klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Friday
Impact got a .9, down from last week.
Smackdown
Date: November 1, 2013
Location: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
It's the first Smackdown after what I thought was one of the best Raws in a long time. We're also coming off an eventful PPV which saw Cena and Orton win the titles, meaning there's a good chance that Cena is here tonight. Tonight will probably have a lot more action rather than the mainly story driven show we got on Monday. That's exactly how Raw and Smackdown should work if they're going to have a single roster. Let's get to it.
We recap Cena winning the title on Sunday.
Here's Johnny for his first Smackdown appearance in a good while. During the entrance we look at Sandow's cash in from Monday where he actually had me believing he would win. Cena talks about winning the title on Sunday and says that he and Smackdown are going to get real close very soon. He sucks up to the Tampa crowd and says the World Heavyweight Champion is here.
This brings out the Real Americans of all people with Colter thanking Cena for taking the world title from Alberto Del Rio. He says Cena has a lot in common with the Real Americans such as being a real American hero and supporting the troops, so Cena should join the Real Americans. Colter asks Cena to do the WE THE PEOPLE but instead Cena says you can't see me. Cena says he sees three dumb people.
Swagger looks like Biff from Back to the Future so he should make like a tree and get out of here. Then there's Cesaro with his giant swing but all Cena can see are his giant nipples. That leaves Colter, but Cena doesn't have enough time to make all the jokes he needs. Colter looks like a cross between a drunk Yosemite Sam and the guys from Duck Dynasty. Cena says the Real Americans are the people in the crowd because this is the land of the free and the home of the brave, so everyone can look and sound like anything they want.
Cena tells them to get out of Tampa before violence starts, but here's a ticked off Sandow before the Americans can respond. John gets ready to fight but Sandow calls him a hypocrite. He says you make your own way in America like he did when he stabbed his best friend in the back to win Money in the Bank. Cena has been handed everything since he got back which makes him a false champion. Sandow is still the uncrowned world champion and his purpose in life is to end the Cena era in the WWE. The heels get ready to swarm but Cody and Goldust come in to even the odds. Vickie, tag match, main event.
We get a Shield promo talking about how the Usos aren't contenders and how they can beat any team on the planet. Roman is about to talk but Ambrose cuts him off, saying the US Champion and Rollins will prove Shield dominance tonight. The slow burn split has begun.
Shield vs. Usos
Rollins and Ambrose here. This is a result of the Usos helping make the save on Monday night. Jimmy and Dean get us going but Ambrose is quickly dragged to the Uso corner for a double back elbow to the jaw. Dean makes a tag off to Rollins but is easily taken down for a knee drop. Rollins trips Jimmy down though and stomps away as Shield takes over. Seth charges into a backdrop over the top and out to the floor, only to have Ambrose tag him on the way down.
Jey is sent to the floor as well so Roman goes after him. Cue Big E. Langston to stare him down as we take a break. Back with Ambrose holding a chinlock on Jimmy before it's back to Rollins for a running forearm in the corner. Seth goes to the middle rope but dives into a right hand, allowing for the double tag off to Dean and Jey.
The running Umaga attack in the corner gets a quick two and a jumping kick to the face gets the same. Rollins comes back in and gets caught in a spinebuster. A double superkick knocks Reigns off the apron and as JBL puts it, WE GOT A FLYING SAMOAN! Back inside and Jey dives over Amborse into a rollup for the pin at 6:44 shown of 10:14.
Post match Shield goes after the Usos but Langston makes the save. Reigns wants to fight all three of them but Rollins and Ambrose hold him back.
We recap the Shawn/Bryan segment from Raw. I still don't think Shawn is coming back for another match but it's possible. We also look at the Wyatts attacking Punk and Bryan.
Prime Time Players vs. Wyatt Family
Before the match, Bray appears on screen and says we live in a world of false heroism and he has the cure in the palm of his hand. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down. He stops talking and the Family is in the ring with Bray in his usual place. Rowan throws Darren around with ease before standing on his throat and removing the mask.
Off to Harper for a big boot and a front facelock while rolling around on the mat. Back to Rowan for a neck crank. Harper comes back in to knock Titus to the floor and puts on the front facelock again. Darren finally lunges forward for the tag off to O'Neil who cleans house. Young and Rowan fight to the floor but Harper scores with the discus lariat for the pin on Titus at 3:46.
Darren takes Sister Abigail's Kiss post match.
We look back at Kane joining the new regime and surrendering his mask to Stephanie on Monday.
Here's Miz for MizTV which was supposed to have Shawn Michaels as a guest but we get WWE Champion Randy Orton instead. Orton says Shawn isn't here because Miz is irrelevant and no one cares about his show. He wants to know why this isn't a celebration of his 11th WWE Championship because Big Show violated the previous one. Due to that knockout, Big Show has been banned from WWE for life. Orton asks Miz how that makes him feel but hits the RKO before Miz can answer. As always, Cole makes it sound like Orton asked for more water at dinner.
Dolph Ziggler shills WWE merchandise.
Bella Twins/Natalya vs. AJ Lee/Alicia Fox/Tamina Snuka
Nikki starts with Alicia and quickly takes her down before bringing in Brie for a Poetry In Motion clothesline. Alicia brings in Tamina for a nice clothesline to take Brie down as the heels take over. Off to AJ for a modified dragon sleeper followed by a guillotine choke. Brie fights out and makes the hot tag off to Natalya who cleans house. AJ comes back with a quick rollup for two as everything breaks down. Natalya grabs a quick Sharpshooter for the submission from AJ at 3:37.
The Raw ReBound covers the end of the show with Orton's celebration and Big Show knocking Randy out cold.
We get part of a sitdown interview with HHH where Cole reads from David Otunga's opinion of Big Show's lawsuit. HHH gets tired of hearing about it and bans Big Show from the WWE for life. This would be more interesting if Cole hadn't told us this earlier.
