NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #26
Date: December 18, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Believe it or not, the big story is about Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo, who may or may not be on the same page. That’s in addition to Russo having his Sports Entertainment Xtreme stable, which may or may not have AJ Styles on his side. That could make for an interesting story but, you know, Jarrett and Russo. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We look at Jeff Jarrett going to Europe and Japan to defend the NWA World Title. Believe it or not, this makes him look like a hero.

Here is a ticked off Curt Hennig storming in from the parking lot and coming into the arena. He is here to deal with Vince Russo and since he isn’t Roddy Piper, he’ll be tying Russo in knots or punching him in the face. Cue Russo (with Don Harris) and the chase is on, only for Low Ki, Christopher Daniels and Elix Skipper to run in and jump Hennig. Apparently they’re part of Sports Entertainment Xtreme, so here is BG James to brag on commentary, followed by Russo yelling at Tenay.

Bob Armstrong stops AJ Styles in the back and asks why Styles is with Russo. Styles says he’s proven his greatness in the ring, including last week (when he lost clean) and now it’s time to be the heavyweight champion.

Gauntlet Match

Ten entrants with ninety second intervals and pin/submission for eliminations. Jason Cross is in at #1 and Amazing Red is in at #2…and we cut to the back where Jeff Jarrett jumps AJ Styles. They trade leapfrogs to start and go to a standoff, with Cross missing a running flipping legdrop. Red sends him outside for a jumping kick off the apron as Tony Mamaluke is in at #3. The same seated Brock Lock that made Cross give up last week doesn’t work this week so Mamaluke switches to a jawbreaker.

Jimmy Rave is in at #4 and goes after Mamaluke as the other two brawl on the floor. Mamaluke and Rave go up top and it’s Shark Boy in at #5 to powerbomb the two of them down. Everyone pairs off and thankfully we go split screen as Kid Kash is in at #6. Red charges into a boot to the face as AJ Styles and Boy slingshot dives onto Kash on the floor. Ace Steel is in at #7 and hits a springboard dropkick to Rave. Almost everyone is back inside as Rave rolls up Mamaluke for the first elimination at 8:40.

Rave’s spinning crossface to Boy is broken up so Boy grabs the Dead Sea Drop (Diamond Dust) to pin Rave at 9:21. Kash gets a quick pin on Shark Boy for another elimination at 9:35 for back to back…uh wrestler ejections. Jose Maximo is in at #8 and dives onto Kash, who cuts him off with a powerbomb. Joel Maximo is in at #9 and goes to the floor, where Steel gives him a suplex. Steel and Cross go inside as David Young is in at #10 to complete the field.

Young grabs a sitout powerbomb, followed by a double belly to back suplex tot he Maximos. Steel is sent into the corner, followed by a big flip dive from Young to take out a pile. Steel, Cross, Red and Kash all hit dives of their own, followed by Kash grabbing a rope walk hurricanrana to Young. The running tornado DDT plants Young again for two, leaving almost everyone else to brawl on the floor. A Doomsday DDT plants Young and Red’s Infrared is good for the elimination at 17:36.

Steel catches Jose up top with a super tornado DDT and the pin at 18:13. Joel Rolls Steel up for the elimination 18:36. A hurricanrana gets rid of Joel and we’re down to Kash, Cross and Red. Cross gets double teamed down, leaving Red to kick Kash in the head for two. Kash catches Red on top for a super gorilla press but Cross cuts Kash off. Red goes up for a diving cutter to pin Kash at 21:39. Cross brainbusters Red and hits the shooting star legdrop for the final pin at 22:11.

Rating: C+. It was fun and there were some good spots, but they were flying through the eliminations at the end and that wasn’t the best way to go. No one really had a chance to stand out, with the one on one portion barely breaking thirty seconds. I had a nice enough time, but they just needed a better structure.

Commentary runs down the card.

Here is Sports Entertainment Xtreme for a chat. Vince Russo talks about how people laugh at these fans for being so stupid looking. He introduces the fans to the three newest members of the team. Low Ki wasn’t being booked because he wouldn’t agree to a 52 week schedule. Christopher Daniels wasn’t here because a plane ticket from California was too much. And Elix Skipper wanted more money, which Russo promises him, along with various physical accompaniment. As for BG James, he needs to stop worrying about his dad and take care of him.

Russo is tired of Jeff Jarrett and wants an answer right now. Cue Jarrett to say it is time for Russo to shut up and listen. Russo is still a magazine writer who has no respect for anyone in this business. Jarrett was the first wrestler that Vince McMahon told him to interview. He has protected Russo time after time from people like Shawn Michaels and Bill Goldberg in the WWF and WCW. They have been successful together under the name of sports entertainment (oh good grief). And yes, Russo came up with the idea for the Good Housekeeping match with Chyna.

Then a few weeks ago, Russo crossed the line by spitting in Jerry Jarrett’s face. If not for wrestling, Russo would be selling TVs in New York. Russo says Jarrett has lost his respect and the boys laugh at him, so whose side is he on. Jarrett makes it clear that he has never been with Russo and never will be (….that’s not what he said just a few minutes ago but whatever). The brawl is on and Jarrett grabs a chair but the numbers game gets to him. Security breaks it up and Russo leaves through the crowd.

Disciples Of The New Church vs. America’s Most Wanted vs. Harris Twins

Non-title and for the sake of simplicity, I’ll refer to all three of the Harris’s by their first names. Storm Whispers In The Wind onto Slash to start, followed by a Russian legsweep for two. Chris comes in and gets booted down by Lee for one before a snap suplex gets two. A crossbody gets Chris out of trouble and Storm’s high version gets two.

Everything breaks down, as you probably knew was coming, and the brawl heads outside, as you probably also expected. Lee gets sent into the barricade and it’s AMW and the Twins brawling back inside. The H Bomb drops Chris but here is I believe Belladonna with a low blow…and never mind as the ROAD WARRIORS of all people run in to lay out the Twins. Hawk’s top rope splash lets Storm get the pin on Ron at 7:36.

Rating: C. Well, if the Twins are going to sell for anyone, you might as well make it the most dominant tag team ever. It was certainly a big reaction to have them show up, and if it gets the Twins away from the title picture, I’d certainly call it an upgrade. This was another “we’re not really wrestling for the most part” match and that’s happening too often around here lately. But, you know, Russo.

The Road Warriors say they still have it.

Bob Armstrong gives the X-Division a pep talk about going after Sports Entertainment Xtreme.

Video on the triple threat match for the X-Division Title, with champion Sonny Siaki ready to prove his greatness again.

X-Division Title: Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn vs. EZ Money

Siaki is defending and Lynn is in because he did well last week. The champ gets punched down to start and Money’s neckbreaker gets two. Siaki superkicks Money into a sunset flip to give Lynn two but Money fights up and takes over on both of them. Lynn uses Siaki as a launchpad for a tornado DDT to Money, followed by a flip dive to both of them on the floor. Back in and Money gives Siaki a Buckshot Lariat and a 3D drops him for two. Cue the woman from last week to open her jacket to Lynn, followed by a slap (she’s sending mixed messages). Lynn gets sent outside and Siaki’s swinging neckbreaker retains the title at 7:46.

Rating: C+. This was a good way to help get Siaki over as the champion, as he is still brand new in the title picture. Having the still unnamed woman with him should help as it’s a classic formula that works every time. Lynn being in there made this feel more important, but Siaki is going to have to beat him again at some point or his reign is only going to go so far.

Post match the woman hugs Vince Russo, who says he has had his eye on Siaki since the beginning. The woman (still no name) is a gift to him for every desire he has (because that’s all women are for in Russo’s world). Lynn comes back in to jump Siaki but the woman kicks him low and the villains leave.

BG James vs. Ron Killings

Street fight, which might be an improvement. James jumps the rapping Killings from behind to start fast and they brawl up to the stage. Killings’ ax kick gets two, as apparently this is falls count anywhere. They go over near the cage dancers (who are still a thing for some reason), with James getting in a trashcan shot. A powerbomb puts Killings through a table for two and James hits him with whatever he can find. Naturally Killings comes back with a shovel to the head but here are Christopher Daniels, Low Ki and Elix Skipper to take Killings out for the pin at 4:37.

Rating: D+. It was just a messy brawl which was barely a match, with the interference making it worse. That being said, it’s better to have James doing a brawl than a match, even with all of the screwiness. Then again I’m not sure I’m supposed to know the story in the first place, because the promotion probably didn’t either.

Post match here is Bob Armstrong, who has three men to face Russo’s three men.

Low Ki/Christopher Daniels/Elix Skipper vs. SATs/Amazing Red

Sure, send three people out there for their second match tonight. That’s the ticket. The villains clear the ring to start until Ki is left alone with Joel. Ki misses a charge and gets knocked out to the floor, leaving Daniels to come in. Red chases him out and it’s Ki coming back in to get caught in the corner for the running clotheslines. A doomsday dropkick sets up something like a wheelbarrow cutter for…nothing, as there’s too much time for that to be the pin.

It’s back to Daniels, who gets knocked down for two and Red kicks him in the face for two more. A backdrop sends Daniels outside and apparently we’re in Mexico as Skipper immediately comes in. The SATs tie up Skipper and Ki in a camel clutch/Boston crab combination, with Red adding in a running dropkick. Daniels comes back in for a clothesline to take over, with Skipper sending Red into the corner.

Another clothesline and a standing moonsault drop Red for two and Skipper grabs the chinlock. Red manages to counter the Ki Krusher into the corner and the Code Red puts Ki down again. Both Maximos come in (of course) off the tag and everything breaks down again. Skipper’s brainbuster gets two and he sends Jose outside for a slingshot dive. Red comes back in but misses the Code Red, only to avoid Ki’s phoenix splash but then miss Infrared.

Don West gets onto the announcers’ table to cheer for Red, whose hurricanrana gets two on Daniels. Ki comes in but kicks Daniels down by mistake, leaving Red to grab a springboard spinning Downward Spiral for two. Skipper’s gutwrench powerbomb gives Ki two on Red and everyone goes into the same corner. That results in everyone crashing down, leaving Ki to hit the super Ki Crusher to pin Red at 21:07.

Rating: B+. As usual, the X-Division guys do what they can to save the show with an awesome match. They beat each other up for over twenty minutes with pretty much nonstop action (hey that’s catchy) throughout. The villains winning is of course the correct call as they have to build some momentum now that they’re on the new team. Really good match here and it brought the show up a lot.

Post match Russo and company get in the ring to answer the greatest question in wrestling: why are there tables under the ring? BG James says it’s because he put them there, so some tables are set up. Curt Hennig tries to make the save but David Flair of all people comes in to take him out. Jeff Jarrett makes the save with a chair but AJ Styles saves Flair from the Figure Four. Skipper and Ki put Jarrett through a table and Russo destroys the set with an ax (because he’s manly like that) to end the show. And yes, while I know there were reasons, the show ended with David Flair as the big surprise rather than the ROAD WARRIORS.

Overall Rating: C-. The wrestling is good, but my goodness the huge overarching story is dragging everything else down. The Russo stuff is just people talking about old stuff and loyalty and bringing in random people for shock value. You have the awesome main event and a few other decent things, but having the Harris Twins and BG James in the ring so often is bringing it right back down. That’s in addition to Jeff Jarrett being one of the least interesting top stars you can find, yet here he is in the big featured spot. Oh but Russo got to use an ax so it’s cool. Not as bad as the previous show, but that’s not much of an improvement.

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

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #25
Date: December 11, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

So last week saw things get really Russo-y in a hurry, with the debut of the Sports Entertainment Xtreme (SEX) stable and a woman being treated horribly. Then Paul Bearer debuted to end the show, because that’s the kind of huge signing this place needs. I have no idea what I’m getting myself into here but let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap, which is described as from “LAST WEEKY”, because this company can’t spell a four letter word with two letters being the same. Anyway we look at the beginnings of Sports Entertainment Xtreme, because this place was needing an NWO knockoff.

Opening sequence.

Jason Cross vs. Tony Mamaluke

Mamaluke takes him down by the arm to start but gets sent into the buckle. That means a crash to the floor, with Cross hitting a big flip dive. Cross ties him in the Tree Of Woe for a baseball slide, followed by a brainbuster for two. Back up and Mamaluke starts in on the leg but gets kicked in the face for his efforts.

Mamaluke’s charge misses in the corner though and Cross hits something like a sideways Blockbuster. Cross goes up for a flipping Unprettier (cool) into a shooting star legdrop. This bangs up the knee (which was fine enough to do two big flips in a row) and Mamaluke grabs a seated Brock Lock (the Sicilian Crab) for the tap at 6:31.

Rating: C+. Oh dang that ending screwed up a lot of the good they had going here. Cross hits two awesome finishers in a row and doesn’t even get a cover before giving up. Not only does it waste the finishers, but the leg was fine enough to go up a few times in a row but the landing hurts it that badly? That’s just overbooking, as Cross’ finishers look weak and he loses on top of it. Get this stuff straight.

Post match BG James comes out and puts a guitar on the announcers’ table. They are responsible for keeping track of the guitar, which Jeff Jarrett will need to retain the World Title. It’s an official order from Vince Russo, so you know it’s serious. Oh and the Harris Brothers come in and wreck Mamaluke and Cross, making it clear that they mean absolutely nothing.

James says that Russo isn’t here because he’s recruiting new talent for SEX (oh good grief). He promises that the army will grow and says D-Generation X was a cross between Russo’s ideas and the members’ talent so this is all for the good of the business. Cue Bob Armstrong who can’t believe that James is joining with Russo. James says his daddy (ah so it’s confirmed) never did anything for him, which has Armstrong bringing out Ron Killings with a chair and a chain.

Tonight, it’s a chair and chain match (a chain match with a chair in the middle of the chain) between James and Killings, with the Twins facing the Disciples Of The New Church. The villains tease a brawl but the Church and some other wrestlers come out for the big pull apart as the villains run off.

