10/22 THE BIG STORY by Wade Keller

ORLANDO, FLA.: With just three more episodes to hype its first major three-hour PPV, Victory Road, TNA put the focus on the main event of Jeff Hardy challenging Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Hvt. Title.

Jarrett won a squash match early in the show, then continued to beat on his opponent until Jeff Hardy made the save. During the match, Jarrett used a ladder as a weapon. Afterward, Hardy whipped Jarrett into the ladder and planted Jarrett face-first into the mat. Hardy set up a ladder in mid-ring and was about to execute his signature Swanton Bomb when Jarrett slid out of the way.

In the six-man tag team main event, Jeff Hardy scored a win for his team when he pinned Bobby Roode after a twisting corkscrew and a Twist of Fate. During a post-match attack by Team Canada, 3 Live Kru (Konnan, B.G. James, Ron Killings) made the save. Hardy then beat up Team Canada manager Scott D'Amore. He leaped off the top of a ladder with a Swanton Bomb on Hardy. Jeff Jarrett snuck into the ring and KO'd Hardy with a guitar shot. Jarrett then grabbed the mic and officially accepted Hardy's challenge to make the NWA World Title match at Victory Road a ladder match.

To add another dimension to the PPV main event, a vignette aired with a grey-haired Scott Hall (who had wrestled for TNA in 2002) announcing he'd be in Hardy's corner, but suggested it would be tough to know if he or anyone could be trusted. He also challenged Kevin Nash to a singles match.

MATCH RESULTS & STAR RATINGS

(1) Jeff Jarrett pinned Ryan O'Reilly at 1:33 with The Stroke after using the ladder as a prop throughout the match. (1/4*)

(2) Chris Sabin & Sonjay Dutt beat Michael Shane (w/Traci) & Kazarian via judge's decision after a ten minute draw. (*1/2)

(3) "Alpha Male" Monty Brown beat Eric Stevens at 1:43. Afterward Brown and Raven brawled. The lights went out, then when they came on, Abyss had Brown in a torture rack. Abyss and Raven then brawled. (1/4*)

(4) The NYC (Johnny Swinger & Glenn Gilberti w/Trinity) beat Scott Papper & El Fuego at 1:49. (1/4*)

(5) A.J. Styles & Jeff Hardy & Ron "The Truth" Killings beat Team Canada (Eric Young & Bobby Roode & Ruff Silverstein w/Scott D'Amore) at 6:55. The ladder was used during the match. (*1/4)

OTHER NOTES

America's Most Wanted (James Storm & Chris Harris) and Triple X (Christopher Daniels & Primetime) brawled to ringside after match no. 4. Daniels challenged AMW to a "last team standing" match at Victory Road... A presidential style commercial aired with Dusty Rhodes making a case to get votes as the Director of Authority. Vince Russo replied later in the show... Shane Douglas interviewed Dusty Rhodes, who said if fans vote for him, TNA will rise to new heights. Jarrett interrupted him and vowed to beat Hardy...

[Jeff Hardy art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

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