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June 23rd
On this day in history in ....
1939 - Bronko Nagurski defeats Lou Thesz to win the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1944 - Firpo Segra defeats Doc Macias to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1959 - Bobby Jones defeats George Eakin for the Madison Wrestling Club Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning his third reign.
1961 - Waldo Von Erich defeats Pepper Gomez to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title, ending Gomez's 12th reign.
1964 - Eddie Graham and Sam Steamboat defeat Chris and John Tolos for the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.
1964 - Pampero Firpo defeats Nick Bockwinkel to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title in Eugene, Oregon, ending Bockwinkel's second reign.
1965 - Ken Lucas is awarded the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title, which was vacated on May 1 when Chin Lee left the area. This began Lucas' second reign.
1967 - Butcher and Stan (Stan Pulaski) Vachon defeat Enrique and Ramon Torres to win the Georgia NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia, ending the Torres' third reign.
1970 - Nick Bockwinkel defeats Joe Scarpa to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Macon, Georgia.
1970 - Moondog Mayne defeats The Claw for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, beginning his 10th reign.
1974 - The Crusaders (Billy Red Lyons and Dewey Robertson) defeat The Love Brothers (Hartford and Reginald) for the Toronto NWA International Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario.
1977 - Kurt Von Hess wins his second NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title, ending The Wrestling Pro's eighth reign in Panama City, Florida.
1978 - Ringo Mendoza defeats Perro Aguayo to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico. This began Mendoza's third reign and ended Aguayo's third reign.
1978 - The Mongolian Stomper wins a tournament final in Knoxville, Tennessee to win his sixth NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title.
1978 - Tony Atlas and Thunderbolt Patterson defeat Ole Anderson and Ivan Koloff for the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1978 - Pak Choo (Kengo Kimura) and Mr. Ito defeat Black Gordman and Hector Guerrero to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1980 - Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada defeat Tiger Conway, Jr. and José Lothario to win the NWA American Tag Team Title in Amarillo, Texas, beginning their second reign.
1982 - Ted DiBiase defeats The Junkyard Dog for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana, beginning DiBiase's fourth reign.
1984 - World Class Championship Wrestling held a 14-man tournament in San Antonio, Texas for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title, which was left vacant with the death of David Von Erich on February 10. The results:
First round:
- José Lothario defeated WCCW American Tag Team Champion Bill Irwin.
- WCCW American Heavyweight Champion Gino Hernandez defeated George Weingroff.
- Terry Gordy defeated Black Gordman.
- Kerry Von Erich defeated Johnny Mantell.
- Jules Strongbow defeated John Tatum.
- Buck Zumhofe defeated Michael Hayes.
- Kevin Von Erich defeated Killer Khan.
Quarterfinals:
- WCCW American Heavyweight Champion Gino Hernandez defeated José Lothario.
- Kerry Von Erich defeated Terry Gordy.
- Jules Strongbow defeated Buck Zumhofe.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Kevin Von Erich.
Semifinals:
- Kerry Von Erich defeated WCCW American Heavyweight Champion Gino Hernandez. Despite winning the match, Kerry was injured. This allowed Hernandez to advance.
- Ric Flair defeated Jules Strongbow.
Finals:
- WCCW American Heavyweight Champion Gino Hernandez defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair to win the vacant WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title.
1984 - Ole Olsen and Randy Rich defeat The Warlords (Easy Rider and Snake Williams) for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.
1986 - Giant Hillbilly Elmer (Stan Frazier) and Jerry Lawler defeat The MOD Squad (Basher and Spike) in Memphis, Tennessee to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title.
1986 - Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden win their second NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title, defeating Steve Armstrong and Tommy Rich in Dothan, Alabama.
1986 - Brad Armstrong wins the NWA Southeast Continental Heavyweight Title from Jerry Stubbs in Birmingham, Alabama, beginning his second reign. At the same show, Adrian Street defeats Wendell Cooley to capture his third NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title.
1987 - The Sheepherders (Luke Williams and Butch Miller) defeat Mike Graham and Steve Keirn for the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida. This ended Graham and Keirn's seventh reign.
1989 - The AWA held "War in The Windy City" at Odeon Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. The results were:
- Tommy Jammer defeated Jonnie Stewart.
- Mike George defeated Rockin' Randy.
- Akio Sato defeated Paul Diamond by disqualification.
- Chavo, Hector and Mando Guerrero defeated The Executioner (Donn Lewin) and The Texas Hangmen (Killer and Psycho).
- AWA World Women's Champion Wendi Richter defeated Candi Devine to retain the title.
- Scott Norton and Ken Patera defeated The Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos).
- AWA World Heavyweight Champion Larry Zbyszko fought Greg Gagne to a draw to retain the title.
- Colonel DeBeers defeated Derrick Dukes in a loser gets painted yellow match.
1989 - Robert Fuller and Brian Lee defeat Jeff Jarrett and Mil Máscaras to win the WCWA World Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1989 - Tom Prichard defeats Wendell Cooley for the Continental Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Knoxville, Tennessee, beginning Prichard's second reign.
1990 - Dave Finlay and Marty Jones defeat Tony St. Clair and Miles Zrno to win the Catch Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title in Graz, Austria.
1990 - Rex King and Joey Maggs defeat Tony Anthony and Tom Burton for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1990 - The Juice Patrol (Beetlejuice (Art Barr) and Big Juice (Jeff Warner)) defeat U.S. Male (Ricky Santana and Curtis Thompson) to win their second NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon.
1992 - ECW held an event at the Original Sports Bar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, featuring a four-team tournament to decide the first-ever ECW Tag Team Champions. The results were:
- Hurricane Curry defeated Super Ninja by disqualification.
- The Samoan Warrior defeated The Metal Maniac.
- Don E. Allen, Johnny Hotbody, Peaches and Mr. Sandman defeated Tony Stetson, Vivacious Veronica and Larry Winters in a handicap match.
- Don Muraco and King Kaluha were both disqualified.
- Jim Neidhart defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
- The Super Destroyers (#1 and #2) defeated Jimmy Jannetty and J.T. Smith in an ECW Tag Team Title tournament semifinal.
- Glenn Osbourne and Max Thrasher defeated The Flames (Mr. Anthony and Mr. Perez) in the other ECW Tag Team Title tournament semifinal.
- The Super Destroyers (#1 and #2) defeated Glenn Osbourne and Max Thrasher to become the first-ever ECW Tag Team Champions.
1993 - Bam Bam and Danny Christian defeat The Tennessee Equalizer and Chic White for the Southern States Wrestling Tag Team Title in Fall Branch, Tennessee, beginning their second reign.
1994 - WCW held the 27th "Clash of the Champions" event at McAllister Fieldhouse in Charleston, South Carolina, which aired live on TBS and earned a 3.0 rating. The results were:
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan (with Dave Sullivan) defeated The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags), when Cactus pinned Knobbs after a double-arm DDT, to retain the title.
- The Guardian Angel pinned Tex Slazenger after a sidewalk slam.
- Lord Steven Regal (with Sir William) pinned WCW World Television Champion Larry Zbyszko with a roll up out of a Boston Crab attempt, and holding the ropes, to win the title. This began Regal's second reign.
- Johnny B. Badd defeated WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Steve Austin by disqualification. Austin originally won the match with an inside cradle after punching Badd with a foreign object, but referee Randy Anderson came out to dispute Nick Patrick's call. While this was going on, Badd rolled up Austin, Anderson counted three, and Badd celebrated with the title belt. The official ruling was that Badd won by reverse decision, with Austin retaining the title.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair pinned WCW International World Heavyweight Champion Sting with a roll-up to unify the titles. After the match, Sensuous Sherri, who was thought to be the new manager of Sting before the match, turned on him, and she and Flair attacked Sting. Hulk Hogan made the save and cleared the ring. Hogan said that would officially sign his WCW contract on the coming episode of WCW Saturday Night, and challenged Flair to a title match.
1995 - Apolo Dantes defeats Silver King in Mexico City, Mexico for the CMLL World Heavyweight Title.
1995 - Scott D'Amore defeats Bruiser Bedlam for the Border City Wrestling Can-Am Heavyweight Title in LaSalle, Ontario, to begin his fourth reign. At the same event, Los Rudos (Calavera Cortez and Rico Rodriguez) defeat The New Breed (Ric Austin and Mike Legacy) for the BCW Can-Am Tag Team Title.
1996 - The WWF held the fourth-annual "King of the Ring" pay-per-view at the MECCA Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The show got a 0.65 buyrate. The results:
- In a dark match, Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Aldo Montoya.
- In a Free-for-All match, The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip (with Kloudy)) defeated The New Rockers (Leif Cassidy and Marty Jannetty), when Skip pinned Cassidy with a roll-up after Kloudy kissed Cassidy.
- In a King of the Ring tournament semifinal match, Steve Austin pinned Marc Mero (with Sable) after the Stone Cold Stunner. During the match, a kick from Mero busted open Austin's lip. After the match, Austin went to a local hospital and received 16 stitches to close the wound.
- In the other King of the Ring tournament semifinal, Jake Roberts defeated Vader (with Jim Cornette) by disqualification, when Vader grabbed the referee and pulled him into Roberts as Roberts hit the DDT. Vader attacked Roberts after the match, hitting him with several Vader Bombs.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart (with Sunny)) defeated The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas (with Hillbilly Jim)), when Billy pinned Phineas after Bart hit Phineas with one of his boots, to retain the title.
- The Ultimate Warrior pinned Jerry Lawler after a flying tackle, after no-selling Lawler's piledriver.
- Mankind defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) by referee stoppage with the Mandible Claw, after Bearer accidentally hit Taker with the urn.
- Ahmed Johnson pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Goldust (with Marlena) with the Pearl River Plunge to win the title, ending Goldust's second reign.
- Steve Austin pinned Jake Roberts after the Stone Cold Stunner to win the King of the Ring tournament. As Roberts was helped backstage, Austin was interviewed by Dok Hendrix, where Austin coined his most famous slogan: "Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass."
- WWF Champion Shawn Michaels (with José Lothario) pinned The British Bulldog (with Jim Cornette and Diana Smith) after Sweet Chin Music to retain the title. Mr. Perfect was the referee outside the ring.
1997 - WCW won this week of the Monday Night War, 3.3 to 2.4 over WWF RAW is WAR.
WWF RAW is WAR was live from Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The results:
- Ken Shamrock defeated Rockabilly.
- The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas).
- Flash Funk vs. Sabu (with Bill Alfonso) ended in double-countout.
- Mankind defeated WWF European Champion The British Bulldog by disqualification.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart (with Brian Pillman) defeated Goldust (with Marlena) and Hunter Hearst Helmsley (with Chyna) in a triple threat match to retain the title. Pat Patterson was the guest referee.
- Brian Christopher defeated Scott Taylor.
- The Nation of Domination (D'Lo Brown and Faarooq (with Kama Mustafa)) defeated The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) and Vader in a WWF Tag Team Title tournament quarterfinal match.
WCW Monday Nitro was live from x in x. The results were:
- Damien and La Parka defeated Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock).
- Chris Jericho defeated Alex Wright.
- The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray).
- Héctor Garza defeated Villano IV.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Syxx defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr. to retain the title.
- Steve McMichael defeated WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Konnan.
- Glacier and Ernest Miller defeated High Voltage (Kaos and Rage).
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Scott Hall by disqualification.
2000 - OVW held an event at the Louisville Gardens in Louisville, Kentucky. The results:
- Jerome Crony won a battle royal.
- The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) defeated Derrick King and Jason Lee.
- Bull Buchanan and Russ McCullough defeated Mr. Black and Mark Henry.
- Kurt Angle defeated The Collector (Sylvester Terkay).
- OVW Heavyweight Champion Nick Dinsmore defeated Al Snow to retain the title.
- Trailer Park Trash defeated Flash Flanagan to become the first-ever OVW Hardcore Champion.
- The Disciples of Synn (Damian and Slash (with Synn)) defeated OVW Southern Tag Team Champions B.J. Payne and Scotty Sabre to win the title, ending Payne and Sabre's second reign.
- Damaja and Kane defeated D'Lo Brown and Rob Conway. Mick Foley was the guest referee.
2000 - Dakota defeats Brianna Starr and Alben Thunder in a three-way match in Dyersburg, Tennessee to become the first NWA Mid-South Women's Champion.
2001 - Zaruxx defeats Hombre Dinamita by forfeit in Bayamón, Puerto Rico to win the IWA World Hardcore Title. At the same show, Super Crazy wins his second IWA World Junior Heavyweight Title from Lobo, and Jesús Castillo, Jr. and Miguel Pérez, Jr. win the IWA World Tag Team Title from D'Lo Brown and Shane, beginning their second reign.
2001 - Pro Wrestling eXpress became an NWA member, and at their event that day in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, four new champions were crowned. Paul Atlas defeats Jimmy Anjel, Kid Cupid, Kid Ego and Scott Venom to win the vacant NWA East Triple Jeopardy Title. Crusher Hansen defeats J.B. Destiny and Dean Jablonski in a three-way match for the vacant NWA East Three Rivers Title. The Mon Valley Monsters (Cory K and Big Poppa Gator) defeat Armageddon (Rapture and Revelation) in a tournament final to unify the NWA East, Pittsburgh Wrestling League and Pro Wrestling eXpress Tag Team Titles into the new NWA Pro Wrestling eXpress Tag Team Title. Also, Brandon K defeats Dirk Ciglar in a tournament final to unify the NWA East, PWL and PWX Heavyweight Titles into the new NWA East Triple Crown Heavyweight Title.
2001 - Chris Church and Mike Legacy defeat Otis Apollo and Johnny Swinger for the BCW Can-Am Tag Team Title in Leamington, Ontario.
