NWA Global Impact Wrestling (2002)

[Chris Allen]

From the Wrestling Observer, May 20, 2002:

Jerry and Jeff Jarrett's plan to bring the NWA back on a national scale seems to have taken on a life of its own, with Jeff now playing a much smaller role in the upcoming promotion. The father and son were in complete disagreement over bringing in Vince Russo as the head of creative, with Jerry wanting nothing to do with Russo. This arguing spooked investors, who then asked to interview Russo directly, with members of the NWA Board of Directors also present. This conversation apparently did not go well, and both the investors and the NWA flatly rejected most of Russo's risque plans for the promotion. The NWA also nixed Russo's intentions to strip reigning NWA Worlds Champion Dan Severn of the title out of concern for the championship's prestige. All of this seems to have caused the investors to lose faith in Jeff Jarrett, who will now be an "advisor" to the company but will focus primarily on his role as an on-screen performer. Russo will not be involved at all.

The new promotion will launch its weekly two-hour Pay-Per-View series on June 19 under the name NWA Global Impact.

[Chris Allen]

NWA Global Impact

Episode #1 - "From the Ashes"

June 19, 2002 - Huntsville, Alabama

Fireworks erupt in the Von Braun Civic Center, and Mike Tenay, Jeremy Borash, and Don Callis are in the ring to welcome everyone to the show. The three make a big deal about the NWA's return to the international spotlight. Tenay then explains the concept for the main event "Gauntlet for the Gold" match, which is a ten-man, staggered-entry battle royal with pinfalls and submissions rather than over-the-top rules. The winner of the Gauntlet will get a shot at the NWA Worlds Championship next week, with Rick Steamboat as the special referee. Borash says he will be backstage throughout the night tracking down the match's participants, which include many familiar faces. Callis puts over the history and prestige of the NWA Worlds Championship, name-dropping many previous champions including Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, and Ric Flair.

Tenay then introduces the reigning champion Dan Severn, who comes out with the classic NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship belt over his shoulder. He is wearing a suit without a tie tonight, which is an infinitely better look than the sweaty gray T-shirt he usually wears. Severn gives a very brief promo: "I am a man of few words because I believe actions speak louder than words. I am the champion for a reason. Whoever wins the gauntlet tonight better be prepared next week for the fight of their lives."

The Spanish Announce Team vs. AJ Styles and Low Ki

This match is fast-paced from the word go, with frequent tags and double teams. Several last-second nearfalls keep the crowd on their feet, including a huracanrana by Jose Maximo on Low Ki that is countered into a brutal power bomb. The finish comes when Styles hits a series of stiff kicks to Jose, followed by a Splash Mountain for the three-count. What a way to kick off a new show and showcase young talent!

AJ Styles and Low Ki defeated
The Spanish Announce Team (Joel Maximo and Jose Maximo) when Styles pinned Jose after the Splash Mountain in 0:18:24.
Rating: ****

Jeremy Borash is backstage with "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, who is in tonight's Gauntlet for the Gold. Shamrock says that he dominated the world of cage fighting and mixed martial arts, but he has failed to win a major championship in pro wrestling. He also has something to prove against Dan Severn, but he is up for the challenge. He doesn't just want to win the Gauntlet tonight - he needs it.

Monty Brown vs. "Funky" Allan Funk

Allan Funk is the former Kwee Wee, and he comes to the ring accompanied by Lenny Lane and Joel Gertner. Funk and Lane are apparently leaning towards "weirdo scummy deviants with questionable fashion sense" rather than the campy characters they both portrayed in WCW. This is made more apparent with Gertner's pre-match promo, laden with arrogant innuendo, as one would expect from Gertner. Apparenty "the freaks come out on Wednesday nights." Somewhere in Minnesota, Scott Steiner just got angry and called someone fat, but he doesn't know why. Funk's opponent tonight is former NFL linebacker Monty Brown, who practically no-sells all of Funk's offense. Brown then hits a flurry of punches, clotheslines, and slams. He nails Funk with a brutal shoulderblock that send him across the ring and could itself be a finishing move, then follows up with a giant scoop-lift power bomb for the win.

