Impact
Wrestling
Wrestling
Date:
March 20, 2015
March 20, 2015
Location:
Wembley Arena, London, England
Wembley Arena, London, England
Attendance:
4,500
4,500
Commentators:
Taz, Josh Matthews
Taz, Josh Matthews
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
This
is the last show of the European tour and they have a big main event
to cap things off: Lashley defending the World Title against Kurt
Angle. This is a match they’ve built up very well in the last few
weeks and it feels like a match worthy of closing things out.
There’s also a triple threat Ultimate X match for the Tag Team
Titles, but that’s not important enough to advertise on TV. Let’s
get to it.
is the last show of the European tour and they have a big main event
to cap things off: Lashley defending the World Title against Kurt
Angle. This is a match they’ve built up very well in the last few
weeks and it feels like a match worthy of closing things out.
There’s also a triple threat Ultimate X match for the Tag Team
Titles, but that’s not important enough to advertise on TV. Let’s
get to it.
Tag
Team Titles: Wolves vs. BroMans vs. Manik/Great Sanada
Team Titles: Wolves vs. BroMans vs. Manik/Great Sanada
Ultimate
X, meaning the titles are hung above the ring where they’re suspended
from two ropes in the shape of an X. You have to climb up the
structures at the corners of the ring and crawl along the ropes to
retrieve the titles. The Wolves are defending and it’s DJZ and Jesse
Godderz this time due to Robbie being shaken up by losing to Brooke
last week. The champs get quadruple teamed to start but they easily
fight off the schmucks and lackeys to clean house.
X, meaning the titles are hung above the ring where they’re suspended
from two ropes in the shape of an X. You have to climb up the
structures at the corners of the ring and crawl along the ropes to
retrieve the titles. The Wolves are defending and it’s DJZ and Jesse
Godderz this time due to Robbie being shaken up by losing to Brooke
last week. The champs get quadruple teamed to start but they easily
fight off the schmucks and lackeys to clean house.
Jesse
gets beaten down by the champs but Angelina offers a distraction to
break up a double dive. That’s fine with the Wolves as they throw
DJZ over the top onto the Revolution. Nice way to get the best of
both worlds, if you consider Angelina the best that is. The
challengers finally get things together and beat Edwards and Richards
down until Jesse holds Richards long enough to nearly allow Manik to
get the belts. Instead he dropkicks Manik down, followed by a double
backbreaker for good measure.
gets beaten down by the champs but Angelina offers a distraction to
break up a double dive. That’s fine with the Wolves as they throw
DJZ over the top onto the Revolution. Nice way to get the best of
both worlds, if you consider Angelina the best that is. The
challengers finally get things together and beat Edwards and Richards
down until Jesse holds Richards long enough to nearly allow Manik to
get the belts. Instead he dropkicks Manik down, followed by a double
backbreaker for good measure.
The
BroMans try to get the belts without climbing and actually get their
fingers on them, but the Revolution comes in to turn it into a game
of chicken. That brings the Wolves back in for stereo dropkicks and
all six guys are down. Richards powerbombs Manik into a Backstabber
for a save and DJZ gets shoved into the truss. Jesse gets some mist
to the face but Edwards crotches Sanada. A hurricanrana into the
double stomp from Edwards has Sanada out of it, leaving the Wolves to
take down the belts to retain at 9:23.
BroMans try to get the belts without climbing and actually get their
fingers on them, but the Revolution comes in to turn it into a game
of chicken. That brings the Wolves back in for stereo dropkicks and
all six guys are down. Richards powerbombs Manik into a Backstabber
for a save and DJZ gets shoved into the truss. Jesse gets some mist
to the face but Edwards crotches Sanada. A hurricanrana into the
double stomp from Edwards has Sanada out of it, leaving the Wolves to
take down the belts to retain at 9:23.
Rating:
B-. This felt like a really
good house show match: they didn’t do much besides the big stuff and
the titles were never in any real danger, but it’s entertaining stuff
and the crowd got into it. They weren’t going for some masterpiece
here and it would have been a stretch for the Wolves to have a major
problem dispatching either team. Good stuff here and exactly what it
was supposed to be.
B-. This felt like a really
good house show match: they didn’t do much besides the big stuff and
the titles were never in any real danger, but it’s entertaining stuff
and the crowd got into it. They weren’t going for some masterpiece
here and it would have been a stretch for the Wolves to have a major
problem dispatching either team. Good stuff here and exactly what it
was supposed to be.
The
announcers preview the main event.
announcers preview the main event.
Here’s
Austin Aries with something to say. He hasn’t been around the last
few weeks and it’s because of the Beat Down Clan. They beat him up
and stole his briefcase, so get out here right now and give it back.
Cue Samoa Joe and Low Ki with the briefcase with Low Ki saying
possession is 9/10 of the law, so Aries can’t play his games right
now.
