Hello, and welcome to When Partners Collide. A new potential series where we look at matches involving tag team partners, whether it is a friendly match or a blood feud blow-off match. We look at them all.
This week, I will be looking back at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match between Beer Money tag partners James Storm and Bobby Roode. This match would air on the 3rd of November (the match was taped on the 26th of October).
The build-up
Two weeks before the match, Bobby Roode had confronted Kurt Angle (the then TNA World Heavyweight Champion) after he had screwed Roode out of the championship at Bound for Glory. The match contract they signed only had one match. Angle was mocking Roode before Storm’s music hit.
Storm asks if the contract stops him from facing Angle for the championship. Angle says something about Storm’s drinking before Sting (then authority figure) interjects and books Kurt Angle vs James Storm in the main event of the evening.
Storm would beat Angle in under 2 minutes to become the NEW TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
The next week on Impact, Storm would offer Roode the first shot at his newly won championship. Samoa Joe would put the brakes on that, saying that Roode shouldn’t be jumping the line. We got some back and forth before Sting came out and made the match of Roode vs Joe. The winner would become the number one contender. Roode would go on to win.
On the show of the title match, both men share a good opening promo. They talk about how they both were struggling as singles wrestlers before forming Beer Money, where they have had amazing success. Both men say they are both going to bring their best and blow the roof of the building. They fist bump, raise each other’s hands and leave. Setting the stage for the main event.
Entrances
Roode looks nervous coming down to the ring, as he looks out to the fans. Nervous, but focused.
The commentary points out that Beer Money is more than friends. They’re more like brothers.
Storm comes out with a beer in hand, in a camo jacket and a hat. He pours beer into a fan’s mouth, maybe not taking this as seriously as Roode is.
Commentary mentions how Storm beat Kurt Angle in his first ever shot at the TNA Heavyweight Championship.
The commentary also talks about how well they know each other so well, since they have been partners for 4 years.
Part 1
The match starts with a handshake.
A stalemate during the early grappling. Neither man can get the advantage before they both stand up.
They lock up again, before Roode sends Storm into the ropes before a Storm hits him with a shoulder block.
Roode catches Storm with a back elbow and body slam. He tries a knee drop and misses. Storm does the same. Bodyslam and misses, but manages to sweep the leg when Roode comes towards him for a one count. Roode does the same.
Both stand up and get applause from the fans, before doing the title around the waist taunt.
They do a test of strength, before both men exchange hold. Roode nails an arm drag and we go to a break.
Part 2
We come back from the break and Storm is in control with Roode in the corner.
Storm is delivering shoulder blocks into the corner and lands a punch.
Storm gets admonished by the ref and that slight distraction allows Roode to get Storm in the corner to deliver his own punches.
Storm gets out and delivers 2 overhand chops. Roode fires back with chops of his own, and both take turns reversing and chopping each other.
Roode goes for a jumping snapmare. Storm ducks and hits the ropes to deliver a jumping knee for a two count.
Storm hits a series of short corner clotheslines as he takes control with Roode in the corner.
Storm whips Roode to the other corner only for Roode to bounce out and nail a clothesline. Roode goes to the top rope, before Storm recovers and nails Roode with a right hand; causing Roode to be seated on the top rope.
Storm nails a massive Superplex, leaving both men down.
Both men manage to get to their knees breaking the referee’s count at 9.
they exchange right hands. they go from their knees to their feet exchanging rights.
Storm manages to gain the upper hand. He shoots Roode into the Ropes. Roode hits a quick reversal.
Storm bounces of the ropes for extra momentum. hits a forearm and a clothesline. Shoots Roode back into the ropes and nails a back body drop.
Roode is in the corner. Storm charges and eats a boot and Roode hits the blockbuster from the second rope for a 2 count.
Part 3
Roode tries to shoot Storm into the corner. Storm reverses and gets sent on to the apron before hitting Roode with a jumping enziguri
Storm hits a crossbody but the momentum allows Roode to roll through for a two.
Roode tries a clothesline Storm ducks it and hits a backstabber for a 2.
Storm goes for the eye of the Storm. Roode slips out and nails a spinebuster for a 2.
Roode pulls Storm up. Storm hits a knee to the face before a big clothesline sends both men over the top rope and out to the floor.
they both manage to be the 10 count. Storm gets in first. he tries for a rope hung DDT but Roode manages to counter get Storm into a crossface.
Roode yelling to Storm to tap. please tap he screams. Storm gets close to tapping.
Storm reaches out to the rope, but Roode takes the arm and locks in the Rings of Saturn. Storm manages to get to the ropes with his foot.
Roode sets up Storm on the top rope. He goes for yet another Superplex but Storm dumps him off the ropes before hitting a diving elbow drop for a close two count.
Storm goes to the corner to set up for the last call superkick. Roode catches the leg. Roode goes for the payoff Storm counters.
Finishing Stretch
Roode sends Storm into the ropes but he stops himself before he can hit the ref. Roode charges in. The ref dives out of the ring and Storm moves.
Roode hits the buckles and gets hit with a lungblower that sends him outside.
The ref looks like he tweaked his knee diving out of the way.
Both men are down, with Roode outside the ring and the champion Storm inside.
We get some great camera work as Roode looks over to Storms beer bottle. Looks over to the ref. Checks that Storm is still down.
Looks back to the ref, inches closer to the steel steps where the bottle is located.
Roode looks back at the ref then the bottle, before deciding to grab the bottle.
Storm comes over and grabs Roode by the hair, before Roode swats his arm away and nails him with the beer bottle. Storm goes down.
Boos fill the arena.
Roode scampers inside to cover Storm. The ref makes his way back in confused why there is glass everywhere.
Roode shouts at the ref to count.
The ref starts the count 1…2…3.
Roode gets his hand raised before pushing the ref out of the way to get the championship.
the commentary is shocked. Roode raises the belt above his head.
You suck chants fills the arena.
He spits on Storm. Roode stands on his former tag partner with the belt raised above his head as Impact heads off the air.
Just like that. 4 years of being one of the best teams in the world. 4 TNA tag team Championships. 4 years of friendship down the drain, thanks to one beer bottle.
This was a great TV main event. Simple, effective storytelling. You could see Roode getting more and more frustrated. They didn’t push the boat too much but they didn’t need to. This match was a good foundation for the matches they would have over the next couple of years.
What happened next?
Bobby Roode would be firmly established as the main bad guy in Impact, calling himself the IT Factor of professional wrestling. Roode would go on to become the longest-reigning TNA Heavyweight Champion in Impact Wrestling History.
For Storm, this was his last major heavyweight championship run. He wouldn’t see the TNA Heavyweight championship again.
As for Beer Money, Roode and Storm would go on to have many battles including a bloody street fight at Bound For Glory in 2012.
They would also reunite in 2016 and gain one more TNA Tag Team Championship taking their total to 5. Beer Money would team until Bobby Roode left TNA in 2016.
You can watch the match here