Monty Brown pinned Allan Funk with the Alpha Bomb in 0:02:18.
Rating: ** 3/4

Jeremy Borash has found another participant in tonight's Gauntlet for the Gold, "The Franchise" Shane Douglas promo. Borash questions Douglas about his intentions with the NWA Worlds Title, considering his history. Douglas laughs and says it is different this time. When he won the NWA title the first time, he chose a revolution over a championship that had lost its lustre. Tonight that dead legacy has been reborn like a phoenix on the national stage, and he is ready for another revolution. He single-handedly transformed the industry once, and now he will be the Franchise of the renaissanace of the NWA.

"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels vs. Ron Killings

The former K-Kwik comes to the ring rapping and hyping up the crowd. Meanwhile, Daniels is playing up his ambiguous "evil preacher" gimmick, complete with a white Roman collar and black robe. These two put on a fun back-and-forth match that sees Killings kick out of Daniels' Angels Wings and an impressive Asai moonsault before succumbing to the Last Rites.

Christopher Daniels pinned Ron Killings with the Last Rites in 0:09:23.
Rating: *** 1/2

Jeremy Borash is backstage again where he has found Raven, sitting sulkily amongst equipment boxes in a dark corner. Borash asks Raven what his strategy will be in the Gauntlet for the Gold tonight. Raven says that his strategy is the same as it always is - inflict as much pain and cause as much chaos as possible. He is looking forward to dashing the hopes and dreams of everyone who is expecting to come out of tonight victorious. He will relish their disappointment. He will be elated to then embarrass the proud and stoic Beast next week, causing him to question his own self-worth. How could someone like Raven defeat the mighty Dan Severn? He will gladly take the NWA Worlds Championship and rub it in the faces of every wretched soul who strives to hold it. He will do it not because he really even wants the championship. He will do it because misery loves company. Quote the Raven, nevermore.

The Flying Elvises vs. Demonios de Tijuana

The Elvises are Jimmy Yang and Sonny Siaki, accompanied by their third man Jorge Estrada. They come to the ring to rockabilly music, wearing matching sleeveless jumpsuits that The King would be proud of. They do some gyrating, dancing, and posing before the match, which gets a pretty good reaction from the crowd. Damien and Halloween, however, are all business tonight. After some quick double teaming from the Los Demonios, Siaki gets serious and gets a very close nearfall off a pumphandle suplex before tagging in Yang. Yang is a house of fire and runs through a flurry of fast-paced moves with the crowd firmly behind him, culminating in his Yang Time corkscrew moonsault on Damien. Halloween just barely makes it in time to break up the pin. A double hot tag sees Siaki take control momentarily, but Halloween hits a few reversals, stuns him with a spinning kick and a springboard armdrag, and then plants him with a brutal spinebuster to escape with the win.

Demonios de Tijuana (Damien and Halloween) defeated
The Flying Elvises (Jimmy Yang and Sonny Siaki) when Damien pinned Siaki after a spinebuster slam in 0:07:51.
Rating: ** 1/2

We go backstage again, where Jeremy Borash has found the former Road Dogg, B.G. James, who is encouraging his old tag team partner Ron Killings after his loss earlier tonight. Borash asks James for his thoughts on tonight's Gauntlet for the Gold. Before James can answer, Killings gives a short freestyle rap about the NWA Worlds Title and how "BGJ" is going home with all the gold. Konnan comes on the scene and gives a short freestyle of his own, which is nowhere near as good as Killings' and is mostly just all of his catchphrases. James and Killings show Konnan respect, but James says to make no mistake that he is the baddest dog in the yard, and he will "speak on that" in the Gauntlet tonight. Konnan says James can try his hardest, but tonight Konnan is going to show him what "gettin' rowdy" is all about.

