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June 1st
On this day in history in ....
1945 - Bobby Bonales defeats El Santo to win the Mexican National Middleweight Title, beginning Bonales' second reign and ending Santo's third.
1948 - Sandor Szabo wins the Minneapolis World Heavyweight Title for the fourth time, defeating Bronko Nagurski in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1948 - The Green Shadow defeats Herb Welch for the Tennessee World Junior Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, ending Welch's seventh reign.
1956 - Buddy Rogers defeats Pepper Gomez for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas. This began Rogers' fifth reign and ended Gomez's second.
1960 - Édouard Carpentier and Sandor Szabo defeat Art Michalik and Legs Wilson in Los Angeles, California to win the NWA International Television Tag Team Title.
1962 - Jack Donovan and Jackie Fargo defeat The Mysterious Medics for the Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Dothan, Alabama, ending the Medics' fifth reign.
1966 - René Goulet and Pepper Martin defeat Tony Borne and Prof. Hiro to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1971 - Brian Maxine defeats Clayton Thomson in Croydon, England for the British Middleweight Title, to end Thomson's second reign.
1972 - Andre the Giant makes his Canadian debut in Montreal, Quebec.
1973 - The Samoans (Tio Tio and Reno Tufuuli) defeat Mike Graham and Kevin Sullivan to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in St. Petersburg, Florida.
1973 - Bull Ramos and Clay Spencer (Ken Mantell) defeat Steven Little Bear and Dutch Savage for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1973 - Black Gordman and Goliath defeat Rey Mendoza and Raul Reyes to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title, beginning their fifth reign.
1974 - Jim Dalton and Bruce Swayze defeat Carlos Colón and José Manuel Pérez for the WWC North American Tag Team Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
1975 - James Storm is born in Franklin, Tennessee.
1975 - Bobby Hart and Larry O'Day defeat The Missouri Mauler and Steve Rackman to win the NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia.
1975 - Tauro defeats Dardo Aguilar for the Mexican National Lightweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, to begin Tauro's third reign.
1976 - Jim Breaks defeats Bobby Ryan to win the British Lightweight Title in Wolverhampton, England, ending Ryan's second reign and beginning Breaks' sixth.
1977 - Former TNA Champion James Storm was born.
1977 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held an event at the Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Florida. The results:
- William Ruska defeated Angelo Poffo.
- Tony Marino defeated Raul Mata.
- Jerry Brisco defeated Butcher Vachon.
- Ernie Ladd and Skip Young defeated Dutch Mantel and Siegfried Stanke.
- NWA Florida Television Champion Mike Graham defeated Pat Patterson by disqualificationt to retain the title.
- Eddie Graham and Dusty Rhodes defeated Ivan Koloff and NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Buddy Wolf in a lights out match.
1978 - Tor Kamata defeats Giant Baba for the AJPW PWF Heavyweight Title in Akita, Japan.
1979 - Ron Garvin wins his fifth NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title, defeating Alex Smirnoff in Knoxville, Tennessee.
1979 - El Halcón defeats José Lothario defeat Mark Lewin and The Spoiler to win the NWA American Tag Team Title in Houston, Texas.
1981 - Bill Dundee defeats Stan Lane for the Mid-America NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1981 - Jimmy Golden ends Ken Lucas' second NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title reign in Birmingham, Alabama.
1983 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held an event at the Music Theatre in Sunrise, Florida. The results:
- Terry Allen (Magnum T.A.) defeated Tommy Wright.
- Brad Armstrong and The Professional (Doug Gilbert) fought to a draw.
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Scott McGhee defeated The Purple Haze by disqualification to retain the title.
- NWA Global Tag Team Champions - NWA Bahamas Heavyweight CHampion Angelo Mosca and Bobby Duncum defeated Barry Windham and NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion Ron Bass to retain the title.
- Mike Graham defeated Kevin Sullivan.
- Dusty Rhodes defeated Adrian Street.
1983 - Lioness Asuka wins her second AJW Singles Title from Kaoru Matsumoto in Omiya, Japan. At the same event, Jaguar Yokota defeats La Galactica for the WWWA World Singles Title, to begin her second reign.
1985 - Black Bart defeats Ron Garvin to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1985 - Invader III defeats Denny Brown for the vacant WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
1986 - The WWF held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. Most of the matches aired on future episodes of Prime Time Wrestling. The results:
- Tony Parisi defeated Steve Lombardi. This match aired on June 9.
- Billy Jack Haynes defeated Frank Marconi. This match aired on July 7.
- King Kong Bundy defeated Tony Atlas. This match aired on June 9.
- Ricky Steamboat and Jake Roberts were both disqualified.
- The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond) defeated Terry Gibbs (subbing for Bob Orton, Jr.) and Hercules, when Jacques pinned Gibbs. This match aired on June 9.
- Adrian Adonis defeated George Steele. This match aired on June 9.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs (The Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith) defeated Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine.
1986 - Marty Jannetty defeats The Shadow (Jaymie Knight) to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in Marshalltown, Iowa, beginning his second reign.
1987 - Jeff Jarrett wins the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title for the second time in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Moondog Spot's second reign.
1990 - Kerry Von Erich defeats Matt Borne in Dallas, Texas to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title for the third time, ending Borne's second reign.
1990 - El Dandy defeats Angel Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico for the NWA World Middleweight Title, beginning his second reign.
1991 - TNT (Savio Vega) defeats King Kong to win the WWC Television Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, to start his fourth reign.
1991 - The Billion Dollar Babies (Mike Samson and G.Q. Stratus) defeat G.Q. and T.D. Madison (Tommy Dreamer) for the IWCCW Tag Team Title in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. This began the Babies' second reign and ended the Madisons' third.
1995 - Alicia Atout, who has worked for MLW and Impact Wrestling as an interviewer, was born.
1995 - Latin Lover and Panterita del Ring defeat Fuerza and Juventud Guerrera to win the Mexican National Tag Team Title in Texcoco, Mexico.
1996 - The first World Wrestling Peace Festival, organized by Antonio Inoki, is held at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. It featured wrestlers WCW, CMLL, AAA and New Japan. The WWF chose not to send any wrestlers. The results were:
- Craig Pittman (WCW) defeated KGB (AAA) by submission.
- Jim Neidhart defeated Bobby Bradley, Jr.
- Lady Apache (CMLL) and Akira Hokuto defeated Bull Nakano and Neftali (AAA), when Hokuto pinned Neftali.
- In a WCW match, Chris Benoit defeated Alex Wright.
- In a AAA match, NWA World Middleweight Champion Ultimo Dragon and Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Heavy Metal and Mexican National Welterweight Champion Psicosis, when Dragon pinned Metal.
- Lex Luger (WCW) defeated Masa Saito (NJPW).
- In a CMLL match, NWA World Welterweight Champion Negro Casas defeated Mexican National Middleweight Champion El Hijo del Santo.
- In a CMLL match, CMLL World Tag Team Champion Atlantis, Dos Caras and Héctor Garza defeated Gran Markus, Jr., Silver King and CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion Dr. Wagner, Jr., when Caras pinned Markus.
- In a NJPW match, Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Black Cat.
- In a AAA match, Perro Aguayo and La Parka defeated Cibernético and Mexican National Heavyweight Champion Pierroth, Jr., when Aguayo pinned Pierroth.
- AAA Americas, IWAS World and WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Konnan (AAA/WCW) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Jericho (WCW) in a triangle match. Konnan pinned both men. Jericho was hired by WCW at this event.
- Jushin Liger (NJPW) defeated The Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro).
- In a WCW match, WCW World Heavyweight Champion The Giant defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Sting.
- Antonio Inoki and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn defeated Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Oleg Taktarov, when Severn made Fujiwara submit.
1996 - ECW held "Fight the Power" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Devon Storm defeated El Puerto Ricano.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
- The Full-Blooded Italians (Little Guido and J.T. Smith) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) by disqualification.
- Taz defeated Jason Helton.
- Tommy Dreamer and The Pitbulls (#1 and #2) defeated The Bruise Brothers (Don and Ron) and Brian Lee.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Raven defeated Pitbull #2 to retain the title.
- The Sandman defeated Stevie Richards.
- ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas defeated El Puerto Ricano to retain the title.
- ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas defeated Don E. Allen to retain the title.
- ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas defeated Devon Storm to retain the title.
- ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas defeated Mikey Whipwreck to retain the title.
- Pitbull #2 defeated ECW World Television Champion Shane Douglas to win the title.
- The Eliminators (Kronus and Saturn) defeated The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustapha Saed) to retain the title.
1996 - Brian Christopher defeats Jerry Lawler to win his 22nd of 25 USWA Heavyweight Titles in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's second reign.
1996 - Caveman Broda defeats Bobby Collins for the Canadian Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Title in Dugald, Manitoba.
1998 - The Monday Night War continued, and the WWF won the night. RAW's 4.4 rating beat WCW Monday Nitro's 3.7 rating.
WCW Monday Nitro was live from the MCI Center in Washington, DC. The results:
- Ernest Miller defeated Jerry Flynn.
- Raven and Saturn (with The Riot Squad) defeated Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock).
- Alex Wright defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
- Konnan defeated Lenny Lane.
- WCW World Television Champion Fit Finlay defeated Eddie Guerrero by disqualification to retain the title.
- Chris Jericho defeated Juventud Guerrera.
- Chris Benoit defeated Booker T in the fourth match of their best-of-seven series, tying it at two wins apiece.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Riggs (with Sick Boy).
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Goldberg defeated La Parka in 29 seconds to retain the title.
- Lex Luger and Kevin Nash defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion The Giant and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan (with The Disciple and Bret Hart) by disqualification.
WWF RAW is WAR was live from the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois. The results were:
- Droz and LOD 2000 (Animal and Hawk) fought The Disciples of Apocalypse (8-Ball, Chainz and Skull) to a no-contest in a street fight.
- Val Venis defeated Papi Chulo.
- Marc Mero (wit Jacqueline) defeated Steve Blackman in a King of the Ring Tournament qualifying match.
- The Nation (D'Lo Brown, Owen Hart and WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock (with Mark Henry and Kama Mustafa)) defeated D-Generation X (WWF Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) and WWF European Champion Triple H (with Chyna and X-Pac)) in an elimination match. Gunn pinned Brown, Rock pinned Road Dogg, Owen pinned Gunn, Triple H pinned Rock, and Triple H was disqualified after Ken Shamrock attacked Owen.
- Jeff Jarrett (with Southern Justice (Mark Canterbury and Dennis Knight) and Tennessee Lee) defeated Faarooq in a King of the Ring Tournament qualifying match. This was the debut of the former Godwinns as Southern Justice.
- WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Taka Michinoku (with Bradshaw) defeated Funaki (with Togo, Teioh and Yamaguchi-San) to retain the title.
- Mark Henry defeated Terry Funk in a King of the Ring Tournament qualifying match.
- Kane (with Paul Bearer) defeated The Undertaker to earn a shot at Steve Austin's WWF Title at King of the Ring on June 28.
1998 - NWA Georgia revives the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title and awards it to Billy Black. The title had been retired since it was unified with the NWA National Heavyweight Title in Georgia Championship Wrestling in August 1981.
2001 - Lumberjack Bubba defeats Juggernaut for the ECCW Hardcore Title in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
2001 - The Island Boyz (Ekmo and Kimo) defeat The Haas Brothers (Charlie and Russ) to win the Memphis Championship Wrestling Southern Tag Team Title in Marmaduke, Arkansas, before losing the title right back to the Haas'.
2002 - Chris Sabin defeats Gutter for the NWA Great Lakes Heavyweight Title in Sterling Heights, Michigan, ending his second reign.
2002 - Jason Cross defeats David Young to win the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Title in Cornelia, Georgia.
2002 - Kappa Tegga Kegga defeat Trailer Park Trash (Deuce Malone and Steve Sabo) for the NWA New England Tag Team Title in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Also at that event, Kid Narcisstic defeats Jason Rumble to win the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
2002 - John Noble and Robbie Ruffin defeat Disturbing Behavior (Jeff Daniels and Tim Renesto) to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Columbia, Tennessee.
2002 - Dave Mysterio wins his third NWA Jersey Junior Heavyweight Title from The Great Blazini in Raritan Township, New Jersey.
2003 - Kumiko Maekawa and Tomoko Watanabe defeat Etsuko Mita and Nanae Takahashi to win their third WWWA World Tag Team Title in Sapporo, Japan.
2005 - Danny Williams defeats Kurupt to win the NWA United Kingdom Junior Heavyweight Title in Chatham, England, ending Kurupt's second reign.
2006 - Mr. Excellent defeats Andres Diamond for the Italian Championship Wrestling Interregional Heavyweight Title in Vigvevano, Italy, beginning his third reign.
2007 - OVW held a Summer Sizzler Series event at the Paramarx Arena at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. The results were:
- Atlas DaBone defeated Dirty Money.
- The Daltons (Jesse and Festus Dalton) defeated Johnny Punch and Ramon.
- ODB defeated OVW Women's Champion Katie Lea to win the title, making her the first-ever two-time champion.
- Jake Hager and Steve Williams defeated The James Boys (Kassidy and KC James), when Hager pinned KC.
- The Major Brothers (Brett and Brian Major) defeated OVW Southern Tag Team Champions Ox and Hammer (Charles Evans and Justin LaRoche) (with Dr. Tomas) by disqualification. Ox and Hammer retained the title.
- Jacob Duncan defeated Dan Rodman. Had Rodman won, he would have earned a date with Beth Phoenix.
- Cody Runnels defeated OVW Television Champion Shawn Spears by countout. Spears retained the title.
- Jay Bradley defeated Paul Birchill and Idol Stevens in a three-way match, by pinning Birchill, to win the vacant OVW Heavyweight Title. The title had been held up on May 23 after a match between Birchill, then the champion, and Stevens ended in a double-pin.
- Chris Benoit defeated Michael W. Kruel (with Vladimir Kozlov).
2007 - SHIMMER Women Athletes taped "SHIMMER Volume 11" for DVD at the Eagles Club in Berwyn, Illinois. The show featured the first two rounds of the 16-woman tournament to determine the first SHIMMER Champion. The results:
First round:
- Malia Hosaka defeated Allison Danger.
- Daizee Haze defeated Portia Perez.
- Sara Del Rey defeated Cindy Rogers.
- Alicia defeated Ariel.
- MsChif (with Daffney) defeated Lexie Fyfe.
- Sarah Stock defeated Cheerleader Melissa.
- Lacey defeated Eden Black.
- Nikki Roxx defeated Rain.
Quarterfinals:
- Daizee Haze defeated Malia Hosaka.
- Sara Del Rey defeated Alicia.
- Sarah Stock defeated MsChif (with Daffney).
- Lacey defeated Nikki Roxx.
2007 - Pro Wrestling eXpress changes its name to the Atlas Wrestling Company, and that night in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Dash Bennett was stripped of the PWX Brass Knuckles Title. Chris LeRusso won a battle royal to be recognized as the AWC Brass Knuckles Champion. At the same show, Blue Dragon defeats Devil Bhudakhan for the AWC Three Rivers Title.
2008 - WWE held their One Night Stand PPV. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of WWE One Night Stand. We will be updating this page throughout the evening with results from the show, so check back often.
The opening video for the PPV was a bit shorter this time around, focusing quickly on the top matches and whether tonight would be Undertaker's last night in WWE. The stage set features a lot of motor vehicles and road construction equipment.
Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
The crowd was really behind Hardy (I know, shocking). Hardy ran into an Umaga elbow at the bell, then Umaga threw him hard into a corner and kicked his head. Umaga tossed him into another corner, but Hardy jumped onto the ropes and hit the Whisper In The Wind for a two count. Hardy jumped off the second rope at Umaga, but Umaga caught it and hit a spinning side slam for a two count. Umaga threw Jeff into the ropes, but Jeff put on the breaks. Umaga charged and Jeff pulled down the top rope so Umaga would fall over the ropes to the outside. Hardy gave Umaga a pescado and got a two count on the floor. They battled outside, and Umaga threw Hardy hard into the retaining wall, then tossed him into the crowd and threw some chairs on him.
Umaga dragged Jeff over near the entrance way and headbutted him down. Jeff hit Umaga with a plastic traffic barrier, but it had no effect and Umaga kicked him down. Umaga pounded Jeff up against an equipment case and went for the posterior butt, but Jeff moved and Umaga crashed into the case. Jeff grabbed a fire extinguisher, and had some trouble with it, but eventually blasted Umaga in the face with it. Umaga stumbled backstage, with Hardy following. Umaga slammed Hardy into a wall, but missed with a chair shot. Hardy climbed a flight of stairs, then slid down the banister into a bodypress on Umaga for a two count on the landing of the steps. They went up the steps, and were fighting on the concourse of the arena, near a merchandise stand. Umaga rammed Hardy into a trash can for a two count.
They fought out of the building, and Umaga threw Hardy into a road case that was near some trucks. Umaga rammed Jeff into a forklift and covered him on the ground for a two count. Umaga rammed Jeff into the back of an eighteen wheeler, then went to ram him into the door of another one, but Jeff blocked it and rammed Umaga into it. Jeff choked Umaga with a piece of packing material, and got a two count on the ground. Umaga charged Jeff and ran into a truck. Jeff started to climb a ladder to the top of a truck. Umaga gave chase, but Jeff kicked him to the ground. We couldn't see him land, as there were (conveniently) road cases blocking the view.. Jeff then dove off the top of the truck into a Swanton, presumably crashing into Umaga on the concrete, although we didn't see the impact. The referee counted three at the ten minute mark, and the camera finally got around the cases so we could see that Jeff was on top of Umaga.
Winner: Jeff Hardy.
The referee was checking on both men, laid out on the concrete, after the match ended.
