TNA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament (First Round)
Submission Match
Kurt Angle vs Austin Aries
Kurt applies a waistlock but Aries sweeps his legs so they have a standoff, then Kurt hits a shoulder block but Aries comes back with some armdrags. Kurt takes him down and applies a headscissors, but Aries bridges up and fights out so Kurt applies an ankle lock, but Aries kicks out. He charges Kurt and lands on his feet after a suplex attempt, then he goes for Last Chancery but Kurt rolls outside to avoid it. They get back in the ring and Kurt punches Aries in the corner, then he whips Aries but Aries kicks him in the head and puts him in a STF. Kurt makes it to the ropes so Aries legdrops Kurt's back, then he elbows him a few times and slams him down before Kurt comes back with a backbreaker. Bobby Roode comes out to the stage and takes a seat, then Kurt moves towards him but Roode stays back and tells him to pay attention.
Aries uses the distraction to go for an axe handle smash off the top turnbuckles, but Kurt catches him before he lands and drops him with a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Kurt stares at Roode again as he gets in the ring, but Roode says he's just watching as Aries dropkicks Kurt on the floor. We get back from a break to see Aries hang Kurt on the ropes and hit a neckbreaker onto the apron, then he rolls back in and knees Kurt in the face. Aries connects with a diving elbow off the ropes, then he applies a front facelock but Kurt breaks it with some right hands. Kurt goes for a belly-to-belly but Aries boxes his ears, then Kurt whips him across the ring but Aries catches him with an elbow smash. Kurt fights back with a German suplex, then hits two more, setting up for an Angle Slam but Aries counters with an armdrag. Aries gets up and hits a discus forearm that sends Kurt outside, then he hits a top rope axe handle smash before rolling Kurt in and going for a dropkick.
Kurt catches his legs and puts him in an ankle lock, but Aries rolls through and kicks him into the ropes before setting up an IED. Kurt again catches his feet and puts him in an ankle lock, but Aries once again rolls through, this time sending Kurt through the ropes and onto the floor. Aries hits a suicide dive and rolls him back in, hitting a missile dropkick and an IED before setting up for a Brainbuster. Aries is successful and rolls through into Last Chancery, but Kurt breaks it and shoves him into the ropes before they slug it out. Kurt staggers him with a punch and hits two more German suplexes, then Aries grabs the ropes so Kurt punches him and sets him on the turnbuckles. Aries shoves him back and holds his ankle, then he goes for a 450 splash but Kurt avoids it and goes for an Angle Slam. Aries floats over and armdrags him, then he charges the corner but Kurt moves, and Aries hits the ringpost before Kurt makes him tap out to the Crossface. Roode gets up and stares at Kurt, but Ken Anderson ends the show by dragging a beaten Garret Bischoff out to the stage and piledriving him before tearing off his cut.
Winner – Kurt Angle
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