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TNA – No Surrender ’06 DVD Review

October 17, 2007 | Posted by Jacob Ziegler
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TNA – No Surrender ’06 DVD Review  

TNA – No Surrender – Impact Zone – Orlando, Florida – September 24, 2006

Pre Show

I guess the DVDs are going back to the “having the whole Pre Show on the DVD” thing. Personally I think all they really need to include is the matches, or at least have it be consistent.

Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme are hosting the Pre Show, and they start by running down the card – Brother Runt vs. Raven vs. Abyss in a no-DQ match, Christian Cage vs. Rhino, AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels vs. LAX in an Ultimate X match for the World Tag Team Title, and a Fan’s Revenge match of Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Jarrett.

They hype tonight’s big announcement, and then hand it over to Mike Tenay and Don West. They’re hyping this announcement huge. Let’s see if they can actually deliver something this time.

They segue to a video package of the Christian Cage versus Rhino feud. They’ve got some pretty old looking video footage to accentuate the “old friends who now hate each other” feud.

Back to Tenay and West, who are in hype mode, talking about the Ultimate X match and the Fan’s Revenge match. Jeff Jarrett failed a lie detector test, which is why he has to fight in the Fan’s Revenge match. He doesn’t have to put the title on the line though, which is lame.

Outside Borash and Hemme are signing up fans for the main event match. They bring in some douche who thinks it’s okay to not wear sleeves. Borash is sweating like a cokehead in a, outside a wrestling arena, I guess. They do some more tomfoolery with fans, and I can’t believe they put this crap on DVD.

The hype video for the show touts three main events – Ultimate X, Fan’s Revenge, and Rhino vs. Christian.

PRE SHOW MATCH: Bobby Roode vs. Von Doring

I have no idea who Doring is. This is during Roode’s search for a new manager in the post-Team Canada era. Roode handles Doing fairly easily in the first few moments. Doing comes back with some generic offense. It’d be nice if they would fill us in on Doring a little bit instead of ignoring the match altogether. Roode is soon back in control and even bites Doring. Wicked lariat by Roode puts Doring down. I wonder if Von is related to Danny. Doring has a brief flurry of offense until Roode hits the Northern Lariat. However, that’s not his finisher anymore. They hype his new finisher as something cool, but it’s just the fucking Roll of the Dice that like a million other people have used. The “Payoff” is what he calls it, and he gets the win at 4:28. That was just a jobber match to remind people that Roode is looking for a manager.
Rating: *

Tonight, Chris Sabin will challenge TNA X-Division Champion Senshi for the title. The video package shows Sabin, Jay Lethal, and Sonjay Dutt getting inspired by the Jackass show. What a stupid idea.

We’re back outside to Borash and the chick with the boobs. They do more stuff with fans, and Eric Young shows up. He’s still worried about being fired. It’s so old.

Next is a video package for the Triple Chance Tag Team Battle Royal tonight, focusing mostly on The Naturals and America’s Most Wanted.

Back to Mike and Don for more hype. Tenay says that tonight’s announcement will “re-write” history, which just makes so little sense I wonder if he realizes it.

The next video package is for Raven vs. Brother Runt vs. Abyss. I still wonder how they justify paying Runt whatever they’re paying him. I also think Raven’s days as a useful performer are over. They go to a backstage promo with Borash, Abyss, and James Mitchell.

Ultimate X is pretty much the signature match of TNA, as this neat looking video package points out. Tonight will be the first-ever Tag Team Ultimate X match.

Back to Borash and Hemme, this time inside the ring. Borash notes that this is the eleventh Ultimate X match in TNA history, which is way too many given that it’s existed for just over four years.

Tenay and West hype the card some more. Some people make fun of West for having the “script” in plain view of the camera, but it’s not silly to think that the commentators would have formatting sheets for what’s coming on the show, even if we’re operating under the “wrestling is real” banner.

A final video hype package highlights tonight’s big matches.

Introduction

“Man’s potential to create is unlimited. So, too, is his ability…to destroy.” This is a weird video package, incorporating figures of political past and trying to relate them to tonight’s show. Tenay and West welcome us and start hyping the big announcement right away. He makes the same ludicrous claim that it will “rewrite” history.

