[James Steele]

TNA Slammiversary Alternative Perspective PPV Review
June 18, 2006
From Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida

COUNTDOWN SHOW

- Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme introduced the matches on the card.

- They did a lengthy video on the King of the Mountai match.

- Monty Brown came out in street clothes. Mike Tenay said Brown isn't happy about being left off the PPV card. Brown told someone in the front row to sit down and shut up. Brown said, "The Alpha Male will not be in the King of the Ring match." Yes, he said King of the Ring instead of King of the Mountain. That won't win him any points with management. Brown called out Samoa Joe, calling him Fat Joe. He said he's already done his winning streak and he will go after Joe. He said he would make Samoa Joe "lean back," doing Fat Joe's dance motion from his music video a few years ago. Brown continued to reference hip hop lyrics. He said he's sick of being held back and held down. "Things are going to change starting now," he said. The fans chanted, "Joe's gonna kill you." Brown said Joe has his hands full already. Brown said he's going to be himself and he's going to do it by running through everyone TNA puts in his path. He said he's going to do that with the Pounce.

- They did a preview of the NWA Tag Title match.

- Borash and Christy talked about the PPV in the ring.

- Tenay and West were ringside. Tenay told West "Happy Anniversary" as if they were celebrating a wedding date. Tenay and West discussed the King of the Ring...er...Mountain match.

- They aired that ridiculous fake Tiger Woods golf video with Jeff Jarrett stopping Tiger's putt on 18. Well, maybe that will be Phil Mickelson's excuse after blowing yet another major tournament.

(1) Eric Young & A-1 Ralphz beat The Naturals (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens w/Shane Douglas) at 1:50. No haircuts for The Naturals. Douglas hit a dive over the top rope onto both members of Team Canada. Eric Young was back in the ring on the offensive 20 seconds later. Naturals hit the Natural Disaster on A-1 then showboated in Shane's direction on the entrance ramp. Eric hit a top rope blow leading to the win for Canada. Shane Douglas snapped and ran to the ring. Shane said he swore to take The Naturals to the top of the sport. He gave them a stern pep talk, saying you have to do what you have to do. He brought up his past in ECW - surprise, surprise - when he defended his title against Taz then Al Snow after major injuries. He asked the fans if The Franchise means something in this business. The fans popped. He screamed at Andy and Chase. Shane said they won't enter the Impact zone until he says they're ready. He said he's going to put them through intense training. He said he would personally kill both men if they drop the ball in a match again. "I will Franchise your asses!" he screamed. Shane said they would have to do it his way. He chased them out of the Impact zone up the entrance ramp. Great to see Shane get himself over at the expense of The Naturals.

- They showed the Joe-Steiner video package from Impact.

- Brother Ray and Brother Devon came out for a promo. He called TNA the hottest wrestling promotion in the world. Ray had some major forehead scarring. He said TNA is the future and he would make three promises. He said the fans would see the best wrestling in the world, hardcore wrestling, and no Zombies. The camera focused on various signs in the front row reading: "No Vampires" and "No Zombies." Ray looked into the camera and said, "The whole world knows that product sucks." Big pop. He called out James Gang to start their match right away. Referee Slick Johnson came out with pants instead of shorts and a giant bow tie. Ray said he has heat with Slick for the bowtie. They left the ring and went backstage when James Gang wouldn't show up. Pretty darn good lead in to the PPV. TNA finally went after WWE.

LIVE PPV REVIEW

- They started with a KOTM preview video.

- Team 3D and the James Gang brawled from the backstage area to the ringside area. Ray tossed chairs into the ring leading to the opening match.

1 -- JAMES GANG (B.G. & KIP JAMES) vs. TEAM 3D (BROTHER RAY & BROTHER DEVON) -- Bingo Hall Brawl

