How To Watch The WWE In A Focused, Fun Manner, Whether You're New Or A Long Time Fan, 7: Ruthless Aggression

The Age of Backstage Shenanigans, Directors Of Authority, and General Managers runs amok across both WWE and, its closest competition, Impact, while Ring Of Honor remains the house of great wrestling and terrible storytelling. 

There is a lot of old WCW blood taking power in WWE and Impact as well, as Eric Bischoff co-manages the WWE with Steve Austin, and Dusty Rhodes's run as the Director of Authority in Impact gives way to a ... *prolonged sigh* ... Vince Russo era. There's something awful about even the idea of Vince Russo in a position of power in a company that can't keep the belt off of Honkey Tonk Junior, Jeff Jarrett. But, somehow, by the end of the season, Vince Russo ends up being a ... good ... guy? It ends surprisingly well, considering how terrible the company was when he took over.

As you can tell by the cover photo, this is also the age when The Radicalz really, really got their due in WWE, and AJ Styles becomes the face of Impact.

Season 7:
​Ruthless Aggression

Starring: Jeff Jarrett, Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, CM Punk, Raven, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, Vince Russo, Steve Austin, Eric Bischoff, Abyss, Big Show, Chris Sabin, Paul London, Rey Mysterio, Colt Cabana, John Cena, Chris Jericho, D-Lo Brown, Mick Foley, and JBL.

701. The New Bosses, 2003

It's sort of cheap-ass comic book/TV storytelling, but at the end of last season, Eric Bischoff fired JR for not producing Steve Austin. Steve Austin showed up and beat up Eric Bischoff, but this did not mean that JR got his job back. So we ended the season with the team of Jerry Lawler and Jonathan Coachman announcing. Well, we start this season with co-general managers Eric Bischoff and Steve Austin, and the first thing that happens is JR gets his job back. And with more backstage shenanigans (but at least its not McMahon focused?) we see Brock Lesnar, who was betrayed by Paul Heyman at the end of last season, get his revenge, too. But the big story of this episode? Evolution.

Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman, Jim Ross, Michael Cole, Tazz, Howard Finkel, Tony Chimel

1. Jerry Lawler vs Val Venis
2. Brock Lesnar & Chris Benoit vs The World's Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle)
3. Scott Steiner vs Batista
4. Brock Lesnar vs Paul Heyman in a Steel Cage
5. Trish Stratus (WWE Womans Champ) vs Jazz
6. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar

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702. Sports Entertainment Xtreme, 2003

Getting through TNA"s weekly pay-per-views in 2003/2004 was a Slog. Yes, there were some amazing feuds, storylines, and matches that take place in this era, but there was also some garbage so bad that it felt like latter days WCW. In that spirit, the first match of this season is lumbering dinosaurs (Dusty Rhodes and LoD were each fifteen to twenty years past their prime at this point, and Vince Russo has consistenly been the least talented piece of shit in wrestling history), but it gets singificantly better from there. We even get a little ECW flashback with Raven and Sandman.

​Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Jeremy Borash, Goldylocks

1. Triple X & Vince Russo vs Jeff Jarrett, Dusty Rhodes & LoD
2. America's Most Wanted vs Rock & Roll Express
3. Zach Gowen vs Road Dogg
4. Triple X (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs Disciples Of The New Church
5. Raven vs Sandman in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
6. Kid Cash (X Champ) vs Paul London
7. Jeff Jarrett (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs AJ Styles

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703. Redneck Heaven, 2003

We're going to get back to Evolution's climb next episode, but now it's all about The Next Big Thing. Brock Lesnar plows through this episode with three star making matches, Chris Jericho and Goldberg renew a real life rivalry from the days of WCW, and we get the debut of Dominik Mysterio! Ok, he won't be wrestling for another twenty years or so, but he puts in an appearance here (and, no, not because of a particular terrible storyline). 

Announcers: Michael Cole, Tazz, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Josh Mathews, Howard Finkel, Tony Chimel

1. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs John Cena
2. The World's Greatest Tag Team (as Team Angle) (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri in a Ladder Match
​
3. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs The Big Show in a Stretcher Match
4. Matt Hardy (WWE Cruserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio
5. Goldberg vs Chris Jericho
6. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs The Big Show

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704. Anarchy In The Asylum, 2003 

​Jeff Jarrett had an absolute death grip on the Impact title scene in 2003, and I'm going to try and ignore his matches as much as possible. I mean, how many times can you feign interest in a middle-aged guy hitting someone with a guitar  (often, not even hitting the intended target) and pretend it's a reasonable finish for a wrestling match? Wasn't that done to death by the Honky Tonk Man in the 80s? We get a brief moment with Vader here, and D-Lo Brown enters the scene, as well.

