TNA SACRIFICE PPV FLASHBACK REPORT
MAY 13, 2007
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, TORCH EDITOR

(1) Chris Sabin defeated Black Machismo and Sonjay Dutt in 13:00 to retain the X Division Title. Dutt and Sabin worked together in the first minute, but Dutt then dropkicked Sabin and took him down again with a revolution head scissors takedown. Sabin came back with a DDT on Machismo. With Dutt knocked out of the ring, Sabin and Machismo fought for two minutes. Dutt springboard moonsaulted onto Sabin and Machismo on the floor at 5:00. The crowd chanted, "That was awesome!" Dutt blocked a Sabin huracanrana attempt off the top rope and then dropkicked Machismo. Sabin grew frustrated and raked Dutt's eyes for the first non-athletic move of the match. West said, "Just when you begin to gain respect for Sabin." They showed the new TNA mascot, Stomper, at ringside. Yeah, TNA needed a mascot. WCW tried that years ago, but it's been almost entirely blocked from my memory. Sabin spit on his hand and rubbed his spit in Dutt's face in a heelish move to be sure. Dutt came back with flashy but effectively looking moves leading to a near fall on Sabin after a springboard Thesz press at 9:00. Sabin KO'd Dutt with a hesitation dropkick as Dutt was hanging upside down in the corner with Machismo holding him in place. That led to a believable near fall. Machismo took over the match at 11:00 with offense against both Dutt and Sabin. He hit his top rope signature elbowdrop on Sabin for a near fall. Dutt broke up the pin. (Pet Peeve Moment: Sabin's shoulders were still down and Machismo still had him covered after Dutt dove into the ring, so the ref had no reason, especially in a three-way match, to stop the count.)

Lethal hit a backbreaker/faceplant combo. When he went for the cover, Dutt landed on Lethal with a 450. (Same Pet Peeve repeated.) Dutt then covered Machismo for a two count. He followed with a quick cover on Sabin for a two count. Another "This is Awesome!" chant. Dutt and Lethal shoved each other. Sabin then schoolboyed Lethal for a leverage pin for the win. Really good-three-way opener. (***1/2)

Afterward, Machismo and Dutt shoved each other, then broke out into a fight. Nash yanked them apart and tried to calm them. Dutt roundkicked Nash in the back of his leg, then bailed out. He said they had it coming.

Jeremy Borash interviewed Robert Roode and Miss Brooks. Roode said Eric Young is at home where he told him to stay. He said he still owns him. He said tonight Jeff Jarrett is going to make him jump from "star to superstar." He said he not only owns Young, but tonight he'll own Jarrett.

Nash interrupted Tenay and West at ringside. He angrily told Dutt, "On Thursday night, "You're ass is mine." Tenay (in the midst of an apparent gas attack) said Nash has been comedy relief lately, but that was as serious as he's seen Nash in ages. Then they previewed the rest of the line-up.

They showed B.G. and Kip James beginning a fan meet-and-greet when Damaja and Basham attacked them. West said B.G. was diagnosed at the hospital with a "super-severe concussion" from being slammed through a table.

(2) Robert Roode (w/Miss Brooks) beat Jeff Jarrett in 14:00. Roode attacked Jarrett during his ring intro as the pyro blasted. He dropped Jarrett across the security railing. Jarrett made a comeback, took it inside the ring, did a brief strut, and then punched Roode. Brooks distracted him, giving Roode a chance to jump him from behind at ringside. Roode applied a sleeper, then a figure-four. Brooks helped add leverage by pulling on Roode's arms. Jarrett forced a break. A minute later, he made a comeback. Jarrett kicked Roode between the legs (on the "nads," as West said, who also relished the accuracy of the kick). Jarrett applied a figure-four which somehow seemed to slightly confuse him again. Jarrett released it when Brooks distracted the ref. Roode "yanked" Jarrett split-legged into the ringpost, although he had so little momentum or force, even West acknowledged it didn't appear to do much. Roode brought a chair into the ring. He got in a tug-o-war with the ref and then the chair snapped back into his own head. Jarrett hit the Stroke, but Brooks yanked the ref out of the ring. THe ref ordered her to the back. Roode then KO'd Jarrett with handcuffs for a nearfall. Roode grabbed Jarrett's guitar. The ref lectured Jarrett and yanked it away. Jarrett went for another stroke, but Roode blocked it. Jarrett set up a figure four and let out a whoo, but Roode kicked Jarrett into the steel ringpost and then executed a fisherman's suplex into a bridge, The Payoff, for the win. That was the right spot for that solid match. (**1/2)

Roode trash-talked Jarrett afterward. Jarrett avoided a post-match guitar shot and applied a figure-four. Brooks stood over Jarrett with a guitar, then Young ran out and made the save. He put Brooks in the figure-four briefly.

