TNA Slammiversary Coverage and Thoughts (6/12)

Tonight, TNA Wrestling presents Slammiversary, live on pay-per-view. TNA is airing several video packages as we await Slammiversary. Be sure to follow right here on Bleacher Report as I cover TNA Slammiversary live on pay-per-view.

We begin tonight's show with a video package hyping what has happened the past few weeks on Impact! Wrestling leading up to Slammiversary.  Mike Tenay and Taz provide the line-up for tonight's show.  

Match 1: British Invasion versus James Storm and Alex Shelley for the TNA Tag Team Titles

Bobby Roode joins Tenay and Taz on broadcast.  In the early going, Storm and Douglas Williams exchange submission moves.  Crowd is chanting "USA."  Shelley is tagged in and faces off with Magnus. After a kick to the stomach, Storm tags himself in.  Magnus tags in Williams.  So far, both Shelley and James have the upper hand in the early going.  After forcing Shelley out of the ring, British Invasion take the advantage in the match.  Magnus and Williams are looking good for their first time back after a while being off television.  After a pin attempt, Storm breaks it up.  Shelley is trying to fight back against Williams and eventually tags Storm into the match.  Storm erupts and gains back the momentum.  Before Storm was about to do a move on Williams, Magnus forces him out of the ring.  Storm gets back and teams with Shelley against the Invasion, which almost led to a three-count on Magnus.  After Storm spits beer by accident into Shelley, Alex pushes Storm away and kicks him.  Shelley returns and performs his special move.  Storm covers for the three-count and win.

Match Rating: 4/5.  Pretty good opening match.  Lots of good in-ring work.  British Invasion also looked good after being off TV for a while.  Good choice to keep the titles on Beer Money.

Match 2: Scott Steiner versus Matt Morgan

 Match opens with Steiner playing heel with the crowd, telling them to keep the noise down.  Morgan shoves Steiner down, then body slams him.  Early advantage to Morgan.  As Morgan is back to perform a move, Steiner low blows Matt while referee is distracted by Scott.  Steiner is now in control. Crowd is rooting for Morgan to gain back the advantage but Steiner continues to beat down Matt. Morgan finally puts up the big boot and regains momentum.  Morgan gets a couple of close three counts.  Steiner gets the "Steiner Recliner" on Morgan in the middle of the ring.  Finally, Morgan breaks the hold and lefts Steiner up.  Steiner rolls Morgan over and made a surprise cover that almost got the win.  After a slap to both ears by Morgan, he hits the "Carbon Footprint" leg boot for the win.

Match Rating: 3/5.  Not a bad match and did better than I thought it would do.

Match 3: Kazarian versus Brian Kendrick versus Abyss for TNA X-Division Championship

Immediately, Kendrick and Kazarian double team Abyss.  However, it back fired and Abyss forces both out of the ring.  Kendrick is first back in but his moves only tosses Kendrick out of the ring onto Kazarian.  Finally, both bring up the intensity to take out Abyss and force him to the corner and out of the ring.  However, again Abyss regroups and takes out both wrestlers.  Pretty slow match so far and not your typical fast moving action.  Kendrick returns to the ring and gets a couple of near fall on Abyss.  Kazarian and Kendrick do a double team drop kick and begins to work together, even pinning him together.  Kendrick and Kazarian begin to fight while Abyss is recovering.  After Kendrick hits a leg drop on Kazarian, Abyss throws Brian out and pins Kazarian to retain the title.

Match Rating: 2.5/5.  Wasn't exactly an X-Division match a fan would talk about.  It appeared slow and the crowd was not very into it compared to the first two matches.  Having Abyss retain the title isn't a bad choice but I would like his run to end soon.  He just isn't X-Division material.

Match 4: Samoa Joe versus Crimson

 Right off the bat, Joe and Crimson exchange several punches.  Crowd is very mixed for this match. Joe attacks Crimson's left leg with a few submission holds and attacking the knee.  Crimson finally breaks out of it and returns his own submission move.  Momentum returns to Crimson.  Joe again attacks Crimson with a huge clothesline.  Both begin to exchange slaps and Crimson speaks Joe out of nowhere.  Again, back and forth punches are exchanged until Crimson gains advantage.  Joe returns the favor with a series of slaps to the chest.  Crimson does a power bomb clam for the win.  After the match, Joe shakes Crimson's hand and pulls him towards him.  

Match Rating:  3/5.  Decent match.  Some good spots on this match.  It appears Crimson is getting quite a bit of notice about his winning streak from Tenay and Tazz.

Match 5: Angelina Love versus Mickie James for TNA Knockouts Title

 Angelina Love looking impressive in the opening by tossing Mickie around the ring.  James snaps a hurricane-rana on Love but Angelina quickly attacks again.  Winter interferes and slams James to the mat while Love distracts the referee.  After being tossed outside the ring, James throws Love into the steel steps.  Winter continues her interference and Love delivers a big boot to Mickie.  Mickie regains momentum and delivers what seemed to be a botched DDT for the win.  After, Winter attacks James. Love continues the attack.  Eventually, both leave the ring.

Match Rating: 3.5/5.  Good Knockouts match and enjoyed it.  Winter played a good heel with her interferences.  It appears a Winter and James feud may happen soon. 

