NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #97 6/2/2004

Written by: Bob Colling

National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Weekly PPV #97
Date: 6/2/2004
From: Nashville, TN

Earlier today, Team Canada arrived to the venue with Scott D’Amore hyping up Petey Williams and Bobby Roode regarding the tag match tonight.

Opening Contest: Jerry Lynn & Heavy Metal vs. Petey Williams & Bobby Roode: Lynn and Roode start the tag match. Roode shoves Lynn and Lynn responds with one of his own until they trade strikes. Roode sends Lynn into the ropes but misses an elbow. Lynn takes Roode over with a hurricanrana and stomps Roode in the corner. Roode catapults Lynn chest first into the corner. Lynn boots Roode in the corner and tries for a tornado DDT, but Roode counters with a knee lift and a strike to the back. Roode stomps on Lynn to keep control of the contest. Roode tries for a slam, but Lynn counters with a reverse DDT for a two count. Metal is tagged in and kicks Roode after a drop toe hold by Lynn. Metal tries for a cover managing a two count. Roode knee lifts Metal and Williams tags in. Metal hits a handspring back elbow and an arm drag on Williams. Metal nails Williams with a forearm strike followed by a press slam before tagging in Lynn. Williams eye rakes Lynn to gain the advantage. Williams kicks Lynn and runs into a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Lynn misses a leg drop over the middle rope. William tries for a sunset flip from the apron, but fails. Lynn backdrops Williams over the top onto Roode on the floor.

Metal tags in as Team Canada wanted to bail from the match, but D’Amore stopped them. Metal is speared by Roode after Roode snuck a tag into the contest. Roode mounts Metal with right hands on the mat followed by stomps and shoulder rams in the corner. Roode hits a double under hook suplex for a two count. Roode has Metal in a wheelbarrow position allowing for Williams to hit a top rope bulldog for a near fall. Roode beats on Metal with a forearm strike to the back and stomps in the corner. Metal dropkicks Roode off the apron and tries to tag in Lynn, but Williams pulls Metal back to the corner. Roode connects with an elbow drop and keeps a chin lock on Metal. Roode misses an elbow drop, but manages to plant Metal with a vertical suplex for a two count. Roode decks Lynn off the apron with a right hand. Lynn tries to get involved, but distracts the referee allowing Williams to gain control with a dropkick to a seated Metal for a near fall. Metal kicks Williams and Lynn tags in to clothesline Williams. Lynn side slams Williams and decks Roode off the apron. Lynn plants Williams with a sit down powerbomb for a two count.

D’Amore trips Lynn from the floor, but Lynn counters the Canadian Destroyer and drives Williams down to the mat. The referee gets knocked down as Metal clotheslines Roode to the floor. Metal leaps off the top onto Roode on the floor. D’Amore tries to use the stick on Lynn, but Lynn blocks with a boot and tries for the cradle piledriver. Eric Young comes in with a stick and whacks Lynn over the back allowing for Williams to pin Lynn. (**1/4. A decent start to the show, but the finish was a bit lackluster and seems to be a regular thing for Team Canada to rely on. Roode stood out to me here as he presence came across well and his offense was good, too. I wouldn’t mind seeing Heavy Metal as a regular for the X-Division either.) After the match, Team Canada beat down Lynn and Metal. Chris Sabin and Elix Skipper slide into the ring to make the save.

Backstage, Scott Hudson explains what King of the Mountain is all about and says that Vince Russo will have possession of the NWA World Championship. Hudson notes that one wrestler will hang the belt up to win the title. In order to be eligible, you must pin another wrestler. Chris Harris enters the scene for an interview and says that the pieces are finally in place. Harris thinks that all you gotta do is avoid a pin fall and it’s simple. Harris literally explains the same concept that Hudson did just moments ago. Harris notes that James Storm will regain the tag titles with Dusty Rhodes. Harris is confident that he’ll finally win the NWA World Championship tonight.

Second Contest: Monty Brown vs. Sonny Siaki: Brown goes right after Siaki with right hands in the corner for the early advantage. Siaki boots Brown and delivers a clothesline. Siaki heel kicks Brown and kicks Brown to the floor. Siaki decks Brown off the apron to prevent Brown from getting into the ring. Brown throws a chair at the ring and stands in the crowd out of frustration. Siaki goes to the floor and clotheslines Brown in the crowd. Siaki pummels Brown with right hands for a moment. Brown knee lifts Siaki and flapjacks Siaki onto the bleachers. Brown continues to club Siaki with strikes. Brown rams Siaki onto the ring steps face first. Brown drops Siaki chest first over the railing. Brown rolls Siaki into the ring managing a two count. Brown jabs Siaki in the ribs and delivers a few strikes to the back and ribs. Brown drives Siaki down to the mat with a back suplex. Brown tosses Siaki with a double under hook suplex for a two count. Siaki plants Brown with a Samoan Drop and both men are laid out in the ring. Siaki fires back with right hands and a back elbow to stagger Brown. Siaki forearms Brown after coming off the ropes. Siaki chops Brown several times to get momentum. Brown staggers and Siaki hits a swinging neckbreaker. Siaki ducks a clothesline and blocks a German suplex attempt. Brown sends Siaki into the ropes and hits the POUNCE for the clean win. (*1/2. I like the finish as a clean win for Brown gives him momentum and a loss here doesn’t impact Siaki in a negative way since he’s not been presented outside of a tag wrestler for quite some time now. TNA needs to do this more to establish new stars and not rely on interference to protect guys who don’t need to be protected.) After the match, Glen Gilbertti and Johnny Swinger attack Siaki. Swinger hits Siaki with a coconut and Gilbertti dress Siaki with a skirt and lay. Pat Kenney tries to make the save and manages to hit a double clothesline. Kenney takes his belt off and whips both men. Trinity tries to get involved and the distraction allows Kenney to get beaten down. Desire enters the ring and whips Trinity with a belt, as well. Kenney and Desire stand tall with Siaki to end the segment.

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with AJ Styles to discuss the main event. Styles thinks he is one of the favorites for the match because there is a ladder involved. Styles talks about being part of the X-Division, which was all about no limits. Styles doesn’t have to worry about an unexpected Jeff Jarrett. Raven enters the scene and asks why Hudson is talking to a white trash redneck. Raven has a method and that’s eliminating the opponents before the match. They briefly have a brawl until security breaks them apart.

Third Contest: NWA X-Division Champion Frankie Kazarian vs. Amazing Red: Kazarian arm drags Red and taunts him. Kazarian hip tosses Red and continues to taunt him. Kazarian backs Red into the corner and delivers a few chops. Red arm drags Kazarian and a hop toss before hitting a dropkick. Kazarian elbows Red in the corner and is met with a dropkick in midair after jumping off the middle rope. Red takes Kazarian out with a somersault dive to the floor! Red comes off the apron to hurricanrana Kazarian on the floor followed by kicks to the gut. Kazarian kicks Red from the apron, but misses a slingshot DDT. Red misses a clothesline and Kazarian hits an electric chair slam. Kazarian keeps Red on the mat with a chin lock. Kazarian pump kicks Red coming off the ropes to keep control of the match. Kazarian dropkicks Red in the corner and taunts the crowd leading to a two count. Kazarian runs into a boot in the corner and Red tries for a tornado DDT, but Kazarian counters with an exploder suplex for a near fall. Kazarian chokes Red over the top rope and Red falls backwards.

Kazarian hits a double springboard leg drop for a two count. Kazarian avoids Red and misses a kick. Red spikes Kazarian with a tornado DDT. Red ducks a strike and drops Kazarian several times. Red backdrops Kazarian and hits a swinging flatliner from off the middle rope for a two count. Red nearly wins following the Code Red. Red dropkicks Kazarian in the corner, but Kazarian takes Red down and puts his feet on the ropes for a near fall. Kazarian misses a clothesline and Red delivers a kick to the head followed by a Red Star Press for a two count. Kazarian sends Red to the apron where Red delivers the 718. Kazarian prevents a springboard attempt and plants Red with the Wave of the Future for the clean win. (**1/2. A little sloppy in spots, but the action was solid throughout. I appreciate another clean win. I don’t want to get too positive, but if they have figured out that clean wins are more beneficial then that’s some good progress.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with D-Ray 3000. Hudson says that D-Ray has a chance to earn a spot on the roster against a mystery opponent. This is the first Gut Check in TNA, apparently. D-Ray is happy to be here and says he’s not the one losing matches. D-Ray notes that David Young is the man losing matches and should be doing this. He says they are going to fear the fro, whomever he’s wrestling tonight.

