NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #24 (December 3, 2002)
Tenay welcomes us to the show, but he's quickly interrupted by some familiar bagpipe music, as Roddy Piper makes his way out with... well some guy I don't realize. Apparently he's on a book tour. He says he's gone around America the last 30 days, and I guess since he was coming to Nashville he decided to come around, no one knew he was coming. He turns his attention right to Russo and says NWA is the last place he hasn't killed.
He says Russo was a little hump of thing when he first came around, but as he grew up he turned into a 300lb lump of thing, When Russo sat on the toilet, his obliques would drag on the ground, as he watched TV and dreamed to be a wrestler, but he failed. So he decided to be a sports entertainer, and Russo has all but what thing that he wants, which is talent, calls him a wolf in sheep's clothing. He says there are young guys in the locker room who dare to dream and have a future, and Russo will deliberately kill their dreams. And since Russo begged for someone to stop him, here's Piper to take the challenge.
Piper pulls out his book and turns to a picture of his younger self, says it's a book about a boy who dared to dream, that because of pro wrestling that he fell into by accident, and he dreamed to have a family. God gave him his dream and he's proud of it. He reminds us that Russo called himself the antichrist, but Piper says he's just the Bin Laden of pro wrestling, calling him a coward that sneaks in by night. He says Russo wrote all kinds of things for the WWF, and asks if Russo wrote in his cousin Owen's death. Crowd were entirely with this segment and now they've gone deathly quiet. Don't know if that's because they're uncomfortable or what.
He asks f Russo wrote and asked about his family, and now he's dead, because someone like Russo, who knows nothing of the technicalities and put someone 90ft up, but everyone pays the piper. He calls Russo a piece of garbage. Oh the crowd's back into it, guess I spoke too soon. He says he might be out of step now and then but he hasn't forgotten how to dance. He takes off his jacket and on the back of his shirt is a list of guys who have died giving their life to the sport. He's wearing a black band because if they don't stop Russo, he will kill pro wrestling for everyone, unless their idea of a good time is having a 320lb Samoan in a thong sit on your face.
Finally Russo makes his way out from behind, not sure if he was trying to cheap shot or not, but Piper catches him anyways before he can do anything. Piper gets in his face and asks if he killed Owen. Russo is silent chewing gum. Piper asks how he takes over WCW and get it $60 million for the good, $80 million for the bad, calling it pure genius. Russo tries to take the mic but Piper isn't having it, and wants to know just what Russo is trying to accomplish. Russo tries to get the mic again but Piper still has none of it. He says Russo used to call him a dinosaur, along with Flair, Hogan, etc. Piper apparently sent him a tape of how turn WCW around, but Russo had this "great" concept that they're not athletes, they're entertainers, and he made an entertainment show. All he made though was soft porn, Piper says Russo is killing his kids in the back, but he does agree with Russo on one thing, that his time is over, but Russo is the dinosaur now, he's the one who has to go away.
Harris Brothers come out now and Piper keeps teasing him with the mic as the Harrises hold Russo back. Piper says he'll be watching and Russo will learn that you don't throw rocks at a guy with a machine gun. Piper tells him to kiss his ass and plugs some shoot interview on Friday where he'll say exactly what he thinks of Russo. Piper to his credit is still amazing, and I hate to give Russo credit but he was actually good in the role he had here, but what exactly did this accomplish? The Owen parts were just uncomfortable, and we know untrue, and none of what Piper said is new knowledge. Is this just a shoot for shoot's sake?
Over to commentary to speculate if Jarrett is with Russo or not. Don insists that Jarrett isn't after he smashed the guitar over the ring post, but Tenay is skeptical, having worked with them both and knowing how close they are. Now onto what's on the show tonight:
- As announced last week, Styles, Kash, Red and EZ Money battle it out in a Double Elimination Match, with the winner getting a shot at the X Division Title.
- The SATs take on Divine Storm, in what's being called a Tag Team Qualifier, no idea what that means.
- Tag teams collide in one-on-one matches, as Harris vs Lee, and Slash vs Storm is scheduled for later. The winners of those two matches will face Father James Mitchell in a Bullrope Match. I'm still not sure how that will actually work.
- And of course, what will Jarrett's answer be for Russo?
