By Jason Powell

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TNA Final Resolution
Aired live on pay-per-view
Orlando, Florida

The show opened with a video that focussed on Bobby Roode that included footage of his family members talking about how much he has changed since he captured the TNA Title... Mike Tenay and Taz are on commentary...

1. Rob Van Dam defeated Christopher Daniels in 9:45. Tenay recalled that Daniels and RVD had a gimmick match last month. He said this one is all about wrestling because wrestling matters. Did I miss the memo that November was "Wrestling Doesn't Matter Month" in TNA? Daniels got in his share of offense, but Van Dam finished him off with a Five Star Frogsplash...

Powell's POV: A good opening match that pleased the live crowd. I'm still not sure what the RVD appeal is at this point. He's a talented performer and all, but will this character ever evolve? I enjoy watching Daniels more because he's at least trying some different things with his character.

The announcers spoke of the new stipulations to the Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett match. Taz made it clear that either Jeff Hardy, Jeff Jarrett, or Karen Jarrett will be gone from TNA...

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Mickie James, who said the people want this match and they're going to get it. She stumbled over her words while trying to say Gail can't hide behind politics. She said she was excited about Gail returning until she politicked and hid. Borash said the TV Title match was up next...

Powell's POV: Mickie stumbled over her words a bit, but she established why fans should be cheering her and booing Gail. I hope she's fired up about this one.

2. Robbie E (w/Rob Terry) beat Eric Young to retain the TNA TV Title in 7:30. Very little heat for the heels, though Young was playing with the fans at ringside and getting plenty of attention while the heels were striking their pre-match pose. After six minutes of action, Rob Terry got involved behind the ref's back. Young dropkicked Terry out of the ring, only to take Robbie's finisher for the three count...

Powell's POV: The crowd didn't seem to care about the match until Rob Terry entered the ring and got some heat. That's more than I can say for this viewer, who didn't care before, during, or after Rob Terry's interference. The TV Title remains absolutely worthless.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Devon and The Pope. After Devon delivered his mic work, Pope said he can't help it that Devon's kids look up to him as a father figure. He said tonight is about the gold. He called Borash BJ and was corrected. "Don't correct me," Pope said...

Tenay ran through the pointless "taglines" graphic...

3. Matt Morgan and Crimson defeated Devon and The Pope to retain the TNA Tag Titles in 9:45. Devon's sons were at ringside for the match and hugged their father beforehand. The unbeaten Crimson did the bulk of the selling for Devon. He was on the verge of being pinned at 7:50 when Morgan entered the ring to break up the pin.

The champs then doubled up on Devon while the referee stood and watched. It didn't work, though, as Devon clotheslined them both and continued an offensive flurry that John Cena would be envious of. Devon slammed Crimson and Pope dropped a top rope elbow on him, so Morgan had to break up the pin again. The tag champs came back with a double chokeslam on Devon, and Crimson pinned him to get the win.

After the match, Pope stood by Devon's sons and they patted him on the back as their father was lying in the ring. Pope headed backstage and then Devon looked disappointed and frustrated as he walked by his sons...

Powell's POV: The tag division is awful right now. I can live with Morgan and Crimson doing the reluctant partners thing, but this tired Devon and Pope saga just won't end.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed A.J. Styles, who was getting his bad knee wrapped. Borash, who was watching Styles get his knee wrapped, said rumor has it that Styles is nowhere near 100 percent. Styles said he's 200 percent willing and able. He said Roode was able to destroy Fortune, but he'll never be able to destroy him...

Tenay ran through the pointless X Factors graphic...

4. Austin Aries pinned Kid Kash to retain the X Division Title in 12:45. The crowd didn't know who to cheer for. Aries tried to use the title belt as a weapon at 4:30, but the referee stopped him. Kash rolled up Aries, but the ref caught him using the ropes for leverage. Aries came back later with his suicide dive that got a positive reaction from the crowd.

Later, Kash was setting up for a top rope powerbomb when Aries countered into a top rope huracanrana, which elicited a "Holy Shit" chant from the crowd. Late in the match, the ref stopped Kash from using brass knuckles and then the title belt. Aries capitalized on the distraction by hitting his brainbuster for the win...

Powell's POV: They were trying to tell the story that both guys would cheat to win the match. They really should have turned Kash face if they have any plans of keeping this program going because the crowd cheered the big spots rather than one wrestler or the other. The expected good effort from both men, but the flat crowd and the silly finish hurt the match.

