Final Unforgiven card, Borash's latest column Submitted by William Martinez on Friday, September 20, 2002 at 6:39 PM EST
Here is the final card for Sunday's WWE Unforgiven:
WWE Championship Match Brock Lesnar (champion) vs. The Undertaker
World Championship Match Triple H (champion) vs. Rob Van Dam
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match Chris Jericho (champion) vs. Ric Flair
WWE Women's Championship Match Molly Holly (champion) vs. Trish Stratus
Billy & Chuck vs. Jamal & Rosie
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit
Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero
The UnAmericans vs. Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, Goldust & Kane
NWA-TNA sent in the following:
FROM THE INSIDE for 9/20/02 with Jeremy Borash
How do you build a new star? Most within the business would advise to put them in the ring with an established star. Thankfully, TNA has added some great familiar faces to help build our stars of the future.
There have been a lot of rumblings this week about the business side of our company. Here is the bottom line of the situation. Like any business, the only way to survive is to be profitable. The wrestling business, while on a perceived "downturn," is still a very profitable business if done correctly. The ability to operate a successful wrestling company on a national level is something very few people understand, or have ever been able to do well. Even though ECW had an incredible product, the business decisions they made ultimately put it out of business. Don't even get me started on the business decisions of WCW. Thankfully, Jerry Jarrett has experience in the "business" side of wrestling, with most people agreeing that he is second, only to Vince McMahon, in that area.
While our product has continued to evolve, we are still only three months old, a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things. I, for one, have learned more about the wrestling "business" in the last three months than in my entire three years with WCW. Syxx-Pac made a strong debut for TNA this week, and put out a very inspired effort. I have fond memories of going to see Waltman (Lightning Kid at the time) battle Jerry Lynn when they both were first starting out in Minneapolis at a small bar called Ropers. Everyone knew back then that they would be stars.
Hermie Sadler spent a considerable amount of time promoting NWA TNA on the nationally syndicated John Boy and Billy morning show Wednesday morning. Hermie has been one of TNA's greatest marketing outreaches, getting the word out to tens of millions of NASCAR fans. NASCAR (like wrestling) is one of those pastimes that people either absolutely love, or couldn't care less about. Thankfully, there is a huge crossover of fans that nearly every major national wrestling promotion has found great success in reaching out to.
B.G. James has done an interview that is up on NWATNA.com that is about as candid as it gets. I've spent some time with Brian in the last year, and have to say his new outlook on life is one of the most inspirational turnarounds that I have ever seen. Anyone who has had a loved one go through recovery knows how hard it can be. Brian has the support of his friends and family in TNA, and I am thrilled for him.
NWA World Champion Ron Killings was a guest on a Nashville urban radio station, and was scheduled for a quick ten-minute interview. They had such a good time with the champ, he ended up staying on for 90 minutes. The jocks played a "dating game" segment with the champ, and from all indications, the blind date that showed up to the TNA show Wednesday night was described to me as a "solid 9," as graded by several male peers in the locker room. Oh, to be champion.
What do you think of our TNA girls? Have a favorite? Send your feedback to TNAViewers@aol.com.
Totalnonstop.com has an interesting interview up with Sonny Siaki that is worth checking out.
The syndication launch of our weekly one-hour TNA program will most likely be starting the first week of October. I am hoping that the show will be launched with an estimated clearance of somewhere between 30 and 50 markets, and grow from there. More on this next week.
Don West had his best effort to date last Wednesday night. The preparation our team does to get ready for the broadcast is quite apparent. TNA management has been helpful, guiding them with direction of storylines.
Hats off to Lynn and Truth for their efforts this last Wednesday night. Lynn spilled more blood than anyone I can remember in recent memory, which certainly added to the drama of a great match. Sonny Siaki cost Lynn the match, which makes him as a definite thorn in the side of his fellow X-Divisioners.
There are two car accidents to report this week. Bill Behrens was driving his car (a '78 Pinto, I believe) to the show with AJ Styles and David Young, when the car hydroplaned, and ran off the road into a barricade. All three were fine, but say a prayer for the Pinto. James Storm must have been too excited about getting the NWA Tag Team Titles, as a similar thing happened when he was driving his pickup truck.
Good to see that AJ Styles' finishing maneuver, "The Styles Clash,: is so impressive that Crash Holly has decided to pick it up and use it as his own. Some would see that as "stealing another guys move." I disagree. I see it as paying the guy an incredible compliment. This business is built on recycled ideas. Styles continues to impress each and every week in TNA.
Alex Marvez wrote this week in the Sun-Sentinel that "Mike Tenay has established himself as the industry's top play-by-play voice since the promotion began its weekly pay-per-view telecasts in June." I agree 100% with Marvez. Tenay is outstanding. Mike will be a guest on Pro Wrestling Weekly this Saturday at 1 p.m. (EST) on 1040 WWBA in Florida.
Low Ki will be back from his tour of Japan in time for this Wednesday night's program.
Look for more announcements over the weekend on the lineup for this Wednesday night. Jeff Jarrett vs. B.G. James, and Syxx-Pac vs. Brian Lawler have already been announced.
That is it From the Inside for this week! Have a great weekend and we will see you back live from the TNA Asylum this Wednesday night!
