Live from Detroit, Mich.
The Palace of Auburn Hills

The free preview opened with a brief Slammiversary video... Jeremy Borash welcomed viewers inside the arena for the first time and hyped the event at ringside. He said it was one of the most loaded shows in TNA history, and ran through the lineup...

A King of the Mountain match video aired... Backstage, Lauren interviewed Beer Money. Robert Roode teased having sympathy for Team 3D because they had to wrestle in Japan the night before. Roode and Storm burst out laughing. "They say you're not funny, you are a funny guy," James Storm said.

Storm said you shouldn't feel bad for Team 3D for being on a plane, you should feel sorry for the plane for having to carry Team 3D. Storm said he hasn't had any sleep either because he's been up partying in anticipation of winning the the TNA Tag Titles...

Powell's POV: Good promo. Roode established sympathy for Team 3D by telling the story about them defending the IWGP Tag Titles in Japan the night before, and then they got heat by laughing at the situation.

A Team 3D vs. Beer Money video aired...

1. The British Invasion (w/Rob Terry) defeated Rhino and Eric Young by pinning Jesse Neal in 5:35. Mike Tenay and Don West checked in on commentary. Young came out and didn't acknowledge the crowd even though they were cheering him. Rhino was escorted by two winners of a TNA contest. He received a big pop from his hometown fans.

Rhino started the match and tried to tag in Young a couple minutes later. Young dropped off the ring apron and left Rhino hanging. Young headed backstage. Jesse Neal, the guy Rhino has been training, came out in street clothes and stood in Rhino's corner.

At 5:00, Williams went for a move off the ropes, but Rhino moved out of the way. Rhino crawled to his corner and tagged in Neal. For some reason, the referee was okay with this. About 30 seconds later, Brutus Magnus pinned Neal clean...

Powell's POV: I'm not a fan of throwing logic out the window in the free preview match. The live crowd was pumped throughout the forgettable match, but I don't see how that will lead viewers who were on the fence to buy the show.

Lauren and Borash hyped the show from ringside and introduced a video that hyped the Monster's Ball match... Borash asked a fan at ringside where he was from. He said Toronto. Borash previously spoke to a fan from Chicago. Borash did a nice job of giving the feel that fans came from all over North America to see the show...

A Matt Morgan vs. Sting video aired. The narrator said that Morgan will join the Mafia if he wins... Lauren interviewed Sting in an unidentified location. She said Morgan would take Sting's leadership role in TNA if he won the match. Sting said he was going to make an example out of Morgan during their match...

An video hyped the X Division version of the King of the Mountain match...

Powell's POV: They left out the part where Team 3D destroyed all four challengers in less than 30 seconds on Thursday's Impact.

Borash delivered final hype at ringside. He approached a woman from behind. Dixie Carter turned around with a young fan. She wished all the fathers a happy father's day. Borash wished Bob Carter a happy birthday...

A video package showed the original NWA-TNA graphic. It listed some of the early criticisms against the company, followed by video footage of various wrestlers... James Earl Jones guy narrated one last video to close the free preview...

TNA Slammiversary PPV

The main show opened with a black and white video that featured shots of various TNA performers. The song that played was from former TNA personality Goldy Locks, who is a musical performer. Nice touch.

Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show while various crowd shots aired. Pyro exploded on the stage. They introduced the rules of the King of the Mountain and hyped that Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers would be the belt holder...

1. Suicide defeated Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Jay Lethal, and Consequences Creed in a King of the Mountain match to retain the X Division Title in 23:30. Granderson came out to a nice ovation and joined the announcers on commentary. There were a couple of other Tigers players in the crowd. After the challengers were introduced, the lights went out and Suicide was introduced. When the lights were turned on, Suicide was standing on top of the King of the Mountain penalty box.

The bell rang and the four challengers went after Suicide. They took turns hitting moves on him. Lethal Consequences grabbed a ladder from ringside while the Guns worked over Suicide in the ring. Suicide ended up with the ladder and rammed it into all four of his opponents. Suicide scored the first pin of the match by pinning Lethal at 2:15. Lethal took his spot in the penalty box. Suicide became eligible to hang the belt.

Suicide scored the second pin of the match when he covered Shelley around 4:30. Shelley entered the penalty box as Lethal came out. West said the upside to being in the box is that you can strategize and get a break while in the box. Tenay pointed out the negative is that the match can end while you're in the box.

