NWA TNA Xplosion Report 12-20-03
Submitted by Michael Langan II on Monday, December 22, 2003 at 12:08 PM EST



NWA TNA Xplosion
Episode #? (#12 on EMPIRE)
Weekend of 12/20/03 (aired 12/20/03 in Nashville, 12/21/03 on Empire)
By: Michael M. Langan II, mrnewz@newzbytes.org
AIM/AOL: MrNEWZ

The Big News: NWA TNA BEST OF THE X DIVISION 2003 is on Pay-Per-View THIS
WEDNESDAY NIGHT! Not really big news, but since this show did nothing to
sell anyone on the show, I figured I should.

Match Results:
Erik Watts p. Chris Hero, Sonjay Dutt p. John McChesney, Shark Boy p. Matt
Stryker

Overview:

EMPIRE SPORTS NETWORK is the Home of the Sabres. They're also home of not
airing things when they say they will, but that's another story for another
time. TEDDY HART! JUVENTUD GUERRERA! Other Guys that don't work here! It
must be time for NWA TNA XPLOSION!

Let Us Take You Back... THE GATHERING makes sure RAVEN gets what he
deserves, and conchairtos him.

JEREMY BORASH & MIKE TENAY are hanging out. TENAY is all pimp in his
leather jacket. They chat about RAVEN being turned on by THE GATHERING. On
JANUARY 7th, 2004... RAVEN will bring a MYSTERY PARTNER to take on THE
GATHERING. I wonder why THE SANDMAN is such a mystery? They move along to
chat about NWA WORLD CHAMPION: JEFF JARRETT's major surprise and drawing
the battle lines.

Let Us Take You Back... DON CALLIS & NWA WORLD CHAMPION: JEFF JARRETT cut a
promo to open the show. JARRETT babbles. Clip to ERIK WATTS & SKANKYLOCKS
on the ramp way. And we show STING's entrance. How amazing. Coming up next?
STING v. JARRETT!

NWA TNA BEST OF THE X DIVISION DVD PROMO. Order yours today!

NWA TOTAL NONSTOP WRESTLING! Only on Pay-Per-View!

Let Us Take You Back... STING defeats NWA WORLD CHAMPION: JEFF JARRETT with
a little help from A.J. STYLES. Finish airs. No post match tantrum, however.

"Jeff, When Will Your Learn?": STING is in the back. STING gives JARRETT a
little history lesson. STING talks about JARRETT bringing in LEX LUGER and
getting one upped. STING then says that JARRETT wanted to wrestle him, but
didn't want to put the title on the line--- and got one upped again. "Don't
try to one-up me!" STING tells JARRETT he wrestled guys in "this building"
when JARRETT was just a snot nosed brat. STING says JARRETT has a lot to
learn and until he does, he'll continue to be one upped.

Let Us Take You Back... JARRETT, CALLIS, ABYSS, "GIFTED" GLENN GILBERTI,
DAVID YOUNG, KID KASH, & RED SHIRT SECURITY are in the back. They set up
the plan for the rest of the evening. DIAMOND & SWINGER break things up to
talk about their match, of course.

Let Us Take You Back... AMERICA'S MOST WANTED defeat "GIFTED" GLENN
GILBERTI & DAVID YOUNG in a Street Fight. Finish airs. Clip to post-match
beat down by JARRETT & RED SHIRT SECURITY.

NWA TOTAL NONSTOP WRESTLING! Only on Pay-Per-View! New PPV promo, but
they've aired it twice in under 15 minutes now.

