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Monday, January 15, 2007

The Aftermath: TNA Final Resolution 2007

You read my coverage, now for my thoughts. This will be the last word on Final Resolution for hopefully another year. Warning, this column contains a horrifying visual thought proceed at your own digression.



Thumb position: down, this show didn't offend me so much as it was just incredibly boring. There were some things I found quite stupid on this show and I will run them all down. This was a boring show that actually had some moderately decent in ring.

Best Match: Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe, this was not as good as either of their previous matches. It didn't have the drama or the heat and once you got to where it was 3-2, you knew what was coming.

Worst Match: The Main Event. I lost track of who was interfering and who's side they were on and why. Vince Russo has a lot of problems and 1 of the biggies is swerving people to the point where they don't know what outcome they're supposed to even want to see so they stop caring.

Worst Finish: Ok, so apparently the world heavyweight title can change on a disqualification but the tag titles do not. I don't understand that one but that was not the worst offender.
So AJ Styles can tell that Rhino is about to Gore him a third time so rather than take it he loses on purpose. He knows enough to know where he is and what's coming but would be unable to avoid the move if he got up? Not only that but he just lost a match on purpose. If this were a real sport they'd call that kind of thing point shaving and you can go to jail for that. AJ basically said I'd rather lose than get beat up which makes no sense. I can't decide if this finish is even worse than the finish of the tag title match from last year's show but its close.

Best way to drag something out: The Bob Backlund thing was an example of a story that is told in comedy quite often. If you play a joke out, it will get laughs, if you play it out long enough people will stop laughing and if you play it out further than that they'll laugh even harder. The Bob Backlund stuff tonight must have been the exception to this rule because they lost the audience and never got them back.

Worst outcome of best intension's: Something tells me that the Christy Hemme idea was at least influenced a bit by Dixie Carter. The problem is that wrestling is a male dominated industry because it is a male dominated fan base. Christy's promo was OK but she's the heel in this feud even though she stands for equality against a chauvinist pig in Kip James.

Most predictable outcome: Wrestler A pins Wrestler B to win Wrestler C's title. Sabin pinned Lynn and won Daniels' title. Is this the only finish to a 3-way that Russo knows? I've just had a horrid thought but its in my head so I'm sharing it with the world but you've been warmed. I bet that Russo was in a threesome, did all of the work on the girl and had the other guy steal the orgasm. I know that's quite the visual and I'm standing at the sink next to you trying to decide which liquid will burn my eyes the fastest but that has to be how he's fixated on this one.

Final thoughts: Watching Raw made me want to watch this show as I thought I'd see some decent wrestling even if the booking was hit or miss or way miss or dude not in the same universe miss. However, watching this show made me want to watch Raw another try.

Thumbs so far down.

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Sunday, January 14, 2007

CARE TNA Final Resolution 2007 Predictions recap

Welcome to week 2 of our year-long prediction battle. We had 3 new players join the game so lets see how things stand out after TNA Final Resolution.



Preshow Match: Lance Hoyt Def. Chase Stevens
Everyone got this right, no big shock.

Match 1: Rhino Def. AJ Styles – Last Man Standing
In the first bout of the night we had a 4 to 3 split. AJ Styles was the pick of myself, Ric and Scott. Art, Euan, Wade and Marcus all picked Rhino. This 1 went to the majority.

Match 2: NWA X-division title: Chris Sabin Def. Christopher Daniels and Jerry Lynn
This was not an uncommon occurrence tonight either. Marcus picked Sabin and everyone else picked either Lynn or Daniels.

Match 3: PCS Finals: Alex Shelley Def. Austin Starr
Once again, it was a case of 1 person getting It right and that was Marcus. The rest of us picked Starr while Marcus predicted a Shelley victory.

Match 4: James Storm Def. Petey Williams
In this match myself, Art and Euan picked Williams and the rest picked Storm.

Match 5: NWA World Tag Team Titles: The Latin American Xchange Def. Team 3D
In this match we had Ric and Wade boldly predicting victory for Team 3D. In a related story, in this match we had Ric and Wade boldly being wrong. But hey, I know the feeling.

Match 6: 30:00 Iron man match: Kurt Angle-3 Def. Samoa Joe-2
In this match we had 1 man that predicted Kurt Angle even though his gut said it would be a draw. It’s a good thing Ric doesn’t listen to his gut or else he’d be really fat and he’d not have the honor of being the only 1 to get this right.

Match 7: NWA World Heavyweight Title: Christian Cage Def. Sting and Abyss
Again the pattern was set. Once again Ric Gillespie was the only man to correctly predict a Christian Cage Championship victory.

So according to the old scores on the board…
TNA Standings:
Marcus: 6 wins, 2 losses for 75%
Ric: 4 wins, 4 losses for 50%
Art: 3 wins, 5 losses for 37.5%
Euan: 3 wins, 5 losses for 37.5%
Scott: 3 wins, 5 losses for
Wade: 3 wins, 5 losses for
Casey: 2 wins, 6 losses for 25%

As is the custom with the person that finished n last. When I asked myself to comment on my performance tonight I flipped myself off and kicked me in the nuts.

It seems that the less you were familiar with TNA’s product the better you ended up doing. If not that then the more familiar you were with TNA’s product the worse you predicted tonight.

In the Overall Standings:
Marcus: 1 event, 6 wins with 2 losses for 75%
Casey: 2 Events, 6 wins with 9 losses for 40%
Ric: 2 events, 6 wins with 9 losses for 40%
Art: 2 Events, 4 wins with 10 losses for 28.5%
Euan: 2 Events, 3 wins with 10 losses for 23.1%
Scott: 1 event, 3 wins with 5 losses for 37.5%
Wade: 1 event, 3 wins with 5 losses for 37.5%

You’ve got close races at both the top and bottom of the standings. The new comers made a good showing for themselves during this TNA show, but for the original members known as CARE the tide may shift. The next event to be predicted is Ultimate Fight Night Live and the CARE team are more acquainted with MMA as a rule and these fighters in general than their counterparts. But, you never know who will get lucky and come out on top. So check in to the roundtable preview for Fight Night Live January 25 to see how things break down.

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NWA-TNA Final Resolution 2007 Live Coverage

Hi everybody! After a lengthy disappearance from the OCC I have returned to do live coverage of Final Resolution. I would also like you to know that I am on vacation this week so expect to see a lot more of me whether you like it or not!

Click here for Casey's coverage

We start the show with the Last Man Standing match.
Rhino takes control to start. Nice slingshot to the outside on Styles. AJ hits a dropkick then rams Rhino's head into the turnbuckle. Springboard crossbody block and Styles gets the first pin. Rhino makes it back up but Styles goes back after him. Rhino with a reverse powerbomb on Styles into the turnbuckle. Great flip dive by Styles on Rhino. Awesome spinebuster by Rhino gets him a pin. Both men back up now and Rhino gets back in control. Rhino tries for a superplex but Styles blocks it and gets a sunset flip for 2. Rhino with a nearfall. Rhino! Get the tables! Styles comes out and crotches Rhino onto a sideways table followed by a flying forearm for 2. Styles went to the well one time too often and gets a powerbomb from Rhino for 2. Styles gets a Pele but doesn't capitalize which allows Rhino to hit the Gore. Another Gores that flips Styles onto his stomach and gets a pin. Rhino now outside setting up a table. Styles was going to get up but sits back down and Rhino wins. WTF? Rhino brings Styles back out and piledrives him on the entrance area. Rhino now brings a table up to Styles and tries for a Gore through the table but Styles moves and he crashes through it.

Next match is the triple threat for the X-Division Championship. Lynn and Daniels double team Sabin to start. Daniels with a roll up for 2. Sabin back in and they run the ropes. Double move on Lynn and Sabin and Sabin gets clotheslined out. Figure Four headscissors by Daniels on Lynn. Daniels tries to come back in but gets knocked back out. Excellent reverse DDT from Lynn on Sabin that gets 2. Daniels back in with a submission on Lynn which is broken up by Sabin. Lynn is now the one being kept outside. Nearfall for Sabin. Mule kick by Sabin then ties Daniels to the Tree of Woe and hits the awesome hesitation Dropkick. Lynn now back in and does a double dropkick from the top. Triple move from the top. Daniels with the BME but broken up by Lynn. Lynn tries for a powerbomb but Sabin rakes his eyes. Sitout powerbomb by Lynn is broken up by Daniels. Lynn with a pin on Daniels but broken up by Sabin. Cradle piledriver on Daniels but Sabin rolls Lynn up and holds the tights for the win.

Finals of PCS is up next. Judges are Samolian Joe, Big Fat Oily Guy (MY EYES!!!) and Bob Backlund. Could've done without BFOG. Series of reversals by both men with Starr taking advantage. Good clothesline by Shelly. Wish they'd stop showing BFOG. Shelly to the outside and Starr hits a springboard crossbody on Shelly. Suicide Dive by Shelly right in front of they judges. Nearfall for Shelly. Awesome kick by Shelly gets 2. Excellent springboard DDT by Shelly gets 2 and it's down to 1 minute. Camel Clutch by Starr and Shelly doesn't submit as the match ends. Samolian Joe goes for Starr, BFOG goes for Shelly and Backlund goes through all of the categories and goes for a draw. Nash calls for a 5-minute overtime and Shelly wins. Starr is going nuts and puts down Nash and the other wrestlers in the PCS. He makes fun of Senshi then slaps him. He goes outside and slaps Backlund who puts him in the Crossface Chicken Wing.

Storm vs. Petey Williams is next. Williams gets the advantage early. Petey tries for a sling shot move but Storm moves. Eye of the Storm gets a near fall. Powerbomb reversal by Williams gets 2. Great DDT by Storm gets 2. Knees to the chin by Williams gets 2. Series of finishing reversals and Storm gets the win with a roll up and holding the middle rope.

VKM are now out. They "declare victory" against WWE. Billy Gun just stands there and looks stupid while Roaddogg blabbers on about the little publicity TNA got while Raw was in St. Louis. Now Roaddog is claiming he's fighting the great fight against WWE for the fans and not for his jealous ass who's mad that he couldn't be part the DX Reunion. TNA would like to remind everyone that "they're not gonna take it." Christy Hemme comes out, loooking really good I might add, and cuts an emotional but somewhat strange promo about Chyna's contribution to DX and how the women of TNA want to wrestle to rather than just standing around for eye candy. Christy just bitch slapped Billy Gun.

Team 3D vs. LAX is up now. D-Von and Hernandez start out. D-Von lays into Hernandez then tags in Bubba. Bubba wants Homicide in the ring. Homicide gets thrown around like a rag doll, gets a 2 count and tags D-Von. Double team move by LAX gets 2. I'm not doing much play by play due to actually watching the match. Bubba has bled the hard way. Double clothesline by D-Von. The ropes sound like they're rather squeaky. Somebody must not have used WD-40 when they set up the ring. Tag to Bubba and they do "What's up!" and give a 3-D to Homicide. Spike is now out in the Santa suit, drunk and causes a DQ.

Joe/Angle 3 is up now. Series of European Uppercuts on Joe. Great kick by Joe to the side of Angle's head. Belly to Belly release by Angle. Backdrop suplex gets Angle 1. 2 nearfalls in a row and off to a submission. Good suplex by Joe. Suicide Dive on Angle that didn't connect all the way. Overhead release suplex gets 2. Joe tries for the Muscle Buster but Angle rolls through then Joe rolls through and gets a submission to make it 1-0. Olympic Slam attempt but Joe reverses and does a flying knee. Angle cinches in the Ankle lock for the submission to tie it up. Angle now working on the ankle. Joe tries for a suplex but Angle reverses and does the Ankle lock for another submission. Angle throws Joe into the corner but Joe clotheslines him and takes control. Another attempt at the muscle buster but Angle reverses and gets an Olympic Slam for 2. Joe rolls through an ankle lock and hits the Muscle Buster to tie it up. Angle tries another Ankle lock reversed but Angle gets a roll up for 3-2. Joe hits the Muscle Buster but Angle gets his foot on the ropes. Joe now has the Ankle lock cinched in and Angle tapped just as the bell rang.

Abyss vs. Sting vs. Cage is up next. Tomko is going to be locked in a cage at ringside so there's a chance he's going to interfere. There has been a lot of action going on in the match but I've been looking at something else online. Abyss gets the shock treatment and gets 2. Chokeslam gets Abyss another near fall. Black Hole Slam on Cage but the ref is outside because Tomko is choking Sting. Deathdrop on Abyss gets him eliminated. Abyss was going to chokeslam Sting after the elimination but doesn't. Near fall by Cage. Sting "Stings" up and does the backdrop instead of the boot. Cage moves out of the way of the Stinger Splash but gets a superplex instead. Mitchell has come back down. Deathlock on Cage as Mitchell knocks out the guy who holds the key and lets Tomko who helps Cage get a nearfall. Cage tries to hit Sting with the belt but he ducks and gives Cage gets the Unprettier for a near fall. Abyss hits Sting with his chain and Cage does the 5-star frog splash to become the new NWA Champ.

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TNA Final Resolution Live Coverage

Welcome to a first in the OCC, tandem Live coverage of TNA's Final Resolution. I'll have a post, as will Old Country Give and Taker and there'll be more for you to read than you can shake a moderately sized stick at. The coverage will begin at 6:30 PM Central time. Remember to refresh your browser for the latest info.

Click Here for our predictions column which contains links to reviews of the past events and other such stuff.

Wade's coverage is here (link will open in a new window, so that you can view them both at the same time if you wish!

The card for tonight:

  1. Lance Hoyt Vs. Chase Stevens
  2. Last Man Standing: AJ Styles Vs. Rhino
  3. Paparazzi Championship Series: Austin Starr Vs. Alex Shelley
  4. Petey Williams Vs. James Storm
  5. X-division Title: Christopher Daniels Vs. Jerry Lynn Vs. Chris Sabin
  6. NWA World Tag Team Championship: Team 3D Vs. The Latin American Xchange
  7. 30:00 Iron Man Match: Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe
  8. NWA World Heavyweight Title: Abyss Vs. Sting Vs. Christian Cage


Other notes: A.J. Pierzynski and Dale Torborg of the White Sox are in attendance. Bob Backlund will be 1 of the PCS judges and Disco Inferno is believed to be one of the other.

The Pre show starts with Raven caning Serotonin for losing a match that isn't even good enough to air on the pre show. I think its safe to say that that group sucks.
Here is something I thought funny. Imagine you're the guys in Seretonin and Russo is pitching you this angle.

Ok, see what is going to happen is that you guys are going to be Raven's followers and as a result he's going to teach you discipline by caning you whenever you lose. Oh, and you'll never win.

Worse yet is that they jobbed to a team not even on the TNA roster in the Rigs brothers formerly of OVW. Thanks to PwInsider.com for that one.

We go back to Christy Hemme who says nothing of consequence.

Back to the talking heads who talk about how you can text message your vote for who will win the Iron Man match. They're putting that new mobile service to work.

We go back to Latisha who is with Bob Backlund. He explains using big words that he is the judge for the PCS.

Next is a Rhino/AJ Styles video package for their last man standing match. Rhino cuts a promo hyping up the match.

Pre show Match: Lance Hoyt Vs. Chase Stevens
Stevens is still wearing the gear of the Newly Franchised Naturals.

Winner: Lance Hoyt
After the match Hoyt gets attacked by A.J. Pierzynski with a chair.

Shane Douglas comes out and dresses down Chase Stevens. Steven stands up to Douglas finally. It appears that they are ready to fight and that the crowd wants to see it for some weird reason.

Video package airs hyping the tag team title feud between 3D and the Latin American Xchange.

I'm coughing up a storm so this is going to be even more of a challenge to get through.

They replay the Pierzynski attack from just a few minutes ago.

Tenay and West run down the card. Apparently, the winner of Joe/Angle will face the winner of the 3-way for the title next month.

Video package for the title match followed by a Mitchell promo.

Next up is the video for the Iron Man match. I'm freezing right now so this should be fun.

Don West goes in for the hard sell of the Pay Per View, its what he does best.

TNA, We are Wrestling. If they say so. The video was pretty good according to the survey of the room.

Match 1: Last Man Standing, AJ Styles Vs. Rhino
Wade will have the play-by-play and I'll add the random comments. I do have an MSN chat that I am doing so if I seem to be distracted, that's why but really how would you know?

The crowd wasted no time with the dueling Styles and Rhino chants. Earl Hebner is your referee, can you do the Montreal finish in a last man standing match? I don't want to find out the answer to that, but I'm sure Russo does.

Talk turns to switching to the Spanish commentary, but I had to nicks that idea because I need to know if West or Tenay says something stupid.

The Pizza has arrived, I feel that you should know this.

Rhino scored a pin with a spinebuster but AJ beats the 10 count. Also New England 24
San Diego 21 very late in the game.

The weapons haven't really come in to play at this stage of the match.

At this time, I'll give a shout out to Art and Ric hope you are being entertained by my work.

Patriots win the game. Chargers choke again.

Rhino hits a gore and then he hits a second gore. Rhino goes out while the referee is counting and sets up a table.

Tenay seems doubtful that Earl will count to 10. Its almost like he expects the fix to be in. AJ fakes getting up and then sits back down to get counted out. AJ takes the loss in a complete heelish fashion to avoid more punishment. Its a smart heel thing to do but the problem is that basically AJ says it doesn't matter if you win or lose since he was willing to lose on purpose.

Winner: Rhino

Tenay and West run down the rest of the card. They are interrupted by Rhino giving AJ the Rhino-driver on the ramp. Now Rhino has his eyes on a table and goes to set it up.

Ginny made a dive for Marcus' food. This caused him to missed the attempted gore as a result. AJ moved and Rhino went through the table.

Now we have a video package hyping the 3-way x-division title feud.

Latisha is backstage with Jerry Lynn. He seems to have a problem with the term old. Well, perhaps he's so old that he'll forget all about it in a matter of moments.

Lynn says after the match, Daniels will call him teacher. Marcus says that we've got 1 teacher in wrestling and that's more than enough.

Match 2: X-division title - Chris Sabin Vs. Christopher Daniels Vs. Jerry Lynn
Crowd seems to be solidly behind Lynn in this one.

Samoa Joe is winning the text voting 61% to 39% for Kurt Angle.

The announcers point out its first pin or first submission to win this one, in contrast to the elimination match later.

I haven't taken a bite of pizza yet because of how I'm feeling. Its sitting here waiting for me but I'm not hungry. I guess that means I'll have leftovers and lots of them.

Sabin and Lynn are squaring off and Tenay mentions the ages of both of them. I haven't heard mention of the fact that Daniels is in his mid-30's. I'm not sure TNA wants people to know that.

Daniels hooks the Koji Clutch on Lynn but Sabin breaks it up. Nobody has really gone to the air yet in this match which is perfectly fine with me. I'm sure it will happen sooner or later.

In next week's football games it will be New Orleans at Chicago in the early game and New England at Indianapolis in the late contest.

The crowd starts a light "you still got it" chant for Jerry Lynn.

I've got to use the restroom so I hope VKM comes out after this match.

Crowd takes time out of their busy day to tell Chris Sabin that he sucks.

Jerry Lynn hits the Cradle Piledriver but Chris Sabin steals the pin and the X-division title.

Winner: Chris Sabin

Borash is backstage with Kevin Nash and Bob Backlund. It is weird because briefly David Penzer's address to the fans in the arena is broadcast along side Nash and Backlund talking. Scott Hall's name is dropped. It was actually kind of funny.

Eric Young sneaks in and does some wacky stuff. He calls back to the Backlund for President angle from 1995. Inside for a lot of people as how many people remember that?

A video recap of the PCS, this stuff was pretty funny.

Jeremy Borash is out at the ring and introduces Nash as the founder of the PCS.

Match 3: PCS finals, Austin Starr Vs. Alex Shelley
The judges are, Samolian Joe, the Big Fat Oily Guy, and Bob Backlund. I guess Disco decided to no show. The oily guy draws horrific screams from Wade and Scott, I was too busy looking the other way.

Alex Shelley is the clear favorite in the iMPACTzone.

Nash is cracking everyone up on commentary. He insisted that his title match with Backlund felt like an hour, of course it only went 8 seconds. He makes a joke about his stamina in bed which apparently gets Don West laughing and that's not something I want to investigate.

The camera focuses on the oily guy as the room and Don West vehemently protest. Now I know why Meltzer said this show would be interesting. I'm learning to fear that word.


Nash says that Austin Starr is ahead on his score sheet. Its a good thing Shelley can't hear him.

Wade found a Nintendo emulator on the internet and 1 of the games is NES Pro Wrestling and so far, he pretty well sucks at it. This is to see if he'll read this, and because Shelley hit a Starman like dive to the floor a second ago.

Match goes the time limit.

Samolian Joe gives it to Starr.
Fat Oily Guy Gives it to...Alex Shelley
Bob Backlund goes through a sequence of points and refers to Alex Shelley as Alex Shellton. Backlund informs us that nobody pinned anyone else. This started out funny but is starting to drag.

Backlund rules it a draw.

5 minute sudden death by rules of Nash.

Alex Shelley scores 2 quick nearfalls.

Then Shelley wins the match.

Winner: Alex Shelley

There's a bit of decention after the match as you figured there would be.

Austin Starr says he didn't come to TNA to play poker, jump on pogo sticks and do limbo. He asked Senshi to come with him and does his Senshi impression. Then he slaps Senshi and then Starr piefaced Bob Backlund. That was classified as a mistake as he gets hooked in the chicken wing.

We move to a package detailing the breakup of America's Most Wanted, the injury to Chris Harris and the upsetness of Petey Williams.

Match 4: James Storm Vs. Petey Williams

Fans chant "Kill the Cowboy" and 1 fan chants, "Brokeback Mountain" and Storm takes time out of his busy day to tell him to shut up.

Interesting note on the TNA text service. Unlike at UFC 66 when they talk about texting and never gave out the number TNA has told us several times how to vote in their text poll. The poll hasn't moved that much its 60-40 Joe.

Storm gets the pin using the ropes.

Winner: James Storm
Gail tries to tell the ref about what happened, but Storm threatens her. He lays out Petey, grabs some handcuffs and a beer bottle. Gail stops him from hitting Petey with the beer bottle. Storm has Gail and she slaps him across the face. Don't you dare hurt my love you gay redneck.

Gail goes low on Storm and is a Korean house-of-fire. Now Gail has the bottle and the crowd wants her to hit Storm, but Jacqueline comes out from the crowd and attacks her. Storm hits the Death Sentence on Gail and he leaves with Jacqueline.

They show VKM's skits and in typical TNA fashion they bring up the fat guy forgetting that they just used an even fatter even oilier and even uglier naked guy.

Here come VKM out to say things. The ring music hit and I already hate this.

B.G. has the mic. He's declaring victory over the WWE in spite of the fact that nothing has happened. What did they even win?

He wishes HHH a good recovery. I'm glad to see that they didn't go the other direction.

B.G. brings up K-fed beating John Cena on Raw. Now he's bringing up the Rosie Vs. Donald match. If TNA is going to give the $1 million to charity, may I suggest the Casey Trowbridge foundation?

Apparently, the VKM war is over. TNA is talking about insulting people's intelligence, I'll give B.G. credit for saying it with a straight face. Do the words reverse followed by battle royal mean anything to you?

