TNA No Surrender - Kurt Angle Vs. Jeff Hardy (Semi-Finals - TNA Title)

Semi-Finals of the TNA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
If Angle loses, he will retire from wrestling
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy

The bell rings, and we're ready to start. Both men lock up, and Angle backs Hardy into the corner where we get a clean break. Another lock up and Angle takes Hardy right down and into a front face lock. Hardy backs into the ropes and forces the break. Another lock up and Hardy locks in a side head lock and hangs on for a bit. Dueling chants from the crowd. Angle fights Hardy off, but eats a shoulder block right away and another side headlock. Angle takes Hardy into the corner, forces a break, and connects with a couple of big right hands.

Angle tries for a suplex, but Hardy counters with a front suplex that leads to a flurry of offense from Hardy. It doesn't last long though as Hardy catches a huge powerbomb from Angle. Angle picks Hardy up just to put him right back down with anothe right hand. Angle locks in a rear chin lock, wrenching away at Hardy's neck. Hardy fights back up to his feet and out of the hold, but he walks into a back elbow from Angle. Angle locks in a reverse bear hug on Hardy in a seated position.

Hardy fights to his feet and out of the hold, hitting Angle with a running forearm and a couple of clotheslines before botching, then hitting, a basement dropkick. Hardy eats a release overhead belly to belly suplex from Angle that's good for a two count. Angle locks in a rear chin lock and continues to wear down Hardy. Hardy drops down, and gets out of the hold, before going up to the top rope. Angle is right on his feet and he goes to the top rope, launching Hardy off with a super belly to belly suplex that's good for a near fall. Angle tries for an Angle slam, but Hardy counters sloppily and hits a twist of fate that's good for two. Hardy goes up top and tries for the swanton, but Angle moves and Hardy crashes and burns. Angle connects with the Angle slam, but only gets two.

Angle tries for the ankle lock, but Hardy fights it off. Instead, Angle goes for, and hits three German suplexes in a row, but he still can't keep Hardy down for more than two. Angle goes to the top rope and he tries for a moonsault, but Hardy rolls out of the way and Angle misses. Hardy goes up and hits the whisper in the wind. Hardy goes for the pin but he only gets a two count. Angle rolls to the outside, but Hardy is quick to follow, hitting a twist of fate on the outside. Hardy climbs to the top rope and dives out with a swanton, on top of Angle, out to the floor.

Both men are slow to get up, from what looked to ultimately be a needless bump. Back in the ring, both men beat the count. Hardy and Angle trade blows on their knees, then stand up and trade more. Twist of fate attempt from Hardy is reversed and Angle connects with a release German suplex. Angle goes to the top rope and hits a beautiful frog splash, but it's still only good for a two count.

Angle is back up to his feet first, and he pulls Hardy to his feet. Angle tries for another powerbomb, but Hardy is out of it with a back body drop. Hardy connects with a twist of fate, but it's not enough, so Hardy hits a leg drop, and follows it up with a quick swanton bomb. Angle is still able to kicks out at two. Another swanton from Hardy, and he still can't keep Angle down. Hardy goes up to the top again and goes for another swanton, but Angle gets his knees up to block it.

Angle connects with an Angle slam for a two count, and both men are down. Angle goes for, and is able to lock in the ankle lock. Hardy counters out of it, sending Angle through the ropes and out to the floor. Hardy goes out to the apron, and leaps off toward Angle with a big diving clothesline. Hardy picks Angle up and sends him back into the ring, but Kurt locks in the ankle lock again out of nowhere. Hardy tries to fight out of it, but Angle is relentless. Hardy is able to grab the bottom rope, so Angle drags him back out to the middle of the ring. Hardy kicks his way out of the hold, but he gets a big clothesline for his troubles.

Angle goes right back to the ankle lock, and Hardy continues to try and fight it off, but Angle will not let go. Hardy gets to the ropes, but Angle pulls him right back off and grapevines the leg. Hardy crawls, and even though he doesn't tap, the bell rings. JB announces that the 20-minute time limit has expired.

Draw

After the match, Eric Bischoff makes his way out from the back and he confers briefly with Dixie Carter, who is ringside. Bischoff grabs a microphone, and says that given the importance of this match, there's no choice but to add another five minutes on the clock.

Another period, and Kurt goes right back to the ankle, stomping on Hardy's foot.

Angle locks in some kind of crazy reverse ankle lock, but Hardy fights out of it, kicking Angle out to the floor. Hardy is able to hit a dropkick, sending Angle into the guardrail, and Hardy follows to the outside, where he slams Angle head first into the ring steps. Hardy rolls Angle back into the ring, and he goes to the top rope, but Angle is there, crotching Hardy on the top rope. Angle hits Hardy with a big right hand to the side of the head, and he connects with a giant Angle slam from the top rope. Angle pins Hardy, but it's still not enough.

Both men get back to their feet and Angle charges Hardy, only to be dumped over the top rope with a big back body drop. We're in the final minute of the match. Angle beats the count back into the ring. 30 seconds. Angle rolls Hardy up for two. Double clothesline and both men are down. 10 seconds. Angle pins Hardy, but he only gets two as time runs down again.

Draw

Bischoff says there needs to be a winner, 5 more minutes on the clock. This is ridiculous.

Angle choked Hardy in the corner with his boot. Angle pounded Hardy with elbows, then rammed him in a corner and hit some shoulderblocks. Angle charged for another shoulderblock, Jeff moved, and Angle went shoulder first into the ringpost, then fell to the floor. Jeff rammed Angle into the ringsteps, then did it a second time. Angle was busted open. They got back into the ring, and Hardy applied a Boston Crab. Angle's face was in a pool of blood. Angle fought out of the hold and countered into an ankle lock. Hardy went for the ropes, but Angle pulled him back into the center of the ring and added a leglace to the move. Hardy struggled with 30 seconds left on the clock. Time ran out, and we had a buzzer again.

Eric Bischoff got in the ring, and called for trainers to come look at Angle's cut head. Angle was demanding more time. Bischoff put on a headset and was talking with someone, then was talking with the referee. Bischoff got on the mic and said that the trainers were telling them Angle could not continue due to the cut on his head. Bischoff said they were declaring the match a no-contest. Shannon Moore came out and checked on Hardy. Angle and Bischoff walked back to the locker room, arguing. Angle's cut didn't even seem to be bleeding anymore, as the trainers had wiped off his face.

Result: No Contest

Backstage:

Christy Hemme is backstage with Pope. Pope says he'll give Hemme some advice, bet on Pope. He says that Anderson is an A-hole, and a smelly one at that. Pope says that Anderson has been trying to pull the wool over his congregation and he's not happy with that. Pope says when the ref counts, DDE, Pope will be Bound for Glory, and he's spoken.