They switched from Jerry Lawler & Jim Ross to Mick Foley & Michael Cole. They then showed a video package shot earlier where Foley explained the rules for a Stretcher Match, noting that to win you had to roll your opponent across a finish line to win. Foley also demonstrated how the stretcher could be used as a weapon. They are conducting a poll asking fans who will win the match.
Shawn Merriman of the San Diego Chargers was shown in the crowd. Of course, the Chargers are not the Superbowl Champions. That would be the New York Giants.
Tazz and Mike Adamle were introduced, with Adamle saying they were "bringing back the past" tonight, since Singapore Cane matches were once "a staple" of ECW. They set up four poles, one in each corner, each with a cane on it.
Big Show vs. CM Punk vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero, with Bam Neely, vs. John Morrison in a Singapore Cane match, with the winner receiving an ECW Title match against Kane at the Night Of Champions.
Bam Neely accompanied Chavo, but no Miz with John Morrison. Big Show was smiling and laughing as he entered the ring. Show started swatting people around at the bell. Show headbutted Morrison, Dreamer and Punk, then slammed Chavo. Show slammed Morrison on top of Chavo, then elbowdropped both of them. Show slammed Dreamer, but missed an elbow on him. Punk kicked Show while he was down, and Morrison hit a Shining Wizard on Show. Dreamer gave Show a DDT, then Chavo gave Show a frog splash. Everyone, except Show, clumbed up and got canes. Everyone started caning Show. Dreamer and Punk used the canes to clothesline Show over the top rope and to the floor. Chavo and Morrison attacked Dreamer and Punk. Chavo and Punk ended up fighting on the floor, while Morrison and Dreamer were fighting in the ring. Chavo "accidentally" caned Shawn Merriman. Punk knocked down Chavo, and Merriman asked for the cane. Merriman caned Chavo hard across the head. If it was Michael Strahan, he wouldn't have needed a cane to knock out Chavo.
Show started fighting Morrison at ringside, and The Miz ran out to help his partner. Show swatted him away, then picked up the steps to hit Miz with. Morrison hit Show in the legs with a cane, and Show fell forward, hitting his head on the steps. In the ring, Punk powerslammed Chavo. Morrison caned Punk. Dreamer suplexed Morrison, using the cane. Punk went for a GTS on Dreamer, but Dreamer blocked it and applied a Texas Cloverleaf. Morrison caned Dreamer. Show was bleeding on the floor. Chavo and Morrison fought on the ropes, and Morrison got tossed to the mat. Punk went for a superplex on Chavo, Morrison grabbed Punk from behind for a powerbomb, and they all crashed to the mat, falling into Dreamer.
A very angry Show got up, and kicked Bam Neely down, then pulled out a cane (they had a trash can full of them at ringside). He caned Miz, then blasted Morrison as he tried to dive on Show from the ring. Show got in the ring and caned Punk, Chavo and Dreamer. As Show would wear out a cane, he pulled out a new one. Punk and Chavo were knocked out of the ring, and Dreamer got a cane of his own. Dreamer swung, but Show caught the shot. Show chokeslammed Dreamer. Show wiped the blood across his face, then pulled Dreamer up in a corner. Show caned Dreamer across the head, then stood on his chest with one foot for the pin at the eight minute mark.
Winner: Big Show.
Big Show had a very angry look on his face. They cut to the back, where Kane was watching on a monitor, and smiling.
Todd Grisham interviewed Vince McMahon about giving away $1 million on Raw, starting tomorrow. Vince is calling it "McMahon's Million Dollar Mania". Vince informed Todd that WWE employees are not eligible to win. Enter Ron Simmons. Damn!
John Cena vs. JBL in a First Blood match.
Cena seemed to get a pretty positive reaction coming out. JBL had his fists taped up, and was wearing elbowpads. Lawler explained he did that to avoid getting a cut there and bleeding. JBL and Cena each ripped off a top turnbuckle pad. They went face to face and slugged it out, with JBL getting the better of it. Cena avoided a boot to the face and clotheslined JBL. JBL went to the floor and Cena rammed him into the announce table. Cena hit some right hands in the ring, but JBL threw him over the top rope and to the floor. JBL hit an elbowdrop on the floor. JBL hit a punch and Cena put his head under the ring for a moment. He wasn't bleeding when he came out. JBL rammed Cena into the ring apron, then they got back in the ring. JBL went to ram Cena in a corner, but Cena blocked it and hit some punches. The boos for Cena are starting to come out.
JBL punched Cena to the apron, then nailed him with some punches and a boot to the face that sent Cena to the floor. Now the Cena fans are doing a light Cena chant. JBL punched Cena on the floor, then rubbed his face against the guardrail. They slugged it out in the aisle, then JBL poked Cena in the face and kicked him in the head. JBL grabbed a chair and propped Cena against a ringpost. JBL swung, but Cena ducked the chairshot. Cena hit some punches, but JBL grabbed a microphone and popped Cena in the head with it. They got back in the ring, and JBL blasted Cena with the mic again. JBL yelled for Cena to get up, saying "I want my torch back". Cena battled up and hit a pair of shoulderblocks, then a back suplex into a powerbomb. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" and delivered the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop.
Cena went for an FU, but JBL grabbed the top rope and pulled himself to the apron. JBL grabbed Cena and yanked him throat first across the top rope. JBL went down on the floor, and Cena rolled outside as well. JBL rammed Cena into the ringpost, and Cena covered up, but when the referee checked, he wasn't bleeding. JBL grabbed the steps, the same ones that busted Big Show open in the previous match, and threw them at Cena, but Cena ducked. JBL rammed Cena into the retaining wall, then pulled the padding off the top of the wall and rammed him into it again. Slight chant for Cena. JBL went for a DDT on the other half of the ringsteps, but Cena tripped JBL, sending him back first into the steps with a thud. Cena grabbed the microphone and hit JBL in the head with it. Cena rubbed JBL's head against the ringsteps, but no blood.
JBL rolled into the ring, and Cena grabbed a chair. JBL kicked Cena low to block the chairshot, then rammed Cena into one of the exposed turnbuckles. No blood. JBL called for the Clothesline From Hell, but Cena ducked it and bulldogged JBL into the chair. No blood. JBL crawled over to the towel he came to the ring with, and pulled a chain out from it. Cena advanced on JBL, who hit Cena in the gut with it. JBL measured Cena for another shot with it, but Cena ducked and gave JBL an FU. JBL was out cold, and Cena was still grabbing his ribs from the chain shot. Both men got to their feet, and JBL hit Cena with a boot to the face. Cena fell backwards and got tied in the ropes. JBL went under the ring and pulled out a bullwhip. JBL cracked it and smiled, but got too close to Cena, who kicked JBL low. Cena pulled out of the ropes, then tripped JBL and applied the STFU, using the chain around JBL's throat. The referee called for the bell at the fifteen minute mark, as JBL was bleeding from the mouth (awfully fast, given how long he was in the move).
Winner: John Cena.
They advertised the next PPV, Night Of Champions, which occurs 28 days from now. That's a long break, given what WWE has been doing lately.
Randy Orton approached Batista backstage. Orton wished Batista luck, and Batista asked what he really wanted. Orton said that if they end up on the same brand after the draft, they should "put the band back together" and reform Evolution. Batista just glared at Orton and walked off.
Melina vs. Beth Phoenix in an I Quit match.
As Phoenix entered, they replayed her impressive backbreaker on Melina and Mickie James from Judgment Day. As Melina entered, one of the paparazzi photographers fell down on his rear end. Melina patted him on the back, then they replayed him falling down again. Phoenix backed up Melina against the ropes and trash talked her. Melina shoved her and kicked her, then put Phoenix in a guillotine choke. Phoenix lifted her up whoile in the hold, and Melina kneed her in the face. Melina went for a bodypress, but Phoenix caught it and hit a backbreaker, then a second, holding her over the knee. Melina kneed out of it, but Phoenix pushed her in a corner and hit some shots. Melina fired back, and drove Phoenix face first into the mat from the second rope. Melina applied a Mutalock, but Phoenix wouldn't submit. She struggled her way to the ropes for a break, and they both fell to the floor. Melina tossed Phoenix back in, but Phoenix picked her up and threw her in a corner. Phoenix stomped her, then stretcher her between the ropes. Phoenix applied the over the shoulder backbreaker, and jumped up and down with it. Melina tried to elbow out of it, and Phoenix ended up slamming her down.
Phoenix applied an armbar, then threw Melina to the mat by her hair. Phoenix told the referee to ask her, but Melina refused to submit. Phoenix threw her down again by the hair, but Melina fought back with forearms. Phoenix went for a whip in the corner, and Melina tried a headscissors, but Beth caught it. She went to pull Melina away from the ropes by her legs, but Melina turned it into a victory roll that sent Phoenix between the ropes and into the ringpost, shoulder first. Melina twisted Phoenix' now injured arm in the ropes and yanked on it. Melina hit a cross armbreaker, then did a tilt-a-whirl into a Fujiwara armbar, then transitioned into a jujigatame. Phoenix stood up and lifted Melina while in the hold, and powerbombed her to the mat. Phoenix hit a facebuster, then applied a surfboard variation, that was sort of like a double chicken wing with the legs trapped on the mat. Phoenix then hooked Melina's chin as well, and bent her backwards to the point that Melina's head was touching the bottom of her feet. Melina finally submitted at the fourteen minute mark.
Winner: Beth Phoenix.
Backstage, John Cena was with the trainer. Mickie James came in, and the two started flirting. Mike Adamle came out of the bathroom, and they acted like it smelled bad. Cena asked if Adamle was supposed to be working, but he noted that he only has one match, and he had to go to the bathroom. Adamle started yapping about going to Tijuana with his old American Gladiators buddy Gemini, and asked Cena and Mickie if they wanted to go party. Cena said he was in "good hands". Adamle walked off after giving Cena a bottle of Mamajuana, and Mickie and Cena discussed working on submission holds together (like, the rear NAKED choke. Get it?).
Shawn Michaels won the fan poll for the stretcher match, with 59% picking him to win. The events leading to the stretcher match were reviewed.
Shawn Michaels vs. Batista in a Stretcher match.
Mick Foley and Michael Cole got the call for this multi-brand match. Both men got cheered coming out. Michaels looked serious coming out. Batista looked angry. Michaels charged Batista at the bell, but Batista threw him off twice, then punched him in the face. They teased a Batista Bomb, which Michaels avoided, but Batista clotheslined him to the floor. Batista dropped Michaels chest first across the stretcher. Michaels reversed a whip and sent Batista into the steps. Shawn then shoved Batista into the ringpost. Shawn cracked the back of Batista's head against the ringpost, then gave him an enzugiri. Shawn sat Batista on the steps, then rammed the metal stretcher into Batista's chest. Batista went down, and as he got back up, Shawn rammed the stretcher into him again. Shawn put Batista on the stretcher, but Batista used a series of knees to knock Michaels back and roll off.
Batista went for a Batista Bomb on the floor, but Shawn rolled through it and applied a guillotine choke. They fell onto the stretcher, with Michaels hanging on to the choke. Shawn finally released it and rolled Batista fully on the stretcher. Shawn started to roll the stretcher, but Batista kicked Shawn away. Batista crawled back towards the ring, but Michaels stopped him and went for a whip. Batista reversed it and sent Michaels into the ringpost. Batista picked up Shawn and rammed him into the ring apron back first, then did it again onto the security wall. Batista rolled Michaels into the ring, then flipped him with a clothesline. Batista whipped Michaels into a corner and hit a clothesline, then drilled him with a powerslam. Batista went for a spear, but Shawn sidestepped it and sent Batista shoulder first into the ringpost. Shawn hit a flying forearm, then kipped up and went to the top rope.
Michaels hit the top rope elbowdrop, but then grabbed his back in pain. Shawn went for a superkick, but Batista hit him with a clothesline. Batista went for a powerbomb, looking to throw Shawn over the top rope. Shawn floated over it, nailed a superkick, and Baitsta fell through the ropes and onto the stretcher. Shawn got out of the ring and started pulling the stretcher down the aisle, but Batista grabbed onto the apron. Shawn hit his arm to break the grip, but then Batista rolled off the stretcher to the floor. Shawn picked him up and struggled to put him back on it, but Batista kept throwing elbows and knees to get off it. Shawn rammed Batista in the gut with the stretcher twice, but on the third try, Batista blocked it. Batista teeter-tottered the stretcher, hitting Shawn in the jaw, then rammed it into him.
Batista tossed Michaels back into the ring, measured him, then nailed a spear. Batista called for the Batista Bomb, nailing it in the middle of the ring. Batista dragged Michaels to the apron, then pulled him onto the stretcher at ringside. Chris Jericho came out and started saying something to Michaels, apparently trying to encourage him. A referee came down to get Jericho away from ringside. Michaels was showing movement on the stretcher, so Batista shoved him back into the ring. Batista stood over Michaels, who crawled to his feet. Michaels could barely get up, and tried to throw a superkick, but was too weak and collapsed as he threw it. Batista dragged him to his feet and said "I'm not sorry and I don't love you". Batista gave him another Batista Bomb, to some boos.
Batista put the unconscious Michaels on a stretcher and wheeled him towards the finish line. Jericho came back up, and blocked the stretcher and yelled at Shawn to keep fighting. Shawn rolled off the stretcher to the floor. Once again, a referee pulled Jericho back. Batista grabbed a section of ring steps and placed them in the aisle. Batista gave Michaels a spinebuster on the steps, then put Shawn on the stretcher and easily rolled it over the finish line for the win at the seventeen minute mark.
Winner: Batista.
The doctor checked on Michaels as Batista walked off triumphant. The announcers put over that Batista had now settled his issue with Michaels.
The events leading to the Last Man Standing match were recapped.
WWE Champion Triple H vs. Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match.
Orton kicked HHH at the start and threw him to the floor. Orton hit some right hands, but HHH reversed a whip and sent Orton into the ring steps. Triple H pounded Orton around ringside, then rammed him into the Smackdown announce table. He tossed Orton into the ring and punched him in a corner. Triple H stomped him down, then pulled at his mouth and nose. Triple H threw Orton shoulder first into the ringpost, then did it again. Triple H gave Orton a kneedrop to the back of the head, and got a one count, but Orton was quickly back to his feet. Orton reversed a whip and hit a dropkick. Triple H sidestepped a charging Orton and sent him over the top rope and to the floor. Triple H rammed Orton head first into the ringsteps, then decked him on the floor.
Triple H cleared off the ECW announce table and put Orton on it, then hit a series of punches. Triple H set up for a Pedigree on the table, but Orton blocked it and went for an RKO, but Triple H shoved him off the table. Orton, from the floor, hit some punches and hooked Triple H's head. Orton gave Triple H a DDT on the floor, with HHH's feet hanging across the announce table. Triple H got to his feet at the nine count. Orton hit a series of rights, then pulled a section of padding up off the floor. He went for an RKO on it, but Triple H shoved Orton into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Orton hit Triple H in the back of the head with a forearm and stomped Triple H. Orton hit a kneedrop, then went and tossed a section of the ringsteps into the ring. Triple H was struggling to his feet and Orton nailed him in the head with the steps.
Triple H beat the ten count back to his feet, so Orton went and grabbed an extension cord from ringside. Triple H fought him off with punches, but eventually Orton got the cord around his throat and began choking him out. Orton released the choke, but Triple H got to his feet at the eight count. Orton went for an RKO, but Triple H threw Orton over the top rope and Orton came down hard on his arm. Triple H came out of the ring and picked Orton up off the floor at the eight count, then rammed him into the security wall. Lawler was speculating that Orton broke his collarbone. Orton was selling his left arm and shoulder in a big way, not even moving it. Orton got to his feet at a six count, and Triple H knocked him down. Triple H pulled out the sledgehammer. Triple H rammed the hammer into Orton's head at ringside. Orton went down at ringside and Triple H stood in the ring triumphant at the fourteen minute mark.
Winner: Triple H.
They replayed Orton being thrown over the top rope and to the floor, and the sledgehammer shot several times. Triple H headed to the back, while medics were checking Orton's shoulder at ringside.
After a commercial for Night Of Champions, they came back and Orton was still being checked. He eventually got up and started walking out under his own power, but not moving his left arm. They replayed his fall to the floor a few more times, and again speculated that he had broken his collar bone. As Orton walked out, some cheered him, and Orton actually turned around and heeled them, then got in the face of one fan by the aisle and argued with him.
The events leading to the main event were shown.
The Undertaker vs. Edge in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. If Undertaker loses, he will leave WWE.
It was noted that there was no nameplate on the title belt, which was hung above the ring. Michael Cole noted that Mick Foley ordered the first TLC match during his time as WWE commissioner, and how important that type of match has become in the career of Edge. Undertaker decked Edge at the bell, then began working him over with punches in a corner. Undertaker hit a series of headbutts, then whipped him hard into a corner and blasted him with a clothesline. Undertaker choked Edge in a corner, then went for the Old School rope walk. Undertaker hit the top rope forearm, then delivered a running boot to the head. Taker went to the floor and grabbed one of the ladders. As he approached the ring, Edge hit a baseball slide to knock the ladder into Undertaker.
Edge slid out of the ring and set up two tables in a stack at ringside. Undertaker rammed Edge with a ladder, then hit him with it again. Undertaker rammed Edge into the ringsteps. Undertaker noticed the two tables Edge had stacked up, then stacked up two more next to them. Undertaker approached Edge, who tripped Undertaker into the steps. Edge slid a ladder into the ring and set it up. Edge climbed the ladder, but Taker got in and pulled Edge off by the tights, sending him chest first into the ropes. Undertaker placed the ladder in the corner so it was resting across the turnbuckles. Undertaker lifted Edge for a slam, but Edge floated over and rammed Undertaker into the ladder. Edge pulled out another ladder and set it up in the opposite corner. Edge went for Taker, who reversed a whip and sent Edge face first into the ladder.
