It’s a Festivus miracle! NWA higher-ups have kindly (and wisely) moved the release of the Christmas Eve edition of NWA Powerrr up one day. Quick history lesson for you folks: Back in the NWA’s heyday during the age of the territories, Christmas week was always big business. Schools were out. Christmas bonuses were in people’s pockets. Even on Christmas Day the houses were full. A poorer family could make a memory for a few GA tickets and a bag of popcorn. Those with no families could be among people. Non-observers had something to do with their day, including plenty of little boys and girls managing to plead enough to get their folks to skip the movie this year and go see Dusty Rhodes bodyslam Tully Blanchard.
Joe Galli and Stu Bennett thank us for allowing us into their homes on the holiday and kick it over to David Marquez. He’s standing by with “Outlandish” Zicky Dice and Trevor Murdoch who brings us some glad tidings for the season. Through his grit and talent and performance thus far, he’s been granted a contract with the NWA. A bigger turkey and extra Moon Pies at the Murdoch house this Christmas! But that’s not all. Out of nowhere, The Pope (fka D’Angelo Dinero, Elijah Burke) appears! The Pope on Christmas? How appropriate. He lets the crowd know that he came to the NWA to make some moves. Great teams have defined the NWA, teams like The Funks and The Road Warriors but none more iconic than The Four Horsemen. He wants to build that level of stable and he’s got his eyes out for talent. Zicky Dice asks if he’s what Pope wants for his “horsemen.” Pope silently excuses himself and walks off the join Stu and Joe on commentary.
Before the TV Title Tournament kicks off… Trevor Murdoch (@TheRealTMurdoch) lets the audience in on something special.
But @ZickyDice isn't interested in ANY of it.#NWAPowerrr – https://t.co/7yAUQudDpL pic.twitter.com/VvnXRKEtzZ
— NWA (@nwa) December 23, 2019
Ricky Starks vs Eddie Kingston in a Television Title Tournament match
Throughout much of the match, Eddie seems to pulling a Rocky Balboa/Roberto Duran and trying to draw Strokedaddy into a slugfest. It’s a curious strategy given that 6:05 time limit and the commentators remark as such. It also backfires when he eggs Ricky on one too many times and a kick to the head rings his bell and he never really recovers. The Street King manages to kick out of a very pretty high cross body but a second attempt at Starks’ “Buster Keaton” butterfly driver puts him away.
Winner and advancing: Ricky Starks
David Marquez w/ Royce Isaacs and May Valentine
Not one to be left without a main squeeze amongst his Team Aldis peers, Royce introduces us to May and whispers to David Marquez in on some “way too personal” info. Isaacs says that he is in an all new mood. He’s anxious to step out of his tag team comfort zone and show his girl what he can do mano-a-mano. He asks and he receives. Out come “Cowboy” James Storm! Time to put up or shut up.
James Storm vs Royce Isaacs
A few kisses for good luck and a shoulder massage to warm up gets Royce in perfect condition to get the tar whipped out of him by Storm. Smacked around before the bell rings and dropped quickly afterwards, Royce sees The Last Call coming and slides out to the loving arms of May Valentine. James Storm is confused and frustrated but has no problem leading the crowd in the count to ten.
Winner (via count out): James Storm
David Marquez w/ Eli Drake
Eli has started the festivities early. Yeah! He’s got a little bit of the… champagne. Yeah! He’s been at it for a while already, apparently. Yeah! Channeling everyone’s “that one uncle at Christmas,” he says that he’s got new goals for the new year. “Goals” sound like “gold,” right? Yeah! He’s out for it all. His shoes? Shoes of a champion. His jacket? Also shoes of a champion somehow. Yeah!
Jocephus Claus is singing “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” with Mrs Claus (Missephus Claus?) Eli lends his pickled pipes to their rendition, delighting the crowd, but out comes NWA Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis with Wild Card and Kamille.
Hahahaha https://t.co/vAsRn3Y7jI
— LA Knight (@RealLAKnight) December 24, 2019
David Marquez w/ Nick Aldis
He hands out presents to the team (personalized warm up jackets) and asks David to begin his interview. First question is about Kamille and Aldis is delighted. He says that they worked Marquez, worked the fans, worked James Storm, worked Tim Storm. When it comes to Ricky Morton, though, he feels a bit slighted by the legend. They bring out Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson and they get put on the spot as to what Morton meant by his comment that Aldis had “a long row to hoe” to be compared to Harley Race and Ric Flair. Ricky says that Nick Aldis has been a fine champion and has elevated the NWA over the past two years but Harley, Flair, and The Rock n’ Roll Express themselves spent lifetimes doing it. In the Christmas spirit, Ricky says that, if any of that was taken in offense by Nick, he apologizes.
