The triumphs of the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion battling Trevor Murdoch in an Atlanta, GA television studio. Of The Rock & Roll Express just doing their thing in 2019 like nothing has changed except the hairline. Of Jack Evans successfully taking Kenny Omega down with a hammerlock.
Say it once and say it again:
TUESDAYS ARE FOR YOUTUBE.
NWA POWERRR
I just about gushed out everything I could on NWA Powerrr last month, and a lot of that love still stands though as the weeks go by the luster is wearing off just a bit. It isn’t really the luster of the presentation that’s wearing off and more the possibilities of the acts it is presenting. I’m not as all in as I might’ve been in October, but I’m still in.
This month was about building up Into the Fire, the first NWA pay-per-view since the TV show’s debut. I guess that’s where the possibilities of the acts comes in, as though the card is mostly in line with what the show has been selling it’s not exactly a compelling bit of business. Nick Aldis vs. James Storm? I don’t know, doc.
I do love how Nick Aldis can passionately say “this is the N… W… A!” as if that actually means anything anymore.
It was also a where Jim Cornette was relieved of his duties, as on Episode 7 he said a line that in a civilized society wasn’t exactly looked upon as something anyone should say – at the very least, nothing that should’ve gotten by any decent quality control. Like, I appreciate the attention to 80s detail – but don’t bring back the racism. We’re already trying to fight that enough as it is.
Episode 5: James Storm vs. Colt Cabana (11/5/19)
Colt Cabana winning the NWA National Title from James Storm was the big thing here, with a bit too much going on – Ken Anderson with Colt, Eli Drake with Storm, and Nick Aldis and Kamille lurking too. All the babyface/heel stuff is a hair confusing but also kind of real, like guys are feeling each other out and forming alliances in the new workplace. It was nice to see a longer (7-8 minutes) match on TV too, though this wasn’t Arn Anderson. They should lean in to Colt as a main event Boogie Woogie Man, but I don’t think they will.
Aron Stevens was ALL over these shows and sometimes I appreciate what he’s trying to do with the thespian character and flesh-colored pants but it’s too much. The YOU GOT BEAT chants for his promo was fun, the very short 2/3 Falls match with Ricky Starks not so much.
THERE’S GONNA BE A VIDEO GAME?
The Dawsons looked fine squashing a couple guys with some double teams, but the show-closing match with Outlaw Inc was just bad – so much telegraphing, and the interference from The Wildcards and The Rock & Roll Express didn’t help. I did like one of the guys who got squashed trying a half-hearted tag save at the end of the match – now that’s a throwback.
Eddie Kingston‘s promo game was strong here – guy is over and might be the guy to beat Aldis if there’s a long-term plan here.
Marti Belle turned on Allysin Kay and aligned herself with Thunder Rosa, a turn that wasn’t executed very well but DID at least have the Thunder Rosa drums.
Also dug the little promo in the middle of the show where Tim Storm was interviewed about possible retirement then got taken aside by Nick Aldis like they were in The Irishman together or something. NWA very much lucked into dad Storm.
Episode 6: More Questions Than Answers (11/12/19)
A Rock & Roll Express promo and Trevor Murdoch squash is a HELL of a way to start your show.
Thunder Rosa and Marti Belle squashed a pair of gals and talked shit. The Question Mark beat “The D-Man” Dan Parker” and has quickly become a cult favorite with the crowd. Nick Aldis did an interview and I dig that he’s not really a babyface or heel – he’s just The Champ. But it’s still just Nick Aldis.
Ricky Starks is going after Colt Cabana‘s National Title and they had some alright banter – more than anyone Colt is embracing the possibilities of the studio interview: “Ricky Starks I don’t know what you’re doing out here, baby!”
Outlaw Inc failed to wrestle the NWA World Tag Titles from The Wildcards in a very basic main event that ended with the entire roster coming out and bickering.
Not great!
Episode 7: The Phoenix Rises (11/19/19)
When I said The Question Mark was quickly becoming a cult hero, I guess I meant he’s more over than most of the top guys and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. He’s aligned with Aron Stevens now and they’re doing BOO/YAY shtick and also getting over a catchphrase: “ka…ra… taaaay.” He also wrestled Ricky Starks who I think got hot at him for not catching a tope.
Nick Aldis vs. Trevor Murdoch was the most ideal little TV match, The Champ taking on my favorite fella in the NWA.
The slow introduction of a talent by using them a a jobber in angles (i.e.: Ashley Vox) is underrated. She and Allysin Kay vs. Thunder Rosa & Marti Belle was alright mostly because of Kay vs. Rosa. Melina is here about to setup her own Paul Jones’ Army – oh MY.
At the end of the show James Storm challenged Nick Aldis and said BULLSHIT. Not the worst thing said on the show.
