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THIS DAY IN HISTORY: BACKLUND WINS THE GOLD, STEAMBOAT BEATS FLAIR, SID RETURNS TO WRESTLING AND MORE

By Buck Woodward on 2009-02-20 08:00:00

February 20th

On this day in history in .... 

1978 - At Madison Square Garden in New York City, Bob Backlund defeats Superstar Billy Graham with an atomic drop to win the WWWF World Heavyweight Title.  In a bit of poetic justice, Graham's foot was on the bottom rope for the pin, but the referee didn't see it, as Graham used the ropes for leverage in his title win over Bruno Sammartino. 

1984 - WWF ran at New York's Madison Square Garden, selling out the building in advance, so a closed circuit broadcast was set up at the smaller Felt Forum in the Garden complex. 
- Jose Luis Rivera defeated Charlie Fulton.
- Iron Mike Sharpe defeated B. Brian Blair.
- Samoan Afa defeated Tony Garea. 
- The Iron Sheik defeated Eddie Gilbert. 
- Rowdy Roddy Piper & David Schultz defeated The Invaders.
- Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeated Don Muraco via countout.
- Andre The Giant defeated The Masked Superstar.  This was Superstar's last appearance in Madison Square Garden, although he would return years later as Demolition Ax. 
- Salvatore Bellomo defeated Swede Hanson.
- Pedro Morales defeated Playboy Boddy Rose.
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff via countout. 
- Jimmy Snuka defeated Samoan Samula. 
- Ivan Putski, Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas defeated Mr. Fuji, Sgt. Slaughter & Tiger Chung Lee. 

1989 - The NWA held the Chi-Town Rumble Pay-per-view at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois, headlined by the first of the three-match classic between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat.  Here are the results of the show: 
- Michael Hayes defeated The Russian Assassin (Jack Victory).
- Sting defeated Butch Reed. 
- The Midnight Express & Jim Cornette defeated Randy Rose, Jack Victory (subbing for Dennis Condrey) & Paul E. Dangerously in a Loser-Leaves-Town match when Stan Lane pinned Rose.  As a result, Rose had to leave the company. 
- Mike Rotundo defeated Rick Steiner to win the NWA Television Title.
- Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham to win the United States Title.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors defeated Steve Williams & Kevin Sullivan when Hawk pinned Sullivan.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title. 
- Kendall Windham defeated Steve Casey.  This match was held after the PPV for the fans in the arena.  Part of the match did air, without commentary, on some cable systems.

1989 - WWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Jim Powers defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
- Brooklyn Brawler defeated Red Rooster.
- Big John Studd defeated Akeem via countout.  This was Studd's final MSG appearance. 
- The Bushwackers defeated The Rougeau Brothers.
- Brutus Beefcake defeated Rick Rude.
- Rick Martel vs. King Haku ended in a draw. 
- Greg Valentine defeated Jim Neidhart. 
- WWF World Champion Randy Savage defeated Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior via countout when Rick Rude attacked Warrior on the floor. 

1992 - WWF Intercontinental Champion Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated WWF World Champion Ric Flair in a steel cage match in Niagara Falls, New York.  It was a non-title bout.

1995 - Sid Vicious returns to the national wrestling scene for the first time since the infamous hotel brawl with Arn Anderson in England, appearing on Monday Night Raw in Macon, Georgia as the new bodyguard for Shawn Michaels. 

2000 - WCW star Bill Goldberg appears on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and states that he will put up $100,000 of his own money if WWF star Steve Austin will wrestle or fight him. Goldberg says they can meet anywhere, even in a back alley. A few days later, Howard Stern asks Austin about the challenge, and Austin responded that they can wrestle when Goldberg "makes it to the big leagues". Many felt Goldberg came off looking foolish with his "challenge".

2001 - During a taping of Smackdown from Kansas City, Missouri, The Kat wrestled Ivory to a no-contest when the Right To Censor interfered. Jerry Lawler tried to make the save, but was beaten down by Right To Censor.  This was Kat's last WWF match, as she was being released, and Lawler, who had a real-life relationship with her, quit the company in protest. 

2005 - WWE held their No Way Out PPV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The original report is below.

NO WAY OUT REPORT
By Buck Woodward

No Way Out opened with a video putting over the danger of the barbed wire steel cage match between JBL and Big Show. 

WWE Tag Team Champions Doug & Danny Basham vs. Rey Mysterio & Eddie Guerrero. 

