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10/2 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: THE HEART & SOUL OF ECW DEBUTS, CRAZY SCENE CLOSES HELL IN A CELL PPV AND MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2013-10-02 08:00:00

October 2nd

On this day in history in ....

1962 - Jan Madrid defeats Don Fields in a tournament for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Pensacola, Florida. The title had been vacated almost a year earlier, when champion Chief Little Eagle had left the territory. Ironically, Madrid would also vacate the title in February of 1963.

1975 - Antonio Inoki & Seji Sakaguchi defeat Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts for the NWF North American Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan, starting their second reign as champions.

1976 - Jerry & Ted Oates defeat The Great Kojika & Motoshi Okuma for the All Japan All Asian Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

1979 - Ryuma Go defeats Tatsumi Fujinami in Osaka, Japan for the WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title.

1981 - Jack Brisco defeats Ted DiBiase for the Missouri Title in St. Louis, ending DiBiase's second reign with the belt, and starting his own second run with the title.

1985 - NWA World Champion Ric Flair vs. AWA World Champion Rick Martel in a title vs. title match on an All Japan card in Tokyo ends in a double countout.

1989 - Tony Anthony wins a tournament in Memphis, Tennessee to become the first USWA Southern Heavyweight Champion. Here are the results of the tournament:
First Round:
- Chris Champion defeated Freddy Krueger (Tommy Gilbert)
- Dustin Rhodes defeated Kevin Dillenger.
- Mike Davis defeated Stan Frazier.
- Robert Gibson defeated Mark Starr.
- Dutch Mantell defeated Buddy Landell.
- Tony Anthony defeated Jeff Jarrett.
- Ricky Morton defeated Iceman King Parsons.
- Bill Dundee defeated Brickhouse Brown.
Quarterfinals:
- Dustin Rhodes defeated Chris Champion.
- Mike Davis defeated Robert Gibson.
- Tony Anthony defeated Dutch Mantel.
- Ricky Morton defeated Bill Dundee.
Semifinals:
- Dustin Rhodes defeated Mike Davis.
- Tony Anthony defeated Ricky Morton.
Finals:
- Tony Anthony defeated Dustin Rhodes.

1990 - Kyoko Inoue defeats Takako Inoue for the vacant All Japan Singles Title in Yamagata, Japan.

1993 - ECW holds the "NWA Bloodfest: Part 2" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here are the results:
- ECW World Tag Team Champions Tony Stetson & Johnny Hot Body defeated The Sandman & JT Smith.
- The Tazmaniac defeated Tommy Dreamer in Dreamer's ECW debut. 
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Gino Caruso.
- ECW Champion Shane Douglas defeated JT Smith via disqualification.
- Badd Company (Paul Diamond & Pat Tanaka) defeated The Public Enemy.
- Richard Michaels defeated Rockin' Rebel via disqualification.
- Ian & Axl Rotten defeated Don E. Allen & Chad Austin.
- Don Muraco & Jimmy Snuka defeated The Public Enemy.
- Sabu defeated Shane Douglas to win the ECW Heavyweight Title.
- Jimmy Snuka defeated Chad Austin.
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Abdullah The Butcher in a steel cage match.
- The Public Enemy defeated Ian & Axl Rotten and Badd Company in a three way steel cage match.

1995 - The Monday Night Wars raged on, with both WCW Monday Nitro on TNT and WWF Monday Night Raw on USA earning 2.5 ratings. Raw featured Razor Ramon defeating The 1-2-3 Kid, Triple H defeated Barry Horowitz, PG-13 defeating Al Brown & Sonny Rogers, and a main event of Bret Hart defeating Jean Pierre Lafitte. Nitro had Lex Luger defeating Randy Savage, Eddie Guerrero over Dean Malenko, The American Males vs. The Nasty Boys in a no-contest when the Giant interfered and laid out everyone, and Ric Flair defeating Arn Anderson in the main event via disqualification.

1999 - Psicosis begins his second WCW Cruiserweight Title reign in bizarre fashion. Because WCW was feeling pressure from Turner management over controversy and media attention brought forth by Lenny Lane's ambiguously gay character, the decision was made to pull Lane from television immediately. Since Lane was the Cruiserweight Champion at the time, the decision was made to create a "phantom" title change and put the belt on Psicosis.

1999 - WWF hold's their UK-Only "Rebellion" Pay-per-view at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. Here are the results:
- Christian defeated Crash Holly in a dark match.
- Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett defeated D'Lo Brown.
- The Godfather defeated Gangrel.
- Val Venis defeated Mark Henry.
- Women's Champion Ivory defeated Tori, Jacqueline, and Luna Vachon in a Four Corners match.
- Chris Jericho defeated The Road Dogg.
- Chyna defeated Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett via disqualification.
- Kane defeated The Big Show in a No DQ match.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated X-Pac.
- Edge & Christian defeated The Acolytes and Hardcore & Crash Holly in a Triangle match.
- World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeated The Rock in a steel cage match.

1999 - The Honky Tonk Man defeats Bob Starr for the MEWF Heavyweight Title in Dundalk, Maryland.

1999 - The NWA held the 4th Annual Eddie Gilbert Memorial Brawl in Vineland, New Jersey, headlined by Tommy Gilbert & John Kronus defeating The Public Enemy. George "The Animal" Steele made a rare in-ring appearance on the show, defeating Jack Hammer.

1999 - Naoya Ogawa defeats Gary Steele for the NWA World Heavyweight Title in Thomaston, Connecticut, starting his second title reign.

1999 - Glen Kulka & Mic Tierney are awarded the Memphis Power Pro Wrestling Tag Team Titles in a "Phantom" title change with Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee. Dundee had left the company, and in fact, Lawler had won the belts in a handicap match without him, so Dundee was recognized as a champion without being involved in the title win or loss.

2000 - Booker T becomes a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion in San Francisco, California by defeating Jeff Jarrett. The title had been vacated by Vince Russo after winning it from Booker T in a steel cage match the previous week. On the same show, Reno defeats Sgt. AWOL to win the vacant WCW Hardcore Title. Commissioner Mike Sanders had stripped Norman Smiley of it previously.

2002 - NWA:TNA holds their weekly Pay-per-view at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. Here are the results:
- Amazing Red defeats Shark Boy.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ron Killings defeats Low Ki.
- The SAT defeat The Flying Elvises (Jorge Estrada & Jimmy Yang).
- Sonny Siaki defeats David Young.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Chris Harris & James Storm defeat Ron Harris & Ashley Hudson.
- X Division Champion Jerry Lynn defeated AJ Styles in a Ladder match.
- BG James & Syxx-Pac defeated Jeff Jarrett & Brian Lawler.

2007 - WWE champion John Cena was officially diagnosed with a complete tear of his right pectoral muscle today by Dr. James Andrews and is expected to be out 6-8 months following surgery.  Cena suffered the tear during a hiptoss spot in the Raw main event against the returning Ken Kennedy. That would put Cena back at the earliest in April (meaning he will miss Wrestlemania) and at the worst, June 2008.  John Cena will be stripped of the WWE championship.

2007 - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his wife Dani jointly announced that they made a $1 million donation to the University of Miami's football facilities renovation fund.  Both Johnsons graduated from the University, where they initially met.  The gift was the largest gift a former Miami Hurricane student athlete has ever made to the university's athletic department.  The Associated Press ran a story today about the donation.

2007 - WWE broadcast ECW on SyFy.  Mike Johnson filed the following TV report:

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of ECW on Sci Fi.  This should be an interesting opening.

ECW opened with a very serious looking Vince McMahon made his way to the ring.  Joey Styles noted that McMahon is here with a major announcement.  No kidding.  McMahon said that he's come before the fans with bad news and announced John Cena's injury.  He said Cena needed immediate surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle.  McMahon said that the fans might ask who was responsible and the pointed the fans to a video feature on the incident. It's pretty amazing how quick the WWE production team got that done.  McMahon claimed Cena would be out somewhere between 6 months to a year.  Some fans cheered that.

McMahon announced that "As of this moment, John Cena is no longer WWE champion."  Lots of boos for that.  McMahon said that the belt was vacant and would be rectified at the No Mercy PPV.  He didn't announce what the match would be.

Joey Styles and Tazz talked about the announcement and said it was heartbreaking for Cena.  That's the truth, for sure.

ECW champion CM Punk came to the ring.  He said that he should be focused on No Mercy and who will win tonight's Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke match.  He said that for the last week, he hasn't been able to get one thing out of his mind.  They showed footage of the finish of Punk vs. Matt Striker from last week, followed by Big Daddy V laying Punk out.  Striker and V appeared on the Titantron.  Striker said that V wants the ECW title, so until he gets a shot he'll pay Punk no mind and wished Punk luck in his next match...right now.

Mike Knox came to the ring.

ECW champion CM Punk vs. Mike Knox

They locked up.  Punk went right to work on Knox's shoulder.  Knox reversed a hammerlock, but Punk turned it into an armdrag and armbar.  Knox shoved Punk back into the corner but the referee forced a break.  Knox worked over Punk's lower back.  Punk came back with a series of chops.  Knox whipped Punk into the corner and nailed a dropkick for a two count.  Punk took down Knox and nailed several knee strikes before cinching in a front chancery.  Knox sat out and applied a hammerlock.   Knox controlled Punk on the mat, then slammed him.  Punk tossed Knox out of the ring and hit a dive as they went to commercial.

When they returned, Knox was in control back in the ring.  He dropped Punk's throat across the top rope, getting a two count.  Even though the ECW champion was in the ring, the commentators pushed the WWE title vacancy being filled at the PPV.  Knox snapped Punk's head over the ropes and scored a two count.  Knox continued to control the champion.  He cinched on a side chinlock.  Punk rolled through for a near fall but Knox kicked out and clobbered Punk with a clothesline.  Knox continued to work over Punk on the mat.  

Punk finally fought to his feet with elbows and knees.  He nailed a leg lariat.  He hit the running knee strike in the corner but was shoved off from the bulldog.  Knox missed a bicycle kick and was caught with the GTS for the pin.

Your winner, ECW champion CM Punk!

Match was solid but I was surprised to see Knox get so much offense.

They showed Balls Mahoney walking around backstage and said he would be in action next.  Here comes Miz vs. Balls!  

They then ran a great video feature on Tommy Dreamer using footage of the old and new ECW to get over his role as ECW Original and how much the ECW title meant to him.  That promo did more for Dreamer's character then anything I can think of in the last year.

Balls Mahoney made his way to the ring.  They showed a clip of Balls asking Kelly Kelly out and Miz attacking him with the ring mic.  Balls took the mic and said that some have claimed he was acting like a lovesick puppy,  Mahoney said that he hasn't forgotten the cheap shot Miz gave him last week, but said he'd like an answer from Kelly Kelly.  Mahoney asked her to come out and give it to him.  Kelly made her way to the ring with the stuffed bear he gave her a few weeks ago.   Balls repeated his question from last week, asking her out.  Kelly took the mic and milked the moment, then agreed.  Mahoney grabbed her in a huge hug.

