The Champ gets an interview with Jeremy Borash before the match, talking about Monty Brown kicking his ass, although Christian got the win in their #1 contenders match at Turning Point the previous year. Christian Cage says he’s made a living out of getting his ass kicked, and this all comes from his taped up ribs. Christian Cage says Monty Brown’s World title reigns will match his Superbowl wins at zero. We get a video package, which I always appreciate for these reviews. This started as Jeff Jarrett was Champion, he promised Monty Brown a championship match, but it didn’t come to fuition as Christian Cage won the title. Monty Brown still had the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in his sights, and he Pounced Christian Cage from the ramp into the railing to injure his ribs. Mike Tenay tries to get the “Peep Zone” over after Christian Cage used it in his interview. Christian Cage won the championship the previous month at Against All Odds and this is his first title defense. We get a Tale of the Tape shown and some bullet points basically handing the match to Monty Brown, who makes his entrance first. Christian Cage makes his way out as Tenay puts over him breaking through the glass ceiling to become a world champion in TNA.
Mike Tenay and Don West are on commentary for this match. Jeremy Borash is our ring announcer, and he has special in-ring introductions for this Big Match.
CHRISTIAN CAGE (C) VS. MONTY BROWN
TNA Destination X 2006 (12th March 2006)
Duelling chants from the crowd as the bell rings, Christian Cage darts behind Brown with a waistlock but he is backed into the corner. Monty Brown shoves Christian as he backs into the middle of the ring, Christian Cage puts Monty in a hammerlock, then transitions into a headlock.
Monty Brown tries to push Christian off the ropes, but Cage slides down to one knee, keeping the hold on tight. Monty Brown takes shots at Christian’s ribs before sending him off the ropes. Monty Brown knocks Christian Cage down with a shoulder block, and Christian is in no rush to get back to his feet. When he does, he teases a test of strength with Monty Brown, but uses it as a distraction to kick Monty in the ribs. Monty Brown plants his feet on the irish whip attempt before sending Christian into the corner. Christian avoids Monty Brown with a baseball slide and staggers him with chops. Monty Brown cuts Cage off with a knee to the injured ribs and some chops of his own before sending Christian over to the floor. Monty Brown follows and decides to take it into the crowd. Christian makes his way up the bleachers and has his head sent into the handrail, but it wakes him up, and he starts to fight back. Brown starts moving back towards the ground level. Monty Brown gets a shot in but is sent over to ringside and back in the ring.
Christian Cage aims for Monty’s ribs with right hands in the corner. Brown sends Christian into the turnbuckles and gets a few shots in, but Christian Cage quickly swings the momentum back. Brown uses Christian’s tights to send him through the ropes. Monty Brown connects with a boot to the head and sends Christian into the guard rail. A second trip into the guardrail targets the champ’s taped up ribs, as Monty Brown grabs a chair from ringside. Christian Cage avoids a manic swing of the chair, hurting Monty’s hands with the shockwave before he brings it back into the ring. Monty Brown cuts off an axhandle from the top rope with a punch to the ribs and Christian Cage does the flip bump. Christian Cage rolls out to the apron, where he can’t lose his title. He doesn’t escape The Alpha Male though (oh boy, that will get me on a list somewhere...) Monty Brown connects with right hands, Christian Cage replies with chops and backs up along the apron. Christian Cage runs into a free-fall flapjack from the apron, up into the air and down to the floor! Mat or not, fuck taking that.
Christian Cage’s ribs get dropped over the guard rail, Monty Brown connects with chops and right hands, forcing Christian to roll back inside for a few seconds of not getting hit. Brown follows Cage, an irish whip sends Christian Cage sternum-first into the turnbuckles. Monty Brown runs through Christian Cage with a clothesline and covers for 2. Monty Brown targets the ribs with some punches, Earl Hebner makes sure it’s an open fist before Monty Brown sends Christian into the turnbuckles. Brown connects with shoulder thrusts and throws Christian into the turnbuckles again for some knees to the midsection. Christian Cage fights back with knife-edge and overhand chops but he gets draped over the top rope. Monty Brown sends Christian down the apron into the ring post and the champion falls back into the ring, Brown pins him again and only gets 2. Monty Brown connects with shots to the side of the head to soften Christian Cage up for an abdominal stretch.
