NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #35

March 12, 2003

 

Your hosts are Don West and Mike Tenay

 

The show starts off with a video recap of last week’s events, focusing on Russo supposedly leaving wrestling and the trio of Erik Watts, Brian Lawler, and David Flair attacking Jeff Jarrett, as well as AJ Styles demanding another title shot.

Jarrett comes out with a baseball and heads towards the SEX locker room and calls out Erik Watts. No idea why he went there to look for him. Security orders him back then Jarrett goes oer to Tenay, asking him to call out Watts.

 

Tenay says that there will be a number one contender’s match tonight between AJ Styles & Raven, with the winner getting to face Jarrett.

 

Konnan comes down to the ring and speaks Spanish, which Tenay translates for us as Damien and Halloween are his new protégés. Tenay puts over the fact that these two, along with Psicosis, are the EMLL Trios Champions. They are wearing the belts to the ring.

 

Damian & Halloween vs. Jerry Lynn & David Young

 

Tenay informs us that Paul London was supposed to be Lynn’s partner but was unable to compete due to an intestinal virus. The luchadores jump their opponents and work on Young. He comes back with a double clothesline as Konnan is dissing him on commentary, saying he should ask for a refund from his wrestling school and apply for “Tough Enough 4.” Halloween fights back and knocks Lynn off the apron. The luchadores double team Young some more as Konnan is now insulting the fans on commentary. He is doing great on the mic tonight and works in a Dusty impression. Young catches Damien and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Hot tag to Lynn as he goes nuts. Hurricarana on Damien and he tosses Halloween to the floor, where he gets taken out with a pescado from Young, who sells the knee. Konnan says he is going to check on him and dropkicks the knee. In the ring, Damien hits Lynn with a muscle buster, getting two. They double team Lynn then Damien proceeds to do one of the worst giant swings of all-time. Young gets helped to the back and Lynn manages a rollup out of nowhere on Damien to get the win (4:24) *1/2. After the match, Konnan berates his men until Lynn comes back. He turns his back and Konnan jumps him. The others try to pull him off but Konnan gets in his shots and leaves by himself.

 

Thoughts: Match was fine for what it was, even though the luchadores seemed to wear down towards the end. Looks like Konnan will eventually face Lynn to further along the feud.

 

Goldylocks attempts to interview Erik Watts but he is immediately attacked by Jarrett then they are swarmed by security, who break up the melee. Watts is laughing as Jarrett is being taken away. Watts looks just like Brian Adams here.

 

Watts heads to the ring with his bat as Tenay runs down all of his credentials. He tells the crowd he is not here to fight the Jarrett runs out with a bat and they briefly swing them around until security runs out again to break it up. They are playing up that Watts has gotten inside of Jarrett’s head.

 

Kid Kash and Trinity are with Goldylocks. She mentions how he has been on a role of late and he says he will take everyone down one by one. Amazing Red comes out and says everyone knows that Trinity is why he has the belt and challenges him to leave her backstage during the match. Kash blows him off.

 

We are shown stock military footage and a voiceover reads “Taken Hostage by an Oppressive Dictator” and “After Five Years, the Handcuffs are off, the Chains of Captivity are Broken, Tonight, he is Free.” After that, D-Lo Brown comes down the ramp and the crowd is receptive. According to Tenay, he has a title shot built into his contract. D’Lo says he has been asked for the past month what are you going to tell about the WWE when handed a mic? He says he doesn’t give a damn about them and says since 1997, he gave 150% effort every match and got told he couldn’t get the job done and was not a team player. He claims he was the hottest up-and-coming star in this industry three years ago and was told he couldn’t cut a promo but was told to go to OVW and teach them how to do it. He goes on about backstage politics in the WWE and says he is now in NWA-TNA, prompting the crowd to chant “TNA,” because of a level playing field and no backstage politicking. He promises the crowd he will be nothing short of a superstar while in TNA. Sonny Siaki comes out to the ring without Desire, as Tenay tells us there was an illness in her family. He introduces himself to D’Lo then says he will only be a superstar if he joins SEX. He offers him a spot but D’Lo says he is not here to join a clique and politely declines. Siaki respects his decision then brings up the racist angle with Teddy Long and calls him stupid but D’Lo attacks him and hits the Sky High. He poses on the ropes and the fans go nuts. D’Lo was really over with the crowd and cut a passionate promo but all of the WWE stuff gets old quickly. Plus, D’Lo was one of the lowest wrestlers on the totem pole before he left. Not sure I’d go making him into a upper card wrestler right away.

