In dire news for TNA, rumored 8 Card Stud tournament winner, Hernandez has been sidelined with a broken hand
Here's the list of qualifiers for the 8 Card Stud tournament so far:
Desmond Wolfe (defeated Sean Morley)
Hernandez (defeated Daniels, but now injured)
- 1 -
The show opens with an irate Kurt Angle out in the ring. He wants to talk to Hogan, and he wants to talk to him now. He's furious about being attacked by The Band last week, especially right after Hogan and he had seemingly buried the hatchet. He has a match in the Eight Card Stud tournament tonight and he dares The Band to get involved in his business. He dares them, because if they do - he's going to end their careers and then he's going to go after Hogan.
This, of course, brings out the Hulkster. He claims he is hurt by Angle's accusations. He swears he isn't affiliated with The Band and will do all he can to ensure they're kept out of the building tonight.
Angle calls bullsh*t, and tells Hogan to stay out of his way if he doesn't want his ankle broken.
RATING: 92%
- 2 -
The Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Nasty Boys
The crowd aren't so hot for this one, but the Nasty Boys make a decent effort to keep up with their much younger, faster opposition. The two young bucks don't make a huge effort to sell the veteran teams' offence, and the match doesn't get an ending when
Team 3-D hit the ring.
The decorated tag team lay out Jerry Sags with 3-D to end the match by DQ, but it doesn't end there.
Beer Money hit the ring as well, and they make a beeline for 3-D. Storm puts down Devon with Last Call, and Roode treats Ray to a Northern Lariat. Knobs is treated to stereo superkicks from MCMG and the TNA originals stand tall over the veterans!
WINNERS: The Nasty Boys by DQ (Team 3-D interference)
RATING: 68/64/73
- 3 -
We return from the break to find Eric Bischoff out in the ring, and he's calling out Mick Foley. Last week the two were told to get along or get out by Hogan, but thus far they haven't reached any kind of peace. Bischoff praises himself and belittles Foley before calling the Hardcore Legend out.
Foley cuts a promo talking about Bischoff's many failings in the past, and how seeing him in charge of TNA is like catching another man with his wife. He hates Bischoff and would like nothing more to quit, but he knows Eric wouldn't be above firing his good friends, Abyss & Jeremy Borash if that were to happen.
Eric asks if Foley has seen Borash today, and tells him maybe he should check the unemployment office. Foley rushes the ring in rage, but Bischoff holds up a contract he claims belongs to Abyss. He says Foley had better co-operate or he's going to be ending his career and Abyss' as well.
An angry but beaten Foley is forced to put his enmity aside and retreat back up the ramp. Bischoff gloats.
RATING: 86%
- 4 -
Doug Williams (c) vs. Amazing Red for the X-Division Title
Brutus Magnus and Rob Terry are ringside for this one, and Terry's wearing the Global Championship he won on TNA's European tour last week. The big man seems to have calmed down a bit now that he's got some gold, leaving only Brutus Magnus without something around his waste.
This is a better match than their last, brief outing. Red plays the underdog to perfection, but the influence of British Invasion at ringside is hard to ignore. After having his foot snagged and wasting time yelling at Magnus, Red is caught from behind with a hard release German suplex for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Doug Williams by pinfall (German Suplex)
RATING: 69/63/75
- 5 -
Kurt Angle vs. Brian Kendrick in an Eight Card Stud qualifier
We're back from the break and Angle is scanning the crowd for signs of The Band as Kendrick smugly makes his way down to the ring.
Despite the calibre of guys in this match, they just don't click. It's fast paced and there's some enjoyable stuff, but the chemistry isn't there. Angle looks to have things firmly in control when he spots Scott Hall posing as a cameraman at ringside. He tosses Kendrick into the turnbuckle and goes after Hall, who bails out and flees up the ramp.
Behind Angle, Waltman slides a chair into the ring and tells Kendrick to use it. When Angle slides back into the ring, Kendrick lifts it up and the ref rushes to stop him. While he's busy, Waltman knocks Angle down with an X-Factor and rolls under the ring. Kendrick pushes the ref aside and covers for the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Brian Kendrick by pinfall (Sean Waltman interference)
RATING: 76/80/69
Brian Kendrick gained 1 point of overness
- 6 -
Back from the break, we find Ric Flair and AJ Styles partying backstage with some beautiful bitches. After being warned that the holiday was over last week, the two are discussing the Eight Card Stud tournament and laughing at the young guys who are involved. Flair assures Styles, he can beat any of them.
