Mark Cuban's NWA
- Thread starter St George
- Start date
- Pronouns
- He/Him, They/Them
The National Wrestling Alliance and HDNet present
a 2929 Entertainment and Lionsgate production
NWA Worldwide from Lionsgate Films, Santa Monica, California
The opening credits end with Paul Wight throwing a punch at Chris Kanyon and the camera suddenly cuts to Kanyon's viewpoint as the punch connects and Kanyon falls backwards. As the camera slowly whites out, the NWA logo fills the screen...
Diamond Dallas Page and host of Inside MMA Kenny Rice welcome us to the show, sat in a studio behind a table. A ticker along the bottom of the screen tells us that Paul Wight vs Diamond Dallas Page and Lance Storm vs Rob Conway are among our matches tonight.
Rice and DDP explain that NWA Worldwide will not be like any other wrestling show you've seen before. There will be no gimmicks. There will be no over the top extreme violence. There will just be the sport of wrestling. Wins and losses will be the only things that matter. How the wrestlers, and DDP puts special emphasis on the word, achieve the W is up to them but that is all that matters.
A video graphic plays, with the two hosts hyping up “a whole new way to experience the sport of wrestling” allowing viewers to choose what camera angle they view the match from, including the exclusive In The Match camera view, giving the viewer an almost first person viewpoint from either wrestler. “It's like you're in the match!”
The graphic fades out and we cut to the ring where Mark Cuban himself announces a tournament to crown a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Paul Wight, Rob Van Dam and Chris Hero will all be involved, among others. Cuban left the ring as we cut to a first commercial break.
NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament: Austin Aries vs Matt Sydal
Alkaline Trio's “Clavicle” brings out Matt Sydal and an on-screen graphic tells us Sydal's stats. The seven year pro has 6 title wins to his name, and was one of the first ever winners of the NWA Midwest X Division title, Todd Keneley tells us on commentary. Sydal enters the ring and poses for the crowd, before the lights go down and “Born of A Broken Man” by Rage Against The Machine signals the arrival of the very first NWA Midwest X Division Champion, “The Star” Austin Aries.
Aries saunters his way down the ramp, engaging arrogantly with the crowd. He's stopped however by his opponent who sails over the top rope and lands a massive plancha on Aries. Regular viewers get their first taste of In The Match as the camera switches to Aries' view as Sydal soars over the top and takes him out. The crowd cheers as Sydal rolls Aries into the ring and the match starts.
Keneley puts over Sydal as a great high flyer and he certainly looks to prove it, keeping Aries off guard and on the defensive with a series of kicks and forearms before switching it up with a standing hurricanrana that takes down The Star for a two count early on. The match continues in much the same way until Sydal goes high risk and Aries moves out of the way. Aries takes control of the match and wears down Sydal with a series of holds, the crowd getting behind the St Louis native as it becomes harder for him to break each hold.
Sydal eventually fought back and started to build up his momentum, going up high after being whipped into the corner and hitting a springboard tornado ddt on Aries. A long two count follows and Sydal slams the mat in frustration. He waits for Aries to get to his feet, setting up for the pumphandle half nelson driver he calls the Here We Go Driver. He lifts Aries but The Star rolls through and keeps Sydal down for the 1... 2... 3... yes! Aries gets the victory as Sydal looks on in shock.
BlueChip & The American Dragon v The Bashams
A highlights package from the match plays before we head to commercial. We come to find a masked duo already in the ring and Todd Keneley introduces them as the American Dragon and BlueChip. “Control” by Puddle of Mudd heralds the arrival of The Bashams. They march down to the ring and attack their masked opponents immediately, throwing them out the ring and taunting the crowd.
BlueChip is back in the ring first but the more powerful duo just throw him around the ring, leading Todd Keneley to remark that this is more a beating than a match. They throw the young wrestler out of the ring but turn around to be hit by a huge missile dropkick by the American Dragon. Doug Basham rolls out of the ring as Dragon pulls Danny up and hits him with several stiff kicks.
We cut to the In The Match cam for Danny Basham as he is levelled by a kick from the Dragon. AD tags in his partner and they ground Danny with a series of holds, making quick tags. Todd Keneley puts over the team's wrestling and says that they've really surprised the more experienced team. Danny eventually fights out and makes the tag to his brother. Doug comes in hot and takes down both masked men, putting the boot into BlueChip after clearing Dragon from the ring.
