A2Z Analysiz: TNA Slammiversary 2006 (Christian Cage, Jeff Jarrett, Sting, Abyss, Ron Killings)

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slammiversary 2006

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Universal Studios – Orlando, Florida – June 18, 2006

PRE SHOW MATCH: Team Canada vs. The Naturals

Team Canada is represented by Eric Young & A1 tonight. The Naturals are being advised by Shane Douglas at this point. Young and A1 attack right away but the Naturals weather the storm and toss A1 to the floor, and then Stevens sends Young to the floor. Stevens backdrops Douglas over the top rope onto both opponents. Back in the ring both men make tags and Douglas is a house afire. The match turns into a brawl, and the Naturals hit the Natural Disaster on A1. Douglas has A1 covered but Young hits an elbow off the top rope and rolls A1 on top and that gets the pin at 2:11. Well they certainly didn’t get time to develop much of anything, but it was alright for two minutes.
Rating: *

MATCH #1: Bingo Hall Brawl – The James Gang vs. Team 3D

The teams come brawling out of the entrance ramp right as the pay-per-view begins. Team 3D is in control. Brother Ray and Kip James make it to the ring first and battle with chairs. Kip hits Ray across the back with one, and then hits a chair into his face with another chair. Brother Devon gets in the ring with a kendo stick and whacks away with it. Team 3D hits the double-team neckbreaker on Kip for a two-count. They fight up by the Spanish Broadcast Position, and the Latin American Xchange beats on both teams. Meanwhile Ray sets up a guardrail between four chairs. Ray hip tosses Kip right on the guardrail. BG James jumps off the steel steps to wipe Devon out in the crowd. They fight through the people, and Kip joins them with a trash can lid and regains control. Everyone fights back towards the ring and they introduce more weapons. Ray uses a cheese grater to bloody Kip’s forehead. Team 3D goes for the What’s Up on BG, but he holds up a trash can lid right into Devon’s face. Ray then puts the lid on BG’s nuts, and BG helpfully doesn’t move it out of the way, and Ray hits it with a golf club. Kip comes back with a Fame-Ass-Er on Ray on a trash can. Team 3D comes back with the Doomsday Device but Kip kicks out at two! They bring out a table now and the greedy jerks in the crowd chant “we want fire.” Team 3D dispatches BG to the floor and hits the 3D on Kip through a table to get the win at 10:04. That was passable for a hardcore brawl.
Rating: **¼

MATCH #2: Handicap Match – Rhino vs. Team Canada

This version of Team Canada is Bobby Roode and Coach Scott D’Amore. Rhino comes charging down the ramp (huge shock) and goes right after Roode as D’Amore hightails it. Back in the ring Rhino gets distracted by D’Amore and Roode locks on a headlock. That doesn’t last long before Rhino comes back and throws Roode all over the ring. D’Amore refuses to tag in willingly, but when he slaps Roode on the back the referee rules it a tag and Rhino forcibly brings D’Amore in the ring. Of course D’Amore runs away to the floor, and Rhino chases him, only to get clotheslined by Roode. Back in the ring D’Amore gets a two-count. D’Amore does jumping jacks, giving Rhino time to recover. Roode sneaks in the ring and hits Rhino with a Stunner and D’Amore gets a two-count. Now Roode and D’Amore work quick tags in and out to wear Rhino down. Every time Rhino tries to hit a big move on D’Amore, Roode comes in to break it up. After several minutes Rhino fires up and hurls Roode across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex. Roode comes back with a neckbreaker for two. D’Amore comes back in and misses the moonsault entirely. Roode tries to interfere but Rhino was ready for him. Somehow the referee gets distracted enough to allow D’Amore to hit Rhino with the hockey stick. Rhino comes back with a spinebuster and throws Roode to the floor. He drills D’Amore 11:00. I’m not a big fan of the feud and I don’t think it particularly did anything for Roode, but the ending was satisfying.
Rating: **

MATCH #3: X Division Rankings Match – Senshi vs. Shark Boy vs. Petey Williams vs. Jay Lethal vs. Alex Shelley vs. Sonjay Dutt

