OAO TNA thread for 9/1/04

[JoeDirt 0]

Figured I'd post this on here...

 

Credit: PWTorch.com

 

========================================

 

This is the second to last TNA PPV before their two month hiatus and switch to monthly three-hour Sunday night PPVs.

 

-Erik Watts gave the "do no steal cable" message this week. He told people he hopes they're watching, but more importantly he hopes they're paying. These messages are starting to make me feel like a real sucker for paying for these things. Watts also drew attention to the strict language code on TNA by saying, "I'm going to kick some... ah, I can't say that. I'm going to take care of business." Why draw attention to the strict "nothing a second grade teacher wouldn't say to her class" language code?

 

-Highlights aired of recent angles and ongoing storylines.

 

-Mike Tenay and Don West introduced and previewed the show and said they were just seven days away from the "biggest match in TNA history." Jeff Jarrett then came out for an unscheduled, impromptu in-ring interview. He was dressed reasonable sensibly for once, wearing khaki pants and a white muscle shirt. Jarrett said Jeff Hardy had no answer to the figure-four. Tenay yelled, "That's what you think, Jeff Jarrett." Jarrett said it's the biggest match in Hardy's career and the biggest match in his career. Jarrett said when he wins the match, he'll give Monty Brown a title shot. He said, "Jimmy Hart and his friends from Florida" will be watching. He said other big names will be there who had never seen a TNA match in person before. He said all eyes would be focused on that match next week on the "last Wednesday night pay-per-view." Did I miss the original announcement? Tenay didn't gasp at Jarrett's statement about the schedule change. He then looked straight into the camera and gave Hardy a piece of advice: "Be very, very careful on who you trust." Tenay and West wondered what that meant. Good job at making the match feel like a big deal within TNA's world. Now can Hardy deliver a go-home quality promo later?

 

-Scott Hudson interviewed Kid Kash and Dallas backstage. Kash said he's never liked Jeff Hardy because he was always the nice looking kid who everyone liked on the honor roll. Jeff Hardy on an academic honor roll? Hard to imagine now. He then turned to insulting A.J. Styles, saying he is so far up Vince Russo's BUTT he sees tonsils when he wakes up in the morning. Hudson said that was "too much." Kash vowed to break him up. Dallas closed with a gravelly stereotypical pro wrestler voice saying Styles would be "dead meat."

 

1 -- AMERICA'S MOST WANTED (James Storm & Chris Harris) vs. TRIPLE X (Christopher Daniels & Primetime) vs. THE NATURALS (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens)

 

It's still irritating that they call them Triple X and never attempt to explain what the team name means. Jeremy Borash handled ring intros to signify the importance of the match. Five minutes into the match, Storm hurt his back. When Harris checked on him at ringside, TNA instinctively tried to go to a commercial break even though they have no commercial breaks. The Naturals doubled on Daniels for the next couple minutes. Stevens then attacked Storm at ringside even though Storm could barely move, tossing him onto the cement floor. Harris lifted the ref out of his way and made the save, hitting Stevens at ringside. Storm made a "gutsy return to the match" and hit the Naturals with a double-clothesline and then hot-tagged Harris into the ring for the first time in over five minutes. He went after Douglas and Stevens. Primetime went after Douglas with a spin hook kick to the face. Harris and Primetime then fought each other. At 11:00 Primetime suplexed Stevens to ringside. AMW and Triple X then met in mid-ring They had a four-man brawl. Storm shoved Primetime off the top rope to the floor. Storm attempted to superkick Daniels, but he collapsed. Daniels then gave Storm his Angel's Wings. Douglas yanked Daniels away and then Stevens stole the pin on Storm to retain the tag titles.

 

WINNERS: The Naturals at 12:28 to retain the NWA Tag Team Titles.

 

STAR RATING: **3/4

 

-Hudson interviewed Vince Russo backstage who said he has to determine who will face the Naturals next. He said he respected that Dusty was honoring his suspension, but said he would be back next week to watch the Jarrett-Hardy match. Russo said he had a message for Jeff Hardy. He looked into the camera and told Hardy not to listen to Jarrett's mindgames about who he can trust.

 

2 -- MICHAEL SHANE & KAZARIAN (w/Traci) vs. CHRIS SABIN & AMAZING RED

 

Traci distracted Red leading to a Shane superkick and the pin. A good eight minute all-action tag match, but devoid of much meaning or sense of importance. Red is being treated like a jobber by TNA these days. It's too bad because he can be much more if marketed correctly because he's different than everyone else in the X Division in appearance and style.