John Cena/Goldust/Cody Rhodes vs. Real Americans/Damien Sandow
Swagger and Cesaro running to the ring like they're on a battlefield is great stuff. Cody and Cesaro get us going with Rhodes taking over off a shoulder block. Off to Goldust with an elbow drop before it's quickly back to Cody for a jumping knee to the face. That gets two as well and everything breaks down. We take a break and come back with Sandow working on Cena's arm before handing it off to Cesaro for the same.
John hurricanranas his way out of what looked like a powerbomb, allowing for the tag off to Goldust. Swagger gets caught by clotheslines and something resembling Stratusfaction before being backdropped out to the floor. Back in and Jack hits a shoulder to the knee and Goldust is in trouble. Cesaro comes in and pounds away before sending Goldie to the floor for a clothesline by Swagger. Off to Sandow for some knees to the chest and a near fall. Back to Swagger for a front facelock as the fans get behind the gold one.
There's a hard clothesline to take Goldust down and it's back to Cesaro for a reverse chinlock. A gutwrench suplex gets two for Antonio and it's back to Swagger as we take another break. Back with Cesaro getting two on Goldust via a suplex and we're back to another chinlock. Goldust fights up and drives into the corner for the tag to Cena but the referee didn't see it. I love that spot.
The Real Americans do their Vader Bomb into the double stomp spot for another two count. Goldust finally comes back with a quick DDT to Cesaro but Damien breaks up the hot tag attempt. Sandow's chinlock is broken up and Goldust heads to the corner for a jumping back elbow which mostly misses. The drop to the knees and uppercut staggers Sandow but he still knocks Cody and Cena to the floor. A powerslam puts Damien down again and NOW we get the hot tag to Rhodes.
Cody comes in with a springboard dropkick to Sandow followed by the moonsault press (he's gotten much better at that move) for two. Damien counters Cross Rhodes and makes a tag to Cesaro but there Cross Rhodes takes Sandow out anyway. The distraction lets Antonio come in for a 31 second Cesaro Swing to Rhodes for two. During the Swing Cena speared Swagger on the floor so there's no one for Cesaro to tag.
The second hot tag brings in Cena who initiates his finishing sequence on Cesaro but the AA is countered into the gutwrench suplex. Cesaro loads up the Swing on Cena but Cena counters into an STF attempt. Antonio rolls through and hits Swiss Death, only to have Cody score with a Disaster Kick to the European. Sandow hits You're Welcome on Cody but gets bulldogged down by Goldust. Swagger gets the tag and suplexes Goldust down before putting Cena in the Patriot Lock. Cena rolls out and hits a quick AA for the pin at 16:58 shown of 23:58.
Results
Usos b. Shield Rollup to Ambrose
Wyatt Family b. Prime Time Players Discus lariat to O'Neil
Bella Twins/Natalya b. AJ Lee/Tamina Snuka/Alicia Fox Sharpshooter to Lee
Goldust/John Cena/Cody Rhodes b. Real Americans/Damien Sandow AA to Swagger
Tournament of Champions
Date: November 1, 2013
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Tazz
After a month off from this series due to Bound For Glory, we're back in Orlando for an eight month old show. The idea here is pretty simple: it's a bunch of former world champions in a tournament to determine who is the BEST CHAMPION EVER. There really isn't much else to it than that but did you expect TNA to not hold a tournament? Let's get to it.
The opening video is exactly what you would expect: shots of the entrants who are apparently putting it all on the line (nothing is on the line) in a night of hardcore wrestling (nothing is hardcore) action that will be taken to the extreme (nothing is extreme).
Here are the brackets.
Mr. Anderson/James Storm
Bully Ray
Sting
Bobby Roode
Austin Aries
Kurt Angle
Samoa Joe
Jeff Hardy
Anderson and Storm have a play in match to get us down to the final eight. Again, no AJ Styles because of the storyline that was ongoing at the time because you wouldn't want 900 people to have their realities shattered by seeing AJ wrestle in a tournament that Tenay calls invitation only.
Anderson is proud to be a part of this tournament, even though none of the entrants are at the same level of he and Bully Ray (Aces and 8's members). He's been mistreated since he arrived in TNA and tonight he'll prove why.
We get a video package on Anderson's career which will likely be happening for everyone tonight in a way to fill in the nearly three hours they have for this show.
Storm's package talks about growing up watching Tennessee wrestling which means he's a very lucky man. He mainly talks about tag team wrestling, which has almost nothing to do with tonight's theme. This also includes stuff about Storm teaming up with Gunner which didn't happen for months after this show was taped.
Tournament of Champions Wild Card Match: Mr. Anderson vs. James Storm
Storm takes him into the corner to start and we get a clean break. Anderson gets headlocked down to the mat but he fights up with forearms to the ribs. Not much to see so far. Storm gets pulled out to the floor for no action and it's right back inside for a nearfall from Anderson.
Mr. pounds in right hands before hooking a top wristlock as Tazz wants to see an actual professional wrestling resume. Tenay references the Global Wrestling Federation of all things in another of those unfunny moments between the announcers. Storm fights up but gets taken down in the corner, giving Anderson a rollup for two. The Mic Check is countered into a Last Call to send Storm into the actual tournament.
Jeff Hardy likes the idea of finding out who the best of the best is and is ready to fight Samoa Joe in the first round.
Video on Jeff Hardy, which is just a package from before Bound For Glory 2012. These are nice shortcuts to talk about what the title means, but they make the shows look low rent. You can't have Hardy do a 40 second voiceover about what the title means to him with some highlights of him in title matches? We get a clip of him pinning Aries to win the belt which is more of the right idea. As usual though, the clip goes on too long and even includes a replay because they need to fill in more time.
