NWA: Total Nonstop Tradition

[xRainx]

In 2001, former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett and his father, legendary wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett, approached the NWA Board of Directors with an idea. That idea was to present a product, representing the past and future of pro wrestling, that would challenge the World Wrestling Federation through live, weekly televised pay-per-view events. The Jarrett's plan was to buy into the NWA, an established name in pro wrestling before becoming one of the first victims of the companies that would eventually go on to create the Monday Night Wars. They intended to call this new branch NWA: Total Nonstop Action.

 

The Board of Directors rejected this arrangement.

 

Instead, the Board of Directors proposed another deal. The NWA, once a major player in pro wrestling, had never been able to transition into the current era of wrestling. Instead, it had become little more than a string a loosely connected independent territories, forced to sit by the way-side as it watched former member promotions WCW and ECW rise and fall.

 

The Board of Directors, finally at their wit's end, wanted out.

 

And so a new deal came to fruition, and the Jarretts became the owners of the National Wrestling Alliance, and set about transforming and transitioning, working to move the NWA into the modern era. They began to secure the services of established veterans of the now defunct WCW and ECW, as well as the new crop of independent wrestling superstars.

 

At the end of May, 2002, the first NWA event run under the Jarrett banner was dubbed NWA Uprising, and featured an eight man tournament to crown a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a four way contest to crown the first NWA X Division Champion.

 

This is the story of the Jarrett Era of the National Wrestling Alliance. We sit in October, 2002, five months deep into the biggest change to strike the NWA in the lifetimes of most current fans.

 

In his effort to create his vision of tradition blending with cutting edge wrestling, Jeff Jarrett created several goals and boundries related the presentation of the NWA, and the workers that would be performing:

 

1. Wrestlers must have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of pro wrestling. We will not only be cutting edge, we will be both solid and intelligent. (May not hire or extend the contract of any wrestler with less than C- in Basics.)

 

2. This is not WCW. (May not hire any wrestler over the age of 40.)

 

3. This is not ECW. (May not hire any wrestler classed as Psychopath.)

 

4. The NWA must be a force on the American wrestling scene within the next 24 months. (Must rise to National size.)

 

 

 

 

Non-Story side notes: Like it said, this diary will be beginning in October of 2002. When starting this, I had to make a choice: the game world was set to begin in April of 2002, with TNA debuting in May of 2002. My choice was deciding if I wanted to simply change the start date in the data, or sim a month as a spectator. I chose to go as a spectator, and do any edits from within the game. This is the reason that some notable indy names are missing from my roster. They've either been signed to developmental contracts, signed written contracts with Japanese promotions, or are so far stretched too thin to make room for the Cult-level NWA.

[xRainx]

NWA X Division Championship

 

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Champion: AJ Styles

Won: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Defeated: Juventud Guerrera, Jack Evans, Halloween in a 4-Way Match

Defenses: 10

 

AJ Styles is quickly going from being an unknown to one of the most popular wrestlers in the NWA, winning the fans over with astounding high risk offense coupled with fluid technical prowess. He was able to best three other men in the first match of the Jarrett Era to become the first ever NWA X Division Champion.

 

However, the young champion may not have much time left on his reign. He is surrounded by challengers on all sides, including an arrogant veteran with a tenuous grip on reality, a man raging for his next title opportunity, and a silent destroyer who wants nothing more than to be champion.

 

Contenders

 

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Super Dragon w/ Jimmy Hart

 

Debuted: NWA Total Nonstop Action! 14, Wednesday, Week 4, September 2002

Finishers: Psycho Driver, Curb Stomp

Affiliation: Jimmy Hart

 

Jimmy Hart is collecting monsters.

 

With one already embedded in the Heavyweight division, he began to search for another. He found Super Dragon. Intense, well travelled, and possessing absolutely no remorse for the people that he hurts, Super Dragon has made a tremendous impact in a very short amount of time. Debuting at Total Nonstop Action! 14 against Jack Evans, Super Dragon made a statement. He soundly defeated the Prince of Parkland with a Psycho Driver, and puncuated his statement by driving Evans' head into the mat with a Curb Stomp after the match.

 

With Jimmy Hart at his side, Super Dragon has secured the #1 Contendership for a title faster than perhaps anyone in history. It is only a matter of time until Super Dragon takes his chance to secure the X Division Title.

