By Wade Keller, Torch editor

TNA AGAINST ALL ODDS PPV
FEBRUARY 13, 2005
LIVE FROM ORLANDO, FLA. AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

(On the countdown show, The Disciples of Destruction ("The DOD," Ron & Don Harris) defeated Mikey Batts & Jerelle Clark.)

A well done video package aired previewing the top matches on the PPV. Mike Tenay and Don West introduced the show. They went to Scott Hudson outside of Kevin Nash's locker room backstage talking about the title match.

1 -- ELIX SKIPPER vs. PETEY WILLIAMS - X Division Contenders' Match

Tenay announced that the Mar. 13 PPV would be called "Destination X" and feature an Ultimate X match. Tenay touted how determined Primetime has been lately to become a top X Division wrestler. He also put over Petey for being only 22 years old. Nice early action including taking a diving Skipper and turning it into a huracanrana at ringside. He scored a two count inside the ring at 3:00. Primetime gave Petey a top rope underhook butterfly suplex at 5:00. He flipped Petey gut-first onto the top rope and then guillotine legdropped him off the top rope for a two count. Skipper walked the top rope and tried to head scissors Petey to the mat, but Petey held the top rope and Primetime fell hard to the mat. Petey then took over control. He went for a Canadian Destroyer, but Primetime blocked it. Petey missed a roll-up, but recovered. They went into a less than smooth Flair-Steamboat series of pinfall attempts with the bridges and reversals. Primetime went for a dropkick, but Petey leaned back to avoid getting hit. Primetime finished off Petey with a new finisher of his own, called Sudden Death - an impressive DDT suplex type of move.

WINNER: Primetime at 7:55.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Some nice highspots, but a bit sloppy at times and it was too short to develop into anything special.

2 -- JEFF HAMMOND & B.G JAMES (w/Konnan & Ron "The Truth" Killings) vs. FRANKIE KAZARIAN & MICHAEL SHANE

Tenay kept talking about how Jeff Hammonds, the NASCAR announcer, has earned everyone's respect. Hammonds wore camouflage blue pants and a muscle shirt. He's so obliviously out of place and unwanted on these shows in any form, it's pathetic. The crowd hated him. Tenay and West just talked, talked, talked to try to cover the anti-Hammond chants and the boos whenever he was in the ring. At 5:00 Shane mistakenly superkicked Kazarian while aiming for Hammonds. Hammonds ran around the ring and dropped an elbow and scored the three count.

WINNER: Hammonds & James at 5:32.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- At least it was over pretty quickly, Hammonds wasn't in much, and Hammonds didn't try to do anything to challenging. He has the least charisma of anyone since that commissioner of the UWF that Bill Watts hired in the late '80s. Get him off my TV.

-They went backstage to Dusty Rhodes, Tracy, and Trinity in Dusty's pick-up truck/office. Larry Zbyszko walked up with a lawyer who delivered an affidavit that said Jeff Jarrett never used a guitar in a match, so he should sign off on removing the stip that if Jarrett uses the guitar, he loses the title. Dusty said he wasn't putting his signature on any sheet of paper. The lawyer said if he doesn't sign it, he will be "evicted." Dusty told him to get out of there or it will be his turn in the barrel. Total bush league, nonsense, stupid segment.

3 -- RAVEN vs. DUSTIN RHODES

After some early ringside brawling, Raven worked over Dustin with a toe hold for a couple of minutes. Dustin made a comeback and got in some lethargic offense. Eventually Raven scored the pin with a roll up and help from the ropes. Afterward Raven attacked Dustin with a trash can and put him in a straight jacket. Cassidy Reilly, Dustin's protege, tried to make the save, but Raven DDT'd him. Raven continued to beat on Dustin. Security ran in, but Raven whipped them with a belt.

WINNER: Raven at 8:14.

STAR RATING: * -- Just there.

