Night one of NWA74 had some surprises, but night two of the double pay-per-view saved the best for last with the main event between Trevor Murdoch and Tyrus going for The Ten Pounds of Gold. Tyrus has yet to be beaten in competition, and Murdoch will do anything to keep the belt around his waist. This looks to be an exciting show at The Khorassan Ballroom at The Chase Park Plaza, in St. Louis, MO.
So let’s go to the action with the…
YouTube Pre-Show
Joe Galli and Tim Storm are calling the match, starting with…
Doug Williams Vs. Rhett Titus
It’s a submissions match, and that is the only way to win. Both men put on pure technical wizardry, with neither man giving an inch but each displaying the best in Catch Wrestling (Williams) and the sweet science of the sport (Titus). Titus manages his side belly-to-belly suplex to cover and remembers he needs a submission to win, so he locks in a single-leg crab, but Williams escapes. They go back and forth with submissions, but Williams gets a deep hammerlock to a single-arm Cattle Mutilation, but time expires in the match.
No Contest
Fans wanted more, and hopefully, they will do more during the NWA POWERRR or NWA USA tapings
May Valentine’s with Austin Idol backstage and his fortune cookie showed that Cyon was the winner. Idol tells us that he soars with the eagles, while others scratch with chickens, and promises more gold is coming to his stable.
Now we get…
Angelina Love vs. Taryn Terrell
This is the first time in the NWA for the TNA mainstays. As Terrell gets in some stretching, Love schoolgirl rolls up for a two count. Love is on the attack and working out frustration from last night’s Burke Invitational. Terrell hides under the ring, and Love stalks her. Once she peeks up Love rams her head to the ring apron. Terrell runs away, and rings the bell, and says she won, but Love takes umbrage. One Botox Injection in the throat ends it.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Angelina Love
Valentine is now with Mercurio ahead of his match with “Magic” Jake Dumas. The only magic Mercurio wants to see is how he’ll make him, and his assistant CJ, disappear. Now the OGK appear and they are ready for the US Tag Team title battle royal because it’s bound to trend
Next up is…
Gustavo vs. Kerry Morton
Gustavo offers a flower to Morton. Probably needed it after the loss to Homicide. Morton is in control throughout the match as he gets a nice delayed vertical suplex to Gustavo and then goes up top to deliver the flying high knee and kiss it goodbye.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Kerry Morton
Valentine now has BLK Jeez backstage, and she talks about Tyrus’ biggest night of his career. Jeez states that world heavyweight championships can be business and personal, and it’s personal when it comes to business. Jeez lets us know business is booming with The Church’s Money Enterprises, in conjunction with IdolMania Sports Management
And the final Pre-show match is a…
Queen Bee Match: KiLynn King, Jennacide, and Taya Valkyrie vs Natalia Markova, Madi, Missa Kate
This was just barely made, and the stipulation is whoever wins for their team, then it will become a three-way elimination match to see who is the “queen bee.”
Got it? Good.
Jennacide, Valkyrie, and King work like a well-oiled machine for most of the match, but finally, Kate, Madi, and Markova get on the same page, isolating Valkyrie. The match breaks down, and after sending out Valkyrie and King, Madi gets Jennacide with a Reality Check, then a running knee by Kate and a Jazz Stinger by Markova adds the exclamation point to win for their team.
Now the three-way starts, and Kate lands with a spinning kick to Madi to eliminate her from the ring. Markova and Kate go toe to toe, but Markova delivers with the Beautiful Disaster kick followed by a DDT and she is…
Your Winner and Queen Bee: Natalia Markova
She is now officially crowned, and you can bet that’ll be played up more in the weeks ahead. But that ends the pre-show, so let’s finally begin with…
Night Two of NWA 74
Now we get started properly as Joe Galli, Tim Storm, and Velvet Sky have the call, and we start with a Pick Your Poison match and it’s a…
Two out of Three Falls match: Caprice Coleman vs. Colby Corino
This match came about on night one when Coleman and Gustavo won against Corino and Legursky, and Coleman chose the stipulation. Sky also mentions that it’s Corino’s birthday, so naturally, Coleman tries to spoil it by putting away The Last Bastion. He locks in a single arm for the Call to Repentance, and Corino quickly taps out. Even though Coleman has the first fall, Corino steps up with a Colby Crush for two count, working the lower back of Coleman. “The Ageless One” manages to outwrestle Corino, as he nails with a Leap of Faith. As Colemen goes for the cover, Corino knocks him out with a foreign object from his trunks to get the second pin. Now tied one apiece, Corino starts mocking fans at ringside, but once back in the ring Coleman hits a spinning dropkick to Corino. He goes for The Holy Trinity, and Corino goes back for the object in his trunks (phrasing) but it gets tossed. Corino then uses the Styles Clash on Coleman to cover but gets a two count. Coleman set him on the top turnbuckle and attempts the Leap of Faith again, but Corino hangs on and Coleman is dumped to the mat. He nails a flying knee and then Corino delivers the Sonsetter for the third and final count.
