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NDW Week 24 - AMW Strikes Back

Critic of the DawnPosted on 04/28/04 at 07:01:38

Sometimes you'll run a card in TNM and everything will go your way.  You'll have ***+ matches everywhere, the fans will love you, your heels will be dastardly but not enough to ruin the matches, and everyone will go home happy.  Then there are cards like this one.  After a string of very solid cards, this one is obviously a major dissappointment.  Still, on the plus side, storylines continue to advance, and things are definately not getting any less interesting.

*****

Jerry "The King" Lawler, "Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright & Matt Hardy vs. Edge, "The Dead Man" The Undertaker & Chris Hero

Alex Wright goes for a German suplex, but Edge counters it with an elbowsmash.
Edge uses an armdrag takedown on Alex Wright.
Edge tags out to The Undertaker.
The Undertaker goes for a headsmash into the turnbuckle, but Alex Wright
blocks it.
Alex Wright punches The Undertaker.
The Undertaker hits Alex Wright.
The chants for The Undertaker are deafening.
The Undertaker chops Alex Wright.
The Undertaker runs into the ropes.
Prince Nana pulls down the top rope.
James Beard disqualifies Jerry Lawler, Alex Wright and Matt Hardy.
The chants for The Undertaker are deafening.

The winners are Edge, The Undertaker and Chris Hero. Time of match: 0:02:29

Edge, The Undertaker and Chris Hero defeated
Jerry Lawler, Alex Wright and Matt Hardy when Undertaker defeated A. Wright by
disqualification in 0:02:29.
Rating: ** 1/2
[Prince Nana interfered against The Undertaker.]

What might have been an excellent match quickly declined into a brutal ambush as Prince Nana pulled down the top rope, dumping The Undertaker to the outside.  The Royal Court coupled with Alex Wright and Matt Hardy quickly overpowered their opponents, and Lawler hoisted Edge up... and hit the Piledriver!

Chris Hero tried to battle back, but quickly found himself the target of both Matt Hardy and Alex Wright.  Hardy dropkicked Hero, who staggered backwards... only to be taken down by a stiff Reverse Neckbreaker.

Edge, The Undertaker, and Chris Hero have all been laid out by Jerry Lawler and company!  What a way to start a show!

(As The Royal Court and Matt Hardy leave, Alex Wright grabs a microphone and
kneels in front of the fallen Chris Hero, pulling his face up from the canvas
by the hair.)

Alex Wright: You hurt me very badly, Hero.  I missed almost a month of
competition only a few weeks into my NDW tenure because of you.  You beat me
bloody in that cursed steel structure... but you made a mistake.  You didn't
finish the job, Hero!  You left me well enough to return... and now that I'm
here, I'm going to... hurt you.  Badly.  And I will do it in the middle of the
ring by taking what you value most.  Your Global Heavyweight Title will be mine
Hero.  So I suggest that you prepare yourself...

Jamie Noble vs. Doug Basham

They lock up.
Jamie Noble sets up Doug Basham on the turnbuckle.
Jamie Noble nails Doug Basham with a superplex.
Numerous fans are using Jamie Noble for target practice.
Jamie Noble nails Doug Basham with a tiger driver.
Mike Sparks counts: One, two, three.
Numerous fans are using Jamie Noble for target practice.

The winner is Jamie Noble. Time of match: 0:00:21

Jamie Noble pinned Doug Basham after a tiger driver in 0:00:21.
Rating: *

Noble was on fire in this match, hitting a quick superplex followed by a Tiger Driver for the pin over a very surprised looking Doug Basham.

Marcos vs. Xavier

Xavier nails Marcos with the Running Forearm Smash.
Nick Patrick counts: One, kickout.
Xavier uses a forearm to the back on Marcos.
Xavier whips Marcos into the ropes.
Xavier goes for a clothesline, but Marcos ducks out of the way.
Marcos hits Xavier with a DDT.
The crowd is behind Marcos all the way.
Marcos whips Xavier into the ropes.
Marcos misses with a kick.
Xavier executes a high knee on Marcos.
Xavier uses a spinebuster slam on Marcos.
Nick Patrick counts: One, two, three.
Numerous fans are using Xavier for target practice.