2001 - Three titles change hands at European Wrestling Fighters' "Summer Night Fight" in Nuremburg, Germany. In the first match of the night, Eddie Steinblock defeats Pete Johnson for the EWF Heavyweight Title. Later, Gary Mountain lost the Dragonhearts Title to Low Down, and in the main event, Eric Schwarz defeated Eddie Steinblock by disqualification to win the EWF Heavyweight Title.
2002 - WWE held the 10th-annual, and final, "King of the Ring" pay-per-view at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The show got a 0.82 buyrate. The results were:
- In a match airing on Sunday Night Heat, The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt) defeated Raven and Steven Richards, when Jeff pinned Richards after the Swanton.
- In a King of the Ring tournament semifinal match, WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Chris Jericho after the Five-Star Frog Splash.
- In the other King of the Ring tournament semifinal, Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) pinned Test after the F5.
- Jamie Noble (with Nidia) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion The Hurricane after a powerbomb to win the title, ending Hurricane's second reign.
- Ric Flair pinned Eddie Guerrero after Bubba Ray Dudley interfered and hit Guerrero with a Bubba Bomb. Chris Benoit had also interfered earlier in the match on Eddie's behalf.
- Molly Holly pinned WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus after a belly-to-belly suplex and a handful of tights to win the title, to end Trish's second reign.
- Kurt Angle defeated Hulk Hogan by submission with the ankle lock.
- Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) pinned WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam after an F5 to win the King of the Ring tournament, and earn a WWE Undisputed Title match at SummerSlam on August 25.
- WWE Undisputed Champion The Undertaker pinned Triple H with a roll-up and holding the tights to retain the title.
2002 - PRIDE Fighting Championships held "PRIDE 21: Demolition" at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The results:
- Bob Sapp defeated Kiyoshi Tamura by TKO (punches) at 0:11 of round one.
- Gary Goodridge defeated Achmed Labasanov by split decision.
- Anderson Silva defeated Alex Stiebling by TKO (cut) at 1:23 of round one.
- Jeremy Horn defeated Gilbert Yvel by unanimous decision.
- Shungo Oyama defeated Renzo Gracie by unanimous decision.
- Daniel Gracie defeated Takashi Suigura by split decision.
- Fedor Emelianenko defeated Semmy Schilt by unanimous decision.
- Don Frye defeated Yoshihiro Takayama by TKO (punches) at 6:10 of round one.
2002 - Los Infernales (Averno, Mephisto and Satanico) defeat Safari, Mr. Niebla and Olímpico for the Mexican National Trios Title in Guadalajara, Mexico.
2002 - Bam Bam Bambi defeats Madison to win the NWA Canadian Women's Title in St. Boniface, Manitoba.
2002 - Justin Tyme defeats Bobby Collins in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the Canadian Wrestling Federation Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Collins' eighth reign.
2003 - WWE held a live RAW at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, which got a 3.9 rating on Spike TV. The results:
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Christian and Test defeated Booker T and Scott Steiner (with Stacy Keibler), when Test pinned Steiner after a big boot.
- Maven pinned Christopher Nowinski (with Theodore Long) with a roll-up.
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Chris Jericho and Lance Storm, when D-Von pinned Storm after the 3D.
- World Tag Team Champions La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvain Grenier) defeated The Hurricane and Sgt. Slaughter, when Duprée pinned Slaughter after hitting him with one of the title belts.
- Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash defeated Ric Flair and Randy Orton, when Michaels pinned Flair after Sweet Chin Music.
- Goldberg defeated Rodney Mack (with Theodore Long) after the the Jackhammer in Mack's own "5-minute White Boy Challenge" match.
- World Heavyweight Champion Triple H (with Ric Flair) pinned Kane after the Pedigree to retain the title, after Randy Orton had interfered and RKO'd Kane. As a result, Kane had to unmask. Evolution attacked Kane after the match, with Rob Van Dam making the save. Kane did unmask, and then chokeslammed RVD.
2006 - Grady Johnson, better known as "Crazy" Luke Graham, dies from congestive heart failure at age 61. He became one-half of the first-ever WWWF World Tag Team Champions with Tarzan Tyler in 1971.
2006 - Vance Nevada defeats R.A.G.E. in Surrey, British Columbia for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title. At the same event, Memphis Raines defeats Kyle O'Reilly in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title.
2006 - 2 Cold Scorpio defeats Trent Acid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to win the Pro Wrestling Unplugged Heavyweight Title.
2006 - ROH held "Throwdown" at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit, Michigan. The results were:
- Gutter defeated Bobby Dempsey.
- C.J. Otis defeated Rhett Titus.
- The Irish Airborne (Dave and Jake Crist) defeated Shane Hagadorn and Keith Walker.
- ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness defeated Conrad Kennedy III to retain the title.
- The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) defeated Colt Cabana and Ace Steel.
- Delirious defeated Jimmy Rave (with Daizee Haze and Prince Nana), Davey Richards and Samoa Joe in a four-corner survival match.
- Adam Pearce fought Necro Butcher to a no-contest in a falls count anywhere match.
- Homicide defeated Claudio Castagnoli.
- ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson defeated Jimmy Jacobs (with Lacey) and B.J. Whitmer in a three-way elimination match to retain the title.
2006 - New England Championship Wrestling held its third-annual Iron 8 Tournament event at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, Massachusetts. The results:
- José Perez defeated Kristian Frost, Pat Masters and T.J. Richter in a four-way match to qualify for the Iron 8 tournament.
- John Walters defeated Kellan Thomas in an Iron 8 first round match.
- Eddie Edwards defeated NECW Heavyweight Champion D.C. Dillinger in an Iron 8 first round match.
- Antonio Thomas defeated José Perez in an Iron 8 first round match.
- Jason Blade defeated Xavier in an Iron 8 first round match.
- NECW Television Champion Frankie Arion, NECW Women's Champion Nikki Roxx and Evan Siks defeated The Canadian Superstars (Dave Cole and J-Busta) and Ariel (with Brian Cairo).
- Eddie Edwards defeated Jason Blade, Eddie Edwards and Antonio Thomas in a four-way match to win the Iron 8 Tournament.
2007 - Shayne Bower, better known as Biff Wellington, dies of a heart attack at age 42.
2007 - ROH held "Driven" at the Frontier Fieldhouse in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. The event was taped for a pay-per-view event which premiered on September 21.
- Ernie Osiris and Alex Payne defeated Mitch Franklin and Dingo. This match was not aired on the pay-per-view.
- The No Remorse Corps (Davey Richards, Rocky Romero and Roderick Strong) defeated Delirious and The Resilience (Matt Cross and Erick Stevens), when Richards pinned Cross after a DR Driver II. After the match, Austin Aries ran out of the crowd and attacked the No Remorse Corps.
- Claudio Castagnoli pinned Matt Sydal after rolling through a hurricanrana into a sunset flip. After the match, Sydal joined Sweet 'n Sour, Inc., who attacked Castagonli.
- Naomichi Marufuji pinned B.J. Whitmer after a Shiranui.
- Brent Albright defeated Pelle Primeau by submission with the Crowbar.
- ROH World Tag Team Champions The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) defeated Kevin Steen and El Generico, when Generico was pinned after a Spike J-Driller, to retain the title. After the match, Steen attacked the Briscoes with a ladder.
- ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima pinned Jimmy Rave after a Backdrop Driver to retain the title.
- The Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew (Lacey and Rain (with Jimmy Jacobs) defeated Daizee Haze and MsChif. This match was not aired on the pay-per-view.
- Nigel McGuinness pinned Chris Hero (with Larry Sweeney, Matt Sydal, Tank Toland and Bobby Dempsey) after the Tower of London. This match was not aired on the pay-per-view. After the match, Adam Pearce came out and issued an open challenge, which was accepted by Takeshi Morishima.
- ROH World Champion Takeshi Morishima pinned Adam Pearce (with Shane Hagadorn) after a Backdrop Driver to retain the title. After the match, Morishima attacked Hagadorn. This match was not aired on the pay-per-view.
- KENTA pinned Bryan Danielson after a Go 2 Sleep. This match was not aired on the pay-per-view.
- Aired as a bonus match on the pay-per-view, Bryan Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness by submission with the Cattle Mutilation. The match took place on June 9 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at "Domination".
2007 - IWA Mid-South held the second and final night of "King of the Deathmatches" at the Capital Sports Center in Plainfield, Indiana. The results were:
- IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion Brandon Thomaselli defeated Low Ki to retain the title.
- The Naptown Dragons (xOMGx and Vortekz) defeated Southern Rock (Hillbilly Jed and Indiana Kidd, Jr.) (with Joey Eastman)) in a street fight.
- In a King of the Deathmatches tournament quarterfinal, Corporal Robinson defeated Mad Man Pondo in an Electrified Lighttubes match.
- In a King of the Deathmatches tournament quarterfinal, Brain Damage defeated IWA Mid-South Women's Champion Mickie Knuckles in a Fans Bring the Weapons match.
- In a King of the Deathmatches tournament quarterfinal, Dysfunction defeated IWA Mid-South Deathmatch Champion Drake Younger in a Barbed Wire Boards Barbed Wire Bat match to win the title.
- In a King of the Deathmatches tournament quarterfinal, Freak Show defeated Necro Butcher in a Fans Bring the Weapons match.
- Danny Havoc & Insane Lane defeated Deranged & Kenji Fukimoto and Mean and Hard (Mitch Page & Rollin' Hard (with Jim Fannin)) in a three-way match.
- In a King of the Deathmatches tournament semifinal, Corporal Robinson defeated IWA Mid-South Deathmatch Champion Dysfunction in a London Bridges match to win the title.
- In a King of the Deathmatches tournament semifinal, Freak Show defeated Brain Damage in a Lit Cigarettes and Hot Coals match.
- IWA Mid-South Deathmatch Champion Corporal Robinson defeated Freak Show in a 200 Lighttubes No Ropes Barbed Wire match to retain the title, and win the 2007 King of the Deathmatches tournament.
2007 - The Ultimate Fighting Championship held "The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale" at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The results:
Preliminary bouts, which were all in the lightweight division:
- Matt Wiman defeated Brian Geraghty by TKO (strikes) at 2:09 of round one.
- Leonard Garcia defeated Allen Berube by submission (rear naked choke).
- Rob Emerson and Gray Maynard's bout resulted in a no-contest, after both fighters were unable to continue. Emerson was slammed by Maynard, after which Emerson immediately submitted due to a rib injury. The referee also ruled that Maynard hit his head on the octagon floor, knocking himself unconscious, causing the no-contest.
- Cole Miller defeated Andy Wang by TKO (strikes) at 1:10 of round one.
- Joe Lauzon defeated Brandon Melendez by submission (triangle choke) at 2:09 of round two.
Main card bouts:
- Roger Huerta defeated Doug Evans by TKO (strikes) at 3:30 of round two in a lightweight bout.
- Thales Leites defeated Floyd Sword by submission (arm triangle) at 3:50 of round one in a middleweight bout.
- Nate Diaz defeated Manny Gambaryan due to injury (dislocated shoulder) at 0:20 of round two to win the Ultimate Fighter competition.
- In a battle of the Ultimate Fighter 5 coaches, B.J. Penn defeated Jens Pulver by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:12 of round two in a lightweight bout.
2007 - Willie Blackheart and Bandit defeat Michael Cook and Ricky Shane in Hinton, West Virginia for the NWA Mountain State Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
2007 - Mr. Primetime defeats Psicosis in a best-of-three falls match in Bakersfield, California, 2-1, to win the All Pro Wrestling Worldwide Internet Title.
2007 - Chris Cronus defeats Luis Diamante for the vacant New Era Pro Wrestling Triple Crown Title in Painesville, Ohio.
2007 - Ring of Honor taped their second PPV in Chicago Ridge, IL featuring:
*Naomichi Marufuji defeated BJ Whitmer in 13:17 with Sliced bread #2.
*Brent Albright defeated Pelle Primeau in 1:47 with a gorilla press into an armbar submission. Great squash.
*ROH champion Takeshi Morishima defeated Jimmy Rave in 3:57 with a backdrop driver in very good short but competitive match.
*Dave Prazak officially opened the ROH PPV.
Roderick Strong & Ricky Romero defeated Delirious & Erick Stevens. Austin Aries hits the ring from the crowd and makes the save. He grabs the mic and says he's got a contract from Ring of Honor and if he signs it, he's free from TNA. He signs it and says he's back in a real promotion where the wrestlers are respected and so are the fans. The crowd chants "F*** TNA."
*Claudio Castagnoli defeated Matt Sydal in 8:48 when Claudio rolled thru a Rana roll up by Sydal. Good matwrestling but short. Afterwards, Sydal turned hee; and joined Larry Sweeney's stable.
*ROH Tag Team champions The Briscoes defeated Kevin Steen And El Generico in 16:20 after a spike J-Driller on Generico. Excellent match with several outstanding crazy spots.
*In a SHIMMER Women's bout, Lacey And Rain defeated Daizee Haze And MsChif in 8:41 with a double team Unprettier on MsChif.
*Nigel McGuinness defeated Chris Hero in 18:23 with the Tower of London. Very good paced match.
*ROH champion Takeshi Morishima defeated Adam Pearce in 5:25 with a backdrop driver. Some decent stuff.
*KENTA defeated Bryan Danielson in 25:33 after a Go 2 Sleep. There was an incredible finishing sequence. An outstanding match that saw an overhead belly to belly off the apron at one point.
Notes: ROH will return to Chicago Ridge on 9/15 with another PPV taping. The crowd was down from the previous show.
2007 - Legendary wrestling announcer Bob Caudle, loved by fans for his work in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions, suffered several heart attacks. Thankfully, Caudle makes a full recovery.
2007 - TNA ran Lincoln, Rhode Island. Andrew Sanford filed the following report:
Just got back from the TNA house show from the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI.
JB came out and said they are excited to make their debut show in Rhode Island and they got an excited
show for us.
