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  • Ring of Honor TV 9/19 results and recap: Briscoes/Goto vs CHAOS (Roppongi Vice/Okada)

    The Big Takeaway – Nothing spectacular but an entertaining hour of canned matches that mean next to nothing in the overall direction for ROH. The US debut of IWGP IC Champion Hirooki Goto was probably the most notable thing on the show.

    It’s New Japan vs ROH tonight with a show taped from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia just after the G1 tournament ended but obviously before the All-Star Extravaganza PPV.

    “The Last Real Man” Silas Young vs “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin

    Kevin Kelly claims that Elgin may have been the MVP of the G1 tournament. That’s a big of a stretch but he did very well and really turned a corner with me. Kelly now calling Elgin “Big Mike” as well.

    They do adhere to the Code of Honor before the match. Elgin did the stalling vertical suplex that the fans counted along with. They got to 30 and Elgin was motioning to continue. Fans chanting BIG MIKE as well so I guess that’s a thing. I can’t help but think of Big Johnny when I hear that but I guess he was big in Japan as well.

    Young hit the headstand moonsault but only got a 2. Elgin hit a couple Enziguris and then a lariat clothesline that he’d been teasing the whole match. He then did the dealift vertical suplex from the top turnbuckle into a Falcon Arrow that he did on the PPV but only got a two. Kelly called it a Super Falcon Arrow,so that’s what I’ll go with.

    Young connected with his Misery finisher but Elgin rolled out of the ring. Young followed him out and pulled back the mats but Elgin powerbombed him into a barricade. Back in the ring and Elgin hit an Elgin bomb for the win

    WINNER – MICHAEL ELGIN by pinfall

    Young refused Elgin’s offer of a handshake after the match. Cole did a backstage taped promo hyping up his main event next week with Nakamura. In nice continuity, he was wearing a Kingdom shirt, given the events at the PPV.

    Caprice Coleman vs ACH

    They replayed the angle from a couple of weeks ago where Prince Nana handed Coleman an envelope during a match. That never went anywhere and wasn’t elaborated on here. Crowd was really behind ACH during the intros but died right out once the match started.

    Lots of flips and jumps and dives but neither guy having any kind of sustained advantage. Coleman hit the Trinity to no reaction but ACH kicked out of the pin attempt. Coleman hit the one inch punch, which of course ACH waited about 30 second to sell, when he was about to hit a dive. Coleman hit the Sky Splitter but only got two.

    Coleman nailed a top rope Rana but ACH rolled through the pin attempt. He then hit a brainbuster followed by the Midnight Star for the pin.

    WINNER – ACH by pinfall

    ACH was still selling the punch after the match and Corino called him his third favorite Hardy brother. They shook hands after the match and Corino interviewed Coleman about the note he got from Nana. Coleman said there was money and a letter in the envelope. He took the money and then read the letter several times. He says he gets it now and that Nana is right and then walked away.

    “The Exotic Goddess” Mandy Leon was next with Inside ROH. She talked about the new working relationship with ROH and New Japan, showing clips of ROH and New Japan officials announcing the show in Japan in February. A 2 day show in Japan and then New Japan stars coming back stateside for the Anniversary show in Vegas and more shows for the New Japan tour in May. Leon was wearing a New Japan shirt and wearing it very well. Delirious interrupted her at the end and said a bunch of stuff that only he could understand and then hid in a locker behind her.

    Roppongi Vice (Barretta/Romero) and IWGP Heavyweight Champion Okada vs The Briscoes (Mark and Jay Briscoe) and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hirooki Goto

    Crowd reacted the second Okada’s much started, chanting OKADA and he got the mega-streamer treatment. Goto got a nice reaction as well for his first US appearance. Goto refused to adhere to the code of Honor.

    Somewhat of a dream matchup to start as long-time ROH World champion Jay Briscoe opened against multi-time and current IWGP champ Okada. Fans firmly behind Okada when they squared off. Goto was tagged in quickly and held his own against both members of the Roppongi Vice. Corino talked about how Goto wants to unify the World and IC belts in Japan.

    Mark did some comedy involving Baretta’s headband. Eventually that led to some double and triple teaming from the Chaos members and Mark was trapped in their corner for several minutes. Corino also mentioned the Okada/Tenryu New Japan match coming in November.

    All three Chaos members did the Rainmaker pose, after Okada did the fake dive and then facewash spot with the foot, looking to the Vice for approval. Goto eventually got the hot tag and cleaned house, eventually ending up against Okada, getting a nearfall off a Saito suplex.

    Okada recovered and got a two count off a running uppercut  and then hit a flying elbow and did the Rainmaker pose. Goto blocked the Rainmaker and hit a backbreaker as we went to a break.

    Some stuff was cut out as Jay Briscoe is getting double-teamed by the Vice when we come back. He gets the hot tag to Mark. Romero goes for his three running clotheslines but Mark ducks out and hits some redneck kung fu. Jay and Goto are in and they took turns taking runs at Romero. Mark got a nearfall off an assisted backbreaker but Baretta broke it up.

    Eventually all six guys were in and took turns hitting moves on each other. Mark Briscoe blocked a rainmaker attempt but got hit from behind by Barretta. All six guys down in the ring and the fans chanting THIS IS AWESOME.

    The Briscoes nailed Baretta with a Doomsday outside the ring and then Mark hit the Froggie-Bo inside the ring on Barretta but he kicked out at two. Mark hit a Fisherman’s buster on Romero but Okada grabbed him and hit a Tombstone. Goto in to help  but Okada hit a perfect dropkick and then had a rainmaker blocked by a headbutt from Goto. Jay and Barretta ended up in the ring isolated and Jay hit the Jay Driller for the pin.

    WINNERS – THE BRISCOES AND HIROOKI GOTO by pinfall

  • NJPW on AXS report 9-18-15: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Chase Owens for the NWA Jr. title

    by Bryan Rose, WrestlingObserver.com

    Tonight’s show took place on October 13, 2014 at Sumo Hall. It’s a look at New Japan’s annual November PPV,  King of Pro Wrestling, which is one of the bigger events on the New Japan calendar. Tonight’s show is our first look at the card, as this episode highlights the big junior heavyweight matches on the card.

    First up is reDragon vs Timesplitters for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag titles. reDragon, as far as in ring work goes, are one of the best tag teams on the planet right now and Timesplitters aren’t too far behind. They’ve faced off countless times in the last year, and I think they’ve have had better matches on other shows than this one right here. Not that it’s bad, it was actually a pretty good bout, but it just feels like I’ve seen better from the four. reDragon have totally proved that they belong in New Japan, as we’ll see in future episodes, and when they won the titles I wasn’t too surprised, so good on them. Good, solid work from everyone involved overall.

    After the match, reDragon and Timesplitters are confronted by two other teams- The Young Bucks and Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero/Alex Koslov). All four teams argue with another as reDragon leave with the titles, holding them up. This sets up a four way at the WrestleKingdom show, but it doesn’t make much sense, especially since the Timesplitters just lost clean in the middle of the ring. But hey, the match on paper sounds pretty good either way.

