My World with Jeff Jarrett - Total Nonstop Debut [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Jeff we’re here! After 3 weeks of discussing the foundation, origins, trials and tribulations of how NWA Total Nonstop Action was formed...it’s time for the debut show and we’re here...LIVE...from the same arena...the Von Braun Civic Center in beautiful Huntsville, Alabama.

Let’s discuss before we get into the show what your day is like. The last question I asked you last week was 24 hours away from the show what’s running through your head...

Did you sleep the night before? Get a good night’s rest? Or too anxious to sleep?

This is your first wrestling show where you’re at least 50% in charge, am I right? Were you prepared for everything that was going to happen and what were your duties that day?

Did you seek any advice from previous agents, your dad, etc?

You arrive at the building and what is the first thing you do?

Did anybody show up that you didn’t expect? There’s always talk of guys coming to the shows with their gear hoping to get on. Anybody like that for this?

Your debut is on June 19th...and just 5 days later the WWF is running King of the Ring. Was it important to make sure your debut pay-per-view was before the WWF’s pay-per-view in June?

From the Observer Jeff…”the so-called full support of the cable industry turned out to be something less. After NWA TNA officials were under the impression they had made a last week clearance of the Dish Network, it turned out not to be the case, leaving their potential universe in the 35 to 40 million range. The losses of most of the Canadian systems, Cablevision and Dish Network is a major blow for a group that needs 50,000 buys a week to break even unless they get a corporate sponsor, which they've yet to land. Our reports last week of Dish Network picking it up were incorrect, based on what was termed "wishful thinking" by company management, although they were hopeful it would be picked up shortly. Bell Express Vu in Canada on 6/26 wasn't at press time scheduled to show the second show after a weak response to the first show. Ultimately, all the holdouts, including Viewers Choice Canada, will be in the fold if this proves to do business, and likely none will join in if there isn't a sign of life.”

How frustrating is it going into this show knowing Canada...a real hot bed for wrestling and where there is surely to be a lot of lapsed fans...were unable to purchase the show?

How much of the show that is written in the morning sticks for the live show?

And this wouldn’t be TNA without something happening right Jeff? Right before the show goes to air there are two dark matches. Cheeks...a 450 pound man actually named Mike Staples defeats Frank Parker and Apolo defeats David Young. In your dad’s book it says that the Cheeks match broke the ring but Meltzer says it was Apolo’s match. Which was it?

How do you hear about this and what is the panic that goes along with it?

Who took the lead on getting it fixed? You talked two weeks ago about Ron Harris & your doctor helping fix it. How close to air time does the ring being fixed happens?

Alright folks it’s time to press play and watch along as we discuss TNA’s first show!

From the Observer… “Show opened with some pop-gun style pyro, similar to WWA. Because of the expense that WWF and WCW did during the war, it's impossible for a start-up working on a budget not to come across cheap when doing the set and pyro, and this was no exception. They had no graphics, or stats on the guys, which was a mistake with so many characters as unknowns. “

Do you think this was something that was missed because it was the first show? Do you think the pyro looked cheap?

Don West is the first person to appear. Why Don?

From the Observer… “They brought out legends first, starting with Harley Race, Dory Funk, Jackie Fargo, Bob Armstrong, Corsica Joe and wife Sara Lee, Bill Behrens and Steamboat. The audience was polite enough. Steamboat talked about the NWA belt being equivalent to the NBA championship, Super Bowl or Stanley Cup. For a guy who was never known as a great interview, he gave one of the best interviews so far this year. The crowd reacted to Steamboat as a bigger star than any of the wrestlers on the show, and they really should hire him in a commissioner/special ref type role as a babyface who doesn't have to play the sideshow clown role. Jarrett came out, said it was stupid for the title to be decided in a Battle Royal. Great, let's let everyone know our bookers are stupid on day one, since virtually every fan watching knew he was right. He brought up that Funk and Race never won their world titles in a Battle Royal. Fargo then shot back, and had only one line to say, which was that he was ordering Jarrett in first at the Battle Royal. They should have picked Armstrong or Steamboat to deliver the line, because Fargo said that he was ordering Jarrett in the first match. Luckily, Tenay covered for him right away. Surprisingly, since he's booking the thing, Jarrett didn't even sell it. Shamrock came out, said the Battle Royal sucked as an idea. Hall came out. He said it sucked as well. Well, they didn't learn enough from the mistakes of WCW.”

Why point out that battle royals aren’t the way to crown a heavyweight champion? Doesn’t this seem counter productive and not the way you want to make a first impression?

