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.

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 #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 #21
Date: November 13, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

We’re getting closer to the end of the #1 contenders tournament and it’s starting to feel like Jeff Jarrett might actually reach his destiny. In theory that’s a good thing as it means he might shut up, but that’s never been in the cards for him. Other than that, Jerry Lynn is once again the X-Division Champion, which is not a bad thing. Let’s get to it.

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

Goldilocks sings the National Anthem in honor of Veterans Day.

Opening sequence.

Commentary runs down the card.

Here are Mortimer Plumtree and AJ Styles for a chat. Styles knows that the fans want to see Jerry Lynn defending the X-Division Title match against Kid Kash, but there is some fine print in the contract (oh yeah it’s a Russo show). Styles is guaranteed a rematch so the title match is off. Cue Lynn, who says Kash has earned a title shot so he’s already gotten the title match turned into a triple threat. So he was just assuming Styles was going to be whiny and rewarded him anyway?

EZ Money vs. Tony Mamaluke

They go with the basic wrestling to start until Money misses a charge over the top to the floor. The big suicide dive takes him out again but another dive is dropkicked out of the air. Back in and Money hits what would become known as a Buckshot Lariat as the fans certainly approve. Mamaluke grabs a quick choke to send Money to the ropes, followed by a guillotine legdrop for two. Money is right back up with a Jason Jett Crash Landing for the pin at 4:51. Makes sense, as Money is in fact Jason Jett.

Rating: B-. This was a nice fast paced opener with two guys who are trying to become a thing around here. Money feels like someone who could be something if he had a bit of a better name, though it’s going to be a bit difficult to crack through the rest of the talent. For now though, good stuff here, even without much time.

Sonny Siaki vs. Chris Vaughn

Siaki jumps him to start and hits a quick belly to belly into the corner. Some shoulders in the corner have Vaughn in trouble and Siaki ties him in the Tree Of Woe. A Samoan drop sets up three straight rolling neckbreakers to finish Vaughn at 2:07.

Earlier today, Brian Lawler was annoyed at April for taking a shower. He didn’t seem to notice Bruce being there too.

Here is James Mitchell to talk about the difference between wrestling and sports entertainment. Of course none of that matters because the New Church is all about evil. He introduces the newest member of the team in Belladonna, plus the returning Malice.

Malice vs. Kaos

Malice jumps him to start and beats him up with quite the ease. Kaos is sent outside and then thrown back inside, with Malice choking away. An overhead belly to belly and big boot set up the chokeslam as Kaos is pretty much done. A top rope knee gives Malice the pin at 2:57.

Brian Lawler vs. Jorge Estrada

April and Priscilla are here too. Lawler dances a bit and stops for a kiss from April, followed by a backdrop to the floor. Back in and Estrada knocks him back, setting up a top rope leg lariat. Lawler tries a shot with April’s purse but Estrada takes it away and wraps it around Lawler’s neck. The springboard Fameasser staggers Lawler and Estrada goes after April, who gets slapped by Priscilla. The distraction lets Lawler get a rollup with tights for the pin at 3:24.

Rating: D. This was another quick match and nothing to see, as Lawler and his stuff with April continues to be absolutely nothing. I’m not sure what the point in having this stuff continue but I’m assuming the idea is that Lawler is a name with star power. That’s all well and good, but maybe come up with something actually interesting.

Jeff Jarrett is ready to do whatever it takes to get the World Title shot. He’s ready to beat BG James and win the tournament, as apparently he’s getting a bye to the finals.

Jimmy Yang vs. Amazing Red

For a future X-Division Title shot. Red backs him into the corner to start before they go to the mat to fight over arm control. With that not working, they get back up for a test of strength, only for Red to spin around him (a lot) into a headscissors. Yang is sent outside and a sliding headscissors takes him into the announcers’ table.

Back in and Yang shoulders away in the corner, setting up an STF. That’s broken up so Red dropkicks a springboard out of the air and the pace picks up. A spinning kick to the face drops Yang and a tornado DDT plants him again. The super Code Red gives Red two and something like a Whisper In The Wind gives Red the pin at 9:43.

Rating: B-. Red is rapidly rising up the ranks and you can see the talent on full display every time he’s in the ring. That is something that can always be useful in any company, but especially in one that is still getting started. Red is standing out and giving him a title shot is a good idea.

