NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #26 (December 18, 2002)

 

Welcomed as always by Tenay and West for the final show of the year. Tonight, a 10-man gauntlet for an X Division Title match, James and Truth in a Street Fight, and we might find out if Jarrett is with Russo or not. 

Tenay talks about how the NWA Title separated itself from all other World Titles in its 53 year history, one that's not a regional or company title but defended all around the word,, and Jarrett's just returned from defending in Japan. This leads to a video package of Jarrett's tour as champion.

Cut to outside as Goldy tries to get a word with Hennig, who's just arrived at the building. Can't hear a word she's saying on her mic as it's echoing, but Hennig makes his way to the ring through the crowd, here to talk about Russo. He was gonna wait until the end of the show, but he ran out of beer and has Lesnar off to the liquor store to buy more. He says he's the greatest wrestler to put on a pair of boots, but Russo cost him the NWA Title last week with his sports entertainment. He says he's not going to physically abuse Russo with his mouth like Piper did, he's gonna use the muscles and body that god gave him to twist him up in a knot. He asks if Russo is man or mouse and tells him to squeak up. Russo of course is nowhere to be seen. Hennig says if he sees Russo's rotten, slimy body in the area or in the ring, his fist is going down Russo's throat.

Speak of the devil, Russo comes out through the crowd and gets his hands on Russo, but then Low Ki, Elix Skipper and Christopher Daniels come out of nowhere to make the save. Now BG James is on commentary trying to be Jim Ross, and the Harris Twins are there too. Low Ki with a dropkick to the face, then a flatliner by Daniels, and a springboard leg drop by Elix. Harris Twins are tearing off the TNA banners lining the guard rail. Russo welcomes Hennig to Sports Entertainment Extreme. Security finally rush out to restore order. Russo hops the announce table to scream in Tenay's face before they all leave. What a fucking mess already. 

Tenay says that Russo apparently said "screw the gauntlet" during his rant.

Goldy is backstage to get a word with Bullet Bob. Styles is walking by so Bob pulls him aside, and says he's not welcome in the NWA locker room after what happened at the end f last week's show. Styles denies being with Russo and says all he did was do his talking in the ring, like Bob always preaches, he schooled everyone in the X Division, and deserves to be NWA Champion. He says he's going to be all over Jarrett until he gets it. AJ leaves and Bob follows.

X Division #1 Contender's 10-Man Gauntlet for the Gold

Pre-Match: Unlike previous gauntlets, there's no battle royal part to this match. It's pinfall or submission for elimination until only one man remains. Starting with two wrestlers, with another entering every 90 seconds. Starting the match is Jason Cross and Amazing Red. Before that though, Jarrett is beating the crap out of AJ in the locker room with Plumtree standing nearby, and it spills outside. 

Some quick back and forth to start, as commentary inform us that Daniels, Elix and Low Ki are going to be replaced by the SATs and Ace Steel in this match after what happened earlier. Quick exchange of pinfalls. Cross takes control after missing a senton, Red with a shooting star for two. Clotheslined out to the floor, then Red off the apron with a side kick to the face.

In next is Tony Mamaluke, a double-arm DDT into a guillotine on Red back in the ring, then gets Cross with a shin breaker and a dragon screw, into that stretch muffler/half-crab combo until Cross reaches the ropes. Mamaluke drags him back to the center though, then releases the hold, kicking Cross and clotheslining Red. Jawbreaker by Mamaluke sends Cross out to the floor.

Next is Jimmy Rave. Mamaluke sent to the corner into an overhead belly-to-belly. Red sent off the ropes, misses a clothesline, tries a Code Red but hit with a Gory Bomb, then Mamaluke dropkicks Rave in the side of the head. Cross goes up op but gets knocked to the floor by Mamaluke, then Rave turns a shinbreaker into a sunset flip for two. Saito suplex by Mamaluke to Rave, then a roundhouse from Cross to Red on the floor. Rave set on the top rope and avoids a superplex.

