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December 1st
On this day in history in ....
1906 - Fred Beel defeats Frank Gotch in New Orleans, Louisiana to win the American Heavyweight Title, two falls to one. The match is considered a huge upset at the time, as Gotch was considered a far superior wrestler (and a much bigger attraction) than Beel.
1938 - In Columbus, Ohio, Mildred Burke wins her third World Women's Title, defeating Betty Nichols.
1941 - Billy Varga defeats Wild Red Berry in Hollywood, California to win the World Light Heavyweight Title, ending Berry's third reign.
1949 - Tom Marshall defeats Dave Levin to win the Jack Pfieffer-promoted World Heavyweight Title in Toledo, Ohio, ending Levin's fourth reign.
1952 - Gory Guerrero & Cyclone Ayala win a tournament for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas.
1958 - Pepper Gomez & Rito Romero defeat The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan) for the Texas version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas.
1960 - Herb Freeman & Nick Kozak win their second NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, ending the second reign of Tony Borne and Shag Thomas.
1961 - Fritz Von Erich defeats Dick the Bruiser in Detroit, Michigan to win the Chicago/Detroit version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title, ending his fourth reign.
1961 - Billy White Wolf defeat Nikoli Volkoff for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title.
1961 - The Assassins defeat Don McIntyre & Ray Gunkel for the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1961 - Magnificent Maurice defeats Leon Graham to win the Ohio Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.
1961 - Jack Dalton (Donnie Fargo) defeats Pepe Gonzales for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1965 - Ken Lucas wins his third NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title, defeating Danny McShain in Mobile, Alabama.
1970 - Dusty Rhodes defeats Jose Lothario in Tampa, Florida to win the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title, ending Lothario's third reign.
1971 - Donnie Fargo defeats The Wrestling Pro in Mobile, Alabama to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title, ending The Pro's third reign and beginning Fargo's second.
1972 - Victor Rivera defeats Ernie Ladd in Los Angeles, California to win the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title.
1972 - Bobo Brazil defeats Kintaro Oki for the vacant NWA International Heavyweight Title in Yokohama, Japan, starting his second reign as champion. The belt had been vacated on September 2nd, when champion Giant Baba left the Japan Wrestling Association to start his own company, All Japan Pro Wrestling. Ironically, the International belt is now part of All Japan's Triple Crown championship.
1973 - Stan Stasiak defeats Pedro Morales in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to win the WWWF World Heavyweight Title, although many fans didn't realize they had seen a title change. Morales had given Stasiak a back suplex, and both men appeared to have their shoulders on the mat as the referee counted three. The ring announcer never announced Stasiak as the new champion, and instead said "Let's hear it for a great champion, Pedro Morales", supposedly because of fear of a riot from the crowd. The title change was revealed that weekend on television. Stasiak would hold the title for nine days, losing it to Bruno Sammartino in New York City.
1977 - Mike George & Scott Casey defeat Crusher Blackwell & Buck Robley in Kansas City, Kansas for the Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Title.
1978 - George Gulas, Bobby Eaton & Arvil Hutto win a tournament for the vacant NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Title in Huntsville, Alabama.
1978 - Ken Lucas & Kevin Sullivan defeat Dennis Condrey & Phil Hickerson to win the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title in Knoxville, Tennessee, ending Condrey and Hickerson's third reign.
1978 - Big Daddy Ritter (better known as the Junkyard Dog) defeats Alo Leilani in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title.
1979 - Sterling Golden (Hulk Hogan) defeat Dick Slater to win the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title in Knoxville, Tennessee, ending Slater's third reign.
1983 - Terry Taylor defeats Buddy Landel for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Lexington, Kentucky, ending Landel's second reign.
1983 - Bobby Fulton defeats Roger Kirby to win the NWA Central States Television Title in Kansas City, Kansas, ending Kirby's second reign.
1984 - Sonny Myers defeats Al Tomko for the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title, ending Tomko's fourth reign.
1986 - Al Madril & Brian Adidas defeat Lance Von Erich & The Dingo (Ultimate) Warrior in Fort Worth, Texas for the World Class Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Title. On the same show, Tony Atlas defeats Crusher Yurkof (Bam Bam Bigelow) to win the World Class Television Title. Atlas won the match via DQ, but in World Class, titles could change hands on a disqualification. Atlas would be the last television champion, as the title would be abandoned in 1987 when Atlas left the company.
1989 - Robert Fuller & Brian Lee defeat Jeff Jarrett & Matt Borne in a tournament final to win the USWA World Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas. The belts had been vacated when Borne had lost a loser leaves town match in September, and he and Jarrett could not defend the belts. However, Borne was back in the company in time to compete in the tournament.
1992 - In Tokyo, Japan, Dynamite Kansai defeats Cutie Suzuki in a tournament final to become the first JWP Project Openweight Champion.
1993 - Bret Hart defeats Shawn Michaels in a steel cage match in Utica, New York when Hart escapes over the top of the cage as Michaels was caught upside down with his legs hooked in the bars of the cage. The match was featured on the Bret Hitman Hart home video release, now out of print.
1995 - El Samurai defeats Sabu to win the UWA World Junior Light-Heavyweight Title in Niigata, Japan.
1995 - Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling sees three titles change hands in Reading, Pennsylvania. Akita Kaos defeats Crash the Terminator to win the PCW Heavyweight Title, Chris Candido defeats Ray Odyssey to win the PCW Americas Heavyweight Title, and Reckless Youth defeats Ubas for the PCW Commonwealth Title.
1995 - Negro Casas defeats El Hijo del Santo in a tournament final in Mexico City, Mexico to win the vacant NWA World Welterweight Title. The title had been vacant since May when champion Misterioso left CMLL.
1995 - Beau James and Dan Cooley defeat Frank Parker and Roger Anderson in Fall Branch, Tennessee to win the Southern States Wrestling Tag Team Title.
1996 - Jimmy Cicero defeats Boo Bradley to win the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Title.
1997 - The Monday Night Wars continued, WWF RAW is WAR posted a 3.0 rating, while WCW Monday Nitro won the night with a 3.8 rating. The respective main events were: Triple H defeating Jim Neidhart and Diamond Dallas Page defeating WCW United States Champion Curt Hennig by disqualification.
1998 - During a Raw taping in New Haven, Connecticut, Steve Austin & Mankind defeated The Rock & The Undertaker via disqualification when Ken Shamrock & Big Bossman interfered. After the match, Mankind was handcuffed to the ring ropes, while Austin was tied to a giant replica of the Undertaker's "UT" symbol and raised above the entrance ramp, crucifix style.
1999 - Mr. Gannosuke & H (Hayabusa) defeat Tetsuhiro Kuroda & Hisakatsu Oya for the World Entertainment Wrestling Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan.
