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December 19th
On this day in history in ....
1938 - Cy Williams defeats Yvon Robért for the Montreal World Heavyweight Title in Montreal, Quebec, ending Robért's third reign.
1939 - Bily Weidner wins a tournament in Dayton, Ohio to become the first Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
1947 - Tug Carlson defeats Orville Brown in St. Joseph, Missouri to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title, ending Brown's ninth reign.
1957 - Dory Funk wins the Amarillo NWA North American Heavyweight Title for the third time by defeating Danny Plechas in Amarillo, Texas.
1962 - The Destroyer and Dan Moukian defeat Haystack Calhoun and Abe Jacobs to win the NWA International Television Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California.
1963 - Sonny Myers and Pat O'Connor defeat The Mongolian Stomper and Mike Sharpe in a tournament final in Kansas City, Kansas to become the first Central States NWA North American Tag Team Champions.
1968 - Billy Robinson defeats Toyonobori in Okiyama, Japan to win the first IWE (International Pro Wrestling) World Series tournament, and become the first IWE World Heavyweight Champion.
1969 - Erik Watts is born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1969 - Villano IV is born in Tijuana, Mexico.
1969 - The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto) defeat Buddy Fuller and Ray Gunkel for the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia. This began the Assassins' fifth reign.
1969 - Carlos Elio Colisetti defeats Ray Mendoza to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, ending Mendoza's third reign.
1969 - The Great Kojika defeats Mil Máscaras for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California, to end Máscaras' third reign.
1969 - King Curtis Iaukea defeats Billy Robinson for the International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title in Sydney, Australia, to begin his second reign. Also at that event, Spiros Arion and Mario Milano defeat Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy to end their fifth IWA World Tag Team Title reign.
1970 - Giant Baba wins his third NWA International Heavyweight Title from Gene Kiniski in Los Angeles, California.
1970 - Luke Graham defeats Bobby Shane for the NWA Georgia Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1973 - Ken Mantell ends Danny Hodge's seventh NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title reign in Jackson, Mississippi.
1977 - The WWWF held an event before 22,085 fans at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, which was televised on the MSG Network. The results:
- S.D. Jones and Baron Mikel Scicluna fought to a 15-minute time-limit draw.
- The Golden Terror and Dominic DeNucci fought to a double-countout. This match did not air on MSG, with a match from Australia between NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race and Rick Martel showing instead.
- Butcher Vachon defeated Johnny Rivera (subbing for Victor Rivera).
- Arnold Skaaland defeated Lou Albano by countout.
- Bob Backlund defeated Mr. Fuji (with Freddie Blassie).
- Mil Máscaras (with Bob Backlund) defeated WWWF Heavyweight Champion Superstar Billy Graham by referee stoppage.
- Dusty Rhodes defeated Stan Stasiak.
- Chief Jay Strongbow defeated WWWF Tag Team Champion Prof. Toru Tanaka by disqualification.
- Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko defeated Jack Evans and Larry Sharpe, 2-1, in a Best-of-Three Falls match.
1978 - Ann Brookstone is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1978 - Jos LeDuc defeats Mr. Uganda (Ciclón Negro) in Tampa, Florida to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title.
1979 - Wayne Bridges defeats Spiros Arion for the United Kingdom World Heavyweight Title in London, England.
1983 - Sean Dahmer is born in Mineral Ridge, Ohio.
1984 - Ricky and Rocky Johnson defeat Super Fly Tui and Super Samoan Sakalia to win the NWA Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii. This ended Sakalia and Tui's second reign.
1985 - Dusty Rhodes defeats Buddy Landel in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the NWA National Heavyweight Title. This was a fictitious match made up by Rhodes, who was booking Georgia Championship Wrestling at the time, after firing Landel due to his drug problems.
1986 - Marko Parezy defeats Rody Steiner in Joliette, Quebec to win the Northern Championship Wrestling Inter-Paroissial Title.
1992 - ECW held an event at Morrisville High School in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Max Thrasher defeated J.T. Smith.
- Chris Michaels and Damian Stone defeated Tony Stetson and Larry Winters by countout.
- Tommy Cairo defeated The Samoan Warrior.
- ECW Heavyweight Champion Mr. Sandman defeated The Rockin' Rebel by disqualification to retain the title.
- ECW Television Champion Glenn Osbourne defeated The Canadian Wolfman to retain the title.
- The Hell Riders defeated ECW Tag Team Champions The Super Destroyers by disqualification. The Destroyers retained the title.
- J.T. Smith won an 11-man battle royal.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated Jimmy Snuka.
1992 - The Catch Wrestling Association held its "Euro Catch Festival" in Bremen, Germany at the Stadthalle.
- Dave Taylor defeated Giant Haystacks in round four.
- CWA World Tag Team Champions Larry Cameron and Mad Bull Buster defeated Derrick Dukes and Steve Regal to retain the title.
- Bruiser Mastino defeated Cannonball Grizzly in round three of a Bodyslam match.
- David Finlay defeated Eddie Gilbert in round seven to win the vacant CWA World Middleweight Title. This began Finlay's third reign.
- Buffalo Patterson defeated The Warlord in round five to win the vacant CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title.
