TNA No Surrender 2011 Review - Kurt Angle Retains World Title

As expected, No Surrender kicked off with the entire roster taking part in a 9/11 tribute. TNA Knockout Rosita, whose father died in the attacks, was shown. Jesse Neal was shown in full sailor attire. We get a rendition of America the Beautiful and a big USA chant. Now finally its time for the show to begin proper. Mike Tenay and Tazz are the announcers and first it€™s€ #1 Contenders Match for the X Division Title Jesse Sorensen vs. Kid Kash Anyone else think it€™s about time he dropped the Kid in his name? I know Man Kash doesn€™t have the same ring to it, but he€™s definitely not a kid anymore. In saying that as long as he never brings back the Pit-bull gimmick, I€™m happy. Match starts off with an exchange of quick pin falls and reversals that the fans are well behind from the bell. Kash is working his well known heel persona in this one with plenty of trash talking on Jesse. After a drop toe hold to the corner, Kash takes control and makes sure to work in a few disrespectful slaps to Jesse for good measure. Jesse tries to mount a comeback with a dropkick, and a 2 count. He blocks an attempted Russian Leg Sweep and counters with his own neck breaker which is good for another near fall. Jesse to the top, and a flying cross body for another quick 2 count. The more I think about this one, you have to think whoever wins this will give away the result of the X Title match later in the show. If a heel wins here, Brian Kendrick will retain and vice versa. Kash is on top again but arguing with the referee. He pushes Brian Hebner, who SHOVES him right back. Those Hebners love a shoving match. They do it much too often. Kash goes to the top floor. He messes up a springboard moonsault though€ I guess that€™s still good enough for a two count? Sorensen grabs him and drops him with the Inverted DDT and that€™s a three count! Sorensen gets the win and a title shot in the future, and I have to guess that this means an Austin Aries win later in the show. Kudos to Kash for putting over the young blood. Winner (And new X Division Number One Contender): Jesse Sorensen Hogan and Angle are backstage. Because we can€™t go a show without seeing Hogan. Kurt says that Hogan was supposed to protect him, he€™s not ready for both Anderson and Sting. Hogan told him he sees this as FOOD for Angle. Bound For Glory Finals Match Bully Ray vs. James Storm It would be pretty interesting if they put Storm against his partner Roode for this thing, but I doubt that€™s the way they€™ll go. According to Jeremy Borash, James Storm can ONLY win this one by submission. I don€™t think they really thought about this BFG Series in advance, seems like last minute booking all around. Bully Ray kicked this one off with some serious stalling, which I hate to see on a Pay Per View. Save it for the road. He takes a sign and tears it up. Back in the ring he goes€And back out again. Crowd is hating him, which is what he wants I guess, but I want some action. Storm finally gets outside the ring with him and Ray is on the run. They circle the ring, slide back in, and Ray slides out again. Cue a €œPussy Ray€ Chant. Subtle. Ray FINALLY takes advantage of the mind games and takes it to Storm. As soon as Storm gets a chance he goes for a submission, but Bully makes it to the ropes easily. And now hes outside the ring again, stalling. When Ray gets back in, its straight back to the arm for Storm. Ray slides to the outside yet again, but this time Storm is right behind him. He uses the steel steps to inflict a bit more damage to Ray€™s arm but Ray manages to trip him up and fall off the apron. He rolls Storm back into the ring, but there€™s time for a sip of beer before he follows him in. He grabs a chair, the referee takes it away from him, so he uses the distraction to spit the beer into Storm€™s face. Ray stays on top until he goes for his Bully Bomb, which Storm slips out of and turns into an immediate arm hold. This time it€™s a foot Ray gets to the ropes. Some more submission attempts later, Storm gets dumped to the apron. He decides to take a sip of beer€he goes for the spit€ but it€™s the referee who takes it in the face and not Bully. Storm gets Bully in another arm breaker and this time Bully taps out. The bell rings, but its not for the submission. The referee calls for the disqualification for spitting on the ref instead. Winner by DQ: Bully Ray (3 points) Leaving Bully Ray in First place and Storm eliminated How needlessly complicated. So Cal Val attempts to interview Bully. But he€™s a Bully after all, and he tells her to shut up and shouts his own name repeatedly. TNA Knockouts Title Match Winter (w/Angelina Love) vs. Mickie James (Champion) Mickie James is Wonder Woman tonight, you know, because of 9/11. Winter attacks during Mickie€™s entrance and Mickie ends up on the outside. Angelina Love gets involved. Winter comes outside too, and gets whipped into the steel steps. Back in the ring they go, where Winter takes control with a rake of the eyes and some work in the corner. Mickie manages a head scissors. Before she can capitalise, Angelina grabs her foot allowing Winter to attack from