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8/23 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: NBC BUYS PRO WRESTLING DRAMA PILOT

By Mike Johnson on 2013-08-23 08:00:00

August 23rd

On this day in history in ....

1929 - Dick Shikat defeats Jim Londos in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to win the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title. Shikat was already recognized by the New York State Athletic Commission since defeating Hans Steinke five months earlier in Chicago, Illinois.

1941 - Frank Sexton defeats Bill Longson for the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California, ending Longson's third reign and beginning Sexton's third reign.

1944 - Yvon Robért defeats Frank Sexton to win the Montreal Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Title in Montreal, Quebec. This began Robért's 10th of 16 reigns.

1944 - Sandor Szabo defeats Dean Detton for the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title, to end Detton's third reign and begin Szabo's eighth.

1958 - Gene Dubuque and Mike Valentino defeat Ramon Torres and Dick Warren for the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title in Sacramento, California, to end their second reign.

1961 - Whipper Billy Watson defeats Gene Kiniski in Vancouver, British Columbia to become the first two-time Vancouver NWA British Empire Heavyweight Champion.

1961 - Dick Dunn defeats Dr. Jerry Graham for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama.

1963 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Tim Woods defeated The Magnificent Maurice.
- Dory Dixon defeated Tony Nero.
- Johnny Barend defeated Karl Steif.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Ron Reed.
- WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion Bobo Brazil and Lucas Pestano defeated The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan).
- Buddy Rogers defeated Hans Mortier.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Killer Kowalski by submission to retain the title.
- Argentina Apollo and Pedro Morales defeated WWWF United States Tag Team Champions Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy in a Best-of-Three Falls match, 2-0. The match was in the midst of the second fall when the 11:00pm curfew came, and Apollo and Morales won the second fall by referee's decision.

1963 - Bearcat Wright defeats Fred Blassie by countout in Los Angeles, California to win the World Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title. This ended Blassie's third reign.

1964 - TARU is born in Kobe, Japan.

1965 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results were:
- Arnold Skaaland defeated Wild Red Berry.
- Miguel Pérez defeated Rick Sexton.
- Chief Big Heart defeated The Magnificent Maurice.
- Tarzan Tyler defeated Chief White Owl.
- Johnny Valentine defeated The Golden Terror.
- WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion Bobo Brazil and Argentina Apollo defeated Smasher Sloan and Waldo Von Erich.
- Bill Watts defeated Gorilla Monsoon.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated WWWF United States Tag Team Champion Dr. Bill Miller in 48 seconds to retain the title.

1968 - The Professional (Doug Gilbert) defeats Tarzan Tyler to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.

1973 - Ken Lucas defeats Rocket Monroe for the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This ended Monroe's fifth reign and began Lucas' third.

1975 - The Invaders defeat Moondog Mayne and Pat Patterson for the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title in San Francisco, California, to begin their second reign.

1977 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held an event at the Fort Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida. The results:
- Scott Casey and Keith Franks (Adrian Adonis) fought to a draw.
- Mr. Saito defeated Charlie Cook.
- Lars Anderson defeated Tony Rocco.
- Jerry Brisco and Steve Keirn defeated Tony Marino and Buddy Roberts.
- NWA Florida Television Champion Pedro Morales defeated Pat Patterson to retain the title.
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes defeated Buddy Wolff to retain the title.
- WWWF Heavyweight Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Rocky Johnson to retain the title.
- Don Muraco defeated NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion Ivan Koloff by disqualification to retain the title.

1977 - The Medics win their fourth Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Shreveport, Louisiana by defeating Porkchop Cash and Mike George.

1978 - Killer Karl Krupp defeats The Lawman in Abilene, Texas for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title.

1980 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Dominic DeNucci defeated The Hangman.
- Hulk Hogan defeated René Goulet.
- André the Giant and Pedro Morales defeated Capt. Lou Albano (subbing for WWF Tag Team Champion Sika) WWF Tag Team Champion Afa, when Morales pinned Afa.
- Pat Patterson defeated Tor Kamata.
- Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Johnny Rodz.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Patera defeated Gorilla Monsoon to retain the title.
- Rick McGraw defeated José Estrada.
- Larry Zbyszko defeated Ivan Putski in a Texas Death match.

1980 - Wahoo McDaniel defeats Tully Blanchard in San Antonio, Texas to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title, ending Blanchard's fifth reign.

1982 - Dean Ho and Moondog Moretti defeat Bruiser Costa and Butcher Hughes in a tournament final for the Vancouver NWA International Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1984 - The Uptown Boys (Marty Jannetty and Tommy Rogers) defeat The Grapplers (Tony Anthony and Len Denton) to win the NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas. This began and ended each team's second reign.

1986 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Paul Roma defeated Les Thornton.
- José Luis Rivera defeated Ron Shaw.
- Paul Orndorff (with Bobby Heenan) defeated The Junkyard Dog.
- Big Machine (Blackjack Mulligan) and Super Machine (Bill Eadie) (with Giant Machine (André the Giant)) fought King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd (with Bobby Heenan) to a double-disqualification.
- Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine fought Mike Rotundo and Danny Spivey to a time-limit draw.
- Jake Roberts defeated Cousin Luke.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid) defeated The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with Slick), when Dynamite pinned Sheik with a diving headbutt, to retain the title.

1986 - Dump Matsumoto and Bull Nakano defeat The Crush Gals (Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagayo) in Kawasaki, Japan to win the WWWA World Tag Team Title, ending the Gals' third reign. At the same event, Yukari Oomori defeats Devil Masami for the WWWA World Singles Title.

1991 - The Patriot defeats Al Perez to become the first GWF North American Heavyweight Champion in Dallas, Texas. As a result, the GWF Television Title was vacated. Perez had beaten The Patriot on August 10 in a tournament final, but it was later shown that his feet were on the ropes during the pin.

1993 - The USWA held "A Matter of Pride" at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results:
- The American Eagle and Billy McGullig defeated Leon Downs and The (Road Warrior) Hawk.
- Miss Texas (Jacqueline) defeated USWA Women's Champion Luna Vachon to win the title, to begin her seventh reign.
- Colin Scott defeated Tony Falk.
- USWA Tag Team Champions The Dog Catchers (#1 and #2) defeated The Moondogs (Cujo and Spike) by disqualification to retain the title.
- Brian Christopher (with Toni Adams) defeated Chris Adams.
- PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) defeated Jimmy Valiant and Mario.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion The Vampire Warrior (Gangrel) (with Luna Vachon) to win the title. This began Jarrett's ninth reign. This title was renamed as simply the Heavyweight title in September.
- USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lawler defeated referee Paul Neighbors (with Vince McMahon) in a Stretcher match.
- Lex Luger defeated WWF Champion Yokozuna (with Mr. Fuji).

1994 - Super Muñequito defeats Fuercita Guerrera in Zacatecas, Mexico to win the Mexican National Minis Title.

1996 - Super Boy defeats Naohiro Hoshikawa for the vacant WWA World Middleweight Title in Gosen, Japan.

1996 - Mike Legacy defeats Calavera Cortez in Westland, Michigan to win the vacant Great Lakes Wrestling Light Heavyweight Title.

1998 - Aja Kong and Mayumi Ozaki defeat Chikayo Nagashima and Sugar Sato in Osaka, Japan for the AAAW Tag Team Title. At the same event, Chigusa Nagayo becomes the first two-time AAAW Singles Champion by defeating Devil Masami.

1998 - Momoe Nakanishi and Nanae Takahashi win their second AJW Tag Team Title in Kawasaki, Japan, defeating Sumie Sakai and Megumi Yabushita for the vacant title.

1998 - Mitsuhiro Matsunaga defeats The Great Pogo to win the BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Title in Osaka, Japan.

1998 - Los Vipers (Histeria II, Maniaco, Mosco de la Merced II and Psicosis II) defeat Los Payasos (Coco Amarillo, Coco Azul, Coco Negro and Coco Rojo) in a tournament final in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico for the vacant Mexican National Atómicos Title.