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Jeremy Borash, Goldylocks

1. Jerry Lynn vs Juventud Guerrerra
2. Dusty Rhodes & Vader vs The Harris Brothers
3. Raven vs Sandman in a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun Match
4. Raven vs AJ Styles in a Ladder Match
5. Jeff Jarrett (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs D-Lo Brown
6. Four Way Tag Team Elimination Match
Jerry Lynn & The Amazing Red vs Chris Sabin & Jonny Storm vs Jason Cross & Shark Boy vs Triple X

7. Triple X (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs Jerry Lynn & Amazing Red
8. Anarchy In The Asylum
D-Lo Brown, Brian Lawler, James Storm, Justin Credible, Kid Kash, Konnan, Mike Awesome, Perry Saturn, Rick Steiner, R-Truth, Disco Inferno, AJ Styles, Buff Bagwell, Sonny Siaki, Traci,  and Sabu.

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705. Expansion Of Honor, 2002, 2003

We've seen AJ Styles start his rise in Impact, and we got a peek at early days Daniel Bryan, but now CM Punk and Samoa Joe begin their ascent to the top of indie wrestling. 

​Announcers: Jimmy Bower, Jeff Gorman, Stephen DeAngelis

1. CM Punk vs Colt Cabana
2. Paul London vs Daniel Bryan
3. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Zebra Kid
4. AJ Styles & Low Ki vs Christopher Daniels & Xavier
5. BJ Whitmer vs Colt Cabana vs Paul London vs Homicide
6. Ace Steel & CM Punk vs Colt Cabana & Raven

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​706. They Come In Threes

Ruthless Aggression really finds its groove with superstars here as Rock And Wrestling legends, The New Generation Stars, The Attitude Era Stars, and the new crop of stars from OVW all intermingle to put on some top tier matches. 

​Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, Michael Cole, Tazz, Teri Runnels, Josh Mathew, Lilian Garcia, Tony Chimel

1. Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels
2. Triple H vs Kevin Nash in Hell In A Cell
3. Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Benoit for the vacant WWE US Championship
​4. The World's Greatest Tag Team vs Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio
5. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs Big Show vs Kurt Angle

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707. Totally Ntense Athleticism, 2003

Impact had some top notch tag teams at a time when WWE was just throwing two superstars together for a few months just to set up an inevitible feud when they broke up. Check out the early days of some current Impact and AEW tag teams as they mostly stole the spotlight from the non-Aj Styleses and CM Punkses. Plus, Sting returns for, shockingly, not even close to his Swan Song era.

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Jeremy Borash

1. Team Extreme vs Disciples Of The New Church in a 6 Man Hardcore Match
2. Triple X (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs AJ Styles & D-Lo Brown
3. Paul London vs CM Punk vs Jason Cross vs Kid Romeo
4. Sonny Siaki vs Sandman in a Raven's Rules Match
5. Jeff Jarret (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs AJ Styles vs Raven
6. Chris Sabin (Impact X Champ) vs Paul London
7. Triple X (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs America's Most Wanted 
8. Jeff Jarret & Sting vs AJ Styles & X-Pac

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708. Evolution, 2003

The Steve Austin/Eric Bischoff story takes a turn when the spotlight starts to shine on a reinvigorated Kane. He doesn't have any matches in this episode, but he's setting up a great storyline. Randy Orton becomes The Legend Killer, one of his greatest gimmicks, and has his first excellent match with Shawn Michaels. Plus, The Elimination Chamber is packed full of greatness.

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Howard Finkel, Tony Chamel

1. Eddie Guerrero (WWE US Champ) vs Chris Benoit vs Rhyno vs Tajiri
2. Kurt Angle (WWE Champ) vs Brock Lesnar
3. Elimination Chamber Match for WWE Championship
Triple H (WWE World Heavyweight Champ), Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash

4. Randy Orton vs Shawn Michaels

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709. Honorifics, 2003

According to legend, this episode contains the greatest match ROH has ever put on, Daniel Bryan (as The American Dragon) vs Paul London's 2 out of 3 Falls Match, plus the CM Punk and Raven feud that started in the last ROH episode really picks up here.

