After the events of the Shockwave signature event, the National Wrestling Alliance looks to move forward in the semifinals of the Dane Memorial Tournament. Kerry Morton is looking to cement his legacy against the man-monster now known as FranK, led by Austin Idol.  Will the stars align for this Southern Six member as he attempts to secure the number one spot for the Ten Pounds of gold?

We’ll find out in the main event tonight, but first, Aron Stevens greets us from The Stevens Academy with this message…

“Hello, I am wrestling’s most handsome and talented manager, Aron Stevens, and I’m here to address a few things in the NWA.

First of all, there’s been a lot of talk about recent events.  While they’re in the past, and someone would argue that the past is all we have to really go on,  I see into the future. I see what the others can’t see. I can look at someone or something and see five years, five months, or maybe even five days into what’s gonna happen.

See the NWA, time after time I’ve been in this game, and I’ve played my hand, and I’ve always come out on top. But now see my plans there…they’re not stopping.  My plans, they’ve only gotten bigger, because tonight, on this very program, I am going to reveal to the world something the likes of which none of you have ever seen.

Something the likes of which the National Wrestling Alliance has never seen. Something the likes of which the world of professional wrestling has never seen, and it’s going to happen tonight. What that is… is not this time.

Stay tuned. Maybe it’ll be five minutes in the future. Maybe it’ll be when you least expect it. Maybe it’ll be right now, but it’s not. So tune in to this very program. I change the world.”

Huh.  Bold premise, but what else do you expect from Stevens at this stage in the game?

We come to you from The PowerrrStation at the WEDU Studios in Tampa, FL. Joe Galli, Billy Corgan, and Danny Dealz have the call, and your First Match of the Night is the…

NWA Television Championship: Carson Drake (c) vs. Tyler Franks

This is title defense number six for CBD, and if he retains the belt, he will be closer to getting to Lucky number seven and be slotted for a title opportunity down the road.  

As always, the title will be contested with a time limit of 6:05.  As the match gets underway, Franks rolls up Drake at 5:37 and goes for a pin, but the champ escapes.  Franks feeling good and tries to tie him up, but Drake uses his legs to trip him into the middle ropes.  Drake is in control at 4:22, stomping away and showing off with his Drake Shuffle.  Franks puts a stop to it with European uppercuts until Drake counters with a back elbow for a two count, and just because he can channel The Power of Douchenozzlery™, he goes right back to the Shuffle, and a fist drop lands him a count of two.  He gets Franks in a headlock to run out the clock, but the upstart fights out and nails a jawbreaker to create space.  He cinches a sleeper hold on Drake at 2:36, who squirms out of the submission.  A dropkick rocks Drake, followed by a running back elbow.  Drake reverses an Irish whip to the corner and runs after him.  Franks slips between the ropes and hits a springboard spinning neckbreaker for a two count. He up and rushes at CBD, who is undeterred, as he connects with an elbow to his face.  He goes for a back suplex and Franks escapes and tries to get a pin, but Drake positions and plants him with what Dealz names The Investment (a forward Russian Legsweep aka The Stroke) and collects the win.

Your Winner via Pinfall, and Still NWA Television Champion:  Carson Drake

After the match, Drake calls out for Kyle Davis, who asks him on a possible seventh win.  Drake laughs his hyena laugh and says to the camera, “You Can’t Beat Me.”

We’ll see if that holds water down the road.

Kenzie Paige delivers the first of many campaign speeches this evening, as she stumps to be considered the President of the NWA Territory System.  She lists her credentials as not only a NWA Grand Slam Champion, but also the youngest champ in NWA history, and a double title holder in the NWA Women’s World Championship and one-half of the NWA Women’s Tag Team belts. She wants the fans to know that for this moment, Vote Kenzie Paige.

Now we have Bryan Idol stumping for the NWA Territory President position.  His campaign is simply that he is a guy who will deliver no BS in or out of the ring, and he’s the guy.

We’ll talk more about the candidates later in my “Final Thoughts” at the end.

Right now, let’s head back to the squared circle for some tag team action between…

The Money Birds (Ladybird Monroe and Gigi Rey) vs. Pretty Empowered (Kylie and Kenzie Paige)

As they try to lock up, Kenzie shoves off the Ladybird and tries to get in her head from the start.  Once they do tie up, the champ shoves Monroe to her corner and gets the tag to Kylie.  Turnabout is fair play as she positions Kylie to her corner, and Monroe and Rey show off their tag tandem skills to the delight of the crowd.  Rey is looking good until Kenzie interjects, and then the Paige Sisters double team.  That brings out Monroe, and things look Pretty Empowered as the Paiges isolate both women on opposite ends of the rings.  They whip The Money Birds, and that’s when they show off their square dancing skills and do a do-si-do to slam The Paige sisters into each other.  Once again, Kenzie and Kylie get back on their game plan as they isolate Rey, and this Money Bird is in Peril.  Kenzie takes her time adding the hurt when Rey fights out with a snapmare to a step-up enzugiri, and she crawls to her corner.  Kylie pulls off, and Kenzie now has her way with Rey.  At one point, they both land double clotheslines that knock out both women.   Rey crawls back again to finally get the hot tag to Monroe, and the Ladybird is en Fuego, nailing a sling blade on Kylie, following up with a fireman carry into a neckbreaker.  Frustrated, Kylie grabs the tag belt, but the ref sees this and pulls it away. While she’s giving the belt back to the crew on the outside, Kenzie tosses her sister The Burke, and she clocks Monroe.  Rey tries to make the save, and Kenzie gives her a boot as Kylie covers for the pin and the win.