MATCH #1: Eric Young vs. A1

Former Team Canada partners collide! You know what? I hate Eric Young. I can’t think of one good match he’s been in, his voice is irritating, his promos are lame, his gimmick is stupid. A1 I could also live without. A1 uses his power to gain an early advantage, while Young panders to the crowd. By the looks of Young’s back he might not pass the Wellness Test. Young gets very little offense in. Young finally comes back and hits a Macho Elbow but it only gets two. A1 tries to pin Young with leverage on the ropes but the referee catches him. A1 tries a tombstone but Young turns it around and almost drops A1 on his head but he winds up hitting the wheelbarrow neckbreaker for the win at 6:14. I don’t see much in either of these guys.
Rating: *¾

Tenay and West hype the Big Announcement again, and then run down the card, again. They spend more time on the main event, of course. That segues to Borash backstage, who is going to get a word with Jim Cornette. I can’t believe a purist like Cornette would put up with the TNA garbage. He says the same thing four or five times and that’s about it.

MATCH #2: Petey Williams vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal’s music is playing, but he’s too busy looking at Sonjay Dutt’s butt and playing video games. They also gave Petey Williams a bunch of laxatives and Jerry Lynn is super pissed about it. This Jackass thing is so beyond stupid I can’t even comprehend why anyone would think it’s a good idea. It’s to the point that I feel bad for everyone involved. The crowd is absolutely dead for this one. Petey shows signs of stomach discomfort, and I get a bad feeling about where this match is going. Petey, I know you’re probably not reading this, and it was a long time ago, but I’m sorry that they made you do this, because you are better than that. Lethal pins Petey at 7:24. I’m embarrassed for everyone involved in this.
Rating: DUD

Borash is backstage with Rhino, who says that doctors don’t know anything. Yeah, I can see you saying the same thing when your career is over and you can barely move without pain. Rhino is so upset right now that he can barely speak. When he does speak, it’s just a lot of yelling.

MATCH #3: No Disqualification Match – Abyss vs. Raven vs. Brother Runt

The video package shows just how out of touch Raven really is, and how useless Brother Runt is, and how Abyss deserves better than them. In no small shock, this one starts off as a brawl. Runt quickly gets tossed to the floor, and Abyss beats up Raven. Runt comes back in with a kendo stick and attacks Abyss with it. The brawl continues and the crowd is fairly quiet. Raven gets his old gladiator helmet out, which just looks ridiculous. It must also affect his sight, judging by the “headbutt” he delivers to Runt. Tenay is so happy that the referee is showing a lot of leeway in this match, which is a fucking no-disqualification match, so how can he be allowing more leeway than the stated rules of the match already allow? I hate you Mike Tenay. Raven is the first one to bleed as I’m having trouble following the action as I think about how much I hate Mike Tenay. Rope breaks in no-DQ matches are stupid. Abyss winds up getting the pin on Raven at 11:34. That was pretty bland, with most of the spots looking obviously pre-planned.
Rating: *½

Borash is backstage with the NWA World Champion Jeff Jarrett, who will face Samoa Joe in a Fan’s Revenge match tonight. He talks about tonight’s big announcement, and says that you can find it on the Internet anywhere. He is worried about the messenger though. Eric Young comes out for some reason, and he offers to help Jarrett.

MATCH #4: Triple Chance Tag-Team Battle Royal – America’s Most Wanted, The Naturals, Alex Shelley & Johnny Devine, Shark Boy & Norman Smiley, Maverick Matt & Kazarian, Ron Killings & Lance Hoyt, Elix Skipper & David Young, and The James Gang

