My WWE TLC 2011 Recap

Zach Ryder defeated Dolph Ziggler (c) to win the United States championship in an exciting and genuinely feel good opener to the pay-per-view. The bout itself kicked off with a faster pace but slowed down during the middle when Ziggler took control, applying some impressive maneuvers to the 'Long Island Iced Z', including an Angle slam and a set of ten elbow drops in a row. Ryder inevitably made a valiant comeback towards the end, which included a nice hurricanrana from the top rope and a lot of intense near falls for both men. But all during this you just couldn't help but believe that this was Ryder's night, his moment, his well-deserved first ever singles title. And it was. All his hard work this year, from being a regular on Superstars (which is never good security for your job in WWE) to becoming a Raw regular who gets a huge reaction every single broadcast, even when he's not there. The finish came when Ryder executed the Rough Ryder and got the one-two-three on Ziggler.

The crowd were obviously firmly behing Ryder during the match and genuinely happy for him after. I can't honestly remember the last title win that felt this good in the company, I mean a genuinely feel good title win. It was a satisfying, if predictable, victory anyhow. WWWYKI.

Backstage while Booker T was talking to Alicia Fox, Cody Rhodes once again attacked him from behind.

Air Boom (c) defeated Primo and Epico to retain their WWE Tag Team titles. The tag bout was even and picked up with the excitement towards the end when Kofi Kingston was tagged in with crisp high flying moves from him and Bourne. Kingston grabbed the win after a Trouble in Paradise to Primo. Maybe not the best match involving Air Boom but it was decent and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing both teams tangle again in the future, which I'm sure they will. 

Randy Orton defeated Wade Barrett in an enjoyable and well paced tables bout. Both men went back and fourth with some nicely executed sequences, especially one on the outside of the ropes as each man threatened to put the other through a table on the outside until Orton turned it to his advantage as he performed his signature hangman DDT into the ring. Orton won after RKOing Barrett through a table in the ring as Wade came flying down with an elbow drop for an effective finish. Although Orton won Barrett certainly looked his equal and had a lot of offence, he didn't come out of it damaged in my opinion and the 'Barrett Barrage' should continue.

Beth Phoenix (c) defeated Kelly Kelly to retain her Divas championship. The match was actually fairly decent considering it involved Kelly, and wasn't kept too long which suits their match ups more effectively. The crowd were indifferent throughout most of it, perhaps like me they were also tired of seeing these two tussle over the title once again on pay-per-view. They really need to give Phoenix some new competition that she deserves, like Natalya who's face turn is surely impending.  

As Booker made his way out to face Rhodes, he was once again attacked from behind by the Intercontinental champion. I feel this was a bit overkill having two attacks in one night. What was the point in having Rhodes attack Booker earlier if he was just going to take him out before their match then? Strange booking.

Triple H defeated Kevin Nash in the Sledgehammer on a ladder match. The actual bout was pretty intense with a predictably slow pace. For the most part it was quite average for a ladder match, with the crowd for a second match in a row quite indifferent and quiet for the majority of it. Although I'll give Nash credit, he took more bumps then I was expecting him to in the shape he's in. For the finish Triple H struck Nash with the sledgehammer (which was still hung up) at the top of the ladder, sending him crashing into a table. Trips then Pedigreed Nash and approached him with the sledgehammer slowly. Nash pleaded with 'The Game' by signalling the old Kliq sign, but he wasn't having any of it and he mercifully cracked Nash with the weapon and got the one-two-three.     

Sheamus defeated Jack Swagger in a decent enough bout. Swagger was once again booked to look competitive against one of SmackDown's top faces, just like he had been against Big Show on last weeks SmackDown. Although he gained another loss things seem to be looking a bit more positive for the 'All American American' lately. 

Big Show defeated Mark Henry (c) to win the World Heavyweight title in a Chairs match. The actual bout was average and thankfully kept quite short. Big Show got the pinfall victory after applying a WMD to Mark Henry. After the match Henry knocked Show in the leg with a chair and then DDT'd him onto a pile of steel chairs that had been left in the ring.

And as if cued by chants of "Daniel Bryan" from the crowd in attendance, the 'American Dragon' raced out and cashed in his Money In The Bank contract and pinned Big Show to win his first ever World title in WWE. It was once again another well received and feel good title win on the pay-per-view. No one has deserved to win a World title for the first time this year more then that man Daniel Bryan (I still count the ROH title as a World championship but you get what I mean.) If I were booking this, I'd use Bryan cashing in on Big Show as an excuse to turn him heel and go on to WrestleMania to face a major face for the title.

