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April 18th
On this day in history on ....
1981 - While not as well known as their Madison Square Garden encounter, Tony Atlas defeats Hulk Hogan with a clean pinfall in not one, but two matches in a 24 hour period. Atlas defeated Hulk Hogan at a WWF afternoon event in Landover, Maryland, then beat him again that night on a show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1992 - Two all-time legends meet in a singles match for the first time, as Ric Flair and Genichiro Tenryu wrestled in the main event of a Super World Sports show in Tokyo, Japan. Flair won the first fall with a figure four leglock, but Tenryu won the next two falls with powerbombs to win the match.
2000 - During a taping of Smackdown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, WWF World Champion Triple H defeated ECW World Champion Tazz. Tommy Dreamer interfered in the match, looking to hit Triple H with a chair, but missed and hit Tazz instead. Triple H then gave Dreamer a Pedigree and covered Tazz for the pin. ECW fans were less than pleased with this outcome, as it came across as WWF showing their "superiority" to ECW, and many claimed that this was WWF's ulterior motive in allowing Tazz (who was a WWF wrestler) to wrestle Mike Awesome the previous week and win the ECW Title.
2004 - WWE Backlash took place at the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Here's Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:
WWE Backlash was easily a thumb's up show. With two great matches, and one that was very good, the show was a winner on that basis alone. But the biggest positive was the booking, where the guys who needed to get put over were given wins in the best possible manner. Give credit to all concerned, including Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, and Ric Flair for doing business the right way. The live crowd was hot for the key matches, though dead for bouts they considered to be time fillers. On the downside, a lot of those bouts were weak or heatless. Commentary from Jim Ross was strong, but Jerry Lawler's routine wore thin very fast on this show.
SHELTON BENJAMIN defeated RIC FLAIR in 9:30. Benjamin took Flair down early. Flair took his face-first bump after a slap. After a fast criss-cross sequence, Benjamin hit a dropkick and lariated Flair over the top. Benjamin backdropped Flair on the floor. Flair used heel tactics to take command, but got tossed off when he went up to the top. Flair went for the figure four when Benjamin missed on a dropkick. Benjamin escaped with an inside cradle. Benjamin then hooked the figure four, with Flair escaping to the ropes. Flair got a chair but the ref took it from him. Benjamin sent Flair over the top on his famous flip bump. Flair came back in but got suplexed. Flair reached into his tights and got some brass knux. Before he could use them, Benjamin splashed him and hit him with a lariat off the top for the pin. Flair was his usual generous self in putting the young guy over, but it was only an average match and the crowd wasn't all that into it.
Randy Orton did a promo boasting of being the longest reigning IC champ in seven years. He promised to show Mick Foley a more vicious side and described Foley as a toothless old dog who needs to be put to sleep.
JONATHAN COACHMAN defeated TAJIRI in 6:25. Coach actually hit a couple of arm drags on Tajiri, with JR & Lawler selling it like Coach had been training. Tajiri hit a kick and Coach bailed out. Tajiri tried for another kick on the floor but Coach ducked and Tajiri kicked the post. Coach worked over Tajiri's wounded leg. The live crowd seemed to hate this, as they were expecting a comedy squash match. They didn't like seeing Coach presented as being competitive with the Japanese buzzsaw. Coach kicked out of a Tajiri sunset flip. Coach went to the top but got crotched. Coach ended up hanging upside down in the tree of woe, where Tajiri kicked the hell out of him. Tajiri hit a handspring elbow and did the tarantula. Tajiri seemed about ready to put Coach way, but Garrison Cade ran in and punched him. Tajiri staggered back and was cradled for a pin by Coach. A weak match with a lame ending. Tajiri deserves better.
CHRIS JERICHO defeated CHRISTIAN & TRISH STRATUS in a handicap match in 11:12. Christian slapped Jericho, who immediately decked him. The crowd chanted "slut" at Trish. Jericho threw Christian out and then springboard dropkicked him from the apron when he tried to return. Trish tried to blindside Jericho but fled when he spotted her. Jericho hit an elbow off the top. Trish tried to wallop Jericho as he rebounded off the ropes, but he bumped her off to the floor. She pouted over this. Christian caught Jericho from behind and beat him down pretty good. With Jericho down, Trish begged to tag in. She slapped Jericho and hit him with the chick kick, but when Jericho rallied, she fled and tagged Christian back in. Jericho went for the Walls hold, which Christian blocked. They did a spot where Christian got hit in the crotch, with Trish acting very worried about that. She earned another "slut" chant after that. Jericho scored some twos. Christian scored a two after a neckbreaker. Trish came in and slapped Jericho just as he was about to hook the walls on Christian. Jericho spanked her, to a huge pop. Christian hit the unprettier, with Jericho kicking out at two. Jericho lariated Trish, to another big pop. Speaking of Trish, Lawler dwelled on her obsessively throughout this match. Jericho hit a great bulldog on Christian. Christian got his knees up when Jericho went for the lionsault. Christian hooked the Texas cloverleaf, which Jericho reversed into the Walls. Trish ran in and Jericho went for the Walls on her. Christian broke it up. Jericho ended up sending Christian crashing into Trish, and then pinned Christian after an enzugiri. Real good match, with a hot crowd.
