TNA Hardcore Justice 2011: The Grim Review

Hello and welcome ladies and gents to the first-ever Grim Review of a TNA PPV on Bleacher Report.

With Destination X being the best PPV in the past year for TNA (in my opinion, not based on buys), can TNA build off the momentum gained?

Join me as I break down all the matches and share my thoughts with you guys.

I'm going to be grading on the typical stars system and will assign a letter grade at the end. Just so we all understand, one star is equal to Sting/Hardy at Victory Road, while five stars equals Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards at ROH's Best in the World and three stars is average.

I've given out three five-star match awards this year (Punk/Cena MITB, Edwards/Richards and The Kings of Wrestling vs. Hass and Benjamin at Honor Takes Center Stage). Will we see another one, or will this PPV leave me wanting a Hardcore Refund?

Now I'm going to try and be as non-biased towards the event as possible, which is something you don't get from a lot of guys these days.

I've been criticized by a few people over the past few reviews for being too hard on TNA, but that's only because I want them to succeed where ECW and WCW failed—to be a solid alternative to the WWE.

So please, when reading this, realize that I'm only giving you my honest opinion, and not some blind mark, or some rant about how TNA is terrible or amazing—just honesty.

Before we start, let's take a look at the card:

1) Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson 

2) Fortune (AJ Styles, Daniels and Kazarian) vs. Immortal (Gunner, Abyss and Scott Steiner) 

3) Knockouts Tag Titles Match: Sarita and Rosita vs. Tara and Miss Tessmacher 

4) Bound for Glory Series Match: RVD vs. Crimson 

5) Bound for Glory Series Match: The Pope vs. Devon 

6) TNA Knockouts Title Match: Mickie James vs. Winter 

7) TNA Tag Team Title Match: Beer Money vs. Mexican America 

8) TNA X-Division Title Match: Brian Kendrick vs. Alex Shelley vs. Austin Aries 

9) TNA World Title Match: Sting vs. Kurt Angle

This looks to be a stacked card top to bottom, so without further ado, let's get started.

(Let me say one more thing before I start: Why is this PPV called Hardcore Justice, if none of the matches were of the Hardcore style? I'm not going to hold that against this PPV when it comes to the final grade; I just don't understand why you don't have all the matches be no DQ or something like that to fit the name.)

1. X-Division Championship: Brian Kendrick vs. Alex Shelley vs. Austin Aries

Result: Brian Kendrick via pinfall (Alex Shelly) at a time of 13:15 via Stolen Pin 

Back when WrestleMania used the World Heavyweight Championship as its opener, I complained. I'm going to do the same thing here.

Why would you start off a show with something that's supposed to be your secondary belt?

I mean, I understand that you want the opener to be hot, but why not use the Immortal/Fortune match or even the Pope/Devon match?

They could have built this up over the night, with all three men getting interviewed and that, to me, would have really put over the importance of the X-Division, and showed that it's really getting the push it deserves.

This match was good, but a little disappointing to me. I've never been a big fan of multi-man matches (that weren't WM 20 with Benoit, HHH and HBK) and this was no different.

Now, understand that the match was still good; it just could have been so much better if you ask me.

Austin Aries yet again showed why I've called him TNA's savior over the past few weeks and there was a big missed spot that was botched by Kendrick, but it was still a good match and if nothing else, a good opener.

I will say this though: I'm not exactly pleased that Kendrick retained here. I'm just not a fan of his gimmick or his in-ring work and I feel Aries or Shelly should have won and should have gone on to have a one-on-one feud that could have really been a highlight in the X-Division's history.

All that being said, it was still a solid match and will get a grade that reflects that.

Match Rating: 3 stars 

Now I will say this: the postmatch interview with Kendrick that gets interrupted by Aries was very well done and hinted at a potential feud between these two, and that does give me hope for the future of the X-Division.

2) Knockouts Tag Titles Match: Sarita and Rosita vs. Tara and Miss Tessmacher

Result: Tara pinned Rosita at a time of 7:10 after a Widow's Peak

Of all the belts in the history of wrestling (or sports entertainment if you're a WWE mark) ever created, I would argue that the Knockouts Tag Team Title has to be the biggest joke of all time.

