Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Kairi Sane will defend their titles in a fatal four-way match against Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks & Bayley, and Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. Rusev and Bobby Lashley’s rivalry will also continue with them facing off in a last man standing match.
Starrcade is taking place at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth, Georgia on Sunday (December 1). One hour of the show will stream live on the WWE Network starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Bliss is returning to the ring after being out of action since Hell in a Cell. WWE noted earlier this month that it was a minor injury Bliss was dealing with and that she would be returning soon.
Though not officially announced, the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota is advertising that Asuka & Sane will defend their titles against Lynch & Charlotte in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at next month’s TLC pay-per-view. Rusev vs. Lashley is also being advertised for that show.
This is the third straight year that WWE has held a Starrcade event. The name was first resurrected for a house show in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2017. Starrcade took place in Cincinnati, Ohio last year, with a one-hour WWE Network special from it airing a day after the show.
Previously: Low Ki was revealed as the newest member of LAX.
Tonight: Alberto El Patron, Matt Sydal & Sonjay Dutt take on Bobby Lashley, Trevor Lee & Low Ki in a six-man tag team main event.
Show Recap —
– In the back, LAX and VOW were already brawling as Impact went on the air. The two teams will compete later tonight.
– In the Impact Zone, Sienna sat in the middle of the ring. She demanded to know who her opponent is for Destination X next week. Karen Jarrett came out and introduced Gail Kim, with Kim promising to leave Destination X with the belt. They ended up brawling and it took several referees to break them up.
– Backstage, Joseph Park tried to pump up Grado for their match later.
El Hijo De Fantasma & Naomichi Marufuji defeated Laredo Kid & Garza Jr.
Laredo Kid took out Marufuji with a crossbody to the floor, but Fantasma scored a close near fall with a frog splash. Fantasma and Laredo Kid knocked each other with a kick to the head. Marufuji hit the Slice Bread #2 on Garza Jr. to score the win.
– A new stable known as OVE (Ohio vs. Everything) debuts next week.
Kongo Kong defeated Joseph Park & Grado
Park and Grado were both terrified of Kong, but they worked together to gain the brief advantage. Kong chokeslammed Grado and hit a cannonball in the corner on Park for the win.
After the match, Kong attempted to splash Grado and Park from the top until Laurel Van Ness stopped him. Kong picked up Van Ness when Tyrus interrupted. Tyrus and Kong had a staredown until Van Ness dragged Kong away.
– McKenzie Mitchell interviewed Trevor Lee, Low Ki, and Bobby Lashley in the back. Lashley pointed out that they’re not friends and said to stay out of his way.
– A video of Jeff Jarrett at the American Top Team gym aired. Jarrett gave his opinion on Dan Lambert wanting Bobby Lashley to give up wrestling and focus on MMA.
Down and Dirty with Dutch Mantell
Earlier today, Mantell interviewed Matt Sydal and Bobby Lashley face to face. Lashley was upset about X Division guys trying to step up to heavyweight, which led to a brief altercation.
– Last week, cameras caught Karen Jarrett and Bruce Prichard arguing. Prichard will make an announcement that will change GFW next week.
GFW Unified Tag Team Champions LAX (w/ Konnan, Homicide, Low Ki, and Diamante) defeated VOW in a street fight to retain their titles
Before the match, Konnan thanked GFW for making the match a street fight and promised chaos.
LAX and VOW brawled around ringside to start it off before VOW took over and introduced two tables to the match. VOW put Ortiz through a table, but Homicide pulled out the referee to stop the count.
Mayweather gave Homicide a sloppy looking powerbomb into the steps. Low Ki handcuffed Mayweather to the corner, and LAX sent Wilcox head-first into a chair in the corner and put him through a table to win the match.
Taiji Ishimori defeated ACH in a Super X Cup semifinal match
Ishimori gained the advantage and took control. ACH made a brief comeback, but Ishimori took over again. ACH scored a close near fall with a clothesline. He attempted a tombstone, but Ishimori countered with a pair of knees. Ishimori then hit a 450 splash to score the win. It will be Ishimori vs. Dezmond Xavier in the Super X Cup finals next week.
