Hall’s TNA Slammiversary 2012 Review

Slammiversary 2012
Date: June 10, 2012
Location: College Park Center, Arlington, Texas
Attendance: 5,500
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Taz

It’s the tenth anniversary of the company and that means we are in for some big moments. The main event will see Bobby Roode defending the World Title against Sting, but the interesting part is the guest star. Earlier in the year, TNA wrestler Ric Flair was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame as part of the Four Horsemen because he had to be, so TNA gets some compensation. In this case, that means an appearance from the Intercontinental Champion and former TNA World Champion Christian Cage. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks back at some great moments in TNA history and yeah they certainly have some. TNA does not have the best reputation at times, but they do have a deep history and it deserves the attention. As usual, this shifts into a look at the show’s bigger matches.

Here is General Manager Hulk Hogan for a chat. Hogan is glad we’re here because the next ten years are going to be twice as awesome (no). He wants to push some buttons around here so let’s go old school. The first match is Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries, and it’s for the X-Division Title. That’s not exactly a huge announcement.

X-Division Title: Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries

Aries is defending and has been champion for a long time. They go technical to start and neither can get anywhere so Joe kicks him in the chest. Aries sends him outside but the dive gets cut off with a shot to the face, meaning it’s time for the facewashes in the corner. The backsplash hits raised knees but Joe is fine enough to send him outside. Aries switches places though and the suicide dive connects with Joe.

Back in and Joe is fine enough to reverse a hurricanrana into a powerbomb, meaning it’s off to the parade of submission attempts. Aries fights out and breaks up a superplex attempt, setting up a 450 for two (in a nice callback to how Aries beat Joe for the ROH World Title). The Koquina Clutch has Aries in more trouble but he flips backwards for the rather traditional escape. The MuscleBuster is broken up so Aries gives him a crucifix bomb into a brainbuster for the rather sudden pin at 11:49.

Rating: B. I remembered this match more than anything else on the show and it’s a hard hitting, physical match. What I didn’t remember was how short it wound up being, as I was expecting them to get some more time. Either way, having Joe there is a nice tie in to the past as he was a huge part of TNA’s history and deserves a spot like this.

Kid Kash vs. Hernandez

Hernandez goes with the power to start and Pounces him to the floor but misses a charge into the ropes. Kash gets to chop away a bit and a headscissor driver knocks Hernandez a bit sillier. That’s shrugged off and Hernandez chops away to send Kash outside. The big no hands dive drops Kash again and the top rope splash finishes for Hernandez at 5:49.

Rating: C. If there was a reason for this to be on the pay per view, they didn’t bother explaining it here, as this felt like a one off match that would have belonged better on Xplosion. Hernandez was long past the point where he was the star of the future but dang you could see some of the potential in there and it’s kind of sad to see.

Moment #3 in TNA History: AJ Styles is the first X-Division Champion. The fact that the other two participants (as Psicosis and Low Ki were also involved with Jerry Lynn, who is actually shown) aren’t included or mentioned at all is rather interesting.

Robbie E./Robbie T. vs. Devon/Garrett Bischoff

So this is a thing. E. is better known as future NXT General Manager Robert Stone and Devon is TV Champion. Bischoff slams E. down to start so the rather muscular T. comes in to toss Bischoff into the corner. A side slam into a middle rope elbow gets two and E. grabs the chinlock. Bischoff gets up for a flapjack though and it’s off to Devon to slug away. Everything breaks down and Devon spinebusters E. for the pin at 5:55.

Rating: C-. This was another good example of a match that had no business being on a pay per view. It felt like something that was thrown on to fill in time and if there was a backstory here, commentary didn’t tell us about it here. Devon as a singles star didn’t exactly work either but that didn’t stop TNA from trying, as was often their situation.

Bad Influence, with appletinis, are ready for Kurt Angle and AJ Styles.

Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam

For the #1 contendership to the World Title. Hardy goes with the jump start and splashes both of them in the corner, setting up Poetry In Motion to Van Dam. Kennedy takes Hardy down in the corner but can’t neckbreaker Van Dam. Instead Kennedy has to block a monkey flip but Van Dam breaks up the Tower Of Doom. A superplex hits Hardy and Van Dam misses the Five Star. Instead Van Dam is back up with A kick to Kennedy, setting up a split legged moonsault.

