What's new, junkies for janky joint locks?
I'm doing something a little different this week for my review. I'm not going to spoil anything here, you'll need to read on to find out.
This is a pretty TNA focused post, so if that isn't your cup of tea either, you may want to skip this week. But, if you do, you're missing out on a pair of really great matches reviewed by yours truly!
Either way, read on my friends and see what happened in the world of wrestling for this week.
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| TNA |
Weekly Roundup
Here's what I watched for the week;
TNA Slammiversary 2025
A while back, I kinda got into it with TNA and laid out all of my growing issues with the company. The full on rebrand to the TNA that most fans fell in love with was a welcomed breath of fresh air after years of IMPACT, Global Force Wrestling, and being the punching bag of online wrestling discourse as the company perpetually on deaths door that always kicked out at 2. But, like all good things in wrestling, it can’t last forever, and the half life for this TNA rebrand turned out to be about as long as a Goldberg match. Tessa Blanchard, reliance on old names, refusing to give Hendry a real run as the top guy, and then the final nail in the coffin; their association with WWE.
I’ve said it since the very beginning that this WWE partnership is only going to benefit one company, and it’s not the one that’s struggled to find an identity for the last 15 years. The writing was on the wall when WWE hand picked TNA’s biggest stars to show up on their biggest shows, giving outside talent a spotlight that would have given a Monday Night Wars fan a heart attack, only for WWE to send over a couple of NXT greenhorns as a thank you. A blind person could see this was a one sided relationship but many still believed that TNA could only benefit from this association.
I totally forgot about this TNA show until I saw some chatter online about it and decided to watch it in a schadenfreude kind of way. I haven’t cared about TNA since last year and I’ve quit WWE cold turkey after 'Mania 41.
I’m not going to go over the whole card like I do an AEW show, but I did want to weigh in on a few things. Chief among them: the TNA locker room better start packing their bags and looking into Florida real estate quick. ‘Cause WWE is gonna come a’knocking a lot quicker than you think. If you don’t believe me, just ask AAA.
Well, I've finished the show and, y'know what, it was pretty good! I saw the overall rating on CAGEMATCH for this show and expected something far worse, but overall I liked it! I think the poor rating is just a result of reviewbombing from people that are upset at the booking decisions. Sure, do I think having both of your World Championships held by NXT guys on arguably your biggest show of the year isn't the best move? Yeah, I do. But did it ruin this show? Do the matches suffer? Not at all! The mediocre matches are mediocre because of what took place in the ring, Moose vs. Slater was match of the night, and the two World Title matches were passable, absolutely. It still feels like TNA and the looming spectre of WWE can only be felt if you start listening to commentary or suddenly hear Bully Ray mention "Royal Rumble." It was also really, really cool to see AJ show up with his TNA music after the Leon Slater match.
Overall, I enjoyed the show. I do think TNA is getting the short end of this partnership but this show didn't suffer greatly because of it.
• • • • •
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe - TNA Genesis 2006 - 11/19/2006
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| Part One. TNA |
I felt like shaking things up for the blog this week. When I was deciding what I wanted to watch, I started thinking about Kurt Angle's insane TNA run and just how fun some of those matches are. When I realized I hadn't really watched a lot of them, I also realized I had yet to give Kurt the spotlight on the blog! So we're changing that this week.
But that's not the only new thing for this week.
When looking at Kurt's best year, the general consensus being 2006, and some of the best matches from that year, his first two matches with Samoa Joe seemed to be his best from his debut year. Initially, I didn't know which one to review. Their first match or the much anticipated, heavily promoted rematch? It wasn't long until I decided "why not both?" For the first time in the Weekly Watchlist, I'm going to review back-to-back matches, giving as complete a story as possible with each post. This isn't a deep dive of their feud or time in TNA, but I will be giving the same amount of context and background that you guys have come to expect from the Watchlist.
So, let's not delay any longer. How did we get here?
Genesis does a great job giving us all the background we need to lay the foundation for this feud. But what they don't talk about, is why Kurt ended up in TNA in the first place? During the failed relaunch of the ECW brand by WWE, Angle was one of the biggest names they drafted to this brand. His comedic edge had been chipped away more and more as the years went on, with this ECW run fully giving birth to the "Wrestling Machine" Kurt Angle, a terrifying wrestler when you think about it. Mouth guard, eyes like ice, just killing people in the ring with straight up wrestling.
