Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on PPV: Raven's Tribute to The Sheik: (06.23.04) - With about 30 minutes remaining in the show, after the “no contest” ending of the A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy match we cut to somewhere in the back with Shane Douglas.
Douglas: “Professor, Don, this is the ‘Franchise’ Shane Douglas, the man who’s always called it like I’ve seen it. And quite frankly, I’ve got to warn you people at home -- what you’re about to see -- quite frankly is going to shock you. If I know Sabu, and I think I hear him coming now -- it’s going to sicken Sabu. (as Sabu enters the area) Now Sabu, keep calm. Raven’s not here -- and this is not my doing. This is Raven’s sick joke--Raven’s...”
The camera man then directs our attention at an effigy. It is a (plastic) skeleton dressed up like the Sheik. Hanging from the neck of the effigy is a piece of red posterboard which contains two lines of print (all capital letters). It reads: NEVERMORE and RAVEN. Attached to the right lower corner (anatomical left) of the posterboard is the same photo of the Sheik that Sabu had been pondering two weeks prior when Raven first challenged him.
Sabu looks at the effigy with disapproval.
Douglas disappears from the scene; enter Mickey Doyle (Tenay had announced earlier in the evening that Doyle had caught Raven’s announcement of the tribute while watching the previous week’s ppv, and had come tonight specifically to see the tribute to his late friend, the Sheik).
Mickey Doyle: “Sabu, it’s me, Mickey, 'Irish' Mickey from the old days, remember? Is it registering? I came here for two reasons: to see this so-called Raven tribute to your uncle, and to see you, to see what’s going on in your head. I saw what this guy did to you on tv last week. He slapped you three times. That would upset me, I know that did something to you. Look in my eyes for thirty seconds. This has come down to respect. He’s disrespected your family, the Sheik, and you. You have got to do the right thing. You know what I mean. You have got to do the right thing, sabu. I love you, brother. I love you. (Doyle then hugs Sabu) This is for the Sheik and you -- do the right thing.” Doyle then leaves and we’re left with a shot of Sabu, looking off in the distance in which Doyle left.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on PPV: Raven vs. Sonjay Dutt: (06.16.04) - Highlights of last week's segments involving Raven, Sabu, and Sonjay Dutt are shown after Swinger and Gilbertti lose to Siaki and Kenney. In the back Scott Hudson is set to interview Raven.
Hudson: “Raven, after weeks, months, years of speculation, now we know. Why did we never see two of the superstars of professional wrestling, Raven and Sabu, in singles competition? It was a vow made to your mentor, his uncle and mentor, the Sheik, never to face each other one on one but, Raven, it appears to me, sir, that you have forsaken that vow.”
Raven: “The Sheik is dead. Long live Raven. Sabu is not worthy of the Sheik’s mantle. The only reason that Sabu was trained by the Sheik is they were relatives. He trained me because he saw the barbarism, the nihilism, he saw the fact that I was willing to do whatever it took to hurt my opponent. If I had to take a chair shot to g--if I had to take two to give one. I don’t have a problem with that, Scott Hudson.”
Hudson: “Yeah,”
Raven: “What infuriates me about this whole situation is at some point, Sabu and Sonjay Dutt became buddies, and Sonjay Dutt had to interject himself into my affair. Sonjay Dutt, I don’t care if I have to mangle you, if I have to maim you, I will torture you, and I will do whatever it takes to get Sabu into that ring. I’m gonna make -- I’m gonna show to the world that Sabu is not worthy of the Sheik’s mantle. The Sheik is dead. The promise is no good. The promise is over, the vow is through. Promises are made to be broken, and so are bones. Quote the Raven, nevermore.”
Hudson: “Raven and Sabu might happen, but right now it’s Raven and Sonjay Dutt.”