1999 - Mick Foley appears on TSN's Off the Record. Here is a complete transcript of the appearance from Holly L. -
Michael Landsberg: Television at its best lets you inside somebody's head where you go after you watch a performance, "wow, I didn't know that." Couple of turning points for this show. First of all the interview, way back when, with Vince McMahon where we got inside his head and people said, "wow, I didn't know that about Vince McMahon," and the one as well with Mick Foley. Since we did that interview, less than a year ago, I would say I have been approached ten thousand times by people who said, "Mick Foley, I didn't know him, he is the most incredible person I have ever seen on television." Great to welcome back to the show, Mick Foley. Good to see you man.
Mick Foley: I had heard you say that to me personally, I didn't know you'd go out on a limb and say that on your own show though.
ML: The reaction was staggering, because more than anything else with Mick Foley, there is the guy in the ring and then there's the guy sitting here, and these are two different people. And what that tells us is this is a performance. I want to talk to you about so much today, including some big news which we'll talk about later on, about the fact that you'll now look back on a career and not ahead, or maybe ahead to a different one. But I want to talk to you about what you bring to the ring. Now we talk on this show all the time about athletes who don't bring enough, athletes who don't committ themselves, athletes who don't pay back anywhere near what they take out, but you're the exact opposite. You have left, according to the back of your book, all kinds of broken bones and teeth and burns and all of that. I got to ask you this question. Fans admire that, but your fellow athletes? Are they threatened by that, given the fact that you can't follow Mick Foley into the ring?
MF: Well first off I'd like to thank you for the first of what I hope will be many shameless plugs for my book...
ML: No, you did the shameless plug, I didn't do it.
MF: Okay, yeah, you were just pointing to the back cover. I'm very proud of it. I will shamelessly plug it throughout the show if you don't mind. I don't care what subject you want to touch on, I will bring it around...
ML: How do you follow Mick Foley into the ring?
MF: These days, it's easy. I mean and uh, we have this shocking announcement coming up a little later and part of the reason the announcement's coming is I'm not the same Mankind or Mick Foley that I was even 10 months ago when I was on this show. I had matches in the Skydome and in Montreal at the Molson Centre that were embarassing by my standards, but I had fun doing them. I think overall there's this general feeling of goodwill towards me because I have done so many physical things.
ML: But I want to ask you about the guys that you work with. Do they resent you at all, because you set a standard up here. If this were a high jump, you're jumping 12 feet. You're taking 12 chair shots, you're jumping down from the cage, you're climbing back in the cage with a broken shoulder, you have set the standard here. They can't try to live up to that.
MF: You're making me look like a bad guy now. No, I think the younger guys look up to that. Hopefully they know that when I came off the cage and then got back up and came back through it and then when I took all the chairshots that that was too much for anybody, and I mean 18 months after King of the Ring, I'm still hurting from it. One of my teeth is still loose. I'm going to loose my tooth eventually because of an accident that happened 18 months ago. That's probably too heavy a price to pay. The chairshots to the head, that many of them, probably too much of a price to pay. When you start to have trouble writing down numbers, it says to me I may have gone a little too far. So I think for some of the older guys, they're probably not resenting it, they're probably thinking I'm getting what I deserve.
ML: One of the problems is the audience though. The expectation the audience has.
MF: Yeah...
ML: Because you do something like you talked about, jumping down from the cage, taking those chairshots, and now the audience wants more of that.
MF: Well I think we can change the way the audience feels. I mean if you put it in the context of a soap opera for men or an action-adventure show, I don't think anyone ever expected Steve Austin to go way out there on a limb. I mean Steve had a neck injury, we may have seen the last of Stone Cold in the ring, so God, fans knew he couldn't be hit in the head with a chair, and they'd look the other way when Steve...you know, you have to put up your hand to block a chair if you've got a neck injury. And I think Steve went way above and beyond what he had to do, seeing as how popular he was. I mean Steve took some pretty physical falls and he was always giving 100%, probably didn't have to. I think it's a lot of the fact that the guys push themselves. To me, no fan ever said, "are you going to come off a cage even higher or are you going to take 18 chair shots?" It was always me setting the level.
ML: You do it yourself though, but what happens now is that you can't go back into the ring, right, and be less than you've been.
MF: I have, I've been doing it for a while.
ML: And you've said that it bothers you that you can't do it anymore...
MF: Well it doesn't bother me anymore. I mean in some sense it does, because I want to be remembered for being the Cactus Jack or the Mankind that did all these things, but I knew what I was providing yesterday in Montreal for them. Some levity, a little bit of humour. And the fans at this point are applauding that and they're laughing along, but I think I'd like to get out before that becomes the norm for me. I mean there's a grace period that certain wrestlers have where people are willing to look the other way, and I think it'd be best for people to remember Mick Foley for the way he was.
ML: I have to address Owen Hart with you because it's such a profoundly disturbing story, obviously. Perhaps more so in Canada because he was so beloved here, and because he was a Canadian. Given the fact that you have risked so much in the ring in your life, and I know that you were so close to Owen Hart, would you have wanted the show to go on if it were you?
MF: That's a tough call. I mean I don't want to seem like...the WWF, when Vince said Owen would want the show to go on, I don't know how anyone could know...no one's ever addressed that. No one ever sat around at a board table and said, "what would you like to do if you were to pass away in the ring?" My feeling, my gut feeling would be, I wouldn't want just the show to end, I'd want the world to stop for a while. But that doesn't happen, and it's not something that was ever addressed. I mean that was never even within the realm of possibility, what do we do if a wrestler were to die in the ring. I've never thought it in all my years. I don't think Vince McMahon ever thought, what if someone were to die in the ring. So I don't want to criticize anybody's call, but for me, I would have been more comfortable if life around the world stopped for a few minutes.
ML: All right. We have to take a break, but we've got a lot more to talk about, including of course your announcement of a retirement which you've alluded to, but it seems pretty clear what's going to happen, when we return. I want to talk to you about whether or not the war has resumed, not between you and another wrestler, but between your company, the WWF, and that other company, when OTR returns with Mick Foley, author of the new book, Mankind: Have a Nice Day.
ML: Name of the book is Mankind: Have a Nice Day, A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. Great to welcome back to Off the Record, Mick Foley. Mick, your company, WWF, lost a couple of key personnel. Vince Russo, Ed Ferrara, went over to WCW. A lot of people feel those two were largely responsible or at least in part responsible for putting the WWF over. Does this signify a re-start to the war between WCW and WWF?
MF: Well actually, it'd be nice if it did. I mean when their show dropped down to nearly unchartable levels...
ML: Are you quoting Vince on that there?
MF: No, I'm not. Actually I'm using a passage I used to describe a buddy of mine's grades in school, saying they slipped to unchartable levels. But when they started sinking down, I didn't see it as a good sign that WCW was putting a thousand people into fifteen-thousand seat arenas. I liked it when everybody was doing great. I liked it when our show started beating theirs, but you know, when me and Rock were on doing This Is Your Life with an 8.4 and the other guy's doing a 1.6 for a wrestling match, you're saying I don't know if This Is Your Life, two guys talking and having balloons coming down from the sky, should be doing five times more than a wrestling match on the other show. So if they could spark a little new life into that show, it'd probably be healthier for our company in the long run. I hate to say it, but a lot of what I've seen on their show is just duplicating what we have here. I mean now they have a Godfather there and they have hos of their own. And they have...
