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Welcome to the 9th edition of TNAlt here at PWInsiderXtra.com. If you missed last week's show, you can read it by clicking here!
Last week's show did a 1.3 rating (based on "thumbs up" getting the majority of the vote). As always, we'll be looking for your feedback on this week's show. Further details are available at the bottom of the page.
With Christmas just a couple of weeks away, we're taking two weeks off after today, meaning that TNAlt #10 will be appearing on Sunday, January 6 ahead of January's PPV, which we'll be printing on Wednesday, January 9.
Don't forget the rules in which we write these columns. To keep things as realistic as possible, if a wrestler under contract to TNA Wrestling leaves the company, we have two weeks to write him or her out of our shows.
TNAlt #9 - Sunday, December 16
Second show ahead of next month's PPV (available Wednesday, January 9)
Location: Orlando, FL
Announce team: Jeremy Borash & Kevin Nash
The show starts with a video package based on Sting's heel turn and Daniels' big win last week, as a voiceover points out that two men had used different methods to shake off their past. At the next PPV, two divergent paths will meet as one when The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels faces The Icon Sting for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
After the video package, we cut to Jeremy Borash and Kevin Nash at ringside. Borash says that last week, Ron Killings had his leg broken, and Senshi lost a loser-leaves-TNA match. Nash says, "We can't grieve forever", and at the next PPV, the two men responsible for "clearing out some deadwood" will meet in the main event with the World Heavyweight Title on the line. Borash continues the argument, saying he's followed Sting's career both as a fan and colleague for 20 years, and wants to know where this change in attitude came from. Then Sting's music hits and Nash says Borash is fixing to get his answer.
Sting comes to the ring to a chorus of boos. He looks offended, saying to the crowd that that's no way to treat "your World Champion." He says that he's been around for a long time, and has always tried to do the right thing, but asks, "Where did it ever get me?" In WCW, he tried to always do the right thing, yet Ric Flair, Hollywood Hogan and Big Van Vader broke the rules, cheated, had backup, and did whatever it took to win and retain World Championships. He says that in TNA, it's the same: "Everybody complains about Jeff Jarrett having backup, or using the guitar, or taking out referees, or bribing people. But the facts state that Jeff Jarrett has been TNA World Heavyweight Champion more times than anyone else."
Sting says it never bothered him all that much. He always thought he could get ahead by "hard work and doing the right thing by people." But now, at this late stage in his career, he realized that he'd been doing things wrongly his whole life. He's the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and as such, he's going to do "whatever it takes" to hang onto the gold. Now, Sting says, "It's a whole new set of rules in the sport of professional wrestling. This is my belt. It's staying my belt for as long as I care to keep it, and if you think you can do anything to stop it, why don't you ask Ron Killings how that worked out for him?"
Christopher Daniels interrupts, saying that he knows all about doing whatever it takes to win championships. Yet even so, there's one title that's always eluded him, and that's the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. He says to Sting, since he was willing to dive off a cage to beat somebody who used to be his closest friend, imagine what length he'd go to in order to achieve his lifetimes ambition. So, "if you're willing to do whatever it takes to keep the title, and I KNOW I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win, then it looks like we're in for one hell of a fight." Sting replies "I guess we are...the difference is, you don't know what it's like to be in a main event with a guy who can END your lifetime's dreams in one moment. And deep down in your heart, you KNOW I can - and will - crush your dreams. Then...you will NEVER get another chance at my title."
Daniels gets in Sting's face and questions this new attitude. "You know what I used to respect about you? This sport has always had guys who talked and talked and talked about how great they were. You - when you were someone people here and around the world could respect - never ran your mouth and never made big claims you couldn't back up. You went out there, didn't rise to the bait, and fought like a true champion. Now, THAT'S the Christopher Daniels way of doing things, and I will bring back some pride and respect to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship."
Sting tries to take a shot at Daniels, but Daniels blocks the punch and answers back with some of his own, clearing the ring. Sting throws a tantrum and orders the referee to grab his belt. Sting holds the belt up high as he walks to the back, with Daniels starting a hole through him the entire time.
We cut to a video package showing clips of how we got to tonight's main event, which sees X Division champion Kurt Angle, defend his newly won title against the former champion, Jay Lethal. From there, we cut backstage, where Mike Tenay is Jay Lethal and Miss Valerie.
Tenay asks Lethal whether having a taste for championship gold previously means he's even more desperate to get it back. Lethal says he's been "thinkin' thinkin' bout that every day, yeah." Lethal follows that up by stating that he knows he can beat Kurt Angle tonight because he's done it before. He says Kurt is a tremendous athlete who has held titles all over the world, but tonight, with Miss Valerie (who stands in the background saying nothing throughout the entire interview) in his corner, he has another shot to become X Division champion, and he's prepared for the fight of his life with the toughest opponent he's ever faced.