 

WINNERS: Shane & Kazarian at 8:03.

 

STAR RATING: *3/4

 

-Hudson interviewed Scott D'Amore and Team Canada. D'Amore said Petey Williams is on his way to becoming the greatest X Division Champion ever. D'Amore gives consistently believable and appropriately obnoxious performances as a heel manager.

 

3 -- PETEY WILLIAMS (w/Scott D'Amore) vs. SONJAY DUTT -- X Title match

 

Dutt is just 21, Williams just 23. With Shane and Red at just 22 in the previous match, it's a young crew TNA is using. Williams threw his wad of gum at the crowd as the bell rang. Williams went for a quick powerbomb, but Dutt escaped. They went into a rapid-fire series of reversals. West noted that Dutt appears to be more muscular then before. Tenay said he had a chance to talk to Dutt before the show about the title match. That begs the question: Why not have Dutt cut a promo on the air about his big title match? He's a really good talker. At 2:00 Williams and D'Amore began retreating up the rampway. Dutt chased down Williams and threw him into the ring. Williams took control at 3:00, throwing Dutt into the ringside barrier. Dutt teased a comeback at 6:00. D'Amore tried to call a timeout. Tenay and West said in virtual unison: "There are no timeouts in wrestling!" Williams regained control quickly and went for his Canadian Destroyer, but Dutt countered it and dropped Williams onto his head. Tenay played into the big storyline of the match which is nobody gets up from the Canadian Destroyer, so it's imperative to avoid it. Dutt went to the top rope to set up the Hindu Press, but D'Amore distracted Dutt long enough for Williams to move as Dutt was in mid-air. Williams gave Dutt the Canadian Destroyer for the win.

 

WINNER: Williams at 8:02 to retain the X Title.

 

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- They didn't try to do too much given only eight minutes to work with, but they did a really good job in the time they had.

 

-They went to a merchandise convention in Las Vegas showing off the TNA merchandise.

 

-Hudson interviewed Konnan & B.G. James. He said he wanted to know who their mystery partner would be. James didn't say, but he and Konnan cut a spirited promo about wanting the tag team titles.

 

4 -- B.G. JAMES & KONNAN & MIDNIGHT RIDER vs. ERIC WILLIAMS & JOHNNY DEVINE & BOBBY ROODE (w/Scott D'Amore)

 

Tenay said it looks a lot like Dusty Rhodes. Hey, at least he didn't have to pretend that he didn't know who it is like WWE announcers have to do when Stevie Richards shows up in drag. West played dumb, but sarcastically, saying that this masked man looks five pounds lighter than Dusty. D'Amore screamed, "That's Dusty Rhodes!" They showed Vince Russo in the back burying his head in his arms in frustration, after having complimented Dusty earlier for respecting his suspension and staying away from the arena this week.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

I'm taping the show, and listening... (Damn homework) sounds utterly forgettable thusfar.

[JoeDirt 0]

4 -- B.G. JAMES & KONNAN & MIDNIGHT RIDER vs. ERIC WILLIAMS & JOHNNY DEVINE & BOBBY ROODE (w/Scott D'Amore)

 

Tenay said it looks a lot like Dusty Rhodes. Hey, at least he didn't have to pretend that he didn't know who it is like WWE announcers have to do when Stevie Richards shows up in drag. West played dumb, but sarcastically, saying that this masked man looks five pounds lighter than Dusty. D'Amore screamed, "That's Dusty Rhodes!" They showed Vince Russo in the back burying his head in his arms in frustration, after having complimented Dusty earlier for respecting his suspension and staying away from the arena this week. Tenay said the Rider might actually be "Playboy" Buddy Rose. Boy, if there was a list of all wrestlers whose names I expected to hear on this show, Rose's would have been near the bottom, perhaps last on the list. It ended with Rider pinning Devine.

 

WINNER: James & Konnan & Rider at 6:18.

 

STAR RATING: *

 

-Hudson interviewed Goldy Locks backstage. She told Abyss that he has been her favorite from the beginning. She said they go way back and she's sure he's going to go out there and "make mamma proud." She said Alex Shelley never meant anything to him. She smiled. Abyss's body language suggested skepticism. Shelley said if he screws up, Abyss will have to answer to him.