ML: One of the things I noticed in the book, the introduction is written by Jim Ross, a good friend of yours, right? Ed Ferrara, the last couple of weeks has come out and imitated Jim Ross. Does that offend you?
MF: I don't see nerve damage as being a really funny thing. I mean I hate to say this, but where is the line drawn between doing a Jim Ross parody and a Droz parody? It's a cold thing to say, and I hope Droz doesn't resent me for saying it, but neither one of them is funny. The fact that Jim Ross doesn't have use of some of his facial muscles, to me, is not a source for humour. And the fact that Ed Ferrara is doing that..I mean I don't know who's doing it is, but I think it's kind of tasteless and cheap.
ML: But Mick, what happens when your company does something like that and you feel that way? For example, I was watching last week and there was a work done between The Big Show, the passing of his father, and The Boss Man. And I watched that, and this is just my opinion, but I was offended by that. It really bothered me. What happens when your own company does something that bothers you?
MF: It did bother me a little bit, and I know Big Show was upset at the funeral scene because everybody thought it was a joke, and I said, you know, that's when I started to enjoy it. My wife and I didn't like The Big Show's father dying scenario, but as soon as Boss Man rolled down the road with that ridiculous car and the speaker system, it became obvious that this was not a real death we're talking about, that this was part of the storyline and then I felt like I was free to enjoy it, and now I can enjoy it. Still, I don't think that that approaches the boundaries of bad taste that them making fun of JR crossed.
ML: I want to ask you about working for a company. And when you go over...I mean because you worked for WCW, and now you work for WWF...guys do go back and forth..
MF: Sure...
ML: Is it inappropriate for a wrestler who goes to the other guy, to sell out on his former company? Dustin Rhodes, for example, goes over, and then on Nitro says, "I was Goldust with the other guys, but he sucked" or something to that effect.
MF: Well, I think that Dustin Rhodes or Runnels has to remember that Goldust was the most successful thing he ever did in his life, and he already gave that speech once at WWF. And I think at some point, guys have to look in the mirror and take a little responsibility for what they did. I mean Goldust took Dustin Runnels out of the gutter and gave him a job and made him famous. The fact that it worked for 3 years is pretty impressive. Now to go back and say that that nearly ruined his career, to me, is sour grapes, and far from true.
ML: Talking about the other guys, the WCW. They lost their biggest guy, Hogan, who would not lay down at the end, who would not tow the company line.
MF: [laughing] You think Hogan's gone?
ML: Do I think Hogan's gone?
MF: Yeah.
ML: For now.
MF: Come on, Michael...come on, the guy gave a retirement...see then, we talk about retirement. Any time it's part of an angle, forget about it. There's no credibility in "retirements" now. There's the loser must retire. To me, that was always my dream to go out, to go out the loser and to retire. And to draw big money doing it, but the fact is now, what are you going to do, go out there and say, "hey, I mean it, if I lose I really am retiring." Not like Sable, whose retirement lasted 8 days. Not like Kevin Nash, whose retirement lasted 6 weeks. Not like even Vince, whose banishment from Raw lasted 2 months. I mean what's wrong when you can't...when you lose your biggest money match. So now when a guy does retire it's like, oh yeah, sure. I mean there's no dignity in it anymore.
ML: Well, we'll talk about your retirement and the dignity of your retirement and more anything, we'll talk about why, when Off the Record returns, with Mick Foley, the author of Have a Nice Day.
ML: Mick Foley, this book has chronicled all of the injuries. When you walked onto the set, you limped onto the set. You are a man who has put himself through way more punishment than any human being would ever consider putting themselves through in pursuit of greatness. We're taping this show in advance. Probably by the time it airs, you've announced your retirement. Why?
MF: Probably. Umm...[brief pause]...because I was relying on humour too much, and there was a sense that...I used to have a small list of things that I could do, and I did them very well. Some things I thought I did better than anybody. But it was a pretty small list, and little by little, the list kept getting smaller, to where it used to be okay, my body's broken down, but I tell you what, I can take the hardest chair shot and I can take more than anybody. Then I start getting telltale signs of maybe taking too many chairshots, and now we have to cross chairshots off the list. I'm now on the list of guys who should never be hit with another chair again as long as they live. And just the past few months, even the elementary moves are becoming more difficult to do, and it just seems like it's been a long time since I've given the type of match that I feel that I used to be capable of. I was named after Mickey Mantle, baseball great, and I used to hear my dad talk all the time..not all the time, he wasn't obsessive about it...but he'd mention that Mickey Mantle stayed one season too long. Next year would be my one season too long.
ML: Because the truth of the matter is, the way wrestling has evolved, you could stay. You could stay as long as you want, because guys don't always wrestle anymore.
MF: Well...
ML: You take a storyline...you could be commissioner, like Shawn Michaels.
MF: Well, here's where we say okay, this is a Hulk Hogan retirement where I know I'm going to be back in six weeks? No. Am I saying I'll never be on the show again? Definitely not. I love the business and I'll even say it's a sport, because if you're going to include figure skating and golf, you have to include pro wrestling. That's my own commandment. I think I'm tailor-made for commissioner. And maybe a year or two down the line, to come back for the one big match, that could be great. It could be something to look forward to. But as far as being a regular wrestling character, I'm done.
ML: But a guy like Stone Cold Steve Austin has sort of found a territory between what you were 3-4 years ago and what you are now. He has a disability that prevents him from truly wrestling the way wrestling was. And he's been able to maintain his persona by sort of finding that area in the middle.
MF: It's unfortunate in some ways that the wrestling shows are in competition with each other. Because I think you take a look at the Rock and Sock Connection, some of the most entertaining things I've ever been a part of, but even when me and Rock were doing these 20-minute long skits, our reparte, I was still wrestling every show, and it was little by little I was feeling like I was really wearing down. When I spoke to Vince about it, two things came to mind. One, when I saw my Biography special on A&E, Vince was already speaking as if he knew that I was going to be retiring. This is long before I even mentioned it to him. And second, as soon as I finished putting the last period on my book, I had this feeling that I've done all I've ever set out to do. I've far surpassed my goals. And it would be different when I spoke to Vince and Vince said, okay, if it's a knee, we could rehab it. You could drop some weight, make things easier on your back. When I started mentioning the little telltale signs of head injuries, there's a point where you say, all right, I am willing to pay the price of being in pain for the rest of my life when I sit and play with my kids. I'm not willing to sit in front of the TV like a vegetable and have people pity me and say he should have gotten out before that one last chair shot.
ML: Mick, are you protected enough by your sport, as you call it? Here you are, on the verge of retiring, or maybe in fact you've retired. You have this litany of injuries and disabilities that will take you into the rest of your life. Is your sport, are entertainers like you protected enough by the sport? You don't have a union.
MF: Right.
ML: Many of you don't have agents. Is anyone looking after your interests? And for the guys that are following, are you concerned for them?
