NWA-TNA PPV #33 (February 19, 2003)
Recap of Raven's time in TNA since arriving a month ago, with stealing the NWA Title, his issues with Styles and Jarrett, and his renewed rivalry with Sandman. Add the Living Legend to the mix as AJ's new mentor who got him a shot at the title, and Russo assembling an army to wreak havoc, not to mention we now have JJ Dillon as the authority figure.
On the show tonight, Styles finally gets his shot at Jarrett and the NWA Title. Goldy is waiting outside in the rain for Styles' arrival, and so he does, however accompanied by Russo.
Tag Team #1 Contender's Tournament Finals: The Harris Twins vs America's Most Wanted
Chris Harris starts off with one of the Twins, hammering in the corner until the Twin takes control with hammering of his own. Chris sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, Lou Thesz Press and mounted rights and lefts. Clothesline in the corner by Chris and more mounted rights until he's shoved to the mat, then low bridged the Twin to the floor. Storm hammers on the Twin until the other makes the save, then Storm dives over the ropes onto both of them. Back in the ring, the Twin takes control with a cheap shot, then some rights. Storm with a headscissor, then sent off the ropes, tries to go through the ropes, popped up and hits a dropkick. Superkick by Storm and Ron gets the ropes.
Ron sent to the corner, back elbow by Storm, then Ron sent across the ring, caught with a bulldog for two. Harrs sent off the ropes and tripped by Don to the floor, sent into the guard rail.. Don holds a chair up for Ron to boot it into Harris' face. T-bone suplex by Ron and in comes Don. Chris caught with a samoan drop or two. Chris sent off the ropes into a big boot and in comes Don. Chris sent to the corner for a clothesline, then across for a clothesline, and back across for ta third, but Chris connects with a spear.
Storm gets the tag but the ref misses it and the Twins double team Chris in their corner. Chris sent off the ropes into double big boots. Chris sent off he ropes again into a gut knee. Chris of the ropes a third time and another knee to the gut. Chris sent off the ropes, counters a knee with a rollup and it's broken up. Ron tags in and drops Chris with a right and another. Ron tries a cheap shot on Storm, who hangs him on the top rope, Harris with the inside cradle gets the win. (7:05) It was fine I guess? Harris Twins continue to be limited, and AMW was the obvious win so it's a match that happened.
Goldy is with Russo, who's pissed off at the Twins and is telling Glen and Mike not to screw up like they did. Goldy tries to get a word but he's just lambasting the Twins.
Tenay is trying to make a case to Styles not to join Russo, about how they gave him the spotlight and now he's spitting in the face of NWA, Dusty, Harley and the Funks. AJ sickens Tenay.
Russo is in the ring now and he's tired of listening to Tenay, so he calls him into the ring to give him an explanation. Russo says he has a hard time understanding the truth. He says he sat down with AJ and told him about the real Jeff Jarrett, the one that no one knows like he does, the one with a black heart and who will do anything to leave the building with the title. Russo says AJ is buying into it because he knows Jarrett better than anyone, it's all about Jarrett. He makes reference to Jarrett smashing Moolah with a guitar to make his point. He says Jarrett doesn't give a shit about tradition, he only cares about himself, and AJ saw the light and is with Russo. He says he made Jarrett just like he made Rock, Stone Cold, DX, even so far as to say he made Vince McMahon. He says a 55 year old man wouldn't have an attitude or have a clue what it is. He says he makes chicken salad into chicken shit. Pretty sure he got that last part backwards.
Out comes Dusty. He says he's not going anywhere until Russo understands that tradition is what it's all about. He says the NWA Title means tradition, Jarrett doesn't care about Russo or SEX. A "Russo sucks" chant breaks out and Dusty makes a Viagara joke. He says Russo can't ruin AJ's life like he's ruined so many others', once again making reference to Puppet who beat off in a trash can. He says Russo will be back doing peoples' income tax and he'll still be in the business.
Russo says he thought long and hard about Dusty's hatred towards him, their roads never crossed until now, and the first thing he thought about was Nikita Koloff. He says he was able to reach back into history, bring him out and make Dusty look like a jackass. But then he realized Dusty is more bitter than that, there's something deep inside Dusty that makes him hate Russo. And then the lightbulb went off: Dustin Rhodes. He brings up "The Natural," wearing the cowboy hat, the chaps, and the people didn't give a shit about him. Then he comes along and along comes Goldust, his creation, Dustin became a bigger star than his old man ever was.
