JEFF JARRETT (C) VS. RHINO

 Before the match, Rhino is celebrating outlasting 9 other contenders in TNA to become the #1 contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Jeremy Borash introduces Tito Ortiz to be the referee for our main event. Rhino is still getting to his feet in the corner as the champion, Jeff Jarrett, makes his way to the ring. TNA staff bring a casket down to the ring and Jarrett hands his guitar to one of them.

Mike Tenay and Don West are on commentary for this match. Jeremy Borash is our ring announcer.

Jeff Jarrett © VS. Rhino

NWA World Heavyweight Championship - (Tito Ortiz as Referee)

TNA Bound for Glory 2005 (23rd October 2005)

  Jeff Jarrett stomps on Rhino to start before even taking off the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

  Jeff Jarrett hits a dropkick and chokes Rhino across the middle rope before hitting the splash across his shoulders. Jeff Jarrett leaves the ring and gets in a shot from ringside. Jarrett connects with right hands in the ring before bringing Rhino back to ringside and sending him into the guardrail. Rhino is whipped across the aisle into the other guardrail before Jarrett sends Rhino’s head into the title belt and the announce table. Tito Ortiz remembers he has a job to do as Rhino is sent into the casket, and he tells Jarrett to bring it back into the ring.

  The champion drops Rhino on top of the casket and starts slapping him across the face. Jarrett rolls Rhino back into the ring and climbs to the top rope for a clothesline. Jeff Jarrett goes back to the top turnbuckle on the other side of the ring and waits for Rhino to get back to his feet. Jarrett hits another diving clothesline, but he gets goozled by Rhino on the third attempt. Don West calls Rhino’s kick perfectly here: “Right in the nuts!” Rhino sets up in the corner for The Gore, but Jarrett sidesteps it, sending Rhino into the middle turnbuckle.

  Mike Tenay mentions Gail Kim running past the announce table; she flies from the top rope, but Ortiz catches the crossbody. He tells Gail Kim to get out of here, but he’s trying to be a gentleman about it. Gail Kim goes to slap Tito Ortiz, but her attempts get caught. Ortiz lifts Gail Kim over to the apron and brings her down to the floor, getting her out to ringside and away from the ring. Back in the ring, though, Jarrett has his guitar in hand. Rhino ducks the first guitar shot but runs into the second one! Jeff Jarrett covers, and Tito Ortiz gets back to the ring 1, 2, Rhino has his shoulder up at “the last second”, but I honestly think he was late.

  Jeff Jarrett can’t believe that it’s 2.9 either. America’s Most Wanted run down to the ring; Tito Ortiz argues with them for a bit before knocking both members off of the apron. Chris Harris slid a 2nd guitar into the ring for Jarrett, though Rhino is able to avoid getting hit as he charges at Jeff Jarrett with The Gore for the win!  

WINNER: RHINO (NEW NWA World Heavyweight Champion)

 This match was what it needed to be. The fresh champion taking easy street and inevitably getting complacent, leading to a change in fortune. It was overbooked as it could get, but that was your average Jeff Jarrett NWA World title defence. [**3/4] 5.5/10

After the match, Tito Ortiz hands Rhino his championship as Mike Tenay talks about the 3 matches Rhino has won tonight. America’s Most Wanted attack Rhino, with Jarrett laying in some boots too. The 3 Live Kru run out to even up the numbers. As they get the upper hand, Team Canada runs down to the ring. Jeff Jarrett sneaks away to bring the casket in the ring as 3LK are sent outside, the casket is opened, and Rhino is held in place for a guitar shot. Rhino falls to the edge of the casket and gets shoved in so they can close the lid. Jeff Jarrett has the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt, and he raises it as he stands on top of the casket. Team 3-D’s music hits, and they make their return “from injury” (they were working a tour for AJPW, but TNA couldn’t mention that because of their working relationship with NJPW at the time, so they had to write Team 3-D off television with an injury.) That’s enough to give the babyfaces enough momentum to clear most of he heels out of the ring. Eric Young is left alone with 3 Live Kru, Rhino, and Team 3-D. He takes endless right hands before getting sent off the ropes for the 3-D. Brother Ray launches Young into the casket and Rhino celebrates with his title belt to close the show.