    Next is Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taichi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight championship. This is the follow up to the previous episode where the Suzuki-gun junior heavyweights attacked Taguchi, and sure enough Taichi’s two cohorts Desperado & Taka Michinoku are at ringside for this match. Taguchi is the kind of guy who can have great matches with great workers, and Taichi isn’t considered a great worker in the least bit. Looking at the highlights here, they did end up having a pretty good match. The editing was kind of poor as they aired a big spot where Taichi gave Taguchi a Gotch piledriver through a table, then immediately fast forwarded to Taguchi making a comeback, eventually winning with the dodon. That wasn’t the best edit I’ve seen. Regardless, the highlights were good and overall probably a better match than people would expect.

    After the match, Bullet Club members enter ringside. Karl Anderson enters the ring and introduces the newest member of the Bullet Club, “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega. He comes in and cuts a promo on Taguchi, saying that he didn’t want the lion mark prestige, all he really wants is the money. He also said that he wanted the IWGP junior title, and that he’s here to clean up NJPW. They have a staredown before exiting the ring, but not before Taguchi takes the mic and says he doesn’t understand English, then says to answer his question, oh my and garfunkel (his catchphrase). It doesn’t sound like it on paper, but after the long promo Omega cut it was pretty funny for Taguchi to give such a succinct answer. This also leads to a title match at WrestleKingdom.

    Jushin Thunder Liger is interviewed next, as he takes on Chase Owens for the NWA Junior Heavyweight championship. He says when he thinks of the NWA, he remembers legends such as Ric Flair, the Funks, and Harley Race. They were truly the king of kings as they wrestle all throughout the word. In regards to Owens, he says his moves are simple but he knows to make them devastating. Says it’s hard to wrestle at this age in a New Japan ring but he still has the biggest heart of any wrestler.

    The main event aired. This was a solid match as well. Not great, but pretty good. Bruce Tharpe as the NWA manager is so great, his mannerisms are top notch and he’s effective as the wacky heel manager. Owens looked good throughout the match. Like Liger mentioned, he doesn’t do anything fancy, but does enough to have a good match and it works for him well. Always good to see a different style in New Japan, and Owens brings that to the table here. They kept it safe and didn’t do anything crazy. Liger went for a splash at one point but Liger made it to the ropes. Mostly just a good back and forth match until Liger laid out Owens with a brainbuster, then followed with another one and pinned Owens to win the belt. Commentary here did a great job as well with putting the NWA Junior Heavyweight title over as they made it sound like a really big deal when Liger won it.

    Liger in a post match interview says that he wants to defend the title in NOAH and other places now that he’s a NWA champion. Tenryu told him to say to keep wrestling until you’re satisfied. Making a comeback is embarrassing, as he will never forget those words. He says that while this is the final chapter for Liger, he will keep going forward. In his reflective interview, he talks about winning the belt in Osaka. In regards to how he envisions the future, he says the future is amazing, and lists people like Kushida, Alex Shelley and Kenny Omega and also mentions that he wants to wrestle Tiger Mask IV one more time, which is something we’ll see down the road.

    Very cool episode this week. It didn’t have any blow away matches, but it did show the healthy relationships with Ring of Honor and NWA and how they’ll continue to thrive into 2015, with both reDragon winning the IWGP tag titles and Liger winning the NWA Jr. title. Also very interesting to hear Liger’s words about this being his final chapter. I wonder if he still feels that he’s on the final chapter of his career as we now enter 2016.

  • CMLL 82nd anniversary show live report from Arena Mexico 9-18 Atlantis vs. La Sombra

    Welcome to our live coverage of the CMLL 82nd anniversary show from Arena Mexico.

    We’re looking for your thoughts on this show, tonight’s ROH show, as well as Bellator and WWE Night of Champions this weekend, so you can leave a thumbs up thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    ESFINGE & FUEGO & THE PANTHER VS. DISTURBIO & PUMA KING & VIRUS

    Good match, not too crazy or anything. Fuego pinned Disturbio in the first fall.  Disturbio made Esfinge submit to a cruceta in the second fall.  Virus pinned Fuego in a battle of captains after a Gori especal bomb.  Basic solidly worked match, two dives, maybe one bad looking spot.  They teased as face win when Esfinge used the Fuller leglock into a cradle on Disturbio in the third fall.

    Late arriving crowd as there were a ton of empty seats at 8:30 local time when the show sarted.  It’s a log more full at this point. 

    GUERRERO MAYA JR. & MAXIMO & STUKA JR. VS. DRAGON ROJO & POLVORA & REY ESCORPION

    Maximo, the world heavyweight champion is in the second match here.  Good action here.  Third fall ended with Escorpion pinning Maximo clean with a package piledriver which may set him up for a title shot.  Stuka did this cool backwards twisting head-butt off the top rope to the floor on Rojo.  Polvora pinned Maya in the first fall with a dominator off the top rope.  Maximo pinned Escorpion in the second fall with a kiss and a cradle.

    The building still isn’t totally full but it is a big crowd.  Crowd was really into Maximo in the last match.  It has the feel of a big show at this point.

    DARK ANGEL VS. PRINCESA SUGEI

    Even though this was Dark Angel’s farewell match as she’s headed to WWE as a trainer, the crowd was a lot less into this than the first two matches.  There was some good wrestling but it went too long and they went past their peak.  Panico gave her flowers and a plaque after the match.  She did a long interview about spending ten years, thanked Paco Alonso.  They played sone sad usc  The two women hugged after.  Ther crowd was respectful but it didn’t feel like it was that big of a deal to the crowd.  They were wanting to work the classic big singles match and did the style but they never really got near that level.

    DRAGON LEE & MISTICO & VALIENTE VS. NEGRO CASAS & FELINO & MR. NIEBLA

    Easilly the best match so far, and also the shortest.  Third fall saw Mistico use La Mistica on Nielbla to win after Lee used a double foot stomp while Casas was in the tree of woe to elminate him.  Lee, Mistico and Valiente did a lot of good dives here and the crowd was more into the guys.  They hated Mistico, total Cena PPV reaction but didn’t boo Lee and Valiente.  Niebla made Mistico submit to the nudo in the first fall.  Second fall saw Valiente have Felino in a tombstone and dropped him into a codebreaker.

    SHOCKER & VOLADOR JR. & ULTIMO GUERRERO VS. MARCO CORLEONE & RUSH & THUNDER

    The match had a lot of heat and it ranged from pretty fun to pretty bad depending on who was in.  Finish was crap, though.  Rush just threw down ref Tirantes in the third fall for the DQ.  Rush has total superstar presence and working ability.  Volador is really good. Guerrero can go.  Shocker is old and slow but tries.  Thunder is just awful.  First fall was a double pin as Thunder pinned Guerrero with a splash off the top and Corleone pinned Shocker with Air Italia.  Second fall saw Guerrero pin Thunder after a delayed vertical suplex while Shocker did an elbow drop off the middle rope on Corleone.

    Volador and Rush went back and forth with challenges for a hair match.  Tons of heat for that.

    Aside from the dancing girls and big crowd, this doesn’t feel much different than a usual Friday as far as match quality goes.  It really is a one match show.

    ATLANTIS VS. LA SOMBRA MASK VS. MASK

    Atlantis won with the torture rack in the third fall in a match that was exactly what it should have been.  Super heat.  They are sowing Sombra’s mother crying in he front row.  Now thehy are showing his father, his brother was crying.  It had that big match feel at a level of something in the 70s, even more than the G-1 mathes.  The match was great due to Sombra but Atlantis did a great job considering his age with multiple dives. 

    Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza, 25 years old, from Gomez Palacio, Durango.

    Dad is stoic, mom still crying.  Sombra now giving a speech.  Mom now hysterically crying.  Little brother crying.  Sombra put over Atlantis at the end.  He called his family to the ring.  His mom didn’t come to the ring.  He asked his father to take his mask off.  Rush hugged him before taking it off.  He hugged his dad before taking it off.  He unmaksed.  Confetti is flying and Sombra’s family put Atlantis on their shoulders.  Rush now wants a match with Atlantis.  They shook hands as Atlantis posed with Sombra’s mask.  Now Sombra’s family has him on his shoulders.  Lots of women crying now. 

    Atlantis won the first fall via DQ for Rush’s interference.  Somba won the second with a one arm back suplex.  Thrid fall was a million near falls and submissions. 

    Excellent last match overall, but overall atmosphere was not at the level of last year’s anniversary main event, but that’s a once in a decade like feel with the end of a decade plus story, where as this was less than two months.  

  • Ring of Honor 9/18 All-Star Extravaganza 7 PPV Live results and coverage – Lethal vs O’Reilly

    by Paul Fontaine, for WrestlingObserver.com

    Welcome to our live coverage of Ring of Honor All-Star Extravaganza 7 from San Antonio, TX and live on PPV. Jay Lethal defends both his World and TV title against both members of ReDRagon in the feature matches. The Addiction defends their tag titles in a 3 way against the Kingdom and The Young Bucks. A 4 way number one contender’s match between Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Michael Elgin and AJ Styles will determine the next World title challenger.
    Also:
    Matt Sydal vs ACH in the third match of their best of 5 series
    Moose vs Cedric Alexander in a no-DQ match
    The Briscoes face a mystery tag team
    And in the real main event of the evening, the greatest stipulation match ever as Dalton Castle puts up his boys in a match against Silas Young. If Castle happens to win, Silas becomes a “Young boy” and if Young wins, he’s promised to turn Castle’s boys into men.

    The action gets underway at 9 pm central/6 pacific so check back here for ongoing coverage.

    TV Title Match:
    Jay Lethal (champion) w/Truth Martini vs Bobby Fish  

    Kevin Kelly gets a shot in at WWE’s booking of Seth Rollins during the intros, saying that no pro wrestling champion has been more dominant than Jay Lethal, going over all the people he’s beat recently.

    Lethal retained the title in a 14 minute match, pulling the tights on a rollup off of a kneebar attempt by Bobby Fish. Fish was going for kneebars and leglocks the whole match. Lethal hit a Lethal Combination early and Fish teased not making it in for the 20 count. Kelly noted that Horsewomen Jessamyn Duke and Shayna Baszler were in attendance but they weren’t shown on camera. He also noted 25 title defence in over a year for Lethal as TV champion. Good opener.

    Boys on the line vs Silas becoming one of the boys:
    Silas Young vs Dalton Castle w/his boys

    Young won possession of the boys in 13 minutes. Young hit a lowblow while the ref was distracted  by the boys and then hit the Misery for the win. Mostly comedy early. The Boys fanned Young and the distraction led to a roll-up by Castle for a nearfall. Match was back and forth with both guys getting long 2 counts. 

    Briscoes vs Mystery Team up next. Briscoes  in the pre-match promo say it’s been a long time since they held the tag belts and this is step 1 to getting them back. 

    The Decade are out. BJ Whitmer on crutches and Adam Page with his arm in a sling. Whitmer says he’s doing commentary and asks Corino to leave but King doesn’t oblige. Fans chanting PLEASE RETIRE at Whitmer. The Romantic Touch out next. Kelly says he’s been stalking the Briscoes for awhile. I must have missed that. Briscoes attack Touch and I guess he’s not the partner.

    The All Night Express are back and they’re the challengers. Rhett Titus had been been playing the Romantic Touch up till now and Kenny King has been in TNA so this is his return to ROH.

    Briscoes (Mark and Jay Briscoe) vs All Night Express (Rhett Titus and Kenny King)

    ANX won when Titus pinned Mark after a double-team. Titus had Mark up for a powerbomb and King came off the top rope after Jay had been knocked outside the ring. Match was competitive with neither team having an advantage.

    Adam Page attacked Jay Briscoe after the match but ANX made the save.

    No DQ Match:
    Moose w/Stokeley Hathaway vs Cedric Alexander w/Veda Scott

    Moose won in 13 minutes. Crazy brawl with Moose taking a ton of punishment. Tables, ladders, chairs and a wrench involved. Finish was Alexander and Hathaway fighting for control of the wrench and Hathaway nailing Alexander with it and then Moose spearing him through a table that had been set up in the corner. 

    Moose took at least three chairshots to the head at various points. He did a summersault dive to the outside, landing flat backed on a ladder that was draped over the ring barrier. Alexander hit a Van Terminator on Moose at one point. Scott and Hathaway both got involved several times and Scott ended up taking a running dropkick in the turnbuckle from Alexander when Moose moved out of the way. Crowd loved this, chanting THIS IS AWESOME several times.

    Match 3 – Best of Five Series tied 1-1
    ACH vs Matt Sydal

    ACH won to go up 2-1 in an excellent match. They went 16 minutes and it was not exactly what you’d expect from these two. For the majority of the match, Sydal worked over ACH’s leg and while it didn’t play into the finish, you get the impression that it could end up affecting ACH in the final two matches. Finish came when ACH hit a brainbuster and then followed up with the Midnight Star for the pin. Just prior, he’d hit a Shooting Star Press from the second rope  that Sydal barely kicked out of. Crowd was way into ACH in his hometown. Sydal played subtle heel for most of the match.

    Tag Title Match:
    Champions The Addiction (Christopher Daniels/Frankie Kazarian) vs The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs The Kingdom (Matt Taven/Michael Bennett) w/Maria Kanellis

    Kingdom won the belts in 16 minutes. This was what you’d expect. I counted 16 superkicks. Finish was Matt Taven making a blind tag and the Bucks hitting a Meltzer driver on Frankie Kazarian and Taven rolling up Matt Jackson, for the win. Big story in this match was someone in a KRD mask coming out and taking out both members of the Addiction, using Chris Sabin’s moves. He never unmasked, but it probably wasn’t Sabin. Could be Adam Cole or a new member of the Kingdom. In one spot, Bucks were about to do a superkick on Maria but Daniels made the save. He then punched Maria right in the face. Bennett went crazy on him and that led to the finishing sequence. 

    #1 Contender’s Match – AJ Styles vs Michael Elgin vs Adam Cole vs Roderick Strong

    Nigel McGuiness joined the commentary team here. Cole was announced as representing the Kingdom but got a huge face reaction from the crowd. 

