Tag Archive: Title Shots

  1. RYTMAN’S RAW RECAP/REVIEW – 04/08/2013

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    Let’s do something a little different.  Instead of going segment by segment, I’m going to summarize each storyline in regards to how it was played out on the show, and offer my comments where I feel the need.

    1.) CENA VS. MARK HENRY: THE RISE OF RYBACK – So we kicked off RAW with a word from our new WWE champion, John Cena.  Jersey is NOT part of the CE-Nation, and their response makes it clear.  Cena plays off the crowd’s hostility by joking about all the great things that come with being champ, like the applause.  Cena offers to dance for the crowd, using this as context for teasing a “heel-turn,” and offers a title shot to whoever wants one tonight.  Mark Henry comes out to take him up on it.  Booker T comes out and says Henry has to beat Cena in a match to get a title shot.

    Let’s fast forward to our main event, Cena vs. Henry.  Less than a minute in, it spills out of the ring to the outside.  Both men tease a table spot (which is a whole friggin thing in itself we’ll get to.) Henry sends Cena into the post.  Cena whips Henry into the stairs AND GETS THE WIN BY COUNT OUT.  OUR “MAIN EVENT” BARELY WENT FIVE MINUTES AND MORE THAN THREE SPOTS!!!

    Henry responds to this by laying out Cena (much to the crowds’ delight,) and hoisting the belt up.  Ryback comes out and runs off Henry.  Ryback glares at Cena and the crowd gets excited.  Ryback helps Cena up and the crowd gets less excited.  Ryback gets a “FEED ME MORE,” chant going and CENA TAKES A CLOTHESLINE!  Ryback gives the champ the Shell-shock and holds the belt up to a cheering crowd as RAW ends.

    Rytman Remarks: So, Henry, the only established heel at Wrestlemania who won a singles match, has to beat Cena in a non-title match, to get a title shot?

    Fine

    Booker T, General Manager of Smackdown, can dictate who gets WWE title shots on RAW?

    Fine

    The match itself can’t have more than five spots and go more than five minutes?

    Okay, Fine.

    BUT NOW YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE THE PUSH TO THE GUY YOU BOOKED TO CHOKE IN EVERY BIG MATCH YOU PUT HIM IN?  GIVING HENRY A SHOT WOULD BRING ABOUT THE END OF ALL LIFE IN THE WWE UNIVERSE OR SOMETHING!?

    I seriously don’t know why I’m still watching this crap.

    2.) ORTON/SHEAMUS BOTH WANT BIG SHOW – Orton, backstage in Vicki’s office w/her and Brad Maddox, demands a match w/Big Show, wanting payback for what happened at Mania.  “Briki” (Brad and Vicki) agrees, reminding Sheamus he’d owe them a big favor for this.

    Later in the show, Randy Orton goes to Booker T, asking HIM for a shot at big show, saying it was his mistake to trust big show, and wants to make good on it.  When Booker tells him Vicki already made the match w/Sheamus, he brown-noses Booker into over-ruling Vicki, on the grounds he’s a GM, and she’s a Managing Supervisor.  Booker decides to make it happen.

    Later, we get a pre-recorded interview from Natalya with Big Show.  Show blames his team-mates for what happened, saying they turned on him by not giving him the hot tag.  Show says from now on, he’s all about the Big Show.

    Later in the show, both Orton and Sheamus came out to the ring and asked the crowd who’d they like to see kick Big Show’s ass.  Cole tells us to use the WWE ACTIVE APP and vote on Twitter for who we want.  One commercial break later, Booker and Vicki come out together on the same page, making a Sheamus vs. Orton match w/the winner getting Big Show, making the Twitter thing totally irrelevant.

    The match itself is hard fought, and both men hit their major spots, but it ends with the Big Show taking matters into his own hands.  He tosses Sheamus away like nothing and BRUTALIZES Randy Orton for about twenty minutes.  Orton is pounded on, and tossed around like a sack of rag-dolls.  Show tosses Orton hard over the announce table into the seats, and then tosses the seats all over the place.  Show leaves Orton broken on the ground, and walks off to a hero’s reception from the crowd. (This crowd was another whole thing we’ll get to.)

    Rytman Remarks: Orton and Randy are fighting over who gets to beat up the guy they didn’t trust in the first place, but teamed up with anyway and then lost the match because they didn’t tag him, and he got mad and punched them out.  Gotcha! 

