Sacrifice (2008)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Sacrifice (2008)


tagline=What Are You Willing to Sacrifice?"
"Are You Willing to Give Up What Means The Most?
promotion=Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
date=May 11, 2008
attendance=900cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/tna/sacrifice.html#2008|title=Pro Wrestling History's Sacrifice 2008 Results|accessdate=2008-07-24|publisher=Pro Wrestling History.com]
venue=TNA Impact! Zone
city=Orlando, Florida
lastevent=Lockdown (2008)
nextevent=Slammiversary (2008)
event=Sacrifice
nextevent2=TBD
lastevent2=Sacrifice (2007)

Sacrifice (2008) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), which took place on May 11, 2008 from the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida. It was the fourth annual Sacrifice event.

Eleven professional wrestling matches were featured on the event's card, in which it featured a supercard, a scheduling of more than one main event. The first was for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship between Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, and Scott Steiner in a 3-Way Dance, however, at the event it was changed to a 3-Way Dance between Joe, Steiner, and the winner of The TerrorDome, Kaz; Joe claimed victory in the match. Angle was removed from the match due to sustaining a legitimate injury during a match in Korea. Other main event matches were featured in The Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament to crown the new TNA World Tag Team Champions; after the titles had been vacated on TNA Impact! a few weeks prior to the event. The staged Finals saw The Latin American Xchange (Homicide and Hernandez) (LAX) defeat Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon). Two featured bouts were scheduled on the undercard. One was the debuting of The TerrorDome for number one contendership to the TNA X Division Championship and to take Angle's place in the main event and the other was the TNA Knockouts Makeover Battle Royal for number one contendership to the TNA Women's Knockout Championship. Gail Kim defeated Roxxi Laveaux to claim victory in this match.

When the event was released on DVD, it reached a peak position of number thirteen on "Billboard's" DVD Sales Chart. The professional wrestling section of the Canadian Online Explorer website rated the entire event a 7 out of 10 stars, which was the same rating for the 2007 event.

Background

The event featured eight professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either villains or fan favorites as they followed a series of events which built tension, culminating in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The main event at Sacrifice featured a standard wrestling match involving three participants (3-Way Dance) between Samoa Joe (Joe Seanoa), Kurt Angle, and Scott Steiner (Scott Rechsteiner) with the three having a storyline rivalry over the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Their staged rivalry started before Lockdown on the April 3 edition of "TNA Impact!", when Steiner told Angle, who was champion at the time, that he was cashing in his TNA World Heavyweight Championship match, which he won at Turning Point in 2007,cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/4577/105/|title=TNA Turning Point ongoing delayed coverage|last=Alvarez|first=Bryan|date=2007-12-02|accessdate=2008-07-18|publisher=Wrestling Observer.com] against whoever walked out of Lockdown champion.cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/5201/105/|title=TNA Impact TV report for April 3|first=Larry|last=Csonka|date=2008-04-03|accessdate=2008-07-18|publisher=Wrestling Observer.com] On the April 17 edition of "Impact!", Steiner said to Joe, who was victorious at Lockdown and became the new World Heavyweight Champion, that he was cashing in his title shot at Sacrifice.cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1208491651.shtml|title=Impact Results - 4/17/08 (New X Division Champion, Tag Titles, more)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2008-04-18|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=WrestleView.com] After Steiner's announcement, Angle interrupted and said that in his contract there was a clause, in storyline, that stated he got a rematch if he lost a title whenever he wanted.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/04/18/5318166.html|title=Impact: New champs and nonsense|last=Sokol|first=Chris|date=2008-04-18|accessdate=2008-10-05|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer] Followed by stating that he was activating that clause for the next week's "Impact!".cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_25329.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 4/17: Ongoing coverage of Spike TV show|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2008-04-17|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=PWtorch.com] On the April 24 edition of "Impact!", Joe successfully retained the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Angle in his rematch. He won the match by pinfall after Steiner hit Angle in the head with a lead pipe, while the referee was unconscious and Joe wasn't looking, and a running front powerslam.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/04/25/5380606.html|title=Impact: Joe retains on wacky Impact|last=Sokol|first=Chris|date=2008-04-25|accessdate=2008-10-05|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer] Because of the controversial ending, Management Director Jim Cornette, an on-screen authority figure portrayed as a match maker and rule enforcer, changed the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match at Sacrifice to a 3-Way Dance between Joe, Angle, and Steiner.cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1209094197.shtml|title=Impact Results - 4/24/08 (Joe vs. Angle rematch for TNA Title, more)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2008-04-24|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=WrestleView.com]

