The TNA Wrestling Five Year Anniversary & Sherri Martel Memorial Topic

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Demolition Man

Demolition Man

CAGiversary!
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RIP Sherri Martel
February 8, 1958 - June 15, 2007

sherry01.gif


For more information on Sherri = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherri_Martel​

**** ORIGINAL POST ****

*I will be doing a post every day or two covering each year of TNA. I am starting off with the first year and will continue on from there. Enjoy CAG!*

tna-impact.jpg


YEAR ONE - 2002 TO 2003​

Its hard to believe its been five years since the launch of TNA Wrestling back in Huntsville, Alabama on June 19th. The idea of TNA was formed by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett back in 2001 while they were on a fishing trip. The concept was to have a weekly pay per view that costed $9.95 that would feature the best of the who's who of the indy wrestling scene along with legends of the wrestling world.

When TNA first started they were financial backed by Health South but not too long after TNA's launch they backed out. Panda Energy then stepped in at around October 2002 whom to this date continues to be the financial backer for TNA. Many experts back when TNA first started gave TNA not much time to survive, but alas five years later TNA is not only still here but is also growing by leaps and bounds.

Here is the opening match on the first TNA PPV featuring Jerry Lynn, AJ Styles & Low Ki vs The Flying Elvises (Jimmy Yang, Sonni Siaki, and Jorge Estrada).
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJGmRXwy5mU[/media]

The first TNA PPV's main event was a Gauntlet For The Gold to crown the first NWA World Champion of the TNA era. That match featured a number of big names such as Scott Hall, Jeff Jarret, Ken Shamrock, and even featured a guy by the name of Justice. Many TNA diehards will recognize him later on as Abyss. The gauntlet ended with a good match between Malice (who's manager ironically was James Mitchell) vs Ken Shamrock. Shamrock would win the match and become the first ever NWA World Champ of the TNA era.

The second TNA PPV was main event with the crowning of the first ever X Division Champ. It was a double elimination match featuring AJ Styles, Low Ki, Jerry Lynn, and Psicosis. Here's the match in three parts.

Part 1
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Am_fLEewqA&mode=related&search=[/media]

Part 2
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZlSzAlrrIQ&mode=related&search=[/media]

Part 3
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZRj0S9XB9A[/media]

Not too long after the first few shows TNA then relocated to the Nashville Fairgrounds since it was cheaper to run from there. That building would become known as The Asylum.

The World Title would switch hands from Ken Shamrock to Ron Killings to Jeff Jarrett within a matter of a few months. In fact one of Jeff Jarrett's title defense during his first run was Mr. Perfect Curt Henning's last match on TV. Here it is below.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FmBV9eis2A[/media]

Leading into the second year of TNA the company would finally make a bigger mark on the wrestling world map when Raven made his jump from the WWE to TNA. That lead to TNA's biggest fued at the time between Raven and Jeff Jarrett. That was supposed to end at the "Destiny" PPV but instead it would continue onwards for another few months leading to a three way between Jeff Jarrett, Raven, and AJ Styles. Below is the last five minutes of that match. Raven had been eliminated from the match by an masked Shane Douglas.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVf4y5EgzuY[/media]

Meanwhile the X Division would grow by bringing in people like Paul London, Kid Kash, and the Amazing Red. Here is the newly crowned X Division champ Kid Kash in his first title defense against Paul London from the 2/19/03 PPV.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxNubTjA7mk[/media]

The first year would end with the return of The Man Known As Sting in his first wrestling match since the close of WCW.

Here's the debut of Sting below.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzigGtnLygU[/media]

I will continue to post the history of TNA Wrestling over the next week leading up to the Slammiversary pay per view.

Here's a BONUS match for everyone. A personal favorite of mine... Raven vs Sandman in Raven's "Clockwork Orange House Of Fun" match.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9l-8n_ogCw[/media]
 
If this thread keeps up with old school TNA matches, I'm bookmarking it. Very, very, very cool, Demo. Thanks!
 
From some of the internet wrestling sites, account of some things that went down from a "fan" who attended the show tonight:

I didn't like the "power ranger" MVP at all. His gimmick is lame and it got no pops or heat in any way. This was easily the lamest and most quiet match of the night. Why this guy is the #2 guy on Smackdown! is beyond me. He belongs down at the 10th or 12th spot. Moving along...