At the same time, Angle was stacking up health issue after health issue, his history with painkillers was no secret and he was at the height of his addiction here. His injuries and pain got so bad that he's gone on record to say that he would down up to 25 pills at a time just to deal with his pain. It's safe to say that Kurt was burnt out and needed time away, which he's spoken about in recent years on his own podcast as well as other interviews. He knew he couldn't get better if he was on the road constantly.
Rather than asking for time off, Angle requested a release from his contract. Reluctantly, and not without a bit of a confrontation, McMahon let Angle go from his contract, telling the former Olympian that the door was always open for him to come back.
He would come back to wrestling, but not WWE. He was in talks with the much smaller promotion of TNA, a company that was more than happy to have Kurt a part of their locker room, even if it was just as a part time performer. Feeling that WWE would just slot another name into his position and chug along like nothing changed, Kurt decided to sign with TNA and put the company on his back, bringing it to higher heights than they'd ever seen.
During a promo segment with Samoa Joe, Angle interrupted a segment where Joe was forced to either give up the NWA Worlds Championship, which he was holding hostage from Jeff Jarrett, or be fired on the spot. When Angle got in the ring, Joe laid the title in the ring as a silent challenge. Joe was on a 17 month undefeated streak in TNA, and they weren't shy about bringing it up. In one of the most iconic moments in TNA history, Angle shoot headbutts Samoa Joe before taking him out with the Olympic slam. Joe gets back to his feet, already leaking crimson, and jumps Angle.
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| Heard 'round the world! TNA |
From there, we're off to the races. The undefeated killer Samoa Joe vs. the unstoppable wrestling machine Kurt Angle, a match for the ages to take place at Genesis 2006.
Joe comes to the ring first with his Godzilla-esque opening chords, ready to fight. Angle is out next, his entrance starting with a chilling whine that, honestly, is so 2000's. Like, its perfect for this guy. I love it. He rises from the stage with the American flag covering him like a cloak, the only Olympic gold medallist in pro wrestling, marches to the ring and is ready to kill.
We start with a lockup, both men hesitant to make the first move but Angle shoots in on Joe, pushing him back into the corner and along the ropes to a neighbouring corner. Keep in mind, TNA has a six sided ring, so the distance between one corner and another is considerably shorter than in a standard four sided ring.
They break and return to centre, with Angle shooting in low and snatching a single leg on Joe, dropping him to the canvas early as he tries to go for the ankle lock right out of the gate. Joe squirms and makes his way to the bottom rope to break the hold, knowing how effective a Kurt Angle executed ankle lock is at ending a match. When Angle shoots back in, Joe is ready, driving a knee up into the chest of Angle, delivering a second knee to the gut that doubles Angle over to the canvas.
Starting the match in a gear that he's the most comfortable in, Joe starts punching and kicking the hell out of Angle. Quick jabs with Angle against the ropes, kicks and boots when he's back on the canvas, the Olympian trying to catch some air so he can fight back. He's successful in fending Joe off long enough to drive a kick to the gut of his own, shooting Joe into the ropes and taking him over him with a belly to belly suplex like it's nothing. Joe rolls to his feet and tries to recover on the ropes, but Angle clotheslines him out to the floor.
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| Double C style. TNA |
Distracted by jaw-jacking with the referee, Angle get snatched by the ankle and brought down to his ass. Joe pulls him in and folds Angle into a powerbomb-like position, ripping him out of the ring and head first into the steel barricade! Joe rolls Angle back inside and tries for a pin, but he gets out. Fighting as soon as he rises to his feet, Angle backs Joe into a corner with european uppercuts before shooting him across the ring. With terrifying explosiveness, Angle darts across the ring, diving to shoulder block Joe in the gut but he gets out of the way, leaving Angle to crash shoulder first into the ring post.
Angle staggers to his feet on the outside, using the barricade to steady himself. Suddenly, a 280 pound Samoan missile dives through the ropes with a Misawa-esque elbow suicida. Referee Earl Hebner is outside with them, trying to restore some sort of order but his efforts are in vain. Pulling Angle to his feet, Joe grabs him by the back of the head and runs him to the other side of the ring, throwing him leg first into the steel ring steps. Joe's reliance on straight up violence has given him the early advantage, using everything around him to inflict maximum pain.
