Credit Wrestling Observer
TNA Final Resolution PPV rundown
by Alan Wojcik
On Sunday January 15th, TNA Wrestling held its FINAL RESOLUTION PPV. Outside the entry walkway to the soundstage TNA had a Sting face painting cart set up. So that’s how several people are painted like him so neatly. The Universal guest services and security group had their hands full tonight as everyone came out to see the return of the legendary STING, including some of the rudest guests who claimed to have disabilities. I feel they did an excellent job tonight. As was reported on the websites former WWE and WCW talent Debra McMichael-Williams was backstage visiting friends. Apparently former WWE wrestler Matt Morgan was also backstage. Jimmy Hart came out and told the fans that they weren’t allowed to use obscene hand gestures or profanity during the show or they would be asked to leave. The sign of the night: “Todd Grisham Fears TNA.”
The pre-show was hosted by Jeremy Borash and “the Franchise” Shane Douglas. (My New Year’s resolution is to mention Scott Hudson in each PPV recap.) Borash claimed they had to turn away more people then were let in the venue. During the pre-show Borash told the fans that Sting was making his TNA debut. Obviously he forgot the few dates Sting worked for TNA in Nashville. The following two matches were on the pre-show:
Team Canada members Petey Williams, “Showtime” Eric Young and A1 defeated Lance Hoyt, Jay Lethal and Kenny King when Williams hit Lethal with the Canadian Destroyer.
Latin American Exchange members Konnan and “the Notorious 187” Homicide defeated The Naturals (Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas). The Naturals hit Homicide with the Natural Disaster. However Konnan hit Stevens in the head with a sock puppet, sorry a loaded sock.
The PPV was opened by another excellent cold opening produced by David Sahadi and Kevin Sullivan.
(1) Roderick Strong, Austin Aires and Alex Shelley (w/video camera) defeated Matt Bentley (w/Traci Brooks), Sonjay Dutt and “the Future” Chris Sabin (w/ a new hairstyle).
Shelley and Sabin traded punches and kicks but Sabin got a kick to the back. Dutt tagged in and Sabin dropped him onto Shelley. Strong tagged in but was hit with several armdrags. Bentley tagged in and continued the attack on Strong’s arms. Strong tagged out to Aries but Aries walked into a suplex from Bentley. Dutt came back in and went for the Spinkler but Strong grabbed the rope, causing Dutt to crotch himself on the rope. As Dutt was being beaten down, Jerry Lynn came to ringside to watch the match. Strong, Aries and Shelley took turns beating on Dutt but none of them could get the pin. The trio through everything in their arsenal at Dutt and it was painful to watch. Dutt fought out of a Strong attempted move into a tornado DDT and tagged out to Sabin. Shelley tagged in but Sabin got in some quick bodyshots. At one point Sabin kicked off Aires and Shelley’s chests as he hit Strong with a DDT. All six men were in at one point and then went to the floor over and through the ropes. Strong had Bentley ready for a backbreaker when Brooks got on the apron. Strong went over to her and when he turned around Bentley hit him with a superkick. But Shelley snuck up behind Bentley and scored a school boy roll pin. I couldn’t see if there was a tight pull.
For the first time we were able to hear Mike Tenay and Don West in between matches. They ran down the rest of the card before running a video that recapped the disintegration of 4 Live Kru.
(2) The James Gang (Kip and BG James) defeated Diamonds in the Rough members “Primetime” Elix Skipper and David Young (w/Simon Diamond).
After the James Gang spoke on the mic they tried to dominate Skipper and Young. It worked for a while until BG took his eyes of Young. When BG turned around Young hit the dreaded spinebuster. Skipper tagged in and used his martial arts skills on BG’s back. Young lost the momentum when he missed a top rope moonsault. BG tagged out to Kip and his bad hairdo (I sense a pattern.) Kip had control but Skipper hit him with a rolling clothesline. Skipper went for the Play of the Day but Kip countered and hit what looked like a Cobra
Clutch into a power bomb to win the match.
Shane Douglas spoke to “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels about tonight’s bout with Samoa Joe.
(3) In an international X division showcase match, "Phenomenal" AJ Styles defeated New Japan/IWGP U30 champion Hiroshi Tanahashi.