Your Winner: Colby Corino
Again, the Power of Douchenozzlery™ is too much for The Ageless One.
And now for a match that will test my recapping mettle, it’s the…
Twelve-Man Tag Team Battle Royale for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship
Just to give scope to the ton of humanity in the squared circle, here are all the combatants:
- Gold Rushhh (Jordan Clearwater and Marshe Rockett)
- The Miserably Faithful (Sal The Pal and Gaagz The Gymp, with Father James Mitchell)
- The NOW (Hale Collins and Vik Dalishus)
- The Ill Begotten (Alex Taylor and Jeremiah Plunkett, with Danny Dealz)
- Ruff ‘n’ Ready (D’Vin Graves and Diante)
- The Fixers (Jay Bradley and “Wrecking Ball” Legursky)
- Hawx Aerie (Luke Hawx and PJ Hawx)
- The Country Gentlemen (AJ Cazana and Anthony Andrews)
- Team Ambition (Mike Outlaw and Camaro Jackson)
- The Spectaculars (Brady Pierce and Rush Freeman, with Rolando Freeman)
- The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, being led by JJ Dillon)
The final entrant is La Rebelión, and after claiming back their tag belts, they want to unify with the US tag titles. Galli goes over the rules that any tag member that is thrown over the top rope means the team is eliminated from the competition. There is too much to cover, and the night ain’t even halfway over, so here’s the super condensed version:
Clearwater is sent over the top, and GoldRushhh is eliminated. Sal has Taylor in a superplex but Plunkett shoves him off and The Miserably Faithful gets eliminated, but then Plunkett and Taylor take a tumble from the top, and The Ill-Begotten is eliminated. Rolando stops Damián from hurting his little brother. Rush boots Damian from the ring apron, but La Rebelion kicks him off and The Spectaculars are eliminated. Now Graves tumbles over and that’s it for Ruff & Ready. Cazana gets thrown over the top rope, and now The Country Gentlemen are eliminated
The Now tries to send Legursky over the top rope, but Bradley helps gets Collins and Dalishus over the top rope, so The Now is eliminated and Fixers Rule. Taven kicks PJ in the head which sends him over the ropes, and Hawx Aerie is eliminated. Now business picks up as Bennett sends Bestia out over the top rope. Even though La Rebelion is eliminated, Wolf throws out Bennett, and Taven leaps from the top tope con Hilo to beat on La Rebelión and The OGK gets eliminated in the process. Now Team Ambition and The Fixers are left. Ambition tries to get Bradley over the top, and Legursky attacks and send Outlaw over the top, and with that final elimination…
Your Winners, and New NWA USA Tag Team Champions: The Fixers
Don’t it make you proud to be ‘Murican?
Kyle Davis with The Cardonas, and asks Matt Cardona about his loss on night one to Rolando Freeman. Cardona calls it The St. Louis Screwjob. He doesn’t need this, but Cardona agreed to the match, he claims, because NWA needed star power. He didn’t reinjure his arm, but Cardona broke everyone’s heart with his loss. He apologizes to Rolando for the pain that will come, and then he will go after the Ten Pounds of Gold.
Storm says it best: Cardona screwed Cardona. Ha!
Hey! How about a magic trick? No? Well, too bad, skippy because here’s…
Mercurio vs. “Magic” Jake Dumas (with CJ)
Mercurio comes out with a book that has him on the cover, looking like the Wish app equivalent of Fabio. Fans chant, “We want magic!” and he gives a card trick, but Mercurio takes the card away. Dumas takes his book and chucks it at the crowd. Dumas gives Mercurio the “ugly face” and he hits a leaping moonsault for a two count. Mercurio nails a spear to the outside of the ring, and CJ keeps him distracted while Dumas is slipped…something. Back in the ring, Dumas produces out of his mouth a bloody razor blade, but the ref takes it away. As Mercurio is perplexed by that magic trick, Dumas lands the Abracadabra for the pin. Ta-da.