Last week, it was also announced that Siaki would challenge for the X Division Title, but it's been postponed a week, Lynn having suffered a pectoral injury in his match last week. We'll hear from both later on.
Spanish Announce Team vs Divine Storm (w/ Trinity)
Quiet and Jose start the match with your typical exchange for cruiserweights, which is mostly a bunch of arm drag variations, then Divine and Joel tag in for another exchange. Divine eventually tossed out to the floor after an exchange of victory rolls. Jose comes in and flips over the ropes with help from Joel onto Divine. Joel sent to the floor and Storm dives onto them. Trinity hits a moonsault from up top to take out one of the Maximos.
Back in the ring, Maxmimos double team in the corner with double big boots, then apply a double team submission followed with a basement dropkick for two. Spinebuster into a swing hold, then tag from the other Maximo with a slingshot leg drop to the back of the head for two on Divine. Divine sent off the ropes, through the leg and hits a fisherman's neckbreaker for two.
Storm tags in. Maximo sent off the ropes only to low blow each other with a pair of dropkicks. Other Maximo and Divine tag back in. Missile dropkick from the Maximo, then Divine sent off the ropes into a powerslam for two. Storm sent off the ropes and avoids a German suplex but caught with a double underhook facebuster, cover and Divine breaks it up.
Diving sent off the ropes, through the legs and hits a death valley driver for a cover but the other Maximo breaks it up. Spinning back suplex on Divine for two. Maximo sent to the corner, goes to the middle rope but he's cut off, gets him up for what looks like a One-Winged Angel but it's broken up by Joel. Storm caught up top as Maximos try for the Spanish Fly, only for Trinity to hit a low blow behind the ref's back. Divine rolls up one of the Maximos for the win in 7:36. I mean I guess the action was OK? But the crowd clearly don't care about either of these teams, or this match aside from a couple of spots. Trinity's the only one over here.
We're supposed to get the Harris/Lee match, but it's interrupted, as Russo comes out after Harris makes his entrance and shoves over Borash to get the mic. He says he has no problem with Harris, he likes him and is here to help him. He makes it clear he's not gonna trash talk Piper just so he can sue him for defamation, I assume in reference to his shoot at Bash at the Beach 2000, he's not that stupid. He says Piper will go to hell for using Owen's name to sell a book.
The way he sees it, the NWA doesn't give a shit about the fans, they're consisted of senior citizens trying to hang on for dear life because it's over. He says old men are running the company and they're biggest concerns are whether or not they're going to wet the bed. Borash is waving to the fans and Russo threatens to stick his foot up his ass, so Borash just flips him off.
He's here to tell us what we want; violence, blood, vulgar language, smut, nudity, sex, all of which gets a positive response from the live crowd. He says today is the birth of Sports Entertainment Xtreme, and as stupid as they are, he says he'll give them what they want, and they will appreciate him. He says he's not like the old man in the back. He finally addresses the elephant in the room of all the Athena signs he sees every week and wonders why NWA does nothing about, so he's going to give us Athena.
Athena is standing ringside and makes her way into the ring to the fans chanting her name. Russo asks her how it feels to see the signs every week, only to give his own opinion before she can answer, and since this is TNA, the fans want to see her T, and orders her to whip 'em out. She refuses. Russo insults her some implying she's flat chested and has seen bigger ones on Dusty Rhodes, and calls her an "ugly wench bitch" . She slaps him. He pins her in the corner and yells a bunch of stuff that's bleeped. He calls her stupid, he pie faces her.
He calls some woman in the crowd an ugly wench. Harris Brothers rush out to pull her off after she takes him down. Crowd want her to be let go. He threatens to stick her foot so far up her own ass she'll sneeze her shoe out. Then he calls the Brothers a pair of glorified bouncers and call them office help, tries to goad one of them to speak his mind. He takes the mic an says he's been here since day one and calls the company a piece of shit saying it wouldn't be flying if not for the two of them. He says the old man sits back there in his ivory tower thinking he's better than everyone and tells him to shove it up his ass. He's gonna do what he wants because with Russo there he can't be fired.
Russo has one more gift and tells them to take out the trash, so they give her the H Bomb twice. Russo tries to goad NWA and Piper to come out and in come security but they're quickly taken out as everyone checks on Athena. Then Bob Armstrong confronts the brothers backstage and calls Russo a rat fink, saying he doesn't pay their salaries, booking them in some match tonight and insults their wrestling ability. Then he takes a long time to call Russo a snake. Fucking hell, that segment was just awful.