Back in the ring, Joe is in the face of Hebner as he tries to tell Joe that he needs to abide by the rules.He starts counting Angle out on the floor. He starts to pull himself back into the ring and he's leaking crimson, probably catching the barricade head first after taking the steps. The barricade is much closer to the ring here than at a WWE show. Definitely didn't just run the razor. He struggles to roll inside as Joe seizes on him the moment he passes the threshold, digging at and striking the wound of Angle bigger and deeper.
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| Good snap, kid. TNA |
Fighting back when he gets to his feet, Angle catches Joe with a shot to the jaw that stuns him long enough to hit the ropes. Shooting for a lariat on the rebound, Joe snatches Angle and drives him over with a lightning quick powerslam. Joe lays across the torso of Angle for a pin, but he survives. Undeterred by his adversary's resilience, Joe keeps going for the crimson target with forearm shots. Again Angle gets to his feet and again he fights, going for the ropes and trying to take Joe down with another shot but gets caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Another pin, another close two count. Angle is fighting on instinct, Joe's instinct is to fight.
Seating Angle on the top rope, Joe tries to finish Angle with the muscle buster but Angle has his wits about him enough to fight back, catching Joe in a front facelock as he staggers around after a vicious slap to the face. He's got it in tight as Joe pulls Angle off the top, desperate to get the wrestling machine off his throat. He staggers around, searching for something, but Angle acts first, shifting his weight to drive Joe into the canvas head first with a DDT.
Angle pulls himself over for a cover on Joe, but its not enough, his wound leaking as he lays on the canvas, sucking back air and searching for his next move. Both men are on their feet again and trade shots back and forth, Angle struggling to keep his balance and footing the entire time, even when he's the one throwing the punch. Joe gets the advantage and backs Angle to a corner with quick jabs. He lines him up and runs in for a back elbow, but Angle slips out and gets the back of Joe, catching him in a waistlock before ripping him over with a German suplex.
Showing signs of life, Angle maintains his grip as he works his way back to his feet, pulling Joe up with him. Joe tries to fight out but it's all in vain, Angle popping his hips for a second German suplex. Again, he keeps his grip and goes for a third as soon as Joe gets to his feet. Exhaustion or bad positioning end with this third suplex falling apart mid air, with Joe twisting his body to save himself from landing on his head as Angle falls to the side. Unfazed by being unable to get the third, he crawls for the pin, Joe just able to get his shoulder up.
Amping himself up, Angle laps the ring and barks to the crowd, getting in position behind Joe and crouching low. The predator lies in wait as his prey rises to his feet, getting Joe in position for the Olympic slam, but Joe counters it into an arm drag, seconds before disaster. Angle rolls to the corner off the arm drag and pulls himself up, only to be met with a rising knee strike that stuns him. Joe pushes Angle up to the top rope, catching him with a leaping enziguiri as Angle tries to hold fast on the middle rope. Finally, Joe gets Angle up and in position, holding him for the muscle buster and walking out to centre, stuffing Angle with it. He lays across him for the three an- no! It's not enough!
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| Consider your muscles, busted. TNA |
Both men are out and on the canvas, with Joe getting to his feet first as he snatches the coquina clutch on Angle, trying to sap the life out of the Olympian. Angle is on his knees and reacts instantly, using his positioning to flip Joe over and break the hold. Ducking a lariat, Angle folds Joe over with a gut kick before snatching him for an Olympic Slam! He drives Joe into the canvas and lays across him for the pin and that do- no! Joe gets out!
Rising to his feet, Angle hears the crowd chanting "MAKE HIM TAP! MAKE HIM TAP!" Responding like only Kurt Angle can, he pulls down the straps and finds his second wind, the wrestling machine now fully unleashed. With Joe still laid out, Angle snatches the left leg and rolls Joe over with an ankle lock! He wrenches and twists the ankle, shouting and roaring at Joe to give up. Joe tries to twist around and get free, but Angle muscles him back around to his stomach. Joe is close to the ropes, his salvation, but he opts to roll the opposite way this time, with Angle going with the rotation as Joe finds himself on his back, with Angle's back to the Samoan submission machine.