After a while, Christian is able to fight out of it, he connects with back elbows but runs into a knee to the ribs, sending him over to the mat. Monty Brown gets another 2 count as the fans chant “you screwed Bret” at Hebner, a knee drop gets another 2 count. Christian Cage fights back to his feet, he gets sent into the corner but meets Brown with a back elbow. Monty Brown counters the tornado DDT, throwing Christian across the ring. Christian Cage still kicks out at 2. Christian Cage fights back to his feet again, he gets sent into the ropes but this time the DDT connects. Earl Hebner starts counting them both down, but seems to get distracted by his shoe at 6. They both make it to their feet on opposite sides of the ring, Monty Brown runs into a knee from Christian, Christian Cage ducks a clothesline and a back elbow before knocking Brown down with a forearm shot. Monty Brown stands up into a clothesline but he cuts off the momentum by attacking the ribs again.
Monty Brown runs into a dropkick or a leg lariat from Christian. Monty Brown shoves Christian across the ring to stop the 10 punches but Christian catches him with knee strikes before going to the top rope, but Christian Cage eats shit on the splash. Moonty Brown traps Christian Cage’s arm and pulls on Christian’s neck whilst having him in a bodyscissors on the mat. Christian Cage fights out of it with right hands but gets dropped ribs first across the top turnbuckle. Monty Brown follows up with some clubbing blows to Christian’s back and ribs before climbing the corner. Christian fights off a belly to belly superplex attempt with headbutts, Brown gets some more shots in on the injured ribs but Christian holds on to the Ultimate X structure to stay on the top rope as he headbutts Monty Brown, sending him down to the mat. Christian hits a back senton and covers for 2. Monty Brown counters an Unprettier into an Alpha Bomb 1, 2, no! Christian gets a shoulder up at 2½. Christian Cage avoids another Alpha Bomb, The Unprettier is countered as Brown shoves Christian into the ropes.
Monty Brown hits an F-5 and it’s still not enough! Christian kicks out again and fights back to his feet. Monty Brown shoves Christian into the ropes but The Pounce is cut off with a swift kick to the jaw. Christian runs into the Alpha Bomb, no he drops to his feet and hits The Unprettier! Christian Cage covers for the win.
WINNER: CHRISTIAN CAGE (STILL NWA World Heavyweight Champion)
This was an OK match that should have been better due to everything surrounding it. I get that Christian Cage went in injured, and he was against a bigger opponent so he would be fighting from underneath, but this match made him look lucky to get anything in. Add on the post-match segment (and the duration of it) and this was a disappointing first defence for Christian Cage. [**] 4/10
After the match Jeff Jarrett’s music plays, he walks down to the ring and says he wants his rematch for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Christian Cage asks if Jarrett will retire if he loses. Christian Cage flubs his line about kicking Monty Brown’s ass and they argue over each other.
Jeff Jarrett hits the ring and the champion is double-teamed. Christian Cage knocks them both down so Abyss runs down to help the heels. Rhino helps his longtime friend, Christian Cage which is enough to draw out Team Canada, America’s Most Wanted, and Alex Shelley. Abyss hits the Doomsday sitout Torture Rack. The fans chant for Sting, who I think had left TNA at this time in storyline, they used his Government name at the time. Although Jarrett fucked it up calling him Sting during his promo.
Christian Cage is handcuffed to the ropes and whipped with a belt. Steve Borden (not Sting, he’s in street clothes and no face paint.) makes his way from the crowd and he clears out Team Canada, even scaring Eric Young out of the ring. That was a fun storyline at the time. Steve Borden is left in the ring with Jeff Jarrett and a recovering Christian Cage. Borden whips Jarrett with the belt and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock.
Scott Steiner hits the ring! He hits a belly to belly suplex to Borden, and a T-Bone suplex before leaving him to the heels like a pack of wolves. Abyss forces Christian Cage to watch the beatdown as the fans chant for Goldberg. Instead we get a Steiner Recliner on Steve Borden (or is it Sting again?) as the fans chant Steiner sucks. Jeff Jarrett hits Sting with the guitar and Steiner’s theme tune plays to give the fans a happy ending. As long as you REALLY like Scott Steiner or really hate Sting.
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