NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #101 6/30/2004

Written by: Bob Colling

National Wrestling Alliance/Total Non-Stop Action presents Weekly PPV #101
Date: 6/30/2004
From: Nashville, TN

Opening Contest: Sabu & Sonjay Dutt vs. Petey Williams & Bobby Roode: Sabu and Williams start off the tag match with Sabu taking Williams down to the mat, but is kicked away. Williams tries for a rollup, but only manages a two count. Sabu avoids an arm bar by reaching the ropes. Sabu hits a springboard heel kick off the ropes and they have a standoff. Sabu hammers away on Williams and misses a springboard clothesline, but they just standoff. Williams leapfrogs off the middle rope to avoid Sabu and tags in Roode. Dutt tags into the match as well. Roode shoves Dutt to the mat and taunts him. Dutt drop toe holds Roode followed by a dropkick. Dutt head scissors Roode to the mat and ducks a clothesline. Dutt takes Roode over with a hurricanrana. Roode sends Dutt into the corner face first and delivers stomps in the corner. Williams forearms Dutt from the apron allowing Roode to hit a sit out full nelson slam for a near fall. Williams tags back in and stomps Dutt in the corner. Williams connects with a snap suplex and a heel kick for a near fall. Roode press slams Dutt gut first over Williams knees for a near fall as Sabu made the save. Roode keeps Dutt on the mat with a kneeling abdominal stretch.

D’Amore cheap shots Dutt from the floor while the referee is distracted. Williams rams Dutt into the corner to keep control of the contest. Williams sends Dutt chest first into the corner leading to a near fall. Williams tries for a slam, but switches to a wheelbarrow face buster and signals for the Destroyer. Dutt backdrops free and eventually plants Williams with a stunner. Sabu is tagged in and Roode enters the match as well. Sabu dropkicks Roode on the knee followed by a leg drop. Sabu leaps off a chair and splashes Roode in the corner. Sabu puts the camel clutch on Roode, but doesn’t get a submission. Sabu hits a triple jump leg drop on Roode for a two count as Williams makes the save. Sabu nails Williams with a springboard heel kick. Dutt tags in and is stopped on the top rope by Roode. Dutt shoves Roode off the middle rope and hits an incredible somersault hurricanrana on Roode for a near fall. Williams sits Dutt on the ropes, but Dutt head scissors Williams to the floor and takes Williams out with a crossbody. Roode tries for a powerbomb on Sabu, but Sabu catapults Roode into the corner. Sabu knee strikes Roode from behind, but Roode kicks the chair into Sabu’s legs to prevent another splash. Roode has the hockey stick, but Sabu smashes Roode with the chair and delivers a chair assisted leg drop to pin Roode for the win. (**1/2. I like the duo of Sabu and Dutt as they work well and Dutt did a fantastic job in there with his high risk moves. The somersault hurricanrana was insane. Considering they don’t team on a regular basis, this is an upset win. I don’t think we’ll see them advance as a team, but for the short-term, I think Sabu/Dutt is an enjoyable team to watch.) After the match, Sabu acknowledges Raven by doing his arm taunt. Scott D’Amore is frustrated with his guys and the entire Team Canada group are in the ring discussing the situation.

Backstage, Shane Douglas is with NWA X-Division Champion AJ Styles. Kid Kash got himself suspended and thus will not be here tonight. Styles thinks that Kash just proved what kind of man he is. Styles has never backed down from a fight. Styles issues an open challenge.