Tenay set up a video package that did not air. Instead, we got to see the ring crew check the turnbuckle pads. Tenay set up the video again and this time we were shown the video that focussed on the Knockouts Title match...

5. Gail Kim defeated Mickie James to retain the TNA Knockouts Title in 7:45. Kim performed a cool face first slam on Mickie at 2:30. Mickie came back with an offensive run of her own. Gail grabbed the title belt and tried to leave, but Mickie stopped her and ran her into the ring post at 7:05.

A short time later, Madison Rayne ran to ringside and distracted Mickie briefly. Gail capitalized with her Eat Defeat finisher and scored the pin. Madison entered the ring and helped Gail to her feat. Kim sold it as if she was near the point of exhaustion...

Powell's POV: TNA just can't stop themselves from booking these cheap finishes. The crowd can't help themselves from sitting on their hands. They had an excuse during the heel vs. heel match, but they were flat for this match and have been for most of the show. I was hoping for more from Kim and Mickie, but they weren't given enough time to make this feel like more than a standard Knockouts match with the usual crappy finish.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed James Storm, who called himself a beer drinking, ass kicking machine... A video recapped the "who gave James Storm a concussion?" storyline...

6. James Storm pinned Kurt Angle in 17:30. A "Let's Go Cowboy" chant broke out briefly as the match got underway. Angle was aggressive on offense and the announcers told the story that he was targeting Storm's head because of the concussion. They even hoped that Angle would show a heart due to the concussion.

Angle locked Storm in a side headlock. The referee raised Storm's hand and dropped it twice and it fell limp both times. He raised and dropped it a third time, but Storm held it up. Let's just say it didn't not get the type of reaction that Hulk Hogan got back in the day for doing that same bit.

Storm fired back with punches and clotheslines. He charged Angle in the corner, but Angle raised his elbow. However, Storm came right back with a Backstabber for a near fall. Have I mentioned that the live crowd sucks? Angle hit a nice suplex to break up Storm's string of offense.

Angle applied the ankle lock, but Storm kicked him off. Later, Angle did the spot where he runs up the ropes and suplexed Storm off the top for a near fall. The announcers praised Storm's resilience. Angle applied the ankle lock. For what felt like the 100th time, one of the announcers said Angle had him. Of course, that meant he did not, as Storm kicked Angle off again and then DDT'd him on the ring apron at 15:45.

Later, Angle hit the Olympic Slam on Storm for a near fall. Angle tried to followup with a moonsault, but Storm rolled out of the way. Storm came back with the Last Call superkick and scored the clean pin. After the match, Taz and Tenay agreed that it was an upset win for Storm due to his concussion issues...

Powell's POV: A good match with strong storytelling. Sadly, the live crowd and the announcers didn't do the wrestlers favors. The announcers tried to tell the story, but Tenay just doesn't have that extra gear to go to when he's calling a good match. He and Taz were just too laid back and matter of fact about what was happening in the ring, so it was hard as a viewer to buy into the concussion story. Meanwhile, this crowd just blows. Sure, they reacted to Storm going over, but they aren't doing this show any favors.

The announcers switched to talking about the new stipulations for Jarrett vs. Hardy...

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Jeff Jarrett and Karen Jarrett. Jeff blew a gasket over the new stipulation. He said he was being a company man by appearing on the TNA cruise when he got word. Jeff said there are four ways to win the match - pinfall, submission, through the door, and over the top of the cage. Sting showed up and stated the stipulation again. He held up handcuffs to mock Karen...

A video recapped the Jarrett vs. Hardy feud...

Powell's POV: Good promo from Jeff Jarrett. Wasn't this supposed to be an escape the cage style match? My guess is that they want Hardy to hit the Swanton off the top of the cage.

7. Jeff Hardy defeated Jeff Jarrett in a cage match in 9:45 with Karen Jarrett and Sting handcuffed at ringside. Hardy came out wearing a mask that makes me wonder if he also watched "Predators" on one of the movie channels over the weekend. Hardy was wearing face paint. Sting came out last and was wearing shades. His Joker days apparently ended at Bound For Glory. Sting through Jarrett inside the cage and then handcuffed himself to Karen.

A loud "Hardy" and then a "Let's Go Hardy" chants broke out as the match started. Hey, welcome to the pay-per-view, folks. Hardy went for a Swanton off the top of the cage, but Jarrett moved. Jarrett tried to escape the cage, but Hardy recovered and stopped him.

