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Welcome to the 5th edition of TNAlt here at PWInsiderXtra.com. If you missed last week's show, or want to know more about this new feature, you can read a little about it by clicking here, while you can check out our first 'PPV' by clicking here.
For the second week in a row, last week's show did a 1.1 rating (based on "thumbs in the middle" getting the majority of the vote). Remember we'll be looking for your feedback on this week's show. Further details are available at the bottom of the page.
TNAlt #5 - Sunday, November 18
First show ahead of December's PPV - (available Wednesday, December 5)
Location: Orlando, FL
Announce team: Jeremy Borash & Kevin Nash
The show kicks off with a video recap of last Wednesday night's PPV. The Motor City Machine Guns are shown taking out VKM, Ron Killings' ladder-match victory over Christian Cage is shown, as is the amazing second-rope Styles Clash that gave AJ Styles and Tomko a win over The Steiner Brothers to retain their tag team titles. We then get to Kaz's interference in the World Title match between Sting and Robert Roode when a voice screams out, "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! STOP THE VIDEO! STOP THE VIDEO NOW!" The camera cuts to the arena where Robert Roode is walking down the ramp, clearly very angry. He gets in the ring and starts talking.
"Last night was supposed to be MY NIGHT! Last night was supposed to be the night that Robert Roode took his rightful place at the top of the wrestling world. One man ruined that for me one man named Kaz. I thought myself and Ms. Brooks had taken that loser out of our lives forever when we embarrassed and beat him during my glorious victory in the Fight for the Right tournament. But that loser keeps coming back. WELL NO MORE! Sting, I want a rematch, and I want it with no interference whatsoever. You might have beaten me last night, but..."
He is interrupted in mid-sentence by Kaz. Kaz makes his way into the ring to respond:
"You had your chance to be the World Champion, Robert Roode, but you blew it. Now, I'm not a man who likes to whine and complain about problems and missed opportunities, but the fact is that, if it wasn't for that conniving bitch Ms. Brooks, it would've been ME against Sting, and I want that match TONIGHT!"
Ron Killings is shown stood at the top of the ramp to interrupt proceedings. As he walks to the ring, Jeremy Borash raves about the show stealing ladder match from Genesis, with Kevin Nash pointing out that he's finally seen the fire in Killings' eyes that made him one of the stars of the early years of TNA. "WHATS UP!" shouts Killings. The crowd chants along with his trademark phrase. "You people have been shouting and hollering about people who deserve the next World Title shot, but what the hell have you people done to deserve it besides bitching at each other? I went out and damn near killed myself to win a ladder match last night against Christian Cage, so imagine what I'd do with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line. I've had a taste for that gold before, and last night, I realised that I can't go on rapping with old guys and Mexican has-beens, or hanging around with football players that have NO PLACE HERE. IT'S TIME FOR THE TRUTH TO TAKE THE TITLE BACK AND CEMENT HIS PLACE AT..."
"WOAH, WOAH, WOAH YOU WHINY *BLEEEP* BITCHES." The unmistakeable voice of 'Big Poppa Pomp' Scott Steiner booms into the arena. "Now that the Big Bad Booty Daddy has dropped the dead weight that's been holding him back all his life, it's time for the greatest human physical specimen the world has ever seen to hold the biggest prize in the wrestling business, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. And if you pieces of *BLEEP* think you can do a damn thing to stop me, well, THAT'S A FREAKIN JOKE!"
Kaz gets in Steiner's face at that last comment, while Roode cheap shots him, triggering a four-way brawl. Steiner overpowers the other three, but while he throws Kaz and Roode over the top rope, Killings hits a jumping side kick and then clotheslines Steiner over the top rope to the floor. Killings is left alone in the ring while the other three are on the floor, all yelling at each other as we go to the show's first commercial break.
We return from commercials with the camera on Borash and Nash. They announce that TNA management have made a quick decision to and that tonight we'll see a fatal four-way match to determine the new #1 contender for Sting's World Heavyweight title. That match will be Ron Killings vs. Robert Roode vs. Scott Steiner vs. Kaz, with the winner facing Sting for the World Title at the December PPV in a few weeks time.
Borash and Nash take us back to last Wednesday's PPV, where Booker T made his TNA debut. We're shown still images of what went down between Booker and Samoa Joe, with Borash going on to explain that while many fans might be disappointed not to see TNA's new signing Booker T on tonight's show, management decided that it would be best for all concerned - given the volatility of their confrontation last Wednesday - that both Booker T and Samoa Joe be banned from the building tonight to "cool off". Borash tells us to ensure we don't miss next week's show, as Samoa Joe will be here, plus Booker T will make his TV debut, also on next week's show.
