NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #32 (February 12, 2003)

The show starts with a 10-bell salute for Curt Hennig, who had passed away two days prior.

We get some footage from after the show went off the air last week, where Jarrett got tied to the ropes and whipped by SEX, Russo calling it New York style. Some nasty welts on his back.

Welcomed to the show by West alone, as Tenay is in the ring with mic in hand to make an announcement. Bullet Bob has taken a leave of absence, citing the situation as too personal, so NWA went on a search and succeeded in finding a suitable replacement, a high-ranking executive with WCW, with WWF, known most fondly as the brains behind the Four Horsemen, JJ Dillon.

Dillon comes out, but so does Russo and the Harris Twins immediately. Russo is here to give an update on his friend Jarrett, and can't believe that the piece of shit Dillon has the audacity to enter the Asylum and face him. He says Dillon attempted to get him fired from WCW, which gets a pop from the crowd. Russo says he was the biggest fan of the Horsemen, spent many a morning watching Dillon on TV, Russo looked up to him and really liked him, until he got to know the man personally. He says Dillon had his head so far up McMahon's ass he couldn't even breathe. When McMahon realized he wasn't worth a shit, Russo says he kicked Dillon to the curb, so he packed up, went to WCW, sold them a bill of good, but brought nothing to the table. He says WCW is in the toilet because someone like Dillon has stroke, so they hired himself to bring it back, and his brand of SEX they were on the way to doing it. Then it hit Dillon, that if Russo takes over, there's no place for him in the business, so he went out and got the other piece of shit Kevin Sullivan and they politicked so he was on the outside looking in. He says Dillon took food off his kids' table, tried to put him out of the business, and says this is his opportunity to explain before the Twins drag his ass to the ring, and Russo does what he did to Jarrett last week.

Tenay has joined Dillon on the stage and they agree that Russo suffers from selective amnesia. He denies that McMahon fired him from the WWF, he made the decision, like Russo, but the difference is Dillon went to see McMahon in person, went to his office, sat across the desk, and handed a letter of resignation, and hashed out differences they may or may not have had. He says he didn't wait til the night before a major TV production and call long distance. He says that when he went to WCW, Bischoff was in charge, the Monday Night Wars were in full swing and WCW was making money, but the problem is Bischoff wasn't a wrestling person, he didn't understand that it wasn't about ratings, it was how profitable because that's what you need to succeed. He says Bischoff built the Titanic and thought it could never sink, but there weren't enough lifeboats to go around. He says Russo called him looking for a job, and though he didn't have that authority, he was able to put Russo in front of the people who did, and he had to make his pitch, and it was a big mistake. Russo's had enough, and sends the Twins after Dillon with rope. 

Who should make the save out of fucking nowhere but ECW's Sandman, wailing on the Twins with a kendo stick. Russo and the Twins quickly retreat while Sandman enjoys a cold one, and they play a... actually decent ripoff of Enter Sandman. Also Sandman obligatorily busts himself open in the process. That segment went too long, it was good in theory, but I think they lost the crowd early. Watching the Twins get wailed with a kendo stick though was fun.

Over to commentary. Jarrett isn't scheduled to be there tonight, we'll have more details later, then send us to a recap of what happened with the tag titles last week. 

NWA World Tag Team Championships Tournament Semifinal Match: Rock & Roll Express vs America's Most Wanted

Pre-Match: Tenay explains that the team that wins this tournament will face Triple X for the vacated titles. Later the New Church will face the Harris Twins in the other semifinal match.

Morton and Harris start the match. Morton with a thumb to the eye after he's taken down with a shoulder block, Harris sent to the corner, floats over and delivers a hip toss. Harris back to the corner, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own, then knocks Gibson off the apron. Harris sent off the ropes, low bridged by Gibson and sent to the floor. Harris face first off the steps before being tossed back in the ring.

Gibson tags in, Harris sent off the ropes, drop toe hold and a pair of knee drops. Scoop slam by Gibson, then Harris sent to the corner for a clothesline. Morton back in, running stunner and a cover, Storm saves it. Front facelock by Gibson as Harris manages to make the tag, but the ref is distracted by Morton so he misses it. Morton tags in, off the middle rope with a right hand for two. Harris sent to the corner, knocking heads with Morton on the rebound.

