TNA Global iMPACT! Recap - 1/17
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1/17 Global Impact Recap (Kurt Angle vs. Yuji Nagata)
Global Impact opens with shots of Tokyo, Japan, where TNA was welcomed into the
Tokyo Dome in front of a crowd of “nearly 30,000 fans.” They show the TNA stars
arriving at the airport and they give their thoughts on what it is like to wrestle
overseas and what this show means to TNA.
Kurt Angle talks about his match against Yuji Nagata, while Tomko talks of his
experiences in Japan and how the style of wrestling in the U.S. is different from
that in Japan. Christian Cage, Scott Steiner and Kurt Angle then give their
thoughts on what it means to them and for TNA as a company to be in front of the
crowd in Japan.
A video package is aired showing Tomko’s training routine in Tokyo followed by Kurt
Angle’s day of talking to reporters and having photos taken. Highlights are then
shown of a press conference that involved all of the TNA stars that made the trip.
During the press conference, Kurt Angle brings up the fact that people claim he is
not the legit IWGP champion, and says that he beat Brock Lesnar and is the true
champion and will hold on to it after he beats Nagata.
Up next, we see TNA talent preparing and arriving at the Tokyo Dome on January 4th,
the day of the show. Petey Williams, who opened the show with AJ Styles & Christian
Cage talked about this being the biggest crowd he has ever got to wrestle in front
of. Highlights of their six-man tag team match is shown in which they won after
Styles landed his Styles Clash for the pin fall. At a post-match conference,
Christian said that it was TNA 1, New Japan 0 and added that he enjoyed wrestling in
front of respectable and knowledgeable fans.
Abyss was compared to Godzilla as highlights of his match against Nakanishi were
aired. Like most of his American matches, Abyss also landed headfirst into a pile
of tacks at the Tokyo Dome. Abyss came on the losing end of his match but vowed to
meet him again in the ring.
Brother Devon talked about all being able to wrestle in Japan for nearly 10 years
now and is amazed that he is still able to go out there and perform in front of all
of the fans. Clips of their match against Togi Makabe & Toru Yano are aired and you
can see that the trash cans, ladders, and, of course, tables, were brought into
play. After the match, Brother Ray says that Team 3D has never lost a match in
Japan and that their opponents were in over the heads against them.
Tomko, who is the reigning IWGP tag team champion along with Giant Bernard (Prince
Albert) defended their titles against the Steiner Brothers. The Steiner’s were able
to land their patented bulldog off the top rope, but the tag team champs were able
to prevail and hold on to their titles. An excited Tomko stated that they were able
to beat one of the greatest tag teams in history.
A package highlighting the match between Angle and Nagata is aired. In a pre-match
interview, Nagata says that he doesn’t feel Angle is the true champion as he hasn’t
defended the title often in Japan since winning it from Brock Lesnar.
Mike Tenay & Don West call the match between Kurt Angle and Yuji Nagata. Tenay
offers up some of the American talent that Nagata has taken on such as Sting, Hogan,
Savage and the Road Warriors.
Yuji Nagata vs. Kurt Angle (IWGP Championship)
The match will be contested in a standard four-sided ring and Angle attacks Nagata
before the bell rings to start the match. The early advantage doesn’t help Angle
much as these two a very well evenly matched in the opening moments. Nagata tries
for a crossface submission to put away Angle in the early going, but Angle makes it
to the ropes to break the hold.
Nagata continues to work over Angle until Angle comes back and takes Nagata out at
the legs. Angle works over the left leg of Nagata for a bit and locks in the figure
four. Nagata comes close to reversing the hold, but Angle is able to keep it locked
in until Nagata manages to reach the ropes. Angle continues to work on the leg
until Nagata is able to counter and apply an armbar on Angle.
We head to a commercial break and come back to see Angle delivering a German suplex
on Nagata. Angle tries for an Olympic Slam, but Nagata is able to counter into an
overhead suplex and picks up a near fall as Tenay & West treat us by dropping their
commentary for a bit so we can hear the commentators from New Japan. After a five
seconds, Tenay is back on commentary.
Back to the action, Nagata slaps on another crossface after delivering a series of
suplexes to Angle. It appears that Angle is close to tapping out but is able to
counter the hold into an ankle lock of his own. It doesn’t last long as it is again
reversed into a crossface from Nagata. Angle is then able to counter the crossface
into an Olympic Slam, but only manages to pick up a two count on the pin attempt.
Frustrated, Angle heads to the top rope and tries and misses with a moonsault.
Nagata uses the mistake to his advantage as he delivers a belly-to-belly suplex off
of the top rope that sends Angle crashing down onto the mat. Nagata picks up a very
close pin fall before going back to the crossface. Angle is able to escape and the
two begin to trade blows with one another. Nagata gets Angle down to his knees and
charges with a kick but Angle is able to grab his leg and lock in the ankle lock.
It proves to be too much for Nagata and taps out.
After the match, Kurt Angle shakes the hand of Yuji Nagata and holds up his arm. At
a post-match conference, Angle gave Nagata credit for being a lot tougher than he
expected and said that he works for the greatest wrestling organization.
One last video package that recap TNA’s time in Japan was aired and brings this
edition of Global Impact to a close.
Gerweck
