~Last week on Impact, it's announced that Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle vs. Scott Steiner for the TNA World Title will headline TNA's next PPV, Sacrifice, the Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament is announced to crown new TNA Tag Team Champions, Matt Morgan jumps Kip James for no reason, Eric Young continues to deny that he is "SUPER" Eric Young and the Motor City Machineguns continue to lose matches in TNA. Here's what happened this week:
-The show starts with Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (The Motor City Machineguns) and Shark Boy and Curry Man having a match.
-However, Scott Steiner, TNA X-Division Champion, Petey Williams and Racka Khan interrupt and clear the ring.
-Scott Steiner says that he'll beat Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle at Sacrifice and become the new TNA World Champion.
-Kurt Angle comes out but he gets beat down.
-Then TNA World Champion, Samoa Joe, runs down and clears the rings.
-AJ Styles says his usual tag team partner, Tomko, has been suspended by TNA and that he will need a new partner for the Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament.
-Angelina Love & Velvet Sky are challenged to a match by Gail Kim & ODB for later that night. Love & Sky accept.
-AJ Styles asks Booker T to be his tag team partner, but Booker has no idea who he is. [Ha]
-Homicide y Hernandez (the Latin American Xchange) beat Kaz & "regular" Eric Young in a Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament Qualifying match.
-Kip James attacks Matt Morgan as revenge for that beatdown Morgan gave him last week.
-AJ asks Kevin Nash to be his partner, but that doesn't happen.
-Gail Kim & ODB beat Angelina Love & Velvet Sky.
-Both Robert Roode and James Storm decline being AJ's tag partner.
-AJ Styles & "SUPER" Eric Young beat Jimmy Rave & Lance Hoyt in a Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament Qualifying match. What?
-The Terror Dome is announced as the newest TNA speciality match that will debut at Sacrifice.
-Cheerleader Melissa defeats Daisy Haze.
-Samoa Joe & Kurt Angle beat Scott Steiner & Petey Williams.
-Scott Steiner ends up laying everybody out.
-TNA Management Director, Jim Cornette, comes down to the ring and announces that 4 teams have qualified for the Deuces Wild Tag Tourney (Team 3D, Christian Cage/Rhino, LAX, AJ Styles/Super Eric Young) and that there are 4 spots left. He goes on to say that those spots will be filled by 4 teams made up of 8 randomly paired TNA wrestlers. He announces that those wrestlers will be Matt Morgan, Kip James, BG James, James Storm, Booker T, Robert Roode, Sting and TNA Women's Champion, Awesome Kong.
The looks on the faces of the other participants of the Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament when Awesome Kong was announced as an entraint was just priceless. I'm curious to see just where, and how silly, TNA will take this.
I don't know exactly where the new TERROR DOME~! is going to fit into the Sacrifice event, but it sounds cool.
Booker T not knowing who AJ Styles was had to be the highlight of the night.
Speaking of AJ Styles, he and SUPER Eric Young had a pretty solid match with Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt, I especially liked the finish.
-This episode of Impact also marked the return of the Canadian Destroyer~! I love that move.
~Last week on Impact, Awesome Kong successfully defends her TNA Women's title against Roxxi Leveaux, The TNA Tag Team Titles are declared vacant by TNA Management Director, Jim Cornette, Petey Williams wins the TNA X-Division title over Jay Lethal and Kurt Angle challenges Samoa Joe to a rematch for the TNA World Title on this episode.
-The show starts with Matt Morgan jumping Kip James for no clear reason.
-Booker T comes out to the ring and calls out Sting and tells him that he had Sting all wrong and that he was sorry.
-James Storm and Robert Roode interrupt the lovefest and they challenge Booker and Sting to a match.
-Cornette comes out and says he makes the rules in TNA and announces the "Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament" to crown new TNA Tag Team Champions. It'll consist of 8 teams, 4 matches and the winners go to Sacrifice, the next TNA PPV event. At Sacrifice, he will take 4 regular tag teams and 8 singles wrestlers to make 4 more teams and it will be a surprise who tags together. The winners of the tournament at Sacrifice will be the new tag team champions.
-AJ Styles says he doesn't care what Jim Cornette says, he and Tomko are still the tag team champions. He then sneaks Karen Angle, his and Kurt Angle's wife, into the arena.
-Team 3D beats Black Reign & Rellik in a Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament Qualifying Match.
-The TNA Knockouts go crazy.
-Kurt Angle, rocking the towel on his head, says he's ready for Samoa Joe.
-Eric Young denies that he's SUPER Eric. Silly rabbit...
