NWA-TNA PPV #1 Review - June 19th, 2002 (Watch Along w/ My World podcast)

NWA-TNA PPV #1 
June 19th, 2002

Huntsville, Alabama

This was initially something I watched, reviewed, and never posted for a project I was starting. Almost a year passed, and Jeff Jarrett began his podcast "My World" with Conrad Thompson. They proceeded to do two whole episodes on the formation of NWA-TNA and did a third which was a watch along of this first show. SO, you know I had to dig this review up and do the watch along and add in some stuff on this review before FINALLY posting it. 

Don West starts things and that already tells me what I’m getting into.

West, Mike Tenay and Ed Ferrara are on commentary. Tonight we crown a new NWA World Champion on the first ever NWA-TNA event. Things have changed and tonight is all about non stop action. They go to the ring where Jeremy Borash brings out former NWA champions. Harley Race and many others. Ricky Steamboat is holding the NWA Title and will present it later. He cuts a promo on how much the title means to him and everyone else in the ring. Jeff Jarret interrupts and I still love his theme music. Jarrett talks his way into being named the #1 entrant in the title gauntlet. Ken Shamrock comes out to talk some shit and get a pop followed by SCOTT HALL. Jarrett promises to win and make Fargo regret the day he made him enter first.

AEW: Dynamite Review - June 18th, 2021

AEW: Dynamite

June 18th, 2021 

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL 

1) Jake Hager vs. Wardlow - MMA Cage Fight

This is what I’m guessing is AEW’s take on what NXT did with the “fight pit” gimmick. Admittedly I haven’t seen many of those matches so this entire concept will be pretty new to my eyes. To me, I think they did a decent job for what it is. It’s set up like an MMA octagon. They are doing 3 five minute rounds. Hager has the clear verbalized advantage so they have Wardlow look out of his element early then he surprises Hager with some power and takedowns which lead to strikes. Round two ends up belonging to Hager though and he forces Wardlow to tap. They blended the wrestling with the “MMA” here and didn’t try too hard to make this super MMA so it didn’t come off bad at all and was definitely something different to spice things up.

Match rating - **3/4

After the match, Shawn Spears attacks Hager despite he & Wardlow teasing a fist bump post bout. Chris Jericho then runs in which leads to my favorite line of the show..

“We’ve got a rat in the building...” -Tony Schiavone

AEW: Dynamite Review - June 11th, 2021

AEW: Dynamite

June 11th, 2021

Daily's Place - Jacksonville, FL

Commentators - Excalibur, Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone

Even before the signature opening video package, we see The Pinnacle rolling out of their limousine outside of the arena and JR says "BUSINESS IS ABOUT TO PICK UP!"

The show begins with Matt Hardy in the ring with Jack Evans & Angelico.. what a sentence. He talks some shit to Christian and we go straight into our first match of the night.

1) Christian Cage vs. Angelico (w/ Jack Evans & Matt Hardy) 

This is fine. Christian’s selling of the arm Angelico does some work on is superb. Angelico manages not to fuck anything up here and Christian sells for his limb work. Christian mounts his comeback with a flying headbutt for a near fall before eventually hitting the kill switch for the pin.

Match rating - ** 

Jack Evans hits the ring post match, Christian fights him off, but Matt Hardy is waiting for him. TWIST OF FATE TO CHRISTIAN. Jungle Boy runs in to check on Christian whilst Hardy and company scatter. 

Random Match Review: NJPW Dominion 6.6 - Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match - June 7th, 2021

Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi 

NJPW: Dominion

June 7th, 2021

When this match was announced, I was excited, but felt indifferent about it at the same time. Shingo getting another title shot? Yay. It’s against Okada.. uh oh. 

The backstory here is Will Ospreay was the champion. He defeated Kota Ibushi in Ibushi’s first defense of the newly christened IWGP World Heavyweight Title (the merging of the old belt and the IC belt.) He then defeated Shingo Takagi in his first defense, but he didn’t come out unscathed. An injured Ospreay was forced to relinquish the belt soon after his second five star, highly acclaimed match with a man who has become one of his greatest rivals, Shingo. 

Random Match Review: NJPW Dominion 6.6 - Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb - June 7th, 2021

Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb

NJPW: Dominion 

June 7th, 2021 

So, yeah. I totally can’t be arsed to review this whole show, but I OBVIOUSLY watched the two higher profile matches on the show considering I’m a Shingo and Ibushi mark of many years. 

Here, we have a Kota Ibushi coming off losing a massive match to Will Ospreay, also losing his IWGP World Heavyweight Title in the process. A title that he christened. That sucks for our beloved Kota. Now, Jeff Cobb stands in front of him. A beast that has reached new heights since joining up with the man who dethroned Ibushi. 

The story pretty much writes itself and thankfully, the action holds up, too. They only have one prior singles meeting so it’s still relatively fresh. That first meeting came in the G1 climax last year and its fine. Standard stuff, really, but largely forgetful. I also don’t remember getting too ~riled up~ about it.

I DID get RILED up for this, however. It’s not some masterpiece or a must see match or anything. It is a fucking blast and a half, though. Probably because it plays to both men’s strengths and doesn’t try to be anything epic or extra.

Kota has the speed, agility and crisp strikes. Cobb just throws his ass around and clobbers him. 

It’s good and goes back & forth and I loved it. I think you will too! 

Also.. COBB HITS A FUCKING KAMIGOYE. That exchange alone had me ROLLING. Great match, Kota wins and looks to head back for his damn belt, brother. 

Match rating - ****

AEW: Dynamite Review - June 4th, 2021

AEW Dynamite

Friday, June 4th, 2021

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL 

Commentators: Excalibur, Jim Ross, & Tony Schiavone 

It’s the fallout from Double or Nothing! Very excited to see what’s next for everyone so let’s jump right into this Friday night edition of AEW Dynamite. 

1) The Young Bucks (w/ Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Brandon Cutler, & Don Callis) vs. PAC & Penta El Zero Miedo 

AEW: Double or Nothing 2021 Review

AEW Double or Nothing 

May 30th, 2021

Daily’s Place - Jacksonville, FL 

Commentators - Excalibur, Jim Ross, & Tony Schiavone

For the first time ever, I attended an AEW event and not just an event, but a PPV event. The first PPV event back with fans in full capacity and it was honestly the best live wrestling experience of my life.

It took me a few days to fully recover from the 8 hour round trip and all the yelling & chanting, but I finally was able to get my full thoughts together on this fantastic event. Please note, I haven't watched this back on tape yet, so some of these ratings could change slightly on a re-watch, but I'm pretty confident in most of them. 

1) Serena Deeb (c) vs. Riho - NWA Women’s Title Match 

This was a match that was announced super last minute, but boy was everyone in attendance so hyped for the in ring action to start that this felt like it had weeks and weeks of build. Great reactions for both women in their entrances, but the true response came as the match progressed and dueling “Let’s go Riho / Let’s go Deeb” chants broke out. It made everything feel important and the ladies busted their ass, more than matching the energy, they enhanced it. Serena is superb and was the ace here working Riho’s knee/leg and slowing this down when needed. This had an electricity about it being the first match back with a full capacity crowd and it rocked, I need more of these two. Deeb forces Riho to tap to retain her title after a fucking great back & forth match. 

Match rating - ***3/4

2) Brian Cage vs. “Hangman” Adam Page