Austin Aries with something to say. He hasn’t been around the last
few weeks and it’s because of the Beat Down Clan. They beat him up
and stole his briefcase, so get out here right now and give it back.
Cue Samoa Joe and Low Ki with the briefcase with Low Ki saying
possession is 9/10 of the law, so Aries can’t play his games right
now.
Aries
has two points: Low Ki isn’t Austin Aries because he doesn’t cash in
that briefcase. Second, Low Ki isn’t Austin Aries because that
briefcase doesn’t have his name on it. Aries wants his X-Division
Title back too and is willing to put his briefcase up for a shot at
it. Ki agrees, but only if Aries can get through Joe. Joe nails
Aries and we go to a break.
has two points: Low Ki isn’t Austin Aries because he doesn’t cash in
that briefcase. Second, Low Ki isn’t Austin Aries because that
briefcase doesn’t have his name on it. Aries wants his X-Division
Title back too and is willing to put his briefcase up for a shot at
it. Ki agrees, but only if Aries can get through Joe. Joe nails
Aries and we go to a break.
Samoa
Joe vs. Austin Aries
Joe vs. Austin Aries
Joined
in progress after a break with Aries in big trouble. His comeback is
easily broken up as Joe gets in a shot to the shoulder and throws
Aries to the floor. The arm gets sent into the steps before an
overhead belly to belly gets two back inside. We hit the chinlock
followed by a nerve hold as things slow way down. The backsplash
misses though and Aries fires off some left hands in the corner. Joe
is too big for the brainbuster though and he takes Aries down for a
Fujiwara armbar on the bad arm. Aries makes the rope and sends Joe
outside, setting up a big suicide dive, only to have Low Ki nail
Aries for the DQ at 6:55.
in progress after a break with Aries in big trouble. His comeback is
easily broken up as Joe gets in a shot to the shoulder and throws
Aries to the floor. The arm gets sent into the steps before an
overhead belly to belly gets two back inside. We hit the chinlock
followed by a nerve hold as things slow way down. The backsplash
misses though and Aries fires off some left hands in the corner. Joe
is too big for the brainbuster though and he takes Aries down for a
Fujiwara armbar on the bad arm. Aries makes the rope and sends Joe
outside, setting up a big suicide dive, only to have Low Ki nail
Aries for the DQ at 6:55.
Rating:
C. This was just a match to set
up the angle but it still worked well enough. Aries is able to have
a good match with almost anyone in the company and I like that Low Ki
seemed scared to go after the briefcase but trusted in his numbers
advantage to take Aries down. Nice stuff here.
C. This was just a match to set
up the angle but it still worked well enough. Aries is able to have
a good match with almost anyone in the company and I like that Low Ki
seemed scared to go after the briefcase but trusted in his numbers
advantage to take Aries down. Nice stuff here.
The
BDC goes after Aries but Low Ki nails Joe in the head with the
briefcase (great shot too) to knock him cold. Aries forearms the
briefcase into Ki’s head and leaves with the belt. Cue Rockstar Spud
with his X-Division Feast or Fired case and it’s time for a cash in!
BDC goes after Aries but Low Ki nails Joe in the head with the
briefcase (great shot too) to knock him cold. Aries forearms the
briefcase into Ki’s head and leaves with the belt. Cue Rockstar Spud
with his X-Division Feast or Fired case and it’s time for a cash in!
X-Division
Title: Rockstar Spud vs. Low Ki
Title: Rockstar Spud vs. Low Ki
Underdog
gives Spud the title in seven seconds. Spud deserves something for
all the work he’s done lately.
gives Spud the title in seven seconds. Spud deserves something for
all the work he’s done lately.
Magnus
is beating Bram up in the back and throws him onto a cart. They come
into the arena with Bram being knocked down the aisle. Magnus erupts
on him with a chair but referees pulls him off.
Mickie James comes out and kicks Bram in the ribs. That’s
enough of an opening for Magnus to take Bram up to the stage for a
powerbomb to leave Bram laying.
is beating Bram up in the back and throws him onto a cart. They come
into the arena with Bram being knocked down the aisle. Magnus erupts
on him with a chair but referees pulls him off.
Mickie James comes out and kicks Bram in the ribs. That’s
enough of an opening for Magnus to take Bram up to the stage for a
powerbomb to leave Bram laying.
The
roster is looking forward to the main event. MVP
says they’re fighting for his title.
roster is looking forward to the main event. MVP
says they’re fighting for his title.