- Jushin Liger defeated Franz Schumann in round nine.
- Road Warrior Hawk defeated CWA World Heavyweight Champion Rambo in round six to win the title.
1993 - Canek defeats The Canadian Vampire Casanova (Vampiro) in Naucalpan, Mexico to win his 12th UWA World Heavyweight Title.
1993 - The Love Brothers (Chad and Eric) defeat The Waveriders (The Beach Bum and Waverider Craig) for the Mid American Wrestling Tag Team Title.
1994 - Tommy Rich defeats Brian Christopher in a Loser Leaves Town match to win the USWA Heavyweight Title. This ended Christopher's 15th reign and began Rich's third reign.
1998 - ECW held an event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Nova defeated Steve Corino.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Antifaz del Norte.
- The FBI (Little Guido Maritato and Tracy Smothers) defeated Danny Doring and Roadkill.
- Lance Storm defeated Rex King and Wolfie D in a Three-Way Dance.
- Spike Dudley defeated Skull Von Krush.
- ECW World Tag Team and Television Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Balls Mahoney to retain the TV title.
- The Dudleys (Big Dick, Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von) defeated Mike Lozansky, The One Man Gang and Rod Price.
- ECW World Tag Team Champion Sabu defeated Justin Credible and FTW Champion Taz in a Three-Way Dance to win the title. Taz pinned Credible and Sabu pinned Taz.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas defeated Lance Storm to retain the title.
1998 - Eddie Golden defeats champion Shane Austin and David Jericho in a three-way in Cornelia, Georgia to win the National Championship Wrestling United States Heavyweight Title. NCW was the predecessor to NWA Wildside.
1998 - Two Catch Wrestling Association titles switch in Bremen, Germany as Karsten Kretschmar wins his second CWA World Junior Heavyweight Title from El Loco and Tony St. Clair defeats Robbie Brookside for the CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Title.
1999 - WCW held its 17th-annual "Starrcade" pay-per-view at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. The show had 8,582 fans in attendance and earned a 0.32 buyrate. The results:
- The Mamalukes (Big Vito and Johnny the Bull (with Tony Marinara)) defeated Disco Inferno and Lash LeRoux, when Vito pinned LeRoux after the Code of Silence.
- Madusa pinned WCW Cruiserweight Champion Evan Karagias (with Spice) with a bridging German suplex, after Spice turned on Karagias, to win the title.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Norman Smiley pinned Meng after Fit Finlay hit Meng with a lead pipe, to retain the title.
- The Revolution (Shane Douglas, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Asya) defeated Jim Duggan and The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda, Rick Steiner and Kevin Sullivan (with Leia Meow)), when Douglas pinned Duggan after The Varsity Club all turned on Duggan. As a result of losing, Duggan had to renounce his United States citizenship.
- Vampiro (with The Misfits) defeated Steve Williams by disqualification after Williams ignored the referee. As a result, Vampiro earned a match against Oklahoma.
- Vampiro (with The Misfits) pinned Oklahoma after a Nail in the Coffin.
- Creative Control (Gerald and Patrick) and Curt Hennig (with Shane) defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) and Midnight, when Creative Control pinned Booker T after Hennig hit Booker with brass knuckles.
- Jeff Jarrett pinned Dustin Rhodes in a Bunkhouse Brawl after hitting him over the head with his guitar.
- Diamond Dallas Page pinned David Flair in a Crowbar on a Pole match after the Diamond Cutter.
- Sting (with Miss Elizabeth) defeated Lex Luger by disqualification after Elizabeth hit Sting with Sting's baseball bat as Sting was trying to put the Scorpion Deathlock on Luger.
- Kevin Nash defeated Sid Vicious in a Powerbomb match. Nash had been knocked into the referee by Sid, who then hit Nash with a powerbomb, which would have won the match if the referee wasn't knocked out. Jeff Jarrett then came out and hit Sid with a guitar. Nash tried to powerbomb Sid, but couldn't pull it off. Nash noticed the referee coming to, pushed the unconscious Sid down and told the referee that he had powerbombed Sid. The referee believed him and awarded Nash the victory.
- Chris Benoit defeated Jeff Jarrett in a Ladder match to win the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Title. The title was stripped from Scott Hall due to injury. This began Benoit's second reign.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart defeated Goldberg by "submission" in a No Disqualification match to retain the title. Many referees were taken out during the match. Roddy Piper ended up taking over officiating duties, and called for the bell while Goldberg was locked in the Sharpshooter without Goldberg submitting, in Montreal Screwjob fashion. Hart's win ended a four-year losing streak for WCW World Heavyweight Champions at "Starrcade". Bret Hart suffered a severe concussion during the match, due to a mule kick by Goldberg. Unaware of the severity of the injury, Hart continued to wrestle, but was soon diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. The injury would prove to be career-ending, as Hart retired from wrestling soon after.
