By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S TNA SACRIFICE PPV REPORT
MAY 11, 2009
LIVE FROM ORLANDO, FLA.

-A video package aired on the World Hvt. Title match with words from each of the three competitors. It was good, but probably twice as long as it should have been. It just seemed to never end and repeat itself.

-Jeremy Borash interviewed Kurt Angle as he got out of his limo. Borash said he was with Angle in South Korea when he got injured. Borash asked for an update. Angle said his doctor told him he isn't cleared to wrestle. He said he's not 25 years old anymore, so he needs to listen to his doctor. He said if he tweaks his neck again, his career could be over. He said his peak is still ahead of him. He ran down his injuries to his neck and back and said he can't afford to take the risk. He seemed genuinely dejected.

-They showed Scott Steiner arriving with Little Petey Pump and Rhaka Khan. Lauren told Steiner the news. He said he can't comment on something he hasn't heard to be true. He said originally he was supposed to wrestle Samoa Joe one-on-one, so maybe he'll get his wish. In the background, Kevin Nash stepped out of Steiners' limo. Unfortunately, rather than letting the scene speak for itself, Lauren hit us over the head with a sledgehammer of overacting, exclaiming "Kevin Nash!"

-They went to Samoa Joe arriving. He said it's a shame to see Angle go down. Borash asked what he thought of Nash and Steiner arriving together. Joe seemed like he hadn't heard. He did a double-take and walked away.

-Mike Tenay introduced the show in the arena as pryo blasted. Don West said Steiner would face Joe one-on-one due to Angle's injury.

1 -- TEAM 3D vs. STING & JAMES STORM (w/Miss Jackie) - Tag Titles Tournament

Storm raked Devon's eyes to slow down an early attack. Jackie entered the ring to get in Brother Ray's face at 2:00. Ray spanked her. Storm tagged out to Sting, although Sting was slow to accept the tag. Sting clotheslined Ray, who the bailed out to ringside. West said Sting led by example, as Sting and Storm argued. Team 3D took over on Sting. As Devon had Sting in a headlock, Storm sat on the ring apron and drank a beer. Tenay and West were outraged. Sting made a comeback at 6:00. Storm had his back turned to the ring, frustrating Sting. Ray and Devon double-teamed Sting and hit the top rope diving headbutt to the crotch. Devon then pulled a table out from under the ring. Sting clotheslined both Ray and Devon, then Storm entered the ring, talked gibberish to Team 3D, then sat on the top turnbuckle with a beer. Team 3D stepped aside and Sting surprised Storm with a press slam through the table. Devon then covered Storm for the pin as Sting walked to the back.

WINNERS: Team 3D in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *1/2 -- Fine action and a solid ending considering the players.

-Lauren interviewed Frank Trigg, who talked about Angle's neck injury. Trigg said he's worried because Angle isn't the type of guy to pull out of a match when injured, so it must be serious. Trigg said he tried some drills with Angle tonight, but he didn't like what he saw. Lauren asked Trigg for his pick. He said Joe is quicker than you'd expect from his body type and he generally has better cardio than "Scotty." He apologized for stumbling on his commentary because he's thinking about Angle. He can talk without breathing. It's actually quite amazing listening to him. There are no periods in his speech and only occasional commas. He'd be the toughest guy to get off the phone if he was on a roll and you had to get going.

2 -- ROBERT ROODE & BOOKER T vs. CHRISTIAN CAGE & RHINO

Roode didn't know who his partner was until Booker's music played. He didn't react well. They shoved each other and argued before the match. Roode insisted on starting. Tenay and West talked about Christian & Rhino as favorites. Roode worked the opening five minutes. Christian DDT'd Roode, who then rolled over within range of Booker, who tagged himself in. At 7:00 Christian hot-tagged Rhino who went to work on Booker. Booker countered with a reverse sidekick. Booker blind-tagged himself in. Booker wasn't happy, and was hit by Rhino with a clothesline. Roode kneelifted Rhino and set up his Payoff, but Rhino blocked it and speared Roode for a three count. Surprising pin, actually. It didn't seem like quite enough, in part because the announcers undersold what was apparently supposed to be a Gore! Gore! Gore!, but they referred to it passively as just a spear. Afterward, Booker congratulated Christian and Rhino, raising their arms afterward. Then, in a surprise move, Booker gave Rhino and Christian chairshots to the head. His body language and facial expressions changes. Tenay said West was noticing an attitude change with him lately, including his argument with Sting a couple weeks back. "What is going on right now?" said West. Tenay said he snapped.