Storm gets the hot tag and in comes Gibson. Rights all around, then a flying forearm on Gibson. Storm sent over the ropes, skins the cat and connects with an enziguri. Gibson face first off the ring post, Harris hits an inverted DDT, coves and Gibson breaks it up, then Morton covers and it gets two. Storm sent off the ropes, then Gibson back dropped to the floor. Morton sent to the corner into a double dropkick. Storm crossbody on Gibson on the floor. Harris with the Perfectplex on Morton in the ring gets the win. (4:55) They were smart to keep this one short after their last encounter. It was fine for what it was, but the Express botched a lot of stuff in such a short time.

Low Ki runs in with one of the tag belts and lays out AMW with it.

Goldy is with Russo in the parking lot, seems he's waiting for someone but won't tell her who. Raven shows up and Russo asks about Sandman, Raven is just as confused as he is. Sandman comes out of nowhere going right after Raven with his kendo stick and into the building. Raven escapes to the SEX locker room. Sandman is still bleeding.

NWA World Tag Team Championships Tournament Semifinal Match: Harris Twins vs The Disciples of the New Church (w/ Father James Mitchell)

Brawling at ringside to start, the Twins taking early control. One Twin and Lee enter the ring, the Twin sent off the ropes into a DDT, then a pair of elbows. Slash tags in. Twin rakes the eyes and the other Twin tags in. Shoulders and rights in the corner, then Slash counters an Irish whip with rights and chops and a dropkick into the corner. Repeated stomps to the shoulders by Slash, then a snapmare and a dropkick to the face, followed by a knee drop. The other Twin pulls him out into the guard rail as Slash comes off the ropes.

One Twin holds up a chair to Slash's head for the other to boot the chair into him. We also learn that Styles will get his title shot against Jarrett on next week's show, which was going to be announced by Dillon before he was interrupted by Russo earlier. Plus we'll get Raven vs Sandman in the main event of this show. Slash tossed back into the ring meanwhile into a t-bone suplex for two. 

Twins tag. Twin sent into the corner, avoids a clothesline, then clotheslined by Lee from the apron. Slash gets tossed to the floor by the illegal Twin. Chair across the back of Slash as Lee goes after the illegal Twin. Slash sent ot the corner for a clothesline, then back across for another, and again  for another. Slash with a dropkick to the face of the Twin. Lee gets the hot tag, clothesline and big boots, then a right to the Twins. Slash with a hangman's DDT, then Lee up top, but Low Ki comes out again for the distraction. Lee caught with the H Bomb for the win. (4:51) Why are we still trying to make the Harris Twins a thing?

Recap of the issues between Siaki, Desire, Kash and Trinity.

NWA X Division Championship: Sonny Siaki (c) (w/ Desire) vs Kid Kash (w/ Trinity)

Chain wrestling to start the match, then an exchange of arm drags before a stalemate. More chain wrestling, Siaki turns him inside out with a clothesline to take control. Siaki with a gorilla press into a fallaway slam for two. Siaki sent off the ropes, hooks the top one, Kash tries a spear but Siaki side steps and Kash goes to the floor. Vicious right by Siaki, only to be sent into the steps, then Kash throws a chair but misses, then succeeds on the seconds try. Desire whips Trinity into the guard rail. Back in the ring, Kash covers for two.

Kash sent off the ropes, tripped up by Desire who's then chased off by Trinity before Siaki gets between them. Kash intervenes until Desire jumps on his back, tossed to the floor, then Siaki throws a chair into his face. Siaki pours a fan's beer over his head before a right hand, returns to the ring for a cover and gets two Kash sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and connects with a kick to the side of the head. Siaki leaned against the bottom rope as Kash tries a springboard move across the ring, but Desire pulls his legs out from under him.  Kash swung into the guard rail by the legs, then tossed in by Desire, Siaki covers but Kash gets his foot on the ropes. for near

Kash sent off the ropes, gets a sunset flip, then an exchange of roll ups for near falls, followed by a half-nelson suplex by Siaki, slow to cover for two. Kash sent off the ropes, Siaki caught with a kick, Kash off the top with a hurricanrana, then a tornado DDT gets a near fall. Desire dives in and her and Trinity do the catfight spot. Dropkick by Trinity sends Desire to the floor. Kash cut off on the top rope by Desire, then Siaki clotheslines Trinity to the floor. Siaki tries for a superplex but Kash fights him off, goes for a moonsault lands on his head it looks like but still covers for the win. (7:12) Genuinely surprised Siaki dropped the title already, and what a nasty looking landing for Kash. Match was... OK? They focused more on the woman than they did on the match itself.

