NWA: Total Nonstop Action: Raven vs. AJ Styles vs. Ron "The Truth" Killings vs. "Wildcat" Chris Harris: (05.19.04) - We lead into the world title match with a video recap of last weeks title match with A.J. Styles and Chris Harris leading into Vince Russo's decision for the "Deadly Draw" 4-way, which then features statements from each of the competitors:
Chris Harris: "You guys can call it what you want, but no matter what, I've been pushed back from this title for months. And it's been long enough, and I'm sick of it."
Raven: "I don't care if it's three people -- I don't care if it's five people, I don't care if it's ten people. I am taking what my birthright is, what I so fully and richly deserve--that is the NWA title. And when I'm done with that -- I'm coming for Sabu."
Ron "the Truth" Killings: "Deadly Draw is gonna happen, but I'm going to be the wild card that night. Chris Harris, Raven, A.J. Styles, Suntan Superman--we're going to see who can dance and be the deadliest within this draw."
A.J. Styles: "Hey Why don't we get the whole locker-room -- the TNA locker-room to come out and challenge A.J. Styles? Vince, your problems become mine. I have a solution for you: A.J. Styles survives the Deadly Draw, retains the title, and is still the two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. And that, my friend, is your solution."
This was going to be AJ Styles 5th title match in 5 weeks. Could his streak of defending the title successfully continue for the 4th week in a row? Things got underway quick as Styles was the first man in, followed by Wildcat Chris Harris. Harris wasted no time as he speared the champ in the opening seconds of the match. With each wrestler unable to get a pin in 5 minutes, Raven entered and went right to work on both Styles and Harris.
Then the other 5 minutes were up and the Truth came down to the ring and cleaned house. All of a sudden, Jeff Jarrett made his return with guitar in hand. He took the guitar and smashed it right over AJ Styles head. With blood pouring from the face of Styles, The Truth took the advantage and connected with a scissors kick from the top rope. He then got the 123 and was declared the NEW NWA World Heavyweight Champion! Russo ran to the ring, but told the referees and the TNA officials that the decision stands. "The Truth" Ron Killings is the 2 time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
WINNER and NEW NWA/TNA World Champion: Ron Killings via Pinfall
Jersey City, New Jersey: Raven vs. Kanyon: (05.15.04) - In a match years in the making since they had last crossed paths in World Championship restling and costing Raven the World Tag Team Championship after taking a dive subbing for him as Saturn's tag partner and joining Diamond Dallas Page's New Jersey Triad, Raven got a chance to even the score against Chris Kanyon, fresh from leaving the WWE. In this scenario before a packed house at the Pershing Ice Rink in Jersey City, New Jersey, Raven came out on top as it looks as if this feud may renew anytime, anywhere on the indie scene in the U.S.
WINNER: Raven via Pinfall
WIN/LOSS/DRAW Singles Record for 2004: 8/5/0
USA Pro Wrestling: USA Pro World Heavyweight Championship: Raven vs. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas: (05.14.04) - Raven challenged the leader of the Triple Threat, "The Franchise" Shane Douglas, who defeated the enigmatic Raven for the USA PRo Heavyweight Title several months ago after heavy handed influence for his cabal of cronies lead by Chris Candido and "the Beast from the East" Bam Bam Bigelow. In this scenario, Raven didn't have a Flock of followers to help him out and stated that it was nearly 1:00 am and he would take his time beating Douglas' pussy ass around the Amazura Ballroom in Jamaica, Queens, NY. True to his word, this was a bloody brawl which ended with Raven clinching the win with the dreaded Raven Effect DDT as Shane Douglas title reign in USA Pro ended with a short trip and a bad landing as Raven's path to championship gold in USA Pro Wrestling took flight anew.
WINNER and NEW USA Pro Champion: Raven via Pinfall
WIN/LOSS/DRAW Singles Record for 2004: 7/5/0
NWA: Total Nonstop Action: Raven Appearance: (05.12.04) - Before the main event match with Chris Harris and A.J. Styles for the NWA Heavyweight Championship of the World, we cut to the back where Scott Hudson interviews Raven about the stipulation that he and Ron "the Truth" Killings are to be handcuffed to ringside to prevent outside interference in the title match.
Hudson: "Raven, it must be delicious irony to know that in Vince Russo's master plan--not only did the man that cost you your title shot cost you your shot, he's getting his shot tonight -- Chris Harris."
Raven: "I cannot believe the audacity of Vince Russo, that he would allow Chris Harris to interfere in my World Title Match, deny me my destiny, and then give that filthy reprobate a title shot tonight? And if that wasn't appalling enough, he's going to have me handcuffed to the ring post like I'm some sort of base criminal? Vince Russo, I have a hundred-and-forty-three I.Q., and I am a bona fide genius, and I have made a career out of outsmarting feeble-minded clogs like you. The prize may have eluded me so far, Vince, but it's not a question of if I'll win the title, it's only a question of when. And when I do, Vince, I will drink the wine of victory from your empty-headed skull. There's a proverb that says, 'It's not the destination that's important, it's the journey.' Well, if that's true, then I promise you that this will be the bleakest, blackest, darkest, dirtiest, most brutal journey that anybody has ever taken. I got two words for ya': Donner Party. I think you hear me knockin', I think I'm coming in. Welcome to the terrordome, quote the Raven, nevermore."
Hudson: "It's time, the stage is set for our main event, handcuffs and all, Mike and Don, take it away."
Raven Interference: AJ Styles vs. Chris Harris - It was time for the main event of the evening between Wildcat Chris Harris and NWA Champion, AJ Styles. This was Styles' 4th title match in the last 4 weeks. Questions surrounded his ability to successfully defend the title after 3 weeks of grueling matches. To make things even more interesting, Raven and The Truth were handcuffed to the ring to make sure they didn't interfere with the match. AJ Styles and Chris Harris tore down the house with an incredible match with many near pin falls.
Styles didn't looked tired at all and traded moves with Harris throughout the match. About midway through the match, Konnan ran down to the ring and cut his partner Killings free. Once he broke loose, Killings went right to work on the Champ and gave him a scissors kick that drove his head right to the mat. Security saw this and came down to the ring to haul 3LK to the back.
Harris then crawled back into the ring and covered Styles, but before the referee could count to 3, he was pulled out by Raven. Raven took the keys from the referee and released himself. Once free, he entered the ring and took out Chris Harris with a drop toe hold into a steel chair. Sabu then ran to the ring to get revenge on Raven for not watching his back the last couple of weeks. The Suicidal, Homicidal, Genocidal, Sabu ran after Raven all the way through the crowd to the old SEX locker room where Security locked him in.
Now that everyone was prevented from interfering anymore, Styles and Chris Harris went back to work on each other. Neither competitor could put the other away until Kid Kash and Dallas showed up at ringside. Kash used the pipe from earlier in the night to crack Chris Harris over the skull. Seeing this, Styles took the opportunity to put away Harris and got the pin for the victory, successfully defending the title for the 3rd week in a row. Chris Harris eventually got up and stared down Styles, knowing that he was screwed out of his title. Raven and Killings then managed to come back down to the ring and an all out brawl broke out. The ring was then full of TNA superstars after the locker rooms had emptied to break up the 4 individuals. Russo came down and said that he had enough and told Raven, Killings, and Harris that they would all have a shot at the title next week!
NWA: Total Nonstop Action: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Raven vs. AJ Styles: (5.5.04) - On the pre-taped free pre-show after the recap of the Raven vs. Storm match from the previous week / and his interference in A.J. Styles' celebration, we cut to the TNA.cam and more black and white sit-down footage of Raven.
Raven: "I'm gonna beat A.J. Styles. I'm gonna take my title. Then I'm gonna be NWA Champion. I'm going to be the worst champion that you ever saw, Vince. You think Jeff was tough to control? Imagine controllin' me, Vince. First you're going to have to get me off you. First you're going to have to get my fist out of your mouth. And then you think you're going to be able to control me, Vince? Ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Vince, Wednesday night—a destiny fulfilled. And your fate comes knockin' on the door. And I promise you, it's not going to be very pretty. Quote the Raven, nevermore."
Later in the show, after an in-ring promo with Russo, 3-Live Krew and Monty Brown, we cut to the back where Scott Hudson is interviewing Raven.
