February 13th, 2011
Robbie E. makes his way to the ring with Cookie. He announces that due to travel issues, Generation Me will not be competing tonight. He names himself the new #1 contender for the X Division Title. The referee counts out Generation Me to make it official. Kazarian interrupts and says that Robbie will get his title shot right now…
Opening Match: TNA X Division Title: Kazarian © vs. Robbie E.
Kazarian connects with a few strikes and hits a gutwrench suplex. A distraction from Cookie allows Robbie to take control. He whips Kazarian into the ring steps and hits a corner spear in the ring. Kazarian eventually comes back with a springboard dropkick and a springboard leg drop. Robbie escapes a reverse tombstone and almost gets the win after more interference from Cookie. Kazarian is able to his reverse tombstone on the second attempt to retain his title at 7:20. Short enough to hide Robbie’s weaknesses and the crowd was really behind Kazarian after Fortune’s recent defection from Immortal. They actually worked well together and were able to somewhat remedy Generation Me’s absence. **
Match #2: Scott Steiner, James Storm, and Robert Roode vs. Rob Terry, Gunner, and Murphy
Steiner cuts an incoherent promo before the match. AJ Styles joins commentary for this contest. Steiner belly to belly suplexes Gunner and Murphy. Terry enters the ring and flexes his muscles, but Steiner just low blows him. Storm hits a russian leg sweep on Murphy and follows with a neckbreaker on Gunner. Terry interferes from the apron, allowing Immortal to isolate Storm. He hits a backcracker on Terry and makes the tag. Roode clotheslines Terry to the floor and hits a blockbuster on Gunner. He follows with a uranagi for a two count. Beer Money suplex Terry and pander to the crowd. Roode hits a spinebuster on all three of his opponents. Gunner gets dazed on the top rope and Steiner hurricanranas him to the canvas for the victory at 10:11. This match ended up being much better than expected due to Steiner’s entertaining performance. He received a chance to run through most of his signature spots and garnered a decent reaction from the crowd. I’m not sure if this contest belonged on pay per view, but it was fine for what it was. **
Christy Hemme interviews Brother Devon in the locker room. He refuses to involve his two sons in his match against Bully Ray.
Match #3: Samoa Joe vs. D’Angelo Dinero
Dinero escapes a rear naked choke and retreats to the floor. He tries to leave but Joe’s cameraman Okada stops him. Joe lands a dive to the outside. Back in, Dinero hits a suplex but gets caught by a gamenguiri in the corner. Joe connects with a facewash kick. Dinero goes to the eyes and takes over with a neckbreaker. Joe catches him coming off the middle rope with an atomic drop and hits a senton. Joe snaps off a powerslam but Dinero responds with a stiff knee strike. Dinero rips off the top turnbuckle pad but fails to throw Joe into it. Joe synchs in a rear naked choke for the quick win at 8:29. The lame cameraman added nothing, the action was dull, and the finish sucked. This feud will continue! *½
Joe looks confused as Dinero smiles at the camera. Dinero offers a handshake, which Joe eventually accepts. Dinero then punches Joe and throws him into the exposed steel turnbuckle. Dinero finishes by connecting with the DDE. He leaves the ring as Joe angrily looks on.
Match #4: TNA Knockouts Title: Last Woman Standing: Madison Rayne © vs. Mickie James
Rayne tries to use her loaded glove to no avail. She rams Mickie into the ring steps. Mickie gains control in the ring. Rayne tries to leave but Mickie stops her with a clothesline on the entrance ramp. Rayne drives Mickie into the apron but gets whipped into the ringpost. Mickie lands a dive off the apron. They both go under the ring and come out on the other side. That was pretty pointless. Mickie connects with a kick but picks Rayne up before the ten count. In the ring, Mickie comes off the top rope with a thesz press and somewhat connects with a spin kick. She takes off Rayne’s glove and puts it on. Tara runs to the ring and Mickie knocks her out with the glove. The distraction allows Rayne to utilize brass knuckles. She covers Mickie at first but then remembers the rules. Mickie stays down for the ten count and Rayne retains her title at 8:28. Both women have had better performances. The action was incredibly unfocused and it seemed at times like they couldn‘t decide what they wanted to do next. The finish was anticlimactic and the stipulation went to waste. *¼
Matt Morgan makes his way to the ring and calls out Hernandez. Morgan wants some answers. Hernandez says that the people in Mexico treat him better than the people in America. Hernandez claims that this is Hispanic America and the “majority have become the minority.” That’s why he came back to TNA. Probably one of the dumbest explanations ever. Hernandez low blows Morgan and then pounces him. This show has felt like an episode of Impact thus far.
