TNA IMPACT Wrestling
Location: Manchester, England
Date: February 27, 2015
Commentators: Josh Matthews and Taz
We start off with a look back at last week when MVP won the #1 Contender’s Gauntlet to earn a shot at Bobby Lashley’s TNA World Title later tonight. But before we get to that, the loser of last week’s Gauntlet, Kurt Angle, comes out to the ring as we see Josh and Taz sitting in the studio far away from the action. Angle looks like he raided James Storm’s closet as he comes out to the ring and we take another look at MVP booting his face off last week. Angle calls Lashley out to the ring, and says that he worked his ass off to come back from the ACL injury and get a shot at the World Title, and Lashley did nothing to help him against the BDC last week. Lashley says it was his fight, and Angle says he wants to fight Lashley, but because Lashley didn’t do anything, we’re going to see Lashley against MVP…and the BDC. Lashley says that’s his fight and he doesn’t need Angle’s help, but Angle says he wasn’t offering his help, he just hopes Lashley still has the title after tonight. And by the way, when the BDC swarms Lashley, he’s going to do what Lashley did…absolutely nothing.
Angle leaves, but we’re not done yet because the Beat Down Clan comes out from the back and Joe tells Lashley that luck won’t be a factor tonight, and amusingly, the crowd chants “you sold out” at Joe, who just recently refused to sell out. Joe says Lashley sold out because he owes MVP and the BDC his career. MVP is going to beat him down tonight, take the World Title, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. MVP says Lashley has an overinflated ego, but the BDC is there for the good of the group, united. Nobody in that locker room stands with Lashley, and he knows that means his ass will get laid out tonight, and the title is coming home with the BDC.
Taz and Josh talk about last week when Tyrus got his head shaved, and that leads us into our opening match…
Ethan Carter III and Tyrus vs. Ken Anderson and Rockstar Spud
Tyrus is wearing a skull cap at the start, but the referee makes him take it off and reveal his shaved head. Anderson outmaneuvers Tyrus to start, maneuvering him into the corner so he can unload with right hands. Anderson asks the fans if they want Spud to tag in, and of course they do, so he comes in and hammers Tyrus with right hands of his own. These have far less effect, as Tyrus easily carries him out to the middle of the ring and powerslams him. EC3 tags in and stalks Spud with the razor, but the referee takes it away, allowing Spud to hit a Pele kick and tag Anderson in. Anderson again controls Tyrus and hits a neckbreaker, but Tyrus powers out at 2. Tyrus knocks Spud off the ring apron and tags Carter in to dish out some punishment to Anderson as well. Anderson gets a hot tag to Spud, who comes in with a flurry of offense to Tyrus, planting him in the mat with the Acid Trip. EC3 nails Spud, but Anderson comes in and nails Tyrus low while the referee is escorting Carter out of the ring. Anderson plants Tyrus with the Mic Check, and Spud covers him for the win.
Winners: Ken Anderson and Spud
We see a video package looking at the history between MVP and Lashley, and they’ll tangle for the World Title later on tonight!
Ethan Carter III is backstage and…well, he’s pissed off over what just happened. He’s sick of this and is ending things with Spud tonight.
Taryn Terrell comes out to the ring and says becoming Knockouts Champion has been a dream come true, but they all want her title, including Awesome Kong. Kong has made her intentions clear, but if she wants that title, Kong can come try and get it right now. Instead of Kong, Gail Kim comes out and says everyone respects Taryn, but she doesn’t know what she’s getting into. Kong is the toughest woman in the history of the business, and if she thought Havok was tough, look what Kong did to her. Gail knows from personal experience, because Kong hurt her and put her on the shelf, and she needs to know if Taryn really wants to do this. Taryn says she needs this, and she needs to fight Awesome Kong. Gail gets a look on her face like “Whatever you say!” and leaves, but then the lights go out and I’ll give you one guess who is in the ring when they come back up! Taryn goes right at Kong, but Kong steamrolls over her and hits the Implant Buster. Kong picks the belt up and holds it high with a smile on her face before dropping it beside Terrell and leaving.
