| Date: 01/17 | 10:00 PM |
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I know this is TNA, but when I think Global Impact I hear the CHIKARA song in my head. "CHIKARA around the worrrrrrrrrld!" Okay let's get this party started.
Apparently the end of Impact was "TNA 2007 Year End Awards." What would those awards be? Worst booked champion? Least bought PPV? Anyway Global Impact opens saying that in a metropolis of 12 million people, in front of a raucous crowd of 30K screaming fames in the Tokyo Dome, "cultures clashed and worls collided" as champions from two continents collided. These two nations were united by one commonality - a love of wrestling. The video opens promising us Tomko, Styles, Cage and Angle among others. It's time for the Global Impact!
The stars of TNA arrive in Japan on January 2nd, 2008 and soon they'll be in the Tokyo Dome. Cage: "It's a long journey to get here, but yeah it's going to be the biggest crowd ever for a TNA event." Angle on the journey: "When I think about Japan, all I think is wrestling. This is a big leap and bound for TNA." Kurt defens the IWGP Championship against "hometown hero" Yuji Nagata. Angle: "I don't think anybody's capable of beating me, I'm on top of my game, but it should be a really good match. I want Japan fans to remember me forever."
Tomko is one half of the current IWGP Tag Team Champions along with Giant Bernard (formerly known as A-Train in WWE). Tomko is alleged to be "fluent in the native language." Tomko: "I've been here for a little over a year now, I really like it here. I could move here. Japanese wrestling fans are a little different. They like to call it STRONG STYLE here, it's really physical, I think you'll see what I mean. There's a little less theatrics and a little more emphasis on wrestling." Team 3D and Scott Steiner also arrive in Japan. Brother Ray: "Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome is something we've never done, especially against a team that's been voted the 2007 Tag Team of the Year should be a memorable experience." Steiner: "The crowd's always enthusiastic, they really appreciate us. It's great to be here." Ray: "Japanese wrestling fans have been wanting to see TNA wrestlers come over here, and American fans are in for a treat because they don't get to see the Japanese style of pro wrestling. It's more based on fighting spirit, pro wrestlers in Japan are like Gods."
It's a special event for both New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA Wrestling. Angle: "The invasion of New Japan by TNA, it's very truck, people are going to like it, they're going to see a lot more action, a lot of things they've never seen before. You're mixing up two cultures, two styles, and what you're going to see is something brand new. That's what TNA created when it first came to life." Cage: "It's great to expand what they see on Spike TV and PPV and let them witness it in person." Steiner: "I think it shows you TNA is a factor not just in United States but around the world and it's an honor to come over here and compete in New Japan wrestling. I think it's going to be a fantastic show." Ray: "I think TNA is going to take a nice step in the Japanese pro wrestling market as a contender for American style wrestling." After this commercial break the COLLISION will begin!
And we're back. January 3rd, 2008. Tomko knows his way around Japan so we see him travelling on the subway and heading to Gold's Gym. Gold's Gym? I guess they have one everywhere, even Japan. "Tokyo Dome, it just doesn't get any bigger than this. This is my opportunity to show everybody I've grown as a wrestler, and man I'm excited." Tomko goes through a grueling workout of weightlifting, arm curls, crunches and more before hitting the subway again. Meanwhile Angle is doing press conferences and photos all day and all night long. Team 3D: "Me and my brother Devon have been coming here for 12 years now, but we're here to work for New Japan." Devon: "We've been here many times, wrestling in front of the Japanese fans, and tomorrow we're going to make history by basically beating the hell out of our opponents."
Cage: "It's great to compete in Japan and I'm looking forward to being in the Tokyo Dome." Angle: "I'm one of the most decorated wrestlers in professional wrestling. 12 time champion, gold medalist, and to come over to Japan and wrestle Nagata, one of the best wrestlers in Japan today, is a test for me. It's a test I'm going to pass. I'll get an A+. I plan on making Nagata tap out. I'm tired of people telling me the IWGP title I hold is not legit. I beat Lesnar last year. Nagata didn't beat him, I beat him. I am the champion and will continue to be as long as I wrestle. You can mark my words on that." Up next after commercial ALL ACCESS with the Impact stars.
