WWE Survivor Series 96'

WWE Survivor Series 96'

New York City, NY - November 1996

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, Shawn Michaels was the WWE Champion, the Intercontinental Champion was Hunter Hearst Helmsley (not yet Triple H), and the WWE Tag Team Champions were Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. 

Survivor Series 96' kicks off with a (somewhat) old-fashioned Survivors match - Owen Hart and the British Bulldog (Tag Team Champions at the time) with The New Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Al "Leif Cassidy" Snow) vs. relative newcomers Doug Furnas and Phil Lafon and The Godwinns. I wasn't expecting much out of this match as the New Rockers were a lame tandem of two guys that had zero chemistry - even though, separately, they both had plenty of talent - and the Godwinns were two generally boring hosses. Furnas and Lafon coming in had been treated like a big deal on commentary as they had quite a rep from their work in Japan. Somehow this match works, though, as everyone, even the Godwinns, had their work boots on and the crowd was surprisingly hot. I guess it helps when you've got Owen Hart in there, who really shined throughout, and the very capable Furnas, Lafon, Bulldog, and Al Snow all trying to show that they could go to. The finish also put Furnas and Lafon over as a team that might be able to topple Bulldog and Owen, a desperately needed shot-in-the-arm to an otherwise very, very stale tag team scene (the Road Warriors would make their big return just a few months after this in February 97'). Not an all-time great opener, but better than it might appear on paper. (3/5)

One of the strengths of this card is the variety as, instead of another Survivors match, we get a PPV Main Event-Worthy match as The Undertaker takes on Mankind with Paul Bearer hung over the ring (and the stipulation that Taker will get time alone with Bearer if he can defeat Mankind). At the previous month's In Your House: Buried Alive show, The Undertaker had been "buried alive" following a match against Mankind that I don't think I've seen since I was in high school and would make his return at this show. This is one of the less well-known Taker/Mankind matches compared to their Boiler Room Brawl match from August's SummerSlam show and obviously the King of the Ring Hell in a Cell match they'd have in 98', but there's a reason for that - its just not very memorable. That isn't to say anyone is working lazily - especially Mankind, who takes quite a few heinous bumps on the floor - but this just isn't a match that I'd consider "must see." Still, if this was the type of effort they were putting out on the house show circuit, its amazing that Taker went on to compete for another 20 years and Mankind isn't in a wheelchair today because this is a physical contest. After Undertaker gets the win with a crowd-pleasing Tombstone, he tries to get his hands on Bearer but the Executioner shows up and attacks him. The Executioner was Terry Gordy in a mask, getting the gig as a favor to Michael "Dok Hendrix" Hayes, if I'm not mistaken. It was a terrible gimmick, which didn't help things, but I think Gordy was also more than a couple years past his prime and never exactly a guy who worked a style that was going to get over in the WWE in 1996. Another slightly-above match that also gets some love for featuring the Undertaker coming down to the ring dressed like a weird S&M Batman. (3/5)

Time for another Survivors match - this one pitting Hunter Hearst Helmsley (not yet Triple H), Jerry "The King" Lawler, Goldust, and Crush vs. "Wildman" Marc Mero, The Stalker (Barry Windham), Rocky Miavia (not yet The Rock), and Jake "The Snake" Roberts (who was a surprise addition when Mark Henry was pulled from the match for some reason or other). This one isn't as good as the opener, but it might be a slightly funner watch just because of the ridiculousness of some of the characters, Sunny and JR's banter on commentary (which gets borderline cringe-inducing), seeing Dustin and Barry get a few moments together, and, of course, this being The Rock's debut match. That being said, the action isn't great - Helmsley, Goldust, and Mero are basically wasted while Jake Roberts and Barry Windham are at career low-points. This is the first match of the night that could be respectfully considered below-average and, in some eyes, an absolute stinker - but credit to Vince for making this watchable thanks to the train wreck commentary. (1.5/5)

The next match is an all-time classic - Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart in a straight-up wrestling match. Their WrestleMania 13 match is widely considered the best match they ever had together and arguably within the top 5 WWE matches ever, but had that match never occurred, its possible this match would be in the conversation instead. Its just that good, its greatest flaw really just coming from Vince McMahon's wishy-washy commentary which, as Bret has pointed out, often contradicts the clear heel/face dynamic that he and Austin were delivering in the ring by giving Austin a bit too much praise and Hart not enough (it doesn't help that Jim Ross was a dyed-in-the-wool Stone Cold supporter was also just coming out of a pseudo-heel role after debuting the Fake Razor Ramon and Fake Diesel a few weeks prior and the fact that NYC crowds in the 90s tended to side with the heels anyway). Before the bell rings, Austin gives the Hitman two birds (which gets a huge reaction) before they start exchanging holds. The storytelling and logic of this match is just amazing as Austin doesn't come into this match looking to just brawl with Bret - he wants to beat him by out-wrestling him. Austin hits his old Stun Gun finisher, which is brilliantly called-back later on in the match by the Hitman. The quality exchanges continue, eventually leading to a trading of right hands before Bret takes one of his trademark chest-first bumps into the corner. In other Bret matches, this would often signal the start of the "heat" segment as Bret would go into full selling mode for typically bigger "monsters" like Bigelow or Kama or whoever, but here, Bret doesn't die and counters a superplex attempt and then delivers an elbow. Again, this is a nod to a spot that will happen later in this match - another clever little tease that also allows Bret to deliver some signature offense at a point in the match he wouldn't normally use it (the elbow usually coming much closer to the Sharpshooter). To the outside they go and we get an awesome moment when Bret tackles Austin over the guardrail. I love that, at this point, Bret has been baited by Austin into wrestling a more reckless style than he'd ever really shown before, ultimately falling into Austin's trap a bit as the Rattlesnake takes over and ends up laying Hart out on the Spanish Announce Table and hitting him with an elbow drop of his own. I'm not sure if Hart was supposed to go through the table, but I doubt it (as going through tables had not become the trope it would become for another couple years). As other reviewers have noted, the way this match transforms from a wrestling contest to a wild brawl is beautiful. Back in the ring, Austin applies an abdominal stretch - which does seem a little weak considering how aggressive their exchanges were outside in the ring - but its also saved a bit by Austin going for the ropes, getting caught, and then flipping off Tim White. It also gives Hart the opportunity needed to tackle Austin again and rain down on him with fists of fire! The crowd absolutely LOVES seeing this sort of intensity out of Bret and even JR and Vince have to admit that Bret is taking the fight to Austin now. We get the call-back Stun Gun from Bret and then a piledriver (not yet outlawed). Bret hits a backbreaker but none of this keeps Austin down for a 3 count. I love some of Bret's pinfall attempts here as they're really inventive and unorthodox, the Hitman now trying any trick he can to get Austin's shoulders on the mat. After one such pin attempt, both guys stagger to their feet and Austin hits a Stone Cold Stunner - which, even just a few months later, would've been a MEGA pop, but was not 100% over yet - and, fearful that Bret might reach the ropes, pulls Bret back into the center of the ring and therefor only gets 2.5. That little detail is one of many in this match that keep Austin looking great but also make it clear that Bret is better than ever (something that Vince doesn't get over enough on his commentary). Austin is now the one who seems to be running out of ideas, attempting a Cloverleaf and then sending Bret into the corner (which causes the Hitman to slide ribs-first into the post). Of all the variations of "wrestler-goes-into-the-post," why isn't this one more imitated? I love how, at this point, whenever you may think these guys are out of gas or are going into a would-be finishing sequence, they pull out just one more creative sequence. Austin then busts out a bow-and-arrow and then we finally get a Sharpshooter tease, but Bret just can't really lock it in. Great struggle and registering of the fatigue as Bret attempts a sleeper, only to eat a Stunner-like jawbreaker! Now its Austin's turn to attempt his own sleeper, the Million Dollar Dream, only for Bret to kick off the top turnbuckle and roll back onto Austin's shoulders for a 3 count (with Austin noticeably kicking out at 3.1). The only thing hurting this match is the commentary and even that can't really take away from it being an out-and-out classic battle. (5/5)

The next match is a bit of a mess, but sorta fun (as much as a match featuring a problematic accused murderer can be) - Vader, The Fake Deisel, The Fake Razor Ramon, and Farooq (now in his Nation of Domination gimmick) vs. Yokozuna, Savio Vega, Flash Funk (making his debut), and a "mystery opponent" revealed to be Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.  What's "off" about this kitchen sink of a match is that its unclear what exactly the goal was for even putting it on - a question that basically gets answered by the finish, which exposes this match was essentially designed to just fill time and cool the crowd between the Hart/Austin bout and the main event. Flash Funk is making his debut, but doesn't really get all that much time to shine because he's put in the ring with Vader, who the company was already cooling on but won't actually let get pinned or made to look like too much of a pushover. There's a similar half-measure done with Farooq, who is either debuting his new gimmick here or had only been doing the Nation of Domination thing for a couple weeks, and desperately needed to be put over strong after his awful debut (and the need to immediately write out his rival, Ahmed Johnson, in the summer due to injury). Meanwhile, Glen Jacobs, as Fake Diesel, is actually in insanely good shape, gets one of the matches' only two eliminations, and is talked up on commentary - so much that it almost makes one forget that his gimmick was DOA and that the sooner he dropped it, the better. Then you've got Jimmy Snuka (who'd been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before I'm not mistaken) making a one-night-return at age 53 - which, in today's WWE, would've met a World Championship run. Regardless, Snuka looks terrible and its crazy to think that, after taking  a short time off, he'd actually wrestle multiple times in WCW *and* WWE along with the indies over the next decade. Its also a bit crazy to think that Snuka, who does not look good, is still not the worst-looking wrestler here as Yokozuna had ballooned to well above 600 pounds and, if I'm not mistaken, would not appear on WWE TV again. The best thing that can be said about this match, which ends with everyone getting DQ'd because, after Fake Razor Ramon gets pinned, Fake Diesel goes after Snuka with a chair, is that only goes 10 minutes (which prevents it from ever getting boring). (2/5)