The Miz came out with the rest of Extreme Expose.  He asked Kelly if she was really going to go out with "that fat slob."  He joked that Balls might brush his one tooth for her.  Miz said that it's been fun, but it's time for Kelly to go.  She hesitated and Miz told her to go.  Balls struck Miz.  Kelly stopped him.  Miz retreated to the floor and told her again to leave.  Miz said that he took over Extreme Expose's management contract, so what he says goes.  Miz says that if Kelly wants to go out with Balls, she'll be gone from Extreme Expose and ECW.  Oh God, this has turned into Robert Roode and Eric Young from TNA!  Miz demanded that Kelly make a decision and Kelly sadly left the ring, leaving Balls with her bear.  She kept looking back all sad and sympathetic.  Something about Kelly's facials when she's sad reminds me of an early Elizabeth.

They ran a video feature on Elijah Burke.  If this Road to No Mercy ends with John Morrison stealing the ECW title shot, that would be so lame.

Joey Styles and Tazz reviewed the John Cena announcement.  They reviewed the No Mercy card.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke for No Mercy ECW title shot.

They lock up and Dreamer rides Burke to the mat.  Dreamer shoulderblocks Burke down and goes for a quick cover.  Burke fails at a slam, but Dreamer doesn't.  Dreamer clotheslines Burke.  Burke whips Dreamer into the corner, then drills him with a back elbow.  Dreamer recovers and ties Burke to the tree of woe.  He hits the running dropkick in the corner, then nails the Cactus clothesline to the floor.  Dreamer dove off the apron onto Burke, who was on the floor, and peppered him with punches.  While Dreamer waited for Burke to return to the ring, they went to commercial.

TNA took out an ad in the New York City market to promote the two hour Impact and main things pushed were a Gauntlet bout and Adam "Pacman" Jones.  That sound you hear is me beating my head against the keyboard in frustration.

Back on ECW, Burke got a two count on Dreamer and began pounding him in the back.  They showed Dreamer getting tossed into the ringside steps during a commercial break.  Burke cinched in a reverse chinlock, putting his feet on the ropes for leverage.  Someone's been watching his Mike Rotunda Varsity Club era tapes.  Burke and Dreamer throw down and Burke gets the better of it, which makes sense due to his boxing background.  He hits the 4-Up on Dreamer.

Burke keeps trash talking Dreamer while Dreamer keeps pulling himself up and egging Burke on.  Dreamer catches Burke with a neckbreaker.  Dreamer came back with some offense and a flapjack.  Burke slams Dreamer into the turnbuckles, then goes to the top rope.  Dreamer cuts him off and sets up for a superplex.  Burke shoves him off.  He hits a top rope sunset flip but Dreamer reverses for a two count.  Burke hits the Outer Limits elbow, but Dreamer catches him with a DDT and gets the pin clean.

Your winner, Tommy Dreamer, who advances to a ECW title shot on Sunday at No Mercy.

ECW General Manager Armando comes out and congratulates Dreamer saying he earned the victory, but the chase isn't over.  Armando says that there's one man left to enter, and introduces Big Daddy V.   V comes to the ring.  V lays out Dreamer.  You know where this is going.  V picks up Dreamer and slams him.  V drops down with a headbutt and steps on Dreamer's chest.  V beats on Dreamer who refuses to back down.  V misses a splash.  Dreamer nailed a clothesline but V didn't sell it.  Dreamer keeps fighting but is laid out.  Dreamer pulled himself up in the corner, where he was hit with a running avalanche splash.  V scooped up Dreamer and dropped back with a Samoan Splash.  V hits a running splash and scores the pin.

Your winner, Big Daddy V!

So, it's Punk vs. V at the PPV with the storyline that V stole Dreamer's title shot.

2008  - World Wrestling Entertainment broadcast a one hour Wrestlemania XXIV highlight special to officially kick off their relationship with MyNetworkTV. PM.  MyNetworkTV also aired a "Magic's Big Secret" special with appearances by Eve Torres and Maria.

2008 - Steve Austin began filming "Damage" a movie about an ex-con trying to raise money via underground fighting to raise money for the child of the man he killed in British Columbia.  The film would go on to have a DVD and cable release.

2008 - CMT launched a website for Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling series, which ran for one entertaining season on the network,

2008 - The independent feature film "Andre Heart of the Giant", which is based on the life of former WWF champion Andre the Giant claims it will have a limited theatrical release on 10/10 in New York, Denver, Los Angeles, San Diego and Chicago.   The film never appeared to actually screen anywhere.

2008 - TNA broadcast Impact.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

It is the start of a new era in TNA tonight as the latest ‘most important signing in the history of this company’ makes his Impact Zone debut. What will Mick Foley say and will he find a way to get in the location of the show. What will happen between Christian Cage and A.J. Styles? Will we see more bats or guitars tonight? Will Sheik Abdul Bashir keep his title after tonight? Who will advance to the Monster’s Ball Match and get a shot to be the number one contender for the title. Will Abyss have any nutty buddys tonight? How will Jeff Jarrett react to Kurt Angle’s comments in a London paper? How many names will be dropped who are not under a TNA contract?

We start off tonight’s show with a look back at the confrontations between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle to set up their match. We see Sting talking about respect. Then we see Joe talking about hurting people to show respect. Who will Christian side with? Who cares because Mick Foley is here.

We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Don ‘Mason’ West and Mike ‘Dixon’ Tenay.

Match Number One: Angelina Love Velvet Sky and Kip James versus ODB
ODB mocks Angelina’s entrance and Angelina goes after ODB before the bell rings. Angelina punches ODB. Angelina with a snap mare and slams ODB’s head into the mat so hard it shakes the cameras. ODB with a shoulder tackle and a clothesline. Angelina backs into the corner and then Velvet and Kip get on the apron to distract ODB and Angelina throws ODB out of the ring. Velvet kicks ODB on the floor and Angelina joins in while Kip and the referee discuss something. Angelina with a near fall when they return to the ring. Angelina distracts the referee and Velvet attacks ODB. Angelina pulls ODB up by the hair and slams her to the mat. Angelina poses over ODB and ODB kicks Angelina. ODB with chops to Angelina. ODB with a running splash into the corner followed by a fallaway slam. ODB with a nip up. ODB gets Angelina up but Kip distracts the referee and Angelina pushes ODB towards Velvet who spits ODB’s beverage of choice into ODB’s face. That blinds ODB and allows Angelina to hit a Flatline for the three count.
Winner: Angelina Love

TO THE BACK and Jeremy Borash is with Jeff Jarrett. Jeremy asks Jeff about Kurt’s comments in The Sun. Jeff says that he is going to address it now. We go to commercial.

We are back and ODB is complaining about her eye. Traci Brooks is there and ODB says that she wants a match against Velvet and Angelina. Traci gives her the match if she can find a partner, as long as it isn’t Roxxi, Kong, or Taylor Wilde.

We go to a video package for the Kurt Angle/Jeff Jarrett situation.

Jeff Jarrett comes to the ring and he has some music and reading material. Jarrett tells Angle that some people have said that the decision to come back to the ring is a mistake since he hasn’t been in a ring in almost two years. Jeff says that if you have doubts, you don’t know Jeff Jarrett. He says that his entire career, his back has been against the wall. Everyone told him that he had a lot of heart but you are too small to make it. Six years ago, when he founded this company, people told him that he was crazy. Hundreds have gone in the grave trying to battle the big machine ‘up north’. Jarrett tells those people that you don’t know Jeff Jarrett. Six years later, TNA has never been stronger. Nothing and no one will bring down TNA. Jarrett says that Angle was supposed to promote TNA in Europe but he had to air some dirty laundry. Jeff says that two can play that game. Jeff reads some excerpts from the interview. Jarrett talks about the contract situation and how he might be considering his options when his contract is up. Angle said that it depends on how he feels about the company. Jeff turns to comments about Vince McMahon and how they have a mutual respect and a father/son bond. Jarrett says that now that they have a match, Angle does not want to be in TNA any more. Jeff asks Angle if he remembers how happy Angle was when he signed with TNA and how he was freed from that living hell. Jeff says that Angle made some comments about Vince when he entered TNA, but he decided not to air them. That is until right now. We see comments from Kurt about how he wanted to beat up Vince McMahon and how much he hated Vince. Jeff says that he just broke the father/son bond between Kurt and Vince. Jeff says that he is going to beat up Angle so bad that Vince won’t want him back.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Kurt Angle enters and Jeremy comes running wanting to make sure that Angle got his text. Jeremy says that Jeff just aired the interview from two years ago. Angle says that he wants to rip off Jeff’s head, but Jeremy says that Cornette wants to see him.

Match Number Two: Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley versus LAX in a Monster’s Ball Qualifying Match
Shelley and Homicide start things off and Shelley works on the arm but Homicide reverses. Homicide with a t-bone belly-to-back suplex to Shelley and Hernandez is tagged in. Hernandez tosses Shelley over his head and then Homicide with a clothesline. Hernandez with a bear hug to Shelley and Sabin tags in. Sabin with a side head lock but Hernandez with a shoulder tackle and he wants Sabin to charge at him again. Sabin with a back kick but Hernandez gets Sabin up and hits a back breaker on his shoulder for a near fall. Hernadez with a delayed vertical suplex set up but Shelley comes in and kicks Hernandez. They try a double suplex to Hernandez but Hernandez blocks it and hits one of his own. Homicide with a back elbow to Sabin for a near fall. Shelley with a knee to the back of Homicide and then Shelley holds Homicide for a drop kick from Sabin. Sabin hits a suicide dive on Homicide. Sabin rolls Homicide back in and he tags Shelley back in. Shelley and Sabin double team Homicide and hit a double drop kick to the head and Shelley with a near fall. Shelley stands on Homicide’s hand and then he tags in Sabin. Shelley knocks Hernandez off the apron, but Homicide sends Sabin into Shelley. Hernandez is tagged in and he chops Shelley and Sabin. Hernandez with a back body drop to Sabin followed by a head and arm German suplex to Shelley. Hernandez presses Sabin over his head and then Sabin tries for a sunset flip but Hernandez with the cracker jack. Hernandez with a kick to Shelley but Sabin with an enzuigiri. Sabin and Shelley with a double super kick. Sabin helps Shelley hit a double team move on Hernandez and Homicide and the Guns get a near fall. Shelley tries for Sliced Bread #2 but Homicide gets out of the hold. Homicide hits the Ace Cutter on Shelley. Hernandez sets for the plancha but Sabin with a super kick. Sabin tries for a springboard cross body but Hernandez catches Sabin and hits the sit out power bomb for the three count.
Winners: LAX

After the match, while Hernandez and Homicide leave the ring, Shelley flips off LAX.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a Rough Cut segment with Traci talking about the night that Roxxi got her head shaved. Roxxi talks about how her head got cut open during the match. We get comments from Roxxi’s mother.

