Thoughts From The Top Rope 8.06.08: TNA vs. WWE Concludes

Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 08.06.2008

The fantasy booking war comes to an end as Samoa Joe and John Cena fight for their company's survival!

Again, I make no apologies for dedicated three straight columns entirely to fantasy booking. Some people hate it and that's fine; you are under no obligation to read.

Now's a good time for me to be doing a bit of fantasy booking, because I'm frustrated with the current wrestling product. They're running with Cena/Batista at an event not named WrestleMania and that is wrong. Mike Adamle is general manager of Raw, and I don't like it. The push of Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase is derailed and I don't like it. And so on.

Fantasy booking gives me a chance to think about what wrestling could be like. And though TNA and WWE will never engage in such a war, it's nice to forget for a moment all the bad stuff that's on Raw and SmackDown and Impact and even my current favourite show, ECW.

So for one last time, Thoughts From The Top Rope brings you WWE vs. TNA. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!


TNA vs. WWE Concludes
Night One Results:
Chris Jericho def. Kaz to win the X Division Championship
Mr. Kennedy and MVP def. LAX
Katie Lea Burchill, Natalya, Victoria and Beth Phoenix def. Taylor Wilde, Roxxi Leveaux, ODB and Gail Kim
CM Punk def. Jay Lethal to retain the United States Championship
The Hardys def. Team 3D and Miz and Morrison to win the Tag Team Championships in a TLC Match
Christy Hemme def. Maria in a Lingerie Pillow Fight
Christopher Daniels def. The Undertaker
Score: WWE 5-2 TNA

Night Two Results:
Beer Money def. APA
Rhaka Khan, Moose and The Beautiful People def. Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool and Melina
Cryme Tyme def. Scott Steiner and Petey Williams
Umaga def. Booker T
Jeff Jarrett def. Rob Van Dam
Triple H def. Vince McMahon
Christian Cage def. Edge to become World Heavyweight Champion
Score: WWE 7-7 TNA

Night Three

We open with a clip from earlier today. Jeff Jarrett is surrounded by TNA wrestlers in the locker-room. He says tonight is do or die. They will never have the opportunity to make history like this again. If they lose, that's it. They're all finished, and they'll never make a name for themselves like they've been trying to do for the past 7 years again. Jarrett says they've got this far, and if they fail now, it'll be down to a select number of individuals. It'll be down to AJ Styles, Sting and Samoa Joe. Joe stands up and gets in the face of Jarrett. He calls him a condescending son of a bitch and points out that they all know what's on the line tonight. Jarrett tells Joe to get out of his face, because he made this company and he made Joe. Joe snaps and says he's wrong. It was the likes of Joe, and AJ, and Christopher Daniels and the Machineguns and Sting and Jay Lethal and LAX who made this company and he guarantees that after tonight, it will be them leading TNA into the future, as the one dominant entity in professional wrestling.

Elsewhere, Vince McMahon gives the WWE Superstars a pep talk. He has them split into three groups. He thanks all of those who already won their matches this weekend. He then turns to those who have lost their matches. He calls them all losers and says because of them, everyone's job is in jeopardy tonight. He says even if WWE does win the war tonight, he may fire them for being so incompetent anyway. Evan Bourne, who has a match coming up tonight, points out that Vince lost his match to Triple H. Vince asks who the hell he is. Vince tells him to shut up. He was screwed by Kurt Angle. Vince tells Evan he better win tonight, and that goes for the rest of those who are in action too. Shawn Michaels steps forward and tells Vince to shut up. This isn't about the business tonight, and this sure as hell isn't about Vince McMahon. Shawn says some are wrestling for their families, who rely on them brining home a paycheque so that they can live. Shawn puts a hand on Evan Bourne's shoulder and says others are fighting tonight for their dreams, the dreams they've dreamed about since they were kids. Ric Flair steps forward and says others are fighting for their pride, and dignity, because it's all they've got left. John Cena comes forward now and says no matter who gets their hands raised at the end of the night, there will be people on the other side out of a job, whose families will suffer, whose dreams will be crushed and whose pride will be damaged beyond repair. But they have to fight for survival. Vince McMahon tells them to go out there and do it.

Xscape Match: Evan Bourne vs. Eric Young vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Consequences Creed vs. The Hurricane vs. Sonjay Dutt

Elimination by pin fall or submission, until we get down to the final two, and then it's the first to escape the cage wins. The 3 WWE guys attack the 3 TNA guys, who fight back accordingly. TNA takes over and Young, Dutt and Creed launch Kingston, Hurricane and Bourne into the steel cage simultaneously. They put the boots to them now. Dutt slams Hurricane and goes up top and hits a big double stomp and covers for 2. Kofi fights off Young and Creed and catches them both with a dropkick. Bourne scurries up the cage, and pushes off from half-way up the cage and hits a crossbody onto the 3 TNA guys! Hurricane grabs Eric and tosses him into the cage. Kofi has Dutt and slings him into the cage wall too. Bourne grabs Creed and powerbombs him into the cage wall! Bourne, Hurricane and Kofi stand off. Kofi kicks Bourne in the gut, but Hurricane takes his shots at Kofi and Bourne drills Hurricane from behind. Kofi tries a back suplex on Bourne, but Evan lands on his feet and runs Kofi into Hurricane and rolls up Kofi for 2. Dutt over now and catches Bourne with a super kick. Eric Young and Dutt pair off now. Creed takes over on Hurricane. Hurricane fights back and tries for a chokeslam, but Dutt low blows him from behind. Dutt offers Creed a hand shake, but then tries to turn on him, only for Creed to block a right and fire off with shots of his own. Dutt tries to go low with a kick, but Creed catches his foot, swings him round, kicks him in the gut and hits the CreeDDT for the elimination @ 4:55!

