Credit Mike Bessler for the write-up.
Looks like tonight’s extravaganza gets things shakin’ with a Knockouts Battle Royal. Here goes…
Knockouts Battle Royal (Jessicka Havok, Madison Rayne, Rebel, Taryn Terrell, Brittany, Velvet Sky and Angelina Love)
Havok starts out by zeroing in on Madison Rayne and chocking the holy bejeezus out of her. In the span of about one minute, every Knockout is down except for Havok who stands tall in the middle of the ring. All of the women get back up and gang up on her. She shakes ’em off and goes at Madison again, chucking her over the top and on to the floor. She eliminates Taryn next. The Beautiful People take on Rebel as Brittany picks a fight (unwisely) with Havok and pays dearly for it. Havok whips her around and although Brittany mounts a bit of offense, Havok takes her out next in an awkard exchange. Havok quickly knocks Angelina out of contention after that and Rebel goes to the top, trying to come at Havok from the air. Havok dumps Rebel off the top and on to the steps and the landing is all kinds of ugly. Velvet stands alone against Havok and at one point she tries to win with a sleeper hold but her opponent is too tough to go down. Velvet is undoubtedly the strongest competition for Havok in this one but in the end, she gets dropped over the top like everyone else and the bell rings.
Result: Havok wins after eliminating everyone.
Previews roll for what’s on tap later tonight and we have commercial sign.
After the break, we catch a bit of Gunner encouraging Shaw to go back to therapy. Shaw replies that he’s fixated on someone else at the moment. It’s a safe bet that Shaw’s mind isn’t on his money and his money isn’t on his mind. (It sounded better when Snoop Dog said it, I guess…)
Next up, MVP and Kenny King come out and MVP stops to lock eyes with a guy in a Daniel Bryan “Yes!” shirt who does the “You can’t see me!” thing at MVP. You’re at the wrong show, dude. MVP calls out Chris Melendez, chats him up a bit and offers him a spot in their clique. When Melendez declines, there’s some jaw-jacking, a flurry of bad jokes about prosthetic limbs, and an impromptu match is set up with Kenny King.
Chris Melendez vs Kenny King.
MVP distracts Melendez so that King can ambush him to get things rolling. Following a commercial break, King keeps things under his control, peppering Melendez with punches and tossing him around before coming to rest with some mat work. Things get serious when Melendez hoists him up for a finisher but Melendez counters with a roll up for the pinfall
Chris Melendez defeats Kenny King via pinfall.
Post match, King beats him down until Anderson comes in for the save. Taz really plays it up, calling Melendez some nasty names.
A promo rolls for the title match later and we go to commercial again.
Back to the show…Anderson checks on Melendez and everything is five by five. X-Division title is next.
X-Division title match: Samoa Joe vs. Homicide
I said it below in the comments field but I’ll note it again here: On paper, this one is an instant classic. These guys start by going at it hard. Probably a great one to see live and in person. Joe gets Homicide into an arm lock for a short stretch but the Notorious 187 chops his way out and then hits Joe with a sick dive outside. The crowd reacts with approval and the guys climb back in where Homicide continues his onslaught. Joe powers back, ultimately flipping Homicide into the post and earning a near fall after the step-slam. Homicide gets back up and lands a fluying DDT and works Joe’s head and neck, followed by a near fall. He teases the Gringo Killer but Joe counters, locks in the rear naked choke and Homicide submits. Ring the bell.
Result: Samoa Joe defeats Homicide
Joe and Homicide shake hands after the match but Storm and Sanada break it up and beat down both guys. Then Makin comes out in a new costume and mask, rounding out his debut by delivering a splash to the incapacitated Homicide.
Backstage, The Wolves say tonight is a “must win” for the benefit of their legacy. Time for a commercial.
A promo rolls for the title match later and we go to commercial again.
Ladder Match: The Hardys vs. Team 3-D vs. The Wolves
Things get crazy at breakneck speed. After some initial chaos, The Wolves take out the Hardys and Team 3-D with back-to-back suicide dives on either side of the ring. They move quickly to set up a ladder but they reconsider and use it as a weapon, taking out Team 3-D before Jeff Hard hits the ladder and knocks them both on their respective posteriors. The Hardy do some damage with the ladder until Bully takes it back and cleans house. Devon sets up another ladder and they hit the “What’s Up?!” on one of the Wolves. It’s looking like they’ll head up the ladder for the win but Matt rushes them both with another ladder and lays them out. Hardy and Edwards climb a ladder and heads for the title and Devon dumps them both on the mat. Jeff cracks Devon with a closed ladder as we go to break.