MATCH #1: ERIK WATTS with GOLDYLOCKS v. CHRIS HERO

MIKE TENAY & DON WEST talk about all the rumors and the bizarre happenings
in regards to ERIK WATTS being the DIRECTOR OF AUTHORITY with NWA TNA. Of
course, it'd be nice if the rumors and what not were clarified, but I
digress. TENAY finally clues us in saying that the rumors have WATTS losing
power and clout. This angle makes absolutely no sense considering that
WATTS controls everything in the ring and CALLIS controls everything else.
How could WATTS lose any of that power? DUTCH MANTEL is really trying
hardcore to recreate his IWA stint with the VICTOR QUIONNES v. SAVIO VEGA
power struggle, but I mean... come on. NORD and ABYSS are even with THE
BOSS! Only instead of a red hood, NORD's got a RED SHIRT on... WATTS helps
GOLDY out of the ring. HERO jumps from behind as WATTS fake kisses
GOLDYLOCKS in the corner. Shot to the back. Rights by HERO. Cross corner
whip by HERO, but WATTS gets a boot up on the charge. WATTS then gets a
spinning sunset flip from the top turnbuckle for two. Yes... ERIK WATTS did
that. Both men quickly back up and HERO eats a boot to the mid-section.
Side headlock by WATTS, who then charges the corner and pushes off the
corner into an inverted bulldog on HERO. Who has WATTS been hanging out
with lately that he knows these new moves? WATTS stalls for a bit, then a
clubbing blow across HERO's back. TENAY talks about match makers (wouldn't
WATTS be one of those?) wanting to put someone in the ring with WATTS who
physically match up with him. Funny, I recall WATTS wrestling some guys his
size in the past. But hey, I must be crazy. WATTS hits his corner powerbomb
on HERO as DON WEST mentions the classic C.M. PUNK v. CHRIS HERO 90 MINUTE
MATCH. HERO rolls to the floor. WATTS follows and talks to TENAY & WEST at
ringside. WATTS rolls HERO back into the ring. Right hand. Then another as
HERO is against the ropes. WATTS tries a whip, but HERO arm wringers around
and nails WATTS with a right. Slap by HERO, then a jawbreaker. CLIP. Yes,
on a show where they're not hyping us to buy *ANYTHING* specific on
WEDNESDAY--- they clipped this match. Good job. Happy Holidays to you too.
WATTS hits HERO with a chokeslam (WEST, who is very learned at this point
and shocks me here... as he calls the move a POWERBOMB). The set up for the
chokeslam was a reversal of a hip toss attempt by HERO. Both men are down
and slow to their feet. Rights by WATTS. Someone should tell him to never
throw a punch in a match again. Kind of like a dropkick. WATTS backs HERO
to the ropes, whip, then a back body drop. HERO back up gets nailed with a
knife edge chop by WATTS. Bicycle Kick (that looks like a leaping big boot)
by WATTS. WATTS urges HERO to get up. WATTS catches a boot attempt by HERO.
WATTS spins HERO around, then hits a chokeslam for the pin in 2:37 TV
Time. They cut a good amount out of this match, it appears.

MATCH #1: Erik Watts with Goldylocks d. Chris Hero by Pinfall (2:37 TV
Time) after a chokeslam.

JEREMY BORASH & MIKE TENAY are back with us. BORASH plugs the BEST OF THE X
DIVISION 2003 on DECEMBER 24th and THE YEAR IN REVIEW show on DECEMBER
31st. Plug for TNA ON DEMAND. Still to come? The betrayal by THE
GATHERING! Talk turns to the heat turned up on the X DIVISION in recent
weeks. TENAY mentions that on JANUARY 7th, 2004... ULTIMATE X II featuring
MICHAEL SHANE v. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS v. LOW-KI v. CHRIS SABIN. No one is
mentioned by name, sadly. BORASH talks about online publications calling
ULTIMATE X being the most innovative thing in wrestling in 10 years.

Let Us Take You Back... SCOTT HUDSON interviews LOW-KI. See every LOW-KI
interview ever. ELIX SKIPPER shows up and they're family.

Let Us Take You Back... MICHAELS SHANE retains the NWA X DIVISION
CHAMPIONSHIP in his 9th Defense against LOW-KI. Airing of chops, then of
the finish. Post match brawl featuring the 4 involved in ULTIMATE X II. We
even get ERIK WATTS declaring the match.

