The following is a flashback to Jason Powell's live coverage review of the February 14, 2010 TNA Against All Odds pay-per-view. Stop back tonight for Jason Powell's live coverage of the 2012 Against All Odds event. Plus, Dot Net Members can look forward to an exclusive audio review after the show. Join us on the ad-free version of the website now via Prowrestling.net/amember/signup.php.

Live from Orlando, Fla.
At Universal Studios

Backstage, Ric Flair was flipping out over Eric Bischoff naming himself the referee. Christy Hemme tried to calm him down, but Flair ranted about how much he hates Bischoff. He told Hemme to tell Bischoff that he's looking for him...

A strong video package hyped the 8-Card Stud Tournament, and A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe... "And now TNA Wrestling present Against All Odds," said the James Earl Jones wannabe guy... Mike Tenay introduced the show and ran through the lineup. Taz checked in for the first time as the color commentator as ring entrances were taking place for the opening match...

1. D'Angelo Dinero defeated Desmond Wolfe (w/Chelsea) in a first-round tournament match in 7:40. Dinero took a page out of the Bret Hart playbook by giving his shades to a young fan at ringside. A loud "Let's go Pope" chant started just after the opening bell. Pope got the early offense, but Wolfe came back with a nice DDT for a quality near fall.

Pope came back with a couple near falls of his own, much to the delight of the live crowd. He hit a nice neckbreaker in the corner at 7:20. He followed up with the DDE (Elijah Express) and scored the clean pin to advance to the second round of the tournament...

Powell's POV: A quality opening match that definitely had the live crowd's interest. It would have been nice if they had been given more time, but it's understandable since there are plenty of matches on the show and Pope has at least one more match to work. Pope will face the winner of the Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez match in round two.

Ric Flair stormed into Eric Bischoff's office. He complained about Bischoff naming himself the referee for the main event. Bischoff said Flair is just pissed because there's someone reffing the match that can't be bought. He said he will call the match right down the middle and told Flair he'd be wise to keep his distance during the main event.

Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Hernandez and Matt Morgan about their tournament match. Morgan said they will be champions for a long time, but they both jumped at the chance to enter the tournament. They wished each other luck and headed in separate directions...

Powell's POV: A match between two of the chosen stars of the company and tag team champions deserved more hype. For that matter, it would have been nice to see some tension teased between the two leading up to their match. Tenay noted that it was nice to see Borash back on television following his hiatus as part of the Mick Foley storyline.

2. Matt Morgan pinned Hernandez in a first-round tournament match in 8:55. Hernadez wore his shirt to start the match and looked really low budget even though he eventually removed it. Back and forth action to start. Hernandez went for a Border Toss early, but Morgan slipped out and elbowed Hernandez. He backed him into the corner and hit the rapid fire elbows.

At 2:35, Hernandez dove off the top rope onto Morgan. It looked like Morgan was supposed to catch Hernandez, but dropped him. A loud "let's go Morgan" chant broke out a few seconds later anyway. I can't say I miss the silly, "You f'd up" chants. Hernandez came back and took control of the offense at 6:30. He ripped off his shirt for a minor pop.

Morgan telegraphed a back body drop attempt. Hernandez grabbed him and hoisted him up for a suplex. He held him in the air for over 10 seconds before executing the move. Hernandez did his big dive over the top rope onto Morgan, who was on the entrance ramp.

Hernandez held up his left shoulder. The referee was about to count him out, but Morgan broke up the count in a sign of good sportsmanship, which received a nice reaction from the fans. Morgan also held the ropes open for Hernandez. Moments later, Morgan rammed Hernandez shoulder first into the turnbuckle and rolled him up. Morgan held the tights as the referee counted the pin. Hernandez didn't look pleased when he left the ring...

Powell's POV: Obviously, the shoulder injury was part of the story of the match and not a legit injury. Morgan showed some heel tendencies at the end, but he always comes across cockier than the average babyface. The finish was interesting in that Morgan played ultra-babyface one second and then exploited the shoulder injury and held the tights while scoring the pin. Hernandez didn't show enough frustration afterward to make it memorable. By the way, Hernandez really needs to stop wearing t-shirts during his matches. It looks so low budget and it's not worth the minor pop he gets for taking it off in mid-match.

A video recapped the Hulk Hogan drama with Scott Hall and Syxx-Pac...

Backstage, Christy Hemme interviewed Kurt Angle, who apologized to Hulk Hogan for questioning his motives. He said he'd never doubt Hogan again. Angle turned his attention to hyping his tournament match with Ken Anderson...

3. Ken Anderson defeated Kurt Angle in a first-round tournament match in 9:50. There's now a small video wall above the ring. Anderson's mic dropped awkwardly and he didn't catch it, which drew some laughs from the crowd. "That was intentional," Anderson said before performing his usual introduction routine. Funny.

