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NWA-TNA #3
07/03/2002 from Nashville, Tennessee, USA
After taping two weeks worth of shows in Huntsville, NWA-TNA moved to Nashville. TNA is still based out of Nashville to this day. Despite the "NWA" brand name being attached to the company in it's early days make no mistake about it, this is TNA. I suppose the NWA name was there to add legitimacy.
However despite their efforts, the NWA title looked anything but legitimate based on how they booked it. It was clearly playing second fiddle to whatever angles Jarrett was involved in, as his feud with the NWA representatives and Toby Keith was pushed as the most important stuff in the company. In their second week however they at least tried to push some new stars, with the X division being based around AJ Styles and some other younger talent.
With that being said let's take a look at week three of NWA-TNA, centered on the first defenses of the X title and NWA title, as well as a tag team tournament and the continuation of Jarrett's feud with Scott Hall.
The show starts with NWA President Jim Miller, except the graphic reads"Jim Wilson". He tells us that he was away the last two weeks on a tour of Japan, which is a stock explanation to explain why people are absent from wrestling shows. He says that next week a large Japanese man will challenge for the NWA title. He calls this man "Omori". I hope it's Takao Omori because that would be pretty sweet. I like the idea of foreigners coming to challenge for the title as it makes it feel like a real world title. Plus the NWA title has a long history of it's champion going to Japan and working for companies like All Japan Pro Wrestling. Even today the NWA title is defended on big shows put on by New Japan Pro Wrestling. He also presents Mike Tenay with a trophy welcoming him to the NWA. I've never heard of someone getting a trophy as a welcoming present.
Match #1: NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinal Match
"Cowboy" James Storm & "Wildcat" Chris Harris vs. The Johnsons(Richard Johnson & Rod Johnson w/ Mortimer Plumtree)
This is a semifinal match in the tag title tournament, I guess the opening rounds were dark matches but I couldn't find any information on them on Cagematch. Nothing like making a tag team title seem important than having two guys dressed as condoms competing for it. James Storm is in full cowboy gimmick this week. It's one thing to call yourself a cowboy but it's goofy if you actually dress like one and shoot flash rounds into the air with revolvers like Storm does here. On the way to the ring Plumtree gave a silly promo calling The Johnsons his servants. He delivered the promo in an evil villain voice. This was a basic tag team match(surprise!). The Johnsons got heat on Storm to start, then Storm got the hot tag and Harris did a typical babyface comeback. The finish of the match came when one of the Johnsons had Harris in his arms for a slam, and Storm hit a missile dropkick from the top rope, causing Harris to roll through for the pin. The match was fine but it was only about 4 minutes which is too short to do anything great. 3/4*
After the match Plumtree began yelling at the Johnsons for their loss. One of the Johnsons grabs Plumtree's throat and it looks like he is gonna chokeslam him, but then he lets him down and just pushes him to the mat. IS THIS THE END OF THE MORTIMER PLUMTREE AND JOHNSON ALLIANCE?!?
Scott Hall comes out for a promo. His music sounds like a country-friend version of his Razor Ramon music. His face looks really puffy from his alcoholism. He says "Hey yo" to a huge pop, but is interrupted by none other than Jeff Jarrett. Can you believe that? They talk some smack for a little bit, Jarrett calls Hall a bitch. He still has yet to call anyone "slapnuts" and I'm starting to feel cheated. They tease a physical confrontation but Jim "Jim Wilson" Miller comes out and says Jarrett can't make his own rules and disobey the NWA, so Jarrett backs down. Then K-Krush comes from behind and attacks Hall in the ring, but Hall fights him off.
They cut to Goldy in the back with a bloodied James Storm. Seems someone has attacked him in the back and their continuation in tonight's tourney is in jeopardy.
