The Big News: Kurt Angle won a bout over Kevin Nash in what has to be the best Nash match since his 2003 PPV cage match with HHH.

Karen Angle tried to make piece with Kurt, who would hear none of it. Kurt thought that A.J. Styles had shot Karen down so she came crawling back to him. Guess Kurt didn’t see last week’s show. Karen basically told him she wouldn’t wait forever for him, but Kurt was more worried about his match against Kevin Nash tonight.

Booker T came out and called out Robert Roode. Payton Banks came out instead and said Roode was on his way to the building. She then slapped Booker and dared him to hit her back. This brought out Traci Brooks, who speared Banks and they hat a pull-apart catfight. A meaningless skit considering what was to come later.

The latest comedy skits were Team 3-D trying to cut weight. They should have had Chuck Liddell making Brother Ray put on garbage bags and ride an exercise bike in a sauna or something. Instead it was just a lot of dumb eating stuff with D-Von trying to smuggle ribs up to his hotel room.

Scott Steiner, Petey Williams and Rhaka Kahn did an interview. Williams thanked Steiner for giving him an X-Division title shot. Shouldn’t he be blaming Steiner for costing him a World Title shot? Steiner said he would see tonight if Williams could pass the initiation

1. Scott Steiner and Petey Williams defeated Sonjay Dutt and Black Machismo. Jay Lethal did a tope on Williams. So Cal Val went to check on him, but Rokka Kahn chased her away. Steiner did a face first gorilla press slam on Machismo, and Kahn threw Lethal into the steps. Dutt got the hot tag and ran wild with a spinebuster and quebrada on Williams. Steiner hit Dutt in the back with a briefcase, and Williams got the pin with the Canadian Destroyer. No word of the initiation. *3/4

Devine led 3-D into a bakery, where 3-D were in heaven. They started eating jelly beans and gummy bears, but Devine made them spit it out.

Eric Young is still doing the routine of being afraid of Black Reign and Rellik. He was hiding backstage from them. Kaz showed Young a group of actors who portrayed monsters over the years, like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Hillary Clinton.

Karen Angle was in tears backstage with Jeremy Borash upset with Kurt’s indifference. Styles did a good interview trying to comfort Karen saying wrestlers fight for a living, and sometimes they don’t know when to stop fighting. He vowed to talk to Kurt.

Team 3-D vs Shark Boy and Curry Man never got going as Team 3-D didn’t make weight. Before the match, they showed Dvon trying to get some barbeque, but Ray nixed it. Curry Man now has the best ring entrance in the business. They did the scale gimmick again for 3-D, with Earl Hebner giving both men a thumbs down. Ray stripped down to his boxer shorts and still couldn’t get under.

2. Curry Man and Shark Boy defeated Rellik and Black Reign. Shark Boy asked the crowd to “give him a shell yeah.” Team 3-D ran down before the finish. Johnny Devine hit Curry Man with a kendo stick, but Reign could get only two. Curry then did a pescado onto Ray and Dvon. Kaz ran in and hit Reign with a knightstick, and Shark got the pin with the stunner. Afterwards, Team 3-D, Rellik and Reign laid out the faces. Eric Young ran in for the save and attacked 3-D and Devine, but was afraid to go after Reign and Rellik. So Young simply ran off. Kaz wound up taking a power bomb from Ray through a table.

They aired a package regarding the history of B.G and Kip James, which should have been called “A Legacy of Lame Gimmicks.”

Robert Roode finally returned (along with Payton Banks) and called out Booker T. Booker ran down and they fought around ringside. Booker was about to hit the ax kick, but Banks distracted him and Roode beat him down. Roode pulled out handcuffs and hooked him to the ropes. Roode teased whipping Booker with his belt until Traci Brooks ran in and tackled him from behind. Brooks was laying down some stiff forearms onto Roode’s back before Banks intervened, setting up the catfight spot. Roode eventually handcuffed Brooks to the ropes, as well, allowing Roode and Banks to whip Booker and Brooks. Security finally stopped them. It was a really good heat angle.

They aired a good promo piece with several TNA personalities talking about the history of Elevation X. Well, as much history as can be encapsulated in one match. Backstage, James Storm was mad at Jackie Moore that she got him in a ladder match against Eric Young tonight. The deal was Moore thought he was afraid of heights, but Storm denied it.

3. James Storm defeated Eric Young in a ladder match to win the TNA Drinking Championship. Another bout where two guys were killing themselves to win a comedy match. The story here was Storm is afraid of heights, building up his Elevation X match against Rhino. Storm superkicked Young onto a ladder that was bridged across the apron and the railing. Storm was afraid to go further than two rungs up on the ladder, so Jackie Moore came in and tried to piggyback him up the ladder. It looked more like she was attempting kinky sex. Moore then climbed the ladder, got the belt, and handed it to Storm. Referees seemed to buy it, so they awarded Storm the match. Then Rhino ran in, gored Storm, and took the belt. Well, we had almost gone three weeks without a stolen belt gimmick. **

Kurt Angle was backstage getting ready for his match when A.J. Styles walked in. Styles tried to talk sense into Kurt saying Karen was upset about their marriage. Kurt said Karen was a lying bitch. Styles acted upset that Kurt was so insensitive.

4. Awesome Kong defeated Angelina Love. Love got some offense in, but never took Kong off her feet. Kong pinned her after the implant buster and Awesome Bomb (Liger Bomb). ODB came out postmatch. I have no idea why they let her cut promos because that’s the weakest part of her routine. She got a good pop initially. Then Gail Kim ran in and attacked Kong, and when ODB joined in, there was no reaction at all. It was like the promo totally killed her. Usual weird psychology with two faces trying to beat up one heel, and Kong kept both of them at bay. Finally Kim and ODB flipped her over the top rope, and Kong seemed to be favoring her left ankle. Kim and ODB argued afterwards. *

5. Kurt Angle defeated Kevin Nash. A very well done match. It was similar to 1994 AAA, where the storyline strengthened it in the end. As you would expect, Angle had to carry it. Nash did his stationary offense where Angle had to run into boots, clotheslines and elbows. After Angle got clotheslined to the floor, Christian Cage brawled with Styles, and Samoa Joe brawled with Tomko. Earl Hebner sent everyone to the back. Angle worked on Nash’s knees, including pulling off the figure four leglock that he held for a good four minutes. It was a good, old school match with Nash doing a good job of selling his knees. Kurt missed a charge into the corner and hit the post head first. He started selling his neck on the floor. Karen ran down upset thinking Kurt had reinjured his neck, but Kurt threw her down and never even looked back at her. Karen even juiced. Jeremy Borash and Styles ran down to check on Karen. When Hebner saw Styles at ringside, he ran out of the ring. Meanwhile, Nash gave Angle the jackknife and had him pinned, but no ref. Nash tried to get Hebner, but Angle gave him a low blow (which Nash sold great), and pinned him after an Olympic slam. Angle acted totally oblivious to Karen’s injury. Surprisingly good. ***1/4

SUMMARY: Another show that exceeded expectations. The Kurt-Karen-A.J. love triangle is working well, and the main event was about as good as one could hope for.

by Jeff Hamlin ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )