Video Package
An overall package showing highlights of the last few years, focusing on Sting, Scott Steiner, Christian, Rhino and others. I think it was more to show the faces and introduce new viewers to the major players. Cinematically, it was a cool package and I honestly got goosebumps, mainly because a lot of my favorite workers were shown.
Segment: Setting up King of The Mountain Match
Christian Cage, NWA champion comes out and delivers a promo solidifying himself as a face. He demands to see who wants to figh him at Slammiversary and a clusterfuck occurs in which 7 of the main eventers show up including Raven and Monty Brown who I totally forgot about. It was a little sad because The Alpha Male got about 20 seconds on the mic and delivered his catchphrase and there was absolutely zero heat for him. It ended with Larry "how is this guy in a position of authority" Zybysko saying that there are going to be elimination matches for spots at the PPV.
It was a decent segment until they threw everyone and the kitchen sink and made it feel rushed.
30 Second Senshi Hype
Low Ki getting a little hype, I never liked him and he did a shitty VoiceOver.
World X Cup Final: Petey Williams vs. Chris Sabin
A great X division match with nice high spots. It's one of those matches that started off average but then built and built into a great tv match. There were about 3 high spots and some tree of woe antics that got great heat from the crowd. What sucked though was that Mike Tenay and the fat guy who I don't feel like looking up (Dom Mitchell?) spent a good portion of the match hyping up the upcoming KotM elimination matches. Listen, I love Scott Steiner too, but you don't have to say his name 8 times in a midcard match. Oh, Sabin won.
Post Match: Kevin Nash beats on Sabin
This was when Nash was doing his whole "anti-X division" thing. It was a waste of time in my opinion. Nash could be reay funny (Paparrazi Inc promos) but when he tries to act tough, it just comes off as desperate. I think it was a waste of 2 minutes, but if this was the first episode on Spike, then I understand solidifying his character.
Segment: Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash, TNA's answer for Kevin Kelly was backstage hyping up the fact that we didn't know who was getting a match. He shows Abyss, Monty Brown Double J... And then just when I was ready to roll my eyes at this lame set up, Scott Steiner just yells,
"SHUT UP BORASH!"
Segment: Ringside Talking
Mike Tenay and Don West (I was close) discuss the KotM qualifiers and go on and on about how they don't know who is getting picked for a match tonight, because obviously there's fucking nothing else to talk about because in 40 minutes, we've only had one god damn match.
Then Scott Steiner shows up and starts yelling without a mic (because fuck mics) that he wants to fight Sting. Ok, we're setting shit up... Then, because he's in the throughs of a Roid Rage episode, he just starts choking out Don West!
It was actually hilarious.
Match: Samoa Joe vs. Chase Stephens
At this time, Joe was undefeated, so he continues that streak with a squash match. It was short, to the point, and just showed that Joe could quickly end matches. He won by rear naked choke. After the match, Andy Douglas comes to protect Chase from a further beat down, and Shane Douglas looks concerned in order to get a quick paycheck.
Joe was originally supposed to be interviewed, but I think they scrambled this quick squash together just so they could say that they had 3 matches on the card.
Segment: Team 3D Interview
They're feuding with the James Gang, and they throw in a lot of references for the smarks. I think they made an ECW reference too. Decent segment. I think it went 30 seconds longer than it should have, but it wasn't horrible.
KotM Qualifier: Abyss vs Rhino
A good booked match. Obviously using ex-WWE guys who the crowd will know to legitimize the TNA roster. Good back and forth action, both guys hit all their spots nicely. Bobby Rhoode interfered and got gored but that gave Abyss the opening to hit a Black Hole Slam. Abyss advances and Rhino will presumably feud with Team Canada.
The show ends with a two minute video package hyping the qualification matches for KotM. And Dom West keeps fucking saying, "We could see Sting vs. Jeff Jarrett!" So I'm assuming we're totally not going to see that but that seems to be what they think will draw.
Best Match: Williams vs. Sabin
Best Moment: Steiner choking Don West because he's Scott Fucking Steiner
Show Grade: B
It's an hour long, if we get one good match, I'll be happy. This one had a great match, a squash and a decent main event match. The promos were decent, if not rushed but you have an hour, what do you expect? Conspicuously absent was AJ Styles...
I leave you with a screen shot of LAX who during the World X Cup were being Hispanic near the Spanish announce table.
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