 

 

X Division Championship Match

Jonny Storm vs. Amazing Red vs. Kid Kash (Champion) w/Trinity

 

Kash gets attacked by both men to start. He fights them off then they all trade off a bunch of stuff. They all throw dropkicks at the same time then kip right up and have a stand off. Storm did a really sloppy job with his. They all applaud each other but Red flips Kash the bird after he extended his hand. They all go after each other then in a cool spot, Storm hits a Frankensteiner on Red, who then gets caught by Kash and is powerbombed. Tenay asks for a replay but it does not get shown. Kash hits Storm with the Bankroll but Red breaks up the pin. Red beats on Kash then hits the Code Red. Storm hits Red with a cartwheel kick and places him up top but is taken down with a swinging STO. Kash breaks up that pin attempt. Red poses up top but Storm takes him down with an inverted rana as they announcers fail again to get the replay that they asked for. Storm and Kash trade chops until Kash Irish whips him and Red catches him with a drop toehold. 718 on Storm but he walks into an enziguiri from Kash, who then flies across the ring and hits a somersault dropkick on Storm. Kash and Red Collide and all three men are down. All men are up top and they do a double German Suplex spot, with Red flying across the ring. Storm manages to DDT Kash as he was in a wheelbarrow. Kash rolls out of the ring and Red hits him with a running flip dive. Trinity goes up top and hits a moonsault but Red did not catch her and she splats on the ground the Storm flies out and kills her with a somersault senton. Kash rolls Storm back in the ring and hits a springboard moonsault block for two. Red sells the knee outside as Storm botches a rana. He tries another rana but Kash catches him and hits the Moneymaker for the win (9:38) **1/2. After the match, Red and Trinity get into it the Kash whips Red into the guardrail.

 

Thoughts: they hit some cool moves but there was a lot of sloppiness, especially on the part of Storm. He did some nice things. This all sets up a feud between Red and Kash.

 

 

Goldylocks is with Siaki in the SEX locker room, who was ailing. Goldy asks where is backup was as they all bicker until Gilbertti takes control, saying they are all here because of Russo. HE tells them to bring their “A” game and together, they can take over TNA. I guess Gilbertti is now the leader of SEX?

 

 

Harris Brothers vs. Steve Corino & Sandman

 

Sandman pours a beer in a fan’s mouth as Tenay can’t believe that Gilbertti is the voice of reason for SEX. Sandman goes into the crowd as Corino gets beat down in the ring. He fights back but is caught with the H Bomb and gets pinned (0:29). After the match, Sandman finally gets to the ring and uses the cane but the Harris’s drag him into the stands and beat the piss out of him. Corino comes in and he gets destroyed as both men are left a bloody mess at the hands of the Harris Brothers.

 

Thoughts: They really jobbed Corino out of the company. This was his last appearance, to my knowledge. This was to put over the Harris Brothers, and SEX as being a threat again.

 

 

Goldylocks is with Mike Sanders and Holly Wood. Sanders is cocky and says that he will beat whatever “enhancement talent” that TNA gives him tonight. Gilbertti interrupts and says being Kevin Nash’s buddy doesn’t mean you have accomplished anything and that if he really was his firend, he would be with him right now. He orders Sanders to beat whoever he faces and if he lsoes, he better not return to SEX. He tells Holly Wood that she does not get camera time and that she is here just for tits and ass and to get the job done tonight.

 

 

Dusty Rhodes comes to the ring. He calls out the “NWA New Generation,” Erik Watts, David Flair, and Brian Lawler. Only Flair and Lawler come out but Dusty talks about Watts anyway. Dusty then states some analogy that only makes sense to himself then addresses Flair and his replica NWA belt. He then tells him that on an interview earlier in the week, he called his daddy an asshole and says that he is now like his daddy. He runs down Lawler the slaps him across the face and says he can king of “deez nuts.” He gets jumped from behind until D’Lo runs in for the save. Watts comes in and they take control until Jarrett runs in for the save. The faces stand together in the ring at the end. Dusty saying deez nuts was the highlight for me.

 

 

A video package of AMW is shown

 

 

Goldylocks is with XXX. Low Ki speaks and says that AMW will be in a world of hurt tonight and that they are the true champions, traveling all over the world. Basic stuff, which is all you can expect from Ki on the mic.

 

 

Mike Sanders heads to the ring. He grabs the mic and says that SEX is a tight as ever and dedicates his victory tonight to Vince Russo. Hacksaw Jim Duggan then comes to the ring as his opponent.

 

 

Mike Sanders vs. “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan

 

Duggan goes around the arena and to the announcers booth. He is wearing overalls and is probably the heaviest he has ever been. Sanders had been dissing Duggan for several weeks before this match, referring to him as a cartoon character. Sanders bails as Duggan picks up the 2x4. Duggan works the crowd for a bit. He no sells some punches and hits a few clotheslines. Sanders bails then comes back in and his punched several times and geos back out. Duggan hammers away and rolls him back inside. Sanders attacks but Duggan doesn’t sell much of anything. Sanders works a chinlock as Duggan escapes but runs into a knee. Sanders covers twice but only manages a two count. Sanders uses a half nelson as this is dragging badly. Duggan escapes and punches away in the corner. Sanders fights back but misses a moonsault and Duggan hits a running clothesline for the win (5:58) -*1/2. After the match, Gilbertti berates Sanders then they both get taken out by Duggan. The heels use a cheapshot to gain the advantage as the referees come out to break things up.

 

Thoughts: Who the hell thought that this should go on for six minutes? Sadly, we will not see the end of this feud.

