KELLER'S TNA BOUND FOR GLORY PPV REPORT
OCTOBER 16, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW

-Mike Tenay introduced the show as they showed Philadelphia landmarks.

-A three minute video package aired focused in on Hulk Hogan and Sting at first, then Robert Roode and World Champion Kurt Angle.

-They panned the crowd. They had limited camera angles they could safely go with, but they had enough of the lower bowl filled to pan the crowd and give the show a full arena and "packed" feel in those sections they showed.

-Mike Tenay and Taz introduced the show at the announce table, talking about the future direction of the company being at stake.

1 -- AUSTIN ARIES vs. BRIAN KENDRICK -- X Division Title Match

A loud "Austin Aries" chant early. Tenay credited Taz for predicting that. Taz said he doesn't know much about much of anything, but he knows Philadelphia wrestling fans. Kendrick's character is much more of a heel than a face to almost all wrestling fans, so I'm not sure at all what TNA Creative has in mind when it comes to pushing him as a babyface. Kendrick received John Cena style negative heat here, as he got booed when he dove onto Aries at ringside at 2:00. With Aries on offense, they were chanting his name. He "shhhed" them and lowered his arms, and they fell instantly silent. He played to the crowd as he set up his pendulum elbow drop. It gave Kendrick a ton of time to recover and he went on offense. Tenay complimented the new weight limit for the X Division at 235. When you think about where that falls in the UFC world, it's pretty ridiculous as it's well above the light-heavyweight limit. Why not just got with 205? It's not like anyone in the X Division is legit over 205 anyway.

At 7:00 Aries learned a lesson from the stalling earlier as he went quickly into the pendulum elbowdrop. Kendrick came back with a tornado DDT and a believable near fall afterward. Another chant of "Aries! Aries!" broke out. Taz referred to the crowd as a "capacity crowd." I think that depends on your definition of "capacity." Kendrick countered an Aries move with a roll-up for a near fall. He then went for Sliced Bread, but Aries countered and stood behind Kendrick on the second rope. He played to the crowd again, giving Kendrick another chance to recover and hit Sliced Bread off the top rope. The crowd popped big for the Aries kickout at 9:00. Another chant of "Austin Aries" broke out. Aries blocked a Sliced Bread attempt on the ring apron. Aries hit Kendrick with a corner dropkick and then his brainbuster suplex finisher for the win.

WINNER: Aries in 10:00 to retain the X Title.

STAR RATING: **3/4

(WK Reax: The question every Creative Team should ask themselves as they begin to promote a PPV line-up is: What can we do to get fans to cheer the babyface and boo the heel when the match takes place? Then everything on TV promoting the match from promos to matches to angles to announcing should be aimed toward that goal. This match is an example of that not being done effectively. It's not just "crazy Philadelphia fans." In fact, Philadelphia fans in that building is their target market and they should judge how effective they are at telling stories and building feuds based on this crowd's reaction tonight.)

-Backstage Jeremy Borash was with the Jarrett girls. Karen shoed them all out nicely, then scolded Traci Brooks for even talking to her kids. She also told Traci to put her cleavage away because "Cody is already confused enough." Karen said she'll be special guest referee for the Knockouts match later. Traci said there should be a normal ref. Karen told Traci she is not to step foot outside of this room unless she is in harm's way.

-A video package aired on the Jerry Lynn-RVD feud. The narrator said the RVD-Lynn feud launched Lynn's career. He had as much of a career before the RVD feud as he has had afterward.

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2 -- JERRY LYNN vs. ROB VAN DAM - Full Metal Mayhem

Of course, Taz complimented the "fire" has been showing lately, part of the pro wrestling industry's recent attempt to eliminate any chance heels can get any heat for being hellish. Between Booker T and Taz, heels have an uphill battle to ever do anything that deserves scorn from fans rather than compliments for their "taking initiative" and "showing fire."