They went backstage to Leticia interviewing Christian, A.J. Styles, and Scott Steiner. They were having a "victory party" before their matches. Steiner complained that Tomko wasn't there yet. He said he was holding Christian personally responsible. Christian said he doesn't take responsibility for anything, and that's just the way it is. Styles cut a promo for his match. Christian said he would make sure his opponents destroyed each other before his match.

(3) Christopher Daniels beat Rhino. The crowd alternated chants for each wrestler. West said nobody knows what's going on in Daniels's head lately. Daniels bailed out at 3:00 to avoid an early Gore attempt. Rhino dove at Daniels, but Daniels moved and Rhino crashed to the floor. Daniels dominated for a few minutes. Rhino came back with a spinebuster for a two count in 9:00. Daniels applied a cross armbreaker. Rhino forced a break with his foot on the ropes. He was in it so long, it made it seem fake or weak. He didn't have a sense of urgency to get out of it. At 10:00 Daniels KO'd Rhino with a baseball bat for the win. (**)

After the match, Rhino said he didn't come there to lose or be cheated, so he's going to end his night by kicking Daniels's ass. He chased him to the back. They disappeared for a minute, then Rhino threw a bloodied Daniels back out onto the ramp. Rhino blasted Daniels in the forehead with a chair. As he set up a Rhino Driver through two chairs in mid-ring, security broke it up. The crowd chanted "bullsh--."

A recap aired of the Christy Hemme-B.G. & Kip feud. Then backstage, Borash said B.G. was still at the hospital, so it appears a forfeit is coming. Kip said he would not forfeit. He said

(4) Basham & The Damaja beat B.G. & Kip James in 4:00. Kip wrestled alone and took a beating for several minutes before going down for the count after a diving headbutt by Basham. Lance Hoyt stopped a post-match beatdown. (3/4*)

Leticia interviewed Harris backstage. He talked about his road back from blindness. He said it's time for payback.

(5) Chris Harris pinned James Storm in 17:00. They brawled on the rampway to start the match and ended up tumbled over into the crowd. They brawled up the rafters. They made it to the ring four minutes later. Harris drank some beer, then dove onto Storm in the crowd off the top rope. At 5:00 Harris ended up hanging upside down against the ringpost. Storm nailed him with a chairshot and he bled heavily afterward. Storm set a table in mid-ring. Harris blocked a huracanrana attempt. At 9:00 Storm finally powerbombed Harris through the table with a tilt-a-whirl for momentum. Storm scored a pin, so Harris had ten seconds to stand. Harris stood in time. Harris speared a bloodied Storm off the ring apron through a table at ringside. Nice spot. The ring filled with trash cans, chairs, and tables. Storm superkicked a chair into Harris for a near fall at 15:00. West called Storm's face a "crimson mask." Harris gave Storm a Catatonic onto a garbage can for a near fall. A loud "This is awesome!" chant broke out. Jackie attacked Harris at ringside. Gail Kim made a quick save, dragging her to the back. Storm's face was covered in a thick layer of blood. Harris KO'd Storm with a beer bottle and scored a pin. Storm didn't answer the count. Really good, memorable, feud-appropriate brawl. (***3/4)

Backstage, Daniels and Sting argued. Daniels said, "I interpreted this just the way you told me." It wasn't apparent what that meant. Sting then turned his attention to cutting a promo on his main event.

They showed the ring canvas being replaced due to spilled blood.

(6) Jerry Lynn defeated Senshi, Alex Shelley, and Tiger Mask. At 6:00 Tiger tagged in. Tenay talked about this new Tiger Mask being trained by Satoru Sayama, the original Tiger Mask who revolutionlized non-heavyweight wrestling. Lots of nice moves, but with the four wrestlers, it never really developed a storyline. Lynn won after a top rope sunset flip. Everyone looked good, but not spectacular. (**1/2)

After the match, Shelley attacked Lynn. Sabin joined in. Backlund made the save.

