TNA 2007: Slammiversary Posted! Title Change!

June 3, 2007

Austin Aries vs Ron Killings
This was a good choice to open up the show, and despite Aries being a total heel at this point, the crowd was actually almost dead split, both guys got good reactions, helped by the fact that Killings doesn't do much these days, and likely won't be rocking the PPV's for long. The pace was really wucik early on, which is exactly what the fans expected. Killings was acrobatic enough to hang in there with Aries, but Truth was just pissed, and he brawled more. Aries was going for more impressive, fast moves, whereas Killings would hit one, and then just start violently beating Aries down. Lots of stiff shots were thrown around by Truth, and Aries's chest was red from the chops Truth delivered, but Aries stuck in there, taking control by countering a brainbuster into one of his own, and then he went to work on Truth. But he made the mistake of going for the 450 splash too early, and Truth moved, so Aries crashed hard into the mat. Truth immediately went for an axe kick, but Aries dodged, hit a reverse STO, and then after another brainbuster, connected successfully with the 450 to get the win.
Winner: Austin Aries

Bobby Roode vs Brent Albright
This was interesting, because originally, the loser would have to leave Egotrip, but on the last Impact, Roode just quit when he felt the rest of the group favored Albright over him, and Roode was looking to make a big statement here tonight, to prove his departure would be a blow to the group. However, Roode was obviously still hurting from the massive beatdown he recieved on the last Impact just three days ago. Roode was the clear crowd favorite here, and Albright played it off really well, getting angry at the crowd, and while he was mouthing off a fan on the outside of the ring, Roode ran up behind him and threw him into the guardrail. Roode slammed Albright into the ring post, and also used the ring steps, busting Albright open, making this a flatout brawl, which easily favored Roode. When the action got back into the ring, Albright got thrown into a corner, but got control when he moved out of the way when Roode tried to hit a splash in the corner, and hit the turnbuckles. Albright locked in a crowbar, but Roode refused to tap out, and managed to make it to the ropes. But at this point, Albright was bleeding pretty badly, and just didn't care, and he refused to let go of the hold, causing the referee to count to five, and DQ Albright.
Winner: Bobby Roode

After a few moments, Albright finally released the hold, leaving Roode clutching his arm in pain. Albright went outside the ring, and grabbed a steel chair, and got back in, and stood behind Roode, getting ready to deliver more punishment. But as Roode stood up, and turned to face Albright, he ducked. Albright swung the chair and it bounced off the ropes, rebounding into his own face. Albright dropped the chair and grabbed his face, and Roode grabbed the chair, and leveled Albright with it, putting him down. Roode then went nuts, and started hammering the fallen Albright with a dozen or so chair shots, before finally tossing the chair away, and screaming to the crowd, and they roared their approval, as Roode walked backstage, having gotten some revenge.

Jay Lethal vs Bryan Danielson
Despite not being too well known in the major circuit, Danielson got a huge pop from the Nashville crowd, and Lethal got a lot of hate. This just made Lethal more determined, and the two locked up to begin with, taking it to the mat. A few holds and arm drags were used, and Lethal hit a nice hip toss, but Danielson got right back up and got a side headlock takeover, which Lethal powered out of, and Lethal managed to hit a hice dropkick, and he began to boast a little to the crowd afterwards, which allowed Danielson to get a schoolboy, almost getting three. But Lethal kicked out, and rolled up Bryan into a small package. Bryan kicked out and did a different rollup, and Lethal next got an inside cradle, for only two each time, and then the two got back to their feet, facing off. Lethal went for a big right hand, which Danielson ducked under, and then hit a german suplex, and held it in a pin, only getting two. And for the next few minutes, on it went, Lethal would go for something, Danielson would counter and almost pick up the win, and as this went on, Lethal became more and more frustrated, which made him less and less effective. However, Lethal managed to avoid the cattle mutilation, and hit a tigerbomb, but he only got two, and he got into the referees face, complaining about a slow count. Danielson snuck up behind him, and got Lethal into a LeBell Lock, and he forced Lethal to tap, Bryan Danielson picks up his first win on PPV in very impressive fashion! After the match, Danielson celebrated with the fans at ringside, as Lethal flipped out in the ring.
Winner: Bryan Danielson

