By Jon
DATE: January 17, 2010
VENUE: The Impact Zone (Orlando, FL)
COMMENTATORS: Mike Tenay & Taz
The Hogan/Bischoff Era of TNA makes its PPV debut as TNA enters its second decade with Genesis, live from the Impact Zone. And it’s got one helluva main event on paper too as AJ Styles defends the World Championship against Kurt Angle, plus a two out of three falls match for the Knockouts Championship as ODB defends against Tara, and Beer Money takes on The New World Or-sorry, THE BAND. They take on THE BAND.
CHAMPIONS
- TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles
- TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION: ODB
- TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPION: Amazing Red
- TNA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The British Invasion (Brutus Magnus & Douglas Williams)
LINEUP
- The Amazing Red [c] vs. ??? for the TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/2)
- Sean Morley vs. Christopher Daniels (**1/4)
- 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS: ODB [c] vs. Tara for the TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP (*1/2)
- The British Invasion [c] vs. Hernandez & Matt Morgan for the TNA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (**)
- D’Angelo Dinero vs. Desmond Wolfe (***)
- Beer Money vs. The Band (*3/4)
- ??? vs. Abyss (DUD)
- AJ Styles [c] vs. Kurt Angle for the TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
*****
-OPENING VIDEO: Typical over-dramatic stuff wrestling companies do (Genesis means the beginning, various wrestlers talk about why they do what they do, blah blah). It’s well-produced and everything but this stuff always makes me laugh. It’s pro wrestling y’all, settle yourselves.
-Cue the pyro and the ballyhoo as the show pans the Impact Zone crowd, Tenay and Taz welcoming the home audience. This is the Hogan/Bischoff Era’s first PPV and Kurt Angle’s last shot at Styles’ World Championship in 2010.
IN-RING SEGMENT
Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff make their way out to knockoff nWo music to address the crowd. The ring appears to be missing two of its six-sides. “HOGAN” chants as the music dies down, Hogan welcomes everyone to Genesis and the brand-new Impact Zone. The second one gets them some boos, “WE WANT SIX SIDES” chant breaks out. Hogan responds, saying the six-sides had it and only got them so far, but now he and Bischoff are taking them the rest of the way. No more playpen rings for TNA, no sir. Hogan brings up their “competitor”, saying all they talk about is Sports Entertainment, afraid to even mention “pro wrestling”. Hogan is proud to be in TNA, proud of its fans, and proud to be partnered with Bischoff and Dixie Carter. Bischoff says it’s human nature not to like change but it’s what they’re all about; there’s a helluva lot more change coming their way. Hogan closes with: “whatcha gonna do VINCE MCMAHON now that TNA is coming for you brother…or sister”.
- Bold of Hogan and Bischoff to waltz in as the new creative team and immediately sh*t on the TNA faithful by making fun of its six-sided ring. I don’t know if they expected that or not but they f*cking should’ve. I take a lot of umbrage with this change; the six-sided ring gave TNA a feeling of uniqueness in American pro wrestling and trust me it wasn’t THE RING that put a glass ceiling on their potential ascension. Not even to the first match and I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth. F*cking hell.
-Cut to Tenay and Taz, the latter also saying how much he prefers the four-sided ring. Fun to hear a lot of talk about “change” when it’s just “company reverts to the commonly-accepted wrestling ring style” but whatever you do you. Tenay is also proud that TNA is now known as the WRESTLING company. They run down the big matches on Genesis’ card. Kurt Angle’s title shot tonight is his final one for the 2010…as long as Styles keeps the title through the whole year. To be honest it’s not that negative of a stipulation.
–The Amazing Red makes his way out for the opening match. His mystery opponent is revealed to be…Brian Kendrick, formerly of WWE fame, making his TNA debut.
