NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #27 (January 8, 2003)

A recap of everything that's happened since Russo first debuted on TV, which takes up the first six and a half minutes of the show.

Welcomed West, as the show opens with a new TNA logo, one we're all familiar with. Tenay meanwhile is in the ring with Truth, Lynn and AMW. Because of Russo's attempt to take over TNA, Tenay has requested this time and brought the past, present and future out to join him. At ringside, Sarah Lee and Corsica Joe, along with Eddie Marlin, grandfather of Jarrett. There's two staff members, Chrus Vaughn and Rick Santel, are also ringside as the future. He says this is the progression of the last 50 years in NWA and he wants to see it continue.

He gets personal now as he relates a story of being in a production meeting, sat next to Bobby Heenan, where Russo claimed he could make anyone a wrestler, like himself, Arquette Judy Bagwell, or the Nitro Girls among others, while Heenan bled and bumped his ass off for 30 years, calling it a lack of respect for the business. More personally was insulting the fans intelligence with the crap Russo put on WCW television every week, and WCW closed, he was out of a job for a year and a half. He makes a plea to the fans to contact NWA, give their feelings about the NWA vs SEX, a plea to the wrestlers past and present, step up to the plate and help rid the business of Russo.

Out comes SEX through the crowd. Russo wants the mic rom Tenay but he refuses to hand it over. He gets one from ringside anyways. He's not here to rant and rave tonight, but instead to get something through Tenay's head. Russo makes it clear he has friends in high places, but Tenay says they're ready to fight him and his SEX. Russo threatens to stick his foot up so far Tenay's "Eddie Munster ass" his head will spin. He repeats that he's here to save the business, which is at an all time low, because people like Tenay are allowed to run his mouth. He claims ratings were at an all time high when he was in charge, and nobody came to this shit hole until he walked in. 

He claims they're here to see SEX despite a Russo sucks chant, Russo says that evolution is the solution. He claims Jarrett is in the back regretting what he did, and says the guys in the ring will regret it too. He just about buries everyone in the ring and goes to start on the staff members until Tenay butts in to say no one's drinking his Kool Aid. Then Tenay defends the legends at ringside until Russo buries them too. Sarah Lee finally has enough and gets in the ring and flips off Russo. and tries to get his hands on her, which starts a brawl. Jarrett and the Road Warriors come out for the save as SEX have the numbers advantage. Tenay I'll give credit is fantastic, and the storyline at least makes some sense. I still can't stand to see Russo on this show. 

EZ Money & Kid Kash vs Tony Mamaluke & David Young

All four start fighting to start the match, then Kash and Tony start as the legal men. Money tags in after a bit of action, double back drop on Mamaluke, then Tony screws up a double roll move. Double gutbuster and dropkick for two from Money. Tony sent off the ropes, avids a tilt-a-whirl but eats a spin kick for two. Tony face first in the corner, then eats a boot to the face and a rolling neckbreaker for two.

Kash back in. Impaler DDT by Kash for two. Mamaluke sent off the ropes, Young tags himself in, catches Kash with a modified Bossman Slam. Young sent to the corner and turns Kash inside out with a spear, nearly landing on his head. Tony back in, drop toe hold by Young, inverted snapmare by Tony for two. Kash face first in the corner, sent across the ring, goes to the middle rope and hits a corkscrew moonsault for two. 

Tony sent to the corner, floats over and hits a clothesline for two. Young back in. Kick to the face of Kash, then a back suplex backbreaker. Bearhug by Young. Kash tries to move them to their corner to no avail, now Tony tags in to apply a bearhug. Kash makes to Money to tag in. Clotheslines and a scoop slam, standing moonsault and a double pin by Money for a near fall.

Money and Young fight as Kash and Tony miss top rope moves. Superkick by Money to Young before going up top with a nice frog splash, cover and Mamaluke saves it. Money tossed to the floor. Kash with a springboard hurricanrana to Young, then a tornado DDT, covers and Mamaluke saves it again. Kash sent into Young for a sitout powerbomb and Money saves the pin attempt, before he's tossed to the floor. Kash caught with a back sulex from Mamaluke, then Money tries the buckshot lariat, but he's caught by Young, and one or both of them fuck up a spinebuster. Money sent off the ropes into a proper spinebuster by Young for the win. (7:44) This match was too messy to really enjoy.

