NWA-TNA Weekly PPV#22 (November 20, 2002)
Welcomed as always by Tenay and West. Tonight, Amazing Red gets his shot at Jerry Lynn and his X Division Championship, following Red's win over Jimmy Yang last week. Plus, Jarrett finally gets his shot at the NWA Title, challenging Truth in the main event, plus much more.
First though, we go to footage from earlier in the day, Tenay doing a sitdown interview with Truth ahead of his title defense. Apparently Jarrett refused a similar interview citing focus on his title match, and Mr. Wrestling III still hasn't contacted Tenay to sign that open contract. Truth says the mystery man is the furthest thing on his mind right now, he has a title defense against Jarrett, says he's been observing him, watching the way he acts in the locker room, the way Jarrett watches him, says Jarrett has a passion for the belt, as if it's his heritage to have it. He says Jarrett has to understand that he has that same passion, it justifies everything he's been through, where he's at now, and getting rid of his demons. He knows this is his biggest test, but it's about who has the most passion, who wants it more, and who's willing to pay the bigger price.
Divine Storm (w/ Trinity) vs EZ Money & Sonny Siaki
Pre-Match: Divine Storm made up of Chris Devine and Quiet Storm. Can't find much on Chris, but Quiet is mostly known for his work in Pro Wrestling Noah. I find myself confused why Siaki is being put in a random tag team though, seeing as he was feuding with Lynn and seemingly going after the X Division Title.
Siaki and Money try to get the jump but Money is sent out to the floor, then Siaki sent off the ropes, slides under on the opposite side as Money comes in with a clothesline to... I don't know who's who here yet, one of Divine Storm, while the other hits Siaki with a suicide dive. Money with a crossbody off the top takes them both out, then as the other is going for a dive, they cut to a replay of Money's dive. Then Trinity goes up top as we return to live action with a moonsault on Siaki and one of her own guys.
Back in the ring, Money caught with a hurricanrana by Storm before tagging in Chris, while Siaki enters the match. Chris with a roll up for two. Siaki sent off the ropes, hooks the top rope as Chris slides between his legs and trips him up. Corkscrew splash from the apron misses and Chris sent to the apron, Chris with a missile dropkick from the top for two. Belly to belly overhead by Siaki for two. Money tags in. Chris sent off the ropes and Storm tags himself in, Chris ducks a clothesline and holds up Money, who boots Storm in the face. Chris sent into the corner and Storm sent into him with a drop toe hold, Money hitting them both with a dropkick to the face for two.
Siaki back in. Storm sent off the ropes into a double hip toss and a double suplex, Siaki covers but Chris breaks it up. Storm sent out of the ring with a right hand, then Siaki hits a pumphandle suplex on the floor. Trinity off the apron with a headscissor to Siaki, then nailed with a clothesline from Money. Siaki covers Storm back in the ring for two. Money back in. Storm fights back but he's caught with some kind of twisting DDT. Money goes up top but he's cut off by Storm, nailed with a Cutter from the middle rope.
Chris gets the hot tag and in comes Siaki. Dropkicks by Storm, then a death valley driver for a cover but Money breaks it up. Chris sent off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, Money is pulled out of the ring by Trinity as Siaki avoids a slam, hitting Siak-olypse Now for the win in 5:49. It was a good opener. Their lack of DQ rules continue to make no sense though with Trinity's constant interference. Not to mention they don't have picture-in-picture replays which makes for bad timing and missing a lot of action.
Break
James Mitchell makes his way out with BellaDonna. He says the wrestling world is taking notice of the NWA Title match tonight, but he's here to tell us that having control of the NWA Tag Titles isn't enough, he thirsts for more, and it can only be quenched with blood and more gold. He doesn't care who wins, because in the end the winner will go home with gold, and will soon face the wrath of his New Church, for he is the embodiment of evil and his Disciples will take control of the NWA Championship.
Malice (w/ Father James Mitchell & BellaDonna) vs Kory Williams
Pre-Match: Our jobber for the week, Kory Williams. Had a dozen or so matches on WCW Worldwide, wrestling some time in the NWA and generally in the Tennessee area. He's held a few different versions of the NWA Tag Titles, he was National Champion, and a few others.