Rey and Eddie both did their traditional entrances. Eddie started off with Danny, exchanging holds.  Eddie applied an ankle twist, but Danny tripped out and applied an armbar.  Eddie armdragged out and tagged in Rey, who springboarded into a double axhandle on Danny's arm.  Rey hit a shoulderblock in a corner and a legdrop for two.  Danny rammed Rey into his corner and tagged in Doug, who kicked Rey and slapped him across the head.  Danny choked Rey with the tag rope in the corner. Rey came back with a bodyscissors and tagged in Eddie, who hit Doug with a back elbow. Eddie grabbed a rana, sending Doug to the floor. Danny tagged in and worked over Eddie in a corner. Danny grabbed Eddie in a cross-armed chinlock, but Guerrero got out with a back suplex. Doug tagged in, and gave Guerrero a series of elbows to the back of the head.  Doug punched Guerrero in a corner, but ran into a Guerrero boot.  Doug came right back with a powerslam, but Rey broke up the cover.  Doug missed a top rope headbutt, and Guerrero tagged in Rey.  Rey hit Doug with a springboard senton and a springboard bodypress for two.  Rey grabbed a bulldog out of a bodyscissors, but Danny broke it up.  Danny did an illegal switch, and elbowed Rey in the back.  Doug tagged back in and stomped Rey. Danny immediately tagged back in and kicked Rey in the gut. Danny put a full nelson on Rey, then switched to a reverse bear hug. 

Rey elbowed out, but Danny kicked Rey in the back of the head, then rammed him face first into a turnbuckle.  Danny whipped Rey hard into a corner, then elbowed Guerrero on the apron.  The Bashams worked over Rey with stomps, and Doug took over in the ring. Danny tagged back in, and they dropped Rey across the top rope with a double Hot Shot for a two count. Danny choked Rey, and Rey tried to crawl between his legs to tag Eddie, but Danny stopped him and tagged in Doug. Doug whipped Rey hard into a corner and set up for a back superplex.  Rey punched out of it, and gave a standing Doug a moonsault for two. Doug dragged Rey to his corner and tagged in Danny. Danny applied a cravate to Rey, then switched to a rear naked choke. Guerrero tied two tag ropes together to get further down the apron for a tag, but the referee caught him.  Doug tagged in, and the Bashams hit a reverse spinebuster/face smasher (variation of the old Blue Light Special).  Rey rallied, leapfrogging and ducking under the Bashams to finally tag Guerrero.  Eddie cleaned house with dropkicks, and took down both Bashams with a springboard headscissors/armdrag combo. The Bashams came back, giving Guerrero a sloppy double spinebuster for two. The Bashams went for a double vertical suplex, but Rey broke it up, and Eddie rolled up Danny in a small package for two.  Doug and Rey started fighting on the floor, while Guerrero went for the title belt.  Rey went and told Eddie not to use the belt as a weapon.  Meanwhile, Danny and Doug Basham switched spots in the ring.  Eddie went for a frog splash, and Doug rolled away, but Eddie rolled when he hit the mat, and then pretended that he got hurt when he missed the splash.  Doug went to pin him, but Eddie rolled him up for two.  Danny threw the tag belt to Eddie, to make it look like he was cheating, but Eddie tossed it to Doug.  The referee saw Doug with it, and took it away from him.  Meanwhile, Rey tossed the other belt to Eddie, who hit Doug with it.  Eddie tossed the belt out and lied down in the ring next to Doug.  Rey gave Danny a 619 around the ringpost, and Eddie crawled onto an unconscious Doug for the pin at the fourteen minute mark. 

Winners and new WWE Tag Team Champions: Rey Mysterio & Eddie Guerrero. 

Backstage, General Manager Theodore R. Long was telling a Production Assistant to make sure Batista was catered to when he arrived.  Carlito Caribbean Cool entered with Mrs. Rodriquez, saying she was the wife of one of the board of directors.  Pleasantries were exchanged, and she left.  Carlito then said he was talking with her, and that the board of directors were going to remove Long as General Manager if he didn't sign Batista to Smackdown. 

Rookie Diva Contest - Evening Gown Competition

Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie came out together and joined the announcers. They discussed what they were looking for out of the Divas, and took some shots at each other.  Joy Giovanni, Rochelle Loewen, Lauren Jones, and Michelle McCool each came out in their evening gowns. Voting is now open on WWE.com.  The live crowd didn't seem to favor any one of them more than the others. 

The Pulp Fiction-spoof with Booker T & Eddie Guerrero to promote Wrestlemania was shown. 