Match #2: "Alpha Male" Monty Brown vs. Anthony Ingram
Monty Brown aka Marcus Cor Von from the rebooted ECW comes to the ring cutting a promo. He says he is here for Ken Shamrock and the NWA title. Brown is a former NFL player and has a good physique, but was never much otherwise. This is a squash match with the jobber Ingram in less than two minutes. Ingram gets zero offense and Brown finishes him with the Alpha Bomb which is a power bomb into a pin. DUD
Cut to Goldy in the back. It seems like no one can find Jim Miller. He was just there two second ago. We are treated to another promo by Puppet, who was on the first episode but didn't wrestle. He says he wants to kill some midgets. I guess he is a self loathing midget. He calls out Gary Coleman and Mini-Me, and says he wants to eradicate all midgets.
Match #3: NWA World Tag Title Tournament Semifinal Match
The Rainbow Express(Lenny & Bruce w/ Joel Gertner) vs. Buff Bagwell & Apollo
Bagwell & Apollo come out to music that sounds like a rip off of Santana's "Smoothe". Match starts with Lenny and Bruce hugging to get heat. They work Apollo over in the corner for a little bit. Lenny and Bruce did a move where one guy held Apollo over the top rope, and the other leapfrogged over their partner and landed on Apollo's butt. The sad thing is the gay heel gimmick works here as some dumb fans chant "you are gay" at the Express. Not sure how that is supposed to annoy them when their gimmick is that they are openly gay. Alicia comes out for her appearance this week, taking money from Ed Ferrara at the announce table. Ferrara doesn't want to explain what it means. I get the feeling this Alicia thing will go nowhere. Apollo tags Buff to no pop. Buff does a botched cross body to Lenny where they fail to get over the top rope. They go outside anyway and their partners go in. I guess this match is under lucha rules where if your partner goes to the floor you can become the legal man, but it's never explained so it just looks like no one cares. Finish comes when Buff hits the Buff Blockbuster on Bruce, after which Lenny superkicks him for the pin. Way too much stuff going on in this match. 1/4*
After the match Buff Bagwell looks disappointed in his loss, making him the only person in the universe to have cared about the results to that last match. Ferrara goes up to him with a mic and Bagwell basically cuts his version of John Tenta's "I am not a shark" promo. He renounces the Buff Bagwell name and insists on being called Marcus Bagwell from here on out. He says no one gave a shit about his broken neck and that the Buff gimmick has brought him nothing but misery. That's probably true. He says he was a "six time world tag team champion and just got beat by two GAY GUYS". He walks off in disgust. This was a weird moment and totally felt like Vince Russo was behind it all.
In the back the NWA vice president is trying to find Jim Mitchell. Jerry Lynn is there pestering the vice pres to let him enter the tag tournament(replacing Storm & Harris) with a mystery partner. Who could it be??
Match #4: Puppet the Psyho Dwarf vs. Todd Stone
Puppet cuts yet another promo in the ring. Says he wants to kill some midgets and that he wants "to see some midget blood tonight". Out comes some guy named Todd Stone, who looks like the least charismatic midget wrestler I have ever seen. Evidently this is a hardcore match as Puppet beats the shit out of Stone with a trash can and kendo stick. He puts the trash can over Stone's head and beats it with the kendo stick. Puppet finishes him off with a fireman's carry into cutter on the trash can(Apollo's move). DUD.
After the match Puppet beats the ref and Borash with the kendo stick. Don West yells "I LOVE IT" like when JBL watches El Torito on Monday Night Raw. West tries to high five Puppet, but Puppet beats him with the kendo stick too. Thank you Puppet.
Match #5: Francine vs. Taylor Vaugn
These two are feuding because Vaugn won last week's lingerie battle royal. Francine beats Vaugn with a belt before the bell even rings. Then Vaugn takes the belt and beats Francine with it. The ref calls the match off. No star rating because there was no match really, but suffice to say this was terrible. Even worse, after the match Ferrara makes another attempt to console Francine, raising her hand in victory. Francine responds by taking Ferrara's hand and places it on her boob. She then beat Ferrara with the belt for the second straight week.
