NWA-TNA PPV #38 (March 26, 2003)

Show starts with Goldilocks singing America the Beautiful, in honor of the troops in Iraq.

Recap of last week. D'Lo demanding his title shot and Jarrett accusing him of a handout. Then the two of them nearly getting laid out by the New Generation until Truth attacked. New Church failed to win the tag titles after a returning Malice caused them to get DQ'd, apparently by design. Disco and Sanders fighting. Kash, Red and Trinity fighting for the X Division Title that saw Kash retain. Then Jarrett, Dusty and D'Lo beating the New Generation, not to mention Truth attacking Jarrett after the match. Watts then threatened to drive Jarrett behind a car just to fuck with him. In the end, Styles was cost a World Title match by SEX, leaving Raven the #1 contender.

We're welcomed to the show by Tenay and West and immediately, Styles comes out and heads to the SEX locker room brandishing a friggin chainsaw. AJ then just kicks the door down and waves it around, saying Disco sucks for costing him the title shot, and that SEX is nothing without Russo. AJ tells Disco to be in the ring in 30 seconds or he'll saw his body parts off. AJ leaves. Disco says AJ challenged SEX but Sanders points out he specifically challenged Disco. Disco points out Sanders lost to Duggan and that he'd happily face AJ if he had his gear on. He says this will instead be Sanders' shot at redemption so he can show Disco he's part of SEX.

AJ Styles vs Mike Sanders

AJ barely lets Sanders get in the ring as he jumps him in the corner. AJ with vicious rights in the corner, then Sanders sent across the ring, gets a dropkick and a clothesline. Chops by AJ, then AJ sent across the ring, elevates Sanders to the apron, who slingshots in with a headscissor. AJ counters an Irish whip, then Sanders catches a spin kick, rollup by AJ for two. AJ off the ropes only to be tossed through the ropes and damn near landing on his head and neck. Sanders whipped into the apron, then AJ moonsaults off the apron into an inverted DDT. Raven is apparenly out injured after last week's match as we're told by commentary. AJ covers back in the ring for two.

AJ off the ropes, tries a wheelbarrow onto be driven down onto his back. Kicks to the shoulder blades, then AJ catches a front kick but gets dropped with a front kick for two, then another pin attempt for two. AJ pulled to the apron for elbows and forearms to the chest, then back in the ring to have his face shoved into the bottom buckle with Sanders' boot. AJ fighting back, but Sanders counters an Irish whip with a pumphandle suplex for two, then another attempt for two. Rear chinlock by Sanders. AJ fights out, then tries to go ooff the ropes only to be yanked right back down. Sanders sent to the corner, Sanders comes off the ropes but gets caught with a clothesline.

AJ with a spinning heel kick, then some clotheslines. Sanders sent off the ropes into a beautiful dropkick for two. Sanders sent off the ropes into a back drop, then a kick to the back and chest repeatedly, then some stomps for two. Styles tries for the Clash but Sanders makes it to the ropes to avoid. A few counters results in Sanders hitting his neckbreaker but only gets two. Hammerlock back suplex by AJ gets two. Sanders sent to the corner, gets AJ with an elbow, misses a clothesline, misses a neckbreaker and eats a superkick. 

AJ goes up top. While the referee's checking on Sanders, Siaki comes out with Disco and shoves AJ off the top. Dissco distracts the ref, Siaki holds up AJ for a superkick from Sanders but he misses. AJ rolls up Sanders but only gets two. Disco pulls out brass knuckles and gets on the apron while the ref is getting rid of Siaki, AJ pushes Sanders into Disco knocking him off the apron, another rollup for AJ gets him the win. (8:15) Should have shaved a few minutes off, this went too long. AJ at least won though.

Disco and Styles trade words  on AJ's way out. Siaki joins Disco and Sanders in the ring to stare him down, then Siaki and Disco get into a shoving match, Siaki tries to play peacemaker. 

Recap of the issues between Konnan and Lynn. We're reminded Konnan got a pin on Lynn last week.