But Russo's convinced that's still not it, he says what's bothering Dusty is Russo was the father to his son that Dusty never was. He says he and Dustin spent many nights in a hotel room, Dustin crying on his shoulder, talking about his upbringing and childhood, and Russo was there for him. He says if Dusty wants an apology for being a better daddy to his son... Well Dusty's had enough now. He doesn't know about Russo's childhood or upbringing, or what his dad was like, and maybe Dusty didn't take his belt off when he should have, but he loves his children more than anything. He proceeds to take off his belt, ready to do what Russo's dad should have done a long time ago.
Harris Twins come out before anything can happen and attack Dusty in the corner until fucking Vader shows up for the save. Vader sent ff the ropes and hits a double clothesline. Bionic Elbows by Dusty to the Twins send them packing. Dusty challenges the Twins to a tag team match for next week and Russo accepts on their behalf. I hate to admit that Russo can be a great heel sometimes, but like fucking Vader now of all people?
Goldy is backstage with Jerry Lynn, and a man who won an auction, who's here to conduct the interview instead. He brings up Lynn's win last week in the Gauntlet, but for some reason Paul London is getting an X Division Title shot instead. Lynn puts him over, and brushes it off, says he has unfinished business to take care of tonight. The guy says Lynn is facing the SATs tonight and asks what his battle plans are with Konnan at ringside. Lynn says Konnan can be as devastating to the division as Russo, and he's going to do whatever it takes to stop that cancer from happening. The guy did a decent job doing the interview all things considering.
Joel Maximo vs Jose Maximo vs Jerry Lynn
Konnan on commentary
Maximos on the double team immediately in the corner, Lynn sent across the ring, avoids a clothesline, connects with one and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for one. Lynn with a Boston crab, then back drops the other Maximo, crossbody onto the other onto the floor. One Maximo takes out the other with an Asai moonsault before returning to the ring, Lynn covers for one. One Maximo sent off the ropes, popped up and dropkicks the other. Lynn with bulldog from the corner for two.
Sidewalk slam by Lynn, then up top, cut off by one Maximo, kicked in the head by the other following with a superplex. Other Maximo connects with a top rope elbow for two. Enziguri to Lynn or two. Lynn sent off the ropes, ducks a double clothesline, hits a tornado DDT, caught with a snap slam for two. Elbow drop for two on Lynn. Lynn sent off the ropes, caught with a superkick and a bridging German for two. Lynn sent off the ropes, caught with a double bulldog for two. Lynn sent to the corner, Lynn avoids double knees, headscissor and one Maximo takes out the other with a crossbody.
Lynn clotheslines one out to the floor, misses another, catches the other with a TKO gets two. Lynn tries the cradle piledriver but gets clotheslined by the other Maximo, setting up a jackknife pin for his partner for two. Lynn set on the top rope for a Spanish Fly but Lynn counters with a double slam, a cover on each Maximo and each gets two. Someone plays Lynn's music early. Cradle piledriver on one Maximo is saved by the other, but they deliver a tombstone after a dropkick by Lynn. Cradle piledriver gets the win for Lynn. (6:42) Konnan was probably the best part of this, but the Maximos were pretty sloppy. Lynn did his best to save it.
Konnan's pissed off and heads to the ring as Lynn leaves.
Goldy is backstage with Raven. He doesn't let her get a word in and says he was a sad, lonely child, that there was a void in his life he couldn't fill, a tortured existence teased by the other children, raised by cold, apathetic parents who only wanted one child, his sister. He says he was the accident they never wanted and weren't shy of reminding him of that. Then he met a beautiful, loving woman, Laurie and.... someone, his mic starts cutting out, whoever they were became his family, it was the happiest time of his life, it made everything he went through worthwhile.
He says they were a loving, happy family until Sandman took his wife and kid back. He says he'll never forgive Sandman for that even if it takes an eternity. He wants Sandman to know hurt, pain, humiliation, to wake up in the morning praying for divine intervention to end his miserable life. Raven's miserable life got better though, he began looking forward to the pain, enjoy it, and now he walks through horror, with red kisses from murderous gods blistering his priestly flesh. He wants Sandman to walk with him through paths of hatred, cruelty, through his Clockwork Orange House of Fun. Quote the raven, nevermore.
Raven walks off and Russo walks into frame with Siaki and Desire. Russo is about to take care of personal business and calls Siaki his ace in the hole. There's other stuff said but the mic doesn't pic it up. Mortimer Plumtree appears and says stuff that also isn't picked up, but Russo doesn't want any of it.
