By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
NWA 70th Anniversary Show
Aired live on October 21, 2018 on FITE TV
Nashville, Tennessee at the Nashville Fairgrounds
The show opened with a video package that did not have sound. Instead, color commentator voice Jim Cornette said something about a cough button… Joe Galli, Jim Cornette, and Tony Schiavone checked in from their spot on the floor behind the fans with main floor tickets…
Backstage, Jenn Decker interviewed Colt Cabana, but the audio wasn’t working. Instead, the live crowd could be heard chanting for Cornette and Schiavone. Once Cabana walked away, Sammy Guevara spoke with Decker… Scorpio Sky was featured in a video package. He could barely be heard talking about his desire to win the NWA National Championship…
Powell’s POV: A very rough start from a production standpoint. There was very faint sound on the interviews, but it was hard to make out and certainly was not as loud as the broadcast team.
The broadcast team spoke about the two four-way matches to determine which wrestlers will meet for the NWA National Championship…
1. Colt Cabana vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Sam Shaw in a four-way elimination match to qualify for the NWA National Championship match. Shaw was jacked compared to his Impact Wrestling days. He ducked to ringside once the bell rang. Cabana performed an early moonsault. There was an early comedy spot with referee Brian Hebner slapping Cabana and then Shaw. Guevara performed a crazy shooting star press off the top rope and onto Shawn on the floor, which drew a “holy shit” chant. Sky followed up with a big dive of his won.
Shaw pinned Cabana while holding the tights to eliminate Cabana. Guevara performed a dive on Shaw on one side of the ring and then another on Sky on the other side. Sky performed a shining wizard on Guevara and pinned him to eliminate him from the match. Seconds later, Shaw hit Sky and rolled him up to win the match…
Sam Shaw beat Colt Cabana, Scorpio Sky, and Sammy Guevara in 7:05 to win a four-way qualifier to advance to the NWA National Championship match.
Powell’s POV: Seven minutes isn’t long enough for a four-way elimination match in my mind. That said, the match got the show off to a good start and Guevara was the standout with his big high spots. For those who didn’t know, Shaw has served as the narrator for a lot of the NWA 10 Pounds of Gold videos. From a production standpoint, the venue looks good. It’s a throwback look in that the ring is well lit while the crowd area is darkened. What can be seen of the crowd looks good. The stage is very basic with a couple of NWA 70 signs. One of the ringside cameras is looks off compared to the other cameras.
The broadcast team threw it backstage to Decker for an interview. Instead, we got a shot of the stage. Ouch. The announcers spoke briefly, then Decker cut in with an interview with Blue Demon Jr. from ringside and could actually be heard! She asked him to pick a winner between Cody and Nick Aldis in the main event. He said he wants to face the winner in Mexico…
2. Laredo Kid vs. Barrett Brown. Cornette noted that Jeff Jarrett would appear later in the show. Cornette said Brown is a former NWA Jr. Hvt. Champion and said that title may be returning. Kid performed a wild 450 splash off the apron onto Brown at ringside. Cornette wasn’t impressed by a reverse huracanrana and let the audience know. Later, Brown avoided a top rope move, then Brown caught him with a running knee to the face and pinned him…
Barrett Brown defeated Laredo Kid in 10:05.
Powell’s POV: A decent match. A Kid win would have pleased the crowd, but I’m guessing the NWA has easier access to Brown for future business. With two four-way matches and all of the early high spots, this show feels like a rib on Cornette. He did say he was thankful to see this singles match after the chaos of the opening four-way and he mocked the reverse huracanrana. He can’t stop himself and you had to know some of this was coming.
Galli set up a Mike Parrow video package. Unfortunately, we heard the broadcast team instead of the video… Likewise, Jenn Decker interviewed Willie Mack and there was little if any sound. After Mack left, Bradley showed up. James Ellsworth showed up and appeared to jaw at him…
Powell’s POV: Ellen Griswold must have flipped the switch because we could hear the final seconds of the interview. I was forgiving of the early technical issues because I assumed the would be resolved quickly, but we’re approaching or at train wreck territory depending on your tolerance level. Hopefully the worst is behind us.
Ricky Starks showed up at the broadcast table and cut a cocky promo. He set up his own video package, which basically showed him being an obnoxious heel…
Magnum TA was interviewed at ringside. He delivered a good promo about wanting to be part of the event and putting over the NWA National Championship…
3. Willie Mack vs. Jay Bradley vs. Mike Parrow vs. Ricky Starks in a four-way elimination match to qualify for the NWA National Championship match. The broadcast team noted that Parrow is representing the LGBTQ community. Cornette spoke about how the big man shatters stereotypes. Parrow performed an early sit-out powerbomb on Bradley for a near fall. Starks hit Parrow from behind. Parrow no-sold it, but Starks ended up rolling Parrow up and holding the tights while getting the pin. The broadcast team made a fuss over Parrow’s shoulder being up and Starks holding the tights.
