NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #16

Your hosts are Don West and Mike Tenay.

A black-and-white video package recaps the past few weeks. This includes the feuds between Siaki/Estrada and Sadler/Bruce. Between the video and the generic rock music, this looked like production values from 1995 ECW.

Tenay and West plug Curt Hennig vs. Ron Killings for the World Heavyweight Championship. Also, AJ Styles vs. Syxx Pac for the X Division Title and Chris Michaels & Rick Michaels vs. Chris Harris & James Storm for the Tag-Team Titles.

Goldylocks is backstage with Jorge Estrada. She reminds him how Siaki left and Yang is in Japan as Syxx Pac is shown quietly leaving the locker room door. Jorge says that he has two new announcements.  First, he is back with Priscilla and second, is holding a tryout for new Elvises. Priscilla is a tall blond who I believed dated Jerry Lawler around this time. Brian Lawler interrupts, who asks for the whereabouts of April. He bullies her for a bit until leaving as Jorge resumes is interview, which is less than memorable. At the end, a door opens and its April, who quickly shuts the door The whole segment was a giant waste of time as no one cares about Estrada and the Lawler interruption, which I think was intended to show how anything can happen in TNA failed to connect as well. There is just too much going on in these segments.

April comes out after Lawler, who is irate. He orders her to sit where he can see her at all times. Lawler flips off the crowd before entering the ring. Lawler jumps Young before the bell. He gets a back elbow smash then taunts the crowd. Young gets a hiptoss and armdrag as Tenay mentions how Young has ditched Bobcat since his return to TNA. Lawler gets clotheslined to the floor and does and falls face first into the crotch of April in a lame comedy spot.. He steals Tenay’s water then trips up while attempting to hop into the ring, audibly yelling “What the fuck!”. He yells at the ref for laughing as Young gets a rollup for two. Young gets a few atomic drops but runs into a superkick. Lawler gets a fist drop then takes Young down with a full nelson facebuster. Lawler continues to play to the crowd, who is yelling “Jerry’s Kid.” Lawler bullies the ref in between taunting the crowd and attacking Young. This shit is getting old. Lawler flips off the crowd before attempting a piledriver but Young picks up Lawler and slams him down . Young hits three rolling DDT’s, which only gets two. Slam by Young, who signals for a top rope move. Lawler rolls away from a moonsault and asks April for his goggles. He misses the Hip-Hop Drop and Young goes back up top but is distracted by April, who is waving at him, and that allows Lawler to climb up and get an inverted DDT for the win (5:51) ½*

Thoughts: Lawler’s character is trying to be a jealous psycho but he still uses the dopey dance moves he did in the WWF. The playing to the crowd is overkill. Young is an alright wrestler but is nothing more than a jobber. He has nothing about him that would warrant a push. You could say the same thing for Lawler too I suppose.

A video recap of the Sonny Siaki/Jerry Lynn feud. The music is extremely corny and this is the second video recap of a Sonny Siaki tonight and we are less than twenty minutes into this show..

Lynn comes out and addresses the crowd. He says that he takes responsibility of his injured knee but next week will not take any of what he does to Siaki. He says he has “heard his rap” before and is “Exactly what’s wrong with this business today.” Lynn says that Siaki needs him for a reality check, which will happen next week. Siaki calls out and speaks in the third person. He says that unlike you, Sonny Siaki will not be a midcarder for fifteen years. Sonny Siaki is life but Lynn says that after life is death and Siaki runs into the ring and they brawl. Siaki gets a Boston Crab as Ace Steel and Derek Wylde come out. They get tossed as Norman Smiley and David Young run out and hold back Siaki. Jorge Estrada runs out too. Don Harris and security come out along with security and struggle. Bob Armstrong and Bill Behrens now come out. Don pushes Siaki up the ramp. It wasn’t bad for a pull-apart brawl but when TNA does it multiple times each show, it gets old.

A pre-taped interview from Mike Tenay, who is with Syxx Pac. He starts by addressing him as Sean. He mentions his Global Wrestling Federation matches with Jerry Lynn, stating he was the X-Division before there was an X-Division. Sean, who seemed like he toked up five minutes before this interview, speaks of nWo and D-X but says that he is in TNA to wrestle, not to re-create those factions. Tenay brings up his remarks about Low-Ki and Sean admits that he is wrong, stating that he is one of the best in wrestling today. He also points out how he is not proud of how he won the X-Division belt last week (Then why the fuck didn’t you just enter the meatch when everyone else did) but he will give his best tonight. Most of this seemed to be hinting towards Syxx going back to a high-flying style of wrestling. Also, I have no idea how this is supposed to get people to cheer for him and make him a face.