Now back to commentary, AMW are out there and have had enough of Russo's bullshit like everyone else and think Tenay can do something about it. He suggests they believe in Bob Armstrong much like he does, he's just as fed up as I am.
"Wildcat" Chris Harris (w/ "Cowboy" James Storm" vs "Bulldozer" Brian Lee (w/ Slash, Father James Mitchell & BellaDonna)
Fighting immediately in the aisle until Chris is sent into the guard rail, then Lee and Harris clubbing away. Chris sent over the guard rail, then suplexed back to ringside. Lee face first off the announce table, then a clothesline and vicious rights by Chris. In the ring now, Lee suplexed from the apron in for two. Lee with a knee to the groin. Harris draped over the middle rope and Slash delivers a cheap shot behind the ref's back. Lee chokes Harris. Scoop slam and a series of elbows by Lee for two.
Rear chinlock by Lee. Harris fights out, ducks a clothesline, hit with a knee to the gut. Lee goes up top and misses a knee drop. Harris ducks a clothesline, Thesz Press and vicious lefts. Harris sent off the ropes, ducks another clothesline and hits one of his own. Lee sent to the corner and hit with a bulldog. BellaDonna gets on the apron and she's pulled into the ring while Mitchell distracts the ref. Big boot by Lee as Harris tries for the Catatonic on her but it only gets two. Mitchell tosses Lee the spike but Harris hits a spear for the win in 5:15. Not a great match.
Goldy is backstage and we see Truth arguing with Armstrong, apparently he's in that tag match mentioned earlier. He doesn't give a damn about the Harrises or Jarrett, he wants Russo's ass on a platter. Armstrong says he has to get through the Harrises to get to Russo and asks him to do him this favor and team with Jarrett tonight.
Slash (w/ "Bulldozer" Brian Lee, Father James Mitchell & BellaDonna) vs "Cowboy" James Storm (w/ "Wildcat" Chris Harris)
Slash attacks from behind in the corner, then Storm sent across the ring, misses a clothesline, turns Slash inside out with an enziguri, then sent off the ropes into a powerslam for two. Slash sent off the ropes, avoids a back drop, Storm avoids a spinning crucifix bomb but eats a big boot. Headbutts in the corner by Slash, then repeated stomps to the chest. Suplex by Slash for two. Storm sent off the ropes into a back elbow, then some vicious rights before tossing Storm out to the floor. Ref is distracted as Lee whips Storm into the guard rail, then back in the ring, Slash covers but only gets two.
Rear chinlock by Slash. Storm fights out and sends Slash to the corner, hits a back elbow, tries an inverted DDT, Storm slips out and hits a superkick. Storm now with rights until Slash knees him and sends him over the ropes. Storm skins the cat and hits a tilt-a-whirl headscissor. Storm counters an Irishi whip into a Russian leg sweep for two. Tornado inverted DDT interrupted by BellaDonna from the apron, and a distraction allows Slash to throw powder in Storm's eyes. Hangman's neckbreaker only gets him two though.
Storm sent to the corner, gets a boot up and hits a crossbody, but Slash rolls through with a handful of tights for a near fall. BellaDonna slides in a chair while Mitchell provides distraction. Slash gets Storm on his shoulder but gets them to the corner, Storm with the inverted DDT from the middle rope onto the chair but still only two. Lee tries to interfere but Harris runs in with a spear. Slash nails Storm with the tag belt and still gets a near fall. Now someone screws up here, because Storm sets up for his double team with Harris, then Mitchell and BellaDonna distract the referee. Death Sentence behind the ref's back gets Storm the win in 5:19. This was a good match until that finish that made no sense, I don't know who screwed up here.
So now AMW will get Mitchell in a Bullrope Match later on. Tenay explains all three will be hooked to the bullrope, with the metal cowbell in the middle.
Now another plug for the charity auction from Jerry Lynn.
Now Goldy catches Bob talking to Jarrett and Truth in the locker room and get them to agree to team up. He also needs to know where Jarrett's mind is at and Truth says he better not screw up. Still no answer from Jarrett, all he says is Truth better be ready for the fight of his life.