BG James is ready to face Jeff Jarrett for the World Title match next week. Jarrett comes in and says it’s the two of them next week. They have a history together and he wants to wish James good luck, man to man. Then Jarrett jumps him.

Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Lenny/Bruce vs. Spanish Announce Team

Yes we’re having a three team tournament for a title shot. Joel and Lenny start things off with Lenny doing his rather enthusiastic running of the ropes. Joel trips him down and the other two get in a fight on the floor. That’s enough for Joel to knock Lenny onto the two of them in a big crash.

Back in and a double elbow and gutbuster get two on Joel but Jose is back in for a moonsault/guillotine legdrop combination for two on Bruce. Lenny is back in with a super hurricanrana for two but Joel hits a missile dropkick. Jose comes back in to clean house and we get the, ahem, comedy landing between Lenny and Bruce. Lenny low bridges Bruce to the floor (intentions unclear) and a super Spanish Fly gives Jose the pin at 7:21.

Rating: C. See, this is a bit more like it. The Bruce/Miss TNA stuff is horrible, but it’s even more annoying when you consider that Bruce is not bad at all in the ring. He’s capable of having a fine match and that was what we saw here, as this was perfectly acceptable. Just stop with the low brow unfunny stuff and things would get so much better.

Bob Armstrong says Don Harris is fired as the head of security…but he can wrestle. BECAUSE WE NEED THE HARRIS TWINS.

Tag Team Titles #1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Harris Twins vs. Hot Shots

The Twins jump them to start fast and it’s Ron beating up Stevens in the corner without much trouble. Commentary points out how hard it is to tell the Twins apart, ignoring that they’re in different style gear. O’Reilly comes in to fight back but gets knocked back without much trouble. Everything breaks down and the H Bomb finishes Stevens at 3:57.

Rating: D. Yep, the Harris Brothers are still a thing and they are still the most dominant team in the company. I have no idea what the point is in having them around at such a high level but they don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. The match was basically a squash and that made for another long, dull viewing.

That’s not good enough so the Twins beat the Hot Shots up after the match.

Here is a ticked off BG James, who isn’t surprised that Jeff Jarrett attacked him again. James wants Jarrett out here right now but Jarrett says they’ll fight next week. James says something censored and says Jarrett gets it from his parents and…let’s do this now I guess.

NWA World Title #1 Contenders Tournament Final: BG James vs. Jeff Jarrett

They brawl on the floor to start and go into the crowd, with James hitting him in the head with a trashcan. The fight heads into the balcony and walk around the arena, with James sending him into a table. Jarrett is back with a chair to the head to send James through another table, which is nearly enough for a countout as they both get inside for the first time. Jarrett hammers away again and hits a Stroke onto a chair for the pin at 7:19. They were in the ring together for about thirty seconds.

Rating: D-. What was that? Other than a way to get Jarrett his, ahem, long awaited title shot, what was the point of this? It was a brawl that took place in the crowd before a tacked on finishing move in the ring. Then again, none of that matters because the whole point of the thing is to get Jarrett into the title picture, which I guess now qualifies as interesting and important.

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

AMW is defending and run in through the crowd to start the brawl after last week’s beating. The fight heads to the floor and Slash is already busted open as Slash suplexes him on the stage. Back at ringside and a belt shot to the head busts Storm open, leaving Slash to give him the Eye of the Storm.

A spinning cutter gives Storm two of his own but Belladonna and James Mitchell offer distractions as everything breaks down. The distraction lets Slash hit Storm in the face with the belt for two but the referee gets bumped (like it matters). The Trash Compactor compacts Slash but Belladonna jumps on Storm’s back. That’s enough for Lee to hit Storm with the spike for the pin and the titles at 9:07.

Rating: C+. The lack of a DQ over the violence is just something you learn to live with around here. What matters the most is that it feels like we’re actually getting a story here. You can only get so far with AMW beating everyone in short order so they need some actual problems. That’s what they’re getting here and the Disciples are instantly a big deal. Nice job all around.

We look back at Kid Kash becoming the #1 contender to the X-Division Title last week. Then Jerry Lynn beat AJ Styles to win the same title.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Kid Kash vs. Jerry Lynn

Lynn is defending and Styles has Mortimer Plumtree in his corner. Styles gets dropkicked to the floor to start and then a double drop toehold does it again. Lynn and Kash trade armdrags for a standoff but Styles knocks Lynn outside. Plumtree offers a distraction so Styles can hit Lynn low but Kash gives Styles a twisting hurricanrana. Kash chops Lynn into the corner and hits a moonsault press for two.

