This week's show featured not just one but two NWA Women's Tag Team title matches in addition to a NWA National title match.
Mims & Dak Draper defeated Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage & Damage) (w/ Aron Stevens) via DQ
What a horrific finish. A DQ finish can work sometimes, but there was no reason for this. The announcers at least asked why Stevens would use a loaded glove right in front of the referee. It seems like they are trying to tell a story with Stevens being insane or something.
Damage and Carnage immediately got the heat on Mims to the joy of Stevens on the floor. Carnage did most of the work here as Damage (aka Rodney Mack) is limited to the occasional power move being in his 50s. Stevens punched Mims in the face with his loaded glove right in front of the referee for the DQ and terrible finish.
- NWA TV Champion Thom Latimer and NWA World Champion Tyrus were backstage, talking about working together against EC3 and BLK Jeez.
Kerry Morton segment
NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion Kerry Morton was with Kyle Davis at the podium and he talked about how he got into an argument with his dad (Ricky Morton), but that happens with families. They took a loss in the Champions Series as a team, but they are back on the same page again.
Jamie Stanley walked out and challenged Morton tonight for a shot at the title on behalf of Joe Alonzo. Morton said he would give him a shot if Alonzo beats a person of his choosing. That is typically a heel gimmick, but it made sense here -- just not from the babyface making him jump through hoops. Typically, the heel does that to prevent the match from happening like the whole Bryan Danielson/MJF feud.
NWA National Heavyweight Champion Cyon (w/ Austin Idol) & Kratos went to a time limit draw
If they actually worked a match here rather than stalling with Cyon’s slower offense, this could have been a good one even with the draw finish. This was a long ten minutes as opposed to the very fast 27 minutes of Mercedes Mone vs. KAIRI at NJPW Battle in the Valley. I don’t really blame Kratos as Cyon can be good when he wants to be, but this was a nothing match.
Kratos and Cyon are both heels, so the crowd wasn’t sure who to get behind. This seems to be a weekly thing. Kratos is awesome though, nonetheless, and hit a great stalling vertical suplex. Cyon rolled to the floor and Kratos followed. The champion drove Kratos face-first into the ring post, targeting the wound Kratos got at the Nuff Said PPV.
Cyon got the heat with some rather boring offense. Kratos started to make a comeback and the bell rang as time expired
- Thrillbilly Silas was backstage with James Mitchell, who apparently has not left the company. Silas claimed he was going to beat Judias next week.
Matt Cardona defeated Odinson
This is probably the best match on the show. The YouTube chat was confused about Odinson now being a babyface when he was a heel a few weeks ago, so I am glad I wasn't the only one.
Odinson used his power to throw Cardona around in the early going. He went for a shoulder tackle in the corner and Cardona moved, so Odinson crashed into the ring post. Cardona then sent him into the ring steps, continuing to attack the shoulder. Cardona hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Odinson hit a running uppercut for a two count and then went for an F10, but Cardona countered into an armbreaker to target the shoulder.
Cardona hit the Reboot for a two count. Cardona sent Odinson to the ropes, but he responded with the pounce. However, Cardona got his feet on the ropes on the subsequent pin attempt. Cardona took advantage of Odinson moving the ref out of the way and hit him with the Purpose Canister to knock him out and get the win.
Cardona then called out Bully Ray, saying any time, any place, they can fight. Ray came out and Cardona said, “Well, not right now,” which was funny. Cardona said Ray could face him if he went through Mike Knox. Ray said that he would beat him now, but he’ll beat Knox a second time if he had to.
- Pretty Empowered and NWA Women's Tag Team Champions The Renegade Twins cut promos on each other. Envy claimed they weren’t real twins, which was amusing as they are fraternal twins, not identical.
- BLK Jeez and EC3 have united for The Church’s Money Entertainment, working with CYN. At least Jeez was charismatic in his promo, but much of this made zero sense. EC3 said things that didn’t make sense, other than him wanting to use Jeez to market himself, I think. EC3 then noted he was going after Cyon, so yet another heel vs. heel match. Galli noted that there was an affiliation between Jeez and Cyon through Austin Idol, but EC3 said he was controlling his narrative. Okay.
Pretty Empowered 2.0 (Ella Envy & Roxy) defeated the Renegade Twins (Charlette & Robyn Renegade) to win the NWA Women’s Tag Team titles
This was fine but nothing great. However, the crowd was into it.
Roxy and Envy took it right to both of the Renegade Twins, beating them around ringside before Roxy hit a neck snap on Charlette. Roxy choked her against the ropes and tagged out to Envy. Charlette hit some hard chops on Roxy, but was soon double teamed again.
Envy went for a cannonball in the corner, but Charlette dodged and tagged out to Robyn. Robyn stood in the middle of the ring waiting for Roxy, who was on the apron. Roxy is still green, folks.
Robyn hit double knees in the corner and a low dropkick for a pin attempt that was broken up by Envy. Roxy countered an O’Connor roll from Robyn and pulled the tights to get the pin and the title win.
Kenzie and Kylie Paige came out to celebrate as it looks like Kenzie’s younger sister is officially in Pretty Empowered as well. Missa Kate and Madi immediately came out with a referee and cashed in Madi’s Champions Series title shot.
Missa Kate & Madi defeated Pretty Empowered 2.0 (Ella Envy & Roxy) to win the NWA Women’s Tag Team titles
This was quick. Kate hit the Kick Filet on Roxy followed by Madi hitting the Reality Check scissor kick to get the pin and title change. Weren’t Missa Kate and Madi not getting along recently? In fact, didn’t they break up? What a weird finish.
Final Thoughts:
They tried to make this episode noteworthy with the title changes, but the Champions Series is still one of the worst ways to do it. Having a Money in the Bank-esque option for so many people on the roster is dumb and while it can create surprise title changes, that really isn’t the key to good booking or storytelling as evidenced by Kate and Madi not getting along recently.
More must-reads: