Written by: Bob Colling
National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action Weekly PPV #72
Date: 11/26/2003
From: Nashville, TN
The show starts off a video promoting the issues between AJ Styles and Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett doesn’t think that Styles can hang with him and Styles is determined to prove him wrong. Jimmy Hart had a bombshell last week and that ended up being Dusty Rhodes.
Earlier today, Scott Hudson was with Jimmy Hart outside the arena. Hart is going to pick nine lucky fans and they will be given a strap. Jimmy says it will be a sellout tonight and he’s going to be one of the lumberjacks along with nine fans. Jimmy promises that Jeff Jarrett will get the beating his father should have given him. Dusty Rhodes enters the scene and says they will get the job done tonight. It’s fans revenge tonight!
NWA World Champion Jeff Jarrett, Don Callis and the Red Shirt Security make their way down to the ring to likely cut a promo. Jarrett tells Tenay that he’s not dealing with his crap and the same goes for Don West and Jeremy Borash. Jarrett has three things he wants to discuss because he’s in a bad mood. Jarrett thinks this should be the greatest night of his life. Jarrett recalls Hulk Hogan declaring he would be coming to NWA-TNA and wanted to win the NWA World Championship, the one championship he’s never won. Jarrett went to Tokyo and took Hogan out and he needs knee surgery. Jarrett has beaten everyone associated with Hogan. Jarrett believes he has finished Hogan off. Jarrett has unfinished business to settle with Hogan. Jarrett wants everyone to standup for a moment of silence for Hogan’s career. A graphic appears on the screen signaling the end of Hogan’s career. The ring bell guy does a few strikes but Jarrett stops him from doing ten. Jarrett is going to beat Dusty Rhodes and then whip the fans into a bloody pulp tonight. Jarrett wants everyone to realize they are either with him or against him.
Erik Watts makes his way out to confront Jarrett. Watts remains on the aisle and plays to the crowd. Watts says it was his decision to bring Sting into the company. Watts notes that next week, Jarrett defends against AJ Styles because of him. Watts says he’s the rancher and Jarrett is a jackass. Jarrett doesn’t think Watts is smart enough to do these decisions and wants to know who Watts is listening to. Watts wants to know why Jarrett laid down at Bash at the Beach. Abyss attacks Watts from behind and is slammed to the mat by Red Shirt Security gut first. Abyss hits the Black Hole Slam and Jarrett taunts Watts on the mat. AJ Styles, Raven and America’s Most Wanted run into the ring to make the save.
Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Glen Gilbertti, David Young, Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger. Diamond says they have beaten all challengers that have come their way. They are wrestling in a six man tag for the vacant tag titles. Diamond is confident they will prove they are the best tag team. Swinger says AMW think they are hot because seven girls cheer for them. Gibertti was whispering something to David Young before walking off.
Opening Contest: Kid Kash vs. Low Ki: Christopher Daniels is on commentary for the match. Ki takes Kash down with a hammerlock to keep control of the contest. Ki kicks Kash to get out of a wrist lock. Ki kicks Kash on the mat to get out of an arm lock. Ki drops Kash with another kick and Kash bails to the floor where Kash gets a chair and toss it done. Kash misses a shoulder ram and is met with a kick to the chest. Ki hits an elbow drop for a near fall. Ki kicks Kash on the back followed by an uppercut. Ki takes Kash over with an overhead suplex. Kash forearms Ki and hits a modified Muscle Buster for a near fall. Kash keeps a full nelson on Ki. Kash drops Ki with an airplane spin. Ki chops Kash against the ropes. Ki drops Kash with a clothesline. Ki locks in an abdominal stretch, but Kash doesn’t give in. Ki nails Kash with a springboard kick for a near fall. Kash kicks Ki in the corner and nearly wins with a double springboard moonsault. Ki almost wins with a rollup. Kash hits a head scissors off the top for a near fall. Ki rams Kash into the corner and hits a handspring kick in the corner. Kash stops Ki on the top and tries for a powerbomb, but Ki counters with a hurricanrana! Daniels confronts Ki on the floor and Kash shoves Ki into Daniels. Daniels rolls Ki into the ring and Kash rolls Ki up with a handful of tights to win the match. (***1/4. I enjoyed the action as they did enough to hold my interest and it was a strong start to the show action wise.)