The winner is Xavier. Time of match: 0:01:58

Xavier pinned Marcos after a spinebuster slam in 0:01:58.
Rating: ** 1/2

Xavier defeats Marcos after another quick match.  Maros never really got a chance for much offense here, as Xavier would take him down time after time with a Running Forearm Smash.  Finally, as Marcos tried to start a comeback, he walked into a spinebuster slam and was pinned.

"The Amazing" Red vs. "Mr. Showtime" Chance Beckett

Chance Beckett nails Red with a snap mare.
Chance Beckett goes for a forearm choke, but Red blocks it.
Red runs into the ropes.
Xavier hits Red in the back with a chair.
Brian Hebner calls for the DQ.
The crowd breaks into a "Red! Red! Red!" chant.

The winner is Red. Time of match: 0:09:27

Red defeated Chance Beckett by disqualification in 0:09:27.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Xavier interfered against Red.]

Chance Beckett was easily in line for a victory when Xavier interfered against his opponent, smacking Red in the back with a steel chair.  Beckett quickly capitalized with the Chance Encounter, but the referee had seen Xavier's interference and called for the bell already.  So Red picks up a moral victory, but one which will certainly leave him sore for days.

(We go backstage to The Royal Court's locker room.)

Jerry Lawler: That was great, guys!  We really took out Edge there.  But it's
just the first step.

Chris Sabin: Oh?

Jerry Lawler: Yeah.  He's been a pain in my backside since I formed this group,
Sabin.  You know that.  He's driven an excellent wrestler out of the company
just to try to get at me.  Hell, that's the reason why you were willing to
turn on him.  You know he's obsessed with taking us out, and he doesn't care
how many careers he destroys on the way.

Prince Nana: He has a point.  Matt Sydal and Kevin Nash have both left the
company because of his vendetta.

Jerry Lawler: Exactly.  That's why we have to take him out once and for all.
It's self-defense.  One way or another, we have to take Edge out.  We have to
injure him badly enough that he has no choice but to retire.  It's the only
way!

(Chris Sabin looks a bit skeptical, but Prince Nana seems to agree completely)

Chris Sabin: I've got to think about that...  I lost a lot of respect for Edge
when he forced Sydal out of the company, but I don't know if hurting him that
badly is a good idea...

(Lawler shrugs.)

Jerry Lawler: Look, just get ready for your match.  Sleep on it, and we'll talk
about it later.

Sean O'Haire vs. Funaki

Funaki goes for spinning headscissors, but Sean O'Haire throws him off.
Red throws Funaki a frying pan, but Sean O'Haire intercepts it.
Sean O'Haire tries to use it, but Funaki blocks the blow and takes it away from
him.
Funaki hits Sean O'Haire with it and goes for the pin.
Jimmy Korderas counts: One, two, thr... shoulder up.
Funaki hits a chop on Sean O'Haire.
Funaki goes for a back elbow, but Sean O'Haire ducks out of the way.
Sean O'Haire goes for an armdrag takedown, but Funaki counters it with
a backslide.
Jimmy Korderas counts: One, two, kickout.
Funaki runs into the ropes.
Jamie Noble hits Funaki in the back with a chair.
Jimmy Korderas disqualifies Sean O'Haire.
Funaki has the crowd going wild.

The winner is Funaki. Time of match: 0:06:43

Funaki defeated Sean O'Haire by disqualification in 0:06:43.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Red interfered against Sean O'Haire.]
[Jamie Noble interfered against Funaki.]

This match quickly devolved into an outright brawl between The Victors and Red & Funaki as both sides interfered, prompting the referee to call for the disqualification after Noble hit Funaki with a chair.  It's quite likely that these two teams will end up facing each other sometime in the near future.

The Briscoe Brothers vs. Wasted Youth

Deranged chops Mark Briscoe.
The crowd is on its feet cheering for Deranged.
Deranged punches Mark Briscoe.
Mark Briscoe hits Deranged.
Quite a few boos are audible.
Deranged chops Mark Briscoe.
Deranged chops Mark Briscoe.
The crowd is giving Deranged a standing ovation.
Deranged goes for a hiptoss, but Mark Briscoe counters it with a backslide.
Mike Chioda counts: One, two, shoulder up.
Mark Briscoe throws Deranged into the turnbuckle.
Deranged comes back and rocks Mark Briscoe with a kick to the midsection.
Deranged runs into the ropes.
Chris Sabin hits Deranged in the back with a chair.
Mike Chioda calls for the DQ.
The crowd is giving Deranged a standing ovation.