Scott Hudson is in the ring with Vince Russo to talk about the NWA World Championship situation. They didn’t get an answer on Impact, but they will tonight. Russo has been meeting with Rudy Charles all week and talked with legends. The fans clearly want Ron Killings to be the champion. Russo hasn’t heard from Jarrett and Killings. They are going to allow Jarrett and Killings to state their case as to why they should be champion. Jarrett says he’s not going to do his talking, but rather allow Russo and Charles to talk. Jarrett has evidence to show, which is the fact that Russo said if a guitar is used then there would be a DQ. Charles noted that if anyone used a guitar then they’d be DQ’d. That seems like obvious evidence. Jarrett hopes that Russo shows integrity and do the right thing. Killings is claiming self defense for his case. Killings shows footage of getting hit with a guitar on Impact and Jarrett using the guitar several times over the past several weeks. Plus, Jarrett introduced the guitar into the match last week. Killings asks Russo how it felt to get his head smashed in. Killings wants Russo to do the right thing and uses Russo’s children as an example to fight back against bullies. Russo and Charles huddle together to talk about what to do. Russo says there were two things he was going to do when he took the job. He was going to do the right thing and never overturn the officials ruling. Russo says he has to do the right thing whether he likes it or not. Thus, Russo returns the title to Jeff Jarrett and it makes it sick to his stomach. Jarrett drops to his knees and celebrates the ruling. Dusty Rhodes was watching backstage and looked disgusted. Russo prayed for Killings to do the right thing when he took the guitar and says that Killings didn’t do the right thing and thus deal with the consequences. Russo waves the thirty day rule for title defenses and says that Jarrett will defend the title next week. Russo announces that Jarrett will defend the title next week against all three members of 3LK. Russo is going to insert the Elite Guard into the match and thus it will be a gauntlet match. Jarrett thinks it is a 4 vs. 3 situation, but Russo says it’s actually 4 vs. 4. Russo got a phone call and tells Jarrett they worked together. Russo reminds Jarrett of saying this man had no place in pro wrestling. Russo reveals it is Ken Shamrock. Ken Shamrock makes his way out and the Elite Guard try to fight him, but they are taken out. Jarrett watches on in the crowd, but they cut to a video package.

Second Contest: Monty Brown vs. D’Lo Brown: Monty attacks D’Lo on the aisle during D’Lo’s entrance, but D’Lo fights back as they enter the ring. Monty drops D’Lo with strikes and stomps. D’Lo rams Monty into the corner followed by a few clotheslines. Monty decks D’Lo with a clothesline followed by stomps. Monty continues to beat on D’Lo with strikes to the ribs and a back suplex. D’Lo heel kicks Monty to the floor and a springboard dropkick to knock Monty off the apron. Monty has a chair and blocks a suicide dive with a chair shot. D’Lo avoids being sent into the ring steps by sitting on the steps. Monty rams D’Lo face first onto the ring steps and tosses D’Lo over the steps. D’Lo gets a few forearm strikes in and is sent into the crowd. Monty beats on D’Lo in the crowd with right hands. D’Lo returns to ringside after a few strikes and kicks the railing followed by a knee strike. The referee has thrown the match out as they continued to brawl in the crowd. (1/2*. Well, there wasn’t much going on here, but I’m actually fine with the match being thrown out. It felt like a fight and neither man seemed interested in winning the match. I’d imagine this will lead to a stipulation match.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson brings in Glen Gilbertti and Johnny Swinger, who are still dressed ridiculously. Swinger has embraced it, but Gilbertti is not interested in appearing. David Young enters the scene and talks to Gilbertti. Gilbertti says this is the last time he’ll be seen in the leprechaun outfit. Swinger says “if it’s coconuts that they want, then it’s coconuts they’re gonna get.”

Third Contest: Sonny Siaki & Pat Kenney vs. Glen Gilbertti & Johnny Swinger in a double jeopardy match: Kenney and Gilbertti kickoff the tag match with Kenney hammering away on Gilbertti. Kenney pulls the hat over Gilbertti’s face to deliver a right hand. Siaki enters and chops Gilbertti a few times. Gilbertti comes off the ropes and is met with a double chop. Gilbertti knee lifts Siaki, but Siaki beats on Swinger with a forearm strike. Siaki chops Swinger a few times and a back elbow, but hit the coconuts. Siaki chokes Swinger with his lay and knocks Gilbertti off the apron. Siaki atomic drops Swinger into Gilbertti and hits a flipping neckbreaker for a two count. Gilbertti takes his shoe off on the floor. Siaki is met with a shoe strike to the lower back by Gilbertti on the floor. Swinger plants Siaki with a back suplex and delivers stomps in the corner. Swinger knee lifts Siaki from behind and Gilbertti taunts Kenney. Gilbertti forearms Siaki to the mat to keep control of the contest. Gilbertti drop toe holds Siaki allowing Swinger to hit a knee drop off the middle rope for a two count. Siaki heel kicks Swinger coming off the ropes. Kenney tags in and cleans house with strikes. Kenney beats on Gilbertti in the corner, but all four men are in the ring brawling at this point. Kenney plants Gilbertti with a DDT. David Young nails Kenney with a strike and Gilbertti is on top managing to win the match. Another referee comes out and tells the referee what happened. Thus, the match is restarted. Siaki beats on Swinger and the referee pulls Young off the apron allowing Kenney to pin Gilbertti to win the match. (DUD. The match was not good. The crowd was completely dead for this and I don’t blame them. The humiliation has been entertaining largely because Swinger is making it work, but they will likely kill that heat soon.) After the match, Big Vito comes out and yells at them.