It is time to run through the card for Bound for Glory.

Jeremy Borash is in Jim Cornette’s office. Jim tells Angle that his comments were too much. Jim says that he has given Angle a lot of leeway. Cornette tells Angle that he is fined $25,000. Angle wants to know where Jarrett is and he is going to shove the money up Jarrett’s a**. We go to commercial.

It is time for a Suicide video package.

Match Number Three: Jimmy Rave with Christy Hemme and Lance Rock versus Eric Young versus Sheik Abdul Bashir for the X Division Title
Bashir keeps a close watch on the referee. Bashir and Rave go after Young as the bell rings. Rave and Bashir pose for no reason. Bashir sends Rave into the ring post. Young with a side head lock but Bashir with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Bashir with a drop kick to the head and a rear chin lock. Young lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt and he sends Bashir over the top rope. Rave with a tilt-a-whirl into a Fujiwara arm bar. Young makes it to the ropes and then he hits a jawbreaker. Bashir trips Young. Rave with an STO to Bashir. Young punches Rave and slams Bashir for a near fall. Rave misses Young in the corner and he goes to the floor. Young slams Bashir and then Young tries for a moonsault but Bashir moves. Bashir with a DDT and he gets the three count after staring at the referee.
Winner: Sheik Abdul Bashir

After the match, Bashir wants the referee to raise his hand and the referee does not really want to do it. Bashir and the referee get face to face and then Bashir makes the referee flinch.

Jeremy Borash is in the back with Jay Lethal, A.J. Styles, and Christian Cage since they are working in a six man tag match. Christian says to ask Jay Lethal about the match. Lethal thanks Christian and A.J. for giving him the chance to run with the big dogs tonight. Jay says that he lost last week but there are no excuses. Lethal says that he took Booker to the limit and he will learn from those mistakes. Lethal walks away. A.J. wants to know if him and Christian are cool about things. Christian says that he is always cool because he is the champ. We go to commercial.

Match Number Four: Team 3D and Booker T with Sharmell versus Jay Lethal, Christian Cage, and A.J. Styles
Lethal and Booker start off and Booker backs Lethal into the corner and he tries to punch Lethal but Lethal blocks the punch and he responds with punches of his own. Booker with chops and punches. Lethal with a hip toss and handstand into the drop kick for a near fall. Booker with an arm bar and then he tags in Ray. Ray chops Lethal and punches him. Ray with kicks to the midsection and punches. We go to commercial?

We are back and Christian and Devon are in the match and Booker is tagged in but he misses a punch. Christian with chops and Styles is tagged in. Styles with a leaping clothesline in the corner. Lethal is tagged in and he hits a double sledge from the turnbuckles. Lethal chops Booker but Booker with a knee and Irish whip. Lethal fights out of the corner but Ray and Devon trip Lethal and pull him into the ring post but the referee missed it. Booker with a super kick to Lethal for a two count. Devon tags in and he hits a head butt and then he chokes Lethal. Devon with a punch to Lethal and then he hits a corkscrew back elbow for a near fall. Devon with a reverse chin lock. Lethal with elbows but Devon pulls Lethal down by the hair. Ray tags in and he punches Lethal and then he drops an elbow on the little Machismos when he tells the referee to look at something shiny. Devon is tagged back in and he catches Lethal with an elbow. Lethal and Devon both go down.

Christian and Ray tag in and Christian with punches and then he goes after Devon and Booker. Ray with a boot to Christian but Christian with a double clothesline to Team 3D. Ray with an elbow to Christian but Christian punches Ray on the turnbuckles. Christian with a rana from the turnbuckles for a near fall that is broken up by Devon. Styles and Devon battle outside. Ray with a back body drop to Christian followed by one to Lethal. He finishes them off with one to Styles. Lethal and Styles with a back body drop to Rey and then Christian goes up top and he hits a cross body but he only gets a two count. Lethal with a pescado but Booker hits Lethal with the case. Styles hits a pescado on Devon. Booker makes the blind tag. Christian with a rollup on Booker but Styles accidentally hits Christian from the top turnbuckle and Booker gets the three with a rollup.
Winners: Team 3D and Booker T

After the match, A.J. tries to help Christian to his feet but Christian wants no help from Styles. Christian has something to say to A.J. and he wants nothing to do with him. We go to commercial.

We are back and we are told that Impact is going to be live in Las Vegas on October 23rd.

TO THE BACK where Kurt Angle is being held back as he tries to get into Jarrett’s office. Angle gets into the office, but Jarrett is not there.

Mike was in a sit down with Sting and Samoa Joe. Sting says that wrestling ended for him badly in 2001 when WCW was gone. Sting says that he came back five years later because of what he saw. Sting says that he did not see the respect. Joe wonders why Sting cares so much about him. Is it because Joe and A.J. are the future? That would be because they are in the past. Sting wonders why anyone would want to hurt Booker or Angle and try to hurt him. Joe points out that Angle and Booker did the same. Sting says that without Ric Flair or Arn Anderson, there would be no Sting. Joe wonders why Sting isn’t at the show. Sting wonders if Joe thinks he has been coasting. Joe respected Sting. Joe says that he handles things differently than Sting. Sting says that enough has been said and he is tired of talking. Sting says that he will walk the aisle at Bound for Glory. Joe says that he is not choking Sting now because maybe he has some of the qualities that Sting is looking for.

Lauren is in the back with Abyss and Matt Morgan. Lauren talks for a while and then Abyss says that Lauren is funny and wrong. Abyss wonders if he looks crazy. At Bound for Glory, he has been assured that there will be no weapons. Matt tells Abyss that he will deal with the weapons. Matt says that they are the top but as a team they are untouchable. Matt says that they are the future of TNA. Abyss wonders if he will be a top guy after Monster’s Ball.

We are back and James Storm, Robert Roode, and Jackie Moore come to the ring. Roode says that they are alive and doing extremely well. There are some who are not doing as well. Roode mentions Salinas, who had a little talk with Miss Jackie. Since then, nobody has heard from her or seen her since. Then there is Hector Guerrero and we see Hector at the announce table. Roode points out that Hector has been forced back to the announce booth where he belongs. From this moment forward, they have an open invitation to any tag team in the back or any tag team in the world from any company on the planet.

Team 3D come out and Devon starts to talk, but the sounds of the crazy Ice Cream man play. Matt Morgan says that the last time he looked, he beat Team 3D. LAX interrupt and come out. Homicide says that they have no problem with Team 3D or Matt Morgan and Abyss.

Jim Cornette comes out and says that he wants to interject before this blows up like a meth lab. Cornette says that at Bound for Glory, the number one contender match is no more. Now the Monster’s Ball Match will be for the TNA Tag Team Titles. Cornette says that he does not know who will beat Storm and Roode, but somebody will.

Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, and Kip James walk in the back as we go to a video package.

Match Number Five: Velvet Sky and Angelina Love with Kip James versus ODB and a Mystery Partner

ODB gets on the mic and tells the two skanks that she found a partner for tonight. Her partner is Rhaka Khan.

Kip has some words with ODB to distract her but it does not work because she sees Velvet charge at her. ODB with a back elbow and punches. Khan tags in and Velvet leaves the ring. Khan pulls Sky and Love into the ring and she hits a double clothesline. Kip gets in the ring and he backs off. Velvet hits Khan, but Khan with a kick to Sky. ODB tags in and Angelina trips ODB and Velvet punches ODB. Sky with punches while ODB tries to fight her way out of trouble. Love tags in and they hit a double elbow drop. Angelina with a front face lock and then Velvet is tagged in. ODB punches Sky but Sky gets a near fall. Angelina tags in and she kicks ODB. Sky joins in and they both choke ODB. ODB with a kick to Sky and a clothesline to Love. ODB makes the tag and she punches Sky and Love. Khan with kicks to Love and Sky. Khan with a inverted leg drop for the three count.
Winners: ODB and Rhaka Khan

After the match, Kip gets on the apron and that allows Sky and Love to attack Khan and ODB. Rhino’s music plays and he comes to the ring and he goes after Kip.

In case you didn’t know, Smackdown is . . . wrong company. Mick Foley is next. We go to commercial.

We are back and Mick Foley makes his way into the Impact Zone. Mick has something to say. Mick says that it is an honor to stand in the same ring where a few short moments ago, Kute Kip did. He says it is an honor. Mick says that it is a huge night for him and one of the biggest nights of his career. Mick thanks everyone who is watching and he mentions the vice-presidential debate. Mick thanks Jeff Jarrett for having the faith to bring him here and for referring to him as the greatest acquisition in TNA history. Mick wants to thank one other person who made this possible. That person is Vince McMahon. He thanks Vince for giving him so many opportunities and for making the decision to leave the WWE so easy.

Kurt Angle comes to the ring. Angle apologizes for busting Mick’s party but Jeff Jarrett pisses him off. Kurt mentions the interview from two years ago. Now Jarrett wants to fine him $25,000 for making comments in an interview. Angle points out that Jarrett said that Mick was the greatest acquisition in TNA history. Angle says that Jarrett is full of s*** and so are the fans. Angle says that Jarrett told him that he lost everything. Angle agrees that he lost everything. Angle tells Jarrett that he isn’t the only one who lost his wife. Angle wants to know what Foley ever did because he was the greatest acquisition in TNA. Angle says that he carried the company for two years.

Mick says that Angle can talk about his Olympic achievements, but Foley will not hear Angle diminish the achievements of Samoa Joe or A.J. Styles. Mick says that the main reason he came to TNA was because of Angle. Mick says that he did not enjoy having a bellicose billionaire yelling in his ear. Mick talks about seeing Edge and the Undertaker. He saw Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. Foley says that he saw Triple H and John Cena. Then it got to thinking about Kurt Angle. He saw Angle wrestle those WWE superstars and Angle beat them all. Maybe Jarrett was wrong and Angle was the greatest acquisition in TNA history. Foley says that Angle might be the greatest performer in history. There is only one way to know. He needs to be ‘that close’ to the action to see if Angle is the greatest in the sport. Angle asks Foley if he wants to take Don West’s place. Foley says that he did not come to TNA to take Don West’s job. Foley says that he needs to be right next to the action. Angle wants to know if Foley wants to be in his corner. Foley says that he will be the special enforcer at Bound for Glory. We go to credits.

2009 - WWE celebrates Ten Years of Smackdown.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We start off with a look back at some of the moments over the last ten years of Smackdown. We have a new theme song for the next decade of Raw.

We are live on tape from Boston, Massachusetts and your announcers are Jim ‘Party like it’s 1999’ Ross and Todd ‘I had a curfew in 1999’ Grisham.

