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May 16th 2002 -WWE broadcast Smackdown. Eric McHugh filed the following TV report: Good evening again everyone, and welcome to this week's Smackdown report. I'm Eric McHugh, mostly over the WWE bug. Now if I can just shake the RAW plague, I'll be totally OK. Man, they can't possibly have the same writers for both shows, can they? If RAW could actually improve by having David Arquette on the show, then you KNOW that program needs work. Let's get to this week's final WWF major program before this Sunday's $35 event... We saw that Flair was sitting on the ramp, glaring at Jay Lethal, who had released the figure four and was by the stage. They showed a bunch of replays. We then saw RVD in the ring celebrating, while Styles and Flair were on the floor by the ramp. The announcers said the official announcement of the top ten contenders to the World Title would be made this Thursday on Impact. That ended the show. 2011 - TNA began rebranding their weekly series as "Impact Wrestling", using the tagline "Wrestling Matters Again." The campaign included a number of billboards purchased for advertising, including several in Stamford, CT in the area surrounding WWE HQ. We begin with John Cena making his way to the ring. Before Cena can speak, he is interrupted by the man who is a SMACKDOWN SUPERSTAR, Alex Riley. Riley says that he has heard it all before. Hustle, Loyalty, Respect, and I am going to make the Miz say I Quit on Sunday. Alex has a video package for John Cena to watch. It is a lot of stuff from when Miz was the champion and he was destroying John Cena. Riley introduces the Miz and he makes his way to the ring while Michael Cole marks out for Miz. Riley says that from the beginning, everyone has underestimated the Miz. From his start on Tough Enough to the main event of Wrestlemania 27, they said he didn’t have what it took and that he should have quit. They also said that the Spurs would make it out of the first round but we know what happens. On Sunday, in an I Quit Match . . . then we pause because the fans tell Riley that he sucks. The Miz will prove everyone wrong again because the Miz will never utter the words ‘I Quit’ Cena tells Riley says that he is as stupid as he is useless. If you want to talk about things the Miz would never say. I think I will pass on tickets to the Jonas Brothers. Miz wouldn’t say I don’t want to play with My Little Pony any more. He wouldn’t say I’m the Miz and I have testicles. That is a shame because you need a set. Cena says that Miz has gone from laughing stock to champion and he respects that. There is a reason why he chose an I Quit Match and it is because when you look past the fancy suits and loudmouth bravado and he can look into Miz’s eyes and see fear. It is the same fear that he sees in his eyes right now. How bad will I get hurt or will I say I Quit before I get hurt. After Over the Limit, he won’t be saying I’m the Miz and I’m Awesome. He will be saying I’m the Miz . . . and I Quit. The ding dongs go off and Michael Cole has something to say. Since he allowed John Cena to make the stipulation for Over the Limit, as long as Miz and Riley are not involved, he gets to pick the type of match and opponent for John Cena tonight. Miz thinks about it and he tells John that he doesn’t know who the opponent is or what the stipulation is, there is one thing that is for sure. It is going to be awesome. We go to commercial. We see highlights of what happened last week when Big Show attacked CM Punk at ringside during Mason Ryan’s match with Kane. Match Number One: Kofi Kingston versus CM Punk with Michael McGillicutty, David Otunga, and Mason ‘Not-tista’ Ryan in a Non Title Match They lock up and Punk with a side head lock but Kofi with elbows. Punk with a shoulder tackle but Kofi with a flying forearm and a drop kick that sends Punk to the floor. Nexus comes towards the ring but Punk tells them to back up. Kofi with a baseball slide and then he gets a near fall. Punk drops Kofi on the top rope and then he connects with a clothesline to the back of the head. Punk with elbows to Kofi’s chest and he gets a near fall. Punk with a cravate. Punk with a snap mare and knee drop for a near fall. Punk goes to the top turnbuckle but Kofi recovers and hits a drop kick and Punk falls to the ring. Kofi goes up top and he hits a cross body and gets a near fall. Kofi with a Superman punch and it is time for the Boom Drop after a lap or two around the ring. Kofi hits the Boom Drop and then Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Punk ducks. Punk gets Kofi up for a Go To Sleep but Kofi counters with a rollup for a near fall. Kofi leaps into the corner but Punk moves and Kofi hits the turnbuckles. Punk hits Go To Sleep and he gets the three count. Winner: CM Punk After the match, Punk sits in front of his wall of black shirts and he says that what we just saw was leadership by example. It is just step one. He says that he heard all of the rumors that Nexus isn’t formidable. There is no more Mr. Nice Punk and he is going to do things his way. He will make sure that everyone in Nexus is the most dominant force that the WWE Universe has ever seen. Miz is talking to Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler in the back. We go to commercial. We are back with the Slam of the Week: Kharma attacking Eve Torres while the Bellas ran away. Match Number Two: Kelly Kelly versus Brie Bella with Nikki Bella in a Non Title Match They lock up and Brie with a knee and she works on the arm. Kelly with a forearm and then Kelly uses the ropes to flip out of the hold. Kelly with a Thesz Press and she slams Brie’s head into the mat. Brie with a kick and she sends Kelly into the ropes and chokes her. Nikki drops Kelly on the ropes when the referee was not looking and Brie gets a near fall. Brie with an arm bar and chin lock and then she sends Kelly to the mat. Brie misses a leg drop and Kelly spanks Brie. Kelly hits the spinning head scissors take down and then she hits her other moves with a handspring back splash and bulldog for a near fall. Brie with a knee but Kelly with a rollup for the three count. Winner: Kelly Kelly After the match, The Bellas attack Kelly and they hit the X Factor on Kelly. Kharma’s music plays and the Bellas stand in the ring this week after they were smart enough to leave the ring last week. She makes her way to the ring and one of the Bellas makes a major mistake by attacking Kharma from behind. Kharma sends her to the mat and then the other one comes off the turnbuckles and Kharma catches her and slams her. It is time for an Implant Buster, but I don’t think we are going to see any twin magic. Kharma goes over to Kelly Kelly and she picks Kelly up and she thwacks Kelly in the forehead before she leaves. Miz is with his former tag team partner, the Big Show in the back and we have no idea what they are talking about. We go to commercial. We are back and we see the Alamo because we are in San Antonio. Now we take a look at That’s What I Am because it comes out on DVD tomorrow. We see footage from last week when he put the cherry on the disappointment sundae for Rey Mysterio last week after not getting the number one contender spot. Rey says hola to the people of San Antonio and he says that he came out here to speak the truth. Last week R Truth wasn’t chosen to be in the main event, but he decided to jump him after the main event. Rey says that he has been passed over before, but he never felt like that before. Rey says that he doesn’t blame his friends or other people for his own problems. He doesn’t flip out when he doesn’t get his way. He likes to call out the guy who jumped him and then handle his business like a man. Rey wants R Truth to make his way to the ring and face him right now exactly why Truth didn’t belong in that or any main event on Raw. Truth does not come out and we go to commercial. We are back and Rey is still standing in the ring and I don’t know if he moved during the commercial break. Ricardo Rodriguez comes out and he introduces Alberto Del Rio who drives into the building and he is dressed for a match. Alberto tells us who he is . . . but we already know that, especially the little Chihuahua in the ring. He says that Rey got beat up last week, not him. Rey is the reason why Alberto is not facing John Cena for the WWE Title. He does not deserve to be on the same show as him. Alberto says that he is pure Latino, not like the people of San Antonio. Alberto enters the ring and he tells Rey and the fans that this country begged him to come here. They gave him everything to come here, unlike Rey’s people. They came to this country like a bunch of ratas. Rey tells Alberto that he is not going to let Alberto disrespect all of his people. Rey says something in Spanish and then he tells Alberto that he is proud to be a Chicano and an American. Rey says that he has no problem shutting up Alberto’s mouth if Truth doesn’t Match Number Three: Rey Mysterio versus Alberto Del Rio in an If it didn’t happen on Raw, it doesn’t matter if this was a feud on Smackdown Match Alberto with kicks to Rey but Rey with kicks to Alberto. Alberto floats over on an Irish whip but Rey with a head scissors. Alberto sends Rey into the turnbuckles. Alberto puts Rey on top and Alberto with a single arm breaker from the turnbuckles as we go to commercial. Alberto with a drop kick to Rey’s shoulder as we go to commercial. We are back and Del Rio with an arm bar but Rey with kicks to Del Rio. Del Rio runs into a boot from Rey. Rey with a wheelbarrow into a bulldog but Alberto with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Del Rio punches and kicks Rey and he gets a near fall. Del Rio works on the arm and he wraps it in the ropes and the referee warns him. Del Rio continues to work on the injured arm and he gets another near fall. Del Rio returns to the arm bar. Rey with forearms and then he avoids a tilt-a-whirl back breaker but Del Rio with a kick to Rey and he can only get a near fall. Del Rio tries to take off Rey’s mask but Rey holds on to his identity. Rey kicks Del Rio in the leg but Del Rio with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Del Rio returns to the arm bar and then he turns it into a hammer lock. Rey with a flying mare and a kick to Del Rio. Del Rio charges at Rey but Rey drops down and Del Rio goes through the ropes to the floor. Ricardo checks on Del Rio. R Truth tells everyone to stop everything and to call the policia because we have a thief among us. He says that Rey is a thief. Rey stole his spot in the number one contender match and his shot at the title. Truth says that isn’t fair. Rey sees Del Rio trying to take advantage of the situation and he hits a springboard cross body for a near fall. Rey with an Irish whip but Del Rio sends him to the apron. Rey goes up top for a seated splash and then he sends Alberto into the ropes after a head scissors. Ricardo absorbs the 619 and the referee calls for the bell. Winner: Rey Mysterio by disqualification After the match, Del Rio sends Rey shoulder first into the ring post. He follows that with an elbow drop from the turnbuckles. Alberto tries to take off the mask again before leaving the ring. R Truth comes to the ring and he hits Rey from behind and he kicks Rey in the shoulder and then he punches Rey. Truth waits for Rey to get to his feet and he hits What’s Up on Rey. Truth gets a mic and he asks Rey what is he doing and who does he think he is. To challenge Truth. Truth says that no one challenges him because he makes the challenges. Just like he showed Rey tonight, on Sunday, he tells Rey that he’s gonna get got. Truth punches Rey. Truth kicks Rey since nobody is coming to Rey’s aid. CM Punk and Mason Ryan are being recruited for something, maybe the match against John Cena. We are back and Did You Know that a lot of people go to WWE shows. It is time for the official contract signing and Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Jack Swagger are in the ring. Cole reclines in his chair and he welcomes everyone. Cole says that Lawler cannot let things go and he had to make the challenge for this match. Cole says that the contract will not become official until he signs the contract. He wants Lawler to remind everyone what he said last week. Lawler says that Cole never beat him legitimately, but if Cole wins on Sunday, Lawler will give Cole his Hall of Fame ring and if it ever happened, Lawler would personally induct Cole into the Hall of Fame. Cole signs the contract and he is happy. Lawler signs as well and the match that has been announced, is official. Cole says that he believes in full disclosure and he says that Lawler did not read the contract. The match is not going to be an ordinary match, it will be a Kiss My Foot Match. Cole tells Lawler that Jerry will do what Good Ole JR did last month. We go to the footage. Cole chuckles at what we just saw. Cole points out that JR is the only person to kiss Vince McMahon’s rear end and Michael Cole’s foot. Cole says that he made this match because he wanted Lawler to feel comfortable. Cole reminds Lawler that he was in a Kiss My Foot Match before. We go back to 1995 when Jerry Lawler had to kiss Bret Hart’s foot. Cole wants Jerry to look at what he will be kissing on Sunday and it has the same fungus, plus some other substances that might be organic. Jerry Lawler tells Cole that he is no Bret Hart. He says that Cole isn’t even a Jack Swagger. Lawler says that he doesn’t like Swagger, but he respects what Swagger can do in the ring because he is a former World Champion. He says that Cole should be proud because he turned a former World Champion into a side kick. Cole says that nobody remembers Swagger being a World Champion and people say that Swagger is best known for being his side kick. He says that the only reason why Swagger was on Wrestlemania was because he was Cole’s side kick. Jack doesn’t appreciate what Cole said and he tells Lawler to have fun because he is done with Cole. Cole tries to apologize as Swagger walks away. Lawler has a smile on his face and Cole tries to suck up to Lawler. Cole says that everyone knows that was a joke. Cole reminds Lawler that they have known each other for fourteen years. He tries to weasel out of the match, but Lawler tells Cole to stuff it. Lawler grabs Cole by his tie and he tells Cole that he has been putting his foot in his mouth for years and now Lawler will put his foot in Cole’s mouth and Michael will kiss it. Miz is now talking to Kane and Big Show stops by. Kane and Big Show walk into a commercial. We find out that ShowKane will be defending the tag titles against Mason Ryan and CM Punk at Over the Limit. Match Number Four: Big Show and Kane versus Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga in a Non Title Match Kane with an uppercut to Michael but Michael tries for a sunset flip and Kane picks up Michael and connects with another uppercut. Kane with a slam followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Show tags in and he chops Michael. Show with another chop. Show with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot but Show tries for a slam and Michael clips Show. Michael with kicks and Otunga is tagged in and he hits a drop kick and kicks to the head. Otunga with a near fall. Michael tags back in and he kicks Show. Michael with a DDT to the leg but Show with an emphatic kick out. Otunga tags in and he kicks Show and then he continues to work on the leg. Michael tags in and he kicks Show and continues to work on the leg. Show with a kick to the head but Otunga tags back in. David kicks Show in the hamstring. Otunga works on the ankle but Show kicks Otunga away. Show grabs Otunga by the throat but Otunga kicks show. Otunga with a side head lock but Otunga with a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down. Show makes the tag to Kane and Michael tags in too. Kane with punches to Michael followed by an Irish whip and side slam for a near fall. Kane goes up top for the clothesline and he hits it. Kane signals for the choke slam and Otunga tries to interfere. Kane with a boot to Otunga. Show with a shoulder to Ryan after he teased getting involved. Kane grabs Michael by the throat and Punk with a kick to the back of the head and Michael with a running neck breaker to Kane for the three count. Winners: Michael McGillicutty and David Otunga We see Miz talking to R Truth and we go to commercial. We run through the card for Over the Limit. Scott Stanford is with Kane and Big Show and he asks about how the loss affects their match on Sunday. Show says that Nexus had a good night tonight and they won tonight. Show says that they are the alpha and omega and they will not lose the tag titles on Sunday. Kane says that Punk was in all of his glory tonight, but on Sunday it will not be Punk’s salvation, it will be the annihilation of Nexus on Sunday. John Cena is walking in the back and he gets a shirt from Zack Ryder as we go to commercial. We are back with the WWE Rewind: John Cena defeating Alex Riley last week on Raw. The Miz comes out with the human lapdog Alex Riley and Miz says that he has decided that tonight’s main event will be a No Holds Barred Match, and he wants John Cena to get out here. Jack Swagger hits Cena from behind and he kicks Cena. Miz introduces his opponent, Jack Swagger. Match Number Five: John Cena versus Jack Swagger in a No Holds Barred Match Swagger continues the assault as they make their way into the ring. Swagger chokes Cena in the corner. Swagger punches Cena and then he tries for the ankle lock. Cena kicks Swagger off and then Cena with punches followed by an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Swagger with an elbow drop followed by a leg drop. Swagger with a forearm to the back followed by a hard Irish whip. Swagger with a suplex to Cena as the crowd shows how they feel about Cena. Swagger with the double jump Swagger Bomb for a near fall. We go to commercial. We are back and Swagger with a key lock on Cena. We see footage from the commercial break when they fought by the announce table and Cena got sent into the ring post. Cena with a snap mare but he runs into a boot from Swagger. Swagger with a boot to the midsection and then he sends Cena into the ringside barrier that did not have the normal padding. They return to the ring and Cena kicks out at two. We also see that Swagger used the General Manager’s computer. Swagger gets a chair and he hits Cena in the back with it and he gets a near fall. Swagger pulls Cena towards the corner and he sets for the Swagger Bomb, but he puts the chair on Cena’s chest first. Swagger hits the Swagger Bomb but he can only get a near fall. Swagger puts the chair in the turnbuckles. Cena gets a second wind and he punches Swwagger but Swagger catches Cena and hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Swagger puts Cena in the ankle lock. Cena rolls through and gets out of the hold. Swagger charges into the corner but Cena moves out of the way and Swagger runs into the steel chair in the corner. Cena with the flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. The Legendary Marine 12 Rounds Moves of Doom ends with the Attitude Adjustment and then Swagger is put in the STF and Swagger taps out. Winner: John Cena After the match, Miz applauds Cena on his victory and he says that was very very very impressive. He tells Cena to cherish this thrill of victory because on Sunday, Cena will be feeling emptiness, sorrow, and regret. There are so many ways to make a human being say I Quit. You can beat them so severely that they have to say I Quit. Miz says that he can throw Cena off the stage to make him say I Quit. Miz says that he can put Cena against the stage and run the crane camera into Miz. He could also take the steel steps and ram Cena with them again and again until he cannot stand up. Miz says that he can go under the ring and he sends Alex to find something useful. Riley pulls out a large black pipe and he says that those are the obvious things. He says that there are a million ways that Cena hasn’t even thought out. Miz says that he is more intelligent, conniving, and more ruthless than anyone that Cena has faced in his entire life. Miz says that he has found a way that not even Cena has seen before. Miz guarantees to everyone that after their match at Over the Limit, he will be declared the new WWE Champion. Miz wants to know why Cena is looking at him that way because it looks like Cena doesn’t believe him. Miz says that he won’t use the pipe on Sunday, but he has no problem using it tonight. Riley tries to sneak attack Cena but Cena stops him. Miz hits Cena twice with the pipe but when he tries for a third, Cena has already recovered and he hits Miz and Riley with the pipe. Cena tells Miz to bring his million ways to beat him. He tells Miz that he has a hurting coming because Miz will say I Quit. 2011 - WWE broadcast Tough Enough on the USA Network. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report: AJ returns to the house and he says that he does not feel redeemed because he survived the elimination. AJ mentions that there were two eliminations. Christina says that she is excited to be the last woman standing. AJ says that tomorrow will be a long day and he appears to have received the message from Mount Whoop Ass. We see the house and Christina is doing yoga with Trish. Talks about how she started doing yoga and how it helped her back. Christina doesn’t know if she feels the pressure, but she is scared. Trish says that she felt they needed girl time. Christina says that she is scared of the unknown and she wants to do well. She wants to be a threat in the competition. Christina says that everyone doubted her. Trish says that she is proud of Christina and she thinks that Christina might be the last one standing. Christina says that this is not the time to make small mistakes. We go to the training facility and AJ says that he knows that he has something to prove. Bill comments on Martin’s boots and he tells Martin to sell his car and get some new boots. Bill tells Christina that he is proud of her. We see kick out drills in the ring when Steve enters. This week’s theme is ‘creativity’ and about the execution of moves in the ring. Austin says that you deal with technique and safety. He suggests that you add some flair and it might help you in the long way. Austin says that he cared more about how he did things in the ring instead of what he did. Austin wants to see them add flair. We start off with fireman’s carries. The trainers criticize AJ and Booker says that he hopes AJ sees the light bulb go off. Bill mentions that Jeremiah is starting to move into the MMA world and he is showing some flaws when it comes to wrestling. Jeremiah says that he can’t lose his focus or he might lose the race. We go to commercial. We are back and the training continues. They are throwing each other out of the ring. Austin reminds them of the theme and he wants them to be creative about getting out of the ring. He says that there are some moves that have limits to the creativity, but there are things you can add creativity to. Booker shows them the way to do it. Austin says that when you try to add some nuances to basic moves, it causes them to freeze on certain things. Luke gets thrown over the top rope by Andy and he lands awkwardly. Bill and Booker tell Andy that he needs to tone it down or he won’t last. Bill tells Andy that he is creatively pushing himself out of this. Luke says that he thinks he should have been angrier at what happened, but he wasn’t that angry. Bill and Booker were not impressed with the performances. Austin says that there were times when he saw something, but then it all falls apart and that was what happened today. We see Andy watching his daughter to get back into a better mood. Andy talks to his wife and he wants to find out how things are at home. Trish says that they need to reset after a bad day so she thought of a pick me up for them. We see The Bellas, Kelly Kelly, and Eve Torres show up at the house. The guys are surprised that they would show up when they were showering. Jeremiah was excited to see them. The Bellas talk about how they were happy to see the men in towels. While the guys get dressed, the girls have some champagne. Christina says that she is looking forward to getting an opinion from the Divas. Jeremiah takes control of the Bellas as they go to dinner. AJ says that it was a good experience. Jeremiah wants to order some drinks and we are reminded that Andy is going to be straight edge for his family. Luke mocks Andy’s choice and he says that he is going to be a rock star. Eve says that she got a chance to talk to the contestants to see what they are all about and what makes them stand out. Kelly gives some advice to Christina and Kelly says that she has a lot of potential and she gives her some suggestions. The Bellas ask AJ what he was having problems with and why he was in the bottom three. He says that they told him that he needed to develop a persona in the ring. Jeremiah gets slapped by one of the Bellas and Luke enjoys it. Luke wants to join in and he gets slapped. Jeremiah and Luke slap each other as they get a bit giddy and the Divas call them Team Bromance. We go to commercial. We are back and it is time to go to the THQ Headquarters and we are going to see them play WWE All-Stars. They are going to create their own superstars. Austin says that he knows about being creative and he talks about being the Ringmaster and how he hated it. Then he created Stone Cold Steve Austin. Jeremiah went with a basic look and then we see the other wrestlers they created. Austin wants to know what Jeremiah was thinking with his character. We see Jeremiah destroying Christina’s creation in the ring. Austin asks if they geared their character towards themselves. It is time for AJ and Luke to showcase their characters. Luke says that he doesn’t have to go overboard to show creativity. Martin makes his character a version of the Ultimate Warrior while Andy’s looks a little like Diesel. Austin was impressed with Andy’s character and wonders if that is who he wants to be. The guy from THQ liked Luke’s character because it was him with a bit of caricature. Luke was impressed that they understood who a superstar looks like. We go to commercial. We are back and it is time for training AFTER DARK with Bill and Booker. We get a different lighting effect for this session. Christina says that she has a good feeling right now. Andy starts to show some charisma and he felt that he was doing better. Booker and Bill tell AJ to leave the ring and watch. Booker says that they found their weakest link. Booker says that AJ looked like he was playing with a puppy. Bill says that he thought AJ would rise to the occasion, but he doesn’t think that he has shown anything more. AJ says that it was getting to him. Martin goes to leave the ring and he says that he felt something pop and he knows that he got hurt. Martin has his ankle checked out and he is angry that he is missing practice. Austin wants to know how it happened. Martin tries to stand up but he is having trouble standing up without any help. We go to more in the ring and Bill checks on Martin and he tells him to get it iced and watch what is going on. Martin says that he cannot stand on his ankle and the trainer tells him to think about it. Martin wants to get back into the ring and Booker wants to know if he is going to be able to suck it up. Martin is taken to the medical facility and he is worried about how it will affect his chances. We go to commercial. We are back and Luke says that he hopes Martin is okay. . . on a humanitarian level. He says that Martin’s condition isn’t going to affect his approach. We go to the training facility for some drills. Martin comes into the facility on crutches so that cannot be good for him. Martin has his belt around his waist and he tells everyone that he fractured his ankle and he is not allowed to continue according to the doctors. Martin says that he wanted to get back into the ring. Luke says that he genuinely felt bad for Martin. Austin says that you can ride the highs, but then you hit a hell of a low spot. Austin says that it sucks and he wants to talk to Martin in his office. AJ says that it is tragic that Martin had to leave because of the way he performed. Austin tells Martin that he was on top of the world and he took a piledriver and he was done. It made him think about how to get back. Martin says that he wants to be here and it is the only thing that he wants to do. Austin says that it took 7 ½ years to become an overnight success. He tells Martin that if he wants it, he will be back in the ring. Austin tells Martin to look at the belts on the wall. He says that he took them because they weren’t tough enough. Austin tells Martin that he isn’t going to take it because he was tough enough. Austin lets Martin put his own belt on the wall. Martin says that he got so close but he will remember that Austin never took the belt away from him. Martin says that he was proud with his performance. The trainers wish him luck and tell him that he did good. Martin says that he will take what he learned and apply it in the future. He says that he appreciated the ovation because he feels that it means they respected him. Martin says that he will be back. We go to commercial. We are back and the trainers tell the contestants that they are getting to the home stretch and that the most basic things can cause injuries. It is time for the Skills Challenge. Bill explains the challenge and they will have two minutes to show what they can do. Booker tells them that they have to use one move from the top rope. AJ and Christina go first and Christina hits a double sledge to the head and Christina hurts herself. Bill and Booker say that they thought it would be a cross body and they blame AJ. AJ says that it feels like a bad dream and it has turned into a nightmare. Andy doesn’t want to see her have to go out that way. Trish says that it is a scary moment to see Christina in that much pain. Luke comments ‘another one bites the dust’. Luke says that he didn’t take any pleasure in hearing her scream but it is one fewer person to deal with. Austin tells them that there is no elimination tonight because it looks like we are going to have another elimination. 