Cody Rhodes defeated Booker T in an average match up. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad and I did enjoy parts of it, but it didn't really live up to what I'd hoped it would. I wasn't expecting a classic by any means but with Booker's return to action and Cody's great form as of late I was expecting a solid and exciting bout between the two. Unfortunately it didn't quite get up to that standard for me, which is a shame. Although I still have belief in the feud, and they're definitely capable of putting on a better match together I believe.

CM Punk (c) defeated The Miz and Alberto Del Rio to retain his WWE Championship in a triple threat TLC match. The actual match up was a worthy and exciting main event to the pay-per-view. Each man was on form and gave a great effort, even Ricordo Rodriguez who fell from a ladder inside the ring straight through a table on the outside. At one point when Punk was handcuffed ( the handcuffs which Rodriguez had brought into the fray earlier on in the match) to the corner turnbuckle I was expecting R-Truth to possibly return and take out Miz. But fortunately they didn't go down that route as it would have tarnished the match a bit I reckon and distracted fans from the three main competitors here, and Miz's current reputation of taking out these wrestlers. My only complaint about the match is that you never really believed that Punk wasn't going to retain here. The Miz and Del Rio weren't built up well enough before the pay-per-view, you just couldn't see them toppling the current champ.     

It made perfect sense that Punk won. He's the man on fire in the company right now and as he's promised before, he wants to make the championship interesting once again. Which I believe he's succeeding in. They should keep this title run going all the way to Mania in my opinion and give him a major wrestler to take on on the big stage. A major marquee match up that he deserves, can you give me a  "hell yeah" to that?   

My iMPACT Wrestling, November 3rd 2011 Recap

iMPACT opened with the World champion James Storm talking about his background and what he would be remembered for when he passes. He then called out Bobby Roode to the ring and told him to make sure to "bring it" in their title match that night. Roode promised he would and also asked to make sure that they do what they do best and "steal the show."

Madison Rayne and Gail Kim defeated Tara and Miss Tessmacher(c) to win the Knockouts Tag Team championships in an average tag team bout. Tara and Kim in the ring together were the highlights. Rayne got the pin after Karen Jarrett distracted the referee and Gail applied her Eat Defeat finisher to Tara, allowing Madison to cover her.

Garrett Bischoff apologised to his dad, Eric Bischoff, for not becoming the man that he wanted him to be. He then apologised "for not doing this sooner," and began to pummel his father until Gunner and Flair made their way out in aid of Eric. I'm not really sure where they're going with this storyline now, a possible match between Eric and Flair against Garrett will be pretty awful, they need to have Garrett go up against a younger guy like Gunner and pick up the win at Turning Point I reckon.

Christopher Daniels and Rob Van Dam began to fight backstage after Daniels claimed how easily he could be beat him in an interview. Daniels scarpered after throwing some chairs in front of RVD to slow him down. I'm actually really looking forward to their match at Turning Point, and it's a relief to see that Daniels wasn't just dropped to the midcard after his feud with AJ Styles and given a more prominent position still.

Jesse Sorensen defeated X Division champion Austin Aries in an entertaining non title match. Sorensen got the on-two-three with a quick roll up pin. Kid Kash meanwhile was on commentary during the bout and gave some old school, cliche heel speech on how Sorensen has disrespected him backstage as a veteran of the X Division. 

Robbie E began to put down Eric Young and Ronnie from Jersey Shore, while hiding behind Rob Terry for the most part. This was until Ronnie began to take on Robbie E and Terry took both him and Young out. Terry then held Ronnie as Robbie began to whip him with his belt.

Jeff hardy and Mr. Anderson won via DQ against Jeff Jarrett and Bully Ray in a pretty exciting tag team match up for the majority. The disqualification came when the past it Steiner attacked Anderson as he went for a swanton off of the top rope. The assault continued afterwards from the three Immortal members on Hardy and Anderson.

Matt Morgan challenged Crimson to a one on one match, he actually at one point called it a "dream match," er, really Matt? A dream match to whom exactly? The undefeated Crimson accepted. 

Bobby Roode defeated James Storm(c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight title. The match was an exciting and fitting world championship calibre main event, with near falls and nice exchanges between the two. For the finish the referee had to dive out of the ring to avoid being hit int he corner, which caused him to hurt his leg. A fan quite amusingly put his hands up in the cross position when referee Hebner was injured on the outside (the sign usually used in pro wrestling when a wrestler is seriously injured). Roode tumbled to the outside too and turned to spot Storm's beer bottle he had brought in with him. In a major swerve Roode smashed the bottle across Storm's head and pinned him to win the title. Afterwards Roode revelled in the glory as the boos rained down on him and even put his foot on top of Storm's chest in victory.