Fourth Contest: Abyss vs. D-Ray 3000: Ray ducks Abyss on a strike and delivers a few right hands. Ray tries for a crossbody, but Abyss doesn’t budge and press slams Ray to the mat. Abyss plays with Ray’s fro in the corner and seems confused by it. Ray gives Abyss a comb and Abyss uses it on his own hair. Ray tries to chop Abyss, but fails. Abyss tosses Ray into the corner and chops Ray a few times. Ray boots Abyss in the corner and leaps off the top, but is caught. Ray bites Abyss hand to break free from a chokeslam. Ray dropkicks Abyss followed by a few clothesline attempts. Abyss nails Ray with a clothesline. Abyss splashes Ray in the corner. Abyss sends Ray into the post where his chain is hanging, too. Abyss hits the Shock Treatment. Goldylocks makes her way down to ringside with a briefcase. Abyss finishes D-Ray off with the Black Hole Slam for the win. After the match, Goldy reveals that the briefcase is full of money. Erik Watts gets in the ring and attacks Abyss. Watts avoids a bat shot and tries for a chokeslam. Abyss elbows free and is met with a boot to the face. Watts stares at Goldy and gets his foot on the briefcase. Watts is taking his money back. Security enter the ring and escort Watts out of the ring. (*. I’m not big on the decision to have D-Ray get demolished. It seems like D-Ray is developing a following as an underdog in recent weeks and this doesn’t enhance him at all.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with James Storm and Dusty Rhodes regarding the tag title match. Storm says it is time to put up or shut up when it comes to Dallas and Kid Kash. Storm believes they will win the tag titles. Rhodes says it’s an honor to be teaming with Storm and become tag champions. Dusty promises they will bring the fight and thinks the title will look good on the hood of his car.

Outside the venue, Vince Russo is trying to calm Erik Watts down. Russo doesn’t know if that is Erik’s money. Russo says that Goldy is threatening to sue him. Russo asks for the money and wants to settle this. Watts gives the money to Russo as Russo assures Watts to trust him. Goldy enters the scene and shoves Watts about being with his wife. Goldy wants Russo to meet her in her office.

Fifth Contest: NWA Tag Team Champions Kid Kash & Dallas vs. Dusty Rhodes & James Storm: Rhodes shoves Kash off the apron as Kash is stalling to start the match. Kash backs Rhodes into a corner, but backs off. Rhodes has Kash in the corner, but decides against doing anything and walks off showing his backside to Kash. Rhodes drops Kash with several strikes and Kash bails to the floor to avoid an elbow strike. Storm tags into the match to try his luck against Dallas. Well, Dallas does nothing and Kash tags in. Kash takes Storm down to the mat and they counter each other a few times. Kash ducks a clothesline and Storm delivers a clothesline followed by an arm drag and dropkick to send Kash to the floor. Kash throws a chair into the ring, but Rhodes sits on the chair with Storm. Kash kicks Rhodes on the knee and delivers several stomps and wraps Rhodes over the bottom rope. Kash focuses his attack on the right leg. Dallas tags in and they stomp on Dusty’s knee. Dallas delivers another knee drop to the knee. Rhodes tries to fight back, but Dallas keeps a sleeper on Dusty for a few moments. Storm distracts the referee allowing the champs to maintain control on Rhodes.

Rhodes tags in Storm anyway and Storm elbows Kash to the mat. Storm hammers away on Dallas followed clotheslines. Dallas misses a clothesline and Storm head scissors Dallas to the mat. Storm yanks Dallas down to the mat by his hair. Storm superkicks Dallas to the floor. Storm powerslams Kash for a two count. Rhodes and Dallas brawl on the floor. Kash boots Storm in the corner and grabs Dusty’s boot. Kash tries to use the boot, but Storm nails Kash with the cowboy boot. Dallas pulls the referee out to make the save. Storm has a rollup on Kash, but Dallas hits Storm with a pipe allowing Kash to pin Storm for the win. (1/2*. That sucked. It was just a lot of stalling and trying to work around the limited ability that Dusty has at this point. The finish is the usual for Dallas and Kash so that’s nothing new. I’d rather not see Dusty wrestle anymore in TNA.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Jeff Jarrett to discuss the main event. Jarrett sees this match as not the odds stacked against him. Instead, he sees four guys with an ego and denies he has an ego. Jarrett wants to get to Impact as the King of the Mountain. AJ Styles enters the scene and attacks Jarrett.

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with NWA World Champion Ron Killings. Killings feels like he’s in the Wizard of Oz. Killings doesn’t find this fair that he has to worry about a ladder, penalty box and four opponents. Konnan chimes in and says they are going to make sure Killings retains the title. BG James says he’s been fired before and doesn’t suggest Russo threaten them.

Main Event: NWA World Champion Ron Killings vs. AJ Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett vs. Raven vs. Chris Harris in a King of the Mountain match: Styles goes after Jarrett on the floor while Harris beats on Killings in the ring. Killings kicks Harris and is pulled to the floor by Raven. Harris takes Killings and Raven out with a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Jarrett stomps Styles in the ring several times. Styles nails Jarrett with a dropkick and springboards off the top over the penalty box to take everyone out on the floor, aside from Jarrett! Jarrett clotheslines Styles on the floor and tries to cover everyone, but fails to get a three count on anyone. Jarrett drops Styles over the railing chest first. Raven stomps on Killings in the corner as Jarrett drops Styles over the ladder on the aisle. Raven bulldogs Killings, but Harris leaps off the top of the penalty box to hit a crossbody in the ring. Harris sends Killings into Raven off the apron. Killings dumps Harris to the floor as Jarrett continues to beat on Styles. Jarrett goes to the top rope hitting a crossbody, but Styles rolls through for a two count. Jarrett drop toe holds Styles into the corner. Jarrett elbows Styles followed by a knee lift. Jarrett tries for the Stroke, but Styles blocks it.

