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March 3rd
On this day in history in ....
1922 - Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeated Stanislaus Zbyszko in Wichita, Kansas to win the World Heavyweight Title.
2000 - ECW holds what would become a "forgotten" event at the Convention Center in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The idea was for ECW to tape television that would air after the Living Dangerously PPV (Steve Corino even did an in-ring interview with his head bandaged, foreshadowing his bloody match with Dusty Rhodes at the PPV), including the first ever Exploding Barbed Wire Board match in ECW history (actually, the only Exploding Barbed Wire Board match in ECW history), between Balls Mahoney and Vic Grimes of Da Baldies. However, one of the exploding boards malfunctioned, and the other went off well after impact had taken place, and the less-than-devastating explosion was greeted by groans from the over 2,000 fans in attendance. While a shot of the explosion was used in TV ads, the match itself was never aired. Here are the results from the show:
- CW Anderson defeated Kintaro Kanemura.
- Danny Doring & Amish Roadkill defeated Gedo & Jado.
- Lance Storm & Justin Credible defeated Chris Chetti & Nova.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Kid Kash.
- Super Crazy defeated Little Guido.
- Steve Corino defeated New Jack.
- ECW World Champion Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka ended in a no-contest.
- The Sandman defeated Angel of Da Baldies.
- Balls Mahoney defeated Vic Grimes of Da Baldies in an Exploding Barbed Wire Board match.
2004 - TNA held their weekly Pay-per-view in Nashville, Tennessee, here is Mike Johnson's original report on the show:
This week's NWA: TNA PPV from Nashville, TN at the Fairgrounds opened with AJ Styles warning everyone that cable theft is wrong and hurts everyone involved in the company. Styles asked everyone to enjoy the PPV.
A video feature aired on the Vince Russo-Jeff Jarrett-Chris Harris storyline
The NWA:TNA opening video aired.
Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed everyone to the show and promoted AJ Styles vs. Abyss in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
The first bout on the show saw Kevin Northcutt vs. Chris Harris. They talked about Harris being the number one contender to Jeff Jarrett's NWA championship. They announced that Vince Russo ordered Jarrett not to wrestle tonight. Northcutt locked Harris in a hammerlock but Harris reversed. Northcutt laid into Harris with a series of rights in the corner. They battle went to the floor where Northcutt grabbed a chair. Harris fought back and slammed Northcutt head first into it. Northcutt's head was trapped in the chair and Harris whipped him into the ringpost. Harris tossed him back into the ring for a nearfall. Northcutt powered over Harris and slammed him down on his shoulder. Harris came back with a vertical suplex. Northcutt went for a pumphandle slam but Harris got out of it and hit a spear for a near fall. Harris went for the Catatonic but Northcutt cut him off. Harris finally came back for the three count. James Storm congratulated Harris and raised his arm. Your winner, Chris Harris!
Scott Hudson interviewed Trinity. Trinity said she isn't with Jeff Jarrett anymore and she's her own woman but with Vince Russo back in power, she and him are close and have a New York thing connection. Simon Diamond & D-Lo Brown & Sonny Siaki & Ron Killings & Konnan interrupted her. Hudson told Diamond that these aren't his regular running buddies in the ten man tag tonight. Diamond said Vince Russo says it's all about opportunity but what kind of opportunity did WWE give Brown all these years? Diamond said that Killings was the hottest property in wrestling when TNA started but "promises are broken." Diamond said Johnny Swinger wasted five years of their lives and threw it away. Diamond said that he was the best man in Swinger's wedding and now he will be Swinger's worst nightmare.
