Written by Richard Gray on Apr 13, 2008 - 11:23:29 PM
This year's TNA Lockdown is broadcast live on pay-per-view from the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The pay-per-view opens with Mike Tenay in a dark ring. He explains that if Samoa Joe loses tonight that he will retire for good from wrestling.
Richard Reacts: I am not going to lie, that was kind of creepy. When the pay-per-view begin with Mike Tenay in a dark ring I thought that there was something terribly wrong. I guess that's one way to get everyone excited, but it probably would have been just as effective had they just gave us the normal live crowd shots with everyone screaming their butt's off.
After a promo video we go live to the arena. It appears to be a sellout as Don West is in the crowd asking fans who is going to win - Joe or Angle. The fans all say Samoa Joe is going to win. We go to JB in another section of the crowd. He interviews several fans in attendance, all but one pick Joe to win the match.
Richard Reacts: I thought it was funny that one of the fans standing right beside JB was wearing a Triple H shirt. No big deal but funny nonetheless.
Xscape Match For X Division Championship
Curry Man comes out first, followed by Johnny Devine who comes out with the paparazzi camera along with a kendo stick. Consequences Creed comes out next. 'The Guru' Sonjay Dutt comes out and throws money into the crowd. Here comes Stone Cold Shark Boy! X Division Champion Jay Lethal is out last.
Richard Reacts: Creed has a sweet afro! Shell yeah it's Stone Cold Shark Boy! Haha, I need to get serious!
The bell rings and we're off. Basically the match starts as an elimination match and turns into a cage match when we are left with two competitors. Sonjay Dutt nailed a sweet hurricanrana on Johnny Devine. Jay Lethal is tagged in, Curry Man is in as well. Dutt and Lethal hit drop kicks at the same time on Consequences Creed. They then go to work on Johnny Devine by setting him up on the top rope. Shark Boy and Curry Man take them off Devine and hit powerbombs. Consequences Creed comes in and cleans house. Dutt hit a hurricanrana on Lethal. Stunner from Shark Boy on Lethal. He gets a two count. Devine roles up 'The Guru' Sonjay Dutt out of nowhere. He gets the pinfall. Dutt is eliminated. In the ring, Shark Boy gives Stone Cold stomps on Johnny Devine. He turns around and Consequences Creed gives him shots the the midsection followed by a suplex. Now Curry Man goes to work on Creed. He's dancing folks!
Curry Man and Shark Boy are taking it to Devine and Creed but Creed is able to get control on Shark Boy. Hammerlock DDT from Creed onto Shark Boy. He is able to get the pinfall - Shark Boy eliminated. Clothesline from Creed onto Curry Man - he gets a two count. He works on him some more but Curry Man counters and hits a clothesline for control. Curry Man climbs to the top of the cage, Devine shakes the cage and goes up to get Curry Man. Lethal follows only to get knocked to the mat by Devine. Devine tried a shooting star press off the cage onto Lethal, he missed. Creed, Lethal, and Devine are battling in the ring - Curry Man is at the top of the cage. HUGE moonsault from Curry Man onto Creed and Devine. Curry Man goes to work on Devine, Spice Rack on Creed. Curry Man eliminates Consequences Creed with a three count. Out of nowhere Devine gets a long two count on Curry Man.
Lethal and Curry Man work together to take out Devine. Lethal gets a two count on Devine. Curry Man nearly eliminates Lethal with a two count out of no where. Curry Man and Lethal battle on the ropes - out of nowhere Curry Man hits the Spice Rack on Lethal. Devine hits Devine Intervention on Curry Man and eliminates him with a three count. We're down to Johnny Devine vs. Jay Lethal. Whoever escapes wins the match. The crowd is behind Lethal. Devine takes tape off of his wrists and tapes Lethal's left arm to the top rope. He beats Lethal in the face and looks to escape. Devine tries to escape but Sonjay Dutt, who is still on the outside, won't let him out. Devine starts to climb the cage. Dutt throws a knife in the ring, Lethal gets it. However, Lethal ends up getting loose and dives out of the cage through the cage door.
Winner - 'Black Machismo' Jay Lethal to retain the X Division Championship
Richard Reacts: There were some crazy spots. Curry Man's huge moonsault off the top of the cage and the missed star press from Devine off the cage were pretty sweet. The finish was corny, overbooked, and unexpected. They should have done a title change there.
