TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling 07/08/02

TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling open…

TNA host, Jeremy Borash opened the Pay per View backstage with an update on the condition of Sabu. Last week Abyss took Sabu apart piece by piece and Borash can reveal at this time that Sabu suffered major injuries to his elbow, back and neck. Sabu will require surgery and at this time there is no prediction on when Sabu is likely to return to the ring even if at all. Sabu signed a full time contract with TNA ahead of last weeks Main Event and was scheduled to be apart of the Gauntlet for the Gold match. Everyone at TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling would like to send Sabu their well wishes and they hope Sabu makes a speedy recovery.

26th June, 2002 Jeremy Borash announced that on Wednesday 21st August, 2002 TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling will crown its first TNA Champion when the entire roster will compete in a Gauntlet for the Gold match. Last week Jeff Jarrett claimed that AJ Styles, Low Ki, Chris Harris and Jerry Lynn’s victory the week before meant nothing. All that matters was that Jeff Jarrett is still to be beaten and that once again AJ Styles failed when put in the Main Event. Ricky Steamboat interrupted and revealed that Jarrett had been offered a match with AJ Styles but Jarrett turned down the match. Jarrett claimed to have his reasons. Jarrett then bad mouthed Steamboat before even challenging the retired Ricky Steamboat to a match so because Jarrett knew it would humiliate Steamboat in having to reject the challenge. Abyss and Sabu in the Main Event fought to a No Contest after the match official lost control of the match and the referee calling for the bell didn’t stop the brawl. Abyss tossed Sabu threw a table in the corner, the table smashed to pieces. Abyss continued the assault; Shock Treatment and a Choke Slam onto two steel chairs seemed to finish the beating but Abyss proving he had a black heart noticed the injured Sabu trying to crawl out of the ring. Abyss press slammed Sabu over the tope rope and through another table! Doctors were immediately on the scene to check on Sabu. Abyss just stood in the ring with his shadow covering the carnage and chaos at ringside.

Mike Tenay and Don West at ringside welcomed the fans watching tonight’s Pay per View and started to hyped tonight’s card when they were interrupted by Jim Mitchell’s voice…

Jim Mitchell walked out on to the stage with a microphone in hand. Mitchell said last week the world got to see just how ruthless his monster Abyss truly is. Mitchell had evidence if people still doubted Abyss, Mitchell pointed everyone’s attention to the big screen where a still shot from after last weeks Pay per View was shown showing Sabu with a neck brace on strapped to a stretcher. Mitchell was laughing at the image. Last week Abyss ended Sabu’s iconic career, Abyss did in one night something many men have tried to do over the years and Abyss made it look easy. In two weeks, Gauntlet for the Gold, TNA will crown the first TNA Champion and Mitchell asked the fans to ask themselves the same question that has been going around the last couple of weeks who can stop Abyss from becoming the first TNA Champion! No man can stop Abyss, Mitchell answered his own question. TNA is living in fear of ‘The Monster’ Abyss and rightfully so because once Abyss becomes the TNA Champion there is no saving TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling from his monster Abyss.

Mike Tenay and Don West back at ringside were disgusted by the lack of remorse shown by Jim Mitchell here tonight they were also shocked at Mitchell gloating about Abyss actions and showing the still shot of Sabu strapped to a stretcher in a neck brace. Jim Mitchell does make a valid point however, who can stop Abyss from becoming the first TNA Champion.

Tonight’s Main Event; Jerry Lynn V AJ Styles!

Tonight; Chris Harris V Steve Corino!

Mike Tenay and Don West managed to hype tonight’s card which could see the coming of age of both Chris Harris and AJ Styles they’ll be more on that as the Pay per View continues. Also added to tonight’s line up Jimmy Yang will take on Jeff Jarrett plus we would hear tonight from the ‘Alpha Male’ Monty Brown.



Joey Matthews clearly wasn’t happy about teaming with Chase Stevens tonight, Matthews didn’t look happy even Tenay and West noticed Matthews unhappiness.

Diamonds in the Rough beat Chase Stevens and Joey Matthews via pin fall after Diamond and Swinger dropped Stevens with their Problem Solver. Joey Matthews it seemed could have possibly saved Stevens from being pinned but chose not too.

Winners; Diamonds in the Rough (Johnny Swinger and Simon Diamond)

Joey Matthews didn’t stick around the match. Diamonds in the Rough celebrated their victory as Mike Tenay noted that TNA management are scouting the world for talented tag teams before they make any decisions on crowning first TNA Tag Team champions but when that decision is made Diamonds in the Rough you would imagine will be among the favorites to become the first TNA Tag Team Champions.