Bound for Glory 2005 #1 Contender Gauntlet

 Kevin Nash was supposed to face Jeff Jarrett in tonight’s main event, but Nash was not cleared to wrestle due to a medical emergency. Mike Tenay announced during the 30-minute preshow that Kevin Nash was not going to be in tonight’s main event as he was hospitalised over the weekend.

Before the match, I would have said Monty Brown should win the thing.

This match was announced just before the 30-minute Ironman match earlier in the night. It starts with 2 participants wrestling for 2 minutes before the 3rd participant enters the match. Then the rest of the competitors enter in 1-minute windows. Eliminations occur with someone being thrown over the top rope to the floor, until we have a winner. That winner gets an immediate title shot against Jeff Jarrett.

Mike Tenay and Don West are on commentary for this match. Jeremy Borash is our ring announcer.

10-Man Elimination Gauntlet

#1 contender for NWA World Heavyweight Championship

TNA Bound for Glory 2005 (23rd October 2005)

  Samoa Joe is the first entrant, but he gets no traditional Samoan dancers since this is an impromptu bout. Entrant #2 is Ron “The Truth” Killings, he dances down to the ring without his 3LK team mates. The bell rings as the crowd is firmly behind Joe.

Ron Killings dances as they face off, mocking Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe gets the first shot in after 45 seconds before sending Killings into the corner. Joe hits a running knee to knock Truth down, before connecting with facewashes. Samoa Joe hits the running facewash, but Killings lifts himself up to the top rope. Of course the camera misses it, but at least we see the blockbuster from the top rope by Ron Killings. Samoa Joe reverses the irish whip, but Killings drops him, 25 seconds until we get someone new in the match, Ron Killings talks to the fans before trying to eliminate Samoa Joe, but Joe fights him off and knocks Killings across the ring. Samoa Joe tries to eliminate Ron Killings as Sabu enters the match at #3 with a steel chair, throwing the chair at Joe, then at Killings. Sabu hits a triple-jump Asai moonsault on Killings before knocking Samoa Joe back into the corner. Sabu uses the chair to launch himself into Samoa Joe before getting some right hands in. Killings gets a few kicks as Sabu makes sure the chair is in position. He hits Samoa Joe with another leg lariat, but Samoa Joe sweeps the chair away on the third attempt. Lance Hoyt enters the match at #4 and he knocks down Killings and Sabu with right hands. Samoa Joe eats some shots before responding with forearms. Samoa Joe hits the ropes but gets cut off with a big boot by Hoyt.

Lance Hoyt hits Sabu with right hands in the corner before going back to Killings, Sabu hits Samoa Joe with a low dropkick. Ron Killings escapes elimination but Joe knocks him down with a chop. Joe chops Hoyt too and hits Sabu with a DDT. Samoa Joe waits for the next entrant, and it’s Abyss at #5. He’s holding his injured hand from earlier’s Monster’s Ball match. Samoa Joe and Abyss face off, Samoa Joe connects with knife-edge chops, Abyss answers with overhand chops. Abyss senses a stalemate and grabs Samoa Joe by the throat; Samoa Joe grabs Abyss’ throat, and that is broken up by Ron Killings entering the mix. Ron Killings connects with right hands to Abyss in the corner, Hoyt is stomping on Sabu and it’s time for Jeff Hardy to limp down to the ring at #6. We cut to the ring, where we see that Sabu’s cut above his eye has been reopened. Jeff Hardy takes shots at Samoa Joe and Lance Hoyt on his way to pairing up against Sabu. We cut to a commercial because these are the classic TWC tapes that the company uses. Samoa Joe puts Lance Hoyt in a guillotine as we come back, forgetting about Jeff Hardy attacking him for now. Jeff Hardy connects with a dropkick to Sabu’s knee, which West calls payback for the Monster’s Ball match earlier in the night. Hardy then attacks Abyss in the corner but his back gives out at Monty Brown enters the match at #6, instantly hitting Sabu with The Pounce. Jeff Hardy charges at Monty Brown, and the momentum sends them both out to the floor to be eliminated.