Jim Ross and Todd Grisham are in the ring and Todd talks about the history that Boston has with the WWE. Todd points out that everyone from all three brands are in the building and the party has started. We go to the party area and see the celebration.

We have our first Smackdown Moment that was Moment #64 on the Best of Smackdown DVD from the December 16, 2005 Smackdown when Rey and Batista faced Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro to win the tag titles for Eddie Guerrero.

Match Number One: Batista versus Kane

They lock up and Batista backs Kane into the corner and Batista with a clean break but Kane with an uppercut but Batista with punches of his own. Kane with a back elbow and Kane misses an elbow drop. Batista with a boot to the head and then he hits a clothesline for a near fall. Batista with a side head lock but Kane with a belly-to-back suplex. Kane with a boot to the head and then Kane punches Batista in the corner and then connects with an elbow. Kane with an Irish whip and kick followed by a Divorce Court for a near fall. Kane with a key lock but Batista sends Kane over the top rope to the floor and we go to commercial.

We are back and Kane is back in control with an arm bar. We see footage from the commercial when Kane hit a big boot on Batista to send Dave to the floor. Kane with a kick and punch. Each man tries for a big boot and both men are down. Kane gets up first and Batista with punches and a back elbow followed by a flying shoulder tackle and a running clothesline into the corner. Batista with an Irish whip and splash. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline of his own followed by a side slam for a near fall. Kane goes up top and he hits the jumping clothesline. Kane sets for the choke slam but Batista with a spinebuster for a two count. Batista sets for a Batista Bomb but Kane sends Batista into the turnbuckles. Batista with a clothesline and then he goes to the top turnbuckle but he is caught by Kane. Batista avoids the choke slam but Batista misses a charge into the corner. Kane punches Batista in the corner and Batista channels Taker to hit a Batista Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Batista

It is time for the party and Teddy thanks everyone for coming. Even the Brooklyn Brawler is at the party. Teddy makes his way to Maria and then Hornswoggle stops by and slaps Maria in her rear end and we get a ‘Vintage’ from Michael Cole. Finlay stops by and he orders a drink from his son. Cole with a forced ‘Vintage’ for Finlay. Finlay makes a toast about a decade of Smackdown. Punk stops Teddy from drinking and Cole has worn out his ‘vintage’ welcome. Punk says that as long as he is the champion on Smackdown, there is no alcohol. Punk says that we will see how Straight Edge will save everyone.

Vickie Guerrero is back and she is still excusing herself. Teddy thanks Vickie for accepting his invitation. Vickie says that she cannot believe that Teddy lifted the ban on the Hell’s Gate and Vickie says that Teddy lacks a backbone. Vickie introduces Teddy her new boyfriend Eric Escobar. Vickie tells Teddy that Eric has been signed to Smackdown and Vickie will be Eric’s manager.

A gong sounds and Santino has a long coat and black hat. He talks about how it is a great costume party. Teddy takes a shot and wonders what is going on.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Cole is on ‘vintage’ overload. Finlay has more shots for Cole. Cole makes a ‘shrimp’ joke at Hornswoggle’s expense and he kicks Cole in the shin. Hornswoggle makes it into the VIP area while Zack Ryder tries to get in. He tries to buy his way in and Henry thinks about it. Porter allows Mark Henry some of the Divas in. Sergeant Slaughter enters as well. Porter says that there is room for one more and it is the Iron Sheik. Sheik calls Ryder a jabronie and everyone gets a good laugh.

It is time for a video package about Eddie Guerrero.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Jack Swagger has joined Todd and JR at the announce table. JR asks Jack about Sunday.

Match Number Two: JohnMorrison and Kofi Kingston versus Dolph Ziggler and The Miz

Morrison and Miz start off in a battle of former tag team partners. Miz and Morrison have some words before Miz kicks Morrison and punches him. Miz with kicks and punches. Morrison with a dropsault and clothesline that sends Miz over the top rope. Ziggler tries to interfere but Kofi cuts him off and we go to commercial.

We are back and Kofi gets a near fall on Ziggler. Kofi punches Ziggler and then Kofi with an elbow. Kofi gets distracted by Swagger and Ziggler leaps to the floor and drops Kofi on the top rope. Ziggler gets a near fall and he tags in Miz who kicks Kofi. Miz with the Miz clothesline into the corner and then he goes up top and hits a double sledge for a near fall. Miz with a rear chin lock but Kofi with punches and then hits a facebuster on Kofi. Ziggler tags in and Miz catapults Kofi into Ziggler but Kofi punches Ziggler and then he kicks Miz. Ziggler keeps Kofi from making the tag and he pulls Kofi back into his corner and hits a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock. Kofi with punches but Ziggler pulls Kofi down by the hair. Ziggler with an Irish whip and Miz is tagged in. Miz misses a charge into the corner and hits the post with his shoulder. Morrison makes the tag and so does ZIggler. Morrison with clotheslines and then Morrison with a leg lariat. Morrison poses and then hits a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Morrison with a hard Irish whip and then he avoids a clothesline from Miz. Kofi takes care of Miz with a clothesline. Ziggler stops Morrison on the ropes and hits the Zig Zag for the three count.
Winners: Dolph Ziggler and The Miz

We see Funaki and Yoshi Tatsu doing karaoke that is ruined by Jillian Hall. Slaughter and Sheik do the Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck bit with USA and Iran. Sheik chokes on something and Hurricane makes the save with the Heimlich. Cole is still drinking and Finlay gives him some more.

Big Show and Jericho stop by and Show tells everyone to be quiet. Jericho talks about the party for the tenth anniversary of Smackdown. He says that they should be the guests of honor since they were on the first episode of Smackdown. Jericho says that maybe the party should be wrapped up and everyone should show them the respect that they deserve. Cole with some vintage vomit on Jericho’s suit. Even Joey Styles gets into the game with an ‘Oh My God’.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Justin Roberts introduces the Rock who is available via satellite. Rock says that Dwayne Johnson has returned to Friday night. We go to another take since Rock did not like it. We go to a second take that worked just as poorly. Rock tries a third time and he liked it but then he is told that it was not right. Rock tries again and he goes spiritual and he thought it sucked. Rock asks who Dolph Ziggler is. We go to take 31 and his latte finally arrives. Rock remembers his catchphrase and he has FINALLY come back to Smackdown. Rock talks about the ten years that Smackdown has been on and he was there when it started. He talks about the Most Electrifying Move in Sports Entertainment as well as the Rock Bottom. Rock pulls out a few vintage songs. Ten years later, the champion is CM Punk, a straight edge dude. Rock says that you should call him BM Punk. Rock says that he never faced CM Punk, but he faced Punk’s opponent. Rock says that him and Taker made history. He whooped the Undertaker’s ass all over the world . . . wait, he only beat Taker once by disqualification. Rock wants it edited and he does not want to be tombstoned by Taker. Rock asks one of the production people if they have ever been tombstoned. Rock says that it doesn’t matter if he thinks a tombstone is painful. Rock talks about Hell in a Cell and he says that there will be a new World Champion. Rock says that no matter what, the show will belong to the Jabronie beating, pie eating, has no peer, has no flaw, now that he’s tried Smackdown, the Rock should guest host Raw. Rock says that he would be the most electrifying host. Now it is time to smell what the Rock is cooking. We get the People’s Eyebrow.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Three: Melina versus Michelle McCool for the Women’s Title in a Lumberjack Match

They lock up and Michelle with a take down for a near fall. Michelle with an uppercut and a punch. Melina with a head scissors and Michelle sends Melina to the apron. Melina with a split but Michelle with a drop kick that sends Melina to the floor. Michelle brings Melina back in and she slams Melina’s head into the mat. Melina sends Michelle to the mat with clotheslines and forearms. Melina with a flap jack for a near fall. Melina with a screaming kick and then he gets tripped by Jillian. Melina with a cross body on to Jillian and Katie Lea. We have a cat fight of epic vintage proportions.

Back in the ring, Melina with a kick and then Melina goes up top but Beth pulls Melina’s leg and Michelle hits the Faithbreaker for the three count.
Winner: Michelle McCool

We go to a message for CM Punk. Taker says that Punk is going to enter the domain of the Undertaker. The domain of eternal suffering. A place where there is no forgiveness. Taker says that he will reclaim the World Title and in the process he will knock Punk from the black horse of self righteousness. Punk will be forced to crave the pills that he shuns. Taker welcomes Punk to Hell’s Playground and Satan’s Structure. Taker welcomes Punk to Hell in a Cell.

We go to commercial.

We are back to the party and we are in the party area where the Divas are now best friends. Drew McIntyre takes the mic and he makes a toast to Smackdown and to the future World Champion, Drew McIntyre. R Truth attacks Drew and they fight onto the dance floor and the food.

We are back with Moment Number 100 from April 14, 2005 when the Spinner WWE Title belt debuted. We also see Moment Number 32 from September 26, 2008 when Vickie Guerrero banished him from the WWE and Vickie got a tombstone for her troubles.

Match Number Four: Degeneration X, John Cena, and The Undertaker versus Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and CM Punk in a This is the Greatest Eight Man Tag Match Ever on Smackdown

Cody and Cena start things off and Cena goes for the arm. Cena backs Rhodes into the turnbuckles. Cody misses a punch but Cena does not miss. Cena with a bulldog for a near fall. Hunter tags in and Cena holds Cody for Hunter and Hunter punches Cody. Ted tags in and they lock up and Ted punches Hunter but Hunter punches back. The referee pulls Hunter out of the corner. Ted with an Irish whip but you don’t Irish whip Hunter because he comes out of the corner and hits a clothesline. Hunter avoids a clothesline from Ted and hits a neck breaker for a near fall. Hunter with a key lock on Ted. Hunter sends Ted into Shawn’s boots and Shawn is tagged in and he chops Ted while Hunter holds DiBiase. Ted sends Shawn into the turnbuckles and then Ted punches Shawn. Ted runs into a boot and then Shawn wants to tag in Taker but Taker takes too long and Ted with a knee. Taker makes the blind tag and Taker and Shawn stare each other down and Taker punches Cody Rhodes. We go to commercial.

We are back and Taker goes Old School on Cody and gets a near fall. Hunter tags in and he punches Cody. Hunter with a delayed vertical suplex on Rhodes. Hunter with a crotch chop followed by a knee drop to the head. Shawn tags in and he chops Cody. Rhodes with punches and kicks and Shawn goes down. Ted tags in and he kicks and punches Shawn. Ted with punches to Shawn and then Orton tags in and he punches Shawn only as a viper can. Punk tags in and he kicks Michaels in the corner as the referee admonishes him. Cody and Ted attack Shawn and then Punk hits a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Orton tags back in and he kicks Michaels and then he stomps on the solar plexus three times. Orton with a reverse chin lock but Michaels with a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down. Cody tags in and he keeps Michaels from making the tag but Shawn with an enzuigiri. Cena is tagged in and he hits the two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena gets ready for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it. Cena punches DiBiase who breaks up the Attitude Adjustment. Cena with a double Attitude Adjustment but Cody and Ted get out of the hold and Cody and Ted go high and low as we go to commercial.