    The interesting thing is, during the interview with Natalya, Show played hurt by his team not trusting him, like he really wanted to be part of something, and pulled it off pretty damn well.  I actually felt bad for him.    

     3.) ALBERTO DEL RIO VS JACK SWAGGER & ZEB COULTER: YOUR WINNER, DOLPH ZIGGLER! – World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez,) faced Swagger in a handicap match w/Zeb Coulter as Swagger’s partner.  Before the match, Zeb took the mike and actually pleaded with the crowd for their support.  He even got a small “USA” chant going.  The match was primarily Del Rio and Swagger with Zeb hanging back on the outside.  Del Rio managed to win it, but Swagger had worked the ankle/leg the whole match and Del Rio had ringside attendants looking at him.

    Cue Dolph Ziggler.

    Dolph chose that moment to Cash in his MiTB briefcase on Del Rio.  Del Rio managed to muster up enough offense to get Ziggler in the Cross-Arm-Breaker.  Ziggler escaped by working the injured ankle and won with a Zig-Zag for the three.  Later in the show, Ziggler is interviewed, saying it’s “about damn time” this happened.

    Rytman Remarks: during the whole match, the crowd chanted “we want Ziggler,” until he finally came out.  I’m thinking Del Rio and Swagger are both gonna sit out a few shows.

     4.) UNDERTAKER PROMO: IN THE SIGHTS OF THE SHIELD – Undertaker comes out to do a promo.  He talks about dedicating his win to Paul Bearer…

    SIERRA, HOTEL, INDIA, ECHO, LIMA, DELTA, BELIVE IN THE SHIELD

    The Shield makes their way towards the Dead-man.  They’ve got Taker surrounded when the pyro goes off and Team Hell No (Kane and Bryan) run out to offer back up.  The Shield calls it a night and head off.

    Rytman Remarks: A feud w/the Undertaker to set up a program with the tag team champions?  I like it, which is why it won’t happen.

     5.) FAHHHHN-DAHHHN-GO-OW! – So Fandango got a rematch with Kofi Kingston, from last month when he was supposed to debut on RAW.  The match goes less than ten minutes before Chris Jericho runs out and beats down Fandango, who gets the win by DQ.  After the match, Fandango still has enough in him to take a mike and do the bit with his name.

    Rytman Remark: I’ll give the guy credit for sticking with it, but I’m thinking the last dance is coming up soon.

    6.) “A BAD NIGHT FOR PAUL HEYMAN GUYS.” – Paul Heyman gets interviewed about how bad Wrestlemania went for him.  Heyman points out that Triple H finished the night with a broken (which we saw earlier in an exclusive,) arm and Shawn Michaels got his face smashed in.  He says Lesnar is here and ready to fight, but not for free.  He tells us C.M. Punk will speak for himself… next week, swerving the disappointed crowd.

    Now let’s look at the results from the few “filler” matches…

    BIG E. LANGSTON DEF DANIEL BRYAN – High point was Big E. tossing Bryan over the top rope onto Kane.

    Rytman Remark: Would’ve made sense to book this match BEFORE MANIA!

    WADE BARRETT DEF. THE MIZ – BARRETT NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION

    Rytman Remark: Decent match but I’m not expecting Barrett’s stock to skyrocket.  There was a noticeable “botch” when Miz went for the knee-drop/neck-breaker combo and Barrett dropped too soon. (Michael Cole, at ringside, tried to sell it as a “sit-out” attempt by Barrett.)

    R-TRUTH, RYDER, AND SANTINO MORELLA DEF 3MB

    RR; Went maybe seven minutes and was more of an actual match then the main event.

    TONS OF FUNK/THE FUNKADAYCTALS DEF THE BELLA SISTERS/TEAM RHODES SCHOLARS

    RR; High point was Brie/Nikki giving “Sweet T” a double butt-bump to the head.

    A few other points of interest…

    One guy in the crowd managed to get his “WE WANT PAGE” sign on camera almost all night.  Apparently, we can’t get her jobbing out to AJ and the Bella Sisters fast enough.