An "EC-Dub" chant broke out once the bell rang. Taz aluded to how stiff RVD can be in the ring, noting that he knocked his teeth out in the ring in Philadelphia once. After an early sequence of moves and countermoves, they stood mid-ring and had a staredown. RVD sold a knee injury after a flip to ringside. Lynn slid a ladder out from under the ring and into the ring. RVD recovered in the mean time and threw Lynn into the ring. RVD continued to limp, though. RVD bent down and grabbed a chair, too. Lynn slidekicked the ladder into RVD, knocking the chair out of his hands. RVD hit a crossbody on Lynn off the ropes and Lynn landed back-first on the chair for a near fall. RVD shoved Lynn into the corner, held a chair in the air, and then corner dropkicked the chair into Lynn. Taz said it feels like a stick of dynamite blowing up in your face. RVD set a ladder in the other corner and whipped Lynn into it. Lynn crashed into it and then fell backwards, the ladder falling on top of him. RVD then hit Rolling Thunder on the ladder.

Taz said these matches take so much out of these wrestlers, that's why they don't present them very often. Lynn came back by dropkicking a chair into RVD and scored a two count. Lynn then leaned a ladder on the second rope and clotheslined RVD onto it. He went for a flying legdrop onto RVD, but RVD moved. Taz said that looked like it hurt like hell. At least Taz is saying it hurts like hell, whereas in the past he's tended to chuckle or laugh at big high impact spots in weapons matches like this. At 9:00 Lynn set up a ladder against the ringside railing. A couple fans got up and moved out of the way, fearing they were in the path of an upcoming dive. RVD then tried to suplex Lynn over the top rope to the ladder below, but Lynn blocked it and sunset flipped RVD onto the ladder. RVD barely caught the ladder, which made it look like worse since he didn't get to spread the impact across more surface area of his back.

Back in the ring Lynn went for a cover, smartly rolling RVD away from the bottom rope to avoid RVD putting his leg on the bottom rope. Taz drew attention to that and praised Lynn for the veteran move. RVD still kicked out. Lynn swung a chair, but RVD ducked and then RVD wheelkicked the chair into Lynn's head leading to a two count. Tenay noted that RVD has a mouse developing near his right eye. Taz said watching this match in this city feels like a trip in a time machine. Taz continued to chuckle about it, which is his real-life tone, but it presents a hardcore brawl as more of a show than a fight over something. RVD hit a flying top rope dropkick into a chair into Lynn in the opposite corner. Then he put a ladder on Lynn as the crowd chanted "RVD! RVD!" and then he covered the ladder and got the pin. Afterward Lynn rose RVD's arms. That didn't particularly fit the storyline of Lynn being jealous of RVD's success. Lynn, storyline-wise, should have been more dejected, but TNA kind of gave up on telling that story the last couple weeks of TV.

WINNER: RVD in 13:00.

STAR RATING: ** -- It was there for a specific nostalgia hardcore flashback purpose and fulfilled its purpose just fine in that regard. It's a type of presentation of a match that has done more harm to the business than good, as it was more about fans popping for spots than being emotionally invested in a winner and loser, and the audience for the and the sustainability of that style is very limited.

-A video package aired on the Triple Threat match featuring Matt Morgan talking about how Samoa Joe was trying to injure people in the Bound for Glory tournament. He said he was acting like a "six year old school yard bitch." Joe said now he's being punished for breaking rules and getting too violent and now he finds himself against two men who wants to make him pay. Wait a second, didn't Joe issue the challenge to fight both Crimson and Morgan for an entirely different reason? Crimson vowed to walk out of the ring the winner even if he has to go through both of them.

3 -- SAMOA JOE vs. MATT MORGAN vs. CRIMSON

Tenay said Morgan had so much of a problem with Joe's conduct because Morgan loved the BFG Tournament concept where wins and losses mattered. That shouldn't be such a novel concept, should it? The crowd chanted "Joe! Joe!" at the start. Morgan and Crimson immediately double-teamed Joe, drawing some boos from the fans. Imagine the mainstream or casual fans who went to this show and watch these pre-match video packages, then listen to fans react entirely different than the backstory would indicate they should. Crimson elbowed Morgan by mistake, so when Joe made a comeback, Morgan just stood back and watched.