We're backstage with JB and MMA fighter Frank Trigg. He talks about the Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle main event. He says that he is usually throwing up at this part of the night before a big night. Trigg says that Kurt Angle's intensity is going to carry him and there is no way that Samoa Joe can win tonight.
Queen Of The Cage - Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky vs. Salinas vs. Rhaka Khan vs. Traci vs. Christy Hemme vs. Jacqueline vs. Roxxi Laveaux
The bell rings after all Knockouts enter on the outside. Rhaka Khan seems to be the most dominant. Angelina Love climbs to the top of the cage and gets in. No one tried to stop her! Velvet Sky starts to make her way up as we as Roxxi Laveaux. Laveaux gets in. It's Angelina Love vs. Roxxi Laveaux. Roxxi has the opening control and is able to get a two count. Love nails her flying clothesline on Laveaux. Instead of going for the pin, she bangs her head against the mat. Love has the control but Laveaux counters. Love hits a big boot on Laveaux and gets a two count. She complains to the referee, clearly frustrated, and thought that she got the pinfall. The crowd is behind Roxxi. Laveaux tries to counter again but Angelina Love hit 'Lights Out', which is good enough for a two count. Love is frustrated and chops away at the Voodoo Queen. A couple of standing switches into a role up from Love onto Laveaux. After nowhere Laveaux hits the Voodoo Drop and gets the three count.
Winner - Roxxi Laveaux
Richard Reacts: The Xscape match could have gone longer and they could have left the Queen of the Cage match out completely. It was a basic Knockout match that belonged on Impact.
We're backstage with the newest member of the TNA broadcasting staff Lauren and number one contender Samoa Joe. Joe speaks directly to Kurt and says that he will be damned if he takes what he has given his life for away from him - he is sadly mistaken. Joe says that he will sacrifice his career, he will sacrifice his life to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Richard Reacts: Outstanding backstage promo and I hope I got the interviewers name right, this is moving fast!
We go to a 'Rough Cut' type segment with Kip and BG James talking trash to one another. Nothing is going to get me excited for this one.
Kip James vs. BG James
The match opens with Kip kicking BG, taking him down to the mat. Kip and complete early control as he dominates his former partner early on. Finally BG is able to hit some right hands but Kip hits a Stunner out of nowhere. BG is back on the mat, Kip stands over him. Kip slams BG's head off the side of the cage. He smiles and taunts his former partner inside of the ring. Heat on Kip from the crowd as he whips BG into the ropes. BG tries to counter but Kip blocks with a knee. West and Tenay plug Angle vs. Joe and ignore the action in the ring. In the ring, Kip has a choke submission hold on BG on the mat. The referee checks for submission as Kip wrenches back on the hold. The crowd tries to bring BG to life. BG gets to his feet as tries to back Kip down. BG finally gets free but Kip stops the momentum immediately by planting his face into the cage. Kip sends BG back to the mat as he gets a two count. Kip looks surprised he didn't get the three count.
Kip goes off the top turnbuckle and is greeted by a low blow from BG. The referee starts the double count out as both are down in the ring. BG gets up first but Kip follows. The former partners exchange right hands. BG whips Kip off the ropes and all around the Six Sides of Steel structure. BG hits a knockout overhand right onto Kip. He drops a knee on his former partner and gets a two count. West plugs Kip's incredible strength. BG dives at Kip but ends up hanging himself in the crotch in the ropes. Kip teases a Shawn Michaels super kick but out of nowhere BG is able to count and get the roll up for the three count.
Winner - BG James
After the match BG extends his hand to Kip, they shake hands. Kip raises BG's hand and the crowd cheers. Not surprisingly Kip delivers a knockout clothesline to BG. West overreacts to the point it made me spill my water. Kip gives a DX crotch chop.
We're backstage with JB and Kurt Angle. Angle says when he was with 'WWE' before he came to TNA he beat everyone they threw his way. He said that when he came to TNA he noticed that Samoa Joe had the intensity that only he himself has. He talked about how Joe has taken him to the limit in their previous bouts. Angle talks directly to Joe and says that he needs to win tonight and he needs to end his career. He says tonight is about survival.