We cut to the ring where Sonjay Dutt makes his intro first. As Sonjay is making his way down the entrance ramp he is attacked from behind by Raven. Raven then drags Sonjay the rest of the way down the ramp by the hair, slamming Sonjay’s head into the ring post. Raven then slams Sonjay’s head into the ring stairs as Tenay announces that the match will be fought under “Raven’s Rules, which means there are no rules and there is no disqualification.” Raven throws Sonjay into the guardrail. With his hands, Raven claws at Sonjay’s mouth. Raven again throws Sonjay into the guardrail. Raven drags Sonjay by one arm in front of the announce table. He proceeds to choke Sonjay against the side of the announce table while repeatedly screaming, “Where’s Sabu, Mike Tenay?!?” Raven finally throws Sonjay into the ring.
In the ring Raven takes too much time plotting his next offensive move and Sonjay kicks him in the left leg, repeatedly. Sonjay then bashes Raven’s head into the turnbuckle, repeatedly, until this is broken up by the ref. Sonjay then backs Raven into the corner, climbs up the ropes and begins punching Raven in the head, until this is broken up by the referee. Raven then grabs Sonjay and powerbombs him down to the matt. Raven the goes for the pin, hooking one leg, but pulling Sonjay’s shoulders from the matt at the count of two.
Raven backs off of Sonjay and challenges him to “get up!”. As sonjay rises to his feet Raven charges at him delivers a high knee lift to Sonjay’s abdomen. As Sonjay again tries to get to his feet Raven hit him with another knee lift. Raven then requests a microphone.
Raven: “Sabu, you’re going to come out here, or I’m going to keep torturing your flunky.”
Raven then kicks Dutt, who is face down on the canvas, in the back. Dutt struggles to his feet, hitting at Raven as he does so. Raven goes to kick Sonjay, Sonjay grabs him by the leg and spins him around, as Raven comes around he clothelines Sonjay down to the matt. Raven then goes for the nonchalant pin. At the count of two he again lifts Sonjay’s shoulders off the matt.
Raven grabs a roll of duct tape (conveniently placed on the ring apron). He then binds Sonjay’s hands together. Raven then grabs a screwdriver and begins digging it into the back of Sonjay’s head. Tenay says, “This has gone way over the line.” Raven abandons the screwdriver and goes outside the ring for a “steel” chair. Raven tosses the chair in the ring.
Raven sets up the chair in the middle of the ring. Raven then forces Sonjay to his feet. Raven then executes the drop toehold on the steel chair on Sonjay. Raven then retrieves the microphone from the apron, “I’m ready Sabu! Where are you, Sabu!” Raven repositions the chair in the middle of the ring and executes another drop toehold on Sonjay. Raven then goes for another pin on Sonjay. Referee Andrew Thomas executes a fast three count (preventing Raven from forcing the match to continue as he did on the other two pin attempts) declaring Raven the winner. Raven and Thomas then exchange words over the cadence of Thomas’s count.
WINNER: Raven via Pinfall
Raven picks up the mike, he sits down in the chair in the middle of the ring, leaning over Sonjay, and orders, “Call for Sabu to come out. Call for your buddy.” Sonjay moans and writhes in agony. “Come on, call for your buddy, Sonjay,” Raven instructs. “I’m gonna keep hurtin yah,” he then slaps Sonjay in the face. “Call for your buddy” Raven repeats, Sonjay continues to moan and writhe. “You don’t call, I’ll just keep torturing you,” says Raven, again hitting Sonjay about the head. Raven then gets off the chair and rubs Sonjay’s face in the matt.
The bell is rung repeatedly, to no avail. Raven grabs the duct tape from the ring apron and this time binds Sonjay’s feet together. Tenay remarks that “Raven (is) acting like a man possessed.” West desires for someone to “get out here and stop this carnage.” They continue to ring the bell.
“Hey Dutt,” says Raven, “call for your buddy!” Raven then hits Sonjay in the top of the head repeatedly with the microphone. Raven repeatedly instructs Sonjay to call for Sabu. Sonjay finally complies, and calls for Sabu while Raven is choking him.
The arena then goes black and Sabu’s music plays. When the lights come back up Sabu is on his way to the ring. Raven and Sabu then stand face to face in the ring. Raven is ready for fisticuffs, Sabu stands with his hands on his hips. Sabu then turns away from Raven in order to attend to Dutt.