B.G. compares Wrestling Fans to voting Iraqis. Then he sings "We're not going to take it". Christy Hemme comes out for a yet to be explained reason.

Christy comes out and references Chyna. Apparently, Christy is about to engage in a sexism angle. Yep, Lita's name comes up its a woman's oppression angle.

Christy says she will fight to get in the ring. She wants to wrestle too. This got no pop. The crowd chants "We want wrestling" and Christy says "I do too". Well, she had that one ready. She says that this is worth losing her job over. Given her job up to this point she wouldn't lose much.

Crowd chants "Boring". I would laugh if they started chanting WWE.

Kip James plays the bad cop to B.G.'s good cop. he instructs the slut to go back to the strip club she got fired from. She's only good for 2 things as a woman.

Christy slaps Kip and B.G. holds them apart. Well, Christy showed some fire I'll give her credit for that much.

Brother Ray cuts a firey promo. LAX has done nothing without Konnan.

Match 5: NWA Tag Team Championship: The Latin American Xchange Vs. Team 3D

I had to do some minor plumbing work on my toilet but I did hear that the Spanish ring introduction has made its triumphant return. Thumbs up for that.

Match is typical tag formula at first with Homicide struggling to do anything with Ray. After awhile, LAX gets the heat and cuts off the ring using quick tags on Brother D-von.

The crowd is full of turncoats as I swear the same people chanting "1 8 7" at the early moments of this match are chanting :Lets go D-von".

3D on Homicide who wasn't the legal man. Out comes Brother Runt and it leads to 3D getting DQ'd.

So apparently, the NWA world title can change hands on a DQ, see Genesis 2006 for the precedent and yet the tag titles do not change hands on a DQ. That is stupid, but typical.

Winners: Latin American Xchange.

Borash is backstage with Samoa Joe, he didn't say anything of note.

Now we go to the video package.

Match 6: 30:00 Iron Man Match: Samoa Joe Vs. Kurt Angle
The voting was 57% for Joe, 43% for Angle.

The crowd takes time out to tell Kurt Angle that he sucks.

Talk in the early going turns to Wade and his purchase of an x-box 360.

Now we're talking movies and the New Ninja Turtles.

Samoa Joe gets Angle to tap out at about 14:10 minutes in.

Samoa Joe - 1
Kurt Angle - 0

The crowd heat for this is indicative of how badly TNA has wasted this feud. The crowd is in to the match, don't get me wrong but the first match had a zillion times more heat.

Joe taps out at about the 16:00 mark.

Samoa Joe - 1
Kurt Angle - 1

Crowd chants "You tapped out" at Joe and then "Angle sucks", will these people make up their damn minds?

Now we get the dueling "Lets go Joe, lets go Angle" chants and the crowd is really alive for the first time.

Its a good thing this isn't scheduled to go an hour.

Kurt Angle gets Joe to tap at 19:00.

Samoa Joe - 1
Kurt Angle - 2

Samoa Joe hits the Musclebuster and gets the pin, with a little over 7 minutes left.

Samoa Joe - 2
Kurt Angle - 2

Kurt Angle gets the pin at under 6 minutes.

Samoa Joe - 2
Kurt Angle - 3

Less than 5 minutes left, there are more falls in this match than I was expecting.

Joe gets a nearfall with a second musclebuster but Angle gets his foot on the rope.

A minute remains.

Joe has Angle in an ankle lock at 30 seconds.

Angle taps right at the 30:00 mark.

Announcers say, 30:01. Props to Ric for picking Angle.

Borash backstage with Sting. Sting calls Jim Mitchell the devil and the puppet master.

Video package setting up Christian, Sting and Abyss.

Match 7: NWA World Title, elimination match: Sting Vs. Christian Cage Vs. Abyss

Abyss was the first man eliminated as to show you the quality of this match, nobody was talking about it.

I have reached a decision about Russo. I have determined that he is on his own time like dog years. Thus, a 3 month long feud really lasts about 9 years. So by that logic any champion that has the belt for a month is a 3 year champion.

Mitchell returns to ringside and distracts Sting. Sting hooks the Scorpion Deathlock and Mitchell has unlocked Tomko.

Tomko breaks up the Scorpion and that gets a nearfall for Christian. Ref bump, its like a Jeff Jarrett match without Jarrett being involved. In other words its slightly better this way. Abyss is going after Tomko now. Abyss tosses Tomko in the cage and slams the door shut.

Sting gets a nearfall with Christian's Unprettier.

Mitchell tries to interfere again and Sting ends up with the Scorpion on Mitchell. This time Abyss comes to Mitchell's aid.

Christian hits a frog splash to Sting's back, revives the referee and gets the pin.

Winner: Christian Cage

So at Against All Odds, it will be Christian Vs. Angle for the title.

I hope you enjoyed the tandem coverage, let me know what you think. I'll be back later to look at the predictions and redo the standings.

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Late Final Resolution Notes

All of these come from The Dave



The match order for tonight's show.

PPV
  1. A.J. Styles vs. Rhino in a last man standing
  2. Alex Shelley vs. Austin Starr with three judges - Bob Backlund has been seen at the building, he is a judge and will get involved
  3. Christopher Daniels vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Chris Sabin for the X title
  4. James Storm vs. Petey Williams
  5. LAX vs. Team 3-D for NWA tag titles
  6. Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle in an Iron Man match
  7. Abyss vs. Christian Cage vs. Sting for the NWA title


I am not surprised that the Heavyweight title match is going on last. Its one of those deals where if the Iron Man match went on last you could probably predict the outcome just by looking at the clock.

Also, A.J. Pierzynski and Dale Torborg are in attendance.

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TNA Spoiler for tonight

According to PwInsider.com


Bob Backlund is in Orlando and is expected to serve as one of the judges in the Austin Starr Vs. Alex Shelley bout.

The Wrestling Observer has reported that the former Disco Inferno was saught by TNA to also be one of the judges.

Editor's Note: Yay Disco!

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CARE Extra Large Preview: TNA Final Resolution 2007

The difference between this and the CARE preview that you'll see at Canvas Chronicle.com or meanfilipine.blogspot.com is that this contains predictions from some of the other hangers-on of the Old Country Corner. That's why this is CARE Extra large.

Also, I invite you to take a look back at the previous year's Final Resolution events with my fine column, if I do say so myself, the iMPACT Analysis.

Now lets look at how everyone predicted.

So click Continue reading to...you know, continue reading.


Casey: TNA starts off 2007 with a show with more stipulations than you can shake a stick at, but a show that has the potential to have some decent wrestling matches. So at least there is that. I’d also like to warn you that I do a lot of editorial comments on behalf of my cohorts, as I’m practicing my mind-reading techniques. I'll even give you a free bonus prediction, VKM will appear and I will hate it.

Ric: For those of you who know how "well" I fare at predicting the outcomes of WWE, UFC and/or PRIDE FC cards, you ain't seen nothing yet! At least I regularly
follow (and, in some cases, even enjoy) the offerings of those products.
Well, to quote (or close enough) The Iron Sheik, I'm not gonna beat around the bush.
I'm pretty sure Casey won't let me get away with repeatedly typing, "Who cares?,” (Editor’s notes: 1. That’s right, mother fucker, and 2. I’ll laugh if Ric does better on these TNA picks than anyone) so here's what I've decided on:

Euan: Oh goody! Another TNA PPV, what wonders await us this month and more importantly...who is buying this? These predictions will be short and most likely
offensive as i am not feeling too great at the moment.

Casey: Lets look at the standings so far. As this is the first TNA event of the year, nobody has any stats to speak of for this category.

The overall standings look like this.
Casey: 1 event, 4 Correct predictions, 3 Incorrect predictions for 57%
Ric: 1 Event, 2 correct Predictions, 5 incorrect predictions for 28.5%
Art: 1 Event, 1 Correct Prediction, 5 Incorrect Predictions, for 16.6%
Euan: 1 event, 0 correct Predictions, 6 Incorrect Predictions, for 0%

Pre-Show Match: Lance Hoyt Vs. Chase Stevens

Casey: Chase Stevens is essentially a singles wrestler now with the Naturals being no more. This means he’s also pretty much a jobber…still.
Winner: Lance Hoyt

Art: For a guy who seems to get a push from time to time, Hoyt sure gets a lot of dark match PPV spots, hope for his sake he gets the win
Winner: Lance Hoyt

Ric: Lance Hoyt over Chase Stevens
Winner: Lance Hoyt

Euan: Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..WHO THE FUCK CARES!
Winner - Who cares! After Casey threatened to castrate me with a dull plastic spoon if I didn’t make a pick so as to not screw up his precious fucking spreadsheet, I have decided that Lance Hoyt will be wrestling under the name of who cares.

Wade: Glad this is a pre-show match. Lance Hoyt hasn't been doing much lately and I think this will be a squash match for him.
Winner: Lance Hoyt

Scott: Lance Hoyt will win, but who cares?
Winner: Lance Hoyt

Marcus: Lance Hoyt, duh.
Winner: Lance Hoyt

Petey Williams Vs. Cowboy James Storm

Casey: The questions are, who will Gail Kim side with in the Storm/Harris feud. I’ll answer that one for you, it will appear as if she is going to side with Storm, but she’ll swerve him and end up with Harris because swerves = ratings even on Pay Per View. But then, in a double swerve she will swerve Chris Harris and end up with me. The other question is how long before both former members of AMW are lost in the shuffle as singles wrestlers? I don’t know the answer to that one perhaps its already happened. In this match, I see the standard Harris interferes and gets Williams the victory.
Winner: Petey Williams

Art: has potential to be a decent match, Harris distracts/interferes, Petey hits the Canadian Destroyer and gets the pin
Winner: Petey Williams

Ric: Editor’s Note, Ric only gives results but I’m sure he’d like to remind you all that the Sheikies are coming to a website near you on 01/21/2007!
Winner: James Storm

Euan: Editor’s Note, Euan’s prediction was quick and to the point something that is impossible for me to be.
Winner: Petey Williams

Wade: Where in the world did this match come from? I've definetly missed some shows and from what I hear I'm glad I have. Anywho, I'm gonna have to go with
James Storm to win this simply because he'll probably use some foreign object when the ref isn't looking.
Winner: James Storm

Scott: James Storm because he’s fresh off of a heel turn.
Winner: James Storm

Marcus: James Storm to win.
Winner: James Storm

PCS Finals: Austin Aries Vs. Alex Shelley
10 minute time-limit if no winner is determined, it goes to the judges.