1999 - The WWF more than doubled WCW's viewership in this week of the Monday Night War. "Monday Nitro"'s 2.95 rating (hours of 3.34, 2.71 and 2.8) couldn't stack up to "RAW is WAR"'s 5.68 rating (hours of 5.64 and 5.72).

"WCW Monday Nitro" was live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The results:
- Chase Tatum pinned Mikey Whipwreck after a powerbomb.
- Buff Bagwell pinned Ernest Miller (with Sonny Onoo) after the Blockbuster.
- Juventud Guerrera defeated WCW Cruiserweight Champion Lenny (with Lodi) by disqualification when Sid Vicious interfered.
- The Barbarian, Brian Knobbs and Hugh Morrus (with Jimmy Hart) defeated The Revolution (Shane Douglas, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn), when Knobbs pinned Saturn after a splash.
- Kidman and Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated The Insane Clown Posse (Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J (with Vampiro)), when Kidman pinned Shaggy after Vampiro hit Shaggy by mistake, intending to hit Kidman.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Rick Steiner defeated Chris Benoit by disqualification, after Sid Vicious interfered, to retain the title.
- The West Texas Rednecks (Barry and Kendall Windham (with Bobby Duncum, Jr. and Curt Hennig)) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray), when Kendall pinned Booker after Hennig hit Booker with a cowbell, to win the title. This ended Harlem Heat's eighth reign.
- Vampiro pinned Eddie Guerrero.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan fought Sting to a no-contest to retain the title, after Sid Vicious and Rick Steiner interfered.

"WWF RAW is WAR" was live from Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. This night was the debut of new RAW ring announcer Lilian Garcia. The results were:
- WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow fought Road Dogg to a no-contest to retain the title, after Chris Jericho and Road Dogg fought backstage, after Snow had been powerbombed through a table on the floor. The Big Bossman came out, hit Snow with his nightstick, and stole Snow's dog, Pepper.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Big Show and The Undertaker fought The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) to a no-contest to retain the title, after Kane and X-Pac got involved.
- D-Lo Brown (taking Meat's place in the match after attacking him backstage) defeated WWF European Champion Mark Henry (with Debra, WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett and the debuting Miss Kitty) by disqualification when Jarrett broke up the cover after D-Lo had hit Henry with the Lo-Down. Henry retained the title.
- The Rock pinned Gangrel (with the Hardy Boyz) after the People's Elbow.
- Crash and Hardcore Holly fought to a no-contest after they fought outside of the building.
- Mideon and Viscera defeated Kane and X-Pac, when Viscera pinned X-Pac after a splash. The Acolytes attacked Kane on the floor during this.
- Triple H (with Chyna) pinned WWF Champion Mankind after the Pedgree to win the title, ending Mankind's third reign.

1999 - FMW held an event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results were:
- Mr. Gannosuke and Jado defeated Flying Kid Ichihara and Naohiro Yamazaki, when Jado pinned Yamazaki.
- Giant Steele defeated Yoshinori Sasaki.
- Kaori Nakayama defeated Emi Motokawa.
- Ricky Fuji and Independent World Heavyweight Champion Masato Tanaka defeated Shoichi Arai and WEW Six-Man Tag Team Champion Kodo Fuyuki, when Fuji pinned Arai.
- Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Hisakatsu Oya defeated WEW Tag Team and Six-Man Tag Team Champions Koji Nakagawa and Gedo, when Oya made Gedo submit, to win the title.
- Hayabusa defeated FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Champion Yukihiro Kanemura to win the title. This began his third reign.

2000 - E.Z. Ryder and Spyder defeat Alex Rain and Gene Swan to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in Elmwood, Manitoba.

2000 - Staz defeats Smelly in Santa Ana, California for the UPW Heavyweight Title, ending Smelly's second reign. Also at that show, Mikey Henderson ends Stretch's third UPW Lightweight Title reign.

2002 - Takashi Sasaki and GENTARO defeat Hi69 and TAKA Michinoku in Tokyo, Japan to become the first WEW Tag Team Champions. Also, Kintaro Kanemura defeats Tetsuhiro Kuroda to become the first WEW Heavyweight Champion.

2002 - Madison defeats Bam Bam Bambi at an ECCW event in Surrey, British Columbia to win the vacant NWA World Women's Title.

2003 - Los Broncos (II and III) defeat Brent Dail and Ricky Santana in Caguas, Puerto Rico for the WWC World Tag Team Title, to begin their fourth reign.

2003 - CZW held "Respect" outside at Rack's Bar and Billiards in Dover, Delaware. The results were:
- Zandig defeated Ian Rotten in an Exploding Barbed Wire and Lighttube Steel Cage match.
- Z-Barr defeated Jon Dahmer.
- CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion Ruckus defeated Derek Frazier to retain the title.
- CZW World Tag Team Champions Adam Flash & Ian Knoxxx defeated The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere) and The Rebel's Army (Greg Matthews & The Rockin' Rebel) in a three-way match to retain the title.
- IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion Sonjay Dutt defeated Jonny Storm to retain the title.
- Necro Butcher defeated JC Bailey in a Fans Bring the Weapons match.
- CZW World Heavyweight Champion The Messiah defeated Corporal Robinson to retain the title.
- BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Champion Nate Hatred defeated Nick Gage in a 200 Lighttubes match to retain the title.

2003 - Brian Black and The Mighty Mini defeated Attrition (Christian Angers and Big Mike Studd) to win the Chaotic Wrestling Tag Team Title in South Portland, Maine.

2006 - Charles Evans defeats Seth Skyfire in Louisville, Kentucky for the OVW Television Title.

2007 - "Ballpark Brawl VIII" was held at Dunn Tire Park in Buffalo, New York. The results:
- Jake O'Reilly won a 10-man battle royal.
- Krystal Banks and Cody Deaner defeated Cody 45 and Sara Del Rey.
- Xtremo defeated Kevin Dunn.
- Matt Cross besiegt Ruckus.
- Brutus Beefcake besiegt Cody Deaner und Jonny Puma in a Hair vs. Hair vs. Mullet match.
- Sterling James Keenan defeated Trent Acid, El Generico, John McChesney, Pac and Xtremo in an six-way Elimination match.
- Claudio Castagnoli defeated Delirious in a European Rules match. The judges for the match were Headbanger Mosh, Jaime D and Slick.
- Steve Corino & Ricky Reyes defeated Brodie Lee & Big Cat Lemmer and Devon Moore & Detox in a Tag Team Table Turmoil match.
- Kelly Couture and Gail Kim defeated Traci Brooks and Sara Del Rey. Jennifer Blake was the guest referee.
- PWU Heavyweight Champion 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Joey Matthews to retain the title.
- Sterling James Keenan defeated Rikishi and Natural Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe in a three-way match to win the title.

2008 - WWE ran Madison Square Garden in NYC.  Mike Johnson filed the following live report:

*Primo Colon (Eddie Colon) pinned Willam Regal with a backslide in his MSG debut.  Good solid opener with some back and forth wrestling.  Colon celebrated his upset at ringside.

*Kelly Kelly asked a family a trivia question, which was the site of Wrestlemania XXIV.  They answered correctly and won front row seat upgrades.

*Lance Cade pinned D'Lo Brown with a sitdown slam after Brown missed a top rope frog splash.  Run of the mill.

*Kelly Kelly came to the ring and picked a child up to be a guest manager for the next match.

*WWE Women's champ Beth Phoenix pinned Mickie James with the Dominator. Good back and forth match.  James hit a Lou Thesz Press off the apron to the floor during the bout and they had some good near fall sequences. Best thing on the show thus far.

*Jamie Noble defeated Snitsky with a front choke submission.

*WWE Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase defeated Cryme Time.  The champs did a heel promo on the mic before the match.  Really good match.  Cryme Time showed some real improvement from last time I saw them work live.  The crowd popped huge for the hot tag.  After the bout, Cryme Time laid out the champs, stole the Tag belts and ran off.  The champs threw a fit in the ring, which led to the crowd chanting "You suck".

