Spotlighting Two Main Events
Matt Hardy and Drew Galloway have a face off, with Matt saying that we will never see his brother again. Matt says that he wants to be in the main event of Slammiversary and says he deserves it. This prompts Galloway to tell him that he has lost his damn mind. This ensues a match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. With Matt and Drew, 5 days away from two men having separate matches, it was not about IF Matt Hardy was going to win. It was more about the stories coming together and keeping it fresh heading into Sunday.
Lashley comes out and causes a DQ, trying to hit a Spear. Galloway and Lashley brawl to the outside and then Matt is left alone in the ring. He talks about how he should be champion and then the lights go out. The crowd all has Willow masks on and then four Willows come out on the stage. The real Willow talks about how he and Jeff Hardy are the same person. The lights go out again and Jeff Hardy’s music hits. He comes to the stage and they fight to end the show.
I love when two stories come together, specifically two co-main events at one of their biggest Pay-Per-Views. Fans can complain so much about Matt Hardy’s video last week, but it accomplished something: PEOPLE ARE TALKING. No reaction is worse and this creativity spun over to tonight. Willow and Jeff return and cause more creative elements more than just “Brother vs. Brother.” It is more about the legacy of two completely different talents and two completely different personas. Isn’t it funny that they are so different, yet the similarities that made them so good made them the best tag team in history?
As for Lashley and Galloway, this is about an old fashioned fight. It is about who is tougher, who is stronger and who will win in a “bar” type of fight. I like the raw physicality and the straight forward storytelling. Neither of these guys are spectacular and unique characters, so this way of booking their championship match was the best and ONLY way. TNA accomplished what it needed to tonight from these two storylines: PEOPLE ARE TALKING.