This Day In History - August 12th
August 12th
On this day in history in ...
1972 - The "Superbowl of Wrestling" was held in Cleveland, Ohio at Municipal Stadium. Three rings were set up, side by side, and often more than one match would be going on at a time. Attendance figures have been estimated as high as 20,000 and as low as 5,000. No reliable sources seem to agree on a number. Here are partial results of the show:
- Tony Marino & Tony Parisi defeated Motoji Okuma & Mashio Koma to win the tag team tournament.
- Sue Green & Lily Thomas defeated Tippy Wells & Peggy Patterson to win the women's tag team tournament.
- Sky Low Low & Little Brutus defeated Haiti Kid & Frenchy Lamont to win the midget tag team tournament.
- NWF World Tag Team Champions The Fargo Brothers defeated Wahoo McDaniel & Chief White Owl.
- World Women's Tag Team Champions Toni Rose & Donna Christanello defeated Sandy Parker & Debbie Johnson.
- World Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah defeated Vickie Williams.
- United States Champion Bobo Brazil defeated Killer Tim Brooks.
- Ernie Ladd vs. Abdullah the Butcher ended in a double disqualification.
- NWF North American Champion Johnny Powers defeated Johnny Valentine.
1991 - Jerry Lawler defeats Awesome Kong in Memphis, Tennessee to win the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title for the ninth time.
1992 - Johnny Hot Body defeats Larry Winters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to become the first ECW Television Champion.
1992 - Masahiro Chono defeats Rick Rude in the finals of New Japan's G1 Climax tournament at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. As a result of this win, Chono also won the NWA World Heavyweight Title, which had been vacant since Ric Flair left WCW for the WWF in the summer of 1991.
1997 - Chris Jericho defeated Alex Wright for the WCW Cruiserweight Title in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This began Jericho's second reign with the belt.
2007 - TNA holds their "Hard Justice" PPV, featuring the start of Adam "Pacman" Jones' tenure with the company. The original report is below:
Welcome to our coverage of TNA Hard Justice. We will be updating this page throughout the night with reports on the show, so check back often for updates.
The PPV pre-show was the "Road To Hard Justice" special from SpikeTV focusing on Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe, with commercials pushing the Doomsday Chamber of Blood match and the appearance of Pacman Jones. I have to say, it seems strange to me how the special focuses on the athletic merits of Joe vs. Angle, with both men talking very seriously about the championship at stake. Meanwhile, on Impact, Angle is a blubbering basket case with Karen Angle being the focus of the storyline, something that wasn't even mentioned during this special until the final lineup rundown.
The PPV event opened with a video package focusing on the Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe match, primarily Karen Angle leaving Kurt Angle and saying their marriage is over. Don West and Mike Tenay welcomed us to the show, then we saw footage of Pacman Jones and his "entourage" (looked like two teenagers) arriving in a black Hummer earlier today. The live crowd booed, although when they went back to the crowd they showed a pro-Pacman sign. Tenay and West then ran down the card for tonight. This was followed by a video package on Pacman Jones and the media attention surrounding his appearance in TNA.
The Motor City Machineguns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Sonjay Dutt & Jay Lethal vs. Triple X (Christopher Daniels & Senshi, with Elix Skipper at ringside).
Everyone started going at it before the bell, including Skipper. Dutt and Lethal cleared the ring out, then Dutt squared off with Shelley. Shelley blocked a Shining Wizard, but Dutt knocked him out of the ring. Sabin came in, but Dutt took him down with a headscissors. Triple X xame in and worked over Dutt. Referee Earl Hebner managed to get Skipper out of the action. It finally settled into a tag team match. They kept cutting away to show "Police" (guys in T-Shirts that said POLICE on them) there for Pacman Jones' security, and to show empty chairs at ringside that were "reserved" for Karen Angle and a guest. Fast-paced action in the match, but no one really took control. Sabin shoved Lethal to the floor at one point, and Senshi slammed him on the floor. Daniels threw him back in, and Sabin & Shelley continued to work over Lethal, hitting a double suplex and a pair of legdrops for a two count.
