By Wade Keller, Torch editor

NWA-TNA PPV #32
FEBRUARY 12, 2002
LIVE FROM NASHVILLE, TENN

-The show opened with a photo of Curt Hennig acknowledging his death.

-Mike Tenay solemnly said after last week's show went off the air, Russo's gang attacked Jeff Jarrett. They went to footage of what happened, with Jarrett tied to the ropes at ringside and getting whipped over and over. Good video production made it seem even more brutal than it would have otherwise.

-Back live, Mike Tenay introduced one of Vince Russo's nemesis - J.J. Dillon - as the new matchmaker of TNA, taking over for Bob Armstrong who asked for a leave of absence due to frustration with Russo. Dillon walked out onto the stage, but then Russo walked into the ring and began talking. Russo ranted about how Dillon took money out of his and his family's pockets by convincing his boss to take him out of power just when he was getting rolling. This is soooo boorish. Does anybody really want to hear a Confidential spin-cycle version of two suits arguing over who won a struggle for power in WCW? Russo is still living off of the high ratings of "This is Your Life, Mick Foley" and recreates it for himself seemingly every week. The difference was, people cared dearly about Foley. Dillon said Russo suffers from selective amnesia. He said when he left the WWF, it was a decision he made. He said he sat across the desk from Vince McMahon and told him "man to man" that he was leaving. He said he didn't wait until the day before a major TV production and phone him long distance like Russo did. Russo laid down in the ring out of boredom, then shouted: "Does anyone else in here want to hear this dribble or do you want action?" Of all people to say that! As the Harrises moved toward Dillon on the stage, The Sandman then attacked Russo the Harris Brothers at ringside with his cane. "J.J. Dillon had a surprise, all right!" screamed West. Sandman stood in the ring and opened a beer can and held his cane high.

1 -- ROCK & ROLL EXPRESS vs. CHRIS HARRIS & JAMES STORM

Well, somebody in TNA had a change of heart regarding The Rock & Roll Express since we had heard word that TNA officials weren't interested in using them again, in part because their outfits looked ratty. I didn't understand that logic since they're heels, so the rattier they look, the more they could play off of that. Of course, why invest any TV time in building up one of the top tag teams in history and building an angle around their history when you can instead spend time on backstage politics between Dillon and Russo? It's good that they brought R&R back after all, because if they keep bringing in former "brand name" attractions, but they disappear without mention again, it just makes every subsequent surprise seem inconsequential. There was nothing more frustrating as a wrestling viewer in the pre-newsletter days than watching the AWA, World Class, WWF, or whatever and seeing a wrestler one week, then having them disappear without any explanation. Storm pinned Morton with a Perfectplex, which Tenay pointed out was a tribute to Curt Hennig. Low-Ki attacked Storm & Harris afterward with a title belt.

WINNER: Storm & Harris at 4:58.

STAR RATING: * -- Pretty standard five minute match. R&R took some decent bumps, but it wasn't the type of match that's going to establish to newer fans why it's worth caring about two pot-bellied 45 year old "teenagers" who like Rock & Roll. For those who know who R&R are and saw them in their prime, it probably helps establish Storm & Harris as a name brand tag team themselves by mixing with R&R in the same way that A.J. Styles gets moved from no-name indy guy who's got some cool moves to a legit star by mixing with people such as Larry Zbyszko in the ring. The key is to make sure that they march through the legends and win decisively en route to the truly meaningful feuds against other younger mainstays. The way R&R were portrayed in this match, though, it seemed as if this might have been their sendoff match. The announcers didn't put any focus on them during the match other than saying it was shocking that they joined SEX.

-Outside the arena Goldy Locks with a silly Pebbles Flintstone hairstyle asked Russo what he was waiting for. Russo said it was none of her business. Raven showed up and Russo told him about Sandman showing up. Sandman came out of nowhere and attacked Raven with his cane. He then entered the arena, lit a cigarettes, and walked through the crowd with a bloody forehead. Sandman has a special charisma and way about him that can win over a crowd even if they didn't know who he was before he stepped into the arena moments earlier.

2 - RON & DON HARRIS vs. BRIAN LEE & SLASH (w/James Mitchell)

Tenay announced that J.J. Dillon has booked A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett next week and Sandman vs. Raven this week. The match ended when Low Ki interfered, costing Slash & Lee their advantage, leading to the Harrises getting a quick three count.

WINNERS: Harris Brothers at 4:48.

STAR RATING: * - Solid action given the style these four work.