We get a much better treatment for Joe, with just him talking about being champion and narrated clips of him winning the title at Lockdown 2008. MUCH better here. This eats up about three minutes, which again just feels like filler. You shouldn't be able to make a sandwich and pour a drink in the amount of time spent on a video package.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy
They circle each other for about a minute as the fans' support is split. Joe gets taken down by a headscissors and a clothesline before Hardy cranks on his arm a bit. Joe comes right back with a hard elbow to the face which Hardy sells like he was shot. The left hands in the corner and the enziguri drop Hardy again but he comes back with a running clothesline. Jeff misses a splash in the corner so Joe chops him in the back and drops a knee to the face for two.
Joe gets frustrated and sends Jeff into the corner but gets caught by the Whisper in the Wind. Tenay says Hardy is spent, which is a bad sign considering he's been in the ring five minutes. They slug it out with Hardy taking over and hitting some of his usual stuff. The basement dropkick gets two and a middle rope splash gets the same for Jeff. There goes Hardy's shirt to pop the girls a bit but Joe tries the Clutch. Hardy spins out and hits a jawbreaker, only to have Joe grab a rollup for the pin to advance.
Package on Austin Aries climbing the ladder in TNA and becoming champion at Destination X 2012. They just show highlights instead of the end of the match here again thank goodness.
Angle says the greatest man that ever lived better be ready for the greatest wrestler that ever lived.
The title win video for Angle is from Slammiversary 2007 for Angle's first title win and again they show WAY too much of the match. As in they show about six minutes of the match here before going to Angle's entrance for tonight's show. This doesn't even focus on Angle but rather AJ, Joe, Christian and Chris Harris and THEN Angle comes back in to win the title.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Kurt Angle vs. Austin Aries
Angle is very passive to start and lets Aries dance around for a bit. Aries tries basic stuff like headlocks and wristlocks but Angle just smiles and doesn't move at all, so Aries goes and lays on the top rope. Aries even offers to get down on the mat amateur style but Angle laughs him off. Instead Austin makes the referee get down on all fours as a demonstration of what he wants Angle to do.
Aries gets down again but this time Angle kicks him in the ribs to really get things going. Angle pounds away in the corner and we get a Flair Flop from Austin. A suplex gets two for Kurt but Aries kicks him low to block a German. Angle comes back with right hands to knock Aries through the ropes but Austin's feet hang onto the top rope to keep him off the floor. He still manages to pull Angle to the outside and drops a top rope ax handle to take over again.
Back in and Aries hits some lame forearms to the back before mocking Angle's lowering of the straps. From his back, Angle easily kicks him through the ropes to the floor before launching him back in from the apron. Aries flips out of the German suplex and puts on the Last Chancery.
That doesn't last long as always so it's off to a front facelock, only to have Angle grab the ankle lock. Austin kicks away again but gets caught in the Angle Slam for two. They fight for a suplex with Aries on the apron but he snaps Kurt's throat on the top rope to take over. Angle avoids a missile dropkick but his Angle Slam is countered into a rollup for the pin out of nowhere.
Video on Bully Ray who hadn't been champion or even a heel long at this point. This is more of a package on all of Ray's heel run instead of just being champion. A lot is from the show where Ray explained the Aces and 8's plan throughout the show which is still pretty cool.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Bully Ray vs. James Storm
Before the match, Ray grabs the mic and throws out both So Cal Val and the referee. He goes on a rant about how the tournament is a waste of time because he's clearly the greatest world champion ever. The fans seem to disagree, even though Bully swears that people always tell him how great he is. Ray jumps him in the corner to start and whips Storm hard into the corner. Now it's off to the knee with the slow pace continuing to dominate the night.
Storm comes back with some shots to the ribs and rams Ray's head into the buckle to take over. Ray fires off an elbow to the jaw and is already demanding to be named the winner. We hit the bearhug for a bit followed by a neck crank as Ray keeps changing targets. Storm avoids an elbow drop but gets taken down by a big boot and a bad looking corner splash. Taz references King Kong Bundy to go with the Ted Arcidi (strongman wrestler from the 80s) references he made in the bearhug. Storm comes back with a Codebreaker.....but here's D-Von to attack Storm for the DQ.
Post match D-Von holds Storm down so Ray can blast his arm with the hammer. Ray doesn't seem to mind being eliminated.
Video on Bobby Roode from the buildup to Bound For Glory 2011. We also get a look at Storm winning the title (not mentioned in his video earlier) from Angle before Roode turned on him to win the belt.
Sting's video package is about his Hall of Fame induction. This is much more about sucking up to Hogan and Flair than anything else. There was no match footage nor any reference to Sting being a world champion at all here.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Sting vs. Bobby Roode
Feeling out process to start until Sting wins a shoving match and no sells some chops. Instead Roode elbows him down and stomps away before going into the chinlock. Bobby brags a bit too much though, allowing Sting to wrap up his legs to try a Scorpion from the mat. That gets him nowhere so Roode takes him into the corner and mocks the yelling Stinger Splash.
Sting gets out of the way and hits the real splash to set up the horrible Deathlock. Bobby makes a rope as Tazz keeps making jokes about people being old. Back up and Roode grabs a DDT on the arm and slaps on the Crossface, only to have Sting make a VERY long crawl to the ropes for the break. Sting escapes a slam and hits the Death Drop for two, only to have Roode counter the Scorpion into the Crossface for the submission.
Updated brackets:
James Storm
Bobby Roode
Austin Aries
Samoa Joe
Aries talks about how people were expecting Angle vs. Joe again, but now we're getting Joe vs. Aries who have some history of their own. Tonight, Aries will beat him again.
Another Aries video, this one from the build to Destination X. This includes a repeat of a promo from his first video. They're THAT long on time tonight? We also see him winning the title from Roode in 2012 and get his ENTIRE post match celebration.
Joe's second video focuses on his feud with Angle and Joe finally beating him for the title over a year after Angle debuted. This even includes sound bytes from various talking heads and about the last five minutes of the title match.