The next match was a 10 man tag with Michael Shane & Kid Kash (with Tracy Brooks) & David Young & Johnny Swinger & Glen Gilberti vs. Simon Diamond & D-Lo Brown & Sonny Siaki & Ron Killings & Konnan. BG James is doing commentary. They opened up with Young and Brown. Shane and Konnan tagged in. James said Konnan asked to be in the match for a shot at Shane. Konnan opens up on Shane with a massive clothesline. Shane takes out his eyes and climbs to the top but Konnan sends him into the air and crotches him on the ropes. Shane almost fell from the ropes to the floor. Konnan tagged out to Siaki while Shane tagged out to Kid Kash. Killing tagged in and hit a face first powerbomb. Kash hit a double springboard moonsault on Killings for a near fall. Swinger tagged in and was hit by Killings with a leg lariat. Simon Diamond tagged in but Swinger tagged out quickly to Gilberti. Shane tagged in and took over on Diamond but missed the picture perfect elbow off the top rope. Killings and Gilbert tagged in. Young and Swinger tried to double clothesline him but were both dropkicked. Killings went for a pin on Young but Kash came off the top with a double axhandle to break it up. Swinger tagged in but tagged back out when Diamond tried to get at him. Diamond tried to pin Young but Shane broke it up. Diamond went after him but was hit by a Young spinebuster. Siaki hit the Siakolips on Young. Everyone went into a sequence using finishers, culminating with Diamond and Swinger facing off in the ring. Young attacked Diamond, who rolled him up for the pin. Team Diamond is your winners.
Tracy Brooks slapped BG James who grabbed her cast. Michael Shane attacked James. The heels began beating down Diamond in the ring. Insane Clown Posse, Too Tough Tony, and Rude Boy hit the ring for the save as the building chanted "ICP."
Frankie Kazarian asked why he wasn't called to be in the X-Cup. He said that it was because the 65 year old Jerry Lynn doesn't know about today's wrestling and didn't want him there. Kazarian said he came back to prove he belongs in TNA and he belonged in the X-Cup by defeating Lynn tonight. He said he is the future and it looks good.
The next bout was Frankie Kazarian vs. Jerry Lynn. They started fast with Kazarian missing a flipping legdrop. Kazarian went for a tornado DDT out of the corner but was shoved off. Lynn gets a two count. Lynn slides through Kazarian's legs and trips him facefirst. Lynn gets on the apron and hits a guillotine legdrop through the ropes on Kazarian. The battle goes to the floor, where Lynn whips Lynn into the railing. Lynn clutches his ribs. Kazarian threw Lynn into the metal stairs on the floor. Kazarian continues to work over Lynn as his "separated shoulder" from the bout with Juventud Guerrera flares up. Kazarian focuses his attack there and slams Lynn down with a hammerlock slam. Kazarian goes to the top but is caught off by Lynn who hits a hurrancanrana. Kazarian grabs a 2 count but Lynn kicks up. Kazarian continues to work on the shoulder with an attempted crossarmbreaker. Lynn gets to the ropes to break the move. Lyn missed another guillotine legdrop but sweeps Kazarian's leg. Kazarian slingshot into the ring and hit a DDT. Lynn finally hit a TKO but Kazarian kicked out. Lynn went for the cradle piledriver but didn't have the power because of his hurt shoulder. Kazarian flipped forward for a near fall. Kazarian finally scored the pin. Your winner, Frankie Kazarian!
Raven made his way to the ring and confronted Kazarian. He grabbed Kazarian and hit the Raven Effect DDT. Raven said that he has been coming to the ring saying he deserves a title shot. He says that they tell him patience is a virtue but he has never been a virtuous person. Raven said that no one is more qualified than him for an NWA championship bout. Raven said he was hitting the Evenflow DDT when Chris Harris was signing autographs. Raven runs down names that he has run out of TNA including Slash, CM Punk (I've confirmed Punk was not in Nashville), Julio Dinero, James Mitchell, and Vampiro. Raven says what about me? What about Raven? He says time is running out and if everyone thought he was ruthless before, they will be mortified now.
The Naturals hit the ring and attacked Raven. They lay out Raven and ask, What about the Naturals? The lights go out in the building. When they go back on, Sabu is in the ring and throws a chair at the Naturals. Sabu whips them into the corner and hits Air Sabu off a chair into a clothesline. Sabu hits a double springboard legdrop and the Naturals escape.
Mike Tenay says that Jeff Jarrett has just arrived at the building. They go to Scott Hudson in the back as Jarrett and Shane Douglas are coming into the building. Hudson tells Jarrett that Vince Russo doesn't have him booked tonight. Jarrett says that Russo is trying to make sure he has ring rust on 3/17 against Harris and he will find a way to have a match tonight. Hudson asks Shane why he is there and Shane says that he can do anything he wants and Jarrett is a friend. He says that as veterans, he and Jarrett will not be told what they can and can't do by someone outside the business.
