News From The 4/23 Powell Report

[BoboBrazil 0]

-NWA-TNA officials never planned to have Chris Harris wrestle Jeff Jarrett in the cage match main event of Wednesday's show. A.J. Styles was booked in that slot from the very beginning, and the office actually came up with the injury angle plan at least two weeks ago. If nothing else, it's good to hear that TNA is planning ahead when it comes to the main event angles rather than booking them on the fly.

 

-There was plenty of talk backstage Wednesday that Fox Sports Network representatives will be attending next week's pay-per-view.

 

-TNA backstage interviewer Scott Hudson missed the pay-per-view because he was involved in an automobile accident on his way show. Hudson's car was totaled and he was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, but was released by the end of the night. Hudson walked away from the accident uninjured and will probably return to TNA next week.

 

-There is some heat on Dallas for not selling. Let the jokes begin about how the similarities between he and Kevin Nash extend beyond physical appearance.

 

-TNA officials wanted to book Sonjay Dutt vs. Amazing Red for next week, but the match won't be taking place because Dutt will be working in Japan. TNA officials also posted a note next to the board in the locker room that lists the matches, asking the wrestlers to turn in a copy of their calender through the month of August. There was plenty of speculation that this was somehow tied to the FSN deal, and while that could be the case, it could also be that TNA officials want to avoid further scheduling conflicts similar to Dutt's.

 

-Former WWE wrestler Nathan Jones is said to be living in Orlando, Fla. With TNA heavily rumored to be taping Fox Sports Network shows in the city, some wrestlers are predicting that Jones will end up working for TNA. I suppose that depends on whether Jones got along with Jeff Jarrett while they were working those World Wrestling All-Star tours a couple of years ago. Even if they did get along, I'd like to believe that TNA wouldn't feature Jones since Jarrett knows first-hand how brutal the guy is to work a match with.

[Guest MikeSC]

-NWA-TNA officials never planned to have Chris Harris wrestle Jeff Jarrett in the cage match main event of Wednesday's show. A.J. Styles was booked in that slot from the very beginning, and the office actually came up with the injury angle plan at least two weeks ago. If nothing else, it's good to hear that TNA is planning ahead when it comes to the main event angles rather than booking them on the fly.

So it was BLATANT bait-and-switch? Wow, this is only EXTREMELY illegal. "Card Subject to Change" and "Booking Something You Never Intend to Do" aren't quite the same thing.

-There is some heat on Dallas for not selling. Let the jokes begin about how the similarities between he and Kevin Nash extend beyond physical appearance.

Both suck.

-Former WWE wrestler Nathan Jones is said to be living in Orlando, Fla. With TNA heavily rumored to be taping Fox Sports Network shows in the city, some wrestlers are predicting that Jones will end up working for TNA. I suppose that depends on whether Jones got along with Jeff Jarrett while they were working those World Wrestling All-Star tours a couple of years ago. Even if they did get along, I'd like to believe that TNA wouldn't feature Jones since Jarrett knows first-hand how brutal the guy is to work a match with.

If they sign him --- TNA will be unable to avoid the WWE Wannabe label.

-=Mike

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

-NWA-TNA officials never planned to have Chris Harris wrestle Jeff Jarrett in the cage match main event of Wednesday's show. A.J. Styles was booked in that slot from the very beginning, and the office actually came up with the injury angle plan at least two weeks ago. If nothing else, it's good to hear that TNA is planning ahead when it comes to the main event angles rather than booking them on the fly.

So it was BLATANT bait-and-switch? Wow, this is only EXTREMELY illegal. "Card Subject to Change" and "Booking Something You Never Intend to Do" aren't quite the same thing.

That's a good point. If they can get in trouble for this, they should hope no ROH fanboys figure it out.......

[Guest OSIcon]

They can't get in trouble for that. There is no possible way to find out that they 100 percent had this planned out in advance and therefore constitutes as false advertising. Besides, planning out a bait and switch like that a few weeks in advance isn't exactly *new* to wrestling. It could serve to piss of the fans, but I think that is even doubtful since I would assume that most fans would have rather seen Styles in the title than Harris (I could be wrong though).

 

The bad part of the booking to me is that they gave Styles the belt with NO build up after weeks of building Harris up? Jarrett had the belt for how long? After he holds it for a long time, they switch the title with basically no build up given to the winner. The point of building a guy up before winning the title is so that in theory, the fans know that he is the top guy and get behind him (either as a face or a heel). TNA created a situation where they built up one guy (Harris) who didn't win the title, had another guy (Killings) who despite not being built up, was still the guy the live crowd wanted to see win the title, and ended up putting the title on option C (AJ Styles). It just doesn't make sense.