Eugene was walking around looking at the pictures in the new Diva magazine. He suddenly got the brilliant idea to visit the chick locker room. He walked in on Gail Kim, who was in her undies. She began screaming hysterically. Molly Holly emerged and began yelling at Eugene, who began screaming in terror when he saw her bald head (well, she has a little bit of hair now). Molly then screamed when she realized she was on camera without a wig. Finally, William Regal, who is too aristocratic to scream, arrived to lead Eugene away, though he stopped to gaze at Gail's boobs. So Gail had to run him out.
They aired an awesome video on Chris Benoit. It featured comments from friends and family and talked about his high school years in Edmonton. The city's mayor, Bill Smith, declared 4/18 to be Chris Benoit Day. This was done to perfection. After it aired, Benoit's family was shown on the front row, including his dad (who looks just like him) and wife Nancy (the former Fallen Angel).
VICTORIA defeated LITA to retain the women's title in 7:22. Much of the match was slow mat stuff, which the live crowd didn't respond to at all. The idea was that both ladies are babyfaces, so they were fighting clean, but it didn't click. It was okay as a match but the crowd was dead. They both bumped out in a spot that didn't look to be planned. Lawler went boob and panties crazy again. The pace picked up as Victoria hit a standing moonsault. Lita hit a spinning headscissors. Each scored some twos. Lita hooked a sleeper, with Victoria making the ropes. Lita rolled clear when Victoria went for a moonsault. After a few more spots, Victoria won with a simple inside cradle. After the match, Gail & Molly (in a blonde wig) ran in and beat both Victoria & Lita up. JR said that was uncalled for. As much as I love it when JR freaks out, I love it when he understates things as well.
RANDY ORTON defeated CACTUS JACK in a No Holds Barred street fight in 23:03 to retain the IC Title. Orton came out with a garbage can full of weapons. Mick Foley came out as Cactus Jack, carrying Barbie (his baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire). Cactus immediately went after Orton, swinging Barbie. This was great as Orton used his garbage can and ducked behind ring posts for protection from the vicious bat shots. Orton crashed into the cameraman while fleeing and we got a good view of the ceiling. They struggled over Barbie on the floor. Cactus retained Barbie, but Orton clocked him a zillion times with the garbage can. In the ring, Cactus pounded Orton down with fists and legdropped him. He kicked Orton out to the floor. Cactus gave Orton a neckbreaker on the floor. Orton gave Cactus a sick suplex and a sick bodyslam on the steel ramp. They fought over Barbie again. This time, Cactus managed to rake Barbie across Orton's face and he juiced a gusher. Lawler got all upset over Orton's handsome face getting maimed, saying his chance to be on the cover of GQ was being ruined. Lawler dwelled on Orton's looks so much that I thought he maybe overdosed on pretty girls and turned gay. Cactus raked Barbie over Orton's face again. He also legdopped Barbie on Orton's crotch. Guess he won't be appearing in Playgirl any time soon. Orton was a bloody mess. Cactus then doused Barbie with gasoline and was about to light her up, when Eric Bischoff arrived. Bischoff said the fire marshal would shut the show down if he started a fire, so Cactus reluctantly dropped the idea. They probably shouldn't have teased it if they weren't going to do it, but I guess the idea was to show how vicious Cactus Jack is. Banned from starting a fire, Cactus instead got a board with barbed wire all over it and brought it in the ring. Orton threw powder in Cactus' eyes and slammed him on all the barbed wire. Cactus juiced from his arm. Orton then propped the wire board in the corner and whipped Cactus into it. Orton dumped a zillion thumb tacks out on the mat. Cactus rallied and ended up slamming Orton on the tacks, with dozens of them sticking in his back and his arm. Sicko! Orton looked like the proverbial human pin cushion. They brawled to the ramp top, where Cactus hurled Orton off onto a bunch of junk piled up below the stage area. It looked look a serious bump, and Orton sold it like he was almost KO'ed. JR freaked out. He freaked out even more when Cactus slugged two refs (who were holding him back) and jumped off the stage onto Orton with an elbow smash. Orton proved his toughness by kicking out at two. They struggled back to the ring, where Cactus hit a DDT for a near fall. Orton rallied and got Barbie, which he used to bloody up Cactus' face. Cactus pulled out Mr. Socko, with Orton using a low blow to block it. But Cactus came back and hooked the Mr. Socko claw. Orton managed to escape it and hit an RKO out of nowhere for the three count. Excellent match with great heat! Cactus looked amazed that Orton defeated him in his own style of match. JR was impressed, and put Orton over huge. Flair & Batista came out and helped the bloody Orton back to the locker room as Cactus stared on in disbelief. Mick Foley may have just made Orton into a superstar with this one.
