Total Nonstop Time Machine: Ep. 3

It’s been a while, but welcome back to another episode of the Total Nonstop Time Machine!

No cold open on this week’s show, and no recap from the prior week where AJ Styles became the inaugural X-Division champion. Instead, we cut right to the arena, as we’ll be getting a one-show tournament to determine NWA World Tag Team Champions. I have some ideas of who all might be involved, but let’s see what Jerry Jarrett and co. have in store for us.

The main event will an extension of last week’s chaos involving Jeff Jarrett, K-Krush, Brian Christopher and Scott Hall with the former two tagging up against the latter two. The crowd, by the way, seems to be a lot livelier. The initial shot comes at the announcers table, where all three men are standing breaking down the events ahead. Don West strikes a chord with Ed Ferrara on the subject of Jarrett and K-Krush, leading Ferrara to stammer through a diatribe about how Jarrett and Krush were “on the wrong end of results” before storming off.

NWA President Jim Miller Announcement

The first FORMAL segment of the show is actually an announcement from NWA President Jim Miller (hence why Tenay, West and Ferrara were all standing). Although Tenay introduces him as “Jim Miller,” the lower third reads, “Jim Wilson, NWA President.” So I’m not all too sure what his name actually is. Either way, Jim apologizes for missing the first set of tapings, as he was on tour in Japan scouting new talent. He says he’s found some new wrestlers and has a surprise for the fans tonight. He then pulls out a trophy as a way of “welcoming TNA to the National Wrestling Alliance.” The surprise, Jim says, is that a 6’4 Japanese guy named “Omori” will challenge for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against the winner of tonight’s Ken Shamrock-Malice match.

That is all.

Jack’s Rating: 2 stars **

NWA-TNA Tag Tournament Round 1: James Storm and Chris Harris vs. The Johnsons w/ Mortimer Plumtree

So last week gave us the debut of what will later become America’s Most Wanted, and TNA did it in a creative way with the duo picking up a win over The Rainbow Express in street clothes. Now, they’re facing off with the Johnsons in the first round, who we haven’t heard from since the first episode. Harris and Storm look more like a tag team this week, wearing similar ring gear. My big worry is that the Johnsons, who don’t really sell, are going over, and so far it doesn’t look good as Storm gets press-slammed about a minute into the match. I wonder what those body suits are made of…

Also a note on Mortimer Plumtree: He reminds me of the guy who used to run the Spring Township youth baseball. The guy was a miserable prick, and I’ll even finger him by name. His name was Lee Biese, and thanks to the growing popularity and contributions from all of our writers that have made The Wrestling Estate great, I can only hope this will be the first thing that comes up if Mr. Biese ever decides to Google his name. Anyway, what made him such a geek in my mind was his over commitment to the wins and losses of a little league baseball game, which in the minds of SOME kids probably ruined the game permanently. He enforced the rules with an iron fist, fought with parents, fought with other managers, fought with the umps… he’s not a good guy by any stretch of the imagination. Which is why he’d make a GREAT wrestling manager!

Enter Mortimer Plumtree, who could pass for Mr. Biese’s twin brother any day of the week. Plumtree is directing traffic from ringside, and I like what I see from him so far. Storm eventually turns the tables and tags in Harris. I’ll probably mention this a lot, but for a long time it was completely realistic to believe Harris, not Storm, was going to be the big singles star in AMW. His offense, even back in 2002, was believable and economical, a great blend of speed and power. Harris eventually gets caught in midair, but gets an assist from Storm on a dropkick, knocking down Johnson No. 2. Harris gets the cover and wins the match. I’m happy to be wrong on this one!

After the match, Plumtree, who asserted his power over his tandem in the first episode during a backstage interview, gets right up in the face of the Johnsons, who can easily smash him at any time… and they do. It appears we have a breakup, but I sure hope this guy resurfaces. Anyway…Harris and Storm advance!