We are back and Punk with a drop kick to the back of Cena’s head for a near fall. Randy is tagged in and Punk holds Cena. Orton with a viperlike punch to the head. Orton with forearms across the upper chest. Orton with a leaping knee drop for a near fall. Orton with a kick to the ribs and then he runs his boot laces across Cena’s face. Cena gets Orotn up on his shoulders but Orton counters with a DDT for a near fall. Ted tags back in and DiBiase with a kick to the midsection and then one to the head. DiBiase with a reverse chin lock but Cena uses the power of our yellow sun to escape. DiBiase with a clothesline that a Marine would be jealous of. DiBiase with a series of fist drops but he misses a third one. Cena with a belly-to-belly suplex and both men are down. Punk and Hunter tag in and Hunter punches Punk. Hunter with the high knee and then he hits the facebuster and clothesline. Hunter with a spinebuster and then he poses. Hunter tags in Taker and Taker makes the tag to Orton and Taker brings Orton in and Taker punches Randy. Taker with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Taker with snake eyes and the running boot. Taker punches DiBiase when he tries to interfere. Orton with a back breaker but Taker tries for Hell’s Gate. DiBiase tries for Dream Street on Hunter but Shawn with Sweet Chin Music. Hunter with a Pedigree to Ted but Cody pulls Ted out. Punk with a leg lariat to Michaels but Cena sends Punk to the floor with Attitude Adjustment. Orton is surrounde din the ring and Taker with the tombstone for the three count.
Winners: Undertaker, Degeneration X, and John Cena

Confetti falls as everyone’s music plays. We go to credits.

2010 - Local authorities were called after a TNA twitter stunt in Columbia, SC.  Jeremy Borash announced via twitter that he would be at a location near their venue, with a mystery guest, giving out backstage passes (which are just passes for meet and greets backstage during the show). The guest was Shannon Moore. After Moore and Jeff Hardy both repeated the information on their respective twitter accounts (and keep in mind Hardy has over 100,000 followers), there was a literal stampede of fans rushing to the location, a parking lot in front of a Dollar General store.
The manager of the store, seeing the huge mob assembling, called the police. As it turned out, the TNA crew had left before the police arrived. Upon learning of the issue, TNA sent tickets and backstage passes to the store as a "make good."   Some in TNA loved the idea, feeling it was a great way to build buzz for the local events and interact with the fans, giving them an "extra" for their support.

2010 - Ring of Honor taped ROH on HDNet at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA.  Joshua Higham filed the following results:

Pre-show:
Andy "Right Leg" Ridge, Bobby Dempsey & Blain Rage defeated Marker Dillinger, Jay Freddie & "Man of Value" Jeff Brooks when Dempsey pinned Brooks.

TV Main Event: Davey Richards defeated Erick Stevens w/ Prince Nana with a reverse figure four/ankle lock combo.

Jim Cornette invited the Kings of Wrestling to the ring. Hagadorn says challengers for the belts need to prove to be worthy, but that KOW will face any team in a non-title match. Cornette then invites their opponents for Final Battle to the ring: Jay & Mark Briscoe accompanied by Papa Briscoe. Hagadorn threatened to have Papa arrested if he wasn't barred from ringside, so Papa rebutted saying he'd sue Chris Hero for his attack earlier this year. Hero accepts the match, and the contact is signed. Cornette then reveals the contract is actually for a Six-Man Tag: Jay, Mark & Papa Briscoe v. Kings of Wrestling & Shane Hagadorn.

Steve Corino came out next and called out El Generico. He tells Generico that he cannot control Steen anymore and that it isn't worth all of this. He tells Generico to give him his mask and end it. Generico slaps him and they brawl to begin the match. El Generico defeated Steve Corino after a flash small package; Corino tries to attack post-match and is hit with 2 Yakuza Kicks & a Brainbuster.

Daizee Haze defeated Taelor with a German suplex.

Cornette invites "The Prodigy" Mike Bennett to the ring. He comes with his trainer "Brutal" Bob Evans, who is dressed like Burgess Meredith from Rocky. Bennett says he'll be ROH World Champion within 12 months and that 2011 is the "Year of the Prodigy" before taking a front row seat for the next match.

Ring of Honor Television Title Match: ROH Television Champion Eddie Edwards over Colt "Boom Boom" Cabana via pinfall; Bennett fakes out Edwards with a handshake attempt and Cabana yells at Bennett to prove himself. Show of respect between Edwards and Cabana.

Return Dates: January 21 & 22, 2011

The Bravado Brothers defeated Slyk Wagner Brown & Colby Godwin w/ Sly Stetson in the cameramen's break match.

Shawn Daivari w/ Prince Nana defeated Tony Kozina

Butcher's Rules Match: Homicide defeated The Necro Butcher w/ Prince Nana. Before the match, Necro & Nana littered the ring with weapons. Homicide won with 2 Ace Crushers, the first on the back of a chair, the 2nd on a pile of chairs. Necro got pretty bloody. Should be good tv brawl.

El Generico defeated "Beautiful" Bobby Shields quickly, after two yakuza kicks and a brainbuster. After the match, Generico draped a Steen shirt over a chair and brainbustered Shields through it.

Jim Cornette came to the ring and invited Davey Richards. Cornette announces Kings of Wrestling v. American Wolves for Plymouth, MA in December and labeled it the final tag match for the Wolves.
Davey said that Truth Martini was full of s--t which brought out Roddy and Truth. Strong retorted to Davey that he'd wake up after Final Battle with the feeling of failing the fans and failing his dead grandfather.

"Addicted to Love" Rhett Titus defeated Jon Davis.

Adam Cole & Kyle O'Reilly defeated Grizzly Redwood & Mike Sydal following an awesome double team finisher. Adam Cole held Sydal in a wheelbarrow for O'Reilly to hit a codebreaker. Cole then dropped Sydal into his own lungblower.

Kevin Steen cut a promo for Final Battle talking directly to Generico's mask in the ring.

Kevin Steen then defeated Kory Chavis following a powerbomb, F5 and Package Piledriver.

Kings of Wrestling held a public workout with Shane Hagadorn. He faced Blain Rage in an exhibition. Claudio served as ref, while holding his Starbucks coffee cup. Rage was apparetly told to get no offense, that it would be against the rules, but Hagadorn still struggled. Rage would actually have to throw himself when Hagadorn attempted any slam. Rage finally fought back and was hit with KRS1 and pinned by Hagadorn.

Non-Title Match: ROH World Champion Roderick Strong w/ Truth Martini defeated Austin Aries following a Gibson Driver and a Sick Kick. Strong had kicked out of a Brainbuster and grabbed the ropes after the 450 Splash.

Notes: Steve Corino and Austin Aries had new entrance themes. Aries got some face reaction during his match with Strong. There was definitely a different feel or flow to these tapings compared to the Pearce era. Less squashes, more in-ring promos (the crowd hated the promos). The action was good, and you should check out the show when it airs if you can.

2011 - WWE held their Hell In A Cell PPV.  Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing WWE Hell in A Cell PPV coverage.

Michael Cole, Booker T and Jim Ross are the announcers as Jerry Lawler is still recovering from injuries after being put through a table by Mark Henry. I guess he fought through those injuries when he wrestled Terry Funk last night?

Christian vs. Sheamus

As Christian came to the ring, Miz and R-Truth came to the front row holding tickets through the crowd. Johnny Ace and security tried to throw them out but they said they bought tickets and argued. They were finally forced out of the building. Don’t they get to take their PPV chairs with them?

The announcers wondered how they could legally force Miz and Truth out of the building as Sheamus and Christian locked up. Sheamus forced him into a corner and broke clean. Christian went for a waistlock takedown but was elbowed in the face and Sheamus stood over him defiantly.

Sheamus used a side headlock takedown to cover Christian for a two count, then repeated the attempt. Christian forced him into the ropes and Sheamus broke clean. Christian slugged him so Sheamus returned fire. Christian slipped out to the floor, where Sheamus followed and gave chase. As they returned to the ring, Christian slugged him, which only pissed off Sheamus.

Sheamus went for a slam but Christian slipped out and shoved him into the ropes. Sheamus came back with a series of shots across the chest while Christian was outside on the apron. Sheamus slammed him for a two count. Christian kicked off Sheamus after being whipped into the corner. He was caught during a bodypress attempt and nailed with a Fall Away Slam.

Sheamus climbed the ropes but was shoved off to the floor. Christian worked him over on the floor and rolled him back in, nailing a series of rights. He choked Sheamus’ throat against the top rope. Sheamus fired back and they went back and forth. Christian nailed a back elbow off the center turnbuckle, then attempted a sleeper. Sheamus sat down into a jawbreaker to escape the hold.

Christian continued beating him down, working him over with punches and stomps. Sheamus began to mount a comeback but was caught with a knee to the gut as he rebounded off the ropes. Christian continued working him over but Sheamus began blocking punches and mounted his own series of moves with knees and other strikes.

Sheamus went for a press slam but Christian slipped out and went for the Killswitch. Christian was fought off but snapped Sheamus over the ropes. Christian was caught with a backbreaker out of an Uranage for a two count. Sheamus called for the High Cross but Christian began nailing a series of strikes and went to the top. Sheamus stopped him and went for a superplex. Christian fought him off and used the ropes to catapult himself into a kick. He followed up with a tornado DDT out of the corner for another near fall.

Sheamus fought back and nailed a running kneelift. Sheamus went to go to the top but Christian stopped him. Sheamus kicked him away and pulled himself up. Sheamus nailed a flying shoulderblock off the top rope. He went for the Brouge Kick but Christian slipped out of the ring. Sheamus followed and they ended up jockeying for position with a suplex to the floor. Sheamus ended up on the floor. Christian went for a sliding kick but was caught and slammed to the floor. Christian came back with a spear on the floor.

Sheamus pulled himself into the ring, where he was speared again but kicked up at the last second, Christian was frustrated that it didn’t get the job done. Christian went for a swan dive headbutt but Sheamus rolled out of the ring. Sheamus went for the High Cross but Christian slipped out and went for the Killswitch. Sheamus slipped out but was sent into the corner. Christian charged for a spear but Sheamus moved and Christian hit the ringpost shoulder-first.

Christian staggered into the Brouge Kick and was pinned.

Your winner, Sheamus!

Very good back and forth opener.

Matt Striker tried to interview World champion Mark Henry about being in the Hell in A Cell. He said that he’s never been in one, but it’s a different time and he’s a different champion. He said Randy Orton was going to join the Hall of Pain, whether it was in a back alley or the cell. Good promo.

Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara

For simplicity’s sake, I am going to refer to them as Blue and Black.

Each man claimed they were the real Cara at the bell. Black took Blue down to the mat and tied him up while grandstanding, then tied him up in a sideways bow and arrow. Blue slipped out and covered him for a one count. They went back and forth and faced off.

They did some nice Lucha reversals and faced off again. They went into a test of strength with Black getting the better of it. He leapt atop of Blue who flipped him over and then flipped over again, landing on his feet. They exchanged Lucha headscissors and faced off. The story was that they were mirroring each other.

Black caught Blue with several kicks and whipped him into the ropes but was caught with a rana and a Lucha armdrag that sent Black to the floor. Blue hit a tope con hilo over the top to the floor. Blue nailed a sliding kick to the outside. He went for an Asai Moonsault but Black moved out of the way. Black nailed a slingshot senton splash onto Blue for a two count.

Black cinched in a side chinlock and the crowd rallied Blue. Black cut him off and covered him for a two count. Black rammed his head into the buckles and chopped away at Blue. Blue was sent to the apron and knocked off. Black hit a tope over the ropes onto Blue. Black covered Blue for a two count.

Black continued to control Blue and went back to the side chinlock and tagged him with a kick. Blue fought his way out of a waistlock. They went for a dropkick at the same time. The crowd began catcalling them with a “Boring” chant. Blue nailed a headscissor and sent Black to the ground. He hit a dive from the top rope to the floor.

Back in the ring, Black kicked out of several near falls and was caught with a kick. Blue went for a rana but was dropped into a powerbomb for a two count. They battled on the top rope and Blue armdragged Black into the ring. Blue was backdropped over the top to the apron but drilled Black with a kick. Blue missed a swanton but rolled through. Blue caught Black with the Code Red for the pin.

Your winner, Sin Cara (original, blue)

It was a pretty unique match for WWE in that they did a complete Lucha style mixed in with some WWE trademark spots to build crowd sympathy. I thought it was solid but it seemed lost on some of the crowd and they had some timing issues. If this thing takes off when they tape TV in Mexico, that's one thing but they really need to explain this stronger to the audience because the crowd just saw it as two guys in masks doing spots and it didn't resonate.

Backstage, David Otunga asked CM Punk if they can speak. Punk told him no and asked if he had ambulances to go chase. Otunga reminded him of his Harvard education and said he was representing the WWE stars. Punk said he doesn’t need representation and has his own voice. Punk said when he wins the WWE title, he won’t change his mind. He told Otunga that he hates lawyers and to “vanish.” Otunga walked off.

WWE Tag Team champions Air Boom vs. WWE United States champion Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger (with Vickie Guerrero)

Swagger and Kingston started off and went back and forth. Kofi went for a monkey flip but was slammed down. Kingston came back with an uppercut and tagged into Bourne, setting up a double stomp. Swagger slammed Bourne and tagged Ziggler. Bourne nailed a series of kicks to Zigger’s legs and tagged Kingston back in.

Kofi nailed a leaping forearm into the corner off Bourne’s back. The champions doubled on Ziggler and Bourne covered him for a two count after a nice dropkick. Swagger tagged in and cut off Bourne, nailing a series of shoulderblocks into the corner a big Beal Throw for a two count. The challengers cut off the ring, tagging in and out as they dominated Bourne.

Kingston tagged in and was cut off so the challengers took turns working him over. The announcers used the match as a backdrop to put over the HHH COO storyline. It was sort of silly for Michael Cole to say the guys speaking out were being penalized when he namedrops Swagger and Zigger and at the same time they are challenging for a TITLE. Yeah, some punishment!

Swagger nailed Bourne off the apron to distract the ref so Ziggler can work over Kingston. The crowd began rallying Kingston who kicks off an ankle lock attempt and catches Swagger with a big DDT. Bourne makes the hot tag. Bourne nails a double knee strike off the ropes on Ziggler who kicked out at the last second. Ziggler goes for the Famouser but Bourne avoids it and hits a standing moonsault for a two count. Swagger grabs an ankle lock but Kingston nails a bodypress on him. Bourne small packages Ziggler for a two count. Ziggler comes out of it with a clothesline.

Zigger picks up Bourne so Swagger can powerbomb him off the top. Bourne turns it into a rana and rolled through with a forward roll for the pin as Kofi pulled Ziggler out of the ring.

Your winners and still WWE Tag Team champions, Air Boom!

Good back and forth tag match.

They aired an Inside Out DVD promo.

World champion Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton

Orton goes right after Henry with a series of punches and a headbutt. Henry rolled out of the ring but Orton follows and runs Henry into the Cell. Henry blocks it and tries to run Orton like a battering ram into it but Orton slips out and Henry hits the steel.

Orton brings him back into the ring and begins stomping away at Henry. Orton nailed a leaping knee drop. He tried to set up Henry for the hanging DDT but Henry breaks free and runs Orton into the top turnbuckle. Henry grabbed Orton’s arm and pulled it through the ropes, pulling it against the ringpost. He tries to do it again but Orton pulled Henry into the post. He kicked and stomped Henry around the Cell.

Orton leapt off the apron but was caught and run several times back first into the Cell and then into the guard rail. Henry deposited the challenger back into the ring but Orton fought back. Henry caught him with a big running powerslam for a two count.

Henry headbutt Orton, who staggered through the ropes to the floor. Orton tried to fight back but was powerslammed on the floor. Henry grabbed the ring steps and threw them at Orton, who got out of the way at the last second. Booker started talking about Henry escaping a countout, so apparently he didn’t even know the rules, which Michael Cole called him on. Henry ran Orton into the cage head-first.

Henry began trash talking Orton, who fired back with several kicks. Henry clotheslined him in the corner, cutting off the offense. Henry splashed him for a two count. Henry continued trashing Orton but the challenger kept kicking out. Henry picked up Orton and ran him into the buckles, then stepped on Orton’s chest, smothering him under the champion’s weight.

Henry locked on a bearhug in the middle of the ring as Orton fought to escape. Henry picked up Orton and teased the World’s Strongest Slam on the steel steps out of the ring. Orton grabbed the cage to escape the move and nailed a DDT on the steps.

Orton began running Henry into the ring posts on the outside. He rolled Henry back into the ring and nailed a Thesz Press on Henry, unloading him with a series of rights. Orton nailed a dropkick and began building the tease for the RKO. Orton set up and nailed the hanging DDT. Orton nailed the RKO and but Henry kicked up at two. Orton put his head in his hands and stared wondering what the hell he could do next as the announcers noted his finisher didn’t work.

Orton wondered what he should do, then set up for the punt kick. He went for it but was caught with the World’s Strongest Slam and pinned, clean.

Your winner and still World champion, Mark Henry!

After the match, Henry grabbed a chair and nailed another World’s Strongest Slam on Orton, The story was that Henry wanted to take out Orton with the chair, which should be the return of either Kane or Big Show to make the save. He set up the chair to Pillmanize Orton’s leg. Orton rolled out of the way and grabbed the chair, nailing Henry in the gut, then across the back. Henry rolled out of the ring and headed to the back but Orton chased him down and kept nailing him with stiff shots to the chest and the back with the chair. Orton went for another shot but was kicked by Henry. Henry ran off to the back.

Good match. They used the cage as a weapon well and told a really strong story. I especially liked Henry pulling out the clean win with his finisher, since that’s what you would expect someone that massive and dominant to be able to do. Both looked good here and the angle afterward was a good way to continue the story. Thumbs up from me all the way.

Josh Mathews interviewed Alberto Del Rio. He said he shouldn’t be in the Cell because it’s a brutal, dangerous match but an animal becomes more dangerous when it’s caged and he will do the same. He said CM Punk and John Cena will see a side of him that no one has ever seen before and when Alberto returns from Hell, its with the WWE title.

WWE Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes made his way to ringside wearing street clothes. Rhodes said he knew there were many there and at home hiding their features under paper bags. He said the fans should be euthanized and so should the IC title. They put it in a paper bag and unveiled the new belt, which was a classic IC title design that Savage, Steamboat, Honkytonk Man, etc. held. BIG POP from me as I always hated the newer design. Rhodes name checked a number of the older champions and said that in their honor, he would wear the belt but would wear it with more pride and dignity than any of them. He said he would defend the belt anytime, anyplace against anyone.

Johnny Ace came out and said that HHH demanded Ace announce that Rhodes will be defending the title tonight. Rhodes acted like he wasn’t ready but Ace said he was going to defend it right now against John Morrison.

WWE Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes vs. John Morrison

The announcers played this up as HHH playing games with people he doesn’t like. Rhodes tried to walk out but Morrison caught him in a roll up for a one count, then a dropkick for another. Morrison used a headlock takedown to control Rhodes. Rhodes missed a clothesline and a dropkick. Morrison covered him for another near fall and locked on another side headlock.

Rhodes went to the floor to take off his shirt and turned around into a dropkick through the ropes by Morrison. Morrison sent him into the ring apron and tossed him into the ring. Rhodes began walking out but Morrison attacked him in the aisle and dragged him back. Rhodes grabbed the ringpost and refused to move, demanding to be counted out. Morrison kicked Rhodes hard, making him release the hold.

Rhodes cut off Morrison as he returned to the ring and nailed a suplex, then stomped away at Morrison. Rhodes locked on a modified submission but Morrison fought his way out of it. Cody cut him off and went back to the move. Morrison was nailed with a clothesline and slapped Morrison when he was down, saying this wasn’t funny.

Rhodes sinked in a figure four leglock in the center of the ring. Morrison made it to the ropes almost immediately. Why do the move if it’s not being done to build drama? Rhodes beat Morrison down with a series of right hands. Morrison finally tackled him into the corner and began throwing a ton of punches. Morrison continued with a series of dropkicks and nailed the standing Spanish Fly for a two count.

Morrison went for Starship Pain but Rhodes grabbed his legs. Morrison stomped him low on the gut. Morrison missed a running knee but snapped backward and kicked Rhodes with a Pele Kick. Morrison missed a springboard enziguiri kick when Cody ducked. Rhodes came back with a La Magistral cradle and scored the pin.

Your winner and still WWE Intercontinental champion, Cody Rhodes!

In his office, Triple H was pissed and talking to someone on the phone. Johnny Ace ran in and told them there was a problem. HHH told him he was pissed about Ace making matches without his permission. Ace told him Miz and Truth had invaded backstage and they ran there. The cameras followed them to a locker room where security was pulling Miz and Truth out after they laid out Air Boom. They both challenged HHH to fight them. HHH told Ace that he was told to call the cops earlier and he couldn’t even handle security. He told Ace that if there was one more screw up, it was his ass. In the background, Ezekiel Jackson and Alex Riley checked on the champs.