1999 - Juggalo Championship Wrestling's first champions are crowned at "Volume 1" in Detroit, Michigan. Evil Dead outlasted 19 other men in a weapons battle royal to become the first JCW Heavyweight Champion. Others in the match were: Cash Flo, Jaimy Coxxx, The Death Dealer (Tommy Starr), Tom Dub, Fat F*** Barrel Boy (Mitch Page), Robert Gibson, Incidious, Truth Martini, Mr. Meaner, Mojo, Ricky Morton, Pebble, The Redneck Devil Without a Cause (Nicky Ice), Gavin Starr, The Suburban Gangsta, Tarek the Great, Twiztid and Breyer Wellington. In the main event of the show, The Insane Clown Posse (Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J) became JCW's first Tag Team Champions by defeating Doink the Clown (Tarek the Great) and Doink the Clown (Truth Martini).
1999 - WWWA World Tag Team Champions Etusko Mita and Mima Shimoda defeat Yumi Fukawa and Michiko Omukai to win the second-annual Twin Stars of ARSION League.
2000 - The WWF taped the xxth episode of "Sunday Night Heat" and the xxth episode of "SmackDown!" at the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The results were:
Heat:
- WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko (with Perry Saturn and Terri) pinned Matt Hardy (with Jeff Hardy and Lita) with a roll-up grabbing the ropes to retain the title.
- Val Venis pinned K-Kwik with a fisherman's suplex.
- Faarooq (with Bradshaw) pinned Albert (with Trish Stratus and Test) after a DDT on a chair.
SmackDown!:
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Lo-Down (D'Lo Brown and Chaz (with Tiger Ali Singh)) after Chaz was pinned after the 3D.
- WWF Women's Champion Ivory (with the Right to Censor) pinned Jacqueline with a roll-up to retain the title.
- WWF European Champion William Regal fought Hardcore Holly to a no-contest to retain the title, after guest referee Steve Austin gave both men Stunners and counted them both down until Kane came to the ring and chokeslammed Austin.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Steve Blackman pinned Raven to retain the title, after a DDT from the middle turnbuckle on a trash can.
- Billy Gunn pinned Steven Richards after the One and Only.
- Edge and Christian defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Rock and The Undertaker to win the title, when Edge pinned The Rock after guest referee Kurt Angle gave Rock an Olympic Slam and put Edge on top. This began Edge and Christian's fifth reign, tying them with the New Age Outlaws for the most reigns by a team.
2003 - IWA Mid-South held "Winter Wars" at the National Guard Armory in Lafayette, Indiana. The results were:
- Jimmy Jacobs (with Becky Bayless) defeated Westside Xtreme Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Alex Shelley in a Submission match to win the title. Shelley now lead their best-of-seven series 2-1.
- B.J. Whitmer (with Jim Fannin) defeated Matt Sydal.
- Mickie Knuckles defeated Daizee Haze.
- Arik Cannon (with Weird Cookie) defeated Delirious.
- Alex Shelley defeated wXw World Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Jacobs (with Becky Bayless) in a Lumberjack match to win the title and pad his lead in the series to 3-1. This began Shelley's second reign.
- IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion Danny Daniels (with Jim Fannin) defeated Steve Stone to retain the title.
- B-Boy defeated Ian Rotten.
- Brad Bradley and Ryan Boz (with Jim Fannin) defeated J.C. Bailey and Mad Man Pondo.
- Jimmy Jacobs (with Becky Bayless) defeated wXw World Heavyweight Champion Alex Shelley in a Texas Death match to win the title and make the series 3-2 in favor of Shelley. This began Jacobs' second reign.
- Michael Shane defeated Nate Webb.
- Chris Hero defeated A.J. Styles.
2003 - Badboy Hido and Ryuji Ito defeat Benkei Daikokubo and Abdullah Kobayashi in Tokyo, Japan to win the BJW Tag Team Title.
2004 - Black Buffalo and Daio QUALLT defeat Billy Ken Kid and Tigers Mask for the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.
2004 - BAM defeated Johnny Dynamo, Jayson Quick and champion Jack Thriller in a Four Corners match at "Merry Massacre" in Coldwater, Michigan to win the Midwest Wrestling Alliance Grand Title. The MWA became Price of Glory Wrestling in 2005, with this title becoming the PoG Heavyweight Title.
2005 - WWE's third-annual "Holiday with the Troops" show airs on USA. The show, taped December 9 at Bagram Air Base in Bagram, Afghanistan, earned a 3.7 rating. The results were:
- World Tag Team Champion The Big Show pinned Carlito after a chokeslam.
- Mick Foley pinned JBL in a No Holds Barred match with the Mandible Claw.
- Snitsky pinned Shelton Benjamin after a big boot.
- WWE Champion John Cena pinned Chris Masters after the FU.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair defeated Jonathan Coachman by submission with the figure-four leglock to retain the title.
- Candice Michelle and Maria defeated WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus and Ashley, when Candice pinned Ashley with a roll-up.
- Shawn Michaels pinned Triple H in a Boot Camp match, after the Sweet Chin Music.
2005 - Society's Rejects (Mark Anarchy and Rocko Shinoda) defeat DDB and The Rage in Waipahu, Hawaii for the Action Zone Wrestling Tag Team Title.
2006 - WWE taped the 384th episode of "Friday Night SmackDown!" and aired the 28th edition of "ECW" live from the Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. "ECW" got a 1.54 rating on SciFi and "SmackDown!" earned a 2.9 rating on The CW on December 22. The results were:
- In a dark match, Jimmy Wang Yang pinned Jamie Noble.