Knockouts
Title: Awesome Kong vs. Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim
Title: Awesome Kong vs. Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim
Terrell
is defending. The early
double teaming of Kong gets her down but she sends Gail into Taryn to
take over. Kong lifts Taryn
up for a slam but Gail dropkicks Terrell in the back. That doesn’t
phase Kong and she drops Taryn on Gail in a cool spot. Taryn
gets clotheslined out of the air but Gail counters the Implant
Buster.
is defending. The early
double teaming of Kong gets her down but she sends Gail into Taryn to
take over. Kong lifts Taryn
up for a slam but Gail dropkicks Terrell in the back. That doesn’t
phase Kong and she drops Taryn on Gail in a cool spot. Taryn
gets clotheslined out of the air but Gail counters the Implant
Buster.
More
double teaming fails and Gail is knocked to the floor. A
middle rope dropkick staggers Kong but she shoves off the Taryn
Cutter. There go the gloves but
she misses the splash, allowing Taryn to hit the second attempt at
the cutter for two. Instead
a dropkick sends Kong to the floor where Gail nails her with a huge
dive. Back in and Gail
sunset bombs Taryn for two but
gets rolled up for the pin to retain Taryn’s title at 6:16.
double teaming fails and Gail is knocked to the floor. A
middle rope dropkick staggers Kong but she shoves off the Taryn
Cutter. There go the gloves but
she misses the splash, allowing Taryn to hit the second attempt at
the cutter for two. Instead
a dropkick sends Kong to the floor where Gail nails her with a huge
dive. Back in and Gail
sunset bombs Taryn for two but
gets rolled up for the pin to retain Taryn’s title at 6:16.
Rating:
B-. I’d love to see the Divas
get a chance to do something like this. Seeing the Knockouts and NXT
Girls having matches like this one make me wonder why the Divas
aren’t given the chance to pull off something similar. The time
helped here but the whole thing wasn’t even seven minutes long,
meaning it doesn’t even take a long time to put together a classic.
B-. I’d love to see the Divas
get a chance to do something like this. Seeing the Knockouts and NXT
Girls having matches like this one make me wonder why the Divas
aren’t given the chance to pull off something similar. The time
helped here but the whole thing wasn’t even seven minutes long,
meaning it doesn’t even take a long time to put together a classic.
James
Storm flips a coin to determine what happens to Matt Hardy. The
decision is to cause him severe pain.
Storm flips a coin to determine what happens to Matt Hardy. The
decision is to cause him severe pain.
Video
on Angle vs. Lashley with a theme of surviving changes in life.
on Angle vs. Lashley with a theme of surviving changes in life.
Angle
says he’s ready.
says he’s ready.
James
Storm vs. Matt Hardy
Storm vs. Matt Hardy
No
DQ. The brawl starts in the aisle again with Matt getting the better
of it and throwing a bunch of chairs into the ring. Storm comes back
by wedging a chair in the corner before they trade trashcan shots to
the head. Matt gets crotched on the top and kicked in the head,
setting up a superplex onto two open chairs for two. Abyss throws in
some tacks but Matt knocks James’ back first onto them, followed by a
top rope elbow for two.
DQ. The brawl starts in the aisle again with Matt getting the better
of it and throwing a bunch of chairs into the ring. Storm comes back
by wedging a chair in the corner before they trade trashcan shots to
the head. Matt gets crotched on the top and kicked in the head,
setting up a superplex onto two open chairs for two. Abyss throws in
some tacks but Matt knocks James’ back first onto them, followed by a
top rope elbow for two.
The
Twist of Fate connects but Abyss pulls the referee out at two. The
rest of the Revolution gets involved but are easily dispatched, only
to have Storm send him into the chair in the corner for a close two.
Another Twist of Fate drops Storm but Matt can’t cover. Instead
Abyss hands Storm the bell as Sanada mists Matt. A cowbell to the
back of the head and two Last Calls are good for the pin at 6:48.
Twist of Fate connects but Abyss pulls the referee out at two. The
rest of the Revolution gets involved but are easily dispatched, only
to have Storm send him into the chair in the corner for a close two.
Another Twist of Fate drops Storm but Matt can’t cover. Instead
Abyss hands Storm the bell as Sanada mists Matt. A cowbell to the
back of the head and two Last Calls are good for the pin at 6:48.
Rating:
D+. I wasn’t feeling this one
as it felt like they were cramming way too much stuff into this. I’m
not even sure why the Revolution is going after the Hardys but it’s
better than them having nothing to do and just wasting time while
adding more people to their ranks. This one missed though and it was
due to just not letting the match build and going too hard with it.
D+. I wasn’t feeling this one
as it felt like they were cramming way too much stuff into this. I’m
not even sure why the Revolution is going after the Hardys but it’s
better than them having nothing to do and just wasting time while
adding more people to their ranks. This one missed though and it was
due to just not letting the match build and going too hard with it.
James
says he put Jeff out of wrestling and has the Revolution hold Matt.
says he put Jeff out of wrestling and has the Revolution hold Matt.