MF: Not to bring politics into the show, but Jesse Ventura said he's a big believer in personal responsibility. We're making money. Making a lot of money. Since the last time we talked, I made more money than I ever dreamed I could make. It's kind of my responsibility to save that money and take care of myself. I don't really NEED somebody else to take care of me. I've been doing this for fifteen years. There's a joke that says, what's the difference between a pizza and a family of four? [laughs] Pizza and a wrestler, I'm sorry, what's the difference between a pizza and a wrestler? The answer is the pizza feeds a family of four. Wrestlers are, unfortunately, notorious for spending their money. I have not been one of those people. We joked arond the last time about how thrifty I was. Now I'm glad I was thrifty. I'm glad I didn't buy new clothes or pay for a haircut in the last eleven years, because I am in a position where I can kind of pick and choose what I want to do. I'm not saying I'm set for life...
ML: You should be set for life though.
[MF laughs]
ML: No, you SHOULD be set for life. Mick Foley, you're part of a company that just had an IPO that generated a billion dollars for Vince McMahon. You're a guy who poured his heart out into this company, who left part of his body. You should be taken care of for life.
MF: [smiling] Are you criticizing Vince McMahon?
ML: Not at all, I'm saying that...
MF: I've got a job in the WWF for life, if I want it. That's been presented to me. I'm sure Steve Austin could be a part of the company for life. Unfortunately you can't include everybody, but the people who forged the company and who made the company what it is, I believe will be taken care.
ML: So you feel taken care.
MF: I feel like I'm going to be, I just don't think I need to be.
ML: Very well put. We'll take a break and we'll return with some poignant questions for this man, Mick Foley. We'll talk about some rumours and the rest of the stuff when OTR returns.
ML: The name of the book is Mankind: Have a Nice Day. I gotta tell you Mick, in general, sports books suck. This one doesn't. What makes this book special? I know I've got something in my mind.
MF: To me, it's the fact that I wrote it. I did it myself. No professional writer, no matter how talented or how good their diction or grammar, can capture the passion that I have for my subjects, so I think that comes out. There may be a couple of errors, couple of words, I may have used the word "assuaged" too much. But all in all, I look at that, and you say what am I proudest of in my 15 years of wrestling, I'd say that right there.
ML: You're just another typical wrestler who uses the word assuaged all the time. Mick Foley, you're the best, thanks for joining us on Off the Record.
MF: Have a nice day.
2000 - The American Dragon (Bryan Danielson) and Spanky (Brian Kendrick) defeat The Triad (Seven (Kevin Fertig) and Thrash) to win the Memphis Championship Wrestling Southern Tag Team Title in Manila, Arkansas.
2000 - Hotstuff Hernandez defeats Al Jackson to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.
2000 - The Masked Maniac defeats Chris Michaels to win the United States Extreme Wrestling United States Heavyweight Title.
2001 - Carly Colon defeats Ray Gonzalez for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico, ending Gonzalez's 13th reign and beginning Colon's Colon.
2001 - Chance Beckett defeats Dr. Luther to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title in Vancouver, Washington.
2001 - The Power Company (Dave & Dean Power) defeat The Holy Rollers (Rich Myers & Earl the Pearl) for the NWA New Jersey Tag Team Title in Rahway, New Jersey.
2003 - Former WWF champion turned best-selling author Mick Foley entered into negotiations with CBS to develop and star in an action series where Foley would play a Tampa Bay Police detective. The plan is for the series, should it be picked up by CBS, to be a one hour episodic series. Foley would work with scriptwriter Teddy Tenebaum to develop the series, which would be part of the WWE's film division as WWE Films president Joel Simon as well as Vince and Linda McMahon are attached in the production end. Unfortunately, the project never came into fruition.
Foley is in negotiations to return to the ring for WWE at Wrestlemania XX, possibly against Triple H. He most recently released fictional novel Tietam Brown and has several other books forthcoming.
2003 - During an edition of Raw from Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, Jerry Lawler defeated Jonathan Coachman in less than a minute with a fistdrop. As a result, Coachman was fired from Raw as an announcer. If Coach had won, he and Al Snow would have taken over the announcing on Raw. Coach's exile from WWE didn't last long.
Tim Whitehead filed the following Raw report:
The 12/1 episode of MRS. FOLEY'S BABY RAW COMES HOME aired live from Sacramento. It was a great show, with one sidenote. They are now well past the point of overkill when it comes to the general manager gimmick. It's hard to get wrestlers over when so much of the focus is on general managers who are either retired wrestlers or non-wrestlers. But having said that, Mick Foley's return was spectacular and this was one of the year's best RAW shows.
The broadcast opened with a sneering Eric Bischoff announcing a handicap match for the main event, featuring "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels & Rob Van Dam vs. Kane & Randy Orton & Batista.
Goldberg came out to the ring. He got a good pop but there also seemed to be a few boos. He was upset about how many times he's been attacked from behind recently, referring to Triple H, Kane, and others. He dared any of the "tough guys" who have attacked him to come out and fight him man to man. He said he was ready to go right now and not wait until Armageddon. But instead of any tough guys, Bischoff came out. He reminded Goldberg that he's now the sole general manager and he's the one who schedules the matches. He vowed to fire Goldberg or anyone else who tries to bring chaos to RAW. Bischoff brazenly referred to RAW as the Eric Bischoff Show. He said he runs the show and there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it. Goldberg looked like he was ready to beat the hell out of Bischoff, but things were unexpectedly interrupted by Mick Foley's music, which caused the crowd to explode. Foley came out wearing a suit as the crowd chanted his name. He shook Goldberg's hand, saying it was a pleasure to meet the World's heavyweight champion. Foley reported that Linda McMahon feels that Vince McMahon has been suffering from diminished mental capacities, so she and the WWE Board of Directors hired him (Foley) as an "outside consultant", with power to take whatever actions he deems necessary to improve RAW. If Vince has diminished mental capacities, why didn't the Board send Foley to Smackdown, where Vince is running things? Anyway, this left Bischoff seething. Foley announced his first action would be to change Bischoff's planned handicap main event to a six man match, by adding Goldberg as HBK & RVD's partner. This would also allow Goldberg to get his hands on some of the guys who have been attacking him. Bischoff's seethinghood turned to pissed-offhood, to coin a couple of words. Foley then drew a major pop by recommending that Steve Austin be re-hired. He said Austin couldn't be general manager again due to the Survivor Series stips, but that he could be hired back in another capacity. He displayed a petition advocating that Austin be brought back, and said when it gets enough signatures he'll present it to the Board and ask them to give the fans what they want. He gave the petition to Lilian Garcia, who signed it and began passing it around for the fans to sign. Bischoff's pissed-offhood turned to outragedhood. Finally, Foley declared that Bischoff was the main problem on RAW, so he appointed himself co-general manager. So Foley went from consultanthood to co-managerhood in a matter of minutes. Foley told the deflated Bischoff to have a nice day. A great opening segment.
