Did you know I'm a TNA fan? Ok kidding no doubt you have seen how much I love TNA. But truth be told I missed the first show hell I had no idea a new wrestling company was even starting up back than. But after the first show a buddy told me about it and said I might enjoy it so I bought the second show and well have watched ever since. Now if you only became a TNA fan post 2004 you may not know how far the company has really come. Back than they weren't on TV they could only do weekly PPV's. The first show had introduced a good chunk of the roster and saw Ken Shamrock win the NWA world title. The second was about crowning the first X-Division champion. So does the show that made me a a fan hold up well or is it junk that will destroy may fandom forever?
We open with a recap of week one and the Gauntlet for Gold for the NWA Championship. Its actually a decent open to remind or inform of the key stories from first one and yes the include the Toby Keith suplexing Jeff Jarrett. And Shamrock managing to beat the massive Malice to win the whole thing. And Jackie Fargo setting a match between Jeff Jarrett vs Scott Hall for week two. Than we get the old NWA-TNA intro and I do mean NWA-TNA that's what the company was called back than in an effort to give there titles some history they used the NWA name. Honestly I thought it was a good move as it allowed TNA to call on some great history at a time they had none.The first two shows were filmed in Huntsville Alabama and our commentary team was Mike Tenay, Don West, and Ed Ferrara. (yes that Ed Ferrara) The team hype a few matches for tonight including the crowing Miss TNA, a match with Brian Lawler and K-Krush. Jeff Jarrett came out saying he wasn't going to wait anymore and called out Hall.
Jeff Jarrett vs Scott Hall with Jackie Fargo and Toby Keith- Hall was just out of the WWE at this point and yeah this was one first feuds TNA really pushed. I find it kind of strange they paired Hall up with Fargo when you know Jarrett and Fargo would make more sense as a face team given the Memphis connection and Hall was never regard as a guardian of tradition than again most causal fans would cheer for Hall. Both guys used the normal spots like Jarrett's drop kick and Hall's scope slam. To the credit of Mike Tenay he pointed out a win here would be big in moving either man toward a shot at Shamrock. Ferrara played the heel cheering color man putting over Jarrett but he wasn't awful about it. Instead he would point things like how smart Jarrett was for this or why that worked. Sadly Don West was just really learning how to call wrestling and was to over the top in cheer for a face and kind of being stupid when he went "come on Jarrett wrestle him." When Jarrett had a sleeper or insisting Hall had won when Jarrett kicked at two. Hall the outsider edge set up for but K-Krush (Ron Killing R-Truth) ran out an pulled Jarrett off Halls' back. Brian Lawler ran out and run off K-Krush. Jarrett set up for the stroke but Toby Keith low blowed Jeff. Leading to Hall winning. Match was pretty good as Jarrett is a great talent and Hall was on. Finish sucked though I think TNA was hoping Keith would keep appearing but that never happened. But it seems like they were trying to set up for some kind of Jarrett and Keith match. Plus this finish make Hall look like a heel since he won by cheating.
We than get a preview of the Miss TNA Lingerie Battle Royal. Yeah TNA really did a lot of throwing against the wall to see what sticks stuff back than. They only actually named one girl that would be in it and that was Francine. Pushing the idea she was the top girl in ECW and wanted to take over TNA I would preferred they would have named at least a few of the the other girls.
Cheex with the Brown Eye Girl vs Frank Parker- Cheex was a massive fat guy that Tenay claimed was trained by Gene and Ole Anderson. In a funny story (now not than) Cheex was in a dark match before the first show and broke the ring right before TNA went living forcing the Harris Twins to repair in on the fly. Parker was your basic jobber. I have no idea why TNA would hire Cheex the was just a freak show act why not give a spot to someone who actually would make your company look good. In a side story moment we saw Alicia (Webb) show up and demand money from Jeremy Borash as part of a story that never went anywhere. Cheex won with an attempted splash and I mean attempt since Cheex couldn't jump up to do it. Match sucked and again hiring guys like Cheex only makes your company look bad. Hell as much as I ranted about freakin Vic Grimes during WSX at least Grimes could do a few moves Cheex couldn't even move.