Lethal hit move on Suicide on the chair. Lethal, Sabin, and Creed all covered Suicide for the pin at 6:35. The announcers assumed Lethal was eligible to hang the belt since he was the first person to cover Suicide. As Suicide entered the penalty box, the other four wrestlers joined together in a funny celebration dance in mid-ring. After spending the match working together, Guns and Lethal Consequences went head-to-head. Creed pinned Shelley around 10 minutes in, so Shelley went back to the box.

Later, Sabin ran toward a corner, leapt onto the top of the penalty box, and then dove onto Suicide and Creed at ringside. Cool move. Back in the ring, Shelley set up a ladder and started to climb it even though he wasn't eligible and didn't have the belt. The referee explained the rules to him. Sabin laid down and Shelley pinned him at 13:00. Shelley grabbed the belt and started to climb the ladder, but Suicide dropkicked it.

Lethal hit a wild DDT off the ropes on Lethal for a pin. At 15:40, Sabin hit a move on Suicide and pointed at the title belt. He set up a ladder and grabbed the belt from Granderson, but Suicide quickly cut him off. Lethal got out of the box and all five wrestlers went at it.

Sabin ended up on top of a ladder that was position over the edge of the ring and on top of the guardrail. Lethal went top and dropped an elbow on Sabin. The ladder didn't even bend. Shelley and Creed battled on the ring apron and Shelley hit Sliced Bread on the apron. He went for the same move on Suicide by running the penalty box, but Suicide avoided the move.

Suicide tossed Shelley over the guardrail. He grabbed the belt and set up a ladder and was greeted with boos. Lethal broke it up and they awkwardly set up a spot that resulted in Suicide on top of the penalty box with a ladder that rested on Lethal's back. Shelley set up another ladder. Suicide jumped off the penalty box and took out Shelley in a big spot.

Suicide went to climb the ladder, but it wasn't under the hook so he had to come down and set up the ladder again. He climbed the ladder and hung the belt on the hook to win the match. He was booed, so the announcers quickly pointed out that the Detroit fans were rooting for the hometown Guns...

Powell's POV: I hated the first few minutes of the match because the Guns and Lethal Consequences looked like dopes for giving up pinfalls to Suicide even though they outnumbered him four-to-one. The match featured plenty of high spots and crowd pleasing moments, but it really was a train wreck. Some will love it, some will hate it. I appreciated the action. However, I'm not a fan of the King of the Mountain concept.

Tenay and West discussed the pay-per-view lineup at ringside... Backstage, Lauren reminded fans that Team 3D had to fly back to the United States after wrestling in Japan last night. She brought in Shane Douglas for an interview, who played on "the old guy" Ric Flair's catchphrase without mentioning him by name...

Powell's POV: Douglas can still talk. Good promo. It was nice not to hear the silly "franchised" line followed by the laugh.

A video hyped Daniels vs. Douglas...

2. Daniels pinned Shane Douglas in 8:10. Douglas cut a brief promo in the ring mocking the Detroit fans over the Penguins beating the Red Wings. West noted that Jeff Jarrett has more nicknames than anyone he knows. He recapped Jarrett bringing Daniels back, which agitated Douglas. West said Jarrett makes up the rules as he goes along.

Douglas worked the match in a t-shirt. Early in the match, they fought to ringside and Douglas rammed Daniels's shoulder into the ring steps. Douglas spent the next few minutes working over Daniels's shoulder with a variety of moves. Daniels came back and continued to sell the shoulder.

Daniels motioned for the Best Moonsault Ever, but Douglas reached up and stopped him from going to the ropes. A short time later, though, Daniels hit the Best Moonsault Ever out of nowhere and scored the clean 1-2-3. West, who had ripped Daniels for telegraphing his previous attempt, praised him for going right for the move...

Powell's POV: Fine for what it was. It would have been tough for any match to follow up the X Division train wreck, but they managed to keep the crowd interested.

Backstage, Borash interviewed Mick Foley, who sang "I've got the World Title in my hands." He said that once he won the main event, he would start planning his next title match at Bound For Glory. Borash acted surprised he would wait four months. Foley said he actually meant next year's Bound For Glory in 16 months. Borash gave Foley a box. He said it was a gift from one half of the Tweet and Tweak Connection...