TNA
World Title: Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Lashley
World Title: Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Lashley
Lashley
is defending. We get the old school long walks through the back to
the ring to really make this feel like a big deal. After the big
match intros we’re ready to go with nearly twenty five minutes for
this match. The fans are behind Angle but Lashley throws him into
the corner with ease. A big clothesline puts Angle down again as
it’s all champ so far. Kurt goes back to basics with rolling Germans
and sends Lashley to the floor, but the champ takes over again with
pure power.
is defending. We get the old school long walks through the back to
the ring to really make this feel like a big deal. After the big
match intros we’re ready to go with nearly twenty five minutes for
this match. The fans are behind Angle but Lashley throws him into
the corner with ease. A big clothesline puts Angle down again as
it’s all champ so far. Kurt goes back to basics with rolling Germans
and sends Lashley to the floor, but the champ takes over again with
pure power.
Back
in and Lashley pounds him down in the corner before starting in on
the arm and shoulder. Kurt fights up and escapes, setting up a
middle rope shoulder to drop Lashley. It’s time to roll some Germans
and Lashley is in trouble. Kurt lets go but snaps off five more
Germans before taking down the straps. The ankle lock is countered
and Lashley nails the powerslam for two as we take a break.
in and Lashley pounds him down in the corner before starting in on
the arm and shoulder. Kurt fights up and escapes, setting up a
middle rope shoulder to drop Lashley. It’s time to roll some Germans
and Lashley is in trouble. Kurt lets go but snaps off five more
Germans before taking down the straps. The ankle lock is countered
and Lashley nails the powerslam for two as we take a break.
Back
with Lashley going shoulder first into the post and getting caught in
the ankle lock again. Lashley rolls through but charges into a boot,
setting up the Angle Slam for two. Now the spear connects for two
but Lashley takes way too much time going up, allowing Angle to avoid
a splash. This time it’s Kurt going up for a high cross body but
Lashley rolls through into an ankle lock of his own. Kurt grabs the
rope and hits another Angle Slam only to get caught in a cross
armbreaker. That gets turned over into another ankle lock with the
grapevine and Lashley taps at 20:18.
with Lashley going shoulder first into the post and getting caught in
the ankle lock again. Lashley rolls through but charges into a boot,
setting up the Angle Slam for two. Now the spear connects for two
but Lashley takes way too much time going up, allowing Angle to avoid
a splash. This time it’s Kurt going up for a high cross body but
Lashley rolls through into an ankle lock of his own. Kurt grabs the
rope and hits another Angle Slam only to get caught in a cross
armbreaker. That gets turned over into another ankle lock with the
grapevine and Lashley taps at 20:18.
Rating:
B+. It’s really good but it’s
clear that Angle just doesn’t have the same reserves he used to. I’m
ok with the title win as it feels more like one last reign for Angle
instead of making him the long term top guy again. Angle more than
deserves a reign like that and if he puts over a young star (which he
likely will), this is fine. Lashley
looks good in a loss, but the match didn’t hit the levels of epic
they were hoping for. Still though, really good stuff.
B+. It’s really good but it’s
clear that Angle just doesn’t have the same reserves he used to. I’m
ok with the title win as it feels more like one last reign for Angle
instead of making him the long term top guy again. Angle more than
deserves a reign like that and if he puts over a young star (which he
likely will), this is fine. Lashley
looks good in a loss, but the match didn’t hit the levels of epic
they were hoping for. Still though, really good stuff.
Overall
Rating: A-. Really solid show
this week in TNA’s form of a pay per view. It’s a great way to blow
off the UK tour and it felt like a major show. The big deal next
week is the return of Jeff Hardy, and it’s going to be interesting to
see if they can keep this momentum back in Orlando. History suggests
otherwise, but this has been their best run in years. Really good
show though and it’s nice to see TNA deliver when they were supposed
to.
Rating: A-. Really solid show
this week in TNA’s form of a pay per view. It’s a great way to blow
off the UK tour and it felt like a major show. The big deal next
week is the return of Jeff Hardy, and it’s going to be interesting to
see if they can keep this momentum back in Orlando. History suggests
otherwise, but this has been their best run in years. Really good
show though and it’s nice to see TNA deliver when they were supposed
to.
Results
Wolves
b. BroMans and Manik/Great Sanada – Edwards pulled down the belts
b. BroMans and Manik/Great Sanada – Edwards pulled down the belts
Austin
Aries b. Samoa Joe via DQ when Low Ki interfered
Aries b. Samoa Joe via DQ when Low Ki interfered
Rockstar
Spud b. Low Ki – Underdog
Spud b. Low Ki – Underdog
James
Storm b. Matt Hardy – Twist of Fate
Storm b. Matt Hardy – Twist of Fate
Kurt
Angle b. Bobby Lashley – Ankle lock
Angle b. Bobby Lashley – Ankle lock
Remember to pick up my new book: Only On Pay Per View: 1998 from Amazon at:
And head over to my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at: