Welcome to a series of blogs me and a friend of mine are
starting. As the name suggests we are going back over old angles and rebooking
them to make a more satisfactory end. We’re starting with TNA’s booking of the
Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe feud from 2006 through 2008.
I don’t believe this angle was necessarily badly booked, I just thought it was a bit short sighted. Angle had only been with the company little over a month and not only had TNA done the big money match of Angle versus Joe already but they had actually ended Joe’s undefeated streak. By the time the first pay-per-view of 2007 was in the books there had already been three Angle versus Joe matches and Angle only made his in-ring TNA debut in November. It seemed TNA realised they had struck on something brilliant and just splurged it all away immediately.
Anyway here’s how me and Jonathon booked the angle (pardon the pun):
- Kurt Angle’s announcement from No Surrender 2006 remains the
same with the addendum that he will make his TNA debut at Bound For Glory 2006.
- In the build up to
Bound For Glory Christian Cage fresh off his feud with Rhino (which was
fast-tracked in this booking) says that if Kurt thinks he can just waltz into
Christian’s company he’s got another thing coming. He wants Angle at Bound For
Glory. The match is made.
- Meanwhile Samoa Joe has begun feuding with Rhino over who is
the toughest man in the company.
Bound For Glory
2006 (Important Matches):
- Samoa Joe d. Rhino
Joe defeats Rhino clean in a match that goes about eight
minutes with the Muscle Buster
- Kurt Angle d. Christian Cage
Angle defeats Cage clean in a thrilling contest that pushes
Angle to the limit and goes about sixteen minutes before Angle locks in the
Anklelock and Cage is forced to tap.
- Sting d. Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA World Heavyweight
Championship
Sting defeats Jarrett in the exact same fashion as was
actually booked at Bound For Glory 2006
Build to Turning
Point 2006:
- Sting celebrates his World Championship win when Christian
Cage comes out and says since Jeff Jarrett is taking some time away and won’t
be able to invoke his rematch clause then Christian should get the next shot
because he’s the best wrestler in the company. Angle comes out and reminds
Christian that he beat him at Bound For Glory. Jim Cornette makes Christian
versus Angle for the next PPV (which will be Turning Point rather than
Genesis). There still needs to be a NWA World Heavyweight Championship match at
the PPV though and Cornette announces that the winner of the ongoing Fight For
The Right Tournament will get their shot at Turning Point (Result of the Fight
For The Right Tournament remains the same with Abyss winning and earning a
shot).
- In the same time period Samoa Joe (still a tweener) calls
out AJ Styles and calls his character into question outwardly stating that he’s
not as squeaky clean as some make out (which would then be proved right when AJ
started a rivalry with Rhino and turned heel at the next pay-per-view). This
leads to Joe versus AJ being booked for Turning Point.
Turning Point 2006
(instead of Genesis 2006) – Important Matches:
- Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles
Joe defeats Styles after a Muscle Buster. Styles does some
questionable, but not outright heelish, things during the match but Joe
eventually wins clean as a whistle after about sixteen minutes.
Post-match
Daniels, with the X-Division Championship, and Rhino come out to commiserate AJ
but he pushes them both away and leaves the ring in disgust.
- Sting d. Abyss to retain the NWA World Heavyweight
Championship
Sting constantly tries to reason with Abyss during the match
to no avail and eventually wins the match after botched James Mitchell
interference cost Abyss after about 11 minutes.
- Kurt Angle d. Christian Cage to become #1 Contender
Angle defeats Christian following an Olympic Slam. Clean win
that comes at about the eighteenth minute of another tight match between these
two.
Build to Final
Resolution 2006 (rather than Turning Point ‘06):
- Jim Cornette comes out and announces that due to differing
views on the professional wrestling landscape TNA is no longer a part of the
NWA. He announces the creation of new Championship belts under the TNA name.
And the lineage of all three (World, Tag Team and X-Division) will start at
December’s Pay-Per-View Final Resolution 2006. And it changes nothing about the
main event of that show Sting (who had been Champion) versus Kurt Angle (who
had won the recent #1 Contenders Match).
- Samoa Joe pushes (metaphorically, not physically) Cornette
and wants to be added to the title match at Final Resolution pointing out his
credentials of never being pinned or submitted since he debuted in the company
but Cornette will not relent and instead fobs Joe off with a match against
Abyss.
Final Resolution
2006 (The Important Matches):
- Samoa Joe d. Abyss
Joe wins in about thirteen minutes after James Mitchell once
again tries to interfere on Abyss’ behalf and once again ends up costing Abyss
the match. Post-match Joe facewashes Mitchell for good measure.
