By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA FINAL RESOLUTION PPV REPORT
DECEMBER 11, 2011
ORLANDO, FLA.
LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW

-A video package aired on the Robert Roode incident spitting on Dixie Carter on Impact Wrestling last week and his title defense against A.J. Styles in the main event.

1 -- CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. ROB VAN DAM

Christy Hemme is handling ring introductions tonight, as usual. Taz and Mike Tenay opened by discussing whether Daniels or RVD had the experience advantage. Tenay said RVD gets the edge in big-time matches, while Daniels has a little more in terms of years. The crowd chanted "RVD!" early. They paced themselves a bit slowly at the start.

(WK Reax: It's an interesting and refreshing choice to open with RVD. On one hand it says something about how little sustained impact he's had after being a big signing back in 2009. But it's also a sign of TNA changing the philosophy on opening with a X Title match, which I've argued diminishes the value of the title and relegates it to "opening match title" stature.)

RVD made a comeback at 3:00. Daniels raked his eyes on the ring apron to cut it off a minute later, then threw him into the ringpost. RVD fell to the floor. Daniels went on sustained offense including some mat work at 5:00. RVD made a comeback and hit a standing moonsault for a two count at 7:00. He followed with a monkey flip, a flying spin wheel kick, and Rolling Thunder for a near fall. Daniels begged off. RVD went for a Five-Star, but Daniels moved. Daniels then tackled RVD for a near fall. Daniels mounted RVD in the corner, but RVD headbutted Daniels and shoved him back-first to the mat. He then hit a flying Five-Star for the win.

WINNER: RVD in 9:00. (*3/4)

(WK Reax: Decent opener. It fulfilled its purpose just fine. Nothing close to a must-see match or anything, but a clean win for a babyface over an agitating heel who can take some bumps for him isn't a bad way to start a show.)

-Tenay and Taz were shown at their announce desk discussing the Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett match. Tenay said Sting added a stip. Now, if Hardy wins, either Jeff Jarrett or Karen Jarrett will be fired. He also still gets a title shot.

(WK Reax: Something is up there, because why would they add that stip on a Saturday when it won't help PPV buys? It had to be a late decision and someone is on their way out or, perhaps if it's Jeff Jarrett, returning under a mask for an old-school angle.)

-Jeremy Borash interviewed Mickie James backstage. She said Gail Kim can't hide behind the skirts of politics tonight. She said she was excited to hear she was coming back to TNA where women's wrestling matters, but she's politicked and played hide and seek since returning. But, she said, that ends tonight and they'll find out who the best Knockout is.

2 -- ROBBIE E. (w/Rob Terry) vs. ERIC YOUNG -- TNA TV Title Match

Taz complained that Young hasn't cleaned his beard in months. Taz said everyone under age 55 watching the PPV has to wonder who these Jersey Shore people are that they keep talking about. Young yanked off his pants before the match, despite Taz's protests from afar. Young got an early advantage. Terry tried to a clothesline him at ringside, but Young ducked. Unfortunately, Robbie E. immediately dropped Young. At 4:00 Robbie settled into a long chinlock. Young made a comeback at 6:00, but Robbie yanked him off the top rope. Robbie went for the cover, but Young kicked out. Terry thought the ref should have counted faster, and he let him know it. Robbie and Young, meanwhile, hit simultaneous clotheslines mid-ring. The whole ref distraction thing seemed pointless. Robbie then distracted the ref as Terry entered the ring and gave him a choke hold while standing on the second rope. young bit Terry to break free, then sent Terry head-first into Terry's crotch. Young then lifted both Terry and Robbie onto his shoulders and walked a few steps into the ring. "Signs of Ted Arcidi, right there," said Taz, channeling the 1980s. Young dropkicked Terry through the ropes to the floor, but Terry then surprised Young with a dropdown double knee for the win.

WINNER: Robbie in 8:00 to retain the TV Title. (1/4*)

(WK Reax: I'm not sure what the audience is for that, but it was a sloppy execution of even what it was attempting to be. Young's "Bushwacker meets Eugene" act has its moments, but none was part of this match tonight.)

-Borash interviewed Devon and The Pope. Devon denied there are any trust issues between him and Pope. He said his only issue with Pope is with his influence with his kids, but he said that's an issue for another night, as tonight they need to be on their A-game and then becoming the new tag team champions. Devon said his catchphrase, then left. Pope said he can't help that Devon's kids look up to him as a father figure they never had. He said tonight, though, is about the gold and the bling. He said when it comes to that, "The Pope is all in." He also called J.B. "B.J." then told Borash not to correct him.