Jorge runs in the ring and takes Siaki down with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. After some back and forth stuff, Estrada hits Siaki on the back of the head with a springboard leg drop, getting two. Estrada dodges a charge and gets a split-legged moonsault for two. Siaki catches Estrada and tosses him to the floor with a belly-to-belly suplex. He then hits Estrada with a pumphandle suplex before tossing him into the steps. He rolls Estrada in the ring but misses a flipping leg drop but hits Estrada with a cutter for two. Estrada gets a foot up on a charge and gets a tornado DDT as both men are down. Dropkick by Estrada, who then gets a hurricarana. He hits the rolling fireman’s carry into the moonsault, which gets two. That is a sweet move, actually. Estrada bounces off the ropes but Siaki kills him with a clothesline, getting two. Estrada gets a side effect for two and both men are down. Siaki rolls outside as Estrada gets up top. Siaki pulls Priscilla in front of him as he jumps, causing Estrada to dodge her and miss. Siaki the rolls Estrada in the ring and gets the Money Clip, which is now called the Siakalypse, for the win (5:14) *1/2. Lynn runs out and beats the crap out of Siaki as we repeat the same exact sequence that happened just over ten minutes ago.

Thoughts: The match was short and meaningless, especially for the blow off of this feud, which has been building for several weeks. In regards to the end, it was the same exact brawl from just over ten minutes ago, down to the same wrestlers and security breaking it up. Speaking of which, why the hell is Ace Steel, a heel, helping the faces break up this match.

Wylde is billed as 210 lbs. In reality, he might be 165 lbs. Steel comes out trying to look intense and runs the ropes when he enters the ring. Tenay tells us that he was trained by Harley Race.  Drop toehold by Steel then he talks with Plumtree. Wylde gets a hiptoss but Steel works the arm. Wylde gets a rana but runs into Steel. He gets a few armdrags but Steel powers out of a front facelock and places him on the apron. He gets a European uppercut and charges at Wylde, who counters with a rana that takes them out of the  ring in a terribly blown spot. Steel really seemed like he didn’t want to take that bump. Wylde gets a headscissor takedown and Steel, once again, seemed afraid to take the bump. He catches Wylde off the top rope and wedges him in the corner before getting a dropkick. Superplex by Steel and both men are down. Wylde ducks a clothesline but is met with a series of facecrushers before Steel gets the Twist of Cain (Gory Neckbreaker) for the win (3:52) ¼*.

Thoughts: Ace Steel sucks something terrible. He fucks up just about every other thing he does in the ring. I have no idea why they decided to give him a push over several other X Division wrestlers that they were using around this time. Wylde looks like a guy Ryback would be squashing in handicapped matches on Smackdown but at least he was solid in the ring.

BG James delivers a pre-match promo, addressing Bruce as a “Shemale” then tells Jarrett that he is going to go through him like butter and that Sadler will drive over Bruce, who James now refers to as a “homo.” Jarrett grabs the mic and congrats Hermie, stating he has been casted in the movie called “The Last and the Furious.” What a knee-slapper! This is lame, even for the low standards that BG James has set in his TNA run.

Jarrett knees James then punches away. Hiptoss by Jarrett but he gets hit with a flying forearm. Dropkick by James gets two. Jarrett pulls up on the ropes and tags Bruce, who comes in and does a series of homoerotic poses. Hermie tags and Bruce does some more homoerotic stuff. Armdrag by Bruce, but Hermie gets a hiptoss then stomps away. Tag to James and they do a comedy spot in which Sadler is on the ground behind Bruce, who falls when James backs him up. James has Bruce’s leg, then looks at his groin to see what was there. Apparently, he liked it because he sets up Bruce for a pumphandle but decides to hump him from behind. Well, who is the homo now BG? He stops when Bruce grinds him. What the fuck am I watching? Bruce stomps James. Tag to Jarrett, who gets an enziguiri for two. He chokes out James with the rope and the heels make quick tags. James fights back with punches after a bit and gets a kneedrop, which Bruce breaks up at two. Hermie comes in and gets a suplex. Bruce did all the work on that move. James and Jarrett fight up the ramp as Sadler gets two off of a backdrop. Brian Lawler is seen with a trashcan and hits James. Bruce backdrops Sadler but for some reason looks at the action on the ramp instead of focusing on the puny Sadler. Bruce tries a sunset flip but cannot get over the 155 lbs Sadler and decides to hump the air until Sadler grabs his legs and gets the cradle for the win (6:53) DUD. Bruce and Jarrett yell at the ref after the match as James is helped up by security. Jarrett yells at Bruce, who has on his Miss TNA gear, then knees him after a hug attempt before hitting the Stroke.

Thoughts: At least this should end the Sadler/Bruce feud. The match itself followed a really basic tag formula but between Sadler being a joke in the ring and lots of man humping and butt-shaking, it was embarrassing to watch.

