Source: Talon of TNAsylum.com
The Director of Wrestling Operations, MVP opened the show coming to the ring. Last week, he was handcuffed to Abyss but couldn’t prevent the Monster from interfering. MVP addressed Abyss telling him he wanted a level playing field for all. Wrestlers would rise and fall based on their talent alone. The cream will always rise to the top. He said it was time to make an executive decision.
World Champion, Magnus interrupted and was joined by Abyss. Magnus reminded MVP that Abyss has a service contract with him and not TNA. It means that the only time his authority effects Abyss is through Magnus. Magnus said the only time Abyss could be in the ring was with Magnus. MVP turned the words around and talked about Abyss’ violent disposition. MVP wouldn’t fire him but he isn’t afraid of him and warned him that if he touched him again, he would see a different side to him. MVP asked Abyss if he wanted something more than being the world’s ugliest valet. MVP offered Abyss a shot at the World Championship, much to the chagrin of Magnus. MVP said then they would find out where the Monster’s loyalty lies.
MVP announced that next week, it would be Magnus defending the World Title in a 3-Way against Abyss and Samoa Joe. Joe headed to the ring ready to fight. Joe said he only asked MVP for one thing and that is for an uninterrupted opportunity for him to win the World Title. Instead, his rematch is now a Handicap Match. Joe threatened MVP saying he would have a problem controlling him in a few seconds. Joe got in MVP’s face and then Magnus ran his mouth.
A brawl broke out between all four men when Eric Young came out and went after Abyss. We headed to commercials with EY clearing the opposition from the ring.
Eric Young was in the ring with MVP and Samoa Joe. EY said he had a solution to their problems. He brought Abyss in the World and he should take him out. EY proposed that MVP add him to the championship match next week so he can take Abyss out. MVP said that EY hasn’t earned it yet. Young talked about being in TNA for 10 years. EY listed all of his gimmicks, his championship wins and the many ideas that TNA saddled on him. Young told MVP that he was a World Class wrestler and he will get what he deserves.
Samoa Joe told EY that while he respects him, there is a line and Joe is at the head of it. Until he gets his World Title shot, EY gets nothing. MVP told EY that he appreciates the passion he just showed. MVP told EY that if he wants in the match, then he is in. At that moment, Joe and EY got in each other’s faces. Joe shoved EY, which led to a brawl between the two. MVP called for referees to break things up.
Samoa Joe was fired up and challenged EY to a match for later tonight. MVP confirmed that the match would happen.
Reaction: Very strong promo from EY! I am all for an EY push as he has done so much for the company and has never really gotten a serious opportunity. Joe looked whiny here while EY looked heroic.
Bully Ray was backstage bragging about his Twittah machine. You mess with the bull, you get the tables.
MVP ran into The Wolves backstage. The Wolves requested a match tonight against Abyss and Magnus. MVP told him that he would make it happen next.
Somewhere in the woods, Rockstar Spud was crawling around in a gillie outfit. EC3 walked up behind him and told him to get up.
Reaction: Hilarious! These skits should be fun to watch.
EC3 was somewhere with Spud, who was looking through binoculars backwards. EC3 reminded Spud that he was a Carter. They were going to attack Willow at his house.
The Wolves vs Abyss and Magnus
The Wolves worked over Magnus with a nice double-team combination. Richards ran Magnus’ head into the head of Eddie Edwards. Moments later, Abyss laid out the Wolves with clotheslines.
Magnus hit Eddie Edwards with a modified Vertical Suplex. Magnus spent the next few minutes tearing into Edwards until the Wolf caught him with a nice Hurricanrana from the corner. A tag was made to Richards, who went right after the World Champion. A miscommunication led to Abyss colliding with Magnus.
The Wolves hit a few sweet spots on Magnus before Abyss broke up the pin on the champion. The Wolves backflipped out of a Chokeslam attempt by Abyss. Richards hit a Suicide Dive on Abyss to the outside. In the ring, Eddie Edwards locked in a Single Leg Crab and Magnus immediately tapped out.
Abyss looked on frustrated while Magnus tried to explain it to him. Abyss grabbed the World Title but walked by Magnus.
Reaction: The Wolves looked good here and had some good offense. The Magnus tapout looked to be a strategic decision as opposed to having him look weak. It may have caused problems between he and Abyss though.
