A free pay per view? Yes, TNA is in that bad of shape that they have to try and entice viewers with a beefed up card with a myriad of surprises. Truth be told, if TNA had done something like this sooner or made it their main goal to deliver this type of show on a weekly basis they may not be this hard-pressed for buzz.
At any rate, the matches were all solid, but the show lacked a real pay per view “feel.”
At the end of it all, while the in-ring action was worth your time, you got your monies worth.
Wait…
At least there’s a new World Heavyweight Champion in Chris Sabin. Should be interesting to see where this company goes from here.
Matches:
Bound for Glory Series: Bobby Roode vs. Austin Aries: Excellent opening match as Roode and Aries’ chemistry is well-documented. The action was fierce on both the inside and outside; both competitors hit nice spots and jockeyed for position. Aries nearly won early after a beautiful 450 Splash, but Roode kicked out. Aries continued the onslaught with a Missile Dropkick, but Roode countered the Brainbuster into the Crossface. Aries was able to escape and hit a sit-down DDT, but Roode wasn’t done yet. After a big Clothesline, Roode had the upper hand, but a Discus Forearm and eventually (after several counters) a Brainbuster from Aries earned him the win. After the match, Roode threw a tantrum and destroyed the the announce table.
X Division Qualifying Match: Homicide vs. Petey Williams vs. Sonjay Dutt: All three guys hit their spots, but Williams was easily the most technical proficient as he sold the most in a match all about offense. Homicide nearly won with the Ace Crusher, but Dutt kicked out. Homicide then nailed Williams with the Gringo Killer, but Dutt broke up the pin. With Homicide down, Dutt hit a beautiful Moonsault/Stomp for the win.
X Division Qualifying Match: Kenny King vs. Manik vs. Chavo Guerrero: King was on fire early, but Manik got a few submission moves in to even things up. Guererro got in some offense with his Three Amigos suplexes. Manik ultimately won with his Double Underhook Gutbuster.
X Division Qualifying Match: Rubix vs. Rockstar Spud vs. Greg Marasciulo: Rubix hit a spot or two early, but for the most part, this match was all about Marasciulo. Spud got some offense in, but in al fairness, he’s still greener than goose dung. Marasciulo got the win with a Package Buster of sorts.
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bully Ray vs. Chris Sabin: Ray was obviously the aggressor, but Sabin has the heart of a lion. The rest of the Aces and Eights joined the party midway through the match, but the Main Event Mafia arrived soon after (what happened to the club locking the MEM in a room earlier in the show?). Ray then focused on Sabin’s leg, using stomps and submission maneuvers and even removed a part of Sabin’s boot and his knee pads that protected his surgically-repaired knee. Every time Sabin made a comeback, Ray went right back to working on Sabin’s knee and legs. But Sabin continued to fight and kicked-out after a massive Superplex. Sabin then blocked the BullyBomb and then hit a Missile Dropkick, in whuch Ray bumped into referee Brian Hebner and no count could be made. With Hebner down, Anderson handed Ray the hammer, but the two groups began to fight on the outside. When the groups cleared out, Ray went for a Powerbomb, but Sabin, hammer in hand, used it and won the World Heavyweight Championship.
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