We're about to have the double elimination match mentioned earlier, but AJ attacks Red during his entrance, hitting the Styles Clash on the stage. Officials coming out to check on Red. Joel Maximo comes out as his replacement.
X-Division #1 Contender's Double Elimination Match: EZ Money vs Kid Kash vs Joel Maximo vs AJ Styles (w/ Mortimer Plumtree)
Pre-Match: If you remember the double elimination match to crown the first champion, this will be under the same rules. Two will start in the ring, and another participant is rotated in every pin or submission. Eliminations occur when a wrestler takes two falls, and the last one standing earns a title shot.
Joel and Kash start the match for your typical quick exchange. Joel sent to the floor with an arm drag, then Kash with a slingshot hurricanrana. Styles with a cheap shot to Kash before tossing both back in the ring. Joel covers for two. Kash counters an Irish whip and hits a pumphandle gutbuster. Kash sent to the corner, goes to the middle rope and hits a moonsault for two. Kash off the ropes, Joel counters a tornado DDT with a bridging German for the three.
Styles comes in now with a clothesline to Joel for two. Exchange of waist locks and a kick to the side of the head by Styles. Style Clash avoided as Joel scrambles to the ropes, AJ falling back and Joel hooking the legs for two as he lands on top. AJ sent to the corner, gets an elbow up, moonsault into an inverted DDT by Styles for two. Styles sent off the ropes, sends Joel to the apron, who goes for a sunset flip but caught with an Air Raid Crash for the three.
Money in now, tries for his release suplex but Styles lands on his feet behind him. Money catches a kick, then Styles catches one, then Money catches a heel kick and hits a sitout powerbomb but it only gets two. Styles face first in the corner, then sent across the ring, tries to float over but caught with a German suplex. Money misses a Bronco buster and nearly hits the ring post as he goes through the ropes. Money hangs AJ up on the top rope, then tries the buckshot lariat but he gets a dropkick to the ribs. Styles Clash countered into the Deadeye but it's a near fall. Money with the release suplex gets the three.
Kash back in now, ducks a clothesline, caught with a boot but delivers a series o arm rags. Kash lands on his feet on a monkey flip but caught with some kicks for two. Kash sent to the corner, ducks a clothesline, tries to leap off the top into a hurricanrana but they botch it. Kash off the ropes into a tornado DDT gets a two count. Kash with a fisherman's buster off the knee for two. Kash sent off the ropes, tries a wheelbarrow, caught with a full nelson bomb but it's a near fall. Money up top but he gets crotched. Kash tries a hurricanrana but he's cut off, then Money tries for a powerbomb off the top rope but Kash counters with the hurricanrana but it only gets two. Kash tries to come off the ropes, but he's kicked in the back of the head by Styles, Money with the inside cradle and Kash is eliminated. Styles Clash on Money gets him the three.
Sudden death now with one fall apiece. Joel attacks from behind and follows with vicious stomps and rights just hammering away at Styles. Joel with chops as he's sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and eats a dropkick, slow to cover for two. Joel blocks a suplex attempt, then AJ blocks one and delivers a brainbuster for a near fall. Front slam by AJ into an Indian deathlock, AJ rolls onto his back, then releases prematurely. Styles takes Joel to the corner with chops before sending him across the ring, face first off the turnbuckle after missing a splash, Joel covers but AJ gets his foot on the rope. Back suplex by Joel for two.
Joel tossed through the ropes to the floor and Plumtree gets in some cheap shots. Joel sent into the guard rail, then vicious rights by AJ before they return to the ring. Slingshot senton by Styles, slow to cover for two. Now an exchange of blows until Styles hits an enziguri for two. Joel sent off the ropes, AJ caught with a sitout powerbomb for two. Suplex and a floatover for two by Joel, into a neckscissor. AJ makes it to the ropes for a break. Joel sent off the ropes into a side kick, slow to cover again for two for Styles. Styls with a Dominator for two. Exchange of chops, then Joel sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, tilt-a-whirls into a rollup, and the fastest count I've ever seen gets AJ eliminated.
