Countdown To Inside Pulse V3 – Pulse Wrestling Preview

The Trouble With TNA

Watching ROH lately has really made me realize how totally apathetic I am towards much of the “major” promotions in the US. The WWE we know the reasons for ad nauseum by now, but watching a couple of episodes of TNA really hammers home why they’re never going to be anything other than a distant #2, if you can even call them that. They seem to lack really basic tenets of booking and running a promotion, and it makes it hard to get behind them. Examples:

1) Sting was brought in for a one-year deal, presumably to draw money and put over the next generation of stars. What has he done since day one? Feuded with Jeff Jarrett off and on, just like he did in WCW six years ago and in TNA three years ago. He barely even interacts with anyone “beneath” his perceived star power, even though ratings suggest that even that is faded and long gone, and he’s obviously no longer able to hang with the current crop of wrestlers in the ring. Even someone as tunnel-visioned as Jarrett has to see by now that it’s not working and never will, and they aren’t going to get their investment back out of him.

2) Christian gets over as a heel in the WWE, but when he debuts in TNA he gets a big superstar reaction, so they book him as a babyface and try to make him into the next big star in that mold, even though he’s clearly wrong for it. There’s a fine line between listening to your fanbase and letting them book the shows, and TNA crosses way over it just about every show now. Even worse is when they let the fans dictate things and then deliberately go against their wishes to draw heat for Jeff Jarrett. The problem is of course compounded by the fickle and, I should point out, non-paying Orlando fans, who have become such a stale fanbase that they make the ECW arena regulars look like newbies by contrast.

3) They pay lip service to an undefeated Samoa Joe, but then have no idea what to do with him once he’s at a higher level, and as a hint, having him facing Jeff Jarrett in a non-title match to warm up Jarrett for Sting is not what to do. Joe and Styles should have been elevated to the main event against each other LONG ago, but that’s beating a dead horse and is unlikely to ever occur as long as Jarrett owns the promotion. Which is why I gave up on them long ago. Just look at Joe’s ascension up the ladder — he breaks out of the X Division, gets into a big feud with Scott Steiner which he wins, is seemingly poised to take the next step and claim the NWA World title, and what do they do with him? Stick him in a midcard feud with the likes of Abyss and Rhino. In WCW, you could argue that Bill Goldberg’s chase of the World title was wasted, because he was a huge ratings draw and could have brought in good money on a PPV match for the title. You could argue that TNA is trying to avoid the same mistake with Joe, but there’s been no evidence that Joe or anyone else is a significant ratings draw, and neither has anyone been lighting the PPV numbers on fire. There comes a point where you have to pull the trigger or risk having fan backlash cool off the push, and if you stretch out his title win much longer, that’s what’s going to happen.
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A chance encounter brought together a man named Tony with WWE wrestler Batista. Tony was very happy after meeting Batista.

“Batista,” said Tony. “I just met a man named Batista. And suddenly that name, will never be the same, to meeee.”

Tony continued. “Batista! I just shook the hand of Batista! And suddenly I’ve found, how wonderful a shake, can beeee!”

Tony spun in a circle before exclaiming, “Batista! Say it loud and there’s music playing! Say it soft and it’s almost like praying. Batista. I’ll never stop saying BatistaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAA! BATISTA! BATISTA! BATIIIIISTA BATISTA! BATIIIIIIIIISTA! BATIIIIIIIISTA! BAAATISTA Batista, say it once and there’s music playing. Say it soft and it’s almost like praying. Batista. I’ll never stop saying Batista!”

Batista did not respond to our requests for an interview as he is busy moving from Greece to Michigan, presumably due to the fact that he wants to live in America.

This show was a UK only Pay Per View in May 99 but they ended up recycling the name for the October PPV and it’s been the same ever since. Funny how things happen like that isn’t it?

We’re in Manchester, England

Your hosts are J.R and King

This was during the whole Corporate Ministry period where Shane McMahon was running the show and Vince McMahon was off trying to protect Stephanie from the Undertaker’s evil advances. Ah got to love the nutty Attitude Era haven’t you?

Speaking of the Corporate Ministry they start the show by coming out and promising to kill all their opponents for the evening etc. Shane also says he’s bringing the European Championship out of retirement in his match with X-Pac later.