Main event time - Psycho Sid challenging Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship. I wrote out a lengthy review of this but somehow it got lost, so I'll try my best to recap my feelings in abbreviated form: Sid was coming into this match as the heel, but Michaels, despite putting on some good matches in his tenure as WWE Champion, was an unlikable babyface. Unlike Hogan (the hero) or Bret (the workhorse underdog), Michaels was the preening, arrogant Heartbreak Kid. To the "smart fans" and nascent IWC, Michaels was regarded as an entertaining worker, but one deserving of an ass-kicking due to his backstage reputation which, even then, had rubbed those "in the know" the wrong way. To soften his image, Vince enlisted Michaels' real-life mentor Jose Lothario - but their on-screen chemistry was non-existent and, when they make their entrance together here, it almost seems like Michaels is bothered to even be having the old man around. Onto the match itself...Is this Sid's best match? I know some fans like to point to his Starrcade title match against Chris Benoit and I found plenty of enjoyment in his tag with Vader against Bulldog and Sting at one of the Beach Blast shows in the 90s, but this might take the top spot for me. Part of the fun is seeing Sid actually bask in the fan adoration that was never really there for him at any other point in his career. I'm not sure if Shawn, expecting Austin and Bret to steal the show, worked with Sid beforehand to map out a match well past the average length of a Sid match, but whatever the case, there are some good sequences throughout this match and Shawn is in full pinball mode. Sid isn't a guy with a deep reservoir of holds, but I love the cut-offs and simple counters he performs to prevent Shawn from ever really getting the upperhand. The finish is poorly executed and overbooked, but its also crowd-pleasing and at least interesting. After getting backed up into a corner, Sid grabs a camera and looks to be wanting to smash it into Shawn - which doesn't quite make sense as Sid had been holding his own throughout the match but, then again, he's also "Psycho" - but instead turns and clocks Jose Lothario with it. Lothario stumbles off the apron and, as the story would later go, suffers a heart attack on the outside of the ring. Shawn exits the ring to check on him, but takes his sweet ass time doing so and his acting is the type of stuff that should've got him nominated for a Razzie or two. Sid ends up getting Shawn back in the ring and delivering a powerbomb to get the W, which got a huge ovation from the NYC crowd. This isn't as good as Hart/Austin - few matches in history are - but I'd still consider a "should watch" for any fan of this era of wrestling, Sid, or even someone curious about why Shawn Michaels was getting serious heat in 96'. (4/5)

Survivor Series 96' is most known for the Sid championship win and the Hart/Austin classic and those events alone make it a show worth checking out in parts, but what isn't really talked about is how watchable some of the rest of the show is. The opener features some quality technical wrestling and a good showcase for Owen, the Undertaker comes to the ring dressed as Batman, there are a number of interesting debuts and revamped characters worth checking out (The Rock, Flash Funk, and Faarooq) as well as noteworthy finalish late career appearances for Jake Roberts, Yokozuna, and Jimmy Snuka. Despite a not-so impressive Kwang Score of 2.92-out-of-5, I'd still consider give this a...

FINAL RATING - Watch It

TNA Slammiversary VII

 TNA Slammiversary VII

Detroit, MI - June 2009

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: The TNA World Heavyweight Champion was Mick Foley, the X-Division Champion was Suicide, the TNA World Tag Team Champions were Team 3D, and the TNA Knockouts Champion was Angelina Love.

The show kicks off with the X-Division Title up for grabs in a King of the Mountain Match with Suicide defending the title against Jay Lethal, Consequences Creed (aka Xavier Woods), Alex Shelley, and Chris Sabin. Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers serves as the "belt keeper" and joins in on commentary. A King of the Mountain Match has been described as a "reverse ladder match," but its even more complicated than that - it involves pinfalls and/or submissions and a penalty box too. Jay Lethal was doing his Macho Man cosplay gimmick at the time. Suicide, the champion, was portrayed by - I think - Frankie Kazarian at this point, but it might've been Christopher Daniels? Any which way, he's the target for the other four men as, remember, in order to even be eligible to win the title, you have to score a pinfall or submission. This, of course, begs the question - why don't Creed and Lethal or Shelley and Sabin just pin their respective tag partner and then return the favor and make things easier for themselves? Anyway, Suicide gets a pinfall on Lethal very early on after suplexing him on a ladder and Lethal goes into the box (and Granderson exits on commentary). Suicide gets a second pin, this time on Shelley, sending him to the penalty box. The first pin made some sense as it came after a ladder spot, but Shelley getting pinned on a double-knee chestbreaker (Codebreaker) made less sense. Sabin gets some revenge for his partner, though, tossing a chair into Suicide's face and, for no reason, not going for what should've been an automatic pinfall. Suicide gets his face busted into a chair and gets pinned by Lethal. Shelley comes back into the ring and for some reason, all four men start celebrating. I get that they're all babyfaces, but that was too cutesy - especially this far into a match involving weapons and seemingly for a major singles championship. The MCMG get some awesome offense in; their tag work was exceptional at this time. Creed gets a pinfall on Shelley, though, sending him back to the box and making himself eligible to hang the title - which nobody has bothered to attempt yet. Creed hits a beautiful hesitation dropkick onto Suicide for 2, but Suicide rallies and takes out all 3 other men, ending things by monkey flipping Sabin into a ladder. The fight goes towards the entrance ramp, with Sabin landing a huge splash from the top of the penalty box on Lethal, Consequences, and Suicide in a terrific spot. Shelley comes back into the ring and sets up a ladder, but he doesn't have the title yet and he's not eligible. Sabin lays down for him, though - which means Sabin has to go into the box, but Shelley can attempt to hang the title. I'm glad they had at least one of the teams do this. Up the ladder he goes, but Suicide dropkicks it and Shelley hits the mat hard. They set up the ladder in the corner and Lethal ends up on top of it, but Suicide front-suplexes Creed onto it and Lethal gets catapulted into the middle of the ring. I'm not sure the physics are 100% legit, but that was still cool looking. Sabin hits a tornado DDT on Lethal and now he's eligible. Shelley lands a Celtic Cross (or whatever that move is really called on Creed), but Suicide takes him out - only to get dropped by Sabin, who sets the ladder up in the middle of the ring. Sabin looks to hang up the belt, but Suicide prevents him. Sabin hits a hesitation dropkick on Suicide in the corner and heads back towards the hook, but Lethal comes out of the box and back suplexes him off the ladder - only to get hit by an Alex Shelley frog splash! Shelley superkicks Suicide and inexplicably moves the ladder out of the ring, setting it up on the outside of the ring. Back in the ring, Creed takes over and from here we get the biggest spots of the match - Sabin taking a back bump into the ladder, Shelley landing a crossbody on Suicide on a chair, Jay Lethal hitting an elbow drop onto Sabin (who was still laying across the ladder), and Shelley landing a devastating superkick and then a Sliced Bread #2 onto Creed on the ring apron. Shelley attempts another one, but Suicide counters it and sets up the ladder in the ring. Shelley tips the ladder, but Suicide doesn't fall off, climbing instead onto the penalty box. Shelley tries to ram him with the ladder, but Suicide pulls it up and ends up bashing Lethal with it. Creed climbs up the penalty box too while Shelley sets up another ladder. Suicide manages to hit a running neckbreaker on Shelley off the ladder and then climbs up the ladder to retain his title. There were some really cool moments in this match, but there were also some head-scratching moments, including Shelley and Suicide blatantly setting up the ladder a good 2-3 feet away from the hook for no real reason - aside from the fact that they needed to position them this way for the sake of the spots they were performing. (3/5)

Backstage, "The Franchise" Shane Douglas gets interviewed before his match against Christopher Daniels. The build for this match is all about Douglas fighting for a job in TNA but his promo is all about how he's a legend who has been at the top of the mountain everywhere he's gone, which is untrue and (I think) part of his gimmick as a delusional egomaniac. He also talks about Christopher Daniels like he's a "rising star" but Daniels was close to 40 years old at the time. I like that TNA and Douglas had put on a twist on the grizzled veteran trying to earn or keep their spot as usually its more of a babyface role. As one might expect, the action in this match is a step slower than what one might usually see from Daniels, the Franchise certainly not in career shape. After dominating early, Daniels gets driven into the steps, shoulder-first, by the crafty Douglas. Back in the ring, Douglas keeps the pressure on, targeting the shoulder. Daniels rallies, though, and after a good exchange of blows with Douglas and blocking Douglas' Belly-to-Belly Suplex, Daniels hits the BME (Best Moonsault Ever) to get the clean win. This wasn't bad at all. A simple story told well enough. (2.5/5)

Mick Foley is backstage with Jeremy Borash. I have no idea how or why, in 2009, Mick Foley was the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. He was 44, but hadn't been a regular competitor in the WWE for quite some time. It was just a weird, puzzling move.

