ass and beat her twice in front of everybody, so she went running back to hide behind her little girlfriend. She asks Velvet if she's afraid she can't beat her, because she's right, she can't beat Sarita. But Sarita wants to know one thing: when is Velvet going to grow a big-
Well, we never find out what she was going to say because Velvet tackles her to start the match and repeatedly slams her head into the mat. Velvet gets a rollup for 2 and then whips Sarita to the corner, Sarita tries a leapfrog but Velvet just drops her straight down on her face and covers for 2. Sarita misses a charge in the corner and Velvet gets a Fujiwara armbar, but Daffney comes in and saves her partner with a boot to Velvet's head, drawing a big "Daffney" chant from the crowd. Sarita dances over Velvet and talks smack to her, then tags in Daffney, who picks Velvet up for a greatly delayed bodyslam and then rakes her boot across Velvet's face. Tag back out to Sarita, but Velvet fights back and gets a chinbreaker on Sarita and a double clothesline puts both girls down. They both tag out and Angelina comes in for the babyface comeback as the crowd chants Daffney and boos everything Angelina does. Angelina with a Pittsburgh Plunge, nails Sarita off the apron, and hits a Flatliner for the win.
Winners: Angelina Love & Velvet Sky
Sarita grabs a mic and tells Velvet that it doesn't matter because she still didn't beat her because she's a loser and is never going to beat her.
A bunch of dudes are backstage wheeling a casket around. What are they up to??
We go to a video package detailing the history between Tara and Mickie James in TNA and the viciously personal feud that has developed between them since Mickie came to TNA, and then we hit another video package detailing the events of the Pope-Abyss match at Final Resolution.
Speaking of Abyss and Pope, we go out to the Impact Zone where the aforementioned dudes roll the casket out to ringside and then This Little Light Of Mine starts playing, and a bunch of dancing singers, apparently from Pope's Congregation. Pope's voice boomed out over the Impact Zone saying not to fear because Final Resolution was not the end of the Pope, but the beginning, and while he was in the casket he was surrounded by darkness, and darkness without life. But while he was surrounded by darkness, Pope had a spiritual awakening, and now he's going to lead the Congregation to heights never seen before, and will do so by helping those in need. He said we're heading into the Christmas season and there are some who have a Christmas tree, but some will only have a Christmas twig, so he wants the members of the Congregation to dig into their pockets and donate to those less fortunate than themselves. Everybody knows that when there's Pope, there's hope because Pope is pimpin'.
AJ Styles is backstage yelling at Abyss that Douglas Williams stole the TV Title from him and Abyss has to bring it back. Abyss says to relax because he'll take care of it.
We go to a video package looking back at TNA's recent tour to the United Arab Emirates, and then we go backstage to Mickie James, who says she thought the water was under the bridge between herself and Tara, but she guesses not so they're going to need to settle this in a cage.
Back to the ring...
TV Title Match: Douglas Williams vs Abyss
They tie up and Abyss shoves Williams off, so Williams headbutts Abyss in the chest and tries an Irish Whip, but Abyss blocks so Williams hits a dropkick and fires in European Uppercuts in the corner and then climbs up for a 10 punch count. Williams ducks a clothesline and gets a three quarter nelson and rams in kneestrikes to the face. Abyss sends Williams into the ropes and boots him in the face, then sends him to the corner and stalls for a good long time before laying in some hard shots in the corner. Abyss whips Williams hard across the ring and Williams bounces out of the corner and collapses to the mat. Abyss with a head vice, but Williams fights his way free and tries a sunset flip, Abyss tries to drop on his chest but Wililams moves and opens up with European Uppercuts and hits a running knee in the corner, then goes up top and hits a rolling back elbow off the top rope and covers for 2. Williams goes for Chaos Theory, but Abyss holds onto the top turnbuckle so tightly he pulls it off. Williams tries a rollup and gets 2, but Abyss kicks out and tries a charge and Williams moves and Abyss crashes into the exposed turnbuckle and Williams rolls him up for the win.
Winner: Douglas Williams
AJ Styles runs out and attacks Williams on the rampway and gives him the Styles Clash, then gets in Williams' face and shouts at him that he stole his belt.
Jeff Jarrett is backstage getting warmed up for the Double J MMA Challenge, and that's up next!
Also backstage, Tara says that if Mickie James wants a cage, she's got it because there's no escape from the cage. It's the first ever Knockouts cage match, and she's coming out on top. Then Generation Me says that they were getting their dance on when Eric Young came out and ruined it, so Max Buck suggests Young gets his girlfriend Orlando Jordan (his words) and they'll face them next week on Impact.
Back to the ring...
The Double J MMA Challenge
Jarrett gets the usual chant, and he says for the last time he didn't sell out, he bought in. Crowd keeps chanting anyway, so Jarrett just continues by saying that the entire world of professional wrestling knows he is the most feared athlete in professional wrestling today. Nobody thought he could make Samoa Joe tap out, but he did, and now it's time for Jarrett to up the ante, and with it being the holiday season and with Christmas right around the corner, he's in a giving mood and he's going to give someone in the Impact Zone a chance to make something of themselves because he's throwing out the first ever Double J MMA Challenge, and if any man, woman, or child can force him to submit, he'll give them $100,000 of his own money. Taz casually says he wishes he had his gi. Jarrett brings Jeremy Borash in the ring and Borash asks one more time that if anyone can make him submit, he'll give them $100,000, and Jarrett says he will. Borash asks the crowd if there's any volunteers, and Borash finds a guy in the front row who's big and in great shape, but Jarrett says to stay where he is because he's all gassed up and he'll blow up in 30 seconds. Another guy is in the front row and Jarrett says to sit down and have another six pack. Jarrett finally picks a skinny mark in a TNA shirt out of the crowd and brings him into the ring. Borash confirms that he's over 18 and he understands that this is a contest of a physical nature. He says he's 18 and that's fine, so Jarrett asks him his name and where he's from, and the guy says he's Mike from Brooklyn, so Jarrett says this is no joke and slaps Mike repeatedly then tells the ref to ring the bell. Jarrett repeatedly rams knees into the guy's face and rains down punches on him. Crowd starts a "let's go Mike" chant as Jarrett gets the rear naked choke and Mike taps.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Jarrett runs around the ring with his arms raised celebrating his victory.
We take a look backstage where people are carrying out the pieces of the cage, and the first ever Knockouts cage match is up next!
As we get ready for the main event, we go to a video package looking back at the last several months of Rob Van Dam's career from being put out by Abyss and having his TNA World Title stripped of him, to coming back and having Jeff Hardy turn on him and then his recent situation with Rhino turning on him as well.