Morgan and Crimson began working together again at 2:00. Joe ducked a charging Crimson, who tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Joe then worked on Morgan's legs. More "Joe!" chants and then a "Joe's gonna kill you!" chant. Morgan sideslammed Joe. Crimson slid into the ring and went for the cover as Morgan tried to regain his balance in his legs. Morgan was upset. That gave Joe a chance to recover and knocked Morgan to the floor. Joe then backdropped Crimson onto Morgan at ringside. Joe then dove through the ropes and nailed Crimson with a flying elbow at ringside. Of course, that got a pop. Morgan climbed to the top rope and dove off onto Morgan at ringside. Joe stood and laughed. Joe, the heel, is being proven completely correct so far when he rationalized why he challenged both Morgan and Crimson to a three-way match.

Joe threw several punches at Crimson, but Crimson finally blocked one and went on offense. The loudest fans booed. He overhead suplexed Joe, then Morgan made the cover. Crimson took exception to Morgan trying to steal his pin. Morgan and Crimson argued, giving Joe a chance to recover. Seconds later Crimson and Morgan took control but again argued about who should make the cover. Joe rolled to the floor as Crimson and Morgan got in each other's face. Then they came to blows. Joe yanked Morgan to the floor and threw him into the guard rail. Then Joe went after Crimson in the ring and slapped away at him. Joe nailed Crimson with a dropdown spinning roundkick which again got a pop. He then set up a Muscle Buster on Crimson, but Morgan entered and kicked Joe to stop that move. Then he hit Joe with a running knee, but he couldn't follow up as he favored his knee. Crimson hit a prone Joe with a spear for the pin.

WINNER: Crimson in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

(WK Reax: This felt like a babyface turn for Joe. I can't imagine this match being booked with any other outcome in mind. Joe was right about everything, he had the bigger spots, and in the end lost only because he was attacked by two people at once. It's Booking 101 formatting for a babyface in a three-way match. Nothing here was done to get the fans on the side of Crimson or Morgan. Does TNA Creative even get the idea that the execution of the match flew in the face of months of backstory that was recapped in the pre-match video package? If the goal is to get anyone other than Joe over in this match, it was an epic fail.)

-Jeremy Borash interviewed Bully Ray backstage. He turned the crowd against him by admitting, for the first time, he raped and milked the fans of this city for decades. He said the white trash fans were responsible for his seven cars and five houses. He said he abused and took advantage of those fans. He closed with:"Screw you and screw Philadelphia. I'm Bully Ray and I'm from New York City."

(WK Reax: That's how you turn a crowd against you if you're a heel and trying to make sure that you do your job - which is get booed. Good for him for being one of few people who have both the understanding of his own character and the clout to execute it properly. Paul Heyman could have cut that same promo.)

4 -- BULLY RAY vs. MR. ANDERSON -- Philadelphia Street Fight

Sure enough, Ray got booed on his way out to the ring. Ray beat up Anderson for three minutes, but Anderson made a comeback and grabbed a sign from the crowd that said, "Welcome to Philly, Asshole!" He used it as a weapon against Ray, revealing it was a dead end sign underneath. Ray beat up Anderson at ringside at 5:00 and set up a table. Anderson made a comeback and they brawled up the ramp. Ray suplexed Anderson onto the stage, then mocked Anderson's self-introduction. He introduced himself as being from Hell's Kitchen, N.Y Anderson recovered and hit Ray with the mic and welcomed him to Philadelphia and called him "bitch." They brawled off stage into the back past the Gorilla position. The crowd booed. Ray gave Anderson a piledriver on the floor for a near fall.

They made their way relatively quickly back in view of the crowd and back into the ring. Anderson threw part of the guard rail into the ring. Anderson brought a table into the ring and dropped Anderson at 10:00. Anderson recovered and backdropped Ray onto the guard rail. Anderson flip dove off the top rope, but Ray moved and Anderson landed on the railing. Ray then full nelson Bubba Bombed Anderson onto the table for a believable near fall. The crowd popped for the kickout at 11:00. A loud chant of "Anderson! Anderson!" broke out.