Casey: This is so obvious I shouldn’t even feel compelled to explain this. There wouldn’t be judges if they weren’t going to come in to play, this being wrestling and not MMA. So it goes the time-limit. I think it would be funny if one of the judges went the Clash of Champions I route and declared it a draw. I’m guessing that the judges pick Austin Starr to further the Jealousy of Alex Shelley.
Winner: Austin Starr via Judges decision

Art: The gimmick behind this match, despite the amusing PCS skits is just plain goofy. But if given time these two should have a great match, one of the MOTN candidates, I would go with Starr on this one
Winner: Austin Starr

Ric: Editor’s Note, seriously, the Sheiky awards coming for the first time ever, next week. Trust us, these will be awesome. There may be a time limit on this match but there will be no limit to your enjoyment of the Sheikies.
Winner: Austin Starr

Euan: This will go to the 10 minute time limit and the judges will choose Austin Starr over Shelley to begin the Starr/Shelley feud.
Winner - Austin Starr

Wade: Who didn't see this coming? I predict that Shelly will dominate this match but in the end Nash will find some way to have Austin Starr win.
Winner: Austin Starr

Scott: Austin Starr is going to win this match via judges decision. This should at least be a decent match, but it has goofy stipulations.
Winner: Austin Starr

Marcus: Alex Shelley to win via judges decision.
Winner: Alex Shelley

Last Man Standing: AJ Styles Vs. Rhino

Casey: Rhino has been on quite the losing streak lately when it comes to Pay Per View matches. He hasn’t won a Pay Per View match outright since June’s Slammiversary. Unfortunately for Rhino, I don’t think that trend is going to reverse itself this month. There is so much more that can be gained from having AJ Styles win. I’d better just stop before I convince myself that’s why Rhino’s a guaranteed winner.
Winner: AJ Styles

Art: another fun match on paper, I'd like to see Rhino win this one by brutally kicking Styles' ass, it'd make sense to me anyway
Winner: Rhino

Ric: Editor’s Note, hey did you know that the Sheikies are coming next week? Well, Ric thought you’d like to be reminded. I’m sure that’s what he was thinking the whole time he was writing this preview.
Winner: AJ Styles

Euan: Editor’s Note, again Euan only offers a winner but I’m sure if he were feeling ok, he’d probably predict right now, Rhino by Senshi kicking Chris Sabin in the face. It wouldn’t have made sense but I would’ve laughed anyway.
Winner: Rhino

Wade: I haven't been too enthused about the interviews and segments for this feud but the matches have been entertaining. I loved their match and Styles' fake
out last month and I hope this match tops it. I think that Rhino will fake out Styles this time though.
Winner: Rhino

Scott: I like AJ Styles in this win, and I expect that this will be a good brawl.
Winner: AJ Styles

Marcus: I think they’ll keep the feud going for 1 more match and so I’m going to go against the majority and say Rhino to win.
Winner: Rhino

NWA World X-Division Championship: Christopher Daniels Vs. Jerry Lynn Vs. Chris Sabin

Casey: The feel good story is Lynn pinning Sabin to win the title. He avenges his real foe in this feud, plus it means Jerry Lynn is back wrestling regularly again which if the rumors of an eventual Angle/Lynn match is true is pretty much a given. Then they could still go the direction of Lynn and Daniels or this being TNA they could forget about it by Monday.
Winner: Jerry Lynn

Art: Art: another MOTN candidate, should be lots of killer action, some WTF spots and some damn good wrestling, I'd like to see Daniels retain, if Sabin wins it AGAIN it won't be a disappointment at all.
Winner: Christopher Daniels

Ric: Editor’s Note, Ric picked Jerry Lynn to win this contest. Find out who he picks for awards like “Worse than Hulk Hogan”, and “I navaire raspact a gay, I navaire raspact a fag” when the Sheikies are unveiled on 1/21.
Winner: Jerry Lynn

Euan: Editor’s Note, even though Euan only wrote down the winner for this contest, I can tell that it would be at this point that he decided to plug the Sheiky awards coming to a website near you on 01/21/07!
Winner: Christopher Daniels

Wade: This match I'm definetly looking forward too. I hope they've been hyping this match a lot because Jerry Lynn is one of the first and best X-Division wrestlers.
I believe that Lynn will pull an "upset"of sorts and pin Sabin to win the X Title.
Winner: Jerry Lynn

Scott: I expect that Lynn will steal the belt from Daniels possibly by pinning Sabin to set up a 1-on-1 Daniels/Lynn match which could be great.
Winner: Jerry Lynn

Marcus: I don’t see Lynn coming back and winning the title right away. I do expect a title change though so by process of elimination, your winner…
Winner: Chris Sabin

NWA World Tag Team Championship: Latin American Xchange Vs. Team 3D

Casey: It’s a team I love facing a team I pretty well don’t love. Eventually 3D will win the belts so that they can make the bogus claim of winning the ECW, WCW, WWE and NWA titles and being the only team to do so. I don’t count the WCW title reigns because they won them in the WWF. This feud has been pretty basic so far with LAX taking out Runt and 3D taking out Konnan in response. Its harder to keep track of what is happening within the members of Team 3D with Runt and Ray arguing a few weeks ago but like most of TNA and all of ECW I don’t care about that part. As I said eventually Team 3D wins the titles, but they waited too long for the crowd to pop huge like they did when they thought 3D won the titles at last year’s Final Resolution. So 3D eventually wins, but now is not the time. Also I’m real eager to see Hernandez and Brother Ray interact with the stiffness and the beatings and the hey hey hey it hurts me.
Winners: Latin American Xchange

Art: haven't folllowed the build-up for this one, would like to see LAX
retain but I have a feeling 3D could get the belts
Winners: Latin American Xchange (Editor’s Note: I’m assuming that Art would prefer his feeling about 3D to be wrong and thus I presume he’s picking LAX, if I’m wrong he will rightly correct me)

Ric: Editor’s Note, in order to get you hyped for the Sheikies we will announce that one of the categories involves a lesbian sex tape. I’d like to see the Observer awards top that.
Winners: Team 3D

Euan: Editor’s Note, Again as Euan is a man of few words today, he would’ve said that while Team 3D was in Hustle they did not learn anything from Razor Ramon HG. This in spite of the fact that HG repeatedly tried to rub off on them. Ok, so maybe Euan wouldn’t have said it quite that way but Razor Ramon HG would’ve found his way in this preview somewhere.
Winner: LAX to retain

Wade: The tag team division in TNA has weakened somewhat in my opinion. With Team Canada and AMW broken up the only teams that have can really work together
and LAX and Team 3D and only these teams would make good champs. I think LAX's reign will come to an end courtesy of the 3D, possibly through a table.
Winners: Team 3D

Scott: LAX is the hottest tag team right now and Team 3D should chase them for the belts for awhile.
Winners: The Latin American Xchange

Marcus: It is too soon for 3D to win the belts in this feud, so the winners and retaining the tag titles…
Winners: The Latin American Xchange

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Abyss Vs. Christian Cage Vs. Sting
This match will be held under elimination rules with Tomko banned from ringside.

Casey: I’ll give TNA this much. This feud has added some intrigue to Abyss’ character for the first time in perhaps ever. Christian and Tomko are useless in this feud though as it could’ve worked just as well with Sting playing off of Mitchell and no third wheels. As for how I see this match playing out, I see Christian being eliminated first. Then James Mitchell will cheat and cost Sting the contest, but Abyss won’t like the cheating and will turn on Mitchell. This turns Abyss face without him losing the title. I’d much rather Christian win the belt and feud with either Joe or Angle next but that doesn’t aid the story any.
Winner: Abyss

Art: Tomko banned from ringside is bad news for Cage, I can see the title (sorry) going to Sting, I don't want Abyss retaining, Cage could possibly win the title but frankly I don't think the title means a thing on any of these three.
Winner: Sting (Editor’s Note: just my guessing, as a “I could see” seems more definite than an “I don’t want” or a “could possibly”. Again if I’m wrong, I’ll be corrected in due time.)

Ric: Editor’s Note, As you’ll see Christian was Ric’s pick. Will Ric give Christian a sheiky? Tune in to Nitro to find out, or better yet, read the Sheikies next Sunday on this and other fine websites.
Winner: Christian Cage

Euan: Editor’s Note, yeah same thing just a winner. But, I’d like to think I know Euan enough that at this point he’d bring up his hatred for Sting. He would probably also call for Anderson Silva to come out and knee all of these guys in the face followed by Sheiky coming out to humble the rest of what remains Old Country Style. I think he would’ve said all of this, and I hope he gets better soon so he can say it, not me (Editor’s note, me = Casey) because he is significantly better at it than I.
Winner: Abyss...don't care.

Wade: First, let me say that just because Tomko is banned from ringside doesn't mean he won't show up in some way. Even if he does, it won't be enough for Christian
to win since he's going to be eliminated first. I predict Abyss will retain to continue the storyline with Sting since I don't see the story going on
the other way.
Winner: Abyss

Scott: I expect that Abyss will win this one. I think that it will come down to Abyss Vs. Christian with Sting being the first one out. I expect this to be decent but was disappointed last month.
Winner: Abyss

Marcus: Storyline aside, I don’t see Abyss losing the title just yet.
Winner: Abyss

30:00 Iron Man Match: Kurt Angle Vs. Samoa Joe

Casey: So this is the third match in the series of what could be about 800 by the time we’re done with it. This is a rematch of what was supposed to be the last match ever, last month. Have I mentioned how much I love TNA? I haven’t, well now you understand why. Actually, if you watch iMPACT regularly, you understand why.
As for the match itself, I don’t like Iron Man matches as a rule because in the first match it took 13 minutes for Angle to make Joe tap and in this it could happen like 7 minutes in. The only way this works is if you use a super-move not seen in a regular match. I hope they go the route of AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels from Bound for Glory a couple of years ago and have 1 fall decide it very late. As for who gets the fall, I would personally go with Samoa Joe. Its shit or get off the pot with Joe at this point to use an old and appetite reducing expression. Plus, it can push Angle closer to being a heel with this driving him nuts. Perhaps, he can lay out Joe afterward and have Lynn come out and confront him segwaying into Lynn’s respect feud which should not be confused with Sheiky’s navaire raspact feud. This might be wishful thinking on my part, but hey pretty much everything else in this roundtable and this company for that matter is wishful thinking on my part so…
Winner: Samoa Joe – 1 fall to 0

Art: We got this one already in 2007 but I guess we can make the best of it, especially since it has potential to be a great match. I'm going with Joe on this one.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Ric: Editor’s Note, as this is the CARE preview Ric would like you to know that he cares more about the Sheikies next week than he does this particular show. Once again, Sheiky awards coming next week.
Winner: Kurt Angle, though something tells me I should pick a draw

Euan: "And now from the beautiful Mandalay Bay Events Center"...once again you manage to excel yourself and prove that you are indeed brain dead. Go and party
with Crazy Pride Announcer and leave me alone.
Another month, another Angle/Joe match. Seriously, only TNA could fuck up such a money making feud like this. 3 matches in 3 months, Vince Russo is slowly
but surely killing TNA and turning it into WCW mach 2. Now that i have that rant out of the way, let's get on with the prediction. Samoa Joe to HUMBLE
Kurk Angel.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Wade: Here we are at what should be the "Final" match between these 2. Last month's match had a great collection of submission reversals so I see this one being
more of a slugfest. I think Joe will win this series 2 to 1 which will hopefully lead to a title shot.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Scott: I think Samoa Joe needs this match more than Angle. If they want Joe to be the man then he has to win this match. Angle is to the point where people will cheer him if he wins or loses so a win does more good for Joe than it does for Angle and a loss does more harm for Joe than it would for Angle. This could be a classic provided that there are no shenanigans which is always possible with Vince Russo prominently involved.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Marcus: I think Joe should win this match and that he needs to win this match. Whether or not he does is another matter.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Casey: The OCC will be pleased to try a new experiment with this pay per view. You will have not 1 but 2 sources of live coverage. The Old Country Give and Taker will have live play-by-play, while I have more of my usual insanity. So you’re getting 2 recaps for the price of none, so no bitching!

Ric: Editor’s Note, Ric hopes I’m covering the PPV because he’ll be too busy filling out his Sheiky awards ballot. I’m not sure when and where the Sheikies will be posted but perhaps there are clues hidden somewhere in this preview?

Wade: This PPV looks pretty solid on paper and I hope it delivers.

Scott: With Russo booking these things are always a question but if he doesn’t screw too badly with the in-ring product this has the makings of a strong show.

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

iMPACT Analysis: TNA Final Resolution 2006

Welcome back to the iMPACT analysis. This columns victim continues our look at the Final Resolution series of Pay Per Views. With this year’s version taking place on Sunday, we’re going to take a look back at last year’s show.