Next is Shark Boy, joins the two up top with a sunset flip taking them both down. Hangman's neckbreaker on Cross, then eats a boot from Rave. Shark avoids a tornado DDT in the corner to hit a bulldog from the middle rope, as Plumtree is seen coming over to commentary. Shark Boy covers Rave for two. Crossbody to Red by Cross. Mamaluke tossed to the floor by Shark Boy. Cross with a suplex to Mamaluke on the floor. Rave covers Shark Boy for two.

Now comes Kid Kash to attack Rave and Shark Boy. Red eats a big boot by Cross on the floor, and Shark Boy hits a dropkick on Kash. Kash sent to the corner, floats over into a scoop slam for two. Kash sent off the ropes and clotheslined out to the floor, then Shark Boy with a crossbody takes him out. Cross with a senton on Rave for two.

#7 is Ace Steel. Plumtree says things didn't work out between the two of them, though he respects Ace. Ace with a springboard dropkick to Rave right to the face. Rave rolls up Mamaluke for an elimination. Rave with a tilt-a-whirl into a crossface on Shark Boy, as Cross hits a baseball slide on Kash. Shark Boy sent to the corner, gets a boot up, into a floatover stunner on Rave for an elimination

#8 is Jose Maximo is next, as Kash hits a double underhook piledriver on Shark Boy to get rid of him. Jose up top with a crossbody to Kash for two. Kash sent off the ropes, through the legs, off the top with a crossbody for two of his own. Jose sent off the ropes to hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissor. Somewhere in all this Plumtree mentions how AJ isn't returning his calls and wants a return on his investment. Powerbomb by Kash to Jose. Kash with a scoop slam for two by Kash

#9 is Joel Maximo. Kick to the back of the head to Kash. Everyone on the floor and Ace is sent into the guard rail by one of the Maximos. Plumtree finally leaves as the Maximo is suplexed on the floor. The other Maximo and Red gang up on Ace. Jose sent into the guard rail. Kash throws a chair at the face of Red as Cross hits something on Ace for two back in the ring.

#10 is David Young. Ace rolls up Cross for two. Windup facebuster by David to Cross, then a sitout powerbomb on Red. David sent off the ropes and hits a double back suplex on the Maximos. Ace tries a tornado DDT but he's sent into the corner with a North Lights suplex. Spinebuster for Kash. David with an Asai moonsault onto Ace and the Maximos. Ace up top with a crossbody onto all three. Cross with a corkscrew tope onto all four. Red with a back flip over the ropes, then stomped down by Ace. Kash with a front flip onto everyone off a springboard.

Kash with a springboard dropkick to Young gets him two. Kash sent off the ropes, off the top rope with a hurricanrana to David, then off the ropes into a tornado DDT for two. Red goes after Ace on the floor with vicious rights. Kash shoved off the top rope into the guard rail. David takes one Maximo up top, but the other gets him on his shoulders, Jose up top with a DDT off Joel's shoulders. Red with the Infrared eliminates David.

Ace sends one off the ropes into a belly-to-belly. Ace up top only to be crotched. Ace with a low blow it looks like to hit a tornado DDT from the top rope and Jose is out. Joel sent off the ropes, tilt-a-whirls into a rollup and Ace is out. Kash with a short-arm clothesline to Joel for two. Joel countered with a hurricanrana into a rollup and Joel's out. Down to Kash, Red and Cross.

Double drop toe hold to Cross, leg drop and a senton on Cross. Red sent off the ropes, gets Kash with an arm drag, then  headscissor dropping Kash on his head. Red sent to the apron, floats over Kash's back, misses an enziguri but hits a roundhouse for two. Red up top, Kash gets him a top rope belly-to-belly to cover, but Cross breaks it up for some reason. Brainbuster to Red by Cross, then a kick by Kash to Cross. Kash sent to the corner, goes to the middle rope but kicked in the head by Red. Cross with a Frankensteiner to Kash and Red hits a flatliner from the middle rope to Kash and he's out. Cross with a brainbuster, then a front slam. Cross up top with a Crossfire gets the win in 22:07. Excellent match after a dreadful start to the show.

Over to commentary to make an announcement on behalf of Bullet Bob. After Lynn was screwed last week, he's been added to the X Division Title match for later tonight. On top of that, AMW, New Church and Harris Twins in a three-way of their own in a non-title match, plus the Street Fight between James and Truth. 