Match #5: Matt Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam
They exchange punches and RVD connects with a spin kick. Hardy blocks a monkey flip and hits snake eyes. RVD answers with another spin kick and Hardy retreats to the floor. RVD connects with a baseball slide. He gourdbusters Hardy across the guardrail and hits a guillotine leg drop. Hardy finds an opening to hit a DDT in the ring and takes over. RVD blocks a dive with a thrust kick and adds a superkick. He lands a standing moonsault followed by a split-legged moonsault. Hardy dodges a kick and hits the Side Effect. RVD escapes the Twist of Fate but gets back dropped off the top rope. Hardy misses a moonsault and RVD lands the Five Star Frog Splash for the victory at 13:19. They improved upon their match at Genesis but that’s not saying much. Hardy definitely looked better here and actually contributed to the contest this time. The action didn’t really pick up until the finishing stretch, leading to a strictly decent match. **¼
Match #6: Street Fight: Bully Ray vs. Brother Devon
Ray tries to jump Devon during his entrance to no avail. Devon controls throughout the early portion, utilizing fans’ beverages and camera cables. He repeatedly hits Ray with a kendo stick. Devon’s sons, Terrell and Terrence, come to ringside. The distraction allows Ray to sneak in a chair shot. Ray looks to hurt Devon and his sons try to intervene. Devon hits a back body drop and one of the sons bashes Ray with a garbage can shot. Devon’s sons assist him in hitting the Wazzup. GET THE TABLES!!! Ray sneaks in a low blow and handcuffs Devon to the ringpost. Terrence and Terrell check on their father. Ray boots Terrell and pins him for the win at 9:29. Devon’s promo earlier in the night made it seem as though his sons weren’t legal participants in the match. Well, it looks like TNA has swerved us once again. This feud has really went down the tubes since last month. *
After the match, Ray spits at Devon and talks trash. He goes to hit Devon with a chair but throws the chair down. Ray powerbombs Terrell through a table and slowly leaves the ring. Staff comes out to check on Devon’s sons.
Match #7: Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett
If Angle wins, he will receive custody of his kids. If Jarrett wins, Angle will have to walk Karen down the aisle. You’d think I’m kidding. Angle baits Jarrett into a back suplex and takes control on the mat. The action goes to the floor where Karen slaps her ex-husband. Angle punches Jarrett repeatedly as Karen watches on in disgust. In the ring, Angle avoids a charge and collides with the ringpost. Jarrett throws him shoulder-first into the guardrail and takes over in the ring. Jarrett goes up top but Angle suplexes him to the canvas. Both men are down. They trade punches and Angle hits a belly to belly suplex. He applies an ankle lock but Jarrett quickly escapes. Angle hits rolling german suplexes but gets caught by an enzuigiri. Jarrett goes for the Stroke but finds himself in an ankle lock. Angle hits the Angle Slam. A distraction from Karen allows Jarrett to sneak in a low blow. Jarrett hits the Stroke for a nearfall. He goes for another one but Angle accidentally pushes him into the referee. They brawl on the floor where Jarrett tosses Angle into the ring steps. Jarrett grabs a chair but Angle blocks a chair shot. Angle goes to use the chair but the referee takes it away from him. Jarrett tries a quick rollup to no avail. A distraction from Karen allows Jarrett to hit the Stroke from the middle rope for a two count. Angle responds with a german suplex and applies an ankle lock. Karen enters the ring and stops the referee from seeing Jarrett tapping. Jarrett hits Angle with a chair and covers for a nearfall. Jarrett turns an ankle lock attempt into a rollup for the victory at 16:16. The overbooking kicked in as expected and held back what could have been a great match. These two have proved that they can deliver (Genesis 2009) and I don’t know why TNA won’t just let them go out there and wrestle. Hopefully they receive that opportunity as their feud comes to an end. Still, this was far better than anything else on the show up to this point. ***¼
Match #8: TNA World Title: Ladder Match: Mr. Anderson © vs. Jeff Hardy
Anderson dodges a charge and Hardy collides with a ladder. Hardy responds by hitting a neckbreaker onto a ladder. Anderson stops him from climbing and hits a neckbreaker of his own. Hardy connects with a mule kick and a corner dropkick. He uses the ladder to deliver a low blow. Anderson hits a russian leg sweep onto the ladder and uses another ladder to climb. They battle on top of a ladder and Hardy hits a sunset bomb. Hardy leapfrogs over a ladder but misses a flying leg drop. They trade reversals and Hardy back drops Anderson onto a ladder. He takes control until Anderson throws a ladder at him. Hardy whips Anderson into the ring steps and sends him into the front row. He hip tosses Anderson over the guardrail and onto the concrete floor. In the ring, Anderson hits a suplex onto a ladder and begins to climb. Hardy stops him and hits the Twist of Fate. Anderson responds with a finlay roll onto the ladder but misses a swantan. Each man climbs a separate ladder. Anderson goes for the Mic Check but falls to the canvas. Hardy loses his balance and falls off his ladder as well. Hardy quickly climbs the ladder again and retrieves the belt to become the new TNA World Champion at 18:16. Solid main event without being anything special to save the show. They were able to implement a few unique ladder spots and managed to avoid any contrived moments. On the other hand, the action became a little mundane at points and the finish was ultimately anticlimactic. However, I’m glad that TNA gave the main event some time and steered clear of any screwy finishes. That is greatly appreciated. ***
Overall: Against All Odds 2011 is the normal pay per view offering from TNA. Most of the show plays out like an episode of Impact until the two main events somewhat come through. However, I wouldn’t call either of the main events “must see.” None of the current feuds have any steam right now and I don’t foresee things picking up anytime soon. I would love to be proven wrong. Hunt down the two main events if you’re interested. Otherwise, recommendation to avoid.
