NWA-TNA Xplosion
Date: 8/16/2003
From: Nashville, TN
Footage of Dusty Rhodes competing on last weeks PPV is shown. Dusty pinned Gilbertti, but was attacked by Christopher Daniels right afterward. Jeff Jarrett came out to brawl with Daniels and help Dusty. Erik Watts, who the DOA, made a couple of matches for next week including himself teaming with Jarrett to battle Legend and Christopher Daniels.
A video focusing on Don Callis introducing the Ultimate X concept to NWA-TNA is shown. That match will take place next week on PPV. Michael Shane says there’s no time than the present when he walks out as the X-Division Champion. Kazarian cuts a promo saying they will find out who the true X-Division Champion is and he is the future, and the future looks good.
A video showing Mad Mikey’s tendencies of being mad is cut short and we see Mikey throwing a temper tantrum at the production truck.
MATCH #1: MAD MIKEY VS. AUSTIN ARIES
FINISH: Mikey boots Aries coming off the top rope to hit a double arm DDT for the win. Mikey calls it the CST.
Bob’s Take: Aries would end up having quite the history with TNA in a few years having success off and on for the next decade or so. Mikey does a move called pre-school where he walked the bottom rope, and its hilarious. Aries gets some shine that included a slingshot twisting splash from the apron into the ring. Aries countered a suplex with a nice reverse DDT at one point, and the crowd liked it. A fine bout that was a bit more competitive than the usual match.
Match Rating: **1/4
Backstage, Glen Gilbertti, Johnny Swinger and Simon Diamond cut a promo about the bullrope match. Swinger says AMW will get a bullrope match with them and they will be sorry.
A video package promoting the feud between Sonny Siaki and D’Lo Brown is shown. Siaki notes that D’Lo has failed every opportunity he has given. Siaki says it is time to put D’Lo Brown’s career to its final resting place. Siaki invites D’Lo to the burial of his career.
MATCH #2: NWA-TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPION CHRIS SABIN VS. JOEY MATTHEWS
FINISH: Sabin pins Matthews following a modified Muscle Buster out of the corner.
Bob’s Take: A fast pace to kickoff the match gave this match immediate energy. Matthews dives off the top to the floor onto Sabin, but the crowd didn’t react a whole lot to it. Matthews steps on Sabin’s groin while in the tree of woe to pop the crowd and followed up with a nice tornado DDT for a near fall. Sabin hit a modified arm trapped Cradle Shock at one point. They did not waste time here and it was constant action. I enjoyed this one.
Match Rating: ***
Backstage, Chris Sabin has something to prove in Ultimate X and says everyone will Hail Sabin. This was a pre-tape.
MAIN EVENT: CHRISTOPHER DANIELS & LEGEND VS. SHAWN DAIVARI & SEAN CASEY
FINISH: Legend holds Daivari in the air by his legs allowing Daniels to hit the Last Rites for the win.
Bob’s Take: Daniels and Legend waste no time going after Daivari and Casey showing good aggression and teamwork early on in the match. Legend and Daniels impressed me with their double team work and came across as a solid tag team. Daniels hits a beautiful BME during the match. Mostly one-sided, but Legend and Daniels worked very well together and made this an enjoyable enhancement match.
Match Rating: *1/2
The show closes with a series of pre-tape promos. Simon Diamond thinks there is a massive bias against them and begs for an opportunity, which is what they’ll get on PPV. Diamond promises it is going to get worse for AMW and they will win the tag titles.
Dusty Rhodes cuts a promo on Christopher Daniels telling Daniels to not start no business with him unless he’s ready to pay for it.
Raven cuts a promo on Shane Douglas and Father Mitchell suggesting they should be more worried about other things than cutting his hair because that will just piss him off.
Jeff Jarrett promotes the tag match against Legend and Daniels. Jarrett talks about Daniels claiming he’s going to takedown what Jarrett has built. Jarrett has more guitars for Legend and Daniels and promises it will not be pretty sight.
Christopher Daniels cuts a promo saying Jarrett doesn’t know the strength of his convictions if he thought a chair shot would take him out. Daniels thinks tradition is a cancer that needs to be eliminated and he will not rest until every trace of tradition has been eliminated. Daniels proclaims that is the gospel according to the Fallen Angel.
Final Thoughts:
A good episode of Xplosion with a showcase on worthwhile talent and including known names on the indies to be part of the enhancement matches (Aries and Matthews). Enjoyed this episode quite a bit.
Thanks for reading.