TNA Epics TV Show report
May 29, 2009 - Week 3
Aired on Bravo in the U.K.
Report by Cody Endres, Torch TV contributor

-Following the opening montage, host Mick Foley introduced himself as "the most polite wrestler." On today's show, we take a look back at classic Slammiversary battles. Matches will include Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles taking on AMW and Team 3D in action against two prolific names in tag team wrestling history.

1 -- AMW (CHRIS HARRIS & JAMES STORM w/Gail Kim) vs. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & A.J. STYLES – NWA Tag Title Match

This match is from the June 18, 2006 Slammiversary PPV in Orlando, Fla. James Storm and Styles exchange before Styles hits his trademark dropkick. Styles and Daniels repeatedly tag in and out, working over Storm in the process. Storm manages to shove Daniels into AMW's corner and tags in Chris Harris. Harris pokes Daniels in the eyes. Daniels retaliates by drop toe holding Storm into Harris' crotch. Styles hits a flying flip dive to the outside onto both members of AMW as we head to break.

[Commercial Break]

We've skipped ahead in the match. Styles hits the Pele kick out of nowhere on Storm. Both men tag out. Daniels executes the blue thunder driver on Harris, but Gail Kim climbs to the top rope to distract the ref from the pinning situation. Styles shoves Gail off the top rope. Spike TV wouldn't like that. A large, muscular mystery woman comes out, chokeslams Gail, and carries her to the back. Viewers would later discover this woman to be Sirelda who had an uneventful and short run in TNA. AMW has Daniels in a doomsday device, but Daniels rolls thru for a nearfall. Daniels goes for another roll up, but Harris kicks out sending Daniels into the ropes where Storm smacks him with a chair. Daniels kicks out to a pretty big crowd pop. Styles drags Daniels into his corner and tags him quickly. AJ hits Harris with a springboard flying forearm followed by an inverted DDT on Storm. Styles gives Harris a pump handle gutbuster before missing the spiral tap off the top rope. Harris grabs a pair of handcuffs and punches Styles, but Daniels pulls the ref out of the ring during the pin attempt. Later, Daniels retaliates by kicking Storm between the uprights and hitting the Angel's Wings. Harris elbow drops the ref to save the tag titles. Storm accidentally breaks a beer bottle over Harris's head. Styles hits Harris with a frogsplash and Daniels follows up with the Best Moonsault Ever to end AMW's eight-month reign.

WINNERS: Christopher Daniels & A.J. Styles in 11:18 of what aired to capture the NWA Tag Team Titles. Good match. If an edit was necessary, you'd think they would have taken out Sirelda's brief appearance.

2 -- TEAM 3D (BROTHER RAY & BROTHER DEVON) vs. RICK STEINER & ROAD WARRIOR ANIMAL – TNA Tag Title Match

This match is from the June 17, 2007 Slammiversary PPV in Nashville, Tenn. Originally scheduled to be Team 3D vs. The Steiner Brothers, Animal took Scott's place after Scott suffered a torn trachea while in Puerto Rico wrestling Apolo earlier in the month. Animal came out in blue shoulder pads to a large ovation. Devon and Steiner barely get the match started before we go to break.

[Commercial Break]

Looks like there was no editing this time. Steiner hits a horrible looking powerslam on Devon. Animal and Brother Ray exchange shoulder tackles. Tenay mentions on commentary that you couldn't watch an Ohio State football game without seeing Animal in the stands cheering on his son. Tenay said that James Laurinaitis was projected to be a top ten pick in the NFL draft at the time. Laurinaitis ended up being picked 35th by the St. Louis Rams this year. Brother Ray connects with a piledriver, but Animal pops right back to his feet. Animal double clotheslines Team 3D and the crowd chants "LOD." Team 3D works over Steiner for a while. Devon misses a flying headbutt and Steiner tags in Animal again. Animal cleans house on both of the former Dudleys. Team 3D counters an intended doomsday device and hits a variation of the 3D on Animal. They follow up with a 3D on Steiner for the win.

WINNERS: Team 3D in 6:38 to retain TNA Tag Team Titles. Nice sense of nostalgia for Animal. Not so much for Steiner.

[Commercial Break]

-Host Mick Foley hypes this week's main event: a match between Kurt Angle and A.J. Styles that was one for the ages.

3 – KURT ANGLE (w/Tomko) vs. AJ STYLES

This match is from the June 8, 2008 Slammiversary PPV in Southaven, Miss. Both men feel each other out early on. Angle dominates a collar and elbow tie-up before tossing Styles around on the mat with his amateur wrestling experience. Styles comes back with a series of arm drags. Angle regroups on the floor and has a quick chat with Tomko. Styles hits his signature dropkick spot. Angle charges Styles, but Styles rolls out of the way and sends Angle shoulder first into the post. Styles connects with a springboard flying forearm for a nearfall. Angle tosses Styles to the floor. Before Tomko even has a chance to interfere, referee Earl Hebner sends him to the back. With the ref busy ejecting Tomko, Angle sends Styles into the metal guardrail twice before placing him back in the ring. Angle argues with Hebner on the outside. Styles hits a flying flip dive on Angle at ringside. In the ring, Angle grabs Styles in a double leg position and simply tosses him over his head a few times. Angle works a headlock for an extended period. Styles' nose is bleeding after some punches from Angle.

[Commercial Break]
Back from the break, it looks like the action picks up right where we left off. Styles counters a superplex attempt and face plants Angle with a front suplex. Styles rallies with a roundhouse kick, a pump handle gutbuster, and his suplex into a neckbreaker maneuver. Angle retaliates with a series of German suplexes. Styles counters with a release German suplex of his own. Angle with a belly to belly release suplex into the turnbuckle on Styles. Angle tries for the Angle Slam, but Styles turns it into a DDT. Angle goes for the ankle lock, but Styles rolls thru and sends Angle into the corner. Styles climbs to the top, but Angle runs up the buckles and hits an Angle Slam off the top rope. Angle pulls the straps on his singlet down and sinks in the ankle lock again. Styles rolls thru the attempt for a nearfall. Styles hits the Pele kick, but Angle is too close to the ropes for the pin. The Phenomenal One goes for the Styles Clash. Angle scoots down Styles' leg and turns it into the ankle lock. Styles kicks Angle into the ref and Hebner is out. Karen Angle runs out. She acts like she is going to hand Angle a steel chair, but holds onto the chair instead. Angle screams at her in frustration. Styles with the Styles Clash for the victory. Karen embraces Styles as the show ends.

WINNER: A.J. Styles in 22:18. Great match except for the finish involving the ref bump and Karen's interference.

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