Undertaker pulled a third ladder into the ring, set it up, and began to climb it. Edge came up the other side. Undertaker shoved Edge off the ladder into one of the ladders propped on the corner. Edge stumbled out of the corner and bumped into the ladder Undertaker was on. Undertaker fell off and hit the other ladder that had been propped on a corner. Edge set up a ladder in a corner again, but Undertaker grabbed Edge and gave him Snake Eyes on the ladder. Undertaker then kicked a ladder into Edge, who fell to the floor. Outside, Taker hit Edge in the back with a chair, then put him on the ring apron and kicked him in the head. Undertaker went for a legdrop on the apron, but Edge grabbed a chair and rammed it into the leg of Undertaker as he went for the legdrop. Edge followed that with another chairshot to the leg on the floor.
Edge bridged a ladder between the apron and the security wall. Undertaker kicked Edge, and teased a powerbomb on the ladder, but Edge gave Taker a low blow. Edge hit Undertaker with a chair shot, started to set up a table, then blasted him with another chair shot. Edge put Undertaker on a table at ringside, then stood on the Smackdown announce table and jumped off, putting Taker through the table. Edge set up a ladder in the ring and began to climb. Undertaker got in and shoved Edge off, but Edge landed on his feet and charged into the Undertaker with a spear. Edge put Undertaker's leg in a ladder, then slammed it close on him. Edge then went for a chair and hit the ladder, crushing Undertaker's leg in it.
Edge pulled out an extra tall ladder and set it up. The top step was only a few feet below the belt. Edge hit Undertaker with a pair of chairshots to the head. Edge set up for a one-man Conchairto, but Undertaker threw a punch from is back and hit Edge in the groin. Undertaker got up, favoring his leg, and grabbed Edge on the ring apron. Undertaker chokeslammed Edge off the apron onto the ladder that was bridged between the apron and ring. Edge bounced off the ladder to the floor with a thud. Undertaker began climbing the ladder in the ring, but the Edgeheads ran out to attack the Undertaker.
The Edgeheads slid two ladders in the ring. They stomped down Undertaker while setting up tables. They put Undertaker on one table, then put another table over him. Hawkins went to the top rope but Undertaker battled up and knocked Ryder away. Undertaker grabbed Hawkins by the throat and tossed him backwards off the top rope, through a table at ringside. Undertaker grabbed Ryder, who was on the apron, and chokeslammed him through a table at ringside. Edge got back in the ring and knocked Undertaker out of the ring and into the security wall at ringside. Edge once again set up the double decker table near a corner. Edge looked for Undertaker, saw where he was, then decided to climb the ladder. Undertaker got back in the ring, and powerbombed Edge from the second step (from the bottom) of the ladder through the stacked tables in the corner.
Undertaker began to climb the ladder again, but Bam Neely and Chavo Guerrero attacked. They went for a Conchairto, but Undertaker ducked and they ended up hitting each other. Undertaker grabbed a chair and blasted both Neely and Guerrero. Undertaker then started to climb the ladder again. Edge was getting up from the table wreckage. Undertaker was near the top of the ladder, but Edge tipped it over, and Taker fell off the ladder, out of the ring, and through the side-by-side double stacked tables at ringside. Edge set up the tall ladder again, and began to slowly climb up. Edge pulled the belt off the cable at the 24-minute mark.
Winner and new World Champion: Edge.
Edge crawled up the aisle and celebrated with La Familia. Vickie Guerrero walked out (no wheelchair) and hugged Edge. Pyro went off in celebration, while Undertaker was still lying unconscious in the table wreckage at ringside. The announcers put over that we have seen the last of the Undertaker. La Familia walked off, and they turned off Edge's music. Undertaker, his arm bleeding, struggled to sit up, and finally did so. He got to his knees, then rose to his feet. Undertaker stood up and began walking to the back. The lights went out, except a spotlight on Undertaker as he limped down the aisle. He stopped and turned to face the crowd, which was going nuts for him. Undertaker then turned back around and walked off as the show ended.
2009 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Birmingham, Alabama and your announcers are Michael ‘Thirty-Seven’ Cole and Jerry ‘Ooooh Navy Seals’ Lawler.
The steel cage is down and Legacy are already in the ring saving the long walk to the ring for the people in Birmingham. Randy says that on Sunday he will be defending his WWE Title in a steel cage against Batista. Randy asks everyone if he should be worried or not. He says that Batista is the one who should be worried because he was the one to kick Batista in the skull to make sure that he couldn’t make it to Wrestlemania. He will give Batista the most miserable beating of his life on Sunday. Inside a steel cage, there are no rules so he can do whatever he wants to do. He can slam the door into his face and run Batista’s head into each side of the cage. Batista might disagree and probably wants to prove him wrong. Randy says that Batista will get his chance. He talked to Vickie Guerrero and Batista has a steel cage match tonight. Heads means that Batista will be facing Cody Rhodes. Tails means that he will face Ted DiBiase. Randy tosses the coin and it lands on heads so Cody gets the honors.
Cody takes the mic and he says that he knows exactly what to do. He points out that his father was in some of the greatest cage matches of all time. Cody says that cage matches are in his blood. He will give a preview of what will happen on Sunday.
Randy says that speaking of Sunday, he will give us an image of what we should become accustomed to. Randy leaves the cage and he tells us that the image is Randy walking out of the cage as the WWE Champion.
We get a woooo and Ric Flair comes out and he acts like a new man. Orton asks Flair if he is going to tell him what Batista is going to do to him. Flair says that he is out to tell him what he is going to do to Orton tonight. Orton reminds Flair that he is retired. Flair calls Orton a punk and points out that he is still the Nature Boy. Flair says that he is going to call out Orton every week until Orton grows a set and faces him in the ring. Orton asks Flair what he does not understand about retiring. Flair says that he is not challenging Orton to a match. He is calling out Orton to a fight in the parking lot. Flair calls Orton a punk a few times and asks Orton if he is going to grow a set. Orton accepts but he tells Flair that it is going to be a night that he will never forget because he will not remember.
Match Number One: Cody Rhodes versus Batista in a Steel Cage Match
Batista throws Rhodes down and Cody tries to escape the cage but Batista pulls him down. Batista blocks a DDT attempt and then he slams the back of Batista’s head into the cage. Batista presses Cody’s head against the cage. Batista with a series of shoulders in the corner. Rhodes with a kick but Batista throws Rhodes into the cage and then hits a spear.
Randy Orton starts his semi-rapid saunter to the ring to provide moral support for Rhodes. Batista picks up Rhodes and hits a spinebuster. Batista looks at Orton and then he looks at Rhodes. Batista shakes the ropes and Rhodes tries to escape, but Batista stops him and hits a Batista Bomb on Rhodes for the three count.
Winner: Batista
Vickie and Chavo are in the office trying to tell Show about how great their tag match is. Show says that he does not like The Miz and he does not like Miz talking about his winning streak over John Cena. Show wants to know who John Cena’s tag team partner is. Vickie tells Chavo to get the bag with all of the names in it. Show picks the name and it is Chavo Guerrero. Show tells Chavo that he is going to hurt John Cena and if Chavo gets in his way, he will hurt him too.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Kelly Kelly and Mickie James versus Maryse and Beth Phoenix with Rosa Mendes
Mickie goes after Maryse as the bell rings but Maryse gets to the floor. Beth and Mickie officially start things off and Mickie with a waist lock into a side head lock. Mickie with a drop kick to the leg followed by another drop kick for a near fall. Mickie with an arm bar and Kelly is tagged in. Beth with a kick and a press slam attempt but Kelly gets to her feet. Kelly with a rana for a near fall. Beth with a back breaker to Kelly and Maryse poses for no reason on the apron. Maryse tags in and she kicks Kelly. Maryse with a forearm and a modified camel clutch. Kelly with an enzuigiri for a near fall but Beth breaks things up. Mickie with a Thesz Press from the turnbuckles to Beth. Beth pulls Mickie off the apron while Rosa distracts the referee. Kelly with a baseball slide to Beth but Maryse hits a DDT for the three count.
Winners: Beth Phoenix and Maryse
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: The Colons versus Haas and Benjamin last week on Superstars and Cryme Tyme’s interference in the match to help the Colons win.
Match Number Three: Carlito and Primo versus William Regal and Matt Hardy
Regal with a side head lock to Primo and then Regal sends Primo into his corner but Primo punches Matt. Regal with kicks to Primo followed by knees to the head. Hardy tags in and he hits a back elbow while Regal wonders why he did not hit Primo while Regal held him. Hardy with a back elbow in the corner and then he tags in Regal. Regal with a forearm instead of a double back elbow. Regal with a near fall. Regal with an arm bar but Primo with punches followed by a European uppercut by Regal and a punch for a near fall. Hardy tags back in and Regal with shoulders in the corner. Hardy with a kick to the midsection and chokes Primo. Hardy with a front face lock and Regal tags in and connects with a forearm followed by an exploder suplex. Matt with a blind tag and he gets a near fall. Hardy with a slam and then he hits a snap leg drop. Hardy with a second snap leg drop but he misses a third one after he takes too long. Regal tags in and so doe Carlito. Carlito with a springboard drop kick followed by a slam and leg drop. Carlito with a springboard back elbow and Hardy breaks up the cover. Regal sets for a Regalplex but Hardy punches Regal when he brings Carlito into the corner. Carlito with the backstabber for the three count.
Winners: Carlito and Primo
After the match, Regal yells at Hardy for punching him. They have words for each other.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ric Flair is in the parking lot and Flair tells Batista not to say a word. Flair tells Batista that he should be thanking him because he is going to beat in Orton’s brains tonight. Flair says that he has a lot to prove. Flair says that he would never retire, but he had to retire. Flair says that he misses it so much. Flair says that he wants to be Ric Flair one more time. Batista tells Flair that he is the man and Flair tells him to stop saying it. Flair tells Batista to let Ric Flair be himself one more time. Flair says that he is going to wear Orton out. He tells Batista not to be his running mate, he wants Batista to be his friend who thinks that he can go out there and do it again. Batista tells Flair that he loves him as a mentor and he will always believe in him. They hug.
Matt Hardy and William Regal are in Vickie’s office. Matt says that Regal screwed up last night and Regal says that he did not screw it up. Vickie says that she does not owe them for life. They want another shot. Matt and Regal say that Vickie will face Santino Marella tonight. Vickie freaks out and Matt explains what is going to happen tonight. Vickie laughs and she starts to snort.
John Cena is walking in the back and he is stopped by his tag team partner and Chavo is shocked that Cena won’t acknowledge him. Chavo guarantees victory tonight.
The Miz comes out and he has something to say. He says that this is a golden age in the WWE since he is 6-0 against the Sell out corporate brown noser John Cena. Miz says that Cena is in the same category as Hannah Montana while The Miz is in a category by himself. Miz says that he is what a winner looks like.
We see footage from the ten man tag match from last week’s Raw of the double suplex on Big Show.
Match Number Four: The Miz and Big Show versus Chavo Guerrero and John Cena
Show tells Miz to get on the apron and stay out of his way. Cena and Show start things off and Cena with punches but Show with a side slam. Show with a punch to the ribs and forearms to the back. Show with a slam to Cena followed by a head butt. Show tries for the camel clutch but Cena escapes. Cena tries for an STF and Show kicks Cena out of the ring. Show was with the referee and while the referee looks at the TitanTron Miz attacks Cena. Show tells Miz not to touch Cena. Show with a head butt to Cena followed by an Irish whip but Show misses a running back splash. Cena tries for a slam but Cena cannot support Show’s weight and Show gets a near fall. Show with knees to Cena. Miz makes a blind tag but Show with a leg drop. Miz with the cover but Cena kicks out. Miz with elbows and knees followed by punches.
Miz with the clothesline into the corner followed by a kick and more punches. Cena blocks a punch and responds with punches of his own. Cena with shoulder tackles and the Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena signals for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it. Cena sets for the Attitude Adjustment and Show makes the blind tag and Show with a choke slam. The referee sends Show back to the apron since he did not see the tag. Show wants the tag but Miz refuses. Show punches Miz and then Chavo makes the blind tag to get the three count.
Winners: John Cena and Chavo Guerrero
After the match, John Cena is a poor winner as he gives Chavo an Attitude Adjustment. Show and Cena go at it in the ring and as Cena comes off the turnbuckles, Show with a punch to Cena. Show stands over Cena and he applies the modified camel clutch to Cena and Cena turns purple.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Josh Mathews is with MVP and Kofi Kingston. MVP points out that Kofi earned his title match tonight and he is impressed. Kofi says that he is impressed with MVP taking things to Randy Orton and his win last week. Josh asks them who will leave Raw as the United States Champion. Both men say they will win. Porter tells Kofi that he has been drinking too much and he won’t win tonight. Kofi says that MVP won’t have something to talk about on his prom date with Sherri Shepherd. MVP says that he might respect Kofi but he will still beat him.
Match Number Five: Kofi Kingston versus Montel Vontavious Porter for the United States Title
They lock up and Porter pushes Kofi away. Kofi goes for the leg but Porter avoids him. Porter works on the arm and wrist. Kofi tries to escape but Porter holds on. Kofi tries to roll out of the hold again and Porter rolls through with him. Kofi with a kick to finally get out of the hold. They lock up and Kofi with a side head lock and take down. Porter with a head scissors but Kofi escapes. Kofi returns to the side head lock and then he gets a near fall with a back slide. Kofi with a number of near falls and a drop kick as we go to commercial.
We are back and Porter with a waist lock and take down. We see footage from the commercial break when Porter avoided a cross body. We are back to live action and Kingston with elbows and a flying back elbow. Kofi with the leap into the corner but Porter sets for a power bomb but Kingston counters with a rana for a near fall. Porter with a big boot for a near fall. Porter with a slam and it is time for the Ballin Elbow for a two count. Porter and Kingston with forearms and then Kingston avoids Porter and hits a pendulum kick. Kingston goes up top but Porter crotches him. Porter with a superplex and both men are down. Porter with a near fall. Porter with an uppercut but Kingston tries for a crucifix but he turns it into a sunset flip for a near fall. Porter and Kingston alternate covers and then they each hit clotheslines and both men are down.
Kingston and Porter exchange blows. Kingston bounces off the ropes but Porter with a German suplex for a near fall. Kingston with a rolling DDT for a near fall. Kingston with a drop kick but Porter blocks it. Porter tries for the Playmaker but Kingston blocks it. Porter avoids Trouble in Paradise. Kingston with a victory roll for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Porter grabs the title belt and hands it to Kingston before leaving the ring.
We see Porter watching Kingston celebrating in the ring.
Ted DiBiase asks Orton why he is doing this. Ted reminds Orton that this is not a wrestling match. It is a fight to the finish in a parking lot. Ted tells Randy that Flair is desperate and trying to get back into the spotlight. Ted tells Randy that he has everything to lose. What happens if Randy gets injured tonight and loses the title on Sunday. Orton tells Ted that this is a warmup for what Batista will get at Extreme Rules.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: The selection of the Hog Pen Match for Santina and Vickie at Extreme Rules.
Match Number Six: Vickie Guerrero versus Santino Marella
Santino looks in Vickie’s buckets and he picks one up. Vickie falls down but Matt Hardy and William Regal come to the ring and Santino with a windmill effect as he sends the slop around the ringside area. Hardy and Regal attack Santino. Regal with an Exploder suplex to Santino and then he holds Santino and Matt hits Santino with the cast. Vickie tells Regal and Hardy to get him ready. Regal and Hardy leave the ring and then Vickie laughs at Santino as she picks up the other bucket. Vickie pours the contents on Santino as she laughs maniacally.
We see Ric Flair in the parking lot as he waits for Randy Orton.
We are back with a video package for the Ladder Match between Edge and Jeff Hardy.
Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler are in the ring as they run through the card for Extreme Rules. We get ‘Cage Lowering Music’ as Cole and Lawler talk about the vintage cage match between Orton and Batista.
Randy Orton is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Vince has decided to turn his battle from basketball to baseball on Tuesday nights.
Randy Orton is in the parking lot and he looks for Ric Flair. Orton looks around and he calls for Flair but Flair is not going to respond. Flair sends Orton into the metal door. Flair rips off Orton’s shirt and he chops and kicks Orton. Flair with a chop and punch. Orton with a kick and forearm to the back. Flair with a chop and a trash can goes down. Flair sends Orton into some guardrails and he stands on Orton’s head. Orton with a knee and forearm and then he sends Flair into some of the cases. Flair puts Orton on one of the rolling cases and he sends it into a table. Flair chops Orton and Orton recoils from the impact. They fight into the arena and Orton punches Flair and he has Flair in a side head lock. Orton punches Flair and they make their way into the arena where the crowd can see them without the assistance of a TitanTron. Orton stomps on Flair’s head but Flair with a chop. Orton punches Flair and then they go to the ramp. Orton does the Garvin Stomp to Flair on the ramp. Orton continues to punch Flair and then he kicks Orton. Flair with a low kick to avoid going off the stage. Flair with boots to Orton’s head. Flair chops Orton down the ramp. Flair with a double fish hook and then he punches Orton in the head. Flair chops Orton and then Flair sends Orton into the steel cage which is still down. Flair with chops and punches and then he slams Orton’s head into the ring steps. Flair chops Orton and Orton almost goes over the ringside barrier. Flair rearranges the Raw announce table. Flair with a chop and Orton is on the table. Flair punches Orton in the head and then he stomps on Orton’s knee. Flair puts Orton in the figure four leg lock on the table.
Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes attack Flair and then they send Flair into the cage. Rhodes and DiBiase bring Flair into the cage and they kick him. DiBiase and Rhodes with a double suplex to Flair. DiBiase and Rhodes kick and punch Flair while Orton gives them instructions. Orton tells DiBiase and Rhodes to lock the door.
Batista finally makes his way to the cage to help Flair after it was locked. Rhodes and DiBiase escape into the crowd as Batista tries to get into the cage. Batista tries to climb the cage but Orton hits an RKO on Flair. Batista cannot get into the cage so he kicks the steps and tells Orton what he is going to do to him on Sunday. Orton with the field goal kick to Flair. We go to credits.
2010 - SpikeTV debuts Half Pint Brawlers, a reality series focusing on midget wrestling. The series runs for one season.
2010 - Wade Barrett wins the first season of NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with a video package recapping the first season of NXT. Which man will be the first winner of NXT and get a pay per view title match? Will it be Justin Gabriel, Wade Barrett, or David Otunga?
We are live from Dallas, Texas and your announcers are Josh ‘Cowell’ Mathews and Michael ‘Degeneres’ Cole. Your host is Matt ‘Seacrest’ Striker.
Matt is in the ring and he welcomes us to NXT. Matt says that one rookie’s dream will come true tonight. Before we see the three who could win, we see the five eliminated rookies and they are in the front row. Now it is time to see the pros who are still under contract with WWE.
Now it is time to meet the three remaining rookies. Out first is Wade Barrett, who is currently ranked number one. Out next is David Otunga, who is ranked second. The final rookie to come out is Justin Gabriel, who is ranked third.
Matt congratulates them for getting this far. Matt says that for the last fifteen weeks, they have cultivated a dream. Two will go home empty handed while one will become the newest breakout star to get a title match on pay per view.
Matt reminds the pros that there will be two polls tonight. Matt says that they will be doubly scrutinized and all three will be in a Triple Threat Match.
Josh talks about season two and we meet Husky Harris. He talks about how he is a third generation superstar. His pro is Cody Rhodes.
The pros for the remaining rookies come to ringside as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the next pro for season two and it is John Morrison. John says that his rookie is like a giant redwood tree, but a little hard to talk to. His rookie is Eli Cottonwood. He says that his goal is to inflict pain and carnage on any rookie who gets in his path.
Match Number One: Justin Gabriel versus David Otunga versus Wade Barrett in an elimination match
Otunga and Barrett go after Gabriel but Gabriel with a kick to Barrett but Barrett with a knee. Gabriel with a kick to Otunga and then he kicks Barrett on the floor. Otunga with punches and shoulders to Gabriel. Otunga with an Irish whip and clothesline in the corner. Otunga with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Barrett with kick to Otunga and then he throws Gabriel out of the ring. Barrett kicks Otunga and punches him. Barrett with elbows to Otunga’s head followed by a kick. Otunga blocks a suplex and Gabriel with a sunset flip for a near fall on Barrett. Otunga sends Barrett to the floor and then he sends Gabriel into the turnbuckles. Otunga sends Gabriel to the floor as well. Otunga rolls Gabriel back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Otunga with a power slam to Gabriel and then Barrett drops Otunga on the top rope. Gabriel with a kick to Barrett to knock him to the floor. Gabriel goes up for the 450 splash and Barrett pulls Gabriel out of the ring and pins Otunga to eliminate him.
Barrett waits for Gabriel to return to the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and Barrett works on the arm but Gabriel with a kick. Barrett returns to an abdominal stretch and we see highlights from the commercial break when Barrett worked on Gabriel’s midsection. Barrett with an elbow drop and then he Irish whips Gabriel but Barrett misses a splash. Gabriel with kicks to the leg followed by a back kick. Gabriel with a back heel kick and a roaring elbow. Gabriel with a cross body into the corner and then he goes up top for a cross body and gets a near fall. Barrett gets Gabriel on his shoulders but Gabriel counters with a sunset flip and gets a near fall. Gabriel with an STO and then he goes to the apron and goes up top but his 450 Splash hits Barrett’s knees and Barrett gets the three count with an inside cradle.
Winner: Wade Barrett
It is time for Matt Striker to meet with the pros who are not in the ring with their wrestlers so it is time for a vote.
It is time for another pro to be revealed. We see Montel Vontavious Porter and he will be the pro a man from South Beach. He might be a party goer but he will have to tone it down to succeed in WWE. His rookie is Percy Watson.
The voting process continues and we go to commercial.
We are back with This Week in WWE History and we remember Junk Yard Dog who passed away this week in 1998.
Zack Ryder is in the back and he is a pro for season two. He says that what matters is what he teaches his rookie. His rookie is Titus O’Neil.
It is now time for one rookie to take the walk of shame and turn in his wrestling boots. But first, it is time to hear from the other five rookies. Matt asks Michael Tarver who he thinks should be eliminated. Tarver says that he is the product. He would eliminate himself. Daniel Bryan is asked who should win NXT. Bryan says Otunga cannot wrestle and Gabriel cannot talk so that means that Wade Barrett should win. Skip Sheffield says that he doesn’t care who wins NXT. Darren Young says that his money is on Wade Barrett because he is build for this physically and mentally. He says that Wade will prove the haters in Texas wrong. Heath Slater says that he has been in the ring with all of them and he thinks that Wade Barrett should win and he says that it is obvious.
It is time for the Pro’s Poll and Wade Barrett is safe since he is still ranked number one. It is down to the two men who were eliminated in the first match. The bronze medalist of the first season of NXT is Justin Gabriel. David Otunga is safe for now.
Justin says that he is just a kid from South Africa living his dream, but now the dream is over. Gabriel says that he is the most tenacious person he knows. He will continue to come back until he makes it. He had some ups and some downs but he will come back so he can be the World Champion.
Matt stops Justin on the ramp and he says that he looked inside Justin and he sees a lot of Matt Hardy in him. He says that Justin might not have won but he will not die. He says that Justin has his future in front of him.
Michelle and Layla are pros for season two. Their rookie has competed all over the world and it is Kaval.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that NXT has been the top rated show on Tuesday for Syfy.
The next pro is Mark Henry and he will be the pro for a rookie who thinks he is lucky. Mark says that he is lucky. His name is Lucky Cannon.
It is time for a Rookie Face Off. He wants them to take sixty seconds to tell them why the other should be eliminated and why they should win. Otunga goes first and he says that Wade is ugly. He says that his nose is as crooked as his pro. He has a face that a mother would love. He says that his teeth only impresses his dentist. He says that he would pay for a triple threat match with Barrett, Aqua Fresh and Listerine. Otunga says that he has a face for the cover of magazines and a body for Muscle and Fitness.
Wade Barrett says that it was thoroughly entertaining and had people turn off the television in droves like they did for Otunga’s matches. Otunga might have a great physique but he has no clue how to use it. Barrett says that Great Khali has more balance in the ring than Otunga. Barrett says that Otunga has the ‘it’ factor because he has not tangible talent. Barrett suggests that two letters be added to ‘it’.
The next pro is Kofi Kingston and he says that his rookie is the son of Mr. Perfect. He says that Michael McGillicutty will make his own impact. He says that Ruthless Aggression will be back.
The pow wow to determine the winner takes place as we go to commercial.
We are back and it Josh reminds us that the voting will be split between the pros and the WWE Universe.
The two finalists are in the ring and it is time to find out if it will be Wade Barrett or David Otunga. First, the Miz interrupts because he has an important announcement to make. He says that the pros for season two have talked about their rookies. Miz says that he will be back for season two. Unlike this season, he won’t have an egotistical arrogant loser like Daniel Bryan. He will have a winner next season. Miz introduces Alex Riley.
It is time for the final Pro’s Poll and William Regal congratulates Jericho for having his man win the competition. Truth says that Regal is talking too soon. Regal says that the only good thing for Truth’s man is that he married well, but he saw his wife and isn’t that sure. Punk agrees and Truth reminds Punk that he has a mask on. Regal congratulates Wade for winning since he is a fellow Englishman. Regal wants to know what Truth is going to do about it. Regal says that he is tired of being on this show for fifteen weeks without knowing any better. Truth dances. Christian tells Regal to sit down because he hasn’t won in a year. Punk leaves while Regal and Jericho talk about Wade Barrett. Jericho says that if Skip Sheffield was his pro Skip would have won because he was his pro. Regal says that he loved Jericho’s two moves and he says that Wade would have won with any of them as his pro.
Matt tries to calm down the pros and he says that anything can happen in the WWE. That is why we go to the Pro’s Poll and your winner is Wade Barrett.
Wade celebrates and Jericho applauds his rookie.
It is time for comments from the silver medalist. David says that this can’t be real. He thinks that he is being Punk’d. Even Stevie Wonder could see that he is the next break out star. He says that he was eliminated from a reality show. He says that he respects someone who was eliminated from American Idol and became a bigger star than any of them.
It is time to hear from Wade Barrett. Wade says that it has a nice ring to it. He says that isn’t anything that he and Chris Jericho didn’t know from the start. He said that he was the best and he proved it. He says that he didn’t come to NXT or WWE for a pat on the back or anyone’s approval. He came to make a lot of coin. Barrett says that he has a title match. He tells the pros that he has some bad news because this is the start of a new era in WWE, the Era of Wade Barrett. He said the winds of change were blowing in the WWE and things change here. It is a change that will take Wade Barrett to the WWE Title.
Chris Jericho comes to the ring to raise Wade Barrett’s hand.
2011 - A series of Brock Lesnar book signings to promote his autobiography are postponed due to Lesnar needing surgery to fight his diverticulitis. The tour is never rescheduled.
2011 - The trailer is released for "Back Door to Chyna", the first adult film from Vivid Video starring former WWF Intercontinental champion Chyna.
2012 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin with a look at the way that Kane has been put in the middle of the feud between CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. Tonight, Kane will get a shot at the WWE Title, which will be defended on Smackdown for the first time in four years (down from eight as announced on Monday). Will this be the end of Kane’s run against Punk or Bryan?
We are live on tape from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and your announcers are Michael ‘Red Stick’ Cole, Booker ‘I’ll show you where to put that red stick, it is one of my fave five’ T, and Josh ‘Please help me’ Mathews.
Since this is a wrestling show, we start off with a promo and it is from the World Champion, Sheamus.
Sheamus says that after Alberto became the new number one contender, he decided to come out and congratulate him the best way he knew how. We see the footage from last week when Alberto took advantage of Randy Orton and pinned Kane. Then Sheamus attacked Del Rio from behind on the stage.
Sheamus says a lot of people questioned what he did, but he was showing Alberto what he has in store for him. Since people have waited on Del Rio his entire life, he wanted to show Del Rio that he is not going to kiss Del Rio’s rear end, he is going to kick it.
Del Rio thinks money can buy you what you want and that having money makes him better than everyone else. Money can’t buy you everything. Money can’t buy you the World Championship.
There is an objection and David Otunga, with his bow tie, sweater, and travel mug makes his way to the ring.
Sheamus introduces David to everyone in case they forgot who he is. Sheamus says that it is great to see David and he wonders how David’s head is after being kicked off his shoulder.
David says that he is not out here for jokes and he is out here for John Laurinaitis. David has some video evidence from two weeks ago when Sheamus hit John Laurinaitis on his way to the ring on Raw two weeks ago. Otunga says the footage speaks for itself. Last week, Sheamus refused to apologize to John through Eve. David says that he is not asking Sheamus to apologize, he is ordering him.
Sheamus asks David if he is ordering him. Sheamus tells David that this isn’t Starbucks where he orders a triple mocha chino or whatever he drinks. He tells David if he orders him around, David will be picking that coffee cup out of his arse for a few weeks. Sheamus tells David if Johnny wants an apology, he better get on his scooter and come to the ring to say it to his face.
David says that Sheamus might be the whitest bulb, but he is not the brightest bulb. He implores Sheamus to reconsider his defiant course of . . .
We will never know what Otunga was supposed to say because Alberto Del Rio interrupts and he drives into the arena and Alberto has something to say.
Alberto tells everyone to be quiet. He tells David that he is wasting his time and breath because he will not get an apologize from this peasant. This guy is nothing but a street hooligan. He is so stupid that he wears it on his shirt. Alberto says that is why people like Sheamus end up working for people like him and Otunga.
Alberto tells David that Sheamus will be sorry . . . very very sorry because after No Way Out, he will be the new World Champion.
Otunga thanks Alberto and he says that he has no doubt that will happen. He feels that Sheamus needs some immediate retribution. Tonight, John Laurinaitis is allowing Alberto Del Rio to select Sheamus’ opponent.
Alberto thanks David.
Sheamus says that he is sorry. He is not sorry about what he did to John Laurinaitis . . . and he gives Otunga a Brogue Kick and the impact sends Del Rio to the floor. Sheamus says that he is sorry about what he is going to do to Otunga. He tells Del Rio never to trust a hooligan.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Sin Cara with blue lights versus Heath Slater
Slater with a kick and forearm to the back but Cara with a kick. Slater with a hammer lock but Cara with an elbow and a snap mare. Cara blocks a punch and he kicks Slater. Cara with a double jump arm drag and Slater is sent to the floor. Cara with a cross body off the turnbuckles and then he kicks Slater on the floor.
Slater with a boot to the head and then he kicks Cara. Slater with kicks to the hamstrings and then he applies a reverse chin lock. Cara escapes a belly-to-back attempt and lands on his feet. Cara with kicks to the leg and then he hits a springboard back elbow. Cara with slingshot arm drag followed by an enzuigiri. Cara with a springboard cross boyd and then he hits La Mistica and then gets the three count.
Winner: Sin Cara
We go to the footage from two weeks ago when Bryan hit Kane with a steel chair that led to Kane attacking Punk after the match.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Ezekiel Jackson versus Damien Sandow
Sandow wants a mic instead of locking up with Jackson.
He says that he is standing before another ignoramus. He will not participate in this charade this evening. He tells everyone ‘You’re Welcome’.
Jackson brings Sandow intot he ring from the apron and he punches Sandow and connects with a clothesline. Sandow escapes the torture rack and connects with a series of knees and then he hits a side Russian leg sweep. Sandow winds up and hits an elbow drop for a near fall.
Jackson with punches and forearms but Sandow with a kick and then he hits a Japanese neck breaker for the three count.
Winner: Damien Sandow
After the match, Sandow with a victory cartwheel.
Ricardo Rodriguez is talking to Alberto but Alberto tells him to be quiet. Dolph Ziggler is in the room too. Dolph tells Alberto that he needs to be in the match tonight against Sheamus so Alberto has no problem winning at No Way Out.
Alberto tells Dolph that he has something in his eyes and he has that passion. Dolph will face Sheamus tonight.
We go to commercial.
Ryan Shelton and Chris Lyons are in the ring and since they are not on the roster, we know what is in store for them. Chris gets on the mic and he says that they have come a long way and they have one thing to say. He gives the mic to Ryan and Ryan says that their opponent is very intimidating, but back home they have one saying that gets them fired up and that is ‘Roll Tide Roll.’
Match Number Three: Chris Lyons and Ryan Shelton versus Ryback
Shelton and Lyons surround Ryback and Lyons tries for a cross body but Ryback catches him and then Ryback with a big boot to Shelton. Ryback with a power slam to Lyons and then he hits a power bomb. Ryback uses Lyons to knock Shelton down again and Ryback with another power bomb to Lyons. Ryback with a lariat to Shelton and then he hits a uranage slam on Lyons. Ryback gets both men up for the muscle buster and hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Ryback
It is time for the Raw Rebound. In case you missed the many times that Big Show has justified his actions, here is your opportunity to catch up.
Booker says that this is a different Big Show.
Josh says that Brodus Clay suffered a concussion and bruised ribs but refused to be taken to the hospital.
Vickie Guerrero comes out and she says that she has made a very special arrangement. Dolph takes the mic and says that tonight he beats the World Champion.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero versus Sheamus
They lock up and Ziggler with a side head lock but Sheamus pushes Ziggler away after blocking a side head lock take down. Sheamus with a side head lock and hip lock take down. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle but Ziggler with a drop kick and then he applies a quarter nelson and chin lock. Sheamus with punches and Ziggler goes down.
Sheamus sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles but hits a shoulder tackle and gets a near fall. Sheamus with an arm bar. Ziggler with punches and then he floats over on an Irish whip. Sheamus sends him to the apron but Ziggler with a punch. He goes up top for a cross body but Sheamus catches him and hits the rolling fireman’s carry slam for a near fall.
Ziggler with a kick but Sheamus sends Ziggler over the top rope to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a key lock but Sheamus with an arm drag to escape. Sheamus with running double sledges followed by a knee lift. Sheamus sets for the Celtic Cross but Ziggler gets to the ring skirt and the referee forces Sheamus to release the hold. Ziggler gets to the floor and Sheamus follows.
Ziggler with a shoulder to Sheamus on the apron and then Ziggler drops Sheamus across the top rope. Ziggler with a drop kick that knocks Sheamus off the apron and into the announce table. While Sheamus is down on the floor, Ziggler is down in the ring. Sheamus gets back into the ring and he hits a neck breaker and gets a near fall.
Ziggler chokes Sheamus in the ropes and then he applies a reverse chin lock and he does a head stand to add pressure to the hold. Sheamus picks Ziggler up to his shoulders but Ziggler is able to hit a DDT and Ziggler gets a near fall. Ziggler with forearms to the upper chest followed by a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler with a quarter nelson and chin lock.
Ziggler with a sleeper but Sheamus sends Ziggler to the apron. Sheamus puts Ziggler in the ropes and hits the forearms across the chest. Sheamus suplexes Ziggler back into the ring and gets a near fall. Ziggler with elbows to avoid the uranage back breaker. Sheamus with a back breaker for a near fall.