- Kurt Angle d. Sting to become the first ever TNA World
Heavyweight Champion
Angle defeats Sting clean, by submission after a roughly
seventeen minute long contest. Post-match Sting raises Angle’s hand and wraps
the brand new TNA World Heavyweight Championship around his waist.
Build to Genesis
2007:
- Sting comes out and announces he is cashing in his rematch
clause at Genesis. Samoa Joe comes out and claims that was for the NWA World
Heavyweight Championship, nothing to do with the current belt. Cornette comes
out and grants Sting his rematch which leaves Joe absolutely furious. Cornette
says that he has also made another rematch for Genesis, a Monsters Ball match
between Abyss and Joe.
Genesis 2007:
- Samoa Joe d. Abyss in a Monster’s Ball Match
Joe defeats Abyss following a Muscle Buster onto thumbtacks
in a match that runs for about fifteen minutes.
- Kurt Angle d. Sting to retain the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
Angle defeats Sting after reversing the Scorpion Death Drop
attempt from Sting into an Olympic Slam for the win, clean in about fifteen
minutes. They once again shake hands after the match and Angle celebrates.
Build to Against
All Odds 2007:
- Now that his rivalry with Sting has finished Angle wants
some new blood. The reason he joined TNA was he had heard such good things
about the young guys in TNA but for one reason or another he hasn’t had the
chance to cross paths with many of them yet. He’d like that to change. Before
he can make any challenges though Christian Cage interrupts with Tomko and
Steiner in tow. Cage says that he wants another shot at Angle. He, like Angle,
took TNA by storm when he first arrived and now he wants to prove that he is
TNA’s best import. Angle has no interest stating he has already defeated
Christian twice. However, Christian stoops to insulting Kurt’s family and Kurt
grants him a match.
- Samoa Joe continues trying to get a match for the World
Heavyweight Championship and Cornette continues fobbing him off. This time Joe
is set up to face Robert Roode, an up and comer in the TNA ranks who Cornette
thinks will be the next big thing in the company. Joe is such a talented guy
that Cornette wants to see if Roode has what it takes to hang with Joe. Joe is
far from impressed.
Against All Odds
2007 (The Important Matches):
- Samoa Joe d. Robert Roode
Despite repeated interference from Ms. Brooks Roode is
unable to pick up the win and eventually submits to the Coquina Clutch. The
match goes about thirteen minutes.
- Kurt Angle d. Christian Cage by DQ to retain the TNA World
Heavyweight Championship
A good even match that is about sixteen minutes deep comes
to an abrupt end when Tomko and Steiner interfere. Post-match the heels are
stomping down Angle before Samoa Joe comes out to make the save. The faces
clear the ring and Joe picks up the World Heavyweight Championship, stares at
it for a while before shoving it back to Angle and leaving the ring.
Victory Road 2007
build-up (Instead of Destination X):
- Kurt Angle comes out and wants Christian right here, right
now. No titles, no referees, no match. Just a fight. Christian comes to the top
of the stage with Tomko and Steiner accompanying him. He won’t fight Angle
tonight but he will fight him at Victory Road providing Angle will put up the
World Heavyweight Championship. Angle agrees.
- Joe again goes to Cornette and says he wants a title shot. Cornette
says the title match is already fixed but he appreciates Joe trying to keep
Christian and his coalition in order so at Victory Road it will be Samoa Joe
vs. Scott Steiner. Joe is upset and tells Cornette “You can’t keep me away from
that Championship forever”.
Victory Road 2007
(Important Matches)
- Samoa Joe vs. Scott Steiner goes to a No Contest
The match is just over ten minutes old when the referee
throws the hard hitting contest out with both men repeatedly ignoring referee
instructions. They continue to fight even after the bell rings and the referee
calls other referees and security out but Joe and Steiner just destroy them
before continuing to brawl. Eventually Joe gets the upper hand and chokes
Steiner out before security recovers and finally pulls Joe off Steiner.
- Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage goes to a thirty minute time
limit draw
With no allies in the early goings Christian acts the coward
in the early going and deliberately avoids Angle constantly. Eventually it
evolves into a real match with lots of near falls. Midway through the match
Tomko gets involved but Cornette sends security down to throw Tomko out. With
less than thirty seconds left Angle locks in the anklelock but Christian gets
to the ropes, Angle releases the hold after a five count but as he goes to
attack again, Christian rolls out of the ring. The bell then rings revealing
the time limit has expired. The crowd chants five more minutes and Angle
suggests it. Christian gets back in the ring and looks ready to go but simply
slaps Angle and then gets out of dodge.