Abyss & Rhino vs Tomko & Giant Bernard Went to a No Contest
This match didn't even get started, as while Abyss and Rhino were walking backstage heading to the ring, they were ambushed by Tomko and Bernard. A huge fight ensued, and while many referees and secrity guards attempted to stop it, they were unable to, as Tomko and Bernard did not shy away from hitting them, Bernard even going as far to slam a referee through a table. Tomko and Bernard had the upper hand most of the fight, but James Mitchell showed some guts, getting involved by smashing his cane over Bernards knee, putting him down for a few moments. This allowed Rhino and Abyss to take on Tomko 2 on 1, and Abyss managed to chokeslam Tomko directly on the cement floor. Rhino then gored Bernard into the side of a dumpster. The battle ended for now, bodies and items strewn everywhere, Rhino and Abyss successfully fending off the attack.

X-Division Championship
Kazarian (c) vs Petey Williams
This was a good match, just not quite at the level of a lot of Kazarian's defenses during his 6 month long title reign. However, the difference in this one was what they were going for, that gave it a different feel than the other matches Kazarian has had as of late. This match was played on the fact that Kazarian was just one of the best and most well rounded X-Division Champions in TNA histroy, because face it, by this point, he is. So the idea with this match was that Kazarian was ultimately out wrestling Williams, but Petey was constantly going for the Canadian Destroyer, knowing that if he hit that one move, it was all over, that was his game changer. This made things quite intense, as Williams, throughout the course of the match, made 7 attempts at the destroyer, while Kazarian slowly wore him down through smaller moves, and made Petey second guess his ability to win the match. A cool series of events transpired, as Kaz clotheslined Williams to the outside, and then went for a baseball slide. Williams moved, and pulled Kazarian out to the floor, and dropped him with a sick DDT on the floor. Williams got into the ring, and when Kazarian stirred, Petey went for a suicide dive, hitting it. Williams then attempted a canadian destroyer on the outside of the ring, but Kazarian countered, backdrop Williams over his head, and Williams landed back first onto the top of the guard rail containing the crowd, which got a real big oooh from the fans, it was a nasty looking spot, and Petey looked pretty hurt from it. Kazarian got Petey back into the ring, and went for a cover, but only got two. Kazarian attempted a wave of the future, but Williams blocked it, and then finally connected with a Canadian Destroyer! But in the pin, Kazarian kicked out, sending the crowd into a frenzy, and Petey couldn't believe it. He tried to do the move again, but Kazarian, the tough bastard he is, spun out of it, nailed a Wave of the Future, and got the three count for the victory, joining the very rare club of people to have kicked out of the canadian destroyer.
Winner: Kazarian

Kurt Angle was backstage being interviewed by Jeremy Borash. Borash asked Angle how confident he was going into his match with Samoa Joe tonight. Angle said he had never been more confident, or pumped up for a match in his life. He said this is why he came to TNA, to face and defeat the best, and he would finally get to go one on one with Joe. Angle said that he was going to roll through Joe tonight, and then he was going to get a one on one match with whoever won king of the mountain tonight, and reclaim HIS TNA Championship, and that's true, it's damn true!

Sting vs Shane Helms
Despite going with the Gregory name since he debuted, Helms was announced as Shane Helms, which is believed to be a move made due to not only Helm's own request, but the fans complaints as well. This was one of the shorter matches of the night, but it was still a good one. Early on, Helms tried to push the pace, knowing he was younger and faster, and that the more he pushed Sting, and the longer it went, the more it benefited himself. Sting, however, was quite savvy, as he had learned a lot over the years, and he was able to taunt Helms into making mistakes, such as a moment where Helms had Sting reeling, yet Sting taunted him, asking if that was all Helms had. That caused Helms to try to go for a shining wizard too early, which Sting avoided, and then hit a suplex, and began to take control. Sting slowed down the pace, getting Helms into a corner, and using a lot of chops and kicks, trying to wear Helms down. But Helms started firing punches back at the Stinger, and managed to connect with a superkick. Sting was reeling, but Helms was having trouble tryinbg to land a finishing blow. It started turning into a slugfest, and Sting began getting the upper hand again, taking Helms down with an uppercut to the jaw, and then he went for a scorpion death lock, but Helms rolled him up, almost getting the three count. Sting was a little shaky getting up from that, but Helms got caught in his grasp, and Sting went for a scorpion death drop. Helms, however, spun out of it and connected with a neckbreaker, and then a few seconds later, nailed Sting with a shining wizard to get the shocking three count!
Winner: Shane Helms