The other main storyline heading into Sacrifice was the crowning of the new TNA World Tag Team Champions in The Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament. On the April 17 edition of "Impact!", Kaz (Frank Gerdelman) and Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz), The Latin American Xchange (Homicide [Nelson Erazo] and Hernandez [Shawn Hernandez] ) (LAX), and, the defending champions, A.J. Styles and Tomko (Allen Jones and Travis Tomko) were all involved in a 3-Way Dance for the World Tag Team Championship. The match ended in a staged controversial fashion where Young left mid way through to go backstage. He later returned to finish the match, but in his alter ego Super Eric. Afterwards, Kaz and Young claimed victory in the match and as a result won the World Tag Team Championship. Because of Super Eric's involvement, Styles and Tomko said they were cheated out of the World Tag Team Championship by interference. As Styles and Tomko explained, Young and Super Eric were two different people. Cornette then attempted to get Young to announce that he was Super Eric and tried to get Super Eric to announce that he was Young. The plan failed, however, as Young and Super Eric both denied the clams by Cornette. In the storyline, Young believed he was not Super Eric, while Super Eric claimed to never have heard of Eric Young. Because of this, Cornette vacated the World Tag Team Championship. On the April 24 edition of "Impact!", Cornette announced a tournament, titled the Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament, that would commence at Sacrifice to crown the new TNA World Tag Team Champions. It involved eight established teams, fighting in standard wrestling tag team qualification matches with only four teams moving on to the Quarterfinals of the tournament to take place at Sacrifice. The teams that fought in these matches were Team 3D (Brother Ray [Mark LoMonaco] and Brother Devon [Devon Hughes] ), Christian Cage (William Reso) and Rhino (Terry Gerin), A.J. Styles and Super Eric (Super Eric was a replacement for Tomko, as he was injurd in Japan, in storyline.), LAX, The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin [Joshua Harter] and Alex Shelley [Patrick Martin] ) (MCMG) , The Rock 'n Rave Infection (Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave [James Guffey] ) (RNRI), Rellik (John Hugger) and Black Reign (Dustin Runnels), and Kaz and Eric Young. The first qualification match, held on the April 24 edition of "Impact!", saw Team 3D defeat Rellik and Reign.cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/5309/105/|title=TNA Impact TV report for April 24|last=Csonka|first=Larry|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=Wrestling Observer.com] The second, held later in the night after Team 3D advanced, pitted MCMG against Cage and Rhino, in which Cage and Rhino were victorious.cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_25401.shtml|title=4/24 Impact Review by Wilkenfeld: TNA debuts newest feud--Cornette vs. Sanity|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date=2008-04-25|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=PWtorch.com] Later, LAX defeated Kaz and Young on the May 1 edition of "Impact!" to qualify.cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_25475.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 5/1: Ongoing coverage of Spike TV show|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2008-05-01|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=PWtorch.com] The final team to qualify was Styles and Super Eric after they defeated RNRI on the same edition.cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/5339/105/|title=TNA Impact TV report for May 1|last=Csonka|first=Larry|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=Wrestling Observer.com] The four that moved on then fought the so called "Egotistical-eight" at Sacrifice. The eight were Sting (Steve Borden), James Strom (James Black), Booker T (Robert Huffman), Robert Roode, Kip James (Monty Sopp), Matt Morgan, B.G. James (Brian Gerard James), and Awesome Kong (Kia Stevens). The eight made up four teams that were to be announced at Sacrifice, however, on the May 8 edition of "Impact!", Cornete announced two of the four teams. The two announced were Sting and Storm, and Kip and Morgan.cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1210303768.shtml|title=Impact Results - 5/8/08 (Angle & Steiner vs Joe & Nash and Sacrifice)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2008-05-08|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=WrestleView.com] The final two teams were determined at Sacrifice and were Booker T and Roode, and B.G. and Kong.