It's main event time!
Cage Match: Mickie James vs Tara
Mickie goes after Tara on the floor before she even gets in the ring, but Tara fires back on her and they exchange blows on the floor until Micke rolls over her with a clothesline. Mickie tosses her into the cage and the bell rings...and it's commercial time!
Okay, we're back and it's 10:58! Tara picks Mickie up for a TKO, but keeps swinging her past the TKO position into a side suplex and covers for 2. Mickie tries to reverse a whip into the cage but Tara blocks, so Mickie just yanks back on her hair and hits several clotheslines, then a snapmare and a diving dropkick to the face for 2. Tara Tullys Mickie into the middle turnbuckle and gets a snap suplex into a front choke, but Mickie gets to her feet and rams Tara into the corner and rams in several shoulderblocks. Tara turns it around and tosses Mickie over the top rope to the apron, wedging Mickie between the ropes and the cage and, with nowhere to go, Tara hits a high kick to the face. Mickie fires back and rams Tara into the cage and climbs up the cage to the top rope, but Tara recovers and follows her up, and Mickie looked like she was trying for a Frankensteiner off the top, but something went wrong somewhere and they crash hard at a really awkward and scary angle. Tara gets up and rams Mickie to the cage, then picks her up and rams her to the cage again. Tara limps over and tries to escape the cage, but Mickie nails her from behind and drags her back in as Impact comes to an end.
We're into Reaction now and Tara tries for the Widow's Peak, but Mickie slipped out and rammed Tara into the cage, then does it again and the second time, Tara comes down badly on her arm and visibly injured herself. Mickie tries to choke her with the boot to buy Tara some time, then rams Tara to the corner turnbuckle. Tara tries to climb out but she's only got one working arm and can't make it out, so Mickie follows her to the top rope and kicks Tara off the top rope. Tara lands in the ring and Mickie goes to the top of the cage, which is a long way up and way higher than the WWE cage, and hits a Thesz Press off the top of the cage for the win.
Winner: Mickie James
Mickie seemed to come down badly on her knee on that one. This was an awesome match and both girls deserve a ton of credit for working their asses off, and big props to Tara for gutting it out and finishing the match.
That does it for this week's Impact Report, the Impact Postgame Show with Dave Scherer and myself will be up in the Elite section later tonight, and I'll see you all back here next week!
2011 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Jacksonville, Florida and your announcers are Josh ‘The New Voice of WWE’ Mathews and Michael ‘Now there is a precedent for Daniel Bryan’ Cole.
We start off the show with Booker T being checked on by the medical staff while Cody Rhodes is smiling. We see footage from before the show started when Booker T was making his way to the ring, only to be attacked from behind by Cody Rhodes. Rhodes sent Booker into the ringside barrier and then Rhodes kicked Booker.
Booker was helped to the back while Josh and Michael try to argue both sides of whether Booker did anything wrong.
Tony Chimmel introduces the new ring announcer for Smackdown, Lillian Garcia who is making her return to the WWE. Lillian says that it is so good to be back, but she is interrupted by Cody Rhodes, who is still at ringside.
He says that he hates to be the purveyor of the truth, but no one cares that she is back. He says that no one probably noticed that she left. He likes the symmetry of the return of one announcer coinciding with the departure of another. Cody says that he didn’t send his message to Booker last week about respect loud enough, but he made it abundantly clear tonight. Cody wonders who will fill the chair. Who will spew moan inducing clichés and rudimentary first grade commentary? Who will mention a Fave Five with eleven people in it? Cody thinks about it and he says that he will be the one to do it.
Cody tells Booker to watch carefully because he might learn something . . . Sucka.
Before our first match, Josh tells us that the person who wins with the shorter time between him and Randy Orton will get to choose the stipulation for their match at the TLC pay per view a week from Sunday.
Match Number One: Wade Barrett versus Ezekiel Jackson in a Beat The Clock Challenge Match
Barrett tries for a rollup but Jackson stays on his feet. Jackson misses an elbow drop and Barrett gets a near fall. Barrett with a kick to the midsection followed by a side head lock. Jackson with a forearm and back elbow for a near fall. Jackson gets a near fall. Barrett goes to the floor and Jackson points at the clock and Barrett returns to the ring. Jackson with a shoulder tackle and a clothesline that sends Barrett over the top rope to the floor.
Jackson sends Barrett into the turnbuckles and he connects with a shoulder in the corner. Barrett dives at the knee and then he sends Jackson shoulder first into the ring post. Barrett with a rollup for a near fall. Barrett with knees to the back and he gets a near fall. Barrett with a reverse chin lock.
Jackson punches Barrett and misses a clothesline. Barrett connects with a back heel kick and then he hits a pump handle slam and gets a near fall. We go to commercial.
We are back and Barrett has Jackson in a reverse chin lock as time continues to move to Barrett’s detriment. Jackson backs Barrett into the corner and Jackson with a clothesline followed by a few into the corner. Jackson with punches to Barrett and the referee warns Jackson. Jackson with an Irish whip and side slam for a near fall. Jackson with two body slams to Barrett and he gets Barrett up for the torture rack but Barrett escapes. Barrett tries for Wasteland but Jackson escapes the hold. Barrett with the Black Pool Slam for the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
The time for Orton to beat later tonight is 7 minutes 53 seconds.
Cole asks Cody if he thinks Orton can beat that time and Cody does not think it will happen.
Wade says that he started the Barrett Barrage as his way to the World Championship, but there has been one man who stood in his way. That man was Randy Orton. He did what no man has done before. He humiliated, embarrassed, and beat Randy Orton. He did it repeatedly. Randy Orton has always had a psychological advantage over his opponents, but not this one. There is only one voice in Randy’s head and it is Wade Barrett’s. As far as being the Apex Predator of Smackdown and as far as his match later on Smackdown, his voice is telling Randy that he is out of time.
We find out that Randy Orton will face Dolph Ziggler later tonight in his portion of the Beat the Clock Challenge.
We go to commercial.
We are back and David Otunga has his soy latte half cap in his hand as he tries to explain why he was on Smackdown last week and he says that he was there because it was a holiday and he was only there for the party. Mick Foley made an egregious error by putting him in the Miracle on 34th Street Fight last week because he is on the Raw roster. Otunga says that putting him in a match on Smackdown was an explicit violation of his authority and Otunga says that the only way to rectify this matter is to have that loss expunged from his record. Otunga takes a drink from the most electrifying travel mug in sports entertainment.
Teddy wants to know what Otunga is talking about.