 

 

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Juventud Guerrera

 

Debuted: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Finishers: 450 Splash, Juvi Driver

Affiliation: His mask

 

Juventud Guerrera is a little bitter, and who wouldn't be? He has failed, time and time again, to become X Division Champion, and it's beginning to eat at him. He's not only being forced to watch as rookies take the positions that he's rightfully earned, but he's also watching as his former peers surpass him. Every time it seems that he's about to capture the X Division title, it slips away from him. He needs to find himself. He needs to get in touch with Juvi. He needs to reconnect with his former self. He's even begun to wear his old mask around.

 

With Juventud's grip on reality seemingly slipping away from him, he becomes a more dangerous opponent than he had been in his previous attempts... But he's tried, failed, and now he'll have to work his way back up to a title opportunity. But what happens when someone tries to tell HIM that..?

 

What happens when you challenge everything that a man believes in?

 

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Lash LeRoux

 

Debuted: NWA Total Nonstop Action! 5 Wednesday, Week 3, July 2002

Finisher: Whiplash

Affiliation: None

 

If you were to say that Lash LeRoux didn't get a fair shake in WCW, Lash LeRoux would likely agree with you. LeRoux's most notable achievements, despite some solid in-ring outings, were teaming with Disco Inferno, and later being a part of the Misfits In Action as Corporal Cajun.

 

Seriously. The Misfits In Action. Led by General Hugh G. Rection.

 

It just isn't the sort of legacy that Lash wants to leave behind, which led him to the NWA. Recognizing that the goals of the NWA and himself as surprisingly similiar, he made his debut at Total Nonstop Action! 5, making it known to everyone that his ultimate goal is the become X Division Champion. Though he's fallen short in each of his challenges, and has occasionally rubbed roster members the wrong way, Lash is convinced that he deserves the opportunity to rewrite his legacy.

[xRainx]

NWA World Tag Team Championships

 

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Champions: Chris Harris and James Storm, America's Most Wanted with Dusty Rhodes

Won: NWA Total Nonstop Action! 5, Wednesday, Week 3, July 2002

Defeated: Brian Knobbs and Jerry Saggs, The Nasty Boys

Defenses: 7

 

America's Most Wanted feel that they deserve everything that they have, and a vast majority of the fan base would agree with them. After losing in the finals of the NWA World Tag Team Title tournament to the Nasty Boys, the Nasty's manager Jimmy Hart forced AMW to jump through hoops in order to get another shot at the champions. All the while, Harris and Storm were plagued by sneak attacks from the intimidated champions. They knew that America's Most Wanted were a threat to the titles, and they also knew that they would be forced into a title match eventually. When the day arrived, AMW made the most of the opportunit when they were able to dethrone the more experinced team.

 

Now, America's Most Wanted have a new challenge: holding onto the Tag Team Titles. But their opposition is not made up of grizzled veterans, but men quite like themselves - hungry upstarts with absolutely nothing to lose.

 

 

Contenders

 

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Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero, The Havana Pitbulls

 

Debuted: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Finisher: Cuban Missile Crisis

Affiliation: None

 

The Havana Pitbulls are not going to take "no" for an answer. Every time they've been told "no, you won't be getting a title shot", bad things seem to happen. Like America's Most Wanted being attacked. Like Ricky Reyes costing James Storm a match. If there is one thing that the Pitbulls seem to have learned, it's that under-handed tactics pay off in wrestling. And, of course, the more under-handed, the better. The more violent, the better.

 

If attacking one way doesn't yield a title match, attack another. Make it more violent. Make it more personal.

 

It seems to be that a match against America's Most Wanted for the World Tag Team Titles is inevitable, but when it happens... Will the Pitbulls deliver? When the sides are finally even, when there are no sneaks attacks or interference, who comes out on top?

 

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Jay and Mark, The Briscoe Brothers

 

Debuted: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Finisher: Doomsday Device

Affiliation: None

 

The Brothers Briscoe have had a bit of a rough start since coming to the NWA, dropping matches to both the Havana Pitbulls and the Backseat Boyz. However, at just 18 (Jay) and 17 (Mark), they have a lot of time to make up for their losses. With the Backseat's failure to gain the World Tag Team Titles in a series of matches against America's Most Wanted, the Briscoes are in a position to take advantage of their rival's misfortunes.