4 -- AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (Chris Harris & James Storm) vs. KID KASH & LANCE HOYT -- NWA World Tag Team Title match

Good early action with Kash. Hoyt tagged in at 3:00 briefly, then tagged Kash back in. AMW doubled on Kash and threw him into Hoyt. Then they caught Hoyt and threw him onto Kash. The heels bailed out to ringside. Harris launched Storm onto the heels at ringside, breaking up their conference. Hoyt then caught Storm with a clothes at ringside to reverse momentum. The heels beat on Storm, concentrating on his back for a few minutes. At 8:00 Harris got the hot tag and worked over Kash and Hoyt. He gave Hoyt the delayed vertical suplex. Kash attacked Harris with a roundhouse kick and a flying head scissors off the ropes. Storm then recovered and gave Kash an Eye of the Storm (twisting released Razor's Edge). Hoyt gave Storm a side slam off the top rope for a near fall. They went into a series of near falls, including Kash KO'ing Storm with a tag belt. Seconds later Kash fell into Hoyt from behind, knocking him down as he had Storm lifted. Harris then kicked Hoyt and handcuffed Kash to the corner of the ring. It settled back into just Storm vs. Hoyt. AMW gave Hoyt the Death Sentence guillotine legdrop for the win.

WINNERS: Storm & Harris at 12:24 to retain the NWA Tag Titles.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Good tag match.

5 -- JEFF HARDY vs. ABYSS

Hardy dove over the top rope onto Abyss at ringside early in the match. They fought back and forth for several minutes without sustained uninterrupted offense for either. At 4:00 Abyss set up two tables at ringside along with two tables on top of them. Meanwhile, Hardy threw a ladder into the ring. Abyss threw Hardy head-first into the ringside stairs. Abyss set Hardy up for a running powerbomb over the top rope onto the tables. Hardy escaped and springboard flipped onto Abyss. Abyss and Hardy fought over the ladder inside the ring. Hardy shoved the ladder into Abyss's gut and then kicked a chair into his face. After battling in the ring for a minute, Abyss tosed a charging Hardyonto the tables at ringside. His feet broke one of the tables in half and landed with a thud on the ground. When Hardy got up from that, West said he had a newfound respect for Hardy. They brawled up to the stage where another table was set up. Hardy stunned Abyss and then climbed to the top of the entrance tunnel. The crowd cheered as Hardy gyrated. Hardy then jumped and flipped in mid-air onto Abyss, breaking the table. The fans started a "holy sh--" chant. Hardy rolled his way back to the ring, selling the effects of the impact himself. Tenay put it over as one of the highest risk moves he's ever seen. West said history was made. Abyss also began crawling toward the ring. Hardy climbed the ladder and grabbed one of two envelopes hanging above the ring. One of them had a contract for an NWA World Title match on a future edition of Impact. The envelope he grabbed was empty. He moved the ladder and began climbing toward the other, but Abyss recovered and whipped Hardy over the top rope onto the four tables at ringside. Abyss then climbed the ladder and grabbed the other envelope to win.

WINNER: Abyss at 15:40.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- Good stunt brawl.

6 -- DALLAS PAGE & "ALPHA MALE" MONTY BROWN vs. BOBBY ROODE & ERIC YOUNG

Tenay talked about how Page's career had rebounded since joining TNA. Good energy throughout and nice bumps by Team Canada. In the end, Abyss nailed Roode with the Pounce at 9:15. As Young attempted to intervene, Page gave him the Diamond Cutter and scored the pin.

WINNERS: Page & Brown at 9:40.