 

 

Goldylocks is with AJ, who is in the Raven’s Nest spot of the crowd sitting in a chair. Raven comes out but AJ throws the chair off his head and the Harris Brothers restrain him and tell him to wait for the match.

 

 

A video package of the NWA-TNA Tag Title history.

 

 

NWA-TNA Tag-Team Championship Match

America’s Most Wanted vs. XXX

 

Representing XXX tonight is Daniels & Low Ki. Both teams brawl to start. Storm and Ki are brawling on the ramp as Harris is tossing Daniels around. In the ring, Harris hits a crossbody on Daniels, getting two. He hits a running clothesline and AMW double team Daniels. They then take out both men as Skipper distracts the ref, allowing Daniels to hit an enziguiri. Ki tags in and beats on Storm. XXX neutralize Storm, using double team moves. Storm tries to fight back but Ki kicks him down. XXX continues to use heel tactics and get several near-falls. Daniels grabs a chinlock as the crowd finally wakes up. Storm escapes but runs into a dropkick. Ki tags in but Storm ducks a springboard attack and hits a running clothesline. Daniels runs in and cuts off Storm but he eventually eludes XXX and makes the tag. Harris goes wild on XXX. Full Nelson Slam on Daniels gets two. Running powerslam is broken up by Ki. Harris catches Ki and hits a powerbomb, getting two. AMW hit the Hart Attack on Daniels then they hit the Death Sentence but Ki pulls out the ref before the three count and Skipper hits the Play of the Day on Storm. The ref goes back in but Storm just kicks out before three. Ki goes for the cartwheel kick but Harris hits him with a spear. He takes down Daniels and puts him in the Sharpshooter. Skipper comes in with a chair but Storm takes him out with a superkick. The ref goes outside to yell at Skipper as Daniels is tapping out. Ki comes in to break up the Sharpshooter but Harris catches him with the catatonic. He then blocks a belt shot from Daniels but the ref comes in and takes the belt away from Harris, allowing Ki to attack from behind with the other tag belt. Daniels rolls on top for the win and the belts (11:51) ***1/2.

 

Thoughts: Really good match. The crowd, which died during the Duggan match, took a while to get into this. All four guys worked their asses off and the match was awesome. This feud seems to be going forward.

 

 

Backstage, D’Lo and Siaki are brawling. Jarrett makes the save for D’Lo.

 

 

Gilbertti and Holly Wood enter the ring. He says that Russo had a dream and a vision to take SEX out of Nashville because it is too good for the fans. Gilbertti runs them down for being idiots and hillbillies and how Russo wanted SEX to go to Hollywood and wrestle in front of a live studio audience. He says that Holly Wood is issuing an open challenge to any women who will get into the ring and show her goods. After berating Athena, the fans chant for Lollipop and she comes down to the ring. They have a catfight that goes back and forth as West tells us that this is for adults only. Lollipop wins then gets her shirt ripped off by Holly, exposing her tits. The crowd goes wild as Borash runs in to cover up Lollipop, who’s tits were easily the best thing about the segment.

 

 

Tenay and West hype the number one contender’s match and let us know that Jarrett will join the booth for the match. Jarrett coms out and puts over the prestige of the NWA belt.

 

 

Raven vs. AJ Styles

 

They start with a shoving mat then Raven spears Styles. Raven escapes from a Styles Clash and they go outside. Raven crotches AJ on the railing after he tried a springboard then they go back in the ring. AJ charge and Raven sends him to the floor with a drop toehold. Raven busts him open with a chairshot and attacks the wound. In the ring, Raven uses a clothesline and a kneelift. Raven boots him in the head then uses a facebuster. He grabs a side headlock but AJ reverses and puts on a sleeper hold. Raven escapes and both men are down. AJ fights back and takes him down with a discus clothesline. Inverted DDT gets two. AJ is covered in blood and gets caught with a sitout powerbomb after a springboard attempt. AJ ducks an attack and comes back with a superkick and that gets two. The crowd is quiet as AJ snaps off a rana for two. Raven pulls him into the corner and hammers away. AJ gets a DDT as the announcers talk about the whereabouts of Ron Killings. Raven rolls out and gets the knee up off a pescado. He then pie faces Jarrett, who attacks him. Jarrett switches his focus to AJ as security cannot hold back Jarrett. In the ring, Raven dodges a missile dropkick and hit takes about the ref. He hits the Evenflow DDT as another ref runs in and counts but AJ still kicks out. The other ref gets taken out as AJ hits the Styles Clash. The first ref comes to and counts but Raven kicks out. Raven grabs the chair but AJ superkicks it into his face. Both men are down with each having an arm across the other man’s chest. Both referees count to three but we still don’t know the winner and the show goes off the air (10:02) **1/2.

 

Thoughts: Dear lord, this ending again. They have done this crap way too often, last happening a month ago during the tag-title match. Why not have this be a DQ and set up a three-way for the belt.

 

Final Thoughts: The show was fine until the ending of the main event, which was poorly done. The Duggan match sucked something terrible but everything else was sensical and the other matches were generally fine, including a great tag match. Nothing was announced for next week’s show.