On a special new episode of Impact Wrestling, The Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle defends the TNA world title against Rock Star Spud. The winner gets to face Austin Aries for the championship later in the main event. Also, the highflying stars of the X-Division take center stage, via multiple matches to air tonight as well.
Kurt Angle vs. Rock Star Spud-
While Angle was dominating Spud, Spud turned the tables and did his best to show that he deserves to be champion as well. Just when Spud was about to end it, Kurt found a bit of strength, a bit of never say die attitude and defeated Spud with his ultimate submission move, the Angle lock. Spud really tried his best to fight the pain off from the Angle lock but Spud reached his breaking point and taped out.
After the match both men showed true sportsmanship and respect with a handshake.
Crazy Steve vs. Manik vs. Low Ki-
All three men squared off in the first X-Division tournament match of the night. Crazy Steve showed a little bit of heart in the match and tried his best, but he could not keep up with the X-Division veterans Manik and Low Ki. Low Ki showed his real power in the match and defeated both Manik and Crazy Steve, which allowed him to advance to the next round of the X-Division tournament.
Tigre Uno vs. DJ Z vs. ManDrew-
Even though DJ Z has a bad attitude he sure can show of his skills, I use to be a fan of DJ Z wrestling skills but it seems like it was not enough to hold off the other competitors in the ring. I noticed ManDrew is slowly staring to handle him self in the ring but he could not take the power of Tigre Uno and DJ Z at the same time. ManDrew got knocked out of the ring many times during the match and could not take the punishment any more, and while ManDrew was recovering, Tigre Uno got DJ Z on the mat then he went up on the top rope and dropped both his feet on DJ Z's chest and then pined him and the ref gave the 1, 2, and 3 and the match ended.
Kenny King vs. Grado vs. Cruz-
Before the match started it seems like Grado might have been confused with the rules of the X-Division. Grado was exercising and doing all types of activity to lose some weight so he can qualify for the match but when Grado went to go weigh himself in front of Jeremy Borash and the referee both of them quickly told Grado the X-Division does not have a weight limit. Grado must have gotten it confused with the “no limit” slogan.
After that all three men did a good job proving their worth during the match. They all deserved to be there. Certainly, a veteran like Kenny King would win the match for his brothers of the Beat down Clan, right? Nope. King failed his team when Grado finished him unexpectedly. Cruz defiantly showed some highflying moves but he needs to improve bit. He needs to vary is offense instead of depending on his aerial offense. The crowd was seemingly not feeling it when Grado won but let’s hope he does surprise everyone in the next round of the X-Division tournament.
Bram vs. Crimson-
Bram decided to give an open challenge to a past TNA superstar. It was Crimson who accepted the challenge. Crimson showed his old school moves he had been using from time to time but sadly the wicked Bram overpowered him.
World title match: “The Olympic Gold Medalist” Kurt Angle vs. “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” Austin Aries-
Aries fought hard and strong against Kurt Angle. Kurt fought with the bit of energy he had left. This writer was not sure if Kurt could have won the match because he just faced off with Rock Star Spud but Kurt proved everyone wrong and gave Aries hell. As the match came to a close, Kurt gave Aries the Angle lock but Aries powered through it and reversed Kurt's move on himself. Kurt look like he wanted to tap but Kurt quickly reversed it back and locked the Angle lock on Aries in a very tight grip.
Aries keep fighting off the pain but in the next 40 seconds of the Angle lock Aries had enough of the gruesome pain and decided to tap out. While Kurt Angle was celebrating retaining the championship, EC3 attack Kurt and then took Kurt's title and held it up to everyone in the crowd. EC3 is posturing to prove he deservers the title belt. But in this writers opinion EC3 deserves a title reign. Let’s just hope he does not get the title with that cocky attitude.