-Christian Cage & Rhino defeat Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley in a Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament Qualifying Match.
-Jim Cornette calls out all the TNA knockouts. Once the women are all out to the ring, he announces that they all (minus Awesome Kong) will compete in a match at Sacrifice that will start as an over-the-top-rope battle royal and when it gets down to the final two women, the match will change to a ladder match. The winner gets a shot at Awesome Kong for the TNA Women's Title and the loser of that match will get their head shaved. Wonderful.
-Booker T & Sting beat Robert Roode & James Storm.
-Kurt finds AJ Styles and "their" wife, Karen and tells them to get lost.
-TNA World Champion, Samoa Joe, defeats Kurt Angle and retains his title.
-Scott Steiner, the #1 contender for the TNA World Title, comes out and starts some stuff with Joe.
-Cornette comes out for the millionth time and announces Samoa Joe vs. Scott Steiner vs. Kurt Angle for the TNA World Title at Sacrifice.
I thought that this match on Impact would be Angle's last change at the belt, that's what they were saying all night. So, why is he getting another shot at the belt? I like Joe vs. Angle but my goodness, give me something new already.
I just can't help but think TNA is just having a tournament just to have a tournament. Weren't LAX the #1 contenders for the tag team titles after Destination X? When did they get their title shots? I'll tell you when, they never got them. There is really no reason to have the tournament because they could have just had AJ Styles and Tomko get beat by a team and have them keep the belts, that makes more sense to me.
The women's match where the loser gets their head shaved has got to be one of the dumbest gimmick matches I have heard in a while. Just. Completely. Stupid.
No Petey Williams or Canadian Destroyer on this episode.
No explaination is given as to why Matt Morgan killed Kip James, which makes no sense. However, I did find the beatdown at the beginning of the show to be pretty funny. Calling James "old man" while he beat on him was just icing on the cake.
TNA showed a SWEET video package focusing on Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe. I didn't like the announcer screaming the whole time but it was still good stuff.
Speaking of Kurt Angle, he sure knows how to speak to a woman.
Damnit!! The Motor City Machineguns never, EVER, win.
~I'm going to warn you now, this post will seem very rushed than usual and that's because I want to get to the Mike Adamle clip. Well, at least I'm honest.
ROH Video Wire
~The latest video wire showed: -Highlights from Nigel McGuinness vs. Kevin Steen for the ROH World Title in Edison, NJ on April 12. -Kevin Steen going buckwild after losing the match due to McGuinness cheating. -Claudio Castagnoli challenges McGuinness to a World Title shot on May 10 in NYC -Kevin Steen continues to wild out. -McGuinness tells Castagnoli that he hasn't proved anything to him and isn't getting a title shot. -Brent Albright refuses to break Daizee Haze arm eventhough his employer, Larry Sweeney demands it. -Kota Ibushi hype -Castagnoli begs for a title shot.
ROH Doubleshot Weekend ~Ring of Honor will be holding two shows in Detroit and Chicago Ridge on April 18 and 19. These two shows feature the return of TNA's Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin (the Motor City Machineguns) to the ROH ring, hopefully they can get some wins of the weekend because they can't seem to buy a win in TNA.
Michigan State Fairgrounds & Expo Center "Michigan Mart" April 18th, 2008 Detroit, MI
Tag Team Main Event #1: The Age Of The Fall of Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black vs. The Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin
Tag Team Main Event #2 ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico
Tag Team Main Event #3 World Tag Team Champions Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Kota Ibushi & Austin Aries
Vulture Squad vs. Sweet N Sour Inc. Jack Evans & Ruckus vs. Brent Albright & Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney
Falls Count Anywhere Necro Butcher vs. Delirious
Joey Matthews vs. Jigsaw
Adam Pearce vs. Silas Young
Frontier Fieldhouse April 19th, 2008 Chicago Ridge, IL
ROH World Title Match Nigel McGuinness (Champion) vs. Kevin Steen
ROH Tag Team Champions Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (non-title match)
Kota Ibushi vs. El Generico
The Vulture Squad vs. The Age Of The Fall Jack Evans, Ruckus & Jigsaw vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black & Joey Matthews
Four Corner Survival Daizee Haze vs. Lacey vs. MsChif vs. Ashley Lane
Delirous vs. Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney
Claudio Castagnoli & Pelle Primeau vs. Brent Albright & Adam Pearce with Larry Sweeney
"- The broadcast kicked off with new TNA World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe speaking out on his win and the new era in TNA. However, Joe was interrupted by “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner, who announced he was cashing in on his “Fight For The Right” title shot at May’s Sacrifice against the World Champion! After that, Kurt Angle came out to announce that he was using his rematch clause immediately and wanted the title match next Thursday on “iMPACT!”.
