This Day In History - January 16th

January 16th
On this day in history in ....

1941 - Billy Weidner defeats Jules Larance to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio, beginning his second reign.

1963 - Dory Funk defeats Gene Kiniski for the Amarillo NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Lubbock, Texas, to begin his 12th reign.

1963 - Al and Don Greene defeat Jack Curtis, Jr. and Jan Madrid to win the Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama.

1964 - Karl and Skull Von Stroheim win their second Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This ended Jackie Fargo and Mario Milano's second reign.

1967 - Fritz Von Erich defeats Joe Blanchard to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Fort Worth, Texas. This began Von Erich's third reign and ended Blanchard's second.

1967 - Chris and John Tolos defeat Don Leo Jonathan and Dominic DeNucci for both the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title and Vancouver NWA World Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1968 - Paul DeMarco and Lorenzo Parente defeat Ron and Terry Garvin to win the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida, to begin their second reign.

1970 - Fred Blassie and Don Carson defeat Pepe Lopez and El Medico to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California. At the same event, Rocky Johnson defeats Great Kojika for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title.

1970 - Dick Dunn and Ken Lucas defeat Flash and Rocket Monroe for the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Dothan, Alabama, ending the Monroes' sixth reign.

1976 - Gilles Poisson defeats Frankie Laine to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta.

1977 - The WWWF holds an event at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results were:
- Johnny Rodz defeated Mark Tendler.
- Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Pete Sanchez.
- Doug Gilbert defeated Manuel Soto.
- Stan Stasiak defeated WWWF World Tag Team Champion Chief Jay Strongbow.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bruiser Brody in a lumberjack match.
- Tor Kamata defeated WWWF World Tag Team Champion Billy White Wolf.
- Nikolai Volkoff defeated Jose Gonzalez.
- The Executioners defeated Special Delivery Jones and Gorilla Monsoon in a two out of three falls.

1980 - Tony Benetto defeated El Halcón to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Acapulco, Mexico, ending Halcón's third reign.

1981 - Steve O defeats Kevin Sullivan for the NWA National Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1981 - Ernie Ladd wins his second Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Title, defeating Jake Roberts in Shreveport, Louisiana.

1982 - The WWF holds an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Charlie Fulton defeated Tony Altimore.
- Bulldog Brower defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna by countout.
- Davey O'Hannon defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Jesse Ventura defeated Jeff Craney.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Pedro Morales defeated Killer Khan.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine in a steel cage match.
- Tony Garea and Rick Martel defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito by disqualification. Tony Atlas was the guest referee for the match.
- Adrian Adonis defeated Dominic DeNucci.
- Larry Sharpe defeated Jose Estrada.
- Steve Travis defeated Hans Schroeder.

1982 - Jack and Jerry Brisco win their second Florida NWA North American Tag Team Title, defeating Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk in St. Petersburg, Florida. At the same event, Ray Stevens defeats Eric Embry for the NWA Florida Television Title.

1982 - Matt Borne and Rip Oliver defeat Rocky Johnson and Iceman King Parsons to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1983 - The Grapplers defeat Ken Lucas and Ricky Morton to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas, ending Lucas and Morton's third reign.

1985 - Rick Rude defeats Pez Whatley for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Whatley's second reign.

1985 - Ted DiBiase defeats Brad Armstrong in Shreveport, Louisiana to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title, beginning his fifth reign.

1985 - Alan Kilby defeats Steve Logan in Walsall, England for the vacant British Light Heavyweight Title.

1986 - Candi Devine defeats Sherri Martel to win the AWA World Women's Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning Devine's third reign and ending Martel's second.

1987 - Kevin Sullivan wins his third Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Lex Luger's third reign, in Daytona, Florida.

1988 - Kendo Nagasaki and Mr. Pogo defeat Invaders I and III for the WWC World Tag Team Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, beginning their second reign and ending the Invaders' third.

1988 - Rick Davis defeats Verne Siebert to win the Universal Wrestling Alliance World Junior Heavyweight Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia. The UWA was formerly NWA All-Star Wrestling, but changed its name when promoter Al Tomko pulled out of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1985.

1992 - Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton defeat Dustin Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat in a two out of three falls match for the WCW World Tag Team Title in Jacksonville, Florida.

1995 - The WWF holds an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Aldo Montoya defeated Steven Dunn.
- Duke Droese defeated Timothy Well.
- Henry Godwinn defeated Bob Holly.
- WWF Women's Champion Bull Nakano defeated Alundra Blayze.
- The Undertaker defeated Tatanka.
- Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart with the Sharpshooter in a No Holds Barred match.
- The Allied Powers (The British Bulldog and Lex Luger) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and King Kong Bundy by disqualification.
- WWF Champion Diesel defeated Jeff Jarrett.

1995 - Miss Texas (Jackie Moore) defeats Sweet Georgia Brown for the USWA Women's Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This ended Brown's second reign and began Miss Texas' ninth reign.

1997 - Spice Richards defeats Bobby Collins to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning his third reign.

1998 - Mr. Gannosuke, Jado and Yukihiro Kanemura defeat Hayabusa, Hisakatsu Oya and Masato Tanaka to win the FMW World Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Title in Yokkaichi, Japan.

1998 - Super Delfin wins the UWF Super Welterweight Title for the fourth time, defeating Mens Teioh in Sapporo, Japan.