3 -- MATT MORGAN & CRIMSON vs. DEVON & THE POPE -- Tag Team Title Match

Taz said Pope is more laid back compared to the intensity of Devon. Crimson and Pope went at it for a couple minutes. Morgan and Devon then tagged in. Pope and Crimson were back at it at 3:00. Pope scored the first two count on Crimson after a leg sweep at 3:00. Crimson came back with a spear type move. Crimson settled into a chinlock for a couple minutes, then tagged Morgan in. Morgan and Crimson controlled Pope for several minutes and got some two counts. At 7:00 Devon got a hot-tag in for a small pop and he went to work on Crimson. Devon fended off a two-on-one attack from Morgan and Crimson and scored a near fall on Crimson. Pope hit an illegal top rope flying elbow. Devon made the cover, but Morgan made the save. Morgan tossed Pope over the top rope to the floor, then he and Crimson gave a double chokeslam to Devon for the win. Devon glared at his sons for conversing with Pope after the match at ringside, seemingly upset with Devon taking the pin. Pope just shook his head and walked to the back on his own.

WINNERS: Morgan & Crimson in 9:00. (*)

-Borash interviewed Styles backstage and asked if he is badly hobbled. Styles said he's not 100 percent, he's 200 percent. He said he plans to beat the piss out of him for 30 minutes.

4 -- AUSTIN ARIES vs. KID KASH -- X Division Title Match

Tenay said he loves the rebirth, rebranding, and reemphasis on the X Division lately. They had some tests of strength early, then turned it up quickly including Aries popping out of a head scissors with a head stand and then instant basement dropkick. Great sequence. The back and forth action spilled to ringside. Kash tried to chop Aries, but he ducked and Kash struck the ringpost instead. Aries grabbed the TV Title belt from So Cal Val at ringside, who couldn't help but badly overact once again in less than a second of TV time. She's just hilariously over-the-top in everything she does. The ref took the belt from Aries before he could use it, then Kash tried to use the ropes for leverage for a pin. The ref caught him. Aries went for a leverage pin, also using the ropes, and he wasn't even trying to hide it, so the crowd laughed. Aries will protested. Kash then poked Aries in the eyes and then threw him to the floor. He slingshot himself onto Aries on the floor.

At 9:00 Aries climbed to the top rope. Kash knocked Aries off balance. Aries returned the favor a minute later, then went for a superplex. Kash raked his eyes and then set up a powerbomb, but Aries reversed it mid-air and took Kash over. The crowd chanted "Holy sh--!" Taz said, "My sentiments exactly." Both were slow to get up. Aries reached into his trunks and pulled out taped knuckles. The ref caught him, so Aries gave them up. Kash then put the same weapon. The ref caught him, too. Aries then grabbed the belt and gave it to Kash. The ref yanked it away from Kash and gave hi a warning. As Kash protested the ref's mistaken accusation, Aries caught him by surprise with his brainbuster suplex for the win.

WINNER: Aries in 12:00 to retain the X Division Title. (**3/4)

(WK Reax: No clear babyface or likable character hurt the crowd heat in this one, so the fans were relegating to cheering spots and laughing at comedy. It was well done for what it was, telling the story of two cheaters trying to out-cheat each other.)

-A long video package aired on the Knockouts Title match.

5 -- GAIL KIM vs. MICKIE JAMES -- Knockouts Title Match

Gail controlled the early minutes with a variety of offensive moves including some submission attempts. Mickie came back with a head scissors takeover at 5:00. She played to the crowd and got some cheers as she tossed Kim around the ring. Gail bailed out to ringside at 6:00, grabbed her belt, and headed to the back. So Cal Val managed to overact even though only her hand gestures were visible in the camera shot this time. Mickie chased her down and threw her into the ringpost. At 7:00 Madison Rayne ran out to ringside and held Mickie's leg as she very slowly re-entered the ring. Kim then gave Mickie her drop down boot-to-the-face "Eat-Defeat" (get it?) finisher for the win.