Anderson opened up Angle early by using his own necklace/medal to open a cut on his forehead. The announcers were quick to point out that he did it behind the referee's back. Angle bled heavily as Anderson took control of the match. Angle came back with right hands, a clothesline, and a release belly-to-belly suplex.

Angle hit a trio of German suplexes and went for the Angle Slam, but Anderson avoided it and hit a big move of his own for a near fall. Anderson ripped off one of the turnbuckle pads and tried to slam Angle into it, but Kurt avoided it and hit the Angle Slam for a believable near fall.

Angle lowered the straps of his singlet and applied the ankle lock, but Anderson kicked him off. Angle charged at Anderson, who moved. Angle ran into the exposed turnbuckle. Anderson hit the Mic Check and scored the pin. Afterward, Anderson grabbed the medal and draped it over Angle. Anderson spat in Angle's face and then left the ring...

Powell's POV: A good match with a semi-surprising outcome. My guess is that this was the first match of a long program between the two. Best match of the show so far, which shouldn't surprise anyone given that Angle was involved. I'm happy to see Angle eliminated since most people saw him as the favorite. It would have been cool to see Morgan avenge his Bound For Glory loss to Angle in the finals, but it's not like TNA has followed up on that match in a meaningful manner.

Backstage, Bischoff told Mick Foley and Abyss that they should go at each other like it's the last match they're ever going to have. Bischoff threatened punishment if they took it easy on one another. Abyss was concerned about losing his mask. Foley told him it was safe. Bischoff opted to raise the bar by making it a no DQ match. He pulled out the barbwire baseball bat and said it's legal. He said he wants the fans watching on pay-per-view to see them beat the hell out of each other. Bischoff said he'll remove Abyss's mask if they fail to use the bat....

4. Abyss beat Mick Foley in a no DQ first-round tournament match in 7:25. Abyss picked up the bat early. "Use the bat," the crowd chanted. Abyss put it down. Foley got up and slapped him repeatedly to make him mad enough to use the bat. They fought to ringside, where Foley slammed a chair over Abyss's back.

Back inside the ring, Foley fired away with punches to Abyss's head. Taz questioned what Abyss looks like without the mask. "He's gotta be grotesque." Meanwhile, Foley poured a back of thumbtacks in the middle of the ring. Abyss came back and had a chance to chokeslam Foley on the tacks, but he shook his head no and chokeslammed him in a portion of the ring that wasn't covered in tacks.

Abyss pulled Mr. Socko out of Foley's shirt. Foley responded by pulling the referee's shoe off and taking his sock. Foley applied the Mandible Claw on Abyss, who backed into the ropes. The referee raised Abyss's hand and dropped it twice. Foley dropped it before he could raise it a third time. Foley picked up the bat and walked into a Black Hole Slam onto the thumbtacks. Abyss scored the pin and then removed tacks from Foley's back afterward...

Powell's POV: No one really used the bat, so I'm guessing Bischoff will hold that over their heads on Impact. It looked like the story was that Foley released the claw because he knew one of them needed to use the bat, but the announcers didn't bother to explain that. I can't stand the emotional pussy version of the Abyss character. Something needs to happen to make the muppet a monster again.

Backstage, Christy Hemme interviewed The Nasty Boys. They said Hogan invited them to TNA, and that they targeted Team 3D because they're at the top of the ladder. Apparently, the tag champs are a notch below Team 3D in the mind of the Nasty Boys... A video package recapped the Nasty Boys vs. Team 3D feud...

5. The Nasty Boys defeated Team 3D in 10:45. Punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch from the Nasty Boys to start. Team 3D came back and cleared the Nasty Boys to ringside. Once they returned to the ring, it settled into an actual tag match.

Sags took his jersey off and revealed that he has the smallest gut of the four men in the ring. Fortunately, Sags had a t-shirt on. Most importantly, Knobs kept his jersey on. Knobbs also suffered a minor cut on his right eye around 7:15. Team 3D was in control late when Jimmy Hart showed up at ringside and tossed them a biker's helmet, which they used behind the ref's back to get the win...

Powell's POV: The Nasty Boys followed by Jimmy Hart. Brutus Beefcake can't be too far behind. Ugh. The match was exactly what you'd expect it to be.

Backstage, Samoa Joe was holding his Money in the Bank, er, Feast or Fired briefcase while speaking with Eric Bischoff. They spoke about the main event. Bischoff said he should call the match down the middle because he's representing TNA. Joe told him to take care of Flair and said he'd take care of Styles. Bischoff told him not to let his "Samoan temper" get the best of him. Bischoff wished him luck and walked away. Joe didn't look pleased about the "Samoan temper" line...