Heidenreich vs. Booker T.

Heidenreich came out first to read a poem about No Way Out and his match with Booker T, with the fans giving it the "What" treatment.  Booker backed Heidenreich into the corner on a lockup, and broke clean.  Heidenreich hit a knee to the gut, then dropped Booker T with punches. Heidenreich delivered a clothesline for a two count, but Booker came back with a back kick and some chops and punches against the ropes. Booker hit a knee to the gut, but Heidenreich reversed a whip and hit a sloppy back elbow.  Booker went to the floor, and Heidenreich followed.  Booker rammed him into the steps and tossed him back into the ring. Booker hit a chop, ducked a Heidenreich clothesline and delivered a superkick for a two count. Heidenreich hit a knee to the gut and slammed Booker.  Heidenreich hit another clothesline, and punched Booker on the mat. Heidenreich tossed Booker shoulder first into the ringpost. Heidenreich punched Booker to the mat for a two count, then applied an overhead wristlock. 

Booker battled out of it with elbows, but Heidenreich hit a boot to the face for a two count. Heidenreich went back to the wristlock, and Booker eventually battled out, only to be kneed to the gut again.  Booker reversed a whip and hit a spinebuster. Booker punched and chopped Heidenreich, then hit a pair of clotheslines.  Booker hit a side kick, then did the spinarooni.  Booker missed an ax kick, then went for a Bookend, but Heidenreich elbowed that away.  Heidenreich charged Booker, who sidestepped him and sent him over the top rope and to the floor.  Booker and Heidenreich fought on the floor, and when Booker went to argue with the referee, Heidenreich picked up a chair and (after someone at ringside untangled it from a camera cord) hit Booker in the throat with it.  The referee disqualified Heidenreich at the seven minute mark.  Winner via disqualification: Booker T. 

Heidenreich rolled Booker back into the ring and covered him, but the referee obviously wouldn't count it. 

Backstage, Hardcore Holly, Charlie Haas and Scotty 2 Hotty congratulated Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio on their title win.  John Cena entered the room, and Guerrero asked to be left alone with him.  Eddie Guerrero told John Cena that his match with Kurt Angle tonight was his opportunity to main event Wrestlemania. Guerrero said that Kurt Angle promised to make John Cena tap tonight. Guerrero told Cena not to tap, no matter what.  Guerrero said that Angle gets frustrated and makes mistakes when people don't tap.  Guerrero wished him Cena luck. 

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Sho Funaki vs. Paul London vs. Shannon Moore vs. Spike Dudley vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Akio.

The match was held gauntlet-style, with entrances determined by a random draw earlier today. The other competitors stayed on the apron until it was their turn to enter the ring.  Paul London was wearing a large fur vest.  Spike Dudley wore a Tom Brady jersey to infuriate the Pittsburgh fans. 

Funaki vs. London.  They traded waistlocks and headlocks at the start, then London hit a shoulderblock, but Funaki sweeped his leg.  London hit an armdrag, then mulekicked Funaki out of a corner.  Funaki dodged a charge and hit a bulldog.  Spike kneed Funaki from the apron as Chavo distracted the referee.  London rolled up Funaki and pinned him at the one minute mark.  Funaki is eliminated. 

Spike vs. London.  Spike pounded London in a corner. Funaki ran in and superkicked Spike as Moore distracted the referee.  London pinned Spike.  Spike is eliminated. 

Moore vs. London.  Moore went for a series of quick covers on London for two counts. London battled back, but Moore whipped London hard into a corner chest first three times. Moore went to the top rope for a twisting senton, but missed.  London hit Moore with a 450 splash off the top for the pin at the three minute mark.  Moore is eliminated. 

Akio vs. London.  Akio hit London with a clothesline and stomped London in a corner.  Akio applied a headscissors across the top rope, then went to a sleeperhold in the ring. Akio hit a enzugiri for a two count.  Akio chopped and pounded London in a corner, then went for a superplex.  London battled Akio on the ropes, and they fell off the top rope with a neckbreaker attempt that left both men down. The referee counted both men down, and London got up at nine, but Akio could not answer the count, so he was eliminated via knockout at the six minute mark. Akio is eliminated.

Chavo vs. London.  Chavo covered London three times for two counts.  London grabbed a small package for a two count.  Chavo hit a forearm, then yelled "You want to make me work?" at London, and pounded him on the mat.  Chavo went for a neckbreaker, but London held the top rope to block it, then covered Chavo for a two count.  London grabbed a Dragon suplex for a two count. London started screaming and pounding his chest.  London hit a backdrop and a dropsault for a two count. Chavo hit a knee to the gut, then went for a suplex, but London floated over it.  London rolled up Chavo, but Chavo reversed it and hooked the ropes for leverage for the pin.  London is eliminated. 

