TNA 3-Way at Fanfest: An Explanation

[HardcoreHeroes]

Hey guys. I just remembered something that I'd been meaning to fill everyone in on. And to be honest, I'm surprised I haven't caught more grief about this, especially without explanation.

I'd advertised a TNA 3-Way on Saturday night with the winner to meet A.J. Styles on Sunday night's card.

Well, first things first. I got a call from TNA early in the week leading up to fanfest, telling me that A.J. Styles had hurt his knee (I believe on the Sunday night before at their PPV but, at this point, I'm not sure.) I was told that he wasn't doing a ROH show on Saturday night (which originally had kept him from being booked on our Saturday night card,) but if at all possible he was going to do the show in Charlotte on Sunday. I was told he'd be there regardless to sign autographs and that I'd get word later in the week on whether he could wrestle.

Well, on Friday, I get another call telling me that A.J. Styles was going to wrestle in Charlotte on Sunday, but the really bad news that came with it was that Chris Sabin had injured his jaw during the TNA tapings earlier in the week and that he was cancelling all his bookings for the weekend (which also included a shot for PWG in Los Angeles on Friday night.) This is the point where it really starts to suck, for a lack of a better word.

WARNING!!! If you believe that wrestling is real, please skip this next section!

You see, I had booked Sabin for Saturday and Sunday nights. He was to win the TNA 3-Way on Saturday night and face Styles on Sunday night. To make matters worse, both Elix Skipper and Petey Williams (the other two guys in the 3-way) were already booked on Sunday night elsewhere, so it wasn't as simple as just putting one of the other guys over.

I even considered changing the Kid Kash-Timber match and replacing Sabin with Kash, but Kash was booked somewhere else on Sunday night as well.

All of this is happening on Friday as everyone is getting settled into fanfest weekend and things are hectic enough as it is.

The TNA representative offered David Young as a replacement for Sabin. I wanted to find another replacement, but was told up front that A.J. wouldn;t work with just anybody due to his knee injury. Naturally, he wanted to work with someone that he felt could protect his knee and not cause further damage.

So whattaya do? What would you do? I think I did the best thing possible, given the circumstances.

Yes, I did speak with Raven, in hopes of bringing in the current NWA World champion to wrestle A.J., but he told me upfront I couldn't afford him. And when I stayed on him to name a price, he was right.

I settled on Shannon Moore, a guy that I've known for years since the days when he (as Kid Dynamo) wrestled Jeff Hardy (as Willow the Wisp) on some of my indy shows.

I appreciate Shannon coming in on short notice to help me out. I didn't get to see the match myself but, from what I hear, he and A.J. helped make up for what was otherwise a stinker of a card.

I just thought I owed it to you guys, an explanation for the change in the TNA 3-way and what led to it.

[bobbyryates]

you're right it was a good finish.
i had never seen styles beofre, and i didn't know moore was kid dynamo.

[natureboy14]

thanks for the explanation greg although it wasnt really necessary, the sunday night card may not have been the greatest but we got a few good matches and a couple hours of entertainment and laughs (kudos to AJ and SHANNON on a good match considering the injury situation). Pretty good entertainment at the price and as you call it a not so great of a card is better than none at all

[natureboy14]

I just despise some of the guys saying "YOU COULDNT AFFORD ME"

[ssteward]

I'd rather have had Shannon Moore anyway

[bluedevil71]

I would've liked to have seen Chris Sabin, but Shannon Moore did an excellent job and "took care" of AJ in the ring. The two put on a solid finish to the show.

[sittingstill]

Well I was happy enough with Styles/Moore that I'd completely forgotten about the three-way deal anyway. I was surprised at the turnout for Sunday nights matches - I guess a lot of people had gone home / were watching the ppv / only two or three wrestlers and no undercard announced. But either way I would've thought A.J Styles alone would've drawn more than that, especially at only $10 a pop. Was there even 50 people there?? With the exception of when Foley does indies, and Raven, I would have thought Styles was the biggest indie draw in the country....

[flair1]

One funny observation from Sunday night.....Moore and Styles were putting on such a good match, that it almost got pin-drop silent at times as everyone was so into the action.

Thanks for getting Styles......great end to a great weekend.

[bobbyryates]

a lot of people may have had to leave as they may have had arrangements to leave on sunday. the announcement for live bouts on sunday was not made definite until a lot of plans were already made, i bet.

[shockey]

I had a 5 hour drive ahead of me, so I left before the matches, and the Bret Q&A!

Young would have been good, but Moore was a good replacement also. I really wanted to see Sabin, one of the Naturals or AMW told me his jaw was broken though, and probably wouldn't make it.

The Raven thing pisses me off. I like the guy, and I hate that he wouldn't work a fanfest for cheap.