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TNA presented their go-home edition of Impact last night three days before Sunday's Slammiversary PPV. The show featured an X Division King of the Mountain Match, an AJ Styles-Tomko main event, and more.
Kaz, Johnny Devine, Jimmy Rave, Curry Man, and Chris Sabin competed in a special X Division King of the Mountain Match for an opportunity at the TNA World Title on next week’s broadcast. Kaz eventually climbed a ladder to hang the “X” and earn a championship opportunity. The bout was highlighted by Devine’s moonsault delivered from the top of the penalty box cage onto Sabin and Kaz, Sabin’s flying bodypress from atop the structure and into the ring on Curry Man, and Kaz using a ladder to jump inside onto Rave while on the roof of the cage. This was a great match, but it seems illogical to present KOTM on free television when expecting it to draw as a PPV main event in three days.
Former WCW personality Daffney was chosen from the stands to oppose Awesome Kong in this week’s Twenty-five Thousand Dollar Challenge. Daffney did not fare much better than her previous contenders and was defeated in quick, brutal fashion. The inclusion of someone with a known wrestling past was a good idea, as it may serve to build interest regarding who will eventually vanquish Kong and win the cash.
A Point/Counterpoint interview segment aired featuring Kurt and Karen Angle. Kurt again accused Karen of cheating on him with AJ Styles, but the Olympian’s wife continued to deny that she and Styles were ever involved. AJ was shown watching the piece along with Jeremy Borash and proceeded to cut a great, intense promo promising that Kurt would not walk away from their match at Slammiversary. This character is who Styles has needed to be for at least a year and a half.
Styles went on to main event the show against Tomko in a very good match with Kevin Nash serving as Special Enforcer. AJ won the encounter with a Frog Splash (I’m not sure where that came from - I thought the Frog Splash was one of Christian Cage’s trademark moves now). The post-match scene featured a melee between each KOTM participant, LAX, and Team 3D. Nash attempted to hit Booker T with a steel chair, but the former World Champion ducked and the object struck Joe instead. Nash and Joe exchanged words as the program ended.
This was a very good show and a great overall lead-in toward Slammiversary this Sunday. I still question the logic of holding a KOTM Match on Impact, but the angles for the PPV progressed in an exciting way.
Match Results: Christian Cage and Rhino over Booker T and Robert Roode via disqualification following interference from Team 3D … ODB over Velvet Sky via pinfall in a Street Fight … Kaz over Jimmy Rave, Curry Man, Johnny Devine, and Chris Sabin in a King of the Mountain Match to earn a TNA World Title shot on next week’s Impact … Awesome Kong over Daffney via pinfall in a non-title Twenty-five Thousand Dollar Challenge Match … Matt Morgan and LAX over Kip James, Lance Hoyt, and James Storm via Morgan’s pinfall on James … AJ Styles over Tomko via pinfall.
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