NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #62

September 24, 2003

Your hosts are Don West and Mike Tenay

In the parking lot before the show, Erik Watts is yelling at Don Callis, who is flanked by Red-Shirt Security, for getting rid of Roddy Piper in order to keep Vince Russo. Callis tells Watts his job is to worry about what is going on in the ring while his job is to take care of everything else. Callis leaves as Watts and the Black Shirt Security looked worried.

Jeremy Borash introduces 3 Live Kru as they sing their hit single, “3 Live Kru.” They go on for a minute or so and it is pretty bad until they are attacked by Simon Diamond, his fill-in partner David Young, and Glen Gilbertti. Johnny Swinger underwent an emergency appendectomy before the show. The heels mock the 3 Live Kru in the ring, their scheduled opponents for tonight, but get laid out by Raven and the Gathering. Raven asks for the mic and says that he is ashamed and humiliated whenever he looks into the mirror and sees his shaved head. He then says he has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and manic depression and is unstable. He then runs down Shane Douglas, Vampiro, James Mitchell and the New Church and tells god to rest their souls. Good promo by Raven but this was all three segments crammed into one.

Kid Kash interrupts West and Tenay as they run down the show. He says that he will not be responsible for what happens tonight.

A video is shown hyping the 5 guys in the X Division number one contender match. They include Jerry Lynn, Frankie Kazarian, Juventud Guerrera, Chris Sabin, and Nosawa.

Scott Hudson is backstage with Jerry Lynn. He talks about sports entertainment and wrestling in a promo that did nothing at all in making me care about him. He even talks about rumors on the “sheets” and the internet. This promo really sucked, actually.

X Division #1 Contender’s Match

Nosawa vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Juventud Guerrera vs. Chris Sabin vs. Jerry Lynn

Before the match, Kazarian went to hit on Lollipop. Nosawa and Kazarian start things off. They have a typical, X Division fast-paced sequence that ends with Nosawa going low then hitting a super kick. Juvy tags and gets kicked before tagging Sabin. Lynn tags himself in and sends Sabin to the floor with a backdrop. Lynn snaps off a rana from the apron as the crowd chants his name. In the ring, they clothesline each other before tagging out. Nosawa goes after Juvy but gets caught with a Juvy Driver, eliminating him from the match (3:41). The match breaks down until it ends up with Juvy and Kazarian. Juvy gains the advantage then pulls himself up using the bottom rope in order to take Kazarian, who was standing outside, down with a headscissors. In the ring, they go back and forth until Kazarian puts him on his shoulders while Sabin hits a springboard dropkick. All four men take turns on offense and it all looks good but the crowd is silent. Kazarian hits Sabin with the Wave of the future but that only gets two. Sabin then hits him with the Cradle Shock for the elimination (8:58). Lynn alley-oops Sabin and Juvy hits him with a dropkick in midair. Juvy takes out both men and covers Lynn for two. In a cool but choreographed spot, as Sabin takes Lynn over with a sunset flip, Lynn hits Juvy with a German suplex. Sabin breaks up a cradle piledriver attempt but gets hit with the Juvy Driver. Juvy then pins Lynn instead, who is able to reach the ropes. They work a pinfall reversal sequence that ends with Lynn hitting the Kryptonite Krunch, which eliminates Juvy (11:41). Sabin and Lynn are the last two left. Sabin hits a few nearfalls but that still cant get the crowd interested. Lynn knocks Sabin off the top rope as Michael Shane is watching the match from the ramp with the belt over his shoulder. Lynn hits a superplex but that only gets two. Sabin fights back and gets two off of a brainbuster. Sabin shoves Lynn into the ref and Michael Shane runs into the ring and tries to hit Lynn with the belt but he ducks and accidentally hits Sabin. Lynn takes care of Shane then hits Sabin with the cradle piledriver for the win (15:11) ***.

Thoughts: The match itself was fine and the moves were all fast-paced but the crowd didn’t seem to care at all. They could have shaved a few minutes off of the match too.

Scott Hudson is with Shark Boy and Mad Mikey, who is dressed as Sponge Bob. He is sick of Shark Boy joking around. They are then attacked by Sonny Siaki and Ekmo (the new name for the former Jamal). Looks like Siaki and Ekmo will be a team going forward.

We are shown part one of the sit down interview with Roddy Piper. Tenay asks him what went down in the meeting with TNA officials about the decision by Callis to remove him from TNA. Piper gives another rambling speech, which is heavily edited, and talks about how the NWA saved his life when he was fifteen years old. Piper came off like a lunatic and not in a good way, either.