They air a video of the Team Canada vs. Team NWA bouts from last week to build to the 3/10 PPV with Team Canada vs. Team Mexico.
The next bout features Team Japan - Nosawa & Ebessan (Osaka Pro) & Kamen (Osaka Pro) vs. Team NWA - Sonjay Dutt & Elix Skipper & NWA X-Division champion Chris Sabin in a six man tag. Mike Tenay explains that Osaka Pro is a children's focused promotion in Japan. The fans chanted for "ICP" like they created clowns in wrestling or something. Anyone ever hear of Doink? Dutt and Kamen started out with Dutt getting a quick near fall. Sabin and Nosawa tagged in. Sabin hit a dropkick and followed up with a knee in the corner. They go backstage to America's Most Wanted. Mike Tenay says that Harris will have another match later in the show but no one knows who his opponent will be. Ebessan worked over Sabin, who tagged into Skipper. Ebessan hit a spinkick on Skipper. Sabin tagged in Dutt who hit an awesome hurrancanrana. Ebessan sends Dutt to the apron and shoulderblocks him. Ebessan went for a dive on Skipper but was cut off by Dutt. Kamen hit an asai moonsault to the outside on Skipper and Dutt. Nosawa hit a Michinoku Driver on Dutt for a near fall. Team Japan beat down Dutt. Dutt tagged in Sabin. Sabin springs off Nosawa's back to hit an enzuguiri on Ebessan. Skipper hit a flip into a double clothesline. Skipper hit a suplex on Kamen but was cut off by Ebessan. Nosawa hits a Michinoku Driver. Dutt & Sabin hit a double dropkick on Nosawa. The Clowns miss stereo Cancun Tornadoes (spinning dives off the top). Sabin hit Instant Replay on Nosawa for the pin. Your winners Team NWA.
Chris Sabin seemed to be favoring his knee after the bout.
Scott Hudson interviewed Goldilocks who was calling Erik Watts on the phone and mocked him for losing his job. She said that she was going to find a new man with common sense. Hudson said that it was a crazy time and Goldilocks said that she wasn't crazy and told Watts "Don't call me here again."
A video package hyping the AJ Styles-Abyss storyline played.
In a Falls Count Anywhere bout, AJ Styles fought Abyss. Mike Tenay explained that Vince Russo was holding the NWA Tag Team championships up because Abyss didn't earn the belts last week when Lex Luger interfered. AJ and Abyss brawled in the aisle. They fought up the ramp. Abyss pressed Styles and tossed him into the crowd. Abyss continued to beat Styles as they brawled towards the bleachers. AJ finally shoved AJ into a wall towards the back of the building but Abyss just slammed him against the wall in a showing of brute strength. AJ climbed the steps to the balcony and flipped off the balcony onto Abyss. Styles went to use a chair on Abyss but Abyss hit him with it across the back. Backstage, they showed footage of an irate Shane Douglas. Mike Tenay explained Chris Harris would be wrestling Douglas at the end of the night. A "fan" threw a soda in Styles' face. It turned out to be Johnny Fairplay with Lollipop who were tossed by TNA security. Styles hit a spinkick into a chair on Abyss. AJ tried to slam Abyss but collapsed and went down for a near fall. Abyss put a chair in between two turnbuckles. He charges AJ in another corner, but Styles evaded him. Abyss kicked AJ and cut him off immediately Abyss tossed Styles into the referee, who bumped to the floor. AJ worked over Abyss. Styles charged but Abyss caught him with the black hole slam. AJ kicked out at two, the first person to do it. Abyss continues to beat down Styles, driving him down again and again with a series of rights. Styles pulled himself to his feet using the ring ropes. Styles fought back with a series of rights and lefts but was cut off. Styles sent him into the chair that was propped in the corner and hit a German Suplex for a near fall. Styles hits a springboard kick to Abyss, who ran for a clothesline, taking out a second referee. Styles hit the Styles Clash and a third official hit the ring to count two but Abyss kicked up. Styles brought a table into the ring. Styles put Abyss on a table and hits him with a right hand. The table collapsed. The crowd booed. AJ set another table up and splashed Abyss off the top rope, catching the referee as he came down, knocking him out as well. Abyss slammed a piece of the broken table over Styles' back. Security hit the ring to break it up as they continued to brawl. Several babyfaces came out as well to calm down Styles. Abyss broke free and charged across the ring. They began brawling again. Everyone held them apart. AJ broke free this time and attacked Abyss. They pulled them apart again. I guess it's a no contest since all the officials were knocked out.
