Written by: Bob Colling
National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Weekly PPV #79
Date: 1/28/2004
From: Nashville, TN
A video promoting Callis vs. Watts is shown to start the show. The video highlights Jarrett shoving Tenay at ringside, as well. ICP tossed a drink at Jarrett during the street fight and Tenay shoved Jarrett back. Tenay also prevented Jarrett from using a guitar.
In the parking lot, Erik Watts arrived with Goldylocks and Brian Urlacher.
Backstage, D’Lo Brown cut a promo saying that he’s going to kick Abyss’s ass for putting his hands on his friend, AJ Styles.
Opening Contest: Abyss vs. D’Lo Brown: Brown goes right after Abyss with right hands. Brown gets out of a chokeslam and clotheslines Abyss and himself over the top to the floor. Brown sends Abyss into the guard railing ribs first. Brown grabs a table from under the ring and drops Abyss over the top throat first. Brown hits a crossbody off the top for a two count. Brown continues to forearm Abyss in the corner. Brown boots Abyss in the corner, but Abyss press slams Brown to the mat gut first. Abyss tosses Brown through the ropes to the floor. Abyss rams Brown’s face onto the ring steps and taunts him on the floor. Abyss sends Brown into the corner and hits a big splash to drop Brown to the mat. Abyss works over Brown with chops in the corner. Brown avoids a chop and fights back with some of his own. Brown forearms Abyss but runs into a big boot. Abyss grabs a table on the floor and sets it up similar to last week for Styles.
Abyss tries for the Shock Treatment, but Brown breaks free and kicks Abyss. Brown heel kicks Abyss and a splash in the corner. Brown heads to the top hitting a clothesline. Brown manages to plant Abyss with a swinging side slam for a two count. Brown misses a spear in the corner and hits the ring post. Abyss has Brown on his shoulders to hit the Shock Treatment for a two count. Abyss hammers away on Brown with right hands, but Brown comes back with a spinebuster. Brown heads to the top rope, but Abyss sends the referee into the ropes to crotch Brown. Abyss plants Brown with the Black Hole Slam to win the match. (***. The finish was a little weak, but I enjoyed the action to start the show. The crowd was lively for the match to start but faded throughout for whatever reason. I’m all for Abyss getting a push in TNA.) After the match, Abyss grabs Brown from the apron and chokeslams Brown through the table. El Leon runs down and brawls with Abyss before clotheslining Abyss over the top to the floor. Leon checks on D’Lo. Brown is bleeding from the mouth.
Backstage, NWA World Champion Jeff Jarrett is on the phone where Tom says that Brian Urlacher has to leave the arena and if he doesn’t then Watts will lose his job. Glen Gilbertti promises to take care of ICP. Jarrett asks if Swinger or Diamond really signed and Jarrett appears happy with what Gilbertti whispers to him.
A video package promoting the X-Division championship match between Chris Sabin and Michael Shane is aired.
Second Contest: NWA-TNA X-Division Champion Chris Sabin vs. Michael Shane: Traci Brooks has her hand in a cast from the fall onto chairs from last week while on Elix Skipper’s back. Sabin starts off with a wrist lock, but Shane takes Sabin down to the mat with a headlock. Shane Douglas is on commentary for the match. Shane shoulder blocks Sabin and keeps control with a headlock. Sabin takes Shane over with a head scissors to send Shane to the floor. Sabin misses a baseball slide and decks Shane on the floor. Sabin misses a moonsault off the apron, but clotheslines Shane. Shane misses a clothesline and is met with a kick to the head. Sabin clotheslines Shane over the top to the floor. Traci distracts Sabin on the apron, but Shane fails on a sneak attack. Sabin is pulled off the apron by Traci and hits his face on the apron. Shane sends Sabin into the guard railing shoulder first. Shane slams Sabin’s face onto the commentary table. Shane goes for a cover, but Sabin kicks out at two.