Ray went for a top rope sexton onto Anderson on the guard rail, but Anderson moved. Anderson then gave Ray the Mic Check into the guard rail for a two count. That's a little much. Should someone be kicking out of your finisher onto a guard rail in anything but the most epic moment in a main event feud at least 25 minutes into a match? Anderson bashed Ray with a trash can at ringside at 13:00. He then dove off the ring apron with a flip dive attempt, but overshot on it and barely grazed Ray. Big "ohhh!" from the crowd followed by boos. Ray rolled off of the table and called a spot for Anderson. Anderson then improvised with a Mic Check for the pin. Good veteran save for Ray, as it seemed that flip dive was going to be the finish. Taz said sometimes you gotta call an audible, and the Mic Check might have worked better. Anderson had a bloody mouth and he saluted the fans as he walked onto the stage and to the back.

WINNER: Anderson in 15:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4

-Eric Bischoff told his son Jackson James that he's been the right guy in the right spot making the right calls all along, but no one has figured it out. The camera was showing them through the blinds talking openly about Jackson being his son and wanting him to make sure Hogan won and Sting left on a stretcher. Bischoff said he's been around the business his whole life and tonight is the night. He told him he loves him. They hugged.

-We went to Tenay and Taz reacting to the news that Jackson James is Bischoff's son. Acting is not the strong suit of those two in these situations, but they had to really sell the idea that this was a shocker. It's not like Jackson has been the center of controversy lately, and Tenay and Taz didn't recap specifics that reminded fans of what he's done that, in retrospect, now falls into place.

5 -- WINTER (w/Angelina Love) vs. VELVET SKY vs. MADISON RAYNE vs. MICKIE JAMES -- Knokoucst Title match

Karen referee'd the match. Taz said Sky's ring entrance always get the fans aroused. Only two could be in the ring at a time. Karen was especially strict in enforcing rules when Mickie or Sky were on offense. The crowd wasn't into this, with some fans calling out "boring!" Sky went after Rayne with a faceplant bulldog. Karen adjusted her boots when Sky went for the pin, drawing boos from the fans who were into this storyline. Winter brook up a pin attempt by Rayne, which upset Rayne who felt they were on the same team. Karen stepped between them and tried to talk them into going after Sky and Mickie. Sky and Mickie tagged in legally at 4:00. They shook hands and locked up. When Mickie had Rayne covered, Karen didn't even count the pin. Mickie complained. Karen told her to get back to work. Taz and Tenay weren't nearly outraged enough at Karen's conduct. Again, how is anyone going to get over as a heel when the conscience of the show - Tenay and Taz (babyface announcers) - aren't the least bit outraged. I mean, the Knockouts Title is at stake and it means so little the announcers aren't selling the idea that Karen is sabotaging a fair chance for Mickie or Sky to win it.

Winter yanked Sky out of the ring and threw her into the ring apron. Love joined in the attack. Taz casually said Karen is not a regular referee. Tenay asked if he's still in support of her being the ref. Taz said something inaudible in response. Love handed Winter something as Karen and Mickie argued for a very long time. Winter then tried to spray a red mist at Rayne, but it hit Karen. rayne then caught Winter with a jumping DDT. Karen was down and blinded, so Traci ran out. Tenay reminded viewers Karen told her not to come out unless she was in harm's way. Traci then counted Sky's cover on Rayne after hitting her DDT.

WINNER: Sky in 8:00 to capture the Knockouts Title.

-Borash interviewed Kaz backstage, who said he is so excited for Bobby Roode. He said Roode stuck with TNA while people like him left for a while. He also talked about A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels and said he's torn about seeing his two friends fight.

-A video package aired on Daniels-Styles.

6 -- CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. A.J. STYLES -- I Quit Match

Daniels charged Styles just before the bell, but Styles tackled him and got in an early barrage of punches. Daniels, rather hilariously, tried to get Styles to say "I Quit" in the opening minute after reversing Styles to the mat and holding him down. Styles made a comeback and told Daniels to "say it!" Daniels replied, "Why don't you suck my…" Styles hit him with the mic. Styles said, "Why don't you suck this!" and then he shoved the mic into his mouth. The crowd chanted "A.J. Styles!" Styles took control and then applied an armbar. Daniels yelled out, "Never!" Styles applied an abdominal stretch and Daniels refused to quit, hip-tossing out of the move.