Angelina Love walked to the ring. Love talked about Madison Rayne and called out Velvet Sky. Sky was pissed off and questioned Angelina last week. Velvet said she didn’t sign up for this. Angelina told her she lost her edge and that she was vanilla. Love said she was somebody when they were in the Beautiful People. Velvet said alot has changed in TNA but Love said the only thing that changed was her.
Angelina said that she sat at home the past few years because she was a “headache” but she would rather be that than somebody’s biatch. Angelina told her that she had a match against Madison Rayne tonight. Velvet needed to pick a side tonight. Not because she told her to but because she wanted to.
Reaction: Looks like a heel turn from Velvet tonight. That’s what was implied in this promo.
We got a hype video for Gunner vs Storm tonight. It talked about their time as a tag team and winning the World Tag Titles.
Reaction: Look forward to all of these hype videos. That’s Gaburick’s forte.
EC3 and Spud were in the woods. Spud complained that it was nearly nighttime but EC3 told him it was noon.
On the Hunt for Willow, EC3 told Spud to go into a barn for “Operation Human Shield”. EC3 went into the barn and feigned being attacked, scaring Spud. All of a sudden, Willow was seen grabbing Spud from behind. EC3 called for Spud when a creepy laugh was heard in the background.
Reaction: Somewhat cheesy but these are the types of segments I like. It has that horror movie feel to it. Good mix of comedy and character.
Another Gunner vs Storm video aired, this time talking about their issues over Feast or Fired.
Bully Ray walked to the ring. He signaled to someone in the back. A bunch of TNA fans carried tables to the ring for Bully. There were numerous tables in the ring and at ringside. Bully asked if they had enough tables. He was the guy that made Dixie no longer part of TNA. If Roode would have won at Lockdown, he would have turned out just like Dixie Carter. Wrestling doesn’t need another Dixie Carter. Bully gauged the audience to see how many tables they wanted to see Roode go through.
Roode said the guy who lost at Lockdown doesn’t exist anymore. The opportunity blinded him. He was the longest reigning and most dominant World Champion in the history. He smashed a beer bottle over the head of his best friend. He spit in the face of Dixie Carter before it became cool. He tricked Bully into going to Nashville, just to give him a taste of his own medicine. Do you know who he is?
Bully wanted to fight but Roode told him that he doesn’t call the shots. Roode says that he says when and where. Roode teased fighting Bully but walked to the back. Bully chased him and attacked him. Ray and Roode fought at ringside. He put him on a table but Roode got off before going through it. Roode targeted the hand of Bully, ramming it into a guardrail and turnbuckle post.
Roode tried suplexing Ray through a table but Bully fought it off. Minutes later, Bully looked to Piledrive Roode off the apron through a ringside table but Roode backdropped him in the ring. Ray went for a big boot but Roode moved. Roode went for the Roode Bomb but Bully fought out. Moments later, Ray missed a Spear and went through a table. Bully was laid out while Bobby walked out.
Reaction: While this felt like a match, because there was no opening bell, the stopwatch fans will not count it as actual wrestling. This was a good preview for a Tables Match that looks to be coming down the pipe. Good action here.
Backstage, Abyss walked into Magnus’ locker room with the World Title. Abyss shoved it into his chest. Abyss questioned why Magnus tapped in less than two seconds. Magnus said he had no problem doing that when the title isn’t on the line. Abyss said he didn’t like losing. Magnus said that when he hired Abyss, he made it known it was about him retaining the World Title. Next week, three of his opponents had to lose, including him. Magnus asked him where he would go…back to being someone’s freak show?
Reaction: This segment was really good on establishing their relationship more. Magnus shouldn’t care about losing if his title isn’t on the line. Why would he risk injury just for the sake of a non-title tag team victory. It makes sense to me.
Knux was backstage with his girl. They checked out their town which was destroyed from the flood. Knux told her that he didn’t know it was that bad. Knux asked about his dad but the girl was frustrated, telling him that he left them to drown. It was like starting over. She told him that he had to have a talk with his dad.
Reaction: It was like a weird drama. I don’t know if Knux is supposed to be a good guy but the story is that Knux’s hometown (and family business) was destroyed after Knux went to pursue his dream. Its different. Let’s see how this wraps together with wrestling.