Sheamus goes to the turnbuckles for the flying shoulder tackle but Ziggler hits the ropes and it crotches Sheamus. Ziggler leaps to the turnbuckles and hits an X Factor. Ziggler with a near fall and Sheamus barely kicks out.
Ziggler sets for the Zig Zag but Sheamus holds on and he sends Ziggler to the mat. Sheamus hits White Noise and then he looks into the crowd to motivate himself for the Brogue Kick but Jack Swagger tries to interfere. Sheamus punches Swagger and Ziggler with a kick to the back of the leg and he tries for the Zig Zag but Sheamus sends Ziggler into Swagger and Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to hear from the WWE Champion CM Punk. Matt asks Punk about his match against Kane later tonight. Punk says that Little Johnny can order him around all he wants because he enjoys competition. John is doing this because he wants the title on anyone else because Punk embarrasses him so much. Punk says that he represents everything that John doesn’t like in the world. He doesn’t want to pal around with Clown Shoes. John is everything that Punk cannot stand in this world.
Punk says that Kane is scary and he has a few nicknames. He says that he is the Best in the World and he will make the Devil’s Favorite Demon go to sleep.
We go to the Goldman Box for comments from Darren Young and Titus O’Neil about their opponents tonight. Darren says that they have already between them before. Titus says that they are the Prime Time Players and that means Millions of Dollars.
Match Number Five: Darren Young and Titus O’Neil versus Santino Marella and Zack Ryder
Santino and Young start things off and Young with a knee and forearm to the back. Young with a back elbow and elbow drop. Titus tags in and Young with a belly-to-back suplex and Titus with a gourdbuster of Young onto Marella. Titus with a kick to Santino followed by a European uppercut. Titus tags Darren back in and Young with kicks in the corner. Ryder tries to help out Santino but it only leads to a shoulder tackle from Young.
Santino floats over in the corner and he gets the three count with a rollup.
Winners: Santino Marella and Zack Ryder
After the match, Titus and Darren have something to say to the referee.
Santino and Zack celebrate on the stage and Big Show comes from behind and he sends Santino into the big W on the stage. Show punches Ryder and Ryder crawls down the ramp to avoid Show while Show methodically walks down the ramp and he sends Ryder into the ringside barrier. Show sends Ryder into the ring steps.
Show picks up the steps and he brings them to the ramp. Ryder with a punch but Show with punches and forearms and Ryder is down again. Show picks up Ryder and he slams Zack on the steps. Then he pushes Ryder off and moves the steps up to the stage. Show with a knee to the midsection and then he puts Santino’s head on the step and Show puts Santino on the step. Show applies the Colossal Clutch. Show channels his inner Chong Li and holds his fist up for everyone to see before he connects with Santino’s skull.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of what happens when you beat Darren Young and Titus O’Neil on Smackdown.
AJ is in the back in her CM Punk gear and she sees Daniel Bryan. Daniel asks AJ if she thinks Punk cares about her. He tells AJ that Punk is using her and that he thinks she is a nut job like everyone else.
AJ tells Daniel that it sounds like he is jealous. She wonders why Bryan cares so much and he says that he doesn’t.
Bryan says that he did care for her once which is more than Punk.
Christian is at the announce table and it is time to see a WWE Rewind of Christian’s victory over Cody Rhodes to win the Intercontinental Title.
Christian says that it was great to win the title on his first night back.
Match Number Six: Cody Rhodes versus Tyson Kidd
Cody tries for a kick but Kidd blocks it and he hits a leg sweep. Cody with a hard Irish whip and then he kicks Tyson. Cody with a gourdbuster and he gets a near fall. Cody with knees to the midsection as he comes off the ropes. Kidd with kicks to Rhodes and he hits an Arabian Press into an arm drag. Kidd tries for the Sharpshooter but Rhodes sends Tyson into the turnbuckles. Cody with Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Cody leaves the ring and Christian gets up from the announce table and they stare each other down before Cody leaves.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: CM Punk versus Kane for the WWE Championship
Punk with kicks to the leg followed by punches. Kane throws Punk into the turnbuckles and punches him. Kane charges at Punk but Punk drops down and Kane goes to the floor. Punk with a baseball slide and Kane is knocked off the apron. Punk with a double sledge from the turnbuckles to the floor.
Punk with forearms to Kane and they return to the ring. Punk with a punch but he appears to have hurt his hand. Kane with an uppercut and kick. Kane sends Punk into the turnbuckles and connects with a punch and knees. Kane with an Irish whip and he charges into the corner but Punk with a kick to the knees and Kane goes into the turnbuckles.
Punk with punches and kicks and then he sends Kane’s elbow into the ring post. Punk kicks the arm. Punk with a punch and kick to the injured arm. Punk with elbows to the shoulder and then he wraps the arm in the ropes. Kane with a boot to the head and then he punches Punk and gets a near fall.
Punk with a kick to the shoulder and then he applies a key lock. Kane sends Punk over the top rope to the floor and Punk is a bit surprised as we go to commercial.
We are back and Punk with a kick and double sledge before he connects with more forearms to the back. We see footage from the commercial when Punk avoided the ring steps and he sent Kane’s arm into the steps. Kane sends Punk from the turnbuckles to the floor.
AJ Lee makes her way to ringside to check on her latest obsession.
Kane hot shots Punk on the ringside barrier while the referee counts both men out. They return to the ring and Kane gets a near fall. Kane with a boot to the head and then he slams Punk and he hits a running elbow drop for a near fall. Kane with forearms across the chest and then he works on the neck.
Punk with punches but Kane grabs Punk by the throat and he tries for a choke slam but Punk counters with a DDT and both men are down. Punk with the running knee into the corner and he hits it a second time. Kane avoids the bulldog and Punk misses a round kick but Punk hits a swinging neck breaker.
Punk gets a near fall. Punk with a back heel kick and he tries for a cross body but Kane catches him. Punk avoids a power slam and Punk with a round kick for a near fall. Kane with a big boot to Punk and he gets a near fall.
Kane with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner. Punk gets his boot up for a second kick and then Punk with a bulldog from the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Punk gets Kane up for the Go To Sleep but Punk collapses under Kane’s weight. Kane with a running drop kick and he gets a near fall.
Kane goes to the turnbuckles for the clothesline but Punk counters with a drop kick. Punk goes up top for the elbow drop but AJ gets on the apron to warn Punk that Bryan is coming to the ring to interfere. Punk with a cross body onto Bryan and Punk punches Bryan.
Kane grabs Punk on the apron but Punk with a kick to the head. Punk with the elbow drop from the turnbuckles but Kane kicks out at two. Punk goes to the apron for a springboard clothesline but Kane with an uppercut. He sets for the choke slam but Daniel Bryan hits a missile drop kick and the referee calls for the bell.
No Contest
After the match, Bryan kicks Punk and then he puts Punk in the corner for more kicks to the chest while Bryan ‘yeses’ away. Bryan with an Irish whip but Punk with a clothesline as Bryan charges into the corner. Punk gets Bryan up for the Go To Sleep but Kane grabs Punk and Bryan and hits a double choke slam.
Kane stands over both men and summons the hellfire and brimstone.
John Laurinaitis comes out with Eve and John says that the WWE Championship Match will now be a Triple Threat Match.
2012 - Pro Wrestling Syndicate held their Fifth Anniversary event. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Night One of Pro Wrestling Syndicate's Fifth Anniversary weekend iPPV.
The Briscoes vs. Adam Cole & Davey Richards
This is a dark match as everyone involved is signed to ROH, so they cannot appear on iPPV.
Mark Briscoe and Adam Cole started out going back and forth. Richard and Cole worked over Mark. Mark was sent to the floor. Richards went for a running kick off the apron but was grabbed and slammed down.
The Briscoes worked over Richards. Mark nailed a standing suplex for a two count. They whipped Richards into the ropes and nailed a double shoulderblock. Richards cut off Mark and tagged in Cole. They worked him over.
Cole slammed Mark. He and Richards choked him out in the corner. Richards snapmared him over and locked in a single leg Boston Crab. Jay hit the ring to break it.
Cole and Richards cut the ring off on Mark, working him over and tying him to the tree of woe. They double teamed him until he Jay made the hot tag. Jay pulled Richards into the ring with a sit down slam off the ropes for a two count.
They slammed Cole down. Mark went to the top but was shoved off by Richards, right into an Adam Cole superkick for a two count. Richards elevated him and kicked him in the chest as he came back down. Cole nailed a DVDR, dropping Mark over his knee as he came down. He went for a suplex but was caught in a small package for the pin.
Your winners, The Briscoes!
Real good tag match to kick off the proceedings.
Alex Reynolds vs. AR Fox
They had some nice back and forth wrestling early. Reynolds was sent into the corner but came out with a kick and scored several near falls. Fox was sent over the top but tried to skin the cat. Reynolds dropkicked him while he was upside down. Reynolds teased a dive, then flipped off the crowd.
Fox tossed Reynolds out and hit a crazy dive over the top to the floor. Fox flipped off the ringpost and came off with a moonsault on Reynolds, which got a huge pop.
Back in the ring, Reynolds cut him off and sent Fox hard into the corner. He whipped Fox into the ropes and drilled him with a knee as he came off the ropes. Reynolds scored several near falls, then locked in a front facelock.
Fox fired back and used his quickness to get out of the way of a charge, taking out Reynolds. He nailed a running clothesline in the corner. Fox nailed an awesome cannonball, wiping out Cole and covered him for a two count.
Fox went for sliced bread #2 but Cole avoided it and used a forward roll for a two count. Reynolds argued with the referee. Reynolds went for a running boot but Fox ducked and rolled him up for a two count. Fox came off the top with a crazy swanton for a two count.
Fox went back to the top but Reynolds jumped onto the ropes to cut him off. He and Fox battled on the ropes and the apron. Reynolds used a Fisherman's Buster into a cutter for the win.
Your winner, Alex Reynolds!
Really good match with lots of stiff action and some really awesome aerial moves. Reynolds is just so good. I really expect him to be picked up this year. Fox had a great showing too.
Gauntlet:
Nasty Boys vs. Enhancement Talent
The Nastys destroyed and pinned the Talent.
Out came Mike Magnum & Louie Flames, Team Energy. The Nasty Boys wiped them out and beat them outside the ring with chairs. They just kept trashing them and got disqualified. The crowd chanted "Bullsh**" at that.
Mark Modest & Matt Maddocks came to the ring. The two teams battled and hit a series of dropkicks. Modest and Maddocks defeated Team Energy.
Out came PN NEWZ yes PN Newz himself who rapped the Phat Pack out to the ring. The Pack danced but were attacked by Modest and Maddocks.
The Pack used their girth and power to take out their opponents. One of the Pack went to come off the ropes when Brittney Savage ran down. She flirted with DJ Phat Pat.
The distraction allowed a double superkick and Pat was pinned.
Your winners, Mark Modest & Matt Maddocks!
They lost the crowd when The Nasty Boys were DQ'd.
Mil Mascaras vs. Samuray del Sol
Huge pop for Mascaras when he came out. They shook hands before the bell.
They locked up and Mascaras tied him up on the mat and used a surfboard. Mascaras used his knee to force Sol down and hiptossed him over. Sol backed off into the corner.
They locked up again and Mascaras used a head scissors to take him down and over several times. Sol sent him into the ropes and was shoulderblocked down. Mascaras backed him into the corner and broke clean.
Mascaras used a knucklelock to force Sol down to the mat. Mascaras stepped around and tied up Sol. He broke clean. Mascaras continued to control Sol.
Mascaras nailed a flying bodypress and scored the pin.
Your winner, Mil Mascaras!
It was your typical Mil match, but the crowd was into it and loved seeing Mascaras.
2 Cold Scorpio vs. Vader
Vader got a huge pop. Scorpio came out to his old WCW music. They locked up and Vader shoved off Scorpio with his power, then played to the crowd.
He challenged Scorpio to a test of strength. They locked up again and Scorpio was backed into the corner but Vader broke clean. Vader used his power again. Scorpio rolled to the outside.
Back in the ring, Vader caught him with a short arm clothesline. Scorpio tried to shrug it off and nailed one of his own. Scorpio hit a series of clotheslines but was walloped with a massive clothesline from Vader.
Scorpio began to unload with a series of kicks and punches but was nailed with a big crushing blow. Vader unloaded with a series of punches in the corner, taking Scorpio down. Vader whipped Scorpio into the ropes and nailed a big clothesline, then kicked him hard in the gut.
Vader locked in a rear chinlock. He turned it into a STF. Scorpio fought his way out and nailed a series of strikes but was flattered again by Vader. Vader lifted him off the mat and drilled him for a two count.
Scorpio fired back and came off the ropes with a clothesline. He went for a moonsault but Vader rolled out of the way. Vader slammed him and came off the ropes with the Vader splash for the pin.
Your winner, Big Van Vader!
Much better than you would have expected two guys at this age and level of stardom to work at the independent level. Vader and Scorpio worked really hard and there were some stiff exchanges. Really fun.
They shook hands after the match and raised each other's arms.
Reality Check's Devon Moore and Jay Lethal hit the ring and attacked Scorpio after Vader left. Vader saw this and returned to the ring. Vader slammed a chair at Lethal and the Reality Check ran off.
Devon Moore vs. Dan Maff
The match was all Maff early. Kevin Matthews hit the ring but was nailed with a clothesline. Tommy Dreamer's music hit and he charged to the ring to even the odds.
Dreamer took the mic and said that he was tired of seeing people like Matthews screw over the fans that paid to see a wrestling show. Dreamer said that Matthews wants to be a big shot and control things in the back (he helps with booking) but Dreamer said they aren't waiting for later. Matthews blew him off. Dreamer said that he hired Matthews for WWE and it isn't his fault Matthews was so crappy he couldn't keep his job. The fans chanted ECW so Dreamer said if that is what they want, their wish is his command.
They all brawled through the building and into the bleachers. Dan Maff pressed Moore and sent him into the wall twice. Dreamer took a bump down the bleachers when Matthews nailed him.
The battle continued across the building, wiping out some tables. One of the lighting towers almost fell.
Back in the ring, Dreamer tied Moore to the tree of woe and nailed the dropkick in the corner. Maff and Matthews continued to battle. The lighting tower they almost knocked over went out.
Dreamer gave Moore the Spicoli Driver off the apron through a table. Matthews and Maff returned to the ring. Maff chopped him hard in the corner and cannonballed him. Maff went to the ropes but was nailed with a chair by Matthews.
Dreamer hit the ring. Matthews went to nail him with Last Rites but was caught with a DDT. Jay Lethal hit the ring, took the ring out and superkicked Dreamer. Matthews nailed Dreamer with the Last Rites and scored the pin.
Your winners, Kevin Matthews & Devon Moore!
FUN, chaotic brawl. It looked like Dreamer hurt his hand.
Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase came to the ring and cut a quick promo for the crowd.
We are going to intermission.
The Sheik & Appolyon & George South & ? vs. Koko B. Ware & Taka Suzuki & Mike Bennett & Starman
The babyfaces knocked the entrance down as they came to the ring. That was hilarious.
Koko B. Ware wanted to dance, but George South took the mic and said that the fans were the ugliest he's ever seen in his life. He ripped on a fan, saying he didn't even have a job. South said he was from Charlotte, the greatest city for wrestling ever and the greatest wrestling - Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, not that stupid ECW. That was awesome.
Suzuku and Apolyon went back and forth. Starman made the hot tag and laid out the heel team. South grabbed Ware and they brawled outside the ring. Ware nailed him with a chair.
The Sheik threw fire but hit his own partner, who was then rolled up and pinned.
Your winner, Team Koko!
All shenanigans.
$5 Wrestling: Freight Train vs. Dynomite
Good old $5 Wrestling! Jake Manning is the referee.
If you think I am doing a play by play of this, you are crazy. It was exactly what you would think it was. Train rolled up, well sort of, rolled up Dynomite for the pin.
Your winner, Freight Train!
Veda Scott vs. Brittney Savage
Scott was driven to the ring on a motorcycle.
They locked up and Scott began working over her arm. Scott was cut off in the corner and choked against the ropes. Scott was sent into the ropes for a clothesline and was covered for a two count.
Savage turned her into a Boston Crab. Scott escaped and nailed several forearms. She nailed a clothesline in the corner and covered her for a two count.
Two guys ran in. One distracted the ref. The other tried to trip Scott but she kicked him. Savage nailed her with a Diamond Cutter for the pin.
Your winner, Brittney Savage!
The Great Muta & All Japan Junior Heavyweight champion Kai vs. PWS Tri-State champion Tony Nese & PWS champion Sami Callihan
All four started brawling around the ring immediately after the introductions. When they returned, Muta worked over Callihan in the corner and nailed the corkscrew elbow. Tons of huge Muta chants.
Muta locked Callihan in a sleeper. Muta released it to tag in Kai. Kai whipped Callihan into the ring and nailed a dropkick. Kai drilled him with a running knee in the corner. He set up Callihan for a superplex but Callihan battled him off with headbutts. Kai drilled him with a kick to take him out.
Callihan was able to tag out to Nese, who drilled Kai with a series of kicks. Kai elbowed his way out but was nailed with a running kick. Kai tagged in Muta, who nailed the dragon screw legdrop on Nese and tied him up on the mat. Muta let Nese get to his feet and nailed another Dragonscrew.
Kai tagged in and nailed a kneedrop off the ropes for a two count. Kai was caught by Nese and nailed with a quebrada. Callihan made the hot tag and worked over Kai. He was whipped into the corner but kicked Kai off and nailed the Facewash.
Callihan knocked him off the apron and hit a dive to the outside on Kai. He came off the ropes for a splash but Kai rolled out of the way. Muta tagged in but was kicked by Sami and nailed with a running kick in the corner. Nese and Kai battled back and forth. Sami grabbed him in a Fireman's Carry and Nese superkicked Kai before Callihan deposited him.