The opening contest pitted Robert Roode with the lovely Ms. Brooks by his side against Eric Young. At one point in the middle of the match, Ms. Brooks wanted to get into the ring with Eric and it looked like those two were going to fight before Roode made a clever move to stop Eric's progression. Young won this match by pinfall.
The next match was a 3 way tag match between The Naturals, Serotonin (Martyr and Havoc) and the duo of
LAX. LAX won this match and they were over with the crowd as faces.
The match that followed that one was an X Division showcase match between the other member of Serotonin, Kaz without his Serotonin look, looked more like Kazarian to me facing off against "The Black Machismo" Jay Lethal who was really over. He got the best pop of the night so far and also the victory, he didn't use the elbow off the top rope for the finish either.
The next match featured a wrestler who was back home in Brother Runt against Lance Hoyt. JB messed up and said that Brother Runt was from Twin River, Rhode Island which isn't even a city in RI. Runt got on the
mic and said that JB was an idiot and that there is no Twin River but that he was from Lincoln, RI. JB
tried to save face by saying that he thought Runt was conceived at Twin River but failed to realize that
Twin River changed its name two years ago but I won't hold that against him. I actually missed most of this
match but it went a good amount of time and I believe Runt got the victory.
The last match between intermission was between Chris Harris and James Storm accompanied to the ring by Jackie Moore. This was a pretty good match, not as good as the ones they did on TV but still good. Storm got the victory over Harris but Harris got his revenge by attacking Storm and throwing him into Jackie Moore and then took Storm's beer bottle and drank what ever was left in it.
It was then time for intermission and JB announced that Jay Lethal and Brother Runt would be signing
autographs at the TNA Merchandise stand. Also, they had a stage there as well where Homicide, Hernandez, Matt Bentley, and Lance Hoyt were and they were signing stuff as well. Even Terry Taylor signed a few things for people that asked.
The next match went for about a minute and it was "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels vs Abyss and Daniels got on the mic and starting to get the crowd against him and called Abyss a retard. Well, Abyss came out and gave him the Black Hole Slam within a few minutes and that was our only squash match. I think I heard a few fans chant "We got ripped off".
AJ Styles and Rhino followed with a good match. There was a small "ECW" chant at the beginning and Rhino stopped and told them that is not what he wants to hear and the fans started chanting "TNA". Styles got on the mic after people started cheering for him saying he didn't need our cheers. Rhino won with a gore.
The main event featured a TNA World Tag Team Title match between Team 3D vs Christian Cage and Tomko. This was a good match and it also brought a comedic value to it. Team 3D was not listed on the card so I was not expecting them until the end but it was good to see them. Team 3D won with a pin on Tomko.
Overall Thoughts: I thought it was a good show for what TNA had. I was disappointed that there was no
Angle, Joe, Shelley, Sabin, or even Senshi. Granted I have seen most of those wrestlers before and would
have been great to see them again but TNA should book shows in advance so they know when they will have
their full line of talent available for them. A shock to me is that everyone there saw Jay Lethal as a star
because of his new gimmick.
2007 -WWE's Raw brand ran College Station, Texas, featuring one of the first appearances of then-WWE developmental talent Cody Rhodes on the main roster. Bradley Woodard filed the following report:
Chuck Palumbo d. William Regal
Cody Rhodes d. Daivari
Melina d. Mickie James
Santino Marella d. Carlito
Intermission followed by Maria coming with the T-shirt gun
Former WWF ring announcer Mike McGuirk came from out of the audience to be a special ring announcer for the tag match
Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch d. Paul London and Brian Kendrick
Jeff Hardy D. Snitsky. After the match Snitsky laid out Jeff Hardy.
Bobby Lashley d. Umaga
Main event was John Cena d. Randy Orton
Thoughts on the show. I'm doing this off of memory so forgive me if I can't remember much:
Chuck Palumbo vs. Regal was a good opener with Regal playing the cowardly heel and the expressions on his face were hilarious every time he was taken down by Palumbo. Palumbo came out on his motorcycle.
Cody Rhodes vs. Daivari was interesting. Cody was announced as coming from Texas in order to get a cheap pop out of the crowd. He was wearing half silver half yellow polka dotted on black shorts. I'm guessing as a homage to his dad. The crowd chanted U.S.A. against Daivari even though he was announced as being from Detroit.
During this time they grabbed a kid from the crowd to be a guest manager for a later bout.
Melina defeated Mickie James in a very competitive bout. The crowd was way over with Mickie this entire match.
Santino Marella came out with the kid that was pulled from out of the crowd as his "manager" against Carlito. Carlito received a bunch of cheers as he came out and only got boos after he gave his shirt to a security guy to take to the back. Unlike on TV, Santino was slightly over here.
After intermission Maria came out with the T-shirt gun and fired shirts into the crowd. She then took off her own shirt to give to someone on the floor. This turned out to be former WWF ring announcer Mike McGuirk. Mike then announced the next match on the card.
Cade and Murdoch vs. London and Kendrick had the best match of the night. No crazy spots by London & Kendrick but still got the crowd behind them pretty well.
What was billed as the special attraction match to the audience, was Jeff Hardy defeating Snitsky with a rollup of sorts after jumping off of the top rope. Since this was a quick pin, Snitsky recovered and laid out Jeff Hardy after the match was over. Hardy had the second loudest crowd reaction of the night. I'm betting the reason WWE isn'tmgoing into HD is because of Snitsky, cause DAMN his back was covered in pimples.
Bobby Lashley beat umaga in what was an OK match. Nothing much here but the crowd kept chanting for Lashley the entire time.
John Cena beat Randy Orton in the Main event. All I can say is WOW, Cena is insanely over in College Station. I guess you can say that this was your typical Cena match with him getting beat down until "hulking up" and coming back to win with the FU. The "Randy Orton Headlock count" was 3 for this evening.
Overall it was a good show.
Biggest Pops:
1. Cena
2. Jeff Hardy
3. Bobby Lashley
4. Mickie James
5. Carlito (for his entrance)
Biggest Heat:
1. William Regal
2. Cade & Murdoch
3. Snitsky
4. Umaga
5. Davari
No sign of Candice Michelle or King Booker. I mean it's not like they are on the PPV tomorrow night or anything.
2008 - WWE held their annual Brand Draft Lottery episode of Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV Report:
It is time for the annual WWE Draft as we see who will be on a new brand after tonight and who will be having their final matches on their brand on Sunday night at the Night of Champions pay per view. This will also be the third week of the McMahon McMillions McGiveaway and Phone Dialing Instruction Course. Who will win the big money tonight and what will they have to do to earn the money? With all three rosters present, will we see any interbrand matches that incorporate multiple matches for Sunday? Will Triple H be able to focus on John Cena now that he appears to be on Chris Jericho's radar? Will someone else return to WWE television like Ric Flair last week? Will Shawn Michaels get revenge on Chris Jericho in his hometown?
We are live from San Antonio, Texas and your announcers are Jim 'Garbanzo Beans' Ross and Jerry 'Is puppies one of the seven banned words?' Lawler.
Jim Ross reminds us that we are here for the WWE Draft. Like last year, the winner of a match gets the draft pick. We go to Mick Foley and Michael Cole who are here to do announcing. Tazz and Mike ‘The’ Adamle are also here.
Tonight’s password is “Night of Champions” as we see the money.
Match Number One: Triple H with GameFountain versus Mark Henry in a Who Gets the First Draft Pick Match with Announcers Mick Foley and Jim Ross
Henry has some words for Hunter and Hunter tells him to listen to the crowd as he gives Henry a crotch chop. Hunter with a side head lock and Henry with a shoulder tackle. Henry with a head butt and punch to Hunter. Henry with another head butt that sends Hunter into the corner. Henry with an Irish whip but he walks into a boot. Hunter with more punches to Henry but Henry with a clothesline for a two count. Henry with a punch to Hunter’s midsection. Henry with a slam and then he stands over Hunter before he hits a deliberate elbow drop for a two count. Henry goes to the turnbuckles for a Vader Bomb and he hits it but Hunter gets his foot on the rope. Henry pulls Hunter into the ring and gets another near fall. Henry with punches and another near fall. Henry works on Hunter’s neck but Hunter punches Henry. Henry tries for a press slam but Hunter escapes and hits two clotheslines to the back of the head followed by punches. Hunter with the facebuster but Henry stays on his feet. Hunter with a running high knee and Henry goes down. Hunter tries for the Pedigree but Henry with a standing power slam for a two count. Hunter hits the Pedigree for the three count.
Winner: Triple H
Raw will get the first draft pick and it is Rey Mysterio.
What a coincidence because Rey Mysterio is here and he walks to the ring. Rey and Hunter shake hands and they have some words before Rey poses on the turnbuckles. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Vince McMahon to give away some money as we read along with his cue card. Vince reminds us that Rey is going to be on Raw and he says that there will be a few more surprises. Vince lets us know that there will be five winners of $100,000; and one person at the end of the night will win $500,000. Vince says that he is unable to give out the money by himself, so he brings out Kelly Kelly and it is time for both of them to learn how to use the phone. Apparently Vince forgot his own password for the money but he corrects himself before he hangs up on Crystal.
Triple H and Rey are in the locker room and he officially welcomes Rey to Raw. John Cena stops by and he welcomes Rey as well. Cena says that Hunter has a strange way to say thank you after what happened last week when he came to help Hunter with Chris Jericho and Lance Cade. Hunter reminds Cena that he never wants his help. Hunter says that this is finally personal. Hunter says that he hasn’t gotten over his loss two years ago because he knows that Cena is not better than him. Cena says that he might have gotten lucky or it might have been a fluke but he won. Cena quotes Ric Flair while Hunter quotes John Cena. We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Fit Finlay and Hornswoggle versus Santino Marella and Carlito in a Who Gets to be #2 Match with announcers Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole
Finlay and Santino start things off but he wants Hornswoggle and even gets on his knees. Finlay knocks Santino down and Hornswoggle with a stunner for a two count. Hornswoggle gets another near fall. Finlay tags in and Santino tosses Hornswoggle’s jacket and hits a clothesline. Santino tries for a baseball slide but Finlay puts him in the ring skirt. Hornswoggle is launched into Carlito. Carlito trips Finlay and he is tagged in. Carlito with punches and kicks to Finlay. Finlay gets the shillelagh but Santino takes it. The referee takes it from Santino and then Finlay hits the Celtic Cross and Hornswoggle with the frog splash for the three count.
Winners: Fit Finlay and Hornswoggle
The next draft pick is Jeff Hardy.
Jeff comes to the ring. Randy Orton is in the back in a sling as he watches Jeff Hardy on a monitor. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see if Vince can remember the password. His special phone dialing Diva is Randy Orton. Before Randy joins Vince at the money box, he addresses the crowd. Randy says that he was forced to be here because he is eligible for the draft. Randy has something to say to John Cena and Triple H. He says that he does not care who is the champion after Sunday, but both better hope to hell that he gets drafted tonight. When he is back, and it will be sooner than anyone expects. Randy vows to be WWE Champion again. Randy says that he is not in the mood to give away $100,000. Vince says that he is going to give away more than $100,000 so he is going to give us Edge versus John Cena. Vince hits the buttons with the big numbers on them. The caller is not sure of his name, but he knows the password. Vince asks the winner who he thinks will win the main event at Night of Champions. We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Cody Rhodes and Bob Holly versus Bam Neely and Chavo Guerrero in a Third Times a Charm Draft Pick Match with announcers The Mike Adamle and Jerry Lawler with Ted DiBiase
Cody starts with Bam and Bam attacks Cody from behind and he kicks Cody. Chavo tags in and he connects with a Latino uppercut and punches. Chavo tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Cody gets out of the hold and he hits a drop kick before tagging in Holly. Holly punches Chavo and then he hits a back body drop. Holly with a low kick to Chavo and then he goes after Bam. Holly goes for the Alabama Slam, but Bam with a kick that allows Chavo to get a two count with the sunset flip. Chavo sends Cody to the floor with a head scissors and then he tries to do the same to Holly, but Holly with the Alabama Slam for the three count.
Winners: Cody Rhodes and Bob Holly
Raw gets as its next pick . . . CM Punk
Punk comes out and he has his briefcase.
Chris Jericho is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Chris Jericho comes to the ring. He has a mic and he says that he did not expect much from the fans in San Antonio because they have been brainwashed into believing that Shawn Michaels is a good person. Chris points out that the fans have booed him and ostracized him for telling the truth. Chris says that he is right about Shawn Michaels and it won’t be long before he turns on the fans. He has lied to his best friends over the years. To the video tape. We see the Barber Shop clip of Marty Jannetty going through the window. Move ahead to 1994 when he hits Sweet Chin Music on Diesel. Move on to 2005 when Shawn takes down Hulk Hogan faster than Linda’s divorce attorney. Move on to this past March when he did the same to John Cena during a match against Batista. Speaking of Batista, we see Shawn hit Sweet Chin Music on Batista.
We are back and Chris runs through a litany of adjectives about Shawn and yet the fans still chant H-B-K, and not a baaaaaad thing because the fans do the same. Chris Jericho bans the fans from chanting for him. Chris says that he is an honest and good hearted person. There is only one man like him. That is a young man who helped him take care of John Cena and Triple H. That man is Lance Cade. Chris asks Lance about his time in the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy. Lance says that he was the best athlete to come out of the Academy. He knew that Shawn would help him only to turn his back on him. Lance says that Chris Jericho is someone he can trust. Shawn Michaels will not get the chance to turn his back on him because he won’t let him do it. The fans might not appreciate Jericho, but he does. Chris thanks Lance for the comments. Chris says that he does not have an opponent for Night of Champions. He would love to wrestle Shawn Michaels, but Chris took a page out of the Shawn Michaels playbook. To the video tape.
Jericho says that it is not over for Shawn because the worst is yet to come. Speaking of Shawn Michaels, he comes out. Shawn shows the bandage around his eye as he takes off the Heartbreak Hat. Michaels runs to the ring and he goes after Jericho and he punches Jericho. They fight outside the ring and Chris sends Shawn face first into one of the many announce tables. The medical staff checks on Shawn as Jericho stands there and smirks. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Chris Jericho reinjuring Shawn Michaels’s eye.