1999 - Quinn Magnum and T. Rantula defeat The Wrong Crowd (Brian Anthony and Paul Atlas) for the Pro Wrestling eXpress Tag Team Title in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, ending the Wrong Crowd's third reign.

1999 - Flexx Wheeler defeats Patch to win the Pennsylvania Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was stripped of the title right after, as the promotion didn't allow a wrestler to hold more than one title at one time. Wheeler held the PWA Tag Team Title with The Original Mercury.

2000 - WCW holds the fourth-annual, and final, Souled Out pay-per-view at the Firstar Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The results were:
- Billy Kidman defeated Dean Malenko in a Catch-as-Catch Can match, when Malenko accidentally touched the floor. The rules stated that a competitor could not only lose by pin or submission, but also by touching the floor
- Vampiro defeated David Flair (with Daffney) and Crowbar in a Triple Threat match, by pinning Flair after a Nail in the Coffin.
- Big Vito and Johnny the Bull (with Disco Inferno) defeated The Harris Brothers (Ron and Don Harris), when Vito pinned Ron.
- Oklahoma pinned WCW Cruiserweight Champion Madusa with a roll-up to win the title.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Brian Knobbs defeated Fit Finlay, Meng and Norman Smiley in a Fatal Four-Way match, by pinning Smiley after hitting him with a police shield.
- Billy Kidman pinned Perry Saturn in a Bunkhouse match after a Bulldog.
- Booker T (with Midnight) defeated Stevie Ray by disqualification, after Big T made his debut and attacked Booker. Big T (Anthony Norris) was previously known as former WWF Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson.
- Tank Abbott defeated Jerry Flynn by knockout.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Last Man Standing match.
- The Wall (with Shane Douglas) pinned Billy Kidman in a Steel Cage match after a chokeslam.
- Kevin Nash pinned Terry Funk in a Hardcore match after a Jacknife Powerbomb onto a steel chair to become the new WCW Commissioner.
- Chris Benoit defeated Sid Vicious by submission with the Crippler Crossface to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Title. Arn Anderson was the guest referee for the match. Benoit was stripped of the title the next night on WCW Monday Nitro when it was shown that Sid's leg was under the rope when he tapped out to the Crossface. In reality, Benoit had left the company in frustration, and would debut in the WWF two weeks later.

2000 - Jose Rivera, Jr. wins his second WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, defeating Harley Lewis.

2000 - Three NWA New England titles change hands in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Jeff Mangles wins the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Title from Jason Rage, beginning his second reign. A male wrestler, Vince Viccolo, defeats Amanda Storm for the NWA New England Women's Title. Finally, Curtis Slamdawg defeats Knuckles Nelson to win the NWA New England Heavyweight Title, to begin his second reign.

2001 - FMW holds a pay-per-view event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Ricky Fuji and Flying Kid Ichihara defeated Tomokazu Morita and Yoshito Sasaki, when Ricky pinned Sasaki.
- Mammoth Sasaki defeated Chocoball Mukai by knockout.
- Hideki Hosaka and Hisakatsu Oya defeated Asuza Kudo and Shinjuku Shark, when Oya pinned Shark.
- Naohiro Yamazaki defeated Kyoko Inoue.
- Jado, Gedo and Masato Tanaka defeated Kintaro Kanemura, Mens Teioh and Ryuji Yamakawa, when Tanaka pinned Kanemura.
- Goemon and Onryo defeated Chris Candido and Pat Tanaka, when Goemon pinned Tanaka.
- Kodo Fuyuki defeated Tetsuhiro Kuroda. As a result, Fuyuki had to retire and Kuroda had to marry Kyoko Inoue.

2002 - Gutter & Hacker defeat champions Tyson Dux & Tornado and Ruffy Silverstein & Trent Steele in a three-way match in Toronto, Ontario, for the Border City Wrestling Can-Am Tag Team Title.

2004 - Jerry Lynn defeats Danny Daniels for the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Oolitic, Indiana.

2004 - Harry Smith defeats Karnage to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta.

2004 - John Walters defeats Billy Kryptonite for the Chaotic Wrestling Title in Methuen, Massachusetts, beginning his second reign.

2005 - At a WWE RAW house show in Winnipeg, Manitoba, La Résistance (Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier) defeat William Regal and Jonathan Coachman, who was subbing for Eugene, to win their third WWE World Tag Team Title. Coachman replaced Eugene, due to Eugene suffering a dislocated left patella one week earlier in the opening match of New Year's Revolution in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2005 - TNA holds its first-annual Final Resolution pay-per-view, at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida, featuring AJ Styles starting his 4th reign as X Division Champion and America's Most Wanted winning the NWA World Tag Team Title for the fifth time by defeated Team Canada, ending their second reign. A full report of the show is on Page 2!

2005 - Jamal and Taiyo Kea defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie in Osaka, Japan for the vacant AJPW Unified World Tag Team Title. The title was stripped from Kendo Kashin and Yuji Nagata on December 16, because they did not defend them within six months.

