By Jared Silberkleit - Against All Odds was basically just a throwaway TNA PPV that existed for the sole purpose of extending and advancing storylines. TNA barely put any effort into building the show up, and the final product somewhat reflected that. However, the show wasn’t nearly as bad as TNA’s previous PPV Genesis, thanks to the last two matches which saved the show to an extent and made it “middle of the road” quality. In the end, it certainly wasn’t a must-see PPV, but it wasn’t too horrible either.

The show begins with Mike Tenay and Taz telling us that Max and Jeremy Buck had flight troubles and would be unable to be here tonight for their scheduled 3-way #1 Contender’s match for the X Division Championship against Robbie E. Robbie then comes down to the ring with Cookie and cuts a short promo on how he’s the #1 contender before instructing the referee to count to 10 (thus counting Max and Jeremy out) to make his victory official. The ref counts and awards Robbie the win, but Kazarian comes out and cuts a brief promo himself, announcing that Robbie will face him right now for the X Division title.

1.    TNA X Division Championship match: Kazarian(c) vs. Robbie E

They brawl on the ramp at first before making their way into the ring, where Kaz stays in control and hits a gutwrench suplex. Cookie tries to grab Kaz’s feet but gets her hand stomped on. Kaz scores a near fall before he ends up on the apron, where Robbie pulls his feet out from under him, sending him face first into the steel steps. Robbie throws him into the steps on the outside and gets a near fall in the ring off a second rope fist drop. Robbie hits a shoulder thrust in the corner and Cookie chokes Kaz while the ref isn’t looking. Robbie remains in control and applies a rear chin lock, but Kaz fights to his feet. Robbie charges in the corner but Kaz moves. Kaz hits a springboard dropkick and some clotheslines before hitting a dropkick and a body slam. Kaz springs off the ropes with a twisting leg drop for a near fall. Robbie counters the Fade to Black (reverse Tombstone) but Kaz hits a neckbreaker for a 2 count. Cookie hits Kaz in the face with her purse from the outside, allowing Robbie to score a near fall off a roll-up. More back and forth action and Kaz hits the Fade to Black out of the corner for the win. Wish the pre-match segment was shorter so the match could have been longer, but a fun opener nonetheless. Crowd was really into Kaz and there was a lot of good, fast-paced action. Match Time: 7:09     Star Rating: **1/2

2.    Gunner, Murphy, and Rob Terry vs. Beer Money and Scott Steiner

This match actually ended up not being a horrendous botch-fest, which was surprising given the competitors. Steiner and Gunner lock up at the start, with Steiner taking the advantage with a shoulder block and some chops. Steiner hits a belly to belly on both Gunner and Murphy before Terry tags in. Steiner kicks Terry in the groin while the ref wasn’t looking and hits an elbow drop. Murphy and James Storm get tags, and Storm scores a near fall before Gunner tags in and misses a kick. Storm hits a clothesline and a neckbreaker and goes to work with some right hands and clotheslines. Storm rains down on Gunner in the corner before Terry knocks him down. The heels then work over Storm for a bit, with Terry getting a near fall off a powerslam. Storm hits a back stabber and takes out Gunner, who just tagged in, before tagging in Robert Roode. Roode sends Terry to the outside, works over Gunner in the corner with some punches and chops, and gets a near fall off a neckbreaker. Beer Money double team Murphy and hit a double suplex to Terry. Roode spinebusters all three heels and sets up Gunner up top before tagging in Steiner, who hits the Frankensteiner to Gunner for the win. Match served its purpose, which was to give Steiner and Beer Money an easy win over lesser opponents. Didn’t really belong on PPV but it wasn’t that bad, considering the talent involved. Match Time: 10:12     Star Rating: **

They then did a brief backstage segment with Devon and his kids. Devon says his sons will not be involved in the match tonight against Bully Ray, and he instructs both of them to stay backstage, so that they don’t get hurt. Remember this, as it becomes important later.

