Source: Talon of TNAsylum.com
We got a tribute to Nelson Frazier Jr. who passed away yesterday.
Backstage, Magnus spoke with Dixie Carter backstage. Dixie said she spoke to him and its a done deal. She won’t share the power with anyone. She asked him if he wanted to share it or will she. Magnus told her he wouldn’t go down with her. Magnus addressed EC3 saying they need to be on the same page otherwise things will be over before they even begin.
Magnus and Dixie walked towards the ring. Magnus said he was going to cut to the chase and called out MVP to the ring. MVP obliged and headed to the ring. Magnus got in MVP’s face and said he wasn’t impressed that MVP spent nine years in jail. If he ever gets in the ring with him, nine years would be nothing compared to nine minutes with him. Magnus said if MVP steps out of line with him, he will make an example of him. MVP mocked him for talking all the time. He called Magnus a paper champion.
MVP said he was here for an answer. Lethal Lockdown for control of wrestling operations, yes or no? Magnus accepted on behalf of Dixie Carter. He regrets to say that he won’t be in that match as team captain because he will be facing Samoa Joe at Lockdown. MVP mocked him for looking past Gunner tonight, calling him a legit badass. Magnus said he doesn’t care if Gunner is a decorated war hero. Magnus said he would make him his bitch.
MVP pounced on Magnus until EC3 came out and double-teamed him. The Wolves were shown being held back by security. Eventually they got through. Gunner rushed the ring and cleared the heels from the ring. EC3 trash-talked MVP in the ring when the Wolves showed up behind him. Magnus bolted backstage leaving EC3. The Wolves attached EC3 with a back kick.
Reaction: Magnus would look like more of a legit threat if he had been treated as one the past few weeks. Unfortunately, he has been booked as the guy who hides behind Dixie’s minions. As a fan of Lethal Lockdown, I am excited for the match. It will give Dixie an out since its control of wrestling operations.
Bobby Roode arrived backstage. Roode said anything he would say, he would say in front of the world.
EC3 stormed in on Magnus and wanted to know why he threw him to the Wolves. Magnus said he better have his back as its in his best interest. EC3 sarcastically said that he has his back.
Samoa Joe was in the ring. Joe said he will face the winner of Gunner and Magnus tonight. Joe said that left his plate empty. He didn’t come here to watch a championship match, he came for a fight. Joe laid an open challenge for any member of Dixieland to come out. All three members of the Bro Mans came out to the ring. As they were getting in the ring, Joe grabbed a mic and asked which one it would be? He then said it would be all three.
Samoa Joe vs The Bro Mans and Zema Ion
Joe immediately took down all three of his opponents. He went for the Musclebuster but the numbers caught up to him. Joe had trouble regaining control as all of his opponents took turns taking him down. Robbie told Zema to go up top but Joe pulled Zema’s partners in the way of a Missile Dropkick.
Joe hit a combo DDT/Russian Legsweep on two of his opponents. He followed it up with an Elbow Suicida on the Bro Mans. In the ring, he set Zema up for a Musclebuster. He followed up with the Coquina Clutch for the submission victory.
Reaction: TNA continues to do a good job making Joe look like a bad ass going into Lockdown. While people will complain that he beat both tag champions by himself, that’s just the way things are in TNA right now. The focus is on the main story and Joe continues to dominate heading into his championship match.
Backstage, a technician was helping Christy Hemme with her mic. After she walked away, Samuel Shaw walked up behind the technician and choked him out while whispering. Shaw threw him into a wall. He then grabbed Christy’s mic and looked at it.
Reaction: The Shaw character continues to have that American Psycho presence to it. You know that anything is possible with the character. TNA could really push the boundaries with the character if they had the guts to.
Backstage, Bobby Roode spoke to James Storm before he does what he is about to do. Roode talked about how the business slapped him in the face and ripped his heart. Roode said that since day one, he felt like he couldn’t trust anyone. He pushed everyone away and felt alone. Its getting to be too much for him. Storm wanted to know what he was saying? Roode said there has been good and bad history between them. The good stuff can’t be created all the time. It was special. Storm told Roode he knows him and if he is thinking about doing what he is doing, then don’t. He told Roode to slap the business. Its dog-eat-dog and the only one responsible for their actions are them. Roode hugged Storm a few moments later.
