Preshow -Shark Boy pinned Nigel McGuinness -Diamonds in the Rough (Elix Skipper, David Young & Simon Diamond) beat Lance Hoyt & The Naturals (Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas)
PPV -Raven pinned PJ Polaco at 5:45 -3 Live Kru (BG James, Konnan & Ron Killings) beat Team Canada (Eric Young, A-1 & Bobby Roode) in a Hockey Stick Fight with Kip James as referee when Killings pinned Young at 10:23 -Christian Cage debuted. -Monty Brown pinned Jeff Hardy at 8:43 to become #1 Contender to the NWA Championship -Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, Alex Shelley & Roderick Strong beat Austin Aries, Sonjay Dutt, Matt Bentley & Chris Sabin in an Elimination X Match at 23:15 [Aries pinned Strong at 12:02, Daniels pinned Aries at 12:23, Dutt submitted to Shelley at 15:13, Bentley pinned Shelley at 15:53, Bentley submitted to Joe at 20:40 and Daniels pinned Sabin at 23:15; Joe was visably upset at Daniels' finishing off Sabin instead of him, so he attacked him with a series of Muscle Busters] -Abyss pinned Sabu at 10:48 -X-Division Champion AJ Styles pinned Petey Williams at 18:20 to retain -Rhyno & Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon) beat NWA World Champion Jeff Jarrett & America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) at 15:48 when Harris was pinned. In the post-match scrum, Christian Cage teased aligning with the Jarrett/AMW/Team Canada group, but revealed his allegiances to the 3D/Rhyno group.
DVDs; Blog Calgary Flames: 7-7-1-1 (5th in NHL Northwest Divison) Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights: 5-5-0-3 (3rd in AHL West Division) Las Vegas Wranglers: 3-1-1 (4th in ECHL West Division)
Here's a full recap from TNAWrestling.com. Good to see Christian's getting right into the thick of things, and (at least for the moment) isn't following the standard TNA line of "New guy's debuting, so we must team him with Jarrett at first".
He cut a promo, and immediately afterwards Team Canada tried to recruit him. He said he'd think about it. Before the main event, Jeff Jarrett was all "He's coming in to steal what we in TNA have worked so hard to achieve", like he did after "Black Tuesday" when 13 wrestlers including The Dudley Boyz were released by WWE.
After the main event (won by Rhino and The Dudley Boyz), Jarrett, AMW and Team Canada attacked Rhino and The Dudleyz, and then Christian came out. He initially had a Team Canada T-shirt on, but he turned on Scott D'Amore, hit him with the Unprettier (the name of which, apparently, isn't copyrighted-- unless they overlooked that), and then assisted The Dudleyz in delivering the 3D to Jarrett.
So... welcome to TNA, Christian! I'm looking forward to seeing you on iMPACT!, which I will most certainly be watching (though I'll have to catch the replay, since I'm working on Saturday).
"We will be watching your career with great interest."-- Chancellor Palpatine to Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars: Episode I-- The Phantom Menace
"By the Twelve Gods and in the name of Lord Shojo, I demand to know-- who removed the tag from this mattress?!" --Miko Miyazaki, The Order of the Stick
Four-Time Wiener of the Day (5/27/02; 7/3/02; 7/30/04; 8/28/04)
The Only Five-Time (and Last) N.E.W. World Heavyweight Champion
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
It was a great show and exactly what TNA needed after a somewhat disappointing Bound For Glory and a bit of a lackluster Impact from last night.
I'm anxious to see where they go with AJ and Joe now. I like that AJ's finally getting a lengthy reign with the X title, and I think Joe should be the guy to end it. Joe could then go on to feud with Daniels or even easily moved up to the world title division.
They really need to get Jarrett out of the world title division, viewers pretty much rejected him on the prime time special. You've got Christian now and also Monty Brown, Abyss, Raven, Rhino and many other possibles like Daniels, Joe, and AJ.
The show was pretty good, with the Elimination X match making me the happiest. Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong, and Austin Aries were stars on a whole other level tonight. The X-Division will belong to them in about 6 months, I'd guess.
Is anyone else no longer impressed with the Canadian Destroyer move?
The real money is on guys like Joe, AJ, and Daniels, Abyss, and Monty Brown to carry the World Title. Raven and Jarrett have had their time in the sun. Rhyno's a good contender, but pales in comparison to the guys I mentioned above in LOOKING like a believable and credible World Champion. Hopefully that changes.
The crowd goes nuts almost every time Joe steps into the ring. Just watch any 6-man, tag team, or battle royal match he's been in so far.
I don't understand the liking for Raven, as he's quite bloated and as a result pretty sluggish in the ring. He just doesn't seem inspired anymore.
Seeing Christian in the TNA ring seemed... off. Like he just doesn't fit into the TNA fold. But first nights are for making first impressions and I still enjoyed the hell out of him. Looks like they're going to make a slow build up to him challenging for the NWA Title. I'd still rather see him challenge Monty Brown rather than Jarrett.
That said, Jarrett is really, really good. I don't like his wrestling, but his reactions are DAMN good at times. There's definitely a spot on the roster for a guy like him, and if he was a perennial challenger for the NWA Title but could never win it back, that'd be just fine. At this point, he can put people over and not lose any heat by doing so.
First half sucked. Second half, I think, was quite good.
I'll have to watch it again later. I dunno. Due to obvious reasons, my heart just wasn't in it today.
--K
Last 5 movies seen: Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Ciao, Professore! - The Wolf Man - It's A Wonderful Life
I was at this show, and thought it was just superb. The crowd was hot, but the mood was surreal, with everyone's thoughts & prayers being extended to Eddie's family.
That Samoa Joe -- he flat-out stole the show with his stiff kicks & sheer brutality. If TNA can book his feud with AJ correctly, they might have one of the hottest storylines in years.
Although his look/ style/ etc. is decidedly different, Joe is the closest thing to a young, heel Stone Cold in a VERY long time...
Originally posted by ekedolphinHe initially had a Team Canada T-shirt on, but he turned on Scott D'Amore, hit him with the Unprettier (the name of which, apparently, isn't copyrighted-- unless they overlooked that)
It would be trademarked, not copyrighted. And I imagine this would fall into the category of "work product," so depending on how his WWE contract dealt with that, calling it the Unprettier in TNA may or may not be okay.
Did anyone else catch Don West saying "It's a shit eating grin, look at that thing!" in reference to Scott De'Amore as soon as he got into the ring and was going to address Christian the first time? I rewinded the recording 4 times to make sure I had it right. Sure as shit thats what he said. Lol, fuckin comedy.
While others will always get more accolades due to longevity, push or simple timing, to me, Eddie Guerrero was, and probably always will be, the best professional wrestler I ever saw. Eddie was the rare guy who could do everything: