NWA Power – May 12, 2020 (Super Powerrr): Do You Know The Way To Carnyland?

IMG Credit: National Wrestling Alliance

Powerrr
Date: May 12, 2020
Location: GPB Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Joe Galli, Stu Bennett

Wow it feels like a long time since we’ve been here. So back in March, the NWA was gearing up for the 2020 Crockett Cup when Coronavirus happened. As you might have guessed, that changed everything going on and the decision was made to not air this show for about two and a half months. Here it is though, with the extended show under the Super Powerrr banner. Let’s get to it.

Here is the most recent episode in case you need a recap.

Billy Corgan welcomes us to the show and promises a special announcement about the future of the NWA at the end.

Opening sequence. Dang I miss Into The Fire.

Here are Marty Scurll and Brody King for a chat. Marty talks about Villain Enterprises being here in the NWA and if you mess with him, you mess with Brody too. King promises that Scurll will be the next World Champion.

We look back at Kamille attacking Allysin Kay and staring down Thunder Rosa.

We recap Kamille’s time in the NWA, which is kind of tricky as she doesn’t speak, no matter what.

Kamille vs. Madi Maxx

Kamille drives her straight into the corner to start and stomps away. Max forearms away but gets glared down off a sunset flip attempt. After putting Maxx on top, Kamille hits a Regal roll and spears Maxx down for the pin at 2:31. Not quite a complete squash but it was close enough and Kamille looked dominant.

Post match the fans want Kamille to speak and she glares Galli back when he asks for a comment.

We get a video from Kamille, now with red hair, talking about how she has been great her whole life and how no one likes her as a result. Her coaches loved her but the parents wanted her taken out of the league for endangering their kids. Why should she have any respect for authority? She is an elite athlete who has dominated everything she has done.

That’s why Nick Aldis called: she isn’t here for her looks, but because she can take care of problems. She doesn’t talk because she lets her actions do the talking for her. While she’ll never start a fight, she’ll always end one. She’s here to end all of us. Good video here and it’s nice to have a backstory for Kamille, who has some personality to her.

Austin Idol wants to show you how to get heat because he’s a professional wrestling psychologist.

We recap Aron Stevens and the Question Mark wanting a Tag Team Title shot. They’ll go through the Rock N Roll Express to get there. Stevens beating up Trevor Murdoch was included as well.

Sean Mooney brings out the Express, who want the Crockett Cup.

Aron Stevens/Question Mark vs. Rock N Roll Express

Morton works on Mark’s arm to start so it’s some KA-RAH-TAY to get him free. Stevens comes in to miss an elbow, which he claims was due to Morton moving illegally. An armdrag sends Stevens into the corner and he gets ping ponged between Ricky and Robert. He’s fine though….and there’s the faceplant. Stevens is back to take Morton into the corner as Murdoch comes out.

That sends Stevens into a rant about how Murdoch was injured (Stevens: “I GUESS YOU FLUNKED HONESTY!”) but worry not, because he has some backup: Question Mark Jr.! This guy is huge and commentary thinks it’s Brian Milonas, because it’s not like there are many other people that size. A two second chase has Mark Jr. gassed so Morton rolls Stevens up for the pin at 5:11.

Rating: D+. I can’t get too annoyed at this as while the Express can’t do as much in the ring these days, it is still cool to see legends like them out there almost every week. The ending wasn’t even clean so it’s not like they beat some team in a major upset. On top of that, you have Stevens being hilarious every time he’s on TV. That line about honesty got an actual chuckle out of me and that’s easier said that done. Nice one.

We look back at Zicky Dice winning the TV Title last week.

Dice won’t tell us he told us so, but he told us so.

Video on Melina vs. Thunder Rosa, which included Kamille attacking Allysin Kay.