Konnan vs Jerry Lynn

Pre-Match: Konnan says Goldy should have been singing the Mexican national anthem. He says that it's bad enough America stole their land and now they're trying to steal lucha libre. He says the X-Lax Division ends tonight.

Konnan barely lets Lynn get in the ring attacking him with stomps and rights before he can stand. More rights in the corner by Konnan, then some modified Kimura. More rights by Konnan before tossing Lynn out to the floor. Konnan sent into the guard rail, then Lynn tries launching off the steps into a hurricanrana only to be powerbombed to the floor. Lynn face first off the steps before returning to the ring. Lynn starts to fight back until getting a thumb to the eye, then headbutted and stomped into the corner. Scoop slam by Konnan who goes to the middle rope, Lynn leaps to the middle rope for... something but they just end up falling off it. Konnan covers for two.

Konnan up top for a flying nothing eats a boot to the face. Konnan misses a clothesline, Lynn off the ropes, popped up and hits a dropkick. Lynn sent off the ropes, slips around into a sunset flip for two. Konnan sent off the ropes, tries a rollup, Lynn drops down for two, then Konnan tries a rollup, Lynn rolls through and hits another dropkick. Konnan sent off the ropes, rolls under, then leapfrogs and hits the rolling thunder lariat for two. Lynn sent to the corner, leaps to the middle ropes, tries a tornado DDT, blocked, Lynn ducks a clothesline and hits a DDT for two. Lynn tries for the cradle piledriver, Konnan overpowers, but Lynn rolls through for a sunset flip and the win. (5:31) It was... passable? It's good it was short, Konnan was gassed early.

Suddenly an unknown masked wrestler runs out, goes up top and hits a missile dropkick. Mystery man sent off the ropes and hits a tornado DDT, then makes a quick escape to the back. Konnan is just as confused as everyone else is.

Tenay tells us we're going to get a video package and then an interview, but we go right to the interview, one he did with Jarrett earlier in the day. Tenay asks if he ever expected to have so many challengers lined up and the target on his back to keep growing week by week. Jarrett fully expected it, it'[s something he's talked about many times, you have to expect it when you hold the gold. He says it's a prized possession to SEX and anyone in the locker room.

Tenay starts listing names for word association. Jarrett says Styles is a phenomenal athlete but needs to get to the next level if he wants to get the title. He says Raven came in, took over TNA for a couple of weeks and has worked his ass off, and rightly earned a title shot. He says Raven's best days might be behind him though taking a lot of abuse lately. He says he used to have a lot of respect for Truth but isn't sure where he stands now. He says Truth walked out on NWA and comes up with excuses, says he can stay home if that's how he wants to be.

Tenay brings up D'Lo contracted shot at Jarrett's title. Jarrett says he's always been talented and is on his game in TNA. Tenay brings up Watts' mindgames. Jarrett says he doesn't have time for mind games, and that if anyone thinks Watts is a legit contender it's a joke. Tenay brings up how so many of his challengers seem to have personal issues with him. Jarrett doesn't know anyone in the business who didn't have personal issues, bringing up his issues with Russo, and SEX vying for the title. 

Tenay asks if he's upset that David Flair is parading around with an NWA Title he hasn't earned. He says the only one more upset than him is Dusty, because only three of those belts in existence, one on Dusty's mantle, the one Jarrett has and the one David took, he assumes, without Ric's knowing. He says David even touching a belt is a bigger joke than Watts being a challenger. Tenay brings up the video of Russo's kids that Jeff had taped, and that Russo has seemingly been a man of his word since leaving, and asks if Jarrett has any regrets for making it that personal. Jarrett seems insulted by that question and doesn't really give an answer.

Hype video for Raven and a recap of his time in TNA.

New Church make their way out. Last week Mitchell had challenged XXX and the Harris Twins to an S&M Match, clarified by Tenay to be a Sadistic Madness Match. Originally a 10-man tag involving Malice, but now an eight-man tag involving Brian Lee, Slash and two mystery partners. I assume they'll be facing two members of XXX and the Harris Twins, but we're told that's happening later on. We still have no idea what that match actually will be.

