My World w/ Jeff Jarrett - NWA 70th Anniversary Show [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we’re looking back at the NWA’s 70th Anniversary Show and they are in the news currently, with a new NWA champion EC 3.

But really it all starts with Billy Corgan. What was your relationship with Billy Corgan throughout your professional wrestling career?

It’s announced that coming off All In - after Cody defeated Nick Aldis to win the NWA title in Chicago - that the 70th Anniversary show of the NWA will feature Cody defending the title and it will take place at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Was the location how you got involved?

Let’s talk about All In - and really Starrcast. That whole weekend - and we’ve never talked about this on air - but what did you think of everything?

You were at ringside for the match between Cody & Aldis - as part of Aldis’ entourage. I guess we should talk about Nick Aldis and his new role in WWE…

What did you feel being at ringside for the match?

When you were at ringside and walked down the aisle - were you looking around going - how did we not get TNA to this point?

Aldis & Cody was a great match - beautifully built up to with the videos from the NWA - and the Observer reported that there was talk of trying to put Tony Schiavone & Mike Tenay on air to call the match. How much better is the match with them involved on commentary do you think?

“From the Observer

Billy Corgan and Jeff Jarrett are back working together, as they have announced an NWA and Global Force Entertainment co-promotion on Sunday, 10/21 in Nashville at the Fairgrounds, will be a FITE TV iPPV. Jarrett is planning on doing a regular series of FITE TV shows where he would book indie names as the main events and use local wrestlers in that region underneath.”

What was the agreement between GFW & FITE?

How did that all come together?

Did you see what Billy Corgan said about Dave Meltzer?

It’s also announced that the NWA National heavyweight championship would be recreated on the show. How much creative power did you have or were involved with?

What did you think of working with Billy?

From the Observer

At Wrestlecon in Manchester, Nick Aldis beat Doug Williams on 9/9 in a match to determine who would get the title shot at the NWA 70th Anniversary show. They are going to be shooting footage with both men at the upcoming Championship Wrestling from Hollywood tapings to build the match.

Did you think there was something to the NWA at this point? Was there any value to the brand?

The story of having Aldis & Cody having a rematch in October…do you think it was too soon?

From the Observer

“Tony Schiavone and Jim Cornette will be calling the Cody vs. Nick Aldis NWA title match on 10/21 in Nashville at the Fairgrounds that Billy Corgan and Jeff Jarrett’s GWF are putting on as the NWA’s 70th anniversary show. Mike Tenay was also in original discussions as Nick Aldis in particular has been wanting Tenay to call his big matches and Jeff Jarrett always wants Tenay announcing in whatever projects he’s got going. Cody, who headlines the show defending the NWA title against Nick Aldis, has said that he was going to donate 100 percent of his meet and greet proceeds to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.”

How did the deal of Schiavone & Cornette come together?

Can you really put into words what Mike Tenay adds to a professional wrestling presentation?

At ROH’s Death Before Dishonor - Nick Aldis is on commentary for a 10-man tag featuring Cody and he announces that it’ll be a 2 out of 3 fall match. This was really the beginning of the Forbidden Door opening wasn’t it?

Did you know or had heard the plans for AEW at this point?

When we get to the show - it draws about 1,400 fans…and it almost sold out the Fairgrounds. It was pushed that it was actually the largest gate for a wrestling show ever in the building because of the high ticket prices. What did you think of the promotion of the show and the house?

It was only broadcast on iPPV and Meltzer would report that since there was no other broadcast MMA or pro wrestling events over the weekend in the U.S. - and that it did better numbers than anticipated. What were your projections? FITE’s? NWA’s? And were you surprised about the actual purchases?

There were some production issues - and Billy would write about it after the fact:

“On the production side, we fell short on providing a televised event up to the standard that I would consider acceptable, which reminded me greatly as to why people questioned my pursuit of TNA (in terms of wanting to buy the company, and filed a potential lawsuit to do so). Put simply, building up a culture like Smashing Pumpkins or the NWA, takes time, trial and error, and great risk. And throwing money at the problems doesn’t necessarily correct the issues and in some cases makes it worse. So last night I was painfully reminded of how hard this journey is, and knew by the time the last bell rung we have much to work to do before we’d run another such live event. Which in no way diminishes my appreciation for those who ordered or attended the event. In fact, it increases it.”

That’s about as fair as a promoter can be isn’t it?

“Kurt and Karen's daughter, Kyra Angle sang the National Anthem.” This was special for all of you wasn’t it?