Kelly Kelly picked a kid to a "guest bellringer."   

*WWE Intercontinental champ Santino Marella, with Beth Phoenix, defeated Kofi Kingston.  Marella sang a song about himself to the tune of "New York, New York" then told the fans that was free.  Marella told Phoenix that he didn't mind her having an off week last week because she "did good too."  Santino was hysterical.  He promised to win with a new move, the Mazaradi Clutch.  It was Kingston's MSG debut.  He even had pyro for his entrance.  They went back and forth with Marella playing cowardly heel early.  Kingston got a 2 count after a big elbow.  Kingston went to monkeyflip Marella but Beth saved Santino by holding him.  Kingston went down and hit the back of his head.  Marella rolled him up for the pin.  Kingston got a nice round of applause leaving.

*John Cena & Batista defeated Chris Jericho & Kane.  Yet another lineup change!  Jericho came out first and cut a promo.  He said that he hears chants for HBK.  He told the fans to chant all they want because they will never see Shawn Michaels wrestle again and that he was proud of what he did.  Jericho said it was Shawn and the fans' fault that Rebecca Michaels was hit by Jericho, because Michaels came back to tell the fans he was retiring.  Since the fans wanted to hear it, it was their fault she has a "fractured jaw."  Jericho told the fans they should be ashamed for supporting a liar and cheater like Michaels.  Jericho said that if the fans had listened to him, none of this would have ever happened and now the fans have to live with that.  He promised to lay John Cena and Batista out in a beaten, battered pulp and that the worst was yet to come for everyone thanks to Jericho.  Real good promo on the level of what he's been cutting on Raw.  Kane had new darker ring music.  Cena and Batista posed on the ropes together to signal a ton of pyro going.  Of the two, Cena got the bigger pop but both received the biggest reactions of the show thus far.  Jericho did a lot of stalling early.  Batista hit the floor and threw him into the guard rail.    Cena tagged in and cleaned house on Jericho.  Kane tagged in and demanded Batista, who tagged in to oblige.  They went back and forth until Jericho interfered to help Kane.  Jericho dropkicker Batista out of the ring, where Kane lifted and dropped him over the railing.  Jericho and Kane worked over Batista as they teased the hot tag several times.  Jericho missed a Lionsault and made the hot tag.  Cena shoulderblocked Jericho and then knocked Kane off the apron.  He went for the FU but Kane blind tagged in.  Kane kicked him, then went for a chokeslam.  Batista speared Kane.  Cena tossed Jericho over the top and hit the FU for the pin.  Solid stuff.  Cena went into the crowd to celebrate.  Batista grabbed a sign that read "Batista Hates Cancer" from the first row and held it up in the ring.

*WWE World champ CM Punk defeated JBL in a Steel Cage match.  JBL did mic work saying it was the greatest night of MSG history because it would be the day NY's favorite son JBL comes home.  He said that he understands NY needs a savior and it will be JBL.  He said he was proud to be NYC's favorite son and promised to top it all by winning the greatest match in wrestling history - the steel cage match - and he'll take his place among the immortals by becoming the World champ.  When CM Punk made his way around ringside, he stopped to hug ROH owner Cary Silkin and Larry Sweeney, who were sitting ringside.  Punk's pop wasn't as huge as Cena and Batista but healthy for sure.  JBL controlled early after a swinging neckbreaker.  Punk tried to toss him into the cage but JBL blocked it.  JBL tried to walk out after a big boot but Punk grabbed his leg.  JBL scrambled up the cage but Punk caught him and hit a Russian leg sweep off the cage while both were standing on the ropes.  There were Punk chants throughout the bout scattered in the building.  JBL laid out Punk with a series of elbowdrops.  JBL tried to slingshot Punk into the cage but he caught himself and tried to scramble out.  JBL caught him and they battled atop the cage.  Punk slammed his head into the cage several times and JBL fells into the ring.  Punk dove off the ropes but was caught and hit with a Fall Away Slam.  JBL worked Punk over with punches and uppercuts in the corner.  Punk teased a GTS but JBL raked his face and threw him into the cage several times.  JBL climbed the cage but Punk grabbed him as he got a leg over.  They battled inside the cage in the corner with Punk nailing knees.  JBL fell into the ring and the crowd popped as Punk tried to get out.  JBL kept grabbing Punk's leg.  JBL hit a back suplex off the top rope into the ring with both standing on the top.    JBL got a 2 count.  JBL opened the cage, pushed Punk's head in between the ropes and pulled the cage door back onto his head.  That didn't get the big reaction you'd think. 

The cage door legitimately got jammed as the other refs were working frantically to get it opened as the match went on.  JBL put Punk up in a corner and teased another superplex but Punk hit a Tornado DDT into the ring for a two count.   Punk hit his running high knee into a bulldog combination for a two.  JBL came back with the clothesline from hell.  Punk kicked up.  At that point, the building seemed to get behind him chanting his name.  JBL and Punk battled in the corner and Punk tossed off JBL.  Punk went to the top and came off the cage with an elbow but JBL moved.  Punk was covered but got his shoulder up at the last second.  JBL called for the cage door to be open but Punk tackled his legs.  JBL tried in vain to stretch his hands and reach the floor but was pulled back.  He and Punk exchanged punches by the open door and when JBL hit Punk he bumped to the floor and won.  JBL tried to attack Punk but was nailed with the GTS on the floor.  Punk celebrated in the ring to close the show.  He even dropped in the center of the ring making snow angels like he did in a blizzard outside his last ROH appearance in Long Island.  Punk, limping slightly did a long victory lap around the ring before heading to the back. Solid main event.

Notes: The show was a legitimate advance sellout....They had pyro for the entrances and used MSG's screens for Titantron videos during entrances...WWE announced a Sunday 12/28 Raw house show return for MSG, one day after ROH's Final Battle 2008 at the Hammerstein Ballroom down the block.

2009 - WWE held their Summerslam PPV.  Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:

Summerslam opened with DX putting shadow puppets over the opening video package, making fun of Legacy's image, then "breaking" the film, followed by a DX highlight reel, which also "broke" after a few moments. DX reminded is that they were back, and we went live to the Staples Center.

Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler.

Mysterio was wearing an outfit and mask in Los Angeles Lakers colors.  Ziggler was not accompanied by Maria for the match.  Ziggler attacked Rey at the bell with forearms, but Rey returned fire with punches.  Ziggler hit a scoop powerslam for a two count, then cradled Rey for another two.  Ziggler threw punches and kicks in a corner, but Rey reversed a whip into a corner.  Ziggler went to throw Rey in the buckles, but Rey landed on the top rope and hit a moonsault on a standing Ziggler.  Rey avoided a charging Ziggler, and Dolph fell to the floor.  Rey hit a rana off the apron on Dolph on the floor, taking down a camera man as well.

Rey tossed Ziggler back in, but Dolph attacked as Rey was climbing the ropes.  They fought on the ropes, but Rey headbutted Ziggler off.  Rey went for a rana, Ziggler dropped Rey to the mat, then lifted him and powerbombed him into the turnbuckles for two.  Ziggler mounted Rey and hit some punches, then got a two count before moving to a chinlock.  Rey elbowed out of it, but Ziggler hit a side slam for a two count.  Ziggler dropped an elbow for another two, then went back to the chinlock.  Rey fought out, but Ziggler hit a clothesline for another two, then lifted Rey in a fireman's carry and hit a gutbuster for two. Ziggler applied a body scissors and chinlock, but Rey fought out of it.  Dolph hit a knee to the head, then whipped him into a corner.  Ziggler missed a avalanche and Rey hit a springboard senton.  Ziggler came right back with a kick to the gut and a sunset flip, but Rey rolled through it and hit a kick to the chest for a two count.