SmackDown!:
- World Heavyweight Champion Batista defeated Santa Claus (Sylvan).
- WWE United States Champion Chris Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero (with Vickie Guerrero) by disqualification to retain the title.
- Johnny Nitro (with Joey Mercury and Melina) defeated Matt Hardy.
- Ashley and Layla defeated Jillian Hall and Kristal.
- Kane and The Undertaker defeated King Booker and Finlay.
ECW:
- ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley pinned René Duprée after the Dominator.
- Matt Striker pinned Balls Mahoney after the Golden Rule.
- Hardcore Holly and CM Punk fought to a three-minute time-limit draw. Holly had challenged Punk and said Punk could not make him tap out in three minutes. Punk had the Anaconda Vise locked on as time ran out, but Holly did not tap.
- The Great Khali (with Daivari) pinned Shannon Moore after a tree slam.
- Test defeated Sabu and Rob Van Damn in a Triple Threat match by pinning Sabu after Test threw RVD out of the ring just after RVD had hit the Five-Star Frog Splash. After the match it was announced that Rob Van Dam had won an ECW World Title match with Bobby Lashley to take place on January 2, by winning 45% of a WWE.com vote between the three.
2006 - Ganger defeats Scottie Murray in Cincinnati, Ohio to win the vacant Heartland Wrestling Association Television Title.
2007 - Colt Cabana defeats Shawn Spears in Louisville, Kentucky for control of their OVW Southern Tag Team Title, and chose Charles Evans as his new partner.
2009 - New England Championship Wrestling, citing the weather conditions expected for the Boston, MA area, opted to cancel theur debut Comcast Sportsnet TV Taping at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, MA.
"We felt it was in the best interest of the talents and our fans not to have them out in hazardous conditions," said NECW promoter Sheldon Goldberg. "Obviously, This was a major night for us, but we have to think about everyone's safety. We'll reschedule the taping as soon as we can, obviously."
The company's primary concern was that the storm would hit after the taping started, leaving everyone to return home in awful conditions. Discussions on whether to cancel or not have been ongoing all morning.
NECW's Comcast Sportsnet series debuted in January 2010, running for about a year.
2010 - WWE held their TLC 2010 PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
WWE Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger vs. Kofi Kingston
As Jack Swagger came to the ring, my cable went out. Bear with me!
When my cable returned, Dolph Ziggler had just retained the IC title. I’ll have a full recap after I watch the replay. Backstage, Wade Barrett spoke to the Nexus. He said that David Otunga couldn’t be there because of what John Cena did to him at Raw. He promised that tonight, Nexus was going to take care of Cena once and for all.
WWE Divas champion Natalya & Beth Phoenix vs. Lay Cool – Tables Match
The painted table from Smackdown is at ringside. All four battled at the bell. Phoenix slammed McCool atop of Layla. Phoen ix and Natalya brought the pink table into the ring. And set it up in the corner. Phoenix grabbed McCool on her shoulders with a Fireman’s Carry. Layla tried to stop her but was pulled atop her shoulders as well. She tried to put both through the table but Layla slipped off and took Phoenix down.
LayCool took control of the bout, They whipped Natalya into the corner. McCool tossed Phoenix through the ropes and Beth hit her head on the apron and then folded over herself, crashing to the floor. It looks disgustingly brutal.
Lay Cool set up a table in the ring and began working over Natalya. Layla suplexed McCool up to McCool for a Styles Clash off the ropes through a table but Phoenix pulled Layla out of the ring and saved Natalya. Phoenix tried to press and drop McCool to a table but McCool slipped out and attacked her from behind.
Layla tossed Natalya out of the ring. She began unloading on Beth with forearm smashes to the face and then clubbing blows over the back. Beth tried to press Layla. Natalya provided the assist but McCool ran under them and flipped over the table.
McCool and Layla had control for a moment. Natalya tried to catapult Layla into the table in the corner, but McCool tried to interfered. Natalya stopped her and locked the Sharpshooter on both at the same time, which was awesome. McCool tapped but obviously it didn’t count.
LayCool escaped and took control, working over Natalya. They drove her back-first into the corner. They placed Natalya on the top rope and tried for a double suplex. Beth tried to interfere but Layla ran her into a ringpost, where Phoenix took a bump off the apron to the floor.
LayCool tried again but Natalya powered up and shoved them off the ropes. They hit the table and bent it inwards but it didn’t break, which was probably the finish. The crowd popped, realizing LayCool was trapped. Natalya hit a top rope splash on both, putting them through the table for the win.
Your winners, Natalya & Beth Phoenix!
Really entertaining stuff. All four worked hard. There were some unique spots and some really crazy moments, including the Phoenix bump that was absolutely brutal.
WWE Tag Team champions Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov vs. Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater
Santino took the mic before the bout and said that they are the champions, so they are the best “two on two grapple fighting in the galaxy.” He promised they would retain the belts against the “Lexus” and TLC stands for “Totally Legal Cobra.”
Michael McGuillicuty and Husky Harris were at ringside.