New Japan executive David Marquez stood behind me during this bout. Both men began the match with a feeling out process. This led to chest chops and stiff forearms to the jaw. Styles got in a knee drop but Tanahashi didn’t let him get anything else in. Tanahashi locked in an abdominal stretch but Styles got to the ropes. Tanahashi locked in a sleeper but switched to a Dragon Sleeper. Tanahashi seemed to grow frustrated as he went to the second rope. However he missed an elbow drop. This allowed Styles to gain a quick recovery. Clotheslines and a springboard forearm followed. Styles hit a suplex into a neckbreaker for two. The two men traded corner shots but Tanahashi hit a full nelson slam for two. Styles missed a spinning kick and Tanahashi got real close to a pin with an inverted bulldog. Tanahashi put Styles on the top rope but Styles countered out of a suplex into a bodyblock. Just as it looked over, Shannon Moore hit the ring and tried to hit Styles with the Mr. TNA award. The only problem was Styles ducked and Moore knocked Tanahashi out. Styles hit Moore with the Pele’ kick and Tanahashi with the Styles Clash to win. After the match the fans gave Tanahashi a rousing ovation.
Raven spoke about the injuries and obstacles he faced during his stay in TNA Wrestling. Shane Douglas spoke to Raven in his lair about the match and who the opponent could be.
(4) In a NO DQ match, Larry Zbyszko’s handpicked opponent Sean Waltman defeated Raven. By losing this match Raven must leave TNA Wrestling. Waltman met Raven and his shopping cart of toys on the rampway. Raven got busted open by a garbage can shot from Waltman. Next came kendo stick shots to the head. Waltman went to hit Raven with the trash can but as he hit Raven, Raven hit Waltman with the trash can lid. Raven ended up on the floor arguing with Zbyszko when Waltman joined them with a suicide plancha. The action stayed on the floor as Waltman ran over Raven with the shopping cart. The two men fought up the rampway and Waltman ended up going off the rampway in the shopping cart. The action came back to the ring as the referee went down to a Raven clothesline. Waltman went down to a Raven Effect and a garbage can shot to the head. Zbyszko slid in to count the pin but got two. Waltman hit the X Factor but got two. Waltman found weight lifting belt and hit Raven. He laid Raven on a ladder but missed the Bronco Buster. Raven went for the pin but somehow Zbyszko can’t count past two. Raven set up a ladder with a folding table below as both men fought up. Raven ended up going through the table and Zbyszko counted the pin, ignoring Raven had his foot on the bottom rope. Borash told Zbyszko Raven had his foot on the ropes but he didn’t want to hear it. Zbyszko taunted Raven about how he is now gone from TNA Wrestling. TNA security came to the ring to escort Raven out of the building. The fans gave Raven a standing ovation as he exited right by my location. Cassidy Riley came out to protest his hero being booted from TNA but couldn’t stop what happened.
Shane Douglas spoke to Ron Killings about his match with Bobby Roode but it was cut off by Konnan. It looked like Konnan had Killings convinced to join the LAX. Mike Tenay and Don West spoke about Raven being booted from TNA. Cameras cut to the backstage area where Raven was being escorted out. Jackie Gayda came into the area telling Raven they were both being screwed by some people in TNA. Gayda said she had words for Zbyszko.
(5) Team Canada’s Bobby Roode (w/Scott D’amore) defeated Ron “the Truth” Killings.
Killings reverted to his Nashville Asylum style wardrobe for this match. Killings picked up with Roode right where he left off on TV. Both men traded pin attempts but couldn’t get the three. Roode looked to be heading to the locker room when D’amore stopped him. This allowed Killings to hit a suicide tope to the floor. Killings hit Roode with some punches but followed D’amore around the ring. When Killings turned around Roode rammed him back first into the ring post. Roode brought Killings back into the ring, and with some help from D’amore, took over the match. Roode locked in an abdominal stretch and used the flagpole for some leverage. D’amore ended up hitting the guard rail hard. This distracted Roode only for a moment but he hit a second rope knee drop for two. Roode locked in a reverse bear hug but Killings refused to submit. Roode ended up being hit by a missile dropkick from Killings and several right hand punches. Killings hit Roode with the flying forearm and the sidekick but got two on each pin attempt. Killings put Roode on the top rope but Roode fought him and sent Killings int oth erring. Roode hit a bodyblock but Killings rolled through for two. Konnan came out to talk to Killings but Roode hit the Northern Exposure (??) clothesline to win. After the match Konnan and Killings had words but were interrupted but BG James. Homicide hit the ring as Killings left BG to be beat down. Kip James hit the ring and hit Homicide with a chair.
Shane Douglas spoke to Father James Mitchell and Abyss about their match with Rhino. It was followed by a video recapping how this match came to happen.
(6) Abyss (w/Father James Mitchell) defeated "The Man Beast" Rhino.