Money in now, Joel sent off the ropes, then an exchange of rollups for two. Superkick by Money for two. Joel sent off the ropes, back drops Money to the apron, caught with the buckshot lariat. Money up top with a beautiful frog splash for a near fall. Joel set on the top rope, Money shoved off to the mat and Joel hits a moonsault, but Styles and Plumtree have the ref distracted. Plumtree also has a chair in hand. Joel sent off the ropes and delivers a dropkick to the knees, then off the ropes and nailed with another chair in the back of the head by Styles from the floor. Nasty looking piledriver by Money gets him the win in 20:37. The AJ/Joel section went on a bit long there in the end, and the super fast count is baffling to me. Other than that, this was a solid match, and seeing as this means Lynn likely retains against Siaki, that should be a great match.
Another plug for the auction, this time from Keith Mitchell and Mike Miller in the production truck.
Tenay has gotten word that Jarrett's agreed to team with Truth later, and they speculate more on where Jarrett stands with Russo.
Goldy is backstage with Siaki ahead of his title shot next week. Goldy actually wishes him good luck despite their differences in the past. Siaki says he's waited a long time for this, says it's his for the taking, it's crystal clear. He says though Lynn is injured, it doesn't matter when, the title is all his. All the politics and hardship he's survived in WCW, no more of that, there's no ifs, ands, or butts about it, after it's around his waist, it will be the first day of the rest of his life. That was a lot of nothing and then ended with something that made no sense.
Tenay is on the stage to interview Jerry Lynn, and wants him to bring us up to speed on his injury. He says he was scared to death last week, thought he tore his rotator cuff, but doctors said it's only a partial pec tear, and though he wanted to defend, he hasn't been cleared. Lynn talks about his past with Siaki and their unfinished business, puts him over, but reminds us he had to cheat to beat him in their last encounter.
Suddenly we cut to ringside where the Harris Brothers have hopped the guard rail with a table in hand, and are beating someone up on the floor. Oh it's Behrens, tossing him and the table in the ring. Tenay tries to stop Lynn but he runs down to save. Behrens is laid on the table as they beat down Lynn, then deliver the H Bomb on Lynn through Behrens and the table. Truth runs out to trade blows, the Ron tries to use a chair but Truth uses it against him. Truth is holding his own pretty damn well, until he gets a chair booted back into his face, then a second time, and a third time. Truth is taken up some steps toward the bleachers and thrown over the railing through a table. Referees are out to check on him. Jarrett nowhere to be seen as the Harrises leave. Christ this show is a mess.
Break
Now cut to the back, Bob has recruited his son BG James to team with Jarrett in Truth's place. He agrees to do it for Bob and no one else. I smell a swerve.
So it's time for the Bullrope Match, but Mitchell comes out with a mic and has some distressing news for AMW. He's been feeling under the weather, even fakes a cough, and got some testing done, and his personal physician Jack Kevorkian just called to say that he tested positive for acute priapism (aka prolonged erection of the penis) and double pneumonia, so he's in no shape to have a match. Because he's a charitable man though, he figured he'd send the ultimate sacrifice and will let BellaDonna fill in for him.
AMW want no part of this even though she attaches the bullrope to her wrist and tries to egg them on. Storm shoves her to the mat and they go after Mitchell on the stage, but of course out comes the New Church. Storm sent into the guard rail and nailed in the head with a chair, then Harris sent into the guard rail. Slash with a DDT on Storm as they take it to the ring. Lee with a press slam to Harris and Slash nails Storm in the back of the head with the cowbell. Lee chokes Harris with the rope, then Slash with the hangman's neckbreaker on Storm, before choking him with the rope. Officials run out to break it up. Of course now Mitchell enters the ring to have this match after a miracle.
Bullrope Match: America's Most Wanted vs "Father" James Mitchell (w/ BellaDonna, Slash and Brian Lee)
Mitchell lays in some boots as the ref attaches the bullrope to their wrists, then Mitchell chokes Storm with the rope, then gouges Harris' eyes. Mitchell wraps the rope around his fist to nail Harris, then nails Storm with the bell, then Harris in the back of the head. Mitchell gets a mic: "Ain't evil a bitch? And speaking of bitches..." he calls BellaDonna into the ring to finish the job. So she reattaches the rope to her wrist and starts attacking them with the cowbell repeatedly, and Mitchell leaves. She goes to the middle rope witht he bell in hand but she's yanked down by Harris. AMW are both up and Lee tries to interfere, then Storm gets her with the 8 Second Ride. More interference intercepted. Catatonic by Harris on BellaDonna. AMW connect with the Death Sentence, and somehow pin her to win the match in 3:37. The best I can say is credit to her for taking the moves, and she did good in her role, though I think she got nailed in the face off that Death Sentence. Still, it's two week's into the Russo era and I already have flashbacks of WCW.