Rey went for a springboard bodypress, but Ziggler dropkicked him as he came off the ropes for a two count.  Ziggler stomped Rey, then worked him over in a corner.  Rey leapfrogged Ziggler and went for a sunset flip, but Ziggler blocked it and hooked Rey's legs for a two count.  Ziggler hit a clothesline for another two. Ziggler threw Rey into a corner, then went for a back suplex, but Rey flipped over and hit an enzugiri.  Rey went for a 619, but Ziggler ducked it and sweep Rey's legs out from under him.  Ziggler hit a Rocker Dropper legdrop for a two count.  Ziggler went for a side slam, but Rey turned it into a sunset flip for a two count.  Rey hit a DDT for another two.   Rey kicked ZIggler into the ropes and hit the 619.  Mysterio went for a springboard splash, but Ziggler dodged it and rolled Rey for a two count.  Ziggler screamed in frustration after Rey kicked out.

Ziggler rammed Rey into a corner and pounded him with punches.  There were some fans chanting for Ziggler.  Ziggler kicked Rey in the head as Rey went to climb the ropes.  Dolph got on the middle rope, pulled up Rey, and went for a gutbuster off the middle rope, but Rey reversed it into a rana for the pin at the 12 minute mark.

Winner: Rey Mysterio.

Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed MVP and Jack Swagger.  Swagger brought up that MVP was once in jail, and MVP cut a promo about how he paid for the decisions he made in life, and that he wasn't born with a silver spoon like Swagger was.

MVP vs. Jack Swagger.

MVP went right at Swagger, who went for a backdrop, but MVP floated over into a sunset flip for two.  MVP dodged a charging Swagger and hit a clothesline and side slam.  Swagger rolled to the floor, and MVP hit a pescado.  MVP tossed Swagger back into the ring for a two count, then went MVP went to the second rope, Swagger swept his legs out from under him.  Swagger dropped MVP on the turnbuckles, then threw him into the ropes and drove a forearm into his back.  Swagger did it a second time, then choked MVP on the top rope.  Swagger went for a third, but MVP hit a back elbow.  Swagger grabbed MVP in an abdominal stretch.

MVP struggled in the hold, then reversed out for a hiptoss, but couldn't get him over, and Swagger nailed a clothesline for a pair of two counts.  Swagger applied a camel clutch, but MVP stood up and dropped Swagger with an electric chair.  They were both slow to get up, and MVP hit a series of shots, decking Swagger.  MVP hit a kneelift, then went for the Ballin' elbowdrop, which he hit for a two count.  MVP went for the Playmaker, but Swagger blocked it and shoved MVP in a corner, then cradled him with a pull of the tights for a two count. 

Swagger rammed MVP into a corner, then went for a reverse splash off the ropes, but MVP got the knees up.  MVP hit a running kick to the head, then the Playmaker for the pin at the six minute mark.

Winner: MVP.

Luke Perry was shown in the crowd.  No, he wasn't selling popcorn either. It was to show how WWE attracts celebrities.  This led to a video package on the recent Raw guest hosts.  Back live, Nancy O'Dell was in the crowd with a mic, and plugged BettysBattle.org and her upcoming Raw appearance.  She then interviewed Freddie Prinze Jr., who said he would "be back" at some point to settle things with Randy Orton.  Nancy joked that she wanted to see Prinze in spandex.  Prinze said Cena would take care of Orton tonight.

Unified Tag Team Champions Big Show & Chris Jericho vs. Cryme Tyme.

Jericho and Show have new theme music, still a mix of their old music, but actually put together as a song, not just cuts between the two old themes.  Chris Jericho cut a promo about how he and Show are "above celebrities" and that they are the most famous people in the building tonight.  Jericho turned the mic over to Show, but before he could talk, Cryme Tyme's music hit.

JTG and Jericho started off, with Jericho grabbing a headlock and hitting a shoulderblock.  JTG leapfrogged Jericho and hit a back elbow for a two count, then a blockbuster for another two count.  Jericho cradled JTG, and went right into a Walls Of Jericho attempt.  Jericho threw JTG into the corner with a catapult, but he landed on the middle rope and jumped off with a leg lariat on Jericho for a two count.  Jericho nailed JTG with a right hand after getting a break on the ropes and tagged in Big Show.  Show chopped JTG and put him in a headlock.  Show punched JTG in the gut, then chopped him in the corner.  Show charged JTG, running into a kick.

Shad tagged in and hit Big Show with some clotheslines, but couldn't knock him down.  Show reversed a whip and went for an avalanche, but Shad dodged it.  Jericho ran in, and Shad gave him a press slam.  Show speared Shad, then stood on his head.  Show chopped Shad, then held him so Jericho could hit a series of forearms.  Jericho bounced off the ropes, but Shad caught him with a boot.  Jericho knocked JTG off the apron, then pushed Shad into his corner while the referee kept JTG out of the ring.  Big Show tagged in and put Shad in a full nelson.  Show threw Shad to the mat, then tagged in Jericho, who missed an elbowdrop.  Jericho stopped Shad from making a tag and put him in a sleeper.

Shad got to his feet, and powerslammed Jericho.  Shad made the tag, and JTG hit Jericho with shoulderblocks and a facebuster.  JTG pulled Show throat first across the top rope as well, but Show didn't go down.  JTG hit Jericho with a Slingblade clothesline.  Big Show broke up the cover.  Shad ran in and clotheslinesd Show over the top rope, taking them both to the floor.  JTG rolled up Jericho for two, then Jericho grabbed his legs and hooked in the Walls Of Jericho.  JTG struggled in the hold, but made the ropes.  Big Show, from the floor, punched out JTG with one shot.  Chris Jericho got the pin at the eleven minute mark.

Winners: Chris Jericho & Big Show.

DirectTV decided to drop my feed for a moment, so Mike Johnson tags in:

Josh Matthews interviewed former World champion CM Punk backstage.  He asked Punk for his thoughts going into the TLC bout.  Punk said he wanted to talk about that but instead a friend gave him a copy of a screenplay called "The Jeff Hardy Story" and in it, the story is about Hardy overcoming his demons and defeating Punk tonight.  Punk said that it's a great feel good story but it's not reality.  He said just like Los Angeles, it's a fake world.  Punk went on about people idolizing the hip cool stars instead of trying to better themselves, even though it doesn't matter how bad reality is, because it's "cool."   Punk said he's been accused of being preachy, but he's just telling the truth and Hollywood doesn't want to show his truth, because its real.  Punk said he was going to re-write the end of the screenplay and that will be the new World champion, CM Punk.

And DirecTV has decided it's viewers need to see the next match, so I am back. Damn you, DirecTV!

The Great Khali vs. Kane.

As Kane made his entrance, they reviewed the history leading to this match.  Runjin Singh accompanied Khali to the ring.  Khali muscled Kane into a corner at the start, but Kane came back with punches.  Kane went to the floor and pulled Khali throat first across the top rope.  Kane got back in the ring and Khali clotheslined him, but missed a legdrop.  Kane dropkicked the seated Khali, then hit three elbowdrops.  Kane called for the chokeslam.  Khali broke Kane's grip and went for his own chokeslam, but Kane broke free.  Khali hit a clothesline and an elbowdrop for two.  Kane threw forearms at Kane's head for a one count.  Khali rammed Kane in a corner, then hit a clothesline. 

Khali hit a chop on Kane in a corner, but Kane came back with a kick.  Kane went to the top rope and hit a clothesline for a two count.  Kane put Khali in a chinlock.  For a second, DirecTV lost the feed again.  But, unfortunately, it came back.  Khali got out of the chinlock, hit a big boot, and then a chop to the head for a two count.  Khali grabbed Kane in the Vice Grip, but Kane made the ropes.  Khali broke the hold, and Kane grabbed Singh at ringside and pulled him into the ring.  Kane let him go, and then dropkicked Khali in the leg as he was making sure his brother got out of the ring.  Kane hit a DDT for a three count at the six minute mark.

