• Triple Threat Steel Cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Daniel Bryan(c) vs. Mark Henry vs. The Big Show

This was fairly short for a World Heavyweight Championship match, due to Mark Henry being injured on the go-home edition of Smackdown, but this was a really fun way to start the show. The story of this match was that Show and Henry (individually) kept destroying Bryan with power moves, and Bryan, being the much smaller heel, kept trying to escape the cage as quickly as possible. They utilized the cage heavily, with Show repeatedly tossing Bryan into the walls. Show splashed Henry against the side of the cage twice early on. Bryan tried to escape by walking out the door but Henry pulled him back in and sling-shotted him against the cage with the ropes. Bryan hit a tornado DDT on Show out of the corner and used the LeBell Lock but Henry broke it up. Henry went for the World’s Strongest Slam on Bryan by Show hit the WMD punch on Henry for a near fall. The end of the match was Bryan climbing over the top of the cage and Show following in pursuit. Bryan got over the top and Show tried to pull him back in by Bryan’s arms with one hand, but eventually lost his grip and Bryan dropped to the floor for the win. Good, fast-paced opener with heavy use of the cage. Bryan didn’t get a tremendous amount of offense in but this was a good heel victory as his slow burn turn continues. Match Time: 9:07     Star Rating: ***

• Natalya, Beth Phoenix, and The Bella Twins vs. Kelly Kelly, Eve, Tamina, and Alicia Fox

This was unadvertised, but with only 4 matches being announced in advance, a filler Divas match was expected. Eve hit her usual spots and Beth got her knees up to block a senton. One of the Bellas put Alicia in a terrible-looking arm bar. Kelly hit a facebuster and a sloppy head scissors. All of the girls then started brawling on the outside and Kelly hit a plancha off the top onto the pile. Beth then hit the Glam Slam on Kelly in the ring for the pin. Typical crappy Divas match. All of the offense from everyone here except for Beth looked awful. They booked the right finish, at least. Match Time: 5:28     Star Rating: *

• John Cena vs. Kane

Things were looking bad before the bell even rang for this one given how horrible this storyline has been for the past month on Raw. Both guys unload with punches at the start before Kane takes the advantage. Kane works over Cena with a chin lock and hits a sidewalk slam followed by the clothesline off the top. Crowd wasn’t into either guy really, but they liked seeing Cena being on the receiving end of moves. Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Kane grabs him by the throat. Kane big boots Cena for 2 before they head up top. Cena knocks Kane to the mat and hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle off the top. Kane escapes the Attitude Adjustment and they brawl on the floor and up the entranceway. The referee counts out both guys, so the match ends in a double count-out. Wow, boring match with a crap finish like that? I know what you’re thinking, but it gets even better. Cena and Kane brawl to the backstage area. Kane eventually takes out Cena by hitting him repeatedly with a chair. He then barges into Zack Ryder’s dressing room. Ryder is in a wheelchair to sell the chokeslam through the stage on Raw. Kane then WHEELS Ryder from the backstage area to the ring. Kane throws Ryder into the ring. Eve then comes out begging Kane not to hurt Ryder. Fans couldn’t care less. Kane hits the Tombstone on Ryder. Cena, totally no selling the beating backstage, runs to the ring and gets chokeslammed by Kane. They did the stretcher job for Ryder. THIS STORYLINE SUCKS AND IT MUST CONTINUE. The match itself was pretty much what was expected from these guys until the double countout, with a few nice moments but mostly dull, plodding action. Terrible stuff overall. Match Time: 10:56     Star Rating: *1/4

• Drew McIntyre vs. Brodus Clay

Like the Divas match, this was also an unadvertised match to fill time. Brodus came out dancing with the girls. Drew is all over Brodus at the start with punches, but Brodus comes back with the exploder, corner splash, and flying cross body for the quick victory. He then does the whole dance routine afterwards. Fine squash match here, basically the exact same match Brodus has been having since he debuted the new gimmick. Match Time: 1:05     Star Rating: N/A

• WWE Championship match with John Laurinaitis as Special Guest Referee: CM Punk(c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Before the match, Laurinaitis introduced a second referee to officiate the match while he stood on the outside. Thank God for this match after the show had been dragging so much after the opener. Both guys tease their finishers in the opening minutes before Punk hits a suicide dive. Punk is yanked off the top rope and takes a scary bump almost on his head. Ziggler hits the repeated elbow drops and goes for the sleeper hold. Punk tries for the Anaconda Vise, but Ziggler reverses into the sleeper. Ziggler goes for the famouser but Punk counters with an awesome Liger bomb. Ziggler counters the Go to Sleep and rolls through a cross body attempt for 2. Punk hits a roundhouse kick and the Savage elbow off the top for a pair of near falls. The ref is then bumped and Punk puts Ziggler in the Anaconda Vise. Ziggler taps but Laurinaitis is busy tending to the other referee. Punk then counters a roll-up with one of his own but there’s still no ref. Laurinaitis and the other ref get in the ring, and Punk lifts up Ziggler for the GTS, swings him into Laurinaitis, and hits the move. The other ref, however, is still down. Punk goes for another GTS but Ziggler counters with a famouser. The ref comes to this time, but Punk kicks out. Punk catapults Ziggler into the corner and hits another GTS for the win, with Laurinaitis counting the pin along with the other referee. Good storytelling with Laurinaitis and Punk, and also some really unique spots. Ziggler and Punk have great chemistry with each other and the Laurinaitis stuff didn’t intruded on the match too much. The last few minutes did make Ziggler look a little weak due to how much offense he took from Punk, but the match was very good and showed that Ziggler belongs in this type of high-profile PPV match. Match Time: 14:32     Star Rating: ***1/2

• 30-Man Royal Rumble Match

This was far from one of the best Rumbles, but it was fairly entertaining for the most part. Lack of star power was a glaring problem throughout. Basically until the very end the match was mostly played for comedy. Santino Marella and Mick Foley had a standoff with the whole Socko vs. Cobra thing. Cody Rhodes and The Miz lasted deep into the match until Big Show, who was the final entrant, eliminated both of them. They teased Alberto Del Rio making his return, but when his music hit it turned out to be Ricardo Rodriguez, who then did a comedy sequence with Santino. A highlight was Kofi Kingston almost being eliminated, but catching himself on the floor with his hands and doing a handstand back towards the apron to get back into the ring. Surprise entrants included Jerry Lawler, Booker T, The Great Khali, Michael Cole, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, The Road Dogg, and the returning Kharma. The comedy was entertaining for the first 20 minutes but once it became clear that comedy was the direction of the entire match, the concept wore out and the match lost a lot of its intrigue because most of the participants were guys with no credibility who were rarely seen on television, or they were surprise entrants who were just there for no reason. The main problem was that until the very end, there were almost no wrestlers in the ring who had any chance of being victorious. The final four was Big Show, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, and Sheamus. Orton eliminated Show after an RKO but Jericho immediately sent Orton over the top. Jericho and Sheamus then had a great sequence to close the match with a ton of back and forth action and near-elimination spots. Jericho ended up hanging on the ropes and Sheamus knocked him to the floor with a Brogue Kick to win the match. I think Jericho definitely should have gone over here, as Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan doesn’t sound like a great choice right now as a Wrestlemania title match. But there’s still 2 months to go so we’ll see what the match ends up being. Overall this Rumble had a great conclusion but everything else about it made it feel like a battle royal on WWE Superstars. Match Time: 54:56     Star Rating: ***1/2

Overall PPV Rating: 6.25/10

• Michael Elgin vs. TJ Perkins

This was a really fun way to kick off the show. Both of these guys have very different styles, but they ended up having a very good, fast paced opener with a speed vs. power dynamic. Elgin shoves Perkins into the corner a couple times at the start, but Perkins comes back with a slap to the face and a dropkick before tackling Elgin over the ropes to the floor. Perkins teases a suicide dive and leaps off the apron, but Elgin catches him and hits a running front powerslam into the steel barricade. Elgin covers in the ring for 2 and Perkins escapes a powerslam attempt, but Elgin counters a headscissors and drops Perkins face first for 2. Perkins fights up from a seated waist lock with elbows and hits a reverse hurricanrana before following it up with a flipping senton dive to the floor. Perkins hits a missile dropkick for 2 and a corkscrew senton after Elgin misses a sit down splash. Perkins leaps off the top, but Elgin catches him and hits a Hellevator for 2. Perkins escapes a powerbomb attempt, but Elgin hits a Shock Treatment for 2. Perkins comes back with a neckbreaker before Elgin hits a sloppy buckle bomb. Perkins hits a reverse hurricanrana for 2. He hits a superkick and tries to pick up Elgin but can’t lift him. Elgin hits a backfist followed by a bucklebomb and a spinning sit out powerbomb for the win. Very fun, action packed way to kick things off. Match Time: 7:35     Star Rating: ***

• Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jimmy Rave

The Embassy accompanies Ciampa to ringside; with RD Evans cutting a good heel promo before the match that drew a lot of heat. Live you could barely hear him. This was also Rave’s ROH return. Both guys start off with chain wrestling, with Rave repeatedly going for a wristlock. Rave spits in Ciampa’s face before they run the ropes, with Ciampa hitting a hip toss and tossing Rave into the barricade on the floor. Back in the ring, Ciampa hits a jawbreaker and a pair of running knee strikes in the corner for a near fall. Ciampa hits some boots to the head, but Rave comes back with some chops, a clothesline, and a drop toehold before applying the heel hook. Ciampa gets the ropes, but Rave hits a knee lift and Ciampa goes to the outside. Ciampa counters a baseball slide attempt and throws Rave headfirst into the barricade. Rave does a sunset flip in the ring, but Ciampa rolls out and dropkicks Rave’s legs. Rave hits a kitchen sink and a shining wizard followed by the Rave Clash for 2. Prince Nana then gets on the apron, offering Rave the Embassy robe, but Rave goes after him. Evans tries to interfere but Rave knocks him to the floor. Ernesto Osiris holds Rave, but Princess Mia misses with a kick and hits Osiris. Rave tosses Mia to the floor, but turns around into the Project Ciampa and Ciampa gets the win. Solid undercard match with a good story. The finish was wacky but the Embassy wasn’t interfering much in the match prior to the ending, so it was fine. Rave looked good and I’d like to see him back on a regular basis. Match Time: 8:32     Star Rating: **1/2

• 3-Way Elimination match for the ROH World Television Championship: Jay Lethal(c) vs. Mike Bennett vs. El Generico

Bennett was accompanied to the ring by his girlfriend, former WWE Diva Maria, as well as Brutal Bob. This match was a bit slower than expected but still good. Bennett bails from the ring early on before sneak attacking Generico. The faces then confront Bennett on the floor, pinballing him before continuing the attack in the ring. Generico and Lethal lay into Bennett with punches and chops before hitting a double back body drop, clotheslining him to the floor, and hitting stereo suicide dives. Lethal and Generico go at it in the ring, with Lethal rolling Generico up and hitting a headscissors for 2. Lethal hits a hip toss, a dropkick for 2, and a chop. Generico sends him to the apron, where Bennett yanks Lethal’s feet out from under him. Bennett stomps Generico, chokes him against the ropes, and powerslams him for 2. They trade shots before Lethal comes back in with a springboard missile dropkick. Lethal applies a modified surfboard style submission on Generico, but Generico comes back with a tilt a whirl backbreaker for 2. Bennett stomps Generico and hits a leg drop to Lethal. Lethal hits a handspring back elbow and a dropkick that sends Bennett outside. Generico hits a cross body off the top to Lethal’s back before they trade shots. Generico then hits a series of arm drags to both men followed by mounted punches to Bennett. Generico takes atomic drops from both opponents.

Lethal hits a dropkick, but Generico hits an exploder into the corner. On the outside, Bennett shoves Maria into Generico, then uses the distraction to punch Generico. Back in the ring, Bennett hits a powerslam to Lethal and a TKO to Generico. Generico hits a yakuza kick to Bennett before Lethal hits a superkick and all 3 are down. The faces trade shots before Lethal hits the Lethal Combination for 2. Lethal hits a chop but Bennett hits a spinebuster for 2. Generico hits a Michinoku driver but takes an enzuigiri from Lethal. Lethal goes up top but Generico hits a yakuza kick that sends him to the floor. Generico hits a crazy tope flip dive off the top to the floor before diving through the ring post with a tornado DDT to Bennett. Generico hits a yakuza kick and a half nelson suplex to Bennett in the ring for 2. Lethal hits the Lethal Injection to Generico followed by a flying elbow drop for 2. Both guys fight up top but Bennett rolls up Generico to eliminate him. Lethal then immediately hits a handspring cutter to Bennett for the win. The finishing sequence here was great but much of the match was slowed down and felt like a WWE-style 3-way, with it being mainly a revolving door 1 on 1 match rather than featuring more 3-way action. Generico really stuck out here. He’s a tremendous storyteller and is always very over with the crowd. I think these guys are capable of better but this was good and had a few convincing near falls. Match Time: 18:16     Star Rating: ***1/4

• No Disqualification match with Jimmy Jacobs as Special Referee: Steve Corino vs. Kevin Steen

An added stipulation was that if Kevin Steen won this match, he would be reinstated into ROH. Jim Cornette and Cary Silkin were also present at ringside. This was Kevin Steen’s first ROH match since his Fight Without Honor against El Generico at last year’s Final Battle. This was an insane, hate-filled brawl. Corino came out for this match with his hair dyed blonde as a throwback to his ECW tenure, and Steen made his entrance by appearing in the lower balcony and making his way to the ring through the crowd. They trade punches at the start before Steen rakes the eyes and Corino hits a dropkick. Things spill to ringside where Steen tosses Corino into the guardrail and ring post before hitting a cannonball on the apron against the post. Corino comes back by leaping off the apron onto Steen and whips him twice into the barricade. Corino throws a couple chairs into the ring and hits a corner clothesline with a chair, but Steen superkicks a chair into his face and hits a powerbomb on the apron. Steen follows with a frog splash off the apron to the floor, picks up one of the barricades, and hits Corino in the head with it. Corino comes back with some shots and whips Steen into the barricade. Corino then lays a chair across the corner of two barricades, but Steen powerbombs him onto the chair.

Steen then says hi to Nigel McGuinness at the commentary table before getting a table and bridging it from the apron to the barricade. Steen teases a powerbomb in the ring but Corino gets out and hits a lariat. Corino then starts throwing more chairs and a trash can into the ring. Corino misses a shot with the trash can lid and Steen hits him with it. Steen then puts the lid on Corino’s head and hits a flipping leg drop on it, busting the side of Corino’s head open. Steen bites the open wound, but Corino comes back with a low blow and hits Steen in the head with the trash can several times. Corino hits a suplex onto the trash can followed by a scoop slam onto several flat chairs. Corino hits a splash off the top for 2 before laying the barricade on top of 4 standing chairs. They both go up top, and Corino hits a SUPERPLEX ONTO THE BARRICADE. Crazy. Steen somehow kicks out of the cover and crawls out to the table. Steen hits Corino with some punches before stacking 3 chairs on top of the table in pyramid-like fashion. They head back up top and Steen bites again, but Corino hits him in the head with the trash can lid, causing Steen to fall through the chairs/table structure on the outside. Corino covers in the ring for 2 before hitting a modified sliding D with 2 chairs for another near fall. Steen hits a sleeper suplex and a pumphandle neckbreaker on a chair for 2. Corino spits in Steen’s face and takes a chair shot to the head for another 2 count. Steen shoves Jacobs, so Jacobs takes the chair away from him as he prepares to hit Corino. Corino uses the distraction to nail Steen with a roll of quarters.

Corino then sets up 4 chairs in a 2×2 pattern. With both guys standing on them, Steen hits a low blow and a package piledriver on the chairs. Steen covers and Jacobs slowly counts 2, looks around at Cornette and everyone else, then reluctantly counts 3 to end it. Steen cuts a great heel promo post match before hitting the package piledriver to Jacobs. He goes after Cornette before El Generico runs into the ring. Generico and Steen then start brawling (playing off their feud from last year), with Generico hitting a yakuza kick and teasing the brainbuster. Steen breaks it up, hits a low blow, and then gives Generico a package piledriver off the apron through the timekeeper’s table. We went to intermission with referees and other officials tending to Jacobs and Generico. This was unbelievably violent, but also had tremendous storytelling and the fans ate this thing up. Jacobs as referee really added to this match with his reluctance to be impartial, and the facials by everyone were great. The spots were brutal as hell and you could argue they may have gone a bit far, but ROH rarely does a hardcore match like this and it was built up to all year long. Corino and Steen both put their bodies through a ton of punishment and totally stole the show. One of the finest performances of both men’s’ careers. Match Time: 23:10     Star Rating: ****1/4

• Contenders Cup Tag Team Gauntlet match: The Bravado Brothers vs. Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander vs. Future Shock vs. The Young Bucks vs. The All Night Express

The winners of this match would receive a future shot at the tag titles. Considering the fact that this was the first match after intermission, this was way too long and the crowd wasn’t into most of it. The Bravados start off against Coleman and Alexander. The Bravados unload with punches, kicks, and chops on the outside before Alexander hits a flip dive over the ropes. Coleman hits a leg drop and a suplex followed by a senton from Alexander. Coleman is sent to the floor and Harlem Bravado hits a bicycle kick and an elevated cutter with an assist from Lancelot. Lancelot drives Alexander into the corner and hits a belly-to-belly slam. The Bravados hit a double back elbow and Lancelot hits an elbow drop before Coleman is tossed out. Alexander hits an enzuigiri and Coleman follows with a headscissors, a clothesline off the top, and a moonsault to the floor. Alexander hits a Gory Special drop and a kick, but Harlem gets a small package for a near fall. Alexander sits down with a roll-up to eliminate the Bravados. That was pretty fun even though it got almost no heat. Future Shock come out next, and Kyle O’Reilly immediately trades shots with Alexander. O’Reilly hits a knee lift, a running kick, and a kitchen sink followed by a dropkick from Adam Cole. Coleman and Alexander hit a leg lariat/suplex combo and Coleman hits a dropkick for 2. Cole comes back with a northern lights suplex before laying in some knees to the back. O’Reilly hits a knee drop to the back and Cole hits a scoop slam for 2. Coleman hits a double dropkick to both men before O’Reilly goes back and forth with Alexander. Coleman and Alexander hit a flying double stomp/backbreaker combo followed by a hurricanrana from Colemana and a frog splash from Alexander. Future Shock hit a double baseball slide followed by the Ride the Lightning for the 3 count. Again, very energetic action and a quiet crowd. The Young Bucks are the next team out.