What is the iMPACT Analysis? I take a look back at the given event and I try to provide context for each match. Looking at what each participant had been doing prior to their match with their given opponent and I also look at how the result of the match impacted the future direction of the wrestlers, the titles and the promotion as a whole. Then at the end I rate the show on a number of criteria.

All of these are rated on a scale from 0-10.

Wrestling Quality: How was the in-ring action on the show?
Backstage Quality: How were the promos, backstage skits and other angles?
Crowd Heat: Was the crowd in to the show?
Announcing: Were they on point, humorous, say something completely stupid?
Booking: Did the storyline direction make sense? Did the right man or team go over in the end?
iMPACT Analysis: How did this show iMPACT the company? Was it memorable, a complete throwaway, somewhere in the middle?
Replay Factor: How much of this would you ever want to view a second time?
Average: Taking the score in each of the above categories and dividing it by the number of categories and that determines the show score.
Worth buying the DVD?: Asks if this DVD is worth the purchase or not.

Click Continue Reading for the review.


Event: TNA Final Resolution 2006
Event Date: 01/15/2006
Event Venue: Universal Studios, Orlando Florida
Announcers: Mike Tenay and Don West, Shane Douglas (backstage interviewer)

I’m not watching the preshow matches, but it is interesting to note that a faction would make its PPV-in-ring debut on this preshow and would go on to become one of the hottest acts in the company in 2006. That group would be the Latin American Xchange.

Ok, 1 note on the preshow. LAX come out to the ring and Jeremy Borash announces Apolo even though he’s actually not there and then corrects himself and announcing it as just Konnan and Homicide. If that wasn’t bad enough, the LAX came out to the James Gang’s music. Seriously, we’re the second match in on the preshow and they’re already fucking up. I’ve got a hunch it will be one of those shows.

We start off the Pay Per View with the usual video package. This centers on the fact
that Sting is returning to the ring for the first time in 5 years and making his TNA debut even though he wrestled there in 2003 and 2004. Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown, who main evented the first Final Resolution Pay Per View against one another offer comment. Christian Cage is there to rebut all of their claims. They flashback to the official announcement of Sting’s arrival and Christian’s announcing of the Final Resolution main event.

This show is presented to us by TNAWrestling.com, I wonder how much they got for that sponsorship?

Mike Tenay and Don West open the show. Tonight the face of TNA changes. I predict you’ll hear that a lot throughout 2006. Call it a shot in the dark.

Match 1: Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong and Austin Aries
Vs.
Matt Bentley, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt

This is not a random wacky x-division tag match as Shelley/Strong/Aries were a stable at this point. They were coming off of a win over Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles and Chris Sabin on iMPACT. Complaining about not being on the Pay Per View resulted in this match being signed. It should also be noted that Jerry Lynn was basically playing the same role he is now with Chris Sabin with the heel trio leading up to this match. I said this in the 2005 Final Resolution Analysis, but the more things change the more they stay the same.
On the face side of things you have Matt Bentley in the middle of a short-lived face run that nobody cared about. At Turning Point 2005, Sabin and Dutt were involved in the Basebrawl angle with members of the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox.

The match, I will start out by saying that reading enough of these columns from me you will realize that I favor starting out the show with a fast paced match to get the crowd into the show from the get-go. So of all the matches on the card, this was the best choice to open the show.

Dave Hebner is out in the crowd taking notes. I may have forgotten if this had a payoff but I’m pretty confident that it did not. Jerry Lynn also comes out to take a look.
I guess its an interesting trivia note that both Final Resolution 05 and 06 opened with 6 man tag team matches and that Matt Bentley was in both of them. Think of trivia notes like that as my version of pop-up video.
The match is basically the heel team getting the heat on Sonjay for a few minutes before we devolve into the high-spot-tastic matches that are the trademark of the X-division. Alex Shelley gets the pin with a quick role-up.

Winners: Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, and Roderick Strong
It was a fun opener but the crowd was not as in to this as they usually are for this kind of thing.

Thumb Position: Up, non-offensive match to open up the show. Clean win for the heels, perfectly acceptable opener.

IMPACT: Minimal as Aries/Strong/Shelley were shortly hereafter split up with Shelley taking on the Paparazzi gimmick full-tilt and Aries/Strong working as a tag team. This would only last for a month as Aries and Strong were suspended in February for not flying in to a show when requested and working a ring of honor show in bad weather. Roderick Strong would come back for 1 more match on iMPACT, a world-x-cup qualifier that he would lose, and Aries would not return until Bound for Glory in October under the name of Austin Starr.
On the face side, Sabin and Dutt would wrestle for the tag titles the next month while Bentley was a heel again by the middle of March.

We go to a video package chronicling the entire 3LK/4LK storyline that set the whole world on fire in 2005. Oh, no it just made the world want to set itself on fire.

Match 2: Diamonds in the Rough Vs. The James Gang

Diamonds in the Rough were coming off of the Basebrawl angle. Kip and B.G. James were teaming as the James Gang for the first time in TNA Wrestling.

B.G. has the mic and he does the very old school introduction. This intro is so old school it was in a 1-room schoolhouse.

Kip James says I’ve only got 3 words for you: “Get it, got it, good”. Yes he actually said he had 3 words for us and then said 5 of them. I hate this man. Even Tenay pointed out that this jackass couldn’t count to 5. Tenay was much nicer pointing out Kip's mistake than I made it sound. He was also much nicer than I would've been if I were calling this match. If you think I’m spending too much time on this, keep in mind that it keeps me from having to pay attention to this match.

Tenay says that Elix Skipper claimed in the locker-room that he would out-wrestle the James Gang. Guess what, it wouldn’t really take much. Like buying a pair of wrestling boots and trunks should be sufficient.

The match, well to say that it sucks would tarnish the good name that sucky matches have acquired over the years. This match makes me curse the fact that videotape was ever invented. At least if I were watching this on VHS there’d be a chance that for the good of my sanity the VCR would try to eat the tape.

The crowd starts a dueling chant of “New Age Outlaws”, and “Lets go Diamonds” and its roughly 98 of every 100 people chanting Outlaws and the remainder chanting for the Diamonds. BTW, a dueling chant for the Diamonds in the Rough may be the lamest thing in the history of matter.

Don West, you don’t realize how big Kip James is until you stand next to him. Myself, you don’t realize how little I care about how big Kip James is at the point I’m standing next to him or any other time on earth.

The James Gang walk away with the victory with something; I must confess to not paying attention.

Winner: The James Gang
This was not good. James Gang had to win because they were facing glorified jobbers in their first match back as an official team.

Thumb Position: Down, boring match due largely to the involvement of the James Gang.

IMPACT: Minimal, this did nothing for the Diamonds as once a jobber team always a jobber team. As for the James Gang this was a warm-up match for their next feud against the early incarnation of LAX, which was also not good.

Match 3: Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. AJ Styles

Tanahashi was on loan from New Japan Pro Wrestling, and that’s about it for him. AJ Styles had dropped the X-division title to Samoa Joe at Turning Point and was briefly sidetracked from that feud with Joe and Daniels in to a small program with Shannon Moore who stole his Mr. TNA 2005 plaque. If I were AJ, I’d have let him keep it.

The Match, Jeremy Borash announcing AJ as Mr. TNA 2005 makes him sound like a gigantic transvestite porn star. The crowd starts the dueling chants for AJ and Tanahashi and I’ll bet dollars to donuts most chanting for Tanahashi were watching him for the first time.

Tenay is in his glory spouting out facts, figures and notes about Tanahashi and his wrestling background. The announcers cover for the fact that these 2 don’t seem to be jelling by the tried and true method of pointing out that this is their first meeting and that they have a Clash of Styles.

The crowd has become less vocal as the match has progressed, I’m no Vince Russo or anything but to me that’s not a real good sign.

Shannon Moore runs out and hits AJ with the plaque but that doesn’t stop AJ from hitting the Styles Clash for the victory.

Winner: AJ Styles
They brought Tanahashi in for this?

AJ had reacquired the plaque but Moore stole it again.

Thumb Position: In the middle, match was ok but not great. Hurt by the weight of high expectations going in and the interference of Moore in the finish.

IMPACT: None. Tanahashi’s appearances were limited to this show. The win did nothing for AJ Styles and the Shannon Moore feud was blown off shortly after this match, as his tenure in TNA was short-lived before he headed back to the WWE and what would eventually be a spot in the new ECW.

Video package for the Raven Vs. Zbyszko feud airs and then we have an interview with Shane Douglas and Raven. Raven’s promo is, uh, interesting in a creepy sort of way.

Match 4: Raven Vs. Sean Waltman

Raven was in the midst of a feud with Zbyszko who was bringing in wrestlers from Raven’s past to screw with him. These included PJ Polacko (Justin Credible) in November and Chris Kanyon in December. Sean Waltman was last seen in TNA in the Chris Candido memorial tag tournament, which he won along with Alex Shelley.

Raven and Sean Waltman wrestled at the May 2005 Hard Justice PPV in which Waltman substituted for Jeff Hardy. They also competed against 1 another at June’s Slammiversary in the King of the Mountain match in which Raven would win his first and thus far only NWA world heavyweight championship.

The Match, Raven doesn’t wait for the bell as he attacks Waltman right away. A Kendo Stick gets involved in the very early stages. The Kendo stick wasn’t the only weapon to be used, as this became the first weapons filled brawl of the night.

The ref gets bumped, that’s the first one of the night. Raven hits the Raven-effect DDT but no ref. Crowd counts to 7 or so but the crowd isn’t the referee. Zbyszko is the ref now and gives Raven a slow-count.
Zbyszko also gives Waltman a 2 count. I feel I should ask that if Larry wanted to screw Raven over in this match why not just count to 3 anyway? It is questions like this that will keep me from ever booking a wrestling company.

Dave Hebner is out observing again as Raven gets another very slow count from Zbyszko.
A ladder gets involved and Zbyszko helps Waltman who gives Raven an X-factor through a table. Zbyszko counts to 3 but Raven has his foot on the ropes. Raven’s TNA career is over according to Tenay.

Winner: Sean Waltman
This was so stupid, why did Zbyszko wait so long to screw Raven over?

Zbyszko taunts Raven after the match.

Thumb Position: Down, booking made no sense whatsoever and the match was not that good anyway.

IMPACT: Middle of the Road, Waltman was gone after this show. Raven would be off of TV until being reinstated at April’s Lockdown event. That would eventually culminate in Raven Vs. Zbyszko hair-vs. -hair match at Victory Road in July.

Raven waves goodbye as the announcers talk about him being robbed.

Shane Douglas backstage with Ron Killings getting ready for his match with Bobby Roode. The shits just keep on coming. Konnan interrupts Killings’ interview protesting that Killings never called him back. Hey Konnan, that’s called a 1-night stand where I come from. Sorry you got used.

Tenay uses the serious voice to talk about Raven’s exit from TNA. As the minutes pass, I hate this show more and more.

Cameras head to the back as Zbyszko taunts Raven further on his way out of the building. Jackie Gayda shows up and talks to Larry and Raven. Jackie hints at being screwed over just like Raven was, and this angle would go nowhere. If I keep pointing my thumbs down they may get stuck in that position.

Match 5: Ron Killings Vs. Bobby Roode

Ron Killings doesn’t ask “What’s Up?” because that’s not his song yet.

Bobby Roode and Ron Killings were in a mini-feud here that was an extension of the 3LK Vs. Team Canada feud that Dumbinated TNA throughout 2005. They had a match on iMPACT that Killings won in 10 seconds. Roode wanted an immediate rematch, got it and lost in less than a minute. He wanted a third match, got it and thanks to Coach D’Amoore was victorious. If this sounds lame, you’ve come to the right storyline.