The belts to me serve no purpose because there are literally no tag teams going after them. You can say what you want about the WWE's Tag Team belts, but at least they have a few (emphasis on the word few") decent teams going after them.

I mean, even when the title holders are on TV, they don't wear it unless they are in a match for it—it's terrible.

I'll say this though: If the last match disappointed me then this match surprised me—it wasn't terrible. I would actually go so far as to say this match was watchable, which, when talking about mainstream women's wrestling, is a huge compliment from me.

However, I was not digging Sarita's new onesie at all.

Also, Tara's finisher is the best women's finisher in the WWE or TNA.

Nothing really stood out to me in this match but you know what, it wasn't bad, so hats off ladies.

Match Rating: 2.25 stars

On a side note, I will say it kind of killed the momentum of the first match, but that was bound to happen eventually and the girls could have done a much worse job.

They did the "wheeled out every couple of weeks to make a match seem important" title a good job.

3) BFG Series Match: Pope vs. Devon

Result: Pope pinned Devon in 7:40 via Reverse Roll-up

Lot of roll-ups these days, TNA; you might want to not use these quite as much. I realize it keeps us guessing, but it's becoming the new ref-bump.

Not sure how I feel about this Pope/Devon feud; it seems to me that it's a big step back for Pope who has had a Samoa Joe feud that did nothing for him and now a feud with Devon and his kids that just seems kind of bland.

Note of interest: TNA is doing the right thing with Matt Morgan in letting him commentate the BFG matches; it's a great way to keep him in the mix while he's injured. Also he's not half bad, better than Taz (aka LET THE PIGEONS LOOSE).

One more point of interest: Did anyone else think the flaming split screen of death—where they showed the match in one box and the commentators in another—was stupid? 

The whole "Pope wanting to be a good guy and having to fight his inner demons and make sure he doesn't use the chain or hurt Devon" is just not working for me.

The ending saw Pope start to go for the DDE, but stop halfway. Devon speared him and went for a chokeslam that was reversed into a pin—kind of a weak ending if you ask me.

The whole "handshake refusal kids" thing at the end was whatever and overall, this match was a mediocre entry in what I feel is a mediocre feud.

Match Rating: 2 stars

After the match, we got an interview with RVD, whose not good on the mic in his own rights, and in comes Jerry Lynn, a man who should never be allowed anywhere near a mic (and that's coming for an ECW mark). It also clued me into the fact that there would probably be a Jerry Lynn-flavored swerve later on in the night.

4) TNA Knockouts Title Match: Mickie James vs. Winter

Result: Winter pinned Mickie at 8:45 via Red Acid Mist

I could say the finish was bad. I could say this was typical Russo '90s crash TV booking at its worst, but I will take this match with a grain of salt.

I'm not going to sit here and bury this match because of the finish, after the first half of it wasn't that bad.

There were a few good spots, but at the end of the day, it was a typical Knockouts match. Though I am pleased with the decision, it just seemed to be missing something that could have put it over a little more.

Mickie's tornado DDT was nice though.

Match Rating: 2 stars

5) Bound for Glory Series Match: RVD vs. Crimson

Result: Crimson wins via DQ after Jerry Lynn interferes

Vince Russo, I knew it—I knew you would do a swerve here. Jerry Lynn broke up the pin after Crimson hit his finisher because TNA creative apparently couldn't come up with a better way to start another classic Jerry Lynn/RVD feud.

TNA: Where everything WCW and ECW did in the '90s lives on.

One question: Where was Matt Morgan? Was he not the BFG announcer?

Another question: Why did the announcers have to keep saying Jerry Lynn's there to watch RVD's back? When's the last time Crimson, a monster face with a undefeated streak, cheated or had others get involved in a match? The answer is never.

This match could have been good, but the finish yet again took away from the quality of the overall product.

Also it yet again showed why Crimson's undefeated streak is the most meaningless undefeated streak in a long time. They should be building him up to look like a future main-eventer, but they're having him win by counters and DQs—it's just not being booked right.

This match ended up being more about RVD and Jerry Lynn than RVD and Crimson, and at the end of the day, couldn't this have been on free TV instead of making people pay money to see this?