 

5 -- ERIK WATTS & SONNY SIAKI vs. ABYSS & ALEX SHELLEY (w/Goldy Locks)

 

If Goldy's team loses, she loses Shark Boy and D-Ray 3000 as her slaves. At 5:00, Goldy was going to interfere with a spray can. When Desire entered the ring, Goldy sprayed her. Then Georgie Watts, Erik's wife, charged into the ring and attacked Goldy. Siaki then rolled up Shelley from behind for the win. Tenay declared that D-Ray and Shark Boy are free.

 

WINNERS: Siaki & Watts at 5:38.

 

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Siaki was working at a higher intensity and speed than usual. Okay action overall.

 

-Hudson interviewed Monty Brown. Good stuff from Brown who stayed in character but focused on his desire to face Jeff Jarrett for the title.

 

-Tenay and West got in their weekly plug at ringside. Then Dusty Rhodes showed up at ringside. He said he had a ticket. Russo came out and asked Dusty what he expected him to do since he continues to defy him even though he has treated Dusty with respect and said he has a job for life. Dusty said he wanted a match against D'Amore. Russo said 3 Live Kru and Team Canada would be barred from ringside. Russo appointed himself special referee. He asked Dusty if he would be willing to walk away from TNA and let him do his job if he were to lose. He said if he agreed to that, he would give him the match. That bug-eyed fan who's in the front row each week tried to steal the show with his insane facial expressions.

 

-Hudson interviewed Styles and Killings. Styles said every time Kash opens his mouth, it reveals how bitter and jealous he is.

[JoeDirt 0]

-Hudson interviewed Styles and Killings. Styles said every time Kash opens his mouth, it reveals how bitter and jealous he is. He said when he's done with Kash, it's time for Petey Williams's X Title reign to end. Killings said two years ago he named the TNA Asylum. He said he knows what it takes to beat Jeff Jarrett. He said Jeff Hardy has what it takes and next week Hardy will become the new NWA World Hvt. Champion. I think he threw the word "tag" in there, but the point was made.

 

6 -- A.J. STYLES & RON "THE TRUTH" KILLINGS vs. KID KASH & DALLAS - Street Fight

 

The first three minutes were high energy with brawling and dives at ringside. Kash and Dallas took control on Killings inside the ring as Styles attempted to crawl back into the ring. Styles re-entered at 3:45, but Dallas forearmed Styles from ringside as soon as Styles showed signs of life. At 8:00 Killings and Dallas hit each other with simultaneous chairshots to the ribs. All four brawled in the crowd again. There was a real sense of chaos to the action as fans scrambled and security tried to keep fans and wrestlers apart. Styles kept fall onto his head during the match in creative ways, including falling into the ringside area over the ring barrier out of nowhere as Killings and Kash brawled in front of him. Kash got so distracted with trash-talking with fans at ringside that Styles made a comeback at 11:30. They returned to the ring at 12:45 where Styles and Killings doubled on Kash. Killings and Styles then turned to Dallas and eventually Killings pinned him. Afterward, Roode and Williams attacked Styles, giving Kash a chance to give him a huracanrana off the top rope onto a table at ringside. James and Konnan made the save. Jeff Hardy then ran to the ring and made the save with a chair. Jarrett clipped Hardy from behind, taking out his left leg. When he went for the figure-four, Hardy countered it. The point of it was to show that Hardy did have an answer to the figure-four. The problem is Hardy screwed up the attempt at a sharpshooter/crab type hold. That should not confuse him considering he came to Nashville and that was the only thing he had to do.

 

WINNERS: Styles & Killings at 13:42.

 

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- No complaints, but not a "must see" match either. If you're into chaotic brawling through the crowd this was a satisfying main event. Having yet another "what was Jeff Hardy even doing at the arena in the first place" run-in at the end of the show was about as flat a final push as TNA could have come up with short of no appearance by Hardy at all.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

I predict Jarrett defeats Hardy when Hardy "passes out" to the figure four next week.

 

Hey, my "Midnight Rider returns as 3LK member" prediction came true.

 

Dusty turn on Jeff seems possible, too.

 

Decent, if not "filler", show.

[Guest Donners]

They really needed to do more to set up next week's show, IMO - and Dusty vs. D'Amore ain't it. Were there actually any other matches announced?

[Magus 0]

You'd think they'd stack next week's card to build up to it... but this is TNA we're talking about here. Its sad that they expect Dusty vs. D'Amore to spark interest.

 

But I'm going to say something positive, and about Jeff Jarrett no less. At least he didn't wear that dumbass tuxedo and it seems like his finisher is no longer The Stroke. Those are two sucky things about Jarrett that've changed, thank God. Hopefully TNA will stay consistent and keep JJ this way.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Glad I accepted my boss' offer of working Wednesday nights.

