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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Jason Cross vs. Tony Mamaluke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kid Kash vs. Jorge Estrada

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

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

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

Divine Storm vs. America’s Most Wanted

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

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

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

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

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

AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

X-Division Title: Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn

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

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

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

Ron Killings vs. BG James

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

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

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

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

We run down next week’s card.

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

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

NWA World Title: Curt Hennig vs. Jeff Jarrett

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

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

We run down the card.

SATs vs. Divine Storm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chris Harris vs. Brian Lee

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

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

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

James Storm vs. Slash

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

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

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

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

Jerry Lynn hypes up a charity event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonny Siaki wants the X-Division Title.

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

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

America’s Most Wanted vs. James Mitchell

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

America’s Most Wanted vs. Belladonna

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

Don West does the preview for next week.

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

Harris Twins vs. Jeff Jarrett/BG James

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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 #23
Date: November 27, 2002
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Don West

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

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

Goldilocks sings God Bless America in honor of Thanksgiving.

Opening sequence.

Divine Storm vs. Briscoe Brothers

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

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

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

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

We run down the card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

America’s Most Wanted vs. Hot Shots

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EZ Money vs. Alex Winters

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

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

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

Sonny Siaki vs. Crimson Dragon

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

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

Post match Siaki says he wants better competition.

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

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

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

Video on AJ Styles.

Video on Jerry Lynn.

X-Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn

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

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

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

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

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

Don West hypes up next week’s show.

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

NWA World Title: Ron Killings vs. Jeff Jarrett

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

Commentary runs down the card.

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

EZ Money/Sonny Siaki vs. Divine Storm

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

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

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

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

Malice vs. Kory Williams

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

Spanish Announce Team vs. Harris Twins

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

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

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

BG James vs. Lenny

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

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

AJ Styles vs. Crimson Dragon vs. Jorge Estrada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on the Amazing Red.

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

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

X-Division Title: Amazing Red vs. Jerry Lynn

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

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

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

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

Don West hypes up next week’s show.

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

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

NWA World Title: Ron Killings vs. Jeff Jarrett

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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