In 2005 longtime WWE Superstar Christian appeared to be on the verge of breaking through to the main event. The fans were behind him even the most jaded person had to admit he had paid his dues. But suddenly the push was killed off. Around the same time his contract was expiring and he didn't renew it. Shortly after there he debuted on TNA. And I can't stress how big a deal that was you had a top talent with a huge fan base leaving the WWE to work for the company that wasn't even four years old yet. It was one thing for Scott Hall to show up but this wasn't a guy that had been cast out of the WWE this was a guy picking TNA. It was a no brainer TNA put him in a feud with Jeff Jarrett. Retaking his old indy name of Christian Cage he was granted his shot at Jarrett at the second TNA PPV of 2006. It was an Instant Classic for sure that night but does it still belong as a one of the better nights in TNA history?
Now like the Final Resolution PPV they included the pre-show on the set and I will review the match and any promos. You might also be wonder about Sting who had just debuted at the last PPV well Sting was "retired." See after years of lacking big names TNA suddenly had two both of which made the most sense as faces and both of which made sense to challenge Jarrett for the title. So in storyline Sting announced he felt fulfilled by his match at Final Final Resolution so he retired. Now a lot of people hated this move but hindsight being 20 20 I think it was a good. The retirement allowed Christian to naturally move into the top face spot and challenge Jarrett for his moment that TNA needed to strike while the iron was hot not giving a title shot and run would have been a huge mistake. Also the retirement had a good payoff. In storyline Jarrett to prove Sting was truly gone to the paranoid Eric Young sent Alex Shelley to spy on Sting that resulted in the pissed off Sting retuning after Shelley filmed his wife and children. That set up for that years lethal lockdown, put major heat on the Jarrett and Sting feud, gave good TV to both Young and Shelley while allowing Christian a very good world title run.
We open with JB hyping up the fact Christian made the choice to come to TNA and challenge for the belt and than he runs down the big matches on the card. In a nice touch I loved about Jarrett and Christian feud the played up the fact Christian was a 12 year pro who had mainly been in the mid card. Jarrett regularly called Christian as mid card comedy act only for Christian to respond he was going to prove Christian wrong. Also they had few great segment with Christian mocking Jarrett even dressing up like him.
A-1 with Team Canada vs Ron Killings- Before the match even started the referee send all of Team Canada to the back. Killings went for a quick rollup like how he had beat A-1 team mate Bobby Roode a month earlier. Killings had a rough looking arm drag I don't know if that was A-1 size and lack of experience or the fact well it was Ron Killings. We than get a botch arm wringer spot by A-1. Killings hit the ax kick for the win. The match was very shot the botched two spots yeah it sucked. A- was always the odd one out in Team Canada he was best used in tag matches to cover the holes in his game he would be out of TNA pretty much once they disbanded the stable. Killings is well Killings and by this point with 3LK dead and much fuller roster TNA was more or less giving up on the guy.
James Mitchell cut a promo in front of he claimed were the remains of a Fujiu Mermaid. A species that died out when they migrated into water where they were no longer dominate. He compared this to Rhino taking a falls out anywhere match with Abyss. Mitchell ran down the various things Abyss could with do with Rhino. This was a great promo as Mitchell just had a stark an this gimmick worked with Abyss.
The Diamonds in the Rough Elix Skipper and David Young with Simon Diamond & Shannon Moore vs Sharkboy, Lance Hoyt and Cassidy Riley- I think they came up with this match by pulling names out of a hat. I mean Riley's gimmick was that he was a Raven follower that had nothing now that Raven was gone. And Moore's gimmick was he was Punk. Riley and Moore started us off. Young tagged himself in just as Moore took control with backfired and led to Young take a beating by Riley and couple of bites by Sharkboy. Finally after Primetime interfered allowing Young to hit a spine buster. Moore wanted to tag in buy Young tagged in Skipper and than Skipper tagged back in Young (you get what they were doing). Sharkboy was the face in peril for a while. Finally Moore tagged himself back pissing off Skipper. After Skipper blind tagged in he and Moore argued allowing Sharkboy to tag in the 6'9 Hoyt. Moore finally snapped and attacked his partners. Skipper fought back and Moore bailed out all this allowed Hoyt to hit the Texas Tower Bomb for the win. Decent match but nothing special. Moore was out of TNA before to long after he got a WWE offer to return. Riley was also gone cut by years end, The Diamonds never really got a push. Hoyt stuck around getting various pushes and than headed to the WWE for a stint that didn't last but is now a main stay in New Japan.
