NWA POWERRR: Cardona and championships as the NWA goes Back to the Territories

The National Wrestling Alliance has decided to go Back to the Territories for this signature event for The CW. They will have Max the Impaler putting up the NWA Unified Television title against Natalia Markova. Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch take another crack at Blunt Force Trauma and the World Tag Team titles.

But the big question this night is who will step up to EC3 for the Ten Pounds of Gold?

Well, the answer can be found here as the show gives the results of what is being billed as, “Cardona’s Carnyland Gauntlet Battle Royale.” But you can watch the full match here courtesy of YouTube:

That was pretty awesome, just like the new intro theme for the Back to the Territories signature event:

After we get the new intro, Kyle Davis is in the ring with the self-proclaimed Active CEO of the NWA, Matt Cardona, and the winner of the battle royale, Colby Corino.  He suggests to the Knoxville faithful this show should be called, “MCWA:  Matt Cardona’s Wrestling Alliance.”  That gets shot down quickly by the crowd as Cardona presses on that he is running the show while NWA Owner Billy Corgan is away being a rockstar for The Smashing Pumpkins.  He addresses Corino and advises the Last Bastion not to take EC3 lightly.  Corino replies that since he’s in the Volunteer State, he will “volunteer a piece of his soul” to get the title.  He adds that he has lived in his dad’s shadow for too long and that it is time for him to make his own path.

Strong words from Corino as we come to you from the Karns High School in Knoxville, TN. Joe Galli and Danny Dealz have the call as we kick off the show with The First Match of the Night with the…

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NWA Unified World TV Championship: Max the Impaler (with Father James Mitchell)(c) vs. Natalia Markova

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Interestingly, there is huge support for Max in Knoxville, TN.  Kinda interesting to see that in a state that had recently passed laws affecting the LGBTQ+ community.  This bears some watching in the future.

But enough politics, let’s to the title match.  Except…after Mitchell whispers something in Max’s ear, they drop the women’s title.  Mitchell speaks to the ref, who then goes to Cardona.  Davis announces Max is cashing in the title for a shot at The Burke at NWA 76.  As for this match, it is now a non-title match.

Markova is upset by this decision and makes her feelings known once the bell rings and she takes it to the Non-Binary Nightmare.  She lands a cutter and then goes up the high-rent district until Max sends her crashing down.  Markova is still fired up and rushes at Max, and she eats their back elbow.  Max is firmly behind the driver’s seat and gives Markova crossface forearms.  Things look bleak until Markova stages a rally and gives Warrior of the Wasteland forearms followed by a knee strike for a count of one.  Once again Markova goes up top and nails a missile dropkick, but Max comes back with a headbutt.  Markova sends Max out to the apron and connects with the Beautiful Disaster kick to send them crashing to the floor.  The ref starts the counts, and before Max gets back in Mitchell whispers advice in their ear.  Markova gestures them to get back in the ring but Max glares as the ref gets to ten, and therefore…

Your Winner via Countout:  Natalia Markova

Markova did not like how things went down in this match, and who can blame her?  You know this will not stand for The Crush down the road.

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Kyle Davis is backstage with The OverMan on his thoughts to The Last Bastion challenging him for “Sweet Charlotte,” and he has this to say:

“Colby Corino;  you have thwarted twenty-four other men to earn an opportunity at the World’s Heavyweight Championship. Now I do understand your father has once held this championship. But the thing about nepotism is that there is not a second, nor a third-generation wrestler in this sport I cannot defeat because I am EC3.

I am The OverMan. Why? Because I’m over…man.

You have been waiting for this moment your whole life. The difference to me is I do this every day, day after day. Today will be you, and coming around the corner will be NWA 76 where I celebrate my one-year anniversary as champion, and I start my second year strong because I am EC3, and I’m over…man.”