Father Mitchell says that SEX have made a grave mistake, they've agreed to face his Disciples in tonight's main event. He explains that the match is anything goes, and the only rule is a wrestler can't be pinned or submitted unless they're busted open. He says that's good for them, but bad for SEX. He explains that the average wrestler becomes weak and disoriented as they bleed profusely, but his Disciples are no ordinary wrestlers. He says that they're sharks in a feeding frenzy when they see opponents blood, and when they taste their own they become virtually invincible. As the bloodbath ensues, he says SEX will become weaker and weaker and weaker, while his Disciples become more powerful. He tells them to drag their carcasses to the ring, as they're going to turn the Asylum into a slaughterhouse.

Daniels, Skipper and the Twins make their way out, so presumably it's these four in the main event. Daniels says that SEX is a better religion than Mitchell's, as their followers outnumber his 2 to 1. He says they don't mind if Mitchell's men bleed either, and even suggests they make his men bleed now.

Mitchell leaves the ring as a fight ensues, but the Disciples are obviously outnumbered. They're joined by Sandman with a kendo stick but he's also quickly beaten down. The lights go out and Perry Saturn starts hitting T-bone suplexes, one to Daniels over the ropes to the floor. I was sure they're fourth guy would be Steve Corin considering his issues with SEX and his teaming with Sandman but alright.

Cut to footage of Dusty on a farm, talking about how he's the bull of the woods, and some people are calling him an old bull left in the pen, scarred up and should be minding his own business, wondering why he keeps living in the past. He says he loves the future and the unknown, but respects the past. He says Watts, Flair and Lawler don't respect the past. He talks about the NWA Title Flair is carrying around, one that didn't even belong to his dad, it belongs to the NWA, and says he's going to take it away. He says when David earns it and earns the respect he should have been taught as a baby, running around in a million-dollar home, driving big ol' Mercedes cars. He says he's going to teach David that respect in a Bunkhouse Match. He says the belt means a lot to guys like him, he's going to teach David a lesson and get the belt back to who it rightly belongs.

Back to commentary to hype up the main event and the Bunkhouse Match

Recap video of Siaki laying out Athena last week.

David Young is in the ring, he had come out after Athena was attacked. He says Siaki tried to make a name for himself by hitting a woman, a good friend of his, and asks Athena to join him, sporting a neckbrace. He says Siaki stepped in shit last week and vows to feed it to him this week, calling him out to whip his ass. 

David Young (w/ Athena) vs Sonny Siaki 

For the third match in a row, Siaki barely enters the ring as he's decked by Young, sent off the ropes into an inverted atomic drop, then a regular atomic drop into a clothesline for two. David sent off the ropes, flips over Siaki and delivers a right, before coming off the top with a crossbody for two. Enziguri by Young, then off the ropes with a step-up enziguri for two. Siaki sent to the corner, gets a boot up, tries a tornado DDT but takes a Northern Lights suplex into the corner, Siaki rolling out to the ring.

Young off the apron tries a hurricanrana but gets swung into the side of the ring steps. Back in the ring Siaki covers for two. Young sent to the corner, eats a shoulder block and another, then a snap Northern Lights for two. Somewhere in all this Siaki's tights come down revealing a thong, they're eway too loose, he can't get them to stay up. Young fights back, comes off the ropes, only to be launched up and dropped down. Rolling neckbreaker by Siaki gets two.

Young sent off the ropes into a sleeper. David fights his way out, then sends Siaki off the ropes into a dropkick for two. Back suplex into a neckbreaker by Young gets two. Siaki avoids another back suplex, David avoids a pumphandle and hits a spinebuster. Young invites Athena onto the apron,  and she smacks Siaki. She gets in the ring and nails a low blow right in front of the referee. Desire runs in and attacks Athena from behind, tearing off her neckbrace. Now the referee calls for the bell. (5:47) This was actually a good match, but the finish made David look like an idiot. The spinebuster we're constantly told is his move and instead of trying to pin he lets Athena get involved, and I think costs himself the match? I have no idea what the ruling is here.