[Epic Reine 0]

Nothing higher than **1/2? And you people spend 10$ a week on this?

 

Wow.

[JoeDirt 0]

Nothing higher than **1/2? And you people spend 10$ a week on this?

 

Wow.

That's why I use $50 a month or so to buy Ring of Honor and IWA-MS stuff instead.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Nothing higher than **1/2? And you people spend 10$ a week on this?

 

Wow.

Not up on current events, are we? Most of us don't buy the PPV anymore. These results are from the Torch, too, so Dirt didn't order.

 

**hits Diamond Cutter on LFV**

 

BANG!

[Guest MikeSC]

But...but...but...people who love the company would happily spend $10 on the worst show known to man.

-=Mike

...Well, looks like another week of SD being the stronger show...

[JoeDirt 0]

Meltzer seemed to like the show:

 

TNA PPV setting up the final Wednesday night show and where Russo vs. Dusty is being built for

 

by Dave Meltzer

 

[email protected]

 

We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].

 

TNA PPV for 9/1

 

This was a strong show with all the angles clicking.

 

Jeff Jarrett came out for a promo and acknowledged that next week is the final Wednesday night PPV. It had never been said on TV nor on these PPV events. In the crowd, you would have expected boos, but I think nobody even realized he said it and most of the fans live clearly aren't aware.

 

1. The Naturals retained the NWA tag titles over XXX and AMW in 12:14. Crowd was really hot for Harris & Storm, with chants for them for the first 5:00. Good match. Story was Storm had a back injury (legit) so he was running wild, but then sold it when he tried a bodyslam. Harris was going crazy with comebacks, but that left punch with no body motion is still a weakness after all these years. Storm took a low hip toss on the concrete to further sell. All kinds of near falls and saves. Storm tried a superkick but his back went out. Daniels used the Angel's wings on him. Before Daniels could score the pin, Douglas & Stevens ran in with Douglas tacking Daniels and Stevens stealing the pin on Storm to keep the title. Good way to start.

 

Vince Russo did a total face promo, which certainly led one to believe he's going heel next week. He said Dusty Rhodes was suspended this week, but all the problems were over, and he wants him back next week for the Jarrett-Hardy match.

 

2. Frankie Kazarian & Michael Shane beat Amazing Red & Chris Sabin in 8:05. Crowd wasn't into it as much as the first match, but Kazarian & Shane make a good heel team. Traci distracted Red, and well, she looked more distracting than usual. Later, Red accidentally knocked her off the apron and she sold it like her ankle was hurt. He acted concerned, so when he turned around, Shane pinned him with the superkick. I'm waiting for them to call it sweet chin music.

 

3. Petey Williams pinned Sonjay Dutt to keep the X title in 8:00. At one point, Scott D'Amore and Williams walked out together, with D'Amore pointing out that in TNA, while the title can change hands on a DQ, it's can't on a count out. Somebody close that loophole. Good match. Big spot was Dutt blocking the Canadian Destroyer in mid move and using that piledriver behind the back move that Takao Omori does (somebody help me with that name). Dutt was on top for the Hindu press but D'Amore distracted him. When he went for the move, Williams moved and he crashed. Williams got the pin with the Canadian Destroyer, and this week's version looked as good as any of them.

 

Konnan & B.G. James did another great promo. Konnan said that buying matching tights and boots doesn't make you a wrestler; that being an office stooge doesn't make you a wrestler; that copying matches that you watched on videotape the night before doesn't make you a wrestler; but what makes you a wrestler is being on the road 250 days a year, destroying marriages and going through rehab.

 

4. Konnan & B.G. James & Midnight Rider (Dusty) beat Bobby Roode & Eric Young & Johnny Devine in 6:04. This was almost comedic early 80s Midnight Rider stuff. This was probably the hottest the crowd has been for anything in a long time. They kept it short and Team Canada did a great job of bumping. They are trying to get Konnan over as a submission expert, which is pretty hard considering he never makes anyone submit. Dusty did more than he usually does. Mike Tenay and Don West kept denying it was Rhodes while D'Amore went nuts. For what it was supposed to be, it worked perfectly. Tenay even speculated it was Buddy Rose under the mask, mentioned the Rider once beat Ric Flair for the NWA title in Miami Beach (thankfully forgot that horrible feud with Tully Blanchard) and had retired about 20 years ago. James gave Devine a pump handle slam and the Rider pinned him with an elbow drop. They showed Russo backstage going into mass depression. Russo came out and was furious at Konnan & B.G.