Styles’ neckbreaker gets the same on Lynn, who gets back up to fire off forearms to Kash. Lynn is sent to the floor so Kash takes him down with a big dive, with Styles following with a springboard shooting star. Back in and Styles gets two but Kash clotheslines the other two down for a triple breather. A brainbuster drops Lynn, with Styles stealing the near fall. Lynn breaks up the Styles Clash with a clothesline before Kash backdrops Styles onto Plumtree. The cradle piledriver to Kash retains the title at 10:51.

Rating: B-. You could all but guarantee this was going to be good and that shouldn’t be a surprise. As usual, you have the group of wrestlers who dominate the division, but now we’re seeing some fresh blood enter the mix. Kash probably isn’t the next bit thing, but it’s nice to see another name added in here, just for the sake of some flavor if nothing else.

Bob Armstrong gives Don West next week’s card for the big over the top hype.

Jeff Jarrett talks about Ron Killings turning some heads as champion but for Jarrett, the title match is everything. This is what Jarrett has wanted to do since he was a boy so he’ll do whatever it takes to win the title, which is the absolute truth.

Overall Rating: C-. There were good parts here but you could also see some of the darker sides of the booking coming out this week. Stuff like Lawler and the Harris twins getting so much time is hard to watch, but that was at least somewhat mitigated by some fresh talent getting a change. There are still a lot of good things about the show, but they desperately need to refocus in some areas. If that happens, the talent will be enough to carry the rest, but I’m not sure I can see that taking place.

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @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 #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.

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 #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.

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 #14
Date: September 25, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

Things are in quite the transitional period around here and that makes for an interesting time. If nothing else, it makes for a necessary time, as the show has gone from total insanity to something more coherent, but that doesn’t make it interesting. Last week’s show ended with something of a Kliq reunion and that is not something that has me interested. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We go to the back where Jerry Lynn is attacking Sonny Siaki, who cost him the World Title last week. The brawl keeps going until security breaks it up.

Commentary previews the show.

Sonny Siaki vs. Amazing Red

This doesn’t seem fair. Red jumps him on the floor to start and they get inside, with Siaki being sent into the corner for a running dropkick. Siaki fires off some running shoulders in the corner and a big backdrop sends Red to the floor. Red gets dropped onto the barricade for some near falls back inside but the bad rips are slowing Siaki down. A bearhug keeps Red in trouble and a superkick makes things even worse. Siaki chokes a bit but Red is back with the Code Red for two. A spinning kick to the head drops Siaki again but he’s right back with a spinning neckbreaker for the win at 7:25.

Rating: C+. Well so much for Red. Not only did he come in with an advantage, but he jumped Siaki to start, only to lose anyway. Siaki is getting more and more featured time and there are worse ideas, but it isn’t going to matter all that much unless he breaks into the holy trinity of the X-Division. Those guys are the ones who matter and everyone else is just kind of there beneath them. Either change that or nothing Siaki does really matters.

Post match Jorge Estrada comes out to say the rest of the Flying Elivses are giving up on Siaki.

We go to the back, where Ron Killings is attacking Amazing Red.

Tag Team Titles: Brian Lee/Ron Harris vs. James Storm/Chris Harris

Storm and Chris are defending in a tables match and this is a rematch from last week when they won the belts. Lee hammers on Chris to start as I wonder why there are tags. The villains are sent to the floor for a pair of dives from the champs but Lee takes over back inside. Ron loads up a table in the corner but gets cut off, leaving Lee to choke Chris instead.

With Storm on the floor, Ron loads up a powerslam…and completely ignores the table and plants Chris in the middle of the ring instead. Chris fights out and brings in Storm to clean house and after sending Ron to the floor, knock Lee through the table at ringside to retain the titles at 6:39.

Rating: D+. This is where TNA, and other promotions for that matter, look bad and I still don’t get it. There are some people who need to be protected and others who can take a loss without any issues. Ron Harris and Brian Lee have next to no value around here and having one of them take a finish for a clean pin is not going to hurt them. If you want Storm and Chris to be a big deal, let them look like a big deal rather than having to knock Lee through a table to win.

