Hard Times 2 was a
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by the
National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). It took place on December 4, 2021, in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, at the GPB Studios. It is the second event in the
Hard Times chronology.
Production
Storylines
The event featured
professional wrestling matches
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and
storylines. Wrestlers portrayed
heroes
Heroes or Héroes may refer to:
* Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good
Film
* ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama
* ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film
Gaming
* ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...
,
villains
A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...
, or
less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
The sixth season of the NWA's weekly flagship program, ''
Power
Power most often refers to:
* Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work"
** Engine power, the power put out by an engine
** Electric power
* Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events
** Abusive power
Power may a ...
'', featured storylines leading up to the event.
For weeks,
Melina has been lobbying to get a match for the
NWA World Women's Championship
The NWA World Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The title was first won by Mildred Burke in 193 ...
against
Kamille. After many denials and sneak attacks, Melina won a
three-way match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
on the October 26 ''EmPowerrr'' edition of Power, defeating
Chelsea Green
Chelsea Anne Cardona (born April 4, 1991) is a Canadian professional wrestler, stuntwoman and model. She is best known for her time in Impact Wrestling where she is a former impact Knockouts champion and Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champion ...
and
Kylie Rae
Briana Rae Sparrey (born August 25, 1992), better known by the ring name Kylie Rae, is an American professional wrestler. She is also known for her time in All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling.
Early life
Sparrey graduated from Oak Forest H ...
to earn her title match with Kamille at Hard Times.
After
Austin Idol cost him an
NWA World Television Championship
The NWA World Television Championship is a world television championship owned and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The inaugural champion was Ricky Starks. The current champion is Jor ...
#1 contender's match,
Cyon, the NWA's masked mystery man, continued to demand a title match against Idol's main charge
Tyrus. On October 27, it was officially announced that Tyrus will defend the television title against Cyon, using his title shot he earned by being on the winning team of the Champions Series, at Hard Times.
On November 19, when NWA President
Billy Corgan was running down the card for Hard Times, he revealed Tyrus request the match have no time limit and
no disqualifications. To help balance this out, Corgan instilled
The Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
- who Tyrus defeated to win the championship - as
special guest referee
In professional wrestling, a referee is an authority figure present in or near the ring during matches. The referee's purpose is similar to that of referees in combat sports such as boxing or mixed martial arts, that is, as an arbiter of the rul ...
.
Since the September 7 episode of ''Power'', an
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The NWA World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship created by the National Wrestling Alliance. From 1948 to 1982, the NWA allowed member promotions to create their own territorial version of the "NWA World ...
Eliminator tournament has been taking place, with the winners getting a shot against champions
La Rebelión (
Bestia 666
Leornardo Carrera Lizarraga (born May 14, 1989) is a Mexican ''luchador'' or professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Bestia 666. He is currently working for various promotions across Mexico, while also performing in the United State ...
and
Mecha Wolf 450
John Jesús Yurnet (born June 21, 1987), better known by his ring name Mecha Wolf 450, is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler and professional wrestling trainer. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Council (WWC), where he is a form ...
) at Hard Times. The finals will take place on the November 16 episode of ''PowerrrSurge'', where The End (Odinson and Parrow) defeated Hawx Aerie (
Luke Hawx
Oren Hawxhurst (born July 8, 1981) is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling promoter, actor, and stuntman. He is best known under the ring name Luke Hawx and is also known for his time in Xtreme Pro Wrestling under the ring nam ...
and PJ Hawx) to advance to Hard Times.
After
By Any Means Necessary,
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion
The NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship is a world heavyweight professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), an American professional wrestling promotion. The current champion is Tyrus, who is i ...
Trevor Murdoch
William Theodore Mueller (born September 10, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Trevor Murdoch. He is currently signed to the National Wrestling Alliance where he is a former two-time NWA Worlds Heavyweight ...
was having a fan photo shoot inside a steel cage. However, the session was soon interrupted when
Mike Knox
Michael Knoxville Hettinga (born July 17, 1978) is an American professional wrestler best known under the ring name Mike Knox. He currently performs for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Hettinga is best known for his work in World Wrestli ...
appeared and attacked Murdoch, locking him and himself in the cage before battering Murdoch with a steel chair. He later would hold up the title over a crowd of wrestlers and Billy Corgan, making his title intentions clear. On November 11, Knox sent in a video, not seeing Murdoch as a true champion and that he's not half the man that his mentor
Harley Race ever was. He eventually announced that he would make an appearance at Hard Times. Two days later, Murdoch sent a response to Knox, and demanded Billy Corgan and the NWA Board of Directors make a title match between him and Knox at Hard Times. The match would finally be set by the NWA on November 15 for the main event of Hard Times.