Tournament of Champions Semi-Finals: Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe
After over fifteen minutes (seriously) of videos we're ready to go. Feeling out process to start with Joe shoving him around and an elbow sending Aries to the apron for a breather. Back in and Aries gives Joe a chance to run him over, only to try a surprise hiptoss. Joe is just too fat though so all three of Austin's tries fail miserably. Instead a drop toehold puts Aries on the floor as we get more stalling. Austin walks all the way to the back but comes running back to the ring at seven to kill extra time.
Back in and Joe kicks him in the face before snapping off right hands. Another kick to the head sends Aries to the floor but he gets in a kick to the leg as they come back inside. A top rope forearm to the head puts Joe down and they head back inside for more leg work including a leg drag for two.
Joe shrugs it off and comes back with another big boot to the face and the running senton backsplash for two. The MuscleBuster is blocked and Aries scores with a missile dropkick that can't drop Joe. Aries misses the running dropkick in the corner but comes back with the same rollup he used to beat Angle. It's only good for two here though and a few seconds later it's the Koquina Clutch to send Joe to the finals.
Since we haven't had one in about eight minutes, time for a video package! This one focuses on Storm winning the title (what a concept!), including most of his match with Angle (whole thing wasn't even two minutes long).
Roode's third video of the night talks about how Roode turned heel to take the title from Storm. By talks about, I of course mean show the turn in its entirety.
Tournament of Champions Semi-Finals: James Storm vs. Bobby Roode
Storm has a bad arm coming in. Another feeling out process to start, even though they know each other so well already. James is tentative because of the bad arm so Roode grabs at the injury. Roode asks for a test of strength as we're about two minutes into this with no significant contact. Storm pops him in the jaw to get things going and hits a running neckbreaker to send Roode out to the floor. Bobby is sent into the barricade and hit with a soda bottle as the face version of the beer bottle I guess.
Roode reverse a whip to send Storm's bad arm into the steps (almost no noise for some reason). Back in and Roode stomps away on the arm for a few moments before sending Storm to the apron. James comes back with an enziguri and goes up top, only to have to break up a superplex attempt. A top rope elbow (with the good arm) gets two on Roode but the Last Call is countered into the crossface. Storm rolls out into a cradle for two but the referee goes down, allowing Roode to hit a low blow. Back to the crossface and Storm finally taps out.
Samoa Joe says Hardy and Aries said they were going to stop Joe, but he took care of both of them. That leaves him with just Aries in his path to prove he's the greatest TNA Champion of all time.
Bobby Roode, dry as a bone here instead of sweating after finishing a match, says he's beaten Storm and Sting so Joe won't be a problem.
Tournament of Champions Finals: Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Roode
This gets big match intros to kill even more time. Yet another feeling out process to start until Joe shoves Roode into the corner and snaps off a right hand. Bobby goes to the floor for a breather but comes back in and gets chopped even more. Joe's corner enziguri sends Roode back outside as the match stays in its slow pace. Roode comes back in again and tries a headbutt, only to hurt himself in the process. Joe drops a knee for two and Bobby goes to the apron one more time.
This time though he snaps Joe's neck across the top rope to take over and adds a thumb to the eyes. Roode goes after the arm to set up the crossface before going to a reverse chinlock. Joe fights back up and hits the backsplash for two but Roode counters the MuscleBuster into the DDT on the arm. There's the crossface but Joe gets his foot on the ropes for a pretty fast break.
Roode can't get him in the fisherman's suplex but manages to break up the Clutch. Back to the crossface but Joe rolls back for two. The Rock Bottom out of the corner puts Bobby down but he counters the Clutch by climbing the corner and flipping back for the pin and the tournament.
Results
James Storm b. Mr. Anderson Last Call
Samoa Joe b. Jeff Hardy Rollup
Austin Aries b. Kurt Angle Rollup
James Storm b. Bully Ray via DQ when D-Von interfered
Bobby Roode b. Sting Crossface
Samoa Joe b. Austin Aries Koquina Clutch
Bobby Roode b. James Storm Crossface
Bobby Roode b. Samoa Joe Pin while in the Koquina Clutch
Saturday
TNA has ended their working agreement with OVW as a cost cutting measure.
Sunday
Nothing.
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
John Cena b. Damien Sandow Attitude Adjustment
Big E. Langston b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when Shield interfered
Shield b. Big E. Langston/Usos Spear to Jey Uso
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double Angle Slam to McIntyre
Tamina Snuka/AJ Lee b. Bella Twins Black Widow to Nikki
Kane b. The Miz Chokeslam
Real Americans b. Goldust/Cody Rhodes Patriot Lock to Goldust
Natalya b. Summer Rae Sharpshooter
NXT
Alexander Rusev/Sylvester LeFort b. Colin Cassady/Enzo Amore Accolade to Cassady
Aiden English b. Jason Jordan Director's Cut
Paige b. Summer Rae Paige Turner
CJ Parker b. Tyler Breeze Third Eye
Impact Wrestling
Bro Mans b. Gunner/James Storm Suplex reversal to Storm
Ethan Carter III b. Norv Fernum Bulldog driver
Magnus won a gauntlet battle royal last elimination Sting and Kazarian
Gail Kim b. ODB Rollup
Bobby Roode b. Kurt Angle via referee stoppage
Smackdown
Usos b. Shield Rollup to Ambrose
Wyatt Family b. Prime Time Players Discus lariat to O'Neil
Bella Twins/Natalya b. AJ Lee/Tamina Snuka/Alicia Fox Sharpshooter to Lee
Goldust/John Cena/Cody Rhodes b. Real Americans/Damien Sandow AA to Swagger
Tournament of Champions
James Storm b. Mr. Anderson Last Call
Samoa Joe b. Jeff Hardy Rollup
Austin Aries b. Kurt Angle Rollup
James Storm b. Bully Ray via DQ when D-Von interfered
Bobby Roode b. Sting Crossface
Samoa Joe b. Austin Aries Koquina Clutch
Bobby Roode b. James Storm Crossface
Bobby Roode b. Samoa Joe Pin while in the Koquina Clutch
Impact got a .9, down from last week.