Backstage, Bischoff was furious and vowed to call Linda and try to reason with her. Jonathan Coachman showed rare common sense (I'm glad I caught it on tape) and reminded Bischoff of his past run-ins with Linda, suggesting that calling her might not be a good idea. Bischoff ignored the advice, called her, and began sweet talking her. She hung up on him.
The Dudleys beat Mark Jindrak & Garrison Cade to retain the RAW World Tag Titles in 2:09. Cade acted arrogant. Bubba Ray said he should show more respect, and punched him in the gut. D-Von lariated and suplexed Jindrak. Jindrak hit a flying lariat on D-Von. D-Von powerslammed Cade. Cade used the tights to try to pin D-Von, but he kicked out at two. D-Von then smacked Cade and pinned him using the tights. Good action but too short for a match they've been building up for weeks. Afterward, Cade said the Dudleys cheated and demanded that a replay be shown. Footage appeared on the Titantron showing Cade using the tights to try to pin D-Von. Cade stammered that he meant the other footage, and this time they showed the video of D-Von pinning Cade using the tights. Cade wanted a rematch but the Dudleys left without agreeing to one.
Al Snow & Coach told Foley that Cade & Jindrak deserve a rematch. He agreed to consider it. In the meantime, he said he's been thinking recently about the most painful things he's suffered through in his wrestling career, mentioning his ear being torn off in Munich and the deadly bumps he took in the Hell in the Cell in Pittsburgh. But he said nothing was more painful than listening to Snow & Coach do commentary during their brief stint replacing Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler. So he ordered up a Coach vs. Lawler match with Snow banned from ringside. He said Coach will be fired if he loses. Out in the broadcast booth, JR & Lawler liked it. Coach & Snow didn't.
Booker T defeated Test in 2:29. Stacy Keibler came out in a schoolgirl outfit. I really hope those catch on as a major fashion trend. Test got immediate heel heat by stopping Stacy from doing her ass wiggling entrance through the ropes. Test put the boots to Booker. Booker came back with chops and a boot to the face. Booker avoided and pump handle slam, and Test evaded a scissor kick. Test then hit a pump handle slam, but it was kind of weak. He went for the pin using the ropes, but Stacy broke it up. He yelled at her and she slapped him. As Test argued, Booker hit him with the scissor kick and scored the pin. Test rolled out of the ring and retreated faster than a greased pig leaving a church barbeque (there's a new animal catch phrase for JR to borrow). Booker celebrated his win with a spinaroonie. He then encouraged Stacy to do a "legsaroonie". She did two of them and the panty shots were awesome! But at this point, Theodore Long sent Mark Henry into the ring. He walloped Booker from behind and gave him two big press slams. Booker was left laying. Henry hasn't looked this good since....well, since.....okay, Henry's never looked this good before.
Lita gave Trish Stratus a Chris Jericho action figure. She loved it. Trish got all mushy about how well she and Jericho hit it off, and how they have such awesome times together. Trish asked Lita about her times with Christian, but Lita just wanted to talk about Trish. She asked Trish about her date with Jericho last week after RAW. Trish got even mushier, talking about how they shared their feelings and have this really special thing going on between them. She displayed a jersey she made just for Jericho, and said she would give it to him by wearing it, and then would remove it to reveal almost non-existent undies underneath. Trish pretty much indicated that she was going to let Jericho reach home plate.
JR & Lawler reported that fans can vote to bring Austin back at the WWE.com website, or send a letter to the main office in Stamford. If this all sounds rigged, it's because it is.
Footage aired of Batista choking out HBK last week, leaving him coughing up blood.
Terri interviewed Batista & Orton. Batista said his only regret is that he didn't tear HBK's head off last week. He promised to nail him later in the six man and then to finish him off at Armageddon. Orton didn't say a word, but just shook Batista's hand.
Scott Steiner & Test brought schoolgirl Stacy out to the ring. Steiner said we must all have loved seeing Stacy's long legs and little panties during her 'roonies. Well, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Steiner & Test were angry with Stacy because her recent actions have caused them to lose matches. So to punish her, they vowed to force her to kiss their asses right there in the middle of the ring. I would like to say that's cruel and unusual punishment, but instead it's only cruel, since in Vince McMahon's WWE it's definitely not unusual. They actually pulled their pants down and demanded that Stacy kiss their asses. Stacy didn't want to. No surprise there. Foley came out on the ramp top and saved Stacy by calling her to him for a private consultation. Foley said Steiner & Test proved they really are asses by their behavior. He said their treatment of Stacy was cowardly and that they can't push her around anymore. Test said he has a contract that says he can. But Foley immediately fired Test, saying that voided his contract enslaving Stacy. Steiner brilliantly reminded Foley that he and Test are tag partners, citing that as an alleged reason Foley can't fire Test. So Foley fired Steiner, too. Stacy jumped into Foley's arms and they left, with Steiner & Test fuming in the ring.
Steiner & Test, having pulled their pants back up, charged into Bischoff's office. They demanded to be rehired. Bischoff said Linda was irrational, but promised to call Vince and get things straightened out. Steiner & Test left, warning Bischoff that he'd better find a way to get them rehired. Kane, who was in the room, asked Bischoff if he really was going to call Vince. Bischoff said no, and that he'd find a way to stop Foley himself.
Val Venis & Lance Storm beat La Resistance in 2:53. Venis & Storm had two babes with them. Foley came out and joined JR & Lawler on the mic. He boasted that he's drunk with power and is having fun firing people. Venis started off for his team, but got tied up in the bad corner for a while. This was pretty good other than one mistimed kick. Storm tagged in and cleaned house with lariats and kicks, including an enzugiri. Storm did a neat roll-up into a half crab. Venis hurled Rene Dupree out to the floor. Storm then lariated Rob Conway off Venis' shoulders and scored the pin. During the match, Foley did some strange commentary comparing La Resistance to Austin during his early days as Stone Cold. He said the fans were dying to cheer for La Resistance, just as they wanted to cheer for the heel Austin, which led to his babyface turn. Foley didn't actually use those words, but implied them, and acted as if La Resistance were on the verge of being babyfaced by the fans. So after the match, Foley told La Resistance that the fans would forgive them for opposing America and turning their backs on our troops if they would do one thing, namely recite the pledge of allegiance. Foley led everyone in reciting the pledge. Conway sort of half-heartedly went along, but Dupree refused. So Foley fired them both, saying "Au revoir". He joked about firing two more guys, saying he was coming off like Britney Spears. "Ooops, I did it again", he said. LOL! As patriotic music played, Foley high-fived the crowd.
Jericho & Trish were shown hugging and kissing backstage.
