TNA Slammiversary Results
Sunday, June 12, 2011
From Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida
Results by: Sean Hopkins of WrestlingNewsWorld.com
We open with a video package highlighting some of the main events for tonight. The pyro hits and Mike Tenay welcomes us to the PPV proper, immediately hyping the TNA World title match between Sting and Ken Anderson, as well as the match between Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett. Tenay and Taz say they’re both ready to kick things off, and it looks like the World Tag Team titles will do just that, as Douglas Williams and Magnus make their way out to the ring to some heat from the crowd. Alex Shelley and James Storm make their way out with Robert Roode in tow. Roode hands off his title belt to Shelley, and lets the new team make their way to the ring, as Roode breaks off to join Tenay and Taz for commentary.
TNA Tag Team Championship Match
– James Storm & Alex Shelley (c) vs. British Invasion
Storm and Williams look to start things off for their respective teams. The bell rings and both men lock up.
The start:
Williams and Storm chain wrestle for a bit, trading holds before Shelley tags in to continue chaining with Williams. Williams tags out to Magnus, and he comes in with a quick shoulder block but is taken down by a drop toe hold. Magnus comes back, but it’s not long before Shelley tags of to Storm. Both members of Gun Money double team both members of the British Invasion for a while. Frequent tags from Storm and Shelley, who even bust out the signature MCMG dropkick spot with a poke to the eyes instead of a dropkick.
Mid-match notes:
Shelley goes to work on Williams, but he’s pulled to the outside by Magnus, and this allows for the distraction when Shelley re-enters the match, allowing Williams to gain the upper hand. Williams goes to work on Shelley’s arm, wrenching away, but Shelley fights back the entire time. Magnus is in and the Brits double team Shelley without the tag. Magnus tags in and beats on Shelley in the corner, but Shelley begins to fight back, knocking Magnus away.
Shelley leaps at Magnus off of the middle rope but Magnus catches him, and executes a nice dropkick. Magnus tags out to Williams and they whip Shelley into the corner so Williams can follow with a high knee, and Magnus hits a middle rope elbow drop. Magnus and Williams continue to take it to Shelley, with occasional flashes of offense from Shelley, but Williams hits a big suplex to stop Shelley’s momentum. Williams goes for the Chaos Theory but Shelley fights it off, and STO’s Williams into the corner instead. Shelley makes the hot tag to Storm who comes in with punches and clotheslines for both members of the BI. Storm hits a DDT on William, but it’s not enough to keep him down for three. Storm slides to the outside and takes out Magnus before going to the apron and backdropping Williams out to the floor on top of Magnus. Storm holds the ropes open for Shelley, who hits a suicide dive on Williams.
Storm rolls Williams back into the ring, and he and Shelley execute a suplex on Magnus, dropping him on top of Williams. Storm and Shelley celebrate, but they’re surprised by Magnus who tosses Storm over the top. Shelley hangs Magnus up on the top rope and Storm comes back in, going for the Eye of the Storm on Williams. Williams reverses, but ends up eatching a couple of dropkicks in the corner. Storm hits a back cracker on Williams before Shelley connects with the double knees from the top, but it’s not enough to keep Williams down for three. Magnus comes in to take out Storm but he’s taken out with a missile dropkick from Shelley. Shelley eats some European uppercuts from Williams.
The finish:
Williams is turned around by Storm but Williams ducks and Storm spits beer into Shelley’s eyes. Shelley can’t see so he hits a superkick onto Storm. The BI hit a doomsday European uppercut, but it’s not enough to keep Storm down for three. Miscommunication from the Brits leads to a superkick/sliced bread combo from Storm and Shelley. Storm goes for the pin, and this one is over.
Winners and STILL TNA World Tag Team Champions: Gun Money
We get video from earlier today of Jeff Jarrett arriving at the arena. This is followed by footage of Kurt Angle arriving to the arena.
Scott Steiner is backstage with Jeremy Borash. Borash says all the white trash in attendance, and at home, have seen him beat Morgan with his left arm, and that’s his weak arm, and tonight he’s got both. Steiner says the greatest thing about winning is tonight after beating Morgan, he’s going to take his girlfriend and show her what it’s like to be a real man.
