Slammiversary X

College Park Center – Arlington, Texas – June 10, 2012

Mike Tenay and Taz are on commentary.

MATCH #1: TNA X Division Championship – Austin Aries (c) vs. Samoa Joe

Aries has been the Champion since 9.11.11, and this is his eleventh defense. The weight limit for the X-Division at this point was 225 pounds, but since Aries had no one credible in the division to face, Hulk Hogan said it would be okay if Joe challenged for the title. Seems kind of lame, but given the choice of Aries versus Joe or Aries versus someone like Zema Ion or another X-Division goof, I’ll take Aries versus Joe.

Here’s a question – if Joe wins the title what do they do with the weight limit? They start with some chain wrestling. Joe tries using strikes and power, while Aries to to use his quickness and out-wrestle Joe. Aries knocks Joe to the floor with a hurricanrana. He tries the Heat Seeking Missile but Joe cuts him off with a kick to the face. Back in the ring Joe presses the advantage. Joe realizes Aries’ face is dirty, so he helpfully washes it for him. He hits a snap powerslam for two. Joe continues to beat on Aries, but when he tries a senton splash Aries gets his knees up. Even so, Joe quickly comes back and kicks Aries to the floor. Joe goes for a dive but Aries avoids it and is able to drill Joe with the Heat Seeking Missile.

Lockdown 2012

Municipal Auditorium – Nashville, Tennessee – April 15, 2012

Mike Tenay and Taz are on commentary.

MATCH #1: Lethal Lockdown – Team Eric vs. Team Garett

Garett Bischoff volunteered to go first for his team, because he thinks he’s got something to prove. His first opponent is Gunner, a man he has had problems with in the past. Garett strikes first with a dropkick off the second rope. Gunner cuts him off with a hard clothesline. He dominates his much less experienced opponent right up until the time the clock runs out. Bully Ray is the next man out. Things do not look very good for Garett at the moment. Even so he tries to fight back but just gets clubbed down. Finally the sides are even when the TNA X Division Champion Austin Aries makes his way out. Aries goes right after Ray and gives Garett a much needed breather. He tries the IED but Ray cuts him off with a big boot. Aries fights back as Team Eric goes back on the advantage when Kazarian comes out. AJ Styles is next up to even the sides. He has issues with Kazarian and begins to settle them by slamming the cage door on his head. Styles is a house afire for a bit. Christopher Daniels is next out for Team Eric to give them another man advantage. They use it quite well, and then Mr. Anderson comes out swinging. Team Eric is completed by team captain Eric Bischoff, who really enjoys helping his teammates abuse his son. Finally Rob Van Dam makes his way out and the teams are complete. RVD cleans house with kicks and a Rolling Thunder on Ray. The ceiling lowers and weapons are in play. Team Garett is dominating here. Styles and Aries bring Bischoff out to the middle of the ring and Aries bodyslams him. That goes nowhere. Styles and Kazarian fight on the top rope and then climb the ceiling to the middle of the ring. Guess how that ends?

Genesis 2012

Universal Studios – Orlando, Florida – January 8, 2012

Mike Tenay and Taz are on commentary.

MATCH #1: TNA X Division Championship 4-Way Elimination Match – Austin Aries (c) vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion vs. Kid Kash

Aries has been the Champion since 9.11.11, and this is his fifth defense. The champ bails to start the match, since you can’t get eliminated on the floor. The remaining three competitors try to score a quick pinfall but no one is eliminated in the opening minute. Sorensen and Ion end up in the ring and they take it to each other. Sorensen looks like a template for a Create-A-Wrestler. He hits a Northern Lights Suplex for two. Aries trips Sorensen from the floor and hits the slingshot twisting splash for two. He tires the quebrada but Sorensen gets the knees up. Everyone tries pinning the Champion with a rollup but no one is successful. Kash knocks Aries to the floor and wipes him out with a dive. Sorensen gets up on the ropes and Ion kicks his leg out of his leg. Ion goes up top and Kash joins him. Sorensen powerbombs them down in a Tower of Doom spot. Aries tires to pin each guy but only gets two-counts. He pitches Sorensen and Kash to the floor. Aries goes up top and Ion pushes him down onto Kash. Ion takes both Aries and Kash out with a twisting body press off the top rope. Sorensen then flies out with a dive to wipe out all three. Back in the ring Sorensen covers Aries for two. All four men battle in the ring. Ion hits Kash with a 450 Splash to score the first elimination at 6:05.