Richard Reacts: This was another filler match that was not of pay-per-view quality. Kip dominated only for BG to win out of nowhere. This will continue although I don't think that too many people really care. The end was extremely corny and predictable where BG as the face tried to make peace only to get knocked out by Kip.
Cuffed In The Cage - The Motor City Machineguns vs. The Latin American Xchange vs. "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner and Petey Williams vs. The Rock N' Rave Infection vs. Eric Young & Kaz vs. Black Reign & Rellik
Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt come out first. Mike Tenay says that he has gotten word that there is some commotion outside. We see Black Reign and Rellik taking it to Eric Young. Kaz finally comes in to make the save along with security and referee Rudy Charles. Charles sends Kaz to ringside. Steiner got all kinds of heat coming out to ringside. He flipped several fans at ringside off and got in their faces when they retaliated. He is playing a good heel. The bell rings and it's a mess. Steiner takes control early and hits a belly-to-belly suplex on most of the wrestlers in the ring. He dumps Homicide next. It's all Steiner early on. There are four wrestlers that team up and cuff Steiner to the ropes. Scott Steiner is the first wrestlers cuffed. Eric Young finally makes his way out to ringside after taking a backstage beating from the monsters. Young is greeted by Rellik and Black Reign who stare at him from inside the cage. They scare him so badly that he leaves ringside and goes to the back.
Petey Williams is working over Alex Shelley as it is pandemonium in the ring. Kaz face plants Chris Sabin into the cage as he misses a tornado DDT. Sabin gets cuffed by Kaz. Shelley is also cuffed although it is unknown who cuffed him. LAX works together on Lance Hoyt. Rellik and Black Reign use a double team maneuver to take out Petey Williams. Black Reign cuffs Williams. LAX works together on Lance Hoyt. Rellik and Black Reign use a double team maneuver to take out Petey Williams. Black Reign cuffs Williams. Jimmy Rave and Kaz are brawling at the top of the cage. Kaz hits the Flux Capacitor onto Rave off the top of the cage. That was insane! Kaz climbs the cage and sets Hoyt up for the Flux Capacitor. Hoyt counters and nails a huge chokeslam off the top rope onto Kaz. Rellik and Reign work together to cuff Kaz. It's now down to the monsters vs. The Rock N' Rave Infection. Surprise... surprise... it's Super Eric! The pyros explode and here comes Super Eric to the Six Sides of Steel. He climbs to the top of the cage. He hits a cross body off the top of the cage onto all four competitors into the ring. He cuffs Rave first.
Super Eric cuffs Hoyt next. Reign goes after Young for Rellik to connect a huge boot to his face. The monsters work together to cuff Super Eric. Super Eric surprises them by cuffing Rellik out of nowhere. Super Eric Driver on Dustin followed by him getting cuffed to the ring.
Winner - Super Eric
The winners were announced as Super Eric and Kaz but I thought there could only be one winner based on the stipulation?
We're backstage with Lauren who is with Samoa Joe's family who are all dressed in native Samoan. They put him over for his match tonight against Kurt Angle.
Richard Reacts: The stipulation killed this match but there were some good spots. Super Eric's dive off of the cage as well as Kaz hitting the Flux Capacitor off the top of the cage on Jimmy Rave was outstanding. Nonetheless I thought it was extremely predictable that Super Eric was going to emerge and defy the odds based on how it was booked. They made Steiner look strong by letting him dominate and taking four guys to cuff him. If they weren't going to put him over I felt like they handled it well by getting him out early. He should challenge the winner of Joe/Angle on PPV next month.
Awesome Kong/Raisha Saeed vs. Gail Kim/ODB
Saeed is wearing pants but she is still completely covered. The bell rings as we are going to start with Awesome Kong and ODB. The crowd is behind ODB as the two lock up. ODB chops the hell out of Kong but they don't have much effect. ODB comes off the ropes but right into the hands of Kong. Kong slings ODB into her corner. Gail is tagged in. Gail Kim says she wants Raisha Saeed. Kong tags her in. It's Kim vs. Saeed. Arm drag from Saeed onto Kim for a two count. Saeed works the left arm of Gail Kim until she finally counters. Saeed counters Kim's attempt at offense with a double leg take down. She follows with a forearm shot that rocks Gail Kim. Saeed gives Kim a scoop slam in the middle of the ring. She goes off the ropes for an elbow drop onto Kim and a two count. Saeed hits a fisherman's suplex into a bridge for a two count. Saeed whips Kim into the ropes, Gail counters and hits a perfect drop kick. Head scissors from Kim, followed by a small package roll up.