A video hyped the TNA Knockouts Title match...

3. Angelina Love (w/Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne) pinned Tara for the TNA Knockouts Title in 6:50. The bell rang to start the match and the two women had a brief staredown before locking up. Tara gained the early advantage and pulled Love by the hair a couple times and then threw her. Tara kicked Love through the ropes. When she tried to get back inside the ring, Sky and Rayne tripped her.

The announcers noted that Team 3D had yet to arrive at the building. West heeled it up by ripping on Team 3D as the action continued in the ring. Love tossed Tara back to ringside, where Velvet and Madison worked her over. Back inside the ring, Love tried to pin Tara. When Tara kicked out, Love threw a great temper tantrum.

Tara made her comeback. She flashed a crazed look at the camera and then headed to ringside where she beat up Rayne and Sky. She went back inside the ring and was greeted by a kick that sent her back toward the corner. Sky sprayed hairspray into Tara's eyes. Love hit her finisher and scored the pin. The Beautiful People celebrated the win by standing over Tara...

Powell's POV: Very disappointing as far as crowd reaction is concerned. TNA raced into this match when it felt like something they could have built up as a major deal.

In an undisclosed part of the building, Lauren interviewed Dr. Stevie, Raven, and Daffney. Raven started normal and then went way over the top with his promo and finished it off with a Dr. Evil laugh...

Powell's POV: Wait, she's afraid of Raven and Daffney, yet she's willing to meet them in a poorly lit storage area?

A video hyped the Monster's Ball...

4. Abyss and Taylor Wilde defeated Raven and Daffney (w/Dr. Stevie) in a Monster's Ball match in 14:10. Early in the match, Abyss picked up Daffney and tossed her onto Raven and Stevie at ringside. Taylor followed up with a dive off the top rope onto the trio at ringside.

Daffney climbed onto Abyss's shoulders on the fan side of the guard rail. Taylor came up behind her and slammed the trash can lids onto her head. In a scary moment, Daffney came about two inches from hitting her head on the edge of the ring steps when she took the bump off Abyss's shoulders. The wrestlers fought near the stage where Raven set up a long table that was covered with a red cloth.

West mentioned that Raven isn't afraid to die in the ring. Not a good choice of words given the recent Misawa tragedy. The table came into play when Taylor leapt off a row of speakers and splashed Daffney through it. Abyss and Raven fought back to the ring. Abyss grabbed a bag of tacks from underneath the ring. Raven begged off. Stevie entered the ring and hit Abyss with a chair, which is legal in the Monster's Ball.

Abyss bladed. Raven worked him over until Taylor hit him with a weapon. Daffney nailed Taylor with a weapon. Abyss tried to chokeslam Raven onto a trash can, but Raven accidentally kicked the can on the way up. West covered by saying Raven did it intentionally.

At 11:30, Abyss performed the rocket launcher spot with Taylor onto Raven. He went for the cover, but Stevie held onto the referee and wouldn't let him go. Abyss spread the tacks in the ring. Daffney attacked Abyss from behind. He didn't flinch. She ran away from Abyss and ran right into Wilde, who slammed her onto the tacks. Holy shit chants from the crowd.

Taylor went for a cover, but Stevie broke up the pinfall. Abyss grabbed Stevie by the throat, but Raven hit him with a chair and followed up with an Even Flow DDT for a near fall. Raven tried to hit the move onto the tacks, but Abyss powered out and hit the Black Hole Slam on Raven onto the tacks and then pinned him to win the match...

Powell's POV: A really fun brawl. Big spots, blood, weapons, and Daffney and Raven taking bumps onto the tacks. Here's hoping that's not the last we see of Raven in TNA.

Backstage, Borash interviewed Jeff Jarrett, who said he has no desire to win the TNA Champion. No, really! He said he wants to take his company back. Jarrett said he would decide what he plans to do with the TNA Title after he wins it...

Powell's POV: What's the point of cheering for a guy who doesn't want to win the World Title? I'm not a fan of the approach they took with Jarrett. They made it clear he's more focussed on his company than the title, but saying he has no desire to win the strap doesn't exactly help the prestige of the belt.