2012 - Scott Steiner's comments on Twitter about TNA led to legal action. Scott Steiner wrote: "Havent tweeted lately bcuz I got a letter from a lawyer representing hogan n b---hoff basically saying They take my tweets seriously and if threats continue they will take to law enforcement....really hogan my Tweets scare you,Ive said worse in interviews on tv,LOL,I want to thank you bcuz your actions speak Louder than any words that i could have spoken,sorry for scaring you maybe I will challenge you to a game Of checkers," About Hogan, Steiner added: 2012 - Tomasso Ciampa announced that he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis via his Twitter: "Apparently even beasts can be slowed down. Had the flu and a stomach virus last week. Found out today I have diverticulitis. Down 12 pounds. Still plan on murdering some b*tches this weekend. I have a loss to redeem and more to prove than ever before." 2012 - On 5/14 on his Facebook page, Sapolsky commented on the Internet PPV issues Ring of Honor had with their 5/12 Border Wars IPPV, writing, "When the ownership and management of a company doesn't care or have enough respect for its employees and more importantly paying customers to spend enough money to have adequate equipment they can f*** off. When a company decides to go on the cheap and take a risk that something like a website will work instead of doing everything in their power to guarantee it will work they can f*** off. If the ownership and management doesn't care or respect it's fans enough to do this they don't deserve your support." After receiving negative responses from some users of the Page, Sapolsky clarified his comments, writing, "It's too late to delete that other thread cause everything is out there, but to the people making all the negative comments do you realize I'm just saying we respect and appreciate your business and you deserve the best for your money? Yes, there are bumps in the road due to things out of control, but we never cut corners on things we can control and we always work our hardest to give you the best quality. I'm trying to serve you the best we can and I'm saying you should get nothing less. I take offense when you do." Sapolsky received the cease and desist letter on 5/15, according to sources. There has been longstanding bad blood between the two sides stemming from Sapolsky's dismissal years ago, which led to the formation of DGUSA a year later as Dragon Gate had their own falling out with ROH when Silkin was the owner and opted to no longer work with them. Since then, DGUSA and sister promotion EVOLVE have been vying for the same online audience that was once the cornerstone of ROH's fan base and there have been regular attempts to run opposite of each other over the years. Now, for those wondering why ROH would even respond to anything Sapolsky wrote, I am told that Sapolsky signed an agreement that he would not disparage the company when he was released as ROH booker in October 2008. ROH's side obviously believes that agreement is still in place. One DGUSA source, who was not Sapolsky, believed that the agreement could not be valid as there were distinctly different companies - Silkin's and Sinclair's. ROH was reorganized under a LLC when Sinclair took over the company a little under a year ago. In speaking to a legal source about the matter, I was told it all depended on the language of the non-disclosure form and whether that language covered ROH under ownership beyond Silkin at the time it was signed. On yesterday's media conference call to discuss the iPPV issues, I asked ROH COO Joe Koff about the Sapolsky comments. Koff responded, "I'm not going to respond to his comments specifically because I'm going to consider the source of his comments. I can't refute or dispute perception. I can refute and dispute credible sources. I'm not going to get into that conversation about that. He makes a good point...I will tell you that this company is well financed and work with people we rely on for their expertise....and I think this was something that was unanticipated from our own analytics and our own analysis of what it was. The load was tested. We thought that we should be fine with what the normal number of buys are and how they come in through course of a day. And Mike, we were fooled, and I'm going to say that positively, even though it ended up negatively, at the positive response to this product and we did not anticipate that. And shame on us for not anticipating that. It's not a money issue at all. It really isn't a money issue. It just happened to be an unfortunate call on our part thinking [the server was] strong enough to carry the show. That's the way it happened." Sapolsky declined comment when reached by PWInsider.com, but admitted he was "surprised" he was being asked about the issue. However, several hours after declining to comment to PWInsider.com, Sapolsky responded to the cease and desist in vague terms, writing on the same Facebook page, "You stop yourself from saying something 1000 times, but the one time you take 30 seconds and write something out of anger it blows up beyond your imagination. If you are reading this the bottom line is all you really care about is great wrestling, good storylines and something compelling. We had two awesome EVOLVE shows last weekend....[lots of comments about the wrestlers working for EVOLVE over the weekend deleted for clarity of story at hand; complete post here] Our staff of Ivan, Bryan, Sean and Brandon among others, led by Sal, worked tirelessly to put on those two memorable events and great iPPV streams. I took the attention away from all that by losing my cool for a moment and lashing out with profanity. I can't make any promises in the future, but I'll remember this lesson. I ended up doing the last thing I wanted to do- take the attention off the wrestling that we all care about." 2012 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report: We are live on tape from Hershey, Pennsylvania and your announcers are William ‘I want a golden goose’ Regal and Josh ‘Mike Teevee’ Mathews. Match Number One: Johnny Curtis sans Maxine versus Percy Watson They lock up and Watson with a waist lock but Johnny makes it to the ropes. They lock up again and Watson with a side head lock take down. Watson with another side head lock. Curtis with forearms but Watson floats over and hits an arm drag into an arm bar. Curtis with a forearm but Watson with a leg lariat. Curtis with a shoulder from the apron and then he sends Watson’s neck into the ropes and gets a near fall. Curtis chokes Watson with his boot. Curtis with a snap mare and European uppercut to the back for a near fall. Curtis with a rear chin lock. Watson with punches and forearms but he runs into boots from Curtis and Johnny gets a near fall. Curtis with a knee to the back followed by a hard Irish whip. Curtis chokes Watson and follows with a forearm and snap mare. Curtis with a surfboard but Watson tries to fight out of it. Curtis with a knee but Watson with European uppercuts and drop kicks. Watson with a hip toss slam and a clothesline. Watson sets for the Showtime splash and hits it but he can only get a two count. Watson gets Curtis on his shoulders but Curtis gets back to his feet. Curtis sends Watson into the ropes and then hits a spinning Falcon Arrow for the three count. Winner: Johnny Curtis We go to commercial. Match Number Two: Great Khali and Ezekiel Jackson versus Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins Khali and Hawkins start things off and Hawkins with punches but Khali with a clothesline and he sends Hawkins into the corner for a chop. Khali with another chop and then he tags in Jackson. Reks makes the tag as well and we see Hawkins holding his chest on the floor. Reks with forearms to Jackson followed by a punch and slap. Jackson with a punch to Reks and then he peppers Reks with forearms and punches in the corner. Reks with a boot and then he hits a drop toe hold that sends Jackson into the ropes. Hawkins with a kick and then he hits a clothesline from the turnbuckles. Reks tags in and while he talks to the referee, Hawkins with kicks to the back. Reks with a knee to the back and a forearm. Reks with a kick and European uppercut. Jackson with punches but Reks with a slam and he gets a near fall. Reks traps the leg and tags in Hawkins. Hawkins with kicks and then he chokes him iin the ropes. Reks tags back in and he punches Jackson in the back. Jackson fights his way out of the corner but Reks with a boot to stop Zeke’s attempt to tag in Khali. Reks with a quarter nelson and chin lock. Reks with forearms to the back. Reks with a reverse chin lock and side head lock. Reks almost runs into Khali but he stops short. Jackson with a back body drop and Khali is tagged in. Khali with clotheslines and punches to Reks and he even knocks Hawkins off the apron. Khali with the chop to the head. Hawkins tries to interfere but Khali sends Hawkins into a Jackson POUNCE. Khali with the choke slam for the three count on Reks. Winners: Great Khali and Ezekiel Jackson Match Number Three: Kaitlyn versus Maxine Kaitlyn with a single leg take down into a bridge but no count. Maxine sends Kaitlyn away but Maxine gets a little too cocky and Kaitlyn with a slam and leg drops for a near fall. Maxine with a forearm and a guillotine choke and body scissors. Kaitlyn sends Maxine into the turnbuckles to get out of the hold. Maxine holds onto the front face lock and Kaitlyn tries to get out of the hold by using her power and Kaitlyn puts Maxine on the top rope. Maxine goes to the floor and Kaitlyn tries to bring her back in but Maxine drops Kaitlyn’s throat across the ropes. Maxine with chops to the upper chest and gets a near fall. Maxine with a rear chin lock. Maxine slams Kaitlyn’s head into the mat a few times. Maxine then chokes Kaitlyn with her leg. Maxine with a rear chin lock with her knee in Kaitlyn’s back. Kaitlyn with a European uppercut but Maxine responds with an elbow for a near fall. Maxine slams Kaitlyn’s head into the mat. Kaitlyn kicks a charging Maxine and it sends her into the turnbuckles. Kaitlyn with a drop kick and flying shoulder tackle. Kaitlyn with a forearm and a cross body for a near fall. Maxine with an inside cradle for a near fall and then Maxine with a chin lock and bridge but Kaitlyn gets to her feet but Maxine sends Kaitlyn’s head into the mat again. Maxine with a choke and body scissors but Kaitlyn with a Bubba Bomb into a full nelson using her legs and Maxine taps out. Winner: Kaitlyn We go to commercial. We are back and William Regal and Josh Mathews talk about the firing of Big Show. Now we take a look back at that segment. We go to commercial. Match Number Four: Tyson Kidd versus Michael McGillicutty versus Derrick Bateman They jockey for position and then Michael goes to the floor to watch Tyson and Derrick wrestle. They lock up and Kidd works on the wrist but Derrick with a hammer lock. Kidd with a single leg take down but Bateman with an arm drag into an arm bar. Kidd uses the ropes and he hits an arm drag. Michael applauds the work of Derrick and Tyson and they want Michael to join the match. Derrick and Tyson surround Michael and he goes into the ring. Derrick and Tyson with a double hip toss and double delayed vertical suplex. Michael rolls to the floor again and Tyson is distracted and Derrick gets a near fall with a rollup. Kidd with a jumping back heel kick and a neck breaker. Derrick rolls to the floor and Kidd is tripped by Michael when it looked like Tyson was going for a dive onto Derrick. Michael with a drop kick to keep Bateman out of the ring. Michael with a suplex and he gets a near fall on Kidd. Michael sends Tyson into the turnbuckles and then he pie faces Tyson and chokes him in the corner. Michael with an elbow drop to Tyson and Michael kicks Derrick off the apron. Michael with a belly-to-back suplex attempt but Kidd lands on his feet. Kidd sends Michael to the floor and then Derrick goes for a shoulder to Kidd but it turns into a suicide dive on Bateman. Kidd goes up top for a moonsault from the turnbuckles to the floor and he hits it. All three men are down and we go to commercial. We are back and Kidd kicks Michael in the corner while Derrick is on the floor. Kidd blocks a drop kick and he tries for the Sharpshooter. Michael kicks Tyson into Bateman. Michael hits a Saito suplex on Kidd for a near fall. Michael continues to work on Kidd’s neck with forearms and punches to the head. Michael hangs Kidd over the apron and he connects with an elbow. Michael sends Derrick into the ring post. Kidd with forearms to Michael but Michael with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner. Michael gets a near fall on Tyson. Michael with a kick followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Derrick with forearms and kicks to Michael but Michael sends Derrick into the ropes. Michael and Tyson try for a cross body at the same time and both are down. Derrick tries to motivate himself and he hits clotheslines on Michael followed by an STO for a near fall. Derrick with a chop to Michael and then he tries for a tornado DDT but Michael sends him to the mat. Kidd with a series of kicks to Michael followed by a drop kick to the head for a near fall. Derrick with a kick and a swinging neck breaker to Kidd but Michael breaks up the cover. Michael with a kick to Bateman and then he hits a back breaker to Derrick but he can only get a near fall. Michael tries for a suplex but Derrick lands on his feet. Derrick tries for an O’Connor Roll but Michael holds on to the ropes. Michael tries to clothesline Tyson on the apron but Tyson ducks it and hits an enzuigiri. Derrick hits a Northern Lights suplex but he can only get a near fall when Kidd breaks it up with a springboard elbow drop. Kidd gets a near fall on Bateman and then he gets a near fall on Michael to take advantage of the situation. All three men are down and Kidd gets back to his feet first but he continues to hold his ribs. Kidd with forearms to the head. Kidd with a kick and a rollup but Michael breaks it up and hits Son of Perfectplex for a near fall when Bateman breaks up the cover. Derrick with chops to Michael and then he puts Michael on the turnbuckles but Michael stops him. Derrick sets for a superplex but Michael stops him on the turnbuckels. Michael sends Derrick to the mat and Kidd is sent into the corner and Kidd sends Micahel to the floor. Kidd with the Sharpshooter but Bateman tries to get to the ropes. Kidd turns it into the Dungeon Lock and Bateman taps out. Winner: Tyson KiddOn this day in history in .... 1938 - WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz, who would go on to be one of the top trainers with Tommy Dreamer, Matt Striker, Bill DeMott and Taz among his students, is born. 1945 - Buddy "Jack" Roberts of Fabulous Freebirds fame is born.
1952 - Roger Mackay defeats The Masked Marvel (Buddy Knox) for the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title in Tacoma, Washington.
1961 - Charles "The Godfather" Wright, also known as The Soultaker, Kama Mustafa and Papa Shango, is born in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1963 - Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy defeat Buddy Austin and The Great Scott in Washington, DC to win the WWWF United States Tag Team Title.
1963 - Bull Curry defeats Jack Dalton in Houston, Texas for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title, beginning his 13th reign.
1964 - Verne Gagne wins his seventh AWA World Heavyweight Title in Omaha, Nebraska by defeating Mad Dog Vachon. 1964 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Matt Gilmore in the main event of a matinee WWWF card in Philadelphia, PA. 1964 - WWWF taped television in Baltimore, MD featuring The Scufflin Hillbillies defeating Jerry & Luke Graham, Don McClarty defeating Killer Kowalski and Gorilla Monsoon defeating Jerry Miller. 1966 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated the Beast in Washington, D.C.
1967 - Togo Shikuma and Chati Yokouchi defeat Jack Brisco and Gorgeous George, Jr. to win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Little Rock, Arkansas.
1967 - Boris Malenko defeats Wahoo McDaniel for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida. 1967 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino, Spiros Arion, & Antonio Pugliese defeated Luke Graham, Gorilla Monsoon, & Baron Mikel Scicluna in the main event of a WWWF event in Bridgeport, CT.
1969 - Antonio Inoki defeats Chris Markoff to win the 11th-annual JWA World League tournament.
1969 - Archie Gouldie defeats Angelo Mosca for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta, to begin his fourth reign. This was a rematch from May 2 in Calgary.
1969 - The Professional (Doug Gilbert) defeats El Mongol to win the vacant NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning Professional's third reign.
1970 - The Claw defeats Moondog Mayne for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Mayne's ninth reign. 1970 - Bruno Sammartino was good friends with I-95 as he made title defenses in both Queens, NY and Philadelphia, PA at WWWF events, which featured the following results: Philadelphia, PA at the Arena: -Mike Conrad defeated Eric the Red.
-Gorilla Monsoon defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka via disqualification.
-Mario Milano fought Victor Rivera to a 20-minute draw.
-Sandy Parker & Vicki Williams defeated Paula Kaye & Rita Boucher in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match.
-The Mongols defeated John L Sullivan & Dominic DeNucci.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Karl Kovacs. Queens, NY at Sunnyside Garden: -Lee Wong pinned Johnny Rodz at 10:04.
-John L. Sullivan pinned Joe Turco.
-Mario Milano defeated Eric The Red via submission with an abdominal stretch at 8:27.
-The Mongols defeated Gorilla Monsoon & Pedro Morales via count-out at 10:48.
-Dominic DeNucci fought Karl Kovacs to a 20-minute time-limit draw.
-WWWF World Champions Bruno Sammartino pinned Prof. Toru Tanaka at the 15-minute mark.
1972 - Paul Jones defeats Jack Brisco to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Brisco's third reign.
1972 - Georgia Championship Wrestling held an event at the Macon Coliseuk in Macon, Georgia. The results:
- Bepo Mongol (with Macon Tag Team Champion Assassin #1) and Mr. X defeated Tim Geohagen and John Sullivan.
- Oki Shikina defeated Mike Burns.
- Buddy Colt and Dick Steinborn fought to a 45-minute draw.
- Bob Armstrong and Koa Tiki defeated Macon Tag Team Champions The Assassins (#1 and #2) by disqualification to win the title, after Assassin #1 ran in illegally and dropkicked Tiki, who was trying to unmask Assassin #2. 1972 - WWWF ran Scranton, PA with the following: -Manuel Soto defeated the Blue Demon. -Joe Nova defeated Nikita Mulkovitch.
-Jimmy Valiant fought Rene Goulet to a draw.
-WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka.
-Victor Rivera defeated Juan Caruso.
1973 - Johnny Powers defeats Eric the Animal to win the NWF North American Heavyweight Title in Buffalo, New York, beginning his sixth reign.
1974 - Jean Antoine and Sandy Parker defeat Peggy Kuroda and Junko Sasaki for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Shizuoka, Japan.
1975 - Antonio Inoki defeats Killer Karl Krupp by submission to win the annual NJPW World League tournament.
1977 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Carlos Rocha defeated Jan Nelson.
- Ron Mickolajoka defeated Doug Gilbert.
- Baron Mikel Scicluna fought Ivan Putski to a draw.
- Ken Patera fought WWWF Tag Team Champion Chief Jay Strongbow to a draw.
- WWWF Tag Team Champion Billy White Wolf defeated Rocky Tamoyo.
- Tony Garea and Larry Zbyzsko defeated Stan Stasiak and Nikolai Volkoff.
- Bruno Sammartino defeated George Steele by referee stoppage due to blood.
- WWWF Heavyweight Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Gorilla Monsoon to retain the title.
1977 - Giant Baba defeats Jumbo Tsuruta to win the annual AJPW Champion's Carnival tournament. 1978 - WWWF ran a TV Taping Allentown, PA:
-Strong Kobayashi defeated Jim Ray.
-Spiros Arion defeated Jim Oliver.
-Johnny Rivera defeated Sylvano Sousa.
-Luke Graham defeated Mike Busick.
-Peter Maivia defeated Moose Monroe.
-Haystacks Calhoun & Larry Zbyszko fought Stan Stasiak & Butcher Vachon to a draw.
-The Yukon Lumberjacks defeated Pete Austin & Charlie Brown.
-Spiros Arion defeated Jim Ray.
-Butcher Vachon defeated Fred Marzino.
-WWWF Tag Team Champions Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci defeated the Golden Terror & Sylvano Sousa.
-George Steele defeated Mike Busick.
-WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Strong Kobayashi.
-Luke Graham defeated Pete Austin.
-Spiros Arion defeated Fred Marzino.
-Johnny Rodz defeated Charlie Brown.
-George Steele defeated Jim Oliver.
-The Yukon Lumberjacks defeated Jim Ray & Johnny Rivera.
-WWWF Tag Team Champions Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci defeated Tank Patton & Frank Monroe.
-WWWF Tag Team Champions Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci fought Superstar Billy & Luke Graham to a draw. 1979 - WWF ran White Plains, NY at Westchester County Civic Center with the following results: -Johnny Rodz fought Johnny Rivera to a draw.
-Tito Santana defeated Mr. X.
-Hussein Arab defeated SD Jones.
-Bulldog Brower defeated Ivan Putski via countout.
-Cowboy Lang & Tiny Thumb defeated Little Tokyo & Butch Cassidy.
-WWF North American Champion Ted DiBiase defeated Nikolai Volkoff via countout.
1980 - Al Madril and Tom Prichard defeat Jack Evans and Pampero Firpo to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title. 1980 - Sam Muchnick promoted an event in St. Louis, MO at the Kiel Auditorium: -Tom Andrews & Mike Huber defeated Billy Howard & Guy Mitchell,
-Pat O'Connor defeated Bobby Jaggers,
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Roger Kirby,
-Dick the Bruiser & Rocky Johnson defeated Lord Alfred Hayes & Takachio,
-Bruiser Brody fought Dick Murdoch to a no contest,
-Missouri State Champion Ken Patera defeated Kevin Von Erich, 1980 - WWF results from Commack, NY at the Long Island Arena: -Gorilla Monsoon defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
-Rick McGraw defeated Jose Estrada.
-Sika defeated Dominic Denucci.
-Larry Sharpe defeated Frank Williams.
-Marc Pole defeated Angelo Gomez.
-Afa fought Ivan Putski to a double disqualification. 1981 - Eddie Gilbert and Ricky Morton defeat The Akbar Army (Jerry Brown and Ron McFarlane) for the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1981 - Kim Song defeats Tommy Gilbert for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
1981 - Ashura Hara and Mighty Inoue defeat Paul Ellering and Larry Latham for the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan. They were the final champions as the promotion closed on August 9. 1981 - Cody Deaner is born. 1982 - Central States Wrestling ran Columbia, KS with the following results:
Dewey Robertson won a battle royal. Robertson would become more well known nationally as The Missing Link.
Rufus R Jones beat Superfly Jimmy Snuka
Mike George & Dewey Robertson beat Jerry Brown & Roger Kirby
Mike George beat Ray Hernandez (the future Hercules Hernandez)
Mark Romero beat Ron McFarlane
Art Crews beat Ricky Romero 1983 - NWA World champ Ric Flair defeated Buzz Tyler via DQ in Wichita, Kansas.
1983 - In Memphis, Tennessee, Bobby Eaton and Duke Myers defeat The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title, ending the Fabs' fifth reign and beginning Eaton and Myers' second. At the same event, Ken Patera won the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Title from Jerry Lawler, and Bill Dundee wins his seventh AWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Dutch Mantel's fourth reign. 1983 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greenville, SC with the following results: -Kelly Kiniski defeated Vinnie Valentino.
-Rufus R. Jones defeated the Magic Dragon.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated the Great Kabuki.