Van Dam knocks Hardy into the corner but Hardy is back up with a double rollup for two each (I think?). Kennedy and Van Dam fight to the floor so Hardy is right there with the big dive. The Whisper In The Wind gives Hardy two on Van Dam, as does a Swanton with Kennedy grabbing the referee. Kennedy sends Hardy outside and counters Rolling Thunder into the Mic Check for the pin at 11:25.

Rating: B. They had a fast paced match here and while I was expecting it to go on a bit longer for more of an epic feeling, I liked the kind of sudden ending. Kennedy winning out of nowhere is a good way to go, as he caught Van Dam trying to go just a bit too high. Nice match, but a bit more time could have helped.

The undefeated Crimson isn’t worried about whomever answers his open challenge. Uh oh.

Crimson vs. ???

Crimson mocks Texas and we have….someone from Tennessee, in the form of James Storm. They start fast with Storm clotheslining him out to the floor and hammering away back inside. Crimson gets in a few shots of his own until a Codebreaker cuts that off. The Last Call ends Crimson’s undefeated streak at 2:10.

Austin Aries has passed a lot of his “toughest tests” and now he wants to be in the main event.

The second biggest moment in TNA history: the signing of Hulk Hogan.

Here is Dixie Carter for a chat. She thanks the fans for always being here for the company and has the roster join them on the stage. We get a big announcement of the first entrant into the TNA Hall Of Fame: Sting. A surprised Sting comes to the ring, where Carter praises him for what he’s done for the company and announces the full induction for Bound For Glory. Sting thanks Carter and the fans and that’s about it. These are always nice moments.

Knockouts Title: Miss Tessmacher vs. Gail Kim

Kim is defending and starts fast with a dropkick. Tessmacher is sent back first into the apron but gets dropped throat first across the top rope. Kim ties her up with a headscissor choke but stops to pose, allowing Tessmacher to get in a neckbreaker. Back up and Kim knocks her from the apron into the barricade for the big crash. Tessmacher gets back in so Kim can load up Eat Defeat, which is reversed into a cradle to give Tessmacher the title at 7:03.

Rating: C. This was another match that didn’t get to build toward much, though there was something to be said about having the veteran Kim get too cocky and then slip in the end. Tessmacher basically won off a fluke but she got the clean pin and that’s all you can need her to do. It’s not like Kim’s legacy is in any danger so call this a fine ending to a not that great match.

Post match Tessmacher is rather pleased to win her first Knockouts Title in her home state of Texas.

Bully Ray is ready to hurt Joseph Park and the contract says he can’t be held responsible.

We recap Bully Ray vs. Joseph Park. Ray beat up Park’s brother Abyss so Park is going to stand up for him. Everyone realizes Park is in over his head, with Abyss even telling him to stay out of this.

Bully Ray vs. Joseph Park

Anything goes. Ray yells at him to start but we pause so Park can take off his glasses. Park’s right hands are easily dodged so Ray spits at him before getting in a jab of his own. One of Park’s shots connects so Ray runs him over as things get serious. It’s time for a chair but Park kicks the ropes to slow him down again. That doesn’t seem to matter as Ray chairs Park in the back and takes him outside for rams into various solid objects.

The middle rope backsplash misses though and Park realizes this is his chance. Park unloads with rights and lefts but gets booted down, allowing Ray to bust out the weapons. A low blow and kendo stick shot to the head give Park two so it’s time to crawl underneath the ring. Cue Abyss (only shown from behind) to chokeslam Ray through the table and Park is back to steal the pin at 10:26.

Rating: C+. This was a weird one as Park had to hide what he could do and then sneak in a bit of offense here and there. The Abyss cameo at the end was fine, though I would assume it was a body double, as otherwise Park has missed his calling as a quick change artist. Park was a fun character for awhile, at least until it got ridiculous, but this worked well enough.

Bobby Roode says the only thing that should be celebrated tonight is him, because he is the greatest of all time and will beat Sting in the main event.

Hulk Hogan introduces Christian Cage for a big surprise moment. Cage counts the sides of the ring before having the fans applaud themselves. He gives us the #1 moment in TNA history: Sting debuting. And that’s it.