On the other side of the ring, Lance Hoyt is trying to eliminate Abyss, but James Mitchell is assisting Abyss from ringside. Ron Killings swipes at Mitchell, backing him away as Abyss fights out of the corner. Rhino enters the match at #7 as Samoa Joe knocks Sabu over to the apron. Rhino connects with right hands to Lance Hoyt before clotheslining him over the top to the floor. Sabu and Joe are still fighting as Abyss beats Rhino down in the corner, Samoa Joe kicks at Sabu’s injured knee and sends him over to the apron as Kip James enters at #9. Rhino charges at Joe and Sabu, knocking Sabu to the floor and taking him out of the match. Kip James knocks Abyss down with jabs and a clothesline, before hitting Samoa Joe with a right hand. Kip James knocks Abyss down again, Kip hits the Stinger Splash in the corner and a Fameasser on Abyss. Samoa Joe and Kip James exchange strikes. Samoa Joe sends Kip James into the ropes, James leapfrogs as Joe ducks too early. Kip James connects with a dropkick as we countdown to the final entrant. Don West thinks it’s going to be Raven, but he was removed by security, and Larry Zbyszko doesn’t like him, so how would that make sense? Anyway, it’s AJ Styles that enters #10. He’s easily the biggest name of the first 10 years of the company. AJ Styles immediately targets Abyss in the corner. Abyss shoves AJ away and connects with right hands and a boot. The fans chant for Samoa Joe again as Abyss sends AJ Styles into the turnbuckles with force.

Samoa Joe kicks Kip James in the chest as Rhino takes over on Abyss in the corner. Ron Killings fights off an elimination attempt by Joe. AJ Styles and Kip James are fighting in the corner, Abyss chokes Rhino across the middle rope in front of James Mitchell as we see Styles headbutt Kip James. Ron Killings, planting him over the top rope, but Killings gets one of his legs around the top rope. Abyss throws Kip James over to the apron, and Kip drops to the floor, pushing Killings back into the ring. Killings drops into the splits to avoid AJ’s kick, AJ Styles dodges a kick and connects with a Pele kick! AJ Styles dumps Killings over the top rope, but Kip James pushes Killings up from ringside, helping him stay on the apron. The referees back Kip James away, telling him to go to the back, and that leaves space for Samoa Joe to kick Killings down to the floor. Samoa Joe pairs off against Styles, exchanging strikes. AJ Styles gets a combination of shots going, but Samoa Joe avoids a discus clothesline, locking in the Cocquina Clutch.

Samoa Joe and AJ Styles edge close to the ropes and that gives Abyss the opportunity to throw them both out of the match. Abyss and Rhino are left, with the last man in the ring going on to face Jarrett in the next match. Rhino ducks the clothesline and hits Abyss with The Gore before throwing him out.

WINNER: RHINO (Faces Jeff Jarrett in an immediate NWA World Heavyweight Championship match)

 This was a decent match, I would say most participants had a good chance of winning the match, and they were able to give people another chance to shine on the card. The Final Four was near-perfect, although I would have replaced Rhino or Abyss with Monty Brown who would go on to win.  [***] 6/10

After the match, Rhino sells the ribs as he has a moment to celebrate his victory.

MNM (C) VS. ANIMAL & HEIDENREICH

 Before the show starts, the introduction video package puts over the American Dream (not Dusty Rhodes) and says that America gives opportunity. It showcases Batista defending his World Heavyweight Championship against John “Bradshaw” Layfield, with JBL looking to repeat his victory from last year. Undertaker vs Muhammad Hassan, and Eddie Guerrero facing Rey Mysterio; if Eddie wins tonight, then he will tell Dominik a secret. Michael Cole welcomes us to the show, and we get thrown to the Spanish announce team, then MNM make their way to the ring. Road Warrior Animal and Heidenreich make their way to the ring. This was before Heidenreich got a set of Shoulder Pads, and coincidentally around the time the Legion of Doom DVD was released.

Michael Cole & Tazz are on commentary for this match.

MNM © VS. ANIMAL & HEIDENREICH

WWE Tag Team Championships

WWE Great American Bash 2005 (24th July 2005)

  Joey Mercury locks up with Heidenreich to start and grabs a headlock. Heidenreich sends Mercury off the ropes and drops him with a shoulder tackle. Melina checks on Joey Mercury before he gets back in the ring, striking first with a kick to the midsection.

  Heidenreich powers out of a front facelock, dropping Mercury on his face. The champions regroup at ringside as Nick Patrick starts counting Mercury out and we see a replay. Joey Mercury charges in for another lock up, Heidenreich shoves him across the ring. Mercury avoids running into the big boot, but not the right hand. Joey Mercury goes back to the floor, but this time he’s met by Animal, who presses Mercury overhead to send him back into the ring. Road Warrior Animal gets the tag, he and Heidenreich run through Joey Mercury with a double shoulder tackle as Animal is getting a decent pop. Animal sends Mercury into the corner but runs into his boot. Johnny Nitro gets the tag, and Animal reverses a double suplex, sending both opponents overhead to the mat. Johnny Nitro connects with forearms, but is sent over with a back body drop. Heidenreich gets the tag, he lifts Nitro for a chokebomb but Joey Mercury cuts him down with a chop block to the knee.

  Joey Mercury gets back to his corner, and MNM gets another tag. Mercury connects with an elbow drop before working over Heidenreich’s left knee. Nitro gets the tag and uses the same strategy, but Heidenreich is able to fight out of the hold. Johnny Nitro keeps Heidenreich in MNM’s corner, making another tag. Joey Mercury puts Heidenreich in a standing toe hold before trying to pin him. Heidenreich powers out at one. Nitro gets the tag, he cannonballs onto Heidenreich’s knee and covers for 2. Heidenreich still has plenty left in him. Johnny Nitro eats shit on another cannonball attempt but makes the tag to Mercury. Joey Mercury elbow drops Heidenreich’s knee, he puts on the spinning toehold but gets sent into the corner. Heidenreich gets the tag, Animal knocks Joey Mercury down, then knocks Nitro down from the apron. Animal hits a back suplex and an elbow drop on Mercury as Johnny Nitro gets back to the apron. Animal knocks him to the floor again with a one-legged dropkick. Animal sends Joey Mercury into the corner, but eats shit on the running clothesline again. Johnny Nitro hits Animal with the WWE Tag Team Championship belt, which allows Mercury to roll him up for 2! I thought that was it!

  MNM calls for the Snapshot, but a clothesline from Heidenreich sends Nitro out to the floor. Road Warrior Animal sends Joey Mercury off the ropes for the Powerslam (Michael Cole always calls it a scoop slam). Road Warrior Animal and Heidenreich hit the Doomsday Device for the win.

WINNERS: MNM (STILL WWE Tag Team Champions)

 This was as basic of a tag team match as you would expect, the leg work went nowhere which was disappointing and they didn’t take up too much time. Luckily their title reign was entirely on television, so we never had to pay to see them defend the titles. [*3/4] 2/10

BIG SHOW (C) VS. RIC FLAIR

 Before the match, Balls Mahoney gets a promo to remind everyone that he’s an ECW Original. Following that, Ric Flair gets promo time on ECW television. Something unthinkable until now. He says that he’s chasing his 17th World Championship tonight, and a part of me wishes he had ECW Champion on his resume. He says he’s going to wait for Big Show to make a mistake before pouncing to “eat [Big Show] alive.” We get shown a vignette for the return of Shannon Moore, and tens of people are excited. Earlier in the night, the match was made Extreme Rules, and a tale of the tape was shown although no one thought to take a screenshot of it for us.

Ric Flair makes his way out as Joey Styles tells us this challenge was handed to Flair by Paul Heyman and Big Show after the Vengeance PPV. Big Show makes his way out, I was expecting him to have Heyman with him, but he’s alone. We get in-ring introductions from Justin Roberts.

Joey Styles & Tazz are on commentary for this match.

