The Kurt Angle Show - TNA Final Resolution 2011 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we take a look back at my final pay-per-view match of 2011 at TNA’s Final Resolution against James Storm. But first let me introduce to you my co-host Paul Bromwell!

10 years ago Kurt you took on James Storm but let’s talk about how we got there!

You’re off TNA TV coming off your injury from Bound for Glory until November 17th when you return at the end of the show to announce you were the man who attacked Storm before his title defense against Bobby Roode. Did you know ahead of time this was going to be how you were going to be brought back?

You appear from under the ring to attack Storm. How did they get you under the ring? How long were you down there for? How did you get your cue? Give us the magic Kurt!

How were you feeling after a month off?

You beat up Storm and tell Storm, “to go home and tell your daughter Kurt Angle is the one who gave her daddy a concussion” to start setting your match up for Final Resolution. Were you worried about performing at your usual high level coming off your injury?

The next episode of Impact on the 24th opens with you in the ring calling out James Storm and talking about how it was personal when you two rode together and your kids played together but now this is business. Is that true that you & Storm were that close or was it storyline?

Storm said he was ready to kick your ass but you needed some back up before a fight was going to happen and out comes Bully Ray, Jeff Jarrett & Christopher Daniels. Storm then said he told his daughter what Angle said and she told his dad “to do this…” and he hit you and then powdered. AJ Styles, RVD & Mr. Anderson came out to be Storm’s backup which is to set up a 8 man elimination match - which when you look at it is a tradition for the WWE at this time of year for Survivor Series. It’s hard to describe yourself as the alternative when you’re doing exactly what they’re doing within weeks of each other don’t you think?

Somehow neither you nor Storm are in the match but are the “managers” of each team. Were you just not up to wrestling at this point?

It’s RVD, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy & Mr. Anderson with Storm in the corner against your team of Bobby Roode, Jarrett, Daniels & Bully Ray. You and Storm brawl to the back and AJ Styles pins Bully Ray to win the Storm team the match. Is it different being at ringside compared to in the ring in this scenario?

On the other channel the Rock returned to a WWE ring for the first time in 7 ½ years at the Survivor Series. Were you in regular contact with Rocky after he walked away and you went to TNA?

Seeing him return to the WWE do you think that it would generate more interest in pro wrestling as a whole?

There’s an interesting note in the Observer that Dave Meltzer wrote that I want to ask you about regarding the card placement for Final Resolution: “there is a feeling, based on the match they had on TV two months back (the actual match, which is the reason Storm is getting the push he is because the key decision makers never saw Storm as a top singles guy until he had the great TV match with Angle), that Storm vs. Angle will be the best match and having Styles and Roode follow with the fans knowing they are going 30:00 will make things even worse for them. Still, the general rule is you want to headline with your world title.”

The match you had with Storm that Meltzer is talking about took place on the run up to Bound for Glory which we covered in the archives…do you and Storm have a moment in the back afterwards? Did anyone in the front office come to you and discuss it with you about how they’re going to be elevating Storm coming off of it?

UFC is moving from Spike TV to FOX TV at this time. Were you worried about TNA’s standing as when you joined TNA 5 years before The Ultimate Fighter was already hot and MMA was a big part of your thought process?

There’s talk in the Observer that Bruce Prichard…yes our Bruce Prichard…is dictating a lot of the direction. What was your relationship like with Bruce at this time and was he helping a lot with the product at the time?

You and Storm do a satellite interview from his Tennessee home…

James Storm LIVE via Satellite from His TN Home

Kurt this is some really good stuff here…I can feel the emotion coming through…are you feeling less pressure working with Storm here and not having to carry the weight of being the world champion at this point?

On the go-home Impact you & Storm are announced as wrestling at Final Resolution and Storm turns his back on you and dares you to attack him but you don’t.

James Storm Wants Revenge

Is this to show the respect you have for him?

We’re here now Kurt and your match with Storm is voted as the match of the show by the Wrestling Observer readers. Here’s the write-up from Meltzer at the Observer:

“6. James Storm pinned Kurt Angle in 17:47. Storm is trying to get a chant of “Beer Drinker” to replace “Beer Money” during his matches. Didn’t happen yet. This was Angle’s first match back since he had his messed up hamstring two months ago. He was a lot smaller, particularly in the legs. This was sad because Storm comes across on TV like he’s so over, does these awesome promos, and this was a good wrestling match that the crowd wasn’t much into. They were more into this than the prelims, but hardly like you’d expect from an Angle match or for a hot new top face. Angle used a drop toe hold outside the ring and Storm’s head hit the steps. Storm acted glassy eyed, selling like it was concussion after effect. Angle did a long sleeper to allow Storm to do the Dusty Rhodes shaking and get the crowd with him to break it. Storm continued to sell the concussion and dizziness but the crowd wasn’t with him. They started trading punches. Storm used a codebreaker and a back stabber for a near fall. Angle got a near fall with a belly-to-belly suplex and then used an ankle lock. Angle used two German suplexes but Storm escaped the third. Storm used the whirly bird for a near fall. There was some reaction to this near fall. Storm went to the top rope but Angle climbed up and delivered a belly-to-belly superplex. Storm kicked out of that to zero reaction. Angle blocked a superkick and took Storm’s leg down and put him in an ankle lock. He pulled Storm to the middle of the ring, but Strom kicked Angle off him. Angle went for a running tackle but Storm got out of the way and Angle went shoulder first into the post. Storm DDT’d Angle on the apron. Storm went for the superkick again and it was blocked. Angle used the Olympic slam for a near fall, but missed a moonsault. The missed moonsault was the spot that got people into the bout. Storm then hit the superkick for the pin. 3¼”

Meltzer points out some differences in your body. Were you focusing more on getting your arms back in shape compared to your legs with your injury?

Did you have issues working for the first time after the injury?

Are you surprised they put Storm over?