SCOTT STEINER & JOSH MATTHEWS VS. JOSEPH PARKES & JEREMY BORASH

 I wasn’t watching NWA:TNA: Impact Anthem Wrestling at this point, but I kept up with some of what they did reading about the weekly shows and I was surprised they threw Josh Matthews back into the ring at the time. The guy appeared on Tough Enough in the first season, then worked backstage and commentary. The original Byron Saxton to my generation. Jeremy Borash has finally been with TNA long enough to try and wipe the Hardcore Homecoming stuff from his resume so he evens out the sides. Josh Matthews is the Vice President of Digital Media at this point and seemingly hated on the internet. Don West and Robert Flores get credit for the commentary, but I think D’Angelo Dinero is there too, Borash and Parkes enter together, screwing me out of seeing a JB video, but that’s fine. I hate to say it but Jeremy Borash looks pretty out of shape, and neither man looks excited for this match.

 

SCOTT STEINER & JOSH MATTHEWS VS. JOSEPH PARKES & JEREMY BORASH

No Disqualification tag team)

Impact Slammiversary XV (June 2017)

  It looks like Joseph Parkes is starting with Steiner, but Josh Matthews tags himself in and puts Parkes in a hammerlock, he transitions through that and a headlock, proving he took a wrestling lesson before kicking Parkes in the ass. Matthews springs from the middle rope, barely connecting with a kick. He tries to irish whip Parkes but can’t move him, so gets sent off the ropes. Matthews ducks a clothesline but the running crossbody does nothing as Parkes stays stationary. Josh Matthews runs into a hip toss but lands on his feet, being in a strange position where athleticism can get him heat. Joseph Parkes knocks Matthews down with shoulder tackles and tags in JB. Fuck yes.

  Jeremy Borash is ready but Matthews tags in Steiner. JB tags back out and Scott Steiner attacks Parkes from behind. Steiner with right hands and he sends Parkes off the ropes, Joseph Parkes ducks a clothesline and sends in lefts and rights, he hits the ropes but Matthews with a cheap kick from the apron. Parkes is knocked down with a Steinerline, Steiner hits the elbow drop and Parkes meets with Borash on the floor. Josh Matthews climbs to the top rope and jumps down on Parkes on the floor! OK, that was cool. Scott Steiner takes some of the guard rail and walks Borash and Parkes up the ramp, throwing the guard rail at them. Parkes and Borash keep running backstage and Borash decides “F this” Josh Matthews spots them but Steiner notices a golf cart “we’ll run their fat asses over!” this isn’t even passable as a B-Movie. They give chase in the golf cart until Parkes and Borash spray them with fire extinguishers. Steiner and Matthews hijack a fan’s car (but not before Steiner slams his hand on the roof) and drive after the faces again.

  They decide to give chase on foot and Borash is cornered by a swimming pool. Borash backdrops Matthews into the pool.  JEREMY BORASH WITH A SOMERSAULT SENTON! They grapple in the pool and Matthews puts Borash in a choke as we cut to Steiner hitting Parkes with a right hand. Joseph Parkes is sent through the wall and we cut back to the pool. Sharkboy makes an appearance and bites Matthews on the ass, allowing Borash to make a run for it. Back with Parkes, James Mitchell appears and gives Parkes the Abyss mask, drawing a “holy shit” chant from the crowd. Borash runs back through the entranceway, with Steiner and Matthews behind him. Borash falls over near ringside and chef Robert Irvine gives him some words of encouragement. Matthews tells him to shut up and gets shoved across the floor. Irvine sent him flying!

  Jeremy Borash gets in the ring and Matthews tells Steiner he has this covered. He goes to the top rope but Borash avoids a swanton bomb. Jeremy Borash hits a spear but Matthews covers up for the mounted punches. Steiner cuts Borash off and wants to end it with the Steiner Recliner, but Matthews hates us and wants it to continue, Josh Matthews puts the hold on and it’s mentioned he used it in India too? This brings out Sharkboy who knocks Matthews down with right hands, he connects with Steiner but Scott Steiner hits him with belly to belly suplexes before Matthews sends him out of the ring. Abyss’ music plays and James Mitchell is shown at the top of the ramp. Abyss is in the ring and he knocks them down with a double clothesline! He squashes them in opposite corners with clotheslines and is handed a bag from James Mitchell.

  He pours thumb tacks from the bag out across the mat and Josh Matthews tries to hit Abyss whilst he’s distracted. Abyss grabs Matthews by the throat but the slippery bastard kicks Abyss in the knee and escapes. Josh Matthews runs into a sloppy Blackhole Slam into the thumbtacks! Respect to him for taking that spot, Abyss tells Borash to get to the top rope. Jeremy Borash hits the splash, ALSO landing on the tacks and Abyss covers for the win.

WINNERS: JOSEPH PARKES & JEREMY BORASH

I have a similar complaint to the last review I did, the “match” went on too long. It was terrible as a cinematic for the main portion although the Sharkboy appearance was fun and James Mitchell’s return was amazing. It just went on too long, although the crowd enjoyed it. It gets a point for the thumbtack spots, James Mitchell and Abyss’ appearance. [DUD] 1/10