NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #81 2/11/2004

Written by: Bob Colling

National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Weekly PPV #81
Date: 2/11/2004
From: Nashville, TN

This weeks episode is focused on the America’s X-Cup competition between Team AAA and Team USA. All the matches will be involving members from those teams.

Backstage, Scott Hudson talked to Jerry Lynn and his team earlier in the day. Lynn says that they need some team players and has faith in his partners to win tonight. Lynn is confident they will win the tournament.

Backstage, Team AAA are interviewed and it’s done in Spanish.

Opening Contest: NWA-TNA X-Division Champion Chris Sabin vs. Juventud Guerrera in a non-title match: Guerrera starts off by taking Sabin down to the mat and they have a standoff after Sabin reaches the ropes. Guerrera chops Sabin several times, but Sabin fights back with forearms. Sabin has a rollup on Guerrera for a two count. They have another standoff. They both attempt dropkicks after drop downs. Sabin tries for a sunset flip and Guerrera rolls through to deliver a dropkick. Sabin bails to the floor to regroup while Guerrera plays to the crowd. Guerrera head scissors Sabin on the floor. Guerrera tries for a dive, but is kicked by Sabin. Sabin goes to the apron and hits a springboard spinning heel kick. Sabin hits a side Russian leg sweep and controls Guerrea with a seated abdominal stretch. Guerrera plants Sabin with a head scissors turned into a piledriver. Guerrera goes to the apron hitting a springboard hurricanrana. Guerrera plants Sabin with a sit out pump handle slam.

Guerrera drop toe holds Sabin over the middle rope and soon hits a 619 like move for a two count. Sabin stops Guerrera with a double leg slam followed by a brainbuster for a two count. They trade rollups but neither man gets a three count. Guerrera tries for a Juvi Driver, but Sabin counters. They continue to trade rollups. Guerrera plants Sabin with a wheelbarrow bulldog. Sabin plants Guerrera with a powerbomb. Guerrera kips up to hit a hurricanrana for a two count. Guerrera nails Sabin with a kick to the head for a two count. Guerrera chops Sabin in the corner several times and sits Sabin on the top turnbuckle. Sabin slams Guerrera off the middle rope for a two count. Guerrera kicks Sabin and spikes Sabin with the Juvi Driver to win the match, though Sabin appeared to have kicked out. (**1/2. Something just felt off between these two in this encounter. The finish was apparently messed up as I don’t think Sabin was suppose to kick out. The action was okay, but you’d expect more from these guys.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett has nothing to hide and is going to show Hudson how he runs his business. Shane Douglas enters the room with Michael Shane and Traci Brooks. Douglas thinks that Jarrett is the guy to run the company. Jarrett says they have always seen eye to eye. Douglas promises that he’d tell Jarrett if he knew who the new authority figure was. Jarrett believes it is Mike Tenay.

Second Contest: Hector Garza vs. Sonjay Dutt: Garza dropkicks Dutt and delivers several strikes against the ropes. Dutt arm drags Garza out of a tilt a whirl. Garza continues to beat on Dutt with strikes in the corner. Garza splashes Dutt in the corner. Garza misses another splash and goes over the top to the floor. Dutt takes Garza out with a somersault dive to the floor. Garza dropkicks Dutt coming off the top rope. Garza clotheslines Dutt for a near fall. Garza powerbombs Dutt and waits in the corner for Dutt to get to his feet. Garza instead dropkicks Dutt on the mat. Dutt nearly wins with a rollup out of a powerbomb attempt. Garza plants Dutt with a swinging side slam, but doesn’t keep the cover during the count. Dutt suplexs Garza and tries for a somersault hurricanrana, but Garza counters with a powerbomb. Garza hits a twisting moonsault for the win. (**. I would love to see Garza as a regular in TNA as a heel. He’s a lot of fun. I would have tried to make this a little more competitive because Dutt didn’t get much accomplished in the match.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson talks to Jerry Lynn about his team being down two matches to none. Lynn thinks they need to slow down the action and wrestle their own style. Lynn says that he has respect for Mr. Aguila, but tonight he’s going down.

Third Contest: Jerry Lynn vs. Mr. Aguila: Lynn arm drags Aguila in the opening moments of the match. Lynn monkey flips Aguila and continues with an arm drag. Lynn keeps arm control on the mat for a few moments. Agula kicks Lynn in the corner, but Lynn dropkicks Aguila off the middle rope to the floor. Lynn runs off the apron to head scissors Aguila onto the ramp. Aguila works over Lynn with strikes in the corner. Lynn drops Aguila to the mat with a strike, but Aguila dumps Lynn to the floor. Aguila kicks Lynn off the apron to the floor. Aguila hits a somersault dive over the ring post onto Lynn on the outside. Aguila tries for a cover, but Lynn kicks out at two. Aguila slams Lynn and hits a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Aguila kicks Lynn several times on the mat. Lynn fights back with right hands and gets a rollup out of the corner for a two count. Aguila eye rakes Lynn and kicks Lynn a few times in the midsection. Aguila slams Lynn for a two count. Aguila yanks Lynn down by his hair and tries for a suplex, but Lynn counters with a back suplex. Lynn clotheslines Aguila followed by a swinging neckbreaker. Lynn plants Aguila with a tornado DDT for a two count.

Lynn tries for a powerbomb, but Aguila counters with a face buster for a two count. Aguila slams Lynn and misses a moonsault. Lynn tries for a TKO, but Aguila lands on his feet. Lynn spikes Aguila with an interesting looking piledriver for the clean win. (*1/2. That was a bizarre piledriver as I don’t think Aguila took it correctly whatsoever. Similar to the previous match, it was okay but nothing all that great and felt a little rushed.)

Backstage, Jeff Jarrett is talking to his lawyers about the loyalty contracts. Jarrett is told they are under non-compete and compliance, as well. Jim Mitchell comes over with CM Punk and Julio Dinero say that they will do whatever is needed for him. Mitchell says they’ve already started by taking out Raven. Jarrett brings up Terry Funk and Sandman, which Mitchell assures they will take them out. CM Punk chimes in and says that because of them Raven can’t get another title shot. Mitchell thinks that Mike Tenay is the new authority figure.

Fourth Contest: Elix Skipper vs. Abismo Negro: Negro starts off with a series of hip tosses and taunts the fans. Skipper takes Negro down to the mat and delivers a kick to the back. Negro kicks Skipper and delivers a few chops in the corner. Negro misses a splash in the corner and Skipper delivers a clothesline. Negro kicks Skipper for a two count. They roll through offensive attempts leading to a Skipper clothesline. Negro clotheslines Skipper against the ropes and delivers a vertical suplex for a two count. Skipper hits a nice springboard moonsault for a two count. Skipper slingshots into the ring and clotheslines Negro for a two count. Negro gets a rollup, but Skipper counters. Negro avoids a clothesline and has a rollup for a near fall. Skipper puts Negro on the top rope and walks the ropes to hit a hurricanrana for a two count. Negro nearly wins with a standing hurricanrana.

Negro sunset flips Skipper, but Skipper delivers a dropkick. Negro hits a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Skipper takes Negro over with a headlock suplex. Skipper misses a spin kick. Negro hits a bridging German suplex for a near fall. Negro holds on and delivers another German suplex. Skipper gets a submission on Negro, but that doesn’t last long. Negro gets a rollup on Skipper and wins the match. (1/2*. That was really bad. A very sloppy match and nobody cared for it. Negro didn’t look interested in selling for Skipper and the match just came across poorly.)

Backstage, Juventud Guerrera is interviewed. Guerrea says they are the best team. This promo is done again in Spanish. Guerrera is confident to win the America’s Cup.