Gabriel took Santino down easily and controlled him early. Santino reversed and took him down with a headlock. Gabriel sent him into the ropes and tried to hiptoss Santino. Santino escaped and tried to use a legsweep to knock Gabriel down, then nailed him. Gabriel tagged out to Slater but Santino maintained control of the match.
Slater caught Santino with a series of knees to the back and his neck. He continued working over him and whipped Santino into the corner but Santino escaped and went for the cobra. Slater backed off and Kozlov tagged in. Kozlov began tossing Slater around, nailing a Fall Away slam. Slater escaped from the ring but Kozlov followed and rammed him back-first into the apron. He tossed Slater back into the ring but Husky Harris took out his leg as Kozlov returned to the ring.
Slater and Gabriel worked over Kozlov for several near falls. Kozlov fought to make a tag but Gabriel cut him off. The Nexus continued to isolate Kozlov. The fans were chanting “Wendys” at Slater. Nexus continued to work over Kozlov. The referee missed the tag to Santino, so Kozlov was dragged back to Nexus’ corner. Kozlov used a headbutt to nail Slater and made the tag to Santino.
Santino workled over Gabriel with several punches and a hiptoss. He hit a stunner and went for the cobra but the referee was distracted by Husky Harris to allow Michael McGuillicuty to attack Santino from behind. The ref caught it and called for the DQ.
Your winners and still champions, Kozlov and Santino!
Just your standard bout here. Nothing really stood out.
The Nexus attacked the champions and laid them out. Wade Barrett came out with a steel chair. The crowd was really reacting to Wade’s entrance. Barrett drilled Kozlov in the gut with a chair then nailed him over the back. Santino then ate one across the back. The announcers said that it was a message to John Cena.
The crowd chanted for Cena, who despite these guys backing him up when he was “fired” for a few weeks, was nowhere to be found. The angle was fine for what it was designed to do - show off Nexus as a threat - but it only undercuts Cena as the hero when he doesn't stand up to help the undercard guys who had his back a few weeks ago on Raw.
Sheamus vs. John Morrison: Ladder Match to determine new top contender for WWE championship
They locked up with Sheamus backing Morrison into the corner. Morrison muscled out but was caught and taken down to the mat. Morrison fought his way back up but ate a shoulderblock. Sheamus mocked him They locked up again and the force sent them both over the top to the floor. Sheamus grabbed Morrison and slammed him backwards into the guard rail.
Sheamus grabbed a ladder and bridged it between the announcer’s table and the apron. Michael Cole warned him to watch Cole’s Slammys. Morrison slid under the ladder and nailed Sheamus, who returned in kind. Morrison escaped Sheamus picking him up and tackled him into the barricade. Morrison set up a ladder but Sheamus hit him with a running kick on the outside. Good early moments.
Sheamus grabbed a ladder, only to find Morrison had leapt off the barricade with a flying clothesline. Morrison set up the ladder in the center of the ring. He began climbing up but Sheamus shoved him off the ladder, then shoved the ladder and Morrison into the corner. Morrison kicked him in the gut through the ladder, then used it as a base, nailing a corkscrew twisting dive over the ladder onto Sheamus.
Morrison brought the ladder to the center of the ring and began ascending. Sheamus went after the leg and slammed it through the rung, tying Morrison to the tree of woe. Sheamus teased dumping the ladder forward and finally did it, with Morrison crashing to the mat and the ladder landing atop of him. That was great.
Sheamus began stomping the hell out of Morrison’s leg, then grabbed the ladder and threw it down on Morrison’s leg. I am loving this. Sheamus set up the ladder and made his way toward the contract. Morrison crawled his way to the ladder and grabbed Sheamus’ leg. Sheamus gave up going for the contract and slammed Morrison atop of the ladder, then drilled Morrison’s knee into the ladder.
Sheamus placed Morrison’s leg through the ladder rungs, then twisted the ladder, torturing Morrison’s leg at the same time. Sheamus began beating the ladder and Morrison’s leg into the mat. They are doing a ton of new, unique spots here. Sheamus went for the ladder. Morrison made his way to his feet but Sheamus overpowered him. He locked up Morrison’s knee in the ladder again and began working him over in the corner.
Sheamus climbed a ladder but Morrison threw the other ladder at Sheamus’ back. Morrison mounted a comeback but when he went for a kick, Sheamus grabbed the bad leg and slammed Morrison down. Sheamus grabbed the ladder and charged Morrison, who nailed a drop toehold and Sheamus ate the ladder face-first. Sheamus grabbed Morrison, who nailed a Pele Kick. Morrison went for an attack but was hit with the Irish Curse.
Sheamus and Morrison both went for ladders on opposite sides of the ring. They charged each other with the ladders. Morrison got the better of the exchange, taking Sheamus out. Morrison set up a ladder across the middle turnbuckle ropes. He flapjacked Sheamus onto the ladder. Morrison then hit an atomic drop onto the other ladder and sent Sheamus over the top to the floor. This is great!
Morrison grabbed a ladder and threw it out of the ring and down on Sheamus. Morrison, selling his bad leg, set up the other ladder and began to painfully make his way to the top. Cole said he was “gingerly making the climb.” I looked for Randy Savage. Sheamus wiped out Morrison’s knee and sent him to the floor. It’s going to be hard to top this one.