 

The reason for Styles getting the title shot is the oddest thing of all. No, he didn't earn it by going through a bunch of wrestlers (like Harris did). He got his title shot because he didn't bug Russo about getting it after Harris got hurt. That's REALLY weak way to book a babyface champion......

[Guest MikeSC]

They can't get in trouble for that.  There is no possible way to find out that they 100 percent had this planned out in advance and therefore constitutes as false advertising.  Besides, planning out a bait and switch like that a few weeks in advance isn't exactly *new* to wrestling.  It could serve to piss of the fans, but I think that is even doubtful since I would assume that most fans would have rather seen Styles in the title than Harris (I could be wrong though).

Thing is, Harris CLEARLY isn't actually injured --- so it's not like this was a spur of the moment decision brought about by a no-show or an injury. This was clearly pre-planned.

 

A lawyer could make some money filing a class-action suit on this (and, ironically, with class-action suits, they don't need your permission to list your name on it as a plaintiff).

The bad part of the booking to me is that they gave Styles the belt with NO build up after weeks of building Harris up?  Jarrett had the belt for how long?  After he holds it for a long time, they switch the title with basically no build up given to the winner.  The point of building a guy up before winning the title is so that in theory, the fans know that he is the top guy and get behind him (either as a face or a heel).  TNA created a situation where they built up one guy (Harris) who didn't win the title, had another guy (Killings) who despite not being built up, was still the guy the live crowd wanted to see win the title, and ended up putting the title on option C (AJ Styles).  It just doesn't make sense. 

 

The reason for Styles getting the title shot is the oddest thing of all.  No, he didn't earn it by going through a bunch of wrestlers (like Harris did).  He got his title shot because he didn't bug Russo about getting it after Harris got hurt.  That's REALLY weak way to book a babyface champion......

This is what Russo gives you.

 

People who don't like his work have warned everybody about him for years --- and even WITH tons of evidence behind the warnings, people still ignore them.

-=Mike

[Guest TDinDC1112]

yeah, let's hope a lawyer sues them! Or, we could get a life.

[Guest MikeSC]

yeah, let's hope a lawyer sues them! Or, we could get a life.

"Get a life" said the guy with no point to make.

-=Mike

[Guest TDinDC1112]

yeah, let's hope a lawyer sues them!  Or, we could get a life.

"Get a life" said the guy with no point to make.

-=Mike

Right back at 'cha. The actual point was if you are worried about TNA changing their card and it being illegal, then you really need to get a life and not take this stuff so seriously.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Card is subject to change is all they need.

[Astro101 0]

Meh, I don't really give a crap. Styles is the champ, not Harris or Jarrett. Bait and switch me for that, it's all good.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

You know...if someone ran an angle like this prior to the internet being around...it would have been huge for the people watching.

 

But now we're all cynical overcritical losers.

 

And Mike is our leader.

[RedJed 0]

Wow, heres a thought.....maybe they did the Harris/Styles switch to give the show a case of unpredictabilty IE people now looking back might think, "Hey I didnt expect that, I should have ordered after all" Etc etc

 

What a radical concept......some people here just can't grasp that, instead it's that it's an illegal thing to do now in wrestling? WTF?!!

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I think it's much simpler than that.

 

I think they're plan was to say these 6 guys are the main event players (Truth, JJ, AJ, Abyss, Raven and Harris).

 

They were all jumbled together leading to a cage match where TNA spelled out as much as possible that Jarrett would be losing the strap.

 

3 of them were given storylines leading up to the cage (Styles not trusting Russo after there last partnership, Raven destroying the shows wanting his shot, and Harris earning the shot by winning his matches throughout the road to the cage).

 

Cut to Wednesday...and all three storylines played out. Raven ruined Harris' earned shot...and Russo picked AJ to earn his trust back.

 

Ther problem is it's not on TV, it's on PPV. I think they thought they could get away with it because no one really wanted Harris to win the title, and AJ is everyone's favorite.

 

In theory...Styles is better off now that he's the champion, Harris is better off because he wasn't ready to be champion and can stay in the picture, and everyone else is better off because Jarrett lost the title.

 

In practice...everything TNA does is wrong. Boo.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

And Mike is our leader.

In that case I abdicate to the other camp.

[Guest JacK]

Well, the title has to be won and lost with a Vince Russo swerve . . . it's the way of the TNA world.

 

And yeah! Nathan Jones! Just what TNA needs, an Aussie! I don't care if he's crap, he's probably better than most Australian wrestlers

[Guest dvkorn]

And yeah! Nathan Jones! Just what TNA needs, an Aussie! I don't care if he's crap, he's probably better than most Australian wrestlers

Don't say that... There are some mighty fine wrestlers down here with many involved in the first NWA Australia event in Adelaide on the 30th of April.

