by Buck Woodward
NWA: Total Nonstop Action for August 20th opened with a video discussing AJ Styles‘ NWA World Title reign and Erik Watts’ desire to end it. They went over the list of contenders that will compete in the gauntlet match tonight, with the winner getting a title match with Styles next week.
As soon as the show went live, we saw that Shane Douglas was fighting with Raven in the ring, while CM Punk and Julio Dinero were fighting with Sinn and Slash in the crowd. Raven DDT’d Douglas, and got on the mic, talking about the mystery man who has attacked him in recent weeks. The lights went out, and flashbulbs showed that the mystery man was in the ring with a noose. When the lights came back on, Raven was bleeding and hung over the top rope. Jim Mitchell was holding a pair of scissors in front of Raven. The mystery man, Douglas and Mitchell ran off as the Gathering made the save.
Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed us to the show, and wondered if Raven would be able to wrestle in the gauntlet later tonight.
Scott Hudson interviewed Jerry Lynn in the back about his situation with Don Callis. Lynn talked about how he loses money every time Callis takes him off a show. Callis entered the picture, pointing out how Lynn attacked Elix Skipper with a scale last week and attacked a TNA official. Callis said Lynn was being fined $5,000. Lynn was restrained by red shirt security, as Callis said that he would not take a personal check from Lynn.
The history leading to the “Ultimate X” match between Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian and Michael Shane was shown. This bout will see the X Division Title hung in the middle of the ring on an “X” formed by cable’s strung between 15 foot high poles (actually scaffolding) in each corner of the ring. The first person to grab the belt will be the champion.
All three men went to the floor at the bell, and Sabin managed to avoid Kazarian and Shane, who were chasing him, as they started to brawl with each other. In the ring, Sabin hit Kazarian with an enzugiri and tried to go up on the cable, but Shane dragged him down. Shane gave Sabin a neckbreaker. Shane went to the cables, but Kazarian knocked him down, then hit a Yakuza kick and a neckbreaker. Sabin stopped Kazarian from climbing up the ropes. Kazarian pulled Sabin on his shoulders. Shane was on the cable, but dropped off in an attempted rana on Sabin. All three men fell to the mat. Kazarian went up on the cable, but Sabin pulled him down. Shane and Kazarian went on the cables and started kicking each other. Sabin hit a springboard dropkick on both men, knocking them down. Sabin grabbed a chair and blasted both men with it. Shane got control of the chair, and wedged it in the corner. Sabin reversed a whip and sent Shane face first into it. Sabin the took the chair in hand, but Kazarian kicked it into his face. Shane was bleeding on the floor. In the ring, Sabin hit a swinging uranage on Kazarian onto the chair, which was set up in the ring. Sabin, for some reason, left the ring to attack Shane, then got back in. Shane started to go across a cable, but Shane crawled in and hit Sabin with a chair, knocking him down. The title belt fell on the mat, and the referee called for the bell. He said that the belt had to be rehung before the match could continue. Sabin kept attacking his opponents anyway. The belt was rehung and the bell rang again, although they never actually stopped fighting. Sabin held Shane in a fireman’s carry, rolled through a Kazarian sunset flip, and dropkicked Kazarian, while still holding Shane in the carry. Sabin hoisted Kazarian, but Shane dropkicked him down. Shane was a bloody mess. Kazarian went across the cable, but Shane followed him and knocked him down. Sabin then followed Shane on the cable. Shane grabbed Sabin around the head with his legs, but Sabin dropped off, pulling Shane down with a powerbomb. Sabin went across the cable. Kazarian went for a springboard, but slipped. He then climbed to the top rope and speared Sabin down. The belt fell yet again, and the referee called for the bell again. The ring crew came out and rehung the belt again. This time, the combatants mostly lied on the mat this time. After the restart, Kazarian knocked Shane off the top rope to the floor. Sabin and Kazarian climbed the cables, and knocked each other down. Kazarian and Sabin went up again, and Kazarian knocked Sabin down. Kazarian was near the belt, but Shane flew across the cable, hand over hand, and made it to the belt first, dropping to the mat with the title. Michael Shane is the new X Division Champion in fourteen minutes.