The fighting began at the bell with Rhino jumping Abyss, sending Abyss to the floor with a clothesline. Rhino followed him out with a tope and a shot to the guard rails. Abyss fought back as Mitchell cheered him on. Abyss found a chair and introduced it to Rhino’s head. Three chairs ended up in the ring when the competitors came back into it. Abyss hit Rhino with a corner whip and grabbed a chair. Abyss and Mitchell wedged it in between turnbuckles and rammed Rhino head first into it. Abyss dragged Rhino to a corner and used the ropes to try and choke him out. Referee Andrew Thomas was intimidated by the monster Abyss and let him break rules. Abyss locked Rhino in a neckvise submission and when Rhino got loose, Abyss kicked him in the face. Abyss went back to the neckvise and rhino escaped and hit Abyss with a TKO. But Rhino was slow in following up due to the beating he sustained. When he did follow up, Rhino hit Abyss with three chair shots to the head. Rhino signaled for the GORE but Mitchell distracted him. This allowed Abyss to hit Rhino with the chain, only to get a two count. Mitchell called for Doomsday. This backfired as Rhino hit a spinebuster for two. Rhino set up Abyss for a Rhino Driver but once again Mitchell stopped it. Rhino blocked Abyss’ chokeslam with a kick to the groin but couldn’t stop a modified
Black Hole Slam into the folding chairs. After the bell Abyss hit Rhino several times with the chairs.
Shane Douglas spoke to Team 3D about fulfilling their destiny tonight, by winning the NWA World Tag Team championships. Brother Ray prophesized about several legendary tag teams that came before their title shot. Devon followed up reminding America’s Most Wanted who they picked a fight with tonight. This was followed by a video package produced by Moody Jack Melendez that recapped the AMW/Team 3D feud.
(7) NWA World Tag Team champions America's Most Wanted ("Tennessee Cowboy" James
Storm and "Wildcat" Chris Harris w/ Gail Kim) defeated Team 3D (Brothers Ray and Devon).
Before the match some of the people in the TNA Pit had words with Storm. So James gave them some beer, without a drinking cup. The Pit chanted “Brokeback Mountain,” “Pussycat” and Nashville’s favorite chant “Kill the Cowboy”, created by wrestling manager the Goddess Athena (yes I put Athena over in my results.) AMW had some issues in the opening minutes trying to gain control over one of Team 3D. They got some help when Ray missed a second rope senton bomb. Ray recovered and tagged out to Devon. Harris ended up on the floor, making Storm fight on his own. 3D hit the Wazzup shot to Storm’s crotch and Ray called for tables. Gail Kim argued with Rudy Charles as 3D got the table. Storm got hit by the table but Harris slid into the table, kicking into the jaws of 3D. AMW took over the match, tagging in and out as they beat down Devon. Devon avoided a double team move as Storm’s shoulder tackle met the ring post. Devon came out of the corner and clotheslined Harris. Devon tagged out to Ray who cleaned house but couldn’t get the pin. AMW hit Ray with the Hart Attack but got two. Next they hit Devon with a double team suplex. Devon broke up an attempted Death Sentence and Team 3D hit Harris with the Road Warrior Clothesline but got two. Harris kicked Ray in the face and got two. Storm hit Harris with a chair by mistake and 3D hit Harris with an inverted 3D but got two. Storm went up top but Ray tossed him into the folding table. Gail Kim came in the ring and gave Harris powder but it ended up in his face courtesy of a Ray kick. The big problem was it also ended up in Rudy Charles face too. He counted the pin on AMW but Team Canada hit the ring and beat down Team 3D. When Rudy Charles cleared his eyes he saw Harris lying on top of Ray. So he awarded the match to AMW. I laughed so hard I spilled my soda. I know some people on Nashville, Madison to be exact, that were laughing as hard as me.
Shane Douglas spoke to NWA World Heavyweight champion Jeff Jarrett and “Alpha Male” Monty Brown about Christian Cage and Sting. Next was a video history on the hatred between Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe.
(8) NWA World X Division champion Samoa Joe defeated “Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels.