The match, periodic bursts of offense from Killings typically ended by interference from Scott D’Amoore. The crowd did give a halfhearted TNA chant at 1 point for a Killings dive on to Roode who was teasing walking out on the match. I wish he hadn’t been teasing. I should not that this is the third consecutive match to feature interference and as I’ve seen this show a time or 2 previously I can confidently say this won’t be the last.
Roode hits a crossbody which Killings roles through for a 2 count. Konnan is out soon after to prove to Truth that he has his back. The distraction allows Roode to hit the Northern Lariat and get the pin.

Winner: Bobby Roode
This was also not good.

Thumb Position: Down, so pointless it hurts.

IMPACT: None, this at least ended the feud between Roode and Killings. Roode gained nothing from this win and nothing came of the Killings/Konnan dynamic for another few months.

B.G. James comes out and attacks Konnan but Homicide nails him from behind. Kip James makes the save as Ron Killings decides to walk out on this mess. Perhaps he’s smarter than I give him credit for?

Shane Douglas interviews Abyss with James Mitchell.
First Douglas asks Mitchell about Sting. I don’t know why he brought this up to Mitchell and nobody else previously. Mitchell cuts another pretty great promo against Rhino. I’d transcribe these but they don’t do him justice and oh yeah, I don’t want to transcribe them. Abyss has Rhino scheduled for Extinction, better not tell PETA.

The next thing to air is a video package for our next match. This feud started because Rhino was looking for revenge against those that cost him the World title. He was primarily talking about Team Canada but the Canadians hired Abyss to do some dirty work for them. You can tell who was booking during this period based on the number of feuds in which the Canadians figured prominently.

Match 7: Abyss Vs. Rhino

Abyss was coming off of a feud with Sabu that culminated at Turning Point with a Barbed Wire match. Rhino was coming off of a feud with Jeff Jarrett over the world heavyweight championship. I don’t need to tell you who came out the loser in that one.

Borash announces Abyss as “Weighing in excess of 350 LBS.” I don’t think the NSAC would approve of TNA’s weight measuring techniques.

The Match, it may surprise you to know that a match between Abyss and Rhino quickly broke down in to a brawl involving the plunder but I swear that’s exactly how it happened.

Tenay asks if it is too simplistic to break this down as a battle between the black hole slam and the gore? I say that TNA wouldn’t know simplicity if it came up and introduced itself as such.

There’s a repeated chant of “Rhino” coming from maybe 6 people in the front row.
Mitchell distracts Rhino and Abyss gets a steel chain and that gets 2. A Rhino spinebuster gets a 2 count on him. Mitchell continues to distract and grabs the leg of Abyss to prevent Rhino from hitting the Rhino-driver. Rhino uses a kick to block a choke slam but Abyss hits the Black Hole slam on a chair for the win.

Winner: Abyss
This was fine I guess, but this is the fifth consecutive match that contained outside interference.

Thumb Position: In the Middle, it was ok but not great but the interference and the fact the crowd wasn’t into it really hurt.

IMPACT: Minor, this was the first match in a feud which spanned a couple more pay per views.

Shane Douglas is with Team 3D. Shane Douglas compares 3D to men who served in World War II.
Brother Ray runs down a list of teams that have held the NWA titles and he says that tonight it is time for them to add their names to that list. The promo was actually pretty good in getting over the value of the belts.

The video package for this feud airs. The mention of the WCW tag titles gets some loud boos from the crowd, but the mention of the WWE tag titles gets an even larger chorus of boos.

Match 8: Team 3D Vs. America’s Most Wanted – NWA World Tag Team Title Bout

These 2 teams had been feuding since 3D’s arrival in TNA in October of 2005. Team 3D defeated AMW in a tables match at Turning Point to set this title match up.

We get the UFC style introductions for this one. Borash makes a big deal of the Team 3D quest to win the grand slam. Its almost as if they are setting something up.

The best thing I can say before this match starts is that Gail Kim is at ringside.

The match, we’re off to a strong start as something is wrong with Don West’s microphone. Some might consider this to work in favor of this match.
Team 3D dominates the action in the early stages of the match. The crowd insists that tables be gotten so the tables are gotten. A nearfall is scored by Team 3D after the use of a Doomsday Device which Mike Tenay says is a tribute to the Road Warriors. AMW miscommunication results in another 3D nearfall. Gail Kim is in and hands powder to one of AMW. The ref takes the powder and the 3D gets the pin for the former Dudley Boys.

The crowd pops huge for the title win, but get this. Team Canada come out and attack Team 3D with the hockey stick. The Canadians put Harris on top of the fallen Team 3D and when the referee’s eyes clear, the referee awards AMW the match.

That was a unique finish and profoundly stupid. First, the referee could see well enough to count a pin but couldn’t see well enough to know who was actually scoring the pin? I continue to wonder how it is that TNA doesn’t make a billion dollars a day. When I first saw this match I thought the finish was so unique that I never wanted to see it again. Now the only thing I need to add is that this is proof that unique is not always good.

Winners: America’s Most Wanted
Booking killed this match.

Thumb Position: Down, the match was fine but that horrid finish was beyond all realms of sane thought. This is the 6th match in a row that involved outside interference.

IMPACT: none, the feud would be forgotten about for months after this and Team 3D wouldn’t really get close to the tag titles until this year’s Final Resolution.

Backstage we have Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown. They tease that Sting and Christian Cage can’t get along. Monty Brown impersonates an alarm clock and Elmer Fud in the same promo. This was a decent promo actually if only because I’m entertained by Monty’s wackiness.

A video package airs to set up the next match between Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels.

Match 9: Christopher Daniels Vs. Samoa Joe – X-division title bout

Daniels was making his singles return after a couple of months off after Samoa Joe turned on him at Genesis and left him laid out. In December at Turning Point, Joe defeated AJ Styles for the X-division title and was going to do the same to Styles when Daniels made his return.

We get the UFC style introductions for the second consecutive match. Samoa Joe is the undefeated, undisputed X-division champion at this point. What would happen if someone like, oh say, Shark Boy ran out and disputed his claim to the X-title? Would the announcers call him the disputed x-division champion?

The match, the crowd livens up a bit with a dueling chant of “Fallen Angel”, “Lets Go Joe”. Nice Joe TNA did of turning Samoa Joe heel. I’d think the crowd would’ve been completely deflated by that last match and its wacky and nonsensical conclusion.

The main theme of this match is that Joe works on the head area of Daniels due to the Concussion Daniels was suffering from. Joe drops Daniels on his head and to emphasize the danger involved, Mike Tenay shrieks like a little girl. Tenay shrieks like a girl a second time when Samoa Joe hits a hurricanrana. A light “This is awesome” chant breaks out but a majority of the crowd doesn’t pick up on it and the chant dies out quickly. A sustained TNA chant does start a minute or so later. This has been the most active the crowd has been all night. Nice to see them finally wake up.

Joe just continues to attack Daniels with moves to his head and Daniels tries to answer back with his more high-flying offense. Tenay references the multiple concussions that Bret Hart suffered in WCW. Every time Daniels fails to do something or Joe counters, Tenay screams about a concussion. Its like he’s trying to make a point or something. Joe hits the musclebuster to the shriek of the announcers. Joe hooks the Kokina Clutch but Daniels gets his foot on the ropes. This just serves to piss Joe off and he goes for the steel chair. West is talking about career ending injuries as the crowd is chanting “Joe’s gonna Kill You”. Don’t these people know how serious this is supposed to be? Joe drops Daniels on the chair and the crowd is so concerned for his well being that they chant “One more time”.

AJ Styles is looking on as Samoa Joe nails several soccer style kicks and drops several knees across Daniels’ face. Shot after shot until AJ Styles throws in the towel. Its nice to know that in TNA a match can end by someone just throwing a towel in the ring regardless of whether or not they’re your official manager.

Winner: Samoa Joe
I liked the psychology of Joe working the head but the announcers went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to selling it.

Thumb Position: Up, but with AJ throwing in the towel that’s another not so clean finish on a show full of interference and bad finishes.

iMPACT: Profound, This continued the Styles/Joe/Daniels triangle feud that lasted through April and would also result in the formation of the Styles and Daniels tag team that dominated the summer and fall of TNA.

A video package airs setting up our main event match. It is more talking from Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown.

Shane Douglas is backstage and he wants words with Christian Cage. Cage says that Sting can trust him, and if you don’t believe him jump on the phone and ask his brother or Chris Jericho if he can be trusted. Christian then thinks better of it and says that you should ask the peeps in the zone.
Christian is excited that Sting is in TNA and that he is Christian’s partner. I’ll be he’s less excited around August or so.

Match 10: Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown Vs. Christian Cage and Sting

Jarrett had just concluded a feud with Rhino. Christian and Monty Brown wrestled a number 1 contenders match for the title at Turning Point, which was won by Christian. Sting was making his return to TNA after a 2-year absence.

Individual introductions and they are not UFC style. Jarrett comes out with Gail Kim. I still hate Jarrett and still love Gail.

The crowd pops huge for Sting’s introduction which proves that he was who they were there to see.

The Match, Christian would start out against Monty Brown. Sting got a big “Welcome back” chant before the bell rang. Jarrett is in and Christian mocks him with the Jarrett strut. Christian asks if the people want Sting in the ring and they give him an emphatic yes.
Sting and Jarrett pose for the support of the crowd and Sting wins that battle. Sting blocks a hiptoss, hits one of his own and then hits a dropkick. A chant of “You still got it” breaks out. This may be the easiest crowd that Sting has ever worked in front of in his career. Jarrett hits a cheapshot on Sting to take control of the match. It wouldn’t last long as Sting drives Jarrett face first to the mat.
Gail distracts Christian, which allows Jarrett to send him to the floor. Gail hits Christian with a Hurricanrana which makes him a lucky man in my book. However, that is the 8th consecutive match that had outside interference of 1 form or another. Its like Russo wrote this show in secret or something.
Jarrett and Monty keep the heat on Christian with a series of quick tags. The crowd chants “Alpha female”, which just sounds stupid for a number of obvious reasons. Christian eventually gets back in the match, hits a frog splash and that prompts chants of “Eddie” from the crowd.
Christian goes to tag Sting but Jarrett pulls him off the apron to prevent the tag. A chair comes in to play but fortunately for Christian he avoids it and nails both men with double DDT. He crawls to Sting and makes the tag to Sting to a nice pop. Sting hits Jarrett with a Stinger splash and if you guessed that a ref bump was soon to follow you’d be correct. Sting locks Jarrett in the scorpion but of course there is no ref. Jarrett makes the ropes, but Sting pulls him back so of course Jarrett taps with still no ref. Monty breaks up the hold but Sting thinks it was Christian. They have words and Monty goes for a belt shot but Sting will have none of it. Sting and Christian put aside the issues and work together. Team Canada comes out to interfere because we haven’t had nearly enough of it on this show. Sting uses a double scorpion Death Drop to dispose of Team Canada. Christian nails Monty but Gail distracts Sting. Jarrett hits Sting with the belt and finally the referee recovers in time to count 2 for Jarrett. A few seconds later Sting starts to Hulk up and that’s bad news for Jarrett. Jarrett goes to hit Sting with the guitar but Sting hits the guitar with the baseball bat. Scorpion Death Drop for Jarrett and its all she wrote.

Winners: Sting and Christian Cage
We had ref bumps; weapons involved, we had multiple run-ins…if I didn’t know better I’d think Jeff Jarrett were somehow involved in this match.

Sting soaks in the admiration of the crowd as Christian fades to the background.

Thumb Position: Slightly up, the formula did this match no favors especially since we saw interference on 80% of this show. However, the result sent the crowd home happy and was what they came to see so it was a success in that respect if just barely.