Build to Lockdown
2007
- Christian comes out with his entourage and says he had Kurt
Angle beat when the time limit expired and he wants another shot at the belt.
Cornette comes out and says he saw things a little differently, it seemed to
him that Angle was going in for the kill. Christian says that’s a lie he had
Angle beat and he wants Angle again at Lockdown. Angle comes out and wants
Christian right here, right now. Cornette says that’s not going to happen but at
Lockdown there is a tradition, a tradition of two teams going into a Steel
Cage. He says Christian likes using his friends to help him win matches well
now he’ll get a chance to do it legally when at Lockdown it is Team Angle vs.
Team Cage. Christian is apoplectic while Angle just smiles.
- Cornette approaches Samoa Joe backstage and says that if Joe
really wants to prove himself to Cornette then he could do worse than making
sure he’s a part of one of the teams in the main event at Lockdown. Joe nods.
- Joe calls out Kurt Angle next week and says he wants to be
on Kurt’s team and he won’t take no for an answer. Kurt obliges and goes to
leave the ring but Joe pulls him back “But once I prove how dominant I am at
Lockdown, I’m coming straight for your title”.
- AJ Styles completes his slow burn heel turn by officially
joining not only Team Cage but also Christian’s Coalition.
Lockdown 2007
(Important Matches)
- Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Chris Harris, Rhino, Samoa Joe and
Sting) d. Team Cage (Christian Cage, AJ Styles, James Storm, Scott Steiner and
Tomko) in Lethal Lockdown
The match comes down to Angle vs. Christian with everyone
else brawling or laid out on the outside. AJ sneaks in the ring though and low
blows Angle allowing Christian to hit the Unprettier. On the outside though,
Joe is destroying everyone. He gets in the ring and hits a huge lariat on
Styles before breaking up the pinfall attempt by Cage. One Muscle Buster on
Christian later and Joe wins Lethal Lockdown for Team Angle. The rest of Team
Angle celebrate whilst Joe and Angle simply stare a hole through one another.
Build to Sacrifice
2007:
- Kurt Angle comes out and calls out Samoa Joe wanting to
discuss what Joe proved to the world last night. A camera shows what is
happening backstage though as Scott Steiner has levelled Joe with a pipe
backstage and continues to lay in the punishment. Angle watches on in horror
from the ring when Tomko, AJ and Christian attack him from behind.
- Later in the show Angle goes to Cornette’s office and
demands a match with Christian tonight. Cornette says that will not happen but
he will allow Angle to defend his title one more time against Christian at
Sacrifice. This time there will be no time limit and the entirety of Christian’s
Coalition is banned from ringside, if they try and interfere they will be
fired.
- Next week Joe trashes the arena looking for Scott Steiner.
Cornette makes a match between the two for Sacrifice but suspends Joe until the
PPV for his actions.
Sacrifice 2007
(Important Matches)
- Samoa Joe d. Scott Steiner in a No Disqualification Match
Joe and Steiner have a brutal No DQ match which comes to an
end after about fourteen minutes when Joe hits the Muscle Buster on Steiner
through four chairs. Post-match Joe continues the beating and hits several
Muscle Buster’s on Steiner before leaving.
Steiner has to be removed from the arena via medical staff
after suffering serious injuries during and post-match. He is out for an
indefinite period.
- Kurt Angle d. Christian Cage to retain the TNA World
Heavyweight Championship
Angle makes Christian submit to the Ankle Lock after
twenty-three minutes or so of hard hitting action. The pair threw everything at
each other and with all members of the Coalition either out of commission or
not willing to risk their job Christian is forced to go it alone.
Build to
Slammiversary 2007
- Jim Cornette announces that it is well established how much
he loves tradition and that means at the next pay-per-view ‘Slammiversary’ Kurt
Angle will defend his Championship in a Five-Man King of the Mountain Match.
Now the challengers will be decided in four King of the Mountain Qualifying
Matches. Before Cornette can say a word Samoa Joe storms to the ring. He
demands to be put in a qualifier match. Cornette hesitates and states that he
had something different in mind for Joe. He didn’t want to stick him in some
qualifier match that he may or may not win on Impact. He wanted to guarantee
him a big match at one of TNA’s biggest events. He wants the hottest rising
star in pro wrestling to take on a legend of pro wrestling, an icon, if you
will. He wants Samoa Joe vs. Sting at Slammiversary. Joe agrees to the match
but tells Cornette that he won’t be denied a Championship match again. He will
take Cornette out if that’s what it takes to get his Championship match.