Oh joy, more Russo, joined by SEX. Something that's been on his mind is if the people realize that, every Wednesday night on PPV, thousands of people tune in to laugh at them, and that they look pathetic to a New Yorker like himself, saying he'd make a million bucks in that dump if he were a dentist.

He introduces us to three newest members of the group. First, Low Ki. He explains that NWA wouldn't book him on the show because he wouldn't commit to a 52 week schedule, so they told him to sit at home and think about. So he did, and Russo called him and when he wanted off the couch, because SEX is now his home. 

Next, Christopher Daniels. He says he's read about Daniels on the internet every week for the last two years, and he's not working for NWA because his plane ticket from California was too much. Russo says he'll buy Daniels a plane and welcomes him to the family. 

Now Elix, his favorite, he has a soft spot for Elix. He gives the mic to Elix, who explains he wanted everything NWA could give him a week and it still wasn't enough. Russo promises to line his pockets with money, he will get him laid twice a day.

He turns to James now and says he watched him last week with Bob, and says there's no compassion in SEX, and says he'll kick his ass out as quickly as he brought it in, and that he'll kick Bob's ass. He tells the Twins that this is the night to prove themselves to him and to not let him down. Now onto the real reason he's here. He's tired of waiting for an answer from Jarrett and tells him to bring his hillbilly, hick ass out.

Out comes Jarrett with a mic. He's sat back for the last three weeks and listened to Russo run his mouth, so it's time he shut up and listen. He wants everyone to know who Russo is before telling his side: he's a magazine writer, nothing more than a man who's green and wet behind the ears and has no business being in the ring, he disrespects the boys and the wrestlers, he hates the business because he never had the balls to be a wrestler. 

Now for his side of the story: He was the first WWF guy in 1993 that Vince gave Russo orders to go interview, and Russo ran like a little girl who got a lollipop to get some words with Jarrett, who was IC Champion at the time. Then he went to WCW at the peak of the NWO, and Russo was calling him every day begging him to get Bischoff to hire him and get out of Stanford. Then he went back to WWF and protected Russo's ass because HBK wanted to kick his ass many times, and says James and the Twins both know it too. Then he goes back to WCW and Goldberg wanted to rip Russo's head off his shoulders, and Russo ran to him to talk to Scott Steiner who was also ready to kill him. Jarrett lost count of how many times he's protected Russo.

He does give credit where it's due though, he says the two of them together have been very successful under the guise of sports entertainment, he hit Gary Coleman with a guitar, he figure foured Cindy Margolis, he knocked out Ben Stiller, hell he hit a 75-year old woman over the head with a guitar. He had a Good Housekeeping Match with Chyna. Three weeks ago though Russo crossed a line when he spit in his father's face, and disrespected everything Jarrett stood for, and though they stand there it wouldn't be possible without the NWA. He says if it weren't for pro wrestling, the words Russo is so embarrassed to say, he'd be back in Long Island selling 20" televisions. 

So he has some questions before giving his answer. Russo has one of his own, and asks where Jarrett's balls are. He says Jeff has lost his edge, he's a daddy's boy, and all the boys are laughing at him, he has no respect, they don't wanna listen to Jeff, and he's the only one who can get their respect back for Jarrett, the laughing stock. So Russo asks if he's with or without him and finally gets to the point. Jeff says he never was with him, and never will be, because he's a pompous, arrogant, Yankee son of a bitch. 

So Jarrett, being the idiot he is, starts going after SEX, and manages to divide and conquer, even getting a chair to avoid the numbers game, at least at first. Finally they get to him. H Bomb by the Twins. Dropkick under the chin by Low Ki. Elix with the Play of the Day. Daniels with the BME. Officials finally run out but too little too late. SEX finally leave the ring and Russo lays across the announce table to drink water and Tenay gets some words in before they leave. I'll give them this, I actually really loved this segment, mostly because I didn't realize Jarrett could cut a good promo like this. Unfortunately I have no faith in this storyline being good and being worth it in the long run

Disciples of the New Church (NWA World Tag Team Championships) (w/ Father James Mitchell & BellaDonna) vs America's Most Wanted vs Harris Twins

Slash and Storm start out, with both Twins staying on the apron. Slash caught with a corkscrew moonsault for two. Slash sent off the ropes, avoids a slam and hits an inverted DDT and a cover, and a Twin breaks it up. Percy is watching on from the stage. Storm sent off the ropes, avoids a clothesline, hits a Russian leg sweep for two. Harris tags in, inverted atomic drop and a superkick by AMW for two. 