The video package here is the same one that was on the Pre show, which is exactly why I don’t think they need to include the entire Pre Show on the disc. The rules of this match are that it starts off as a regular over-the-top-rope battle royal, with both members of the team having to be eliminated. When we get down to the last two, the partners will join them and we’ll have a regular tag team match, which is chance two. I guess chance three then is the Tag Team Title shot that the winners get, but that won’t happen until down the line. This is just a typical battle royal to start off with. Lance Hoyt scores the first two eliminations, as he knocks Skipper and Smiley out. Kazarian then cleverly eliminates Hoyt. Johnny Devine is next to go, courtesy of Ron Killings. Shark Boy is out next, and thus their whole team is eliminated. James Storm then launches Chase Stevens into the crowd, so he’s gone. Maverick Matt is gone next. Truth and BG James are next to go. Kazarian is gone next, and then Shelley follows him. We’re down to Harris, Storm, Kip James, and Andy Douglas. Kip is able to eliminate Storm, and three are left. Kip is also able to eliminate Harris because the referees were distracted by Kazarian, Maverick Matt, Alex Shelley, and Johnny Devine brawling on the outside. Harris comes back in and tosses Kip, a la Steve Austin at the 1997 Royal Rumble. Stealing from yourself is still stealing. This brings it down to America’s Most Wanted vs. The Naturals in a tag team match. Stevens’ leg is still hurt from the spill he took into the crowd, and as a result AMW is pretty much taking liberties with Douglas. Stevens is able to make it back in the ring and gets a schoolboy on Storm to pin him and earn the title shot at 14:30. That was actually a pretty smartly booked battle royal, but the tension between the Kazarian & Maverick / Shelley & Devine teams and between the James Gang and AMW were never really paid off. And if I recall the Naturals got their tag title shot over a month after this and the match barely went three minutes, so really who cares?
Rating: **¼

MATCH #5: X Division Title Match – Senshi vs. Chris Sabin

Senshi has been the champion since 6.22.06, and this is his third defense. Senshi is a two-time champion (once as Low Ki), and Sabin is a former two-time champion himself, back in 2003-2004. They start off with some mat wrestling as Tenay and West desperately try to get over the “Jackass” character Sabin is doing now. Sabin is able to stay one step ahead of the champion by using his agility and grounding Senshi. The champ comes back with strikes and kicks. Sabin tries to fight back, but Senshi out-strikes him. Sabin makes brief comebacks but Senshi is able to keep knocking him back. The challenger finally comes back with a big tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a missile dropkick for a near fall. Senshi will have none of that though, and goes back to work with kicks. Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal come out with an inflatable doll, and the crowd is just openly booing now. They continue to use the stupid thing as the crowd rightly points out that “this is stupid.” Senshi hits a doll-assisted dropkick and that actually pins Sabin at 16:57. That was a fine match but the finish was among the most stupid things I’ve ever seen done in a wrestling ring. Chris Sabin, I’m sorry they made you do this.
Rating: **½

Borash is backstage with Christian Cage, who cuts the best promo of the night, mocking Rhino, Sting, and the TNA fans. It’s too bad WWE couldn’t do much with Christian. The video package for this reinforces the fact that Cage is leagues ahead of Rhino in just about every way.

MATCH #6: Christian Cage vs. Rhino

Apparently Rhino is competing against doctor’s orders tonight. Somehow every time Mike or Don tries to talk about this storyline it sounds like the gayest of gay lover storylines. Rhino uses his strength to overpower Cage in the early going. He tries the Gore so Cage wisely bails. The fight soon spills to the floor and they brawl into the crowd. Didn’t they already have a no-DQ match earlier in the show? Rhino dominates for a bit, and then Cage comes back with a DDT on the entrance ramp, causing Rhino’s head to bleed. Back in the ring Cage continues to attack Rhino’s head. The crowd is dead. Rhino makes a comeback but he can’t keep the advantage. A series of reversals leads to a spinebuster by Rhino. Rhino tries the Gore but Cage blocks it. Rhino comes back with a powerslam for two. Cage hits the Unprettier but Rhino is able to kick out. The referee gets knocked down and Cage brings chairs into the ring. He tries the Con-Chair-Toe, but Rhino avoids it and hits the Gore. But no referee, no count, so no win for Rhino. Frustrated, Rhino tries a Con-Chair-Toe of his own. The referee recovers in time to stop Rhino, but while he’s distracted Cage hits the Unprettier on the other chair to get the pin at 16:26. That was a pretty basic match and the crowd was dead, but it was solid enough.
Rating: **¾

OMG!! A car just showed up backstage! Is it Sting? Who is it? And why is Eric Young still on camera. Young and Borash go to check out the car, but LAX is trying to steal it. Konnan decides to steal some promo time instead and promise that LAX will retain the titles tonight.