Overall, a match that was built around a good idea of Jerry Lynn coming back, that was poorly executed.

Match Rating: 2.5 stars

6) Fortune (AJ Styles, Daniels and Kaz) vs. Immortal (Gunner, Abyss and Steiner)

Result: AJ pinned Abyss at 14:40 via Top Rope Pele Kick

Well, this is where the PPV started getting good.

This was a very good match for all the guys involved; even Abyss had his high points.

Gunner and Steiner acted like heels—which is a lost art of in-ring storytelling these days—AJ, Kaz and Daniels all had strong showings and the table spot with Daniels and Gunner was awesome. All in all, it was a great match, and finally we had a good finish.

The finish saw Daniels taking a bullet for his best friend, AJ, who in turn hit a springboard Pele Kick (which is something I've never seen him do) on Abyss for the clean pin.

I do have to wonder though: How long until this Immortal/Fortune storyline comes to a head? We've been at it for a very long time TNA; it might be time to pull the trigger on this storyline before it gets too stale.

After the match, they teased a possible Abyss face turn, which is something I pray we don't see. I already didn't like Abyss-Zu—let's not bring back the Hogan-loving Abyss of old to go along with the inevitable Hogan face turn, please.

However, this was the match of the night so far and had some very solid spots that left me entertained, and definitely seemed to pick up the pace for the rest of the show after a mediocre opening card.

Match Rating: 3.75 stars

7) Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderon

Result: Bully Ray pinned Anderson via Low Blow to Roll-up Combo

You know that feeling you get when you can tell a company has little to no trust in one of its top guys? That's the feeling I get with Anderson. He goes from winning the belt against Sting, to losing to Gunner, to losing to Eric Young, to losing the belt on free TV, to being the tag-along guy in a stable, to finally losing to Bully Ray.

Why this match wasn't a no DQ match, I'll never understand. The spots were there for one, the pacing was there and overall this feud called for one.

Now, normally I'm not a fan of brawls before matches, but here it made sense and was well executed.

From there, the action eventually got to the ring and was not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Bully Ray and Anderson work well together and I think we could see these two fight again soon.

There was an ugly botched move from Anderson, who tried to slam Ray, but couldn't support his weight and fell over, but overall the match was not too shabby, and showed why both should be top guys in the future.

This also planted the seeds for Anderson to go back to his loner tweener character, which to me is a good thing, as I feel he should have never been stuck in Immortal to begin with.

Match Rating: 3 stars

8) TNA Tag Team Title Match: Beer Money vs. Mexican America

Result: James Storm pinned Anarquia at 10:35 via Last Call Super Kick 

Before we begin, there is only one thing I have to say: Anarquia, I'm sorry, about your damn luck!

Before this match, I would have sworn Beer Money was going to break up here; after it, I'm glad they didn't.

This match showed why outside of the Kings of Wrestling and Hass and Benjamin, Beer Money is the best tag team in North America today.

Beer Money carried Mexican America in this match and as a result did what I thought was impossible to achieve with them: put on a good match. Wow, that speaks volumes for their skill and ability—here's to you, Storm and Roode.

I'm glad that TNA may finally be realizing that main-event singles guys can still be tag team partners, while still being strong in both categories (The American Wolves are a prime example).

The crowd seemed to finally wake up and was very good for this match and played their role well.

I'll say this though: The state of the TNA tag division is not much better then the WWE's. You have three top tag teams in Beer Money, the Motor City Machine Guns and the British Invasion, but then only a handful of other challengers. It's just a little sad to see the state of tag team wrestling today, which was really my favorite type of match when I was younger.

I'm also glad they got rid of Mexican America's stupid flag; it blocked the match from people that came to see the show. On their behalf, thank you TNA.

Match Rating: 3.75 stars

9) TNA World Title Match: Sting vs. Kurt Angle

Result: Angle pins Sting at 15:15 via Ref Bump to Heel Turn to Angle Slam

And then we get to the main event of the night...oh boy, where to begin.

Let's start off with a few positives, before I get too critical.

1) Both men showed why, unlike Hogan and Flair, they still deserve to be in the ring these days.