Shelly stood on Lethal's hair and pulled up on his arms. Lethal fought back against Shelley, but Shelley decked him with a back elbow. Senshi tagged himself in off of Shelley's back, then hit Lethal with a dropkick for a two count. Daniels tagged in and threw Senshi into a legdrop on Lethal. Lethal fought back, but Daniels took him away from his corner and tagged in Senshi, who hit a powerdrive elbow. Senshi wrenched Lethal's neck, then decked him with a back elbow. Senshi threw Lethal in her corner, and Daniels stood on Lethal as he was slumped over the middle turnbuckle. Daniels put Lethal in a chinlock, and Lethal fought back. Lethal hit a leg lariat off the middle rope and made the hot tag to Dutt. Dutt gave Daniels a rana and shoved Senshi off the apron. Sabin and Shelley came in, but Dutt took them down with a springboard moonsault. Dutt then did a rope walk and gave Daniels a rana for a two count. Dutt went for a rollup, and went into a camel clutch, but Shelley broke it up with a superkick. Dutt and Shelley went at it, with Dutt hitting a Shining Wizard. The match started breaking down, with everyone running in and knocking each other down, culminating with Lethal, Daniels and Sabin all decking each other with clotheslines. There was a TNA chant.
Dutt and Shelley went at it on the floor, and Lethal dove onto them. Daniels then moonsaulted onto Lethal on the floor. Senshi gave Lethal a pescado, while Sabin gave one to Daniels. Dutt then did a top rope moonsault onto everyone on the floor. As they got up, Daniels rammed Dutt into the guard rail and threw Sabin into the ring. Sabin hit a big running kick, then put Daniels in the Tree of Woe. While Hebner tried to untie Daniels from the Tree, Skipper ran in, crotched Sabin on the top rope, then hit the ropewalk rana. Daniels covered for a two count. Shelley hit Daniels with a kick, then Senshi hit Shelley with an elbow. Lethal then took down Senshi, Sabin took down Lethal, then Dutt took down Sabin. Dutt and Lethal managed to get Daniels isolated, but then Sabin & Shelley broke things up as they went for a cover. Sabin and Shelley worked over Lethal, but Dutt broke up that cover. Sabin and Shelley piled up Lethal and Dutt for a double team face plant, but Senshi broke it up. Senshi slammed Shelley and went to the top rope, but Dutt stopped Senshi. While Dutt fought Senshi, Daniels gave Shelley an STO. Daniels put Dutt in a torture rack, then Senshi came off the top rope, onto Dutt's stomach, then into the double stomp on Shelley on the mat. The crowd went nuts for it. Lethal broke up the cover. Triple X cleaned house, and Senshi went to the top rope, but Lethal shoved Daniels into the corner, knocking Senshi to the floor, and Lethal rolled up Daniels for the pin at the fifteen minute mark.
Winners: Sonjay Dutt & Jay Lethal.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash went into Samoa Joe's dressing room, to find Karen Angle drinking champagne with some bald-headed guy. Karen said she was looking forward to being the "former Mrs. Kurt Angle". She gave Jeremy her glass and told him to leave and shut the door, implying she was going to get busy with the guy. Borash left, chugged the champagne, then went off to tell Kurt Angle.
Raven vs. Kaz
Raven was accompanied by Havoc and Martyr. Raven got on the mic and told Kaz he was willing to forgive everything and let him back in Serotonin.Kaz hugged Raven, then caned him with his kendo stick. Raven backdropped Kaz out of the ring, but Kaz landed on Havoc. Martyr tried a dive, but Kaz moved out of the way. The story was that Kaz was staying one step ahead of Raven, until Raven nailed him with two legsweeps into the guard rail. Back in the ring, Raven hit some legkicks and a victory roll for a two count. Raven grabbed a kendo stick and choked Kaz with it. Kaz fought back with punches, but Raven gave him a kneelift that sent him over the top rope and to the floor. Martyr and Havoc worked over Kaz at ringside. They rolled him back into the ring and Raven got a two count. Raven hit a lariat and a boot to the face. Raven hit some crossface shots, then slapped Kaz a few times. Kaz fought back with right hands, then hit a leg lariat. Havoc and Martyr ran in, but Havoc ended up superkicking Martyr when Kaz moved. Raven shoved them for messing up, and Kaz clothesline then from the ring. Kaz then gave Havoc, who was on the apron, a rana from the top rope to the floor. Raven nailed Kaz with a kendo stick and rolled him into the ring. Raven went for a DDT, but Kaz blocked it. Kaz knocked Martyr off the apron, ducked a Raven clothesline and hit a jumping kick for the win at the six minute mark.
Winner: Kaz.
Jeremy Borash told Kurt Angle that Karen brought a date with her to the show. Angle said Borash was lying, then asked Borash if the date was younger than him. Angle told Borash to point him in the direction of Joe's locker room, and took off.