More brawling now, and Evan gets catapulted into the cage, but he lands on it and scurries up to the top. Creed follows him up there and they sit atop the cage and slug it out. Hurricane begins to climb now. Creed drills Bourne with a right and Bourne limply manages to stay on the cage. Creed turns his attention to Hurricane now. Both are standing on the top of the cage and they exchange rights. Hurricane goozles Creed and CHOKESLAMS HIM FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE! Eric Young and Kingston help break his fall though. Hurricane surveys the damage and has a referee toss his cape up. Hurricane puts on the cape, and as Kingston, Young and Creed get to their feet, hits a CROSSBODY OF THE TOP OF THE CAGE! Massive "holy shit!" chant now. The four men in the ring use each other to pull themselves up to their feet, just as Evan Bourne comes off the top of the cage with BOURNE ULTIMATUM and wipes them all out! Holy freaking shit! Bourne looks for someone to cover, and eliminates The Hurricane @ 8:12!

Bourne staggers to his feet. He slugs it out with Creed, who catches Bourne with a forearm that spins Evan around. Kingston tries to catch him with Trouble in Paradise, but Bourne ducks and Creed takes the kick. Kofi covers him and he's gone @ 8:30!

Down to 3 now. Kofi and Evan make an agreement. They shoot Eric off and catch him with a double dropkick. Evan hits the Bourne Supremacy (standing moonsault) and goes for the cover, but Kofi boots him in the back of the head and tosses him into the cage. Kofi covers Young but he kicks out at 2. Kofi grabs Bourne and tosses him right back into the cage wall. Boots by Kofi to Young now. Kofi sends him into the corner, but Young elevates himself onto the apron and catches Kofi with a forearm. Bourne charges at Kofi, but Kingston launches Bourne over his head and into Young and the cage. Kofi rolls up Evan and gets 2. Kofi grabs Young now and hits a suplex for 2. Kofi shoots Evan off now but Bourne comes back with a hurricanrana and covers Kofi for 3 @ 11:42!

Kofi is pissed and shocked, and drills Evan with TROUBLE IN PARADISE! He goes to leave but then rethinks it. He helps Eric Young up, then gets him in an electric chair position and begins to climb the cage! Kofi is on the top rope with Young groggily clinging to the top of the cage when Evan comes over and grabs Kofi and powerbombs him, sending both Kingston and Young crashing to the mat! Bourne stacks one man on top of the other, then goes up and hits the BOURNE ULTIMATUM! Bourne heads up the cage and escapes @ 13:00!

Winner: Evan Bourne

Score: WWE 8-7 TNA

We get a career retrospective for Sting.

2 Out of 3 Falls Tag Team Match: Motor City Machineguns vs. Paul London and Brian Kendrick

Dream Match City, baby! Alex Shelley starts the match with Brian Kendrick. They lock up and Shelley works the arm, but Kendrick rolls through and he wrenches Shelley's arm now, He grabs a side headlock but gets shoved off and caught with a shoulder knockdown. Shelley hits the ropes and hops over Kendrick but comes back into a big dropkick for 1. Kendrick gets a side headlock takeover but Shelley reverses into a head scissors. Kendrick repositions himself and gets a jack-knife roll-up, but Shelley bridges up, they spin out and Kendrick gets a double leg take down. He catapults Shelley but he lands on the second turnbuckle and flies back with a crossbody for 2. Kendrick scores with a couple of deep arm drags but then gets caught with a knee to the gut. Shelley shoots him off but Kendrick lands on his feet off of a hip toss, grabs the head and looks for Sliced Bread, but Shelley shoves him into the turnbuckles and rolls him up for 2. They stand off now to a round of applause. Sabin and London tag in now and they lock up. Sabin goes behind and grabs a waistlock, but London traps his leg and takes Sabin down and rides him. Sabin fights out of a front facelock, slides between the legs of London then catches him with a hurricanrana! London slides to the floor to catch a breather. Sabin looks to hit a dive but Kendrick blocks his way on the apron. The Guns catch Kendrick with a double superkick that sends him out on top of London! Shelley and Sabin head up top and MISS stereo crossbodies to the floor. London and Kendrick roll them in and shoot them off, but both get telegraphed. Shelley catches London with a wheelbarrow into a bulldog while Sabin drills Kendrick with a wheelbarrow into a DDT. Kendrick rolls to the floor and the Guns work over London. Snapmare by Shelley followed by a low dropkick to the face. Sabin hits the snapmare now and a stiff kick to the back of the head. Shelley slams London and hits the ropes but Kendrick trips him. Sabin charges at London buts gets caught and London hits a bridging Fallaway slam, but Shelley hits a senton to break up the cover. Kendrick now springboards but gets caught with a dropkick in mid-air by Shelley! Shelley tosses Kendrick but he holds on. Shelley and Sabin hit a double dropkick to Kendrick who is in mid skinning of the cat! London catches Shelley with a frankensteiner and Shelley rolls out. London avoids a clothesline and catches Sabin with a super kick. London nails London Calling (running shooting star press) and covers for 2, but Shelley pulls him off the cover. Shelley grabs him and nails the @LX-Plex! Kendrick catches Sabin with the Cyclone DDT now! Shelley with a kick to the gut, then whips Kendrick to the corner only for Kendrick to elevate himself to the apron. Sabin baseball slides out and tries to pull Kendrick from the apron but gets caught with a kick to the jaw. Shelley boots London and whips him into the same corner but charges into a reverse elbow. London goes to the middle rope and hits the MUSHROOM STOMP! Kendrick slingshots from the apron into a sunset flip on Shelley, but he rolls through and locks Kendrick in the Texas Cloverleaf! Sabin catches London with a springboard dropkick to stop him breaking it up. Kendrick fights and gets the ropes. Shelley tosses him to the floor and Sabin hits a SUICIDE DIVE! Shelley sends London to the corner but runs into a boot. London up top and MISSES THE 450! Shelley rolls him up but gets just 2. Shelley applies a surfboard now, and Sabin drills London in the gut with a springboard double stomp! Kendrick back in and dropkicks Sabin out to the apron. He tries for Sliced Bread on Shelley but Sabin catches him with a forearm from the apron. Sabin in and hits a sole kick to the gut. Super kick by Shelley! Enzuigiri/Super kick combo by The Guns! That earns them the first fall @ 15:02!