WWE Divas champion Kelly Kelly (with Eve) vs. Beth Phoenix (with Natalya)

Kelly took down Phoenix immediately and began punching him. Phoenix manhandled her into the corner but was kicked off. Kelly hit a flying clothesline out of the corner for a two count. She went for flying headscissors but was caught and slammed down. Phoenix dropped an elbow and covered her for a two count.

She ran Kelly upside down into the corner and tied her to the tree of woe, then dropkicked her. She snapmared the champion over and locked in a Dragon Sleeper. Phoenix went after Kelly’s back, still hurting from the beatdown on Smackdown. Kelly battled back but was caught and dropped into an over the knee backbreaker. She forced Kelly backward over her knee, trying to force the submission.

Kelly caught Beth with an inside cradle for a two count. Phoenix cut her off and nailed the slingshot suplex. I love this woman. She covered the champ for a two count. She went for a powerbomb but Kelly turned it into a rana for a two count. Beth cut her off and covered Kelly for several two counts. You could the crowd starting to catcall the match.

Kelly nailed a neckbreaker and several right hands. She went for the K2 but time stood still and it turned into a sunset flip for a near fall. They went for several near falls. Kelly failed with a bulldog and went for a backslide. Phoenix ran her into the buckles but missed a charge into it. Kelly screamed and began smashing Phoenix into the corner.

Kelly nailed a handspring elbow but came up too close to Phoenix. She nailed a bulldog off the top but Phoenix got her shoulder up at the last second. Natalya and Eve got into it at ringside and Eve was sent hard into the barricade. Kelly went for the K2 but Beth dropped her throat-first on the top rope and kicked her where good Lord split her.

Beth locked Kelly into the same submission that Natalya locked her in at Smackdown. Natalya grabbed the mic and yelled at Kelly to scream and cry. She nailed Kelly with the mic while the ref was distracted. Phoenix nailed the Glam Slam and covered Kelly for the win.

Your winner and new WWE Divas champion, Beth Phoenix!

This was easily the best of their matches. Kelly worked as hard as she could and Phoenix looked really good.

Phoenix was crying after being given the belt, which Booker questioned. Cole pointed out that she had just won a title. Booker was just awful tonight.

WWE champion John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio

Punk went right after Del Rio who ran to the floor Del Rio spent the early minutes trying to run from Cena and Punk after the beating he gave them on Raw. They finally cornered him and Punk and Cena kept pulling the other away to get at Del Rio. Punk nailed a series of knees to the face and the crowd loved him. They weren’t behind Cena. It ended up with Punk and Cena left alone in the ring facing off. They missed several offensive moves and went for their finishers early but each evaded them.

Del Rio tried to attack Punk who avoided him and Alberto landed outside and nearly hit the Cell. Cena grabbed him for an FU on the floor but Punk dove out onto both of them. Punk nailed a backbreaker for a two count. Dueling chants for Punk and Cena, which was the most crowd response of the night at this point. Punk went under the ring for a chair but Cena nailed him. He whipped Punk into the stairs but Punk landed on them and goaded Cena to face him. Del Rio blasted Punk from behind.

This left Del Rio and Cena going back and forth in the ring with several near falls. Alberto grabbed a chair and wedged it into a corner. Cena nailed several shots, taking out Del Rio. He nailed the Five Knuckle Shuffle and went for the AA but Del Rio came out it going for the rolling cross armbreaker. Punk broke it up and starting covering both Del Rio and Cena for near falls.

Punk pulled a table from under the ring. He was bleeding from the back where he was blasted into the cell. Punk went for the running knee on the apron and nailed it. He teased a bulldog through the table but was sent hard into the Cell by Cena. Punk grabbed at his elbow. Del Rio used the distraction to beat the hell out of Cena, including a backbreaker onto an open chair.

Del Rio drove his knee into Cena’s face in the corner and mocked him, waving his hand in his face. He tied Cena to the tree of woe and dug his boot into Cena’s throat. Del Rio charged Cena, who pulled himself up and Del Rio nailed his shoulder into the ringpost. Cena prepared to come off the top with the Alabama Jam but Punk shook the ropes and crotched Cena. He nailed a side suplex on Del Rio followed by a sit down slam for several near falls.

Del Rio cut off Punk and cinched in a side chinlock. Punk battled his way back to his feet but Cena came off the ropes with the legdrop on both. He covered Del Rio, then Punk for several two counts. Cena went for the AA but Del Rio slipped out. Punk nailed a Yakuza Kick on Del Rio, sending him to the outside. Cena clotheslined Punk and everyone was down.

Punk and Cena slugged it out in the ring with punches and kicks while Ricardo tried to revolve Del Rio. Punk went for the GTS as Del Rio returned with a chair and worked over Punk and Cena alike. He placed Cena down, then the chair and Punk on top of them. Del Rio came off the ropes with a back senton splash for a two count on each man.

They went into a series of near falls with the third man breaking it up. Del Rio locked in the cross armbreaker on Cena but Punk attacked them both. Punk nailed the GTS on Punk and covered him but Del Rio pulled Punk out of the ring and sent him into the ring steps. He then nailed Punk with a chair to the knees.

Del Rio returned to the ring where Cena caught him with a surprise inside cradle for a two count. Del Rio nailed Cena’s back, then sent him into the stairs on the floor. Cena was run into the Cell. Del Rio drilled Cena with a chair on the floor.

Punk returned to the ring and clotheslined Del Rio several times. Punk slammed him and nailed the Randy Savage flying elbowsmash for a two count. Cena returned to the ring with a flurry of offense on Punk but Punk kicked him in the head and slammed him. Punk went for the flying elbow but Del Rio shoved him off and Punk crashed through the table on the floor.

Del Rio stalked Cena who reversed him into the STF. Ricardo attacked the outside referee and unlocked the Cell. He tried to assault Cena with a pipe but Cena caught him and nailed the AA on the outside. Del Rio blasted Cena out of the Cell and locked him out. He tossed the keys under the ring.

Del Rio stomped Punk in the head and threw him into the ring. Punk was completely out. The crowd began chanting for Punk. Del Rio nailed a German suplex for a two count. Punk reversed another German attempt into a jackrabbit rollup for a two count. Del Rio nailed an enziguiri for another two count. Cena began to shake off his grogginess in the aisle.

Del Rio called for the cross armbreaker but Punk sent him into the buckles and nailed a series of kicks to the head and gut. Punk nailed a leaping leg lariat. Cena tried to return to the cage but found it locked. Punk went for the springboard clothesline and nailed it for a two count. Cena tried to force the door open but could not.

Del Rio rolled out of the ring and grabbed the pipe. He nailed Punk with it, then mocked Cena outside the Cell Punk went for the GTS but Punk was nailed again with the pipe. Del Rio covered him for the win.

Your winner and new WWE champion, Alberto Del Rio!

Cena hit the ring as soon as the match ended and the Cell was raised but R Truth and Miz attacked everyone with pipes. The Cell was lowered as Triple H and other officials hit the scene. Miz and Truth beat down everyone in the cage, including the referees and the camera men as the entire WWE locker room ran out, faces and heels alike, trying to get in. A swarm of police ran out. They finally cut the lock with bolt cutters. The cops ran in and Miz and Truth immediately dropped to their knees and allowed themselves to be handcuffed. Other police held back all the wrestlers. Miz and Truth were walked through the wrestlers. Triple H lost it and attacked them both. Johnny Ace tried to stop him and was nailed by HHH. HHH was dragged off and the announcers wondered if he was being arrested as well. They went off the air at this point.

The Cell match was your typical Triple Threat match although it was a lot more brutal with all the stiff chair and Cell shots. The angle at the end was a great chaotic ending to the PPV that put a TON of heat on Miz and Truth as outsiders and also left the question hanging as to the future of HHH as the COO. An effective cliffhanger angle.

2012 - WWE taped the first episode of Main Event on the Ion Network, featuring:

The WWE Main Event commentary team is Michael Cole and The Miz.

*WWE champ CM Punk pinned World champ Sheamus after Sheamus missed the Brogue Kick and nailed the corner and Punk scored the pin. Sheamus promised afterward he was going to kick Punk's face off.

*In the Tag Team contender tournament, Santino Marella and Zack Ryder defeated Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel. It was OK.

They announced Big Show vs. Randy Orton for second week.

2012 - "Hangman" Bobby Jaggers, who worked a number of territories in the 1970s and 1980s, passed away following a lengthy illness. He was 64 at the time of his passing.

Jaggers, real name Robert Jeadouin, was a Washington State native billed from Kansas and to some fans, was best known for his team in Jim Crockett Promotions with Dutch Mantel as the Kansas City Jayhawks, a really rough, fighting team.

Jagger, however, had a number of top singles runs in different promotions, including a memorable run on top in the Pacific Northwest, a stint at the Southern Heavyweight champion in Continental and even singles belts in Championship Wrestling from Florida.

Jaggers broke into the business after being trained by Tito Montez and Kurt Von Steiger. He was originally billed under the ring name Bobby Mayne, with the idea he was Lonnie "Moondog" Mayne's younger brother. During that era, he was managed by Johnny Mann.

Jaggers worked as a top name for Don Owens' Pacific Northwest Wrestling, holding the top title there several times in the mid-1980s, feuding with Tom Zenk, Rip Oliver and Ricky Vaughn (aka the future Lance Von Erich), among others. Jaggers also held the PNW tag straps with both Rip Oliver and The Assassin.

During a time period where a wrestler could travel to different territories for regular work, Jaggers worked all over and held a number of different tag belts - in Florida, in Oklahoma, for the Blanchards' Southwest Wrestling (where he appeared on the USA Network before WWF was on the cable channel) in Texas, and of course in Central States.

It was in Florida where Jaggers, now sporting blonde hair, really began to excel and stand out as a personality. He would end up beating Barry Windham for the Florida title and had long running feud working with Dusty Rhodes.

Jaggers would take crazy bumps, bleed and talk a good game. He was the perfect foil for the babyfaces of that era and was the type of talent that probably wouldn't have gotten a shot today because he didn't fit the cosmetic expectations of what most national companies look for - something that would be the business' loss.

Jaggers was also a regular in Puerto Rico, capturing the WWC North American title in 1982. At one point, he had revisited the Kansas Jayhawks tag team name, only this time, teaming with Dan Kroffat (Phil Lafon). After being present in the locker room where Bruiser Brody was murdered, he slowly shifted his life away from the business, eventually retiring in 1991.

Jagger had distanced himself from the business for many, many years, although he did make a rare convention signing appearances a few years back for K&S Wrestlefest in New Jersey and did work as a Commissioner for independent promotion Bad Boys of Wrestling as well.