A video package on the James Storm-Rhino feud was shown.
James Storm, with Jackie Moore, vs. Rhino - Barroom Brawl
This is basically an Anything Goes match, but a bar is set up at ringside with stools, bottles and a mannequin. There was also a card table set up in the ring with chairs. The announcers said they hadn't seen Rhino all day. Rhino ran out and threw a chair from the ring at Storm in the aisle, but the chair actually went into the crowd. They started brawling and immediately went into the crowd. Storm hit Rhino with a trash can, but Rhino fought back and dragged Storm up into the stands. Rhino dominated most of the fighting in the crowd, but Storm reversed a whip and Rhino made the obligatory "hole in the wall under the stands" that we see pretty much every PPV. They made it back to ringside after four minutes of brawling in the crowd. Rhino hit Storm with the bar stools. Rhino opened a beer and chugged it down, which is shocking since this whole storyline was based on Rhino being a former alcoholic. Rhino sprayed beer on Jackie Moore and pounded Storm some more. Rhino took a mini-keg and sprayed Jackie with it, then drank some more. There was a toilet set up at ringside (seriously) and Rhino tried to put Storm's head in it, but Storm stopped him and fought back, hitting some shots with a crutch. Storm suplexed Rhino on the rampway.
Storm then charged Rhino, and Rhino backdropped Storm onto the bar, which collapsed. Rhino picked up a bottle of vodka and chugged some, then chased it with some beer. The announcers put over how sad it was that Rhino had fallen off the wagon. Rhino rammed Storm's head into the toilet. Rhino then sat on the toilet. Then he decided to go get a ladder instead. Storm reversed a whip, but Rhino backdropped him to the apron, and then shoved him to the floor. Rhino bridged a ladder between the ring and the guardrail, but never got to use it, as Storm got back in the ring. Rhino took out a table and a trash can, then hit Storm with the lid. Jackie ran in and attacked Rhino, but Rhino lifted her for a press slam. Storm stopped him from slamming her and hit him with a trash can lid. Storm threw Rhino over the top rope, and he crashed through the ladder that has been set up at ringside earlier. Storm rolled Rhino into the ring and hit a series of right hands. Rhino hit Storm with a belly to belly suplex, then set up a table in a corner. Rhino gave Storm a spinebuster, then set up for a Gore through the table. Storm moved and Rhino went through the table alone. Storm covered Rhino for a two count. The announcers tried to put over that Rhino was "a step off" because he had taken two drinks during the match. Storm hit Rhino repeatedly with a trash can, then a chair shot to the head. Storm gave Rhino a one-man Conchairto. Storm waited for Rhino to stagger to his feet, then hit a superkick. Storm picked up a beer bottle, then broke it over Rhino's head and got the pin at the 14 minute mark.
Winner: James Storm.
They went backstage to their new interviewer, Crystal. She started talking about Pacman Jones, but was interrupted by Ron Killings. Killings cut a promo about a "football player" coming into the wrestling world, and said if he gets a hold of Pacman Jones, "this publicity stunt is over".
As they were still cleaning the ring, Tenay and West talked about the Kurt Angle-Karen Angle situation for a while.
The Latin American Xchange (Homicide & Hernandez) vs. The Voodoo Kin Mafia (Kip & BG James) with Roxxi Laveaux.
Homicide started out with BG James, hitting a right hand, but BG shoved him into his corner for a double team. Hernandez came in to break up the double team, but was taken out by the referee while Kip whipped Homicide hard into a corner and then hit a side slam. BG tagged in and hit Homicide with some kicks. BG kicked Homicide in the back and applied an armbar. Kip tagged in and have Homicide a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Kip applied a bear hug while on one knee. Homicide broke out, but Kip grabbed the bearhug again. Homicide bit out of it, then Kip gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. BG tagged in, but Homicide got the hot tag to Hernandez, who hit VKM with a double slingshot clothesline. LAX cleared the ring of Kip, and the referee escorted out Homicide while Hernandez set up BG for the Border Toss. Roxxi got on the apron and threw powder in Hernandez' eyes. Kip gave Hernandez the Fameasser for the pin. However, Hector Guerrero came in and told the referee about the powder. The match was restarted, Hernandez brawled with BG and Homicide rolled up Kip with a Victory Roll for the pin at the six minute mark.