From the Torch & Sean Radican

(1) Stage A – COLT CABANA vs. SCORPIO SKY vs. SAMMY GUEVARA vs. SAMUEL SHAW – Four-Way Elimination NWA National Championship Tournament Semi-Final Round match.

Shaw eliminated Cabana first with a one-armed powerbomb off the top when he was setting up for a dive to the outside. Sky eliminated Guevard with a shining wizard and Shaw immediately hit a superkick on a kneeling Sky to eliminate him and advance to the finals. The cameras couldn’t keep up with some of the action, but overall they did a good job tracking all of the action during this match.

WINNER: Samuel Shaw at 14:57 to advance to the finals of the NWA National Championship Tournament (**½)

We got Cabana, Scorpio Sky & Guevara in AEW now and Sam Shaw as Dexter Lumis in WWE - but you can see how far these guys have come at this point right Jeff?

(2) LAREDO KID vs. BARRETT BROWN

Cornette got excited on commentary a short time later when Brown hit a poison hurricanrana. He called it the dumbest move in wrestling. They battled up top and Kid hit an ace crusher off the top, but made a lackadaisical cover for a 2 count. Kid elbowed Brown off the top and missed a corkscrew splash. Brown then beat Kid with a jumping knee to the head. Didn’t we just see a jumping knee finish in the last match?

WINNER: Barrett Brown at 10:57 (***)

Jim Cornette on commentary is a trip with this kind of match wasn’t he?

“Someone came into the commentary booth. He told Cornette to sit down. He said his name is Absolute Ricky Starks. He said he’s perfect and nobody can be him better than him. He said he’s about to give his best entrance. A video package then played highlighting Starks to a guitar riff as he was shown smirking and wearing a fur coat and a low cut tank top.”

Look at Ricky Starks - and see where he is right now. But man - you look at some of this talent in NWA and see where they’re at now - it’s the nature of the beast at this point?

“Magnum T.A. was interviewed at ringside. He talked about being proud to be back in the NWA on a special day. He said you can’t go back in time, but you can create a new NWA that gives athletes a chance to reach for the 10 pounds of gold and have it be the title it deserves to be. Magnum was asked about presenting the NWA National Championship to the winner of the tournament. He said the man that walks out the National Championship tonight will be the #1 contender for the NWA Worlds Championship.”

Embracing history and spotlighting it was really something the NWA had cornered didn’t they?

(3) Stage B – WILLIE MACK vs. JAY BRADLEY vs. RICKY STARKS vs. MIKE PARROW – Four-Way Elimination NWA National Championship Tournament Semi-Final Round match.

The match came down to Starks and Mack. Starks hit a big spear on Mack for a near fall. Mack powered out of a double underhook and hit a stunner a short time later for the win.

WINNER: Willie Mack in 7:00 to advance to the finals of the NWA National Championship Tournament (**3/4)

Man I like Willie Mack…but man Ricky Starks - that’s the guy here isn’t it?

(4) PETER AVALON (w/Nico Marquez) vs. TIM STORM

Late in the match, Avalon went to the floor and grabbed a chair, but the ref took it away. Avalon went for a low kick, but Storm blocked it. Marquez got up on the apron and tried to hold Storm, but he got out of the way and Avalon ran into him. Storm then hit Perfect Storm for the win.

Winner: Tim Storm at 4:45

Tim Storm was one of the few people that Billy Corgan pushed in the beginning of the NWA - what did you think of him in that role?

(5) NWA WOMEN’S CHAMPION JAZZ vs. PENELOPE FORD

Jazz continued to dominate the action. Jazz used the ropes to work a chinlock on Ford. She continued to dominate the action, but could not put Ford away. Ford matrixed out of a punch and got a rollup for a 2 count. Ford got a backwards bridging pinning combination for another near fall. She went for a standing moonsault, but Jazz got out of the way. Jazz hit a big Michinoku Driver. The announcers said it looked like a 3 count, but Hebner accidentally hit Jazz’s face while making the count. Jazz then locked in the STF for the win.

WINNER: Jazz in 8:00 to retain the NWA Women’s Championship (**)

“They went to Jim Cornette inside the ring. Cornette introduced Jeff Jarrett, who got a good pop. Jarrett came out with the NWA National Championship. I thought I was hallucinating seeing Jeff Jarrett walking to the ring with a title in The Asylum in Nashville. Cornette said he’s known Jeff since he was 12 and asked what it’s been like to see the reemergence of the NWA. Jarrett asked the fans to give Cornette a big applause and they did. Cornette said if it wasn’t for the Jarrett family, he wouldn’t be here. He asked the fans to give Jarrett an ovation.”

