Crimson vs. Samoa Joe
Crimson charged the ring and they began brawling and exchanging strikes in the center of the ring. Crimson drilled him with shoulders in the corner. Joe fired back with several knee strikes and tossed him to the floor. Joe went for a dive but was smashed with a forearm as he hit the ropes.
They battled on the floor before Joe rolled back into the ring. Crimson mounted Joe and drilled him with punches. He cinched in a cravate on Joe and nailed several knees and a neckbreaker for a near fall.
He went back to the cravate, but Joe caught him with a Dragon Screw legwhip. Dueling chants. Joe began working on Crimson’s leg. Joe went for another but Crimson didn’t take it right. They played it up like the knee was that hurt. Joe began slapping and trash talking Crimson. Crimson slammed Joe into the buckles and charged Joe. Joe caught him and slammed Crimson down on his knees.
Joe locked on a legbar, trying to force a submission but Crimson made it to the ropes to force a break. Joe locked on another leglock but Crimson again made it to the ropes. It’s nice to see the old Samoa Joe persona coming back out here.
Joe channeled Terry Funk, locking in a spinning toehold. Crimson kicked Joe’s ankle to knock him over, and cinched in an armbar with his legs. Joe grabbed the ropes. Joe slapped him so Crimson tossed him with a T-Bone Tazplex.
Crimson kicked Joe and nailed a double arm leaping DDT for a two count. He peppered Joe with rights. Joe caught Crimson with a great back suplex and a clothesline across the mush for a two count when Crimson got his shoulder up. That was great.
Joe continued beating on Crimson, powerbombing him for a two count and turning it into a one legged crab. Crimson again made it to the ropes. Joe began drilling him with Kawada kicks. Crimson and Joe exchanged slaps. Joe was caught with a spear. Both men were down from the force of the move.
They made their way back to their feet. They battled back and forth with right hands. Crimson began to get the better of him. Joe fired back with slaps and chops. Crimson leapt over Joe to get out of the corner but his knee seemed to bother him a little. Joe locked on a choke but Crimson slammed him backwards into the corner and caught Joe with a sit-down slam for the win.
Your winner, Crimson!
Easily the best match of Crimson’s TNA career, although he would really be served well to be booked in shorter matches and he needs work on his offense. They need to book him like Goldberg or JYD with really fast and hard hitting matches. The longer he goes, the less likely he will get over like a monster. That said, Joe did an excellent job here carrying him and showing signs of the vintage Joe that fans loved. I think once they hit the spear, the crowd thought that was the finish and while the rest was good, the crowd was spent. You could see their interest waning as it went on.
Joe shook Crimson’s hand afterward and warned him they would battle again. I hope so, as Joe brought the most out of him to date. Another decent match but Crimson is obviously a work in progress.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Winter and Angelina Love. Winter told Love that now they are really together, they are going to be closer to their dreams and destiny by Love winning the Knockouts championship. Winter told her that she knew it was her time. She tried to slip Love a pill but Love told her that she didn’t need to do that and she “gets it now.” She told Winter they were on the same page.
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