Callihan went to grab a chair and use it but Muta sprayed him in the eyes with the green mist and nailed the shining wizard for the pin.
Your winners, The Great Muta & Kai!
Really good match to close out an enjoyable but long evening.
2013 - Ring of Honor broadcast ROH TV. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and your announcers are Kevin ‘Loonies and Twonies’ Kelly and Steve ‘Why aren’t they making a big deal about me being back in Canada’ Corino.
We will have two matches to determine the opponents for Matt Taven for the Television Title and for Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish for the Tag Titles at Best in the World.
Match Number One: QT Marshall and RD Evans versus Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander versus ACH and Tadarius Thomas in a Number One Contender Match for the Tag Titles at Best in the World
Before the match starts, Coleman, Alexander, ACH, and Thomas follow the Code of Honor and then RD Evans does his best to give the Code of Honor an urban twist.
Marshall punches Thomas while Thomas holds on to Evans’ hand a little too long. Alexander punches Marshall and then Thomas with a kick to the chest and Alexander with a near fall but Thomas breaks it up. Alexander and Thomas exchange forearms and Alexander with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker followed by a drop kick and he kicks Thomas to the floor.
Alexander punches Marshall and then he suplexes Thomas and Coleman with a slingshot senton onto Thomas. Marshall attacks Coleman. Thomas with chops to Marshall followed by a kick and he tags in ACH. ACH with forearms to Coleman and Marshall. ACH with a head butt to the injured shoulder. Evans with a full nelson on ACH and he tags in Marshall.
Evans with a head scissors while on the turnbuckles and that allows Marshall to connect with a knee to the back. Marshall with a reverse exploder slam for a near fall. Coleman punches Marshall and we see fans hitting the guardrails. Marshall sends Coleman over the top rope but he lands on the apron. Evans pulls Coleman off the apron and then Marshall tries for a dive to the floor but ACH with an enzuigiri that keeps Marshall in the ring.
Alexander with a flip dive over Marshall onto Evans on the floor. Marshall pulls Alexander against the apron. Thomas with a kick to Marshall and ACH with a slingshot Cutter and he gets a near fall on Marshall but Evans pulls him out of the ring. Thomas with a handspring Fosbury Flop onto Evans but he appears to have clipped the apron and caught that more than his opponent.
We go to commercial.
We are back and ACH with a rana to Alexander and a sliding clothesline and he goes through the ropes to the floor. ACH goes up top and he leaps over Alexander but Evans connects with a drop kick. Alexander with a spin kick to ACH. Alexander misses a kick to Thomas. Thomas and Alexander miss kicks until Thomas connects with a shot to the head. Coleman with a snap mare driver to Thomas.
Marshall with Soul Food to the shoulder of Coleman. ACH with a bicycle kick but Evans with a boot to the head. ACH with a back slide but Evans rolls through. ACH with a series of kicks to Evans followed by a swinging neck breaker for a near fall.
Everyone is down in the ring. Alexander is the first one up and he connects with forearms to ACH. Thomas with kicks to Alexander followed by an Irish whip. ACH with a leaping elbow into the corner and ACH with a headstand in the corner and Thomas with a kick to Alexander on the turnbuckles.
Thomas pulls Alexander off the turnbuckles and on to ACH’s knee. Thomas with a kick to the back and then he kicks Alexander in the head before ACH gets a near fall. Thomas with a kick to Coleman’s chest. Thomas with a kick to Marshall and he spins Marshall around and Marshall accidentally hits Evans with a back fist. Thomas with kick to Marshall’s groin region and he tries to kick Evans but RD blocks it.
ACH with a step up head scissors to Evans that sends him to the floor. Marshall gets back body dropped over the top rope to the floor by Thomas. ACH with Air Jordan onto Evans and Marshall. Thomas with a double sledge to Alexander’s back. Coleman runs Thomas into the corner and Alexander with a running drop kick. Coleman with the leaping rana and Alexander connects with the splash from the top for the three count.
Winners: Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander
We go to commercial.
We are back and Mark Briscoe says that the time is near for Best in the World and he says that the best looking man in Ring of Honor becomes the World Champion when he defeats his big headed brother. Jay enters the room and Mark says that they will be facing the American Wolves next week.
Jay says that they are one of the best tag teams, but they are not Dem Boys from Sandy Fork, Delaware.
Kevin Kelly says that Paul London was supposed to face Michael Elgin, but Paul was not medically cleared to wrestle because of what happened to him at Border Wars. We go to footage from the match. And the comments from both men after the match.
We go to commercial.
We are back with Inside Ring of Honor.
The first topic is the Battle of the Briscoe for the World Title between Mark and Jay Briscoe.
We get comments from Mark. He says for twenty-eight years, he has been picked on by his big brother. He remembers Jay hitting him in the nose for no reason when going to basketball practice. He also remembers Jay shooting him with a pellet gun in front of his friends. Mark says that when he graduated from high school, Jay tried to embarrass him in front of all of the girls, but Mark slammed Jay’s ass. Mark says that nothing has changed since then. He is going to take the title.
Jay says that he has to give it to Mark. He is proud of the man that Mark has become. Jay says that Mark is the man he is today because his older brother looked after him for twenty-eight years. He had to whoop Mark’s ass to keep him straight. Mark has no sense. Jay says that he was not trying to be mean to Mark, he was keeping him in line. It is a hard job keeping Mark Briscoe straight. He will have to straighten Mark’s ass out again. Their families will be there at Best in the World.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Paul London and Michael Elgin are in the ring with Nigel McGuinness.
Nigel tells Paul that he had a fantastic match against Davey Richards. Nigel says that he proved that Paul can hang with the best, even though he did not have to prove anything. Nigel says that Paul had a spot for life when he left ROH and Corino questions that comment.
Nigel says that it is not Paul’s time to step away from the ring. Nigel says that Paul has to take care of his head. He does not want to see Paul destroy his career for one match.
Nigel says that their match will take place and it will happen when Paul is healthy.
They shake hands.
Nigel says that Paul wanted to wrestle and he gives Paul the mic.
Before Paul can say anything, he is interrupted by RD Evans and QT Marshall and they make their way to the ring.
Evans takes the mic and he says that as much as he hates to interrupt this mutual respect love affair, if this match is not going to happen . . . he tells Nigel to have the kids sent to the back so the parents can do their business.
Evans talks about the injustice in the tag team division. He says that the ROH Tag Champions did not even bother to show up for Border Wars. Evans says that if the Tag Champions cannot show up, Nigel should crown new champions. RD Evans and QT Marshall should be made the tag champions because they are on a huge winning streak.
The fans chant that they ‘just lost’ but Evans points out that they were not pinned in the last match.
Evans tells London that Nigel knows nothing about when it is time to step away. Evans tells Paul that it is his time to go away. Elgin with a back fist to Evans and Marshall goes to the floor.
Marshall goes to the entranceway but Tommaso Ciampa’s music plays and he makes his way into the arena. Ciampa sends Marshall into the guardrails as Ciampa treats him like a front row fan’s hands. Ciampa with an Air Raid Crash onto the ramp.
Ciampa makes his way to the ring and Elgin holds Evans for Ciampa. Ciampa is given Evans as a gift from Elgin and Ciampa hits Project Ciampa.
Ciampa does not have a gift for Elgin but he gives him a virtual thank you card by pulling Elgin back into the ring. Ciampa says something to Elgin and Elgin tells him something back. They go nose to nose and officials get between Ciampa and Elgin and we go to commercial.
Davey Richards says that the rivalry between the Briscoes and American Wolves are one of the top tag team feuds. Eddie points out that they have never beaten the Briscoes, but they will get the win next week.
Match Number Two: Mike Bennett (with Maria Kanellis) versus Jay Lethal versus BJ Whitmer in a Number One Contender Match for the Television Title
Whitmer holds the ropes for Maria and Bennett attacks Whitmer. Lethal punches Bennett and then Whitmer joins in the attack on Bennett. Bennett with a kick to Whitmer but Lethal with a drop kick to Bennett and Mike goes to the floor. Whitmer with a side head lcoka nd shoulder tackle but Lethal with a hip toss and cartwheel followed by a drop kick.
Lethal takes care of Bennett and Whitmer after cutting away from Maria talking at the announce table. Lethal with a leg lariat to Bennett and he gets a near fall. Lethal takes care of Whitmer in the corner.
We see Truth Martini watching the match. Lethal with a springboard move but Bennett catches him and hits a spinebuster. Bennett gives Whitmer a flapjack onto Lethal. Bennett gets a near fall on Whitmer. Mike punches Whitmer and he kicks BJ in the head. Bennett with an elbow to Whitmer’s head. Bennett with an Irish whip to Whitmer but Whitmer gets his boot up and he connects with a clothesline. Whitmer chops Bennett in the corner.
Whitmer with an Irish whip and he waits too long in the opposite corner so Lethal charges into the corner but Bennett gets his boot up. Whitmer with a knee to Lethal followed by an Exploder to Lethal. Whitmer with a knee to Bennett and then he hits an Exploder on Lethal into Bennett in the corner.
Lethal’s knee gives out and Whitmer sends him to the apron. Bennett with a baseball slide into the injured knee and Lethal goes to the floor. Whitmer with a power slam to Bennett and Lethal holds his knee on the floor. Corino says something to Whitmer and that allows Bennett to recover and he hits a super kick on Whitmer. Bennett gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we look at Truth Martini looking at the action in the ring. Bennett with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner. Bennett misses a splash into the corner and Lethal with an enzuigiri from the apron. Lethal with a springboard drop kick to Whitmer. Lethal with a running forearm and clotheslines. Lethal hits the handspring back elbow on Bennett and Lethal tries to get the feeling back into his leg. Lethal with the Lethal Combination for a near fall.
Lethal with a back heel kick and he tries for the Lethal Injection but Whitmer gets his knee up. Whitmer with two rolling fisherman’s suplex but Bennett breaks up the cover. Bennett gets Whitmer on his shoulders for a TKO but Whitmer escapes. Bennett with a Box Office Smash for a near fall.
Lethal with an Ace Cutter on Bennett and he goes to the turnbuckles for the elbow drop but Whitmer crotches him and Whitmer goes for a superplex but Lethal stops him. Bennett punches Whitmer but Whitmer with an Exploder to Whitmer and Whitmer gets a near fall but Lethal breaks it up with the elbow from the top. Lethal with an elbow to Bennett followed by a springboard drop kick and Bennett falls to the announce table.
Whitmer with a boot to Lethal’s head and he tries for an Exploder but Lethal escapes and he hits Lethal Injection for the three count.
Winner: Jay Lethal
After the match, Maria yells at BJ for saying something to her, but maybe he didn’t. It was enough to get Bennett to attack Whitmer. Maria explains her actions while security tries to separate Whitmer and Bennett.
We go to credits.
2014 - WWE broadcast the 2014 Payback PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s WWE Payback 2014 coverage!
PPV Kickoff
There was a CM Punk chant almost immediately after the Kickoff went on the air. Kofi Kingston is with the panel this week. He said he wants to see a bald Hornswoggle.
The panel discussed Evolution vs. The Shield.
They showed Hornswoggle backstage brushing his hair, getting psyched up for his match against Torito.
They showed highlights of Bray Wyatt trying to attack Jerry Lawler last week. The panel discussed Cena vs. Wyatt. Welcome to PWInsider.com's WWE Payback 2014 coverage!
There was a CM Punk chant almost immediately after the Kickoff went on the air. Kofi Kingston is with the panel this week. He said he wants to see a bald Hornswoggle.
The panel discussed Evolution vs. The Shield.
They showed Hornswoggle backstage brushing his hair, getting psyched up for his match against Torito.
They showed highlights of Bray Wyatt trying to attack Jerry Lawler last week. The panel discussed Cena vs. Wyatt.
They discussed the possibility of Brie Bella being fired tonight. Byron Saxton interviewed Nikki Bella. She said she hasn't spoken to either Daniel Bryan or Brie this week and said that Brie loves being a WWE Diva but also loves Bryan.
Hornswoggle vs. Torito: Hair vs. Mask
They have a barber's chair in the aisle.
Torito came out wearing a shirt that read "2/3rds" playing off Michael Jordan as 23 from his time on the Chicago Bulls. Torito has a small tail with the idea that it's growing back. Seriously.
Hornswoggle was nailed with several moves but made a comeback. Hornswoggle nailed a real heel kick. They did the comedy bit where Hornswoggle would kick out and Torito landed in Charles Robinson's arms and was tossed back.
Hornswoggle argued with the referee and ended up gored to the outside. Torito followed. Heath Slater grabbed huge barber shears and threatened to cut his tail off. He chased Torito to the floor. Slater came running back out from underneath and Torito had them. Hornswoggle nailed him off the apron and tossed him into guard rail.
Hornswoggle went for a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle but Torito moved out of the way. The Matadors and 3MB got involved and hit dives to the floor on each other. Hornswoggle teased a dive on all of them but stopped. Drew McIntyre nailed a tope con hilo on everyone. Hornswoggle hit a dive on everyone. Slater got on the apron and Hornswoggle nailed a rana off the top on the apron, sending him off onto everyone.
Hornswoggle and Torito battled into the ring. Torito nailed the Bronco Buster in the corner. He went for a rana but was caught and nailed with a sit down power bomb for a two count. Hornswoggle tried ripped off his mask but there was another underneath. Torito nailed a moonsault off the ropes and scored the pin.
Your winner, Torito.
Hornswoggle must now be shaved bald.
Match was about what you would expect. There was a lot of spectacle and spots. The crowd seemed to enjoy it at times and at other times, they were chanting for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Torito shaved Hornswoggle's head as he made all sort of facial expressions for comedy.
They discussed the possibility of Brie Bella being fired tonight. Byron Saxton interviewed Nikki Bella. She said she hasn't spoken to either Daniel Bryan or Brie this week and said that Brie loves being a WWE Diva but also loves Bryan.
They went back to the panel who were all laughing hysterically at the sight of Hornswoggle getting his head shaved.
They have added Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. Ryback & Curtis Axel to the PPV. They showed footage from backstage of Ryback mocking The Rhodes family's most recent loss and shoved Goldust down.
They showed the Rhodes cutting a promo backstage, saying this is where “The Brotherhood was born†and will be reborn tonight.
They also announced Kofi Kingston vs. Bo Dallas would take place tonight during the PPV.
They showed Sheamus walking in the back as the Kickoff special ended.
WWE Payback PPV
WWE United States champion Sheamus vs. Cesaro (with Paul Heyman)
Paul Heyman came out and said he was here for a "Paul Heyman Guy." The crowd chanted for CM Punk and Heyman said, "Oh, I'm sorry, he's at the United Center watching the Blackhawks. The crowd popped. Heyman then said, "Watching them getting their streak broken" the way Brock Lesnar ended the Undertaker's streak. That was pretty damn funny. He then introduced Cesaro.
Sheamus nailed Cesaro with some big shots right out of the gate. Cesaro reversed a waistlock and nailed a back suplex. He drilled Sheamus with an uppercut and worked him over in the corner. Sheamus fired back with hard shots and elbows, then clotheslined him down.
Sheamus nailed a kick to the back and slammed Cesaro. Sheamus sent Cesaro into the corner and backdropped him. Cesaro went to the apron. Sheamus tried to set him up for the hard shots across the chest but Sheamus nailed him. Sheamus made a comeback and tossed him over the top to the apron and nailed his signature shots across the chest over and over and over.
Sheamus brought Cesaro into the ring and went for a slingshot shoulderblock but was nailed with an uppercut as he entered and was sent to the floor. Sheamus was sent into the buckles while on the apron, then suplexed back into the ring for a two count. Cesaro nailed a double underhook into a powerbomb for a two count. Cesaro nailed a charging uppercut in the corner.
Sheamus made a comeback and nailed a series of kicks in the corner, then a clothesline. Sheamus came off the ropes with a big diving kneedrop, then nailed a second. He set up for a third of the ropes and nailed it. Cesaro barely kicked up. Cesaro came back with another uppercut for a two count.
Cesaro elevated Sheamus and drilled him with an uppercut as he came down, getting a close two count. Cesaro began nailing Sheamus as the champion dared him to keep the shots coming. Sheamus nailed a knee for a two count. Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick but Cesaro ducked and nailed a German suplex for a two count. Cesaro went for a Neutralizer but was caught with White Noise for another two count.
Cesaro blocked the Texas Cloverleaf and went for a move off the ropes. Sheamus caught and slammed him, then locked in the submission. Cesaro made it to the ropes. They went back and forth. Cesaro finally caught him with the big swing. Cesaro nailed nearly two dozen rotations, but when he grabbed Sheamus to presumably go for the Neutralizer, he was caught by surprise with a small package and pinned him. Great finish.
Your winner and still United States champion, Sheamus!
Really good, physical back and forth match. This one was a lot of fun and a really good opener. Really liked the surprise finish. This was a bout where the work of each man was great and no one lost anything here.
They aired a commercial for WWE Countdown. If you've never seen the show, it's a fun one. I don't always agree with the "countdown" results but the comments and discussion from different personalities are good.
Ryback and Curtis Axel vs. Goldust & Cody Rhodes
Ryback and Axel controlled Cody early. The storyline the announcers were telling was that Cody has been in a slump. Rhodes tagged Goldust after dropkicking Ryback. Goldust's momentum was short-lived as Axel tagged in and drilled him with a running knee.
Ryback and Axel took turns nailing elbows off the turnbuckles and continued double-teaming the elder Rhodes. Ryback choked him against the ropes. He cinched in a top wrist-lock holding Goldust to the mat. A fan in the crowd has a "DINO BRAVO WWE HOF 2015" sign. I second that notion!
