NWA-TNA comes to us this week, still dealing with the continual problems with Jeff Jarrett and his quest to become NWA Champion, the on-going issues with AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn. To throw a further ball into this juggling act, the NWA Tag Championships have been held up due dueling ref counts last week, which has just furthered Jarrett’s list of grievances against the NWA. So, let’s find out what’s going on!

Opening: We start with our usual opening. The crowd seems pumped and ready to go.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: AJ Styles vs Jerry Lynn

Styles is out first and he’s wearing a headband, for some reason, maybe to look tough. Jerry Lynn is out next, to an okay pop. Let’s start this showdown. Maybe it’s because I’ve done some research and know something about what was going on behind the scenes, but this definitely feels like a blowoff match, but in the same breath, this feud has been brewing for two and a half months and it was needing to happen. Styles seems to be a little winded, but he’s hanging with Lynn, who definitely has an experience advantage not only due to his more years in the business, but also his time in ECW, where these kinds of matches were normal.

This was an amazing match, unsurprisingly, what was at stake, the #1 Contendership for the X Division Title seems unimportant compared to seeing these two go at it one on one. There was an ugly hurricanrana by Styles on Lynn, but neither man seemed all that hurt. Lynn finally puts Styles away with his patented piledriver on the stage.

Winner: Jerry Lynn by pinfall. Falls at 1-0 Lynn.

Comment: That was really good. It felt like a main event match and the absence of Ed Ferrara made the commentary tolerable.

Backstage, we find the long-suffering Goldilocks backstage with Storm and Harris. Harris is smoking for some reason, probably another attempt to be edgy. Storm is still doing his goofy cowboy gimmick, which is really annoying. The only person that really seems to be in a good mood, is Goldi, probably because the Dupps aren’t around.

Goldi isn’t a fan of Harris smoking, but she doesn’t complain. Harris is as annoyed with Storm’s behavior as I am. He wants Storm to give up the cowboy gimmick, which he blames for them not being on TV for weeks. (Trust me, dude, you DIDN’T want to be on this show) It’s interesting that TNA shows that tag teams don’t always get along, which is certainly more realistic, without having it lead up to a turn angle.

During this interview, they have a run in with Ron Harris, identical twin of Don Harris, and ‘Primetime’ Brian Lee, an ECW alum. They mock Storm and Harris. The confrontation ends with a challenge of a match, which Storm and Harris accept.

Ron Harris and Brian Lee vs James Storm and Chris Harris

Lee and Harris get a minimal pop. Harris and Storm get a nice pop (Wow, no wonder Lee was the fake Undertaker). This was an okay match compared to the opener. If you’re wanting technical beauty or scientific prowess, you better skip this one. However, both teams worked together very well, with a few awkward spots. Lee almost got a pinfall off a tombstone, but Storm broke it up. A fan, that I hope is a plant, gets a little too handsy with Lee and pays for it with a beatdown. The distraction gives Harris and Storm the opening they need to pin Ron Harris with a roll up.

Winner: James Storm and Chris Harris by pinfall. Afterwards, Lee and Harris argue about Lee beating up the fan, and then attack Harris and Storm from behind to avenge their loss.

Comment: That was a lot better than I thought it would be.

2 Out of 3 Falls: Sonny Siaki vs Jimmy Yang

Siaki is out first, still in his Elvis gear, he’s very popular with the ladies. Yang gets a nice pop, but has to duck because Siaki tries to get a cheap shot in. This is another match that feels like a blow off, though why they didn’t do a two on one handicap match is a little beyond me. That said, this was a really good match that let Yang and Siaki show off their skills.

First Fall: Yang gets the first fall after a Phoenix Splash.

Second Fall: Siaki gets the second fall after a rolling neckbreaker, even though it looks like Yang got his shoulder up.

Rubber Fall: Siaki gets the final fall by using the ropes for leverage.

Winner: Siaki by by pinfall.

Comment: I honestly wish they’d give Siaki a different gimmick. He’s basically the Rock from 1998, if the Rock had no sense of humor, in an Elvis jumpsuit.

Jeff Jarrett comes out, calling out Bob Armstrong, citing his many grievances against the NWA. Before he can go on, Brian Lawler attacks Jarrett. Security tries to separate them, but these two are trying very hard to hit each other. Jarrett seems as perplexed by Lawler’s conduct as everyone else is.

Lawler is in the ring and Goldilocks is given the job of trying to get an interview with Lawler to solve this mystery. Lawler seems willing to answer, but not with Goldilocks there and tells her to leave, because not acting like a jerk is too much to ask. Unfortunately, just as he’s about to reveal his issue with Jarrett, Slash from the New Church appears and attacks Lawler from behind. Apparently, they’re supposed to have a match and it’s starting.