I didn't mind the ending myself, I think Roode can pull off the heel role very well as he's proven in the past. But I don't get the point of Storm winning the title in the first place? Why didn't they just have Roode defeat Angle at Bound For Glory and screw Storm with the same finish in a title match between the two? 

My iMPACT Wrestling, October 20th 2011 Recap

Sting kicked off iMPACT by expressing his delight at the events of Bound For Glory and the return of the 'real' Hulk Hogan after he turned on Immortal. Hogan joined him, with a huge ovation, and thanked the Stinger for helping him to realise the error of his ways. Dixie Carter and Kurt Angle also joined in. The man who got screwed for the World title in a ridiculous ending at Bound For Glory (mind you, Russo was behind it so no surprise) Bobby Roode came out to confront Kurt in the only entertaining part of the segment. He called what happened at BFG "absolute bullshit," which it was, especially after the great job they'd done in building Bobby up. Sting was about to set up a rematch between the two but Angle revealed that a clause in their contract at BFG halted that completely.
Storm also hit the ring and concurred that Roode had been screwed and challenged Angle for a match instead.  Sting, in his new position appointed to him by Carter as the manager of iMPACT or whatever (they didn't actually say), then much to Angle's displeasure made the match official between Storm and Kurt for the World title that night. This segment of them all just jabbering on went on for about fifteen-minutes, 'Wrestling matters' huh?
Finally we had the first actual bit of wrestling on the show with Tara and Tessmacher (c) versus Winter and Angelina Love for the Knockout Tag Team titles (remember that title?). The match was dull until Tara was tagged in and got the crowd interested. Tessmacher cross bodied Winter form the top rope for the pinfall victory, which was well executed and a nice finish in a pretty forgettable bout.
Jeff Jarrett, accompanied by wife Karen, once again called out Jeff Hardy. Jarrett gave him the ultimatum of either leaving the company or to face the wrath of the company founder. Hardy claimed that Jarret was jealous of the connection he had with the fans and they began to brawl in a replay from Bound For Glory.
Next there was even more talking (halfway through the show and there'd only been one match) as Gunner gave a promo on Abyss that sounded like a throwback to the early nineties, he even said "take out the trash," come on now...
Abyss versus Gunner followed. Abyss looked as clumsy as ever as Gunner decided to bail the match and scarper. Let's hope this doesn't mean another Abyss push.
The new Knockout champion Velvet Sky cut a promo on how proud she was to have gone through all she had and finally won the title. VP of the Knockouts Karen Jarrett interrupted her and had security escort Traci Brooks out of the building after the events of BFG. Karen (who is definitely suited to her role here) admitted she had been tempted to strip Velvet of the title but instead decided to put her through physical pain first. Just as Madison Rayne began to make her way out Gail Kim returned and took out Sky from behind. I for one am extremely happy to see Gail back in TNA, as I wrote last week I felt they should bring back Gail Kim to the company as a needed asset of real in ring talent for the Knockouts division.
Next we had, you guessed it! Even more talking in the ring! How exciting. Bischoff, with the ring surrounded by Immortal members called out Hogan. He expressed how disgusted he was that Hogan had turned his back on Immortal and especially himself, who, as he put it, is "the man solely responsible for making you the man that you are today." To quote the Miz, really Bischoff? Really? I know he was obviously exaggerating but still. Eric eventually slapped Hulk in the face, but before he could retaliate Immortal crept into the ring only to back off when Sting arrived and handed Hogan a bat. As Bischoff backed up down the ramp his son Garrett Bischoff halted him and punched his father right in the face. So after Immortal have lost control and Dixie Carter is supposed to eb back in charge we still have all these spots given to guys like Sting and Hogan rather then younger wrestlers with a future? What was the point?
Then came the main event pitting Kurt Angle (c) versus James Storm for the TNA World Heavyweight title. Storm in a shocking result got the one-two-three and the World title after less then a minute after hitting Angle with a super kick.
Kurt's had a lot of injury woes lately, hence him dropping the title like that. But obviously the thing that has seemed to frustrated most fans is why Storm and why didn't the man they've been building up for ages, who won the BFG tournament and was week after week made to look like the next main eventer Bobby Roode win the championship at the biggest PPV of the year for them rather then that crap finish? Again TNA continues to baffle it's fans who are giving up on the product more and more each month for reasons like this.
As fans once chanted at Angle during his entrances in WWE, Vince Russo "You suck!"