TNA in Youngstown, Oh.
Report by Dot Net reader Ben Hough

I made the two hour trip from Pittsburgh to Youngstown, Ohio for the TNA house show at The Eastwood Expo Center. The Expo Center is a small complex, but it was pretty much filled. Someone from the Expo Center staff stated the attendance was around 600. Every seat was filled. The event had a very strong walk up crowd, and there was advertising for it throughout the day around the Expo Center.

JB came out promptly at 730 pm and got the crowd riled up for the first match. They handed out a few backstage passes and than the event began.

1. X Division champion Suicide beat Shark Boy. Shark Boy played the heel. Suicide was very over with the crowd. The match was solid, but short. However, the shortness of the match was probably due to the fact that Christopher Daniels was pulling double duty tonight. The two embraced following the match.

Before the second match, JB stated Kurt Angle had texted him and wanted to tell the "morons" in attendance that greatness had finally came to Youngstown. This was used to get Heel heat for Angle.

2. Madison Rayne beat Sojo Bolt. Rayne cut a pre match heel promo. Good heat for this match. The crowd was split down the middle even after Raynes promo. Rayne pretty much controlled the entire match. Bolt had some hope spots late.

3. Christopher Daniels beat Brutus Magnus. Daniels got a MONSTER pop for his entrance. I don't think anyone realized he wrestled earlier as "Suicide." This was a really good match that was given around 15 minutes or so, which is rare for a house show match. Daniels won with the moonsault. Daniels really played to the crowd.

4. Lethal Consequences beat Beer Money Inc. Beer Money Inc. cut a pre match promo making fun of the fans and were throwing toothbrushes to the crowd as a gift because they said they saw a lot of rotten teeth in the crowd. It was hilarious. It started out as a comedy match with Earl Hebner and Creed double teaming Storm after Storm pushed Hebner. Once the match got going though, it was another good long match. Lethal Consequences went over clean. Afterward, they danced with Hebner.

We then had a 15 minute intermission.

5. Rhino beat Sheik Abdul Bashir. Bashir got the biggest heel heat of the night. The match was kind of slow, with a ton of rest spots, but the crowd stayed hot for Rhino making his comeback. Rhino won with the gore.

6. Samoa Joe and Jeff Jarrett beat Kurt Angle and Scott Steiner. The crowd gave Steiner and Angle both face pops for there separate entrances. Despite the attempt for heel heat for Angle earlier with the JB promo, Angle got a babyface reaction for most of the match. I don't know if Angle is trying to grow his hair back again, but it is really starting to grow in around the back of his head. Jarrett and Joe both got nice pops, but nothing like Angle and Steiner. Match went about 10 minutes before Joe pinned Angle clean with the muscle buster.

After the show, Jarrett thanked the fans for coming. He then stated there would be an autograph session. Madison Rayne, Lethal Consequences, Christopher Daniels, and Sojo Bolt all signed autograpghs for the fans around ringside. Samoa Joe also did an in ring photo session for 20 bucks.

Notes and Observations: As stated above, it was a really small complex, but the crowd was hot and all the seats were filled. Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe did there best to get the crowd behind them, but Angle and Steiner got cheered the entire match. The crowd did pop for Joe pinning Angle though.

There were alot of kids in the crowd tonight. I've been to quite a few TNA shows and have never the seen the kid presence like tonight. There were alot of families and they really seemed to enjoy the interactive atmosphere with the wrestlers. Christopher Daniels went out of his way to make sure every kid was able to get an autograph or photo with him. He also was really emotional with the babyface response he got. He really soaked it up. He was a class act all around.

JB did a great job as usual firing up the crowd. He kept them hot for everything, even during the slow spots in the Rhino vs. Bashir match, the crowd rallied behind Rhino.

I was really glad to see TNA not rush through the show just because they were in a really small venue. The Magnus vs. Daniels, and Beer Money vs. Lethal Consequences matches both went 15 minutes plus.

The main event was the shortest match of the night. Jarrett and Joe got an okay reaction, but I don't think it was the reaction they were hoping for. Once the match began, Angle and Steiner tried there best to turn the fans on them, but nothing worked. They just got insane babyface reactions, even for there heel tactics. TNA announced after the show they planned to return soon.

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