Singles Match
– Matt Morgan vs. Scott Steiner
Steiner is the first man out to the ring, and he receives a pretty apathetic reaction from the Impact Zone. He’s followed by Matt Morgan, who gets a much more positive reaction from the crowd. The bell rings, and we’re ready to kick things off in this one.
The start:
Steiner poses for a bit, showing off his muscles to Morgan and the crowd. Both men lock up and Morgan locks in a headlock. Steiner fights it off, but falls to a big shoulderblock. Morgan picks Steiner up and body slams him before connecting with a bit head butt. Steiner ends up hung up on the top rope, and Morgan leaps over him, catching him with a big leg drop on the way out. Steiner goes to the outside and Morgan drives him back first intop the ring apron.
Mid-match notes:
Back in the ring, Morgan goes for what looks to be a reverse choke slam,but Steiner grabs the ref and connects with a low blow to Morgan. Steiner stomps away at Morgan for a bit before hitting an inverted atomic drop and stomping away at Morgan a bit more. Steiner grabs Morgan and hits a big belly to belly suplex. Morgan tries to fight back, but Steiner chokes Morgan against the ropes to stop his momentum. Steiner chokes Morgan with his boot for a bit before simply jawing for the crowd. Steiner sends Morgan into the ropes and catches him with a clothesline and big elbow drop. Steiner goes for the pin, but decides to do some push ups instead. Steiner beats on Morgan in the corner for a bit before hitting a snap mare and kicking him square in the chest.
Steiner beats on Morgan in the corner again, but when he sends him across the ring with an Irish whip, Morgan catches him with a big boot. Morgan hits Steiner with a couple of right hands before hitting him with a big clothesline, then another. Morgan slams Steiner face first into the turnbuckle before hitting a big splash, and a sidewalk slam to put Steiner down. Morgan hits a sit-out slam, but when he goes for the cover, Steiner kicks out at two. Steiner is able to hit a modified T-Bone suplex which is good enough for a near fall of his own, but Morgan comes right back with a big discus clothesline.
Steiner is able to drive Morgan down to the mat and he goes for the pin, but he’s only able to get two. Steiner locks in the Steiner recliner, and Morgan appears to be fading, but when the ref lifts his hand up, Morgan pulls it away on the third count. Morgan goes for the ropes, and uses them to pull himself up to his feet with Steiner on his shoulders. Steiner is able to victory roll into a pinning combination, but Morgan kicks out at two. Steiner goes to the middle rope and jumps off, but Morgan catches him in chokeslam position. Morgan hits an atomic drop instead. Steiner almost hits a belly to belly suplex, but Morgan fights it off and hits a bicycle kick instead. Morgan goes for the pin, and gets the three count.
Winner: Matt Morgan
JB is backstage with Jeff Jarrett. He asks Jarrett if he ever imagined facing his toughest opponent with his gold medals on the line. Jarrett says he already took Angle’s wife away. He says tonight is about becoming the #1 Contender, and taking away the last thing he’s able to take away from Angle. He says tonight when Earl Hebner raises his hand in victory, Angle is in for agony. Jarrett will be standing on a podium on Impact, and Angle will have to put his medals around Jarrett’s neck, and there’s nothing he can do about it. Jarrett finally dedicates his win tonight to Karen, before ending the interview.
TNA X Division Championship Match
– Abyss (c) vs. Kazarian vs. Brian Kendrick
We get a video package, and a quick breakdown of the competitors heading into this match tonight. Kazarian is the first man out to the ring, and he gets a pretty decent reaction from the Impact Zone (which, to be fair, is terrible more often than not). Kendrick is the next man out to the ring, minus his normal robes and everything, giving him the appearance of meaning business. The Champion himself, Abyss, is the next man to the ring, and he gets a bit of a mixed reaction from the crowd, but it dies off quickly. Kendrick and Kaz hang together for a bit, then the bell rings and Kaz walks off.
The start:
Kaz and Kendrick wait on the apron for a bit before coming in. Both Kaz and Kendrick go for Abyss, but Abyss fights Kendrick off. Abyss goes for a splash on Kaz, but he misses and Kaz tries to use his speed to his advantage with a quick series of punches. Kaz hits a dropkick, but he’s tossed away by a quick back elbow from Abyss. Kendrick is in with a series of kicks and a couple of dropkicks, but he goes for a cross body, and Abyss catches him, picking him up, and tossing him to the floor on top of Kaz.