We get a one-minute rest period. The 2nd fall starts and The Guns go right on the attack. They both get telegraphed though and LonDrick hit stereo dropkicks sending The Guns to the floor. SOMERSAULT PLANCHA by London takes out both Guns! All 3 stagger up as Kendrick hits an ASAI MOONSAULT! Kendrick tosses Sabin into the ring and heads up top, but Sabin catches him with an enzuigiri, rocking Kendrick. Sabin picks him off and nails the CRADLE SHOCK! One…two…thr-NO! London breaks it up with a dropkick to the back of the head. London shoots Sabin off and Sabin tries another wheelbarrow move, but gets caught and London hits a DRAGON SUPLEX! Shelley breaks up that cover though. Shelley puts London in the tree of woe and tries a baseball slide, but London pulls himself up. Shelley slides all the way to the floor, but climbs back up onto the apron, only to be dropkicked off by Kendrick. Kendrick lands on his feet off of a back suplex attempt by Sabin, but Sabin ducks out of the way of a moonsault by London and Kendrick takes the hit! Sabin boots London and catches him with a PILEDRIVER! One…two…thr-NO! Sabin grabs Kendrick now by Kendrick comes back with kicks to the thighs. Kendrick tries for Sliced Bread but Sabin dumps him out to the floor! Splat. Sabin grabs London and tries a Dragon Suplex of his own, but London counters into a victory roll for 2. London catches Sabin with a dropsault. He sets Sabin up on the top turnbuckle but Shelley is back in and whips London to the other side, only to run into an elbow. Shelley staggers back and London charges but gets launched up to the turnbuckle where Sabin is perched. Sabin catches him and has to block a hurricanrana attempt. Shelley kicks London in the chest. Sabin powers him up and hits a POWERBOMB FROM THE TOP ROPE! One…two…thr-NO! Kendrick pulled the referee to the floor. Shelley comes out but gets caught with a kick, and Kendrick uses the steps to hit SLICED BREAD ON THE FLOOR! Sabin out now and he gets caught with a kick and whipped towards the steps, but he hops up onto them, only to be shoved off and into the announcers' table. Kendrick tosses Sabin in and heads up top and hits a Double Stomp! That only gets him 2 though. Kendrick sends Sabin to the corner and charges into a boot, but then blocks a rana attempt and turns it into a Boston crab! Sabin fights and crawls, and eventually latches on to the bottom rope. Kendrick pulls him back to the center and segues into an STF now. Shelley pulls himself onto the apron and tries a springboard, but London catches him with a dropkick in mid-air! Kendrick now locks Sabin in a cobra clutch, allowing London to drill him with a dropkick to the face! Shelley's back on the apron now so London goes out there. They exchange kicks and Shelley gets the better of the exchange until Kendrick drills him and sends him into the guardrail. London waits until Shelley is back up then hits a somersault plancha from the apron! In the ring, Kendrick runs into a pair of boots from Sabin. Sabin comes off the middle rope with a rana. Kendrick fights out of a Cradle Shock attempt and gets an inside cradle, but Sabin reverses the pressure to pin Kendrick, but London comes in and rolls helps put Sabin on his shoulders and Kendrick scores the second fall @ 24:49!