At 4:00 Styles dove onto Daniels at ringside. Daniels grabbed a screwdriver out from under the ring. He tried to stab Styles with it. Styles blocked it. There's a weapon that just breaks the "suspension of disbelief," like Triple H's sledgehammer, because you know it's not actually going to be used. Daniels stabbed it into the top turnbuckle when Styles avoided his wild swing at his head in the corner. There was a botched spot off the ring apron. Thankfully that didn't involved the screwdriver. Taz went into serious mode and said, "Oh my god, what the hell." Daniels asked Styles if he quit yet. Styles said no, so Daniels went back on the attack.

Daniels hit the Best Moonsault Ever onto Styles's back at 7:00. Daniels went on sustained offense. At 10:00 he placed a chair across Styles's throat and then did extended mic work, saying that he has been dreaming of this moment for months, watching Styles about to pass out. He said everything that Styles accomplished in TNA should have been his. He said he never wanted him to say the words "I Qu…" Then he caught himself and stopped short of saying it. He said he never wanted him to say those words. He said he would tell his wife that his last words were "I love you." The crowd chanted, "Shut the hell up!" Daniels then called out to Wendy and told her to take the kids out of the room now "because they shouldn't see their father murdered in cold blood." Another "suspension of disbelief" killer. Nobody's going to kill anybody on a wrestling show, and nobody believes it for a second is even a possibility. It's just too much and breaks the mood and tone.

Daniels swung a chair at Styles, but Styles moved. He then made a full comeback, inspired by Daniels's taunting of him and his family. Daniels blocked a Styles clash, then went for a BME, but Styles avoided it. Styles then hit a Pele Kick for a crowd pop and then gave Daniels a Styles Clash. Styles then grabbed the chair, but dropped it when he saw the screwdriver stuck into the top turnbuckle. He grabbed the screwdriver. Taz said, "A.J. don't do this." Daniels saw the screwdriver in his hand and said, "Okay, I quit. Just don't hurt me." He then scurried out of the ring. Taz said, "What the hell, just like that? Daniels didn't even try to fight back. He just up and quit. Okay." Daniels ran quickly to the back.

WINNER: Styles in 14:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2

-As Styles celebrated, Daniels surprised him on the stage and gave him the Angel's Wings finisher. Daniels then bragged, "He never beat me. He didn't beat. Who's the winner now, huh? Who won?)

(WK Reax: The whole I Quit gimmick just didn't work here. At least in the end Daniels was a cowardly heel, bailing out of the match at the first chance he'd get seriously hurt with his own weapon. The whole flow of the match was messed up with the I Quit format, and then Daniels's actions made a bit of a mockery of the actual stakes in a match of this type. Daniels was funny in shamelessly proclaiming victory afterward.)

-As Tenay and Taz analyzed the Styles-Daniels situation, Jeff Jarrett's music interrupted. He walked out and turned to Tenay and Taz and disparaged them, then yelled at some fans. Jarrett said nobody wants Jeff Hardy back in TNA. He said nine out of ten fans polled in line said they didn't want him back. Jeff Hardy came out to his new music, still sounding distinctly like a Jeff Hardy Synth Studio Production, but at least it's different than the previous song that sounded like druggy heel music, or at least was associated as such due to Hardy's last heel run and how it ended. It's not as catchy as intro music for a babyface should be, though. He entered the ring and a pretty weak "Hardy" chant brook out. Hardy said he had one thing to say to Jarrett, and then instead he attacked him. Jeff made a comeback with punches. Hardy made a comeback to almost no reaction. Security ran out to separate them, drawing boos from the crowd. Both guys broke free from the security and brawled again. Jarrett was eventually dragged to the back as Hardy played to the crowd to his new intro music.

-A video package aired on Hulk Hogan at 10:07 p.m. ET. Tenay and Taz then talked about the ramifications of this match's outcome. Tenay asked Taz if there's been a match as important as this in TNA's history.

7 -- HULK HOGAN vs. STING

Joan walked out wearing an "Impact Wresting" t-shirt. I wonder if internally they're tracking whether merchandise without the awful "TNA" letters on them sell better than the "TNA-branded" items? Too bad the image of the company remains essentially unchanged even with the shift away from the TNA letters, though, including the "TNA" letters on the ring apron. Jackson James stood in the ring to referee this match. Tenay and Taz said the fix is in. They showed a nervous Dixie Carter at ringside. Sting then came out in a pink and purple Sting jacket, but with a Hulkamaniac t-shirt underneath.