Scott Hudson was outside, where Sonny Siaki and Trinity arrived with a hearse and a coffin, for the “burial” of D’Lo Brown’s career.
Simon Diamond & Swinger, with Glen Gilberti, defeated America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) in a double bullrope match in nine minutes. The NWA World Tag Team Titles were not on the line. Storm was tied to Swinger and Harris was tied to Diamond. They went to the floor early, and the brawl was on. Storm took Swinger up to the stage and slammed him on it. Harris dragged Diamond around with the rope around his throat. In the ring, AMW managed to hit a Hart Attack on Swinger for a two count. Harris hit the Catatonic on Diamond. Gilberti ran in and gave Harris a stunner, allowing Diamond to crawl on top for a two count. Swinger pulled up the mats from the floor and suplexed Storm on the concrete. Swinger hit Storm with the cowbell. Diamond choked Harris with the bullrope. All four men made it back into the ring, with Diamond and Swinger in control. Storm superkicked Diamond to break up a side slam/reverse DDT attempt and started cleaning house on Swinger. AMW took over, whipping their opponents together. Storm got a two count on Swinger after a cowbell shot. Diamond and Harris took turns yanking each other into the ringpost. Diamond accidentally hit Swinger with a chairshot from the floor, but Swinger still kicked out when Storm covered. Swinger hit Storm with a low blow. Diamond and Harris made it back into the ring. Swinger grabbed Harris, but Storm yanked hit bullrope up into Swinger’s groin. Harris speared Diamond off the apron to the floor. Harris and Storm were setting for the Death Senteance, but Gilberti yanked Harris off the top to the floor. Swinger picked up a title belt, which Gilberti had tossed in moments earlier, and hit Storm with it. Swinger covered Storm for the pin. Post match, Diamond, Swinger, and Gilberti continued to beat on AMW until security pulled them away.
Backstage, Scott Hudson interviewed Julio Dinero, CM Punk and Alexis Laree. Dinero said that Raven was severely injured. He then challenged the New Church to a tag match right now. Shane Douglas and the New Church stormed in, and a brawl broke out, with security trying to pull them apart.
Sonny Siaki and Trinity were in the ring, with the coffin wheeled to ringside. Siaki read a eulogy for D’Lo Brown’s career. Trinity placed black flowers on the casket. Brown popped out of the coffin and beat up Siaki and Trinity. Brown slammed Trinity into the casket, then tossed Siaki on top. Brown closed the lid with both inside, and stood on top of the casket, triumphant. The handlers rolled the coffin away, with Siaki and Trinity still inside.
Scott Hudson interviewed Christopher Daniels and Legend. Legend said he was sorry that he had to beat up the “local legends” (Erik Watts & Jeff Jarrett) tonight. Christopher Daniels said the fans rejected him, and now they will pay. He said that Watts must pay for the “sins of the father”.
Slash & Sinn, with Jim Mitchell, defeated Julio Dinero & CM Punk, with Alexis Laree, in seven minutes. They started brawling at the bell. Punk hit a tope on Sinn as Slash whipped him across the ring. Punk and Dinero kicked Slash into Sinn, then double superkicked Slash for a two count. Sinn and Slash took over, hanging Punk by his legs on the top rope, so Slash could dropkick him in the back of the head. It settled into a traditional tag match, with Sinn and Slash making frequent tags and working over Punk. Slash got a two count with a long vertical suplex. Punk finally rallied, hitting a hammerlock into a clothesline on Sinn, then colliding with Slash on simultaneous clothesline attempts. Punk made the tag, and Dinero came in and cleaned house. Dinero hit a faceplant on Sinn for a two count. Dinero got another two count after ramming Sinn into Slash. The match broke down, with everyone getting involved. Sinn hit a superkick on Dinero. Punk went for a top rope rana, but Slash threw powder in his eyes. Sinn powerbombed Punk, but he kicked out of the cover. The match continued, with Dinero hitting a powerbomb on Sinn, as Punk came off the top with a neckbreaker at the same time. Slash broke up the pin. Mitchell came in with a spike, but Alexis kicked the middle rope into his groin. Alexis gave Slash a swinging DDT from the top. Dinero hit a swinging full nelson slam on Slash, but the referee was getting Mitchell out of the ring. Shane Douglas ran in and hit Dinero with a chain, allowing Slash to get the pin. After the match, Shane gave Alexis a belly to belly suplex, and cut off some of her hair.