IMPACT: Profound, this match set up the following feuds. It set up a Christian title shot against Jarrett next month and eventual defense against Monty Brown. It also set the stage for the Sting vs. Jarrett feud that for better or worse, mostly worse was the focus of TNA throughout 2006. It also indirectly set up Christian’s eventual turn on Sting in August of 06 which would set the stage for events that are playing out leading into this year’s Final Resolution.

Final Thoughts: This show stands as an excellent example of why I don’t trust my initial judgment. I originally gave this event a favorable review, but watching it again so far after the fact made me realize how much of a cluster it really ended up being. Interference in 8 of 10 matches, wacky finishes that didn’t help anyone in the end and arguably hurt some of those involved chiefly Team 3D. I don’t know who booked this show but they should not be allowed anywhere near a book again so as to prevent a repeat of this disaster.

The Judgments:

Wrestling Quality: 4 (1 pretty good match, 2 ok matches and a bunch of forgetfulness)

Backstage Quality: 4 (A couple of good video packages, a couple of good promos and a lot less garbage than last year)

Crowd Heat: 3 (They came to see Sting, and Samoa Joe kill someone and barely reacted to anything else outside of 3D’s apparent title win)

Announcing: 3 (they way over-sold tonight and didn’t make me laugh in the least)

Booking: 1 (This gets 1 point because Sting going over in the main event made sense. The abundance of screwy finishes and run-ins however made this a booking disaster)

IMPACT Analysis: 3 (It didn’t have nearly the iMPACT that the prior year’s did in terms of setting up things throughout the year but it did have a profound iMPACT on the main event scene so there is at least that much)

Replay Factor: 1 (I would recommend Joe Vs. Daniels to fans of either man but that match can be found on other DVDs. The main event was enjoyable for Sting fans but is found on his DVD. The only reason to even consider watching this show again is to see the horrid booking and to instruct future bookers as to what to avoid.)

Average: 2.71 Beyond horrible


Worth Buying the DVD?: no way

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Friday, January 12, 2007

iMPACT Analysis: TNA Final Resolution 2005

IMPACT Analysis

Welcome to the debut version of my new column entitled iMPACT Analysis. As this Sunday TNA presents its Final Resolution Pay Per View event in this series I will be looking back at the prior events in the Final Resolution series. I will look at each match, where each participant stood headed into the match and just what kind of iMPACT the match result had on the wrestlers involved and the overall direction of the company’s storylines. This is not something that can be done for a show immediately after it airs, a certain amount of time has to pass before the iMPACT can be assessed which is why I’m doing these on a monthly basis. This month is Final Resolution and next month is Against All Odds and so on and so forth. This will not be a straight play-by-play column and the biggest aim is to provide a context for what takes place on this show. This is a work in progress and feedback is appreciated.
As for why I don’t do this with WWE in edition to TNA? Well, it’s easier to do 2 years of Final Resolution than 20 years worth of Royal Rumbles.

At the end of the review I will gage all aspects of the show that I deem to be important. Wrestling Quality, Backstage Skits/angles quality, Crowd heat, Announcing, Booking, and the iMPACT scale.

Explaining the iMPACT scale. The iMPACT scale does not look at any other factor besides the iMPACT the show had on the future direction of the company for better or for worse. A show with blow-away matches may not have much of an iMPACT if the match outcomes ultimately led to nothing. A show like Wrestlemania I or WCW Bash at the Beach 1996 might be examples of shows that earn perfect 10 scores on the iMPACT scale.

Click Continue reading for the rest of the review.

Event: TNA Final Resolution 2005
Event Date: 01/16/2005
Event Venue: Universal Studios, Orlando Florida
Announcers: Mike Tenay and Don West, Shane Douglas (backstage interviewer)

The event starts off with one of those famous video packages. Shown among the highlights is the XXX Vs. America’s Most Wanted Cage match from Turning Point 2004. You’ll have to wait until December for my thoughts on that one. The video focuses the 3 title matches, which are America’s Most Wanted Vs. Team Canada, AJ Styles Vs. Chris Sabin Vs. Petey Williams in Ultimate X and Jeff Jarrett vs. the winner of a 3-way between Monty Brown, Kevin Nash and Diamond Dallas Page.

Tenay says that Final Resolution offers Intensity, Innovation and Intrigue. Hey, that’s 3 “It’s that proves that TNA knew Angle would be arriving as far back as this show! So everything Angle says is true.

We start off the Pay Per View with a Jeff Jarrett interview running down each of his 3 potential challengers. I love these shows that start off with a hot match to get the crowd into it. Jeff Jarrett says he has earned the right to call himself the King of the Mountain. He earned it by spending some of his own money on the company.

Match 1: Matt Bentley, Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels Vs. the 3Live-Krew
TNA redoubled the Tenay and West commentary due to getting a notice about using the name Michael Shane. Trouble is that it dominates the audio and detracts from the crowd noise.

Konnan is back to speaking on this. When I haven’t heard it in a year it doesn’t sound so bad. Then B.G. does his spiel from 1998 and it still sounds lame.

Christopher Daniels went from the main event of Turning Point to the opening match of Final Resolution a month later. Fortunately for him, better things were in his future starting shortly after this show.
Bentley and Kazarian had been a regular team for a while headed into this show. The team would be broken up a month later with Kazarian’s ill-faded departure to the WWE.
3Live Krew were coming off of a tag title loss to Team Canada at the Prior month’s Turning Point Event.

This is typical formulaic 6-man tag team action. The bad guys get the heat on B.G. who eventually makes the hot tag to Ron Killings. It breaks down to everyone in the ring, as it is hard to tell due to the over-baring commentary but the crowd is definitely into it. As all 6 were on the floor the crowd was counting to 10 along with referee Rudy Charles. A triple team from the Krew leads to a Killings kick on Bentley for the win.

Winners: 3-Live Krew
There are worse matches to start off a show with.

Thumb Position: Slightly up, they worked hard and the crowd liked it even if I’m a fan of only 1 of these men in the ring and another of them as a heel on the Mic. Those would be Christopher Daniels and Konnan respectively for those who couldn't guess.

IMPACT: Minimal, 3LK and Bentley/Kazarian feuded for another month, and Christopher Daniels was sent off in a different direction.

We go backstage to Dusty Rhodes with Trinity, Traci Brooks and Johnny Fairplay. Dusty tells them to search Universal Studios for a clue. I might offer the same suggestion to Dusty Rhodes and TNA. This was TNA’s version of survivor and we’re in for more of these throughout the broadcast. Lucky us. I might also note that you could tell Dusty was the booker because both of the women were fighting over him.

Match 2: Primetime Elix Skipper Vs. Sonjay Dutt
I should note that we’re back to the audio from the original PPV broadcast at this point.

Sonjay Dutt was basically just a guy who wrestled at this stage of his TNA run. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Elix Skipper was turned face after his cage-walk rana at Turning Point and subsequent loss with Daniels to America’s Most Wanted.

The match is a basic x-division spotfest between 2 crowd favorites. Sonjay pops the crowd early with his use of the rotation-rana. Crowd likes this, as there are TNA chants laced throughout, not as loud as the ones during Trump and Rosie on Raw however. It’s a pretty competitive match if you consider that Elix Skipper was just starting to get a push and this would be Dutt’s last Pay Per View match for the company until April of 05.

Winner: Elix Skipper
It was a decent spotfest that the crowd liked. The goal is to entertain and it certainly did that, but I don’t want more than 1 of these a show and could live with none.

Thumb Position: Up, it was a different style than the opener, the crowd was again into it and I wasn’t calling for them to just take it home.

IMPACT: Mild, for Elix Skipper it was the start of a few months long push as a face. Sonjay Dutt was out of the company for a while after this show so it did him neither harm nor good to lose.

We next get a promo for Trytan who was Ryan Wilson who is now under a WWE Developmental contract. We’ll get to more on Trytan in March, believe me.

Now we go to Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash having a talk earlier. They tease the idea of working together in their match against Monty Brown. If you feel you need to know more about this interview, you can buy the DVD for $6.99 from ShopTNA.com

A video package airs for the next match.

Match 3: Kid Kash Vs. Dustin Rhodes
Don West describes Kid Kash as someone who hates being alive and is going to take it out on everyone.

Kid Kash had been teaming with Lance Hoyt a great deal at this point, while Dustin Rhodes made his return to TNA shortly after 2004’s Turning Point. So this would be his debut in the monthly PPV era of the company.

The match starts with Dustin in control. Kid Kash fakes an injury, which the crowd doesn’t buy but Don West sure does. Don West goes through a period of self-loathing for falling for the injury in the first place. Kash spends his time on offense seeking to keep Dustin off of his feet to negate Dustin’s size advantage. Kash uses a frog splash on Dustin’s leg and follows it up with a figure 4. Dustin sells the leg but gets no love from the crowd who instructs him to “walk it off”. After a match dominated by Kash, Dustin hits a bulldog for the win.

Winner: Dustin Rhodes
The match had nice psychology with the smaller Kash trying to keep the bigger Rhodes off of his feet.

Thumb Position: In the middle, it had nice psychology but led to nothing and I could’ve lived a normal life had this match not happened.

IMPACT: None, Kid Kash was back to tag team matches the next month and Dustin Rhodes was feuding with Raven.

We go backstage to Johnny Fairplay. He finds Dusty’s hat and plays around with it. He also finds the clue inside the hat. If this sounded entertaining, you must’ve read a different paragraph.

A video package airs setting up the Dallas Page, Monty Brown and Kevin Nash match. Nash’s involvement caused problems between he and Jarrett who along with Scott Hall were at the time Known as the “Kings of Wrestling”.

You’d think that this would mean that match was next. You’d be wrong because we go to a package between Raven and Erik Watts. These 2 were involved in a 3-way feud with DDP that was a lot like the 3-way feud in WCW with Chris Benoit; accept unlike that one this one was not good.

Match 4: Raven Vs. Erik Watts

As I said, both men were involved in a 3-way triangle with DDP at shows prior to this event.

The match is the first of the night to utilize crowd brawling. The crowd seems to like the stuff outside the ring in the early going but my prediction is it doesn’t last. Raven controlled early, but Watts eventually turned the tide. I feel at this point it is important to mention that during this match West and Tenay found time to plug the TNA website and merchandise and I found time to get myself a yogurt.
It occurs to me at this point that while I find fault with much of TNA these days, at least Erik Watts is not prominently involved. It also occurs to me that I feel the same way about Johnny Fairplay, Trytan, Scott Hall and Dallas Page who were all major or minor parts of this show.
In yet more foreshadowing of Kurt Angle’s arrival in TNA, Raven uses an anklelock on Watts. Unfortunately, Watts is able to get up. The crowd is significantly less involved in the match now than they were at the beginning. I’m not sure, but I believe that it was just a few days before this particular PPV that Erik Watts reportedly attempted suicide. Erik Watts hits a chokeslam and pins Raven.

Winner: Erik Watts
This was not a good match at all. I feel that I must also point out how horrible Erik Watts’ music is.

Thumb Position: Way Down went longer than it should have, it involved Erik Watts and the crowd died in the middle.

Raven gets on the mic and says he’s sorry for disrespecting Watts. Watts is stupid enough to accept the apology and gets laid out. Good-bye and good riddance.

IMPACT: none, Raven was off to a new feud and Watts was out of the company almost as soon as this match was over. Had Raven won it might’ve been minor.

West and Tenay hype up the rest of the card; then talk about the new iMPACT timeslot on Fox Sports. Apparently, it had great ratings. I must have blocked that part out of my mind.

Rowdy Roddy Piper heads out to the ring to referee the next match.

Match 5: Scott Hall Vs. Jeff Hardy w/Roddy Piper as referee

Holy wellness policy Batman! Hall and Hardy were feuding as an offshoot of the feud between the Kings of Wrestling and TNA’s younger stars that went nowhere. I don’t remember why Piper was added as referee to this match but I think it was to get the company’s top users all in the ring at the same time. If only we had Jake Roberts on commentary to just complete the visual.