Reaction: So despite their heated history, Storm didn’t rip Roode’s throat out. I am thinking that Storm’s words were an explanation for him moreso than a solution to Roode. Interesting segment.
Austin Aries walked into MVP’s office. MVP offered Austin Aries a spot on his team for Lethal Lockdown. Aries said he isn’t an anchor as an anchor drags things down. MVP said he could make positive changes. Aries said he would give it some serious thought.
Reaction: Hopefully this means Aries gets out of midcard purgatory and is re-inserted in the main event scene.
We got a video about TNA’s trip to the UK. It devolved into a brawl between Madison Rayne and Gail Kim.
Madison Rayne made her way to the ring. She and Gail would be in a Street Fight after the break.
Madison Rayne vs Gail Kim
Street Fight
Gail made a B-line to the ring but Madison caught her. The kendo stick quickly came into play as Gail clotheslined Madison with it. At ringside, Lei’D Tapa got involved. Madison jumped at her from the apron but Tapa caught her. Tapa swung Madison and ended up hitting Gail. Tapa rammed Madison spine first into the apron. Gail locked Madison into a Figure Four around the ring post. Moments later, Madison kicked a chair in Gail’s face.
Madison got the upperhand but Lei’D got in the ring. Madison used a variety of weapons on Tapa. She was going to use the chair on her but Gail took Madison out with a title belt from behind. Gail pinned the Knockout’s Champion seconds later. Tapa carried Gail to the back in her arms.
Reaction: It was okay but I am not excited about this feud. The Knockouts Division needs new blood. There are only so many time you can watch the same combinations.
Mr. Anderson showed Christy Hemme pictures of his kids backstage. Samuel Shaw was shown watching from a distance.
Reaction: Looks like Shaw’s first feud will be against Mr. Anderson.
We got a video about Gunner. It talked about his history in the Marines and his passion for wrestling. There was commentary from Gunner’s parents and wife. He was prepping backstage when James Storm walked up and wanted to talk to him.
Reaction: Good promo for Gunner. It really showed how committed and passionate he was about wrestling.
Next week, Kurt Angle is inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame.
EC3 spoke to a camera man. He was wearing a stars and stripes vest. EC3 said he would let Kurt Angle break the news at his Hall of Fame segment next week.
James Storm gave Gunner a pep talk backstage. He spoke about how he capitalized on winning the World Title and Gunner deserves. Gunner talked about everything paying off tonight. Storm said there was no feeling like holding the World Title above his hand. He said this is Gunner’s moment so he needs to live it for him. Gunner gave James Storm the tag team case and told him it was his. After he wins the World Title, they are going after the tag titles next.
Reaction: So does this mean the tag team case is James Storm’s? Nice pep-talk here setting up the main event. Isn’t Storm a supportive guy backstage?
Bobby Roode walked to the ring and spoke about how he proudly lived his dream as a wrestler. Roode said it was great to perform in front of crowds. There are alot of things in his career that he isn’t proud of. He was a ruthless guy in the ring but that doesn’t compare to what he does backstage. Roode can’t change what he did but he can change his future. The fans chanted “Please don’t go.” Roode tonight was his last night as a professional wrestler.
For the past few weeks he had to put up with Dixie’s crap. He has to walk away and he is sorry for it. Roode said before he goes he wants to do something he has never done before. Roode then thanked each and every one of them. He was about to leave when the music of Dixie Carter hit.
Dixie told Bobby that he didn’t get to decide when he leaves. He has a contract and she says when he can leave. Dixie said Roode doesn’t get to make that call. Dixie said that Jeff Hardy, AJ or Sting weren’t welcome in her company. She said he needs him and TNA needs him. Dixie said sorry to Roode saying she has dealt with so much with this new investor. Roode told her that he didn’t want to work for her anymore.
Dixie said Lockdown was the most important night of her career. Dixie said she needed a captain for her team. She wanted Bobby to captain her team. Roode wanted to know why he should trust her for anything? Dixie said she wanted him to have a vested interest in TNA. She offered him 10% ownership in TNA. Roode clarified the match but Dixie said he would get partial interest. She told him to get his lawyers to draw up a contract. Roode clarified that if he wins then he becomes an owner. Dixie pleaded with him and then Roode accepted the match. Roode told her that if she screws him over, he will dedicate his life to destroying hers.