Winner: Kane.

They showed Vince McMahon's star on the Walk Of Fame. They then showed Maria Menounos of the Today Show in the crowd, then Robert Patrick from Terminator 2, and Slash from Velvet Revolver.

The history leading to DX vs. Legacy was shown.

Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase.

DX entered on a tank that shot fireworks out of the cannon. They did the classic DX mic work as well, with Triple H adding that since Rhodes & DiBiase wanted a "war" they were going to get one.  HHH started off with DiBiase, locking up and then HHH decking him with a right hand.  HHH grabbed a headlock, but DiBiase worked him over with punches in a corner until the referee broke them up.  Triple H then hit a barrage of punches and a clothesline when DiBiase went for an Irish whip.  Triple H hit a vertical suplex, then did a crotch chop before a kneedrop for a two count.  DiBiase kicked away a backdrop and tagged in Rhodes, who got hit by a jumping knee by Triple H.  Cody got to his feet and slapped HBK on the apron.  Rhodes said he wanted Michaels, and the fans chanted for HHH to make the tag, which he did.

Michaels and Rhodes locked up, and Michaels grabbed a headlock.  HBK hit a shoulderblock, then Cody leapfrogged him.  Cody went for a second, which Michaels avoided, then Cody ducked a punch by Michaels and hit a slap.  They brawled, with Cody getting the better of it.  Michaels reversed a whip and hit a Thesz Press and a series of punches.  Michaels then hit a slap, and teased a superkick, but Rhodes exited the ring.  HHH tossed him back in, and Michaels went for it again, but Cody rolled out the other side of the ring and regrouped with DiBiase on the floor.

Back in the ring, Michaels hit Cody with a drop toe hold and put him in a headlock.  Cody used a back suplex to escape and tagged DiBiase, who missed an elbowdrop.  Michaels rammed DiBiase in a corner and hit a chop, but DiBiase took Michaels down and hit some right hands.  Rhodes tagged in and stomped Michaels, then slammed him.  Cody hit a kneedrop on Michaels for a two count, then tagged in DiBiase, who hit an elbowdrop for a two count.  Michaels came back with a neckbreaker on DiBiase and tagged HHH.  HHH came in and hit DiBiase with right hands.  Cody kicked HHH from the apron, but HHH pulled Cody into the ring and decked him.  This allowed DiBiase to catapult HHH in a corner, but HHH came back with a clothesline. 

HHH gave both members of Legacy a spinebuster.  HHH went for the Pedigree on DiBiase, but Rhodes broke it up.  Michaels sent Rhodes to the floor. Triple H backdropped Michaels out of the ring and into Rhodes. DiBiase kicked Triple H low, as the referee was looking at Michaels and Rhodes on the floor.  DiBiase tagged Rhodes, who stomped HHH.  Legacy kept tagging in and out, stomping HHH in their corner.  DiBiase covered HHH for a two count, then stood over him and delivered right hands.  DiBiase put HHH in a chinlock, but Triple H fought up and hit a back suplex.  Rhodes tagged in and gave HHH a DDT before he could make a tag.  Rhodes went for a jackknife cover and got another two count.  Rhodes then applied a front facelock. Triple H backdropped out of it, but DiBiase tagged in and knocked Michaels off the apron to prevent a tag.

DiBiase worked over Triple H in a corner, but Triple H returned fire.  They went back and forth with punches, then DiBiase hit a back elbow.  Triple H sidestepped a charging DiBiase and flung him over the top rope and to the floor.  Rhodes threw DiBiase back into the ring.  Rhodes tagged in, but Michaels got the hot tag.  Michaels hit Rhodes with punches, then a reverse atomic drop and a chop.  Michaels repeated the seqeunce, then hit a flying forearm.  Michaels kipped up, but DiBiase hit him from behind with a clothesline.  Triple H pulled DiBiase to the floor and flung him into the crowd.  In the ring, Rhodes went for a top rope elbow, but Michaels moved out of the way.  Michaels went to the top rope, but Rhodes crotched him.  They fought on the ropes, with Rhodes going for a superplex.  Michaels blocked it and knocked Rhodes to the mat.  Michaels went for the top rope elbow, but Rhodes got his knees up in Michaels' midsection and got a two count.

Rhodes went for a tag, but DiBiase was still out in the crowd where Triple H had tossed him.  Michaels grabbed Rhodes and put him in a figure four leglock.  DiBiase got back in the ring and broke it up. Triple H grabbed DiBiase for a Pedigree, but Rhodes broke it up.  Rhodes gave Triple H a head driver.  Michaels went for a superkick, but Cody caught it.  Cody spun Michaels into DiBiase, and Michaels punched DiBiase.  Cody hit Michaels with Crossroads, but Triple H broke it up.  The referee was getting DiBiase out of the ring, and Triple H gave Cody a Pedigree.  As Triple H was getting out of the ring, DiBiase gave Michaels Dream Street.  Triple H tackled DiBiase out of the ring.  Triple H and DiBiase brawled out of the ring and over one of the ringside tables.  In the ring, Rhodes and Michaels slowly got up, leaning on each other as they got their feet back under themselves.  Just as they were standing, Michaels fired off a superkick for the pin at the twenty minute mark.

Winners: Shawn Michaels & Triple H.

They showed a commercial for the Wrestlemania special on NBC.

ECW Champion Christian vs. William Regal.

Regal was accompanied by Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov.  The bell rang before Regal had taken off his ring robe.  Regal turned to take it off, and Christian grabbed Regal and hit the Killswitch for the pin.

Winner: Christian.

Ezekiel and Kozlov attacked Christian and took turns slamming him down, and then Regal put Christian in the Regal Stretch.   Regal and his henchmen stood over the downed Christian, then walked off.

They showed a video package on all the Summerslam events that took place this weekend, including appearances by Batista and Roddy Piper.

Recent events between Randy Orton and John Cena were recapped.

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena.

They showed Freddie Prinze Jr. in the crowd and talked about how badly Randy Orton beat him up on Raw while Orton made his entrance.  They did the "big match" introductions for this bout. Cena got a mixed reaction.  Orton got mostly boos.  Cena went for an arm wringer at the start, and Orton punched him in the head.  Orton hit a series of punches, then stomped Cena down in a corner.  Cena bounded back with a tackle and hit some punches, then a bulldog off the ropes for a two count.  Orton came back with a back elbow, and there was a "RKO" chant from some fans.  Orton kicked Cena in the gut, then raked the laces of his boot across Cena's face. 

Orton hit an uppercut in the corner, then knocked him down with a punch.  Orton appeared to have hurt his mouth, as he kept checking it for blood.  Orton whipped Cena hard into a corner, then kicked him again.  Orton let Cena get to his feet, then whipped him hard across the ring.  Orton spit out some blood.  Orton did the Garvin Stomp to Cena. Orton hit a huge knee drop, getting big air on it, for a two count.  Orton hit a side backbreaker for a two count, then applied a rear chinlock.  There were dueling chants for Orton and Cena.  Cena got to his feet, and Orton switched to a sleeper, adding a body scissors and taking him back down to the mat.  Cena got back to his feet and broke out.

Cena hit a shoulderblock, then a back suplex into a powerbomb.  Cena did the "You Can't See Me" and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop.  Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment, but Orton floated out of it and hit a powerslam for two.  Orton stomped Cena again, then missed a kneedrop.  Cena hit some right hands, but Orton dodged a flying shoulderblock and Cena went rolling out of the ring.  Cena got on the apron, and Orton grabbed him and pulled him into the ring, so Cena was hanging off the middle rope by his ankles.  Orton nailed the DDT, but Cena kicked out at two.

Orton measured Cena for the RKO, then changed his mind and got set for the punt.  Orton missed the kick and Cena hit the Throwback.  Cena went to the top rope and hit the Rocker Dropper legdrop for a two count. Cena measured for the Attitude Adjustment, but Orton grabbed the ropes.  Cena let go of the hold, and then they clotheslined each other.  Cena and Orton got up and exchanged punches.  Cena got the better of it and delivered a backdrop.  Orton then intentionally shoved the referee, grabbed the title belt and left.