Hudson: "Raven, you've had your problems with Vince Russo, we know that. But you can't let that come to the forefront when you could potentially reach your destiny tonight and become NWA Champion."
Raven: "Potentially? Potentially?! I promise you that I will fulfill my destiny and become NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Vince Russo, understand this: I am so fed up with your sanctimonious drivel -- that there are two things that now you cannot do to stop me. You can't stop me from hurtin' people, Vince. You can't stop me from hospitalizin' ‘em, and you can't stop me from winnin' the title! Vince Russo, I will cut a bloody swath through this locker room. I've already put Vampiro, Sinn, Slash, Chris Harris—I put ‘em all out of the NWATNA, Vince! And I'm gonna put A.J. Styles out. You won't be able to feel the locker room! I will be NWA Champion! Raven Effect: short trip, A.J., bad landing—Quote the Raven, nevermore."
After the Abyss vs. Watts match, we cut to the back where Armando Quintero and "La Parka" (*later to be revealed as Chris Harris in a La Parka costume) are standing by with Scott Hudson. Midway through their promo Raven interrupts.
Raven: "La Parka, it's nice to see you've come here to see me win the NWA World Heavyweight Title and fulfill my destiny."
There is assorted muttering between Quintero and "La Parka."
Raven: " You don't understand English?"
Quintero: "He doesn't understand English—"
Raven: "Then maybe he'll understand this..."
Raven starts punching "La Parka", he then kicks "La Parka", and finally hits "La Parka", who is laying on the ground, in the right shoulder with the steel chair that "La Parka" had been holding.
Hudson: "Armando, get out of here. Armando, no, c'mon, Armando, no. Good God! No, Raven! Raven—come-on!"
Raven: "Give me the microphone... Nobody cares about Cinco de Mayo. Nobody cares about Mexico. Nobody cares about Triple A. They care about one thing. They care about me fulfilling my destiny and winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Happy Cinco de Mayo. Quote the Raven, nevermore."
Raven then steps over "La Parka" and walks off ...
Hudson: "Can we get some help over here?"
Tenay and West sell Raven as "selfish" and "self-centered".
Raven vs. AJ Styles - It was time to see if Raven would fulfill his destiny or if AJ could successfully defend the NWA Heavyweight Championship 2 weeks in a row. AJ had proven that he is not afraid of a challenge and was ready to fight. Raven, on the other hand, is a 16 year veteran of the squared circle and was one step away from realizing his dream. It was the third week in a row that AJ was in a title match. Raven hoped this eventually would take its toll on the Phenomenal One and lead to a win, pitting Raven as the 5th NWA Champion in TNA's 2 year history.
Both men fought incredibly hard and exchanged some viscous shots to the body. Raven thought he had a trick up his sleeve by pulling out a pill case full of powder. Fortunately for AJ, he got his hands on the powder first and tried throwing it in Raven’s face. Raven got a kick to AJ’s chin which sent the powder in both their faces. While Raven was trying to get his vision back, he mistakenly took the referee and Evenflowed him through a chair that was set in the middle of the ring.
Raven then used the chair to hit Styles and knocked him to the ground. The referee was still out and was unable count the 1 2 3 on Styles. La Parka then made his way to the ring and landed viscous DDT on Raven. This gave Styles the opportunity to put Raven in the Styles Clash which eventually got him the win.
WINNER: AJ Styles via Pinfall
WIN/LOSS/DRAW Singles Record for 2004: 6/5/0
After the commotion, Raven looked at La Parka in disbelief. La Parka then pulled his mask off revealing that it was actually Chris Harris. Harris then attacked Raven in a fury and James Storm ran in to help him. The locker room emptied and everyone came down to the ring to separate the three of them. Russo came down and grabbed the microphone. He told Harris that he was out of line, but Harris didn’t care and demanded that he get a shot that he deserved 2 weeks ago against Jeff Jarrett. He wanted AJ in the ring next week for the NWA World Heavyweight Title.
MMWA: Raven vs. Jimmy Jacobs: (05.01.04) - Raven with Bobby Bambino defeated Jimmy Jacobs in a "Raven's Rules" Match. This one went all over the Kalkaska Kaliseum.
WINNER: Raven via Pinfall
WIN/LOSS/DRAW Singles Record for 2004: 7/4/0