Thunder Rosa, Marti Bell, & Marti Belle vs Allysin Kay, ODB, & Ashley Vox
Interesting stipulation to this match with whoever score the fall, getting to choose any member of the opposite team for a singles match. NWA Women’s Champion, Allysin Kaye, and ODB enjoy a size and power advantage over their opponents but their teammate, Ashley Vox, is, by far, the smallest competitor in the ring. Contrasting styles all around. Thunder Rosa’s MMA background and viciousness against ODB’s roughhouse bar brawling. Marti Belle and Allysin Kay using tried-and-true traditional techniques with hard striking. Melina plays the opportunist while Ashley Vox speedballs around the ring with dropkicks and headbutting. Thunder Rosa doesn’t so much fight her way out as she bites her way out of Vox’s Real Catch submission and nails her with a shoulder breaker followed by a sit-out driver.
Winners: Thunder Rosa, Marti Belle, & Melina
At David Marquez’s podium, Thunder Rosa is asked about her choice of opponent and a title match against Allysin Kay is the obvious call. Only Thunder Rosa doesn’t make that call. Melina makes it for her sets up a match between Rosa and ODB.
.@thunderrosa22 with a HUGE win during a 3-on-3 tag team match on #NWAPowerrr featuring another devastating finishing maneuver. She's got the double stomp and now this. What should should we call it? pic.twitter.com/iBXpQO71mH
— Joe Galli (@JoeGalliNews) December 23, 2019
David Marquez w/ Tim Storm & The Dawsons
David is there to have Anastasia Fletcher of the firm of Moore, Dvorik, & Simon pick the next two competitors to face off in the NWA Television Title Tournament. Life works out funny sometimes as the next two men to face off will Tim Storm and his nemesis, Nick Aldis. Tim tells David that Mama Storm turned 95-years-old recently and she’s still worrying about him and wants to know when he’ll retire. She worked until she was seventy-eight earning about eight dollars an hour and that’s where he got his work ethic. She gave her blessing for him to go out and prove what he needed to prove. He says that Dusty’s belly was a little big and his heinie was a little big. Well Tim Storm is a little old and his body is a little broken-down nut he’s bad and they know he’s bad! He’s Mama Storm’s baby boy until the day he dies but they’ve got something to prove and it starts with Nick Aldis.
The Question Mark vs Colt Cabana in a Television Title Tournament match
The crowd is split with dueling chants for Colt Ca-ba-na and Quest-ion Mark. Colt shows great ring generalship, working his “World of Sport” mat techniques and frequent pin attempts. One mistake is all it takes, though, against a master of karate (karatay!) Colt goes up top for a flying attack but gets hit with The Mongrovian Spike on the way down.
Winner and advancing: The Question Mark
In a post-match promo with Question Mark and NWA National Champion, Aron Stevens, they promise to capture the Televsion Title belt, the tag title belts, and (once Mercury is out of retrograde) the NWA World Heavyweight Title belt.
Looks like Ricky Starks (@starkmanjones) is treating Eddie Kingston (@MadKing1991) like he gave him socks for Christmas…
Winner of this match moves on to #NWATVTitle Tournament at HARD TIMES!#NWAPowerrr – https://t.co/7yAUQudDpL pic.twitter.com/EOPJt1vAtq
— NWA (@nwa) December 23, 2019
Top Five Takeaways From This Week
Pope brings a lot of personality as a commentator, manager, or wrestler. Is he a Ric Flair to build a modern Four Horsemen around? Nah. But he can be a Triple H putting together NWA’s version of Evolution. A cocky young Ricky Starks. A big bruiser like Trevor Murdoch. Maybe Ashley Vox needs get propped up after her recent losses? Lots of places to take this.
“May Valentine” is new face to me and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of info out there on her. Waiting to see what her role will be in NWA and with Royce Isaacs as she doesn’t seem to be a part of Team Aldis… yet. Isaacs getting punked in front of her, along with Wild Card losing twice to sexagenarians doesn’t make them look bad ass. It does make them more hatable when they do Aldis’ dirty work, though.
I’d have expected Nick Aldis and Tim Storm to be a potential finals match for the TV title. Putting it on this early is a bit odd but it doesn’t mean that the result (especially a Storm win) can’t go places.
Having Melina cut off Thunder Rosa and make decisions for her and Rosa just accepting it helps cool off the face heat for both of them. Fans want to see Thunder Rosa as champ and as a face but it won’t come against Allysin Kay. Not yet.
Mama Storm. Karatay! Half of what comes out of Eli Drake’s mouth. (Yeah!) The NWA Powerrr pocket square is pretty cool but there’s T-shirts to be had here, people. Let’s get on it.
NWA Powerrr Episode 11 and the rest of the NWA Powerrr episodes is currently streaming on the NWA’s YouTube page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIVE2JUlpIc