Acting quick, Joe kicks the supporting leg of Angle and catches him in the coquina clutch as he falls back, the human equivalent of a venus fly trap. His arms are wrapped around the throat of Angle and his legs have Angle's torso held tight, every exhale limiting Angle's ability to inhale. Angle is close to tapping out, his hand hovering above the mat, but the sixth sense of the wrestling machine takes over. Leading his hand to the ankle of Joe, he snatches the limb and applies as much pressure as he can from this compromised position. Joe yelps from the sudden attack, breaking the hold and giving Angle the opportunity to re-apply the Ankle lock fully.
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| Fighting from beneath! TNA |
He pulls Joe to the dead centre of the ring, effectively miles away from any help. Pushing himself up off the canvas, Joe twists under his torso and flips out, sending Angle face first into the middle turnbuckle to break the hold. Angle pulls himself to his feet with the help of the corner, barely getting out of the way in time as Joe charges in for a shoulder tackle. Joe staggers out after colliding shoulder first with the ring post and falls right into the waiting grasp of Angle, getting sent up and over with an Olympic Slam!
Lapping the ring again, Angle puts his straps back up, roars like a fucking dragon, and rips the straps off again. Now its time for the machine to kill. He re-applies the ankle lock and then, mother of god, he grapevines the leg. Joe was already in pain, but the second Angle falls to the canvas, he's in a whole other world of pain. He shakes his head and tries to hold on, reaching and reaching for the bottom rope, but he's just too far.
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| You know what the straps mean. TNA |
Samoa Joe is forced to tap out. The streak is over. 18 months without racking up a loss, Angle is the first man to defeat Samoa Joe in TNA.
Good lord, what a match. These two beat each other so badly and were almost perfectly matched. Joe's hard hitting offence is balanced and met perfectly with Angle's legitimate wrestling skills, making every second of this match feel like an actual fight. The ending stretch with both men trying to lock in their signature holds was excellent. They went shot for shot, move for move, but Angle was able to get the better of Joe by pulling out the Ace he's always kept up his sleeve. Fantastic match.
After the bell, Joe has a mic and calls out Angle, already leaving up the ramp. "ANGLE!" he shouts, getting his victors attention. He climbs back inside as the crowd chants "YOU TAPPED OUT!" Joe responds before addressing Angle.
"You're goddamn right I tapped out, cause I know when I can recognize when somebody, on one day, is a better man. But dammit Angle, if you're half the man I think you are, you'll give me a rematch."
He drops the mic and gets in the face of Angle, holding out his hand and waiting for Angle's response. Angle looks at his hand, looks back in the eyes of Joe, his hand, then Joe again. The crowd excitedly chants "ONE MORE TIME! ONE MORE TIME!" and Angle looks out across the crowd. He extends his hand to shake Joe's, but pulls back at the last second, looking him dead in the eye as he backs out the ring, flicking blood off his fingertips in a silent "go fuck yourself" to Joe.
Joe stands alone in the ring, enraged and defeated, watching Angle walk up the ramp. The better man, tonight, at the very least, had his number. But was tonight a fluke? Is Angle really better than Joe? We may never know.
• • • • •
Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe - TNA Turning Point 2006 - 12/10/2006
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| Part Two. TNA |
Sike! We find out the next month! Gotcha!
We join Angle backstage before tonight's match where he addresses Joe directly, saying that Kurt is the one blemish on Joe's 18 month undefeated streak. Nobody was able to make Joe submit, but Angle did. He also says that win, lose, or draw, this will be the last match they wrestle.
So Angle was only partially right in that statement. If he was to say "this will be the last match I wrestle with you, Samoa Joe, in 2006" he'd be correct! Because these two wrestle 23 more times after this match, just in singles. Not gonna hold it against you Angle, you weren't the one with the pencil.
We get another promo from Angle, this time he's far calmer. He talks about a man from Iran that beat him in a wrestling match, even though Angle was confident he could beat him. But he knew he'd never see him again, so he put it behind him. But when he got to the 1996 Olympics, there he was! He too made it to the finals, Angle's 5th match. He says that, in that moment, he realized he was given a second chance and finally got redemption on his way to winning the gold medal. That that bit of redemption put him on the path he's on right now, and that if there's anyone who deserves a second chance, it's the previously undefeated Samoa Joe.