Kash seems to be fine though at least.

Apparently we're debuting a new segment on the show, "The Interrogation," hosted by Tenay and West, and their first guest will be Truth.

It seems to basically be a one-minute lightning round in the darkened Asylum, ring in the background:

- Favorite Match: all of them

- Eminem or Snoop Dogg: Eminem

- Pick a tag partner: didn't catch it

- Desire or Trinity: Trinity

- Favorite finisher; Hat Rack Crack, which I didn't know was the name of his Gourdbuster

- Ron or Don Harris: both of them

For word association:

- Vince McMahon: asshole

- Jesse Jackson: "Can we all just get along?"

- BG James: traitor

- Michael Jackson: King of Pop

- Jeff Jarrett: crazy as hell

True or False: 

- Lightning can't jump: True, he claims to have seen it before

- He approached Russo about joining SEX: Truth doesn't answer and swears at Tenay

Goldy is backstage with Sanders and Not Disco. Sanders hopes she has hidden talents they don't know about because she's not cutting it on the outside. He asks Glen, now the Director of "Character" Development and asks what he'd do with her character. Glen says she could use a makeover and could be part of his Bitchslap faction, she can be Cameltoe, Mooseknuckle, BC Allie, or Ku Klux Anne. He claims he can put a gimmick on anyone, takes a shot at that Crimson Dragon guy from a bit back, He wants guys like the evil architect Bill Ding, or part of the Jew Klux Klan. Sanders says he has to actually sign the talent first. Not Road Dogg comes up pissed that they didn't help him against the "one-legged gang" last week and got embarrassed. He tells Glen to get Elvis, Sanders to get the black guy and he'll get "Gimp Bizkit". Sigh.

Ron "the Truth" Killings, Jorge Estrada & Tenacious Z vs Glen Gilberti, Mike Sanders & BG James

Pre-Match: Estrada now just in black trunks and red boots, having ditched the Elvis gear entirely.

Cheap shot by James on Truth gets the match started, then Z gets some shots in and... just stops? Like the ref doesn't even get between them, everyone just goes to the apron like nothing happened. Anyways, James and Truth start, another shot from James and some chops and kicks in the corner. Truth sent across the ring, floats over, back flips, gut shot and an ax kick. Sanders tags in, runs right into a dropkick for two.

Jorge tags in, Sanders sent off the ropes into a double hip drop, then a double elbow drop for one. Jorge sent off the ropes, clubbed in the back by Disco, caught with a dropkick by Sanders. Glen tags in, boots in the corner, then Jorge sent off the ropes, ducks a back elbow, springboard crossbody and a standing shooting start for two. Jorge sent off the ropes, avoids the stunner, Disco blocks a backslide but caught with a side kick. Jorge up top and misses a frog splash. DDT by Glen. 

Sanders back in, Jorge sent off the ropes, boot and a facebreaker by Glen, then a running neckbreaker by Sanders for two. Snap suplex and a floatover for two from Sanders. James back in. Snapmare by Sanders, kick to the back and chest, then a double knee drop. Glen back in. Jorge sent off the ropes into double back elbows, then Glen off the ropes and misses an elbow.

Z gets the hot tag, springboard dropkick to Glen, dropkick to James sends him to the floor, Sanders sent off the ropes into another dropkick. Z tries a springboard from the apron but James pulls his leg out from under him, sending him face first into the apron. Back in the ring, elbow by Glen and James tags back in. Right and a boot to the face by James gets two. James weeps the leg then mocks him, followed by a chop block. Out comes Scott Armstrong now, on the apron. James misses a shot, Truth hangs him up on the top rope, while Z goes up top with a corkscrew moonsault.