    AJ won in 15 minutes, pinning Adam Cole after a Bloddy Sunday DDT followed by a Styles Clash clean in the middle. All four guys got chances to shine. Elgin hit a dead-lift vertical suplex from the top rope into a Falcon Arrow and the pin was broken up by Cole. Strong hit a backbreaker after a sick kick on Cole but Elgin broke that pinfall up and Cole hit a Destroyer on Elgin, which was broken up by AJ. Non-stop action the whole time and crowd was into everything. Elgin in particular probably improved his stock the most and the announcers put over his performance in the G1. 

    Main Event 
    ROH World Title Match – Champion Jay Lethal w/Truth Martini vs Kyle O’Reilly

    Nigel remains at commentary and explains that he banned Donovan Dijak and J Diesel from ringside but Truth is allowed out there because he has a manager’s license. 

    Lethal retained in a TNA-style finish. O’Reilly had Lethal about to tap when Truth Martini pulled the ref from the ring. Nigel got  up and hauled Martini to the back. O’Reilly went for a flying knee in the corner on Lethal but Lethal pulled the ref into the path and he was down. Lethal grabbed the title belt but this brought out Bobby Fish. Donovan Dijak followed and got his hands on the belt and laid out Fish. This brought out Adam Cole, who took out Donovan Dijak and then, in a swerve, hit Kyle O’Reilly with a superkick. Lethal hit the Lethal Injection for the win. The Kingdom came out and all four of them posed over O’Reilly, so it was a setup all along. Kingdom should now have title programs with ReDRagon and War Machine. 

    Match was okay up to that point but no better than the fourth best match on the show. Lethal kept missing the Lethal Injection and O’Reilly would go for the arm. Lethal was vulnerable the whole match and really sold the effects of wrestling his second match in a night.

    Show was decent overall. No blow-away matches though and certainly not a show of the year contender but it certainly wasn’t bad by any stretch.

  • WWE Total Divas TV report

    Season 4, Episode 11

    Recap by Ryan Pike (@RyanNPike)

    Bryan’s Still Injured: So Brie’s husband, Bryan Danielson, is still injured and vacates his Intercontinental Title in the ring to open the episode. He gets medically cleared later, leading to a series of circular discussions – doing their best not to use the word “concussion” – between Bryan and Brie about his future. He wants to wrestle so he can make them a nest-egg to retire on (and to help them with kids). She wants him to retire now so he doesn’t have health problems later on. In the end, WWE is nervous about him wrestling and it’s left up in the air, with very little resolved. And bear in mind, this was taped in the summer.

    Paige Gets Engaged: Paige and her boyfriend Kevin end up in a ring store and he asks her a million ring-related questions, while she is too dense to realize what they mean. Later on, Emma goes snooping (with Paige’s permission) and finds an engagement ring. Paige panics while everybody else presumes she’ll get engaged by the end of the episode – it’s like they’re aware of Chekov’s Gun or something. Anyway, after freaking out all episode about not being ready to get married, she says yes when he proposes (via a tattoo on his arm that says “Will you marry me.”) It’s cute, but you get the impression that there’s trouble coming.

    Jon Uso Does Stand-Up: Everyone keeps telling Jon Uso that he’s hilarious, so Dolph Ziggler sets up a set for him at a local comedy club. Jon tries out a set at home that’s basically him making fun of his wife. He comes up with a better set, which contains him making jokes about how handsome and ripped Ziggler is. Naomi is happy he was able to get out of his comfort zone a bit and have fun.

    I swear, I think Nikki might end up being the last unmarried, childless person on this show the way cast members keep getting married off.

  • On this date in pro wrestling history (9/17): Flair wins 1st World Title, Cena defeats Edge in TLC

    1958

    Lafayette, Louisiana:

    – Billy Wicks defeated Buddy Fuller for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title

    1966

    Seattle, Washington:

    – Betty Boucher defeated The Fabulous Moolah for the NWA World Women’s Championship

    1970

    Jacksonville, Florida:

    – The Texas Outlaws, Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes, defeated Jose Lothario & Argentina Apollo to win the NWA

    Florida Tag Team Title

    1974

    Macon, Georgia:

    – Bill Dromo and Mike McCord defeated Ole & Gene Anderson to win the Southeastern Tag Team Titles in a No DQ Match.

    1977

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

    – 90 minute time limit match, AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel went to a double countout with Billy Robinson

    – Super Destroyer & Angelo Mosca beat Dr X & the Crusher

    – In a Lumberjack Match, Greg Gagne beat Bobby Heenan

    – Blackjack Lanza beat Jim Brunzell dq

    – Bob Backlund drew Bobby Duncum

    – Roger Kirby beat Steve Olsonoski

    1981

    Kansas City, Missouri:

    – Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Lou Thesz was special guest referee (This was Ric Flair’s first World

    Heavyweight title)

    – Michael Hayes,Bob Brown and Rufus R. Jones defeated Gene Lewis, The Monk and Oliver Humperdink

    – Harley Race defeated Sgt. Slaughter

    – Bob Sweetan defeated Bobby Jaggers to retain the Central States TV Title

    – Buzz Tyler & James J. Dillon defeated Ron Sexton & Terry Gibbs

    1982

    St. Louis, Missouri:

    – Harley Race defeated Dick The Bruiser to win the Missouri State Heavyweight Title

    1987

    Kansas City, Missouri:

    – WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Harley Race in a steel cage match

    1988

    Bayamon, Puerto Rico:

    – TNT (Savio Vega) defeated Buddy Landel to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title

    Nashville, Tennessee:

    – Ron Garvin defeated Greg Gagne to win the AWA International Television Title

    – AWA Champion Jerry Lawler went to a no contest with Kerry Von Erich

    – Sgt. Slaughter beat Soldat Ustinov dq

    – Jeff Jarrett & Bill Dundee & Jimmy Valiant beat Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Tommy Rich dq

    1995

    Asheville, North Carolina:

    – Diamond Dallas Page defeated The Renegade to win the WCW Television Title

    – Harlem Heat defeated Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater to win the WCW World Tag Team Title at the Fall Brawl PPV

    – Hulk Hogan, Sting, Randy Savage & Lex Luger defeated Kamala, Zodiac (Brutus Beefcake), Shark (John Tenta) & Meng in a War Games match

    2000

    Buffalo, New York:

    – Booker T defeated Kevin Nash in a cage match to win the WCW World Championship at the Fall Brawl PPV

    – Scott Steiner defeated Bill Goldberg in a no DQ match

    – Lance Storm defeated General Reaction to retain the US title

    2002

    Cincinnati, Ohio:

    – Matt Stryker defeated Cody Hawk for the HWA Heavyweight Title

    2005

    Long Island, New York:

    – Bryan Danielson defeated James Gibson to win the ROH championship at Glory by Honor IV

    – ROH Pure champion Nigel McGinnis defeated Roderick Strong to retain the title

    2006

    – At the Unforgiven PPV, John Cena defeated Edge to win the WWE Championship in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match

    – Trish Stratus defeated Lita to win the WWE Diva’s Championship.