After a promo for Against All Odds we're back and it's now January 4th. Angle: "I get to make Yuji Nagata tap out. It's one of the best days of my wrestling career. To me it's going to be a lot of fun. I don't mean to embarass the Japanese fans but when Nagata taps they're not going to feel so good." TNA stars start to arrive for the show. Tonight Petey Williams, AJ Styles and Cage are in a six-man in the opening match of the night. Williams: "This should be a record breaker for me." We see clips of the first match as AJ Styles delivers a Styles Clash and gets the win for TNA to put them up 1-0 over the New Japan stars. Cage: "It's a pleasure to wrestle in front of knowledgable, respectful fans." It feels more and more to me like they are turning Cage face again but hopefully they won't make him vanilla and forget his edgy personality. Next we see clips of Abyss having a hardcore match with Nakanishi, which he loses, though he vows revenge and swears they will meet again. "DO YOU SEE THESE SCARS? DO YOU SEE THIS BLOOD?~!"
Devon: "We've come for all the major organizations, and the Japanese organizations. I'm so amazed I'm still here, able to perform, and do what I do best. We just want to give the fans at home the best we can possibly give." The Team 3D match appears to be getting hardcore too, as ladders and tables are definitely involved. In fact it appears a slam through a table was the winning move. Ray: "We've never lost a match in Japan. We give them a lot of respect, they put up a good match, but they were in over their heads!" TNA is now up in Jew Japan 2-1. Here comes Rick and Scott Steiner, to do battle with the IWGP Tag Champs in Bernard and Tomko. It looks like the champs pick up the win with the Doomsday Device. Rick Steiner: "There's not too many places left where you can fight and wrestle like this and do your thing." Tomko: "We challenged the Steiners and we beat them. We are officially the best tag team in history as of January 4th, 2008!" The Angle & Nagata match after this break!
Two men, one championship, two seperate goals. One man looking to regain the title that defined his career. The other looking to keep both his belts and the title of most dominant wrestler today. Angle: "If he doesn't tap, it might go snap!" Angle has travelled halfway around the world for this title defense. "A good asskicking benefits you every now and then, and tonight I think Yuji Nagata will benefit from it." NICE. Nagata's reign has been 392 days. "I respect Angle but I do not think he is the true champion. He beat Brock but since then he has skipped matches and not defended his title in Japan. He is not the champion because he hasn't beaten the best!"
* Kurt Angle {C} v. Yuji Nagata {C} (IWGP 3rd Title Match)
Angle's TNA Heavyweight Championship is not on the line in this showdown at the Tokyo Dome. Mike Tenay informs us this is Nagata's 15th straight year of competing in a Dome which has been home to the likes of everyone from Hulk Hogan to Randy Savage." Angle comes out to his familiar entrance music as Tenay reminds us he's won titles in every major organization and won the Olympics with a broken neck. He should have said "BROKEN FREAKIN' NECK." Angle comes out holding the IWGP title over his left shoulder and the TNA title over the right. Tenay promises us the opening bell after this commercial break!
We're back! The promo from the break says Global Impact is coming to DVD. 3 hours, all six matches in their entirety. You know I might actually pick that one up, and I haven't bought a TNA DVD since Christian Cage's was released. The bell rings and Nagata gets stomped down in the corner right away, and the ref warns him to ease up. Nagata comes back with shots to the face but Angle hits a belly to belly suplex, but Nagata responds with a release suplex of his own. He tries to launch a kick and Angle quickly gets out of the ring to avoid it and regroup. Angle and Nagata circle for a test of strength, trade the advantage, and then Nagata grounds Angle with a side headlock. Angle fights back to his feet but unfortunately we miss some of the action as the director instead gives us a closeup of the IWGP belt. Nagata goes for a crossface but Angle gets the ropes for a break. We're informed that Tyson v. Douglas did not sell out this dome but a New Japan show the next night did (impressive fact if true).