Michael Cole says that we have a Smackdown/ECW match as he talks with Tazz about the draft picks so far.
Vickie Guerrero comes out before Morrison and The Miz’s opponents are announced. Vickie says that originally Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder were going to wrestle this match, but she has a different team for them due to recent developments.
Match Number Four: John Morrison and Mike Mizanin versus Matt and Jeff Hardy in a Four Horsemen Match with announcers Tazz and Michael Cole
Matt and Mizanin start things off and Matt with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. They lock up again and Mizanin with a hammer lock and wrist lock. Hardy reverses and puts Mizanin in a side head lock. Mizanin with a kick and punch in the corner. Hardy sends Mizanin into the turnbuckle. Matt with a running clothesline for a near fall. Jeff tags in and they Irish whip Mizanin and Hardy hits Poetry in Motion. Jeff with the hesitation baseball slide in the corner for a near fall. Hardy with an arm bar and side head lock and take down. Mizanin with a rollup for a near fall. Mizanin with an elbow and Morrison with a knee to Hardy’s back as he comes off the ropes. Morrison tags in and hits a slingshot elbow for a near fall. Morrison with a reverse chin lock. Jeff tries for a jawbreaker but Morrison with a knee. Morrison with a kick to the head of Jeff as he hangs off the apron. Mizanin tags in and they hit a double gutbuster. Hardy gets to his feet but Mizanin with a knee and Irish whip. Mizanin hits the running clothesline into the corner and he gets a two count. Mizanin with a front face lock and he tags in Morrison. Morrison punches Hardy on the mat. Mizanin tags back in and they stomp on Hardy. Mizanin with an arm bar and crossface. Mizanin with an Irish whip but Hardy with Whisper in the Wind and both men are down. Morrison and Matt both tag in and Hardy with punches and clotheslines to Morrison. Hardy with a bulldog to Morrison and clothesline on a charging Mizanin. Hardy with a screaming elbow from the second turnbuckle on Morrison followed by the Side Effect for a two count. Jeff hits a pescado onto Mizanin. Morrison stops Matt on the top turnbuckle. Matt sends Morrison to the mat and then he hits a leg drop from the second turnbuckle. Mizanin breaks up the cover by grabbing the referee. Morrison with the three count on a rollup.
Winners: John Morrison and Mike Mizanin
The newest member of ECW is . . . Matt Hardy
After the match, Matt hugs his brother and leaves with the men who beat him.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for take three of Vince’s money give-away-a-rama. Vince talks about his favorite moments. Vince talks about the sixteen dollar giveaway. Vince points out that he was a little overzealous last week so he has brought back the Ambassador of the WWE, Ric Flair. After we get a winner, Ric Flair has pulled a Ron Simmons and Woooos.
Mickie James and Melina are walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with footage of Mickie James doing some charity work.
Match Number Five: Melina and Mickie James versus Natalya and Victoria in a Fifth Dimension Announcers on the Line Match
Melina and Natalya start things off and Natalya with a front face lock. Melina with a hammer lock but Natalya with a wrist lock and she carries Melina into the corner. Melina gets out of the corner, but Natalya with a power slam. Victoria tags in and she kicks Melina in the head. Melina is run into the corner and Victoria with a shoulder and then she hits a back elbow. Melina with a kick and Thesz Press for a two count. Melina with an inside cradle for a two count. Victoria with a kick and Irish whip into the corner. Melina with boots to Victoria but Victoria sends Melina to the floor and Mickie checks on Melina. Mickie checks on Melina and Melina holds her ankle. Victoria and Natalya go after Melina and Mickie and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Double Disqualification
The newest member of Smackdown is Jim Ross. Raw gains Michael Cole.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Melina injuring her ankle during the last match.
We see the new Raw announce team of Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. Over to Jim Ross and Mick Foley at the Smackdown announce table.
Time for the fourth money give away and Vince is joined by one of the stars of Get Smart . . . the Great Khali (you didn’t think it would be the Rock?). Vince points out that Khali is in Get Smart and Vince asks Khali to talk about the movie. Vince mentions that there is another star from wrestling in that movie and he brings up the Rock. They call and they person says that it is a wrong number. Khali argues with the phone. We have a winner.
We see footage from Edge counting out Batista last week on Smackdown in his role as guest referee.
Match Number Six: Edge versus John Cena in a Sixth Sense Draft Pick Match
They lock up and Edge backs Cena into the corner but Edge misses a punch. Cena backs Edge into the corner and Edge with a punch and kick. Edge follows that with more kick and a forearm. Cena with an Irish whip but he misses a bulldog. Edge with a boot and the fans are behind Edge. Edge with forearms to Cena. Cena with an elbow and punches. Edge with a power slam for a near fall. Edge chokes Cena in the ropes followed by a forearm. Edge with a clothesline to Cena followed by a knee to the back and elbow drop. Edge with more punches to Cena but Cena with a kick to Edge followed by a blockbuster for a near fall. Edge with a drop kick to Cena for a near fall. Edge punches Cena in the head but Cena punches back. Time for a double clothesline and they are both down. They get back to their feet and Cena with a couple of flying shoulder blocks followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb. Time for the five knuckle shuffle and Cena sets for the FU but Edge tries for the break down. Cena gets Edge up but Edge blocks it and hits the Impaler for a two count. Edge sets for a spear but Cena with the drop toe hold and Cena puts Edge in the STFU but Edge gets to the ropes. Edge goes to the apron and he drops Cena’s throat across the top rope. Cena tries for an FU from the turnbuckles, but Edge gets out of the hold and Edge sends Cena to the floor. Edge goes outside and Cena catches Edge on a cross body. Cena has Edge up for an FU but Edge escapes the hold. Cena returns to the ring and Edge gets counted out.
Winner: John Cena by count out
After the match, Batista attacks Edge and takes him back to the ring. Batista with a clothesline and he goes out of the ring.
The new draft pick for Raw is Batista
Edge waves goodbye to Batista. We go to commercial.
We are back and Edge is with Vickie Guerrero. Edge and Vickie talk about how they don’t have to deal with Batista again. Vince stops by and he wants to remind Edge that all of the championship matches are still intact so he will still face Batista for the title. Vince wonders what would happen if Edge was drafted somewhere else.
Match Number Seven: Montel Vontavious Porter versus Tommy Dreamer with Colin Delaney in a Seventh Heaven Draft Pick Match with announcers Mike Adamle and Mick Foley
Porter with a forearm to the back of the head. Dreamer with punches to Porter. Porter with a punch to the midsection followed by a big boot to the head. Porter with crossfaces to Dreamer but Dreamer gets to the ropes. Porter with a suplex for a near fall. Porter with a kick to the back. Porter with forearms and punches. Porter punches Dreamer but the referee pulls Porter off. Porter with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner. Dreamer with a bulldog and he punches Porter in the corner. Porter with a drop kick that sends Dreamer to the mat. Porter with the running boot into the corner and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Montel Vontavious Porter
The newest Draft pick for Smackdown is Umaga.
The Samoan Bulldog (Adamle said it) comes out. Umaga hits the Samoan Drop on Tommy Dreamer. Umaga sees Colin Delaney in the ring. Umaga with a splash into the corner and Colin goes down like and he goes down hard. Umaga with the running butt splash to Dreamer in the corner. Umaga with the whirlybird uranage on Delaney. We go to commercial.
We are back and we run through the draft picks so far.
Match Number Eight: Bradshaw with JBLimo and Jimmy Connors as limo driver versus Kofi Kingston in an Eight is Enough Draft Pick Match with your announcers Tazz and Michael Cole
They lock up and Bradshaw with a knee in the corner followed by punches. Bradshaw with a kick to the head followed by a forearm to the back and a kick. Bradshaw with a side head lock. Bradshaw with a shoulder tackle but Kofi with a back elbow and then he is sent into the ropes but Kingston bounces off the ropes and he punches Bradshaw. Kofi with a flying forearm to Bradshaw followed by the delayed leg drop for a near fall. Bradshaw with a big boot to Kofi and a kick to the head. Bradshaw with a forearm to the head and an elbow drop. Bradshaw with a forearm and a Cobra Clutch. Kingston gets out of the hold. Kingston tries for a cross body but Bradshaw catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Bradshaw with a two count. Bradshaw with a waist lock into a bear hug. Bradshaw charges into a boot and then Kofi with the cross body into the corner and punches. Kofi with a drop kick to Bradshaw and then he goes up top but misses a frog splash. Bradshaw with the Clothesline from Wall Street for the three count.
Winner: Bradshaw
The newest member of Raw is Kane
Speaking of Kane, he comes out and it is time for the ring posts to catch on fire.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the final $100,000 giveaway of the night as Vince is at the Phonetron 1844. There is no co-host for this call. Wish Vince luck. This winner is in the crowd.
Time to run through the card for Night of Champions.
Match Number Nine: Triple H, CM Punk, John Cena, Kane, and Batista from Raw; Matt Hardy, John Morrison, Mike Mizanin, Shelton Benjamin, and Chavo Guerrero from ECW; and Big Show, Edge, Great Khali, Jeff Hardy, and Montel Vontavious Porter from Smackdown in a Royale with Cheese Battle Royale for two draft picks
The match I joined in progress as Porter tries to get rid of Hunter while Mizanin makes the mistake of going after Show. Show and Khali are the two men who are the most popular to try to eliminate. Khali is eliminated by everyone. The Raw and ECW wrestlers celebrate together and then they corner Show. Show is ready and he fights off Raw and ECW. Show with head butts aplenty. Show with a forearm to Chavo. Show with a side slam to Hunter. Show follows that with a clothesline to Batista. Show with a chop to Morrison. Matt is sent to the apron. Shelton Benjamin has been eliminated. Kane pushes Chavo off. Morrison punches Batista. Edge is in the ropes as Mizanin tries to eliminate him. Hold holds on but Mizanin finally gets Edge off the ropes, but Edge kicks Mizanin to return to the match. Kane and Batista fight Morrison and Mizanin.
Chavo climbs on Kane’s back but Kane tries to snap mare Chavo over the top rope. Matt battles with Hunter. Porter with a running boot to Punk. Batista eliminates Mizanin and Morrison. Hunter punches Matt and then he hits a high knee. Cena and Batista try to eliminate Show while Kane hits an electric chair drop. Show has Punk on his back and he tries to toss Punk off but Punk holds on and he rolls back in. Chavo rolls back in as well. Porter punches and kicks Cena in the corner. Punk with a knee to Chavo in the corner. Show with a clothesline to Kane. Cena puts Porter on the apron but Porter drops Cena across the top rope. Chavo with a Latino uppercut to Punk. Edge with spears to Batista, Cena, Matt Hardy, and Triple H as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cena takes down Porter. During the break CM Punk was eliminated by Big Show who tossed him out by his throat. Back to the live action and Hunter with the facebuster to Show. Hardy with more punches to Hunter. Chavo punches Jeff but Hunter with a face buster to Matt. Jeff with a kick that eliminates Chavo. Show with a big splash onto Hunter. Porter with forearms to Matt. Porter tries for the big boot on Jeff Hardy and Matt eliminates Porter. Jeff thanks Matt. They realize they are not wearing the same shirt and Matt and Jeff exchange punches. Jeff sends Matt to the apron and Matt hangs on but Jeff with a mule kick to eliminate the entire ECW brand.
Batista drops his shoulder when Edge tries for a spear and both men go down in a heap. Batista is a bloody mess while Kane has a sleeper on Show as he rides his opponent on Sunday. Hunter with a knee to Jeff while Cena kicks Edge. Jeff punches Hunter and kicks him. Jeff misses Whisper in the Wind when Hunter moves out of the way. Hunter sends Jeff to the apron but Hunter gets rid of Jeff with a running elbow. We are down to the final six. Batista hits the spear on Edge. Show tries to choke slam Batista over the top rope. Batista tries to choke Show but Show punches Batista to eliminate him. Kane grabs Show by the throat but Show returns the favor. Kane with elbows. Kane charges into a boot and Show eliminates him.
We are down to four and it is Big Show and Edge from Smackdown and Triple H and Cena from Raw. Show grabs Cena and Hunter but they punch and kick Show. Show suplexes both men at the same time. While those three men battle in the ring, Edge is probably not sure where he is. Show presses Hunter over his head but Cena punches Show. Cena and Hunter with a double flying shoulder and Cena and Hunter eliminate Show. Cena eliminates Hunter and Edge eliminates Cena to win the Battle Royale.
Winner: Edge
The two newest members of Smackdown are Ken Kennedy and Triple H.
Vince McMahon is by the money and it is time to give away $500,000. Who will be the lucky caller? There are some explosions around the money as the stage collapses. The set collapses as the wrestlers try to help Vince. Vince wants to know what happened as he is taken away. Vince says that he cannot feel his legs.
2009 - Billy Red Lions passed away following a long battle with cancer.
2009 - WWE broadcast ECW on SyFy. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV Report:
We are live on tape from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and your announcers are Matt ‘Cheese Log’ Striker and Josh ‘Badger’ Mathews.
We see footage from last week’s match between Evan Bourne and Mark Henry when Mark was able to get a measure of revenge during and after the match.
Match Number One: Evan Bourne versus Tyson Kidd with David Hart Smith and Natalya
They lock up and Bourne with a hammer lock as he takes Kidd to the mat. Kidd backs Bourne into the corner and he connects with a forearm. Bourne with an Irish whip but Bourne is sent to the apron. Smith gets on the apron and Bourne moves out of the way. The referee sees Smith on the apron and Natalya as well. The referee sends both of them to the back.