-A video montage aired hyping Kid Kash vs. Sonny Siaki. They billed it as "youth vs. experience" and "SEX vs. NWA." I'm not sure about portraying it as "youth vs. experience" since I don't think fans perceive Kash as a "veteran" and Siaki as a "young lion." They seem to be contemporaries. In reality, yes, Kash has wrestled many more years than Siaki, but by portraying him as a "veteran" at this point, it makes him seem bush league for never having made it to WCW or the WWF in the past (unlike Jerry Lynn, who's been everywhere, so pushing his experience builds his character).

3 -- SONNY SIAKI (w/Desire) vs. KID KASH (w/Trinity) - X Title match.

They exchanged some early armdrags, leading to Siaki pausing to regain his composure. Two minutes into the match they fought at ringside where Kash threw a chair at Siaki's head. Desire whipped Trinity into the railing at ringside shortly thereafter. Back in the ring, Kash scored a two count on Siaki. At 3:30 Siaki surprised Kash with a chairshot of his own. West talked about Trinity's work as a stunt double in various movies. West also pointed out that Siaki had successfully grounded Kash for the most part so far. Kash turned it up at 6:00 with a huracanrana and a spinning DDT for a near fall, ending when Desire interfered. Trinity and Desire fought again. Desire knocked Kash off balance on the top rope, then Siaki clotheslined Trinity off the ring apron when she made a move toward the ring. Kash went for a moonsault off the top rope, but slipped and landed on his head in what looked like it could have broken his neck. I literally gasped out loud when I saw the impact, but he immediately covered Siaki and seemed no worse for wear.

WINNER: Kash at 7:09.

STAR RATING: ** -- Good match, in part because of the women adding a consistent outside element with believable brawling. Thankfully the X Title is off of Siaki now because once again in this match he did nothing that reflected what made the X Division stand out.

-A new segment aired called "Interrogation" where for one minute Tenay and West ask rapid fire questions. Among the questions, word association: Vince McMahon - Asshole. Michael Jackson - King of Pop. Tenay asked Killings "True or false, you approached Vince Russo about joining SEX." Killings stood up, told Tenay "f--- you," and walked away.

-Goldy Locks interviewed Glen Gilberti and Mike Sanders. Goldy's scene-stealing faces were still present because the interview segments are all about finding out her reaction to what wrestlers say. B.G. James interrupted the segment as Gilberti and Sanders talked about potential "character development" by flipping through a magazine or calendar. James accused them of flipping through "Blue Boy Magazine" and told them to get ready for their six-man match.

4 -- TENACIOUS Z & RON KILLINGS & JORGE ESTRADA vs. B.G. JAMES & MIKE SANDERS & DISCO INFERNO.

Estrada has dropped the Flying Elvises persona entirely. No jump suit this week. Z tagged in at 4:30 to pop the crowd and he threw a dropkick, but when he went for a springboard, James yanked him off balance. James went on offense against Z in the ring, who took flatback bumps for James's punches. Fans chanted "Z, Z, Z." James mocked Z by holding one of his legs in the air and hopping around. A second ref, Scott Armstrong, walked to the ring to yell at James. With James distracted, Z leaped off the top rope and kicked James. James tagged in Sanders and Z hot-tagged Killings. A six-way brawl then broke out. Estrada flew onto James and Gilberti at ringside. Meanwhile, Killings flattened Sanders in the ring with a neckbreaker for the win.

WINNERS: Killings & Z & Estrada at 7:42.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Good action. Z totally holds his own in there for someone who's only wrestled nine months.

-Goldy interviewed Raven. Raven said he and Sandman go back a long way. He said Sandman and his wife were separated when he went out with her. He said it's not his fault that Sandman's kids would rather look up to him than his drunken father. He said it is "bullsh--." Styles came out of a car in the parking lot and attacked Raven in retaliation for Raven hurting his hand las week. Goldy then saw the Rock & Roll Express with black masks pulled over their heads, apparently writhing in pain in the parking lot. Tenay and West wondered who attacked them.

-A sitdown interview aired with David Flair. He asked him about Arn Anderson, Vince Russo, Stacy Keibler ("I didn't know which head was working at the time. Catch my drift?"), and Ric Flair. David said because Ric worked in the ring so much, he never went to any of his sporting events. When Tenay said that Ric was providing for his family, David shot back: "He wasn't providing for me, he was providing for a mark like you, Tenay." He said he would have rather had a dad. He said he was driven to get into wrestling despite his father's preferences against it. He said he wants to be the NWA Champion some day. He said at just 23 his best years are ahead. He wouldn't reveal what's in the burlap sack he uses as a weapon. Good segment from David establishing a bit of his own persona.

-Goldy interviewed Steve Corino who said Low Ki has disrespected pro wrestling by associating with SEX. He said he is on a mission to extinguish the SEX group from the NWA.

5 -- LOW KI vs. STEVE CORINO

Low Ki dominated early. Corino made his comeback at 4:30. Low Ki returned with a Dragon Sleeper at 5:45. Corino escaped and superkicked Low Ki to the mat. When Ki was in trouble, he lashed out at the ref and poked him in the eye, prompting the anti-climactic DQ. America's Most Wanted attacked Low Ki afterward for revenge for him interfering earlier. Slash, Lee, and Mitchell also came out and had a staredown which Tenay said seemed to be a sign of mutual respect for both of them.

WINNER: Corino via DQ at 6:43.

STAR RATING: *1/2 - Nothing memorable, but not bad. A solid six minute match.

-Goldy interviewed Jerry Lynn, who said he wanted to give Vince Russo "his props." He said he has him totally off track and out of whack. He said before Russo showed up, he and Styles tore the house down and packed the arena by giving them wrestling - what the fans wanted to see. "That's what I do, I'm a wrestler," he said, adding that what he needs to do is reestablish the X Division. His first step is winning the no. 1 contender's match.

6 -- SHARK BOY vs. JERRY LYNN vs. PAUL LONDON vs. TONY MAMALUKE vs. JOSE MAXIMO vs. JOEL MAXIMO vs. DAVID YOUNG vs. JIMMY RAVE.

The match was a series of one-on-one matches with everyone at ringside. They had a "draw backstage" to determine the order of who wrestled first. It began with Shark Boy vs. Jose. It was a nice touch that everyone involved in the match was at ringside during the first one-on-one match-ups. Shark Boy won over Jose quickly with his Dead Sea Driver (DSD) at 2:00. Joel Maximo faced Shark next. Joel hit a senton splash. Shark scored the pin at 3:14 to eliminate Joel. It made sense to eliminate Joel quickly. Jimmy Rave was in next against Shark Boy and eliminated Shark Boy quickly after reversing his DSD and scoring the pin at 4:20. I never like these elimination matches because it doesn't make any sense that a match between two wrestlers that would usually last five or ten minutes or even longer score pins against each other in such rapid-fire fashion. At 5:15 Mamaluke pinned Rave. Young entered next against Mamaluke. Young screamed in agony in a leglock, but reached the ropes 30 seconds later to break it. At 7:20 Young eliminated Mamaluke after a spinebuster. One pinfall per minute is just too fast to have any credibility of build any momentum. A way to fit an eight-man elimination match into such a small allotted time window would be add a rule that one counts qualify as a pin (or two counts could work, too), which would explain why such a small amount offense would be enough to stun someone enough to score a one ro two count pin. Lynn vs. Young was next. Young, who was selling a sore leg, missed a moonsault. Lynn then applied a half Boston crab, then turned it into an STF for the tapout win at 9:36. That left Paul London vs. Jerry Lynn as the final two. London is a highly-touted regular of the Ring of the Honor promotion. London went for a Shooting Star Press at 16:00, but Lynn lifted his knees. Lynn returned fire with a spike piledriver at 16:30. The other six competitors entered the ring to congratulate Lynn for his win.

WINNER: Lynn at 16:30.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Just too disjointed and lacking credibility during the first half to be considered a very good match. The seven minutes with Lynn and London was very good. A nice start for London who appears he'll fit in with the "sports-like approach" of the 2002 X Division.

-Konnan walked out and cut a promo on Lynn, ripping on him for wrestling under a mask as Mr. J.L., pretending to be perhaps a Mexican or Japanese wrestler. He told him he is no luchador. Lynn said the reason he wore a mask was he was the only American at the time who could hang with them and "make them look good." Konnan said if he takes the lucha libre out of his style, all he has are kicks and clotheslines. Lynn said he incorporate the lucha moves into the American style to create the X style. Lynn said Konnan is bitter and jealous "because you never were and never will be a high-flyer like Juvi and Rey and Psicosis." Konnan said he didn't need to fly high to sell out arenas all over Mexico. He said what he does well is power up and kick ass. Konnan and the SATs then attacked Lynn, then bailed out of the ring.

-As Konnan walked away, Russo asked Konnan who's side he's on. Konnan said he wasn't on Russo's side, although it was difficult to hear them since there wasn't a mic in their faces.

-Goldy told Jorge is appears he's now flying solo. Killings interrupted and said he's fired of questions. "No more questions by no damn body," he said. Killings stormed away. Goldy chased after him, but found Sanders and Gilberti facedown on pavement.