2006 - WWE holds a live RAW and tapes that week's WWE.com Heat at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The results:
- In a dark match, Ken Doane and Mike Mondo defeated Chris Cage and The Miz.
Heat:
- Trevor Murdoch pinned Antonio of the Heart Throbs after a top-rope bulldog in a Royal Rumble Qualifying match.
- Rob Conway pinned Michael Youngblood after the Ego Trip.
- Snitsky pinned Val Venis after a big boot.
- Viscera defeated Lance Cade, Gregory Helms and Tyson Tomko in an Royal Rumble Qualifying battle royal, last eliminating Helms.
RAW:
- Shawn Michaels pinned World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle in a non-title match with a roll-up.
- Chris Masters and John Cena fought to a no contest in the Masterlock Challenge, after Edge came in and hit Cena with the WWE Title belt.
- Candice Michelle, Victoria and Torrie Wilson defeated WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus, Mickie James and Ashley, when Victoria pinned Ashley after the Widow's Peak.
- Shelton Benjamin defeated WWE Tag Team Champion Big Show by countout when Triple H came through the crowd and fought backstage with Big Show.
- WWE Champion Edge defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match to retain the title. After the match, Edge speared Flair and hit him with a con-chair-to, before John Cena made the save.

2007 - WWE tapes the January 19 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! and airs ECW live from Alltel Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event featured the debut of Monty Brown on ECW, and the debuts of Deuce, Domino and Cherry on SmackDown!. The ratings for the two shows were 1.5 for ECW on SciFi, and 2.9 for SmackDown! on The CW. The results were:
In a dark match, Sensai (Shantelle Taylor) pinned Jamie Noble with a roll-up.
SmackDown!:
- Matt Hardy pinned Joey Mercury with a double-leg pickup into a roll-over. After the match, MNM gave Hardy the Snapshot on the exposed floor outside the ring.
- Montel Vontavious Porter, William Regal and Dave Taylor defeated Vito and WWE Tag Team Champions Brian Kendrick and Paul London, when MVP pinned Kendrick with a modified side slam.
- WWE United States Champion Chris Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero by submission with the Sharpshooter in a No Disqualification match.
- Deuce and Domino (with Cherry) defeated Patrick Bentley and Adam Roberts, when Domino made the pin after Deuce hit the move that would become known as Crack 'Em in the Mouth.
- Kane pinned The Miz after a chokeslam.
- Mr. Kennedy defeated The Undertaker by disqualification, after World Heavyweight Champion Batista gave Kennedy a spear out of the ring just as Undertaker was going for the chokeslam. Kennedy had hit Batista just before while Batista was doing commentary on the match. If Kennedy had lost the match, the title match at January 28's Royal Rumble between Batista and Kennedy would have been made a Triple Threat match with The Undertaker added.
ECW:
- CM Punk pinned Matt Striker with a backslide after Kelly Kelly got on the apron and flashed Striker.
- Marquis Cor Von defeated Cassidy Riley by submission with an armbar. This was Monty Brown's WWE debut.
- Elijah Burke pinned The Sandman with a handful of Sandman's pants.
- ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Rob Van Dam and Test in a three-way match, by pinning Van Dam after a powerslam. After the match, Test hit Lashley with the title belt outside the ring.
- In a dark match after ECW, World Heavyweight Champion Batista, Kane and The Undertaker defeated Booker T, Finlay and Mr. Kennedy, when Batista pinned Kennedy after the Batista Bomb.

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TNA FINAL RESOLUTION PPV; ABYSS RETURNS TO TNA
by Mike Johnson

Pre-Game Show:

Jeremy Borash and Shane Douglas welcomed everyone to the pre-game show. They shot it over to Scott Hudson, who ran down several of the matches including Raven vs. Erik Watts so Watts is there.

At ringside, Mike Tenay and Don West discussing the evening’s championship matches.

The Naturals vs. Johnny B. Badd and Sonny Siaki

Siaki and Badd started out quickly working over Chase Stevens. Andy Douglas tagged in but was hit by a Siaki leg lariat. He went for a pin but Stevens broke up the pinfall. The Naturals began working over Siaki, with Stevens dropping a low elbow. He began working over Siaki with punches, but Siaki fought back with chops. He was cut off and Douglas tagged in. Douglas missed a top rope elbow. Siaki made the tag to Badd, who cleaned house and came off the ropes with a kneelift to Stevens’ face. He placed Douglas atop the turnbuckles and hit the “Badd Move” a top rope hurrancanrana for a near fall. Douglas ducked a clothesline and hit a high knee off the ropes. Siaki jumped in and began working over Stevens with chops. Stevens tossed Siaki to the floor. He wrapped a chain around his fist as Douglas held Badd. Siaki knocked Badd out of the way, but was struck by Stevens as he came off the ropes with the chain. They covered Siaki for the pin.

Your winners, The Naturals!

Jeremy Borash and Shane Douglas continued to preview the lineup for tonight.

They aired a video feature on the NWA championship situation, as Jeff Jarrett will defend against one of three possible contenders in tonight’s main event.

Backstage, Scott Hudson interviewed Team Canada. Scott D’Amore said the best way to kick off 2005 was by Team Canada cementing its place as the top team in TNA history. He said that America’s Most Wanted would crumble under the pressure tonight. D’Amore and Petey Williams ran down a list of contenders that Williams has defeated in the past and declared Williams was the “most ultimate X-Division champion of all time.” D’Amore said that Williams would be victorious tonight and prove that there isn’t an American alive who matches up to a Canadian.