Borash and Nash then turn their attention to the X Division title and Kurt Angle's hard-fought win over Christopher Daniels at last Wednesday's PPV. Borash announces that Jay Lethal will also return to TNA on next week's show, and confirms that Jay Lethal will defend his X Division title against Angle at next month's PPV. As Borash is announcing that match as happening, LAX's music hits, and Hernandez makes his way to the ring along with Homicide, and we're set for our opening match of the night:
Hernandez (w/Homicide) vs. Lance Hoyt (w/Jimmy Rave)
As the match gets underway, Borash and Nash discuss LAX's win over Elix Skipper and Senshi last Wednesday night on PPV. They put over both teams' exceptional performances before noting that something is still not sitting well with Senshi, and that it was evident last week on TV, as well as Wednesday night on TV.
Hernandez is in clear control over the match, with Hoyt struggling to find anything from his arsenal as the LAX man dominates. Hoyt tries to mount a comeback but a quick attempt to hit Hernandez with a big boot results in Hernandez ducking out of the way and hitting Hoyt with a powerbomb. He follows it up with a massive Border Toss, and gets the pin as Homicide stays alert to prevent Jimmy Rave from making the save. Winner at 5:58 - Hernandez
As Hoyt and Rave leave, we see Senshi and Elix Skipper at the top of the ramp. With a mic in hand, Skipper says, "Everybody knows that the LAX-Triple X rivalry is huge. But like all good things, this needs to come to an end. You may have got the win last Wednesday, but it's time to write the final chapter." As Senshi stares towards the ring, then at Skipper before sinking his head towards the ground, Skipper continues, "Next week, LAX and Triple X are going to meet in the ring one more time. It's time to end this thing. Skipper tosses the mic to the ground and heads to the back, with a serious looking Senshi slowly following behind.
Matt Morgan is left alone in the ring after Storm and Harris are taken to the back. He grabs a mic from ringside, noting that Storm is clearly not going to wrestle tonight. He also notes that when he got to the building today, he saw that Chris Harris was listed for a singles match against Rhino, saying, "With Storm too drunk, and Harris too unconscious, I say to you Rhino, you were booked to fight tonight, you're ready to fight tonight, so bring your ass to the ring right now!" Rhino doesn't have to be asked twice, and he rushes down the aisle into the ring.
Matt Morgan v. Rhino
Morgan meets Rhino with stomps as he enters the ring, but Rhino fires back with punches. They lay into each other with huge shots back and forth from the opening bell. Rhino is whipped into the ropes and goes for the GORE, but Morgan sidesteps him and delivers a kick to Rhino's head that stops Rhino in his tracks and leaves Morgan in charge. Morgan throws Rhino around like he's a baby, as Nash puts over how impressive Morgan's display of power is given the size of Rhino. Morgan lifts Rhino up over his head for a delayed vertical suplex for twenty seconds, with the crowd counting along before reacting very loudly for Morgan’s eventual delivery of the move. Morgan looks into the hard camera with arms raised as Borash notes that it certainly seems like Morgan is newly focused in TNA.
After beating on his opponent for several minutes, Morgan looks to hit a pump handle slam, but Rhino slips out the back. Morgan turns around, but is hit with a GORE by Rhino that sends him to the outside. Rhino goes after his limp opponent, but is unable to lift Morgan when the big man is dead weight. Suddenly, Morgan springs into life, throwing Rhino into the ring steps and laying him out with a big boot. Morgan then grabs a chair from ringside and cracks Rhino over the head with a chair shot for the DQ. Winner at 8:11 via DQ - Rhino
As Borash questions why he did this, Morgan walks to the back, but makes sure to get up close to the camera trailing him up the ramp to say, "You p**s me off, I knock you out. Big mistake, Rhino."
A short, minute-long video package on Kaz airs.
Backstage, Crystal is with TNA Knockouts Champion, Gail Kim. Crystal asks how Kim is feeling after her successful title defence at last week's PPV, where she overcame the odds to defeat Talia Madison and Angel Williams, despite a pre-match attack by Awesome Kong. Kim says that sooner or later, she knows that she'll have to face Kong in the ring, but tonight, she's glad that's she got the night off to watch the action and heal her injuries sustained at the PPV.
Crystal confirms that Kong is in action next after TNA management granted her request for a match tonight, and that match is up shortly.