The order of elimination in this match will correspond with their ranking in the X-Division Title picture. Boy and Williams start the match with some mat and chain wrestling. In a silly little spot, Boy blocks the Oh Canada and connects with the Shark Bite. Williams goes to the floor and Boy follows him out for not much. Back in the ring Boy makes the tag to Lethal. They double-team Williams but can’t put him away just yet. Lethal hits a backbreaker for two. Senshi tags in and immediately hits a couple of kicks to the chest for two. Lethal comes back with a dropkick for one. He hits a flapjack for another two. Senshi comes back with Black Magic fort two, and then tags Shelley into the match. Shelley goes to work with submission holds and a lungblower for two. Lethal comes back with the cartwheel into a dropkick for two. Lethal tags Dutt, who hits a nice rana on Shelley and goes after the arm. Dutt goes for the Sprinkler but Shelley knocks him down and gives Dutt’s balls rope burn. Shelley hits a Lionsault for two. Everyone gets in the ring for what Tenay calls a “six-pack suplex.” The dust settles with Boy working over Dutt. Boy goes for the Dead Sea Drop but Dutt avoids it, only to get hit with a neckbreaker. Now Boy goes up top and misses a flying elbow, and Dutt hits a standing shooting star press for the first elimination at 10:36. Shelley takes control of Dutt, and then Lethal makes a blind tag. Lethal tries the Lethal Injection but Shelley avoids it and hits that dropkick to the ass in the corner. Shelley hits a brainbuster and then goes for a senton. Lethal gets his knees up and then hits the Lethal Injection for the pin to eliminate Shelley at 12:33.

The match breaks down to a bit of a brawl as we’ve decided the final four. They spill to the floor and start hitting dives. Dutt wins that battle with a big moonsault on all three remaining opponents. Lethal and Williams get back in the ring and Williams hits the Canadian Destroyer to eliminate Lethal at 14:32. Dutt comes in the ring to battle Williams, who maintains an advantage. Williams and Senshi work together briefly, but miscommunication ends that partnership. Senshi tags himself in and blasts Williams with a clothesline. He goes up top for the Warrior’s Way but Williams blocks it. Williams tries a super Canadian Destroyer but can’t hit it. Dutt grabs him with a standing Sliced Bread, and Senshi follows with the Warrior’s Way to get the pin and eliminate Williams at 17:04. Senshi goes back up top but Dutt blocks him and hits a super rana. Dutt hits a tornado DDT for two. Senshi blocks a sunset flip attempt and hits a double stomp for two. He tries the Ki Krusher but Dutt avoids it and hits a neckbreaker. Dutt goes up to the top rope but eats nothing but knees on a Hindu Press attempt. Senshi hits the shotgun dropkick and hits the Tree of Woe Warrior’s Way to become the number one contender at 19:31. That was good, clean X-Division fun.
Rating: ***¼

MATCH #4: Chris Sabin vs. Kevin Nash

This was a seriously awesome feud that never got a proper blowoff. Nash immediately overpowers Sabin and works him over. Sabin comes back with a flurry but all Nash has to do is hit one knee to the gut to drop the former four-time X-Division Champion. Moments later Sabin hits a nice dropkick to take Nash off his feet, and then Nash takes a powder. Nash calls for Alex Shelley, and then consults with him at ringside. Shelley distracts Sabin, allowing Nash to level Sabin with a clothesline. While the referee isn’t watching him, Shelley removes a turnbuckle pad. Sabin reverses the momentum and sends Nash’s head into the steel. He hits a dropkick off the second rope for two. He tries Cradle Shock but can’t lift Nash up. Shelley interferes again and Nash hits the big boot. Nash works Sabin over for a few minutes and goes for the Jackknife, but Sabin avoids it and falls on top of Nash for two. Sabin goes for the Cradle Shock but Shelley helps Nash escape. Then Sabin goes low, hitting Nash with a dropkick to the knee and then wiping Shelley out with a dive to the floor. Sabin hits a springboard clothesline for two. He hits a guillotine legdrop for another two-count. Sabin goes to the top rope but Shelley crotches him. Nash pulls the straps down and hits the Jackknife Powerbomb to get the anticlimactic pin at 8:22. That was actually a smartly booked match and positioned Sabin for an even bigger payoff that sadly never came.
Rating: ***

MATCH #5: NWA Tag Team Championship Match – America’s Most Wanted vs. AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels

Chris Harris and James Storm have been the champions since 10.22.05, and this is their tenth defense. It’s actually the longest NWA Tag Team Title reign on record. Gail Kim is so smoking hot at this point that it hurts. Styles and Daniels say they have a special surprise to neutralize Kim. I’m surprised at how badly Chris Harris failed as a singles wrestler after the breakup of this team.