“Sabu, what are you doin’?” Raven wonders as Sabu attends to Dutt. “Don’t jump on him -- worry about me, Sabu,” warns Raven. Sabu then gets up and goes face to face with Raven. Raven slaps Sabu in the face. “Get with the program, Sabu, come on,” says Raven. “You know your uncle would not respect your cowardice. He would not take a punk for a nephew. And the only reason that he trained you was cuz you were his relative. But I’m of God, and that’s what he saw in me. Come on, hit me, Sabu, hit me!” Goads Raven. “Fight me, Sabu,” says Raven as his again slaps Sabu in the face. Sabu then grabs Raven by the throat and seems poised to punch Raven, but then refrains. Sabu turns his attention back to Sonjay Dutt.
“Oh, come on, Sabu, come on,” says Raven. “Promises were meant to be broken,” he says as he kicks Sabu in the back, head, and chest. “Fight me! Fight me ! Fight Me!!!!!!” screams Raven. Raven again slaps Sabu across the face.
Security finally enters the ring, Sabu returns his attention to Sonjay. “That’s enough!” orders a voice, which turns out to be none other than Dusty Rhodes. “Dream, this has nothing to do with me and you! I respect you, this is me and Sabu!” Raven protests.
Rhodes: “That’s enough. Let me ask you a question: what happened to the respect that’s burned inside that gut? What happened to that handshaking friendly Sheik, the Sheik’s not dead, the Sheik’s in this building right now. You forget who brought you to the dance! Let me remind of something -- Lima, Ohio, you had a riot. Sabu came out, took 14 stitches for you! What about that! What about Raven? Wait, what about Raven? Let me tell you something, what about respect? Let me tell you this -- and don’t forget it -- if you got family business -- you bring the family business to me and I’ll take care of it. Don’t you bring it out here in the street. And, by the way,” Dusty gestures to Sabu, “hey, hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. Let me tell you another thing, tonight you seem real froggy, you know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout? What about me--you’re talkin’ about. Let me tell you something, you wanna slap somebody -- what about me?!” Dusty gets in Raven’s face. Raven turns and exits the ring.
Later in the program Scott Hudson is backstage with Raven.
Hudson: “Mike, thanks a lot, it’s still crazy back here, I want to encourage security to make sure Abyss and Erik Watts stay far away from this scene. But Raven, you’ve asked for this time, sir.”
Raven: “I’ve been in this business a long time. And I’ve apologized once in my whole career... it’s embarrassing, it’s a little humiliating. Dusty Rhodes is right. The Sheik trained me. I got to show respect for the man. The man’s dead, but he’s a legend, and... Sabu I’m sorry. Al-All I can say -- next week is the two year anniversary, I’m gonna have a tribute ceremony to the Sheik, that Dusty will be proud of, Sabu, you’ll be proud of... I’m sorry... I’m sorry....”
Hudson: “A very emotionally distraught Raven, Mike, back to you.”
We return to Tenay and West who doubt the sincerity of Raven’s sudden change of heart.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on PPV: Raven Involvement: (06.09.04) - The show opens with a video montage of the previous weeks events, after which a shot is shown of Raven, sitting in the corner of a wrestling ring (traditional 4-sided) with singapore cane in hand. Tenay announces that, “We have received word, that this man—Raven—has issued a challenge tonight. A challenge for Sabu to step inside Raven’s ‘House of Fun’ at an empty arena located near the TNA Asylum.”
About thirty minutes into the show, after Swinger and Gilbertti have lost to AMW, and after a backstage interview with Hudson and Kid Kash and Dallas, we cut a shot of Raven standing in a wrestling ring in a “remote location”. Raven is holding a singapore cane wrapped in rags, which happen to be on fire whilst growling, “Come on”. While this is being shown, Tenay imparts that a challenge has been issued from Raven to Sabu to meet him in this undisclosed location. We then cut away to a shot of Sabu in his dressing room looking at an 8X10 glossy photo of his uncle, the “Original” Sheik. The question of the night is whether or not Sabu will accept Raven’s challenge.