Lilian Garcia got on the mic and said Randy Orton is the winner.  Yep, the winner.  Then she said that she just got word from Mr. McMahon that the match would continue, and that if Orton got himself disqualified, he would lose the title.  Hmmm... makes you wonder if someone is messing with Lilian during her final weeks with the company, doesn't it?

Orton got back in the ring, and Cena got a two count with a side slam.  They battled to the floor, and Orton whipped Cena into the ringsteps.  Orton rolled Cena into the ring and covered him several times, but Cena kept kicking out.  Orton went to ringside and grabbed the title belt, then walked up the aisle.  The referee counted ten.  They announced that John Cena was the winner.  Lilian Garcia then had another message from Mr. McMahon.  Yep, the match is restarted, and if Orton gets counted out, he loses the title.

Orton got back in the ring, and Cena went for an STF, but Orton escaped the attempt.  Orton went for an RKO, but Cena shoved it off.  Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Orton slid out, rolled up Cena and got the three count, using the ropes for leverage.  A second referee came out and told the first referee what had happened.  Guess what?  Another restart. 

Cena tripped Orotn and grabbed an STF.  Orton almost made the ropes, but Cena pulled him back into the center of the ring.  Someone ran in from the crowd and tackled the referee just as Orton was about to tap out.  Security dragged the "fan" out of the ring.  They kept the camera focused on the fan as they dragged him off, which they never do, so it would appear it was a plant.  Orton rolled to the floor, and the referee told Cena the match was to continue.  Orton got on the apron and Cena approached him.  Orton yanked Cena throat first across the top rope.  Orton then hit an RKO for the pin at the twenty minute mark.

Winner: Randy Orton.

So, Orton was disqualified once, counted out once, pinned Cena once, a fan ran in once, and Orton pinned Cena a second time.

They showed the events leading to the main event.

World Champion Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match.

For some reason, Jim Ross' mic was out during Punk's entrance.  Todd Grisham talked, then Jim Ross said "I wish I could have heard what you said, I bet it was good" and Grisham said "It was".  They noted that Jeff Hardy has been involved in five of the eight TLC matches that have taken place in WWE.

Punk went right to work on Hardy, taking him to the floor and hitting Hardy with a chair.  Punk immediately put a ladder in the ring and started climbing, but Hardy got in and knocked him down.  Hardy tried a Twist Of Fate, which was blocked, but Hardy pounded Punk in a corner and hit an elevated kick.  Hardy climbed a ladder, but Punk kicked it, knocking Jeff off it.  Punk went for a GTS, but Hardy floated over and rammed Punk into a ladder.  Hardy set up a chair and then went for a leg lariat off a chair launch, but Punk caught it and dropped Hardy on the chair.  Punk dropped the ladder on Hardy, then slammed it on Hardy three times. 

Punk sent Hardy to the floor, then blasted him with a tope.  Punk threw a chair into the ring then rearranged a table at ringside.  Punk put a chair around Hardy's head, but he shrugged it off.  Punk went to hit Hardy with the chair, but Hardy ducked and Punk hit the ringpost.  Hardy whipped Punk into the steps, but Punk jumped on them and turned to leap off.  As he did, Hardy blasted him with a chairshot.  Hardy did a chair launch and gave Punk a leg lariat against the security wall. Jeff Hardy threw a chair at Punk's back.  Hardy put Punk on a table on the floor, then went to the top rope.  Hardy jumped off, and Punk rolled off the table.  Hardy crashed through the table on his splash attempt. 

Punk set up a ladder in the ring and began to climb up.  Hardy got in and climbed up over Punk, getting ahead of him on the ladder.  They jockeyed for position, with Punk looking for a GTS off the ladder,  and Hardy ended up giving Punk a sunset flips-style powerbomb off the ladder.  Hardy climbed the ladder, almost reaching the belt, but Punk tipped the ladder over and Hardy crashed into the turnbuckles.  Punk set up Hardy for a superplex and hit it, with both men crashing onto a ladder that was laying in the ring. 

Both slowly got up, and Punk went for a suplex, but Hardy blocked it and hit a Twist Of Fate.  Hardy went to the top rope, and dove for the Swanton, but Punk got the knees up. Both were slow to get up again.  Punk hit a jumping knee in the corner, but as he went for a bulldog, Hardy picked him up and threw him over the top rope, sending him crashing through a table at ringside.  Hardy set up a ladder and began to climb.  Punk got on the apron and hit a springboard double axhandle to knock Hardy off. 

Punk threw Hardy to the floor, then got a chair and put it around his neck. Hardy stopped Punk from shoving him into the ringpost.  Hardy threw Punk knees first into the step, then blasted him with three chairshots to the back.  Hardy the threw a chair at Punk.  Hardy took the lid off of an announce table and hit Punk with it, then hit Punk with a monitor.  Hardy hit Punk with a chairshot, put him on the ECW table, then hit him with another chairshot.  Hardy set up a ridiculously tall ladder, so tall that two referees had to stand next to it and keep it steady.  Hardy did a Swanton off the ladder, putting Punk through the table.  Totally insane spot, which they showed over and over on replay.  To give you an idea how high up Jeff was when he dove, I would say it was pretty much the same height that Mick Foley was for his famous bump off the Hell In A Cell (but a much nicer landing). 

They were putting Jeff on a stretcher, and Punk was crawling back into the ring.  Jeff got off the stretcher as Punk was reaching the ladder.  Punk went up one side of the ladder and Hardy went up the other.  They exchanged punches, both trying to grab the belt at the same time.  Punk took a step down the ladder and threw some kicks at Hardy, then knocked him off it.  Hardy went straight down off the ladder onto the mat, landing hard on his back.  Punk grabbed the belt at the twenty two minute mark.

Winner: CM Punk.

Punk stood over Jeff Hardy.  The lights flickered.  Punk held up the title belt.  The lights went out, and a gong sounded.   The lights came back on, and Punk looked up the aisle, but saw nothing.  He held up his belt again, but a hand reached up and grabbed him by the throat.  He wasn't standing over Jeff Hardy anymore, he was standing over the Undertaker.  Undertaker chokeslammed Punk, then stood over him and posed.  Undertaker walked up the aisle, knocking over the remaining tables and ladders.  Undertaker posed on the entrance way, and flames shot up everywhere, as the show ended.

2010  - Mr. Wrestling II underwent open heart surgery, making a full recovery following a heart attack suffered while at the NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte, NC.

2010 - ROH announced that The Briscoes, Adam Cole and Mike Bennett had all signed contracts with the company.

2010 - WWE broadcast Raw.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We begin with a look back at the way that Nexus lost a member last week on Raw.

We are live on tape from Los Angeles, California and your announcers are Michael ‘Waiting for the General Messenger’ Cole and Jerry ‘90210’ Lawler.

Sheamus comes to the ring and we see what Randy Orton did to Sheamus last week on Raw.

Sheamus has a serious look on his face fella. He says that one thing that he learned about Americans is that their children are spoiled brats. They are annoying and selfish and they complain until they get their way. Sheamus goes to the front row and he wants to know what they deserved to get such good seats. He calls the kids disgraces. He says that there is a bigger spoiled child here in the WWE and his name is Randy Orton. Since Orton couldn’t win the title at SummerSlam, he attacked him the next night on Raw. He talks about how he got hit with a chair while the fans were chanting for an RKO. Sheamus reminds us that he is the WWE Champion, not Randy Orton. Sheamus says that he hasn’t been on the same page as the General Manager, but with Night of Champions coming up, he does not want the spoiled child to be rewarded. He says that Orton should be punished or locked up in prison. He says that Orton should not get another title match.