The Beautiful People's Angelina Love defends her TNA Knockouts Championship against the former Victoria of WWE, Tara. At the time, TNA's Knockout Division was considered significantly more hard-hitting and important than the WWE's Women's Division, though the WWE did have some talented women on the roster. The difference was that, in TNA, a match like this would get ample time, while in the WWE, the "divas" were often given just 5 minutes a night. This match doesn't necessarily feature the same level of innovation or athleticism that the women of 2021 are able to deliver (nor is its runtime that much longer than what the WWE was allocating at the time), but it also feels less choreographed, less predictable, and has a "big fight" feel that TNA didn't always have - even in its men's division - and the WWE certainly hadn't had since the peak of the Stratus/James feud some 3 years earlier. Like the previous match, we get a simple story here with Madison Rayne and Velvet Skye getting involved and eventually costing Tara the match. Good match with the right finish. (3/5)

Somewhere backstage, Dr. Stevie Richards, Daffney, and Raven are interviewed. Stevie Richards discusses how many hours he spent trying to cure Chris Park (Abyss) while Raven cuts one of his trademark promos, full of metaphors and similes, to hype their Monster's Ball Match (which also involves Taylor Wilde). Early on we get some man-on-woman violence with Abyss inadvertently crushing Daffney in the corner in a spot that gets a big reaction and, moments later, press slams Daffney onto Stevie and Raven on the outside. The brawl continues into the crowd and we get some weapons used too. As the brawl continues, Taylor Wilde sets up Daffney on a table and hits a splash off a stack of speakers near the stage in a solid, crowd-pleasing moment. Raven and Abyss make their way back into the ring, Abyss eventually pulling out a bag of thumbtacks. Before he can use them, Stevie levels him with a chairshot to the head and Raven follows it up with his signature drop toehold into the chair (though Abyss lands hands-first and doesn't seem too hurt by it). Raven puts a kendo stick to use, beating Abyss square in the head with it repeatedly. Raven tries to choke him out with it, but Abyss won't stay down, eventually getting a hold of a kendo stick himself. Abyss hits a chokeslam and gets the visual pin, but Richards distracts the referee. Taylor Wilde finally comes back into the fray and Abyss rocket-launches her onto Raven - but, again, there's no ref to make the count. Abyss dumps the thumbtacks and the crowd pops in anticipation. Daffney comes from behind and tries to beat down Abyss, but Abyss feels no pain. In an insane moment, Abyss looks to chokeslam Daffney on the thumbtacks, but she turns and walks into a pop-up release spinebuster from Taylor Wilde onto the tacks! Holy shit! Wilde goes for the cover, but only gets 2 because Richards interferes. Abyss looks to chokeslam Stevie, Raven clocks him with a chair. Raven hits his Evenflow DDT onto a chair but only gets 2! Raven goes for another one onto the tacks, but Abyss counters it into the Black Hole Slam onto the tacks to end this one. I'm not a big Abyss fan, but Raven, Richards, and Daffney were the right opponents and this match scratched the "hardcore itch" that the crowd wanted it to with plenty of chairshots, a splintered table, some good kendo stick work, and then the somewhat shocking use of thumbtacks. Not a "must see" match, but still considerably above average. (3.5/5)

A video package hypes our next match - "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan vs. Sting, with Morgan fighting to be allowed into the Main Event Mafia. I'm not sure if it was around this time or a couple years later, but Morgan had been making some waves about getting a big run back in the WWE (where he worked from 03'-05'), but it never came to be. There are good moments in this match - Morgan does a nice job selling a damaged leg throughout, Sting is over with the crowd so the heat segment works, and the layout and pacing hide the fact that neither guy is able to work at top speed for long. Where things get less rosy is in the minor details as neither Morgan nor Sting could ever be classified as "super workers" and it shows at time. Morgan is solid, but some of his movesets, facial expressions, and taunting are generic. Sting is far from his physical peak and seems like he's going through the motions a bit and, towards the end, when he calls for his Scorpion Death Lock, it seems out of place because it ignores the struggle he'd just gone through. This match just didn't call for the signaling and showboating. I'd also contend that this is an example of TNA's booking playing it a touch too safe. The potential in Morgan winning his way into the Main Event Mafia is far more intriguing than Morgan not winning his way in. Plus, as the MEM was a psuedo-heel faction, it didn't quite make sense for Sting to be a part of it anyway. This match is passable, but its not quite as good as it could've been if they had tightened the screws a bit and gone out with a more interesting gameplan. (2.5/5)

The NWA Tag Team Titles are on the line next with Team 3-D defending against Beer Money (aka Bobby Roode and James Storm). The storyline coming into this was that Beer Money were the "team of the future," had won the Team 3-D Invitational Tag Team Tournament, had earned the respect of (and a trophy and a kayfabe $100k check from) Team 3D, but the once-and-future Dudleys weren't just going to hand the titles over to their newfound allies. Team 3D control early, Bully landing a nasty release german suplex on Bobby Roode and then delivering a two-man side slam assisted with a leg drop soon after. Roode and Storm attempt a double suplex, but Team 3D blocks it and maintain control, cutting off every attempt at offense Beer Money tries. When the ref's back is turned, Roode pulls D-Von crotch-first into the post and Beer Money gain some traction only to apply a headlock on D-Von. D-Von manages to gain enough momentum to make a tag and Bubba comes in, hitting his Full Nelson Bomb much to the delight of the Detroit crowd. Team 3D calls for their finish, but Storm prevents it. They toss the Cowboy and Bubba sets D-Von up for the Whassup headbutt. Bubba signals for his signature catchphrase, milking the moment and getting the crowd to say it instead. D-Von sets up a table on the outside but Storm takes him out and Beer Money are back in this fight. Roode hits a picture perfect spinebuster for 2, D-Von still selling on the outside. Beer Money hit a double suplex and do their own signature taunt, only for the British Invasion to show up. They join in on commentary as the match continues in the ring. D-Von gets the hot tag and unloads on Beer Money, back-body dropping Roode, elbowing Storm in the jaw, and getting a 2 count on Roode with an off-the-ropes Rock Bottom. He gets another nearfall with a clothesline and then an awesome pop-up chokeslam for another one as Roode just won't stay down. Team 3D hit a two-man reverse neckbreaker, but that also only gets 2! As the Invasion notes on commentary, the referee (Earl Hebner) isn't even trying to maintain order as all 4 men are just delivering moves to eachother a this point. Awful refereeing. Storm hits a hurricanrana on D-Von off the top rope and Roode hits a frog splash, but they only get 2.8! Storm and Roode position D-Von off the top, but Bubba breaks it up and Team 3D hit a top-rope clothesline for a nearfall of their own. Team 3D hit the Dudley Death Drop, but Rob Terry distracts the referee! Bubba Ray goes to the top rope and hits a splash on Magnus and Terry. Doug Williams gets involved and gets bumped through the table! Beer Money hit the DWI on D-Von, though, and we've got new champs. That match exceeded my expectations and obviously points to a future 3-way dance for the titles. I think this would've been really, really special with a cleaner finish and someone actually refereeing the match - Hebner was basically just an extra walking around the ring and letting everyone break rules without even a talking to - but I'd still call this above average. (3/5)

Main event time - a King of the Mountain Match for Mick Foley's TNA World Heavyweight Championship. There were several storylines coming into this match - Foley and Jarrett's on-going rivalry, the rivalry between Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle, and AJ Styles being "Mr. TNA" (and the Legends Championship holder at the time, as well as an ally of Joe against the Angle and the Main Event Mafia). They really go overboard with the entrances as they take up a good 10+ minutes. Joe gets a bunch of cheers for his Detroit Redwings jersey, while Angle gets a ton of heat for sporting a Penguins jersey. Before the bell rings, Joe goes right after Angle and the referees send Joe to the penalty box and then announce that Angle starts the match eligible to climb the ladder. God these rules are dumb. We then get a botch in the first pinfall attempt as the referee counts 3 for AJ covering Angle and then waves off his own count. Because the commentators and fans weren't paying attention, it basically goes unnoticed. Foley doesn't get involved at all in the opening minutes, basically just watching Jarrett and AJ work on Angle before attempting a bodyslam on Jarrett and then, for some reason, almost allowing Jarrett to get the pinfall on him so he can go into the penalty box. Its bizarre or at least doesn't make a ton of sense to me as someone who wasn't 100% keeping up with TNA at the time (or any for that matter). Joe comes in and works with Jarrett as AJ and Angle go to the outside. Foley comes in and Joe applies a submission, choking out the champion as the other three duke it out on the outside. A ladder gets slid into the ring as Foley gets helped into the penalty box, looking super dazed. Joe hits Angle with a devastating suplex onto the ladder - man, that looked gnarly. Jarrett sets up a ladder in the corner, but gets whipped into it himself as Joe looks like he has the match under control. Joe grabs the Championship Belt and sets up the ladder, looking to hang the thing and end the match. The penalty box timer runs out, though, and Foley knocks over the ladder and Joe lands back-first onto the leg! Dang, that had to hurt. The bumps and action of this match, like the opener, are hindered by the inane concept of this match as, if this had just been a straight-up ladder match for the title, I think they could've done even more and not had to have so many guys selling on the outside for almost no reason for extended periods (including AJ Styles, who basically disappears for 5+ minutes at one point). When AJ does come back into the fray, he gets overhead suplexed into the ladder to go right back on the outs. Jarrett attempts a guitar smash, but Angle doesn't fall for it and ends up getting the Ankle Lock applied. Jarrett kicks out of it and then grabs the guitar and smashes it over Angle's head to a nice, big response. Again, some of the sequences here are terrific, so its really just the match concept that doesn't quite work. Foley and Jarrett exchange fists on the ladder because, for some reason, Foley doesn't want Jarrett to win now? Why did he let him pin him earlier? AJ dropkicks the ladder, knocking them both off their perch as Joe takes out Jarrett. Foley climbs atop the penalty box - which would've been really crazy had it not been done earlier in the show. AJ meets him up there and Foley attempts to suplex AJ off the thing. AJ blocks it but after attempting a suplex of his own, Foley hip-tosses him from the penalty box back into the ring. That was cool. Angle hits an Angle Slam on Jarrett and goes for the cover - which he didn't need to do because he was already eligible to climb the ladder - but Foley comes off the box and hits him with a flying elbow drop! Angle goes into the penalty box and Foley goes to hang the ladder, only to get struck by AJ and kicked off the ladder. Kudos to Foley - he took some serious bumps in this match, refusing to not give his all long after his prime. AJ hits Foley with a Pele Kick to knock him out of the match as he and Joe team-up, Joe providing the assist as AJ comes flying over the top rope onto Foley. AJ covers Foley on the outside and is now eligible as Foley heads towards the penalty box. Jarrett knocks Joe with the ladder and looks to end the match, but he can't get it done either. We get some more cool spots, including Joe hitting a dive to take out Jarrett and Foley on the outside and then AJ hitting a Styles Clash on Angle and nearly getting the victory. AJ looks like he might have it won but Joe hits him with a powerbomb off the ladder! Joe climbs and Angle follows him up and then...hands Angle the title. What the fuck? God that's a shit finish to an otherwise really good - daresay "must see" match. I hate when, usually in a multi-man match, guys are seemingly going "all out" against eachother as part of a "swerve" that also relies on a ridiculous amount of luck. Like, if the goal is to get Angle the title, why didn't Joe help him throughout the whole match? What benefit is it to him or Angle to actually pretend to compete when they could've basically just ended the match in 10 minutes. It makes no sense and leaves a terrible taste in your mouth. This was around 3.5/4 range for me before the finish, but drops down at least a point or 2 for the ending. (2.5/5)