3.    D’Angelo Dinero vs. Samoa Joe

This was probably the most disappointing match of the night. The short length and low card placement didn’t do these guys any favors. Pope taunts Joe at the start and is slow to trade blows with him. Pope hits a kick to the gut and a forearm before Joe begins to take control, but Pope bails and retreats up the ramp. He’s stopped by Okada, whose new gimmick is that of Kato from The Green Hornet. Pope comes back down to ringside, where Joe dives at him with an elbow suicida. Pope hits a suplex back in the ring, but Joe beats on him in the corner and hits a kick. Pope pokes Joe in the eye and sends him to the outside, before hitting some shots to the head. Joe hits some punches but Pope hits a dropkick. Pope hits a neckbreaker and goes up top, but Joe catches him diving in mid air with an atomic drop. Joe slams Pope down, hits a splash, and scores a near fall off a powerslam. Pope is able to remove the padding off the top turnbuckle and try some quick offense, but Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch out of nowhere and Pope instantly taps out. After the match Pope teases a handshake but kicks Joe in the gut and sends him into the exposed turnbuckle, busting him open. Pope takes out Okada and hits the DDE, and then bails up the ramp before an angry Joe can get his hands on him. The whole thing was pretty much a longer-than-usual TV segment, and the Kato gimmick with Okada is just dumb. Average work, with the post match giving the feud a reason to continue. Match Time: 8:31     Star Rating: **

4.    Last Knockout Standing match for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship: Madison Rayne(c) vs. Mickie James

Don’t think I’ve ever seen a female Last Man Standing match before, so at least this match has a novelty factor going for it. Match was pretty typical for mainstream women’s wrestling, with a bit more aggression. Rayne comes at Mickie with the loaded glove, but Mickie hits a series of clotheslines before the fight spills to the outside. Rayne sends Mickie face first into the steps, and Mickie gets up at 5 and gets back in the ring. Mickie hits a clothesline and Rayne retreats up the ramp, but Mickie chases her and they brawl again. Mickie gets sent into the barricade and the apron, but is able to beat the count and send Madison into the ring post. Mickie kicks Rayne in the gut and sends her to the floor before diving off the apron with a Thesz press. Rayne crawls under the ring and Mickie follows, and they end up on the other side where Rayne misses a punch on Mickie with the glove and hits the steps. Mickie slams Rayne onto the steps, but Rayne knocks her down from the top turnbuckle. Mickie hits a Thesz press back in the ring and gets the glove, but Tara comes down to ringside. Mickie brings Tara into the ring and knocks her out with the glove, but Rayne pulls out a pair of brass knuckles and punches Mickie in the face. Rayne stupidly goes for a pin at first but allows the ref to count 10, so Rayne retains. This feud just refuses to end. I don’t get why they insist on delaying Mickie’s title win, and they keep doing the same finish with Tara. The match accomplished nothing and had a terrible finish, and other than that it was your basic Madison Rayne match. Match Time: 8:33     Star Rating: *1/2

Matt Morgan then came out with a mic and calls out Hernandez. Hernandez came down to the ring and cut a promo about how he was treated with respect during his time in AAA in Mexico and how he gets treated like a second class citizen in TNA. He says America is now primarily Hispanic, calls Morgan “white boy”, and says he’s now in the minority. Hernandez then lays out Morgan with his finisher. This was simply an Impact segment.

5.    Matt Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam

Despite their very weak match at Genesis, these guys surprisingly worked well with each other and delivered a good, competitive match this time around. Matt was in much better shape here, looking slimmer and better conditioned. They lock up at the start, but quickly end up trading punches. RVD hits a spin kick, but Hardy avoids a monkey flip and hits a clothesline. RVD sends Hardy to the floor and kicks him off the apron, but Hardy pulls RVD’s legs out from under him. Hardy sends RVD into the apron and the barricade on the floor, but RVD is able to plant him gut first over the barricade before hitting his leg drop off the apron. Hardy scores a DDT back in the ring for a near fall but they fight on the floor again. Hardy drops Van Dam over the railing and mocks his taunt in the ring, but Van Dam returns to the ring. Hardy hits a leg drop and catches Van Dam in a double underhook submission with the legs wrapped around the midsection. Van Dam gets a rope break, but Hardy slingshots him neck first into the bottom rope and applies a full nelson. Van Dam is eventually able to get to his feet, but he’s knocked down in mid air when he tries for a springboard kick. They trade shots, with RVD hitting a clothesline, superkick, and a spin kick. Hardy avoids Rolling Thunder, but RVD hits a moonsault and a slam. RVD hits a split-legged moonsault for a near fall, but misses a kick, allowing Hardy to connect with the Side Effect. RVD counters the Twist of Hate and hits a kick before both guys fight up top. Hardy backdrops RVD to the mat, but misses a top rope moonsault. RVD goes up top and hits the Five Star Frog Splash for the win. Good, well-worked match between these two. Had a bit of dead air in parts but a very solid showing that Hardy desperately needed to earn some credibility in-ring wise. Match Time: 13:17     Star Rating: ***