Smackdown
Date: November 1, 2013
Location: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield
It's the first Smackdown after what I thought was one of the best Raws in a long time. We're also coming off an eventful PPV which saw Cena and Orton win the titles, meaning there's a good chance that Cena is here tonight. Tonight will probably have a lot more action rather than the mainly story driven show we got on Monday. That's exactly how Raw and Smackdown should work if they're going to have a single roster. Let's get to it.
We recap Cena winning the title on Sunday.
Here's Johnny for his first Smackdown appearance in a good while. During the entrance we look at Sandow's cash in from Monday where he actually had me believing he would win. Cena talks about winning the title on Sunday and says that he and Smackdown are going to get real close very soon. He sucks up to the Tampa crowd and says the World Heavyweight Champion is here.
This brings out the Real Americans of all people with Colter thanking Cena for taking the world title from Alberto Del Rio. He says Cena has a lot in common with the Real Americans such as being a real American hero and supporting the troops, so Cena should join the Real Americans. Colter asks Cena to do the WE THE PEOPLE but instead Cena says you can't see me. Cena says he sees three dumb people.
Swagger looks like Biff from Back to the Future so he should make like a tree and get out of here. Then there's Cesaro with his giant swing but all Cena can see are his giant nipples. That leaves Colter, but Cena doesn't have enough time to make all the jokes he needs. Colter looks like a cross between a drunk Yosemite Sam and the guys from Duck Dynasty. Cena says the Real Americans are the people in the crowd because this is the land of the free and the home of the brave, so everyone can look and sound like anything they want.
Cena tells them to get out of Tampa before violence starts, but here's a ticked off Sandow before the Americans can respond. John gets ready to fight but Sandow calls him a hypocrite. He says you make your own way in America like he did when he stabbed his best friend in the back to win Money in the Bank. Cena has been handed everything since he got back which makes him a false champion. Sandow is still the uncrowned world champion and his purpose in life is to end the Cena era in the WWE. The heels get ready to swarm but Cody and Goldust come in to even the odds. Vickie, tag match, main event.
We get a Shield promo talking about how the Usos aren't contenders and how they can beat any team on the planet. Roman is about to talk but Ambrose cuts him off, saying the US Champion and Rollins will prove Shield dominance tonight. The slow burn split has begun.
Shield vs. Usos
Rollins and Ambrose here. This is a result of the Usos helping make the save on Monday night. Jimmy and Dean get us going but Ambrose is quickly dragged to the Uso corner for a double back elbow to the jaw. Dean makes a tag off to Rollins but is easily taken down for a knee drop. Rollins trips Jimmy down though and stomps away as Shield takes over. Seth charges into a backdrop over the top and out to the floor, only to have Ambrose tag him on the way down.
Jey is sent to the floor as well so Roman goes after him. Cue Big E. Langston to stare him down as we take a break. Back with Ambrose holding a chinlock on Jimmy before it's back to Rollins for a running forearm in the corner. Seth goes to the middle rope but dives into a right hand, allowing for the double tag off to Dean and Jey.
The running Umaga attack in the corner gets a quick two and a jumping kick to the face gets the same. Rollins comes back in and gets caught in a spinebuster. A double superkick knocks Reigns off the apron and as JBL puts it, WE GOT A FLYING SAMOAN! Back inside and Jey dives over Amborse into a rollup for the pin at 6:44 shown of 10:14.
Post match Shield goes after the Usos but Langston makes the save. Reigns wants to fight all three of them but Rollins and Ambrose hold him back.
We recap the Shawn/Bryan segment from Raw. I still don't think Shawn is coming back for another match but it's possible. We also look at the Wyatts attacking Punk and Bryan.
Prime Time Players vs. Wyatt Family
Before the match, Bray appears on screen and says we live in a world of false heroism and he has the cure in the palm of his hand. Ashes, ashes, we all fall down. He stops talking and the Family is in the ring with Bray in his usual place. Rowan throws Darren around with ease before standing on his throat and removing the mask.
Off to Harper for a big boot and a front facelock while rolling around on the mat. Back to Rowan for a neck crank. Harper comes back in to knock Titus to the floor and puts on the front facelock again. Darren finally lunges forward for the tag off to O'Neil who cleans house. Young and Rowan fight to the floor but Harper scores with the discus lariat for the pin on Titus at 3:46.
Darren takes Sister Abigail's Kiss post match.
We look back at Kane joining the new regime and surrendering his mask to Stephanie on Monday.
Here's Miz for MizTV which was supposed to have Shawn Michaels as a guest but we get WWE Champion Randy Orton instead. Orton says Shawn isn't here because Miz is irrelevant and no one cares about his show. He wants to know why this isn't a celebration of his 11th WWE Championship because Big Show violated the previous one. Due to that knockout, Big Show has been banned from WWE for life. Orton asks Miz how that makes him feel but hits the RKO before Miz can answer. As always, Cole makes it sound like Orton asked for more water at dinner.
Dolph Ziggler shills WWE merchandise.
Bella Twins/Natalya vs. AJ Lee/Alicia Fox/Tamina Snuka
Nikki starts with Alicia and quickly takes her down before bringing in Brie for a Poetry In Motion clothesline. Alicia brings in Tamina for a nice clothesline to take Brie down as the heels take over. Off to AJ for a modified dragon sleeper followed by a guillotine choke. Brie fights out and makes the hot tag off to Natalya who cleans house. AJ comes back with a quick rollup for two as everything breaks down. Natalya grabs a quick Sharpshooter for the submission from AJ at 3:37.
The Raw ReBound covers the end of the show with Orton's celebration and Big Show knocking Randy out cold.
We get part of a sitdown interview with HHH where Cole reads from David Otunga's opinion of Big Show's lawsuit. HHH gets tired of hearing about it and bans Big Show from the WWE for life. This would be more interesting if Cole hadn't told us this earlier.