Tenay informs us that Harris is now focusing on his singles career. Good for him. West recalls the angle about his wife saving him from Killings a few months ago. Harris with a knee and some clubbing forearms. Smiley dances then gets a few armdrags. Smiley works a neck vise into an armbar. He floats over and lands a few chops before getting tossed. Smiley comes back with a dropkick to the knees but gets caught with a back elbow smash after attempting to hump Harris from behind. Lots of men-on-men humping tonight, for reasons that I cannot fathom. Harris pounds on Smiley then lands the big boot. He tosses Smiley outside then rolls him back inside. He gets an elbow smash but Smiley floats over and kicks the legs. Harris no-sells a few shots before Smiley finally takes him down with a clothesline. Wind-up slam by Norman, who then finally gets the Big Wiggle. Harris boots him down then hits a bunch of corner clotheslines. Sideslam gets two. He then hits the Cobra Slam for the win (4:48) ½*. After the match, he stomps on Smiley, who fights back. He knocks Harris down with a vicious punch then screams, like he did in WCW as Don Harris runs out and kicks him out. Ron shoves Don and the two get into a face-to-face argument.

Thoughts: Not too good but Norman tried. Looks like they are going to try the “Screaming” Norman character in TNA. The stuff between the Harris Brothers is going nowhere. Last week they looked to be on the same page but now they are not.

Storm fires off the cap guns before the match. Tenay, once again, plugs how Storm & Harris are undefeated in TNA. Storm and Rick do a bunch of counters that ends up with Rick going through the ropes for some reason in a terrible looking spot. No idea what happened and Rick went through after Storm countered a go-behind, hardly a move that would send you flying through the ropes. Chris is now in the ring but gets backdropped onto his partner on the floor. Harris comes in and assists Storm with a plancha. Harris takes them down with a pescado. Back inside, Harris beats on Chris then tags Storm. This makes no sense as Storm and Rick should still be the legal men. Rick drags Storm outside and rolls him back inside after a punch. He tags and they double team Storm. They use some quick tags to neutralize Storm. After a bit, Storm gets rana then fights off Rick to make the tag. Harris runs wild until he is hit from behind by Chris. Harris then bulldogs him down. Crossbody by Harris gets two. All four men are in the ring until Harris takes out Chris and himself with a clotheline. Storm hits the Hanging Noose but the ref is distracted and does not notice the pinfall. Chris Michaels climbs up and hits a leg drop. He places Rick on top and the ref turns around and counts, but it only gets two. They hold up Harris for a charging move, but Rick puts on the breaks as Harris escapes. However, Chris Michaels gets knocked off the apron. Rick walks into a superkick from Storm after hitting Harris with a facecrusher, that gets two. Storm gets knocked off the top rope and onto the floor. They then hit Harris with the Double Shot/Flying Elbow drop combo that gets two. Rick flies outside after Storm pulls down the ropes and Harris hits Chris with the Catatonic for the win. (6:45) *1/2. After the match, The Hotshots hit the ring and beat on Harris and Storm. Chris & Rick join in on the beatdown as well. It ends with the refs running out but they cannot get them to stop and it takes security to run out and stop this madness.

Thoughts: Match picked up a bit towards the end but they really struggled in the beginning. Chris & Rick and the Hotshots are certainly not anything special but seeing how pathetic the tag division is at this point, trying to get over lesser known teams isn’t a bad idea. I will say this though, Harris & Storm are really starting to gel as a team. They are far and away the best tag-team in this company and the crowd is starting to like them.

Styles shocks us by coming out with Plumtree. Tenay continues to mention how Pac was in GWF ten years ago. No one cares, Mike. AJ kicks away Pac’s handshake attempt. Syxx then fakes a test of strength and delivers a crotch chop. Armdrag by AJ and Syxx gives him applause. They trade off working the arm until AJ gets another armdrag. They are establishing AJ as being younger and quicker than Syxx Pac, asif that was in question. They trade hammerlocks and Syxx gets the advantage. AJ gets a shoulderblock then snaps of a rana in a decent little sequence. Syxx chops away and lands a spin kick in the corner. Plumtree pulls AJ away from a Bronco Buster and they regroup on the floor. Back in, AJ gets taken down with an armdrag and ducks out again. Syxx delivers more chops to AJ once he re-enters the ring. AJ lands on the apron after a backdrop then pulls Syxx down and crotches him against the post. Chops from AJ who then mocks Syxx as he distracts the ref, allowing Plumtree to choke out Syxx. AJ works a chinlock as an “AJ Sucks” chants breaks out. They trade punches until AJ tosses Syxx outside. Plumtree delivers some cheap shots before AJ hits a beautiful looking somersault senton. Damn, that looked great. He cleared the ropes by a good margin. He rolls him in and gets two. AJ works another chinlock. Syxx escapes but AJ gets a legdrop to the back of the head. AJ heads up top but Syxx dodges the Spiral Tap and both men are down. Syxx gets up and lands a few spinning heel kicks, causing AJ to do the somersault sell. He jumps from the rop rope but his met with a dropkick into his gut. AJ mocks Syxx and tries a Bronco Buster but Syxx kicks him to the floor. He gets up top and hits AJ with a twisting senton. Back in, Syxx gets a Northern Lights Suplex for two. Syxx eats boot off a charge but ducks a clothesline, which his the ref. Syxx gets the X Factor but the ref is down. Plumtree is in but Syxx stares him down. The ref pops back up and yells at Syxx, who is hit from behind by AJ. Syxx gets some kicks and chokes out AJ with his boot. He gets the Bronco Buster and starts to punch away. The ref steps in and Syxx pushes him away, so he calls for the DQ (13:50) **3/4. Security comes in after Waltman knocks the ref off the apron. Plumtree jaws at Syxx from the floor and gets spit on, prompting him to go off and complain to Bill Behrens.