Ray and Kip had a chair sword fight. Kip drove a chair to the back. Ray no sold like Khali then took an awkward chair shot to the face. Devon ran in with a Kendo stick and clocked Kip. B.G. landed left hand blows then did a crotch chop, which drew boos. Ray landed a Kendo Stick shot to the face. Kip swung a weak clothesline then walked into a poorly choreographed hanging neck breaker. Kip kicked out of a pin attempt. The brawl spilled to the ringside area. B.G. sent Devon into the Spanish announce table. LAX jumped both men after B.G. tried to form an alliance with Konnan. Ray set up two guardrails ringside. Kip lightly tossed Ray into the general vicinity. Kip "charged" then Ray flipped him onto the guardrails. Just bad. Team 3D double teamed B.G. in the pit area. Kip looked absolutely blown up. The fight moved to the bleacher seats. Ray sent B.G.'s head into the seat of a fan's chair. Kip finally recovered and went after Ray with the worst traschcan lid shot to the head in the history of garbage wrestling. The fight continued to the ringside area. Ray tossed a trashcan full of weapons into the ring. Kip rolled himself into the ring. Ray pulled out a pink bra and choked Kip. Next, a cheese grater. Kip landed a low blow. He ran into a cheese grater shot to the head. Ray sliced Kip's head with the grater. Kip not-so-subtly slid his blade into his pants. Team 3D set up B.G. for a diving headbutt, but B.G. caught Devon in the head with a traschcan lid. Ray dropped B.G. then slammed him in the crotch with a golf club. The audience chanted, "This is awesome" because they desperately want to be part of something memorable. Team 3D hit the Doomsday Device on Kip, but Kip kicked out at two. Devon went for a table from under the ring. The fans chanted, "We want fire" because they desperately want to be part of something memorable. Devon missed with a weak clothesline but caught Kip with a low blow. Team 3D hit the 3D on Kip for the win.

WINNERS: Team 3D at 10:02. I don't know else to describe Kip's performance but embarrassing. He didn't earn his pay-off tonight and if he has any pride as a wrestler, he won't accept his envelope. A big spotfest with a good back-story, but very sloppy. Fortunately, they had a more-than-forgiving audience to play for.

- Jeff Jarrett was backstage with Jeremy Borash. Jarrett said it's do or die for him. He said, "It's times like these that test a performer." Performer is not a term to be used on a wrestling show. Jarrett said he was always too short, too slow, not good enough in other sports. He called himself the Michael Jordan and Joe Montana of the wrestling business because he always gets it done with his back to the wall. He said TNA wasn't given a chance to last past six weeks and yet they're still here. (Only because Jarrett found a friend with pockets deeper than most countries, but that's beside the point.) Jarrett said Christian and Sting's egos would cancel each other. He said it's his blood, his sweat, and his tears that brought TNA to where it is. He said he's regaining the title tonight. Larry Zbyszko interrupted. They discussed playing phone tag since Thursday. Zbyszko said the new face of management is here and it doesn’t look good. Jarrett said he would fix Zbyszko's problems again. Another good delivery from Jarrett.

2 -- BOBBY ROODE & SCOTT D'AMORE vs. RHINO

D'Amore took the mic and told Roode to step back and watch him take out Rhino with catch-as-catch-can wrestling. Rhino's music interrupted and D'Amore took off up the entrance ramp. Rhino stormed the ring and cleared Roode to the outside. Roode and D'Amore slowly re-entered the ring. D'Amore feigned going after Roode, but he did a few jumping jacks then decided he was too blown up. He tagged out to Roode. Roode and D'Amore exchanged tags without knowing it and the referee told D'Amore to enter the ring. D'Amore slowly entered the ring then ran out of the ring. Roode cut off Rhino on the outside with a clothesline. D'Amore went for a pin in the ring and scored a nearfall. D'Amore landed a kick to the ring and stared at the hard camera. Rhino popped up and went after D'Amore until Roode ran in with a Stunner. D'Amore made a cover for a nearfall. D'Amore worked on Rhino with right hands, but Rhino fought him off. Rhino absorbed a jaw breaker then went for a piledriver, but Roode broke it up. D'Amore dropped a knee to the head and scored a nearfall. Roode and D'Amore exchanged tags working on Rhino. Rhino hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Roode. Roode ducked a clothesline then hit a neck breaker for a nearfall. D'Amore tagged in then took off his Canadian t-shirt. He did a chest-thrust amateur pose then went for a moonsault, but Rhino moved out of the way. Rhino went after Roode with a shoulder block followed by back elbow smashes. Rhino hit a corner gore at 10:20, but D'Amore caught him from behind with the hockey stick. The referee didn't see it. D'Amore went for a DVD, but Rhino blocked and hit a spinebuster. Rhino set up for the Gore and connected. He made the cover on D'Amore for the win.

WINNER: Rhino at 10:58. Pretty much an Even Steven match with Canada dominating the majority of the match before the Rhino finish. Not exactly a memorable blow-off with the manager getting his comeuppance like Bobby Heenan in a weasel suit.