Bourne with a drop kick to Kidd and Kidd goes to the floor. Bourne goes up top and hits a cross body onto Kidd and Bourne is holding his ribs. They return to the ring and Bourne gets a near fall. Kidd backs Bourne into the corner and he connects with shoulders to the injured ribs. Kidd with a kick to Bourne in the ribs that lifts him off the mat. Kidd with a near fall and a seated abdominal stretch. Kidd with a kick and he tries for a belly-to-back suplex, but Bourne counters with a cross body. Kidd with a kick to the ribs and he follows with knees to the injured area. Kidd with a hard Irish whip. Kidd drops Bourne’s midsection onto the top rope and Kidd gets a near fall. Kidd with an Irish whip but Bourne with a shoulder and then he hits a version of Shadows over Hell and both men are down. Bourne with a kick and a rollup for a near fall. Bourne with kicks to the chest. Kidd with a kick and he goes to the apron but he misses a springboard move. Kidd with a head scissors and a flying clothesline for a near fall. Kidd with a back kick but Bourne with a kick of his own and he goes up top. Bourne hits the Shooting Star Press for the three count.
Winner: Evan Bourne
Josh and Matt talk about Finlay’s return last week on ECW and his attacks on the members of the ECW roster.
Finlay is walking in the back and he has his shillelagh as we go to commercial.
We are back and Finlay comes to the ring to explain himself and why he did what he did to Christian and Tommy Dreamer. Finlay reminds everyone that he broke up a fight between them and he injured his eye. Finlay says that he got a text message from Dreamer and Christian, not a phone call. Finlay says that he was worried about whether he will be able to wrestle again. He wondered how he would take care of his family. Finlay says that it was an eye for an eye.
Zack Ryder’s music plays and he interrupts Finlay and he reminds Finlay that he is wrestling him tonight.
Match Number Two: Fit Finlay versus Zack Ryder
We join the match in progress and Finlay with a shoulder tackle and Ryder goes into the ropes to avoid Finlay. Finlay pulls Ryder’s face and he connects with an elbow and puts Ryder in a side head lock. Finlay with an arm bar take down into a side head lock. Ryder with shoulders in the corner. They lock up again and Finlay with a wrist lock and he connects with an elbow to the arm and a top wrist lock. Finlay with a knee to the elbow and then he hits a short arm clothesline and a kick. Finlay with a European uppercut to Ryder. Ryder responds with knees to Finlay followed by a forearm. Finlay with an elbow to the arm and then he works on the wrist. Finlay with a knee drop to the head. Ryder with an Irish whip but Finlay and Ryder bump heads. Ryder with a kick to the head and then he works on the head. Finlay is sent into the turnbuckles and Ryder follows that with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Ryder with cross faces to Finlay as he tries to work on the eye. Finlay tries to get to his feet but Ryder takes Finlay back to the mat. Ryder punches Finlay in the eye and he follows it with a kick to the head. Ryder with a knee to the head and Finlay tries to get away but Ryder goes for the eye. Ryder with a clothesline and then he goes to the turnbuckles but he connects with Finlay’s boot. Finlay with a reverse atomic drop but Ryder with a forearm. Finlay with a kick to the chest and a clothesline or three. Finlay with a fireman’s carry slam for a near fall. Finlay with a back body drop but Ryder sends Finlay into the ropes. While the referee checks on Finlay, Ryder tries to expose the turnbuckle. While the referee deals with the turnbuckle, Finlay gets a rollup and a handful of tights for the three count.
Winner: Fit Finlay
We go to commercial.
We are back and they are already hyping Raw’s rating from last night.
We have a Raw is Trump for 90 Minutes Rebound.
It is time to recap the card for The Bash.
Matt Striker is in the ring and he has his magic blackboard back. He explains the rules for the Championship Scramble match at The Bash.
Gregory Helms is in the back with Mark Henry. He asks Mark about his match but there is someone stuck under a case. We go to the man in trouble and then we cut back to the interview area. Helms is gone. We see the Hurricane save the man and Helms is back with Henry. We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Jack Swagger and Mark Henry with Tony Atlas versus Christian and Tommy Dreamer
Swagger and Christian start things off and they lock up. Swagger backs Christian into the corner and he has a clean break. They lock up again and Swagger with a take down into a waist lock and he rolls through on the mat. Christian gets to his feet but Swagger with a forearm to the back. Christian with a side head lock and he holds on. Christian hits a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Dreamer is tagged in and he goes to the turnbuckles for an elbow. Swagger with an arm drag take down but Dreamer holds on to the arm bar. Swagger with a leg sweep and he punches Dreamer before tagging in Henry. Henry with a kick and punch. Henry with an Irish whip and then Dreamer with a drop toe hold to Henry followed by a drop kick and Henry goes to the floor. Swagger charges at Dreamer and Dreamer with a back body drop that sends Swagger to the floor. Dreamer with a cannonball to Henry from the apron while Christian hits a cross body from the turnbuckles onto Swagger. We go to commercial.
We are back and Swagger and Henry are in control as Swagger works over Christian. Christian with a kick and punches to Swagger and he goes to the turnbuckles and hits a back elbow. Dreamer tags in and hits a swinging neck breaker before hitting a drop kick on Henry that sends him to the floor. Dreamer misses a bulldog but he hits a neck breaker for a two count. Dreamer puts Swagger in the Tree of Woe and it is time for the E-C-W Drop kick. The referee sends Christian to the corner and that allows Mark Henry to hit Dreamer from behind. Swagger punches Dreamer and then he stomps on Dreamer’s chest. Henry tags in and he steps on Dreamer’s chest. Henry with a body block to Dreamer. Henry punches Dreamer and Swagger drops Dreamer on the top rope before re-entering the match. Swagger with punches and a snap mare. Swagger with a knee and then he slams Dreamer’s head into the turnbuckles. Dreamer with an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow. Dreamer catches Swagger in a sit out spinebuster and both men are down.
Henry and Christian tag in and Christian with punches and a clothesline that slightly staggers Henry. Christian tries another and he gets the same results. Christian hits a missile drop kick but Henry stays on his feet, but he takes Henry down with a second one. Christian clotheslines Swagger over the top rope to the floor. Henry tries for the power slam but Christian escapes. Christian tries for the sunset flip out of the corner but Swagger makes the blind tag. Swagger tries for the Doctor Bomb but Christian escapes and gets a near fall with a rollup. Christian hits the Killswitch on Swagger but Atlas puts Swagger’s leg under the rope. Dreamer takes care of Atlas while Christian tries to take out Henry but Henry catches Christian and runs him into the ring post. Swagger hits the Doctor Bomb for the three count.
Winners: Jack Swagger and Mark Henry
After the match, Henry with a power slam to Dreamer and then he gives one to his tag team partner.
2009 - WWE also taped Smackdown in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Matt Merheine filed the following live report:
Just got back from tonight's Smackdown/ECW taping in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lower bowl was sold out, but about 2/3-3/4 of the upper deck was blocked off. Somewhere in the 12,000 range, maybe.
Show started with Drew McIntyre beating Jamie Noble in about 3 minutes. Drew cut a short, basic promo pre-match, followed by a short, basic match.
Next they taped ECW. I saw a Report is up on PWInsider.com and the show aired already, so I'll just add a few things I noticed.
Kidd/Bourne: Crowd wasn't too terribly into it, but Bourne's dive to the outside got a small "ECW" chant. The usual pop for the SSP and win.
Finlay/Ryder: biggest pop I heard was for one of the nearfalls, crowd didn't really care about this one.
Christian&Dreamer/Henry/Swagger: Christian got a pretty big pop when he came out. Guess some places like him more than others.
Superstars spoilers:
*Dolph Ziggler beat Jimmy Wang Yang in about 2:57. Not much to say about this one. Finish saw Jimmy try a moonsault but Dolph knocked him off the top, hit his finisher, and pinned him.
*In what will be the opening match on Superstars, Jack Swagger def. Evan Bourne in 7:06. Early on, Swagger dumped Evan outside, presumably to send it to break. Swagger with a long resthold, followed by a failed splash off the second rope. Went back outside, Evan did a second rope springboard and hit his double knee attack to the floor on Jack. That looked pretty cool, I thought. End of the match saw Evan go up for a SSP, Jack caught him with a belly-to-belly. Then went for the gutwrench, Evan countered with a rollup for 2. Evan tried for another SSP, Swagger rolled out of the way and Bourne landed on his feet. Another cool thing to see live. Following that, Swagger hit his gutwrench powerbomb for the pin and the win.
Smackdown spoilers:
Show opens with Justin Roberts announcing the chairman, Mr. McMahon. Comes down, starts off kind of like a babyface, then starts complaining about the stench. Talks about cheeseheads, cutting the cheese. Then he figures out what it is: the stench of fear. Runs down the fans, says most would get fired if they were graded solely on performance. Brought out General Manager Teddy Long, asked him what was planned for the show. Teddy said there was a tag match, Jeff/Rey against Edge/Jericho. McMahon said that wasn't good enough, Teddy said it's a cage match, and the ref will be CM Punk. McMahon decided to put Teddy on probation.
Opening match saw R Truth beat Shelton Benjamin in 8:52. Pre-match, Shelton cut a promo talking down to Truth for not getting a proper education, making fun of the lyrics in Truth's song ("You can be..."). Looked like they headed to commercial around the 2 minute mark. At one point, Truth seemed to botch a jawbreaker on Shelton, and they re-did it better. Furthermore, Shelton did the old German-Suplex-into-a-near fall combo, but he didn't bridge it. As a result, both of 'em had their shoulders down. *shrug*
Backstage, they did a segment with Vince, Teddy and Rey Mysterio. Vince talked about the mask and Rey's match with Jericho, Rey responded in Spanish. Vince was mad, asked Teddy what Rey said, and said Smackdown would be English-only.
Later tonight: Punk vs. Morrison
Next match was Divas tag action, Alicia Fox and Michelle McCool defeat Gail Kim and Melina in maybe 6 or 7 minutes (forgot to time this one) Melina got kicked in the mouth early, and sold it for a little while. Gail finally got the hot tag after at least 5 minutes, and had a pretty good counter while on the apron; Fox (I think) went for a shoulder to the gut from inside the ring, Gail jumped it and came down on her back. Gail hit a cross body block off the top after that, but then McCool got a blind tag and hit the Styles Clash (or whatever it is she calls it) for the pin and the win.
To the back, with Punk, Teddy and Vince. They talk Money in the Bank and Straight Edge. Vince talks down to Teddy some more.
Dolph Ziggler/Great Khali at The Bash, No DQ.
For the top of the hour main event, John Morrison beat world champion CM Punk in 14:36. Morrison made his entrance, then I think they'll take a break, as he posed for a while, and even pointed out a "Shaman of Veggies" sign in my section. First 3 minutes were quite slow, but it picked up after that. Punk hit a German into a bridge pin on Morrison for 2 (unlike Shelton, Punk actually DID bridge), and John seemed to be shaken up from landing high on the German. Punk tried a sunset flip powerbomb to the outside, Morrison countered by dropping a knee across Punk's neck. Back in the ring, Punk countered an attempted running knee from John into a single-leg Boston Crab. After escaping from that, Morrison hit his springboard kick for a VERY long 2 count, then went up top for what seemed to be a moonsault. Punk cut him off first, and hit a second-rope reverse suplex for a 2 count. Morrison rolled Punk up for 2, Punk countered for a 2 count of his own, then Morrison countered back into another pinning combination for the 3 count and victory. Crowd was surprised by the suddenness of the finish. Post-match, Punk offered Morrison a handshake, then got him up and hit the GTS.
Josh Matthews interviewed Jericho in back, who said he knows what's best for Rey. Pretty typical Jericho promo, and not half-bad in my view.
Then, time for the typical "stand in the ring and go over the PPV card" segment. Whee.
They played the cage lowering music, then went to the back where Teddy and Vince were with Jeff Hardy. Vince said he didn't want Jeff to win because of his past... doesn't want Jeff to be representing the show. Now time for the main event, Jeff and Rey against Jericho and Edge in a tag-team cage match, with special guest ref CM Punk.
Punk came out first in his ref shirt, and was booed. Both Jeff and Rey got big pops for coming out. Jeff, after coming out first, climbed up on top of the cage and hung out up there while Rey made his entrance. The two did some posing on top together, then climbed down while Jericho was coming down. Bunch of loud pyro for this match. Jeff and Rey hit Poetry in Motion early, eventually Rey went for an escape. He was stopped, so hit a cross body block from the top rope.
At one point, Jericho was sitting on the top turnbuckle, and Jeff and Rey knocked Edge's head right into his crotch. By my count, there were 3 crotch shots this match; one low dropkick by Rey, the head-to-crotch one, and one more that I didn't see very well, but I certainly saw Edge's face afterward. Right after that, Rey hit a hurancanrana from the top. Jericho regained control, tried to rip of Rey's mask while on the top rope. Rey pushed him off, then jumped at him. Y2J countered with a dropkick.
Rey finally got the hot tag to Jeff at the 12:30 mark in the match. Edge went for a spear on Jeff, but he moved and Edge speared CM Punk instead. A couple near-falls later, the finish came about. Jeff went for a Twist of Fate, Edge pushed him away, towards Punk. The two glared at each other, and Jeff turned around into a spear from Edge. 1-2-3, it's over.
Post-match (and post-show, I believe), Punk got on the mic and told us to give it up for Jeff, before saying that he's still better. He got in the ring, then Jeff hit a Twist of Fate and Swanton to send the crowd home happy. After Jeff left and the cage was raised, Punk was left in the ring alone. For some reason, there ended up being a replica world title belt put in the ring, and Punk kicked it onto the floor, looking angry. Kind of weird.
2010 - New York Giants legend and Wrestlemania 11 headliner Lawrence Taylor was indicted on charges of patronizing a prostitute, endangering the welfare of a child, and sexual abuse and criminal sexual act in the third degree. Taylor, who would eventually accept a plea deal, initially plead not guilty in the the alleged rape is of a 16 year old runaway prostitute, who had fallen in with a pimp that brought her to Taylor. Since the age of consent in New York State is 17, the sexual activity was considered third-degree rape
2010 - WWE released Angela Fong, who appeared as ring announcer Savannah. In WWE developmental, she was considered to have been very athletically gifted but was only used as an announcer on the main roster.