  • WWE NXT: 5 things you might not know about Asuka/Kana

    By Bryan Rose, WrestlingObserver.com

    One of the most interesting names signed by WWE this year is Asuka, the new name of top joshi wrestler Kana who was signed recently to a WWE developmental deal. At 33, it’s a surprising signing as WWE usually signs women about ten years younger, but during these last ten years, Kana has made herself into one of the top women’s wrestlers in Japan, despite the fact that joshi wrestling is nowhere near the popularity of its heyday 20 years ago.

    Right now, despite some satellite TV play, it’s pretty much under the radar in Japan, and even more so in the United States, to the point that when she was signed, not a lot of people had heard about her.

    What’s funny about that is that despite all of the above, she’s carved herself quite a formidable career as a joshi wrestler in a unpopular era, and even just as an individual she is very unique.

    Here are five things about Asuka/Kana that you might not know:

    1) Her favoritest wrestler of all time is Triple H…but she’s had other inspirations growing up.

    Sure, it’s a mandatory requirement whenever a indy name signs with WWE, they say that Triple H is awesome, he’s so great, etc. But in other interviews not mandated by WWE, Kana has stated her inspirations include Keiji Muto, Akira Maeda, Volk Han, and Minoru Suzuki. Even though their rise was during a period where women’s promotions such as AJW were building momentum, she was never a fan of women’s wrestling growing up.

    2) She is a product of a post AJW world.

    Well, many women wrestlers in Japan are. But she broke into the business in 2004, right as AJW was on its last legs. Whereas in the early to mid 90s, All Japan Women’s wrestling was at its peak, by the late 1990s, financial issues and talent defections took their toll, and once their television was taken away from them in 2002, it was only a matter of time before the promotion closed down. Joshi wrestling obviously still exists in Japan as there were a number of promotions to come out in the wake of AJW’s downfall, but none are more than a blip on the radar when it comes to the wrestling scene in Japan.

    One of the promotions that would rise under AJW’s downfall would be AtoZ, founded by former AJW star Mariko Yoshida. Although they had a mix of both new talent and known AJW talent, they didn’t last long, with Yoshida leaving a couple of years after its inception. However, this is where Kana would break into the business, wrestling there until 2006, when she had to retire. The promotion folded shortly after.

    3) She’s had to retire before.

    Kana might not even have been close on WWE’s radar if she had decided to continue her retirement. She announced her retirement way back in 2006 due to recurring bouts of nephritis, which inflames the kidney area. This didn’t last long, however, as she came back as a free agent in 2007 and has worked for various promotions include Pro Wrestling Wave, Shimmer, Reina, SMASH (where she had a memorable feud with former WWE star Serena), and it’s successor promotion New Wrestling Classic.

    4) This isn’t her first time working in North America.

    Although joining NXT means she’ll be leaving Japan for a long period of time, this isn’t the first time Kana will be wrestling outside of Japan. Before signing with WWE, she was a regular with Shimmer, working as a heel against the likes of now WWE trainer Sara Del Rey, Cheerleader Melissa, Lufisto and more. She’s also worked a bit in Chikara, defeating people just as Jessie McKay, who is also in NXT as Billie Kay. Her most recent match in the United States was against Kay Lee Ray and Courtney Rush at a Shimmer taping last October.

    5) She’s really into video games.

    Interestingly enough, Kana has been a freelance video game writer when not wrestling. Favoring western developers such as Ubisoft and EA, she has previously written for Xbox Magazine in Japan and has even been sponsored by Microsoft in the past, sporting the logo on her gear for matches. She’s also been a graphic designer, working games for both the Nintendo DS as well as mobile titles.

    ***** 

    It’s very interesting to see how Kana will do in the WWE. It’s a completely new style she’ll have to get used to, and she’ll also have to learn English. I keep thinking about Hideo Itami’s run so far, and although he’s not a failure by any means, he’s had his struggles. Kana might have these same struggles when she reports to the Performance Center later this month, but with the experiences she has been through, it might be an easier transition.

  • WWE Smackdown 9/17 TV results & recap: Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins & Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens, Bellabration

    By Steve Khan, WrestlingObserver.com

    – Air Date: September 17, 2015 (Sept 16 in Canada)
    – Location: Verizon Arena in Little Rock, AR

    The Big News:

    Big Show beat Cesaro clean, and they teased big dissension between Seth Rollins and Sheamus.

    Show Recap:

    Smackdown started with a video package of Sting’s first Raw match(es). They also announced Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins & Sheamus for tonight.

    Seth Rollins came out and said he would make history at Night of Champions when he successfully defends both of his titles against two legends. Crowd chanted “We want Sting.” Rollins said he would crush John Cena’s spirit and show why Sting is the past.

    Rollins moved onto tonight’s tag match. He’s fine with teaming with Sheamus because he’s the man and isn’t that worried. Rollins said he keeps his friends close and his enemies closer (zzz), which brought out Sheamus. Sheamus said Rollins doesn’t want him as an enemy.

    Sheamus claimed Rollins won’t see it coming when he cashes in. Rollins laughed and said it would hard not to see him coming. The crowd chanted “You look stupid,” and Sheamus yelled “R.T.H.!” — Respect the Hawk.

    Sheamus said he just wants them to be friends and would love a fight with Reigns and Ambrose. Immediately after saying he wanted to be friends, Sheamus said he would be scouting Rollins and would be the next WWE Champion whether Seth sees it coming or not.

    If this sounded like every opening segment ever, that’s because it was.

    Naomi & Sasha Banks (w/Tamina) beat Paige & Becky Lynch (w/Charlotte) via pinfall

    Team BAD came out to Naomi’s music. Rich Brennan plugged the upcoming NXT Iron Man match with Banks and Bayley. After a break, Team BAD had the heat on Lynch. Naomi and Banks did the Benjamin and Haas leapfrog guillotine spot, except they used the bottom rope.

    Lynch kicked away both heels and made the hot tag to Paige. Paige used knees and a superkick but was momentarily distracted by Banks on the outside allowing Naomi to roll her up for the win. Paige was pissed and the commentators discussed how poorly things are going for Paige lately.

    Backstage, Stardust said he and The Ascension would defeat Neville and the Lucha Dragons. He didn’t quite phrase it that way.

    The New Day came out with their usual protest signs. Big E had a sign that said “Wait for it…” on one side and “Booty!” on the other. Jerry Lawler seemed concerned by the “Broken Wood is No Good” sign.

    Xavier Woods said a table is a terrible thing to waste. He emphasized that the Dudleys were “boys” and they were disrespecting every man and wo-man. Woods said they were disrespecting one wo-man in particular — Mother Nature.

    Big E wanted to help the Dudleys by having them sign a petition to save the tables. The petition was on a wooden clipboard, which Kingston said was like a mini table. They chanted “Save the tables” but the Dudleys interrupted.

    Kofi Kingston (w/New Day) beat D-Von Dudley (w/Bubba Ray Dudley) via pinfall

    D-Von broke the clipboard over his knee and hit a flapjack on Kingston. Big E pulled out a table but Bubba tossed him down. Woods distracted D-Von so D-Von went after him. Kingston used the distraction to apply a school boy for the win. (Yes, this was basically the finish of the previous match.) New Day ran off with a table. New Day were entertaining as usual but the match was just an angle and it didn’t really get over.