Malice attacks immediately in the corner, sending Kory out to the floor with a right hand. Kory sent into the guard rail, then across the floor into the rail again. Malice exposes the buckles on his wristband to nail Kory in the head before returning to the ring. Kory sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and gets some shots in. Off the ropes into a powerslam by Malice. Malice goes up top and... completely botches some sort of dive. Chokeslam for the win in 2 minutes flat.
Malice botches throwing Kory over the ropes to the floor too for good measure.
Break
NWA Tag Title #1 Contender Tournament Finals: Spanish Announce Team vs Harris Brothers
Pre-Match: Oh good, two teams where you can't tell the partners apart.
I didn't even try recapping this one when I can't tell anyone apart. Harris Brothers won with the H-Bomb in 6:09. It was a nothing match. One Harris actually did a dive onto the ropes onto the SATs, which is the most credit I'll ever give those guys, but that's about it.
Goldilocks is backstage with April. She gets right to the point asking why April was in the shower with Bruce last week. April denies being in the shower with anyone and tries to play the innocent card, claiming production played a trick on her. Goldy isn't buying it and says she makes her sick, so April pretends to get upset. Bruce comes up to console her and insists that he's gay. Goldy implies he's as gay as Ralph Nader. Lenny comes up and isn't buying it either, calling Bruce a fake and phony gay guy, straight as an arrow, and claims it makes him Miss TNA. Now Brian Lawler attacks Bruce and Lenny joins in until security pulls them off.
Break
BG James vs Lenny Lane
Pre-Match: James starts to cut his usual pre-match promo but he's interrupted by Lenny's entrance. He says this won't be a gay bashing, he's about to beat the hell out of a... well I won't finish that sentence.
A bit of chain wrestling to start until Lenny gyrates his hips on a waistlock. Lenny humps James from behind a few times before some more back and forth, Lenny running into a right hand. Lenny sent to the corner, goes to the middle rope, misses a flying nothing and dropped with another right. Boots in the corner by James before getting sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and delivers some shake, rattle and roll. Lenny ducks the last shot and pokes the eyes, then to the top rope with a moonsault for two. Now Bruce runs in and hits a scoop slam, then a piledriver on Lenny. Now Lawler runs out and attacks Bruce with April screaming in the aisle. James hits a knee drop on Lenny while all this is going on for the win in 2:56.
Lawler is beating the crap out of Bruce and now out comes Goldilocks, and now they head to the back holding hands. Lawler is once again distraught as he runs to the back seeing this.
#1 Contender's Match for the NWA X Division Championship: Jorge Estrada (w/ Priscilla) vs Crimson Dragon vs AJ Styles (w/ Mortimer Plumtree)
Pre-Match: Dragon portrayed by Chris Hamrick, wrestled in ECW prior to this in a stable with EZ Money, Elektra, and Julio Dinero. Trained by Ricky Morton. Before that he had several jobber matches in WWF, and spent some time in Smokey Mountain. As far as I can tell, this is the debut of this gimmick.
Crimson goes after Estrada with some rights, then AJ with a snapmare to Crimson, then all three miss elbow drops on each other. Arm drags from all three, then AJ sent off the ropes into a back drop. Estrada sent off the ropes, misses a clothesline, then hits a back drop on Crimson. AJ tries to go off the ropes but he's caught by Crimson from behind, then Estrada gets Crimson from behind. AJ springboards into a moonsault for his inverted DDT on Estrada, but he's caught with a superkick by Crimson. AJ caught with an atomic drop, then Crimson uses him to apply a deathlock on Estrada, before putting a dragon sleeper on AJ. AJ ducks a clothesline and releases Estrada, Crimson covers AJ for two, then Estrada for two.
AJ set on the top rope by Crimson, who's then powerbombed by Estrada, then picked back up for AJ to nail with a missile dropkick, Estrada folds him up and AJ breaks it, then AJ makes a cover and Estrada saves the match. Jackknife pin by Estrada but AJ breaks it up with a senton. Estrada sent off the ropes into a dropkick by AJ, then Crimson delivers a suplex into a stunner on AJ and covers, Estrada saves it. Estrada with a Tiger Driver on AJ and Crimson breaks it up. Crimson with a piledriver on Estrada and a cover for AJ to break it up, then AJ covers Estrada for two.