Hour two began with Jericho & Trish beating Rico & Miss Jackie in 6:46. JR said the rules were that the guys were to only wrestle each other, and not touch the ladies. Lawler asked which category Rico fit in. He also noted the sizeable openings in Jackie's pants, suggesting that moths must have gotten into her closet. Rico shoved Trish down before the bell. Jericho destroyed him with fists and chops. Rico came back with a lariat and some kicks. Jericho tried to hook the walls hold but Rico made the ropes. JR noted that Rico was once a bodyguard for G. Gordon Liddy. Bet he didn't wear pink panties then. Jericho springboard dropkicked Rico to the floor. The ladies tagged in. Trish hit a crossbody. Rico illegally sneaked in and helped suplex Trish. Jackie tied Trish up, but she escaped and tagged Jericho. Jericho gave Rico an enzugiri and a bulldog, but Rico avoided a lionsault. Jericho threw Rico out to the floor and hit him with a plancha. The ladies returned to action, with Trish hitting a huracanrana and the stratusfaction for the pin. Good match. Jericho & Trish hugged afterward.
Bischoff went off to Kane on all the damage Foley had done in just his first hour on the job. Kane wanted to know why he should care. Bischoff, obviously lying, said he heard a rumor that Foley was planning to cancel Kane's world title shot at Armageddon. Kane was angry. Bischoff, sensing he had recruited one ally against Foley, promised to whatever he could to protect Kane's title shot.
Matt Hardy beat Christian in 6:25. Lita came out with Christian. Christian hung Matt on the ropes and bumped him out to the floor. Matt posted Christian and legdropped him off the second rope. JR kept talking about Lita as if he were her psychoanalyst. Matt beat Christian down and then confronted Lita. Christian recovered and made the save. Christian avoided the twist of fate. Christian hit an inverted atomic drop. I received an interesting e-mail two weeks ago noting that inverted atomic drops are legal, yet low blows aren't. Christian scored two with the unprettier. He was going for a second one when Molly Holly ran out and rammed Lita into the stairs. Christian started out to help Lita but was cradled from behind by Matt and pinned. Christian helped Lita to the back afterward.
Lawler beat Coach in 0:51. Coach acted confident, though Lord only knows why. Lawler wasted no time winning, hitting a suplex, an elbow, and the fistdrop for the pin. Coach's loss meant he was fired, so Lawler led everyone, including JR, in a chorus of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye". Coach started crying.
More fans were shown signing the Austin petition.
JR & Lawler hyped Armageddon, including announcing two new additions to the card. Booker will fight Henry, and there will be a tag team turmoil four way match for the tag belts with the Dudleys defending against Jindrak & Cade, Venis & Storm, and Hurricane & Rosey.
Jericho and Christian were caught on camera talking backstage. Christian said he would seal the deal with Lita tonight, bragging about how lovingly she looked at him when he helped her to the back earlier. Jericho said he's been putting the moves on Trish with success for weeks. He said she was pathetic for falling so easily for his pick-up lines and mocked her for believing they have a special relationship. Christian predicted Jericho wouldn't make it to home plate, claiming Trish's legs are locked shut at the knees. But Jericho insisted Trish is ready to put out for him, and again mocked her as pathetic for believing he really cares about her. He promised to tape his sexual encounter with Trish and to show it on the Highlight Reel, saying it'll be hotter than the Paris Hilton sex tape. It was clear from their conversation that this whole romance deal was a bet between Jericho and Christian over which one could bed their respective target first. Trish, however, accidentally overheard all this from an adjacent room and started crying. An interesting development in this angle.
Goldberg & HBK & RVD beat Kane & Orton & Batista in 13:48. Ric Flair came out with his Evolution cohorts, but HHH was nowhere to be seen. JR & Lawler noted his absence, implying that HHH was laying low this week. RVD started off against Orton. Orton scored with some elbows. RVD hit a springboard crossbody and a flip splash. He went up for the frog splash but Orton rolled out to the floor. RVD hit him with a crossbody out there. Back in the ring, RVD hit a legdrop and tagged HBK in. JR noted that he saw an 18 year old HBK wrestling at the boy's club in Shreveport, which was true as HBK was a young jobber in Bill Watts' legendary Mid-South promotion back in the mid-80's. Batista came in but HBK caught him with a flying forearm. HBK hit an elbow off the top and punched Flair off the apron. The match had great heat. Kane came in and chokeslammed HBK just as they headed into a commercial break. When the action returned, Kane was still dominating HBK, and the fans chanted for Goldberg. Batista tagged back in and choked HBK. HBK escaped with a low blow and in came Goldberg to a huge pop. He press slammed Batista and backdropped Orton. He demanded that Kane come in, which he did. Goldberg beat Kane down. Kane fought back, but Goldberg speared him. Before Goldberg could jackhammer Kane, the other four all came in. Kane recovered and brawled out into the crowd with Goldberg. HBK and Batista then brawled out, leaving RVD and Orton. RVD hit Orton with a thrust kick and the rolling thunder. Flair broke up the pin attempt and beat the referee up. RVD laid Orton out again and hit the frog splash. The ref was out, but Foley ran in and counted the pinfall to end a strong main event with excellent heat.
After the match, Bischoff came out and confronted Foley. He accused Foley of destroying RAW and decimating the roster with five firings in a single night. He predicted that Paul Heyman will hire all the fired talent and add to the Smackdown roster at RAW's expense. He accused Foley of being worse even than Austin. Foley said not to worry, because he wasn't actually going to go through with any of the firings. He said he isn't going to sign their releases, and they can all stay employed on RAW. Foley said he pretended to fire them as a way of showing Bischoff what he (Bischoff) is like. In other words, he was acting like a self-centered son of a bitch to show self-centered son of a bitch Bischoff what a self-centered son of a bitch looks like. Foley said he was there to give the fans what they want, and along those lines he scheduled a Goldberg vs. Kane match for RAW next week. But he added that the fans right there in Sacramento wanted to see something to, and he immediately flattened Bischoff with a punch (I guess the provocation rule doesn't apply to him) and gave him the Mr. Socko treatment. Mr. Socko left Bischoff laying to end a hot show.
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:
If Test isn't fired, does that mean Stacy still belongs to him?
Have any fortune 500 companies ever had so many different general managers in so short a time?
What ever became of that angle where Booker T was receiving mysterious notes?
Could they maybe hire Austin back as the official RAW bouncer?
Will we ever hear Lita say anything about her break-up angle with Matt?
I know this question is probably silly, but why did Jericho & Christian discuss their scheme in front of a camera?
2004 - Chad Toland defeats Chris Cage in Louisville, Kentucky to win the OVW Heavyweight Title.
2005 - In McDonough, Georgia, Mike Mizanin defeats Mike Knox in a tournament final to become the first Deep South Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
2006 - TNA sends a film crew, along with Vince Russo, Jeremy Borash and the Voodoo Kin Mafia (Kip & BG James) to a WWE house show in Knoxville, Tennessee at the Knoxville Civic Center. The crew films vignettes with VKM outside the arena that are later shown on TNA Impact. BG and Kip James would later enter the building during a Triple H-Randy Orton match and take seats in the upper level of the building (they did have tickets), prompting some scattered "TNA" chants. There was no acknowledgement by HHH, Orton or any other WWE performer that the TNA stars were in the building.
2009 - WWE signs Jillian Beyor, the 2008 Playboy Model Of The Year, to a contract. She would last four months in WWE's developmental promotion, Florida Championship Wrestling, before being released from her WWE contract.
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following live report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!
We kick the show off with a video package of Bobby Roode cheating to win the World Title and retain, interspersed with clips of his mother, father, and wife despairing over what a horrible, selfish cheater he's become. We go from his somber family (except for the kids, who are happily shooting hockey goals in their garage) to the arena where Sting comes out for the opening promo. The inmates are running the asylum and things are getting out of control, so he's going to deal with things right now and calls Bobby Roode out to the ring. Roode says to make it quick because his time is precious, but Sting says that he was always as behaved as wrestlers go, but now he's been going around cheating and sneak attacking people. Roode thinks it's made for great TV to have him take out AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy with HIS World Title belt, and he assumes Sting called him oot here to thank him for saving Impact Wrestling and putting it on his back to carry it to 2012 and beyond. Roode tells Sting he's welcome, but Sting says he didn't bring him out here to thank him, he brought him out here to remind him that it's his way, and for every bad choice Bobby makes, there's going to be a consequence...starting now.
The music hits and AJ Styles comes down to the ring to have a word with the World Champion. Roode says he sees how it is because, not only does he have an Ironman Match with AJ at Final Resolution, he's got Sting fighting his battles for him now. Sting says wait, we're only getting started, and now Jeff Hardy comes out to join the party as well. Hardy tells Roode that the difference between Roode and them is that they respect Sting's authority and he wants to know why Roode doesn't too. Roode says screw Sting's leadership, but Sting says no, screw you Roode because he's in a three way match with AJ and Hardy tonight. The promo-ending music hits and Roode looks angry as our gloved Commissioner makes his way back up the aisle.
The Knockouts are freezing out in the garage as Karen comes in to remind us about last week's Thanksgiving Thong Throwdown, and that what she says goes. Since everyone chose to disrespect her, she's going to make them wash the wrestlers' cars, get down on their hands and knees and scrub the rims and tires (which Velvet should be good at), and she's going to go make some phone calls and they better be disrobed and washing cars when she gets back. Madison gleefully removes her robes and yells at the rest of them to get their robes off and get to work.
The Mystery Cameraman catches up with Jeff Hardy backstage and asks what he and AJ's strategy with Bobby Roode is going to be. Hardy says he and AJ are on good terms, but not with Roode so he's in trouble. Jeff Jarrett comes in and asks Hardy what makes him think he deserves to be in the company he founded, much less in the main event of Impact. Jarrett says he doesn't deserve to be in the Impact Zone, and Hardy says this is his last shot, and Harrett says he can respect that...then throws his coat in Hardy's face and kicks his ass before ramming him into some kind of bin and hitting him with a chair. Hardy fights back and comes after Jarrett with the chair before chasing him off to the back.
Eric Bischoff and Bully Ray have a clandestine meeting backstage since they don't have an office or anything anymore. Bischoff wants a big favor because the thing with his kid is driving him crazy. Bubba asks if Bischoff wants him to take care of him, but Bischoff says no since Gunner has it. But they have a bigger problem: they beat Abyss down and couldn't have abused him any more than they did and he came back and he's dangerous and they need to get him back in the fold. Bubba says he put him through a table and nobody's ever gotten up from that in 20 years until now, but Bischoff begs him to take care of Abyss. Bubba says he'll talk to Steiner and see if they can come up with an idea, and tells Bischoff to let him know if he wants him to take care of his kid. Yes, because whenever I need to put together a foolproof plan for talking things out, I always ask myself what Scott Steiner would do.
The Knockouts are in the garage in their bikinis, washing the cars, and Tara says she's disappointed in Gail Kim for being a part of this, and Gail says if she had a body like Tara does at her age, she'd be happy to show it off. Tara says "Know what, you're right!" and she takes her robe off and gets to work. Karen comes in to glow about how proud she is that everyone listened to her, and then ODB comes in since Karen was looking for her. Karen tells ODB that she's got a match with Mickie James tonight and, if she hurts Mickie, she becomes the new #1 contender for the Knockouts Title.
Okay, we're a half hour in, I *guess* we ought to have one of those match things...
#1 Contender Match: Mexican America vs Ink Inc vs The Pope & Devon
The winners here become the challengers for Crimson & Matt Morgan at Final Resolution. Big Brawl breaks out before the bell and Pope & Devon clear the ring. They dump Hernandez back in the ring where Pope hits an inverted atomic drop and a flying shoudlerblock for 2. Hernandez tags out to Jesse Neal and he immediately gets powerslammed for 2, then Anarquia tags in and Pope takes him out too. Pope with a flurry of Dusty Rhodes elbows and then clotheslines Hernandez over the top and to the floor before hitting the sliding ass drop through the ropes on Anarquia. Pope takes too much time celebrating and Hernandez blindsides him then rolls him in so Anarquia can cover for 2. Hernandez with a slingshot shoulderblock for another 2 and then he just chokes Pope before crushing him with a bearhug. Pope fights his way out but gets tackled clear across the ring and Hernandez covers for another 2. Hernandez goes for the Border Toss but Pope slips out and flattens Hernandez with an STO before making the hot tag to Devon. Devon takes out both members of Mexican America and then waylays Ink Inc off the apron before taking Anarquia out with a flying shoulderblock for 2. Hernandez skins the cat to the top rope but gets slammed off by Devon, who then plows through both of Mexican America with a double clothesline. Neal blind tags into the ring and charges at his trainer, but Devon ducks and Neal spears Hernandez and then Devon hits a spinebuster and covers Neal for 3.
Winners: The Pope & Devon
Austin Aries is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
Austin Aries comes out to tell us how he's got a bit of a problem: he came out here and proclaimed that he's the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, but he exceeded his own greatness to a level even he couldn't comprehend. He is the X Division Champion, and he has singlehandedly defeated every contender in the X Division and there's nobody left for him to defeat and it's time to rename the X Division the A Double Division. Jesse Sorensen didn't stand a chance, and some girl in the crowd must be cheering a little loud because Aries tells her he knows she loves Jesse, but it's not a good looking contest, it's a wrestling contest. Nobody in Impact Wrestling can hold a candle to what A Double does, and...oh wait, Kid Kash's music hits and he comes out to join Aries in the ring. Aries says Kash looks a little upset and tells him to relax, but Kash takes the microphone out of Aries' hand and says he heard Aries say he beat everyone in the X Division, and accuses Aries of pulling a screwjob at Turning Point. They had an agreement to take out Jesse Sorensen and they did that, but then Aries snuck in from behind and pinned his ass. Or maybe he remembers walking out on Kash in their tag team match, so he wants Aries to come clean with him. Aries says he knows Kash has been in the business 20 years, but Aries hasn't been in the business ten minutes, he's the X Division Champion and he doesn't see any belts around Kash's waist. Kash says he had that title longer than anyone way before Aries was in the company, but Aries takes the belt off and lays it down between them and says that all Kash has to do is shake his hand and he's got a title match. Aries sticks out his hand and Kash takes it, and then they both suckerpunch each other. That was awesome. Aries calls Kash a cheapshot artist and says now he doesn't get a title shot as he backpedals up the ramp.