David pulls Desire off, then Siaki nails him with a low blow before hitting Siak-olypse Now. Siaki takes some handcuffs from Desire to cuff David to the middle rope in the corner. Siaki hits a snap swinging neckbreaker on Athena before officials are way too late to rush to the ring.

Goldy is with Red backstage. Red is scheduled to have a mixed tag tonight and before she can ask about his partner, up walks the future Mickie James. She says that tonight Trinity will understand she's nothing more than a garnish, much like Goldy. She says Trinity will know her role, shut her hole, and they'll all get along just fine. Goldy asks her name and she just says "Screw you bitch." Those lines were corny as hell but I loved it. Tenay actually names her as Alexis Laree, reminding us she was in that Lingerie Battle Royal on their second PPV which I totally forgot.

Watts, Lawler and Flair make their way out, and it seems they are officially called Next Generation. Watts wants to apologize after watching the interview earlier. He says Jarrett is a true champ, everything about him is a champion, the way he dresses, his bad hair day, and today of all days, he took his time off to go charity and wave the TNA flag instead of being there. He takes offense to Jarrett calling him a fake and a joke as a contender, but he rightfully points out he hasn't once asked for a title shot. He says this is about getting in his head, tells him to keep his title, apologizes again and wants to be his friend. The lights go out again, Jarrett appears behind the three of them and nails Watts with a guitar, making the three retreat. Jarett says his mind games just got his ass handed to him, and then calls out Truth, Styles, SEX, anyone who wants a piece of him. 

D'Lo instead comes out, not dressed to wrestle, the man who isn't somehow #1 contender besides having a title shot in his contract. He says he's listened to Jeff bitch and complain and moan about people turning their backs on him, chasing him down, and how Raven's not in the building. He points out Jarrett completely left him out of his little rant. He talks about Jarrett calling him, inviting him to TNA and saying it'll be a level playing field, can guarantee him a World Title shot, and instead gets caught up in his business week after week. Now he's been sidetracked with Chris Harris, but he just wants the NWA Title. He wants his NWA Title shot tonight after dealing with Harris. Jarrett accuses him of wanting a handout again, and says that he expects Jarrett to roll over just because WWE dicked him around for seven years. He's tired of hearing it and accepts the challenge.

Now they're interrupted by Disco and the Harris Twins. Disco says this isn't WWE where they check their brains at the door, points out Raven is the #1 contender, and if there's going to be an NWA Title match it's going to be sanctioned by SEX. He says the responsibility falls into his hands since Raven's out with an injury. He tries to stoke the flames saying Jarrett only agreed so he can make D'Lo wrestle twice in one night, says it's not a fair fight when you wrestle Jarrett, says you wrestle the Jarrett Machine, that being Jarrett, Harris, Storm, Dusty, the Titans, the Hendersonville Hillbillies, anybody that will help Jarrett out. He calls Jeff a sadistic egomaniac, rednck, low-down, dirty son of a bitch, rotten to the core. Disco says D'Lo will get his title shot next week, on the condition that SEX represents him in his corner to ensure a fair fight, but if he wins the title, he marches it back to the SEX locker room, becoming the next member of their family. D'Lo seems to accept the offer. Jarrett tells SEX not to piss him off, and they'll learn the meaning of that tonight. I'm so fucking confused, how do SEX or Disco have ANY authority to make matches of any kind? Just because Raven is a member? Or because Russo is a writer? How does this make any sense?

Bunkhouse Stampede Match: David Flair vs Dusty Rhodes

Pre-Match: David comes out to a remix of his dad's theme. Dusty comes out with a wheelbarrow filled with an assortment of weapons.