Winners: LAX
LAX had some words with Guerrero before leaving.
The events leading to Eric Young vs. Rober Roode were shown.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Eric Young, who talked about all the times he has been humiliated in his life. Borash told Young that this isn't high school, and that he's not a kid, and got him fired up for his match. Kurt Angle entered, and told Borash that he didn't find Karen. Young said that he saw Karen making out with her new guy. Borash tried to calm Angle, and Angle said that "Dr. Nash is the only one who understands me". Angle said he was going to go find Samoa Joe.
Humiliation Match - Eric Young vs. Robert Roode with Ms. Brooks
Roode attacked Young before the bell. Young leapfrogged Roode and slid under him, then hit a Thesz Press and some right hands. Young clotheslined Roode to the floor, then went outside and hit some punches. Young threw Roode back into the ring, but was distracted by Brooks (he actually had to go around the ringpost because she was on the wrong side of the ring) who grabbed his leg as he got on the apron. Roode knocked Young to the floor, then rammed him into the guard rail. Roode punched Young and stomped him down, then choked him. Roode backdropped Young, then hit a lariat in the corner for a two count. Roode then applied a chinlock, then a surfboard. Young got out of it with a mulekick. Young tried a leapfrog in the corner, but Roode caught it and hit a spinebuster. Roode slammed Young, then pulled down his kneepad and went to the second rope. Roode nailed the kneedrop and got a two count, then another two count. Roode argued with the referee. Young and Roode traded punches, and they knocked each other down. They both got up, and Young ran into a Roode elbow, but came back with a backdrop. Young grabbed a crucifix for a two count. Young got another two with a belly to belly suplex, but Roode then raked his eyes and went to the top rope. A blinded Young stumbled into the ropes, and Roode slipped and was crotched on the top rope. Brooks ran in, but Young grabbed her and catapulted her head first into Roode's groin. Young lifted Brooks and Roode into a fireman's carry, but Roode slipped off and kicked Young, so he dropped Brooks. Young rolled up Roode for a two count. Roode hit a blockbuster for a two count. Brooks tried to give Roode brass knucks, pretty much right in font of the referee, but dropped them. They did a distraction bit, and Brooks threw the knucks to Roode. Roode decked Young with the knucks and put them in his trunks. Roode covered Young for the pin at the ten minute mark.
Winner: Robert Roode.
Roode got on the mic and said it was time to humiliate Young. Gail Kim came out and tried to stop them, but Roode grabbed her. Kim slapped Roode, and Brooks attacked her. Brooks held Kim for a punch by Roode, but Kim ducked and Roode nailed Brooks. Roode choked Kim, and Young kicked Roode in the gonads. Roode, holding his package, started stumbling up the aisle. Young got on the mic and said he told everyone he wasn't going to get tarred and feathered. Young and Kim then tarred (syruped) and feathered Brooks. Roode saw what was happening, but just waved it off and left while Brooks was sitting on the floor, covered in feathers, screaming.
A video package on Dustin Rhodes and how "Black Reign" is his evil personality was shown.
Crystal interviewed Chris Harris. Harris said he didn't take Dustin's spot, Dustin lost it on his own, while Harris was earning his. Harris said he was tired of "has-beens" getting in the way of his future.
Chris Harris vs. Black Reign.
Reign entered from the opposite entrance than the one he was expected it, and ambushed Harris from behind. Reign has silver and black facepaint, and a vinyl baggy outfit that is black with silver tribal designs. Harris was busted open as Reign rammed him into the guardrail. Reign kept pounding Harris around ringside, then knocked down the referee as he tried to break things up. Reign pulled a cover off the turnbuckle connector, then rammed Harris into it. Reign pulled Harris into the ring and gave him a neckbreaker. A second referee came in, and Reign clotheslined him. Reign hit Harris with some right hands, then moaned in his face. Reign set up Harris for the old Shattered Dreams kick, but then stopped and gave him a bulldog instead. Reign choked Harris with his own handcuffs. Referee number three, Earl Hebner, came out, and was shoved away. Reign bit Harris' head. Hebner called for the DQ at the five minute mark.
Winner via DQ: Chris Harris.
Reign handcuffed the bloody Harris in the corner and pounded him. A few security guards ran in, but Reign knocked them all away. Reign then took a cane that has a hand holding a knife as the top piece and sat on the top rope, over the body of Harris. Reign rammed the cane into Harris' head, but not the knife part. Kaz, Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt ran out and stood between Harris and Reign. Reign slowly backed up and left.