– In the back, Mantell discussed Prichard and Karen Jarrett arguing.
Bobby Lashley, Trevor Lee & Low Ki defeated Alberto El Patron, Matt Sydal & Sonjay Dutt
El Patron attacked Low Ki to start the match, which led to Dutt and Sydal both hitting standing moonsaults on the heels. The heels were able to take over and isolated Sydal in their corner until Dutt came in and ran wild on Lee. Dutt had Lee pinned, but Lashley broke up the count by picking up Dutt and giving him a dominator.
El Patron got the hot tag and took out the heels. In a crazy spot, Sydal gave Lee a hurricanrana off of Dutt’s shoulders as he was sitting on the top turnbuckle. Lashley caught Dutt and hit a powerslam, and Low Ki hit the Warrior’s Way on Dutt to win the match.
Next Week: It’s Destination X. The lineup features:
GFW Unified World Champion Alberto El Patron defending against Low Ki
Taiji Ishimori vs. Dezmond Xavier in the Super X Cup finals
GFW Knockout’s Champion Sienna defending against Gail Kim
X Division Champion Sonjay Dutt defending against Trevor Lee in a ladder match
Matt Sydal vs. Bobby Lashley
Plus, Bruce Prichard makes a major announcement that will shock GFW
Previously: GFW Global Champion Alberto El Patron defeated Ethan Carter III to earn a spot in the Slammiversary main event.
Tonight: Impact takes place all the way from Mumbai, India. Both El Patron and Bobby Lashley defend their titles.
Show Recap —
– In the back, Bruce Prichard held a meeting with Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash. He said that if they have a physical altercation they’re both fired regardless of who starts it. Mathews and J.B. are the announcers tonight, with The Pope not on commentary.
– The crowd was exceptionally enthusiastic and hot all night.
– Alberto El Patron came down to the ring. He recounted his trip from Mexico City to Mumbai. He discussed all the titles he’s won but said there’s one more to win and that’s the Impact championship. He promised to win the title at Slammiversary.
Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley interrupted. He guaranteed to retain the title and said he would shut up El Patron.
Prichard came down to the ring. He announced that Lashley and El Patron would defend their titles in separate matches tonight. They’ll find out who their opponent is at match time.
– In the back, Prichard talked to two guys in orange masks, The Mumbai Cats. They wanted to face El Patron and Lashley but Prichard turned them down.
X Division Champion Low Ki defeated Caleb Konley to retain his title
Low Ki controlled the match with vicious strikes. Konley made a comeback and took out Low Ki with a suicide dive. Low Ki was busted open and bleeding right above the eye. He hit the Warrior’s Way on Konley (who was draped over the second rope) to win the match.
Sonjay Dutt came out and pointed out the irony of Low Ki busting his eye when he did the same to Dutt. Dutt asked for a title shot and Low Ki agreed.
– Swoggle recounted the angle with Rockstar Spud and vowed revenge.
Davey Richards defeated Kumar
Angelina Love has been sent home for injuring Alisha Edwards. Eddie Edwards stayed back in the US to take care of his wife.
Davey Richards dominated the match. Kumar had a brief flurry of offense, but he ended up missing a moonsault. Richards used the ankle lock to win the match.
– EC3 came out after and whipped Kumar until James Storm made the save.
– Backstage, Chris Adonis and Eli Drake demanded to face El Patron and Lashley. Prichard said he’d think about it.
– Swoggle chased Rockstar Spud through the crowd.
Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Grand Champion Moose to retain his title
Moose’s title was not on the line. If Moose wins the Impact Championship he meets Alberto El Patron at Slammiversary.
Moose scored a close near fall after running up the turnbuckles and hitting a crossbody. Lashley took over and controlled the match. Moose made a comeback, hitting a powerbomb, senton, and moonsault for a near fall. Moose missed the Game Changer and Lashley hit the spear to win the match.
