Cage, Angle on top after Final Resolution

TNA has been pumping out some tremendous feuds and most of them came to a head at Final Resolution: The Heavyweight title was decided in an excellent main event, Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle settled their score in an outstanding Iron Man match. Top to bottom, Final Resolution was a complete success and a good example of why TNA is fast becoming the new choice in pro wrestling.

Final Resolution was capped off with a Three Way Elimination Match for the NWA Heavyweight Championship, which pitted “The Monster” Abyss against Sting and Christian Cage. Prior to things getting underway, Jim Cornette came out and forced Tomko into a cage at ringside to prevent him from interfering in the match. Things then got off to a great start, with all three combatants going at it

Abyss and Cage disposed of Sting after some back and forth battling, only for Sting to fall into the hands of Tomko who reached through the cage he was being contained in to choke “The Icon.” NWA Senior official Rudy Charles jumped out to help Sting, while back in the ring, Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam on Cage and had him pinned. Abyss jumped out and grabbed Charles, but it was too late. The action continued as Sting managed to get back into the ring and catch Abyss off guard with a Scorpion Deathdrop, thus eliminating him from the contest.

After Abyss was eliminated, Sting went to shake his hand, but Abyss grabbed him and was about to chokeslam him before he let go and walked away. Abyss’ manager James Mitchell screamed at Abyss all the way up the ramp and to the back as action between Cage and Sting continued. After some more back and forth action, Sting missed a Stinger Splash. Mitchell came back down to ringside as Cage got locked in the Scorpion Deathlock.

Mitchell knocked out the guard that was guarding Tomko, took his keys and let Tomko loose. Mitchell provided the distraction as Tomko came in and broke the Scorpion Deathlock, dropping Sting with a torture rack-like slam. Cage made the cover, but only got a two count. Abyss then came out and went to town on Tomko, tossing him into the announce table. Sting was able to avoid getting hit with the NWA Heavyweight Championship, instead catching Cage with the Unprettier, but he only got a two count. Cage got up and missed Sting with the clothesline, knocking out Rudy Charles.

Mitchell tried to get involved, but was caught inbetween Sting and Abyss. Mitchell fell and was placed in the Scorpion Deathlock, only for Abyss to hit Sting from behind with the steel chain and save Mitchell. Cage went to the top rope and landed a Frog Splash to get the win and the title. A good ending to one of TNA’s better PPVs.

PRE SHOW:

Match One – Lance Hoyt vs. Chase Stevens

This was just a squash match to continue the feud between AJ Pierzynski, The Demon and Lance Hoyt. Hoyt jaw-jacked with them for a bit at ringside and ultimately squashed Stevens with a big slam.

Winner Via Pinfall – Lance Hoyt

Match Rating – 5/10

MAIN SHOW:

A video package opened the show hyping the Iron Man Match between Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle.

Match One – Last Man Standing Match – “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles vs. “The War Machine” Rhino

This was a good way to open the PPV. In order to win, you had to pin your opponent first and then if a ten count would be administered. Styles played scared for the opening portion of the match, bailing out on several occasions to avoid the wrath of Rhino. Styles used a lot of dirty tactics, including using his wrist tape to choke Rhino. Styles was able to go undetected with a low blow followed by a huge splash and a three count. However, Rhino was able to reach his feet before ref Hebner reached a ten count. The match rolled along with Rhino hitting a Spinebuster and getting a pinfall, but this time Styles was able to get up before the count of ten. The end came when Rhino hit the Gore on Styles and got the pinfall, Styles was almost up at eight when he decided to fall back down and take the loss. Styles ran to the back with Rhino saying that he was going to finish him off once and for all. Rhino chased him and eventually caught him, giving him a piledriver on the stage. Rhino then took a table he had set up and placed it at the top of the entrance ramp. He went to gore Styles through it, but Styles moved and Rhino was sent crashing through. Hot opener that really set the tone for the show.

Winner Via Knockout – “The War Machine” Rhino

Match Rating – 7/10

A video package was played highlighting the X Division Title feud, followed by an interview with Jerry Lynn who said that he realizes he is taking a risk, but he wants to prove that he can still hang with the best in the X Division.