Slash sent to the corner, gets a boot up and hits a clothesline. Brian in now. Harris sent off the ropes into a big boot for two. Harris face first in the corner, then Brian with a suplex for two. Harris off the ropes with some rights, only to be picked up in a gorilla press. Harris choked over the middle rope, then sent off the ropes, misses a clothesline and gets a Thesz Press with some rights. Slash knocked off the apron, then Harris sent off the ropes, hits a clothesline. Harris up top now with a crossbody for two.

Storm back in. Brian sent off the ropes into a double back drop, Storm with a dropkick and Harris with a catapult. Twins knocked off the apron, which brings then in with clotheslines to AMW. AMW tossed out to the floor as the Church and the Twins team up against them. Storm face first off the announce table. Brian into the guard rail, then Storm into it. Mitchell rakes Harris' back. Storm and a twin are fighting in the crowd. Slash chokes Storm with a cable. Brian sent into the guard rail.

Harris and Don in the ring, Don sent off the ropes, avoids a clothesline and gets one of his own from Harris. Storm has Ron in the corner. Big boot by Don, then a double chokeslam to Harris. Harris sent off the ropes into the H Bomb. Mitchell distracts the ref as the Twins go for another chokeslam, until Athena runs in with a low blow. Now the fucking Road Warriors are here to save her, clearing out the ring. Doomsday Device on Slash, then a powerslam for one twin, Hawk with a splash from the top. Harris picks up the pieces for the win in 7:37. OK this match was pretty good until the Harrises got involved. This is roughly six months before the Road Warriors appear on WWE TV, with a notably bad performance, so I'm not sure how well this will go, but they got a pop, and the Doomsday Device looked great. AMW winning was the right call.

Goldy catches up with the Road Warriors backstage and basically tells Russo to shove his sports entertainment up his ass on their way out of the arena. They also say they're dining on death and Russo's next. Then she walks into a meeting Bullet Bob is having with the X Division in the locker room to rally them against Russo.

Recap of Lynn and Siaki's issues. and even though he's the #1 contender, there's no mention of Money.

NWA X Division Championship: EZ Money vs Jerry Lynn vs Sonny Siaki (c) 

Siaki tries to get the challengers to go after each other, but they deck him instead first. Then an exchange of holds, then a handshake. Siaki drops Lynn and misses a clothesline on Money, hit with a facebuster and a running neckbreaker, Lynn breaking the pin attempt. Lynn sent off the ropes, gets Money with a headscissor. Money avoids a cradle piledriver and tries the Deadeye, but eats a superkick, Lynn rolls through with a sunset flip but Siaki breaks it up.

Lynn sent to the corner, gets a boot up on Siaki, then he's popped up onto Money's shoulders. Headscissor by Lynn sends Money into Siaki with a spear, and Lynn breaks up another pin attempt. Lynn covers Siaki for two. Throat shot by Siaki, then a pumphandle suplx on Lynn, cover and Money breaks it up. Money with boots and a spin kick in the corner to Siaki, then a basement dropkick to the face of Siaki. Lynn gets his boots up as Money tries one on him and gets him with a dropkick./Money covers Siaki for two, then Lynn for two.

Lynn sent off the ropes, who jumps off Siaki's back to DDT Money for two. Lynn sent off the ropes, back drops Siaki to the apron and tries a leg drop, but Siaki avoids it and gets him with a right. Siaki hung up on the rope throat first, then Money back dropped onto him. Money and Siaki trade shots until Lynn connects with a flip dive onto both from the middle rope. Lynn suplexes Siaki back in from the apron, then Money gets Siaki with the buckshot lariat, before he and Lynn take each other out with a double clothesline.