CM Punk is my pick for the darkhorse superstar of the year. He's exciting and the crowd really responds to him. Carlito is without a doubt on his way to fulfilling his part of his famous family's legacy.
Click to expand...

This is the type of mark I wish would just die. Zero understanding of what is and is not a good match, but will bust the KY out and start jerking it for anyone who had some indy-cred.

I know it's only opinion, but if you can't see that both Marella and obviously MVP are talented wrestlers, then I don't know what to say. In this case I'm guessing he was probably jacking it too hard still after Punk's match to really notice what was going on in the ring.

MVP does need to lose the "power ranger" outfit, but there's a reason he's the US Champion, it's because he's talented... this retard needs to watch Benoit/MVP from Mania; CM Punk superstar of the year, give me a break :roll:


OH... and back to the show, as if there were any doubt apparently the McMahon explosion bit was pre-taped, shock me, shock me Sinead O'Rebellion. I wonder how that worked for the fans at the show though, as they poured out of the arena and saw no remains of an explosion.
 
So I read what happened on Raw. Rikishi bombed the car.

Oh wait noooo.. he was the one driving the car. And he did it for the Rock. I was really hoping the new topic would be the Vinny Mac Memorial thread though.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']

Isn't it pitiful to think that we've been conditioned to see Balls Mahoney, and, instead of thinking "hardcore chair-swinging freak," we think "I don't give a good goddamn if they send out Stephen Hawking or Jackie Gayda, I know who's doin' the J-O-B tonight!"?
[/QUOTE]

I posted this in the previous topic without knowing there was a new topic.

Beware the Black Hole Bulldog!
 
[quote name='Psykoboy2']I'm a bit late, but What the fuck?

Now with that out of the way, I think the WWE & Sopranos should trade endings.[/quote]

Agreed. Where does Vince go from here? That move was a good way to end the character, although you just can't do that. Not since the advent of newspapers that is.
 
A scene featuring the Undertaker giving Vince's 'corpse' to Kane would be great( for anyone who remembers the last 'corpse' storyline with Kane)
 
[quote name='hankmecrankme']I posted this in the previous topic without knowing there was a new topic.

Beware the Black Hole Bulldog!
[/QUOTE]

Jackie Gayda pulling that off would be more improbable.
 
Awesome way to start the thread. Thank you.

[quote name='CouRageouS']I was really hoping the new topic would be the Vinny Mac Memorial thread though.[/quote]

If I were the thread-starter, It'd have been called the VINCEEEEENT KENNEDYYYYY! .....Kennedy! McMahon memorial.
 
[quote name='Matt Young']Onetrackmind, you always tag these threads but rarely post in them.[/QUOTE]

I really enjoy reading everyones views on whats going on in the wrestling world, i'm just not a big poster these days, for some reason i feel like i have absolutely nothing to say. I've been in a really strange mood for months now, i don't know what my deal is.
 
Weren't the wrestlers surrounding Vince at the end of the show a veritable "who's that?" of professional wrestling? Shannon Moore? Jamie Knoble? FUNAKI!?!?! It's interesting, to me, to see how many Smackdown wrestlers are buried and off of TV for months at a time, with no effort made to push them, or even put them in a ing match. There were at least 9-10 guys who I saw and thought "they're still with WWE?" Even when so many top guys are out with long-term injuries, they don't get shit. They need to fire all the cruiserweights and retire the title, just so some other promotion can use them. WWE sure isn't.
Click to expand...

:rofl:

Funaki is still there? I'm sure Stephanie McMahon had the same reaction, "they're still in WWE?", and is getting ready her chopping block.

We wish you all the best, Shannon Moore!
 
My god, that ending has me thinking of just completely not watching WWE anymore. Since I work till midnight and it seems like this time of the year is when it just gets flat out boring. Seems like every summer has crap they wouldn't put on during the rest of the year.
 
I've lost touch with wrestling over the past few years but my friend mentioned the other night that the 5 year anniversary was approaching. I was at the first TNA ppv in Huntsville, and it's great to see what it's become. Not to mention those tix were rather cheap.
 