Sheamus made his way up and grabbed at the contract, which slid away and began swinging back and forth. Morrison made his way up and drilled Sheamus with a series of punches, taking him down. He went for the contract but Sheamus pulled him down and went for a powerbomb out of the ring. Morrison turned it into a hurancanrana over the ropes to the floor. Morrison pulled himself back through the ropes and got to the top of the ladder, only to be shoved off when Sheamus tipped the ladder.
Sheamus and Morrison continued to battle. They ended up battling where the ladder was bridged outside the ring. Morrison tried to suplex Sheamus off a ladder to the outside onto the bridged ladder but Sheamus fought it off. They battled atop of the ladder in the ring. Morrison sent Sheamus flying over the ropes through the bridged ladder, breaking it in half. Morrison took a bump to the floor as well. This is just off the charts.
Morrison dragged himself back into the ring. He made it to the top of the ladder when Sheamus amazingly returned. Jerry Lawler asked if Sheamus was the Terminator. Sheamus shoved the ladder backwards. Morrison caught himself on the ropes and shoved the ladder forward, punting Sheamus in the face with a kick and wiping him out. Morrison made it to the contract and retrieved it.
Your winner and new top contender to WWE championship, John Morrison!
This was OFF THE CHARTS AWESOME and was the 21st century equivalent the Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania X ladder match. Looks like Morrison vs. Miz at Royal Rumble folks. Sounds good to me. Kudos to Morrison and Sheamus, who both put in career performances here.
Josh Matthews interviews WWE champion The Miz. Mathews asked him who would be the champion when John Morrison gets his title shot. Miz asked him if he was really going to go there and asked Josh who he thought, then told him he didn’t care. Miz asked how many times he needs to prove everyone wrong and get some respect. He said that he beat Rey Mysterio twice last week, carried Morrison and Big Show to Tag Team gold and would kill the “legend” of Randy Orton tonight. He said that he’s the Miz and he’s often.
Todd Grisham tried to interview Wade Barrett and Husky Harris as they walked through a hallway. Harris told him no because they needed to have a meeting to make sure everyone was on the same page. When they got to the locker room, everyone else had been taken out. A worried Barrett demanded Harris lock the door.
WWE champion The Miz vs. Randy Orton – Tables Match
MONSTER reaction for Orton.
Orton controlled early, slamming Miz into the buckles and slamming him down. He began drilling Miz’s arms with kicks and whipped him hard into the buckles. Orton stomped the hell out of Miz. Orton charged Miz, who ducked out of the way. Orton hit the buckles and Miz began working him over. Orton came back with a right. Miz reversed an Irish Whip but Orton came out of the corner with a running clothesline.
They went to the floor. Orton went for a table. Alex Riley tried to distract him but Orton caught it and went right back after Miz. Riley slid the table back under the ring. That was pretty funny. Orton suplexed Miz on the floor but there was no table. He tossed Miz back into the ring and pulled the table back out. Miz dropkicked the table into Orton.
Miz set up the table but Orton cut him off. Orton grabbed him for a powerslam off the ring steps through the table but Miz slipped out and then shoved Orton into the ring steps. He grabbed the top portion of the steps and drilled Orton in the head with them. Miz pulled another ring out from under the ring and set it up on the floor. Miz placed Orton on the table but it collapsed under him. Miz worked over Orton then set up the table again and tested it. He placed Orton atop of it and went to the top for a splash but Orton rolled off the table.
Miz and Orton battled back and forth on the floor. Miz slammed Orton into the ring steps again and pulled out another table in front of the announce table. Good stuff here. Orton was tossed back in the ring, where Miz worked him over. Miz set up a table in the corner.
Orton made a comeback and hit a snap powerslam but Miz rolled to the apron. Orton kicked him and dragged him over the ropes for the hanging DDT and nailed it. Orton set up a table in the ring as Miz recovered. Orton nailed his patented backbreaker and set up for the RKO. Miz pulled himself up but Riley hit the ring. Orton scared him off.
Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale but Orton shoved him back and the referee was bumped. Riley hit the ring and ate an RKO. Orton powerbombed Riley though a table. Miz grabbed him and hit the Skull Crushing Finale Her rolled Riley away from the broken table and showed the dazed referee that Orton was down. The referee called for the bell.
LAMEST FINISH EVER but it does set up additional rematches and reinforces the idea that Miz acts like he’s the best in the world but is really squeaking by on technicalities. The work in the match until the finish was real good. Orton as a babyface is growing on me and Miz is just pure genius in his role as champion.
Wait a minute. The official saw the replay and restarted the match. OK I am on board for that as a pretty unique false finish. Orton attacked Miz on the floor and whipped Miz into the ringpost. Orton tossed Miz into the ring and leapt on the apron. Miz shoved Riley into Orton, who crashed backwards through a table.
Your winner and still WWE champion, The Miz!
So Miz screws Orton twice by being smarter than the average bear. I liked it.