Glen is in the ring and says SEX is changing the face of the traditional wrestling business, says wresters have been based on fake wrestling gimmicks in the past, specifically referencing Jim Duggan and his 2x4, or how masked guys couldn't cash checks in the real world. He says he bases his characters on reality, and is here to introduce us to his first creation, a man near and dear to our hearts, but his reality has been swept under the rug for the last 30 years, like the fact he was a drug addict, an adulterer, and died a fat, obese slob. Jorge Estrada didn't get it, and so tonight Glen gives us:
Disgraceland (w/ Glen Gilbertti) vs Shark Boy
Mike Sanders on commentary.
Pre-Match: Sanders has brought PB&J sandwiches with him.
Scoop slam by DL after a cheap shot, then sends him off the ropes, Shark Boy with a pair of dropkicks. DL catches a crossbody and delivers a backbreaker before tossing him out to the floor. DL eats a sandwich before delivering a chop, hen another sandwich bite. Shark Boy with a forearm and a right before returning to the ring.
DL takes back control, sends Boy off the ropes into a double chop. Boy sent to the corner, avoids a forearm then delivers on the second try. Leg drop from the middle rope misses by DL and Boy ducks a clothesline, hitting a springboard forearm. Mounted rights in the corner by Boy, biting DL before getting sent across the ring. Boot up, Boy tries the Dead Sea Driver, countered with a... I think it's supposed to be a swinging neckbreaker but lands more like a DDT for the win. (3:11)
Sanders get back on the mic to reiterate the reality-based Elvis gimmick. Jorge comes off the top with a double clothesline from nowhere, then sent off the ropes with a dropkick to Glen. Triple team ensues though. Disgraceland hits some better swinging neckbreakers on Jorge before sending him to the floor. They drag Jorge to the SEX locker room and give him a swirlie before tossing him out of the room.
We get a recap of everything Jarrett did as a heel in his quest for the NWA Title, from his issues to Toby Keith, attacking the Titans, to his sudden babyface turn with Russo's arrival.
Goldy is backstage with JJ Dillon to get his thoughts on AJ's new alliance with SEX. He says he's sick and devastated, he was excited for AJ, he knows the fans have been waiting for this match, he went so far as to try and stop him from doing something stupid last week. He feels like he's been lied to, though it's not the first nor will it be the last time it happens. Zbyszko shows up who's as clueless to they are to what's going on and vows to find out.
NWA X Division Championship: Paul London vs Kid Kash (c) (w/ Trinity)
Pre-Match: Recap of Kash winning the title last week, with Kash nearly breaking his neck on a moonsault.
Match starts with some chain wrestling, then an exchange of throws and pin attempts. Another exchange of holds until Kash sends London over the ropes, skins the cat but gets dropkicked in the back of the head to the floor. Kash with a springboard crossbody, then misses a baseball slide, London turning it into a neckbreaker from the apron and following with a standing shooting star. Exchange of chops until London is sent into the guard rail, then catches a chair only to throw it back into Kash's face. London with a rollup into the ring from the apron for two. Kash sent to the apron and kicked right in the face with a rolling kick from London, cover and Kash gets the ropes.
London sent to the corner, floats over to the apron but dropkicked to the floor, then a flip dive from Kash takes him out. Back in the ring, Kash up top with a flying clothesline gets two. Kash catches a kick, flips London who connects with a dropkick, followed by an enziguri for two. Kash sent off the ropes, sunset flip gets two, then a series of rollups get two. London with a twisting facebuster and a cover, Kash gets his foot on the rope.
Kash counters an Irish whip, delivers a shoulder block and a knee, comes off the top and misses a dropkick. London to the apron splingshots in with a headscissor. Kash immediately off the top with a hurricanrana gets two. Kash sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, backslide counters from each, then a double-underhook piledriver from Kash gets the win. (8:23) Decent enough match but was sloppy at some points. Certainly an improvement from the rest of the show so far. Nasty landing on that piledriver too.
Ksah raises London's arm after the match.
Goldy is in the SEX locker room talking with Siaki, trying to learn where Russo's gone to. Desire gets everyone to shut up while so Siaki has the floor, who says Russo's put him in charge. Glen disputes this and claims Russo would have left Sanders in charge. Siaki continues and tells Low Ki no pain, no gain, tells Sanders that winning isn't everything, it's the only thing, then completely brushes off the Harris Twins. Sanders apparently has a match with "Jonah" who lost Tough Enough III tonight and Sonny tells him to beat his ass. They do a "Sonny" chant.
Speaking of Jonah, Tenay did a sitdown interview with him earlier in the day. Interview start with some basic information, he's from Natick, MA and 23 years old, he played college football in New York before getting into pro wrestling, and has been recently training under Killer Kowalski. Jonah says it's an honor to work with him, calls him a great teacher, and he's learning things he didn't while on Tough Enough.