Brian Christopher vs. Malice

Christopher is still mostly in Too Cool mode and comes out dancing to generic hip-hop music, though there are no goggles or do-rags. Malice is The Wall from WCW, and his entrance takes the smile off of Christopher's face. As the bell sounds, Christopher rushes Malice and rocks him with a few forearms and a dropkick. Malice shakes it off and goozles Brian, hits a choke slam, and pins him in less than a minute.

Malice pinned Brian Christopher with the Choke Slam in 0:00:43.
Rating: *

We go backstage one more time, where Jeremy Borash has now located Jeff Jarrett. He asks Jarrett what number he has drawn for the gauntlet tonight. Jarrett mocks Borash for asking such a stupid question. Instead of answering it, he makes fun of Brian Christopher for losing in under a minute. Then he runs down the other participants in the Gauntlet for the Gold. He calls B.G. James his "former errand boy," says that Steve Corino and Jerry Lynn are "bingo hall rejects," and says that Shamrock can't cut it anymore, which is why they don't want him in the Octagon. He then addresses Dan Severn, saying that winning the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship from "The Beast" will be the culmination of his destiny. "Like it or not, the NWA is now my world, and you can choke on that!"

Gauntlet for the Gold

Jerry Lynn won a 10-person Royal Rumble:

x B.G. James and Vampire Warrior started out.
x Jeff Jarrett entered at 0:02:00

B.G. James and Vampire Warrior take the fight to the outside of the ring early on, where James repeatedly sends the Warrior into the ring steps and guardrail. Meanwhile, Jarrett avoids confrontation in the ring and is content to watch the other two fight. James eventually sneaks back into the ring while Jarrett is not looking and lays into his former friend with a flurry of strikes, followed by two near falls.

x Jerry Lynn entered at 0:04:00
x Konnan entered at 0:06:00
x Steve Corino entered at 0:08:00
x Raven entered at 0:10:00
x Ken Shamrock entered at 0:12:00

With eight of the ten participants in the ring, we finally get our first elimination just past the twelve minute mark. B.G. James and Jerry Lynn work some tandem offense on Jarrett, culminating in a flying guillotine legdrop from Lynn to banish Jarrett from the match. Jarrett does not leave peacefully however, arguing with officials the entire time.

x J. Lynn defeated J. Jarrett after a diving legdrop in 0:12:29
x Shane Douglas entered at 0:14:00
x S. Corino defeated B.G. James after the Old School Expulsion in 0:15:37
x D'Lo Brown entered at 0:16:00
x Konnan defeated Vampire Warrior after the Tequila Sunrise in 0:24:08
x Raven defeated Konnan after the Evenflow DDT in 0:32:14

Jerry Lynn is brawling with Shane Douglas outside the ring and hits a sick Cradle Piledriver on the floor. Lynn rolls Douglas back into the ring, where Ken Shamrock immediately applied the Ankle Lock and gets a quick submission.

x K. Shamrock defeated Douglas after the Ankle Lock Submission in 0:36:33
x K. Shamrock defeated S. Corino after the Ankle Lock Submission in 0:37:35
x K. Shamrock defeated D'Lo in 0:41:39
x K. Shamrock defeated Raven after the Ankle Lock Submission in 0:42:03

After Shamrock's impressive run of eliminations, he squares off with Jerry Lynn. The action is very even, with Lynn holding his own against the intense Shamrock. Shamrock goes for a variety of submission holds, but Lynn has an answer at every turn. The action again spills outside, where Lynn is busted open on the ringpost. Back inside, Shamrock throws Lynn around the ring like a ragdoll with a series of suplexes. Lynn counters a German suplex and nails one of his own but then collapses. Crawling across the ring, Shamrock manages to grab hold of Lynn's leg and apply the Ankle Lock, only for Shane Douglas to re-emerge and grab Shamrock's own ankle from outside the ring. Douglas pulls at Shamrock until he is forced to let go. An enraged Shamrock turns his gaze to Douglas, yelling at him, which gives Lynn enough of an opportunity to catch Shamrock with a kick to the midsection before spiking him with a Cradle Piledriver for the victory.

x J. Lynn defeated K. Shamrock after the Cradle Piledriver in 0:46:46
Rating: **** 1/4

Shane Douglas high-tails it to the back while a stunned and exhausted Ken Shamrock lies seething on the mat. Jerry Lynn celebrates his huge but flawed victory with more fireworks. He will go on to face Dan Severn next week for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, which Tenay dutifully reminds us about as the show fades to black.

