The IMPACT Wrestling archives are full of unforgettable matches and moments. This week, we head back to Against All Odds 2007 where Christian Cage defended the IMPACT Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship against Kurt Angle in the main event!
Christian Cage was on top of the world as the reigning IMPACT Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. He won the title for a second time by defeating “The Monster” Abyss and “The Icon” Sting in a three-way elimination match just one month prior at IMPACT Wrestling’s Final Resolution 2007 pay-per-view event. In that bout, Sting first eliminated Abyss, guaranteeing that a new champion would be crowned! Sting and Christian Cage battled it out but a vengeful Abyss attacked Sting after he was eliminated from the match. This allowed Christian Cage to score the victory, crowning himself a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
On that same night, Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe went to war in a 30-minute Ironman match, not only to put an end to their current rivalry, but also to determine who would be next in line for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship! The first fall was won by the “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe, as he forced Kurt Angle to tap out with his signature submission maneuver, the Coquina Clutch. Luckily for Angle, he was able to score the next fall, forcing Joe to submit to his own signature submission move, the Ankle Lock! Angle once again locked in the Ankle Lock, forcing Joe to tap out again! Angle took the 2-1 lead but it wasn’t for long! Joe tied things up at 2-2 by hitting a devastating Muscle Buster. However, Kurt Angle proved to be the better man that night as he rolled up Joe to score a pinfall and the 3-2 lead. Angle was able to hold on to this lead, awarding him with the victory and a shot at the IMPACT Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship!
Much to the chagrin of Kurt Angle, that would not be the last time he saw Samoa Joe! At the following month’s pay-per-view extravaganza, Against All Odds 2007, Christian Cage was set to defend his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against new number one contender, Kurt Angle – with Samoa Joe as special enforcer! This would be Angle’s first shot at the gold since coming to IMPACT Wrestling in late 2006. Looking for an advantage, Christian Cage had enlisted well-known star Tomko to be by his side during the match. However, referees ejected him before the start of the bout and Samoa Joe was at ringside to ensure he didn’t come back! Christian Cage always had a back-up plan and this time, it was in the form of “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner! He came down to ringside but was met by special enforcer, Samoa Joe! With Joe occupied by Steiner and the referee knocked out, Cage cracked Angle over the head with a lead pipe! Cage followed up with a sick Unprettier to score the pin and escape Against All Odds 2007 with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship intact!