A pre-taped video with Kurt Angle airs. Angle says, "In just a few weeks from now, the X Division title will be mine. How many times do I have to tell you people, I'm the best freakin' wrestler alive today! For those who are stupid enough to doubt me, next week you'll find out exactly why Kurt Angle is the best wrestler in the business today. It's real. It's damn real!"
Awesome Kong vs. Talia Madison & Angel Williams
Gail Kim joins Jeremy Borash and Kevin Nash at ringside for commentary on this match, as Borash notes that Talia and Angel will have to try and work as a team tonight. Nash asks Kim if Kong can be beaten in this match, and while Kim doesn't outright say she can, she puts over both Talia and Angel as tough opponents, going so far as to say that she could have lost her title last Wednesday night.
Kong makes light work of Talia and Angel, who do their best to work together to take Kong off her feet and ground her. Jeremy Borash announces mid-match that on next week's Thanksgiving show, we'll see Kong, Talia and Angel, plus ODB, Jackie Moore, Ms. Brooks and Christy Hemme in a Knockouts Battle Royal. Talia and Angel double-team Kong and hit her with simultaneous dropkicks that cause Kong to stagger backwards. The duo charge at her looking to finally knock Kong off her feet, but their double-clothesline still doesn't ground Kong.
Angel takes to the top rope, but as she steadies herself, communications breakdown again, as Talia, seemingly oblivious to what her partner is doing, runs the ropes looking to again attack Kong. As she hits the ropes, she causes Angel to fall and crotch herself on the top turnbuckle. Talia charges at Kong, but Kong picks Talia up in the air and delivers a huge Samoan drop. Kong then lifts Angel up and powerbombs her back into the ring. With both Talia and Angel laid side-by-side, Kong climbs to the second rope and hits a massive diving splash that connects with both girls. Kong covers both girls, and gets the convincing pinfall win. Winner at 6:31 - Awesome Kong
As Talia and Angel make their way to the back, holding their ribs and arguing about what led to their loss, Kong climbs back on to the second rope, and stares at Gail Kim, who stands up from her position next to Kevin Nash and stares at the impressive Kong.
A short, minute-long video package on Scott Steiner airs.
We head backstage, where all three members of XXX are sat around a table. Christopher Daniels tells Senshi and Elix Skipper of how he heard about the challenge made earlier tonight, and that, "as leader of Triple X (Senshi shoots Daniels a look), I think I should be part of this match. Skipper agrees, saying that he trusts Daniels more than anyone and feels honoured that he should want to help. Senshi interrupts them. Speaking to Daniels rather than to the camera he states "This is not your war. You had your battle with Kurt Angle while it was US fighting LAX. This is our battle. It's our war, and it's up to us to stand up as men and finish it." Daniels backs off and tells Senshi he was only suggesting he could helps. He adds that he would trust Skipper and Senshi to fight for his life, and says he'd be honoured to stand in their corner while they face LAX next week.
The Motor City Machine Guns (w/Jim Cornette) vs. Shark Boy & Sonjay Dutt
The match gets underway with Shelley and Sabin isolating Shark Boy right from the opening bell. They hit a series of double-team moves before Shark Boy is able to tag out to Sonjay Dutt as the match continues as a good pace. With Jim Cornette encouraging the Guns from the outside, Chris Sabin and Dutt enjoy a fast paced series of exchanges, with Dutt coming out on top with a hurricanrana. Dutt looks to capitalise on the shift in momentum and hits a dropkick from the top rope, but after only getting a two count, Sabin smartly makes the tag to Alex Shelley.
HOUR TWO
Shelley charges at Dutt, but Dutt ducks a clothesline. He attempts a Bombay Blast, but Shelley sees it coming, and as Dutt springboards off the second rope, he is caught in midair with a dropkick. Shelley follows it up with a springboard moonsault before tagging out to Chris Sabin. Within the referees five count, the Guns nail Dutt with a double enzuigiri. Sabin makes the cover, and gets the win. Winners at 7:29 - The Motor City Machine Guns
The Guns celebrate their victory in the ring along with Jim Cornette. Celebrations are cut short, however, as Team 3D's music hits. Brother Ray and Devon make their way out, with Brother Ray shouting for the music to be shut off. From the top of the entrance way, he turns his attention to The Guns, Ray says, "Y'know, it seems that for the past few weeks, all that me and Devon have heard is you two punks running your mouths about how you're the future of tag team wrestling. It almost seems like you guys are starting to think of yourselves as some huge, successful unit. But from our vantage point up here, we look down at you in the ring, and all we see is a couple of punk kids being babysat by a guy that nobody gives a crap about anymore. These idiot fans in Orlando who have been brainwashed by the theme parks might believe in fairytales and dreams coming true, but Team 3D deals with reality. And the reality for you is that you can't even BEGIN to start calling yourselves the future of tag team wrestling until you've been in the ring with Team 3D. There's a Pay-Per-View in a few weeks time, if you've got the balls, you'll step into the ring with us."