    There seemed to be a contract out on the announcers table tonight.  It wound up collateral damage in almost every brawl tonight.  (Big Show’s rampage, Jericho’s payback, maybe during Del Rio Swagger,) In the Main Event, Cena and Henry both teased putting each other through it but never came across.

    And now, we get to the real stars of this show…

    This fucking crowd

    Credit where it’s due, these folks decided they were going to have some kind of fun at this show and they did, to the detriment of the WWE.  Some of their highlights included “singing along” to Fandango’s music and cheering for RVD, Randy Savage, and anyone/thing other than Sheamus or Orton during their match.

    Overall, this was a weird RAW.  It had some high points, but it wasn’t the best follow-up to a lackluster Mania.

    Smackdown, the ball’s in your court.

  2. RYTMAN’S REVIEW: RAW 11/19/2012

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    Last night’s RAW was for me, a mixed bag.  There were low-points, painful ones at that, but there were one or two points where I could see a glimmer of hope.

    MATCH RESULTS

    RYBACK DEF TENSAI – Ryback in the ring, cuts a decent promo demanding WWE champ C.M. Punk and the three NXT talents who jumped him at Survivor Series come out to face him or he tears the place down.  Vicki Guerro, RAW Supervising Manager, came out to berate Ryback for blowing two title shots and warn him not to cause trouble or he would face a fine/suspension.  She sends out Tensai to see “just how big” his appetite is.  Match ends just how you’d expect it.  Ryback puts Tensai down with the Shell-Shock for a pin.

    WADE BARRETT DEF WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION KOFI KINGSTON – Before the match, we see Wade Barrett cutting a backstage promo from last night’s survivor series, saying how he’s beaten Kofi for the Intercontinental title before and Kofi holding the title was a disgrace to WWE.  Barrett dominates the match with a combo of holds and brawling, as well as focusing on an eye injury to Kofi.  Kofi gets in a big flurry of offense but Barrett rakes his eye on the rope and ends it with the “Bull-Hammer Elbow.”

    KAITLYN DEF AKSANA – Aksana actually tries actual “wrestling” for once.  She starts by faking a walk-out to lure Kaitlyn into a clothesline and working over the left arm.  Sloppy, but it’s an “improvement.” Kaitlyn gorilla-presses her and drops her stomach first into her knee for a three-count.

    U.S. CHAMPION ANTONIO CESARO DEF BRODUS CLAY – Despite R-Truth on commentary and the Funkadactyls at ringside, Cesaro gets the pin with the “Neutralizer.”

    RANDY ORTON DEF ALBERTO DEL RIO (2 FALLS OUT OF 3) – The first fall starts out as a basic “back and forth,” until Orton forces Del Rio outside.  Del Rio pulls Orton, shoulder first into the ring-rope, then into the corner post.  When he refuses to let up the assault on the arm, Orton gets the win by DQ.  The second fall has Orton making the comeback while favoring the left arm, but Del Rio locks in the arm-bar and Orton has to tap out.  Third fall has Del Rio attacking the bad arm, while Orton tries to fight back.  Ricardo Rodriguez (Del Rio’s personal ring announcer,) gets ejected for grabbing Orton’s ankle, and after missing an inziguri, Orton gets the pin with an RKO out of nowhere.

    GREAT KAHLI DEF PRIMO/EPICO w/ROSA MENDES – Hornswoggle comes out to squirt Rosa in the face with water from a trick bouquet of flowers while Kahli destroys Mo/Co.  I put more effort into that sentence than anybody put into that match.

    THE MIZ DEF DAVID OTUNGA – Very basic, by-the-numbers match; Otunga gets to look good here, dominating Miz with clotheslines and chin-locks, but Miz gets in the “Skull-Crushing-Finale,” for the inevitable three-count.

    SHEAMUS DEF DAMIAN SANDOW – Sheamus comes out with chair in hand.  He cuts a promo recapping his feud with World Heavyweight Champion the Big Show and makes note that he is “not smiling anymore.”  Big Show comes out, and they start shouting over each other.  Show calls Sheamus a “barbarian,” and Sandow makes his entrance.  Match builds from a slow pace, starting out with Sandow trying to avoid Sheamus for the first few minutes.  First high-spot is Sheamus tossing Sandow out by the beard.  Sandow actually dominates the match from that point on, beating Sheamus down and trying to wear him out.  Sandow takes too long setting up the “elbow of distain” and Sheamus hooks in a side-back-breaker.  Sheamus hits a flying shoulder block, the “White Noise,” and the Brogue-kick for a three-count.

    WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS HELL NO (DANIEL BRYAN AND KANE) VS SINSTERIO (SIN CARA/REY MYSTERIO: NO CONTEST – The real story here is the absolute TRAIN WRECK of the Prime Time Players (Titus O’Neal/Darren Young) doing commentary with Cole/Lawler.  Eventually they all give up and settle for entertaining each other with jokes and one-liners.  Ironically, the PTP’s come off as funny and charismatic (which is bad because they’re heels.)  Match ends when the PTP’s rush the ring, and get beat down by both other teams.

     MAJOR STORYLINES

    1. THE AJ “SCANDAL” – So this nonsense begins with Vicki bringing out two people to the ring, one a waitress claiming AJ and Cena were getting “friendly” with each other in a restaurant, and the other was a dude implying he had pics of them “doing it” in the back of a car.  AJ came out to confront her, followed by John Cena, who accused Vicki of harassing people just to get attention.  He decided to show her how it’s done and planted a kiss on AJ.  He turned to Vicki but AJ grabbed him and JUMPED HIM LIKE A FACE HUGGER IN ALIENS!  The kiss went well over a minute while Vicki threw a tantrum. (Why?) Ziggler runs out and jumps Cena.  Cena tries to give Ziggler the “Attitude Adjustment,” Ziggler escapes, and Cena goes after him, twisting his left knee in the process.

    We see Cena get his knee taped up backstage.

    AJ goes to Vicki, asking what she plans to do about it.  Vicki, flanked by Tamina Snuka, says nothing.  AJ says she will.

    AJ heads for the locker room with Layla trying to talk her out of it.  AJ blows her off and goes in to confront Ziggler.  Ziggler gives her a verbal dressing down (VERBAL you pervs,) and AJ goes off on him.  Cena pulls her off and Ziggler jumps him.  The two men go crashing into a toilet stall, and Ziggler wails away on Cena until Titus pulls him off.  Ziggler gets in one last shot to Cena’s bad knee.

    Okay….

    1. Why would Vicki and Ziggler be upset about this?  Didn’t Cena and AJ CONFIRM everything they were being accused of?  And let’s say they did…

    2. SO PHKING WHAT!? What does this prove? Two single, consenting adults have decided to date, WHAT HAS VICKI “WON?”

    Here’s the thing, when Vicki started this crap, it made SOME sense.  AJ was RAW GM; Vicki wanted her out and wanted her job.  AJ QUIT trying to protect John.  VICKI GOT THE JOB (sort off.) WHY IS THIS STILL A THING? Vicki has won.  There is no reason, story-line, OR OTHERWISE for Vicki to keep this up.

    Now before you argue “she wants to drive AJ out of WWE,” let me remind you, AJ WAS ON HER WAY OUT WHEN THIS STARTED! VICKI HIRED HER BACK! Vicki could’ve been free of AJ weeks ago.  You could say Vicki is jealous of AJ, and wants to torture her, AND YOU WOULD BE GIVING HER AN ACTUAL MOTIVE! SOMETHING WWE DID NOT DO!

    Side Note: I don’t know if Cena is legit hurt or it’s just an angle, but it looks like in either scenario, he’s out of the title picture.

    2. THE CELEBRATION OF C.M. PUNK – The storyline with the least attention had the best payoff.  We begin with Heyman at the top of the show holding up a poster of Punk and planning a big celebration for the champ.  Punk comes out to hear his praises.  Matt Stryker tries to get an interview and Punk threatens him.  Heyman tries to smooth things over saying tonight is a celebration and everyone is invited, including Ryback.

    We get short backstage segments featuring Heyman abusing crew members while planning the party, including one where Heyman demands “BALLOONS” manically, and one where he assures Punk nothing will ruin their celebration.

    The final segment of the evening has Heyman in the ring.  He calls the audience on the hypocrisy of chanting “ECW” when they see him, and booing him for his joke at Lawler’s expense last week.  They say they want the Attitude era back, but get all upset when they get a taste of it.  Punk comes out and points out to us that he did something Brett Hart, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, The Undertaker, and The Rock couldn’t do, hold the WWE title for one calendar year. We get a video package of Punk’s year-long reign, followed by Heyman and Punk running down all the great stars that couldn’t beat Punk and congratulating each other.