Otunga says that Teddy might not be as creative as a general manager as John Laurinaitis, but Teddy can see things his way.
Teddy says that Mick does get carried away and he was coming to a party last week. Teddy reminds David that he is subject to the whims of the ruling authority on each show and that means that since David is on Smackdown, Teddy is going to show him how creative he can be. Teddy says that he is looking for an opponent for someone and David might fill that void.
Otunga reminds Teddy that he is not on the Smackdown roster. Teddy says that if he is here, he can compete. Otunga agrees to the match and he asks who his opponent is. Teddy tells him that it will be Sheamus.
Josh Mathews is in the ring and he brings out Daniel Bryan, which means that Michael Cole has to whine, complain, and do whatever else he does whenever Daniel Bryan is on screen as Bryan makes his way to the ring.
Bryan’s ribs are still taped from last week while Cole gloats over the footage of Mark Henry’s victory over Daniel Bryan inside the steel cage on the live Smackdown.
Josh asks Bryan about what is going through his mind after being injured last week. Daniel says that being inside a steel cage with Mark Henry is painful, but it is more painful to walk into the back with the disappointment of letting people down. The disappointment of having everything in front of you but not being able to have it. Bryan says that he has always wanted to be the World Champion and he was this close and he let it slide through is fingers.
Because the show is about the wrestlers, Michael Cole interrupts Bryan’s comments and says that he can’t handle this any more. Cole says that Bryan is nothing more than a loser.
Bryan tells Cole to shut up and do everyone a favor and shut the hell up. Bryan says that he doesn’t know what Cole’s problem is and why Cole doesn’t respect him. Cole wants to know how he can respect Bryan when all Daniel is doing is whining about how he had his opportunity at the World Championship. He says that Bryan never earned his title match while Bryan points out that Cole’s new broadcast colleague tapped out to him and that is how Bryan earned his title match. Bryan says that he has earned everything he has done.
Cole tells Bryan that he should go away and become a barista at a coffee shop. Bryan leaves the ring and goes to the floor as Cole backs away. Bryan wants to know if he should make Cole tap out and go away. Cody Rhodes attacks Bryan and he kicks Bryan while officials try to separate them.
Cole calls Bryan a piece of garbage as we go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Daniel Bryan being attacked by Cody Rhodes while Michael Cole spins the story to satisfy himself because the announcers are the most important thing on this show.
Josh tries to be the voice of reason, logic, and hope by telling Cole that he had no right to interrupt Bryan.
Match Number Two: Zack Ryder versus Heath Slater
They lock up and Slater backs Ryder into the corner and Ryder blocks it and he punches Slater. Ryder with a flying forearm but Slater gets to the ropes. Slater with a kick and then he sends Ryder sternum first into the turnbuckles followed by a clothesline to the back of the head. Slater with a kick to the midsection.
Slater punches Ryder and kicks him. Slater tries for a splash into the corner but Ryder gets his knees up for the running boot to the head and then he lines up Slater for the Rough Ryder and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Zack Ryder
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of DiBiase Claus’ appearance during Jinder Mahal’s match against Justin Gabriel last week on Smackdown.
Jinder Mahal appeared in the Goldman Box and he says that Ted DiBiase made the priceless mistake of interfering in his match last week. This week, he faces the consequences.
Match Number Three: Ted DiBiase versus Jinder Mahal
Mahal with a kick and forearm to the back followed by a knee to the midsection. Ted with a hip toss and drop kick. Mahal with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Ted. Ted goes to the turnbuckles and Mahal pulls him to the mat and hits a neck breaker and gets a near fall. Mahal chokes Ted in the ropes and then connects with a knee to the chest. Mahal with a back elbow but DiBiase with punches.
Mahal with a hard Irish whip followed by a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Mahal with a cravate while the fans chant ‘USA’. Mahal with a forearm to the back of the neck but Ted with the rebound clothesline. Mahal sends Ted into the turnbuckles and then hits a knee into the corner. Mahal with another leaping knee to Ted’s head. Ted with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: Ted DiBiase We see footage from the American Country Awards featuring Big Show and Trace Adkins. We see Show choke slamming Adkins through a table.
Big Show makes his way to the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and Show says that it has been nine years since he beat the Next Big Thing Brock Lesnar in Madison Square Garden to become the WWE Champion. A lot of people told him it couldn’t be done. Show says that people called him a hopeless underachiever, even though they never said it to his face. He made the impossible possible by beating Brock Lesnar.
Show says that nine years is a long time and he has been waiting a long time for the best possible time to become champion again. At TLC when he has a steel chair in his hands across the ring from Mark Henry sounds like a perfect time.
Show says that it is simple physics. You have 440 pound Mark Henry and 500 pound Big Show and steel chairs all around the ring. It is gonna get mean and it’s gonna get nasty. At TLC, Mark Henry’s Hall of Pain’s doors are going to get slammed closed.
Mark Henry makes his way to the ring but he stops short of the ring and he tells Big Show that he is not afraid of him. He says that he is halfway hurt. Henry says that he didn’t even tape his ankle so he is not looking for a fight. Mark has something to say to Show and he wants to say it face to face, but he wants Show to promise that he won’t put his hands on him.
Show invites Mark into the ring and then Show decides that he won’t abide by Mark’s request.
Henry says that Show talks about his journey, but he wonders what type of legacy will Show have if he beats Mark Henry when he is not at 100%. Henry asks Show for a courtesy. A courtesy for the World Heavyweight Champion. He wants Show to promise that he won’t put his hands on him.
Show thinks about it again and he agrees to Mark’s conditions. He won’t put his hands on Mark when he is talking or in the ring.
Henry enters the ring and he tells Show that they have a lot in common. They are both two of the greatest big men to ever come into this business to grace this ring with their presence. He points out that Show was a champion and Henry points out that he is the current champion.
Henry says that he should be at 100% at TLC and at that time, Show will have all of him that he can handle. Henry says that they will have a fight that people will talk about for decades. They have done some mean and hateful things to each other, but he says let bygones be bygones. Henry puts the title belt down and he tells Show may the best man win.
Henry offers his hand to Show and Show does not shake his hand at first but eventually they shake hands. They exchange some words while shaking hands and then Henry tells Show one more thing. He says that he can see in Show’s eyes that he thinks he is a monster. Henry tells Show that he just thinks it while Henry says that he knows that he is.
Henry punches Show but Show with a take down and he punches Henry. Show with an elbow drop to the injured ankle. Henry falls to the floor and Show goes after him. Show gets a chair. Show hits Henry in the back with the chair and then he hits Henry in the ankle with the chair.