Lynn sent to the corner, tries to float over but caught with some move by Money for two, Siaki breaking it up. Belly to belly by Siaki on Money for two. Siaki sent into the corner and caught with a 3D, Lynn covers for two. Lynn with the cradle piledriver on Money and a cover but Siaki yanks the ref's legs to break it up. Lynn goes for the piledriver on Siaki, but the mystery woman from last week has appeared on the apron, distracting Lynn with a strip tease. Lynn clotheslined out to the floor. Money tries his release suplex, but Siak-colypse Now gets the win in 7:45. Pretty good match here.

Our mystery woman embraces Russo who's also appeared at ringside now, who takes her into the ring with a mic to speak to Siaki. He says it was always about Siaki for him, he knew Jarrett's answer the minute he asked, and has had his eye on Siaki since this started. He says Siaki is the elite athlete in the business, the man that he wants to represent SEX, he says no one has the promise at Siaki's age that he does, but he knows there's a price. That's why he brought the mystery woman as a gift, she's every man's desire, and she's his. He says that every dirty thought in Siaki's mind will come true. He quotes Tony Montana, and says the world is Sonny's.

Lynn spears Siaki down but the mystery woman hits a low blow, Siaki lays into him with boots. Russo calls Lynn a washed up pro wrestler, then the woman kicks him in the nuts again. Russo calls that a touchdown. Siaki lays into him some more before security rush in,

Break

Street Fight: Ron "the Truth" Killings vs BG James

Pre-Match: Unlike usual Street Fights, this one is falls count anywhere.

James attacks from behind mid-rap to start this match. James with rights in the corner, then Truth sent across the ring, floats over, back flips and hits a leg lariat, then a flying forearm sends James out to the floor. James is retreating to the stage and Truth follows, a slug fest now. Truth with the ax kick on the stage gets him a two count. James is thrown off the stage face first off a dancer's platform. 

Truth nailed in the head with a trash can for two as he repositions a nearby table. Another can shot to the head. James with a powerbomb through the table for two. James finds a shovel and a cookie sheet, nailing Truth in the head with the latter bending it in half. Then a wet floor sign across the back. There's a sink just conveniently lying around, like a legit sink because Truth kicks him, he drops it and you can hear it shatter. Shovel to the face of James.

Elix appears out of nowhere to choke Truth with something, and Daniels and Low Ki are there too. Something is broken over Truth's ribs, and he's hit with a trash can. James covers for the win in 4:35.

James can barely stand and now out comes Bullet Bob who gets a mic. He makes a challenge to Russo as the SAT's have suddenly appeared in the ring, joined by Amazing Red for a six-man tag.

Spanish Announce Team & Amazing Red vs Elix Skipper, Christopher Daniels & Low Ki

Big brawl to start the match, with Russo's guys having control immediately. Red is slammd on the floor by Daniels. Low Ki with a flying knee ff the top to one of the Maximos, they'll start this match as the legal men. Maximo sent to the corner, avoid a wheelbarrow kick and Low Ki dropkicked to the floor. Elix and Jose in the ring now, Jose sent off the ropes, through the legs and hits an arm drag. Daniels in now, Jose sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a suicide dive on Elix. Red off the top with a hurricanrana to Daniels. Low Ki is back in and sent to the corner, hit with a forearm, back elbow and a senton in the corner, then one Maximo gets him on his shoulders, Red with a springboard dropkick into a cutter. Cover by a Maximo for two. 

Red tags in, Low Ki sent off the ropes into a dropkick for two. Maximo tags in. Low Ki face first in the corner, sends Maximo across the ring, goes to the middle rope and tries a tornado DDT, but countered with an inverted atomic drop. Daniels tags in, runs into an arm drag and a dropkick. Rights by Maximo in the corner, then Red and the other Maximo get some in for two. Red back in. Daniels sent off the ropes into a double dropkick for two. Daniels with some forarms, then off the ropes, kicked in the gut, kicked in the side of the head, then an enziguri by Red for two.

Maximo back in. Daniels sent off the ropes into a powerslam and a cover, Low Ki breaks it up. Daniels with a jawbreaker but he's back dropped out to the floor. Elix comes in, drop toe hold, then Low Ki gets one. Submission double team sets Elix up for a basement fropkick to the face from Red. Double bulldog to Daniels for two from the Maximos. Red up top with a missile dropkick for two. Daniels sent off the ropes, Red nailed by Elix from the apron, then sent off the ropes into a clothesline. Elix back in. Military press drops Red throat first on the top rope, then knocks the Maximos off the apron. Red face first in the corner, then a Maximo face first off the announce table. Elix covers Red for a pair of near falls. 