Tenay asks what it was like to be part of Tough Enough. He says the conditioning was grueling and taught him a lot about himself, about what he wants to do in life. He made a promise on the final episode that we'd see his face again in the ring, and today is step one in that dream. Jonah did fine here.
Mike Sanders (w/ Glen Gilbertti) vs Jonah
Pre-Match: This is the first national TV match of Jonah's career, he only wrestled two other matches two weeks prior to this with WWA. Sanders is also joined by a blonde woman but commentary have no idea who she is and I don't recognize her. They also bring up the Bob Holly/Matt Cappotelli incident in regards to why Jonah may not have won TE. Sanders turns him toward the hard camera and says Jonah is a loser like everyone there live and sitting at home, pointing out he didn't even come in second in TE. He says things were different in '98, you had to work your way to the top, you didn't have Russo's vision, then Jonah comes in and doesn't place in the top two. Sanders offers Jonah the blonde woman and says she can make his dreams and fantasies come true. He's tempted but wants to do things on his own.
Sanders gets in a cheap shot, sends Jonah off the ropes, blocks a hip toss and delivers of his own, then a pair of arm drags into an armlock. Sanders sends him throat first into the middle rope before delivers blocs to the back and ribs. Snapmare and a kick to the chest by Sanders, followed by a knee drop gets two, then another cover for two. Jonah choked over the middle rope, then sent off the ropes into a back elbow. Suplex by Sanders gets two, then another cover for two.
Cobra clutch by Sanders, fights out, hits a high crossbody for two, then Sanders connects with a dropkick. Sanders covers after some jawjacking for two, and another cover for two. Jonah face first in the corner, then some choking by Sanders, a loud "let's go Jonah" chant as Sanders hits a scoop slam, but misses a knee drop. Rollup by Jonah for two, right into a clothesline from Sanders. Another scoop slam by Sanders, then misses a springboard moonsault.
Jonah ducks a clothesline and hits a few of his own followed by a scoop slam, then a dropkick sends Sanders to the corner. Sanders gets a boot up, then sent off the roeps into a snap slam get a near fall. Jonah with an STF applied but the blonde hops the apron and legit flashes him and the camera for the distraction. Sanders with the Orton-style neckbreaker for the win. (5:33) They kept it simple which was smart, and Jonah looked fine here save for a few slipups.
It's time for the next installment of "The Interrogation" with Tenay and West, this week with Sandman:
- Toughest opponent: Raven
- Bud or Bud Lite: alcohol
- Pick a tag partner: he doesn't want to
- Cools or Camels: non-filters
- Steel chairs or wooden tables: lions and tigers and bears (oh my!)
- Piercings or tattoos: both
- Styles or Jarrett: Jarrett
- Missy Hyatt or Francine: all women
For word association:
- Paul Heyman: character
- Terry Funk: walking, living legend
- Vince Russo: doesn't know him
- hardcore wrestling: Sandman
- Raven: Sandman
I'll give this one credit, Sandman actually made me laugh a couple times.
Raves & Low Ki vs The Sandman & Steve Corino
Pre-Match: Sandman and Corino make their entrance through the crowd, both with beers in hand, Sandman with kendo stick in the other.
Referee starts the match as Raven and Low Ki meet them in the stands. Sandman dives onto them with a crossbody from the upper deck. Sandman and Corino trade shots on Raven, then Low Ki, Fight makes its way toward the stage as Raven is whipped into a trash can shot by Corino, then one for Low Ki. Sandman puts a trash can over Raven's head, swinging another into the side of it. Corino is whipped into a guard rail by Low Ki and Raven nails Sandman in the head with a trash can lid. Raven drives Sandman through a table with a piledriver.
Corino with a lid to the head of Raven, then Low Ki, and a second as the three head back to the ring, Sandman still out of it in the table rubble. Raven sent into the corner, then Low Ki sent into him, then Low Ki back across for a running hoot and a superkick for Raven. Corino with a face wash to Raven until he's caught with a cartwheel kick by Low Ki. Sandman is crawling his way back as Corino is hit with a high-low for two.
Raven tags in, snap suplex before setting a chair up in the ring. Corino tries a drop toe hold into it but Raven catches himself and throws the chair into his face. Low Ki back in. Corino's been busted open as Low Ki opens up with rights and boots, Raven tags back in. More rights as Corino's sent off the ropes, blocks a clothesline, hits a stunner/DDT combo on Raven and Low Ki.