They set up for an assisted chokebomb, Doug hoisting BlueChip into the air, but the masked wrestler elbows Danny in the head repeatedly, then hits a frankensteiner on Doug Basham. The Dragon starts to go crazy on the apron, looking for the tag, the crowd cheering on BlueChip. He makes the tag and Danny is again taken out by an American Dragon kick before he zones in on Doug and ducks under his wild punch to hit a bridging leg hook belly to back suplex that Todd Keneley informs us is more commonly known as a Regalplex! The Dragon makes the cover to pick up an upset win for his team and put them in the hunt for NWA Tag Team Titles.
We come back from a commercial to a highlights package from the last match and Todd Keneley introduces “the voice of Diamond Dallas Page” and DDP puts over the winning team and names them his prediction as the next challengers for Karl Anderson and Joey Ryan. He then hypes the next match as Lance Storm's first match on American soil in almost 18 months.
NWA Heavyweight Title Tournament: Lance Storm vs Rob Conway
The Conman makes his way to the ring to the tune of Megadeth's “Symphony of Destruction”, ripping a Lance Storm sign away from a fan and throwing it on the ground to boos from the crowd. He gets in the ring and on the mic, calling himself “the best submissions wrestler of all time” and telling Storm to “get your never-was washed up ass out here already.”
White Zombie's “El Phantasmo” is his reply and Lance Storm runs in from the crowd behind Conway, climbing a turnbuckle. The Perfect Storm flies off the top and hits Conway with a spinning heel kick – we get a nice In The Match camera angle as Storm connects. The referee rings the bell for the match to start as Storm measures Conway for a superkick as he gets to his feet. Conway shows he still has some of his wits about him as he ducks the kick and rolls out of the ring to catch his breath.
Storm doesn't let him have the time to recover though, flying over the top rope in a suicide dive that takes out Conway and has the crowd chanting “You still got it!” Storm rolls Conway back into the ring and whips him across it. Conway ducks Storm's clothesline and runs the ropes looking for a big boot. Storm catches his foot and rolls through into his Single Leg Calgary Crab submission – Todd Keneley tells us that this is a variant of the single leg boston crab. Conway looks like he'll force his way out of it, turning over in the middle of the ring. Storm stomps on Conway's gut repeatedly, before locking the Conman into a sharpshooter, right in the middle of the ring! Conway tries desperately to reach the ropes, crying out in pain, but can't take the hold and taps out, giving Lance Storm the win in his comeback match. Storm poses on the turnbuckle as the crowd give him another “You still got it!” chant.
We fade out from the scene and go into a preview video for next week's main event, Rob Van Dam vs The Punisher Andrew Martin. Martin says that he's been waiting and working and wrestling for this opportunity, the chance to be Heavyweight Champion of the World all his career and no one, not the largest man in wrestling, not survivors of the Hart family dungeon nor guys on a comeback who should've stayed retired – will get in his way. And he's certainly not going to stopped by an adrenaline junkie who doesn't know when to quit. He's going take RVD down to the level he – and everyone else – should be at... looking up at Andrew Martin as he becomes the NWA World Champion.
In reply, we see RVD working out, exercising, practising the inner calm that he needs in order to perform the feats he does – the calm needed to fly through the air. He makes a big deal of it, saying that his inner calm can overcome everything, arrogance, ignorance, anger, pain. He labels Martin as just another angry, arrogant wrestler. Martin will find out what his inner calm is all about next week and as RVD flies through the air and hits the Five Star Frog Splash for the victory, he'll also find out why the man to beat in this tournament is Rob... Van... Dam...
NWA Heavyweight Title Tournament: Diamond Dallas Page vs Paul “The Great” Wight
“Spirit” by Dale Oliver plays to announce the arrival of DDP but several seconds pass and nothing happens. We quickly cut to a camera backstage where we see Paul Wight hoist DDP up and chokeslams him through a table. Wight chuckles to himself and heads to the ring as Todd Keneley wonders aloud what that was all about. Keneley sends us to a highlights video of tonight's action and when we come back the final few lines of “Crank It Up” by Brand New Sin finish and Wight has a microphone.