Was this a big deal for you?

“Jarrett said he watched his first wrestling match in this building. He said to be a part of the 70th Anniversary of the NWA met a lot to him and his family. He told the fans he’s grown up with them and they’re his family. Jarrett said they were both fans before they got into the business. Jarrett said they have two matches left. He said they have the rematch of the year with Cody defending the 10 Pounds of Gold tonight. He said it gives him chills to hold the NWA National Championship. He talked about winning the IC Championship in WWE and the U.S. Championship in WCW. He said the National Championship is a launching pad to the 10 Pounds of Gold. He called out Magnum T.A., who is going to present the title to the new champion.”

What did this promo mean to you?

Do you wish you hadn’t been a part of the Texas Chainsaw Death match and Cornette would still like you?

(6) SAMUEL SHAW vs. WILLIE MACK – NWA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FINAL

Shaw went up top and flipped off Mack. He went for a swanton, but missed. Mack then hit a stunner, but Mack kicked out at the very last second. Mack hit another stunner a short time later and made the cover and it was good for the win.

WINNER: Willie Mack in 9:00 to become the new NWA National Champion. (***)

Being involved in the show - and having this title brought back to life - did it make you miss promoting?

(7) THE WAR KINGS (JAX DANE & CRIMSON w/Road Warrior Animal) vs. THE KINGDOM OF JOSEPHUS (SHANNON MOORE & CRAZY STEVE)

Moore and Dax hit ground zero for the win. The fans had a mixed reaction to the finish.

WINNERS: Jax Dane & Crimson at 6:02 (*½)

This would lead to Jim Cornette and Road Warrior Animal in the ring announcing the Crockett Cup would be returning. Did you think Billy was on the right track using old school JCP gimmicks like this?

Decker interviewed Dory Funk Jr. at ringside. She called him “Rory.” Funk said it was amazing to be here as part of the NWA. He thanked the fans for backing NWA and restarting his career.

Tony Schiavone joined the broadcast team. Several former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champions came down to the ring before the main event. Tim Storm, Colt Cabana, Jeff Jarrett, Jax Dane, Tim Storm, and Blue Demon Jr. all got into the ring with Dory Funk Jr.

Nick Aldis came out first with Camilla Cane. Cornette said she was there to neutralize Brandi Rhodes. Cody Rhodes was out next. Rhodes tried to pump the fans up as he began his way down to the ring. A big Cody chant rang out in The Asylum as he flexed on the ramp. They did the formal introductions. Brian Hebner is the ref for the main event. The former NWA Worlds Champions stayed and watched the match at ringside.

(8) NWA WORLDS CHAMPION CODY RHODES w/Brandi Rhodes) vs.NICK ALDIS (w/Kamilla Kaine) – 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS MATCH

This is a 37 minute match - and go out of your way to watch it. It’s a tremendous match and Nick gets the win 2 to 1. What was better - this match or the All In match?

From the Observer

As far as what this means, the NWA title itself was in a brighter spotlight because of All In, the promotional work of both Cody and Aldis and video work of Lagana. As far as what that means going forward is more difficult.

Corgan has a name and business connections, but hasn’t been able to get a TV deal unless there is something unannounced on the horizon. It’s known that he pitched the idea to TBS, and some would find something historically significant about the NWA on TBS, since a very different NWA did control the station for most of the period from 1972 to when the initials were dropped in favor of WCW around 1990. But nothing seems to have transpired from it. Most of the top talent these days is under contract to WWE, New Japan or ROH, with a few with Lucha Underground and Impact. Corgan is likely shut out of that talent, as well as CMLL, because they work with ROH, unless it’s a unique deal like Cody, who was a key reason the show did as well as it did.

Man talk about the professional wrestling world being different just a few months later - how different is things if Billy made that deal with TBS?

Billy had this to say:

“Sitting ringside for the main event, I had one recurring thought, which there are only a few people on the planet (let’s say the number is under 30) who could do what Nick and Cody did last night. Or, as I used to tell my mother, `this is why they pay me the big bucks, Ma.’ Skilled, talented people need the right stage and crowd to allow their best, and last night was exactly that. The fans were fantastic, pushing Cody and Nick to a place I think that surprised them. I remain hopeful for a third, definitive contest.”

“Lastly the vibe backstage with talent was jubilant, and hopeful, from a living legend like Dory Funk Jr. to the kid in the dark. And that speaks volumes.”

What were the highs and lows for you at this point in time in the business?