We open with Samoa Joe arriving in the arena, followed by a recap of last week's action. Jump cut backstage to find the Christian Coalition in Jim Cornette's office. The bottom line is, tonight's main event is a tag team ladder match: Christian Cage & AJ Styles vs. Abyss & Sting. If Sting & Abyss win, then Abyss gets a match vs. Cage at Hard Justice, and can name the stip. If Cage & Styles win, there's no match.Cornette herds the heels out the door. Kurt Angle and family arrive. Yes, Kurt brought his wife & daughter.
Match 1: Team 3D vs. Chris Harris & Eric Young It's not the same Team 3D TNA fans have become accustomed to. Upset over the loss of the tag titles at Victory Road, Team 3D has turned its collective back on the fans and everyone in TNA. Harris & Young are just the first obstacles on the road back to the tag gold. Ray & Devon have dealt with these two in the past (AMW & Team Canada, respectively), but it is other issues involving the faces that turn the tide in Team 3D's favor, specifically, Dustin Rhodes showing up with a chair to attack Harris anew. Harris & Rhodes brawl to the back, leaving Young all alone, easy prey for a stuff piledriver, something new from Ray & Devon. Winners: Team 3D. Post-match, Robert Roode & Ms. Brooks make their way down as we go to break.....
Back from commercial, and we're told that Roode picked up where Team 3D left off during said break, and further assaulted Young. He empties two bottles of baby oil and a pillow full of down feathers on Young, the old "tar & feather" gag. This feud just won't end because the writers don't know how to end it. Meanwhile, Jeremy Borash interviews Samoa Joe. It doesn't matter that Kurt Angle has brought his family to the Impact Zone. Joe is going after Angle no matter what.
After commercial, Jeremy Borash catches up with the Angle family at a concession stand. Kurt publicly berates his wife & daughter right in front of Borash, and seems to laugh off Samoa Joe's threats.
Match 2: Triple X (Christopher Daniels, Senshi, Elix Skipper) vs. Sonjay Dutt & Jay Lethal Skipper acts as manager for his team. Too bad this didn't get more time, because it certainly deserved it. As a result, it seemed as though they tried to cram too much into the bout. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, the Motor City Machine Gunns, are at ringside with a video camera to scout the two teams they'll face at Hard Justice. Turning point in the match comes when Dutt signals to Lethal to go up top. So much for dissension between those two. Skipper pushes Lethal off to the floor. Chokeslam by Daniels sets up the Warrior's Way and the Best Moonsault Ever. Winners: Triple X. After the match, Triple X and the Machine Gunns have words. Sting & Abyss promo. Abyss promises retribution will begin tonight.
"Dr." Kevin Nash is with Kurt & Karen Angle and Jeremy Borash. Kurt continues to rip into Karen. I'm sorry, but I don't like the timing of this angle.
Match 3: AJ Styles & Christian Cage vs. Sting & Abyss (ladder match) Another match that felt rushed. Cage & Styles never really got going in this bout, and that's saying something. Just when they would get some offense, Sting and/or Abyss would have an answer. Great spot near the end of the match with the ladder. Sting hit a facejam on Cage. Abyss & Styles then went up, and Styles was chokeslammed off. Tomko came down and took Abyss out with a chair. Enter Andrew Martin, formerly Test, last seen in ECW a few months ago. He wipes out Tomko, knocking him into the ladder, and knocking Cage out of the ring. He catches Styles coming off the top, then dumps Styles. Abyss climbs the cage and claims the contract. Winners: Sting & Abyss. Post-match, Borash interviews Martin (w/Sting & Abyss). He's now going by the nickname, "The Punisher". Well it worked for a pre-Undertaker Mark Calloway about 20 years ago.
Lex Luthor's twin brother, Kurt Angle, comes down to the ring with wife Karen in tow. Must've found a nanny to take care of his daughter. Kurt continues to do his best impersonation of Randy Savage, berating Karen in front of the crowd. Karen, though, has had enough. They've been together 12 years, and now Karen is sick of the titles, the arrogance, the attitude, and the gold medal that started it all. In the midst of this, Samoa Joe comes down. At first, Kurt uses Karen as a human shield, but then Karen steps away and stands in front of Joe, who's hanging on every word. Bottom line is, Karen has decided to leave Kurt, essentially "wanting a divorce" after 12 years. She leaves, and Joe cuts a promo on Kurt, then beats him down after declaring he'd like to strip the clothes off Kurt's back. He succeeds in taking the suit jacket, tie, belt, & shirt. Kurt flees, and Joe stands tall to end the show.
|