[Frosty 0]

-NWA-TNA officials never planned to have Chris Harris wrestle Jeff Jarrett in the cage match main event of Wednesday's show. A.J. Styles was booked in that slot from the very beginning, and the office actually came up with the injury angle plan at least two weeks ago. If nothing else, it's good to hear that TNA is planning ahead when it comes to the main event angles rather than booking them on the fly.

So it was BLATANT bait-and-switch? Wow, this is only EXTREMELY illegal. "Card Subject to Change" and "Booking Something You Never Intend to Do" aren't quite the same thing.

I agree. I was totally stoked to see Harris get the shot, then out of nowhere they put AJ in the match after building Harris for over a month.... It made no sense to me. If they wanted AJ in the match from the start, why didn't they just book him in the match from day 1. It wouldn't have set the fans up to believing that Harris was a legitimate contender.

 

With that said I think that if they keep AJ as the champ it is a good thing as long as they don't have Vince Russo interfering left right and center and fucking up Styles and a legitimate champ. Cause bottom line, if they make it seem like he can't win a match without Russo's help, then they are just wasting him.

 

It also make you think... because lately with the IWC always ahead of the game and able to tell what is going to happen, I think it is a good thing that TNA managed to keep this a secret and I hope they do this more in the future, because the show is SOOOOO much better if you don't know what is gonna happen before hand.

[Guest JacK]

And yeah! Nathan Jones! Just what TNA needs, an Aussie! I don't care if he's crap, he's probably better than most Australian wrestlers

Don't say that... There are some mighty fine wrestlers down here with many involved in the first NWA Australia event in Adelaide on the 30th of April.

There are? Cool! Everything I've ever seen of Australian wrestling has been terrible . . . any chance this NWA Australia stuff is going to be anywhere near Sydney anytime soon?

[Guest dvkorn]

And yeah! Nathan Jones! Just what TNA needs, an Aussie! I don't care if he's crap, he's probably better than most Australian wrestlers

Don't say that... There are some mighty fine wrestlers down here with many involved in the first NWA Australia event in Adelaide on the 30th of April.

There are? Cool! Everything I've ever seen of Australian wrestling has been terrible . . . any chance this NWA Australia stuff is going to be anywhere near Sydney anytime soon?

They have only announced the one show so far, the debut show... It is based in Adelaide but i think they are hoping to go round Australia over time... but there are other promotions in NSW, check out UWA, IWA and AWF. I haven't seen much of them, obviously because i am not from NSW but heard some good things about some of them... it may be worth it to check it out to see if you like it.. Don't go by the Supershow that was on Fox Sports here last year, one of the worst shows, if not the worst show involving Australian talent i have seen.

 

Then you got WCWA based mainly on the Gold Coast and they come up here to Brisbane as well, who i go to whenever they are on and always enjoy the show, some matches are quite fabulous, especially live.

 

http://www.prowrestlingoz.net/whatson/ - shows for April & May

[Guest MikeSC]

You know...if someone ran an angle like this prior to the internet being around...it would have been huge for the people watching.

 

But now we're all cynical overcritical losers.

 

And Mike is our leader.

Wow, mods insulting posters who haven't insulted them.

 

Cute.

-=Mike

[Guest MikeSC]

And Mike is our leader.

In that case I abdicate to the other camp.

Toodles.

-=Mike

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

You know...if someone ran an angle like this prior to the internet being around...it would have been huge for the people watching.

 

But now we're all cynical overcritical losers.

 

And Mike is our leader.

Wow, mods insulting posters who haven't insulted them.

 

Cute.

-=Mike

I insulted all of us.

 

You're just the King.

[Guest MikeSC]

You know...if someone ran an angle like this prior to the internet being around...it would have been huge for the people watching.

 

But now we're all cynical overcritical losers.

 

And Mike is our leader.

Wow, mods insulting posters who haven't insulted them.

 

Cute.

-=Mike

I insulted all of us.

 

You're just the King.

Wow, all this hostility from a fellow Bills fan.

-=Mike

[Guest TDinDC1112]

You know...if someone ran an angle like this prior to the internet being around...it would have been huge for the people watching.

 

But now we're all cynical overcritical losers.

 

And Mike is our leader.

Wow, mods insulting posters who haven't insulted them.

 

Cute.

-=Mike

I insulted all of us.

 

You're just the King.

Wow, all this hostility from a fellow Bills fan.

-=Mike

Wait a second. You're a Bills fan. I might have to rethink my thoughts on you. I've been to every home game since 1989. I might have to abstain from arguing with you on principle now.

[Vyce 0]

A lawyer could make some money filing a class-action suit on this (and, ironically, with class-action suits, they don't need your permission to list your name on it as a plaintiff).

I highly doubt one will happen.

 

What are your panties in a twist about, though? I've lost count of the number of times the WWE has pulled this shit over the years.