NWA TNA BEST OF THE X DIVISION DVD PROMO. Order yours today!

MATCH #2: SONJAY DUTT v. JOHN MCCHESNEY

WEST puts over DUTT pretty hard during the (short) entrance and start of
the match. This is McCHESEY's second match on XPLOSION in recent months as
he lost to CHRIS SABIN recently. Side headlock by DUTT from a collar and
elbow. Elbows by McCHESNEY and DUTT backs to the ropes. McCHESNEY shoves
DUTT off, but DUTT reverses the whip and takes a shoulder block. TENAY
mentions the SABIN match. McCHESNEY hits the ropes, leaps over DUTT, then
under a leap frog before taking a head scissors take over by DUTT as DUTT
rolled into the move from his back. Really hot looking move that the crowd
just sits there for. Yup, they must leave the Fairgrounds *NOW*. Right by
DUTT as McCHESNEY is against the ropes. Whip by DUTT is reversed. McCHESNEY
tries a hip toss, but DUTT lands on his feet. DUTT tries a short
clothesline by McCHESNEY gets a go behind (while still holding DUTT's other
arm). DUTT runs to the ropes and shoves McCHESNEY off from the waist lock.
DUTT charges and hits a tilt-a-wirl flying head scissors. Deep arm drag by
DUTT into an arm bar. TENAY says DUTT is in his early 20s and from BOMBAY,
INDIA (I thought it was HOLLYWOOD, INDIA?!?). McCHESNEY works his way to
his feet, but DUTT maintains control of the arm. Arm wringer, then a whip
by DUTT. McCHESNEY reverses, but then DUTT reverses and McCHESNEY hits the
ropes. DUTT charges and McCHESNEY back drops DUTT to the apron. DUTT blocks
a left, but eats a knee lift while on the apron. McCHESNEY hits a swinging
neckbreaker as DUTT's head is between the middle and top ring ropes to
two. McCHESNEY pulls DUTT up, then hits a right, then continues to pull
him up. Right again, back to the ropes. Whip, McCHESNEY misses with a
clothesline, then DUTT works into his flying head scissors into an elevated
abdominal stretch move. There is a boring chant going on and I wonder what
the fans in NASHVILLE are smoking as both of these guys are working a
pretty fast pace and DUTT just exudes energy. DUTT holds the move for a
bit, then releases into a roll-up for two. Right by DUTT as McCHESNEY is
back on his feet. Boot to the mid-section as McCHESNEY is in the corner.
Chop by DUTT. Cross corner whip by DUTT is reversed. McCHESNEY follows DUTT
in, but DUTT floats over pushing off the top turnbuckle. DUTT runs cross
corner again and McCHESNEY follows. DUTT tries the float over and McCHESNEY
catches DUTT and they end up in the Tombstone set up. McCHESNEY drops DUTT
face first across the top turnbuckle from this position, sort of an
inverted powerbomb. Northern Lights Suplex by McCHESNEY for two. McCHESNEY
pulls DUTT back to his feet and moves him into the corner. McCHESNEY takes
DUTT to the top, but DUTT fights off. McCHESNEY recovers and dropkicks DUTT
while he's seated on the top turnbuckle. DUTT falls to the canvas and
McCHESNEY gets two. McCHESNEY pulls DUTT back up and McCHESNEY tries a
Tornado DDT, but DUTT continues the rotation and places McCHESNEY back on
the top turnbuckle. Uppercut by DUTT, then a FUTURE SHOCK~!, dropping to
his knees. Funny they let DUTT use that spot in TNA, but I guess SABIN
isn't using that finish anymore. DUTT sets McCHESNEY into place for the
HINDU PRESS corkscrew moonsault splash for the pin in 3:11. Damn fine
match. McCHESNEY didn't look like much in his match with SABIN, but looked
pretty decent here.