They circled each other after the bell rang to start the match. Hogan was in jeans with red kneepads over them. He also kept the t-shirt on. Hogan then waved Ric Flair to the ring. Flair walked out to his music. Tenay called it a curveball. Dixie shook her head with concern. Jackson smiled at Hogan. Taz said this throws off Sting's gameplan. "If anyone knows Sting, it's Flair," said Taz. Tenay added, "How could you stack the deck any more against Sting?" Taz said Dixie looked panicked at ringside.

Hogan and Sting circled each other again. They locked up finally. Tenay called it an electric atmosphere. Hogan powered out of a headlock and shoulder blocked Sting to the mat. The fans popped as Hogan threw off his bandana and flexed. Sting looked up. Hogan did a crotch chop which also got a bigger pop. Sting took off his Hulkamania t-shirt and threw it at Flair. Hogan chopped Sting across his head and then his throat, then stepped on his face. Hogan has the mobility and move set here of Giant Baba and Mad Dog Vachon. Hogan applied a standing nerve hold. Sting elbowed himself free, but Hogan knocked Sting down when he charged. Hogan gave more crotch chops and he got a mixed reaction, but some fans were clearly here to cheer Hogan's NWO persona.

Hogan raked Sting's back with his fingernails (a la Mad Dog) and then raked his face. He threw Sting to ringside where Flair attacked him at 4:00, choking him and chopping him. He gave Sting a low-blow right in front of Dixie. Hogan came to ringside and gave Sting another low blow right in front of Dixie. Tenay actually showed outrage as a heel move! He angrily said that it's not as if the referee is going to do something to stop it "since the ref is Bischoff's kid!" Hogan bit Sting's forehead (a la Mad Dog). Flair handed Hogan a weapon which he used against Sting's forehead (now we're going into Abdullah the Butcher territory). Hogan spiked Sting's forehead over and over against the security railing at ringside. Sting bled from the forehead. You knew the only planned blood on the show would be reserved for Hogan's match. It's the right thing to do, but also predictable that that tool would be saved for Hogan to cover up for his immobility.

At 7;00 back in the ring Sting chopped and punched Hogan in a comeback and Hogan actually took a bump, landing on his left shoulder. Hogan crawled to the middle rope and tried to get back onto his feet as Sting chased Flair at ringside. Sting punched Hogan again and Hogan again took a bump. He shouldn't be taking any bumps in his condition. Sting then went after Flair again. Sting caught Flair and stole the weapon. Sting then used it against Hogan, who also bled from the forehead area now. Hogan took another bump onto his back. Sting dug into Hogan's eyes with his fingers. Sting hit two Stinger Splashes, knocking Flair off the ring apron between splashes. He then applied the Scorpion Deathlock. Hogan tapped out. Jackson ignored it at first, but then finally called for the bell. Sting was declared the winner.

WINNER: Sting in 9:00.

(WK Reax: The full bag-o-tricks was out to fill those nine minutes, but it worked for the purpose it intended to serve. It's not like there were any expectations for the athleticism, and Hogan knew what he could do and didn't push it and make it look bad by doing things he's incapable of.)

-After the match Flair attacked Sting. Bully Ray, Bischoff, Scott Steiner, and Gunner came out with chairs. Gunner and Ray beat up Sting as Hogan recovered in the corner. They showed Abyss watching from backstage. As Bischoff was about to hit Sting, Jackson had seen enough and he yanked the chair away from his dad. Ray grabbed Jackson. Bischoff then hit Jackson across his back. A bloodied Hogan made it to his feet as the heels continued to attack Sting. Ray kicked Jackson out of the ring. The fans picked up on this being a set-up for a Hogan babyface turn as they began chanting his name. Steiner hit Sting with the chair. Sting looked up and called for help from Hogan. Sting crawled over toward Hogan. Hogan looked to the crowd. The crowd chanted Hogan and encouraged him to attack Sting. Hogan tore off his t-shirt and the crowd reupted. Flair went after Hogan. Hogan punched him. Same to Steiner, Ray, and Gunner. Taz and Tenay said they couldn't believe it. Sting and Hogan ended up single-handedly taking on all of the heels with punches ashtey charged at them one at a time (very nice of them). Sting hit the Stinger Splash on Flair in the corner with Bischoff cowering behind Flair.