So in case it wasn’t clear, the match at the beginning of the show means absolutely nothing because this is all about the NWA vs. Russo’s IN YOUR FACE stable, making it WCW vs. the NWO. Again. Oh and remember that D-Generation X was a thing, because…well why else would James have a job?

Commentary runs down the show, with Mike Tenay talking about what Jeff Jarrett has been doing lately.

Jorge Estrada is crushed that Priscilla left him and maybe he needs a new direction. From now on, he’s playing things by ear.

Kid Kash vs. Jorge Estrada

They fight over arm control to start with neither of them really being able to get very far. An exchange in armdrags leads to Kash grabbing an armbar but getting sent outside. Estrada’s springboard corkscrew moonsault drops Kash again but he’s right back with something like a Whisper In The Wind. Estrada trips him down for a springboard legdrop to the back of the head but Kash is back up with a running DDT. A brainbuster gives Kash the fast win at 5:17.

Rating: C. The action was fine, but it felt like two people just doing moves to each other until Kash won. It didn’t really build towards anything and while Kash’s stuff was good, there is only so much you can get with the second short X-Division match in a row. Estrada’s downward spiral continues, and I can’t see it getting much better for him anytime soon.

Bob Armstrong is on the phone and can’t talk.

Divine Storm vs. America’s Most Wanted

Trinity is here with Divine Storm. Harris works on Quiet Storm’s arm to start and slaps a dropkick away without much trouble. Some shoulders don’t work well for Quiet either so it’s off to Divine. James Storm comes in to kick him in the head (a good job if you can get it) and Divine is sent outside. James hits a big dive onto both opponents, followed by Harris hitting a dive onto all three of them (which isn’t that bright but this show’s logic went out the window a long time ago).

Naturally Trinity wants in on this by moonsaulting onto Harris, who is right back in with something like a dropkick Hart Attack to Quiet. Divine comes in to take over on Harris though and cuts him off with a boot in the corner. The spear gets Harris out of trouble though and it’s back to James for the real comeback (after being in trouble for about thirty seconds). Quiet gets superkicked out of the air and everything breaks down, with Trinity breaking up the Death Sentence, allowing Divine to steal the pin on Harris at 6:56.

Rating: C+. Well, points for having a new team get somewhere. AMW is by far and away the best team in the company and it’s nice to see someone else getting a chance. I’m not sure if Divine Storm is going to be the next big thing but it’s better than having AMW run through one team after another.

Referee Scott Armstrong talks to BG James (his brother, who is smoking) and tries to get him back on the right side with their dad. James says he paved his own roads. Except for the ones with Russo right?

We look at AJ Styles taking out Amazing Red last week.

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red

Mortimer Plumtree is here with Styles and Red runs in to start fast. Styles keeps shoving him away and gets hit in the face for his efforts. A 619 rocks Styles and sends him outside, but he catches Red’s dive for a powerbomb backbreaker. Back in and Red strikes away until a discus clothesline brings him right back down.

A middle rope sunset flip doesn’t work for Red, who backflips up and over Styles (that looked great) into a failed Styles Clash attempt. Red’s tornado DDT is countered into a northern lights suplex and he’s in trouble again. Plumtree even gets in a few shots, earning himself an anklescissors. Styles isn’t having that and drops him face first onto the steps but Red is able to snap off a hurricanrana.

A reverse DDT gives Styles two and he grabs a Muta Lock, even turning over onto his stomach while continuing the cranking. With that not working, Styles hits a hard sitout powerbomb and they go up top. The super Styles Clash is blocked though and a super hurricanrana gives Red the big upset at 12:09.

Rating: B. These two beat each other up, which isn’t a surprise given who was in there. It’s a similar story to the AMW match, as you have the established ace and need to bring up someone new, which is where a fall like this comes in. Red even won clean to make it better and it makes sense as he’s a good guy. Solid stuff here, which tends to be the case with anything Styles does.

Tag Team Titles: Disciples Of The New Church vs. Harris Twins

The Disciples, with Belladonna and James Mitchell, are defending and WHY? The whole point of the match was to punish the Twins….so they get a title shot??? Good grief the logic really is gone here. The Twins come in through the crowd and the brawl starts fast. AJ Styles even joins commentary, which isn’t something you would see around this time.

They fight in the ring for a bit until Slash hits a big dive to the floor, meaning it’s time to fight into the crowd. They head back into the ring with the Disciples fighting out of trouble until BG James comes in with a chair to Slash’s head. Ron gets the pin and the titles at 4:17…but here is Percy Pringle (Paul Bearer) to tell the referee about the interference, which is enough for the DQ.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one, which shouldn’t be a big surprise. At the end of the day, there is pretty much nothing to the Harris Twins in the ring and having them in a title match here makes less than no sense. Throw in the fact that they wound up getting the pin until Percy Pringle of all people makes the save. Because the champs need to lose to the really awesome team you see.

Post match Mitchell says the teams don’t have problem with each other and suggests beating up Pringle. Cue AMW with chairs to go after the Disciples as we again have WAY too much going on at once. That’s ignoring AMW being put into a bigger story right after losing, because the wrestling just doesn’t matter.

Video on Sonny Siaki challenging Jerry Lynn for the X-Division Title.

Siaki wants the old guys gone and new guys, like him, getting a chance.

X-Division Title: Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn

Lynn is defending and we get the Big Match Intros. Lynn drives him into the corner to start and grabs a headlock takeover. A crucifix gives Lynn two and it’s an armdrag into an armbar. Back up and a triangle dropkick sends Siaki outside but he’s able to send into the apron. Lynn sweeps the leg and hits a slingshot legdrop to the back of the head, only to get caught in a hot shot. The referee gets distracted and Lynn gets kicked low, allowing Siaki to send him outside again.

They trade rams into the barricade, with Siaki getting the better of things by swinging him into the steel. Siaki hammers away back inside but walks into a sitout powerbomb for two. The referee gets bumped in the corner though and naturally Lynn grabs his cradle piledriver immediately thereafter. The very delayed count gets two but cue a mystery woman to crotch Lynn on top. A hanging swinging neckbreaker gives Siaki the pin and the title at 12:59.

Rating: C+. I appreciate the idea of getting someone new in the title picture as you can only have Lynn and AJ Styles fight so many times. Siaki was treated as something important for a little bit before dropping back down the card. It’s nice to see him doing something else, as there are far worse options out there.

Ron Killings vs. BG James

Chairs and Chains match (ignore that there is only one of each), which is a chain match with a chair in the middle. Naturally it’s just dangling there, making it look like a scene from a screwball wrestling sitcom (which I would love to see). James wraps the chain around his fist and punches away to start, allowing him to grab the chair.

That takes long enough that Killings can go up for a dropkick to send the chair into his face. A moonsault only hits chair though and James chairs him in the ribs. The chair is wedged in the corner, with Killings pulling him into the chair for the big crash. Then the chain just falls off so Killings gives him a sitout gordbuster onto the chair for the pin at 4:04.

Rating: F. This is the definition of a hat on a hat, as just having a chain match is one thing, but then they needed to add in a chair because reasons. It also didn’t work due to the chair just kind of dangling there, because they had to go with the dumbest idea possible. Terrible match, which had Russo’s style all over it.

Post match Killings puts the chair on him and goes up but Bob Armstrong makes the save. James gets up and chairs both of them in the head, leaving the referee to check on Bob. For like five seconds.

We run down next week’s card.

We recap Curt Hennig challenging Jeff Jarrett for the World Title. Basically Hennig wants to win the title to prove his greatness and that’s about it.

Earlier today, Jarrett had a sitdown interview and talked about the importance of the NWA World Title. He doesn’t like Vince Russo but isn’t happy with some of the things Roddy Piper said either. As for his allegiance with Russo…he’ll address it to Russo’s face later.

NWA World Title: Curt Hennig vs. Jeff Jarrett

Jarrett is defending. They go with the wrestling to start and neither get very far. A headscissors doesn’t work for Hennig so he goes with the chops in the corner. They’re already on the floor with Jarrett hitting him in the back with a chair, earning a look from the referee. Back in and Hennig grabs a quick Robinsdale Crunch, allowing him to wrap the knee around the post. Hennig ties the leg up inside and Jarrett even has to raise his shoulder to avoid a pin. No it wasn’t going to happen, but points for doing something instead of just laying there.

Jarrett is back up with an enziguri and sends Hennig into the corner, where a turnbuckle pad is taken off. Hennig is sent into the exposed buckle and of course the referee gets bumped (again). Jarrett teases getting the guitar from earlier in the night but opts not to, instead loading up the Stroke. That earns him a low blow, but here is Vince Russo (of course) to guitar Hennig in the head (and it doesn’t break). Jarrett retains his title at 8:12.

Rating: C. Jarrett and Hennig could have a passable match in their sleep due to talent and experience alone, but they had too much going on here, including the Russo ending. They only had a few minutes to actually wrestle here until they got to the screwy stuff. It could have been good but instead they went with the sports entertainment nonsense, as is always the case with Russo.

Post match Russo hands Jarrett the title and they go head to head. Cue AJ Styles to run in to jump Jarrett to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. There were good parts in here, but the Russo dominance is destroying those positives. Everything important revolves around Russo vs. Bob Armstrong of all people, which makes for such a mess. The X-Division stuff at the beginning was nice, but it only gets you so far when, like the cruiserweights in WCW, it doesn’t feel important in the slightest. Watch the AJ Styles stuff as usual, and skip the rest.

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

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #24
Date: December 4, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

We’re in the Russo/Jarrett era of the show and believe it or not, things went way downhill in a hurry last week. Russo’s mere presence drags the show down and it felt like a lot of the other stuff was treated far less importantly. It would be nice to see that change this week, but odds are it’s going to be more about Russo than anything else. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Vince Russo wanting an answer from Jeff Jarrett to end last week’s show. After the show ended, Ron Killings and Russo got in a fight and naturally Russo was able to hold his own with him.

Opening sequence.

Here is Roddy Piper to get things going, accompanied by someone in a Piper shirt. Piper wants to talk about Vince Russo (oh geez), who wanted to be a wrestler but couldn’t so he turned it into sports entertainment. He holds up some photos from his book (which is quite the read in a not so great way) and calls Russo the Bin Laden of wrestling. Piper warns us of what is going to happen if Russo is allowed to have his way and calls Russo out to meet him.

Russo runs in through the crowd and Piper gets in his face to talk about him killing WCW. He wants to know what Russo wants to accomplish and talks about how Piper has killed everything in wrestling. Cue the Harris Twins to hold Russo back as Piper mocks him. Piper’s music cuts him off. Oh and he raises the hand of the man who came with him, with Piper saying he hopes that people like this man listen to him. This was one of those things that felt like the company thought it would be awesome but…Russo.

We run down the card.

SATs vs. Divine Storm

Trinity is here with Divine Storm. Jose can’t break Storm’s bridge to start so they trade springboard armdrags. They go to a standoff so it’s off to Joel to send Divine outside. Everything breaks down and Divine Storm hit a running dive to the floor each. Trinity adds a huge moonsault of her own but the SATs are right back with a Boston crab/camel clutch combo to both of them at the same time.

A reverse rocking horse into a slingshot Fameasser gets two on Divine, who comes back with what looked like a low blow. Everything breaks down again and Divine hits what would become known as the One Winged Angel with Jose making the save. The super Spanish Fly is loaded up but Trinity gets in a low blow, allowing Storm to roll Jose up for the pin at 7:33.

Rating: C+. It was another fine tag match between two decent teams, but at the same time it wasn’t exactly a match that felt important. Maybe Divine Storm is being built up to go after the Tag Team Titles, but they’re not exactly stealing the show thus far. It could be worse, but it could also be a lot more interesting.

Here is Chris Harris for a match but hang on because here is Vince Russo to interrupt. He says he’s here to help Harris before moving on to Roddy Piper. He’s not going to talk about Piper and get sued, but if Piper wants to use Owen Hart’s name to sell a book, he’s going straight to H***. The way Russo sees it, the NWA doesn’t care about the fans but rather about a bunch of old people who won’t admit that it’s over. These people want violence, smut and language. They want sex: SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT XTREME baby!

Russo keeps seeing signs for Athena so here she is. Naturally he won’t let her speak, instead telling her to take her clothes off. She’s not interested so he calls her a b****, earning a slap to his face. Russo grabs her by the hair and screams at her until security comes in.

Athena goes after Russo anyway, with Russo threatening her as the Harris Twins hold them apart. Russo gets on the Twins for becoming bodyguards and Ron (I guess) says he’s not doing this anymore because Russo is here. Russo tells them to take out the trash so it’s an H Bomb to Athena. They do it again and then beat up the other security for trying to help. This has been a Russo segment involving a woman and that shouldn’t be a surprise whatsoever.

In the back Bob Armstrong yells at the Harris Twins…and gives them a match tonight. And Russo is a snake whose head needs to be crushed.

AMW yells at Mike Tenay, who tells them to go to the ring.

Chris Harris vs. Brian Lee

The usual associates are here too. The brawl starts on the floor with Lee knocking him over the barricade but Harris is back with a tackle onto the announcers’ table. A suplex brings Lee inside for the first time but a low blow slows Harris down. Lee slugs away and his associates get in their cheap shots from the floor. The chinlock doesn’t last long but Lee is back up with a knee to the ribs. That’s cut off with a running bulldog so here is Belladonna for a distraction. Said distraction lets Lee get in a big boot for two so Mitchell throws in a foreign object. That lets Harris hit a quick spear for the sudden pin at 5:14.

Rating: C. Nothing to see here, partially because it was a fairly bland match coming after the big promo from Russo. That’s another big issue with Russo, as he gets to take over everything going on with the show and the wrestling has to take a huge backseat. This is a match that is part of a hot feud, but instead it’s playing second fiddle to Russo establishing himself. Lucky us.

Ron Killings is told that if he teams up with Jeff Jarrett against the Harris Brothers, he gets a title shot. So who was Armstrong going to put them against if Killings said no?