Jack’s rating: 2 ¾ stars **3/4

Scott Hall in the Ring

“Wrestling’s Real Outlaw” Scott Hall joins Jeremy Borash in the ring for an interview, but gets immediately interrupted by Jeff Jarrett! Jarrett says “Hey yo, my ass.” He claims no one wants to see or hear Hall, and tells him to get the hell out. Hall replies, saying Jarrett hasn’t changed and that he doesn’t think Jarrett can back up his smack talk. Hall challenges Jarrett to come down to the ring, to which Jarrett happily obliges, but gets cut off by NWA President Jim ______. Jim says Jarrett has to listen to him or he can get the hell out. Of course, not even Double J seems to know Jim’s last name, but says he will happily take Hall in the main event and that sweaty Jim will get his wish. Turns out, it’s all part of the plan as Hall is a recipient of an in-ring ambush from K-Krush! Hall takes the edge back, however, and runs Krush off with a Last Call and clothesline out of the ring. Weird segment, but again Jarrett really shines.

Jack’s rating: 2 ½ stars **½

James Storm Backstage: Who Dun It?

We cut backstage to Goldylocks who has discovered a bloody and beaten James Storm writhing in pain with Chris Harris and medics attending to him. Bill Behrens appears and shoo’s her out, but we’ll get an update as soon as one becomes available. I’m very interested to see where this goes.

Jack’s rating: 3 stars ***

Monty Brown Debuts!

A wrestler named Anthony Ingram is in the ring to meet his squash match opponent, Monty Brown! This is Brown’s first appearance in TNA. He comes out to a theme that would later become the theme song of Abyss, so my first inclination was that this would be Abyss’ debut, not Brown’s. But Brown takes the mic coming down the ramp and says the Alpha Male has come and there can only be one. He is here for one reason and one reason only: Ken Shamrock. He has what he wants and is going to show the fans in Tennessee how he’s going to get it. Brown immediately starts in on his opponent and his offense is explosive. To this point, he’s probably got more potential than anyone else on the roster. He has the explosiveness to match his physique and from day one, was really just an intense guy. Meanwhile, the commentary team are speculating as to who could have attacked Storm. Ingram is no match for Brown, who eventually connects on a running powerslam before following up with an Alpha Bomb for the win. It’s guys like Monty Brown that should get these squash matches, versus a guy like Cheex who we saw last week and may never even see again. More on that later. Maybe. But a nice debut here for Brown.

Jack’s rating: 3 stars ***

Goldylocks Backstage

Goldylocks is trying to investigate the Storm controversy from earlier, and while she hasn’t made any headway on that, it does appear that the NWA President’s name is Jim Miller after all, meaning the gaff from the opening segment came from the graphics team, not Mike Tenay. Goldylocks asks a pair of wrestlers standing by if they knew anything. I recognize the two blondes as Chase Stevens and Cassidy Reilly, the Hot Shots. They don’t seem to know anything, though. All of a sudden, a midget pries the microphone from Goldy. This is a new midget, unlike the two we saw on the first show, as he astutely points out, kendo stick in hand. He says he wants to make a midget bleed tonight and suggests Gary Coleman before calling him a “has-been.” “How about Mini-Me? Yeah, Mini-Me, I’ll kick your ass, you’re taking all my money in the movies. Even better, why don’t you bring in that drunk midget from The Howard Stern Show? What’s his name, Beetlejuice? I’ll wipe the floor with you!” Personally, I love how self-aware this guy is, as I cannot understand why people can’t just accept midgets for being midgets. “Dwarves,” ladies and gentlemen, are a warrior tribe from Lord of the Rings. But I’m more interested to see how they find time for this, the rest of the NWA World Tag Team tourney, an NWA World Championship match, AND that tag main event. We’re almost a quarter through already!

Jack’s rating: 3 ¼ stars ***¼

NWA-TNA Tag Tournament Round 1: The Rainbow Express vs. Buff Bagwell and Apollo

Bruce has cut his hair this week, and it looks a whole lot better with his receding hairline and what not. Before the match begins, Goldy (who is very busy tonight) interviews their opponents, Marcus Bagwell and Apollo. Buff calls her “Goldylick,” and implies that he’s the greatest tag team wrestler of all-time because he’s won six tag team championships with five partners, and will do it again with Apollo as his understood No. 2. Apollo says he and Bagwell will become the champs, and do you know why? Buff cuts him off and says that we will see that Buff is for real.