Non-Title Match: Amazing Kong vs. Angel Williams
As the champion comes to the ring, the announcers talk about how Gail Kim will be ready to return to television in the New Year, but that Jackie Moore is out for an undetermined amount of time. As the match starts, Angel tries to take the fight to Kong immediately with punches and a dropkick, but it doesn't move the giant off her feet. Angel attempts a clothesline, but Kong blocks the move and hits a clothesline of her own to take Williams down. Kong then picks her opponent up off the mat and hits her with a powerbomb before running the ropes and hitting a big splash for the pin. Winner at 3:23 - Awesome Kong
After the match, Kong holds her belt high in the air, as Borash and Nash comment on who could possibly stop her. ODB's music hits and she comes down the ramp to get into a confrontation with Kong. Kong pie faces ODB, but ODB no-sells it. She shoots a look Kong's way, and then nails the champ with a forearm. Kong staggers back from the shot, but doesn't go down. They then unload at each other with punches, and are just getting into a major fight when it's broken up by security and officials.
A video package for next month's PPV airs.
Chris Harris vs. Consequences Creed
We return from commercials with Creed still in charge as the commentators put over that Harris seems distracted. Creed whips Harris into the ropes and ducks his head for a back bodydrop, but Harris is able to grab his head and hit Creed with a DDT for a two count. Now, with Harris in charge, he lays the boots in and dominates, taking Creed up top for a superplex, and then hitting a superkick. As he waits for Creed to get up off the mat for the Katatonic, James Storm shows up in the entrance way, stumbling around. He's clearly drunk, slurring his words as he shouts at Harris to "stay out of my business. What the hell is your problem?" Harris stops his comeback on Creed, and watches Storm from the ring with a concerned look on his face. The distraction allows Creed to recover and grab Harris from behind. Creed connects with a German suplex, followed by a top rope leg drop to get the win. Winner at 6:59 - Consequences Creed
Harris looks shocked at his pinfall loss, but then quickly exits the ring as his primary concern is James Storm, who has staggered backstage. Harris follows him to the back as Borash takes a moment to put over Creed's first win in TNA.
We stay at ringside where Jeremy Borash tells us that later in tonight's show we'll hear from Booker T, and that Samoa Joe will be in action before telling us that the action continues immediately after the next commercial break!
Rhino vs. Robert Roode (w/ Ms. Brooks)
Both men make their way to the ring as we return from commercials but before they can lock up, Matt Morgan comes out. He grabs the microphone and gets in Rhino's face, stating that after what happened between them at the PPV, if anyone is going to get the chance to beat the hell out of Rhino tonight, it's going to be him. Robert Roode says "If you want Robert Roode Enterprises to do something for you, you know what your end of the bargain is." Morgan hands over a roll of $100 bills, which Roode takes before leaving the ring to watch the match from ringside.
Rhino vs. Matt Morgan (w/Robert Roode & Ms. Brooks)
Tables Match: The Motor City Machine Guns (w/ Jim Cornette) vs. Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave (w/ Christy Hemme)
Samoa Joe vs. Black Reign
Jeremy Borash advises us that we'll hear from Booker T at the conclusion of this match. Joe makes his way out, with Borash putting over that his opponent tonight has had success in other companies during his career and that Joe may find he has a tough match tonight. Nash adds that Joe wants to prove to Booker T that he can beat anybody put in front of him. The match gets underway, with Joe laying into Reign with forearms and right hands. Reign sends Joe into the ropes and hits a clothesline, who no-sells it. He hits Reign with an overhead throw and a stiff lariat before picking him up and connecting with a muscle buster. Rather than making the cover, he steps back, and leads the referee (and the crowd) in a ten count, putting over the Last Man Standing stipulation at next month's PPV. Winner via count out at 1:49 - Samoa Joe
Jeremy Borash and Kevin Nash both put over Joe's impressive win before Borash leads us into a video package set at Booker T's training school in Texas. We see clips of Booker dishing out punishment to several of his students, putting over his strength and ability to finish an opponent off. Throughout this, Booker is providing the voiceover to tell us about how at next month's PPV, he'll prove to the world that he's still got it, and that Joe is "still just a punk". He finishes by saying, "One man will be left standing, and it sure as hell won't be him."
Another package for next month's PPV airs ahead of our main event, which is up next.
X Division Title Match: Kurt Angle vs. Jay Lethal (w/Miss Valerie)
Lethal and Miss Valerie make their way to the ring first, followed by the X Division Champion, Kurt Angle. David Penzer does the big time introductions in the ring as Jeremy Borash and Kevin Nash give us the tale of the tape.
They lock up, with Angle in control straight away. Borash discusses Angle's experience and technical advantage over Lethal as the Olympic gold medalist takes Lethal down to the mat and outwrestles him with a series of holds and takedowns. They get back to their feet and lock up again, with Angle repeating the previous sequence. Again they both get back to their feet. This time, Angle mocks Lethal and stars doing star jumps in front of him. Lethal gets an angry look in his face, and slaps Angle hard. Angle chases Lethal around the ring, but as Lethal looks like he's going to dive through the ropes, he holds onto them and swings himself back into the ring, leaving Angle to crash and burn through the ropes to the outside as we head to commercials.