Match 6: AJ Styles versus Bully Ray in a Last Man Standing match

We begin with a long stare down by Styles and Ray.  Crowd appears to be very excited for this match. Styles quickly attacks Ray with intensity.  Ray strikes back with a huge bump to AJ.  Styles responds with more punches and chops.  Ray does a tremendous back body drop and continues to attack AJ. Ray tosses AJ out the ring.  Nothing put pure physical action in this match thus far.  Ray lifts AJ and slams him into the steel steps.  Ray puts AJ on the turnbuckle and chops Styles that left a big print of Bully's hands on his chest.  Ray slaps him two more times and the crowd chants.  Styles continues to taunts Ray to hit him again.  Styles fights back and gains back momentum.  Styles does a high flying spring board off the ropes.  After getting Ray to the top turnbuckle, Ray power bombs to the ring.  Ray grabs a weapon, which is a chain but misfired.  AJ wraps the steel chain and punches Ray with it.  Ray is busted wide open.  Styles throws Ray into the ring and does an impressive 450 turn spring board off the ropes.  Styles picks up Ray and power slams him into the steel steps.  Ray comes back and slams him across the ring apron.  Both wrestlers go on the top ramp and sets up to slam AJ off the ramp. Styles responds and Ray falls down the ramp.  AJ leaps and takes out Bully Ray from the top stage. Crowd chants, "this is awesome."  AJ brings out the table then hits Ray across the back with a steel chair.  With Ray laying flat on the table, Styles gets on top of the stage then climbs on the steel structure to get more height.  Styles jumps and does a flying elbow on Ray.  Ray kicks AJ into the stage and it breaks.  AJ is counted out and Ray wins.

Match Rating: 5/5.  What an amazing, physical match.  Extremely enjoyable to watch if you're a wrestling fan.  It's incredible to see what professional wrestlers do for fans and this match defined that.

Match 7: Mr. Anderson versus Sting for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship

As Mr. Anderson introduces himself, Sting comes from behind, yells "Anderson" on his own microphone and attacks him on the top of the stage.  Sting tosses Anderson over the railing into the crowd.  He slams Anderson into the wall twice but Anderson reverses his third attempt.  He brings Anderson into the crowd by the stands.  Anderson and Sting go higher into the crowd before returning back towards the ring.  Eventually, both men get into the ring before Anderson knocks Sting out.  Both get back in the ring again.  Anderson picks up the advantage and work on Sting's left arm.  Anderson mocks Sting and attempts to do a "Stinger Splash" but Sting moves out of the way.  Sting and Anderson exchange punches and regain momentum of the match.  Eric Bischoff comes out and distracts Sting.  Anderson hits the "Mic Check" but Sting kicks out.  Sting hits the "Scorpion Death Drop" but Bischoff interferes with the count.  Anderson hits a low blow, hits the "Mic Check" for the win and becomes the new TNA Heavyweight Championship.   

Match Rating:  3.5/5.  Pretty good action with this match.  I like how they incorporated the crowd heavily in the beginning.  Shocking outcome with TNA putting the belt on Mr. Anderson.  We will see where TNA goes with this.

Match 8: Kurt Angle versus Jeff Jarrett-Number One Contender for TNA World Title 

Main event for TNA Slammiversary.  Crowd is heavily behind Angle.  Angle gains the early advantage. Jarrett tosses Angle out of the ring.  He attacks Angle outside the ring before both men return back to the ring.  Both go for a cross body slam but connect with each other.  Angle and Jarrett exchange right hand punches before Angle hits the belly to belly.  Angle puts Jarrett into the ankle lock before Jarrett kicks out of it.  Jarrett delivers a DDT for just a two count cover.  Jarrett hits the Angle Slam but Jarrett kicks out.  After both reversed tomb stone pile drivers, Angle puts Jarrett into the ankle lock but referee Brian Hebner gets hit.  Jarrett gets out his trademark guitar and slams it over Angle's head.  Referee Earl Hebner comes out put Angle kicks out.  Angle hits three straight german suplexes.  Angle attempts to spear Jarrett into the turnbuckle but Jeff gets out of the way.  Jarrett hits "The Stroke" off the top ropes but Angle kicks out again.  Jarrett does an ankle lock on Angle.  Angle fights out of it and reverses the ankle lock on Jarrett.  Jarrett taps out and Angle wins.

Match Rating: 3.5/5.  Fine match between Angle and Jarrett.  I like how it ended with Angle winning and the feud closes its chapter.  Even though I didn't expect this as the main event, I was fine with it because the match was good.

PERAGINE'S THOUGHTS

TNA Slammiversary Rating: 3.5/5

I was not sure in the beginning if I wanted to spend $34.95 on the pay per view but in the end, I felt it was worth it.  TNA Slammiversary 2011 was a good pay per view that featured a good lineup of matches, plenty of action, and unexpected results like Mr. Anderson becoming the new TNA Heavyweight champion.  The main event was fine with me as well, as Jarrett and Angle had a good match to close the book on the feud between the two.

The best match of the night goes to Bully Ray versus AJ Styles in a Last Man Standing Match.  

If you get a chance to see a rerun of TNA Slammiversary, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check it out. Overall, this was the best pay per view for TNA this year.