TNA Live Event
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Report by Dot Net reader Brian Daczkowski

There was a decent turn out, I'd say about 1,000 people, maybe a little more. They had messed something up with the tickets for floor seating and got rid of seats or something. We were some of those people, so we were moved but actually got closer, so I don't know what the purpose was. Some people were upset cause they were split up into two different sections. 

Others had bought the 50 dollar tickets and had a meet and greet at 5:30. Once they let us in at 6:30, there was a free autograph signing with Samoa Joe. Mickie James was also signing autographs and taking pictures for ten dollars. She was very fan friendly. Don West was there as always signing autographs and selling merchandise.

 X-Division Championship Match
1. Kaz defeated Matt Hardy to retain the X Division Title. Kaz won with a reverse powerdriver. A good way to start the show off. The crowd was hot all night and this match helped get us into it.

Jeremy Borash announced that they were giving away backstage passes for the loudest people in the audience.

Earl Hebner was introduced next. He got in the ring and ripped off his referee shirt to revel his own ref shirt that says "Damn right I Did" on the front and "Hebner" on the back. He put on a pair of pink sunglasses and mocked Bret Hart (priceless). This must be a house show thing that they use a lot because I bought that shirt last year when they came to Pittsburgh.

Mickie James was introduced next, sling and all. She said she promised she would be here and she wasn't missing it. Madison Rayne cut her off. Madison hyped their match at lockdown. Mickie said that even though she is in a sling, she can still kick Madison's ass. Mickie said she has found a replacement, the original knockout, Traci Brooks. 

2. Traci Brooks w/Mickie James) defeated Madison Rayne in a non-title match. During the match, Madison ended up in Earl's arms, so he kissed her. He then proceeded to strut like Ric Flair after the match. Traci came up and kissed Earl herself. Earl then fell on the ground and his son, Brian Hebner, had to fan him off. Good stuff and Earl is a lucky bastard!

3. Matt Morgan defeated Hernandez. Defiantly the most boring match of the night, but not bad from what I've seen from these two in the past. After the match, Morgan grabbed a fan's American flag and held it up and around his shoulders.)

4. Beer Money defeated Gunner and Murphy to retain the TNA Tag Titles. Beer Money had the crowd all match. Before it even got stated, Storm called for a timeout. He grabbed his beer and took a sip. He gave it to Earl, who called a timeout of his own and took a sip. Storm offered it to Gunner, but he wanted no part of it. A "Take a sip" chant started. Gunner tried to grab the bottle about three times and Storm kept toying with him. Finally, Storm gave gunner a cheap shot to start the match.

During intermission, Madison Rayne was signing autographs, She was very fan friendly as well.

5. Abyss defeated Tommy Dreamer in a Monster's Ball match. Dreamer made the challenge and stipulation before the match. Huge ECW chants broke out. All your typical spots in a match like this: trash cans, trash can lids, cookie sheets, a fan's beer, even a fan's crutch. Dreamer did his patented trash can in the corner dropkick and chanted ECW along with the crowd, but then stopped in mid-run and looked at the TNA letters on his shirt. He, along with the fans, did it again chanting TNA. Abyss won with the Blackhole Slam. Janice made an appearance in Pittsburgh. Fun hardcore match to get the crowd pumped back up after intermission.

6. Samoa Joe defeated Bully Ray via submission. Bully Ray said: "I started a riot this very building, "Rostraiver Ice Gardens 12 years ago because I can" He bashed Pittsburgh and the Steelers. He made fun of Hines Ward for dancing on Dancing with the Stars. "What tough guy dances?" he asked. He made fun of Troy Polamalu for doing hair commercials. And he made some smart ass remark about Ben Roethlisberger, but i didn't quite hear him. I think it had to do with his rape allegations from last year but I'm not sure. Ray called out all the fans and made fun of someone's wife, which was pretty funny. He challenge anyone in the back. Joe answered the call...Bully Ray tried to bully Earl Hebner throughout the match, but then Earl flipped on Bubba (Earl was great throughout the night!). Joe won with the Kokina Clutch.

7. Kurt Angle defeated Jeff Jarrett via submission with Mick Foley special guest enforcer. Before the match, JB got the crowd fired up. He introduced Mick Foley, who repeated JB about this not being the last time TNA comes to Pittsburgh. He got in a few "cheap pops." He also talked about being thrown off Hell in a Cell here in Pittsburgh in 1997. Once the match finally started, Jeff was reluctant to lock up with Kurt. He got in Brian Hebner's face. Brian didn't take too kind too it and ripped off his shirt and asked Jeff if he wanted a piece of him. They locked up and Brian threw him to the ropes, ducked under Jeff, then leap frogged Jeff, and hits him with an armdrag! Kurt watched the whole thing. Finally, Kurt and Jeff locked up  as Brian tried to get his shirt right side out. Angle made Jarrett tap out to the ankle lock.

After the show concluded JB announced that there was going to be an "Autograph party TNA style" Kaz, Beer Money, Murphey, Hernandez, Matt Morgan, Abyss and Madison Rayne all were a part of that. Matt Morgan was joking with the fans, and was probably the most friendly of them all and he was out there the longest. As that was going on, Mick Foley and Kurt Angle were in the ring taking pictures with fans for 20 dollars for the group (not a bad price if you have a huge group). On the way out, Earl and Brian Hebner were signing autographs at the merchandise stand and Karen and Jeff Jarrett were signing on the way out.

All and all, a decent show and well worth the money. I've gone to both TNA shows in Pittsburgh and you can definitely tell TNA is all about there fans and their experience. I will defiantly go again next year.

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