Leticia interviewed Tomko backstage. She asked him why he wasn't discussing strategy with his tag partner. "Good question, funny answer," said Tomko. "How am I supposed to discuss strategy with someone who thinks the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. The guy is an idiot." He said he's tired of people questioning his whereabouts and said his pride and honor overrides everything, so he'll be there.

(7) Team 3D beat LAX and Scott Steiner & Tomko to retain the World Tag Team Titles in 13:00. At 9:00, after a lot of relatively random chaotic in-ring exchanges, Devon hit a top rope headbutt. Hernandez flew over the top rope onto Devon as Devon looked for a table. In the ring, Tomko and Steiner beat on Homicide. Homicide avoided a Doomsday Device and rolled up Steiner for a two count. Steiner and Tomko argued. Brother Ray schoolboyed Tomko for a near fall. Steiner clotheslined Ray. Tomko mistakenly gave Steiner a big boot. Ray and Devon hit Tomko with a 3D for the win. (**1/4)

After the match, Tomko and Steiner fought. Rick Steiner made the save, knocking Tomko over the top rope to the floor with a clothesline. Tenay said, "There's someone Steiner can trust!"

Borash interviewed Angle backstage around flashing lights where Sting supposedly hangs out. "So this is where all the hocus-pocus b.s. comes from," he said. He then said Sting buys facepaint at Wal-mart so he can look like Ronald McDonald. Angle said he doesn't need mood lighting and face paint. "And I definitely don't need to holler like some by-atch. The big difference between you and me and I'm a wrestler and you're a cartoon character. This gym teacher is about to school you. It's real, it's damn real." A really good version of a serious Angle promo with just enough of his wit to be entertaining above and beyond just intense.

(8) Samoa Joe pinned A.J. Styles in 12:00. These two have a lot of spots worked out and already have good chemistry, so it's always good action between them. At 9:00 Styles went for a Styles Clash, but Joe escaped and dropped Styles onto his head for a near fall. When Styles sidestepped Joe, he landed on his leg and grabbed at his left knee in pain. West said he heard a snapping noise. When Styles went for a Spinal Tap a minute later, Joe leaped up, revealing he was playing possum. Joe then applied a rear kokina clutch into a suplex for a three count. Definitely an above-average match, but not a show-stealer or show-maker by any means. (**3/4)

(9) Kurt Angle beat Sting and Christian in 11:00 to capture the World Hvt. Title. Sting and Angle had a staredown and trash-talked at the start. They turned and knocked Christian down and threw him out of the ring, then returned to dealing with each other. At 2:00, with Angle knocked down, Sting went after Christian at ringside. Christian reversed Sting into the security railing. He then jumped into the ring and faced Angle. Angle belly-to-belly suplexed him. Christian side-stepped Angle and threw him into the ringpost. He got no rest as he turned and met Sting. He tried to talk him into an alliance. Sting didn't consider it and dropped an elbow to his chest as a fresh Christian just watched and didn't move. It looked completely unrealistic he'd just lay there for it with such little punishment leading up to it.

At 6:00, Angle gave Christian eight unreleased German suplexes. When he went for the cover, Sting intervened and tossed Angle out of the ring then went for the cover himself for a two count. As Sting superplexed Christian, Angle back suplexed both of them, then scored a near fall on Sting. Angle immediately covered Christian for a two count. At 8:00 Angle dropped his straps and went for an Olympic Slam. Christian avoided it and set up an Unprettier. Three-way action ensued with Sting throwing Angle head-first into Christian's gut. Sting splashed both Angle and Christian, then hit a Scorpion Death Drop. That led to a two count, ending when Christian yanked the ref out of the ring by his legs and landed on him. Angle reversed a Scorpion Death Lock and slipped on an anklelock. He applied anklelocks on both Christian and Sting at once. They both powered out in stereo. At 11:00, Sting schoolboyed Christian out of an Unprettier attempt, then Angle applied an Anglelock. Sting tapped out in front of one ref as a second ref counted Christian's shoulders down. Christian was pinned just before Sting tapped, but Tenay said it was a dead heat. Angle was announced as the winner and left with the belt as the show went off the air suddenly. (**1/2)

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