Future Shock immediately hit a double baseball slide followed by a suicide dive from Cole. Matt Jackson hits a shiranui on the apron with the help of brother Nick. Nick hits a frog splash for 2 and the Bucks hit a double back elbow followed by a double team wheelbarrow lift into a cutter. Matt works over Cole with a jawbreaker, suplex, and a chin lock. Cole fights up, but Matt knocks O’Reilly off the apron and Nick hits a double stomp to Cole. Nick hits a suicide dive to O’Reilly on the floor before Cole backflips out of a suplex attempt and gets a tag. O’Reilly comes in with kicks to Matt and hits a double dragon screw to both Bucks. O’Reilly blocks a frog splash from Nick and hits several rolling butterfly suplexes. Future Shock hit a DDT/wheelbarrow suplex combo for 2. Cole is sent to the outside and Nick hits a springboard X Factor. Cole hits a wheelbarrow suplex against the apron, but O’Reilly misses the running dropkick off the apron. The Bucks hit a double superkick to Cole followed by the More Bang For Your Buck to eliminate Future Shock. This was like the previous 2 exchanges but turned up a notch due to the great chemistry between these teams.

The All Night Express came out last, and Rhett Titus comes out selling a knee injury. ANX pinball Matt on the outside with punches and Titus backdrops Nick on the floor. Kenny King hits a pair of impressive flipping dives off the barricade. Nick targets Titus’s knee, but King hits a spinebuster for 2. Nick dropkicks King to the floor and Matt hits some boots to the head. The Bucks continue to work over King, with Matt hitting a scoop slam and some elbow drops. King fights back but falls victim to a double team neckbreaker. King hits some shots followed by a capture suplex and tags in Titus. Titus hits some shots to the Bucks and an Edge-o-matic followed by a sky high powerbomb. King hits the coronation, but Matt takes him out with a leaping DDT on the apron. Titus hits a clothesline, but Matt clips the leg and kicks it repeatedly. Nick hits a 450 splash and the referee stops the match as the Bucks continue to assault the knee. Nick hits a second 450 after the bell. Overall the gauntlet had good, fast paced action before ANX came out. Titus is rumored to be legitimately injured which is probably why that segment of the match underachieved. The pace really slowed and the finish, although it made sense, came off as very anticlimactic. Considering the talent involved, this was a solid showcase but also a disappointment. Match Time: 28:56 (Total Time)     Star Rating: ***

Roderick Strong then comes out to the ring with Truth Martini for his invitational open challenge. They assume no one is coming out so Truth begins to count to 10 to declare Strong the winner. He gets to 9 before Chris Hero comes out! Hero makes his return to ROH after a multi-month absence to a great pop from the crowd. And so we have our match.

• Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero

Strong bails from the ring early on before attempting a couple shoulder blocks that have no effect. Hero hits a snapmare and a senton followed by some chops before they run the ropes. Hero backflips the floor, but Truth hits him with his book. Strong then hits some chops and a back suplex on the ring apron. Stong hits some shots to the back and stomps Hero repeatedly in the corner before choking him against the ropes. Strong tosses Hero into the barricade and Truth rakes the eyes. Strong tosses Hero into the barricade again and gets a 2 count in the ring. Strong applies a chin lock before hitting some more shots to the back and boots to the head. They trade shots and Hero comes back with a dropkick, a rolling forearm, a slam, and a weak senton. Hero kicks Strong through the ropes and hits some shots on the floor. Hero hits a cravat suplex off the top, but Strong comes back with a jumping knee strike, some forearms, a kick, and a backbreaker on the top rope. Hero escapes the Stronghold and hits a cravat suplex followed by a diving stomp to the head and a rolling elbow for 2. Hero misses a moonsault and Strong hits an enzuigiri, a German suplex into the corner, the Death by Roderick, and the Gibson Driver for 2. They trade shots again and Hero hits the roaring elbow followed by a rolling big boot for 2. Hero hits the death blow but Truth breaks up the count, causing the referee to argue with him. Hero chases Truth around the ring and Strong scores a roll-up. Hero knocks Truth off the apron but Strong hits the Sick Kick for the win. Aside from Hero’s return the match was fairly disappointing, with things seemingly just not clicking between the two. Both men are capable of much better, and Hero looked out of shape. This was good, but weak for a major match at Final Battle. Match Time: 16:37     Star Rating: ***

• ROH World Tag Team Championship match: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team(c) vs. The Briscoe Brothers

This was something different. WGTT hit the Briscoes with the tag team titles before the bell and beat them down with the belts. The brawl continues to ringside with WGTT throwing the Briscoes into the barricade repeatedly and bashing them with chairs. There were reckless, violent chair shots directly to the head. Charlie Haas looked especially reckless with the way he was swinging. The crowd was heavily anti-WGTT, so Haas and Shelton Benjamin heeled on the fans despite being faces. The brawl just dragged on forever, still with no bell sounding. WGTT went for their Broken Arrow double team move but Benjamin botched it, drawing more heat. Jay Briscoe was bleeding profusely from the chair shots. With Mark Briscoe in the ring, the bell finally rang. Mark tries to mount an offense but Benjamin hits a DDT. WGTT go for the Broken Arrow but Jay breaks it up with a superkick to Benjamin. Jay and Haas trade shots and Benjamin hits a corner splash before Mark comes back with a spear. The Briscoes hit a double hip toss and Jay chokes Benjamin with his shirt. Jay hits some chops, but Benjamin hits a back body drop. Haas comes in with punches and hits a powerslam for 2. Jay gets a boot up in the corner but Haas hits another powerslam. WGTT hit an atomic drop/superkick combo for 2. Jay hits an STO into the corner and Mark hits an iconoclasm off the top for 2. Benjamin and Mark clothesline each other on the floor.

Haas hits a series of German suplexes before cinching in the Haas of Pain, which Mark breaks up with a dive off the top. Benjamin sells his rib injury and the referee calls for help. The Briscoes double team Haas before a Haas Angle Slam takes out the ref. Benjamin then makes a quick return and breaks a 2×4 over Mark’s head. The board breaks in half, and WGTT use both halves against Jay. WGTT go for the Briscoes’ Doomsday Device, but Mark attacks with a hunk of wood from underneath the ring. The Briscoes then hit the Doomsday Device for the win. This was beyond bizarre. Both teams seemingly had no idea how to react to the crowd, as they were both flip-flopping between being heels and faces throughout the match. The booking made zero sense, as WGTT were totally heeling on the fans and getting booed yet the fans were supposed to have sympathy for Benjamin later on in the match. The pre-match brawl went on for far too long and was unnecessarily violent. The Corino/Steen stuff was fine due to the buildup and storytelling with the violence. This was just a directionless brawl to try and get cheap heat. The stuff with wood at the end was just ridiculous. Haas and Benjamin have had many disappointing matches thus far in their ROH run, but this was one of the worst matches in the careers of both teams. Just ridiculous, hard to follow booking that made no sense. The wrestling itself was solid but nothing special. Match Time: 13:24 (Bell to Bell)     Star Rating: **

• ROH World Championship match: Davey Richards(c) vs. Eddie Edwards

Tony Kozina and Kyle O’Reilly accompanied Davey to the ring, and Eddie was accompanied by UFC legend Dan Severn. This was a lot like some Japanese matches where others accompany the wrestlers to the ring, but they do not interfere in the match and are merely there to provide support and motivation. By the time the opening bell rang, this show had already hit the 3 and a half hour mark. They shake hands before trading shots at the start. Eddie goes for the dragon sleeper and Davey escapes, leading to a standoff. They do some back and forth grappling and Davey goes for a leg submission. They lock up before going back to the ground, where Eddie applies a face lock. Eddie chokes Davey with his boot and hits a chop, but Davey comes back and goes for the ankle lock. Davey hits a kick and applies a modified cloverleaf, but Eddie gets the ropes. They trade shots and Eddie hits a belly-to-belly suplex before they go outside. Eddie whips Davey into the barricade, they trade chops, and Davey whips Eddie into the barricade. Davey hits a yakuza kick, but back in the ring Eddie catches Davey in a spinning toehold. Eddie hits some head butts, but Davey launches him to the floor, hits a running kick from the apron, and a suicide dive through the ropes. Davey hits a missile dropkick back inside the ring for 2, and then hits some forearms and an exploder for 2. Eddie hits a chop and Davey counters into the ankle lock, but Eddie escapes and applies the Achilles lock. Davey counters out and gets a small package for 2. Eddie hits a modified reverse falcon arrow followed by a shining wizard before they trade blows again.

Davey goes for a handspring but Eddie catches him, tosses him to the floor, and hits a moonsault off the apron to the floor. Eddie misses a double stomp off the top but hits an enzuigiri and a backpack chinbreaker for 2. Eddie hits a botched lungblower off the second rope. Davey goes for a cross arm-breaker, but Eddie counters into an STF before applying an ankle lock. Davey hits some boots to the head but Eddie comes back with stomps and a chop before they go face-to-face and trade slaps. Eddie hits a superkick but Davey no sells and hits a pair of clotheslines for near falls. Davey hits a double stomp off the top followed by a running boot and another top rope double stomp for 2. Both guys head up top and trade head butts and slaps. Davey hits an enzuigiri and a superplex, but Eddie pops right back up and suplexes Davey over the ropes to the floor. Both guys beat the count and trade chops and kicks. They then go back and forth in the corner with Eddie hitting a series of chops and Davey hitting a series of kicks. Davey hits the Kawada kicks, but Eddie hits an enzuigiri. They both trade several back suplexes. Eddie hits a tiger suplex, but Davey comes back with a dragon suplex and an alarm clock.

Eddie hits a big knee lift and Roderick Strong comes out to ringside. Strong gets into a brawl with Kozina and O’Reilly and Severn confronts Strong. Michael Elgin and Truth Martini then run out, and Severn punches out Elgin and Strong before carrying Truth to the back. Well that was a really strange, awkward mid-match brawl. Eddie and Davey again trade shots mid-ring. Both guys hit big boots before Eddie hits a tiger suplex into the corner. Both guys go up top, where Eddie hits a knee lift followed by a Frankensteiner and back-to-back powerbombs. Eddie hits a superkick and a chop before covering for 2. Eddie applies the dragon sleeper, but Davey counters out and rolls up Eddie for 2. Eddie goes back to the dragon sleeper, but suddenly picks Davey up and hits a Tombstone piledriver followed by the Die Hard for 2. They go back up top, and Davey hits several shots before hitting an insane dragon suplex off the top. Davey then hits an exploder off the apron to the floor followed by a dragon suplex on the apron. They teased Davey winning by countout but Eddie beats the count. Davey hits several repeated kicks for 2 before going to the ankle lock.

Eddie counters into a roll-up for 2, but Davey hits a running kick for a near fall himself. Davey then gets the win with 3 consecutive kicks to the head. After the match Davey cuts a promo talking about how tough Eddie is and how he’ll always be there for him. Kevin Steen then comes out mocking Davey and Team Richards. Steen says in 2012 he is taking Davey’s title and that he is the Antichrist of pro wrestling before leaving. This main event was the definition of overkill. The match went far too long and totally lacked proper structure and storytelling. Both guys went to the well too many times with the whole “trade shots in the middle of the ring” thing. It seemed like they had a lot of great ideas, but didn’t care enough to work the match in such a way that it naturally progressed. There were spots all over the place and most of the time it felt like they were just doing cool moves for no reason. There was a lot of intensity and the action was very good, but it was much longer than it needed to be and felt more like an exhibition of moves than a pro wrestling match. There was minimal selling and the near falls got way too excessive. I’m glad that the Davey/Eddie program is over, as I have no desire to ever see another match between these two. I can’t wait to see Steen in the main event mix next year, as he would make a hell of a world champion. It will be interesting to see how Davey is handled as a babyface, considering this show got Steen possibly even more over with the fans than he already was. Match Time: 41:11     Star Rating: ***3/4

Overall PPV Rating: 7.5/10

My name is Jared Silberkleit. I am from Orange, CT and am a huge fan of pro wrestling. I mostly follow WWE and TNA but I also watch the smaller promotions such as ROH and DGUSA. I have been a lifelong WWE fan and have become a TNA fan over the past few years. Aside from wrestling, I also really love baseball and football and follow many other sports such as hockey and MMA. I have written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for three years.

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• United States Championship match: Dolph Ziggler(c) vs. Zack Ryder

This was a really solid way to start the show. Ziggler has been very impressive lately and this was another good performance from him. Ziggler sweeps the leg twice at the start before they lock up. Ryder hits an arm drag before Ziggler hits a shoulder block and they run the ropes. Ryder catapults Ziggler into the corner, clotheslines him to the floor, and hits a big tope flip dive over the ropes. Ziggler catches Ryder with a DDT on the ring apron and hits a neckbreaker back inside the ring followed by several consecutive elbow drops. Ziggler hits a clothesline and applies a chin lock. He breaks to do some sit ups, but then goes right back to the hold. Ziggler puts Ryder on the top rope, but Ryder kicks him away and hits a big missile dropkick for 2. Ryder hits a forearm, clothesline, and a Facejam followed by a corner clothesline and a running face wash for 2. Vickie is then ejected from ringside after she puts Ziggler’s foot on the ropes. Ryder and Ziggler both score near falls with roll-ups. Ziggler snaps Ryder’s head over the ropes, Ryder does a roll-up for 2, and Ziggler hits a Famouser for 2. Ziggler hits a dropkick and heads up top, but Ryder meets him up there and hits a top rope hurricanrana for 2. Ziggler launches Ryder into the corner and rolls him up for 2, but Ryder boots a charging Ziggler in the corner and hits the Rough Ryder for the win. Really nice pop for Ryder’s win. Overall this was a good, competitive opening match with some nice near falls and a hot crowd. Match Time: 10:25     Star Rating: ***1/4

• WWE Tag Team Championship match: Air Boom(c) vs. Primo and Epico

In an unadvertised match, Evan Bourne made his return from his suspension. This was an average filler match. Bourne starts with Epico, and both guys go for roll-ups early on. Bourne does a sunset flip, misses a hurricanrana, and hits a head scissors before tagging in Kofi Kingston. Kofi hits a dropkick for 2 followed by a double dropkick on both heels. Primo tries a monkey flip, but Kofi lands on his feet and hits one of his own. Bourne hits a head scissors and tries a springboard, but the heels catch him and toss him to the floor. The heels then stomp Bourne repeatedly before Primo applies a front chancery. Primo drives Bourne into the corner before tagging in Epico, who hits a dropkick followed by a backbreaker, 2 back suplexes, and a German suplex. Epico applies a Gory special, but Bourne is able to escape with a sunset flip. Bourne hits the double knees before both guys get tags. Kofi hits some clotheslines and a dropkick followed by the Boom Drop, but Primo gets a boot up in the corner. Kofi springs out of the corner with a cross body, Bourne takes out Epico with a plancha to the floor, and Kofi hits the Trouble in Paradise to Primo for the win. Total TV quality match here, but it was fairly solid. Air Boom is a fun tag team but they have no competition. Match Time: 7:32     Star Rating: **1/2

• Tables match: Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

This was another good match. Orton and Barrett haven’t had many good matches in the past, but they had a decent brawl here and told a story. They trade punches and kicks at the start before Orton hits his signature backbreaker and gets a table from the floor. Barrett kicks the table into Orton’s face and hits some shots on the floor, but Orton kicks a table into Barrett’s gut and then launches it into his face. Orton sets up the table on the floor and brawls up the ramp with Barrett. Barrett knocks over some tables and teases a pumphandle slam, but Orton escapes and they head back toward the ring. Barrett slams Orton’s head on the ring post and sets up another table on the floor. Barrett slams Orton’s head on the table and lays Orton across it, but Orton gets up. Barrett drives Orton into the apron and rolls him into the ring, where he hits a second rope elbow drop. Barrett chokes Orton against the ropes and hits some knees to the face followed by a running big boot, but Orton avoids the table by landing on the apron. Barrett sets a table up in the corner, but Orton escapes a slam and hits some clotheslines followed by a snap powerslam. They do a good counter sequence near the apron before Orton hits the spike DDT. Orton avoids being sent into the table again, but Barrett hits a black hole slam and drops the table on Orton. Barrett sets the table up again and lays Orton across it before heading up top. Barrett leaps, but Orton catches him with a sudden mid air RKO through the table for the win. Good stuff with some nice psychology built around the tables and a great finish. Barrett got a pinfall victory at Survivor Series, so him losing a match without standard rules here doesn’t hurt him. No complaints here. Match Time: 10:17     Star Rating: ***

• Divas Championship match: Beth Phoenix(c) vs. Kelly Kelly

This was another unadvertised filler match. Kelly slaps Beth at the start, sends her to the floor, and hits a bulldog off the apron. Back in the ring, Kelly hits a head scissors into the corner, but Beth drops her on the ropes and beats on Kelly with punches. Beth pulls Kelly’s hair and stands on her back before applying a camel clutch. Kelly escapes and hits a bulldog before slamming Beth’s face in the mat repeatedly. Kelly leaps off the top, but Beth catches her and slams her down for 2. Beth misses a top rope leg drop and both girls counter each other’s finishers. Both attempt roll-ups before Beth hits a reverse powerbomb for the win. Standard short, crappy Divas match, move along nothing to see here. Match Time: 5:14     Star Rating: *1/2

Booker T then comes out for his match against Cody Rhodes, but Cody jumps him during his entrance. Cody also attacked Booker earlier backstage. Referees and other officials break it up and send both guys to the back, so no match here. I didn’t really see the point in putting this match off.

• Sledgehammer Ladder match: Kevin Nash vs. Triple H

Yes, it is the year 2011. These guys couldn’t even have good matches eight years ago, and this was very sluggish. The rules were that you had to climb a ladder to get the sledgehammer hanging above the ring, and then you could use it as a weapon and the match ends via pinfall. Both guys go back and forth with punches early on, and Nash looks very rough. Nash hits some knee lifts, but Triple H sends him to the floor and slams his head on the announce table. Triple H unloads with punches and clotheslines Nash into the crowd. Nash hits a back elbow and drops Triple H face first on the barricade, but Triple H sends him into the ring post. They then get a couple ladders and go back into the ring. Triple H hits Nash’s knee repeatedly with a ladder, puts his knee inside the ladder, and applies a modified figure four with the ladder. Triple H leans one of the ladders against the corner and drops the second one on Nash. Nash whips Triple H into the ladder in the corner, and then lays the ladder across the second rope. Nash body slams Triple H onto the other ladder in the ring and catapults him face first into the ladder in the ropes.

