By Marc Donmoyer, Torch Team Contributor

NWA-TNA pay-per-view #44
May 7, 2003
Live from Nashville, Tenn.

Show opened with a video package highlighting last weeks show. Good package including solid attention to Chris Saban�s X-Division win.

Well, it�s better late than never, huh? Sorry I�m so late this week, I had to tape the show due to other commitments. TNA�s weekly PPV has come and gone, and some of us are ten dollars poorer. Let�s see if the gang in Nashville put together another competitive showing. It may have been last night, but the question still burns for this writer: What was it worth?

Mike Tenay & Don West introduced the show from the middle of the ring. The show tonight would be filled with qualifying matches building up to the Anarchy in the Asylum match. Some competitors had already been chosen, others would have to win their spot.

(1) A.J. Styles & D-Lo Brown defeated Elix Skipper & Low-Ki. Really hot opening tag match. Brown stuck out a little bit, but all four had good chemistry. Styles was the real star here, as well as Low-Ki. The coolest spot came from Styles, late in the match, when he reversed Skipper�s play of the day into a fast powerbomb. I can�t describe how quick it went down. Styles also had an amazing spot where he kipped up into a huracanrana. Brown and Skipper roughed each other up throughout the match, including a really nifty summersault dropkick on Brown from Skipper. Very innovative match with good timing and some exciting near falls. Finish came as Low-Ki tried for a springboard elbow on Styles, and D-Lo caught him, in mid air, with the sky high for a pin.

Match Value: $1.75. High quality match, Brown & Styles advanced to the Anarchy in the Asylum match.

Goldylocks interviewed Glen Gilberti and SEX in the SEX locker room. He told the troops how proud he was of them, and said tonight he would win the Asylum match, and no one would stop him. He told them he needed them to back him tonight. He said he was going to beat the S out of Jeff Jarrett.

Tenay & West said the three way between Sandman, Sabu, and New Jack was next. Awkward graphics from the �70s were shown on the bottom of the TV.

They cut to Jarrett�s locker room where Gilberti broke in and started beating on him. Jarrett was on crutches from a knee injury. That didn�t bother Gilberti, who�s becoming a good heel.

(2) Sabu defeated Sandman and New Jack to win a space in the Asylum match. This was a plodding hardcore match, but it looked painful. New Jack riffed on Sabu before the match. He cut a disturbing, and effective, promo against Sabu. He said Sabu had forgotten about the old days in ECW, when they were bad guys together (Sandman included). He said Paul Heyman was a C-Sucker, and that he still owed them money for bad checks. New Jack and Sabu brawled for awhile while Sandman drank beer in the crowd. The brawl incorporated kendo sticks, chairs, and trash cans, but not in a timely fashion. I found myself kind of bored, despite the brutal shots. In the middle of the match a mini-screen showed Gilberti beating on Jarrett in the parking lot, having evaded security. There was a really neat spot in the ring. Sabu attempted to chair jump to a springboard dive, but Sandman caught him with the kendo stick mid jump, and Sabu toppled back into the ring. Sandman and New Jack ganged up on Sabu and had him lying on a table on the outside. New Jack got on a scissor lift (seriously), and raised it up to the ceiling. With Sandman egging him on, he went for a huge jump on Sabu. He missed it, crashed through the table, and Sabu pinned him.

Match Value: $1.00. I didn�t like the match, I did like the mid air block. You�ve also got to respect New Jack�s insanity.

The mystery woman who fought with Lollipop last week was in the back with an interviewer. She complained there weren�t enough opportunities for woman, and asked to be in the Asylum match. She flirted with him and said it would be worth his while if he could get her in. Goldylocks was there, and he thought Goldy should be more like the mystery woman.

A video of the Chris Harris & James Storm story aired.

Goldylocks interviewed Harris & Storm. They said they were still a tag team, but were putting it aside tonight to take steps toward the heavyweight belt. They agreed to shake after the match, whoever won. The winner would get a spot in the Asylum match.

(3) James Storm defeated Chris Harris to advance to the Anarchy in the Asylum match. Good singles match, even if it was short. I was surprised, and thrilled, to see Storm win it. Harris hit a superplex and a top rope elbow, but Storm stayed alive. Harris hit a Diamond Cutter, but Storm kicked. Storm DDT�d Harris to the mat, and missed a top rope elbow. Storm hit the eight second ride, and Harris managed to kick. Storm started to get pissed, and tried a high risk move, but got nailed mid-air with a spear. They brawled, and Storm nailed a sunset flip to a pin out of no where for the win. It looked like Harris wouldn�t shake Storm�s hand, and he started to leave. He changed his mind, came back into the ring, and hugged Harris.

Match Value: $1.50. Not epic, but damn entertaining while it was going.

During Harris-Storm they announced that there would be a three way women�s match, with the winner gaining a spot in the Asylum match.

Erik Watts cut a promo to Goldylocks, saying he was worried about Jeff Jarrett. He called him Jeffy Jeff, and said they were supposed to be shopping together, and Jarrett never showed up. It was kind of funny again. Goldylocks said no one was taking him seriously. His cell phone rang. He hoped it was Jarrett, but it wasn�t, instead it was someone saying a person named Eric wanted to be in an authority position in TNA. He said the guy was in WCW the same time he was. I guess he�s referencing Bischoff, for god knows what reason.

(4) Tracey defeated Desire (w/David Young & Sonny Siaki) and Trinity to advance to the Asylum match. Before the match Kid Kash came in with handcuffs. He told Trinity he was pissed and she had two options: Either he beats her up or she begs for forgiveness. Before this he insulted her, discussed her �blowing� skills, and was generally boring and misogynistic. She chose option one, and he beat her up, cuffed her, and dragged her to the back. Even Desire looked shocked, not to mention good (not to be misogynistic). Desire and Tracey began brawling, poorly. Desire missed a drop kick through the ropes, and the crowd called her out on it. Siaki and Young got involved, but Young accidentally took out Desire when he missed Tracey, and Tracey picked up the win. Young was upset, and carried Desire to the Sex locker room.