Dusty immediately pulls David out of the ring and into the guard rail, and off the steps. Dusty proceeds to toss his weapons into the ring, including a shovel, bullrope, then whips David with a think a riding crop. Dusty even tosses in a roll of barbed wire before taking it into the ring. Dusty puts his cowboy hat on the ref's head before David takes control with a shovel shot to the back and gut. David grabs the bullrope and misses a cowbell shot. Flip, flop and fly connects, plus the Bionic Elbow. Dusty takes the bullrope now and nails David with the cowbell for the win. (2:27)

Dusty grabs the belt David's been carrying around and Dsvid leaves, only for Lawler to run in, take it and run off with it. 

Goldy is backstage with AMW. Goldy is confused to why Harris is booked in a singles match tonight. Harris says he requested one and doesn't want to make a big deal, AMW is as strong as ever, and they'll be champs again. Goldy tries to dig for more, she's convinced there's smore to this but Harris insists it's nothing, he says that once in a while you have to prove to yourself you can still do it on your own, that's it.

Amazing Red & Alexis Laree vs Kid Kash (NWA X Division Champion) & Trinity

Kash and Red start the match. Cheap shots by Kash start a quick exchange ending in a double kip up and a standoff. Another exchange, both spitting in each other's face, quick series of pins follows until Kash paintbrushes Laree. Baseball slide to the knee of Red, then Red sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets poked in the eye, Kash following with a gorilla press. Lareee tags in, she's slapped by Kash who tags in Trinity, who runs into a drop toe hold and a side headlock. Trinity fights out, Laree sent fof the ropes and runs into a dropkick for two. Trinity sent to the corner, floats over into a sunset flip for two.

Wristlock and a crossarmbreaker by Trinity, quickly escaped by Laree who delivers some rights, only to be slammed to the mat. Red shoves Trinity, she slaps Red and Laree nails a roundhouse. Kicks to the ribs by Laree and follows with a suplex, floats over into a pin but Kash breaks it up. Kash and Red both get knocked off the apron, Trinity sent off the ropes and take each other down with double clotheslines.

Red and Kash back in, Red with a crossbody off the top, then Kash sent off the ropes, leapfrogs and nails a pair of vicious clotheslines. Red sent off the ropes, flips over the back and hits a spin kick. Laree and Trinity fight in the corner as do Red and Kash, mounted rights by Red and Laree in opposite corners. Trinity and Kash reverse Irish whips, Laree is popped up and drives Kash down into the corner. Spear by Laree on Trinity. Both pairs in opposite corners, Red hits a Code Red from the middle rope. Trinity with a moonsault off the top on Laree gets the win. (7:33) Man that ruled. Women were a bit off with their timing at times but that was good.

Kash is upset for some reason and leaves on his own leaving Trinity to celebrate.

Goldy is backstage with Lynn. She questions him if he knows who the mystery luchador was who attacked him. He annoyedly tells her to go ask Konnan. He doesn't believe that Konnan is as clueless as him and calls here naive before leaving.

Chris Harris vs D'Lo Brown

Quick exchange to start the match ending in a double dropkick. Another exchange, Harris getting the better with a clothesline after blocking a hip toss. Stalling suplex by Harris gets two. D'Lo sent off the ropes into an inverted atomic drop, then misses a clothesline and runs into a flapjack. D;Lo blocks some rights and sends Harriss off the ropes into a double sledge and a dropkick, followed by a scoop slam and a leg drop for two.

Harris sent off the ropes, ducks an elbow, hits a Thesz Press and delivers some rights. D'Lo sent to the corner into a back drop, then Harris off the ropes into a flying clothesline. Harris up top with a crossbody gets two. D'Lo tries for something like a Catatonic, but Harris counters with a flatliner for two. Harris sent to the corner, tries to spear D'Lo but he sidesteps and the ref gets taken out instead. D'Lo with a spinebuster, then goes up top, missing the Lo Down. Harris goes up top and misses an elbow. Disco and Siaki come out, Disco hitting a stunner as Siaki rolls the referee back in, D'Lo covers for the win. (6:51) Decent match, and I guess having a dirty finish made some sense.

Over to commentary, Tenay announces that Jarrett vs D'Lo for the title next week is official, as West goes into his sales pitch. They also announce some big announcement involving NASCAR, oh joy. Tenay asks for a replay of Watts being hit with the guitar.