Both men agree that they were in one of the toughest matches of their careers at Genesis. That their opponent was dangerous, resilient, unlike anyone else that they'd been in the ring with before. That if they were going to come out of that match the winner, they'd need to come into this match more prepared than ever and not sell their opponent short for a single second. It's billed as a massive rematch, literally stylized as "THE REMATCH. " Joe is confident that he will run through Angle tonight, and Angle knows that in giving Joe this rematch, there's a very real chance he won't leave this match the same way he went into it. His broken (freakin') neck is no secret, and Joe will absolutely try to exploit that.
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| Ready to go to war. TNA |
Both men enter the ring and are as focused as ever. Joe is stoic and completely locked in, his eyes like daggers aimed directly at Angle. Kurt is pacing back and forth, shaking his limbs loose and adjusting his straps. He's no stranger to big matches like this, competing at the highest level possible for the majority of his career. The main event is a welcomed slot for the Olympian. And tonight's main event is Machine vs. Machine, Wrestling Machine vs. Samoan Submission Machine. Which will give in first.
The bell rings and they take time before locking up, Angle is coiled and crouched low, while Joe is in a loose fighting stance as he shifts around the ring. Joe goes in first and backs Angle to the ropes, but Kurt shifts his position and gets the side of Joe, shoving him into the corner instead. He drives his forearm into the back of Joe's head as referee Rudy Charles counts three, then four, breaking contact before the five count. They break and reset in the middle, the crowd chants are right down the middle for both Joe and Angle. The former goes in for a lockup on the latter, with Angle picking the left arm of Joe and tripping him to the canvas, getting an early advantage with a top wristlock.
Joe doesn't stay down for very long however, using his other hand to break the hold as Angle falls back from his awkward positioning and stance. Normally, having a guy on a knee would be an advantage for the standing wrestler, but when you have an opponent with legitimate wrestling experience that comes to him as naturally as breathing, it's the worst place for him to be. Angle fires out and snatches a single leg on Joe, driving him onto his back as he snatches the left leg of Joe, twisting him around into a single leg crab that Joe breaks almost instantly, sliding around to the ropes. Joe has no doubt relived that loss every single time he's closed his eyes, thinking about what needed to be done to prevent that from ever happening again. The second he was put into that position, panic had to set in, telling him "grab the ropes! Now! Break it!"
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| Early panic sets in. TNA |
Laying under the bottom rope, he locks eyes with Angle as he keeps the hold on through the referee's count, shoving the bottom of his boot into the face of Joe before five, a little dig at his challenger. Goading him to do something about it. Back on their feet, Angle tries to wring out the arm of Joe out of a lockup but Joe switches grip and wrings out Angle instead, pulling him in for a fierce lariat that drops the Olympian like a shot. For as technically gifted as Angle is, Joe is equally gifted when it comes to outright hurting people. Strikes like gunshots. He presses the advantage with a vicious corner assault, chops and jabs over and over that drop Angle to his ass, then kicks and stomps to the chest before stepping on his throat, using every second of the referee's five count.
Angle counters an Irish whip attempt and sends Joe across the ring instead, charging in only to get tossed over the top and to the floor, flying what looked to be five miles above the ring before crashing back down to earth. Last time these two faced, the floor was where Joe got his advantage. Surely Angle remembers this and will do everything he can to make sure that doesn't happen again. Joe isn't super quick to join Angle on the floor, he leaves him on the floor to get counted out for a while before climbing out, kicking Angle in the chest when he reaches him again.
The time Joe gave Angle on the outside seemed to be just the right amount of time, as all Joe's kicks did was wake Angle up, taking it to Joe with strike after strike that backs the Samoan up, step after step. A European uppercut drives Joe further around the ring, with Angle thinking quickly as he rolls back in the ring, throwing himself over the top rope to crush Joe on the floor. It wasn't pretty, but effective doesn't always mean pretty. He turns the tables on Joe this time, driving him face first into the steps over and over, slapping him for good measure before sending him into the diamond plate again.