Bradley performed a powerslam on Starks and then stood up and walked over him to get to the ropes. Mack cut off Bradley and they fought by the ropes. Starks snuck under Bradley and powerbombed him. Mack performed a top rope splash on Bradley and pinned him to eliminate him. The match came down to Starks and Mack. Starks performed a spear for a near fall. Mack came back with a Stunner and scored the pin.
Willie Mack beat Jay Bradley, Mike Parrow, and Ricky Starks to win a four-way qualifier in 7:35 to advance to the NWA National Championship match.
After the match, Decker interviewed Mack at ringside. Sam Shaw came out. Mack said he’d be facing the “crazy mofo” for the National Championship. Bradley hit Mack from behind. James Ellsworth came out and ended up running Bradley into the ring post and then headed backstage with Mack…
Powell’s POV: Again, I’m not a fan of brief elimination matches, but everyone worked hard and the right guy went over. Fortunately, it looks like the early production values have been fixed.
A video package recapped the Tim Storm and Peter Avalon feud…
4. Tim Storm vs. Peter Avalon (w/Niko Marquez). Avalon cut a pre-match promo and said he’s 2-0 against Storm. He told Storm to go ahead and lay down once the bell rings. Avalon said he wants the fans to kiss his foot once he wins. Storm said we learned Avalon had a foot fetish and then challenged him to what is essentially a kiss my foot match. Avalon jumped Storm to start the match.
Storm bounced back quickly and went on the offensive. Storm powerbombed Avalon for a two count at 2:45. Avalon went to ringside and Storm followed. Avalon hid behind Marquez and then shoved him into Storm and regained offensive control briefly. Back in the ring, Marquez held Storm, who escaped his grasp, which led to Avalon taking out Marquez. Storm performed his Eye of the Storm finisher for the win.
Tim Storm defeated Peter Avalon in 5:45.
Storm removed his boot. It was announced that Avalon would be fined $10,000 if he didn’t kiss Storm’s foot. Avalon told Marquez to do it since he’s his manager. Marquez complied, then Storm forced Avalon to kiss his foot…
Powell’s POV: Fine for what it was if your expectations were realistic. If you enjoyed Storm’s NWA Championship reign then this probably worked for you. If not, then it’s hard to imagine it won you over.
A video package aired on NWA Women’s Champion Jazz… Jenn Decker interviewed Penelope Ford backstage. She said she’s excited about the opportunity and facing a legend like Jazz. She said she hopes she comes out as champion. Someone saying “cut” could be heard and they kept the camera shot as Decker spoke with the person off camera…
5. Jazz vs. Penelope Ford for the NWA Women’s Championship. Cornette said Jazz has been the women’s champion for 756 days. Earl Hebner was the referee. Nice. Ford picked up a couple of early near falls, including one off a nice northern lights suplex. Cornette assumed Jazz got her bell rung and that’s why she was struggling.
Jazz came right back and hoisted up Ford with a double chicken wing and then dropped her face first. Jazz eventually went for a cover and got a two count. Jazz applied a modified camel clutch and threw rabbit punches. Jazz picked up another tow count. Jazz threw a couple punches and went for another. Ford ducked it with a Matrix pose. Ford picked up a couple more near falls and got the crowd behind her.
Ford went for a standing moonsault, but Jazz rolled out of the way. Jazz bounced back with a Michinoku Driver and had the pin, but for some reason Hebner didn’t make the third count. One of the announcers questioned whether Hebner hit his hand on Jazz’s head and that threw off his count. Jazz applied an STF and won via submission…
Jazz defeated Penelope Ford in 7:30 to retain the NWA Women’s Championship.
After the match, Decker interviewed Jazz at ringside and asked what having the NWA Women’s Championship meant to her. She said she’s been wrestling for a long time and she’s tired of not getting the respect she deserves. She said the men get all the shots at the 10 Pounds of Gold and now she wants her opportunity. She said she assumed the fans in the building felt the same way. Some fans cheered…
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match. I have no idea what happened when Hebner didn’t count the pin. Was it an honest mistake? It didn’t seem like a swerve of a swerve done due to Hebner’s history, as he didn’t sell it in such a way. Either way, the match clicked and Ford gained something in defeat. No matter how you feel about Jazz potentially challenging for the NWA Championship, it’s sure to generate some buzz.