WINNER: Kim in 7:00 to retain the Knockouts Title. (*3/4)

-Borash interviewed James Storm backstage. He said, "I'm a beer drinking, ass kicking machine!" He said the fans in Orlando are there to have a little fun and raise a little hell. He said he learned no matter how big and bad you think you are, there is always someone bigger and badder to knock you down. He said tonight he's that guy in Kurt Angle's world. He then said: "From the bottom of my heart, I have to tell you, Kurt Angle. Actually, I meant, from the bottom of my balls, sorry about your damn luck."

-A video package aired on Storm vs. Angle.

6 -- "COWBOY" JAMES STORM vs. KURT ANGLE

Lots of headlocks and armbars early. Angle pummeled Storm in the corner at 4:00 with punches. Storm came back and clotheslined Angle to the floor. There seemed to be some off-timing in a spot or two leading up to that. Angle sent Storm face-first into the ringside steps with a drop toe hold. Angle went into several minutes of sustained offense including a chinlock, some stomps, and then another chinlock. At 11:00 Storm made a comeback and scored a quick two count after a dropdown kneedriver to the back. Angle came back with his back suplex sequence leading to a two count.

At 14:00 Storm avoided an Angle slam went did his whirly bird for a two count. Storm then climbed to the top rope, but he seemed off balance. Angle hit a belly-to-belly off the ropes for a near fall. The announcers said Storm wouldn't quit, but he also seemed to paying a big price for his resilience as the match progressed. Angle dropped his straps at 15:00. Storm countered with a superkick attempt. Angle avoided the kick and applied the anklelock. Storm eventually powered out just as Taz was advising Storm to call it a day. Storm avoided a charging Angle, and Angle went flying shoulder-first into the ringpost. Storm then DDT'd Angle off the second rope onto the ring apron.

Back in the ring Storm set up a superkick. Angle blocked it and hit the Angle Slam for a near fall. The kick that Angle blocked looked very half-hearted, as if Storm was continuing to sell the idea of the beating taking a toll or the concussion symptoms returning. Angle then went for a moonsault, but Storm moved. At 18:00 Storm signaled for another superkick, and this time he nailed it for the win.

WINNER: Storm in 18:00. (**1/2)

(WK Reax: Solid match. Some parts were better than others. The takeaway is Storm pinning Angle, which is the right move at this stage of both careers and given the current pushes both are getting. Angle is an established star, but not being relied upon to be a main event draw or champ. Meanwhile, Storm is hot on the mic and a fast rising star, but his in-ring cred as a singles wrestler could use some solidifying. But the bigger issue is, why did Storm exchange wrestling holds with Angle at the start. Angle jumped him from behind and attacked him and gave him a concussion and trash talked him. Storm should have aggressively attacked Angle in a brawl at the start and kept that tone up throughout.)

-Taz and Tenay talked up Storm's effort in light of being just cleared from his concussion recovery. Then they talked about the blockbuster announcement by Sting that someone is out of work after this match.

-Borash interviewed Karen and Jarrett. Jarrett threw a fit about how for the past week he's been a "company man" on the TNA cruise, and he returns to find out now he could be out of TNA. He said he's going to ground Hardy down and take him out of his element and make him submit or pin his shoulders to the mat, then he will be gone from TNA. Sting walked in and dangled handcuffs. He asked Karen if she was ready to be handcuffed to him.

-A video package aired on the Jarrett-Hardy saga.

7 -- JEFF JARRETT (w/Karen Jarrett) vs. JEFF HARDY -- Loser Leaves TNA

Tenay noted that James Storm and Kurt Angle are both trending on Twitter as this match was about to begin. Tenay said people all over the world were talking about Final Resolution. With all due respect to Angle and Storm, given TNA's PPV audience level, this proves again that WWE's bragging about trending on Twitter is really nothing to brag about. This match began just before the start of the third hour. Jarrett got the early advantage and at 3:00 tried to climb out of the cage. Hardy chased after him. Jarrett kicked Hardy to the mat, then went after him with a flying move where he just slapped Hardy across the back with his hands.

At 4:00 Hardy tried to escape the cage. Jarrett came after him, so Hardy kicked him to the mat and then splashed him. Both were slow to get up. At 5:00 Hardy hit a Twist of Fate, then climbed to the to rope. Jarrett began to stand, so Hardy gave him another Twist of Fate. Tenay pointed out that Hardy had a chance to exit through the door, save his TNA career, and end either Karen's or Jeff Jarrett's. Instead he climbed to the top of the cage and went for a flying flip splash. Jarrett moved, though, and Hardy crashed to the mat. Jarrett slowly began to crawl out of the cage, but Hardy yanked him back in.