John Cena/Goldust/Cody Rhodes vs. Real Americans/Damien Sandow
Swagger and Cesaro running to the ring like they're on a battlefield is great stuff. Cody and Cesaro get us going with Rhodes taking over off a shoulder block. Off to Goldust with an elbow drop before it's quickly back to Cody for a jumping knee to the face. That gets two as well and everything breaks down. We take a break and come back with Sandow working on Cena's arm before handing it off to Cesaro for the same.
John hurricanranas his way out of what looked like a powerbomb, allowing for the tag off to Goldust. Swagger gets caught by clotheslines and something resembling Stratusfaction before being backdropped out to the floor. Back in and Jack hits a shoulder to the knee and Goldust is in trouble. Cesaro comes in and pounds away before sending Goldie to the floor for a clothesline by Swagger. Off to Sandow for some knees to the chest and a near fall. Back to Swagger for a front facelock as the fans get behind the gold one.
There's a hard clothesline to take Goldust down and it's back to Cesaro for a reverse chinlock. A gutwrench suplex gets two for Antonio and it's back to Swagger as we take another break. Back with Cesaro getting two on Goldust via a suplex and we're back to another chinlock. Goldust fights up and drives into the corner for the tag to Cena but the referee didn't see it. I love that spot.
The Real Americans do their Vader Bomb into the double stomp spot for another two count. Goldust finally comes back with a quick DDT to Cesaro but Damien breaks up the hot tag attempt. Sandow's chinlock is broken up and Goldust heads to the corner for a jumping back elbow which mostly misses. The drop to the knees and uppercut staggers Sandow but he still knocks Cody and Cena to the floor. A powerslam puts Damien down again and NOW we get the hot tag to Rhodes.
Cody comes in with a springboard dropkick to Sandow followed by the moonsault press (he's gotten much better at that move) for two. Damien counters Cross Rhodes and makes a tag to Cesaro but there Cross Rhodes takes Sandow out anyway. The distraction lets Antonio come in for a 31 second Cesaro Swing to Rhodes for two. During the Swing Cena speared Swagger on the floor so there's no one for Cesaro to tag.
The second hot tag brings in Cena who initiates his finishing sequence on Cesaro but the AA is countered into the gutwrench suplex. Cesaro loads up the Swing on Cena but Cena counters into an STF attempt. Antonio rolls through and hits Swiss Death, only to have Cody score with a Disaster Kick to the European. Sandow hits You're Welcome on Cody but gets bulldogged down by Goldust. Swagger gets the tag and suplexes Goldust down before putting Cena in the Patriot Lock. Cena rolls out and hits a quick AA for the pin at 16:58 shown of 23:58.
Results
Usos b. Shield Rollup to Ambrose
Wyatt Family b. Prime Time Players Discus lariat to O'Neil
Bella Twins/Natalya b. AJ Lee/Tamina Snuka/Alicia Fox Sharpshooter to Lee
Goldust/John Cena/Cody Rhodes b. Real Americans/Damien Sandow AA to Swagger
Tournament of Champions
Date: November 1, 2013
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Tazz
After a month off from this series due to Bound For Glory, we're back in Orlando for an eight month old show. The idea here is pretty simple: it's a bunch of former world champions in a tournament to determine who is the BEST CHAMPION EVER. There really isn't much else to it than that but did you expect TNA to not hold a tournament? Let's get to it.
The opening video is exactly what you would expect: shots of the entrants who are apparently putting it all on the line (nothing is on the line) in a night of hardcore wrestling (nothing is hardcore) action that will be taken to the extreme (nothing is extreme).
Here are the brackets.
Mr. Anderson/James Storm
Bully Ray
Sting
Bobby Roode
Austin Aries
Kurt Angle
Samoa Joe
Jeff Hardy
Anderson and Storm have a play in match to get us down to the final eight. Again, no AJ Styles because of the storyline that was ongoing at the time because you wouldn't want 900 people to have their realities shattered by seeing AJ wrestle in a tournament that Tenay calls invitation only.
Anderson is proud to be a part of this tournament, even though none of the entrants are at the same level of he and Bully Ray (Aces and 8's members). He's been mistreated since he arrived in TNA and tonight he'll prove why.
We get a video package on Anderson's career which will likely be happening for everyone tonight in a way to fill in the nearly three hours they have for this show.
Storm's package talks about growing up watching Tennessee wrestling which means he's a very lucky man. He mainly talks about tag team wrestling, which has almost nothing to do with tonight's theme. This also includes stuff about Storm teaming up with Gunner which didn't happen for months after this show was taped.
Tournament of Champions Wild Card Match: Mr. Anderson vs. James Storm
Storm takes him into the corner to start and we get a clean break. Anderson gets headlocked down to the mat but he fights up with forearms to the ribs. Not much to see so far. Storm gets pulled out to the floor for no action and it's right back inside for a nearfall from Anderson.
Mr. pounds in right hands before hooking a top wristlock as Tazz wants to see an actual professional wrestling resume. Tenay references the Global Wrestling Federation of all things in another of those unfunny moments between the announcers. Storm fights up but gets taken down in the corner, giving Anderson a rollup for two. The Mic Check is countered into a Last Call to send Storm into the actual tournament.
Jeff Hardy likes the idea of finding out who the best of the best is and is ready to fight Samoa Joe in the first round.
Video on Jeff Hardy, which is just a package from before Bound For Glory 2012. These are nice shortcuts to talk about what the title means, but they make the shows look low rent. You can't have Hardy do a 40 second voiceover about what the title means to him with some highlights of him in title matches? We get a clip of him pinning Aries to win the belt which is more of the right idea. As usual though, the clip goes on too long and even includes a replay because they need to fill in more time.
We get a much better treatment for Joe, with just him talking about being champion and narrated clips of him winning the title at Lockdown 2008. MUCH better here. This eats up about three minutes, which again just feels like filler. You shouldn't be able to make a sandwich and pour a drink in the amount of time spent on a video package.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy
They circle each other for about a minute as the fans' support is split. Joe gets taken down by a headscissors and a clothesline before Hardy cranks on his arm a bit. Joe comes right back with a hard elbow to the face which Hardy sells like he was shot. The left hands in the corner and the enziguri drop Hardy again but he comes back with a running clothesline. Jeff misses a splash in the corner so Joe chops him in the back and drops a knee to the face for two.