Jeremy Borash backstage spoke about tonight’s headline attractions, the undefeated Chris Harris will face former World Heavyweight Champion, Steve Corino and in the Main Event, former World Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Champion, Jerry Lynn will take on a man the wrestling world is currently buzzing about AJ Styles. Borash introduced a video package taking a closer look at the rising stars in TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling…

Video aired taking a look at the rising stars in TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling having a quick look at the likes of Low Ki, James Storm, Amazing Red, Christopher Daniels and Ron Killings while then having a more in depth look at Chris Harris who has a 7-0 win loss record and AJ Styles who grabbed the world’s attention on the first TNA Pay per View by wrestling Low Ki in a 30 minute classic…

Borash revealed that later tonight he would speak to both Steve Corino and Jerry Lynn separately ahead of their respective matches but also tonight Borash would announce two more big matches signed for next weeks Pay per View the penultimate Pay per View ahead of Gauntlet for the Gold where the first TNA Champion will be crowned, which will feature more of TNA’s rising stars.

Footage aired from last week. Ron Killings beat Elix Skipper via a disqualification after a deliberate low blow from Skipper. Skipper after the match wanted to send Killings a message from Monty Brown but Killings came back and cleared Skipper from the ring…

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Elix Skipper beat Shark Boy via pin fall after Skipper caught Shark Boy with a top rope hurricane rona before finishing Shark Boy off with his Play of the Day (Over Driver). Elix Skipper talked trash into the camera after claiming to best pound for pounder on the planet before demanding a microphone.

Winner; Elix Skipper

Elix Skipper let everyone know that in his opinion he is the best pound for pound athlete on the planet. Skipper has a history of making history and winning Championships so don’t be surprised if in two weeks Elix Skipper wins the Gauntlet for the Gold match and becomes the first TNA Champion. Skipper claimed if he doesn’t become the first TNA Champion then his main man, the ‘Alpha Male’ Monty Brown will become the first TNA Champion. Skipper introduced a recorded interview with Monty Brown.

Monty Brown wearing an expensive suite was sitting behind a desk in his office. Monty Brown was asked to explain why he hasn’t yet to appear at a TNA event and why the ‘Alpha Male’ has an issue with Ron Killings. Brown said its simple why he hasn’t appeared live on TNA Pay per View first off all its because Nashville, Tennessee is beneath him and second Brown has had no reason to appear yet but in two weeks Monty Brown will have reason to be in Nashville because August 21st the world will see a wrestler like no other a wrestler more dominant than any other they will see a lion, the king of the jungle the ‘Alpha Male’ Monty Brown become the first ever TNA Champion. Monty Brown addressed Ron Killings by saying Ron Killings doubted him questioned his abilities and you can’t insult a born winner like himself any more than by questioning his talents so far that Ron Killings has to be sent a clear message and if Monty Brown has to get his own hands dirty than he will and as the king of the jungle Monty would rip out Ron Killings heart with his teeth. Monty Brown is the biggest and best thing in TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling and he demands respect, people may not agree with him but come August 21st everyone in TNA will have to bow down to their first TNA Champion the ‘Alpha Male’ Monty Brown!

Tonight; Jimmy Yang V Jeff Jarrett!

Tonight; Chris Harris V Steve Corino!

Tonight’s Main Event; Jerry Lynn V AJ Styles!

Video package aired hyping the debut next week off Kid Kash. Kash is a fan favorite and Kash has the talent to challenge at the very top in TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling. Ricky Steamboat commented during the video to say TNA were excited to have Kid Kash on the TNA Roster.

Match 3;
Time Limit; 20 Minutes
6 Man Tag Team Match
Amazing Red and Briscoe Brothers (Jay & Mark Briscoe) V Jimmy Rave & Smooth Stallions (Mamaluke & Romeo)

Recorded promo with Smooth Stallions aired as they made their ring entrance. Smooth Stallion’s are still upset with their loss to the Briscoe Brothers a couple of weeks ago. Mamaluke and Romeo called Jay and Mark ugly weak boys while they are everything real men should be, good looking, talented and winners. Tonight they separate the men from the boys…

Amazing Red and Briscoe Brothers beat Jimmy Rave and Smooth Stallions via pin fall after Briscoe’s took care of Mamaluke with their springboard Doomsday Device. Rave knocked Jay from the ring with a high knee and planted Mark with a spinning Olympic slam. Red took care of Rave with his Satellite DDT and then caught Romeo unaware with his Code Red for the victory.