Mid-match notes:
Kaz and Kendrick talk for a bit on the outside before coming into the ring at the same time and double teaming Abyss, forcing him to roll to the outside. Kaz goes for a baseball slide but he’s tossed aside by Abyss. Kendrick goes for a dive over the top but he’s caught by Abyss. Kaz hits a dropkick and Kendrick drops down on top of Abyss. Kaz and Kendrick continue to work over Abyss, sending him back to the inside of the ring. Kaz and Kendrick trap Abyss in the corner, hitting him with a variety of running moves into the corner, knee, elbow, splash, clothesline, but Kendrick goes for another, and Abyss catches him with a big black hole slam. Abyss back body drops Kaz to the apron, but Kaz comes back in, only to eat a big boot from Abyss. Kendrick tries to climb back into the ring, but Abyss punches him back to the outside. Abyss chokes Kaz in the corner for a bit before laying into him with an enormous overhand chop. Abyss launches Kaz into the corner, hard, before going back to Kendrick, on the apron, and hitting him with a giant head butt to send him back to the arena floor. Abyss sends Kaz back into the corner before charging in with a big clothesline to take Kaz off of his feet.
Abyss picks Kaz up, and Kaz begins biting on Abyss fingers to avoid a further beating. Kaz continues the biting, fighting his way up to his feet, and Kaz begins to beat on Abyss in the corner. Kaz goes for a splash, but Abyss avoids it and turns it into a shock treatment for Kaz. Abyss circles Kaz and drags him toward the corner. Abyss goes to the middle rope and launches himself off with a Vader bomb, but Kaz moves. Abyss gets back to his feet and Kendrick catches him with a dropkick to the knee, then a single leg dropkick, another dropkick, and a missile dropkick, but he can’t keep Abyss down for three. Kendrick hits a beautiful enzugiri before going to the middle rope and hitting a jumping DDT, but he still only gets a two count off of a pin.
Kendrick goes for the sliced bread, but Abyss pushes him away and connects with a giant chokeslam. Kaz comes back in as a house of fire, taking it to Abyss with a big top rope hurricarana. Kaz catches Abyss with a springboard back elbow before a double dropkick from Kaz and Kendrick. Kaz hits a slingshot leg drop and Kendrick hits a big splash, both men go for the pin but Abyss kicks out. Kaz almost gets a roll up but Abyss kicks out again. Abyss shoves Kaz into Kendrick before rolling to the outside.
The finish:
Kaz and Kendrick begin fighting with eachother, laying in with right hands, before sending each other into opposide corners. Kendrick goes to the top, but Kaz catches him with a quick enzugiri. Kaz goes to the top with Kendrick and goes for the fluz capacitor, but Kendrick pushes him off. Kendrick jumps off but Kaz catches him, Kendrick fights Kaz off and goes to the ropes, but Abyss pulls him out of the ring, sneaks back into the ring, and pins Kaz, getting the three count.
Winner and STILL TNA X Division Champion: Abyss
We get a video package that highlights the events that have led up to this match. Samoa Joe is the first man to make his way out to the ring, and he gets a bit of a lukewarm reaction from this Impact Zone crowd. It warms up a bit, but not much.
Singles Match
– Crimson vs. Samoa Joe
Crimson is out next, and while his reaction is a bit better, it’s not by much. Crimson rushes the ring and he and Joe begin trading blows immediately. Crimson buries his shoulder in Joe’s midsection in the corner, but Joe digs in with some knees to Crimson’s chest and Joe sends him to the outside.
The start:
When Joe goes for the Suicide Dive, Crimson hits him with a big forearm, and Joe goes limp. Crimson sends Joe into the ring where he immediately goes to work, locking in a cravat. Joe fights out of it, but Crimson drills Joe right back down to the mat, mounting him and laying in with a series of right hands. Crimson locks in another cravat, but Joe fights out of it. Joe beats Crimson down to the mat. When he’s back on his feet, Joe goes for a dragon screw but Crimson kind of falls during it, preventing him.