Elix cranks the neck and delivers knees to the face, then Red shoved to the corner. Triple teaming on Red as the ref is distracted by the goaded SATs. Low Ki covers eventually for two. Snapmare and an elbow into a cover, Jose saves it. Daniels back in. Red with an inside cradle but Elix has the ref distracted and its only two. Daniels with a stalling suplex, then a split-legged moonsault and a cover, broken up again. Elix back in. Ab stretch on Red. Red kicks his way out and tries to dive for the tag, but Elix catches him. Low Ki back in with double chops to the back. Red sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a tilt-a-whirl DDT. Low Ki intercepts another tag and tries the Ki Crusher into the corner, but he's sent face first into it instead. Red sent off the ropes but gets the Code Red for two.

Double tag to the Maximos. Low Ki sent off the ropes, popped up and down. One sent to the corner, gets Elix with a boot and a tornado DDT, covers but Daniels saves it. Maximo caught with a leg sweep, then the BME connects but Joel saves it. Daniels dropped on his head for two. Elix with a brainbuster for two on Joel, who's tossed out to the floor. Elix with a corkscrew crossbody to Joel. Low Ki is tossed out by Jose. Red tags in and Low Ki is tossed in. Red with rapid rights and chops, then sent off the ropes, tries Code Red again but swung down onto his back. Backbreaker by Low Ki, then up top and misses a corkscrew moonsault. Red misses the Infrared. Low Ki covers but it's only two.

Ki Crusher countered into a roll up for a near fall. Ki sent off the ropes and hits a side kick. Don West meanwhile has climbed on top of the announce table to cheer on Red. Ki covers for two. Elix face first off the announce table by Joel who unloads on him. Daniels in now with Red, who's sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, popped up into a hurricanrana for two. Daniels with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Ki tags back in. Daniels eats a boot to the face, Ki rolled up for a near fall. Clothesline to Red by Ki, Daniels face first off the announce table. Red sent to the corner for a cartwheel kick and a cover but it's broken up. Ki covers again for two even though Red is barely conscious. 

Red sent off the ropes, misses a clothesline and hits a spin kick. 719 connects. Red with a springboard flatliner but it's a near fall. Standing shooting star by Red gets two. Gutwrench powerbomb by Elix for two. Ki Crusher avoided by Red from the middle rope. SATs come in for the Spanish Fly, then miss crossbodies onto Elix and Daniels. SATs are taken out as Red goes up top with Ki, but hits the Ki Crusher from the middle rope for the win in 21:03. OK this one went on a little too long, but I mean they had the crowd into every second of it, and even for what basically became a spot fest, this was a great match.

Russo returns with a mic. He says they saved the best for last, and now they're going to answer the greatest mystery in pro wrestling. He asks it to James, who's also appeared out of nowhere: Why are there always tables under the ring? Because they put them there. Now the Twins are here all of a sudden and they pull out a table. Russo insults Red some and they lay Red and the SATs on top of it. Elix, Daniels and Low Ki go up top, but Hennig is back out to make the save, only to be quickly outnumbered. He's using a belt to try and even things out

Oh for Christ's sake, of all people now, David Flair comes in with an ax, nailing Hennig in the throat with the handle. David with a figure 4 now. Jarrett out now with  chair, nailing everyone in the head with it. Low Ki gets the Stroke. He saves Hennig last and puts David in the figure 4. Now Styles is in and the numbers are two much again. Jarrett is put on the table and Elix and Daniels go up top to put him through it. Russo meanwhile takes the ax to start destroying the entrance set. He ends the show saying this was presented by SEX.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I continue to hate everything Russo is involved in. He was all over this show. Like I feel like he was on this more than any WCW show he was on. That said, this show had a lot of solid action, with the exception of the Street Fight, and even the three-way tag had some good in it. And the one thing they're getting right is making the X Division look like stars.