Chris Candido vs. Cassidy Reily

Candido smirked as he came to the ring. Reily shoulderblocked him down and nailed him with a right. He took Candido over with several hiptosses, then took him over with a side headlock takedown for a near fall. Candido came back with a back suplex and then hit a thumb to the eye. Candido hit a snap suplex, then went to the ropes and connected with a legdrop off the middle turnbuckle. He gets a two count before Reily is able to kick up. Candido held Reily up with a suplex for a long time, before dropping him down. Candido chops Reily off his feet. Reily came back with a handspring elbow off the ropes and a backdrop. Reily hit a backspring elbow in the corner and a faceplant, but Candido kicked up at two. Reily went to the top rope but Candido took his legs out from under him, crotching him atop the ropes. Candido went to the top for a suicideplex (superplex off the top with both men standing on the ropes). Candido hit a top rope headbutt and scored the pin.

Your winner, Chris Candido!

Jeremy Borash and Shane Douglas stood in the center of the ring, running down the lineup again and pointing out the cables set up for the Ultimate X match. Jeremy Borash psyched up the live crowd as they had a minute to go and did a hard sell to the PPV audience to order the show. The crowd chanted “TNA” as they went off the air, leading into the live PPV....

TNA Final Resolution PPV

Final Resolution opened with a great video feature looking at the drive of their athletes and the legacies they are looking to leave behind. The video looked at all three TNA championships and the challenges who are striving for them tonight. It presented the night as a trial of courage for TNA’s wrestlers.

Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed everyone to the PPV and ran down the lineup for tonight.

Backstage, Shane Douglas came into NWA champion Jeff Jarrett’s locker room. He asked Jarrett about the three challengers looking to face him tonight and asked him, “What if it’s Kevin Nash?” Jarrett ran down each challenger. He says that DDP’s Diamond Cutter isn’t going to cut it. He said that Monty Brown is just a AA ballplayer at best. He said that Kevin Nash thinks he’s seven feet tall but he’s 12 inches at best. Jarrett said that he earned the right to call himself the King of the Mountain. He said that Dusty Rhodes’ plan tonight will backfire and he will remain the NWA champion tonight. It was a good promo.

Christopher Daniels & Michael Shane & Kazarian vs. 3 Live Kru

Christopher Daniels started the match with Konnan. The crowd chanted, “Fallen Angel.” Konnan used some Mexican style matwork to keep Daniels on the mat. He hit a somersault into a clothesline on Daniels. Michael Shane tagged in but was taken down by BG Jammes. 3 Live Kru held his legs open for Killings to come off the top. Killings continued the assault on Shane, hitting a leaping forearm smash. Killings and Jammes worked over Kazarian, stomping him at the same time after doing a dance in synch with each other. Michael Shane tagged in but wasn’t in his own corner, so the referee wouldn’t allow it. Kazarian tagged Shane’s foot and the referee wouldn’t allow that either. Daniels blindtagged in and dropkicked Jammes’ knee. He went down as Kazarian dropkicked him in the face. Jammes and Daniels battled back and forth with punches. Killings hit an axekick on Shane, but Daniels broke it up. Daniels hit an enziguiri on Jammes, but Konnan hit him with a faceplant. Konnan and Kazarian both went for a clothesline and took out the other. The referee began counting everyone down on the mat. Everyone make it to their feet and battle in the corners. Michael Shane is left in the ring with 3 Live Kru, who all work over him. Killings was pulled out of the ring and clotheslined by Kazarian on the floor. Daniels went for a springboard Arabian Press off the ropes to the floor, but hit Kazarian when Killings moved. 3 Live Kru took out Shane with a kick and Killings scored the pin.

Your winners, 3 Live Kru.

They noted that Traci Brooks, Trinity, and Jonny Fairplay would be doing several challenges tonight to find out who would be staying with Dusty Rhodes as his assistant. Backstage, Dusty Rhodes was sitting in the back of a pickup truck with Jonny Fairplay, Trinity, and Traci Brooks. He said there was a clue hidden in Universal which was “clear as the hat on your head.” The idea was that two of them would make it back while one would be eliminated.

Sonjay Dutt vs. Primetime

The dueling chants by the fans started at the bell. Primetime pushed Dutt back into the corner with a collar and elbow tieup. Dutt came off the ropes with several takedowns on Primetime, then did several revolutions around Primetime before snapping him over with headscissors. Dutt charged Primetime on the floor, but got tossed over the guard rail into the crowd. Dutt flashed back and came off the railing with a clothesline. He tossed Primetime back in the ring and worked over his arm with an armbar. Primetime got to the ropes, forcing Dutt to release the hard. Dutt charged across the ring, holding Primetime’s arm leaping over the ropes and snapping it. He came off the top rope with a dropkick to the arm. He kept going for the arm with Primetime wincing away in pain. Dutt signaled for a high risk move and climbed the ropes. With Dutt’s back to the ring, Primetime hit a springboard dropkick onto Dutt, sending him flying out of the ring to the floor. Primetime rolled out of the ring and slammed Dutt, back-first, into the ring. He picked up Dutt and dropped him across the railing with an atomic drop. He chopped Dutt off the railing to the floor. Primetime was selling the arm from Dutt’s offense on it earlier. Primetime tossed him back into the ring for a two count. Primetime went for the POD, but Dutt evaded it. Dutt came off the ropes but Primetime kneed him as he came down. He hit a gutwretch suplex on Dutt. Primetime flipped into the ring and hit a clothesline after landing on his feet. Sonjay came back with a spinkick, and a elbow. Dutt hit a backdrop driver-like move for a two count, but Primetime kicked up. Dutt hit a tiltowhirl DDT for a near fall. Dutt went for the Hindu Press, but landed on his feet when Prinetime moved. Primetime hit a spinning slam on Dutt and scored the pin.