JB was backstage with Larry Zybszko and Dave Hebner. Larry was the onscreen boss at the time and Dave's story was he was a consultant to TNA management. Larry said the referee situation was taken care of and stressed how important the main event was. Good segment was about setting the referee for the that match. Don West than did a final hype job on the card running down the card. Again I prefer this kind of pre show over what TNA does these days with just a bunch of videos on the big matches. We are going to see those videos anyway during the PPV and just something about a pre show makes wrestling seem more like a real sport like you would get with the Super Bowl or the World Series.
The actual PPV starts with Footage of Christian arriving and Scott D'Amore warning Eric Young not to distract Jarrett with his fear Sting wasn't gone. Jarrett arrived confidant since Alex Shelley had given him the means to take care of Jackie Gayda (who had been a thorn in his side for weeks.) and with Sting gone of corse EY than declared Sting wasn't gone. This was a good open as it was key to keep Sting's name in people's mind. The opening video has Christian talking about coming to TNA and how much he wanted to be NWA champion saying he would show Christian he belong in the mid card.
Austin Aries and Roderick Strong vs The Naturals Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas- Oh boy I gotta talk a little about the backstage goings on for this match. Long story short after being warned to get Orlando ASAP Aries and Strong stayed in the North East doing a snow storm to work an ROH show which led to major heat when they were six hours late. Strong asked for his release reportedly saying he could go to WWE. Aries did get a second chance that didn't work but ironically now he's back with TNA as a top guy. Aries and Strong were doing there Gen Next gimmick in TNA had beat the Naturals on Impact after cheating setting up with rematch. The Naturals took control early on. Stevens hit a shooting star press off the ropes to the floor taking out Aries and Strong when they bailed out for a rest. Watching this match its pretty clear why Aries got several chances in TNA while Strong only got one. While Aries has a deep move set and a natural charisma Strong is basically big chops and back breakers with zero charisma. Gen Next took control after Aries whipped Stevens out with a a suicide dive. Interesting note in this match Aries was just starting to change up his gimmick wearing the gear that would be part of his Austin Starr days and work more like he does now. Stevens made the hot tag after taking Aries off the top rope Ric Flair Style. Aries rolled up Stevens and grabbed the ropes like how he won Impact but the ref saw it. This allowed the Naturals recovered and hit the Natural Disaster for the win. Decent match a little rough at time. It is to bad that Aries and Strong blew there chances in TNA. Aries has always been great and for all my dislike about Strong the guy has talent he's a find mid card guy I just don't see him as a main eventer. Hell I think the only reason the Naturals only won as punishment for Aries and Strong.
We get a review of the Zybyszko interview from earlier. Tenay says the pressure is on Larry since TNA management does not want the main event to have interference. JB interviews AMW about there tag title match against Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt. Harris puts over the challengers for winning the tournament for shot but the momentum ends tonight. Scott D'Amore asks Gail Kim to apologize to him for her recent comments over Jackie Gayda issue he pulls out a tape with something about Jackie on it and tells her to show up on Impact. Larry arrives and tell everyone that any interference in the main event will result in that person getting fired. Scott mocks it but Larry snaps telling him he won't take the fall. Actually a pretty good segment as there was a big story going at the time setting up for a big payoff sadly plans canned for various reasons. Basically it was the left overs of the Raven and Jarrett story that got killed in favor of Jarrett vs Sting.
Alex Shelley vs Petey Williams vs Matt Bentley with Traci Brooks vs Jay Lethal- First fall won the match and you had tag into the match. In a touch I liked Don and Mike pointed out the winner here might be able to crack into the title picture that was being dominated by Joe, Styles, and Daniels. At the time it seemed like TNA was planing for something with Williams, Bentley and Traci where Williams wanted her but that could just be the talent kept adding those spots to matches. Shelley and Williams worked together since they were had ties with Jarrett. Lethal was the one took the beat down. At the time Lethal was only 20 years old but hand did he have so much potential. Eventually the alliance between Williams and Shelley broke down allowing Lethal to tag in Bentley. In a nice spot Lethal hit a german suplex on Shelley but Bentley broke it up with an elbow. Shelley hit a great looking Sling Shot DDT on Lethal. Jackie Gayda made her way out and confronted Shelley (who had filmed her allowing Jarrett to Blackmail her) this distracted Bentley and Williams allowing Jay Lethal to roll up Williams for the win. Decent match and I wish TNA would do more like this now not every PPV match has to have a storyline. And I like non title matches in a division to add depth and also get guys ready for a title run at some point.
