NWA Powerrr: Episode 2 Results, Grades, and Highlights

The second episode of the NWA’s web series will feature four matches, the debut of a familiar face, and an interview with World Champion Nick Aldis.

Following a debut that drew over 400,000 views on Youtube and widespread critical acclaim, the stars of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) are back for the second edition of Powerrr, which once again emanates from Atlanta.

The lineup is as follows:

-Aron Stevens’ debut

-Colt Cabana and a surprise partner vs. Jordan Kingsley and Sal Rinauro

-Trevor Murdoch vs. Ricky Starks

-NWA World Tag Team Champions The Wildcards vs. Eddie Kingston and Homicide

-NWA Women’s Champion Allysin Kay vs. Ashley Vox

For longtime WWE fans, several of those names should be familiar to you. Stevens is best known for his run as Damien Sandow, a smug heel who constantly lorded his heightened intellect over his opponents and the fans. He peaked in 2013 when he won the Money in the Bank ladder match, but his flirtation with the top of the card ended when John Cena fended off his cash-in attempt.

Murdoch made his name in WWE during the mid-2000s as a multiple-time tag team champion with the late Lance Cade. Kay, who also went by the name Sienna in Impact, participated in the 2018 Mae Young Classic, where she lost in the first round to Mia Yim.

Aside from those bouts, NWA National Champion James Storm is scheduled for an appearance as well as an interview with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis following a contentious closing segment after his successful title defense against Tim Storm.

Before the show officially started, we got a video package that showed a couple of article clippings with Nick Aldis’ Ric Flair-esque show-opening promo from last week serving as the soundtrack.

The video then transitioned to a recap of last week’s events, including Aldis’ successful title defense against Tim Storm and the ensuing interview segment where play-by-play announcer Joe Galli tried to speak with Aldis’ insurance policy Kamille before Aldis chided Galli for his “clickbait stuff”. An excellent video that succinctly summarized the debut episode.

Following the fantastic intro video, Gallis and color commentator Jim Cornette ran down the lineup for the show before sending it over to Dave Marquez who introduced someone who fans “have not seen in a long time”: Aron Stevens (f.k.a. Damien Sandow)

Aron Stevens Promo

Stevens, dressed in street clothes, strolled onto the interview set. Marquez offered his hand, but Stevens ignored the overture and leaned onto the dais. Marquez remarked that the fans haven’t seen Stevens around the squared circle in a long time, which Stevens responded to with a thank you while pretending to forget what Marquez’s name was.

Stevens recounted his successes in film, television, and theatre “out west” for the last two years and how those ventures required him to leave pro wrestling, the sport that he loved. He said that during his time away, he heard a rumor that the NWA was back, that studio wrestling was back and that, finally, professional wrestling was back, which drew the audience’s applause.

Consequently, Stevens then announced that he was back. He then stated that in his two-year absence, he broadened his horizons as a performer and as an individual. He then said that “before we get things going”, he wanted Marquez and the fans to avoid eye contact with him, which the crowd responded to with laughter. “Stop laughing, I don’t do that anymore,” Stevens retorted.

After acquiescing to Stevens’ demands, Marquez asked him who his first opponent would be in the NWA. Stevens answered by saying it wasn’t important who he faced first because in every form of entertainment there are stars and there are supporting cast members and based on the reaction he received we know which one he is ( a “star”, in case you were wondering).

Stevens closed his promo by saying that when he wants a co-star or a supporting cast he’ll “let you know” before ending things with his trademark “You’re welcome” and taking his leave.

My thoughts: This promo did a great job of establishing Stevens’ character, which appears to be a stuck-up Hollywood actor gimmick. Whether he was in WWE or in Impact, Stevens was always an excellent talker, so the fact that he got a crowd happy to see him to almost instantly turn on him is a testament to his talents.

The camera then cut to the ring, where another familiar face, Trevor Murdoch, awaited his opponent, Ricky Starks.