Your winner, Primetime!

They aired a promo about the pending debut of Titus, who wasn’t named. If you didn’t know better, you would certainly think that the Ultimate Warrior was coming in.

Backstage, Kevin Nash and Diamond Dallas Page were speaking. Nash said that at his age, he wants to work smart, not hard. Sounds like Dave Scherer! Nash tried to convince DDP to help him take out Brown and then they could have a match like two gentlemen for the title match. DDP said that he always stood on his own two feet, going back to their issues with the NWO. Nash offered him an ultimatum, saying that they could work together and he would give his word not to touch DDP and if he struck DDP, the deal would be off. He asked DDP to trust him. DDP said, “Trust Kevin Nash? What a concept.”

They aired a video feature on Kid Kash vs. Dustin Rhodes.

Kid Kash vs. Dustin Rhodes

Kid Kash’s TNA music really sounds like Rob Van Dam’s old ECW theme by Pantera. Rhodes is now sporting a goatee.

Kid Kash attacked Rhodes before the bell. Rhodes levels him with several punches. He knocks Kash out of the ring to the floor. Rhodes chases Kash around the ring, and when he follows Kash back in, gets cut off. Kash tried to monkeyflip Rhodes over, but gets a elbow to the mush instead. Rhodes went to the top, but Kash took his legs out from under him. Kash went for a superplex, but Rhodes shoved him off. Kash grabbed at his knee as if he was hurt. Rhodes didn’t buy it, but the referee forced him to back off. The referee signaled for help, but when he had his back to the ring, Kash lowblowed Rhodes. Kash dropkicked Rhodes in the knee. He began working over the leg and knee. Kash trashtalked Rhodes and slapped him. Rhodes fought to his feet and slapped Kash, who dropkicked him in the leg again. Kash snapped on a spinning toehold, getting several two counts. Rhodes broke it with several rights to the face. He locked Kash in a backslide for a two count. Kash stomped Rhodes. Kash went for the spinning toehold again, but got locked in a small package for a near fall. Kash wrapped Rhodes’ knee around the ropes, wrenching it. Kash tried to Irish Whip Rhodes across the ring, but Rhodes’ knee buckled. Kash came off the top with a frog splash on the knee. He locked on a figure four leglock for a submission win. Rhodes finally turned it over, but as he got to his feet, Kash went right back to the knee. Rhodes was able to lock on a sleeper, but Kash reversed it and locked on a sleeper of his own, scissoring his legs around Rhodes’ body. The referee dropped Rhodes’ arm twice but he came back to life at the third try. Rhodes fought back to his feet and clotheslined him twice. Rhodes hit an inverted atomic drop on Kash, but used his bad knee and went down in pain. Kash went off the ropes with a bodypress, but Rhodes rolled through for a near fall. Rhodes went for the inverted suplex, but Kash flipped over and hit an enziguiri. He got a two count and was irate it wasn’t three. Kash got in the referee’s face who didn’t back down. Rhodes used the distraction to nail a bulldog for the pin.

Your winner, Dustin Rhodes!

Somewhere in an office, Jeff Spicoli, I mean Jonny Fairplay found Dusty Rhodes’ cowboy hat. It said “Clue” on the inside. Fairplay celebrated and said to the camera that he would be staying in TNA. He headed off to return to Dusty Rhodes. Fairplay seems to be channeling Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

They aired a video feature on the Three-Way Elimination bout for the NWA title match tonight.

They aired a video feature on Erik Watts vs. Raven.

Raven vs. Erik Watts

Erik Watts made his way to the ring carrying a steel chair. Raven attacked him as he entered the ring and began putting the boots to him. Watts tried to evade a clothesline but was hit with a droptoehold and went sailing outside the ring. Raven hit a side Russian Legsweep into the railing twice. Raven said he had Watts wrapped around his finger. He peppered Watts with right hands. Raven hit several boot scrapes across the face of Watts. Raven began measuring him with punches, scoring a two count. He tossed Watts out of the ring to the floor. He slams Watts’ head into the ring apron. He fishhooked Watts’ mouth. Watts hit an elbow and came off with a backwards mule dropkick off the top rope. Raven tried to walk out but Watts chased him up the aisle. Watts caught him and pulled him back to the ring. He hit a side Russian Legsweep of his own on the railing. He dropped Raven across the guardrail crotch first, then slapped him to the floor. Watts went for a chokeslam and hit it. He went outside the ring for the chair, but the referee took it away. With Watts distracted, Raven hit a low blow. He went for a drop toehold into a chair, but Watts evaded and slammed Raven’s head into it. Watts dove off the chair with a clothesline on Raven. Watts hit a thrust kick on Raven, then mounted him with a series of right handed strikes. He beat down Raven with punches in the corner but Raven came back with his own lefts. Watts picked him up for a slam but instead threw him into the ropes. He went for the pin, but Raven kicked up. Raven superkicked Watts for a two count. Raven clotheslined Watts and demanded he get to his feet. Watts evades a DDT attempt and locked on a STF. Raven broke it and went to an anklelock. Watts used his height for leverage and choked Raven against the ropes with his legs. He went for a chokeslam but Raven evaded. Watts hit another and scored the pin.