MATCH #2: Sonjay Dutt d. John McChesney by Pinfall (3:11) after "The Hindu
Press" corkscrew moonsault splash from the top turnbuckle.

NWA TOTAL NONSTOP WRESTLING! Only on Pay-Per-View!

We're back with JEREMY BORASH & MIKE TENAY. BORASH can't wait for ULTIMATE
X II... BORASH hard sells ULTIMATE X... more mention of it being the best
thing to happen in the last decade. I wonder where FRANKIE KAZARIAN is...
BORASH mentions that JARRETT dodged a bullet this past Wednesday and that
there is a special NWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS meeting dealing with an upcoming
title defense by JARRETT. TENAY mentions STYLES, BROWN, RAVEN, and STING as
those who want title shots since there is no number one contender. TENAY
says the situation could lead to JARRETT being very vulnerable.

Let Us Take You Back... SCOTT HUDSON interviews D-LO BROWN & A.J. STYLES
about the DREAM MATCH later in the evening.

Let Us Take You Back... SIMON DIAMOND & JOHNNY SWINGER defeat D-LO BROWN &
A.J. STYLES in a DREAM MATCH. We join the match with JARRETT beating STYLES
up on the floor and see the finish. Wow, that was quick. This must have
been the old "move of the week" segment.

NWA TOTAL NONSTOP WRESTLING! Only on Pay-Per-View!

NWA TNA BEST OF THE X DIVISION DVD PROMO. Order yours today!