RATING: 91%
AJ Styles gained 2 points of overness
- 7 -
Mr. Anderson vs. Matt Morgan in an 8 Card Stud qualifier
After announcing himself, Anderson looks less than impressed when his opponent is revealed to be the Blueprint. This match is to find out who replaces Hernandez in the tournament after his injury on the European tour.
These two have a really good chemistry, and while it's not a technical classic, it's the best match of the night so far. Morgan's power game is offset nicely by Anderson's cowardly, cerebral approach to things. The match ends with Anderson eats a Carbon Footprint.
WINNER: Matt Morgan by pinfall (Carbon Footprint)
RATING: 78/79/78
- 8 -
Backstage after the break, an irate Mr. Anderson is complaining about how unfair the tournament draw was when he bumps into the Black Pope, D'Angelo Dinero. The charismatic former WWE star cuts a typically Rock like promo in which he mocks Anderson's announcing and tells him to watch how it's done as he seeks to qualify in a match tonight.
Anderson attempts to rebut, but Pope throws up a hand. "FACE"
RATING: 75%
- 9 -
D'Angelo Dinero vs. Tomko
It's Tomko's in ring return here, and he's up against the clear crowd favorite - Dinero. These two have a great chemistry as well, and where Tomko is all about power, Dinero is able to go toe to toe courtesy of his history as a boxer.
It's too and fro stuff, but we don't get the outcome we'd like because Anderson is out to rebut against Pope's pre match comments. He slides into the ring and blasts Dinero with a chair for the DQ. Dinero's qualified for the tournament, but he doesn't look like celebrating.
Tomko's clearly not happy with Anderson's involvement, though. He feeds Anderson a running big boot for his troubles.
WINNER: D'Angelo Dinero by DQ (Mr. Anderson interference)
RATING: 72/69/75
- 10 -
After we return from the break, Hulk Hogan is out in the ring to a loud, but mixed reaction. He's not out here to address the continued attacks on Kurt Angle - he's out here to talk about the champion and his unhealthy new alignment with The Nature Boy. He's sick and tired of the TNA Champion acting like a spoiled rock-star, and he's going to solve the problem right now.
AJ Styles is going to defend his title, and he's going to defend it against a man who deserves a title shot. He says Eric Bischoff may have a problem with Abyss, but Hogan doesn't. Hogan has a lot of respect for him - and he's going to give him his chance to shine.
It's a generic promo, but it's delivered with real passion. The fans are left chanting for Abyss and their stance on Hogan seems to have softened as well.
RATING: 100%
- 11 -
AJ Styles (c) vs. Abyss for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
There's electricity for this one, as a clearly reluctant Styles steps into the ring with the monster that is Abyss. The fans are right behind the insane freak, especially after his recent treatment by Bischoff.
Flair is at ringside and he's doing his part to rile up the crowd.
Right off the bat, it's clear Styles wants none of this. He continually bails out of the ring, ducks behind the referee, and adopts similarly cowardly tactics. It can't last forever though, and soon Abyss gets his hands on the champion and a thoroughly crowd pleasing beating ensues.
Styles isn't champion for nothing, though, and after hitting a Pele - he begins to control things. He shows a decidedly mean streak as he delivers hard chops before hitting a few of his trademark moves.
Abyss battles back but Flair's out to distract the referee. Abyss goes to the outside and drags Flair into the ring, and the fans are going bananas.
Styles is to his feet and has the title in hand, but
Samoa Joe is in the ring. He catches the champion with a running shoulder block that sends him to the outside. Meanwhile, Abyss whips Flair to the ropes... BLACK HOLE SLAM.
Abyss and Joe stand tall, but Joe attacks Abyss from behind. COQUINA CLUTCH! Joe's laid out the champion and the challenger, and the show ends with him standing tall and scowling at the crowd.
WINNER: No Contest (Samoa Joe interference)
RATING: 78/80/74
-----
OVERALL: 80%
BEST: Hogan gives Abyss his chance
WORST: Motor City Machine Guns vs. Nasty Boys
MOTN: Matt Morgan vs. Mr. Kennedy (MQ: 78%)