    Backstage, Alicia Fox, Brie and Nikki Bella prepared for their “Bellabration.” Brie went over the checklist and Alicia said they got 298 champagne bottles shipped from France. That’s a lot of bottles. Brie said they would end up in Brie Mode. Nikki exclaimed “I’m such a queen!”

    Nikki had a few crazy demands, including the attendance of “Kim and Kanye.” Brie tried to tell her they weren’t coming but Nikki wouldn’t hear it. Nikki said they should be able to handle any issues and left. Brie and Alicia looked on concerned. All three were good in their roles as vacuous ninnies that nobody could possibly like. So this was… good, I guess?

    As Big Show walked backstage, The Miz handed him a confidential document. Miz politely asked him to looked at it and walked away. Show looked at the document, rolled his eyes, groaned, and tossed it away. Show’s total disgust towards Miz was amusing.

    Big Show beat Cesaro via pinfall

    Cesaro immediately hit a dropkick and proceeded to work over the arm. Show was able to overpower Cesaro and tossed him aside. Booker called Show “a giant guy” and Lawler said Show used Google Earth to take a selfie. Booker added something a bit more insightful when he said he’s known Show since he started and hasn’t lost a beat.

    Cesaro came back with uppercuts, a running knee and flying crossbody for two. Show went for a chokeslam but Cesaro countered and tried a Neutralizer, but Show used a back body drop and a KO punch for the win.

    As painful as it sounds, I can see why they protect Big Show, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of Cesaro. We know this already, and they obviously don’t care.

    Reigns and Ambrose were backstage and were interrupted by Renee Young, which seemed to annoy Ambrose. Renee said she was just doing her job and asked who their partner would be. Reigns wasn’t going to tell her but did say it was Ambrose who made the call. Ambrose said she would find out when the Wyatts do and they won’t be outgunned anymore. Reigns said they would beat Rollins and Sheamus tonight to prepare for war on Sunday.

    Kevin Owens beat Dolph Ziggler via DQ

    Rusev did an inset promo, calling Ziggler a sissy. He said Summer wasn’t impressed by skinny abs or gift bags but she would be impressed when he crushes Ziggler in half. Speaking of getting crushed, Owens gained control after hitting a senton to Ziggler’s back. Owens taunted Ziggler who tried to make a comeback, but Owens cut him off with a DDT.

    After a break, Ziggler fought out of a headlock and used a backslide for two and a Fameasser for two. Ziggler blocked a superkick and hit a jumping DDT for a near fall. Outside the ring, Owens used a fallaway slam, sending Ziggler into the barricade. Ziggler beat the 10-count so Owens tossed him into the post and over the barricade into the timekeeper area. Ziggler again beat the 10-count.

    Owens followed with a superkick and went for a powerbomb on the apron but Ryback ran out for the save. Ryback tried to get him with shell shocked but Owens bailed. They announced Owens as the winner by DQ and he seemed content.

    Brie and Alicia went over the guestlist for the Bellabration but realized that nobody was showing up. They blamed it on traffic.

    They plugged Connor’s Cure and played a video package.

    Outside of an arena boardroom, Nikki showed up for her Bellabration. Brie and Alicia tried to stop Nikki from going in, but she went in the room, opened her champagne and realized nobody was there. She freaked out and Brie/Alicia said they tried to warn her. They said they would try to fix it and left.

    Charlotte, Paige and Becky showed up (the latter two in party hats). Charlotte said Nikki wouldn’t be able to pull any crap at NOC and Paige told her not to eat too much cake. Team PCB left and Adam Rose showed up to tell Nikki that her party sucked. He left and Nikki tossed away her cake, which landed on Brie and Alicia.

    Elsewhere, Summer Rae asked if Ziggler was okay and asked about the expensive earrings he got her. Ziggler said he was done with the drama and wanted to let bygones be bygones. He said sometimes a rose is just a rose, but added, “sometimes it’s more.” So he’s not done with the drama.

    Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose beat WWE & US Champion Seth Rollins & Sheamus via pinfall

    Rollins was sent to the outside and Ambrose was about to go for a drive, but Rollins comically ducked. Ambrose just stopped at the ropes and Reigns clotheslined Rollins instead. That was funny. Ambrose then hit a dive on Sheamus and they went to commercial.

    Sheamus and Rollins argued during the break but were able to gain control after each tossed Ambrose into the barricade. As they worked over Ambrose, Booker said he would not be their mystery partner at NOC and wouldn’t answer the phone if they called.

    Ambrose came back with a swinging neckbreaker and made the hot tag to Reigns, who hit Rollins with a clothesline, shoulder block, Samoan drop and ten clotheslines in the corner. Rollins tried a school boy but Reigns countered into a one-armed powerbomb.

    Rollins used a chop block and superkick and tried to tag out, but Sheamus jumped off the apron. Rollins grabbed his briefcase so Sheamus went after it, allowing Rollins to tag him. Sheamus stalked Rollins on the outside, so Ambrose hit a suicide dive. Reigns hit Sheamus with a superman punch and Ambrose followed with Dirty Deeds for the win.

    The lights went out and they showed a Wyatt video package that emphasized on Strowman. Bray said it doesn’t matter who was foolish enough to join Ambrose and Reigns because they all fall down. This bit was good.

    Final Thoughts:

    This show was perfectly fine even if nothing terribly newsworthy happened. Paige turning seems like a lock unless they decide to swerve us.

  • UFC TUF 22: McGregor vs. Faber results & recap for episode 2

    By Steve Juon, WrestlingObserver.com

    It’s a whole new season and Conor McGregor is the reason, as he and Urijah Faber go toe to toe as coaching foes on The Ultimate Fighter. They won’t duke it out after the season is done, but there’s still pride on the line, not to mention Conor’s reputation as the newest badass on the block.

    Join us each episode for “The Notorious Quote of the Week” as Conor puts his mouth where UFC’s money is! We’ll also spice things up with some predictions for week two about who could go all the way this season – two “Fighters to Watch” for each recap.

    The Notorious Quote of the Week this time shows Conor’s disdain for Urijah’s casual attire. “Flip flops and jeans? You need to dress your age, honestly.”

    The teams as determined last week:

    Team McGregor (Europe): Abner Lloveras, David Teymur, Marcin Wrzosek, Frantz Siloa, Martin Svensson, Mehdi Baghdad, Sascha Sharma, Saul Rogers

    Team Faber (United States): Brandon Ricetti, Chris Gruetzemacher, James Jenkins, Jason Gonzalez, Julian Erosa, Ryan Hall, Thanh Le, Tom Gallicchio

    Conor McGregor summons Team Europe to the changing room for a chat. He says they’ll get to work with the same coaches he does for his own fights. Then he gets down to brass tacks and says that the Europeans have had a much tougher road to get into MMA, so they’ll have more heart than the US team already, but at the end of the day there’s no such thing as a team because everybody has to individually try to win their shot to be in the UFC.

    There’s the usual amount of smack talk at the TUF house on both sides, so I’m not going to waste your time with that. Instead let’s go right to Conor McGregor’s first session. He wants them to have sparring without taking damage, to give them the feel of what a real fight situation will be like. “That’s upgrading your software without damaging your hardware.” Commercial.

    BEHOLD THE DANA WHITE SWERVE~!