Goldy’s the real MVP though, when she sarcastically says, “thank you for that wonderful interview.” But we’ll see how well Bagwell and Apollo work together. Aside from being a massive dickhead momma’s boy, Bagwell could actually wrestle fairly well for his size. Interesting is that even though Buff claims Apollo is his No. 2, the duo is entering the ring to Apollo’s theme song, a spinoff of “Smooth,” by Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana. Bruce is opening the match for the Rainbow Express against Bagwell. By the way, Shia LeBouf could totally play a skinny Joel Gertner if a wrestling movie ever came along that demanded it. Bagwell dominates early but chose to showboat instead of looking for a pinning opportunity. Meanwhile, Alicia, the mysterious woman from the past couple weeks, makes her way down to ringside. She pulls out a black book, and then collects some money from Ferrara, so whatever the gimmick is Ferrara seems to be in on it too. When pressed, he says, “All I’m gonna say is it’s not what you think.” Okay then…

This Lenny Lane is actually pretty athletic for his size if you can get past the silly gimmick. But now the Express have taken back the advantage on Apollo. It’s interesting that the Express are working heel here, and Apollo and Bagwell are supposed to be babyfaces, but it’s impossible to take Bagwell seriously as a true babyface because of what a narcissist he is. Eventually, we reach the hot tag, but the crowd absolutely no-sells it for some reason as Tenay questions what happened to NWA President Jim Miller. Bagwell starts to dominate, then hits the most awkward crossbody you will ever see on Lane who is hung up in the ropes as Marcus ricochet’s off of him, seemingly legitimately shaken up. Apollo then enters the match and absolutely KILLS Bruce with a superkick before connecting on his fireman’s carry rack finisher he’s been using in recent weeks. Of course, Bruce is not the legal man, Lenny is. So Lenny sends Apollo to the outside.

Of course, Apollo is also not the legal man, Bagwell is. So Bagwell hits the blockbuster on Bruce, only to be met with a high-angle superkick from Lenny, picking up a massive win for the Rainbow Express. It was a very average tag match, and while it was a big win for The Rainbow Express, they simply cannot be walking out tonight as champs, so I’m now even more curious to see what’s happened with James Storm. After the match, Bagwell laments his arrogance costing him and Apollo the match in the ring. Apollo pats him on the back and leaves, but Bagwell starts talking to himself and is eventually met by Ferrara and a microphone. Bagwell asks him to not call him “Buff” anymore, but to call him Marcus. Good thing that’s what I’ve been calling him all along! Bagwell says his entire career has been as “Buff” and all that got him was a broken neck and recovery no one gave “a shit about.” He says he just got beat by two gay guys and that he is “done” and going home. He says “Buff” has ruined his career and that he doesn’t want any part of it anymore. He gives Ferrara his top hat and leaves. “Psht, I don’t want it,” says Ferrara. Honestly, that was a very good promo. But I’d be more curious to see what Judy Bagwell thought of it.

Man, that joke will never get old.

Again, match was average-ish. But the promo bumped up the overall segment a little bit. Good show so far!

Jack’s rating: 3 stars ***

Ken Shamrock Promo

Ken Shamrock comes out in street clothes and is getting the “What?” treatment from the fans. He says Monty Brown needs to be careful what he wishes for or he’ll have a short career in the NWA. Speaking of title defenses, Shamrock references his match coming up later against Malice, then references his match “against that Japanese guy” next week. He then says fter that, if Monty Brown is so lucky to get a shot at the title, he’d be happy to take him out. James Mitchell then interrupts and appears to be in the cheap seats. He has a microphone and says that Shamrock need not worry about Monty Brown and instead, should worry about Malice. Suddenly, the lights go out and come back on and Malice is standing over Shamrock’s body. “I know those tattoos…” says Ferrara. Shamrock receives medical attention and a neckbrace, as that’s now two matches in jeopardy for tonight.