Total match time: Nine Minutes.  Winner and new Cruiserweight Champion: Chavo Guerrero.

Batista's appearance on Smackdown this past week, destroying JBL's limo and beating up JBL's henchmen, was recapped. 

Big Show was shown sitting in the back, thinking about his Barbed Wire Cage match tonight. 

Rookie Diva Contest - Talent Competition

Joy's talent was massage, so she gave Torrie Wilson a massage in her bra.  She was wearing a short skirt, so she showed off her panties too.  Dawn commented that it was a pretty poor message. Torrie made a snap about Dawn giving the boys in the back massages.  Rochelle tired to tell jokes, but after one lame joke, Dawn Marie stopped her.  Lauren's talent was dancing, so she did a dance/strip routine. Dawn told her not to quit her day job, since she couldn't even make 50 cents stripping.  Michelle McCool, wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers outfit, said she was tired of someone running her mouth, and bodyslammed Dawn Marie as her talent display. Voting is open at WWE.com.

Josh Mathews interviewed JBL about the main event.  JBL said he knew their would be blood, and it would be his.  JBL said that Big Show is a "side show freak" and that he has no guts. JBL said that the fans would realize tonight that he is the "wrestling god". 

Luther Reigns, with Mark Jindrak, vs. The Undertaker.  Jindrak argued with the referee, as he seemed adamant about staying in the ring and getting revenge on the Undertaker for his loss from last week on Smackdown. The announcers played up Reigns hitting Taker in the head with a TV camera following that match. The referee ordered Jindrak away from ringside before the Undertaker even made his entrance.  Undertaker pounded Luther in the corner at the start, but Luther elbowed him in the head as he attempted a backdrop.  Luther hit some punches, but Taker hit a boot to the face for a two count. Undertaker hit some short-arm shoulderblocks and went for the Old School ropewalk.  Undertaker hit the forearm smash, then hit a faceplant. Taker choked Reigns on the mat, then chased the referee from the ring when he made him break.  Reigns pulled the pad off of a turnbuckle.  Reigns went to ram Taker into it, but Taker blocked it.  Undertaker hit some punches in a different corner, but Reigns came back with a clothesline. Undertaker reversed a whip and sent Reigns into the corner.  Taker pulled Reigns across the ring apron drove in an elbow.  Taker then hit a ring apron legdrop. Reigns begged off in the ring, but kicked Taker low. Reigns then rammed the back of Taker's head into the exposed steel of the uncovered turnbuckle. The announcers played up that it was the same area where he was hit with the TV camera.

They went to the floor, and Reigns rammed Taker back first into the ring apron and rammed him headfirst into the steps. In the ring, Reigns stomped Taker and whipped him hard into the turnbuckles twice.  Reigns delivered a vertical suplex for a two count. Reigns slammed Taker and dropped an elbow for a two count. Reigns applied a single leg crab, and stood on the side of Taker's head. Reigns switched to a kneebar, but Taker punched out if it and kicked Reigns away.  Taker hit some body punches and an uppercut, then delivered a clothesline for a two count. Reigns stopped Taker's rally with a spear for a two count.  Reigns hit an elbow for another two count. Reigns went for an inverted neckbreaker, but Taker kneed out.  Taker ducked a Reigns clothesline and hit a flying clothesline.  Taker hit a clothesline in the corner.  Undertaker went for Snake Eyes, but Reigns sort of blocked it.  Taker hit a big boot and a legdrop for a two count.  Undertaker gave Reigns a chokeslam.  Undertaker went for a tombstone, but Reigns floated over into an inverted neckbreaker for a two count. Reigns went for the neckbreaker again, but Undertaker reversed it into a DDT.  Undertaker hit the tombstone for the pin at the twelve minute mark. Winner: The Undertaker.

Backstage, Theodore R. Long was still awaiting the arrival of Batista.

The Basic Instinct-parody commercial for Wrestlemania was shown.