Then they're all attacked by Skipper, Low Ki and Daniels. Skipper gets on the mic and says TNA had no idea what to do with them, they didn't want to pay them, or give them better contracts. Now they're part of SEX, and the best part of it is the three of them, Triple X. He says they're the cream of the crop and there's no X Division without them, and it's still his house.

Jarrett comes out and clears the ring, says everyone's house, not Elix's. He says NWA will be around long after the four of them. Jarrett challenges them to three separate matches for tonight, and when he beats them, he wants Russo so he can drive him through a table. Jarrett scares them off with a chair.

Goldy is backstage with Bob, Truth, AMW and Lynn. Bob is trying to get someone on the phone. He says he knows he can't do this on his own and it will take every ounce of muscle to back up Jarrett, and if they don't hit a grand slam they'll lose the war to Russo. Lynn says it's bullshit and it won't happen again, and tonight he's making a stand. Truth reminds us he named this place the Asylum and has been with TNA since day one, and it's not coming down yet. Bob finally gets this person on the phone and says he needs them immediately, and Goldy tries to get the scoop, but Bob won't divulge the information.

NWA X Division Championship: Jason Cross vs Sonny Siaki (c) (w/ Desire) 

Pre-Match: Just want to point out the nameplate on the screen is calling her "MISS SEX". So there's that.

Siaki overpowers Cross on an initial lockup, then they exchange holds, then a series of pin attempts from Cross. Siaki with a slap to the face and a right, Cross sent to the corner, floats over and delivers a hurricanrana. Siaki sent off the ropes into a dropkick for two. Siaki retreats to the apron before having his legs kicked out, Cross up top with a corkscrew crossbody. Back in the ring, Cross goes for a slingshot from the apron but Desire hooks the leg. Siaki with a low blow behind the ref's back, then drops Cross throat first on the top rope for two.

Siaki with chops in the corner, then Cross with some of his own before Siaki delivers a knee. Cross sent to the corner, gets the boots up, then belly to bellied into the opposite corner for two. Cross sent off the ropes, flips over into a roll up for two. Cross misses an enziguri but sends Siaki out of the ring with a back kick. Cross with a senton takes Siaki out on the floor, following with some rights before he's nailed with a clothesline by Desire. Cross swung into the side of the steps by the legs before returning to the ring for a two count. All this in full view of the referee.

Cross sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, hits a DDT. Cross sent off the ropes and gets Siaki with a bulldog for two. Siakki counters an Irish whip into a pumphandle, into a Samoan driver, covers but Cross gets the rope. Cross avoids Siak-olypse Now, but sends Siaki into the ref by accident. Cross with a brainbuster before going up top with the Crossfire, covers but the ref is still down. Plus Desire pulls him groin first into the ring post. Small package to retain in 8:14. I could get past the blatant DQ spots if it weren't for the fact commentary reminded us before the match that a champion loses the title on DQ now, rendering it completely pointless when you have interference. It was a good match regardless.

Bob Armstrong comes out and is having one of this. He wants the match restarted with Desire sent to the back, but now here's Russo along with the one of the Twins and BG James. Russo says no one came here to see Bob, they came to see sex. He says Cross is in no condition to restart the match, who's then laid out by the Twin. Russo doesn't give a shit about Bob, and sets James on him, or Russo will. Out comes Truth and Lynn for the save and we have an impromptu match.

Jerry Lynn & Ron "the Truth" Killings vs BG James & Don Harris

Truth with a crazy crossbody onto dON while Lynn takes James to the corner with rights. Lynn sent off the ropes before back dropping James to the corner. Lynn with a leg drop through the ropes then a crossbody takes out James. Truth leaps off the steps onto Don only to be caught and slammed into the guard rail. Lynn ducks a chair shot and dropkicks it back into James' face. Don and Truth are fighting in the crowd, chair to the back of Truth, then chair to the arm of Don. 