Goldust came off the ropes with a back elbow on Ryback as the big man charged him. He went to make the tag but Axel cut him off. They battled back and forth and went down after a double clothesline. Cody tagged in and nailed dropkicked on his opponents. He came off the top with a moonsault but slipped. He still nailed his opponent. Ryback went for a powerbomb. Cody slipped out but knocked into his brother. Ryback nailed the Meathook but Goldust broke it up.
Goldust nailed a powerslam on Axel. Rhodes nailed Crossrhodes on Ryback but Axel broke it up. Cody dropped down and Axel went over the top to the floor. Rhodes went for the Disaster Kick but was caught and nailed with Shellshock for the pin.
Your winners, Curtis Axel & Ryback!
Good back and forth tag team match with solid action and a good story from bell to bell. Given the short time they had, it was pretty good.
After the match, Cody was pissed and didn't want to talk to his brother. He asked for a ring mic and, "Brother to brother, you need a better tag team partner than me" and walked out on Goldust.
Lana came out and did her typical promo putting over Vladimir Putin, saying he was "The Most Respected Man in the World." Out came Rusev.
Rusev vs. Big E.
Big E. came out waving an American flag. They began slugging it out immediately at the bell. Rusev got control and began beating him down. The crowd chanted, "We want Ziggler." Rusev sent Big E. into the corner but was caught with a weird looking Uranage as he charged in.
Rusev went to the apron and Big E. speared him off to the floor. Those are some pretty big boys to be doing that spot. The crowd loved the hell out of that. Rusev was rolled back in the ring for a two count. Langston went for his splash off the ropes but Rusev sprinted up and kicked him as he rebounded off the ropes. Wow!
Rusev locked Big E. in the Accolade. Big E. tried to fight it but tapped.
Your winner, Rusev!
Rusev refused to break it until Lana told him.
A short but physical battle. They really worked hard.
So far, an enjoyable show.
Bo Dallas vs. Kofi Kingston
Bo Dallas cut a promo and said that even though the Chicago Blackhawks were going to lose, Chicago could still be winners if they "Bo-Lieved."
Kane's pyro hit and he came to the ring and attacked Kofi. He destroyed him and tossed him out of the ring, then nailed a big boot to the face. Kane grabbed him and chokeslammed him hard. He grabbed Kingston and nailed a tombstone. Kane's pyro exploded from the ringposts again and he walked off.
Bo Dallas hid at ringside standing in the corner by the guard rails during all this. He grabbed a ring mic. He told Kingston not to worry because he would be back on his feet in no time and better than ever. "All Kofi has to do, all the fans have to do is BO-LIEVE." That was pretty funny.
Some in the crowd chanted, "We Bo-lieve."
WWE Intercontinental champion Bad News Barrett vs. Rob Van Dam
Barrett said that he was going to put "Old Yeller" out of commission tonight. They went back and forth. RVD nailed a spinkick in the corner. He nailing a sliding kick to send Barrett to the floor. RVD ran Barrett into the barricade, then tossed him over the top into a row of empty front row chairs. He set up Barrett for the corkscrew guillotine legdrop on the barricade and nailed it. Big "ECW" chant for it.
RVD nailed a slingshot legdrop for a two count after bringing the IC champ back into the ring. Barrett caught RVD on the ropes, elevated him and kicked him in the gut as he came back. RVD ended on the apron and was kicked off to the floor. Chicago began a dueling chant for each man. Barrett worked over RVD on the floor.
Barrett continued working over RVD and cinched him in a side chinlock. Barrett grabbed RVD for a abdominal stretch but RVD slipped out and nailed a spinkick to the face RVD nailed several kicks and went for Rolling Thunder. Barrett tried to escape but was kicked down again and nailed with the Thunder. RVD went for the Five Star Frog Splash. Barrett got out of the way and called for the BulHammer, RVD blocked it and used a tieup for a two count.
Barrett nailed the Winds of Change for a two count. The battle went to the floor. Barrett went for the Bull Hammer but RVD ducked and Barrett nailed the ringpost. RVD came over the top with a DDT for a two count. He went to the top and went for the Hollywood Star Press but Barrett pulled his knees up. He nailed the Bullhammer and scored the pin.
Your winner and still IC champion, Bad News Barrett!
Stiff match! Solid stuff. The right guy won.
Stephanie McMahon called out WWE World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella. If Bryan doesn't surrender the title, Brie will be fired. Stephanie said that she's happy to see Brie here because it's been an unfortunate predicament that Bryan has put his wife in,. She said that if at some point, they have weird bearded babies, they will be able to show them whether he's going to do the right thing or show them how selfish he is.
Bryan said that while it's a longshot, he thinks it might be a moment for Stephanie. He reminded her of the reaction she received coming out. She said that doesn't change the fact that she's the boss. Bryan said that this is her chance to do the right thing and he fought hard to headline Wrestlemania. The crowd chanted "CM Punk" and Bryan stopped and smiled. Stephanie said that Bryan can quit just like CM Punk did.
Bryan said that he hopes that Stephanie's children are watching so they can see what a a "narcissistic, self-centered little....what is that word?" Brie said, "B**CH!" Stephanie said that we now know who holds the pants in the family and said that Brie's only mistake was picking a loser husband. Brie told Bryan that he knows what needs to be done.
Stephanie demanded Bryan hand over the belts and do the right thing. Brie said she's not going to be a powerless victim. Stephanie said that she's in charge of Brie. Brie said, "You can't fire me. I quit!" She then slapped the hell out of Stephanie, who stood there stunned as the crowd went ballistic for it.
Stephanie walked out and finally ran down the aisle as Bryan and Brie led the “Yes†chants.
So, Daniel Bryan will live another day as WWE World champion!
For storyline stuff to further the title situation, this was good.
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt: Last Man Standing
The Usos came out at the start of the match to even the odds against The Wyatt Family.
They slugged it out once the bell rang. Cena bulldogged Wyatt and nailed a big shoulderblock. Wyatt came back with a tremendous right hand, then nailed another. Wyatt drilled Cena with a running splash in the corner. Referee John Cone began counting Cena down but he pulled himself up grabbing Wyatt's body. Wyatt mocked him but Cena nailed a series of shoulderblocks. Cena nailed a fistdrop and went for the AA. Wyatt slipped out and drilled Cena's gut across his knee.
Wyatt nailed a back splash. Cena went for the STF but was kicked off. Wyatt nailed a brutal Uranage on Cena. Cena returned to his feet at eight. Wyatt grabbed him and set up for Sister Abigail but was sent into the ropes. They collided and Cena got the worst of it. Wyatt slammed Cena down on the apron outside.
Wyatt and Cena battled on the top rope. Cena fought Wyatt off and nailed a legdrop off the ropes onto Wyatt's back. The referee began counting them both out but they returned to their feet. Cena went for the AA but Wyatt slipped out and snapped him with Sister Abigail. Cena returned to his feet at nine. Cena nailed the AA as Bray went for another and now both men were being counted out. Cena returned to his feet and Bray did the Spider-Walk pose to break the count.
Erick Rowan took out Cena. The Usos hit the ring and they battled out, leaving Luke Harper in the ring. He hit a dive on Usos and Rowan. One of the Usos hit a dive. Bray grabbed a chair and began beating Cena with it. Cena finally got the chair as they ended up outside on the floor. Cena nailed Wyatt with it across the back. The announcers made sure to note that it was within the realm of the rules, unlike Wrestlemania, when he was conflicted.
Cena used the chair again and as Wyatt was being counted out, Cena pulled a table out from under the ring. Cena set up the table but Wyatt attacked him. Cena fought him off and went for an AA but Wyatt escaped and slammed Cena through the table instead. He referee began counting him out but he stood up at nine, then leaned against the ropes.
Wyatt brought the steel steps into the ring and picked them up to ram them into Cena's head. He got the crowd to begin singing as Cena returned to his feet. Bray stomped Cena's head into the steps, then slammed him down on them. He retrieved the steel chair from earlier but missed nailing Cena with it. Cena nailed him with the steps. Wyatt ended up on the floor. Cena threw the steps over the top and nailed Wyatt with them. That looked brutal. Cena thought that was it but Wyatt got up at nine.
Cena went for Wyatt but was grabbed and nailed with Sister Abigail on the floor. Cena pulled himself up at seven. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome." Cena reversed an Irish Whip and sent Wyatt into the ringpost, then over the remnants of the ringsteps. Cena grabbed Wyatt but was backdropped across the bottom of the ringsteps. Bray nailed a back senton splash on the floor.
Cena was clutching his back and coughing as he made his way around the ringside area. Wyatt nailed him several times and went to nail him with a chair but Cena ducked and nailed the AA. He slid into the ring as Wyatt was counted down but The Wyatt Family returned (they had brawled to the back with the Usos) and attacked Cena. They helped Wyatt up and began beating the hell out of Cena. The referee counted Cena down as they began setting up a table outside. The Usos returned. One of them hit a dive on Rowan. The other went to do the same on Harper but was slammed in the face with a table as he hit the ropes. Nice spot. Wyatt was down during all this but the referee was distracted by the chaos.
The Family decimated the other Uso. Rowan set up another table. One of the Usos attacked him but was grabbed for a Fall Away Slam. The Uso landed on his feet and nailed a superkick. Rowan was knocked down in a sitting position in front of a table on its side. The Uso nailed a rear end splash through the table. Meanwhile, Harper superplexed the other Uso off the top through two tables at ringside.
With all the other bodies littered around the ring, Cena and Wyatt began fighting again. Wyatt nailed a running charge through the barricade on Cena. It looked awesome and left the surrounding area looking like a war zone. Cena stumbled into the crowd with Wyatt following. They brawled on the floor. Cena was tossed over some production boxes and some pyro went off (the camera missed them) with the idea that this was the pyro's production area. Cena nailed the AA off one of the production boxes, putting Bray through the other. Cena then toppled another box over atop of the hole, trapping Wyatt in the box, where he was counted down.
Your winner, John Cena!
A really great brawl with a lot of big spots. I thought this was just a dynamite brawl that made everyone look like big stars. I am sure some will hate the finish but I thought it was pretty clever. Everyone had their moments to shine here. Lots of brutal spots. A nice back and forth brawl. Wyatt and Cena earned their money tonight and so did the Usos, Harper and Rowan. Great match!
WWE Divas champion Paige vs. Alicia Fox
Fox tossed Paige out early but was nailed with a right hand. Paige pulled her through the ropes and nailed a series of knees. She nailed a nice butterfly suplex, then a series of elbows in the corner. Fox tripped the champ, snapping her down hard on the apron.
Paige drilled Fox into the barricade and went to the stairs. Fox snapped her off to the floor and worked over Paige on the floor before tossing her back in for a two count. She slammed Paige's face into the mat several times. Paige was nailed with a Northern Lights suplex for a two count.
Fox grabbed Paige's arm in a straitjacket position and drilled her knees on Paige's back. She nailed Paige with a tilowhirl backbreaker and held her there, trying to force a submission out of her. Fox nailed another backbreaker for a two count.
They battled to the floor, then back into the ring. Paige finally came alive and yanked Fox off the top rope feet-first. She set up Fox for the Scorpion Crosslock and Fox tapped.
Your winner and still WWE Divas champion, Paige!
Match was OK but nothing really special.
The crowd chanted, "You tapped out" (well, some of them did), so Fox freaked out and ran to the back. No abuse of the ringside personnel this time.
They went to the panel where they discussed what a great match tonight has been.
The Shield vs. Evolution: No Holds Barred Elimination
They all started brawling and went to ringside and the stage fighting. It was all chaos early. It finally settled down and Evolution worked over Seth Rollins in the corner. He came back with a leg lariat on Orton for a two count. Shield took turns tagging in and out on Orton. If it's No Holds Barred, why bother with the tags?
Batista tagged in but was controlled by Reigns and brought into the Shield's corner. HHH tagged in and Rollins controlled him with a trio of suplexes. Ambrose and Rollins double-teamed HHH. Ambrose nailed a cannonball in the corner for a two count.
Ambrose went to come off the top with a fistdrop but was kicked in the face. Batista tagged in and brought Ambrose to the floor, slamming him into the barricade. He picked up Ambrose and dropped him on the barricade, then kicked him in the head as he was laid out on the apron. Batista nailed a catapult, slamming Ambrose's throat under the bottom rope. Orton snapped Abrose down and began stomping the hell out of him.
Evolution began tagging in and out, taking Ambrose apart. Triple H nailed a big knee but is caught with a clothesline. Ambrose began crawling to tag one of his partners and made the tag to Reigns. Reigns met Batista in the center and worked him over, then nailed a big clothesline. Everyone started brawling again. Reigns nailed his dropkick onto the apron on Batista.
Reigns nailed the Superman Punch on Batista but Orton broke it up and everyone brawled. Everyone brawled into the crowd. Rollins went to dive off some production equipment but HHH drilled him with a piece of metal. Reigns began setting up the announcer's table for destruction but Orton and HHH jumped him and sent him into the ring steps. They nailed a triple powerbomb through the announce table on Roman.
They stood over Reigns mocking him and Ambrose came out of nowhere diving from the crowd onto all of them. Rollins then nailed a flip dive over the top on them. This is nuts. Ambrose peppered Orton with punches. Everyone brawled. Evolution used chairs on the Shield. Orton slammed Ambrose through a chair near the entrance. HHH nailed a Pedigree on the chair on Rollins.
Reigns finally returned to the ring after his partners were laid out by the stage. All three members of Evolution surrounded him. Batista nailed him with a spinebuster. They brought in the steel steps and several Singapore Canes. HHH held him down across the steps as the others caned him across the back. Soon all three were taking turns beating him down.
They brought several chairs into the ring. Reigns nailed a Superman punch on Orton in desperation but was beaten down by HHH and Batista. They began beating Reigns up the aisle with chairs but Ambrose returned to the fray. He was beaten down. Orton nailed the hanging DDT off a piece of the staging. The trio stood over Reigns but Rollins returned from the top of the video screen and dove down on all three with a flying body press.
Batista and Rollins returned to the ring. Batista charged and Rollins kicked him off. Rollins went to the ropes and dove off but was speared in mid-air. Batista went for the Batista Bomb but Reigns speared Batista and pinned him.
Batista has been eliminated.
Orton caught Rollins with an RKO but Reigns broke up the pinfall.
Orton kicked Rollins and set up a hanging DDT but Ambrose nailed him across the back with a chair and nailed Dirty Deeds to pin Orton.
Orton has been eliminated.
HHH low-blowed Ambrose and went for the Pedigree. Reigns nailed a Superman Punch but Batista speared him before he could capitalize. Orton slid HHH a sledgehammer. Ambrose charged but HHH nailed him in the head with it. Rollins came off the top with a flying knee. Reigns nailed the Superman Punch and pinned HHH.
HHH has been eliminated!
Your winners, in a clean sweep, The Shield!
A good brawl to end the show. They had a good back and forth, wild battle and WWE set up The Shield as top-tier babyfaces. The booking was absolutely perfect here.
That's all for tonight!
Elite members stay tuned for the PWInsider Elite Payback Post-Game Show!
2015 - WWE broadcast The Stone Cold Podcast with Paul Heyman on the WWE Network. Mike Johnson filed the following report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's ongoing coverage of The Stone Cold Podcast with Paul Heyman on the WWE Network.
Austin welcome everyone to the Podcast and said that before they get underway, he wanted to send his best wishes to those dealing with the flooding in Texas. We send the same wishes.
Austin welcomed Paul Heyman Heyman said he feels humbled to be there but feels like he should be the one interviewing Austin. He said it's disconcerting to be asked questions because with everything he's done, Austin should be the one being asked questions.
Austin noted that Heyman hustled his way into the business when he was 14 years old so there's a lot of stuff to discuss. He noted Heyman has been on the show before. Austin reviewed their personal history together working in WCW and ECW. He credited Heyman with teaching him how to "cut a promo."
Austin said he didn't remember when they just met. Heyman said they met at Center Stage (where WCW taped TV) and Austin was sitting on a crate with his then-wife with a big knee brace on. Jim Ross and Heyman were going over the show and Heyman kept noticing this "striking blonde" meaning Austin. Ross said Austin and Rod Price were a hell of a tag team but said Austin has something special. Heyman was going to say hello but Austin had gone to get into his gear. He saw Austin hit the ropes and never saw anyone hit the ropes as frantically as Austin did. Heyman thought he was going to fall through the ropes or break the ring and felt that if Austin had that much ferocity, he knew Austin was something special. Ross said they just scored by hiring him. Heyman introduced himselfto Austin and five weeks later, they were together.
Austin said they always got along but when The Dangerous Alliance was put together, Austin was the final member and Heyman's suggestion. Heyman was suspended by Jim Herd for "BS reasons" but Jim Crockett got him back in via a power play. They were going to build a new Four Horsmen style group based around Rick Rude. Heyman called Dusty Rhodes and said this was going to blow away The Horsement but they were missing one piece. Dusty loved the group but asked who - Heyman said Austin. Dusty said he's a good kid but who why him? Heyman said Austin was from Texas and reminded Paul of Dusty. Dusty said he knew the next big star was going to be from Texas and gave his blessing.
Heyman went and told Rick Rude that Austin was going to be in the group and Rude quipped "Good for Steve Austin" but Heyman noted that Rude was OK with Austin being added to the group. Austin said that means a lot to him because he had so much respect for Rude. Heyman said that Austin had a buzz coming out of Texas. He said that the way that Austin hit the ropes and locked up with people, there was an intensity to it and it looked like a fight where so many guys looked too smooth.