Shane continues to work over Sabin with strikes, but Sabin fights back with chops and a backdrop. Sabin boots Shane in the corner, but Shane puts Sabin in the tree of woe. Shane follows up with a baseball slide and taunts the crowd. Shane keeps a chin lock on Sabin for a few moments. Shane hits an overhead suplex for a two count. Sabin chops Shane, but an eye rake stops his momentum. Shane tries for a back suplex, but Sabin lands on his feet and chops Shane. Sabin forearms Shane against the ropes and hits a springboard dropkick to send Shane to the floor. Sabin clotheslines Shane over the railing into the crowd. Sabin follows and rams Shane face first onto a chair. Sabin springboards off the top to take Shane out with a dive into the crowd! Sabin has Shane over his shoulder and delivers a slam to the mat. Sabin is distracted by Traci and nearly rolled up by Shane. Shane plants Sabin with a DDT for a two count. Sabin does a flip and is met with a superkick. Shane follows Sabin to the floor. Back in the ring, Sabin avoids a superkick. Shane avoids the Cradle Shock, but Sabin gets a rollup and pins Shane to win the match. (***. I was hoping for the Cradle Shock finish since a rollup doesn’t really give this feud a proper sendoff. The action was solid throughout and Sabin was a lot of fun with his high impact moves during the match.) After the match, Shane Douglas enters the ring and he’s pissed that Michael Shane lost. Douglas is talking sense into Shane, who is also frustrated. They do the Triple Threat taunt and they are all good.
A video highlighting Johnny Fairplay from last weeks episode is shown.
Earlier in the day, Mike Tenay sat down with Fairplay, who is wearing a neck brace. Fairplay is playing victim saying he was assaulted by AJ Styles. Fairplay checks both his phones. Tenay tells Fairplay that the media has labeled him as the most hated man in the world. Fairplay says that nice guys finish eighth in reference to Rupert. Fairplay was a personal assistant to Roddy Piper, but doesn’t want that named mentioned. A woman enters the scene and gives him a drink leading to Johnny dismissing her. Johnny says that he brought the biggest buyrates to TNA and suggests the numbers will just keep getting bigger and bigger. He’s bringing a talk show saying that he can bring the segment out at any moment. Fairplay leaves when Tenay mentions Piper’s Pit.
Sandman cuts a pre-tape promo talking about losing with his partners and swore he wouldn’t make a deal with a devil. Sandman is bringing another partner and will do this until he destroys Father James Mitchell.
Third Contest: The Sandman & Mike Whipwreck vs. CM Punk & Julio Dinero: Whipwreck doesn’t come out the entrance way, but rather through the crowd and is behind them. Mitchell is acting like Whipwreck is aligned with him. Whipwreck shakes their hands but then turns on them. Sandman delivers a couple of kendo stick shots. Sandman and Whipwreck share a beer in the ring. They spit beer into Dinero and Punk’s eyes. Whipwreck head scissors Dinero and all four men are brawling. Whipwreck drops Punk face first to the mat and hits a stunner. Sandman takes Dinero down with a hurricanrana and Whipwreck leg drops Dinero over the middle rope. Whipwreck drops Dinero chest first over the railing. Sandman takes Punk off with a hurricanrana. Whipwreck misses a dive off the top and hits the railing chest first. Sandman hammers away on both men, but Dinero delivers a big boot to stop his momentum. Sandman hits a DDT/side Russian leg sweep on Dinero and Punk. Mitchell steals the kendo stick allowing Dinero to deliver a superkick. Dinero goes to the top rope and hits an elbow drop as Punk hit a side slam for the win. (*1/4. These matches continue to be the same one over and over again. I’m not really digging the angle of Sandman bringing his ECW friends in only to lose every week.) After the match, Sandman is held down and hit over the chest with a kendo stick several times. The lights go out and several pictures of a bloody Mitchell are shown with the words “I’m watching you” appears on the screen. Punk, Dinero and Mitchell leave the area weirded out.
Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger. They will be handcuffed to Gilbertti and Young during the main event. Swinger and Diamond both deny signing the loyalty contract. Swinger knows that he didn’t sign it and they realize that Gilbertti is just a liar. Diamond promises that Erik Watts doesn’t have to worry about Gilbertti and Young.
In the ring, Don Callis calls out Brian Urlacher to the ring and he quickly makes his way out to the ring. Callis knows that Urlacher isn’t the brightest wrestler but knows he heard his lawyer say that if Urlacher remains in the arena than Callis wins by default. Callis says the easy way is for Urlacher to just leave like a loser. The hard way sees the Red Shirts attack, but they are clotheslined. Urlacher has Johnny Fairplay and press slams him over the top to the floor onto the Red Shirts.
Backstage, Jerry Lynn is with Elix Skipper, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt. Lynn is the captain for the American X-Cup. Lynn notes that his men are the best in the division. They will be scouting their opponents in the next match. Lynn has handcuffs and reveals that he’ll be handcuffed to Kid Kash. Lynn will do what he can to help get rid of Don Callis.