-NWA U.S. Champion Greg Valentine defeated Dory Funk Jr.
-NWA TV Champion Jos LeDuc defeated the One Man Gang.
1984 - Andy Kaufman dies of kidney failure due to large cell carcinoma in Los Angeles, California. Kaufman was best known in the wrestling world for his 1982 match with Jerry Lawler at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequent expletive-laden appearance with Lawler on the Late Show with David Letterman. Lawler would later play himself in a film about Kaufman's life, "Man on the Moon." 1984 - NWA World champion Kerry Von Erich defeated Superstar Graham in the main event of a Championship Wrestling from Florida event in Miami Beach, FL at the Convention Center.
1984 - Mickie Knuckles aka Moose (during a short stint in TNA) and Isabella Smothers, is born in Clarksville, Indiana.
1984 - Wojo Yawrenko defeats Al Tomko to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title in Abbotsford, British Columbia, ending Tomko's third reign. 1984 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran Saga, Japan with the following results:
-Mr. Saito, Animal Hamaguchi, & Kobayashi defeated Kantaro Hoshino, Kimura, & Fujiwara.
-John Quinn & Big John Studd defeated Yatsu & Teranishi.
-Otto Wanz defeated Black Cat.
-Dick Murdoch defeated Masked Superstar.
-Adrian Adonis defeated Riki Choshu by dq.
-Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami fought WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan & Ken Patera to a double countout. 1985 - WWF ran Syracuse, NY at War Memorial Auditorium with the following results: -Jim Powers defeated Charlie Fulton.
-Salvatore Bellomo fought Johnny Rodz to a draw.
-Swede Hanson defeated Buddy Braddock.
-David Sammartino defeated Barry O.
-The Fabulous Moolah defeated Winona Littleheart.
-Jimmy Snuka & Ricky Steamboat defeated Roddy Piper & Bob Orton Jr. via disqualification. 1986 - WWF ran Landover, MD at the Capital Centre in front of 5,000 fans with the following results:
-B. Brian Blair defeated Bret Hart.
-Jim Neidhart defeated Lanny Poffo.
-Dan Spivey defeated Paul Christy.
-King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd defeated Tony Atlas & Ted Arcidi.
-George Steele defeated the Iron Sheik.
-Nikolai Volkoff defeated Cpl. Kirchner.
-Jake Roberts defeated Ricky Steamboat.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defeated Tito Santana. 1986 - WWF ran Vancouver, British Columbia at the PNE Coliseum with the following results: -Scott McGhee fought Ben Bassarab to a draw.
-Bob Orton defeated Moose Morowski.
-George Wells defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
-King Tonga defeated Moondog Rex.
-Pedro Morales defeated Moondog Spot.
-Paul Orndorff defeated Don Muraco via disqualification.
-WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs defeated Brutus Beefcake & Greg Valentine. 1987 - The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) defeat Ronnie Garvin and Barry Windham in the finals of a six-team tournament for the NWA United States Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia at an afternoon TV taping at the Techwood Drive Studios in 26:54. 1987 - The Midnight Express make their first title defense of the Y.S. titles just hours later, defeating Bob Armstrong and Ronnie Garvin at a Jim Crockett Promotions event in Chesterfield, SC. 1987 - The Hart Foundation versus British Bulldogs feud arguably reached it's peak as the main event of a WWF house show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada at the Saddledome, as the two teams met in a steel cage match in Bret Hart's hometown. The match ended when Dynamite Kid and Jim Neidhart had escaped the cage, and Bret Hart climbed out of the cage for the win as Davey Boy Smith went for the door and had it slammed in his face by manager Jimmy Hart.
The show also featured the following results:-Jerry Allen pinned Steve Lombardi.
-Dick Slater pinned Tiger Chung Lee.
-King Harley Race pinned Cpl. Kirchner.
-The Can-Am Connection defeated Kamala & Sika.
-Ken Patera pinned the Honkytonk Man.
1989 - WWF ran a monster TV Taping for Wrestling Challenge and Primetime Wrestling in LaCrosse, WI at The LaCrosse Center. During the taping, it was announced that Ron Garvin, who had lost a Loser Must Retire match to Greg Valentine, was now going to be a referee, setting the stage for Garvin to prevent Valentine from using a shinguard that exacerbated the effects of Valentine's figure four leglock. The taping featured the following results: -Mr. Perfect pinned Jim Powers at 5:52 with the Perfect Plex.
-Rick Martel (w/ Slick) pinned Tim Horner at 7:43 with a kneedrop off the top.
-Bad News Brown & the Brooklyn Brawler defeated the Blue Blazer & Hillbilly Jim at 5:30 when Brown pinned the Blazer with the Ghetto Blaster.
-Jimmy Snuka pinned Ted Dibiase (with Virgil) at 8:20 with a roll up after Dibiase collided with Virgil on the ring apron.
-The Ultimate Warrior defeated WWF Intercontinental champion Rick Rude (w/ Bobby Heenan) via countout at 7:40 after Warrior attacked Rude on the floor as Rude attempted to leave ringside.-The Bushwhackers defeated Chris Curtis & Al Burke at 2:16 when Luke pinned Burke following the double gutbuster
-Haku (with Bobby Heenan) pinned Jim Evans at 3:09 with the side kick to the face
-Jim Neidhart pinned Dave Wagner at 2:05 with a powerslam; Ron Garvin was the referee for the bout
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Jim Powers & Warren Bianchi at 2:47 when Raymond pinned Bianchi following the double team move off the top
-The Honkytonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) pinned Red Tyler with the Shake, Rattle, & Roll at 1:37
-Rick Martel (with Slick) pinned Jerry Lynn at 2:49 with a kneedrop off the top
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Scott Colton at 3:04 with the press slam / splash combo; after the bout, Warrior carried his opponent backstage-WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Todd Becker & Fuller Stevens at 2:15 when Ax pinned Becker following the Decapitation
-Greg Valentine (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Warren Bianchi via submission with the shinguard-assisted figure-4 at 2:07.-Tito Santana pinned Dusty Wolfe at 3:04 with the flying forearm; Ron Garvin was the referee
-Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (with Bobby Heenan) defeated Jeff Gronsky & Paul Roma at 2:48 when Anderson pinned Gronsky following the spike piledriver behind the referee's back
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Tom Stock via submission with the sleeper at 2:40
-Mr. Perfect pinned Lance Allen with the Perfect Plex at 2:16
-Ted Dibiase (with Virgil) defeated JT Thomas via submission with the Million $ Dream at 2:21
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude pined Chris Zarna at 1:16 with the Rude Awakening
-The Rockers, Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated Boris Zhukov & Tom Stone at 3:07 when Michaels pinned Stone following double flying fistdrops; after the bout, Tony Schiavone interviewed the Rockers at ringside
-Dino Bravo (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Frankie DeFalco at 1:31 with the side suplex
-The Red Rooster defeated Jake Milliman via submission at 1:55 with the elevated chickenwing.-The Twin Towers, The Big Bossman & Akeem (with Slick) defeated Jerry Lynn & Ray Brown at 2:20 when Akeem pinned Brown with a splash; after the bout, Lynn was handcuffed to the top rope and beaten with the nightstick. The same Lynn would go on to become ECW World champion, among other accomplishments in his long career.
-The Barbarian (with Mr. Fuji) pinned Ed Slater at 2:08 with a clothesline off the top
-Koko B. Ware pinned Barry Horowitz at 2:59 with the Ghostbuster; Ron Garvin was the referee for the bout 1990 - WWF ran Moline, IL at Wharton Fieldhouse with the following: -Brutus Beefcake defeated the Genius.
-Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated the Orient Express.
-WWF World Champion the Ultimate Warrior defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect. 1990 - NWA ran Dayton, OH at the University of Dayton Arena drawing 800 fans with the following results:
-Norman pinned Rip Rogers.
-Mark Callous pinned Rob Morgan.
-The Rock N' Roll Express, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane.
-Tommy Rich pinned Dutch Mantel.
-Road Warrior Animal pinned Ron Simmons.
-NWA World Champion Ric Flair pinned NWA U.S. Tag Team Champion Brian Pillman (sub. for NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger, out with a staph infection) at the 30-minute mark.
1991 - Villano III defeats El Signo for the UWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his second reign. At the same event, Los Cowboys (Silver King and El Texano) won a tournament to become the first UWA World Tag Team Champions. 1991 - WWF ran Houston, TX at the Summit with the following: -IRS pinned Jimmy Snuka,
-Ricky Steamboat defeated Haku,
-Bret Hart defeated the Barbarian,
-Jim Duggan defeated Col. Mustafa,
-The Mountie defeated the Big Bossman,
-The Legion of Doom defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys via countout.
-Ted DiBiase defeated Roddy Piper.
-The Ultimate Warrior defeated the Undertaker via disqualification. 1991 - WCW ran Richmond, VA at the Coliseum with the following results: -Sam Houston defeated Rip Morgan.
-Brad Armstrong defeated Joey Maggs.
-Tracey Smothers defeated Dr. X.
-Stan Hansen defeated Ricky Morton.
-Ron Simmons defeated Butch Reed via disqualification.
-WCW World Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner & Ranger Ross (substituting for WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner) defeated Michael Hayes & the Angel of Death (substituting for Jimmy Garvin).
WCW U.S. Champion Lex Luger fought Nikita Koloff to a no contest. 1992 - Smoky Mountain Wrestling ran Hazard, KY with the following results:Killer Kyle pinned Rex Hargrove
Dixie Dynamite defeated Dutch Mantell
Robert Gibson pinned Jimmy Golden
Tim Horner pinned Buddy Landel
Brian Lee pinned the Dirty White Boy; Bob Armstrong was the guest referee for the bout
Johnny & Davey Rich defated Jim Cornette & SMW Tag Team Champion Stan Lane when Cornette was pinned
1992 - A joint event between Japan's Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling and Mexico's World Wrestling Association was held in Los Angeles, California at the Gymnasium on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles. The results:
- Piloto Suicida and Superstar, Jr. defeated Estampa Brava and Chamaco Rebelde.
- Akihito Ichihara defeated American Eagle.
- Billy Anderson, Jesse Hernandez and Louie Spicolli defeated Eiji Ezaki, Mr. Gannosuke and Ultrataro, when Spicolli pinned Ezaki.
- Super Muñeco, Ultra Tiger and Ultraman 2000 defeated Bull Rider, Ghengis Khan and The Shooter, when Muneco and Ultraman pinned Khan and Rider.
- Megumi Kudo, Yuki Morimatsu and Miwa Sato defeated Yoshika Maedomari, Combat Toyoda and Erika Tsuchiya.
- Ricky Fuji, Tinieblas, Jr. and Tinieblas, Sr. defeated Sambo Asako, Giant Warrior and Mando Guerrero by disqualification.
- Atsushi Onita, Tarzan Goto and El Hijo del Santo defeated WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Champion Horace Boulder, Negro Casas and Tim Patterson in a best-of-three falls match, 2-1. Goto pinned Patterson, Casas pinned Santo and Onita pinned Boulder. 1992 - WWF ran Richfield, Ohio at the Coliseum with 5,100 fans, featuring:
-Crush defeated Kato via submission with a claw hold.
-Owen Hart & Koko B. Ware defeated the Nasty Boys via countout.
-Tito Santana pinned Bob Bradley.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned Shawn Michaels.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Papa Shango.
-Jim Duggan defeated Repo Man via disqualification.
-The Legion of Doom defeated the Beverly Brothers. 1992 - WCW ran Charleston, SC at McAlister Fieldhouse drawing 1,300 fans with the following results:
-Big Josh pinned Richard Morton.
-Firebreaker Chip & Todd Champion defeated Thomas Rich & Tracy Smothers.
-Ron Simmons pinned Diamond Dallas Page.
-WCW US Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Terry Taylor defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin.
-Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude & Steve Austin.
-WCW World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko (substituting for Bobby Eaton) in a steel cage match. 1992 - WWF ran Landover, MD at Capital Centre with 4,000 fans, featuring:
-Jim Powers pinned the Brooklyn Brawler.
-Virgil pinned the Genius.
-Kerry Von Erich pinned Skinner.
-Tatanka pinned Col. Mustafa.
-Kamala pinned Sgt. Slaughter after the Mountie interfered.
-The Natural Disasters defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Ted Dibiase & IRS via countout
-The Undertaker pinned the Mountie after Sgt. Slaughter interfered.
-WWF World Champion Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair via disqualification. 1993 - WWF ran Fresno, CA with the following results: -Tatanka defeated Razor Ramon
-Yokozuna defeated Jim Duggan
-Rick & Scott Steiner defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Ted Dibiase & IRS to win the titles; the title change was never acknowledged after the fact in any way, shape or form.
-Bret Hart defeated Lex Luger via disqualification when Razor Ramon interfered
1994 - The USWA held an event at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results:
- Ken Wayne defeated The Colorado Kid.
- Spellbinder defeated Reggie B. Fine.
- Spike Huber defeated Bull Pain.
- The Moondogs (Rex and Spot) fought The Bad Breed (Axl and Ian Rotten) to a double-disqualification.
- USWA Women's Champion Debbie Combs defeated Robbie Rage.
- USWA Tag Team Champions The Eliminators (Kronus and Saturn) defeated The Spiders (The Headbangers).
- USWA Heavyweight Champion Brian Christopher defeated Doug Gilbert in a Singapore cane match.
- Jeff Jarrett and USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler defeated Eddie Gilbert and Dream Machine by disqualification. 1995 - WWF taped several weeks of Superstars in Danbury, CT in front of 1,800 fans with the following results: -Bret Hart pinned Hakushi.
-Razor Ramon & Savio Vega fought WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Yokozuna to a double count-out.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett defeated Davey Boy Smith in a ladder match.
-Shawn Michaels & the Undertaker defeated Sid & Kama.
-The Smoking Gunns defeated Bob Cook & Mike Khoury when Khoury was pinned.
-Jean Pierre Lafitte pinned John Chrystal with the Cannonball.
-Man Mountain Rock defeated Bill Payne via submission with the armbar.
-Mantaur (w/ Jim Cornette) pinned Gary Scott with a powerslam.
-KOTR Qualifying Match: Razor Ramon pinned Jacob Blu (w/ Eli Blu & Uncle Zebakiah) at 5:07 with a roll up as Jacob attempted to grab at Savio Vega on the floor; late in the contest, Savio came out and knocked down both Eli and Zebakiah.-Men on a Mission defeated Russ Greenberg & Tim McNeany
-KOTR Qualifying Match: Kama (w/ Ted Dibiase) defeated Duke Drose
-Shawn Michaels pinned Tom Prichard (w/ Jim Cornette & Jimmy Del Ray) with the superkick (WrestleFest 95)
-Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Brian Walsh
-Techno Team 2000 defeated Barry Horowitz & the Brooklyn Brawler (Techno Team's TV debut)
-Lex Luger & Davey Boy Smith defeated Mike Bell & Gus Kantarakis when Kantarakis submitted to the Torture Rack
-Skip (w/ Sunny) pinned Scott Taylor with a Frankensteiner off the top
-KOTR Qualifying Match: The Roadie (w/ Jeff Jarrett) pinned Doink the Clown (w/ Dink) with a roll up at 5:04 when Doink became distracted by Jarrett chasing Dink around ringside.
-Bob Holly defeated Raymond Roy.
-Rad Radford pinned Burt Centeno with the Northern lights suplex.
-The Undertaker pinned Tony Devito with the tombstone.
-Psycho Sid & Tatanka (w/ Ted Dibiase) defeated John Chrystal & Cory.
-Hakushi (w/ Shinja) defeated David Haskins via countout.
-Razor Ramon pinned Bill Payne with the Razor's Edge.
-Kama (w/ Ted Dibiase) defeated Buck Quartermaine.
-The Smoking Gunns defeated Iron Mike Sharpe & Duane Gill. 1996 - WWF ran Albany, NY at the newly renamed Pepsi Arena, drawing 4,972 fans with the following results: -Leif Cassidy pinned Bob Holly.
-Crush pinned Jesse Jammes.
-Phinneas Godwinn (with Henry Godwinn) pinned Phil LaFon with the Slop Drop.
-Rockabilly pinned Flash Funk with a DDT off the middle ropes.
-Savio Vega (with Crush & Farooq) pinned Rocky Maivia.
-Steve Austin & the Legion of Doom defeated Brian Pillman & WWF Tag Team Champions, WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart & WWF European Champion Davey Boy Smith when Austin pinned Hart with the Stunner.
-Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Goldust after Chyna tripped Goldust, with Helmsley falling on top for the win.
-Farooq (with Savio Vega & Crush) pinned Ahmed Johnson after Vega interfered and hit Ahmed with a chair shot to the head.
-WWF World Champion the Undertaker pinned Mankind. 1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Syracuse, NY at the Pepsi International Building, drawing 700 fans: -The Pitbulls defeated Tracy Smothers & Little Guido.
-Chris Candido defeated Chris Chetti.
-Taz defeated Spike Dudley.
-Stevie Richards defeated Bill Wiles.
-ECW World TV Champion Shane Douglas & Francine defeated Tommy Dreamer & Beulah McGillicutty when Douglas pinned Dreamer.
-ECW Tag Team Champions The Eliminators defeated The Gangstas and D-Von & Big Dick Dudley in an elimination match; New Jack was pinned; Big Dick was pinned.
-The Sandman defeated Balls Mahoney.
-ECW World Champion Terry Funk defeated Raven.
1997 - The Championship Wrestling Federation held an event at Athens High School in Troy, Michigan. The results:
- Total Annihilation (Gene Austin & Scott Stevens) defeated CWF Tag Team Champions Mike Kelly (subbing for Woody Lee) & Bobby Lee and Killer Kanareck & Bill Skullion in a three-way match to win the title.
- Mike Murphy defeated CWF Cruiserweight Champion Bobby Clancy to win the title.
- Rob Avram defeated El Diablo Rojo.
- Kamikaze Calhoun defeated Skull Ganz.
- CWF Television Champion Tommy Starr fought Madman Pondo to a double-countout. Starr retained the title.
- CWF Heavyweight Champion Knighthawk defeated Abdul Mustafa to retain the title.
- Brian Fury and Alexis Machine defeated Larry Destiny and Rico Rodriguez.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn defeated Johnny Paradise by submission to retain the title.
1998 - ECW held "A Matter of Respect '98" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Justin Credible (with Chastity and Jason) defeated Jerry Lynn in a best-of-three falls match, 2-1. Lynn pinned Credible with a cradle piledriver, Credible pinned Lynn with That's Incredible, and Credible pinned Lynn with an inside cradle after Chastity low-blowed Lynn.
- Chris Chetti pinned Jamie Dundee after a double-springboard moonsault.
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned Mike Lozansky after the Whippersnapper.
- Kronus pinned Danny Doring (with The Equalizer, Ulf Herman and Lance Wright) after a 450 splash.
- The Blue Meanie and Super Nova fought The Full-Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers (with Tommy Rich)) to a no-contest when the FBI attacked Meanie and Nova with chairs and the Italian flag. Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten then came out, and a match began.
- Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten defeated The Full-Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers (with Tommy Rich), when Axl pinned Guido and Balls pinned Smothers after stereo chair shots.
- ECW World Tag Team Champion Chris Candido and Sabu fought ECW World Tag Team Champion Lance Storm and ECW World Television Champion Rob Van Dam to a no-contest.
- Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Al Snow (with Head) after Greetings from Asbury Park. The crowd turned on Snow as it was well known he was leaving to return to WWE.- During the show, Joey Styles interviewed the Triple Threat. Taz came out and teased he was going to join their alliance, suckering ECW World champion Shane Douglas into letting his guard down and attacking him. 1998 - WWF ran a sellout event at Anaheim, CA at the Arrowhead Pond, drawing 14,564 with the following results: -The Headbangers defeated Los Boriquas.
-Vader pinned Kurrgan.
-Bradshaw pinned Barry Windham.
-Steve Blackman pinned Kama.
-The Undertaker defeated Kane in a lights out match.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Road Dogg & Billy Gunn defeated LOD 2000.
-WWF European Champion Triple H pinned Owen Hart after Chyna interfered and hit Owen with a low blow
.-WWF World Champion Steve Austin pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion the Rock; Dude Love was the special referee but was chased backstage by Terry Funk. 1998 - WWF held a training camp event in conjunction with the WWA in Wittman, MA with the following results: -Shawn Stasiak defeated the Irish Assassin.
-Tim McNeany & Steve Bradley defeated the Bulldozer via disqualification.
-Emory Hale & Andrew Martin defeated Vic Grimes & George Phillips.
-Paulo "Giant" Silva defeated Dr. X.
-The Mongolian defeated the Vampire Warrior.
-The Gargoyle (a masked John Tenta) defeated Jim Cote.
-Tiger Ali Singh defeated Erin O'Grady (Crash Holly).
-Bart Gunn & Bob Holly defeated Darren Drozdov & Fatu.
-Jeff Jarrett defeated Mike Hollow.
1998 - Sangre Chicana defeats Máscara Sagrada in Torreon, Mexico to win the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Title, ending Sagrada's second reign. 1998 - WCW ran Amherst, MA at the Mullins Center with the following results: -High Voltage defeated Kidman & Sick Boy.
-WCW World TV Champion Fit Finlay defeated Chris Adams.
-Alex Wright defeated Disco Inferno.
-Diamond Dallas Page defeated Raven in a No DQ match.
-WCW U.S. Champion Bill Goldberg defeated Perry Saturn.
-The Giant defeated WCW Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash via disqualification.
1998 - The Inferno Kid and Mike Quackenbush are awarded the Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Reading, Pennsylvania.
1998 - Paul Atlas defeats J.B. Destiny for the Pro Wrestling eXpress Television Title in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
1999 - The WWF held its first "No Mercy" pay-per-view, exclusive to the United Kingdom, at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England, with 18,407 fans attending. Thanks to LK and Freebird for the following report:
Corporate Ministry Interview: Shane grabs the mic and the crowd starts booing. Shane’s very presence is drawing major heat from the UK crowd. Ah, the familiar “@$$hole” chant. He mentions the first match will involve The Brood vs. The Acolytes and Viscera. Also, he runs down other matches on the card including the European title being brought out of retirement, which he will defend against X-Pac. New stipulation added to the triple threat main event for the world title, it will be (in Shane’s own words) a “No bolds harred” match.
Tiger Ali Singh vs. Gillberg: Singh spat his chewing gum out a fan on the way down to the ring. He grabs the mic and says he gets the impression that the UK crowd doesn’t like him (HUGE cheer). He said that maybe it’s because we think he should be driving a taxi cab. At this point they tried to cut his mic. He said the only good thing about England is that it’s populated by millions of Indian’s (crowd didn’t know whether to cheer or boo). Gillberg is called from backstage, and gets a monster pop from the crowd. Silly faces and noises aplenty as he makes his way to the ring (with the Light-heavyweight title). Gillberg starts with a few good punches and even manages a slam, followed by a spear. He then starts posing over by the ropes and gets caught with a neckbreaker by Singh - and adds another tick in the loss column.