Officials come out to separate them but Show walks away on his own.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the guest ring announcer for the next match, Hornswoggle.
Match Number Four: Sheamus versus David Otunga
Otunga with a waist lock but Sheamus with elbows and a back elbow. Otunga with a kick and forearm followed by a front face lock. Sheamus powers out of the hold and then connects with a forearm to the throat. Sheamus with a series of knees. Otunga has a punch blocked and Sheamus with a punch to Otunga that sends him to the floor. Sheamus with a series of forearms across the chest to Otunga on the apron. Sheamus with a suplex to bring him back into the ring and he gets a near fall.
Otunga with a kick followed by a clothesline and he kicks Sheamus. Otunga with elbow drops and he gets a near fall. Otunga with kicks and punches in the corner. Otunga with a clothesline into the corner followed by a forearm but Sheamus with a smile on his face and then he puts Otunga in the corenr and he connects with punches and kicks.
Sheamus with a short arm clothesline followed by a power slam and then he hits the Brogue Kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
After the match, Hornswoggle joins Sheamus in the ring and he does Sheamus’ pose with him. Instead of getting revenge for what happened last week, Sheamus high fives Hornswoggle.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Look Within video hyping someone’s return on January 2nd.
We see an Earlier Tonight’s recap of what happened between Cody Rhodes and Daniel Bryan in front of Michael Cole’s presence which was more important than what was happening.
Match Number Five: Daniel Bryan versus Cody Rhodes in a Non Title Match
Bryan with kicks to Rhodes followed by punches and more kicks. Rhodes grabs the leg and takes Bryan to the mat and drops an elbow to the injured ribs. Rhodes with punches to the ribs. Rhodes with a knee to the abdomen. Bryan with a flying clothesline but he holds on to his ribs. Rhodes with a head butt to the injured ribs followed by a gourdbuster and gets a near fall.
Rhodes with a hard Irish whip to the sternum and he gets a near fall. Rhodes with boots to the midsection followed by boots to the midsection. Rhodes tries for a suplex but Bryan blocks it. Bryan goes to the apron and he punches Cody but Cody with a shoulder to the ribs and then Rhodes Irish whips Bryan into the ring post and he goes to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Rhodes has Bryan in an abdominal stretch with his forearm against the ribs to add more pressure. We see footage from the commercial break when Rhodes dropped Bryan onto the ringside barrier. The referee sees Cody using the ropes but he allows Rhodes to maintain the hold. Bryan with an arm drag to escape.
Rhodes with a forearm and kicks to Bryan and then he punches and kicks Bryan some more as he tries to remove the bandage around Bryan’s ribs. Rhodes a clothesline and he gets a near fall. Rhodes with a boot to the ribs followed by a punch but Bryan sends Rhodes over the top rope to the floor with a back body drop.
Bryan hits the suicide dive but he hits the ringside barrier and he might have injured his ribs more than the damage he did to Cody. Rhodes gets back to the ring while Bryan summons the strength to get back in. Bryan with kicks to the chest but Cody with a kick to the midsection to stop Bryan’s offense. Bryan with an Irish whip and a running drop kick into the corner.
Bryan goes up top for the diving head butt but Rhodes moves out of the way. Rhodes struggles to get back to his feet and Booker T’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Cody Rhodes by disqualification
After the match, Rhodes misses a punch and Booker connects. They exchange punches and Booker gets control of the situation. Cody leaves the ring and heads up the ramp to the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Network video package.
We go to Teddy Long’s office and he is on the phone with someone and he is excited for the WWE Network. Teddy is mesmerized by the Sin Cara lighting and the saxophones that accompany Aksana. Teddy is excited to see Teddy and she says that she is excited about Double Double E Network. She asks Teddy for help about putting her own show on the network. She suggests a cooking show, a travel show, or a reality show called ‘Aksana Looking for Love’. Aksana asks Teddy if he wants to see her on the boob tube. Teddy is fixated on the first word that Aksana says.
Cody Rhodes is in Teddy Long’s office and he interrupts Teddy’s latest session of awkward double entendres with Aksana. Cody wants to know if Teddy saw what just happened. Teddy asks why Cody is busting into his office. Cody says that he wants a match with Booker T. Teddy says that Cody must be a mind reader because at TLC, Cody will face Booker T for the Intercontinental Championship. Cody asks Aksana what is she looking at and then he leaves.
Teddy tries to get Aksana’s attention but she seems transfixed with another member of the Rhodes family. Teddy finally gets Aksana’s attention and he apologizes for Cody’s behavior. Aksana says that it is okay.
We see highlights from the match between Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson to set Randy Orton’s time.
Matt Striker is in the interview area with Randy Orton and Matt reminds Orton that he has to win in less than seven minutes and fifty-three seconds. Randy suggests that Matt can ask Wade for his thoughts if Wade says that he is inside Randy’s head. Randy says that his thoughts are that Wade Barrett did Dolph Ziggler a tremendous favor. Randy says that he likes to take his time to ensure the proper suffering for his opponents. He wants to make sure the suffering is slow and methodical. The bad news is that Dolph is going to suffer, but the good news is that it will be quick. While Wade thinks that he is in Randy’s head, he has Wade exactly where he wants him.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Randy Orton versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero in a This Match will be less than eight minutes because it is a Beat the Clock Match
Orton with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Orton with another near fall and then he hits a suplex and gets a near fall. Orton kicks Ziggler to get him off the ropes. Orton sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles and connects with a European uppercut. Ziggler with an Irish whip into the corner, but you don’t do that to Orton because he will clothesline you and Orton gets a near fall.
Orton looks at the clock and Ziggler with a kick to the knee followed by punches and more kicks. Ziggler with kicks in the corner and the referee warns him. Orton with a kick followed by an Irish whip but Ziggler floats over but Orton with a clothesline and a leaping knee drop for a near fall.
Orton looks at the clock again and Ziggler grabs Orton’s leg to waste time. Orton with an Irish whip but Ziggler with a European uppercut followed by a Fameasser for a near fall. Ziggler with a modified cobra clutch and he applies a body scissors but Orton gets to his feet and Ziggler is on his back. Ziggler with a kick and DDT and he gets a near fall. Ziggler with an elbow to the head followed by a leaping elbow drop for a near fall.
Ziggler with a reverse chin lock as he tries to wear Orton down as well as kill time. Ziggler with a neck breaker for a near fall. Ziggler goes to the top turnbuckles but he takes too long and Orton recovers and he punches Ziggler. Orton continues to punch Ziggler and then he sets for the superplex and he hits it and gets a near fall.