Team 3D head to the back, with the Guns staring at them from the ring, nodding in favour of the match at next month's PPV.
A short, minute-long video package on Ron Killings airs.
A video promoting next month's PPV airs. Afterwards, the screen goes black, before the following slowly fades onto the screen in a gothic style font:
death
noun
1. the act or fact of dying: decease, demise, dissolution, extinction, passing, quietus, rest
2. a termination of life, usually as the result of an accident or a disaster: casualty, fatality.
We return to ringside where Jeremy Borash asks Kevin Nash for his opinion on what the graphic we just saw means. Nash says he has no idea, but that what we just saw certainly confirms that somebody somewhere is sending a message to TNA. He adds, "Whoever or whatever this is, it can't be good news."
A short, minute-long video package on Robert Roode airs.
After the video package ends, the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Sting, makes his way to the ring where Mike Tenay is stood waiting for him. Tenay asks Sting for his thoughts on last Wednesday night's match with Robert Roode as well as tonight's four-way match to determine who will face Sting at next month's PPV. Sting says that Roode gave him a fight, but he told the world that he'd walk out of Wednesday's PPV still holding the World Heavyweight Title, and he did just that. "As for tonight, who knows who will win, Mike? But I'll repeat what I said to Robert Roode. This belt is mine, and it's gonna stay mine. Whoever wins tonight gets their shot in a few weeks from now on PPV. But it really doesn't matter who I face, as I'll show the world once again just why I've been at the top of this business for more years than I care to remember."
Backstage, Crystal is with Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Tomko, who we learn are in action in a few minutes from now in a six-man tag team match. Still shots of the closing moments of Christian's loss to Ron Killings are shown before Crystal asks for the group's thoughts on the events that led to Cage's loss. Cage says, "What happened last night isn't important. Tomko screwed up and he'll learn from that. What's important right now is that it's time once again for Christian Cage to be a champion in TNA. As he says this, AJ Styles and Tomko stand in the background, smiling proudly as they look at their tag team titles. Christian continues to talk about how he deserves to be back at the top of TNA, ending by saying, "It's time for Christian Cage to walk out to that ring with a belt around his waist." That line draws muffled laughter from Styles and Tomko. A shocked and puzzled Christian Cage looks at them in disgust, before AJ Styles says, "Want me and Tomko to teach you how?" A puzzled cage walks off, with Styles and Tomko following behind, shining their tag titles as they leave.
Christian Cage, AJ Styles & Tomko vs. Raven, Havoc & Black Reign
We return from commercial with Raven, Havoc and Black Reign already in the ring as Christian Cage's music hits, and Cage, along with the TNA Tag Team champions, make their way to the ring. As the match gets underway with Christian Cage taking it to Havoc and doing his best to put himself over as the "leader" of the trio, Jeremy Borash and Kevin Nash discuss the possible dissention between Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Tomko. Nash sides with Cage, saying that he deserves to be at the top of the ladder and that Tomko cost him the ladder match at last week's PPV. Borash says even if Tomko was aiming for Cage rather than Ron Killings, the fact is that Cage has no gold right now, while Styles and Tomko do.
Christian continues to dominate the match, working over Havoc and later Black Reign after Havoc manages to tag out. Seeing how dominant he has been, Cage decides to get a little cocky, and climbs to the top rope. He attempts a missile dropkick, but Reign falls to the ground and Cage misses his target, which causes Tomko and Styles to start giggling to each other on the outside. An irate Christian Cage confronts them both, but Tomko sees it as an opportunity to make a tag, and tags Christian out. Tomko charges at Raven (who was tagged into the match as Cage confronted AJ and Tomko) and takes him down with a shoulder tackle. He follows it up with a powerslam and then a neck breaker. The referee loses control as Havoc breaks up a pinfall attempt by Havoc, and all six men get into the ring. Havoc and Raven are taken down by Styles and Tomko and sent to the outside. Styles then dives over the top rope and lands on Raven and Havoc on the outside. As this is happening, Christian Cage blind tags himself in, much to Tomko's annoyance. As Tomko jumps off the ring apron to assist Styles on the outside, Christian hits Black Reign with the Unprettier and makes the cover to get the win. Winners at 10:02 - Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Tomko
A recap of proceedings from the top of the show airs, showing how tonight's main event came about. Jeremy Borash and Kevin Nash preview the match as we see on-screen graphics showing the "tale of the tape".