Fifth Contest: Juventud Guerrera & Abismo Negro vs. Jerry Lynn & Sonjay Dutt: Negro and Lynn start the match by trading wrist control. They have a standoff, but Lynn arm drags Negro. Lynn head scissors and monkey flips Negro. Negro arm drags Lynn leading to another standoff and Guerrera tags in. Guerrera punches Dutt on the apron. They trade pin attempts and Dutt tags into the match. Dutt kicks Guerrera in the midsection and misses a clothesline. Guerrera chops Dutt a few times. Guerrera avoids a somersault leg drop and kicks Dutt. Guerrera takes Dutt over with a snap suplex. Negro enters and kicks Dutt. Dutt takes Negro over with a hurricanrana. Dutt head scissors Negro and follows up with an arm drag. Negro misses a splash in the corner and Guerrera tags in to nail Dutt with a springboard dropkick. Guerrera dropkicks Dutt to maintain control of the contest. Guerrera forearms Dutt to the mat and delivers a leg drop. Negro tags back into the match and slams Dutt to the mat. Negro continues to work over Dutt in the corner with stomps.

Dutt slides through Guerrera’s legs to deliver a kick to the head. Lynn and Negro tag in with Lynn clotheslining Negro a few times followed by a DDT for a two count. Guerrera plants Lynn with a wheelbarrow facebuster and controls with an arm bar. Guerrera slams Lynn and Negro hits a top rope frog splash for a two count. Negro hammers away on Lynn to keep control of the contest. Lynn drops Negro with a back suplex. Dutt hits a top rope crossbody on Guerrera and continues with clotheslines. Dutt almost wins with a back suplex. Guerrera fights back with chops. Dutt punches Guerrera from the apron and hits a hurricanrana for a two count. Lynn and Negro enter as Lynn leg drops Negro over the middle rope. Dutt is stopped by a clothesline from Guerrera. Lynn and Negro are brawling on the floor. Guerrera head scissors Lynn on the floor. Dutt takes Negro out with a somersault dive to the outside. Guerrera sits Dutt on the top rope, but Lynn takes Guerrera down with a sunset flip powerbomb. Dutt almost wins following a top rope elbow drop. Guerrera stops Dutt on the middle rope with a reverse hurricanrana, but Lynn makes the save on the cover attempt. Negro dropkicks Lynn and has Lynn on his shoulders. Guerrera misses a flying clothesline and there is nearly a stereo pin. Lynn sits Negro on the top rope and Dutt takes Negro off the top with a hurricanrana. However, Negro rolls through and pins Dutt. (**. Negro has been really bad on this show and I’m really confused with TNA having their guys look rather foolish in the matches. These kinds of decisions don’t help elevate the X-Division. I could understand if the AAA guys were sticking around, but I don’t think that’s the case at all.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Elix Skipper and Chris Sabin. They are down five to one. Hudson says that Jarrett isn’t happy with how TNA has been performing. Sabin says they can handle the pressure. Skipper says it’s not over until it’s over. Skipper wonders what would happen if he had Daniels and Ki in his corner, but that doesn’t matter.

Sixth Contest: Hector Garza & Mr. Aguila vs. NWA-TNA X-Division Champion Chris Sabin & Elix Skipper: Aguila and Skipper start the tag match with Aguila taking Skipper down to the mat. Aguila swings at Sabin, but misses. Skipper takes Aguila down to the mat and delivers a kick to the back. Aguila works over Skipper with several strikes. Garza tags in and kicks Skipper on the back. Garza works over Skipper in the corner but runs into a boot in the corner. Skipper decks Garza with a clothesline out of the corner for a two count. Sabin tags into the match, but Garza gets away from Sabin to deliver strikes. Sabin arm drags Garza coming off the ropes. Sabin takes Garza and Aguila over with standing hurricanranas. Sabin and Skipper hit dives to the floor. Sabin nails Garza with a dropkick leading to a near fall for Skipper. Garza rams Skipper into the corner and Skipper is met with a double hip toss and dropkick. Sabin tags in and plants Aguila with a springboard tornado DDT.