Jack’s rating: 2 stars **

Bill Behrens and Jerry Lynn Backstage

Goldylocks is trying to get a word in with a very busy and irritated Behrens. He never seems to be in a good mood, does he? Instead, Jerry Lynn, who is also present, tells Behrens he can find a partner and replace Storm and Harris in the finals later tonight, but Behrens is not hearing him. He says he doesn’t have time for Lynn, or Goldylocks, who says there’s a lot of confusion. Got that right. Behrens needs to get a clue.

Jack’s rating: 2 stars **

Puppet the Psycho Dwarf vs. Todd Stone

Puppet the Psycho Dwarf, as we now know him, has been one of the most entertaining aspects of this show. He says all he needs is a midget in the ring right now. His opponent will be Todd Stone, a midget from Key West, Florida. Stone immediately gets met with a kendo stick and trash can shot, followed by a lariat. Puppet slams Stone directly onto the dented trash can. No midget blood yet. But Puppet makes Stone wear the trash can and take repeated shots with the kendo stick. I guess there are no rules in the midgetweight division? Still no midget blood, but Stone is covered in welts from head to toe. Puppet eventually finishes him with an F-5 (yes, you read that right) onto the trash can. This looked like a video game match. Afterwards, Puppet gives Slick Johnson a whack with the kendo stick before leaving the ring, approaching Don West, who apparently is his biggest fan. “Way to go, little guy!” West says, but gets whapped in the back of the head for his trouble. “Sell that, Don!” says Ferrara. That was funny.

Jack’s rating: 2 ¾ stars **¾

Goldylocks Backstage with Ken Shamrock

Goldy is looking for an update on the health of Shamrock, who is out of his neck brace. The medic says they will be doing a further assessment and don’t know if he will wrestle yet. A nothing segment that I’m not going to bother rating, but while the segments have been higher quality this week, there is just too much jumping around on these old TNA shows to my liking. Everything’s has to offer something of value, and if it doesn’t, you can nix it. Just like how I’m nixing this rating.

Francine and Taylor Vaughn Altercation

We get a recap of Taylor Vaughn winning the Miss TNA Lingerie Battle Royal last week and Francine’s involvement after the match. This week it looks like Francine is ready to compete, and so is Taylor? Maybe? She’s wearing a pantsuit so it’s hard to say. In any event, Vaughn finds herself on the receiving end of another beating from Francine, who is STILL wielding Ed Ferrara’s belt. Somehow, Vaughn takes the belt away from Francine, who now finds herself on the receiving end of Ferrara’s belt. The referee tries to seize the foreign object, but Vaughn catches him in the back of the head with it before the ref takes it back and disqualifies Vaughn. I didn’t know we were even having a match? Ferrara is still singing the praises of Francine, and again meets her in the ring to comfort “his girl.” He gives Francine the belt back and raises her hand but again, Ferrara finds a way to feel Francine up. She responds by slapping him in the face with his own belt, and a stiff shot at that. Another strange segment, and one I could have done without.

Jack’s rating: 1 star *

Hermie Sadler Returns

Hermie, introduced by Borash, can only thank the fans for coming out before being interrupted by K-Krush, making his second appearance of what will probably be three on this show. K-Krush hates NASCAR, doesn’t give a damn about it and neither do the fans. AGAIN, this is a babyface promo in 2018. He asks Hermie if he wants some of him. And apparently he does! Sadler spears K-Krush and we seem to have a pull-apart brawl on our hands. K-Krush says he has a main event match tonight, but has all the time in the world for him next week. Sadler accepts the challenge and I guess that’s a match that’s happening next week?

I’m of the school of thought that a wrestler should appear on a show one time for every hour the show is broadcasted. If it’s a two-hour show, two appearances. Three-hour Raws? Up to three times. Overexposure is a criminal booking sin, and while I liked this segment in the way that a bodybuilder likes In-N-Out (secretly, and more than they’d like to admit), I just don’t know if you can believably make a NASCAR driver look strong getting one over on a wrestler. I’d lean no on that one, though while I have gone Keto, for the record, I will sing the praises of In-N-Out 25/8.