-Also on the broadcast, “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal successfully defended the X Division Championship against Johnny Devine. However, after the match “Maple Leaf Muscle” Petey Williams cashed in on his Fight For The Right X Title shot, beating Lethal after the Canadian Destroyer (and a shot from his steel case) to become the new TNA X Division Champion!
- “iMPACT!” was also filled with controversy, as AJ Styles and Tomko lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship to Kaz and Super Eric in a three-way bout (also featuring The Latin American Xchange). However, the title was held up by TNA Management Director Jim Cornette when Super Eric refused to unmask, as it was Eric Young who was actually in the bout. Cornette – obviously frustrated with the situation – told the world he would make an official decision on next week’s broadcast!
- In the main event of the broadcast, it was Sting, Booker T and BG James defeating Robert Roode, “Cowboy” James Storm and Kip James in six-man action. Booker T beat Storm with the axe kick, but only after Matt Morgan interfered to give their team the advantage. After the bout, Booker T took exception to Morgan’s interference and had words with Morgan and Sting over the situation! In fact, Booker challenged Sting to fight him next week before leaving the arena!
- “The Instant Classic” Christian Cage and “The War Machine” Rhino defeated Team 3D in tag team action after some miscommunication between Brother Ray and Brother Devon. After the bout, TNA security had to step in between Team 3D, who nearly came to blows!
-TNA Knockout Women’s Champion Awesome Kong successful defended her title against Roxxi Laveaux, who won the “Queen Of The Cage” match at Lockdown."
More Screwups Courtesy of Mike Adamle ~And now for the main event. In my last post, I had a clip of just a small, small sample of the HISTORIC debut of Mike Adamle on ECW. Well, I found a better one that accurately sums up Adamle's first night as ECW's lead announcer.
It's never a good thing to kick a man when he's down, which is why I'm gonna try my best to be optimistic about Adamle's future showings. I mean, he can't get any worse.
~This week's episode of Impact is the last before TNA's latest Pay-Per-View effort, Lockdown. This event is unique because all the matches during this event take place inside a steel cage. On last week's episode, Team Tomko (Tomko, AJ Styles and Team 3D) officially announced James Storm as the fifth member of their team against Team Cage (Christian Cage, Kevin Nash, Rhino and Sting) for their Lethal Lockdown match at Lockdown, SUPER Eric made an appearance to save the day, Petey Williams hung from the hood of a moving car, Shark Boy earns a spot in the Xscape Match for the X-Division Title at Lockdown (X-Division Champion, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, Curry Man and Johnny Devine are also in the match), Scott Steiner declares himself the #1 contender for the TNA World Title after Lockdown, Samoa Joe trains, Kurt Angle wants Joe to sign a contract and Matt Morgan joins Team Cage as their fifth member. Whew. Here's what went down this week:
-Team Tomko comes down to the ring. Brother Ray of Team 3D gets on the mic and says that Team Tomko isn't sweatin' Matt Morgan's decision to join Team Cage. Ray warns Morgan not to show up to Lockdown and calls him a "seven-foot tall, freakin' moron". He goes on to talk trash about Sting and Kevin Nash.
-Team Cage decide that they have heard enough and they come marching out (minus those stupid "Team Cage" T-Shirts). They pretty much say their going to wipe the floor with Team Tomko and then they approach the ring but Team Tomko run away.
-Samoa Joe says once again that if he doesn't beat TNA World Champion, Kurt Angle for the belt at Lockdown, he will quit wrestling.
-Consequences Creed picks up a win in his debut match over Jimmy Rave of the Rock'n'Rave Infection. Creed earns the last spot in the Xscape Match at Lockdown.
-Sonjay Dutt tries to take away Jay Lethal's girl, So Cal Val, for the millionth time. Funny stuff.
-TNA management director, Jim Cornette publicly fires Matt Morgan from TNA management making him a full-time wrestler.
-Scott Steiner hates on Petey Williams because he's Canadian.
-Petey Williams & Scott Steiner beat Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (The Motor City Machineguns).
-After the match, Steiner shaves Petey Williams' hair. Why?
-Kurt Angle comes out to witness Samoa Joe sign a contract that he will quit pro wrestling if he can't beat Angle at Lockdown.
-Samoa Joe comes out and says he'll sign the contract but it won't matter because he'll win the TNA World Title at Lockdown.
