In memory of WARRIOR 1959-2014
-Dixie Carter has a lot to say, just not right now.
-TONIGHT: There is a ten man gauntlet to determine the #1 contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, plus #TheWrathofDixie.
-Director of Wrestling Operations MVP talks to Magnus through the camera, and notes that Samoa Joe is not participating. MVP says the gauntlet is of the over-the-top-rope variety, with the winnner facing Magnus at Sacrifice on 4/27.
-Hosts are Mike Tenay & Tazz
-Match 1: 10 Man Gauntlet to Determine the #1 Contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
-James Storm is #1, so naturally that means Gunner is #2. Storm meets Gunner in the aisle, and they slug it out. Gunner beats Storm around the ring before they get in the ring as Tenay fully explains that this is basically a 10 man Royal Rumble. Storm tries fighting back, but jumps into a fallaway slam from Gunner. Gunner tries to toss Storm, who goes to the eyes to prevent that. Gunner reverses a whip, then hits a clothesline in the corner before adding some stomps. Gunner again tries to dump Storm, who blocks with a punch to the head. Storm bashes Gunner into a turnbuckle, but Gunner no-sells and does it few times to himself as Bobby Roode enters at #3.
Roode goes right after Gunner, taking him down with a big clothesline. The former Beer Money Inc. eye each other before teaming up against Gunner. After beating on him for a bit, Roode & Storm try to push Gunner out, but only get him onto the apron as Bully Ray enters at #4.
Bully cleans house before Roode manages to cut him off, and Beer Money hit a double team suplex, which Bully no-sells, before dropping them both with a double clothesline. Bully & Gunner work together against Roode, and go to hit him with a WHAZZUP headbutt, but Storm breaks that up as EC3 enters at #5, looking behind him in case Kurt Angle is there.
Carter goes right after the faces, but takes a STIFF chop across the chest from Bully. Carter hits a weak chop, which Bully no-sells before hitting a couple more nasty chops on him, then one on Storm. Roode avoids a Bully chop and slugs away in the corner, as Storm & Carter double team Gunner in another corner. The heels control things until Bobby Lashley enters at #6.
Lashley quickly hits a snap suplex on Roode, then a huge beal toss on EC3, who then turns into a clothesline from Bully. Bully holds Carter for a kick from Lashley. Bully rams Storm into the turnbuckles as Lashley hits a hangman's neckbreaker on Carter. Bully tries, but can't eliminate Storm, who bites Bully's leg to escape as Abyss enters at #7.
Tenay lists Abyss as 6'8". As someone who has seen him in person...that's not even remotely true. Abyss is immediately almost sent out by Bully & Lashley, so Magnus comes out to both distract them (thus saving Abyss) and join the announce team as we go to break.
Back from break, Magnus mugs from the camera. Sanada has entered at #8, and now Eric Young enters at #9, leaving the mystery man (and probable winner) to enter last. Young immediately goes after Abyss, but can't even come close to eliminating him. Bully gets EC3 on the apron, but can't eliminate him. Nothing else of note happens until Willow (Jeff Hardy) enters at #10.
Jeff hits anything that moves, then faces off with Carter. Jeff hits an extraordinarily shitty Twist of Fate on Carter, as Spud comes out in a wheelchair. EC3 gets Hardy on the apron, and Spud jumps out of his chair to pull Hardy down and eliminate him, thus ruining my prediction. Sanada takes a couple shots at Abyss, only to get chokeslammed and eliminated. Lashley hits a big spear on Abyss, then a slam on Carter. Storm catches Lashely with the Last Call superkick, and Roode dumps him.
Roode goes at it with Bully. Bully gets Roode on the apron, then hits a big boot to the face to eliminate him. Bully goes to flip, flop, and fly on EC3, but Roode reaches in to cut him off, and he helps EC3 eliminate Bully. Gunner fires up on EC3 and hits a high knee before walking into a Last Call from Storm, who then tosses him rather emphatically. Young is alone with three heels and the announce team rule him out as a possible winner, meaning he's definitely winning. EC3 tosses Young to the apron, but stops to celebrate thinking Young is out, and Young tosses EC3.