Nash takes apart the announce table on the outside and teases a Jackknife powerbomb, but Triple H backdrops him over the table (he had trouble getting him up and it looked like the table was supposed to break, but it didn’t). Triple H climbs a ladder in the ring, but Nash pulls him off and clotheslines him. Nash whips Triple H into a ladder and hits a chokeslam before getting a table from under the ring. Triple H drives Nash into the ladder in the corner and hits Nash’s knee with another ladder. Both guys climb a ladder and fight at the top, with Triple H hitting Nash with the end of the sledgehammer twice, causing Nash to fall off the ladder through the table. Triple H unhooks the sledgehammer and climbs down, hitting Nash’s knee with it repeatedly. Triple H then goes for the Pedigree but Nash botches it by bumping too early. Triple H then hits a second one but it also comes off sloppy. Nash then begs off with the Wolfpac sign, but Triple H hits him in the face with the sledgehammer for the win. Match reads much better than it was executed. Both of these guys, especially Nash, are just too old and slow now. It just dragged on forever and ever and a lot of the stuff they did looked very clunky. This probably sounded really good on paper, but in reality it was just way too long and the fans weren’t into it. Absolutely nobody cares about Kevin Nash anymore. Match Time: 18:13     Star Rating: *3/4

• Jack Swagger vs. Sheamus

This match was also unadvertised, having been added on in a backstage segment earlier in the show. Sheamus hits some clotheslines and a shoulder block at the start before blocking an abdominal stretch and hitting the clubbing blows to the chest in the ropes. Swagger is sent to the floor, where he drives Sheamus back first into the ring post and barricade. Swagger hits a Vader Bomb back into the ring for 1 before hitting some forearms to the back. Sheamus comes back with a clothesline and some double sledges before they go to the outside. Sheamus drives Swagger into the ring post, tosses him into the barricade, and hits a shoulder block off the top in the ring for 2. Sheamus misses the Brogue Kick and Swagger dives at his leg. Swagger hits a Vader Bomb elbow drop to the leg and goes for the ankle lock, but Sheamus is able to escape. Swagger dives at the leg again, but Sheamus avoids him and hits the Brogue Kick for the win. This was a very average, Smackdown quality filler match that didn’t get much reaction from the crowd. Match Time: 5:57     Star Rating: **

• Chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry(c) vs. The Big Show

This was a bit interesting. Show bails to the floor at the start and starts throwing chairs into the ring. Henry decides he’s seen enough and tries to leave with the title, but Show goes to the outside and hits him with a chair repeatedly before laying into Henry with punches. Henry hits a head butt and a chair shot before slamming Show’s hand on the steel steps. Both guys go for a chair shot at the same time back in the ring before Henry hits Show repeatedly with a chair. Henry puts a chair around Show’s hand and stomps on it before hitting him in the ribs with a chair. Show hits the WMD punch with the injured hand and covers for the win out of nowhere. After the match Henry attacks Show with a chair and hits him with a DDT on 2 chairs. This was too short to be much of anything, and a really lackluster end to Henry’s world title reign. Just 5 minutes of chair shots and nothing else, which is not good for a PPV world title match. Match Time: 5:30     Star Rating: *

BUT WAIT!!!! Daniel Bryan’s music hits and Bryan comes down to the ring with his Money in the Bank briefcase! Bryan says he is cashing in, leading to…

• World Heavyweight Championship match: The Big Show(c) vs. Daniel Bryan

Bryan rolls over Big Show and covers for the instant victory. Bryan then had a great, lengthy celebration afterwards, high fiving the fans and standing on top of the announce table. While this certainly isn’t the direction many people thought WWE would go with Bryan’s Money in the Bank briefcase, this was a really great feel good moment for a guy who deserves this championship more than anyone. Bryan has busted his ass wrestling all over the world for the last decade and finally won the big one in the WWE. Hopefully all goes well with his world title reign and I just couldn’t be happier for the guy. Match Time: 0:08     Star Rating: N/A

• Intercontinental Championship match: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. Booker T

So it turns out we are getting this match after all. Booker, totally not selling his injuries from before, immediately lays into Cody with punches, a back elbow, and back to back scoop slams followed by a sidekick. Booker tosses Cody to the floor where he hits some chops, but Cody comes back with some punches and tosses Booker into the barricade. Cody flips Booker by his arm in the ring and applies a submission, but Booker fights out. Booker hits a chop, but Cody kicks his leg and covers for 2. Cody applies a full nelson, but Booker gets out and they trade shots. Booker hits some clotheslines, a sidewalk slam, and a spinebuster but misses the scissors kick. Cody hits the beautiful disaster kick for 2, and then hits a second one for the victory. Short, but decent match here. Booker did fine and had a solid performance, plus Cody got a nice clean victory over an established legend. That’s pretty much all you can ask for with this type of match. Match Time: 7:15     Star Rating: **1/2

• Triple Threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE Championship: CM Punk(c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. The Miz

Though far from the best TLC match, this was a really fun main event to close the show. The heels gang up on Punk at the start, and Punk hits a couple dropkicks, but Miz and Del Rio go back to stomping him and drop him face first on the top rope. Miz and Del Rio go to the outside and Del Rio gets a ladder, but Punk hits him with a suicide dive through the ropes. Punk gets a chair, but Miz stomps him and hits him with the chair before setting it up on its legs. Punk hits the high knee in the corner, but Miz blocks the bulldog and hits a back suplex to Punk on the chair. Del Rio blocks the Skull-Crushing Finale from Miz and backdrops Miz on a leaning ladder on the floor. Del Rio avoids a baseball slide from Punk, but Punk kicks a ladder into Del Rio’s face and tosses him into the barricade. Punk and Del Rio both try to suplex each other through a table before Punk hits a neckbreaker on the floor. Punk avoids a chair shot from Miz, hits him with the chair, and props him up on the barricade, where he hits a high knee strike off a chair to Miz into the crowd. Punk climbs a ladder in the ring, but Ricardo Rodriguez interferes and handcuffs Punk’s wrist to the ladder. Del Rio then attacks Punk before climbing the ladder, but Punk breaks free and tips it over before hitting a flapjack to Del Rio onto the ladder.

Miz hits Punk with another ladder and starts climbing it, but Punk pulls him down and goes for the Go to Sleep. Miz blocks it and they go up top, only for Del Rio to hit Punk with an enzuigiri, causing him to fall off the top through a table on the floor. Del Rio and Miz brawl up the entrance ramp, with Del Rio throwing a ladder at Miz and applying the cross armbreaker with the ladder around Miz’s arm. Del Rio then hits Punk with chair shots and applies the cross armbreaker with a chair around Punk’s arm. Del Rio climbs a ladder in the ring, but Punk and Miz tip it over, causing Del Rio to be crotched on the top rope. Punk and Miz then trade shots and knock each other down. Ricardo then climbs once again, but Punk and Miz tip the ladder over, causing Ricardo to fall off and through a table outside the ring. Punk and Miz both counter each other’s finishers before Miz handcuffs Punk to the corner. Miz taunts Punk, but Punk hits a sudden roundhouse kick. Del Rio and Miz then both climb ladders as Punk struggles to free himself. Punk is eventually able to take apart the second rope and free himself from the corner, and then ascends the two ladders. All 3 guys fight at the top, with Punk knocking Del Rio off of a ladder and then fighting with Miz on the mat. Punk hits Miz with the GTS, climbs the ladder, and grabs the title to win the match. This didn’t have nearly as many crazy spots as past TLC matches, but it was paced very well and had some innovative offense with the chairs. By the standards of this match, it wasn’t great, but it was very good and the best match on the show. Nice to see Punk get the win and hopefully his title reign lasts long enough to restore some credibility to the belt. Match Time: 18:26     Star Rating: ***1/2

Overall PPV Rating: 7/10

John Laurinaitis comes out to open the show with a short promo, talking about how it’s the 25^th year anniversary of Survivor Series but also the 10^th year anniversary of his tenure in the WWE. He tells us to sit back and enjoy the show. Live I could barely hear any of this because the crowd was booing so much.

• United States Championship match: Dolph Ziggler(c) vs. John Morrison

Despite the fact that the fans in attendance spent the majority of this match cheering for Zack Ryder, these two delivered a very solid effort and had a really nice match to open up the show. They lock up and Ziggler scores a takedown before slapping Morrison’s head and bailing to the floor. Ziggler comes back inside and they do some more grappling with both guys going for the arm before Ziggler hits some punches and stomps Morrison in the corner. Ziggler hits a dropkick and a headlock takeover, but Morrison gets up and they run the ropes. Ziggler avoids a hip toss but Morrison catapults him into the corner, clotheslines him to the floor, and hits a twisting plancha over the ropes. Morrison gets distracted with Vickie Guerrero, allowing to Ziggler to hit a neckbreaker for 2. Ziggler hits an elbow drop and applies a modified chin lock. Ziggler throws Morrison down by his head and chokes him with his boot. Morrison gets fired up after a slap from Ziggler and attacks him in the corner, but Ziggler scores with a half nelson frontal slam for 2. Morrison blocks a sleeper attempt and hits some clotheslines, a dropkick, and the moonlight drive for 2. Ziggler scores with a roll up out of the corner for 2 but Morrison counters a German suplex attempt and hits the flash kick for 2. Ziggler applies the sleeper, Morrison counters with one of his own, Ziggler tosses him off, and Morrison hits a tilt a whirl DDT, only for Vickie to put Ziggler’s foot on the ropes during the pin attempt. The referee then ejects Vickie from ringside and Ziggler gets a small package for 2. Both men go for roll ups and Morrison misses the flash kick, allowing Ziggler to hit a famouser for 2. Morrison blocks the sleeper hold again and hits a shining wizard, but Ziggler gets his knees up to block Starship Pain. Ziggler hits the Zig Zag for the win. After the match Ziggler started to cut a heel promo before Zack Ryder came out, much to the happiness of the crowd. Ziggler started to beat him down but Ryder hit his finisher and celebrated. This was a strong opener with a hot crowd and a lot of near falls and back and forth action. Match Time: 10:43     Star Rating: ***1/4

• Lumberjill match for the Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix(c) vs. Eve Torres

Thankfully they got this out of the way early. The crowd was mostly unresponsive to this, and for the most part it was a typical short Divas match. They lock up before Eve punches Beth and jumps at her, only for Beth to catch and drop her. Eve hits a kick for 2 and Beth goes outside, but the lumberjills roll her back in. Eve hits a neckbreaker and a standing moonsault for 2. Eve is distracted by the heel Divas, allowing Beth to hit a kick, some stomps, and a catapult into the bottom rope. Beth applies a facelock, but Eve fights up, hits a kick, and launches Beth into the corner. Eve hits a dropkick and a running elbow strike, but Beth gets her knees up to block a senton attempt. Eve counters the Glam Slam and applies the modified triangle hold, which still looks awful. Both girls go for roll ups before Eve heads up top for a moonsault, only for Beth to trip her up to prevent it. Beth then hits a crazy looking Glam Slam off the top rope for the win. Awesome finish to an otherwise forgettable match. When is Kharma coming back to give Beth some legitimate competition? Match Time: 4:34     Star Rating: *3/4

• Survivor Series Elimination match: Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Hunico, and Cody Rhodes) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Sin Cara, Kofi Kingston, and Mason Ryan)

This was very disappointing given the talent involved. Ziggler and Kofi start the match with a bit of grappling before they run the ropes. Ziggler avoids the Trouble in Paradise and hits a dropkick for 2. Ziggler blocks the SOS, but Kofi tags in Orton, who instantly hits the RKO to eliminate Ziggler. The heels then huddle up, but Orton attacks them and the faces all clear the ring. Kofi and Cara then go for stereo planchas to the floor, but Cara totally botches his dive and crashes and burns to the floor. Everyone is then left standing around as trainers aid Cara, who is badly injured. Justin Roberts announces that Cara is eliminated. Rhodes and Orton then resume the match, with Orton hitting an uppercut before tagging in Ryan. Ryan drives Rhodes into the corner, shoulders him, and hits a flying knee strike. Rhodes then bails to the floor and tags in Hunico. Ryan tosses Hunico and tags in Kofi, but Hunico launches Kofi into the corner and covers for 2. Barrett enters and applies a chin lock. Kofi eventually fights out before both men clothesline each other. Ryan and Hunico get tags, with Ryan hitting 2 backbreakers and a fall away slam followed by a military press drop. Rhodes gets a tag and hits the beautiful disaster kick followed by Cross Rhodes to eliminate Ryan.

Sheamus enters and locks up with Rhodes before attacking him in the corner. Sheamus hits a clothesline, a back elbow, and the clubbing blows in the ropes followed by a suplex for 2. Rhodes sends Sheamus to the floor, where Barrett clotheslines him and drives him into the apron. Barrett hits some punches in the ring before Hunico hits a slingshot dropkick followed by some shots to the back. Sheamus hits a back body drop before tagging in Kofi, who hits a big clothesline off the top to Barrett. Kofi hits a dropkick and the Boom Drop before knocking Rhodes off the apron. Kofi rolls up Barrett with a sunset flip for 2 before hitting the rope assisted Pele. He then hits the move to Swagger, but Barrett big boots him in the ropes and hits the Wasteland to eliminate him. Orton then comes in with punches, but Barrett sends him to the floor, where Hunico hits a suicide dive. Swagger and Rhodes then work over Orton with stomps and punches in the ring, and Rhodes hits a front suplex before applying a face lock. Orton shoves off a bulldog attempt and tags in Sheamus. Sheamus hits some shots to Swagger and a shoulder block off the top rope before tossing Hunico outside. Sheamus hits the Irish curse backbreaker but Swagger avoids the High Cross and Barrett runs into the ring. Sheamus then gets disqualified for attacking Swagger in the ropes and not breaking at 5. After being eliminated, Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick to Swagger and Orton covers for the elimination.

Rhodes then stomps Orton in the corner repeatedly and hits some punches, but Orton comes back with a clothesline, knocks the other heels off the apron, and hits a snap powerslam followed by the spike DDT. Barrett distracts Orton on the outside and Hunico gets set on the apron, but when he springboards in Orton catches him with a mid air RKO to eliminate him. Orton hits his signature backbreaker to Barrett and the RKO to Rhodes, but Barrett surprises him with the Wasteland to eliminate Orton and win the match. The match reads a lot better than it was executed. On the PPV it came off a little bit better than it did live but the crowd really died after the Sin Cara botch, and it took them a long time to get back into the match. The match was not structured very well, with the faces getting an instant advantage with the quick elimination of Ziggler as well as the fact that there were way too many slow moment and rest holds for a match like this. The Sheamus disqualification also came off very flat. There were a lot of talented workers here but this just didn’t deliver. Kudos to WWE for doing the right thing and putting over Barrett and Rhodes but the match was just alright. Match Time: 22:10     Star Rating: **3/4

• World Heavyweight Championship match: Mark Henry(c) vs. The Big Show

Well, this certainly ended the streak of overachieving Mark Henry matches. This dragged heavily and was very dull. They go to lock up a couple times, with both guys shoving each other off before Henry bails to the floor. Show gets a takedown in the ring but Henry gets the ropes. Show surprises Henry with an arm drag and Henry goes to the floor. Show attacks Henry in the corner but Henry dives at Show’s knee, slams his knee down, and applies a knee bar. Show eventually kicks Henry off but Henry hits a clothesline. Show hits a DDT as the “Boring” chants rain down. Show comes back with head butts, clotheslines, a corner splash, and a shoulder block, but Henry blocks the chokeslam and hits the World’s Strongest Slam for 2. Henry gets 2 more near falls off a splash and an elbow drop. Henry then runs Show into the post on the outside and shoulder tackles him through the barricade into the timekeeper’s area. That got the crowd excited. Show beats the count in the ring and Henry hits some head butts, but Show shoves off a superplex attempt and hits a superkick. Show then heads up top and hits a huge diving elbow drop that the place goes insane for. Henry kicks out of the cover, dodges the big punch, and hits a low blow for a disqualification. Show knocks out Henry after the match and hits an elbow drop with a chair around Henry’s leg. The DQ finish felt very flat considering the match was finally getting momentum. Overall the match was fairly boring, but at least live it was fun because of all the random chants the crowd entertained themselves with. On the PPV it was just…bad. I hate these DQ finishes in PPV world title matches, especially on a big PPV like this. Match Time: 13:04     Star Rating: *3/4

• WWE Championship match: Alberto Del Rio(c) vs. CM Punk

This undoubtedly stole the show, and saved it as well. Punk was hugely over here; with the crowd red hot from the get go. Howard Finkel even makes an appearance at the start to announce Punk’s entrance. They lock up at the start and break in the ropes, and then Del Rio applies a side headlock before they run the ropes. Punk hits an arm drag and targets the arm with an arm bar and a hammerlock. Punk hits a shoulder block and an arm drag before going for the Anaconda Vise but Del Rio escapes to the floor. They lock up again and break in the corner, where Del Rio lays into Punk with kicks before Punk retaliates with some of his own. Punk hits a hip toss and a dropkick before Del Rio goes outside again, but Punk hits a suicide dive to the floor. Back in the ring Punk hits a cross body off the top for 2 before cinching in a key lock. Del Rio fights out and beats on Punk in the ropes, and Ricardo Rodriguez scores with a cheap shot as Del Rio distracts the referee. Punk chases Ricardo around ringside and Del Rio kicks Punk through the ropes. Del Rio slams Punk’s arm onto the steel steps on the outside and hits a big forearm off the top rope in the ring for 2. Del Rio applies an arm bar, but Punk hits an arm drag and goes for the Go to Sleep. Del Rio escapes the GTS and hits an arm DDT before applying another arm bar. Punk eventually fights up and boots Del Rio in the corner, but Del Rio hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker for 2 followed by a diving clothesline off the top rope. Del Rio misses a kick through the ropes and crashes to the floor. Del Rio snaps Punk’s head over the ropes from the apron, but Punk big boots a charging Del Rio and both men are down.

They get up and trade punches and kicks before Punk hits a neckbreaker for 2 followed by the high knee/bulldog out of the corner combo. Punk hits a springboard clothesline for 2, but Del Rio again escapes the GTS and hits a back stabber for 2. Punk blocks a German suplex attempt and rolls up Del Rio for a near fall. Punk misses another high knee in the corner and Del Rio hits an enzuigiri for 2 followed by a double knee arm breaker. Both guys go up top and Punk shoves off Del Rio before teasing the Savage elbow drop, but Del Rio crotches him and kicks his arm. Punk avoids a charging Del Rio in the corner and hits the Savage elbow off the top for 2. Del Rio counters the GTS, Punk counters the cross arm breaker, Punk misses a kick, and Del Rio catches Punk in the cross arm breaker. Punk makes it to the ropes and goes for the GTS, but Del Rio shoves him off, only for Punk to big boot Ricardo off the apron. Del Rio then rolls up Punk for 2 and Punk hits a roundhouse kick for 2. Punk then applies the Anaconda Vise, and after struggling and clawing at Punk’s face, Del Rio finally taps out. After the match Punk jumped into the crowd to celebrate with the fans and really sold the title win. This was a really good, almost great match with some awesome false finishes and great technical work. Live it was even better because of how hot the crowd was for Punk. Here’s hoping that the WWE gives Punk a nice, lengthy run with the belt to restore some prestige to the title. Match Time: 17:16     Star Rating: ***3/4

• The Miz and R-Truth vs. John Cena and The Rock

First let me say that the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric for The Rock’s big return to the ring after a 7+ year absence. Just seeing The Rock back was amazing and a truly special moment for all wrestling fans. However, as far as a wrestling match goes, this wasn’t exactly stellar. The crowd was booing Cena all the way through and couldn’t care less about the heels. Rock and Miz start, with the Rock applying a headlock and hitting a shoulder block before they run the ropes. Rock then busts out arm drags to Miz and Truth before sending Truth to the floor and catching Miz with a La Magistral cradle. The heels regroup on the outside before Truth tags into the match. Rock applies a headlock to Truth before both men try to target the other’s arm. Truth does a cartwheel before missing a kick, and Rock hits a punch followed by a fisherman’s suplex. The referee is distracted with Cena and doesn’t count the pin though, leading to Rock having words with Cena. Miz and Cena then tag in, with Cena hitting a couple snapmares, a monkey flip, and a dropkick. Truth tags in, and Cena hits his shoulder blocks and the side suplex, but stops the Five Knuckle Shuffle to taunt Rock, allowing Truth to hit a clothesline and stomp Cena in the corner. Miz then stomps Cena and hits a boot to the head, leading to a near fall for Truth. Truth applies a chin lock and tosses Cena into the ring post when he fights up. Truth slams Cena’s head on the apron on the outside and applies a seated head scissors in the ring. Truth kicks Cena to the floor and gets a 2 count. Miz tags in, escapes the Attitude Adjustment, and hits a low DDT for 2 followed by a corner clothesline. Truth hits a cheap shot and tags in, hitting a double suplex with Miz’s help. Truth applies a reverse headlock and hits some shots in the corner before Miz comes in with some punches.