Ziggler with a kick and then he misses a splash into the corner. Orton with two clotheslines. Orton avoids a clothesline and then he hits a power slam for a near fall. Orton with a back breaker and he gets a near fall.
We have less than two minutes on the clock and Ziggler leaves the ring. Orton follows him back in and Ziggler with a kick and then he tries for the Zig Zag but Orton side steps it. Orton sends Ziggler to the apron and hits the IEDDT but Ziggler kicks out.
Orton looks at the clock as it goes under a minute and Ziggler falls to the floor. Orton with a clothesline and then he rolls Ziggler back in. Wade Barrett comes from out of nowhere and he sends Orton into the ring post. The referee did not see what happened so he starts to count out Orton.
Orton gets back in at nine and the Ziggler runs into an RKO and Orton gets the three count with two seconds left on the clock.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match, Barrett gives Orton a Black Pool Slam and then he takes the mic and he stands over Orton. He congratulates Randy for beating his time so he gets to choose their stipulation at TLC. Barrett wants to help him out so he makes his own suggestion. Barrett throws Orton out of the ring in front of a table, a ladder, and chair. Barrett knocks over the ladder and he throws the chair away. Barrett stares at the table and he tries to hit Wasteland through the table, but Orton recovers and he kicks Barrett. Orton tries to power bomb Barrett through the table but Barrett recovers and sends Orton into the apron and then the ring steps. Barrett leaves and goes up the ramp.
Orton stares at Barrett and then he sees Dolph Ziggler resting on the ring steps. Orton grabs Ziggler by the hair and then he power bombs Ziggler through the table.
2012 - 2012 - TNA held their Final Resolution in Orlando, FL. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
The opening video was a greatly edited piece on TNA champ Jeff Hardy.
James Storm came to the ring and said that he was out here to have a little bit of fun with the fans. He mentioned the attack on last Thursday's Impact Wrestling by Aces & Eights and saw Bobby Roode giving them the thumbs up. He said Roode should have shoved it up his rear end. Storm said he is here to kick Roode's ass before he gets a chance to win the TNA title and have a celebration. He demanded Roode come out and get his ass kicked.
Instead, Frankie Kazarian came out and said that Willie Nelson once sang "Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys" and Nelson was specifically talking about Storm. He said that besides AJ Styles, Storm is the biggest man-baby in TNA. Kaz said Storm is a drunk as well, but lately he's been sticking his nose in other people's business, so Kaz has come out to do everyone a service. He told Storm to cut his "dime store Toby Keith" routine and go ride off into the sunshine (well, that's what he said).
Storm said he was sitting backstage all day waiting to cut a promo and that's the best he has to come up with? Storm said he doesn't like the sunshine but drinks the moonshine. The fans chanted for Storm to kick his ass, so Storm invited him to come take Roode's ass-kicking, "if his boyfriend gives him permission." Kaz said he wasn't there to engage in fisticuffs and there was no referee out here.
Storm said that where he is from, he didn't need a referee to whip Kaz's ass. Kaz tried to walk out but a referee made Kaz return towards the ring. They started brawling around ringside with Storm being in control.
They battled into the ring and the match was official.
James Storm vs. Kazarian
Storm used a Lou Thesz Press and beat down Kazarian with a series of right hands. Kazarian came back with a clothesline and smothered Storm against the ropes, standing on his back. Kaz then used his boot to choke Storm in the corner.
Kaz brought Storm to the floor and worked him over, throwing him into the guard rail. He rolled Storm back into the ring for a two count. The crowd chanted for Storm but Kazarian kept nailing him with shot after shot. Kazarian locked in a cravate. He ground down Storm on the mat but The Cowboy fought back with a series of shots to the mid-section.
Storm nailed a series of clotheslines and a flying forearm, followed by a double underhook throw. Kazarian cut him off near the ropes and leapt into the ring for a DDT, scoring a two count. Storm mounted another comeback, nailing an inverted Codebreaker.
Storm rallied the crowd and went for the Last Call superkick but Kaz hid behind the referee. Kaz went for the Fade to Black for Storm rolled through. He went for a clothesline but Kaz ducked and turned into the Last Call superkick. Storm covered the pin.
Your winner, James Storm!
Really fun opener. The promos were great. Kaz has really improved as a talker over the last year and this was a hell of an example of that. Storm came off like a bonafide star in every respect and the impromptu nature of the match felt important. It was a different way to kick off the show and was entertaining.
The announcers reviewed the attack on Jeff Hardy that Bobby Roode orchestrated on Impact last week. They showed footage of each of them arriving at the Impact Zone.
TNA X-Division champ Rob Van Dam vs. Kenny King
They shook hands before the bell.
Van Dam used a standing side headlock early to control King. RVD used a droptoehold to escape a standing hammerlock. King used a rolling pinfall attempt on RVD. The announcers painted this as a dream match for King as RVD's ECW run inspired him.
King nailed several big moves including a martial arts kick, which led to RVD going to the floor and looking impressed. He returned to the ring and nailed King with a round kick to the hamstring. Van Dam nailed a series of kicks. King and Van Dam exchanged a series of armdrags. Van Dam nailed a kick to the quads but was whipped into the corner bt King. RVD kicked him off and went to the top but King nailed a leaping kick. RVD crashed into the railing.
King asked the camera, "Did you see that?" before bringing RVD back to the ring for a two count. He locked in a sitting abdominal stretch, wearing the champion down. RVD used a knee to the face to break the hold. Both men fought to regain their composure. King was covered for a two count, then whipped into the corner. RVD nailed a spinkick for another two count.
RVD was cut off and locked in a combination hammerlock surfboard but was kicked by RVD. Van Dam charged King in the corner but was elevated and dropped on the ropes, crotching himself. King nailed him with a big kick. King covered him for a two count.
King and RVD battled back and forth with punches. King grabbed him and nailed a sideslam. He went for a slingshot splash into the ring but RVD pulled his knees up. King went for a clothesline but RVD absorbed it and nailed one of his one. RVD nailed a somersault into a monkey flip, then nailed Rolling Thunder for another two count.
Van Dam went to the top but was grabbed by King. RVD fought him off and nailed a glancing Ryder Kick. RVD went for the Five Star Frog splash but missed. King went for the Royal Flush but RVD escaped and used a rolling body scissors to capture King and score the pin.
Your winner and still X-Division champion, Rob Van Dam!