Mid-match notes:
Joe takes Crimson to the corner where he slaps him in the face and stomps him. Joe picks up Crimson and lays in with a big forearm, but Crimson begins fighting back. Crimson charges Joe, but Joe catches him, shoulders him, and drops him down on his knees. Joe locks in a leg bar, but Crimson is able to grab the ropes to break the hold. Joe begins to lay into Crimson with a series of kicks and when Crimson grabs the leg, Joe rolls over into another leg submission. Crimson grabs the ropes, breaking the hold again.
Joe locks in a spinning toe hold on Crimson, wrenching away at his knee. Crimson is able to counter into a head/arm lock combo, but Joe grabs the ropes forcing a break. Both men get back to their feet where Joe slaps Crimson, and Crimson responds with a big T-bone suplex. Crimson hits a big double arm DDT, but it’s only good for a two count. Crimson doesn’t relent as he turns right back to Joe, laying in with a clubbing blow across the back. Crimson sends Joe across the ring, but Joe comes back with a big belly to back suplex and a huge clothesline, but when he goes for the pin Crimson kicks out at a two count.
Crimson gets back up only to be sent into the corner and hit with a big open palm thrust. Joe goes to the middle rope and leaps out on to Crimson with a huge flying knee but he still can’t keep Crimson down for three. Joe picks Crimson up and hits him with a big powerbomb, but Crimson kicks out at two. Joe transitions right into a big single leg Boston crab, but Crimson grabs onto the ropes again, forcing the break. Joe stands up to catch Crimson with a big blow to the face. Both men trade slaps before Joe hits a big head butt and Crimson hits a giant spear.
The finish:
The referee begins the count and both men are up at an 8 count. Joe and Crimson trade right hands in the middle of the ring with Crimson getting the upper hand. Joe is able to come back with several big slaps, sending Crimson back into the corner. Joe sits Crimson on the top rope, but Crimson fights it off. Joe comes up behind Crimson, trying to lock in a choke, but Crimson backs Joe up into the corner to break the hold. Joe charges Crimson and Crimson comes up with a big sit out powerbomb, pinning Samoa Joe, and getting the three count.
Winner: Crimson
After the match, Joe offers Crimson his hand, Crimson shakes. Joe pulls Crimson in close, and says something to Crimson, which Tenay interprets as ‘we will do this again’. Joe walks off to the back.
JB is backstage with Angelina Love and Winter. Winter is the one doing all the talking. She says when Love wins the title, they’ll be closer to making their dreams come true, and she knows Love is ready. She says it’s time for Love to take her medicine. Love stops her, says she doesn’t need to, they’re on the same page, and she understands. Both women walk off, leaving JB in their wake.
TNA Knockout Women’s Championship Match
– Mickie James (c) vs. Angelina Love
Love is out first, with Winter, of course. She gets very little reaction from the crowd. Mickie James is out next, and she comes out to a bigger reaction, but it’s still pretty pathetic. The bell rings and this one is ready to begin.
The start:
Both women lock up and Love tosses Mickie away before grabbing her by her hair and tossing her away again. Both ladies go for the hair, but Love comes up with an arm bar instead, wrenching Mickie’s arm and sending her down to the mat. Love backs Mickie up into the corner and drives her shoulder into Mickie’s midsection repeatedly. Love catches Mickie with a couple of boots to the stomach, but Mickie comes right back with a big hurricarana. Love is quick to respond with a suplex, but James kicks out at two.
Mid-match notes:
James turns things around, but she’s pulled to the outside by Winter while the ref isn’t looking. Love follows out and begins taking it to James, with big right hands, before sending her back into the ring. Mickie begins fighting back, hitting a couple of big forearms, but Love puts her back down, sending her into the corner. Mickie comes right back out with a big clothesline. Love recovers more quickly and tosses Mickie out to the floor. Love follows and picks Mickie up, but when she goes to slam her into the ring steps, Mickie avoids it and Love goes head first into the ring steps.
Winter checks on Angelina but she’s backed away by the ref. Back in the ring both women get to their knees and trade forearms. Angelina gets the upper hand, but Mickie comes right back with a big clothesline. Mickie lays into Love with a couple of big forearms, then clotheslines to take Love off of her feet. Mickie plants Love with a kind of face buster before Mickie goes to the top and leaps off with a Thesz press on top of Love. Winter distracts Mickie and the ref, but Mickie is still able to connect with the chick kick. Mickie goes for the pin and Winter puts Love’s foot on the ropes. Love connects with the Botox Injection and goes for the pin but Mickie gets her hand on the rope. Winter tries to push it off but Hebner catches her, warning her. Love goes for something, but Mickie fights it off and goes for a DDT.