Time for this week's Nascar based segment. Borash introduces Hermie Sadler who says what an honor it is to be a part of the NWA-TNA. Sadler's arch-nemesis K-Krush interrupts him. He says no one cares about Nascar and that hey don't belong here(he's right) and calls Sadler a bitch. Sadler then SPEARS K-KRUSH and they have a pull apart brawl. Krush issues a challenge to Sadler, who accepts. So next week it's K-Krush vs. Hermie Sadler in a match. Fuck.
Match #6: NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Ken Shamrock(c) vs. Malice
Shamrock comes out looking like he has a stiff neck. They build the match around Malice working Shamrock's neck, which was damaged earlier when Malice attacked him. Malice stomps on Shamrock as he enters the ring, throws him around outside. Malice puts Shamrock in a headlock in the corner, then climbs to the middle rope and pulls Shamrock up. Shamrock comes back with an arm bar attempt. The crowd didn't pop because no one was really knowledgeable about MMA moves yet in 2002, whereas today it would get more of a reaction. Malice dominates the match before Shamrock hits a belly to belly for the pinfall. This was better than I thought it would be and the psychology was good, but the crowd was dead. I feel like they were getting worn out by all the stupid gimmicks, bad promos, and angles. Shamrock only did a few offensive moves and won by the skin of his teeth. **1/2
Match #7: NWA-TNA X-Championship Match
AJ Styles(c) vs. David Young(w/ Bobcat)
They pushed the X division as being based around excitement, but the first challenger, David Young, is one of the least exciting guys on the roster. His finish is a spinebuster for fucks sake. What's worse is that Young lost to Apollo last week, so it makes no sense that he gets a tittle shot here, making the belt look weak and pointless. What's worse is that Young is saddled with his valet Bobcat. I really don't understand the point of Bobcat. She just stands at ringside, not paying attention to the match, talking on the phone doing her makeup etc. It's the polar opposite of what a manager/valet is supposed to do. If something doesn't add to the match, then why have it there?
Anyway, this was a good match but not nearly as good as the previous week's X title match. A flurry of offense from Styles to start. He hits a beautiful dropkick. Styles botches a dive to the outside of the ring, but he lands on his feet and hits a clothesline instead. You'd never see Styles botch that move today. Styles goes for a springboard move but Young knocks him off. Young hits an asai moonsault to Styles on the floor. Throughout all this action Bobcat talks on her phone at ringside. Young suplexes Styles into the turnbuckles. Young hits a big enziguri for a near fall. Young hits a brainbuster for another near fall. Styles did the moonsault into inverted DDT combo. There's a lot of near falls but the crowd isn't too into this. Styles kicks out of Young's AA spinebuster, which is his finish but it isn't over because he has never won with it. Plus it's just a regular move. Styles eventually gets a Styles Clash from the middle rope for the pinfall. Well worked match but again the crowd was dead. After the match Bobcat gets in the ring and celebrates, because in case you didn't catch it she doesn't give a fuck about wrestling. ***
Backstage Goldy is interviewing The Rainbow Express and their manager Joel Gertner. Lenny says they know a good hairstylist for Goldy. I wonder if they are referring to Rico? Gertner hits on Goldy for a little bit, and says that they will win the tag titles by forfeit, with their opponents Storm & Harris out of the picture. Gertner then kisses Goldy. Gertner is entertaining and all but after a few weeks he starts to wear thin.
Match #8: NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament Final Match
The Rainbow Expresss((Lenny & Bruce w/ Joel Gertner) vs. AJ Styles & Jerry Lynn
Turns out Jerry Lynn's mystery partner is none other than X division champion AJ Styles! The crowd doesn't seem too excited to see him again, probably because he just had a match directly before this. They should have put the X title match as the opening match to this show, it probably would have gotten more interest from the crowd that way. It would have helped both matches.