Tiger Ali Singh Vs Gillberg
Singh is the son of Tiger Jeet Singh and Gillberg is Duane Gill doing his best Goldberg impression. It’s actually pretty humorous too. Both guys are horrible so I doubt this will be an exciting opener. Also, in the “what the f*ck was Russo smoking that day?” category, Gillberg is the Light-Heavyweight Champion. Tiger gets some cheap shots in on the British crowd talking about his wealth etc. Gillberg slugs away to start but gets press slammed down by Tiger. Gillberg dodges and elbow and gets a slam followed by the spear but he stops to taunt and Tiger pops up with the neck breaker for the win.

WINNER – TIGER ALI SINGH
Time of fall – 1 minute 4 seconds
No Rating – entrances were longer than the match

Moments ago! Austin arrives!

The Brood Vs Acolytes and Viscera
The Brood were originally in the Ministry but turned face when they refused to sacrifice Christian. Fun fact for all of you, during this period Gangrel was my favourite wrestler. Brood get a pretty healthy face pop, the whole entrance and music was so cool. Would you believed me in 99 if I’d told you 4 of the 6 guys in this match would be world champions by 2006? Of course at this point it was only one, Faarooq. Gangrel starts out with Viscera and tries to clothesline him down but that goes as well as expected. Viscera misses a charge in the corner but Gangrel makes the mistake of trying a vertical suplex and takes one himself. Viscera misses the butt splash and Gangrel tags in Edge who drops some elbows. Bradshaw comes in and clubs away on Edge before dropping some elbows of his own for two.

Edge fights back with a dropkick and Christian comes in with a bulldog for two. Faarooq comes in and pounds away on Christian but takes a spinning wheel kick to the mush. Edge and Christian do the jump off the shoulders move in the corner but Edge takes a cheap shot from Bradshaw on the outside. Back inside Viscera drops an elbow for two. Edge eats a double elbow but manages a desperation DDT on Faarooq and tags in Christian. Bradshaw catches Christian on a cross body and gets a Fallaway Slam. Christian gets worked over in The Ministry corner for a while and takes a bear hug from Bradshaw. Viscera nails a big side slam but Edge saves at two. Viscera actually looked bigger here than he does now. Christian stupidly tries a crucifix pin on Viscera and of course Viscera flattens him for two.

Faarooq gets a chin lock but takes a face crusher, Bradshaw stops the tag though. Bradshaw runs into some boots in the corner but gets a Power Slam for two. Christian gets triple teamed in the heel corner but manages an inside cradle on Faarooq for two as Shane and Mideon come out. Meanwhile, Edge jumps Bradshaw allowing Christian to get a swinging Tornado DDT. Gangrel gets the hot tag and is a house en feugo. All chaos breaks loose as Christian gets a frog splash on Bradshaw for two. In the ensuing chaos, Mideon runs down to the ring and DDT’s Gangrel allowing Bradshaw to get a Clothesline from Hell for the win.

WINNERS – ACOLYTES AND VISCERA

Time of fall – 14 minutes 4 seconds
** – Not bad. Should have been the opener really

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Editor’s note: We’ll be posting several of Joel’s TNA retro-reviews leading into Bound For Glory 2006, so check out this review of the PPV that took place a year ago today, and then stay tuned for more as we approach TNA’s big event!

The Chrononaut Chronicles: TNA Unbreakable 2005 — Sunday, September 11, 2005

– A silent graphic before the TNA intro informs us that this PPV “is dedicated to the unbreakable spirit of the American people”, being September 11th and all.

– Since today was also the NFL’s season opener, the opening video features Monday Night Football music and a Howard Cosell soundalike doing the voiceover as tonight’s top matches are previewed. Of course, even though he isn’t wrestling tonight, they find a way to work Jeff Jarrett in there. Good, unique video though and they deserve credit for not going the obvious route and exploiting September 11, like some companies might have done.