Earning a Kwang Score of 2.86-out-of-5, its understandable why some wrestling fans were excited about TNA in 2009. The roster was loaded with talent - including a still-game Raven who could be counted on to deliver the hardcore goods, an X-Division full of risk-takers and young talent in Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, and AJ Styles all arguably in their prime, and a motivated Team 3D who seemed willing and eager to help elevate teams like Beer Money and the British Invasion. Unfortunately, bad booking can hurt even the best talent and this show has an unfortunate bit of it, specifically in the main event and the uninspired Sting/Morgan match. Still, as a whole, this was an interesting - if not always great - show that has enough variety and stars to make it worth checking out in parts.

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With a Remote Hand 

WWE Fastlane 2021

WWE Fastlane 2021

Thunderdome, St.Petersburg, FL - March 2021

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the WWE Champion was Bobby Lashley, while the Universal Champion was Roman Reigns. The Intercontinental Champion was Big E, while the United States Championship was held by Matt Riddle. The RAW Women's Champion was Asuka, the SmackDown Women's Champion was Sasha Banks, while Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax were the Women's Tag Team Champions. The SmackDown Tag Team Titles were held by Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler - though I must admit to having not seen them complete in months - and the RAW Tag Team Champions were The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods). 

7 years after launching the WWE Network, which inspired the creation of this blog and my reviewing of nearly every WWE "pay-per-view" after WrestleMania XXX (not to mention every WCW pay-per-view), the WWE obstensibly threw in the towel in the winter of 2020/2021, announcing that the WWE Network would now be part-and-parcel of Peacock TV, NBC's semi-recently launched app. The move made plenty of sense for the WWE who got paid a huge sum of money to get out of the app game and let someone else, a huge conglomerate, take over and assume much of the risk and responsibility of running a streaming service. Time will tell if the user's experience will suffer in the longterm, though, in the short term, yes, there were issues.

Kicking off the show was Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair challenging for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships held by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. As I don't watch the weekly programming, I'm only sorta familiar with the storylines coming into this but Banks and Belair have had a tenuous relationship since Belair won the Rumble and announced she was going to be challenging Banks. Meanwhile, Jax and Baszler had dropped the titles in December at the TLC pay-per-view in a questionable booking decision but had won them back at the Royal Rumble pre-show anyway to further the Lacey Evans/Charlotte Flair feud that didn't end up going anywhere anyway (due to Lacey's real life pregnancy). Maybe had Jax and Baszler actually been built up as unbeatable this match would've felt like a bigger deal, but this just didn't have the gravitas of the Mega Powers taking on the Twin Towers. This felt like a compulsatory pre-Mania match where the babyfaces finally turn on whenever and things...get...personal. Unfortunately, they beat that story into the audience's head with too much talking, Banks and Belair coming across like two actors acting angry at eachother. Of all the stories that these two could have told, the WWE went with something generic, which is a shame considering that Banks and Belair are among the least generic superstars on the roster. This felt like a TV match, perfectly acceptable but not good enough to warrant a re-watch. (2/5)

The WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E defended his title against Apollo Crews in the next contest. The story coming into this match was all about Crews not being able to defeat Big E and turning heel by leaning into his Nigerian heritage (again, not watching the weekly TV makes me wonder how being proud of your heritage is a heel trait, but I'm sure those dots were connected at some point). Once the bell rang, though, Big E was the guy whose charisma and offense captured my attention as he delivered his spear off the apron and then a splash on the ring apron within the first few minutes, all the while talking non-stop trash. If the overdramatic back-and-forth in the previous match felt forced, Big E's self-talk had the opposite effect as it actually helped tell the story that they were going for, of Big E almost goading Crews into bringing his best and coming out of his shell. Of course, once Crews did so, he did so with a series of awesome superplexes and Big E was almost in trouble - but eventually outsmarted Crews with his legit amateur wrestling technique, again proving that Crews is still not ready to really be where Big E is at. The post-match beatdown kept Crews strong and made it clear that this rivalry is not over. With this match obviously designed to serve as the next chapter of their rivalry, it can't necessarily be judged like any old match - but for what it was, it worked for me. (2.5/5)

Shane McMahon was supposed to face Braun Strowman next, but I'm guessing they're saving this afterthought-of-a-feud for WrestleMania because they need to fill up 2 nights. If you Google the phrase "diminishing returns," a picture of Shane McMahon should be the top hit at this point as he feels like the opposite of what a "big deal" is in 2021. McMahon enlisted Elias as his replacement (with Jaxson Ryker serving as Elias' second) and these two put on a decent/nothing special match. Whoever thought adding Elias into this mix would make this storyline better or seem like a bigger deal has a very, very poor understanding of Elias' overness in 2021. This was filler but not very good filler at that because everyone involved is ice cold. (1/5)

Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura followed. A few years back this would've been a dream match and maybe should've been built up more along those lines rather than being about Rollins calling Nakamura out for "floundering" since his team with Cesaro ended (which isn't even all that accurate). I guess the problem with building up this match as a "dream match" is that Nakamura was hot - then cold - then reheated - then cold again so many times that he doesn't have a fraction of the aura he did when he first debuted in the WWE and while Rollins remains someone I don't necessarily look forward to watching, I must admit that he's had some strong bouts over the past year, specifically his WrestleMania bout against Owens and his work with the Mysterios. Maybe in front of a live crowd this match would've kept my attention, but it didn't grab me. There was one remarkable sequence - which, according to Low Ki, was stolen from him - where Rollins missed on a Shining Wizard and then, catching his foot on Nakamura, surprised him with a back kick. It was a cool spot, no doubt, but I'd hate to see it get as overused as so many of Rollins' other moves that, when he first busted them out, seemed special but now seem like just another item on a checklist of things he does every match. A good match, but not one I'd go out of my way to see or re-watch. (3/5)

Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre in a No Disqualification match was next. This was as hard-hitting a match as we've seen in quite awhile from the WWE, just two big brutes hitting each other with everything they could, including steps and kendo sticks, and sending eachother into and through walls and tables. My biggest gripe would be that some of the more devastating moments - like McIntyre stomping on Sheamus' head on top of the steel stairs - weren't sold as a big deal while, in other contexts, that could be the basis of an entire angle. The same could be said of a spot that saw Sheamus get run through a video wall. Still, the story being told was that these were two tough dudes, no longer friends, trying to wreck each other with total abandon because they were fully aware of how tough their opponent was. Its worth noting too that, while I was a bigger fan of the Last Man Standing match between Owens and Reigns than most (aside from the horrendous and inexcusable finish), this felt grittier and harsher because it didn't rely on as many stunts or set pieces. Instead, we saw Sheamus dish out signature moves like the Brogue Kick and the White Noise, but off of the barricade, onto the floor, through a table. And, all the while, Sheamus and Drew sold the anguish and the exhaustion. I didn't love the finish, which came just a bit too suddenly for my liking, but this was still an effective way to keep McIntyre looking strong going into WrestleMania. I'd say this was just a hair or two short of being "must see." (3.5/5)

The next "contest" - if one could call it that - was slated to be Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss. Any longtime WWE viewer would know that this "match" was never really going to happen, at least in the conventional sense. The story coming into this is that, a couple months back, Orton lit Bray "The Fiend" Wyatt on fire and this resulted in Alexa Bliss (and whatever other supernatural elements are in Wyatt's control) coming after Orton via weird Papa Shango-esque voodoo attacks. The Thunderdome fans booed Orton during his entrance, which ended up being stopped abruptly once he started puking out more black goop. This stuff reminds me of the Kids in the Hall sketch with the brown liquid coming out of Dave Foley's mouth. Bliss made her way down the aisle and the bell rang but as Orton approached Bliss, flames shot of the ring. Orton went running into Bliss, but Alexa dodged and he hit the post. God, even a non-match they do the shoulder-into-the-post transition. Bliss continued to tease Orton, luring him around the ring where she pulled a move out of Carrie and caused a lighting rig to fall from the ceiling with just a flash of her eyes. Back in the ring, Orton went after her again in the corner, but Bliss shot him with a fireball (which he dodged at the last minute). Then, Bray Wyatt, burned up and gross and looking a bit like that toxic sewer character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (*I looked it up: his name was Muckman), crawled out of the ring and hit Orton with a Sister Abigail to give Bliss the victory. This was not quite bad enough to be in that "so bad-it's good" territory. I'm not going to even rate this segment.

