It was kind of tough to get excited for the main event of TNA Slammiversary (2012). Sting taking on Bobby Roode for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship had an atmosphere similar to Shawn Michaels/John Cena at Wrestlemania 23, but on a much smaller scale. By that I mean sure Sting/Shawn Michaels had a big enough reputation to be in the main event, but it would make no sense for the challenger to come out as champion whether in terms of business or storyline. The undercard wasn’t that great either though the match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship could not possibly be bad and of course it delivered.
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Austin Aries (c) defeated Samoa Joe to retain the TNA X Division Championship
Mike Tenay and Taz play up that Aries is thrown off because he expected a non-title match, which Hulk Hogan switched at the last minute. Speaking of defense, Aries is put on the defensive early and often. The flow of the match starts to change when Samoa Joe misses a back splash. Before the match is over Aries hits a 450 splash and then finishes it with a brainbuster.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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Hernandez defeated Kid Kash
Too bad Homicide wasn’t returning. Hernandez wins in a match that I can’t help but space out during. He does manage to grab my attention fro a second though when he hits a sick top rope plancha.
Rating: 2.5 stars
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Devon and Garett Bischoff defeated Robbie E and Robbie T
The feud between Devon and the Robbies was way past it’s expiration date at this point and adding Garett Bischoff didn’t help. Madison Rayne comes out during it. Good! Can something, anything interesting happen? Please? Bischoff does a bad Ricky Morton impression during this match. It would help if fans could feel sympathy for him. Devon gets the hot tag and clears the ring. Soon Robbie E is down for the count. Devon and Bischoff do some cheesy dancing to celebrate and Madison leaves without incident.
Rating: 2.5 stars
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Mr. Anderson defeated Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy to become the number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Early on Jeff Hardy does his running dropkick to RVD using Anderson as a step stool. It looks butt ugly. RVD attempts a splash and misses both guys leading to a spot where all three take a breather way too early in the battle. Taz says, “there’s nothing fancy about that’ when RVD hits a kick. He might as well be talking about the match. Hardy comes alive when he hits a nifty spot jumping from the top rope to the floor and splashing RVD/Anderson. Hardy hits an ugly twist of fate, but a good swanton. Anderson gets the pin when RVD attempts a rolling thunder that leads right into a mic check. Am I sensing a pattern of mediocrity here?
Rating: 2.5 stars
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James Storm defeated Crimson
After Crimson cuts his usual annoying promo fans start a Goldberg chant only for James Storm to answer the challenge. Storm doesn’t even bother to take off his coat before laying into Crimson. Storm hits the last call super kick and pins Crimson to end his undefeated streak. Couldn’t someone else have used that momentum?
Rating: 2 stars
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Brooke Tessmacher defeated Gail Kim (c) to win the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship
These two have had better matches and it says something when a fair amount into the fight the most interesting move is Kim leveraging a headscissors. Brooke also botches a belly-to-back suplex pretty noticeably. At least they try to sell it as a work. Brooke wins it with an awkward looking roll up.
Rating: 1.5 stars
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Joseph Park defeated Bully Ray
Joseph Park delays getting in as “Yankees suck” and “Lets go Rangers” chants break out. The crowd must be bored. Bully offers Park the first shot and it is a swing and a miss. After Bully paws at him, Joseph gets in a smack. The rest of the match consists of a ton of stalling and Bully punishing Joseph a bunch. Bully gets in some chair shots, but Park manages some offense of his own even getting a two count after a shot with a kendo stick. Park goes under the ring only for Park’s brother, Abyss to appear from underneath that same ring. Abyss chokeslams Bully through a table and goes back under from where he came. Park emerges and pins Bully. This was actually decent.
Rating: 3.25 stars
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AJ Styles and Kurt Angle defeated Christoper Daniels and Kazarian (c) to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship
This is a sweet match, but it is a shame that it did not have a better storyline going along with it. AJ Styles is by far the MVP of the match (and the night really) by hitting some incredible moves and managing to do a fairly good job of paying attention to the psychology behind the action. One of Styles’ more awe inducing maneuvers is a springboard off the guardrail leading to punching Kazarian in the face. “Right in the face” in fact to quote Don West. Angle doesn’t let AJ overshadow him completely and hits three rolling German suplexes on Kazarian capping it off by also German suplexing Daniels at the same time. Styles gets back to being the MVP by flipping over Kazarian and giving him a reverse DDT while he simultaneously DDTs Daniels. The action concludes with Styles performing a shooting star press over the ropes onto Daniels on the floor. Right after this, Angles gets a submission from Kazarian to win the bout and the belts.
Rating: 4.25 stars
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Bobby Roode (c) defeated Sting to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Earlier in the night Sting was announced as the first inductee of the TNA Hall of Fame. Former TNA wrestler Christian Cage (WWE’s Christian) also returned to announce Sting as having the number one moment in TNA history, which was his return in 2006. The battle begins with Roode ducking out of the ring a few times to start. Sting comes out to get him and Roode slides back in and stomps Sting upon re-entry. Roode is constantly avoiding Sting throughout and at one point this even leads to some brawling around the entrance way. Getting back to ringside Sting offers a Stinger’s splash on the guardrail and then locks on a scorpion deathlock on the announce table. Roode taps, but it doesn’t count since they are outside of the ring. Roode finds some beer bottles that Storm left behind. After the ref confiscates one, Roode wallops Sing with a second brew. Roode retains and Sting (with a modest blade job) attacks him afterward.
Rating: 3.25 stars
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Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Categories: Wrestling Reviews
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