They showed a sit-down interview that Mike Tenay conducted with Erik Watts. Watts said he was made the director of authority because they wanted someone young, who wouldn’t play favorites. Watts said that he represented the NWA half of the company, while Don Callis works for the TNA half. Watts talked about his past with Jeff Jarrett, saying that when he was in WWF (not actually saying WWF), Jarrett didn’t help him. Watts said when he first came to TNA, he went about settling things with Jeff Jarrett the wrong way. He said that is why the promotion put him on Xplosion for months. Watts said he had learned his lesson from all that, and he owed it to Jeff. Watts called Callis a “fruitcake” and implied that he was in cahoots with Vince Russo and AJ Styles.
They showed a vignette of AJ Styles and Vince Russo (on vacation). Russo was trying to get tan, but it was nighttime. Styles bragged about his wins, and said he would face and defeat the winner of the gauntlet tonight on next week’s show. Styles then did a dive into the pool, which Russo applauded.
Jeff Jarrett & Erik Watts defeated Christopher Daniels & Legend in eight minutes. They started out brawling on the floor before the bell could ring. Watts dove over the rail into the crowd to get at Legend. All four men brawled into the crowd. Jarrett hit Daniels with a chairshot. Jarrett and Daniels made it back to the ring, and Daniels took over with right hands. Watts and Legend fought at ringside. Jarrett hit a flapjack and a dropkick on Daniels. The bout settled into a tag match, with Legend giving Jarrett a drop toe hold into the knees of Daniels. Legend hit a Yakuza kick on Jarrett. Jarrett and Legend slugged it out. Legend hit a clothesline out of a kip up for a two count. Daniels whipped Jarrett into a Legend big boot, then followed with a jumping kick. Jarrett fought out of a double team to tag Erik Watts, but the referee didn’t see the tag. Legend and Daniels hit a clothesline/back suplex combo. Daniels hit a quebrada for a two count. Jarrett fought out of the corner again, and made the tag, but the ref missed it again. Watts came in anyway and cleaned house. Watts hit a jumping front kick on both opponents. Watts went for a chokeslam on Daniels, but Legend broke it up. Watts powerbombed Legend into the corner, then chokeslammed Daniels for a two count. Watts hit a mule kick off the top rope on Legend, but Daniels gave Watts an enzugiri. Jarrett hit a spinebuster on Daniels for a two count as Legend fought Watts on the floor. Daniels came back, but missed a double springboard moonsault. Jarrett went for the Stroke, but Legend ran in and superkicked Jarrett. Watts and Daniels ended up fighting, and went to the floor. In the ring, Jarrett rolled up Legend with a handful of tights for the win.
Post match, Daniels and Legend attacked Jarrett and Watts. Black shirted and red shirted security ran out to break it up, and the security forces ended up fighting with each other. Jerry Lynn ran in to attack the red shirted security, but they overpowered him and dragged him to the back. Two “fans” in Freddy Kruger and Jason masks jumped the rail and handcuffed Watts to the railing. Jason got in the ring and gave the Styles Clash to Jarrett. Jason unmasked as Styles, and Freddy unmasked as Russo. Russo got on the mic and said that there would be no title shot for Jarrett, and not gauntlet for him either. Daniels, Legend and Styles hit a triple team powerbomb from the ropes through a table on Jarrett. Watts tried to fight from the railing, but kept getting kicked down. Russo and Co. dragged Jarrett out through the crowd. They tossed Jarrett into the hearse from earlier, and Russo & Styles drove off with him, leaving Daniels and Legend at the building.
A promo aired with bagpipe music and the words “He’s coming…”
A promo by Dusty Rhodes aired, with him talking about finishing his business with Glen Gilberti next week. They will meet on next week’s show in a bullrope match.
Mike Tenay pointed out that Raven and Jeff Jarrett were now out of tonight’s gauntlet match.
The first wrestler for the gauntlet was Kid Kash. The second was Ron Killings. Wrestlers will be added every 90 seconds. Kash started out with kicks, but Killings took over, almost tossing Kash from the ring. Kash hit a walking the ropes rana, but Killings tossed off a DDT.