Needless to say this was hard hitting from the opening bell with Joe gunning to knock Daniels into concussion city. Daniels controlled the match by using Joe’s size against him, hitting him with head scissors and huricuranas. Joe fired back with kicks and chops but Daniels got a rolling cradle for two. Joe kicked out and began to stretch Daniels on the mat. Daniels went for a springboard moonsault but Joe walked out of the way, causing Daniels to hit the mat hard. Joe began to unleash his usual arsenal of moves on Daniels. Daniels hit a dropkick and a clothesline but got hit by a Joe powerslam. Joe ran into a boot and Daniels hit a modified jawbreaker, driving Joe’s jaw into both of his knees. Daniels hit a running knee, the STO and a springboard moonsault but got two. Daniels placed Joe on the tope turnbuckle, hitting a DVD but only getting two. Daniels went for a huricurana but Joe hit a powerbomb. Joe locked Daniels in some form of a choke and released it to lock in the STF. Daniels fought to the ropes to cause a break. Joe put Daniels on the ropes and followed him up. Daniels slid out from the hold but Joe fought out of the power bomb into a head scissor, followed by a clothesline for two. Daniels hit a standing STO and the BME but got two. The two men fought on the floor but Daniels hit Joe with a kick to the jaw and a springboard elbow drop as Joe lay on the ringside floor. Daniels struggled to toss Joe back in the ring and Joe recovered quickly, kicking Daniels right in the head with a running boot shot. Joe went out after Daniels and hit the Ole Kick sending Daniels into the guard rail, busting Daniels head open. Joe took some of the blood and licked it off his hand and smeared it on his own chest. When the action got to the ring AJ Styles came out to the ring. Joe hit Daniels with several head and body shots but Daniels fired back. Joe blocked the Angels Wings and hit Daniels with an enziguri. Joe followed with a running knee to the corner and the Muscle Buster. Joe locked in a choke but Daniels made it to the ropes. Joe grabbed a chair and set up Daniels for a second Muscle Buster, this time on the chair. Joe kicked Daniels in the head several times and followed with numerous knee drops. Styles grabbed Joe’s towel from the corner and appeared to toss it into the ring to save Daniels from further abuse. As soon as the bell rang, the medical staff hit the ring to check on Daniels.
As Daniels was cared for the highlight package recapping the return of Sting to TNA played. Daniels was carried out of the ring. When he went by my seat, he had the Ricky Steamboat glassy eyes. Shane Douglas spoke to Christian Cage who was alone. Cage said Sting could trust him. Cage invoked his brother and Chris Jericho in his diatribe.
(9) "Captain Charisma" Christian Cage and Sting defeated NWA World Heavyweight champion Jeff Jarrett and "Alpha Male" Monty Brown (w/Gail Kim.)
I will admit I marked out since Sting looked in better shape then his previous matches in TNA Wrestling. Brown and Cage started out in the ring before Jarrett tagged in. Cage avoided Jarrett and mocked Jarrett’s strut. The roof came off when Sting tagged in to face off with Jarrett. Sting took control over Jarrett and the champ bailed to the floor to regroup. Jarrett came back and hit Sting with shots to the turnbuckle but Sting fought back, hitting Brown and Sting with bulldogs. Cage tagged in and hit splashes to the corner. Cage went to punch Jarrett when Kim got on the apron. This allowed Jarrett to low blow Cage. Kim, Brown and Jarrett all tried to beat the breath out of ”Captain Charisma” but couldn’t get a pin or submission. Jarrett missed a legdrop as Cage moved from the second rope. Jarrett locked Cage in a front facelock. Cage tagged out to Sting, too bad Brown had Andrew Thomas’ attention. Brown went for a superplex but Cage blocked it and hit an Eddie Guerrero frog splash. Cage went for a tag but Sting was occupied by Jarrett and Kim. Jarrett and Brown missed the chairscendo and Cage finally tagged out to Sting. Sting fought Brown and Jarrett, hitting Jarrett with the Stinger Splash but Brown’s attempted clothesline hit Thomas. Sting locked in the Scorpion Death Lock and Jarrett tapped out. Brown hit Cage wit ha fallaway slam, causing Cage to fall on Sting. Sting and Cage brefirly argued. Team Canada hit the ring but they were hit with Scorpion Death Drops. Kim distracted Sting long enough so Jarrett could hit Sting with the title belt. Thomas came around and counted two. All four men kept fighting in the ring as Cage and Sting missed Stinger splashes. Jarrett went for his guitar but Sting smashed it with the baseball bat. Cage allowed Sting to hit Jarrett with the Scorpion Death Drop to gain the win. Cage and Sting celebrated with the fans. I guess this means Sting vs. Jarrett next month. The house lights went down and Sting stood in the ring alone. The PPV went off the air. Sting stayed in the ring as the fans continued their ovation.
On a personal note i really am disappointed in the fact that Raven is gone I hope that they find a way to bring him back it. He is one of the hardest working wrestlers out there today.