Before the next match, Kid Kash has a loyalty contract and wants Jeremy Borash to sign it. Borash tells Kash that Watts is going to win and he’s not signing anything. Kash gets cornered by Eric Young, Chad Collyer, Matt Stryker and Shark Boy before leaving the ring. Kash grabs Tiny the Timekeeper and is attacked by Sarah Lee from behind with a broom.
Fourth Contest: Juventud Guerrera, Abismo Negro, Hector Garza & Mr. Aguila vs. Eric Young, Shark Boy, Matt Stryker & Chad Collyer: Boy and Guerrera kickoff the eight man tag match. Guerrera head scissors Boy to the mat and delivers a few chops. Boy delivers a neckbreaker for a two count. Guerrera fights back with chops but misses a splash int he corner. Young and Negro enter the match with Negro slamming Young followed by boots to the gut. Negro misses a splash in the corner and is kicked to the floor. Collyer and Aguila enter the match with Aguila trying a handspring, but Collyer hits a dropkick. Aguila dropkicks Collyer and tags in Garza as Stryker enters the match. Garza superkicks Stryker and delivers several strikes in the corner. Stryker boots Garza in the corner followed by an uppercut. Garza clotheslines Stryker in the corner and rams Garza into the corner. Young enters the match to elbow Garza to the mat and locks in a sleeper hold. Collyer returns to the match and beats on Garza with right hands.
Boy enters the match to beat on Garza in the corner for a few moments. Stryker returns to the match and chops Garza followed by an uppercut. Stryker clotheslines Garza for a two count. Young and Boy double team Garza with a double elbow strike. Young drives Garza down to the mat with a vertical suplex. Collyer hits a double under hook suplex for a near fall on Garza. Negro gets tagged in and clotheslines Stryker. Young gets tagged in, but Negro rams Young into the corner and Young is double teamed in the corner. Guerrera enters with a dropkick and a snap suplex to Young. Guerrera clotheslines Young in the corner and Garza tags in. Garza hammers away on Boy, but Collyer decks Garza from behind. Boy legally enters the match and clotheslines Garza in the corner. Garza drop toe holds Boy face first into the middle turnbuckle. Negro clotheslines Young to the floor while Guerrera beats on Stryker. Negro hits a suicide dive to the floor. Aguila kicks Collyer to the floor and hits a twisting dive over the top to the floor. Boy comes off the top to dive onto everyone. Garza hits a middle rope moonsault onto everyone. Guerrera hits a springboard missile dropkick on Young. Guerrera drives Young down and Aquila hits a top rope shooting star press for the win. (**1/2. I’m not sure why the AAA guys gave so much offense to their lesser opponents. If this was suppose to bring more interest into the America X-Cup, I don’t think that was successful. This should have been more of a showcase with AAA dominating the match.)
Jerry Lynn and his team confront AAA in the ring with Lynn wanting to shake hands and the teams shake hands to show respect.
Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Trinity. Trinity will be handcuffed to Sonny Siaki in the main event. Trinity asks Hudson if he knows Siaki and says he’s brain dead. Trinity doesn’t want to be with Siaki and says that Jarrett is going somewhere. Trinity thinks that Siaki is talking with a fake friend. Siaki tries to handcuff Trinity, but Kash attacks Siaki from behind and they handcuff Siaki to a locker.
A video promoting the tag title match is aired.
Fifth Contest: NWA-TNA Tag Team Champions BG James & Ron Killings vs. Kevin Northcutt & Joe E. Legend: Northcutt and James kickoff the tag title match. Northcutt backs James into a corner and cleanly backs away after shoving James. James is rammed into the corner face first. Northcutt sends James into the corner and is met with a forearm. James tries to jab Northcutt, but an eye rake stops him. James forearms Northcutt and tags in Killings. Killings helps James with a hip toss on Northcutt followed by a double elbow drop for a two count. Killings arm drags Northcutt a few times. Northcutt knee drops Killings and tags in Legend. Legend comes off the ropes and is met with an arm drag by Killings. Legend forearms Killings a few times. Killings ducks a clothesline and delivers a scissors kick. Killings drops Legend with a leaping heel kick. Killings heads to the top rope, but Legend crotches Killings. Legend nails Killings with a running big boot in the corner. Killings hammers away on Legend, but is tossed overhead. Legend comes off the middle rope with a leg drop for a two count.