[mdale2k]

Good first show. I started a circuit recently starting same time frame as TNA. At the end of the weekly PPVs time. Looking forward to reading

[LillaThrilla]

After Scott Keith started recapping the early TNA weekly PPVs I was thinking of doing circuit like this. Good first show.

Jerry Lynn winning was a surprise; I was expecting Shamrock.

[Chris Allen]

NWA Global Impact

Episode #2 - "Golden Opportunity"

June 26, 2002 - Nashville, TN

Mike Tenay and Don Callis welcome everyone to the second edition of NWA Global Impact, where tonight Jerry Lynn will receive the golden opportunity he won last week to vie for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship against Dan "The Beast" Severn, with the legendary Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat as the special guest referee. Tenay also announces that an eight team tournament to crown new NWA World Tag Team Champions begins tonight with two first round matches.

Joel Gertner is in the ring with Allan Funk and Lenny Lane, who are apparently going with the team name "The Freak Show." Gertner gets his innuendo out of the way before complaining that they were not informed who their opponents would be for the first round of the tournament. Before he can go on much further, some guitar-heavy music starts up and the big screen flashes big bold text in neon colors: "ROCK 'N' ROLL." Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson are here!

NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament - Round 1:
The Freak Show vs. The Rock 'n' Roll Express

Lenny tries to gain an advantage by attacking Morton before the bell and then tries to end it quickly with a huracanrana, but Morton kicks out. We then see some classic tag team action with frequent tags by both teams. Things slow down when Funk throws Gibson outside the ring and uses the steps and guardrail against him. Back inside, Gibson plays Ricky Morton's typical role as Funk continues to dominate. Funk goes for his finish, but Gibson counters and puts some distance between them with a spinning headscissors. Gibson gets the hot tag to Morton, who comes in a house of fire and rocks Funk with a flurry of offense. Funk begs off, but Morton hits a superkick anyway. Morton comes off the top with his Rock 'n' Roll Buster for the win. The Rock 'n' Roll Express advance in the tournament.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) defeated The Freak Show (Lenny Lane and Allan Funk) when R. Morton pinned Allan Funk with the Rock 'n' Roll Buster in 0:06:04.
Rating: ** 1/4

Jeremy Borash is in the back with Shane Douglas, who is laughing about costing Shamrock the Gauntlet for the Gold last week. He says that if Jerry Lynn somehow defeats Dan Severn tonight and wins the NWA Worlds Championship, he will always know that the only way he got there was because of The Franchise. Borash asks him if he should be worrying more about his match with an angry Ken Shamrock tonight rather than Jerry Lynn. Before Douglas can answer, he is blindsided by an enraged Shamrock. It takes several officials to pull Shamrock away as he continues to scream like a madman.

Jeff Jarett vs. "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher

Christopher comes out looking a little more serious tonight, and Tenay mentions how Jarrett mocked Christopher's quick loss to Malice last week. Callis mentions the Memphis history between these two as former tag team partners and enemies. At the start of the match, Christopher takes it to Jarrett with a flurry of strikes and a diving cross body for an early two-count. The match stays largely one-sided for a while, with Christopher maintaining control and Jarrett having only short bursts of offense. Jarrett ducks a clothesline and follows up with a swinging neckbreaker and sleeper hold to slow things down. Christopher mounts a comeback after a desperate low blow and hits a missile dropkick. He then stops to dance and play to the crowd. He goes for a vertical suplex, but Jarrett slides down and nails the Stroke for the win.