JB interviewed Rhino. Rhino talked about growing up on the wrong side of eight mile and how now he has no fear even against a monster like Abyss. Good promo Rhino. Larry showed up to tell Rhino not to interfere in the main event which makes sense given Rhino and Jarrett had feuded and Rhino and Christian were good buddies.
LAX Homicide and Machete with Konnan vs The James Gang Kip and BG James- This match came about after Konnan turned on BG and beat up his father Bullet Bob Armstrong. Machete was a last second replacement for Apollo who I think demanded more money. In a nice move Konnan actually acknowledged this and told Machete this was his chance to earn his stripes as he replaced the AWOL soldier. TNA was trying to make this a big bad blood feud only Kip thought it was a good time to be funny as he tied up his shirt and put his hair in pig tails. Remember the story is that this was a fight to get revenge after this ganged attacked the father of Kips best friend and he's his hair in pig tails WTF? LAX jumped The James Gang at the start but Kip James soon took control using his super size and power. Cide went for a shoulder block that kept no sold and than picked up roughly for a power bomb Homicide was still dealing with a shoulder injury from an ROH match and it really hurt his early work in TNA. Machete looked decent but since he and Homicide were both smaller than Kip and BG it just kind of looked strange. I think Konnan was dealing with injures so he couldn't work matches at this point. BG finally hit the pump handle slam on Machete for the win. Post match Konnan jumped BG and hit him with the slapjack weapon. Bob Armstrong walked to the ring and get in Konnan's face and Konnan ran. Bad match because we had the washed up James Gang an injured Cide and a place holder. Also Kip's stupid hair and I don't care how tough Armstrong is he was in his 60's so Konnan should not be running from him. Thanks a lot TNA you just made me defend Konnan.
JB was outside Zbyszko office when referee Mark "Slick" Johnson knocked on the door telling Larry there was no referee listed for the main event. Mark asked to be made the ref but Larry told him he had a referee and Slick didn't need to know. They really were hyping up who wold be the referee for the title match.
NWA World Tag Team Championship America's Most Wanted © with Gail Kim vs Sonjay Dutt and Chris Sabin- Dutt and Sabin had won a tournament to get a shot. Sabin had actually legit injured his ankle in the finals of said tournament Don and Mike hype up the AMW could go after that injury. Sabin started for his team and right away Storm went for the ankle.Sabin tagged out to Dutt. Don and Mike speculated it was Sabin just trying to test his ankle and I think that actually might have been part of the reason. The hated the now heel AMW giving chants of Brockback MOutian, Kill the Cowboy and Pussycat when never they appeared its a kind of heat a lot of guys just don't get anymore. Sabin tagged back in but Chris Harris just used this a chance to post Sabin and further injury the ankle I also think this was to sell the injury to fans in the live audicane that couldn't hear Don and Mike's commentary. AMW worked over Sabin's ankle and Sabin a great job selling the injury even collapsing the second he tried to take a step like you could with a serious injury. Finally Sabin made a diving tag to Sonjay. Sonjay kept taking AMW down with highflyign moves. AMW went for the Hart Attack but cut Harris off with a diving kick only using one leg. AMW tried to use a Chair but it back fired and Sabin DDT'ed Harris onto followed by Sonjay with a running SSP for a near fall. Storm take Sabin out for good after dropping the guard rail on his bad ankle. AMW hit the death sentence for the win. Good match even with Sabin's injury they managed to pull it off. Post match AMW handcuffed Sonjay in the corner. Sabin got back up got a chair and managed to save his partner from his beat down. Good way to get extra heat on AMW.
Promo time for Jeff Jarrett. JB asks Jeff is he's feeling the pressure? Jarrett says that Christian Cage is the one with all the pressure. Says that TNA management will have egg on it's face when he beats Christian. Monty Brown comes in to interrupt Jarrett cuts him off Brown before he can ask for a title shot. Jarrett than promises to give Brown the next title shot when he beats Christian. Good segment Jarrett's a great heel and TNA had been doing this back and forth with Brown where he was with Jarrett but only to get a title shot at some point.