AJ with boots in the corner to Crimson, then a kick to Estrada sends him down. Brainbuster to Crimson by AJ and a cover, Estrada saves. Estrada with uppercuts in the corner to AJ before getting sent across the ring for a clothesline, then Crimson sends AJ to the corner and misses a splash. AJ back on Estrada as he goes for the Clash but Estrada blocks and hits a back drop, then Crimson covers AJ for Estrada to break it up. Estrada with boots to Crimson in the corner, then AJ joins in before he slaps Estrada. Estrada sent of the ropes into a spinning heel kick and Crimson breaks it up.
Estrada sent to the corner and gets the boots up, tries a tornado DDT on AJ just to be sat on the top rope. AJ tries a superplex but Estrada fights him off, then Crimson knocks him to the floor with a flying knee. AJ sent to the corner, leaps off the middle rope and into a big boot. Crimson sent into the guard rail by Estrada, then Estrada eats a kick by AJ before getting sent into the guard rail. Crimson tries a springboard off the apron but AJ pulls his legs out from under him. Estrada with a wheelbarrow bulldog on AJ to the floor. Estrada covers back in the ring but only gets two. Then a double down with a pair of clotheslines. Crimson up top with a double leg drop from one corner to the other, covers Estrada but gets a near fall, then covers AJ with the same result.
AJ sent to the corner, gets Crimson with an elbow, then Estrada gets him with a victory roll. AJ tries a clothesline but Estrada gets him with a Northern Lights for a double pin but it's only two. Estrada goes up top but he's crotched by Crimson. Crimson with a super Frankensteiner and a cover but AJ breaks it up. AJ goes up top but Crimson crotches him too. Crimson tries a normal Frankensteiner but AJ counters with a Styles Clash from the middle rope, squashing Estrada below in the process for the win in 11:02. Pretty much what you'd expect from the X Division.
Goldy is backstage with AMW, who get their rematch for the tag titles. Harris says they have no plan tonight, other than to beat the living hell out of Jim Mitchell, and only then will they get back what they fought so hard for: respect and the Tag Titles. Storm leaned a long time ago that you can only kill a snake by cutting the head off, and tonight Jim is the snake and Storm will take his head off when he gets the chance. He says if BellaDonna jumps on his back this week he hopes to break her neck with the 8 Second Ride.
Recap of the bloody war between AMW and the New Church.
Fight on the floor immediately to start this match with AMW taking control at first, then the Church, giving us a split-screen of the action. AMW start beating the crap out of them, Storm hitting a suplex to Slash on the floor. Harris suplexes Lee from the apron into the ring and start as the legal men. Harris sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets nailed in the back with a chair from the floor for two. Lee choking Harris with his knee before delivering a gorilla press, then delivering a cheap shot to Storm, goading him into distracting the ref. Slash tags in, Harris sent off the ropes, tries a sunset flip but Slash blocks. Harris tries again but Slash hammers away with rights. Harris succeeds on the third try for two. Inverted DDT by Slash for two.
Harris taken to the corner for chops, then Harris turns it around for some of his own, sends Slash across the ring who gets a boot up and nails a clothesline. Lee back in with a knee to the groin, then Harris sent off the ropes, colliding into each other with a pair of shoulder blocks. Slash back in with an elbow drop for two. Harris back to the corner for rights, then choked by Lee before he tags back in. Harris sent off the ropes into a big boot and a cover, but Storm breaks it up. Slash in again and bites at the forehead of Harris before some more rights, then sets him on the top rope. Harris fights him off and flies off the middle rope with a clothesline.
Storm gets the hot tag and in comes Lee. Storm a house of fire with rights, sending Slash to the corner with a powerslam. Lee sent off the ropes into a forearm, then a double noggin knocker, only to be headbutted down. Storm sent off the ropes but back drops Lee to the floor. Slash sent into the ropes only to hook the top one and send Storm to the apron. Slash face first off the turnbuckle, then Storm to the middle rope for an inverted tornado DDT, cover but Lee breaks it up. Lee with rights, then Storm with rights, setting Lee for the double team but he fights out. Slash goes up top with Harris, Storm gets Slash on his shoulders for a tower of doom spot. Lee with a big boot sends Storm out of the ring as Slash covers Harris but gets a near fall.