The finish:
Winter distracts her and Love goes for something else, but Mickie hits a Northern lights suplex instead, Love kicks out at two. Love goes for a roll up and Winter assists, but James kicks out at two. James goes for, and botches, a jumping DDT, ending this one.
Winner and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Mickie James
Following the match, Winter attacks a celebrating Mickie, laying her out. Her and Angelina continue the attack until Hebner sends them away.
JB is backstage with Bully Ray. Bully Ray asks what kind of match it is an JB says Last Man Standing. Ray asks JB to repeat it several times. Ray says this match is about being a man, something which AJ and JB know nothing about. Ray says that Styles is nothing but a boy that he can and should have taken out. Ray says he’s in the best shape of his life, and he’s a wrecking machine. Ray says he’ll be the last man standing before apologizing to himself for not getting rid of AJ earlier. He says tonight AJ will realize why Ray is the biggest, baddest mother f’er to step into the ring. This segues into a video package highlighting the events leading into this match.
Last Man Standing Match
– AJ Styles vs. Bully Ray
Bully Ray is the first man out to the ring, and he gets a bit of heat from the crowd, but they’re still not near as noisy as they could be. AJ Styles is the next man out to the ring, and he gets the biggest pop of the night so far. The bell rings and both men stare each other down for a bit.
The start:
Both men back up a bit before Ray charges Styles and gets caught with a big kick. Styles continues to work over Ray with pucnhes and kicks. Styles catches Ray in the corner with a couple of big chops and a huge enzugiri.
Mid-match notes:
Styles continues to bring the fight to Ray, laying into him with big right hands and chops. Styles tries to clothesline Ray over the top rope, but Ray isn’t going. Styles hits the ropes and Ray comes back with a big clothesline. Ray lays into Styles with big rights hands, but it doesn’t last long as Styles comes right back with big chops and kicks. Styles hits Ray with a kick to the groin, but Ray comes right back with a back elbow, so AJ hits a head butt before sending Ray into the corner and hitting a big running forearm.
Styles runs in for another move in the corner, but Ray slams him down to the mat hard, stopping his momentum. Ray sends AJ into the ropes and hits a huge back body drop. Ray waits for AJ to get to his feet and splashes him hard in the corner. Ray hits AJ with a big right hand in the corner before sending him to the outside hard. Ray follows, pushing the stairs away from the ring post and setting them up on their side. Ray takes it to AJ with big right hands and clubbing blows across the back before grating AJ’s face against the barricade.
Ray picks AJ up and slams him down on top of the sideways ring steps he set up earlier. Ray picks up Styles again and drops him back down a second time. Ray drops the steps on top of Styles, then stands on top of the steps, driving them down into Styles’ body. Ray sends Styles into the ring post hard and the ref begins counting but AJ gets back up at five. Ray sends Styles back into the ring and begins posturing for the crowd. Ray traps Styles in the corner and traps his arms, delivering a sick chop to Styles’ chest.
Styles asks for another chop, and Ray obliges. Styles drops down to the mat, but gets right back up for another chop. Styles gets right back up and asks for another chop, begging Ray and saying he wants him to chop him. Styles gets back up, more slowly this time, and asks for Ray’s best shot. Ray lays in with a big right hand and Styles drops to the mat. Styles is back up again and he lays into Ray with a couple of big right hands. Ray fights back but Styles comes up with a huge enzugiri to put Ray down. Ray is slow to get back to his feet and when he does he’s nailed by a springboard flying forearm from Styles. Ray is able to get back to his feet and catch Styles with a back elbow, but when he goes to the top turnbuckle he’s caught by a Pele from AJ. Styles goes to the top and lays in with a couple of big right hands, but when Styles goes for a top rope hurricarana, Ray is able to reverse it into a huge top rope powerbomb.