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| Eat the steel! TNA |
Angle is back inside, this time allowing Joe to be counted out if he's unable to get to his feet. Joe is slow, but is able to pull himself to the apron by the count of eight, but Angle doesn't want to let him inside just yet. Running from across the ring, Angle sends Joe flying into the barricade with a basement dropkick, driving a knee through the face of Joe as he's slumped against the rail. They both slide back in the ring, with Angle shooting Joe into the corner and eating a back elbow when he charges in for a splash. Joe tries his luck, running out the corner only to run face first into the forearm of Angle, hitting the canvas flat out.
With Joe seemingly on the back foot, Angle snatches him in a front facelock when he's back on his feet, taking Angle up and over with a vertical suplex. He tries for a cover twice, but Joe gets out almost immediately, with Angle changing tactics as he tries to ride the back of Joe. He rolls Joe around to the rise as he squeezes on the ribs, weakening the core of his much larger opponent. Joe squirms and fights for positioning, eventually getting the left arm of Angle as he shifts around, locking Angle's arm behind his back in a kimura lock. Joe doesn't have it totally locked in, and Angle takes advantage, rolling Joe around and onto his shoulders, forcing his attacker to make a choice; break Angle's arm or escape the pin.
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| A worthy effort. TNA |
Joe chooses the lesser of two evils, breaking the hold and escaping before two, with Angle snatching the arm of Joe before letting him Joe, opting to drive a few short boots into the shoulder instead. They fight into the corner and Joe fights out, driving Angle to the ropes as he rebounds off the opposite side, firing off a lariat at the last second but eating nothing but the top rope. The impact sends Joe flying back to the mat, clutching at his throat, Angle seizing on that weakness with a European uppercut. Joe fights back with quick jabs before going for the ropes again, rebounding only to get caught and sent flying with a belly to belly suplex, his own momentum being used against him.
Focusing back in on the neck, Angle gets on top of Joe and holds him in a modified camel clutch position, the blade of his forearm cutting into the windpipe of Joe as he struggles to suck back air. He breaks the hold but doesn't let up, going back to the torso of Joe and holding on tight, squeezing with every ounce of strength he has to try and damage the ribs and impact the breathing of Joe. He's able to work his way to his feet as Angle holds fast, his grip eventually breaking as Joe drives back elbow shots into his head. Angle tries to take Joe's head off with a lariat but Joe ducks the shot, snatching a waistlock and sending Angle up and over with a huge German suplex!
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| Time to go for the ride! TNA |
They struggle to rise to their feet again and Angle is the first one to make a move, trying over and over to strike Joe but he blocks each shot, returning fire with one of his own. Pressing the advantage, he fires Angle into the ropes and catches him with a lariat on the rebound. Another lariat as Angle gets to his feet, Joe's momentum building each time Angle hits the canvas. He fires Angle into the corner hard, with Angle eating the buckle like Bret Hart- sternum first. He stumbles backwards, winded and wounded, into the waiting arms of Joe. He wraps Angle in the coquina clutch, but Angle desperately throws his head back, catching Joe in the face.
Angle switches his position and takes Joe over with a German suplex. maintaining his grip as he takes him up and over with as second one, then a third one. With Joe down, Angle crouches and coils his body like a spring, stalking Joe as he rises to his feet, only to get caught with an Olympic Sl- no! Joe slips free, snatching the coquina clu- no! No! Angle drops down, hooking the ankle of Joe and dropping him to his stomach, twisting his foot in the ankle lock! Joe is much quicker with the counter this time, rolling through the hold to send Angle into the corner.
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| Serious question; how does he do that? TNA |
Angle pulls himself to his feet and turns to face the ring, getting caught with a rising knee strike under the jaw. Maybe he would have been better to just stay down. Stunned and in the arms of Joe, he gets seated on the top rope, trying to fight back but it's useless. An enziguiri somehow catches angle in the back of the head, 280 pounds leaping into the air like it's nothing, the strike all but knocking Angle completely out. Pulling him in tight, Joe walks Angle out for the muscle bus- what! Angle is somehow able to slip his head free and slide down the back of Joe, taking him down as if he was sunset flipping him. Instead of rolling through for a jackknife pin, Angle grabs the ankle of Joe and rolls him over for the ankle lock!