The Acolytes & Viscera vs. The Brood: Brood hit the ring to a huge pop, and for once we can see Christian’s face! Gangrel starts out against Viscera, lots of punches thrown. Big Mabel missed a leg drop. Edge tags in double elbow drops on Mabel. V tags in Bradshaw, who slams Edge, a piledriver attempt blocked, classic Edge/Christian double team. Faarooq tags in more double teaming. Farooq gained a near fall via a spinebuster. Bradshaw threw Edge around outside the ring. Mabel hit the ring to a traditional UK chant of “You Fat Bastard”. After a few exchanges Christian and Bradshaw lock up, a fall-away slam later leaves Christian to be attacked outside by Faarooq. Back in the ring Bradshaw hit a bear hug. The crowd rallied behind Christian, a near fall was gained by Bradshaw. Mabel tagged in and hit a side slam. Count broken by Edge. Christian’s crucifix attempt was turned into a nasty looking Samoan drop. Faarooq tagged in and hit a chin lock. A bulldog later left Christian attempting a tag but Faarooq tagged Bradshaw. Who threw Christian around the ring. A powerslam/pinfall was broken again by Edge. Midian and Shane McMahon are then seen at the end of the aisle watching the match. Christian hit Bradshaw with a tornado DDT and tried for a tag. He got one from Gangrel. Edge & Gangrel double-teamed Bradshaw, Christian hit a big elbow for a near fall. As a brawl broke out Mideon hit the ring and DDT’d Gangrel on the floor and threw him into the ring where Bradshaw hit the clothesline from hell for the match. Shane then shouted about it was 4 down one to go. After the match we see a promo for Steve Blackman.
“Lethal Weapon” Steve Blackman vs. Droz: Blackman comes out with his martial arts sticks to a decent pop, Droz is without Prince Albert tonight. Droz gets knocked to the outside and the crowd started a chant which I believe is, “Shotgun jobber”. Blackman baseball slides through the ropes into Droz’s back. Back inside the ring, Droz catches Blackman with an elbow after he went to charge him. Droz continues to shout at the crowd and get heat. The “Shotgun jobbers” (plural) chant is slowly starting up again. Droz remains in control and the crowd continue their loud “Jobbers!!!” chants. Droz looks to be getting wound up by them. He chucks Blackman over the top rope and drops an elbow on him off the ring apron. He rolls him (Blackman) back into the ring and attempts a move off the top rope - only to be met by Blackman’s foot. Blackman gets what I believe to be a “grapevine” on Droz’s arm - which makes him tap furiously.
Cactus Jack Interview: Foley came out as Cactus Jack and spoke about Davey Boy Smith, then asked if he could use the word “ass”, then said he knew he couldn’t say the word “wanker”. Then said that he knew Billy Gunn was a bad ass, but if anyone had ever saw him the shower they would know the he (Cactus) had a real bad ass.
Midian vs. Kane: Big staredown to begin with, big boots and punches from The Big Red Machine and a very scientific looking clothesline. Kane then followed up with a powerslam, but missed a charge into the corner. Mideon then hit a mean looking arm ringer. Kane countered, but Mideon hit a jaw breaker. Threw Kane in the corner, then hit a headlock. Lots of punches from Mideon, Kane responded by punching Mideon. Kane hit the top rope and hit Mideon with what should have been a diving clothesline. Then a chokeslam. The Corporate Ministry, minus HHH and Taker, did a run in and attacked Kane. X-Pac made the save with a broom handle. For some reason the whole CM ran off. Shane the hit the stick saying it was two up for the CM and X-Pac was next. Kane looked to have re-injured, possibly popped out, his shoulder.
We then see then the Sable/Deborah clip from RAW where HBK made Debs the women’s champ.
Tori vs. Sable: Tori has a new leopard print outfit. Sable is wearing her cat suit. Nicole Bass is accompanying Sable. Oh no, it’s the grind (get’s a big pop though). Sable starts coughing (pathetically) and insulting England - the crowd starts to boo. Says she’s developed a chest cold and says she cannot wrestle tonight. Says that Nicole Bass will take her place and the crowd continue to boo. So, it’s now Nicole Bass vs. Tori. Tori attacks Bass from behind but has no effect. Crowds start a HUGE chant of, “She’s a man!” Chokeslam from Bass and then pins Tori for the win. Quote from Jim Ross: “That’s one big she-male” (talking about Nicole Bass).
European title match, Shane McMahon vs. X-Pac: Shane is shown interviewed. He says he has 2 words for X-Pac...NO Mercy. A sign is shown: “Shane is a bitch”. A big pop for X-Pac as he hit the ring. Shane went to attack X-Pac but he threw him out the ring. The pyros went off, then X-Pac dropped Shane over the top rope with a big back body drop. Then Shane walked of down the aisle. The Stooges came out punched Shane back to the ring. X-Pac attacked Shane in the ring, then Chyna came out and wiped out the Stooges. Then she rammed X-Pac shoulder first into the ring post. Big chants for X-Pac as he got back in the ring, where Shane suplexed him. Then a Hitman like elbow of the middle rope earned Shane a 2 count. Big punches were then traded, then Shane hit a sleeper as an “@$$hole” chant started. X-Pac countered with a belly-to-back suplex. Spinning heel kicks into Shane, as Chyna distracted the ref Shane went to hit him but hit the ref. As the ref was down Chyna wiped out X-Pac with the belt. Shane got a 2 count. Triple H then hit the ringside. Shane missed a Bronco Buster, X-Pac hit the X-Factor. Chyna swept the ref out, then hit the top rope but X-Pac shook the Ropes. After some exchanges Triple H hit the pedigree and Shane got the 3 count. Sign of the night: Triple H - one sad HBK Wannabe. The three then attacked X-Pac, Shane did a Bronco Buster, but the lights go out Kane comes down. Business is about to pick up. Kane still showed signs of an injured shoulder. Shane said its 3 down, and Austin is next to pay. Kane carried X-Pac to the back.
Cactus Jack/Mankind Interview: Michael Cole interviews Foley - who is dressed as Cactus Jack but he calls him Mankind. He’s asked if he thinks The Corporate Ministry will interfere in his match. Foley says they haven’t so far and that maybe it’s because they like him. At this point he’s attacked by them.
Billy Gunn vs. Mankind: Billy Gunn tells the crowd to suck it - he gets booed. Mankind doesn’t come out at first and Mr. Ass says he had nothing to do with it. Another few moments then Mankind comes out. Mankind starts off on the offense. The tide soon changes as Billy Gunn goes after Mankind’s injured leg. They go to the outside and Mankind is thrown over the railings. Billy charges him and is backdropped back over the railings. Back inside the ring, Foley goes for an elbow drop and misses. Mr. Ass works over his knee again, wrapping Mankind’s legs around the ring post. Gunn applies a figure four leglock, but Mankind made it to the ropes. Foley eventually manages to turn the tide and catches Mr. Ass with a double under-arm DDT. Socko is produced and the mandible claw is applied, but Gunn throws him down onto a steel chair - which was brought into the ring earlier. Mankind is then piledriven onto the chair and Billy gets a 2 count but the timekeeper rings the bell(?). He then hits the fame-asser onto the steel chair and gets the pinfall victory.
After the match, a short tribute to the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith is shown.
Triple Threat World Title Match: Triple H vs. Undertaker vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Biggest pop on the night goes to Steve Austin. HHH attacked Austin in the aisle. Taker took out Austin with the belt. Austin threw HHH into the railings. Taker threw Austin in the railings. Taker choked Austin out with cables. Austin responded with some heavy-duty punches. Finally they get in the ring, Austin gave HHH the Lou Thesz press. Taker hit Austin with a clothesline. Taker then choked out Austin. HHH stomped Austin. Austin was next thrown into the crowd, but battled back in and around the ring, suplexing HHH on the floor. Taker back dropped Austin in the aisle. They then brawled up and down the aisle. Back in the ring, Triple H got a near fall. More brawling, then Taker hit a clothesline. HHH went to hit Austin with a chair, ref stopped him. Austin then took out both HHH and Taker with a chair. Taker hit Austin with a stiff knife-edge to the throat then beat him into the ring. Then as Austin lay prone on the deck te Ministry put the boots to him. Taker went to choke out HHH, but Austin hit him on the ring post. Austin slipped over outside the ring, but soon the brawling was back to normal. Taker soon had a leg grapevine on Austin, HHH broke a near fall for Taker, then Taker and HHH started brawling. Austin threw HHH in/out/over the railings. Some serious bumps were taken. Back in the ring Taker and Austin brawled for time, then HHH hit the ring, attacking Taker. HHH and Austin double-teamed the Taker, then more punches were thrown. HHH hit a facebuster on Austin, Taker made the save. Taker went for a tombstone Austin countered. HHH went for the pedigree, Austin countered and catapulted HHH into Taker. Stunner on Taker, HHH saves and vice versa. Corporate Ministry hit the ring and proceeded to beat on Austin. X-Pac & Kane made the save. Then the Brood run in, to possibly the biggest pop of the night. Mankind showed up too. Big brawling - people everywhere. Taker & Mankind brawled down the aisle HHH & Austin brawled inthe ring. Everyone soon left the ring, Chyna went to hit Austin with a back flip somersault type John Kronus move but got a stunner instead. HHH gets the Stunner and Austin keeps the title.
After the match big brawling Shane got the stunner. X-Pac gave Shane and Chyna the Bronco Buster, then Austin and X-Pac and the ref drank beer. Austin then did a double stunner on Shane and HHH at the same time. Then lots more beer drinking. Austin went to give HHH a beer as HHH began to drink Austin gave him a stunner, then X-Pac gave out another Bronco buster to HHH. Shane got ANOTHER stunner. Then as the show went of the air Austin was going back into the ring for more beer. 1999 - WWF also ran Richmond, VA at The Coliseum drawing a 10,712; sell out:
-Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor.
-Kurt Angle defeated Terry Taylor.
-Test defeated Albert.
-The Big Show defeated Mark Henry in a slam match.
-The Road Dogg defeated Owen Hart.
-Val Venis & Jackie defeated D-Lo Brown & Ivory.
-The Rock defeated the Big Bossman.
-WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow defeated Hardcore Holly.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion the Godfather defeated Goldust.
-Ken Shamrock defeated 8-Ball. 1999 - ECW held its fifth "Hardcore Heaven" pay-per-view at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, which got a 0.23 buyrate. In a dark match, Skull Von Krush (Big Vito) pinned Danny Doring.
Tim Whitehead filed the following PPV report:
Amidst quite a bit of controversy, ECW put together a strong PPV effort for Hardcore Heaven ‘99 at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY in front of a crowd of about 2,000. The problems plaguing the promotion going in were well known. Rumors have continued about financial turmoil. Shane Douglas, one of the cornerstones in building ECW’s hardcore image was not only not there but was pretty well buried during the broadcast. Chris Candido & Tammy Sytch also were given what will probably be their last hurrah. But despite the turmoil, the show went forward and was a strong effort in many different ways. They did as good a job as possible in revamping the show to cover for the last minute changes, including making some of the changes appear totally impromptu. Everyone worked their butt off in the ring. Joey Styles was joined for about half of the show on commentary by Cyrus, who was awesome in his role as heel color man and managed to be funny while also getting all the key points across. Paul Heyman was so pleased backstage by Cyrus’ performance that he plans to use him as color man on all future PPV’s. The live crowd was on fire for most of the show, and this time someone remembered to mic them. Styles, as always, did his homework so he could discuss foreign wrestlers intelligently.
Negatives were a number of sound problems, a regular occurrence on ECW’s PPV shows. There was a bit too much outside interference, though after watching last week’s WCW PPV it wasn’t all that noticeable. One key angle got a little bit messed up (the fireball spot) but the rest of the angle, carried out backstage by the Dudleys, was hilarious.
TAZ defeated CHRIS CANDIDO in 1:09 to retain the ECW World Title. This was the first “impromptu” match. Styles was in the ring opening the show when Candido and Tammy arrived. Tammy’s dress was way too long. She looked worn out on TV. Candido challenged Taz and introduced the Dudleys as his insurance policy. Taz came out and did a cool spot where he lariated both Dudleys on the ramp. The match then began and Taz suplexed Candido. Candido did a powerbomb but missed a flying headbutt off the top. Taz suplexed Candido again and forced him to submit to the kajihajime. So this may very well have been Candido’s swan song. The Dudleys attacked Taz afterward and laid him out with the Dudley Death Drop. Taz had to be helped to the back.
Cyrus injected himself into the announcers’ booth, taking over as Styles’ color man, which was hilarious.
BUH BUH RAY & D-VON DUDLEY defeated BALLS MAHONEY & SPIKE DUDLEY to retain the ECW Tag Titles in 8:01. Another “impromptu” match. Sign Guy Dudley had signs which read “Amy’s Out, Bubba’s Inner” and “D-Von Eats Live Bait”. Buh Buh began listing all the wrestlers they’ve destroyed since coming to ECW and demanded to know if anyone in the locker room had the balls (hint, hint) to come out and fight. Balls arrived and did the full Dusty Rhodes fisticuffs and eye poke routine. Balls scored two on Buh Buh with a elbow off the top. The Dudleys then got the upper hand but Spike arrived through the crowd to even the score. Spike vaulted out of the ring onto Sign Guy but just sort of grazed him and took a bump. The Dudleys later hurled him from the ring and he took an absolutely insane bump. As Balls & D-Von brawled on the floor, Buh Buh powerbombed Spike through a table for a near fall with Balls making the save. Balls laid out both Dudleys with chairshots. Joel Gertner went in and hit Balls with a real sissy chairshot. He then began throwing matches at Balls, but Balls got a mouthful of the flammable stuff and spit a fireball at him. The fireball missed but Gertner sold it big time. They later made the mistake of replaying this from another camera angle and it looked even worse Such is life. Anyway, the Dudleys nailed Balls with the Dudley Death Driver and got the pin. The match was a standard ECW brawl, fine for what it was.
The show then officially opened, since the two matches we had seen thus far weren’t “scheduled”.
SUPER CRAZY beat TAKA MICHINOKU in 8:26. Taka wore a WWF robe to the ring. He played cocky heel throughout the match. Crazy hit a dropkick immediately. Taka responded with a missile kick. They traded lucha spots with Crazy coming out with a DDT. Taka taunted Crazy with slaps and kicks. Taka hit a Tornado DDT but Crazy responded with a powerbomb. Taka did a springboard huracanrana off the top and they did a series of great reversals on the mat. Crazy got sent over the top for a great bump. Taka came off the top with a springboard plancha but hit the rail. He ended up being sent over the rail into the fans’ laps. Crazy hit him with a picture perfect springboard Asai moonsault (called an “Especial de Loco”) across the rail. Taka began selling his left knee. In the ring, Taka missed a moonsault. Crazy hit three moonsaults in a row, one from each turnbuckle. Taka dropkicked Crazy out of the air and hit a missile kick. Taka scored with the Michinoku Driver but his knee went out and he couldn’t cover for the pin. Crazy then DDT’d Taka and super powerbombed him for the pin. Really a good match!
Gertner was writhing in pain from the fireball. He was incoherent, but gave the Dudleys several thousand dollars and a list of wrestlers. The Dudleys assumed this was a “hit list” and began hunting down the wrestlers to earn the bounty. The first name on the list was Nova, and the Dudleys beat the crap out of him when they encountered him in a hallway.
YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI beat LITTLE GUIDO in 11:04. On commentary both Styles and Cyrus put Guido over as a serious competitor, dissing the old FBI group comedy gimmick. They fought this in a vaguely shoot style. Guido took Tajiri down and he went into the guard position like Royce Gracie. Fortunately, he didn’t stay there for 30 minutes, as Gracie would have done. Tajiri came back with hard kicks. Guido (who has some legit shoot experience and training) took Tajiri down with a Fujiwara arm bar. Guido hit a missile dropkick which sent Tajiri out but missed on a plancha. Tajiri then came off the top onto both Guido and Big Sal. They returned to the ring and Tajiri locked on the tarantula hold but Sal broke it up. Guido went for a headscissors takedown but Tajiri hurled him to the ramp. Guido responded with a splash off the top for a near fall. As Guido argued with the ref, Sal bodyslammed Tajiri. They began trading chops and did some pretty innovative moves, including a neat full nelson takedown by Guido. Tajiri did a modified airplane spin. Tajiri slapped the hell out of Guido and hung him upside down in the corner for a baseball slide to the face. He then hit the gourdbuster for the pin. Another very good match.
The Dudleys continued to prowl the back corridors. The next name on the list was Rod Price. Buh Buh acted upset since he liked Price but when D-Von told him the bounty on Price was $3000, he said, “I never did like that country boy”. They invaded Price’s locker room and left him laying with chairshots.
LANCE STORM defeated TOMMY DREAMER in the street fight in 13:43. Tammy Bytch was wearing a much better dress than the earlier Tammy (i.e., it was much, much shorter). Francine came out to be in Tommy’s corner, so there were four nice “puppies” at ringside. Actually, these were more like Great Danes. They did the usual brawling out onto the ramp and around the ring, using assorted weapons. They did a few chair spots inside the ring. Tommy brought in a guardrail but ended up being crotched on it himself. Storm then took a bump into it. Storm got vaulted over the top and passed through a table. Tommy juiced after a chairshot. Storm was nearly pinned after taking a jawbreaker on a chair. A ladder then materialized in the ring and they did some of the usual ladder spots, though nothing spectacular. The ladder hit the ref and he took a bump. Tommy brought in a table and put Storm through it with a Spicolli Driver (a tribute to Louis since his sister was at the show) but the ref was still out. Cyrus, who had been thrown out of the broadcast booth by Styles, ran in but ended up being taken down and given the bronco ride by Francine (bet he hated that). Tammy and Francine had the catfight but Tommy piledrove Tammy for the panty shot. Storm put a garbage cn over Tommy’s head and hit the can with a spinkick for the pin as the ref revived. Basically a typical brawl.
The Dudleys’ next victim was their long-time ally Jack Victory, but for the $5000 bounty they turned on him pretty quickly. Victory was in the men’s room, so D-Von began pounding on the door and said he needed in real bad. Victory came out and offered him the girlie magazine (funny!) but Buh Buh attacked from behind and Victory was massacred. This was all hilarious, but it’ll be even funnier if it turns out the incoherent Gertner meant for the Dudleys to pay these guys the money to join them, not to take them out for the money.
Taz did an anti-Dudley interview. It was hilarious at the end when he insisted on doing his “gimmick catch-phrase”, since those things are all the rage in the big two.
ROB VAN DAM defeated JERRY LYNN in 26:55 to retain the TV Title. Just a stiff hard fought match with both guys working hard to put on a great match. Van Dam was over like crazy. They opened with some standard takedowns and did a series of cool leapfrog spots where they kept dodging each other’s moves. They slowed things for a few minutes while Bill Alfonso was whipping up the crowd, which was smart because they were going for a long match. After trading another series of spots Lynn hit an elbow to Van Dam’s eye which actually connected and he juiced hardway. Lynn springboard dropkicked Van Dam from the apron and hit a suicide plancha. Lynn scored twos with a guillotine legdrop and a bulldog off the top. Alfonso caused Lynn to get crotched but Lynn blocked the Van Daminator and used the chair on Van Dam. Lynn took a bump from the ring and his leg snagged on the ropes and he took a real bad bump face first on the floor, as fate would have it in a spot where the mats had become separated so he hit concrete. The blow very probably broke his nose (he was hospitalized after the show) and he bled. For a minute it looked like the match would have to be stopped and Van Dam rolled Lynn back in to pin him as Alfonso was heard saying “take it home” but Lynn revived and the match continued. Van Dam sent Lynn over the rail and hit him with a flying lariat. They went back to the ring and did some neat rolling senton spots, trading two counts. Lynn deserves a ton of credit for keeping going at this pace after his bump. The went back into the crowd and this time Lynn got nailed with the Van Daminator. They went to the the top and Lynn took yet another scary bump, this time through a table. Van Dam did a corkscrew guillotine legdrop off the apron onto Lynn, who was draped across the rail. Lynn retaliated with a sunset flip from the ring into a powerbomb which put Van Dam through a table. Alfonso brought in a chair but Lynn got it and clocked him with a hard shot. They began trading fast two counts. Lynn used the Van Daminator. Van Dam did a split legged moonsault. Van Dam hit a frog splash, followed by a Van Daminator, and another frog splash and got the pin. The wrestlers high-fived each other afterward. Just a super match with more transitions than you ofen see in Van Dam’s matches and tons of heat.
The Dudleys further taunted Taz by beating up his cousin Chris Chetti. It was funny as hell as D-Von “broke his fist” pounding Chetti in the head and Buh Buh went nuts using the “F” word screaming “you broke my brother’s fist” as he destroyed him. Big Dick Dudley also returned during this segment, as he was the one who dragged Chetti in.
SID beat JUSTIN CREDIBLE by DQ in 1:59. So they brought Sid back. He was really over but this squash probably didn’t do much for Credible’s career, although the DQ protected him a little. They buried Shane Douglas big time in the promos and commentary here. Credible came out with Jason and the unnamed bimbo and said he’s on a one-man crime spree and no justice (hint, hint again) system can reign him in. Judge Jeff Jones arrived and introduced Sid to a huge pop. Sid played total 1980’s WWF babyface as he didn’t sell jack, even a cane shot. Sid destroyed Credible with a chokeslam. Lance Storm ran in for the DQ (lame!) and got chokeslammed, too. Jason got chokeslammed. Finally they tossed powder in Sid’s eyes and were going to put him through a table but Sabu arrived (in violation of an “athletic commission order” against him appearing). Sabu used a chair on Credible and Storm and then on Sid as well. He put Sid through the table and then put a security guy through a table before being subdued and hauled out. Sid, for whatever reason, turned on Judge Jeff afterward and left him laying with two powerbombs.
TAZ beat BUH BUH RAY DUDLEY in 12:21 to retain the ECW World Title. Buh Buh did a pre-match diatribe. Taz ran in and suplexed the hell out of Buh Buh, demanding that the match be made “Falls Count Anywhere”. Buh Buh put Taz on the defensive with fists and elbows. They went out on the ramp and Taz used a stop sign as a weapon. They fought through the crowd for several minutes and into the lobby as well. Taz bladed at some point in there but went a little too far and was spouting a gusher. For the rest of the match he kept having to wipe blood from his eyes. Back in the ring, Taz hit a superplex. D-Von went in and used an inverted DDT behind the ref’s back. Buh Buh wiped Taz’s blood all over his own face. Buh Buh set tables up in two corners. Referee John Finnegan ended up crashing through one, so Pee Wee Moore went in to substitute. Taz began no-selling and did the big comeback. Buh Buh responded and got some near pins but Taz finally put Buh Buh through the remaining table and locked the kajihajime for the submission win. Decent main event.
1999 - The Ghetto Mafia (2-Dope and Sydeswype) defeat The Bruiser and Danny Rose in Glen Burnie, Maryland to win their second Maryland Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title. 1999 - WCW ran Sioux City, IA at the Municipal Auditorium with the following results: -Hugh Morrus defeated Jerry Flynn.
-La Parka defeated Silver King and El Dandy.
-Chris Adams defeated Vampiro.
-Raven defeated Hak in a hardcore match.
-Konnan defeated Disco Inferno.
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman defeated Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko.
-Sting defeated Ric Flair.
2000 - The WWF taped the May 18 edition of SmackDown! and matches for the May 21 Sunday Night Heat at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The taping was highlighted by an unusual title change. WWF Hardcore Champion Crash Holly, exhausted by the 24/7 defense rule, paid the APA to let him sleep in their office and not have to worry about being attacked. However, when the APA left the office with rapper Joe C, Gerald Brisco covered the sleeping Crash to get the win and take the title. Complete results of the taping:
Heat:
- The British Bulldog pinned Joey Abs (with Pete Gas and Rodney) after a powerslam.