Back to the ring, Michael Shane faces and defeats Chris Sabin. During this match is announced by Tenay that the newest addition to the TNA announce team -- Shane Douglas has been sent out to talk to Raven. After the match, we cut away to Shane and Raven at the arena.
Douglas: “I’m game, Raven. I’ll interview you, I’ll talk any place you want to lie, any place you wanna sit. I do have to tell you, Raven, I find it quite ironic that on my first appearance here on pay-per-view they’ve asked me to come out and talk to you about this crazy challenge that you have put forth to the Homicidal, the Suicidal, the Genocidal Sabu. What exactly is going on inside that gourd of yours, Raven?”
Raven: “Before I even discuss that, I wanna say that it’s good that you finally realized that I retired you a long time ago and now you’ve got your "a funny little interviewer" threads on. Shane Douglas, don’t you find it interesting that in the history of this sport, two of the premiere headliners -- me and Sabu, not once has there ever been a singles match between the two of us. Did you know that?”
Douglas: “I do have to admit, it is sort of strange.”
Raven: “Strange? It’s bizarre. And I’ll tell you why? You know what ... this is going to sound kind of shady, this is going to sound trite, but the reason that Sabu and I have never had a singles match is because he’s terrified of me.”
Douglas: “Wait a second! You’re telling me that Sabu—the maniac, the crazy man, is afraid of you? Ha ha ha ha.”
Raven: “Look, don’t you find it interesting that in ECW I bled buckets. And I begged Paul Heyman—’Please, lemme fight Sabu’ and every time he said, ‘Sabu will not face you’. WCW, WWE, TNA — I brought Sabu here for the express purpose of a singles match. And yet every single time I asked him -- he refuses. Look, I’ll tell you what, if I’m wrong — I’ve been laying out here what 45 minutes. I’ll tell you what Shane Douglas, I’ll tell you -- I’ll prove to you that he’s terrified. If he comes out here tonight to accept my house of fun challenge -- I will retire from the sport. And that’s how--that’s how serious I am about the fact that he is terrified ... Sabu, welcome to the terrordome. Quote the Raven, nevermore.”
We then cut away to an ad for tonight's “Gut Check” match. After the ad, the TNA camera are in Sabu’s dressing room where Sabu continues to stare at the photo of the Sheik which he holds at an arms length.
Sonjay Dutt is with Sabu.
Dutt: “It’s okay. Look,I understand. Sabu, relax--relax. As soon as my match is over, I’ll go out and tell him. Don’t worry, don’t worry, relax. As soon as my match is over I’ll let him know, all right.”
Dutt leaves and Tenay wonders “Why would Sonjay Dutt be in Sabu’s locker room at such a critical time?”
Dutt then scores the pin on David Young, defeating Young, Sharkboy and D-Ray 3000 in a “Gut Check” match.
After the Team Canada vs. Lynn, Garza, and Heavy Metal match we again cut to the “remote location” for another dose of Raven. This time it is a “taped” segment (in the words of Mike Tenay “our tape machines were rolling...”) between Raven and Sonjay Dutt.
Raven (talking to the camera): “He’s not coming. I told you, Sabu is not coming. Sabu’s never gonna show up. I am a major star and he’s--” (Sonjay Dutt walks into the empty arena)
Dutt: ”Hey Raven!”
Raven: “What?”
Dutt: “I got a message from Sabu. He says there’s going to be no match tonight. He says you know about the promise.”
Raven: “Well, let me give you a message to give to him...” Raven then punches Dutt in the face. “You got the message, Sonjay, huh?”
Dutt (who recovers, turns around to face Raven): “I have the message.” He then returns blows with Raven until the two make it into the ring.
