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NWA: Total Nonstop Action: Raven vs. Abyss vs. AJ Styles vs Ron "The Truth" Killings: (03.31.04) - Mike Tenay was set to interview America's Most Wanted in the middle of the ring. Wildcat Chris Harris and Tennessee Cowboy James Storm were making their way to the ring, when out of nowhere, Jarrett smashed a guitar over Storm's skull. Harris chased Jarrett down and gave him the Catatonic in the middle of the ring. Just as Harris was about to give Jarrett a taste of his own medicine and hit him with another guitar, Raven gave him an Evenflow DDT. Jarrett got up just in time to confront Raven and the two exchanged unpleasantries until Styles came leaping off the top rope, sending both of them to the mat. Raven and Styles battled on the outside, while Jarrett got back in the ring and smashed his other guitar over the head of Chris Harris.
Before the match got underway, Sting made his way to the ring as the special enforcer in this match. His job: to keep all hell from breaking loose. Vince Russo also made his way to ringside to watch the match up close and personal. It was time for the Final Four Way to take place on the Road to the Steel Cage. All 4 TNA superstars looked very determined to get another shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Title. Jeff Jarrett was looking on in the back to find out who he could eventually encounter in a future title match.
Sting had to get involved early on after Raven and Abyss got out of line. After roughhousing both of them, former champions Styles and Killings leaped to the outside on top of both competitors. AJ Styles was about to get the pin when Jeff Jarrett showed up at ringside and got the attention of the referee. After seeing this Sting went after the champ to keep him out of the match. Vince Russo also came over to get Jarrett out of the picture. Jeff ended up grabbing Vince's towel and threw it in the ring. When Styles finally came to, he saw the towel and thought Vince Russo had double-crossed him again. This distraction gave Raven the chance to pull down Styles for the rollup and eventual pin. Raven won the match and the opportunity to fight Chris Harris for the number one contenders spot.
WINNER: Raven via Pinfall
WIN/LOSS/DRAW Singles Record for 2004: 5/3/0
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WXW: Raven & HATE vs. Thumbtack Jack & Steve Douglas: (3.27.04) - Raven's 2nd stop on his European Tour as he wrestles in Essen, Germany for WXW. Raven declares, "Ich bin ein Essener. And because I had such a wonderful time in your country I'll be at my booth for pictures and autographs, so stop by before you leave." Raven teams up with local wrestler HATE in this tag team match which saw Raven's team go over after Raven put on a good show utilizing 2 stereo Raven Effect DDTs by both Raven & HATE for the pinfall victory.
WINNERS: Raven & HATE via Pinfall.
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Frontier Wrestling Alliance: Raven vs. CM Punk: (3.26.04) - Raven makes his first appearance wrestling in Europe for the FWA in the U.K. as his feud with CM Punk extends across the Atlantic, transcending yet another wrestling promotion. Punk came to the ring first getting himself over as the heel through body language towards the assembled crowd. Raven came down and Punk backed down every time the two went to lock up. Eventually Raven grabs the mic and says Punk is a pussy and the two finally begin to lock up. Soon after Punk grabs the mic and says Raven is an inferior athlete, so he has to go to an inferior country to beat Punk. The two lock up again, but Punk leaves the ring and starts to walk down the aisle. Raven gets a "Na-na-na-na Na-na-na-na Heeeyyy Goodbye..." chant going, with an added "Bitch!" from Raven in between. After this the match finally gets going. A back and forth match between the two ensued with Raven whipping out his trademark spots such as teh drop toe hold onto the chair to the crowd's delight. Punk eventually got the win over Raven and then goes on to cut another quick "I'm Straight Edge and better than you" promo and goes to DDT Raven, who reverses Punk's attempt into a Raven Effect DDT to the crowd's delight.