​Announcers: Jimmy Bower, Mark Nulty, Chris Nelson, Stephen DeAngelis

1. Mickey James (as Alexis Laree) vs Sumie Sukai
2. Daniel Bryan vs Paul London in a 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match
3. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Homicide
4. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ)  vs Paul London
5. CM Punk vs Raven in a Dog Collar Match

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710. Rampages In Cages, 2003

Impact's first cage match, and one of its early cage title matches. We have more excellent tag team work, and minimal (but still more than I'd like) Vince Russo involvement. Weirdly, while CM Punk is dragging Raven for his drug use over in Ring of Honor, he is desperately trying to be a member of his flock in Impact.​​

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don Wet, Jeremy Borash

1. Triple X (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs America's Most Wanted in a Steel Cage
3. Shane Douglas vs CM Punk in a Clockwork Fun House Match
4. America's Most Wanted (Impact Tag Champs) vs Johnny Swinger & Simon Diamond
5. Chris Sabin (Impact X Champ) vs Michael Shane
6. America's Most Wanted (Impact Tag Champs) vs Johnny Swinger & Simon Diamond in a Strap Match
7. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs D-Lo Brown in a Steel Cage

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711. Trust & Respect, 2003

We finally get some payoff for the Kane is a killer storyline, we see a classic underrated match in Tajiri vs Mysterio, and we close off the Bischoff/Austin frenemyship that's dominated this season. 

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Jonathan Coachman, Teri Runnels, Josh Matthews, Tony Chimel, Lilian Garcia, Howard Finkel

1. Christian (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Jericho vs RvD
2. Kane vs Shane McMahon
3. Tajiri (WWE Cruserweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio
4. Kurt Angle vs John Cena
5. Team Bischoff vs Team Austin in a Survivor Series Match
(Chris Jericho, Christian, Mark Henry, Randy Orton, Scott Steiner vs Shawn Michaels, Booker T, RvD, The Dudley Boyz)

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 712. Beating The Odds, 2003

Not many intriguing storylines here, just solid wrestling from future WWE/AEW stars.

​​Announcers: Jimmy Bower, Jeff Gorman, Stephen DeAngelis

1. Samoa Joe (ROH Heavyweight Champ) vs Christopher Daniels
2. AJ Styles vs CM Punk
3. Samoa Joe (ROH Champ) vs Jay Briscoe
4. AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan
5. The Briscoes (ROH Tag Team Champs) vs Samoa Joe & AJ Styles
6. CM Punk vs Raven in a Clockwork Orange House Of Fun Match

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713. Super X Cup & Old Timey Rassling, 2003

There's a youthfulness to the non-title scene in this season that I find fascinating in contrast to the title scene which features Raven, Jeff Jarrett, Dusty Rhodes, Jim Duggan, Scott Steiner, Sting, and Lex Luger, most of whom practically needed walkers to get in the ring, nevermind wrestle.

​Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Jeremy Borash

​1. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs Raven
2. Teddy Hart vs Juventud Guerrera
3. Chris Sabin vs Frank Gazarian
4. Chris Sabin vs Juventud Guerrera
5. Sonny Siaki vs D-Lo Brown in a Casket Match
6. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs Dusty Rhodes
7. Jeff Jarret (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs Jim Duggan
8. Jeff Jarret (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs Rick Steiner 
​9. AJ Styles & Sting vs Jeff Jarett & Lex Luger

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714. Raw Roulette, 2004

Randy Orton's Legend Killer gimmick starts to really take off, we get a truly excellent rumble, and the Lesnar / Guerrero feud begins. This is peak Smackdown era WWE.

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Jonathan Coachman, Josh Matthews, Teri Runnels, Tony Chimel, Lilian Garcia, Howard Finkel

1. Randy Orton vs Sgt Slaughter
2. Royal Rumble
Chris Benoit, Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Tajiri, Bradshaw, Rhyno, Matt Hardy, Scott Steiner, Matt Morgan, The Hurricane, Booker T, Kane, Spike Dudley, Rikishi, René Duprée, Prince Albert, Shelton Benjamin, Ernest Miller, Kurt Angle, Rico, Mick Foley, Christian, Nunzio, Big Show, Chris Jericho, Charlie Haas, Billy Gunn, John Cena, RvD, Goldberg

3. Christian vs Chris Jericho
4. Brock Lesnar (WWE Champ) vs Eddie Guerrero

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715. Under New Management/Same As The Old Management, 2004

Here we go, it's mostly homegrown TNA talent, ECW stalwarts, and a couple of 90s WWE guys (which is a step up from the 70s and 80s WWE guys) starting to absolutely wreck things in the best possible way. We also get a fun AAA aaapearance, in the vein of the 80s WCW/New Japan battles.