Sanders comes in and Truth gets the hot tag, delivering rights all around, sending James to the floor. Sanders sent off the ropes into a back drop, then a flatliner and a cover, but Glen breaks it up. Jorge tosses him to the floor, then a crossbody onto him and James. Sanders caught with the Hat Rack Crack for the win. (6:43) Surprisingly decent match, even by Not Disco and Not Road Dogg standards.

Goldy is backstage with Raven, who seems distracted or on edge, probably about Sandman. He says they go back a long way, and figures the guy wants revenge for what he did to him. Granted, Sandman and his wife were separated because of him, but it's not his fault that his son left him for Raven, because he thought Raven would make a better dad than his drunk father. He says no matter where he goes, where he wrestles, Sandman shows up and causes havoc, he calls it a bunch of bullshit. 

OK I guess this was actually the parking lot because AJ drives up and immediately attacks Raven, beating the crap out of him until security breaks it up. Also around the corner, the Rock and Roll Express have been laid out randomly. We also learn from Tenay that Raven/Sandman will now be Falls Count Anywhere.

The sitdown interview this week is with David Flair. Tenay starts with some word association: 

- Arn Anderson: Guy he's been close to his whole life, someone he'd visit in the summer and always around, but hasn't seen much of lately

- Vince Russo: a guy who gave him his first shot, brought WWF to the top, came to WCW and tried to change things around. Russo's given him another opportunity and claims he's progressed since WCW.

- Stacey Kiebler: Beautiful girl, but doesn't know which head was working at the time.

- Ric Flair: Flair calls Tenay a mark and figures he could probably answer the question himself. David says he didn't have time to see his kids, couldn't see him play baseball, football, or do anything. Tenay points out at the same time that Ric was providing for David and his family, David rebuts saying he was providing for the marks like Tenay.

Tenay asks what it was like growing up in Ric's shadow. David says it was tough and didn't know if he wanted to get in the business at one time, but you get a taste for it once you get in the ring. Tenay asks what drove him to get into the business. David doesn't think Ric wanted him to get in the business, it's not a great business, he grew up in it, it's been part of his whole life. Tenay asks what goals he's set for himself. He wants to be the best wrestler he can possibly be, he wants to be NWA Champion one day, he's young, he's 23. Tenay brings up the burlap sack he's been bringing to the ring, allowing him to earn victories, and wants to know the story and what's inside. David says he'll know when he wants him to know. I don't know what this was supposed to accomplish.

Goldy is backstage with Steve Corino, a former NWA Champion in his own right just two years prior, who's about to face Low Ki, He tells Low Ki to look into his eyes, the eyes of the King of Old School, the same guy Ki goes to Japan with every two weeks. He always thought they were cool, though Ki had the same respect for pro wrestling that he did, but obviously he doesn't, hanging around with Russo and SEX. He says Ki has disrespected pro wrestling for weeks, and behind his eyes, it's not just Steve Corino, it's Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Barry Windham, all the legends are on his back. He says Ki has disrespected the sport way too long, and tonight he's going to beat some respect back into him, it's time for Ki to come home to pro wrestling, it's not a business, it's not about sex, it's about pro wrestling. He says he's here for one reason, to destroy Russo's SEX group, and tonight it's starts with Low Ki. Excellent promo.

Low Ki vs Steve Corino

Pre-Match: Corino now the newest person to get Abyss' music for some reason.

Shoving contest in the corner, then Corino takes control with some rights into the next corner until Ki pokes the eye. Corino back with rights now, then Ki pulls the ref between them before delivering a kick to the top of the head. European uppercut and choking over the middle rope by Ki, chops and rights in the corner. Corino sends him out to the floor. More rights and chops by Corino, then chops by Ki, double chop to the back before returning to the ring, Ki sent off the ropes, avoids a dropkick and drops the elbow for two. More uppercuts by Ki, then a suplex and floatover for two. Ki choking him with his boot in the corner, then a snapmare and a kick to the back for two.

Chops in the corner by Ki and more boots now to the knee, then more choking with his boot. Snapmare and a cover for two. Kicks to the face and a headbutt, then some rights and chops by Corino, sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, kicks Ki and delivers a discus forearm. Ki sent off the ropes, misses a springboard, caught with an exploder suplex by Corino. Ki sent off the ropes into a leg lariat, sending Ki out to the apron. Shoulder block by Ki, then slingshots over into a dragon sleeper. Ki runs backward into the corner to break it briefly, but Ki latches back on with a sleeper, then shoves Corino into the opposite corner, only to eat a superkick, but only gets two. Ki sent off the ropes, spins around into an octopus stretch, but Corino counters into a neckbreaker, and Ki pokes the eye of the referee for the DQ. (6:54) Really?