STAR RATING: *1/2

7 -- A.J. STYLES vs. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS

A video package previewed the match. They began deliberately with some leverage exchanges and counters. Styles leapfrogged Daniels and Daniels rolled him up. They went into a good, rapid-fire sequence of pin attempts and reversals. At 3;00 they fought at ringside. The match slowed briefly as Styles applied an armlock for a few seconds. Fans chanted "A.J." and then a counterchant of "Daniels" began. Daniels fought out of it a couple minutes later, but sold his injured arm when he threw a punch. He bailed to ringside and clutched his arm. Styles nailed Daniels with a dropkick through the ropes. He followed with an attempted springboard bodyblock. When he lost his balance, he stopped and then went for it again. West covered well for Daniels having to stand there so long, saying, "It's almost as if Daniels was daring him to do it." Styles threw a nice forearm motion as he landed on Daniels. Daniels fired back with a charge at Styles, knocking him off the ring apron and into the ringside barrier. Styles began a flurry of offensive moves at 10:00 including a near fall after a DDT. Styles went for a 450 splash, but Daniels lifted his knees and then executed Angle's Wings for the first fall at 14:30. West began wondering if Styles could get two falls in the last fifteen minutes to make a comeback to win. Daniels remained on offense and began to show signs of confidence and cockiness. Daniels locked on an abdominal stretch at 16:30. Styles came back with a handspring back elbow at 19:00 after ducking a clothesline to stop Daniels's momentum. Daniels was the first to his feet. Styles threw a series of a roundhouse kick. Then he flipped Daniels back-first onto his knee for a two count at 19:30. Styles hit a flying forearms for another near fall at 20:00. Daniels hit a Blue Thunder Driver, but Styles fired back with his Pele Kick out of nowhere to even the score again. Styles went at Daniels with a series of rapid-fire elbows to the face. Daniels fired back with a suplex. Styles went for a German suplex. Daniels set up a neckbreaker. Styles escaped and gave Daniels an Angel's Wings for a near fall at 23:00. At 24:00 Styles rolled up Daniels after a struggle in mid-ring and scored his first fall. It was 1-1. Daniels knocked Styles through the ropes in frustration. Daniels went to the announcers table and grabbed the title belt. Tenay and West yelled at him, saying he hadn't won it yet. Daniels then shoved Styles head-first into the ringpost. Styles came up bleeding. When Styles rolled into the ring, Daniels covered him for a near fall. When Styles kicked out, Daniels punched away at his cut forehead. He followed up with headbutts to the open wound. Daniels nailed Styles with an STO clothesline for a near fall at 27:45. Styles grabbed at the ropes to get his head feet. Daniels continued to work over Styles's forehead. He scored another near fall at 28:20. They went to a close-up of Styles's forehead bleeding pretty heavily. Daniels then attempted Angel's Wings, but Styles was dead weight. Styles made a comeback with a series of forearms and punches. Daniels applied the Koji Clutch submission. The squeezing of Styles's neck caused blood to squirt out of his forehead. Styles held on without tapping out during the final seconds, but passed out with five seconds left. The bell rang without a decision. Daniels raised his own arm, but the ref yanked it down. He said Styles didn't tap. Tenay said they had a draw and in the case of a draw, the champ retains the title. Daniels grabbed the mic at ringside and the X Title belt, demanding sudden death. Dusty came out and granted Daniels his wish. Styles was still unable to stand. Tenay said there was no need for a clock because "next fall wins it!" Daniels drove Styles into the mat for a near fall. Styles rolled through on a huracanrana attempt and gave Daniels his Styles Clash. He rolled Daniels over and scored the pin.

WINNER: Styles at 1:42 of overtime after a 30:00 draw to retain the X Title.

STAR RATING: ****1/4 -- Really good Iron Man match. An early TNA match of the year contender.

-They went backstage where Jarrett chewed out the guy who failed to get Dusty to sign the waiver of the guitar clause. Jarrett said he'd have to take matters into his own hands "by any means necessary."

-Clips then aired of the Jarrett-Nash press conference and clips of their talking heads debate from this weekend's Impact program. The back-and-forth between Nash and Jarrett had a "real sports" feel to it and was well-delivered. It made sense to acknowledge the obvious weaknesses of Nash given his age and brittleness at this point in his career and turn that into a reason for Nash's motivation, including his blunt, character-fitting admission he wants to win the NWA Title for the money.

