Thoughts From The Top Rope 05.07.08: When TNA Met WWE

Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 05.07.2008

First of all, I want to thank Andrew Clark for the idea. Secondly... I got nothing. But come in and read anyway, yeah?

This column originally started out as an entry for The Fink's Payload, one of my old columns now superbly run by Andrew Clark. The "homework" was to book a TNA vs. WWE Invasion-esque war and is usually the case with these kinds of things, I got a little carried away. Not wanting to fill Clark's column with reams of my fantasy booking (I know how irritating handling the Payload can be) I decided to book a near year-long rivalry between TNA and WWE that culminates at WrestleMania, and make a column (or several) out of it. Which is where we're at now.

There would have been more content this week if it wasn't for my computer dying on me late Tuesday evening, but I think I've come up with a somewhat compelling kick-off to a fantasy booking frenzy of a war.

To manage such a lengthy feud properly, I needed to compile a list of dates of upcoming TNA and WWE pay-per-views in order to ensure I didn't lose track of where I was and make sure that I had enough good material booked for each show.

July 13th – Victory Road
July 20th – Great American Bash
August 10th – Hard Justice
August 17th – Summerslam
September 7th - Unforgiven
September 14th – No Surrender
October 5th – No Mercy
October 12th – Bound For Glory
October 26th – Cyber Sunday
November 9th – Genesis
November 23rd – Survivor Series
December 14th – Turning Point

Our war begins at TNA's Victory Road.

Victory Road 2008 results:

X-Division Championship – Sonjay Dutt defeats Jay Lethal after turning heel by using a low blow to get the upper hand late in the match. Dutt offers a handshake after the match. Lethal, being the gullible friend he is, accepts, but Dutt takes his head off with a clothesline. Dutt puts the exclamation point on the attack by hitting Lethal with the title belt.

Gail Kim, Roxxi Laveaux, ODB and Daizee Haze defeat Awesome Kong, Raisha Saed, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky when Haze pins Sky.

The Motor City Machineguns beat Black Reign and Rellik.

Petey Williams beats Scott Steiner. Steiner turned on Williams after he accidentally cost Steiner his title match, leading to this match.

TNA Tag Team Championship – LAX defeats Christian Cage and Rhino, Team 3D and AJ Styles and Tomko in a four corners match.

Kurt Angle beats Booker T via submission.

Jeff Jarrett makes his return to TNA. He cuts a promo on the growth of TNA. He says that there will be a major announcement regarding the future of TNA… tomorrow night on WWE Raw!

TNA World Championship - Samoa Joe retains the title in a triple threat match against James Storm and Robert Roode. Joe pins Storm following a Muscle Buster.

The Night That Starts A War

Monday Night Raw (7/14) kicks off with Vince McMahon in the ring. He says that if you're one of the few people who watched TNA's Victory Road pay-per-view last night, you will already know that tonight, there will be a major announcement regarding the future of Total Non-stop Action Wrestling. He says that there are various TNA representatives here tonight, and he apologizes because the audiences won't have a clue who they are. McMahon says he hasn't felt this good since he purchased WCW.

Later in the show, Chris Jericho hosts the Highlight Reel, with a very special guest – former TNA World Champion and former WWE Champion Kurt Angle! Angle gets a massive pop from the crowd. Jericho asks Angle if he knows what the big announcement is and Angle says everyone has a pretty good idea. Jericho says Angle must feel pretty damn stupid considering he ran his mouth for the past two years about how TNA would overtake WWE and how TNA was the better product. When Angle doesn't respond, Jericho says that he assumes Angle will come crawling back, on his knees, and beg Vince McMahon for his old job back. Angle again stays quiet, so Jericho asks how it feels to be a has been in a company that never was. Angle has heard enough and he decks Jericho with a right hand. Angle quickly goes for the ankle but Jericho slithers out of the ring. Angle trashes the set of the Highlight Reel and stands tall.

The headline match of the show is a 3-on-2 Handicap match pitting JBL, Umaga and Randy Orton against WWE Champion Triple H and Shawn Michaels, DX. Before the match begins, Triple H gets on the mic and says that General Manager Regal has allowed this match to become a Six-Man Tag. Triple H and Michaels point up to the entrance way and their partner is Kevin Nash! The conclusion of the match sees Michaels take Umaga out with a super kick, Nash hit the Jack-knife on Orton and Triple H pinning JBL following a Pedigree. The three Kliq members celebrate.

The main event interview segment sees Vince McMahon make his way to the ring with a contract in hand. He says that there is someone else that needs to be out here before he can make the announcement. Out comes TNA World Champion Samoa Joe. Vince says that Joe wasn't who he was expecting. Vince apparently comes to the sudden realization that Joe is the champion of TNA and mocks his figure. Joe tells Vince to keep laughing. Joe says he worked his ass off in TNA for three long years in order to become the world champion, and Vince is a fool for ever thinking that Joe would let McMahon buy TNA as long as he was the champion. Vince points out that Joe doesn't have a lot of say in the matter. Joe says that's where he is wrong because all that stuff Jeff Jarrett's been feeding Vince about financial difficulties, decreasing ratings and overpaid workers was all a load of crap. Joe says Vince is a great business man but his one fault is his ego. "Jarrett knew that if he gave you the opportunity to buy out TNA, you'd go public and now here we are; the main event of Monday night Raw and the TNA World Champion is standing in the middle of the ring." Joe says the contract in Vince's hand doesn't mean a damn thing without the right signatures and says nobody is going to sign that contract. Joe says Vince's ego will be his downfall once again, and TNA is declaring war on WWE! "One more thing, Vince. Turn around." GUITAR SHOT! Jeff Jarrett lays out McMahon!