Backstage, Alberto Del Rio was romancing Rosa Mendes in Spanish. He came across Edge. He accused Edge of wanting to kidnap his ring announcer and told Edge that he didn’t care because he’s just hire another. Edge asked him if he wanted to team up against Kane. Del Rio asked him if he was serious. Edge told him no and tried to tell Del Rio he was never in a TLC match. Del Rio told him that he didn’t care because all you need is greatness and if Edge doubted that, go ask his friend Christian. He warned Edge that he didn’t know him. Edge said that he didn’t care, because he was going to walk out of Houston as World champion.
World champion Kane vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Edge
All four began battling at the bell. Mysterio had a Gene Simmon-inspired mask and outfit. Del Rio worked on Rey in the ring but Rey turned it into a head scissors into the corner and stomped him. Mysterio hit a flying dropkick into the corner. Meanwhile. Kane and Edge battled on the floor.
Mysterio placed a ladder in the ring and climbed to the top but Del Rio tipped the ladder. Mysterio crashed to the outside, wiping out Edge and Kane. Del Rio climbed the ladder but Mysterio met him. Del Rio took him out and Mysterio took a bump onto another ladder. Del Rio tried to whip Rey into a ladder in the corner but it was reversed.
Rey went up the ladder but Del Rio pulled him down onto his shoulders. Mysterio landed on a ladder in the corner while escaping and rode it down onto Del Rio. Rey went to take Kane down with a Lucha move but was caught and dropped face-first onto a ladder. Edge and Kane battled but Kane slammed a ladder down atop of him.
Kane threw a ladder to the outside on Rey and Alberto. Edge blocked a chokeslam and DDT’d Kane. Edge grabbed the ladder and rammed it into Kane’s head. Kane and the ladder went crashing to the floor. Edge grabbed the largest ladder on the outside and brought it into the ring. He caught Kane bringing another one into the ring and dropkicked it into the World champion. Kane and Edge battled around ringside.
Edge set up a table outside the ring but was cut off by Kane and slammed head-first into the announcers table. Kane then drilled Del Rio with a kick to the head and laid out Rey as well. Kane began setting up a table but ripped the leg off accidentally. Kane tossed Edge into the crowd and worked on Del Rio. Kane caught Rey coming off the apron then grabbed Del Rio by the throat as well. Edge attacked him and the three challengers swarmed over the champion.
Edge and Rey soon turned on Del Rio and sent him into the barrier with such force the wall popped off. Edge and Rey began working on Kane, then set a new table up outside the ring. Rey and Edge placed Kane on the table and peppered him with punches. Edge brought a ladder near the area where the table was. Edge went up the ladder and splashed out of the ring, putting Kane through the ladder.
Rey immediately went to the ladder and began climbing up. Del Rio pulled him down and whipped Rey into the corner, then drilled him with a clothesline. Del Rio grabbed a chair from his ring announcer. He charged Rey but was caught and put in the 619 position. Del Rio ducked out and Rey flipped around back into the ring, where Edge speared him and then Del Rio.
Edge climbed to the top of the ladder but Kane returned, tossing the ladder over. Edge crotched himself on the top rope in a nasty fall. Kane mauled Del Rio and Edge outside the ring. Kane dragged Edge to the ladder set up in the aisle and used him to wipe them out. Kane grabbed a chair and nailed Del Rio in the aisle, then turned his attention to Kane and Edge.
Kane swung a chair on the stage but Edge ducked. Kane took out Del Rio but ate a spear from Edge. Rey climbed up to the tables hanging above the stage and hit a Thesz Press onto Kane. Great idea. Rey realizes he’s closer to the ring and charges to set up the ladder but Del Rio hit the ring and cut off Rey. Rey set him up for the 619 as Edge returned, then did the same to Edge. Rey drilled Del Rio with the move, but when he went for it on Edge, Edge pulled a chair up and Rey’s knees hit them.
With everyone else out, Edge set up the ladder and began to slowly make his way up the ladder. Del Rio began to follow as Rey set up a smaller ladder adjacent to them. Del Rio grabbed Edge’s arm to trap him. Rey knocked Del Rio off the ladder and took his place. He and Edge battled atop the ladder. They both ended up crashing down to the mat.
Alberto’s ring announcer climbed up the ladder at Del Rios’ order and made his way to the top, only to find that Kane had returned to the ring. Kane grabbed him and chokeslammed him off the ladder. Del Rio then ate a chokeslam as well. Kane sent Edge crashing through a table to the floor. Mysterio knocked over the ladders, set up Kane and nailed him with the 619, then dumped Kane to the floor.
Rey went to set up the ladder and made his way up. He slowly made his way and grabbed at the title but Del Rio attacked him and beat Rey as he pulled him down the ladder. Del Rio applied the rolling armbreaker. Del Rio smiled as he looked up at the belt, then went right back after Rey. Rey tapped but it didn’t mean a thing.
Del Rio made it to the top of the ladder but Rey tipped him and Del Rio took a crazy bump to the outside through two tables. There goes my prediction of Del Rio. Rey made his way back to the top of the ladder but Kane recovered and followed him. Rey kicked him off and hit a springboard moonsault off the middle rope. Kane caught him in the air and nailed the tombstone.
Kane had a trickle of blood coming from his head. No stoppage!
Kane climbed up the ladder but Edge nailed him with several shots with the chair. Kane started to come down and Edge nailed him in the jaw with the chair. Edge speared Kane off the apron through a table on the floor.