- Jeremy Borash was backstage with Samoa Joe in a dark, shadowy room. Joe said Scott Steiner has never faced anyone like him before. He said Steiner won't have the crutch of being bigger than his opponent to lean on tonight. Joe said Steiner has one advantage, like himself, in that he hasn't had his shoulders pinned in TNA. Kinda there.

3 -- SENSHI vs. SHARK BOY vs. PETEY WILLIAMS vs. JAY LETHAL vs. ALEX SHELLEY vs. SONJAY DUTT -- X Division #1 Contender match

Lethal and Senshi exchanged stiff kicks and chops early on. Shelley tagged in and applied a cross arm breaker with a surfboard stretch driving his knees to Lethal's back. Lethal powered out, but Shelley maintained the grip and hit a back cracker. Lethal caught Shelley off the ropes with a float over drop kick. Dutt tagged in and connected with a huricanrana on Shelley. He followed up with a back flip for a nearfall. Shelley crotched Dutt when he went for the water sprinkler then dragged Dutt crotch-first across the top rope. Shelley stuffed his hand in his pants then extended a hand to Shark Boy for a tag. Sharkie backed up then Shelley piefaced him. A six-man suplex spot ensued in the middle of the ring. The babyfaces blocked the suplex then Petey, Senshi, and Shelley took the suplex. Good spot. Shark went for the Dead Sea Drop, but Dutt blocked it. Shark hit a reverse jawbreaker, but missed with a top rope elbow. Dutt hit a standing SSP to eliminate Shark. ***Shark Boy eliminated by Dutt at 10:38*** Shelley and Dutt went after each other. Dutt hit a neck breaker for a nearfall. Shelley caught Dutt in the corner and hit a double foot drop kick followed by another back cracker. Lethal took a tag and Shelley caught him with a double foot drop kick to the rear in the corner. Shelley went for a gainer on Lethal, but he got his knees up. Lethal covered Shelley for an elimination. That sucks. ***Shelley eliminated by Lethal at 12:34*** Four way action broke out. Petey hit a slow-developing huricanrana on Senshi on the outside. Lethal flew through the ropes onto Petey. Dutt hit a moonsault on all three wrestlers on the outside. Petey and Lethal were back on their feet in seconds. In the ring, Lethal dropped Petey with a side kick then missed with a top rope head butt. Petey went for the Destroyer and connected. Petey covered Lethal. ***Lethal eliminated by Petey at 14:35*** Petey hit a leg drop on Dutt on the ring apron. Senshi sent Lethal into the ring and Petey made a cover for a nearfall. Predictably, Dutt ducked when Senshi held him and Petey went for a forearm blow. Dutt rolled up Petey for a nearfall. Senshi tagged himself in and dropped Petey with a clothesline. Senshi blocked a top rope Canadian Destroyer then walked into a move from Dutt. Senshi screamed as he hit the Double foot stomp from the top rope on Petey for a pin. ***Petey eliminated by Senshi at 17:05*** Dutt hit a top rope huricanrana on Senshi. He followed with a double foot drop kick to the chest. Dutt hit a nice float over swinging DDT for a nearfall. Senshi blocked a move off the ropes and hit a double foot stomp smash for a nearfall. Dutt had serious shoe marks on his chest. Dutt blocked a suplex and hit a front neck breaker. Dutt slowly went up top for a 450 splash, but Senshi caught him with his feet. Senshi drop kicked Dutt across the ring. He hung him up in the Tree of Woe then hit a double foot stomp to the face. Freakin' sick. Senshi made the cover for the win. ***Dutt eliminated by Senshi at 19:33***

WINNER: Senshi at 19:33. Good to see TNA give this match enough time to tell a story, recap the story with an extended post-match video package, and focus on Senshi winning the match. Senshi was the star of the match and Dutt, just like last year against Joe, played his role well.

- Borash was backstage with Alex Shelley and a well-tanned Kevin Nash. Shelley was gasping for air. He said there were ten or twenty guys with knives and guns in his match. He coughed. Nash just smiled. He said he's confident. He said it's Father's Day today. He told Walt Sabin that he's not picking up Chris Sabin's doctor bill or paying for disability insurance. He did a mock phone conversation between Chris and Walt after the match. Hilarious. Great stuff.