We get another one-minute rest period. Sabin has to help Shelley to his feet. London and Kendrick are feeling it and when the bell rings to signal the beginning of the third fall, they go on the assault, putting the boots to The Guns in their own corner. Kendrick hits a cannonball in the corner. London sends Shelley into the corner but Shelley lands on his feet off of a monkey flip attempt, only to eat a second rope missile dropkick from Kendrick! London covers and gets 2. Sabin tries to fight LonDrick off but they catch him with a little Total Elimination and cover for 2. Kendrick grabs Sabin and holds him up in a vertical suplex until London comes off with a crossbody for 2. Kendrick slams Shelley and goes up top, looking for a Moonsault, but Sabin fights off London in time to crotch Kendrick and put him in the tree of woe. Shelley catches him with a baseball slide and Sabin follows up with the HESITATION DROPKICK. The Guns pick off London and hit a double sole kick to the gut, hit the ropes but fall victim to a double flapjack! London rolls over Shelley into a single leg crab! He pulls him back to the middle of the ring but Sabin breaks it up with a stiff kick to the back of the head. LonDrick try to work a Poetry in Motion variant on Shelley, but Shelley catches Kendrick, walks over London and tosses Kendrick up and nails a gutbuster! Sabin catches London with a low dropkick to the head. Sabin slams Kendrick and Shelley comes off the top with a FROG SPLASH! Sabin adds a DIVING LEG DROP! One…two…thr-NO! How the hell did Kendrick kick out! The Guns set Kendrick up for a series of kicks, but he dodges a couple and Sabin takes a super kick from Shelley. Kendrick catches Shelley with a quick roll up for 2, but both men spring up and take each other out with clotheslines. London heads up top but Sabin heads him off. London blocks a superplex but Shelley is over and they try a double superplex. Kendrick nails Shelley from behind to slow them down and then goes out to the apron and picks Shelley off with a slingshot powerbomb! Kendrick goes back to the middle rope and tries to pick Sabin off with a German, but Shelley recovers and gets Kendrick in an electric chair. GERMAN SUPLEX/ELECTRIC CHAIR TOWER OF DOOM! Sabin is dead and Kendrick isn't far behind. Shelley goes back up but gets shoved down again and London hits the 450 SPLASH! One…two…thr-NO! Foot on the rope! London is stunned. He tries to pull Shelley up but he's dead weight. BORDER CITY STRETCH OUT OF NOWHERE! London fights but is nowhere near the ropes. London's about to tap when Kendrick drills Shelley with a kick. Kendrick charges but gets back dropped to the floor! Sabin up, and hits a PLANCHA to take out Kendrick. Shelley has London, SHELLSHOCK! But Shelley isn't done and hits the AIR RAID CRASH for the third fall @ 36:12! Yes, I gave them 36 minutes.

Winners: The Motor City Machineguns

Shelley and Sabin celebrate to a standing ovation. Kendrick's in and helps up his partner. Kendrick offers a handshake to The Guns and they take it. The Guns want a handshake with London. He takes a while to think about it but does shake their hands. London and Kendrick then raise The Guns' hands before they leave.

Score: WWE 8-8 TNA

We get a video of Tomko hitting Hornswoggle with the Tree Slam on Impact last week.

Belfast Brawl: Tomko vs. Finlay

Finlay attacks Tomko from behind in the aisle way and tosses him into the guardrail and then kicks the crap out of him. He then makes his way to the ring and lays across the top turnbuckle, waiting for Tomko to recover. Tomko staggers towards the ring but Finlay catches him with a SUICIDE DIVE! Finlay tries to send him into the steps but the Irish whip gets reversed and Finlay eats the steel. Tomko bounces his head off of the steps. Tomko has a chair but Finlay blocks the shot with a shillelagh. Tomko goes low with a kick and drills Finlay in the back with the chair. Tomko rolls Finlay in and finds some trashcans. He tosses them in and has a kendo stick too. He drills Finlay across the back with the stick. Tomko sets a trashcan in between the top two turnbuckles, but Finlay reverses a whip and sends Tomko into the corner. Finlay charges in but Tomko dodges him and Finlay hits the can headfirst. Tomko hits a Pumphandle slam onto another trashcan for 2. Finlay comes back with a knee to the gut and slams Tomko. Finlay goes up top but Tomko drills him in the head with a trashcan lid. Tomko slides a table into the ring and sets it up. He tries to superplex Finlay through, Hornswoggle is in and moves the table! Tomko still hits the superplex though. Tomko sees Hornswoggle and grabs him, and presses him above his head. Finlay gets a chop block and Horny lands on Tomko, and Finlay covers for 2. Finlay goes to the floor and brings the lower part of the steel steps into the ring now, and drills Tomko with them. That only gets a 2 count! Finlay sets the table back up and tries to put Tomko on it, but Tomko comes back with a low blow. Tomko has Horny again and tries to press slam him through the table, but this time Finlay cracks him in the head with the shillelagh! Finlay lays Tomko on the table, and Horny comes off with the TADPOLE SPLASH! But the table doesn't break! Finlay has an idea. He grabs Tomko and climbs the steps, and hits the CELTIC CROSS THROUGH THE TABLE! That's more than enough for the win @ 7:35!

Winner: Finlay

Finlay and Hornswoggle dance to celebrate.

Score: WWE 9-8 TNA

We get a video package highlighting Awesome Kong's dominance over the WWE Divas, and Trish Stratus' return and title victory and their subsequent rivalry.