Sandman has made it to the apron with a trash can as Corino hits a low blow on Low Ki, and Sandman gets the hot tag. Trash can to the heads of Raven and Low Ki multiple times, Ki sent to the apron. Raven sent off the ropes, drop toe hold into the trash can. Sandman wedges the can in the corner and drop toe holds Low Ki into it, makes the cover but it only gets two. Raven with a can shot to Sandman and Corino with a Cactus Clothesline to the floor. Ki covers Sandman for a near fall.
Sandman sent off the ropes, tripped by Raven, who's decked by Corino. Sandman with the White Russian Leg Sweep on Low Ki but it's a near fall. Sandman goes to use the kendo stick on Low Ki but gets an Evenflow DDT from Raven for the win. (8:10) I mean as far as quality goes, it wasn't good, but for a brawl match, I thought it was fun. And they limited Sandman's involvement, which was a good thing.
Hype package for AJ.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: AJ Styles vs Jeff Jarrett (c)
There's about 20 minutes left in this show, which means this'll get plenty of time as it should. Styles shoved into the corner off the initial lockup, Then some chain wrestling, Jarrett gets the better of it with a clothesline. AJ with a cheap shot now before he's sent off the ropes, some leap frogs and a dropkick by Styles. Spin heel kick by Styles gets two. Kicks to the back and a basement dropkick by Styles gets two.
Jarrett decks AJ to stop a discus elbow, stomping him down in the corner and sending AJ off the ropes into a dropkick of his own, then AJ clotheslined out to the floor. Rare crossbody by Jarrett, before sending Styles upside-down into the guard rail. Jarett sent into the guard rail ribs first now off a reversal before taking it back to the ring. Styles with a front slam and a senton for two. Styles gets two with a suplex. Jarrett face first in the corner, followed by rights and forearms, then off the ropes with a clothesline. Styles sent off the ropes into a boot, then Jarrett sent off the ropes, AJ pops up into a sitout powerbomb.
Jarrett can't capitalize and there's a standing 10 count. Jarrett takes control with rights before sending Styles off the ropes, pops him up into a gutbuster. Styles sent to the corner, gets a boot up, tries a tornado DDT but Jarrett reverses. Zbyszko has made his way out and grabs Jarrett's ankle as he goes for a superplex, Styles with a sunset flip but it's a near fall. Jarrett sent off the ropes, hooks the ropes, elevates Styles to the apron, tries to suplex him back in but Zbyszko trips him up. Styles falls on top for a near fall.
Styles sent to the corner, floats over and connects with an enziguri, dropping Jarrett into the corner. Styles distracts the ref and Zbyszko decks Jarrett with brass knuckles, but it only gets a two count. Dillon is out and he ejects Zbyszko to the back. Styles tries a figure 4 but it's countered into a small package for two. Styles sent off the ropes, springboards into a sleeper hold. Jarrett starts to fade. Jarrett comes back to life, fighting off Styles and ducks a forearm, Styles takes out the referee.
Springboard moonsault misses by AJ and Jarrett connects with the Stroke. Second referee eventually runs out to make the count but it's too late, Styles kicks out. First referee is helped to the back, Jarrett is sent off the ropes, leg is sweeped off a kick attempt, and Styles applies an Indian Deathlock. Jarrett manages to fight out of it. Styes gets monkey flipped and drops the second referee now.
Now the Harris Twins are here and hit the H Bomb on Jarrett. Out comes Vader and Dusty, fighting in the ring and at ringside, eventually into the crowd. Styles drapes an arm over Jarrett, referee comes to but it's still just a two count. Jarrett counters an Irish whip, AJ rolls through and tries the Clash, Jarrett rolls through, AJ rolls again into the Clash but Jarrett kicks out again. Styles goes up top caught midair with a clothesline.
Desire runs out to distract the ref and Siaki hits Siak-olypse Now on Jarrett, then a second time. Styles. Siaki tries to get AJ to make the pin but AJ attacks Siaki, sends him off the ropes and hits the Styles Clash, before throwing him out. Styles is on the middle rope and Jarrett hits him with the Stroke for the win. (16:09) Jesus Christ, listen I love the idea that AJ didn't want the help, which is the story commentary ran with there, but that was ridiculous. This was a great match, even with Zbyszko gettng involved, but there was too much overbooking here. Not to mention Jarrett just kicks out of the Clash like nothing.
Suddenly cut to a feed of Russo in a car somewhere speaking to Jarrett through the camera. He says this thing between them has gone too far, he never wanted it to reach this point, he says he has a broken heart over this. At a time like this, he can only think to do one thing: gather the family, sit down, and talk it out. He's currently sitting in the driveway, 50 feet from Jarrett's house, he's gonna go in, sit down with Jarrett's wife Jill, the kids'll see Uncle Vince, and he's going to wait for Jeff to come home. And that's how the show ends.
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