WINNERS: Rhino & Christian in 8:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4

-Borash interviewed Steiner backstage. Nash, sitting on a bench, told Steiner to repeat what he said so he could understand him. Rick Steiner was sitting in the background. Petey was doing lateral pulldowns in the background. Steiner said, "We're two peas in a pond." Steiner said he knows he using Joe. He said if he helps him win, he'll give him the first title shot. Nash shook his hand and said he'd think about it.

3 -- KIP JAMES & MATT MORGAN vs. LAX (Homicide & Hernandez w/Hector Guerrero)

Kip patronizingly patted Homicide on the head at the start. He lifted him and set him on the top rope. Homicide fired back with a flying dropkick to take him down. Hernandez ten slingshot himself into the ring with a shoulder tackle on Kip, who bailed out. Homicide then flip dove onto Kip at ringside. West got so excited, he high-fived Homicide. Morgan jumped to the floor to check on Kip. Morgan then lifted Homicide and shot him back into the ring like a dart. Morgan tagged in and took over on Homicide. Morgan walked the top rope a la Undertaker, then came down with a forearm for a two count. Morgan mistakenly kicked Kip in the face, then Hernandez dropkicked Morgan out of the ring and covered Kip for the win.

WINNERS: LAX in 6:00.

STAR RATING: *

-Borash interviewed A.J. Styles backstage about his tag match, including facing Awesome Kong. Angle barged in and shoved him in the chest, asking if he had seen his wife. Styles said no. Angle told him he's a liar. He said he's his boss and he didn't even have the courtesy to check on him when he got injured. He demanded to know if Styles was seeing Karen. Styles stood up to him and said he's not going to answer his question, then told him to concentrate on his neck.

4 -- A.J. STYLES & SUPER ERIC vs. AWESOME KONG & B.G. JAMES

Eric opened with offense against James including an early pin attempt. Styles tagged in, and then James tagged in Kong. She stalked Styles, who locked up in a test of strength. He pushed her into the corner, pulled her braids aside, and backed off. She shoved him. He scored two leverage two counts. Kong fired back with a spinning backfist. Kong grabbed Styles's crotch, what West referred to as a "handful." James tagged in and gave Styles an inverted atomic drop. Kong tagged back and sat down on a Styles sunset flip attempt, which was a counter to an Awesome Bomb attempt, leading to a two count. James tagged back and settled into a chinlock on Styles. At 5:00 Styles caught James with a Pele kick. Styles tagged in Eric. Eric overshot a top rope flip senton on James. Kong entered and Eric bodyslammed her onto James. She rolled out of the ring. Eric dove onto Kong at ringside. Styles went for a springboard dive onto James. (Some fans in the crowd chanted "You f'd up," having no idea when to chant that and when not to. (When a guy slips on a move, which may or may not have been intentional, and then sells it, it's not a f--- up. It's like chanting "You f'd up" at a hockey player for shooting the puck and missing the net. It happens. It's not an f-up.) James set up a suplex, but Styles caught him with a small package for a somewhat anticlimactic pin. Styles checked on his nose afterward, as if that was hurting.

WINNERS: Styles & Eric in 7:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Disappointing debut for Kong. Her first mixed match in TNA shouldn't have been in the background in a relatively throwaway match and forgotten pretty much as soon as it happened.

-Tenay and West discussed the rest of the line-up for the evening. Tenay was handed a note stating that Jim Cornette would make an announcement later concerning the main event TNA World Title match.