The match starts with an extended search of Scott Hall by Roddy Piper. Piper finds a few foreign objects, but no needles, Bongs, or flasks of alcohol. The search ends when Hall tells Piper that the good stuff is in the back.
Tenay says that Jeff Hardy’s first opponent in the WWF was Scott Hall. So, this match has been what, 9 years in the making? The crowd is so in to this match you can almost hear individual conversations. It’s funny because it clearly sounds like Jeff Hardy’s biggest fans in this crowd are about 12 years old. Jeff Hardy goes for the Swanton, Hall tries to counter with the Brass Nucks and Piper nails him allowing Hardy to get the win.

Winner: Jeff Hardy
The best part of this match was my jokes. Even if you didn’t think any of them were funny they were still the best part.

After the match, Hardy says that he’s coming for Jeff Jarrett. Piper says Hardy has a shot at the title so he should get out while he can, then he declares Hardy the next world champion.
Abyss comes out, returning to the company after an entire month away. It was rumored he was headed to the WWE. Don West was funny, just matter-of-factly saying that Abyss was headed to the ring before then suddenly going in to shock.

Thumb Position: Down, would’ve been way down but I did get to make some jokes so that has to count for something.

IMPACT: Middle of the road, it ended the Hardy-Hall program after 3 months and the post match angle started a feud that went strong for 2 months and would be resumed later in the year.

Trinity and Traci and Fairplay are backstage and stuff happens. I could barely hear the conversation and don’t care enough to go back.

Match 6: Monty Brown Vs. Kevin Nash Vs. Diamond Dallas Page

We’ve sort of already detailed where these men were before this match. DDP was in an extended feud with Raven and Erik Watts, Nash was a member of the Kings of Wrestling, and Monty Brown had just been victorious in a feud with the likes of Abyss and Raven at the past 2 monthly shows.

Page’s TNA theme couldn’t have been a bigger knock-off of Smells Like Teen Spirit if it tried.

This is being competed under elimination rules and sending your opponent over the top to the floor constitutes an elimination, as do pinfalls and submissions. Think of it as the ever-present wacky TNA rulebook very much in play.

The match in the early stages consists of 2 men fighting and the other man resting. You’d be stunned to learn that Nash was the first man resting. A dueling “Lets Go Monty”, “DDP” chant involving maybe 10 people total breaks out for all of 5 seconds. Cena Vs. Hunter level heat at Wrestlemania XXII this wasn’t. Nash was also the first man eliminated as he was knocked over the top by DDP. Page then hit a Diamond Cutter on Monty and would’ve gotten a 3-count if not for Nash pulling him out of the ring. Match continues for a few more minutes before Monty wins with the pounce.

Winner: Monty Brown
After 2 fun matches, and 1 that was at least a sound psychology based match, the next 3 matches were the equivalent of jumping in to the empty end of a swimming pool head first.

Thumb Position: Down, Nash was lazy not funny so that does this no favors. Plus, it had wacky stips, which means that it started out from behind and had to try to recover.

IMPACT: Middle of the Road, it had a profound iMPACT on the rest of this show, setting up the main event. After this night though not much else came of it. However, an interesting trivia note, Brown headlined for the title at this show, Nash headlined for the title in February while DDP got the title shot in March. So there is that for however little it’s worth to you.

Next we move on to a video package for the America’s Most Wanted Vs. Team Canada feud. This match was well before this feud was played out to death. At this point, disc 1 of the DVD ends and we must move to disc 2.

Match 7: Team Canada Vs. America’s Most Wanted for the NWA Tag Team Championship

Team Canada represented by Bobby Roode and Eric Young won the tag titles at Turning Point from the 3Live Krew. America’s Most Wanted was coming off of the main event performance at that very same show against Triple X.

The match is the second to start outside of the ring. I enjoy this brawl significantly more than I enjoyed the Erik Watts Vs. Raven brawl. After a few minutes of that the fight goes back to the ring with AMW starting out in control. After a strong fast start it settles down in to tag formula wrestling with the bad guys getting the heat on James Storm. I want to clarify that in general I love the tag formula so when I say that we get back to that formula it is not meant as an insult. The crowd is also awake again after the middle third of this show put everyone in to a deeper sleep than your typical college lecture.
Storm after being beaten for 3 or 4 minutes or so, I’m not a time keeper finally makes the hot tag to Chris Harris. AMW goes for a death sentence but Eric Young breaks it up. Storm hits the Superkick but Scott D’Amoore breaks up the pin. AMW decides to eliminate the D’Amoore factor by using handcuffs to cuff D’Amoore to the Ultimate X structure. I believe those handcuffs were brought out during the Hall/Hardy match as Hall did have a pair on his person during Piper’s weapons search. Nice callback to something earlier on the show. D’Amoore yells and shakes the cuffs to emphasize to the stupid that he is indeed handcuffed to the post.
AMW may have taken out D’Amoore but that doesn’t stop the interference as Johnny Devine heads out and uses the hockey stick for things it was not meant for. That gets a near fall for Team Canada and Devine’s next attempt at interference gets him a spinebuster. AMW gets a very close near fall and the crowd chants bullshit. Catatonic on Young but Roode distracts the referee. Harris manages to get his foot on the ropes to break up a pinfall attempt. Devine hits his own man with a steel chair and that allows AMW to pick up the victory and regain the titles.

Winners: America’s Most Wanted
I want to say that I love this match, it brings me great feeling I have all-time all this show so far. Good nearfalls, good crowd heat, solid action…you don’t see too many like this one anymore.

Thumb Position: Way up, hey I loved this one. It might not be the type of match everyone digs and some may have thought the interference was a bit excessive and that’s fine. This was my cup of Coke however.

IMPACT: Profound, This was the beginning of the long-running AMW Vs. Team Canada feud, and would eventually include the Naturals. Those 3 teams would be the focus of the tag division and title scene for the entire year of 2005. So for better or worse this match set the stage for a year’s worth of programs.

We go backstage. Fairplay is excited about finding the clue. Trinity and Traci beat him up and steal the clue taking it to Dusty Rhodes. Dusty gives them their next task. He wants each of them to find a tag team that has not competed in TNA and bring them to Dusty. I guess we’ll find out later what the Teams are needed for. Fairplay was laid out sulking about losing his clue. Apparently, he is out of TNA but I’ll bet he’s not. Trust me this did have a payoff and that payoff sucked but we’ll get more into that in future months.

We go to a video package for Ultimate X. It highlights the exploits and impressive moves of each of the 3 competitors.

Match 8: Petey Williams Vs. AJ Styles Vs. Chris Sabin – Ultimate X
Petey Williams enters as the X-division champion for the past 5 months, the longest reign in history at that point. Petey defeated AJ Styles at Victory Road and Chris Sabin at Turning Point. AJ Styles was apart of Team TNA at Turning Point defeating the Kings of Wrestling along with Jeff Hardy and the Macho Man Randy Savage. Chris Sabin was feuding with Williams and had been quite successful in prior Ultimate X matches.

The Match is not 5 minutes old before our first “Holy Shit” and “This is Awesome,” chants. Its not that it hasn’t been good so far, but I think this is a very easy crowd to please tonight. Although as I said its light years better than the middle third of this show. D’Amoore who was handcuffed during the last match is back interfering in this match. The referee kicks D’Amoore out and the crowd sings him the goodbye song. So does the supposedly impartial Mike Tenay.
A nice spot comes when Sabin is on AJ’s shoulders and is taken off with a rana from Petey Williams. Crowd busts out the “Holy Shit” chant for that as well but I’m not sure that it was deserved not that this wasn’t cool. A match like this is hard to comment on just because it is such a spectacle.
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I prefer this type of match to the ladder match for a variety of reasons. I think the use of the cables allows for some of the crazier moves to make sense in the context of the match. I’m too tired to expound further on that right now, however. Perhaps during a future Ultimate X match I’ll explain further. Finish comes when Sabin and Williams fight over the belt, but AJ leaps in and steals it for the victory.

Winner: AJ Styles
This is probably the best Ultimate X match ever.

Thumb Position: Way Up, wither have ye gone X-division?

IMPACT: Profound, what the prior match did for the tag division this did for the X-division. It set up AJ Styles feuding with Christopher Daniels over the belt and that would eventually evolve in to AJ Styles Vs. Christopher Daniels Vs. Samoa Joe

Jeff Jarrett and Larry Zbyszko are arguing about something but as with most of these skits, I don’t care.

Match 9: Jeff Jarrett Vs. Monty Brown
Jarrett has been champion since June 2 2004. He was feuding with Jeff Hardy for the latter half of 2004 along with the other members of the Kings of Wrestling Hall and Nash.

The Match contains plenty of chants of Triple J and other not so nice things about Jeff Jarrett. The fight spills to the floor and they take out the broadcast team for a minute or so. This is a typical Jarrett match crowd brawling, multiple weapons including a chair the belt and the guitar. Monty Brown pounced the referee so that ads the ref-bump to the formula. Monty gets the visual pin after a guitar shot with the referee down. A second ref comes in to count the pin but Jarrett kicks out at 2. The crowd is not pleased by this turn of events chanting one of their favorite phrases. Jarrett hits a low blow and then hits 3 strokes in succession to get the win.

Winner: Jeff Jarrett
This was the typical Jarrett formula match but it wasn’t half bad. Many people thought that an opportunity was wasted by not putting the title on Monty Brown at this show. In hindsight having Monty win may not have been a good idea after all.

Thumb Position: Slightly Up, The match was fine for the Jarrett formula. I didn’t want to chop my leg off and beat people with the stub so we’ll go with thumbs slightly up.

IMPACT: Depends, for Jarrett it was minimal it was just another title defense in his reign that lasted from 06/02/2004 to 05/15/2005. For Monty Brown this was probably the peak of his TNA run. Consider that he did not headline another Pay Per View in a singles match the rest of the year. Consider that his next 1-on-1 shot at the title would not come until 03/12/2006 against Christian Cage at Destination X. Brown headlined Slammiversary 2005 as part of the King of the Mountain match and then teamed with Jeff Jarrett against Sting and Christian Cage to headline Final Resolution 2006.

Final Thoughts: The show was a tale of 3 thirds so to speak. The first third was a bit of fun, nothing major really happened that would carry over past this show but outside of some dumb Dusty skits nothing offensive took place. The crowd was awake and contributing and for me that plays a role in my enjoyment of a show.
The middle third was a complete waste of time. None of the matches were good, only 1 thing happened that would have a real affect on future storylines and the crowd was disinterested.
The last third could’ve gotten the rare “This is Awesome” rating from me had Jeff Jarrett’s formula title matches not been prominently involved. Instead it rates a strong pretty good final third.

Show Ratings out of 10

Match Quality: 7 (5 matches got a thumbs up, 2 of those got a big thumbs up, 1 a thumbs in the and middle the middle 3 a thumbs down)

Backstage interviews and Angles: 1 (completely terrible)

Crowd Heat: 7 (middle third prevented this from being a 9)

Announcing: 5 (not their worst night, but they didn’t make me laugh either so average)

Booking: 6 (No needless swerve, and the right guy went over in a majority of these matches. At no point did I curse this company with a quick death so this show had that going for it)

IMPACT Scale: 6 (You had a couple of minor things on the undercard, a couple of profound things in the title pictures and not much else of note)

Replay Factor: 4 (really, the tag and X-title matches are the only 1’s I’d want to watch when not doing so for a review of this show, so each of those matches gets 2 points.)

Overall (average of all above categories): 5.14 for slightly above average score

Worth buying the DVD: Depends on the price

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