Kim gets two as Saeed gets up and distracts the referee. Kong slams Kim's face off the steel. Saeed works over Kim and sets her up on the top rope. Kim is able to push her off. Saeed connects an open hand slap and starts booting Kim in the throat. Saeed takes Kim over to her corner and tags in Awesome Kong. Kim gets a tough splash from Kong who tags back in Saeed. Saeed gets a two count. Gail is able to use her speed to try and counter but Saeed hits a speer type tackle. Both are down as ODB is tagged in by Kim. Saeed gets up and is greeted by an ODB clothesline. ODB slams Kong into the cage and takes out Saeed with a fall away slam. Kong in for the save. Kim comes in and takes it to Kong. All four women are in the ring. Kim and Saeed are fighting at the top of the cage as Gail is able to connect a hurricanrana off the top of the cage - INSANE! Kong accidentally takes out Saeed as Kim goes off the top rope into a drop kick onto Kong. ODB goes off the top rope and is able to pin Saeed for the three count.
Winners - Gail Kim and ODB
JB asks Karen Angle what she is doing there. She says that she is there to support Kurt because he is the father of her children and he is concerned for him. She says she is concerned for what might happen if he does not meet his own expectations. Cue Roode/Booker video.
Richard Reacts: Gail Kim's hurricanrana off the top of the cage on Saeed was the spot of the match but this was actually a very good bout. I had no idea how good of a wrestler that Raisha Saeed is, I was stunned to see how well she handled herself in the ring. Gail Kim is the best female professional wrestler in the business today. Great match and a perfect finish. Definitely the match of the night so far because a story was actually told and there was no abrupt finish.
Robert Roode & Payton Banks vs. Booker T & Sharmell
The bell rings and we are going to start with Bobby Roode and Booker T. Booker tries to keep Sharmell from getting into the ring but it gives Roode a chance to land the first blows. Booker counters with some right hands, Roode counters with chops. Booker counters again with chops of his own. Roode connects to the midsection of Booker but Booker counters with a spin kick to the jaw of Roode. He makes an advance at Payton Banks but focuses on Bobby. Booker gets six right hands on Roode but he counters and hits a perfect dropkick. Bobby chokes Booker in the ropes and plays a great heel by taunting Sharmell. Swinging neck breaker from Roode onto Booker. Roode gets a two count. He wants Sharmell to tag in as he hits an elbow to the face of Booker. He follows with a knee drop and lateral press. Roode gets a two count followed by a submission hold. Roode has Booker in a sleeper hold, the referee checks for submission. Booker is able to break the hold and starts to mount a comeback. Roode counters off an Irish Whip but Booker counters again. Roode hits a high angle spinebuster out of nowhere for a cover. Booker shoves him off but Roode is in control.
Bobby tries to force Booker to tag Sharmell. Roode sets Booker up and gives him a chop. Booker counters with his speed and nails a kick to the face of Roode followed by a right hand. Booker chops away with knife edge chops on Bobby. Booker hits a suplex on Robert Roode followed by a two count. Booker gives Roode another hard chop, Roode counters but Booker is able to counter to get a small package two count. Roode comes off the ropes into a spinebuster from Booker. Booker on a knee, the crowd cheers him on, spin-a-rooni - Roode counters. Booker hits a kick but Roode counters again by slamming him off the steel. Roode wants Sharmell in the ring. She tags in! Sharmell slaps away at Roode but she has no affect. Before Bobby can lay a hand on Sharmell Payton Banks tags herself in. Banks taunts Booker but while she is distracted Sharmell is able to pin Payton Banks for the win.
Winners - Booker T And Sharmell
After the match Roode dresses Banks down in the ring with verbal abuse. It looked like Roode was going to hit her but doesn't. Roode leaves her in the Six Sides of Steel as he walks to the back.
We're backstage with UFC Fighter Marcus Davis with Lauren. He talks about training Samoa Joe for his match tonight. He says that Joe came out a true fighter.