We get a recap of K-Krush insulting NASCAR drivers Sterling Marlin and Hermie Sadler. This was clearly meant to appeal to NASCAR fans since the company was based in the south. Of course Krush did have a point saying "This is wrestling not NASCAR." Brian Lawler ran out to make the save setting up there match for tonight. Decent segment and hey attest the NASCAR drivers made GM's like WWE would do in a few years. Also Lalwer's gimmick witch was still his Too Cool look didn't fit with well NASCAR Drivers. I should also note Hermie is a big wrestling fan and has appeared with TNA off and on over years even using TNA talents on in his United Wrestling Federation and in 2009 hosted a web show for them.
K-Krush vs Brian Lawler with Sterling Marlin and Hermie Sadler- Ok now they are calling Lawler, Brian Christopher he was still doing the Too Cool gimmick here but still make up your mind. West and Ferrara had the whole "Are NASCAR drivers athlete debate." Look I get TNA was trying to get press and NASCAR is huge in the south and I love NASCAR but this is wrestling show. This match looked really sloppy at time never dangerous but never that good looking on exchanges. That said the fans were really hot for this. Some interference by the NASCAR drivers allowing Christopher to hit the hip hop drop for the win. Again the face looks heel like for having his buddies help him out. The good news is the NASCAR stuff was gone after this the bad news that opened the door for Krush to become world champion.
Battle Royal to Crow Miss TNA- The winner was the girl with her clothes on in the end. The winner not only got the title Miss TNA but was the only with a contract. Besides Francine, Alexis Laree (Mickie James), Elektra, and Daffney. All the girls wore Pajamas I assume they were was to tear than normal gear. A lot of the girls right into cat fight mode. Problem is having this many people just rolling in the ring you have no idea who is who. A bunch of the girls teamed up and eliminated Francine. We got some dumb comedy with Ed Ferrara feeling up Francine and than her taking his belt to whip him ad the problem is that cause us to miss a number of eliminated leaving it to Taylor Vaugh (Nurse BB) and Mickie James. Taylor won and attacked by Francine who whipped her. Dumb segment and match and if you watched for the T and A you didn't get to see anything. I really do have no idea why TNA didn't keep Francine around they also didn't keep the Miss TNA title around after this
Person that watched TNA Back than: That's not true Taylor lost the title to…
TNA FANS DON'T DISCUSS THAT! Ever.
Goldylocks interviewed Apolo but was interrupted by Bobcat and David Young. Bobcat insisted that Goldylocks should be interviewing Young. They were setting for the next match her and it was ok I get the feeling someone was trying to set up something with Goldy and Bobcat.
Apolo vs David Young with Bobcat- Apolo was a guy from Puerto Rico who had a few runs in TNA I always think TNA wanted to make him a big international star but he never caught on. Young was out of Georgia and had had a few runs with TNA he was actually a very good friend and regular rival of AJ Styles pre TNA. Bobcat wasn't even paying attention to the match but unlike a WWE diva this actually meant to be her gimmick that she was a distraction for Young. Apolo and a Young had a pretty good basic match.Young hit a spine buster but got distracted seeing Bobcat flirting with JB allowing Apolo to hit a F5 for the win. As I said decent match.
Joel Gertner introduced his tag team of Lenny and Bruce The Rainbow Express. Joel did one of his funny pomes. Backstage the Dupes a redneck tag team refused to wrestle the Express. TNA official Bill Behraes begged James Storm and Chris Harris to take there place. Harris and Storm agreed and didn't even get a chance to change into gear. And thus one of the greatest tag teams ever was formed. I really like the touch of Harris and Storm having to wrestle in jeans and tennis shoes since the idea was they weren't supposed to wrestle so why have there gear on already.