A good match. This was a bout designed to make King look stronger by competing hard and taking it to RVD and was one of the more entertaining RVD matches of late. It was good, solid stuff. King showed flashes of nice charisma during his entrance and his comment to the camera.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Christopher Daniels, who was enjoying a big Appletini. He said that he's wrestled AJ Styles more times than anyone else and around the world, and that's fact , not hyperbole. He said that when you look at all the matches that they have had, all of them have just been a prologue for tonight. He said history is written by the victor and history will read that Daniels is the better man, and that's not hyperbole, but fact. Good promo.
TNA Tag Team champions Hernandez & Chavo Guerrero vs. Joey Ryan & Matt Morgan
Holy hell is Morgan tan.
Ryan and Guerrero kicked off the bout. Ryan cut him off with a big right hand but Guerrero came back with a series of uppercuts and right hands of his own. Guerrero nailed him with a short arm clothesline and tagged Hernandez. Hernandez worked over Ryan and tagged Guerrero back in.
Ryan was able to tag Morgan. Hernandez tried to used a drop toehold to no effect. Hernandez tagged in and he and Morgan went shoulderblock to shoulderblock with neither man budging. Hernandez used a series of flying shoulder tackles to knock Morgan backwards but he couldn't take him down. Morgan nailed a roaring clothesline as Hernandez reounded off the ropes.
Ryan tagged back in and ended up in a long standing delayed suplex. The champions took turns tagging in and out, working over Ryan. They whipped him into the corner, followed by Chavo whipping Ryan into a leaping splash.
Hernandez was tricked into arguing with the referee, allowing Morgan to grab Chavo and slam him into the buckles from the outside. Ryan covered Chavo for a two count, then tagged his big man. Morgan used his boot to choke out Chavo. Ryan tagged out and used a neck vice to wear down Chavo.
Guerrero fought back with a series of rights but was nailed with a dropkick as he rebounded across the ring. Ryan held Chavo as Morgan charged for a kick to the mid-section. Morgan choked him against the top rope. Ryan returned to the ring and continued the attack. Chavo tried to fight back but was cut off and nailed with a series of shoulderblocks in the corner. Ryan used a running axehandle on Guerrero, showing respect to former WWF champion Rip.
Hernandez finally makes the hot tag and cleans house on Ryan, who bumped all over for him and took a big backdrop. Morgan tried to distract Hernandez, allowing Ryan to nail him from behind. Ryan still got caught with a tiltowhirl backbreaker. Morgan broke up the pin
Morgan nailed a big suplex on Hernandez. Hernandez worked over Ryan but Morgan nailed him from behind. Chavo hit a missile dropkick on Morgan, who was then clotheslined from behind by Hernandez, going over the top and landing on his feet. Chavo hit a frog splash on Ryan but Morgan pulled the referee out of the ring. The ref called for the DQ.
Your winners by DQ and still TNA Tag Team champions, Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez!
Chavo tried to nail a dive on Morgan but was caught and run into the ringpost. Hernandez, enraged, hit a monster dive over the top on Morgan. Morgan and Ryan backed up, with Morgan promising this wasn't over. Hernandez watched over Guerrero, who was selling a back injury.
OK match. They told a decent story and the monster vs. monster spots were booked perfectly. The dive at the end was a cool visual. This seemed like they were laying down the first chapter for a longer story.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Austin Aries backstage. Aries said that the one question he keeps being asked is why is so upset and concerned about Bully Ray when it's not his business. He said that TNA needs the straw to stir the collective cocktail's drink and that's what he's going to do. Aries says that until justice is served and he gets what is his, he's going to be the squeaky wheel getting the grease. He said, "Mark, Bully, what are you going to do, brother, when Austin-Mania runs wild on you?"
Austin Aries vs. Bully Ray
Aries stayed on the outside avoiding Ray early. When Ray finally got his hands on Aries, he slammed him hard, whipped him into the buckles and drilled him with a clothesline.
Ray backdropped Aries. Aries tried to fire back with a sunset flip but Ray stood strong. Ray sent Aries into the corner but was caught with an elbow charging in and dropkicked down. Aries nailed a neckbreaker for a two count. One thing Ray is really good at that you don't see out of the younger talents doing much today is verbalizing the pain as he's nailed with different moves. If you watch how and when he yells, it adds a lot to the believability of what you are watching.
Aries nailed a series of offensive maneuvers, including a brutal forearm strike for a two count. He worked over Bully in the corner. Ray fired back but Aries maintained control. Aries locked in a standing rear chinlock.
Aries mocked Hulk Hogan and nailed the legdrop rebounding off the ropes. That pissed off Ray, who began chopping him hard across the chest. Aries tried to cut him off but was chopped so hard it turned him inside out. Ray pressed and slammed Aries, then hit a big splash.
Ray missed a charge in the corner. Aries charged but was caught and nailed with Snake Eyes in the corner. Aries went for a superplex but Ray tossed him off and nailed a missile dropkick. Well, you don't see that every day!
Ray charged Aries but Aries dropped down and yanked the ropes. Ray went to the floor. Aries went for the heat seeking missile dive but dove into a big boot. That was great! Ray covered Aries for a two count.
Aries was able to use a Crucifix into a slam in a moment of desperation. He nailed Bully with a big dropkick in the corner. He went for a brainbuster but Ray reversed and nailed the Bubba Cutter for a two count. Really entertaining match.
Ray followed Aries to the outside but was sent into the steel ring steps. Ray came up bleeding. Aries began working him over, coming off the top with a big punch and then drilling him over and over. This led to Brooke Hogan running out concerned as Aries was about to come off the top on Ray, who was half hanging off the apron outside.
Aries pulled Brooke into the ring and began menacing her, screaming that she didn't belong here. Ray returned and threw him out of the ring. Hulk Hogan walked out as Ray checked on Brooke. Ray told her that he was fine and she needed to get out of here. Ray told Hulk to take her out. Hulk grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away.
Aries snuck in behind Ray and low blowed him, then scored the win.
Your winner, Austin Aries!
Good match. Ray whipped out some really cool spots and Aries remains a machine. The Hogans stuff at the end was fine in terms of building their storylines, although I can see people rejecting it because it was the Hogans involved. But, the reality is that it was fine from a logical standpoint and it was within Aries' nature as a scumbag heel to get the win that way.
Good show so far.
They ran a video piece on Velvet Sky's return.
Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA Knockouts champion Tara. She said the focus should be on her win tonight, not her. They claimed all these celebs were congratulating Tara. Tara mocked Mickie James' medical problems and told her the big problem is going to be what Tara does to her. Tara was getting distracted by Jesse Godderz' body doing the promo.