- Essa Rios and Lita defeated Kaientai (Funaki and Taka Michinoku), when both members of Kaientai were pinned after stereo moonsaults from Lita and Rios.
- The Godfather pinned D-Lo Brown after the Ho Train and a clothesline. After the match, Brown gave The Godfather, as well as one of The Godfather's ho's, Sky Highs, and hit the Lo Down on the ho.
SmackDown!:
- Kurt Angle pinned Scotty 2 Hotty by blocking a victory roll.
- Perry Saturn fought WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko to a no-contest when guest referee Eddie Guerrero hit Malenko with the Light Heavyweight title belt, just after Malenko had done the same to Saturn.
- Grandmaster Sexay pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Christian with a roll-over and a handful of tights.
- Chris Jericho and Val Venis defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit and Hardcore Holly by disqualification when Holly hit Venis with a chair.
- Rikishi (with Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty)) defeated WWF Tag Team Champion Edge (with Kurt Angle and WWF Tag Team Champion Christian) by disqualification when Angle and Christian interfered.
- Shane McMahon pinned The Big Show in a gauntlet match after an assisted chokeslam while standing on a chair. The match was originally set to be Shane one-on-one with Big Show, but Shane said he forgot his gear, and made the gauntlet match. Big Show went through three tag teams, T&A (Test and Albert (with Trish Stratus)), The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan, and Road Dogg and X-Pac (with Tori) beforehand.
- Crash Holly had paid off the A.P.A. (Bradshaw and Faarooq) for them to let him sleep in their office to hide from defending his WWF Hardcore Title. The A.P.A. left the office with Crash still inside, which Gerald Brisco took advantage and pinned the sleeping Crash to win the title, ending Crash's eighth reign.
- WWF Champion The Rock fought The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) to a no-contest in a handicap lumberjack tables match, when all three men began fighting all the lumberjacks. The lumberjacks were: Albert, The Big Bossman, WWF Hardcore Champion Gerald Brisco, Bull Buchanan, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, Road Dogg, Trish Stratus, Test, Tori, X-Pac. The Dudleys were put through tables by Road Dogg and X-Pac after the match, and Triple H gave The Rock a Rock Bottom through a table as well.
2000 - WCW taped the May 17 edition of Thunder in Lafayette, Louisiana at the Cajundome, which got a 2.6 rating on TBS. The results were:
- The Misfits in Action (Captain Rection, Corporal Cajun, Lieutenant Loco and Major Stash (with Major Gunns)) defeated The Filthy Animals (Disco Inferno, Juventud Guerrera, Konnan and Rey Misterio, Jr.) by disqualification.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Horace Hogan (with Torrie Wilson).
- WCW Hardcore Champion Terry Funk defeated Ernest Miller to retain the title.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner defeated Mike Awesome in an ambulance match.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions KroniK (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) defeated Shane Douglas in a handicap match.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Crowbar, Daffney, David Flair and Jeff Jarrett in a handicap match.
2002 - FMW President Shoichi Arai committed suicide by hanging himself in a park in Tokyo, Japan. Arai was 36 years old. He took the company over from Atsushi Onita in 1995 and ran FMW until it closed in 2002.
2002 - Alex Rizzo, better known as ECW's Big Dick Dudley, was found dead in his apartment in Copiague, New York at age 34. It has been speculated, though not confirmed, that Rizzo died of kidney failure.
2002 - Vince McMahon appeared on "On The Record" on HBO with Bob Costas, creating an intense scene where Mc McMahon yelled at and slapped notes out of Costas' hands. Buck Woodward filed the following report:
Vince McMahon was a guest on "On The Record" with Bob Costas tonight on HBO. Here is a recap of what was covered.
Bob Costas talked about Vince's visit last time, and while he didn't expect this visit to be the same, he showed clips of the confrontational visit from last time.
- Vince pretended that he was going to choke Costas as the segment began. Vince said he was not that mad or that he was going to hit Costas last time, he said that he was simply passionate about his business. Vince said he was angry, but he wasn't going to hit him. Costas joked that he wasn't going to hit Vince either.
- They talked about the reaction to their last conversation, and how so many people talked about it.
- Vince said with the XFL, they cut their losses and moved on.
- Vince said he was determined not to cost his core product his time while doing the XFL, and he didn't. He did say it was "rugged" to do both.
- Costas made reference to the NBC Anniversary special and USA Today jabs at the XFL. Vince said it had no ill effect on him personally or his business, other than the loss of funds. He said he was an entrepreneur, and would try things, and he was proud of the XFL, despite it being a "colossal failure". He was proud of the players, especially the ones that went on to the NFL. He enjoyed it. Vince talked about the sports writing backlash the league got, and how they were working against the established NFL in the minds of writers. Costas asked if it cost Vince "tens of millions" and he said it did.
- Vince said they still had higher young male demographic for the XFL than the NBA has now. He felt the football was getting better, but it wasn't meant to be. He said he would if he was going to fail, he was glad to fail in a big way. Costas talked about it being on in prime time, and how that put them in a different situation with viewers, ratings and critics, than being put in traditional sports slots. McMahon noted how Arena football was now on Sunday afternoons on NBC, a slot they would have liked.
- Costas talked about the Raw ratings falling. Vince said they were down 10%, but they would bounce back. He said they are not giving their audience exactly what they want. He said sometimes they are not always there with their product, but they would work to improve it. He compared it to Hollywood and the record business, and said there are valleys and peaks. He did say that when they rise up again, they always raise the plateau that they reach at their highest point.
- Vince said he had no problem with "The Osbournes" becoming the top rated show in cable, bumping Raw. He said that it was a fad show, and that when you look in terms of 52 weeks of programming, they were still the "Kings of Cable".
- Costas talked about the Rock not participating as much now. McMahon talked about great performers, and how the next star performer has always reached greater heights than the one before it, going from Bruno Sammartino to Hulk Hogan to Steve Austin to Rock.
- Costas talked about Hogan being spent as a top star. McMahon felt he was doing the Babe Ruth character. Costas talked about the athleticism involved in wrestling, and how long Hogan could last. Vince said he did not know. He talked about how Hogan's reaction has been enormous based on nostalgia and that it was bringing and older demographic back to them.
- They talked about the World Wildlife Fund costing the WWF their name. Vince laughed about it, and said it had started a long time ago with the group in America. He said the first problem was just not using WWF logo in their font, and that was easily settled. The international group later came forth and said they had a restraining order in Switzerland keeping them from using the trademark there. Vince said this was when he was going head to head with the Federal Government and that they made a bad deal with the Fund at that time to settle things. He said they came after them now because of the internet, which no one could forsee back then as being such a powerful force. Vince said they have no sense of humor, and that a member of the Fund was offended when he introduced himself as being with the WWF and a person assumed it was the wrestling company. He said they were not done fighting them on this. Vince made a joke out of "Get The F Out" with Costas.
- They showed an old clip of Vince McMahon with Gordon Solie.
- Costas said he found things they did very funny, but he felt some of the stuff was gratuitously salacious. He asked if they have toned it down. Vince said there is maintenance done to the product, but it is all really in the eye of the beholder. Costas asked if they would get more salacious to get ratings. Vince said they just need all around better entertainment, better matches and storylines.
- They played the clip from Smackdown tonight where he asks for a sneak peak at Stacy's bikini and asks to "nuzzle the pups" when he is interrupted. Then they aired the footage on Raw of Tommy Dreamer drinking from a urinal on Raw. Costas asked if that stuff has that lost its shock value due to things like Springer and the dating shows on television pushing the boundaries, and that it was not longer distinctive. Vince didn't feel it was ever distinctive to the WWF. He felt it is all about execution. He felt good performances invoke emotion. He said sometimes it is shock that they are going for, but they probably reached that limit from a physicality standpoint 20 years ago, so they looked to shock in different ways.
- Costas asked if Vince would take back things like the dog excrement bit from Raw, or Kurt Angle making fun of Mario Lemieux for having cancer. He hoped it would offend an individual, but it was for someone with a sense of humor who would see why they were doing it. Vince felt they were "equal opportunity offenders". He said Kurt and Mario were friends.
- Costas talked about the Kiss My Ass club. Vince jokingly asked if he wanted to join it. Vince said it was interesting and entertaining to the audience. Vince said he had no regrets for anything they have done.
- Costas asked if there is a line he wouldn't cross. Vince said the line moves, but they follow trends of general entertainment.
- They talked about the Iron Shiek and Sgt. Slaughter angles in the past, and why there wasn't one after 9/11. Vince said there was no intention to ever do stuff based off the tragedy. He said the Slaughter stuff was done before the Persian Gulf war began, and that they did not expect the war to break out. He pointed out that they were already building to Wrestlemania at that point, and that they had to move the show from an outdoor venue to an indoor arena.
- Costas read quotes from a writer that is working on a book about the WWF/E that ripped on it for its violent content. Vince said they are "not everyone's cup of tea."
- They talked about the upcoming Tyson-Lewis fight, and Vince said he felt the media dwells too much on the private lives of athletes and entertainers like Tyson. Vince said he is going to be there. Vince thinks Tyson will win, and he will be welcomed back to Vegas. Vince put over Tyson huge from when they worked together.
- Costas asked Vince what percentage of fans think wrestling is real. Vince said "2 and a half percent".
Show opens with a recap of last week's HHH tribulations, starting with the first segment. It mentioned the time 8:17, which is about when the first segment actually wrapped up. After the review of Jericho beating up HHH all night with assorted blunt objects, we cue the opening and Knuckles O' Fire. Michael Cole and Tazz inform us we're watching from the Molson Centre in Montreal, one of my favorite crowds. This was the building where RAW eminated from the night after WrestleMania X8, and gave Hulk Hogan the berserkest of berserk pops. Cole and Tazz hype tonight's swimsuit competition between Stacy and Torrie, but offer no matches yet. Out comes HHH with his full entrance. The Game is still bandged and limping from last week. He gets a monster pop that prolongs after his music cuts off. HHH says that Vince McMahon just doesn't get it. No matter what Vince does to knock him down, he'll always get right back up and in his face. HUGE "Triple H" chant breaks out. HHH challenges Chris Jericho to come out and get a taste of what awaits him this Sunday. Instead, Edge comes out. Edge says HHH's speech was stirring, but he left out the part where he blasted everyone last week--Edge included--with a sledgehammer. Edge said they're both "good guys", and they should get along, but "I don't give a crap." Edge subtly challenges HHH to a fight. HHH says he's a lot of things, but a "good guy" isn't one of them. Edge and HHH wind up brawling, and Jericho and Kurt Angle run out and beat them both up. HHH is thrown into the stairs, and afterwards Angle cuts off a chunk of Edge's hair!! Ahhhh...I love seeing the old-fashioned angles in 2002, because the crowd still eats 'em up. HHH runs off the heels as Angle and Jericho celebrate their evil deeds.
First round of breaks. Some ad for some movie about some guys in space opened today, apparently. Oh, and the Greyhound is back! Vince and Stacy are in the back, and Vince gets a peek at Stacy's swimsuit. He prepares to nuzzle the cookies for good luck, but Angle and Jericho barge in and tell Vince what they did. Vince is pleased, and his eyebrows pop up when they mention that HHH and Edge were actually fighting beforehand. Vince decides to book HHH/Edge VS Jericho/Angle for tonight.
Time for our first match, Randy Orton/Val Venis VS Lance Storm/Hardcore Holly. Totally sweetened crowd for the entrances...do the WWE/F/LMNOP really think we don't notice how phony it is? Jeez, it's like watching GLOW sometimes. Storm and Orton start off in the ring. Storm misses a dropkick, but Holly clotheslines Orton from the apron. Holly is tagged in and he goes to town on Orton. Orton reverses corner positions and returns the blows to Holly, then nails Storm for good measure. Boy, that last sentence sounded perverse as hell. Holly gets in a shot to Orton, then hits his awesome dropkick off the ropes. He throws Orton into the ropes again, but Orton leaps over Holly and hits his own dropkick. Both men are down, and both tag out. Val punches away on Storm, then hits a clothesline and backdrop. Holly runs in but falls victim to Val's unique powerbomb, then Storm is hit with a spinebuster. Val tags Orton, who flies off the top with a crossbody on Storm for 2. As Val and Holly fight outside, Orton hits a move that I couldn't describe to you if I stayed up all night trying to find the words for it. It started off looking like a Rocker Dropper, but then he flips and Storm flops and I don't even know what the hell happened, but the crowd popped big for it. 2-count, Holly makes the save. Storm hits a superkick on Orton for 2, Orton reverses the pin and gets what seems to be a quick 3-count. Orton and Val are your winners, and the replay shows Orton even pulled the tights!
We then have a recap of the Hogan-Undertaker fun from RAW (ugh), and see video of Hogan limping into the building, looking sore as hell. We go to break...
Slam of the Week: Torrie liberates herself last week. After seeing that again, I want to go liberate as well, but duty calls. Torrie is walking around the back and runs into Maven, who congratulates her on (apparently) dumping Tajiri last week...and then he asks her out! Torrie says she'd love to, and that ends that. But oh no..."Brother Maven!" It's D-Von and the Deacon coming down the stairs. D-Von accuses Maven of having thoughts that are impure, sinful and lustful. He then calls Torrie a Jezebel, which riles the rookie up. The Deacon steps in and Maven backs off. Al Snow then shows up and we have four people on screen that couldn't look more unlike one another. D-Von tells Maven he will get salvation tonight.
Holy crap, is that Sho Funaki on my TV? The Gimmick That Titan Forgot #73 is settling into the locker room when Gregory Helms the ace reporter strolls up. He notices that Funaki has an "Evil" t-shirt on and wonders if he is the one who left him/Hurricane a note last week. Funaki hilariously asks, "What's wrong with you?!" He turns around, and there's another note taped to Funaki's back! Helms takes it and reads it. "Congratulations on your title shot tonight. Take heed if you win, the pain will begin." Helms starts to fly off, but then remembers he's not in his superhero outfit, so he jogs off instead.
Marc Loyd interviews Chris Jericho, who says his actions tonight were a message to HHH. Jericho says this Sunday in the Cell we will all see the real Jericho. "Was it the marketing of Y2J that injured HHH and put him out for eight months? Was last week the Ayatollah of Rock-and-Rolla bloodying HHH with a steel chair?" Good promo.
More breaks, and then...TESTIFY! Reverend D-Von and Deacon Batista come to the ring. D-Von tells the crowd that they WILL donate to the box as the Deacon comes around, but then Maven's music starts up and he and Snow come out. D-Von attacks Maven coming in and pounds away at him in the corner. Snapmare and elbowdrop, then a choke on the ropes. Slam, but miss on the 2nd rope elbowdrop. Snow rallies the crowd as Maven hits a quick inside cradle for 2, then a schoolboy for another 2. Maven kick and DDT for 2. Maven then shows us a German suplex. Batista climbs on the apron, and D-Von hits a low blow and his new finisher, called the Saving Grace (which is just the old Goldust finisher, the Curtain Call) for 3. Afterwards, D-Von keeps stomping Maven, so Snow runs in and takes care of the Reverend until Batista blasts Snow with the metal box. D-Von thanks the Lord and they head out. Cole and Tazz send us to a break as Stacy is prepping in the mirror...and then that freaking EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE guy runs out in a pathetic cross-promotion for that new digital camera. I'd almost rather see more thongs than this...
Tazz is in the ring to emcee the swimsuit competition. Out come the ladies, and the fans will pick the winner. Torrie goes first, but just as she strips down, Tajiri runs out and covers her up, then takes her to the back. Stacy proclaims herself the winner, but none other than Trish Stratus comes out!! Trish, of course, won the WWF Women's Title on RAW, so she now appears on both shows. (And again, RAW needs tag-team champions. Thank you.) Stacy asks Trish why she's here, and Trish responds by holding up the title belt. Trish says the fans came to see a competition, but since she left her swimsuit home, "I have this." Trish strips and is wearing the greatest set of undergarments ever created. Stacy tries to attack Trish from behind, but she gets kicked out of the ring. Tazz proclaims Trish the winner.
More breaks. Smack of the Night: Trish wins the belt on RAW. In the back, Vince is with D-Von and Batista, when in comes Stacy complaining about what just happened. She wants a title match, and Vince gives her one this Sunday. At this point, every word seems to get a massive pop, which is so pathetically-obviously canned crowd noise. Enough already!! Vince tells Stacy that they'll need D-Von for protection. D-Von is puzzled and asks why they'd need a Reverend to go and buy condoms. Hilarious line!! Vince clarifies, fortunately, that he meant D-Von will be in Stacy's corner this Sunday since Bubba Ray Dudley will be in Trish's. Interesting...it seems the Dudleys storyline is a PPV-only one, and although it's a small incentive to watch each PPV, at least it's a creative way to keep people following.
Time for our next match. Rikishi VS Rico! Billy and Chuck are out as well. They distract the big man and Rico jumps him from behind to no avail. Rikishi hiptosses Rico into orbit. Rikishi then hits an upsy-daisey-Diamond Cutter, which pops the crowd. 2-count, Chuck pulls Rikishi off the pin. Rikishi chases Chuck around the ring but gets clotheslined by Billy, and Riki takes his spin bump, scarily almost crashing his head into the post. Rico hits some martial arts kicks in the ring, but then walks into a belly-to-belly suplex. Rikishi whip, and Rico pulls Teddy Long in front of him to block the Ass-alanche. Rikishi puts on the brakes though and disposes of the running-in tag champs. Rico then hits the spinning legwhip, but only gets 2. Rico tries a sunset flip, but Rikishi drops south and gets the pin. He then dances at the top of the stage with full pyro.
After more ads, Vince and Stacy get interrupted yet again, this time by Billy and Chuck and Rico. Vince can't believe that Rikishi won tonight, and tells the tag champs they'll wrestle Rikishi and a partner of Vince's choosing this Sunday.
Can anyone else say "Albert?" Just my hunch.
Marc Loyd interviews HHH. HHH says that Jericho needs to understand what he's in for this Sunday, and if he wants to know what it is he should call Mick Foley. Edge strolls up from behind and says they were interrupted earlier and still have unfinished business. HHH says he admires Edge's guts, but he should go and win a couple of world titles before stepping up to fight. Edge then fires off a ZINGER saying that he could always "marry the boss's daughter and sleep my way to the title." Crowd WHOOOOOOOOOOOS that one! HHH tells Edge he can do it however he wants, but do it tomorrow because tonight they have a common goal. Edge nods and heads off, and HHH smiles, seemingly impressed.
Ads. Triple Threat time for the Cruiserweight title. Tajiri comes to the ring first without Torrie. Billy Kidman is next, and Taj jumps him at the outset. As they fight, the Hurricane runs in and stops them from fighting. He gives a double thumbs-up, but Taj kicks his arm away. Hurricane nods to Kidman and they double up on Taj. Kidman goes for a cover, but Hurricane pulls him off. Then it's vice versa. Kidman misses a clothesline on Taj, Hurricane tries for a chokeslam on Kidman, and Taj kicks Hurricane in the head. Kidman nails Taj with a skyhigh for 2. Hurricane is back up and hits a reverse neckbreaker on Kidman, then climbs to the top. Taj stops him up top, but Kidman then runs up the ropes with Taj for a bulldog, and kicks Hurricane to the floor in the process. Nice spot. Kidman goes for the Shooting Star Press and nails it, but Hurricane pulls him to the floor to stop the count and throws him to the barricade. Hurricane then makes the cover on Taj, but he reaches the ropes. Hurricane whips Taj into the ropes, and he starts with his handspring, but he nails Kidman in the midst of it and again Kidman falls to the floor. Tajiri goes for the Big Kick, but Hurricane ducks it and hits the chokeslam for the pin!! Hurricane is your new Cruiserweight champion!
As Hurricane celebrates with the fans, Cole and Tazz review the Judgment Day card. Hogan VS Undertaker [RAW]. A PPV headliner in 2002. Just like it was in 1991! Must be the palindrome thing. Steve Austin VS Ric Flair/Big Show [RAW]. Less said, the better. Hell in a Cell with HHH VS Jericho [Smackdown]. There hasn't been a Cell match in almost 18 months, and there hasn't been a one-on-one Cell match in over two years. You can bet the house both guys know the reputation they'll have to live up to in this one. Edge VS Kurt Angle, hair VS hair [Smackdown]. Gimmick match or not, this one is a rematch we all want to see. That's Smackdown 2, Raw 0 in PPV matches worth seeing so far. Ah, here's where RAW wins one: RVD VS Eddie Guerrero for the I-C title [RAW]. Both guys want to do better this time out, and I think they will. Hardys VS Brock/Heyman [RAW]. There goes the RAW winning streak, stopped at one. What's the point of this one?! Finally, now we have Trish VS Stacy for the Women's title, with a Dudley in each corner [RAW/Smackdown]. It's a Smackdown-powered PPV this Sunday, folks, in the eyes of yours truly. We see Hogan heading to the ring as we go to break...
Hogan comes out, still limping and apparently sore. Now, I mentioned at the start the ovation Hogan got in this arena last time. Well, forget all about it, because this crowd made that reaction look like polite applause. There was certainly no sweetening here, as for a real-time seven minutes and ten seconds, this crowd absolutely never SHUT UP. The cheers were deafening, with nonstop chanting and screaming for Hulk Hogan. Cole and Tazz even stopped talking about four minutes in. Hogan was absolutely in awe, mouthing "Why?" to the fans. He was legitimately moved to tears, and at one point even dropped the mic to catch himself from breaking down. Hogan began pointing at the mic to try and get the crowd to let him cut his promo, but that didn't work either. Hogan continued to shake his head in amazement, and finally towards the end of the ovation Hulked Up, and the crowd went even MORE berserk. This was absolutely the most amazing moment I've ever f---ing seen in almost 20 years of watching this sport. Finally, Hogan was able to get some words out: "You guys are overwhelming! I had one goal, and that was to get to WrestleMania. I came out the next night right here to say thanks. Because of all you crazy damn Maniacs, I can't go home now. You guys are awesome!" Hogan said he came out again tonight to again thank the fans, and the crowd broke out into a "HOOOOOOOOOOOOO-GAN" chant that again made him shake his head in amazement. Hogan said he sees the news every night, especially since 9/11, and reality sucks. When he's in this ring, it's a dream world, and he hopes he never wakes up. Hulk finishes up by saying that tonight he was going to say he "hopes", but forget that: "Hulkamania WILL live forever!" Another insane pop. Hogan starts to give Undertaker the catchphrase, when none other than Vince McMahon comes out. Ahhhh...who's the one person we've never seen beat up the boss? Hell, we all KNOW what's coming, but we all want to see it anyway. Vince comes out looking furious, and he gets right into Hogan's face before grabbing the mic. "Reality sucks? I beg to differ. Hulkamania sucks! At one time, you were an icon. You were immortal. No more. Tonight I see a shell of what you used to be. Hulkamania is diseased. It's got a terminal illness. Hulkamania has cancer!" Does that mean the nWo are Hulkamaniacs? Vince warns Hogan that he created Hulkamania, and he can destroy it too. Vince finishes up by saying the red will be Hogan's blood this Sunday, and the yellow is the streak down Hogan's back. Vince then SLAPS Hogan...and yep, roll those VCR's. Hogan nails Vince with a solid right hand, then drops the big legdrop. An amazing, amazing moment in television.