– At the LAX clubhouse, Konnan was very happy with LAX being both GFW and Impact Tag Team Champions.
Knockouts Champion Rosemary defeated Laurel Van Ness (w/ GFW Women’s Champion Sienna) to retain her title
Rosemary was in control until Sienna interfered. Van Ness gained the brief advantage, but Rosemary made a comeback. She sent Van Ness into Sienna and rolled her up to win the match.
After the match, Sienna and Van Ness attacked Rosemary. Allie ran out with a kendo stick to make the save and the heels ran off. Rosemary teased hitting Allie with the kendo stick but instead dropped it at her feet.
– A clever series of video packages promoting Slammiversary aired. It was actually EC3 running down the Hall of Famers, the roster, and putting himself over huge.
– Earlier this week, Joseph Park and J.B. trained for their match at Slammiversary.
GFW Global Champion Alberto El Patron defeated Chris Adonis (w/ Eli Drake) to retain his title
If Chris Adonis wins the GFW Global Championship he’ll meet Bobby Lashley at Slammiversary.
They fought into the crowd to start the match. Drake interfered to give Adonis the advantage. Adonis attempted the Masterlock, but El Patron countered and hit the double foot stomp in the corner to win the match.
Drake and Adonis beat down El Patron after the match while Bobby Lashley watched from the ramp. Moose ran out for the save and cleared the ring.
GFW Global Champion Alberto El Patron vs. Impact World Champion Bobby Lashley is official as the main event for Slammiversary.
Next Week: X Division Champion Low Ki defends against Sonjay Dutt.
UFC star Josh Barnett will be appearing at tonight’s TNA television tapings in Orlando and making his debut for a national U.S. promotion.
Barnett, currently on a USADA temporary suspension regarding an out of competition drug test taken on December 9th, has a pro wrestling background and was a disciple of Billy Robinson, one of the biggest stars of the 60s and 70s.
Barnett is expected to work some kind of an angle with TNA champion Bobby Lashley, which would be notable for a pro wrestling feud between a UFC star and a Bellator star.
Tonight is the final night of the TNA tapings and will also include a mock wedding with Laurel Van Ness and Braxton Sutter.
Barnett, who announces for New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS, left California after doing the voice overs for six weeks worth of shows, including Tokyo Dome shows that begin airing tomorrow night.
He has done pro wrestling on-and-off in Japan, including being one of the few Americans to headline a show at the Tokyo Dome, when he faced Yuji Nagata for the IWGP heavyweight title on January 4th, 2003. He later worked for the IGF in Japan, a promotion that Lashley worked for at the same time.
In 2011, as part of a tournament to crown an IGF pro wrestling world heavyweight champion, Barnett beat Lashley at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. Barnett ended up losing to Jerome LeBanner, a famous kickboxer, in the finals.
Some notes from the April 22nd TNA Impact TV tapings:
Jeff Hardy was out performing his entrance music song when Decay came out. They laid out Jeff and were told they were paid to attack him but didn’t say who paid them. James Storm made the save, and said he wanted his tag title rematch with Jeff as his partner. TNA Tag Champions Abyss & Crazzy Steve then beat Hardy & Storm in a tag title match when a fake Willow distracted Jeff.
Jade went to a no-contest with Gail Kim when Sienna laid out both of them.
Al Snow did an interview heeling on the fans and said he was the Donald Trump of pro wrestling and would build a wall and decide who got in. Mahabali Shera then beat Snow when Grado interfered.
Mike Bennett said he wanted a match with Earl Hebner as a future Hall of Famer against a current one. Bennett then beat Earl Hebner, but EC 3 made the save so Bennett vs. EC 3 will continue.
Tyrus then attacked EC 3 which led to EC 3 beating Tyrus in a last man standing match.
DJ Zema Ion & Eddie Edwards beat Trevor Lee & Andrew Everett when Ion pinned Everett.