TNA Knockouts champ Tara vs. Mickie James
They went back and forth working over each other's arm early. Tara grabbed at the arm and snapped it several times. Mickie almost scored the pin with the Backlund Bridge. Tara caught her in the corner with some elbows but was kicked off and James elevated herself into a rana.
James went for a DDT but Tara shoved her into the ropes. Godderz pulled Tara out and hugged her to save her. James hit a sliding kick on both. Tara cut off James on apron and sent her to the floor. Tara dropped her face-first on the apron.
Tara grabbed James by the hair, slammed her down and grabbed her in an over the shoulder backbreaker. James rolled through for a sunset flip but Godderz distracted the referee. Tara nailed a sidewalk slam for a two count and cinched in a body scissor.
Tara locked in a full nelson but James fought her way out. Tara went to snapmare her over but James landed on her feet. Tara yanked her to the mat by her hair but James kicked her away. James nailed a series of clotheslines and went for a kick. Tara grabbed her leg so Mickie turned it into an enziguiri. James covered her for a two count.
Tara went back to the floor but James hit a Thesz Press from the top to the floor. She rolled Tara back in the ring. Godderz tried to grab her on the apron but was kicked away. Tara used the distraction to nail Mickie and drill her with the Widow's Peak and score the pinfall.
Your winner and still Knockouts champion, Tara!
The finish was never in doubt since the entire promo video before the bout was all about Sky. Match was OK. They worked hard and compared to the current Divas division, this was really strong. The Thesz Press to the floor was great.
Aces & Eights: Devon & Doc & Two Masked Men vs. Kurt Angle & Wes Brisco & Samoa Joe & Garett Bischoff
Joe had to be held back from trying to get at Devon, since he just lost the TV title to him. Devon used that to attack Angle and nailed him from behind. He worked over Angle, who came back with an overhead suple for a two count. Joe tagged in and Devon headed for the floor.
Doc tagged in and went back and forth with big shots. Joe got the better of him with a series of strikes in the corner, nailed a running back splash and an enziguiri in the corner.
Bischoff tagged in but was overwhelmed by Aces & Eights. One of the masked men (I think Mike Knox), worked him over. Bischoff ducked a clothesline and took him down with a flying shoulderblock. Brisco and Garett teamed to work over one of the masked men but Brisco was wiped out.
Brisco came back with a flapjack and a pump handle on the arm. Joe tagged in and tagged the masked man with a series of kicks and a headbutt. Joe snapmared him and drilled him with kicks and knees. Aces and Eights grabbed Joe from behind and worked him over on the floor, tossing him back in the ring.
Now that Joe was hurting, Devon chose to tag in. He drilled Joe with right hand after right hand. Joe tagged Devon back with several shots of his own but was raked across the eyes. Devon drilled him with a forearm and tagged out to Doc. Doc continued and Devon tagged back in, cinching in a nerve hold on Joe.
Joe fought back but was nailed with a leaping back elbow. The bigger masked man worked over Joe in the corner and tagged in the smaller masked guy. They tried to work over Joe but he laid them out with Uranages.
Angle made the hot tag and went nuts with offense. He hit a crazy back suple on Doc. The entire thing turned into a big brawl. Doc chokeslammed Angle. Brisco hit a big bodypress. Joe nailed a diving forearm smash on Devon. Angle hit a T-Bone Tazplex on one and went for the pin.
Doc hit the ring with a hammer but Garett grabbed it. Wes speared Doc. Angle hit the Olympic Slam on the smaller masked man and scored the pin.
Your winners, Team Angle!
OK match. Brisco seems real hesitant at times and at other times looks really good. Bischoff showed some improvement. The match itself was fine, but you can tell the live crowd takes the masked men and looks at it like they are nobodies, so it kills some of the crowd interest.
Jeremy Borash interviewed AJ Styles, who said that he's had his doubters but he's been the most dominant athlete in TNA history. He said that Daniels was right when he said history was written by the victors and the history books will tell the story that AJ Styles was the winner tonight. Not the usually good Styles promo but that is playing into the self-doubt aspect of Styles' current story.
AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels for the Last Time
They went right at each other. Daniels shoulderblocked Styles down. They noted there has to be a winner by pin or submission. Styles grabbed a side headlock and turned it into a hammerlock. Styles used a snapmare to escape and locked in a side headlock. Daniels floated over but Styles escaped a head scissor and went back to the side headlock. Some nice, fluid mat wrestling early.
Daniels drilled Styles with several running shoulderblocks, leading to Styles rolling to the outside. Styles and Daniels went for a test of strength when he returned to the ring. Styles and Daniels went back and forth until Styles drilled him with a big clothesline and a series of kicks.
Styles used several chops and strikes in the corner, laying Daniels out. Styles whipped him across the ring but it was reversed. Styles went up and over out of the corner and used a nice rolling head scissors to take down Daniels. Daniels was whipped into the corner and nailed with a leaping clothesline in the corner.
Styles locked on an Indian Death Match. They battled to the apron where Styles suplexed Daniels on the outside of the ring. Ouch. Styles continued the onslaught as they battled on the apron again. Daniels caught Styles with a Uranage on the outside.
Daniels followed that up with a suplex into a slam on the ring steps. Daniels nailed a Northern lariat to Styles, covering him for a two count, then cinched in a rear chinlock. He continued working over Styles, including a hard punt kick to the mid-section.
Daniels began slapping Styles, screaming that he was better than you. Styles was fired up by that, hitting a series of shoulderblocks in the corner but Daniels nailed him across the back and took him down. Daniels locked in a crossface. Styles battled to the get to the ropes but Daniels cinched his arm, using it to straightjacket Styles.
Daniels nailed a tiltowhirl slam for a two count. They continued back and forth until both went for a bodypress at the same time and clunked heads. Styles was immediately bleeding from a cut above his eye. Styles avoided a charge in the corner and nailed several strikes. Daniels cut him off with a Uranage but missed a BME.
Styles hit a big flying forearm and nailed several kicks. He locked a Torture Rack on Daniels, then slammed him down for a two count. Styles' eye was swelling up. He and Daniels had an awesome back and forth flurry of moves, ending with Styles nailing a Headscissors. Daniels came back with a twisting sitdown powerbomb.
Daniels placed Styles on the top and pulled him overhead, slamming him down to the mat for another two count. Daniels went for an inverted DDT but was thrown off. Styles hit a moonsault into his inverted DDT for another two count. Good back and forth wrestling here with some hard hitting exchanges.
They battled to the top, where Styles nailed a superplex. Both men were down and out, spent from the battle. They recovered and exchanged fists and forearms. Daniels kicked him in the face but Styles rebounded with a discus clothesline and a glancing Pele Kick.