Post match Ron wrecks the champs again, but security breaks it up…including Don Harris, who gets in a shoving match with his brother. So yes, the newly crowned Tag Team Champions, and by far the best team in the company, is laid out for the sake of THE BATTLING HARRIS BROTHERS.

Earlier today, Bruce arrived and got in an argument with an elderly woman.

Here is Ron Killings for a chat. He talks about growing up in poverty with five people in one bed but now people who grew up with security are talking about how he should live. There is real prejudice around here because Ricky Steamboat is gone now that Killings won the title. Where is Killings’ merchandise? Or his private dressing room? Killings calls out Jerry Lynn but gets BG James, because they were partners in the WWF (which commentary points out).

James says that he protected Killings in the WWF and now it’s time to slap some sense into his head. After getting annoyed at the WHAT chants, Killings says this is a new reality and James is his b****. The brawl is on and Killings bails, with James saying he isn’t Tom Cruise or Jack Nicholson because he can handle the truth. It’s more stuff from the WWF, but at least it’s something that was only a few years ago at this point.

You can see AJ Styles at a county fair in West Virginia! And that’s the kind of thing that makes this place feel low level.

Brian Lawler insists that everything is fine with April (his girlfriend) and their business is their business. April doesn’t want her talking for him so he yells at her and gets the camera cut off. This really isn’t as interesting as TNA thinks it is.

AJ Styles vs. Low Ki

2/3 falls for the #1 contendership to the X-Division Title. Styles works on the arm to start and then grinds away on a headlock. Ki kicks his way out of a wristlock and drops a hard elbow for two, only to get caught in an atomic drop of all things. Back up and Ki sends him to the floor for the big running flip dive from the apron but Styles gets in a crotching on top back inside. Styles strikes away and grabs a quickly broken chinlock and kicks him down, setting up the Dragon Clutch for the first fall at 6:35.

Styles is right back up with a discus lariat and a delayed suplex into a knee drop. A jumping enziguri knocks Ki to the floor, where Styles drops him hard onto the ramp. Back in and Ki strikes away but Styles sunset flips him out of the corner for the pin to tie it up at 10:57. Styles kicks him out to the floor and gets smart by going after the legs.

Back in and a super shinbreaker sets up something like a spinning toehold to keep Ki down. The Ki Crusher attempt is countered and the leg gives out again so Styles rolls him up for two with feet on the ropes. With the cheating not working, Styles hits the Styles Clash for the pin at 14:43.

Rating: B-. This felt rushed even though they had some time. The good sign here though is that these two (along with Jerry Lynn) are guys you can throw out there in any combination for a good result. That’s what you had here, even if the 2/3 falls deal wasn’t really necessary for the match.

Jeff Jarrett isn’t happy with the suggestion that he’s getting further from the World Title. Tonight though, he has options.

Elix Skipper/Brian Lawler vs. Scott Hall/Syxx Pac

April is here with Skipper and Lawler. Pac and Skipper trade missed kicks to start until Skipper throws him down. Lawler dances on the apron (as he does) and it’s off to Hall. We pause for Lawler to order April to stay in a chair on the floor, allowing Hall to come back on Skipper. A chokeslam gives Hall two but the villains get together to crotch him on the post a few times.

Lawler and Skipper take turns beating on Hall, who finally clotheslines his way out of trouble. Naturally, Lawler is on the floor checking on April, even as Pac comes back in to clean house. The fall away slam sets up a missed Bronco Buster but Skipper dives into the X Factor for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: D+. And again, it’s a problem of focusing on one idea and not realizing that it isn’t very interesting. Why in the world should I care about Lawler and April? There is nothing to April save for her being with Lawler, who isn’t interesting in the first place. That was the entire focus of the match and it’s not like Hall is able to do much to keep up the interest between the bells.

Post match Jeff Jarrett is in with a Stroke each to Hall and Pac. Don Harris makes the save.

AJ Styles hits on Goldilocks and wants to face Jerry Lynn for the X-Division Title in, say it with me, a ladder match.

Jorge Estrada vs. Kid Kash

They fight over wrist control to start but Kash messes with Estrada’s hair. That leads to a standoff as a rather nerdy man is shown watching from the stage. Estrada fights back and hits a clothesline to the floor, setting up a dive which is almost left low. Kash is right back up to chop away and a double jump flip dive drops Estrada for two. Estrada hiptosses him into a running shooting star press for two but a pumphandle faceplant drops Estrada again. They chop it out until Kash hits a DDT for two. Back up and Estrada drops him for a Lionsault into a Swanton for the pin at 6:06.