Your Winner, and still better than Criss Angel: “Magic” Jake Dumas
Now it’s time for a thrill, so here’s your second inter-promotional match of the PPV, which is for the…
MLW National Openweight Championship: Davey Richards (c) vs. “Thrillbilly” Silas Mason (with Pollo Del Mar)
The St. Louis fans are on their feet for “The American Wolf” and there is a distinct height advantage from the 6′ 5″ Silas to the 5′ 8″ Richards. The match starts with a test of strength, and Silas keeps hold until Richards kicks his head and releases the hold. Silas tackles and Richards rolls out, and the Thrillbilly is on the hunt for a Wolf. Richards responds with kicks, but Silas has him thrown to the guardrails. Silas stalks Richards and gets a backdrop suplex for a two count. Silas attempts a sunset flip, but Richards gets a double stomp, then he grabs his leg between the ropes and hits the dragon screw leg whip, and follows with a big stomp that misses the mark. Richards attempts a trailer hitch, but the size of Silas manages to reach the bottom ropes to break the hold
Richards tries a knee kick, but Silas swings him around for a slam to cover for a two count. Richards goes to an ankle lock, and Silas kicks him off but Richards lands a penalty kick for a one count(!). Now Richards uses those educated feet, and nails a double stomp, but Silas kicks out at two. Del Mar is on top of the ring apron to check on her man. Silas sends Richards to the ropes, and almost tackles Del Mar. Silas rushes, and now he almost gets Del Mar knocked, and he’s aghast he almost knocked down his sweetie. Richards turns to Silas and uses the distraction for the ankle lock, and the Thrillbilly has no choice but to tap out.
Your Winner via Submission, and Still MLW Openweight Champion: Davey Richards
Been a hot minute since I covered MLW action, and I’m glad I got to for this.
Joe Galli hijacks the show for a bit to get in the squared circle to bring his longtime girlfriend, Shelby Rodriguez, into the ring and asks if she will marry him. She says, “Yes!” and after we profiled him earlier, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. So “Mazel tov” and don’t hold your marriage in a wrestling ring. Just saying, Joe.
We return to your regularly scheduled PPV as Kyle Davis brings out NWA mainstays Barry Windham and JJ Dillon for the fans. They share some words and appreciation of the fans in attendance, and Dillon says it was quite a run, and he’s happy with what they have going on here in the NWA. Davis thanks them “four” the memories. See what he did there? Huh?
May Valentine is backstage with Kamille and Thom Latimer about the words EC3 said last night. Latimer says this place helped him get to a good place, but he’ll need to go to a bad place to beat respect into EC3. Kamille is ready for tonight’s second title defense. Taya Valkyrie took her to the limit, but Max The Impaler is something else. When it comes to good and evil, Kamille says in no uncertain terms that she is gonna beat the s** out of that devil.
Time for more title action, and it’s the first defense for the…
NWA National Championship: Cyon (c) (with Austin Idol) vs. Anthony Mayweather
This match was made at the last minute after Mayweather inserted himself in the title match between Cyon and Jax Dane. Speaking of which, Dane and Chris Silvio come out with seats to watch from the ramp. Mayweather takes it to the masked man, but Cyon answers back and delivers elbows to the head. Cyon is showing more viciousness since winning the belt, but Mayweather turns him inside out with a clothesline to the champ. They battle up the top turnbuckle, and he pushes off Cyon, and Mayweather lands with an elbow drop for a two count. He signals the end with a chokeslam but Cyon escapes and gets not one, but two DVD’S to ensure the pin and the win.
Your Winner, and Still NWA National Champion: Cyon
Time to get in the trenches with a…
King’s Highway Street Fight for the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship: Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and Kenzie Paige) (c) vs. The Hex (Allysin Kay and Marti Belle)
The HeX is decked out in camouflage loaded for bear and ready for war. As Pretty Empowered come to the ring, a garbage can greets them, and it’s on Junebug! The Hex just brawls outside the ring and inside, Kay uses a kendo stick and Belle uses The Dreaded Chancla™ to whip them both (will somebody stop the damn match!) The Hex starts to whip them into the corners propped with steel chairs, but Pretty empowered put on the brakes and reverses so they get the steel in the corner. Paige sets up a chair on Belle, and lands a delayed dropkick. Envy and Paige work over Belle, while Kay is literally tied up in the tag ropes. They brawl some more outside the ring, and now a table gets introduced. The Hex gets back on offense, and they slam Envy and Paige into the corner. Kay brings out a bag and now introduces… Legos.
Oh, the humanity!
Hex marks the Spot to Paige on the dreaded Legos and they cover but Envy breaks the count. A garbage can covers Envy, and Kay climbs up top, but Paige stops her. Envy throws the can and Kay crashes into the table. Envy has the kendo stick, but Paige takes it away… and wails at Belle in the corner. They get the can on Belle and double superkick to cover for the win.