    Ryback comes out, but gets jumped by NXT talents Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reins.  Ryback tries to fight them off, but they end up putting him through an announce table, just like at Survivor Series.  RAW ends with the champ, cautiously, standing with one foot on Ryback and his title in the air.

    Okay, LOVING IT! This is the first RAW this year that ends with Punk standing tall over a fallen enemy.  I’m hoping this leads to a Punk-led stable of young talent rallying to their hero’s side and becoming a major force in WWE. (Of course, WWE will most likely push this as a bunch of punks trying to get attention and Punk will get written into a feud with Hornswoggle.) Nonetheless, this is the first time in months that WWE has tried to make Punk look “relatively” good on television.  It is a welcome change.

    Overall, if this RAW had dropped the AJ scandal B.S. it would’ve been the strongest RAW in a long time.  We got a LOT of actual wrestling where most people looked strong even in defeat.

    So, while I’m not in LOVE with the product right now, this has been a step in the right direction.

  3. Late Edition- Impact Wrestling Review- Where addicts get title shots in less than a year.

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    What am I saying its the wrestling business. Everyone gets second or third chances in this business just ask Jake the Snake Roberts. But that is later on in the show. We open with a Roode promo detailing his family struggles with his shady dealings that won him the title. (Obviously they must have been sleep walking during his Robert Roode run 4 years ago.)

    Steve Borden (No Makeup makes him Steve) comes down to the ring to make an announcement about the “Inmates running the asylum” And how he is going to punish those who step out of line. First up is Robert Roode, or Bobby Roode who is called out after his heinous treatment of Dixie Carter. Roode comes out and him and Borden banter throwing as many puns out there that they can in ten minutes. That is until Borden calls out AJ Styles and then promptly follows it up with Jeff Hardy before telling Roode that he will be involved in a triple threat match in the main event. Roode is disgusted and so are probably half the wrestlers in the back who don’t sell the merchandise Hardy sells.

    Next we have the knockouts in bathrobes in the parking lot, were Karen is in the process of verbal and physically undressing to wash the wrestlers cars. For some of the women this is a repeated performance of a past life, Velvet, Tessmacher, Tara and Angelina have all posed in revealing clothing inside and outside the ring so no real shock there. But Winter and Madison (who still annoys me but does look good in her two piece, what put her on mute and commence….oh yeah “pigeons loose.”

    Wonder Years Jason Hervey interviews Hardy until Jarrett comes into the spotlight. He still mad that Jeff no showed a past event and came intoxicated to the ring in March and wants him gone. FYI: Does Jarrett really get off on being in the spotlight feuding with top talent rather than elevating Kazarian or Magnus? We will find out later tonight. Ray and Bischoff have a sub par meeting in the back, Which will lead to another Roode vignette. Where they continue to play the aftermath of his “Reign of Selfishness.”

    More semi dressed Knockouts as ODB wondering around out in the parking lot most likely going home because she had nothing to do, runs into Karen who is watching the knockouts as closely as a lesbian prison warden from some 80’s sexploitation flick, propositions her to take out Mickie James adding the bonus of earning a title shot. Logic aside her wouldn’t the fact that Gail is allied with Karen make a title opportunity a moot point considering Gail and her posse would just cheat? But so far I’m liking this episode.

    Three way tag match between Ink Inc w/Toxxin vs Mexican America w/ Sarita & Rosita vs The Pope and Devon w/o the 2 kids they share. I’m all-pro gay marriage with kids especially since Devon’s wife practically disappeared after a couple of appearances. Decent match that saw what will now be the norm in Impact Wrestling, make shift tag teams. Because who needs already made ones when you can… I’ll stop now I enjoyed it for what it was.

    Aries comes out and cuts a promo where he says he has beaten everyone in the division clean. And that the division should be renamed the AA division, (in short his cocky heel promo rocked.) Kid Kash comes out all angry and ready for a fight. They spit back and forth making for a solid set up at Final Resolution for a X division title match.

    Steve Borden and Jeff Jarrett have a fight backstage about how if Jarrett interferes in the main event there will be consequences. Which is all just foreshadowing for what is obviously going to happen.