James and Lynn trade shots back in the ring, Don has control in the crowd. James with shake, rattle, no roll as Lynn hits a crossbody from the middle rope for two. Right and a knee drop misses from James, Lynn with a springboard bulldog, then mocks James with a shimmy leg drop for two. Truth and Don return to ringside as Lynn is sent off the ropes, pulled down by the hair by Don and James mounts with rights. Lynn face first into the knee of Don, who chokes Lynn while the ref is distrracted. 

Don tags in. Lynn sent off the ropes into a big boot, then a right to Truth. Lynn taken to the corner for knees before he's sent across the ring, floats over and rolls up for two. Lynn off the ropes into another big boot before James tags back in. Lynn sent off the ropes into double back elbows for two. Don in again. Double suplex countered into a double DDT by Lynn.

Lynn makes the hot tag to Truth. Rights to James and Don. Truth sent to the corner, floats over, back flips, splits and leg lariat to Don. Ax kick to James. Front suplex by Truth to James, then goes up top with a 450 dropping knees first onto James. Then all of a sudden Mike Sanders (yeah that Mike Sanders) comes out of nowhere for the DQ in 6:32. Not awful, but not all that good either.

Lynn is back in but he's outnumbered. There's an SOL chant. Security finally rush out to stop this while Russo, Siaki and Triple X look on from the crowd.

We finally seem to be getting answers, as we go to a sitdown with Tenay and Percy Pringle. Percy talks about being a fan in Mobile, going to wrestling matches, talks about Michael Hayes, Rock and Roll Express, his time with FCW and being put with Rick Rude and the Pringle Dynasty, his time in WCCW, and talks well mostly about his time in WWF and calls it his first exposure to sports entertainment, the first place where interviews were scripted. He adapted though and became a vital part, as on-screen and backstage help as a road agent.

Tenay says his time with Taker might be the first instance of sports entertainment and asks what his stance is on that versus traditional wrestling. Percy doesn't really know his position, he's got a lot of time on his hands, he's here because he wants to be, no telling what he might do. He dodges the question of if he's going to manage anyone, says if he tells us what he'll do, it'll ruin the tradition of Percival Pringle III and it's who he is at heart. He also says he hasn't hopped on board this ship yet. Well that was a lot of nothing.

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

Pre-Match: It's explained that NWA want closure on this feud, so they've declared there's no automatic rematch clause in the case of a title change tonight.

Fight to start the match with AMW taking control spilling to the floor. Church take control now. Slash sent into the guard rail finally by Storm, but Lee is choking Harris. Storm exposes the concrete but he's the one suplexed onto it, then Slash splashes onto him before choking him with a cable. Harris is nailed with a chair to the head, then a knee to the groin. Storm sent int the guard rail. Slash with a Michinoku Driver on the ramp on Storm, Lee choking Harris again. 

Slash and Storm take it to the ring as the legal men, Slash with a spinning crucifix bomb for a count of one. Lee tags in with a big boot, then a cheap shot to Harris before choking Storm some more. Storm fighting back and tries to tag but he's intercepted, taken to the Church's corner for more choking and shots. Slash hangs him up on the top rope, Lee covers for two. Slash back in with a shoulder block, then a chop block. Storm taken to the corner for chops and biting. Storm fighting back and sends Slash off the ropes, then caught with a DDT for two.

Knee drop by Slash and a tag for Lee, who comes off the ropes with a series of elbows before flipping off Harris. Storm sent off the ropes into a double clothesline for two. Rear chinlock by Slash. Storm tries to fight off to the corner but Slash cuts him down. Storm sent off the ropes, avoids a back drop and tries for the tag again, but Slash catches him. Storm gets an enziguri that sends Slash into the ref and makes the tag, but the ref doesn't see it. Storm gets sent to the floor and Lee nails him with a tag belt while Harris argues with the ref. Slash covers back in the ring for two. Slash chokes some more, then some headbutts in the corner and repeated stomps. Lee back in. Storm is trying to fight back but gets his eyes raked, before Lee puts on a rear chinlock. Slash back in. Storm sent off the ropes, hits a double DDT countering a back body drop.