Both men roll to the outside to get back to their feet and Ray grabs a steel chain. Ray swings the chain, but Styles drops down and Ray connects with the ring post, dropping it. Styles grabs the chain and wraps it around his fist, hitting Ray with a big right hand, and Ray drops down to the floor. When Ray comes back up he’s busted wide open. Styles takes Ray around ringside and lays in with some big right hands, to the crowd’s delight. Styles sends Ray back into the ring, and follows with a springboard 450 splash.
Ray makes it back to his feet, only to be lifted up by AJ, and dumped over the top rope to the outside. AJ follows with a quick plancha over the top onto Ray. Styles goes for the Styles clash, but Ray fights out of it, picking Styles up and dropping him face first down over the ring apron. Ray picks Styles up and takes him over the the entrance ramp, taking him to the top. Ray goes for a powerbomb off the ramp, but AJ fights out of it and connects with the Pele. Ray grabs on to the side of the ramp for dear life, and AJ kicks Ray, sending him to the floor. AJ waits for Ray to get to his feet, and runs, leaping and flying off of the stage with a big flying forearm to Ray.
Styles is up at 5 and Ray is up at 8. Styles grabs a table and drags it over toward the ramp. He lays into Ray with a couple of right hands before grabbing a fan’s chair and hitting Ray across the back. Styles lays Ray across the table, then goes back up to the entrance ramp. Styles goes to the ramp, then jump off onto a supporting truss. Styles climbs the truss going about 20 feet up before launching himself off with a huge flying elbow, sending himself and Ray crashing through the table.
The finish:
Styles gets up to his feet at six, but he’s kicked through part of the stage by Ray. The ref continues counting, and Ray is able to make it to his feet, barely, before falling back to his feet. So even though Styles got back to his feet, Ray is declared the winner.
Winner: Bully Ray
JB is backstage with Mr. Anderson. Anderson asks JB if he liked him dressing up like Sting. He tells him it’s ok to laugh, then instructs him to laugh. He then says it’s not funny, saying play time is over. Anderson says what JB needs to do it open his eyes, and ears, and shut his big fat mouth and watch what he’s going to do out there. Anderson says he could talk like this all day, but actions speak louder than words. Anderson walks out, and this segues into a video package highlighting the events that have led up to tonight’s TNA World title match.
TNA Championship Match
– Sting (c) vs. Mr. Anderson
Mr. Anderson is the first man out to the ring, and he gets a respectable pop from the Impact Zone. He waits at the top of the ramp, calling down his mic.
Anderson says this one is for all the people who, when he got into this business, asked when he was going to wrestle Sting. He says he’s going to out-wrestle Sting in a few moments, and at the end of said match, there will be a new World Heavyweight Champion. Anderson then says the crowd doesn’t approve, saying ‘not that’. He then says said new Champion will be from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and his name happens to be Mr. Anderson (Anderson). But he’s attacked from behind by Sting.
The start:
Sting lays in with a couple of big right hands, sending Anderson down the ramp and toward the ring. Sting sends Anderson into the barricade before slamming him into the ring apron.
Mid-match notes:
Sting climbs into the ring and brings Anderson in behind him. Sting slams Anderson into the corner, laying into him with a couple of big right hands. Anderson rolls to the outside and Sting follows. Anderson surprises Sting with a couple of surprise blows, but Sting slams Anderson into the ringside barricade instead. Sting tosses Anderson over the railing and into the crowd, asking the fans to move before whipping Anderson into one of the arena walls, then doing it a second time.
Sting tries to whip Anderson into the wall again, but Anderson reverses. Sting is quick to come back though, laying in to Anderson with big right hands. Both men fight up into the crown and Sting continues to pound on Anderson throughout the crowd. Sting rakes at Anderson’s eyes and continues to hit him with right hand after right hand.
Sting fights with Anderson across one entire section, then they begin to move up the stairs again toward the top of the arena. Sting grabs Anderson in a head lock and walks him down to the arena floor where he slams Anderson head first into the arena wall repeatedly. Sting sends Anderson over the barricade and back into the ringside area. Anderson rolls back into the ring and Sting follows. Anderson catches Sting on the apron and slams him head first into the ring post, sending him back out to the floor. Anderson follows and slams Sting’s arm into the ring steps before wrapping it around the ring post and wrenching away.