James Storm vs. Slash

Slash jumps him to start but Storm gets in a quick slam. Back up and Slash kicks him in the face, followed by a suplex for two. The slow beating ensues until Storm manages to get in a quick superkick for the needed breather. A Russian legsweep gives Storm two but Belladonna offers a distraction, allowing Slash to throw powder in his face.

Slash’s neckbreaker gets two, as does Slash rolling through a middle rope high crossbody. A chair is thrown in and the referee is distracted for the reverse tornado DDT onto said chair for…two. Oh yeah Russo is in charge again. Chris Harris has to spear Brian Lee from invading but the distraction lets Slash get in a belt shot for two more. For some reason Mitchell gets up on the apron, allowing AMW to hit a Death Sentence to give Storm the pin at 6:15.

Rating: D. The main event of Wrestlemania isn’t this overbooked most of the time. Instead, it’s a six minute match and the second instance of two members of the teams facing off. I’m sure this is just a tiny step in their feud, but why not throw everything you can out there for this otherwise nothing match?

Apparently this win gets AMW a threw way bullrope match with James Mitchell tonight. Well of course it does.

Jerry Lynn hypes up a charity event.

Bob Armstrong gives Ron Killings and Jeff Jarrett a pep talk before the main event.

Kid Kash vs. AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red vs. Kid Kash

This is a double elimination (as in you have to take two falls) match for an X-Division Title shot. Hold on though (of course) as Styles jumps Red and gives him a Styles Clash on the stage. Cue Joel Maximo to take Red’s place, because of course. Red is literally picked up and carried out (no stretcher) and Maximo and Kash trade waistlocks to start. Maximo is sent outside for a nice slingshot hurricanrana so Styles takes Kash down with a cheap shot. That doesn’t seem to matter as Kash gives Maximo a gutbuster, only for Maximo to grab a German suplex for the first fall on Kash at 2:39.

Styles is in to jump Maximo but can’t give him the Clash, instead getting rolled up for two more. The middle rope moonsault into the reverse DDT gives Styles another near fall and something like White Noise gives Styles the pin on Maximo at 5:18. Money is back in to powerbomb Styles for two but the Buckshot Lariat is cut off by a dropkick. The Styles Clash is reversed into a belly to back piledriver to give Money two, followed by the Crash Landing to pin Styles at 7:20.

Kash comes back in and gets monkey flipped but grabs a spinning DDT on Money. A fisherman’s buster gives Kash two and Money’s full nelson slam gets the same. They go up and Money’s superbomb is countered into a super hurricanrana for two, meaning it’s time to argue with the referee. Styles gets in a cheap shot from behind on Kash, allowing Money to roll him up for the elimination at 10:25.

Styles is back in with the Clash to pin Money at 10:48, leaving all three of them with a loss each. Maximo comes in to hammer on Styles, who cuts him off with a fast dropkick. Styles’ brainbuster gets two on Maximo and we hit a Muta Lock, which Styles turns over to stretch Maximo even more. With that broken up (despite looking rather cool), Maximo avoids a charge into the corner and gets a quick two of his own.

Styles sends him outside though and Mortimer Plumtree gets in a few stomps, as a good manager should. The slingshot Swanton gives Styles two back inside, as does Maximo’s sitout powerbomb. Maximo grabs a figure four necklock as we see Money watching on, which actually makes sense for a change. Styles gets out and hits a sitout Dominator for two more as this is starting to drag.

Back up and Maximo grabs a quick rollup to pin Styles out of nowhere at 19:00. So we’re down to Maximo vs. Money, with Money coming back in for a superkick. The frog splash gives Money two as Styles and Plumtree yells at the referee. That means Maximo’s moonsault doesn’t get a count, allowing Money to get in a quick piledriver to pin Maximo for the win at 21:32.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure what to make of this one, as it was a pretty random lineup, with Red being taken out to take it down a few notches, though the action was fine. The problem is it did go longer than it needed to, which took away a lot of the fun. Money winning is fine and I do like the idea of bringing back the double elimination match, though this was a weird spot for it.

Some of the production team talks about the charity stuff on their website.

Sonny Siaki wants the X-Division Title.

Jerry Lynn is injured so his title defense against Siaki is postponed until next week. As this is going on, the Harris Twins come in the ring and go after Bill Behrens, even loading up the table. Lynn runs in for the save and gets sent through Behrens, through the table. Ron Killings comes in for the real save with a chair but the Twins beat him into the crowd. The Twins throw him off a balcony and through a table.

Bob Armstrong wants BG James to do…something tonight. Are we supposed to know they’re father and son?

America’s Most Wanted vs. James Mitchell

This is a three way bullrope match but Mitchell comes out to say his personal physician (Dr. Kevorkian) says his test results aren’t great, so he can’t do this tonight. Instead, here’s Belladonna to do it instead.

America’s Most Wanted vs. Belladonna

AMW shoves her down rather than tie up with the rope and go after Mitchell, only for the Disciples Of The New Church to run out for the brawl. The Disciples lay AMW out and now the referee is willing to attach the rope to their wrists, allowing Mitchell to come in and choke a lot. Belladonna comes in and ties herself by the wrist, allowing Harris to pull her off the middle rope. A TKO lays Belladonna out and the Death Sentence finishes her off. This was a match? Sure why not.

Don West does the preview for next week.

Curt Hennig has a sitdown interview where he talks about Vince Russo. Hennig isn’t a fan of someone putting himself on camera like that, but he’s also ready to win the World Title next week.

Harris Twins vs. Jeff Jarrett/BG James

AND NEVER MIND BECAUSE JAMES WAS ATTACKED BACKSTAGE. The Twins jump Jarrett and knock him over the barricade, where a chair is pelted at his head. Jarrett slips out of the H Bomb, gets knocked down, slips out of it again, and hits a double clothesline. Cue Ron Killings, barely able to walk and carrying a chair, as Jarrett cleans house with a chair and hits a Stroke to pin Don at 5:14.

Rating: D+. It was here that I realized Jarrett is now a good guy. Why this is seen to be a good idea is beyond me but he was doing things here that regular tag teams couldn’t do. Either way, the idea of having more from the Harris Twins is not a good thing, though that’s one of roughly 18,274 issues with this show. This was the usual angle disguised as a match, which is even more Russo standard operating procedure.

Post match Killings says he wants Vince Russo out here so the Twins beat him down again. Russo jumps the barricade as Killings gets H Bombed a few times. BG James runs in with a chair for the save…and then lays out Killings before hugging Russo. In case that isn’t enough, Paul Bearer pops up on stage to end the show.

Overall Rating: D-. Oh yeah we’re in big trouble here people, and it isn’t likely to get any better. The problem here is that it feels like a total Russo show, with all kinds of stuff going on and one twist after another. While that might make for an interesting sign, you can only get so much out of that when the people turning so much takes away what interest they might have. At the same time, we’re looking at a main event scene involving Jeff Jarrett, the Road Dogg and the Harris Twins.

That’s in addition to everyone suddenly talking about Russo (sidenote: Is Russo a TNA employee or is he just someone who is showing up? You might want to clarify that.), who is apparently the most interesting person in the world. This promotion has gone from getting ok to absolutely awful, with the Russo focus being the reason. I’m sure Russo would see that as proof that he’s doing his job but….yeah not quite. It doesn’t work when the show stops being fun and becomes a chore to watch, which is the case anytime Russo is prominently featured. Awful show here, and egads Russo is atrocious.

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #23
Date: November 27, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

And we’re in the Vince Russo Era. Yeah I’m as thrilled about it as you are, but there’s no particular way around it. Last week, Mr. Wrestling III helped Jeff Jarrett finally win the NWA World Title before revealing himself as Russo. I’m sure this won’t be a total disaster no matter what. Let’s get to it.

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

Goldilocks sings God Bless America in honor of Thanksgiving.

Opening sequence.

Divine Storm vs. Briscoe Brothers

Trinity is here with Divine Storm. Jay gets taken down by Storm to start and can’t quite get anywhere off a waistlock. Mark and Divine come in for an exchange of armdrags until Mark hits a dropkick. A northern lights suplex gets two and it’s back to Jay as Mark is sent outside. Everything breaks down and the Briscoes hit stereo running flip dives and Jay takes Storm back inside for a gordbuster.

Mark is back with a springboard missile dropkick but walks into something like a Blue Thunder Bomb. That’s shrugged off and Storm gets double teamed in the corner, with Storm having to make a save. Mark is sent outside and take down with an Asai moonsault, leaving Jay to grab a sitout brainbuster. Storm is back in with a half nelson driver to finish Jay at 6:07.

Rating: C+. It wasn’t a long match but this was a good choice to get two teams out there and fire up the crowd a bit. If nothing else, the company needs some challengers to come after the Tag Team Titles so building up Divine Storm for a quick shot isn’t a bad idea. The Briscoes were VERY young here but they had a look and the talent to make up for some of the age issues.

A rather sweaty Mike Tenay cuts a promo on how much he can’t stand Vince Russo and what Russo is all about.

We run down the card.

We look back at last week’s World Title change, with Mr. Wrestling III helping Jeff Jarrett take the title from Ron Killings before revealing himself as Vince Russo.

Here is Jarrett for a chat…in theory at least as Russo comes out before Jarrett does. Russo tells Mike Tenay to leave if he hates him so much and go pout with Sean Waltman. The reality is wrestling needs Russo to save it (oh here we go) and he’s here to talk about Jarrett. They met when Jarrett was doing a gimmick where he was spelling his name, but Jarrett was one of the few genuine people in wrestling.

Then one night, Jarrett walked out on the company and left Russo to take the heat while Jarrett jumped on the NWO bandwagon. Then when the WWF took over, Jarrett came back to the WWF and Russo left, while Jarrett lost to a WOMAN named Chyna. Jarrett had to get out of there and needed Russo’s help (uh, right). Eventually Russo got out of wrestling and Jarrett asked him to join this new company, with Russo giving the name (and it was supposed to stand for….well what everyone thinks TNA stands for).

The reality is Jarrett was led around by the nose by some old man he won’t name while Russo got to sit at home. Now though, he thinks that both the WWE and this place suck and he’s here to save the day once again. Jarrett has one chance to join Russo because the change is coming next week. Russo will be here tonight to help Jarrett win again and he wants Jarrett’s answer tonight. Oh boy this show just got a lot worse and I’m sure in Russo’s mind that’s a huge plus or something, because he thinks people being sick of him in five minutes is great.

Mortimer Plumtree complains about other managers not offering enough to bring in AJ Styles.

We recap Goldilocks and April leaving together last week, with Brian Lawler being all upset. Again.

America’s Most Wanted vs. Hot Shots

Stevens offers an early distraction so Storm can be sent into the corner. The double teaming puts him down, with O’Reilly getting in some choking on the mat. That’s broken up in a hurry and it’s off to Harris for the hard knockdown. A low bridge sends Harris outside though and the Hot Shots get to take over in the corner. The old Rockers double flip over into a double right hand to knock Storm off the apron.

Stevens’ Lionsault hits raised knees though and Storm comes in off the hot tag. Everything breaks down and Storm hits the reverse tornado DDT. Harris hits the swinging Rock Bottom on O’Reilly and here are James Mitchell and Bella Donna to watch. The Death Sentence connects for AMW but they go after Mitchell and Donna for the countout at 5:19.

Rating: C+. I’m still not seeing much of the appeal of the Hot Shots, though the division desperately needs some new blood. AMW is turning into a heck of a team and starting to establish themselves as the aces of the division. They’ll need to face someone else besides the Disciples, so why not see what the Hot Shots can do?

Post match AMW loads up the Death Sentence on Donna but the Disciples Of The New Church run in for the save. Security breaks it up.

Dory Funk Jr. (who apparently wrestled in a dark match) says he will be watching Jeff Jarrett’s match as he has a vested interest.

Tag Team Titles: BG James/Curt Hennig vs. Disciples Of The New Church

The Disciples are defending and do a full entrance despite being in the arena about a minute and a half ago. James Mitchell (along with Bella Donna) is here with the Disciples and says he has an interest…..IN EVIL! Hennig atomic drops Slash into the corner to start and it’s quickly off to James.

That means the champs get to choke on the ropes but James is right back with a clothesline to the floor. The shaky knee gets two on Lee and it’s off to Hennig to work on the knee. Most of a Figure Four has Lee in trouble and it’s back to James to stay on the leg. What looks like a low blow gives Lee a needed breather though and it’s back to Slash.

The cobra clutch has James in more trouble but he fights up, only to get caught in a sleeper. That’s broken up and it’s back to Hennig to clean house, including the HennigPlex to Slash. That’s broken up by Lee as everything breaks down. And never mind as AMW runs in to jump the Disciples for the DQ at 10:35.

Rating: D+. Sweet goodness James is hard to watch. He doesn’t do much anything other than punch and feels like he’s just there for the sake of star power. The problem is he has almost nothing to back it up in the ring and this was another good example. The match was nothing worth seeing, with Hennig not being able to do much out there with this assorted cast of characters.

Post match AMW and the Disciples brawl to the back while Hennig and James aren’t pleased.

Don West and Mike Tenay are happy about the company’s official website launching and some charity stuff. Nothing wrong with that.

EZ Money vs. Alex Winters

They go with the grappling to start and Money can’t get anywhere with the arm. Instead he hits a Buckshot Lariat and avoids a slingshot dive, setting up a rocking horse of all things. Back up and Winters tries to jump over Money in the corner but seems to get kicked low. The Crash Landing finishes for Money at 3:19.

Rating: C-. I liked Money when he was Jason Jett at the end of WCW but that wasn’t coming through here. Instead this was a dull, slow match with Money doing a lame squash. Nothing to see here and I wouldn’t be surprised if Money was…well given how this promotion works, he’ll probably get a push instead of leaving as a result.

Bruce insists that his name is Alan Funk and he and April are just friends. Maybe she can be Miss TNA from now on. If that stupid Bruce stuff is done, I’m much happier with this show.