They start the match with some brawling in the ring. Lynn throws Bruce over the top and lands a cross body dive on both of them. Styles then goes for a twisting cross body of his own. Lynn trips Bruce into Lenny's crotch. Gertner holds Lynn's leg as he tries to climb to the top rope. Lynn gets worked over in the corner for a bit. Styles tags in and they work Bruce over. Lenny puts Lynn into the Tiger Tamer, which is the same as the Lion Tamer/Walls Of Jericho. I guess they wanted to evoke Siegfried and Roy. They work over Lynn some more. A facebuster gets a near fall on Lynn. Lynn goes for the Gotch piledriver but Bruce reverses it, which is then reversed again into a sunset flip. Lynn gets the hot tag to Styles and Bruce tags in Lenny. Styles does a babyface comeback. Lenny hits the Breakdown/Skull Crushing Finale, which Jericho was using around this time in the WWE. Lenny must be a huge Jericho mark. The match breaks down a bit with all four men in the ring. Lynn hits the Gotch piledriver on Bruce and then Styles hits the Spinal Tap on Lenny to win the tag titles. Good match. ***1/2
All in all this impromptu team of Lynn and Styles is the best tag team they have. So at least the belts are on a good team. On the flipside it's stupid that they were able to walk into the finals of the tournament without having competed in the earlier rounds. So it kind of looks like The Rainbow Express got screwed out of the titles, even though they are supposed to be heels. So TNA's tag division starts off with some shit booking.
Looks like they've found Jim Miller in the back, tied up with "FU" painted on his huge fat gut. Thanks for this image TNA. It feels like they want you to believe Jarrett is behind the backstage shenanigans tonight, but I get the feeling it's going to be a swerve.
Match #9: Scott Hall & Brian Christopher vs. Jeff Jarrett & K-Krush
They start brawling outside. Jarrett and Hall brawl in the dance cages by the ramp. Krush and Christopher brawl through the crowd. Krush and Christopher get back to the ring. Christopher goes for the Hip Hop Drop but nobody's home. This match seems to be under lucha rules again. That's fine but at least explain it to the audience so we don't think everyone is just being sloppy. Hall tags in and accidentally knocks Christopher to the floor. Krush hits a missile dropkick on Hall. Jarrett hit a top rope cross body on Hall. but Hall rolls through for a near fall. Why are the heels doing so many high spots? Krush and Jarrett continue to double team and work over Hall. Eventually Hall goes for the hot tag to Christopher, but Christopher refuses to tag in. Instead Christopher punches Hall. There's a ref bump. Hall tries to fight eveyone off and hits a Razor/Outsider's Edge on Krush. He goes for the same move on Jarrett but is kicked in the mid section by Christopher. Jarrett hits The Stroke on Hall and Christopher lands the Hip Hop Drop. Jarrett then pins hall. Good match. Hall was really a great worker in his day and had a tremendous understanding of ring psychology. The swerve with Christopher turning on Hall continues the story and is perfectly fine, but comes too soon because they had never even teamed together before this match. ***1/2
After the match Jarrett cuts a promo on Hall. He says "I beat your ass in '96. I beat your ass in '97" and that he will single handedly run him out of the NWA. He puts the boots to him some more. He says Hall isn't worth a damn just like all of the legends of the NWA. He hits Hall over the head with the NWA trophy that was given to Tenay earlier in the night. Some EMTs come out and put Hall on a stretcher. Jarrett drops an elbow on Hall while he is on the stretcher. The then knocks the stretcher over on it's way up the entrance ramp and continues to attack Hall as the show goes off the air.
This stuff with Hall and Jarrett is fine. However I feel like Jarrett has no real motivation as a heel. He just showed up on the first show and acted like a heel. It all just feels one dimensional and boring. But as a wrestling story line this is pretty serviceable so far. I just wish it wasn't the main story of the promotion.
Overall this show was a mixed bag. It was very promo/angle heavy, leaving the matches with less time than they should have gotten. So this means there were a lot of matches but many of them were either bad(Puppet vs. jobber, Francine vs. Taylor Vaugn) or without heat(Styles vs. Young, all the tag tournament matches) because the crowd was getting bored.
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