In your dad’s book it’s referenced with the ring breaking this wasn’t the original opening segment and this had to be moved to it. What was the original opening segment? The first match?

“1. Estrada & Siaki & Yang upset Styles & Low Ki & Lynn in 6:27. Estrada & Siaki & Yang were announced as The Flying Elvis's. Started off fast with Low Ki hitting a tope and Lynn with a plancha. Yang was doing the shining wizard all over the place. Great athletic style action match and the crowd loved it. Low Ki hit brutal kicks. Yang did a great leg lariat on Styles. Everyone hit their big moves at the end before Yang pinned Styles with Yang time. This match could not have been better. ***¾”

Great first match for the company and it’s odd to see three guys who were sort of established stars in Lynn, Styles & Low Ki lose to...THE FLYING ELVIS’S. Jeff...who thought of this gimmick and thought it was a good idea?

2. Teo pinned Hollywood with a swanton in 2:49. Hollywood was "an enhancement midget." Bad idea. These guys have got to go. *

I mean Jeff...wow. Was this what you were expecting?

“Ed Ferrara and Don West came into the ring to introduce the ten women. It's really bad when I, who spend all day watching bad wrestling videos, couldn't pick half of them out of a police line-up. Some uncharismatic women out there. Anyway, from what I could gather, because their names were said so fast, there were no graphics, and the cameras were on the wrong women as the announcers were talking, I noticed a Joanie, Francine, Alexis Laree (the now Mickie James), Taylor Vaughn (formerly Barbara Bush in WWF, remember the B.B. the EMT girl), Erin (now it's too bad they didn't give her background, but I will. She was a contestant on Tough Enough 1 and was probably going to be picked. She had a rendezvous with one of the judges, word got out, and because of the talk about how unfair that is, they couldn't pick her without everyone crying foul), Electra, Shannon (formerly Daffney), Tyler and Sasha. I have no idea who the last two were, but one was a stripper they found because they needed an extra.

Francine cut a promo saying she was the only star, which I guess she was. Electra, in that Electra voice, blamed her for single handedly bankrupting another company. Francine responded by tearing Electra's top off in a cat fight. West put his jacket over her bra immediately. When we see lingerie and thongs on free TV every week and this is being called TNA, I'm not advocating it, because this segment sucked bad, but the worst thing they can be is less risque on PPV than the other guys on free TV.”

Jeff who went out to the strip clubs to discover Tyler or Sasha? Was this just a miss in execution? Do you think it was counterproductive for Don to do this or were you saving this for later?

3. Rod & Richard Johnson (Mike & Todd Shane) beat Psicosis & James Storm in 4:49. Everybody hustled. Storm was distracted by Plumtree and one masked guys hit a Samoan drop on him for the pin. This wasn't horrible, but it accomplished nothing and it looks to be a dead gimmick. 3/4*

You look back at this now and see the other side of the ring with Psicosis and James Storm. This isn’t a knock on the Shane Twins as they were doing what they were told...but my goodness Jeff.

Ryan Shamrock pays off Slick Johnson after this. For what?

Then we introduced the Dupps. Bo Dupp is one of the originals, real name Murray Happer, picking his nose and eating it. He's got a brother named Stan Dupp, real name Bill Meuler (I think). I have no idea where he's from. The idea is they are both doing it with their cousin, Fluff Dupp, who is so backwoods that she's doing the Hillbilly gimmick that has been dead since Hillbilly Jim nearly 20 years ago. Behrens saw all three drinking beer backstage and informed them that this was a professional company and no alcohol is allowed backstage. This was the funniest line of the year on a wrestling show. At least to me.

I mean...yeah Jeff. Funny thing is one of these Dupps ends up being Trevor Murdouch. Once again you’re telling me Vince Russo didn’t help any of the creative so far?

Hermie Sadler and Sterling Marlin got big pops coming out. Yes, bigger than any of the wrestlers on the show. K-Krush came out and said that NASCAR drivers aren't real athletes. He explained that his kind hit home runs, throw touchdown passes and run for touchdowns. Their kind drive cars. Great, a racial angle in 2002. Brickhouse Brown drew some money against Jerry Lawler way back when Jeff Jarrett was a rookie, and they saw K-Krush and said, "Hey, it's Brickhouse Brown." Brian Christopher came out and made it even worse explaining that Sadler and Marlin were his kind. Hopefully Sadler and Marlin don't follow wrestling news closely, or else, they'd have realized that was more of an insult than anything K-Krush said. Christopher laid out K-Krush and Sadler and Marlin threw him over the top rope, to set up a match. Apparently there was debate about what name to give Christopher, either his old Tennessee name, or his real name, Brian Lawler. They settled on Lawler. Apparently a plan was changed and they are going to change his name from Christopher to Lawler on an upcoming show, so Tenay kept calling him Christopher, since he knew about the plan change. Nobody told Ferrara, so he kept calling him Lawler and I guess both announcers thought the other was screwing up.