WINNER: CM Punk via Pinfall
WIN/LOSS/DRAW Singles Record for 2004: 4/3/0
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NWA Total Nonstop Action: Raven Appearance: (3.24.04) - The aftermath of last week's TNA action with Raven pours down as Raven was suspended from TNA this week without pay. This didn't stop the man from showing up on PPV and paving destiny's path towards the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Raven showed up in the back during a Scott Hudson interview segment with his crony Sabu asking why he had to find out through his sources on the internet that he was suspended from NWA/TNA. Here's the rundown:
Raven: “What’s the deal, I get suspended and I have to find out about it on the internet? Hey, y’know that’s not even important, Vince. Where’s my title shot?”
Vince: “My question to you is: What are you even doing here? You are suspended. We had a conversation on the phone two days ago, I told you man-to-man, you shouldn’t be here tonight, Scotty.”
Raven: “What, what are you going to do, you going to suspend me? What is this—high school, Vince? C’mon look I’m better than everybody in this room, Vince, I’m better than A.J., I’m better than Abyss, I’m better than Killings, and, like I told you last week, Chris Harris could not get the job done, you should have given me the title shot.”
Vince: “Hold on, Scotty, let me tell you something, you don’t want to go down this road with me because you’re not gonna win. You wanna talk about title shot, you wanna talk about opportunity, no problem, my door is open to you next week, we can talk all you want. Tonight, you’re suspended and I suggest you leave the premises.”
Raven: “You know, Vince, I thought we were friends. Obviously, we’re not friends, you gotta take care of your little buddies...”
Vince: “This is business—this is business now.”
Raven: “That’s what everybody says when they’re politicking you out. You know, you know what Vince, if you don’t want to deal with me now on my time, that’s fine, but you’re gonna have to deal with me later on your time ... c’mon, Sabu, let’s go.”
Vince: “Whoa, Sabu isn’t going anywhere, Sabu is working tonight. I’m not going to punish Sabu for what you did last week ... he stays ...”
Raven: “No, Sabu is my partner, he’s coming with me.
Vince: “Tonight he works for me. He stays.”
Raven: “You’re playing a dangerous game, Vince, you’re playing a dangerous game ...”
Later, AJ Styles demanded a shot at the number one contendership match for the title from Russo. Russo refused. Styles then demanded an oportunity for vendetta against Raven. Russo rebuffed that then tried to get AJ to calm down but Styles claimed he wouldn't trust Russo.
After that, Ron Killings battled Abyss for the number one contendership of the NWA/TNA Championship. He hit a dropkick off the middle turnbuckle then a gourdbuster on Abyss for the pin but Raven pulled the referee out of the ring before he could count three. Raven remained at ringside. Killings was caught with the black hole slam. Abyss went for the pin but Raven hit him with a chair. They rang the bell and announced the match was being thrown out. Raven hit Killings with the chair as well. AJ Styles hit the ring in street clothes and attacked Raven. He unloaded on Raven with a series of right hands. He was caught by Abyss with the Black Hole Slam. Killings attacked Abyss and then Raven. Raven began choking out Styles. The brawl continued. The locker room and security cleared out abd began holding everyone back from each other. Abyss broke free and went after Killings. Styles dove over the top and took out Raven. Killings said that the entire time everyone else complained, he didn't say one word. Killings said that Raven isn't supposed to be here tonight and asked Vince Russo to let them take care of Raven the way it used to be done in the locker room. Killings asked that all four battle for the shot next week.
This was confirmed later on as next week, Raven takes on AJ Styles, Abyss and Ron Killings ina 4 way dance for the NWA Title's number one contendership with Sting as the special guest enforcer. All four men brawl as TNA goes off the air.
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NWA Total Nonstop Action: Raven Appearance: (3.17.04) - Raven and Sabu come out to the ring to Raven’s music. They are interrupting an in-ring segment wherein Mike Tenay is interviewing Vince Russo.
Raven: "Vince, that’s a great speech, Vince— (pauses while crowd chants “What about Raven?”). Vince, that’s a great speech. You’re a great motivator. Vince, you’re a regular Vince Lombardi. I heard you talk about Chris Harris-Chris Harris-Chris Harris, but what about me? What about Raven? You know, I come out here, Vince, and not only am I not booked in a match, I’m not booked in the show, and I don’t have a title shot! Wh-what’s the deal, Vince?"