-Roxxi Leveaux defeats Angelina Love
-Super Eric is interviewed, he supposedly "knows not of Eric Young" and says he wants to rid TNA of evil.
-The superhero then goes on the beat Black Reign in a match...
-...But then evil prevails, as Rellik comes out, beats Super Eric down and handcuffs him to the ringropes.
-Kaz comes down to try to make the save but then Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt come down to help Black Reign & Rellik but Super Eric breaks the handcuffs with his "super-human strength".
-Super Eric clears the ring and does his superhero pose.
-Sting & Kevin Nash had their match against Team 3D won until AJ Styles & Tomko interfere.
-Eventually all members of both Team Cage and Team Tomko hit the ring. Matt Morgan clears the ring, then everybody starts brawling all over the building.
I don't know much about Consequences Creed but at least he's instantly put into a match of some importance in the Xscape Match at Lockdown. Unlike in WWE, where they have guys like Kofi Kingston and Vladimir Kozlov who have meaningless squash matches week after week. I was pleasently surprised with his match with Jimmy Rave. Both guys are really solid in the ring.
I don't know why but I've been ignoring the weekly segments of Jay Lethal's best friend, Sonjay Dutt, trying to steal his girlfriend, So Cal Val. They've been pretty entertaining.
I'm sure that video package featuring Scott Steiner and Petey Williams will give me nightmares for the next few months.
Speaking of video packages, TNA showed a pretty good video package chronicling the entire Samoa Joe/Kurt Angle feud.
CANADIAN DESTROYER!!!
On the flip side of that, it seems the Machineguns can't seem to buy a win.
That was a sick finisher Roxxi Laveaux hit on Angelina Love. I have no idea what it's called but it was nice.
Matt Morgan is a beast.
That brawl between Team Cage and Team Tomko at the end of the show was fun to watch, let's hope their match is just as good.
Friday April 11 2008 Case Gym - Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts)
-Four Way Elimination Match for the ROH World Title: Nigel McGuinness (Champion) vs. winner of the four corner scramble
-Four Corner Survival - Winner Gets World Title Match In Main Event: El Generico vs. Rocky Romero vs. Erick Stevens vs. Roderick Strong
- Kota Ibushi vs. Davey Richards
- Boston Street Fight: Kevin Steen vs. The Necro Butcher
- Jack Evans & Ruckus (The Vulture Squad) vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe
- Six Man Elimination Match: Larry Sweeney, Brent Albright & Chris Hero vs. Claudio Catagnoli, Delirious & Pelle Primeau
- Jigsaw vs. Eddie Edwards
Saturday April 12 2008 Inman Sports Club (Edison, New Jersey)
-ROH World Title Match: Nigel McGuinness (If Nigel is still champion) vs. Kevin Steen
-ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Davey Richards & Rocky Romero (Champions) vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe
- Kota Ibushi vs. Claudio Castagnoli
- No DQ Match: Roderick Strong vs. The Necro Butcher
- Delirious vs. Brent Albright
- Jack Evans vs. El Generico
- Erick Stevens & Pelle Primeau vs. Chris Hero & Bobby Dempsey
- Jigsaw vs. Eddie Edwards vs. Mitch Franklin
Both shows are interesting both are filled with a handful of wrestlers returning to the ROH ring and one wrestler making his U.S. debut.
One return is going to be made by "ROH's #1 athlete" Chris Hero. For those who have not experienced the utter foolishness that is Chris Hero, here's a little taste.
Seriously, I'm not that big of a fan of Hero's, but it's only because I'm really not too familiar with him. However, from what I've seen, he has a legit get-off-my-tv feel to him and that annoys me. So I guess he does his job well.
Jack Evans, from the heavens, comes back to ROH after missing a few months of action due to a broken face (ha ha) during a match in Japan. Here's the clip:
I've always found Evans a joy to watch and am glad that he's back.
This weekend will also see the United States debut of japanese wrestler, Kota Ibushi.
I'm not too familiar with Ibushi either...so I decided to youtube him (is that even a real term) and here's one of the things I found on him.
(*Note* Ibushi is the one in the white/blue tights)
From what I've seen of the guy, he is, without a doubt, a high flyer who uses lots and lots of flips and kicks. In terms of performance, Ibushi appears to be very hit or miss. When he's on, the dude is flat-out awesome in the ring (Did you see that double flip in the clip above? Sick!) but when he's off, he looks sloppy and down-right terrible. I think he can make a good impression on the fans who attend the shows over the weekend, but ONLY if he's on "hit" instead of "miss" because ROH fans are notorious for just dumping on wrestlers who they feel can't hang in the ring. I think he's good though.