AMW chase Mitchell to the back.
Now the sell for next week:
- Amazing Red gets a chance at payback as he faces AJ Styles
- Sonny Siaki gets his shot at the X Division Championship as he challenges Jerry Lynn
- Jarrett will defend his NWA Championship against Curt Hennig
Before the main event, we go to a pre-tape interview Tenay did with Hennig earlier in the week. Hennig calls himself the greatest athlete out of Minnesota and talks about his time in AWA, being their World Champion in '87, back when wrestling was more... well, wrestling, and they used to say the real World Champion wore that belt.
Tenay moves the conversation to sports entertainment and specifically to Russo, since they both worked for him in WCW. He says he brought in a new wave of wrestling in '90 and now it's evolved again, and Russo had a lot to do with it. He says he has nothing personal against the guy, but doesn't agree with what he did, putting actors in their craft, or putting himself on camera and in the ring. He's been on the road a long time and can speak for a lot of the wrestlers, Russo didn't put the time in on the road, didn't feel the bumps, and put up with everything. He thinks Russo should stay in the back and off camera.
Onto his title match next week. He talks about wrestling the greats through the years, like Hogan, Goldberg, the Steiners, Macho Man, Piper, and Jarrett's been there the whole time and has paid his dues and is on top of his game. He says he's not taking anything away but there's a difference between being good and great: He's great, and Jarrett's good, really good in fact. He says he's getting the opportunity to be the real World Champion, he's in the best shape of his life, he brings up his "match" with Lesnar on the Plane Ride from Hell and it lit a fire under him. He says at 45 he can still perform as well as he did 10 years ago, and if he was a betting man he'd bet himself next week.
The Harris Brothers vs Jeff Jarrett (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) & BG James(?)
Pre-Match: Cut to the back and James has been laid out in a horribly staged attack. I still can't tell if this was just poor production, or if I'm right that this is a swerve. Goldy and Bob are there to check on him.
For now, Jarrett goes it alone as the Harrises double team him at ringside with vicious rights, then sent into the guard rail. Jarrett sent into the guard rail again, then knocked onto the announce table with more rights. Jarrett fights back with a chair but he's outnumbered again, getting tossed into the crowd. Harrises keep control as they lay into him fighting into the crowd, Jarrett thrown into several chairs as fans move out of the way. Chair thrown at Jarrett's head before more shots are delivered. Jarrett gets a chair again and wails away on both of them and they just no sell and they outnumber again. Jarrett throws one of them into more chairs, then the other in the head with a chair, throwing it at him. More outnumbering as they leave the crowd.
Jarrett spine first into the apron before they finally take it to the ring. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a sidewalk slam from Ron. Jarrett sent off the ropes into a big boot by Don. Jarrett sent off the ropes and he flips out of the H Bomb, but caught with a double clothesline. Jarrett flips out of another H Bomb, ducks a second double clothesline and hits one of his own.
Now Jarrett a house of fire as Truth comes out with ribs taped and chair in hand, a noticeable limp. Jarrett with chair shots to the head. Mounted rights in the corner by Jarrett, while the other Harris intercepts Truth at the apron before he can do anything. Jarrett counters an Irish whip to hit the Stroke, and while the other Harris is dealing with Truth, gets the win in 5:14.
Jarrett quickly rolls out of the ring. Jarrett tries to get Truth to go to the back with him, but Truth continues to ringside to get a mic. He's sick and tired of this shit and wants Russo right now. Harrises go right after him though and take him to the ring for an H Bomb, then some elbows to the ribs.
Russo hops the guard rail and Truth gets another H Bomb. Russo stands over him then James comes out with a chair, helps Truth up, and just like I called it it's a swerve, nailing Truth in the head with the chair. He and Russo embrace as the Harrisses lay into Truth. And as if this shit show didn't get any more random, this is the final shot of the show to the confusion of everyone.
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