Corino's not done though and clotheslines Ki to the floor, delivering more rights up the ramp. AMW come out to chase Low Ki off through the crowd. New Church through the other side of the crowd then stare off with AMW. 

Goldy is backstage with Lynn. He wants to give Russo his props and put him over? He says since the guy's come back, he's done what he said he would, not only having the company up in arms, he has Lynn out of focus, off-track and out of whack. Before he came though, night after night, week after week, him and Styles went out, busted their asses, tore the house down and packed the arena, they gave the people what they wanted to see, wrestling, that's what they do. He's finally figured out what he has to do to fight back against Russo, that's reestablish the X Division, starting by winning some elimination match for the #1 contendership that we're only hearing about now. 

#1 Contender's Elimination Match for the NWA X Division Championship: Shark Boy vs Jose Maximo vs Joel Maximo vs David Young vs Tony Mamaluke vs Jimmy Rave vs Paul London vs Jerry Lynn

Pre-Match: Match will start with Shark Boy and Jose, the other six surrounding ringside. Once one is pinned or submitted, another will take their place. Last person standing is #1 contender.

Quick chain wrestling to start, quick exchange of rollups, spinning side slam by Jose for two. Shark Boy sent to the corner, gets a boot up, float over stunner from the middle rope and that's it for Jose, next is Joel. Chop by Joel, Shark Boy sent off the ropes into a back elbow for two. Snap suplex and float over for two from Joel. Shark Boy sent to the corner for a running forearm, then a scoop slam. Joel up top with a swanton gets two. Shark Boy sent to the corner, gets a boot up, hits the floatover stunner again and Joel is out.

Rave is next, sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, Northern Lights suplex for two. Shark Boy counters an Irish whip with a hangman's neckbreaker for two. Rave face first in the corner, mounted rights by Shark Boy, then biting the forehead. Shark Boy sent across the ring, boot up, tries the stunner again, countered with the Snow Plow and Shark Boy is eliminated.

Mamaluke is next. Rave blocks a shot in the corner, chops Mamaluke and sent off the ropes. Mamaluke counters a tornado DDT midair into a fujiwara armbar, but Rave makes it to the ropes. Side suplex by Mamaluke right on Rave's head and he's out now. Young is next with a clothesline. Mamaluke avoids a gorilla press and applies a sleeper but David runs backwards into the corner, only to get a chop block for his trouble. Mamaluke wrenching the knee and applies a kneebar, but David makes it to the ropes.  Shin breaker by Mamaluke, then tries a tornado DDT from the middle rope, only to be countered with a Northern Lights suplex into the turnbuckles, though his knee gives out. Mamaluke up top caught midair with a spinebuster and Mamaluke is out.

Lynn is next, ducks a clothesline and has a waistlock, but Young fights out of it, only to be caught with a TKO. Young fights off a spinning toe hold, then avoids a baseball slide, almost caught with the cradle piledriver but counters with an inverted atomic drop and another spinebuster, but can't capitalize with the bad knee. Cover only gets a near fall. Scoop slam by Young, then goes up top but misses the moonsault. Lynn with the half-crab, into an STF forces a submission.

London is last, runs into a drop toe hold into a front face lock, counters with a wristlock. Mamaluke helps Young to the back and we get some chain wrestling back in the ring. London caught with an arm drag after missing a moonsault and landing on his feet. Lynn takes him to the corner and London nails a forearm, misses a clothesline, avoids a waistlock and comes off the ropes, delivers a hurricanrana. Lynn with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets two. 

Lynn tries the Boston crab but London blocks and gets to the ropes before it gets applied.. London avoids a scoop and delivers a twisting neckbreaker for a near fall. Exchange of rights now, London springboards into a sunset flip for two. Spinning heel kick to the top of the head by London gets another near fall. Gutwrench slam from London for another two. London goes up top but he's cut off by Lynn, who delivers a sunset flip from the middle rope but it's another near fall.

