Ladder Match for the TNA Heavyweight Title
Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Austin Aries
Both World Titles are hanging high above the ring, as Austin Aries makes his way out first. Jeff Hady comes out second, concentrating on his title. Borash does the official championship introductions, with the Impact Zone largely in favor of the Champion Jeff Hardy.
The bell rings and the two stare each other down. Hardy wants to lock up but Aries bales from the ring and says “I don’t do this because people clap”. He eventually gets back in the ring and throws Hardy to the outside. He tries to bring a ladder in the ring, but Hardy joins him at the ladder and Aries decides better of it. Aries throws the Champion into the ring post. He jumps off the top rope and tries to stomp Hardy’s head on the way down, but may have slipped coming off the top and missed completely.
Hardy and Aries are both on the outside now, fighting over a ladder. Hardy shoves the ladder at Aries, sending him into the barricade. He uses the ring steps for Poetry in Motion, and takes down the challenger! Hardy brings the ladder into the ring and starts the climb for his title. Aries joins him and literally climbs over Aries back. Aries gives up on reaching for the belts, and hits a Russian leg sweep from the middle of the laddder.
Aries sets up the ladder between the ring and the barricade, and bodyslams Hardy on top of it. He gets on the apron and hits a running knee drop, and Hardy takes it hard, falling into the ring steps afterwards. Aries brings the ladder back into the ring and starts his climb, but Hardy recovers in time and stops him. The Champion sets the ladder upside down in a “V” formation and tries to suplex Aries through it. Aries counters however, and sends Hardy into the corner. Hardy off the second rope, but Aries moves out of the way and sends Aries crashing through the ladder, sandwiching himeself inside of it.
Aries grabs another ladder and throws it into the ring. He takes Hardy outside and again traps him in the ladder. Aries takes the steel ringsteps and stacks them on top of Hardy so he can’t escape. Aries climbs the ladder, but stops as he sees Earl Hebner trying to help Hardy out of the ladder. Aries goes outside, but Hardy is gone. He looks under the ring, but Hardy is already back climbing towards victory! In a brutal spot, Aries rushes the ring and just collapses one of the ladder’s legs, sending Hardy like a ragdoll back to the mat. Aries tries to climb, but the ladder is compromised and he folds it up instead, placing it into the corner.
Out of nowhere, Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate, but Aries shakes him off and sends him into the ladder. Aries follows, but Hardy with a beautiful Japanese Armdrag, sending the challenger flying into the steel. Hardy sets up the ladder and stands on top of it, hoisting himself up from the corner. He lets the broken ladder fall to the mat, riding it all the way down and splashing on top of Aries to a big “holy shit!” chant from the crowd. Both men are down, but eventually Hardy goes to outside to get a new, not broken ladder from under the ring. He sets it up and begins to climb, but Aries comes off the top rope with the missle dropkick, taking the ladder out and sending hardy crashing back down to Earth once again.
Both men slowly climb to their feet, and ascend the ladder. The get to the top, and Hardy hits the Twist of Fate! Up to top rope, and the Swanton Bomb connects! Aries rolls out of the ring and Hardy slowly recovers. He gradually climbs the ladder and reaches for his title…but the belts are lifted out of his grasp! Hardy looks around trying to figure out what’s going on, and he sees Austin Aries in the control booth, with the mechinism in his hands.
Hardy after him, but Aries launches himself over the barricade. Hardy takes out his opponent and gets a new, much taller ladder from under the ring. He sets it up and both men begin to climb. The ladder tilts and they both go crashing into the ladder set up on its side in the corner. Eventually they pull themselves up and Hardy hits a Twist of Fate on top of the ladder, sending Aries crashing to the outside. Hardy then climbs a ladder and takes down his World Title.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