Enigma: The Best of Jeff Hardy Volume 2

MATCH #1: Jeff Hardy vs. AJ Styles w/ Ric Flair, Impact, 3.15.10

Abyss is the special guest enforcer to make sure Flair stays out of the match. Styles is the current TNA World Champion but the title is not on the line here. This is Hardy’s first match in TNA since 2005. Tenay says “nobody knows Jeff Hardy better than you, Taz,” but I call bullshit on that. As one might expect, the pace is pretty quick from the get-go. Styles takes control and dumps Hardy to the floor, and as soon as Flair thinks about interfering, Abyss is there to thwart him. Even so the champion remains in control, drilling Hardy with his patented dropkick. Styles goes to work on the leg, but Hardy kicks him over the ropes and onto the entrance ramp. Hardy can’t capitalize right away though, taking another few minutes before making his comeback. They go back and forth – Hardy hits the Whisper in the Wind and Styles counters with the Pele Kick. Styles goes for the springboard forearm shot and the referee gets in the way and goes down.

Bound for Glory 2011

Liacouras Center – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 16, 2011

Mike Tenay and Taz are on commentary.

MATCH #1: X Division Championship – Brian Kendrick vs. Austin Aries

Aries has been the champion since 9.11.11, and this is his second defense. They start with some fast-paced back and forth, as the Philadelphia crowd supports the heel Champion. Kendrick dropkicks Aries to the floor and then dropkicks him off the apron and hits a house show dive. Back in the ring Kendrick continues on offense but Aries blocks a second monkey flip attempt and then hits a clothesline. I just noticed Kendrick is wrestling barefoot; he has these shin guards that kind of make it look like he has boots on. Either way Aries is fully in control now. Aries goes for the Pendulum Elbow but Kendrick blocks it and gets a quick rollup for two. Kendrick now unleashes a series of flying forearms and a couple of dropkicks. He hits a sledge to the back of the neck for a two-count. Aries comes back with an STO and this time hits the Pendulum Elbow for two. He goes for the IED but Kendrick kicks him out of the air and hits a Tornado DDT for another near-fall. Kendrick tries Sliced Bread #2 but Aries sends him to the floor and wipes him out with the Heat Seeking Missile.

No Surrender 2011

Universal Studios – Orlando, Florida – September 11, 2011

MATCH #1: Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash

This is announced as a #1 Contender’s match. They start with some back and forth chain wrestling and both get some near-falls. The crowd cheers for the standoff like it’s ROH circa 2002. Tenay and Tazz talk about how much they love the 225-pound weight limit in the X Division, since it prevents someone like Abyss from coming in and dominating. Way to just bury the entire division, goofs. Kash takes the advantage and tries keeping Sorensen on the mat. Sorensen fights back with plucky babyface offense. Kash tries to cut him off but Sorensen perseveres and hits a swinging neckbreaker for two. Sorensen hits a high cross body block off the top rope for another two-count.

Hardcore Justice 2011

Universal Studios – Orlando, FL – August 7, 2011

Mike Tenay and Taz are on commentary.

MATCH #1: TNA X Division Championship Match – Brian Kendrick vs. Alex Shelley vs. Austin Aries

Kendrick has been the Champion since 7.11.11, and this is his third defense. The action in this one should be fast paced. Aries score the first couple of hits but Shelley catches him with a spin kick and then Kendrick clotheslines him to the floor. Shelley and Kendrick go back and forth a bit as Aries regroups on the floor. Aries ties to pick his spot to get back in the ring but he picks a bad spot and gets sent back outside. Shelley keeps Aries on the floor so he and Kendrick can continue the mat wrestling. Finally Aries makes it back in and rakes Shelley’s back. Oddly Aries falls down and starts selling his face for some reason. Kendrick sends Shelley to the floor and goes for a dive but Aries cuts him off. Aries dumps Kendrick to the floor and goes for a dive but Shelley trips him up. Shelley tries to follow up but Aries sends him to the floor and wipes out both of his opponents with the heat seeking missile. Back in the ring Aries hits Shelley with the twisting slingshot splash for two. Aries tries the quebrada but Shelley gets his knees up. Kendrick gets back in the ring and dropkicks Aries down. Shelley locks Kendrick in a Crossface and the Champion is forced to reach the ropes. A series of reversals ends with Shelley hitting a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes. Shelley goes up top but Aries brings him down. Aries tries to follow up but Shelley superkicks him to the floor.