The Beat Down Clan is backstage talking strategy and then…holy CRAP, they notice the cameraman and kick him out!! HISTORY IS MADE!!
We see another video package looking at the history between MVP and Bobby Lashley, and then we go backstage to Austin Aries, who holds up the briefcase and says he thinks he has the perfect surprise ending to tonight’s show.
Robbie E and Angelina Love vs. Sgt. Chris Melendez and Brooke
Melendez starts off strong, working Robbie over and hitting a snap suplex for 2. Brooke tags in and Robbie heads for the hills, tagging Angelina in to fight his ex-girlfriend for him. Robbie tags right back in and makes Brooke chase him around, distracting her long enough for Angelina to snap her down by the hair and tag back in. Angelina gets a neckbreaker for 2, but Brooke fires back with right forearms and hitting a flapjack. Robbie blind tags himself in, and he shoves Brooke off the top rope and quickly pins her for the win.
Winners: Robbie E and Angelina Love
The Bromans and Angelina take a selfie with Brooke as she lies writhing in pain on the mat, then bail when Melendez comes in to chase them off.
Ethan Carter III bursts into Spud’s dressing room backstage, slams the door shut, and turns the electric razor on, and we cut right to commercial. Okay, that was hokey as hell but stupid amusing.
We come back to Ken Anderson tearing down the halls backstage and busting into Spud’s dressing room just in time to stop EC3 from shaving his head. He beats Anderson down, and Spud quickly manages to get a small zip of Carter’s hair instead. Tyrus comes in and spirits his boss away before any more hairdressing can be done.
Gunner walks into Kurt Angle’s dressing room as he’s packing up to leave and asks him what he’s doing. Angle says he doesn’t need this crap, but Gunner says the Kurt Angle he watched growing up who inspired him to become a wrestler would have never walked out and let MVP and his gang do what they’re going to do to Lashley tonight. Gunner says he should motivate Angle like Angle motivated him a few weeks ago, and smacks him in the face. Angle gets right in his face and they have a staredown, then Gunner leaves Angle to think about what he’s done.
Austin Aries comes out and says World Title matches are big deals, and there’s a lot of speculation about who is going to stick their nose in and get involved, but Aries says he has all the power. He doesn’t need #1 contender matches or rankings, because he has this (holding up the briefcase), and what if he cashes it in at just the right moment tonight and became the TNA World Champion again? Samoa Joe comes out and asks Aries if he really thinks he has a chance of cashing in that briefcase tonight, and Joe says that he can have trained assassins in the ring beating his ass at a snap of the fingers, making sure he never cashes anything in again. Aries asks what happened to the Samoa Joe he used to know who feared no man and served no man, and he wants to know if Joe has to go rub MVP’s feet in the back after the show. Aries doesn’t see the Samoa Joe he used to go 30-40 minutes with, and Joe says he doesn’t need anyone to fight his fights, and he says he’s gonna come in and snap Aries’ neck right now. Aries confirms that Joe wants to come in the ring and fight him, but Aries has a better idea and decides to take the fight to him. Aries takes Joe out with a heat seeking missile through the ropes, and they’ll face off when we come back from commercial!
Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe
Aries snaps Joe’s neck down on the top rope and hammers him in the corner with a charging elbow as we come back from commercial. Joe blocks a brainbuster and reverses, dumping Aries on the top rope and knocking him to the floor with a running boot. Joe goes out and works Aries over on the floor, then brings him back inside and stomps him into oblivion in the corner. Joe with an atomic drop, running boot, and senton for 2 on Aries. Aries finally dodges a charge and sends Joe out to the floor, then takes him out with another dive. They go back in where Aries hits a missile dropkick, the IED, but Joe blocks a suplex and gets a full nelson. Aries gets to the ropes to force a break, so Joe goes for the Muscle Buster instead. Aries gets out, hits a pair of roaring elbows, and rolls Joe into the Last Chancery. Kenny King runs out and grabs Aries’ briefcase to distract him, but Aries rams Joe into the briefcase, hits a crucifix bomb, and comes off the top rope with the 450 splash for the win.