MATCH #7: Ultimate X Match for the World Tag Team Title – LAX vs. AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels

Homicide & Hernandez have been champions since 8.24.06, and this is their first defense. It’s a big brawl to start, and this is the very first tag team Ultimate X match. Homicide tries the Gringo Killer early on but can’t hit it. The LAX take control as Hernandez tosses Styles around. Homicide makes the first attempt to go for the belts but Daniels stops him and goes after the arm. Styles and Daniels use their speed to take advantage; but then Homicide throws Daniels outside and hits the Tope Con Hilo. Styles follows Homicide out with a Fozzberry Flop. Back in the ring Daniels locks Hernandez in the Koji Clutch. That doesn’t last long and Hernandez is throwing Styles and Daniels around again. They bring a ladder into the ring and Homicide ends up eating it in a cool spot and Hernandez takes it in the nuts. He doesn’t let that bother him though so he throws Daniels all the way across the ring with a choke suplex. Konnan takes cheap shots at Daniels outside the ring while Styles gets beat up inside the ring. Hernandez tries crossing the X to grab the belt but Styles knocks him down. Homicide brings a chair into the ring and uses it on Styles. Homicide tries next so Styles goes out to meet him and kicks him, but Homicide is somehow able to use an Ace Crusher but the commentators completely fucking miss it. Daniels tries to climb but LAX stops him and delivers an assisted bulldog. Styles fires up and takes down both members but Homicide, as usual, decides not to sell. He tries a frog splash a few moments later but he misses and the challengers take him out. They try to double team Hernandez, but he fights through it. Konnan sets up a table outside the ring as Hernandez hits a backbreaker on Daniels. The challengers fight back with a series of top rope maneuvers. Homicide hits a spinning neckbreaker and West gets confused and calls it the Gringo Killer. Styles and Homicide fight on the apron and a really contrived spot leads to Homicide taking the Styles Clash through the table. Konnan slapjacks Styles and knocks him out. Konnan tries to hit Daniels with a kendo stick and Daniels climbs the support beam and leaps out onto the X and takes the belt down to win the match and the titles at 15:29. I know that match got a lot of praise but I honestly don’t see what for. It had some cool spots and the finish was neat, but most of the match was just standard stuff and lots of no-selling. It’s still a good match and one I liked, but I think it’s a victim of being over-hyped.
Rating: ***½

MATCH #8: Fan’s Revenge Match – Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Jarrett

The video package here gives the illusion that TNA has an interest in pushing Samoa Joe. Jarrett is wearing about four layers of clothing here. The title of course is not on the line, because being undefeated for well over a year is not enough to earn a title shot. Joe unloads on Jarrett immediately and the champion is reeling. Jarrett recovers and grabs one of the fans’ leather straps and whips Joe with it. Joe comes back and removes all of Jarrett’s layers. Jarrett finally gets tossed outside and the fans get their chance to whip him. They do some more boring stuff and Jarrett brings the guitar into the ring. Joe grabs the choke before the guitar can be used. Jarrett escapes and executes the Stroke on the guitar. Joe kicks out though. Moments later Joe hits the Muscle Buster and cleanly pins the World Champion at 11:03. Not that that would earn him a shot at the title or anything. Match was very dull and plodding.
Rating: **

Aftermath

Joe grabs the title belt and Jim Cornette comes out to mock Jarrett and quote Roddy Piper. He announces that TNA Impact will be moving to prime time in a few weeks.

The REAL announcement though, is that Kurt Angle is coming to TNA. The video package hypes his Olympic Gold medal, and then lets him talk. “It’s real. It’s damn real. Ha ha ha ha ha! YEAH!” How is that supposed to get me hyped to see him? I was sick of Angle long before he and WWE parted ways, and TNA has never done anything right with anyone anyway, so who cares?

They don’t even cut back to the area after the video to get the reaction of the fans, Joe, Cornette, Jarrett, Tenay, West, etc. What a waste.

The 411: Well, as usual, TNA finds new and creative ways to be stupid. The Jackass stuff with Sabin, Lethal, and Dutt absolutely competes for the dumbest stuff this company has ever done, and that really covers a lot of ground. The main event was nothing more than a placeholder for the already announced (and idiotic) Jarrett vs. Sting main event on the next pay-per-view. The tag team title match was good, but not nearly as good as it’s been hyped up to be. Everything else was either bad or mediocre, leaving very little to be recommended from this show. In fact, you can get the tag title match on the much better Best of AJ Styles Vol. 2 DVD, so get that instead.
 
Final Score:  4.0   [ Poor ]  legend

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Jacob Ziegler

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