behind again. That Earl Hebner needs glasses. Winter starts working the back, and hits two back breakers. Mickie floors Winter with a neck breaker and the comeback is on. Clotheslines by Mickie, Angelina attempts the distraction but Mickie still gets a super kick on Winter. Mickie with the Single Leg Crab now. Winter struggles to the ropes, but as she reaches she grabs the title belt. She turns around to deck Mickie, who ducks and rolls her up. One€Two€Kickout! Angelina pulls Winter out of the ring again and this time Mickie dives off the apron on top of Winter then chases Love from ringside. Mickie comes back to the ring, but Angelina runs back down and grabs onto her. Winter goes to spit her red mist into Mickie€™s face but instead connects with Angelina€™s face instead! Hebner goes to check on Angelina€ Winter sprays MORE mist into Mickie€™s face. There€™s a cover and there€™s a three count. Winner and NEW Knockouts Champion: Winter The refs and trainers are out to check on Angelina and Mickie, while I'm left wondering why they did almost the exact same finish in two matches in a row. Jeremy Borash is backstage with Gunner and he lets us know that the terribly thought out Bound For Glory Tournament continues with both Roode and Gunner having to win by submission now. Ray came in to offer words of advice, which just ended in he and Gunner getting in each others faces. TNA Tag Team Title Match Devon and The Pope D€™Angelo Dinero vs. Mexican America (With Rosita and Sarita) With it being September 11th, I sure hope they don€™t go for the tacky feel good All American finish with Mexican America losing. Mexican America€™s matches are frustrating. Anarquia and Hernandez are such long words to type. Pope and Devon showing no signs of dissension in the early going and take complete control with quick tags and double teams. Rosita gets on the apron to argue with the ref but instead takes a forced kiss from the Pope. Insert joke here about the Pope forcing himself on someone. Anarquia runs into their corner which knocks Rosita down to the floor. Hernandez manages a massive splash on Devon then knocks Pope off the apron. Anarquia takes a tag and climbs up top. Flying shoulder block is good for two! Double Team corner splashes from Mexican America take down Devon for another strong two count. Towards the end of the match, Rosita gets involved again. She dives off the top rope but gets caught by the Pope. Pope decides to give her a spanking. Pope. Spanking. Too easy. Pope goes for a suplex on Anarquia from the apron, but Rosita grabs his foot. She holds him down as Anarquia falls on him and gets the one, two, three for Mexican America. Winners and STILL TNA Tag Champions: Mexican America Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan This one should be an all out brawl. Immediately they€™re in the corner exchanging massive chops on each other. Morgan get€™s the better and uses his patented swinging elbows in the corner. Joe is down in the corner and Morgan charges with a running knee. They take it to the outside, where Joe takes advantage. He rolls back into the ring, only to FLY straight back out with a suicide dive onto Morgan. Back into the ring we go. Joe is the one to take main control again including a big running knee to the head of Matt Morgan. Joe works on Matt€™s arm for a while including attempting some submission holds. After a belly to belly suplex, Joe gets a near fall. The rear naked choke is attempted but Morgan backs him into the corner. This isn€™t enough however, as Joe has it locked on again, and tight this time. Joe drops him to the mat, but after a struggle, Morgan gets his foot to the ropes. Joe isn€™t happy with the referee and backs him into the corner. He turns around and charges at Morgan only to fall to the Carbon Footprint Big Boot out of nowhere! Morgan covers and that€™s One€Two€Three! Some seriously hard shots in this one. Not surprised to see Joe continue losing. Wouldn€™t be surprised to see his time to see his time at TNA come to an end in the near future. Winner: Matt Morgan Storm and Roode were backstage. Storm told Roode he had hoped to face him in the final, but now everyone believes in him and he deserves to win. And win he probably will if someone is to face Bully Ray. Bound For Glory Series Finals Robert Roode vs. Gunner Crowd are well behind Robert Roode from the beginning here. This one starts off with a lockup but they€™re almost immediately on the floor in an intense brawl. Roode brings Gunners arm into the ringpost. They go back into the ring and Roode continues to work the shoulder. They have to win by submission remember! Gunner turns the tide with a DDT. Gunner is in charge of this match now and choking Roode in the ropes. Gunner gives him the sling shot with his neck placed underneath the bottom rope. Gunner is focusing completely on the neck now and continues with a spinning neck breaker. He sticks him in a head scissors to put even more pressure on the neck. Roode attempts another short comeback, but is stopped short with another neck breaker. Gunner goes for the submission with a Full Nelson now focused on Roode€™s injured neck. Roode is brought all