 

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Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere, The Backseat Boyz

 

Debuted: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Finisher: Backseat Driver

Affiliation: None

 

The Backseat Boyz were so close to the World Tag Team Titles. After scoring a non-title win over America's Most wanted at Total Nonstop Action! 6, the Backseats looked set to make AMW's title reign a short one. But it turned out that one loss was all it took to bring the cowboys back down from their initial high of becoming the champions, as they were able to put the Backseats down at Total Nonstop Action! 10 and 12, causing Acid and Kashmere to take a step back.

 

It seemed that the Backseat Boyz fell victim to they same thing that caused AMW to lose to them in the first place: over confidence. Just like AMW had under-estimated them after beating the Nasty Boys for the titles, the Backseats under-estimated AMW after their non-title victory. Now the Backseats are forced to start over, and a series with the Briscoe Brothers now seems inevitable as both teams vie for the #3 spot in the division.

 

 

History

 

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First Champions: Brian Knobbs and Jerry Saggs, The Nasty Boys with Jimmy Hart

Won: NWA Total Nonstop Action! 1, Wednesday, Week 3, June 2002 against America's Most Wanted in tournament a final

Lost: NWA Total Nonstop Action! 5, Wednesday, Week 3, July 2002 to America's Most Wanted

Defenses: 1

 

The Nasty Boys were able to best America's Most Wanted to become the first Tag Team Champions of the Jarrett Era, but they may have been their own worst enemies. Showing a total reluctance to defend the titles against AMW, they tasked manager Jimmy Hart with keeping the younger team from getting a title match any way they could. However, with Hart concentrating on his monster in the heavyweight division, and despite the Nasty's frequent attacks, the rematch was signed. At Total Nonstop Action! 5, Chris Harris and James Storm were able to defeat the Nasty Boys for the NWA World Tag Team Titles. The Nasty Boys were released from Jimmy Hart's employ shortly afterwards.

[xRainx]

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

 

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Champion: Rey Misterio, Jr.

Won: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Defeated: Jeff Jarrett in a tournament final

Defenses: 12

 

NWA Uprising was a remarkable night of firsts. The first event of the Jarrett Era. The first World Champion crowned in the new NWA. On that night, Rey Misterio, Jr. became the first masked wrestler to become NWA World Heavyweight Champion, marking his first reign as World Heavyweight Champion in any promotion on the planet, when he bested Jeff Jarrett in the finals of an eight man, one night tournament to become the champion.

 

Since Uprising, Misterio has continued to build his reputation as one of the best wrestlers on the planet, putting on stunning displays on a weekly basis while defending the World Champion. Nobody can deny the quality of champion that Rey Misterio, Jr. makes, and in many ways he is the embodiment of the vision of what the NWA is meant to be. Exciting. Innovative. A man with as much respect for the past as he has optimism for the future.

 

The surprising part of it all is that Misterio was never meant to be a part of the World Title tournament, but was originally scheduled to be involved in the X Division Title match. When Scott Steiner was unable to compete in the tournament, it was decided that Misterio would be the one to take his place. With a spot now vacant in the X Division Title match, AJ Styles was selected to fill the spot on Misterio's recommendation. This is a situation that has not set well with some, most notable Juventud Guerrera, who has questioned why Misterio, and not himself, wound up the one selected for the World Title Tournament.

 

Along with Guerrera, Misterio has an endless line of challengers, including a physically impressive superstar looking to finally advance his career, Jimmy Hart's monster, and a man who one day hopes to become a king.

 

Contenders

 

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Buff Bagwell with Lacey

 

Debuted: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Finisher: Buff Blockbuster

Affiliation: Lacey

 

He's buff, he's the stuff, and the girls... Well, fine. Lacey won't allow such shenanigans. In fact, Buff doesn't get to do a lot of the things that he used to do. Like be a lackey. Or bring his mom to the events. Lacey wants him to be focused on only one thing: becoming NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

 

While Buff debuted at NWA Uprising in the World Heavyweight Title tournament, Lacey arrived in mid-September to act as Bagwell's career guidance associate, and she has served to fuel Buff's fire in his war against NWA World Champion Rey Misterio, Jr.

 

Buff recieved his World Title match in the main event of Total Nonstop Action! 15, keeping up with the faster champion for nearly 25 minutes before Misterio finally put him away with a Springboard Hurricanrana. But rather than deter Bagwell, it has caused him to rely more and more on Lacey's guidance. His push for another chance at the title began only moments after his loss to Misterio, and word has it that a rematch will be announced at Total Nonstop Action! 16.