Your Winners via Pinfall:  Kenzie and Kylie Paige

Next, we get the head of NWA Southeast-JCP and the patriarch of the Country Gentlemen, Joe Cazana.  He, too, believes he is the right man to be named the president of the NWA territory system, as he claims to be a man of integrity (unlike Trevor Murdoch). He says NWA is on fire, and he’s better than Murdoch, and it’s Joe Cazana time.

Meanwhile, back at the Paige house, Tommy Henry is with Hunter Drake and lets him know Bryan Idol wants to have a chat. Hunter furiously types a text on his phone, and Idol comes in.  He sets it straight with young Hunter that he wasn’t cool with what he did with Natalia Markova in their match…

(Quick pause:  Here’s what took place if ya missed the match):

Idol makes it clear that he and Markova are tight as friends, and the reason they are The Looks That Kill in the NWA.  That said, he lets Hunter know he pulled some strings, and it’ll be him facing Drake to teach some respect.

Yeah, Hunter…sometimes doing things for a girl will get ya in trouble.

Now we get Pastor C-Lo from NWA Exodus Pro, who gives us an attack campaign ad on Trevor Murdoch.  He hypes up EC3 as a vote for your Overlord, as opposed to your president of the NWA territory system.

Kyle Davis is in the ring with Kerry Morton about his chances in the Dane Memorial Tournament tonight.  The Rizz God confidently claims he will be on top after tonight.  Morton states he makes headlines and puts asses in seats.

We’ll see if he can back it up, so let’s take you to the Main Event with…

Dane Memorial Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final: Kerry Morton vs. Frank (with Austin Idol)

 

The fans right start in with “Frank is gonna kill you!” chants, and whatever confidence Morton had is quickly draining away.  The former Judais just tosses Morton around like a rag doll, and despite his best efforts to get any offense going, Frank is too powerful.  He gives the big man a thumb in the eye, and now Morton starts to get some traction and hits a second rope assisted DDT and then…

Ads (Now, I’d normally complain about the placement in the middle of a match.  Except this time, Trevor Murdoch is out with his campaign manager, Mike Knox, and he is the final candidate wanting your vote as the president of the NWA territory system.  If you get a chance, watch it and judge for yourself.)

We come back, and Morton is feeling good until he realizes Frank is towering over him.  He chops his chest, and Frank just shrugs it off.  He proceeds to give Morton an airplane spin that makes both men dizzy.  He stalks The Rizz God, and Morton reverses and unloads everything but the kitchen sink,  but nothing fazes the big man.  A desperation throat chop allows Morton a chance to hit a running knee.  Frank goes for a clothesline and misses.   Morton attempts a crossbody, but Frank catches him and launches across the ring with a fallaway slam, and he rolls under the ropes.  He tries to pull Morton back in by the hair, and he stuns Frank by the throat on the top rope.  He quickly goes to the top rope for a high-risk maneuver and ends up in a choke slam.  At that point, Idol, who’s dressed like Mickey from the Rocky franchise, channels his inner Bill Alphonso and blows a whistle to signal the big man to drop Morton with a double choke powerbomb.  That statement finisher allows Frank to get the victory in one, two, and three.

Your Winner via Pinfall, and Advancing in the Dane Memorial Tournament:  Frank

Frank is the one to beat in this tournament, so he may be facing either Burchill or Colby Corino when their match takes place next week.

As the show throws it back to Aron Stevens, he is about to reveal his master plan, until Jeremiah Plunkett jumps in. Stevens escorts everyone out, and that’s when Plunkett whispers something that upsets Stevens. Whatever plan he had before is now been upended, and that’s the point where Carson Drake comes out with Tommy Rant.  He laughs his smug laugh at Stevens, saying to him, “Now, you need me.”

Whatever he needs him for will have to come out next time as the show comes to a close.

Top Photo:  Frank catches Kerry Morton’s crossbody attempt in the Dane Memorial Tournament on this NWA POWERRR. Courtesy of the NWA via “X.”

NWA POWERRR - 04/22/2025
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Final Thoughts:

 

The matches were solid, and it looks like the former Judais is now finding life under his new name and new guidance with Austin Idol as his manager.  As for Morton…Better luck next time, kid.

Drake is definitely one of my favorites in the NWA, and he knows how to ingratiate himself with anyone.

As for the “campaign ads” for the NWA presidency of the territory system, I will say this:  I was hoping not to deal with any more pretend “politics” here in the United States, but at least these candidates will be more interesting than…well, you know.

I may expand/rant on that subject another day.  Until then, this column by our own Jonathan Schwartz is a good primer on politics and pro wrestling, and I’ll see ya next Tuesday.