Joe gets frustrated and sends Jeff into the corner but gets caught by the Whisper in the Wind. Tenay says Hardy is spent, which is a bad sign considering he's been in the ring five minutes. They slug it out with Hardy taking over and hitting some of his usual stuff. The basement dropkick gets two and a middle rope splash gets the same for Jeff. There goes Hardy's shirt to pop the girls a bit but Joe tries the Clutch. Hardy spins out and hits a jawbreaker, only to have Joe grab a rollup for the pin to advance.
Package on Austin Aries climbing the ladder in TNA and becoming champion at Destination X 2012. They just show highlights instead of the end of the match here again thank goodness.
Angle says the greatest man that ever lived better be ready for the greatest wrestler that ever lived.
The title win video for Angle is from Slammiversary 2007 for Angle's first title win and again they show WAY too much of the match. As in they show about six minutes of the match here before going to Angle's entrance for tonight's show. This doesn't even focus on Angle but rather AJ, Joe, Christian and Chris Harris and THEN Angle comes back in to win the title.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Kurt Angle vs. Austin Aries
Angle is very passive to start and lets Aries dance around for a bit. Aries tries basic stuff like headlocks and wristlocks but Angle just smiles and doesn't move at all, so Aries goes and lays on the top rope. Aries even offers to get down on the mat amateur style but Angle laughs him off. Instead Austin makes the referee get down on all fours as a demonstration of what he wants Angle to do.
Aries gets down again but this time Angle kicks him in the ribs to really get things going. Angle pounds away in the corner and we get a Flair Flop from Austin. A suplex gets two for Kurt but Aries kicks him low to block a German. Angle comes back with right hands to knock Aries through the ropes but Austin's feet hang onto the top rope to keep him off the floor. He still manages to pull Angle to the outside and drops a top rope ax handle to take over again.
Back in and Aries hits some lame forearms to the back before mocking Angle's lowering of the straps. From his back, Angle easily kicks him through the ropes to the floor before launching him back in from the apron. Aries flips out of the German suplex and puts on the Last Chancery.
That doesn't last long as always so it's off to a front facelock, only to have Angle grab the ankle lock. Austin kicks away again but gets caught in the Angle Slam for two. They fight for a suplex with Aries on the apron but he snaps Kurt's throat on the top rope to take over. Angle avoids a missile dropkick but his Angle Slam is countered into a rollup for the pin out of nowhere.
Video on Bully Ray who hadn't been champion or even a heel long at this point. This is more of a package on all of Ray's heel run instead of just being champion. A lot is from the show where Ray explained the Aces and 8's plan throughout the show which is still pretty cool.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Bully Ray vs. James Storm
Before the match, Ray grabs the mic and throws out both So Cal Val and the referee. He goes on a rant about how the tournament is a waste of time because he's clearly the greatest world champion ever. The fans seem to disagree, even though Bully swears that people always tell him how great he is. Ray jumps him in the corner to start and whips Storm hard into the corner. Now it's off to the knee with the slow pace continuing to dominate the night.
Storm comes back with some shots to the ribs and rams Ray's head into the buckle to take over. Ray fires off an elbow to the jaw and is already demanding to be named the winner. We hit the bearhug for a bit followed by a neck crank as Ray keeps changing targets. Storm avoids an elbow drop but gets taken down by a big boot and a bad looking corner splash. Taz references King Kong Bundy to go with the Ted Arcidi (strongman wrestler from the 80s) references he made in the bearhug. Storm comes back with a Codebreaker.....but here's D-Von to attack Storm for the DQ.
Post match D-Von holds Storm down so Ray can blast his arm with the hammer. Ray doesn't seem to mind being eliminated.
Video on Bobby Roode from the buildup to Bound For Glory 2011. We also get a look at Storm winning the title (not mentioned in his video earlier) from Angle before Roode turned on him to win the belt.
Sting's video package is about his Hall of Fame induction. This is much more about sucking up to Hogan and Flair than anything else. There was no match footage nor any reference to Sting being a world champion at all here.
Tournament of Champions Quarter-Finals: Sting vs. Bobby Roode
Feeling out process to start until Sting wins a shoving match and no sells some chops. Instead Roode elbows him down and stomps away before going into the chinlock. Bobby brags a bit too much though, allowing Sting to wrap up his legs to try a Scorpion from the mat. That gets him nowhere so Roode takes him into the corner and mocks the yelling Stinger Splash.
Sting gets out of the way and hits the real splash to set up the horrible Deathlock. Bobby makes a rope as Tazz keeps making jokes about people being old. Back up and Roode grabs a DDT on the arm and slaps on the Crossface, only to have Sting make a VERY long crawl to the ropes for the break. Sting escapes a slam and hits the Death Drop for two, only to have Roode counter the Scorpion into the Crossface for the submission.
Updated brackets:
James Storm
Bobby Roode
Austin Aries
Samoa Joe
Aries talks about how people were expecting Angle vs. Joe again, but now we're getting Joe vs. Aries who have some history of their own. Tonight, Aries will beat him again.
Another Aries video, this one from the build to Destination X. This includes a repeat of a promo from his first video. They're THAT long on time tonight? We also see him winning the title from Roode in 2012 and get his ENTIRE post match celebration.
Joe's second video focuses on his feud with Angle and Joe finally beating him for the title over a year after Angle debuted. This even includes sound bytes from various talking heads and about the last five minutes of the title match.