The Amazing Red [c] vs. Brian Kendrick for the TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Kendrick snatches the hand, takes Red to the mat with a Fujiwara armbar, Red counters out into a hammerlock, Kendrick rolls out to break and the two reset. Kendrick escapes a headlock, going back to the Fujiwara Armbar, changing to a Camel Clutch with crossface blows, and then into the side headlock. WRESTLING from the WRESTLING COMPANY. Red rolls Kendrick up for two, Kendrick dodges a kick but misses a dropkick. Red slides under Kendrick and connects with a rana sending him to the floor. Kendrick rolls in, Red catches him with an elbow but Kendrick clips the knee, following up with a kick to the head that sends the champ flying to the floor. Kendrick continues to work the left leg over with various holds and another clip. Kendrick climbs the middle buckle, Red sends him to the floor with a spinning kick and follows up with a senton from the top. NICE. Brooke Hogan and her dork friends are in the audience watching and already are being referenced, greeeeeat. Red follows up with a missile dropkick for the 1…2…Kendrick kicks out. Kendrick sidesteps a flying Red and applies a single-leg crab, bending it at a low-angle for extra torque. Red inches towards the ropes, Kendrick pulls him back and applies a variation of the STF. Red breaks the hold, connects with an enzuigiri and a dropkick to the back of the head. Red connects (sorta) with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors but takes too long favoring his knee and Kendrick has enough to grab the bottom rope during the pinfall attempt. Red backs ref off, Kendrick connects with a kick for the 1…2…Red kicks out. Red gets sent to the apron, comes back in with the Code Red for the 1…2…3.
The Amazing Red [c] defeated Brian Kendrick via pinfall to retain the TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (9:06)
- High-energy X-Division match to kick off the PPV, which I needed after that sh*tty opening promo from Hogan & Bischoff. Kendrick being one of the two surprises promised tonight was pretty cool I guess but to be honest I didn’t watch a lot of WWE at this point in time so its, uh, impact on me was lost. He came to wrestle though and outside of a few hiccups they pulled a good one off. (**1/2)
-Hogan & Bischoff are backstage with The Band (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & Syxx-Pac). Bischoff thanks them for the favor and reminds them that only Nash has a contract with TNA. Hogan says this The Band’s one shot to make it count as they may not get another one. I hope these young whippersnappers can finally break the glass ceiling. Hall and Syxx ask to be Nash’s partner tonight and decide via Rock, Paper, Scissors; Syxx wins 2-1. Very enthralling.
–Sean Morley makes his way out, Val Venis-ed as f*ck in presentation and music, just not in name. Clip of Christopher Daniels’ attack on Morley on Impact this past week. Morley whips off the towel and wraps it around Brooke Hogan in an effort to kiss some ass, presumably. Morley grabs a mic (“LADIES I’M HERE” does not as good of a ring to it). Morley presents his first TNA Films presentation; a FULL FRONTAL production produced, directed, and starring himself. Crowd has NO time for his shtick.
-Morley’s opponent, Christopher Daniels, makes his way out and grabs a mic. Daniels asks when Morley is going to get it through his thick skull that this is TNA and this is wrestling; the crowd cheers and Daniels tells them to shut up to keep his heel persona up. Daniels is going to be his worst critic and says he won’t give it a thumbs down he’ll give it a…MIDDLE FINGER AW SNAP.
Sean Morley vs. “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels
Morley attacks Daniels for the sign language, Daniels connects with a spinning heel kick but Morley responds with a clothesline. Daniels rolls to the apron and flips out of a suplex attempt. Morley brushes off palm strikes and connects with a pair of knees and a Russian legsweep for the 1…2…Daniels kicks out. Morley connects with a gustbuster, Daniels rolls back to the apron and Morley drives a forearm to the ribs, Daniels drops him throat-first across the top rope and runs in for a seated clothesline. Daniels locks in a triangle choke but leans too hard on the latter part so the ref forces him to relinquish the hold. Morley fights back with rights, Daniels drops him with a palm strike to the throat. Daniels drops Morley across the top rope in a bulldog position and wraps his legs around the head, breaking only to prevent a DQ, then connects with a kick followed by a springboard moonsault for the 1…2…Morley kicks out. Morley goes on a comeback string, sending Daniels repeatedly into the corners sternum-first following by hanging him out to dry. Morley with a sit-out belly-to-back suplex for the 1…2…Daniels kicks out. Morley connects with a butterfly suplex, Daniels ducks a clothesline and hits a Flatliner into a Koji Clutch, Morley turns it into a pinfall attempt to force Daniels into a break. Daniels continues the offense, connecting with an STO for the 1…2…another kickout. Daniels lands on his feet after a BME attempt, Morley connects with a half-nelson slam. Morley heads to the top, Daniels connects with a palm strike to daze him. Daniels goes for a Frankensteiner, Morley blocks it and follows up with the Money Shot for the 1…2…3.