Backstage, ICP was interviewed and challenged Glen Gilberti, Kid Kash, and David Young to a six man Dark Carnival match, wicked clown style. ICP sent a what's up to their "Homie" Mike Tenay. Now that was funny.
Mike Tenay and Don West ran down the card for next week and looked at Chris Harris having to wrestle again. Team Canada (Teddy Hart, Petey Williams, Jack Evans with Scott D'Amore) came to the ringside area. Scott D'Amore told them that no one gives them respect and Team Canada will take the X-Cup. Juventud Guerrera, Aguila, and the rest of Team Mexico came out. D'Amore told him that they had their time, so the Mexicans had better give Team Canada their time or "we can start this a little early." Teddy Hart and Guerrera went at it, setting off a huge eight man brawl.
Backstage, Scott Hudson interviewed Chris Harris. Chris Harris said that he will jump the hurdle tonight and continue his quest to be the NWA champion. He said that tonight Shane Douglas will be the one to be "Franchised."
NWA champion Jeff Jarrett came out with a live mic and said he is the Cal Ripkin of wrestling, who defends his title week in and week out. He said that Vince Russo's plan to keep him out of the ring isn't going to work. Jarrett said if they didn't want to give him a match, he was going to make himself one. Jarrett said he would drag a fan into the ring then challenged ring announcer Jeremy Borash. Come on, that would take 10 seconds. Jarrett tossed a chair in the ring and said he was going to get his workout in one way or the other. He said he is the champion and he deserves respect. He said he doesn't care what Vince Russo or the NWA Board thinks. He said that he gives Russo ten seconds to send someone to the ring or else.
Chris Harris hit the ringside area and he and Jarrett started brawling. They brawled into the ring and Shane Douglas attacked him to start their match. Security pulled Jarrett out of the ring. Ron Harris took over as the referee since no one was left. Jarrett remained at ringside.
Shane worked over Chris Harris. He began working over Harris with a shoulderbreaker. They brawled to the floor where Douglas beat Harris on the railing and worked over his arm. Douglas hit a small package but Harris kicked out. Douglas continued the beat down. He hit a snap suplex. Douglas locked in a camel clutch. Harris powered out but Shane cut him off with a clothesline. Douglas continued to beat and slap Harris. Harris fired up with a series of rights and lefts on Douglas and began pounding him with fists in the corner. He hit a bulldog out of the corner on Douglas. Harris hit a laria and went to the top with a flying cross bodyblock for a two count. Douglas shoulderblocked Harris down but could only get a two count. Douglas wrapped a chain around his hand as Jeff Jarrett distracted Ron Harris. Douglas went for the pin but Chris Harris kicked out at two. Jarrett argued with Ron Harris. James Storm hit the ring and hit an enzuigiri on Douglas. Chris Harris hit a spear and scored the three count. Your winner, Chris Harris.
Vince Russo came to the ring for the first time all night. Jeff Jarrett went to the stage and stood there looking at Russo. Douglas' entourage checked on him. Russo asked Chris Harris if he was ready for 3/17 against Jeff Jarrett. Harris said he is and so did James Storm. He said that if Harris was ready, why did Storm interfere and screw Shane Douglas. He said that it was the second week in a row that Storm interfered and that makes him no different than Jeff Jarrett. Russo said that now that he is in charge, he is going to do things by the book, the right way. He said that Harris isn't ready because Storm interferes. He said that he is doing this for Harris' own good and that he isn't ready for 3/17. He said that in Harris' best interest, Russo is going to postpone the match.
Harris grabbed Russo and said the contract has been signed and Russo isn't going to postpone anything. He said that he is wrestling Jarrett whether Russo likes it or not. Russo said that everyone says Harris is ready. Russo says that everyone is going to get what they want as the match will take place on 3/17, but he is going to wash his hands of the situation because Harris isn't ready. Harris said that they don't have to wait if everyone wants to see how ready he is. Jarrett hit the ring and they brawled as Ron Harris tried to pull them apart. Harris leaped over Ron's shoulders to go after Jarrett again. They were pulled apart as the show went off the air.
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