Kid Kash has his sign saying he’s not afraid of Don Harris leading to Don coming out from behind on the aisle. Kash ducks a clothesline and slaps Don. Kash runs away from Don through the crowd.
Backstage, Don Callis is interviewed with Abyss by his side. Callis says that tonight is all about AJ Styles paying the price. If Shark Boy gets hurt tonight then that’s his own fault. Kevin Northcutt says that Raven has more guts than brains and he’s gonna make Raven look like roadkill. Legend promises that Raven is going to get the same beating that Erik Watts got.
Second Contest: Shark Boy vs. Abyss: Boy avoids Abyss in the corner and bounces off Abyss on a crossbody attempt. Boy dropkicks Abyss, but Abyss doesn’t budge. Abyss drops Boy down to the mat gut first. Abyss continues to beat on Boy in the corner. Abyss splashes Boy in the corner. Abyss hits a side slam and misses a leg drop. Boy plants Abyss with a bulldog followed by a stunner. Boy hammers away on Abyss in the corner. Abyss catches Boy on a crossbody attempt and is shoved into the corner chest first. Boy nearly wins with a rollup. Boy tries for the DSD, but Abyss counters. Abyss almost hits the Shock Treatment, but Boy breaks free. Abyss finishes Boy off with the Black Hole Slam to win the match. (**. For an extended squash, this was really fun.) After the match, Abyss hits the Shock Treatment. Callis slides a table into the ring for Abyss to use. Abyss powerbombs Boy through the table.
Backstage, Raven is interviewed by Scott Hudson. Raven has lit a few candles. Raven says his destiny will not end this week. Raven notes that he broke Ryan Wilson’s arm last week. He put Jim Mitchell, Vampiro, Slash and Sinn out of wrestling. Raven knows that people get involved in his matches. Raven knows that Jeff Jarrett is determined to keep him away from the NWA World Championship. CM Punk and Julio Dinero enter the scene and need to talk. Raven says there’s no time to talk. Punk lets Raven leave. Dinero says that Raven will know how they feel tonight.
Third Contest: Chris Sabin vs. X: X tosses Sabin over the top to the floor. Sabin tries to shoulder block X, but is met with a clothesline. X beats on Sabin with overhand strikes to the back. Sabin dropkicks X and hits a slingshot head scissors from the apron into the ring. X hits a sit out chokeslam on Sabin. X clotheslines Sabin and drops Sabin over the top rope gut first. X leg drops Sabin while Sabin was over the top rope. X beats on Sabin with right hands and chops against the ropes. X misses a crossbody and gets kicked off the apron. Sabin takes X out with a somersault dive over the top to the floor. Sabin connects with a springboard heel kick for a two count. X tries for a Package Piledriver, but Sabin counters. X plants Sabin with a powerbomb and goes to the top rope. X hits a senton splash and tosses Sabin to the floor. X drives Sabin down with a backbreaker on the floor. X misses a top rope swanton and crashes to the floor. Sabin hits the Cradle Shock to win the match. (**. A solid match that doesn’t get a lot of time. I like the clean finish for Sabin since X cost himself the match with a high risk spot.)
Scott Hudson is with Jimmy Hart in the crowd and Hart asks who wants to be at ringside for the revenge match. Hart is picking five more people.
Fourth Contest: Raven vs. Legend: Legend works over Raven in the corner with shoulder rams and stomps. Legend jabs Raven in the corner several times, but Raven fights back with right hands and tries for a DDT, but Legend bails to the floor. Raven hits a slingshot crossbody onto Legend and Northcutt on the floor. Legend gains control in the ring choking Raven. Legend delivers a few fist drops. Legend decks Raven with a forearm as we see Punk and Dinero on the aisle. Legend controls Raven with a chin lock. Legend savant kicks Raven for a two count. Raven press slams Legend off the top rope to the mat. Raven jabs Legend followed by a few clotheslines. Raven sends Legend into the corner chest first followed by a knee lift. Raven tries for a bulldog, but gets sent into the corner. Legend plants Raven with a reverse DDT for a near fall. Raven blocks a kick and hits a DDT for the win.