BIG SHOW © VS. RIC FLAIR

WWECW Championship - (Extreme Rules)

WWECW on Sci-Fi (11th July 2006)

  They lock up and Big Show shoves Flair back into the corner. Back to the lock-up, the champion backs Flair into the ropes, then forces him into the corner for an overhand chop. Ric Flair rakes the eyes, Big Show no-sells it and headbutts Flair. A kick to the midsection sends Flair out to the floor as we hit commercials.

  Ric Flair is on offence as we return with a knife-edge chop and right hand, but Big Show shoves him across the ring. Ric Flair goes back to the chop and right hand, but Big Show knees him in the midsection and sends Naitch off the ropes for a military press slam. Big Show busts Ric Flair open with a trio of headbutts, less than 5 minutes in. Big Show focuses on the cut with right hands in the corner. Flair connects with chops, but Big Show knocks him back into the corner. Big Show connects with overhand chops, which gives us a Flair Flop. Big Show headbutts Flair back into the corner, connecting with knife-edge chops and throwing Ric Flair across the ring. Big Show sends Flair over the top rope to the floor with a clothesline and Flair brings a trash can of weapons out to ringside. Big Show catches Flair, he gets met with chops but throws Flair back into the ring. Big Show hits a vertical suplex. Flair asks for more and unloads right hands and chops on Big Show, but the champion shrugs it off and headbutts Flair back into the ropes.

  Big Show sends Flair off the ropes into a powerslam and Joey Styles mentioned that Big Show beat Flair for his second World title back in 1996. Ric Flair fires off another chop, but is knocked down with a headbutt. Ric Flair connects with 2 low blows as Big Show teases punching him. Big Show shoves Flair away as he tries to recover. Flair kicks Big Show in the balls, sending him to the corner for some breathing exercises. Ric Flair kicks Big Show again and after 4 low blows Big Show is down to one knee. Ric Flair brings the trash can of plunder into the ring and charges at Big Show with the baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. Another shot to the midsection brings Big Show down to his knees, Flair grinds the baseball bat across Big Show’s forehead as the crowd chants “ECW Dub!!” Ric Flair empties the trash can and hits Big Show over the cranium twice, but he’s still on his feet, so Flair grabs a steel chair. Ric Flair hits Big Show in the midsection, then again across the back to finally put Big Show down. Ric Flair covers, and Big Show kicks out at 2.

  Ric Flair empties a bag of thumbtacks onto the canvas, he hits Big Show with a steel chair 3 times before Big Show falls on them. Now Ric Flair is facing a pissed-off and acupunctured giant. Big Show clotheslines Ric Flair down before hitting a Chokeslam and the Cobra Clutch backbreaker, keeping the clutch locked in until the referee calls for the bell.

WINNER: THE BIG SHOW (STILL WWECW Champion)

 Big Show worked as a Giant in this match, and shockingly for nobody, it worked. Ric Flair was the wiley veteran fighting from behind and trying to accommodate this match type into his wrestling style. Big Show got to put over his new Finisher against a veteran and Ric Flair’s an obvious pick, he won’t lose anything taking the loss. [**] 4/10

After the match, Big Show throws Ric Flair into the thumbtacks and celebrates with the belt.

Big Show would hold the WWECW Championship until the Extreme Elimination Chamber match at December to Dismember.

DR. STEVIE VS. ABYSS (No Disqualification)

   I noticed that Dr. Stevie had a tag on my blog without competing in a match, and it didn’t sit right with me. Also, due to how irregular these reviews have been, I’ve added in some punishment matches for next week. See if you notice them.

  Before the match, Jeremy Borash is backstage with Dr. Stevie Richards and Daffney. Borash goes over what Dr. Stevie has done to Abyss and asks if it’s a good idea  for Stevie to face Abyss. Stevie says Abyss is like a pain he’s been working on for a decade. Dr. Stevie says he is making the match no disqualification in one of those “wrestler turns temporary booker moments”. Daffney tells Dr. Stevie she loves him and he says he knows. Probably the best response to not muddy the therapist/patient relationship.