Your Winners, and Still NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions: Pretty Empowered
Next is another title match for the…
NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship: Homicide(c) vs. Ricky Morton
Because Ricky felt like he disrespected his son Kerry, he wants to teach some manners to Homicide and this is why we have this match. We get a staredown, and then Homicide pushes him into the corner. Homicide shoves at Morton, and he pushes back. Homicide stun guns Morton and rakes his back with other dirty tricks. He attempts the Three Amigos, but Morton reverses to a suplex of his own. Homicide rushes to the corner, but Morton dodges and nails a DDT, but Homicide rolls out of the way. Morton then gets a Code Red, but can’t get the pin. He nails a cutter to Homicide and covers again for another two count, and then Homicide delivers a blow to the back of Morton’s head and covers for three count.
Your Winner via Pinfall, and Still NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion: Homicide
Kerry runs out and checks his dad, and you can believe he ain’t done with Homicide
Now we get the fan-favorite match…
Nick Aldis vs. Flip Gordon
Gordon starts with a running dropkick and takes it to the National Treasure. This is a speed versus finesse match, and it isn’t long until Aldis shows his poise and finesse, as he gets Gordon in a brainbuster for a two count. Aldis nails an avalanche fallaway slam by Aldis, and he is proving a point tonight. Gordon comes back with a springboard dropkick to a European uppercut. He tries a superplex but is pushed off by Aldis, so he goes back up and lands an avalanche sling blade for a two count. Gordon and Aldis battle up top, but Aldis sets up for another fallaway slam, and Gordon changes to a flipping powerbomb for a two count. Aldis slows the tempo, but Gordon returns with a Pele kick, and then a reverse fallaway slam to a moonsault, and cinches in a STF but Aldis fights up to a vertical base and snapmares Gordon. He attempts a tiger feint kick, but Aldis catches him between the ropes pulls him to the center of the ring, and locks in a Kingslayer cloverleaf. He crawls, but Aldis pulls in and sits down, and finally, Gordon taps out.
Your Winner via Submission: Nick Aldis
Gordon is distraught but Aldis offers a hand in a show of sportsmanship. As he leaves ringside, Odinson comes in and attacks Gordon from behind. Aldis comes back to help, and Odinson pounces on the former champion. I smell a new feud.
The next match is another match thrown together at the last minute and it’s a…
Missouri Tornado Tag Match: Rodney Mack and Aron Stevens vs. Da Pope and Kratos
This came about as Kratos returned to action on night one, and he and Stevens have unresolved issues.
This match goes all over the Khorassan Ballroom, and at one point, Stevens gets on the mic and states how much he hates bloodthirsty fans. He and Mack head to the back, but Pope and Kratos are hot on their heels, and then we see the forms of all four men fighting behind the video screens
I can’t make this stuff up, folks. After the ShadowMania ends, Mack has a Euthanizer locked on Pope. Kratos trips up for Mack for Pope to land on him and bridges to pin for the win.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Da Pope and Kratos
Now to get under Control…
Thom Latimer vs. EC3
Latimer can take it to EC3, but The Essential Character smiles a wicked smile. Both men go back and forth until EC3 clotheslines Latimer from back and send him shoulder first to the ring post. EC3 slows the momentum to stalk Latimer and hits a reverse flatliner. Latimer fires back with an atomic drop to a clothesline and a slam, followed by a flatliner. EC3 spits in his face and Latimer lands blows, but the Control Your Narrative roster comes out to attack and the ref calls it.
Your Winner via Disqualification: Thom Latimer
EC3 gets his cohorts to prop him up for a steel chair. He swings… and pulls up at the last minute, saying to Latimer he was warned.
I’m curious if this will mean more partnerships with the Narrative promotion in the future.
May Valentine is backstage with The Miserably Faithful. She talks to Father James Mitchell on his relatively successful night, but Mitchell says he will raise a toast to the tears from Kamille, as his NonBinary Nightmare beats her for the Burke.
Bully Ray replaces Storm at commentary for the next match, and it’s for the…
NWA World Women’s Championship: Kamille (c) vs. Max The Impaler (with Father James Mitchell)
Kamille is still banged up a bit after last night, but fans are solidly behind the self-proclaimed one-time champ. There are some serious “Vader versus Sting” vibes coming from this match. Max starts with a hard clothesline and The NonBinary Nightmare takes their time. Kamille attempts to fight back, but the champ is in jeopardy as Max curb stomps Kamille. Max even curb stomps her right to the bottom turnbuckle. Kamille comes back with a leg drop to Max on the second rope and pulls out all the stops, even a crossbody, and goes again with a dropkick to a two count. Back up the top turnbuckle, Max catches her but The Brickhouse manages to get Max in a torture rack to a halfhearted Blue Thunder Bomb for another two count.