2011 -
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin with footage from last week’s parking lot brawl between Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett. Then we go to the announcement that Sting will face Ken Anderson on July 14th. We see Steve Borden putting some make up on Terry’s face.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Announcing Matters’ Tenay and Taz.
Jeff Jarrett and Eric Bischoff are walking in the back and Jeff says that the Bound for Glory Series starts. Eric says that Jeff is on his way to Mexico because of what happened last week. Jeff says it was a joke, but Eric says the network doesn’t think it is a joke. Eric tells Jeff to have the influence they need to write the checks and make the rules, they need to dominate Mexico. Jeff says that he can’t speak the language and he can’t drink the water. Jeff asks Eric if he thought Kurt would have gone to Mexico and Eric says that Angle would have.
Eric tells Jeff adios in case he didn’t get the message the first fifteen times Eric told him.
Eric is in the ring and he says that he wants to get down to business and he tells Sting to get to the ring and he calls him a miserable son of a bitch.
Sting’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring.
Eric tells Sting that he has something to say to him and unlike Sting, he isn’t a coward so he will say it right to Sting’s face. Last week when Sting decided to have a one on one with Hulk Hogan, did Sting think that Eric wouldn’t notice. It is the show that he produces and stars in. He says that he knows what is going on. He calls Sting an ungrateful son of a bitch. He says that he has done nothing but treat Sting with respect from day one. Eric wants to know how much more slack does he have to give Sting.
Sting says that his feelings are hurt as he responds sarcastically. Sting says that Eric verbally abused him and cursed at him. Sting wonders what shall he do. Before he snaps his scrawny little neck, and that is what he is going to do, he is going to tell Eric why they never got along. Sting calls Eric a con artist, a thief, and a liar. He calls Bischoff a low life, a loser, the scum of the Earth, and a dirtbag.
Sting tells Eric that he is a really bad virus and a cancer. Like the cockroach that crawled in, Eric ended up at Impact Wrestling. Sting tells Eric that he is a disease and that disease has spread to Hulk. It is only a matter of time before Hulk’s eyes are opened and the real Hulk Hogan returns.
Eric says that it will always be Hogan and Bischoff. They will always be a team and Sting cannot do anything to change that. The only thing that will change is Sting and it is because of Eric. Sting might have a rematch on July 14th, but Eric says that he has the ability to change that. He is going to put Sting in a match with Abyss tonight so Sting will be in no shape to win any belt on July 14th. Eric says that there is not a damn thing that Sting can do about that.
Sting says that Eric said that with such conviction. Sting tells Eric that he has the price to pay. Sting removes his jacket while Eric stays in the ring. Sting backs Bischoff into the corner and then Sting punches Eric in the midsection and then the head. Sting pulls Eric into the center of the ring and he punches Bischoff in the midsection. Sting with a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting then applies some paint on Eric’s face.
Sting pulls Eric to the mat and then he puts Eric in the Scorpion Death Lock and Eric taps because there is no reason to tap since there is no match going on and there are no referees near the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Sting confronting Eric Bischoff and attacking him.
We see footage from last week with the Bound for Glory Series Matches at house shows. A.J. Styles, Matt Morgan, Scott Steiner, and Gunner earned points for wins. ,P> They are all tied with Rob Van Dam for 7 points. Matt Morgan and Crimson will face Beer Money while Scott Steiner faces Bully Ray in Series matches.
We see footage from the match between Bully Ray and A.J. Styles at Slammiversary.
Match Number One: Bully Ray (0 Points) versus Scott Steiner (7 Points) in a Bound for Glory Series Match
Ray and Scott have something to say to each other before they lock up. Steiner poses and Ray decides to pass. They lock up and Steiner tries to back Ray into the corner but Ray with a forearm to the back and a double sledge to the back. Ray with a chop to Scott’s chest but he misses a charge into the corner. Steiner with a kick and punches to Ray followed by a biel across the ring. Ray tells the referee that Scott grabbed his shirt and Scott denies the allegation.
Steiner with a punch to the head followed by a clothesline and then he does the flex elbow and push ups during the referee’s count. Steiner with a kick to the midsection followed by an Irish whip and Rey with a kick to Steiner as Steiner charges into the corner. Ray gets a near fall. Ray with a slam followed by an elbow drop for a near fall. Ray gets another near fall on Steiner.
Ray with crossfaces to the head and upper chest. Ray sets for the BubbaBomb but Steiner blocks the move. Steiner with a Saito suplex and both men are down. Each man with punches and then they exchange punches until Steiner takes control and hits a clothesline. Steiner with a running clothesline but Ray with a kick. Steiner with a t-bone suplex for a near fall. Steiner with an Irish whip that sends Ray into the referee. Steiner with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and then he puts Ray in the Steiner Recliner but the referee is still out. Ray taps and it does not matter. Since the ref is out, Steiner releases the hold and that allows Ray to grab the chain while Steiner checks on the referee. Ray hits Steiner with the chain in the throat and the referee recovers in time to make the three count.
Winner: Bully Ray (7 Points)
James Storm, Crimson, Pope, Bobby Roode, Devon, and Samoa Joe are tied for last place with zero points while everyone else is tied for first with seven points.
Eric Bischoff tells Abyss that he wants Sting taken care of while he still has the paint on his face.
Ken Anderson enters and Eric tells him to get the smile off his face. Eric calls Anderson a smart ass and he says that he did this for Anderson. Ken says that he was in the back eating a hamburger minding his own business. Eric says that Hogan and him are minding Anderson’s business. He tells Anderson to think about the big picture and not think about himself. Gunner weakened Sting, Bischoff was there at Slammiversary and helped Anderson win. He tells Anderson that he can join them and be in charge of everything. Eric wants to know how tough this is.
We go to commercial while Bischoff screams for medication.
We are back and Scott Steiner is yelling in the back as he tries to find Bully Ray.
Mike and Taz talk about the X Division show case and Federico Palacisos, Zema Ion, and Dakota Darsow will meet in the ring. We get comments from Zema Ion.
Velvet has something to say before the match and she says that after what happened to her in the ring last week, Velvet and Miss Tessmacher petitioned the office for a No Holds Barred Match. They were given the match, but since ODB and Miss Jackie are not under contract, this has to be done ‘by the books’. If ‘by the books’ means payback and whooping some ass, she is good with that.
Match Number Two: Miss Tessmacher and Velvet Sky versus Miss Jackie and ODB
They brawl on the floor and the referee has already lost control of the match before it has officially started. Velvet sends ODB into the ring steps and Tessmacher sends Jackie into the apron. ODB punches Velvet but Velvet punches back as they fight on the floor. Tessmacher chokes Jackie on the floor. Velvet kicks ODB on the other side of the ring but ODB kicks Velvet in the midsection.
Velvet tries to get into the ring with ODB but ODB fight the urge. Velvet punches ODB in the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and Jackie with a knee to Tessmacher. ODB tags in and she has some comments for Tessmacher. Tessmacher with forearms but Jackie takes care of Tessmacher. Velvet pulls Jackie off the apron. Tessmacher with a jawbreaker and she tries to make the tag but Velvet cannot get back to her corner in time and Jackie and ODB send Tessmacher into the corner. Jackie with a snap mare and then she works on Tessmacher’s neck. ODB tags in and she connects with a forearm while Tessmacher does a walkabout in the ring without making the tag. Jackie tags back in and Tessmacher with punches but ODB tags back in. Tessmacher with a spear to ODB and both women are down.
Velvet and Jackie tag in and Velvet with clotheslines to Jackie and ODB. Jackie and ODB with kicks to Velvet but Velvet with a double clothesline. All four women are in the ring. Velvet slams Jackie’s head into the mat while ODB and Tessmacher fight to the floor. ODB takes care of Velvet and then ODB holds the referee. Jackie with a low kick for the three count.
Winners: Miss Jackie and ODB
We go to commercial.
We are back and Zema Ion is getting taped up. It is time to see Federico Palacios and he says that this is what the ten years in the business is all about. The hard work is paying off for him.
Tara says that she cannot wait until July 14th when she gets her shot at Madison Rayne. Speak of the devil, Madison gives Tara one chance to get out of the match. Madison tells Tara if she does not get out of the match, it will be the biggest mistake of her life. Madison gives Tara one chance to apologize for everything. Tara says that she passes and then Madison slaps Tara. Tara runs Madison into the wall and then leaves.
James Storm tells Bobby Roode that he shouldn’t wrestle if he isn’t 100%. Roode says that he isn’t medically cleared to wrestle. Roode says that they both got into the business to be the heavyweight champion. They have each other’s back in this match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Scott Steiner is throwing things at Abyss, Bully Ray, and Gunner. Ray tries to get Steiner to calm down but Steiner won’t stop trying to hit something. Ray says that he did the same thing that Steiner would have done to him. Ray offers Steiner a spot in Immortal. Steiner yells something at Ray and Ray wants to know how many times Steiner did the same exact thing. Ray says that he will talk to Hogan and Bischoff and Steiner throws a chain at them and he says that he will think about it.
Before the match starts, we are told that the person who earns the pinfall gets the points.
Match Number Three: Bobby Roode (0 Points) and James Storm (0 Points) versus Crimson (0 Points) and Matt Morgan (7 Points) in a Bound for Glory Series Match
Roode and Crimson start things off and they lock up. Crimson backs Roode into the corner and gives a clean break. Roode with a waist lock take down into a front face lock. Crimson gets to his feet and he connects with shoulders in the corner. Roode floats over on an Irish whip attempt and Roode with chops followed by a snap mare and leap frog neck breaker. Crimson with a shoulder tackle to the injured arm.
Storm tags in and so does Morgan. They lock up and Morgan sends Storm to the mat. Storm with a waist lock and Storm ducks the elbows in the corner and Storm with a punch. Morgan sends Storm to the apron but Storm drops Morgan on the top rope. Storm with a gutblower followed by a neck breaker on Morgan. Morgan with a clothesline to Storm for a near fall. Morgan with the elbows in the corner and then he tags Crimson into the match. Crimson with a cravate to Storm but Storm with punches. Crimson with knees and then he hits a neck breaker for a near fall.
Morgan tags back in and Storm with punches. Morgan with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Crimson tags in and he sends Storm into the turnbuckle. Storm with a lungblower and both men are down.
Roode tags in and he tries for a clothesline and Morgan does not move. Roode with another clothesline that does nothing. Roode with drop kicks to the knee. Roode avoids a big boot into the corner and Roode with kicks to the leg. Roode comes off the turnbuckles but Morgan catches Roode. Roode tries for a Fujiwara arm bar but Crimson makes the save. Storm with a kick to the back of Crimson’s head. Storm and Roode with a double suplex and it is time to remember their team name, but forgetting that a match is still going on means that Morgan can hit a double clothesline. Morgan with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Roode. Roode with a Block buster and then Roode sends Storm over the top rope onto Crimson. Morgan with a Carbon Footprint for the three count.
Winners: Matt Morgan (14 Points) and Crimson (0 Points)
Abyss is walking in the back and he talks about he follows the teaching of Sun Tzu and Eric Bischoff. He says that it is better to take their possessions whole and intact. Tonight, it is Sting’s time because Eric Bischoff mandated that. As Sun Tzu said, no nation has benefitted from a prolonged warfare. He will take Sting out quickly, but not too quickly.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Eric Young is walking through Universal Studios and he is looking for Popeye.
A.J. Styles comes to the ring and he has an announcement to make about Destination X. A.J. says that we are three weeks away from the most exciting pay per views of the year. He says that we have guys jockeying in the back just to be a part of it. For the first time, Destination X is an all X Division pay per view. To whom it may concern. Whether it is Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, or the Network. If we are having an X Division pay per view, A.J. Styles is coming home to the X Division at Destination X. A.J. says that we are traditional with the four sided ring. A.J. says that he doesn’t know. For one night only, maybe we should bring back the six sided ring. A.J. says that he takes great pride in the X Division because he was the first X Division Champion and nobody can take that from him. There were others like Elix Skipper, Kid Kash, Low Ki, Jerry Lynn and others who were responsible for the most exciting movement. . .
Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring. He says that they have a lot to be excited about when it comes to Destination X. If he had to name one person who pioneered what it meant to be in the X Division, it is A.J. Joe says that the X Division wasn’t hot until Samoa Joe got here. Joe says that the X Division wasn’t taken very seriously until he ran roughshod through everyone in the X Division, A.J. included. At the end of the day, it went from being a feature to headlining pay per views where it belongs. A.J. may be the heart of the X Division, but Joe says that he gave the division its balls. Joe tells A.J. that he came out here to give them a suggestion. It is Destination X and the X Division so what better match to headline it than . . .
Fortune’s music plays and Christopher Daniels makes his way to the ring. He says that if there is going to be a discussion about the match to headline Destination X, he should join in. When the talk is about the X Division, the same names keep coming up. Three weeks away at Destination X, let’s give the fans what they want. Give them the match they want to see one more time. Give them A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels one on one.
Daniels tells A.J. to think about what the company stands for. They tell everyone that wrestling matters and what better way than to put the two brightest stars in wrestling face to face in the ring. Daniels wants to know if A.J. is in.
Styles agrees to it and Joe wants to know what is going on. Joe gets in A.J.’s face before we go to commercial.
We are back and Kazarian wants to know what Daniels was doing. Daniels tells Frankie not to over analyze it. That is the ideal X Division match in the spirit of competition.
Samoa Joe says that he didn’t know that we found the Real Housewives of Fortune. He says that it makes some compelling television. Frankie tells Joe that it would be compelling television if he smacked Joe’s head. Joe takes care of Kazarian and walks away.