6.    Street Fight: Bully Ray vs. Brother Devon

This ended up not being the big blowoff that everyone expected going in. Ray tries to sneak attack Devon from behind on the outside, but Devon turns around and hits him, and they brawl around ringside as the match begins. Devon smashes a drink in Ray’s face, hits a ton of right hands, and throws him in the ring while he pulls out some weapons from under the ring. Devon hits Ray a few times with a kendo stick before Ray tries to beg off, but Devon hits him in the head with the kendo stick. Devon puts Ray’s head inside a chair and grabs a steel chain, but Devon’s sons come down the ramp. Devon tells them to leave, but the distraction allows Ray to hit Devon in the back with a chair. Ray taunts Devon’s sons, hits Devon with a trash can lid, and puts Devon’s head inside a chair, but Devon’s sons run into the ring to stop Ray from hitting Devon. Ray pushes them off, but Devon hits some clotheslines and a back drop. One of Devon’s sons hits Ray with a trash can, and both sons hold up Ray’s legs so Devon can hit the Wassup. Devon tells his sons to get the tables, and the sons get one and slide it into the ring. They stay outside as Devon sets it up, but Ray hits Devon with a low blow and pulls out handcuffs. For some reason, Devon’s sons just stand and watch as Devon gets cuffed to the corner. They then run in after to try and free him, but Ray takes out one of them. The other son hits Ray with some shots to the back, but Ray hits a big boot and pins him to end the match. WHAT? Devon’s sons were never officially in the match, so how can Ray pin someone who isn’t a competitor in the match? That’s just stupid, awful booking. After the match, Ray taunts the still-trapped Devon and prepares to hit one of his sons with a chair, but stops as Devon begs for security to come. Ray then powerbombs the son through the table in the ring as Devon looks on, nearly in tears. Officials come out, free Devon, and stretcher out Devon’s son as Tenay and Taz play up the seriousness of the situation. Wasn’t really much of a match, just a brief brawl with a completely ridiculous finish. The post match stuff was really well done but the booking of the match itself was a mess. Match Time: 9:23     Star Rating: *

7.    Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle

The stipulations of this match were, if Kurt won, he would get full custody of his children, but if Jeff won, then Kurt would have to walk Karen down the aisle when Karen and Jeff renew their vows on the March 3^rd Impact. Despite the disturbing nature of the feud, the match ended up actually delivering and being a highlight of the show, which was odd given how awful their Genesis match was. They lock up a couple times before Angle takes down Jarrett with a headlock before they get broken up in the corner. Angle hits a back suplex and keeps Jarrett grounded with some holds on the mat. Angle hits a big hip toss and a suplex for a near fall. Angle hits some punches in the corner before sending Jarrett to the outside. Angle beats on Jarrett on the outside and gets slapped by Karen, but continues the beatdown. Angle chases Karen away and scores a near fall in the ring off an elbow drop. Angle drives his shoulder into Jarrett in the corner, but charges and connects with the post. Jarrett throws Angle into the barricade on the outside and splashes his neck on the ropes. Jarrett hits a diving cross body but Angle rolls through for a 2 count. Jarrett hits a boot and goes up top but Angle hits a super belly to belly suplex. Angle hits some clotheslines and another belly to belly suplex and tries for the Ankle Lock, but Jarrett fights out. Jarrett misses a splash and Angle hits the Angle Slam, but Karen is distracting the ref. Jarrett low blows Angle from behind and hits the Stroke, but Angle kicks out.