Styles and Storm start the match. They go back and forth for a bit, and Styles kills him with a dropkick. Daniels tags in and the challengers go to work on the arm. Storm backs Daniels into his corner and makes the tag to Harris. The champions employ a similar strategy, going after Daniels’s arm. It doesn’t work; Daniels is able to make the comeback and dominate both Harris and Storm. The challengers creatively get both Harris and Storm to the floor and then Styles wipes them out with a dive. Back in the ring Daniels bodyslams Storm and drops a slingshot elbow. Styles tags back in and the champions use some nefarious tactics to overtake him. They beat on Styles on the floor until Daniels comes over and evens the score. Kim gets involved and helps AMW regain the advantage. Back in the ring AMW really isolates on Styles, working him over in their half of the hexagon. Storm goes for the Swinging Noose but Styles counters with the Pele! Both men make tags and Daniels is all over the champions. Once again Kim interferes and this time a freakishly large woman comes in the ring and chokeslams Kim. This is the woman who would be known as Sirelda (trainee Jaime D from Scott D’Amore’s school). She carries Kim off to the back. Back to the action Daniels gets Harris in a victory roll for two. Daniels goes for the Angel’s Wings but Harris blocks it. Undaunted, Daniels goes for an O’Connor Roll but Storm throws a chair in his face but Harris only gets a two-count! Harris argues with the referee while Styles pulls Daniels over to their corner so he can make a tag. That was awesome. Styles is on fire, unleashing all kinds of offense. He goes up top for the Spiral Tap but Harris moves out of the way. Harris gets a pair of handcuffs and hits Styles in the face with them. Daniels pulls the referee to the floor and tells him what happened. Storm knocks Daniels down into the steps. Back in the ring AMW sets up for the Death Sentence but Daniels breaks it up and hits Harris with a Death Valley Driver. Styles hits a short senton for a two-count. Daniels tags in and goes for the Angel’s Wings, and then stands there waiting for Storm to hit him with a clothesline. Storm puts on his Cowboy hat and goes for the Superkick but Daniels catches him with a low blow and hits the Angel’s Wings! Harris elbow drops the referee to break up the cover. The match is out of control now, as Storm brings a beer bottle into the ring. He accidentally hits Harris! Daniels takes Storm out and then drops Harris with a uranage. Styles hits Harris with a Frog Splash and Daniels follows with the Best Moonsault Ever to get the pin and win the titles at 17:45. What a terrific match that played off the history between both teams, the champions showed plenty of desperation, and the win felt big and well-deserved. This is definitely an overlooked gem in the TNA catalogue.
Rating: ****¼

MATCH #6: Scott Steiner vs. Samoa Joe

I have to admit that TNA did a fabulous job building this match up. Steiner scores the first takedown, but these guys are in no hurry. They’re sizing each other up. Steiner lands another takedown and Joe rolls to the ropes. He hip tosses Joe and then slaps him about the back of the head. Joe responds by spitting in Steiner’s face and they start throwing hands. A fired up Joe takes the advantage, knocking Steiner down and hitting the Big Joe Combo. Steiner pops up and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. He tries a charge in the corner but Joe gets his boot up. Steiner tries to take a powder but Joe hits him with the Elbow Suicida. There’s a hot girl sitting in the front row. Hey hot girl, if you’re reading this, call me. Joe tries to ram Steiner’s face into the steps but Steiner blocks it and slams Joe’s face into them instead. Back in the ring Steiner hits the elbow and then does pushups. Steiner hits another belly-to-belly suplex. He then hits a powerbomb and Joe grabs him in a triangle choke! Steiner reaches the ropes. Joe stays in control, hitting a series of jabs in the corner. He tries a charge in the corner but Steiner counters with the STJoe! What an ass. Steiner takes Joe to the floor and throws him into the guardrail. He throws Joe around the arena and tries to use a chair. Referee Rudy Charles stops him, allowing Joe to take control. Joe punches the chair back into Steiner’s face. He tries a clothesline but Steiner ducks so Joe hits the steel ring post. Steiner then rams the chair into Joe’s gut, and then cracks him in the face with it. The referee rightfully retakes control of the match, reminding the competitors that he will give them to the count of 10. He doesn’t seem to mind all the foreign object use though. Joe barely makes it back in the ring. He’s able to catch Steiner with an inverted atomic drop, running boot, and a senton. That could be Big Joe Combo #2. Steiner tries a charge in the corner and Joe shows him how the STJoe is done. Joe hits a Blue Thunder Driver for two. Steiner blocks a lariat but Joe grabs him in the Choke! Joe fights hard to keep the hold on but Steiner powers out of it and hits a low blow. Steiner drops Joe on his head with a half-nelson suplex. He puts on the Steiner Recliner, which just looks awful. How can he keep doing that move? Joe powers out of the move and drops Steiner’s neck on the top rope. He follows up with a snap powerslam to get the pin at 13:03. That as an excellent power matchup that showed Steiner still had some gas in the tank after his disastrous run in WWE in 2003.
Rating: ***½