Sean Morley defeated Christopher Daniels via pinfall (9:10)
- Daniels main-evented the previous PPV, Final Resolution, challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship. This month he’s stuck trying to make Sean Morley and his tired porn star shtick look good in a company that outright rejected him as soon as he made his entrance. Ain’t that some sh*t. To their credit the match was good and all but the wrong guy won and it’s a total misread of the TNA fanbase…as evidenced by the front row TURNING THEIR BACK as soon as the victor was announced. ALSO NO ONE F*CKING CARES ABOUT BROOKE HOGAN, STOP IT. (**1/4)
-FEUD RECAP: ODB vs. Tara. ODB won the Knockouts Title the first Impact of 2010, defeating Tara who had beaten HER for the title at Final Resolution the month prior. ODB thinks Tara is just a “Diva” (WWE wrestler), Tara says she’s now a Knockout and deserves respect.
2 OUT OF 3 FALLS
ODB [c] vs. Tara for the TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP
ODB and Tara go nose to nose, ref forces them apart, ODB holding one of Tara’s extensions. Tara attacks her with rights, bringing her to the mat with an armdrag. Tara steps on ODB and connects with a standing moonsault for a two-count. ODB and Tara exchange slaps and chops, ODB selling it hilariously. Tara connects with a series of kicks and an enzuigiri/knee. Tara follows up with a slingshot somersault legdrop for the 1…2…champ kicks out. ODB catches Tara with a knee and fallaway slam. She picks Tara up, Tara rolls her up with a small package for the 1…2…3! TARA: 1 ODB: 0
ODB immediately attacks Tara, some NFL player with absolutely NOTHING going on behind the eyes is in the front row watching. Cool? ODB continues the offense, whipping Tara into the corner but she runs into an elbow, following up with a Tarantula. Tara breaks the hold, ODB sends her to the floor with a baseball slide. Brooke Hogan tries to hellp Tara up, ODB gets in her face. Joey Fatone is also part of Brooke’s entourage and OH MY GOD I DON’T F*CKING CARE. ODB slings Tara back in by the hair, covering for the 1…2…kickout. ODB tries again, Tara kicks out again. ODB checks her pulse and applies a bodyscissors. ODB rolls her around the ring, scissors still applied, into a rollup for the 1…2…Tara kicks out and ODB goes back to the regular submission. Ref finally forces ODB to break after she started pulling the hair…then GOES RIGHT BACK TO IT, turning it into a rear-naked choke. ODB starts losing energy but pulls off a running powerslam for the 1…2…Tara kicks out and the champ can’t believe it…and also apparently having trouble breathing. ODB checks her pulse again, Tara counters a backdrop attempt with the Widow’s Peak for the 1…2…3. TARA: 2 ODB: 0
Tara defeated ODB [c] 2 Falls to 1 to win the TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONSHIP (9:37)
- Rare to see a 2 out of 3 Falls match end in two straight falls, so I’ll give it that. Besides that though this was…not that great. I don’t know what ODB’s pulse thing was all about and these two lacked chemistry together. No hate on either lady, I like them in different scenarios, just didn’t work here. (*1/2)
Tara celebrates the beginning of her third reign as Knockouts Championship with her belt and her pet tarantula Poison.
–Christy Hemme interviews “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero. Dinero says there’s a party going on tonight because POPE…IS PIMPIN’. Hemme asks about his match with Desmond Wolfe; Dinero calls “Roofie” a tough character and a technical genius, but he will never be as charismatic as him or some sh*t.
