Against All Odds 2025: With A Word Salad

Against All Odds 2025
Date: June 6, 2025
Location: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re back on the big shows here and in this case it means someone else is trying to bring the TNA World Title back to TNA. Trick Williams is here from NXT to defend the title against Elijah in the likely main event. Other than that, Santino Marella is trying to keep his authority against Robert Stone from NXT. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: The Elegance Brand vs. Xia Brookside/Harley Hudson/Myla Grace

Grace strikes away at M to start and it’s Hudson coming in for a double suplex. Heather gets in a cheap shot though, setting up a running backsplash to a draped Hudson. Back in and M’s facebuster gets two but Hudson manages a suplex for a breather. Brookside comes in to clean house, including that always stupid looking spot where she sends two partners into each other and hits a neckbreaker which makes someone DDT her own partner.

Grace hits a kind of double underhook spinning slam for two and everything breaks down. The Personal Concierge gets in a shot with his trident (like every amazing person should have, along with a nice top hat to go with it) on Grace, setting up Rarefied Air for the pin on Grace at 5:17.

Rating: C. And this is what this kind of a match should be. They got in, they did their thing, Brookside got to clean house after her big win last night and one of the rookies got the pin. They need to bring in some fresh blood to the division and Grace/Hudson could be just that. Maybe not anytime soon, but the two of them coming together to win the titles has some potential.

Post match the Personal Concierge praises the team but the IInspiration is back. They want the titles and that’s it.

The opening video looks at the importance of the World Title and how Elijah is going to fight to win it back.

International Title: Steve Maclin vs. Mance Warner

Warner, with Steph de Lander, is challenging. Maclin chops and forearms away to start and knocks Warner outside for the suicide dive. A running elbow drop off the apron connects as well so Maclin does it again. Steph offers a distraction though and Warner pulls him into the corner to take over. A spinebuster gives Warner two but Maclin is back with a Thesz press and Angle Slam for two.

The Crosshairs miss though and another Steph distraction lets Warner take over again. They go to the apron where Maclin grabs a Death Valley Driver but Warner pops back up with a top rope superplex for a delayed two. The ensuing slugout goes to Maclin and he gets Warner in the Crosshairs. That’s enough to set up the KIA to retain the title at 9:40.

Rating: C+. Yeah this was fine, as Maclin continues to establish the title as something worth having. Maclin is already a former World Champion so he brings some status to the title and having him beat various stars is a good way to go. This was a good choice for an opener, as the talented champion beats a tough challenger.

We run down the remaining card.

The System vs. Leon Slater/Hardys/???

It’s a mystery partner in the form of….The Home Town Man, who is clearly Cody Deaner under a mask. Well of course it is. Slater and JDC start things off with Slater bouncing around a lot and jumping over a legsweep for a standoff. Matt comes in to work on JDC’s arm and it’s off to Jeff, who the fans rather like. Man comes in and wins a slugout with Edwards before hammering away in the corner.

Everything breaks down and the System is cleared out, with the fans encouraging the Man nonsense. Moose kicks Man in the face and it’s off to Edwards, who knocks Jeff down to put him in trouble for a change. Myers grabs the front facelock for a bit before Moose simplifies things with some choking. Jeff fights up and hits a Whisper In The Wind to Myers and JDC, allowing Matt to come in and clean house.

The Side Effect into Slater’s Crossover gets two on Moose and everything breaks down. The Man gets to clean house and we get a triple Twist Of Fate inside. A regular Twist Of Fate into the Swanton looks to set up the Swanton 450 but the rest of the villains make the save. That leaves Slater to flip dive onto them before he counters Moose’s spear into a small package for the pin at 12:38.

Rating: B-. And there’s your next big step towards Slater taking the title from Moose. That’s something that has seemed to be in the cards for awhile now and it’s a good story to tell. Slater has another reason to get a title shot now and Moose is going to have a reason to be worried. That’s basic, well done storytelling and the rest of the people were just there, which is fine.

We recap Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch. Ali has snapped and doesn’t mind abusing his subordinates and Hotch stood up to him, setting up this match.

Mustafa Ali vs. Jason Hotch

The rest of Order 4 is here with Ali, with John Skyler joining commentary. They fight over wrist control to start and then trade near falls, with Ali bridging out and looking smug about it. Hotch rolls him up for some near falls and an exchange of armdrags gives us another standoff. Back up and a chop off doesn’t go to either of them so Hotch sends him to the apron. A dive is countered into a German suplex onto the apron though and Hotch is in trouble.

Back in and the rolling neckbreaker gives Ali two but Hotch snaps the fingers. A tornado DDT to the floor plants Ali and a high crossbody gives Hotch two. Hotch’s Spanish Fly gets two more but Ali sends him into the ropes…where Tasha Steelz won’t hit the cheap shot. They get back up and Hotch powerbombs him for two and a clothesline drops Ali again.

Hotch hits a running double stomp for two but Ali is back with the always awesome tornado DDT. The equally awesome 450 gets…two, as Ali pulls him up. Skyler comes over as Ali goes up, but another 450 hits knees. Ali is back up with a NASTY overhead belly to belly into the corner and now the 450 can connect for the pin on Hotch at 13:44.

Rating: B-. Hotch was trying here but there was no reason to believe that he was going to win. Ali is going to be in for something big going forward and it is likely involving someone important stepping up to fight him. I’m not sure who that is, but this was another step forward as Ali continues to lose his grip on reality.

Post match Ali won’t shake Hotch’s hand and walks away on his own.

The IInspiration is glad to be back because they are here to INSPIRE.

We look at Trick Williams beating Mike Santana to retain the World Title on NXT, albeit with First Class offering an assist.

It’s time for the First Class Penthouse, with the team yelling at the fans for saying rather unpleasant things. Their appearance on NXT was very popular and the attack on Mike Santana makes sense, as he has annoyed them a few times lately. They tease bringing Santana out but say he isn’t here tonight….and of course here he is. Security proves worthless so Francis throws Navarro to Santana, who puts him through a table. Francis hits him in the back of the head with a champagne bottle though and Santana is left laying.

Knockouts Title: Lei Ying Li vs. Masha Slamovich

Slamovich is defending after saying she wanted Li to have a title shot and Indi Hartwell is on commentary. They go with the grappling to start until Li’s dropkick sends her into the corner. Slamovich fights out of that without much trouble and sends her outside for a dive off the apron.

Li is back up with an over the shoulder backbreaker and walks Slamovich up the steps before throwing her down. Back in and Slamovich tosses her to the apron for a superkick. That earns Slamovich a legsweep and a hanging DDT onto the floor for two back inside. They slug it out from their knees until Li kicks her down to take over again.

Li goes up and gets hurricanranaed right back down, allowing Slamovich to fire off the running strikes. Li suplexes her down and hits a running kick for two and they trade some near falls. Slamovich catches her on top with a Death Valley Driver and the running knee gets two. The package piledriver is countered into a rollup to give Li two, but Slamovich rolls back through into the package piledriver to retain at 12:48.

Rating: C+. Li felt like a short form challenger and that’s something you need every so often. Slamovich hand picked her and those kicks are dangerous enough to be a threat to the title. Slamovich had to work here and then retains the title, which is a fine enough way to do this kind of a match. She’ll need someone bigger, and we’ll see who that is soon enough.

Post match Killer Kelly returns for the staredown with Slamovich. Eh not a huge challenger but at least they have a history together.

We look at last month’s Border Brawl, a rather bizarre show.

Mike Santana is looking for First Class.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Joe Hendry

This is Hendry’s first match since losing the TNA World Title. Hendry tackles him down and hammers away to start before tossing Kazarian out to the floor. Back in and Kazarian charges into a fall away slam as it’s all Hendry thus far. They head to the apron, where Kazarian has to escape a Standing Ovation.

That lets him go after Hendry’s leg, which is smashed into the steps, tied up and dropped down onto onto for bad measure. Kazarian grabs a half crab for a bit before tying up the leg again. A Backstabber sets up the missed springboard spinning legdrop and Hendry fights up with the clotheslines. The fall away slam (not bad on one leg) and a slightly delayed vertical suplex have Kazarian in trouble but he manages a slingshot DDT.

The ankle lock is countered and Hendry grabs an Angle Slam for two. Hendry can’t hit the Standing Ovation but Kazarian can’t hit Fade To Black, instead settling for the chickenwing. That’s good for two arm drops before Hendry fights up. They go into the corner, where Kazarian grabs a rollup with his feet on the ropes for the win at 12:44.

Rating: B. This feels like a story where Hendry is losing almost everything he has so he can be built back up later. Or his time in TNA is coming to an end and he’s going to WWE so he’s putting people over on his way out. For now at least, Kazarian gets a rare big win, even if it isn’t likely to get him very far.

Post match Kazarian brags about his win until the limping Hendry chases him off.

Robert Stone hires Matt Cardona to be the referee for his match against Santino Marella.

Tag Team Titles: Rascalz vs. Nemeths

The Nemeths are defending. Ryan wrestles Wentz down to start and hands it off to Nic for some double elbows (back/jumping varieties). Wentz gets back up and hands it off to Miguel for a Dream Sequence and two of their own as the pace quickens a bit. It’s back to Ryan to work on Wentz’s arm but due to it being Ryan, this doesn’t go well and Wentz hits a middle rope crossbody.

Wentz is knocked outside for a cheap shot from Nic and it’s the big jumping elbow back inside. The front facelock goes on so Wentz goes over to Miguel, who is pulled off the apron by Ryan (hey he did something right). Back up and Wentz manages a spinning kick to the face, which is enough for the tag off to Miguel. Everything breaks down and the Rascalz hit stereo dives.

Back in and a top rope Meteora sets up a Swanton for two on Ryan. A Blockbuster/double DDT combination (which didn’t look like cooperation whatsoever) leaves everyone down. Ryan’s running DDT gets two on Miguel but Wentz is back in for the save. The middle rope Meteora is loaded up but Nic breaks it up. The Danger Zone into the jumping Downward Spiral finishes Miguel at 12:41.

Rating: B-. The Rascalz might not have felt like a major threat to take the titles but they were a perfectly acceptable set of challengers. They’re an established team who can give the Nemeths problems and that’s an acceptable spot for a match like this one. I’m wondering who will be going for the titles next, but hopefully it isn’t the recently free Good Brothers.

Eric Young breaks in backstage but is cut off by Sami Callihan. They argue over how annoying it is that an outsider is the World Champion but security gets rid of Young (who isn’t allowed here after attacking a fan on Impact).

We recap Robert Stone vs. Santino Marella. Stone is from NXT and doesn’t like how Marella has been running things. Therefore, it’s time for a showdown, winner has authority.

Santino Marella vs. Robert Stone

Matt Cardona is guest referee, Stone has Tessa Blanchard/Victoria Crawford with him and Marella has Arianna Grace with him. Cardona does a weapons check…and actually finds some brass knuckles on Stone. The bell rings and Stone drops straight to the floor. Back in and Marella wrestles him down without much trouble so Stone bails out to the floor again.

They go out into the crowd, where Marella crotches him onto the barricade but Blanchard gets in a cheap shot at ringside. Cardona yells a bit as Stone sends Marella into the buckle a few times, setting up the chinlock. That’s broken up with a belly to back suplex, but Blanchard steals the Cobra. The chase is on, leaving Stone to grab a rollup with feet on the ropes. Cardona catches him and won’t count, setting up an argument with Stone.

Cardona shoves him into a rollup for two so Stone gets his badge, which Cardona blocks as well. The distraction lets Crawford hit an ax kick for two and Marella gets fired up. The women offer another distraction though and Stone hits him low for two. Grace offers a distraction of her own and Marella hits a superkick…but he doesn’t have a Cobra. Grace has one of her own though and Stone is done at 9:44.

Rating: C-. As usual, there is a big disconnect between Marella trying to be serious and still doing his goofy stuff. He’s supposed to be this shooter or grappling expert but he couldn’t do his finisher because he didn’t have a sock on his hand? It’s trying to do two things at once and it hurt what we had here, which was only so good in the first place.

Post match Marella thanks the fans for their support and promises to do his best job.

We recap Elijah challenging Trick Williams for the World Title. Williams beat Joe Hendry for the title and now everyone is panicking over an outsider being champion. Elijah is the next one to come after the belt.

TNA World Title: Elijah vs. Trick Williams

Williams is defending and they lock up to start. A wristlock doesn’t get Williams very far as Elijah headlocks him over. Back up and Williams hits him in the face a few times but gets sent to the floor. Elijah’s running knee on the apron connects, followed by the Old School knee for two. The Trick Kick (exactly what you think it is) gives Williams two of his own and he grabs a cravate.

That’s broken up so Williams takes a turnbuckle pad off (the referee doesn’t seem to mind). Elijah fights up and hits a suplex neckbreaker, followed by a rolling cutter for two. A Book End gives Williams two and they strike it out, until Elijah hits a Dalton Castle Bang A Rang for two of his own.

Elijah gets sent outside where he grabs a hanging swing neckbreaker. Back in and the top rope elbow gets two so here is AJ Francis to ringside. That’s a bit too nerve racking for Elijah so he takes Francis out with a dive and grabs the guitar. Believe it or not, the referee doesn’t like that and takes it away, allowing Williams to hit him with a belt shot for two. The Trick Shot misses so Williams sends him into the exposed buckle, setting up the Trick Shot to retain at 16:15.

Rating: C+. As has been the case with a bunch of matches on this show, there was only so much of a reason to believe that the title was changing hands here. Elijah felt like a fill in challenger and that’s all he was supposed to be. There isn’t much else to be said about this one, which was kind of the problem coming into this match: it never felt like Elijah was a threat to the title but it was hardly bad.

Overall Rating: B-. This show didn’t have the highest expectations coming in and it wound up being a completely watchable event. It’s nothing that you need to see but if you watched it, you would not have had a bad time. The bigger issue is that it felt like a show that we had to get through to get to the big night with Slammiversary. I’ll take an acceptable show with little going on as these things have felt far less important than this before.

Results
Steve Maclin b. Mance Warner – KIA
Hardys/Leon Slater/Home Town Man b. The System – Small package to Moose
Mustafa Ali b. Jason Hotch – 450 splash
Masha Slamovich b. Lei Ying Li – Package piledriver
Frankie Kazarian b. Joe Hendry – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Nemeths b. Rascalz – Jumping Downward Spiral to Miguel
Santino Marella b. Robert Stone – Cobra
Trick Williams b. Elijah – Trick Shot

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #12 (Best Of The X-Division, 2025 Edition): The Tale Of Three

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #12
Date: September 4, 2002
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West, Ed Ferrara
Hosts: Jeremy Borash, Goldilocks

And now, for something you might have seen before, as the company is trying to find a way to save some money so we’re getting a Best Of show. Thankfully it’s the best of the X-Division, which is pretty easily the best thing about the company so far. That being said, it’s not a great sign when you need something like this just a few months in but here we are. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Note that I’ll be including the full versions of the matches even if the versions aired here are clipped.

Various fans, wrestlers and TNA personalities talk about the X-Division and how special it is. While it’s still just the old cruiserweight division all over again, they’re treating it as something important and that’s a good thing to see after so many years of WCW never coming close.

Jeremy Borash and Goldilocks welcome us to the show and talk about how great the division has been from the beginning.

From Weekly PPV #1:

AJ Styles/Low Ki/Jerry Lynn vs. Flying Elvises

The Elvises would be Sonny Siaki/Jorge Estrada/Jimmy Yang and they jump the other three to start. Lynn is right up for a dive onto Siaki as Styles powerslams Yang. Lynn comes in with a backbreaker for two on Yang as this is all action to start. Back up and Yang sends Lynn into the corner for the step up moonsault kick too the chest. It’s off to Siaki, who gets sent into the corner so Ki can come in to strike away. An over the shoulder backbreaker plants Ki before a Samoan drop into a moonsault gets two.

A neckbreaker out of the corner into a running shooting star press gets two on Ki but he’s back with a heck of a kick to the head. It’s back to Styles for the springboard moonsault into the reverse DDT for two as everything breaks down. Lynn Cradle Piledrives Estrada but walks into a fisherman’s neckbreaker from Siaki. Ki kicks Styles by mistake though and Yang Time (twisting moonsault) is good for the pin on Styles at 6:27.

Rating: B-. And that’s how TNA starts. They weren’t kidding with the “total nonstop action” part as they had all six people going nuts out there and cramming in as much stuff as they could in about six and a half minutes. That isn’t much time to work with but Styles looked like a star and Lynn looked like the established veteran while Ki was the hard striker. Throw in a kind of awesome gimmick like the Flying Elvises and how can you go wrong?

The Flying Elvises talk about how amazing it is to be in the first match in company history. They wanted to be first and never felt like that before. Mike Tenay pops in for some comments…and I have no idea why he’s shot with a Dutch angle.

From Weekly PPV #2:

X Title: Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles vs. Psicosis vs. Low Ki

For the vacant title and it’s double elimination, meaning it’s a string of singles matches and you have to lose two falls to be eliminated, with the last man standing being the champion. That’s a unique idea and I could go for seeing it used again. Styles chops at Psicosis to start but gets faceplanted down for his efforts. A superkick gives Styles two but Psicosis knocks him down and hits the guillotine legdrop for two. Back up and a hurricanrana is countered into the Styles Clash to give Psicosis his first loss at 2:01.

Psicosis – 1 loss
Styles – 0 losses
Ki – 0 losses
Lynn – 0 losses

Low Ki comes in to kick away at Styles, including an enziguri. Another Styles Clash is broken up and they go to the corner, where Ki reverse superplexes him into a dragon sleeper. Styles makes the rope so Ki kicks him in the face, only to miss a Phoenix splash. A hard clothesline takes Ki down again and a belly to back faceplant gives Ki his first loss at 4:21 total.

