TNA Wrestling brought a 4-hour tournament style version of Impact this week, but with a different flair. Last night was a TNA Knockout’s Tournament to determine the #1 contender for their title! They also showed 3 of the best matches of the year as voted on by the fans! Here’s how things went down:
Taz and Mike Tenay run down the card for the evening.
1st Round Match
Madison Rayne vs. Hamada
WINNER: Hamada via pin fall after hitting the Hamada Driver
Backstage: Christy Hemme is with the TNA Knockout Champion, Tara, who’s excited to see who wins the tournament so that she can take on the winner.
Look Back: Photos of how Tara won the Knockout’s Title from ODB at Turning Point PPV.
1st Round Match
Traci Brooks vs. ODB
WINNER: ODB via pin fall after hitting a TKO
Backstage: Christy Hemme is with The Beautiful People and they’re slightly upset about Madison losing her match earlier, but then Velvet Sky has a revelation that Madison just softened up Hamada for her in the next round, overlooking her 1st round opponent Roxxi.
- They also acknowledge the “firing” of Lauren from TNA after, “assaulting” Lacey Von Erich last week.
1st Round Match
Roxxi vs. Velvet Sky
WINNER: Roxxi via pin fall after hitting the Voodoo Drop
- After match, Jeremy Borash grabs Roxxi for a word, but during the interview she’s attacked by Lacey Von Erich with her “ugly stick” (a pink police baton).
Video Package: History of TNA Founder, Jeff Jarrett
Fan Voted, Match of the Year – Turning Point 2009
Desmond Wolfe vs. Kurt Angle
WINNER: Kurt Angle via submission
Video Package: Before the Bell segment; events leading up to and the aftermath of Hulk Hogan signing with TNA.
1st Round Match
Daffney vs. Awesome Kong
WINNER: Awesome Kong via pin fall after hitting an Implant Buster
Backstage: Christy Hemme is with Sarita & Taylor Wilde who are bummed that they don’t get to defend their tag titles tonight, but excited for Monday when they get to face Hamada and Kong.
Video Package: Look back at the Final Resolution PPV that set the stage for 2010.
The British Invasion come out to the surprise of everyone to sit in on commentary.
Lorelei & April Hunter vs. Taylor Wilde & Sarita
WINNERS: Wilde & Sarita via pin fall after taking advantage of a double team
Fan Voted, Match of the Year – Turning Point 2009
AJ Styles (Champion) vs. Daniels vs. Samoa Joe
WINNER: AJ Styles via pin fall
Video Package: Mick Foley‘s road to January 4th after the Hulk Hogan signing.
Backstage: Christy Hemme is with ODB who’s pissed that Tara is the TNA “Knocked Up” Champion and she wants her title back!
Semi Final Match
Roxxi vs. Hamada
WINNER: Hamada via roll up reversal pin fall
Semi Final Match
Awesome Kong vs. ODB
WINNER: ODB via pin fall after hitting her in the head with a glass bottle while the referee was knocked out
Fan Voted, Match of the Year – Bound For Glory 2009
AJ Styles (Champion) vs. Sting
WINNER: AJ Styles via pin fall
Video Package: “The Icon” Sting – Will he retire, especially now that Hulk Hogan is coming to TNA?
Tournament Finals Match
Hamada vs. ODB
WINNER: ODB via pin fall after hitting a TKO to become the new #1 Contender for the TNA Knockout Title.
- Mid match, Awesome Kong came out with a table and set it up. Referees eventually got her to head back to the locker room, but the table remained. Hamada eventually tried to use the table, but it backfired when she missed a moonsault.
- After the match, Jeremy Borash came into the ring to talk with ODB and tells her that the title match will be on January 4th on the live episode of Impact! ODB talks some trash about Tara.
- Tara comes out to confront ODB. She tells ODB, “You look like a truck stop rest room!” ODB responds, “you’re a joke as a champion!” A melee ensues!
Music video highlight reel of 2009.
QUICK THOUGHTS:
It’s about time that the Knockouts got a show for themselves! They put on a decent show! Not outstanding because there were some botched moments, mainly with Hamada who doesn’t always kick out to where it’s visible for the fans. It was good to see them get some of the glory for the hard work they put into their craft. WWE would NEVER do that for their women’s division!
I’m not totally shocked that it was ODB that won the #1 contender spot. The rivalry between her and Tara is just heating up and they cannot just let it go to waste. Besides they mentioned earlier in the evening that Kong and Hamada have a tag team match on Monday for the tag titles, so usually if history holds true to the percentages, they’re probably not going to have someone double dip on titles. It does happen, but not very often.
As for the Match of the Year vote by the fans. I have to say that they were pretty spot on! Now, I’m NOT going to say that I can remember every match of 2009 because I can’t. Hell, unless you reminded me, I might not remember what I ate for dinner last week. However, the three matches that were chosen, even though they were from only a few months back, stuck out in my mind as 3 of the best. I wish they would’ve actually said which one was the most voted on by the fans because I seriously doubt that Sting/AJ at Bound For Glory was the best. If anything, I think most of the fans would’ve selected AJ/Joe/Daniels from Turning Point as #1. My personal favorite was Wolfe/Angle’s technical masterpiece from Turning Point!
Looking forward to Monday’s LIVE Impact! It’s a 3-hour show starting at 8pm! Hope you had a great 2009, but now the slate has been wiped clean! Let’s make the best of 2010! Take care everyone!