Sabin forearms Garza, but Aguila delivers a spin kick to regain control. Garza tags in and they double team Sabin by dropping Sabin over the top rope chest first. Skipper nails Garza with a top rope spinning heel kick. Skipper forearms Garza a few times before hitting a back suplex. Skipper connects with a headstand leg drop out of the corner for a two count. Aguila enters the match and backdrops Skipper. Aguila holds Skipper for Garza to hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Aguila comes off the top to elbow strike Skipper. Garza returns to the match, but Sabin dropkicks both men from the top. All four men are in the ring brawling as Skipper and Aguila go to the floor. Sabin hits Cradle Shock on Garza for a two count. Aguila drives Sabin down to the mat face first. Skipper hits a swinging slam on Aguila, but Garza makes the save and powerbombs Skipper. Sabin gets a rollup on Garza from behind and gets the three count. (*1/2. So it takes TNA to get lucky with a rollup from behind to pin these guys? There was some fun moves, but I think the crowd is kind of burnt out from the same style of matches and having seen the same guys two times already. Don’t worry, they come out one more time.)

Backstage, Jeff Jarrett is with the referees and some security guys who are there to sign the loyalty contracts. Jarrett wants to know who the new director of authority is, but Hudson doesn’t know who it is. They keep on teasing that Mike Tenay is the new director of authority.

Terry Funk makes his way down to the ring with a microphone in hand. Funk is there to be honest with everyone. Funk doesn’t like being called a living legend. Funk thinks of himself as someone who has busted his ass for thirty years. Funk says he loves this tough job. He’ll love this job to his grave. Funk wants to come to the ring one more time. Funk called a friend of his and said he needed him. That man was Raven. Funk reveals that Raven said he’d be his partner. Funk promises there will be some ass kicking taking place.

Mike Tenay and Don West promote next weeks show, which will include Joanie Lauer, aka Chyna, on Jonny Fairplay’s talk show debuting.

Main Event: Juventud Guerrera, Hector Garza, Mr. Aguila & Abismo Negro vs. Jerry Lynn, Chris Sabin, Elix Skipper & Sonjay Dutt in an elimination match: Skipper and Guerrera start the main event. Guerrera chops Skipper for the early advantage. Guerrera chops Skipper several times, but Skipper controls Guerrera with a headlock on the mat. Skipper dropkicks Guerrera coming off the ropes. Skipper takes Guerrera over with a hurricanrana. Guerrera rolls through a sunset flip to dropkick a seated Skipper. Aguila tags into the match and stomps on Skipper. Skipper plants Aguila with a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Lynn tags into the contest and hammers away on Aguila. Aguila boots Lynn in the corner and tries for a tornado DDT, but Lynn delivers a head scissors. Aguila comes back with a powerslam for a two count after jumping off the ropes. Lynn plants Aguila with a reverse DDT for a two count. Sabin tags in and kicks Aguila on the side of the head. Garza enters to try his luck against Sabin and delivers a dropkick. Garza works over Sabin with strikes in the corner and a splash. Sabin head scissors and arm drags both Garza and Negro. Sabin clotheslines Garza over the top to the floor. Negro dropkicks Sabin, but Dutt tags in and comes off the ropes to splash onto Negro for a two count.

Dutt with a nice tilt a whirl arm drag and takes Negro out with a dive to the floor. Dutt counters a powerbomb with a face buster on Negro for a two count. Negro boots Dutt and tags in Guerrera but Dutt delivers an overhead suplex. Lynn tags into the match keeps control on the mat with a sleeper. Guerrera head scissors Lynn, but Lynn comes back with a backbreaker for a two count. Skipper tags into the match and works over Guerrera with strikes until Garza tags in. Garza kicks Skipper on the knee and continues to deliver strikes in the corner. Garza hits a top rope hurricanrana on Skipper and Negro hit a splash for a two count. They do a spot where several wrestlers are in submissions until Sabin broke the move. Guerrera hit a top rope leg drop to Sabin. Dutt and Garza are now in the match legally. Dutt head scissors Garza followed by an arm drag, but Garza drops Dutt to the mat face first. Garza hits a standing moonsault for an elimination. Negro clotheslines Skipper a few times and kicks Skipper against the ropes. Negro comes off the ropes with a bulldog. Skipper has the Primetime submission locked on Negro and Negro submitted.