Women's Champion vs. Knockout's Champion: Trish Stratus vs. Awesome Kong

Kong tries to corner Trish but Trish avoids her and goes on the assault with forearms but gets shoved down. She gets right back up though and hits a dropkick that sends Kong reeling back into the corner. Trish gets up on the second rope and hits some right hands, but Kong carries her of the corner, puts her down and tries for the spinning back fist but Trish ducks. She ducks a second attempt and then Matrixes out of the way of a third. Kong does catch her with a knee to the gut though, and Kong whips her into the corner. Trish avoids a charge and fires off a bunch of consecutive rights, but gets shoved down again and then walks into a vertical splash. Kong picks her up by the hair and hits a scoop slam, and then a leg drop. Kong covers and gets 2. Kong drags her up again and takes her to the corner and hits a series of knife-edge chops. Trish comes back though with chops of her own, and then Kong charges into a pair of boots. Trish sits up on the top turnbuckle and tries a Tornado DDT, but Kong just catches her and applies a bearhug! Kong shakes her violently but she won't quit. She hits a number of forearms to free herself, hits the ropes and avoids a clothesline and knocks Kong off her feet with Air Trish! Trish heads up top but Kong catches her trying to hit a crossbody. Kong kills her with a spinning side slam and covers for 2. Kong is goes to the second rope now and misses a back splash! Trish hits her with a low dropkick, and another, and scores a 2 count. Trish heads to the second rope and hits a missile dropkick that knocks Kong off of her feet. Trish covers for 2. Trish hits a few forearms, but Kong catches her with a right and nails the SPINNING BACK FIST! Kong covers, but only gets 2! Kong is pissed. She drags Trish up and hits the IMPLANT BUSTER! One…two…thr-NO! Kong is really mad now. She grabs Trish again and sets her up for the Bomb, but once she gets her up there, Trish hits a flurry of rights and manages to head scissors Kong out to the floor! Kong eventually staggers up and Stratus hits Air Trish from the ring apron! Trish with mounted punches now but Kong shoves her off. Kong grabs her by the hair and tosses her into the steel steps. Kong has a steel chair now by Trish comes off the steps and dropkicks the chair back into her face! Kong goes down and Trish rolls back in. Kong staggers up as the referee counts. He gets to 7 and Kong is on her knees. Kong just manages to beat the count at 9. Trish grabs her and tries for Stratusfaction, but Kong shoves her off. Kong grabs her… AWESOME BOMB! One…two…thr-KICK OUT!? Kong is stunned. She berates the referee now. She finally goes back to Trish and pulls her up and whips her into the corner, but misses a charge and collides with the ringpost! STRATUSFACTION! One…two…thr-NO! Now Trish is stunned. She begs the referee but it was just two. Trish pulls herself with help from the ropes and stalks Kong. Kong is up, CHICK KICK! One…two…thr-NO! Kong won't stay down. Trish is more determined than frustrated now, but a second Chick Kick is blocked and SPINNING BACK FIST! Trish is dead. Kong stomps around the ring and then goes to the second rope, but Trish is up. CHICK KICK! Kong is reeling, and Trish tries for the Stratusphere, but Kong blocks it… AWESOME BOMB FROM THE SECOND ROPE! BITCH KILLED @ 13:08!

Winner: Awesome Kong

Kong stands over a fallen Trish then leaves. A couple of referees have to help Trish to the back, but she gets a nice ovation.

Score: WWE 9-9 TNA

Jim Ross puts over Shawn Michaels and his career. We get a video package highlighting Shawn Michaels. Then we see Shawn walking though the backstage area. Mike Tenay puts over AJ Styles and what he means to TNA. He says AJ embodies everything that TNA is about. They air an AJ Styles video package now, and we see him walking.