The events leading to The Steiners vs. Team 3D were shown.
Crystal interviewed the Steiner Brothers. The Steiners said Team 3D would go out in a blaze of glory, just like ECW. The Steiners were with Kohei Suwama, who Scott noted he would be teaming with in the future.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Team 3D, who mocked Scott Steiner's injury in Puerto Rico. Team 3D said they no longer had any respect for the Steiners.
The Steiner Brothers vs. Team 3D
Suwama didn't come out with the Steiners. DeVon choked Rick at the start and hit some right hands. DeVon missed a clothesline and Rick hit a powerslam. Brother Ray came in, but Rick bit him on the leg. Scott backdropped Ray and Devon. Team 3D went to the floor, and the Steiners did their old pose. Team 3D went to leave, but the Steiners went after him. They brawled at ringside, with the Steiners getting the better of it. Rick threw Brother Ray into the ring, but Ray poked Rick in the eyes. Scott tagged in and locked up with Ray. Ray missed a punch and Scott hit some chops. Scott hit Ray with a clothesline, then dropped an elbow. Scott did his pushups instead of going for a cover. Ray fought back with a chop and a sideslam. Devon tagged in, but Scott hit them with a double clothesline. Devon ran into a Scott boot and Scott hit a belly to belly suplex. Rick tagged in and hit Devon with some crossface shots. Scott tagged in and booted Devon in the face, but Ray grabbed Scott's arm and yanked it across the top rope. Devon then kicked Steiner, right where Steiner's scar is. Devon stood on Scott's side, and Ray yanked at his arm and hit his side from ringside.
Devon put Scott in an abdominal stretch. Ray ran in and took a shot at him when the referee went to stop Rick from running in. Ray tagged in and pounded the scar. Rick ran in and hit Ray with right hands, but Hebner forced him out of the ring. Devon tagged in, but missed an avalanche. Scott gave Ray a clothesline and tagged in Rick. Rick went to work on both men, hitting a Steinerline on D-Von and backdropping both opponents. Rick gave both men overhead belly to belly suplexes. Rick put Devon on the top rope and tagged in Scott. Rick went to work on Brother Ray on the floor and Scott gave Devon a second rope overhead belly to belly suplex for a two count. Scott pounded Devon in a corner, but Ray came in and hit Steiner in the back. Ray put Scott on his shoulders and Devon hit the Doomsday Device for a two count. Rick came in, and Ray slammed him. They went for the What's Up headbutt on Rick, but Scott broke it up. Scott knocked Ray down and went to Devon, who was sitting on the top rope. Scott gave Devon a top rope Frankensteiner, to a huge pop (from a crowd that wasn't really reacting to much to this point). Scott put Devon in a Steiner Recliner, but Ray broke it up. Ray and Devon gave Scott Steiner a neckbreaker/back suplex combo. Team 3D set up for 3D on Rick, but Rick gave Devon a Steinerline and suplexed Ray. Scott picked up Devon on his shoulders and Rick hit a top rope bulldog for the clean pin at the eleven minute mark.
Winners: The Steiner Brothers.
Kurt Angle came into Kevin Nash's office and slumped on a couch. Nash said there are more important things than his family ... like him. Nash said Kurt was the "A&P Champion in Japan", the TNA Champion, and he was going to beat Samoa Joe. Nash told Angle he needed the "Eye Of The Tiger". Angle got psyched up, but as soon as Nash left, he slumped back on the couch and started crying.
In the ring, Mike Tenay introduced Pacman Jones, who had an elaborate video entrance. Some ringside fans made it "rain" fake money as he came out. Jones refused to shake hands with Mike Tenay. Tenay asked Jones why he was coming into wrestling. Jones said because he loved it as a kid. Tenay asked why he came to TNA, and Jones said it was because TNA is a "trendsetter", like him. Tenay asked what his goal in TNA is, and Jones said to show he is a "team player". Ron Killings came out on the rampway and welcomed Jones to the "snakepit". Killings said professional wrestling is not a "team sport", it is all about individuality. Jones took off his T-shirt. Killings said wrestling is about "who is going to screw who first" and said in this business no one has your back. Killings said that Jones' contract prevented him from touching anyone. Killings said "Ain't that a bitch?" and some fans started a "He's a bitch!" chant. Killings said that because of that contract, Jones won't be beating anyone up, but he better watch out, because there was a locker room of wrestlers that want to beat him up, and Killings said he was on the top of the list. Jones said that there was nothing but "space and opportunity" between the two of them. Fans chanted "Shut the f*** up". Killings was tackled by security as he approached the ring and dragged off. Jones said security should let him go, then said Killings "Didn't want any of this". Jones then left. With the exception of those that were chanting, the crowd was apathetic to the whole thing.