5. Sting pinned Matt Morgan in 10:00 The stipulation was that Morgan could take control of the Main Event Mafia by defeating Sting. They fought to ringside early and Morgan picked up Sting by the legs and flung him into the guardrail. Once the wrestlers were back in the ring, Tenay said Team 3D had just arrived at the building. It seems like they're giving them one big excuse for losing by making such a fuss over it throughout the show.

Morgan was dominant early, but Sting came back and hit a missile dropkick at 7:00. He stood up and pounded his chest as the crowd applauded. Morgan came right back and went for the Hellevator, but Sting slipped out. It looked like Sting was supposed to hit the Scorpion Death Drop coming out of the Hellevator, but he slipped. He stood up and hit the move a moment later for a near fall.

At 8:40, Sting applied the Scorpion Leg Lock, but Morgan immediately powered out. Sting came right back by hitting the Scorpion Death Drop off the second rope for the clean pin.

Powell's POV: Sloppy at the end. The live crowd groaned when Sting missed the first Scorpion Death Drop, but they still popped for the finish. So far, it's been a very predictable pay-per-view as far as the results go.

West introduced a video "regarding our biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound For Glory." The video noted that the show will take place on Oct. 18 in Los Angeles, Calif...

Backstage, Lauren interviewed Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles. She said they seem to have an advantage going in because they get along whereas everyone else in the match is at odds. A.J. agreed and said it was a matter of sticking to their plan. Joe spoke briefly at the end... A video hyped the Team 3D vs. Beer Money match...

6. Beer Money defeated Team 3D to win the TNA Tag Titles in 17:00. Rather than build up the two best tag teams in the company, Tenay and West spent the first few minutes doing babyface play-by-play vs. heel color commentator schtick. Sigh. Back and forth action to start. Brother Ray performed a nasty release suplex on Roode at 4:30. He got up slowly, but appeared to be fine.

At 8:10, Brother Ray hit the Bubba Bomb on Roode. Team 3D was in control of the match and set up for 3D, but Storm recovered and blocked the move by taking out Ray. They dumped Storm to ringside and hit the Whassup spot. Ray got the live crowd to chant "Get the tables." Devon obliged by setting up a table at ringside. However, Storm recovered and attacked Devon. Back inside the ring, Roode hit a spinebuster on Ray for a nearfall.

Beer Money performed the "Beer Money" routine and a decent number of fans chanted along. The British Invasion walked to ringside, which drew "USA" chants from the crowd. Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus sat down and joined the announcers on commentary while Rob Terry stood behind them.

The British Invasion joined right in on the Tenay vs. West antics while the wrestlers in the ring continued to work their tails off. At 14:30, it appeared Team 3D were setting up for a Doomsday Device, but Roode ended up hitting a Backstabber on Ray. At 15:30, Team 3D hit the Doomsday Device on Roode for a near fall.

Storm accidentally spat beer into the eyes of his partner. Rob Terry climbed onto the ring apron and distracted the referee while Team 3D hit their finisher. After some commotion with British Invasion, Beer Money hit the DWI on Devon and scored the pin to become new tag team champions...

Powell's POV: The outcome was ridiculously foreshadowed. Did they really have to give Team 3D so many excuses? At least they didn't give them all the excuses in the world to lose only to have them "defy the odds" like WWE has done with John Cena in his matches with Big Show. Good in-ring action, but the announcers were really annoying. Heel West is funny at times, but they really need to pick their spots better. There was no need to break into the heel vs. babyface antics during this match.

Backstage, Kurt Angle, who has short hair and a beard, cut a promo in which he vowed to become the new TNA Champion. He said the Main Event Mafia would resume their position on the throne in TNA. Angle said the match is about him and Joe, and "we will be celebrating"...

Powell's POV: I dig Angle's new look. It's a nice change.

A video explained the rules of the King of the Mountain match... A backstage shot aired of A.J. Styles walking with the hood over his head and the TNA Legends Title around his waist. A brief video aired on Styles and then he made his entrance. Repeat and rinse for the other wrestlers with the backstage shots and videos...

Powell's POV: I actually forgot A.J. was the Legends Champion until I saw him. Does anyone care about that belt? By the way, Angle looks more cut than usual.

West acknowledged Joe's torn triceps and three broken fingers. He blamed it on the Mafia. Angle came out wearing a Sidney Crosby jersey for cheap heat. Foley came out wearing new tights with "Tweet" on one leg and "Tweak" on the other. A fan held up a sign that read, "Thank you, Russo." No, really!