Here’s Melina to say that she’s a legend and deserves the next title shot. It’s not her fault that Allysin Kay lost her title and the rematch. Cue Kay to say Melina cost her the rematch because she is a coward. Now it’s champion Thunder Rosa come out to say she’ll face anyone. She’s already beaten Kay though and won’t lay down for Melina. But let’s just make it a triple threat anyway.

Tony Falk wants to sell you waffles and tire irons. Buy three waffles, get four tire irons free.

Video on Tim Storm vs. Royce Isaacs over the fake Mama Storm (Danny Deals). This led to the return of former NWA World Champion Jax Dane.

Jax Dane vs. Tim Storm

No DQ and Deals is in Dane’s corner. Dane waits for Storm at the entrance and the brawl is on in a hurry. They get inside with Dane snapping off a belly to belly suplex and they’re back to the floor again. The battle of the forearms head into the crowd with Dane sending him into a barricade and pounding him down. Storm swings a gate into Dane’s ribs and they fight back to ringside.

Dane is sent head first into the Crockett Cup to draw some blood. The loud chop off sets up an overhead belly to belly to nearly drop Storm on his head on the floor. Back inside again and Dane wedges a chair in the corner, which isn’t likely to end well. Dane shrugs off some clotheslines and a big boot, setting up a Samoan drop. Dane misses a charge into a chair in the corner and walks into the Perfect Storm for the pin at 8:31.

Rating: C-. I liked this well enough and that’s what it was supposed to be. Storm continues to be the best story to come out of this promotion as he has gone from that old guy who won the NWA World Title to a genuinely beloved star. He’s just one of those likable guys and it’s a character that works so well. Good for him for making it work like this. Dane is a nice choice for a monster and he could do some stuff around here.

Post match, Deals has to face Storm, which wasn’t mentioned before the match. For reasons of pure stupidity, Deals puts the Mama Storm gear back on, earning himself a pair of Perfect Storms.

Mae Valentine doesn’t get why Royce Isaacs is going so nuts about her friendship with Sal Rinauro. No she isn’t cheating on Royce because her mama raised her to be pure. This has already cost her ONE HUNDRED FOLLOWERS!

Marti Belle vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Ashley Vox

The trash talk sends Marti outside but she comes back in to stomp both of them down in the corners. Some running hip attacks get two on Steelz and a Russian legsweep gets two on Steelz. Vox is back in with a missile dropkick to Belle for two and the Real Catch has Steelz in trouble. Belle takes Vox down but walks into a Codebreaker to give Steelz the pin at 5:48.

Rating: D+. This was a good example of a match with three people doing moves to each other until one of them won. That doesn’t make for the most thrilling match and that was the case here. The women’s division continues to be one of the bigger weaknesses around here and this didn’t make things any better.

We recap Pope paying off the Bouncers to beat up Eddie Kingston, plus the Bouncers losing their Tag Team Title shot against James Storm and Eli Drake.

Here are Kingston, Storm and Drake for a chat. Kingston talks about how he wanted two fighters to take care of the Bouncers so he picked the World Tag Team Champions. Storm talks about wanting to entertain the fans and loving to fight. Drake doesn’t care if the Bouncers came from Ring of Honor because they got bounced right back to Ring of Honor. Any team who wants some of them, come see them in the Crockett Cup.

Video on Nick Aldis vs. Marty Scurll.

Strictly Business vs. Villain Enterprises

Nick Aldis/Thom Latimer vs. Marty Scurll/Brody King here. Aldis bails over for the tag to Latimer instead of facing Scurll so Latimer shoulders King to no avail. A shoulder and chop put Latimer down but Aldis’ cheap shot from the apron….has very little effect actually. Scurll comes in and claims a cheap shot from Aldis and the distraction lets the Villains hit a double elbow. Latimer gets sent outside so Scurll hits the superkick but Aldis sends him outside as well.