Psicosis – 1 loss
Ki – 1 loss
Styles – 0 losses
Lynn – 0 losses

Lynn is in next and immediately hits the cradle piledriver to pin Styles at 4:41 total.

Psicosis – 1 loss
Ki – 1 loss
Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 0 losses

Psicosis comes in to dropkick Lynn down but he’s back up with a middle rope bulldog for two. A headscissors sends Lynn outside and there’s the big flip dive to drop him again. Back in and a top rope spinwheel kick gives Psicosis two but he gets dropkicked out of the air. Another cradle piledriver pins Psicosis to officially eliminate him at 7:42 total.

Ki – 1 loss
Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 0 losses
Psicosis – Eliminated

Ki is back in to kick Lynn down for two and a power drive elbow gets the same. A super hurricanrana connects but Lynn rolls through into a sunset flip for two of his own. There’s an enziguri to stagger Ki again and Lynn hits a jumping Fameasser from the apron. Ki tries a triangle choke but gets powerbombed down for a VERY near fall, with the fans not exactly seeming convinced by the kickout. Ki’s fisherman’s buster is countered into a DDT (nicely done) and the cradle piledriver gives Lynn the pin at 12:02 total.

Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 0 losses
Psicosis – Eliminated
Ki – Eliminated

So it’s down to Styles vs. Lynn, with Styles needing to beat him twice in a row to win the title. Styles is right back in with a discus lariat and a spinwheel kick gets two. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Lynn two of his own but Styles blocks a sunset flip and hits a slingshot splash for two. Lynn’s tornado DDT gets two more and they’re both down for a breather. Back up and Styles’ neckbreaker gets two, followed by Lynn’s rather snappy Liger Bomb out of the corner getting the same. Styles is right back with a Styles Clash for the pin at 16:05 total.

Styles – 1 loss
Lynn – 1 loss
Psicosis – Eliminated
Ki – Eliminated

It’s one fall to a finish for the title and Ricky Steamboat comes in to referee. They trade pinfall reversal sequences to start until Lynn knocks him to the floor. There’s a whip into the barricade to drop Styles but he’s right back with a shot of his own. Back in and Lynn hits a reverse suplex to drape Styles over the top before reversing a hurricanrana into a flipping faceplant for two.

Back up and Styles hits the fireman’s carry backbreaker for two of his own but Lynn’s brainbuster gets two more. The sleeper goes on, with Styles jawbreaking his way to freedom. Styles goes up and gets superplexed back down for two and Lynn is getting frustrated. Lynn takes him up again but gets shoved down, setting up the Spiral Tap to give Styles the pin and the title at 25:59.

Rating: B. This was a really cool idea and something I could go for seeing again. The double elimination stipulation made it feel like the best person won and helped cover the idea of the last person entering having a huge advantage. Styles is someone who has already stood out and beating someone with the status of Lynn is only going to help move him along.

We jump past Lynn and Styles winning the Tag Team Titles and move into their first title defense. From Weekly PPV #4.

Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn vs. Disciples Of The New Church

The Disciples (Slash/Tempest, with James Mitchell) are challenging. Slash shoulders Lynn down to start but a powerslam is escaped. Lynn runs the corner for a bulldog and Styles comes in for a running flipping splash to the back. Tempest (better known as Crowbar) comes in and gets his arm cranked, followed by a kick to the face for a bonus. Back up and Tempest runs him over, only to be sent outside. That doesn’t last long as Tempest is back in to take over, including an anklescissors out of the corner.

Styles gets backdropped to the apron but comes back in with a springboard missile dropkick, allowing the tag back to Lynn. Everything breaks down and the Disciples pull a diving Styles out of the air. Lynn makes a quick save and Styles adds a Lionsault for two on Tempest. Back up and Tempest’s Death Valley Driver gets two on Styles so Slash can come back in for some rams into the buckle.

What would become James Storm’s Eye of the Storm sends Styles flying but he’s fine enough to catapult Slash into the corner. Lynn comes back in to start the comeback, including a sitout bulldog for two on Tempest. Another Death Valley Driver is broken up and Lynn hits the cradle piledriver, only for Slash to kick him in the face. Styles tags himself back in and (kind of) hits the Spiral Tap to retain at 10:37.

Rating: C+. This was a way to show that the champions who don’t quite get along can get along well enough to retain the titles, even if they were still having issues. It’s still probably the top story in the promotion at the moment, or at least the most interesting, though I’m not sure how much ground that is covering. The New Church is already looking like a bunch of losers and odds are that is going to continue without much to make it better.

From Weekly PPV #6.

Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn vs. Flying Elvises

The Elvises are challenging and Sonny Siaki is on commentary. Lynn and Estrada trade arm control to start until until Lynn elbows him in the face and grabs a running headscissors. Styles adds a running knee to the face and a legdrop gets two. An elbow to the jaw gives Styles two more but Estrada gets in a slam, allowing the rather necessary tag off to Yang.

Lynn comes back in to knock Yang into the corner, setting up a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. What looks like a top rope cutter from Styles…just kind of crashes down and Yang sends him outside for a heck of a clothesline. Back in and a Koji Clutch keeps Styles in trouble, setting up Estrada’s knee to the ribs for two. The banged up ribs are dropped over the top rope for two and a Lionsault connects for the same.

Another rather slow motion knee drop into a slingshot hilo gets two next two, followed by the logical abdominal stretch. Styles tries to fight back but Lynn gets knocked off the apron so the beating can continue. A kick to the face gets Styles out of trouble though and it’s back to Lynn to clean house. Lynn dives onto Estrada but Styles accidentally takes Lynn out with a dive of his own. Lynn is VERY busted open but he’s fine enough to come back with the slingshot Fameasser over the ropes. That’s enough to pin Estrada, even as Styles is on top for the Spiral Tap, and retain at 15:24.

Rating: B. Well hokey smoke, a wrestling match broke out on this show. It really shouldn’t be any surprise that Styles and Lynn work this well together as they’re incredibly talented but at the same time the Elvises are right there with him to make their side work. This was a rather good match and one of the better things the promotion has produced so far.

They Styles and Lynn kept arguing and fighting but then they started getting along a bit more.

We see some quick highlights of AJ Styles beating Elix Skipper and Lynn beating Low Ki via DQ.

From Weekly PPV #6 (and earlier in the night as we go back in time a bit).

Amazing Red vs. Low Ki

Red snaps off some armdrags to start and then kicks Ki outside. Back in and a middle rope clothesline drops Ki but he’s right back with a hard kick for two of his own. A butterfly suplex into a double underhook crank has Red in trouble but he fights right back out. Red goes up top, where Ki pulls him into a hanging dragon sleeper for some rather painful cranking.

They trade kicks to the head until Red’s hat flies off, which has him so annoyed that he hits a quick standing shooting star press for two. The Code Red gets two more but Ki strikes away, only to get dropped with a spinwheel kick. Red’s corkscrew moonsault misses though and the Ki Krusher 99 finishes for Ki at 7:29.

Rating: B. This is how you make someone into a bigger deal as Red was in there hanging with someone who almost won the X-Division Title last week. The perk of a promotion still being this new is that people can still make an impact in a hurry. That’s what Red did here and it was a heck of a match as the show kicks off fast.

From Weekly PPV #8.

Amazing Red/Spanish Announce Team vs. Flying Elvises

It’s a brawl to start until Siaki is left alone to clothesline Red. Jose Maximo (brother of Joel) gets triple powerbombed and the Elvises get to pose and dance. For some reason Yang and Estrada go to commentary, leaving Siaki to get triple teamed in the corner. Then they sing a little Elvis as a surfboard/dragon sleeper combination sets up a top rope double stomp for two on Siaki.

Back up and Siaki fights back but he doesn’t want a tag from Yang. Red kicks Siaki down on top and it’s a double super Spanish Fly for two. Yang and Estrada come back in and take out the Maximos but Estrada gets caught in Code Red for two more. Estrada counters a double super Spanish Fly into a double super DDT to the Maximos. A top rope legdrop/splash combination hits Red but the other Elvises pose, allowing Siaki to steal the pin at 11:46.

Rating: B-. Oh that’s a Russo trait if I’ve ever seen one. You have the team who doesn’t get along but wins anyway, making the other team look that much worse. If Red and the SAT’s can’t beat Siaki when they have him 3-1, why should I believe they can beat pretty much anyone? It’s a bad idea and something that Russo absolutely loved, which shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Mike Tenay and various wrestlers talk about the SAT’s and Amazing Red. This includes the SAT’s, but one of their microphones isn’t working because of course.

Now talk about the intensity and hard hittingness of Low Ki.

From Weekly PPV #8.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Styles is defending and gets double teamed to start, including a faceplant. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gives Lynn two on Ki but Styles is back up with a powerslam. Ki is back up with a dropkick and elbows but Styles pulls the referee in and kicks Ki low (there’s a joke there somewhere). Ki and Lynn strike it out until Lynn sends him to the apron for a legdrop over the rope.

The dragon sleeper has Styles and Lynn in trouble but Lynn takes Ki down. A top rope hanging DDT gets two on Styles with Ki making the save. Ki butterfly suplexes Styles for two and Styles puts Ki down for the same with Lynn making the save. Styles and Ki go up top and it’s a super sunset bomb to turn it into a Tower Of Doom. Ki gets back to back dragon sleepers for back to back saves.

Styles brainbusters Lynn for two but Lynn is back with a Ki Crusher 99 for two on Ki. Back up and Ki accidentally takes out the referee (ERG) but gets launched out to the floor. Styles chairs Lynn down so Ki covers for two, only for Styles to hit the Styles Clash to break it up….but Ki falls back on Lynn for the three (as in the third count, with the break apparently not mattering, which isn’t how it works in wrestling) for the title at 16:18.

Rating: A-. Rough ending aside, this was great. They were all going nuts and doing their thing as fast as they could and it made for an awesome match. As usual, the X-Division stuff is stealing the show and that shouldn’t be a surprise given what else we’re seeing. Excellent match here as they were doing everything they could for all of the time they had.

Low Ki is happy about his win. I think. It’s hard to tell with him.

From Weekly PPV #9.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Sonny Siaki vs. Jimmy Yang vs. Jorge Estrada

Ki is defending and this is elimination rules. Siaki and Ki start things off as we’re actually tagging here. Ki fights him into the corner early on but gets powerbombed out. Estrada comes in and grabs a Regal Roll but the Lionsault is countered. Some kicks rock Estrada for two, with Siaki having to break up a dragon sleeper.

The Elvises aren’t happy with each other so Yang comes in with a middle rope spinwheel kick. Yang chokes him over the ropes but Ki is quickly out of a sleeper. Estrada comes back in and takes out Yang, including a springboard flip dive on the floor. Back in and Yang hits a dropkick into a Boston crab, which he bends back really fast and Estrada taps immediately for the elimination at 6:41.

Ki comes in so Yang hits him with a missile dropkick for two. Yang Time is loaded up but Siaki crotches him down, setting up the Ki Crusher at 7:56 to get us down to one on one. Siaki comes in with a pop up cutter for two but Ki is back with a springboard kick to the face. Siaki manages a shot to the face, only to get sent into Yang as he’s still on the apron. Ki rolls him up to retain at 9:22.

Rating: B-. They only had so much time here as you had three eliminated to cover in the span of less than ten minutes. At the same time, the Elvises are having issues and that’s likely going to lead to something going south sooner or later. As for Ki, it’s a good move to have him beat all three members of the team to retain, as that’s going to make anyone look strong.

From Weekly PPV #10.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Jose Maximo vs. Joel Maximo vs. Amazing Red

Ki is defending under elimination rules. All three challengers start hammering on Ki, who blasts them with kicks to the head. We settle down to Ki chopping Red but it’s too early for the Ki Crusher. Joel comes in for a tornado DDT to Ki and it’s quickly off to Jose. Ki is fine enough to kick both Maximos into the corner but Red comes in to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and an Alabama Slam/neckbreaker combination drops Ki.

Red’s top rope hurricanrana sends Joel into Jose and Ki tosses Red onto both Maximos. Ki’s big twisting dive off the top takes all three of them down again, giving them a quick breather on the floor. Back in and Ki is knocked outside again, leaving Joel to hit a lifting sitout Pedigree to pin Jose at 9:07.

Back in and Ki kicks away at Joel but Red knocks Joel down and hits a twisting top rope splash for the elimination at 10:10. So it’s Red vs. Ki for the title, with Ki countering Code Red into something like an Alabama Slam into the corner. A super Ki Crusher is countered but the second attempt plants Red hard to retain the title at 12:08.

Rating: B-. Good enough, but this was similar to last week’s match against the Flying Elvises as there was no reason to believe that two of the three were going to have a chance. That leaves you a long time before we get to the one on one match and then it only lasts about two minutes. The match itself was a bunch of spots and Ki striking, which is a good way to bring Ki up even higher.

And now, a best of three series between Styles and Lynn. From Weekly PPV #10.

AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Falls Count Anywhere and the first of a three match series tonight. It’s a brawl to start with Lynn taking him outside, where Styles manages a whip into the steps. Styles strikes away before getting crotched on the barricade to cut him off rather quickly. They fight into the crowd with Styles evening things up a bit, including a running flip dive off the balcony. Styles rams him into the barricade but gets suplexed back to ringside for two.

Back in and they trade flips until Lynn gets in a Stunner. A powerbomb is countered into a faceplant for two, with Lynn getting his foot on the ropes. I’m not sure why that breaks the count in a falls count ANYWHERE match but we’ll move on. A neckbreaker gives Styles two but Lynn is back up with a hurricanrana to the floor. They slug it out on the stage where Lynn drops him with a discus lariat. Something like a bulldog off the stage gets two and it’s back to the stage where Lynn hits a cradle piledriver for the pin at 9:56.

Rating: B-. These two work well together and it makes sense for the two of them to be put together this many times on one show. At the same time, they didn’t stay out there too long to burn the fans out. If nothing else, having Styles getting a rub from Lynn, who is as smooth of an in-ring veteran as TNA has, is a great idea.

Jerry Lynn is ready to finish AJ Styles for good but here is Styles to jump him from behind. Since the second match is No DQ, we’ll just start it in the back.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

No DQ and Lynn is up 1-0. They strike it out and go inside with Lynn hitting a Stunner over the ropes. A table is set up but Styles cuts him off, with the table being turned over. Styles’ springboard dive hits the upside down table (ouch) but he’s right back up with a legdrop onto a chair onto Lynn. A catapult sends Styles face first into the chair in the corner though and Lynn hits the slingshot Fameasser in the ropes.

Lynn’s tornado DDT to the table on the floor is broken up and a double clothesline leaves both of them down. Lynn tries a sunset flip but Styles grabs the chair and cracks him in the head for the save (that was nice). Back up and Lynn hits a top rope hanging DDT onto a chair…and pulls Styles up at two (uh oh). Styles knocks him off the top but gets crotched, setting up a super hurricanrana through the ringside table (with Styles landing head first for a scary crash). Back in and Styles is fine enough to reverse another tornado DDT attempt into the Styles Clash onto the chair for the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C+. Another good enough match between the two of them and again they didn’t overstay their welcome. That’s something you need to do if you’re going to see them fighting over and over, especially if Styles was all but guaranteed to win and tie the series up. It was a bit too similar to their first match, though nothing bad whatsoever.

With the series tied, we’re having a ten minute Iron Man match for the final fall and it starts right now.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

Ten minute Iron Man match and the winner gets an X-Division Title shot (ignore the clock on screen starting before the bell). Styles gets smart and pins the down Lynn at 11 seconds.

Styles – 1
Lynn – 0

Styles pins him again at 19 seconds.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 0

Lynn kicks out of a third cover and reverses a suplex into a neckbreaker for two. Styles grabs a sleeper to slow him down as we’re already two minutes in. Lynn fights up so Styles pulls him down by the hair and puts on the chinlock. Back up and Styles’ hurricanrana is countered into a faceplant to give Lynn a fall at 3:49.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 1

Lynn follows Styles’ plan by covering for an immediate two but Styles scores with a backdrop. We have five minutes left as Lynn comes back with the springboard Fameasser for two. Lynn goes up but gets caught in a Razor’s Edge Dominator (that was cool) and a delayed cover gives Styles another fall at 6:32 (even if the referee was a bit confused).

Styles – 3
Lynn – 1

Styles hammers away as Low Ki comes to watch, complete with a ladder. We have two minutes left as Lynn hits a tombstone for the pin at 8:13.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 2

Lynn can’t hit the cradle piledriver but can hit a Styles Clash to tie it up at 8:58.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 3

They trade very fast rollups but neither can get the pin as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. This one saw the two of them getting the chance to show off their athleticism a bit more and Styles getting two falls at the start was very smart. I’m not wild on seeing the whole thing end in a draw, but otherwise, how else would we get to a triple threat title match? It didn’t get too insane, but Ki coming out with the ladder more or less guaranteed where this was going.

Post match Ki comes in and raises both of their arms, only to kick them down. Ki says the division is about the champion so next week it’s time to prove that he is the greatest in a ladder match.

Various wrestlers are impressed by AJ Styles.

Styles is glad to be the best and you’ll see even more.

Mike Tenay thinks the X-Division is awesome.

From Weekly PPV #11.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Low Ki

Ki is defending in a ladder match. Ki and Lynn chop it out to start with Styles quickly taking Lynn’s place. Lynn is back up but misses his slingshot Fameasser, allowing Ki to springboard kick Styles down. Back in and Lynn takes over on both of them, including a fairly illogical surfboard to Ki. A suplex drops Styles and you can see Lynn have to stop himself from covering.