Main event time - Roman Reigns defending the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan with Edge as the Guest Enforcer on the outside of the ring (I guess to keep Jey Uso from getting involved?). With intros and everything, this match took quite awhile to get under way but it did have "big fight feel" even if the conclusion was never really in doubt. Unlike their match several years ago - also on a Fastlane show, if I'm not mistaken - Reigns was in full heel mode while Bryan was playing a bit of a cocky shit-stirrer, trying to bait Reigns into a grappling-based match. This was not "underdog" Bryan, this was World Beater Bryan, and it was nice to see that confidence and Reigns' apprehension, the Big Dog not scared of Bryan as much as cautiously aware that Bryan might be the most skilled straight-up wrestler in the company, a guy that can not be underestimated, that can surprise you with debilitating submissions if you let him. When the match found its way to the mat, Bryan performed a joint manipulation submission that looked absolutely brutal, but Reigns escaped and took his anger out with a boot and a big right hand. Reigns followed it up by driving Bryan into the corner. He attempted something off the ropes but Bryan caught him with a dropkick and then wrenched his arm like nobody's business (and, instead of releasing the limb, kicked him square in the thigh immediately after). Bryan was just so, so good throughout this contest, but its not like Reigns was just there for the ride; Roman finally feels like a guy that can be "The Guy" long-term, a dominant heel force that fans will pay to see get challenged for months to come. Reigns applied a headlock but Bryan struggled free with some elbows to the gut before getting upper-cutted off the apron and onto the arena floor. Reigns sent him into the barricade and then, after a brief flurry of offense from Bryan, into the post right as both men nearly got counted out. Reigns went for a cover but only got 2 and then hit him with a second snap suplex for another nearfall. As Bryan tried to regroup in the corner, Heyman and Reigns talked trash, but this gave Bryan a chance to mount some offense, delivering a series of kicks and then a huge running dropkick in the corner. Bryan set up Reigns on the top rope and attempted his hurricanrana, but Reigns blocked him and turned it into a Boston Crab! Nothing wrong with that at all. Bryan somehow inverted himself, though, turning it into a pinning combination for 2.5! Both guys got back on their feet and Bryan hit a stunning clothesline that took the wind out of both men. After enough exchange, Reigns ended up on the floor and Bryan went for a splash that didn't quite work out but ended up leading to Bryan hitting a series of big knees to the head and then a missile dropkick in the middle of the ring! Man, this match would've absolutely crushed in front of an audience. Bryan went for the Yes Kicks and hit a whole bunch of them, but Reigns caught him and then delivered a devastating forearm to Bryan in the corner, followed by some vicious stomps. Damn. These two were definitely sore after this one. Reigns went for a powerbomb, but Bryan countered and hit 2 big Yes Kicks to the skull - but only got 2! Paul Heyman sold this beautifully on the outside too, looking very much concerned. With Reigns in bad shape, Bryan delivered his vicious boots-to-the-face move and then rolled it into the Yes Lock! Reigns would not give up, though, even after Bryan rolled him back towards the center of the ring and reapplied the thing! Somehow Reigns crawled out and then just let loose on Bryan with elbows and forearms before hitting a powerbomb for a 2 count of his own. Wow. Reigns went for a Spear, but Bryan caught him with a kick to the face. Bryan went for his running boot finisher, but Reigns dodged and Bryan caught the referee! Reigns hit a Spear and went for the count and Edge dived into the ring to make the count, but Bryan kicked out anyway! Cole announced that with the ref down, Edge is now the "authority" - which sounds new to me - but whatever. An unbelievable match was tainted a bit here as they went heavy into the melodrama via more in-ring jabbering. Reigns went for more ground-and-pound offense, but Bryan caught him in a Triangle. Reigns lifted him up for a powerbomb, but Bryan turned it into the Yes Lock! Holy cow. Jey Uso then ran in and hit both Bryan and Edge with superkicks before grabbing a steel chair. He ran Edge into the post and then went to hit Bryan, but Bryan ducked and caught him with a running boot to the face! Bryan waffled Uso with the chair repeatedly, eliminating him from the match. He went to hit Reigns but Roman dodged it and Bryan struck Edge in the side instead! Reigns hit the Superman Punch and looked to finish him off with a Spear, but Bryan caught him and turned it into another Yes Lock! Bryan screamed for him to tap and Reigns was tapping - but Edge clocked Bryan with a chair and then struck Reigns too! Wow. That felt a bit like the return of the old Edge. Leaving both guys on the mat, Edge stormed out of the Thunderdome as a new referee finally made his way down the aisle. Reigns draped his arm over Bryan and the ref made the count, a finish that I actually really liked as it was basically just luck, just Reigns surviving (as Cole put it), and not actually defeating Bryan (who had made him tap). I thoroughly enjoyed this match, all the false finishes, and the actual finish as well. If this isn't the WWE MOTY for me come December, I'm not sure what would be. (4.5/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.75-out-of-5, Fastlane 2021 may not seem like an all-time great show - and it wasn't - but it wasn't a labor to get through and the matches that needed to deliver absolutely did (especially the main event, which will undoubtedly end up high on my year-end Top 10 list). Sheamus/McIntyre was a solid brawl and, if you're a bigger fan of Rollins than I, his match against Nakamura would likely be worth checking out. The Intercontinental Title match seemed designed to progress a storyline rather than stand on its own, but the action it did provide was strong stuff. The worst part of the show was the Braun/Shane/Elias filler, a feud that isn't even worthy of being on Superstars. No wonder guys like Andrade and Aleister Black have wanted to get out of the WWE as there is no way that giving them screen time would go any worse than whatever it is Shane has been up to since his latest return. 

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand

WWE Royal Rumble 2009

WWE Royal Rumble 2009

Detroit, Michigan - January 2009

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the WWE Champion was Jeff Hardy, the World Heavyweight Champion was John Cena, and the ECW Champion was Jack Swagger. The Intercontinental Champion was CM Punk and Shelton Benjamin held the United States Championship, a title reign I don't remember at all. The World Tag Team Champions were John Morrison and the Miz while the WWE Tag Team Champions were Primo and Carlito Colon. Finally, the Divas Champion was Maryse and the Women's Champion was Beth Phoenix. 

My journey through Royal Rumbles past continues with the 2009 entry, which kicks off with the ECW Championship on the line between Matt Hardy and Jack Swagger. Coming into this match, Swagger was undefeated, had defeated Hardy for the title only recently, and was getting lots of hype on commentary as a future mega-star. That didn't quite happen, but then again, barely anyone "broke out" between 2009 and, well, today, so its not like one can really place all the blame on Swagger. As a matter of fact, this match isn't too bad - another example of Matt Hardy never having the worst match on the card, but not necessarily ever having the best. He's just consistently good and this is a good-not-great match that accomplished what it was designed to do - namely get the crowd warmed up and further establish Swagger as a worthwhile ECW Champion. The most shocking thing to consider is that Hardy came into this match as the wily veteran and, 12 years later, is still competing in this role. (2.5/5)

Randy Orton is shown arriving in the arena next. The story coming into this show was all about Orton punting Vince McMahon, which all-but-guaranteed that Orton and Triple H would be headlining WrestleMania months in advance. As Orton and HHH had feuded rather extensively in 04' and then again in 06'-07' and the McMahons had always been presented as mostly evil, this feud was an absolute mess with Orton actually being cheered for much of it. 

Back to the ring we go for the WWE Women's Championship match - Beth Pheonix defending the gold against Melina. Pheonix and Melina don't get much time - about 6 minutes - but they use it well and put on a competitive, spirited match. Its not as impressive as the stuff we routinely get from Bayley, Sasha, et. al. today, but its also not as overtly produced and they get good reactions without needless risks or choreographed high spots. Given more time, I think they could've put together something even better, but that just wasn't in the cards in 2009 even if Pheonix and Melina were more than capable. The finish came out of nowhere, but I guess that was by design, as Melina was able to hit a sunset flip to get the flash pin on Pheonix and win the title. Did this lead anywhere? Well, they wrestled in a dark match before the next pay-per-view and then competed in a Miss WrestleMania Battle Royale that was won by Pheonix's partner-in-crime Santino, so, it did lead somewhere - just not anywhere respectable. Another average match. (2.5/5)

The story coming into the next match was actually kinda interesting. In a nod to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Shawn Michaels had fallen on hard times and had become JBL's paid ally, essentially taking losses and superkicking babyfaces per JBL's orders. This feud could've and should've led to a big blow-off match but ended up sidelined almost immediately in favor of the Shawn Michaels/Undertaker match that was - based on the Undertaker's appearance in a backstage segment before the next match - already pencilled in for WrestleMania. Of course, that match went on to be a classic and JBL and Michaels couldn't have possibly delivered something as good, but whatever. Anyway...JBL is challenging John Cena for the World Heavyweight Championship, the commentators doing a nice job of reviewing their history together. If one was looking for a rough time frame for when Cena desperately needed new opponents, I think you could point to this era as being his creative low-point as he just pinballed through the same opponents he'd already feuded with extensively during his rise to the top of the company. Without the use of weapons or any blood or even getting to fight through the crowd or bust up some furniture, these two just put on a standard brawl built around signature moves and the teasing of involvement from Shawn Michaels, who eats scenery on the outside. Michaels is not a good actor, but he's a good wrestling actor at times. I did like the way they kept building up to JBL possibly getting the W if he nails his Clothesline in Hell and Cena constantly having a counter to it, but when JBL does finally hit it, Cena kicks out at 2. Its a good nearfall, but because Shawn hadn't been involved yet, I didn't bite on it even though - in any other match - it might've had me. That's the problem with booking JBL as a past-his-prime bully who needs Shawn Michaels: We know he can't win unless Michaels cheats for him. A ref bump finally brings us to the conclusion of the storyline basically (Michaels won his "financial freedom" from JBL in a forgettable 13 minutes at the next pay-per-view) as well as the match as Shawn superkicks both guys and then puts JBL's arm over Cena. Shawn then leaves, this whole scene taking a good 45-60 seconds. A replacement ref finally shows up and Cena kicks out then hits JBL with the AA for the victory. The match wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything special and the finish was predictable and didn't even make a ton of sense as its unclear why the referee didn't just call the match a double DQ or why Mike Chioda was selling on the floor for multiple minutes. Not recommended. (2/5)