Jack’s rating: 2 ¾ stars **¾

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ken Shamrock © vs Malice

So I guess this match IS happening. Malice and Mitchell make their way to the ring first. Shamrock is next, grimacing all the way to the ring. So we didn’t get that update after all, but the match is now upon us. The pre-match beating does help Shamrock as a fighting champion, which is what he is marketing himself as if his promos are any indication. Malice takes an early edge, smartly directing his offense at Ken’s head and neck. He’s also working incredibly stiff here. Whether that’s because he’s fighting a very resilient Shamrock or it’s because he sucks, I’m not sure and will need to see more. Also, why is this match in the midcard? It’s the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. It should never be in any spot other than the main event. Especially after all the trouble they went through pontificating its history on the first show.

Two minutes in, still no offense for Shamrock. Also, as he gets thrown to the floor, you really get a sense for how thin that padding is over the concrete floor. At least the WWE has a couple layers to it. Here, it basically serves no purpose because of how thin it is. More or less a yoga mat. All of a sudden, Shamrock catches Malice in an ankle pick, and Malice gets to the ropes before quickly taking back the advantage. I suppose that is somewhat compelling about Shamrock’s matches: he’s always a threat to strike, and we may see that yet. Four minutes in, and Malice has dominated thanks to the attack from earlier in the night. Finally, Shamrock blocks a suplex attempt and counters with one of his own. But Malice practically no sells it. Still, Shamrock counters a strike, pulls him in, gets the belly-to-belly suplex and the three-count! Shamrock retains, although there’s practically no post-match scene whatsoever. The match told a good story overall, but was probably unnecessary and could have been held over for a future show where it could have been the main event.

Next week: Shamrock vs. Omori.

Jack’s rating: 3 stars ***

X-Division Championship: David Young w/ Bobcat vs. AJ Styles (c)

Tenay says Alex Marvez (who I have never heard of) said the X-Division tournament match was the best thing he’s seen all year and is someone who is “not easily impressed.” Hmph. But right now it looks like we’re getting David Young vs. AJ Styles! Young, even with last week’s gaff, is still using Bobcat as his manager, while Styles, of course, is the X-Division Champion after last week’s stellar match. It was also just brought to my attention that this is for the gold, meaning this is the first show in TNA history where all belts are on the line. Styles employing some dangerous offense early, but man, when it hits does it look awesome. Tenay reminds us that the X-Division is “Not about weight limits. It’s about no-limits.” Can’t wait for that one to go away. Styles gets hung up on the top rope and pushed off by Young, who follows up with a beautiful Asai moonsault.

Meanwhile, Bobcat is continuing her attention whore gimmick on her cellphone at ringside. Styles eventually counters a German suplex with a beautiful flip over, but takes another suplex into the turnbuckle. Young is acknowledged as the biggest competitor in the X-Division so far. Of course, flash forward to today and Brian Cage has him beat by a significant margin, probably with half the body fat, too (with apologies to Mr. Young). Following a series of restholds from Young and posturing from Bobcat, Styles begins to take the advantage back with a series of quick strikes, though not quite like what we see from him today. He then gets caught with the spinebuster from David Young, his finishing move. It was a helluva move, too, as Styles kind of jumped and spun back into a catch-and-release type maneuver from Young. He does kick out, however. Young tries to finish with a Frankensteiner from the top, but Styles stops his momentum and ends up hitting a Super Styles Clash for the win! Great match, not quite as good as that slobberknocker last week, but this has been the best match on this show thus far, with the most time without a doubt. After the match, Bobcat tries to take AJ’s spotlight, but AJ shoves her out of the way. She is still nonplussed, however.

Jack’s rating: 4 stars ****

Rainbow Express Interview

Joel Gertner tells Goldy he is taken aback by her beauty and asks her why life has to be so damn complicated, referencing his sex toys getting confiscated by airport security. When asked who the Rainbow Express wants to wrestle, Gertner suggests wrestling Goldylocks in a little “belly-to-back action.” He says that he expects the Express to be awarded the belts since there is no team thus far willing to compete against them in the championship match. Gertner then plants one on Goldylocks and she doesn’t look nearly as grossed out as she probably should be.