Jeff Jarrett pinned Brian Christopher with the Stroke in 0:11:39.
Rating: *** 1/2

Jeremy Borash catches Jarrett on his way up the aisle with guitar in hand, and he asks him what is next. Jarrett calls Borash an idiot, then says Brian Christopher has lost sight of who he is. He is more worried about making kids smile than winning matches. That's not the Brian Christopher he knew ten years ago. As far as what is next, he says the gold is always the goal, and last week he was robbed of his golden opportunity. Championship or no championship, Jerry Lynn better watch his back because he has an impromptu jam session headed his way.

"The King of Old School" Steve Corino vs. D'Lo Brown

Corino gets the advantage off the initial tie-up, but not for long. We see textbook back-and-forth action, with stiff shots and counters galore. D'Lo nearly ends it with a surprise backslide counter to an armdrag just over a minute into the match, but Corino escapes. Corino then counters a sidewalk slam with a DDT for his own two count. The action frequently degenerates into brawling reminiscent of a bar fight, with neither man ever gaining a clear advantage for more than a few seconds. D'Lo eventually goes for the Sky High, but Corino levels him with a lariat. This leads to another series of reversals and dodges, culminating with a reverse neckbreaker and snap leg drop from D'Lo. Corino tries to rally, but D'Lo catches a back heel kick and plants Corino with a cradle suplex. D'Lo nails the Lo Down and gets the victory in what was a great showcase for both competitors.

D'Lo Brown pinned Steve Corino with the Lo Down in 0:11:46.
Rating: *** 1/2

Jeremy Borash is backstage with B.G. James, who will be facing Malice later tonight. Borash asks James if he is prepared to face someone that big and menacing. James plays it off, saying he has faced bigger and badder in his career and he isn't scared. Borash says that Malice put Brian Christopher away with one choke slam in less than a minute. James says with all due respect, he's not a pretty boy like Brian Christopher. Tonight isn't going to be another easy payday for Malice because, win or lose, he will know he got into a fight tonight with a real North Georgia outlaw.

NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament - Round 1:
AJ Styles and Low Ki vs. Diamond and Swinger

Tenay mentions that Styles and Low Ki are not a seasoned team, but they were given a spot in the tournament because of their win last week. Swinger starts off against Low Ki, but he can't quite keep up with Low Ki's quick kicks and springboard antics. Low Ki tags out to Styles, who keeps the speed game going. Swinger takes a spill to the outside, and Styles dives onto him with a crisp Asai moonsault. Back in the ring, Swinger recovers enough to make the tag, and Diamond briefly takes control with some kicks and a suplex for a two count. We get some more classic tag team action with double teams and fairly frequent tags, as well as several brawls outside the ring. Rudy Charles seems to be struggling to keep things under control. Low Ki and Diamond end up back in the ring as the legal men, and they trade kicks before Diamond floors him with a clothesline. Diamond tags out, and now Swinger dominates a slowed down Low Ki. Swinger dazes Low Ki with a headbutt followed up with another brutal lariat. He then locks on an armbar, but it is broken when Low Ki gets his feet in the ropes. Swinger goes for a sleeper next, but Low Ki counters with a jawbreaker and mounts a comeback. Low Ki locks in a dragon sleeper, then transitions into the Ki Krusher for the win. This was a perfectly watchable match that got a little too messy with the double teams and outside brawling.

AJ Styles and Low Ki defeated Diamond & Swinger (Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger) when Ki pinned Swinger with the Ki Krusher in 0:11:44.
Rating: ** 3/4

We finally see a bracket for the NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament as Tenay and Callis talk about the remaining first round matches, which will take place next week.