Christopher Daniels was out next.
Daniels went right after Killings, hitting shoulderblocks in the corner. Killings dropped down to avoid a clothesline and hit a leg lariat. Kash hit Killings with a backbreaker. Daniels and Kash worked together against Killings. Kash put the claw on Killings.
BG James was out next.
James and Killings took over on Daniels and Kash. Kash avoided being thrown out twice by skinning the cat.
Sonny Siaki was out next.
Siaki hit a neckbreaker on Killings and started punching James. Killings tried to get Kash out, while Daniels and Siaki were working over James.
Jeff Jarrett’s music played next, but he wasn’t there to come out.
The fight continued, with no one getting eliminating.
D’Lo Brown came out and went to work on Siaki and Daniels. Mad Mikey ran out to ringside, saying he was mad that he wasn’t in the gauntlet match.
D’Lo Brown eliminated Sonny Siaki.
Mikey through a tantrum at ringside. Mikey was wearing an old Stevie Richards T-shirt. Brown gave Kash a spinebuster.
Abyss was out next.
Abyss ran in and clotheslined Brown, then choked James. Abyss stopped Killings from tossing out Kash. James hit the dancing punches on Abyss, but was caught in a guzzle. He grabbed Killings with the other hand, but they kicked him low to break out.
Abyss caught Killings on a kick attempt and tossed him from the ring to eliminate him.
Abyss eliminated BG James with a big boot.
Sandman was out next.
Abyss tossed Kid Kash, to Kash’s surprise, eliminating him.
Mad Mikey ran in and got in Abyss’ face, but Abyss tossed him out. Sandman spit beer at Abyss and started hitting him with the singapore cane. Abyss came back with a sideslam on Sandman. Daniels worked over Brown in the corner, but Brown came back with a stunner.
Legend was out next.
Legend went to work on Sandman with kicks. Brown slugged it out with Abyss, but Abyss hit him with a swinging side slam. Abyss went from Brown to choking Daniels.
Konnan was out next.
Konnan went after Legend and Daniels, hitting a rolling clothesline on Legend and a reverse DDT on Daniels. Abyss absorbed Konnan’s clothesline, so Konnan gave him a face driver. Legend stopped Konnan’s assault with a superkick. Legend and Daniels hit a modified stunner on Sandman.
Abyss and Legend tossed Sandman over the top rope, eliminating him.
Shane Douglas was out next.
Douglas stopped to kick Sandman on his way in, then went after everyone in the ring.
Konnan backdropped Legend from the ring, eliminating him.
Abyss put Daniels in a torture rack. Douglas worked over Brown in a corner. Konnan joined Brown in the attack on Douglas.
A bloody and bandaged Raven was out next.
Raven went right for Douglas, but Abyss and Daniels got in his way first. Raven superkicked Daniels, but Abyss caught him in a chokeslam, only for Raven to get right back up.
Raven tossed Abyss over the top rope, eliminating him.
Konnan powerbombed Daniels. Brown choked Douglas after Raven was knocked to the mat.
Daniels used an enzugiri to send Konnan over the top rope to the floor, eliminating him.
Daniels hit the Angel’s Wings on Brown and clotheslined him from the ring, eliminating him.
Daniels went for the Angel’s Wings on Raven, who blocked it.
Raven used a catapult to send Daniels over the top rope to the floor, eliminating him.
It was down to Raven vs. Douglas, and it was now a regular match. Shane and Raven traded punches, then went to the floor. Shane hit Raven with a chairshot for a two count. Raven got a drop toe hold on Douglas. Raven got a two count with a small package, but Douglas came back with a clothesline. Douglas went for a suplex, but Raven turned it into a small package for a two count. Douglas hit another clothesline and called for the belly to belly suplex. Shane set up for the move, but Raven headbutted out of it and DDT’d Douglas for the pin. Raven is now the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Title.
Next Week:
– NWA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles vs. Raven.
– Dusty Rhodes vs. Glen Gilberti in a bullrope match.
– Michael Shane will defend the X-Division Title.
– Sonny Siaki vs. D’Lo Brown.
Full credit: 1wrestling.com