HHH praised Orton backstage, saying he went from being a legend killer to being a legend himself. He vowed to regain the world title by defeating both Shawn Michaels and hometown hero Chris Benoit.
HURRICANE & ROSEY defeated LA RESISTANCE in 5:02. Not much to the match, which had no heat. Just standard tag stuff, with the focus being on Eugene. He came wandering out, infatuated by the Quebec flags La Resistance brought out. When Hurricane went for a plancha on both La Resistance guys, Eugene got in the ring and began running the ropes, for no apparent reason other than he wanted to do it. In the confusion, Hurricane hit the final cut (neckbreaker) on Rob Conway and scored the pin.
EDGE defeated KANE in 6:24. They started off brawling. Edge hit a flying lariat. Kane avoided a spear and bailed out. They brawled on the floor, where Kane went after Edge's injured arm. Kane did his slow offense back in the ring. Edge hit a lariat and a DDT. The ref ended up taking a minor bump out to avoid a spear from Edge. Edge took the opening to hit Kane with his cast and then to spear for the pin. Edge had been warned that he would be suspended if he used the cast, but since the ref didn't see it I guess it didn't happen. We'll see if they follow up on that angle tonight on RAW. The crowd popped for Edge's entrance and his win, but the match was bad and had no heat. Not a good return match for Edge.
CHRIS BENOIT defeated TRIPLE H and SHAWN MICHAELS in a three-way match to retain the RAW World Title in 30:05. Benoit got a huge pop coming out. Benoit and the Heartbreak Kid doubled early on HHH, who bumped out. HBK and Benoit then brawled with one another. HBK put Benoit down with a neckbreaker just as HHH came back in. HHH hurled Benoit out and pounded HBK. Benoit returned and suplexed both foes. HBK took a huge bump out. Benoit hooked the crossface on HHH to a big pop. HBK made the save. Benoit threw HBK back out and rammed him into the ring barrier. Benoit and HHH brawled, with both fighting up on the top rope. HBK recovered and caused Benoit to bump hard off the top to the floor. HHH gave HBK a facebuster. Benoit returned and gave HBK a diving headbutt. Naturally, HHH stopped the pin. Benoit pounded HHH, who fell through the ropes. HBK went for the flying forearm, but KO'ed the ref when Benoit ducked. Benoit hooked the sharpshooter on HHH, but quickly dropped it and hooked the crossface on HBK. The ref was still out, so Benoit dropped the hold and tried to revive him. HBK nailed Benoit from behind and hooked the sharpshooter. Earl Hebner ran in as a substitute ref to a chorus of boos. I loved this match but I really wish they could let the Montreal issue die. Lawler played along, acting like Hebner would prematurely order the timekeeper to ring the bell, as HBK continued to keep the sharpshooter on Benoit. HHH finally broke it up. A "you screwed Bret" chant started, which HBK acted angry about. Benoit hooked the crossface on HBK, but once again HHH was there for the save. HHH gave Benoit a DDT. They all began brawling, and soon ended up on the floor. As Benoit and HHH brawled out there, HBK went to the top for a crossbody. Both guys ducked and HBK crashed hard through the Spanish announcers' desk. He ended up KO'ed and was down for several minutes. HHH sent Benoit into the stairs and then posted him. HHH pounded Benoit in the ring, scoring some twos. Benoit caught HHH with the snake eyes and hit the multiple German suplexes. HHH rolled clear when Benoit went for the diving headbutt. HHH rallied and hit the pedigree, but HBK came out of nowhere to make the save and stop the count at two. HBK laid HHH out and nailed him with the elbow off the top. HBK caught Benoit with the sweet chin music as he staggered back up. HHH gave HBK a low blow. HHH went for the pedigree but HBK backdropped him to the floor. HHH got his sledgehammer from under the ring and hit HBK in the back with it. Benoit tripped HHH and dragged him out. HHH took a slingshot into the post and bumped back over the ring barrier. Benoit went in the ring where he blocked HBK's attempt to hit the chin music again. He hooked the sharpshooter on HBK, who fought it, but eventually tapped just as HHH was crawling back into the ring to try to break it up. Great ending to a great match. The crowd was really into Benoit and was hot for all but about a five minute stretch on the match. Huge pop for Benoit's win, as they did it just right.
An interesting post PPV note, courtesy of T. Franco ... After the show ended, Benoit soaked in the cheers for a while, as Michaels started to leave. Benoit got on the mic, told Shawn that he "screwed Bret" (huge pop), but tonight he "tapped out" (bigger pop). Benoit challenged Michaels to go at it right now, one-on-one, but Michaels left. Triple H got on the mic and told Benoit he didn't beat him tonight, and he would never make him tap out again. So, Benoit grabbed him and made him tap, getting another big pop.
2005 - WWE held a double television taping at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show saw Vince McMahon make his return to television for the first time since the Royal Rumble in January. The show, sadly, would also mark the last time Eddie Guerrero would appear in Madison Square Garden. The original Raw and Smackdown TV Reports from this taping are on Page 2!
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