We go to comments from Dakota Darsow. He says that he is the greatest thing in the world. He says that he is a superstar and his opponents are not on his level.
Match Number Four: Federico Palacios versus Zema Ion versus Dakota Darsow in an X Division Challenge Match
Ion and Palacios push each other and then Ion sends Darsow over the top rope to the floor. Darsow with a kick to Ion’s head and then he gets a near fall. Darsow with a punch to Palacios but Palacios with an Irish whip and drop kick. Ion with a DDT to Palacios and Darsow with a kick to break up the cover. Darsow with forearms to Palacios followed by a suplex and an elbow drop and knee drop. Darsow with a leg drop for a near fall.
Ion goes up top and he hits a missile drop kick on Darsow. Ion with a chop to Palacios and then Palacios drops Ion to the mat. Palacios with a rollup for a near fall. Ion lands on his feet and he hits a facebuster on Palacios. Darsow takes care of Ion. Darsow punches Palacios and kicks Ion. Darsow with an elbow to Palacios but Palacios sends Darsow to the floor. Palacios with a suicide dive onto Darsow. Ion goes up top and hits a corkscrew dive onto Palacios.
Ion rolls Darsow into the ring and he flips off Darsow’s chest. Darsow with a boot to Ion. Darsow with a moonsault on Ion but Palacios with a double stomp to break up the cover. Palacios tries for a superplex on Ion but Ion sends Palacios to the floor. Darsow with a kick to Ion’s chest. Ion pushes Darsow off the turnbuckles and then Ion with a 450 splash for the three count.
Winner: Zema Ion
Rob Van Dam says that he might as well jump in on the Destination X thing. He was X Division before the X Division. Jerry Lynn stops by and he suggests that THEY were X Division before the X Division.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Mickie James versus Winter in a Street Fight
We are back and Mickie James and Winter are brawling in the dressing room. Winter sends Mickie into a trash can. Mickie with forearms to Winter but Winter with a punch. They fight to the Jeff Jarrett guitar storage area and then Mickie is hit with an empty box. Winter whips Mickie with a belt. They make their way up the steps to go into the Impact Wrestling Zone as the whipping continues. Winter chokes Mickie with the strap and then she pulls Mickie into the Impact Zone.
Winter biels Mickie across the stage and then she Irish whips Mickie into the wall on the stage. Mickie goes onto the stage for the Thesz Press and she punches Winter. Mickie grabs the strap but Winter gets out of the way. They fight down the ramp as they get closer to the ring. Winter sends Mickie into the guardrail and then she hits a head scissors off the guardrails.
They get into the ring and Mickie goes up top with a missile drop kick. Angelina hits a lungblower while Earl Hebner focuses on Winter because a wrestler has never been down before in a match. Winter gets the three count.
Winner: Winter
Match Number Six: Abyss versus Sting
Sting interrupts the ring introductions and he attacks Abyss. Abyss with an Irish whip but Sting with a shoulder tackle out of the corner. Sting kicks Abyss and punches him in the corner. Sting with a punch but Abyss with a kick. Sting with a clothesline that sends Abyss over the top rope to the floor. Sting goes to the floor and he punches Abyss in the vintage manner. Sting tries for a clothesline but Abyss moves and Sting hits the ring post.
Abyss with a forearm to the back Abyss punches Sting and then he chokes Sting in the corner. Abyss with the happy run across the ring and he splashes Sting. Abyss wants Sting to get up but since he does not listen, Abyss picks him up. Abyss with an arm bar and he palms Sting’s forehead.
Sting with punches to Abyss that staggers the big man. Abyss with a choke slam to Sting and he gets a near fall. Abyss gets his book and he reads a few pages while he waits for Sting to get to his feet. Abyss kicks Sting in the back of the leg. Abyss goes into his jacket for a barbed wire glove. Abyss puts on the glove and then Sting sees the glove and he avoids the punches from Abyss.
Sting with a clothesline or two but Abyss with a big boot but Sting is also from Krypton and he pops up. Sting with a Stinger Splash followed by a Scorpion Death Drop for a near fall. Sting takes the glove off Abyss’ hand and he puts it on. Sting punches Abyss with the glove and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Abyss by disqualification
Ken Anderson comes out after the match and Sting continues to hit Abyss with the barbed wire glove while Anderson watches. We go to credits.
2011 - WWE broadcast Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin this week’s show with the Smackdown brand and your announcers are Jack Korpela and Matt Striker
Match Number One: Natalya, Kaitlyn, and AJ Lee versus Tamina, Rosa Mendes, and Alicia Fox in an If you loved it on Smackdown, you will like it more tonight Match
Natalya and Alicia start things off and they lock up with Natalya applying a side head lock and take down. Alicia with a head scissors but Natalya escapes. Natalya catches Alicia and tries for a Sharpshooter but Tamina makes the tag. Natalya has some words for Tamina and Natalya with a side head lock. Tamina with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Natalya with a sunset flip for a near fall. Tamina with a knee and then she puts Natalya in her corner.
Rosa tags in and she tries for a suplex but Natalya blocks it and Natalya with a delayed vertical suplex on Rosa and then Natalya with a slap to Rosa before getting a near fall. Kaitlyn tags in and Natalya sends Katilyn into Rosa in the corner and Kaitlyn with a side slam and she gets a near fall. Tamina distracts Kaitlyn and that allows Rosa to take control and she slams Rosa’s head into the mat.
Tamina tags in while Alicia bounces on the apron. Tamina with a short arm clothesline and then she sends Kaitlyn into the corner and she chokes Kaitlyn in the corner. Alicia tags in and she connects with a forearm followed by an Irish whip and snap mare. Rosa tags in and she kicks Kaitlyn in the back. Rosa gets a near fall on Kaitlyn.
Rosa works on Kaitlyn’s neck but Kaitlyn with a back elbow to Rosa and both ladies are down. AJ and Alicia tag in and AJ with a clothesline or two. Alicia tries for a tilt-a-whirl back breaker but AJ counters with a lateral press and then she gets a near fall after a drop kick.
All six ladies are in the ring and then we get back to AJ and Alicia. AJ with kicks to Alicia’s legs but Alicia with a back kick and then she misses an axe kick. AJ gets the three count with a rollup.
Winners: Natalya, AJ Lee, and Kaitlyn
We go to commercial and we are told that we will see the six man elimination tag match from Raw.
We are back and we are reminded that the people and the voting did not mix on Raw so we will get Evan Bourne versus Sin Cara on Monday’s Raw from Las Vegas.
It is now time to take a look back at the main event from Raw. For the coverage of that match, check out the Raw Report because this version is not the full match.
We go to commercial.
It is now time for the Raw portion of this week’s episode of Superstars and your announcers are Josh Mathews and Scott Stanford.
Match Number Two: Melina versus Gail Kim
Melina and Gail have some words as the match starts. They lock up and Gail with a side head lock and take down but Melina with a head scissors and Gail escapes. Melina with a matrix and then she takes Gail down and gets a near fall. Gail moves when Melina charges into the corner and Gail with a sunset flip from the apron for a near fall. Gail with an elbow to Melina and it appears that Melina hurt her knee.
The referee checks on Melina and she says that she is okay. They lock up and Melina’s knee gives out but it was a trap and Melina with a snap mare driver and then she sends Gail’s head into the corner. Melina with a running drop kick into the corner and then Melina tells Gail that they were friends.
Melina tries for a slam but Gail counters with a lateral press for a near fall. Gail with a back slide for a near fall. Melina tosses Gail by the hair and Melina gets a near fall. Melina with a reverse chin lock on Gail. Melina with forearms to Gail. Gail misses a forearm but she kicks Melina away. Gail with a running drop kick followed by a flying clothesline. Melina backs into the corner but that is what Gail wanted because she hits a running cross body. Gail with a missile drop kick to Melina.
Melina holds on to the ropes and Melina kicks Gail away. Melina misses a kick and does a split. Gail gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Gail Kim
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Vladimir Kozlov and Santino Marella versus David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty in a Non Title Match
Marella and Otunga start things off and Santino does his usual dance moves and kicks before locking up. Santino with a side head lock but Otunga with a shoulder tackle. Otunga with another shoulder tackle and Otunga wants Santino to try again. Santino with a shoulder tackle that takes Otunga to the mat. Otunga with a kick and then Otunga turns his attention to the arm. Santino reverses but Otunga with a punch to Santino.
Otunga with an Irish whip but Santino floats over and tries for the cobra but Otunga retreats to the ropes and goes to the floor. Kozlov uncoils the cobra while Michael tags in. Michael with a kick followed by a punch to the head. Michael with a drop toe hold into a side head lock but Santino with a hammer lock. Santino with a standing switch and then we gets more reversals until Michael gets to the ropes.
Michael has a kick blocked and then Santino with an atomic drop and Kozlov is tagged in. Michael gets away from Kozlov. They lock up and Kozlov throws Michael to the mat. Michael with a waist lock but Kozlov with a waist lock take down. Michael charges at Kozlov but Kozlov with a shoulder tackle and then he sends Michael into the corner. Santino tags in and Kozlov sends Santino into Michael and gets a near fall.
Otunga tags back in and he kicks Santino and then he slams Santino. Otunga misses a few elbow drops and Santino with an inside cradle for a near fall. Santino with an STO for a near fall. Kozlov tags back in and Kozlov traps the arms and connects with head butts to the sternum. Otunga escapes the power slam attempt and he tries for a cross body but Kozlov catches him and Vladimir with a fallaway slam. Michael tries to interfere but Santino sees it coming and he gets the cobra ready so Michael goes to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Santino with hip tosses to Otunga but when he goes for the diving head butt, Otunga gets his knees up. Otunga with kicks to Santino and then Michael is tagged in and he kicks Santino in the ribs. Santino with a forearm but Michael with a drop kick and he gets a near fall.
Otunga is tagged in and Michael Irish whips Santino into an Otunga clothesline and Otunga gets a near fall. Otuna with a rear chin lock on Santino but Santino escapes with a snap mare. Otunga keeps Santino from making the tag and Michael tags back in. Michael with a forearm across the chest and then he gets a near fall. Michael with a punch to the midsection but Santino kicks back and he sends Michael over the top rope to the floor.
Kozlov tags in and he hits a shoulder tackle followed by head butts to the sternum. Kozlov puts Michael on his shoulders and then the turnbuckles before kicking Michael off. Kozlov with a power slam for a near fall. Otunga breaks up the corner. Santino tries for the cobra to Otunga but Otunga moves and Santino goes to the floor. Kozlov with a double clothesline to Otunga and McGillicutty as McGillicutty and Otunga hit a double clothesline on Kozlov.
Santino tags back in and Otunga with a knee to the back from the apron and that allows Michael to hit the running neck breaker for the three count.
Winners: David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty
2012 -Combat Zone Wrestling held their 11th Annual Tournament of Death on Saturday 6/23 in Townsend, Delaware at the "Ultraviolent Underground" aka Markland Acre Farms. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
There's always a lot of criticism on "garbage wrestling" as if its some geek show that shouldn't be considered pro wrestling. Of course, people say the same about Lucha Libre and CHIKARA and anything else they need a reason to knock, but the reality is that like ice cream, wrestling has many different flavors and this is just one of them. I can understand why someone wouldn't like the insane spots, grittiness of the atmosphere, the brawling and the out of their minds physicality that comes with the weapons and blood but under the right circumstances, I can't help but be blown and away and impressed by the sheer awe-inspiring sight of some of these spots, the work ethic and willingness to pull this stuff off and the jaw-dropping nature of these wars of attrition. I don't want to see it all the time, but at the TOD, it's the perfect setting for it - a punk rock ultraviolent Woodstock. For a $20 GA ticket, CZW is giving you a hell of a lot of mayhem.
The TOD opened with DJ Hyde bringing out the Tournament of Death trophy. He said he didn't like most of the fans but he's proud to have the best death match wrestling in the world. He said that this year hasn't been the easiest year to put on the show due to the new regulations but he promises to have the best death match show possible. He says that people don't have to like him but points out his father, Homer, and says that he, despite being in a wheelchair, busted his ass so the property was ready for the show. Hyde, admitting he was stalling because the ring announcer was late, ran down the opening card. Legend finally arrived.
Danny Havoc defeated Devon Moore and Lucky tHURTeen in a Drunken Scaffold Match. The rules were that anytime you went off the scaffold you have to take a shot...and anytime, there was a two count everyone, including the ref has to take a shot. tHURTeen took a bump onto a barbed wire board early. Moore headbutt a light tube onto Havoc then nailed himself with one. Havoc dug his face into barbed wire and nailed a clothesline for a two count. tHURTeen returned to nail a series of kicks. He was caught with a tiltowhirl backbreaker onto a light tube by Havoc. Moore missed a lariat and was caught with a backdrop driver for a two count. tHURTeen and Havoc ascended to the scaffold. Shots! Moore followed. tHURTeen dropkicked them off with Moore crashing through a barbed wire board bridged between the ring and apron. tHURTeen the hit an INSANE forward flip off the scaffold to the floor on Moore. They all battled around ringside. Back in the ring, tHURTeen hit a backstabber off the ropes on Moore. He went to the top but Mooe caught him on the ropes. They battled and Moore was drilled with a Canadian Piledriver off the top for a two count. Havoc nailed a full nelson suplex on tHURTeen with lightubes behind his neck. That was a sick spot. Moore made it to the scaffold and came off with a senton on tHURTeen, who was set up in a table. tHURTeen was eliminated. Moore set up a bunch of chairs and laid a barbed wire wrapped chair on it. He slammed Havoc on it and went to the scaffold but was caught and slammed off onto the chairs. That was only good for a two count. Jeez. Havoc was placed under the chairs and a barbed wire board. Moore went to the scaffold but Havoc shook it and he lost his footing. They met up on the scaffold, took a shot and battled. Havoc came off the scaffold with a death valley driver through the barbed wire board in the ring for the pin. Quite a spectacle to kick off the afternoon.