The WWE Championship was on the line in the next match - Jeff Hardy defending the title against Edge in a match that becomes No Disqualification - cue the screwjob - moments before it begins. A year prior, Jeff Hardy had nearly defeated Randy Orton for his first World Championship but ended up taking a clean loss. Then, in October, he couldn't win the title from Triple H. That December he managed to win the title in a triple threat from Edge (with Triple H also involved), but by then, he had cooled a bit and it was already believed that he'd likely be dropping the title by WrestleMania, which is arguably the show in which giving him the W would have elevated him the most (rather than having him lose on several pay-per-views before winning on one of the least important events of the year, the December Armageddon show). Instead, he was involved in a mystery attacker angle in which most people assumed the attacker to be either Edge (most likely, but least surprising), Triple H (a possibility that became increasingly less likely as Orton/McMahon feud began taking shape), Christian (who, I think, had just wrapped up his TNA run around this time), and the guy it ended up being - Jeff's brother Matt. But before we get there, let's go over the match - it's good, not great, which is kind of Edge's zone when there aren't a ridiculous amount of weapons involved. Hardy has certainly had worse matches too, but I find him to be somewhat underrated as, even if he's not some technical wizard, he always finds ways to make his high-risk look impactful, draws sympathy well, and because he doesn't mind launching himself off the ropes or barricades or steps, it's not like he needs ladders and tables the way a Sabu might. Here, Hardy and Edge put that on full display for the first part of the match by using the apron (before it was a trope) and relying on big dropkicks and signature moves to get a response. The crowd is definitely into this as, like I wrote about earlier, Hardy was arguably just as popular as Cena around this time (who was still not considered a "good worker" by many in the IWC). When Hardy does introduce a huge ladder into the match, the reaction it garners is as huge as one would predict, but I like that it ends up being used to put Chavo Guerrero through a table and not Edge as it adds accomplishes three things at once: (a) it takes Chavo's pestering interference out of the match, (b) it "saves" Edge from having to undersell what should be treated like a death move, and (c) it further gets the audience behind Hardy and sells his willingness to do whatever it takes to hold onto the WWE Championship. Back in the ring, Jeff hits a Whisper in the Wind for a solid nearfall and, moments later, Edge attempts a spear only for Jeff to counter it into another Twist of Fate! It doesn't look perfect, but it was still effective enough. Jeff goes to the top and hits the Swanton Bomb for the 1...2....oh, Vickie pulls the ref out! The crowd loses their shit at this and pops huge for Matt Hardy running down with a chair in hand. Matt looks like he's there to help Jeff, handing him a chair, and then grabbing another to set up a Con-Chair-To, but before they do it, Matt smashes the chair over Jeff's head! Respect to Jeff Hardy for taking the unprotected chair shot here as that is really the only way one can sell a moment like this. This allows Edge to make the cover and we've got a new WWE Champion and a brand new heel in Matt Hardy. I'm not sure I'd call this "must see," but its definitely the best match on the show by a healthy margin. (3.5/5)

Main event time - the 2009 Royal Rumble match! Rey Mysterio and John Morrison start things off, which I mistakenly believed was a nod to their somewhat famous Intercontinental Championship match from SmackDown, but that bout (and Mysterio's Wellness Violation) didn't occur till later in the year. Anyway, Mysterio and Morrison really set the tone for this whole match here with their near-eliminations, a trope that would be used so much during this match that it became old hat and then, somehow, became new hat again because of some of the clever/funny twists that guys like CM Punk and Rey himself would later put on it. The ring fills up with no eliminations through Carlito, MVP, and The Great Khali because Koslov shows up and eliminates Khali, MVP, and Carlito, establishing himself as The Man To Beat early on. A couple months earlier I think we was headlining PPV and a year from this, I'm not even sure he was in the company anymore. Triple H comes in at #7 and, no surprise, immediately eliminates Koslov. Orton comes in next, though, and the crowd reacts big as Orton had just punted Vince a week earlier and this meant sparks would fly when he went toe-to-toe with Triple H. At the time, Orton or Triple H were heavily favored to win the Rumble, but watching this show back, its worth noting how many big time stars actually ended up appearing - after and between guys like JTG, Finlay, and Orton's Legacy back-ups in Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr., we get some real main event talent in Chris Jericho at #11, Undertaker at #16, Big Show at #30, and guys on the cusp of being there - The Miz (who would headline WM27 two years later), Mark Henry, and CM Punk (who was Intercontinental Champion at the time but already plenty over). Unlike the previous couple year's editions, this Rumble skips out on the "cute" moments (aside from Santino's infamous record-setting elimination) and the big shocking unexpected appearances (aside from hometown hero, RVD, who made a 1 night appearance and wouldn't be back with the WWE for four years), but its all the better for it. Watching this 12 years later and not being in the middle of what was a morass of Cena/HHH/Orton dominance makes this match work. Orton using the Legacy to help him win was predictable then, but actually seems sensible and realistic now. Speaking of the Legacy, the Goldust/Cody exchange is great stuff that stands even taller as a moment now. The same can be said for the aforementioned CM Punk's moments with Triple H and the Deadman, two guys that he wouldn't really work with for quite some time yet but would end up being career-defining feuds for him in the company. While Batista's absence is a bit glaring and Umaga is also missed (he was either out for a Wellness Violation or an injury, I believe), the roster is fairly stacked and Mysterio, Morrison, Punk and others do get to hang with the top talent for plenty of time. Again, at the time the finish was fairly predictable, but "in a vacuum," the match comes across as plenty competitive. I would consider this an above average Rumble. (3/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.7-out-of-5, the show wasn't a total home run, but it accomplished what it needed to and set the stage for the WrestleMania in a way that these events should. Coming out of this show, it was fairly clear that Orton/HHH was going to be our Mania main event, they were already hinting to a Shawn Michaels/Undertaker showdown, Matt Hardy had made a shocking turn on his brother, and Edge was back on top of the SmackDown brand. The next month's No Way Out show (featuring two Elimination Chamber matches) would throw things into the blender a bit as Edge would drop his WWE Championship to Triple H and then win the World Heavyweight Championship in the same night, something I'm not sure ever happened before or since. All in all, if you're a fan of this era, this show might represent the best mix of singles and multi-man action of the time.

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand

WWE Royal Rumble 2008

WWE Royal Rumble 2008

New York City, NY - January 2008

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this show, the WWE Champion was Randy Orton, the World Heavyweight Champion was Edge, the United States Champion was MVP, the Intercontinental Champion was Jeff Hardy, and the ECW Champion was Chavo Guerrero. Beth Pheonix was the WWE Women's Champion, The Miz and John Morrison held the WWE Tag Team Championships, and the World Tag Team Champions were Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes.

If I saw this show, I don't remember it - though its possible I did. Madison Square Garden always makes for a great setting for any wrestling show and it gives a warm reception to the first wrestler to appear on the card - "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Flair was in the midst of his final run in the WWE with every one of his matches being fought under the stipulation that if he lost, he'd be forced to retire. His opponent tonight is the United States Champion, MVP. MVP controls the majority of the match and credit has to go to Flair for taking some his stiff and brutal offense, including an absolutely nasty big boot to the jaw in the corner. This match is rescued by Flair being so popular but I kinda wish he'd actually done something dirty to get the win as MVP shouldn't have been losing to a 57 year old man and part of the fun of Flair avoiding retirement should've been him using all of his years of experience to cheat his way to victory (until he couldn't against Michaels at WrestleMania). Instead, he basically just gets beaten down for 5-6 minutes and then magically applies the Figure Four and MVP taps out without suffering any prior damage to his knee. (1.5/5)

Next up, Chris Jericho vs. JBL. Jericho is in tremendous shape, lean and mean, while JBL looks flabby. Still, JBL was never a "body" guy so it doesn't really matter. I like how heated this one was, Jericho taking the fight to JBL and refusing to back down despite knowing he was going toe-to-toe with one of the best brawlers of the time. Even after getting seriously bloodied, Jericho remains in this fight. I'm wondering how Vince felt about the "color" they got but considering that this feud, if I recall correctly, ended well before Mania, I'm guessing he wasn't super pleased by what these two tried to do here, which was almost a tip-of-the-cap to the ultra gory match JBL had with Eddie Guerrero a 3-4 years prior. Despite it being a DQ finish, I dug it as Jericho basically just threw away the match - which he was already wrestling with somewhat reckless abandon - and delivered a devastating (and unprotected) chairshot to JBL's skull. Jericho then followed it up with by tossing a chair into JBL's face back in the ring for good measure. (3/5)

The World Heavyweight Championship was on the line next as Edge defended his title against Rey Mysterio. This match has a strong reputation of being one of Edge's best non-gimmick singles match and I'd have to agree - even though I think much of the match's best moments of storytelling come from Mysterio, who does an expert job of selling a damaged knee while still winning over the crowd (who were somewhat anti-Rey to start things) through hope spots and high-risk maneuvers. I'm not sure I would consider this a must-see classic as it really comes across a bit more like a strong TV match rather than an all-time great PPV match, but its a fun 15 minutes of action that accomplishes what it needs to by getting tons of heat on Edge and Vickie while still making it clear that Mysterio is no push-over - though, with Mysterio taking a big spear to the mat to lose, its not like he was necessarily "screwed" or lost due to overt interference. By this point, the seeds had already been planted for Edge/Taker at WrestleMania so very few believed Rey had a real chance of winning the title here, but kudos to Edge and Rey for still making this a quality contest. (3/5)

