TNA Live Show Report: Sept. 23 AT Hammerstein Ballroom In New York, NY

TNA Wrestling returned to the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City September 23, 2010. Hammerstein Ballroom is no stranger to wrestling events, hosting ECW and Ring of Honor events in the past. With tickets ranging from $35 to $100, TNA drew in a nice size crowd. From what I could see, the floor and first balcony of the Hammerstein Ballroom was full.

The show begin with a BIG TNA chant.

X Division Action: Jay Lethal vs. Amazing Red

Amazing Red won the TNA X Division championship, pinning Jay Lethal with Code Red.

The match began with some back and forth counter wrestling. Red armdragged Lethal. Red hit a spinning plancha to the floor. Red did a missile dropkick off the top. Lethal came back with a cartwheel into a dropkick, then a Gori Guerrero Especial. Red came back with a spinning kick, which finally connected after trying twice. Jay went for the Lethal Combination but Red escaped and hit a Red Star Press for a two count. Red nailed a superkick. Then Lethal escaped a Code Red attempt. Lethal finally delivered the Combination but Red kicked up. Lethal went to the top and motioned for the elbow, but Red rolled out of the way. Red then hit the Code Red for the win. Very strong opener with a lot of counters. Nice to see a title change.

TNA Knockouts Championship Match: The Beautiful People's Angelina Love vs. Tara

TNA Knockouts champion Angelina Love pinned Tara with a Yakuza

Tara attacked Love as soon as she hit the ring by choking her against the ropes. Tara delivered many clotheslines, several near falls. Tara grabbed Love by the hair and pulled her backwards into a backbreaker twice. Love went to the floor, where Tara continued to control the match-up. Fans began chanting that Hebner screwed Bret Hart. Tara did a standing moonsault press but Love got her knees up. Love nailed a jawbreaker and a few clotheslines. Love hit a head scissors. Love then delivered the Yakuza for the pin. While Tara was on the floor, Love stood over her holding up her championship for the crowd to see.

"The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero vs. Rhino

Dinero pinned Rhino with the Elijah Express

The bell began with loud chants of E-C-W. Rhino owned the match early. He even teased a Gore after a backdrop but Pope miss it by diving out of the ring. Rhino followed him and slammed Pope facefirst into the canvas. Pope cut off Rhino as they returned to the ring but Rhino made a quick comeback. Pope reversed a whip and sent Rhino hard into the buckles, then continued the attack on the mat. Rhino was choked against the ropes. Pope from the ropes dropped an elbow. Rhino came back but Pope cut him off and went to the side chinlock. The match-up went back and forth until Rhino missed a gore and Pope hit the Elijah Express for the pin. After the match, fans chant "Thank you Rhino".

Tag Team Tables Match: Team 3D vs. Ink, Inc. (Shannon Moore & Jesse Neal)

Team 3D defeated Ink, Inc. in a Tables Match

Brother Ray took the mic before the match which made a big "ECW" chant begin. Ray says "These people are ready." He told Ink, Inc. that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time because they were in the most hardcore city in the world. He said that if there's one thing that 3D does better than anyone else, it was giving their people what they want to see. Fan begin chanting for Tables. Ray played up to the crowd before they made it a Tables match. Even though the Tables match was advertised already it was cool how they incorporated fan interaction.

3D was attacked from behind by Ink. 3D came back and tossed them to the floor. The brawl went from the floor to the aisle. Fans chant ECW. Devon took a camera from a cameraman and then shot Moore as he was out on the floor. Devon and Neal returned to the ring with Devon hit him with a back elbow. Neal then hit a swinging neckbreaker. Moore tagged in with a slingshot senton. Ink, Inc. together worked over Devon in their corner. Ray tagged in and owned Ink, Inc. They landed the wazzup headbutt on Moore. Devon got a table and they set it up as Neal was returning to the ring. Bubba fought Neal. They delivered a 3D through the table for the win. Entertaining table match and mic work.

After the match, Brother Ray said they were in the old Bingo Hall tomorrow and that it was NY's competition. He lead a "TNA" chant, then said that they say you should never forget where they came from and this is where they came from. He thanked the fans and said the most decorated tag team in the history of the business comes from NYC. They said were going to get fined for it, but gave out a piece of the broken table to a kid they brought into the ring. Devon took the mic and said that even though ECW was started in Philadelphia, the true fans were in NYC and those fans went from ECW to TNA. Fans chant TNA. He closed with his "Testify" line.

Jeremy Borash introduced TNA President Dixie Carter. She said they were so excited to be back in NYC and said she wanted to thank their "partners" SpikeTV. She said that TNA has the greatest fans in wrestling and they wouldn't be anywhere without them. She spoke on their sponsor, the United States Army and said she couldn't be more proud of them. Then brought out several servicemen who were then sworn into the United States Military in the middle of the ring.

Next was a 20 min intermission. In the lobby, Tara and Vince Russo was signing autographs and taking photos. Don West was all over the place; in the ring, in the crowd, in the lobby, pushing merchandise. He really is a deal maker.

After intermission, they brought out a DJ from Hot 97 to ring announce Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson. He introduced Anderson, then dropped the mic when he went to hand it over. Anderson led a "douchebag" chant at him. Then Anderson went right into his "routine" which is a show in it's self to see. It was hilarious and the crowd loved it. He said he was a a**hole and he knows NYC has some a**holes too. He asked were are the a**holes in the house tonight. The crowd went wild. The bell ranged and Anderson began doing a dance.

