By David Miller, Torch Team Contributor

NWA-TNA LXXII
Live From The TNA Asylum
Nashville, Tennessee
November 19, 2003

TNA was banking on drawing in new viewers last week with the appearances of Sting and Lex Luger. Some may have tuned in to see the rekindling of the classic feud between the two former WCW powerhouses (which didn�t happen), or they may have just been curious to see Luger after all the notoriety he has received. Whatever the reason, neither man is scheduled to make an appearance tonight, so TNA will have to rely on their homegrown talent. Although I�m certain they can do it, tonight�s lineup doesn�t appear to be anything special. If TNA did lure in new viewers last week, tonight is their chance to shine and show everyone what they�ve got. Can they make something great out of something that looks mediocre on paper? Only one way to find out. Let�s take a look at this week�s offering from Jarrett & Co.

The show opened with a video recap of last week�s PPV.

Don �Butt-Head� Callis made Legend an honorary member of red-shirt security.

Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed us to the show.

(1) Raven & Sandman & Erik Watts beat Kevin Northcutt & Ryan Wilson & Legend at 8:23 in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun match. Better than average hardcore action in this one. Everyone but Northcutt bled. Watts and Wilson wound up being handcuffed to each other around one of the ringposts. Goldylocks ran down with a key and uncuffed Watts. Wilson�s arm was stretched over the top rope as Sandman came off the top with a vicious legdrop. Wilson sold it as if his arm were broken. Raven hit the evenflow DDT on Wilson for the win. Very good opening brawl.

Don West took a moment to peddle some TNA merchandise.

Mike Tenay conducted a sitdown interview with A.J. Styles. He basically gave the typical underdog promo saying how he�s had to prove himself all his life. Okay interview, but nothing especially enlightening.

(2) Kid Kash pinned Shark Boy at 5:55. Not much to this one. Their timing was a little off at times and they both took some awkward bumps, but it wasn�t too bad. Kash got the victory with a really nasty-looking double-underhook piledriver. After the match, Kash tried to take Sharkie�s mask off, but Don Harris ran in to make the save. Looks like a setup for another Kash vs. big man feud. Shark Boy can be very entertaining, but he�s faltered since comedic partner New Jack left. This wasn�t much more than filler.

Scott Hudson was in the back with Glenn Gilberti, Simon Diamond, and Johnny Swinger. Gilberti was saying he had everything under control when an excited David Young ran in and told Glenn he had be in his corner tonight for his match with Sabin. Diamond and Swinger flipped, saying �Why is this schmuck interrupting our promo? He�s stealing all our heat!� About that time, Kid Kash hurriedly ran through the interview set in an attempt to get out of the building before Don Harris caught him. Extremely funny segment.

(3) Julio Dinero & C.M. Punk defeated Sonny Siaki & Ekmo (w/Trinity) at 5:12. Siaki wanted Trinity to throw a chair in to him, but she refused. Dinero and Punk double-dropkicked Ekmo, who tripped over Siaki. They piled on top of Ekmo for the quick pin. Siaki and Trinity argued afterwards. Not bad. Dinero and Punk got over and the friction between Siaki and Trinity continued. Nothing special. Next match.

In the back, Kevin Northcutt threatened Raven while Abyss growled and acted mean.

(4) Chris Sabin pinned David Young (w/Glenn Gilberti) at 0:03. Young had his head buried in the top turnbuckle when Sabin rushed in and floated over into a sunset flip for the incredibly quick pin. A furious Young and Gilberti goaded Sabin back into the ring.

(5) Chris Sabin pinned David Young (w/Glenn Gilberti) at 2:22. Young caught Sabin as he was entering the ring. Young�s offense was short-lived. He attempted to block a sunset flip by holding the ropes. Gilberti reached in and grabbed Young�s hands, prompting the referee to kick their hands loose. Sabin completed the sunset flip for the pin. Two quick falls in succession, but fun. Sabin is being built up to contend for the X title again. I don�t know what they�re doing with Young. He�s a very good wrestler, but it appears that they�re just not sure how to use him. The comic relief will only get him so far.

Scott Hudson was in the back with 3 Live Kru, who were talking about their upcoming title match. I can�t tell you what they were saying since I still don�t understand most of what comes out of their mouths. America�s Most Wanted interrupted and reminded them that they were after the titles also. 3LK was not amused at the interruption. Short, but intense interview.

Mike Tenay announced that there was a major incident this past week on the John Boy And Billy radio show. A video showed guest Jimmy Hart chatting with the deejays about wrestling. They began talking about the infamous Bash At The Beach incident where Jeff Jarrett laid down for Hulk Hogan. Apparently, Jarrett was supposed to be coming on the show later, but had been outside listening to the broadcast. He burst through the studio door and told Hart that he had warned him not to talk about that. Jeff Pillars (evidently one of the radio personalities) stepped between them, but Jarrett slapped the taste out of his mouth and wrestled him to the floor. It was broken up and Jarrett was escorted out while Hart apologized. Apparently, it at least made local news, as news clips were shown of the deejays talking about what happened. If it even got a few people talking, then it was a good publicity stunt.

Mike Tenay stood in the center of the ring and called out Jimmy Hart. Hart talked about the incident briefly, then said that there was a man here tonight who was going to drop a bombshell on Jeff Jarrett and the fans would be the winners. Then he said everyone wanted to know why. Why? Why? Why? Jarrett came out and tried to strap Hart, but Tenay started to have a cow and chastised Jarrett for being a disgrace to the NWA belt. As Jarrett was preparing to strike Tenay, Hart slid back in the ring and got in a couple of good licks before running again. As Jarrett was chasing after him, A.J. Styles ran out. The two men brawled briefly before Jarrett retreated into the protective arms of red-shirt security. Good segment except for one thing, which I will address in my random thoughts section.

A video was shown of Tracy standing around looking beautiful and Shane Douglas overacting.

(6) 3 Live Kru vs. NWA tag team champions Simon Diamond & Johnny Swinger (w/Glenn Gilberti) ended in a split-decision at 8:56 when senior referee Rudy Charles declared the titles held up. B.G. James and Ron Killings did the wrestling while Konnan opted to remain on the outside to counteract any interference from Gilberti. Surprisingly good match. It had a very methodical pace to it and they worked on one body part. You don�t see that much anymore. Gilberti couldn�t resist interfering and Konnan thumped him for it. The referee got taken out. Killings hit a german suplex into a bridge for the pin. A second referee came out and both referees made the three count simultaneously. Andrew Thomas awarded the titles to one team and Mike Posey awarded them to the other. Senior referee Rudy Charles then ran out and held up the belts. Good match.

A video was shown of Michael Shane�s X-Division Triple Chance Invitational Tournament.

(7) Sonjay Dutt defeated X & Chris Daniels at 10:40 to win the X-Division Triple Chance Invitational Tournament. Daniels tried to team up with Dutt against X. Daniels counted 1-2-3-go but on the word �go�, Dutt was the only one who rushed the huge X and got creamed. There were some interesting interactions in this match and it worked very well. Although the intended teamwork didn�t happen, there was a lot of inadvertent teamwork against the big man. Speaking of X, he wasn�t exactly immobile. The guy actually did a flying plancha over the top onto his two smaller foes. Shane Douglas, Tracy, Chris Sabin, and Michael Shane were all out to watch this match. X went for his package piledriver on Daniels, but Dutt flew off the top rope with an awkward huracanrana into a rollup for the popular victory. Shane confronted Dutt after the match. Very good match.

Tenay and West began to hype next week�s show, but a bloody Raven interrupted. Raven said he will just kill two birds with one stone by taking on both Northcutt and Legend in a handicap match next week. While he was talking, blood was literally dripping from his forehead. Very effective segment.

A video featuring A.J. Styles and Abyss aired.

(8)A.J. Styles pinned Abyss (w/Don Callis) at 13:53. Styles used his speed, Abyss used his power. Early on there was a spot that neither man seemed sure of, but they recovered from the confusion nicely. Midway through the match, Styles got busted open on the outside. Abyss brought a chair into the ring. He tried to superplex Styles onto the chair, but A.J. turned it into a devastating sunset flip onto the chair. Styles wound up eating the chair, but recovered briefly. Abyss wedged the chair between the top and middle ropes and catapulted Styles into it. He even hit his signature sitdown backbreaker, but still only got a two-count out of it. Styles picked up the chair and brained Abyss with it. He went for a second chairshot, but Abyss grabbed him by the throat. As he lifted him up for the chokeslam, A.J. turned his body to hook Abyss and rolled him up for the pin. Red-shirt security ran in, but Styles slid out of the ring and started backpedaling toward the dressing room. Jeff Jarrett ran out and leveled him with the title belt. He dragged him into the ring for a three-on-one beatdown, but Dusty Rhodes ran out to make the save. Rhodes then announced that next week it would be Rhodes vs Jarrett in a lumberjack strap match. Lumberjacks will be armed with leather straps. Jimmy Hart will be one of them, and the rest of the lumberjacks will be fans chosen from the audience. A.J. and Abyss put on a hell of a match. Lots of high-impact moves and enough near-falls to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Random Thoughts: Okay, Jimmy Hart wants to keep bringing up this Bash At The Beach controversy. Why? Why? Why? Half of the people don�t know what the hell Hart is talking about. They can�t show the people what they�re talking about because they don�t own the footage. Most importantly, those who do remember the incident probably already have at least a vague idea of what went down. It�s not that big of a deal, guys. Hart is running around acting like the answer to this question will unlock the secrets of the universe. WILL YOU PLEASE STOP BEATING THIS DEAD HORSE?.....I cannot believe that TNA is pushing the ancient Dusty Rhodes into another main event next week. Do they really think people want to see Dusty wheeze and stagger around the ring on the verge of a heart attack? They�ve had Rhodes, Luger, and Sting in main events before, and it was fun. That�s fine, but let�s not make a habit of it.

Final Analysis: Solid opening into a weak midcard that slowly built up to a strong main event. I can forgive the David Young shenanigans because it was humorous. Overall, an above average show that would have been great with a stronger midcard. If you haven�t checked out TNA for awhile, this would be a decent replay to catch.

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