Your winner, Erik Watts!

After the match, Raven apologized and said that he let his hatred for DDP blind him. He said he didn't respect Watts. He said that he was jealous of Watts because he never had any friends or family and said even though Watts won't believe him, he asked for forgiveness. He then attacked Watts with a trash can. Security separated Raven from Watts.

They plugged the 2/13 Against All Odds PPV as Erik Watts was helped to the back.

Scott Hall vs. Jeff Hardy with Roddy Piper as the special referee

Roddy Piper made his way to the ring for his role as special referee tonight. Scott Hall came out with his Elvis outfit, right down to the wig.

Scott Hall demanded Piper check Hardy at the bell and he did. Piper then did the same to Hall and found foreign objects hidden in Hall’s kneepad, jumpsuit, and jacket. Piper rang the bell, but Hall began frisking Piper, finding handcuffs. Hall caught Hardy’s leg when he went for a kick, but Hardy spun and hit him with the other leg. Mike Tenay noted that Hardy’s first WWE match ever was against Hall, which is correct. The crowd chanted, “Hardy.” Hall caught him with a Fall Away Slam for a two count. Hall argued with Piper’s slow count. Hardy rolled up Hall twice for near falls. Hall retreated to the floor for a breather. Hall tried to get back in the ring but Hardy dropkicked him to the floor as he tried to get into the ring. Hardy hit a plancha to the floor and slammed him into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Hardy did his doubleleg drop low on Hall. Hall came back with an elbow to the back of the head. He hit a clothesline in the corner, then a second. Hardy tried to fight back with punches, but Hall decked him. Hall grapevined Hardy’s legs into a deathlock, then pulled Hardy’s hair. Piper made him break the move and Hall did, but not before stomping Hardy’s back. Hall shoved Hardy into the ropes, but Hardy collided with Piper, who went down. Hall went to the turnbuckle, where he had brass knuckles hidden. He went to hit Hardy, but Piper saw the knucks and gave him a thumb to the eye. Hall stumbled into the Twist of Fate and Hardy hit the swanton for the clean pin.

Your winner, Jeff Hardy!

Hardy took the mic and said he was going to start “kicking some a** in this place” and declared he was going to start with Jeff Jarrett. Piper told him he has a shot at the title and to get out of the ring while he can. He raised Jeff Hardy’s hand, declaring him the next World Heavyweiught champion.

Abyss hit the ring and attacked Hardy, nailing him with the Shock Treatment. Mike Tenay and Don West played it off like they were shocked Abyss was there. Looks like TNA made a play to keep Abyss, which explains why they removed the announcement he was no longer with the company earlier in the week. Kudos to them for keeping the surprise hidden.

Backstage, Traci Brooks tried to flirt with a TNA staffer who might know where Dusty’s clue was. Trinity tricked her into leaving, saying Dusty needed her but the staffer didn’t fall to Trinity’s flirtations either.

Monty Brown vs. Kevin Nash vs. Diamond Dallas Page for the NWA championship shot

DDP jumped into the crowd before the match, which went nuts for it. You can be eliminated by pin, submission, DQ, countout, or being tossed to the floor.

Nash sat back and told DDP and Brown to go ahead and wrestle. Brown powered Page into the corner. Page went for the diamond cutter but Brown shoved him away. Nash and Brown locked up, with Brown overpowering Nash into the corner. Page sat back and watched, per his agreement with Nash. Nash mocked Brown’s walk and physique in the ring. Nash tried to nail him with a right but Brown blocked it and took Nash down with a series of his own. Nash was knocked down but tripped Brown into the ropes. Nash worked over Brown in the corner, and tossed him into the ropes. As Brown rebounded, Nash hit him with a sideslam for a two count. Nash locked a sideheadlock on Brown, who dropped him back into a suplex. Nash rolled out of the ring. Page hit a lariat on Brown abd dropped an elbow for a two count. Brown hit a DDT on Page for a two count, but Nash dropped an elbow to break the pin, saving Page. Nash and Page began working over Brown in the corner. They took turns peppering Brown with punches. Page backdropped Nash over the ropes, eliminating him. Brown scooped up Page for a powerslam but Page hit the diamond cutter. At the two count, Nash pulled him out of the ring. Page began hitting rollups and lariats for near falls, but Brown kept kicking up. The crowd kept yelling for the Pounce. Brown battled back and scored a two count. Brown scored a two count with a powerslam. Page came off the ropes and tried to grab a diamond cutter but Brown ducked it and came off the ropes with the Pounce for the pin.

Your winner, Monty Brown!

Monty Brown will challenge Jeff Jarrett tonight for the NWA championship.

They aired a video feature on America’s Most Wanted vs. Team Canada.