"The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson

Jeff Hardy pinned Ken Anderson with the Twist of Fate

They faced off and did some back and forth wrestling. Anderson took control, working on Hardy's arm. Hardy came back with a bulldog. Anderson came back by choking him against the ropes. Anderson came off the ropes. Hardy tried to kick him but Anderson caught the boot. They traded punches in the center. Hardy came back with a flying forearm. Hardy went for the Twist of Fate and missed. Hardy hit the rolling Samoan Drop for a two count. Anderson missed the top rope swanton. Hardy delivered the Twist of Fate for the pin.

Anderson teased hitting him but later shook hands in the center of the ring. Jeremy Borash said this is two thirds of the Bound for Glory main event. Hardy took a long time slapping hands as he left and picked up a young baby out of the crowd, posing for a photo.

Monster's Ball Match: "The Monster" Abyss vs. Tommy Dreamer *Special Guest Referee – Mick Foley

Tommy Dreamer pinned Abyss in a Monster's Ball match, with Mick Foley as the special referee

Foley took the mic and said it was great to be back in the Hammerstein, but there wasn't much he could do given the rules so he was going to enjoy the best seat in the house and count 1-2-3. Dreamer entrance began. "ECW" chant for Dreamer. Abyss and Dreamer locked up but Abyss shoved Dreamer down to the mat. They locked up again then Abyss kicked him in the gut. Abyss continued to dominate Dreamer. Fans began chanting, "You're not Mankind" at Abyss, which was funny because Foley was in the ring. Foley seemed to find it funny too.

Dreamer came back and tossed Abyss to the floor. Dreamer did the flip off the apron to the floor. Now it was time for weapons. Dreamer tossed a bunch of weapons into the ring. He then took chairs from the front row to add the weapons in the ring. Dreamer nailed Abyss with punches and was hitting him against the rail outside. Dreamer was going to take Abyss out into the crowd but was picked up and crotched on the railing. Abyss beat him with a chair. They battle was now back in the ring.

Abyss wedged a chair in the corner. Dreamer hit Abyss again and again with a trash can to the head. Abyss finally punched the can into Dreamer. Abyss grabbed a broom and hit Dreamer with it. Dreamer was busted open now. Abyss began hitting Dreamer with weapons to the head. Abyss began working on Dreamer's neck. Abyss drilled Dreamer in the gut with a chair twice.

Abyss went to do the Earthquake splash but Dreamer crotched him on a chair. Dreamer hit a high cross bodyblock for a two count. Dreamer nailed Abyss with a chair. He whipped Abyss into the corner but was caught and sent into the chair that was positioned between the ropes. Abyss chokeslammed Dreamer for a two count. Abyss went to the top rope but was caught by Dreamer. Dreamer hit him with a trash can. Fans chanted ECW with Dreamer. Dreamer led the fans to instead chant TNA, then hit a running dropkick into the corner. Abyss nailed the Black Hole Slam for a two count. Abyss was upset with just getting a two count and he hit Foley. Abyss went to the outside to get thumbtacks to pour across the mat. Foley went to pull out Socko but Abyss hit him again. Abyss pulled Dreamer up but Rob Van Dam's music hit. The crowd went wild, the loudest they were all night. RVD, with his arm taped up, hit the ring and shoulderblocked Abyss through the ropes, then hit the Ryder Kick off the top, sending Abyss right into the tacks. Van Dam hit the five star frog splash. Dreamer rolled onto Abyss for the pin.

Dreamer and Van Dam celebrated in the ring. Dreamer took the mic. The fans chanted "Whole Fn' Show." Dreamer said that if you told him he'd be back in the Hammerstein in 2010, he'd thought you were crazy. He said ECW meant the world to everyone who worked there and they changed the business thanks to all you hardcore motherf**ers. He said there's a new revolution thanks to Dixie Carter. He told Dixie they needed to come back with a camera crew for a PPV. Fans chanted PPV. Dreamer thanked everyone and said he was going to get some stitches.

Jeremy Borash promised that they will be back soon.

After the show, they had autograph sessions. RVD and Jeff Hardy was signing and taking photos in the ring. Mick Foley and The Beautiful People's Angelina Love was signing and taking photos in the lobby. I ran into Devon by the concession stand. Let's just say that TNA stars were all over the arena.

Overall, TNA delivered a solid show. Their great match card lived up to the hype. What is really nice is the fan experience TNA gives. Everywhere you turn, you find a TNA star signing, greeting fans or taking photos. I do hope that if TNA does return to New York that they bring a screen. I understand that Hammerstein is way too small for pyrotechnics but a screen would add to the visual appearance. With such great action and an amped crowd, TNA's Hammerstein NY house show was enjoyable from beginning to end.

Please Note: TNA Wrestling was live at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on September 23, 2010. This review is based on personal experience and personal opinion. Individual opinion may vary.

Photo Credit: All photos were taken and owned by me, Tempestt Patterson. If you use any of the photos please credit me, Tempestt Patterson at temppatttoo.blogspot.com. For more photos live from TNA's house show in New York, visit temppatttoo.blogspot.com.