Jack’s rating: 3 stars ***

NWA World Tag Team Championship: Rainbow Express vs. ???

So Gertner and the Express do come out to the ring, but will have opponents after all. It’s Jerry Lynn and… AJ Styles! That’s right. Styles had just gone 12 or 13 minutes with David Young in the prior match and is now teaming with Lynn, his rival from last week with an opportunity to become a double champion on the line! Compelling stuff, especially for a guy his age. I guess Lynn was able to get through to Behrens after all….

Styles is selling his back from Young’s spinebuster, but is still able to hit a vaulting corkscrew to the outside on the three other men. Meanwhile, Lynn is working Lane back in the ring. That’s a tongue twister, Lynn vs. Lenny. Lane. Lynn eventually knocks Lane into the corner and uses Bruce to repeatedly ram his head into Lenny’s crotch. “I’ll bet he likes that,” says West. Interesting thing about this match is how traditionally, the babyface team will face the hard cam with the heels facing away from it. Come to think of it, it was the same situation with the previous match. I guess that’s an easy way to be a little different, and I don’t really mind.

West says AJ Styles is Spiderman, Batman and Superman all rolled up into one. Lynn hits a nice modified bulldog off the top rope, but gets pulled off as the Rainbow Express takes the advantage. Meanwhile, the commentary team is still speculating who took out Storm and you have to wonder when we’re going to get a resolution to that conflict. Lynn is now taking a beating at the hands of Lenny and Bruce, and is all of a sudden no longer the fresh man in the match, meaning it’ll probably be up to Styles to win for the faces. Lenny goes on to hit a delayed vertical suplex on Lynn in an impressive feat of strength. I may hate the gimmick, but I can’t help but be impressed by that. In fact, Lenny and Bruce are working together well and really have the vibe of an old-fashioned heel tag team. I’m not sure what Gertner adds to them, though. He’s a great voice on the mic, but has pretty much nothing in common with either guy.

Lynn has a couple cool spots with Bruce where Bruce attempts to hump him from the bottom before Lynn reverses into a pinning attempt. Finally, Lynn gets the hot tag to Styles, and he’s on fire, using every inch of his unique offense to dispense of Lenny. He does eventually get cut off, but finally it’s Lane and Styles in the ring with Styles getting the win with the Spiral Tap as Gertner rolls into the ring like the rolli-polli that he is. Styles and Lynn are the champs, and get the fireworks treatment! Styles is a double champion, and while Slick Johnson gives both belts to him, the Phenomenal One happily gives Lynn his share of the gold, though Lynn teased some jealousy of Styles getting the pin. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of these two as rivals, but they are worthy Tag Team Champions, even if it means having two belts on Styles.

Jack’s rating: 4 stars ****

Commotion in the Back

We cut to the back as security is running into a dark room where we find Jim Miller tied up with tape over his mouth and a big, red “FU” painted across his belly. Short segment, but at least we established where Miller has been. And now you have to wonder if this kidnapping is connected to the beating Storm took earlier in the night.

Jack’s rating: 3 ¾ stars ***¾

Jeff Jarrett and K-Krush vs. Brian Christopher and Scott Hall

Jarrett and Krush are first to the ring after we get a quick recap of how we got to the main event, highlighting the problems between all four men. Christopher then makes his way to the ring, followed by Hall. Sadly, no Jackie Fargo or Toby Keith this week. Both teams get it on immediately and both pairs of rivals go their separate ways into the crowd as this has quickly devolved into a street fight in two different parts of the building. Hall is beating Jarrett up in the stripper cage while Christopher is chasing Krush through the crowd. Hall finally drags Jarrett back to the barricade and into ringside. It appears as though Krush and Christopher are the two legal men. Christopher tries for the Hip-Hop Drop, but Krush moves. Krush then takes a chokeslam from Hall as Jarrett, who was playing possum, slides back into the ring and unloads on Hall. Perhaps these two are the legal men? We never really established that…