6. D'Angelo Dinero pinned Matt Morgan in a second-round tournament match in 8:30. Taz noted early on that he wasn't sure whether Morgan or Pope is cockier. Morgan controlled the majority of the first seven minutes of the match and used some of the signature moves he performed in the previous match.

The Pope came back briefly. Morgan caught him with a discus clothesline for a good near fall. Morgan showed frustration after Pope kicked out. A short time later, Morgan missed the Carbon Footprint in the corner. Pope nailed him with the DDE and scored the upset pin. Morgan showed frustration after the match by saying, "That's bullshit, I had him"...

Powell's POV: An awkward matchup between two guys who strike me more as tweeners than babyfaces. The announcers could have done more to make Pope feel like the underdog against the giant Morgan. They put it over after the fact, but they didn't do enough to build up Morgan as a monster beforehand.

Backstage, Borash interviewed Ken Anderson, who said he destroyed Angle. He delivered the "Mr. Anderson" routine in Borash's face...

Powell's POV: It seems fairly obvious that Anderson will win the match to have a babyface vs. heel tournament final. If that's the plan, then why not book the show so that the less predictable Morgan vs. Dinero went on after Anderson vs. Abyss?

7. Mr. Anderson pinned Abyss in a second-round tournament match in 8:10. Anderson was in control at 4:10 when he said, "Let's see what the freak looks like." He pulled at the mask and had it halfway off, but Abyss fought him off. At 6:55, Abyss went for the Shock Treatment backbreaker. Anderson went for the mask again, but Abyss dropped down and hit the move. He went for a cover, but Morgan kicked out.

Later, Abyss caught Anderson by the throat after he jumped off the second rope. Anderson reached up and spun the mask around to cover Abyss's eyes. The blinded Abyss grabbed the referee by the throat while thinking he was Anderson. However, Anderson hit his finisher on Abyss and scored the pin...

Powell's POV: I like the way they set up the finish by having Anderson go for the mask early. Overall, though, the match was forgettable. Taz said it was another upset in his mind even though Anderson has already beaten Abyss.

Backstage, Hemme interviewed Ric Flair and A.J. Styles, who showed off the new blonde highlights in his hair and an earring. Styles said a wrestler like him comes around once in a lifetime. Flair delivered some final hype as well...

Powell's POV: Styles's new look is good. I'm happy they didn't have him become Lil' Naitch No. 2 by having him go with the all out bleach job. Someone needs to work with Hemme when it comes to her heel interviews because she ends up laughing at them when she should be acting disgusted...

A video previewed the Styles vs. Samoa Joe match...

Backstage, Hulk Hogan made his first appearance when he pulled Bischoff aside and told him to "let it go" when it came to him and Flair. Hogan told Bischoff that the TNA talent has to believe in them. He said he knows Bischoff doesn't want to do it, but he has to call the match down the middle. Bischoff said it wouldn't be a problem. When Hulk left the picture, Bischoff said, "Dammit"...

Bischoff made his entrance. Joe followed. A backstage shot aired of Styles in his new "Nature Boy" robe. They kept the A.J. touch by having a hood on it...

Powell's POV: Not a fan of the hood. The robe is cool and I'm all for making A.J. different than Flair in some areas, but the hood thing has never done anything for me.

8. A.J. Styles (w/Ric Flair) pinned Samoa Joe to retain the TNA Title in 21:30. Eric Bischoff was the referee. Jeremy Borash handled the in-ring introductions for the championship match. Styles went for an early shoulder block, but was knocked down when Joe held his ground. Styles teased going for a second shoulderblock, but stopped and punched Joe.

Joe went right back on the offensive when he nailed Styles with a nice kick in the corner. At 5:20, Styles teased the Figure Four, but Joe kicked him off. A.J. tumbled through the ropes and took an awkward fall at ringside. Joe followed up with a dive through the ropes onto Styles. Joe came up holding his knee in pain momentarily.

Styles came right back and controlled the fight at ringside. He moved the padding on the floor aside and went for a suplex, but Joe fought him off. The announcers noted that the wrestlers were outside the ring for a long time, but they explained that Bischoff understood the significance of the title match and didn't want the match to end in a countout.

Dueling "Let's Go Joe" and "Let's Go A.J." chants broke out as the wrestlers fought inside the ring. Styles went for a top rope huracanrana, but Joe pushed him off and hit a cool leg lariat off the ropes that resulted in a near fall. Styles came back and ran at Joe while yelling at him, but Joe hit a uranage.