The General Messenger dings in and Michael Cole puts on his reading glasses. He says that he has no problem with Sheamus. He has been able to retain his title and he says that Sheamus should be rewarded. Tonight, he is going to do something unprecedented. The General Messenger asks to have a throne brought out. He says that Sheamus will be the one to decide his next challenger. Sheamus will be able to watch and observe the matches to determine who his opponent will be for Night of Champions.

Sheamus says that justice has finally been done in the WWE and he thanks the General Messenger.

Cole says that the first match is taking place now.

Match Number One: Edge versus R Truth

 

They lock up and Edge with a knee and forearm. Edge misses a clothesline but Truth hits a tilt-a-whirl head scissors and then clotheslines Edge over the top rope to the floor. Truth misses a pescado when Edge moves out of the way. Edge picks up Truth and sends him into the ringside barrier. Edge returns Truth to the ring and Edge follows. Edge with a kick to the head but Truth with punches. Edge with a forearm to the back and kicks to the head. Edge chokes Truth in the ropes and then he hits a cross body to Truth’s back as Truth has nowhere to go and Edge with a near fall. Edge with a surfboard to Truth but Truth gets to his feet and punches Edge. Both men try for cross bodies and both men are down.

Edge misses a clothesline but Truth with a few clotheslines of his own including a flying one. Truth with a punch but Edge with an Irish whip. Truth floats over and then hits a hip toss and does a split before misses a leaping leg lariat. Edge with an Edge-O-Matic to Truth. Edge sets for a spear and misses it when Truth leap frogs him. Truth misses a scissors kick but Edge does not miss the second spear attempt and gets the three count.

Winner: Edge

After the match, Edge tells Sheamus that he can sit in his stupid little throne and brag about who he has beaten, but until you beat a nine time champion and the man who led Team WWE to victory at SummerSlam, and the man who is the Rated R Superstar, you haven’t beaten anybody.

We take a look behind the scenes of Dashing Cody Rhodes’ dashing appearance on Warehouse 13, tomorrow night on Syfy before NXT (that would be 9:00 PM eastern/8:00 PM central for those not familiar with NXT).

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look back at WWE’s tour of China this weekend.

Match Number Two: Great Khali with Dancing Runjin Singh versus Chris Jericho

Khali stares at Sheamus and then Jericho punches Khali in the face but Khali blocks another punch and picks up Jericho and sends him to the mat. Khali with kick and elbows in the corner. Khali with a chop across the chest followed by a forearm to the top of the head. Khali misses a leg drop and Jericho with a kick to the knee. Jericho slams the knee into the mat and then drops an elbow on the knee. Jericho uses the ropes to get more pressure put on the leg. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Khali with the Khali Krush, but Jericho was able to get to the floor. Jericho with a kick to the leg as Khali staggers around the ring. Jericho tries fro the Codebreaker but Khali catches him and drops him to the mat. Khali with clotheslines to Jericho followed by a slam. Khali misses a boot in the corner and Jericho goes for the leg and then he tries to put Khali in the Walls of Jericho and he succeeds and Khali taps out.

Winner: Chris Jericho

After the match, Jericho asks Sheamus if he watched his match. Jericho says that Edge was not the first Undisputed Champion in WWE history. He did not make a giant tap out. He says that Edge is not the best in the world at what he does, Chris says that he does. Jericho tells Sheamus to choose him as his next opponent.

Khali chops Jericho off the turnbuckles to the floor.

We see footage from last week’s Daniel Bryan versus Michael Tarver match that was interrupted by Alex Riley and The Miz.

Josh Mathews is with John Cena in the interview area. Josh asks John about Miz last week. John says that he does not regret choosing Daniel Bryan over Miz. He says that Bryan did great and Miz almost cost them the match. Ever since Miz won his Money in the Bank challenge, he has a bigger mouth and attitude problem. Cena says that he shuts it with an Attitude Adjustment.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Jillian says that she was Divas Champion before and she will be Divas Champion again tonight. Jillian starts to ‘sing’ but she is interrupted by her opponent.

Match Number Three: Melina versus Jillian Hall for the Divas Title

 

They lock up and Jillian backs Melina into the ropes and breaks. Jillian with a forearm but Melina with a head scissors and kick to the head. Melina does a split and then avoids a boot from Jillian. Melina with a kick and then she tries for a splash in the ropes but Jillian moves. Jillian with a surfboard but Melina with another split but this time Jillian decides to use Melina as a human surfboard. Jillian with a forearm and Melina with a matrix followed by a take down for a near fall. Jillian with a clothesline after Melina floats over. Jillian sends Melina to the mat and Jillian goes to the turnbuckles for a screaming leg drop but she misses when Melina moves. Melina with the Banshee Code Red for the three count.

Winner: Melina

After the match, Michelle and Layla are on the TitanTron. They say that they feel bad for what they did at SummerSlam, but they really didn’t. Since next week is the 900th episode of Raw, they have an offer for Melina that she can’t refuse.

Josh is in the locker room with the Miz and Josh wants to know if Miz wants to respond to what John Cena said earlier. Miz says that he nailed Daniel Bryan in the back of the head, but what about Cena. Cena put Team WWE at risk. The minute Cena chose a nobody over him. Miz says that Cena wants to talk about egos, but really? Miz says that after the WWE Title Match at SummerSlam, Sheamus had to be carried out. Did Miz cash in his Money in the Bank? No, because he was thinking about Team WWE. Cena should have talked to him about the decision. Instead, he tried to embarrass Miz in front of the world. Tonight, he will beat Cena and show him that there will be consequences for his actions. As for Sheamus, he doesn’t think that Sheamus will pick him, but it doesn’t matter because he can pick Sheamus any time he wants and anywhere. He might pick Sheamus tonight.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus is back on his throne.

Wade Barrett and the rest of Nexus come out and we have something from the General Messenger. Cole goes to the Computer of General Managerdom. He says that he requested for Nexus to come out because he was impressed with their performances. The ‘you can’t wrestle for titles’ ban has been lifted.

Wade gets in Sheamus’ face and Sheamus turns paler than usual. Wade tells Sheamus that their truce is over.

Sheamus sits down and thinks about what that means for him.

The Miz and John Cena walk in split screen in their t-shirts which you can get online.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Slam of the Week: Miz and Alex Riley attacking Daniel Bryan last week.

Match Number Four: John Cena versus Miz

 

They circle each other in the ring and Miz with a kick and punches. Miz with more kicks and punches to Cena as he pummels Cena. Miz with more punches followed by a hard Irish whip. Cena with punches followed by a side slam for a near fall. Cena with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner and hits the ring post. Miz with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Miz with elbows to the chest followed by punches. Cena responds with punches and a suplex for a near fall. Miz with a kick to Cena followed by a kick to the midsection. Miz with a knee to the back and then he rakes the face. Miz with a leg drop for a near fall. Miz with kicks and punches but Cena with a kick and a leap frog neck breaker. Cena goes up top but Miz knocks Cena to the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Miz has Cena in a reverse chin lock and Miz gets on Cena’s back to add pressure. Cena gets to a three point stance but Cena recovers and backs Miz into the turnbuckles. Cena tries for the bulldog but Miz pushes him out of the way. Miz with a boot for a near fall and Cena goes to the apron. Miz punches Cena and then hits a running knee lift from the floor. Miz with a slingshot into the bottom rope and he gets a near fall. Miz waits for Cena to get to his feet and he hits the Awesome Clothesline in the corner. Miz gets a near fall. Miz waits for Cena to get up again and tries for the Awesome Clothesline but Cena gets out of the way and Miz goes into the turnbuckles. Cena with the two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena with the Attitude Adjustment set up but Miz with a pair of neck breakers for a near fall. Miz waits for Cena to get to his feet as if he was a snake. Cena avoids the Skull Crushing Finale and he hits a drop toe hold into the STF. Miz reaches for the ropes and gets there. Miz with a boot to Cena’s head and he gets a near fall.

