Hardcore Justice 2011: A Strong X Division Opener and Angle's Title Win Lift an Uneven Card

Brian Kendrick (c) defeated Alex Shelley and Austin Aries. The bout is presented as three-way match for the tna x division championship on the main card and runs 13:07. The championship stakes give the bout an immediate purpose, and the successful defense provides a clear result. The three-way match for the tna x division championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 13:07, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The combination of time, placement and stakes makes this one of the event's clearest full-match attractions. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 1 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.5 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

TnT (Ms. Tessmacher and Tara) (c) defeated Mexican America (Rosita and Sarita) (with Anarquia and Hernandez). The bout is presented as tag team match for the tna knockouts tag team championship on the main card and runs 7:12. The championship stakes give the bout an immediate purpose, and the successful defense provides a clear result. The tag team match for the tna knockouts tag team championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives.

At 7:12, the wrestlers work in a relatively compact window, putting extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The match is functional but limited, contributing more through placement and story than standout bell-to-bell value. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 2 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 6.4 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

D'Angelo Dinero defeated Devon. The bout is presented as singles match in the bound for glory series on the main card and runs 9:33. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its place through the pairing, finish, stipulation and the momentum it gives the rest of the card. The singles match in the bound for glory series format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 9:33, the wrestlers work in a relatively compact window, putting extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The match is functional but limited, contributing more through placement and story than standout bell-to-bell value. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 3 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 6.3 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Winter (with Angelina Love) defeated Mickie James (c). The bout is presented as singles match for the tna women's knockout championship on the main card and runs 8:52. The title change gives the finish direct consequence and makes the bout more important than a similarly placed non-title match. The singles match for the tna women's knockout championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 8:52, the wrestlers work in a relatively compact window, putting extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The match is useful supporting material, doing its job without becoming a major destination on its own. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 4 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 6.9 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Crimson defeated Rob Van Dam (with Jerry Lynn) by disqualification. The bout is presented as singles match in the bound for glory series on the main card and runs 8:36. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its place through the pairing, finish, stipulation and the momentum it gives the rest of the card. The singles match in the bound for glory series format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives.

At 8:36, the wrestlers work in a relatively compact window, putting extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The match has clear limitations in time, finish or structure, so its value comes more from the result than sustained wrestling. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 5 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 5.8 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Fortune (A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Kazarian) defeated Immortal (Abyss, Gunner, and Scott Steiner). The bout is presented as six-man tag team match on the main card and runs 14:42. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its place through the pairing, finish, stipulation and the momentum it gives the rest of the card. The six-man tag team match format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 14:42, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The match delivers enough substance and consequence to stand clearly above routine card material. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 6 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.0 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Bully Ray defeated Mr. Anderson. The bout is presented as singles match on the main card and runs 10:01. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its place through the pairing, finish, stipulation and the momentum it gives the rest of the card. The singles match format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 10:01, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The bout is worthwhile and purposeful, although it stops short of being one of the night's defining performances. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 7 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 7.2 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Beer Money, Inc. (c) (Bobby Roode and James Storm) defeated Mexican America (Anarquia and Hernandez). The bout is presented as tag team match for the tna world tag team championship on the main card and runs 10:39. The championship stakes give the bout an immediate purpose, and the successful defense provides a clear result. The tag team match for the tna world tag team championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives.

At 10:39, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The bout is worthwhile and purposeful, although it stops short of being one of the night's defining performances. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 8 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 7.4 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Kurt Angle defeated Sting (c). The bout is presented as singles match for the tna world heavyweight championship on the main card and runs 15:21. The title change gives the finish direct consequence and makes the bout more important than a similarly placed non-title match. The singles match for the tna world heavyweight championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 15:21, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The combination of time, placement and stakes makes this one of the event's clearest full-match attractions. Within Hardcore Justice 2011, it functions as match number 9 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.5 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.