  We get a video package for the match recapping Abyss and Dr. Stevie in therapy and the feud before Dr. Stevie makes his way out. Abyss gets a pop from the Impact Zone, and he’s wearing a new ring gear, according to Tenay. This was when Abyss started wearing a hood in Florida weather for no reason. Dr. Stevie leaves the ring and runs around ringside as Abyss chases him.

Mike Tenay & Don West are on commentary for this match, and Jeremy Borash is our ring announcer.

DR. STEVIE VS. ABYSS (No Disqualification)

TNA Victory Road 2009 (19th July 2009)

  They both get back in the ring and Dr Stevie grabs a baton out of his boot. A telescopic slapjack, according to Don West. Oh, for those that remember, it was the heel Don West era.

  Dr Stevie goes after Abyss’ knee before choking Abyss with it. Abyss gets ti gis feet as Stevie keeps hitting him with the baton. Dr Stevie climbs to the middle turnbuckle, but Abyss shoves him down before Stevie runs into his big boot and rolls back to ringside. Abyss follows Dr. Stevie up the ramp and knocks him down with a right hand. Abyss sends Richards into the guard rail before sending him back into the ring. Stevie gets to his feet and starts attacking Abyss as he gets back into the ring, Dr. Stevie can’t irish whip Abyss as the big man plants his feet. Abyss no sells a kick to the midsection and a series of overhand chops, Dr. Stevie hits the ropes and runs into Abyss’ hand, knocking him down. Abyss sends Dr. Stevie over the top rope, Stevie tries to make an escape through the crowd but Abyss catches up to him and connects with more right hands. Dr. Stevie is brought down the bleachers by his hair.

  Dr. Stevie gets a shot in at Abyss’ midsection but he gets sent into the wall as his irish whip is reversed. Abyss does a stupid clapping thing as he gets cheered. The crowd chants one more time and Abyss sends Stevie into the wall again. Abyss sends Dr. Stevie back to ringside, bouncing his head off the ringsteps which is enough to bust him open. That’s going to ruin the Dr’s white attire. Abyss hits Stevie’s head off the steps some more before bringing it back into the ring. Abyss rips Stevie’s shirt off and connects with overhand chops in the corner. Abyss brings a chair into play and wedges it between the top and middle rope. Dr Stevie is sent into the chair, head first. Abyss hits Dr. Stevie with the Shock Treatment. He covers but he lifts Stevie’s shoulder up at 2. Daffney runs down the ramp with a taser; the former Steven Richards hits a low blow on Abyss in the ring.    Daffney throws the taser into the ring, but Lauren, the interview girl is here too! (She’s Abyss’ girlfriend, because why not?) She brings Daffney down from the apron, ducks a clothesline and shoves Daffney into the steel steps. Dr. Stevie crawls to the taser as Lauren goes to check on Abyss.

  Dr. Stevie decides he wants a running start to get Abyss with the taser, but he gets caught in a Black Hole Slam. Abyss tases Dr Stevie; smoke comes off his skin as commentary talk about how much it burns, and that’s enough for the win.

WINNER: ABYSS

This isn’t the best time in Abyss’ TNA career, yet I seem to be drawn to it with my reviews. The match itself wasn’t terrible, they used the fail-proof formula of let Abyss dominate, and there were a few weapons to make the stipulation worthwhile. I’m not sure the women added much except setting up the finish, but it didn’t take away anything either. [**] 3/10

THE JAMES GANG VS TEAM 3D (BINGO HALL BRAWL)

   On the preshow, Team 3D not only went looking for the James Gang, but found them near the end.

The opening video to the event focuses on the King of the Mountain match, which is tonight’s main event. It’s been a yearly match since 2nd June 2004 (on a weekly PPV) and then moving to Slammiversary show the previous year. Christian Cage is defending his NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Jeff Jarrett, Ron Killings, Abyss, and Sting.

  Mike Tenay &Don West are on commentary for this match, and Jeremy Borash is our ring announcer. Tenay and West have just enough time to welcome us to the show before we see the James Gang being sent out of the tunnel by Team 3D. Referee Slick Johnson is following them to the ring. He’s dressed like an oldschool referee for the event, with a blue shirt and bow tie.