Ki breaks up a Liontamer to Styles (Why?) and drops both of them in a hurry. Styles knocks Ki into the corner and they’re all down for an early breather. It’s Styles up first and he heads to the floor, where a ladder is bridged between the barricade and the apron. Ki and Styles climb onto said ladder but Lynn is right there for a double faceplant.

Lynn baseball slides a ladder into Styles’ ribs but Ki cuts off his climb. Styles unloads on Ki until he gets dropped by Lynn. A double hiptoss sends Ki into a ladder leaning against the rope, followed by a suplex sending Lynn into the same ladder. Ki is back up with a hurricanrana to send Styles into the ladder and they need a breather. Styles loads up the ladder and tries a climb but Ki pulls him down for some kicks to the chest.

Ki pulls Styles off the ladder again and then sends the ladder over, with Lynn crashing down in a heap. Back up and Lynn hammers on Styles, followed by a sitout powerbomb on Ki. Two more ladders are brought in and Styles climbs after Ki, who puts him in a dragon sleeper. Lynn breaks that up (Why?) and shoves Styles down, followed by a cradle piledriver off the ladder to plant Ki. That’s enough for Lynn to pull the title down for the win at 20:05.

Rating: B+. This was more of a match where they went after each other rather than the ladder and that makes things so much more interesting. Sometimes it’s nice to see them mix it up a bit and in this case, it was great to focus on people this talented. Lynn gets the title and can defend it against a bunch of people, including these two, and I can certainly go for more of that at the moment.

Wrestlers and Tenay praise Jerry Lynn.

Lynn talks about being interested in the X-Division because it suits his style. Cue Styles, who offers respect to Lynn. Cue Ki, who is still coming for the title. Lynn is looking forward to it.

Overall Rating: B. While this wasn’t so much a look back at the X-Division as much as it was a look at the three way feud with some side players, it does at least focus on by far the best thing in TNA to date. You’re only going to get so far on everything else the promotion has to offer, but these guys have been doing great in the few months the promotion has been around. That’s what this should have been and it wound up working fairly well, assuming you don’t mind almost everyone else being completely ignored.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NWA TNA Weekly PPV #11 (2025 Edition): They’ve Still Got It?

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #11
Date: August 28, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Things took a big turn last week and it actually gives me some hope for the company. The problem right now is that the promotion is having financial issues so a lot of things, including people, have been cut down. That made for a far more interesting and entertaining match last week so maybe things can be a bit better. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Earlier today, Brian Lawler was asked what Jeff Jarrett did to him. Again though, before he can answer, Jarrett runs in and beats him down.

Kid Kash vs. Amazing Red

They fight over wrist and arm control to start with neither getting very far. Kash sticks the landing on a monkey flip so they trade legsweeps and we get a staredown. Red’s headlock doesn’t last long so they trade armdrags and it’s another standoff. Kash flips him off and gets sent to the apron for some elbows to send him outside. Back up and Kash gets in a shot of his own, setting up a springboard clothesline for two.

Red charges into an elbow in the corner and a middle rope clothesline gets two more. Kash hammers away but Red is back up with a middle rope Downward Spiral for a near fall of his own. They go up top and Kash throws him down for two, followed by a slingshot legdrop in the ropes for the same. Kash runs the rope and hits a springboard spinning high crossbody, followed by something like a kneeling MuscleBuster for the pin at 9:28.

Rating: B-. This is something that the X-Division needs, as you can only have Styles/Ki/Lynn as the focal points for so long. At some point you need some fresh blood in there and these two could certainly fit the bill. They had an exciting enough match and that’s good to see, especially as a way to open the show.

Post match Red offers him a handshake but Kash hits a clothesline instead. The SAT’s run in for the save.

Sonny Siaki, on his own, has to be asked to turn around and face the camera and isn’t worried about facing Monty Brown. Sure Brown was in the Super Bowl, but Siaki is bigger than the Super Bowl.

Sonny Siaki vs. Monty Brown

Before the match, Brown grabs the mic and promises to take out Jeff Jarrett for costing him the World Title last week. Siaki backs him into the corner to start and fires off some shoulders to the ribs. That earns him a trip to the floor but Brown misses a charge into the barricade. Back in and Brown gives him a side slam before stomping away for two. A running splash in the corner hits Siaki and a butterfly suplex into a vertical suplex gets two more.

We hit the chinlock on Siaki but he fights up, only to get clotheslined right back down. A running DDT drops Brown though and we get a double breather. Siaki’s clothesline gets two but Brown drops him again. An overhead belly to belly sends Siaki flying and a powerbomb swung into a Rock Bottom plants him again. Cue Jeff Jarrett though, with the distraction allowing Siaki to hit Brown low for the pin at 10:13.

Rating: C. Brown is in a weird place as he’s a monster with charisma, but he’s nowhere near ready for this level in the ring. The problem with that is if you keep beating him, he loses the status that he has. It would be nice to let him smash through some people to rack up some wins and then bring him along, but why do that when you can just have him lose?

Post match Brown hammers on Jarrett and here is Brian Lawler to go after Jarrett as well. Security breaks it up and Lawler is cut off again. Darn the luck.

Commentary hypes up the X-Division ladder match.

Slash, with new partner Kobain (better known as Flash Flanagan in OVW), is ready to win a spot in a Gauntlet For The Gold for the Tag Team Titles. Kobain says what is likely supposed to sound like Nirvana lyrics.

Backseat Boyz vs. James Storm/Chris Harris vs. Hot Shots vs. Disciples Of The New Church

Elimination rules and the winners are in the Gauntlet For The Gold for the vacant Tag Team Titles. Chase Stevens (partners in the Hot Shots with Cassidy O’Reilly) starts with Trent Acid (of the Backseat Boyz, along with Johnny Kashmere) with Acid flipping over him. Stevens hands it off to Kashmere, with the Boyz having to fight because they can’t be eliminated.

Then they point at each and clean house, including the Dream Sequence (later made famous by the Motor City Machine Guns) to Stevens. Some moonsaults to the floor drop most everyone else and Stevens shooting stars onto everyone else. Back in and Slash tags herself in for a neckbreaker to get rid of Kashmere at 4:13.

Kobain comes in for something like a Demolition Decapitator to Stevens. O’Reilly comes back in and kicks Harris down, setting up a double basement dropkick for two. Harris fights up and hits a heck of a clothesline on Cassidy, with Kobain coming in. That doesn’t last long as Storm tags himself in and hits a reverse tornado DDT to get rid of the Hot Shots at 7:55.

Slash chokes away at Storm in the corner, followed by what would become Storm’s Eye Of The Storm. Kobain comes in and sends Storm outside for the big dive and Slash adds a running knee back inside. Cue Don Harris and Brian Lee for commentary as Harris comes back in to clean house, with Kobain accidentally elbowing Slash. Storm superkicks both of them as everything breaks down, only for Slash to come back with a cutter out of the corner. Another neckbreaker is countered and a slam swung into a Rock Bottom finishes for Harris at 12:54.

Rating: C. This was one of those matches where they didn’t quite have time to build anything up and it hut things. At the same time, you have some teams who aren’t overly familiar around here, with the Kobain deal feeling more stupid than anything else. The good thing is Harris and Storm are being built up as the best team around here and it would not surprise me at all to see them get the titles.

Post match Harris and Lee run in for the beatdown with the other teams all running in as well. Harris and Lee clear the ring, because of course they do.

Jeff Jarrett runs into Bob Armstrong, who tells Jarrett he’ll get what he deserves. Jarrett says he deserves all the titles and promises to deal with Armstrong’s surprise.

Miss TNA: Bruce vs. April Hunter

We get a bunch of BEEPs, which are likely due to crowd chants. Hunter fires off chops and snaps off a headscissors but Bruce pulls her down by the hair. A slam and delayed vertical suplex give Bruce two and he sends Hunter face first into the buckle a few times. Bruce flips out of a belly to back suplex and pulls her down by the hair, setting up a powerbomb for the pin at 3:01.

Rating: D. What even is the point of this anymore? In theory they’re setting someone up to beat Bruce in a big moment, but is it even going to matter when it happens? There comes a point where it’s been run into the ground and it isn’t like it had far to go in the first place. Another bad match here, even with Hunter being better than some of the people who have been in there.

Post match Bruce goes to take off Hunter’s top but Slyck Wagner Brown (Hunter’s boyfriend) makes the save.

The Flying Elvises aren’t all shook up without Sonny Siaki but he better not come back because he’s lonesome tonight. Siaki comes in to say he’s fine without them.

Spanish Announce Team vs. Flying Elvises

Jose wrestles Estrada down to start and they trade some not very near falls. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the Elvises clear the ring, setting up stereo Asai moonsaults. Back in and Estrada plants Joel for two before handing it off to Yang for a dropkick into the corner. Estrada’s slingshot legdrop gets two more but he misses a charge, allowing the tag back to Jose.

Estrada crotches him on top and grabs a neckbreaker for two, followed by a suplex into a neckbreaker. Yang grabs a front facelock as commentary previews upcoming shows, including next week’s Best Of The X-Division (which may or may not have been a way to avoid having to pay for another show). That doesn’t last long and Estrada comes in to miss another charge, allowing Joel to come in as well.

Everything breaks down and Estrada hits a DDT into a springboard corkscrew hilo. Jose grabs a dragon suplex and Joel adds a missile dropkick but Yang is back with a running spinwheel kick in the corner. Cue Sonny Siaki to shove the SAT’s off the top though, allowing Yang to….miss Yang Time. Instead he hits a quick superplex for the pin on Jose at 14:23.

Rating: B-. Much like the opener, this felt like a way to help establish some more names in the division. In this case, we’ve seen both of them before but it was fun to have them out there going crazy for a bit. It’s not like this is some great match, but I had a good time with it while it lasted. If nothing else, either of these teams could come after the Tag Team Titles when they’re brought back.

Here is Goldilocks to introduce Brian Lawler for the big Jeff Jarrett explanation. First though, Lawler calls her a piece of trash who shows too much skin and wants her out. With Goldilocks gone, Lawler calls out Jarrett to meet him face to face. Before he can talk though, cue Ron Killings, who is made at Lawler for hitting him with a chair last week.

Lawler begs forgiveness and Killings leaves, with Lawler saying this is personal with Jarrett. Then Lawler spots his girlfriend in the audience and accuses a photographer of hitting on her. Lawler escorts said girlfriend to the back as we’re STILL not getting an explanation. I can’t imagine it’s anywhere near that interesting and that is getting more and more obvious every time they tease this story.

We recap Jeff Jarrett being attacked by the Bullet last week, who was NOT Brad Armstrong.

Jeff Jarrett vs. The Bullet

Jarrett jumps him fast and sends things outside, with Bullet being whipped over the barricade. The beatdown is on with Jarrett blasting him with some chair shots. They go back inside where Bullet fights back and starts using quite a few familiar moves (as in similar to Brian Armstrong, Bob’s son and better known as the Road Dogg). Jarrett whips out some handcuffs and attaches Bullet to the ropes. It’s time for a chair so Bob Armstrong comes out, earning himself a chair to the head. The match is thrown out at 3:45.

Rating: C-. And yet, it’s somehow more interesting than anything involving Brian Lawler. That brings up the problem though: Jarrett is involved in quite a bit on this show and it’s not the most interesting stuff. At some point you need to give him something that gets people to care and we haven’t seen it yet. Brian Lawler and the Armstrongs isn’t the way to make that happen either.

Post match Bob gets destroyed and busted open with another chair shot. Security cuts Jarrett off and no unmasking ensues.

Don West hypes up the main event.

We recap Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles going to a draw in their three match series last week. This set up a three way ladder match, with Low Ki defending the X-Division Title.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Low Ki

And we’re off the air before Tenay can even finish his sentence.

Overall Rating: B-. Again, these shows are SO MUCH BETTER because they don’t have all of the frills and stupid stuff bringing it down. Instead, they’re focusing on the in-ring action and it’s that much better as a result. There are still problems though, including WAY too much Jarrett and anything on Bruce. Other than that though, it’s a mile ahead of everything they were doing in the first ten weeks or so and I’ll definitely take that.

Results
Kid Kash b. Amazing Red – Kneeling neckbreaker
Sonny Siaki b. Monty Brown – Rollup
James Storm/Chris Harris b. Backseat Boyz, Hot Shots and Disciples Of The New Church last eliminating the Disciples Of The New Church
Bruce b. April Hunter – Powerbomb
Flying Elvises b. Spanish Announce Team – Superplex to Jose
Jeff Jarrett vs. The Bullet went to a no contest
Jerry Lynn b. AJ Styles and Low Ki – Lynn pulled down the title

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Under Siege 2025: You Knew It Was Coming

Under Siege 2025
Date: May 23, 2025
Location: CAA Centre, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s another special and this card is lacking a bit to put it mildly. There isn’t much on the card as the big TNA match of the weekend is taking place on Sunday at the NXT Battleground event. This show will also see the some odd title matches and Cody Deaner’s future decided. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Rosemary vs. Xia Brookside

Rosemary has been trying to push Brookside to the evil side and jumps her in the corner to start. A stomp to the apron cuts Rosemary off and she rolls outside to yell at commentary. That’s enough of a distraction for Brookside to hit a dive off the top but Rosemary posts her to take over. Back in and a t-bone suplex gives Rosemary a delayed two and it’s time to choke on the ropes a bit.

The Upside Down is countered into a Samoan drop though and Brookside makes the clothesline comeback. Three straight Broken Wings hit Rosemary, who is right back with a spear for the double down. As Above So Below is broken up so Rosemary hits a second spear. Therefore, it’s time for a staple gun. The referee takes that away so Rosemary whips out a belt but Brookside hits a DDT. Brookside grabs the belt and whips Rosemary for the DQ at 8:39.

Rating: C. This was a storyline advancing match more than anything else, with Brookside finally being pushed over to violence. Hopefully the two of them don’t wind up teaming together or something, but it is nice to see Brookside getting a chance to do something new. That has been missing for a good while now and maybe this is where she moves upward after a long wait.

Post match Brookside goes nuts, even whipping the security for trying to break it up. The fans certainly seem to approve and even want more, which they receive.

The opening video looks at the show’s main matches, including stars such as Cody Deaner, the absent Jeff Hardy and NXT’s Trick Williams.

Mike Santana vs. AJ Francis

Hold on though as Francis comes out on a crutch and says he has a severe case of turf toe. After mocking the Toronto Maple Leafs, Francis announces that KC Navarro will be taking his place.

Mike Santana vs. KC Navarro

Santana is fine with this and pulls Navarro in before planting him down for an early two. Three Amigos get two more and we hit the required Eddie Dance. Some hard chops have Navarro in trouble so Francis offers a cheap shot. Navarro gets in a spinning headscissors but Santana is right back with some running shots in the corner.

The rolling Buck Fifty gets two but Spin The Block is blocked. Navarro kicks him down and gets two off a splash but Santana gives him a buckle bomb. The Cannonball gets two so Navarro collapses before Spin The Block can launch. Santana isn’t having this and hits Spin The Block for the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C+. I don’t think it’s the biggest secret that Santana is going to be in the World Title scene sooner rather than later. It’s what he has been talking about and even teased a few times now and going after the X-Division Title would feel out of place. Therefore, giving him a pretty simple win like this to start the show is a good way to prop him up a bit, which is what you need in his spot.

Post match respect is teased but Francis gets in to take out Santana. Navarro eventually helps.

We run down the rest of the card.

Some Brampton government officials, and a mascot, are here. One of them is more popular than others.

We recap Cody Deaner vs. Eddie Edwards. Deaner has not won a match in over a year and his contract is not going to be renewed. Therefore, he’s fighting for his job.

Eric Young gives Deaner a pep talk.

Cody Deaner vs. Eddie Edwards

Alisha Edwards is here with Eddie. They argue to start and Deaner fires off some right hands. A Steve Austin elbow gets two but Eddie fights up. Alisha gets caught cheating but is only warned rather than being ejected. Eddie takes him down into an early chinlock so Deaner fights up and hits a clothesline. A dive cuts Eddie off but he’s right back with a Blue Thunder Bomb onto the apron.

Back in and Deaner shrugs off some chops and grabs a bulldog. Deaner goes up and gets kicked in the head, setting up a superplex into a tiger bomb for two. They go back outside where Deaner hits Sliced Bread off the steps, followed by a high crossbody back inside. Deaner loads up the DDT but Alisha offers a distraction to the referee and a ring to Eddie. The big shot to the head gets two so Alisha hits Deaner low. The Boston Knee Party gives Eddie the pin at 10:34.

Rating: C+. I get what they’re going for here with Deaner losing his job and everything….but it’s Cody Deaner. When the point of the story is that you haven’t won anything in over a year and you weren’t that important on your best day, it’s kind of hard to care about something like this. The story made sense, but it didn’t work given who it was about and that’s a big problem.

Post match here is the System to mock Deaner, saying no one cares about him and now he’s out of a job. Cue the Northern Armory, who don’t like this anti-Canadian rhetoric. Six man time.

The System vs. Northern Armory

The aforementioned mascot is in the Armory’s corner. Icarus and JDC lock up to start with Icarus taking him into the corner to kick away. Williams comes in for two off a clothesline and it’s off to Myers, who gets sleepered. Moose gets the tag and wants/receives Young for what is not quite an epic showdown.

Moose’s German suplex is blocked and Icarus comes in to strike away as the fans sing a song about Canada. A shot to Icarus takes him down and the villains (well the non-Canadian villains that is) take over on Icarus, with Myers grabbing a chinlock. It works so well that Myers does it again, setting up a Downward Spiral to plant Icarus. That’s broken up and Young gets the tag to clean house.