Styles/Low Ki \
Diamond/Swinger / Styles/Low Ki \
/
Young Lions \
Los Demonios /

The SAT \
Flying Elvises / \
R'n'R Express /
The Freak Show \
R'n'R Express /
Jeremy Borash is backstage with The Flying Elvises. Estrada does most of the talking, all of it in a horrible Elvis voice. He says that Morton and Gibson are just pretenders and The Flying Elvises are the real Kings of Rock and Roll when it comes to wrestling. Borash says that before they worry about the Rock 'n' Roll Express, they have to get past The Spanish Announce Team next week. All three Elvises laugh. Yang says there's a room waiting for the Maximos at the Heartbreak Hotel because next week they will dash their hopes and dreams for the NWA World Tag Team Titles.

B.G. James vs. Malice

James is out first, having a good time with the crowd, until the mood gets more serious with Malice's arrival. James shoots in as the bell sounds, but Malice catches him and locks him in a choke against the ropes. He follows up with some strikes, but James comes right back at him with a flurry of punches. James hits a facebuster, but then he is distracted by "Prime Time" Brian Lee coming to ringside. Malice drops James with a clothesline and sends him into the turnbuckle, but James rebounds out with a clothesline of his own. He goes for the shaky leg kneedrop, but Malice rolls out of the way. Malice goes on another rally with clotheslines and strikes and sets up for a power bomb, but James counters into a small package for a count of two. James hits a couple of quick jabs and hits the ropes, but Brian Lee nails him in the back with a steel chair for the disqualification.

B.G. James defeated Malice by disqualification in 0:03:22.
Rating: **
[Brian Lee interfered against B.G. James.]

As the bells sounds repeatedly, Malice pulls James to his feet as Lee climbs into the ring. They stare at each other, then both men goozle James and drive him hard into the mat with a high angle double choke slam. Lee grabs the chair again and raises it over James, but Ron Killings runs out for the save, taking Lee's legs out from under him. Killings hits a spinning leg lariat and basement dropkick on Malice, but Lee is back on his feet and big boots him out of mid-air. He drags Killings to his feet, hoists him onto his shoulders, and spikes him into the mat with a Death Valley Driver. James is now staggering to his feet, but Malice kicks him in the gut and power bombs him onto the prone killings. Lee and Malice stand tall and stare at each other, then make their way to the back together, leaving Killings and James lifeless in the ring.

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock vs. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas

At the sound of the bell, Shamrock runs at Douglas and is a flurry of strikes and kicks, which Douglas has no choice but to try to match. Shamrock tries for some suplexes, but Douglas slips out each time. Douglas reverses an Irish whip into the turnbuckle, then sends Shamrock to the outside with a clothesline, giving himself some breathing room. When Shamrock crawls back in at the count of seven, Douglas goes for a suplex of his own, but Shamrock sweeps the leg and really goes to town. Shamrock then mostly dominates the match with strikes and holds, but Douglas shows off some technical wrestling prowess with several submission escapes and a few counters. Douglas finally takes control around the ten minute mark with a pair of hiptosses and a backbreaker. His rally is short lived, however, when he attempts a swinging neckbreaker but Shamrock instead throws him across the ring with a side suplex. Shamrock then locks Douglas in a triangle choke, but Douglas grabs hold of the ropes. Shamrock pulls him away and applies his signature ankle lock. Somehow Douglas holds on, spins out of the hold, and kicks Shamrock in the face. A limping Douglas hits the swinging neckbreaker and then a faceslam, but an attempt at the Franchiser is met with a stiff elbow from Shamrock. Shamrock armbars Douglas to the ground, then locks in an armlock leglock. Douglas refuses to submit, so Shamrock transitions to a straight armbar. After several more seconds of agony, The Franchise has no choice but to tap out.

Ken Shamrock made Shane Douglas submit to an armbar submission in 0:13:41.

Rating: ***

A weird promo video for "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels plays. He is in a dark room wearing his robe, which covers his eyes, and is speaking in vaguely religious language. He says the sins of the brethren must be punished, and the day of judgment is at hand. He ends with a direct Bible quote: "And the One seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'" He laughs as the video fades out and back to ringside, where Tenay and Callis look creeped out.

