TNA REBELLION REVIEW

- Wayne Keehner, Contributor

TNA Rebellion comes to you from a Sold out Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.

Pre Show:

NXT Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jacy Jane and Jazmyn Nyx) got the win over the team Rosemary, Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Lee in a fun little match which had Rosemary try to convince Brookside to use brass knuckles. Xia refused. Ultimately it was Jacy Jane using the discus punch to score the pinfall win over Brookside.

Walk with Elijah Open Challenge:

Elijah defeated Shane Haste from TMDK. While Haste mounted a great flurry of offense Elijah was able to cut him off with a jumping high knee and then the Highway Man's Farewell (Tombstone) for the pinfall.

Main Card:

We open with a TNA signature. The Ultimate X match for the X-Division title. The current champion Moose is able to retain over Matt Cardona, KC Navarro (W/ A.J. Frances), Leon Slater, Sidney Akeem and El Hijo Del Vikingo. Soo many great spots in this match. Moose being notably scared of heights tried to stand on a chair, as well as have Alisha climb and retrieve the title for him. At one point KC Navarro stood on AJ Frances shoulders in an attempt to gain victory but Frances was speared by Moose. The move of the match was Leon Slater climbing to the top of the truss and doing a Swanton flip into a waiting crowd. Even with 7 bodies on the floor it seemed like he hit pretty hard, luckily he got up and was able to finish the match. The conclusion was super controversial as the rules State (The winner must get possession of the belt and keep full possession to the mat with both feet touching.) Leon unhooked the title but as he dropped down for the win he was speared by Moose almost simultaneously as he touched down. As always officials decision is final as Moose picked up the Championship and remains the X Division Champion. Super hot start to a stacked show.

Fatal 4-Way Tag Match for the Knockouts Tag team Championships. Ash & Heather by Elegance was able to retain over NXTs Meta Four (Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson), Spitfire and NXTs Gigi Dolan and Tatum Paxley. This match had a ton of chaotic back and forth action with all 8 ladies able to showcase their talent and skills. In the end during a towering multiple person superplex Maggie Lee ran out and held on to Ash's leg so she wouldn't be suplexed with the group, allowing her to stay on the top rope and deliver a Swanton to Threat for the pinfall victory.

Next was a 6 person Tag Match as the Rascalz & Ace Austin (Accompanied to the ring by Sean Waltman) picked up the victory over The System. (Moose had to pull double duty and fill in for JDC who had travel issues.) This match was fun. All members of The Rascalz were dressed like DX members, Ace Austin was dressed like Bad Ass Billy Gunn. Tons of throwback moves and well...."gestures". At one point Sean hit the X-Factor on Alisha Edward's. The turning point came when Moose tried to spear Wentz but was countered into an X-Factor then the UFO cutter for the win.

International Championship Match:

Steve Maclin was able to retain over Eric Young. EY was accompanied by The Northern Armory who after a few successful interferences were finally caught and ejected from ringside. A hard hitting match from the start. Maclin went for his KIA, which was countered into a piledriver position by Young. Maclin able to reverse that into a roll up and earn the three count to retain. After the match Northern Armory stormed the ring with a chain in which they beat Maclin and hung him from ringside until he passed out and collapsed to the floor.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: 

Mike Santana was able to defeat Mustafa Ali (Accompanied by Tasha Steelz and The Great Hands) Brutal match. They used the steel steps in a lot of creative ways. At one point Ali dove with Santana sidestepping and Ali connecting with the steps outside the ring. The Great Hands tried to Handcuff Santana but he was able to handcuff them in the corner of the ring up against a standing set of stairs. Santana introduced a barbed wire bat but it was later used against him busting him open in the head and face. After an insane superplex of Ali through a table, Mike was able to hit "Spin the block" for a pinfall victory.

(After this Match Gia Miller was with Indi Hartwell who announced that she was officially a TNA Knockout!)

Now we head to the first of our Triple Main Event:

Masha Slamovich retains her Knockouts Championship over Tessa Blanchard. This was a pretty fast paced match with tons of near falls. Tessa controlled most of the match by working over Mashas knee. When Tessa climbed up for her Flying Magnum finish, Masha cut her off with a heatbutt, then hit a rolling Death Valley Driver and Knee Strike. When Tessa kicked out Masha transitioned to an Arm Bar for the submission victory.

TNA Tag team Championship match.

The Nemeth Brothers defeated The Hardys to become the NEW Tag team Champions. It was a fairly even back and forth match between the two teams. In the end Ryan had the ref distracted so Nic could kick Jeff low and hit the Danger Zone. Ryan then tagged himself in and got the pinfall victory. 

Triple Threat Match for the TNA Championship

Joe Hendry successfully defended against NXTs Ethan Page and Call Your Shot winner Frankie Kazarian. All 3 men had offensive flurries to start off. Really cool spot with a powerbomb superplex. Joe's injured shoulder was a huge target as Kaz continued to lock in the chicken wing submission. In the end Joe took out Kazarian with an Attitude Adjustment off the apron through a table. Ethan Page hit the RKO on Joe onto the Champions belt. Hendry was able to kick out of that and deliver the Standing Ovation for the pinfall victory over Page to retain. 

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Following the match NXTs Trick Williams hit the ring and dropped Joe with a spinning kick and then the Trick Shot. He picked up the TNA Championship over his head as the crowd chanted "Whoop that Trick". That's how the broadcast closed.

Overall, another solid show from TNA. The partnership with WWE/NXT has been huge. I'm still waiting for that "Cross the line" moment where one person wins a title from the other company. I thought we could see that in the Womans tag match with Meta Four. As we head on the Road to Slammiversary in July, This Joe / Trick fued could be huge and play out on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Overall I give Rebellion a solid 7.5/10. Very entertaining in ring action.