Lee gets Harris on his shoulders as Slash goes up top, only for Storm to shove him off to the floor. Harris into a victory roll for two on Lee. Storm gets a chair as Lee tries for a tombstone and while Mitchell is distracting the ref, Lee gets nailed in the head with a chair by Storm. Spear from Harris only gets him a two count. Lee clotheslined out to the floor by Harris, then Lee tries to use the spike but Harris blocks. Storm with a superkick, then takes the spike and nails Lee in the head with it for the DQ in 10:47. New Church retains. I was actually really enjoying this match, but these inconsistent DQs drive me nuts. Seeing as I don't see them doing New Church vs Harrises, there's likely to be another match before a title change, but still, this is getting ridiculous.
BellaDonna jumps on Storm's back only to be tossed down as Storm assaults Lee with the spike, and he's busted open. Storm hits the 8 Second Ride on BellaDonna as promised. Slash is nailed with the spike next as Mitchell helps her out of the ring. AMW beat the Church to a bloody pulp. The ref takes the spike away, so Harris hits him with the Catatonic. AMW set their sites on Mitchell as they grab a chair but security rush down, who take the brunt of the assault with chair shots to their heads. Mitchell and his Church escape. That almost made up for the shit finish, but the crowd ate it all up, so I guess it wasn't a total waste.
Highlight package for Amazing Red.
Goldy is backstage with Lynn. Lynn spends the whole time putting Red over and can't wait to step in the ring with him.
Quick exchange of holds and strikes with counters and dodges to start the match, Red getting the better with a monkey toss for two. Red sent to the corner, back flip off the middle rope, then avoids a belly to belly and hits a hurricanrana. Lynn follows with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Lynn with a cross-legged surfboard, releasing the hold to deliver an elbow to the back. Red sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, delivers a tilt-a-whirl headscissor, then an enziguri sending Lynn to the floor. Red avoids wiping out on a suicide dive before somersaulting off the apron, but he's caught and driven ribs first into the apron. Back in the ring, Lynn follows with a gutbuster for two.
Bow and arrow by Lynn as he keeps going for the back, then Red ducks a short-arm clothesline into a sunset flip for two, driven right back down as Lynn hits a clothesline. Red sent to the corner, tries to float over, caught but turns it into an arm drag. Dropkick to the back in the corner sends Lynn out to the floor again as Red dives over the ring post onto Lynn. Back in the ring, Red covers for two. Lynn sent off the ropes, hooks the ropes and back drops Red to the apron. Red flips over and hits a 619... er, 718, after dodging a shoulder block, then I think tries a West Coast Pop. Lynn tries to counter with a powerbomb, but Red counters that with the Code Red, only getting a near fall.
Lynn sent to the corner, gets Red with an elbow and goes to the middle rope, only to be caught with a spinning kick to the side of the head. Red goes up top with a hurricanrana, but Lynn rolls through for a close near fall. Lynn tries for the cradle piledriver but Red blocks, then Red counters and tries another Code Red, then Lynn counters with a nasty sitout powerbomb but only gets two. Red set on the top rope but Red fights him off, off the middle rope with a spinning flatliner but only gets two. Red goes up top but he's caught by Lynn, then tries a sunset flip but Red counters with a hurricanrana for two. Red goes back up top but he's crotched, caught with the cradle piledriver from the middle rope to retain in 10:05. Took a bit for the crowd to get into this one, plus the chemistry was a bit off at times. Last few minutes or so were good though.
Lynn and Red shake hands and Red has his arm raised after the match.
We still have the main event, but first it's time for Don West's sales pitch for next week's show:
- Despite what happened earlier, Disciples of the New Church will face Curt Hennig and Syxx-Pac for the NWA Tag Titles. I don't know how this makes any bit of sense, but OK.
- Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles face off once more for the X Division Championship
- Brian Lawler will look for revenge as he faces Bruce
- Speculation on what Mr. Wrestling III will do following tonight's title match, and who the NWA will put in Jarrett's path first should he win the title tonight
Hype package for Truth, then one for Jarrett.
Pre-Match: We get big ring introductions for the first time on these shows, plus the referee reminds Truth that he'll lose the title by DQ or countout.
Truth gets the better of a quick exchange to start the match, then again on a second exchange catching Jarrett with a dropkick. Truth sent to the corner, floats over, then sent off the ropes and hits a forearm, sending Jarrett out to the floor to regroup. Truth starts tauning Jarrett who decks him with some rights, sending Truth off the ropes into a nice dropkick. Truth draped over the middle rope for a leg drop to the back, then Jarrett struts and delivers another right. Truth ducks a clothesline, then Jarrett gets behind with a waistlock only to be hit with a blatant and overexaggerated low blow.
Vicious rights by Truth, then he's counters an Irish whip to hit a reverse STO. More boots and rights before Jarrett's sent to the corner, tries to float over but he's caught with a powerslam for two. Truth just slapping Jarrett until he pops up to deliver rights, sending Truth to the corner, floats over, avoids a clothesline, boot and an ax kick for two. Truth sent off the ropes, catches a boot, ducks an enziguri and traps Jarrett in a figure 4. Jarrett has his shoulders counted down for two a couple times before he manages to reverse the pressure, but Truth forces a break in the ropes.
Truth sent to the corner gets a boot up, misses a clothesline and caught with a back suplex. Jarrett with some more rights before getting sent off the ropes, delivers a powerbomb for two on a hurricanrana attempt. Jarrett with mounted rights in the corner, and something happens to the ref in the middle of this, he gets blinded or something? The camera completely missed it. Jarrett goes to check on him as Truth gets a chair and Jarrett uses it to nail Truth for a two count. Jarrett tries for the Stroke but Truth blocks it, then Jarrett avoids a cutter, then Truth hits a front suplex, makes the cover but Jarrett gets his foot on the rope. Truth goes up top but Jarrett falls back into the ropes to crotch him. Jarrett hits the Stroke this time but it's a near fall.
Truth and Jarrett roll out to the floor as Jarrett's whipped face first into the ring post, and Jarrett's busted wide open. Face first off the steps and Truth delivers vicious rights. Jarrett sent over the guard rail with a right and Truth keeps control with more rights. Jarrett cracks him over the back with a chair, his face covered in blood as he goes face first off a random table, laid on top. Truth goes up the bleachers to dive off the stairs with a splash, sending Jarrett through the table.
Jarrett is already back in control as he clotheslines Truth over the rail back to ringside, but he low blows Jarrett using the middle rope as they step back into the ring. Truth with more rights and boots, then drives his fist into Jarrett's cut. Jarrett fighting back as they exchange blows, then Truth off the ropes, misses a forearm and decks the ref instead. Jarrett drops Truth with a right then sent off the ropes but they collide with each other on the rebound. Truth and Jarrett have a long double down spot as they slowly use the ropes to get back up, before Mr. Wrestling III appears with guitar in hand. He's way too early though as he teases hitting both, then nails Truth in the back of the head with it. Jarrett covers as the ref comes to, winning the championship in 17:39. You know what, this was actually a really good main event, despite Jarrett's sudden and random babyface turn.
To their credit, the crowd is fully behind Jarrett, which is surprising. The masked mystery man re-enters the ring to clap for the new champion to finally unmask himself, and I don't think I could have put it any better than Tenay did on commentary: "Oh shit, it's Vince Russo." Show goes off the air with Jarrett confused and in disbelief.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Well if this is the last show before things start to really go downhill, I can't say they didn't go out on a good note, so to speak. Aside from the Lenny/James match and the Harrises/SATs match this was a pretty solid show, and for the first time in what feels like ages I actually enjoyed a Jeff Jarrett match. But now he's World Champion, and Vince Russo is back on TV, because nobody learned from WCW's mistakes. Hopefully the people in charge rein him in a bit, and maybe babyface Jarrett will be something different, but I'm going into these viewings with low expectations going forward. With a run time of 1:53:22, this show had a total 1:06:27 of wrestling.
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