Rookie Diva Contest - Swimsuit Competition

Torrie hosted this last segment alone, as Dawn would not return after being slammed by Michelle.  They replayed the slam, for those that didn't see it twenty minutes ago on a show they paid to see.  Joy wore a Steelers jersey to the ring, while the other contestants wore robes. Each woman had 15 seconds to disrobe and show off their bikini. Rochelle almost fell down in her heels. Michelle did a handspring backflip.  They asked the audience who they liked while "the votes are tallied".  The crowd booed Rochelle and Lauren, and cheered Michelle and Joy (not coincidentally, the two that wore Steelers gear tonight).  Joy won, with 65% of the vote.  Michelle came in second with 18%.  Lauren had 6%.  Rochelle had 11%.

Winner: Joy Giovanni.

The Wrestlemania Contender tournament was recapped in a music video.

John Cena vs. Kurt Angle. This was the finals of the tournament to determine the number one contender to the WWE Title.  The winner receives a WWE Title match at Wrestlemania (which will be a three way if Batista signs with Smackdown).  Cena's U.S. Title is not on the line. Angle took Cena over to the ropes at the start with a chinlock, but broke clean.  Angle grabbed a double leg takedown and applied a side headlock. Cena got out, but Angle took him back down with a side mare. Cena got out, but Angle took him back down with a side headlock with a trapped arm.  Cena got to the ropes for a break.  Cena grabbed a side headlock of his own, but Angle shoved him off and grabbed a drop toehold.  Angle went into a front facelock, but Cena got them to the ropes. Cena hit some shoulderblocks against the ropes and right hands.  Cena ducked a punch by Angle and clotheslined him over the top rope and to the floor.  Cena went after Angle on the outside, clotheslining him over the announcers table and pounding him on the floor.  Cena rammed Angle into the table, and tossed him back into the ring. 

Cena hit a fisherman's suplex for a two count. Cena punched and kicked Angle in a corner, then booted him in the face when he charged him. Cena hit a clothesline, and Angle went to the floor for a breather. Cena punched Angle down in the corner when he came back in, but Angle mounted a comeback by giving Cena a German suplex into the turnbuckles.  The crowd came alive, with pro and anti-Angle chants.  Angle worked over Cena with kicks and hit a vertical suplex for two. Angle hit a backbreaker for a two count.  The crowd got behind Cena now.  Angle punched Cena in a corner, then snapmared him and applied a bodyscissors. Angle rubbed his forearm across the face of Cena.  Angle went into a reverse chinlock, but Cena elbowed and punched out.  Cena hit a back elbow, but Angle responded with three German suplexes.  Cena got his foot on the bottom rope at the two count.

Angle applied a modified Camel Clutch, driving his knee into Cena's back.  Cena kneed out of it, ducked a clothesline and hit a flying shoulderblock. Cena hit a series of rights, and a headbutt.  Cena hit a pair of clotheslines and a back elbow.  Angle raked Cena's eyes, but Cena reversed a whip and hit a spinebuster for two. Angle hit a knee to the gut and a German suplex.  Cena broke free of the waistlock and hit a side powerbomb for a two count.  Cena went for an FU, but Angle floated out of it and into a sunset flip for two.  Angle hit an overhead belly to belly suplex.  Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Cena floated out and hit a DDT for two. Cena went for the FU again, but Angle went into a Victory Roll and applied the ankle lock, to a pop.  Cena rolled out of it, sending Angle through the ropes and to the floor. Cena went to the top rope as Angle got on the apron, and gave Angle a top rope legdrop to the back of the neck as Angle we getting back into the ring. Cena got a two count.  Cena charged into an Angle boot.  Angle charged Cena, and Cena grabbed him in the FU.  Angle kicked out at two.

Cena argued with the referee, then went back to Angle, but Angle clipped his knee.  Angle went to work on the leg, dropping elbows and sitting down on it.  Angle hit a chopblock to the back of the leg and stomped it. Angle rammed Cena's leg into the ringpost four times.  Angle could audibly be heard saying "turn on your stomach" and Cena rolled over.  Angle twisted Cena's legs, then stomped him in a corner.  Angle took his straps down, then stomped the leg again.  Angle hit the Angle Slam, and then applied the ankle lock. Cena went to the ropes, but Angle pulled him back into the center of the ring. Cena went towards the ropes again, but Angle dropped down, adding a leglace to the hold. Cena made the ropes after struggling, and Angle broke the hold on the four count. Angle went back to it again, and accidentally hit the referee as he released the hold on the four count. Some fans chanted "HBK".  Angle went for John Cena's chain, but Cena charged Angle in the corner, then hit an FU.  Cena covered, and the referee slowly crawled over and counted three at the twenty minute mark. Winner: John Cena.