Harris gets the hot tag, rights all around, clothesline to Slash, sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a flying one on Lee. Lee clotheslined to the floor, then caught with a hangman's neckbreaker by Slash. Storm with a superkick to Slash, Harris covers but only gets two. Lee attacks from behind as Slash gets powder, but ends up nailing Lee by mistake. Harris hits a spear but it's only two. Slash in the ring with Storm, misses a dropkick, Storm applies a sharpshooter and BellaDonna distracts the ref. Mitchell with the spike to the head of Storm but it's a near fall.

Slash takes off his belt and whips Storm with it, until Harris comes behind  and whips Slash with it. Lee hits Harris with the spike but only gets two. Storm sent off the ropes, gets Slash with a headscissor, then caught with a tombstone by Lee, cover but Harris breaks it up. Harriss ent off the ropes, counters a tombstone with one of his own for a near fall. Slash gets a chair and wedges it in the corner. Slash catapults Storm into the chair, covers for two. Slash gets the chair again but Storm avoids it. Death Sentence onto the chair to win the titles in 14:18. Brawl was fun to start, the middle went on too long, and the end was way too overbooked, it was ridiculous. Again, what's the point in the DQ rule when you can do anything you want? Right team won, so that's at least something.

Goldy is backstage once again trying to learn who Bob called earlier in the night. Bob won't give an answer.

Axe Handle on a Pole Match: Curt Hennig vs David Flair

Pre-Match: It took 27 shows for Russo to have a Pole match. I'm actually impressed. Curt gets a mic as he's out in street clothes for this match. He says he's sick of all the whining and moaning, spouts off some numbers, and once again brags about taking down Lesnar on the Plane Ride from Hell. He says David will make history tonight wrestling him, but counts on a no-show because it runs in his family. He brings up beating Flair in that Loser Leaves Town match back in '93 and he knows David doesn't have what it takes and can smell a rat a mile away.

David comes through the crowd and fails a cheap shot from behind, hitting the corner to start this match. Chops in the corner by Curt, then David tossed to the floor. Tenay mentions that David brought some sack to ringside with him. David in trunks and boots now instead of jeans and shirt like in WCW. Exchange of shots on the floor and David face first off the guard rail.

Hennig starts going for the handle, briefly intercepted by Flair. Curt tries to climb again but David hits a low blow. Chops by David and a snapmare, then a rolling neckbreaker. Curt sent off the ropes into a flapjack, then some stomps. David goes for the handle now, but Curt gets him with the electric chair drop. Curt now gets one of the crew members to take the ax down for him, then shoves him off the apron. Axe to the ribs and back of David, then the ref calls for the bell in 2:42.

So Curt wins. David comes back in with his sack and nails Curt in the head and back with it. Now stomping away and mounting with rights, choking him and scaring the ref away. More refs come out to break it up. We never see what's in the sack. Curt threatens the refs with the axe handle. I just want to point out this was Curt Hennig's final match before his death a month later. Goldy catches up with David but gets no answers who's frustrated with striking out repeatedly.

Desire comes out of SEX's locker room and tells Goldy that locker room is her turf and tells her to stay away. Goldy says she's doing her job as an interviewer. Desire takes her down, then Athena gets involved until Siaki pulls Desire off, then they go at it again. Security rush in to keep them all apart.

Over to commentary to hype next week's show:

- Sonny Siaki defends the X Division Championship against Amazing Red

Oh here's Mike Sanders to interrupt and call Tenay a piece of shit and says he doesn't know anything about Russo. He says Tenay's bullshit interviews don't mean anything, and says he's giving Tenay a chance to do an interview with Russo next week, tells him to bring his balls, integrity because shit's on. All while completely manhandling Tenay. Tenay can't wait. We never did hear what AMW are doing next week.

Now onto the main events:

Christopher Daniels vs Jeff Jarrett (NWA World Heavyweight Champion)

Jarrett gets the upperhand immediately with some rights, then sent off the ropes, avoids a dropkick before catapulting Daniels to the floor. Daniels with a cheap shot back in the ring, then sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, hits a dropkick. Another cheap shot takes Jarrett to the corner with kicks to the back. Jarrett fights back out of the corner, Daniels counters a suplex with a neckbreaker. Stomps by Daniels and headbutts take Jarrett to the corner, choking him over the middle rope, then sent off the ropes, clothesline by Jarrett. Daniels sent off the ropes, avoids a back drop, but tripped and caught with a figure 4. Daniels immediately rolls over to reverse it, Jarrett makes it to the ropes. 

