NWA-TNA Show #23
November 27, 2002
Live from Nashville, Tenn.
By Mike Sempervive, Torch Team Contributor

Show opens with Jeremy Borash in the ring with lights dimmed, he gives thanks for America fighting through the hardships of the past year, and then GoldyLocks sings "God Bless America".

The opening hits with Mike Tenay hyping the card for tonight.

(1) Quiet Storm (w/Trinity) defeated Jay & Mark Briscoe. A very "indy" styled match with both teams hitting some really good highspots, and at other times missing very badly. Trinity hit her "Lita with Essa Rios" spots and looked real good while looking real good. (Sorry) Quiet Storm hits a awesome looking SCD (Storm Cradle Driver) on Jay for the win. (He lifts up Jay in a full nelson, and then flips him forward so he lands on the back of his head while he holds his legs. Somebody in WWE will steal this move.)

Mike Tenay says he'd like to get something off his chest. He says the last 5 months have been great. He says he doesn't want to be associated with Vince Russo. He says he knows Russo, and does not like what he stands for. He says he sat idle in WCW while it crumbled, but will not do so in TNA. West says he didn't realize Tenay felt so strongly. Tenay says West would feel the same way, if Russo cost him his job the way he did his.

A video package is shown of last week's NWA World title match between Jeff Jarrett and Ron "The Truth" Killings.

Jeff Jarrett's music plays. Vince Russo screams cut the music and tells Tenay if he wants to leave there's the door. He says he can go home and pout with Sean Waltman and he'll get a chimpanzee to replace him. He says he's the "antichrist of professional wrestling" and sat low for 2 years, but came back before "wrestling got even deeper in the shitter." He says he wants to say something about Jarrett. He says even though the WWF gave him a bad gimmick, he befriended Jarrett. He says when Jarrett left the WWF "in the middle of the night" without telling anyone, that Russo took all the heat. He says he, on Jeff's request, went begging to Vince McMahon to give Jarrett his job back. He says when he came back the WWF tried to bury him. He says his "old buddy" Russo was there to bail him out. He said he "put a guitar in his hand and they went around the country smacking 75 year old women with guitars." He says that when he left WWF to go to WCW, Jarrett laid down to Chyna and then he called Russo begging him to bring him into WCW. He says he brought Jarrett in and made him the World champion. He says "thank God WCW got sold and was out of that hellhole." He says Jarrett called him when he started TNA. He says he suggested the name TNA, but it was supposed to mean "tits and ass." He says Jeff was manipulated by Jerry Jarrett and that Jeff told Russo to sit at home and wait until Jeff called him. He said he got sick of waiting for the call, so he showed up. Russo says "This product sucks, the WWE sucks, and Vince Russo is here to save the day once again." He says he still has a soft spot in his heart for Jeff and that starting next week, they'll be a drastic change here and he's begging someone to stop him. he says he'll be around for Jarrett's match tonight to help him win, and he wants his answer.

The scroll rolls as Tenay quotes Roddy Piper by saying Russo's "a cancer to the �professional wrestling business."

Mortimer Plumtree cuts a promo on the people who bid money in the TNA auction to manage A.J. Styles and manage his opponent. He says neither one is worthy.

The piece segues into a video package of last week's situation between Bruce, Brian Lawler, April and Goldy.

(2) The Hot Shots (Cassidy O'Reilly & Chase Stevens) defeated America's Most Wanted (James Storm & Chris Harris) by countout. AMW pretty much controls the match, but the Shots do get to hit their spots, as well. Near the end, Storm hits the Hanging Noose (inverted tornado DDT) and the 8 Second Ride on O'Reilly. Harris then hits the Catatonic on Stevens. They then hit the Death Sentence (Harris guillotine leg from the top rope, as Storm holds him). They don't go for the pin because they notice Belladonna and James Mitchell on the ramp. They go out to confront them, and get counted out. They grab Belladonna bring her into the ring and set her up for the Death Sentence. Mitchell gets into the ring to distract them , and then Slash & Brian Lee attack them from behind before security comes out to break it up.

