By Chris Moore:
What better, more action-packed way to spend Sunday night than in front of the television, watching the TNA Pay-Per-View. Tonight’s TNA PPV is the annual “Against All Odds,” taking place in the TNA Impact Zone. All the more reason for the commentators to use the questionable (at best) adjective “impactful.”
I figured I would share some amateur, brief and to-the-point commentary and results as I watch, so here goes…
First Match – X-DIVISION TITLE MATCH: Alex Shelley VS. Eric Young
Some amazing action here to open the pay-per-view. Some off the ropes, in the air action and some too close for comfort near falls. When the smoke clears, Shelley is triumphant, taking home the X-division belt.
Winner: Alex Shelley
Interview – KURT ANGLE
Angle claims that he and Sting were both bred to win, and he claims that this is what it’s all about — they will push each other to improve and become even more talented and powerful than they already are. He also claims that the Main Event Mafia will be stronger than ever once the match is over. Really? I’m not convinced…
Grudge Match – “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner VS. “Maple Leaf Muscle” Petey Williams
There’s only one word for this match: pain. Predominantly pain felt by Little Petey Pump. There’s really not much else to say about it. Scott Steiner, older as he may be, inflicted move upon painful move on Petey Williams, holding him and dropping him from high above his body while standing on the ropes not once, but multiple times. Including once after the match ended! It all came to a halt when the “all-new” Samoa Joe appeared, announcing that Scott Steiner is one of the five (aka Main Event Mafia members) that have led him to the sins he is about to commit.
Winner: Scott Steiner
Interview: MICK FOLEY and STING
Not much to report here, but Mick Foley and Sting did share a moment when Sting thanked Foley for a comment. Sting being respectful? Laying the groundwork for the next, perhaps post-Mafia phase of the war for respect? Only time (and perhaps brutal beatdowns) will tell…
Dare Match – Brutus Magnus VS. Chris Sabin
Brutus Magnus appears and walks to the six-sided ring, repeating his challenge for an opponent. Chris Sabin, having sat out the previous match with his partner Alex Shelley appears and is defeated by Brutus Magnus, who really does put on a good show. It’ll be interesting to see what they do with Brutus Magnus in the upcoming TNA “Impact” episodes…
Interview: BROTHER DEVON and BROTHER RAY
Devon asserted (and Ray agreed that he was “dead on ball accurate”) that Team 3-D will only be stronger after the upcoming match. Unlike Angle’s similar claim about the Mafia, this actually rings true. They end the interview when Ray announces they’re off to chat with Sting. More to come, I’m sure…
Knockouts Match – ODB VS. Awesome Kong
Yes, the Kongtourage predictably joined Kong ringside, disobeying Jim Cornett’s specific orders last Thursday. Cornett came out and threatened to give the Knockouts Championship belt to ODB if they didn’t leave. He began the ten-count for them to decide, and about halfway through, Kong came over and grabbed him by the shirt. ODB broke it up and the match began. ODB tried once to pick Kong up — it looked as crazy as it sounds! — and, of course, failed. Then she tried it again and scored a body slam!! Incredible!! Until, of course, Kong stood up, regained momentum, and landed an implant buster on ODB.
Winner: Awesome Kong
Interview: STING AND BROTHERS RAY & DEVON
Ray wants to have the “old Sting” back and promises to back him if the old Sting does return. We find out from Crystal that Kurt wants to talk to Sting before the match, but Sting says he’ll talk to him later, “on my own time.” Uh oh.
Match: Referee Shane Sewell VS. Booker T.
Do I really need to explain this one in detail? Sewell is the man, the room I’m in was unanimously rooting for him, but he lost. It was predictable, although probably not in a bad way. What was UNpredictable was AJ Styles running to the ring to prevent a post-match beatdown by Booker T. So, it seems that things are looking worse and worse for the Main Event Mafia. Kurt and Sting are feuding. Samoa Joe is back. Styles is back. A good night to be a TNA Frontline fan…
Winner: Booker T.
Interview: Matt Morgan
Essentially, Morgan’s got a strep infection in his shoulder. (I think he said strep — it didn’t sound like “staff”) And yet he’s still here, ready to fight. This is the second most emotionally-charged match of the night, second only to the Angle/Sting issues to come…
Grudge Match: Abyss VS. Matt Morgan
This really has been a long time coming. A truly entertaining match — perhaps the funniest aspect was the referee getting upset with Abyss bringing weapons to the ring. Um, why did the bats, garbage cans, and other foreign objects just HAPPEN to be stored underneath the ring?! Overall, a pretty evenly balanced match, with Morgan landing some amazing moves like a dropkick on Abyss’ chest. The bag of tacks comes out and the tension builds. Then Rudy Charles gets accidentally knocked out! As Jim said, the ref goes down, and the weapons will come out! A near fall for Morgan. A near fall for Abyss. Abyss places the chair on Morgan, runs for momentum to jump on Morgan’s body — and Morgan rotates the chair at the last second for Abyss to land on, groin first. A near fall here, a near fall there — Ref Slick is in the ring — and Abyss finally wins!! Abyss spreads tacks across the ring, exposes Morgan’s bandages from his strep infection, and… Morgan rolls out and retreats just in time.
Winner: Abyss
Interview: STING AND ANGLE IN THE MAFIA LOCKERROOM
Kurt Angle sounds soothing and supportive. Which is always a dangerous sign. But Angle does make sense here, telling Sting that they (the Mafia) need him to “win the war.” Angle’s argument is that they must do what they must do tonight, but that tomorrow they are family again. Angle extends his hand, Sting accepts and hugs him. But Angle didn’t hug all that tightly, and after Sting left, he told Nash to keep an eye on Sting. Curiouser and curiouser…
Tag Team Title Match: Beer Money VS. Lethal Consequences
Whether you like them or not, Beer Money is an incredible tag team. Thus far, they’ve been pretty unstoppable. More of the same tonight, resulting in their victory. I really should describe the match in more detail to do it justice, but it ended the way it needed to.
Winner: Beer Money
Four-Way TNA World Championship Title Match: Brother Ray VS. Brother Devon VS. Kurt Angle VS. Sting
Mick Foley is out to announce. I’ll keep this simple for all of you out there in web blog land — they all fight, then Team 3-D fights amongst themselves, then they all fight, then Kurt and Sting fight, Devon tries to pin Ray, Angle tries to pin Sting in a half-hearted manner, and when the smoke clears… it’s Sting retaining the title by pinning Ray!
Winner: Sting
Overall, this has been an entertaining, but classically predictable pay-per-view. Until this Thursday on “Impact!”…