Shawn Michaels vs. AJ Styles

Collar and elbow tie-up, and to the corner they go. Ref asks for a clean break and gets it. They circle and lock up again, tussling for the advantage. Shawn grabs a side headlock and wrenches it in when AJ tries to shove him off. Shawn takes AJ down with a side headlock takeover. AJ works his way to his feet and shoves Shawn off. Shawn holds onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick by AJ, then gets a jack-knife roll-up. AJ bridges up at 2 and they spin out and AJ gets a 2 count off of a backslide. Shawn avoids a clothesline and gets his own backslide for 2 now. Both men go for another backslide but they each block it, so AJ flips backwards over Shawn but his right hands get blocked and Shawn drills AJ, then fires off with chops. AJ reverses a whip but gets telegraphed, only to catch Shawn with a hip toss. Deep arm drag by AJ, and a second. AJ wrenches the arm but Shawn forces him back into the corner and we get a clean break. The weight each other up as Shawn shakes his arm loose. They lock up again and this time Shawn goes behind and grabs a waistlock, but AJ breaks the grip and takes Shawn over with leverage on the arm. AJ drives a couple of knees into the elbow joint, then pulls Shawn up and wrenches the arm. Shawn comes back with desperate chops, but AJ blocks one and rolls into an arm bar! Shawn fights but is too far away from the ropes, so he stacks AJ up and gets a near fall. Double leg takedown by Shawn, and he locks in the Sharpshooter? AJ struggles and inches towards the ropes but Shawn pulls him back into the middle of the ring. AJ fights and continues to crawl, and finally gets the ropes. Shawn breaks and takes a breather. He waits for AJ to get up and then hits a chop block. Shawn tries for a Figure 4 but gets kicked shoulder-first into the ring post! AJ up and catches Shawn with a Crossface! Shawn's turn to fight now. He can't reach the ropes so her rolls through, up and misses a clothesline and PELE! It just comes out of nowhere! AJ covers but it only gets 2. AJ whips Shawn into the corner but runs into a back elbow. Shawn hops up to the middle rope but AJ catches him with an enzuigiri that sends Shawn all the way to the floor. AJ waits for Shawn to get to his feet and springboards into a shooting star plancha, but Shawn avoids it AJ crashes and burns. Shawn sends AJ knees-first into the steel steps. Shawn roles in and out to break the count, then puts Styles in the FIGURE FOUR out on the floor! Shawn lets go at a count of 8 and breaks the count again. He tunes up the band on the floor, but AJ ducks the kick and hits an electric chair drop! Both men struggle to beat the count. AJ slides in at 8, but Shawn pulls him back out. They climb up on the apron and slug it out. AJ blocks another Chin Music attempt and gets Shawn up for the Clash. Shawn fights it, so AJ just hits a piledriver on the ring apron! AJ catches his breath, then drags a lifeless HBK back into the ring. Styles heads up top but Shawn rolls out of the way of the Spiral Tap! Both men marginally beat the ref's count, Shawn charges and ducks a clothesline and hits the FLYING FOREARM! Both are down, but Shawn kips up, and staggers towards AJ who kips up into a frankensteiner on Michaels! AJ covers, but gets just 2. AJ shoots Shawn off and gets telegraphed, and Shawn hits an inverted atomic drop and drills AJ with a right hand, then slams him. Shawn heads up top but AJ meets him up there and back drops Shawn off the top! CORKSCREW MOONSAULT CONNECTS! One…two…thr-No! Both men up again and slug it out. AJ ducks a clothesline and hits the Stylin' DDT and covers for 2. AJ sets Shawn up for the Clash now, but HBK back drops out of it, then catches an unsuspecting AJ with SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Shawn takes a while to get across, but he makes the cover… for 2. Shawn pulls himself up, grabs AJ and slams him. HBK climbs up to the top rope again and this time connects with the diving elbow drop. Shawn tunes up the band and AJ gets to his feet… and side steps the kick. Boot, STYLES CLASH! One…two…thr-NO! AJ is pissed and sets up the Clash again, but Shawn gets a double leg takedown and locks in his Inverted Figure 4! AJ fights, and crawls and screams and reaches the ropes. AJ crawls out onto the apron. Shawn walks right into a forearm and then AJ springboards into SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Shawn falls back on top of AJ and the ref counts one…two…CRUCIFIX ROLL-UP BY AJ! ONE…TWO…THREE! AJ wins it @ 18:45!

Winner: AJ Styles

AJ is knocked the fuck out as the ref raises his hand. Shawn is pissed off and frustrated. He helps AJ up and AJ is out of it. Shawn shakes his hand and goes to leave, but then drills him with CHIN MUSIC! Shawn stands over AJ and tells him to suck it! Michaels leaves to a mixed reaction.

Score: WWE 9-10 TNA

Backstage, Ric Flair is with Lauren. He says a year ago, he retired. Now, he's fighting for the company's survival. Last year, it was just his career on the line, and he lost. You might ask, how can we expect Flair to be able to pull it off this time? Flair says this is professional wrestling and it's bigger than him, and that's why tonight, he teaches the Stinger one final lesson. Tonight, Space Mountain rides again. Tonight, Total Non-Stop Action will be stopped. Wooo!

We get a video package of the recent Sting/Flair history. Flair came back to defend Sting, not to be in a war. Sting then turned on Flair. We see images of their past classic matches as Sting cuts a promo saying times have changed and he's sick of being overshadowed by Ric Flair.

Ric Flair is walking in the back, when Vince McMahon greets him. Ric tells him to save it. What could he possibly have to say? "If you lose…" Flair cuts him off and says if he loses, nothing Vince could do to him is as bad as what Ric has done to his friends, the wrestlers. Vince says if Ric loses, he won't blame him. Flair says that's it. He has to go out and win, because the last thing he wants is Vince's pity.