    More Roode family promo fallout. Mickie James vs ODB in a street fight. First off I’m wearing off on the Mickie Express. Her movements in the ring just seem so forced and over theatrical for me. Where as ODB who has been toned down from the last time she was there is a breath of fresh air. She stands out and in a good way. Sadly she has now become enhancement talent for Hardcore Country. After a solid showing the match ends when Mickie weakly (and ODB telegraphed putting the chair in front of her face) spin kick for the 3.

    Interview with James Storm where Kurt Angle shows and taunts James some more telling him to show up next week to sign on for a match at Final Resolution. Ah heels and there non concern for concussions or torn hamstrings. Either way good promo.

    Comedy Gold rears it head as Steiner and Ray try to find a way to calm down Abyss. Until the idea for sending 2 of the finest of “the big bad booty daddy’s” stable to satisfy him. What happens next is predictable but still caused me to smirk. Another Roode family promo better put together than all the others which should of aired at the beginning of the show and getting rid of the others leaving room for more matches but whatever.

    Television title match where RVD no sells losing in favor of interference from Daniels setting up another pointless match between these two at final resolution. Next.

    Back to the knockouts who now break out in a fight with soap and water, car wash style. Tara, Love, Winter and Tessmacher will help many through the night. Pope, Williams, MA and Ink Inc minus Toxxin come out to see all the commotion. It all ends when Gail sprays the girls down.

    Main event

    Bobby Roode vs AJ Styles vs Jeff Hardy in a 3 way dance. At first what starts as a beat-down  of Bobby Roode basically becomes predictable as Jeff and AJ turn on one another. Jarrett interferes costing Hardy the match.

    Borden comes out and makes a cage match at Final Resolution where if Jeff Hardy loses he is gone for good and if he wins he gets bumped back into the world title picture come Genesis. So since we know who sells merchandise we can expect the feud between AJ and Roode to end come Final Resolution and Jeff back in for the belt. hmmm.

    In conclusion, I’m getting better at watching this program without belittling it lets see how long this will last.

     

  4. Ring of Honor, 12/6/2010

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    Welcome, one and all! Particularly the one, as he turned up alone. With “Final Battle” for 2010 rapidly approaching, there is much to ponder in the world of ROH. Onward, wrestling soldiers! (more…)

  5. Tna Final Resolution

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    Mike Tenay and Taz welcome us to the PPV and the opening match is for the TNA Tag Team Titles.

    TNA Tag Team Championships
    The British Invasion (c’s) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns

    With Shelley out of the ring, The British Invasion used it to their advantage to double team. They hit a double team finisher off the top rope for the three count.

    Winners & STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: The British Invasion

    Up next is Tara vs. ODB for the TNA Knockouts Title.

    TNA Knockouts Championship
    ODB (c) vs. Tara

    Quick match for this one. Tara rolled up ODB to win the match.

    Winner & NEW TNA Knockouts Champion: Tara

    Following the match, Christy Hemme interviewed the new champion. Tara thanked the crowd.

    Adam Martin now here taking over for Roy Nemer for the rest of the recap.

    “Feast or Fired”
    Three winners will earn title shots, one person will be fired

    Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, “Big” Rob Terry and Sheik Abdul Bashir ended up winning the match to get the four briefcases.

    Winners: Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, “Big” Rob Terry and Sheik Abdul Bashir

    Kevin Nash’s briefcase revealed a shot at the TNA World Tag Team Championships. Samoa Joe’s briefcase revealed a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. We came down to the final two – “Big” Rob Terry and Sheik Abdul Bashir. Terry gets the TNA X Divison Championship title shot, while Sheik Abdul Bashir is fired.

    Eight Man Tag Team Elimination
    Team 3D, Rhino & Jesse Neal vs. Matt Morgan, Hernandez, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero & Suicide

    Rhino was eliminated when he was rolled up by Hernandez. Matt Morgan, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero and Suicide joined the match after time expired to even things up. Hernandez took out Jesse Neal with a sick steel chair shot and the referee disqualifed him. Team 3D eliminated Suicide. Were told later that Jesse Neal was disqualified as well. Team 3D eliminated Dinero. It is now down to Matt Morgan against Team 3D. Morgan eliminated Brother Devon. It is now down to Morgan vs. Brother Ray. Morgan got the pinfall over Ray with a Carbon Footprint into a steel chair.