Winner: Austin Aries
Good match, but we don’t have time to dwell on it because Low Ki and Kenny King run in after the match and join Joe in a 3-on-1 beatdown on Aries. They put him on a table and Joe leaps up and puts Aries through with a senton.
the Mystery Cameraman asks Lashley another hard-hitting question, wondering what he thinks his chances are against MVP tonight. Lashley says he’ll prove MVP didn’t make him, and then he blows the cameraman off when he asks about Angle. Shouldn’t Lashley get his gear on since the match is in like ten minutes?
MVP catches up with Eric Young backstage and congratulates him for what he did to Tommy Dreamer last week, then mentions that his match with Lashley tonight is no DQ, and that means anyone can get involved. He fans the flames by reminding Young about how Lashley took the title he spent 15 years trying to earn, and Young walks off going “I can do ANYTHING.”
Rampage Brown vs. Noam Dar
They feel each other out for a bit before Bram’s music hits. He comes out and destroys both guys.
Winner: No contest
Well I guess that match said all it needed to. Bram hits both guys with his implant DDT and then gets a mic. He says this ought to look familiar to Magnus, and calls him out to face him right now. We don’t get Magnus, and instead we get this Grado goof. He gets right up in Bram’s face and gives him a few jabs before Bram takes his head off and gives him the implant DDT as well. Bram is unstoppable!
MVP and Bobby Lashley are backstage, and they’re…WALKING! The title is on the line after this break!
We’re back, and it’s…MAIN EVENT TIME!
TNA world heavyweight championship match: TNA world heavyweight champion Bobby Lashley vs. MVP
They go right at each other like a couple of bulls, but then Lashley bowls MVP over with a shoulderblock and starts KILLING him with clotheslines. MVP kicks at Lashley’s arm, but Lashley shrugs it off and hits another clothesline. Lashley with a delayed vertical suplex and then they go out to the floor where Low Ki takes a cheap shot at the champ. The referee ejects Low Ki, but MVP connects with a clothesline to turn the tide as we go to commercial.
We’re back, and MVP is going for repeated covers to try and wear Lashley down enough to catch a fall. MVP gets a snapmare and a running boot for 2. MVP with a series of strikes followed by a roaring clothesline for 2. Samoa Joe chokes Lashley from the floor while the referee has his back turned, and then MVP takes Lashley down and goes back to work on the arm. MVP dumps Lashley back out to the floor where Joe and King again attack the champ, then MVP goes out and drops Lashley face first on the guardrail before rolling him back in and covering him for 2. They go back inside and wipe each other out with a double clothesline, but MVP recovers when they regain their feet and hits an exploder suplex. Lashley dodges a Yakuza kick and hits a spear, but drives MVP into the referee and takes him out too. Eric Young runs in and beats Lashley down with a chair before going for a piledriver onto the chair, but Bobby Roode runs out and clears Young out, and they brawl all the way to the back as Lashley recovers and hits a spear. Lashley catches MVP going for a leapfrog and powerslams him just as the referee recovers and starts counting. Kenny King drags the referee out of the ring at 2 and knocks him out, but Gunner runs in and attacks Samoa Joe when he interjects himself. They fight to the back, but Kenny King is still here and he tries to come off the top rope, but Lashley catches him and hits a hot shot to take King out. MVP is up and he hits his twisty neckbreaker thing and makes a cover. There’s no ref, and by the time another one comes out of the back, Lashley has recovered enough to kick out at 2. Now MVP has a chair and comes after Lashley with it, but Drew Galloway comes out of the crowd and takes MVP out, then clears out so Lashley can hit the spear for the win.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
There was a lot going on in this one, but the match was pretty good and none of the interference played into the finish.
Source: http://www.ringsidenews.com