The Rainbow Express Lenny and Bruce with Joel Gertner vs Chris Harris and James Storms- Harris and Storm were actually paired up after TNA saw them have a great match on a USA wrestling show. In a nice touch West and Ferrara (who were actually there) mentioned that match and put over Harris and Storm for begin willing to team up to get a chance on PPV. They made no secret that the Rainbow Express were "gay" and the two did a number of things to see that and get cheap heat and listening to Don West do commentary here I am convinced the guy that ran site I used to work on was feeding Don lines yeah it was that bad and instead of making The Express look like heel it made Don look awful. The Rainbow Express had control for a while but Storm made a hot tag to the Wildcat. Harris rolled up Bruce for the win. This match was pretty good and you could see that early potential that Harris and Storm had and why they would go on to be the first great TNA tag team. But yeah
Ricky Steamboat was in the ring and brought out new NWA world champion Ken Shamrock. Steamboat listed the great champions of NWA past and pointed out Ken was now part of the club forever. I always do like when wrestling brings up the past. (instead of just bringing out the stars of the past) Shamrock promised to be a fighting champion and said he's alway risen to the top where ever he's been. James Mitchell interrupted to say he was on a mission from his god and his Dispels of the New Church would make sure he would control the NWA title. Mitchell challenged Shamrock to put the title on the line next week against Disciple Slash. Shamrock was willing to do it that night but this all proved to be a trap as Malice (the runner up from the gauntlet) came out and attacked Shamrock. This was actually a pretty effective segment. Setting up for Shamrock's first title defense. Plus Malice had an awesome look and had worked very well with Shamrock the week before.We get highlights of Jerry Lynn, AJ Styles, and Low Ki vs Flying Elvis's . This was meant to show new fans what the X-Division was all about.
Round Robin Tournament to Crown the First X-Division Champion AJ Styles vs Psicosis vs Low Ki vs Jerry Lynn- The rules of the match were two men started as a man was pinned or submitted another man came in lose two falls you were out. AJ and Psicosis started us out. I really like the set up for this match you had two veterans vs two young talents. Psicosis hit a leg drop off the top rope but AJ kicked at two. AJ contoured a hunncanrana into the Styles Clash for a pin. Low Ki came in a got a early advantage on AJ until a kip up ran a witch really is a amazing move to see. AJ and Low Ki exchanged some quick back and forth moves and in one spot KI went for a dragon sleeper to hang AJ from the ropes only AJ had a broke foot and couldn't keep the hold so the instead rolled into the ring. A lot of young guys main eventing a PPV for the first time would panic AJ and Ki didn't. AJ used a face buster to pin Ki brining in Jerry Lynn. Lynn quickly hit the cradle pile driver to pin AJ. I think that was smart booking since AJ had already beat two guys but now Lynn looked like the guy to beat since he beat the guy with two pins. It amazes me that Jerry Lynn was 39 here and would wrestle into his late 40's and appeared to never lose a step. It would be one thing if he was just doing suplexs or submission holds but the guy was flying around. Lynn hit a drop kick on Psicosis as he came off the top and than the cradle pile driver for a pin and take Psicosis out. Lynn went for another piledriver but Low Ki counted it into a arm bar that Lynn broke with a power bomb. Ki looked for the Ki Krusher but Lynn counted into a spiked pile driver and than finally hit the cradle pile driver to end Low Ki's night. Now were down to the final 2 Lynn with zero falls against him and AJ with one. AJ hit an phenomenal springboard twisting splash for a near fall. Lynn hit a tornado DDT for a near fall of his own. AJ hit the Styles clash for a pin to tie everything up. In a nice touch Ricky Steamboat came in to over see the final fall. The two men exchanged a series of quick pin attempts to try and win. It was amazing to watch two men wrestle and exchange flawlessly. In amazing spot AJ jumped from the floor onto the apron and flipped back off for an inverted DDT. The sad thing is so often high flying wrestlers often get labeled spot monkeys when the truth is AJ and Lynn can not only fly the can chain wrestle with the best of them each exchange was a thing of beauty. Finally AJ hit the Spiral Tap for the win and to make history as the first champion of the X-Division. This was the match that made me a TNA fan and made AJ Style my new favorite wrestler. It's still one of the greatest matches I have ever seen.
So yeah there was a lot of goofy and downright bad stuff on this show. I mean stuff like Cheex the battle royal sucked. Tenay and Ferrara were good on commentary but West needed a lot of work but he did get better. But main that main event of course I had to keep to keep buy these PPV's I had to see more of AJ Styles. I had to see more of Harris and Storm. I don't think you need to see the whole show but it worth checking out to see the start of AMW and of course that main event. TNA was still finding its way but the good was there and over a decade later TNA is still going strong.
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