On April 25, 2022, the National Wrestling Alliance announced that NWA Alwayz Ready would take place on June 11 in Knoxville, Tennessee.[1][2]
After learning about the NWA's next pay-per-view event taking place in Knoxville, NWA Worlds Heavyweight ChampionMatt Cardona, in storyline, demanded that the event be dedicated to him if he was going to wrestle in the city. This included his entrance music ("When The Lights Go Down" by Downstait) acting as the show's main theme song, promotional material to feature his brand and likeness, a modified NWA logo that reads "MCWA" (Matt Cardona Wrestling Alliance), and even the event's name being his catchphrase.[3]
On the Powerrr after the Crockett Cup, NWA World Television ChampionTyrus and manager Austin Idol announced an open Bodyslam Challenge, where if anybody was able to bodyslam Tyrus in three attempts, they would earn a title match.[4] On May 3, Matthew Mims answered the challenge, and despite foul play from Tyrus, Mims was able to slam the champion.[5] On May 5, it was confirmed the Mims would have his television title match with Tyrus at Alwayz Ready.[6]
On Night 2 of the Crockett Cup, Matt Cardona retained the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship against Nick Aldis via disqualification, after special guest refereeJeff Jarrett believed Aldis' wife Mickie James gave him a low blow when it was in fact Cardona's wife Chelsea Green.[9] On May 11, the NWA announced a rematch between the two for Alwayz Ready, with both men having requested a special stipulation. Aldis asked for a steel cage match, while Cardona proposed a deathmatch. NWA president Billy Corgan would select the stipulation at a future date.[10] At Game Changer Wrestling's Downward Spiral event, Cardona suffered a torn biceps and would require surgery. Cardona confirmed he would still appear at the event but would not be able to compete.[11][12]
After losing the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship to Matt Cardona at NWA PowerrrTrip,[13]Trevor Murdoch began adopting a more aggressive side to his wrestling skills, being much more deliberate in defeating his opponents. Around this time, his friends Aron Stevens and The Pope would call out Murdoch, hoping to figure out what was going through his head and to try and knock some sense into him. Stevens would eventually confront Murdoch in a match on the April 26 episode of Powerrr, only to be defeated.[14] The week after that, Stevens formally announced his retirement from professional wrestling.[5] On May 23, the NWA announced that Stevens would have his last match, dubbed "Aron Stevens' Swan Song", against Murdoch at Alwayz Ready.[15]
Reception
Tommy Martinez of Slam Wrestling reviewed the event and gave it 4 out of 5 stars, praising the main event for allowing Latimer and Shaw to be "worthy contenders" to the NWA World Title alongside Aldis and Murdoch, and felt that Kamille and King had "an outstanding match" during their World Women's Title bout. He concluded that: "While some matches could have been cut from the PPV, this was one of the better shows the NWA has brought to fans."[16] Christopher Maitland of Pro Wrestling Torch praised Homicide's performance in both of his Junior Heavyweight Title defenses, the men's and women's Tag Team Title bouts being improvements from their Crockett Cup predecessors, the World Women's Title match for both competitors' performances, and the World Title main event but was critical of the "convoluted and lengthy" segment that preceded it and the uninspired choice of Murdoch as champion.[17]
Aftermath
On the July 2 episode of USA, Pretty Empowered would successfully defend the NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship in a third match against The Hex, after Ella Envy struck Allysin Kay with one of the title belts.[18] On August 3, after an episode of Busted Open Radio, it was announced that Pretty Empowered will defend the titles against The Hex again in a Kingshighway Street Fight on Night 2 of NWA 74.[19]
On the July 5 episode of Powerrr, Kyle Davis interviewed NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Homicide giving praise to Kerry and Ricky Morton, but claimed the former lacked the "it" factor to thrive in professional wrestling, but still offered him a title shot at NWA 74.[20] Kerry responded the following week, talking about how the championship was one held by his father, and that he wanted to uphold the prestige of that title.[21]
On the July 26 "EmPowerrred" edition of Powerrr, Taya Valkyrie defeated KiLynn King to become the number one contender for the NWA World Women's Championship. Later in the main event, current champion Kamille defeated Chelsea Green to retain the title, with her and Valkyrie facing each other in the main event of Night 1 of NWA 74.[22][23][24]
On the August 2 episode of Powerrr, Cyon, the newest member of Austin Idol's stable Idolmania Sports Management, defeated Rodney Mack in an NWA National Heavyweight Championship number one contender's match, earning him a title shot against champion Jax Dane on Night 1 of NWA 74.[25]
On August 5, NWA announced that Matt Cardona would make his in-ring return on Night 1 of NWA 74, facing an opponent of his choosing.[26]
The Mortons (Ricky and Kerry) defeated The Country Gentlemen (AJ Cazana and Anthony Andrews) (with Joe Cazana) and The Ill Begotten (Alex Taylor and Jeremiah Plunkett) (with Danny Dealz) by pinfall