MATCH #3: SHARK BOY v. MATT STRYKER

Unfortunately, they don't air STRYKER's ring introduction, so I can't tell
if he blew his cue this time too. HA! I kid. TENAY puts over that SHARK BOY
and STRYKER are very familiar with each other. STYRKER is growing out his
hair to look more thugish, I gather. All of these matches were taped weeks
ago, which leads me to wonder where my MATT SYDAL v. CHRISTOPHER DANIELS
match is, huh?!? Where is it? They circle to start. Collar and elbow and
SHARK BOY quickly works in a hammerlock. STRYKER tries to fight out and
then drops to the canvas and drop toe holds out of it. STRYKER with a nice
float over into a head lock on SHARK BOY. The hair is working for STRYKER
as he looks less plain and more like a wrestler. Maybe I'm weird. SHARK BOY
gets the hammerlock again to break free. STRYKER rolls through and to his
feet and manages to reverse into a hammerlock of his own. SHARK BOY tries a
back elbow and when STRYKER ducks, spins around into a side headlock.
STRYKER shoves him off to the ropes and hits a back elbow. STYKER hits the
ropes, leaps over SHARK BOY, then under a leap frog. SHARK BOY sets for a
monkey flip, but STRYKER flips SHARK BOY to his feet. Chop by STRYKER. Then
another. Whip by STRYKER, but SHARK BOY reverses it quickly and gets a
boot. Side headlock by SHARK BOY, who then charges the corner and hits a
bulldog after running up the corner turnbuckle on STRYKER for two. Both men
back up and SHARK BOY gets a turnbuckle smash. Chop in the corner by SHARK
BOY. SHARK BOY mounts STRYKER in the corner, who moves out of the way and
pulls SHARK BOY down. STRYKER then works SHARK BOY over with some boots in
the corner knocking SHARK BOY to the canvas. TENAY puts over how we've seen
SHARK BOY do the corner mount a whole lot and the familiarity factor taking
place. STRYKER shows fire trying to rile up the crowd. He turns around and
eats a chop by SHARK BOY. The another. Corner whip by SHARK BOY. SHARK BOY
charges by STRYKER catches him with his right arm and just tosses SHARK
BOY to the canvas. Weird looking Boss Man Slam toss without STRYKER
leaving his feet. STRYKER misses an elbow from the middle turnbuckle and
SHARK BOY gets two. Both men back up and SHARK BOY gets a side headlock
again. SHARK BOY tries the bulldog again and STRYKER crotches SHARK BOY
over the middle turnbuckle. STRYKER gets an uppercut to the back of the
head of SHARK BOY as he's straddled in the corner. Chop to the back by
STRYKER and SHARK BOY drops backwards. STRYKER chokes SHARK BOY with his
boot. Cross corner whip, then a charging clothesline in the corner by
STRYKER. Man, STRYKER looks evil. Delayed cover and STRYKER gets two.
STRYKER works into a "surfboard" as TENAY calls it. Oddly, you see the move
a whole lot, but it's not really a surfboard as that involves the lower
half of the body as well. It's just STRYKER wrenching the arms of SHARK BOY
and driving his knee into the back. I'm sure there's a name for it and I'd
almost always mention it, but the chills and headache I've been
experiencing are affecting my brain. Crowd starts to get into SHARK BOY
fighting out, so of course they rush this segment and SHARK BOY works to
his feet and spins out of the move. TENAY calls STRYKER the Unibrower. HA.
STRYKER gets a belly to back suplex. STRYKER signals, then lands of his
feet attempting an Asai Moonsault as SHARK BOY moved out of the way. SHARK
BOY ducks a clothesline and takes a reverse neck breaker. Both men slow to
their feet. Running forearm, then another by SHARK BOY. TENAY calls it a
"forearm type clothesline." Umm... yeah. Chop by SHARK BOY, then a whip.
STRYKER reverses the whip and ducks his head. SHARK BOY stops and jams
STRYKER's head. STRYKER stumbles into the corner and STRYKER takes the 10
Count Corner punch followed by the Shark Bite. SHARK BOY goes to the top,
but STRYKER heads SHARK BOY off. STRYKER follows SHARK BOY up and sets for
a superplex. SHARK BOY fights out with shots and they exchange a few before
STRYKER is dropped from the top to the canvas. High cross body block from
the top by SHARK BOY, but STRYKER rolls through for two. Both men back to
their feet. STRYKER catches a right by SHARK BOY and works the arm into an
elevated fireman's carry. SHARK BOY wiggles free and drops behind STRYKER.
SHARK BOY gets a waist lock, but STRYKER pushes backwards and jams SHARK
BOY into the corner. STRYKER hits two nice back elbows and SHARK BOY fights
back with shots. SHARK BOY moves to the middle turnbuckle, then hits
STRYKER with the DEAD SEA DROP somersault forward jawbreaker out of the
corner from an inverted DDT set up. SHARK BOY gets the win in 4:31.

MATCH #3: Shark Boy d. Matt Stryker by Pinfall (4:31) after "The Dead Sea
Drop" reverse front facelock into a somersault forward jawbreaker from the
middle turnbuckle.

Let Us Take You Back... SCOTT HUDSON interviews NWA WORLD TAG TEAM
CHAMPIONS: 3 LIVE KRU. KONNAN & KILLINGS had the tag belts, then JAMES
ended up with KONNAN's belt.

The Girls of TNA 2004 Calendar Promo. Funny, they de-emphasize all the
women, then come out with the calendar. Makes perfect sense. Anyways,
when's DESIRE coming back? Her injury should have healed by now...

NWA TNA BEST OF THE X DIVISION DVD PROMO. Order yours today!

Back with JEREMY BORASH & MIKE TENAY. BORASH shills us on BEST OF THE X
DIVISION 2003 this Wednesday and YEAR IN REVIEW on 12/31. BORASH even says
to set your VCR or your TIVO. Or, in my case, my DVDR. Oh yeah. That hard
drive is a life saver, I'll tell you that much. They talk about RAVEN and
that leads us to...

Let Us Take You Back... JEREMY BORASH put together a nice video package
setting up RAVEN & THE GATHERING v. ABYSS & RED SHIRT SECURITY. Let's see
it again!