- KotM Qualifiers: Christopher Daniels d. Robert Roode,
Christian Cage d. Chris Harris (via James Storm distraction), Abyss d. James
Storm (via Chris Harris distraction) and AJ Styles d. Frankie Kazarian (via
Tomko distraction)
Slammiversary 2007
(Important Matches):
- Samoa Joe d. Sting
Joe defeats Sting clean in about sixteen minutes by making
him pass out in the Coquina Clutch. After the match Joe gets on the microphone
and tells whoever is coming out of tonight’s main event with the Championship
that he is coming for him.
- Kurt Angle d. Abyss, AJ Styles, Christian Cage and
Christopher Daniels to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in a King
of the Mountain Match
AJ and Christian work together throughout the match as per
the agreement they had before the match. However, Christian has trouble getting
legal to win the match. AJ becomes legal after pinning Daniels while Christian
is in the penalty box following Abyss pinning him. AJ tries to win the
Championship but is stopped by Angle. When Christian comes out of the penalty
box he is furious with AJ and wants to know why AJ tried to win “his
Championship”. He tells AJ to lie down so he can become legal. AJ does but then
small packages Christian for the three (AJ turns face) sending Cage back to the
penalty box. Christian is furious but can do nothing about it. AJ is halfway up
the ladder when Angle pulls him down and Olympic Slams him. Angle grabs the
belt off the floor where AJ dropped it, climbs the ladder and hangs it to win
the match and retain his Championship.
Build to
Destination X 2007:
- Jim Cornette comes out and wants to announce an exciting new
concept... Joe comes out before Cornette can say another word. Joe says he is
sick of not getting the Championship opportunities he deserves, he wants Kurt
Angle at Destination X or else. Cornette says unfortunately that’s not going to
happen. This infuriates Joe who grabs Cornette and threatens him. Cornette
tries to calm Joe down and reveals the rest of the exciting new concept he
discussed earlier “The Bound For Glory Series, it will consist of eight
participants taking part in a total of thirty-one first round matches before
the semi-finals and finals take place at No Surrender later this year. This
will crown the Ultimate Number One Contender for Bound for Glory”. Joe is
intrigued so Cornette carries on “Tonight there will be a Gauntlet Battle Royal
worth ten points if you win, at Hard Justice there will be two four-way matches
both worth ten points for a win. And the other matches will be each of the
eight participants facing each other once: five points for a submission win,
three for a pinfall victory, two for a count out or disqualification victory
and one for a time limit draw. Each match will have a twenty minute time limit
apart from the bonus matches and the subsequent finals of the tournament.”
Cornette manages to convince Joe how good it would be to win the World
Championship at Bound For Glory “if you truly believe you are capable of
winning such a gruelling tournament that is. Joe accepts and is the first
announced name in the inaugural Bound For Glory Series.
- In the main event Joe defeats the seven other men (AJ
Styles, Abyss, Chris Harris, Christian Cage, Frankie Kazarian, James Storm and
Robert Roode) to win ten points in the opening match.
- In his subsequent matches he wins all of them, most by
submission. His match with AJ Styles in the Bound for Glory Series will take
place at the Destination X pay-per-view.
- Meanwhile Cornette tells Angle of his plan to make
Destination X a special event for the men who helped build this company, the X-Division
stars. So he tells Angle he will defend his title against the longest reigning
X-Division Champion in company history – Christopher Daniels.
Destination X
2007:
- Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles in 19:56 in a Bound For Glory Series
Match
With the twenty minute time limit close to expiring Joe
desperately locks in the Coquina Clutch seemingly out of nowhere when AJ was in
a good position to make AJ tap and maintain his one hundred percent record in
the tournament so far.
- Kurt Angle d. Christopher Daniels to retain the TNA World
Heavyweight Championship
The match goes twenty plus minutes but Angle eventually wins
when he plays a little possum, Daniels goes Best Moonsault Ever but Angle rolls
out of the way and when Daniels’ ankle gives way under his weight. Angle locks
in the ankle lock and forces Daniels to tap.
Build to Hard
Justice 2007:
- Joe continues to dominate the BFG Series winning all of his
matches heading into the last of the bonus matches at Hard Justice. It is
announced it will be Abyss vs. Christian vs. Kazarian vs. Roode in a Ladder
match while Joe will face AJ, Harris and Storm in a Tables match at the PPV.