Jarrett almost pins Styles with a rollup. Styles manages to hit the Styles Clash on Jarrett and gets a three count to send Jarrett into the penalty box. Styles can climb the ladder now. Styles is given the belt by Russo and fights everyone off until Raven shoves the ladder into AJ’s face. Harris spears Raven to get a three count and can now climb the ladder, as well. Jarrett is trying to keep the peace with Raven in the box. Styles chokes Harris on the apron and tosses Harris to the floor. Styles sets the ladder up and begins to climb, but Killings stops Styles. They both fall off the ladder. Jarrett leaves the penalty box and is punched by Killings on the apron. Harris drops the belt and Killings scissors kicks Harris for a three count and can now climb the ladder. Harris gets in the penalty box and beats on Raven, but Raven escapes the box. Jarrett powerbombs Killings off the ladder and sends Killings onto the ladder back first. Raven and Jarrett send Styles into the ladder in the corner. Jarrett jabs Styles with a ladder and drops the ladder over Killings back. Jarrett and Raven hold a ladder ramming the ladder into Killings a few times and drop it over Killings back. Jarrett rams Styles face first over the ladder. Harris exits the box. Raven is there to trade strikes.

Raven goes under the ring to grab a table, which makes three tables in the ring but none of them are setup. Raven and Jarrett hit Killings and Styles with the ladder. Styles jumps on the ladder, but is dumped over the top to the floor. Jarrett grabs a chair while Raven sets a table in the corner. Jarrett yells at Raven for not listening and they begin to trade strikes. Raven clotheslines Jarrett and drop toe holds Jarrett onto the chair. Harris hammers away on Raven and hits a leaping clothesline. Killings forearms Jarrett. Harris and Killings deliver ten count punches in opposite corners on Jarrett and Raven. Raven and Jarrett are sent into each other and Jarrett is clotheslined to the floor by Killings. Harris and Raven brawl into the crowd and they are near the back of the venue. Killings sets the ladder up and tries to hang the belt, but Styles hits a springboard dropkick to knock Killings to the mat.

Styles knocks Jarrett off the apron. Styles has the championship and climbs, but Jarrett tries for a powerbomb, but Styles counters a hurricanrana over the top to the floor. Harris tries to climb the ladder after getting the belt from Russo. Harris climbs the ladder, but Raven rolls into the ring and tosses powder into Harris face. Raven hits the DDT on Harris for a three count and can now hang the belt. Raven climbs the ladder as Harris is put in the box. Killings drops Raven face first over the top turnbuckle. Killings kicks Raven to the floor. Jarrett knocks Killings to the apron. Jarrett hits the Stroke off the apron on Killings landing on the railing and gets a three count. Anyone can now hang the belt.

Jarrett demands the belt, but Russo doesn’t want to give him the belt. Russo hangs onto the belt and Styles rolls Jarrett up for a three count. Jarrett has to go into the box again. Jarrett pummels Styles with strikes while Raven sets a table up in the corner. Styles kicks Raven and knocks Raven down with a forearm. Harris beats on Jarrett in the box before leaving. Styles almost has the belt hung, but the ladder is pushed over and Styles lands on the box. Raven climbs the ladder, but is stopped by Harris. They trade a few strikes at the top of the ladder. Harris knocks Raven off with a left hand and Raven crashes through a table. Killings knocks Harris off the ladder and Harris crashes through a table in the corner. Jarrett gets out of the box and goes under the ring. Killings climbs the ladder, but is struggling. Jarrett smashes Killings with a guitar shot. Jarrett has the championship and hangs the belt to regain the title. (***1/4. It shouldn’t be a shock that Jarrett would be the champion as TNA debuts on TV this same week. The match is enjoyable and it held my interest, but I’m not invested or interested in Jarrett being the champion. I would have put the title on AJ Styles and make the product feel fresh for when it appears on TV. I’m not sure Jarrett as champion will draw people to the TV product, at all.)

We see Gorgeous George on the aisle and walks down to the ring, but that’s not explained as to why.

Final Thoughts:
I liked that there were more clean finishes this week as it makes matches feel more important when there’s a clear winner. The only true negative was the tag title match as it was way too slow and boring to hold my interest. I’d give the show a mild thumbs up this week. I’m not looking forward to more Jarrett title matches, though.

Thanks for reading.