the way to the mat and forced to fight. He gets back to his feet and finally manages to break the hold. Now it€™s a slug fest to see who can regain control. Gunner runs at him with a knee, but Roode ducks and comes back with his big spine buster. Roode takes him down with yet another arm bar. Gunner struggles but ultimately makes it to the ropes. Gunner attempts his running knee again and this time takes Roode out. He goes for the Full Nelson again, but his arm is hurt from earlier. Its time for ANOTHER arm bar now from Roode. Gunner struggles once more and just about reaches the ropes€ Roode pulls him back into the centre of the ring€Gunner taps! Robert Roode advances by the submission he needed! Winner by Submission: Robert Roode. (10 points and now tied with Bull Ray at Number One) Robert Roode€™s celebration is cut short when the Coolest Man in Wrestling, Eric Bischoff comes out. Bischoff tells him that although he won, the Bound For Glory series will actually be resolved TONIGHT. So in an unadvertised match, Robert Roode will face Bully Ray for the number one Contendership match. Elsewhere in the arena, Austin Aries is being interviewed. He tells us the time for talking is over, it€™s now time for Total Non-stop Aries. He promises to become the new X Division Champion X Division Title Match Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick (Champion) Crowd are split for the first time tonight with half yelling for Kendrick and the other for Aries. I€™m a fan of both I€™m just happy to see them facing each other on PPV. They kick off with some tentative counters and arm bars in a feeling out process. Kendrick gets the better of Aries, who climbs out of the ring for a few seconds to regroup. Back in the ring, he opts to knee Kendrick in the stomach rather than lockup with him. Aries gives him a STIFF running shoulder and a double set of arm drags. Then its Kendrick€™s turn, who gets a set himself and then drops him with a drop toe hold. Kendrick blocks an Aries attempt at a pin and boots him in the face. Kendrick going for Sliced Bread early here, but Aries blocks it and slides to the outside. Kendrick won€™t let him rest this time and attempts a Baseball Slide, but Austin Aries moves out of the way. Both men on the outside now, Kendrick takes control by throwing him into the barriers. Kendrick goes for an interesting Sliced Bread attempt on the floor, but Aries blocks yet again. In a great spot, Aries throws him into the ring post and then gives him a Russian Leg sweep backwards into it. He rolls him back into the ring but its only good for two. Aries continues the innovative offence and gets another 2 count after a hard chop to Brian€™s back. Aries slows it down with a knee in Kendrick€™s back for a submission hold. After a rest they make it back to their feet, but Aries once again takes control. He drops Kendrick and goes for his trademark swinging elbow drop. He swings into it but Kendrick moves out of the way. Kendrick gives him a jaw breaker but misses an flying kick almost right away. Aries throws him to the corner and goes for his running dropkick. Kendrick counters by throwing a kick and the two meet in the corner. Kendrick manages to place him in a Tree of Woe type move in the ropes, then dropkicks him to the floor and follows up with a quick suicide dive to the floor! Back in the ring they go and Kendrick with a great missile dropkick. One€Two€Kickout! He goes for Sliced Bread for a third time but again its countered and he is thrown out to the floor. It€™s Aries turn to dive outside now, but Kendrick misses and Aries goes FACE FIRST into the barrier on the outside. And that one looked like it hurt! The fan rightfully start up the night€™s first Holy Shit chant. Both men on the outside as the referee counts. He makes it to nine before they come back into the ring. They€™re both throwing tired blows at each other now. Kendrick charges and AGAIN ends up being thrown to the floor. Aries now goes for a flying corkscrew press, which just about grazes Kendrick. Back in the ring, Aries covers for another near fall. Kendrick rolls him up 1...2...Kickout. Now a back slide 1...2...Nope. And another roll up for another two. When he gets back up, Aries floors him with a HUGE spinning fore arm. Then he drops him with his Draping DDT. He signals the end of the match by going up top for his 450 Splash. Aries flies€Kendrick moves€Aries rolls through and saves himself! Kendrick double arm suplex, and he goes for Sliced Bread for a FOURTH time. This time the ref gets in his way and he is caught by Aries and smashed into the canvas with a Brain Buster. One€Two€Three. We have another new champion! Winner and NEW X Division Champion: Austin Aries Bully Ray gets even MORE mic time backstage. He says he has to win because the title shot with be in Philadelphia. Then he even tells us his game plan, which is to go right after his opponents neck. Bound For Glory Series FINAL Bully Ray vs. Robert Roode No complicated stipulations for this one. Winner takes it all! Crowd definitely want Robert Roode to take this one, and I have to agree with them. And to emphasise it all, Roode is holding his neck as he comes to