A high crossbody gets two on Moose and it’s a double powerbomb out of the corner to put him down again. Young’s top rope elbow connects but the piledriver is broken up. JDC gets sent outside and Young hits a Death Valley Driver on Moose. Alisha grabs a kendo stick and BEATS UP THE MASCOT but the councilmen take it away. Young piledrives Moose for the pin at 12:08.

Rating: B-. While I do not want to see Young and company as full time good guys, I can live with it as a way to add some local flavor to a show like this. That’s all this was supposed to be, though Young pinning Moose very well could get him an X-Division Title shot. It still feels like Leon Slater’s title to win, but odds are Young would be a short term deal if they go that way. Nice match too, with the Armory getting to showcase themselves a bit.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Ash By Elegance/Heather By Elegance vs. Spitfire

Street fight and if Spitfire (challenging) doesn’t win, they have to split up. Spitfire jumps them to start and load up a table but Heather is back with some hairspray. By Elegance get in a shot with a feathery stop sign but Spitfire sets some chairs on the stage. They go back to ringside where By Elegance takes over again, though it’s too early for Rarefied Air. Luna sends Heather face first into an open chair but Ash is in for the save.

Luna counters Ash’s handspring with a release German suplex but Heather is back up with a dropkick to send a chair into Threat’s face. A powerbomb onto some chairs gets two on Ash so the Personal Concierge throws glitter into Threat’s eyes. Since it’s just glitter, Threat is back up with a slam onto the floor but Ash cuts off Pop Shove It. Cue Maggie Lee to help Ash put Luna through a table and a trashcan shot cuts Threat off. Rarefied Air retains the titles at 12:11.

Rating: C+. They were going with the themed street fight here and it worked about as well as could be expected. Spitfire might not be the most interesting team, but at least they are a team who has accomplished something and that puts this above the Cody Deaner story. Odds are Rosemary and Xia Brookside are next for the titles, as it isn’t like there is a division waiting to come after them.

We look at Xia Brookside snapping on Rosemary on the Kickoff Show.

Brookside said this is what Rosemary wanted and whatever happens next is on her, b****.

We look at Mustafa Ali beating Ace Austin and reinjuring Austin’s already bad leg.

Order 4 vs. Rascalz/Indi Hartwell/???

Order 4 is Mustafa Ali and his cabinet under their official name for the first time. The mystery partner is…Raj Singh (Ali’s former associate). This is his hometown, though the fans didn’t seem to know that coming in. Singh doesn’t like the way Ali has been acting and the fight is on to start fast. The Rascalz take over on the Hands to start and hit some dives to put them on the floor.

Back in and Steelz takes over on Hartwell in the corner as we settle down. Hartwell throws her throat first onto the top rope and it’s off to Singh for something like What’s Up on Skyler. Hotch gets kicked down as well but a hanging DDT to the floor drops Singh hard. A double rolling neckbreaker and a standing moonsault gets two on Singh back inside but he’s over to Hartwell anyway.

Everything breaks down and we get the parade of knockdowns and the men get together to fight over a triple suplex. Hartwell and Steelz climb onto their backs and slug it out until Hartwell cutters her onto the pile to break it up. The Rascalz kick the Hands to the floor and hit Hot Fire Flame before breaking up Ali’s cheating rollup on Singh. Ali baseball slides Hartwell and the Favor drops Singh. Ali’s 450 finishes Singh off at 9:57.

Rating: C+. The match was fast paced and entertaining, but you’re only going to get so far with Singh as the mystery partner. It felt like a “who is that again?” reaction when he came out and that is not a good sign. I get that Ace Austin was the logical way to go but they needed someone better than Singh for a replacement.

Post match Ali stays on Singh so the cabinet tries to stop him, with Ali shoving Steelz down.

Santino Marella gives Arianna Grace (acknowledged as his daughter) a pep talk and Grace is ready to fight.

Steve Maclin, recovering from a skull fracture (geez) will be ready to face Matt Cardona.

Jimmy Korderas is here.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Arianna Grace

Santino Marella is here….but Robert Stone comes out to say Santino has to leave because he doesn’t have a manager’s license. Commentary isn’t sure how Stone has that authority as Blanchard takes her down without much trouble. Blanchard chokes away in the corner and hammers her down on the floor.

Grace seems to avoid a charge into the ropes (even commentary wasn’t sure what happened) but Blanchard hits a slingshot splash. A belly to back suplex puts Blanchard down and the comeback is actually on. Grace’s big boot gets two but Blanchard cuts her off with a cutter. Grace catches her on top with a superplex for two and stomps away in the corner. Blanchard knocks her off the top but slips on a Magnum attempt. Instead it’s the buzzsaw DDT and now Magnum can put Grace away at 8:07.

Rating: B-. Given the situation they were in, this was about as good as it was going to get. The story was that Grace was in way over her head and it wouldn’t have made sense to try anything else. Blanchard toyed with her before finishing her off and that’s how the match should have gone. Grace is from the bigger company but Blanchard is a way bigger star and talent no matter how you look at it.

Post match Marella comes out to check on Grace but Stone tells them to get out because the show must go on.

Knockouts Title: Victoria Crawford vs. Masha Slamovich

Slamovich is defending and Stone is here with Crawford. A clothesline drops Crawford fast so Stone offers an early distraction. Crawford gets in a shot of her own and a northern lights suplex on the floor has Slamovich in trouble. Back in and Crawford slowly hammers away but Slamovich fights up, cutting off some notable BORING chants. A package piledriver gives Crawford two so Stone gives her the belt. The referee gets bumped and the belt shot connects, only for Slamovich to come back with the Snow Plow. Slamovich avoids the ax kick and hits Requiem to retain at 6:57.

Rating: C. What else were you expecting here? Crawford is supposed to be the newcomer in over her head and Slamovich ran through her despite the shenanigans. That being said, I have no idea what the appeal of Marella vs. Stone is supposed to be, because it’s not connecting. Slamovich deserves something better than being part of this and hopefully the better stuff gets the focus again sooner rather than later.

Post match Slamovich grabs the mic and says Lei Ying Lee should be the next challenger. Cue Lee but Stone comes out to say Lee has to earn the shot on Impact.

We look at Joe Hendry and Trick Williams’ musical exchange on NXT.

We get a tribute to Sabu, which is nice to see given his history in the promotion.

Tag Team Titles: Matt Hardy/Leon Slater vs. Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth

The Nemeths are defending and this is the Hardys’ official rematch, even though Jeff isn’t allowed in Canada. Matt and Nic start things off with the former grinding away on a headlock. Nic suplexes his way to freedom but Matt grabs it again to keep control. Slater comes in with a headlock of his own (apparently learning quickly) before the champions are sent outside.

Back in and Matt hits the middle rope elbow to start on Ryan’s arm. Slater elbows him down for two but a cheap shot sends Slater outside. Back in and Nic grabs a chinlock with a bodyscissors, followed by a Jeff Hardy legdrop between the legs for two. Slater fights up but Ryan pulls Matt off the apron for a nice save. A handspring elbow cuts Ryan off though and it’s back to Matt to pick up the pace.

The Nemeths get the rams into the buckles and a Side Effect each but the Twist Of Fate is blocked. Nic hits the Fameasser for two and an assisted neckbreaker gets two. Nic’s Twist Of Fate gets two on Matt but Slater is back in for a Plot Twist to give Matt two of his own. Poetry In Motion to the floor (dang) sets up the Twist Of Fate and the Swanton 450 gets two, with Ryan making the save. Ryan and Slater fight on the floor and Nic hits the Danger Zone to pin Matt and retain at 16:04.

Rating: B. They were in a tight spot here and they did what they could with the whole thing. No one was buying Matt and Slater as a threat to win the titles when it was made clear that Slater was merely filling in for Jeff. You’re only going to get so far with that, but thankfully Matt took the pin, leaving Slater to look good in defeat. He’s likely going after the X-Division Title around Slammiversary and he’s earned that spot.

Santino Marella gives Arianna Grace a pep talk and wants to face Robert Stone. Grace suggests a mixed tag and that seems to be the idea. As this feud continues.

We recap the main event. Trick Williams has attacked Joe Hendry, setting up their title match on Sunday at Battleground. Tonight though, Frankie Kazarian and Elijah are involved to make it a tag match. The fact that I couldn’t think of the main event until this recap isn’t a great sign.

Joe Hendry/Elijah vs. Trick Williams/Frankie Kazarian

Elijah and Kazarian get things going with Elijah taking over rather easily. Hendry comes in and wants Williams but has to stick with Kazarian instead. It’s back to Elijah and now Williams is willing to come in. Some big chops in the corner have Williams in trouble but he tries a powerslam out of the corner. That’s broken up and it’s off to Hendry, setting up some quick tags (with nothing in between) until Elijah takes the villains down on the floor.

Hendry hits a dive onto both of them and it’s time for Kazarian and Williams to argue. Hendry and Elijah break that up on the ramp and they fight into the crowd. Back in and Elijah hits Old School while Hendry holds Kazarian up with a rather delayed vertical suplex. Williams kicks Elijah down to take over for the first time though and even knocks Hendry off the apron.

Kazarian’s front facelock has Elijah in more trouble as we hear about Hendry’s success in WWE. Elijah fights up and hands it back to Hendry for the well received comeback. An Angle Slam gives Hendry two on Williams and he rolls through Williams’ high crossbody for a fall away slam. Kazarian is back in but can’t get the chickenwing, instead getting caught with an AA for two.

Elijah knees Williams, who hits a quick Trick Shot for two as Hendry makes the save. Kazarian grabs the guitar but walks into the Highwayman’s Farewell, with Williams making the save. Williams’ distraction means the referee doesn’t see Elijah small packaging Kazarian so it’s a rather delayed two. The Trick Shot hits Kazarian by mistake and Hendry grabs the Standing Ovation to pin Kazarian at 19:24.

Rating: B-. Oh man they were in a weird spot here and there was only so much that could be done as a result. This was a big preview for Battleground and nothing more, which left me a bit surprised as the result. Unless they just didn’t want an NXT star winning in the end, Hendry looking dominant is kind of a screwy way to go. Good match, but it didn’t feel important or main event worthy.

Hendry and Williams stare each other down to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show is a weird case, as there was only so much that can be done when the show feels this unimportant. There is pretty much nothing on here which felt like top level stuff and it showed coming into the event. The good action made it a completely watchable show, but at the same time, it feels like an event that you do not need to see whatsoever. That happens occasionally to to be fair, this wasn’t a full priced pay per view. Pretty skippable card here, which didn’t feel like a big surprise.

Results
Rosemary b. Xia Brookside via DQ when Brookside used a belt
Mike Santana b. KC Navarro – Spin The Block
Eddie Edwards b. Cody Deaner – Boston Knee Party
Northern Armory b. The System – Piledriver to Moose
Ash By Elegance/Heather By Elegance b. Spitfire – Rarefied Air to Threat
Order 4 b. Rascalz/Indi Hartwell/Raj Singh – 450 to Singh
Tessa Blanchard b. Arianna Grace – Magnum
Masha Slamovich b. Victoria Crawford – Requiem
Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth b. Matt Hardy/Leon Slater – Danger Zone to Hardy
Joe Hendry/Elijah b. Frankie Kazarian/Trick Williams – Standing Ovation to Kazarian

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #10 (2025 Edition): When Less Is A Whole Lot More

NWA Weekly PPV #10
Date: August 21, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Every time I do two of these in a row, I come in thinking I should get back to this series more often but then I change my mind completely before I start the second one. That’s certainly the case here, as last week’s show was terrible. It was a string of gimmick matches which set up another string of them this week, though thankfully this week’s string involves AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Thank goodness Ed Ferrara is gone from commentary.

AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Chris Harris (smoking) wants James Storm to drop the cowboy thing for one night because they have a big fight. Brian Lee and Ron Harris come in to mock them, with Storm making western movie references. Storm seems to think he got them. Uh, right.

James Storm/Chris Harris vs. Ron Harris/Brian Lee

Storm and Lee start things off with Storm not being able to do much with the power game. A running forearm works a bit better and Ron is knocked outside as well. It’s off to Chris vs. Ron and it’s quickly time for the villains to have a conference on the floor. Back in and Ron hits some running corner clotheslines as everything breaks down. Chris is back with a headscissors while Storm beats up Lee on the floor.

Back in and Ron hits a swinging side slam for two and Lee grabs the chinlock. With that broken up, it’s back to Ron for a big boot. Chris fights out of trouble and makes the tag to Storm as everything breaks down. For some reason Lee gets in a fight with a fan in the front row, though there is nothing to suggest who it might be. Chris’ top rope shot to the back of the head snaps Ron’s throat across the top and Storm gets a rollup for the quick pin at 9:00.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t anything good to see, but what matters is Storm/Harris getting to work together and continue to grow as a team. They’re a good example of wrestlers who had nothing going on and it turned out they were a successful pairing. Thankfully TNA seems to be running with it as they now have a homegrown team who is turning into something.

Post match Ron and Lee jumps Storm and Chris to leave them laying.

Jimmy Yang vs. Sonny Siaki

2/3 falls and Jorge Estrada is here with Yang, who jumps Siaki as all three do their entrance together. They get inside for a spinwheel kick to Siaki, followed by a choke over the ropes. Siaki takes part of his top down (making it FAR easier to tell them apart), followed by a suplex cutter. Yang is right back with a neckbreaker though and Yang Time is good for the first fall at 3:30.

Another choke over the ropes is quickly broken up and Yang crashes to the floor. Siaki is back up with a suplex and they go back inside for the two count, setting up the chinlock. That doesn’t last long so Siaki grabs a pumphandle suplex for two instead. Yang fights up and hits a middle rope kick to the face, only for Siaki to grab a fisherman’s neckbreaker to tie it up at 8:27.

Siaki’s shoulder breaker gets two but Yang pulls him into a half crab. That’s broken up as well so Yang grabs a leglock. Siaki escapes that as well and is fine enough to hit a superplex. Yang is up first with a spinning kick to the chest but Siaki knocks him back down. They both go up to the same corner, where Yang manages a super swinging neckbreaker. Yang is back up with a rollup but Siaki reverses into one of his own and grabs the rope for the final pin at 14:09.

Rating: B-. I have no idea why this was 2/3 falls other than to stretch the match out a bit longer. Siaki definitely feels like the strongest of the three in the ring, though that ending of the third fall didn’t exactly work. Hopefully this gets Siaki out of the team though, as the trio isn’t getting anywhere at the moment.

Post match Jeff Jarrett storms out to say he wants to know what surprise Bob Armstrong has for him. Cue Brian Lawler to jump Jarrett and the brawl is on. Security breaks it up so Goldilocks goes into the ring to ask Lawler about his issues with Jarrett. Lawler is about to answer…and he gets jumped too. I’m really not sure if Lawler having issues with Jarrett is all that interesting.

Brian Lawler vs. Slash

The brawl is on with Lawler in trouble and they’re quickly on the floor. The mats get pulled back but Lawler reverses a suplex to take Slash down. Back in and Lawler flips the fans off as we hear about various problems in the New Church. They go outside again with Lawler hitting a bulldog on the ramp but stopping to yell at a fan. That’s enough for Slash to hit a top rope superplex for two, only for Lawler to come back with a DDT. Lawler stops to dance and gets kicked low but he’s fine enough to knock Slash off the top. The Tennessee Jam finishes for Lawler at 5:57.

Rating: C. It shouldn’t be surprising that things were fine enough here as these two had a long history in Memphis. At the same time, Lawler is only so interesting as this angry good guy, though it is likely a case of him being available rather than anything else. If nothing else, it’s nice to have Lawler stop talking about his dad, as that was killing him.

In the back, Jeff Jarrett argues with Bob Armstrong and leaves. We’re not finding out the surprise they advertised last week are we?

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Jose Maximo vs. Joel Maximo vs. Amazing Red

Ron Killings compares himself to Abraham Lincoln for freeing the Black sports entertainers. He has a dream too, and it involves kicking the dust off of Monty Brown.

NWA World Title: Ron Killings vs. Monty Brown

Brown is challenging and shoves him into the corner, allowing for some dancing. Three straight running shoulders give Brown two but Killings sends him crashing out to the floor. The big flip dive takes Brown down and Killings stomps away. They fight onto the announcers’ table, where Killings escapes the Alpha Bomb. West: “WHAT HAVE WE JUST SEEN???” Uh, two guys punching each other and one of them escaping a powerbomb before getting off the table?

Brown sends him flying and then takes it back inside for two. A Downward Spiral sets up Killings’ top rope legdrop for two and the chinlock goes on. That’s broken up so Killings hits a leg lariat for two more. Brown is back up with a powerslam into a splash for two of his own. Killings ax kicks him down for two so Brown tries the Alpha Bomb, which is reversed into something like a sunset bomb to retain the title at 10:13.

Rating: D+. To say Brown was green here would be a huge understatement and there was only so much that could be done in a situation like this. It helps that Killings is able to hang in there and do some of his stuff, but he needed someone better than Brown to make this work. Brown has all kinds of charisma but that isn’t enough to carry him through a ten minute match with this kind of importance.

Post match Jeff Jarrett is IMMEDIATELY in the ring to go after Killings but Brian Lawler comes in. Lawler grabs a chair but hits Killings by mistake, which he realizes is a big mistake.

Jerry Lynn is ready to finish AJ Styles for good but here is Styles to jump him from behind. Since the second match is No DQ, we’ll just start it in the back.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

With the series tied, we’re having a ten minute Iron Man match for the final fall and it starts right now.

Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

Ten minute Iron Man match and the winner gets an X-Division Title shot (ignore the clock on screen starting before the bell). Styles gets smart and pins the down Lynn at 11 seconds.

Styles – 1
Lynn – 0

Styles pins him again at 19 seconds.