Garza clotheslines Skipper over the top to the floor. Aguila dives over the ropes onto Skipper on the floor. Lynn takes Aguila out with a crossbody to the floor. Guerrera has Sabin on the top rope hitting a hurricanrana to the floor onto several guys. Garza leaps off the top to take everyone out with a twisting dive to the floor. Garza powerbombs Sabin but misses a top rope moonsault. Sabin nearly pins Garza and hits the Cradle Shock to pin Garza to tie the series at seven. Aguila dropkicks Skipper on the knee. Skipper hits a double springboard moonsault on Aguila for a two count. Aguila spin kicks Skipper as we see Michael Shane on the ramp. Guerrera delivers a springboard leg drop to Skipper’s face. Aguila leaps off the top to hit a shooting star press on Skipper to eliminate him.

Aguila nails Sabin with a spinning heel kick. Guerrera chops Sabin against the ropes and gets a sunset flip for a two count. They trade a series of rollups, but neither man gets a three. Guerrera avoids a seated dropkick and nails Sabin with a kick to the head for a near fall. Sabin nearly pins Guerrera with an inside cradle. Sabin hits the Cradle Shock on Guerrera, but Guerrera kicks out at two. Guerrera misses a 450 splash, but landed on his feet. Guerrera spikes Sabin with a modified Cradle Shock to pin the champion. Jerry Lynn is all alone for TNA. Aguila catapults Lynn into the corner chest first. Lynn plants Aguila with a backpack driver to pin Aguila.

Lynn is dropkicked by Guerrera on the knee and Guerrera locks in a half Boston Crab. Lynn is pulled away from the ropes. Guerrera switches to an STF. Guerrera puts a figure four on Lynn in the middle of the ring. Lynn rollovers on the figure four and reaches the ropes. Guerrera backdrops Lynn, but Lynn delivers a TKO for a two count. Guerrera plants Lynn with the Juvi Driver, but Lynn pops his shoulder up at two. Lynn counters a springboard attempt with a powerbomb. They bridge out of a cover and counter each other. Guerrera plants Lynn with the 911 Juvi Driver for the win. (***. It’s the best match of the series, but I honestly just didn’t care about it because I had seen them wrestle for two hours essentially and they did the same moves over and over again.)

Antonio Pena enters the ring and celebrates the win with his men while taunting the fans.

NWA World Champion Jeff Jarrett makes his way out with Don Callis to confront Mike Tenay and want him in the ring. Jarrett wants the AAA guys out of the ring to basically disrespect the America’s X-Cup. Jarrett has a question for Tenay. Jarrett demands to be given the answer he wants. Tenay tells Jarrett that he has no idea who the new director of authority is. Jarrett says Tenay can either tell him or not tell him and Tenay will be breaching his contract. Tenay tells Jarrett that his life has been miserable for four months. Tenay recalls Jarrett trying to embarrass him last week by handcuffing him to the guard railing. Tenay flies in from Las Vegas every week because he loves this business. Jarrett gives Tenay one last chance to tell him who the authority is or he’ll be fired. Tenay says that Jarrett doesn’t have the balls to fire him. Jarrett fires Tenay and tells him to leave the ring. Tenay shakes Don West’s hand and is escorted away from ringside by Jarrett. Tenay walks backstage dejected with being fired. Jarrett is all smiles to close the program.

Final Thoughts:
I was dreading this show knowing that the same eight guys would be wrestling throughout the entire program. I’m not going to recommend this and I’m just glad that I’m done with it and don’t have to be bothered with it again.

Thanks for reading.