Match Value: 25 cents.

The Harris Brothers took the interrogation. They came off as moronic bigots. I know they�re heels, but it was just kind of disturbing. They said Konnan and Ron Killings were the type of people who run the streets and prisons, among other things. Fine: 50 cents. It was bad.

The story of the one vs. two tag match aired. It stressed Lynn�s new ruthless attitude.

Goldylocks interviewed Amazing Red & Jerry Lynn. Lynn told Red that Red owed him a title match since he got screwed by Killings two weeks ago. Red said nothing. Lynn said he wasn�t getting pushed around anymore.

(5) Christopher Daniels defeated Amazing Red & Jerry Lynn via disqualification to win the tag team titles for Triple X. Daniels managed to hold his own for a few minutes. Elix Skipper and Low-Ki came to ringside help the momentum. Red nailed that really cool hold on sunset flip he does. Skipper & Low-Ki distracted the ref, and Daniels banged Red�s knees with a chair. Lynn got in and started beating down Daniels. Lynn hit another incredible TKO. Lynn was getting triple teamed, and freaked out. He started wailing on all three guys with the chair, and the ref (who had taken a bump earlier) saw him hit Daniels squared on the head. The ref called for the bell and awarded the win to Daniels by DQ. In TNA that means the title changed hands, So Triple X became tag team champs again.

Match Value: $1.25. Fun match, but pretty short for a title change. It was six minutes long, and ended by DQ.



(6) Glen Gilberti won the Anarchy in the Asylum match. I actually thought this was a pretty bad battle royal. I didn�t understand why some people, like Mike Awesome, were in the match without having to qualify. At some points it was good, at some it was pretty awkward. I don�t know, for me it was nothing special. D-Lo Brown & Brian Lawler started it. Siaki was third, and saved Lawler from a pin. They ganged up on Brown, who managed to stay in it. James Storm entered fourth. David Young, who was not involved in the match, came in and targeted Storm. Chris Harris came in to assist Storm, and got rid of Young. He then hit Storm by accident, and Storm ended up over the ropes. He was the first eliminated, and he was pissed at Harris. Kid Kash came out fifth. Everyone started beating up Brown, who still managed to stay alive. Rick Steiner came out sixth, and the crowd cheered for him. I just sort of shook my head, pondering if �KillDozer� Brian Lee would be in the battle royal. This was Steiner�s first appearance since the first TNA, which I remember him stinking in. He was actually not that bad tonight, I�ll admit. He clotheslined Siaki out, and Siaki was eliminated. Mike Awesome came in seventh, looking awful. Justin Credible came in eighth, with a kendo stick. So far only he and Lawler had used foreign objects (Lawler was using a chain). You�d think in a no DQ match like this, more guys would come in armed. Ron Killings entered ninth. It turned into a chaotic mess, with Steiner hitting a sweet German suplex somewhere in the muck. Tracey entered tenth. Kid Kash went after her. The whole match went to total crap. In the ring Steiner signaled the others to chill out why he beats up Kash. They all just sort of stood there for awhile while Steiner slammed Kash hard in a tree of woe. Kash kicked. Kash then hit the Moneymaker on Tracy, while everyone just stood there again. Tracy was out. The lucha in black came out and threw Kash over the ropes. Gee, wonder if it�s Trinity. Saturn came out next, and he and Steiner were brawling. Gilberti came next, and The Harris Brothers were with him. They cleared the ring, eliminating Rick Steiner. Konnan was next out, and flurried the ring with rolling lariats. Konnan got eliminated on the outside after The Harris Brothers put him through a table and Gilberti climbed on him for three. In a disturbing moment Marcus Bagwell was the next entrant. Brian Lawler, who�d really hung in there, got eliminated over the ropes. Gilberti took out Bagwell quickly. Awesome hit an awesome splash. Mike Sanders did a run in and superkicked Mike Awesome over the ropes, and out of the match. Styles was next out, the crowd cheered. The standing competitors were Saturn, Credible, Styles, Brown, and Gilberti. Sabu came in last. Sabu took out Justin Credible. Styles missed a drop kick and accidentally eliminated Brown. A really crappy spot had Sabu and Saturn both go over the rope, but Saturn was the only one ruled out. It was clear that it should have been Sabu eliminated. It was down to Styles, Gilberti, and Sabu. The match got good. After some crazy brawling, Sabu tried to do his chair jump springboard dive. He caught himself slipping and made a great recovery, reran, and delivered the move. He hit no one, and was wounded on the outside. Gilberti and Styles made it to the ring. Gilberti got Styles over the rope. Sabu came in and started wailing on Gilberti. Gilberti was bleeding heavily. Sabu scrapped him with a spike. How lame. Sabu threw a chair at Gilberti and followed up with a chair jump springboard lionsault. Gilberti managed to kick. Raven made a surprise entrance(not supposed to be here, no contract), and DDT�d Sabu. Gilberti rolled on him for the win. Raven looked awesome, man I wish he had the belt.

Match Value: $2.75. It had value because it�s a unique match. The end was good, the rest was pretty sloppy. I don�t know why guys like Steiner, Awesome, and Bagwell deserved the spots they had.

Total Value: $8.00. Not a great showing for TNA, but the booking looked pretty good on paper. I found myself entertained by the evening, but it wasn�t anything that special. Something was missing tonight, but TNA�s still in good shape, I think.

Marc digs your comments and advice. Drop me a note at MDonmoyer@PWTorch.com if you get a shot.

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