    Dana gives the coaches an opportunity to bring back one eliminated fighter on each team. McGregor picked Artem Lobov and Faber picked Johnny Nunez. On top of that now that there is one extra fighter for each team, Dana White will pick one guy from each to NOT go to the quarterfinals. It’s not enough to win – he wants everybody to PERFORM.

    Thanh Le says this won’t hurt him one bit – he delivers excitement in his performances. In fact based on last week’s show he’s on my “Fighters to Watch” list. I can’t say that he’s my FINAL pick though because flashy spinning kicks and big knockouts are important, but we need to see what happens to Le when those things DON’T work out.

    McGregor and Faber talk s–t to each other as both teams are waiting in the hallway to go in and film the first fight pick announcement. Since Faber won the coin toss last week he announces the fight: Ryan Hall (USA) vs. Frantz Siloa (Europe).

    Reminder – Hall tapped out Johnny Nunez via heel hook, while Siloa got a technical submission via rear naked choke on Martin Delaney. If this one goes to the ground it could be a WILD scramble. Ryan Hall is my other pick for “Fighters to Watch” this week, especially after hearing his explanation of mastering the 50/50 position and how he’s so comfortable in it he can disarm his opponents (“taking the knife out of their hand”) on the ground, leaving him an easier path to victory. Urijah Faber refers to him “The Wizard.”

    Siloa talks about how he’s actually Iraqi by heritage, but was born in Sweden when his parents fled during a war (he doesn’t specify which one). He vows to finish the fight whether standing or on the ground. McGregor says they picked Hall to face Siloa because “they fear the exchange” and want to go to the ground, and believes Siloa can break Hall down with shots to the body and the head.

    At the weigh-ins Siloa steps on the scale first. 155 pounds even. Ryan Hall takes the scale and he’s also 155 even. Hall’s decades of jiu-jitsu competition experience are praised as we go to a commercial break, but the show is padded out with more tough talk on both sides when we come back, followed by ANOTHER commercial break. With less than ten minutes of TV time remaining you know it’ll be a one round fight.

    * Lightweight: Ryan Hall (USA) vs. Frantz Siloa (Europe)

    Hall’s in the blue trunks and Siloa the gray. Neither man is afraid to stand and trade in the first minute. Hall dives for a leg and Siloa tries to roll out of trouble but he can’t roll through the fence so he’s in trouble once he hits the chain link. Siloa taps at 1:53. Faber: “THE WIZARD!” And that’s all she wrote. Hall is making a statement with two great performances two weeks in a row.

    Meanwhile Siloa is getting iced down backstage and gets a pep talk from McGregor, saying it was just a bad break. “There’s a different between being caught and losing.” Faber and McGregor continue to talk smack. McGregor: “Flip flops and jeans? You need to dress your age, honestly.” Faber: “When I can grow a beard I’ll dress my age.” Faber announces  Chris Gruetzemacher (USA) vs. Sascha Sharma (Europe). Join us next week!

  • TNA Impact Wrestling 9/16 live TV results: GFW vs. TNA Lethal Lockdown for control of the company

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    Last week, the world’s fastest invasion angle continued when the Wolves regained the tag team titles from Trevor Lee and Bryan Myers. Former TNA World Champion Eric Young came out with Chris Melendez’s artificial leg and shoved him down, while also defacing the leg with by putting athletic tape over it with “My Leg” and EY all over it. In the main event, Chris Mordetsky beat Drew Galloway to get the man advantage in tonight’s Winner Takes All Lethal Lockdown match to blow off the GFW vs. TNA invasion. Oh, and TNA’s “biggest show of the year” is in two weeks and has had literally zero build for it.

    Yet another really green video package hyped up Lethal Lockdown, with clips of prior matches. The announcer guy says the taglines while Dixie recites them from a promo. Josh hypes up gladiators stepping inside six sides of steel as Dixie Carter faces Jeff Jarrett…a  match that isn’t happening here. JB is mid-ring saying that he has been in TNA for 13 years and two names are what you think of with TNA – Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett.  Now, on the night of the show, it’s time to make Lethal Lockdown official. Karen is out in a slick leather shirt and black leather pants, while Jeff is in jeans and a baby blue button-down shirt. Has he ever dressed nicely in a wrestling ring?

    Dixie comes down while Josh says that she has made some mistakes with TNA, a company that was once on Spike TV. Josh assures Dixie that he and Pope are behind her – I’m sure that’s a real help to her confidence. JB explains. The stipulation. In a very. Stilted manner. JB says that each has agreed to say a few words, oh thank God. Dixie says that Jeff’s action removed him from power and that even a few weeks ago, she was hopeful that she and Jeff could rewrite the ending to TNA’s story. Karen calls her delusional while Jeff says that EY is nuts, he’s at least on his side.

    Jeff says that he invested the first dollar in TNA and after tonight, he’ll be standing on top of two world-class wrestling companies. He hypes up the Global Force Wrestling Amped Army, which I guess is the roster, and tells Dixie that she should’ve always been on the outside of the business looking in. Jeff takes out JB. After 12 minutes, this ended. Josh, in a blinding checkered shirt and Pope are in their booth. Josh hypes up the TNA roster while we get a rundown of tonight’s four way Knockouts title match.

    In a great bit, we see Jeff driving EC3 around. EC3 asks that he open his door, but he’s fine just staying in and appreciates Jeff at least knowing he took a couple of turns too quickly. EC3 asks for Jeff’s phone to watch cat videos and says his taste in music sucks. This was fantastic, and then Josh threatens us with a history lesson in Dixie Carter vs. Jeff Jarrett. We get a quick video telling us that TNA used to be a global powerhouse with huge starts, but with Jarrett gone, it fell. Well, this is bizarre to say the least.

    Ad for Bound For Glory airs – the show is still two weeks away with zero matches announced. Abyss faces Shera next, and we get a Shera-Revolution recap. They actually made this seem fairly epic, and used some of the footage they shot during the final Spike shows that never aired otherwise. Abyss hobbled down and really doesn’t move like he should be working in this gimmick anymore. Shera came out doing “the Shera” dance, which the front row actually got behind a bit here. Shera teaches Bigfoot how to dance. He tries to show Abyss how to do it, but Abyss isn’t amused and attacks.

    Shera vs. Abyss

    Josh calls this the most important night of the year in TNA. I thought that was Bound For Glory? Pope calls Lethal Lockdown a battle to “keep TNA afloat”. Josh hypes up that if you use the promo code TeamTNA, you can save 20% on your order on ShopTNA. Abyss clotheslines him down. Abyss gets a neck crank on the mat. Abyss rakes the eyes to avoid the Sky High and grabs Janice. He threatens the referee with this implement of death, which isn’t a DQ. Shera gets a chokeslam for 2, but Storm comes down with a cowbell. He accidentally hits Abyss, who then accidentally hits Storm, and Shera hits the Sky High for the win. This was a fine match to use to take 20% off an order of some classic TNA PPV DVDs. Definitely get the Cross the Line triple pack and you can’t go wrong with any BFG except for 2014.