At 8:00 Jarrett shoved Hardy into the cage door, which knocked Sting down at ringside. Karen reached into Sting's pocket and pulled out the key and uncuffed herself. Karen then slammed the cage door into Hardy's head. Jarrett made the cover and the ref slowly counted to nearly three before Hardy kicked out at the last possible second. The idea that the cage being flung into Hardy's head would hurt him was far-fetched. Karen tried to get Jarrett his guitar, but Sting got up and carried her away from the cage. Hardy then surprised Jarrett with a Twist of Fate and scored the pin.

WINNER: Hardy in 10:00. (*1/2)

(WK Reax: Hardy took a big splash on the mat off the top of the cage, and that was supposed to make up for a match that otherwise lacked much credibility or action. It felt more choreographed than most matches of this type.)

-Sting then said in four days on Impact he will announce which of those two are getting fired.

-Borash interviewed Robert Roode backstage. Roode listed all of the things he's been called, good and bad, in recent weeks. He said tonight added to that list will be "King of the Iron Man Matches." Roode said he'd be surprised if Styles even makes it to the ring after what he did to him Thursday night. He said Styles would normally be favored in this kind of match, but not now. He closed by bragging about spitting in the face of authority.

8 -- ROBERT ROODE vs. A.J. STYLES -- 30 Minute Iron Man Match for TNA World Hvt. Title

The match began 20 minutes into the third hour. We got the obligatory long side headlock to open an Iron Man match. Tenay said it's a marathon, not a sprint. Styles escaped and applied his own headlock. Taz had time to talk about how much a side headlock hurts and how you can't even see when you're in one. At 4:00 Roode escaped, but Styles went right back to it. Roode escaped and then bailed out to ringside to regroup.

At 7:00 the pace picked up, but then Styles setted back into a headlock again. At 10:00, the score was 0-0 and Roode escaped a headlock. He began to work over Styles's bad leg and then scored a leverage pin in the corner at 10:06.

FALL ONE: Roode at 10:06.

Roode concentrated on Styles's legs for five minutes and eventually Styles tapped out to a figure-four leglock.

FALL TWO: Roode at 15:25.

Roode took his time, milking the lead he had. Styles eventually rallied, but he wasn't 100 percent as he kept favoring his leg. At 17:35, though, he applied a crossfire and got the tappet win.

FALL THREE: Styles via tappet at 17;35.

After some more back and forth action, with Styles still concentrating on Roode's arm, Styles small packaged Roode for the win.

FALL FOUR: Styles in 20:08. Score 2-2.

Styles hit a springboard flip splash onto Roode at 23:00 for another pin.

FALL FIVE: Styles in 23:00. Styles takes 3-2 lead.

Styles remained on offense for a few minutes. With on ly five minutes left Roode dropped down on a sunset flip attempt and held onto the top rope and got a tainted pin.

FALL SIX: Roode in 26:01. Score 3-3.

The announcers noted less than four minutes remained and both men were moving slowly with the score tied. Styles scored a very near fall at 17:35 when he countered a fisherman's suplex with a cradle. Styles followed up with a Pele kick. Roode bumped face-first to the mat. Styles played to the crowd with two minutes left and a 3-3 tie score. Styles set up the Styles Clash, but Roode countered and Styles landed awkwardly onto his ankle and buckled his knee. Roode, who had a bloody nose, rolled to the floor as Styles clutched his knee. Roode challenged Styles to dive at him. Styles did. He did a running flip dive over the top rope and connected, but clutched his leg after landing with the clock now under one minute. Styles threw roode back into the ring with 30 seconds left. Styles then rolled back into the ring with 20 seconds left. Roode rolled to the floor, again stalling and going for a draw. Styles chased after Roode, who reentered the ring. Styles went after him in the ring, so Roode rolled to the floor again. The time expired and it was a declared a 3-3 draw, thus Roode retained. Roode celebrated at ringside. The crowd chanted "Five More Minutes." Nope. They really went off the air with Roode gloating and no decisive winner and no overtime. Wow.

WINNER: 3-3 tie at the end of the 30 minutes. (**)

(WK Reax: Not a particularly good match for a 30 minute Iron Man main event, but throw in the flat finish and it really ended the show on a bad note.)

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