Anderson continues to wear away on Sting, trying to catch him off guard with a school boy, but Sting is able to kick out. Anderson locks in an arm bar, but Sting is able to fight up to his feet. Anderson counters into a belly to back suplex. Anderson drops an elbow and goes for the cover, getting a two count. Anderson grabs Sting and brings him to his feet, laying into him with a big right hands. Anderson goes to the top but Sting catches him. Anderson grabs Sting’s arm and wrenches it over the top rope as he falls to the arena floor. Anderson is back in the ring where he hits a short arm clothesline and another elbow drop for a quick two count.
Anderson continues to work over Sting’s arm with a big arm bar. Sting is able to fight back up to his feet and out of the hold, but Anderson comes back with a kick to the chest, and a big single arm DDT. Anderson goes for the pin, but Sting kicks out at two. Anderson continues to take it to Sting with a series of right hands in the corner, Anderson back himself up and goes for a corner splash, but Sting moves and Anderson eats the turnbuckle. Anderson is quick to recover, laying into Sting with a bunch of right hands. Anderson goes for another quick pin but Sting kicks out at two.
Anderson locks in an inverted keylock, which he turns into a top wristlock, but Sting is able to fight out of it. Anderson and Sting trade blows in the middle of the ring. Sting gets the upper hand, taking Anderson down with a big clothesline. Sting hits another clothesline, then two more, before sending Anderson into the ropes for a big back body drop. Anderson gets to his feet only to eat a big Stinger splash. Sting kicks out Anderson’s leg and goes for the Scorpion deathlock, but Eric Bischoff runs down to the ring for the distraction. Sting goes for the Stinger splash but Anderson moves and connects with the Green Bay plunge. Anderson goes for the pin, but Sting kicks out at two. Both men are back up and Sting hits a big DDT but it’s only good for a two count.
Sting goes into the corner and tries for a Vader bomb but Anderson gets his knees up. Anderson goes for the cover but Sting kicks out. Anderson goes for the mic check but Sting fights out, only to walk into another mic check attempt, this time successful. Anderson goes for the pin but Sting kicks out. Anderson goes to the top but Sting catches him, laying in with a series of kicks to the gut. Sting hits Anderson with a big splash to the back in the corner, and then hits a Scorpion death drop.
The finish:
The referee counts, and it sounds like three, but the ref calls it a two. Bischoff says he had nothing to do with it, and Sting looks frustrated. Sting picks Anderson up and Anderson hits a low blow. Anderson connects with the mic check, pins Sting, and gets the three count.
Winner & NEW TNA World Champion: Mr. Anderson
This was a really convoluted ending where Bischoff made the two count, then the ref made another two count, and Sting thought he had won it, only to release the pin. Then, to make matters worse, Anderson gave Sting a low blow directly in front of the referee. Anderson celebrates in front of the fans, a lot of whom don’t seem to get exactly what just happened.
Not so much a backstage segment as Tenay and Taz are joined ‘by satellite’ by Karen Jarrett. Karen insinuates that Angle is the one who pushed her, and caused her injury. Karen says she’s under all different types of stress, and she’s not going to let Tenay get her blood pressure up. She says when Jeff gets into the ring with Kurt, he’s going to win, be the #1 contender, and bring the gold medal back where it belongs. Karen says when Jarrett brings the medal home, she’s going to wear it, and do what she does best. Tenay calls Karen a ‘ball-buster’, this cuts Karen off, while she protests, and segues into the video package for this match.
Number One Contender’s Match
– Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett is the first man out to the ring, and I don’t know if it’s the crowd continuing to be apathetic, or if they’re just miced terribly, but they just don’t seem to care. Angle is the next man out, and he gets one of the better pops of the night, but it’s still not what it could (or really should) be. We get formal ring introductions from JB, something we didn’t even get for the World Title match.
The start:
The bell rings and we’re ready to being the main event of the evening. Angle and Jarrett circle each other before Angle backs Jarrett into the corner. Jarrett goes into the ropes to force Angle away. Both men lock up and Angle quickly backs Jarrett up into the corner. Angle goes behind Jarrett and takes him down with a belly to back suplex but Jarrett makes it into the ropes to force a break. Another lock up and Angle locks in a side head lock. Jarrett tries to force out of it, unsuccessfully.