In a "wow, I don't believe some people are fooled" moment, I was driving to work this morning and a local Connecticut radio station ( Kiss 95.7 ) was doing their daily "Hollywood Report" segment.

Basically the segment is a gossip page speaking about what's going on in Hollywood. This morning the segment reported the following, "In a scary moment, on live TV last night, Vince McMahon, the President of Stamford based WWE was killed when his limousine exploded on live TV. I would assume an investigation is in the works, but we'd like to send our condolences to his family and friends."

They then spoke for a minute or so about how that clip will probably become internet banter on sites like YouTube and whatnot, and they even spoke about "that wrestler who fell a few years ago", I can only assume they meant Owen Hart.

At first I thought it was tongue in cheek, but amazingly enough they were actually serious, which is scary.

I'm not sure if other places are reporting it as well, but I've been asked several times at work thus far today about "What happened to Vince last night?", all by non-wrestling fans.

If this is the publicity they want, I guess they're getting it, but why they'd want that kind of publicity is beyond me.
Click to expand...

I like how dumb people are...

WWE.com is saying that an investigation of the wreckage has yet to reveal any remains of Vince. I'd wager when the dust settles Vince goes and says he faked his death to get people to see how much they really appreciate him. Oh, that would be so lame, and therefore is the way WWE will book it.
 
No doubt. The lack of a body is going to let Vince saunter back onto tv whenever he wants to. Even if a body was found, the writers would do something that would have made Patrick Duffy's "Bobby Ewing" character on Dallas look like fuckin' Longfellow, man.
 
The quote from WWE.com starts out "While some might say “The Sopranos” went out with a whimper, last night on USA Network, WWE’s “Monday Night RAW®” went out with a bang."

So the WWE thinks it can be favourably compared with the Sopranos. I don't think so.

BTW Click the spoiler to find out what really happened to Vince

His own head exploded, three hours of Ego boost proved fatal.
 
The ending of Raw was very very very very lame. :) However I thought the show was OK. Anybody else notice that the 2 guys ECW are from Smackdown so they don't have to change Travel arangements. :) JBL had the line of the night for me: "We've lost 2 Hall of Famers and a our Freak!." Had my wife and I laughing for a bit.
 
I'm sad to say that the only show I may be interested in watching is ECW, if only for the looming CM Punk / Chris Benoit title fued. That ought to be f'n classic. I mean out of everyone there, other than Benoit, they have no one credible enough to hold the belt.
 
[quote name='OnyxPrimal']:) JBL had the line of the night for me: "We've lost 2 Hall of Famers and a our Freak!." Had my wife and I laughing for a bit.[/quote]

He also told Michael Cole "I hope you get drafted by OVW."

Then during the last two picks JBL was hoping Raw would get the Miz.


JR is a great announcer, but it's hard for him to be as good as he could be working with the King. The King was a much better announcer when he worked heel, he still does sometimes, but IMO you need an announcer to be pulling for the heel characters to create more interesting banter. Would Monsoon have been so great without Heenan or Ventura to work with? Anyhow, the point is, JBL should be moved to Raw, he'd be great with JR.

Put King and Taz together and have them do ECW and SD as they're both taped together. Then fire Joey Stiles and Michael Cole who have the combined talent of a pile of dog shit.
 
[quote name='Zen Davis']I'm sad to say that the only show I may be interested in watching is ECW, if only for the looming CM Punk / Chris Benoit title fued. That ought to be f'n classic. I mean out of everyone there, other than Benoit, they have no one credible enough to hold the belt.[/quote]


poor Sandman...

Ya know, as a gesture of goodwill, WWE should put the ECW title on Tommy Dreamer, just for the hell of it. My guess is Benoit, CM Punk and :puke: Elijah Burke are next in line for the belt though.
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']Then during the last two picks JBL was hoping Raw would get the Miz.[/QUOTE]

:rofl:

JBL is a god with one-liners. Now that he's toned down his hillbilly racist angle as an announcer, I find him very refreshing. I hardly even know Jerry Lawler exists anymore, to be honest with you. Now, I understand the mindset that says "having "face" and "heel" announcers is too old-school for modern wrestling," and JBL is great about that - after all, he goes out of his way to shit all over the Miz and bury him on TV, yet Miz is a heel. JBL roots for who JBL roots for, and comes off as a more modern and sensible "heel announcer."