Nagata starts getting in some of his famed kicks and the crowd pops for them but Angle responds with an overhead release suplex and goes for a cover that only gets one. Uppercut by Angle, Nagata responds by whipping him into the ropes and knocking him down with an elbow. Nagata locks an arm under his chin and pulls on his face. Angle gets up, Nagata pounds on his back, but Angle goes for Nagata's left leg and he rolls out to the floor selling the injury. Angle follows him out and kicks the legs, then throws him back in. Angle is working over the left leg hard and he grapevines the knee. Nagata tries to kick away with his free leg and succeeds but Angle grabs the leg then and puts Nagata into a figure four leglock. Japanese fans will never go WOOOOO but I will. Nagata tries to reverse him and turn the hold over but Angle regains the advantage and the crowd tries to will Nagata into making it on a second attempt - and he almost gets it but Angle turns it right back around again!
Nagata tries a new tack as the crowd cheers him on, inching his way to the ropes, and he finally manages to get the rope break although he's selling his left knee again as soon as Angle breaks the hold. Anle immediately grabs the leg and starts dropping his weight on it, but when he goes for another figure four Nagata counters into an armbar and pulls with all his might. Will he make Angle tap? We won't find out until after this commercial break. D'oh!
We're back and obviously Angle survived because he's giving Nagata a series of German suplexes. Apparently he got to the ropes and forced the break. Tenay says they're going to "lay out" and let you listen to the Japanese announcers for a bit, but his idea of "laying out" lasts all of five seconds. FUCK YOU MIKE TENAY. Nagataa and Tenay are going back and forth. Angle keeps trying to get the leg but Nagata manages to get him in the crossface, and Angle is inches away from tapping out but Angle reaches out and grabs Nagata's foot to apply the ankle lock! Now it's Nagata who is seconds away from tapping, but Nagata rolls through and puts the crossface back on. Back and forth! You've got to love it. Don West screams that Angle is losing his oxygen and the ref goes to check him but Angle gets his arm up before it drops.
More reversal and counters and Nagata kicks away from the ankle lock before trying to submit Nagata again, but Angle gets to his feet with Nagata's weight on him and hits the Olympic Slam for 1.. 2.. no! Angle goes up to the top rope for a moonsault but Nagata gets out of the way and hits a running knee on Angle in the corner! Nagata is Hulking up! He sets Angle up on the top rope and climbs up to the top for a belly to belly release suplex off the top! Nagata covers for 1.. 2.. no! Nagata goes back to the crossface again but Kurt is showing FIGHTING SPIRIT and refuses to submit. Nagata grabs Kurt's right arm and tries to pull his shoulders to the mat for a pin but only gets two. Angle tries to take him down, Nagata fights him off, and now it becomes a war of UPPERCUTS AND ROARING ELBOWS.
Angle and Nagata collide, both men are down, Nagata to his feet first for a release suplex that gets 2.999999. Nagata gets up first again and signals it's all over, goes running at Kurt for a kick, but Kurt grabs the leg and falls backwards with the leg grapevined and the ankle lock applied, and the very MMA-esque hold forces Nagata to finally give up and tap out! Angle retains! WINNER AND STILL IWGP 3RD TITLE CHAMPION: KURT ANGLE. Angle standsup and puts his hands up in the air, pounds his chest, and the the referee raises his arms in victory. Tenay says you can add Yuji Nagata to a list that includes Samoa Joe, Sting, Brock Lesnar and more of top level athletes Angle beat! Angle gives him a handshake and a hug out of respect and Nagata raises his arm in respect in return. Tenay once again runs down all the men who fought on this card from TNA as Angle hits the ropes to pose with both belts.
Post-match press conference. "I watched Nagata, I studied Nagata, but I didn't realize he was that good. Call me greedy or selfish, but when I get in the ring I'm gonna hurt somebody and I'm gonna win. I work for the best organization in the world, and when I go out there I'm gonna kick some ass for TNA." The Darth Vader announcer says that TNA was THE NEXUS OF HUMANITY no actually he says this was A NIGHT OF CONQUEST which is almost as absurdly over the top but somehow fitting anyway. That's how Global Impact ends!