Jeff, what do you think of the classification of this being called a racial angle? Is that how it was booked or presented? How is the decision made between Christopher and Lawler being used and how come the announcers aren’t on the same page?

Backstage, Jarrett and Fargo were doing a pull-apart. Fargo may have blown his line, but he's still the greatest.

Jeff give us a great Jackie Fargo story!

4. Dupps beat Christian York & Joey Matthews. York was on top when Fluff scooped the leg, he crotched himself and fell into the ring where Bo pinned him holding the tights in 3:39. After the match, Bo picked his nose and ate it. DUD

Yup.

The biggest star in the building live was Country music singer Toby Keith. They played a full music video. Jarrett interrupted him and stopped the concert. He did a great job of acting mad. I know some people didn't like how he was portrayed as a tough guy against a wrestler on a wrestling show, but that was just how it was written. I've seen so many celebrities come across as clowns, and this would have worked for mainstream pub if it was five years ago and the media thought wrestling was cool.

Do you think Toby came across as the biggest star in the building? Is it fair to say that a national wrestling program is more promoting as being a southern company?

5. Shamrock and Malice co-won a 20 man Gauntlet match in 30:55. It opened with the Jarrett show, as he tossed out Bagwell (looked good for all of 1:02, even doing a blockbuster), Lash Leroux and Norman Smiley, all clearly one-week wonders. Apolo came in and they like him, so he lasted a long time. Apolo has that 80s look with the good physique, and I've heard good things about his wrestling, but he didn't show much. K-Krush and Slash (former Wolfie D of famous local tag team PG-13), Del Rios (local wrestler Spellbinder), Prince Justice (aggressive big guy, THE FUTURE ABYSS), Konnan (big pop, looked good, but they didn't have plans for him) and Bruce (Alan Funk) came in. Then Rick Steiner dumped Justice. Malice came in with the Kevin Nash push, dumping Bruce, K-Krush, Rios, Konnan and Rick Steiner. Hall came in and he and Jarrett immediately had the most embarrassing spot of the Battle royal. Toby Keith ran in and gave Jarrett a vertical suplex that was almost of the Davey Boy Smith variety, and he and Hall eliminated Jarrett. Chris Harris, Vampire Warrior, Devon Storm, Steve Corino, Ken Shamrock and Brian Christopher entered. Christopher has a long team deal, since he threw out Harris, Storm, Corino and Vampire before getting dumped by Shamrock. Finally Malice got rid of Apolo, who had been in for nearly 28 minutes (Iron man role, although this wasn't gotten over).

This is a long battle royal Jeff. What do you think of Meltzer saying you & Hall had the most embarrassing spot of the pay-per-view? Crazy to look at this roster now and think of what would happen with some if not all…

6. Shamrock beat Malice, who was managed by Jim "Sinister Minister" Mitchell in 6:22 to win the NWA title. Steamboat was ref. Real good Japanese style, but the crowd was into it. Shamrock did a flying armbar off a choke slam attempt. Malice waited way too long to get to the ropes. Shamrock got an ankle lock and Malice made the ropes. Shamrock didn't break and pulled him back in. Malice made the ropes again and this time Shamrock broke it. Malice went for a choke slam, but Shamrock got out and hit a belly-to-belly suplex for the pin. ***

Not a bad finish to the show Jeff. The Wrestling Observer readers enjoyed the show with with 61.2% voting thumbs up, 20.6 in the middle, and 18.2% thumbs down. What say you?

Before we go after the pay-per-view goes off the air you tape a second show which we won’t get into but regarding the first show’s results...

At press time, company officials were given a number by In Demand, which was well in excess of the needed 50,000 buys, with a claim of 80,000, but early numbers mean nothing as they almost uniformly turn out to be much higher than the final number turns out to be. The first number In Demand gave for the WWA PPV was 40,000 buys, and the real number turned out to be 15,000. Both WWE officials have always gone under the assumption that any cable number released any earlier than maybe two months out after show time usually ends up being so far off it's not even worth taking seriously. The DirecTV number, which usually comes out within a week or two, is usually accurate as it relates to them.”

Is this how you remember In Demand reporting the results...and did the results come from Jay Hessmann?