The British Invasion (Brutus Magnus & Douglas Williams) [c] vs. Hernandez & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan for the TNA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
LOOK AT THE LITTLE BABY NICK ALDIS. Adorable. British Invasion have apparently been trying to duck defending their title since winning it but their luck has run out and now they’ve got a BIG BOY team to fight.
Bell rings and much to my surprise they’re pro-Matt Morgan. Fair enough. Magnus grabs a side headlock, Morgan easily whips him off and sends him packing with a shoulderblock. Back in the ring Magnus counters a chokeslam with a poke to the eye, Williams tags in and Hernandez drops both with a double clothesline. The guardrail is WAY TOO CLOSE to the ring, I thought eliminating two sides would give them more ringside room. Hernandez tags in, backs Williams into the corner. Williams comes out swinging with European uppercuts and a jumping knee, Hernandez blocks a suplex attempt. Standing switch, Hernandez connects with a backdrop and corner splash, using his t-shirt to toss Williams across the ring. Hernandez catches a crossbody and goes for a powerbomb but in comes Magnus to clip the knee and put a stop to it. Hernandez skins the cat to the top buckle, Williams goes for a superplex but it gets blocked. Magnus runs in to help and the British Invasion connect with a double superplex, ref distracted with Morgan. Magnus cinches into a rear-chinlock, crowd trying to wake Hernandez up with an “Ole” chant because that’s about as much Spanish as they know. Hernandez does escape, Magnus grabs an abdominal stretch and gets some leverage assistance from Williams. Finally the ref catches it and breaks it, Hernandez escapes with a hip toss and connects with a gutwrench overhead slam. Oh f*ck me Nick Hogan is in the crowd as well cheering Morgan on. Morgan gets the hot tag and wrecks the British Invasion, rapid-fire elbows to the side of Williams’ head. Williams pokes the eye and connects with a flying European uppercut, Hernandez drops him with a shoulderblock, Magnus drops him with a kick, and Morgan flattens Magnus with a lariat. Everyone down.
Williams charges, Morgan drills him with a chokeslam for the 1…2…Williams kicks out and Morgan can’t believe it. Magnus clears Hernandez from the apron and kicks Morgan into a German from Williams for the 1…2…kickout. Magnus gets the tag, Morgan shoves him into Williams and connects with an Avalanche. Morgan throws Williams off the buckles and Hernandez bodies him for good measure. Hernandez slams Magnus, Morgan follows up with the Carbon Footprint for the 1…2…3!
Hernandez & Matt Morgan defeated The British Invasion [c] via pinfall to win the TNA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (8:53)
- Is TNA on a curfew or something, all the matches so far on the show haven’t even crossed the ten minute mark yet. Not that I’m super complaining, I’ll take a short match over a 30+ drama-filled whatever but it’s strange. Match was fine, crowd being all fired up for Morgan was an interesting turn of events, and they got the win in dominating fashion. Poor British Invasion, I think they were broken up soon after this. (**)
–Bobby Lashley waltzes into Eric Bischoff’s office, shoving Abyss away. The two brawl and Abyss lays him out with a TV monitor. Abyss apologizes, Bischoff admonishes him for knocking out his opponent for tonight in the semi main event. Hulk Hogan walks in and asks what happened, Abyss apologizes again, Hogan says he’s feeling overwhelmed right now but says Abyss is going to have a match tonight with someone even better. Hogan begs Abyss not to make him crazy, telling him to leave all his “hardcore stuff” in the locker room; he wants to see what Abyss can do in the ring. Abyss asks who his opponent is going to be, Hogan tells him not to worry about it.
- So Hogan/Bischoff get rid of the signature ring AND they’re telling Abyss not to wrestle the style that he’s best in? Are these motherf*ckers TRYING to take all the personality out of this company? Jeez. Also how does Hogan already have an opponent lined up? Also why is this show twelve hours long?
“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero vs. Desmond Wolfe [w/ Mystery Lady Friend]
Wolfe is better known as Nigel McGuinness, former ROH World Champion and current commentator for 205 Live and NXT UK for the WWE. WWE wouldn’t sign him for physical reasons so he went to TNA instead, poor guy. He’s debuting new entrance gear AND a new lady valet tonight for this one. Dinero and Wolfe met at the January 4th Impact with Pope getting the win.
Wolfe grabs a cobra clutch to start, Dinero catches him with a series of quick kicks and a leaping shoulderblock. Wolfe with a corner headstand and kick, sending Dinero across the ring. Dinero sweeps the legs and tries a delayed float over, Wolfe shoves him out to the floor. Dinero connects with a fist drop from the middle buckle, covering for a two-count, and drops him with a chop, Wolfe dropping on the middle rope. Dinero follows up with a splash, sliding over Wolfe and landing on the floor, tweaking his knee in the process. Wolfe whips Dinero’s legs into the ropes with a cravat-style snapmare, using the whiplash effect to hurt the leg further. Love it. Wolfe slaps on a single-leg crab, Dinero forces a rope break so Wolfe pulls him back to the center of the ring for another leglock, bridging for added pressure. Dinero tries to break out with rights, Wolfe wrenches back on the leg to kill the fire, turning it into a bow and arrow STF. That looks bruuuuutal. Dinero almost passes out but manages to grab the bottom rope at the last second. Wolfe keeps the knee-focused offense going, throwing in a European uppercut for good measure. Dinero fights back with slaps and chops, Wolfe drops him with a big ol’ forearm shiver that hurts his own arm. Dinero escapes a Tower of London, and catches a charging Wolfe with an STO. Dinero follows up with a package brainbuster for the 1…2…Wolfe gets his foot on the rope. Wolfe hooks Dinero’s foot under the bottom buckle strut and drops him with a clothesline, tweaking the knee on his way down. Wolfe keeps the knee tweaked and pulls back on Dinero, his back stretching over the post. Wolfe gets in the face of the ref, Dinero catches him by surprise with a spinebuster throw.
Dinero mounts a comeback briefly, Wolfe yanks the arm and sends him crashing to the canvas. Wolfe goes for a half-crab again, Dinero counters with an inside cradle for the 1…2…kickout. Dinero flips over Wolfe and rolls him up once more for the 1…2…Wolfe kicks out again. Wolfe drops Dinero with a rolling back elbow (a Judas Effect in 2020-terms), Dinero dodges a corner splash and hits a hanging neckbreaker for the 1…2…Wolfe kicks out once more. Wolfe tries another headstand, Dinero kicks him and connects with a sit-out Alabama Slam for the 1…2…SHOULDER UP. Dinero pulls the kneepads down for the finishing knee strike but can’t get a run going due to the injury and Wolfe WRECKS him with a lariat for the 1…2…3.
Desmond Wolfe defeated D’Angelo Dinero via pinfall (13:33)
- Well looks like I spoke too soon on match length, huh? This one was pretty great though, watching Wolfe run through submissions like they were just reflexes was fun to watch and kept my eyes from glazing over when it became all knee-focused offense in the middle part of the match. Dinero kept up as well as he could and I liked that he cost himself the match because he thought he could overcome the injury to hit his finisher. Hubris is the downfall of us all. (***)
-Tenay and Taz wonder who Abyss’ new opponent will be, if he’s the second surprise promised by Hulk Hogan, then hype the remaining matches left in the PPV. Styles/Angle still looking the best bet for a standout match.
–Jeremy Borash checks in backstage but is interrupted by Eric Bischoff. Bischoff takes the mic and tells Borash he’s taking him off television for a little while. In comes Christy Hemme to take over…and in walks “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Hemme asks Flair what his role is going to be now that he’s in TNA. Flair says it’s his business as to why he’s here and when he’ll let everyone know when he’s ready.
-RECAP: The Band (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, & Syxx-Pac) attack Beer Money backstage, trying to earn the right to be in TNA. Beer Money want Hall & Nash at Genesis, Bischoff grants it after another brawl. Bischoff makes it official: HALL & NASH vs. BEER MONEY. Except Scott Hall isn’t wrestling now, it’s Syxx-Pac.
Beer Money (“Cowboy” James Storm & Bobby Roode) vs. The Band (“Big Sexy” Kevin Nash & Syxx-Pac)
As the video they played two seconds ago stated, the original match was supposed to be Beer Money vs. Hall & Nash, but Syxx-Pac won Rock, Paper, Scissors and now he’s the one teaming with Big Sexy. Guess Hall wasn’t in ring shape or something, but they ran that video anyway so whatever. Cool I guess.