MATCH #7: King of the Mountain Match for the NWA World Title – Christian Cage vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting vs. Abyss vs. Ron Killings

Cage has been the champion since 2.12.06, and this is his fourth defense. Tenay wonders if Christian can “rewrite history” and become the first man to retain the title in the King of the Mountain match. What a stupid thing to say. Christian is rewriting nothing; no matter what happens in tonight’s match it will be happening for the first time, so he’s not rewriting that. And those other two champions in the King of the Mountain match will still have lost the gold, so he’s not rewriting that either. I hate you, Mike Tenay. Abyss kicks off the match by going after Sting. Christian joins them on the floor while Jarrett and Truth battle inside the ring. The champion joins them inside and dances with Truth and thinks he’s made an ally, and then gets kicked in the face for being so stupid. Jarrett comes in and goes after Christian now, and he knocks Jarrett to the floor and follows him out with a dive from the top rope. Sting and Truth work together, double-teaming Abyss in the ring. Truth sees Christian, Jarrett, and Abyss outside the ring and executes a somersault dive onto all three of them. Sting follows him out by jumping off the penalty box and wiping out all four. Jarrett and Sting wind up in the ring with Sting in control. Truth comes in with a Missile Dropkick and Sting lets him get the pin. So Truth is eligible to hang the title and Jarrett has to spend two minutes in the box. Christian uses the ladder to smash Truth in the face but Abyss breaks up the pin attempt. Tenay wonders why Abyss would break that up, but he’s probably thinking that if Christian doesn’t get the pin then he’s not eligible to hang the belt. I hate you, Mike Tenay. Thankfully Don West brings up my point, but I still don’t like Mike Tenay. Unfortunately for Abyss he ends up getting rolled up and pinned by Christian, so now he has to spend two minutes in the box. Jarrett rejoins the fray by going after the champion. They fight outside the ring while Sting and Truth fight inside. Abyss gets out of the box and he starts working with Jarrett to set up a stack of two double-stack tables. Jarrett winds up on the apron with Truth, and he hits the Stroke off the apron into the guardrail, and that’s enough for a pin. They did the same spot in 2004, but the commentators don’t acknowledge it. Now three men are eligible to hang the title. Cage and Jarrett fight into the crowd while Truth goes into the penalty box. Sting and Abyss fight in a different part of the crowd. Truth gets out of the cage while everyone is brawling in the crowd, so he smartly tries to hang the belt. Abyss just makes it back in time to knock him off the ladder. Jarrett and Abyss use the ladder together, so Truth jumps on top of it and gets dumped to the floor, just like AJ Styles did back in 2004. Christian traps Jarrett in the V Ladder and tries to hang the belt, but he’s not even close and Abyss stops him anyway. Everyone’s down so Truth once again tries to hang the belt. Abyss once again knocks him down, and then the referee gets bumped. Jarrett wants to hang the ladder, but Abyss is having second thoughts about their alliance. He hits the Black Hole Slam and referee Slick Johnson makes it to the ring in time to count the three. Larry Zbyszko comes out now and kicks Johnson out of the ring and takes possession of the title. Abyss climbs the ladder for no apparent reason, and then Sting knocks him down into the table stack. Sting and Christian are in the ring now, and Sting completely no-sells the champions offense and puts on the Scorpion Deathlock. Jarrett gets out of the cage early and he hits Sting with the title belt. He grabs a guitar but Christian stops him from using it on Jarrett. Sting then hits the Scorpion Death Drop on Jarrett. He then tells Christian to hang the title, but Larry Zbyszko comes in and hits Christian with a low blow. What? Sting takes him out and then hits another Scorpion Death Drop on Jarrett. He uses Earl Hebner’s unconscious arm to count his own three, really. Sting goes to hang the title but Christian stops him. Hebner gets up and pushes the ladder over, sending Sting and Cage crashing to the floor. What, really? Jarrett hangs the belt to regain the title at 22:21. But then Rudy Charles grabs the belt from Jarrett and hands it over to new Authority Figure du jour Jim Cornette. So we don’t know who the champion is. So they’re using the pay-per-view to sell their TV show. The match was okay enough as a messy brawl, but when the overbooking with Zbyszko and Hebner kicked in it took a nosedive.
Rating: *

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