Episode 8: Step Into The Fire (11/26/19)
Due to Jim Cornette‘s dumbass crack about Ethiopia and fried chicken (…yeah), this ended up being a show hosted solo by Joe Galli in advance of Into the Fire. Feels like they panicked and had to put something together quick, and most of it ended up being a mini-documentary on Thunder Rosa‘s MMA debut called “Into the Cage” that was pretty great but not anything I’m planning to deeply write about.
They teased all show that they’d reveal who’s challenging Nick Aldis for the NWA World’s Heavyweight Title, and the ability to do that with a straight face is incredible. Especially when the answer is James Storm.
There was also one of the weirdest damn things I’ve seen that went from fun studio camp to just outright bad, as The Question Mark wrestled one of The Dawsons in an Empty Arena Match (because of Cornette) where the stip was if The Dawsons won Question Mark had to remove his mask, and if Question Mark won The Dawsons had to read Shakespeare. Because Aron Stevens. Just bad. All of it.
AEW DARK
I’m not sure about all this.
Episode 5: The Darkest Dark (11/5/19)
An actively terrible, horrible, no good very bad wrestling show. If they keep them like this, I’m out.
Michael Nakazawa vs. Shawn Spears – love Nakazawa and a slingshot spear is a good finish, but bad.
Allie & Sadie Gibbs vs. Mercedes Martinez & Big Swole was the classic kind of Dark match that went SO long (a legit 15-minutes) that it didn’t help anybody, though Sadie stood out for like 10 seconds.
They ran a Britt Baker promo on Bea Priestley and I’m very into a wrestler threatening to rip another wrestler’s jaw out but the “she’s not a professional!” stuff is DREADFUL.
The Jurassic Express vs. Joey Janela & Jimmy Havoc also went too long, another get-all-your-shit-in-but-don’t-get-over kind of match.
Gross angle to end the show too, with Shawn Spears maybe pulling Joey Janela’s teeth out. Who needs that?
Even MJF on commentary came off as bad for being a part of this whole mess.
Episode 6: Gearing Up for Full Gear (11/8/19)
This was aired on the Friday before Full Gear and another weak outing for AEW on YouTube. It was an even lazier outing, though not as rage-inducing.
Big Swole vs. Hikaru Shida featured the now-signed Big Swole, but outside of Shida’s sweet jumping knee this just went too long before Swole finally showed some fire at he end and got it barely moving.
Nyla Rose & Leva Bates vs. Shazza McKenzie & Shalandra Royal was another match where nobody stood out, even if Nyla didn’t tag out and still won.
SoCal Uncensored vs. The Hybrid2 & “Superbad” Kip Sabian was a lot of holds and unremarkable action too.
Yeah, that’s it.
Episode 7: Golden Commentary (11/19/19)
This show had the benefit of Dustin Rhodes on commentary and he was GREAT, a modern day more lucid Dusty. The main event was good too. If anything, Dark seems to be the place where The Elite is still getting their rocks off trying to have classics with the midcard.
The Best Friends and Private Party can all do wild stuff, but it all kind of runs together. Orange Cassidy is a riot, Private Party actively rules, but everyone here was just kinda runnin through their stuff and taking ill-advised bumps on the floor.
Riho & Britt Baker vs. Big Swole & Kris Statlander was another too-long and too-vanilla women’s tag on Dark. Statlander is spoken well of but didn’t get to do much here.
The Young Bucks vs. Strong Hearts delivered because everyone just went balls out with rapid-fire awesome shit for 10 minutes. It’s not sustainable but it was a wild time in the moment. T-Hawk rules, his chops are so good they’re like highspots.
Episode 8: Kenny Omega vs. Jack Evans (11/26/19)
God, Pentagon Jr. vs. Trent just about killed my will to love AEW and it wasn’t even that bad. The finish was just the perfect encapsulation of AEW: Pentagon hits a package piledriver on the apron, does his armbreaker finish, sets up package piledriver in the ring… and Trent counters with Air Raid Crash for 3. Christ on a cookie.
AEW is batting like 10% on women’s matches that hit and I’m glad to say this show had at least one of them, with Big Swole and Hikaru Shida just bringing it to each other and lookin real good, baby. Match felt legit, Shida’s double stomp was NASTY, and there was a DRAGON SUPLEX! If AEW Dark has gotta have these long matches then let these two do shit like this and not whatever else has been going on.
Awesome Kong squashed Leva Bates after Leva Bates made sports jokes. I dunno.
Kenny Omega and Jack Evans had a match I will begrudgingly rate four-stars – Evans takes Omega’s stuff well and was obnoxious in a good way, highlighted most of all when Kenny just shotgun blast kicked him into the turnbuckle. Omega working Evans like an equal didn’t quite hit but when it was anything but that I dug it. Good chemistry, annoying wrestlers.
Watch episodes of NWA Powerrr on the NWA YouTube Channel.
Watch episodes of AEW Dark on the AEW YouTube Channel.