Back in and NOW Aldis is willing to fight as the cheating begins. Latimer grabs the chinlock but Scurll is up in a hurry for a suplex. The hot tag brings in King as everything breaks down. A sunset flip/German suplex combination into a piledriver gets two on Aldis but here’s Kamille to break up the chickenwing. Cue Royce Isaacs for a distraction so Scurll takes him out with a dive. The distraction lets Latimer hit King low, setting up the top rope elbow to give Aldis the pin at 9:47.

Rating: C+. They’re doing a good job of setting up Scurll challenging Aldis because it’s going to be a heck of a fight. I’m not sure how well it’s going to go whenever they finally get there, but the build has been good and that is what matters most at the moment. This was a good choice, and should set up Scurll making sure that it’s one on one against Aldis.

Corgan announces that since they can’t have actual wrestling right now so next week it’s a new series: Carnyland.

Roll credits.

Overall Rating: C. The main thing that this show did was remind me of two things. First, the show doesn’t need to be this long, and second, that the NWA wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire when it went on hiatus. It isn’t a terrible show or anything, but there isn’t a lot to get excited about around here. I’d have watched Crockett Cup, but this didn’t really make me want to see it. It’s an ok show, though they might need the time off to freshen up their ideas.

Results

Kamille b. Madi Maxx – Spear

Rock N Roll Express b. Aron Stevens/Question Mark – Rollup to Stevens

Tim Storm b. Jax Dane – Perfect Storm

Tasha Steelz b. Ashley Vox and Marti Belle – Codebreaker to Belle

Strictly Business b. Villain Enterprises – Top rope elbow to Aldis

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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




NWA Powerrr – October 22, 2019: The Wrestling Show

IMG Credit: National Wrestling Alliance

NWA Powerrr
Date: October 22, 2019
Location: GPB Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentators: Joe Galli, Jim Cornette

It’s week three around here and this has suddenly become a treat to watch. They don’t waste time around here and move forward as fast as they need to. It seems like everything around here matters (albeit to varying degrees) and that’s a very welcome change. When your match is a minute long, it’s kind of hard to classify it as filler. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the issues between Nick Aldis and Kamille, who still will not say anything.

Interviewer Joe Galli has been told that his interviews have been confrontational so he won’t ask anything about Aldis that doesn’t have to do with the title itself.

Opening sequence.

Eddie Kingston comes up to the commentary table and rants about the Dawsons breaking up the title match. Kingston and Homicide want to take the Dawsons out before they fight for the titles again. They’re do it anywhere because wrestling is all they have and they’re going to defend it.

Marti Belle vs. Crystal Rose

Belle was in Impact for a little while. Rose, a grunge enthusiast, gets taken down into the corner to start but Marti misses a running charge and gets kneed in the corner. Marti is right back up with a forearm in the corner and a running hip attack in the corner, followed by a Pearl River Plunge for the pin at 2:25.

here are the Dawsons for a chat. Things happen for a reason and these fans need to shut their mouths. It’s time for them to throw their weight around so they’ll fight anyone….except for Kingston and Homicide.

Video on Thunder Rosa.

Tim Storm is supposed to be out for a chat but it’s Aron Stevens in what looks like a pirate costume. Oh and remember that the no eye contact rule is still in effect. The fans think he looks like Captain Morgan but he’s here to promote his new movie: Tropical Pirates, available on Blu-Ray and exclusively in Romania on VHS. It looks like a rather low budget sailing movie, thought Stevens says it shows he has more chops than Ric Flair.

We look at Tim Storm losing his World Title shot two weeks ago.

Caleb Konley vs. Dan Parker

Parker talks a lot of trash to start but since he’s Canadian, we get a loud USA chant. Konley flips away from a few headlocks and punches Parker in the face to take over. A jumping backsplash gets one on Parker, who is right back with knees to the ribs and some shouts about how not everyone can be a Canadian. We hit the abdominal stretch but the referee sees the grab of the rope. Konley hits him in the face a few times and hits a springboard spinning moonsault for the pin at 3:21.