8 -- JEFF JARRETT vs. KEVIN NASH -- NWA World Hvt. Title match

Nash whipped Jarrett into the ropes to start and went for a clothesline, but Jarrett ducked. Good, rapid-fire, intense opening few seconds. Nash then, of course, powered Jarrett into the corner of the ring and threw his elbows. West said Nash appeared to be in great shape for the match. Nash shoved his boot into Jarrett's face. Tenay called it "another familiar move from the challenger." Jarrett came back by trying to wrap Nash's leg into the ropes. He threw some punches. Nash took some bumps to the mat. Tenay said, "Wow," practically breaking character, perhaps amazed that Nash was bumping. Predictably, they took the match into the crowd and brawled outside of the venue where fans gathered and cheered on the stand-up brawl. Tenay said those fans were turned away at the door due to the sellout crowd. Tenay said the intensity of Nash was something he has never seen before with him. He pulled away the ring mats and set up a Jackknife. Jarrett blocked it with a low blow at 8:15. Jarrett reached under the ring and grabbed a guitar case. He pulled out a cello, which technically wasn't a guitar. The cello broke even before he used it, drawing laughter from the fans. Jarrett threw the armless cello at Nash. Jarrett then yanked Nash's leg around the ringpost. The whole concept that Jarrett can only use a guitar-like musical instrument as a weapon is just silly. Why not a sledgehammer or baseball bat or garden hoe or golf club instead? Jarrett used the cello case as a weapon inside the ring. He worked over Nash's leg. Jarrett then applied a figure-four. Nash crawled toward the bottom rope and finally forced a break at 12:30. Nash came back and hit the sideslam for a near fall at 14:00. Nash gave Jarrett the Snake Eyes twice. Jarrett threw a punch into the air. Jarrett slipped away from Nash and clipped him from behind. When Jarrett grabbed the cello, Nash gave him a low blow and was about to use the cello himself. The ref insisted Nash put it down. Nash said okay and then set Nash up for the Jackknife. Jarrett's legs knocked the ref down. Nash then Jackknifed him onto the cello. The ref was down and couldn't count. Billy Gunn ran out and attacked Nash. Tenay said he was "formerly known as Billy Gunn from the WWE." West wondered why he was on Nash's side. Jarrett covered Nash and scored a near fall. Gunn looked shocked and walked back toward the ring. The ref blocked his path and ordered him to the back. Sean Waltman then attacked Jarrett inside the ring, giving him the Bronco Buster and an X Factor. The crowd popped more for Waltman than Gunn. The crowd cheered as Nash draped his arm over a bloody Jarrett. Jarrett lifted his shoulder at 17:45. Gunn returned to the ring and was going to use the belt as a weapon against Nash. B.G. James yanked the belt away from him. Nash then hit Gunn from behind. Jarrett then KO'd a distracted Nash with the NWA Title belt and scored a convincing near fall at 18:30. The crowd stood and popped for the kickout. Jarrett then gave Nash his Stroke finisher for another two count. Jarrett freaked out and grabbed the ref in frustration. Jarrett went to the top rope. Nash caught him by the throat. Jarrett then shoved the ref and low-blowed Nash. He gave Nash another Stroke and then the ref returned and counted to three. Gunn celebrated with Jarrett in the ring, the two wrestlers who Steve Austin deemed unworthy of working feuds with five and a half years ago. Tenay said Jarrett lived up to his promise to win the title by any means necessary.

WINNER: Jarrett at 19:15 to retain the NWA World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Above-average match. Lots of shortcuts, but well done overall.

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KELLER'S STAR RATING QUALIFICATION KEY

DUD: Not just below-average, but without redeeming qualities either due to incompetence, inexperience, lack of effort, or mistakes. A bad finish to a below-average match can also rate a DUD.

ONE STAR: Below average match, but passable.

TWO STARS: Average everyday match, usually between five and ten minutes, with nothing memorable about it, but nothing wrong with it. A shorter match can also earn two stars if it was better than average for five minutes, but didn't last long enough to justify a three star rating.

THREE STARS: Very good match, but lacking something to take it to the next level. It might be a match between two average wrestlers that overachieved or a match between two excellent wrestlers that underperformed. Contains some element that makes it stand out from a typical average match and it effectively fulfilled it purpose in the context of the rest of the show.

FOUR STARS: Excellent match, entering match of the year territory. Everything fell into place. Several elements of the match were dramatic or emotional enough to get the crowd into the action. In almost every case, a match needs to have a satisfying finish to rate four stars or higher. A poor finish can take what is otherwise a four-star match and drop below. It's tough to reach four stars unless a match goes past 15 minutes.

FIVE STARS: A rare masterpiece where the match transcends what is usually considered a great match. To rate five stars, there can't be one fault to the match - not a poor finish, or a poor start, or some missed moves, or inconsistent selling, or corny ref bumps, or tired cliched spots, or a dead crowd, or lack of emotions expressed by the wrestlers. Each segment of the match has to fit into the larger story of the match. It's tough for a match to reach five stars unless it lasts at least 20 minutes.

NOTE: Sometimes being the "first of a kind" can elevate a match rating, such as being the first ladder match or first Hell in a Cell or first TLC match or first War Games, making an excellent match better in it that incorporates a new match stipulation effectively. The same match two years later, after a gimmick is repeated over and over again, may have lost the novelty factor and thus not score five stars.

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