-Lauren interviewed Rick Steiner (who belongs on top ten lists of reasons WCW went out of business for setting a tone of utter laziness and nepotism at a time when, had he stepped up and showed better leadership, he could have made a different with the younger guys.) Rick said he showed up to show his support for his brother. Lauren asked him what his definition of "support" is because they often stir trouble when they get together. Rick then barked, surprising Lauren.

-A video aired on the Terror Dome.

5 -- TERROR DOME: Curry Man vs. Consequences Creed vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Shark Boy vs. Jimmy Rave vs. Kaz vs. Alex Shelly vs. Chris Sabin vs. Black Machismo vs. Johnny Devine

Jim Cornette stepped out and said not only would the winner of this match get a shot at the X Division Title, but he'll also take the place of Angle in the main event. "I expect you guys to fight like a pack of wild dogs." That eliminated almost everyone from contention to win the match. Ref Rudy Charles referee'd the match from the to of the cage where the hole was for the wrestlers to escape. As wrestlers fought on mat, Creed climbed to the top. Kaz swung from Creed's arms to legdrop Machismo below. Creed then dove onto Kaz on the floor. Rave takes great flat-backs off of punches. He won't take those bumps in five more years, though. The highlights of the early in-ring action, though, came from Shelly and Sabin. As a tower of wrestlers stacked up in the corner, Devine huracanrana'd the whole group over. It was more absurd than cool. At 5:00 Machismo climbed to the top rope. Rave met him up there. They fought back to the floor where Rave gave Machismo "The Move that Rocks the World." At 8:00 Curry stopped Rave from climbing to the top, then leaped of the top rope with a Spice Rack. Some fans chanted "This is awesome!" The same ones, probably, who chanted "You f'd up" earlier. Kaz hit Curry with a reverse Flax Capacitor. Devine gave Creed a scary looking (due to a sense of carelessness about it) piledriver, but Creed's got such a thick head of hair, his skull might not have come within ten inches of the mat. Devine climbed to the roof. Kaz yanked him down onto a pile of wrestlers below. Kaz then climbed toward the center hole to win.

WINNER: Kaz in 11:00.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- I didn't hate that. Some will, and understandably so, because it was just a mish-mash of spots and not much context, and some of the spots were convoluted. Some will love it, too, because there were a lot of great athletes doing cool moves. It was what it was, and I can't entirely discount the amazing aspects of it, including some cool multi-person spots mid-ring without use of the cage. The Dome contraption was an okay new concept for TNA, but not in and of itself something that feels like a signature match if it's just a mish-mash like that each time in an overcrowded ring.

-Borash interviewed Joe backstage regarding Kaz being added to the match. Joe said Kaz is a strong competitor and deserves a spot, but business is business. Borash said he didn't want to stir things up, but he wanted to ask about Nash. Joe blew his top, grabbed Borash, said all he does is stir the pot, and intensely said he hasn't seen Nash. He said if Nash crosses his path, he will make him regret it.

-They showed Tenay and West on camera as the Terror Dome was being disassembled. They talked about the TNA World Title match and the Nash factor. West said Nash's actions are causing him to lose his focus.

6 -- TEAM 3D vs. CHRISTIAN & RHINO - Tag Tournament Semi-Finals

They sold the fact that Christian and Rhino were weakened by Booker's attack earlier. Team 3D methodically worked over Christian, then Rhino, in the early minutes. Rhino hot-tagged Christian at at 4:00 and then dove of the top rope onto Team 3D below. Brother Ray yanked Christian to the floor and threw him into the steps at ringside, as Devon distracted the ref, and then Rhino gullibly entered the ring to protest, further delaying the ref turning around. Christian came back with a huracanrana on Ray at 8:00 for a two count. A fresh Rhino got a hot tag. His flurry didn't last long, but when Rey set up Devon for a diving headbutt to Rhino's crotch, Christian shoved Devon to the mat. Rhino nailed Devon with a flying shoulder tackle off the second rope for a near fall, with Ray making the save. Devine snuck to ringside with a kendo stick. He handed it to Ray at ringside as Devon and Rhino battle in the ring. Rhino powerslammed Devon for a two count. Devine snuck to the other side of the ring. Rhino hit Devon with a Gore. Devine entered the ring to distract the ref. Ray nailed Rhino with the kendo stick. Devon draped his arm over Rhino for the three count.