Reaction: Aside from the unbelievable possibility that Roode would walk away, I thought he was very good here. The carrot is on the stick for him to be victorious at Lockdown as he would get 10% in the company. In reality, power in TNA is more valuable than a title shot. Its a sad truth.
Jeremy Borash was with “Bad Bones” John Klinger. Klinger spoke in German but then Shaw popped up in the background, going after Mr. Anderson but taking out Christy Hemme in the process. Shaw carried Hemme away in his arms.
Bad Influence was backstage with Bobby Roode. Bad Influence said he would have their backs in Lethal Lockdown. Bobby said that there is alot on the line in this match and he can’t just pick his friends. He told them to prove themselves tonight. Kazarian and Daniels sounded shocked.
Reaction: Interesting interaction. I have no doubt that the reason Bad Influence isn’t featured is because their contracts are coming up and TNA is protecting themselves. It would be sad if they ended up leaving TNA because they have been some of the better segments last year.
Bad Influence vs The Wolves
Bad Influence cheated early to get the upper hand. The Wolves took both their opponents out with a nice series of double-team moves. Kazarian beat down Davey Richards on the outside. He tried regaining the advantage but couldn’t hold up any momentum. Richards hit a nice Enziguri on Kazarian and then made the hot tag.
Edwards hit some rapid-fire chops to Daniels. Edwards hit a Backpack Stunner on Kazarian. Daniels breaks up the pin. Alarm Clock on Kazarian by the Wolves. Edwards double foot stomps the back of Daniels followed by another Mushroom Stomp by Richards.
Reaction: Good match for what we got. Both teams could deliver a match of the year candidate on a PPV but they were limited by TV time here. I love seeing what types of tools are in the Wolves arsenal.
Backstage, Shaw laid Hemme down backstage. He was about to kiss her but Hemme woke up. Hemme asked what happened but Shaw said he had everything under control.
We got another Willow video. This one focused on social media. “We love, we hate. We die, forever late in Willow’s way.”
Reaction: These Willow segments are interesting as hell. I like the catchphrase and the creepy laugh as well.
In a captain versus captain match, MVP will face Bobby Roode on IMPACT next week.
Magnus vs Gunner
World Heavyweight Championship
Main event introductions by Jeremy Borash. Gunner got a pretty good reaction from the crowd. Mike Tenay announced that the match would be contested under “Magnus Rules” which is no disqualification and no countout. The match opened with a bit of chain-wrestling between Magnus and Gunner. The first few minutes had Magnus work over Gunner with a side headlock. This got a little more physical when Magnus kicked Gunner out of the ring. Magnus signaled for help from backstage but The Wolves and James Storm showed up instead.
Reaction: So far this match has a big match feel to it. Gunner looks good and so does Magnus. The faces coming to the ring to fend off the heels is a nice hook heading into the break.
The Wolves and James Storm were still ringside as Magnus locked Gunner in a Camel Clutch. Magnus followed it up with a sleeper hold but Gunner back suplexed out of it. Moments later, Magnus came off the top with an elbow drop for a nearfall. Magnus grabbed the World Title from ringside and went to use it but Gunner fought out. Both men collided in the middle of the ring.
EC3 and the Bro Mans showed up and started to brawl with the heroes. In the ring, Gunner powerbombed Magnus. Gunner came off the top with a headbutt but Rockstar Spud came out of nowhere and put Magnus’ foot on the rope. Gunner became distracted for a second which allowed Magnus to use the World Title. Gunner got his shoulder up at two.
James Storm showed up and chased Rockstar Spud around the ring. Gunner hyped himself up by slamming his own head into the turnbuckle. He hit a Slingshot Suplex and then a Uranage. Gunner went up top for the headbutt but was distracted by Rockstar Spud. James Storm came in and tossed Spud from the ring. As Gunner came down for the headbutt, James Storm hit the Last Call Superkick. The Cowboy stood over Gunner while Magnus pinned the challenger.
Storm stood over Gunner to close the show.
Reaction: Strong main event where Gunner looked really good in defeat. I figured this would happen with Storm since he was teasing it. It couldn’t be expected of him to forget all his issues with Storm recently. I am hoping this heel turn will give Storm’s character a new focus and a new lease on life.