– Diamonds In The Rough vs. 3 Live Kru

Yes, for the second month in a row, the Diamonds In The Rough are curtain-jerking a PPV, but that’s still better than being stuck on the Preshow or not used at all. You know, like they’re pretty much doing now one year later. Konnan & B.G. James do their shtick on the mic as Mike Tenay puts over 3 Live Kru’s reunion last month at Sacrifice. 3LK dominate until Simon Diamond slaps Elix Skipper, who gets fired up and hits James with a nice springboard spinning heel kick. The Diamonds gangrape B.G. in their corner until Konnan gets the hot tag and cleans house, including a smart counter to Primetime’s Matrix with a reverse DDT. K-Dog throws his shoe at David Young and finishes him off with the K-Factor facejam. At least it was short and the crowd was into it.

– Footage from the Preshow: Monty Brown destroys Jerrelle Clark and Cassidy Riley, then challenges the winner of tonight’s NWA Championship bout at Bound For Glory next month. Jeff “Of Course” Jarrett, in his ring gear despite not being on the card this evening, interrupts the Alpha Male and says he deserves the next title shot. Kip James comes out and tells Monty to focus on their tag match tonight. Jeff Hardy runs out and attacks Jarrett before Kip pulls Double J out to safety.

– Austin Aries vs. Roderick Strong

Tenay points to this match-up as proof that TNA listens to its fans, unless it has to do with Jeff Jarrett, in which case they’re just dumb marks who don’t know what’s good for them. Well okay, he didn’t say all that, but he should have. The crowd chants “Generation Next” as Don West, of all people, mentions that Strong and Aries are stablemates in Ring Of Honor and that Austin defeated Roderick in their two previous encounters, I assume in ROH. They do some solid matwork to start off before Strong catches Aries in a crossbody attempt and executes a traditional backbreaker, then presses him overhead and charges toward the corner, hurling Aries against the turnbuckles. That gets a two-count, as does a double-underhook suplex. Strong works over Aries’ back, but what else would you expect from a guy called the Messiah Of The Backbreaker? Strong applies a cool-looking surfboard with his legs but almost pins himself. The commentators explain that Strong wants to beat Aries with the Boston crab as Roderick hits a nice dropkick for two.

They trade chops and Austin takes control, dropping the Pendulum Elbow for two. Aries snaps Strong’s neck over the top rope (actually called the “Macho Necksnap” by West in honor of Randy Savage) and slingshots back in with the twisting corkscrew splash for two. Aries goes for the brainbuster, but Strong blocks it and counters with a flipping pumphandle backbreaker to score a near-fall. Strong lifts him in a fireman’s carry and crunches him with a falling gutbuster across both knees, following quickly with a seated dropkick to the side of the head for another near-fall. Roderick tries to apply the Boston crab, but Aries holds Strong’s leg to keep from being flipped over, so Strong kicks him off and catapults him into the turnbuckles. Strong hooks him up for a possible half-nelson backbreaker, but Aries escapes and nails him with a dropkick, then plants him with the brainbuster and dives off the top with the 450 splash for the 1-2-3. Great little match that the crowd loved.

– Shane Douglas interviews Monty Brown backstage as the fans can be heard chanting “That was awesome” in the arena until the sound guy cuts them off and plays some background music. Kip James cuts the Alpha Male off and asks him what all that was about, refering to the Preshow shenanigans since Kip apparently hasn’t had time in the last half-hour to ask Monty about it off-camera. Monty explains he was just trying to get the job done, adding that it was something Kip hasn’t done lately, but the former Billy Gunn informs Monty that he is one of the “most decorated” stars in wrestling history, which really sounds stupid. Kip advises Monty to keep his mind on their tag team match tonight that nobody cares about.

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You may not remember, but as recently as March 2002, the WWF was owned (within the storylines) by both Vince McMahon and Ric Flair… but to say they didn’t get along is quite the understatement. After Vince tried – unsucessfully – to destroy the company, going as far as bringing in the nWo, Linda and the WWF Board forced the company to split in two, with RAW (run by Flair) and Smackdown (run by Vince) holding a draft that took place on March 26 of that year.

The WWF has since “gotten the ‘F’ out” to become WWE, and ECW has been added into the mix, but four and a half years later, RAW and Smackdown continue to operate (more or less) as separate entities. Or at least two different “brands.”

Here is Pulse Wrestling’s EXCLUSIVE log of every WWF/E roster move — wrestlers jumping from RAW to SD and back again, drafts, trades, inter-brand matches and everything else you can think of from a (mostly) storyline/kayfabed perspective.

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