the ring. Bully Ray gets in his face, but TNA do a good job announcing this one, making it seem like the massive deal that it should be. Crowd are all over Ray again with that Pussy Ray chant from earlier as he begins to stall just like earlier. Ray goes to the outside again, grabs a chair, knocks a fans hat off and eventually gets back in the ring. Roode gets the better of the lockup. Ray goes outside again. Back in he gets and Roode takes control again. Crowd going bananas now for Roode as he is taken into the corner. Ray gives him his massive chest slap, but Roode doesn€™t even sell it. Instead he gives him a look at his middle finger. Huge Pop. Bully tries to take it right to him but Roode stays on top and clotheslines him. Ray goes back outside AGAIN. When he comes back in he finally gets a good series of offence going with a big shoulder. Roode with a Cross Face€Ray rolls him over€one€two€Kickout. Ray starts beating on him and starts raining down with the heavy chops. Roode starts to Hulk Up and begs for more. He flips Bully around it turns into a brawl. Roode gives him a block buster off the top. Ray and Roode continued to brawl and Ray busted his nose. A side slam and a Bully Bomb are only good enough for two! Roode gets his Spine Buster!! One€Two€Three!! Robert Roode wins the Bound For Glory Series! Winner and NEW #1 Contender for World Title: Robert Roode! TNA World Title Match Kurt Angle (Champion) vs. Mr Anderson vs. Sting I can€™t see anyone but Kurt Angle winning this one. Sting looks set for other things in his Hogan storyline, and Anderson seems like a last minute afterthought as an addition to this match. Sting and Anderson kick it off by double teaming Kurt Angle with whips and Stinger Splashes into the corner. As soon as they dump Angle on the floor however, they turn on each other. Anderson with a two count after a scoop slam. Sting whips him into the ropes, but Angle trips him from the outside and pulls him out to the floor. He decks him with a clothesline and rolls into the ring to face Sting. Sting gets the better of him and gives him an Atomic Drop for a two. Sting with a suplex and a float over for two. Angle has had enough and he gets to his feet and goes right for the eyes. He throws Sting to the outside. Anderson is back in now and takes Angle out. He whips him HARD into the buckles and its enough for two. Sting comes back in to break the cover after Anderson gives Angle a neck breaker. Sting attempts a German Suplex on Anderson, but Angle is right up behind him to SUPLEX THEM BOTH! Angle takes control now and theres a snap suplex on Sting. He locks Sting in a submission, but he fights out no problem. Sting with a Stinger Splash in the Corner and a DDT! One, Two, Anderson breaks it up! Anderson boots Sting in the head and covers but its Angle who breaks this time. Anderson tries the Mic Check on Angle€ Kurt blocks€ German, German, German! Now he turns to Sting and gets the three German Suplexes on him too. 2 Count on Sting! Then another on Anderson. Angle sets Anderson on the top rope but gets pushed away. That doesn€™t stop him however as he charges right back up and throws Anderson over his head back to the mat. That€™s good for another two. Turns his attention to Sting now. Angle Slam€Reversed€Sting throws him outside. Scorpion Death Lock on Anderson! Anderson struggles€Reaches the ropes€Sting pulls him back! Anderson could tap, but Angle charges in and decks Sting from behind to break the hold. ANGLE SLAM! One€Two€Kickout! Angle Slam on Anderson and that€™s another two! Ankle Lock is now on Sting. Sting rolls through. Anderson gets the Mic Check on Angle! One, Two, Kickout! Anderson sets Sting up for the Green Bay Plunge but Sting slips out. Scorpion Death Drop!! It€™s only good for two as Kurt Angle pulls him out and throws him into the barrier. Hulk Hogan arrives on the scene and he sprays something in Stings eyes! Sting gets back in the ring but cant see, which allows Kurt to give him a low blow to stop him, then cover him for the win. The show ends with Hogan and Angle celebrating together. Winner and still TNA Champion: Kurt Angle. Overall Thoughts No Surrender was a decent PPV with some definite highlights. Bearing in mind that big names like AJ Styles, RVD, Chris Daniels and others didn€™t even make it on the card the talent involved did a good job making the most of their opportunity. The weird trend of the night was things being spat or sprayed in opponents faces, with THREE of the matches using that ending. Although the Bound For Glory series had a bit of a weirdly confusing points ending, Roode winning was a fitting finale. I€™m sure his match against Kurt Angle will be a sight to see, and they should definitely have him win to give Bound For Glory that massive Wrestlemania feel. The Main Event started slow but picked up, and ended with another tease of Sting vs. Hogan which looks set to happen. Match of the Night: For me it has to be Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick. Innovative Offence, good false finishes and stiff strikes made it the most exciting match for me. And Aries dive to the outside was the only real Holy Shit moment of the night.