Sonny Siaki vs. Crimson Dragon

Siaki starts in on the arm before they run the ropes for a crisscross. Dragon’s springboard armdrag doesn’t do much and they stare at each other a bit. Dragon sends him to the corner for a kick to the head, followed by a diving clothesline on the floor. Back in and Siaki just throws him over the top for a nasty crash. They get inside again with Siaki hitting a slingshot atomic drop but Dragon kicks him in the face for two more. Dragon gets crotched on top though, allowing Siaki to hit a big overhead belly to belly superplex. The swinging neckbreaker finishes the Dragon at 5:14.

Rating: C. That’s really not a good choice for back to back matches as while this was slightly better, it was just a tiny step above Money’s squash. Siaki has been a borderline main eventer for awhile but here he is winning a nothing squash. I could go for him being in a higher spot than this, but that might just be for the sake of avoiding another dull match.

Post match Siaki says he wants better competition.

April is distraught over Brian Lawler freaking out over her being in the shower with Bruce last week. Everyone knows Bruce is gay but Goldilocks says no one is buying this. April thinks Goldilocks is jealous and Goldilocks walks off, saying she doesn’t have time for this.

Here is Brian Lawler, looking downright mopey, to talk about how he has given his heart to a woman he thought loved him. Then it turns out that she’s doing whatever with Sean Waltman, she’s in the shower with Bruce and now apparently she’s having an affair with Goldilocks. He hasn’t been able to sleep and he has migraines so as of right now, he’s quitting wrestling. Thank goodness, as Lawler is regularly one of the worst things on this show.

Commentary talks about what happened and we cut to Lawler, who is leaving with Priscilla and grabbing her in a rather personal place.

Video on AJ Styles.

Video on Jerry Lynn.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

Styles, with Mortimer Plumtree, is challenging and yes, they’re actually doing this match again. Lynn isn’t happy with the early trash talk and slugs him down, followed by a basement dropkick to the back for an early two. Styles is tossed over the top for the big crash to the floor, followed by the baseball slide.

That’s shrugged off and Styles peels back the mats for a DDT onto the exposed concrete. Back in and Lynn is busted open so Styles hammers at the cut, with Plumtree even getting in a shot of his own. Lynn is able to crotch him on top though and a kick to the face sends Styles outside again. Plumtree’s distraction doesn’t work as the charging Styles hits barricade and it’s a jumping back elbow to give Lynn two.

Styles is able to send him outside though, with Lynn getting in a foreign object shot. Back in and a reverse tornado DDT gives Styles two but Lynn is back with a running Liger Bomb for the same. Styles’ belly to back faceplant gets two more and they go up, with Lynn managing a super gordbuster. With nothing else working, Plumtree tries a foreign object but Lynn takes it away and knocks Styles silly to retain at 12:36.

Rating: B. While it’s a match that can never go wrong, it’s also a match I don’t need to see again for a good while. The nice thing here is they did something a bit different by having Lynn go after Plumtree and using the weapon to even things up somewhat. Easily the best match on the show thus far, but they really need to find someone else to go after this title.

BG James and Curt Hennig are willing to put up $5000….on golf?

Don West hypes up next week’s show.

Earlier today, Dory Funk Jr. sat down with Mike Tenay and talked about his NWA World Title reign and various opponents. He also hyped up the World Title match tonight and hopes people will be talking about it twenty years from now. Not likely, but a nice sentiment.

NWA World Title: Ron Killings vs. Jeff Jarrett

Killings is challenging and raps himself to the ring. We get the Big Match Intros before Jarrett gets rolled up for a fast two. Jarrett gets his boots up to cut off a charge in the corner and a middle rope sunset flip gets two. They trade rollups for two each and it’s an early standoff. That doesn’t work for Killings, who hits him in the mouth, so Jarrett takes him down by the leg.

The Figure Four is quickly broken up and Jarrett is sent outside, with Killings hitting a quick dive. A frog splash gives Killings two and we hit the sleeper to put Jarrett down for a bit. Back up and Jarrett’s dropkick is countered into a sitout powerbomb. Killings goes up and gets superplexed back down, followed by an enziguri which doesn’t look to come anywhere near connecting.

Jarrett kicks him low and of course denies it before loading up a chair in the corner. Killings sends him into said chair for two, only to miss one heck of a moonsault. With nothing else working, Jarrett pulls off a turnbuckle pad before sending Killings…outside and over the barricade (helpfully labeled the HEEL SECTION). They brawl around the arena and climb a lighting structure, which they fall off for the crash through a table. That’s enough for the double countout at 11:08.

Well hang on as here is Bob Armstrong to say there will be a winner so we keep going. They get inside and slug it out, with Jarrett being hot shotted onto the exposed buckle. Jarrett gets up again and the referee is bumped (of course) so cue Russo. The guitar is handed in but Jarrett smashes it on the post instead. Three straight Strokes retain the title at 14:18.

Rating: C. And yeah there it is. As usual, this is more about Russo than anyone else and it drags everything down. Russo being out there with Jarrett, either together or on opposing sides, feels like flashbacks to the dying days of WCW and that’s not a good thing. The match was decent enough as you had two talented wrestlers in there, but then it all goes to Russo again, which is likely going to be the start of a recurring trend.

Post match Russo says Jarrett has one chance to be with him or against him. Jarrett goes back inside and yells at Russo to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. You can see things going in a bad direction from here and that’s not an encouraging sign. Aside from the usually good Styles vs. Lynn match and maybe AMW vs. the Hot Shots, this was a show built around people who aren’t interesting and who are likely going to get a lot more screen time. Having to watch Russo, Lawler and to a lesser extent Jarrett get this much focus isn’t a good sign. It doesn’t help that a lot of the rest of the show felt like mostly meaningless filler. Not a good show, and unfortunately it’s probably indicative of where we’re heading.

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #22
Date: November 20, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

It’s a big time main event this week as Jeff Jarrett FINALLY gets his NWA World Title shot, which he’s wanted since he was a boy. Or maybe it just feels like that’s how long he’s been talking about the stupid thing. Other than that, the new Tag Team Champions re defending their titles, which should be dominance. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Commentary runs down the card.

Earlier today we got a sitdown interview with World Champion Ron Killings. He’s not thinking about Mr. Wrestling III and talks about being focused on the World Title because that is his passion. Tonight it’s about who is going to pay the ultimate price.

EZ Money/Sonny Siaki vs. Divine Storm

Storm is Chris Divine/Quiet Storm with Trinity. It’s a brawl to start with Money hitting a top rope clothesline to the floor, taking out Siaki and Storm in the process. Trinity moonsaults out onto Siaki and Storm and we settle down to Divine rolling Siaki up for two. Siaki suplexes him down for two before Money and Siaki plant Storm with a double slam.

A Spin Cycle sends Storm outside, where Siaki is right there with a kind of suplex. Trinity takes Siaki down with a hurricanrana but Money is right there to drop her with a clothesline. Back in and Storm cutters Money off the middle rope, allowing Divine to get the tag. That’s fine with Siaki, who gives him the fisherman’s neckbreaker for the fast pin at 5:50.

Rating: C+. This is following the standard classic idea of having a fast paced match to start the show. It works every time and it worked again here, with Money and Siaki doing well enough as a team. It’s not like they have anything going on, but there are far worse ideas for a show opening match.

Here are James Mitchell and Belladonna for a chat. Mitchell knows the wrestling world is watching the World Title match and now he wants the World Title too. Whoever wins tonight will face the New Church. Likely in the form of this man.

Malice vs. Kory Williams

Malice jumps him to start and they go outside with Williams being sent into the barricade. Back in and Malice…kind of hits a top rope shoulder, followed by a chokeslam for the pin at 1:57.

Spanish Announce Team vs. Harris Twins

For a future Tag Team Title shot.  The SATs start fast and jump the Twins during their entrances as we hear about some of the Twins’ previous gimmicks. Jose misses a dive though and the Twins take over, as they are so known to do. Ron spinebusters Jose but Joel is back in to take Ron down. The moonsault/guillotine legdrop combination gets two but Don is in to clean house. The big dive over the top takes the SATs out and the H Bomb finishes for Ron at 6:08.

Rating: D. You knew the Twins were going to get the title shot as soon as they were announced as being in the field as that’s just what they do. The team is presented as the most important, dominant thing in the division no matter who they’re facing and they squashed a perfectly fine team here. What luck that now we get to see them again.

April insists that she was NOT in the shower with Bruce last week. Cue Bruce, who insists that he’s gay so it wasn’t him. Lenny comes in to say Bruce is a fake gay guy so give him the Miss TNA crown. Cue Brian Lawler to jump Bruce, ending one of the dumbest segments I’ve ever seen.

BG James vs. Lenny

James says this won’t be a gay bashing, but just him beating Lenny up. Lenny shoulders him down to start but gets caught with a clothesline. The dancing punches are broken up and Lenny hits a standing moonsault from the top. Cue Bruce to beat Lenny up but Brian Lawler runs in to take Bruce out. James drops a knee on Lenny for the pin at 2:57, because none of that was a DQ. Well of course it wasn’t.

Post match Goldilocks comes out, kisses April on the cheek, and they leave while holding hands as Lawler is rather upset.

AJ Styles vs. Crimson Dragon vs. Jorge Estrada

For a future X-Division Title shot, Mortimer Plumtree is here with Styles and Priscilla is here with Estrada. They trade armdrags and hiptosses to start and a series of standing switches. Dragon superkicks Styles but Estrada powerbombs Dragon out of the corner. Back up and Dragon suplexes Styles into a Stunner before piledriving Estrada for two.

Styles is back with a brainbuster for two on Dragon with Estrada making the save. Dragon gets knocked into the corner so Styles kicks Estrada down for two. Dragon is able to kick Styles out of the air but Estrada takes Dragon outside for a whip into the barricade. Styles is whipped in for two as well but Dragon is back in with a double guillotine legdrop for two each.

Estrada rolls Dragon up and suplexes Styles for a double near fall, only to get crotched on top. Styles breaks up a near fall on Estrada but Dragon crotches him on top for a change. This time though the super hurricanrana is countered into a Styles Clash onto Estrada to give Styles the pin on Dragon at 11:02.

Rating: B-. Much like the opener, this worked just fine as Estrada and Styles were more than good enough to carry their part of the match. On the other hand you have Dragon (former ECW star Chris Hamrick underneath a mask) doing well enough as a warm body. Sometimes you need someone there to take the fall and that’s about the only reason to put him in there, which worked well enough.

America’s Most Wanted wants to beat up James Mitchell and get the Tag Team Titles back. James Storm also says “sorry about your d*** luck.”

Video on the Disciples Of The New Church winning the Tag Team Titles last week.

Tag Team Titles: Disciples Of The New Church vs. America’s Most Wanted

The Disciples are defending and it’s a big brawl on the floor to start again. AMW double teams Slash on the barricade and Lee is suplexed into the ring. Lee drops Harris to take over and it’s off to Slash for the right hands in the corner. We settle down to the champs taking turns beating up Harris, with Lee’s big boot connecting for two.

Harris finally fights out and gets in a middle rope clothesline, allowing the tag off to Storm. A reverse tornado DDT gives Storm two as everything breaks down again. Something close to a Tower Of Doom out of the corner leaves everyone down but Storm is up with a chair. A shot to Lee’s ribs sets up a spear from Harris for a rather close two so Lee grabs the spike. That’s taken away though and Storm uses it on Lee for the DQ at 10:46.

Rating: C. Yes after all of that brawling, there was actually a DQ. Not in the other matches around here, but in this one, because it’s what the script called for here. We’re probably setting up for a big violent blowoff match between these teams and I’ve heard worse ideas, as it’s an actual feud with stakes.

Post match Storm beats up Belladonna and Harris lays out a referee. Well we better get a violent rematch now. Security runs in to save James Mitchell so he can escape.

Video on the Amazing Red.

We get a sitdown interview with Red, who looks to be about 16 years old and is rather nervous. He wants to be the champion and will give it all he has. The idea here is that he’s quiet on the mic but loud in the ring and…I guess that makes sense.

Jerry Lynn is excited to face Amazing Red because he sees a lot of himself in him.

X-Division Title: Amazing Red vs. Jerry Lynn

Lynn is defending. They start slowly with both of them getting a quick take down to no avail. Lynn monkey flips him but Red sticks the landing on a hiptoss. A German suplex doesn’t work for Lynn either and Red snaps off a hurricanrana. Lynn finally catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a surfboard works on Red’s back.

Back up and Red sends him to the floor but the flip dive off the apron is caught, allowing Lynn to ram Red’s ribs into the apron. Lynn ties up an arm and a leg for some cranking but Red gets up for a tornado DDT. That’s enough to send Lynn outside and the running flip dive takes him down again.

A 619 connects on Lynn and Red catches him with a kick to the head. Lynn manages a powerbomb out of the corner and then flips him over into another powerbomb for two more. Red is back up with something like a middle rope swinging Downward Spiral for two of his own and some frustration is setting in. A hurricanrana out of the corner gives Red another near fall but Lynn catches him on top with a super cradle piledriver to retain at 10:03.

Rating: B. Believe it or not, the X-Division guys continue to carry the show, with this being a nice story of the veteran Lynn being a bit overwhelmed by the young star. Red more than held his own out there and it was more a matter of him getting caught than getting beaten. That’s a good way to go (it worked two and a half years later for Shawn Michaels and Shelton Benjamin) and this was one of the better things I’ve seen from TNA in a minute.

Don West hypes up next week’s show.

Video on Ron Killings, who has been kind of forgotten in the last few weeks.

Video on Jeff Jarrett, who wants to be an all time great NWA World Champion.

NWA World Title: Ron Killings vs. Jeff Jarrett

Killings is defending. They go with the basics to start, with Killings grabbing a headlock and then a shoulder block, followed by some dancing. A dropkick puts Jarrett down and he’s not sure what to think here. The spinning forearm sends Jarrett outside and he yells at referee Scott Armstrong before making a fired up comeback. Some right hands and a dropkick have Killings in trouble but he hammers away and hits a Downward Spiral.

