TNA PPV's are broadcast for free in the UK on Challenge TV. Sadly, with this one, Challenge appear to have dropped a bollock, as instead of the Sting/Angle/Anderson main, we get profiles on the UK Gladiators from 2009 (though Oblivion/Magnus cuts a great heel promo ;-D). We also miss most of the Aries/Kendrick title match, but the rest of the show aired in full. Here it is...
Kid Kash vs Jesse Sorensen
Kid Kash is terrific as a heel. He has this natural bad attitude and nasty aura that an audience can sense, which makes him perfect for this role, facing a young, slightly bland, babyface underdog. You get the impression this would go down far better in the early 90’s (and in front of a less shitty crowd, the Impact Zone really sucks) where the fans would be less cynical towards such a white meat face (though I really like Sorensen’s “signed football” gimmick, it’s a nice thing for the kids in the crowd). As it is, Kash really makes the match by being such a horrible cock, goading Sorensen into a test-of-strength only to kick him in the stomach, then hitting him with some nasty stiff kicks. They mess up a little in the middle, but don’t let it affect the rest of the match, which ends with Sorensen upsetting Kash with a reverse suplex slam for the win. Sorensen is still green (and I think will need a heel turn at some point to give him some life) but this was perfectly decent for an opener.
Bully Ray vs James Storm
This is a Bound For Glory series match, with the storyline being that Storm needs to win by submission to get the necessary points to top the leaderboard. Firstly though, Bully Ray takes Kid Kash’s heeling and cranks it up times 100. He stalls, leaves the ring, rips up a fans sign, stalls some more, yells at the ref, stalls, leaves the ring, stalls, then finally cheapshots Storm to get the advantage. Beautiful. Storm does a fine job of battling back from this, and focuses on the arm of Bully Ray, locking in a cross armbreaker before Ray makes the ropes. It’s a hold he keeps going back to, with the result being that the fans clearly think he might win by the 3rd or 4th attempt. Storm also keeps working the arm in-between armbreakers. Ray takes advantage again after spitting beer into Storm’s eyes, but yells that he’s going to pin Storm following “the Bubba Bomb, bitch”, only for Storm to lock in another cross armbreaker for another near tap. The finish is shitty, but also works for the story they wanted to tell: Storm tries to return the favour by spitting beer in Ray’s face, but catches the ref instead. Storm locks in an armbreaker on Ray, who taps and the bell goes, only for Storm to get DQ’d instead. Good match.
Winter vs Mickie James
Knockouts title match here. I really dig the Winter character, and the former Nikita plays it to the hilt, really convincing in a “cruel aristocrat” kinda way. She takes a nasty bump into the steps early doors, but is soon on offence, working over Mickie’s back in a way that suggests she’s torturing her opponent. Mickie not only looks awesome in her Wonder Woman outfit, but it’s clear to see she’s regained some of the fire she lost towards the end of her WWE run. She even hits a nice looking Thesz press off the apron to the floor in a pretty nutty bump. The match itself isn’t a classic, but good enough for modern US woman’s standards. I thought the ending was pretty good, as even though Winter hit Angelina Love with her poison blood, it didn’t mean she turned around like an idiot into a Mick Kick, instead turning round and spitting into Mickie’s face instead to pick up the win.
Mexican America vs The Pope & Devon
I may be alone in this belief, but Mexican America are starting to click for me. Hernandez and Anarquia are developing a nice bit of chemistry and Anarquia is pretty fun at stooging for babyface offence. There was a really nice bit here where Hernandez elevated Anarquia into the corner to hit a big splash on Devon, then knelt down to allow an interfering Sarita to use him as a platform to hit a dropkick on the former Reverend. As a match, it was a perfectly acceptable formula tag team match, and Devon’s huge spear out of the corner was terrific. I probably wont remember it in a months time, but it was perfectly fun, the Mexican’s winning with the Rude/Warrior finish from Wrestlemania V as Pope tries to suplex Anarquia into the ring.
Samoa Joe vs Matt Morgan
On paper, Matt Morgan should be far better than he is. He’s remarkably athletic for a big man, he’s good on the mic and comes across as a genuinely nice guy. He’s got good movement, seems to have a good idea of what he’s doing in the ring, yet somehow it just doesn’t feel right. I think it’s partly that you never get the impression any of his offence hurts, which is essential for a huge fella. Joe may have regressed massively since his 2005 peak, but he was still pretty good here at heeling it up, sneering at Morgan and flipping off the crowd, whilst still rushing from the ring to avoid the Carbon Footprint, putting it over as death. Joe’s suicide dive is still impressive, but there is a weird botch midway through where it looks like Joe is hitting a running hug on Morgan. I loved Joe hooking Morgan’s arm while he had to Kokina Clutch locked in, which prevented Morgan grabbling the rope, but didn’t love the way the ending made Joe look like an idiot, arguing with the ref to allow Morgan to recoup in the corner and nail the match winning Carbon Footprint.
Gunner vs Bobby Roode
I really think Gunner gets nowhere near enough love. He’s slowly been improving week after week to the point where I think he’s a really solid worker now. This match was really good. Roode worked over Gunner’s left arm early to soften him up for the Fujiwara armbar, but they got Gunner back on offence early enough to stop there being any chance of fan sympathy towards Gunner, as Roode gets driven down with a DDT. Gunner’s selling whilst on offence is absolutely top drawer, wincing in pain on every landing. There was even a point where he had Roode in a headscissors and shifted his body position so he wouldn’t be leaning on his left arm, which is awesome. I also loved the strike exchange where Roode answered Gunner’s punches by punching him on the bad arm. Roode picks up the win with a crossface, having failed to get the win with the armbar. Really cleverly worked match.
Austin Aries vs Brian Kendrick
Sadly, Challenge TV take over here, as we return from the adverts at the end of the match. We do get to see an awesome tiger suplex by Kendrick, and Aries winning the title with a brainbuster. I did love Aries getting the ref to hoist him on his shoulders in celebration post-match.
Bully Ray vs Bobby Roode
This is my main event on the show. Ray again heels it up superbly, stalling by leaving the ring JUST as Roode is going to make contact with him. Right at the start Ray tries to psyche Roode out with two large slaps to the chest, only for Roode to dig down deep and no-sell them, which Taz puts over nicely on commentary. They actually return to the chops during the match, which each time have the result of firing Roode up again, showing that Ray can’t break his spirit. Ray is such an unlikable prick that it gets both himself AND Roode over, an early crossface getting a big pop for Roode. Ray gets two following a Bubba Bomb, but misses a senton and Roode hits a snap spinebuster for the win in a good (for us in the UK) main event.
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