After the win, Shane Helms was ecstatic, shocked but incredibly happy to get a victory over Sting, and he celebrated like there was no tomorrow. Helms had gotten arguably the biggest singles victory of his career, and he rubbed it in to the irritation of the crowd. After Helms had finally left the ring area, Sting stood up, looking completely out of it. He had been on the losing end more often than not lately, and it was clearly getting to him. He just looked depressed as he walked up the ramp, muttering to himself, ignoring the words of support coming from the crowd.

TNA Tag Team Championships
XXX (c) vs America's Most Wanted
Senshi and Skipper representing Triple X tonight, and what a fitting match for Slammiversary, in the Asylum, the most famous tag team rivalry in TNA history one more time. AMW were the favorites tonight. Triple X started things at a very fast pace, keeping Storm and Harris off balance for a while, but Harris managed to get the edge back by reversing a Skipper cross body attempt into a slam. Harris took the boots to Skipper, and AMW began isolating him in their corner, but it didn't last too long, as Skipper hit a dropkick on Storm and tagged in Senshi. Senshi went to work, using lots of stiff kicks to keep Storm in pain, but Storm wouldn't have that, and he leveled Senshi with a big boot, and he went back to his corner, and took a drink of his beer he had brought down with him. Storm tagged in Harris, and after some more exchanges, Senshi got in Skipper, who upped the pace again. The end came when Harris knocked Senshi off the ring apron and whipped Skipper into a corner. The referee admonished Harris for taking the shot at Senshi, allowing Storm to spit beer in the face of Skipper. Skipper stumbled back, blinded, and Harris dropped him with the Catatonic giving them the three, and AMW are the new tag champions!
Winners: America's Most Wanted

It was announced that the next TNA PPV event, Victory Road, would be taking place on Sunday, July 1, 2007, and TNA would be taking a trip to Canada! Victory, live from the Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Sunday July 1!

A video package played, hyping up the Samoa Joe vs Kurt Angle bout. it showed highlights of Angle's rise to the TNA Title, and Samoa Joe's incredibly long unbeaten streak from the past. A bunch of different TNA Wrestlers talked about the match, how excited they were for it, to finally see the best in TNA go one on one with the Best in the World.

Kurt Angle vs Samoa Joe
The crowd was absolutely off the hook for this one to get going, and the entrances were awesome, with a marching band playing music for Joe's entrance, and members of the Armed Forces around ringside for Angle's. The crowd was dead split, with alternating Let's Go Joe/Let's Go Angle chants, and each man had a look of intensity on their face like we had never seen before. The two went at it, and to start, just began throwing shots, punches, forearms you name it at each others heads, not bothering to block anything, trying to get the advantage. Joe won the strike exchange, as he had a bit more strength, and the brawling fit his style much more, so he sent Angle reeling, a small cut already opened on Angle's head hardway from one of the elbows Joe landed. Joe grabbed Angle, and hit a suplex, and went for a pin quickly, and got a near fall, almost surprising Angle. Joe started to haul up Kurt, but Angle grabbed Joe's legs, tripping him and Angle tried to lock in an ankle lock, but Joe used his other foot to kick Angle in the face repeatedly, forcing Angle to let go before he could do anything. Joe quickly got to his feet, and whipped Angle to the ropes, but Angle hit a jumping clothesline on the way back, taking down Joe. Angle locked in a headlock on Joe on the mat, trying to weaken him down, but Joe started to power to his feet, but Angle went with it on the fly, letting go before grabbing Joe again, tossing him in a belly to belly. Angle got to his feet, and as Joe got up, tackled him so that both men tumbled through the ropes to the floor. Joe had hit his head on the edge of the ring aprom on the way through, so he was a bit woozy, and Angle tried to take advantage, but Joe countered his whip and sent Angle into the steel steps back first, causing Angle to scream in pain. Angle moved himself so that he was sitting against the steps, and Joe ran at him, trying to run ito Angle, but Angle moved, and Joe crashed knees first into the steps, and he cluthced his left knee in pain. Angle got up, and pulled Joe in, and delivered an olympic slam, one that dropped Joe back first on top of the guard rail! Joe crashed down to the floor and the crowd was going ballistic! The two eventually found their way back into the ring, and it was a game of hitting some huge moves, but only getting near falls. Every time Angle tried to take it into a strict mat wrestling game Joe punished him. Joe attempted a clutch, but Angle slipped out and tripped him, locking in an ankle lock! Angle managed to keep the hold on for over two minutes, but couldn't make Joe tap, and Joe finally reached the ropes. Joe was, for the time being, having trouble getting to his feet, and wasn't facing Angle. So Kurt, in a move not common for him, went to the top rope, but we'll never know what he had planned, as Joe got up and fell back into the ropes, making Angle trip and crotch himself on the top rope in the corner. Joe moved over to him, and connected with a muscle buster! Instead of going for a cover, Joe immediately picked Angle up, and locked in the clutch, falling to the mat once more. Angle tried desperately to fight the clutch and get out, and Angle refused to tap out, but eventually, it was just too much, and Angle passed out rather than tap out, giving Joe the win.
Winner: Samoa Joe