The match starts with all four men in the ring yelling at each other and getting into a shoving match. Roode and Steiner duck to the outside to allow Kaz and Killings to start the match. Nash comments on how smart a move that is, with Roode and Steiner letting everyone else beat the hell out of each other before swooping in and taking the glory. Borash replies that Nash made a career out of doing exactly that.
Kaz and Killings start out with some even-paced wrestling, trying to take each other down and get the advantage, but neither man is able to get it. After they both duck clotheslines, they have a standoff. From the ring apron, Scott Steiner yells at Killings “Hey you little punk! Tag me in so I can show you how it’s done!†Steiner gets the tag, and takes down Kaz with an amateur takedown, then slaps him playfully in the head before walking towards Ms. Brooks and flexing his muscles. Roode gets angry at this, and shoves Steiner, but Steiner takes him down with a huge clothesline and Roode ducks outside and hides behind Ms. Brooks. Killings blind tags himself in and gets into a brawl with Steiner, punching away at him but eventually being overwhelmed as Steiner hammers away repeatedly until Killings is down and covering up in the corner.
With Killings down, Roode tags in and starts beating on him, taking him down with a powerslam only for Kaz to make the save. This brings Steiner back in, as he takes all three of his opponents down with belly-to-belly suplexes which bring three two-counts as a result. Steiner looks to hit another suplex on Kaz, only for Kaz to hammer away with elbows to block the move and counter with a vertical suplex of his own. Kaz runs the ropes, but Ms. Brooks trips him up. Senior referee Rudy Charles sees this action, and Ms. Brooks is ejected from ringside and sent to the back. She's shown throwing a tantrum and being dragged off by security as we head to break.
We return from the commercial break with Scott Steiner laying into Killings with big forearms. Steiner tries to lock in the camel clutch, but Kaz makes the save with a low dropkick to the head. This pattern of big moves being hit and people making the save continues for a few more minutes, including Robert Roode hitting Killings and then Kaz with his trademark Payoff move. Roode attempts the Payoff on Steiner, but is unable to lift him. Kaz hits Killings with a big boot but is attacked from behind by Roode, who throws him to the outside. Roode then nails Kaz with a chair shot - busting him open - before returning to the ring where he then throws Steiner to the outside.
With Killings down, Roode hovers over him but gets caught by surprise with a small package for another near fall. He then nails Killings with a lariat, but as the referee counts, a bloody Kaz delivers a chair shot to Roode’s back and throws him outside. Both Roode and Kaz brawl around ringside, taking their fight into the crowd and eventually out of view of the live fans and even outside the building. We then cut back to the ring, as a very tired Ron Killings is delivering weak punches to Steiner, who levels Killings with a huge clothesline and elbow drop for a two count. Steiner then hits Killings with a Scorpion Death Drop, meant as a clear message to the current TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Sting. Killings again kicks out at two. Steiner then locks on the camel clutch. Now nobody is there to make the save. Killings’ arm drops twice, but on the third drop he fights back. Killings works the crowd as he gets back up to his feet until he’s got Steiner on his back, and he drops to the mat, forcing Steiner to release the hold.
An angry and frustrated Steiner hammers away at Killings, but Killings fights back from his knees with punches. When he gets back on his feet, Steiner’s legs start to wobble and Killings has the advantage, with the crowd going nuts for him. With Steiner wobbly, but still huge, Killings struggles to knock the guy off his feet with punches, clotheslines, or even a jumping clothesline, so instead he hits a running dropkick that finally knocks Steiner off his feet. Killings takes the opportunity to climb up to the top rope, and with Steiner struggling to get to his feet, Killings waits for the perfect moment to meet his opponent with a top rope dropkick, sending Steiner crashing to the mat. As Killings makes the cover, the crowds booming roar of “1-2-3!†counts along with the referee to signify Killings’ victory. Winner at 21:54 and new #1 contender - Ron 'The Truth' Killings
Killings celebrates as the show goes off the air, with Jeremy Borash saying that after his impressive outings tonight and at last week's PPV, there is no question that The Truth could soon be The Champ.
We're looking for your feedback on this week's show. To vote, simply email vote@tnalt.com with your thumbs up, down or in the middle. Votes will be accepted up until Saturday, November 24 at 12noon EST, with the "rating" being announced next Sunday at the start of TNAlt #6!
You can contact Phil Lowe at phil@tnalt.com or Mark Bright at mark@tnalt.com