Jeremy Borash handed the in-ring introductions. He put over the fact that Styles was celebrating seven years as a TNA Original. The opening bell came 35 minutes after the top of the hour. Angle received great heat for wearing the Pens jersey.

7. Kurt Angle defeated Mick Foley, Samoa Joe, Jeff Jarrett, and A.J. Styles in a King of the Mountain match for the TNA Title in 21:30. Once Foley was announced, the live crowd popped. However, it was because Joe put on a Red Wings jersey. Joe attacked Angle before the bell. The two referees counted. They put Joe in the penalty box to start the match and ruled that Angle is eligible to put the title on the hook. Um, okay.

Early in the match, Jarrett pinned Foley. The best referee in the world (or world's best best buddy) Mark Johnson didn't count to three at first. He finally counted to three. Foley stood up and clapped and took his spot in the box. Jarrett is eligible, and Foley was intentionally pinned. Foley hollered to the announcers it was part of his plan to take "a little rest-a-roonie."

At 5:30, Joe locked Foley in the Kokina Clutch while the other three wrestlers fought at ringside. Think about how much that would have meant if Joe and Foley had fought in an actual match in ROH a few years ago. Unfortunately, it didn't mean much in TNA. Joe choked out Foley, so Joe is eligible and Foley went back to the box.

At 9:00, Joe made the first play to hang the belt, but Foley knocked the ladder over and Joe took a nasty spill. Joe came down on the ladder, which was shot after that. Jarrett picked it up and tossed it at Angle at ringside. Jarrett brought another ladder inside the ring and made his first play to hang the belt. Angle came in and low-blowed Jarrett.

At 12:30, Jarrett smacked Angle over the head with his guitar. Jeff climbed the ladder to hang the belt. Foley followed and then asked Jeff to punch him. They traded punches until Styles springboarded off the ropes and dropkicked the ladder, which fell on top of him. Styles came up holding his back in pain.

At 14:00, Foley and Styles fought onto the top of the penalty box. Styles teased throwing Foley off the box and onto the announcers table in a Hell in a Cell takeoff, but Foley tossed Styles back inside the ring for a big bump. A short time later, Angle hit the Angle Slam on Jarrett. Foley leapt off the penalty box and nailed an elbow drop on Angle and then scored a near fall. Wow!

Tenay reminded viewers that Styles was the only person who wasn't eligible to hang the belt. Around 17:00, Styles pinned Foley at ringside, so Foley went to the box and Styles became eligible. Jarrett made a play to hang the belt. Styles cut him off and then Angle grabbed Jarrett's leg. Jarrett leapt off the ladder and DDT'd Angle.

At 18:45, all five wrestlers ended up back in the ring. Foley rammed the belt into Styles's head. Foley went toward Joe, who kicked the belt back in his face. Joe climbed the ladder with the belt, but Styles stopped him. A.J. ended up with the title belt around his neck and frantically tried to climb the ladder, but Joe stopped him.

At 20:30, Styles threw Joe toward the ropes and he dove onto Jarrett and Foley. Angle grabbed Styles, but A.J. countered with a Styles Clash. Styles climbed the ladder, but Joe grabbed him from behind and powerbombed him.

Joe, who had the belt, and Angle climbed the ladder simultaneously. Joe teased hitting Angle with the belt and then smiled. Joe handed Angle the belt. Angle hung the belt on the hook to win the match and become the new TNA Champion. Angle leaned down and kissed the side of Joe's head.

Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Booker T, and Sharmell walked onto the stage and clapped. West said it made perfect sense that Joe got himself intentionally disqualified at the start of the match to make Angle eligible. WTF? Tenay said it was ironic that Joe would stab the other TNA Originals in the back on the company's seventh anniversary. West yelled, "Happy Anniversary, everybody" to close the show...

Powell's POV: I hate the finish. Why did Joe beat the shit out of the other Mafia members over the last few weeks? West's explanation about Joe attacking Kurt at the start of the match was ridiculous because there's no way they could have known how the referees would have responded. I don't mind a Joe heel turn, but I hate the "only in TNA" swerve. I'll have much more to say about this show in my Dot Net Member Exclusive Audio recap. You can become a member now for only $5 per month by visiting the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

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