 

5. Sonny Siaki & Erik Watts beat Abyss & Alex Shelley in 5:56. Thankfully this was kept short. Watts even did a plancha on Abyss. Finish saw Goldy mace Desire, but Georgie Watts (Erik's legit wife) attacked Goldy while Siaki schoolboyed Shelley to win. So Shark Boy and D-Ray 3000 are emancipated, which I think has to do with Abraham Lincoln. Even this got a big pop for the finish. Goldy blamed Abyss for the loss even though Shelley was pinned.

 

6. A.J. Styles & Ron Killings beat Kid Kash & Dallas in a street fight in 14:45. This was like last week in that they fought almost the entire match in the stands and they brawled like it was a fight, and not a dance. Very stiff stuff. They didn't even get into the ring until the 13:00 mark. Usually those long periods outside the ring make for bad matches, but the match got worse once they got in the ring. Still, they finished quick as Killings used an ax kick off the ropes to pin Dallas.

 

Post-match saw Team Canada hit the ring, with Williams going after Styles with the belt. They are setting that up as the next X title feud. Kash gave Styles a huracanrana off the top rope outside the ring through a table. Konnan & B.G. James ran in, but they got overpowered. Jeff Hardy made the save hitting everyone with chair shots until Jarrett clipped him and went for the figure four, but Hardy reversed it into a Texas cloverleaf. This was significant because the story they were telling the whole night is that Hardy had no defense for the figure four. Very old school title build-up. Jarrett pushed it again as the biggest match in TNA history and biggest match of his and Hardy's career.

 

Next week

Jarrett vs. Hardy for NWA title

A six-team X division match with Shane & Kazarian the only team announced

This wasn't made clear, but some sort of an NWA tag title match. I think Naturals vs. AMW first, and then the winners face XXX later that night, but it'll be clarified on TV as they just said it in passing

Rhodes vs. D'Amore with Russo as referee. If Rhodes loses, he must leave TNA forever.

[Magus 0]

Devil's Advocate here. This week's show actually looks only mildly crap. Hell, Meltzer gave it some praise in his review, and that says something.

 

I still expect them to pull of a crapfest next week (with Jeff/Jeff, and Russo probably turning heel), but TNA seemed to put forth some effort on this one.

[Guest spags56]

Sounds well worth the $10, fuckin AUS with no TNA, tis terrible.

[Guest Evolution]

But...but...but...people who love the company would happily spend $10 on the worst show known to man.

You haven't seen crappy shows until you've seen Impact Pro Wrestling.

 

I'm glad I was friends with one of the only good wrestlers at that show, and got in free instead of paying $9 for a fed that used generic, stale, and boring gimmicks combined with a redneck crowd. I had to be a crazy man in the stands to make sure that I didn't fall asleep. So, so bad.

[Guest Donners]

Nothing higher than **1/2? And you people spend 10$ a week on this?

 

Wow.

 

Firstly, Keller's ratings are not the sole determination of quality.

 

Second, **3/4 is higher than **1/2, last I checked.

 

Third, few people buy it every week.

 

Fourth, three matches of **1/2 or more is better than most WWE shows - including PPVs - lately.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

This was a good show.

[Placebo Effect 0]

But...but...but...people who love the company would happily spend $10 on the worst show known to man.

You haven't seen crappy shows until you've seen Impact Pro Wrestling.

 

I'm glad I was friends with one of the only good wrestlers at that show, and got in free instead of paying $9 for a fed that used generic, stale, and boring gimmicks combined with a redneck crowd. I had to be a crazy man in the stands to make sure that I didn't fall asleep. So, so bad.

I just got TiVo and got myself a season pass to the Impact Pro Wrestling TV show.

 

Can't wait to see it after that description.

[Guest Staravenger]

So...who didn't guess it was the Midnight Rider? Well me, but once someone mentioned it it just seemed so obvious. Sounds like a decent show, but nothing really that stands out for me to get the replay.

[Guest Evolution]

I just got TiVo and got myself a season pass to the Impact Pro Wrestling TV show.

 

Can't wait to see it after that description.

My hope is that there are more than one Impact Pro Wrestling companies and that no one would ever think of giving this piece of crap fed a TV show.

 

This one runs out of Delta, Iowa, which is literally in the middle of fucking nowhere.

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

waitasec, why did I get a diamond cutter from Laz?

 

Main event was meh. haven't had time to go and watch the rest of the show...