Syxx tries some karate kicks, Storm pokes him the eye and connects with a hip toss followed by an armdrag into an armbar. Syxx fights out, Storm counters a backdrop and connects with a neckbreaker for an early two-count. Roode tags in, inverted atomic drop, Storm with a Russian legsweep, Roode with a kneedrop for another two-count. Syxx rakes the eyes, Nash gets the tag and lays in heavy rights followed by an elbow to the back of the neck. Roode connects with a clothesline, Nash brushes it off. Roode tries again, still no effect. Roode ducks a clothesline and finally takes Nash off his feet, covering for a two-count. Storm tags in, Beer Money make a wishbone out of Big Sexy. Syxx runs in, drop toehold sends him right into Nash’s family jewels. Syxx attacks Storm from behind, Storm levels him but turns right into a clothesline. Syxx tags in, snap suplex and snap legdrop but it only gets a one-count. The Band continue working Storm over, Nash with power moves and Syxx with speedier strikes and a Bronco Buster. Nash connects with a sidewalk slam, Roode breaks up the pinfall. Storm dodges a second Bronco Buster attempt, Nash tags in and knocks Roode to the ramp to prevent a tag on Beer Money’s side. Storm dodges a corner elbow and stuns him with a Codebreaker. Syxx tags in and grabs an ankle, Storm slides under the legs and gets the hot tag to Roode. Clotheslines and a backdrop to Syxx, rights to Nash. Syxx kicks Roode, Roode responds with a spinebuster for the 1…2…Nash breaks it up. Nash misses a corner splash, Storm kicking him on the way in, Beer Money snap off a suplex on Syxx. BEER! MONEY! Scott Hall waddles his way down the ramp, distracting Beer Money long enough for Nash to hit a double clothesline. Nash chokeslams Roode and covers for the 1…2…Roode gets the shoulder up. Hall attacks a RANDOM FAN, Syxx runs over to try and stop it, Nash goes for the Jackknife but Storm hits him with the Last Call, Roode turning it into a Jackknife COVER for the 1…2…3.
Beer Money defeated The Band via pinfall (9:46)
- Well at least TNA didn’t have Beer Money lose to the corpse of the nWo in this one. They had to go about it in a weird way, Scott Hall attacking a “fan” for some reason at ringside, but a win is a win. I didn’t hate this as much as I was expecting to, mostly thanks to Syxx-Pac keeping his team somewhat interesting by being the only mobile one, but it still wasn’t all that great. Again at least Beer Money picked up a high-profile win. (*3/4)
Nash is none too pleased with his BANDmates.
-Cut to Hogan & Bischoff in their office. Hogan vows to deal with The Band on Thursday.
–Abyss makes his way out for the next match, not knowing who his opponent is going to be due to the fact he beat him up earlier in the show. His opponent is revealed to be…the debuting Mr. Anderson, almost a year after he was last seen on a mainstream wrestling show. A mic descends from the ceiling, Anderson says he’s done just CROSSED THE LINE. Anderson says he knows the people missed him and he missed himself. Cue his goofy announcer voice intro, crowd singing along.