They get to their feet and Miz with a punch and Irish whip. Cena blocks the Skull Crushing Finale, but Miz gets to the apron. From out of nowhere, Daniel Bryan comes out and sends Miz back into the ring and the referee calls for the bell.

Winner: The Miz by disqualification

After the match, Cena puts Miz in the Attitude Adjustment and then Bryan comes into the ring and puts Miz in the Omoplata. The referees try to pull Bryan off Miz.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the WWE Rewind: The Divas Swimsuit Spectacular from two weeks ago.

Match Number Five: Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov versus The Usos with Tamina

 

Santino and Jimmy start things off and Jimmy backs into the corner to avoid wild kicks. Santino tries for the cobra. Jimmy with a knee and punch to the head. Jey tags in and he hits a flying clothesline as Jimmy sends Santino to him. Jey with a slam and then he hits a leg drop for a near fall. Jimmy tags in and Santino with a hip toss but Jimmy swats a drop kick away. Jimmy gets a near fall. Jimmy with a front face lock. Santino tries to make the tag but Jimmy knocks Kozlov off the apron. Santino with a back body drop. Jey and Kozlov tag in and Kozlov sends Jey into the turnbuckles and he connects with head butts and a power slam. Santino sends Jimmy to the floor but Jey with a savate kick to Santino that sends him to the floor. Kozlov blocks a kick and hits a spinebuster for the three count.

Winners: Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov

After the match Jimmy wants to attack Santino but Tamina stops Jimmy. Tamina gazes at Santino as she leaves with the Usos. Tamina blows a kiss to Santino.

It is time for This Week in WWE History. We go to Toronto in August 1986 when over 70,000 people attended The Big Event at Exhibition Stadium.

The throne is now vacant as we go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus is back on the throne.

Match Number Six: Ted DiBiase with Maryse versus John Morrison versus Randy Orton

Orton looks at Sheamus and he gets off his throne. DiBiase kicks Morrison and sends him to the floor. Orton blocks a punch and Orton with punches of his own. Orton with a European uppercut and Morrison trips DiBiase. Morrison with a double jump round kick to DiBiase before he returns to the ring. Orton with a side head lock and shoulder tackle for a near fall. Orton returns to the reverse chin lock. Orton with a shoulder tackle but Morrison with a kip up and drop kick for a near fall. Orton throws Morrison over the top rope and that means that DiBiase is back in the ring and he kicks Orton and gets a near fall. DiBiase with kicks to Orton. Ted with more kicks in the corner.

Orton with kicks and punches. Orton with more kicks but Ted with the rebound clothesline. DiBiase with a neck breaker to Morrison for a near fall. Ted punches Morrison but Morrison with a jawkbreaker. Orton with clotheslines to Ted and Morrison and then he gives each man a power slam. Orton gets fired up and then he kicks Ted and tries for the IEDDT but Morrison tries for the springboard round kick. Orton ducks and Morrison rolls to the floor as Orton hits the IEDDT and he sets for the RKO with push ups. Ted escapes the RKO and Morrison with a leg lariat. Ted sends Morrison over the top rope to the floor. Orton escapes Dream Street and Morrison tries for a springboard move but Orton with an RKO for the three count.

Winner: Randy Orton

After the match, Ted tries to attack Orton but Randy is too fast and then gives Ted an RKO.

Sheamus is in the interview area and Josh wants to know why Sheamus walked out during the last match. Sheamus says that he has made his decision and he will do it in front of the world in the ring.

We go to commercial.

We are back fella and Sheamus is in the ring fella. He says that he has been thinking about it for a while. He says that despite what happened last week, he is still a warrior. A Celtic Warrior. He has a huge announcement tonight. He will not wait for Night of Champions and he is going to defend his title right now.

Sheamus demands a referee come out. Sheamus says that he has seen a lot of Superstars who deserve a title match. Sheamus says that you cannot succeed without a few challenges. He is going to give someone who has never had a WWE Title match before. That man is Zack Ryder.

Zack thanks Sheamus for the opportunity but Sheamus is making the biggest mistake of his life because everyone is looking at the next WWE Champion.

Match Number Seven: Zack Ryder versus Sheamus for the WWE Title

 

Sheamus with a pump kick for the three count.

Winner: Sheamus

After the match, Sheamus gets on the mic. He says that is another successful title retention for the Celtic Warrior. He says that he wants to bring up some of the WWE rules. He has thirty days to defend his title. That means that this champion is taking the night off.

Sheamus says that he is going to take the whole month off and go back to Ireland.

Wade Barrett interrupts Sheamus and he comes to the ring. Wade says that Sheamus doesn’t have to defend the title for thirty days. Wade reminds us that he won Season One of NXT. Wade says that he gets a title opportunity at a pay per view of his choice. He chooses to face Sheamus at Night of Champions. Wade tells Sheamus that his next title defense is against him.

The General Messenger makes itself known that it is still there. Cole says that Wade Barrett’s request has been upheld. Sheamus will defend against Barrett at Night of Champions. However, Sheamus talked about opportunity and he is going to give four other deserving Superstars a chance. There will be a Six Pack Challenge for the WWE Title. He will face Wade Barrett, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Edge, and John Cena.

All six men are in the ring and they stare each other down. Sheamus pushes Barrett in the middle and they surround him. Barrett pleads his case and Cena goes after Barrett. The other four join in. Sheamus throws Barrett out of the ring. Jericho with a Codebreaker to Sheamus followed by a spear to Jericho. Cena with Attitude Adjustment to Edge. Orton with an RKO to Cena and we go to credits with the Viper posing on the turnbuckles.

 


During a segment on Greta Van Sustren called "Griff on the Ground," Linda McMahon is shown shaking hands with potential voters at the Milford Oyster Festival. She is shown playing a game and talking to the National Guard . A Blumenthal fan is interviewed. The Festival of Angels is next.

Again, she is seen talking to potential voters. The Bridgewater County Fair is next. She asked what she would do to get jobs created as there is almost 9% unemployment. She said that being a CEO, she realizes the impact of taxes and regulation on small businesses. She wants to keep money in the pocket of small businesses.

Linda was asked about the NY Times article talking about her being an unusual candidate in that WWE produced a lot of sex and violence. She says WWE is an absolute wonderful company and changed the industry over the past couple of decades and evolved from the sex and violence content to PG.

Video of Edge spearing Big Show and Edge taking on Miz is shown while Linda is talking. She talks about Smackdown Your Vote, being involved in the Make A Wish program, and the Special Olympics. A video of Triple H and Matt Hardy with Make A Wish kids is shown while she is talking.

Linda talked about Get Real helping libraries and literacy. She talked about how there were WWE fans who were supporting her. She said that a lot of them admire her for building a company from the ground up.

Linda was asked how she will overcome the 7 points that Richard Blumenthal (D) is ahead. She said she will keep talking to people. She said the more her opponents focus on WWE, the more she will move up in the polls.

2011 - NBC signed on to commit to produce a pilot for a dramatic pro wrestling series set in the 1980s. The series will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer's Bruckheimer TV and Dwayne Johnson is attached as Executive Producer.

The drama will be a period piece set in the 1980s, which the timeframe of WWF's national expansion as the territory system collapsed under the weight of WWF's growing popularity and the growth of cable television.

Brent Fletcher (Friday Night Lights, Spartacus, Angel) and Seamus Kevin Fahey (Spartacus, Battlestar Galactica) are attached to write the pilot. No casting is yet underway.

The pilot commitment does not mean the series will ever see air. It means NBC will cover the production cost of the pilot be shot and then decide whether it needs changes or whether to take it to series. This is simply the first step in a very long process.

The pilot does not make it out of the developmental phase, which means in the end that NBC paid the penalties involved with it not airing.

2011 - Sterling James Keenan signed a WWE developmental deal.

2011 - Todd Grisham, who worked for WWE for a number of years as an announcer, finished with the company at an NXT TV Taping, leaving the company for a position with ESPN. There had been talk of Grisham leaving the company for several months now as his responsibilities were greatly scaled back over the last year.

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