They continued the battle. Styles pulled Daniels to the top for an attempted Styles Clash off the ropes. Daniels grabbed the ropes, so he held on and Styles crashed hard. Daniels nailed Styles with his own move, the Styles Clash, and scored the pinfall.
Your winner, Christopher Daniels!
Daniels lost his mind and began screaming "I told you! I told you!
Styles sat there with a glazed look in his eyes dejected.
Really good match. I don't think this was their all time best match but it was a really good physical match that had time to tell a story inside the ring. Styles getting busted open added a good dimension to the story visually. Daniels getting the win made the most sense given Styles' storyline, so we'll have to see where they go. Styles reacting so strongly to the losses actually makes the wins and losses mean more, which is something sorely lacking in most of pro wrestling, so I really enjoy that aspect.
TNA champ Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode
They did the big time intros.
Roode took control on Hardy early, stomping the hell out of him. The storyline is that the champ is going in hurting because of Thursday's attack. Roode nailed Hardy and covered him several times for near falls.
Hardy backdropped Roode but was hurting. Roode rolled to the outside and was nailed with a sliding kick. Hardy hit a crossbody block over the top to the floor but grabbed at his ribs.
Hardy rolled Roode back into the ring for a two count. Roode regained control and whipped Hardy hard into the buckles and focused his attacks on the back and mid-section. Hardy went up and over to avoid a charge in the corner but was caught with a slam for a two count.
Roode began stomping away at Hardy and nailed a big suplex. Roode nailed a big kneedrop for a two count. He stepped on Hardy's back in the corner, compressing his ribs as Hardy screamed. Roode locked in a side chinlock following another near fall.
Roode drilled Hardy into the buckles and killed him with a clothesline, then hit a rolling snapmare for a two count. He cinched in another rear chinlock on Hardy, working him down on the mat.
Roode used his boot to choke Hardy and screamed at him that he was no champion. He slammed the champion and went to the top. He came off but Hardy put his feet up. Hardy sent him into the buckles and nailed a Russian Legsweep.
Hardy came to life with some momentum rebounding off the ropes but Roode used it against him, throwing him out of the ring to the floor. Roode threw him into the ring steps and brought him back to the ring for another two count.
Roode cinched in another rear chinlock. Hardy made a comeback, nailing the Cruncher legdrop and a dropkick between the eyes. Roode reversed an Irish whip but was kick running into the corner. Hardy nailed a splash off the ropes for a two count.
Hardy went for a piledriver but Roode reversed it and turned it into a catapult in the corner. Hardy landed on the ropes and dove off into The Whisper in the Wind for a two count. Roode rolled him up for a two count but ate a kick to the face.
Hardy nailed him with a gourdbuster and went to the top for a Vader splash off the ropes for a two count. Hardy grabbed at his ribs after the move. Hardy was sent into the ropes and nailed with a big spinebuster but kicked out at the last second.
The crowd tried to rally Hardy, who nailed the Twist of Fate. Roode bumped out of the ring. Hardy nailed a flying clothesline to the floor. He grabbed the steel stairs and set them up. He went for Air Sabu, leaping off the stairs for a spin kick but Roode jumped out of the way, so Hardy actually nailed the top of the railing and bumped into the crowd in one of the most brutal looking bumps of the year. It looked insane.
Roode brought Hardy back into the ring but the champ kicked out at the last second. He placed him atop the ropes for a superplex attempt. Hardy fought him off and nailed a swanton off the ropes. Hardy was too hurt to capitalize and began screaming.
Roode recovered first and drilled Hardy with a hard running spear but Hardy again kicked out. This match is awesome.
Aces and Eights came out to the Impact Zone. Roode acted like he didn't want them around and began screaming. That allowed Hardy to hit the Twist of Fate and shock him for the win.
Your winner, Jeff Hardy!
Immediately, Aces & Eights attacked Hardy and began beating him seven on one. They powerbombed him down. Roode was down in the corner and had nothing to do with the attack. He recovered and began screaming at them that he paid them to do the job on Thursday and they ruined it. Devon attacked Roode and they all beat the hell out of him as well. Doc drilled him with a big chokeslam.
The show went off the air with Aces & Eights standing tall.
Really strong main event. The angle did take a little away from the finish but the effort from both men was off the charts great and they told a hell of a story in the ring. Plus, the ending adds to the chaotic nature of Aces & Eights being involved in the TNA scene and that is the big storyline going forward so I can see why they booked it the way they did.
A really good PPV if you like in ring action. TNA closes out the year highly improved from a year ago!
2012 - WWE taped their 2012 Tribute to the Troops special. Will Barnes filed the following live report:
My brother is stationed here in Virginia, so we were able to get free tickets to tonight's Tribute to the Troops taping. Here's what went down at the Norfolk Scope Arena:
*Lilian Garcia sang the national anthem followed by a taped message from President Obama played.
*They kicked off with a Kid Rock performance. He was great and did a bunch of songs.
*Sheamus & Randy Orton defeated Dolph Ziggler & Big Show by countout when they just walked out. Booker T showed up and restarted the match. Ziggler was pinned after the RKO and the Brouge Kick.
*The Muppets did a backstage thing with the Divas.
*Ryback defeated Alberto Del Rio by DQ when Ricardo interfered. Ryback laid them both out with Shellshock.
*Daniel Bryan, Kane and R-Truth defeated 3 Man Band. Kane must not be able to see out of that outer mask, because he nearly walked off the stage instead of down the ramp.
*Miz TV featuring Kermit the Frog as the special guest. Mike Johnson is going to love this one. Miz tries to get Kermit to admit he is in love with Miss Piggy. She shows up and Miz teases we will see a Muppet wedding tonght. Damien Sandow shows up and tears down the Muppets, so Piggy goes to hit him. Miz steps in and does it for her.
*Miz pinned Damien Sandow and celebrates with Piggy and Kermit on the stage.
*Layla pinned Divas champ Eve in a non-title match.
*Sin Cara, Great Khali, Brodus Clay & Hornswoggle defeated Tensai & Primo & Epico & David Otunga. So awful.
Flo Rida performed a bunch of songs.
*John Cena pinned Antonio Cesaro in a non-title match.
*They closed off with Santa coming with guys dressed as reindeer, including Santino as Rudolph.
Notes: Not 100% full but nearly...Michael Cole and JBL were the announcers....They played taped messages from Sharon Stone, Katie Couric and others...it was all send people home happy stuff....Bummer there was no CM Punk, but sort of cool to see Cesaro in the main event!
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