Match Two – X Division Championship Match – “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels (C) vs. Chris Sabin vs. Jerry Lynn

Lynn and Daniels worked to eliminate Sabin from the equation early on, but Sabin kept in it, fighting back and going to work on his former mentor and his bitter rival. Sabin got a couple of near falls in the match, Lynn made a few saves and vice versa, lots of close calls. The match continued with a lot of reversals, Lynn was able to avoid the Angels Wings and hit the Cradleshock Piledriver, but as he went for the pin, he was rolled up from behind by Sabin who hooked the tights and got the win.

Winner Via Pinfall and NEW TNA X Division Champion – Chris Sabin

Match Rating – 7/10

In the back, Jeremy Borash was with Kevin Nash who said the PCS was to be decided between Alex Shelley and Austin Starr. Nash brought in one of the judges — Bob Backlund. Backlund and Nash had a hilarious exchange. Backlund was off his rocker with some of the things he said he was going to be looking for in the PCS Finals. Nash took off as Backlund and Borash were starttled by the arrival of Eric Young. Young said that Borash needed to take him shopping. Borash said he was too busy and introduced Young to Backlund. Young told Backlund that he voted for him in his presidential race. Young then took off as Borash and Backlund got ready for the PCS Finals.

Match Three – PCS Finals – Alex Shelley vs. Austin Starr

Judges – Samolian Joe, The Big Fat Naked Oily Guy and Bob Backlund

Kevin Nash joined Mike Tenay and Don West on commentary for the PCS Finals. A very techinical match here with Shelley and Starr going hold for hold. These two can really mesh well together. Starr hit a beautiful corkscrew to the outside on Shelley. He then proceeded to mark down some points for himself on Samolian Joe’s scoresheet. The match made its way back into the ring, with Starr eventually locking in the Camel Clutch as time expired. They went to the scoresheets which read as follows:

Samolian Joe – Austin Starr

The Big Fat Naked Oily Guy – Alex Shelley

Bob Backlund – Tie

Backlund ran down a list of things he looked for and determined it was a tie. Nash then declared that they were going into sudden death overtime. Shelley immediately went for a bunch of pinfall combinations and on the third attempt he score the victory.

Winner Via Pinfall and PCS Champion – Alex Shelley

Post Match – The other PCS competitors came out and congratulated Shelley as Starr flipped out. Starr grabbed a mic and told off Lethal, Dutt, Shelley and even Nash. He told Senshi that he only respected him and that he wanted Senshi to leave with him. Senshi didn’t budge, so Starr did an impression of Senshi and told him to come on. Senshi still didn’t budge, so Starr slapped him. Senshi jumped on Starr and laid him out. Starr bailed from the ring and proceeded to berate the judges. He badmouthed them all including Backlund. He told Backlund to get up and then piefaced him. He went to walk away, but Backlund locked in the Crossface Chicken Wing as security swarmed.

Match Rating – 7/10

They played a video package highlighting the feud between Chris Harris and James Storm.

Match Four – Petey Williams vs. James Storm w/ Gail Kim

Storm dominated parts of the match, beating down on Williams and locking him in a camel clutch type move. Williams was able to mount a bit of a comeback, but each time he went to hit, Storm had it blocked. On the second attempt, Storm was able to hook the ropes and pick up a pinfall on Williams for the win.

Winner Via Pinfall – James Storm

Post Match – Williams complained about Storm’s cheating, as Storm took some handcuffs from Kim and cuffed Williams to the ropes. He was going to hit him with the beer bottle when Kim lowblowed him and started wailing away. Kim had control of the bottle when Jacqueline made her grand return and beat Kim down. Her and Storm then laid out Kim with their version of the Death Sentence. Well done.

Match Rating – 6/10

Clips were shown of VKM’s attacks on WWE. VKM came out next and declared victory. In a very classy act, BG James also told Triple H that no matter what the circumstances were, it’s not a good thing when one of the boys goes down, sending Triple H his well wishes for a speedy recovery. It took a lot of class and dignity to do that. Christy Hemme came out and went on a tirade, of how women weren’t being shown the respect they deserve. BG was sympathetic to Christy, while Kip told her to suck it. Christy fired back with a slap to Kip before storming off.