Falls Count Anywhere Abyss with James Mitchell vs Rhino- These two had an one going feud the falls count anywhere stipulation was added after a brawl that saw Rhino gore Abyss through a wall. Of course you had two big massive heavyweight that could actually really move and bump. Rhino is usual fashion charges the ring and get the early advantage on Abyss. They quickly spill out of the ring after Rhino clotheslines Abyss over the top rope and they brawled to the crowd. Rhino looked like wanted to go for a move off the apron into the crowd and I'm not sure if he slipped or Abyss was out of position but he called it off. After some crowd brawling it returned to ring. To be honest I don't like when it's falls count anywhere matches spend a lot of time in the ring and end in them. I get TNA can't go all over due to issues with theme park but come one come up with some cool stuff around the Impact Zone. And if the fight spills out of the ring why would it find it's way back. Finally actions spilled back outside and Abyss suplexed Rhino on the ramp. Abyss set up a massive table stack between the ramp and some of the bleachers letting us know some big spot was coming at some point. The action headed into a parking area and both guys took turns ramming the other into the walls and a parked car. The action returned to the ring and while Rhino was setting up something Mitchell handed Abyss a staple gun that he used on Rhino. Mitchell called for the doomsday but Rhino counted the Blackhole Slam. Rhino went for a gore but Abyss caught him and choked slammed him though a table for two. Rhino recovered and managed to Gore Abyss through table for two. The fans did the This is awesome chant and they were right. Rhino tried to take out Mitchell but Abyss made the save as the action spilled into the stand. reaching the upper level Abyss started tossing Rhino into a wall breaking it apart. Abyss called he was going to choke slam Rhino off the stands into the tables below but Rhino kicked him low and than gored (more hockey checked) Abyss off the stands into the table stack and than pinned him for the win. Very good falls count anywhere match. Both guys took some big bumps it didn't end in the ring always a plus and the finish was awesome. Post match we see trainers checking on Abyss and I think he might have been legit KO"ed from the end.
JB interviewed X-Division Champion Samoa Joe. Joe said it wasn't about codes of conduct it was about the title. He also said he had a fresh towel for the trophy case. And tonight was worse than being Against All Odds they were against Samoa Joe. Short to the point the kind of promo I think Joe is best at. We again see the trainers checking on Abyss and yeah it's pretty clear the on a slow mo that the poor guy caught the back of his head on a table going down. Abyss finally got and the crowed cheered.
X-Division Championship Samoa Joe © vs AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels- There is a lot of backstory here to sum it up Joe was a monster who had badly beat up both AJ and Daniels while AJ and Daniels had there own issues with each other. This was also a rematch the rematch from Unbreakable now I am being 100% honest here when I say that is greatest match in wrestling history. Even if you don't agree with that you have to admit it was an amazing match and many say it's the greatest in TNA history. So much like a hit movie it made sense to do a rematch at some point but like most sequels it couldn't live up the the original. Now I'm not saying this is a bad match it's far from it it's a great match but it's just not the first one. Honestly I think TNA should have held off for a few years. Have AJ move into another feud while Daniels and Joe fought it out. Also it hurt but the fact while the Unbreakable 3 way was the main event this isn't and I do think that does make a difference. One thing I love about TNA three ways they limit the amount of one guy down for two minutes as the other fight it out one guy goes down first guy is up repeat formal a lot of companies do. In a cool spot Daniels monkey flipped AJ who was caught by Joe who put AJ in a Boston Crab. Joe locked AJ in the stuff Daniels than locked Joe in the Koji Clutch. AJ tried to take Joe out Joe ducked but AJ instead took Daniels who was on the floor out with a flip dive. Joe hit a suicide dive that knocked AJ and Daniels so far across the floor they hit the broadcast table. One thing I loved watching was a number of spots that flowed into the next one all three guys are very smooth in the ring. Daniels managed to hit the BME but only got two. Daniels got Joe up for a DVD just as AJ came off and hit Joe with a elbow. Joe was down But as AJ and Daniels fought each other Joe revered and hit the muscle buster on AJ for the win. A great match even if it wasn't as good as the first one. Really if your a fan of these three guys check this one out.
JB interviewed Team 3D. Devon wore bandage on his head from a beat down on Impact the night before. Ray said 3D was pissed he also said the people of Orlando wanted to see Team Canada hurt. Ray declared there were three guarantees in life death, taxes, and tables.
Team Canada Bobby Roode and Eric Young with Scott D'amore vs Team 3D Brother Ray and Brother Devon- Back at Final Resolution Team Canada cost 3D the NWA tag belts they had also been part of a number of beat downs on 3D. Bobby Roode brought down the stolen Tag Team of the year award that he stole from 3D. 3D pulled an end round and blinded sided Canada at the start. Ray back dropped Roode on the ramp and part if broke meanwhile Devon tossed EY into the ring post. Even once the match got down to normal wrestling 3D had control early on. Finally Roode pulled down the top rope and sent Devon to the outside and with the ref distracted by Young D'Amore sent Devon into the steel steps. Now D'Amore was a very good manger the guy could bump he could talk and he also knew when to shut up and let his boys have the focus. Devon was busted back open again. Roode went for a clothesline but Devon ducked it and got a school boy for two. Devon played the face in danger for a long time and did a great job also the massive cut helped sell it at one point we got a shot of it spilling onto Roodes hands. To 3D's credit they know how to milk a tag and get the crowd into the spot. Devon finally made the tag and Brother Ray came in with a cross body taking out both Roode and Young. While D'Amore distracted the referee Roode used a hockey stick to take out Devon but only got two on the pin. Roode than by mistake out his own partner. Ray pitched the enforcer to the outside followed by the 3D. for the win. Kind of anticlimactic win but another wise good match.