WINNERS: Team 3D in 11:00.

STAR RATING: **

-Borash interviewed Nash backstage. He said he's the man everyone is talking about. He said Joe isn't pleased that he arrived with Steiner. Nash said dismissively he just got a ride from the airport. Borash said Joe tried to choke him out when he heard about it and vowed to do the same to Nash. Nash invited Borash to follow him as he crossed Joe's path to see if Joe tried to choke him out.

7 -- A.J. STYLES & SUPER ERIC vs. LAX - Tag Title Tournament Semi-Final

Back and forth match. Good pacing. At 6:00 Hernandez held Eric upside down in suspended suplex position for nearly a minute. Eric hit Homicide before he could give Styles his finisher. Styles small packaged Homicide. Hector snuck into the ring and reversed the small package leading to the pin.

WINNERS: LAX in 7:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4

-Lauren interviewed three of Samoa Joe's extended family members dressed in traditional garb. One of them said Joe didn't just bring his family, he brought his blood. She asked if they'd get physically involved if Joe needed them. He said blood is blood. Another did a shout and then, I think, slipped in "Russo for life" amidst words I didn't understand. They showed Billy Corgan of the "Smashing Pumpkins" in the front row.

8 -- TEN WOMAN KNOCKOUT BATTLE ROYAL LADDER MATCH: Velvet Sky vs. Angelina Love vs. Rhaka Khan vs. Christy Hemme vs. Celinas vs. ODB vs. Miss Jacqueline vs. Traci Brooks vs. Gail Kim vs. Roxxi Laveaux

Celinas was eliminated early. West said the consolation prize for a women being eliminated is that at least they didn't have to risk their head being shaved. Sky was out next. Then Brooks. Khan tossed Christy over the top at 2:00. Love and ODB tossed Khan out. Kim and Roxxi eliminated ODB and Jackie next. Roxxi backdropped Love out of the ring. That left Kim and Roxxi at 3:00, and Kim had immunity. That meant Love would get shaved if Roxxi won. Referees kept Love a ringside. She demanded to know why. They explained. She freaked out, but they made her sit at ringside. The ladder match portion began. Kim catapulted Roxxi onto the top of the ladder at 6:00. Love slid Kim a ladder to help her win and save her hair. Kim climbed it. Roxxi climbed the other side. They met at the top. Kim knocked Roxxi down a few rungs, then sunset flipped her to the mat. Roxxi gave Kim a spinebuster onto a ladder. Sky ran into the ring. Roxxi kicked her away. Roxxi climbed the ladder. Love knocked the ladder over. Kim then climbed the ladder to win.

WINNER: Kim in 10:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Mildly entertaining at times, but also rushed. It just came across as an excuse to feature every Knockout on the PPV more than match that needed to take place. Love and Sky beat up Kim afterward. Roxxi got involved in helping Kim. The crowd chanted for her. Roxxi, though, sat in a chair and got her head shaved after the match. A loud "Pire Glusso" chant began. Roxxi bled from the scalp and sat there as her head was shaved down to short stubs. Love and Sky gleefully danced on the ramp to taunt Roxxi, who stood up and received applause from the fans.

-Backstage Borash told Nash this isn't a good idea - heading toward Joe's locker room. Nash said he's going to show the rookie who's running the show. Nash walked in and said, "Sorry I'm late. I was watching the chick get her..." Joe interrupted and called him a son of a bitch. Nash said that's no way to talk to his mentor. Joe said he knows how he operates and if he turns on him, he'll break him. Nash told Joe to shut up and listen. He said what he did was old school. "What I did today was old school. What, am I going to hang with Steiner and talk politics. I picked his brain. He thinks I'm on his team. He doesn't know what's going on." Nash told Joe he needs him because he's still not using his brain enough. Nash said he's going to sit in the back and if he needs him, give him the high sign: "Maybe I'll be there, maybe I won't." Joe stormed away, bumping into Borash on his way out of the room. Nash as an aside told Borash he should press charges for assault.