Fifth Contest: Raven vs. Kevin Northcutt: Northcutt big boots Raven in the corner and delivers a running knee in the corner. Nortcutt forearms Raven a few times and runs into a superkick. Raven tries for a DDT, but Legend enters and attacks Raven. Legend slides a chair into the ring and gets the chair kicked into his face. Raven whacks both men with the chair. Abyss plants Raven with the Black Hole Slam, which leads to the bell and it’s a no contest. Punk and Dinero enter the ring to make the save on Raven. They low blow Abyss and clothesline Abyss to the floor. (*. As a whole segment, this didn’t do a lot for me. I’m intrigued by a Abyss/Raven feud.)
Jimmy has his army of fans and they chant that they will whip Jarrett like a dog.
Sixth Contest: NWA-TNA X-Division Champion Michael Shane vs. Sonjay Dutt: Shane decks Dutt to get the cheap advantage and chokes Dutt over the top rope. Shane Douglas is watching the match with Traci Brooks in the crowd. Shane chops Dutt a few times. Dutt boots Shane in the corner and avoids a splash. Dutt blocks being rammed into the corner and hits a head scissors. We see Don Callis yelling at the Red Shirt Security. Dutt backdrops Shane over the top to the floor. Dutt tries for a suicide dive, but Shane delivers a forearm smash. Shane misses a slingshot sunset flip and Dutt hits a springboard crossbody for a two count. Shane sends Dutt face first into the middle turnbuckle. Shane drops Dutt with a few right hands as Douglas and Brooks are at ringside chanting for Dutt. Dutt gets a rollup from behind for a near fall. Dutt spikes Shane with a tornado DDT. Dutt drops Shane with right hands. Dutt backdrops Shane and delivers a stunner after blocking a clothesline for a near fall.
Shane hits a fisherman DDT for a near fall. Shane signals for a superkick in the corner. Dutt blocks it and hits a Slice Bread, but doesn’t go for a cover. Dutt hits the Hindu Press, but Traci pulls Dutt off! Brooks gets on the apron and distracts Dutt. Shane has a chain around his fist. Brooks is rubbing the referee’s face into her chest. Shane decks Dutt with the chain and wins the match. (**1/2. It felt rather obvious that Dutt was not going to be aligned with Douglas. The action was fine, but the finish was lackluster and hurt the match for me. Dutt is incredibly talented and I hope this means Dutt chases for the gold and wins it down the line.)
Shane Douglas cuts a promo saying that he said he would make a new franchise of TNA. Douglas introduces Traci Brooks, who is essentially his new Francine. Douglas says they are surviving notice saying that nobody is safe and tonight they will be making noise.
Backstage, Scott Hudson interviews Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes says that success breeds power, which creates stuff you have to do. Dusty tried to make Jarrett the mothership of the company because Jarrett holds the gold. Dusty says he’s a Nashville treasure. Dusty credits the people for their support for where he’s been and been able to do. Rhodes says that Jerry didn’t whip Jeff’s ass when he should have. Rhodes thinks it’s a mistake to say AJ Styles isn’t on his level. AJ Styles enters the scene and says that maybe people will say that Jeff Jarrett couldn’t compete with him after next week.
America’s Most Wanted make their way out and watch the next match at the commentary table.