The winners are Wasted Youth. Time of match: 0:09:26

Wasted Youth (Deranged and Insane Dragon) defeated
The Briscoe Bros. (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) when Deranged defeated
M. Briscoe by disqualification in 0:09:26.
Rating: ** 1/2
[Chris Sabin interfered against Deranged.]

Yet another disqualification.  This doesn't seem to be a good night for decisive results.  Wasted Youth pick up the victory when Chris Sabin interferes on Mark Briscoe's behalf.  Judging by Lawler's words last week, The Royal Court must have another task in mind for poor deluded Mark Briscoe.

Your Main Event:
America's Most Wanted vs. The Royal Court (Chris Sabin & Prince Nana) for the Global Tag Team Titles)

James Storm hits an inverted suplex on Chris Sabin.
James Storm whips Chris Sabin into the ropes, but Chris Sabin reverses it.
James Storm nails Chris Sabin with the Running Forearm Smash.
Earl Hebner counts: One, two, kickout.
Jerry Lawler throws Chris Sabin a frying pan.
Chris Sabin tries to use it, but James Storm blocks the blow and
takes it away from him.
James Storm hits Chris Sabin with it and goes for the pin.
Earl Hebner counts: One, two, three.
The chants for James Storm are deafening.

The winners are America's Most Wanted. Time of match: 0:05:04

America's Most Wanted (James Storm and Chris Harris) defeated
The Royal Court (Chris Sabin and Prince Nana) when James Storm pinned Sabin
after hitting him with a frying pan in 0:05:04.
Rating: ** 1/4
(America's Most Wanted won the Global Tag Team Titles.)
[Jerry Lawler interfered against Chris Harris.]
[Jerry Lawler interfered against James Storm.]

More interference, but at least this match ended with a pinfall.  Lawler passed Chris Sabin a frying pan to brain James Storm with, but Storm grabbed it and knocked Sabin out cold with it, covering him for a quick three count to regain the Tag Team Gold for America's Most Wanted.

But what's this?  Here comes Lawler with a chair!  Nana and Lawler quickly begin to overpower AMW, when Edge dashes in and hits a spear to Prince Nana, causing Lawler to bail out of the ring and run for the back.  Edge is in hot pursuit... but we're out of time!

Card rating: ** 1/2

Match observations:

Match of the Evening: Chance Beckett vs. Red

Next week should be big.  Edge will take on Chris Sabin once again, and you can bet that Lawler's words will be running through Sabin's head.  Will Sabin try to cripple Edge, or will this be a straight up wrestling match?  Either way, it should be intense as hell.

The new tag team champions, America's Most Wanted, will meet The Briscoe Brothers next week in a non-title match.  The Briscoes were doing well against Wasted Youth this week, and will hopefully be up for the challenge!  Additionally, Chris Harris has asked to meet Mark Briscoe in a Falls Count Anywhere match before this contest begins.

Finally, in response to Alex Wright's actions this week as well as the fact that Hero hurt him enough that he missed several weeks of action, NDW management has granted him a title match against Global Heavyweight Champion Chris Hero.  Wright clearly hates Hero and Hero always rises to the occasion, so this should be an excellent match.

Tune in next week to see what happens.  Or else.  We know where you live.

*****

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
TecmoNickPosted on 04/28/04 at 14:41:50

This one had a lot of interference and disqualifications, but it really didn't hurt it too bad.  I wish the opening match would have went longer...maybe next time there will be no disqualification.

I'm looking foward to Alex Wright vs. Chris Hero....just like I was for Briscoe's shot.  The thing is, Hero is much like Matt Hardy was, pretty dominant.  You have made Wright's character very young and cocky, reminds me of a Randy Orton or Renee Dupre....should be good.
Rick GarrardPosted on 04/28/04 at 16:21:07

this was definitely a building week... and sometimes we all need them.  Lawler is nuts thinking that injuring Edge will stop him though.  Thankfully the main event did have a decisive ending and wasn't under two minutes.  Always nice to end on a strong match leading to the next card, after such an interference laden card.

Of course, I think that next week will build even more to week 26.  And who knows what will happen on either of them  :)