-The showed a band, "Saving Abel," at ringside.

9 -- LAX vs. TEAM 3D

Before the match at ringside, Team 3D warned Hector not to interfere. Homicide dove through the ropes onto them. They brawled at ringside. Tenay noted that it's been more than a year since Team 3D has held tag tiltes, and they can smell their 22nd reign. Homicide hot-tagged Hernandez at 7:00. He dove over the top rope into both Team 3D members. Devine ran to ringside and pulled out a table. After setting it up at ringside, Hector intervened and hit Devine with the kendo stick. Hector set Devine on the table and then hit a top rope jump onto the table. Not sure what he was going for, but it was a bit of a legdrop and mostly a double stomp. Hernandez caught a "charging" Ray with a boot. Ray practically stopped before he got to the boot and he wasn't running that fast to begin with. Ray, though, hit a superplex a minute later. Devon hit a diving headbutt on Hernandez afterward for a near fall at 10:00. Four-way chaos ensued. Hernandez gave Devon a Border Toss. Homicide hit a frog splash for the win.

WINNERS: LAX in 11:00 to capture the TNA Tag Team Titles.

STAR RATING: **1/4.

-A commercial aired for Slammiversary next month. They went to Tenay and West at ringside. Eric Young barged in and said the next PPV is going to be in Memphis. He said Elvis lives there. Tenay said he's been dead 30 years. Young said last week someone spotted him eating ice cream at a Jack in the Box. Tenay asked if he's been reading The Globe again. Young said it's a reliable paper. West said Young just isn't right.

10 -- SAMOA JOE vs. SCOTT STEINER (w/Rhaka Khan) vs. KAZ -- TNA World Hvt. Title match

Frank Trigg joined Tenay and West on commentary. His mic wasn't on for the first few seconds. All three wrestlers got relatively tepid reactions from the fans. They might have been upset with Angle not being there, or kinda liked Steiner and Joe and had reasons to kind not like each of them, also, and Kaz just hasn't been built up for this type of elevation in recent months. The match began with 21 minutes left in the PPV. Steiner posed in front of Joe in mid-ring. Kaz schoolboyed Steiner. Trigg talked right over it so none of the early spots in this match got called. Joe clotheslined both Steiner and Kaz. Trigg gave a real sports feel to his commentary. He said Joe is better than he gave him credit for before last month's match against Angle. Joe took Kaz down with a leg whip, then applied a Boston Crab. Steiner hit Joe from behind to break the hold. Steiner chopped him in the corner, then overhead suplexed him. Steiner took it to ringside where he suplexed Joe onto the ramp. Steiner entered the ring and clotheslined Kaz, then dove off the ring apron with a clothesline to Joe. By 8:00 Kaz got a flurry of offense against Steiner and Joe. Joe, though, gave Kaz a Northern Lights suplex, then one-arm slammed Steiner. Steiner rolled to the floor. Khan distracted the ref as Steiner grabbed a pipe. Joe dove through the ropes at Steiner, but Steiner hit him with the pipe. Kaz dove over the top rope onto Steiner. Joe came back with a double leg kick off the ropes on Steiner, then a senton on Kaz mid-ring. Joe snap powerslammed Steiner and scored a two count at 13:00. Joe applied a rear naked choke. Kaz tried to break it up, but Joe side-stepped him and then sidekicked him as he rebounded off the ropes. Kaz dropkicked Joe off the ring apron as he set up Steiner for a top rope suplex. Kaz then mounted the top rope and tried to power Steiner down with a suplex. Steiner landed on Kaz instead and scored a near fall at 14:00. Steiner threw Kaz to the floor, but Joe then surprised Steiner with a roundkick to the head. He followed with a Muscle Buster off the top for a clean pin.

WINNER: Joe in 15:00.

STAR RATING: *** -- Good match. It didn't feel like a main event for a PPV without Angle in there and without Kaz having a substantial storyline to place him there in that mix. Joe is very good, Steiner stepped up, and Kaz played his role well and added to the match.

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