Styles – 2
Lynn – 0

Styles – 2
Lynn – 1

Styles – 3
Lynn – 1

Styles hammers away as Low Ki comes to watch, complete with a ladder. We have two minutes left as Lynn hits a tombstone for the pin at 8:13.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 2

Lynn can’t hit the cradle piledriver but can hit a Styles Clash to tie it up at 8:58.

Styles – 3
Lynn – 3

They trade very fast rollups but neither can get the pin as time expires at 10:00.

Post match Ki comes in and raises both of their arms, only to kick them down. Ki says the division is about the champion so next week it’s time to prove that he is the greatest in a ladder match.

Don West does his big hype package. Sweet goodness he is awesome at this stuff.

Referee Scott Armstrong asks his dad (Bob Armstrong, behind a door so we can’t see him) to not come after Jeff Jarrett. Bob says he has to and he has padding.

Jarrett is in the ring so here is Bob, in his Bullet mask and gear, with Jarrett beating him up. Jarrett calls him an old man and hammers away but Bullet fights back and clears Jarrett out. Hold on though as the real Bob Armstrong pops up on the stage with a chair. The Bullet unmasks as…well he doesn’t as we’ll see who that is next week.

Overall Rating: C+. This was actually a very interesting show because it was WAY toned down compared to everything else that they had been doing. That’s because the company was not doing well financially and they were doing things on a budget. Therefore, a bunch of people are gone and you have things like Styles and Lynn working three matches on a single show.

At the same time, my goodness this was SO much easier to watch without some of the terrible stuff. It was a much straighter show and while it might not work full time, it wasn’t the Dupps or Jive Talkin or all the other dumb ideas that get so much time. Granted it did have a bunch of Jeff Jarrett, but you know that’s coming every single week around here.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #9 (2025 Edition): Good Grief Just Wrestle

NWA Weekly PPV #9
Date: August 14, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West, Ed Ferrara

I really need to do these more often. Things have been a total mess around here, which is kind of the trademark of the promotion in its early run. Ron Killings has won the World Title and Don Harris is at war with the New Church because…I have absolutely no idea. Jeff Jarrett is still the star of the whole place while the X-Division guys continue to steal the show week in and week out. Let’s get to it.

Opening recap, looking at last week’s World Title change.

Opening sequence.

Here is new World Champion Ron Killings for a chat. Killings says this is his house, which he dubs the TNA Asylum. He has had to work harder because of the color of his skin. A senior WWF official told him that he couldn’t make the same mistakes as a white man. That’s too far, so from this day forward, he is a legend. Now he’s the World Champion, but here is Jeff Jarrett (teaming with Killings tonight) to say he can’t believe some of this nonsense.

Jarrett claims reverse racism because he has never gotten the same shot. Killings says come get your shot but cue Bill Behrens (with a ridiculous cowboy hat) and security to cut it off. Behrens makes a bunch of sheriff jokes and says Jarrett and Killings fan fight…but it won’t be sanctioned for the World Title. Cue Brian Lawler to go after Jarrett until security breaks it up. Lawler shouts about knowing it was Jarrett. Well of course it was. It’s always Jarrett.

Kid Kash/Shark Boy/Slim J vs. Amazing Red/Spanish Announce Team

Kash and Joel start fast and trade wrist control before exchanging armdrags for a standoff in a quick sequence. Kash flips him off and hits a running shoulder before backdropping him out to the floor. A slingshot hurricanrana takes Joel down again and we hit the parade of dives. J, Red and Kash all one up each other with flip dives and we settle down to Kash suplexing J onto Joel. Back up and everything breaks down, with the SAT’s tying up Boy and J in a Liontamer/camel clutch at the same time.

Red adds a springboard missile dropkick but gets kicked in the face by J. Kash comes back in to drop an elbow on Red and then hits a kind of super powerslam. It’s back to J, who misses a twisting top rope splash. Everything breaks down (shocking I know) and Kash runs the corner for a super hurricanrana. Boy’s Diamond Dust gets two on Red with Jose making the save. The Money Maker (Jay Driller) plants Red with Joel’s top rope legdrop breaking it up. The double super Spanish Fly hits J and Red’s very twisty splash finishes him off at 10:39.

Rating: B. This falls right into the classic formula of “take a bunch of people and let them fly all over the place to pop the crowd”. That’s all this was supposed to be and it was entertaining stuff. Red’s stuff continues to be insane and that was the case here, with Kash’s great looking hurricanranas not being too far behind.

The Dupps have an idea for their own version of Cribs, which is about their house…which is an outhouse. My goodness this is so dumb.

Here is Bruce to say he is more woman than anyone in this arena. All of the married men in this arena, including Mike Tenay, are fantasizing about him. The challenge is on, and he’ll throw in $5000 to any woman who can beat him. A woman from the crowd signs a quick contract and we’re ready to go.

Miss TNA: Bruce vs. ???

Bruce is defending and gets speared down to start, followed by a legdrop. A toss over the top sets up a slam on the floor, followed by another back inside. Then Bruce grabs a small package for the fast pin at 1:50. The woman shrugs it off with an “oh well”, because that’s what you should do here.

Jeff Jarrett wants the World Title and beats up Bill Behrens in the backroom. Then he runs into Low Ki for a staredown, followed by Tito and Bo Dupp bumping into each other. Thankfully for us, this means a match.

Don Harris vs. Malice

Last Man Standing and this is missing from WatchTNA because…well I’m guessing the SS on Harris’ shirt. Malice jumps him to start and gets taken down for his efforts. Harris chairs him in the head but Malice throws powder in Harris’ eyes. More powder blinds Harris again and Malice gets in a chair shot as Harris is busted open. Malice whips him into the barricade a few times and they go up to the stage, with Harris being tossed out to the floor.

That’s a bit too much selling for Harris though, as he comes back with a chain for some choking and a clothesline. It’s time for a table and Harris kicks a chair into Malice’s face. Malice gets in a powerbomb but pulls Harris up for a chokeslam. That’s countered into a DDT but Malice is back up with a belly to back superplex through the table. Naturally only Harris gets up for the win at 7:08.

Rating: D. If you have a Last Man Standing match, maybe A, have it go longer than ten minutes and B, don’t have the SECURITY GUARD beat the former #1 contender to the World Title. The fact that Malice hit the finishing move here and then lost anyway should tell you everything wrong with this match, but there was so much else wrong with the thing that it’s not even covering the biggest issue. Horrible stuff here as Don Harris continues to be far too big of a star.

Post match respect is shown, and if you have the respect of DON HARRIS, you’re going places.

Dupp Cup: Teo vs. Bo Dupp

The first to ten points wins and if you think I’m keeping score, I have no idea what to tell you. Teo starts fast and sends him into a chair, followed by ripping off the pants and hitting him with a stick horse. It doesn’t count for points though because Bo likes it and yes, someone was paid to come up with this nonsense.

Stan Dupp offers a distraction and Bo gets in a big boot as Don West is actually trying to keep track of the points (doing commentary with a solo mic at ringside, reportedly because Mike Tenay didn’t want to be part of this). Stan goes to the ticket window where the woman in charge beats on him with a broom. Bo takes Teo to the outhouse but Puppet is inside with a kendo stick. That’s enough for Bo to be send face first into the hole to give Teo the win at 4:25.

Rating: F-. I…what do you want me to say here? This was every bit as stupid as you could have imagined and then it just kept getting worse. I’m sure the people backstage were roaring with laughter over it, but if your commentator, and one of the most prominent, well respected people you have, is washing your hands so you can do an outhouse joke, it’s way past time to think about what you’re doing.

We recap Monty Brown vs. Elix Skipper, with Skipper turning on him (after they won a match) and Brown wanting revenge.

Monty Brown vs. Elix Skipper

Detroit Street Fight. Before the match, Skipper calls out Brown for the fight and then gets jumped from behind because Skipper is kind of dumb. Brown hammers away to start and chokes him over the ropes with a shirt. Skipper gets in a chain shot to the ribs and chokes away, which is shrugged off without much effort.

Back in and some trashcan/lid shots slow Brown down, with Skipper adding in a Matrix to send Brown crashing. A slingshot dive onto the can onto Brown gets two on the floor but Brown is back up with the Alphalution (kind of a reverse F5). The Alpha Bomb onto a trashcan (onto a stop sign because reasons) finishes Skipper at 5:45.

Rating: C. I can go with pushing Brown as a star as he has more charisma than should be allowed, but this was another violent gimmick match crammed into way too short of a time limit. As is the case so often around here, this stuff needs time to breathe and that isn’t what we’re getting with just about anything. Brown is going to be a force though, as even TNA shouldn’t be able to screw him up.

The Flying Elvises are all ready to challenge for the X-Division Title. They’re fired up because it’s 25 years since Elvis died and Sonny Siaki is going to win the title in his honor. As in his own honor, because he hates Elvis. Hence being in a stable called the FLYING ELVISES. Other than that, I’m trying to figure out why Goldilocks is in her third different outfit in an hour.

X-Division Title: Low Ki vs. Sonny Siaki vs. Jimmy Yang vs. Jorge Estrada

Earlier today, Goldilocks (outfit #4) got in a car with Jerry Lynn, who made a short drive to another building and beat up AJ Styles, knocking him into a bathtub and demanding respect.

Disco Inferno is back with Jive Talking and brings out actor Dean Baldwin (read as Shark Boy without a mask) to talk about his upcoming movie. This leads Disco to asking about Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s bedroom habits. Cue Brian Lawler who rants about Jeff Jarrett doing…something. Baldwin: “Who are you? What are your credentials?” Lawler takes Baldwin out and we still don’t know what Jarrett did. Security throws Lawler out.

Goldilocks (outfit #5) watches the Dupps freak out. Stan is leaving and Goldilocks isn’t sure what Bo should do. Bo: “Thank you for caring.”

Tag Team Titles: Jeff Jarrett/Ron Killings vs. AJ Styles/Jerry Lynn

Styles and Lynn are defending but Styles isn’t here to start. That means Lynn gets beaten down but here is Styles to even things up. House is cleaned and Styles hits Jarrett with the drop down dropkick for an early two. A Lionsault to the floor connects for Styles but he gets dropped onto the barricade. That leaves Lynn to monkey flip Killings inside and a middle rope bulldog gets two.

We settle down to Jarrett stomping away on Lynn and Killings comes in for a wheelbarrow faceplant. The ax kick gets two on Lynn, who is right back with the Figure Four to Jarrett, who turns it over in literally less than two seconds. Since this is TNA, commentary insults Lynn for being dumb for trying a Figure Four on Jeff Jarrett.

Killings puts Lynn on top but gets taken down with a tornado DDT for a needed breather. That’s enough for the tag off to Styles so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Styles flips over Jarrett but the referee gets decked. Lynn’s reverse DDT drops Jarrett and Cradle Piledrives Killings but Jarrett is up for the save. Jarrett gives Lynn the Stroke and Styles his the Spiral Tap on Killings for a double pin at 12:24.

Rating: C+. Oh there it is. That’s the big ending that Russo loves as not only do we have the two teams who don’t get along, but now they have a screwy finish to hold up the titles. Odds are we’ll either get a rematch, a ladder match or a tournament of some kind because it gets the titles off of Lynn and Styles without having them lose. It’s not a bad match, but dang it feels like a lame way to end the title reign.

Post match Bob Armstrong comes out to say the titles are held up. Next week, it’s Killings for Monty Brown for the World Title and Lynn vs. Styles for a future X-Division Title shot match. Lynn wants falls count anywhere. Styles wants anything goes. Armstrong says sure, and it’s going to be 2/3 falls, with the third fall being a ten minute iron man match. As for Jarrett, he gets a special opponent next week.

Don West does the big push for next week’s show.

Brian Lawler attacks Jeff Jarrett in the back and shouts about wanting to kill him. Geez what did he do? Make him watch Jeff Jarrett matches?

Overall Rating: D. As usual, the matches where it’s played a lot straighter are far easier to watch. Case in point, we had something as simple as a six man tag as the opener and it was by far the best thing on the show. After that, it was man vs. woman, a Last Man Standing match, the Dupp Cup nonsense, a street fight and then a four way before a screwy tag match to wrap up the show. That’s WAY too much going on at once (including ANYTHING involving the Dupps) and some of it is absolutely horrible. There are fun parts to the show but as usual, they’re all so bogged down and it’s killing the positives. As per Russo.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Rebellion 2025: It Is A Show That Exists

Rebellion 2025
Date: April 27, 2025
Location: Galen Center, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re back to the major pay per views with this one, as TNA heads back to a major market. This time we have something of a triple main event with the World, Tag Team and Knockouts Titles all on the line, plus an Ultimate X match for the X-Division Title. That’s about as stacked as you can get so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Fatal Influence vs. Rosemary/Xia Brookside/Lei Ying Lee

It’s a brawl on the floor before the bell and we officially start with Brookside and Henley slugging it out in the country. A hurricanrana takes Henley down and Brookside hits a running Meteora in the corner. Lee comes in for a double clothesline and it’s off to Rosemary, who threatens Nyx with the mist. Jayne manages to send Rosemary into the corner to take over, only to get caught in the Upside Down.

A double flapjack drops Rosemary and Henley’s basement dropkick to the back gets two. Rosemary fights out and brings Lee back in to clean house. A suplex out of the corner gets two on Jayne but Nyx and Henley make the save. Everything breaks down and Rosemary gives Brookside some brass knuckles. That’s not what Brookside wants so she throws them back, only to get rammed into Rosemary. Jayne’s discus punch finishes at 9:02.

Rating: C+. Again it’s nice to see the NXT stars getting some wins, but there is only going to be so much upward mobility if they just keep trading victories. Hopefully they come up with something a little bit bigger for people like Fatal Influence, but at least we’re getting something like this. If nothing else, Brookside holding onto the good side makes for an interesting idea and Rosemary isn’t likely going to be happy.

Kickoff Show: Elijah vs. ???

This is an open challenge and Elijah sings a song about the greatness of Los Angeles. And his opponent is…Shane Haste from TMDK in New Japan. Elijah chops away in the corner to start and knocks him outside for some rams into the apron. Back in and a jumping clothesline sets up Old School but Haste gets in a dropkick for a breather.

An O’Connor roll is blocked though and Elijah hits something like Roll The Dice. Haste kicks him in the face and hits a Saito suplex for two. Back up and Elijah hits a toss powerbomb for two of his own, with Haste’s Falcon Arrow getting the same. A jumping knee to the face sets up the Highwayman’s Farewell to end Haste at 6:01.

Rating: C+. Not much to this one as Elijah beat him up for the most part and then they traded some big shots until Elijah won. Haste doesn’t have anything close to a history around here so he was just a random opponent. That being said, it was just a short Kickoff Show match so this was hardly some big moment or anything close so this was hardly some big letdown.

Ilona sings the National Anthem.

The opening video focuses on Los Angeles being a city of dreams, such as the wrestlers who will be getting in the ring tonight.

X-Division Title: Matt Cardona vs. KC Navarro vs. Sidney Akeem vs. Leon Slater vs. El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Moose

Moose is defending in Ultimate X, meaning the title is hung above the ring at the middle of an X made of cables. The first person to use the cables to get the belt and hit the mat is the champion. It’s a big brawl to start (as you might expect) and everyone but Cardona and Moose go for the belt. The two of them grab chairs and knock the others down before it’s time for a bunch of people to go to the floor.

Vikingo and Navarro stay inside with Vikingo hitting a dropkick. Navarro knocks him to the floor but Akeem is in for the save. Cardona cuts him off, only to get kicked in the face by Slater. It’s time for the dives through the ropes and off the top before Moose superplexes Slater. With everyone else down, Moose sends Alisha Edwards up to get the belt (as Moose is scared of heights) but Edwards falls down, with Moose making the catch.

Slater comes back in with a superkick to Moose before going back up. Vikingo breaks that up with a dropkick and Navarro goes for the belt, only to get pulled down as well. Akeem goes for the belt and flips up above the X but crashes down onto Moose rather than going for the belt.

Vikingo gives Akeem a Canadian Destroyer onto the apron but gets chokeslammed by AJ Francis. Moose spears Francis down and powerbombs Navarro, only to walk into Radio Silence. Slater goes all the way up to the top of the structure for the Swanton 450, with barely anyone catching him. Somehow Slater goes up top and gets the belt, only to be speared by Moose who retains the title at 15:24 without climbing.

Rating: B. This was the usual insanity that these matches tend to be and that’s not a bad thing. Moose finding a way to steal the title is a good way to go and the ending makes me wonder if Slater is going to win the title sooner than later, perhaps at Slammiversary. Slater has been built up for a few months now and seeing him get the title on the big stage would be nice to see.

We look at Joe Hendry at Wrestlemania and some reactions. He was also on NXT, where he got in a staredown with NXT Champion Oba Femi.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Ash By Elegance/Heather By Elegance vs. Meta Four vs. Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley vs. Spitfire

By Elegance is defending and Arianna Grace is on commentary. Dolin and Paxley jump Meta Four to start fast and we settle down to Luna headlocking Paxley to limited avail. Threat is slammed onto Paxley for two as Ash yells at the Personal Concierge on the floor. Dolin comes in and Whispers In The Wind onto a pile on the floor. Jackson gets on Legend’s shoulders for a big dive before Dolin rolls Jackson up for two inside.

Heather comes in and gets dropped by Jackson and Spitfire adds a kneeling double suplex. Paxley comes in for two on Jackson but gets dropped by Legend. Threat gives Ash a spinning torture rack bomb and it’s time to go to the corners for a pair of Towers Of Dooms. Hold on though as cue Maggie Lee to hold Ash’s leg for the save. That means Rarefied Air can hit Threat to retain the titles at 9:23.

Rating: C+. The action was fun but there was a lot going on here and it was a little too chaotic to keep track of everything. Nothing got the chance to really develop as it was a bunch of flying around and near falls. By Elegance retaining here is fine as they need to hold the titles that much longer, though I’m not sure who can come after the belts next.