Austin said he didn't want to keep talking about himself and asked when Brock Lesnar was going to come back. Heyman said he thinks it's public knowledge Brock is coming back very soon. Lesnar has been on his farm and owns property in Canada and The United States. He said Brock is the son of a dairy farmer and with all the money he's made in WWE and UFC, he goes back and buys more farmland and goes back to being a farmer and a hunter because that's who he is, in his heart.
Austin said they have been trying to go hunting together and asked Heyman to line it up. Heyman said that he can try to line it up but he can't join it. Heyman said he's a Jew and his people aren't hunters but are furriers. They began talking about people of Jewish Faith. Heyman joked his own people screwed up the Middle East because they are fighting over the one piece of land that doesn't have oil under it.
Austin asked if Brock was really planning to return to UFC or was he just leveraging things with WWE. Heyman said Brock opened up a mini-training camp in January in the event that he didn't make a new deal with WWE in advance of doing a full training camp. Heyman said he never got so far mentally as to wonder who his first opponent was going to be, but had the mindset of crushing anyone he fought. Heyman said that Brock's last run was so fun and they had a run in the last year that they enjoyed but the deal was coming up. He is an athlete, a hunter and a predator who views himself as the baddest man on the planet. In his fourth fight, he beat the hell out of Randy Couture to the point the fight was stopped in the second round and did all that with diveticulitus. He wondered what he could do now that he was completely healthy, even at 37. He was enjoying WWE for the first time because he's never had the chance to really sit back and reflect and enjoy it.
Austin said some people paint that Lesnar doesn't enjoy the business. Heyman said that Lesnar loves the business but he loves his childen more. When Brock appears, it's special. The most wonderful night of the year is Christmas Eve, but if it happened every night, it would lose the meaning.
Heyman was asked if he'd be willing to do more outside of working with Brock Lesnar. Heyman said he is really Lesnar's advocate and it means he's Brock's guy with someone else. The only person it worked with was CM Punk because of their friendship and said that he played two different characters.
Austin asked if he's spoken to CM Punk. Heyman said they text every day and they have a friendship based outside of the business so they talk all the time. Austin asked what he thought of Punk's UFC chances. Heyman said money isn't the motivating factor in Punk's life but the challenge to do it and accomplish something. He thinks Punk regrets not doing it five years earlier but now is the time to do it. He's either going to go in and shock everyone or he's going to get KO'd or tapped out and is man enough to walk in there and take his chances and be OK with whatever happens.
Austin talked about the state of the business and "selling." He talked about the DDT and how when Jake Roberts nailed it, you knew the other guy was staying down. He said he sees guys doing DDTs all night and asked about the state of the business. Austin said the guys today are better athletes than he was, but you also have to work extremely hard and extremely smart. Heyman said The Rock's father used to win with a dropkick. Austin pointed out Heyman booked all the craziness in ECW. Austin asked if guys need to sell more. Heyman said if they gave Mark Henry the headlock and he made guys tap by squeezing it and no one else was allowed to use it, in 30 weeks, it would be over as a hell of a finisher. The wrestlers and announcers have to protect the move in order for it to work but it can happen.
Austin said they had a damn good Raw and there were some good promos tonight, pointing out Kevin Owens and John Cena. He talked about the art of the promo. Heyman said that you have to ask where the money is. He told a story about working his first Starrcade and his promo got switched and Heyman had to close the show and do a promo with no time other than "we'll give you a 5 second countdown." He did this long, crazy promo and thought he did a great job but Dusty told him it was entertaining but it wasn't going to draw money. Heyman said that he never forgot that. Old school is new school with a different twist. You have to ask where the money is in something.
Austin talked about different factors work for different performers, bringing up The Ultimate Warrior. He said that just because you have someone who can cut a promo doesn't mean he should always get five minutes to talk unless it makes sense. Heyman said if you don't, you give someone enough rope to hang themselves. Heyman said he will talk to any young talents that want to speak to him but he doesn't force his opinions on anyone. He said he believes there's a disconnect with people coming out every week and pontificating by saying, "Last week here on Raw...." so he came up with his "My Name Is Paul Heyman" stuff to engage the audience and introduce himself to anyone who doesn't know his role. Austin said if the message isn't heartfelt it won't resonate.
Austin said he hates when two guys have mics and one responds while one is talking without holding up the mic and speaking his mind. Austin said that's a guy burying himself.
Austin talked about Heyman meeting Vincent J. McMahon and making his first $50 from him. They showed a photo of Vince and Heyman said he took that photo. Heyman said he figured out where Vince Sr. took people to eat after shows, so Heyman called and said he met Sr. at the restaurant and was told to call for a press pass. He talked himself past everyone until he got to Sr. and got the pass. He went to the office to get his pass and made his way to MSG into the photographer's room. He knew he needed to get to ringside and if he did, he needed to be hidden. He got a photo of Andre the Giant and Vince Sr. in the hallway and the next month, he waited until Vince Sr. was alone and gave him the photo. Security tried to pull him away but Heyman said he had a press pass. Howard Finkel asked him if he took the photo and Heyman said, yes, he can have it. He was given $50 "for his troubles" and was told them to come every month and take pictures for the program and every month, they would give him $50.
Austin asked about the differences between TV syndication then and now. Heyman said they would bicycle the tapes from station to station and if someone came into the territory, you fought them off. When cable TV came about, Joe Blanchard was the first person to cut a deal on the USA Network. Ole Anderson had been looking at expanding into Ohio with Superstation TBS. He said that when Vince McMahon bought the promotion rom his father, it was different distribution era due to true national cable TV. That wiped out the local TV.
Austin asked if Vince Sr. was loyal to the territory system. Heyman asked if Vince Sr. was five years younger, would he have honored the territory boundaries or would he have done it himself? He noted Jim Crockett, Jim Barnett and Bill Watts all had designs. McMahon, if he was younger, would have had to do it. Heyman said he didn't know Sr. well enough to know whether he could be aggressive enough to do it.
Austin asked Heyman about people hating Vince. Heyman told stories of Albano drinking all day before the MSG shows and didn't like the the transition and would start ragging on Jr. and would get fired. Someone would track Lou down, sober him up and he'd be rehired. This would happen all the time.
Heyman was asked about the relationship with Vince McMahon. Heyman said they get along better now that he's not trying to "save the industry." Heyman said when he was hired in 2001, he was hired to give the contrarian opinion and always gave one, leading to his opinion getting smacked down until he was sick of it. Heyman admitted fatherhood has mellowed him out. Heyman said Austin used to know how he was and said he'd never done one line of cocaine because he had fear it would blow up his heart and he was fearful of his father standing over his grave saying, "You threw your life away for this?" Heyman said he used to live and die by every segment of TV.
Austin said he was scripting Smackdown and wanted to beat Raw and he did. Heyman said that he probably went to fat when he had the announcers calling Raw the B show. Austin asked about an infamous plane ride with Heyman and Vince in 2006. Heyman said he was fighting so hard for ECW when it was resurrected and he had lost his passion. He asked Vince to give him Smackdown because maybe Vince would be less likely to change the writing of someone else on ECW. Heyman said he was burnt out, tired and couldn't "find his way anymore." They had a really, really bad show (December to Dismember 2006) and Heyman and Vince had it out. Heyman looked at it like, "Look what you did to my brand" and Vince looked at it like, "Look what you did to my investment?" By the end of the ride, Vince wanted Heyman to go home and Heyman really happy to do so. It took five and half years before they both realized it was a lesson they learned from.
They told some funny road stories.
They closed with Heyman pushing Austin to wrestle Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania since it was in Texas. Austin said he would whip Lesnar's ass but it would have to be a Texas Death Match and said they would have to have all the stars align to make it work. He put over Lesnar's ability but then began going into "Stone Cold" promo mode, acting as if he was angry, saying he was here on his show asking questions but if people want to start poking him, he's going to get riled up. He told Heyman that his man wasn't here to protect him and told Heyman he needed to leave. Austin said he needed to go drink a beer and think about some stuff. Austin signed off and said he was happy to be back on the WWE Network. Nice tease for Mania 32, even if it doesn't happen.
2016 - Lucha Underground aired on the El Rey Network. Bill Bodkin filed the following report:
6/1/16 Lucha Underground - Judgment Day
The episode starts off with a recap of the major events of the past few weeks including:
Opening Segment: Voodoo Glows Skulls are the house band once again. Vampiro and Matt Striker preview tonight’s episode.
Match #1: Son of Havoc vs. Daga
This was Son of Havoc’s (Matt Cross) first singles match of Season 2 outside of the three-way to determine the #1 contender for the LU Title between he, Ivelisse and Angelico. Striker and Vampiro were quick to point out his singles record was less than impressive. Daga, known in AAA as “The Strong Style Luchador,” is 1-1 having lost to Texano in his debut, and the winning a four-way between he, Kobra Moon, Mascarita Sagrada and Agrenis (albeit in controversial fashion).
Son of Havoc was extremely impressive employing high flying maneuvers as well as showing off his impressive core strength.This strength was showcased with an unworldly elbow drop that involved him planking himself horizontally off the ring post. He also countered being knocked off the top rope by cartwheeling off the buckle, onto the ropes into the ring.
Daga, on the other hand, used more of a traditional pro wrestling style mixed with strong style. He threw an impressive super kick early, but kept things mostly on the ground. He pops the entire temple by hitting an arm drag, and instead of following it with an arm bar, he spun it into a modified Tequila Sunrise submission. Extremely impressive.
Kobra Moon, who helped Daga win the four-way two weeks ago, came out to “help” Daga, since it seems she’s now obsessed with him. Her helped backfired, and Son of Havoc was able to use her distraction to counter Daga’s superplex with a top rope gordbuster. He executed a picture perfect Shooting Star Press for the win.
Winner: Son of Havoc
Post Match: Kobra Moon slithers into the ring and throws herself at Daga, clutching his leg in a rather seductive manner. Daga wants nothing to do with her, and shoves her away. This is an okay story, but if it gives the talented Daga more TV time, then I'm all for it.
Interstitial Scene #1: Rey Mysterio Jr. is in the Lucha Underground gym/shrine to graffiti art when El Dragon Azteca Jr. bursts in. Dragon has found where Dario is keeping Mantanza, the man who killed their teacher (El Dragon Azteca). Rey wants to focus on the trios title match which causes friction between the two. Puma shows up, and things get even more tense. A decent scene, but unless one of these guys is turning heel, it didn't do much for me.
Match #2 - Lucha Underground Trios Title Rematch: Johnny Mundo, Jack Evans, PJ Black (C) with Taya vs. Rey Mysterio Jr., Prince Puma and El Dragon Azteca Jr.
The rudos trio of Mundo, Black, and Evans are perfect together — they're an arrogant unit who makes the crowd love to hate them. Tonight, they got big heat for refusing to take off their Lucha Underground bandanas and their Mundo-esque sunglasses while they wrestled. Striker likened them to Super Calo reference which popped Vampiro.
The match starts off with Rey Mysterio Jr. getting some nice moves in against the larger PJ Black. The tide turns when PJ launches Rey off his shoulders and kicks him straight in the crotch, of course the referee has his back turned.
Team Mundo continued their domination of Rey, nailing him with a double back duplex/hangman’s necbreaker combo. Evans (one of the best heat-getters in LU) did a standing moonsault off Rey’s chest.
Rey eventually broke free by nailing Mundo with a flying DDT, and tagged in Puma. Puma cleared house, and then executes his amazing Northern Lights Suplex/Deadlift Brainbuster combo. The two teams exchanged high-flying dives to the outside, until Puma regained control and tossed Evans into the ring and he sets up for the 630.
And here’s why Lucha Underground is so awesome — they shoot Puma’s 630 from above the ring to give you an incredible, breathtaking look of incredible and breathtaking move. Puma unfortunately missed, and Evans in pure rudos style mocked Puma by hitting a 630 of his own.
Team Rey regained control when Dragon tagged in and hit an unbelievable and nearly indescribable tilt-a-whirl/round-the-world spin on Mundo, finishing it with a DDT. Striker loses his mind in excitement - and rightfully so.
Team Mundo took over with a second unseen low blow (this time on Dragon), while Taya distracted the ref. Puma, in a pure fit of rage tagged in, walked straight up to Mundo and kicked him straight in the crotch causing the immediate DQ.
Winner: Johnny Mundo, Jack Evans and PJ Black
Post Match: Both teams talk trash to each other, and Rey is visibly annoyed at Puma. Puma turned away from everyone but then launches a super kick aimed at Mundo. Johnny side stepped, and Taya takes the kick straight in the teeth. She crumpled to the ground. Somewhere Steve Corino is screaming “SUPERKICK.”
Interstitial #2: El Dragon Azteca Jr. finds The Monster Montana Cueto in his cell. Black Lotus (who we haven't seen in weeks) stops Dragon from doing anything, and reveals that the original Dragon Azteca killed her family, not Mantanza. El Dragon Azteca Jr. says that can’t be possible, and she knows it’s a lie. He walks off.
This scene will probably lead to bigger things, but for this episode alone it was definitely a "whatever" moment.
Lucha Underground Championship: “The Machine” Cage vs. The Monster Mantanza Cueto (C) w/Dario Cueto
The worry coming into this match is that Mantanza has never really recaptured the magic he had during The Aztec Warfare match where he pulled a "Diesel" and just eliminated everyone in amazing fashion. He's had good matches, including his Graver Consequences match with Mil Muertes, but that "wow factor" just has been there.
The match started with a typical "irresistible force meets the immovable object" sequence with the two trading shoulder blocks. The match immediately turned when Cage just started throwing out lucha moves like a Mexican arm drag, and an Asai Moonsault to the floor. The two just stiff the hell out of each on the floor with slams into the guard rail. Then Mantanza decided to hit his rolling gut wrench suplex series on Cage on the floor, which just looked brutal (in a good way) -- he ended it with a sickening German release on the floor.
Cage regained controls by countering a "moonsault headbutt" (which looked like a botch standing moonsault) with a knee strike. Cage hit Mantanza with about 20 clubbing blows to the face and neck in the corner. Yet, Mantanza is able to regain control with a huge T-bone suplex followed by an impressive pump handle fall away slam with a bridge. The two then trade German suplexes with each man rolling through and no selling the impact. An amazing sequence.
Cage eventually comes back, and dominated Mantanza, hitting high impact move after high impact move -- the discuss lariat, the deadlift suplex into the ring, a Macho Man-like flying elbow, an Alabama Slam, and a standing moonsault. But, Mantanza comes back again a big suplex and a power bomb. Cage fought back and hit the "Lucha Destroyer" (F5), and then pulled his straps down, signaling the end is near.
Cage attempts the discuss lariat, but Mantanza grabs him for the "Wrath of the Gods" finisher and that's all she wrote.
Winner: Mantanza Cueto
Final Thoughts: A solid episode of Lucha Underground that turned into an awesome episode of Lucha Underground thanks to the main event. Daga/Son of Havoc was a solid match, that did more for Havoc than Daga. The trios match was fun, and the ending has me interested in where the Prince Puma character will go in the coming weeks -- is a heel turn coming? If that means Rey vs. Puma, then yes please. The interstitial scenes are usually some of the best parts of LU episodes, but not this week. Could that be because I'm still not sold on El Dragon Azteca Jr. as a major player in the series yet? Possibly. The main event was a pure clash of the titans, and it's one of the reasons I love this series. In the same episodes you can see crazy high spots, fast-paced lucha and all out aerial insanity, and then you can see two giants beating the snot out of each, trying to one up each with huge power moves. Mantanza definitely regained his magic, that "wow factor" I mentioned earlier. As for Cage, the man is a star plain and simple, every major wrestling promotion should be throwing tons of money at him.
2018 - Impact Wrestling taped TV in Windsor, Ontario with the following results:
*Gama Singh came in and cut a pre-match promo about India being #1 in everything. Desi Hit Squad came out and had their match vs. Z&E. He distracted the ref after Everett hit his big moonsault and got the rollup win.
*Trevor Lee v. Rich Swann was great. Swann got the win.
*D'Angelo Williams had an interview, interrupted by Austin Aries and got beat by a chair.
*Eli Drake beat Grado.
*Eddie Edwards interrupted a match between Xavier and Everett before it even started with a kendo stick and cut a promo on Tommy Dreamer.
*Madison Rayne promo interrupted by Tessa, Su Yung's screams hit and Tessa knocked Rayne out with a surprise hook.
*Madison Rayne v. Tessa Blanchard, Rayne wins and Tessa gets a post match beat down.
*Tag match of Madison Rayne and Allie v. Su Yung and a bridesmaid. Tessa runs in while the ref was knocked and beat down Rayne but Allie fought her off. They got the win on the bridesmaid.
*Sami Callahan and OVE also beat the hell out of Sam Osborne. They put Pentagon Jr.'s mask on him and beat him bad. Turned a match into kinda a promo.
*Austin Aries vs. Aiden Prince was a good match. They fought after and Prince sent the fans home happy.
*Kongo Kong and Matt Sydal beat two locals.
*Dezmond Xavier beat Phil Atlas.
2019 - WWE ran Waco, Texas. Taco Evans-Vargas sent the following results:
*WWE Women's Tag Team Champions The IIconics defeated Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville and The Kabuki Warriors in a Triple Threat match.
*Aleister Black pinned Jinder Mahal.
*Heavy Machinery vs. The B-Team resulted in a segment where Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin and Buddy Murphy all tried to pin 24/7 Champ R-Truth but he escaped.
*Carmella pinned Mickie James. James looked to have tweaked her knee and they went right to the finish.
*Kevin Owens interviewed Elias on the Kevin Owens Show. Xavier Woods came out and there was a brawl. Owens was put through a table to close the segment by Xavier.
*Ali pinned Andrade
*Charlotte Flair defeated Ember Moon.
*Roman Reigns pinned Drew McIntyre (with Elias) with a Superman Punch and spear.
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