NWA Powerrr Review - October 15, 2019

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

David Marquez Interviewed Aron Stevens

Stevens is obviously the former Damien Sandow and it's cool he's doing a similar gimmick, complete with the "You're welcome" catchphrase. He was endearing at first, which was smart because he was greeted with cheers when he entered the studio, but quickly turned the crowd on him by telling them that they couldn't make eye contact with him. It's a treat to have Stevens back in wrestling after a few years away. Let's be honest, he was barely on TV for the last year or so he was in WWE and his IMPACT run was even worse.

Ricky Starks def. TRevor Murdoch

Murdoch was never anything special on his own in WWE, but he's a good hand to have for these NWA tapings. He fits the vibe of these shows perfectly. That said, Starks was the real star of this match. I've heard a bit about him since he signed with the NWA in August and he lived up to the hype here. Murdoch played his part in getting him over and Starks had a solid showing in the ring. He did well with his post-match promo as well and I'm looking forward to seeing more from him.

Colt Cabana and Mr. Anderson def. Jordan Kingsley and Sal Rinauro

Cabana and Anderson are two great people to bring in for these shows. They're both notable names and have spent time on top in a number of different promotions. They're a bit of an odd couple on paper, but for some strange reason, it works. The match was a basic squash that was designed to get Cabana and Anderson over as a unit. Anderson has definitely put on some weight since I saw him last, but at least he can still go in the ring.

NWA Women's Champion Allysin Kay def. Ashley Vox (Non-Title)

I was never the biggest fan of Kay/Sienna in IMPACT, but she's a nice addition to the NWA's women's division. Like Nick Aldis, she carries herself like a star and is skilled between the ropes. Vox scored an ample amount of offense, but in the end, it was Kay who went over decisively. I appreciated afterward how Kay put over Vox during her interview while also establishing herself as a credible champion.

Eli Drake Interrupted NWA National Heavyweight Champion James Storm

I remember thoroughly enjoying the rivalry Storm and Drake had with each other in IMPACT three years ago and I think they can make magic together in the NWA. Storm simply stated that he felt he was owed a shot at the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, but instead of disputing him on that point, Drake came out and brought up the possibility of Aldis ducking him. He also mentioned that after Storm gets his opportunity, he'll be waiting for a chance to contend for the National Heavyweight title. It was a simple segment that did its job in planting the seeds for a future feud between the two.

NWA World Tag Team champions The Wild Cards vs. Eddie Kingston and Homicide Ended in a No Contest

This wasn't an instant classic by any means, but it was twice as long as any other match on the show. What we got from the two teams was solid, but the non-finish with The Dawson crashing the contest was a bit disappointing. Here's hoping that doesn't become a trend in the NWA the same way it has in WWE and other promotions. On the bright side, the fact the announcers actually acknowledged it as a no contest instead of ignoring it was refreshing.

Joe Galli Interviewed NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis and Kamille

This was hyped heavily throughout the episode to make you want to see what all the buzz was about. Tension between Aldis and Kamille was teased at the end of last week's episode when Aldis didn't let Kamille talk during their post-match interview and that was once again the case here. As I've said before, Aldis is outstanding in his role as the champion and I like his pairing with Kamille, so while I'm interested to see where this storyline goes, I'd prefer they stick together.

Overall Show

The premiere episode of NWA Powerrr last week received a ton of praise from fans and wrestlers alike and rightfully so. It was such a breath of fresh air compared to everything else out there right now. I just hope they can maintain this momentum going forward. This was another entertaining episode that did a lot to get new and old faces over and further some storylines. If you're all about the wrestling itself, NWA Powerrr may not be for you, but it's worth checking out, anyway, if only for the promos and quality character work. I'd argue that December might be too soon for the NWA to be holding their first pay-per-view since rebranding, but I have full faith they'll put together a compelling card between now and then given who's in charge.