Richard Reacts: The action between Robert Roode and Booker T was good but this match had another abrupt finish. I don't know if it's just me but it seems like just as soon as a match starts to gain momentum they go home out of the blue. Evidentially this was the blow off match for the angle and they are going to do another program with Bobby Roode abusing another valet. Roode hit some great drop kicks!
10 Man Lethal Lockdown Match - Team Cage (Christian Cage, Sting, Kevin Nash, Rhino & Matt Morgan) vs. Team Tomko (Tomko, AJ Styles, Team 3D, "Cowboy" James Storm)
The Captain of Team Cage - Christian Cage - is competitor number one. The Captain of Team Tomko - Tomko - will face Cage first. AJ Styles is on the top turnbuckle as Cage looks at Tomko on the outside. Styles connects off the top onto Cage and takes the opening control. The first five minutes is going to be Cage vs. Styles. Styles applies a cross-face type maneuver on Christian as Styles whips him off the ropes. Styles nails a drop kick onto Christian who is sprung off the ropes. AJ hits several right hands on Christian. Pinfalls and submissions do not matter until all 10 men have entered. Christian answers Styles' momentum with hard chops. Christian charges AJ but Styles counters. Styles hits the inverted DDT on Cage. He kicks him in the back and catches his breath. Right hand from Styles onto Christian. The crowd chants 'Instant Classic'
Styles whips Christian into the turnbuckles, goes air born, but Christian moves. Christian hits a vicious clothesline off the ropes, sending AJ to the mat. Styles goes off the top rope for a Frog Splash, he misses. Styles sets him up for Styles Clash but Christian counters and nails a reverse DDT. Styles nails a jaw breaker and goes for head scissors. Christian counters and hits a sit down powerbomb. Cage throws AJ into the steel, he goes for the Unprettier. Styles counters and hits a Pelé Kick. Here comes Bubba who slams the cage door right on Christian's face. Bubba whips Cage off the ropes and hits a back body drop. He follows with an elbow. He applies a Boston Crab on Cage. Styles double teams with Bubba. Christian tries to counter but AJ hits a hard right. Bubba nails some wicked shots on Christian. Styles picks Christian up and slams his face off the steel. Bubba chops the chest of Christian with a knife edge chop. Christian hits the mat.
They pyro explodes and here comes Rhino. He cleans house, hitting a belly-to-belly on Brother Ray. It doesn't last long as Styles comes out of nowhere and nails Rhino. Rhino is able to work over Brother Ray and then Styles. Now Bubba punches away at Rhino and follows it with an open handed chop. Christian goes to work on Styles. Christian turns his attention to Brother Ray. He applies a sleeper. Bubba is able to take him down to the mat. Rhino works over Brother Ray. Here comes James Storm for Team Tomko. James Storm hits Christian with the Early Bird. He goes to work on Rhino as Brother Ray chokes Christian with a boot. Rhino fights with Styles. Styles climbs to the top of the cage, Rhino follows. Styles nearly falls off but he regains his balance. Styles is on the top rope with Rhino, hitting right hands on The War Machine.
Captain Christian gets to the top of the cage extremely quick - he and AJ battle it out up top. Cage fail off the top of the cage onto the outside. Styles remains on top of the cage. Kevin Nash is out and in the cage. Styles gets off the top of the cage and goes after Nash. Nash hits Snake Eyes. Christian climbs back to the top of the cage and delivers a cross body onto Storm and Brother Ray. Excellent spot for Christian! Rhino is to his feet first, Brother Ray works on Nash. Christian goes back to work on AJ. Brother Devon is out next for Team Tomko. He gets in and goes to work on Christian. Now he and Brother Ray double team Christian, sending him into the steel. They then go for Rhino. They whip him off the ropes and nail a double shoulder block. Nash is to his feet, he goes right for Brother Devon. Brother Ray gets a chop block on Nash. Sends him to his knees. Devon goes to work on Nash's knee as well. James Storm lands a baseball slide on Christian.