VR: "Raven, do you - do you think I don’t hear you? Do you think I don’t hear these people? Now I’ve tried to get a hold of you all week. What you do from Thursday to Tuesday — I have no idea."
Raven: " -- and you don’t wanna know."
VR: "Okay, well what I do know is that the last conversation you and I had - you told me how much you wanted Sabu here in NWA/TNA. So I brought Sabu in. I put you two together as a team, now Raven, next week there’s a tournament to crown new tag team champions. You and Sabu are ranked number one, and from what I understood, Raven, I thought that’s what you wanted."
Raven: "Vince, that’s not what I wanted. I don’t care about the tag team titles. I don’t care about being a tag team. Look, Sabu can fend for himself. He doesn’t need my help to get over, Vince."
Look, I came for one reason, for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. I’m a singles wrestler, I wanna be a single champion. I don’t care about the tag team belts, Vince."
VR: "Okay, that’s fair enough, Raven, and you’re going to have your opportunity. You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to do here tonight for you — there’s a match to name the top ten rankings in NWA—I’ll put you in that match. You win the match—you’re ranked number one in TNA—that work?"
Raven: (being melodramatically sarcastic) "You’re going to put me in the gauntlet-the gauntlet — what a phenomenal piece of charity, Vince. Let me just thank you Vince (mock-drops to his knees)."
"Hey look, I put Vampiro out of wrestling, I put the Church out of wrestling, I’ve beat Shane Douglas, Julio, Punk, everybody they’ve thrown at me. Vince, I’m not going to qualify. I don’t need to qualify. These people don’t want me to qualify!"
VR: "Okay, let’s up the ante... (West is commenting and Russo is inaudible)... let’s make the odds a little bit better, okay? There’s a ladder match tonight to name the number one contender — Abyss and A.J. — let’s make it a three-way. You win that match — you are the number one contender, is that what you want?"
Raven: "Well, Vince, that’s not what I want, Vince. I’m not going to have to wrestle Abyss. I’m not going to have to wrestle A.J.. Once again, I’ll repeat the statement: I’m not gonna qualify. I don’t have to qualify and I shouldn’t have to qualify!"
VR: "Raven, I said this was going to be an even playing field and it is going to be an even playing field. But right now—tonight, I’m out of options. Raven, I don’t know what else to do for you."
Raven: "Well, you’re not completely out of options, Vince. Th - there’s one more option. And before I suggest it, let me tell you I’ve heard Jeff Jarrett say it, I’ve heard you say it numerous times and now I’m gonna say it: Chris Harris is not ready. So look, take him out of the match, put me in instead. Hell, you’re doin’ him a favor ‘cause he’s not ready, Vince. If Jeff Jarrett beats him—he’s just going to slide right back down the ladder, go in a career tailspin slump—I’m doing him a favor, I’m doing myself a favor. I’m doing these people a favor. Give me my title shot!"
VR: "Raven, with all due respect, the match is booked with Chris Harris. The match is the match the people want tonight with Chris Harris. The match is going to take place, Raven."
Raven: "I’ll tell you what, Vince, I’m’a give you one more chance. Take Chris out put me in: yes or NO! Listen to them, Vince, it’s an easy answer. The answer is “yes”. Take him out, put me in! "
VR: I’ve listened to them and I’ve listened to you and I’ve also looked in the eyes of Chris Harris tonight and I’m not gonna disappoint Chris Harris. Not tonight, Raven. Raven: "You know what, I see what this is all about. I see exactly what this is about. When I was in WCW the same thing happened to me — I got politicked — "
VR: (interrupts Raven) "This isn’t WCW, Raven. I said this was going to be an even playing field and I said not tonight."
Raven: "You’re politicking me out of the thing. It happened to me in WCW, it happened to me in WWE, and it’s happening again — "
VR: (again interrupting) "How long have you known me? Have I ever steered you wrong? You will get the opportunity, Raven, but not tonight."