- Jim Cornette announces that after a brief spell out with
injury Scott Steiner will be returning at Hard Justice ’07 and he will
challenge Kurt Angle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
Hard Justice 2007:
- Samoa Joe d. AJ Styles, Chris Harris and James Storm in a
Tables Match to earn 10 points and increase his lead at the top of the BFG
Series Leaderboard
Joe wins the match when he hits a Muscle Buster on AJ
through the table. The match goes just over fifteen minutes.
- Kurt Angle d. Scott Steiner to retain the TNA World
Heavyweight Championship
Angle wins the match clean by making Steiner submit to the
ankle lock in roughly thirteen minutes.
Build to No
Surrender 2007:
- Kurt Angle comes out and says he can’t wait to see who will
win the BFG Series tournament to see who he will defend the Championship
against at the biggest show of the year, exactly twelve months after he made
his debut in TNA. He says he’s been a dominant World Champion and he will prove
it once again on the biggest stage in TNA’s history. Sting makes his return
after a hiatus following his defeat to Samoa Joe. He says that Kurt is
overlooking the fact that there is one more pay-per-view before Bound For Glory
and Sting would love to take the Championship into Bound For Glory himself. He
suggests Angle vs. Sting one more time at No Surrender. Angle accepts and the
two men shake hands.
- On the first Impact before No Surrender it is a special
three hour edition of the show as the final four matches in the tournament take
place to see who will move onto the semi-finals at No Surrender.
- Samoa Joe
defeats James Storm by submission to retain first place in the tournament and
has done so with just shy of the maximum number of points. He won all bonus
matches he was a part of and every single one-on-one match. He would have had
maximum points but he only beat Kazarian by pinfall, everyone else he
submitted.
- The rest of the matches take place and Kazarian gets a big
submission win over Chris Harris which is enough for him to leapfrog Robert
Roode by one point and into fourth position meaning he will face Joe in the
first semi-final. That leaves AJ Styles, who finished a distant second to Joe, to
take on Christian, who finished third after beating AJ by pinfall in his final
match of the series.
- Christian talks trash over the next three weeks about how he
beat AJ when they met in the league stage of the tournament and now it’s post
season the ‘Instant Classic’ only gets more clutch.
- AJ cuts promos about how when he was in Christian’s
Coalition he was treated as a joke, just someone Christian could throw to the
wolves to protect his own skin, but at No Surrender AJ will prove he is the
better man.
No Surrender 2007
- Samoa Joe d. Frankie Kazarian in the first Bound For Glory
Series Semi-Final
Joe defeats Kazarian in a gruelling seventeen plus minute
encounter in the opening match of the pay-per-view.
- Christian Cage d. AJ Styles in the second Bound For Glory
Series Semi-Final
Christian defeats AJ in another gruelling encounter this
time that clocks in at just under sixteen minutes. AJ Styles has the match in
hand when his former partner Daniels comes and distracts him allowing Christian
to hit the Unprettier for the win.
- Kurt Angle d. Sting to retain the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
Kurt beats Sting in about fourteen minutes after a second
Olympic Slam puts The Icon down for three. Post-match the two men embrace and
Sting says the BFG Series winner will have a tough challenge because Kurt Angle
is the best pro wrestler alive today, and a damn fine person too. He thanks
Kurt and leaves the ring.
- Samoa Joe d. Christian Cage to win the Bound For Glory
Series
Joe beats Christian clean after a match that went over
twenty minutes and saw both men throw everything at one another. Eventually Joe
locks in the Coquina Clutch, Christian grabs the referee and uses his leg to
low blow Joe out of sight of the referee. Joe “hulks up” though and merely
locks the Coquina Clutch back on, synching it in fully this time and causing
Christian to tap.
Post-match Angle comes out stares at Joe and then raises his
World Championship. Joe looks at him and just smiles.
Build to Bound For
Glory 2007
- Samoa Joe comes out and says despite everything that has
been thrown at him, despite Jim Cornette denying him his rightful opportunity
at the World Championship time after time there is no denying it now. Samoa Joe
won the Bound For Glory series and tonight signs the contract for the match
that everyone wants to see, Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. The undefeated Samoan
Submission Machine takes on the man that has dominated TNA since his arrival,
and a man that also happens to be undefeated in TNA – Kurt Angle.
- Jim Cornette comes out and says Joe should thank him. He
didn’t throw roadblocks in front of Joe, he just made sure he was ready to be
World Champion, and now Joe has went through Sting, he went through Steiner, he
helped Angle fight off Christian’s Coalition and he won the Bound For Glory Series.