Callis is in the ring with Red-Shirt Security. He says that he banned Piper from the TNA Asylum because it is in the best interest of the customer and that they need Russo on the show, whether they know it or not. He then switches focus to Jeff Jarrett and was about to fire him for getting attacked last week but Watts interrupts, flanked by Black Shirt security, before Callis can say “fired.” Watts cuts a shitty promo in which he tries to be funny then promises Jarrett that he will get a shot at the belt in the next 30 days. He also says that Jarrett will face Christopher Daniels tonight then tells AJ Styles that he will have to face Dusty Rhodes in a Bunkhouse Brawl tonight. Also, Diamond & Gilbertti & Young will face the 3 Live Kru for the tag belts, in a six-man tag match. He then says Raven & The Gathering will face Shane Douglas & New Church in a six-man Dog Collar match.  Finally, he closes by ordering a match between Black and Red Shirt Security.

Red-Shirt Security (Ryan Wilson & Kevin Northcutt) vs. Black-Shirt Security (Chris Vaughn and Rick Santel)

The Black-Shirt guys are much, much smaller than their opponents. Wilson slams Vaughn then rams him in the corner repeatedly. Northcutt takes control and hits a pumphandle toss for two. Northcutt doesn’t look bad at all in the ring. Vaughn is getting destroyed by both men, who are hitting all sorts of power moves. Vaughn can sell like a motherfucker too. Santel breaks up a few pin attempts then Vaughn hits an enziguiri but is unable to make the tag. Northcutt tosses Vaughn to the floor where he gets tossed around by Wilson. The announcers are begging the referee to call the match then Vaughn is able to make the tag. The crowd reacts well to that as Santel runs wild until he walks into a big boot from Wilson. Vaughn then fights back but Northcutt tosses him to the floor using a press slam. As the ref checks on Vaughn, Watts runs in and hits Northcutt with a chokeslam then Santel covers for the win (6:24) **.

Thoughts: The Red-Shirt guys hit some cool power moves and Vaughn sold like a champ, making it a nice match. Northcutt looked pretty impressive and I have no idea what happened to him. He seemed like a guy the WWE would like. Wilson went on to become Trytan in TNA then signed a developmental deal with the WWE but was cut before making it to the main roster.

Scott Hudson is with Terry Taylor. He asks what he has left to prove. Taylor said that he is a 48 year old father of two who didn’t work hard to pave the road for a punk like Kid Kash. He closes by saying you do not go into a gunfight carrying a knife.

Kid Kash w/Abyss vs. Terry Taylor w/America’s Most Wanted

Kash is no longer wearing long tights to the ring. Taylor countered Abyss by bringing AMW with him and that infuriates Kash. Lots of stalling from Kash to start, who is trying to embarrass Taylor. Kash runs into a clothesline and fires away until Kash rolls outside. He bullies Abyss for a bit then re-enters the ring. Taylor takes Kash down with a dragon screw then puts him in an ankle lock until Kash reaches the ropes. Kash takes control and starts biting and clawing before working the arm. Taylor breaks that up with a jawbreaker but Kash is able to hit a swinging neckbreaker. Springboard crossbody gets two. He tosses Taylor to the floor, who is surrounded by AMW. Abyss knocks them both down though. In the ring, Taylor hits an inverted atomic drop but Abyss hits him with a Black Hole Slam behind the referee’s back. The ref gets laid out and Abyss gets tossed outside then Harris spears Kash out of his boots and puts Taylor on top as referee Mike Posey comes in and counts to three (6:21) *1/2. 

Thoughts: Taylor didn’t look bad, all things considered. This also sets up for a feud between AMW and Abyss & Kid Kash.

Russo is flipping out on Watts in his office. Watts threatens to shove his bat up his ass and Russo threatens him before leaving. Russo is wearing a bandana and it is really tiresome to see the guy book himself like a badass.

“Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels w/ The Altar Boys vs. Jeff Jarrett

They start by going back and forth until Daniels clotheslines Jarrett to the floor. Daniels misses on a plancha and Jarrett tosses him into the guardrail. Daniels catches Jarrett in midair and hits an uranage. Daniels chokes out Jarrett then uses the figure-four necklock. Suplex gets two. Daniels cant get Jarrett over on a sunset flip and gets rolled up for two. Daniels takes control and gets two off of a double springboard moonsault. Daniels targets the neck of Jarrett for a bit. Jarrett hits an enziguiri then takes control. The fans couldn’t care less as Jarrett makes his comeback. Crossbody gets two. Daniels hits a jawbreaker but Jarrett blocks an enziguiri attempt. Daniels hits a Blue Thunder Bomb then one of the Altar Boys distracts the ref while the others go to attack Jarrett, who pushes them off and that ends up knocking Daniels off the top rope and Jarrett cradles Daniels for the win (7:18) **. After the match, Daniels yanks the belt off of one of his minions and belts the guy who cost him the match. It was vicious. He leaves with his minions behind.  