After some "cool down the crowd" segments including a Kennedy/Flair/HBK/HHH/Batista moment backstage and Maria doing the Kiss Cam (only to get interrupted by Santino), its time for our next contest - Randy Orton defending the WWE Championship against Jeff Hardy. This might've been Jeff Hardy's peak popularity time and there were considerable rumors that he'd be getting the WWE Championship at some point, but - spoiler alert - it doesn't end up happening on this night and wouldn't at WrestleMania either. Still, there are moments when it seems like Hardy might pull it out and Orton and him have good chemistry. The first great spot is a baseball slide dropkick to Orton that sends him neck-first into the barricade. It looks absolutely brutal and is a great example of what Orton giving a shit looks like. As the match goes on, Hardy hits a number of big high-risk maneuvers, all selling the story that he's willing to do whatever it takes to win the title. Orton, meanwhile, tries to keep the match ground-based, which doesn't always make for the most exciting offense out of him but does play into the clash of styles. The finish "comes out of nowhere" a bit as Hardy attempts a Twist of Fate but gets it countered into an RKO. I'm not sure the "outta nowhere" thing was a "thing" yet, but if not, maybe you can point to this victory as one of the first major examples of it as the crowd is silenced by Orton landing the move and ending the match so abruptly. While this match doesn't usually get the same level of accolades as the Edge/Mysterio match, its every bit as good, maybe even slightly better. (3/5)

Its Royal Rumble time - Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker kicking things off in a "rematch" from the previous year's final 2. Its the first clever touch in a match that was loaded with nice little moments, especially considering that, at the time, the projected winner was Triple H and not too many fans were excited about it. So, to please the NYC crowd, the Rumble was built around interactions and the star power that the WWE had on its roster, starting things off with HBK and the Deadman and rounding out with Batista at #8 (with hometown hero Tommy Dreamer also getting a spotlight in the opening 10). What's sorta fun about this match is watching HBK and Taker serve as the bedrock of a 30+ minute match, taking bumps and selling for all sorts of talent - from Hardcore Holly to CM Punk, who gets an awesome spotlight by hitting running knees on just about everybody before getting clobbered by Taker. Now, there are some stinkers in this match - Chuck Palumbo, Snitsky - but at least they're big dudes, so their eliminations feel like big deals. In another nice moment to appease the NYC hardcore, Jimmy Snuka comes out and, soon after, Roddy Piper shows up to renew their rivalry only for both of them to get eliminated by Kane. At the time, Piper and Snuka making appearances seemed a bit cloying and it hasn't exactly aged well considering that Snuka is now recognized by some as a murderer, but if you can ignore that - its an unexpected surprise and put a smile on my face. Mick Foley comes in soon after. I think he wrestled maybe once or twice more for the WWE, but is incredibly out of place in here. Like, its more believable that Snitsky  could win the Rumble than Foley at this point. What's even crazier to think about is that this dude became TNA/NWA Champion later in the year. Yeah. Not a good move.  As the numbers climbed we got more guys that had zero chance of winning - Big Daddy V, Chavo, Elijah Burke - until Triple H comes out at #29. Oh, the Michaels and Taker eliminations are great too as they subtly tease their impending WrestleMania match without going full bore on it. This was an absolutely brilliant move because he was the favorite and when he comes in and starts tossing motherfucks, it sets the table for #30 - JOHN CENA! At the time, Cena was considered a huge longshot and practically nobody was predicting he'd be back as he had suffered a significant injury (I forgot what kind) and wasn't expected back for several months beyond this match. Triple H's facial expression to seeing Cena is brilliant too. As much as I've criticized him over the years on this blog, I've got to give credit to Triple H here - he knew his character and he reacted to Cena stealing his thunder perfectly. Things eventually whittle down to Cena, Batista, and Triple H and we get each man performing their requisite "taunt" to eachother like this was a game of Revenge. Good stuff. After Bats gets the outs, its down to Triple H and Cena and eventually Cena counters a pedigree attempt to toss Triple H with an AA to the outside. Again, there's not many guys that you can point to that Triple H put over with 100% effort, but Cena might be the guy that he did it for if you look at the results of WrestleMania 22 and this Rumble match. This was an above-average Rumble match to me, a good mix of fun, a good group of talent, and an all-time great shocking surprise winner. (3.5/5)

The 2008 Royal Rumble is one of the better shows I've watched this year, buoyed by two solid World Championship matches and one of the most memorable, goosebump-inspiring Rumble finishes of all time, plus a bit of a hidden gem in Jericho and JBL's wild brawl. With a solid Kwang Score of 2.8-out-of-5 and mostly above-average matches throughout the show (and, had I reviewed this in 2008, its possible I'd have been a bit more kind to the Flair/MVP opener), this is one I think is worth checking out in pieces.

FINAL RATING - Watch It...With Remote in Hand

TNA Final Resolution 2007

TNA Final Resolution 2007

Impact Zone, Orlando, FL - January 2007

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this match, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion was Abyss, the X Division Champion was Christopher Daniels, and the Latin American Exchange held the NWA World Tag Team Titles. 

I will readily admit to having never seen a TNA PPV before this one (which I got on DVD from the local library - shoutout to the CPL!) and I wasn't a regular viewer at this time - or really any time - so this was all new to me.

The show kicked off with AJ Styles vs. Rhyno in a Last Man Standing match. Styles was the heel in this match (based on the fans various anti-AJ signs). Earl Hebner was the referee, which reminded me that he was let go from the WWE a couple years before this. The crowd is very excited about this match, popping huge for Rhyno's early offense. AJ catches a break, though, and tries to tire Rhyno out with a choke. Rhyno counters, though, dropping AJ face-first in one of the 6 corners moments later. AJ didn't stay down long, though, connecting on a wild front-flip splash to the outside. Back in the ring, Rhino hits a spinebuster that somehow busts AJ's nose and gets a 3 count - which is one of those things that really takes away from a Last Man Standing match as the wrestlers inexplicably stay down for 3 seconds from a move that would never otherwise end a match. Fortunately, West and Tenay actually do a nice job explaining why a wrestler would accept a 3-count in a Last Man Standing match (as it would essentially give them more time to recover and regroup), but it still just seems anti-climactic to see guys get pinned multiple times in a match before the actual finish while simultaneously being really dumb that they'd ever not just take a pin to get that recovery time as the match wears on. That's to say nothing of the way a 10 count kills the momentum of almost any match. Anyway, when the stipulation isn't getting in the way of logic and storytelling, AJ and Rhino deliver lots of good moves and AJ's bumping and selling is characteristically excellent - especially when he takes an insane Gore that flips him inside out. Phenomenal bump there. Sadly, the finish is absolute hogshit as Styles accepts the loss and runs out of the Impact Zone to avoid getting piledriven through a table. Ugh. That was just bad, bad booking that did no favors to anyone. (2/5)

After running down the rest of the card, we cut back to the entrance ramp where Rhino piledrives AJ Styles on the floor and then grabs a table. He sets the table up near the entrance and attempts to Gore Styles through it, but AJ dodges it and Rhyno goes through the thing himself. Why not just use that finish to end the actual match? To protect Rhyno? Why? 

The X-Division Champion Christopher Daniels defends his gold against the veteran Jerry Lynn and Chris Sabin in a triple threat match next. Jerry Lynn cuts a promo about being 43 and still being able to hang with the best. 43? In the WWE in 2021, that wouldn't even cause a head turn. Hell, at that age, you're actually more likely to get a WrestleMania main event these days. Anyway...the crowd is behind Jerry at the start and not very supportive of Sabin playing the cheapshot artist. This one was a bit underwhelming to me, lasting under 12 minutes and ending with a less-than-definitive stolen victory for Sabin. While there were some good spots - especially Jerry Lynn's devastating reverse and cradle piledrivers - but in the end, this wasn't the spotlight match that I thought it would be and really just seemed kinda average. (2.5/5)

We get a Paparazzi Productions video next. I'm sure this ran on TV beforehand, but because I absolutely loved these segments, I'm going to go ahead and give it a plus +1 point here. I know this was not everyone's cup of tea and even I'd admit that it got less and less funny as Nash and Shelley started involving more and more guys, but whatever, its still funnier than anything I've seen the WWE produce in 20 years. (+1)

So here we go with the Finals of the Paparazzi Championship Series - Alex Shelley vs. Austin Starr (Aries). Nash joins in on commentary, which is usually a treat - aside from the risk that he's going to basically bury the talent. The first judge is "Samoalian Joe," a masked man. The second is Big Fat Oily Guy, a big fat oily guy. Last, we get the legendary Bob Backlund. Shelley is the babyface as the storyline coming in is that Nash had started favoring Austin Starr. Nash and Tenay make some jokes at the WWE's expense with Nash making some self-deprecating jokes regarding his match against Backlund from 94'. This match has a 10-minute time limit, which one would think would mean that Aries - err, Starr - and Shelley would cut a brisk pace, but they actually do some mat wrestling to start and space apart the big high flying moves, not in any real rush to tell their story. Shelley eventually lands a huge suicide dive in front of the judges and then adds some points to Backlund's scoring sheet. The match is full of tiny moments like this, but either the audience doesn't care or they just unnoticed entirely. This same match in Ring of Honor would've probably been a huge and even more physical affair, but here, the context is far less serious and it does negatively affect what, after a somewhat underwhelming start, becomes a very good, very physically intense contest. With 9 minutes gone, Tenay finally mentions the 10-minute time limit. With 15 seconds left, Aries applies a not-so-hot looking camel clutch that Shelley looks like he could easily slip out of. Not a great ending there. Jeremy Borash goes to the judges as the crowd chant for Shelley. JB announces the first two votes and they are, predictably, split. Backlund grabs the microphone before his vote is announced and instead of declaring a winner, Backlund gives a series of random, confusing scores based on his own criteria. His scores somehow add up to being a draw, which brings Nash into the ring, who then rules that because the judges could not make a decision, it goes to a 5-minute overtime. Shelley immediately goes for a series of pins and gets one within 10 seconds with a nifty counter to an Aries brainbuster attempt. The post-match angle with Starr abandoning the PCS and then brawling with Senshi (after doing a super accurate impression of him) is good fun too, keeping the heat on Aries despite the loss. Before its all over, Aries gets the Crossfaced Chickenwing too. The in-ring action was good, the comedy hit-and-miss, but I liked the post-match stuff. Nothing worth going the extra mile to seek out, but it kept my attention the whole time and entertained me. (3/5)