After our final round of breaks, it's main event time. Angle and Jericho hit the ring first, with Edge out next. Angle baits Edge into the ring by waving around the lock of hair he cut off earlier. Edge runs in and is doubled until HHH evens the odds. HHH and Angle fight outside, with Angle getting draped over the barricade and clotheslined. Edge, meanwhile, chops away on Jericho, and then hits a flapjack as their respective partners get into their corners. Edge hits a flying forearm on Jericho, who tries to tag out in the wrong corner. HHH floors Jericho and is tagged in. Jericho is punched for a bit before going to the eyes and tagging Angle. Angle runs into a flying HHH knee. Tag back to Edge. Edge and Angle exchange blows before Edge wins out with a spin heel kick. Edge goes to the top, but Jericho tries to stop him. Edge kicks him away, but Angle runs up the ropes and beels Edge off. God, that move is awesome every time. Angle gets 2 as HHH makes the save with Edge also kicking out. Tag to Jericho. Snapmare and dropkick to the back of the head. Tag back to Angle. Edge hits some punches and tries a whip, but Angle reverses it and hits an overhead belly-to-belly. Tag back to Jericho, who hits a back elbow smash, but misses a subsequent Lionsault. Tag back to Angle, who stops Edge from reaching his partner. I love the quick-tag action here; Jericho and Angle are showing tag-team skills we don't see much of anymore. Angle drags Edge to their corner and again tags Jericho. Jericho hits three successive suplexes for a 2-count. Jericho puts Edge on the top rope, but Edge fights him off and hits a second-rope dropkick. Both men tag out. HHH cleans up on both heels, hitting a spinebuster on Angle for 2, with Jericho elbowdropping Angle as he tries to make a save. HHH hits a facebuster on Jericho and goes for the Pedigree, but Angle nails him. HHH is doubled until Edge flies off the top with a double clothesline. Edge slingshots Jericho to the floor, but Angle tries an Angle Slam from behind. Edge gets out of it and hits the Edge-O-Matic, then spears a chair-wielding Jericho. Angle again tries the Angle Slam and hits Edge with it this time, but HHH kicks Angle coming up and nails the Pedigree! 2-count, with Jericho barely making the save. HHH and Jericho fight on the floor, and the ref decides to head out there as well. He gets crunched against the railing for his efforts. HHH and Jericho fight into the crowd as Edge surprises Angle with an overhead belly-to-belly! Edge then goes for the kill via a spear, but Angle picks up the chair on the apron and drills Edge coming with it, then nails another Angle Slam for good measure. Ref Mike Chioda recovers and counts the fall. Angle and Jericho are you winners in another solid Smackdown main event, and Angle stands over the fallen Edge with hair-in-hand to close the show.
Whew...that was one good program. I don't know how to explain the Smackdown streak lately, but it appears literally all effort for good WWE product is being thrown this way, and RAW's getting the shaft. With ratings down, I can't see that staying the norm for long. I just hope I can soon start looking forward to two nights of good stuff a week again. Thankx, as always, for reading!
2003 - Justin Credible defeats Steve Corino in Queens, New York to win the Premier Wrestling Federation Universal Heavyweight Title, ending Corino's fourth reign and beginning Credible's second. Also, Veronica Stevens defeats Alexis Laree for the PWF World Women's Title.
2003 - Genki Horiguchi, Ryo Saito and Susumu Yokosuka defeat CIMA, Don Fujii and SUWA for the UWA World Trios Title in Kobe, Japan.
2003 - Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida held the first night of the first Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup at the Florida WrestlePlex in St. Petersburg, Florida, which featured the first round of the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup Tournament. The results:
- CHAOS defeated Havoc and Kubiak in a three-way hardcore match.
- Naturally Marvelous (Scoot Andrews and Mike Sullivan) defeated Danny Doring and Mikey Tenderfoot.
- Lex Lovett defeated Agent Steele.
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup Tournament first round:
- Naphtali defeated Seijin Akki.
- Jason Cross defeated CM Punk.
- Tony Mamaluke defeated Jerelle Clark.
- B-Boy defeated Steve Madison.
- Sedrick Strong defeated David Babylon.
- Reckless Youth defeated Sonjay Dutt.
- Ruckus defeated Roderick Strong.
- NWA Florida X Division and IPW Cruiserweight Champion Justice defeated Colt Cabana.
2003 - Tommy Suede defeats Havoc for the World Xtreme Wrestling Television Title in Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania.
2003 - Horace the Psychopath defeats Dino Bambino and champion Adrian Lynch in a three-way match in Green Bay, Wisconsin to win the NWA Wisconsin Heavyweight Title.
2003 - NxN Rude defeats Bulldog Raines for the NWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Humboldt, Tennessee, ending Raines' third reign. 2004 - Tatsuhito Takaiwa defeats Tony Stradlin for the vacant ZERO-ONE International Junior Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. 2004 - Mason Hunter and Mark Sterling defeat Griz and Krow in a tournament final in Topeka, Kansas to win the vacant NWA Midwest Tag Team Title.
2004 - WWE held its sixth-annual "Judgment Day" pay-per-view at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Smackdown brand show got a 0.42 buyrate and 18,722 fans attended. Before the PPV went on the air, in a match airing on Sunday Night Heat, Mark Jindrak (with Theodore Long) pinned Funaki after the Mark of Excellence.
Tim Whitehead filed the following PPV report:
WWE Judgment Day (5/16 from Los Angeles) looked to be weak on paper. It turned out to be a thumbs-in-the-middle show, featuring a mix of good matches, weak matches, and average matches. In that sense, it was a success, though it may not have drawn much of a buyrate. Considering the drama in the main event, perhaps this could be considered a narrow thumb's up show. It's a close call in that regard. The live crowd seemed to enjoy it. The only thing that stood out as truly memorable, though, was the amazing amount of blood in the Eddie Guerrero vs. John Bradshaw Layfield main event. That match was good, but ended in a disappointing DQ. Commentary was fine.
ROB VAN DAM & REY MYSTERIO JR. defeated THE DUDLEYS in 15:19. D-Von immediately blindsided RVD and pounded him. RVD fought back and sent both Dudleys bumping out to the floor. RVD hit a somersault plancha on Bubba while Mysterio splashed D-Von from off the top. Back in the ring, RVD went wild with the kicks until Bubba held down the ropes, causing him to bump over. RVD got worked over for a while until hot tagging Mysterio. Mysterio did some great springboard moves and hit a spinning headscissors on Bubba. D-Von blocked Mysterio from hitting Bubba with the 619. Bubba caught Mysterio when he tried for the West Coast Pop and then hotshotted him. D-Von went to work on Mysterio and scored several twos. Mysterio did a cool springboard into a bulldog on D-Von. Mysterio made the hot tag, but the ref didn't see it and disallowed it. Bubba hooked Mysterio in the tree of woe, but somehow Mysterio managed to give Bubba a neckbreaker from that position. Mysterio then moonsaulted Bubba for a near fall. RVD hot tagged and threw all the kicks, hitting the rolling thunder on D-Von. Bubba vaulted Mysterio high out to the floor. D-Von went up for the wazzup, but Mysterio crotched him. RVD catapulted Mysterio up, where he did a huracanrana on D-Von. Bubba & D-Von both ended up hanging over the ropes after taking some kicks. Mysterio did a 619 on them both, and RVD frog splashed D-Von for the pin. Good, fast-paced opener!
Booker T was shown in his locker room, where he was burning candles and trying to invoke supernatural powers to help him combat Undertaker.
Luther pushed a large box out onto the ramp. It was a mechanical apparatus which contained an elevated wheelchair for Kurt Angle. Angle went off on Los Angeles, saying it's full of self-important phonies on cell phones and lazy incompetents who sit around waiting for a big break that never comes. He said L.A. has an overrated basketball team whose star player will miss the Olympics due to being on trial. He complained that the city is full of Eddie Guerrero fans and predicted they'd riot when he loses the World Title, since rioting is what they do best. He concluded by hoping the city gets hit by the biggest earthquake ever.
TORRIE WILSON defeated DAWN MARIE in 6:15. Before the match, Angle ruled that Torrie would be fired if she lost. She didn't. Pretty much the usual Smackdown type catfight. They rolled around and did a few standard moves. In other words, good T & A but not good wrestling. Torrie ripped Dawn's tights to expose her thong panties. Torrie won with a backslide, keeping her job.
John Bradshaw Leyfield did a promo. He went off on Eddie Guerrero's fans. He said he wasn't talking about the ones who wash his car, shine his boots, and sell fruit along the roadside, since they at least are working. Instead, he meant the ones who lie, cheat, and steal, and who have nine kids while on welfare. He guaranteed he would beat Eddie in the main event.
MORDECAI defeated SCOTTY 2 HOTTY in 3:01. This was Mordecai's debut, doing an occult gimmick. He came out in a long white robe carrying some sort of occult symbol, which he showed great respect for. His hair, beard, and even eyebrows were dyed pure white. He knelt and did some sort of prayer before the match. It was an interesting entrance, but the three minute match was just a routine squash with little heat. Mordecai dominated in the slow, methodical big man style. Scotty briefly rallied, but Mordecai cut him off when he went for the worm. Mordecai won with a razor's edge, and kept staring up toward the sky (or, in this case, the ceiling). The gimmick may need a little more exposure on TV to get over.
Jacqueline laughed at Chavo Guerrero Jr. for losing his Cruiserweight Title to a girl. She gave him a pink bra & panties combo as a gag gift. Chavo was furious, but his dad kept fondling the undies as if interested in them.
RICO & CHARLIE HAAS defeated HARDCORE HOLLY & BILLY GUNN to retain the Smackdown World Tag Titles in 10:26. This one was played for comedy as neither Holly nor Gunn wanted to tie up with the gay Rico. Finally, Haas agreed to start out for his team. Haas kept frustrating Holly by countering his every move. Rico tagged in and got behind Holly "doggy style". Holly ran and tagged Gunn in. Rico grabbed Gunn's ass. He then rode and spanked Gunn and tried to position Gunn's face in his crotch. Gunn begged to tag out, but Holly wouldn't tag in. Hey, Gunn seemed to like this stuff when Chuck Palumbo was doing it. Anyway, Gunn flattened Rico with a punch as Holly went at it with Haas. They doubled on Haas for a while as Miss Jackie tried to rally the crowd for her team. They scored several twos on Haas. Holly hit a solid dropkick. Haas tagged Rico after connecting with a boot to Holly's face. Rico hit an inverted atomic drop on Gunn. Gunn came back with a famouser. The finish saw Holly come in, but Rico kicked him and he staggered back into a sunset flip from Haas for the pin. A mix of comedy and standard Smackdown TV level action.
Undertaker & Paul Bearer did one of their classic R.I.P. promos.
CHAVO GUERRERO JR. defeated JACQUELINE to regain his Cruiserweight Title in 4:48. The rules required Chavo to fight with one arm tied behind his back. So this was another match played for comedy. Man, they've ruined the Cruiserweight division, which should be one of the Smackdown highlights. Chavo dominated with kicks until colliding with a ringpost. Jackie put the boots to Chavo. Chavo Classic (as Chavo Sr. is now called) got on the apron, but Jackie bumped him off. Chavo lariated Jackie. Jackie scored a near fall after a low blow. Chavo rolled out, where his dad secretly untied the rope holding Chavo's arm. Chavo Classic kept distracting the ref, allowing Chavo to use both arms to brutalize Jackie. After a face first Gori bomb, Chavo pinned Jackie and regained his belt. Chavo's dad pretended to untie his arm after the match. That part was funny, but the match was a reminder of how they've buried this important division.
JOHN CENA defeated RENE DUPREE in 9:55 to retain the U.S. Title. Cena cut a rap promo on Dupree before the match. Dupree is in excellent shape and looks to have big potential. Cena went to work with fists, prompting Dupree to bail. They did a ton of brawling early and ended up on the floor, where Dupree posted Cena. Dupree dominated back inside the ring, using standard offense but doing a very good job of it. Cena took a big bump out to the floor, selling a back injury. Dupree went to work on the bad back, scoring some twos. Dupree put Cena in a bearhug. Cena brawled back and went for the five knuckle shuffle, but Dupree moved and Cena hit the mat. Cena then moved when Dupree tried a similar move. Dupree hit a DDT. Cena went for the FU, but Dupree evaded it and hit a neckbreaker. They traded near falls, with Dupree getting a busted lip in there somewhere. Cena caught Dupree out of nowhere with the FU for the pin. A solid, no frills match, which the live crowd seemed to enjoy.
UNDERTAKER defeated BOOKER T in 11:27. Booker came out carrying the small bag the psychic voodoo lady gave him on Smackdown. Undertaker started off with fists. Booker bailed out and rubbed the bag all over himself, as if it was some sort of charm. UT hit a sideslam and a legdrop. Booker came back with a missile dropkick. They slugged it out, and naturally UT won that round. UT hooked a submission hold, but Booker made the ropes. UT went for the last ride. Booker escaped, and in the process the ref got bumped. With the ref down, Booker threw dust from the small voodoo bag in UT's eyes. It had no effect, presumably because UT's supernatural powers are greater. However, UT ended up missing a charge into the corner and hurting his leg. Booker worked on the leg, wrapping it around the post. Booker threw some kicks and hit a scissor kick, but only scored two. UT sat right back up, starting the big babyface comeback from which there is no escape. UT hit a boot to the face, a chokeslam, and a tombstone piledriver to score the pin. Pretty much a standard UT match, with the gimmick giving it some added entertainment value.
JOHN BRADSHAW LAYFIELD beat EDDIE GUERRERO by DQ in 23:11 in a WWE World Title match. Before the match, JBL ran down all the illegal aliens in the crowd and "generously" offered to hire Eddie's mother as a housekeeper when she recovers from her heart attack. Eddie got a huge pop coming out. Eddie quickly attacked, using brawling tactics to place JBL on the defensive. He rammed JBL into the security rail and the stairs, and threw him across the Spanish announcers' table. JBL tried to flee up the ramp but Eddie pounded him back to the ring. JBL managed to hurl Eddie into the stairs to finally take command of the match. He hurled Eddie across the Spanish desk. Inside the ring, JBL briefly dominated. Eddie came back with some stinging armdrags, prompting JBL to bail out. Eddie went for a plancha but JBL caught him and gave him a fall away slam on the floor. JBL backdropped Eddie on the highly abused Spanish desk. In the ring once again, JBL scored some near falls. Eddie escaped a bearhug and went for the three amigos (triple suplexes) but JBL blocked the third one. There was a major ref bump as Eddie collided with the ref while going for a rope rebound. With the ref down, they brawled out to the floor, where Eddie sent JBL crashing over the (English) desk. JBL grabbed a chair and hit Eddie with a hard chairshot. Eddie juiced a gusher that was literally sick. Blood was spurting out like a fountain and there were pools of it all over the floor. JBL clocked Eddie with the stairs, threw him back in the ring, and hit the lariat from hell. But when JBL covered Eddie for the pin, the ref was still down from the earlier bump. A substitute ref finally ran in, but Eddie had had time to recover and kicked out at two when JBL went for another pin. This second ref soon got bumped. JBL hit a powerbomb, with the original ref reviving to count the pin. Eddie kicked out at two, despite continuing to bleed like a faucet. The mat was stained red with puddles of blood all over the place. Eddie made a comeback and hit a DDT, but JBL rolled clear when Eddie went for the frog splash. JBL went out and got the title belt and a chair. The ref took the chair, and Eddie ended up getting the belt. Eddie hit JBL with it in plain view of the ref, who ordered the DQ. Of course, Eddie retained the title, but JBL did score the win as he had guaranteed. Eddie went nuts afterward, hitting JBL with two hard chairshots which bloodied him up and then frog splashing him. It took a bunch of refs and road agents to subdue Eddie afterward. This was a good main event, better than I thought it would be. Other than the DQ, they booked this great to get around the style clash between these two and it came off as quite dramatic. Even the DQ was understandable, as they need to keep this program going given its gravity (a heart attack angle) and the fact that Eddie really has no other credible opponents right now. 2004 - WWE also held a Raw matinee house show in Everett, WA, drawing 2,700 fans:
-The Hurricane & Rosey defeated Sylvian Grenier & Rob Conway after Eugene came ringside.
-Steven Richards defeated Chuck Palumbo.
-Garrison Cade pinned Val Venis with a roll up after Jonathan Coachman, the guest ring announcer for the show, interfered.
-Matt Hardy pinned Albert with a rollup.
-Batista pinned Shelton Benjamin by blocking a sunset flip and holding onto the ropes for leverage.
-Chris Jericho defeated Tyson Tomko (subtituting for Christian) in a steel cage match.
-WWE Women's Champion Victoria defeated Gail Kim, Jazz, and Molly Holly in an elimination match; Jazz and Molly were eliminated following simultaneous pins; Victoria pinned Gail with the Widow's Peak.
-WWE IC Champion Randy Orton pinned Edge with a roll up after Batista interfered.
-Lita pinned Trish Stratus with a DDT.
World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit defeated Kane via submission with the Crippler Crossface after avoiding the chokeslam.
2005 - WWE held a live RAW and taped the May 22 Sunday Night Heat at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska, which got a 4.3 rating on Spike TV.
- In a dark match, Bobby Lashley defeated ?. Heat:
- Robért Conway defeated Trevor Murdoch by submission with an armbar.
- William Regal (with Tajiri) defeated Romeo (with Antonio) by disqualification, when Antonio broke the cover after Regal hit a knee to the head.
- Val Venis pinned Sylvian Grenier with the Money Shot.
RAW:
- Muhammad Hassan and Daivari defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin and Chris Jericho, when Hassan pinned Jericho with the Flatliner.
- Ric Flair pinned Christian (with Tyson Tomko) with a roll-over and holding the ropes.
- Chris Benoit fought Tajiri to a no-contest in an ECW rules match when RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff and Jonathan Coachman came out, and Bischoff stopped the match since he never sanctioned it.
- Christy Hemme pinned Candice Michelle in a lingerie pillow fight with a roll-up. After the match, Viscera came out and hit on Lilian Garcia, inviting her into the ring to sit on the bed with him. Viscera then gave Lilian a key to his hotel room.
- World Tag Team Champions The Hurricane and Rosey defeated Simon Dean and Maven, when Rosey pinned Maven, to retain the title.
- Edge pinned Kane (with Lita), after hitting Kane in the face with his Money in the Bank briefcase as he attempted a diving clothesline. Lita had slid the briefcase in the ring to Edge beforehand, and Edge and Lita hugged and kissed on the stage after the match. By winning the Gold Rush Tournament, Edge earned a World Heavyweight Title match for the following week.
2005 - Misae Genki defeats Amazing Kong in the finals of the annual NEO Japan Cup tournament. 2006 - WWE taped the May 19 and May 20 editions of Friday Night SmackDown! and Velocity at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SmackDown! got a 1.9 rating on UPN. The results were:
Velocity:
- Paul Burchill defeated Simon Dean.
- The Pitbulls (Kid Kash and Jamie Noble) defeated Russell Simpson and Chris Wellman.
- The F.B.I. (Nunzio and Vito) defeated Funaki and Scotty 2 Hotty.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms defeated Funaki.
SmackDown!:
- Jillian Hall, Brian Kendrick and Paul London defeated MNM (Melina and WWE Tag Team Champions Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro), when Jillian pinned Melina with a crossbody off the top.
- Bobby Lashley pinned Jared Steel after a spear.
- Chris Benoit and Gunner Scott defeated Booker T (with Sharmell) and Finlay, when Scott pinned Booker with a crucifix.
- Mark Henry pinned Matt Hardy after a powerslam.
- World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio fought Kane to a no-contest.
- In a dark match after the show, World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio defeated Mark Henry and WWE United States Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield in a triple threat match by pinning JBL after the 619.
2006 - Brad Smith defeats Matt Stryker to win the Heartland Wrestling Association Television Title in Cincinnati, Ohio. 2006 - Davey Boy Smith's son, Harry, signs with WWE. He would eventually debut as David Hart Smith as one third of the Hart Dynasty. 2006 - TNA announced plans to debut in the Garden State for the first time with a house show in Wayne, NJ in June. 2007 - Jakks Pacific announced plans to do They several Four Horsemen themed sets as well as action figures for The Rock N' Roll Express. 2007 - Megumi Grace Asano, a referee, defeats Coloco, a miniature dachsund, for the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. 2008 - In an interview with the UK Sun, John Cena was asked about whether there were any problems between he and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson about previous comments Cena made about the former WWE star turned actor. Cena responded, "No, because there was no problem or controversy – and Rock is first and foremost a gentlemen. As I said at the time, I think it is great that he has become such a huge success in the movie business. He has made some great films and has an enormous contract with Disney. What I don’t understand is when I hear people in our business, and not just him, say “I’ve wanted to do this all of my life” - but they’re not willing to put forth the commitment and the dedication it takes to be a success here. And Rock is one of those guys who gave the “I’ve wanted to do this all of my life” speech, but in actuality he wanted to be an actor. Now, trust me, that is totally fine with me. It’s OK. But just don’t say one thing and do another. Because our fans are extremely loyal and when you do that it p***es them off. All of us work so hard to make the show as good as it can be. So it’s hard when people give the impression of 'this is the greatest gig in the world' and then jump ship to movies. Now I have every interviewer asking me when I’m leaving WWE for films. And the answer is I’m never doing that, because I love wrestling more than I do movies. It’s guys like that who set the precedent of using wrestling as a stepping stone to do films. But there’s no controversy to any of that – as Rock is a successful and actor and that’s what he has always wanted to be." Cena's public comments about Dwayne Johnson would later be used as fodder to build to their Wrestlemania showdown. 2009 - Former WWE Star Bobby Lashley improved his Mixed Martial Arts record to 3-0 with a quick victory over Mike Cook at last night's Maximum Fighting Championship 21 event in Alberta, Canada. It only took Lashley 24 seconds to land a right hand a secure a guillotine choke. Cook attempted to break out, went limp, and the fight was stopped. Cook's strategy to get under Lashley's skin backfired. Cook, who was 6-3 going into this fight, wore a Rey Mysterio mask to the weigh-in and the fight, and did Hulk Hogan poses, mocking Lashley's pro wrestling career. 2009 - Time-Warner Cable announces its intentions to stop carrying HDNet, which aired Ring of Honor TV. Although there had been previous posturing to this effect, HDNet would be dropped by the cable provider just weeks later. 2009 - WWE (ran a Supershow featuring all three of their brands in Bloomington, IL at the US Cellular Coliseum, featuring: -CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin.
-Tyson Kidd defeated Evan Bourne.
-Sheamus defeated Jimmy Wang Yang.
-WWE Unified Tag Team Champions Carlito & Primo Colon defeated Ted Dibiase Jr. & Cody Rhodes.
Nikki & Brie Bella defeated Beth Phoenix & Rosa Mendes.
-R Truth defeated Dolph Ziggler.
-ECW champion Christian defeated Jack Swagger.