Angle counters another Stroke attempt, sending Jarrett into the ref. Angle hits some uppercuts on the outside but Karen rakes Angle’s back. Angle chases off Karen but Jarrett clotheslines him and sends him into the steps. They go back into the ring, where Angle tries to use a chair brought in by Jarrett, but the ref takes it away. Jarrett gets a near fall with a roll up and Angle scores 2 with a suplex. Angle goes up top and is distracted by Karen, allowing Jarrett to hit a botched Stroke off the second rope which Angle thankfully kicks out of. Angle hits a back suplex and applies the Ankle Lock. Jarrett grabs Karen’s hands, but Angle pulls them both into the middle of the ring. Karen pulls the ref down as Jarrett taps out, but Jarrett gets free and hits Angle in the head with the chair. The ref comes to but Angle kicks out again. They do some quick back and forth action, with Angle trying for a sunset flip and Jarrett sitting down on him for the pin. After the match, Angle cries, takes off his boots, and leaves them in the ring, with the idea being that this may have been his last match because he couldn’t win custody of his kids. The match told an excellent story with Kurt fighting so hard for custody of his children and surviving everything, but the Karen stuff got way too excessive and the finish was really anticlimactic. The fans weren’t buying into the near falls towards the end and the match started to drag. That being said, it was extremely well worked and Kurt was awesome throughout. The match just didn’t need to be as long as it was to get to a finish like that. Match Time: 16:17     Star Rating: ***1/4

8.    Ladder match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Mr. Anderson(c) vs. Jeff Hardy

Despite the gimmick, this match certainly had a tough act to follow after so many near falls in the previous match. This was good, but not at the level you’d expect given the ladder gimmick, the talent involved, and the fact that it was the main event. Hardy comes out with a goofy ladder, painted green on one side and pink on the other. Hardy spits in Anderson’s face at the start, and Anderson responds with punches and they fight to the outside. Anderson throws Hardy into his ladder and rams another one into him. They go in the ring, where Hardy hits a neckbreaker on a ladder. Anderson stupidly goes for a pin but Hardy takes control of the match. Hardy sets up a ladder on its side and kicks it into Anderson’s crotch. Anderson hits a Russian leg sweep to Hardy into a ladder in the corner and brings another ladder into the ring. They fight on top of the ladder but Hardy flips over and hits a powerbomb off it. Hardy plants Anderson and goes for a leapfrog leg drop out of the corner over a ladder, but Anderson moves. Hardy backdrops Anderson onto the ladder in the corner, turns a ladder upside down, and chokes Anderson against the ropes. Hardy tosses Anderson out to the floor and kicks him back into the barricade.

Anderson shoves Hardy’s painted ladder back into his face, but Hardy tosses him into the steps. Hardy leaps off the steps onto Anderson, splashing him against the barricade. Back in the ring, Anderson suplexes Hardy onto the upside down ladder in a train wreck spot that looked really screwed up. Anderson ascends a ladder, but Hardy takes him down and hits a Twist of Hate. Hardy brings the painted ladder into the ring, but Anderson hits the Green Bay Plunge on top of a ladder. He tries for a senton off the top, but Hardy moves and Anderson catches his neck on the back of the ladder. Two ladders are set up and both guys fight on top of them, trying for the belt. Anderson tries for a Mic Check off the top, but doesn’t get it as the ladders collapse and both guys fall, with Hardy lunging for the belt in mid air. Hardy fights off Anderson, sets up a ladder, and pulls down the belt to win the match. Ending was clearly botched as Hardy was supposed to hang on to the belt when the ladders fell. Why Hardy won the title when he has an upcoming court date for drug trafficking is beyond me. Wasn’t that the whole reason Anderson won the belt at Genesis? The match itself was good, but never hit that second level and wasn’t nearly as exciting as you’d expect in a ladder match. Since it’s TNA, the lack of overbooking in the main event brings a smile to my face, but the match was definitely missing something. Match Time: 18:20     Star Rating: ***1/4

Overall PPV Rating: 6.5/10

My name is Jared Silberkleit and I am from Orange, CT. I am a huge pro wrestling fan and follow all kinds of promotions such as WWE, TNA, ROH, PWG, CHIKARA, Dragon Gate USA, and anything else I might come across. I am a huge supporter of independent wrestling and I feel that it provides a true alternative to the mainstream promotions and also showcases a lot of innovation and hard work. Aside from wrestling I am also a really big fan of football, baseball, hockey, and MMA. I have also written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for over two years.

Tagged with: Apron, Body Slam, Clotheslines, Contender, Fist, Genesis, Kazarian, Mike Tenay, Ramp, Ref Counts, Referee, Road Quality, Rope, Sole Purpose, Springboard, Steel Steps, Storylines, Suplex, Taz, Tna Ppv

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