Angle was aggravated at ringside, toppling the ring steps as he left.  John Cena will receive a WWE Title match at Wrestlemania.

Batista still hadn't arrived, as they showed his hospitality room was empty.

The history leading to the main event was shown.

WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield vs. The Big Show, Barbed Wire Steel Cage match. 

JBL came to the ring alone. JBL went right at Big Show at the bell, throwing chops, but Big Show pounded him down.  Show tried to ram JBL into the cage wall, but JBL blocked it twice.  Show hit a chop to the chest and tried again, but JBL blocked it again.  Show pounded JBL and choked him.  JBL ducked a clothesline and clipped Big Show's leg.  JBL hit a neckbreaker. JBL tried to climb up, and attempted to find an opening in the barbed wire.  JBL then jumped off the top rope at Show, who caught JBL and hit a fallaway slam for a two count.  Show slugged JBL to the mat, then chopped him in the corner.  JBL's arm was bleeding from when he was trying to find an opening in the wire.  JBL gave Show a thumb to the eye and looked for an opening again.  JBL got back down and went for a shoulderblock, but bounced off of Show.  Big Show hit a vertical suplex, then chopped JBL in the corner.  JBL booted a charging Big Show, then rammed him headfirst into the cage.  Big Show was soon bleeding from the head.  JBL climbed up again, then hit a top rope shoulderblock.  JBL rammed Show into the cage, then chopped and punched him to the mat.  JBL dropped an elbow for a two count.

JBL kicked Show in the head and dropped an elbow.  JBL pulled one of the tag ropes off of a corner and used it to choke Show. Show reversed a whip and hit a back kick.  Show went for a powerbomb, bouncing JBL's face against the cage before driving him into the mat. Show punched JBL to the mat, and JBL was also bleeding.  Show rammed JBL into the cage twice, then headbutted him to the mat.  Both men were wearing the "crimson mask" now.  Big Show catapulted JBL into the cage.  Orlando Jordan ran down and tried to climb up the cage, but couldn't get in.  The Bashams tried to use wire cutters, and cut a few links.  Theodore R. Long came to ringside and ordered Jordan and the Bashams away.  Jordan left the wire cutters in the cage, and JBL picked them up and hit Show with them.  JBL then hit a Clothesline From Hell for a two count.  JBL measured for another one, but Show grabbed JBL and chokeslammed him for a two count.  Blood was flowing freely from both JBL and Show.  Show signaled for another chokeslam, but JBL hit a low blow and a boot to the face for a two count. JBL went to the chained door, and realized he couldn't get out that way. JBL picked up the wire cutters and went onto the top rope.  JBL cut one strand of barbed wire, then dropped them to the floor as Big Show attacked him.  Big Show got onto the top rope and rammed JBL into the support beam of the cage over and over.  JBL fought back, and the two slugged it out on the top rope. Show grabbed JBL by the throat and chokeslammed him off the top rope.  JBL hit the ring, and the mat collapsed under JBL. 

Show was still standing on the top rope, and JBL was lying in a hole in the corner of the ring. Show climbed down and tried to kick the door open, then tried to break the lock with his bare hands.  Show broke the lock and opened the door.  Show stepped out of the cage, onto the ringsteps.  The bell rang.  Show thought he had won.  However, JBL had crawled out from under the ring via the hole he had made when he landed off the chokeslam.  So, since JBL's feet had touched the floor first, he retained the title at the sixteen minute mark. 

Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield.

Show tossed JBL back into the ring, as a replay showed how JBL crawled out from under the ring to get the win. The Bashams and Jordan hit the ring to attack the Big Show.  Batista came out, decking Orlando Jordan and giving both Bashams spinebusters.  Batista powerbombed a Basham, as JBL stumbled and crawled up the aisle.  John Cena came out of the entranceway and threw JBL into some television equipment. Cena gave JBL a spinebuster into part of the stage, sending him crashing to the floor.  Cena, from the stage, and Batista, from the ring, looked at each other and gestured about winning the title belt. JBL was laid out, and Cena did the "You Can't See Me" as the show came to an end.

2006 - During an edition of Raw from Trenton, New Jersey, Shelton Benjamin defeated Ric Flair with an Exploder suplex after hitting him with a oxygen tank while Mama Benjamin distracted the referee to win the Intercontinental Title.   On the same show, Triple H defeated Rob Van Dam and Big Show in a three way match by pinning Van Dam with a Pedigree after Van Dam had given Big Show a frog splash to earn a WWE Title match with John Cena at Wrestlemania. 

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