Rating: C+. You had two guys who can do flips and dives doing flips and dives until one of them won. That’s the kind of filler match that is entertaining but doesn’t feel overly important. At least Estrada has something going on with Sonny Siaki, though it’s still a bit difficult to make him seem important or serious when he’s in an Elvis suit.

Post match Estrada calls out Sonny Siaki, who comes out to apologize for the issues with the rest of the team. He’s willing to turn in his Flying Elvis uniform…and we see a video of him burning it earlier today.

We recap the X-Division getting behind Jerry Lynn trying to win the World Title last week, only for Siaki to cost him.

X-Division Title: Jerry Lynn vs. Ron Killings

Only Lynn is defending in a lumberjack match. Killings tries to bail to the floor to start but is quickly tossed back inside. Lynn hammers away in the corner and a middle rope bulldog gets two. Back up and Killings hits a middle rope shoulder into a wheelbarrow faceplant for two of his own. Lynn is tossed outside where the lumberjacks check on him, which earns Amazing Red a shot to the face from Killings.

Back in and a kneeling MuscleBuster gives Killings two more and we hit the chinlock. A powerslam plants Lynn as AJ Styles has set up a ladder on stage. Lynn gets a boot up in the corner but charges into a powerslam. The front facelock, with feet on the ropes, keeps Lynn in trouble but he fights out and grabs a reverse DDT. Back up and they slug it out until Killings sneaks in a low blow. The cutter is blocked though and Low Ki gets in a cheap shot, setting up Lynn’s TKO to retain at 9:07.

Rating: B-. Again, no surprise that this worked, as Lynn is one of the few people around here who can wrestle with anyone and Killings is certainly fine enough. Lynn getting a win should set up a rubber match between the two of them, or Ki getting a World Title shot of his own. This was another example of the X-Division being treated seriously and that is very refreshing to see.

Don West hypes up next week’s show, with the ladder match confirmed.

Jeff Jarrett vs. BG James

Naturally James runs his mouth before the match and promises a beating before getting in his catchphrase. James punches him down and dances before a right hand sets up the shaky knee drop. Jarrett comes back with an enziguri but James’ dancing punches send him outside. Some chair shots to the back knock Jarrett into the crowd, where he takes over. They go back to ringside where Jarrett gets in some chair shots of his own, setting up the running crotch attack to the back inside.

Jarrett grabs a sleeper but James fights up into one of his own, meaning it’s the required belly to back suplex counter. James hits a big boot and rains down some right hands in the corner. Jarrett is sent into a chair in the corner but here are Elix Skipper and Brian Lawler. The latter offers a distraction but Jarrett runs into him by mistake. James goes after both of them, allowing Jarrett to get in a chair shot to the head for two. Another comeback is on but this time Lawler and Skipper run in for the DQ at 9:08.

Rating: D. I know I’m getting repetitive with these criticisms, but it’s the same thing again: the least interesting people are getting these spots because they’re stars with names. That might make sense on paper, but it’s also making for some awful television. James was busted open last week and his dad has been attacked, so he’s out there doing his funny dancing stuff to pop the crowd. It’s almost tolerable if he’s having a good match, but this was just more slow paced stuff that wasn’t any good in the first place.

Post match the brawl is on, with Syxx Pac and Scott Hall running in for the save. Ron Killings runs in with belt shots and the villains stand tall to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. It really is amazing to see how much this show feels divided in two. You have the X-Division having fun, fast paced and athletic matches where they all feel like they’re trying to break out and become stars. Those parts are often good, but the rest of the show feels like “here are a bunch of former WWF names, you’ll probably remember them, ignore that their stuff is terrible.” It’s a problem that has plagued many a promotion and it’s doing so again here. Having those people around is ok enough, but just cut down on their focus really fast.

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

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

Kid Kash vs. Amazing Red

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

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

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

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

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

Sonny Siaki vs. Monty Brown

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

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

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

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

Commentary hypes up the X-Division ladder match.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miss TNA: Bruce vs. April Hunter

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

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

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

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

Spanish Announce Team vs. Flying Elvises

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jeff Jarrett vs. The Bullet

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

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

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

Don West hypes up the main event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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