TNA Slammiversary 2012: Samoa Joe Vs. Austin Aries (X Division Title)
We go right to the ring and out comes Hulk Hogan to open the show.
Hogan comes out to a pretty big pop from the packed crowd. Hogan welcomes us to Slammiversary and says this is a celebration, this is 10 years of TNA Impact Wrestling. Hogan says the next 10 years will be twice as awesome, brother. Hogan says he's been around the block a few times and this company is shooting to the moon. Hogan says as the General Manager, he just loves pushing people's buttons. The first button he's going to push tonight is the first match. Hogan says he decided to go old school tonight and Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries will open. Hogan announces that it's now for the X Division Title.
TNA X Division Title Match: Samoa Joe vs. Austin Aries
We go to the ring and out first comes Samoa Joe to a nice reaction from the crowd. The TNA X Division Champion Austin Aries is out next. Tenay brings up that Joe goes over the X Division weight limit but Hogan said we're going old school so it's being allowed.
The bell rings and they lock up. They trade holds and break. They lock up again and Aries applies a headlock. Joe breaks free and knocks him down with a shoulder. Aries with a few kicks and right hands now. Joe smacks him and dazes him with kicks of his own. Aries comes back with a big cop. Aries ducks a clothesline and sends Joe to the floor with a hurricanrana. Aries goes to fly outside the ring but Joe cuts him off with a big kick to the head. Joe comes back in the ring with big chops in the corner.
Joe with a splash in the corner and a big kick to the head. Joe puts the boot to Aries' face now and stomps away in the corner. Joe nails a running boot in the corner and covers Aries for a 2 count. Aries comes back with chops and a forearm but Joe catches him in a big snap slam for 2. Joe works Aries over in the corner some more. Aries gets a boot up and comes off the second rope but Joe drops him and hits a big back splash. Aries fights back but Joe knocks him out of the ring with another big forearm. Joe runs the ropes and dives out to the floor but Aries comes back in. Aries dives out now and takes Joe out.
Aries comes back in with a neckbreaker. He goes to the top and connects with a missile dropkick. Aries goes for a crossbody in the corner but Joe catches him with a big slam for another pin attempt. They trade shots again. Joe blocks a hurricanrana and powerbombs Aries for a 2 count. Joe turns it around into a crab but Aries won't tap. Joe turns that into a STF but Aries still won't tap. Joe with another submission and then a roll-up for 2. Aries fights out of the corner but Joe fires back. Joe beats Aries down with a series of headbutts. Joe takes Aries to the top for a Muscle Buster but Aries fights it off. Joe climbs up to the middle rope for a superplex but Aries sends him back to the mat. Aries comes down with a 450 splash for a close 2 count.
They get to their knees and trade shots. Aries with several right hands from his feet. Aries runs the ropes but gets caught with rights from Joe. Joe goes for a rear choke but Aries counters for a 2 count. Aries argues with the referee. Joe attacks from behind but misses. Joe catches Aries and slams him down hard. Joe puts Aries up top and chops him. Joe goes for the Muscle Buster again but Aries slides out and hits a big crucifix slam. Aries with a massive kick to the face and a discuss forearm. Aries with a dropkick in the corner and a big Brainbuster for the win.
Winner: Austin Aries