Once the ring was cleared of all but Bischoff, Sting and Hogan looked at each other, and then turned to Bischoff. They lifted Bischoff. Bischoff begged for mercy. Hogan wound up and punched him. The crowd cheered. They showed Dixie cheering tearfully at ringside. Hogan said, "I'm back." Tenay said, "The real Hulk Hogan is back!" Hogan asked Sting, "Do you want to go?" Instead Sting played to the crowd and asked them to cheer for Hogan. Dixie cried at ringside as Tenay said Sting said he wants Hulkamania back. A loud chant of "Hogan! Hogan!" broke out. Sting and Hogan shook hands and raised each other's arms. Tenay and Taz said they shouldn't believe their eyes, and they praised Jackson James for doing the right thing in the end and not succumbing to the pressure.

-They cut away to a video package on Robert Roode vs. Kurt Angle.

8 -- KURT ANGLE vs. BOBBY ROODE -- TNA World Hvt. Title Match

The ring intros began at 10:34 ET, so no time for a classic statement match, but enough time for a good PPV quality main event. Tenay said it's time to find out if it's Bobby Roode's time after 13 years of dedication and hard work. Bell rang to start the match at 10:36, so they rushed through ring intros. No formal mid-ring intros from Borash. As the match began, the crowd chanted "Bobby! Bobby!" so they weren't burned out from the previous Hogan-Sting match and angle.

Angle went into a bear hug on the mat, then turned it into a series of German suplexes. Angle went to the top rope, but Roode got up and suplexed Angle hard off the top rope. The ref moved in quickly to check on Angle, then shifted to Roode to give him an update. Replays showed that Angle landed on the side of his face as he landed, jarring his neck to the side. It didn't look like it would necessarily be traumatic except for someone with a history of neck problems. Angle got up and seemed okay. Roode came out on top of a mid-ring slugfest. After taking Angle down with a hard clothesline, he flew off the second rope and flip head-snapped Angle. Taz said it was smart of Roode to go after Angle. They're pacing themselves like their time got cut and they had to rush through spots. Angle made a comeback with a DDT at 6:00. Angle pulled down his straps. Angle went for an Angle slam, but Roode escaped and countered with a spinebuster for a two count.

They exchanged submission attempts on the mat for a couple minutes. Roode escaped an anklelock attempt and then hit a spinebuster and a fisherman's suplex into a bridge for a believable near fall at 11:00. A battlechant broke out: "Let's Go Bobby!" and "Let's Go Angle." Roode scored another near fall with a small package. Agle went for an Angle slam, but Roode countered and escaped. Roode came of the second rope, but Angle held the ref in front of him. Angle then gave Roode a low blow, but the ref didn't see it. Angle then hit the Angle Slam for a near fall at 12:00.

Angle shifted into a series of unreleased suplexes. Roode countered the third one and applied an STF on the mat. Angle reached the bottom rope to force a break. Angle came back with a spear for a two count at 14:00. Angle climbed to the top rope and leaped at Roode. Roode sidestepped it and applied an STF type move. Angle slipped free. Roode went for a fisherman's suplex again. Angle escaped and then gave Roode an Olympic Slam near the ropes. Angle held the second rope for leverage as he covered Roode. The ref counted to two, hesitated seemingly, and then hit three. Angle was given the win. The wind was taken out of the fans' sails at that moment. A replay showed that the ref's third count was slowed down by accidentally hitting Roode's boot by mistake. Boy was that bad timing. Roode sat in the corner burying his head in his hands in the corner and seeming to be deep in thoughts of what could have been. Tenay and Taz you could see the disappointment in Roode's face.

WINNER: Angle in 15:00.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- A very good 15 minutes of a main event match, but the finish was just a mess. If they're not ready to go with Roode as a centerpiece babyface new-era champion, then have Angle pin him clean. This finish is just a momentum breaker and a copout unless they have a plan to have this all fall into place. There are ways to go with this and tell a great story, but for now it feels like a flat finish for Roode fans.

ALERT: Join James Caldwell & Greg Parks for a live post-event show at 11:30 ET (8:30 PT) at

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