Killings powerslams him and hits the ax kick for two, followed by a Figure Four. Jarrett eventually manages to turn it over and everything is broken. They knock each other down before Jarrett is up with a powerbomb for two. The referee takes a thumb to the eye so Killings grabs a chair, which Jarrett uses for two more. Killings hits a sitout gordbuster for two but gets knocked off the top for a crash.

The Stroke gives Jarrett two so they head outside, where Killings gets in a posting. They fight into the crowd where Jarrett hits him with a chair, which Killings shrugs off. A splash off a balcony puts Jarrett through a table and he’s busted open. They go back to the ring, where the referee is of course bumped. The slugout leaves both of them down and Mr. Wrestling III comes in to guitar….Killings to give Jarrett the pin and the title at 17:38.

Rating: C+. The match was ok enough and felt like a big match, but egads why am I supposed to care about Jarrett winning the title? It’s treated like this huge important moment and…it’s still just Jarrett as World Champion, which wasn’t interesting in WCW and isn’t interesting here. Throw in the match being about as cookie cutter of a main event style match as you can get and there was a limited appeal here.

Post match Mr. Wrestling III is….Vince Russo. Well of course it is. Jarrett is shocked to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Maybe it’s that this show felt a bit bigger, but it was one of the easiest episodes of TNA thus far. There was less in the way of time being wasted and general dumb stuff, though those problems were still there. What matters the most here is having some nice action though and it helped make the show that much better. Not a great show, but it was enough to get by for a week, which is an upgrade around here.

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

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #20
Date: November 6, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Don West, Mike Tenay

We’re at a bit of a milestone here and we are celebrating it with…well more of the #1 contenders tournament actually as Ron Killings needs a new challenger. Other than that, the Disciples of the New Church are back and seem to want the Tag Team Titles. Mr. Wrestling III is getting closer to being unmasked as well so let’s get to it.

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

We look at some TNA wrestlers at the NWA 54th Anniversary Show and….my goodness OVW looked better at this point.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

We recap Jorge Estrada/Priscilla losing to Bruce/Ace Steel last week, because this needs to keep being a thing.

Bruce, now with rather shiny high heeled shoes, has made up with Lenny Lane, who might fill in for him as Miss TNA. Goldilocks says Bruce is a b****.

Bruce vs. Jorge Estrada

Lenny and Priscilla are both here and if Estrada wins, Priscilla is the new Miss TNA (I think). After a quick hug from Lenny, they go to the mat for some quick grappling. Estrada grabs some armdrags and hammers away, only for Priscilla to get on the apron. The distraction lets Lane come in for a cheap shot and Bruce gets an early near fall. Lenny comes in again so Estrada rolls both of them up for two at the same time (cool with the ref). Bruce goes to the eyes to take over and they crash out to the floor, with the seconds helping to put them back in.

Back in and Bruce gets two off a springboard sunset flip, only for Estrada to come back with a headlock takeover out of the corner. The Lionsault hits raised knees though and Bruce hits a spinning reverse powerbomb. Priscilla comes in again to kiss Bruce (he’s not a fan) so Lenny gives chase, earning a slingshot dive from Estrada. The chase is on and Bruce…actually slips on a banana peel (as dropped by Lenny) for the countout at 8:49.

Rating: D. I have run out of ways to describe how much I can’t stand the whole Bruce deal. It isn’t funny, it isn’t interesting, it is as low level comedy as you can get and somehow it’s getting even worse. The match literally ended because someone slipped on a banana peel. I’m sure the people writing the show find it hilarious but this terrible stuff is cutting away all of the positives that the decent wrestling cause. Terrible stuff here, as usual.

Post match Priscilla is crowned…but Lenny takes away the tiara and sash to return them to Bruce. As I guess this is continuing.

Sonny Siaki is ready to move on in the tournament. He hits on Goldilocks too, as is his custom.

#1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: BG James vs. Sonny Siaki

I’m not sure why the semifinals are starting before the first round is done but the previous match ended because of banana peel slippage so there are bigger problems. Before the match, James says the same thing he always says before getting jumped to start. James fights back and knocks him into the corner before working on the arm.

Siaki takes him down and starts in on the knee, including some general cranking. An Indian Deathlock stays on the leg before Siaki starts dropping down on the leg, allowing James to kick him out to the floor. Back in and Siaki hits his running Blockbuster for two but here is Jerry Lynn for a distraction. James is back with a neckbreaker into the pumphandle slam for the pin at 7:08 (with Siaki popping his arm up at 3.1).

Rating: D+. Siaki is good at what he does but James is just so generic in the ring and living off his reputation. The distraction finish didn’t help either, and now James is on his way to a #1 contenders match. I’m not sure how that’s supposed to be appealing, but at least James is someone with a bit of star power.

We look back at the return of the Disciples Of The New Church, as they laid out America’s Most Wanted last week.

America’s Most Wanted is ready to bring their own evil. This was by far the most fire both of them have ever shown and it worked.

Tag Team Titles: Disciples Of The New Church vs. America’s Most Wanted

The Disciples, with James Mitchell, are challenging and Mitchell talks about how evil his team can be. The champs charge in to start the brawl fast with the Disciples getting beaten up on the floor. Back in and Slash is already busted open, with Storm dropping a top rope elbow for two.

Lee takes Storm outside for a ram into the barricade though and the villains take over as we settle down. An elbow misses though and Harris gets the tag to clean house. Everything breaks down and Slash chairs Harris on the head for two, leaving Mitchell rather peeved. A double clothesline gets Harris out of trouble and it’s back to Storm as everything breaks down. Lee grabs a spike to stab the champs though and that’s a DQ at 7:44.

Rating: C+. The ending was there to set up a rematch and that’s a good thing for AMW. They need challengers and a pair of monsters who are all about violence is a good choice. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the titles change hands to give AMW a real issue for once. This was more of a preview than anything else and in this case, that’s a good thing.

Post match the Disciples keep up the beating and the champs are left laying. Slash is covered in blood and looks like a monster.

#1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Brian Lawler vs. Syxx Pac

April is here with Lawler, who polishes up a seat for her. Lawler wants revenge so he jumps Pac on the floor and sends him into the steps. They get inside for the bell and trade some right hands in the corner as April screeches a lot. She won’t slap Pac, but does make sure Lawler knows everything is fine. Pac fights back and knocks him to the floor, where Lawler gets in a crotching against the post.

Back in and Lawler misses the Hip Hop Drop (might have spent too much time flipping off the fans), allowing Pac to hit the Bronco Buster. Hold on though as he goes outside to kiss April, earning a superkick from Lawler. Back in and Lawler hammers away but yells for April to get on the apron, which is enough of a distraction for Pac to hit an X Factor for the win at 5:02.

Rating: D+. Pac is trying and there are worse choices than Lawler for an in-ring star, but at the same time, OH SWEET GOODNESS THIS APRIL STUFF IS HORRIBLE! I have absolutely no idea why I’m supposed to care about Lawler or anything he’s doing, including his issues with April. The story just keeps going and it’s putting so much focus on Lawler, who really isn’t interesting in the first place.

Post match Pac holds up April’s hand, though she doesn’t seem thrilled. So our hero is a kidnapper…and never mind as Lawler has a heart attack. April goes back to check on him…and more on this near death experience later.

Ron Killings has signed a contract to face Mr. Wrestling III for the World Title so come see him.

Here is Jeff Jarrett to interrupt. He calls all of the top good guys idiots and looks at the contract for Mr. Wrestling III’s World Title shot. Jarrett says if he’s Mr. Wrestling III, all he has to do is sign the contract and get the title shot that he wants. He rips up the contract, saying he’s winning the tournament and getting the title shot on his own.

Kid Kash vs. Ace Steel vs. Jose Maximo vs. Joel Maximo vs. Tony Mamaluke

Elimination tables match for a future X-Division Title shot. The fight starts before Steel comes in but he joins the brawl, with the ring announcer having to throw him in as well. They go outside so Kash can hit a dive before going inside to brawl with Steel. Mamaluke Fujiwara armbars Jose, which is broken up for no apparent reason.

Joel powerbombs Kash on the floor but the Maximos’ double super Spanish Fly is broken up. Instead Mamaluke chokes Joel as the first tables are thrown in. Steel chokebombs Mamaluke off a table in the corner but Mamaluke sends Steel through another table for the elimination at 6:18. Mamaluke sets up a second table on the floor but Joel puts him on the first table for the moonsault and the elimination at 8:16.

Back in and Kash brainbusters Joel onto his knee and hurricanranas both Maximos down at the same time. A Cactus Clothesline puts everyone on the floor and Kash lays Joel on the table at ringside. Kash’s super hurricanrana sends Jose through Joel for the double elimination and the win at 12:57.

Rating: C+. And here we have a pristine example of the big issue with the way TNA is presented. It’s fine enough to have a five way match for a future title shot and even having it as an elimination match is acceptable. But then, for no logical reason, it’s all about the tables. There’s no reason for that to be added in, but here we are, with one extra stipulation thrown in for the sake of making things more complicated. Oh and why is Mamaluke in the same match as Kash when Kash beat him last week?

Video on Curt Hennig vs. Jeff Jarrett.

Here is Jarrett to say that he and Hennig had a title match scheduled tonight but no one has seen Hennig. Jarrett lists off his resume for some reason and here is Hennig, in street clothes, to start the brawl.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Curt Hennig

Hennig knocks him into the corner to start and the beating is on, with Hennig using a variety of choking. The referee tries to take a chair away from Hennig, who knocks him down and takes Jarrett inside for some HennigPlexes as the referee throws it out for the DQ at 4:32.

Rating: C. Somehow this was one of the better parts of the night, if nothing else because it showed emotion and logically followed something that happened last week. Hennig and Jarrett might not be the most interesting these days, but they know what they’re doing. You can put them out there and get something out of them, with Hennig showing fire here, even if it wasn’t really anything close to a match.

Don West runs down the card for next week.

Video on Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles.

X-Division Title: Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles

Styles, with Mortimer Plumtree, is defending. Lynn works on a wristlock to start but Styles spins out and we go to an early standoff. An exchange of headlock takeovers doesn’t go anywhere so Lynn flips around a bit to take Styles down, meaning it’s time for some staring. Back up and Styles backs him into the corner but Lynn hits a middle rope spinning crossbody.

The chinlock goes on for a bit, with Styles fighting up without much trouble. A backbreaker gives Lynn two and he drops Styles throat first across the top rope for two more. Styles is sent to the apron for a triangle dropkick before Lynn sends him into the steps. Lynn drops him throat first across the barricade and then cuts off a dropkick off of said barricade. Back in and Styles sends him crashing outside, where Plumtree gets in a cheap shot so Styles can hit a dive.

A powerbomb is countered with another hurricanrana but Styles grabs a dragon sleeper. That’s reversed into a powerbomb flipped into a facebuster, but Plumtree gets on the apron for a distraction. Instead Lynn hits a sitout powerbomb to leave both of them down. Back up and Lynn suplexes him into the corner, setting up the cradle piledriver for two and a shocked kickout face.

The TKO gives Lynn two more, as Sonny Siaki comes out to pull the referee. Styles sends Lynn face first into a chair in the corner, followed by the Styles Clash for two of his own. Lynn catches him on top with a superplex so Styles tries another Clash, which is reversed into a cradle Tombstone to give Lynn the title back at 21:04.

Rating: B+. Maybe it’s everything else I’ve had to sit through on this show, but I had a good time with this one. Take two rather good wrestlers with a history together, let them have a lot of time, and put together one of the better matches TNA has had to date. Lynn getting the title back is a good thing to see as he can have a solid match with almost anyone so it’s quite a smart move.

Overall Rating: C-. The main event tried to bail this out but there was only so much that it could do. The undercard stuff is just so dreadfully bad and unfortunately it seems like they’re leaning more into that direction. It’s another case where the company just needs to slow WAY down and unfortunately I don’t see that happening. Styles vs. Lynn was very good, but it’s nowhere near enough to bail out the rest of this mess.

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 #19
Date: October 30, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Don West, Mike Tenay

Now here we have something interesting as it’s a show I’ve never actually seen. When I originally tried to do this series, I stopped after the 18th show, meaning we’re into completely new territory. Mr. Wrestling III is running around and tonight, evil returns, whatever that means. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Kid Kash vs. Tony Mamaluke

No entrances here as we go straight to the ring. They fight over wrist control to start and trade some escapes until Mamaluke gets two off a sunset flip. An exchange of armdrags sends Mamaluke outside for a slingshot dive from Kash. Back in and Mamaluke fires off some knees in the corner, which are reversed into a quick chinlock. Kash’s moonsault gets two but Mamaluke reverses an armbar into a leglock. Mamaluke snaps off a belly to back suplex before they trade backslides for two each. The Dead Level (Jay Driller) finishes for Kash out of nowhere at 8:32.

Rating: C+. These two were just two more of the people involved in the X-Division and that meant they were sent out there to have a fast paced match and warm the crowd up. They did it more than well enough here, which hopefully leads to some more good stuff on the show. Unfortunately I’m not exactly picturing either of them going that high in the division, but they had a fine match here.

We run down tonight’s card.

Earlier today, Scott Hall sat down with Mike Tenay and talked about how he wanted to win the World Title because it is the one title that has eluded him. He likes the outlaw spirit around here (because nothing says outlaw like a governing body that has been around for over fifty years).

NWA World Title: Scott Hall vs. Ron Killings

Killings is defending and raps his entrance. The fans tell him he sucks, but he says if he sucks then they swallow. Hall comes out to tell Killings to stop being Jeff Jarrett’s stooge or worrying about Mr. Wrestling III because Hall is here for a big dose of the truth. Hall throws the toothpick in his face to start and works on the arm, followed by the required abdominal stretch.

That’s broken up and Killings flips around a bit, setting up a side kick for two. The ax kick gets two more and a guillotine legdrop gets another delayed near fall. Another side kick misses though and Hall hits a chokeslam for two. The fall away slam sends Killings flying but here is Mr. Wrestling III. Hall decks him and gets the mask off but Wrestling gets his hands up in time to hide his identity. The distraction lets Killings hit a sitout gordbuster to retain at 6:43.