Storm drops Young with a kick, and Abyss adds a big splash. Young avoids an avalanche from Abyss, then hits a belly-to-back suplex on Storm. Young hits a top rope elbow on Abyss, which really pisses off Magnus. Storm drops Young and thinks about going after Abyss, before changing his mind and hitting a draping DDT on Young. Storm goes for the Last Call on Young and shockingly does NOT hit Abyss instead when Young ducks. Young tosses Storm, and kicks him in the face to complete the eliminating when Storm tries to skin the cat.
Abyss catches Young with Shock Treatment, and throws him to the apron. Abyss slugs away, but can't knock Young off the apron. Young gets back in and hits a missile dropkick, before clotheslining Abyss out over the top to win it.
** Nothing special, and the winner was obvious once it was down to 3-on-1. I realize Young is getting a loyalty push, but he is not a PPV main event guy, and definitely should not be the guy who pulls the sword from the stone.
-Christy Hemme rushes in to congratulate Young, who has a request for MVP as we go to break.
-Back from break, EY says he's feeling crazy tonight, and he wants his title shot TONIGHT. Magnus is A-OK with that, and MVP makes the match. Well at least they let EY get his title shot without ruining a PPV that hardly anyone is going to buy anyway. Magnus reminds MVP that "Magnus Rules" means he always wins, but MVP rules that those rules (no-DQ) will not be in effect, in fact if Magnus gets counted out or DQ'd, he will lose the title. Also, Abyss is banned from ringside and anyone who interferes will be fired on the spot. Magnus is a bit more concerned now.
-Rockstar Spud tries to surprise Dixie, but she's not having it. Dixie is mad because Spud threw her under the bus at first opportunity, and after she leaves, Jeff Hardy attacks Spud.
-The women in the next match warm up.
-Match 2 to Determine the #1 Contender to the Knockouts' Championship: ODB VS Brittany VS Gail Kim VS Angelina Love (w/Velvet Sky)
-We,, Love is the only one who doesn't get a jobber intro, plus she's feuding with the champ, so the result here probably won't be a big shocked. Love/ODB & Brittany/Kim pair off. Brittany hits some terrible stomps as ODB flashes Love, then spanks her when she turns away in disgust. Brittany & ODB go at it, and their segment ends with a double-KO. Love & Kim take turns stomping on Brittany, then Love whips Brittany into a dropkick from Kim. Kim & Love take turns breaking up each other's pins, but Brittany goes on the attack before anything can come of it.
Brittany hits a hand spring elbow on Kim, but then runs into a clothesline from Love, who follows up with a sidewalk slam for two as ODB saves. ODB cleans house, and hits a fallaway slam on Kim followed by a Bronco Buster on Love. Brittany hits a headstand into a backflip splash on ODB, but is then immediately dropped with a Downward Spiral from Love. Kim almost gets Eat Defeat on Love, but Love escapes, and Sky sprays Kim in the eyes with air freshener, allowing Love to hit a kick to the face for the win.
*1/2 This was what it was.
-MVP & Dixie face off. MVP threatens to have Dixie removed from the building. Dixie says she will have MVP fired when she gets everything cleared up with the TNA Board. Dixie invites MVP to sit at ringside while she takes care of the "disgruntled wrestler" responsible for MVP being the one running things (meaning Bully Ray). MVP says he'll bring the popcorn.
-Jesse, Zima, & The Wolves are in MVP's office. Apparently Robbie's flight was canceled. Jesse has both belts, which gives MVP an idea: Zima takes Robbie's place unless Robbie shows up by bell time.
-The world title match being set up is replayed.
-Magnus is still OK with defending his title tonight.
-It's #WrathofDixie time. She calls out Bully, who is surprised she showed up this time. Dixie calls Bully dumb for falling into a trap last time they were meant to talk, then getting put through tables by Roode last week. Bully says he's still standing, and that TNA is not her company because it belongs to the fans and the wrestlers. Way to pander Bully. Bully gets in her face some more and she slaps him and reminds him that she still signs the paychecks. Bully backs her down, but Bobby Roode attacks Bully from behind with a chain, then gets a table on Dixie's orders. Bully fights Roode off, then stares at Dixie as we go to break.