Cornette stood in the ring and introduced Jeff Jarrett, who came out to his TNA theme while carrying the NWA National Championship title belt. Jarrett was well received. He called for the fans to five Cornette a hand, and the fans popped big. Jarrett spoke about his history in the venue and how he and Cornette were both fans before they got in the business. Jarrett ended up handing off the title to Magnum TA at ringside…
Powell’s POV: A nice segment that the live crowd enjoyed.
Shaw made his entrance for the NWA National Championship match and was jumped from behind by Mack. Once they were in the ring, referee Brian Hebner started the match…
6. Willie Mack vs. Sam Shaw for the vacant NWA National Championship. Cornette announced that Bradley and Ellsworth had been escorted from the building so there would be no shenanigans in this match. Shaw applied a vice hold on Mack’s neck. Hebner checked on Mack by raising his arm twice. Mack held it up the third time and Hebner did a nice job of making it seem like he thought he would be calling for the bell. Shaw applied another submission hold and the repeated the arm raising sequence.
Mack came back and ended up performing a standing German suplex for a near fall. Fans chanted Mack’s name. Shaw came back and got a near fall of his own. Mack performed his Stunner and got a really good near fall (since he won his previous match with the same move). Shaw superkicked Mack for a near fall. Shaw came back briefly, but Mack hit a second Stunner and scored the pin…
Willie Mack defeated Sam Shaw in 9:55 to win the vacant NWA National Championship.
Powell’s POV: Another entertaining match and it was very well received by the live crowd. The fans counted along with the pin and popped big when Mack won. It’s cool to see Mack getting the spotlight. He challenged Cody for the NWA Championship at the ROH television taping, he worked the Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory and television tapings, and now he won the NWA National Championship tonight.
Galli and Cornette set up an Aldis video package that teased the identity of his mystery female insurance policy for Brandi Rhodes…
Road Warrior Animal led the team of Crimson and Jax Dane to the ring. Animal had his face paint and spikes on, and Crimson and Dane had their face painted. The Kingdom of Jocephus was introduced. Jocephus walked onto the stage with his spiritual advisor and Hollywood from GLOW. He complained that Crimson and Dane had and open challenge, yet they wouldn’t agree to face his women. Crimson and Dane were attacked from behind…
7. Crimson and Jax Dane (w/Road Warrior Animal) vs. Shannon Moore and Crazzy Steve (w/Jocephus, Spiritual Advisor, Hollywood). Steve has a red mohawk. At 3:20, Dane hoisted up both opponents on his shoulders and flung them to the mat. Dane held up Steve for a Doomsday Device, but Moore cut off Crimson and then missile dropkicked Dane. Crimson and Dane came right back and hit Ground Zero for the win…
Crimson and Jax Dane beat Shannon Moore and Crazzy Steve in 4:35.
After the match, Cornette entered the ring and interviewed Animal. Cornette mentioned the NWA Crockett Cup. Animal ended up announcing that the NWA is bringing back the Crockett Cup tag team tournament in 2019. Animal said Crimson and Dane are learning and if they listen to him then he can get them to the final match of the Crockett Cup…
Powell’s POV: The announcement of the Crockett Cup drew a much better reaction than the match did. I’m not sure if the fans knew who Moore and especially Steve were. Steve has been off television for a while and looks very different with the mohawk than he did when he was last on television. I don’t understand why Impact never brought him back to team with Abyss when the Decay gimmick worked so well for them.
A video package set up the main event…
Decker introduced Dory Funk Jr. at ringside (it sounded like she said Rory). Dory said it was amazing to be there and he thanked the fans and the live crowd chanted his name afterward…
Galli, Cornette, and Schiavone spoke from the desk. Cornette said the last time he and Cornette worked together was 28 years ago. Funk was shown with a whip at ringside briefly. Cornette mentioned Dutch Mantel copyright infringement… Billy Corgan was shown seated at ringside and fist bumping a fan in the front row…
A group of former NWA Champions were introduced. Dory Funk Jr, Tim Storm, Colt Cabana, Jax Dane, Blue Demon Jr., and Jeff Jarrett all entered the ring and shook hands. Ring entrances for the main event took place. Nick Aldis came out with his insurance policy Kamilla Kaine. The broadcast team seemed to act like everyone should know her. Cody and Brandi were out next. The former champions remained in the ring along with referees Earl and Brian Hebner…
8. Cody (w/Brandi Rhodes) vs. Nick Aldis (w/Kamilla Kaine) in a best of three falls match for the NWA Championship. Brian Hebner was the in-ring referee and he spoke about giving the wrestlers pre-match instructions in their locker room. Earl ended up being the ringside referee. Fans chanted for Cody, who played into it by pumping them up right before the bell rang. Cody and Aldis shook hands. Cody did an early cartwheel and looked to the crowd. Aldis moved in, but Cody saw him coming and Aldis smiled.