Backstage, Scott Hudson interviews Goldylocks and Abyss. Goldy isn’t going to embarrass Watts tonight. Goldy thinks that Watts has always wanted her attention. Goldy thinks that Watts is still in love with her. She calls Watts wife a hoochie and wants Watts to stop being a creep with the phone calls. Goldy is going to rip Watts contract up.

Fourth Contest: Erik Watts vs. Abyss: They brawl on the floor to start the contest. Watts sends Abyss into the guard railing and Goldylocks tries to get involved. Watts gets distracted and Abyss beats on Watts around ringside. Abyss rams Watts onto the apron face first and they enter the ring for the first time. Abyss has a chair and wedges it in the corner. Abyss is having a hard time achieving that and Watts continues with right hands. Abyss finally gets the chair wedged, but it pops put. Goldylocks holds the chair in the corner and tries to wedge it as well. Abyss misses a middle rope leg drop. Watts boots Abyss in the corner and sends Abyss face first into the wedged chair. Watts continues to beat on Abyss around ringside. Abyss grabs another chair as they return to the ring. Watts pump kicks the chair into Abyss’ face. Watts comes off the ropes with a crossbody. Watts tries for a chokeslam, but Abyss counters only for Watts to hit a powerslam. Abyss has the chain and Watts avoids the chain strike. The referee takes the chain away from Watts. Goldylocks gives Abyss the briefcase and whacks Watts with it. Abyss goes for the cover, but Watts kicks out. Goldylocks confronts Watts wife in the front row, but gets on the apron to slap Watts. Watts sends Abyss into Goldylocks and nearly wins with a chokeslam. Watts clotheslines Abyss, but is tripped by Goldylocks on the floor. Watts grabs Goldy for a chokeslam, but Goldy eye rakes Watts to break free. Abyss plants Watts with the Black Hole Slam for the win. (*1/4. That was a little bit too clunky for me, but it could have bene a lot worse. I’m not sure the fans are really connected to this feud. I’m glad Abyss prevailed as I’d like to see Abyss get a bigger push.) After the match, Erik’s wife tosses a drink at Goldy and they briefly brawl. She jumps on the back of Abyss until security gets involved. Goldy now has control of Erik’s contract.

Backstage, Scott Hudson interviews NWA Tag Team Champions America’s Most Wanted. Harris says this whole thing started with Gut Check because the Naturals were afraid they were going to lose their jobs. AMW says they are good wrestlers, but all they had to do was ask if they wanted a shot at them. James Storm says the Naturals are nothing but punks and recalls being hit by his mother with a stereo for raising his fist to her. Storm hopes they are ready to use their fists.

Fifth Contest: NWA Tag Team Champions America’s Most Wanted vs. The Naturals in a non-title match: The Naturals try to escape through the crowd, but AMW catch them and that leads to brawling around ringside. Harris is pummeling Douglas while Storm beats on Stevens on the other side. Storm pulls the pads up on the floor looking for a suplex, but Stevens blocks it and gets sent into the railing. Storm rolls Stevens into the ring and Harris prevents Stevens from leaving the ring. Storm clotheslines Stevens on a catapult attempt. Harris clotheslines Stevens from behind and taunts him. Douglas is tossed into Stevens by AMW. Harris grabs Stevens on the apron looking for a suplex into the ring, but Douglas saves Stevens and Harris is dropped over the top rope. Douglas chokes Harris on the mat and tags in Stevens to keep control of the match with strikes. Stevens tags in Douglas and they double team Harris with stomps in the corner. Douglas chokes Harris over the middle rope and continues with strikes. Stevens returns to the match and hammers away on Harris. Harris battles back with left hands and a short arm clothesline to knock Stevens to the mat. Douglas and Storm get the hot tags with Storm cleaning house with right hands. Douglas sends Storm over the top, but Storm pulls himself back into the ring and dropkicks Douglas off the apron.