Fake Willow was out and Jeff Hardy attacked him. Hardy then beat Willow and went for the mask, but two more guys in Willow masks attacked Hardy. Of course, one of the Willows was Matt Hardy.
Sienna beat Velvet Sky in her final match with the company. They gave Sky a farewell live and posted on the website that she was leaving. It was described as a mutual departure.
Eli Drake interviewed Bram. He wanted Bram to just hand over the King of the Mountain title rather than even bother with a match. Bram refused, and Drake said he can cash in his briefcase and win it at any time. Bram attacked him and he ran away.
TNA World Champion Drew Galloway beat Bobby Lashley via DQ in a lumberjack match for the title due to outside interference.
Last week, EC3 beat DJZ and Uno lucked out a win over Gail Kim. Davey Richards pinned Bram with a small package, while Shera beat Eli Drake. Bobby Roode worked heel for one match and lost by V1-ing Matt and eating a Twist of Fate, while Godderz cheated to beat Kong, and EY beat Kenny King. In the main event, Lashley beat Drew Galloway. We get a recap of last week’s matches to set up tonight’s matches, including Lashley vs. Shera. A tale of the tape makes them seem very similar. Josh talks about building up a lot of momentum just by winning, which Shera has done. Well, he’s done one of those things. Pope calls him a household name as well. Josh and Pope debate whether it’s the Shera Shuffle or Shera Shake before Josh just decides that Shera Shuffle is trending. Lashley comes out in Wal-Mart workout gear for the World Title Series. Josh talks about Drew and uses the captain moniker for him a ton. Why is Drew the Captain of TNA? Shouldn’t he be the Dollar General?
Mahabali Shera vs. Lashley
Shera dominates Lashley in the corner while a “Maha-bali!” chant breaks out. He gets a Frankenstein’s monster choke in the corner. Shera spends a long time to set up mounted punches, but he eats a powerbomb. Lashley clubs away in the corner. Floatover snap suplex gets 2 for Lashley. Lashley punches him down for an ad break. They brawl on the floor for a bit after the Shera Shuffle backfires. Josh hypes up that that World Title Series is completely on Youtube. Lashley dives off the apron and Shera grabs him and slams him down. A fan in a purple Macho Man shirt is either doing the Shuffle or summoning a genie. Shera lifts him up and lands the scariest press slam in a decade on Lashley. Lashley recovers, spears him, and wins. Josh tells the “young man” Lashley to pack his backs because he’s moving on.
Pope talks about how fast and powerful Lashley is, and that he’s a two-time former TNA World Champion to fill the show with more content that they’ve already talked about. Josh sends us to an “in-depth look at Tigre Uno versus Eric Young”, which doesn’t seem possible. This “world class maniac”-filled video proves that it isn’t. We get a very echo-filled promo of Eric Young saying threatening words. The Knockouts division returns in a cheesecake video for the holidays. We see a preview of a Dixie Carter interview with Josh talking about the importance of the TNA World Title. Matt Hardy vs. Jessie Godderz is previewed with a recap of Jessie beating Kong. Tigre Uno comes out to face Eric Young, who is in fact the bearded terror according to Pope.
Eric Young vs. Tigre Uno
Eric has fashioned his hair into an awful pseudo-mohawk and has gigantic bags under his eyes. EY tells him to leave because it’s his ring and his world. EY calls him a coward, and Uno responds by springboard dropkicking him out of nowhere. A running rana gets 2 for Uno, while EY chops away and yells “LUCHA!” He lands a series of forearms to the back and neck in the corner. One-armed backbreaker by EY gets 2 for an ad break. EY clotheslines Uno while Josh plugs the 2016 Impact tapings. EY tosses him to the floor and punches away. EY goes for a moonsault to mock Uno, but it misses. Uno hits a rana to the floor onto EY. Tigre gets a low blow legdrop off the top for 2. They fight up top and EY eats a super rana for 2. EY blocks another rana with a powerbomb for 2. The piledriver hits and EY wins. He faces the winner of Hardy-Godderz. Josh and Pope recap why EY is a world-class maniac and a bearded terror. Recap of Matt Hardy’s World Title Series matches. We see clips of Dixie talking about having the best women’s wrestlers in the business. EY logically points out that Tigre’s attack to start the match was cowardly, and then the Canadian rants about Uno being “foreign scum” and blames him for possibly ending Uno’s career. Josh and Pope pick the winners in a guessing game. Jessie Godderz comes out to no reaction to face Matt Hardy, who gets an okay one.
