RAVEN (C) VS. ABYSS

 James Mitchell got in Abyss’ ear that he’s never had an NWA World title shot. He starts attacking Raven, the current champion, leading to Raven challenging Abyss to a Dog Collar match, since Abyss carries a chain with him. Somehow this leads to a clip of Jeff Jarrett and Zach Gowen. Mike Tenay goes through some bullet points of the match, he’s joined on commentary with Don West. He mentions there’s no submissions due to the name of tonight’s event.as Abyss and James Mitchell make their way to the ring. Raven makes his way out and I’m disappointed he didn’t bring a trolley of weapons. Jeremy Borash does the introductions and the chains are connected to the dog collars.

RAVEN © VS. ABYSS

(Dog Collar match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship)

TNA No Surrender 2005 (17^th July 2005)

  Abyss pulls on the chain, using his weight advantage, but Raven strikes first with right hands but he runs into a shot with the chain. Abyss stomps Raven before sending him across the ring into a back elbow.

  Abyss grabs a chair from a fan at ringside and wedges it in the corner. Raven ducks a clothesline but runs into a big boot sending him through the ropes. He takes some chairs from fans, throwing them at Abyss back in the ring. Still not satisfied, he throws some from under the ring before pulling Abyss into the chair in the corner. Raven with some chain shots on Abyss at ringside and he pulls a table from under the ring. Raven wraps the chain around his hand, but e hits the ring post. Abyss catches the newly softened hand and squeezes, but Raven fights out. Abyss grabs him by the throat but Raven fights out of the chokeslam attempt through the table. Raven runs into a knee lift and is sent back into the ring. Abyss grabs one of the many chairs and positions it on Raven. Abyss climbs to the middle rope and hits a splash onto the chair and Raven! Abyss covers and Raven kicks out at 2.

  Abyss stacks two chairs, placing Raven on top of them and goes back to the middle rope, but Raven moves out of the way of the legdrop. Abyss stands over Raven and chokes him out with the chain. Raven fights back with a steel chair, fighting out of the choke and knocking Abyss down, he grabs the staple gun, he has some money in his pocket to staple to Abyss’ forehead. Raven uses the staple gun again and they both roll out to the floor. James Mitchell distracts Raven momentarily and that allows Abyss to pull him into the ring post! Abyss attacks Raven’s open wound as they fight by commentary. Abyss moves around the furniture, Raven tries to get to Abyss and is knocked back. Abyss sets up 3 tables by the stage and walks Raven up the ramp. Abyss grabs Raven for a chokeslam but he fights out with elbows. Abyss goozles him again, but is stunned by a kneelift, sending him off the stage through the tables!

  We see a replay and Abyss pulls Raven down using the chain, sending him through the final table. Abyss uses the chain, pulling on Raven’s mouth and Mitchell reminds Raven he can’t submit using the house microphone. Abyss drags Raven back towards the ring as Raven tries to hold on to anything he can. Abyss and James Mitchell lean another table against the ring post, but Raven charges, immediately sending Abyss through it. Raven covers for 2 but we have to see a crowd shot instead. But at least we get a replay of them crashing through the table. Abyss is the first one back in the ring, but Raven follows, he connects with jabs and a discus clothesline. Raven sends Abyss into the corner, he hits a clothesline and bulldog combination. Raven hits the DDT and covers, but Abyss kicks out at 2. Raven clotheslines Abyss over to the apron and wraps the chain around his neck, choking Abyss over the top rope.

  James Mitchell runs in and jabs Raven in the midsection with his cane. Don West notices the chain isn’t connected to Abyss anymore as he crawls over for the cover, Raven kicks out a 2. Abyss leaves the ring and the referee doesn’t notice, Abyss has the bag of thumbtacks. Rudey Charles tells him not to, but it makes no difference, Abyss rips Raven's shirt so he lands skin on thumbtacks. The little metal fuckers are spread on the mat and Abyss perches Raven on the top rope. Abyss climbs to the middle rope, Cassidy O’Reilly runs in and tries to powerbomb Abyss onto the thumbtacks, to no avail. He kicks Abyss but is chokeslammed through a table at ringside. How has the referee not noticed Abyss’ lack of collar yet?

  Abyss connects with mounted punches in the corner, knocking Raven down in the corner, but finds a second wind and powerbombs Abyss into the thumbtacks! Raven covers 1, 2, 2.9! Abyss counters the DDT into a Blackhole Slam 1, 2, no! Abyss moves the thumbtacks into a smaller area, but Raven hits a DDT on the thumbtacks! Raven covers for the win.

WINNER: RAVEN (STILL NWA World Heavyweight Champion)

This was a really good match, Raven and Abyss both work well with the lack of rules afforded in the match. It started quick and didn’t slow down too much, they looked close to even for most of the match and Abyss came out of it a threat to Raven’s championship. The finish was brutal, so an added ½ star for the extra bump. [***½] 7.25 /10