Daniels with shots to the back and Jarrett fighting back, but caught with a jawbreaker and an enziguri for two. Scoop slam and a slingshot leg drop for two by Daniels. Jarrett face first in the corner three times, then sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and delivers rights. Daniels sent off the ropes but catches Jarrett with an STO. Daniels misses the BME, Jarrett with a boot from the corner and the Stroke for the win in 4:47.

"Primetime" Elix Skipper vs Jeff Jarrett (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)

Elix runs in immediately after the bell to start the next match, stomping away at Jarrett. Back suplex by Elix, then a handstand on the top rope into a leg drop. BG James is now on commentary, Elix covers for two. Jarrett face first in the corner, then sent off the ropes, tripped up and a slingshot splash to the back by Elix. Jarrett tossed out to the floor. Elix goes to do a flip over the ropes, and do a save as Jarrett moves out of the way, but he lands right on his head.

Elix seems fine though as he delivers boots and sends Jarrett over the guard rail. Elix has control as they fight in the crowd, getting Jarrett with a spin kick then face first off a chair. Jarrett starts to fight back and hits Elix over the head with the chair. Elix with a kick takes back control  and they go deeper into the crowd. Jarrett now with rights before taking it back to the ring. Jarrett sent off the ropes, caught in a sleeper hold and he starts to fade. Ref drops the arm twice, Jarrett finally starts to fight back up and out. Elix taken to the corner for rights, sent across the ring, flips over Jarrett and delivers a German suplex. Daniels goes up top as Elix holds up Jarrett, Jarrett moves and Elix is hit with a clothesline, giving Jarrett the win in 6:08.

Low Ki vs Jeff Jarrett (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) 

Next match starts immediately once again with Low Ki taking Jeff to the corner with stomps and choking. Face washing now with Low Ki's boot. Jarrett fighting back and sends Ki off the ropes, goes for the Stroke but caught with a kick. Snapmare and a twisting elbow by Low Ki for two. Neck scissor by Low Ki now, then a cover for two. Chops and rights by Low Ki in the corner, then rake of the eyes. Snapmare and a rear chinlock to Jarrett. Low Ki uses the bottom rope for leverage behind the ref's back. 

Jarrett fights his way out and back on huis feet, before being sent to the corner, back drops Ki to the apron and knocked to the floor with a right. Ki dropped on the guard rail throat first, then sent into it, then face first off the announce table twice. Jarrett with rights before taking a chair and nailing him over the back. Low blow by Ki and a chair across the back before taking it back to the ring. Dragon sleeper by Ki and Jarrett starts to fade again but manages just barely to get his feet on the ropes.

Double chops by Ki, then knees to the face, off the ropes with a boot to the face. More boots to the face, then of the ropes and Jarrett catches the boot this time. Jarrett tries a figure 4 but Ki fights it off. Ki tries a figure 4 and even mocks Jarrett, but gets kicked in the face. Ki sent off the ropes into a back drop. Daniels and Elix knocked off the apron. Ki sent off the ropes and dropkicks the knees. Kicks to the chest of Jarrett, but misses a roundhouse and caught with a low blow. Stroke connects, Jarrett covers, but Daniels and Elix break it up for the DQ in 7:54. Pretty solid matches here. Daniels was the only clean loss here, but he looked great in his match. Good all around.

Post-match beatdown ensues as referees try to get them out of there to no avail. Out come the Road Warriors to help even things up, clearing out the ring easily. Daniels gets the Doomsday Device this week. Styles though now comes out to take out the Warriors and Jarrett, so I guess he's joined Russo now. SEX has control again as Russo comes out again with the rest of his group. AJ with the Clash and Spiral Tap on Jarrett. AJ doesn't actually seem to be with Russo though and leaves on his own. 

Now they pull out a table and set it up in the ring to put Jarrett on top. Triple X all go up top, and now Dusty Rhodes comes out. He takes out Don and Siaki with Bionic Elbows, then a low blow and an elbow for James, the rest of SEX running off. Dusty continues to beat down James as the show ends.