Seventh Contest: BG James, Konnan & Ron Killings vs. Glenn Gilberti, Johnny Swinger & Simon Diamond for the vacant NWA-TNA Tag Team Championships: Killings and Swinger kickoff the title match with Swinger delivering several strikes. Swinger shoulder blocks Killings and Killings takes Swinger over with a hurricanrana. Killings tags in Konnan and they elbow Swinger to the mat. Gilberti decks Konnan from behind and James sends Gilberti to the floor. Killings leg drops Swinger on the groin from the top rope. Raven is seen arguing with the Gathering backstage. Konnan nails Gilberti with a rolling clothesline. Gilberti misses an elbow drop after a drop toe hold. Konnan drives Gilberti down with a face buster. Swinger enters and clotheslines Konnan for a two count. Diamond tags in and works over Konnan with right hands before tagging in Gilberti. Konnan stops Gilberti with a DDT and tags in James. James cleans house with right hands. James ducks a clothesline from Diamond and jabs all three men before hitting a knee drop on Diamond. James tries for a pump handle slam on Swinger, but Diamond nails James with a superkick. Gilberti jumps on James off the apron. Gilberti sends James into the railing shoulder first. Swinger tries for a cover, but James kicks out at two.
Diamond delivers several jabs to James and is met with a low blow. Swinger tags in and kicks James to prevent a tag out. Diamond works over James with more right hands. Diamond and Gilberti are arguing and that allows James to hit a clothesline on both men. Killings comes off the ropes with a forearm smash and a standing dropkick. Killings nails Gilberti with a heel kick. James holds Gilberti allowing for a heel kick by Killings. Konnan hits the stunner on Gilberti, but Diamond decks Konnan to the floor. James tosses Diamond to the floor. Swinger is hammering away on Killings in the corner. Killings nails Swinger with a scissors kick. David Young whacks Killings with a tennis racket, but James Storm prevents the referee from making the count. Storm superkicks a chair into Gilberti face. Killings hits a front suplex on Swinger for a three count to win the titles. (*1/4. It’s been made clear that the angle they are going with moving forward is 3LK against AMW. I’m not sure how the face v face dynamic will work in an eventual match. The action wasn’t all that great, but they at least didn’t keep it a standard six man match.)
A video of Roddy Piper punching a dummy in his living room is shown. Piper says he’s coming soon to TNA.
Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Raven and the Gathering. Raven says for one night only the Gathering will be together again. Raven says that Abyss will not want a rematch after the beating they get.
Main Event: NWA-TNA World Champion Jeff Jarrett vs. Dusty Rhodes in a non-title lumberjack match: Jarrett has a microphone and taunts the fans with straps at ringside. Jarrett is going to strap each person and save Dusty for last. Jarrett escapes a lockup agains the ropes. Rhodes drops Jarrett with an elbow strike and Jarrett bails to the floor where he’s whipped with belts. Jarrett quickly returns to the match. Jarrett bails to the outside again and quickly runs back into the ring. Dusty sends Jarrett to the apron, but Jarrett gets back in to avoid being whipped. Jarrett knee lifts Dusty in the corner several times. Jarrett works over Dusty with jabs in the corner. Dusty fires back with jabs of his own. Dusty drops Jarrett with an elbow smash. Dusty gets a belt from Jimmy Hart and whips Jarrett around the ring. Jarrett low blows Dusty and the referee gets knocked down. Jarrett low blows Dusty again. Jarrett takes the belt off of the referee. Jarrett begins to whip Dusty over the back. Jimmy Hart enters to whip Jarrett and whips Don Callis. Jarrett decks Jimmy Hart with a right hand. Erik Watts runs out and chokeslams Jarrett to the mat. Watts has Callis, but the Red Shirt Security attack Watts. The referee has called for the bell making this a no contest. AJ Styles runs out and dropkicks the Red Shirt Security. Well, the show goes dark do to difficulties. AJ Styles is hammering away on Jarrett and that’s how the show goes off. (DUD. Awful match and it was just a matter of using name power to try and get people to watch the show. I have interest in seeing Jarrett/Styles once again, though.)
Final Thoughts:
The undercard delivered some quality action and I felt that this was an overall good show with a really poor main event. Next week seems to be a big week with the Jarrett/Styles showdown and this was a fine lead in for that. It seems like Styles is being primed to win the title from Jarrett and head into 2004 as the top guy for TNA.
Thanks for reading.