Cena tries to fight back but Miz clotheslines him for 2. Truth hits an elbow drop for 2 followed by a leg drop. Truth leaps off the top and Cena catches him, but Truth counters the AA and hits a reverse falcon arrow for 2. Miz hits a pair of boots to the head, but misses a third and Cena applies the STF, only for Truth to break it up. Truth tags in and Cena hits the AA. Miz comes in, knocks Rock off the apron, and applies a chin lock while Truth drops Rock on the barricade on the outside. Miz and Truth hit a double flapjack to Cena for 2 and Truth applies a reverse headlock. Truth misses a leg drop, and both men make tags. Rock hits a DDT to Miz and the Rock Bottom to Truth. Rock puts Miz in the sharpshooter, but Truth breaks it up by hitting the Shut Up. Cena hits a belly to belly slam to Truth and takes him to the floor. Miz hits some shots to Rock, but Rock drops him with a spinebuster and hits the People’s Elbow for the win. After the match, Rock and Cena had a posedown of sorts and had some words with each other before Rock laid out Cena with the Rock Bottom. Rock’s offense looked good and the last few minutes of the match were well executed, but the majority of the match dragged badly. Miz and Truth’s repetitive and generic offense made this a very dull and boring match for the most part. This match is going to be praised heavily because of The Rock’s involvement, but when he wasn’t in the ring the match was not very fun to watch. Miz and R-Truth felt completely out of place and Cena looks completely weak now. The whole match felt like something that could have main evented a Raw leading up to Wrestlemania XXVIII. It didn’t even progress the storyline, as we are pretty much exactly where we were before the match. It wasn’t bad, and seeing The Rock wrestle again was a memorable moment, but the match itself wasn’t very good. Match Time: 21:32     Star Rating: **3/4

Overall PPV Rating: 6.75/10

Turning Point was yet another dismal PPV offering from TNA. Almost all of their PPVs this year have been horrendous. These shows are rife with terrible booking and less-than-stellar wrestling save for a match here and there. Many of the matches on this show were ridiculously overbooked and the crowd hardly reacted to it. A solid main event kept the show from reaching “worst PPV of the year” status but it certainly doesn’t make the show worth going out of your way to see.

• TNA Television Championship match: Eric Young(c) vs. Robbie E

Why Robbie E got another TV title match is beyond me. He was accompanied to the ring by Rob Terry, who is apparently now going by the name of “Robbie T”. Young initially goes to lock up with the referee before he runs out of the ring and gets decked by Robbie T before landing a shot on Robbie E. Young hits a forearm in the corner in the ring, does a handstand in the corner, and hits a headscissors. Young then tries to lock up with SoCal Val on the outside. Young plays mind games with Robbie by going in and out of the ring. Robbie T lands a cheap shot and Robbie E covers in the ring for 2. Robbie E hits some stomps but Young comes back with some shots and a roll up. Robbie hits a fist drop off the second rope for 2, whips Young into the ropes, and hits a back elbow for 2. Robbie applies a lengthy chin lock, and Young is eventually able to fight out with a jawbreaker. Robbie hits some shots to the back before Young drops his shorts to reveal that he is wearing Robbie’s trunks underneath. Young hits a flying forearm, a dropkick, a belly to belly slam, and a diving elbow drop off the top. Robbie T pulls Robbie E out of the ring to break up the pin, but Young hits a high cross body off the top to Robbie T on the floor. Young rolls E in the ring, but T hits him with a cheap shot and E covers for the win. Nobody bought that as the finish. Flat way to end a very average opener, but this was about as good as it was going to get with these guys. Match Time: 7:50     Star Rating: **

• TNA World Tag Team Championship match: Mexican America(c) vs. Ink. Inc.

This was a six person intergender match, with Sarita and Toxxin involved for their respective teams. Anarquia and Shannon Moore lock up briefly before Anarquia drives his shoulder into Moore in the corner. Moore comes back with some arm drags, an atomic drop, and a spin kick. Jesse Neal and Hernandez get tags, with Hernandez shoving off Neal. Neal twists the arm, but Hernandez hits a clothesline and they yell at each other. Neal goes for a couple shoulder blocks but Hernandez is unfazed. Neal hits a back elbow and a botched kick before tagging in Moore. Moore leaps off the top and is caught, but is able to counter into a sunset flip. Moore twists Anarquia’s arm and hits a corner-assisted arm drag. Moore hits a hurricanrana for 2 and hip tosses Neal onto Anarquia. Hernandez hits a slingshot shoulder block and shoves Toxxin. Anarquia kicks Neal to the floor and tags in Hernandez, who hits a corner splash. Neal avoids Anarquia in the corner and spears Hernandez for 2 before the women get tags. Toxxin hits a back elbow, an enzuigiri, and a gutwrench suplex. Hernandez gets clotheslined to the floor and Moore hits an asai moonsault. Neal hits a front slam to Anarquia and slams Toxxin on him, then decides to pull down Anarquia’s pants. Lovely. The ref is distracted with a bunch of chaos on the outside and Sarita hits Toxxin with one of the title belts for the win. Typical TNA cluster mess tag match with overbooking and a lot of nonsense. No wonder the titles are worthless. Match was going along okay and fell apart at the finish. Match Time: 8:36     Star Rating: *1/4

• 3-Way Dance for the TNA X Division Championship: Austin Aries(c) vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash

The story here was really good but the wrestling was fairly basic for a nearly 15 minute match. Most of it was just Kash and Aries ganging up on Sorensen. Sorensen and Kash go nose to nose early on and Aries cheap shots Sorensen. Kash rains down with cross-face punches, but Sorensen fights back with a couple arm drags to Aries and sends him to the floor. Sorensen hits a nice tope dive over the ropes to both heels on the floor. Sorensen heads up top but Kash shoves him off and Aries hits a neckbreaker. Kash hits a release suplex and holds up Sorensen for Aries to chop him. Kash hits a low blow and stands on Sorensen’s head before hitting a big backbreaker. Aries breaks up the pin and gives Kash a pep talk. Sorensen dropkicks Aries into Kash and hits a flying knee, a dropkick, and a cross body off the top. Kash breaks up the pin attempt and applies a modified surfboard submission. Aries kicks Sorensen in the chest and Kash hits a knee drop. Aries hits a chop and Kash stomps Sorensen in the corner.

Sorensen hits a back body drop to Aries but Kash pulls him outside and whips him into the guardrail, then sets him up for a suicide dive from Aries. Kash breaks up a pin attempt in the ring and argues a little with Aries, allowing Sorensen to land some shots on both men. Aries hits a kitchen sink to Sorensen and Kash hits a body slam. Both heels head up top in opposite corners, but Sorensen blocks a frog splash from Aries and avoids a moonsault from Kash. Sorensen hits an atomic drop to Aries and a neckbreaker, but Kash breaks up the pin. Aries drives Sorensen into the corner, but Sorensen kicks a charging Aries and hits a spinning facebuster, only for Kash to break up the pin. Kash hits some chops in the corner and clotheslines a diving Sorensen in mid air. Kash hits a superplex off the top and a double underhook piledriver, but Aries puts Sorensen’s foot on the ropes during Kash’s pin attempt. Kash argues with the ref and Aries sneaks in and rolls Kash up for the pin. Kind of a sudden finish but everyone played their roles really well here, even if this wasn’t exactly an “X Division” style match. Sorensen isn’t ready for this kind of a push just yet so it was smart to have Aries go over. Match Time: 13:00     Star Rating: **3/4

• No Disqualification match: Christopher Daniels vs. Rob Van Dam

Before the match, Daniels gets on the mic and asks RVD for just a straight up wrestling match, since the match was advertised as No DQ. RVD shakes on it, but Daniels pulls him into a headlock as the match begins. RVD sweeps the leg and goes for a cross arm-breaker before rolling up Daniels with his legs. Daniels goes outside momentarily and they do some grappling once he returns to the ring. RVD goes for a roll up before hitting a monkey flip and a big kick for 2. Daniels hits some shoulder thrusts in the corner and a snapmare before applying a chin lock. RVD blocks a hip toss and hits a kick for 2 followed by Rolling Thunder. RVD hits a spin kick and a slingshot leg drop on the apron before heading up top. He tries for a sunset flip but Daniels blocks it and stomps him. Daniels slams RVD’s head in the corner, hits some shoulder thrusts and presses his boot against RVD’s chin. Daniels hits a dropkick for 2 and applies a chin lock. RVD fights out with some elbows but Daniels takes him down and twsits his neck. RVD fights up but Daniels hits a Death Valley Driver for 2. Daniels hits a flying forearm in the corner and whips RVD to another corner, but RVD gets a boot up and they trade punches. RVD hits a springboard thrust kick, crotches Daniels on the top rope, and hits a second thrust kick off the top that sends Daniels to the floor. Daniels bails up the ramp but RVD catches him, hits a hip toss on the ramp, and hangs him over the guardrail. RVD then hits a running leg drop off the ramp to Daniels on the guardrail. Back in the ring, Daniels throws the ref into RVD, hits an STO, and grabs a chair (since it’s still technically No DQ). Daniels hits RVD in the gut with the chair and hits a uranage on it for 2. Daniels gets the screwdriver but RVD kicks the chair in his face and hits the Five Star Frog Splash for the win. Good match but it definitely seemed like these guys had a few more minutes in them. Solid effort while it lasted though. Match Time: 11:17     Star Rating: ***

• Matt Morgan vs. Crimson

This was awful. The crowd still doesn’t care about Crimson and this just dragged and dragged. Crimson goes for shoulder blocks early but they have no effect on Morgan and they go to a test of strength. Crimson hits a knee to the gut, and some knees to the face while holding Morgan in a cravat. Morgan hits a discuss clothesline, but Crimson avoids the Carbon Footprint. Morgan hits some shoulders in the corner and clotheslines Crimson to the floor. Crimson slams Morgan’s head on the ring apron and the guardrail before dragging out the steel steps, only for Morgan to kick the steps into Crimson’s knee. Morgan hits a side slam in the ring for 2. Crimson hits some shots but Morgan hits an uppercut, punches, and the rapid-fire corner elbows. Crimson comes back with some clotheslines and an exploder suplex for 2. Morgan hits more shoulders in the corner but Crimson hits a Russian leg sweep and goes for a submission, only for Morgan to counter with a roll up. Morgan hits a chokeslam for 2 but misses the bicycle kick. Crimson hits a spear for 2 and Morgan hits the Carbon Footprint, but Crimson falls to the floor. Morgan rolls him in and covers for 2. Crimson hits a sloppy Red Sky for 2 and they trash talk each other before going back and forth with punches. The ref eventually tries to break it up and both guys shove him down, causing a double disqualification. They did the usual pull apart brawl with security after the match. Another match that fell apart at the finish. Before the end it was just really really dull. Crimson is such a bad wrestler at this point that there’s not many guys who can work with him. Bad match all around. Match Time: 12:00     Star Rating: *

• Scott Steiner and Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson and Abyss

Given the talent involved, this was about as good as it was going to get. Anderson and Ray lock up at the start, and Anderson hits an arm drag. They lock up again before Ray misses a charge in the corner. Anderson hits an arm drag and an arm bar, but Ray fights up and Anderson fails to knock down Ray with clotheslines. Anderson hits a spin kick and applies a headlock, but Ray breaks it with a back suplex. Steiner comes in and hits some weak kicks in the corner and chops Anderson. Anderson comes back with a clothesline off the second rope, but Ray crotches him against the ring post. Ray comes in and elbow drops Anderson’s leg before applying a leg bar. Ray hits a clothesline but Anderson avoids a second and hits a neckbreaker. Anderson tags in Abyss but the ref doesn’t see it and the heels double team Anderson. Steiner hits Anderson with an Angle Slam off the second rope, but Anderson comes back with a sunset flip and an inside cradle for near falls.

Steiner hits a belly-to-belly suplex before tagging in Ray, and Anderson scores with DDT. Both guys make tags and Abyss cleans house on the heels with clotheslines and splashes them both in the corner. Abyss slams Steiner and hits a frog splash off the top followed by a chokeslam. Ray breaks up the pin and hits some shots to the back. Abyss teases a double chokeslam on the heels but ends up double clotheslining them. Ray clotheslines Abyss to the outside, and both guys clothesline each other on the floor. Anderson hits a top rope cross body off the top for 2, and Steiner hits a downward spiral for a near fall. Steiner hits a Frankensteiner off the top, but the ref won’t count the pin and says Anderson isn’t legal. Steiner then turns around into a Black Hole Slam from Abyss for the pin. After the match the heels double chokeslam Abyss through a table, but Abyss pops right back up, causing Ray to freak out. This was just an excuse to get these guys on the show in a match that won’t mean anything by the Impact tapings tomorrow night. Pretty average stuff for the most part, but the fans popped for Steiner. Match Time: 11:48     Star Rating: **1/4

• TNA Women’s Knockout Championship match: Velvet Sky(c) vs. Gail Kim

This was your typical Knockouts match, with the overbooking and interference completely overshadowing the wrestling. Sky hits a ton of punches at the start and sloppy baseball slide that knocks Kim to the floor. Sky hits some more shots and a cross body in the ring for 2. Sky hits a corner splash and some mounted punches, but Gail comes back with a running body block in the corner, a snapmare, and a kick to the chest. Sky hits some slaps but Kim hits a gutbuster and applies an abdominal stretch. Sky scores a near fall off a jackknife cover and a roll up. Kim leaps out of the corner but Sky kicks her in mid air before hitting some more kicks and a bulldog. Sky blocks the Eat Defeat and hits the sitout Pedigree, but Karen Jarrett runs down to distract the referee. Madison Rayne attacks Sky and botches a move. Kim covers for 2 and heads up top, where she misses a diving senton. Sky covers, but Kim rolls her up for 2. Rayne then pulls Sky’s foot as Karen distracts the referee. Gail hits the Eat Defeat for the win. Total cluster mess of a Knockouts match, and Velvet is still a terrible worker. Short and way too overbooked. How can anyone say that TNA’s women’s division is any different from the WWE’s anymore? Match Time: 5:54     Star Rating: *

• Jeff Jarrett vs. Jeff Hardy

This one takes the cake for dumbest booking of the night. The bell rings and Hardy immediately hits the Twist of Fate for the win. Then Jarrett complains to the referee and the match is restarted. WHY? I have no clue. Hardy hits a spinning heel kick but Jarrett hits a body guillotine and a pair of diving fist drops off the second rope. Hardy kicks a leaping Jarrett and hits a front suplex, but Jarrett trips him up when he heads up top. Jarrett stomps Hardy and whips him into the corner. Hardy hits some shots but Jarrett catches him in a sleeper. Hardy fights out with elbows and hits a back suplex. They trade punches before Hardy hits a clothesline and gets a 2 count off a jackknife cover. Hardy counters the Stroke, Jarrett counters the Twist of Fate, and Hardy counters the Figure 4 leg lock with a small package for the win (again). It gets better. Hardy leaves up the ramp and Jarrett hits him in the head with a chair. Jarrett then brings him back into the ring, hits the Stroke, and tells the ref to count the pin. Hardy then rolls up Jarrett and the ref counts the pin and calls for the bell. THE MATCH WAS ALREADY OVER. TWICE. Horrible booking. Unbelievable. TNA must think that their fans are either mentally challenged or using the same type of drugs that Jeff Hardy uses. Stupid on so many levels. Match Time: 5:52     Star Rating: *1/2

• TNA World Heavyweight Championship match: Robert Roode(c) vs. AJ Styles

God bless these two men but there was no saving this show at this point. They definitely tried really hard though, and this was easily the match of the night. They lock up and break a couple times to open things up before AJ hits a punch and Roode bails to the outside. Roode and AJ both land some shots before Roode applies a headlock. AJ pushes him off and hits a leapfrog followed by a dropkick. AJ hits a suplex before slamming Roode’s head into all 4 of the top turnbuckles. AJ hits an elboew to the head followed by a scoop slam and a knee drop for 2. Roode comes back with a kick, a clothesline, and some shots in the corner. AJ sends Roode to the outside, where he hits a diving forearm off the apron and drops Roode face first on the guardrail. Roode hits a baseball slide from inside the ring and chokes AJ. AJ fights back with some shots but when he leaps off the second rope, Roode catches him and catapults him into the corner. Roode applies a rear waistlock on the mat before AJ fights out and they head up top. Roode knocks AJ to the mat, but AJ pops right back up and hits a superplex. AJ hits some punches followed by a back body drop, some clotheslines, and a neckbreaker over his knee.

AJ goes for a slingshot move but appear to botch it as he just shoves Roode. Crowd dies at this point. Roode rolls through a cross body attempt and covers for 2. Roode hits a spinebuster for 2 but AJ counters a fisherman’s suplex and hits a back suplex. AJ misses a springboard 450, but does a sunset flip and goes for the Styles Clash. Roode counters the Clash and puts AJ in the crossface. AJ struggles but eventually counters with a roll up before picking up Roode and dropping him. AJ hits a springboard forearm from the apron for 2 before Roode low blows AJ and the ref at the same time. Roode covers for a near fall, AJ gets 2 with a roll up, and AJ hits an enzuigiri before both guys trade punches. Roode begs off but AJ tackles him and unloads with punches before chopping him in the ropes. AJ crotches Roode on the top rope, causing him to fall to the floor. AJ goes for a suicide dive but Roode sidesteps him. Roode hits a fisherman’s suplex in the ring for a near fall and AJ hits a Pele. AJ goes for the Styles Clash but Roode counters with a roll up and hooks the tights for the win. Styles felt very much like a main event placeholder here without much of a chance of winning. Match was very good but the crowd died about midway through and it just never seemed to reach its full potential despite the long length. Best thing on the show but nothing great or worth going out of your way to check out. Match Time: 19:35    Star Rating: ***1/2

Overall PPV Rating: 4.75/10

This will be the last TNA PPV Review you will see from me on this website. I would like to apologize to everyone who regularly reads my monthly TNA PPV recaps, but for the life of me I just can’t do it anymore. These shows are so agonizingly dull and painful to sit through that they’ve become a chore to watch rather than a joy. TNA has become unwatchable. I’ve been a professional wrestling fan for about five years now and I’ve honestly never seen a company as horrendous as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. This company can’t seem to do anything right and they’ve expressed a complete unwillingness to change. Despite the fact that they’ve been blessed with having so many talented and popular wrestlers on their roster, TNA time and time again proves that bad booking and writing can ruin shows and prevent fans from investing in the wrestlers and the storylines. Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, and Dixie Carter, have fun running this company into the ground just like WCW, because I don’t want to be apart of it any longer. I quit.

