NWA Wildside TV
Date: 9/9/2000
From: Cornelia, GA
Steve Prazak and commissioner Al Getz talk about this being the first anniversary of Wildside on syndication. We’re going to see Wildside Light Heavyweight Champion Onyx, Lazz and Air Paris in action.
MATCH #1: MARK E. MARK VS. CASSIDY O’REILY
NOTE: This is O’Reilly’s Wildside debut in a singles role.
FINISH: O’Reilly wins following a slingshot suplex.
Bob’s Take: O’Reilly hit a nice springboard moonsault early in the match along with a handspring elbow in the corner and a tornado DDT. O’Reilly has explosive offense, and it’s nice to see. Mark fought back with strikes and a powerslam. O’Reilly hit a dangerous looking middle rope suplex, which looked more like a brainbuster, before they went into the finish. There were a few moments where it was a bit sloppy, but O’Reilly looked good here.
Match Rating: **
MATCH #2: ADAM JACOBS VS. AIR PARIS
FINISH: Late in the match, Cassidy O’Reilly comes out to ringside. Jacobs hit a top rope leg drop, but O’Reilly got on the apron to distract the referee. Paris hits a low blow and a modified swinging neckbraker for the win. They hit stereo splashes from opposite corners. Silky Boom Boom storms the ring to make the save.
Bob’s Take: I’ve usually associated Paris as being a babyface, but he’s more and more being portrayed as a heel on the local level. Jacobs dives over the ropes onto Paris on the floor. Jacobs continued his advantage with a dropkick and a leaping back elbow strike and a springboard moonsault. Paris almost wins following a sunset flip powerbomb. Paris followed up with a Michinoku Driver. It’s noted that WCW officials have been taking a look at Paris. Paris missed a top rope corkscrew dive. Apparently, Paris ad O’Reilly had been partners before and they are reunited here. This was a fine match and likely setting up a tag match. I’m intrigued.
Match Rating: **1/2
NWA Elite come out to celebrate their anniversary of taking over. Steve Martin knows that Jeff G Bailey has something to say. Bailey insults the fans and says nothing can be taken away from the fact that there has been a year worth of shows. Bailey takes credit for the success along with Steve Martin. Bailey insults the NWA company in Florida. Bailey puts over the group in the ring with him. Bailey talks about Bill Behrens didn’t have any idea how to run a promotion, but Wildside is Martin’s promotion. Martin notes that he has full control of the third biggest company in the business, and thinks it is all good from here. Martin doesn’t need Behrens or Howard Brody telling him what to do. Martin says they have taken over the NWA.
Bill Behrens comes out to join the segment. Behrens has put up with enough of these comments. Behrens says he was in the office and offers receipts from Martin’s visit to the strip club and limos being used. Behrens notes that he gave Martin the job to be a big company, but not for his ego. Behrens reveals that Martin doesn’t do anything for the company TV distribution wise. Behrens notes he can fire Martin just as fast as he was hired. Martin tells Behrens that he has been replaced. Behrens calls Martin an idiot and slaps him. Behrens is held by the Cole Twins and Bailey delivers a kick to Behrens. Behrens is beaten down by the NWA Elite. Martin gets a chair as Bailey insults Behrens. Martin looks to use the chair, but Boogaloo Crew and Total Destruction slides into the ring to make the save. Al Getz is there to make the save, too. Behrens shakes hands with Getz. (I am quite confused here. Behrens shifted to a babyface now? Behrens had been a heel on TV, previously and this just kind of happens. This feels like an odd switch.)
MATCH #3: GEMINI VS. WILDSIDE JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ONYX
FINISH: Gemini hit a modified Death Valley Driver, but Bailey enters the ring to cause the disqualification. After the match, Lazz sends Onyx into Bailey and low blows Onyx. Lazz does a bit of a lap dance on Onyx in the corner. Lazz kisses Bailey! Gemini bails on Lazz, too.
Bob’s Take: Getz notes that he’s tried to sign a match between Onyx and Lazz, but Bailey has found a way to avoid it each time. Gemini has the early advantage clotheslining Onyx and sending Onyx reeling to the floor. Gemini hit a top rope crossbody onto Onyx on the floor. Onyx could have won following a missile dropkick, but kept the match going. Lazz kissing Bailey is a great spot and that’s just going to piss off Bailey more. The action was fine, but this was angle progression. Lazz probably needs to get the title.
Match Rating: *1/2
Outside, Total Destruction cut a promo on the Cole Twins. They talk about being the toughest rednecks. No matter where they go and who they face, they are total destruction.
Backstage, Cole Twins cut a promo on Total Destruction talking about fighting over who are the biggest guys on the block are. They say before they got eliminated from the tournament the smaller teams had no chance. It’s a bit of an abrupt cut.
MAIN EVENT: ICE VS. LAZZ
NOTE: Lazz kisses the referee before the match started.
FINISH: Onyx comes out and attacks Ice before going after Lazz. After the match, Bailey and Onyx have a noose and hang Lazz over the top rope as the show comes to an end. Bailey is screaming into a microphone telling Onyx to kill Lazz.
Bob’s Take: Lazz and Ice reverse each other quite a bit at the start of the match with a series of pin attempts. Ice hit a nice bridging German suplex for a near fall. Lazz responded quickly with an overhead suplex. Ice nails Lazz with a spinning heel kick. Lazz delivers a headbutt to Ice’s lower midsection and keeps his head down there a little longer than needed to fit the gimmick. Lazz gets out of a pin after a sit out spinebuster to nail Ice with a missile dropkick. Ice almost wins following a Blue Thunder Bomb. Onyx getting involved is not a surprise considering the previous match. The aftermath here is a bit intense, but that adds interest to the match. Bailey is a very good heel.
Match Rating: **1/2
Final Thoughts:
Plenty of angle progression with Onyx/Lazz getting some more focus and more depth. Behrens turning face is a bit random, but the NWA Elite needs a consistent force to combat them, so that’s where Behrens can come in. For the record, Martin was anti-NWA and all about NCW, but now it’s almost a role reversal.
Thanks for reading.