NWA-TNA presents Xplosion
Date: 1/11/2003
From: Nashville, TN
Jeremy Borash begins the show solo promoting the next weekly PPV and what matches are scheduled to take place.
Opening Contest: CM Punk vs. Colt Cabana: They shake hands to show respect for each other. Punk shoulder blocks Cabana and runs the ropes before hitting a tilt a whirl arm drag. Punk hits a tilt a whirl head scissors and nails Punk with a running double knee strike in the corner. Punk surprises Cabana with a rollup out of the corner for a two count leading to a standoff. Punk controls Cabana for a moment, but Cabana holds onto the ropes and decks Punk with a clothesline. Cabana strikes Punk into a corner and delivers a chop. Cabana tries to boot Punk in the corner, but kicks Punk over the top to the floor. Cabana takes Punk out with a springboard moonsault to the floor. Cabana rolls Punk back into the ring and tries for a shoulder ram, but is met with a knee strike. Cabana tries for a suplex, but Punk lands on his feet and delivers a shining wizard for a two count. Punk heads to the top rope, but Cabana crotches Punk. Cabana hits a middle rope reverse suplex. Cabana lifts Punk into the corner, but Punk connects with a blockbuster for a two count. Punk heads to the top rope, but is caught in midair. Cabana drops Punk over his knee for a two count. Punk nails Cabana with a reverse hurricanrana to win the match. (**1/2. These two had just started working for ROH on a regular basis and Punk is beginning to standout on the indies. These two are seasoned in the ring and should be regular acts on the weekly PPVs. Cabana didn’t seem to connect with the Nashville audience, but he had some decent offense.)
Jeremy Borash is joined by Mortimer Plumtree. Plumtree complains about the fans being too loud and he can’t hear anything. Borash accidentally messes up the timing of show being recorded. Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper and Low Ki jump the railing to cut a promo. Daniels talks about Tenay asking why they’d join Vince Russo. Daniels asks how could they not join SEX. Daniels says NWA showed them disrespect and Russo considers them the future of NWA. Borash doesn’t understand why they’s join with Russo. Borash promotes their match against LOD and Jeff Jarrett. Low Ki asks if Borash is insane and tells Borash they are the future of TNA. Ki considers them dinosaurs going into the ring with wolves. Ki talks about the wolves leaving their mark and says XXX proved they are unstoppable. Skipper chimes in and says they are the New Generation and this is their house that they built. Daniels says XXX is the gospel according to the Fallen Angel. Ki finishes off saying Jarrett and LOD can only prepare to be ready.
Main Event: AJ Styles vs. Adam Jacobs: Styles takes Jacobs down to the mat and taunts Jacobs. Jacobs gains control with a front face lock, but Styles counters with a hammerlock. Styles keeps a wrist lock on Jacobs, but Jacobs counters. Styles strikes Jacobs, but Jacobs arm drags Styles followed by a backbreaker. Jacobs clotheslines Styles over the top to the floor. Jacobs baseball slide dropkicks Styles on the back while Styles is on the floor. Jacobs tries to slingshot Styles into the ring, but Styles slingshots Jacobs to the floor. Styles sends Jacobs into the railing and ring steps. Styles rolls Jacobs into the ring and covers a two count. Styles stomps Jacobs and continues with chops. Styles dropkicks Jacobs in the corner and delivers a monkey flip which Jacobs lands on his feet. Styles decks Jacobs with a discus clothesline for a two count. Styles sends Jacobs into the corner, but Jacobs lays Styles onto the top rope and puts Styles in the tree of woe. Jacobs dropkicks Styles in the corner for a near fall. Jacobs heads to the top rope, but Styles press slams Jacobs to the mat for a near fall. Styles forearms Jacobs, but Jacobs delivers a reverse DDT/backbreaker for a two count.
Jacobs strikes Styles against the ropes and ducks a heel kick. Styles nearly wins with an inside cradle. Jacobs plants Styles with a fisherman buster for a near fall. Jacobs strikes Styles, but Styles delivers an over the shoulder slam/DDT combo for a near fall. Styles strikes Jacobs in the corner. Jacobs boots Styles in the corner. Jacobs is crotched on the top turnbuckle. Styles tries for a middle rope powerbomb, but Jacobs counters with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Jacobs heads to the top, but is caught in midair. Styles powerbombs Jacobs followed by the Styles Clash for the win. (***. An enjoyable match and they got far more time than I expected. I haven’t watched much of Jacobs, but he’s a regular in Wildside so I’ll end up seeing more of him eventually. Styles had some good aggression and the finish was impactful and presented well.)
Jeremy Borash interviews AJ Styles, who tells the fans to shut up. The fans boo Styles, but Styles knows the fans love him especially when he’s wrestling. Styles insults a few fans in the front row. Styles talks about beating everyone in the X-Division and now it is time he compete in the heavyweight division. The fans don’t believe Styles can beat Jarrett for the NWA World Championship. Borash has never seen anyone knockdown LOD in the manner Styles managed to do last week. Styles believes he could beat Jarrett for the title right now if he wanted to.
Final Thoughts:
A good episode of Xplosion with both matches providing entertainment. Xplosion is already exceeding my expectations.
Thanks for reading.