Winners; Amazing Red and Briscoe Brothers (Jay & Mark Briscoe)

Amazing Red continues to impress taking his record to 3-0 which is more impressive because Red is the smallest wrestler on the roster. Smooth Stallions were upset with another loss to the Briscoe Brothers. Jimmy Rave snapped again after the match this time screaming at Mamaluke & Romeo plus Rave kicked the ring steps. Jimmy Rave again showed his bad attitude.

Mike Tenay and Don West were at ringside between them they hyped the Gauntlet for the Gold in 2 weeks when the first TNA Champion would be crowned. Tenay introduced Ricky Steamboat who has asked for some time to address some recent issues…

Ricky Steamboat thanked everyone for their time and apologized for interrupting the show. Steamboat has been accused publicly and privately over the last few weeks of showing favoritism to certain TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling talent especially AJ Styles. Steamboat denies these claims but does admit to wanting to get behind AJ Styles plus Low Ki, Chris Harris, Ron Killings, Amazing Red, James Storm, Christopher Daniels, Monty Brown, Abyss. Steamboat agreed to work alongside TNA management on the basis of giving the new talent an opportunity, throw them in at the deep end see if AJ Styles, Low Ki, Chris Harris etc will sink or swim, make Jeff Jarrett, Jerry Lynn and Steve Corino work for their positions on top. Steamboat said over time only the best will remain on top and the men will be separated from the boys. Steamboat said it is everyman for themselves and the cream will rise to the top be it AJ Styles or Jeff Jarrett or Jerry Lynn, Abyss or Low Ki. Ricky Steamboat said he is not behind any one TNA wrestler, Ricky Steamboat is behind TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling and in two weeks they will crown the first TNA Champion and Steamboat wishes every man competing in the Gauntlet in the Gold match, good luck.

Jeremy Borash was standing by with Jeff Jarrett ahead of Jarrett’s match against Jimmy Yang. Borash and Jarrett had just heard Steamboat’s comments. Borash asked Jarrett for his thoughts. Bull, Jeff Jarrett said Ricky Steamboat is full of crap. Jarrett reminded everyone that last week Jarrett embarrassed Steamboat in the middle of the ring and now this week Jarrett has been ordered to face Jimmy Yang even though Jarrett made it clear he didn’t want to get in the ring again until the Gauntlet for the Gold match. Jeff Jarrett accused Ricky Steamboat and TNA management of being against him and claimed that they would love nothing more than for AJ Styles to become the first TNA Champion but Jarrett will ruin their plans and again show the world why he is the Main Event the biggest name in TNA wrestling by becoming the first TNA Champion.

Match 4;
Time Limit; 20 Minutes
Jimmy Yang V Jeff Jarrett

Jimmy Yang vowed 2 weeks ago to get more focused and last week Yang got back on track with a victory over Joey Matthews.

Jeff Jarrett beat Jimmy Yang via pin fall after Jarrett dropped Yang with his Stroke. Tenay and West praised Yang after the match after taking Jarrett to the limit tonight. Not many people like Jeff Jarrett and there is no denying that Jeff Jarrett is among the favorites to become the first TNA Champion.

Winner; Jeff Jarrett

Tonight’s Main Event; Jerry Lynn V AJ Styles!

Up Next; Chris Harris V Steve Corino!

Jeremy Borash was standing by backstage with Steve Corino ahead of Corino’s match against Chris Harris. Steve Corino again claimed that Harris pinning him 2 weeks ago was an upset. Corino again said that one day Harris may go on to become TNA Champion and may even go down in history as one of the greatest off all time but today Chris Harris is a blue chipper while Steve Corino is a former World Heavyweight Champion and a threat to every man on the TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling roster. Tonight Steve Corino has to go out to that ring and not only take Chris Harris’ undefeated streak but Corino has to hurt Chris Harris. Corino looked Borash in the eye and calmly told Borash that so far he has hated his time here in TNA but things start to turn around tonight and if people are not willing to respect the first TNA Champion, Steve Corino then everyone will fear Steve Corino…

Video package aired looking at Chris Harris who came into TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling as a relatively unknown. Harris was trained in the infamous WCW Power Plant and has spent the last year wrestling all over the country. Chris Harris has the best win loss record in TNA and it’s down to Harris professionalism and treating every match like it’s the biggest match of his career.

Match 5;
Time Limit; 20 Minutes
Chris Harris V Steve Corino

Chris Harris beat Steve Corino via tap out after Harris caught Corino in his Texas Cloverleaf. Corino surprised Harris by kicking out of all of Harris big moves including Catatonic. Corino hung Harris neck on the top rope and clocked Harris with a shining wizard. Corino looked to finish Harris with a lariat but Harris ducked and quickly locked Corino in his cloverleaf and Corino had no choice but to tap out.