Joe is in the hold for an agonizing amount of time, trying to hold on in the centre of the ring. Joe rolls through the hold again, with Angle nearly rolling under the bottom rope to the floor from the momentum. He rights himself and goes back behind Joe, stalking him as he struggles to stand. Moving in at the exact right moment, he hooks Joe and drives him up and over, crushing him with the Olympic Slam. He lays over him for a pin but Joe survives at two.
With Joe slow to rise, Angle is on his feet and digging deep for his second wind, removing the straps to unlock the Wrestling Machine deep within. Back to the ankle lock he goes, with Joe rolling through the hold again. But this time, Angle holds on, pivoting through it. This decision ends up costing Angle big time as Joe pulls Angle down, locking in a full body coquina clutch. Angle nearly gives in, his hand hovering over the canvas, but he breaks free, picking the ankle and rolling Joe around again. But again, Joe rolls through as Angle holds on, pulling him in for another body scissors coquina clutch.
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| A ghost from his past. Haunting. TNA |
Angle is fading, close to submitting again, but he hangs on. He snatches the foot of Joe once again and twists, going for the kill by grape vining the leg of Joe. He's screaming in agony, the memories of Genesis a month ago flooding back to him. He pulls himself with everything he has, desperate to reach the ropes, gutting through the pain. In a last gasp, Joe reaches the bottom rope, saving himself from utter defeat. Furious, Angle holds until the very last second, pounding the mat before stomping Joe's leg and foot.
He backs Joe into the corner and seats him on the top, joining him on the middle rope, a rare place to find Angle. Joe fights out of a belly to belly attempt, sending Angle crashing into the canvas- but not for long. As Joe adjusts his footing, Angle springs to life, charging up the ropes before ripping Joe off the top and driving him through the canvas. He desperately crawls across the ring for a cover, but Joe survives!
Ready to end it, Angle goes for another Olympic Slam attempt but Joe arm drags out of it, freeing himself as he falls back into the corner. Angle charges in and eats a back elbow from Joe, stumbling out and into referee Rudy Charles, knocking him down and out. Joe grabs Angle in the coquina clutch but the referee isn't around to notice, breaking the hold when he realizes the tap out means nothing. He crawls to check on Rudy, trying to get him back in the match, but Angle seizes on the opportunity and kicks Joe low.
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| Fingertips from salvation. TNA |
Frustrated, Angle marches out the ring and grabs a steel chair, making sure that he doesn't submit again. He reels back and swings, but misses! Joe ducks the shot as Angle's attack hits the top rope, bouncing it back into his face and stunning him. Joe is on his back behind Angle, reaching up and snatching Angle by the trunks to pull him into the coquina clutch. Angle is desperate, holding the top rope with his fingertips, but his grip fails him. He falls back into the grip of Joe, head and body trapped in the middle of the ring. He grabs the foot of Joe to try for another ankle lock, but Joe shifts his feet to hold his foot in place. Realizing he has absolutely nowhere to go, Angle taps out. The victory goes to Joe, they are even at one win a piece.
A great rematch to an already great match. The opening was fairly similar to their first outing but with less blood, obviously. When they got to the middle and ending stretch, there was even more counter wrestling and hold-for-hold action. They had each other figured out at every turn and refused to be bested at their own game. I know I said that Joe is at his best when he's hitting you the hardest, but he's no slouch on the mat either, and he proved that here. He was able to go hold for hold with Angle and not only survive, but get the better of him. Sure, Angle's own arrogance and frustration ultimately cost him the match, but Joe managed to thwart Angle's final counter to make him tap out in the end. Great stuff from both men.
• • • • •
There we have it, an "experimental" type post for this weeks edition of the Weekly Watchlist. I had a lot of fun putting this one together and stringing together a story between two posts. You really got to see the story be told from one month to another, I quite enjoyed this! Can't promise I'll be doing this with any frequency going forwards, but if there's a couple of matches that compliment one another for a review, I'll definitely consider it!
Also, I did read the news this week. His passing didn't slip me by. Next week, the slate has been cleaned. All other plans have been scrapped.
Watchlist 059 is the Hulk Hogan special, brother.
Until then, stay safe. Love one another.
Cliff Morgan
cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com
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