Ric Flair vs. Sting

They lock up and go to the corner. Sting backs off but Flair lights him up with a chop! Flair reverses Sting into the corner and chops the fuck out of him! Right by Flair now, then a chop, now a right, chop, jab to the jaw, chop, right, chop, chop, chop, motherfucking chop! Sting drives a knee into the gut and chops Flair! Sting drops down and rolls to the floor first chance he gets. Flair says fuck that and goes out, but Sting catches him with a cheap shot. Sting scoops Flair up and drops him ribs-first onto the guardrail. Sting chops Flair now and then charges at Flair, but Ric back drops him over the guardrail and onto the concrete! Flair tells the referee he'll break his neck if he counts him out. Flair goes after Sting and they brawl in amongst the fans. Flair knocks Sting down with a right and drills him with closed fist after closed fist. Flair brings him back and tosses Sting back over the barricade, but Sting catches him with a forearm, then suplexes Flair back over into the ringside area! Sting whips Flair into the steel steps now, and then grinds Flair's face along the edge of the steel. Sting pummels Flair with rights and then grabs his baseball bat, but Flair kicks him in the gut. Chops by Flair, but Sting gets a double leg takedown and then catapults Flair into the ring post! Flair is busted wide open. Sting rolls Flair in the ring and stands over him. Flair is up to his knees now and gives Sting the finger. Sting walks into a series of chops, but Sting again hits a knee and now whips Flair to the corner. Flair does his turnbuckle flip and walks along the apron, but Sting rushes him and knocks him to the floor. Sting goes out and bounces Flair off of the steel steps again. Sting takes a minute to talk trash to the fans, so Flair tackles him over the announce table. Flair tosses Sting back in and Sting begs off in the corner. Rights by Flair and the referee gets in between them, so Flair low blows the pair of them. Flair goes to the floor and has a steel chair and drills Sting with it! Jeff Jarrett is out with his guitar now but Flair knocks him off of the apron. Flair goes out and beats JJ all around ringside with right hands, but Sting drills Flair from behind. They double-team him and Vince McMahon is here! Vince brawls with JJ! Referees are out now and try to separate the two men. JJ escapes and goes back after Flair. Sting takes out Vince on the floor with a baseball bat to the ribs. In the ring, Flair goes for the Figure 4 on JJ, but Jarrett kicks him off and Sting nails Flair with a GUITAR SHOT! JJ goes out now and brawls with Vince. A referee comes in and counts Flair down… for 2. McMahon and Jarrett are separated and forced to the back. Sting has Flair now, and locks in the DEATHLOCK! Flair fights and scratches his way to the bottom rope. Sting goes back on the attack with rights. TESTICULAR CLAW! Chops to Sting, shin breaker! FIGURE FOUR! MIRACULOUS COMEBACK! Sting fights… and taps @ 12:53!

Winner: Ric Flair

Flair pulls himself up and has his hand raised. Vince is out and hugs Flair, but Flair knees him in the groin! FIGURE FOUR ON VINCE! Flair eventually lets go as Vince crawls out of the ring. Flair has the mic and says he didn't want Vince's pity, and he doesn't want his gratitude; he did this because he's a wrestler, and he loves this business! Woooo!

Score: WWE 10-10 TNA

We get a video package highlighting the weekend's events.

Samoa Joe walks. WWE guys line the corridors and he walks through them. He walks by the TNA wrestlers now, and they applaud him. Joe makes his way to the ring.

John Cena walks now. The WWE guys cheer him on and chant "Cena!" He leaves them behind and walks by the TNA guys as they begin a low "Joe's gonna kill you!" chant. Cena smiles at the chant; not the first time he's had a mixed reaction. Cena makes his way to ringside.

Champion vs. Champion: John Cena vs. Samoa Joe

They talk smack nose-to-nose, and the commentators bring up the fact that these two worked together in Ultimate Pro Wrestling and are good friends. The trash talking stops and they simply stare down. Cena offers his hand but Joe looks a little disgusted and pissed off. He doesn't want a shake. They circle and finally lock up. Joe goes behind with a waist lock, and then grabs a side headlock. Cena sends him into the ropes and Joe tries a shoulder tackle, but Cena stands his ground. They stand off. We get duelling chants as they lock up again and tussle for leverage. Joe ends up backing Cena into the corner but instead of a break, Cena forces Joe all the way back to the opposite corner. There we get a clean break and Joe looks a little bewildered, and Cena has a smirk on his face. They go back to the middle of the ring again and lock up. Cena grabs a side headlock but gets shoved off. He ducks a clothesline and comes back with a flying shoulder tackle that knocks Joe down! Joe quickly gets up to see Cena looking deadly serious. Joe seems pissed but he offers his hand now. Cena smiles now and does the "you can't see me" gesture! Mistake!

Joe grabs Cena's head and hits him with a series of knees so vicious that it knocks Cena back into the corner. Joe goes in and hits a bunch of body shots as Cena tries to cover up. Joe backs up and charges into a boot. Cena hops up to the second turnbuckle and leaps off, but Joe catches him, and tosses him up into a fireman's carry. Joe perhaps goes for the FU, but Cena holds on to the top rope. Joe tosses him out on the apron, but thrusts right into the knee of Cena. Cena comes over with a sunset flip attempt but Joe blocks it and just stomps on the face of Cena! Joe backs off as Cena holds his face. Cena pulls himself up and looks to have a broken nose. Joe says this is war, and calls Cena a bitch. Cena seems fine with that and strides to the center of the ring where Joe drills him with a right! Right by Cena, sent back by Joe. Cena strings a couple of rights together but Joe catches him with a knee strikes to the head, slaps by Joe now. He shoots him off and catches Cena with a snap scoop powerslam for 2.

We have very much stepped it up a gear now. Joe grabs Cena and hits a snapmare, chops Cena in the back then kicks him in the chest. Cena rolls out of the way of a big knee drop and catches John with a low dropkick to the face. Cena covers and gets just 1, but quickly goes for the STFU. Joe gets the ropes quickly, then catches Cena coming in with a chop. Cena doubles over in pain and Joe catches him with a running boot to the head. German suplex by Joe! Cena pulls himself to his feet but Joe catches him with a Dragon suplex! Joe stands tall and stalks Cena. Cena up, Joe hits him with a straightjacket suplex! Joe covers and gets just 2. Joe whips Cena into the corner but runs into an elbow. Cena sends him to the other side but charges into a one-arm side slam! Joe covers and gets 2 more, but uses the momentum from the kick out to lock in an arm bar! Joe looks to hyper extend the elbow but Cena rolls over, rolling Joe up for a 2 count. Cena gets a head of steam but Joe side steps a flying shoulder tackle. Cena, hurt, crawls to the corner allowing Joe to hit the face wash! Joe drags him out and covers for 2. Joe picks Cena up and Cena comes back with rights, but his wild swings allow Joe to avoid one and lock in the Coquina Clutch! Joe applies a ton of pressure and Cena fades fast. The referee he drops his arm once, twice… Cena fights back and gets the crowd into a frenzy, rallying behind him. Cena rolls to his stomach, still with Joe on his back. Cena up to one knee now. Cena on his feet, and leans forward to get Joe in the fireman's carry! FU!