Now, thanks to Jim Cornette’s careful guidance, now Samoa Joe is ready to face
Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship. Joe smirks and tells Jim not to try and take credit for
Joe’s path of destruction, that was all me. He tells Jim he’ll see him for the
contract signing later tonight.
- At the contract signing things get heated between the two
but both sign the contract and Cornette reminds them that there is a clause in
the contract that means if Joe touches Angle he will no longer be #1 contender
and if Angle touches Joe he will no longer be World Champion. Cornette will not
have his Bound For Glory main event ruined.
- Over the final few weeks before Bound For Glory, Angle and
Joe continue to cut promos generally saying that they are better than the other
and at Bound For Glory they will prove that they are the greatest wrestler
walking the face of the earth today. Both men seem to believe it, but only one
can be true.
Bound For Glory
2007:
- Kurt Angle d. Samoa Joe to retain the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
Joe and Angle have a hard hitting, fast paced match with
neither man giving the other an inch. This continues in full flow until the
nineteenth minute of the match when Angle reverse Joe’s enziuguri in the corner
into the ankle lock. Jim Cornette comes out and all of a sudden the bell rings.
The referee raises Angle’s hand and passes the World Heavyweight Championship
to him. Joe is apoplectic and the pay-per-view goes off the air in utter
confusion and turmoil. Cornette disappears almost as quickly as he appeared.
Joe is tearing the ringside area up whilst a dazed and somewhat confused
looking Kurt Angle makes his way backstage. Mike Tenay and Don West seemingly
don’t know what to say but they manage to sign off with “Thanks for watching
Bound For Glory folks, make sure to tune in to Spike TV on Thursday to see what
will be an… interesting special live edition of Impact”.
Build to Turning
Point 2007:
- Impact opens with a recap of the events of
Bound For Glory. However, the recap is cut short as the camera quickly cuts to
entranceway, with Samoa Joe storming to the ringside area. Joe is audibly heard
saying ‘give me a damn mic’, staying outside of the ring. Joe says this isn’t
what he wanted but he needed to do this in front of everyone, rather than have
fans hear about it from TNA and Jim Cornette. Joe says he’s done. He’s been
held down for too long and Bound For Glory was the final straw. Joe then goes
on to say that if fans want to see him wrestle, they can go watch Ring of
Honor, where he’ll continue to dominate professional wrestling, but TNA can go
f**k themselves (which is bleeped out). Joe then hops over the barrier and
leaves the arena through the back. The camera cuts back to Tenay and West, who
look confused and stumble over their words before regaining their composure and
promising a great night of wrestling on Impact.
- Sting comes out and says he like everyone
else is in shock about what happened on Sunday. He says the roster is under
strict instruction from the board not to speak about this and most people are
too afraid to. But he will say this, he thinks what Jim Cornette and Kurt Angle
did at Bound For Glory was disgusting. Before Sting can say another word Angle’s
music hits. He comes out and says he thinks Sting is disgusting. Sting has been
coasting along on his reputation ever since Dubya-See-Dubya folded back in
2001. Now he just sits back and takes TNA’s money while becoming a joke, a
shadow of his once great self. Kurt Angle will never tarnish his legacy like
that. He will do whatever it takes to stay on top and on Sunday whether
management or the board of directors or whoever liked it or not he did what he
had to do. This infuriates Sting who calls Angle scum and challenges him to a
match at Turning Point and he will prove that he doesn’t rest on his laurels.
Cornette comes out and says no, Sting has had enough shots at the World
Championship. Sting interrupts and tells Cornette he can make any stipulation he
wants. Just bring the contract next week and Sting will sign it.
- TNA announces through their website that
Samoa Joe has been suspended indefinitely pending investigation into his
actions on Thursday night. They also announce that Jim Cornette’s position as Management
Director is under review following his actions at Bound For Glory.
- Sting signs the contract, as does Angle.
Sting then demands to know what crazy stipulation Cornette has picked. Cornette
reveals that Kurt Angle vs. Sting at Turning Point will be a submission match.
This confuses Sting who was expecting much worse, but still he accepts, tells
Angle he will see him at Turning Point and goes to leave the ring. Cornette
says “Oh, and one more thing. The Scorpion Death Lock is banned for this match”.
Sting’s temper gets the better of him and he charges at Cornette but Angle gets
to Sting first and proceeds to beat the living daylights out of Sting.