-John Cena, Batista, & Jeff Hardy defeated World Heavyweight Champion Edge, WWE World Champion Randy Orton, & the Big Show. 2009 - WWE broadcast Smackdown from Dayton, Ohio. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report: We are live on tape from Dayton, Ohio and your announcers are Jim Ross and Todd Grisham. We see footage of the problems between Shelton Benjamin and John Morrison over the last few weeks on Superstars (which you can see on WGN). Match Number One: John Morrison and CM Punk versus Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin Haas and Punk start things off and they lock up and Haas takes Punk into the corner and Haas with a punch and forearms on the break. Haas with a slam but he misses a knee drop. Punk with a series of kicks followed by a knee to the midsection. Morrison tags in and he kicks Haas followed by an uppercut. Morrison with an Irish whip and a hip toss and a pommel horse leg drop. Benjamin tags in and he kicks Morrison while Haas holds him. Benjamin with a short arm clothesline. Morrison blocks a punch and he connects with punches of his own followed by a neck breaker. Punk is tagged back in and they hit a double back elbow on Benjamin for a near fall. Benjamin with a jawbreaker and Haas tags back in and Haas kicks Punk followed by a forearm. Punk with forearms and a snap mare followed by the kick to the back. Punk with a hammer lock as he takes Haas to the mat. Punk with a kick to the back followed by a near fall. Haas sends Punk into the turnbuckles but Punk with a float over in the corner and then Punk with an arm drag into an arm bar. Haas with a forearm to the back and Punk gets Haas on his shoulders for the Go To Sleep, but Benjamin stops Punk. Punk tries to get Benjamin up but Haas pulls Benjamin off. All four men are in the ring and Punk drop kicks Benjamin out of the ring and Haas leaves the ring as well. Morrison with a baseball slide to Haas and they both go into the ringside barrier. We go to commercial. We are back and Haas and Morrison are in the ring. Morrison with an arm drag into an arm bar. Haas with a knee and then he runs Morrison into his corner. Morrison tries to fight his way out of the corner but Haas puts Morrison in the ropes and when the referee deals with Haas, Benjamin with a kick to the chest. Benjamin tags in and he connects with an elbow to the head followed by a knee. Benjamin with a neck breaker for a near fall. Benjamin with a reverse chin lock to wear down Morrison. Morrison escapes the hold and then he tries to make the tag but Benjamin catches Morrison. Morrison with a sunset flip but Haas made the blind tag and he kicks Morrison in the back. Haas with forearms and then he chokes Morrison with his boot. Haas with a front face lock and Benjamin tags in. Benjamin with a snap mare and a rear chin lock. Morrison returns to his feet but Benjamin with a knee. Morrison tries for a neck breaker but Benjamin turns it into a backslide. Morrison is able to get out of the hold and he makes the tag to Punk. Punk with a series of clotheslines to Benjamin and then he hits a series of kicks. Punk grazes Benjamin with a leg lariat and Benjamin is able to tag in Haas. Punk does not realize that Haas made the tag and Punk with the running knee into the corner and he sets for the bulldog, but Benjamin sees Haas and Benjamin sends Punk into an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Haas kicks Punk in the back. Haas tries for a gutwrench suplex but Punk blocks it. Haas with a waist lock but Punk with elbows. Haas with a power slam for a near fall. Haas with knees to the back and a rear chin lock. Benjamin tags in and Benjamin with a kick and then he suplexes Punk. Benjamin starts to toy with Punk but then he ups the intensity with kicks, but Punk with kicks of his own. Benjamin blocks a kick and then he hits a short arm clothesline. Haas is tagged back in and he kicks Punk in the chest. Haas with a side head lock and Punk gets out of the hold. Punk avoids a belly-to-back suplex and lands on his feet and he makes the tag to Morrison, but then Punk is clotheslined over the top rope to the floor by Haas. Morrison drops Haas on the top rope and Morrison with a clothesline and a drop kick. Morrison with a leg lariat to Haas and then he knocks Benjamin off the apron. Morrison sends Haas to the apron. Morrison tries for a shoulder but he is met with a knee to the head. Haas with the sunset flip and Morrison rolls through and connects with a Shining Wizard. Morrison goes up top but Benjamin leaps to the turnbuckles to stop Morrison. Morrison knocks Benjamin off the turnbuckles and then Punk clotheslines Benjamin over the top rope to the floor. Morrison hits the split legged corkscrew moonsault for the three count.
Winners: CM Punk and John Morrison We go to commercial. We are back and did you know that the WWE cares about the military? Chris Jericho comes to the ring and he is dressed for action, but he is going to talk to us. Jericho mentions that Sunday is Judgment Day, the day that all must atone for what we have done. Jericho says that the hypocrites fear Judgment Day, he does not because he is a man of virtue and a pure hearted man who does exactly what he says he is going to do. Ever since he came to Smackdown, he has been lied to and disrespected. Chris says that he thought it was because he was the new kid on the block, but he realizes that it is a conspiracy. It has been perpetrated by the fraudulent, gelatinous, parasitic, tape worms. He says that it is a conspiracy by the incompetent General Manager Teddy Long. It is a conspiracy by all of the jealous wrestlers in the locker room. On Sunday, he will have his vindication. If he has to go through the entire locker room on Sunday, he will do it. He says that he is a modern day conqueror. Chris says that Smackdown is his show. The first victim in his quest is the miniscule piece of trash Rey Mysterio. Chris says that Rey took something very important to him. Rey took his chance to be the World Champion. Jericho says that he will take something away from Rey when he beats him on Sunday to become the Intercontinental Champion for the ninth time. Chris says that he is going to take away from the fans the opportunity to see Rey hit the 619. Chris says that the fans will not see a 619 tonight either as he commands Rey Mysterio to come to the ring. A larger figure comes out and it is Edge and Edge comes to the ring. Edge says that it has been a few weeks and that is all that it has taken to make him sick of hearing Jericho’s voice. Edge wonders why Jericho thinks everyone is after him because as the World Champion, everyone is out to get him. Edge says that Jericho is out to get him too. Edge comments on Jericho’s assertions about being in charge of Smackdown. Edge points out that it is his show and it was his show when Jericho was on Raw getting beaten by John Cena. Edge points out that Jericho can be a nine time champion if he wins on Sunday, but Edge is a nine time World Champion. Edge says that he is taking over this segment and Chris Jericho might want to call out his opponent, Edge is calling out his opponent Jeff Hardy. Chris interrupts and he says that he called out Rey Mysterio first. Neither man comes out but we get the next best option, Smackdown’s own incompetent General Manager Teddy Long. Teddy tells the playas in the ring to calm down because it is neither man’s show because it is the WWE Universe’s show. Teddy says that he will give them a match and Chris Jericho will face Edge tonight. Jeff Hardy is walking in the back as we go to commercial. We are back with the Smack of the Night: Rey Mysterio costing Chris Jericho his title match because of his unauthorized presence at ringside during Jericho’s match with Jeff Hardy. Match Number Two: Jeff Hardy versus Ricky Ortiz They lock up and Ortiz with a knee to the midsection and a forearm to the back followed by a head butt. Ortiz with a hip toss and a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Ortiz with a shoulder tackle and a series of knee drops for a near fall. Ortiz with a reverse chin lock with the arm isolated. Ortiz with head butts to Hardy followed by a near fall. Ortiz goes for the big splash but Hardy gets his knees up. Ortiz gets a near fall with a power slam. Ortiz returns to the reverse chin lock. Hardy with a flying clothesline. Hardy with running forearm to Ortiz followed by a mule kick that sends Ortiz into the corner. Hardy with the hesitation baseball slide and then Hardy with a running forearm to Ortiz in the corner. Hardy hits Whisper in the Wind and then it is time for the Twist of Fate and Swanton for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy We go to commercial. We are back with a look back to the final moments of the Hardy match. Josh Mathews is in the ring with Jeff Hardy and Josh asks Jeff if he has the momentum leading into his match at Judgment Day. Hardy says that Edge is a creature of habit. You will see a pattern. He wins the title at a pay per view and then he loses it. At Backlash, Edge won the title but at Judgment Day Edge will lose again. Jeff says that it will not just be for him, it will be for everyone who stood with him through thick and thin and believed in him. Time for the Raw Rebound with extra handicaps. Alicia Fox and Michelle McCool are stretching in the locker room as we go to commercial. We see footage of Gail Kim’s victory over Michelle McCool a few weeks ago and then we see Michelle getting her revenge with a McCool Clash. Match Number Three: Alicia Fox and Michelle McCool versus Gail Kim and Melina Melina and Michelle start things off and Michelle with a double leg take down but Melina punches Michelle. Alicia is tagged in and they lock up and Alicia with a kick and a full nelson. Melina drops down and Melina with an arm drag. Melina works on the arm and then she takes Alicia to the mat and tags in Gail who hits a drop kick on Alicia and gets a near fall. Gail with a forearm and Gail hits a rana. Gail with another forearm and an Irish whip. Gail with a cross body into the corner and then Michelle tries to interfere but Gail takes care of her. Gail tries for a springboard move but Michelle pulls Gail to the floor. Michelle tags back in and she rolls Gail back in and Michelle can only get a two count. Michelle punches Gail and then hits a jumping twisting neck breaker. Michelle with an inverted face lock but Gail escapes the hold using the ropes for a version of an Asai DDT. Melina tags in and she clothesline Michelle and connects with a forearm. Melina puts Michelle on the turnbuckles and Melina jumps on her midsection. Michelle sends Melina into the ropes and then she gets rollup for a near fall. Melina blocks a kick and then she hits a boot to the head for a near fall. Melina sets for an inverted DDT on Michelle but Alicia interferes and hits a clothesline on Melina. Gail sends Alicia to the floor and then Gail with a baseball slide and then Gail runs Alicia into the ringside barrier. Melina with a kick to Michelle and then Melina with the Screeching Code Red for the three count.
Winners: Melina and Gail Kim We go to commercial. We are back with the WWE Rewind: Dolph Ziggler attacking Great Khali with a chair last week. Match Number Four: Jimmy Wang Yang versus Dolph Ziggler Dolph offers his hand to Yang and Yang does not do it so Ziggler pushes him. Yang with a kick and arm drag into an arm bar. Ziggler with punches to the back followed by a wristlock Exploder gourdbuster. Ziggler with kicks to Yang followed by an Irish whip and a splash into the corner. Ziggler with a rear chin lock into a reverse chin lock. Ziggler with a series of elbow drops and then he does the delayed leaping Perfect elbow drop. Ziggler returns to the reverse chin lock. Yang with punches but Ziggler stops any offense with a knee to the head. Ziggler with a full nelson. Ziggler misses a splash into the corner and Yang with a clothesline followed by a kick to the chest and a kick to the back of the head. Yang with a kick to the back of the leg and another kick to the head for a near fall. Yang misses a spin kick but he is able to go up top and when he tries for a moonsault, Ziggler is not in the area but Yang lands on his feet and that allows Ziggler to hit the leaping inverted DDT for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler After the match, Great Khali comes out and he sends Ziggler to the floor from the apron and Ziggler runs away from Khali. We go to commercial. We are back and Cryme Tyme are in the back with Eve. They were impressed with Eve’s dance moves and Eve says that she used to be a dancer. JTG and Shad point out that Layla has taken her down twice and to make things worse, Layla is saying things about Eve’s mom. JTG and Shad point out that Layla is down the hall. Eve says that she will take care of things. Layla is in the make up chair and Eve pours powder on her head and we have a catfight. JTG and Shad break things up. We see footage of last week’s match between R Truth and Mike Knox. Who wants a rematch. Match Number Five: R Truth versus Mike Knox They lock up and Knox misses a punch on a break. Truth with a punch but Knox with a forearm and slam. Knox misses a knee drop and Knox goes to the floor. Truth with a pescado onto Knox. Truth punches Knox on the floor and then they return to the ring. Knox with a big boot to Truth. Knox with a head butt and Irish whip. Knox with a splash in the corner and a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Knox catapults Truth into the ropes and gets a near fall. Knox with a reverse chin lock. Knox with a knee and Irish whip. Truth with a boot and punch to Knox. Truth with a split when Knox charges at him and Truth with a kick to the head. Truth with a flying corkscrew forearm for the three count.
Winner: R Truth We go to commercial. We are back and did you know that men and women watch Smackdown? Josh Mathews is in the interview area with Rey Mysterio. Josh asks Rey about his match with Jericho and Chris’s comments from earlier in the show. Rey says that Jericho is arrogant, egotistical, and deceitful. Rey says that Chris has been running his mouth about being disrespected and a conspiracy. However, to gain respect, you have to earn it. Rey says that he is not going to let Jericho walk all over him. Rey says that Jericho does not have to worry about conspiracy on Sunday, just the 619. Jim Ross and Todd Grisham are in the ring and it is time to run through the card for Judgment Day. Match Number Six: Edge versus Chris Jericho They get face to face and have words for each other. Jericho slaps Edge and Edge slaps Jericho back. Jericho takes Edge to the mat and he punches Edge. Edge punches Jericho and Jericho returns the favor. Jericho sends Edge into the ringside barrier and apron. Edge sends Jericho into the announce table and they return to the ring. Edge punches Jericho in the corner and he Irish whips Jericho but Jericho moves out of the way when Edge charges. Jericho sends Edge into the ring post. Jericho works on the shoulder with an arm bar. Edge with a knee to the midsection and an elbow to the back of the head. Edge puts Jericho in the ropes and he hits a cross body to the back for a near fall. Jericho with a kick and forearm to the head. Jericho chokes Edge in the ropes. Jericho with a baseball slide that sends Edge to the floor. Edge sends Jericho into the ring steps. Edge hot shots Jericho onto the ringside barrier and they return to the ring. Jericho with a kick and then he sends Edge into the turnbuckles. They go up top and they both punch each other and they go to the floor. We go to commercial. We are back and Edge with a suplex for a near fall. Edge punches Jericho but Jericho with a divorce court and a near fall. Jericho with a key lock and then he slams Edge while in the key lock. Jericho kicks Edge in the arm. Jericho with a kick to the arm. Jericho tries for the bulldog but Edge sends Jericho into the turnbuckles. Edge punches Jericho and hits a spear into the corner after an Irish whip. Jericho tries to use the ropes for leverage on the cover and the ref sees it. Edge does the same thing. Edge and Jericho each hit clotheslines and both men go down. Edge punches Jericho and Jericho with the bulldog. Jericho with the Lionsault but he lands on his feet. Edge with a sharpshooter and Jericho goes to the ropes. Edge tries for the Sharpshooter again and Jericho with an inside cradle. Jericho puts Edge in the Walls of Jericho. Edge gets to the ropes. Edge hits a spear and Jericho rolls to the floor. Jericho drops Edge on the top rope. Jericho gets a chair he brings it into the ring but Edge with a kick to Jericho and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Edge by disqualification After the match, Edge gets the chair and Jeff Hardy stops Edge from using it on Jericho and Hardy with a Twist of Fate onto the chair. Hardy goes up top and Jericho tries to stop him but Jericho is pushed to the floor. Hardy with a cross body onto Jericho. CM Punk comes to the ring with official Money in the Bank Briefcase referee. Before the bell can ring, Umaga comes to the ring. Punk hits Umaga twice with the briefcase. Punk with a pescado onto Umaga. Umaga hits an uppercut on Punk while Hardy hits a spear on Edge. Umaga and Punk fight into the crowd while Edge and Hardy also go into the crowd. Meanwhile Rey Mysterio attacks Chris Jericho on the ramp. 2010 - British wrestling star Andre Baker, 45, who worked for many promotions in the UK and promoted NWA UK Hammerlock committed suicide. Baker, who had an excellent amateur wrestling background, did come to the United States in the early 1990s to challenge Dan Severn for the NWA title on an event promoted by the late Dennis Coralluzo and also worked for the now-defunct UCW in New York City. Baker launched Hammerlock UK in 1993. The promotion's school helped train current TNA stars Winter and Douglas Williams, New Japan's Prince Devitt, and former NWA champion Gary Steele. 2010 - WWE Smackdown ran two events in New Brunswick up in Canada: Moncton, New Brunswick matinee live report by Eric Lewis: WWE's Smackdown brand was in Moncton, N.B., Canada this afternoon for a house show. There was a decent turnout. I'm guessing around 1,500-2,000 people. Show opened with Tony Chimel announcing Matt Hardy, who came to the ring and spoke of how we were going to love the show, but unfortunately he was too hurt to wrestle because of the recent attacks by Drew McIntyre. McIntyre then came out and started mouthing off. He and Hardy traded blows, but McIntyre got the better of him. Kofi Kingston then made the save. Chimel announced that while Kofi and Drew were supposed to fight later in the afternoon, Kofi figured why wait? and we went to the match. First match: Kofi Kingston vs. Drew McIntyre
Winner: Kofi with Trouble in Paradise after Hardy came back out and distracted McIntyre. Decent match with McIntyre getting the most out of it with Kofi continuing to battle back. Some fan cheered for Kofi the entire time, but he yelled "Kobi!!!" over and over, to the annoyance of all of us who know what his actual ring name is. Following the first match, Tiffany came out as the guest host and asked a youngster in the first row if he could answer a WWE trivia question. The question, I think, was "What is WWE's next PPV?" Kid answers "Over the Limit" and got the chance to be the bell ringer for the next match. Second match: David Otunga vs. Darren Young
Winner: Young with a crucifix rollup. Cody Rhodes then came out and talked himself up, eventually demanding Chimel reintroduce him as the "Uncommon" Cody Rhodes. Third match: Cody Rhodes vs. Chris Masters
Winner: Rhodes with "crossroads" Shad Gaspard came to the ring for his match, followed by MVP. The two made fun of each other for a bit, and seemed to be enjoying doing so. Shad kept making fun of MVP's "ballin'" and his signature poses. He made it look really goofy, and MVP grabbed the mic to ask fans, "Do you have laws in Canada against beating up on the mentally handicapped?" Fourth match: Shad Gaspard vs. MVP
Winner: MVP with the 305 -- Intermission -- Fifth match: Layla vs. Kelly Kelly for the Women's championship
Winner: Layla with a neckbreaker after what was a decent match, much longer than what the women usually get on TV. Sixth match: Straight-Edge Society (Luke Gallows and masked man) w/Serena vs. Christian and Rey Mysterio
Winners: Christian and Rey with the 619 followed by Killswitch and seated senton on Luke Gallows. This was the hottest and most interesting match on the show with a few hot tags and some fun offense from Christian and Mysterio. Seventh match: Jack Swagger vs. Big Show for World championship
Winner: Big Show by DQ when Swagger finally attacked him with the World title. It was a decent house show. Not quite as much crowd interaction as I expected, but the guys and gals seemed to have fun. Rey Mysterio probably had the biggest pop, but Christian, MVP, Big Show, Kelly Kelly and Kofi Kingston were all way over as well. The tag match was probably the most over match on the show. St. John, New Brunswick evening results at Harbour Station: -Kofi Kingston defeated WWE IC Champion Drew McIntyre in a non-title match.
-Darren Young defeated David Otunga.
-Cody Rhodes defeated Chris Masters.
-MVP defeated Shad Gaspard in what would be Gaspard's last match on the main WWE roster.
-WWE Women's Champion Layla defeated Kelly Kelly.
-Rey Mysterio & Christian defeated Luke Gallows & CM Punk's Masked Man (Joey Mercury, with Serena).
-The Big Show defeated World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger via disqualification. 2010- WWE Raw ran London, Ontario at the Labatt Centre, with the following results: -Santino Marella defeated Zack Ryder.
-Justin Gabriel defeated Wade Barrett.
-Goldust defeated Dos Caras (the future Alberto Del Rio)
-WWE Unified Tag Team Champions David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd defeated Carlito & Primo Colon.
-WWE Divas Champion Eve Tores, Brie & Nikki Bella defeated Maryse, Alicia Fox, & Jillian Hall.
-John Morrison defeated Vladimir Kozlov.