Rating: C. The match was mainly there to have Mr. Wrestling III out there again, but at least Killings got the win. Hall’s only value is in putting someone else over at this point and having Killings get the win is a good step for him. I’m almost scared of where the Mr. Wrestling III stuff is going though, and it seems like we’re getting closer to the big reveal.

Here is Jeff Jarrett for a chat. He wants the World Title and now he’s in the tournament for the title shot, so he’s coming for the title. For now though, he’s putting a bounty on Mr. Wrestling III’s head. He won’t give us an amount, but he’ll pay a lot. Cue Curt Hennig (facing Jarrett tonight), who accuses Jarrett of being Mr. Wrestling III and promises violence for later tonight.

Tag Team Titles: Hot Shots vs. Chris Michaels/Rick Michaels vs. America’s Most Wanted

Harris and Storm (they have AMW on their trunks so I’m counting that as the name change) are defending and the brawl starts in the aisle. All six fight on the floor to start, with Harris being dropped onto exposed concrete. Storm gets double teamed inside by half of each challenging team before Harris comes in to fight back against Rick. Everything breaks down again (that didn’t take long) and it’s already time for the challengers to get in a fight. Rick neckbreakers Harris so Chris’ top rope elbow can get two. Storm is back up though and a spinebuster/top rope legdrop combination finishes Rick to retain at 6:21.

Rating: B-. Again, the action worked, but can we PLEASE get the champs some better competition? You’re only going to get so far with AMW running through every team out there and they did it to two teams at once here. AMW is clearly the best team around, but bringing in teams for them to beat week after week isn’t helping them.

Post match the lights go out and the Disciples Of The New Church, with James Mitchell, are here, apparently the EVIL returning. The champs are wiped out, with Mitchell being rather pleased. Mitchell says this is just the beginning. Well, there’s your new competition.

Earlier today, Bob Armstrong made some new rules: if a champion loses by countout or DQ, they lose their title. There is also going to be a tournament for the #1 contendership to the World Title, with Don Harris as guest referee.

#1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Ron Harris vs. BG James

Ron backs him into the corner to start but Don breaks it up. Since it’s Ron though, he runs James over again and whips him into the corner. We cut to the back, where Jeff Jarrett has attacked and bloodied Curt Hennig. Goldilocks tries to talk to him as the medics are taping up Hennig’s head. Timing Goldilocks, timing. Ron grabs a chinlock but James fights up for the comeback, only for Don to break it up.

Ron’s big boot connects but here is Bob Armstrong to complain about the refereeing. While the commissioner is here to complain about the guest refereeing in the tournament for the #1 contendership, we cut to the back for the third time in the four minute match to see Hennig and Jarrett brawling. Don decks Armstrong and James rolls Ron up for the fluke pin at 5:37.

Rating: D. As usual, if so much of the match is spent on another angle going on in the back, it is only going to mean so much in the first place. Throw in everything else going on here, including it being a RON HARRIS match, and this was never going to work. It was a big mess and way more complicated than it needed to be, which fits in pretty well around here.

Post match James does at least check on his dad.

Jorge Estrada/Priscilla vs. Bruce/Ace Steel

Bruce is wrestling in Mortimer Plumtree’s place because Plumtree is a man but Bruce is more woman than Priscilla (who is wrestling in street clothes). Steel kicks the rope to low blow Estrada to start but Estrada is fine enough to dive onto Bruce to save Priscilla. Since Priscilla isn’t a wrestler, things break down into a glorified handicap match, with a powerbomb/top rope boot combination giving Bruce two.

Bruce hammers away in the corner but gets crossbodied for two. That doesn’t get him very far though as it’s back to Steel to hammer away, followed by Bruce coming back in. Estrada manages to get to the apron for a high crossbody to both villains before Priscilla trips Steel down. The Lionsault gives Estrada two but Bruce knocks him off the top. Steel hits a neckbreaker so Bruce can get the pin at 5:52.

Rating: C-. I really don’t know what I did to deserve Bruce, but it must have been pretty terrible. As tends to be the case, the in-ring stuff was fine, as Estrada and Steel can go and Bruce isn’t terrible when he cuts out the goofy stuff. The problem is the focus is on the goofy stuff and that drags down any of the positives they might have.

Post match Plumtree gives Priscilla a spanking.

#1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Curt Hennig vs. Jeff Jarrett

Hennig’s head is bandaged up and he can barely walk so Jarrett hits him in the back with a chair on the way to the ring. Jarrett throws him inside and hits the Stroke for the win at 1:15. That’s all you could do with Hennig this banged up, which was the point.

Post match Jarrett gets to beat up security because Jarrett is awesome and you need to know it.

Jerry Lynn is ready for the opportunity of a lifetime. He’s been World Champion before, but not the NWA World Champion, and that’s worth more than revenge.

We recap Jerry Lynn vs. Sonny Siaki.

Siaki tells Goldilocks that he has stamina and can keep going all night. He’s ready to beat Jerry Lynn and has officially left this interview.

#1 Contenders Tournament First Round: Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn

Feeling out process to start, with a lockup going nowhere. Lynn gets a boot up to stop a charge in the corner and grabs a middle rope bulldog for two. Siaki bails to the floor for a breather so Lynn takes him down again to keep up the beating. Lynn sends him into various things but walks into a hot shot back inside.

A legdrop gives Siaki two but Lynn fights up and strikes away in the corner. Siaki’s reverse DDT gets two and we hit the neck crank. That’s broken up so Siaki hits a running flip neckbreaker, followed by a brainbuster for two more. Siaki goes up but Lynn catches him on top with a superplex.

A tornado DDT gets two but Siaki’s cutter gets the same. The referee gets bumped (of course) so Siaki grabs a chair, which is dropkicked into his face. Siaki shrugs that off and hits a DDT onto the chair for two more. A drop toehold sends Lynn into the buckle and Siaki puts his feet on the ropes for the pin at 15:12. Was that buckle supposed to be exposed? Otherwise it’s a very weird ending.

Rating: B-. Weird ending aside, this was a good, back and forth match between two talented wrestlers. It’s becoming a running theme around here: when they cut out the insanity and let the talented wrestlers do their thing, the matches tend to work just fine. That was the case here and thankfully it ate up a good chunk of the show.

Post match Lynn beats Siaki up, including throwing him off the stage.

Video on Brian Lawler vs. Syxx Pac.

Lawler is very happy to have April back. They love each other and Lawler knows she would never have anything to do with Syxx Pac. April doesn’t look so convinced.

Here are Lawler and April, because seeing them backstage wasn’t enough. Lawler gets into it with a fan and beats him up. Then they leave, sans planned announcement.

X-Division Title: Amazing Red vs. AJ Styles

Styles, with Mortimer Plumtree, is defending and they fight over a wristlock to start. They both miss splashes until Styles gets two off a quick rollup. Styles’ springboard is broken up with a dropkick but he’s able to block Red’s slingshot hurricanrana. Red kicks him away and hits a big running flip dive, as tends to be his case.

Back in and Styles knocks him down, setting up a brainbuster for two. Red’s Code Red gets two but Styles is back with a middle rope moonsault into a reverse DDT for two of his own. A spinning DDT drops Styles for two more but he’s right back with a sitout powerbomb for another near fall, giving us quite the shocked face. Styles superkicks him for two more and it’s off to the front facelock.

Back up and Red kicks the leg out and hits a quick standing shooting star press for another two. The Styles Clash is countered into a hurricanrana for two more but Styles is back with a Razor’s Edge Dominator. Plumtree trips Red though and Styles hits a hard clothesline but Red crotches him on top. Red goes up so Styles tries a super Styles Clash, which is countered into a super hurricanrana, which Styles rolls through for a sunset flip to retain at 12:38.

Rating: B. Red is someone who can hang with the bigger names in the division so it’s nice to see him getting a chance like this. Odds are he’ll be sticking around in the division as he’s already been treated as something more important than a lot of the other wrestlers. Just don’t have him lose all the time, though a defeat at the hands of someone as talented as Styles isn’t going to do a ton of damage.

Don West hypes up next week’s show to wrap us up.

Overall Rating: C-. As has been the case before, you can tell when the creative team is paying extra attention to something, because it’s a heck of a lot worse. The in-ring action was mostly good here, but the bad parts were bringing it down. Things have gotten better since the earlier days of the promotion, but there are still some parts that need a lot of tweaks. Fix those and you’ll have something, though I have no idea how you would fill almost two hours a week.

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 #18
Date: October 23, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Don West, Mike Tenay

The big story coming out of last week saw Ron Killings retaining the World Title when Jeff Jarrett attacked Curt Hennig. While Jarrett vs. Hennig sounds like one of the more quality matches available, it’s far from the most interesting. This company needs something to focus on as the top story, because what they’re doing right now isn’t exactly working. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Amazing Red vs. Kid Kash vs. Jose Maximo vs. Joel Maximo vs. Elix Skipper

Elimination rules for a future X-Division Title shot. It’s a brawl to start with Skipper and Jose being sent to the floor. Kash dives onto them, with Joel adding a baseball slide. Red’s big running flip dive takes the other four out and Kash adds his own flip dive. Back in and the Maximos get a double submission on Kash and Red, with Skipper adding a camel clutch on Jose.

With that not working, Skipper lets go for a springboard dropkick to break the whole thing up. Kash dropkicks Joel into the corner and then runs the ropes to hurricanrana Jose on the floor. Back in and Joel rolls Skipper up for two but the tornado DDT is blocked. Instead Skipper grabs a rope walk DDT for two, only to get taken out by Kash’s high crossbody. Red is back in to kick Skipper out to the floor but Kash runs the corner to send super gorilla press Red and then Jose. We actually get the battle of the Maximos until Skipper gives Jose the Play Of The Day for the elimination at 7:43.

Skipper isn’t done as he dives onto Kash and Joel on the floor, only for Joel to come back with what would become known as the Beach Break to get rid of Skipper at 8:45. Kash’s Money Maker eliminates Joel at 9:21 and we’re down to Kash vs. Red. A spinning kick to the head gives Red two but Kash’s Whisper In The Wind gets the same. Kash runs the corner and dives onto him for two more, only to get knocked off the top. Infrared gives Red the final pin at 12:20.

Rating: B-. It’s another match with a bunch of talented, fast paced wrestlers getting to go out there and do their thing, which made it entertaining but likely not overly important. I did like Red getting the push though, as he has felt like a better option than most of the non-big three X-Division stars. Now see what you have with him and consider adding to the ranks of the division’s top level.

A nervous Brian Lawler is looking through the door for someone and says he’ll do the interview later.

We look back at the Hot Shots and the Michaels beating down Chris Harris and James Storm last week.

Tag Team Titles: Chris Harris/James Storm vs. Hot Shots

Harris and Storm are defending and it’s a brawl to start fast. The fight heads outside with the champs using their belts to whip away. Harris sends Stevens into the corner and a running bulldog gives Harris two back inside. O’Reilly comes in for a snap suplex and the Shots do an old Rockers spot to flip Harris over and roll into a double right hand to knock Storm off the apron. Stevens comes back in and gets dropped with a spear, allowing the tag off to Storm. Everything breaks down in a hurry and Stevens hits a superkick, only for Storm to come back with the 8 Second Ride to retain at 7:34.

Rating: C+. More good stuff from the champs here, but again it’s not helping to have so many teams lose to them so soon. We need an actual division rather than one team after another coming for the belts. Harris and Storm are very good together and have been a highlight around here, but they need someone to really test them.

Video on Jerry Lynn vs. Sonny Siaki.

Lynn is ready to fight, bad knee or not. Wrestlers don’t have an off season. With Lynn gone, Brian Lawler runs by the camera, still looking nervous.

Jerry Lynn vs. Sonny Siaki

Lynn’s knee is banged up but he pulls Siaki to the floor and the brawl starts on the floor. They fight into the crowd until Lynn throws him back inside for the opening bell. Siaki gets smart by going after the leg and slaps on a half crab, sending Lynn over to the ropes. Lynn’s slingshot Fameasser in the ropes puts Siaki back on the floor but he goes after the leg again for a smart move. Siaki grabs something like an Indian deathlock, which Lynn breaks up just as fast. The knee is slammed into the mat a few times but Lynn sends him into the buckle, setting up a bridging rollup to give Lynn the pin at 5:50.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but Lynn fighting through adversity and winning in the end through simple wrestling is a good way to go. That being said, I’m not sure I would have Siaki lose here, as he was starting to become a bigger deal, mainly through his attacks on Lynn. Maybe don’t have him lose in one of his first big matches?

Post match Siaki wrecks the knee again and Lynn has to be helped out.

We recap Curt Hennig vs. Ron Killings from last week, with Jeff Jarrett helping Killings retain the World Title.

Here are Curt Hennig and BG James for a chat. Hennig knows what it’s like to be a wrestler but Jeff Jarrett has always been a wanna be. Back in the 90s, Hennig was part of the West Texas Rednecks and then Jarrett came along trying to be a country singer (Hennig’s timeline is just a bit off there). Hennig is the guy who took down Brock Lesnar at 35,000 feet, which he says twice for some reason. Therefore he wants to face Jarrett next week and we cut to the back, where Brian Lawler won’t let Jarrett come to the ring. James swears revenge on Lawler for last week. As usual, Hennig is fine but Jarrett is just annoying.

Scott Hall vs. Jeff Jarrett

Hall says he’s supposed to be out here later but he’s bad at following rules so we’re doing this now. Jarrett comes in and Hall slugs him down with his variety pack of punches. The fall away slam has Jarrett teasing a walk out so Hall cuts him off and sends him into various things. They fight into the crowd, where Hall gets in some chair shots to the back.

Back in and the Outsider’s Edge is countered with a backdrop to the floor and Hall comes up holding his knee (one of their greatest hits). Jarrett hammers away back inside, setting up the running crotch attack to the back of the head. A swinging neckbreaker gives Jarrett two and why yes he does grab a sleeper.