Tournament of Champions Semi-Finals: Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe
After over fifteen minutes (seriously) of videos we're ready to go. Feeling out process to start with Joe shoving him around and an elbow sending Aries to the apron for a breather. Back in and Aries gives Joe a chance to run him over, only to try a surprise hiptoss. Joe is just too fat though so all three of Austin's tries fail miserably. Instead a drop toehold puts Aries on the floor as we get more stalling. Austin walks all the way to the back but comes running back to the ring at seven to kill extra time.
Back in and Joe kicks him in the face before snapping off right hands. Another kick to the head sends Aries to the floor but he gets in a kick to the leg as they come back inside. A top rope forearm to the head puts Joe down and they head back inside for more leg work including a leg drag for two.
Joe shrugs it off and comes back with another big boot to the face and the running senton backsplash for two. The MuscleBuster is blocked and Aries scores with a missile dropkick that can't drop Joe. Aries misses the running dropkick in the corner but comes back with the same rollup he used to beat Angle. It's only good for two here though and a few seconds later it's the Koquina Clutch to send Joe to the finals.
Since we haven't had one in about eight minutes, time for a video package! This one focuses on Storm winning the title (what a concept!), including most of his match with Angle (whole thing wasn't even two minutes long).
Roode's third video of the night talks about how Roode turned heel to take the title from Storm. By talks about, I of course mean show the turn in its entirety.
Tournament of Champions Semi-Finals: James Storm vs. Bobby Roode
Storm has a bad arm coming in. Another feeling out process to start, even though they know each other so well already. James is tentative because of the bad arm so Roode grabs at the injury. Roode asks for a test of strength as we're about two minutes into this with no significant contact. Storm pops him in the jaw to get things going and hits a running neckbreaker to send Roode out to the floor. Bobby is sent into the barricade and hit with a soda bottle as the face version of the beer bottle I guess.
Roode reverse a whip to send Storm's bad arm into the steps (almost no noise for some reason). Back in and Roode stomps away on the arm for a few moments before sending Storm to the apron. James comes back with an enziguri and goes up top, only to have to break up a superplex attempt. A top rope elbow (with the good arm) gets two on Roode but the Last Call is countered into the crossface. Storm rolls out into a cradle for two but the referee goes down, allowing Roode to hit a low blow. Back to the crossface and Storm finally taps out.
Samoa Joe says Hardy and Aries said they were going to stop Joe, but he took care of both of them. That leaves him with just Aries in his path to prove he's the greatest TNA Champion of all time.
Bobby Roode, dry as a bone here instead of sweating after finishing a match, says he's beaten Storm and Sting so Joe won't be a problem.
Tournament of Champions Finals: Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Roode
This gets big match intros to kill even more time. Yet another feeling out process to start until Joe shoves Roode into the corner and snaps off a right hand. Bobby goes to the floor for a breather but comes back in and gets chopped even more. Joe's corner enziguri sends Roode back outside as the match stays in its slow pace. Roode comes back in again and tries a headbutt, only to hurt himself in the process. Joe drops a knee for two and Bobby goes to the apron one more time.
This time though he snaps Joe's neck across the top rope to take over and adds a thumb to the eyes. Roode goes after the arm to set up the crossface before going to a reverse chinlock. Joe fights back up and hits the backsplash for two but Roode counters the MuscleBuster into the DDT on the arm. There's the crossface but Joe gets his foot on the ropes for a pretty fast break.
Roode can't get him in the fisherman's suplex but manages to break up the Clutch. Back to the crossface but Joe rolls back for two. The Rock Bottom out of the corner puts Bobby down but he counters the Clutch by climbing the corner and flipping back for the pin and the tournament.
Results
James Storm b. Mr. Anderson Last Call
Samoa Joe b. Jeff Hardy Rollup
Austin Aries b. Kurt Angle Rollup
James Storm b. Bully Ray via DQ when D-Von interfered
Bobby Roode b. Sting Crossface
Samoa Joe b. Austin Aries Koquina Clutch
Bobby Roode b. James Storm Crossface
Bobby Roode b. Samoa Joe Pin while in the Koquina Clutch
Saturday
TNA has ended their working agreement with OVW as a cost cutting measure.
Sunday
Nothing.
Quick Results
Monday Night Raw
John Cena b. Damien Sandow Attitude Adjustment
Big E. Langston b. Dean Ambrose via DQ when Shield interfered
Shield b. Big E. Langston/Usos Spear to Jey Uso
Los Matadores b. 3MB Double Angle Slam to McIntyre
Tamina Snuka/AJ Lee b. Bella Twins Black Widow to Nikki
Kane b. The Miz Chokeslam
Real Americans b. Goldust/Cody Rhodes Patriot Lock to Goldust
Natalya b. Summer Rae Sharpshooter
NXT
Alexander Rusev/Sylvester LeFort b. Colin Cassady/Enzo Amore Accolade to Cassady
Aiden English b. Jason Jordan Director's Cut
Paige b. Summer Rae Paige Turner
CJ Parker b. Tyler Breeze Third Eye
Impact Wrestling
Bro Mans b. Gunner/James Storm Suplex reversal to Storm
Ethan Carter III b. Norv Fernum Bulldog driver
Magnus won a gauntlet battle royal last elimination Sting and Kazarian
Gail Kim b. ODB Rollup
Bobby Roode b. Kurt Angle via referee stoppage
Smackdown
Usos b. Shield Rollup to Ambrose
Wyatt Family b. Prime Time Players Discus lariat to O'Neil
Bella Twins/Natalya b. AJ Lee/Tamina Snuka/Alicia Fox Sharpshooter to Lee
Goldust/John Cena/Cody Rhodes b. Real Americans/Damien Sandow AA to Swagger
Tournament of Champions
James Storm b. Mr. Anderson Last Call
Samoa Joe b. Jeff Hardy Rollup
Austin Aries b. Kurt Angle Rollup
James Storm b. Bully Ray via DQ when D-Von interfered
Bobby Roode b. Sting Crossface
Samoa Joe b. Austin Aries Koquina Clutch
Bobby Roode b. James Storm Crossface
Bobby Roode b. Samoa Joe Pin while in the Koquina Clutch