At
NWA 73,
Judais won a
battle royal
Battle royal (; also royale) traditionally refers to a fight involving many combatants that is fought until only one fighter remains standing, usually conducted under either boxing or wrestling rules. In recent times, the term has been used in a ...
to become the #1 contender to the
NWA National Championship
The NWA National Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the U.S.-based, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The current champion is Cyon (wrestler), Cyon, who is in his first reign.
The championship was establ ...
.
After two months, and defending his title shot against
James Storm and
Sal Rinauro
Salvatore Rinauro (born September 12, 1982) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro and National Wrestling Alliance in addition to being a member of The Embassy. He currently wrestles ...
, it was announced that Judais will have his match against champion
Chris Adonis
Christopher Todd Mordetzky (born January 8, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) under the ring name Chris Adonis as a member of Strictly Business. He is a former two-time National Ch ...
at Hard Times.
After
Nick Aldis
Nicholas Aldis (born 6 November 1986) is an English Professional wrestling, professional wrestler best known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He is also known for his time in Impact Wrestling under the ring name Magnus.
A ...
lost the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship at
NWA 73,
tensions between him and his stable Strictly Business (Kamille, Chris Adonis, and
Thom Latimer
Thomas Raymond Latimer (born 6 August 1986) is an English professional wrestler and actor. He currently competes for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as a member of Strictly Business, as well as on the independent circuit. Latimer is know ...
) began to rise. It all amounted on the October 5 episode of ''Power'', where Adonis and Latimer were defeated by Aldis and
Tim Storm
Timothy Scoggins (born February 18, 1964), better known by his ring name Tim Storm, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Professional wre ...
in a tag team match. After the match, Strictly Business brutalized their now-former leader, to the point where Aldis was carried out on a stretcher. Latimer would continue to assault Aldis on behalf of Strictly Business, even attacking him after a match Aldis had in
Chorzów, Poland. At By Any Means Necessary, Aldis and Trevor Murdoch defeated Strictly Business in another tag team match.
On November 19, Aldis and Latimer were set for a grudge match at Hard Times, with no accompaniments allowed at ringside. Furthermore, if either man is disquailified, they will be suspended for 8 weeks.
When Billy Corgan introduced the full card for Hard Times, he announced the return of the
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Created in 1945, the title is competed for by junior heavyweight wrestlers.
History
The first NWA World Junior ...
, with the new champion to be determined in a
four-way match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
at the NWA's next pey-per-view event. Two qualifying matches will take place at Hard Times: On the preshow, a 12-man
gauntlet match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
will determine an immediate finalist, while
Austin Aries
Daniel Healy Solwold Jr. (born April 15, 1978), better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler currently signed to the Control Your Narrative wrestling promotion. He is best known for his ...
and
Ring of Honor's
Rhett Titus
Everett Lawrence Titus (born September 15, 1987) is an American professional wrestler working for Ring of Honor (ROH). where he is a former ROH World Television Champion, an overall two-time ROH Tag Team Champion individually, as well as winn ...
will wrestle on the main show for a spot in the tournament.
At the event, it was announced that Darius Lockhart, who was originally supposed to partake in the gauntlet match, was injured, and his spot was filled in by
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell Morton (born September 21, 1956) is an American professional wrestler, currently performing on the independent circuit. He is the current GCW Television Champion, after pinning Matt Cardona at GCW Say You Will. For most of his care ...
.
Results
NWA World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Tournament
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship qualifying gauntlet match entrances and eliminations
References
External links
*
*
{{NWAPPV, Hard Times
National Wrestling Alliance pay-per-view events
2021 in professional wrestling
2021 in Georgia (U.S. state)
Events in Atlanta
Professional wrestling in Atlanta
June 2021 events in the United States
NWA Hard Times