I’m a little torn on Brian Christopher. On one hand, the crowd seems to be into him and his offense is explosive and athletic. On the other hand, his mannerisms annoy me to no end and I cannot appreciate it as part of his babyface persona. How these fans don’t feel the same, I’m not sure. Must be a southern thing…

Jarrett asks Hall how he likes him now. One commonality with a lot of the TNA roster at this time is that it’s a roster of great punchers. All four guys in this match can deliver solid, convincing punches, then you have the solid punching from the prior match, too. Of those eight guys, Styles is probably the worst puncher at this time, which says a lot about the high level and precision that goes into such a simple maneuver. Jarrett eventually catches Hall into a sleeper, but gets reversed. Jarrett counters with a jawbreaker as we reach a hot tag point in the match. Expect Christopher to explode on Truth. As I say that, Christopher decides to slide over and pull on Krush’s hair, attracting the ref’s attention and not being present for Hall to make the tag. Instead, Jarrett reaches Krush who takes advantage of a weakened Hall. Another hot tag attempt is thwarted by Jarrett, who tags in, but Hall catches him with a double clothesline. This time, Hall does make the t……..no he doesn’t! Christopher pulls his hand away!

Instead, we get a ref bump and Hall unloads on everyone in the match, including Christopher! Hall finally takes Krush out with the Razor’s Edge, but Jarrett plays possum one more time, though, he too gets caught in the Razor’s Edge! But he gets saved by Christopher and hits the Stroke on Hall, just as the referee is coming to. Meanwhile, Jarrett summons Christopher to the top rope to hit the Hip-Hop Drop, goggles and all. Jarrett then covers Hall for the three-count and it seems like a new alliance is born as Jarrett, Christopher and Krush all celebrate as it looks like Krush and Christopher were in cahoots all along!

Jarrett takes the mic. He says he proved his point, and that’s that Hall “ain’t worth a shit.” He says he beat his ass in ‘95, ‘97, ran his ass out of WCW and is going to single handedly run him out of the NWA. He goes on to knock Hall out of the ring. “Scott Hall, you’re just like all the other legends in the NWA. You ain’t worth a damn. Mike Tenay, you take that to President Jim Miller, you take that to Harley Race, Dory Funk and all their tradition.” Jarrett then takes the TNA trophy Miller presented earlier in the show and smashes it over Hall’s head. He takes the mic one more time and calls out the Tennessee Titans offensive line in the front row and one more time says he is running Hall out of the NWA, elbowing him on to the stretcher.

He says he got screwed his first night in TNA and will damned if that ever happens again. As Hall’s being stretchered out, Jarrett tips the stretcher over again, spilling Hall out on the floor to stage-right. Jarrett finally storms off as the show ends. Jarrett says he will prove that he should have walked out the champion on the premiere episode. Cut back to the announce table and Tenay begins to preview next week’s show… at least until an incensed Jarrett runs back out again and puts the boots to Hall one more time! Jarrett then takes the stretcher and throws it on top of Hall as the show finally ends.

Jack’s rating: 3 ½ stars

Overall thoughts: The match to close the show was solid, and I saw no problems with it for what it was. It’s funny how I practically called the Christopher turn, because he’s just not a babyface in any way. However, where I thought the post-match segment could have elevated the overall segment, it went on wayyyyy too long to my liking, as Jarrett began repeating lines. The beating was fine, though, and I’m curious to see what becomes of the Jarrett-Krush-Christopher coalition in future weeks. But make no mistake, this was top-to-bottom TNA’s best show of its first three. It sort of reminded me of the old ECW shows where there were on-going storylines throughout the show and they sort of came into focus at different points when necessary. I just wish TNA did a better job of doing more with less as we do get a lot of needless segments. Still, if I was watching this live, I’d definitely be tuning in next week to see what’s next, because this was a compelling show with good wrestling and better storytelling.

Final rating: 3 ½ stars ***1/2