Ken Shamrock vs. Ron Killings

[4.0] "Probably the best match of Ken's TNA title run, which sadly isn't high praise given how basement level quality it's been from match one. Ken seems a bit more energetic and motivated here than previous matches but it's still not top quality Ken. Still though, he's playing a bit more of the jerk here which is funny given he's still the face, but this is the first instance where Ken's been put up against someone with a lot of momentum that ends up getting cheers over him in Killings (despite Killings being a heel still). Killings for his part is very full of energy by contrast and really getting to show off his athleticism and fun offense throughout this when he can, even if it at times leads to things being a bit sloppy with Ken being quite stiff bodily and it meaning things feel off when Killings is on his offense. Key moment in this case being the incredibly slow Hurricarana by Ken to Killings mid-match that I was sure was going to be a Styles Clash reversal. Of course also, this wouldn't be a TNA title match in 2002 without shenanigans and here Gran Apolo completely whiffing a Super Kick that does not at all connect with Ken and yet nets Killings the win which feels incredibly flat, and then gets followed up by once again Jarrett coming out in the aftermath to steal the spotlight as he is want to do in early TNA (and being really racist as well which I guess is meant to help fuel the turn to Killings as a face that was solidified with this title win). Just a complete dud of an ending to what was a serviceable match that does highlight why the change in title was necessary to a guy like Killings who was fresh, exciting, and felt more committed than any point by Ken during this whole previous title run."

[5.0] "It should have been a bigger moment, because Killings had an incredible past few weeks and was absolutely phenomenal at the time, but the final pinfall landed with a bit of a thud. Shamrock just wasn't really in it - he was late on a couple of occasions and overall it just wasn't his night. Still, they had Ron's momentum working in their favor, and the match itself was solid enough to at least keep things interesting."

[6.0] "Pretty average match overall, but it's pretty cool to see Truth win the belt as he was on fire around this time, and was also the first true "TNA guy" to win the belt, as Shamrock was kind of a placeholder champion at that point. ***"

[5.0] "This is more of an important event than a great match, as TNA pulls the trigger on trying to turn Ron Killings into a new main-event star. Killings is ridiculously charismatic in the build towards this match, and all of his spots are entertaining. Shamrock seems to be phoning it in a little bit, there are some messy spots throughout, and the interference is not particularly interesting, but the result ultimately feels earned."

[5.0] "This match was alright. Ken Shamrock had a short, but decent run in the beginning of TNA, and it was smart to put the NWA Championship on him first as he was an established name. Ron Killings had a run in WWE before as K-Kwik, years before he was R-Truth, and the run Killings had in TNA cemented him as a star. The match was short and had it gone longer, it could have been better, but the finish suffered from various wrestlers interfering and attacking both men. Why the match didn't end by double disqualification or no contest, I don't know. Apolo gave a superkick that was aimed at Killings, but he hit Shamrock instead. This allowed Killings to win the match and the NWA title. Match was decent, but it really was most well known for Ron Killings getting the big win and being the first black NWA Champion. **1/2"

[4.0] "Now I understand why Impact's official Youtube page shows this consecration of R-Truth as moments, and not a fight, the fight has been bad, with a lot of botches, in short, the only world championship for the multiple 24/7 champion in WWE, The Goat R-Truth"

[6.0] "Listen, having watched this whole run a couple times, I'm gonna be honest, I was a huge mark for Ron "The Truth" Killins at this time. His character work and intensity were immaculate. That being said, this match wasn't amazing. Truth was never a top level wrestler, and while he had some impressive athleticism at the time, he never quite put it together as a total package. Shamrock, meanwhile, was always a guy that was an interesting attraction but never a "wrestling classic" kind of guy. It was a messy brawl, covering up their weaknesses, and the presentation from TNA was really cool with showing all of the other top level contenders lurking around the ring and trying to get an eye on it, but in the end, the match itself was mostly just fine."

[5.0] "This was fine. I wish this match was better since it's Ron's big moment but you can only expect so much from 2002 Ken Shamrock. This was nine minutes but felt like way longer; so again, a Ken Shamrock match. Ron Killings has been one of the best parts of these early shows so I'm glad he was given the title here; pretty historic moment really."

[4.0] "I don't know how to think about this. I liked the first half, in which Shamrock goes for lots of submissions and good powermoves as the powerslam and Truth shows his athleticism and agility. There were some botches, like in the hurricarrana. But then they go outside the ring and all falls apart, lot of times there with no count by the referee. They do it a second time, but this time a lot of guys intefired on the match, really overbooked. Apolo botches a superkick to Shamrock, Steamboat rolls him to the ring, so Truth makes his finisher, the Truth or consequences for the three count, winning the NWA World Championship. It was a great moment, but ruined by the overbooked ending."

[8.0] "I really love that this happened, two of my all time favorites 1 on 1 for a world title, Truth winning is such a huge moment for so many reasons, but all that considered, what's keeping this from being an all time favorite of mine is the way it was booked, especially the interferences. I think this had a ton of potential and was still an amazing moment despite its shortcomings."

[7.0] "I clearly liked this more than most, the miscues worked for me within the context that wrestling is meant to be a struggle, not everything should be smooth. The finish was way overbooked and the ref should have called for a DQ. Stick around after for an incredibly racist promo by Double J."

[3.0] "I was surprised by how bad this ended up being. Shamrock looked completely off the pace and there were many laughable botches throughout. A terrible way for him to go out of the company."

[5.0] "This was was all right, between the miscues, lack of chemistry between the competitors and the over booked ending of the match, you get a match that won? t really be remembered other than the end result"

[6.0] "The ending is badly overbooked and pretty lame in general, and the second half of this (short) match is not great, but the first half is legitimately pretty good."

[2.0] "Moving the title to Killings seems like a mistake in hindsight, and executed terribly. Following it is one of the most bizarrely racist segments of the 00s, with Jarrett screaming about his white skin and reverse discrimination. Steamboat, a great wrestler, is an awful authority figure and does poorly all through the night."