At 12:20, Styles and Bischoff bickered, which allowed Flair to grab Joe under the bottom rope and slam his knee into the ring post. Styles went to work on the knee and locked in a figure four at 14:45. Joe was on the verge of rolling it over when Flair reached inside the ring and held Styles's arm. Bischoff caught Flair and then broke up the figure four.

Styles ran at Joe and was tossed over the top rope. Once Styles returned to the ring, Joe hit a flurry of offense. Joe scored a couple near falls and wasn't happy with Bischoff's counts. Bischoff held up his arms as if to say he was calling it down the middle and there was nothing he could do.

A.J. set up for the Styles Clash at 19:25, but Joe avoided it and applied a choke hold, which he turned into a cool back suplex. At 20:15, Joe set up Styles for the Muscle Buster. Flair reached inside the ring and grabbed Joe's leg. Bischoff went to ringside to scold Flair.

Joe hit the Muscle Buster. Bischoff tried to return to the ring, but Flair grabbed him. Joe counted his own pin in the ring while Bischoff and Flair argued. Bischoff punched Flair and knocked him to the ground. Joe grabbed Bischoff and dragged him back in the ring. Bischoff and Joe argued. Joe turned his attention back to Styles, who nailed him with a Pele Kick and went for a cover. Bischoff begrudgingly counted a slow three count to end the match.

Afterward, Flair demanded that an angry Bischoff raise the hand of Styles. Bischoff wasn't happy, but he held up A.J.'s arm. Highlights aired of the match as Styles and Flair left the ring. The announcers recapped the match. Tenay said Bischoff could have disqualified Styles for Flair's interference, but that wouldn't have accomplished anything.

Powell's POV: Strong match. I'm not a fan of Styles performing Flair's act, but Flair certainly added to the match at ringside. The finish was well executed with all four men playing their parts well. It will be difficult for the main event to exceed what Styles and Joe did. It wasn't a classic, but they delivered a highly entertaining match.

The announcers recapped the tournament as highlights aired from each match...

Powell's POV: Where's the hype for tomorrow's big announcement? They could still get to it, but I thought they would have teased it consistently throughout the show.

Backstage, Hemme interviewed Mr. Anderson, who said he's all about checking things off his personal bucket list. Beating Angle? Check. Beating Abyss? Check. He said you might as well check off sending The Pope back to Harlem. He said he's one match away from earning a title shot at "the most prestigious title in the frickin' world"...

In another part of the backstage area, Borash interviewed The Pope. As Pope was delivering a promo, Scott Hall and Syxx-Pac attacked him. They turned toward the camera and told Hogan not to turn his back on the Wolf-Pac...

Powell's POV: I like the Hall and Pac attack because it gives Pope a built in excuse if he loses or makes it more of an upset or surprise if he wins.

9. "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero defeated Mr. Anderson in the tournament finals in 15:00. They played Dinero's music first, but he didn't come out. Anderson made his entrance instead and ordered the referee to start the 10-count. The ref made it to five when Dinero stumbled onto the stage. Anderson left the ring and attacked him on the ramp.

Powell's POV: Angle didn't need the blood in his match as much as Pope should have had it following the attack. If you're going to use blood, give it to the guy who needs the sympathy.

Anderson continued to rough up and mock Pope at ringside until Dinero surprised him with a slap and then went on the offensive. A shot aired of Styles and Flair watching the match on a backstage monitor. Anderson came right back and continued to rough up Pope at ringside while trying to win via countout.

Pope finally made it back inside the ring when he shoulderblocked Anderson through the ropes. Pope scored a brief flurry of offense, but Anderson regained control with a suplex. Anderson continued to work over Dinero with methodical offense.

A "Let's Go Pope" chant broke out at 11:10. He kicked in his comeback moments later. Dinero hit a double knee lift to Anderson's check in the corner at 12:40 for a near fall. Anderson cut him off with a clothesline shortly thereafter.

Anderson motioned for his microphone, which was dropped from the ceiling. He said we were one Mic Check away from a new No. 1 contender. "Hold that thought," Anderson said. Anderson hit the Mic Check and went for a cover, but Pope kicked out. Anderson flashed a stunned look.

Anderson got upset and put the boots to Dinero. Anderson hit a couple more moves, but he missed one in the corner. Dinero hit the DDE on Anderson and scored the clean pin to win the tournament. Pope celebrated on the entrance ramp as the money used in his entrance fell from the ceiling.

Powell's POV: It became very obvious during the match that Pope was going to win, but the crowd still reacted favorably. The match itself was nothing special, but they told a story and delivered with the pin at the end. I'm all for TNA attempting to create new stars. They may have succeeded with the viewers who watched tonight's show, but they have to sell this to all the Impact viewers who didn't order the pay-per-view.

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