Edge was left alone in the ring and climbed the ladder. He made it to the top and pulled the ladder down, winning the World title for the tenth time.
Cody Rhodes came out with a mic and said he was here to stock everyone’s stockings with his grooming tips but “Houston, you have a problem.” He said that the problem was Houston itself. He said that Houston “are carriers of a repulsive epidemic.” He said they were responsible for “Irritable jowl syndrome.” He began ripping on out of shape people.
Out came The Bellas dressed like Santa’s Little Helpers tossing out presents and Big Show dressed as Santa wishing everyone Merry Christmas. Rhodes said that he didn’t appreciate being cut off while he’s giving out dashing tips. Rhodes said he was the poster child for how not to be dashing. Show asked him what he was talking about. Rhodes said the most disgusting sight of the year was Show in his underwear for Knucklehead and told Show that he had no dignity. Show told Rhodes he wasn’t funny and too uptight. He said Rhodes was angry because he diets too much and told Rhodes that running around in your underwear is free and liberating. Eww. Rhodes said that the only thing more ridiculous than fashion advice from show is the idea that Show is starring in movies and not him. He called Show a “Vanilla Shrek” but that Shrek smells better. Show said that if Rhodes wants to be in a movie, Show can get him a part in Knucklehead 2. He touched Cody and Rhodes got pissed Show touched him and went off. Show grabbed Cody and nailed a spinebuster. Show began ripping off Rhodes’ clothes, leaving him in his underwear, a la Ric Flair in old school angles, right down to the tie. Rhodes was wearing underwear with today’s day on them. Totally silly comedy but Rhodes’ delivery when he got angry was really good.
CM Punk came out to commentate the main event.
John Cena vs. Wade Barrett: Chairs Match
They locked up but Barrett got in the ropes to force a break. Barrett tried to escape the ring but Cena grabbed him and used a headlock takedown. They locked up and went through the ropes to the floor. Barrett grabbed a chair and took several shots at Cena. Cena grabbed a chair to even the odds.
They returned to the ring with the chairs. They snapped chairs. Cena worked over Barrett in the corner as Barrett covered up. Cena bulldogged Barrett into a chair for a two count. Barrett came back to work over Cena and lifted him into a slam for a two count.
They went to the floor where Barrett shot Cena into the chair shoulder-first. Barrett went to slam a chair over Cena’s head on the stairs but Cena rolled out of the way. Cena made his way up the aisle, trying to put distance between he and Barrett but was nailed in the back. Barrett grabbed the bottom section of the ring steps and brought them up the aisle towards Cena.
They battled up to the stage. Barrett went for a powerbomb but Cena backdropped him on the stage. Cena went to the back and retrieved an office chair on wheels. Barrett was out so Cena doused him with water to wake him, then ran the wheel chair down the ramp hard and into the steel steps section, which was set up sideways in the aisle. That was original!
Barrett came back to place an open chair across Cena’s neck and run him into the ringpost with it. He rolled Cena into the ring and drilled the chair down across Cena’s chest. Barrett placed the chair over Cena and sat down in it, trying to choke Cena with it. Cena powered up and shoved Barrett over. Cena made the comeback with several shoulderblocks but Barrett swung and drilled him with the chair.
Barrett tried up Cena in the ropes and worked him over with punches. The referee tried to free Cena but Barrett yelled at him. Barrett began battering Cena with the chair. Cena fought his way out and made the comeback, nailing the five knuckle shuffle. Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment, but Barrett escaped and nailed a sideslam for a two count.
Barrett wedged a chair in between the turnbuckles in the corner. He tried to send Cena in but Cena reversed. Barrett blocked hitting the chair. Cena went for the STF but Barrett kicked him off into the chair. Barrett continued working over Cena. Barrett went to the ropes to drive a chair into Cena but Cena rolled out of the way. Both men were down.
They recovered and went for the chair but Cena retrieved it first and drilled Barrett over the back. Cena hit an Arabian Facebuster off the top rope, on Barrett. Cena set up six chairs facing each other in the center of the ring. He grabbed Barrett and nailed the Attitude Adjustment through them and scored the pin.
Your winner, John Cena!
After the match, Cena realized Barrett was trying to climb away and followed him with a chair. He drilled Barrett over the back with the chair. Barrett tried to escape but drilled him again. Barrett was left laying under all the hanging chairs that were stage decorations. Cena pulled several chairs off a palate that was used to bring out the weapons during the matches. He trapped Barrett under the palate and they played his music. Cena silenced them, then grabbed one of the series of hanging chairs and snapped them down, raining them down atop the palate. A really great visual (yet totally safe) to close the show.
Real good main event to close the show. They did a good job teasing and using the chairs. I popped for Cena pulling one out of the Sabu playbook with the Facebuster.
Overall, an extremely entertaining PPV.
Your winner, Edge!
Just an excellent, brutal cluster with lots of hard hitting spots, bumps and some good drama and teases of potential wins. I liked the inclusion of Ricardo here as well. This was a total “throw in everything we can and work our asses off” type of match and it was extremely enjoyable on all accounts.
2011 - TNA signed Gunner to a deal.
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