In the back, Jeremy Borash stood by with Team 3D who said that since LAX took out Brother Runt, they took out Konnan. They said that they can function without Runt, but they don’t know if LAX can function without Konnan. They aired a video package of the LAX/Team 3D feud which led into…

Match Five – NWA Tag Team Championship Match – LAX (“The Notorious 187” Homicide and Hernandez) (C) vs. Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon)

Hernandez and Devon started things off and matched power. Ray and Homicide got tags in, with Ray tossing Homicide all over. Team 3D was able to maintain the upperhand for most of the match-up, with LAX taking quite a beating. LAX fought back a little bit, but got overwhelmed. Team 3D took out Hernandez and hit the 3D on Homicide, only for a drunk Brother Runt to come down and drop a headbutt on Homicide causing a DQ. Afterwards, Team 3D tossed Brother Runt to the outside and looked on in disappointment.

Winners Via DQ and STILL NWA Tag Team Champions – LAX

Match Rating – 7/10

It was announced via TNA Mobile voting that Samoa Joe was favored to win the Iron Man match 57 to 43 percent. In the back Jeremy Borash stood by with Samoa Joe who said that he was going to defeat Angle and come to a final resolution with him. He also acknowledged that in beating Angle he would go on to challenge for the NWA Heavyweight Championship at Against All Odds. A video package of the Angle/Joe feud played which led into…

Match Six – Iron Man Number One Contenders Match – “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle

This one started off with a lot of reversals and counters. Angle and Joe are another two on the TNA Roster that mesh so well together. The first fall came after Angle reversed out of a Muscle Buster attempt, Joe was able to counter the reversal with a rear naked choke.

First Fall Via Submission – “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe

Official Score: Joe 1 — Angle 0

Things continued, Angle went to hit the Olympic Slam, but Joe reversed. Joe went for another submission on Angle, but it was reversed into an ankle lock that forced Joe to tap.

Second Fall Via Submission – Kurt Angle

Official Score: Joe 1 — Angle 1

After the first ankle lock, Joe was reeling. His ankle appeared to be very sore. He was limping around, which allowed Angle to go right back in on the attack and synch in another Ankle Lock forcing another submission.

Third Fall Via Submission – Kurt Angle

Official Score: Joe 1 — Angle 2

Angle attempted to go right back to the ankle again, but Joe fired back. He hit Angle with a vicious clothesline and proceeded to follow up on him. Joe went for the Muscle Buster again, but Angle rolled through. Again he attempted the Ankle Lock, but it was fought off. Joe kicked Angle away and eventually connected with the Muscle Buster to score the pin.

Fourth Fall Via Pinfall – “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe

Official Score: Joe 2 — Angle 2

Some more back and forth action ensued, with Angle going high risk. Joe countered, but Angle rolled through for a pinfall giving him the edge.

Fifth Fall Via Pinfall – Kurt Angle

Official Score: Joe 2 — Angle 3

Joe fired back with a series of kicks and submission attempts. With 20 seconds left in the match, Joe locked in the Ankle Lock. Angle tried to hold on and did, tapping right after the final bell rung, late enough for Earl Hebner to declare him the winner.

Winner Via 3 Falls to 2 and NEW Number One Contender to the NWA Heavyweight Championship – Kurt Angle

Match Rating – 8/10

In the back Jeremy Borash spoke with Sting who said that he wasn’t going to give up on Abyss. Abyss and Father James Mitchell came in. Mitchell told Sting to give up. Sting grabbed Mitchell and told Abyss to back off. Sting said that he would rid Abyss of Mitchell and lead Abyss down the right path. They played a video package of the feud between Christian Cage, Abyss and Sting which led to…

Match Eight – Three Way Elimination Match for the NWA Heavyweight Championship – “The Monster” Abyss (C) w/ Father James Mitchell vs. Sting vs. “Captain Charisma” Christian Cage w/ Tomko

Elimination One Via Pinfall – “The Monster” Abyss

Elimination Two Via Pinfall – Sting

Winner Via Pinfall and NEW NWA Heavyweight Champion – “Captain Charisma” Christian Cage

Match Rating – 8/10

Overall Event Rating – 7.5/10

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