Thoughts: What a lame finish. They disqualified Syxx for basically doing the same stuff that Lawler did to the ref in the opening bout. The match itself was building up nicely after a slow start. It was clear that Syxx can no longer keep up with the high-flyers though. Easily the best match on the show.

Don West hypes next week’s card, including:

Sonny Siaki vs. Jerry Lynn

BG James vs. Brian Lawler

Harris & Storm defend the NWA-TNA Tag Titles

Jeff Jarrett, Syxx Pac and AJ Styles in action as well.

Mike Tenay in a pre-recorded interview with Curt Hennig. Tenay asks about the AWA, and they talk about how it was about the wrestling. Tenay asks about his debut last week and Hennig said he was surprised by the reaction. He gives Killings some compliments before saying that he has held belts in every territory he has been in and plans on holding one in TNA. A nothing segment.

Tale of the Tape between Hennig & Killings

Killings comes out for a promo and insults the TNA officials. He goes into the racism angle then states that he is not ducking the top contenders and Hennig’s blood will be on their hands, not his and he is the “Suntan Superman.” Hennig comes out with his microphone. He asks Killings if he has ever heard of respect. He sounds hammered. He tells Killings he can kiss is ass the heads to the ring.

They stall for a bit then lockup in the corner. The crowd starts the “overrated” chants towards Killings. Hennig grounds him with a front facelock and Killings eventually makes the ropes. They go outside but Killings backdrops him on the table. He beats on Hennig for a bit until he gets hit with a chair. Hennig is clearly going through the motions here, not giving a fuck about this match. After a few Hulk Hogan-style chairshots, Hennig tosses him back in the ring. Killings gets a few stomps then hits the pelvic-thrust slam. They show several wrestlers watching from the ramp as this match is dragging. Eye rake by Killings and he kicks out the knee of Hennig continuously. The crowd is dying, much like this match. Leg lariat by Killings but Hennig fights back. He gets a kneelift, with his leg barely lifting off the ground, then accidentally knocks the ref down after picking up Killings for a slam. For some reason, he goes for the Perfect Plex but Mr. Wrestling III runs out and attacks him. He even stomps on Killings for a bit until BG James and Syxx Pac run out and corner him until he escapes. That entire segment played out terribly by the way. Several wrestlers are now brawling in the ring, with neither of them being Killings or Hennig. The ref gets up as Behrens and Bob Arnstrong walk in the ring with security as everyone is brawling. The bell isn’t ringing and Armstrong clears the ring, calling for the match to re-start. Killings tosses the ref, which is apparently only a DQ if you are Syxx Pac. He then walks out and nails Borash and Armstrong and grabs a chair. Armstrong gets up quickly and delivers an ultimatum, go back into the ring or get counted out and lose the title. He goes back in but Jarrett runs out and hits Hennig with a low blow behind the referee’s back and Killings gets the pin (8:56) -*1/2. After the match, Killings raps for a bit until the show goes off the air.

Thoughts: Oh man, this was brutal. Not at all suitable for a main event, let alone a title match. Hennig was an embarrassment to wrestling in this match. He was bloated, seemingly intoxicated, and uninterested. I assume that TNA knew Hennig was in no shape to wrestle so they orchestrated all of this nonsense that took place to try to hide that fact. It didn’t work at all.

Final Thoughts: What a terrible show. The only thing that was above average was the Syxx Pac/AJ match. Just about every match ended with security running out and a pull-apart brawl. Also, they are pushing the likes of Brian Lawler, Ron Harris, Ace Steel and Hermie Sadler. They all suck. I don’t mind them trying to push talent like Sonny Siaki but its clear he is not at the level that warrants a main-event position. I understand them trying to bring in some names but its time to cut bait on Hennig. He is a mess. TNA is even shifting the focus of the X Division, the one highlight of the early shows, and shifting it to Syxx Pac.