    Winner: Matt Morgan

    We get a video package promoting the history between Scott Steiner and Bobby Lashley in the last two months.

    Last Man Standing
    Bobby Lashley vs. Scott Steiner

    Scott Steiner was favoring his leg early one after taking a T-Bone Suplex from Lashley. Lots of brawling on the outside. They brawled back to the ring, Steiner tossed Lashley up on the top turnbuckle and Steiner dropped him in a facebuster off the corner. Referee started the count and Lashley was up at 9. Steiner with an overhead suplex on Lashley off the top turnbuckle. Referee starts the count again and Lashley is up at 8. Lashley fights back with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and running powerslam on Steiner. Referee starts the count and Steiner is up at 9. Steiner with a Frankensteiner off the top rope on Lashley! Steiner grabbed a steel pipe, Kristal Lashley ran down taking it away from Steiner, tossed it in the ring, Lashley hit a Spear and then took out Steiner with the pipe. Referee started the count and Steiner could not answer the 10 count.

    Winner: Bobby Lashley

    Tenay and Taz hype up the next match of Abyss & Mick Foley vs. Raven & Dr. Stevie.

    Before the match, Mick Foley declared this a “Foley’s Funhouse Rules” match where anything goes.

    Mick Foley & Abyss vs. Raven & Dr. Stevie

    Abyss with a big body splash on Raven and Stevie in the corner. Foley dropped a big elbow over the chest of Stevie who was in the tree of woe in the corner. Foley and Raven brawled to the back as Abyss and Stevie remained in the ring. Abyss and Stevie brawled to the outside near a new area they built for the announce table that connects to the entrance ramp. Abyss setup a table and attempted to powerbomb Stevie off the ramp, but Raven broke it up hitting Abyss over the back with a kendo stick. Raven started choking Abyss with it as well. Raven and Stevie started double teaming Abyss at ringside. Raven pulled out some gasoline, but Foley broke it up coming down the ramp with a shopping cart full of weapons taking out Raven and Stevie. Foley hit Stevie and Raven with his barbed wire bat. Foley with a piledriver on Raven in the ring and then a double arm DDT on Stevie. Raven threw powder in Foley’s face when he had the sock ready. Foley and Abyss both get mandible claws on Raven and Stevie. Raven breaks that up and hits an Evenflow DDT on Abyss for a close two count. On the outside, Foley wrapped barbed wire around Stevie and put him on a table. Foley walks up the ramp, jumps off and connects with a flying elbow through the table on Stevie. In the ring, Abyss catches Raven with a Blackhole Slam for the pinfall.

    Winners: Mick Foley & Abyss

    Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Samoa Joe who earned a briefcase with a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Joe said the biggest perk is that he can wait as long as he wants to cash in his title shot adding he can do it tonight or even on January 4 during the biggest Impact in TNA history.

    Three Degrees of Pain
    Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe

    First Fall: This is a normal singles bout. Lots of hold exchanges early on between the two. Angle continued to go hold for hold with Wolfe. Wolfe worked on the wrists of Angle getting many nearfalls. Wolfe with a few big side headlock takedowns on Angle. Angle with some offense and powerbombs Wolfe right into the corner turnbuckle. Wolfe works over the left arm of Wolfe. Angle with a big overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Angle and Wolfe responds with a flying hammerlock. Angle with a series of german suplexes on Wolfe releasing on the fifth. Angle kicks out of a Tower of London from Wolfe. Angle with an Angle SUplex and Wolfe gets a shoulder up. Angle misses a moonsault and Wolfe connects with a big lariat. Wolfe with another Tower of London and gets the pinfall.

    Winner of Fall #1: Desmond Wolfe

    Second Fall: This is now submission rules. Wolfe jumps on the back of Angle and pulls back on Angle’s shoulder. Angle rolls out and gets a Figure Four applied on Wolfe. Wolfe breaks free and gets an arm scissor armbar submission on Angle. Angle rolls outs and Wolfe continues to work on Angle’s left arm. Angle powers up to his feet, but Wolfe takes him back down with an arm drag into a wristlock. Angle breaks free and gets an Ankle Lock applied. Wolfe taps out.