We return with both men back in the ring, with Lethal in a headlock as we see a replay off the footage missed during the break with Angle cheap-shotting Lethal with a thumb to the eye behind the referee's back. Miss Valerie does her best to get the crowd behind Lethal, who breaks free of the headlock. He sends Angle into the ropes and hits a clothesline, then connects with several Macho Man punches. He sends Angle into the ropes once more but Angle this time ducks a clothesline attempt and takes down Lethal with a clothesline of his own.
Lethal kicks out of a pinfall attempt, but Angle again takes him down to the mat and slows the pace, wearing Lethal down. Miss Valerie gets behind her man once again, and the reaction from the crowd spurs Lethal on as he makes a comeback for a second time. Again he connects with some right hands on Lethal, and again Angle ducks a clothesline attempt, but this time Angle tries to connect with a right hand of his own, which Lethal blocks. He hits some more Macho Man-esque punches then scoops Angle up and bodyslams him. Lethal signals to the crowd that he's going up to the top rope, but as he does so, Angle rises to his feet and runs up the ropes to catch Lethal and hit the Olympic Slam from the top rope, sending them both back down to the mat.
Slowly, Angle makes the cover, but Lethal manages to kick out on two. They both stay down for some time before slowly rising to their feet. They go back and forth with some sluggish punches before Angle ducks under a punch and takes Lethal down once again. This time, however, instead of wearing him down, Angle looks to go for the kill. He works over Lethal's leg before locking on the ankle lock in the centre of the ring. On the outside, Miss Valerie again gets behind her man, but this time, Karen Angle runs to ringside from the back and decks Valerie, as Lethal watches on from the centre of the ring.
With Miss Valerie down and out on the outside, Karen cheers on Kurt as Lethal struggles to stay in the match. He teases tapping out, but with the crowd behind him, he fights on, and manages to eventually make it to the ropes. He uses the ropes to pull himself to his feet, but Angle takes him down once again. This time, however, he can't lock in the ankle lock, as Lethal kicks him away. Lethal gets back to his feet, and as Angle charges at him, stops him in his tracks with a hard right hand. Lethal then hits Angle with his float over Macho Man spot to the outside, with Angle's neck and head bouncing back off the top rope to the mat. Lethal - obviously in pain from the impact of landing on the outside, hobbles up the ring steps and seeks the approval of the crowd as he climbs to the top rope. With Angle still down in the centre of the ring, Lethal gets ready to deliver a top-rope elbow, only for Karen Angle to jump onto the ring apron and try to knock Lethal off. Lethal sees her, and pushes her away, before connecting with the elbow drop on Kurt. He makes the cover, but Angle kicks out on two as the crowd and announcers can't believe that Angle managed to kick out and that this match is continuing.
They both slowly rise to their feet again. With the referee distracted for a split-second by other referees coming to ringside to eject Karen Angle, Kurt manages to hit Lethal with a low blow. Borash calls it a cowardly move, but Nash counters by saying, "the referee just proved he's human, JB. He took his eye off the ball for a split-second, and Angle made the most of it. Call it cowardly if you like, but that's smart in my book." Angle hits a German suplex, but doesn't release.
After taking a quick breather while holding on to Lethal, he hits a second then a third German suplex. On the third, he makes the bridge. The referee counts 1, 2, 3 and the bell rings. The majority of the crowd start to boo and show their disapproval as Angle releases the hold and crumples to the mat. David Penzer stands up at ringside and says, "the winner of this match and still X..." only to be cut off by referee Earl Hebner who shouts "No, no!" at Penzer before running over to him and speaking to him off-mic. Penzer acknowledges what Hebner has told him and says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, referee Earl Hebner has just informed me that Kurt Angle's shoulders did not leave the mat, therefore this match has been officially declared a draw."
The crowd cheer after learning of the official result, which is questioned on commentary by Nash. As he and Jeremy Borash debate the outcome, we're shown a replay of the pinfall from several angles, all showing the right decision was called and that Earl Hebner was in the right position to call it. As they debate it, Borash says, "Hold on, Kevin. I'm getting word from the back. They're telling me in my ear that TNA management have just ruled that at next month's PPV, Angle and Lethal will face each other again!"
We fade to black with Borash repeating "It's going to be Angle vs. Lethal next month on PPV - this time will we get a winner?" as the crane camera shows a worn-out Angle and Lethal just getting back up to their feet and staring at each other from opposite sides of the ring.
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. With the extended Christmas break, for this week, votes will be accepted up until Saturday, January 5 at 12noon EST, with the "rating" being announced next Sunday at the start of TNAlt #10!
You can contact Phil Lowe at phil@tnalt.com or Mark Bright at mark@tnalt.com