Aldis sent Cody to ringside early. Brandi and Kaine went face to face. Back in the ring, Aldis targeted Cody’s lower back. Cody came back with a powerslam for a two count. A short time later, Cody applied a figure four. Aldis escaped it, but limped to sell it. Cody went for a Disaster Kick. Aldis avoided it and applied the King’s Cloverleaf (Sharpshooter). Cody tapped out quickly. The broadcast team agreed it was strategy by Cody to tap quickly to avoid damage.
Nick Aldis forced Cody to submit to win the first fall in 14:10.
Cody wanted to go right at Aldis once Brian Hebner started the second fall, but Aldis rolled to ringside. Cody ended up diving onto Aldis and then ran Aldis into the guardrail. Cody ran around the ring for a move on Aldis, but Kaine blocked his path. Cody and Aldis fought into the crowd. Cody ended up hitting Aldis with a trashcan. Cody and Aldis fought into the concession stand. One of the announcers noted they weren’t in Tupelo (a reference to the famous concession stand brawl in Tupelo, Mississippi).
The wrestlers fought to the stage and Aldis ended up bodyslamming Cody on the ramp. The former NWA Champions were in the area and Aldis pointed at Cabana and jawed at him. They fought back to ringside and Cody slid a table inside the ring and set it up in the corner. Tim Storm climbed onto the apron and tried to apparently talk Cody down. Cody punched Storm off the apron. Aldis returned to the ring and DDT’d Cody. Earl was in the ring and made the two count at 23:00.
Aldis wanted to perform a move while Cody was in front of the table, but Brandi stood in his way. I had a brief buffering issue, but both women ended up in the ring and no one went through the table. A short time later, Aldis placed Cody on the table at ringside. Aldis went to the top rope and leapt off. Cody moved and Aldis did an elbow drop through the table at 25:30. Cornette grumbled about people who say wrestlers know how to fall. Back inside the ring, Cody hit CrossRhodes and scored the pin.
Cody pinned Nick Aldis in 27:40 to win the second fall.
A “this is awesome” chant broke out during the one minute break between falls. They also counted down from ten. Cody superkicked Aldis, who stuffed his CrossRhodes attempt. Aldis ended up avoiding a moonsault attempt by Cody. The wrestlers traded punches with fans cheering for Cody and booing Aldis. They ran the ropes and did a simultaneous clothesline and both men stayed down. Brandi wanted to check on Cody, but Kaine pulled her to the floor. Brandi got upset and ended up applying a rear naked choke on Kaine briefly. Fans chanted for Brandi. Kaine tried to clothesline Brandi, but she ducked and a referee was clotheslined. Brian Hebner ejected everyone from ringside and fans sang the goodbye song.t
Aldis hit Cody with CrossRhodes for a near fall at 31:15. Cody came back and applied a King’s Cloverleaf, but Aldis reached the ropes. Aldis performed a tombstone piledriver and followed up with a top rope elbow drop for a good near fall. Cody and Aldis traded punches in mid-ring again with fans continuing to side with Cody, who ran the ropes and ate a clothesline. A short time later, Aldis went for another cloverleaf. Cody avoided it, but Cody’s boot came off in the process. Cody put Aldis in a small package, but Aldis rolled him over and got the three count.
Nick Aldis defeated Cody in 36:40 to win the third fall and the NWA Championship.
After the match, Aldis leaned against the middle rope while Cody sat on the floor looking shocked. Kaine returned to the ring while Aldis celebrated his win by posing on the ropes and holding up the championship. Schiavone shook hands with Galli and Cornette and said it had been a pleasure to call the main event with them. Aldis continued his celebration while the broadcast team signed off without an announcement of the next NWA show…
Powell’s POV: This event desperately needed a show saving main event and it got one. Cody and Aldis delivered a terrific best of three falls with good wrestling in the first fall, brawling in the second fall, and genuine suspense in the third fall. It doesn’t make up for the technical blunders and other issues on this show, but it likely sent pay-per-view buyers away feeling satisfied with their purchase. The live crowd struck around and it seemed like just about everyone was still there as Aldis was celebrating and the show went off the air even though the majority of the fans were pro Cody. I really enjoyed the main event and I’ll be talking about the full show in my members’ exclusive audio review coming up later tonight. Join us on our ad-free website by signing up for membership via PWMembership.net.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and new NWA Champion Nick Aldis.
Cody won the belt because it was his event and the “awww that’s nice” aspect regarding the tie in with who his dad is, so glad to see its back where it belongs. Waste of time to have him win it to begin with.
It was a waste of time to tie into history while also taking advantage of the biggest independent event in decades? That’s a special kind of stupid.
“Cornette said the last time he and Cornette worked together was 28 years ago.”
Oh really?