NWA Tag Team champions Team Canada vs. America’s Most Wanted

AMW attacked Eric Young and Bobby Rude in the aisle as they huddled with Scott D’Amore. Chris Harris slammed Bobby Rude into the announcer’s table. Eric Young and James Storm brawled up the other aisle. Storm hit a tiltowhirl headscissors on Young on the ramp. Rude was thrown into the guard rail. Rude tried to slam Harris’ head into the railing but he blocked and slammed Rude into it. Storm threw Young into the railing. Young was tossed into the ring where he was trashed and tossed back out. Young had a nasty knot raising in his forehead. Mike Tenay called it an egg. Storm clotheslined him in the aisle from behind. Rude attacked AMW but they both hiptossed him and caught him midtwist, then tossed him into Young like a battering ram. Rude ended up outside the ring. AMW grabbed Young and tossed him over the ropes, crashing onto Rude. Back in the ring, Rude tossed Harris into the turnbuckles. Storm backdropped Rude. Harris tagged in and hit a hurrancanrana. Storm rebounded off the ropes, where Young nailed him with a knee to the back. Rude caught Storm with a neckbreaker. Team Canada began stomping Storm. Team Canada worked over Storm. Young came off the top with an elbow, but Storm kicked up. He tagged out to Rude who dropped a big knee across the face of Storm. Storm went for an enziguiri, but Rude ducked. Storm throttled his other foot into Rude’s face. Storm finally made the hot tag, who clotheslined Young then hit a bulldog off the ropes. He shoved Rude into Young and then hit a uranage. He came off the ropes with a flying lariat. He picked up Young and held him up for a extended period of time before dropping him down for a suplex. Storm hit a powerslam on Young for a two count. They called for ther Death Sentence but Eric Young stoped Harris. He went to superplex Harris off the ropes but Storm got under him and powerbombed him off at the ropes at the same time. Harris flew into Rude and took him out. Harris tried to pin Young, but Scott D’Amore pulled him out of the ring. America’s Most Wanted grabbed D’Amore and handcuffed him to one of the metal supports for the Ultimate X. D’Amore threw a tantrum and tried to bite through the handcuffs. AMW took out Young and called for the Death Sentence again. Johnny Devine came down to interfere but Chris Harris saw him and chased him around the ring. Bobby Rude was waiting and hit a superkick on the floor. As the referee tried to admonish Rude, Devine broke a hockey stick over Storm’s back. Young made the cover but Storm kicked up. Devine got knocked out of the equation. AMW nearly got a three count with a powerbomb. The crowd chanted, “bullsh*t” at the two count. Young was clotheslined out of the ring. Harris hit the catatonic on Young. Johnny Devine slid a chair into the ring and Rude slammed him into the chair. The referee counted two but Harris got his foot on the ropes. Johnny Devine tried to interfere and hit Harris, but hit Young by accident. Harris rolled up Young and scored the pin.

Your winners and new NWA Tag Team champions, America’s Most Wanted!

Backstage, Jonny Fairplay was skipping along wearing the cowboy hat. He came across Traci and Trinity and told them he found the clue and they were just bimbos. They kicked the crap out of him and stole the clue out of the hat. It tore in half and they both raced back to Rhodes, who was waiting in the pickup truck. He told them that since they each had half, they were both survivors. He gave them an assignment, which was to scour the country and find him a new tag team for TNA. The woman who brought him the best tag team would then be his new secretary. They raced off and we were left with a shot of Fairplay crawling on his belly towards Rhodes.

They aired a video feature on the Ultimate X Match.

TNA X-Division champion Petey Williams vs. AJ Styles vs. Chris Sabin

AJ took the offense to both of his opponents at the start. Williams was chased around the ring by Sabin, leading to him being caught between AJ and Sabin’s forearm shots. Styles hit a running dropkick to Williams, who landed outside the ring. Scott D’Amore, still handcuffed, implored him to get up. Sabin and Styles went back and forth with strikes and wrestling maneuvers. Styles tried to springboard off the ropes to grab the X-Division title but couldn’t get it. Williams pulled Sabin out of the ring to the floor, where they brawled. Styles hit a running flip dive over the ropes to the floor. The crowd chanted, “Holy sh**!” I wonder if Universal will throw all of them out. They started chanted, “That was awesome.” Styles scaled one of the corners towards the cables but Sabin caught up to him. Sabin hit Styles, taking him down. Sabin scaled the cables, but D’Amore (now free) got into the ring and grabbed his legs. Williams pulled Sabin down with Sabin landing on his knee. The referee threw D’Amore out of ringside as Williams protesting. Williams slammed Styles into one of the steel corners. He hit several suplexes on Sabin. He began scaling towards the cable, but instead stomped on Styles outside the ring. Sabin began chopping away at Williams, who countered with an elbow to the knees. Sabin locked on a Texas Cloverleaf. Styles climbed the cables but was pulled off by Williams. Williams ducked a kick and hit a back suplex. He went for a pin, which Mike Tenay covered by saying he was lost in the heat of battle since you don’t have pinfalls here. Styles was tied upside down in the corner with Williams standing on his netherregions. Williams stomped on Sabin, trying to force him from the ring, finally succeeding. Williams came off the ropes but Styles nailed him with a kick to the face. Sabin tried to make the cables, but Styles pulled him off. Sabin returned the favor. Styles pulled Sabin onto his shoulders. As Sabin tried to battle his way off, Williams made his way across the cables, let go and landed on Sabin, hitting a hurrancanrana on him while he was on Styles’ shoulders. Williams and Styles both scaled opposite sides of the cables, with each man racing across the cables. Styles and Williams battled while hanging there. Williams scissored his legs and hung upside down, trying to grab the belt. Sabin pulled Styles off the cables. Styles took down Sabin, then hit a springboard into a forearm smash on Williams, who was upside down. Williams crashed to the mat. The crowd went nuts and chanted “TNA.” Styles made his way to the ropes, but Sabin jumped on his shoulders and hit a frankensteiner into the ring. The crowd chanted, “This is Awesome.” Sabin went for an inverted DDT on Williams, but Styles hit a springboard flip over Sabin and caught one of his own on Sabin at the same second. Styles jumped onto the cables and made his way across, but Sabin dropkicked him off a springboard. Styles fell to the ring flipping down as he did in an awesome bump. Sabin hit a dive to the floor on Williams. Styles tried to recover in the ring as the fans chanted for him. Williams and Styles tried to ascend to the cables, battling on the posts. Williams grabbed Styles’ arm and pulled it through the grid, then snapped it. Styles was hung by his arm, then crumpled to the floor. In the ring, Sabin grabbed Williams and hit Cradleshock. Sabin made his way across the cables. He pulled Sabin off and tried to set him for the Styles Clash but Sabin locked an armbar on Styles’ hurt arm. Styles pulled him up with one arm and hit a “one armed” Styles Clash. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.” This match certainly is! Styles made his way across the ropes, but just as he got to the belt, his arm failed him and he fell into the ring. Williams hit the Canadian Destroyer on Styles. Williams stalked Sabin to hiot the Destroyer, but Sabin avoided it and hit a running powerbomb into the turnbuckles on Williams. Mike Tenay called it, “The Whiplash Effect.” If that’s not the name for the move, it should be! With Styles still down, Sabin and Williams recovered and tried to cross the cables. Each of them made the belt and while hanging upside down, were fighting over the belt, which they both released and grabbed. Styles springboarded off the ropes and grabbed the belt out of their hands. He crashed to the floor, and retrieved the belt in the ring. The crowd gave everyone a much deserved standing ovation.