So let’s jump into your next title match and it is for the…

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NWA World Heavyweight Championship: EC3 (c) vs. Colby Corino

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The bell rings and the Knoxville fans chant for “Col-bee!  Col-bee!”  They lock up and EC3 knocks him down with a shoulder tackle, but Corino kips up immediately and stares at the champ.

This is a speed (Corino) versus power (EC3) match as Corino gets a backslide and then arm drags the OverMan to the mat.  Corino can match offense with the champ as he puts the brakes on a whip to the corner turnbuckles and reverses with a springboard crossbody.  He attempts the Sonsetter senton but misses the mark.  EC3 comes back with a clothesline and then chops at his chest, and then follows with a Thesz press to Corino.  He proceeds to give Garvin-style stomps to his prone body, and then the champ nails a huge spinebuster to Corino and covers for just a two count.  EC3 connects with a wristlock-assisted STO to Corino, followed by a powerbomb, and then cinches a Cobra Clutch to wear down the Last Bastion.

He sends him to the ropes and Corino reverses with a springboard handstand cutter but can’t capitalize on a pin.  He manages to get a second wind and unloads on the champ in the corner.  He goes to the high-rent district and connects with a swanton, then an Olympic Slam, and finally the Sonsetter finds the mark as he covers for one, two…kick out.  Corino gets back at it with a clothesline and then a DDT for another count of one, two…no dice.  He sends EC3 out of the ring to the apron and then Corino lands a spear to the outside.  He follows up with a dive to the OverMan with a somersault senton and the Knoxville fans are cheering on The Last Bastion.  EC3 rolls back into the ring and Corino follows in pursuit.  As he leaps up on the top rope, EC3 shoves the ref into the ropes to trip up Corino and then he plants him with an ECD (double underhook piledriver) and that means…

Your Winner, And Still NWA World Heavyweight Champion:  EC3

Methinks I smell a heel turn of sorts for The OverMan.

Now for your Main Event for the…

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NWA World Tag Team Championship: Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage and Damage, with Aron Stevens)(c) vs. Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch (with Eric Smalls)

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The bell rings and Knox and Carnage start the match. The masked man shoves Knox in the corner, and then he returns the receipt to Carnage.  Forget finesse, as this is a hoss match with Knox getting a scoop and a slam to one half of Blunt Force Trauma.  He rolls out of the ring to confer with Damage on the outside.  After a meeting of minds with him and Stevens, all three men decide to pack it in and walk to the back.  Murdoch and Knox have other ideas as they brawl on the outside and then bring them back into the ring.  They give stereo ten-count punches to both members of Blunt Force Trauma in the corner.  Knox sends Carnage out and he and Murdoch isolate Damage.  Murdoch has Damage in a headlock and gets pushed to the ropes until Stevens hits him in the kidneys with his loaded glove away from the ref’s sight.  Murdoch is hurting in the ring, but as bad as Stevens when Smalls comes over and gives him a shot “right in the huevos,” as Galli called it.  That leads right into…

Ads (Sigh!  Still my biggest pet peeve.  Still gonna complain every chance I get.)

We come back and Blunt Force Trauma is in control as they work down Murdoch and he is a Cement Mixer in Peril.  At one point Carnage attempts a running splash and misses Murdoch.  He knocks both men down out of desperation and then crawls to his corner.  A hot tag to Knox and the big man is en fuego (like Jeffy the Jackalope likes it).  From there it’s a Pier Four brawl and the ref is trying in vain to establish control.  In the confusion, Stevens sends the loaded glove to Damage, but before it can be utilized Knox crushes him with a running crossbody.  Now he puts on the glove, and as the ref implores Knox not to knock out his opponent, he agrees…and knocks out Stevens instead.  Once the ref turns his attention to Stevens’ well-being, Knox strikes Damage with the glove.  Then Murdoch and Knox give the high/low to Damage, and they cover the Blunt Force Trauma member for one, two, and three.

Your Winners, And New NWA World Tag Team Champions:  Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch

After months of connivance and chicanery, Knox and Murdoch hold the titles aloft in victory as the show goes to the credits.