Raven: "Vince-Vince, I’d like to believe you, but I can’t because you’re got your little buddies, you’ve got little friends like Sonny Siaki, A.J. Styles, Chris Harris ... You’re always going to protect them ‘cause you don’t want me as champion. I’m the last person you want as champion. Look at me, I wear a skirt, I paint my face, I’m a little bit freaky and I’m a lot dysfunctional. I’m the last guy you want, but that’s cool, Vince, that’s cool, ‘cause I’ll tell you what — before this night is over I will have your full attention. Quote the Raven, nevermore."
Raven Interference - Sonny Siaki was the sixth TNA superstar to make his way into the Gauntlet. Little did he know, Raven was going to send a message to Russo by giving the Evenflow DDT to Siaki in the middle of the ring. Gilberti quickly capitalized on this and threw Siaki over the top.
The rivalry between AJ Styles and Abyss has been growing here in TNA and it all came to a boiling point Wednesday night in a ladder match to determine the number one contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. It was Power vs. Agility in this match. With the contract for a title shot hanging from the ceiling, these 2 superstars battled it out in one of the best matches in TNA history.
AJ pulled out all the stunts in attempt to keep the monster, Abyss down on the mat. Even the Styles Clash couldn't stop the big man, but a sunset flip off the top of the ladder by Styles, sent Abyss crashing through two steel chairs. Just when it seemed that Styles was going to grab the contract for the win, Raven got his attention long enough to allow Abyss to knock the ladder over, sending Abyss to the concrete floor. Raven got Vince Russo's attention again while Abyss grabbed the paperwork, which will send him to a match with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Jeff Jarrett.
Raven showed up again and pulled the referee out of the ring during the Chris Harris vs. Jeff Jarrett match. While all this was taking place, Jarrett snuck to the outside and grabbed his trusty guitar, which he smashed over Harris's head, giving him the win and thus retaining the gold. Raven had struck again and definitely got the attention of Vince Russo, but Russo promised that there would be hell to pay next week.
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NWA Total Nonstop Action: Raven & Sabu Appearance: (3.3.04) - Raven and Sabu's new unholy allaince made their presence felt in the TNA Asylum as "The Future" Frankie Kazarian challenged former X Division team captain Jerry Lynn. A changed Kazarian works on the shoulder of Lynn both in and out of the ring before a roll up win for "The Future" As Frankie is still in the ring, Raven walks out and delivers the Raven Effect to him as he grabs the mic. Raven talks of being patient about a World title shot and that "patience is a virtue" and he is not patient. He tells Vince Russo and Jeff Jarrett to pay attention because "no one is more qualified." He remembers them that he has taken out members of the New Church, Vampiro, the Gathering and Father James Mitchell:
"For how long have I been coming out here saying that I deserve a title shot? They say patience is a virtue, but I’ve never been known to be the most virtuous person. And besides, at what point did patience become a joke? Pay attention, Vince Russo. Pay attention, Jeff Jarrett — because no one is more qualified than me for an NWA World Heavyweight Title shot. No -– No offense to Chris Harris — but I was evenflowing people while he was in the parking lot trying to get autographs. I put Sinn out of TNA. I put Slash out of TNA. I put Vampiro out of TNA! I just ran off C.M. Punk. I ran off Julio and I ran off Father James Mitchell...
I’ve been standing and waiting and standing and waiting and standing and waiting to stand and wait in line? And if I have to stand and wait— to what stand and wait some more? What about me, what about Raven?
[Raven pauses to walk over to the corner and kick Kazarian, who is face down on the matt]
Time is running out, as far as I am concerned. If you thought I was ruthless before, you’ll be mortified to see what I’m willing to do. Quote the Raven, nevermore."
The Naturals run in and throw salt in the eyes of Raven as they go for the beat down. As the young superstars do this, the lights go out. When they come back on the Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal Sabu is in the ring to battle the upstart tag team as Raven gets to his feet and he and Sabu clean house.
BACK TO MAIN RESULTS PAGE
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