NWA Power results: The Champions Series returns

NWA Power opened with Kyle Davis explaining the cursed return of the Champions Series, and I’m sad. The rules are convoluted, and the point scoring is ridiculous. We also had no break down of the teams, with the show jumping into the first match between Bully Ray and Odinson.

This curse of the Champions Series continues, as this thing haunts me. It was horrible the first time as it didn’t make sense, and it still doesn’t make sense. A regular tournament makes far more sense, or a round robin, which would be fun, but they have to over complicate it with different points given for pinfalls, submissions, etc.

Bully Ray & Odinson went to a time limit draw

Bully Ray and Odinson took a while to lock up, with the crowd clapping for it. The wrestlers at the taping made up the crowd this week for some reason, but at least they were loud. Joe Galli explained the two teams so far were “Team Great” and “Team Fixers” so I assume the Fixers are leading Team Fixers. We found out as the match started that Odinson was on Team Fixers and Ray was on Team Great.

Odinson got whipped into the turnbuckle multiple times and Ray worked him over with a nerve hold. Odinson fought out and hit a series of European uppercuts. Odinson hit one more and Ray dropped to the mat, but went to the ropes to get away. Odinson charged Ray but ate a lariat. Ray hit a spear for a 2-count. Odinson grabbed the purpose spray and sprayed it, he then powered up and broke a Bully Bomb and hit a pounce, but the bell rang for a time limit draw.

This was not the exciting ending the announcers said it was.

–May Valentine was with Tyrus and BLK Jeez, and Tyrus talked about being the most viewed NWA champion in history, which is a lie. We also found out Tyrus was leading a team in the Champions Series, and his team was facing Team Brickhouse, which I assume is Kamille’s team.

Thom Latimer defeated EC3 via DQ

Basic brawling opened this match with the crowd of wrestling giving EC3 more of a reaction then he had heard in years. Latimer went for a crossface, but EC3 fought out and hit a Thesz press before ripping at the eyes and mouth of Latimer.

So, Latimer got 1 point for the minor DQ. What a horrible finish.

EC3 defeated Thom Latimer via DQ

Wait. So the match continues after a DQ? Joe Galli scrambled to explain it, but God bless him, he struggled. Galli said that if the DQ rendered the opponent unable to continue, the opponent would be awarded 3 points for an extreme DQ. If it was just a standard DQ, the match could continue. It would have been nice to know this before the match.

EC3 continued to work over the eyes before going for his ugly bulldog/DDT thing. Latimer countered and locked EC3 in a crossface, but EC3 made the ropes. Latimer apparently couldn’t see from the eye pokes, and EC3 gets 3 points. Joe Galli also informed us at this point that only 2 DQs can happen in one match.

Did Vince Russo write this? This is just waiting for Scott Hudson to say “It’s really quite simple” before showing 18 screens of rules.

Rolando Freeman defeated Anthony Andrews, Jeremiah Plunkett, and Sal the Pal in an elimination match

Andrews threw everyone around the ring, making up for his poor performance a few weeks ago. Freeman claimed he was the biggest man in the match, so Andrews used him as a weapon. Freeman turned it into a sunset flip and pinned Andrews to eliminate him. Freeman hit a dropkick off the middle rope on Plunkett.

Sal the Pal was thrown upside down by Plunkett into Freeman. Plunkett ended up throwing Freeman from the ring, letting Sal lock on a figure four leglock on Plunkett. Freeman ran in and hit a back senton on Sal, pinning him, and then hitting the Biggest Boot on Plunkett for the win. Freeman gets first choice to be an alternate on one of the teams.

If the tournament couldn’t get more confusing, they added alternates who could choose their team depending on the order of elimination.

–The Fixers talked about Jay Bradley being the captain of his team. It was fine.

PJ Hawx & Judais defeated Damage & Rush Freeman

If it couldn’t get any more confusing, they added a tag team match to the Champions Series. Damage is Rodney Mack under a mask. Damage and PJ Hawx started the match. It was during this we were informed that Luke Hawx, the father of PJ Hawx, was on a FIFTH TEAM led by Kenzie Paige called Team Pretty.

Judais hit a big boot on Rush Freeman for a two count. PJ Hawx blind tagged in and scolded Judais for being too rough on Freeman. Freeman and Damage took advantage of this with Hawx, beating him down. It was here that we were informed by Joe Galli that an “algorithm” decided who was on each team. All I have is imagery of Billy Corgan feeding names into a Commodore 64 trying to get it to spit out team names.

The story of teams not getting along is so TNA, and it results in Freeman eating a chokeslam from Judais for the win, meaning the team that argued less won

–Cyon was with May Valentine and claimed that his team was having success because Austin Idol coached him. Apparently, PJ Hawx and Judais were members of Team Great. Cyon claimed Austin Idol was on a secret mission for the Champions Series.

–Kamille talked about how she was upset with EC3’s actions for Team Tyrus. Kamille buried EC3 for speaking nonsense.

Thrillbilly Silas defeated Kratos

Kratos and Silas used power offence throughout this match, with Kratos hitting a nice powerslam. Silas kicked out and hit a running shoulder block. Silas hit a running powerslam for a two count. Kratos put Silas on the top rope, but Silas pushed him away and hit a flying shoulder block and two Polish hammers. Kratos blocked a piledriver and hit a hard lariat. Kratos hit a flying forearm in the corner before hitting a suplex that sent Silas across the ring. Silas dodged a corner charge and hit a back suplex, but didn’t get low enough to get his head under Kratos’ arm.

Silas hit an elbow for a two count. Silas went for a thrill ride but Kratos fought out and hit a flying lariat. Silas got his feet on the ropes to break the fall. Silas got up and hit the thrill ride for the pinfall.

This match was fine, but this whole episode was an exercise in frustration. We had no previous indication that this tournament was happening, no idea who the teams were, no idea who was on each team, and no idea what kind of matches would be in the tournament. We often found out about the rules AFTER a violation (in the case of the DQ rules) or during the match. This episode felt completely chaotic, and not in a good way.

I rarely knew what was going on and had a difficult time following who was on what team despite graphics being displayed before the matches. I know of 5 teams in the tournament from paying attention to the commentary and watching the match graphics. I have no idea how many more teams there might be, if there are any.

Each team has to face another team in the tournament until one is eliminated, if we go by the rules from last year, but we have no clear explanation this year if that is the case. The fact that there are only 5 teams known at this point means that there must be at least 1 more team that I don’t know. I also have no idea how many people are on each team. I have written way too much about this trying to explain it when I barely understand it. In fact, I probably don’t understand it! This was so bad. The whole episode was an illogical mess despite good effort in the main event. Add in that an ALGORITHM made the teams and matches according to the announcers. No AI could write a show this dumb. This is on the booker.