 

 

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Juggernaut with Jimmy Hart

 

Debuted: NWA Total Nonstop Action! 1, Wednesday, Week 3, June 2002

Finisher: Lariat

Affiliation: Jimmy Hart and Super Dragon

 

Found in the icy Canadian tundra, Jimmy Hart's monster is a force of unrelenting destruction, and he boasts a weight and strength advantage over every single member of the NWA roster. When Jimmy Hart first met Juggernaut, he asked the monster one thing: "How would you like to be NWA World Champion?"

 

That's all it took for Juggernaut's reign of destruction to begin, and since Total Nonstop Action! 1, the Canadian Behemoth has dominated the NWA heavyweight division. He immediately began to dominate every opponent that he faced, making short work of them before demanding a chance to become champion. Finally, at Total Nonstop Action! 11, he had his chance at Rey Misterio, Jr. and the NWA World Championship. Juggernaut was able to dominate the much smaller man, with Misterio initially unable to take the monster off of his feet. But, while Misterio could not manage any offense, nor could Juggernaut find a way to keep the fighting champion down. The match came to a head when Jimmy Hart, determined to knock Misterio out, decided to take a swing with his megaphone, accidently striking Juggernaut and leading to his first loss in the NWA.

 

But, like all good monsters, the first encounter is only the beginning. Though he now has a loss on his record, he is dead set on continuing his domination. Recent confrontations with Ken Shamrock seem to be leading to a battle between the two, but what could survive after an in-ring meeting between a monster and the world's most dangerous man?

 

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Jeff Jarrett

 

Debuted: NWA Uprising, Sunday, Week 4, May 2002

Finisher: The Stroke

Affiliation: None

 

A former WCW World Heavyweight Champion. A former WWF Intercontinental Champion. At this point, most everyone seems to know more about Jeff Jarrett than they ever wanted to. The son of one of the most well-known wrestling promoters in recent memory, Jarrett has held championships in every promotion that he's competed for.

 

...Except for the NWA.

 

When Jeff Jarrett met Rey Misterio, Jr. in the finals of the NWA World Heavyweight Title tournament, he felt sure of victory. While he had a respect for Misterio's ability, he also knew that Misterio had never competed in the heavyweight division for any serious amount of time. Rey Misterio, Jr. had never been World Champion. Rey Misterio, Jr. had never been a main event competitor.

 

And so no one was as shocked as Jeff Jarrett when Rey Misterio, Jr. became NWA World Champion.

 

And now one was as shocked as Jeff Jarrett when he failed twice more in his attempts to become champion.

 

And now no one knows what Jeff Jarrett is going to do next. After coming so close to the title, Jarrett has taken a step back to observe the changing surroundings. Biding his time, knowing that there is a long line of challengers for the World Title, all of them making their cases known. But, Jarrett reasons, isn't it best to learn from your mistakes? The NWA World Champion, Rey Misterio, Jr., didn't beat his chest. He didn't make brash declarations. He took advantage of an unexpected opportunity.

 

Patience is a virtue.

[Eidenhoek]

2. This is not WCW. (May not hire any wrestler over the age of 40.)

 

3. This is not ECW. (May not hire any wrestler classed as Psychopath.)

 

 

o____0

 

And what's this NWA stuff

 

If you're done with the preliminary stuff, now I'll add my snarky comments.

 

Hope AJ actually gets a solid push.

[Inky The Squid Boy]

Lash Leroux!

[xRainx]

Happy I'm not the only Lash fan around.

 

AJ will be getting a solid push, and right now he's my go-to guy for the opening match, he's never failed to deliver. I do have a soft spot for Super Dragon though...

 

Anyway, Tag Title info is now there. World Title info will be done tomorrow/today, depending on how technical you want to get. First show (Total Nonstop Action! 16) will be done either tomorrow or Wednesday, depending.

 

I'm trying to have this take a slow pace, I'm the sort that tends to do all at once, and then I lose interest because I've devoted too much time. I've really been enjoying this game, so I don't want that to happen.

[Jaded]

That's one of the most intriguing starts I've read for a dynasty in quite a while. Really looking forward to seeing how the World title hunt has played out so far, and where you go from here. Can't wait for the first show!

[xRainx]

Thank you.

 

NWA World Title info is up, to be followed soon with the rundown to Total Nonstop Action! 16.

 

I also fixed a mistake in the Tag Title info. I may have forgotten AMW's manager. :X

[20LEgend]

I like this so far