Also featured at Sacrifice, was the debuting of TNA's newest innovation: The TerrorDome, a convert|20|ft|m high red steel barred cage with a domed roof that is only won by escaping the cage through the small hole above the ring. On the April 24 edition of "Impact!", Cornette announced that a new match would be unveiled on the next week's edition of "Impact!".cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_25393.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 4/24: Ongoing coverage of Spike TV show|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2008-04-24|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=PWtorch.com] On the May 01 edition of "Impact!", the plans were unveiled in a small video package.cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1209699624.shtml|title=Impact Results - 5/1/08 (Joe & Angle vs Steiner & Williams and more)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2008-05-01|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=WrestleView.com] It was described as being the X Division's newest innovative match and a cross between The Elevation X, The Six Sides of Steel, and The Ultimate X matches. Stating that it takes the strength of Ultimate X, but it has the danger of Elevation X and Six Sides of Steel. On the May 8 edition of "Impact!", the participants in the match were announced, they were: Jay Lethal (Jamar Shipman), Consequences Creed (Austin Watson), Johnny Devine (John Parsonage), Shark Boy (Dean Roll), Curry Man (Daniel Covell), Sonjay Dutt (Retesh Bhalla), Kaz, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, and Jimmy Rave, with the added stipulation of the winner got a future TNA X Division Championship match.cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_25542.shtml|title=5/8 Impact Review by Wilkenfeld: Competant buildup towards all 10 matches at Sacrifice + 34 entrances!|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date=2008-05-08|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=PWtorch.com]

From the women's division, also known as the Knockouts division, the main match was the TNA Knockouts Makeover Battle Royal. On the April 17 edition of "Impact!", Cornette stated in a backstage segment that he was tired of all of the Knockouts complaining and being spoiled brats. On the April 24 edition of "Impact!", Cornette announced that at Sacrifice there would be the first ever TNA Knockouts Makeover Battle Royal. Explained by Cornette, the match began as a battle royal, until it came down to the final two participants and then it became a Ladder match, with the final two competing to retrieve a contract for a future TNA Women's Knockout Championship match hanging above the ring. The one that retrieved the contract got the future title match while the runner-up got her head shaved bald. The match involved Gail Kim, O.D.B. (Jessica Kresa), Traci Brooks (Tracy Brookshaw), Roxxi Laveaux (Nicole Raczynski), Angelina Love (Lauren Williams), Jacqueline (Jacqueline Moore), Rhaka Khan (Trenesha Biggers), Christy Hemme, Velvet Sky (Jamie Szantyr), and Salinas (Shelly Martinez). On the May 8 edition of "Impact!", Kim won a Knockouts Sheers on a Pole match to gain immunity from having her head shaved bald if she lost, a match where an object is hung by a pole at either one of the four or six turnbuckle post.cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/5378/105/|title=TNA Impact TV report for May 8|last=Csonka|first=Larry|accessdate=2008-07-20|publisher=Wrestling Observer.com]

Event

Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament Results

See also|List of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling tournaments#Deuces Wild Tournament8TeamBracket| RD1-seed1=| RD1-seed2=| RD1-seed3=| RD1-seed4=| RD1-seed5=| RD1-seed6=| RD1-seed7=| RD1-seed8=

RD1-team1 = Sting/Storm
RD1-team2 = Team 3D
RD1-score1 = 8:21
RD1-score2 = Pin

RD1-team3 = Booker/Roode
RD1-team4 = Cage/Rhino
RD1-score3 = 6:50
RD1-score4 = Pin

RD1-team5 = K. James/Morgan
RD1-team6 = LAX
RD1-score5 = 4:06
RD1-score6 = Pin

RD1-team7 = B. James/Kong
RD1-team8 = Eric/Styles
RD1-score7 = 5:32
RD1-score8 = Pin

RD2-team1 = Team 3D
RD2-team2 = Cage/Rhino
RD2-score1 = Pin
RD2-score2 = 9:55

RD2-team3 = LAX
RD2-team4 = Eric/Styles
RD2-score3 = Pin
RD2-score4 = 7:31

RD3-team1 = Team 3D
RD3-team2 = LAX
RD3-score1 = 8:50
RD3-score2 = Pin

ee also

*TNA Sacrifice
*List of TNA pay-per-view events
*List of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling tournaments

References

External links

* [http://www.indemand.com/product/view/82233 Sacrifice (2008) at In Demand.com]
* [http://www.tnawrestling.com/ TNA Wrestling.com]