JAMES GANG VS. TEAM 3D (Bingo Hall Brawl)

TNA Slammiversary 2006 (18th June 2006)

  Brother Ray starts throwing chairs in the ring as Brother Devon keeps the James Gang at bay with right hands. Team 3D rolls their opponents into the ring as the fans are chanting for tables. Wrestling fans are never happy.

  Kip James hits Bully Ray in the midsection with the top of a chair and hits him across the back with the chair. Brother Ray fires up but misses the clothesline. BG James is back in the ring. He throws a chair to Brother Ray, who catches it, holding it up for Kip James to take a swing. “Lucky he got the chair up” - Mike Tenay. I hate to argue with the Professor, but I’m not sure “lucky” is an accurate word there. Kip James covers for 2. Brother Devon starts swinging the kendo stick, and that puts Team 3D back in control. BG James ducks a right hand. He connects with his jab combination, but Devon ducks the final punch and hits BG with another kendo stick shot. Brother Ray sends Kip James off the ropes, but he ducks early and gets kicked. Brother Ray finally gets a move in beyond the prematch brawl, lifting Kip James for a back suplex as Devon assists with a neckbreaker. Brother Devon covers for 2.

  Don West comes out with a classic on commentary. “If you were expecting conventional wrestling in this match, you’re not gonna get it!” Brother Ray also swings the kendo stick at the ring post as BG James drops from the apron to the floor. Team 3D follow the James Gang out of the ring, Brother Devon sends BG’s head into the guardrail before they brawl into the crowd. The fans chant “over here” as BG James sends Devon into the Spanish Announce Table, which is placed on a platform in the crowd, and is also LAX’s area. (Added note, by this point it was the LAX that we would all know in TNA, Homicide and Hernandez. They jump Brother Devon, BG James fist bumps Konnan, his old 3 Live Kru team mate, before getting knocked down. LAX attack BG James too, before sending him and Devon over to the entrance ramp. Brother Ray has set up 4 chairs at ringside. He places a section of the guardrail across it like a platform, and then he gets attacked from behind by Kip James. Kip knocks BG onto the ramp, and a right hand knocks Brother Ray back towards the platform. Kip James charges and gets hip-tossed onto the guardrail.

  We switch back to BG James as he jumps from the ring steps over the guardrail, and onto Brother Devon. Brother Ray makes the save, and Team 3D brawl through the crowd with BG James. Devon takes him up the steps of the bleachers. It looks like Brother Ray knew where they were going; he went up the other side. Fans have been holding up their chairs for Team 3D to use. Team 3D sends BG James between them like the old video game Pong before Brother Ray finally obliges, sending BG James into two fans’ chairs. Kip James runs through the crowd. He hits Brother Ray with a weak trash-can-lid shot at first, then goes to town. Either he brought 2, and I didn’t notice, or BG James went and found one too, because he also has a trash can lid. Kip decides his partner can have both. The James Gang have full control as Kip sends Brother Ray over to the entrance ramp; they really like that location in this match. BG James is using the trash can lids to knock Devon back towards ringside as West mentions that he has to be careful of the crowd.

  Brother Ray throws a trash can full of weapons into the ring, he and Kip James roll in first, BG James gets to the apron, but Devon catches him up and grabs a crutch from ringside. I presume it fell out of Brother Ray’s toy box. Brother Ray chokes Kip James with a bra. Yep, that’s seriously something I had to type for a wrestling review. Brother Ray has a cheese grater, which is genuinely a much more normal weapon. Kip James cuts Brother Ray off with a low blow but his Stinger Splash makes him hit the cheese grater. Brother Ray hits BG James with a trash can lid as he gets close to the ring before he grinds the grater on Kip James’ forehead. BG James and Brother Devon hit each other with a trash can lid at the same time so everyone’s down. Brother Ray slams BG James in position, Brother Devon goes to the top rope and hits the WAZZUP! Headbutt, BG James was able to put a trash can lid in the way at the last second!