NWA Worlds Championship - Special referee Rick Steamboat:
Dan "The Beast" Severn [c] vs. Jerry Lynn

The announcers put over how this is a big opportunity for Jerry Lynn, who they call "one of the best kept secrets in wrestling." Steamboat gets as big a reaction from the crowd as the two competitors. We also see several other wrestling legends seated at ringside, including Harley Race, Bob Backlund, Dory Funk Jr., Jackie Fargo, and Bob Armstrong. The match starts with a handshake, and we see a very old school catch-style match in the opening moments. Things take a turn when Severn blocks a bulldog, hits a legsweep, and starts raining strikes down on Lynn. Back on his feet Lynn returns fire, turning the match into more of a brawl. As the underdog, Lynn definitely has the crowd's support over Severn, and this becomes more noticeable as the champion takes control of the match and is met with boos. Lynn counters a submission attempt with a hiptoss, then rallies with a series of punches and a power bomb for a two count. The fight ends up going to the outside, where Lynn finds himself busted open on the steel steps. Severn hits a few suplexes on the lightly padded concrete of the ringside area, right in front of the legends, and then drags Lynn back in the ring at the referee's count of nine. The blood seems to wake Lynn up, and he mounts another comeback, getting two more near falls after a Northern Lights suplex and a diving leg drop. Lynn hits a series of strikes, then sets up Severn and drops him with the Cradle Piledriver as the fans go nuts. He goes for the cover, but Bob Backlund jumps the guardrail and inexplicably puts Severn's foot on the ropes at the last second! Lynn and Steamboat are apparently unaware of the interference and the match continues, with Lynn incredulous that the piledriver wasn't enough. Lynn maintains control for a few moments, but Steamboat is soon distracted by Backlund, who he has noticed at ringside and is having an argument with all of the other legends. This scene momentarily distracts Lynn as well, giving Severn a chance to come to his wits. He clobbers Lynn from behind, then hits a few more suplex variations. Lynn blocks a takedown attempt, but Severn headbutts him, then locks in the Beast Choker. Lynn writhes in agony, but he refuses to submit. After what seems like an eternity, Lynn stops responding to Steamboat's questions and Steamboat has no choice but to call for the bell.

Dan Severn defeated Jerry Lynn when Jerry Lynn passed out in the Bodyscissors Dragon Sleeper in 0:16:00.
Rating: ***
(Dan Severn retained the NWA Worlds Title.)
[Bob Backlund interfered against Jerry Lynn.]

The announcers question whether or not Severn was aware of Backlund's assistance. This is seemingly cleared up as Backlund procures the NWA Worlds Championship belt from ringside and delivers it to Severn in the ring, who takes it with a smile and shakes Backlund's hand. The broadcast ends with Severn raising Backlund's hand with one arm and hoisting the championship with the other as the pair stand over a fallen Jerry Lynn, with Steamboat looking somewhat confused and disgusted in the background.

[LillaThrilla]

Bob Backlund as Dan Severn's manager is one of those things that had never occurred to me, but makes a lot of sense.

I thought the team was called Simon & Swinger rather than Diamond & Swinger?

[Chris Allen]

You are correct, it should be Simon and Swinger. I blame old age. For the record, their default name in TNM is "Simon Diamond and Swinger," so it's not all my fault.

Severn is one of those guys who needs to stay far away from a microphone to keep his credibility. I was trying to think of someone other than Jim Cornette to put with him, since that has been done and Cornette was booking OVW at the time. I generally try to keep my circuits quasi-realistic, at least at first. I guess the timelines could diverge more the longer it goes on. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with Backlund. We'll see where it goes!

Thanks for reading! This is the first circuit I've shared in many years - probably since the mailing list days. I've always been more of a lurker, and I'm not sure anyone but Oliver would even remember me. I hope to keep this one going for a while.

[snabbit888]

Cool stuff all around.

And I remember you from the mailing list days. We old school. Haha.

[Chris Allen]

I apologize for dropping the ball on keeping up with this last year due to real life. For anyone interested, I have revived it on the TNM Discord.