Post match 3D were about to get there hands on D'Amore but AMW ran out and saved the fat man. AMW and Team Canada tried to put Devon through a table but Ron Killings made the save. The Truth than leg dropped Eric Young through a table. Ok post match beat down this was the start of a short lived paring with Killings and 3D witch did make sense given Killings than feud with various Team Canada members. JB interviewed Christian Cage. JB reminded us this was the most important match of Cage's 12 year career. Christian talked about how this was everything he has worked for, dreamed about for years. He talked about leaving the WWE could he prove he was more than a comedy mid card act. Great promo you could feel the real passion Christian had for this moment.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Jeff Jarrett © with Gail Kim vs Christian Cage- Earl Hebner was named referee for this match. Tenay mentions the screw job right away. I actually liked this move one Earl is a good ref so having on board was smart and two the over all story was something was going on with Jarrett and Larry and this being wrestling you never could TNA keep the belt on Jarrett and use Earl as a face saving exude for Christian. Tenay ran down how dominate a champion Jarrett had been in the TNA era and the fact he was a true world champion defending the title all over the world. West said he smelled a rat with Earl but Tenay pointed out Earl had always been loyal "management." Cage went for the Unprettier early but Jarrett escaped. We got a sport where Christian faked out Jarrett and got a sunset flip with I really liked. Christian went for a dive but Jarrett moved and Cage hit the guard rail on the outside. Jarrett than picked Cage up and swung him headfirst into the same guardrail. With Jarrett in control West speculated what a loss would men to Cage's career. Cage caught Jarrett on a leap frog and power bombed him and locked in the figure four. Gail Kim helped pull Jarrett to the ropes the covered the fired on spot stuff by saying the referee wasn't seeing it but shouldn't' management have seen it? One of those little things that just frustrates me about wrestling logic. Jarrett got a chance to lock in the sharp shooter a desperate Christian grabbed onto Earl to make sure he couldn't ring the bell. Cage managed to escape. They did a number of little things that Earl missed again making us wonder if he was on the up and up. At one point Earl got hit by Jeff on a slide this allowed Gail to integer again. Jarrett hit the stroke off the top rope but since Earl was down he didn't get the win. Earl was hit again just before Christian hit the unprettier. Slick Johnson came in and gave a two count. Christian went for a stroke on Jarrett but the champion low blowed him. Johnson went to DQ Jarrett who than took out the replacement ref. Gail handed Jarrett a chair but Cage hit a drop kick right into the chair another no ref spot. Christian finally had it and went after Gail this only gave Jarrett a chance to get the guitar and nail Christian in another thing I always like Jarrett he made a point to get the broke pieces of his weapon out of the ring to cover his cheating. The fans started booing another Jarrett screw job win was afoot only for Christian to kick out. Gail went for a rana but Cage power bombed her. Christian countered the Stroke into the unprettier for the win. The fans explode as the new champion's name was announced. Christian joyfully clutched his new belt as it was handed to him. Fireworks went off as Cage held the belt high. In a nice touch we see Cage go over to his wife and celebrate for a second The fans ran into the ring to celebrate as Rhino comes out to lift his real life friend into the air as we close out the PPV.
To be honest the main event is not the instant classic I recall its still a very good match there are no major botches and the guys work hard. They do however has some issues the Gail interferes but not fired since Earl didn't see her since Management should see. They over did the can we trust Earl moments and that dragged down the momentum. That said its a still a very good match and it's Christian's big moment. I know he went on to win the big gold belt and ECW title in WWE but those are mid card belts no matter what WWE tried to sell them as. Also Christian didn't have the same momentum gong at the time and his first WWE WHC win was more about Edge retiring than him winning it. This was a guy as hot as he would ever be stepping to that next level.
Overall Against All Odds 2006 holds up very well for a show now eight years and a vey different company now. The Falls Count Anywhere and Three Way are excellent matches. On the main card only the LAX vs James Gang match is bad and worth skipping. If your a Christian fan please find this event and check it out. Same if your a TNA fan and you want to relieve some good memories or maybe you didn't start watching until later on.
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