Trigg hit with stick in MMA fight

by:  Jack Bratcher

Well, it finally happened.  After months of preparation and slowly moving from commentator to in-ring participant, Frank Trigg had his first official match within the TNA wrestling promotion.  Tonight’s match-up took place in Oshawa, Canada and aired live on TNA’s “No Surrender” pay per view.  It was billed as an MMA fight of three, five-minute rounds with victory only coming by submission or knockout.  Trigg’s opponent was “The Phenomenal” A.J. Styles, a TNA superstar that Trigg has had an ongoing feud with ever since Styles attacked him from behind in a parking lot, mistaking him for Kurt Angle.

Trigg comes walking down the runway carrying an American flag, wearing a big grin, and decked out in his traditional MMA shorts with sponsor patches.  Once Trigg climbs in the ring, somehow a microphone magically appears and as he begins his monologue it’s obvious his role is the heel.  “This country really does suck!” Trigg tells the Canadian crowd.  He goes on to call them hicks and dishes out a few more insults. Then Trigg makes sure everyone knows that in the MMA world he is paid to punish his opponents.  He says, “What I like to do is hurt alot of people and by the looks of all you hayseeds I’d like to hurt you too.”

They were really building this up as “the UFC/PRIDE mixed martial arts veteran stepping into the world of professional wrestling”.  They were playing this up to the hilt from the announcing, to the presentation, to the match itself.  It would not surprise me if Trigg’s next bout is a rubbermatch with Styles.  Only  next time they would  wrestle since Styles stepped into Trigg’s world in their first match.  For some odd reason the announcers used the word “balls” alot.  “It takes balls to get into an MMA match with Frank Trigg,” they said.

As the first round starts, the judo black belt, Frank Trigg, quickly throws Styles.  Styles gets up.  Leg kick by Trigg.  As the two athletes clinch up, the “TAGG Radio” patch on the back of Trigg’s shorts glisten beneath the bright lights like Gorgeous George’s face at a Brazilian Barbeque.   A.J. then rushes at Trigg and tackles him through the ropes and they fly out of the ring onto the floor.  Trigg mounts Styles on the stadium floor and starts whaling shots on him right there outside the ring as the referee tries to pull him off.

They get back into the ring and Trigg slams A.J. Styles.  Trigg gets side control and starts throwing knees to his body.  Incidently, this is exactly reminiscent of how Trigg defeated Olympic gold-medalist Makoto Takimoto in a real MMA fight only weeks prior.  I had to remind myself for a minute that this was scripted.  I could swear some of these shots were landing.

At this point Trigg is on top of Styles and he gives him a spanking ala Couture / Oritz.  The round is coming to a close as Styles gets up, jumps into a flying armbar, and tries to extend it just as the bell sounds.  That was the end of round one and Trigg is holding his arm as though some real damage had been done to the elbow.  An injury for Trigg would be very unfortunate considering he has a fight with Niko Vitale in Denver on October 3rd.

That is one of the real dangers with Trigg participating in these ultra-physical pro wrestling matches.  It is very very demanding and sometimes very dangerous.  In a previous match tonight they had a ladder match and one of the wrestlers was thrown off the top of a 10-12 ft. ladder and he landed flat on his back in the ring.  I know the ring has some padding in it but I don’t care if you land on pillows from that high, it has got to hurt.  And if you were to twist or turn the wrong way, you could literally be paralyzed for life from a fall that high.  So be careful in there Twinkle-Toes, we need you around in MMA for a few more years buddy.

As the second round starts, Trigg and Styles are trading punches.  They clinch up and A.J. Styles throws a big knee to the groin that puts Trigg to the canvas.  Trigg is unable to continue so the ref calls it a “no contest” which makes Trigg the winner.  This upsets Styles who goes out of the ring and grabs a Kendo Stick hidden underneath.  Trigg is still face down on the mat in pain and doesn’t see Styles coming toward him.   Styles raises the stick and smacks Trigg hard across the back.  The smack is loud and painful sounding.  He lets loose with about four or five hard hits.

Styles then jumps out of the ring, stops by the announcers’ table and says, “I don’t do this stuff.  I’m a wrestler.”  And as he passes by the camera you can see that A.J. Styles’ eye is almost swollen shut and it is black and very puffy.  Now that was real.  Apparently at least one of Trigg’s punches landed and Styles got a taste of a real fighter’s power for once.  Of course that was not supposed to happen and this incident combined with Trigg’s miscalculated punch from a few weeks back that left a producer with a busted nose, could possibly cost Trigg some face time at TNA.

All in all, it was a pretty good performance.  This is coming from someone who has not watched wrestling consistently since maybe the fifth or sixth grade.  I think it’s really a testament to the growth of MMA.  A well-known top ten UFC/PRIDE veteran is on a pro wrestling pay per view and the guy is still fighting MMA.  And he’s still winning.  In a time when popularity and name recognition seems to be driving the top MMA promotions and fighter salary, I can only see this as a positive for Mr. Twinkle Toes.  Do your thing Trigg!  And we will see you in Denver on October 3rd. Just remember in the next fight, the guy will be hitting back.