My name is Jared Silberkleit. I am from Orange, CT and am a huge fan of pro wrestling. I mostly follow WWE and TNA but I also watch the smaller promotions such as ROH and DGUSA. I have been a lifelong WWE fan and have become a TNA fan over the past few years. Aside from wrestling, I also really love baseball and football and follow many other sports such as hockey and MMA. I have written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for three years.

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• WWE Tag Team Championship match: Air Boom(c) vs. Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler

This was a really nice way to start off the PPV and ended up being one of the better matches of the night. Kofi Kingston and Ziggler lock up and do some grappling early on, with both guys going for headlocks and hammerlocks. Kofi does a pair of leapfrogs and a clothesline followed by a big monkey flip that Ziggler does a full rotation bump for. Evan Bourne comes in with a dropkick and nearly catches Swagger with a sunset flip. Kofi leaps onto a rope hung Swagger before hitting a double dropkick in the corner with Bourne followed by a double bulldog. Kofi goes for a cross body off the top but Swagger catches him and slams him down. Ziggler hits a dropkick for 2 and puts Kofi in a submission. Kofi fights up, but Ziggler throws him down by his head and tags in Swagger. Swagger applies a chin lock but Kofi eventually arm drags out of it and tags Bourne. Bourne hits a hurricanrana, a series of kicks, and a knee to the head followed by a single leg dropkick. Bourne leaps off the top but lands on his feet and sends Swagger into Ziggler.

Bourne goes for the shooting star press but Swagger gets his knees up and goes for a pin, only for Kofi to break it up. Ziggler applies a submission and Bourne fights out before both guys go for roll-ups. Swagger stomps Bourne and hits a Vader Bomb for 2, and then controls Bourne with a reverse headlock. Bourne rolls up Swagger for 2 and sends him to the floor when he goes for the ankle lock. Swagger pulls Kofi off the apron and Ziggler stomps Bourne in the ring. Swagger steps on Bourne’s gut and scoop slams him, but Bourne gets his knees up to block a second Vader Bomb. Kofi gets a hot tag and hits some clotheslines. Ziggler blocks the SOS but eats a rope-assisted Pele and a top rope cross body for 2. Kofi hits the Boom Drop and sets up for the Trouble in Paradise, misses, and hits the SOS, only for Swagger to break up the pin and put Kofi in the ankle lock. Bourne breaks that up by hitting the flying double knees off the top to Swagger. Kofi hits Ziggler with the Trouble in Paradise and Bourne finishes him with the shooting star press for the win. Really solid match to open up the show with some nice storytelling built around the heels wearing down Bourne’s midsection. Fun action with some exciting spots. Match Time: 13:24     Star Rating: ***1/4

• United States Championship match: Dolph Ziggler(c) vs. Zack Ryder

Ryder comes out right after the tag match ends, so the US title match is on right now. Ryder lays into Ziggler with punches in the corner, hits a back elbow, and whips Ziggler hard into the corner for 2. Ziggler hits a neckbreaker and Ryder comes back with a clothesline. Ziggler rolls to the outside but Kofi and Bourne, who hadn’t left ringside, toss him back in, causing the referee to send them to the back. Ryder hits some clotheslines and a flapjack for 2, but crashes into the ropes on a cross body attempt. Ziggler hits a boot to the head and an elbow drop for 2 before applying an arm bar. Ziggler hits a corner splash but misses a second one, only for Ryder to miss a face wash. Ziggler hits a Famouser for 2 and some shots in the corner. Ryder kicks a charging Ziggler and hits the face wash in the corner. Swagger gets on the apron and Ryder tries to kick him away. Ziggler goes for the Zig Zag but Ryder holds onto the ropes and blocks it. Ryder then kicks Swagger to the floor but Ziggler surprises him with a superkick for the win. This made Ryder look like a total geek because he couldn’t beat a fatigued guy who just lost, but Ziggler would have looked pretty stupid if he lost as well. This should have been saved for later on in the show where Ziggler’s win would have seemed more believable. Match was average, pretty much Raw quality. Match Time: 6:01     Star Rating: **1/4

• Divas Championship match: Beth Phoenix(c) vs. Eve

This wasn’t terrible by Divas standards, but certainly nothing to write home about. They lock up and go into the corner before Eve hits a sunset flip for 2. Beth hits a shoulder block for a near fall but Eve does a cartwheel and hits some kicks. Beth hits some strikes but Eve flips over Beth and hits an enzuigiri. They did a weird spot where Eve tried to handcuff Beth to the ropes via her outfit and kicked her repeatedly. Beth eventually frees herself and sweeps Eve’s legs on the apron before dropping her face first on the barricade. Beth whips Eve into the apron and covers in the ring for 2. Beth applies a submission for a bit before hitting a gutbuster for 2. Beth applies a body scissors and taunts Eve, and Eve eventually fights out. Eve hits some punches, a kick, a clothesline, and a running senton for 2. Eve hits a back elbow and puts Beth in a bizarre submission hold that looked like a weird modified triangle choke. Beth gets the ropes and Eve slams her head in the corner. Beth snaps Eve’s head over the ropes and goes for the Glam Slam, but Eve counters and sends Beth into the ropes. Eve hits a kick but misses a moonsault and Beth hits the Glam Slam for the win. This would have been a bit better than most Divas matches but they were out there for a little too long and the crowd was dead. Just a tiny step above your typical WWE women’s match. Match Time: 7:19     Star Rating: *3/4

• Christian vs. Sheamus

The crowd really hurt this match, maybe more than any other match on the show. This was solid but their match last month was better and longer. Christian slaps Sheamus and hits some strikes in the corner, but Sheamus comes back with some shots of his own and a scoop slam. Sheamus hits a shoulder block and some more shots in the corner. Christian slides under Sheamus and slaps him, but Sheamus takes Christian to the apron and hits the clubbing blows to the chest followed by a stalling vertical suplex. Christian comes back with back-to-back neckbreakers followed by some strikes in the corner. Sheamus tries to fight back but Christian chokes him with his boot. Sheamus hits some shoulders in the corner but Christian rolls him up for 2, hits some elbows to the back of the head, and applies a chin lock. Sheamus gets up and falls backwards to break the hold. Christian stands on Sheamus against the ropes, then slides out and slaps him. Christian hits a twisting uppercut off the second rope followed by a missile dropkick, but misses a top rope diving head butt. Sheamus hits some clotheslines and a scoop slam, then catches a leaping Christian in mid air and hits a fall away slam for 2. Christian sends Sheamus to the outside, but Sheamus shoulders a charging Christian and hits a slingshot shoulder block over the ropes for 2. Christian hits a reverse DDT and escapes the High Cross, but Sheamus blocks the rope-assisted Pele and covers for 2. Both guys counter each other’s finishers before Christian hits 2 rope-assisted Peles and heads up to, but Sheamus catches Christian in mid air and hits the uranage backbreaker. Christian hits a spear for 2 but Sheamus comes back with punches. Both guys go up top and Christian hits a top rope Frankensteiner. He sets up for another spear but Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick for the win. Solid match between these guys with some nice counters and sequences, but when is Christian ever going to get a win again? I’ve lost count of how many times they’ve jobbed this guy. Match Time: 10:37     Star Rating: **3/4

• The Miz and R-Truth vs. CM Punk and Triple H

This was a huge disappointment considering all of the buildup. It felt like an extended Raw match at times. Punk and Miz circle each other at the start, and Punk hits a few kicks before tagging in Triple H. Truth gets a tag as well and locks up with Triple H. Triple H hits a shoulder block, a punch, and whips Truth into the corner. Truth does a split but Triple H kicks him and does a crotch chop before tagging in Punk. Punk plants Truth and Miz comes in, but Punk tosses Miz into Triple H’s boot. Punk and Triple H hit a double team suplex to Miz and Triple H puts him in a figure 4 leg lock, holding Punk’s hands for leverage when the referee isn’t looking. They stretch Miz’s legs and Punk applies an arm bar, again using Triple H for leverage. Truth hits a cheap shot from the apron, Miz stomps Punk and Truth comes in and applies a chin lock. Punk eventually fights out and tags in Triple H, who hits a high knee, a spinebuster, and a knee facebuster before clotheslining both heels to the floor. Miz and Truth take the advantage on the outside and Miz stomps Triple H back in the ring. Truth tags in and applies a reverse headlock, then hits a corkscrew forearm strike when Triple H fights out. Miz hits some knees to the gut and a running knee to the head for 2. Miz applies a chin lock and Triple H tries to battle out, but Miz hits the reverse DDT backbreaker/neckbreaker combo. The heels hit stereo boots to the head for 2. Truth applies a head scissors on the mat, but Triple H escapes and hits an electric chair drop. Triple H clotheslines Miz and hits a DDT to Truth before tagging in Punk. Punk hits a springboard clothesline, some kicks to Truth, and the high knee in the corner followed by a bulldog/clothesline combo on both heels. Punk kicks Truth on the apron and Triple H sends him into the timekeeper’s area. Punk hits the Savage elbow drop to Miz, but Kevin Nash appears in the crowd and attacks Triple H. Punk goes for the Go to Sleep on Miz, but Miz counters and hits a Skull-Crushing Finale/Shut Up combo with Truth and the heels get the win. Nash continues the attack on Triple H after the match and hits a nasty-looking jackknife powerbomb. The match was extremely boring and never got going. This was supposed to be one of the premiere matches of the PPV and it completely flopped. Average stuff at best, huge letdown. Match Time: 15:23     Star Rating: **

• Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes

This was a nice rebound match after the clunky tag team affair. Orton hits a punch and a clothesline early before shoving off a bulldog attempt and clotheslining Rhodes to the floor, where he sends him into the steel steps. Rhodes misses the Beautiful Disaster kick back in the ring and Orton hits a clothesline. Rhodes hits some stomps, a front suplex, and a diving knee drop off the top followed by a knee to the gut. Orton tries to fight back with punches, but Rhodes hits a clothesline and applies a chin lock. Orton breaks it with a back suplex, but Rhodes hits a dropkick for 2 and stomps Orton repeatedly. Rhodes puts Orton in a Boston Crab, and Orton is eventually able to counter out and kick Rhodes away. Orton avoids a charge in the corner and rolls up Rhodes for 2. They trade shots before Rhodes hits an Alabama slam for 2. Rhodes misses a top rope moonsault and Orton comes back with clotheslines and a powerslam. Rhodes hits Orton from the apron and leaps off the top, but Orton dropkicks him in mid air for 2. Rhodes counters a gutwrench and hits the Beautiful Disaster kick for 2. Rhodes escapes the spike DDT, but Orton hits his signature backbreaker for 2. Orton hits a gutwrench neckbreaker before taking Rhodes to the corner. Rhodes hits a head butt followed by a moonsault off the top to a standing Orton. Rhodes misses a second dive off the top and Orton hits an uppercut. One of the “baggers” distracts Orton and Rhodes hits the Cross-Rhodes for 2. Rhodes mocks Orton’s taunt, but Orton hits a dropkick and a spike DDT. The bagger gets on the apron but Orton tosses Rhodes into the bagger and hits the RKO for the win. Rhodes looked really competitive in there despite the fact that most fans don’t see him as being at Orton’s level. Still, this was a good PPV quality bout with some nice near falls. Match Time: 12:12     Star Rating: ***1/4

• World Heavyweight Championship match: Mark Henry(c) vs. The Big Show

The trend of over-achieving, better than expected Mark Henry world title matches continued with this match. While certainly nothing great, this was about as good as you could ask for with these guys. They lock up at the start before Henry breaks in the corner, and Show fires away with punches, causing Henry to bail from the ring. Henry gets on the apron but Show hip tosses him inside and hits a punch and a superkick. Henry tries to walk away, but Show rolls him into the ring. Henry dives at Show’s knee and hits a scoop slam followed by an elbow drop. Henry then hits an elbow drop to the knee and wrenches at Show’s leg, scissoring it with his own legs. Henry continues to use a leg bar until Show is able to fight out, but his leg gives out on a scoop slam attempt and Henry scores a near fall. Henry twists the ankle, but Show kicks him off and they do a double clothesline spot. They trade shots and Show hits some head butts, clotheslines, a corner back splash, a shoulder block, and a scoop slam before hitting a chokeslam for a near fall. He goes for the WMD but Henry hits the World’s Strongest Slam for 2. Henry heads up top but Show chokeslams him off the second rope for 2. Show then heads up top and Henry meets him up there, and Henry gives Show a superplex, causing the ring to break, repeating the spot that Brock Lesnar and Big Show did on Smackdown in 2003. The match was stopped shortly after, with referees and doctors coming down to the ring followed by John Laurinaitis and Teddy Long. Show was carted out but Henry crawled to the back under his own power. Laurinaitis said the main event would still take place as planned, even with the broken ring. The spot at the end got a huge reaction and the fans were really getting into some of the near falls. Overall this turned out much better than expected and actually turned out to be decent. For a world title match it wasn’t great, but for a big man match this was very good. Match Time: 11:00 (rough estimate)     Star Rating: **1/2

• Last Man Standing match for the WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio(c) vs. John Cena

This pretty much saved the show and was a very enjoyable main event. They did indeed work this match with the busted up ring, which ended up not harming it too much due to the stipulation. Ricardo Rodriguez tries to interfere at the start and Cena swings at him, but this allows Del Rio to take an early advantage with some punches, a suplex, and a big boot. Del Rio kicks Cena on the floor and sends him face first into the ring post. Back in the ring, Del Rio hits a superkick and a second kick, but Cena hits a back body drop followed by a scoop slam and some elbow drops. Del Rio hits a kick to the back, a dropkick, and 3 consecutive back suplexes. Cena makes it up at 7 and hits a clothesline. Del Rio escapes an Attitude Adjustment attempt and hits a back stabber. Cena is up at 5 and Del Rio hits 2 suplexes, but Cena counters a third with one of his own. Cena hits the shoulder blocks and the spinning side slam followed by the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Del Rio escapes the AA and hits a German suplex. Cena is up at 7 and hits a gutwrench suplex, and Del Rio is up at 4. Del Rio hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and some punches before laying the fallen ring post over Cena’s chest and hitting a running stomp on it. Cena is up at 8 and hits the AA, with Del Rio getting up at 8. Ricardo breaks up another AA attempt and Del Rio puts Cena in a rear naked choke. Del Rio eventually releases the hold, but Cena gets up and tosses Del Rio out of the ring into the barricade. Cena slams Del Rio’s head into the barricade and Del Rio whips Cena into the steel steps, but Cena crotches Ricardo on the fallen post. Del Rio stomps Cena in the ring, but Cena drop toeholds Del Rio into the fallen post, causing it to crotch Ricardo again.

Outside the ring, Cena throws the top half of the steel steps at Del Rio and misses, and Del Rio sends Cena face first into it. Del Rio then hits Cena in the head with the lower half of the steps and Cena gets up at 8. Cena then unloads on Del Rio with punches and they go up the ramp and into the backstage area. Cena throws Del Rio across a catering table and pushes over a large crate, but Del Rio gets out of the way and scoop slams Cena on the crate. Cena gets up at 7, but Del Rio pushes 4 large lighting stands down on top of Cena. Cena fights out and gets up at 8, and they brawl back into the arena. Del Rio sends Cena through a giant V (a piece of the set) and puts Cena on a table. Del Rio then climbs another piece of the set, but Cena yanks him off and Del Rio crashes through the table. Del Rio gets up at 8 and they fight through the crowd before Cena tosses him over the barricade into the ringside area. Del Rio misses with an enzuigiri and hits the ring post, and Cena sets up the steel steps next to the Spanish announce table. Cena then picks up Del Rio and gives him an AA off the steel steps through the table. Cena goes into the ring, but The Miz and R-Truth suddenly run down and attack him, distracting the referee from counting. They both hit their respective finishers on Cena, Del Rio gets up, and the ref counts, but Cena makes it up at 9. Del Rio then hits Cena with the WWE title and Cena can’t make it to his feet, so Del Rio wins. Good finish to build towards Survivor Series, where it appears Cena will align with The Rock and others against a team including Miz and R-Truth. Though there were a couple goofy moments, this was a really fun brawl with some awesome spots strewn throughout. Cena is always great in last man standing matches and this was no exception, despite a slow start. Overall, it was a satisfying way to close the show. Match Time: 26:58     Star Rating: ***3/4

Overall PPV Rating: 6.5/10

My name is Jared Silberkleit. I am from Orange, CT and am a huge fan of pro wrestling. I mostly follow WWE and TNA but I also watch the smaller promotions such as ROH and DGUSA. I have been a lifelong WWE fan and have become a TNA fan over the past few years. Aside from wrestling, I also really love baseball and football and follow many other sports such as hockey and MMA. I have written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for three years.