We recap Bad Influence vs. Kurt Angle/AJ Styles. Bad Influence have accused Styles of having an affair with Dixie Carter so Styles is teaming up with Angle to get revenge and maybe the Tag Team Titles.

Bad Influence vs. AJ Styles/Kurt Angle

Styles and Angle are challenging. Styles slugs away at Kazarian, who counters the drop down dropkick with a rollup. They go outside, where Styles uses the barricade for the Phenomenal Forearm. Back in and Angle stomps Kazarian in the corner so it’s off to Daniels for a change. The threat of a Styles Clash is enough for Daniels so Kazarian comes back in to tie Styles’ leg up in the rope.

A middle rope stomp to the chest keeps Styles in trouble, at least until he reverses a suplex into a neckbreaker. That’s enough for the tag back to Angle for the rolling suplexes, including a double that lets Angle take the straps down. Styles is back in with a double (regular and reverse) DDT to the champs.

Everyone is knocked down for a breather so Kazarian goes up, only for Angle to run the corner for the belly to belly superplex and a near fall. Styles Peles Kazarian into a frog splash from Angle (ok then), with Daniels pulling the referee out. That earns him a springboard shooting star from Styles so Angle locks Kazarian’s ankle for the titles at 14:25.

Rating: B. Yeah of course this worked, with the talent involved basically making that a guarantee. It was more of a regular match than Styles fighting for revenge, but taking the titles was a good way to anger Bad Influence. It worked well enough with the extra time, even if Bad Influence would get the titles back by the end of the month. What mattered here was the title change and they got that part right.

We recap Bobby Roode defending the World Title against Sting. Roode is the longest reigning champion in the title’s history so Sting is out to take the title, as well as revenge for Roode injuring him at Victory Road. It’s not a great story but Sting getting a title shot was never that much of a stretch.

TNA World Title: Bobby Roode vs. Sting

Sting is challenging and I do love the overhead camera shot as Roode poses on the ropes. Roode hits the stall button before the bell and then does it again after. Back in and Sting fires away, with some elbows knocking Roode out to the floor. That means some rams into the barricade as we’re certainly more in the brawling genre than wrestling. Roode’s few right hands don’t work so they go outside again with Sting slugging away even more.

A neck snap over the top finally gives Roode an opener and there’s a Hennig necksnap back inside. The sleeper has Sting in more trouble for a bit so Sting goes up, only to get superplexed down. The Scorpion Deathlock sends Roode crashing to the rope and they’re back on the floor for more walk fighting. Sting actually hits the Stinger Splash against the barricade and then goes stupid (yes Sting) with a Scorpion Deathlock on the announcers’ table. With that broken up, Roode grabs a well placed beer bottle from ringside and clocks Sting 10:58.

Rating: B-. Again, this felt like something like a big TV match rather than main event of a major pay per view. Roode got in pretty much no offense until the last five seconds with the beer bottle, making it more like Sting slipped up rather than getting beaten. It’s fine enough, but for the main event of some big milestone show, this was lacking.

Post match Sting pops up and knocks Roode outside again. The Scorpion Death Drop off of the stage and through a table leaves Roode laying to end the show.

 

Results
Austin Aries b. Samoa Joe – Brainbuster
Hernandez b. Kid Kash – Top rope splash
Devon/Garrett Bischoff b. Robbie E./Robbie T. – Spinebuster to E.
Mr. Kennedy b. Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy – Mic Check to Van Dam
James Storm b. Crimson – Last Call
Miss Tessmacher b. Gail Kim – Rollup
Joseph Park b. Bully Ray – Chokeslam through a table
Kurt Angle/AJ Styles b. Bad Influence – Ankle lock to Kazarian
Bobby Roode b. Sting – Beer bottle to the head

 

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7.5

The final score: review Good

The 411

This is one of those shows where the good spots work but there are a bunch of weaknesses bringing it back down. The opener is good and the last two matches worked, but Sting losing on the night he’s announced as both the inaugural Hall Of Fame inductee AND the greatest moment in TNA history is a bit weird. Add some more meat to the middle of the card and it’s a much better show, but for now it’s just pretty good.