Thoughts: Average match. The post match stuff looked brutal but no one cared. Jarrett sold for most of the match.

Scott Hudson is with Dusty Rhodes. He cuts a great promo on AJ, throwing in all of his clichés. He then talks about how their will be 4-5 fat girls waiting for him after the match.

Tag-Team Title Match

3 Live Kru vs. Simon Diamond & David Young & Glen Gilbertti

3LK clears the ring and Konnan does his bit on the mic, adding in that Simon Diamond busts his partners asses. Konnan and Diamond start out with a clunky sequence. BG and Young go at it, with BG using karate poses. Killings hits BG in the crotch with a headbutt then Young rolls outside. The crowd is totally into this match, way more than anything else so far. Gilbertti clotheslines Killings and works him over in the corner. Killings comes back with a powerslam then fights off Young and Diamond but that allows Gilbertti to attack from behind.  The heels get heat on Killings for a few minutes until he comes back with an axe kick and tags BG. The match breaks down and everyone takes turns hitting each other until Diamond accidentally super kicks Young. Killings takes out Diamond with a tope but Gilbertti hits BG with a chair then Young finishes him off with the spinebuster (9:57) **.

Thoughts: The actual wrestling wasn’t that great but it was put together well enough and the guys made it entertaining. Having a six-man tag match determine who the tag-team champions are is ridiculous though. I have to imagine that 3LK are going to be feuding with the champs.

Bunkhouse Brawl

Dusty Rhodes vs. AJ Styles w/Vince Russo

This match starts outside, immediately after the previous bout. They are fighting near a fence, with Russo hitting Dusty with his boot. Dusty then whacks AJ in the nuts and drags him close to the entrance. They brawl all the way into the ring as Dusty puts his hand into his glove and punches AJ. Russo throws a boot at Dusty then AJ chokes him out with his belt. Russo then chokes out Dusty but he escapes then pulls down AJ’s pants and spanks him while he is bent over his knee. Russo is in the ring and Jarrett comes in too. Trinity enters then Jarrett grabs her and pulls up her skirt to reveal a thong that barely exists and Dusty spanks her across the ass. We find out that the match is ruled a no-contest (4:22) ½*

Thoughts: This did a great job of making the company’s champion looked like a goof. At least Trinity’s ass looked fine. That was one skimpy thong.

West runs down next week’s show including:

Sonny Siaki & Ekmo vs. Mad Mikey & Shark Boy

Kid Kash & Abyss vs. America’s Most Wanted

Jerry Lynn vs. Michael Shane for the X Division Title.

AJ Styles interrupts the announcers and said that he has been embarrassed and humiliated and says he was not cool with Dusty spanking him and as the champ, deserves more respect. Russo then interrupts and suggests that he and AJ team up to face Dusty and Jarrett rather than AJ facing Dusty for the title. Russo was upset with AJ here, stating that he was being “worked” by Dusty. First, they made AJ look like an even bigger goof then Russo made him look like an imbecile.

We are shown a video recap of last week’s hair vs. hair match between Raven and Shane Douglas.

Triple Dog Collar Match

Shane Douglas & Sinn & Slash w/James Mitchell vs. Raven & CM Punk & Julio

The faces run in and gain the early advantage. Raven goes after Douglas and puts him in the Cobra Clutch. Everyone is brawling but it is just too much to take in at once. Everyone is bloodied and Douglas is yelling into the camera while he beats on Raven. Slash yanks Punk out of the ring by the chain. Everyone is in the ring and the New Church gets yanked off the top rope. The Gathering hit Douglas with a double bulldog then the faces all use corner mounts. Raven and Douglas are shown brawling outside then the bell rings and we learn that Julio pinned Sinn for the win (7:50) *. After the match, Vampiro and James Mitchell run out. Vampiro goes after Raven as Douglas unhooks his collar from Raven. They are in the back of the arena as they take the chains to the balcony and hang Raven and the Gathering. Tenay and West are screaming as the show goes off the air.

Thoughts: This match was pretty bad. There was way too much going on at once and it all just blended together. The finish was show off camera and was just terrible.

Final Thoughts: The promotion is staring to go backwards. The fans are turning on Jarrett as the face of the company and the champion is taking a backseat to his manager. The Raven/Douglas feud is losing steam and besides that, they do not have any other compelling feuds going on.