Elijah is ready to see Joe Hendry retain the World Title.

Ace Austin/Rascalz vs. The System

Moose is pulling double duty tonight as JDC apparently had travel issues. The System has cost Austin and the Rascalz some matches so they got help in the form of….Sean Waltman. Myers charges into Wentz’s boot in the corner to start and it’s off to Miguel to hammer on Edwards. Austin slips out of a suplex attempt and it’s off to Miguel for some snappy jabs. Alisha Edwards offers a distraction though and Eddie takes over on Miguel back inside.

Myers’ chinlock doesn’t last long but he cuts Miguel off with a basement superkick. A lifting Downward Spiral gets two but Miguel is back up with a running knee. The tag is cut off though and Miguel is taken into the wrong corner again. Miguel fights out though and hands it off to Wentz to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and the Fold drops Moose, setting up Wentz’s Spiral Tap for two. Austin hits a Fameasser and Wentz does the Road Dogg shaky jabs.

They load up the DX pose but Alisha gets in. Cue Waltman to duck her right hand and give her an X Factor. We get the big crotch chop and everyone but Waltman hits a Bronco Buster. Waltman hits some spinning kicks and a pair of dives take out Eddie and Myers. Moose’s spear is countered into an X Factor and the UFO Cutter gives Wentz the pin at 11:04.

Rating: B-. I’m not entirely sure why we needed a DX tribute match, but it was a good deal of fun and Austin and the Rascalz work well together. Waltman still looks perfectly fine out there and he was a nice bonus. Wentz pinning Moose is an interesting twist as you now have a few people lining up to have realistic title aspirations.

Steve Maclin won’t say anything about Eric Young but smirks.

International Title: Steve Maclin vs. Eric Young

Young, with the Northern Armory, is challenging. Maclin takes out the Armory to start and then hits a dive onto all three villains. The Armory gets up and manages to knock Maclin down, only for him to tie Young in the Tree Of Woe. The running spear in the corner is cut off though, which is enough for the Armory to be ejected. Maclin misses a charge to the floor though and Young starts slowly hammering away.

Back in and Maclin hits an Angle Slam but the Jar Headbutt is cut off. Maclin is fine enough to tie him in the Tree Of Woe again for the spear but Young knocks him down again. The top rope ax handle gets two and they go to the apron, where Young hits something like a Samoan drop for two. Back in and Young tries a piledriver but gets reversed into a rollup to retain the title at 9:23.

Rating: C+. This went by fast but it’s really hard to get into Young as the evil mastermind again. It’s really not a good role for him but for some reason this is what we get over and over. Maclin retaining is good to see and now he needs to move on to something else. TNA has a strong enough roster so let Maclin fight anyone but Young.

Post match the Northern Armory runs in to beat Maclin down. Maclin gets choked with the chain because THIS HAS TO KEEP GOING.

We recap Mike Santana vs. Mustafa Ali. Santana is trying to get to the World Title but Ali keeps bringing up Santana’s past addiction issues. On the other hand, Santana accuses Ali of being addicted to trying to ruin Santana’s life. Therefore, it’s time for a falls count anywhere match, as Ali keeps running from their fights. Makes perfect sense.

Mustafa Ali vs. Mike Santana

Falls count anywhere and a drummer and dancers play Ali to the ring. Ali has the Great Hands with him while Santana has some boxers. Santana starts fast and backdrops him out to the floor for a big crash. The steps are loaded up and Ali’s dive is sent into them to give Santana two on the floor. Ali tries to leave so Santana dives off the stage to take him out. A moonsault off the barricade takes Ali down for two more but cue the Secret Service and the Great Hands to go after Santana.

That lets Ali climb to a balcony for a dive and they head back to ringside where Ali hits a superkick. Santana cuts him off with a Death Valley Driver through two open chairs but Ali chairs him off the top. Ali goes up top and goes Coast To Coast on the apron (ouch) for two. Back in and Santana sends him face first into the buckle but here are the Great Hands to go after Santana again. They put Santana on a table for a 450 to give Ali two. Back in and the Great Hands try to handcuff Santana, who gives them a double rolling cutter.

Instead Santana handcuffs them to the ropes and grabs a barbed wire baseball bat. Ali knocks it away but gets caught with a Spanish Fly. Tasha Steelz whips out a table…but Santana powerbombs her through it instead. Well that evens the odds a bit. Another table is brought in and Santana superplexes Ali through it for two. Ali grabs the bat and smashes Santana in the face but the bleeding Santana gets up for Spin The Block and the pin at 19:23.

Rating: B. This was the kind of overcome all odds win that Santana needed and he looked like a hero in the end. That’s what he has been needing in the last few months and it would not surprise me to see Santana getting into the World Title picture. They had the violence going here and Santana outsmarted and flat out beat four people at once. That’s quite the impressive move and Santana looked good here.

We meet the newest TNA signing: Indi Hartwell.

We recap Tessa Blanchard vs. Masha Slamovich for the Knockouts Title. Slamovich is the new star of the division but Blanchard is the legend who has returned and wants her title back. This is a genuine dream match for the division and has the potential to steal the show.

Knockouts Title: Tessa Blanchard vs. Masha Slamovich

Slamovich is defending and actually jumps her to start fast. A running knee and the Snowplow gets two on Blanchard but she’s back with a knee crusher for two of her own. Blanchard starts in on the leg and ties it up in the Tree Of Woe for some cranking. A variety of leglocks have Slamovich in more trouble but Magnum is blocked.

That’s fine with Blanchard, who switches to a Canadian Destroyer for two. Slamovich’s Code Red gives her a breather but a dragon screw legwhip takes Slamovich back down. We go VERY old school with an Indian Deathlock but Slamovich makes the rope. Slamovich tries to go up and gets pulled into a running Magnum for two.

Back up and Slamovich uses the ropes to hit a sitout powerbomb for two. Blanchard is right back with the Buzzsaw for two but Slamovich catches her up top with a super Death Valley Driver. A running knee knocks Blanchard silly and Slamovich pulls her into a Disarm-Her retains the title at 14:04.

Rating: B. Well, it was a big time fight but I was expecting a bit more here. It just kind of ended and while I liked the leg work, it didn’t mean much in the end. That being said, Slamovich getting the big, and clean, win over Blanchard is quite the moment for her. Blanchard is probably going to get some gold sooner or later, but this feels like something of humbling her after all of the controversy that she brings along.

We recap the Hardys defending the Tag Team Titles against the Nemeths. Nic Nemeth turned on them recently and naturally Ryan went along with his brother. The fight is over who is the better brother team…and then they went to the Hardy Compound for wacky shenanigans, including the Nemeths stealing the title belts.

Tag Team Titles: Ryan Nemeth/Nic Nemeth vs. Hardys

The Hardys are defending and jump the Nemeths before the bell, allowing them to steal the belts back. Jeff hammers on Nic to start but gets knocked into the corner. Ryan comes in to miss an elbow drop (because he’s a schnook) and it’s off to Matt. The Twist Of Fate is blocked and Nic gets in a shot of his own, allowing Ryan to hit the running DDT. Nic’s rapid fire elbows have Matt in more trouble and Ryan grabs a chinlock.

That’s broken up and Matt gets two off a small package, allowing the tag back to Jeff. House is cleaned, including a Whisper In The Wind for two on Nic. The Twist Of Fate gets two and everything breaks down. The Plot Twist into a splash gets two more but Nic is back up with a Fameasser for the same.

Poetry In Motion and the Side Effect Connect but Matt accidentally bumps into the referee during the count in a weird moment. Ryan breaks up the Swanton though, earning himself a neckbreaker on the floor. A powerbomb onto a chair is countered with a backdrop and Matt is down. Back in and a low blow sets up the Danger Zone, with Ryan tagging himself in to steal the pin and the titles at 11:52.

Rating: C+. The Hardys didn’t need to be the champions any longer and my goodness we should get some mileage out of Ryan as the one who pinned Jeff. The promo about winning the titles with HIS BIG BROTHER will be worth a look and it gets the Hardys away from the titles for a bit. The match itself was fine, but not exactly a classic.

The cast of Busted Open Radio comes out to preview the World Title match.

We recap the World Title match. Joe Hendry is defending, Ethan Page wants the title and Frankie Kazarian is cashing in his Feast Or Fired title shot.

TNA World Title: Joe Hendry vs. Ethan Page vs. Frankie Kazarian

Hendry, with a bad shoulder, is defending. Page gets knocked to the floor fast to start and the threat of a standing Ovation has Kazarian joining him. Hendry hits a big dive over the top to take both of them down but Page hammers away back inside. Page’s suplex drops Hendry onto Kazarian on the way back in (that was clever) and it’s already table time.

Back in and Kazarian rolls Hendry up while suplexing Page for two at the same time. A double Flux Capacitor gets two but Page powerslams Kazarian, running Page over in the process. Fade To Black is cut off and we get a Tower Of Doom to leave everyone down for a bit. Page is up for a hanging DDT and it’s time to set that table up properly. Kazarian uses the Call Your Shot trophy before striking Hendry’s pose. He also strikes Hendry with Fade To Black for two with Page making the save.

Page’s knee to the face gets two on Hendry but Kazarian is back with Angel’s Wings for the same. They all slug it out from their knees until Page is sent outside and Hendry gets caught in the chickenwing. That’s broken up so Page is back in with the belt. The big swing misses so Page cutters him onto the belt. Hendry fights up and hits a quick fall away slam into the Standing Ovation to retain at 13:40.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t the most thrilling match in the world as it felt like every other triple threat title match. Hendry fighting through the shoulder injury and hanging on to retain the title is a good way to go. Having him beat Kazarian in his cash in and Page didn’t exactly feel important or pay per view main event worthy, but at least he got the win.

Post match NXT’s Trick Williams runs in and takes out Hendry (who embarrassed him last week) with the Trick Shot (running knee) to end the show. Ok that’s a lot bigger.

Overall Rating: B-. The show was good enough but there is pretty much nothing worth going out of your way to see. Nothing felt like it was some must see match, with Blanchard vs. Slamovich being the only thing which really came close. I’m not sure what missed here, as it certainly wasn’t bad at all but it’s just nothing that you need to go out of your way to see. It’s a show that exists and that’s about all.

Results
Fatal Influence vs. Rosemary/Xia Brookside/Lei Ying Lee – Discus punch to Brookside
Elijah b. Shane Haste – Highwayman’s Farewell
Moose won Ultimate X
Ash By Elegance/Heather By Elegance b. Spitfire, Gigi Dolin/Tatum Paxley and Meta Four – Rarefied Air to Threat
Ace Austin/Rascalz b. The System – UFO Cutter to Moose
Steve Maclin b. Eric Young – Rollup
Mike Santana b. Mustafa Ali – Spin The Block
Masha Slamovich b. Tessa Blanchard – Disarm-Her
Nemeths b. Hardys – Danger Zone to Jeff
Joe Hendry b. Ethan Page and Frankie Kazarian – Standing Ovation to Page

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

TNA Unbreakable 2025: They Broke Me

Unbreakable 2025
Date: April 17, 2025
Location: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

This is the second half of a double shot from TNA this week as we just got done with a regular Impact and now it’s a Wrestlemania Week special. This show is going to be in a weird place as it is only a little over a week away from the much bigger Rebellion show, which should make for quite the tricky rope to walk. Let’s get to it.

We open with a look at the famous Unbreakable triple threat from 2005, which is the inspiration for tonight’s triple threat for the inaugural International Title.

International Title Tournament First Round: Eric Young vs. JDC vs. Zachary Wentz

Young and JDC agree to go after Wentz to start so Wentz bails out to the floor in a smart move. Back in and Wentz dances a bit before diving onto both of them to take over. A high crossbody puts the villains down again but Young is up to go after Wentz. Young shoves Wentz at JDC, who gets dropped with a Stunner.

Wentz and Young go out to the floor with Young taking over, but he isn’t happy with JDC going after the pin. A DDT drops Young but Wentz is right there with a double missile dropkick. Wentz hits a running shooting star on JDC and an RKO on Young, the former of whom pops back up with a Falcon Arrow for two. JDC is sent outside so Young hits a Death Valley Driver on Wentz, with JDC running back in for the save. Young piledrives JDC for the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C+. They only had so much time here and this could have been on any given edition of Impact. That being said, they needed something to fill in the time so having two of the three first round matches isn’t a bad idea. Young moving forward isn’t the most interesting choice, but there is a good chance he doesn’t win anyway.

We run down the rest of the card.

International Title Tournament First Round; Ace Austin vs. Steve Maclin vs. Eddie Edwards

Alisha Edwards is here with Eddie. Austin takes over to start and the other two clothesline each other to the floor. Eddie drops Austin onto the apron to take over but the Backpack Stunner is broken up. Maclin is back in with an Irish Curse to Eddie and he fires off some running clotheslines in the corner. The KIA is broken up and Maclin is knocked to the floor, leaving Austin to roll Eddie up for two.

A jumping double stomp to the back gives Austin two as Maclin is back in for the save. Eddie is sent outside and Austin tries his apron handstand, only for Maclin to break it up with the Scud in a nice sequence. Back in and Austin hits a Tower Of Doom for two each but Alisha crotches him on top. Eddie gives Austin a spider superplex but gets caught with the spear in the corner. Alisha’s interference doesn’t work as she slaps Eddie by mistake, setting up the KIA to send Maclin to the finals at 9:55.

Rating: B-. This was a more action packed match than the opener and it worked well, with the still popular Maclin going on to the title picture. While I could have gone for Austin winning the title in Chris Bey’s honor, this was a good way to go as well. If nothing else, the System losing is always worth a look as Alisha can throw some good fits.

Frankie Kazarian is fired up for the mixed tag tonight. Tessa Blanchard says she’s coming for Masha Slamovich tonight, but at Rebellion she’s coming for the title.

Earlier today, the System interrupted the UNLV men’s ice hockey national champions. We don’t know what else they did or said, but they did in fact interrupt them.

Moose vs. ???

Non-title open challenge with former NFL star Sean Merriman on commentary and…Sidney Akeem (formerly Reggie in TNA) answering. Moose wastes no time in whipping him hard into the corner to start but Akeem kicks him in the face. That’s broken up but the chokebomb is countered into a hurricanrana. Some dropkicks stagger Moose, who throws him outside without much trouble.

Akeem is back with a dive as the UNLV hockey team is in the front row. Moose powerbombs Akeem onto the apron but yells at the hockey players, allowing Akeem to cut him down. A crossbody gives Akeem two and he snaps off a hurricanrana on the floor. Back in and Moose misses a crossbody, allowing a backflip into a cutter to put Moose down. Alisha Edwards makes the save and gets ejected, but the distraction lets Moose hit a low blow. The spear finishes Akeem at 9:02.

Rating: C+. This is how Akeem can be best used, as he got to do his high spots and flips before losing to the bigger star. Moose cutting down a traditionally flippy guy is a good way to go for his title reign and that’s the direction they seem to have been going. It’s working well, and if Akeem stays more serious like this, he’s fine for an occasional appearance.

Steve Maclin tells Eric Young it’s may the best man win tonight.

We get injury updates on Joe Hendry and Sami Callihan, both of whom are ready to go. This is one of those “make it feel like a real sport” thing and that’s fine.

Mike Santana/Hardys vs. Mustafa Ali/Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth

It’s a brawl to start with the good guys clearing the ring until Santana drives Ryan into the corner to get things going. Ryan fights back but gets caught in a powerbomb faceplant. Matt comes in to send Ali face first into the buckle over and over until Ali flips over him. Ali trips him into the ropes and it’s Matt getting caught in the wrong corner.

Nic comes in with a neckbreaker and the chinlock goes on. Matt fights up and breaks out but a distraction means the referee doesn’t see the tag to Santana. The referee does see a tag to Ryan, sending Hannifan into a rant about the referee being stupid. Ali cuts Matt off again but gets caught in the Side Effect, allowing the tag to Jeff.

A double Whisper in the Wind takes the Nemeths down and it’s time for the parade of knockdowns. Santana grabs Ali and turns the rolling neckbreaker into a Death Valley Driver. The two of them brawl to the back but Santana comes back with Spin The Block to Nic. The Twist Of Fate into the Swanton finishes Ryan at 12:36.

Rating: B-. I love seeing two feuds combined like this and it worked rather well here. The Hardys beating the Nemeths is a fine way to go and the tease of Santana vs. Ali makes things that much better. Both of the big matches will take place next week and I’m curious to see how they go, making this a perfectly fine preview.

The System jumps Zachary Wentz.

Victoria Crawford (Alicia Fox) and Debbie Gibson (Debbie Gibson) are here.

Joe Hendry/Masha Slamovich vs. Tessa Blanchard/Frankie Kazarian

The men start things off but we pause for Kazarian to be announced as the King Of TNA. Hendry whips him into the corner and hits a jumping knee, with Kazarian bailing to the floor. Slamovich knocks him right back inside (before glaring at Blanchard), where Hendry’s bad shoulder is good enough for a delayed vertical suplex.

Kazarian gets smart by going after the arm and stops to mock the rhythmic clapping. It’s off to Slamovich, who sends Blanchard outside. A quick suicide dive drops Blanchard again but she’s right back with some choking back inside. Kazarian hits the jumping Fameasser on the middle rope and Slamovich is in trouble again. Blanchard hits a cutter on Slamovich as Kazarian taunts Hendry with the Call Your Shot trophy.

Slamovich manages a shot on Kazarian but Blanchard is in for an exchange of basement dropkicks. That’s enough for the tag off to Hendry and house is quickly cleaned. Fade To Black is countered into an Angle Slam to give Hendry two but the shoulder is starting to bother him. The chickenwing is countered into a rollup for two but Blanchard is back in to grab Hendry. Kazarian clotheslines her by mistake and the Standing Ovation finishes Kazarian at 14:10.

