[WWW] NWA TNA 10.22.03 Bob Ryder column

http://www.nwatna.com/columns/backstage/2003/10/22/backstage.shtml

10.22.03 | Notes From Backstage

All three titles will be on the line tonight on NWA-TNA: Total Nonstop
Action. Jeff Jarrett will finally get his shot at AJ Styles for the
NWA World Heavyweight Title, Diamond & Swinger put their tag titles on
the line against Danny Doring & Roadkill, and Michael Shane defends
the X Title in a three way match against Christopher Daniels and Chris
Sabin.

In addition to the title matches, America's Most Wanted faces off
against a mystery team being brought in by Glenn Gilberti. Raven
battles Slash as he continues his quest to get retribution against
James Mitchell. Kid Kash returns to X Division action when he faces
Sonjay Dutt, and 3 Live Kru battles Sonny Siaki, Ekmo, and Legend in
six man action.

Add the continuing turmoil surrounding Jeff Jarrett's recent attack on
Hulk Hogan in Japan, and this will be a night to remember! A lot of
rumors are floating around, and they will be addressed tonight.

Dusty Rhodes will also be in the building tonight and will be watching
the AJ Styles vs Jeff Jarrett match with considerable interest.

The response to the TNA DVD's has been incredible. We've been
overwhelmed with orders since last week and will begin shipping the
DVD's the first week of December. We have received a number of orders
from international customers. The DVD's are recorded in standard
United States format, but will work on international players that
accept United States formated discs.

Jeff Jarrett and America's Most Wanted appeared on an NWA Virginia
show this past weekend performing in front of an enthusiastic crowd at
Prince George High School. More and more local promotions are booking
TNA talent for their events and we are in the process of setting up a
process that will help promoters with their talent needs. If you are a
local promoter looking to book TNA talent, send email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

We were all sad to hear of the passing of Stu Hart and Road Warrior
Hawk in the last week. In their own ways, they were two of the most
influential men in the history of professional wrestling.

Stu Hart is best known as the patriarch of the famed Hart family from
Canada, but he was also one of the most influential trainers in
wrestling history. Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Lance Storm all
passed through the famous "Dungeon" in Stu Hart's basement, as did
countless other wrestlers over the years.

I only met Stu Hart one time. I had been invited to attend a taping of
Mat Rats, a new concept that was being tried out in Calgary that
involved some of the younger members of the Hart family. He was
already dealing with health problems at the time, but he had one of
the strongest handshakes I have ever felt. He was positioned in a
balcony area and when word spread that Stu was in the building you
could sense a change in the attitudes of the people who would be
working the show. They were already nervous, but now they were going
to be performing for Stu....and it seemed like nothing else mattered
to them. Stu was there to give them his blessings, and they went out
and delivered a tremendous show for him.

Road Warrior Hawk and his partner Animal appeared on a few TNA shows
late last year and early this year. My one lasting memory of their
involvement with TNA is something that didn't air on the pay-per-view.
It happened about an hour before we opened the doors, and we were
going through pretapes and interviews that would air on the show that
night. The Road Warriors were doing a pretape and had just finished,
and someone yelled out...."Do one like the good old days". Within
seconds they turned back the clock and slipped into one of those old
classic Road Warrior interviews that so many of us remember. Hawk
always closed out the interviews, and when he was finished this
time.....the entire building full of wrestlers burst out in applause.
It was one of those moments that sends chills down your spine, and
it's something I'll never forget.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Stu Hart and Road
Warrior Hawk. They will both be sadly missed.

That's it for this week. I'll be back next week with more Notes From
Backstage. Until then, enjoy the show!

Bob Ryder
www.nwatna.com
[EMAIL PROTECTED]