Your winner, AJ Styles!

Ladies and Gentlemen, order the replay just on the strength of this thing, it was amazing!

TNA should have called an audible and aired the post-match reactions from the live crowd, as this was something special.

Backstage, NWA champion Jeff Jarrett passed Kevin Nash in the locker room hallway. Jarrett mocked Nash. Nash tried to get at him, but was held back by security. He warned Jarrett he was coming for the belt.

NWA champion Jeff Jarrett vs. Monty Brown

Jeremy Borash tried to do the ring announcements as Jarrett and Brown shoved each other in the ring. The referees and security held them apart. The crowd chanted “Monty” at the onset of the bout. Brown and Jarrett circled the ring with a collar and elbow tieup. Jarrett did his strut after they were separated. Jarrett tried to wear him down with a side headlock, but Brown shoved him into the ropes. Jarrett ducked a clotheline and dropkicked Brown. Jarrett lounged on the ropes, mocking Brown. Jarrett tried to shoulderblock Brown but it was to no avail. Brown hit an elevated press slam on Jarrett. Jarrett kneed Brown in the midsection twice and tried to chop him, but Brown caught him and hiptossed him out of the corner. Jarrett ducked a clothesline but Brown caught his attempted high cross bodyblock and slammed him down for a two count. Brown scored another two count after a headbutt to the midsection. Brown misses a clothesline and lands on the floor. Jarrett hits a plancha but was caught by Brown. Brown nearly drops him but holds him and powers him over for a backbreaker. Jarrett slammed Brown into the steel corner, then tossed him into the crowd. Jarrett nailed Brown with a chair in the crowd. He hit Brown with it a second time, then tossed him over the railing, back into the ringside area. Jarrett measured Brown with a chair and nailed him in the ribs with it. Jarrett charged with Brown and slammed him into the announcer’s table. Jarrett slammed Don West’s chair into Brown. Mike Tenay and Don West scampered for safety. Jarrett began slamming Brown’s head into the railing, and then shoved him towards the ring. Jarrett tried to use the NWA belt but the referee took it away. Back in the ring, Jarrett applied a sleeper on Brown. Brown battled back to his feet and reversed it on Jarrett. Jarrett went for a figure four, but Brown small packaged him for a two count. Brown charged him in the corner, but Jarrett moved. Jarrett and Brown clotheslined each other and went down. The referee began counting them out. Jarrett ducks two clotheslines, but Brown catches him and powerslams him for a two count. Brown reversed an Irish Whip on Jarrett, who crashed into referee Rudy Charles. Charles clutched at his knee. Jarrett got the guitar and nailed Brown with it. Brown staggered and finally collapsed. Brown kicked up at two. Jarrett grabbed the steel chair. Brown picked him up for the Electric Chair, but Jarrett slammed the chair into his face. Brown staggered and fell backwards with Jarrett on his shoulders. Jarrett made the cover and Brown got his shoulder up. Jarrett grabbed the NWA belt and struck Brown with it. Brown kicked up at two, shooting Jarrett into the air. Brown got a second wind, almost like Hulk Hogan hulking up in his prime. He went for the pounce, but Jarrett ducked and the referee took it. Jarrett grabbed another guitar and came off the ropes with it, but Brown grabbed him by the throat and chokeslammed him. Brown hit him over the head with the guitar, but there was no referee. Brown made the cover and the crowd counted to five. A second referee hit the ring but Jarrett got his arm up at the two count. Brown came off the ropes but Jarrett nailed him with the remnants of the guitar. Jarrett hit him with the stroke three times and scored the pin.

Your winner and still NWA champion Jeff Jarrett!


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