The scroll rolls as Tenay hypes the redesigned website, and the silent auction.

Goldy and Jeremy Borash talk about what the bids are for them in the silent auction.

Goldy asks Dory Funk Jr. to talk to Jeff Jarrett. Funk tells her no, as he's preparing for Killings tonight. When Goldy asks him if he's Jarrett's manager, he says he's got a very vested interest in Jarrett's title match tonight.

Tenay announces that Sean Waltman has cancelled his appearance tonight due to Vince Russo coming into TNA. Curt Hennig will be his partner. James Mitchell comes out and cuts a promo saying he doesn't care about backstage politics, the only thing he cares about is evil.

(3) Slash & Brian Lee (w/ James Mitchell & Belladonna) defeated B.G. James & Curt Hennig by DQ when America's Most Wanted interferes. Match opens with Hennig and Slash. Hennig slaps Slash, atomic drops him into the corner, and tags out to James. Slash takes control and tags out to Lee. James gets control. James gets a 2 on Lee. He pounds away again and tags out to Hennig. Hennig goes to work on Lee's left leg and locks on a Figure 4. Hennig lets off, and tags James back in, who continues the attack on the leg. James tags Hennig back in and they wishbone Lee's legs. Lee fights back, but Hennig chops him in the corner and James comes back in. Lee low blows James to escape long enough to tag in Slash. He pounds on James with an elbow and kneedrops. The Disciples double team James in the corner, before dumping him to the floor where Mitchell gets a cheap shot in. Lee then tosses James back in the ring, where Slash continues the attack. James fights back but gets DDT'd when he tries for a backdrop. Lee gets tagged back in and tries a pin attempt after a kneedrop, but James puts his foot on the ropes. Slash locks on a Cobra Clutch. James fights out of it, but gets locked into a sleeper. James then breaks the hold by hitting a backdrop suplex. Both men are down, and then both make hot tags. Hennig beats on both men and tries a Hennigplex on Slash before Lee breaks it up. Lee then sideslams Hennig. James tries for a pump handle on Slash, but Lee boots him in the face. America's Most Wanted then storms the ring and the ref calls for the bell. They clear the ring of the Disciples, and then fight James and Hennig. AMW then goes back after the Disciples chasing them to the back.

The scroll rolls and Tenay hypes Hennig, Styles, Dory Funk, & Bobby Heenan at NWA Florida/IPW.

A piece is shown of Mike Tenay & Don West hard selling their auction event.

(4) EZ Money defeated Alex Winters. Back and forth begins the match with Money holding the advantage. That lasts only for a minute as Money squashes Winters for the rest of the match. He hits the MoneyMaker but refuses to make the cover. He then hits a suplex into a powerbomb for the win.

Goldy is shown in the back with Bruce. He says that ever since the April incident, he's not Bruce, he's Alan Funk. He says he was there to console April, as a friend. He says she's a very sensual woman. Goldy tries to say something that made no sense (It wasn't a real good night for her) before asking what he'll do with the Miss TNA crown. He said he'll give the Miss TNA crown to April.

(5) Sonny Siaki defeated The Crimson Dragon. Crimson Dragon is out of his Chris Hamrick attire and is in a new mismatched colored outfit. They go back and forth. Dragon put out his hand, but Siaki refuses it. Siaki lays some punches in but gets knocked outside. Dragon then hits a suicide dive into a clothesline to the floor. Back in the ring, Siaki drop toeholds Dragon into the ropes, and then pump handle suplexes Dragon outside to the floor. Siaki then whips Dragon into the announce table and then the ringsteps before throwing him back in the ring where he makes a cover for a 2. Siaki hits a slingshot into a atomic drop. Dragon flips Siaki over his back into a stunner and then hits a Yakuza kick for a 2. Dragon then tries to go to the top, but gets crotched. Siaki then goes up and hits a top rope belly to belly, and the the Siakalypse for the win.

After the match Siaki grabs the mic from Borash. He says if the NWA won't give him any more decent opponents, he doesn't want to be there. He wants main events.