-Back from break, Magnus is upset Dixie didn't come by and see him. Dixie couldn't care less about his title match because Magnus is ungrateful in saying he doesn't need her anymore.
-Match 3 for the TNA World Tag Team Championship: Jesse & DJ Zima Ion [c] VS The Wolves
-Eddie blocks a kicks and chops Jesse, then he & Davey casually take both the champs out. Zima manages to distract Davey long enough for Jesse to hit a clothesline. Zima tags in, but the Wolves block a double team suplex on Davey, knock the champs outside, and hit stereo suicide dives. The Wolves hit a chop/kick to the chest combo, but Jesse catches Eddie with a knee to the back, and Zima adds a flapjack before tagging Jesse. Eddie rolls out of a double team belly-to-back suplex, and hits a double flying headscissors before tagging in Davey, who cleans house. Davey hits a running forearm on Jesse, followed by a missile dropkick. Davey gets two, then avoids Ion when he tries to make the save. Jesse catches Davey with a back elbow, but is promptly hit with the Alarm Clock. Robbie E arrives just in time to pull the ref out and shove him to draw a DQ and save the titles.
* Just a set up for another match. Probably a PPV title change.
-EARLIER TODAY: Christy has made a shocking decision when it comes to Samuel Shaw. She invites him to the ring to talk about commitment.
-After a commercial, Christy calls out Shaw as the crowd chants "creepy bastard". Christy teases joining with Shaw, seducing him into closing his eyes as Mr. Anderson pulls up in a van helpfully labeled "psychiatric services". Christy talks Shaw into turning into a Mic Check from Anderson. Anderson plays around a bit before taking Shaw back to the van and pitching him in, but Shaw manages to come back to life and escape. OK then.
-Jeff Hardy cuts an AWFUL promo challenging Spud & EC3 to a handicap match for next week. WTF was that attempt at an accent?
-Match 4 for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Magnus [c] VS Eric Young
-Magnus talks some shit then cuts off a slugfest with a knee to the gut. Magnus works Young over in the corner, continuing to talk shit in the process. Young slides between Magnus' legs and hits a dropkick. Young does a Flair Flip in the corner and struts on the apron before sliding back in and trying a throw, which Magnus blocks. Young scores with a back elbow, but misses a moonsault, and a running high knee knocks Young through the ropes. Magnus rams Young's back into the apron, then rolls him back inside before getting a near-fall.
Magnus gets a rear bearhug as a dueling chant breaks out. Young escapes and sends Magnus outside, but a suicide dive is met with an uppercut before Magnus throws Young into the steps. Magnus stomps away as we go to break.
Back from break Magnus is still in control, which is making me uneasy. Magnus hits a gutwrench suplex for two, then slaps on a sleeper. Young fights out, but Magnus hits a backdrop, and applies a camel clutch. He just needs to pull back a little harder and look completely disinterested in what he's doing, and this match would be over. Young powers out into an electric chair drop, then hits a wheelbarrow neckbreaker. Young hits a top rope elbow, but it only gets two. Magnus comes back with a Michinoku Driver (as Tazz completely butchers the name) for two.
Magnus feigns going to hit Young with the title belt, then catches Young with a low blow while the ref tosses the belt out of the ring. That only gets two. Magnus goes for a running clothesline, but Young counters into a crucifix for two, then *ugh* wins the title via a piledriver. Yeah, for those who don't know, this would be the equivalent of Santino beating a dominant heel champion to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
*** The match was good, even if the result is dumb. Like Chris Sabin, I don't expect EY's loyalty run to last very long.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Well, I figured the title change was coming when it hit me that two weeks weren't going to be enough to build to another match. Magnus will get the title back (probably with help from Dixie), and, if Russo really is booking, then Samoa Joe will turn to help him too. Watching this show and really paying attention to it for the first time in a long time hammered home just how much better WWE is right now.
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