    Winner of Fall #2: Kurt Angle

    Third Fall: The Six Sides of Steel is now legal in this final fall. Angle with a huge overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Wolfe from the top turnbuckle. Angle then sends Wolfe face first into the side of the cage and follows that up with a big clothesline. Wolfe is busted open at this point. Angle attempts a Frog Splash, but Wolfe brings his knees up. Angle ends up catching Wolfe on the shin and Wolfe screams out in pain. A bloody Wolfe yells at the referee to open up the cage door. Wolfe starts crawling out and Angle brings him back in dropping down to apply an Ankle Lock. Wolfe starts tapping, but you can’t win the match that way. Angle keeps it applied and Wolfe looks to pass out from the pain. Angle breaks the hold and starts climbing out the cage. Wolfe comes to, sees Angle climbing out, tries climbing out through the door, but Angle drops down first to get the win.

    Winner of Fall #3: Kurt Angle
    Winner of Three Degrees of Pain: Kurt Angle (2-1)

    We then see highlights of each of the three falls.

    Backstage, Jeremy Borash is with Mick Foley. Foley said despite his big win tonight, he has other matters to address and that is Hulk Hogan. He promises that Hogan will answer his questions on January 4, live on Impact.

    A video package runs highlighting the events between AJ Styles and Daniels leading into tonight’s main event for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

    TNA World Heavyweight Championship
    AJ Styles (c) vs. Daniels

    Jeremy Borash did the ring introductions for the challenger Daniels and champion AJ Styles.

    Styles and Daniels had an intense stare down as the bell rang. Daniels catches Styles with a big slap early on to upset Styles. Daniels locks up the left arm of Styles in his knees and Styles screams out in pain. Styles fires back choking Daniels with his legs. Daniels continues to roll through offense attempts by Styles. Styles catches Daniels with a big dropkick as Daniels shot off the ropes. Quick head scissors takedown by Styles on Daniels followed by a quick snap suplex. Styles with a big flip dive over the top rope taking out Daniels on the outside who slid out. Styles with a big wind up lariat on Daniels. Daniels comes back with a monkey flip sending Styles into the corner turnbuckle with force. Daniels grabs two steel chairs and sets them up. Daniels sits Styles down on one, goes to hit Styles, the referee pulls that chair away and with the referee’s back turned Daniels slams Styles over the one that was setup. Daniels tosses Styles back in and gets a close two count. Styles comes back with another head scissors takedown.

    Daniels with a forearm to the back when Styles attempted a springboard off the top turnbuckle. Daniels grabs Styles looking to hit a back superplex, but Daniels drops Styles back first off the top of the turnbuckle! Very nasty landing for Styles there. Daniels with a springboard moonsault over Styles right into a Crossface. Styles grabs onto the bottom rope to break it up. Styles with a big hammerlock back suplex on Daniels. Another nasty spot saw Daniels attempt a springboard huracanrana from the ring, but Styles held on and powerbombed Daniels on the floor. Styles with a backbreaker across the knee on Daniels. Styles fires back with a big springboard inverted DDT on Daniels that gets a close two count. Daniels crotches Styles up on the top rope. Daniels climbs up on the ropes and superplexes Styles back into the middle of the ring. Daniels puts Styles up on the top turnbuckle and catches Styles with a huge right hand. Daniels huracanrana’s Styles off the top rope and connects with a Shining Wizard for a two count. Daniels has a huge knot on his head. Styles fights back hitting a huge brainbuster on Daniels.

    Styles with a springboard clothesline on Daniels, cover and Daniels gets his boot on the bottom rope. Styles with a Pele Kick on Daniels, attempts the Styles Clash, but Daniels reaches and hooks himself in the ropes. Styles starts kicking Daniels in the back to break it up. Styles catches Daniels with a big kick to the back of the head, but Daniels holds on to the referee to counter a german suplex attempt. Daniels knocks out Styles and connects with a huge BME (Best Moonsault Ever), covers and gets a very close two count. Daniels can’t believe it and starts hitting some stiff right hands. Styles catapults Daniels into the corner, Daniels falls back, Styles rolls through, hits the Styles Clash and Daniels finds a way to kick out. Daniels gets Styles up on the top turnbuckle, looks to attempt a huracanrana, but Styles holds on and hits a Styles Clash on Daniels from the corner. Styles turns over and gets the pinfall.

    Winner & STILL TNA World Heavyweight Champion: AJ Styles