Late in the match, Jarrett shoved Hardy into the cage door, which swung into Sting. Karen managed to get the key to free herself from Sting just in time to slam the cage door on Hardy. Jarrett went for a cover, but Hardy kicked out. Karen tried to enter the cage with a guitar, but Sting stopped her. Jeff hit the Twist of Fate and scored the clean pin.

After the match, Sting entered the ring and raised Hardy's hand in victory. Hardy headed out as Sting grabbed the mic. "Four days from now, on Thursday, someone is getting fired," Sting announced...

Powell's POV: Order the pay-per-view to see the match, but watch the free television show to see the payoff. It sucks for pay-per-view buyers, but obviously TNA is more concerned with ratings at this point. The match was entertaining and the crowd was actually into the match and the stipulation.

The announcers spoke about the situation at ringside. Taz said he thinks the stipulation bothered Jeff Jarrett and that's why he lost the match. The announcers shifted their focus to the main event...

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA Champion Bobby Roode about the Iron Man match. Roode ran through all the things he's been called lately and said his favorite is TNA Champion. He told Styles that he spits in the face of authority, and said he could ask Dixie Carter about that...

A video set up the main event and focussed heavily on Roode...

Styles made his entrance. Roode came out second. Jeremy Borash handled the in-ring introductions for the main event...

8. Bobby Roode vs. A.J. Styles in a 30-minute Iron Man match for the TNA Title. The announcers vented about Roode spitting in Dixie Carter's face on Impact. They couldn't even muster up any emotion while talking about a man spitting in the face of a woman. They condemned his actions, but not in a believable manner. A countdown clock graphic appeared in the lower portion of the screen to keep viewers updated on the time.

Roode controlled early and applied a headlock. The crowd was into the match and chanted for Styles, who reversed the headlock. Styles went on the offensive and Roode took a powder at ringside. Roode punched the back of Styles's bad knee and pinned him in the corner to take a 1-0 lead at 10:00.

Roode continued to work over the bad knee and locked in a single leg crab. Styles reached the ropes at 14:40. Taz did a nice job of pointing out that even though Styles broke the hold, the damage was already done. Roode applied a figure four and Styles tapped. Roode took a 2-0 lead.

Styles came back and applied the crossface. Styles got his first fall when Roode tapped out to the Crossface to make it 2-1 in favor of Roode. The announcers spoke of the strategy of tapping out prematurely to save yourself for later in the match. Styles went after Roode's arm, but Roode broke free and went after A.J.'s knee again. They traded shots in the corner and Styles continued to target Roode's arm. Styles caught Roode with an inside cradle to tie the match 2-2.

Styles hit a springboard 360 splash and got the pin to take a 3-2 lead with seven minutes remaining. It was the first time he was up in the match. Styles continued to sell his knee injury. Roode evened it up 3-3 when he pinned Styles while holding the ropes with five minutes left on the clock. Tenay pointed out that referee Brian Hebner couldn't see that Styles was holding the ropes because of the way he was positioned. The fans chanted "bullshit" briefly.

With two minutes remaining, Styles fired up. He was setting up for his Styles Clash finisher, but his knee gave out. He rolled back on the leg awkwardly while selling the injury. Roode was bleeding from the nose and went to ringside to take a powder. Styles got back to his feet and limped to sell the injury, but then ran the ropes and flipped over them and onto Roode at ringside with one minute left on the clock. Styles came up holding his knee in pain.

Taz questioned why Roode left the ring. He accused him of trying to stall. Roode left the ring again and Styles followed. Roode slid back inside the ring and Styles followed. Roode left the ring again and the bell rang to end the match in a 3-3 draw. Roode celebrated at ringside.

"You know what this was about for Roode?" Tenay asked. "All about survival." Roode held up the title belt at ringside as the fans chanted for "five more minutes." Roode's music played as Styles showed frustration from the ring. Roode held up the belt over his head and the pay-per-view graphic flashed on the screen. Roode looked into the camera boasted that he's the champion of the world to close the show...

An ad for TNA Genesis closed the show and focussed on James Storm...

Powell's POV: Really? I get the story they are trying to tell and they did a decent job of telling that story. The problem is that it makes TNA look bad for not making the obvious call of booking a five-minute overtime. The match itself was very entertaining, but this company just can't stop themselves from delivering unsatisfying match finishes. They even went through the trouble of giving Styles an injury coming into the match just to go with that finish. Overall, the effort was there in the matches that looked good on paper, but the usual overbooked finishes and terrible live crowd hurt the show. I'll have more to say tonight in Dot Net Members' Audio. Join us on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership now via the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

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