He introduces himself as Paul “The Great” Wight, the Largest and Most Dangerous Man in Wrestling. He says that he came to the NWA for one reason – to dominate. He doesn't care who you are or what you've done, when you step to the giant you are just a bug to squash. DDP was the first, he won't be the last, and Paul Wight won't stop until everyone has bowed down before the new Big Nasty and there's nothing anyone – not a wrestler, not an NWA official and certainly not Mark Cuban – can do about it. The show ends with a close up of Wight as he looks off into the distance, signalling that he wants the NWA Heavyweight Title.
- Pronouns
- He/Him, They/Them
We switch cameras and close up on Page. He addresses Paul 'the Great' Wight who attacked him backstage before their scheduled match in the NWA World Heavyweight Championship tournament. Page says that backstage attacks, dirty tactics and the like are not what the NWA is about. It's not what NWA Worldwide is about, and it's not what DDP is about. DDP says that Paul Wight needs to learn that he isn't wrestling for Atlanta or for Stamford, but he's wrestling for the NWA.
And if Page has to beat that into him – then that's just a bonus.
NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament: American Dragon (w/BlueChip) vs Jack Evans
We saw American Dragon and his partner come out victorious in tag action last week, but this time he's in singles action against another high flyer, Jack Evans. The tale of the tape puts American Dragon at a considerable size advantage – he has 30 pounds and two inches on the California native and Dragon starts off at a methodical pace, utilising holds and chain grappling Evans.
Todd Keneley, calling the action all on his lonesome on commentary again, tells us more about the two men in the ring during these moments. Both made their debuts within a year of each other and both have wrestled for largely the same companies, Keneley noting that this is not the first time American Dragon has attempted to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title.
In the ring, Evans fights out of a chin lock and sends Dragon across the ring. Evans ducks underneath Dragon's clothesline and takes him down with a hurricanrana and then a dropkick as Evans picks up the pace. He throws some punches and backs Dragon back up into the corner. Evans tries to whip American Dragon across to the other corner, but it gets reversed and Evans comes out to be hit with a huge running knee! We go to an In the Match camera replay of Drgaon's knee. Evans is down but Dragon can only cover for a loooooooong two count. Evans doesn't have much time to recover, as Dragon senses an opportunity and slaps on the Cattle Mutiliation! Keneley explains that this is a bridging double chickenwing as Evans writhes around and tries to escape the hold. He can't hold on and Evans submits. American Dragon picks up an impressive wing to advance in the tournament.
LuFisto vs Awesome Kong
We come back from commercials to find LuFisto already in the ring. We get a short promo about how it's unfair that women aren't allowed to enter the NWA World Heavyweight Title tournament and how she could beat most of the men in the tournament. She issues an open challenge to anyone in NWA Worldwide to face her.
Big mistake. From the back out comes Awesome Kong, and LuFisto looks like this wasn't who she had in mind. Kong gets in the ring and her opponent is immediately on her even before the bell rings, hitting Kong with several chops and a dropkick, but they don't even stagger the massive brawler. Kong throws LuFisto around the ring for a few minutes and sends her into the corner.
Kong chops LuFisto and whips her into the other corner before setting off for a big splash... which she misses as LuFisto moves! The Canadian wrestler jumps up and takes the bigger woman down with a hurricanrana. Kong is up quickly but LuFisto ducks her lariat and jumps onto Awesome Kong's back, locking in a sleeper hold!
Kong staggers around the ring, as Keneley says that even the biggest wrestlers need to breathe. Awesome drops to a knee and the crowd is rallying behind LuFisto. Kong powers back to her feet... and runs backwards into a corner. LuFisto releases the hold and Kong staggers off, trying to get her bearings. The smaller woman sees her chance and runs past her opponent, going to the top rope and tries for a springboard body press...
...for which she receives a thunderous backfist out of nowhere! The In the Match camera shows us Kong's fist flying towards LuFisto's face. LuFisto looks out for the count and is dragged to her feet by her opponent. Kong sets her up and plants her with an Awesome Bomb! The three count is academic from there.
NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament: Colt Cabana vs Chris Kanyon
“Copacabana” by Barry Manilow brings out 'The Art of Wrestling' Colt Cabana to a decent pop from the Santa Monica crowd. Todd Keneley tells us that
Cabana is famous for his 'World of Sport' style as Kanyon comes out to a decent pop of his own. The former WWE and WCW star poses on the turnbuckle before the match then runs out of the corner and flattens Colt with a clothesline to get us started.Kanyon stomps Colt into the mat before taunting the crowd for some decent heat. He even gives us a 'Who better than Kanyon?' for the reply of 'Everybody!' Colt is up by this point and tries to lock up with Kanyon. The 'Innovator of Offense' kicks Colt downstairs though, and takes him down with a swinging neckbreaker. Kanyon locks in a chin lock and Colt is struggling to stay in this match.