Jerry Lawler hasn't said a worthwhile thing on the microphone since 1996, or during his feuds with Jake Roberts and, before that, Bret Hart.
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']


Put King and Taz together and have them do ECW and SD as they're both taped together. Then fire Joey Stiles and Michael Cole who have the combined talent of a pile of dog shit.[/quote]

ARE YOU fuckING NUTS?
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']Then fire Joey Stiles and Michael Cole who have the combined talent of a pile of dog shit.[/QUOTE]
I kinda like Cole being the "suit" vs the fun heel. I miss the days of Taz and Cole. I remember back with Nidia, Taz was saying how she loves her Tomatoes and was berating Cole saying "Well I guess you don't love tomatoes like I do *pause* but you looooove bananas!"

It was a :rofl: moment for me. I think it was when he was just finding his persona as a commentator andit was beautiful. During the Matt Hardy cruiserweight storyline, he said some of the funniest shit. Now JBL is more likeable than he's even been. Every week he has a laugh out loud moment.
 
[quote name='onetrackmind']I really enjoy reading everyones views on whats going on in the wrestling world, i'm just not a big poster these days, for some reason i feel like i have absolutely nothing to say. I've been in a really strange mood for months now, i don't know what my deal is.[/quote]

Lol. That's the same with me. I read all these threads but rarely post in them. And the fact I live on the West Coast so I get all the shows spoiled already by the time I see them at all. Sadly, I'm probably more interested in what you guys have to say than watch WWE at all nowadays.
 
The highlight of Smackdown is JBL's commentary, period. Not only does he do great one liners, but he's really good at making matches and performers seem important, even though I roll my eyes whenever he talks about Matt Hardy being on the cusp of main event status because we all know that isn't happening :)
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']WWE.com is saying that an investigation of the wreckage has yet to reveal any remains of Vince.[/quote] Leslie Nielsen is on the case!
 
[quote name='CouRageouS']I kinda like Cole being the "suit" vs the fun heel. I miss the days of Taz and Cole. I remember back with Nidia, Taz was saying how she loves her Tomatoes and was berating Cole saying "Well I guess you don't love tomatoes like I do *pause* but you looooove bananas!"

It was a :rofl: moment for me. I think it was when he was just finding his persona as a commentator andit was beautiful. During the Matt Hardy cruiserweight storyline, he said some of the funniest shit. Now JBL is more likeable than he's even been. Every week he has a laugh out loud moment.[/QUOTE]


Agreed. JBL really puts guys over and his first hand knowledge of the ring makes his selling of the match fantastic. And your right he says some funny every Smackdown. I think I'll actually be sad to see him leave the booth if he ever heals up enough to come back as I think he really is one of the best color guys in WWE history. I rank him right up there with Ventura. Not quite in the "the Brain"'s range, but getting there.
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']Then fire Joey Stiles and Michael Cole who have the combined talent of a pile of dog shit.[/quote]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpe1Atcd0E0[/media]

337 episodes says something different :lol:
 
[quote name='Psykoboy2']I guess next we'll be seeing shades of Vince in facepaint walking around the rafters with a bird of some sort...or Linda.[/QUOTE]
Don't be silly. Everyone knows that Linda is a buzzard.

Also, Joey Styles is the best announcer in the business today. To think he's terrible is to hold a shitty, ignorant opinion.
 
[quote name='Brak']Also, Joey Styles is the best announcer in the business today. To think he's terrible is to hold a shitty, ignorant opinion.[/quote]
Joey is definitely one of the top 3 talented announcers working. The problem is WWE has forced him to change his style which prevents him from working to his strengths. He used to call 3-hour PPV's by himself and did it well. As good as JR is/was I don't think he could pull that off.

As far as Cole goes, he'll be getting the Raw position whenever JR decides to hang it up so he's not going anywhere. Michael Cole as the voice of the WWE for the next 20 years...ugh.

BTW, where has Lillian Garcia been? Fired, hiatus, what's the deal? This guy filling in for her makes Chimmel sound like Michael Buffer.
 
[quote name='VanillaGorilla']I like my theory on it better.[/QUOTE]

Looks like there is even newer footage they plan on showing on ECW tonight.

shawnbomb.gif
 
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