Goldy is in the back with April. She says everyone knows Bruce is gay, and that she loves Lawler. Goldy says no one is buying it. April says that she sounds jealous. Goldy than says she "doesn't need this shit" drops the mic and walks away.

Brian Lawler comes into the ring to cut a promo. He looks as though he's been crying. He says he has given his heart to a female who he thought loved him. He says "in return, he gets made a fool of." He brings up her affairs with Syxx and Bruce, and says he found out about her and Goldy. He says he hasn't been able to sleep, and all he's had to eat all day was a "hot apple pie from McDonald's." He says because of all the stress he's been under "he's quitting the wrestling business." He says she's a "freaking nymphomaniac." And then "say what you will, you won't have old Brian Lawler to kick around anymore."

The then throw it to Goldy who tries to interview Lawler, but he is getting consoled by Priscilla. (Brian Lawler = New Flying Elvis? That could really be funny.)

A video package is shown of highlights of A.J. Styles, and then Jerry Lynn.

(6) Jerry Lynn defeated A.J. Styles (w/ Mortimer Plumtree) to retain the NWA X division title. Before the match, JB makes the boxing styled introductions. (I guess it will be the way they do it for all title matches) Match begins with both men exchanging punches. Styles misses a clothesline and Lynn takes him down. Lynn goes for a tilt-a-whirl, but Styles gets out of it. Lynn then snapmares Styles and hits a dropkick to the back of his head, getting a 2 count. Lynn hits some right hands and then tosses Styles out of the ring. Plumtree tries to grab Lynn's leg from the outside, but Lynn dropkicks Plumtree into Styles. Lynn comes out to throw Styles back into the ring. As he does, Plumtree prevents Lynn from getting back in, and Styles kicks him to the floor. Styles pulls up the ring mat on the floor and tries a piledriver, but Lynn backdrops out of it. Styles then is able to hit a DDT on the concrete. Plumtree pounds on Lynn on the floor, as Lynn is shown bleeding. Styles then slams Lynn's head into the rail before rolling him back in and getting a 2 count. He then pounds on Lynn's cut, and tries another pin. Styles then throes Lynn back outside the ring, where Plumtree hits Lynn with brass knuckles. Lynn gets back into the ring where Styles gets another 2. Styles tries to go to the top rope, but Lynn crotches him. Lynn tries a rana, but Styles knocks him off. Styles tries to sunset flip Lynn to the floor, but Lynn kicks him off. Lynn goes after Plumtree, and knocks Styles back every time he comes after him. Lynn rolls into the ring to break the count, and rolls back out. They both roll back in the ring. Lynn pounds away, Styles misses an asai moonsault, and Lynn clotheslines him down. �Lynn hits an elbow and gets a 2. Styles then throws Lynn back outside the ring, where Plumtree hits Lynn again with the knucks. Back in the ring, Styles gets a 2. Styles hits a inverted tornado DDT for another 2. Styles goes for a suplex, but Lynn gets flips of it, and hits a running powerbomb for a 2. Lynn hits a release German suplex for a 2. Lynn misses a clothesline, and Styles hits a facebuster for a 2. Styles pounds on Lynn in the corner. Tries for a superplex, but Lynn blocks it and hits a facebuster from the second rope. Plumtree gets on the ring apron to distract the ref and toss Styles the knucks. He overthrows Styles, Lynn catches them and KO's Styles for the win.

The scroll rolls, and then B.G. James and Curt Hennig hype their auction events. B.G. says his dinner with the winner will be at Chuck-E-Cheese. (No word on whether or not he'll call you a sexual slur.) Hennig says that if someone can beat him in their golf game for 5,000$, he'll put up 5,000$ of his own money.

Don West (in shiny yellow shirt and tie) then does the hard sell on next weeks show. SAT's vs. Divine Storm. Storm vs. Slash, Lee vs. Harris, Mitchell will wrestle in a bullrope match with the winners. Double elimination for a shot at the X title including A.J. Styles, Red, Kash, and others. Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn for the X title.