2012 - Tales of Masked Men, a documentary on Lucha Libre, debuted on PBS.  Eric McHugh filed the following report:

PBS presented an episode of "Voces", a program co-produced by Latino Public Broadcasting that features elements of latino culture, primarily historical culture of Latin America and South America.  The installment featured most recently was entitled "Tales of Masked Men", a documentary by Carlos Avila about lucha libre pro wrestling.  Actor Miguel Sandoval was its narrator.

The program opened with a quote about Mexican culture being mythical and colorful, and often containing a series of rituals.  Lucha libre contains all of those characteristics as well and is among the most obvious embodiments from Mexican culture of what this culture is all about.  Clips were shown of the inside and outside of the famous Arena Mexico, with a fan saying that what opera means to the Italian populace, lucha libre means the same to the Mexican populace.  Many quick clips were then shown from numerous wrestling events of lucha highspots, dives, matwork and the like.  We also see vendors selling literally hundreds of different styles of t-shirts, masks and plastic masked heads.  Legendary Mexican wrestler Solar said lucha is very much a contact sport, not false theater.  If it were the latter, there would be no training necessary.

Lucha libre's literal translation is "free fight" or "free struggle".  The term "luchador" is what Mexico calls pro wrestlers, but we habitually call all Mexican pro wrestlers this.  In actuality, that term is for those who don't wear masks.  The term for a masked Mexican wrestler is "enmascarado".  The mask is very sacred to Mexican wrestlers and they wear them at all times in public and even often at home when there is a possibility of being seen.  Those masks only come off for good usually as the result of match stipulations, or when a wrestler retires.  The terms used in the United States for good guys and bad guys are "babyfaces" and "heels", while in Mexico they are "tecnicos" and "rudos".  There is very little, if any, use of "tweeners" in Mexican wrestling.  The lines are much more clear-cut than in U.S. wrestling.  Lucha has a large following in the U.S. and Japan, but the cradle of lucha libre has always been Mexico City, Mexico.

Pro wrestling existed in Mexico going all the way back to the 1900's decade, but that was your greco-roman Olympic-style and it often featured wrestlers from the States.  In the 1930's, Salvador Lutteroth decided to create the lucha style as entertainment for what was then a growing and changing Mexican society.  As explained by lucha archivist Christian Cymet, Lutteroth would run the old Arena Modelo with mostly main events from U.S. stars such as Yaqui Joe and Bobby Sampson, but the majority of the undercard would feature the Mexican wrestlers.  The first show was September 21, 1933, and this was the founding of Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL).  Lutteroth also opened a wrestling school and even ran some smaller arenas to get the product out there.  With this new group of wrestlers, Lutteroth was creating characters, not just wrestlers.  There were a few mentions of documented masked wrestlers in 1934 such as The Masked Basque, but the first true masked star was Ciclon Mackey wrestling as The Masked Marvel.  Mackey, a U.S.-born wrestler, had been a journeyman floundering around the country for several years.  He decided to get a mask made up and began wrestling under it with the Masked Marvel moniker, and would always swear he would unmask if anyone could beat him.  This caught on with the fans.  (Interesting to note that the mask even in 1934 was very similar to the style of today.)  It only took a year for many more masked wrestlers to start popping up, and by the 1950's about half of all Mexican pro wrestlers were under hoods.

Heather Levi spoke next.  She is a cultural anthropologist and a professor of anthropology at Temple University.  She also is a very knowledgeable authority on lucha libre, having actually trained in Mexico years ago.  She has even published numerous books and articles about lucha libre.  As explained by Levi, the masks had ties to pre-Hispanic culture where many warriors wore ritual masks and would embody a character.  This was happening with lucha libre as well.  Wrestlers weren't just wrestling under a mask with a name for the fun of it.  The mask would embody the wrestler and he would become that name in the eyes of fans.  The mask became so iconic that wrestlers would often put them up in mask vs. mask matches, or mask vs. hair if one of the men didn't wear a mask.  To lose one's mask would create a "loss of identity" to some, especially in the eyes of their fans.  (A clip is shown of an apparently-accidental unmasking during a match as Levi is speaking here.  The wrestler, who's face was blurred, very quickly put it back on.)  Lucha also became theatrical with overacting and melodrama, but it wasn't considered corny, it was part of the appeal.

The program then tells three stories of three enmascarados.  The first is arguably lucha's all-time greatest star, El Santo.  El Santo debuted in July of 1942, wearing plain silver tights and a plain silver mask.  He was disqualified for ignoring the referee's commands.  Over the next 40+ years, El Santo would turn out to be an icon that transcended the wrestling business.  Born in Hidalgo as Rudolfo Huerta, he began his career at age 16 without a mask.  An audio recording of El Santo himself explained that after a while, he began to wear different masks and try out different names.  Finally he came down to three that he liked:  The Saint, The Devil or The Angel.  Obviously, he chose the first option.  As El Santo, promoters didn't know what he had to offer so he was first booked into a battle royale.  Despite being a rudo, he impressed the promoters and the fans heavily with his aerial offense.  The character immediately took off.  The turning point was a 1952 match against hated rival Black Shadow, where the loser would have to unmask.  After a 70-minute match, El Santo was victorious.

From this point on, the El Santo Express rolled nonstop as he became lucha's first true superstar.  Comic books featured El Santo.  TV commercials featured El Santo.  Even movies featured El Santo, as he starred in over 50 of them, usually in the role of an action hero.  The biggest surprise of all this was he still wrestled as a rudo until 1962, when he finally altered his style to tecnico.  Many statements were made by wrestlers, historians and culturists, and they all raved about El Santo's generosity.  Fame never went to his head.  One anecdote shared by Cymet is that El Santo wrestled at an event that didn't draw well for whatever reason.  The promoter handed El Santo his pay.  El Santo asked if everyone else got paid as well.  The promoter said unfortunately, the house was bad so he couldn't pay them outside of buying them dinner.  El Santo handed the money back and said to split it amongst everyone.

El Santo retired in 1982, and passed away two years later.  His death was a national event with tens of thousands attending the public service, and many world media outlets covering the passing.  His son wrestles today with the same silver mask.

A funny story is told about audience interaction to segue into the second featured story.  Fuerza Guerrera was getting verbally hammered one night during his match by an older woman.  She was cursing him out, talking about his family, saying he was a bum, etc.  Finally, Guerrera had enough and went over to the woman.  She continued to scream at him, so he grabbed her purse and just dumped all of its contents onto her.  Fans were both laughing at his antics, but at the same time booing him mercilessly.  This type of interaction has always been very common at lucha events, with women being especially vocal.  Lucha has always been family-oriented and it's not abnormal to see a large crowd being made up of over 50% women and children.

The second story then began and focused on Mascarita Sagrada.  Midget wrestling, as it was called in the 1930's-1980's before the term became viewed as derogatory, was popular mostly in the States.  Lutteroth saw this and decided he should bring this to Mexico as well, so in the mid-1940's he did just that.  They were never the star attractions though until the 1970's.  In early years it was considered more of an afterthought to most fans.  However, a 1970 film featured several little people as criminal henchmen, and they actually employed lucha libre as their fighting style.  Several of those actors even continued training after the movie and wound up in the business, one of the most famous being a man who went by Gulliver.  Antonio Pena introduced these "minis" as smaller versions of the full-size characters, and fans ate it up.  This practice continues today with Mascarita Sagrada being a smaller version of Mascara Sagrada.

Mascarita Sagrada was one of 14 children, born in Zacatecas.  His sister, Rosa, stated that he never let his small size bother him even though he wound up having to fight obstacles growing up because of it.  One time a teacher told him to fetch some folders from a high shelf.  His friend said to the teacher that he wouldn't be able to reach it, and the teacher simply replied, "That's his problem."  Sagrada never hesitated though, he just got a chair, climbed on it and retrieved the folders.  He explained to not get the folders would be admitting defeat and stunting himself.  Sagrada ultimately grew to be 4'5".  He said there were times when he'd ask himself why God was punishing him, but nowadays he wouldn't have his life any other way.  "You don't have to be big to do big things."  Clips are shown of Sagrada being absolutely mobbed by fans, mostly children, as he makes his way to the ring for a match.  Sagrada said as he was growing up, he got into martial arts and actually thought that lucha libre was demeaning.  However, once he decided to try it out, he found himself to be completely wrong about the sport.

We see several minutes of Gulliver and Mascarita bantering as they tell stories to the camera, and the camaraderie is hilarious.  Gulliver's biggest thrill is to still be recognized today and to be accepted by wrestling fans as not just a sideshow, but as legitimately athletic and entertaining.  Sagrada ultimately enjoys showing that any adversity can be overcome.

The third and final story is of Solar, who we were introduced to earlier in the hour.  Solar is called one of the few remaining active and living legends of the Silver Era of lucha libre.  Clips are shown of Solar wrestling in Austin, Texas, and also we see Solar with his wife and grown son at home.  Both men are wearing their masks as they head out for an arena show.  Born in Jalisco, Solar grew up on a farm where, as his wife explains, he had to survive quite literally.  Resources were scant.  Finally, the family moved to Guadalajara, and his father took him to a lucha event.  Solar wound up enamored with the spectacle almost immediately and he took a particular liking to a wrestler named El Solitario.  The look, the wrestling, the colors...it all spoke to him.  Solar told his father at that moment that he would be doing this later in life.

Solar trained and moved to Monterrey, quickly impressing promoters and peers.  As it turned out, he wound up working an event with his idol, and El Solitario took him under his wing.  They became good friends quickly.  However, life changed for Solar on April 6, 1986.  After a match, El Solitario felt ill and went to the hospital with stomach pains.  It was found that he had internal bleeding.  During surgery, he went into full cardiac arrest, and he passed away on the operating table at age 39.  Solar was hit hard by this, but to this day he said he feels El Solitario by his side every time he wrestles.

Solar talks about his grown son wanting to follow in his father's footsteps.  Solar said he never wanted his son to do so, but he from Day One supported him 100%.  Both father and son wear similar designs on their masks.  Solar's wife hates seeing her husband in pain but he perseveres just the same.  However, she has no idea how to tell him he isn't eternal.  Solar knows this, though, and says his career is winding down.  If his son (who has been in the business about a year at this point) chooses to continue this for a career and carry on the Solar name, that's great.  If not, then so be it.  He has no regrets now nor will he in the future.  Lucha libre let him see the world, meet his wife, have his children and live his life to the fullest.

Some final clips show and narration tells how lucha masks are sold everywhere in Mexico.  Lucha libre embodies passion and emotion, and this reaches not only the target audience but the Mexican mainstream as well.  With many young fans attending shows to this day, lucha libre should continue to thrive for a very long time.  With that, the documentary ended.

All in all, a great program that showed definite knowledge and respect of the product, the culture, its wrestlers and its fans.  Wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans should enjoy this.  It's informative, it's educational and it provides great historical background to the business.  The DVD of "Tales of Masked Men" is available from the PBS website for pre-order with a fitting release date of October 31.

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