Lynn goes for the cradle piledriver but London counters with a back drop. London with a running forearm in the corner, and a jackknife pin gets two. London sent to the corner gets a boot up, goes up top again, goes for the shooting star but Lynn gets the knees up, rolls London up and gets two. Lynn tries for the piledriver again, London tries to counter with an air raid crash but Lynn escapes and sends him off the ropes. Cradle piledriver gets the win. (15:57) Excellent match finally on this show.

SATs, Shark Boy and Rave come back out to salute Lynn and London. Lynn and London show each other some respect. Now out comes Konnan. He makes fun of how WCW gave Lynn the Mr. JL gimmick as a stroke of marketing genius, and brings up how they had lucha libre-style matches when Konnan first broke into WCW, wearing a mask like he was trained in Mexico. Konnan takes offense to him wanting to reestablish the X Division, it's not his to reestablish.

Lynn agrees, says he wrestled lucha style and wrestled all the luchadores, because he was the only American at the time who could hang with them and make them look good. Konnan says is he took lucha libra out of his repertoire all he'd have left is kicks and clotheslines. Lynn says Konnan is just bitter and jealous because Konnan never was and never will be a high-flyer like Juventud, Psychosis and Mysterio. Konnan says he doesn't need to fly high to sell out arenas around the world, but he does powerup and kick dust. 

SAT's proceed to attack Lynn and the other two, Konnan joins in and they all leave through the crowd, bumping into Russo. Can't hear a word, but seems like Konnan and co. aren't with SEX.

Goldy is with Estrada backstage. He says he was the glue that kept the Elvises together from day one, but now he's flying solo. Truth butts in, says he gave us the truth from day one, and as of now he wants no more questions by nobody. Truth walks away and Goldy follows trying to apologize, and around the corner now Sanders and Glen have been laid out.

Over to commentary to talk about what just happened, Tenay speculating that Sandman's behind the attacks, but West suggests that it might be Russo showing tough love to his guys. They also hype Jarrett vs Styles for next week.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: Raven vs The Sandman

Raven doesn't waste any time, with a dropkick through the ropes sending Sandman into the guard rail. Raven whipped into the guard rail, then Sandman throws a piece of the guard rail into the ring. Raven sent face first into the guard rail with a drop toe hold, we also have a chair and Sandman's kendo stick in the ring. Raven crotched atop the guard rail, then a clothesline from Sandman sends Raven back to the floor.

Raven's busted open as Sandman lays the rail in the corner, only to be flipped onto it himself. Raven pulls him back to the floor and takes the fight into the crowd and the bleacher and back to the floor, Raven with control as they fight toward the stage. Sandman face first off an equipment case for two. Onto the stage now, Raven with a suplex, then he grabs a chair and trash can, hitting Sandman in the back with the latter, heading back into the ring. We have another trash can introduced too.

Raven raking the eyes, nose and mouth of Sandman, before setting the chair up in the middle, then wedges another in the corner, sending Sandman's head through it for two. Raven sent off the ropes and face first into the chair in the middle with a drop toe hold, then a trash can to the head of Raven, and another to the head, and a third and a fourth time, getting another two count.

Back out to the floor now and back into the crowd again, Raven face first off what looks like a merch table or something, laying Raven on top. Sandman goes up the steps to the balcony, but Raven moves off the table as Low Ki comes behind, dumping Sandman over the railing through the table. Raven covers for the win. (7:41) I mean for a hardcore match, it was fun I guess, but the interference from Low Ki is a bit much on this show, as much as I love the guy.

Low Ki helps Raven to his feet though he can barely stand. Corino is back and takes Low Ki back to ringside with a clothesline over the guard rail. The New Church also toss Raven to the floor, though as Corino gets Ki in a dragon sleeper, Raven makes the save with a clothesline. New Church just kinda leave. Sandman is back and nails Ki and Raven in the head with his kendo stick. Mounted rights by Corino and Sandman in adjacent corners, until SEX come out for the save. Chair shot to the head of Sandman, then they string up Sandman and Corino like they did to Jarret last week.  Jarrett's here to make the save with a kendo stick, and so is the New Church. Stroke to one of the Twins. Russo tries to nail Jarrett with a chair but he escapes, and now AJ is here, hits the Clash on the chair to close the show.