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4/21 NWA-TNA PPV review: Miller's detailed rundown

Apr 22, 2004 - 1:55:00 AM
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By David Miller, Torch Team Contributor

NWA-TNA XCII review
April 21, 2004
Live from Nashville, Ten.
Aired on DirecTV PPV Ch. 102
Report by David Miller, Torch Team Contributor


Tonight, TNA offers one of its most highly anticipated shows since its inception nearly two years ago. Jeff Jarrett has had a stranglehold on the NWA Heavyweight Title throughout much of TNAs existence. Ken Shamrock and Ron Killings kept the belt warm until Jarrett fulfilled his destiny by finally winning the title he had always dreamed of holding. Now, Jarrett just fulfills our TV screens by hogging every PPV. Is it time for a change? Will Chris Harris fulfill his dream? Either way, this promises to be a huge night. To quote the great Lance Russell, its bell time and here we go!

You know how TNA usually starts out their PPVs by having someone implore you not to watch their shows on illegal black boxes? Well, instead of trying to appeal to our sense of right and wrong, this week, Monte Brown threatened us with physical violence if we steal cable. Without a doubt, the most effective cable piracy promo thus far.

Video highlights of last week were shown, followed by the TNA introduction. Mike Tenay welcomed us to the show.

(1) Monte Brown & Abyss beat Sabu at 7:29. Raven was supposed to team with Sabu in this match, but he never showed, prompting the announcers to question Ravens loyalty to Sabu. Sabu worked hard to keep up with the two monsters, but eventually succumbed to a Pounce, followed by a sitdown backbreaker. Brown and Abyss circled each other, then the camera cut to the back, where Raven attacked Chris Harris. Raven wedged Harriss left arm in a chair and unloaded on it with another chair as Harris screamed in pain. James Storm finally ran out and slammed a garbage can over Ravens head to get him off Harris. As Raven retreated, he went through the ring and actually tripped over Sabu, who was still lying in the ring as a result of Raven no-showing for his match.

Jeremy Borash was in the back with Frankie Kazarian. Borash was subbing for Scott Hudson, who had been in an auto accident. Kazarian talked about the best of three involving Sonjay Dutt and Amazing Red. Now that should be nothing short of incredible. David Young then came up to Borash and basically said he was going to hit a home run tonight.

(2) Shark Boy pinned David Young at 4:10. Tenay and West said an ambulance had arrived for Chris Harris and wondered aloud about the main event. While talking about Youngs losing streak, Tenay mentioned the famous losing streaks of Tony Falk, Mike Boyette, and Jack (Barry Horowitz) Hart. Young dominated the match, but lost to a quick rollup. He sat in the ring with his head in his hands and appeared to cry.

3 Live Kru, decked out in camouflage, came to the ring. Konnan spouted his usual incomprehensible nonsense, then he and B.G. James put over Ron Killings as a contender to the NWA Hvt. Title.

Jeremy Borash was in the parking lot, where Chris Harris was being loaded into an ambulance. An EMT, who looked amazingly like Hermie Sadler, told Vince Russo that Harriss shoulder was separated. Harris, nearly in tears, begged Russo to put James Storm in the match in his place.

(3) Glenn Gilberti & Johnny Swinger (w/Trinity) defeated Sonny Siaki & Simon Diamond at 10:15. I dont recall ever complaining that a match was too long, but this was too long. There was nothing really wrong with it, it was just there and it took up too much time. Trinity shoved Siaki off the top rope, allowing Swinger to hit him with a double-arm DDT for the win while Trinity stood in the ring and the referee pretended he didnt see her . Sloppy finish and the crowd couldnt have cared less. Gilberti and Swinger then held Siaki as Trinity prepared to slap him, but Desire ran to the ring and delivered an extremely lame-looking double low blow. She speared Trinity before Gilberti and Swinger pulled her out. Desire and Siaki smiled at each other, then embraced. Tenay mentioned that Desire had broken her back nearly a year ago on Xplosion.

In the back, Vince Russo told Jeremy Borash that he had no idea who he was going to put in the cage against Jeff Jarrett. A.J. Styles interrupted and said he was ready to go. Russo told Styles he should have thought of that while he was tracking him down trying to apologize to him since he became the new Director of Authority.

A video was shown of the tension within The New Franchise, plus the history between Michael Shane and Christopher Daniels.