Storm head scissors Stevens and takes Douglas out with a crossbody to the floor. Storm superkicks Stevens for a near fall as Douglas pulled the referee out. Backstage, we see Vince Russo talking with a handful of X-Division wrestlers regarding the main event. Stevens hip tosses Storm on the concrete floor. Douglas keeps control on Storm by choking him on the mat. Douglas keeps an arm bar on Storm in the middle of the ring, but fails to get a submission. Douglas avoids a dropkick and elbow drops Storm for a near fall. Douglas elbows Harris and that leads to Harris distracting the referee. Stevens keeps an abdominal stretch on the mat, but Storm isn’t giving in. Storm is double teamed for a few moments. Stevens heads to the top hitting a flying forearm smash for a near fall. Douglas tags in and comes off the top, but Storm delivers a strike in midair. Storm kicks Douglas and tags in Harris for the hot tag.

Harris cleans house with strikes and slingshots Stevens into the ring. Harris plants both men with full nelson slams. Harris drops Douglas with another full nelson slam. Harris plants Stevens with a vertical suplex. AMW hit the Hart Attack on Stevens for a two count. Douglas sends Harris into the ring post face first. Storm hits the Eight Second Ride on Douglas, but Stevens breaks the cover. Storm kicks Stevens a few times. The referee takes Storm out and Harris tries for the Catatonic but Stevens counters. Douglas pulls Harris down on a rollup and grabs Stevens on the cover to pin Harris for the upset win! (**1/2. I didn’t like that the Naturals started the match trying to escape and avoid conflict. The feud feels like these guys are desperate to keep their job and should have been going for the fight right at the start. There was a level of intensity missing from the match, too. I expected a more hard hitting match since the match felt it was a little more personal than just a wrestling match. It’s non-title and the win for the Naturals will certainly lead to a title match. I hope the Naturals have a more ruthless attitude for that match.)

Backstage, Scott Hudson is with Dusty Rhodes for an interview. Rhodes says you can’t make mistakes when you’re hot. Rhodes believes they are hot and that’s why FOX jumped onboard. Rhodes offered his advice on the situation to avoid it being out in public. Rhodes puts over Jeff Hardy and says the ball has been dropped on Jeff Hardy. Rhodes thinks that Hardy has that rare rock star status. Dusty is going to take the Hardy situation personally and see what happens.

Earlier in the day, Scott Hudson sat with Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, Elix Skipper, Amazing Red and Christopher Daniels for an interview. Sabin says it was unexpected that Styles returned to the division and Styles deserves credit. Daniels says they’ve watched Styles in the company and everything that he’s accomplished. Michael Shane wants Daniels to speak for himself when he says that Styles deserves the championship. Daniels stands up and confronts Shane. Shane has a problem with Daniels hyping Styles and reminds Daniels he was the longest reigning X-Division Champion. Shane suggests Daniels get out of his face. Skipper and Daniels leave after Skipper claims they are afraid of competition. Shane moves Sabin to the back row for Shane and Kazarian to sit in the front. Kazarian tells Red to never cut him off. Kazarian says that Styles doesn’t belong in their division. Kazarian says that they will show Styles that he’s not safe in the X-Division.

Backstage, Scott Hudson interviews Vince Russo and doesn’t get an update about Kid Kash getting suspended. Russo saw the interview with the X-Division guys. Russo announces that all those men in the previous interview will get a title shot against Styles tonight.