Northcutt returns to the match and works over Killings with a stomp to the gut. Killings fights back and tries for a hurricanrana, but Northcutt hits a powerbomb for a two count. Northcutt drives Killings down with a vertical suplex. Legend clotheslines Killings along with a side Russian leg sweep by Northcutt. Legend misses a top rope moonsault. James and Northcutt get tags with James jabbing Northcutt and dropping Legend with a right hand. James tries for a cover, but only gets a two count. Killings leaps off of James back to dropkick the challengers. Legend is clotheslined to the floor. Killings leaps off the top to hit a crossbody on Legend. Michael Shane and Traci have come down to ringside, but Konnan decks Shane. James tries for the pump handle slam, but Shane Douglas hits James with a chain from behind. Northcutt covers James and wins the titles. (*1/2. The finish is awful. The crowd doesn’t care about the Red Shirts, nor should they. I did not enjoy this and seems like they are just wanting the heels to get as much momentum as possible.)
Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Sandman, who is on the phone. Sandman says he’s not talking to Raven and asks if they have a deal. Sandman reveals that he’s bringing in Terry Funk.
Mike Tenay is in the ring to introduce the Insane Clown Posse for an interview. ICP put over Tenay as being the best. They tell Tenay to keep out of their personal business when it comes to their fans. Violent J puts over the dope talent in TNA. He noticed that their is juggalos watching in the crowd and realized they needed to be there. J thought that Jarrett in WCW 2000 was cool, but then he started talking smack about them. Glen Gilbertti and David Young make their way out to confront the ICP. Gilbertit says that they are big fans of the ICP saying they are at the top of his favorite clowns list with Bozo. Gilbertti says that they need to apologize for last week and they’ll be part of TNA. 2 Tuff Tony is with them in the ring and Violent J makes sure he’s hearing Gilbertti correctly. Shaggy 2 Dope thinks that Jeff Jarrett should apologize to them. Gilbertti slaps Dope, and that leads to a brawl. Gilbertti and Young are sent into each other and they bail to the floor. Violent J issues a challenge for next week.
Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Erik Watts. Watts says that all he can think of is wrestling because that’s his life. Watts is tired of the issues with Callis and it ends tonight. Watts is so confident and announces that Jeff Jarrett will defend the NWA World Championship next week, but he won’t know. Watts has AMW and El Leon by his side for the match.
Main Event: Erik Watts vs. Don Callis in a no disqualification match for control of TNA: Wrestlers have been handcuffed together at ringside. AMW handcuffed to Red Shirts, Diamond & Young, Lynn & Kash, Swinger & Gilbertti, Jarrett handcuffs Tenay to the railing, Don Harris & Abyss. Watts handcuffed Jarrett to Leon. Callis hammers away on Watts in the corner for the early advantage. Watts backdrops Callis followed by right hands. Watts sends Callis over the top to the floor. Lynn yanks Kash off the ring steps while Watts continues to beat on Callis. Watts sends Callis into the guard railing and decks Kash on the floor. Callis sends Watts into the railing. Callis sends Watts into the ring steps followed by more right hands. Watts sends Callis over the railing into the crowd. Watts jumps over the railing and is met with a chair shot to the face. Callis jabs Watts a few times with the chair and delivers a chair shot over the back. Watts hits Callis over the back and they continue to brawl in the crowd.
Watts whacks Callis over the back with a chair. Callis is heading backstage to get away from Watts. Watts goes after Callis and brings him back. Callis tries for a piledriver on the ramp only to be met with a backdrop for a two count. Callis returns to the ring and stomps Watts as Jarrett held Watts from the floor. Callis comes off the ropes with a knee drop. Callis does a strut before managing a two count. Watts clotheslines Callis a few times followed by a jump kick. Watts hammers away on Callis in the corner and tries for a chokeslam. Callis knocked the referee down, but Watts hits the chokeslam. Trinity comes off the top to hit a moonsault off the top. Callis has the cover, but Watts kicks out at two. Everyone is brawling at ringside. Watts kicks a title into Callis face. Watts has Trinity hooked, but Goldylocks is in the ring. Watts drops Trinity with a powerbomb. Callis has the title and misses a shot. Watts has Callis set for the chokeslam, but Goldy low blows Watts. Callis decks Watts with the championship. Callis has the cover and pins Watts to win the match and control of TNA. (**. It was the right decision to have Callis go over as it’s usually easier to book heel authority roles. The action was okay as they kept to brawling, which fit the situation. Goldy turning heel is intriguing and I think she could thrive in that role moving forward.)
Final Thoughts:
I thought it was a better show than the other shows this month. They progressed their angles and we get a new direction with Callis leading the charge in a heel authority role. The matches this week delivered entertainment for the most part and I’m looking forward to see where the angles go from here. That’s an effective week of programming for TNA.
Thanks for reading.