Crystal interviewed Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Tyson Tomko. Christian said that he wasn't bleeding tonight, and said he would hold Sting, Abyss and Martin responsible if AJ bleeds one drop. Christian walked off. Styles said to Tomko that he wouldn't be bleeding, and pulled out a box of Band-Aids. Tomko explained that Band-Aids stop bleeding, they don't prevent it.
They cut backstage, and Pacman Jones has apparently been "laid out", holding his shoulder. Don West said he had blood near his eye, but I didn't notice that, and soon security was blocking the shot. Tenay and West noted what Killings has said earlier about the locker room wanting a piece of Jones. So, now we all know how they got around the "no physical contact" problem.
Doomsday Chamber Of Blood (Steel Cage with Barbed Wire roof, you must be bleeding before you can be pinned or forced to submit, winner to receive future World Title match) - Sting, Abyss & “The Punisher†Andrew Martin vs. Christian Cage, AJ Styles & Tomko.
Christian, Styles and Tomko attacked Abyss as he made his entrance. Martin then ran out and started throwing opponents around. Tomko got in the cage and dared Martin to come in. The lights went out, and when they came back on, Sting was in the ring with a chair. He blasted Tomko with it. Tomko and Sting exited the cage, and Abyss and Styles got in it. Sting and Tomko were fighting on the floor, and Tonko was already bleeding. Styles kicked Abyss out of the ring, then dove out of the cage onto Abyss. Good thing the cage has a really big door. The brawl at ringside continued. Martin and Cage made it into the cage, while at ringside Tomko rammed the cage door into Sting's face. Martin gave Christian and big boot and a pumphandle slam, but since Christian isn't bleeding, the pin didn't count.
They cut backstage, and showed Pacman Jones, in a neckbrace, being stretchered onto an ambulance.
Back to the match, Abyss was throwing Cage into the cage, but Tomko used a chair to take down Abyss and Martin. The heels tried to keep Sting from entering the cage, and Tomko knocked him to the floor with a big boot. Styles and Christian locked the cage door, so Sting was stuck outside. Tomko, Styles and Christian worked over Abyss and Martin. Christian used a shard of broken glass to cut open Abyss in the forehead and arm. Christian covered Abyss for a two count. Tomko hit Martin with a chairshot. I don't see Sting around ringside.
Tomko powerslammed Martin. Styles wedged a chair between two turnbuckles. Abyss was a bloody mess. Martin fought back against three opponents. Sting came out with a pair of wire cutters and climbed the cage. Sting started cutting away the barbed wire. Styles and Tomko tried to stop him, but Sting climbed into the cage. Sting gave Styles a facecrusher off the top rope. Sting threw Christian into Tomko and gave them a Stinger Splash. Sting gave Styles a Stinger Splash. Sting went for the Scorpion on Christian, but Tomko broke it up with a chair shot. Tomko gave Abyss a chokeslam, then Styles and Christian gave Abyss top rope splashes. Christian covered Abyss, but he kicked out. Christian dumped a back of broken glass in the ring. Abyss grabbed Christian for a chokeslam, but Tomko hit him with a chair. Martin kicked the chair into the face of Tomko. Christian climbed out of the cage. Styles tried to do the same, but was caught and thrown into the chair that he had wedged in the buckles earlier. Abyss gave Styles the Black Hole Slam into the broken glass and got the pin at the ten minute mark. They kept cutting to Christian, watching from the aisle, as Styles was pinned.
Winners: Abyss, Sting & Andrew Martin. Abyss receives a World Title match at the next PPV.
The events leading to the main event were shown.
Crystal interviewed Samoa Joe, who said "the worst of things happen to the worst of people". Joe said Kurt Angle had to ask himself "Is it still great to be Kurt Angle?"
TNA World Champion & fake IWGP Champion Kurt Angle vs. X-Division Champion & TNA Tag Team Champions Samoa Joe - Winner Takes All
Angle slowly walked to the ring, dropping one of his title belts at one point, looking defeated. Samoa Joe came out with the Samoan dancers. Karen Angle isn't at ringside yet. They did the "big fight" introductions.