Main Event: NWA X-Division Champion AJ Styles vs. Amazing Red vs. Chris Sabin vs. Michael Shane vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Elix Skipper: Shane and Kazarian attack Styles before the bell, but Kazarian is driven down with a backbreaker by Sabin and Skipper before being sent to the floor. Shane is sent to the floor as well leading to a four way standoff. Sabin shoulder blocks Red and Red delivers a kick to the gut. Sabin drop toe holds Red over the ropes and Styles tags in to try his luck with Sabin. Sabin avoids a dropkick, but Styles hits a head scissors on Sabin. Shane tags in and beats on Styles with strikes. Styles dropkicks Shane coming off the ropes followed by a scoop slam. Shane avoids a knee drop and tags in Kazarian. Styles forearms Kazarian a few times followed by a kick to the gut and hits a neckbreaker out of a suplex position. Styles slams Kazarian to deliver a knee drop for a two count. Kazarian eye rakes Styles and is met with a few strikes. Skipper tosses Kazarian with a suplex, heel kick and a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Styles tags in, but Kazarian dumps Styles to the floor. Sabin connects with a missile dropkick and Kazarian rolls to the floor.

Red shakes the ropes to crotch Sabin on a springboard attempt. Red takes a group out with a a somersault dive to the floor. Shane decks Styles on the apron and connects with a vertical suplex. Shane knee lifts Styles to keep control of the contest. Styles hammers away on Shane in the corner and is dropped face first over the top turnbuckle. Shane tags in Kazarian to keep control on Styles with an atomic drop and a swinging neckbreaker. Shane tags into the match and beats on Styles with strikes. Shane puts Styles over his knee and Kazarian hits a leg drop off the top rope. Shane elbows Styles a couple of times and wants someone to double team Styles, but they decline. Skipper tags in and forearms Shane in the corner before getting punched by Styles. Kazarian pulls Styles to the floor and Skipper hits a twisting dive onto Styles. Styles hit the back of his head hard on the floor. Sabin delivers a kick to the head for a near fall. Sabin forearms Styles a couple of times. Sabin plants Styles with a backbreaker managing a two count. Styles nails Sabin with the Pele Kick! Shane tags into the match and grabs Styles. Styles elbows free and they trade chops. Shane hits a belly to belly suplex for a near fall.

Shane continues to punch Styles several times, but Styles nearly wins with an inside cradle. Shane stops Styles with a clothesline. Kazarian tags into the match and kicks Styles. Kazarian sends Styles hard into the corner and delivers a few stomps. Kazarian nails Styles with a dropkick in the corner as Styles was seated. Kazarian chokes Styles in the corner and drops down to the floor. Kazarian rams Styles into the apron back first. Kazarian hits a slingshot leg drop for a near fall. Skipper enters to break the count. Shane tags into the match and double teams Styles with Kazarian. Shane punches Styles several times, but Styles hits a springboard reverse DDT. Kazarian and Red are tagged in with Red hammering away on Kazarian several times. Red kicks Kazarian several times and hits the Code Red for a near fall as Shane made the save. Styles nails Shane with a springboard forearm smash. Kazarian dropkicks Red and clotheslines Sabin to the floor. Skipper hits a slingshot clothesline on Kazarian. Skipper backdrops Shane into Styles, and tries for the Stlyes Clash. Styles hits the move, but Kazarian hit the Wave of the Future. Sabin breaks the cover on Styles. Kazarian elbows Sabin in the corner and Sabin hits a top rope German suplex! Shane superkicks Sabin! Skipper plants Shane with a swinging slam for a two count. Red hits a standing moonsault, but Skipper gets up and heel kicks Red. Skipper tosses Red into Styles. Styles counters a hurricanrana off the middle rope and hits the Styles Clash to win the match. (***1/2. Well, once the match broke down the action was pretty good and the fans popped for it. Red seems to be the most lost out of the group and thus having him take the pin wasn’t a shock. It’s a good main event and it showcased the division well.) After the match, Team Canada come out and attack everyone. Christopher Daniels comes in with a flag and cleans house. AMW and the Naturals are brawling as well into the ring. Monty and D’Lo are brawling in the crowd, too. 3LK and the Elite Guard are brawling too. Jeff Jarrett is in the ring with the guitar and wants someone to come into the ring. Ken Shamrock slowly walks out and enters the ring to close the show.

Final Thoughts:
I wasn’t a fan of the Jarrett/Killings segment since it was obvious that Killings should be DQ’d and there’s no way around it. The show this week was solid, though. The only bad spot was the double jeopardy match as nobody cares for the feud and the crowd silent for it. There was some decent action on the card and the main event delivered a fun match. I’ll give this week a thumbs up.

Thanks for reading.