Matt Hardy vs. Jessie Godderz
Matt grinds away at the neck, but Jessie tosses him off. Matt grinds away on the arm while Josh talks about how the World Title Series has been compelling and it’s all due to Dixie. Matt lands a series of slams and does the V1 pose before making the mistake of posing like Godderz. Matt gets a Russian legsweep for 2. They fight to the floor and Jessie eats the apron. Jessie shoves Matt’s back into the steps before Jessie dropkicks him and Matt sends his head right into the steps for an ad break.
We come back to see Jessie stomping away on the back. He attacks the back more with forearm shivers. Matt’s knee buckles as he goes for a slam and Jessie gets 2. Bearhug to Matt lasts a while and they talk about it being a setup for the Adonis Crab. Jessie clamps on a reverse bearhug and uses the ropes. Matt elbows out of it, and Matt gets an iffy Side Effect. Matt gets a sleeper slam for 2. Matt gets a snapmare off the top for 2. Flying standing elbow hits for 2. Matt goes for the Twist, but Jessie tosses him into the ropes and gets 2 off a dropkick. Jessie gets a partial dropkick/enzuiguri and goes for the Adonis Crab. Matt gets to the rope, so Jessie stomps away. Matt goes up top, but gets pulled down into a fireman’s carry, which he counters into a Twist of Fate for the win. Pope and Josh talk about Matt Hardy having passion. The Dixie interview is next.
Josh talks about how exciting 2016 is while happy music plays. Dixie said that 2015 was a year with a bit of everything, and the year started off strong with the debut of Drew Galloway. Dixie talks about how she respects Matt for winning the title in his hometown holding his baby high .She brags about the knockouts division and she says that the semi-finals and finals of the World Title Series will be held on the live show in January. Pope talks about Twitter predictions and Bracket Brawl. Because the show needed more filler, we get a recap of the BFG match and World Title Series. Next week, all of Future 4 faces Group X Division. There will also be a four way cage match between guys who aren’t feuding for some reason. We get a recap of tonight’s matches. Davey Richards comes out to face EC3 in the main event. EC3 says it’s time to separate the wolves from the winners. Davey says he’ll kick EC3’s head off his shoulders and says it’s time for the hunt to begin.
EC3 vs. Davey Richards
Josh asks if Davey has ever been this close to the World title and Pope says “not here”. Basic headlock and armwork to start. Davey gets a dropkick and EC3 goes to the floor. Davey gets his leg picked by Tyrus and EC3 attacks for 2. Davey lands a series of nice forearm strikes, but EC3 sidesteps him and sends him to the floor for a Tyrus attack. EC3 elbow smashes his neck on the apron and stomps a mudhole in him in the corner. Davey eats a Bret Hart-style turnbuckle smash and flips backwards. EC3 locks on a chinlock while Josh hypes up EC3 as being unbeaten for “nearly 1,000 days”.
They exchange chops, but Davey misses a corner charge and EC3 gets 2. EC3 traps him in a cravate before we get a punch exchange mid-ring. Pope buries EC3 for having a spray-tan while Josh says he lives in Boca Raton and it’s real. Davey lands a double dive. Make that a triple! Big missile dropkick gets 2. Davey lands a high kick and gets 2 off a snap German suplex. EC3 gets a TKO for 2. EC3 goes up top, but gets stopped by Davey and eats some headbutts. Superplex from Davey leads to another suplex for 2! They go through the motions of countering finishers before EC3’s Rampage powerbomb hits and he hits the One Percenter to win. To see every screenshot for the show, just click here.