    EC3 recaps a cat video with a ball of yarn and having fun at a Hardy party. After a break, Jeff Jarrett is in his ring gear and hypes up Team GFW – which apparently now includes Eric Young. Or maybe not, as Josh and Pope have no idea why he’s there despite Jeff saying that EY has sided with him. EC3 comes out without Jeff while Pope says that if that’s what EC3 does to Jeff when cameras are on, imagine what he does when they’re not on. No thanks. EC3 scolds them for playing Jeff’s theme. Jeff comes out in a suit with EC3 faces on it while EC3 tells Jeff he may come now and talks about how shaking his tush on the catwalk. Well, maybe Pope’s homoerotic subtext is now text.

    EC3 tells Jeff that he needs this job to provide for his family and pay his medical bills. Jeff Hardy, the former top draw in pro wrestling, playing second fiddle to EC3 in this suit really does make it seem like his career has hit the skids. HBK lost his money giving it to friends, Big Show invested in a strip mall, and I guess Jeff Hardy lost all of his signing a TNA Wrestling contract.

    Rockstar Spud came down to draw the parallels between Jeff Hardy being EC3’s assistant in a wacky suit and himself formerly having that role. Spud calls him garbage, while EC3 say that garbage couldn’t beat Sting, Bully, and Angle. EC3 cheapshots Spud, who recovers and attacks EC3, but is attacked by Tyrus. EC3 tells Jeff to “hit him”. Better be specific there EC3…and he actually hits Spud instead of hitting Tyrus despite having plausible deniability. Knockouts title is up next, giving us our second match in the first hour of this show.

    Recap video of Jeff Jarrett’s return to TNA where he won the KOTM Title, was inducted into the Hall of Fame, took over for Bully Ray after he was inducted as the authority figure and then beaten up before Jeff was revealed as behind it. Jeff meets with Drew and talks about how he has his shares on the line and that Dixie has lost EY. Drew looks gigantic next to Jeff here. Jeff says it’s now 5-on-4 for the heel team and then Josh and Pope repeat this exact same point a few times and Pope says that they should erase Jeff Jarrett from TNA and the Hall of Fame. Earl Hebner’s Hall of Fame induction will be in his home state, and he’ll be inducted by William Corgan.

    Brooke vs. Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong vs. Lei’D Tapa – Knockouts Title 4-Way

    The challengers are mid-ring while Brooke gets a full intro. Kong and Tapa get alternating tree slams on the babyfaces. Tapa and Kong get into a monster clubbering exchange before Gail and Brooke double team Tapa. Kong attacks and TNA takes her out for a bit. After a break, a 619 by Gail is avoided by Tapa and she hits her with a snake eyes on the railing. Kong runs through Brooke before Kong gingerly dives onto Tapa off the apron.

    Josh talks about how Brooke has broken fingers, but she’s still competing. Brooke gets 2 off a Russian legsweep. Gail gets the corner crossbody, but Brooke avoids the ringpost figure four. Tapa avoids Kong, who plows into Brooke. Tapa grabs Gail off the corner crossbody and slams her down. Tapa hits a terrifying superplex to Gail, leading to a Kong dive onto Tapa, allowing Brooke to flying elbow drop Kong. Kong gets Samoan dropped on the apron over the top rope by Kong and with Gail and Brooke alone, Gail reverses a sunset flip ala Bulldog against Bret and wins the title. Gail and Brooke adhere to the Code of Honor.

    Josh hypes up the main event next while Team TNA ponders what will happen and Drew is quite upset that the terms “failure” and “mistakes” are being used to describe TNA. EC3 is offended by Jeff Hardy pulling some “backdoor action” on him since Spud now has a TNA World Title match with EC3 next week. Did Jeff Hardy empty his savings account to bribe Dixie for that? Why would that happen logically? Pope shows off the key on his action figure because it symbolizes success and that’s what TNA is all about. We get a recap of the rivalry as JB describes Lethal Lockdown.

    Team TNA vs. Team GFW – Lethal Lockdown for Control of TNA

    Sonjay Dutt starts the match off for GFW while Davey is starting it for Team TNA. Josh corrects himself saying that the Wolves are now five-time TNA Tag Team Champions – which is amazing since they’ve only been in the company for about a year and a half now. After the break, Davey and Sonjday Dutt brawl in “the most important main event in TNA history”. Sonjay bites the hand of Davey to avoid a suplex and then Josh thanks the fans for making #winnertakesall trend. Davey gets a cloverleaf, but EY comes down. I wonder if the artificial leg he won in a wrestling match will be one of the weapons in this match.

    EY and Sonjay double team him for a bit while “you sold out” chants rain down on EY. Drew runs down and attacks. Pope makes Drew seem quite lame by using his full legal name to describe him before a break. After the break, we’ve missed a lot of in-ring action because they picked this break to do things in real-time. Bryan Myers is mid-ring and Sonjay has Drew in a camel clutch. Lashley comes down and hits Sonjay with a flipping German suplex and spears EY and Sonjay. Lashley is such a fun video game character in a wrestling match.

    Mordetsky comes down and chokes Drew in the corner while Myers punches away at Davey in another corner. Eddie comes in and runs wild while the Wolves get some double teams. Jeff Jarrett is the final member of his own team, and Josh isn’t at all shocked by this. Well, given that Jeff was in his full gear right after the opening segment, he shouldn’t be. Josh prays that TNA has a fifth guy, and Pope says that he’s just signed to be a commentator or else he’d be in there. Well, that’s pretty cowardly of him. Bram comes down as the fifth man while everyone stands around so the weapons can fall for the Lethal Lockdown portion of the match after an ad break.

    This time, the ad break wasn’t in real-time as they’ve all patiently waited until after the break to begin this portion of the match. Jeff beats up guys with a trash can after Pope scolds the GFW guys for using weapons, but then says the TNA guys need to use them because that’s what they’re for. Pope says he isn’t biased, but he’s fully behind TNA. So he’s biased then, and Josh says that this match is a monitor sellout in the back. Sonjay superkicks Eddie, but eats an Alarm Clock.

    Team TNA immediately surrounds Jeff, and in a hilarious bit, he immediately scrambles to the camera opening and clutches his wife while begging her to not let them take him. EY piledrives Drew, but Lashley eats a Stroke after hitting the spear. Trash can to the head of Jeff leads to a double Van Terminator from the Wolves. Bram and Mordetsky hit each other with trash can lids. Drew boots Myers and hits the Future Shock on Myers to win the match. Why not have Jeff eat the fall? They set up a spot with him nearly eating all the finishers of the faces, and it would’ve been a fitting end. Instead, Drew Galloway saved TNA by beating Curt Hawkins – it’s like Hogan winning War Games by beating Zodiac.

    Jeff crawls out of the ring and is surrounded by his crew. Drew grabs the case, so maybe he can cash it in for a shot at the KOTM Title or something. Dixie comes down and hugs Drew, who presents her with the case in a heroic pose. Drew was so great here. They grab a fan’s “We are TNA” sign and hold it up. They gave this match nearly the entire second hour of the show and gave the celebration plenty of time too. They didn’t hype up anything for next week’s show, so this really could’ve just been a finale for TNA as a whole and felt like a somewhat fitting ending.

    To see every screen of the show, just click here.