Sadistic Madness Match: Triple X (NWA World Tag Team Champions) & The Harris Twins vs Disciples of the New Church, The Sandman & Saturn (w/ Father James Mitchell) 

Pre-Match: As mentioned earlier, Daniels and Skipper representing Triple X tonight. And of course Sandman's already busted himself open before the match even started.

For some reason this match has tags, so we're starting with Saturn and Skipper. Cheap shot by Skipper begins a quick exchange, Saturn takes control with a club to the back. Vicious rights in the corner drops Skipper, following with knees to the face. Skipper comes back with some rights but runs into a back elbow. Daniels runs into a clothesline and a belly to belly, then a German to Skipper. 

Saturn tries a suplex but he's cut off by Daniels, they try for a double DDT, he counters with a double Northern Lights, only to be taken out by double big boots by the Twins. Now we have a free-for-all breaking out. Elix whipped into the guard rail. Sandman clotheslined by one of the Twins in the ring, then pinned for two. The other twin tosses a chair into the ring while the first delivers a belly to belly on Sandman for two. Double team powerbomb onto the chair, I'm pretty sure the back of Sandman's head hits it, they make a cover, Brian makes the save.

Slash sends Daniels face first off the steps. Everyone's at ringside now. Slash gets a chair booted into his face by the Twins. Saturn and Elix back in the ring and Elix nails a spin kick. Slash is apparently bleeding as Saturn is hung over the top rope, Elix coming off the top with a leg drop over the back of the neck. Saturn with a dropkick, then Daniels takes him down with a clothesline. Saturn sent off the ropes into a dropkick. Russian leg sweep by Daniels, tries to pin but Saturn isn't bleeding. Daniels nailed with a spinebuster by Saturn. Saturn sent off the ropes and hit with a flatliner. Leg drop by Elix on Saturn before tossing him to the floor, followed by a corkscrew crossbody.

Slash and Daniels in the ring, pump kick by Slash. Mitchell tosses him their spike and he nails Daniels in the head with it, then drives it into his head repeatedly, now Daniels is busted open, Slash covers for two. More spiking to the head until a Twin makes the save, both back in the ring. Ron is apparently bleeding over his head as they hit a double chokeslam on Sandman, then one on Saturn, then Brian. Front slam on Saturn by one Twin. Top rope leg drop by Skipper on Sandman. Throat shots to Slash by a Twin, Brian tossed to the floor.

Best Moonsault Ever connects on Slash for two, Sandman knocked to the floor. Brian with a double clothesline on XXX. Slash knocks Skipper to the floor, then he's tossed to the floor by Daniels. Saturn and Daniels in the ring, Saturn knocks him down with rights and an elbow. Daniels sent off the ropes into a pop-up powerbomb. Sitout powerbomb by Saturn broken up by a Twin. Slash hits him with a chair for two. The other Twin hits Slash with one of the tag belts for two. Daniels sent to the corner by Saturn but he gets Saturn with an enziguri. BME misses and Saturn nails a superkick for a near fall.

Saturn sent off the ropes and caught with the Death Valley Driver, covers but Elix saves it. Twins hit Saturn with the H-Bomb. Truth is here now going after the Twins for some reason and he's joined by fucking Viscera for some reason. Double dropkick by Truth on the Twins. Viscera with a chokebomb on Daniels. Truth and Viscera leave, Saturn pins Daniels for the win. (11:23) I really wanted to like this but there was so much going on with no rhyme or reason, Saturn wasn't very good, and of all people he pins Daniels. And why the fuck is Viscera here, and more importantly why is he with Truth?

Sandman hands out beers to his teammates until Disco and Siaki run into ruin things. Twins slide in a pair of tables. Saturn and Sandman are just gone as the Church are set on the tables, Skipper and Daniels are up top, but Jarrett runs out with a chair before they can dive. Chair shots all around, now D'Lo's here and confronts Jarrett. Jarrett completely unprovoked hits D'Lo with the chair too to end the show.