In the ring, Raven is on his knees. Dutt slams Raven over the head with a garbage can. He steps closer to Raven for another offensive maneuver but Raven his him with a low blow. Raven then hits Sonjay over the head with a trash can lid. Raven then hits Sonjay over the head with the trash can. Raven sets Sonjay up for the DDT, before delivering the move Raven announces to the camera: “Sabu, this is on your head!” as he DDTs Dutt. “Where are those cuffs at, here they are...” says Raven, presumably to himself, as he grabs a pair of handcuffs. He then cuffs Sonjay's right wrist to the bottom ring rope. “Here’s your little buddy. Here’s your little buddy,” says Raven as he grabs a colander, which he places on Sonjay’s head. “Hey, Sonjay, you forgot your turban.” While holding the colander on Dutt’s head Raven says, “Come on Sabu, here’s your buddy. Get some guts, Sabu. Come on Sabu. COME ON SABU! COME ON!” Raven screams as he leaves the ring. “Hey, Sonjay,” says Raven, “tell Sabu I said ‘Promises: they’re made to be broken.” Raven then walks off.
The “taped” part of the segment then ends, and we cut to a live shot of Dutt still in the ring handcuffed to the bottom rope while the cameraman yells for help. Sabu then enters the picture to check on Dutt. Segment over.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling: King of the Mountain: Raven vs. AJ Styles vs. Ron "The Truth" Killings vs. "Wildcat" Chris Harris vs. Jeff Jarrett: (06.2.04) - We go to the back with Scott Hudson, who, throughout the course of the evening is supposed to interview all 5 competitors in the reverse ladder match.
Hudson: "Thanks a lot Mike. The countdown continues to the King of the Mountain tonight, here at the Asylum. Again 5 men will enter, one eligible wrestler will hang that belt high above the ring here in the Asylum and become NWA World Heavyweight Champion. And a man who wants that belt back, a two-time former champ, the phenomenal A.J. Styles. And A.J. as we get ready for King of the Mountain what's your strategy?"
A.J. Styles: "Strategy? In my opinion, I'm one of the favorites in this match. Why? It's simple: LADDER. See that's something I know a lot about. Being one of the founding members of the X Division where it wasn't about weight limits--it was about NO LIMITS! That's something that I know a lot about. See the ball is in my court, I have the advantage. And I don't have to worry about an unexpected Jeff Jarrett--not tonight, eyeball to eyeball."
(Raven walks in on the interview)
Hudson: "Raven--"
Raven: "Hudson, why are you interviewing a white-trash redneck about strategy? If you wanna discuss strategy you talk to me, and it's very simple, you take out the opponents before they get to the ring..."
Raven then proceeds to attack A.J. Styles until the Black-Shirt Security appears to break them apart.
The rules for this type of match were just opposite of a true ladder match. Instead of pulling the title down with the use of a ladder, each superstar was supposed to hand the title up. In order to do so, each competitor must have a pin on an opponent to be eligible for the belt. The athlete who was pinned was then taken to a penalty box (cage) for two minutes. All 5 talented wrestlers put it all on the line to get a shot at the gold. You had three 2-time NWA Champions in the ring with 2 other worthy competitors.
AJ Styles got the 1st pin on Jeff Jarrett followed by Chris Harris pinning Raven. While Jarrett and Raven were in the penalty box, they seemed to be plotting something for when they come out. Once both of them were free, Jarrett and Raven worked together to eliminate the other 3 competitors. The 3rd pin came when Truth pinned Chris Harris and the 4th with Raven pinning Harris again. As most of us expected, the unholy union of Raven and Jarrett diminished and the two of them began beating on each other again. The 5th pin came when Jeff Jarrett pinned the Truth, thus making all 5 wrestlers eligible to grab the belt. AJ Styles then got his Style Clash on Jarrett, sending him back to the cage. Once he served his 2 minutes, Jarrett saw an opportunity to get the belt, but Russo would not give it to him.
In the end, not even Russo could keep Jeff Jarrett down. Jeff went to his old friend, the guitar, and nailed the Truth over the head with it as he was close to putting the title on the rope hanging from the ceiling. A disgusted Russo couldn’t watch as Jarrett grabbed the belt and hung it above the ring to become 3 time NWA World Heavyweight Champion!
WINNER and NEW NWA Champion: Jeff Jarrett via Pinfall