Jarrett and Joe stand tall as we fade to black.

The Fallout From The Guitar Shot Heard Around The World

Armando Estrada kicks off that week's episode of ECW in the ring. He says he was disgusted by what he saw take place on Monday Night Raw last night and he wants to do something to get a little bit of revenge. He says that Kane will defend the ECW Championship at The Great American Bash against any member of TNA with the cajones to show up. Estrada is next seen backstage where he bumps into one of ECW's newest performers, Chris Harris. Estrada points out that Harris used to work for TNA, and so he'll go one-on-one with Kane tonight. Estrada then sees Vince McMahon who tells him that he likes the idea of Kane destroying TNA talent. Vince says no one gets away with humiliating Vincent Kennedy McMahon and that TNA will pay the price. In the main event, Kane beats Chris Harris with a chokeslam, but after the match, James Storm comes through the crowd to nail Kane with a beer bottle. Storm holds up the ECW Championship as ECW goes off the air. On wwe.com the next day, James Storm is confirmed as Kane's challenger for the Great American Bash.

On that Thursday's Impact, it is essentially business as normal for TNA except for a celebration, which is the main event. The TNA roster come out to honour Jarrett, Joe, Angle and Storm. Angle gets on the mic and points out that Kevin Nash was fraternizing with the enemy on Monday night. Nash asks Angle what he's gonna do about it and Angle says maybe we're about to find out. Angle takes a shot at Nash and they brawl. Nash overpowers Angle and tosses him to the floor when the entire roster put a beat down on Nash. Storm lays him out with a beer bottle shot and Jay Lethal follows it up with an elbow drop. Samoa Joe begins to help Nash up, only to quickly put him in the Coquina Clutch! Joe stands over Nash as the show ends.

Friday Night on SmackDown sees the final hype for The Great American Bash. In a preview to that Sunday's fatal four way World Championship match, Batista takes on MVP. Midway through the match, we get a camera shot of the parking lot where we see Team 3D stood by a car which turns out to be Batista's. Brother Ray is mouthing off and sporting a baseball bat, which prompts the Animal to leave the ring and scurry to the back. MVP wins by count out and is celebrating in the ring when he turns around into a GORE! GORE! GORE! Rhino leaves through the crowd as various lower card SmackDown wrestlers run down to the ring. Back in the parking lot, Batista is fighting off Team 3D until he gets drilled from behind by Christian Cage. Cage gives him the one-man conchairto on the concrete before hopping in driving off with Team 3D and Rhino.

The Great American Bash 2008 results:

In an 8-man tag match, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels and Mr. Kennedy defeat JBL, Umaga, Snitsky and William Regal. All four men hit their finishers on Snitsky leading to Michaels getting the pin.

Backstage, Armando Estrada points out that Chris Harris and James Storm used to be partners in TNA and that Harris may have had something to do with Storm getting in the building Tuesday night. Harris denies it and says he will prove his allegiance tonight.

United States Championship - Matt Hardy beats CM Punk following a Twist of Fate to retain.

Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe, Rhino, Christian Cage and Kurt Angle arrive with tickets and take their seats in the front row.

Women's Championship - Mickie James beats Beth Phoenix, Maria, Michelle McCool, Melina and Natalya Neidhart in an 8-pack challenge.

ECW Championship - James Storm upsets Kane to become the new champion when interference from Chris Harris backfired. With the referee down, Harris snuck into the ring and took Storm's beer bottle away from him, only to misfire and hit Kane with it leading to the 3 count. Storm celebrated with his fellow TNA wrestlers in the front row.

John Cena made his shocking return to WWE after taking time off to heel up (or, film a movie). He addressed the TNA contingent in the front row by saying he was ready to go to war and that "if you want some… come get some." They don't act so Cena goes out and gets in their faces. He calls Angle a bitch and looks at Jarrett and says "I don't even know who you are." Jarrett spits in his face so Cena takes a swing and decks Jarrett! Security rush down and pull Cena away.

World Championship - Edge retains the gold, besting Batista, MVP and Undertaker in a four way match. MVP was taken out of the equation following a Tombstone. Batista took out Taker with a spine buster but was pulled from the ring by Team 3D who delivered a 3D to Batista on the floor. Security and referees were trying to force Team 3D out of there when Christian Cage jumped the rail and saved Edge from a Last Ride, leading to a conchairto, which gave Edge the win. Edge seemed confused and stared down Cage as he left with the rest of the TNA guys.

And that's where we'll leave it for this week (cliff-hanger~!?). This is going to be quite a lengthy feature that'll run like this…

Week 2 – Up to and including Bound For Glory
Week 3 – Up to and including Royal Rumble
Week 4 – Up to and including WrestleMania

But if you're not a fantasy-booking fan, I will have other material in those weeks.

Finally, I need to thank Jarrod Westerfeld for filling in for me last week, and at short notice too. He did a great job and you must now go and read his stuff. And if you emailed me regarding the brand extension a couple of weeks ago, I did get your thoughts and was going to respond to them, but my PC troubles didn't give me much time to do that this week (if I get a chance, I'll email you in the next day or two).

And I'm done for another week. Feel free to head on over to the music zone and check out my music news report. If not, I'll just see you back here next week.