CZW Junior Heavyweight champion Drake Younger defeated Rory Mondo in an Ultraviolent Ladder match. The match was dedicated to memory of JC Bailey and Chris Cash. Odd there was no mention of Trent Acid. Rory Mondo is a younger talent here who dressed like Nick Mondo when he was a fan and now uses the gimmick as a worker. The crowd refuses to give him any nod of credibility and was all over him here. The story for much of this was that Younger was beating the piss out of Mondo. There was a ladder in every corner - one with rows of light tubes glued from top to bottom, one wrapped in barbed wire and your two standard ladders. The fans chanted for Bailey and Cash. They swung lighttubes and then crashed into each other shattering the tubes. Mondo nailed Younger with tubes. He was caught with an overhead suplex throw into the barbed wire ladder in the corner. Younger came off the top with a double stomp thru light tubes on Mondo's chest for a two count, then dragged him back-first through the broken glass. Mondo was backdropped and sideslammed on a barbed wire ladder. Mondo was slammed atop a ladder that was laid on its side. He went to the top but was nailed with a light tube. Mondo hit a rana off the top but Younger missed the ladder. The crowd booed that. Mondo placed him atop and slammed him onto the ladder. Younger was bleeding a gusher by this point. Mondo tried to suplex Younger onto light tubes but was blocked and nailed with a Michinoku Driver on the tubes. Younger looked like Batman foe Two Face with one half of his face covered in Crimson. Younger nailed a tornado DDT out of the corner then hit a death valley driver into a ladder for a two count. Younger headbutt a light tube into Mondo's head then carved him with the jagged edge. He went for the vertebreaker but Mondo slipped out and nailed a driver through a ladder bridged between two chairs. Younger came back with an exploder and a sit down powerbomb onto a ladder with light tubes glued to it. Mondo kicked out at two which surprised the crowd. Mondo set up a chair and bridged a ladder from it to the ropes. He placed Younger on it and came off the top with a legdrop across it. It didn't work. Younger killed him with the tube. They went back and forth. Mondo nailed the Assault Driver for a two. He went to the top but was beaten in the head twice with a chair. Younger stacked two ladders across the middle turnbuckle. He nailed Mondo with a light tube then hit a vertebreaker off the top dropping Mondo across the ladders. THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY SICK. He then nailed another in the middle and covered him for the pin. Younger said that he wanted to publicly apologize for questioning his loyalty to the company. He said JC Bailey loved him. He said today wasn't his day because Younger was going to win the tourney and dedicated his performance to Baileys memory. Mondo got a round of respectful applause after as the crowd respected the punishment he put himself through.
Masada defeated Scott Summers in a Panes of Glass. Summers looks like a muscled up Buzz Sawyer with tons of tattoos. He carries himself like a worker in a way that a lot of wrestlers don't today, where he doesn't waste any movements in the ring. They locked up and went back and forth, exchanging chops. Summers speared Masada. They traded back suplexes. Summers went for a belly to belly overthrow suplex but it was blocked. They went back and forth. Masada bloodied Summers' lip with a hard slap. Masada was tossed into a pane of glass. Summers worked him over in the corner. Masada fired back with hard shots and choked him in the corner. He speared Summers into a pane of glass. Masada dug a piece of glass into his forehead. Summers, now bleeding, was chopped in the corner. He reversed a whip but was backdropped to the apron. Masada knocked him to the floor. Masada hit a dive through the ropes to the floor. Masada went to the floor for a pane of glass but Summers hit a pescado through it. THAT was insane. Summers came out bleeding a ton from it. He cursed at a fan and spit at them. Back in the ring, Summers worked over Masada for several two counts. Masada came back with a powerbomb on broken glass. Masada nailed a piledriver onto two cinderblocks. Summers had a big gash in his head and had obviously smacked it on the blocks. He still kicked out at two. Masada then hit a death valley driver onto the blocks for three. Summers, obviously out of it from a shot to the head, took the mic and told Masada he needed to finish the job. He said that he didn't know what he was gonna do today but he knew he was gonna fight. He challenged Masada to come out and finish the fight, although he had been pinned. It took the crowd awhile to warm to Summers but they were into the match once it got out of your basic back and forth wrestling and power spots. Good stuff.
In an Ultraviolent Bats match, Big Japan champion Abdullah Kobayashi defeated Matt Tremont. The story was that Tremont needed to get through Kobayashi to get to DJ Hyde. Abby began eating a light tube. Tremont did the same. They are sick bastards but I can respect that. They locked up with neither getting the early advantage. They exchanged shoulderblocks and stiff headbutts. They grabbed bats embedded with tacks and began hitting each other with stiff shots. Tacks were flying everywhere. Tremont was bleeding from the forehead. Abby used a barbed wire bat to Tremont's forehead. Abby then placed tubes inside Tremont's singlet and used a karate chop to shatter them. I shudder at the idea of taking bumps with crushed glass INSIDE my tights. Tremont was slammed and hit with a Vader splash out of the corner. Kobayahi missed an elbow with a tube coming down under him. Tremont nailed him with tubes and drilled him with an elbow for a two count. Tremont drilled Abby and whipped him into the corner. He nailed a hard leaping splash into the corner. He placed a light tube collection against Abby's face. A facewash failed to break it so Tremont hit a cannonball in the corner. Nice save. He carved up Kobayashi's face with a thumb tack bat. Kobayashi was nailed with a light tube. Tremont went to the top but was nailed from behind by Hyde with this massive light tube contraption. A piece of glass hit me in the sixth row. Tremont kicked up out of a slew of offense including a shining wizard. Abby came off the top with an elbow dropping a light tube across Tremont and finally scored the pinfall. Kobayashi took the mic and said, "I come back America!" He told Tremont, who he called "young boy" that he's "strong" in the ring. He then said that DJ Hyde was a "c***sucker" and a kiss ass. Tremont chased Hyde out and to the back, trying to get his hands on him. Abby promised to win the tournament. The crowd was into him in a big way because he's a completely violent freak show attraction. This was designed to give Tremont some continued credibility and edge as a tough guy and it worked.
In a non-tournament Fans Bring the Weapons match, Joe Gacy defeated Ryan Slater in a Fans Bring the Weapons match. They beat the living hell out of each other with a ton of of crap people brought to the show.
In a Semi-Final, Drake Younger defeated Danny Havok in what was billed as a Caribbean Spider Web Death Match. They went nose to nose at the bell and then exchanged forearms. They did some wrestling early. It was weird to see that under these circumstances. Younger was hit with a suplex into a wood and barbed wire structure, crushing some light tubes in the corner. Havoc covered him for a two and then nailed an quebrada for another two count. He slammed Younger on tubes for another near fall. He poured out a bucket of light bulbs and broken glass. They went back and forth until Younger nailed a spinebuster on the glass then turned him over in a sharpshooter on the glass. Ouch. Younger nailed a standing vertical suplex into the glass for a two count. Younger nailed an Angleslam on tubes for another two count. Younger bulldogged him for another near fall. He went for the vertebreaker but Havoc escaped and rolled him up for a two count. They tumbled over the ropes to the floor and battled on the outside. Younger was nailed with a chair and sent into the rail. Havoc brought another wood and barbed wire structure into the ring. Younger swept his leg onto some tubes and then piledrove him on a tube outside on the apron. Younger bridged the wood and barbed wire structure between two chairs in the ring. He forced Havoc's face into the barbed wire and went to the top. Havoc battled to the top but was nailed with a twisting sit-down slam through the wood and barbed wire. Younger beat him over the head with a tube. They battled back and forth until Younger drilled him with a Death Valley Driver over the tubes. Havoc came back to use Younger's own finisher in a frightening vetebreaker on tubes for a near fall. Havoc placed a wooden structure made up of carpet strips and barbed wire between the ring and the guard rail. They battled on the top until Younger nailed a driver off the top through the structure. They finally returned to the ring but Havoc kicked up after two. A final structure made of tubes and barbed wire was brought into the equation. Younger blew a fireball at Havoc for a two. Havoc came back to hi a back suplex through the final structure for a two. Younger placed some light tubes bridged two chairs and lit them on fire. He nailed a vertebreaker thru them for the pin. That was sick. Awesome, brutal match.
In a semi-final, CZW champion Masada defeated Big Japan champion Abdullah Kobayashi in what was billed as a Big Japan Death Match. They brawled right out of the ring and into the crowd, around the crowd and towards the production truck before returning to the ring, with the audience surging as they chased them. When they returned, Masada used acupuncture needles and stabbed them in Abby's head, leaving him looking like a punk rocker with a wooden Mohawk. Quite the sight to see. Masada ripped at his face and locked in a camel clutch. The crowd chanted for Kobayashi. They went back and forth until Masada stuck the needles inside Abby's face and cheek. He drilled him with a chair and then threw another in his face. Abby fired back but was cut off. Masada pulled out a bed of nails from one of the corners. Kobayashi fired back and used the needles on Masada's head, then tossed others out across the crowd. Souvenirs! He then beat the needles into Masada's head, like Abdullah the Butcher would do with a fork. Obviously, the plasma was flowing. They battled around the bed of nails until Masada nailed a monkey flip onto it and Kobayashi's arm and shoulder landed hard on the nails. OUCH. Abby shoves Masada's head into it. Masada came back and worked Abby into a corner. He placed a glass pane in front of him and after a failed effort, shattered it into Kobayashi with a roaring elbow. The glass ripped up Masada's arm, similar to how Sabu's arm was ripped open in the barbed wire match against Funk. They ran and got masking tape to tape up the wound with a towel but the blood was just gushing from underneath. Abby backdropped Masada onto the bed of nails for a two count. He headbutt a tube into Masada's face and then placed the bed of nails upside down with the nails driving into Masada's body. He came off the top, smashing it down with a forearm into Masada. He went for the Vadersplash out of the corner but missed. Masada brought the board of nails and bulldogged Abdullah onto it. He placed it nails down on Abdullah, then slammed a cinder block down on it, driving the nails in. He then smashed a second cinder block onto the first, shattering it. Masada finished off Abby with a moonsault onto the board, driving them into Kobayashi and scored the pin. Awesome, sick match. Afterward, Kobayashi challenges Masada to a rematch down the line, only for their belts. Sounds good to me.
They took a second intermission to set up the main event and to give EMTS on hand a chance to check out Masada's injury and tape him up to go for the main event. The promotion took a long time wasting time to give themselves a chance to insure he would be OK to go, at one point teasing that they wouldn't have the final.
DJ Hyde came out and announced that as owner, he wasn't letting Masada compete as he wasn't going to allow Masada to risk his life and the promotion for the fans. Isn't that the entire point of a Death Match tournament. Hyde ripped on the fans and Drake Younger, already waiting in the ring, when Masada, selling that he could hardly move his arm, demanded to wrestle and said they could do it unsanctioned, since Hyde was claiming neither he nor the State would sanction it. Masada said this was CZW, so who cared about being sanctioned, saying he'd leave that to those "f**s, Ring of Honor."
CZW champion Masada defeated CZW Junior Heavyweight champion Drake Younger to win the 2012 Tournament of Death in a no ropes, barbed wire match that saw two sides of the ring exposed with barbed wire nets bridged between the apron and the rails.
They locked up and Younger immediately began working over Masada's bad arm, which was all taped up with crimson seeping through. Masada reserves the armwringer and tries to send Younger into the barbed wire but Younger saves himself. Younger uses a reverse rollup on Masada for a two count but when Masada kicks up, he kicks Younger into the wire hard. He shoves Younger's face into the wire. Younger fires back and sends Masada into the wire, where it nearly breaks apart under his momentum. Younger nails him with a light tube and digs the broken, jagged edge into Masada's bad arm. He nails a tube over his bad arm. Masada fires back with a series of stiff shots with a pair of water jugs connected by a stick and covered in tacks. He scored a two count. They battle over a suplex into the wire and finally Younger is draped across the wire and caught up in a scary moment. They go to cut him out but he says he can free himself. While trapped, he's beaten with a series of tubes to the head by Masada. Masada dug the broken tubes in his face but was nailed and worked over on his bad arm. Younger was whipped into the ropes and kicked in the mid-section, flipped over onto tubes, which he shattered. Younger came back to hiptoss Masada out of the ring onto one of the barbed wire nets. Masada came up with his calves all ripped up and bloody. Younger, on the floor, rams Masada's bad arm and shoulder into the ringpost and tubes. They battle on the floor and make their way around the ring to the other net. Masada pulls Younger up through the barbed wire and chokes him. Back in the ring, Younger blocked a Masada superkick and caught him with a slam on the tubes. Younger went for his DVDR but Masada kicked him low. When that happened, it was as if Younger gave up on trying to be fair to Masada due to the injury, was that he immediately nailed a double stomp onto tubes laid out over the bad arm. Younger clips barbed wire and wraps it around Masada's waist while trying to force a submission. They battle back and forth until Masada hits a high cross body on Younger, sending them out of the ring and into the barbed wire net. They needed to be pulled out of the net and back into the ring. Younger nails a series of moves on tubes but Masada keeps kicking out. A log cabin light tube structure is brought into the ring. Masada nailed him with an exploder into it. Younger comes back to lock a cross armbreaker on Masada's hurt arm but he fights his way out biting Younger's leg to break it. Masada locks on a STF. Younger fights to break free and fights off blacking out when a chair is added but finally taps.
After the match, Younger praised Masada. DJ Hyde came out but was nailed with a huge light tube contraption from behind by Matt Tremont, finally getting his hands on Hyde. Hyde recovered and entered the ring, praising Masada, then laying him out by saying that he was the baddest man in CZW, not anyone else. This led to all the other tournament competitors hitting the ring and in a wild scene, demolishing Hyde with light tube weapons. One of the shots cut him deeply under the arm and he was rushed backstage and an ambulance was called to take him to the ER. As of this writing, no update.
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