Slammiversary 2007: King of the Mountain Lifts a Wild Anniversary Card

Rhino and Senshi (with Hector Guerrero) defeated The Latin American Xchange (Homicide and Hernandez) (with Konnan). The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 8:25. Rhino and Senshi against LAX is a useful opener because it mixes power, striking and tag-team familiarity without asking the crowd to absorb a major storyline immediately. The eight-minute runtime makes it a brisk introduction to the larger anniversary card. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as useful supporting material that works better in context than in isolation. The 6.8 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Jay Lethal defeated Chris Sabin (c). The bout is presented as a singles match for the tna x division championship on the main card and runs 8:52. Lethal defeating Sabin for the X Division Championship gives the show an early title change and a memorable career result. The match is concise at under nine minutes, but the championship stakes and Lethal’s win provide enough consequence to make it more than a routine sprint. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as solid-to-good supporting material with clear value. The 7.4 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Frank Wycheck and Jerry Lynn (with Kyle Vanden Bosch) defeated James Storm and Ron Killings (with Jackie Moore). The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 8:52. The celebrity element gives the match local relevance in Nashville, and Jerry Lynn plus James Storm and Ron Killings provide experienced support around Frank Wycheck. As wrestling it is limited and occasionally awkward, but the match is short enough to function as an attraction without consuming the event. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as a slight match with limited replay value. The 5.8 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Bob Backlund defeated Alex Shelley. The bout is presented as a singles match on the main card and runs 3:46. Backlund and Shelley are an odd stylistic and generational pairing, and the 3:46 runtime prevents the idea from developing into a meaningful contest. The result is more angle than match, with Shelley’s athletic value largely secondary to the veteran-character presentation. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as a weak match that is difficult to recommend outside a complete-show watch. The 4.5 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

The Voodoo Kin Mafia (B.G. James and Kip James) defeated Basham and Damaja (with Christy Hemme). The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 2:47. At 2:47, this is effectively a storyline beat rather than a competitive pay-per-view match. Voodoo Kin Mafia getting the win advances the program, but there is too little wrestling and too little consequence to justify revisiting it outside the full-show context. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as a weak match that is difficult to recommend outside a complete-show watch. The 4.0 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Eric Young defeated Robert Roode (with Ms. Brooks). The bout is presented as a singles match on the main card and runs 9:09. Young versus Roode has a clear personal issue and enough time to turn that story into a competent singles match. Young’s victory provides a satisfying payoff, even though the presentation around the feud can be broader and more comedic than the better wrestling elsewhere on the show. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as useful supporting material that works better in context than in isolation. The 6.8 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) (c) defeated Rick Steiner and Road Warrior Animal. The bout is presented as a tag team match for the tna world tag team championship on the main card and runs 6:39. The veteran-name appeal is obvious, but Team 3D against Rick Steiner and Road Warrior Animal is limited by pace and a brief runtime. The champions retain as expected, and the bout works better as an anniversary attraction than as a strong tag-title defense. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as minor material whose main value is advancing the card. The 5.3 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Sting defeated Christopher Daniels. The bout is presented as a singles match on the main card and runs 6:33. Sting and Daniels have a character-driven issue that gives their short singles match more meaning than the runtime suggests. The six-minute bout is too compressed to become a major in-ring feature, but the pairing has enough story and credibility to remain useful. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as useful supporting material that works better in context than in isolation. The 6.5 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Abyss defeated Tomko. The bout is presented as a no disqualification match on the main card and runs 13:54. Abyss and Tomko use No Disqualification rules to create a violent late-card match that feels appropriately larger than the undercard around it. Nearly 14 minutes gives the feud room to escalate, and the physicality provides a strong bridge into the championship main event. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as a good match that rewards a full-card watch. The 7.6 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Kurt Angle defeated Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, Christian Cage and Chris Harris. The bout is presented as a king of the mountain match for the vacant tna world heavyweight championship on the main card and runs 19:21. King of the Mountain is busy by design, but this is the kind of main event where the complexity fits the stakes. Five major names, a vacant world championship and 19 minutes create a true anniversary-show climax, and Angle’s victory gives the event a decisive historical endpoint. Within Slammiversary 2007, the match grades as an excellent match and one of the strongest reasons to revisit the show. The 8.9 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.