Hall fights up and actually grabs a chokeslam rather than reversing into a sleeper of his own. The referee gets bumped (ENOUGH OF THAT ALREADY) so Jarrett hits Hall with a chair. Cue Curt Hennig to go after Jarrett but the lights go out. Ron Killings pops up on screen and threatens Hennig but Brian Lawler runs in to go after Hennig instead. Hennig fights out of a Stroke attempt, leaving Hall to hit the Outsider’s Edge for the pin at 11:37.

Rating: C. These two have one of the longest rivalries in the promotion, which is only saying so much when they’re only a few months old, but there is a history here. The problem is that the history is mostly boring, as they were only so good when they were feuding in the WWF. Another not so thrilling match here, but it was technically sound enough.

Brian Lawler vs. BG James

Lawler jumps him on the way in but misses a charge and falls out to the floor. James gets in a crotching on the barricade but Lawler is right back out with a shot to the head. A chair to the back has Lawler making some weird faces until he whips James into the steps. They go back inside, where James manages the dancing jabs. Lawler drops him again and goes up but cue Syxx Pac and April in quite the passionate embrace. The distracted Lawler gets knocked off the top and pinned at 4:42.

Rating: D+. So this was mainly about the Syxx Pac stuff and my goodness I do not want to see him dropping down into the Lawler mess. Pac has been a nice addition to the X-Division and I really do not want his talents wasted on this mess. Other than that you have James doing his usual stuff, which is hardly worth seeing.

A distraught Lawler walks to the back.

We recap Syxx Pac retaining the X-Division Title over AJ Styles last week despite getting disqualified.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Syxx Pac

Styles, with Mortimer Plumtree, is challenging and this is No DQ. Before the match, Pac says this should be No DQ, which has already been established. Pac knocks him to the floor to start fast and hits the big running flip dive. Back in and a faceplant into a surfboard has Styles in more trouble but he headscissors Pac to the floor. That’s fine with Pac, who drops him face first onto the barricade.

Styles tosses him into the post though and the Spiral Tap gets two back inside. Pac fights out of a double arm crank so it’s the moonsault into the reverse DDT to give Styles two. Some spinwheel kicks and a sitout powerbomb give Pac the same but Styles powerbombs him out of the corner. Pac gets in another knockdown but has to go after Plumtree, who gets knocked off the apron. Styles’ German suplex gets two so he tries the Styles Clash, with Pac grabbing the ropes. Cue Brian Lawler to get in a cheap shot though and the Clash gives Styles the pin and the title at 8:58.

Rating: B-. This was what you would expect from these two and the Lawler stuff at the end makes sense. That being said, Pac getting stuck with Lawler is not exactly ideal, but it’s the kind of thing that would fit perfectly around here. Styles getting the title back is fine as he’s been one of the proven stars around here, though hopefully the title is still treated as importantly as it has been without being taken down a notch under the drama from the veteran “stars”.

Post match Pac shows respect before getting dropped by a Lawler belt shot.

Ace Steel vs. Jorge Estrada

Priscilla is here with Estrada. Steel wrestles him to the mat to start but gets kind of powerslammed for two. A suplex gives Estrada two more but Steel slams him out of the corner for a breather. Estrada gets sent outside for the suicide dive, only to come back with a running DDT. Back in and Steel crotches him on top for a top rope superplex and a rather near fall. Steel rolls some northern lights suplexes for two but Priscilla trips him up, allowing Estrada to grab a rollup for the pin at 6:24.

Rating: C+. Kind of a weird choice for result here, as Steel felt like he was becoming a bit of a thing and Estrada is already coming off a pretty big loss. It’s not a terrible move as Estrada is far from bad, but I could go for a bit more of Steel than anything else. Either way, I’ll take someone getting a fresh push in the division for a change.

Post match Mortimer Plumtree comes in and takes Priscilla down until security makes the save.

Here is Syxx Pac for a chat. AJ Styles beat him tonight and that’s because he screwed up with the whole April thing. Then again April is kind of hot so it’s not a bad idea. So let’s get Brian Lawler out here and let’s have a fight for April. Lawler comes out to say the fight is over because April is a piece of trash for kissing Pac back. Pac: “That ain’t all she did. You didn’t see the other stuff.” April comes out to say she loves Lawler, which Lawler interprets as Pac forced her to do various things. The fight is on with Lawler beating Pac down until security breaks it up.

Don West hypes up next week.

NWA World Title: Curt Hennig vs. Ron Killings

Hennig is challenging and Killings raps about how much he hates the fans. Hennig runs in and starts the brawl fast (a trend around here) with Killings bailing to the floor. Killings fights back and they go onto the announcers’ table, only for Hennig to avoid a side kick against the barricade.

Back up and Killings slugs away, setting up a middle rope legdrop for two back inside. The ax kick hits Hennig and a spinning wheelbarrow faceplant out of the corner gives Killings two more. Hennig is back up with a low blow but here is Mr. Wrestling III. This time Hennig jumps him and goes for the mask, only for Killings to get in a shot with a foreign object to retain the title at 8:32.

Rating: C. Somehow they managed to find another way to have an over the top, shenanigans filled match between these two. Killings getting another win over a name is good though, as his title reign is a surprisingly effective story. I’m scared to know who is under the Mr. Wrestling III mask, but it feels like it is going to be a major plot point.

We get the EVIL RETURNS graphic (scheduled for next week) to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The problem here comes down to the same issues that have plagued a lot of Vince Russo shows over the years: there are too many things going on in one night. This show felt like it had about a month’s worth of stuff between Syxx Pac and Brian Lawler in a single night and that made for an exhausting show. At the same time, a bunch of matches go so quickly that the show needed to burn through more time, which would seem to have a simple solution. I didn’t hate this show, but as usual, they need to slow WAY down and focus a lot more, which is a long running issue around here.

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #17
Date: October 16, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Don West, Mike Tenay

So the big lesson coming out of last week was just how smart the former WWF/WCW stars are in comparison to these young whippersnappers. That was on full display as Syxx Pac ran in to win the X-Division Title in a ladder match despite not being involved in the vast majority. Other than that, Jeff Jarrett is still a big deal and will likely get a lot of attention this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Commentary sends us to a long recap of the last few weeks, which sets up a few of tonight’s matches.

Jorge Estrada is looking for a new Flying Elvis. Brian Lawler runs in to look for his girlfriend and holds Goldilocks responsible for her missing. Goldilocks does not care.

David Young vs. Brian Lawler

April comes out with Lawler, who makes her sit down at ringside. They trade armdrags to start until Young clotheslines him out to the floor. Back in and some atomic drops have Lawler in more trouble but he clotheslines his way to freedom. Lawler gets in a few shots, yells at the referee, and then gets in some more shots. Young manages a spinning Alabama…faceplant (dropping Lawler face first rather than slamming him down) and a DDT gets two. A moonsault misses though and Lawler goes up, only to miss the Hip Hop Drop. Young goes up again but takes too long and gets super reverse DDTed for the pin at 5:52.

Rating: C-. I’m sure Lawler is there because he’s something of a name and probably works relatively cheap, but again I ask why I’m supposed to be interested in his issues with April. Why would I want to see them together or whatever they’re doing when Lawler isn’t interesting on his own? Not much here, though that faceplant was cool.

Video on Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn, with Siaki attacking Lynn and costing him a few times, including the X-Division Title last week.

Here is a limping Lynn for a chat. He wants Siaki next week because he’s beaten up “punk a** b******” like Siaki for fourteen years. Next week, he’s beating some respect into Siaki. Cue Siaki, who says he respects no one and comes in to go after Lynn’s knee. Various X-Division wrestlers make the save. Security has to hold them apart and here is Bob Armstrong to yell.

Earlier today, Syxx Pac sat down for an interview and talks about how the X-Division is about the ability rather than the weight. He can have a positive or negative impact around here because he’s a wrestler rather than a sports entertainer. As for tonight, he’s ready for AJ Styles, who has done some of the same things that he has done.

Sonny Siaki vs. Jorge Estrada

Estrada, with newcomer Priscilla, charges to the ring and chops away, followed by a Lionsault for two. Siaki sends him outside though and hits a pumphandle suplex on the floor. Back in and a spinning cutter gives Siaki two but Estrada drops him as well for a double down. A Regal Roll into another Lionsault gives Estrada two more but Siaki drops him with a clothesline. Estrada knocks him outside, only to miss a dive into the barricade. Siaki’s rolling cutter is good for the pin at 5:18.

Rating: C. There wasn’t exactly much of a surprise here as Siaki has already moved on to his feud with Jerry Lynn and just needed to beat Estrada to wrap up the Flying Elvises stuff. Siaki has a good attitude and, despite feeling like a Rock impersonator, is more interesting than a lot of people around here. Let him get away from the goofy comedy stuff and see what they’ve got with him.

Post match Jerry Lynn runs in and beats on Siaki, meaning it’s another pull apart brawl.

Derek Wylde vs. Ace Steel

Steel has Mortimer Plumtree with him and takes Wylde down without much trouble. They fight over arm control until Wylde snaps off a hurricanrana. Steel puts him on the apron and they go to the floor, where Wylde grabs a headscissors. Back in and Steel puts him up top for a superplex, followed (eventually, after a lot of reaching and stretching) by a Widow’s Peak for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C-. Steel has some potential and looks good in the ring, but dang that finish was as smooth as something that isn’t smooth whatsoever. It brought the match down a bit despite them doing well enough otherwise. Wylde is another name in the crowded X-Division, but there are worse choices for jobbers to the stars.

Bruce/Jeff Jarrett vs. Hermie Sadler/BG James

Please be quick. Before the match, James makes his usual jokes about Jarrett and Bruce, which are as unfunny as usual. Jarrett comes back by saying Sadler can be in THE LAST AND THE FURIOUS before getting forearmed by James to start. Bruce comes in and immediately drops to all fours before taking Sadler down. Sadler gets in an armdrag and it’s back to James, who can’t find anything low on Bruce to hit.

A Jarrett cheap shot from the apron lets the villains take over, with both of them getting int heir usual. James fights up with the shaky jabs and shaky knee, allowing the tag to Sadler. Jarrett and James brawl up the ramp, where Brian Lawler pops up with a trashcan to knock James silly. Back inside, Sadler proves that he is better than any woman so far and pins Bruce with a rollup at 6:50.

Rating: D-. Sweet merciful goodness enough with the Bruce stuff. Hermie Sadler isn’t much better, but at least he seems to be serious when he’s out there. I get exactly what they’re going for with Bruce, but good grief they couldn’t make it much dumber. That leaves James and Jarrett to do the important stuff and they have a pretty firm ceiling on the excitement scale at the moment.

Post match Bruce puts on his tiara…and gets taken out with the Stroke.

Norman Smiley vs. Ron Harris

Harris shoves him down to start but charges into a hiptoss, allowing Smiley to dance a bit. Smiley goes for the knee but the Big Wiggle is broken up rather quickly. More kicks to the leg seem to annoy Harris but a shoulder does put him down. A spinning side slam drops Smiley though and a half nelson slam gives Harris the pin at 4:49.

Rating: D+. At least it was relatively short and Harris only beat one person this time. Smiley’s comedy is always worth a chuckle as he’s good in that style, but I still have no idea why I’m supposed to care about the Harris stuff. He’s fine on his own, but after being bored by he and his brother for so many years, stop trying to make him into some big force here.

Post match Smiley actually beats Harris down but Don Harris comes out to make the save. the Harris Twins go face to face and that’s it.

Tag Team Titles: Chris Michaels/Rick Michaels vs. James Storm/Chris Harris

Harris and Storm are defending and for the sake of simplicity, Chris Michaels is “Chris” and Chris Harris is “Harris”. Rick and Storm slug it out to start until Rick is sent outside, where Chris is tossed on top of him. Everything breaks down and Storm is sent into the steps to put the Michaels in trouble.

Rick comes back in and gets caught with a hurricanrana, allowing the tag off to Harris. A high crossbody gets two on Chris and Storm grabs the reverse tornado DDT but there is no referee. Rick gets in a cheap shot to give Chris two and Storm’s superkick gets the same. Rick’s neckbreaker sets up Chris’ top rope elbow for two on Harris, who is right back up with the swinging Rock Bottom to pin Chris and retain at 6:46.

Rating: C+. As usual, Storm and Harris are one of the bright spots on this show, though they’re going to need some serious challengers sooner than later. The problem with having a dominant team and basically no division underneath them is that you can’t exactly build up anyone to come for the belts. The Michaels weren’t great but I’ve seen far worse challengers for the titles. Like anyone with Ron Harris for example.

Post match the Hot Shots run in to beat on the champs, with the Michaels getting in on it as well.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Syxx Pac

Pac is defending and Mortimer Plumtree is with Styles. Multiple handshake offers don’t interest Styles, who takes Pac down and gets some applause. An exchange of wristlocks goes to Styles as they’re still firmly in first gear here. Pac takes him down for some slaps to the back of the head but Styles is right back up with a hurricanrana. Styles needs a breather on the floor before coming back in, only to get armdragged right back to the floor.

Back in (again) and Styles manages to crotch him against the post, with Plumtree getting in some choking on the ropes. The chinlock keeps Pac down until he misses a charge to the floor. That means Styles can hit a big running flip dive before hitting the chinlock again. Pac fights up again and fires off some spinning kicks to the face, only for Styles to dropkick him out of the air for two.

Back up and Pac knocks him to the floor for the big flip dive, followed by a northern lights suplex for two more. The referee gets bumped so Plumtree comes in, with the referee not allowing Pac to him him. Instead Pac unloads on Styles in the corner until it’s a DQ at 13:53.

Rating: B-. The ending was annoying but it’s nice to see two talented wrestlers who can work a good match getting the chance to do it. Last week’s issues aside, there is something good about having Pac around because he really can hang with just about anyone. It makes the division feel more important and someone beating him for the title will be a big moment.

Post match Pac decks the referee and security has to hold him back so Styles and Plumtree can escape.