-WWE World Champion John Cena & Randy Orton defeated Sheamus & Ted Dibiase. 2010 - TNA promoted their Sacrifice PPV. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report: No live pre-show tonight, just 25 minutes devoted to the Rob Van Dam vs. AJ Styles match, and the very good Sacrifice lineup music video that closed Impact this week. Team 3D vs. Beer Money vs. Motor City Machineguns to determine the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Title. First pin or submission wins, and Alex Shelley started off with Robert Roode. They exchanged holds, then Roode hit a shoulder block. Shelley hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and a bulldog out of a bodyscissors for a two count. Roode hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count of his own, then tagged in Storm. Storm slugged Shelley and knocked Chris Sabin to the floor. Storm went to the floor to avoid a shot by Shelley, and instead got decked by Sabin. MCMG went to work on Roode, double teaming him in the ring, then did the same to Storm when he rolled back in the ring. Storm came back with an eye poke and a jimping knee to Sabin. Brother Ray tagged himself in off Storm's back and faced off with Sabin. Brother Ray worked on Sabin's arm, but Sabin came back with kicks. Brother Ray flattened Sabin with a kick to the face, then tagged in Devon for a legdrop/backbreaker combo. Shelley broke up the cover. Sabin mounted a comeback, hitting Devon with a leg lariat, but he missed a pescado on Brother Ray after punching him to the floor. Brother Ray told Sabin he was "stupid" for trying that. Sabin was tossed back in and Devon slammed him and hit a legdrop. Roode broke up the cover. Ray tagged in and chopped Sabin in the chest. Ray slammed Sabin and went to the second rope, but missed the senton. Shelley tagged in and hit Team 3D with forearms and kicks. Shelley went to the top rope, but 3D caught him. Sabin dropkicked Shelley in the back to send Team 3D down. Sabin dropkicked Beer Money off the apron, then went to work on Team 3D. Sabin dove to the floor to hit Storm with a tope. Shelley pulled Ray throat first across the top rope, but missed a dive from the top. Roode tagged in off Ray, and clotheslined Shelley. Roode gave Shelley a side backbreaker for two, then Beer Money gave him a double suplex after Storm tagged in. Sabin tried to run in, but the referee forced him out. Storm gave Shelley a neckbreaker off the ropes for a two count. Roode tagged in and they worked over Shelley with a slam and elbowdrop/kneedrop combination. Shelley elbowed out of a Roode chinlock, but Roode hit a back elbow for a two count and tagged in Storm. Shelley tried to rally, and Storm missed an avalanche. Roode tagged in, cutting Shelley off from tagging out. Shelley managed to tag Sabin, who hit Roode with forearms, then caught him with a second rope rana. Sabin dove to the floor to take out Storm, then gave Roode a springboard DDT in the ring, but Devon broke it up. Everyone got in the ring and started going at it. MCMG were tossed out, and Team 3D started working over Beer Money, hitting a Doomsday Device on Roode. Sabin gave Brother Ray a spingboard bodypress for a two count. Sabin was sent to the floor, and Team 3D set up Roode for 3D. Storm ran in and spit beer in Brother Ray's eyes. Devon went to the floor, brawling with Storm. In the ring, Roode gave Brother Ray a spinebuster. The Guns took out Roode, then gave Brother Ray a neckbreaker/bodypress combo for the win at the fourteen minute mark. I don't remember Brother Ray tagging in before the match ending brawl, but I may have missed it. Winners: The Motor City Machineguns. Taz and Mike Tenay discussed the Abyss arrest from Thursday, noting he was released after it was revealed that the "attack" on Chelsea was a hoax. They mentioned "rumors" that Wolfe and Chelsea were being investigated for filing a false police report. They then previewed the Global Title match. Global Champion Rob Terry vs. Orlando Jordan. Jordan made his entrance by being lowered into the ring on two ropes adorned with scarves. Jordan tried to jump Terry as he entered the ring, by Terry hit a series of shoulderblocks in a corner. Terry gave Jordan a hiptoss, then hit a clothesline in the corner and knocked him down with a second clothesline. Terry hit some punches, then backdropped him. Terry hit an avalanche and a side slam for a two count. Jordan kicked away another backdrop attempt, but Terry responded with a spinkick. Terry clotheslined Jordan out of the ring and onto the ramp. Jordan started crawling away from the ring, but Terry went after him and tossed him back in. Terry hit a powerslam for a two count. Jordan begged off, but then he caught a Terry kick, put his leg over the top rope and kicked his knee twice. Jordan then dropped an elbow to the back of his knee. Jordan worked on the knee, dropping elbows and sitting on it. Jordan went to the floor and whipped Terry's leg into the ringpost. Jordan punched the inside of his knee, then applied a spinning toe hold. Terry kicked Jordan away, but Jordan hit an elbow to the back of the head, then went back to work on the leg, hitting it with forearms. Terry pushed Jordan away as he went for a Scorpion, but Jordan hit some punches and then slammed the leg to the mat repeatedly. Jordan hit a kneedrop to the chest and went for a pin, but Terry kicked out. Jordan hit an elbow to the head, then stretched out Terry's leg and went to the middle rope. Jordan pulled down his kneepad and went for a second rope kneedrop, but Terry rolled out of the way. Terry struggled to his feet, and Jordan went to grab him, but Terry throttled him and hit a Freakbuster (chokeslam/spinebuster) for the win at the eight minute mark. Winner: Rob Terry. Terry limped to the back following the match, and Jordan ran up behing him and clipped the knee. Jordan took Terry's knee and slammed it down on the Global Title belt before leaving. Backstage, Ink, Inc. visited Team 3D, while Brother Ray was still wiping beer out of his eyes. Team 3D wished Ink, Inc. good look tonight, and warned them about dealing with The Band. Shannon Moore acted very confident about winning the match, and Jesse Neal said they would take care of The Band for Team 3D. They left, with Moore ignoring a Devon offer to shake hands, and Brother Ray got angry over Neal insinuating (in his opinion) that Team 3D would need their student to take care of things for them. Devon tried to calm Brother Ray down. The events leading to the X Division Title match was shown. X Division champion Kazarian vs. Doug Williams. Doug Williams still has physical possession of the title belt. They locked up at the start, with Kazarian pushing Williams into the ropes to force a break. They locked up again, and Williams applied a cravate, then a side headlock. They went to the mat, with Kazarian grabbing a headscissors, which Williams worked out of. They traded holds on the mat, then Williams hit a snap mare and a shoulderblock, then went back to the cravate. Kazarian broke out, leapfrogged Williams and hit an armdrag. Williams worked on his arm, including a nice hammerlock and head scissors combo. Williams tried to come back by going after Kazarian's arm, but the story of the match was that Kazarian kept reversing Williams' moves and Williams had to go to the ropes to break things. Williams went to the apron, and tried to yank Kazarian's arm across the top rope, but Kazarian blocked it and did the same move to Williams. Kazarian hit a springboard Oklahoma roll for a two count. They had a test of strength, with both men doing bridges as they went back and forth. Williams hit a knee to the gut and twisted Kazarian into a crossarmed chinlock, but Kazarian rolled backwards into one of his own. Kazarian went to the top rope, but Williams pushed Kazarian off, and Kazarian bounced off the ramp as he fell to the floor. Kazarian got on the apron, but Williams gave him a neckbreaker that sent him back to the floor. Williams grabbed a front facelock and pulled Kazarian to the apron and slammed him face first into it. Williams applied a front facelock in the ring, but Kazarian put Williams gut first on the top rope. Williams stood up on the apron, and Kazarian kicked him to the floor. Kazarian hit Williams with a pescado. Kazarian hit a springboard dropkick after Williams rolled into the ring. Kazarian hit a forearm, clothesline and spinkick, then a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Kazarian hit a forearm, then Williams grabbed a waistlock and attempted a Chaos Theory suplex, but Kazarian grabbed a victory roll for two, then a backslide for another two. Williams backdropped Kazarian to the apron, and Kazarian came back with a slingshot DDT for a two count. Williams headbutted Kazarian in the midsection as they got up and hit a clothesline. Williams hit a jumping knee in the corner, then started to go to the top rope, but then stopped himself. Williams got in the ring, and Kazarian went for a reverse piledriver, but Williams rolled over it into a sunset flip attempt. Williams powerbombed Kazarian, throwing him into the bottom turnbuckle. Williams gave Kazarian a brainbuster into his knee and got a two count. Williams went for a Chaos Theory, but Kazarian broke out and hit a legsweep faceplant for a two count. Kazarian backdropped Williams, then went for an Electric Chair, but Williams dropped out of it behind Kazarian and hit the Chaos Theory rolling German suplex for the clean pin at the 14-minute mark. Winner and new X Division Champion: Douglas Williams. Backstage, Desmond Wolfe and Chelsea were arguing, with Chelsea upset over the stipulation in Wolfe's match with Abyss. Chelsea was fearful of what Abyss might do to her, given what they did on Thursday's Impact. Wolfe said he was doing this to get her the ring she wanted. Chelsea said she didn't want the ring anymore. Wolfe said this was also about him, as a win would help him be named as number one contender. Wolfe said that Chelsea belonged to him, and that wouldn't change. The events leading to the Knockouts Title match were shown. TNA Knockouts champion Madison Rayne vs. Tara - Title vs. Career. Tara looked a little emotional as she made her entrance. Rayne was accompanied by Lacey Von Erich and Velvet Sky. Rayne sent them to the back, acting like everything would be fine. Tara hit Rayne from behind to start the match, and went for a piledriver, but Rayne backdropped her and hit a running knee. Rayne went after Tara's leg, but Tara kicked her away. Tara rolled to the floor, and clipped Rayne's leg as she climbed out after her. Tara knocked Rayne into the ringpost, then tossed her back into the ring for a two count. Tara complained to the referee about the count, and ran into a Rayne sunset flip. They traded reversals out of the move, with both getting two counts. Rayne grabbed a backslide for another two, then a rollup for yet another two. Rayne hit a clothesline, but Tara caught Rayne with a knee to the head. Tara but Rayne in the corner and hit some shoulderblocks. Tara tossed Rayne by the hair, then hit a vertical suplex and rolled into a guillotine choke. Tara hit a forearm to the back, then went after a leg, but Rayne kicked her away. Rayne hit some shots to the gut, then knocked her down with shots to the chest. Rayne kicked Tara in the head, then went for a backbreaker, but Tara caught her with a clothesline. Tara went for the Widow's Peak, but Rayne broke out of it. Rayne went for a clothesline, but Tara ducked it and hit the Widow's Peak. Rayne rolled to the floor before Tara count make a cover. Tara tossed Rayne back in and hit a slam. Tara went to the top rope and hit a moonsault for a two count. Tara looked stunned. She stomped Rayne a few times, then went for another moonsault. Rayne moved out of the way, and Tara crashed to the mat. Rayne hit her neckbreaker on the knee and scored the pin at the six minute mark. Winner: Madison Rayne. Rayne walked off, and waved goodbye to Tara. Some of the fans chanted "Thank you Tara." Tara took out Poison, her pet Tarantula, and held it up for the crowd. Tara bowed to the crowd, then walked out, escorted by TNA security. Christy Hemme interviewed The Band. Eric Young explained that he was the one who called Kevin Nash about coming in when X-Pac went down. Young said he was the only person smart enough to hang with The Band. Scott Hall said he didn't know about Young, but Young proved him wrong. Nash said Ink Inc. had a great future ahead of them, but tonight was not their night. Nash said The Band were doing things "Freebird-style" and that any two of the members of The Band could defend the belts. However, it was going to be Hall & Nash tonight, as Young said he was going to go put their beer on ice. TNA Tag Team champions Scott Hall & Kevin Nash vs. Ink Inc. Young did not come out with Hall and Nash. Hall started out with Moore, tossing the toothpick at him. Moore slapped Hall in response. Hall grabbed an armbar and hit some short-arm shoulderblocks, then slapped him across the back of the head. Moore flipped out of the armbar and rolled up Hall for a two count. Hall complained about Moore pulling his trunks. Hall gave Moore a clothesline, but Moore hit a knee to the gut and a second rope dropkick. Hall reversed a whip, but Moore hit a spinkick. Hall shoved Moore, then tagged in Kevin Nash. Nash called out Jesse Neal, who tagged in. Nash hit a knee to the gut, then put him in a corner and hit some knees and elbows. Neal dodged an elbow and hit some punches and a headbutt. Nash fired back and choked Neal in the corner with a boot to the throat. Hall slugged Neal from the apron. Nash hit a knee to the gut and tagged in Hall, who put Neal in an abdominal stretch. Nash reached in to give him an assist a few times. The referee finally caught him and broke it up, allowing Neal to hiptoss out of it. Nash tagged in and put Neal in a corner and hit some punches. Nash missed a charge in the corner and Moore tagged in. Moore dropkicked Hall and hit Nash with a series of punches. Nash reversed a whip, but Moore dodged a charge and hit a top rope bodypress. Neal tagged in and Moore hit Nash with a second rope neckbreaker. Moore knocked Hall off the apron and gave him a pescado. neal went to spear Nash, but Nash moved and Neal knocked out the referee. Neal gave Nash a series of forearms. Eric Young ran out and tossed a kendo stick to Nash. Neal knocked Young off the apron and dodged Nash's swings with the stick. Moore got on the apron, and Nash hit him with the stick. Neal then speared Nash. Young got the stick and was leaving with it, but Brother Ray ran out and tackled Young. Brother Ray hit him with the stick, and then got in the ring and stood over Nash. Brother Ray yelled "I haven't forgotten about you". Jesse pulled Brother Ray back and said "I got this" and Ray turned and blasted Neal with the kendo stick. Brother Ray walked off, and Young crawled into the ring and pulled Nash on top of Neal. The referee woke up and counted the pin at the eight minute mark. Winners: Scott Hall & Kevin Nash. The Band celebrated in the ring, while Brother Ray stood on the rampway glaring. The events leading to Desmond Wolfe vs. Abyss were shown. Desmond Wolfe vs. Abyss - Chelsea vs. The Ring. Abyss jumped Wolfe during his ring entrance and started pounding him around the ring. Chelsea tried to walk off, but a referee forced her to sit in a chair on the rampway. Abyss tossed Wolfe into the ring, and the bell rang to officially start the match. Wolfe tried a bodyblock, but just bounced off Abyss. Abyss hit some punches, and Wolfe fire back with forearms, but Abyss downed him with a pair of clotheslines. Chelsea stood up, and Abyss went after her, allowing Wolfe to hit Abyss from behind and knock him to the floor. Wolfe rammed Abyss shoulder-first into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Wolfe kicked Abyss and put him in an overhead wristlock. Abyss throw Wolfe down to escape the hold, but Wolfe kicked his arm, then yanked it a few times. Wolfe applied an armbar, using his own shoulder for leverage. Abyss punched out of the hold, but Wolfe went right back after the arm. There were dueling chants, and I think Wolfe had more support than Abyss. Abyss broke out of an armbar and went for a chokeslam, but Desmond broke out. Abyss kicked Wolfe down and hit an avalanche, then a sideslam for a two count. Abyss called for a chokeslam, and was booed. Abyss went for the move, but Wolfe broke out of it and hit a DDT for a two count. Wolfe hit a cross chop in the corner, then hit a forearm. Wolfe hit a running European uppercut, then a trio of shoulderblocks. Wolfe went for a lariat, but Abyss hit him with a reverse elbow and a chokeslam. Chelsea ran to ringside, and Abyss grabbed her. Chelsea tossed her purse into the ring. Wolfe opened the purse and pulled out some brass knuckles. The referee broke up Abyss and Chelsea, and forced Chelsea back to her chair. While this was happening, Wolfe hit Abyss with the knuckles. The referee came back, and Wolfe covered Abyss. Abyss kicked out at two. Abyss started to "hulk up" and the fans were booing. They still did the "You" for the finger point, then went back to booing. Abyss hit Wolfe with the Black Hole Slam for the pin at the ten minute mark. Winner: Abyss. Abyss went up to Chelsea and said "See you on Thursday" as the announcers explained that Chelsea would have to spend 30-days with Abyss starting on Impact. However, the referee still escorted Chelsea to the back, not letting her go to Desmond. Ken Anderson did a promo, mocking Jeff Hardy's "Creatures Of The Night" while annoying Christy Hemme. Anderson wondered if he could be one of Hardy's fans, but then said he couldn't be one, because he was "an a**holes" and that his fans, "Anderson's A**holes" would be louder than Hardy's fans. Anderson got a pop for this, and the fans delivered his catchphrase of repeating his name, prompting Anderson to say "Thanks, a**holes," which got another big pop. Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson. Anderson had his ribs taped as a result of Hardy putting him through a table on Impact. They two locked up and jockeyed for position. There were chants of "I'm an A**hole" and "You're an A**hole" from the crowd. Seriously. Hardy gave Anderson a spinebuster and hit some punches, then attacked the ribs. Anderson dodged a flying bodypress and Hardy fell to the floor. Anderson threw Hardy back first into the apron, and then put him back in the ring. There was a "We are A**holes" chant now. Anderson missed an elbow, and Hardy whipped Anderson into a corner and hit a forearm. Hardy went for the elevated kick in the corner, but Anderson kicked him as he came down. Anderson stomped Jeff in the midsection, then got a two count. The chant now is "Let's go a**hole" and then it was "Major a**hole" for a bit. Hardy hit a shot to the ribs to try and stop Anderson, but Anderson hit a flurry of punches. Anderson hit some forearms to the back, then applied an abdominal stretch. Hardy powered out of it, but Anderson hit a knee to the gut for a two count. Anderson got on the second rope and jumped, but Hardy got his feet up. Anderson put on the brakes, and instead dropped an elbow on Hardy's chest. Anderson drove a knee into Hardy's back twice, then punched him in the kidneys and got a two count. There were dueling chants for Hardy and A**hole. Anderson went back to the abdominal stretch. Hardy broke out, and went for a leapfrog in the corner, but Anderson caught it and crotched Jeff on the top rope. Anderson charged Jeff, but was backdropped onto the ramp. Hardy pulled out a chair and set it up on the ramp. Hardy took a big running start, jumped off the chair, and gave Anderson a leg lariat, sending them both over the top and back into the ring. Hardy scored a two count. Anderson and Hardy traded punches, then Hardy hit a pair of clotheslines and a Slingblade clothesline for a two count. Hardy clotheslined Anderson in the corner, then hit a bulldog for a two count. Hardy went for a suplex, but Anderson blocked it and hit a rolling Samoan Drop for a two count. Anderson went for a Mic Check, but Hardy elbowed out of it. Anderson grabbed Hardy's pants and yanked him throat first into the middle rope, then hit the Mic Check for a two count, as Hardy grabbed the ropes. Anderson pulled Jeff away from the ropes and got another two count. Jeff hit a mule kick after getting to his feet, then hit a gourdbuster. Hardy went to the top rope, but Anderson was starting to get up, so Hardy got back into the ring and kicked Anderson. Hardy hit Anderson with a Twist Of Fate, then took off his shirt. Hardy went to the top rope, but Anderson cut him off. Anderson got on the middle rope and picked up Hardy in a fireman's carry. Hardy hit some elbows, and Anderson fell forward into the ring, with Hardy's weight landing on the back of Anderson's head. Hardy then hit a Swanton Bomb to the back of Anderson and turned him over to get the pin at the sixteen minute mark. Winner: Jeff Hardy. Post-match, Anderson and Hardy stared each other down in the ring. Anderson offered Hardy a handshake, but Hardy refused it and walked off. Hardy pointed to his head, insinuating that he wasn't going to fall for any tricks. He left, and Anderson had a thoughtful look on his face. Christy Hemme interviewed Ric Flair and AJ Styles. Styles said that these were "dark days" for TNA, and that Rob Van Dam's title win was a fluke. Styles said he was going to win the title for Ric Flair, because he deserved to be "surrounded by greatness" and promised to win the belt tonight. A video on the Sting-Jeff Jarrett match was shown. Sting vs. Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett's music played, but no one came out. They went to the back, and Sting, with baseball bat in hand, was pounding a bloody Jeff Jarrett. Sting rammed Jarrett into some lockers, while referees prompted him to take it to the ring. Sting used the baseball bat to pop Jeff Jarrett's shoulder out twice, and I think Jeff said "Oh s***" after the first one. They made their way to the ramp and stage area, and Sting blasted the bloody Jarrett with punches. They went to the floor, and Sting dragged Jarrett to ringside, saying "You want to play make-believe, don't you?" Jarrett clutched his shoulder, and Sting rammed him into the guardrail. Sting gave Jarrett a baseball bat shot to the leg. Sting put Jarrett's arm across the ringsteps, then put the baseball bat on it and stomped the bat into the shoulder. Sting yanked Jarrett's arm with the bat again. Sting responded to a referee by saying "You want it in the ring?" and yanked Jarrett into the ring by his injured arm. They actually rang the bell, and Sting hit a Scorpion Deathdrop and pinned Jarrett. Winner: Sting. Sting yelled something at Jeff, then got a mic. Sting said "You want to play the deception game, Jeff? You're no different than 'those guys' and they're going to pay just like you did tonight." Referees and trainers checked on Jarrett, and the trainers were "popping" Jarrett's shoulder back in while he screamed in pain. Sting stayed in the ring and watched them load Jarrett on a stretcher. Sting walked off, then came back and tipped over the stretcher, knocking Jarrett on the floor. Hulk Hogan walked out, and Sting got in the ring and waited on him. Hogan went to the floor and made sure the trainers could get Jarrett into the back. Sting then just left. They replayed parts of the attack, while Taz and Tenay discussed how vicious Sting was. Christy Hemme interviewed Rob Van Dam, who said that in the past, his championships meant so little, he would forget the belt on the way to the ring. RVD said being the TNA Champion was different, and that the title meant he is the best wrestler in the world. Van Dam said he wasn't surprised to see Styles drag his name through the mud, and commented that Styles should be happy he is around, since more people watch TNA as a result, and he makes more money off it. Van Dam also noted Styles would continued to get his ass kicked as long as he kept coming after him. They showed a video package for the main event. World Champion Rob Van Dam vs. AJ Styles. They did the "big match" introductions for the bout. They circled each other a lot before making any contact, with Van Dam stopping to soak in cheers. They started to trash talk, and Styles threw a kick. Van Dam caught it, went for a spinkick, and Styles ducked it. Van Dam applauded it. They locked up again, and Styles backed Van Dam into a corner by pulling the hair. The referee admonished him for it. There was more trash talk, and Styles threw a punch, but Van Dam ducked and clotheslined Styles to the floor. Styles pulled Van Dam to the outside and hit some chops. They traded punches, and they tried to ram each other into the ramp, but neither was successful. Styles jumped onto the ramp and moonsaulted off. Van Dam dodged it, and Styles landed on his feet. Van Dam then did the same move, hitting Styles. Back in the ring, Styles hit Van Dam from the apron and went for a slingshot senton, but Van Dam moved out of the ring. Ric Flair then tripped Van Dam, and Earl Hebner went to the floor and ordered Flair away from ringside. Flair shoved Hebner, and Hebner shoved back ... and Ric Flair went down. Flair was sent away from ringside and Styles argued with the referee, then clotheslined Van Dam on the floor. Flair joined the announcers, saying Earl Hebner was a "dead man" and that he wasn't leaving. Styles knocked Van Dam off the apron and then hit a somersault dive over the top rope to the floor on RVD. Back in the ring, Styles stomped Van Dam. Flair complained about RVD's pose. Styles hit a knee drop for a two count. Van Dam sprung up and hit Styles with a spinkick. Styles reversed a whip and sent Van Dam into a corner. Styles ran into an elbow, and Van Dam went to the top rope, but Styles shoved him off and to the floor. Flair said no one was telling him what to do, and that he might have to take Dixie Carter back to his suite in the hotel. Styles put Van Dam in the ring and got a two count. Styles applied a chinlock, then chopped Van Dam. Van Dam responded with a forearm, but Styles got the better of him with punches. Van Dam then rallied with right hands, but ran into a boot by Styles. AJ hit a tornado DDT for a two count. Styles told Hebner he needs to learn to count. Styles snap mared Van Dam and hit some kicks to the back. Styles choked Van Dam against the middle rope, then hit some punches and dropkicked Van Dam in the face for a two count. Flair discussed the importance of being World Champion, noting he was more popular than any other athlete when he would walk through the airport. Van Dam came back, dodging some shots by AJ, and hit a kick off the second rope. Styles was checking his teeth after the kick. Van Dam hit some punches, a pair of clotheslines, then a superkick. Van Dam missed a spinkick in the corner and Styles chopped Van Dam. Van Dam reversed a whip and hit a big monkey flip. Van Dam went to the top and missed a frog splash. Styles hit a springboard clothesline for a two count. Styles rolled up Van Dam with a cradle for a two count. Van Dam hit a jawbreaker, then they traded reversals on a waistlock. AJ hit a Pele kick for a two count. Styles missed a dive in a corner and RVD hit a Northern Lights suplex with a bridge for a two count. Van Dam went to pick up Styles, and Styles rolled him into a small package for a two count. Van Dam hit a reverse atomic drop, then crotched Styles on the top rope. Van Dam went to the top and hit a leaping kick on Styles, knocking him off the ropes and into the ring. Van Dam went for the Rolling Thunder backsplash, but Styles got his knees up and then covered Van Dam for a two count. Styles put Van Dam in a Torture Rack, then spun Van Dam into a powerbomb for a two count. Van Dam kicked away Styles as he tried to grab his legs. Van Dam got up slowly in a corner, and Styles nailed him with a flying forearm for a two count. Van Dam hit some upkicks from the mat, but Styles kicked his leg an then set up for a Styles Clash. Van Dam turned it into a sunset flip, and they traded reversals on it for two counts. Van Dam and Styles then clotheslined each other. Both men got up slowly, and they traded shots. Styles caught a kick by Van Dam, but RVD turned it into a bodyscissors for a two count. Styles tripped Van Dam and went for a figure four, but Van Dam turned it into a small package for a two count. Van Dam backdropped Styles to the apron. Styles slingshotted in, jumped to the middle rope and moonsaulted into a standing RVD. They almost crumbled to the mat, but AJ held onto RVD and gave him a reverse DDT. AJ went for a springboard DDT, but Van Dam moved out of the way and Styles crashed to the mat. Ric Flair started to run down to ringside, but music hit and Jay Lethal walked out. Flair looked at Lethal, then went back towards walking to the ring. Lethal stopped him, and Flair chopped Lethal down. Lethal hit Flair with a low blow, and Lethal then put Ric Flair in a figure four leglock on the ramp, keeping him from interfering. In the ring, Van Dam was climbing to the top rope, but Styles cut him off. Styles set up for a superplex, but Van Dam battled with him as they both stood on the top rope. They jumped off, with Van Dam landing on his feet on the ring apron and yanking Styles throat first across the top rope. Van Dam hit the five star frog splash for the pin at the 25-minute mark. Winner: Rob Van Dam.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from San Antonio, Texas and your announcers are Michael ‘Where is the basement of the Alamo’ Cole, Josh ‘Duncan’ Mathews, and Jerry ‘The Admiral’ Lawler.
"Just when u didnt think it could get any worse in Tna,it has and guys are pissed bcuz hogan has brought In his no talent daughter,FF'n unbelievable, When i said guys were pissed thats putting it mildly...."
Ring of Honor issued a cease and desist letter to former booker and current DGUSA Vice President Gabe Sapolsky this week after Sapolsky railed against the promotion on his official Facebook Page. Sources close to DGUSA confirmed that Sapolsky received a cease and desist.
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