Joe backed Angle into the ropes on the initial lockup, but Angle took Joe down with a headlock. Joe shoved off the headlock and hit a shoulderblock. Angle shoved Joe, but Joe shoved Angle to the mat. Angle rolled out of the ring and looked like he was going to cry. Karen Angle and her boyfriend, champagne in hand, came out and sat at ringside. Angle yelled something at them, then reentered the ring. Angle took Joe down with an overhead wristlock, but Joe powered up, only for Angle to pull down Joe by the hair. Angle left the ring as an angry Joe got up. Angle reentered the ring, and Joe put him in a headlock. Angle put Joe in a wristlock and pulled him down by the hair again. Again, Angle went to the floor to avoid an angry Joe. Karen Angle kissed her boyfriend at ringside. Angle went into an overhead wristlock with Joe, and Joe shoved Angle down this time before Angle could grab the hair. Joe put Angle in a side headlock, using Angle's singlet to prevent Angle from shoving it off. Angle made the ropes to break the hold, then pulled down his straps.
Angle hit a punch to the head, then Joe hit a sunset flip. Joe pulled down Angle's trunks, and Angle's bare ass was exposed to the crowd. Angle left the ring and went to ringside to argue with his wife. She threw the glass of champagne into his face. Joe came out and chopped Angle, then threw him into the ring for a kick, a chop and a kneedrop for a two count. Joe hit a series of right hands, then side stepped an Angle charge and Angle ran shoulder first into the ringpost. Joe hit some punches in the corner, then face washed him with the boot. Joe then nailed the running kick to the head. Joe chopped Angle in the corner, but Angle ducked a shot and hit a German suplex. Angle hit an uppercut and a series of punches. Angle hit a vertical suplex for a two count, then applied a chinlock. Joe fought up, but Angle gave him a pair of German suplexes. Angle went for a third, but Joe reversed and flipped Angle with a German suplex of his own.
Then two men traded punches, then Joe hit a pair of elbows and a pair of clotheslines. Angle came back with an uppercut, but Samoa Joe snapped him with a powerslam for a two count. Angle elbowed a charging Joe and went to the second rope, but Joe jumped up with a kick to the head for a two count. Angle raked Joe's eyes and hit a German suplex. Karen and her boyfriend were shown drinking with linked arms. Angle went for an Olympic Slam, but Joe blocked it and hit some punches. Angle whipped Joe into a corner, but then ran into a uranage for a two count. Joe set up for a Muscle Buster, but Angle turned it into a sunset flip and grabbed an Ankle Lock. Joe turned it and rammed Angle into the corner. Joe applied the Kokina Clutch, but Angle dropped down into the ankle lock. Joe kicked it off and grabbed a small package for a two count. Angle kicked Joe in the gut and hit the Olympic Slam for a two count. Angle hit Joe with a forearm and sat him on the top rope. Angle went for a second rope belly to belly suplex, but Joe headbutted Angle to the mat. Joe went to stand on the top rope, but Angle ran up the ropes and hit a belly to belly suplex off the top for a two count.
Angle yelled something to his wife at ringside. Angle went to the top rope for a moonsault, but Joe rolled out of the way. Joe sat Angle on a top rope, hit a chop, then grabbed the Muscle Buster for a 2.999999 count. Joe grabbed the Kokina Clutch, but Angle bit Joe's hand to break the hold and grabbed the ankle lock. Joe rolled over, pulled Angle down towards him by his trunks, and grabbed the Kokina Clutch again. Angle got his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold. Joe hit a series of punches to Angle in the corner. Fans were chanting "This is Awesome". Angle tried to reverse a whip, but ended up colliding with the referee. Joe applied the Kokina Clutch, and Angle tapped out, but there was no referee to see it. Angle hit Joe with a low blow. Both men down on the mat.
Karen Angle came up to ringside with a chair and gestured for Joe to take it. As Joe reached for it, she pulled it away and smiled. Angle chopblocked Joe in the back of the leg. Angle blasted Joe with the chair in the head, woke up the referee, and got the pin at the eighteen minute mark.
Winner: Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle, Karen Angle and the boyfriend all celebrated together in the ring. Kurt Angle is now the TNA World Champion, X-Division Champion, TNA Tag Team Champions and fake IWGP Champion. They quickly went off the air, with Mike Tenay noting that Angle will have to defend against Abyss next month at No Surrender.