Both men are down. The referee gets to a count of 4 before Cena gets an arm across Joe, but as you'd expect, it only gets 2. Cena up and stalks Joe and gets him up again, but Joe knees out of another FU attempt and hits an inverted atomic drop, followed by a running single leg dropkick. Cena rolls out of the way of the senton now. Joe is up but Cena plants him with a DDT! Cena hooks the leg and gets 2, but Cena uses Joe's momentum turning onto his stomach to apply the STFU! Joe is lucky enough to be near the ropes and grabs them quickly. Cena pulls Joe back to the middle, but Joe rolls onto his back and kicks Cena away. Joe misses a clothesline and Cena hits a flying tackle, and a second! Cena hits the spinning side slam and says "you can't see me!" He hits the ropes but Joe is up and catches him with a belly-to-belly suplex! Joe covers and gets 2. Joe sends Cena to the corner again but again charges into a boot. Cena sits himself on the top turnbuckle but Joe hits the CCS! Joe has Cena now… Muscle Buster attempt… Joe carries him to the middle of the ring, but Cena breaks free and catches Joe with an inside cradle for 2! Both men up and hit clothesline! Both men down, and the referee counts. They're up at 6 and slug it out, and we get a "boo", "yay" sequence in favour of Joe! Joe strings three rights together, but Cena picks him up and hits the FU! One…two…three! Oh, but Joe had a foot on the rope!

Cena goes to the second turnbuckle and brushes his shoulder off, and hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle! He covers and gets just 2. Cena thinks what to do, and now locks in the STFU! Joe fights, but he's in the middle of the ring. He's fading. The referee drops his hand twice, but Joe is still in it and makes another reach for the ropes. He can't get there and begins to fade again. The ref drops the arm twice more, but Joe just survives the third try. Joe rips apart Cena's grip! Cena goes on the assault as Joe tries to pull himself up with right hands, but Cena comes off the ropes only to get scooped up onto Joe's shoulder… ISLAND DRIVER! Joe covers and gets… 2! Joe grabs Cena to pick him up, but Cena gets Joe up in the fireman's carry again! Joe holds onto the top rope, so Cena dumps him out to the floor! Cena catches a breather allowing Joe to pull himself up onto the apron. Joe catches Cena with a thrust to the ribs, and back drops him to the floor! Joe falls through the ropes back into the ring. Joe pulls himself up and hits a SUICIDE DIVE! Joe stands tall and grabs a chair, unfolds it and puts Cena on it. OLE KICK! Cena is busted open from that. Joe rolls Cena into the ring and pins him for 2! Joe puts Cena up on the second turnbuckle but Cena slugs away to avoid the Buster. Joe goes up to the middle rope and fires off, but Cena shoves him down to the mat. Joe staggers up, sort of, but Cena hits his diving leg drop! Cena covers, hooks the leg, and gets 2!

Cena is perplexed but goes back to the top rope, but Joe is up to quickly and catches him with a running boot to the head. Joe goes up to the second rope but Cena blocks a superplex attempt. Cena has Joe and hits the FU OFF THE TOP – NO, JOE LANDED ON HIS FEET! CCS by Joe! He has Cena… MUSCLE BUSTER! One…two…three! Joe wins-NO! Cena got a foot on the bottom rope this time! Joe is pissed at the referee and berates him, allowing Cena to scoop Joe up… FU-NO! Joe slides out the back and locks in the COQUINA CLUTCH! Joe has it synched in and won't let go. Cena fades but fights back, gets to a knee, and then to his feet. Joe tosses Cena down, picks him up, and hits another MUSCLE BUSTER! Joe locks in the Clutch! Cena has nothing left. The referee drops his arm, once, twice… three times! Cena's passed out and Joe wins @ 39:09!

Winner: Samoa Joe

The TNA roster, wrestlers, crew, referees, announcers and all, rush the ring to celebrate. A few of them stomp Cena out of the ring, and Joe yells at them for it. Joe is pissed and Jeff Jarrett is out. JJ tries to raise Joe's arm but he won't let him. Joe leaves the ring and walks up the ramp. TNA celebrate as the show ends.

***I would like to thank everyone who has read any part of this mammoth fantasy booking journey, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Unfortunately, my column can't always be about fantasy booking because frankly, I would get bored of not writing about other things.

However, as I said last week, my foray into fantasy booking is by no means done. You may have noticed that 411 writers have blogs that they can utilize in addition to their regular writing duties. Until now, I've hardly used mine at all but starting next week, I will do. What lies ahead for TNA and the wrestling business after the War is over? You'll have to start checking that blog.

Next week, normal service is resumed in Thoughts From The Top Rope. Thanks for reading.