  Brother Devon headbutted the trash can lid, but BG James didn’t come out of it unscathed, either. Brother Ray places the trash can lid over BG’s crotch and hits it with a golf club. Brother Ray grabs a trash can, but Kip James cuts him off before he can use it. Kip James hits the Fameasser on the trash can and covers. Brother Ray gets his shoulder up! Kip James knocks Devon back into the corner and hits him in the head with a cookie sheet to “this is awesome” chants. I need to do a TNA marathon, making that a drinking game. Anyway, Brother Ray hits Kip James across the back with a kendo stick, Team 3D hits the Doomsday Device, Devon covers, but only gets 2. Brother Ray shoves Devon… 1,2,3  “GET THE TABLES!” Brother Devon accepts his mission, bringing a table into the ring. The fans are now chanting “we want fire” so do you see what I mean? BG James is stirring, and he has a cookie sheet in his hand. He hits Brother Ray, but Brother Devon blocks it and hits BG with a right hand. Brother Devon sends BG James into the corner and he takes the Sgt. Slaughter bump over the corner post.

Kip James goes for his Cobra Clutch slam that he was using at the time (calling it the Missouri boat ride, according to Mike Tenay). Brother Devon fights out of it. Team 3D hit the 3D, and Devon covers for the win.

WINNERS: TEAM 3D

 This was a pefectly good brawl, there was a good variety of weapons used, and they didn’t waste any of the just over 10 minutes they had in the match. It’s the New Age Outlaws against The Dudley Boyz with a few years added on. I think the cheese grater is something that Bully Ray never used in WWE, though. [***] /10

  After the match, Brother Ray grabs the microphone, saying that the James Gang know that’s how it should be done. Mike Tenay and Don West can finally run down the rest of the card.

MARK HENRY VS. TERRY FUNK

Mark Henry makes his way out, with his Nation of Domination stablemates’ names flashing behind him in his video as he walks to the ring. Terry Funk makes his way out, giving up an easy 100lbs to his opponent

Jim Ross, Jerry “The King” Lawler, & Mr. McMahon are on commentary for this match. Tony Chimel is our ring announcer.

GOLDBERG © VS. TERRY FUNK

Monday Night Raw (1st June 1998)

  Terry Funk plays keep-away before locking up with Henry, backing him into the ropes and chopping Henry’s chest. Terry Funk hits a neckbreaker for 2, as Henry powers out of the cover. It looked like Mark Henry dropped early on the neckbreaker there. McMahon is saying that he wants to see a version of the Undertaker that mangles his opponents again as Funk sets up for another neckbreaker, instead mule kicking Henry in the balls. Terry Funk goes back to chopping Mark Henry as he’s backed against the ropes. Mark Henry reverses an irish whip and knocks The Funker down with a clothesline. He runs the ropes for an elbow drop and that connects too. Mark Henry beats down Funk in the corner, sending him into the top turnbuckle and sends him out to the floor. Terry Funk starts to fight back with right hands, and he sends Henry’s forehead into the top of the guardrail.

  Mark Henry catches a Vader bomb attempt and runs Terry Funk’s kidneys into the ring post. Mark Henry is sent into the ring steps before Terry Funk grabs a steel chair. He gets to use it on the top of Mark Henry’s head. Terry Funk hits an Asai moonsault, but he hits the guardrail on his way down. We get a replay as the action is back in the ring. Terry Funk headbutts Mark Henry, he ducks a clothesline but runs into a shoulder block, knocking Funk down. Mark Henry splashes Funk and covers for 2. A slam from Mark Henry also gets 2. Mark Henry hits a standing leg drop, but Funk kicks out at 2 again. Terry Funk catches Henry in a small package for 2. Mark Henry powerbombs Terry Funk and another running Splash for the win.

WINNER: MARK HENRY

This was a servicable, short match. Mark Henry was still green, so it was a smart move putting him in there with the veteran, Terry Funk. He took Henry’s spots and transformed them into a match. This is worth a watch as the full 1998 King of the Ring tournament is on YouTube.  [*1/2] 3.25/10