-Tenay recapped that Konnan said he didn't want any part of SEX while more people were laid out off camera. Tenay speculated that perhaps Sandman was behind it. West said with so many surprises, maybe Russo was behind the attacks on his own men. Tenay screamed about next week's main event - Jeff Jarrett vs. A.J. Styles. That will be an interesting mix of styles and a real chance for Jarrett to have his first legitimate match of the year candidate since TNA began (that's assuming his and Styles mesh in the ring).

7 -- RAVEN vs. SANDMAN - Falls Count Anywhere.

Tenay recapped how Raven years ago in ECW used his mindgames to steal Sandman's wife and son away from him. Ring introductions began at 9:40, giving these two plenty of time for a full-fledged main event match. They brawled all over the arena. Raven bled a minute into the match. This action gives me ECW flashbacks, except TNA's production values are better than ECW's. The Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum resembles ECW Arena, although it seems much bigger. They returned to the ring at 4:20 and introduced trash cans into the match. Raven set up a chair in mid-ring (of course, when hasn't he), but Sandman reversed Raven and gave him a drop toe hold face-first into the chair. Sandman then bashed a garbage can over his head. Raven staggered around the ring as Sandman hit him a second and third time. Raven fell to the mat. Sandman slammed Raven onto a table, then climbed onto a balcony and was going to dive onto Raven. However, Low Ki attacked Sandman from behind and shoved him off the balcony. Sandman flipped onto the table (Raven had moved), then Raven covered him for the win. Corino then attacked Low Ki, protecting "old school wrestling" since after all Sandman is the epitome of old school. In the ring, Raven nailed Corino with a clothesline. Sandman then entered the ring, bashing Raven and Low Ki with his cane. The bell began ringing over and over, but for some reason the wrestlers kept fighting. The Harris Boys, Siaki, and James charged the ring as Russo yapped on the house mic. "You guys wanna play, we'll play all night," Russo said. They tied Sandman and Corino to the ropes on either side of the ring. Jeff Jarrett made the save, suing a chair to fend off everyone. Styles then charged the ring to stop Jarrett's momentum. Styles gave Jarrett a (very weak looking) Styles Clash on a chair in the ring. They then cut away abruptly at 9:53 p.m.

WINNER: Raven at 7:35.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Good hardcore ECW-style brawl. Good incorporation of next week's main event into the climax of the show at the end.

***

THE TORCH ROUNDTABLE will be e-mailed later with reviews (and 1-10 scores) from Jason Powell, Pat McNeill, Bruce Mitchell, and me.

Let us know what you thought of the PPV if you saw it. We'll publish your comments at PWTorch.com in the "Torch Feedback" section. Send your name, hometown, 1-10 score, picks for best and worst matches, and brief comments to: PPVfeedback@pwtorch.com.

***

KELLER'S STAR RATING QUALIFICATION KEY:

DUD: Not just below-average, but without redeeming qualities either due to incompetence, inexperience, lack of effort, or mistakes. A bad finish to a below-average match can also rate a DUD.

ONE STAR: Below average match, but passable.

TWO STARS: Average everyday match, usually between five and ten minutes, with nothing memorable about it, but nothing wrong with it. A shorter match can also earn two stars if it was better than average for five minutes, but didn't last long enough to justify a three star rating.

THREE STARS: Very good match, but lacking something to take it to the next level. It might be a match between two average wrestlers that overachieved or a match between two excellent wrestlers that underperformed. Contains some element that makes it stand out from a typical average match and it effectively fulfilled it purpose in the context of the rest of the show.

FOUR STARS: Excellent match, entering match of the year territory. Everything fell into place. Several elements of the match were dramatic or emotional enough to get the crowd into the action. In almost every case, a match needs to have a satisfying finish to rate four stars or higher. A poor finish can take what is otherwise a four-star match and drop below. It's tough to reach four stars unless a match goes past 15 minutes.

FIVE STARS: A rare masterpiece where the match transcends what is usually considered a great match. To rate five stars, there can't be one fault to the match - not a poor finish, or a poor start, or some missed moves, or inconsistent selling, or corny ref bumps, or tired cliched spots, or a dead crowd, or lack of emotions expressed by the wrestlers. Each segment of the match has to fit into the larger story of the match. It's tough for a match to reach five stars unless it lasts at least 20 minutes.

NOTE: Sometimes being the "first of a kind" can elevate a match rating, such as being the first ladder match or first Hell in a Cell or first TLC match or first War Games, making an excellent match better in it that incorporates a new match stipulation effectively. The same match two years later, after a gimmick is repeated over and over again, may have lost the novelty factor and thus not score five stars.

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