Kanyon taunts the crowd and Cabana, yelling at the ref to 'ask him' as Colt tries to break out of the hold. He manages to get to a vertical base, and Kanyon transitions into a side headlock. Cabana spins out of it and wrenches Kanyon's arm. Cabana and Kanyon start to chain wrestle but with Cabana gaining the edge. Colt takes Kanyon over for a backslide pin attempt and gets a two count.
Kanyon charges Colt and again gets pulled down into a pin attempt and Colt gets two again. Kanyon reverses into a pin of his own but Colt rolls through and covers Kanyon. A long two count and Kanyon bails out of the ring in frustration. Cabana plays to the crowd and goes flying out of the ring to hit Kanyon with a plancha! We go to a commercial break as Kanyon and Cabana are both down.
We come back to find Colt sitting on the top turnbuckle with Kayon going up top to try a superplex. Colt throws some punches into Kanyon's gut and pushes him off the turnbuckle. Kanyon's back up quickly and ducks Cabana's attempt at a diving axe handle! Cabana turns and ducks a wild Kanyon punch. Cabana jabs away at Kanyon, then takes inspiration from the legendary Dusty Rhodes and hits Kanyon – cue In the Match camera – with a bionic elbow! Kanyon hits the canvas and Cabana is rolling.
Cabana measures Kanyon as he gets to his feet... He sets Kanyon up and powers him down to the mat with a double underhook gutwrench suplex for the win. Cabana advances in the tournament!
We go back to the studio with DDP and Kenny Rice. They put over the international nature of this tournament with stars from countries around the world, like Canada's Lance Storm, the British up-and-comer PAC and the Mexican superstar luchadore, Mistico. Kenny sends us into a promo video for Mistico, who appears next week on NWA Worldwide!
We come back from our final commercial break and “Andrews Arrive” brings out The Punisher Andrew Martin. Martin storms to the ring, shouting and arguing with a few fans on the way. Martin poses on turnbuckle as the first bars of “Whole F'N Show” play and the crowd chants along “ROB VAN DAM”. RVD poses at the top of the ramp and does his signature taunt and this is our main event.
Van Dam and Martin lock up in the center of the ring, Martin using his superior size and strength to back RVD back up into the corner. The ref starts a count and Martin backs off, taunting RVD. They lock up again but this time RVD shifts his weight and rolls through, taking Punisher down for a quick two count. They back off again and RVD taunts Martin back.
The man formerly known as Test takes exception to this and takes RVD out with a nasty looking lariat. Martin stomps down on RVD then pulls him up and into the corner. Test hammers away at Van Dam before whipping him across the ring. Punisher charges across the ring looking to take Rob's head off with his boot. Van Dam rolls out of the corner though, and Martin crotches himself on the ropes!
Van Dam springboards off the middle rope and kicks Martin out of the ring, his opponent ending up bent over the guardrail. Van Dam goes out to the apron, does his thumb taunt to the delight of the crowd, jumping through the air to hit the prone Martin with a spinning kick. Martin drops to the floor and RVD is cruising here as we see an In The Match replay of RVD springboard dropkick on Punisher.
Rob rolls Martin back into the ring and stops to taunt again. When he gets back into the ring, Martin has recovered enough to take RVD up and over with a suplex. Martin tries to keep RVD grounded but the former ECW Champion is too quick for him and takes Martin down with a rolling kick. Martin is set up and RVD rebounds off the ropes and hits Rolling Thunder!
Martin is groggily getting to his feet as Van Dam plays to the crowd. RVD throws a kick that Martin catches, but Van Dam hits a wheel kick with his other foot! Martin is down in the middle of the ring and Rob goes up high. The crowd chants along with a final “ROB VAN DAM” and the Whole F'N Show hits a huge Five Star Frog Splash for the victory!
Keneley puts over both men and announces that RVD has advanced to the next round of the tournament. We end the show with Van Dam on the top rope, the crowd cheering the superstar.