Rating: C+. This was the same idea as the previous match, as they tied two feuds into one match and even gave us some intergender matches. That’s not a bad way to go and the ending leaves me curious about a title change, as Kazarian losing is something of a red flag. Blanchard vs. Slamovich feels like a huge match and I’m really not sure where it goes, which is a nice feeling to have.

Mike Santana wants Mustafa Ali at Rebellion and Santino Marella seems interested.

Here is Ace Austin….who brings out Chris Bey for a special appearance in his hometown. Bey walks out, with Austin shouting ON HIS OWN TWO FEET! Bey says he IS the Ultimate Finesser and 172 days ago, he broke his neck in the ring. It was embarrassing him because he wanted to finish the match for the fans. He was able to quickly have surgery and learned to walk again.

Austin was there with him every day and Bey had to remember who he was. Thanks to the fans at home and the people in that locker room, he is able to walk again. Bey had to remind himself that he is unbreakable, just like TNA. This is the greatest story ever told and thank you. They get to do their pose and the show needs to just end now, because nothing is topping this. That’s absolutely incredible and one of the coolest things I’ve seen in wrestling in a long time.

We recap Mance Warner vs. Sami Callihan. They’ve been fighting for weeks so now it’s Barbed Wire Massacre. As it tends to be.

Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner

There are all kinds of barbed wire items around ringside and Steph de Lander is here with Warner. Callihan, dressed as Mankind, sends Warner through a barbed wire board to start and then hits him with a barbed wire bat. A barbed wire Nintendo 64 controller goes to Warner’s head (must be Strong Grapple + Down + B) but he comes back with a door shot.

Warner uses a barbed wire chair to drive the board into Callihan but he sends Warner back into the barbed wire around the ropes. A barbed wire ball to the head has Warner bleeding even more and a low blow makes it worse. The Cactus Driver 97 through a barbed wire door is countered into a spinebuster and Callihan is in trouble again. They shout at each other from their knees until Callihan Stunners him onto the barbed wire, which shouldn’t make much of a difference.

The wire is wrapped around Warner’s arm and it’s time for a bag of salt. We’ll hold onto that for a second though as Callihan would rather staple Warner’s tongue to a board. Then he uses a barbed wire chair to the head to break it up. The salt shot is broken up with a low blow so Warner throws the salt into Callihan’s face instead. Warner grabs a screwdriver but Callihan is back with a spike and they stab each other in the head. Callihan whips out a sock for a barbed wire Mandible Claw. The Cactus Driver 97 onto the barbed wire finishes Warner at 19:23.

Rating: D+. Yeah ok. This was as advertised and in this case that’s not the best thing to see. It’s fine for what it is, but having that much barbed wire and over the top violence isn’t my thing. It only works so well and having Callihan dressed as Mankind only made me want to watch him do a hardcore match at a much higher level. I get that this has an audience, but it’s not for me.

We run down the Rebellion card.

Here is Elijah for a chat. Well a song actually, as he talks about his open challenge at Rebellion. In TNA, we walk this way.

We look at the first round of the International Title tournament.

International Title: AJ Francis vs. Steve Maclin vs. Eric Young

For the inaugural title. Francis is knocked to the floor, leaving Young to elbow Maclin in the face. Another forearm takes Francis down but he’s back in for an Alabama Slam to send Young onto Maclin. Francis gives Maclin a running knee in the corner and goes for a walk outside, where he cuts off Maclin’s dive. Young gets powerbombed onto the apron and, after tying his shoe, Francis sends Maclin back inside for a Death Valley Driver.

Maclin manages a running knee into an Angle Slam for two on Francis, who is back with a powerbomb for two of his own. Young is back in to slug it out with Maclin on top so Francis gives them a double AA for two each. Francis’ moonsault misses though and Young is sent outside. Maclin ties Francis in the Tree of Woe for the running shoulder, setting up the KIA for the pin and the title at 13:39.

Rating: C+. It was a fine enough match, but this really didn’t feel like any kind of a special showdown. I get trying to tie it into the original Unbreakable, but the second you start bringing that match up, you’re putting yourself in an unreasonable circumstance. That’s what we had here, and it made for a match that while entertaining, never lived up to its hype.

Maclin celebrates.

The Nemeths get a note from Matt Hardy, who appears via hologram to invite them to the Hardy Compound for DELETION. Can we please just NOT DO THIS AGAIN?

Overall Rating: C+. A lot of this is going to depend on your taste in Callihan vs. Warner, which went on far longer than anything else on the show. That dragged things down, but Bey’s return was one of the best things I can remember seeing in wrestling (or anywhere) for a long time. For a bonus show, this was perfectly fine, but Rebellion is going to have a bit more pressure on it now and that’s not a great thing. That being said, I do like having TNA getting involved in Wrestlemania Weekend, as they’re more than big enough to warrant a spot there.

Results
Eric Young b. JDC and Zachary Wentz – Piledriver to JDC
Steve Maclin b. Ace Austin and Eddie Edwards – KIA to Edwards
Moose b. Sidney Akeem – Spear
Hardys/Mike Santana b. Mustafa Ali/Nic Nemeth/Ryan Nemeth – Swanton to Ryan
Joe Hendry/Masha Slamovich b. Tessa Blanchard/Frankie Kazarian – Standing Ovation to Kazarian
Sami Callihan b. Mance Warner – Cactus Driver 97 onto barbed wire
Steve Maclin b. Eric Young and AJ Francis – KIA to Francis

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Sacrifice 2025: It Should Have Been More

Sacrifice 2025
Date: March 14, 2025
Location: El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s time for another of the big shows between the really big shows and this one happens to be pretty stacked. We have both a ladder match and Lethal Lockdown, the TNA equivalent of WarGames. There are also some stars from NXT here as a bonus, which should help things out a lot. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Aztec Warriors vs. First Class

The Warriors are Laredo Kid and Octagon Jr. After First Class insults the fans, Octagon takes Navarro down with a hurricanrana and hands it off to Laredo. That means it’s a low bridge from Francis though and Kid is sent outside for a big dive. Back in and Francis gets to choke away on the ropes, setting up a running knee in the corner.

First Class spends too much time posing though and it’s a tag to bring Kid back in to pick up the pace. Kid’s moonsault and Octagon’s handstand moonsault hit Navarro with Francis having to make the save. Francis gets in a chokeslam on Octagon and Navarro goes after Kid’s mask. A running Sliced Bread gives Navarro the pin at 6:44.

Rating: C. The Warriors didn’t get to showcase much of their high flying stuff and it didn’t give the fans much to get behind. Throw in the good guys losing and it wasn’t exactly an exciting way to get things going. It’s a weird way to go, as while First Class getting a win makes sense, it might not have been the right way here.

The regular Kickoff Show stuff takes place but Sami Callihan and Mance Warner, who are scheduled to face off tonight in a street fight, brawl in the back. They come to the ring, where Callihan throws in a bunch of weapons, including a chair which hits Warner for a nasty shot. They get inside and we’ll ring the bell.

Sami Callihan vs. Mance Warner

Street fight and Steph de Lander is here with Warner. Callihan hits him with a trashcan but gets sent into one in the corner as a cameraman gets taken out. Warner chokes with a chain but gets powerbombed through a table…as we go to the official show. Thankfully we come back without missing anything (fair enough) and Callihan uses a poster to cut Warner’s fingers and mouth.

Warner’s hand is fine enough to hit a chokeslam onto the trashcan but neither can hit a suplex onto a chair. Instead they both grab a staple gun and trade, uh, stapling, with Callihan going low. Warner gets stapled to the turnbuckle pad before being Death Valley Drivered onto the chair for two. Callihan has to block a screwdriver to the head before hitting a Stunner for two more. De Lander throws powder in Callihan’s eyes though and Warner hits a running knee for the win at 10:57.

Rating: C+. Well at least they didn’t have glass and thumbtacks. This was the run of the mill brawling with the table and trashcans, which makes the ending a bit weak. After everything they did, it was a simple bit of powder and a running knee. That’s a weird way to go, but odds are this is going to keep going anyway.

We get the opening video, which looks at the main matches. That’s at least a fresh way to go over the standard way of doing things.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Lei Ying Lee

Local rapper Krystall Poppin sings Blanchard to the ring. Blanchard sends Lee into the corner to start but the big slap is blocked. A suplex sends Blanchard into the corner and another brings her back out of it (well at least Lee kept it even). They go outside where Blanchard takes over and sends her back inside, only to take it right back to the floor.

Back in and a dropkick gets two, setting up the chinlock. Lee fights up and strikes away, before grabbing a spinning torture rack slam. Blanchard shrugs that off and hits a slingshot splash for two but has to bail to the ropes to escape a leglock. They go up top, where Lee hits a twisting brainbuster (geez) for two more. Blanchard grabs a cutter though and Magnum connects for the pin at 11:15.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure if there was much doubt about the winner here as Blanchard is not only a bigger name but she is also likely getting ready for a title shot at Masha Slamovich. The good thing is Lee got in a lot of offense and gave Blanchard a run for her money, but this was the right decision. Blanchard is ready to get back into the bigger spots and this was a step in that direction.

Jeff Hardy and Joe Hendry’s team are ready to win their rather violent matches tonight. With everyone gone, Ryan Nemeth comes in to say “everything they said”. Gia Miller clearly mouths “what the f***?”

Wes Lee/Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe vs. Ace Austin/Rascalz

Lucha rules. Lee bails to the floor to start but comes back in to send Austin to the floor. Igwe comes in and gets hurricanranaed to the floor, with DuPont following. Triple dives are mostly cut off though, leaving Austin as the only part of his team standing. Back in and a full nelson slam plants Austin for two, followed by Lee’s basement dropkick between the shoulders.

Igwe kicks Austin in the head for two and we hit the abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Lee gets over for the Rascalz to come in and clean house. Everything breaks down and DuPont’s stomp to Miguel’s head gets two. Austin and Wentz kick away at Lee from the apron, allowing Miguel to hit a sliding DDT. Back in and Lee is left all alone so he yells a lot, only to get taken down with a Lightning Spiral/Fold combination. Wentz hits a Spiral Tap for the pin on Lee at 9:53.

Rating: B-. The lucha rules kind of hurt things here, as it was little more than just having people running in and doing things. It did feel like the end of the feud though, with Wentz getting his revenge on Lee. It was a fun match, which tends to be the case with Austin and the Rascalz.

Steve Maclin is ready to take out Frankie Kazarian.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Steve Maclin

Eric Young is on commentary. Maclin takes Kazarian into the corner to start and hits some clotheslines to the back but gets knocked down in a hurry. Kazarian hits a springboard spinning legdrop and grabs a suplex for two. After a quick Shawn Michaels pose from Kazarian, Maclin is back up with some more clotheslines and an Angle Slam. The running shoulder in the corner has Kazarian in more trouble so he snaps the throat over the top rope to get out of said trouble.

Kazarian pulls on something like a cross armbreaker but can’t hit the Fade To Black. The chickenwing is broken up and Maclin’s running knee gets two. Now the chickenwing goes on, even with Kazarian falling out to the floor without letting go (that’s a heck of a trick). Since submissions don’t count on the floor, Kazarian lets go, allowing Young to sneak in a brass knuckles shot. Maclin, who didn’t see it, grabs a quick KIA for the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C+. This was something that could have been on any given Impact, as it was more about the Young involvement than anything else. The ending should be a way to see if Maclin wants to join him in what is likely the dark side, though that’s only so interesting. It would also be nice to have Kazarian lose the stupid trophy title shot already, but we could still be months away.

Spitfire is ready to get rid of By Elegance for good.

Knockouts Tag Team Titles: Ash By Elegance/Heather By Elegance/Personal Concierge vs. Spitfire

Spitfire is defending in a handicap match and they get the Personal Concierge if they win. The Concierge introduces By Elegance and then disrobes, which has commentary, uh, unhappy. Luna takes Ash down into an armbar to start but Heather comes in to crank on the arm for a change. The Concierge goes to the…bottom rope for an ax handle before handing it back to Heather, who is quickly put down. Threat comes in for a basement crossbody, followed by a suplex/clothesline combination for two.

Ash offers a distraction though and Heather takes over inside. The Concierge adds some stomps, then stops to dance, meaning Ash has to come in for a save. A catapult into a Codebreaker gets two and we hit the chinlock on Threat. As usual, that’s broken up and the tag brings in Luna to clean house. By Elegance is sent outside for a big dive, leaving Heather to get caught with a helicopter bomb, with the Concierge having to make the save. The Pressure Drop hits the Concierge but Threat gets caught in an assisted top rope double stomp for the titles at 9:12.

Rating: C+. By Elegance had to win the titles at some point if they wanted to have any kind of a future. At the end of the day, Ash has been here for a bit but hadn’t won anything of note coming in. You can present has as a star all you want, but it doesn’t matter without getting some kind of a prize. That is what she pulled off here and it was fairly long overdue. The feud needs to end already, but it’s not like there are many other teams to come after the belts.

Post match the lights go out and NXT’s Meta Four show up for your next crossover title feud.

We recap Mustafa Ali vs. Mike Santana, which is built around the idea of Ali wanting to make TNA better, which means a lack of Santana, who is a recovering addict. Santana wants to prove himself, while Ali wants to prove that Santana can’t handle the pressure. In other words, it’s JBL vs. Eddie Guerrero, which has made a good story, albeit a familiar one.

Mike Santana vs. Mustafa Ali

Ali has his cabinet with him and a local sportscaster introduces Santana. Just in case you didn’t get the story they were redoing, Santana drives a car into the arena. Santana scares Ali to the floor to start before catching him with a powerslam. Two Amigos connect but Santana cuts off the third with a small package.

Back up and Santana hits another suplex to send Ali outside for a needed breather. Ali fights up and goes after the arm, including a 450 from the top onto the arm, with Santana standing, on the floor. Back in and a rollup, with feet on the ropes, gets two and the referee is not pleased. The rolling neckbreaker gets two more and Ali stays on the arm with a crossface.

That’s broken up and Ali sends him to the floor, where Santana cuts off a dive with a cutter. Back in again and Ali lifts him up for a German suplex and a tornado DDT, only to miss the 450. Santana’s rolling cutter gets two and the frog splash gets the same (with a BIG reaction from the crowd). Spin The block connects but the arm gives out, allowing Ali to go up. Santana pulls him out of the air with a powerbomb but the Good Hands get up for a distraction. Ali rolls him up and grabs the rope for the pin at 13:12.

Rating: B. this was the match I was looking forward to the most coming in and they didn’t disappoint, with both guys working hard and telling a story. Ali is the more polished wrestler of the two and better with the technical side of things, while Santana is more about powering through and hitting his big moves. That allowed Ali to pick him apart but then when he couldn’t handle Santana, he cheated in the end, which will allow him to brag about his amazing skill. Heck of a story told and a very good match at the same time.

Post match Ali leaves a drink for Santana.

We recap Masha Slamovich defending the Knockouts Title against Cora Jade from NXT. Jade showed up and decided she wanted a title so she went after Slamovich, setting up the title match.

Knockouts Title: Masha Slamovich vs. Cora Jade

Jade is challenging and Arianna Grace is on commentary. Jade jumps her to start and is quickly clotheslined down for a kick to the chest. The chase doesn’t go well for Jade but she gets in a cheap shot for a needed breather. A quick stomp to the back gives Jade two and she pulls Slamovich down by the hair for the same.

Back up and Slamovich hits a rolling kick to the face for two of her own but Jade is back up with a knee to the face. A Canadian Destroyer on the apron connects but Slamovich is down on the floor. Back in and Jaded connects for two, leaving Jade rather frustrated. Jade strikes away but walks into a kick to the face. The Requiem retains the title at 9:24.

Rating: C+. As was the case with Blanchard vs. Lee, there was only so much drama to be had here. Slamovich is the monster champion who can smash through just about anyone in front of her. Jade has gotten better, but she isn’t on Slamovich’s level and that isn’t going to change anytime soon. Jade got in some stuff here, but Slamovich wasn’t in much danger.

We look at Oba Femi defeating Moose to retain the NXT Title this week on NXT.

We recap Moose facing Jeff Hardy for the X-Division Title in a ladder match. Hardy has pinned Moose a few times in tag matches so now we’re doing the ladder match thing.

X-Division Title: Jeff Hardy vs. Moose

Moose, with Alisha Edwards, is defending in a ladder match. They stare each other down to start before going straight to the floor to grab the ladders. Hardy knocks him to the floor and hits a clothesline off the apron but the Twist Of Fate is shoved into the steps. Moose bridges a ladder between a chair and the apron but Hardy fights up and pulls out the painted ladder.

The climb takes too long though and Moose hits a powerbomb before bridging a ladder into the bigger one. Hardy gets powerbombed onto the bridge ladder, landing so hard that a rung on the bigger ladder is broken. Back up and Moose grabs a table, only to get pulled onto the bridged ladder for a Twist Of Fate down to the mat. Moose is able to get up and throws the ladders out (with one hitting a camera) before hitting a heck of a spear.

Hardy is fine enough to hit a backdrop onto the bridged ladder at ringside before grabbing another table. The Swanton sends Moose through that table so Alisha has to make a save. That earns her a Twisting Stunner but Moose spears Hardy through a table. That’s enough for Moose to retain the title at 16:54.

Rating: B-. Commentary summed up the issues at the beginning of this match: Moose was in his first ever ladder match while Jeff was in his thirty ninth. That kind of takes away the impact, as Jeff has literally done this dozens of times. What we got was indeed good as they beat each other up, though I never quite bought that Jeff was going to win. I get why they had the match though and it did feel interesting, at least most of the time.