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• TNA X Division Championship match: Austin Aries(c) vs. Brian Kendrick

Though it was a bit disheartening to see the X Division Championship match again being used to pop the crowd in the curtain jerker slot, this was a very exciting and fun match to open the show. They lock up and do some chain wrestling at the start, with both guys going after the arm. Aries hits a headlock takeover and applies a headlock before they run the ropes. Kendrick hits a headlock takeover and a dropkick that sends Aries to the outside before hitting a slingshot cross body to the floor. Kendrick hits a cross body off the top in the ring for 2 and hits 2 monkey flips, but Aries blocks a third and hits a clothesline for 2. Aries hits a scoop slam, a slingshot senton, and a running elbow drop. Kendrick fights out of a cravat but Aries hits an STO and teases the pendulum elbow. Kendrick blocks it and rolls up Aries for 2 before hitting a series of forearm strikes and dropkicks followed by a double sledge to the back. Kendrick goes up top and leaps over Aries, but Aries hits an STO and a quick pendulum elbow. Kendrick hits a tornado DDT for 2 but Aries blocks a sliced bread attempt. Aries hits a suicide dive to the floor and an IED back in the ring, but Kendrick counters the brainbuster and rolls up Aries for 2. Aries blocks a sliced bread attempt and both guys fight up top, and Kendrick hits a crazy sliced bread off the top for 2. Kendrick goes for a sliced bread off the apron but he’s sent to the floor. Aries hits a big shot to the head followed by the IED and the brainbuster for the win. Very good, competitive match, and a nice clean win for Aries. Match Time: 10:25     Star Rating: ***1/4

• Full Metal Mayhem match: Jerry Lynn vs. Rob Van Dam

Though not at the level of their match in July, this was a fun little throwback to their ECW feud. They start off with some grappling before RVD goes for a quick roll-up attempt and hits a roundhouse kick in the corner. RVD teases Rolling Thunder but Lynn hits a dropkick and some clotheslines. Lynn goes for a tornado DDT and they do a series of reversals before RVD snapmares him and they have a standoff. Lynn tries a cross body but both guys crash and burn near the apron. They go out to the floor where Lynn gets a ladder. RVD gets a chair but Lynn dropkicks the ladder into his face. RVD hits a cross body out of the corner on Lynn onto the chair and follows with a Van Terminator with the chair. RVD whips Lynn into the ladder in the corner and Lynn then falls down with the ladder on top of him. RVD then hits the Rolling Thunder onto the ladder on Lynn. Lynn recovers and dropkicks the ladder into RVD’s face, leans it up against the ropes, and lays RVD on it. Lynn then hits a leg drop off the top rope onto RVD on the ladder. Lynn throws a chair into RVD’s face and hits a bridging German suplex for 2. RVD suplexes Lynn on the ladder and does a dive onto it. Lynn hits a clothesline off the top to a charging RVD, then takes out a second ladder and leans it against the guardrail on the outside. Lynn hits a crazy sunset flip bomb to RVD off the apron onto the ladder on the floor (RVD kinda missed the ladder and took a nasty bump on the floor). Back in the ring, RVD kicks a chair into Lynn’s face for 2 and sets him in the corner with the ladder in front of his face. RVD then hits a Van Terminator with the chair and ladder to Lynn’s face for the win. They shake hands afterwards, so this feud is over. Overall a solid hardcore match, not their best match but the chemistry and effort were there. Match Time: 13:17     Star Rating: ***1/4

• 3-Way match: Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan vs. Crimson

This was pretty much an Impact quality match. The faces attack Joe at the start; with Morgan hitting the rapid fire elbows before Joe turns things around and lays in some punches on Crimson. The faces then pinball Joe and hit him with a double hip toss. Joe kicks Morgan, but Morgan hits a side slam and Crimson tries to steal the pin. Joe sends Crimson over the ropes onto Morgan on the floor and hits a suicide dive. Morgan then leaps off the top rope with a big cross body onto Crimson on the floor. Joe rolls Crimson into the ring and covers twice for 2. Joe hits some chops and punches but Crimson comes back with some punches and knees followed by a neckbreaker and a suplex. Morgan tries to steal the pin, but doesn’t get it and Joe rakes both guys’ eyes. The faces then knock down Joe again and trade shots. Morgan hits a shoulder block but Joe pulls him out and sends him into the guardrail. Joe hits some shots in the corner, a back splash, and an enzuigiri to Crimson. Joe goes for the Muscle Buster but Morgan breaks it up and goes for the Carbon Footprint. I think he was supposed to do the whole “missed bicycle kick into the ropes” deal but he botched it and just sat there in the corner as Crimson speared Joe for the pin. Match was sloppy and the crowd never bought into the story but it had a couple nice moments and wasn’t the worst match these 3 have been involved in. Match Time: 7:14     Star Rating: *3/4

• Philadelphia Falls Count Anywhere match: Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson

Although gimmick matches are heavily overplayed in this company, this was a fun brawl and far better than the last match that these guys had together. Ray hits some punches at the start but Anderson hits a neckbreaker for a quick 1 count. Ray then knocks down Anderson, rips off his shirt, and chops him repeatedly. Anderson hits a spin kick for 2 and hits Ray with a sign from the crowd. Anderson ripped off the paper and it was the old ECW trick where it was a road sign disguised as a typical paper fan sign. They brawl on the floor, with Anderson tossing a beer into Ray’s face and slamming his head on a chair. Ray sends Anderson into the steps and covers for a near fall. Ray sets up a table on the floor but Anderson comes back with punches and they fight up the ramp. Ray hits a suplex on the stage for 2 and mocks Anderson entrance as he calls for the mic to come down. Anderson then grabs the mic and clocks Ray with it for a near fall.

They fight backstage, with Ray hitting Anderson with a steel pipe and hitting a piledriver on the floor for 2. He chokes Anderson with a chair before Anderson gets up and they go into the crowd. Anderson hits some punches and stomps Ray in the groin before they head back toward the ringside area. Anderson grabs a guardrail, but Ray hits a clothesline in the ring and gets a second table, which he sets up in the ring. Anderson backdrops Ray on the guardrail, but misses a Swanton off the top and hits the guardrail himself. Ray goes for a diving senton off the top but Anderson rolls out of the way and Ray lands on the guardrail. Anderson hits a Mic Check on the rail for 2 before they go outside the ring. Anderson hits Ray in the head with a trash can and sets him on the table set up earlier on the floor. Anderson heads up top but botches the finish as he totally overshoots Ray on a Swanton attempt. Anderson then hits a Mic Check through the table and covers for the win. Botched finish hurts it a little but they recovered nicely and called a good audible. Some really brutal spots in this one with the guardrail and overall a well-paced brawl that was better than expected. Match Time: 14:36     Star Rating: ***

• 4-Way match for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship with Karen Jarrett as Special Guest Referee: Winter(c) vs. Velvet Sky vs. Madison Rayne vs. Mickie James

This was pretty much your typical Knockouts match, except it dragged on WAY too long. Mickie goes for a quick roll up on Winter at the start but Winter kicks out and catches Mickie in an armbar. Mickie escapes it, but Winter stomps her in the corner. Mickie hits a back elbow and a headscissors out of the corner followed by a neckbreaker. Madison then comes in and rubs a handkerchief (?) in Mickie’s face. Velvet hits a bulldog to Madison, but Karen decides to tie her shoe rather than counting the pin. Winter breaks a pin attempt from Madison and the heels argue with each other before Karen talks them into letting the faces go at it. Mickie and Velvet both go for roll ups on each other but Karen won’t count the pin attempts from either. They lock up and run the ropes before Mickie hits a dropkick and knocks Madison off the apron. Velvet hits a sloppy headscissors and trades punches with Mickie before Winter yanks her out. The heels start to beat down the faces but Mickie and Velvet turn it around. Velvet gets sent to the floor and Mickie hits a corner clothesline to Winter before arguing with Karen. Angelina Love slips Winter the blood, but Winter misses and accidentally spits it into Karen’s face. Mickie hits Winter with the jumping DDT and Traci Brooks comes down to the ring. Mickie gets taken out, but Velvet hits a sit out Pedigree to Winter and Traci counts the pin. The story here was fine with Karen being totally in favor of the heels but the match was too long for its own good and felt like a mess most of the time. I’ve seen worse Knockouts matches but this was just not fun to sit through. Match Time: 8:41     Star Rating: *1/2

• I Quit match: Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles

Here is where things really went downhill with this show. This match was a huge letdown. So far beneath the quality of every match these guys have ever had against each other. Daniels hits an STO at the start and some punches before choking him and sticking the mic in his face. AJ does the same thing and hits Daniels with the mic before powering Daniels down and catching him in a hangman’s clutch. Daniels fights out and hits some elbow shots, but AJ leapfrogs him and hits a big dropkick. AJ hits a huge tope flip dive to the floor, but Daniels hits a blue thunder bomb on the apron and threatens AJ with a screwdriver. Daniels hits a back body drop back in the ring and puts AJ in a modified camel clutch. Daniels hits a BME to AJ’s lower back and applies a half Boston crab. AJ still won’t quit, gets to the ropes, and elbows Daniels in the gut before hitting a chop. Daniels comes back with a backbreaker, gets a chair, and sits on the chair over AJ’s throat. Daniels then starts cutting a heel promo on AJ talking about how he’s going to take everything from him, and basically threatens to kill him. He misses with a chair shot and a corner splash, and AJ hits some punches followed by a moonsault-reverse DDT. AJ hits a corner clothesline and a springboard forearm, but Daniels blocks the Styles Clash and hits a uranage. Daniels lands on his feet during a BME attempt, but AJ hits a Pele and the Styles Clash. AJ gets the screwdriver, but Daniels suddenly quits as AJ approaches him. As AJ leaves up the ramp, Daniels suddenly jumps him and gives him the Angel’s Wings on the stage. Totally random, anticlimactic finish. This match seemed to have been cut off before it really got going. The storytelling was good while it lasted but this was definitely not the type of match one would expect from two great wrestlers at a company’s premiere event of the year. And even if that was the intention, there was no reason to make this an I Quit match because all it did was take the crowd out of the match and slow things down. Huge disappointment. Match Time: 13:48     Star Rating: ***

Jeff Jarrett then came out to cut a heel promo on Jeff Hardy, talking about how no one wanted him in the company. Hardy then came out and immediately started brawling with Jarrett, and they traded punches until security came out to break things up, with both guys struggling to keep the fight going. Once they got Jarrett out of there, Hardy posed in the ring for the fans. Total time-killer segment, definitely felt like something better suited for free TV. It didn’t even get the big pop they expected for Hardy.

• Hulk Hogan vs. Sting

Yes everyone, it is the year 2011 and Hulk Hogan had a match with Sting on a major PPV. This was just sad. Hogan throws some punches at the start before Ric Flair’s music hits and he comes down to ringside. Hogan and Sting lock up and Sting applies a side headlock, but Hogan hits a shoulder block and starts to hulk up. Hogan hits a kick and some punches before stepping on Sting’s face. Hogan applies a chin lock and Sting fights up, but Hogan hits a clothesline and Sting bails to the floor. He returns, but Hogan rakes Sting’s back and chest before tossing Sting outside, where Flair lays into Sting with chops. YES IT IS 2011. Hogan hits a low blow and slams Sting’s head on the guardrail, hits some punches, and bites Sting’s head. Hogan then hits Sting with a spike repeatedly, and Sting is bleeding. Sting hits some punches and Hogan actually takes a bump. Sting attacks Flair and takes the spike, then hits Hogan with it twice, and Hogan blades. Sting hits a pair of Stinger Splashes and puts Hogan in a not-fully-cinched-in Scorpion Deathlock due to Hogan’s surgically repaired back, but Hogan taps out anyway. Then Immortal runs down to the ring and lays in the beatdown on Sting. The referee Jackson James (who was officially revealed as Eric Bischoff’s son earlier) takes the chair away from Eric, but Eric gets it back and hits his son with the chair. Immortal hits Sting with a seemingly endless amount of chairshots before who but HULK HOGAN should make the save and help Sting (who gets up and totally no sells the chair shots) clean house on Immortal. This was a joke. An embarrassment to pro wrestling. I don’t know how to rate this but it SUCKED. It was expected to suck, but it still sucked. Match Time: 9:43     Star Rating: N/A

• TNA World Heavyweight Championship match: Kurt Angle(c) vs. Bobby Roode

You want infuriating, mind-boggling, F*** THIS F***ING COMPANY finishes? Look no further than this match! This was the best match on the show, but had one of the worst PPV endings I can remember seeing in a while. Roode applies a headlock at the start and hits a shoulder block before going for the crossface, but Angle gets the ropes and kicks Roode. Angle hits a snap suplex before applying a waist lock. Roode goes for a clothesline but Angle hits the 3 Germans. Angle heads up top, but Roode charges hits a huge German suplex off the top. They trade punches and Roode hits some forearms and clotheslines. Roode hits a blockbuster off the second rope, but Angle hits a belly to belly suplex for 2. Angle counters a clothesline and hits a DDT for 2. Roode escapes an Angle Slam attempt and hits a spinebuster for 2. Roode goes up top, but Angle hits a super belly to belly suplex for 2. Roode then puts Angle in the crossface, but Angle grabs Roode’s leg and counters into the Ankle Lock. Roode counters the Ankle Lock and goes back to the crossface, but Angle counters with a roll up for 2. Roode again goes for the crossface but Angle counters out and hits an Angle Slam for 2. Angle then goes back to the Ankle Lock, but Roode kicks Angle off and hits a spinebuster followed by a fisherman suplex for 2.

Angle puts Roode in the Ankle Lock, but Roode counters with a roll up for 2 and counters the Angle Slam with an arm drag. Roode goes up top but Angle uses the referee as a shield and is able to hit a low blow followed by an Angle Slam for a close 2 count. Angle hits 2 Germans but Roode counters the third and puts Angle in the crossface. Angle gets inside the ropes for a break, whips Roode into the corner, and spears him for 2. Angle leaps off the top, but Roode takes him down into the crossface. Angle escapes, but Roode counters the Angle Slam. Angle counters a fisherman suplex, hits the Angle Slam, grabs the ropes, and the referee counts the pin while Roode’s arm is under the bottom rope. There was no restart, no nothing. The PPV just ended with Roode looking dejected. I hate this company with a passion. All of this time was invested into building up Roode so strong, that fans believed that this was truly the dawning of a new era and that Roode was headed for the biggest win of his career at Bound for Glory, and that his title win would be a very special moment that would be one of the greatest in the history of the company. Instead we got such a cheap, anti-climactic finish that wouldn’t be acceptable on a standard PPV, much less Bound for Glory. Congratulations TNA on once again missing out on a chance to create a new star. I guess we can put the blame on Hogan, who in a recent interview said that Roode wasn’t ready to be a top star. Thanks a lot. The match was going along great before the horrific finish, with some awesome near falls and counters. Incredibly disappointing show. Match Time: 14:18     Star Rating: ***1/2

Overall PPV Rating: 6.75/10

• Christian vs. Sheamus

After Christian’s entrance, The Miz and R-Truth are spotted in the crowd with tickets and are confronted by security and John Laurinaitis. This would start an angle with them throughout the PPV. Sheamus then came out and we had our opener, which was pretty solid. Sheamus controls Christian early with a headlock before Christian slaps him. Both guys try hip tosses and Sheamus hits a clothesline before chasing Christian on the floor. Christian drop toeholds Sheamus into the ropes and slingshots to the outside, but Sheamus blocks a slap and hits the clubbing blows to the chest in the ropes. Sheamus heads up top, but Christian shoves him off to the floor. Christian hits some punches back in the ring and chokes Sheamus against the top rope. Christian hits some more punches and a diving uppercut off the second rope. He tries a sleeper but Sheamus drives him into the mat. Sheamus hits a scoop slam but misses an elbow drop and Christian chokes him with his boot. Sheamus hits some shots but Christian hits a knee to the gut and a missile dropkick.

Sheamus hits some shots to the back, a knee drop, and some clotheslines followed by a scoop slam for 2. Christian escapes a slam, fails at a Killswitch attempt, and heads up top, but Sheamus catches him with an Irish curse backbreaker for 2. Both guys head up top, but Christian knocks Sheamus off and hits the rope-assisted Pele kick followed by a tornado DDT out of the corner for 2. Sheamus blocks the Killswitch and hits a corner clothesline followed by a knee to the head. Sheamus hits a big shoulder block off the top but Christian takes out his legs on the apron. Sheamus flings Christian out to the floor to block a baseball slide attempt, but Christian spears him on the floor and again in the ring for a near fall. Christian misses a top rope splash before both guys counter each other’s finishers. Christian backflips out of a back suplex attempt, but Sheamus avoids a charge from Christian in the corner. Sheamus then hits the Brogue kick for the win. Good match to open the show, felt a little stretched out though and Christian really needed the win. However, Sheamus winning wasn’t a surprise since normal-sized heels never win clean in WWE. Match Time: 13:41     Star Rating: ***

• Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara

For those who didn’t know, Mistico was the one in the blue attire and Hunico (Incognito) was the one in black. We’ll just call them Blue and Black for this recap. This was a good match but the crowd was completely unresponsive, likely due to unfamiliarity with lucha style matches. They lock up and Black goes for the leg early before attempting a surfboard-style submission, which Blue escapes. Black shoves Blue down, but Blue hits an arm drag. Black holds the wrists, but Blue does a backflip followed by a moonsault attempt from Black. Both men hit hurricanranas before Black hits a kick to the gut, only for Blue to hit a springboard head scissors. Blue arm drags Black to the floor before hitting a tope con hilo. Blue hits a kick from the apron but misses an asai moonsault. Black hits a springboard senton for 2 and applies a chin lock. Blue tries a handspring, but Black dropkicks him for 2, hits a chop, and sends Blue to the floor. Black does a huge plancha over the ropes to the floor and covers in the ring for 2. Black applies a chin lock before both men attempt cross bodies at the same time and collide. Blue hits some kicks, a handspring, and a headscissors followed by a big cross body off the top to the floor. Black hits a powerbomb for 2 back in the ring and heads up top, but Blue meets him there and hits an arm drag off the top. Blue hits an enzuigiri from the apron but misses a senton bomb off the top. Blue then hits a modified sunset flip bomb for the win. Though the crowd was totally dead, this was a really good lucha match. You can’t totally fault these guys for the pace they went at because this is the type of match they’ve been taught to have in Mexico. Had this taken place in AAA the crowd would have been going ballistic. Match Time: 9:47     Star Rating: ***

• WWE Tag Team Championship match: Air Boom(c) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger

Another pretty decent match, though this felt like an extended Raw match at times. Kofi Kingston applies a headlock early on before Swagger hits a shoulder block, but Kofi hits a facebuster and holds up Swagger for Evan Bourne to hit a double stomp off the top. Ziggler and Kofi get tags, and Kofi leaps off Bourne’s back with a shot in the corner. Swagger hits Bourne with some shoulder strikes in the corner before Ziggler comes in with some stomps and an elbow drop for a near fall. Kofi gets a hot tag but Swagger cheap shots him on the floor and Ziggler slams his head on the apron before applying a chin lock. Ziggler hits some more stomps and a dropkick, and Swagger comes in and controls Kofi with a reverse headlock. Bourne gets knocked off the apron and Ziggler gets some shots in on Kofi while the referee holds back Bourne. Swagger hits a side suplex followed by a Ziggler elbow drop for 2. Kofi hits a DDT and both guys get tags. Bourne hits a hurricanrana followed by the diving double knees for 2, then blocks a Famouser attempt from Ziggler and hits a standing shooting star press. Swagger then puts Bourne in the ankle lock, but Kofi breaks it up with a big cross body off the top. Bourne gets a small package for 2, and Ziggler hits a clothesline before tagging in Swagger. Swagger tries a superbomb off the top, but Bourne counters with a Frankensteiner off the top for the win. Heat segment dragged on a little but the match really got going by the finish, which came off nice. Nothing too special but pretty good. Match Time: 11:13     Star Rating: **3/4

• Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry(c) vs. Randy Orton

Interesting seeing this go on fourth, as typically WWE really likes to space out the HIAC matches on this PPV. This was another pretty good match, and probably Mark Henry’s best match ever. Orton is all over Henry with punches at the start before they move to the outside, where Orton is able to send Henry into the cage. Orton stomps Henry in the ring and hits a knee drop, but Henry blocks the spike DDT and slams Orton’s head in the corner. Henry stretches Orton’s arm across the ring post, but Orton kicks Henry’s arm and leaps off the apron, only for Henry to catch him and drive him back first into the cage. Orton hits some shots, but Henry powerslams him in the ring for 2. They go back to the outside, where they trade shots before Henry hits a powerslam on the floor. Henry slams Orton’s head against the cage, picks up the steel steps, and hurls them at Orton, but Orton moves out of the way. Henry lawn darts Orton into the cage and presses his face against it.