Max goes for a spear, and Kamille ducks out. She uses Max’s Wasteland finisher to cover, but Mitchell puts their foot on the bottom rope to have the ref break the count. Kamille ain’t having it and goes after Mitchell. Gaagz and Sal run out to try to protect their master, and they get hit by The Brickhouse for their trouble. Back in the ring, Max lands Welcome to the Wasteland for one, two…kick out at two and 9/10ths of a second. Kamille digs deep with a backdrop and then there are clotheslines by both competitors that knock them out. Max attempts with a spear, but Kamille evades, and Max hits the second turnbuckle and gets rolled up by Kamille for the three count.
Your Winner, and Still NWA Women’s Champion: Kamille
Fans chant “one time” and Kamille proves again that she can back up that claim.
Kyle Davis with NWA Owner William Patrick Corgan to share with fans. He announces that the NWA will be back here next year for NWA 75. But he also acknowledges that this business would not be what it is without those people who paved the way. He asks for a moment of silence for the Ten Bell Salute to those who passed away:
Here are the names of the “In Memorium” (along with most of the stories/obituaries we at SLAM! Wrestling have covered on these individuals):
Daffney
Ryan “Keiji” Sakoda
Reggie Parks
Estrella Blanca
Pat Barrett
Jimmy Rave
Blackjack Lanza
Corporal Kirchner
Candi Devine
Super Muneco
Mickie Henson
Scott Hall
Rocky King
Tarzan Goto
Dave Hebner
Tim White
“Judo” Gene Lebell
Howard T Brody
Now for the Main Event for the…
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Trevor Murdoch (c) vs. Tyrus (with BLK Jeez)
We get boxing-style introductions by Kyle Davis, but fans in attendance are big time behind the Missouri native and current holder of the Ten Pounds of Gold.
(Quick aside: a fan had a sign at ringside that said “I’d rather watch a Funkadactyl match!” Ha! Brilliant)
The tension builds and then once the bell rings, it’s go time. Tyrus and Murdoch circle the ring, and then Murdoch goes outside and DDTs Jeez on the ballroom floor to eliminate any interference by him. As Tyrus checks on his man, Murdoch lands a flash flying bulldog to cover the challenger and gets a two count. Tyrus rolls out of the ring, and Murdoch goes to work on The Great American Smash. Tyrus comes back with blows and gets a punch that winds the champ. Murdoch fights back but Tyrus is methodical in dissecting him. Tyrus grabs the trapezius of Murdoch to cause some nerve damage. Murdoch gets a jawbreaker to Tyrus to create separation.
Tyrus walks out, and Murdoch is in hot pursuit, but he slams Murdoch to the hard ballroom floor. As he makes his way back to the ring, Tyrus grabs Murdoch’s son by the collar to threaten him (jerk), then throws him hard into the corner. Tyrus goes for a splash but misses. Murdoch goes up top with a flying crossbody to cover but gets a two count. Murdoch has Tyrus with a chinlock, but he fights up and lands a backdrop to create space. Now, Tyrus gets in a kidney shot and does pushups on his back to add insult to injury. He sends the champ into the corner, followed by a hip attack that snaps Murdoch’s head back.
Murdoch attempts a sleeper hold, and Tyrus pushes them into the ref who gets knocked out. Murdoch fires back with a clothesline, and then goes to the timekeeper’s table and grabs the ring bell. He almost clocks Tyrus but thinks better of it. As he sets it down, Tyrus nails him with a heart punch, and he covers for one, two… he kicks out. First time ever someone kicks out from Tyrus’ heart punch finisher. Jeez is up on the ring apron to direct traffic to get Murdoch. Tyrus grabs the ring bell, and… he can’t do it either. Back in the ring, Murdoch gets a low blow without the ref seeing it. He goes up top to deliver another flying bulldog for one, two… Tyrus kicks out of his finisher. Murdoch goes back up top and the final flying bulldog knocks Tyrus clean out, and the champ cover for the one, two, three.
Your Winner, and Still NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Trevor Murdoch
After the match, Tyrus offers his hand and raises Murdoch’s in victory. Murdoch gets on the mic and wants to offer a compliment but Tyrus upends the commentary table as he walks away dejected. Murdoch agrees with the fans, that “Tyrus sucks!” Murdoch thanks the fans again for showing and the show fades out.
