NWA Total Nonstop Action #1 June 19th 2002
- Brandon Siddall
- Apr 2, 2016
- 5 min read
WCW had folded in 2001 in pretty spectacular fashion. Vince McMahon and the WWF had purchased World Championship Wrestling for pennies on the dollar, leading to mass layoffs during the assimilation into the World Wrestling Federation. With an influx of talent on the independent scene, pro-wrestling had begun a shift that the purchase of WCW had started. It wasn't a good shift either. They say that competition in business is good. Well that is not a lie.
The World Wrestling Federation had brought in a number of guys from WCW to job out to Vince's "homegrown" Superstars. The National Wrestling Alliance along with Jerry Jarrett and son, Jeff Jarrett, began laying the groundwork for TNA or Total Nonstop Action.
There is a documentary about the beginning of TNA. It's really good. It has interviews and goes really in depth with Jeff Jarrett etc. You should definitely check that out because I will not be talking about that much. Instead, with this series, I am going to be focusing on the individual episodes and matches during the NWA/TNA years. This was the closest that we would get to having Nitro all over again. Cringeworthy at it's best.
The Flying Elvises (Jimmy Yang, Sonny Siaki and Jorge Estrada) vs. AJ Styles, Jerry Lynn and Lo-Ki
Six Man Tag
The very first match of the very first episode of NWA/TNA had received a ***3/4 from Dave Meltzer. It also featured some of the greatest talent they could find. AJ Styles, Lo-Ki and Jerry Lynn took on Sonny Siaki, Jimmy Yang and Jorge Estrada in Flying Elvis gimmicks. The gimmicks were not half as bad as the commentary provided by Mike Tenay, Don West & Ed Ferrara However, 2002 TNA had Girls dancing in cages, an energetic crowd, and a product that you can actually enjoy. This definitely isn't the TNA of 2016.
Lo-Ki is the rookie on his team. He had appeared on WWF Heat as Loki by this time, but hadn't had lower card success like Styles did. Jerry Lynn was a full fledged ring veteran by this time too. However, Lo-Ki really showed that he could hold his own.
The Flying Elvis Impersonators make their entrance. Each member wears a horrible Elvis costume. Estrada is fairly new, where Sonny Siaki and Jimmy Yang are also WCW holdovers like Styles and Lynn. These high profile names will really help solidify TNA for WCW fans.
All of these performers will go on to form the new X-treme division in the Total Nonstop Action promotion. Tenay, West and Ferrera do their best throughout the entire match, to put over this fact.
The match starts off with all six men brawling in the ring. AJ Styles hits a Hurricanrana, Action spreads out everywhere. Jerry Lynn and Lo-Ki dive to the outside to Siaki and Estrada. This leaves high-flier AJ Styles in the ring with Jimmy Yang. Huge powerslam from AJ onto Yang. Both men moving at a thunderous pace. Yang gets a two-count after a Shining Wizard to Styles. Jerry Lynn gets into the action next.
Lynn tags himself in and goes at it with Yang. Big Tilt-A-Whirl Back breaker for a two count. Big boot from Jerry Lynn to Jimmy Yang and then the Tornado DDT but Yang no-sells it and hits a nasty dropkick. Some fast and impressive moves from Yang then Siaki gets tagged in.
Lynn and Sonny Siaki go at it pretty fierce. These guys are lobbing each other. Really stiff work. Jerry Lynn lowers his head to Siaki once and pays for it as Siaki hits a stiff jab. But Lynn comes back and hits a tilt-a-whirl head scissors and then a bulldog onto Siaki for another two count. It’s not in the cards for Lynn. Now we see the new comer Lo-Ki.
Sonny Siaki and Lo-Ki brawl pretty hard. Siaki shows Ki a thing or two. Big power moves here mixed with some innovative offense from Siaki. However, he cannot secure a pin. Estrada comes in. Two new comers here. Both show great action, Estrada hits a reverse neck breaker and standing moonsault for a two count. Lo-Ki gets the upper hand and starts with his vicious kicks. Estrada is nearly decapitated with a stiff final kick as Styles is tagged in.
AJ Styles hits an inverted DDT on Estrada but gets leveled after a huge kick by the newcomer. Lo-Ki is back in and goes at it with Estrada until things go south. He gets pinned and Jerry Lynn has to make the save. Lynn hits the Cradle Pile-driver on Estrada. Then things start turning to pandemonium as everyone starts hitting the ring again. Sonny Siaki hits a Swinging Neckbreaker on Jerry Lynn, knocking him clear out of the ring. Siaki gets leveled with a kick from Styles. Jimmy Yang ducks a kick from Lo-Ki who nails Styles mistakenly. Estrada hits a dropkick to Ki knocking him out of the ring and clearing the faces out while Jimmy Yang hits the Yang Time for the win.
Initial thoughts: This was a really good match that showcased what TNA would strive to be with their X Division. It looked really promising on paper and had some gravitas with the names involved. Jerry Lynn looked amazing out there. He was the veteran but he moved right there with the boys. Yang and Styles were explosive, as were Lo-Ki and Estrada. They both pulled out some amazing stuff.
Final thoughts: Overall, I liked the match a lot. It was a strong debut match for the federation. It accurately showcases their intentions. It’s fun and fast but it has a crappy ending. The rules are pretty unclear as to how you are determined to be the “legal” man. They appear to be using Lucha Libre rules and when you get tossed out of the ring someone else can jump in and take your place. It’s a bit hectic but it keeps the match moving along. I guess I understand it.
B
This “midget” match between Teo and Hollywood is not structured very well at all. The ring announcer doesn’t even know how to announce this. Hollywood and Teo start things off pretty quickly. Teo delivers some knife edge chops and a pretty neat diving headbutt to Hollywood’s nuts. We even get to see the ten-count punch on the ropes in the corner.
Hollywood hits a Michinoku Driver but only gets a two. Teo gets Hollywood with a roll-up but only gets a two. Big clothesline from Hollywood and then a top-rope splash! But Hollywood still can’t secure the victory. Teo fights back and goes to the top for a twisting swanton for the three. Our victor is played out with some horrible carnie music. This was just…
Initial thoughts: I had no idea who Teo and Hollywood were. I still don’t really. I didn’t know that it would be this bad. Isn’t the term midget derogatory?
Final thoughts: This is nothing like that opening six-man tag from the same show. That match was amazing. This was… something else. Why take the wind out of your audiences sails like that. Weird booking. Good moves from both competitors though.
D
Comments