Rating: C-. Konley is another example of someone who didn’t do anything elsewhere but looked pretty good here. Parker being very pro Canadian is as much of a gimmick as you can get for a jobber but at least he has a little something to make him stand out. I could go for more of Konley and that’s what this kind of a match is supposed to do.

Here’s Tim Storm for a chant. Make no mistake about it: Nick Aldis beat him two weeks ago. His time as champion and the Ten Pounds of Gold series helped restore some prestige to the NWA and that is a great source of pride to him. He has no excuses because he made the right decision but now he needs to make a decision about his future. All that matters to him is that he made Mama Storm proud, which gives us a MAMA STORM chant.

Cue Eli Drake to say that Storm sounds like he’s down but his name is on a list of NWA World Champions. There are a lot of things going on around here, including some new tag teams. Maybe there are two pieces of gold in Storm’s future so Drake has already got it set up: the two of them against the Dawsons tonight. Storm will think about it.

Promotional consideration paid for by…..invisible hair cream?

We recap Jocephus vs. James Storm from two weeks ago.

Here’s Jocephus, who wants to make a public apology to James Storm. Cue Colt Cabana instead, with Jocephus pulling out a cowboy hat and a beer bottle for Cabana to start an impression. The joke is on but Jocephus throws powder in Cabana’s face. The beating starts in the ring but here’s the real James Storm to superkick Jocephus. Mr. Anderson pulls Cabana away to avoids the same fate.

Here are Aldis and Kamille for a chat. Aldis knows the NWA is cooking and he needs a new #1 contender. Some of those challengers could be people like Eli Drake, James Storm or Ricky Starks, the latter of whom Aldis thinks is the #1 draft pick in the entire business. Aldis is willing to let it play out and he’s ready to go somewhere else to find a challenger if he has to.

Joe Galli makes the mistake of going back to the Kamille questions though, which Aldis finds disrespectful. Aldis says Kamille is the best insurance policy money can buy so ask her anything. Galli asks why Kamille works for Aldis and she has nothing, with Aldis saying she’ll speak when she feels like it.

We get a promo of someone talking about how things come together and one question remains: who is the mark?

Eli Drake/Tim Storm vs. Dawsons

Dave powers Eli into the corner to start and hits a headbutt but Drake is right back with a jumping clothesline. Zane comes in and gets neckbreakered, followed by the tag to Storm for a clothesline. Drake’s middle rope bulldog gets two as the makeshift team keeps the brothers in trouble. Storm hits a running splash in the corner and hits some elbows to the head. It’s time to get smart though as Zane grabs him by the waist and drives him into the corner for the tag to Dave.

The waistlock slows Storm down a bit and a switch to the bearhug keeps the trouble going. Storm powers out and brings in Drake to clean house. A sleeper drop gets two on Dave but Drake goes shoulder first into the post. That leaves Storm to get hit in the back, setting up the standing splash/powerslam combination to finish Storm at 6:44.

Rating: D+. This was a pretty dull match with the Dawsons’ offense consisting of holds until the end, which wasn’t quite thrilling. Storm has impressed me quite a bit so far as he was best known as that old guy who held the NWA World Title but he’s shown a character about himself and has the look and work to back it up. That’s a nice surprise and far better than I would have expected.

Post match the Dawsons beat Storm up even more but Homicide and Kingston run in for the save. The staredown is on and Aldis comes in to check on Storm to end the show.

Roll credits.

Overall Rating: C-. This was their weakest show yet but it’s such an easy and quick watch. They keep things moving around here and I’m starting to look forward to these promos because they are such a breath of fresh air after what you see on regular shows. Sometimes you just need to see someone talking into a camera and that’s what you get here. It’s a great example of what happens when you strip everything down and having a wrestling show. While not as good as their first two shows, it’s still entertaining enough and I’ll take that over some of the Raw and Smackdown I’ve sat through lately.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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