The commentary team announced that up next, it was King of the Mountain for the TNA Championship. They went over the rules of the match: The TNA Championship would be suspended over the ring, and the first man to grab it would be the winner, unlike previous years where you had to hang the belt up to win. However, to gain eligibility to grab the title, you had to first gain a pinfall or a submission. If a superstar was pinned or he submitted, they would have to spend two minutes inside of a penalty box at ringside.

King of the Mountain Match for the TNA Championship
AJ Styles (c) vs Jeff Jarrett vs Christopher Daniels vs Christian Cage vs Alex Shelley
To begin the match, Styles and Daniels, who had fought to a draw three nights before on Impact, went at it, taking each other to the outside of the ring, and fighting there. This left Alex Shelley in the ring with the two leaders of Egotrip, Christian Cage and Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett and Cage immediately double teamed Shelley, who tried to fight them off, but was unsuccessful, as whenever he started to get the edge on one person, the other would hit him from behind. Cage hit the unprettier on him really early, and Jarrett locked in a figure four on Shelley. Cage then locked in an armbar at the same time, and Shelley could only hold out for so long, as it was just too much to take, so he tapped. The referee ruled both Jarrett and Cage were now eligible, as they both had submissions on. Shelley was taken to the penalty box, and Styles and Daniels, realizing what had happened, both rushed the ring and went after Jarrett and Christian. Styles was going after Christian, and Daniels with Jarrett. Christian was able to take down Styles, hitting a low blow and then an unprettier, to get the pin, but Daniels at the same time hit Jarrett with angels wings and pinned him, gaining eligiblity, and sending both Styles and Jarrett to the box as Shelley was getting out. Shelley would gain himself eligibility, as Daniels was about to pin Christian, Shelley kicked Daniels and stole the pin. Things went into a frenzy now, as the ladders came into play, and the current champion Styles was the only man not eligible to grab the belt. There was a cool spot where Shelley was on the top of the ladder about to grab the belt, when Jarrett tipped the ladder over, but Shelley managed to jump from the top of the falling ladder and land on top of the penalty box. He landed hard though, and was out for a bit. He came back into the match by hitting a jumping cross body off the top of the penalty box to Daniels in the ring, pinning him. But AJ Styles was waiting with a styles clash, pinning Shelley and finally getting eligibility, sending both Daniels nad Shelley to the box. But Styles was knocked out of the ring by Jarrett and Christian. Jarrett began climbing the ladder, but Christian pulled him off, and motioned that HE should the be the one getting the title. Christian then started climbing, but now Jarrett pulled him down, and they began arguing over who should win the belt, which allowed AJ Styles to springboard off the top rope, and hit a double clothesline on both of them! Styles quickly scrambled up the ladder, and grabbed his belt down, retaining his title!
Winner: AJ Styles

Slammiversary went off the air with AJ Styles still the World Champion, and Jarrett and Christian Cage in disbelief, and the crowd was very happy to see the TNA original in Styles keep the gold.