Mr. Anderson vs. Abyss
Anderson offers a handshake but slaps Abyss instead. Abyss slaps back, dropping Anderson into the corner. He did it to himself, really. Anderson ducks a clothesline, Abyss trucks him back to the canvas and halfway out of the ring. Anderson connects with rights, Abyss connects with a chop. Anderson drops Abyss’ arm over the top rope and connects with a series of kicks to stun the big man, clipping the knee to bring him to the mat. Action moves to the floor, Anderson works the arm by wrapping it around the post. “OVERRATED” chant from the TNA faithful, Anderson mocking those fans and grabbing a chair. Abyss kicks it out of his hands and connects with right hands, action SLOWLY moving back to the ring. Anderson sends Abyss into the buckle strut, applies a hammerlock in the ring and sending him shoulder-first into the post, rolling him up for the 1…2…Abyss kicks out. IT’S ONLY BEEN FIVE MINUTES?!? Jesus. Abyss escapes an armbar, Anderson connects with a flying armbar and covers for two. Abyss tosses Anderson, runs into a big boot in the corner, Anderson charges and Abyss connects with a boot of his own. Abyss gets the crowd clapping and connects with a splash followed by a sidewalk slam for the 1…2…Anderson kicks out. Anderson rakes the eyes to escape Shock Treatment and hits an awful-looking hangman neckbreaker for the 1…2…Abyss kicks out. Anderson flies into a goozle, Abyss turns it into a chokeslam for the 1…2…Anderson kicks out. Abyss with the Shock Treatment for the 1…2…Anderson kicks out. Abyss tries again, Anderson kicks out again. Abyss brings a chair into the ring, Anderson pulls out brass knuckles from his tights. Ref takes the chair, Anderson belts Abyss with the brass knux for the 1…2…3.
Mr. Anderson defeated Abyss via pinfall (10:38)
- Goddamn torture to get through. A slow, plodding match with no energy once the bell sounded. Abyss trying to be straight-laced and be a “normal” professional wrestler is f*cking terrible and I hope that’s just a storyline leading to him getting to do his hardcore stuff again because this was painful. I will admit I did like the ending, Anderson cheating to win after Abyss stopped himself from his old ways, but holy sh*t. What a wet fart of a debut for a guy the fans don’t overly seem to even want in the company. (DUD)
-HYPE VIDEO: Styles vs. Angle.
“The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles [c] vs. Kurt Angle for the TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Styles & Angle battled on the January 4th Impact and this is the big rematch, with a catch: if Angle can’t win he doesn’t get another shot at Styles’ TNA World Heavyweight Championship in 2010. These are apparently BIG STAKES but I mean if I was Angle and lost, I’d just cost Styles the title and then beat THAT GUY to regain the gold. Easy peasy. I guess it’s a pride thing or whatever, but pfft. Pride is for nerds. I hope this one kicks ass, this PPV is a dumpster fire and needs to end on a high note.
Angle takes Styles to the mat with a wristlock, Styles gets to a vertical base and counters into a hammerlock but a rope break quickly ends that. Angle grabs the leg and brings Styles to the mat, Styles kicks him away and they reset once more. Styles and Angle reverse one another, Angle brings his opponent to the mat with a side headlock takeover. Styles drops Angle with a shoulderblock, Angle stops the momentum by rolling to the floor. Styles flips out of a German suplex attempt, Angle rolls him up for a two-count. Styles and Angle with flash pin attempts, and the stalemate continues. Test of strength, Styles rolls through and brings Angle to his knees, Angle gets to the ropes to force a break. Styles leapfrogs over Angle, drops down, and connects with a pinpoint dropkick. Snapmare into a spine kick, Styles covers for the 1…Angle kicks out, Styles moves to a chinlock, knee to the spine. Styles continues focusing on the surgically-repaired neck (it was broken when he won an Olympic Gold Medal, you know), going back to the chinlock after a backbreaker only gets him a two-count. Angle gets sent to the floor and trips Styles up on the apron, following up with a clothesline to take control. Back in the ring Angle grabs a waistlock, Styles escapes with a pair of elbows but runs right into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The same move he won the Olympic Gold Medal with. Okay I made that up.
Angle drills Styles with a scoop slam and goes for a pair of covers but the champ kicks out, Angle moves to a bodyscissors. Styles counters a backdrop attempt with a kick, Angle responds with a release German suplex. Angle with another backbreaker and another two-count, moves to a chinlock while bending Styles’ spine across his knee. Angle ducks a clothesline, both men go down after a double crossbody. Both men struggle to their feet as Ric Flair makes his way ringside, leading to a round of “WOO”s from the Impact Zone. Styles and Angle trade rights, Styles sends him to the floor with a stiff forearm; Styles follows up with a tope con hilo, somehow making it work despite the fact they have like ten inches of room between the ring and guardrail. Angle stuns Styles with a boot, Styles responds with an Ushigoroshi and springboard forearm for the 1…2…Angle kicks out. Angle counters a Style Clash with a backdrop and hits three German suplexes. Angle measures Styles, Styles counters the Angle Slam with an armdrag, Angle with a release German suplex for the 1…2…Styles kicks out. Styles escapes another Angle Slam attempt and connects with a Pele kick for the 1…2…Angle kicks out. Styles misses a corner splash, Angle levels him with a clothesline for the 1…2…Styles gets the shoulder up. Styles kicks off an Ankle Lock attempt and hits a clothesline of his own but is too out of it to make the cover. Angle dodges a moonsault attempt and suplexes him into the buckles for the 1…2…not yet. Flair looks on, keeping his cards close to his chest.