(4) Christopher Daniels beat Michael Shane (w/Shane Douglas & Traci) at 13:28 to win a spot on Team NWA. It was announced earlier that Sonjay Dutt had relinquished his position on the team in order to pursue the X Division Title. This match was the surprise of the night. Really good wrestling here. Too bad the ending was so damned confusing. Theyve been teasing a Michael Shane face turn lately, but made him look like an unappreciative chump when Shane Douglas took a bump for Shane, and Shane pie-faced Douglas. Douglas even blasted Daniels with a chain, but Shane insisted on finishing Daniels off with a superkick. Of course, he missed and Daniels got the pin. Shane acted like a heel and kept pie-facing Douglas after the match. Douglas then took off his belt and whipped Shane with it, acting very heelish and prompting the announcers to beg someone to come from the back to help. Then, Traci began choking Douglas with his own belt and she and Shane were suddenly heels. So, Shane Douglas is now a face while Michael Shane and Traci are heels. I think. Actually, I have no freaking clue. Neither did the Asylum, as they basically sat there trying to wonder who they were supposed to cheer or jeer.

Jeremy Borash was in the back with Vince Russo, pressuring him for an answer as to who was going to wrestle Jeff Jarrett. Abyss came into the picture and made a mean face while Goldylocks, this time dressed as a Latina, came in and talked smack in the worst Spanish accent Ive ever heard. Russo called Goldy Sybil and told her that Halloween was over.

A video was shown of the tag team situation.

(5) Kid Kash & Dallas defeated D-Lo Brown & Apollo by disqualification at 6:29 to win the NWA Tag Team Titles. Pretty much the same slopfest as last week, only this time it was Apollo who screwed the pooch. The lead pipe made its way into the ring, but Apollo grabbed it away and thumped Kash and Dallas with it. The referee saw it and called for the DQ. Titles change hands on a disqualification in TNA, thus the title change. Not very pretty.

Jeremy Borash was in the back with Vince Russo. Raven walked in and calmly asked Russo to sit down and listen to him. Raven said, This is Scott talking to Vince. Your goal is to get the belt off Jarrett. I am your only hope. Nobody can beat Jarrett but me. Give me my title shot. Vince nodded his head and said a lot of people wouldnt like his decision, but he had made up his mind. He then shook hands with Raven, which obviously meant that Raven would not be the one to face Jarrett.

The debut of something called the World X Cup was announced, with the finals being May 26. We werent really told what it was, but we should be excited about it.

Tenay and West talked up next weeks show.

Jeremy Borash was in the back with NWA Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett mocked Russo for pretending to level the playing field when, in actuality, he was simply going to make a deal with the devil again. He then said he beat Raven last year, and he was going to beat Raven again.

A Jeff Jarrett video was shown.

(6) A.J. Styles pinned Jeff Jarrett at 13:37 in a cage match to win the NWA Heavyweight Title. Jarrett came out and stood in the cage screaming for Raven. Vince Russo came out with a mic. An inset showed Raven warming up. Russo said James Storm wasnt ready. He also said 3 Live Kru and Abyss were not going to bully him into a spot. He told Jarrett that left Raven. Russo said he used to be tight with Scott Levy, but he was not going to make a deal with the devil, so A.J. Styles would be the challenger. Styles came down to the ring to a huge pop from the crowd. Good, intense match from the start. Jarrett threw powder in Styless eyes and attempted to use his own Styles Clash against him, but A.J. wound up getting the Styles Clash on Jarrett. He climbed to the top of the cage, but Jarrett shoved the referee into the cage, causing Styles to take a painful-looking bump to the floor. It was ruled the match had to conclude in the ring, so the cage door was unlocked so Jarrett could throw Styles back in. He grabbed his guitar and went to hit Styles, but Russo came out and distracted Jarrett. When he finally did take a swing at Styles, A.J. smashed the guitar with an enzuigiri. Styles then rolled up an astonished Jarrett with a sloppy crucifix for the pin and the upset title victory. The crowd at the Asylum went nuts as A.J. went around ringside slapping hands with not only the fans, but Tenay and West as well. Raven looked on from the balcony with a sour look on his face. Russo offered a handshake, but Styles slapped his hand away and embraced him instead. A great feel-good moment to end the PPV.

Random Thoughts: I just want Monte Brown to know that I paid for this PPV... Ive dug Goldylockss new schtick up until tonight. Where did she learn that Spanish accent, Taco Bell?... It was great to see the ultra-gorgeous Desire back in TNA... The tag division has gone to the dogs.

Final Analysis: Above average, but not as good as last week. While it was fun to see A.J. Styles regain the NWA Title, why couldnt Harris have won it? TNA convinced us to invest our emotions in Chris Harris, then pulled the rug out from under us for the sole purpose of swerving us. I would have been much happier seeing the match that was advertised and pushed. Daniels-Shane was surprisingly good, but the rest of the show was just there. Once again, TNA, dont swerve your fans when theres no need to. The two matches I mentioned here are worth the replay.

Feedback is welcomed at dmiller705@aol.com or the Torch VIP Forum.


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