​Announcers: Don West, Mike Tenay, Scott Hudson, Jeremy Borash

1. Juventud Guerrera vs Chris Sabin
2. Team AAA vs Team TNA in a Survivor Series Match
Abismo Negro, Hector Garza, Juventud Guerrera, Essa Rios vs Chris Sabin, Elix Skipper, Jerry Lynn, Sonjay Dutt

3. Michael Shane vs R-Truth (as Ron Killings)
4. Raven & Sabu vs The Gathering
5. Abyss vs AJ Styles in a Tables Match
6. Rumble For Rank
R-Truth (as Ron Killings), D-Lo Brown, David Young, Disco Inferno, Johnny Swinger, Kid Kash, Konnan, Michael Shane, Simon Diamond, Sonny Siaki

7. AJ Styles vs Raven vs Abyss vs R-Truth in a Four Corners Match

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716. Legend Killers, 2004

It's still the era of Evolution and The Radicalz, as Eddie Guerrerro continues his title run, and the Legend Killer does his best to goad Mick Foley back into the ring, which results in the return of another Attitude Era star.

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Lilian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Howard Finkel

1. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Champ) vs Kurt Angle
2. Chris Jericho vs Christian & Trish Stratus​
3. Evolution vs Rock & Sock Connection
4. Triple H (WWE World Heavyweight Champ) vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit

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717. End Of An Error, 2004

This marks the end of TNA's weekly pay-per-views, and not a moment too soon. Some might even suggest, a year too late. 

Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Jeremy Borash

1. Frank Kazarian & Michael Shane vs La Parka & Psykosis
2. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs R-Truth
3. America's Most Wanted vs The Naturals
4. Petey Williams (Impact X Champ) vs Sonjay Dutt
5. Abyss vs Sabu in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
6. America's Most Wanted vs The Naturals in a Steel Cage
7. La Parka vs Alex Shelley
8. Jeff Jarrett (TNA Heavyweight Champ) vs Jeff Hardy

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718. Backlash, 2004

It's a violent, bloody, mess of an episode as Mick Foley goes Full Cactus Jack on the Legend Killer, and Eddie Guerrero wears the crimsonest mask in his battle with JBL (a newly racist billionaire version of John Layfield, the non-racist, powerhouse, working class member of APA). Plus, Jacqueline gets some spotlight time, and Chris Benoit proves he deserves his title run against DX.

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Lilian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Howard Finkel

1. Randy Orton (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Mick Foley (as Cactus Jack) 
2. Chris Benoit (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Triple H & Shawn Michaels
3. Chavo Guerrero (WWE Cruserweight Champ) vs Jacqueline
3. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Champ) vs JBL

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719. Truthless Aggression, 2004

Randy Orton takes a break from killing legends to defend his title against younger superstar, Shelton Benjamin. Plus, DX continues to battle each other, this time in a Hell Of A Cell. And JBL and Gerrero have a killer rematch.

​Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Tony Chimel, Howard Finkel

1. Randy Orton (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Shelton Benjamin
2. Chris Benoit (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Kane
3. Triple H vs Shawn Michaels in Hell In A Cell
4. Eddie Guerrero (WWE Champ) vs JBL in a Texas Bullrope Match

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720. Pure Honor, 2004

The ROH powerhouses each get a chance to flex in this ROH supercard. But bubbling underneath is a weird off-screen event that will happen between this and the next season, wherein the founder of Ring Of Honor is caught trying to solicit sex from a fourteen year old boy, and the company's hierarchy is flipped, and the Impact stars (AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and many more) are pulled from all ROH events, and the ROH talent (CM Punk, Samoa Joe, and a few others) stop showing up in Impact. This is a temporary and understandable decision but it will wildly recalibrate the X Division of Impact, the new Pure Championship in ROH, and quite a few storylines going forward.

​Announcers: Jimmy Bower, Jeff Gorman, CM Punk, Stephen DeAngelis

1. Second City Saints vs Prophecy
2. AJ Styles vs Homicide
3. The Briscoe Brothers (ROH Tag Team Champs) vs Samoa Joe & Daniel Bryan
4. AJ Styles vs CM Punk for the first every ROH Pure Championship