Styles comes off the middle buckle with a hurricanrana but misses a springboard 450 and Angle connects with an Angle Slam for the 1…2…STYLES KICKS OUT. Angle makes his way up and MISSES THE MOONSAULT, Styles goes for the Clash but Angle escapes and grabs an Ankle Lock. Styles goes for the ropes, Angle drags him back to the middle. Styles kicks him away, Angle backdrops him to the apron, Styles comes back in with a slingshot crossbody for the 1…2…Angle kicks out. Styles tries another hurricanrana, Angle counters with a STYLES CLASH for the 1…2…Styles kicks out! Didn’t know he had two finishers store up, good on him. Styles counters an Angle Slam with a DDT, planting him into the canvas. Styles goads Angle into running shoulder-first into the post, Styles with an ANGLE SLAM for the 1…2…Angle gets the shoulder up. Styles heads to the top, Angle wakes up and hits an AVALANCHE ANGLE SLAM FROM THE MIDDLE BUCKLE for the 1…2…STYLES KICKS OUT AND ANGLE CAN’T BELIEVE IT. Angle pulls the straps down and grabs another Ankle Lock in the center of the ring. Styles goes for the ropes, Angle pulls him back in. Styles tries to kick him off, Angle rolls through and keeps the hold applied, dropping down to grapevine the leg. Styles teases tapping, RIC FLAIR PULLS THE REF OUT OF THE RING AS STYLES TAPS. Angle releases the hold, thinking he had it won and stares daggers at Flair. Angle chases Flair into the ring, Styles clotheslines Angle. Flair throws the World Title in the ring, Styles picks it up and after a crisis of conscience cracks Angle in the head with it. Styles covers, Flair rolls the ref in for the 1…2…3.
AJ Styles [c] defeated Kurt Angle via pinfall to retain the TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (28:49)
- Styles & Angle are the two best wrestlers in TNA at the time and the company was right to put them in the main event, especially following that iffy undercard. Did they have a good enough match to save the show? I wouldn’t go that far, but it was very good especially if you compare it to some of the “gems” from earlier in the PPV. A little slow in the beginning and middle as they built the drama but the last few minutes were pretty damn good…until the finish. TNA thinking Styles needed Ric Flair to give him some shine is a ridiculous notion. Also why didn’t the ref disqualify Flair for pulling him out like that? He obviously knew what happened. TNA getting in their own damn way. (***1/2)
Styles and Flair celebrate the win, Angle still out cold. Tenay and Taz sign off and mercifully it’s over.
*****
FINAL THOUGHTS: The star ratings may paint a different picture, but make no mistake: TNA Genesis 2010 is a f*cking dumpster fire of the PPV save for one or two matches. Hogan & Bischoff needed to do something big for their first PPV as new creative heads and they most certainly did not, instead opting to completely sh*t on one of the company’s biggest trademarks right in their opening and present a show that wouldn’t have been worth the PPV money it cost in 2010. I’ll admit I didn’t watch a lot of TNA in 2019 but it couldn’t have been that bad that THESE motherf*ckers were the answer, right? Come on. Awful way to start 2010 and the Hogan/Bischoff Era and I shudder to think how the next few shows are going to go.
- MATCH OF THE NIGHT: AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle
- MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: Hogan & Bischoff sh*tting on the six-sided ring and mocking the TNA fans who support the company for liking it. What a great tone to set you f*cking idiots.