Brian Lawler vs Slash

This was a reasonably okay match. Neither guy is the best wrestler in the world, and Lawler picks a fight with a member of the audience, for some reason, but this match wasn’t awful, however, this just felt like filler and was pretty rough in places, especially on Slash’s end. The psychology is weird. Lawler kept most of his angry, crazy schtick, but he insisted on doing his dance moves and gets the pin off the Hip Hop Drop.

Winner: Brian Lawler by pinfall.

Comment: That happened. I’m not sure why, but it did.

Backstage, Jarrett and Bob Armstrong are arguing about Jarrett’s surprise opponent. It’s kind of hard to understand what’s being said, but Jarrett threatened to take down everyone.

X Division Championship Match: Lo Ki vs Joel Maximo vs Jose Maximo vs Amazing Red

Amazing Red and the Maximos gets a minimal pop, as does Lo Ki. There was certainly no teamwork between Amazing Red and the Maximos. This seems to be a Four Corners Elimination match. Compared to the matches that Styles had as X Division Champion, this was just not a great match. Red and the Maximos seem to be more spot artists than wrestlers and some spots looked like mistakes from a circus act. Lo Ki seems to have forgotten that this is an elimination match and that his best bet is to let the Maximos and Red eliminate each other, because he actually breaks up a pin attempt by one of the Maximos on Amazing Red.

Winner: Lo Ki by pinfall.

Comment: I hope they do something else with this division, because the current field, without Styles, Lynn, Skipper, or the Elvises, is boring. It’s all high spots and almost no wrestling.  I don’t mind high spots, but this is wrestling, not a circus act

Backstage, Goldilocks is interviewing Truth and asks him about his match with Monty Brown. Truth’s first response is to call Goldilocks a ‘little hussy’, because that’s the mature and professional way for a grown man to answer a simple question asked by a woman doing her job. He then says that Brown should be kissing his black ass, (his words, not mine). Truth then compares his NWA Title win to Abraham Lincoln freeing the slaves.

(Oh, Truth).

Truth then says that Brown should be thanking him, but if he wants to take the title, Truth says come and get it because he doesn’t care if you’re black, white, brown, polk-dot (I’m not kidding), you’ll have to kill him to take it.

(Oh boy).

Before the next match gets started, we get a look at April Hunter, a noted fitness model, who has apparently accepted Bruce’s open challenge and that will happen next week.

NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ron ‘Truth’ Killings vs Monty Brown

Brown gets a good pop, as does Truth. This is a pretty historic moment for the NWA. Unfortunately, that’s about the best that can be said for this match. Brown has a lot of power, but not a ton of skill and his selling stinks. The match wasn’t awful, but Brown’s lack of experience is really showing, he’s not ready to be in this big of a match just yet, which makes it seem like this match was done to perhaps wrap up the storyline. Truth finally gets the pinfall after a botched Victory Roll and a roll up

Winner: Ron Killings by pinfall.

Comment: That was a mess. Brown needs a lot more polishing up before being put back in a NWA Title match.

Jarrett runs in and attacks Scott Armstrong, Bob Armstrong’s son, with a steel chair before laying out Brown. Jarrett goes to attack Truth, but Truth attacks first and the two start fighting. The presence of Jarrett brings out Lawler, who promptly joins in the ruckus. Jarrett is surrounded by three men he as either attacked, insulted, or both. Lawler goes to hit Jarrett with the chair, hits Truth instead. Jarrett bails out, leaving Monte Brown in the ring with Truth and Armstrong. This would be a perfect way to get a pin attempt, except that the match is over.

Backstage, Goldi is interviewing Jerry Lynn about his upcoming match with Styles. Lynn says that the two month issue with Styles is going to end tonight. We get a little more insight into the issues between them. Apparently, Styles has been playing head games and pulling ribs on Lynn, which may explain why Lynn has been talking about respect. Lynn admits that Styles has taken everything he’s dished out so far, but the best part about being a veteran is the knowledge you have, and that Styles will respect him. Before the interview can officially end, Styles jumps Lynn from behind.

No Disqualification Match: AJ Styles vs Jerry Lynn

Well, so much for coming to the ring, they’re starting this now. This is really a continuation of the Falls Count Anywhere match from earlier. If I have a gripe about this, it’s that they’re doing all these matches in one night. Ideally, this should be happening over a few weeks or just do the matches back to back instead of splitting them up. There is a botched hurricanrana spot from Lynn to Styles through a table and it’s lucky Styles wasn’t badly hurt because it looked awful.

Winner: Styles by pinfall after a Styles Clash on a steel chair.

Comment: We’re in sudden death.