Brother Ray rubs Christian's face on the steel of the cage. Matt Morgan comes out as jacked as ever. He comes in and cleans house - taking out all of the heels. Morgan hits a headbutt on Brother Devon. Nash is working on Styles as Morgan gets caught up by Brother Ray. Rhino is on his feet, working over James Storm. Matt Morgan hits a double clothesline on Team 3D. He tries to take out AJ but he gets away. Morgan counters and takes AJ down. The faces seem to be in control as Tomko comes out with his tag title belt and a chair. Earl Hebner takes the chair from Tomko as he gets in the ring and goes to work on Nash then Christian. Christian and Tomko duke it out on the mat. The heels are back in control with Tomko's emergence. Brother Devon is bleeding from his forehead. The crowd chants 'we want Sting' as a crimson mask covers the face of Brother Devon. The entire building is on their feet as Sting's music hits and he makes his way into the Six Sides of Steel structure.
Sting cleans house - AJ tries to slow him down but ends up getting a kick to the groin. Sting beats on his chest to pump up the crowd. They lower the lid on the Six Sides of Steel - Lethal Lockdown begins! Weapons hang from the top of the cage . As soon as it connects everyone goes for a weapon. Sting has a garbage can - everyone has something. It's hard to call but all kinds of weapon shots. James Storm makes his way out of the structure to the top. Christian Cage follows - this should be good. The fight with weapons ensues in the ring as Storm hits Christian with a trash can lid. Storm gets a rake to the eyes on The Instant Classic. Storm goes for a suplex, Christian counters and Storm nearly goes through the top of the structure as it gives. Christian hits Storm with multiple trash can lid shots. Team 3D takes care of Rhino in the ring but Matt Morgan and Kevin Nash are able to take them out with double choke slams. Sting goes for the Scorpion death lock on Tomko, he connects it but AJ has a kendo stick.
AJ is on top of the structure with Christian and James Storm. There is a table setup on top of the structure. They set Christian up on the table on top of the Lethal Lockdown structure. Styles sets up a ladder. Styles climbs the ladder but Christian gets off the table. Christian climbs the ladder as they fight at the top. Storm is now climbing. Folks the ladder is on top of the Lethal Lockdown structure! It topples and sends Christian and AJ through the table on top of the structure. Everyone is laid out on the inside - I have lost my breath - that was dangerous as hell! Mike Tenay concurs! Storm breaks a beer bottle over Morgan's head. Rhino is able to pin him.
Winners - Team Christian
Richard Reacts: I am not going to lie - that was awesome. Incredibly dangerous spots - the match showcased everything that should not be pushed in professional wrestling. Nonetheless you have to be pretty sour to have not to have been entertained. When Christian, AJ, and Storm got on that ladder on top of the structure I thought someone was going to die. It doesn't matter that Team Cage won - I'm just glad that no one got killed.
No need to explain that Karen is sitting ringside. Frank Trigg has joined Tenay and West for commentary. The main event is up next... cue the Tale of the Tape.
Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle
The family of Samoa Joe come out and do the traditional Samoan fire dance. Joe's music plays and he emerges from the back. Joe has his towel around his neck as he makes his way to the ring. We are taken backstage with footage of Kurt Angle making his way towards the entrance ramp with security behind him. Angle as the TNA World Heavyweight Championship around his waist. He looks as focused as ever as they role an Angle video package. Angle's music hits and his entrance video plays. The TNA World Heavyweight Champion emerges to ringside wearing boxing trunks rather than his normal singlet. Jeremy Borash is on the mic for the formal introductions. Senior official Rudy Charles is the referee. Marcus Davis is also is in the ring. Introducing first at 280 pounds from the Isle of Samoa, the number one contender for the TNA Heavyweight Championship of the World, the Samoan Submission Machine, Samoa Joe.
At 235 pounds from Pittsburgh, PA is professional wrestling's only Olympic Gold Medalist, the current reigning and defending TNA Heavyweight Champion of the World Kurt Angle. Referee Rudy Charles holds the belt up - signifying that the belt is on the line. We are shown a shot of a concerned Karen Angle at ringside. Charles searches Angle as he orders that Karen be ejected from ringside. Security comes over and asks her to leave. Kurt screams at Karen from the ring. She tells him to 'remember this' and that she came here for him. She storms out. The bell rings and here we go. MMA style striking to start things out. Angle is bare foot. They lock up and Rudy Charles separates them. Angle kicks Joe in the leg. They go for a traditional wrestling lockup but Kurt kicks Samoa Joe away from him. Joe gives him some kicks of his own. Joe applies an ankle lock on Angle on the mat. Kurt gets to the ropes - the hold is broken. Angle goes for an MMA style take down. He gets on Samoa Joe and is ordered off Joe who is under the ropes. Both are back to their feet in fighting stance. Angle takes Joe to the mat - right hands from Angle.