Mike Santana rants to Santino Marella about what happened and gets a rematch on Impact.

Earlier this week, the city declared it TNA Wrestling Day in El Paso. That’s cool.

The cage is being set up (the arena isn’t big enough to have it hanging) so here is First Class for their Penthouse. They’re introducing their First Class Records label and consider allowing the fans to audition but then mock the idea of the fans having talent. The Aztec Warriors come out to protest and the brawl is nearly on but referees break it up.

We recap the main event. The System and the Colons have been annoying the resident good guys so it’s time to do this in a cage.

JDC/Brian Myers/Eddie Edwards/Orlando Colon/Eddie Colon vs. Joe Hendry/Matt Hardy/Nic Nemeth/Elijah/Leon Slater

This is unofficially Lethal Lockdown, meaning two competitors start for two minutes. Then a member of the villains (who won the advantage on Impact) gets a 2-1 advantage for two minutes. The good guys then get to even it up and after that, the entry intervals drop down to one minute. When everyone is in, first pin or submission wins. Edwards and Elijah start things off, with the latter coming in on a horse because reasons.

After a song mocking the System and the Colons, Elijah gets inside and we’re ready to go. Elijah starts fast and works on the arm, setting up an Old School. A big boot drops Edwards again and he gets sent into the cage as Myers is in for the advantage. The System Overload connects but Nic Nemeth is in to even things up. Nemeth hits a neckbreaker/DDT combination and it’s already Orlando Colon coming in to go up 3-2.

The rapid fire entrances continue with Leon Slater coming in as these intervals are too long to really work. Slater stomps away until Eddie Colon is in to cut him off as well. Matt Hardy is in as well for the Side Effect and rams Orlando into the buckle. JDC gives the villains their final advantage and some chairs are thrown in to keep up the beating. Joe Hendry is in last to complete the field and the bell rings, which I hope isn’t considered the official start to the match.

Hendry starts firing off fall away slams, including a super version to Myers. Back up and Myers hits Hendry low to cut him off and Edwards’ Blue Thunder Bomb gets two on Nemeth. Slater is sat on top of the cage but crotches JDC and Myers, meaning it’s a Swanton 450 from the top of the cage onto a pile. Cue Ryan Nemeth as we hit the parade of finishers. Hendry grabs one of the chairs and a Twist Of Fate with the chair around JDC’s neck lets Hardy gets the pin at 17:05.

Rating: C. Yeah this didn’t really work, as it felt like they were scrambling to get the match in as fast as they could. That only got them so far, as the short entrances completely destroyed the intrigue of the match. Someone would get in, hit one or two things and then someone else would come in to reset the whole deal. It didn’t make for a good main event, as this needed way more time, and probably two less people, to really work.

Post match most of the team leaves but Ryan gets in and locks the door. That’s enough for Nic to jump Hardy (the camera mostly misses it) and the beating is on. The rest of the team is held off with a chair and Hardy is busted open. The beating continues to end the show. The Nemeths vs. the Hardys is certainly a choice for a title feud.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a back and forth show, as there were some good things on here that had me interested in what they were doing, but then they did some things that simply weren’t very interesting. The top two matches were only so good and the ending was more of an “eh, ok I guess” than anything else. Things should get to pick up a bit with a fresh top heel, but they need something else for Hendry to do already, as he’s just kind of floating around despite being World Champion.

Results
First Class b. Aztec Warriors – Running Sliced Bread to Kid
Mance Warner b. Sami Callihan – Running knee
Tessa Blanchard b. Lei Ying Lee – Magnum
Ace Austin/Rascalz b. Wes Lee/Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe – Spiral Tap to Lee
Steve Maclin b. Frankie Kazarian – KIA
Ash By Elegance/Heather By Elegance/Personal Concierge b. Spitfire – Assisted top rope double stomp to Threat
Mustafa Ali b. Mike Santana – Rollup while grabbing the rope
Masha Slamovich b. Cora Jade – Requiem
Moose b. Jeff Hardy – Moose pulled down the title
Joe Hendry/Elijah/Matt Hardy/Leon Slater/Nic Nemeth b. Orlando Colon/Eddie Colon/Brian Myers/JDC/Eddie Edwards – Twist Of Fate with a chair to JDC

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Slammiversary 2010 (2025 Edition): That’s It?

Slammiversary 2010
Date: June 13, 2010
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Taz, Mike Tenay

This is something I don’t get very often, as someone wanted me to look at an old TNA show. In this case it’s still fairly early in the Hogan/Bischoff regime and the main event is Sting challenging Rob Van Dam for the World Title. Other than that, Abyss is being rather violent with Desmond Wolfe so we have Monster’s Ball. Let’s get to it.

Sidenote: it’s Slammiversary VIII, which is of course the sixth Slammiversary. I get what they’re going for, but it doesn’t sound great.

The opening video looks at the company’s history, which really has been quite strong over the years. That being said, the “modern” stuff with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff bring it back down.

Kurt Angle vs. Kazarian

Angle is annoyed that Kazarian made a recent top ten so it’s time to beat him up. Kazarian gets taken down by the arm to start and cranking ensues. That’s reverses into Kazarian’s own wristlock but Angle snaps off a German suplex. A low blow cuts Angle down though and a slingshot legdrop gives Kazarian two.

Back up and another release German suplex drops Kazarian, followed by an overhead belly to belly for the same. Angle mixes it up a bit with a powerbomb into the ankle lock but Kazarian rolls out in a hurry. For some reason Kazarian thinks going to the top against Angle is a good idea, earning himself the belly to belly superplex back down.

The rolling German suplexes let Angle take the straps down but Kazarian is up with the Fade To Black (Hangman Page’s Deadeye) for two of his own. A quick Angle Slam gives Angle two but he gets powerbombed out of the corner for the same. Angle pulls him into the ankle lock and grapevines him for the tap at 14:16.

Rating: B. This was getting going and Kazarian was able to hang with Angle pretty well. Granted that might be due to Angle’s pretty rapid descent around this time. You could see the personal issues starting to take their toll and it would only get worse going forward. He could still do well enough here, though dang it’s weird seeing him in a spot like this rather than the main event scene.

Commentary praises the various commentators over the years.

X-Division Title: Douglas Williams vs. Brian Kendrick

Kendrick is challenging after having beaten Williams, who hates high fliers, in a non-title match. Feeling out process to start with Kendrick pulling him into an armbar, sending Williams over to the ropes. Williams’ front facelock is broken up as well as they’re certainly going technical to start.

Williams gets logical by going after the leg before they head outside, where Kendrick misses a charge into the barricade. Back in and we hit a camel clutch, followed by a pop up Samoan drop for two on Kendrick. We go European with a cravate on Kendrick, who fights out and hits a missile dropkick. Williams gets in a hard kick to the ribs and a rollup gets two, followed by a gutwrench suplex. Rolling Chaos Theory is broken up but Williams is right back with the tornado DDT to retain at 9:36.

Rating: C+. This was a fine way to go as Williams gets to keep the title. The X-Division has been such a major focal point of the company’s history that it had to be featured on a show like this, though you might have expected the title to change hands for the feel good moment. Williams was a talented star and the “mat wrestler who hates high flying” is a classic story, but the match was only pretty good.

Eric Bischoff, with assistant Miss Tessmacher, is looking forward to the main event and wants Rob Van Dam to get rid of Sting for awhile.

Knockouts Title: Roxxi vs. Madison Rayne

Rayne is defending after, just like the previous match, the champ got beat in a non-title match. Hold on though as Rayne asks how the Beautiful People have been so dominant but Roxxi gets to pop in and out whenever she likes. What is she putting on the line tonight? We should make it a title vs. career match, with Roxxi agreeing, and then getting hit in the face with the microphone to start fast.

Roxxi is busted open but comes back with a clothesline and ax handle for two, only to be sent outside. Back in and Rayne sends her into the corner before cranking on the arm, which feels a bit out of place when Roxxi is pouring blood. Roxxi fights up with a boot to the face and a Voodoo Drop gets two. Back up and Rayne hits a quick Rayne Drop to end Roxxi’s career at 4:16.

Rating: D+. I’m not sure if they went home early because of the blood or if this was the plan, but either way, this was far from something interesting, as it was more or less a basic TV match. I would expect something more out of both a pay per view title match, as well as the end of Roxxi’s career. Nothing much to see here and that’s a disappointment.

We recap Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal, which is due to Ray thinking Neal (his former student) is disrespectful. Naturally this is what we get rather than a match between their respective teams, because that might make too much sense.

Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal

Hold on though as Ray asks both partners (D-Von and Shannon Moore) to come out here, with Ray offering an apology. Ray calls Neal a hero for his time in the Navy and yes he (Ray) made a mistake. Team 3D goes to leave and yes of course Ray jumps Neal on the ramp and throws him inside to start fast. D-Von is ticked off but leaves, allowing Ray to hammer away on the mostly helpless Neal.

Neal gets tied in the Tree of Woe and knocked back out, allowing Ray to hit some rather hard chops. The comeback is actually on with a crossbody into a belly to belly but the Bully Bomb cuts him off. Cue Tommy Dreamer (who wound up being a surprise that Dixie Carter had teased, because of course) for a distraction, causing Ray to miss a middle rope backsplash. A spear gives Neal the pin at 5:56.

Rating: C-. Oh come on. This warranted a spot on the pay per view? They really needed to bring in Tommy Dreamer that badly? Other than that, the match was another weak one as well, with Ray basically toying with him and shrugging off Neal’s offense. This easily could have been on regular TV and had no real business being on this show.

Hernandez is ready to fight his former partner Matt Morgan.

We recap Hernandez vs. Matt Morgan. They were partner and champions until Morgan turned on him and put Hernandez on the shelf. It’s time for revenge.

Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez

Hold on though (again) as Morgan comes out in a neck brace. He blames Hernandez for hurting him and he has a doctor’s note saying he can’t wrestle. Cue Hernandez to throw Morgan back inside and we’re ready to fight. Hernandez hammers away in the corner and puts the referee on the top, allowing Morgan to send Hernandez outside. Back in and Hernandez is sent into the post a few times before firing off the elbows in the corner. Hernandez fights out and chokes on the ropes a few times, followed by a shove of the referee for the DQ at 5:17.

Rating: D+. I repeat my “Oh come on” as this was absolutely a TV angle rather than a match. I have no idea why they’re doing with this with the pay per view as this is the third straight match (out of five) that could have easily been on Impact. If you want these two to have a fight then let them have a fight. Don’t just tease something and then make you wait after asking us to pay this time. Again.

Post match Hernandez beats up the referee again so more referees come out to check on him. This is the focal point after a former team brawled on pay per view.

Hulk Hogan is looking forward to the main event.

Abyss vs. Desmond Wolfe

Monster’s Ball and Chelsea is here with Wolfe (who is better known as Nigel McGuinness), who tries to swing the kendo stick to start. This doesn’t prove to be a good idea against Abyss, who slams him down and grabs a barbed wire board. That’s broken up (the momentum, not the board) and Wolfe gets in a shot of his own. A barbed wire teddy bear (How did Mick Foley never have one of those?) is brought in by Abyss knocks him down and busts out the bag of broken glass.

We’ll save that for later though as Wolfe takes him up to the stage, where Abyss hits a chokeslam through part of the set. That’s not enough for even a cover though as Abyss takes him back to the ring, where Wolfe hits a sunset bomb onto the barbed wire board. The kendo stick sends Abyss, now bleeding from the arm, into the glass for two and Wolfe is stunned. Wolfe tells Chelsea to throw him the brass knuckles but she intentionally throws them to Abyss instead. A right hand with said knuckles and the Black Hole Slam finish Wolfe at 11:45.

Rating: B-. It was the usual hardcore, weapons based brawl that we’ve seen from TNA for years. That’s probably the point, but they didn’t exactly give us much of a reason for these two to be fighting. I’m sure there was a reason, but it would be nice to get a quick recap of what set this up. If Ray vs. Neal can get one, you might think this could too. Anyway, the Chelsea turn was the point here, and that was an effective enough way to wrap up a decent hardcore match.

Rob Van Dam is going to keep the World Title so Sting can’t get it and bring the company into dark days. TNA? Dark days? Like that could ever happen (over and over and over).

We recap Jay Lethal vs. AJ Styles. Ric Flair is mentoring Styles and trying to turn him into the new Nature Boy (and yes it was bad) but is mad at him for losing to Lethal, who had embarrassed him with an impression. Now Flair wants Styles to get revenge.

Jay Lethal vs. AJ Styles

Ric Flair is here with Styles, who comes out in a feathered Flair robe, because of course AJ STYLES needed this kind of thing. They fight over a lockup to start and Styles takes him into the corner for a slap to the face. Styles’ headlock is broken up so he goes after the knee and chops away.

A snap suplex gives Lethal and he grabs a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for the same. Styles is back up and knocks him to the floor but gets tripped onto the apron. Back in and Styles kicks him in the face for two, setting up a knee drop for the same. Lethal’s own kick gets his own two but Styles plants him with a belly to back suplex. Flair gets in a few cheap shots of his own and we hit the chinlock to keep things slow.

That’s broken up as well and Styles strikes away, with a crossbody getting two. Lethal goes up top but gets caught in a backbreaker, only to grab his pop up neckbreaker (always looked good) for two more. Styles gets evil by poking him in the eye and slapping on the Figure Four, with Lethal making the ropes. Lethal is back with a nasty German suplex for two, followed by his own Figure Four which has Flair freaking out (again). That’s broken up so Lethal hits another backbreaker but Styles gets in a Pele. Styles goes up and dives right into a northern lights suplex to give Lethal the big upset win at 16:33.

Rating: B. This is the kind of win you do not see very often but it can go a long way in making someone a star. Lethal was still getting established as a singles wrestler around this point and beating a legend like Styles clean is only going to help that. I’m still not sure who thought it was a good idea to turn Styles, who was LONG established at this point, into a new Nature Boy but TNA has to TNA.

Post match Flair yells at Styles so Frankie Kazarian comes out to calm things down.

Sting says he’s going to take the World Title from Rob Van Dam as part of his war with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. The bosses being more important than the title is certainly a choice.

We recap Beer Money vs. Jeff Hardy/Mr. Anderson. Beer Money is a seasoned team and Hardy and Anderson don’t get along. The feud has been building for weeks and…that’s the extent of what we’re told. WHY they’re fighting isn’t exactly explained, which is kind of a big thing to miss.

Hardy and Anderson dub themselves the Extreme Enigmatic A*******.

Mr. Anderson/Jeff Hardy vs. Beer Money

Roode and Anderson start things off with Roode taking him into the corner for an early break. It’s off to Hardy, who gets dropped with a shoulder and then Storm knocks him down as well. Everything breaks down and Beer Money gets cleared out until Roode low bridges Anderson to the floor. Back in and Roode gets two off a knee drop as we settle down into the heat segment.

Anderson finally gets in a clothesline for a breather and it’s back to Hardy to clean house. Roode slows him up though and Storm grabs a DDT for two but Anderson breaks up the Last Call, allowing Hardy to Swanton Roode. Storm pulls the referee out at two so Hardy hammers on Storm, only to get caught in a wheelbarrow Codebreaker. A hanging DDT plants Hardy for two more as things slow down again.

The villains shout their names and it’s back to Roode for a front facelock. That’s broken up but Hardy misses Whisper In The Wind, only to come back with a quick DDT. Anderson comes back in to clean house but walks into Roode’s spinebuster, with Hardy making the save. The Eye Of The Storm drops Hardy and everything breaks down again. Hardy sends Storm outside, saves Anderson (busted open) from a suplex, and lets Anderson Mic Check Roode for the pin at 13:54.

Rating: B-. This was a perfectly good tag match with Hardy and Anderson working together well enough against a full time team. Commentary still didn’t do much to explain why the teams were fighting but the match being good enough helps a lot. It’s not exactly a classic, but it went well enough.

Post match the winners congratulate each other.

We recap Sting vs. Rob Van Dam for the World Title. Sting has been going a lot more violent and possibly evil, but he swears there is more to it. He’s trying to help protect the company by protecting the title, but Van Dam isn’t cool with that.

TNA World Title: Sting vs. Rob Van Dam

Van Dam is defending and Sting is in his really lame t-shirt look. Sting takes him outside to start and they go into the crowd, where Van Dam kicks him away. They get back to ringside where Sting backdrops him right back over the barricade. Van Dam gets whipped into a wall before some rams into the barricade keeps him in trouble.

We actually bother to get inside, where a Stinger Splash gets two and we hit the chinlock. Van Dam fights up and starts kicking away, including the middle rope kick to the face for two. The referee gets bumped though and Sting gets in some baseball bat shots. Cue Jeff Jarrett to use the bat on Sting, allowing Van Dam to hit Rolling Thunder for two. The Stinger Splash misses though and Van Dam hits the Five Star to retain at 10:56.

Rating: C-. Sting’s time in TNA saw him have a lot of lame finishes to his matches and that was kind of the case again here. The biggest problem is this in no way felt like a pay per view main event but rather something that you could see on any given Impact. They brawled outside for almost half of the match and then the referee got bumped. Sting and Van Dam are more than capable of having a good match but they weren’t given the chance to do it here. Not good, and it felt like a fairly meaningless way to wrap up a major show.

Van Dam celebrates and we’re out.

Overall Rating: C. There are good parts to this show but the section in the middle, from the Knockouts Title match to Hernandez vs. Morgan and then the main event were just not worth your time. It also doesn’t help that there was pretty much nothing big, especially not for an anniversary show, to make it stand out. The show just came and went and while there were some good parts, it just didn’t stand out overall. Things would get more interesting in TNA in the coming months, though the quality would certainly be…uh, yeah.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6