- Cornette comes out and in the first on-air
reference to Joe since his promo after Bound For Glory he officially
re-instates Samoa Joe (Joe has been working ROH dates since then) and tells him
that at Turning Point he has booked a two-on-one handicap match between Samoa
Joe and two hungry young upstarts who have tagged together a couple of times
recently: Robert Roode and James Storm. (ROH’s Glory By Honor VI: Night Two is
scheduled to take place on the same night with Samoa Joe facing off against
Naomichi Marufuji in an International Challenge match).
Turning Point 2007:
- Joe no shows so Roode and Storm are left with no-one to
fight until the Motor City Machine Guns come out and challenge them to a match.
Roode wins the match for his team when he pins Shelley.
- The same night Joe
defeats Marufuji at Glory By Honor VI: Night Two, after the match Joe leads the
crowd in a chant of “F**k TNA!”
- Kurt Angle d. Sting to retain the World Heavyweight
Championship by Referee Stoppage
The match is about sixteen minutes old when Sting reverses
Angle’s attempt at an Ankle Lock into an Ankle Lock of his own. Angle looks like
he could tap at any moment when Cornette comes out and distracts the referee,
Angle taps but the referee doesn’t see it. Sting moves the referee out of the
way and punches Cornette but turns around into an Olympic Slam. Angle then
locks on the Ankle Lock but Sting won’t submit. Eventually Angle grapevines the
leg and breaks Sting’s ankle. The referee stops the match for Sting’s own
safety. But Angle won’t break the hold. Eventually security comes out to break
up the hold and Angle celebrates with Cornette.
Build to Final
Resolution 2007:
- Angle and Cornette come out to celebrate Angle’s “dominant”
victory at Turning Point. Before they can really get to it though a
representative from the board of directors comes out and announces that
Cornette has failed his job review and has had his position as Management
Director terminated with immediate effect. He can continue to manage Kurt Angle
but as that completely conflicts with the non-bias need for a Management
Director the Board had no choice but to remove him from power. A new position
of Executive Director has been created and they will be responsible for running
all things regarding the wrestling part of TNA, that person will be unveiled at
Final Resolution. Angle and Cornette are furious.
- Later on in the night Mike Tenay informs us that the Board
of Directors, impressed by his recent performances, have unanimously voted AJ
Styles as the rightful number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
Final Resolution
2007:
- Frankie Kazarian d. Christian Cage in a Ladder Match in the
final of the Fight for the Right Tournament to earn a shot at the World
Heavyweight Championship at Genesis
- Kurt Angle d. AJ Styles to retain the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
Twenty-three or so minutes into a thrilling encounter Styles
rolls through an Olympic Slam attempt and picks Angle up for the Styles Clash.
He hits it but Cornette comes out. Cornette spits in AJ’s face who chases him
furiously around ringside. Eventually security gets between both men. The
referee orders security to take Cornette away. AJ heads back to the ring as the
referee is on the ramp instructing the security staff. All this has allowed
Angle to recover though and when AJ rolls in the ring he is immediately Olympic
Slammed onto a set up chair. Angle gets rid of the evidence and the referee
comes back in to count to three.
Post-match Cornette returns, he and Angle roll AJ’s body out
of the ring and celebrate. Cornette gets on the microphone and touts the
outstanding achievement of Kurt Angle. He is the only man to ever hold the TNA
World Heavyweight Championship, and he’s held it for an entire calendar year
now. He won it in December of 2006 at Final Resolution and he has just retained
it in December of 2007 at Final Resolution. Cornette says maybe they should
rename this the Kurt Angle World Heavyweight Championship. All of a sudden the
lights go out and Sting comes out minus face paint to reveal himself as the
Executive Director.
Build to Genesis
2008:
- Angle and Cornette come out and continually run down Sting
until Sting comes out. Sting is on crutches and says he doesn’t know when he’ll
be returning to in-ring competition because Angle broke his ankle in two
separate places. But for now he is ecstatic that the board had faith in him to
run the show. He reminds Cornette that the rules have changed around here now
and whilst – since Cornette has his official manager’s license – Sting cannot
ban Cornette from managing Angle he can say if he gets involved in Angle’s
match at Genesis with any kind of physical or mental distraction that Angle
will be stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship
Genesis 2008:
- Kurt Angle d. Frankie Kazarian to retain the TNA World
Heavyweight Championship
Cornette is at ringside but does not get involved. After
nearly eighteen minutes Angle hits his third Olympic Slam of the match and it
is enough to put Kazarian away. Angle and Cornette celebrate as the
pay-per-view goes off the air
Build to Against
All Odds 2008:
- Christian, who turned face when he shook Kazarian’s hand as
a sign of respect after losing to him in the ladder match at Final Resolution,
wins a Three-Way Dance between himself, Robert Roode and Christopher Daniels
when he pinned Daniels after nailing him with the Unprettier to become #1
contender.