Angelina Love vs Madison Rayne
Rayne went right after Love with a big clothesline early on. The announcers talked about the growth of Madison as a wrestler since the breakup of the Beautiful People. Velvet Sky walked to ringside. Angelina sent Madison ringside and expected Velvet to attack her but Velvet didn’t. There was some sort of rollup attempt in the ring that was botched.
Angelina continued beating on Madison in the ring. Madison started fighting back. She hit a bridging suplex for two. Angelina fell to the outside where she argued with Velvet. The referee tried getting Angelina in the ring. Behind his back, Velvet hit a DDT on Madison and then threw her in the ring. Angelina pinned her moments later.
Angelina and Velvet taunted and made fun of Madison after the match.
Reaction: The turn was predictable. The match was okay aside from the major rollup botch and Velvet’s weak offense. I am hoping Angelina and Velvet turn it loose and take it to the next level with the reunion of the BPs.
Kenny King walked into MVP’s office. King wanted to know who MVP had for him tonight. MVP said that the show is stacked so he has nothing for him tonight BUT he should have something for him next week.
Reaction: So it appears King will get overlooked and then go off for being tired of being disrespected. How does the whole “King of the Night” thing play into that though?
Eric Young vs Samoa Joe
Joe didn’t even get an entrance here. Young got a pretty good pop. Joe kept the offense on EY which lead to loud “EY” chants. Joe pummeled Young in the corner. Young rallied back with a Discus Clothesline. Joe with STJoe on EY for two.
Joe locked EY into the choke but EY tried rolling through kicking off of the turnbuckle. He rolled back on Joe. The referee raised EY’s hand and dropped it three times. Earl Hebner argued with Brian Hebner after the match. Earl talked about how EY may have pinned Joe during the finish.
Reaction: EY got a much better reaction here. Joe should be one of the top faces but just isn’t. I think the finish was used to protect Young, who is on his way up.
EC3 was still on The Hunt for Willow and found Spud’s head piece. He said he would never leave a man behind.
Mike Tenay showed a video that resulted in a 1-week suspension for Samuel Shaw. Shaw walked into a locker room where he saw Christy. She was crying and sai she wasn’t comfortable anymore. She slapped him but he grabbed a pair of scissors and cut a strand of her hair. She cried as he walked off.
A Straight Jacket Match was announced for next week. Also it will be Willow and Bully Ray vs EC3 and Bobby Roode in a Tables Match. Finally, we will get the 4-Way Championship Match.
Reaction: Major lineup for next week. I look forward to it.
Another Storm vs Gunner video aired, this time talking about Storm turning on Gunner.
James Storm vs Gunner
UNLOCKED Match
The explanation for this match is that there is nothing restraining these two: no cage and no rules. Gunner made a B-line for the ring and went right after Storm. The two brawled at ringside. James took Gunner up the ramp and hit a snap suplex. Storm hit a nice DDT off the middle turnbuckle.
Gunner hit a Slingshot Suplex on Storm back from the break. Gunner positioned a chair in the corner and looked to send Gunner into it. Storm and Gunner dueled with trash can lids with Gunner connecting with a Spear at the end. Moments later, Gunner was catapulted into the chair. Storm followed up with a diving elbow drop for a two count.
Storm went to grab a weapon at ringside which allowed Gunner to hit a sick Spear through the ropes off the apron on Storm through a table. Gunner set up a few chairs in the ring. He was going to Superplex Storm through the chairs like he did at Lockdown and was successful in doing it here. This time, Gunner only scored a two.
Storm hit two Last Call Superkicks on Gunner for another nearfall. There is a “This is awesome” chant. Storm went for a beer bottle and looked to use it on Gunner but Gunner had a bottle of his own. Gunner then hit the F5 move which Tenay called “Hater 18.” for the win.
Reaction: An excellent and physical matchup. The match tonight and at Lockdown are defining Gunner and establishing him as a player in TNA. There were alot of great spots. I hope there is more to come from these two as they could get away with at least one more big match.
EC3 was looking for Jeff Hardy at an abandoned house. EC3 called for Jeff. Rockstar Spud was tied up and duct taped. We got some weird background noises. Willow popped up out of nowhere and began beating on EC3 with an umbrella. EC3 said if he wanted to play games then game on.