Back in the ring, Henry hits a corner clothesline and a splash for 2 followed by a backbreaker. Henry applies a bear hug, stands on Orton against the ropes, and puts him in the bear hug again. Orton fights out with punches but Henry tosses him to the floor. He teases the World’s Strongest Slam on the steps, but Orton grabs onto the cage and kicks Henry. Orton drives Henry into the steps and the ring post before hitting a Thesz press in the ring followed by a dropkick, the spike DDT, and an RKO for 2. Orton sets up for the punt, but Henry catches him as he charges and hits the WSS for the win. After the match, Henry wraps a chair around Orton’s leg and tries to hit a splash on hit, but Orton avoids it and attacks Henry with the chair in the ring and up the entrance ramp. Henry eventually low blows Orton and bails. The match was solid but the post match was irritating, as both guys are merely continuing the feud and the HIAC solved nothing. Not a great HIAC but they used the cage, told a story, and had some bright spots. Match Time: 15:59     Star Rating: **3/4

Cody Rhodes then comes out in a suit for a promo a in a filler segment to kill time. He heels on the crowd before unveiling the classic Intercontinental title belt, which apparently will be replacing the current one. John Laurinaitis comes out and says Triple H has ordered Rhodes to defend the Intercontinental title right now. John Morrison then comes out and we have our impromptu match.

• Intercontinental Championship match: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. John Morrison

Yep, Rhodes is still in the suit for those who were wondering. Morrison tries a quick roll up before applying a headlock. Rhodes misses a clothesline and a dropkick and Morrison goes back to the headlock. Rhodes goes outside to take off his shirt and tries to walk away shortly after, but Morrison brings him back toward the ring. Rhodes then tries to get counted out by staying on the floor, but Morrison kicks him in the back and brings him into the ring. Rhodes hits a front suplex and a knee to the gut before applying a submission. Rhodes kicks a rope hung Morrison in the gut, but Morrison counters an Alabama slam attempt with a roll up. Rhodes applies a Figure Four, but Morrison gets the ropes. Rhodes hits some punches, a knee drop, and a headlock with a quick punch to the head. Morrison drives Rhodes into the corner and hits some punches and a dropkick followed by a Flux Capacitor for 2. Morrison hits a Pele but misses the Flash Kick and Rhodes rolls him up for the win. Total Raw match hampered by the fact that Rhodes wrestled in suit pants and Gucci shoes. Due to the way it was set up, whoever lost this thing was going to come off looking bad. Nothing to see here. Match Time: 7:23     Star Rating: *3/4

• Divas Championship match: Kelly Kelly(c) vs. Beth Phoenix

For the third straight PPV Kelly and Beth squared off against each other. Eve and Natalya are once again at ringside. Kelly hits some punches at the start followed by a Thesz press and more punches. Kelly kicks Beth from the corner and hits a diving clothesline off the top, but Beth counters a head scissors attempt with a backbreaker and hits an elbow drop. Kelly is hung up in the tree of woe and Beth hits a baseball slide before applying a modified dragon sleeper. Beth throws Kelly down by her head and spanks her before hitting a backbreaker and stretching Kelly’s back over her knee. Kelly gets a quick cover for 2 but Beth hits a rope-assisted suplex. Beth chokes Kelly against the ropes, but Kelly hits a neckbreaker before both go for roll ups. Kelly flips out of a Glam Slam attempt, but Beth drives her into the corner. Beth charges in the corner but misses, and Kelly hits a handspring elbow and a bulldog off the top for a near fall. Eve and Natalya brawl on the floor and Beth puts Kelly in a unique double leg submission. Natalya taunts Kelly on the mic as she struggles. Kelly gets the ropes, and Natalya hits Kelly with the mic while the ref is busy holding Beth back. Beth then hits the Glam Slam for the win. Good to see Beth finally win the Divas title but the match really dragged and suffered from some sloppy spots and a lack of crowd heat. It was going along fine at first but they just went too long here. Match Time: 8:28     Star Rating: *1/2

• Triple Threat Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship: John Cena(c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk

This was easily the best match on the show, and was really good outside of the anticlimactic finish. The three men play a bit of cat and mouse early on, keeping their distance from each other and moving in and out of the ring until Cena and Punk both go after Del Rio and take turns wailing on him in the corner. Eventually Cena and Punk have a standoff and tease their finisher before Cena winds up on the outside. Del Rio ends up on Cena’s shoulders on the floor and Punk does a suicide dive that sends both men into the cage. Punk hits a neckbreaker to Del Rio back in the ring and grabs a chair, but Del Rio shoves Punk off the steel steps and into the side of the cage. Del Rio hits a backbreaker to Cena before getting another chair and wedging it in the corner. Cena hits his shoulder blocks and the side suplex followed by the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Del Rio escapes the Attitude Adjustment, only for Punk to hit him with a roundhouse kick before hitting an STO to both men at the same time. Punk sets up a table on the outside and runs along the apron to hit the high knee to Cena but Cena blocks the bulldog attempt and shoves Punk off the apron into the cage wall. Del Rio hits Cena with a chair, sets it on its legs, and hits a backbreaker to Cena on the chair. Del Rio puts Cena in the tree of woe, but misses with a charge and hits the ring post. Cena then stands on the top rope, but Punk shakes it and Cena ends up crotched. Punk hits a Russian leg sweep to Del Rio for 2, but Del Rio comes back with a clothesline before catching Punk in a chin lock. Cena then breaks up the hold with a flying leg drop onto both men.

Punk hits a big kick to the Del Rio before him and Cena collide. Punk and Cena trade shots before Del Rio breaks up a Go to Sleep attempt from Punk and hits both men with a chair. Del Rio stacks both men on top of each other with the chair between them, and comes off the top rope with a diving senton onto the pile. Del Rio gets near falls on both men and tries for the cross armbreaker, but is sent to the floor. Cena hits a sudden AA to Punk, but Del Rio breaks up the cover and hits an enzuigiri to Cena. Del Rio tries for the cross armbreaker on Cena, but Punk breaks it up with a slingshot senton over the ropes. Punk hits Cena with the GTS, but Del Rio pulls him out of the ring and sends him into the cage, and then the ring steps before throwing a chair at him. Cena catches Del Rio with an inside cradle for 2, but Del Rio brings Cena to the outside and throws him into the cage before hitting him in the leg with a chair. Punk hits Del Rio with some clotheslines, a scoop slam, and the Savage elbow drop back in the ring. Cena hits Punk with the shoulder blocks and the side suplex, but Punk kicks Cena in the head when he goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Punk heads up top but Del Rio shoves him off and Punk falls through the table on the floor.

Cena puts Del Rio in the STF, but Ricardo Rodriguez knocks out a referee on the outside, gets the key, unlocks the door, and enters the Cell with a steel pipe. Cena then gives Ricardo an AA onto the floor outside the Cell, but Del Rio hits Cena with the pipe, knocks him outside the cage, gets the key, slams the door shut, and locks Cena out. Del Rio hits a German suplex to Punk for 2, but Punk blocks a second attempt with a roll up attempt. Punk heads up top, but Del Rio hits a big enzuigiri for 2. Punk blocks the cross armbreaker and hits some kicks, a dropkick, the high knee/bulldog combo, and a springboard flying forearm for 2. Cena tries to get in but can’t open the door. Del Rio hits Punk with the pipe and Punk goes for the GTS, but Del Rio hits a couple more shots with the pipe for the win. Frustrating finish for various reasons. They hot shotted the title once again, which proves that the company literally will do just ANYTHING to make sure that Cena never loses cleanly, even though it would have made far more sense to have Del Rio retain at Night of Champions and at this PPV rather than doing a title switch for the fourth PPV in a row. And since Del Rio was going over here, they just had to give Cena an “out” for losing and an excuse to rematch these guys at the next PPV, where Cena will probably win the title yet again. The finish just felt really flat after such a competitive and action packed match. This was really good stuff despite the fact that the cage was only used sparingly. It doesn’t hold up to the classic Hell in a Cells as it felt more like a traditional 3-way at times, but this was still a worthy main event. Match Time: 24:11     Star Rating: ***3/4

After the match, two men in black hoodies got in the cage and started attacking Cena. They quickly revealed themselves as Miz and R-Truth, and they were wreaking havoc in the Cell, attacking everyone including the referee and even some cameramen. Triple H, Laurinaitis, security, and the whole locker room poured out to try and get the cage open, and the idea was that Del Rio had the key and was still inside the cage, so they had no way in. JR was selling this beautifully on commentary. Eventually they got bolt cutters to break the chain and open the door, at which point police officers ran into the cage to arrest Miz and Truth. Once they got outside the cage, Triple H started beating up both of them as guys tried to hold him back, and Triple H decked Laurinaitis as he was being held back. Very good angle to close the show, this and the main event itself were the clear highlights of an otherwise dismal show.

Overall PPV Rating: 6.5/10

My name is Jared Silberkleit. I am from Orange, CT and am a huge fan of pro wrestling. I mostly follow WWE and TNA but I also watch the smaller promotions such as ROH and DGUSA. I have been a lifelong WWE fan and have become a TNA fan over the past few years. Aside from wrestling, I also really love baseball and football and follow many other sports such as hockey and MMA. I have written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for three years.

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• WWE Tag Team Championship match: Air Boom(c) vs. The Miz and R-Truth

This was a good choice as the opener, and was for the most part pretty well worked. Kofi Kingston starts the match with Miz, and they lock up before breaking in the corner. Kofi gets a 2 count off a big right hand, and then holds Miz for Evan Bourne to hit a diving double stomp off the top. Kofi scores a near fall on Miz before hip tossing Truth. Kofi and Bourne hit a double dropkick to Miz and head up top to hit stereo dives onto the heels on the outside. Truth takes advantage after Miz cheap shots Bourne, hitting some punches and choking Bourne against the ropes. Miz tags in and scores a near fall before applying a chin lock. Bourne gets up but Miz sidesteps a dropkick attempt and hits a double shoulder block with Truth. Miz hits some punches, but Bourne fights back with some kicks and counters the Skull-Crushing Finale by tossing Miz to the floor. Kofi gets a hot tag and hits a series of shots followed by the Boom Drop, but Truth hits a cheap shot as Kofi readies for the Trouble in Paradise. Kofi hits the SOS to Miz for a near fall, and Truth snaps Kofi’s neck over the ropes, allowing Miz to hit his modified DDT for 2. After seemingly not tagging in, Bourne hits the diving knees off the top but misses the shooting star press. Miz hits a DDT and Kofi breaks up the pin. Miz tags in Truth, but the ref doesn’t see the tag and is busy holding back Truth while Miz goes for a pin after hitting the SCF. Miz yells at the ref about it and eventually shoves him down, causing a DQ. The finish made sense with the “conspiracy” storyline with Miz and Truth, but it’s just not a good idea to book DQs in PPV openers. The match was going along nicely but the finish takes it down a peg. Match Time: 9:56     Star Rating: **3/4

• Intercontinental Championship match: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. Ted DiBiase

This was decent, but nothing more, pretty much a Smackdown quality match. Ted applies a chinlock early and hits a boot to the face before going after Cody’s mask. Cody then takes advantage and hangs up Ted in the ropes where he kicks him in the gut. Cody slaps him in the face, and Ted tackles Cody and punches away at him. Cody backflips out of a suplex attempt and hits the beautiful disaster kick for 2. Cody hits a front suplex and applies a camel clutch, which he transitions into an arm submission. Ted fights out, but Cody comes back with punches and stomps him against the ropes. Ted avoids a charging Cody in the corner and hits a backbreaker, but misses a dropkick. Cody hits a boot to the head and applies an abdominal stretch before sliding down and sneaking in a shot to the head. Ted fires back and hits an atomic drop followed by a flying knee and a sitout spinebuster for 2. Cody goes for the beautiful disaster again, but Ted dropkicks him in mid-air. Ted sets Cody up on the top rope, but Cody rakes the eyes. Ted tosses Cody to the mat and then rips the mask off. Ted celebrates and goes to hit Cody with the mask, but Cody rolls up Ted and hooks the tights for the win. Crowd wasn’t into this and the finish made Ted look completely stupid. Just an alright match, nothing special about it. Match Time: 9:49     Star Rating: **1/2

Christian then comes out for a promo. He dissed Buffalo and talked about how he deserved one more shot at the world title. He got the crowd to chant “one more match” until Sheamus came out. Sheamus dissed Christian but offered to help him get another shot at the title as long as Christian’s first title defense is against him. Christian accepts and Sheamus starts up the “one more match” chants again before hitting Christian with the Brogue Kick. Total filler segment designed to kill time.

• Fatal Four Way match for the United States Championship: Dolph Ziggler(c) vs. John Morrison vs. Alex Riley vs. Jack Swagger

This was a lot of fun, and also easily the best-booked match of the evening. Riley squares off with Ziggler and Morrison with Swagger to start. Riley hits a neckbreaker but Swagger hits him with a shoulder block and some punches. Riley hits an STO but Ziggler sends him off the apron into the steel steps. Morrison rolls up Swagger for a near fall, and then hits a dropkick to Ziggler into a cover on Swagger. Swagger hip tosses Morrison to the floor and hits Ziggler with a clothesline and a big boot. Riley hits Swagger with a TKO but Vickie puts Swagger’s foot on the ropes during the pin attempt. Morrison hits the Flash Kick to Ziggler, but Ziggler comes back with a Famouser for 2. Morrison hits an uppercut and both guys head up top. Ziggler blocks a superplex attempt and hangs up Morrison in the tree of woe. Riley then goes up top in the corner, but Morrison springs up and hits a German superplex to Riley off the top. Swagger then leaps up top and hits a super belly to belly suplex to Ziggler. Morrison hits some clotheslines and a dropkick followed by a tornado DDT to Swagger. Morrison hits a Flux Capacitor to Riley for 2, but Riley blocks a Starship Pain attempt. Ziggler then catches Riley in the sleeper just as Swagger puts Morrison in the Ankle Lock. The faces escape the holds and Riley hits a lifting DDT to Swagger. Swagger puts Riley in the Ankle Lock and ducks a Flash Kick from Morrison before giving him the gutwrench powerbomb. Ziggler then shoves Swagger aside and covers Morrison for the win. Energetic and fast-paced match that told a nice story with Swagger and Ziggler. Had some great spots as well. Match Time: 8:20     Star Rating: ***1/4

• World Heavyweight Championship match: Randy Orton(c) vs. Mark Henry

Considering Henry’s usual work rate and limitations, this was better than usual from him. They lock up at the start but Henry quickly tosses Orton into the corner. Orton fires away with punches and kicks at the knee before hitting a boot to the head and stomping Henry. Orton sends a charging Henry to the floor, where Henry rips the cover off the Spanish announce table. Henry lifts up Orton back in the ring, but Orton escapes and tries for the RKO, only for Henry to toss him off and big boot him. Henry charges into Orton in the corner and tries for the World’s Strongest Slam, but Orton escapes and applies a sleeper. Henry backs Orton into the corner to force a break and hits a huge right hand that sends Orton off the top to the floor. Henry drives Orton into the apron on the outside before hitting a head butt back in the ring and stretching Orton’s back across the ring post. Henry stands on Orton’s back against the ropes, and then hits a scoop slam and a running splash for 2. Henry hits a shoulder thrust and an elbow drop for 2 followed by a kick to the chest and a knee lift, but misses a splash after Orton hits some kicks and punches. Orton hits some mounted punches and more shots in the corner, and then hits a dropkick after some clothesline attempts fail. Henry hits a head butt, a clothesline, and the WSS for 2. Orton blocks a Vader Bomb attempt and hits a low DDT followed by a spike DDT, but Henry grabs the ropes to break the pin attempt. Henry kicks at Orton and Orton tries for the RKO, but Henry shoves him off and hits the WSS for the win. After the match Henry sold the win big in a post match interview with Josh Matthews. Match had solid storytelling to carry it through the slow pacing. Henry as champion is going to be tough to stomach after the high quality world title matches between Christian and Orton, but it was built up well and Henry’s matches aren’t quite as bad as they used to be. This was decent but not really PPV quality. Match Time: 13:10     Star Rating: **3/4

• Divas Championship match: Kelly Kelly(c) vs. Beth Phoenix

Although their SummerSlam match was fairly decent, this rematch was just used as a buffer before the double main event. Early on Kelly hits a hurricanrana off the top and applies a headscissor submission in the ropes, but Beth takes the advantage afterwards and catapults Kelly into the bottom rope. Eve attacks Natalya on the outside but Beth takes out Eve. Kelly gets a small package and a schoolboy for a pair of near falls. Kelly hits a kick, but Beth flips her and slams her down before setting her up top for a superplex. Didn’t look pretty and Kelly almost hurt her legs. Beth lifts Kelly up for a powerbomb but Kelly counters with a roll-up for the win. Bad decision here as Beth absolutely should have won, plus they did nearly the exact same finish as the match last month. Very typical Divas match, which is a little disappointing considering Beth’s skill. Match Time: 6:30     Star Rating: *1/2

• WWE Championship match: Alberto Del Rio(c) vs. John Cena

This was probably the best match on the show, though it wasn’t great or anything. Cena applies a headlock early on, but Del Rio escapes and bails to the apron. Cena fires back with some shots and a bulldog before the ref ejects Ricardo Rodriguez from ringside. Cena misses a charge into the corner and Del Rio kicks Cena before shoving him into the Spanish announce table on the outside. Del Rio hits a diving right hand off the top and applies a chin lock. Cena fights out and hits a gutwrench suplex for a near fall and a snap suplex. Del Rio hits his falling knee armbreaker and a big boot for a near fall. Del Rio stomps Cena’s arm and applies a chin lock, but Cena fights up and hits a belly to belly slam before both guys clothesline each other. Del Rio hits a lariat but misses a leaping body guillotine, and Cena hits a suplex followed by the shoulder blocks, side slam and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Del Rio escapes the Attitude Adjustment and hits a back stabber, but Cena avoids the cross arm-breaker and hits a dropkick. Cena heads up top, but Del Rio hits an enzuigiri and Cena falls back into the ring. Del Rio hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker followed by some kicks in the corner before hanging up Cena in the tree of woe. Del Rio misses a headfirst dive and Cena hits the diving Famouser off the top for 2. Del Rio hits a German suplex and a diving senton off the top for 2 counts before applying the cross arm-breaker. Cena breaks the hold by lifting up Del Rio and slamming him down to the mat. Cena hits the AA and Ricardo runs back down to the ring. Cena uses the distraction to apply the STF, and Del Rio struggles for a while before finally tapping out. Terrible, terrible decision to take the belt off of Del Rio. Cena says flat out on Raw that Del Rio was not on his level, and then he makes him submit at the PPV. This is why the WWE has such a hard time making new stars and why it’s hard for guys to get over in front of this audience. The match itself was good but tainted by the bad booking. Nice sequences but nothing near the quality of the Punk/Cena matches. Match Time: 17:32     Star Rating: ***1/4

• No Disqualification match: CM Punk vs. Triple H

The stipulation was that if Triple H lost, he had to resign as COO of the WWE. This was extremely disappointing, mainly due to the horrendous booking in the latter half of the match. Punk attacks Triple H on the outside during his entrance and tosses him into the timekeeper’s area. Triple H comes back with some shots and whips Punk into the barricade before tossing him over the announce table and laying into him with punches. Both guys stand on the announce table and tease their finishers before Punk bails to the ring. Punk hits some punches and counters the Pedigree, but misses the high knee in the corner and falls to the floor. Triple H slams Punk’s leg into the ring post and drives him into the barricade, but Punk hits some shots, whips Triple H into the barricade, and hits a high knee against the steps. Triple H sends Punk over the barricade and hits a diving right hand off the barricade before they brawl through the crowd. They eventually make their way to the stage, where Triple H catapults Punk into one of the video screens, only for Punk to backdrop Triple H over the video screen into the area where guys walk out for their entrances. Punk hits a diving lariat off the screen and throws some duffle bags on Triple H. Punk slams Triple H into the video screen before they move back down the ramp, with Punk hitting some kicks.