10 Minute Iron Man Match: AJ Styles vs Jerry Lynn

It’s an Iron Man Match, most decisions after ten minutes wins this thing.

Falls One and Two: AJ Styles by pinfall due to Lynn still being dazed from the No DQ match. 2-0, Styles

Fall Three: Jerry Lynn by pinfall. 2-1, Styles

Fall Four: AJ Styles by pinfall even though Lynn got his shoulder up. 3-1, Styles

Fall Five: Jerry Lynn by pinfall 3-2, Styles

For some reason, Lo Ki comes out, with a ladder, apparently, that’s going to be the match he’ll have with whomever survives this.

Fall Six: Jerry Lynn by pinfall after using the Styles Clash on Styles. We are tied 3-3.

We are under a minute and desperation is sinking in. Both men NEED to break the tie and it shows. Unfortunately, neither man is able to get the final decision. Lo Ki raises both men’s hands, indicating that he’s willing to face both men after the performance they put on, before laying both men out with kicks to the head. Lo Ki then says that if they want a title shot, they’ll receive one, even though that had already been decided, and that the X Division isn’t about AJ Styles or Jerry Lynn, even though they’re the stars of the division, the X Division is about the man who holds the X-Division title, which is Lo Ki. Next week, the title will be decided in a Triple Ladder match, though I THINK he meant Triple Threat Ladder Match. Lo Ki keeps talking and I wish he’d stop because the point’s been made.

Winner: Draw.

Comment: That was a really good match, I just wish it hadn’t felt so rushed and they’d had more time.

Backstage, Scott Armstrong is talking to his father, Bob Armstrong, and Scott is warning his dad about Jarrett and that going up against Jarrett is a bad idea. Goldilocks is trying to keep her mic up so they can catch the conversation, but Scott just keeps getting annoyed with her and tells her to leave because this is family business, despite Bob seemingly having decided to fight Jarrett himself and that this happening in a semi-public area. Finally Goldilocks leaves, but apparently, Jarrett’s new opponent is going to be a sixty year old man.

Jarrett seems to find this very funny and wants Armstrong to reveal the surprise. Well, the opponent is a surprise. It’s a guy, who is clearly NOT Bob Armstrong, but wearing what looks like Armstrong’s old wrestling gear and a really lame mask. Jarrett seems to believe that this is Bob Armstrong and proceeds to beat him up anyway. Jarrett goes to give The Blank the Stroke, but the Blank counters. It finally occurs to Jarrett that this isn’t Bob Armstrong, about the time the real one comes out of the back, wielding a chair…and that’s where the show ends.

Overall Comments: So how was Episode 10 of NWA-TNA? Compared to the last few weeks, this was a really good show. No Dupps, no Jive Talkin’, no Miss TNA challenge, very few interviews, the focus was on the wrestling. It’s unfortunate that Health South had already withdrawn their backing, because this show really showcased the wrestling that the NWA has always prided itself on.

You may have noticed that I referred to a couple of the matches as blowoffs, and that was because this and episode 11 were the last shows TNA would tape before the Health South money ran out, so the shows were taped in one day. That meant that if they didn’t find a new backer, Episodes 10 and 11 would’ve been the last shows of NWA-TNA ever made. Obviously, they found a new backer, but at the time of the taping, they didn’t have one and seemed to be wrapping up the big storylines, just in case the company folded.

My issue with how women, Goldilocks especially (mainly because she’s the only woman on every week), are treated on this show is still there. I’m not sure why the writer(s) seem to find it so difficult to have men answer simple questions asked by a woman who is doing her job, without being jerks. I’m not sure if it’s toxic masculinity, or what, but it’s very irritating to see grown men name-calling a woman for doing her job.

The issue with Jarrett’s storyline wasn’t as prominent this week, but it was still there. The story with Lawler is just odd and seems like a clumsy attempt to remake an old WWE storyline.

We finally got some insight into the Lynn/Styles issues, but it just seems like a too late attempt to make Lynn sympathetic. It would’ve been nice to hear or see the reasons for Lynn’s sudden turn before now rather than having Lynn just randomly turn on his partner and acting like a bitter, jealous, has-been who doesn’t like how the younger guys seem to be leaving him in the dust.

Overall, this was a good show and did a good job of starting to wrap things up if worse came to worse.

Stinkers: Lo Ki vs Amazing Red vs Joel Maximo vs Jose Maximo. It was boring and a circus act more than a wrestling match.

Snoozers: Sonny Siaki vs Jimmy Yang. It was forgettable overall.

Match of the Night: AJ Styles vs Jerry Lynn, all three matches.

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed this show and wish that it hadn’t taken three weeks of awful shows and withdrawal of financial backing to get here.