It's been pure worked MMA to start things out. Joe is going after Angle but Angle has Joe locked in an MMA style mat hold. The referee calls for a break after a count of three. Back to fighting stance as Joe stomps on the feet of Angle. Joe flips Angle over with a hiptoss. It is interesting to note that they didn't change the ring canvas and there is blood all over it. Out of nowhere Angle explodes with a suplex on Joe. Angle applies a choke hold on Samoa Joe. He gets his foot on the ropes - after a count of three, it is broke. Angle delivers MMA style strikes to the head of Samoa Joe. Now they are on the mat wrestling - Angle has Joe in a headlock. Joe gets whipped off the ropes into a belly-to-back German suplex. Angle nails an upper cut, sending Joe to the mat. Angle locks an arm bar submission onto Joe on the mat. Joe is able to turn it over, putting Kurt's shoulders on the mat. Kurt gets to the ropes and the hold is broke after a count of three.
Joe delivers some rights to Angle but Angle takes out the knee of Joe. Angle hooks the Figure Four leg lock on Joe. Wooooos from the crowd as Rudy Charles checks for submission. Joe winces in pain as Angle wrenches back. Samoa Joe's shoulders keep touching the mat, causing the referee to count. Joe tries to turn the hold over but he's unsuccessful. Joe finally turns the hold over with his weight. Kurt Angle gets to the ropes. Joe is moving slow as Angle comes over and assaults the challenger. Angle drops an elbow on Joe and applies a submission hold. Joe chops Angle trying to get free. Angle flips over on Joe applying an MMA style head lock. Joe back to his feet. He springs of the ropes, rings Kurt's bell, and hits a monster clothesline. Both men are down as Rudy Charles starts the double count out. Back to their feet, Joe sends Kurt to the mat. He hits another clothesline. Joe shows his agility with a kick. Joe goes for the Muscle Buster but it's reversed by Angle into an ankle lock submission. The referee checks Joe for submission.
Angle runs right into a Rock Bottom type maneuver by Samoa Joe. Joe gets a two count and a near fall on the Champion. Joe kicks Angle in the midsection and hits a big powerbomb. Another two count as Joe goes for a Boston Crab submission. It looks like Angle may tap. Angle goes for the ropes but Joe pulls him back. Joe changes the hold to a cross face. The referee checks for submission as Frank Trigg commentates. It looks like Angle nearly taps but he grabs on Joe's ankle in desperation. Angle pulls Joe back to the middle of the ring and goes for the ankle lock. Joe counters back into the cross face. The crowd starts chanting 'Joe is going to kill you' as the referee checks for submission. Angle is able to get to the ropes. Good sequence as both are back to their feet. Angle goes for an MMA style take down but Joe counters back into the cross face. Out of nowhere Angle hits the Olympic Slam! Two count from Angle onto Joe. Angle goes for the ankle lock. Joe uses his weight to counter but only for a moment. Angle locks it in. It looks like Joe may tap as he reaches for the ropes but he's in no man's land. Joe counters with a rear naked choke hold. Angle grabs the referee by his shirt. Angle is able to utilize the referee to get to the ropes. After a count of three, the hold is broken. Angle went for the Olympic Slam but Joe countered and slammed his head off the steel. Joe kicks him in the face - MUSCLE BUSTER. THREE count folks!!!!
Winner And New TNA Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe
Joe's trainer Marcus Davis comes in the ring - Joe is emotional as Rudy Charles holds his hand up with the TNA Championship belt in his hand. We go to replays.
Richard Reacts - This was certainly a different match but it ended up being a very good one. I am still taking everything in but I started out concerned as there was a lot of worked MMA. Once the wrestling aspect of things kicked in with the near falls and submissions I was entertained. TNA did a patented overbooking of the finish but Joe and Angle sold it well. I'll have more on the match in my column tomorrow.
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