After a video package recapping the split of America's Most Wanted, its time for "Cowboy" James Storm (with Gail Kim at his side) to take on former friend Petey Williams. Storm is known mostly as a tag team specialist, but at this point he seemed like a viable singles star. He has some impressive offense and gets decent heat from the Impact Zone crowd, though Williams is also an easy guy to bully. Storm controls most of the match, but needs the ropes to get the victory in under 10 minutes. Not a bad match, but more like a TV match than a PPV match and, in hindsight, if TNA was serious about getting Storm over as a real singles star, he should've gotten a more definitive victory here. After the match, Storm handcuffs Williams to the corner and then chokes Gail Kim, who fights back and looks to smash a beer bottle over Storm's head only for Jacqueline to show up and take her out! Storm and Jacqueline perform AMW's finishing move on Kim and leave together. The post-match helped this stay in the average range. (2.5/5)

A video package plays of the Voodoo Kin Mafia - BG James and Kip James (aka Billy Gunn) - recapping all of their anti-WWE hijinks and their million dollar challenge against DegenerationX, who were 1000% never going to show up for this "match." BG James cuts a promo about how the WWE is too scared to face them, which is absurd, and the fans barely pop for any of his insults. This is just a boring segment that draws attention to how second-rate TNA is. Before the VKM leave the ring, Christy Hemme shows up with tears in her eyes, complaining that everyone has ignored Chyna. She then goes on to talk about Lita and how all the women in wrestling are not disposable and shouldn't have to "run from this business." This promo could've actually been good if it was well-produced, but instead, someone told her to push the histrionics up to 11 instead of just talking out the beats like a normal person would. This was a trainwreck of a segment.

Backstage, Team 3-D (the Dudley Boys) cut a short promo hyping their match against the Latin-America Exchange (LAX) for the NWA World Tag Team Championships. The Dudleys had joined TNA in 2005 but had somehow not won the NWA World Tag Team Titles in the year they'd spent in the company, which is surprising considering TNA's penchant for immediately thrusting former WWE talent into the title picture. Hernandez and D-Von start things off, but its not long before Bubba and Homicide come in. Bubba would get in much better shape for his run as Bully Ray a few years after this, but just because he's at his heftiest here it doesn't mean his work is any less bruising. Despite the match featuring some pretty good action, like in most Team 3-D matches, the fans start asking for tables. Team 3-D hit their finish on Homicide minutes later, but he's not the legal man. Brother Runt (Spike Dudley) shows up, swigging whiskey and dressed up as Santa Clause. He hits a splash on Homicide, which leads to Team 3-D getting disqualified in yet another weak finish. I had somewhat high expectations for this match as both teams are known for intense, physical, violent matches and TNA, at the time, wasn't afraid to have bloody, violent brawls. But this wasn't that and the finish was especially lame. (2/5)

The Ironman Match between Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle is next. If I'm not mistaken, the first Angle/Joe match set a record buyrate for TNA, which tells you how over Angle was and how much Joe was seen as the Next Big Thing. A clock ticks down in the corner of the screen for the duration of the match, which is a tad distracting. Angle takes some time off the clock early by regrouping on the outside every time it looks like Joe may get some momentum, setting the tone that this is not just a fight, this is an athletic contest where strategy matters. With 8 minutes in, Angle applies a headlock and cinches it in tight but Joe manages to get his foot on the ropes to break the hold. Angle attempts to hit a vertical suplex, but Joe counters it with one of his own and Joe is back on offense, eventually sending the Olympic Gold Medalist to the floor and connecting with a suicide dive through the middle ropes! Back in the ring, Joe hits an off-the-ropes powerslam for 2, but after sending Angle into the corner, gets hit with a release German. Joe goes for a Muscle Buster but Angle escapes only for Joe to apply the Rear Naked Choke! Angle taps in order to save himself from the exhaustion of having to fight the hold (which is noted on commentary). It proves to be wise strategy as Angle eventually applies a nasty reverse chinlock of his own as the clock ticks past the halfway point. Joe refuses to tap, though, so Angle attempts an Angle Slam - but Joe counters it and hits him with a big knee off the ropes! Joe tries to reapply the Rear Naked Choke, but Angle reverses it into an Ankle Lock and now its Joe's turn to tap out, evening the score to 1-1 and saving himself from too much ankle damage. Less than 3 minutes later, Angle reapplies the hold and goes up 2-1, Joe really selling the hurt in his ankle now. A "Lets Go Joe/Let's Go Angle" chant breaks out, the crowd split between arguably the two best workers in the US at the time. Joe rallies and hits Angle with some big strikes, including a running knee in the corner. Again he goes for the Muscle Buster and again Angle counters it and then connects with the Angle Slam for 2.8! With 8 minutes left, Angle attempts another Ankle Lock but Joe rolls through and sends him into the corner and then finally hits the Muscle Buster to tie things back up! Joe sends Angle to the ropes, but Angle comes back with an absolutely nasty chopblock to Angle's hip then reapplies the Ankle Lock in the center of the ring. With 6 minutes left, it is not a wise time to tap out. Joe kicks his way out, but Angle comes right back at him and ends up getting a pinfall off of a victory roll to go up 3-2 with just over 5 minutes left. Joe comes out swinging while Angle wisely goes to the outside, smart psychology there. Back in the ring they go and Angle looks like he might be able to grind this out, but Joe nails him with a big slam. Joe looks for another Muscle Buster but Angle slips out and under the ropes, pulling Joe's knee into the post with under 3 minutes left. With 2 minutes to go, Joe hits another Muscle Buster, but this time Angle gets his foot on the ropes! Joe tries to apply a Rear Naked Choke, but Angle works to try to get the Ankle Lock - only to get kicked off. Joe again tries to cinch in the Choke but Angle continues to roll him off and counter it every way he can. Great struggle here. Joe applies an Ankle Lock of his own, though, grapevining it with less than 20 seconds to go! Angle looks like he might tap but holds on for the remaining time. I don't like how he taps out with the clock at -1 second as it just seems unrealistic in such an otherwise realistic, smartly-worked match. This is one of the most watchable Ironman Matches I've seen as even the "restholds" are worked with intensity and struggle. Angle sometimes gets criticized for a "go-go-go" style, but this is well-paced and he does more than enough to put Joe over as a top level talent. I'm not sure I'd consider "must see," though, it comes very close and, if you are a Joe or Angle fan, worth seeking out. (3.5/5)

Main event time - Sting vs. Christian vs. Abyss for Abyss's NWA World Championship in a 3-Way Elimination Match. During the build-up for this match, Christian brought back his buddy Tyson Tomko (who is put into a shark cage at ringside by James Cornette before the match) and hinted that he knew Abyss's dark secret. Sting tried to befriend Abyss and have him cut ties with his manager, James Mitchell, aka The Sinister Minister, who was also aware of his horrible secret. I'm not sure what the secret was or if it ever got revealed. Sting was 48 years young coming into this match. Despite being a heel, Christian has maybe the most passionate supporters of anyone in the ring. Within the first 5 minutes, Abyss gets the visual pin on Christian but the ref is busy dealing with Tomko, a non-finish that I think came too early and made Christian look fairly weak (though I guess the point was further establish Abyss as a monster). Working against that theory, though, when the ref comes back in the ring, Abyss takes a Scorpion Death Drop (reverse DDT) and Abyss gets cleanly pinned. Its a legit shocking elimination just because it doesn't seem at all earned. After Abyss hits a chokeslam on Sting, the match continues and, again, its noticeable that Christian's "peeps" outnumber the "Lil' Stingers." Sting no-sells some Christian strikes, hits a guerilla press slam, and then a Stinger Splash and a superplex from the corner. James Mitchell shows back up and distracts Sting but he still manages to apply the Scorpion Death Lock. Mitchell unlocks Tomko's cage and then distracts the ref, allowing Tomko to break up the submission and attack Sting. Christian goes for the cover, but only gets 2. Tomko comes back in, Abyss shows up, Christian ends up with the championship belt in his hand but can't use and Sting hits the Unprettier but only gets 2. Now there's a ref bump. They've really thrown the kitchen sink into this match with James Mitchell ending up in the Scorpion Death Lock - only to get struck by a chain from Abyss! Is Abyss heel or face? Christian hits a frog splash on Sting and revives the referee and Christian gets the win and the title. Considering the quality of work that Christian would deliver in the WWE when he returned in 2008 and through his excellent feud with Randy Orton, this was a disappointment. (2/5)

With a Kwang Score of 2.64-out-of-5, this is not the type of show that is going to make me pluck down the dough to get the Impact Wrestling app and check out more shows from this year - or really any year. The main event was a bit of a mess, AJ Styles/Rhyno is poorly booked, and the X-Division Championship doesn't deliver either. The best match on the card is Joe/Angle (as anyone would've expected), but even that match falls short of being the classic it probably could've been with a better finish. The less said about the embarrassing Voodoo Kin Mafia segment the better too. I'm sure TNA/Impact die-hards would look back on this more fondly than I did, but I'd consider this a...

FINAL RATING - High Risk Maneuver