Don West previews next week’s show.

Earlier today, Mike Tenay sat down with Curt Hennig, who talks about being a big success in the AWA, WWF and WCW. He was impressed by the reaction he received last week and thinks Ron Killings is quite the star.

NWA World Title: Curt Hennig vs. Ron Killings

Killings is defending and goes on a rant about how minority wrestlers don’t get a fair chance. He doesn’t duck anyone and tonight, Hennig’s blood is on his critics’ hands. Hennig comes out to call Killings a punk and we’re ready to go. Killings backs away into the corner to start so Hennig grabs a lockup, with the referee splitting them up.

Hennig pulls him into a front facelock but they fall out to the floor, with Killings grabbing a backdrop onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Killings hammers away, including starting in on the leg. The jumping sidekick staggers Hennig, who is right back with a slam but the referee gets bumped. The HennigPlex is loaded up but here is Mr. Wrestling III to go after both of them.

BG James and Syxx Pac come in to chase him off but Ace Steel and the Harris Twins come in for a big brawl. Bob Armstrong comes in to clear the ring and restart the match but Killings knocks various people down. Killings grabs a chair so Armstrong says get in the ring and defend the title or be stripped. Cue Jeff Jarrett to hit Hennig low, allowing Killings to steal the pin at 9:00.

Rating: C. Well I’ll be darned if Jeff Jarrett didn’t get involved in the main event again. Hennig getting a title shot so soon is fine as he’s one of the biggest names in the company and having him put Killings over is a good thing. BG James continues to be mostly useless, but they’re far better than the Harris Twins who simply won’t go away. As usual, too much going on in a match that really didn’t need all the smoke and mirrors.

Killings rants to the fans a lot.

We get a graphic saying EVIL RETURNS on October 30 to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. The biggest problem here continues to be a lack of a reason to care about most of this stuff. Things happen every week, but so many of them aren’t interesting or feature people who could be dropped from the show with nothing being lost. The Harris Twins, Brian Lawler, Bruce and BG James would be on this list, as the limited star power they add isn’t helping much. As usual, there are people here who are working hard, but the whole product needs a new direction with A LOT more focus, as so many things are all over the place.

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

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NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #16
Date: October 9, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Don West, Mike Tenay

Believe it or not, last week’s show ended with Jeff Jarrett and company beating down a bunch of good guys. That was the big focal point, along with Jerry Lynn having the X-Division Title returned to him for nothing resembling a logical reason. Therefore, this week will see another ladder match for the belt. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Don West hypes up the show.

We look at the man in the white hoodie attacking Ron Killings last week.

Here is Killings for a chat rather than the scheduled match. Killings thinks someone is sending a hired man out to get him and that doesn’t work for him. Don West of all people calls Killings out for attacking people from behind, but Killings doesn’t want to hear from “the baseball card man”. Cue BG James and Syxx Pac, with James saying we don’t live in a perfect world…and here is Curt Hennig. He was hired to do a job and he doesn’t like the Truth. Cue Jeff Jarrett and Brian Lawler to jump them from behind and a six man seems likely.

Curt Hennig/BG James/Syxx Pac vs. Jeff Jarrett/Ron Killings/Brian Lawler

We pause for Lawler to find a seat for his girlfriend as Hennig and Jarrett start things off. They finally make contact about two minutes in with Hennig hitting a running shoulder. Jarrett gets caught in the wrong corner and is knocked around, allowing Hennig to hand it off to Pac. Lawler comes in to punch him down but Killings misses a Vader Bomb legdrop. It’s off to James, who gets ax kicked down and Lawler grabs a neckbreaker.

James clotheslines his way out of trouble though and it’s back to Pac for a high crossbody. That’s cut off as well though and it’s Lawler hitting a headbutt between the legs. A suplex into a gordbuster gets two on Pac and it’s Lawler grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up as most chinlocks are, allowing Hennig to come in and clean house.

Killings takes him down without much trouble though and Lawler hits the Hip Hop Drop, with Pac making the save. The X Factor hits Killings but Lawler pulls the referee out. Cue the man in the white hoodie (which says Mr. Wrestling III) to powerbomb Killings, allowing Hennig to grab the Hennigplex for the pin at 14:23.

Rating: C+. Hennig is a nice addition to the roster as he feels like a legend who can still go in the ring. At the same time, he’s only going to be able to do so much when the main event scene is already getting clogged up. That’s in addition to whomever Mr. Wrestling III is going to be, and that could go in so many terrible directions.

We cut to the back where Jarrett seems to have attacked James. Just in case the focus wasn’t on Jarrett for a bit.

We look back at last week’s ladder match, which seems to have ended in a DQ and resulted in a reversed decision and another ladder match this week. But who says this company is too complicated?

Here is X-Division Champion Jerry Lynn for a chat. He’s not happy with Sonny Siaki and wants to face him next week. Cue Siaki to take credit for the house and wants to fight right now. Lynn is ready to go and the brawl is on, with Siaki shoving him off the stage and into the barricade, with Lynn hurting his leg. Commentary isn’t sure what this means for the title match but it doesn’t look good as Lynn is taken out on a stretcher.

Earlier today, Syxx Pac went into the locker room to apologize to Low Ki but AJ Styles interrupted. Styles thinks he should be Pac’s favorite wrestler and then leaves.

Tag Team Titles: SAT’s vs. Chris Harris/James Storm

Harris and Storm are defending. We get a quick handshake to start before Storm and Joel chop it out. Storm blocks an O’Connor roll and goes after the arm, sending Joel over to the ropes. Joel pulls him into a weird leglock which doesn’t last long so Jose comes in with a missile dropkick. Harris comes in to shove Jose off the top onto Joel but Storm gets crotched back inside.

Something like a running Dominator gives Jose two, followed by a moonsault/hanging neckbreaker combination for the same. Back up and Storm grabs something like a spinning Air Raid Crash and it’s back to Harris. A spinning powerslam gets two on Jose, who hits a quick tornado DDT.

Joel comes in to clean house until a superkick cuts him off. Everything breaks down and Jose hits a guillotine legdrop for two on Harris. A quick spinning Rock Bottom gives Harris two with Joel pulling him out. Back in and the double Spanish Fly is broken up and a double flipping faceplant finishes for Storm at 10:28.

Rating: B. Now this is more like it for the champs, as they got to show what they can do against some better opponents. Maybe it’s just not having to deal with Ron Harris for a week, but this was a breath of fresh air for Harris and Storm. They’re a good team and get to showcase that more and more every time they’re out there. Well maybe not when Ron Harris is there too but I’ll take what I can get here.

Here is Chris Rock (yes that one) to say this is a great wrestling company. And that’s it (he was here filming a movie), as he was on camera for about a minute and a half, including his entrance.

Ace Steel vs. Kid Kash vs. Low Ki vs. Tony Mamaluke

15 minute Iron Man match for the #1 contendership to the X-Division Title. Steel and Ki pair off to start but quickly switch off for some early near falls. A string of armdrags gives us a standoff until Kash hits a springboard missile dropkick for the first big shot. The sweatered manager, apparently named Mortimer Plumtree (I like it) is on commentary as Kash snaps off a hurricanrana. Plumtree talks about wanting to find a talented star as it’s time for the string of dives to the floor. Back in and Ki and Kash try stereo springboards and collide in the air, allowing Steel and Mamaluke to get stereo pins.

Steel – 1
Mamaluke – 1
Kash – 0
Ki – 0

Ki kicks Kash in the head but Kash is back up to cut off Steel’s cover. Steel chokes Ki (the crowd favorite) in the corner, leaving Kash to hit a brainbuster to pin Mamaluke.

Steel – 1
Mamaluke – 1
Kash – 1
Ki – 0

Ki and Steel trade escapes until a weird armbar makes Steel tap to tie everything up.

Steel – 1
Mamaluke – 1
Kash – 1
Ki – 1

Kash slams Mamaluke off the announcers’ table to the floor as we have less than six minutes left. Back inside and Ki seems to hut his leg on a leapfrog so Steel is right on it, as he should be. Kash and Mamaluke are back in for a bunch of rollups and near falls as we have four minutes to go. Ki gets tied in the ropes to stay on his bad leg, leaving Kash to…pull his underwear up and grab a Liontamer on Mamaluke.

Steel breaks that up and suplexes Mamaluke as we’re down to two minutes. Ki and Kash chop it out on the floor but come back in, where Steel gives Ki a running dropkick in the corner. Ki chokes Steel in the ropes but Steel reverses into a rollup, with Plumtree grabbing Ki’s leg for the winning pin. Ignore the bell ringing at one and the referee counting two and three because they mistimed the finish.

Steel – 2
Mamaluke – 1
Kash – 1
Ki – 1

Rating: B-. The action was there and that’s a good thing, but this was about establishing Plumtree as a heel manager, which is a positive change. At some point you need to establish some fresh stars and that’s what we saw here, with Steel possibly becoming a new player in the X-Division. That’s a good idea and I’m curious to see where these two go, which is a nice feeling.

Commentary is aghast but it counts anyway. Or maybe they’re mad at Plumtree, who celebrates with Steel.

Hermie Sadler is happy to be driving the NWA-TNA car this weekend but here is Bruce to interrupt (oh my goodness fire this guy already). Bruce wants to know why Sadler is always here, because he must not be a great driver. Cue Jeff Jarrett to ask why they didn’t get a real NASCAR star to drive the car? Sadler doesn’t know why people keep getting on him around here, but he’s ready to fight Bruce. The brawl is on, with Jarrett coming in to beat him down. BG James runs in for the save. I know they’re going for the celebrity thing here but my goodness Sadler feels so low rent every time he’s out there.

Chris Michaels/Rick Michaels vs. Ron Harris/Sonny Siaki

For the #1 contendership to the Tag Team Titles as we continue what is likely a path towards the Harris Brothers reuniting, because we’re that lucky. Harris and Siaki jump them to start fast with Chris being sent hard into the corner. A neckbreaker gives Siaki two but Chris is back up with a dropkick. Rick comes in to start on Ron’s arm but Ron is fine enough to throw Chris outside.

Siaki’s superkick gets two, only for Chris to come back with a neckbreaker. Rick gets to clean some house, at least until Siaki pulls him outside for a belly to belly suplex. Back in and Harris hits some running corner clotheslines but Rick drops Siaki. Chris comes in and everything breaks down but Harris big boots Siaki by mistake, giving Chris the pin at 7:23.

Rating: D. OH MY GOODNESS they did it again. This was, yet again, a match designed to have Ron Harris look like the most amazing thing in the world as it was him, not the Tag Team Champions, who beat Siaki. I have absolutely no idea what TNA sees in the Harris Twins but it would be nice for that to go away very quickly.

Post match Harris yells at Siaki, who fights back, with security, including Don Harris, making the save. Sweet goodness just let them be a team already.

Jerry Lynn is officially out of the X-Division Title match but Ace Steel will take his place in the match against AJ Styles. Cue Low Ki to say he should get the title shot but Mortimer Plumtree and Steel interrupt. Plumtree insults Ki (we even get a Yul Brenner reference) and suggests he beat up Tammy Sytch. Ki goes on a rant about Plumtree, who will always be an outsider looking in. Cue Bob Armstrong to make Ki vs. Steel for the title match tonight, right now. So what was the point of the Iron Man match???

Low Ki vs. Ace Steel

Steel goes after Ki’s bad leg and sends him to the apron, where Plumtree gets in a cheap shot. Cue Armstrong to call the DQ at 1:31.

Steel is ticked but Armstrong says he’s tired of this X-Division giving him headaches. There’s going to be a champion tonight so EVERY X-DIVISION WRESTLER can be in the ladder match. Oh sweet goodness.

X-Division Title: Ace Steel vs. AJ Styles vs. Joel Maximo vs. Jose Maximo vs. Kid Kash vs. Tony Mamaluke

Ladder match for the vacant title. The Maximos grab ladders to start and crush Mamaluke, leaving Styles to hit a springboard shooting star onto the pile. Back in and Styles takes out the Maximos but gets speared by Mamaluke. Kash dives onto Jose and Steel ties Styles in the Tree Of Woe in the ladder. That’s broken up so Kash rides the ladder down onto Styles. Jose gets crushed between two ladders in the corner, with Joel being powerbombed onto them for a big crash.

Kash’s dive off the ladder is broken up and he crashes down in a heap, though he’s fine enough to get up, knock Mamaluke down, and then hit his dive off the ladder. You know, rather than grabbing the belt that was right in front of him. Styles suplexes Steele and we get another ladder brought in, just in case one wasn’t enough. People go up and get knocked back down, with Jose grabbing his knee. Kash hits a big dive onto Joel, leaving Jose to climb with Styles.

The ladder goes down and lands on Jose’s knee but it’s set right back up (the ladder, not the knee). Kash dropkicks the ladder out to make Steel crash and it’s time for the big string of huge moves off the ladders. Mamaluke DDTs Styles down and Jose is sent into the crowd. A referee gets in for no apparent reason as Styles comes in to clear the ring. And never mind as here is Syxx Pac to come in and win the title at 15:47 (he was in the ring for all of ten seconds).

Rating: B-. The action was fine, but the ending was a great illustration of one of the biggest issues with the promotion. You have all of the X-Division guys (or at least the ones who could be bothered to be here, with Elix Skipper and Amazing Red not here for no apparent reason) doing the work and taking all of the bumps, but then the ex-WWE guy, as in the star, outsmarts all of them and runs in to win the title. Most of the time in this company, former WWE and WCW stars are treated like royalty while the new stars are just kind of there. Fix that already, or it’s going to get old(er) in a hurry.

Overall Rating: C. If Vince Russo wasn’t writing this show, I’ll go buy a hat so I can eat it. This show was all over the place with one nonsensical move after another. You have stuff that doesn’t make sense, WAY too much of a focus on BG James and the freaking Harris Twins and people like Brian Lawler and Jeff Jarrett. There are talented people here, but the show is so all over the place that it’s hard to get anything out of the good parts.

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