Mid-match notes:
Jarrett fights out of the hold, only to eat a shoulderblock, then hip toss. Angle lays in a couple of big right hands in the corner before hitting an awesome snap suplex, good for a two count. Angle sends Jarrett into the corner, laying into him with big clubbing blows to the back. Angle continues to beat Jarrett around the ring. Angle sends Jarrett into the ropes but Jeff grabs on to the ropes, then back body drops Angle to the outside. Jarrett follows to the outside where he immediately backs him up into the barricade before slamming him into another barricade. Jarrett hits a big European uppercut before sending him shoulder first into the ring steps.
Angle is slow to make it back into the ring, especially with Jarrett attacking him and sending him back out to the ring floor. Jarrett goes to the outside and sends Angle back into the ring, following and stomping Angle repeatedly. Jarrett hangs Angle up in the ropes and hits him with a big uppercut to the face. Jarrett hits Angle with a high knee to the gut, but when he goes for the pin, Angle is able to kick out at two. Jarrett chokes Angle against the middle rope before coming down with a huge blow across the back of Angle’s head. Jarrett sends Angle into the ropes and both men go for a cross body, leading to both men laid out in the middle of the ring.
Both men get to their feet and Anle is able to connect with a couple of right hands before he’s locked into a sleeper. Angle backs Jarrett into the corner to break the hold. Angle avoids Jarrett in the opposite corner and hits a big German suplex.
Both men are slow to their feet, but when they get up they trade right hands in the middle of the ring. Angle gets the upper hand, sending Jarrett around the ring. Jarrett catches Angle with a big kick, but Angle responds with a belly to belly suplex. Angle goes for the ankle lock but Jarrett fights it off. Angle goes up to the second rope and comes off with a big dropkick. Jarrett goes for a hurricarana, but Angle catches him and hits a big powerbomb instead. Angle locks in the ankle lock but Jarrett rolls through to break it. Jarrett hits a big DDT and goes for the pin, but Angle is able to kick out at two.
Jarrett goes for the stroke, but Angle is able to block it and hit the Angle slam instead, but it’s not enough to keep Jarrett down. Angle goes to the top and goes for a moonsault, but Jarrett avoids it. Jarrett hits the stroke and goes for a pin, but Angle is able to kick out at two. Jarrett waits for Angle to get back up and he goes for a tombstone piledriver, but Angle reverses. Jarrett reverses it again, but it’s reversed another time by Angle, this time into an Angle lock. Jarrett rolls through again and sends Angle into the ref. Jarrett connects with a low blow to take Angle to the mat.
Jarrett goes to the outside and underneath the ring where he grabs a guitar. Jarrett gets back into the ring and smashes the guitar over Angle’s head, moving the pieces out of the ring before calling another ref down to the ring. Hebner comes out and rolls into the ring, counting one, two, but Angle kicks out before three. Jarrett is upset and he’s concerned with Hebner. Hebner shoves him into a roll up and Angle gets a two count. Angle pops right up, hitting three German suplexes on Jarrett before going for the pin, but he still only gets two.
Angle picks Jarrett up and places him on the top turnbuckle. Kurt goes up after him but Jarrett pushes him away. Angle pops back up and runs up the corner, launching Jarrett with a huge super belly to belly suplex, but it’s still only good for two. Angle pulls down his singlet straps. Angle goes for the Angle slam, but Jarrett reverses into an arm drag. Angle goes for the spear in the corner but his shoulder connects with the ring post. Jarrett hits an enzugiri, puts Angle on the top turnbuckle, and connects with a middle rope stroke. Jarrett goes for the pin, but Angle kicks out at two.
The finish:
Jarrett goes for the Angle slam but Angle reverses, so Jarrett locks in the ankle lock. Angle looks to be in pain, but he crawls toward the ropes. Angle almost has them, but Jarrett pulls Angle back toward the middle of the ring, where he grapevines Angle’s leg. Kurt kicks away at Jarrett to force him to break the hold, but Jarrett locks it right back in. Angle rolls through and locks in an ankle lock of his own, grape-vining the leg, and forcing Jarrett to tap.
Winner NEW #1 Contender to the TNA World Championship: Kurt Angle
Angle celebrates briefly in the ring before heading up the ramp and toward the back. The show ends with Angle celebrating at the top of the ramp and heading off to the back, while Jarrett grabs his ankle in pain, and pouts in the middle of the ring.