Let Us Take You Back... ABYSS & RED SHIRT SECURITY defeat RAVEN & THE
GATHERING in a Steel Cage Match. THE GATHERING betray RAVEN. More of
this match airs than any other in recent memory for XPLOSION. They even
aired the "TNA Cam" version of PUNK's top of the cage dive.

After TNA Went Off The Air: ABYSS, JEFF JARRETT, & RED SHIRT SECURITY
celebrate on the ramp way with THE GATHERING. DINERO: "If there's a lesson
learned RAVEN... it's loyalty. You didn't have it... and you sure as hell
don't deserve it."

"One - The Lonliest Number": Cut to RAVEN sitting in the center of the
ring, distraught. Seriously, they spelled loneliest wrong in the graphic.

"Destiny... Nevermore": THE GATHERING hang out in the dark. DINERO says
that RAVEN brought this upon himself. DINERO questions RAVEN thinking
they'd be loyal to him to now end. DINERO says that they've shattered his
dream. PUNK says that they're going to set RAVEN's world on fire and watch
him burn. PUNK says that the NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP and RAVEN's destiny...
is nevermore.

"The Call of the Wild": RAVEN is outside. RAVEN says he feels like Caesar,
being stabbed in the back by two men he trusted and that he allowed to
fight beside him. RAVEN says they cost him his WORLD title shot. RAVEN says
rather than be furious and livid, he's like a parent watching his child hit
their first home run. To be honest, RAVEN says he's proud of them... but
they're still going to pay. "They're definitely going to pay." RAVEN then
talks about tigers eating their young and wild life shows. RAVEN says he
respects THE GATHERING so much more for having the sack to stand up to him.
He says he respects them so much more for giving him the conchairto and
costing him the NWA World Title. RAVEN says they're both going to pay.
RAVEN says that no matter how much he respects them, they will pay in blood
and tears. "This will be so painful a growing lesson that you will wish you
had never done it." Catch phrases. Fin.

"Power of Attorney": NWA WORLD CHAMPION: JEFF JARRETT is on his cell phone.
JARRETT tells his attorney he's the greatest attorney on the face of the
planet. JARRETT says there is no number one contender and on the 7th all he
has to do is show up and win the MR. TNA AWARD. JARRETT asks his attorney
about his check on the board and if it'll stick.

"This Wednesday - Best Of The X": DON WEST shills this Wednesday's special.
The special will re-air THE ULTIMATE X match... then a shill for JANUARY
7th with ULTIMATE X II, RAVEN & ??? v. THE GATHERING, a live performance by
3 LIVE KRU, and JEFF JARRET might be defending the NWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!
Be there!

Next Week: MICHAEL~! will be in the Bahamas. When he returns on JANUARY
3rd, he shall attempt to write an XPLOSION report. No promises. So for now,
we'll assume there's no report NEXT WEEK. See you in two weeks for more TNA
XPLOSION! Have a happy holiday season and a happy New Year!

Overall: B- Usually I have a definitive feeling about XPLOSION, but this
week I'm kind of left on the fence. While they did a decent job of airing
original content, they more or less brushed over the next two weeks as
throwaways (which they are). As a stand alone show, the matches were better
than normal, especially the SHARK BOY v. STRYKER match. The fact that they
didn't really use this show to pimp this week's event and they still
clipped HERO v. WATTS is a downside.

Best Match: SHARK BOY v. STRYKER. Oh yes. It was as good as the live report
said.

Worst Match: Nothing was bad, but clipping WATTS v. HERO even though they
had nothing to really pimp for next week was depressing.

Again, no report (at least on time) next week, I'll be back in TWO WEEKS
(maybe earlier that weekend with a prior report, but no promises)... enjoy
the holiday season.








*NEW GALLERY* Even MORE Hot Shots of TORRIE WILSON Tearing the Night Up!

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