Winner; Chris Harris

Chris Harris made Steve Corino a former World Heavyweight Champion tap out in the middle of the ring. Steve Corino just rolled out of the ring after the bell. Mike Tenay and Don West were really impressed with Harris who showed tonight that he is for real and a true contender. Chris Harris had his hand raised to victory before dropping to his knees Chris Harris knows just how big this victory was over Steve Corino easily the biggest victory of Chris Harris career. Chris Harris is heading to Gauntlet for the Gold with momentum and now with a lot of confidence. Could Chris Harris shock the world in 2 weeks and become the first TNA Champion?

Tenay and West were shown at ringside still glowing about Chris Harris performance. Tenay introduced Jeremy Borash who had a huge announcement about next weeks Pay per View the penultimate Pay per View before Gauntlet for the Gold.

Jeremy Borash thanked Tenay and West, congratulated Chris Harris on his victory and revealed that he tried to speak to Steve Corino moments ago but Corino had no comment. Up next tonight’s Main Event would see AJ Styles face Jerry Lynn, the TNA locker room is gathering around monitors backstage to witness tonight’s Main Event. Borash announced two big Main Events signed for next weeks Pay per View. One man would lose his undefeated streak when ‘Fallen Angel’ Christopher Daniels takes on Nashville’s favorite son ‘Tennessee Cowboy’ James Storm. Then in the Main Event we would also see two men who have taken TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling by storm, two of the favorites to become the first TNA Champion square off when Ron Killings will go one on one against Low Ki!

Wednesday 14th August, 2002; TNA Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling
• Main Event; Low Ki V Ron Killings
• James Storm V Christopher Daniels
• Kid Kash debuts

Up Next; Tonight’s Main Event; Jerry Lynn V AJ Styles…

AJ Styles came out first for tonight’s Main Event to a big ovation from the fans in attendance. AJ waited for his opponent Jerry Lynn when Lynn the former two weight World Champion appeared on the big screen standing next to Jeremy Borash…

Jerry Lynn told AJ Styles that he would be out in a minute but first Lynn wants to get something of his chest. First Jerry Lynn accepts every word that came out of Ricky Steamboat’s mouth earlier tonight about giving everyone a shot and Lynn is excited about facing the likes of AJ Styles, Low Ki, Chris Harris and the men will be separated from the boys in time. Lynn predicts that AJ Styles from what Lynn has seen will go on and become the TNA Champion and one of the sports greats but Lynn will do everything in his power to make sure AJ does not become the first TNA Champion because Jerry Lynn still has dreams and Lynn dreams of becoming the first TNA Champion. Lynn told AJ Styles that Styles is still looking for that big win to silence his critics, Lynn apologized to Styles because tonight was not going to be AJ Styles night.

Match 6;
Main Event
Time Limit; 30 Minutes
Jerry Lynn V AJ Styles

Jerry Lynn beat AJ Styles via pin fall after Lynn dropped Styles with his TKO. Great match which went past the twenty minute mark. Referee got knocked from the ring moments before the end of the contest. Styles seemed to be edging his way to victory after planting Lynn with his Styles Clash but immediately Jeff Jarrett was in the ring. Jarrett dropped Styles with his Stroke and rolled out of the ring. Referee got back in the ring as Styles and Lynn were both down, both men started to get back to their feet at the same time but it was Lynn that struck first with his TKO.

Winner; Jerry Lynn

Jerry Lynn rolled off AJ Styles and had his hand risen in victory by the referee, Lynn was oblivious to Jeff Jarrett’s interference. Jeff Jarrett ruined a great Main Event tonight.

Jeff Jarrett was standing in the aisle gloating about costing AJ Styles the match and vowing to become the first TNA Champion when Ricky Steamboat came from behind Jarrett and spun Jarrett around with force. Steamboat was going mad at Jarrett for ruining tonight’s Main Event and costing Styles.

Jerry Lynn noticed what was going on outside of the ring and realized what had happened at the end of his match. Jerry Lynn rolled out of the ring and went for Jarrett but Lynn had to be held back by the referee and Ricky Steamboat as Jarrett continued to talk smack to Steamboat, Lynn and Styles. Pay per View went off the air with AJ Styles laying his head on the bottom rope watching as it all kicked off outside of the ring with Ricky Steamboat, Jerry Lynn and Jeff Jarrett.