- Angle and Christian go back and forth on the microphone
throughout the month with the main points being that Christian has never beaten
Angle inside a TNA ring whilst Christian states that he is the only person on
the roster that Angle cannot outfight, outwrestle and most importantly recently
outcheat.
Against All Odds
2008:
- Kurt Angle d. Christian Cage to retain the TNA World
Heavyweight Championship
A gruelling match is over twenty-five minutes long when
Angle locks on the Ankle Lock. Christian almost makes it to the ropes but Angle
pulls him back to the centre of the ring and grapevines the leg. Christian taps
but Angle refuses to relinquish the hold, eventually breaking Christian’s
ankle.
Build to Victory
Road 2008:
- Sting announces that Kurt Angle will once again fight AJ
Styles, this time at Victory Road. AJ has fully recovered from the concussion
he received at the hands of Angle and his steel chair in December and has
demanded a rematch. Sting was only too happy to oblige. Angle and Cornette are
fuming, shouting claims of bias, favouritism and a blatant disrespect of the
“greatest frickin’ pro wrestler walking the earth today”.
- Ring of Honor announce that Samoa Joe will face Roderick
Strong in a #1 Contenders Match for the ROH World Championship at Take No
Prisoners in Philadelphia on Sunday the 9th March. The same night
that Victory Road is held in Norfolk, Virginia.
Victory Road 2008:
- At Take No Prisoners Samoa Joe defeats Roderick Strong to
become the #1 Contender to Nigel McGuinness’ Ring of Honor World Championship.
- Kurt Angle d. AJ Styles to retain the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
Angle reverses an attempted pele kick from AJ into an ankle
lock after about twenty-one minutes and AJ refuses to tap eventually passing
out in the hold. Angle and Cornette celebrate another successful Championship
defence. Angle then locks the hold back in on AJ who is still unconscious.
Ragdolling his lifeless leg in an attempt to break his ankle. All of a sudden
Angle is attacked by a man from the crowd, the man takes down his hood to
reveal – SAMOA JOE! Joe attacks Angle and Cornette viciously. Eventually both
men get out of dodge but Victory Road goes off the air with Joe hurling the TNA
World Heavyweight Championship at Angle and screaming “I’M GONNA KILL YOU!” at
the Olympic Gold Medalist.
Build to Lockdown
2008:
- A recap airs showcasing the return of Samoa Joe at Sunday’s
PPV and pondering what will happen on Thursday Night Impact with regards to Joe
and Angle.
- Cornette and Angle come out and demand Sting’s presence.
Sting obliges and Cornette berates him for allowing someone who is not a member
of the roster to attack Kurt Angle, the World Champion, on Sunday’s PPV. Sting
says that’s not quite true. Whilst Cornette did suspend Joe, and whilst the
Board of Directors did re-suspend Joe following his refusal to show up at
Turning Point, nobody actually fired Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe is still technically
under TNA contract and after talking with Joe he has actually lifted the
aforementioned suspension. Not only that but at Lockdown in the main event
Sting has booked Kurt Angle defending his TNA Heavyweight Championship of the
World inside a Steel Cage against… Samoa Joe!
- Angle and Cornette are beside themselves but before they can
complain Joe comes out and tries to assault both men once again.
- The rest of the month long build is dominated by Angle and
Cornette whining and complaining while Joe seemingly stops at nothing to get
his hands on both men but is never quite able to do so.
Lockdown 2008:
- Samoa Joe d. Kurt Angle to win the TNA World Heavyweight
Championship
The match is very similar to the actual match Angle and Joe
had at Lockdown 2008 but this match ends with Joe locking in the Coquina Clutch
and making Angle tap out.
So that concludes a rather long post. Eighteen months' worth of booking was there and me and Jonathon believe that this would have been a far more successful and lucrative way for TNA to book the Kurt Angle versus Samoa Joe feud. It still culminates in the same result with Joe winning his first World Championship in TNA over Angle at Lockdown 2008 but we believe the road we took to get there is one that would have benefitted TNA much more than the one they chose to take. The buyrates of Bound For Glory 2007 and Lockdown 2008 we believe would have been particularly high.
We plan on doing more, this is only part one of our rebooking series so if you enjoyed this please make sure to check out our forthcoming rebooking blogs. In the meantime please feel free to leave comments and you can follow me (@watadam20) and Jonathon (@JLAspey) on Twitter. Thanks for reading