Punk puts Triple H in the ring, gets a chair, and hits a huge chair shot to the back for 2. Triple H hits a spinebuster and throws Punk headfirst into the chair in the corner. Triple H clips Punk’s leg on the floor and slams his leg into the post repeatedly before hitting his leg with a chair. Triple H teases a Figure 4 but Punk kicks him into the steps. Triple H grabs a monitor but Punk hits a roundhouse kick and puts Triple H on the Spanish announce table. Punk heads up top and hits a diving elbow drop through the announce table. Both guys get back in the ring, but The Miz and R-Truth suddenly run out to attack both men. Miz hits the Skull-Crushing Finale on Triple H and Truth hits the Shut Up on Punk. They put Punk on top of Triple H for the pin, but Triple H kicks out. Miz argues with the referee, and the ref eventually punches Miz, only for Miz and Truth to beat down the referee. John Laurinaitis then comes out as Punk and Triple H attack Truth and Miz before Triple H hits Punk with the Pedigree and goes for the pin. A second referee comes down, but goes to check on the first referee rather than counting the pin. Punk hits the Go to Sleep and the second ref gets in the ring to count but Truth pulls out Punk during the pin attempt, despite the fact that Truth and Miz LAID PUNK ON TOP OF TRIPLE H FOR THE PIN 3 MINUTES AGO. Punk hits Truth with the GTS on the floor and tries a springboard, but Triple H kicks him in the gut and hits a Pedigree for a near fall.

Kevin Nash then comes down to the ring through the crowd, and punches out both guys. Nash attacks Triple H in the corner and tries for the Jackknife powerbomb, but Punk attacks Nash. Nash fires back with punches and hits Punk with the Jackknife, Nash goes after Triple H on the floor, but Triple H hits Nash with a sledgehammer. Triple H then hits a third Pedigree on Punk in the ring for the win. This was a huge clusterf**k. It seemed like this match was booked by Vince Russo. Way too much overbooking and interference. Yes you could justify the individual components of the overbooking, but there were simply just way too many things going on at once here. Miz and Truth ended up looking like complete idiots and jobbers after this, and Punk looked bad for taking the pin AND getting beat up by Kevin Nash. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Triple H called this one, because the only people who didn’t look completely terrible after this were him and his buddy Nash. The match itself was going along fine before the crazy final minutes. Felt like a TNA main event. Just a total catastrophe that did no one any favors at all, and really ruined a show that wasn’t totally awful prior to this match. Match Time: 24:09     Star Rating: **

Overall PPV Rating: 5.5/10

• #1 Contender’s match: Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen

The winner of this match would be the #1 contender to the X Division Championship. This was a fairly decent opener, and it would be nice to see TNA start more of their PPVs with fun, X Division style matches, besides matches for the X Division title. They chain wrestle at the start, with Sorensen applying a waistlock and a hammerlock before both men hit arm drags. Kash hits a kick and some shots to the head, but Sorensen hits some punches and an arm drag followed by an arm bar. Kash fights up and takes some shots from Sorensen, but drop toeholds him into the corner. Kash hits a nasty looking release front brainbuster and a kick to the head followed by some slaps. Sorensen comes back with some chops, a leg lariat, and a dropkick for 2. Sorensen hits a neckbreaker and a top rope cross body for a pair of near falls, but Kash comes back with a scoop slam, a knee drop, and some knee strikes to the gut. He shoves the ref but the ref shoves back. Kash hits a release suplex and a slightly botched springboard moonsault off the top for 2, but Sorensen hits a lifting reverse suplex slam for the win. Had a couple rough moments, but this was a solid opener all around. Match Time: 7:56     Star Rating: **1/2

• Bound for Glory Series match: Bully Ray vs. James Storm

Going in, they went with the idea that whoever had the most points after both of the BFG Series matches tonight would be the winner of the series. This was very dull and Bully Ray once again showed that while his heel character is very good, his wrestling still leaves much to be desired. Ray stalls a lot early on, leaving the ring several times and yelling at/staring at the crowd. After a few minutes Ray starts things off with some shots in the corner, then whips Storm into another corner to kick and punch him. Storm avoids a charging Ray and hits an arm drag before cinching in a cross arm-breaker. They played it up like Storm had to win via submission in order to get enough points to win the series. Ray makes it to the ropes and they circle each other before locking up again. Storm hits an arm drag and applies the cross arm-breaker again. Ray escapes to the floor and Storm slams his arm on the steps, but Storm gets beer sprayed in his eyes. Ray hits some head butts in the corner back in the ring, but Storm counters the Bubba Bomb and again applies the cross arm-breaker. Ray gets the ropes, but Storm puts him in a sharpshooter, only for Ray to make it to the ropes again. Storm gets Ray on the mat again and applies a Fujiwara arm bar, only for Ray to counter with a roll-up for a near fall. Ray backdrops Storm over the ropes, but Storm lands on the apron and hits an enzuigiri. Storm accidentally spits beer in the ref’s face before cinching in the cross-armbreaker again. Ray taps out, but the ref rules Ray the winner by disqualification. Total BS finish for a crucial match in a tournament to decide the #1 contender for TNA’s biggest show of the year. The match itself was very one-dimensional and boring, with Storm going for submission after submission and Ray stalling a lot. Not good, and the finish only worsened things. Match Time: 11:50     Star Rating: *1/4

• TNA Women’s Knockout Championship match: Mickie James(c) vs. Winter

This was yet another terrible Knockouts match with a lot of unnecessary overbooking and interference. Mickie hits a missile dropkick right from the start and goes after Angelina Love on the floor before Winter follows. Mickie whips Winter into the steps and slams her head on the guardrail, but Winter hits some shots back in the ring. Mickei hits a headscissors out of the corner and kicks Love through the ropes, but Winter hits a suplex before applying a bow and arrow. Mickie flips Winter over, but Winter hits a clothesline and throws Mickie down by her head before choking her against the ropes, and Love chokes Mickie while Winter distracts the ref. Winter hits a backbreaker and stretches Mickie’s back over her knee, then hits a second backbreaker. Winter applies a chin lock, but Mickie gets the ropes and does a jackknife cover for 2 followed by a neckbreaker. They trade shots before Mickie hits some clotheslines, a flapjack, and a kick to the head. Winter gets her foot on the ropes during the cover and Mickie applies a single leg Boston crab. Winter gets the ropes and Love hands her the title. Winter misses a shot with the belt and has a tug of war with the ref over it. Mickie rolls up Winter for 2 and goes for a tornado DDT out of the corner, but Love pulls Winter out of the ring to the floor. Mickie hits a Thesz press to Winter off the apron and chases Love up the ramp. The ref counts and both girls make it back in, but Love comes back down and grabs Mickie. Winter accidentally spits blood in Love’s face and while the ref is checking on Love, Winter spits the blood in Mickie’s face and covers for the win. The last couple minutes featured a ludicrous amount of overbooking and the match literally followed the exact same formula of their Hardcore Justice match as well as having the EXACT same finish. This sucked and accomplished nothing. Match Time: 8:38     Star Rating: 1/2*

• TNA World Tag Team Championship match: Mexican America(c) vs. Devon and D’Angelo Dinero

Much like the previous match, this was hampered by too much interference. Devon and Anarquia start with a lock up, with Devon taking control. Devon and Pope tag in and out to work Anarquia’s arm before Anarquia hits an elbow and tags in Hernandez. Devon hits a clothesline and Pope hits an elbow strike off the middle rope. Pope hits a drop toehold followed by a diving headbutt from Devon, and Devon follows with a hip toss to Anarquia. Pope hits an atomic drop and holds up Anarquia for a shoulder block from Devon. Rosita distracts the ref, but Pope kisses her on the apron before dropping her to the ground. Pope hits a hip toss and teases the Wassup with Devon, but Anarquia hits a back elbow and whips Hernandez into Devon in the corner. Hernandez then launches Anarquia into Devon and Sarita hits a dropkick off Hernandez’s back while the ref is distracted. Hernandez applies a bear hug and hits a shoulder block when Devon fights out, but Devon hits a spear. Both guys make tags and Pope hits some clotheslines, dropkicks Hernandez, and then hits a shoulder block and a coronation to Anarquia. Pope hits a top rope cross body but Hernandez breaks up the cover. Anarquia hits a back suplex followed by a diving splash from Hernandez, but Devon and Pope whip the heels into each other before hitting a double shoulder block. Rosita and Sarita try to interfere but the faces give them spankings. Pope tries to suplex Anarquia from the apron, but Anarquia counters it into a cover, and he gets the pinfall as Rosita pulls Pope’s foot from the outside. Typical TNA style tag team match with way too much overbooking and interference to the point where it greatly took away from the wrestling. What could have been a solid tag team encounter was hampered by excessive nonsense, which is a shame because the wrestling itself wasn’t terrible. This has become per the norm for this company in 2011. Match Time: 9:43     Star Rating: **

• Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan

While not a particularly good match, this was acceptable and a bit better than expected. Morgan fires away at Joe at the start before Joe comes back with some chops in the corner. Morgan hits some chops and strikes of his own followed by the rapid fire elbows and a Samoan wrecking ball. Morgan chokes Joe against the ropes and hits a leaping body guillotine followed by a guillotine leg drop on the apron. Morgan hits some shots on the outside, but Joe rakes the eyes before hitting a suicide dive out of the ring to the floor. Joe takes Morgan back inside where he hits some punches in the corner, but Morgan slams Joe’s head on the top turnbuckle and hits a top rope cross body for 2. Joe snaps Morgan’s arm over the ropes, hits a running knee strike, and chokes Morgan against the ropes. Morgan hits some shots, but Joe hits a clothesline and an enzuigiri for 2. Joe leg drops Morgan’s arm and applies a modified Kimura. Joe hits a chop in the corner, but Morgan comes back with some strikes before Joe hits some punches, only for Morgan to hit some of his own and a discus clothesline. Morgan hits some more punches, a corner splash, and a side slam for 2 before going for a chokeslam, but Joe rakes the eyes and hits a belly to belly slam before going for the Coquina Clutch. Morgan drives Joe into the corner to break it, but Joe cinches it in with a body scissors. Morgan makes it to the ropes and Joe argues with the ref, and Morgan hits the Carbon Footprint out of the nowhere for the win. The ending totally came out of nowhere and the match slowed down considerably after a good start, but this was still a passable encounter with decent storytelling. Match Time: 11:37     Star Rating: **1/4

• Bound for Glory Series match: Gunner vs. Bobby Roode

Similar to the Storm/Ray match, this was a very dull match that failed to deliver PPV quality action. They lock up and chain wrestle at the start, with Roode targeting Gunner’s arm. They go to the floor, with Roode slamming Gunner’s arm on the apron and stretching it against the ring post. Gunner kicks Roode and drops him face first on the apron, but when he charges, Roode sidesteps him and he hits the post. Roode stomps the arm and applies an arm bar back in the ring, but Gunner hits a DDT and an elbow to the head. He shoves Roode into the corner, and Roode hits an elbow, but Gunner knocks him down and catapults him neck-first into the bottom rope. Gunner wrenches the head and applies a headscissors on the mat. Roode fights out and goes for a Fujiwara arm bar, but Gunner hits a clothesline and a neckbreaker before applying a full nelson. Roode breaks the hold with a charge into the corner and they trade shots. Roode applies a Fujiwara and Gunner counters, but Roode hits a spinebuster before going back to the Fujiwara, only for Gunner to get the ropes. Roode hits some stomps but Gunner kicks him off. Roode hits a kick but Gunner hits a running knee strike before attempting another full nelson. Roode breaks that hold and counters a fireman’s carry with another Fujiwara, which he transitions into a crossface for the submission win. Gunner sold the arm well and the match had solid storytelling, but the match was literally all Roode working the arm, making it very one dimensional and difficult to get into. Technically it was well worked but it was also really boring. Match Time: 11:59     Star Rating: **

After the match, Eric Bischoff comes out and books Robert Roode vs. Bully Ray for later on in the show to decide the winner of the Bound for Glory Series, since Roode and Ray had the same exact amount of points. They should have just made things easier by announcing in advance that the winners of the two BFG series matches on the PPV would meet in the finals later in the night.

• TNA X Division Championship match: Brian Kendrick(c) vs. Austin Aries

Though nothing great or must-see, this was by far the best match of the night. This was a nice improvement from the X Division title match at Hardcore Justice and these guys showed better chemistry with each other. Aries goes for a waistlock early on, but Kendrick twists the arm and goes for a Fujiwara, only for Aries to go for a headlock. Kendrick applies a headscissors on the mat, but Aries escapes with a headstand and hits a dropkick. Kendrick hits some arm drags and a drop toehold followed by a kick to the head, but Aries avoids the sliced bread and bails to the floor, where he avoids a baseball slide kick from Kendrick. Kendrick whips Aries into the guardrail, but Aries sends Kendrick into the ring post and hits a Russian leg sweep into the post. Aries covers Kendrick in the ring for 2 and chokes him against the ropes. Aries hits a slingshot double sledge over the ropes to the apron followed by some chops, a back elbow, and a jumping elbow drop. Aries applies a unique submission before transitioning into a headscissors and boxing the ears. Kendrick hits some forearms, but Aries hits an atomic drop/STO combo, only for him to miss the pendulum elbow drop.

Kendrick hits a jawbreaker, but Aries counters an enzuigiri and tosses Kendrick into the corner. Kendrick big boots a charging Aries and hits some dropkicks, sending Aries to the floor, where Kendrick hits a suicide dive. He hits a missile dropkick back in the ring for 2 and a tornado DDT, but Aries gets his foot on the ropes. Kendrick goes for the sliced bread, but Aries tosses him to the floor, where he misses a suicide dive and crashes into the guardrail. They trade shots back in the ring before Aries sends Kendrick back to the floor and hits a twisting slingshot dive to the outside. Kendrick goes for several roll-ups back in the ring, but Aries hits a forearm and a rope hung twisting neckbreaker for 2. Aries misses the 450 and Kendrick tosses him into the corner before hitting a dragon suplex for 2. Kendrick goes for sliced bread, but the ref gets in the way. Aries uses the distraction to hit a twisting brainbuster for the win. Good back and forth match between these guys with some really nice near falls, and it’s great to see Aries as the X Division Champion, as he seems like an ideal guy to build that division around. Not a blow away match but on this show it really stood out. Match Time: 13:24     Star Rating: ***1/4

• Bound for Glory Series Finals: Bully Ray vs. Bobby Roode

Since it was the BFG Series finals, they did formal introductions. Much like the other BFG Series matches, this really plodded along and was very bland. Ray again stalls at the start by jawing with the fans before they lock up. Ray hits a chop and they lock up again, breaking in the corner where Ray hits another chop. Roode hits some shots but Ray punches him, only for Roode to hit a clothesline that sends Ray bailing to the floor. Ray applies a headlock and hits a couple shoulder blocks. Roode takes Ray down and applies a crossface, but Ray counters out. Roode hits a chop and some shots in the corner, but Ray hotshots him on the ropes and hits a neckbreaker followed by a splash for 2. Ray tries to cover 2 more times but Roode kicks out. Ray hits some slaps and chops while yelling at Roode, but Roode won’t back down and fires back. Ray whips Roode into the corner, but Roode hits a diving neckbreaker off the second rope. Ray hits a uranage and the Bubba Bomb for 2, but he misses a diving senton, allowing Roode to hit a spinebuster for the win. Nice to see Roode get the win but the finish was very anticlimactic and the match was far too slow paced despite the solid storytelling and characters. Ray plays a great heel but he just doesn’t bring it in the ring, which is a problem when he’s this high up in the card. Match wasn’t bad, but not a very definitive conclusion to a tournament that lasted several months. Match Time: 12:28     Star Rating: **1/4

• 3 Way match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Kurt Angle(c) vs. Sting vs. Mr. Anderson

This wasn’t necessarily a bad main event, but the whole match was incredibly predictable and the crowd was completely dead. Angle bails at the start before coming back inside the ring, and Sting and Anderson start double teaming him with stomps and corner splashes. After taking out Angle, the faces lock up, with Sting hitting a hip toss and a headlock before they go to the corner. Anderson hits some shots before Angle pulls him to the floor and clotheslines him. Sting hits some shots to Angle in the ring and takes out his leg before hitting an atomic drop, a kick to the leg, and a suplex for 2. Anderson hits a clothesline and an elbow drop to Angle, chokes him with his boot, and hits a neckbreaker. Sting breaks up the cover and hits some shots to Anderson before choking him with his boot. Sting has Anderson in a waistlock, and Angle gets behind him to do a double German suplex spot with all 3 guys. Angle kicks Sting’s head and suplexes him for 2 before applying a chin lock with a body scissors. Sting fights up and hits some elbows and clotheslines followed by a corner splash. Sting hits a DDT for 2 but Anderson breaks up the cover and goes for the Mic Check on Angle. Angle blocks and hits the 3 Germans (separately) on both Sting and Anderson.

Angle and Anderson fight up top, with Angle being sent to the mat only to pop back up and hit a super belly to belly suplex for 2. Sting backdrops Angle to the floor and puts Anderson in the Scorpion Deathlock, but Angle eventually breaks it up and hits the Angle Slam to Sting for 2. Angle then hits an Angle Slam on Anderson for 2 before putting Sting in the Ankle Lock. Sting rolls out and Anderson hits the Mic Check on Angle, but Sting hits the Death Drop on Anderson. Angle pulls Sting out of the ring, and Hulk Hogan grabs Sting from the crowd to rub something in his eyes. A “blinded” Sting then tries to give the referee the Scorpion Death Drop, but Angle hits a low blow and the Angle Slam on Sting for the win. Another ridiculous finish with dumb shenanigans, and it looks like wrestling fans’ worst nightmare is coming true as Sting is apparently facing Hulk Hogan at Bound for Glory. This match here was okay, but everything went exactly as you’d expect it to aside from the goofy finish. Nothing terrible but a very flat way to close the show. Match Time: 15:33     Star Rating: **1/2

Overall PPV Rating: 5/10