2) The buildup was very solid and generated an actual interest from me in the match.

3) I like how TNA tried to make this feel like the epic clash of the titans that it was. By having so many promos and references to it, they built up the importance of the match, and really did cause me to buy this PPV. They made it feel like a main event.

4) Finally, the first 13 minutes of this match were very solid work by both men, and if it had only had a clean finish would have been a great main event and match of the night.

That being said, it did not, and the ending ruined it.

First, you had the typical Russo ref-bump special, that the announcers sold like it was their first time experiencing such a thing.

Second...BROTHER, you had the Hulkster, BROTHER, have to have his obligatory TV time BROTHER. He can't fade into the past and let "newer" guys step into his spotlight now can he, BROTHER? He has to walk out to the ring and interfere with what was a perfectly fine main event didn't he, BROTHER?

Please excuse me while I slam my head into my keyboard.

Ladies and gentlemen, the main event of Bound for Glory is in fact going to be Hogan vs. Sting, a matchup of over 110 years worth of life and more then half a dozen surgical back procedures. 

As Jim "King of the Shoot" Cornette once said, "Hogan you may be a household name, but so is garbage, and it stinks when it gets old too."

The finish of the match saw Earl Hebner take a bump and Hogan come down the ramp with a chair, with the intention of hitting Sting with it.

Angle stopped this, ripped the chair from Hogan's grasp and hit Sting with the chair himself, and then followed it up with an Angle Slam.

He then got Earl to crawl over and count the pin.

Vince Russo writing at its finest.

I don't get this at all. Why would you have Angle turn on Sting? Why would Angle join Immortal, if he does? 

You know what, it's whatever. At least the belt is not on Sting so his match with Hogan won't be for the title; that, sadly, is one of the few positives I can think of right now.

Ref Bump-a-mania's running wild...BROTHER!!!

I have two ways I could grade this match: I could give it four stars because that's what it was for the first 13 minutes, or I could grade it one star for the finish. I'll somewhat split the difference.

Match Rating: 3 stars

Final Grade and Closing Thoughts

Yet again, why do you name a PPV "Hardcore" if none of the matches are "Hardcore?"

Also, TNA's crowd, while good for the last two matches, is not that good (i.e. Chicago Money in the Bank). I don't know if they need to move around, or maybe have people pay to get in, instead of just getting in if you're at the park that night—I don't know, but something has to be done.

Finally, Vince Russo needs to be removed from the spot of head of creative right now and Hogan needs to go back to selling himself out to Rent-a-Center ads.

Overall, this PPV was OK, but could have been so much better. It was plagued by bad endings and terrible booking, which is kind of sad, because I actually enjoyed several of the matches a lot. Sure none were five-star spectacles but they put on a show that was quite enjoyable.

The thing is though, it's not like any one match is going to be remembered by me in a few months when I'm handing out the end of the year awards.

It was really sad that this was just a forgettable PPV and ended up only getting to be an average PPV when all was said and done.

I'll say this though: For the third TNA PPV in a row I felt that I got what I paid for and at least that was nice to see. I hope the buy rates improve because the numbers that Destination X posted (a PPV that I gave an A- to and called the best TNA PPV in years) only got about 8,000 buys, which is awful and totally undeserved.

I could grade this several ways, but I'll say that I enjoyed what I got and at the end of the day, that's all that really matters I guess, so I'll give it a positive grade.

Final Grade: C+

One Word To Describe the Event: disappointing

Match of the Night: Immortal vs. Fortune

Spot of the Night: Gunner and Daniels through a table

Star of the Night: (tie) James Storm and AJ Styles

Failure of the Night: the main event ending (Anderson's promo in the middle is a close second)

Surprise of the Night: Beer Money staying together and retaining

The Dog Kennel from Hell Stupid Booking Achievement of Excellence: Hogan being in the main event

Thanks for reading and as always, be sure to comment. Also if you liked this article, be sure to give that props button some love.

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And if you would like to check out another one of my articles, here's a review of Ring of Honor's Honor Takes Center Stage Night 1—click here. 

This is Grim telling you to take care and once again thanks for reading.

See you, Space Cowboy...