Things get crazy at breakneck speed. After some initial chaos, The Wolves take out the Hardys and Team 3-D with back-to-back suicide dives on either side of the ring. They move quickly to set up a ladder but they reconsider and use it as a weapon, taking out Team 3-D before Jeff Hard hits the ladder and knocks them both on their respective posteriors. The Hardy do some damage with the ladder until Bully takes it back and cleans house. Devon sets up another ladder and they hit the “What’s Up?!” on one of the Wolves. It’s looking like they’ll head up the ladder for the win but Matt rushes them both with another ladder and lays them out. Hardy and Edwards climb a ladder and heads for the title and Devon dumps them both on the mat. Jeff cracks Devon with a ladder as we go to break.
Off the break, Team 3-D and the Wolves collaborate to put Matt Hardy through a ladder. Bully delivers the power bomb in an incredibly painful looking spot. He then ascends the ladder and the Wolves yank him off and slam him on to the canvas. The crowd goes totally crazy for that series of spots. Both Wolves and Devon and Matt Hardy scramble up two ladders next but before long, they’re all on the ground. It’s total chaos as Bully and Jeff duel at the top of a ladder next. Bully ends up suplexing Jeff from the top of a ladder and the title belts swing in the breeze.
Davy Richards gets all over Devon until Bully breaks it up and the ECW alumni deliver LOD’s finisher on Richards. The Hardys hit a double twist of fate on Team 3-D and then they punctuate that with some aerial maneuvers. They set up ladders again and work over the Wolves in grand fashion. Jeff heads to the top rope as Matt lays out Davy on a ladder and moments ladder, he comes crashing down in a move that looks like it hurt everybody involved. The Wolves roar back with chairs, a footstomp and a massive table spot in which Matt is stomped right through some of the aforementioned furniture at ringside. Eddie Edwards heads up for the belts and Jeff Hardy gives chase. Davy yanks out the ladder from under Jeff and Hard appears to hit his ribs on the way down. Pretty much everyone—including Davy—rushes to Jeff to see if he’s okay. Meanwhile, Eddie grabs the gold for the win. What a match!
Result: The Wolves win when Eddie Edwards grabs the title belts.
After everyone catches their collective and respective breaths, the bell sounds for a singles match…
Gunner vs. Bram
Both dudes look pretty intense as this one gets underway. The fray quickly moves outside where they exchange fisticuffs. They end up back inside and Gunner lays Bram down for a pin but it doesn’t last long. Gunner keeps it up though, and Bram struggles to match his power. What he can’t accomplish with strength and skill, he’ll take with chicanery, as he quickly gets the edge by laying out Gunner on the ring steps and using them as the anvil to his hammer. Shaw wanders out to ringside, watching Bram knock about his mentor. Gunner thunders back but his leg is a little janky because of Bram’s aforementioned punishment out on the steps. Gunner goes for the powerbomb but his knee buckles and he can’t follow through. Shaw steps in to help and Bram tosses him aside and gets the pin.
Result: Bram defeats Gunner by pinfall
Post-match, Shaw tries to provide some aid and comfort to Gunner but he’s rejected. Gunner grumbles and limps away as Shaw looks perplexed.
The main event is coming up next, after these important messages.
TNA Heavyweight Title Match: Bobby Roode vs. Lashley
Lashley and Roode stare each other down briefly and then things erupt. Roode hits the ropes and Lashley hurdles him, reminding everyone that he’s jacked and agile. Roode comes on strong, rattling Lashley’s cage with a big clothesline, sending the champ outside to regroup. Back inside, Lashley gets on top quickly, putting Roode on to the mat. Roode gets back into the fray quickly, though and at one point he takes to the ropes to land an aerial maneuver but MVP gets involved, prompting the ref to banish him from ringside.
After a commercial break, Roode goes back up top again and brings down Lashley with a neckbreakerHe tries to follow up with another one and Lashley takes him off the perch and drops him in the middle of the ring. Roode rushes the champ again and puts him in the crossface. King is still outside though, and he interferes briefly, breaking it up. This time, Eric Young materializes and chases King away so the match can continue. Roode locks in the crossface again and Lashley powers out, dropping Roode on the mat. He then scouts Roode for a spear and delivers the goods but Roode kicks out from the pin that follows. Frustrated, Lashley grabs the title belt and swings it at Roode for the DQ but Roode dodges and catches Lashley with a Roode bomb. Lashley then kicks out of the pin and both men struggle to continue the fight. When they both return to a veritical base, they trade blows until Lashley sets up a spinebuster but all he can garner from that one is a near fall. They get up again, Lashley brings it home with a running power slam and Roode kicks out again. Roode ultimately dumps Lashley outside—from the top rope straight to the floor—after the champ blocks another Roode bomb. Everyone is on Dream Street now. Roode ends up going outside to fetch Lashley and slides him back inside to try for the win. He climbs to the top rope once again and Lashley springs up to snatch him off the turnbuckle, toss him across the ring and go for the spear. Roode avoids thethe first spear but Lashle finally delivers the deathblow with a subsequent spear. He covers for the three count, retaining the strap.
Result: Lashley retains, defeating Roode via pinfall.
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