Highlights are shown of Tenay's interview with Dory Funk Jr. He says the highlights of his career was winning the NWA title. Gene Kiniski was tough and a father figure. He wrestled Jack Brisco over 300 times and was very charismatic. Harley Race was tough, and he'd do anything to beat you. Giant Baba was a great teacher. Truth vs. Jarrett will be a great match, and the winner will set the image that people will look back on in 20 years and say that was a great time in wrestling. He then says that Vince Russo should stay out of it, and let the wrestlers do their work.

The Tale of the Tape is shown of Killings & Jarrett. Killings enters the ring doing his rhyme routine. (I guess it's called "Trashville", and while I'm writing in parenthesis, I still can't believe that Athena has such a cheering section!) The boxing style intros take place again before the match.

(7) Jeff Jarrett defeated Ron "The Truth" Killings to retain the NWA World title. Match begins with a lock up and Killings taking control, he tries a quick rollup for a 2. They lock back up, and exchange armbars. He sends Jarrett off the ropes and hits a Thesz Press for a 2. Jarrett hits a knee and some right hands on Killings. Jarrett hits a sunset flip off the 2nd rope for a 2, Killings then rolls up Jarrett for a 2. Jarrett then flips him over into a 2, but Killings reverses it for a 2 of his own. They both pause as the crowd applauds. Killings then punches Jarrett in the face and takes the advantage. He then signals for the axe kick, misses it, and Jarrett tries the Figure 4, but Killings immediately reverses it. Jarrett gets to the ropes, and bails outside. Killings hits a plancha over the ropes to the floor. Killings begins to pound on Jarrett on the floor. He wraps cord around Jarrett's neck to choke him. He throws Jarrett back in and hits a frog splash for a 2. Killings then goes for his split out of the corner, does a split, but eats a dropkick to the face. Jarrett then hits some punches, but gets reversed into the ropes and Killings locks on a sleeperhold, Jarrett fights out of it before referee Scott Armstrong drops his arm for a 3. Jarrett whips Killings into the ropes and tries a leapfrog, but Killings then hits a sit down powerbomb for a 2. Killings then goes up to the top rope, but Jarrett cuts him off and hits a superplex. They both get up at 6. Killings sends Jarrett into the ropes, catches a kick attempt, but then gets enzuigiri'd. Jarrett gets a 2. Killings tries a backslide attempt, but Jarrett Flair kicks him and gets a small package for a 2. Jarrett tries to mount Killings in the corner, but Armstrong pulls him off. He then goes to the outside and gets a chair. He sets it up between the turnbuckles and tries to whip Killings into it, but Killings reverses and slams Jarrett's head into it. Killings gets a 2. Killings then goes up to the top and misses a moonsault. Jarrett then hits The Stroke, but Killings kicks out. Jarrett then goes to the turnbuckle and takes the top pad off. Killings bails out, and Jarrett follows him. Jarrett throws Killings over the rail, and they fight to the back of the arena. He puts Killings on top of a table and climbs the lighting rig. Killings then climbs up to fight Jarrett, and they both fall down through the table. Armstrong is in the ring and counts both men out of the ring. Commissioner Bob Armstrong comes out and says there will be no countouts, and there must be a winner. Jarrett & Killings get back into the ring and exchange punches. Jarrett misses a clothesline, and hot shots Jarrett into the exposed buckle and gets a 2. Jarrett then goes for the Stroke, but Killings fights it off and tries a suplex, knocking down the ref. Russo then comes down to the ring and hands Jarrett a guitar. Jarrett teases hitting Killings with it, but then smashes it against the ringpost. Killings tries to rollup Jarrett, but only gets 2. He then uses 3 Strokes on Killings and gets the pin to retain the title.

After the match, Russo grabs the mic and yells to Jarrett that next week is a new day. He says he's either with him, or against him. He asks Jarrett "What's it gonna be?" as the show ends.

Pretty good show. Styles-Lynn was the best (go figure), followed by Killings-Jarrett. All the undercard matches pretty much served their purpose as well. Pretty disappointing that no apology was issued by James, or anyone else in TNA, for his comments last week. Total Russo S-word count: 5 during his rambling promo.

Any comments, questions, cash, or Derek Burgan fan club letters, send to MSempervive@PWTorch.com

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