Gunner is walking into Garett Bischoff's gym with a cameraman in tow because he's going to find him wherever he is and take care of him. We'll find out what he does...NEXT!
AJ Styles is backstage saying he respects Jeff Hardy and the progress he's made, but Bobby Roode's at the bottom of his list and AJ's at the top of his game and he's going to get his hands on him tonight.
We go to the gym where Gunner walks around the gym looking for Garett Bischoff and kicking everyone's ass. Finally, he beats up some fat guy and tells him to tell Garett that Gunner is coming for him.
Sting is backstage telling Jeff Jarrett that if he gets involved in tonight's main event, there's going to be consequences. Jarrett says that Sting was the one in the ring with Jeff Hardy when he showed up in no kind of condition and disrespected the World Title that's supposed to mean more than anything. Sting repeats that if Jarrett gets involved, there's going to be a consequence, and Jarrett says he might just be willing to pay that consequence.
Bully Ray and Scott Steiner are backstage having their brainstorming session on how to lure Abyss back to Immortal, and they have an exchange I simply can't do justice to where they basically decide to get Abyss not girls, but freaks.
No DQ, Falls Count Anywhere Match: Mickie James vs ODB
ODB rushes Mickie during her entrance and they fight out on the ramp and brawl into the ring where Mickie puts the boots to ODB in the corner and tries a Thesz Press, but ODB catches her and rams her into the corner. ODB misses a charge and Mickie drags ODB out under the bottom rope and she hits hard on the floor. Mickie covers on the floor for 2, but ODB rams Mickie into the ring steps and chokes her over the guardrail. Mickie goes for her spinning headscissors, but ODB just powerbombs her on the floor and covers for 2. Mickie recovers and rams ODB into the stage wall as they fight to the back,but ODB cheapshots Mickieand bashes her in the head with a trash can for 2. They both somehow get ahold of cookie sheets and fence with them until ODB cracks Mickie before dragging her to the back of the backstage area and slamming her face first into the wall. Mickie nails ODB with a broomstick and they head back to the ring where Mickie gets a bridging O'Connor roll for 2. Mickie with a series of clotheslines and a dropkick to the face for 2, but ODB picks her up and hits a fallaway slam and...grabs her boobs. ODB brandishes a chair and takes a swing, but Mickie ducks and superkicks the chair into ODB's face and covers for 3.
Winner: Mickie James
James Storm is getting fitted with a microphone, and we'll hear from him...NEXT!
We go to James Storm at his home in Tennessee, and he says he's getting better by the day but it's a much longer process than he thought it'd be. He doesn't know when he's going to be cleared to wrestle, but Kurt Angle's the first person he wants his hands on when he gets back. Kurt Angle comes out to the broadcast booth because he wants to know how Storm feels after getting his head caved in and how his little girl feels about what happened to him. Angle says Storm robbed him of the title and he wants Storm here next week so they can put together this match for Final Resolution. Storm says he's not coming to wrestle Angle, he's coming to fight him and he's going to kick his ass.
Meanwhile, a couple of ladies of virtue are backstage on their way to the catacombs of the Impact Zone looking for Abyss. They have no idea what he looks like, but he's a wrestler so he's got to be rich, cute, and have a nice butt. Oh boy.
We see a video package of Bobby Roode's parents, friends, sister, and wife talking about Roode's recent actions and how disappointing it was for him to not win the title and how they never would have expected him to do the things he's done. Roode asks who they are to question him since he's paying the bills and putting food on the table, but Roode's wife doens't know what to tell her kids other than just saying what daddy did was wrong. They all agree that they hope Roode sees the error of his ways soon. Roode doesn't care what they think because after 13 years, he finally got what he wanted, but he says to ask them how the new car's driving and how all the other stuff he paid for is because the World Title is making it all happen.
TV Title Match: Robbie E vs Rob Van Dam
Taz reminds us about how Rob Van Dam has held TV Titles elsewhere for a really long time, and Mike Tenay compliments him on the history lesson. Robbie E gets in RVD's face, so RVD spinkicks him into the corner and then unloads with a bunch more kicks and a monkey flip. RVD clotheslines Robbie over the top rope to the floor and then baseball slides him under the bottom rope. RVD goes for a dive, but Robbie T steps in the way and RVD stops short. Robbie E tries to kick RVD from behind, but RVD catches the boot and gets the stepover leg lariat and Rolling Thunder. RVD kicks Robbie T through the ropes, but the distraction was enough for Robbie E to nail him from behind and wipe him out with a back elbow for 2. Robbie with a short elbowdrop and then he comes off the second rope with another elbowsmash for 2. There's really too many Robs out there. Robbie E charges RVD in the corner and is met with a spinning leg lariat, then he dumps RVD out to the floor. Robbie T goes to grab RVD, but Eric Young runs out with a fire extinguisher to back Robbie T off, and RVD winds up back in the ring where he boots Robbie in the face and hits the Dive Star Frogsplash. Unfortunately, the referee is distracted by Robbie T and Young and he misses Christopher Daniels running into the ring and giving RVD the Angel's Wings and then, in the upset of the year, Robbie E covers RVD and pins him.
Winner: Robbie E
We go back to the catacombs where the chicks are coming back out with sex hair and wondering what just happened while Taz speculates that they just found out why Abyss is called the monster.
The Knockouts are STILL outside washing the cars and (you knew this would happen) they end up "fighting" and getting each other all wet with their sponges while flailing around all over each other. Sigh.
It's main event time!
World Champion Bobby Roode vs Jeff Hardy vs AJ Styles
This is non-title in case you were wondering. Roode immediately bails out to the floor to let Hardy and AJ go at it, but they go out to the floor and surround him, ping-ponging him back and forth on the floor with right hands and dumping him back into the ring where Roode begs for a time out. He doesn't get it, and they play ping pong again, Roode tries a double clothesline but they duck and double backdrop him before double clotheslining Roode out to the floor. Hardy goes to slingshot over the ropes, but AJ stops him so he can slingshot. Roode dodges so AJ lands on the apron and Roode grabs his ankle, but Hardy baseball slides Roode through the ropes and it's back to AJ and Hardy working side by side as we go to commercial.
We're back and Roode whips AJ into Hardy to knock him off the apron and covers, and Hardy tries to come in and break up the fall but Roode moves out of the way and Hardy accidentally elbowdrops AJ. His advantage doesn't last long as Hardy beats Roode down in the corner, and now AJ gets some shots of his own in. Roode gouges AJ's eyes behind Hardy's back and then slaps Hardy in the back of the head and then falls to the mat so Hardy thinks AJ did it. This leads to a shoving match between the two and now AJ and Hardy go at it. AJ kills Hardy with a dropkick, but Hardy comes back with a dropkick, Russian legsweep, and legdrop cradle for 2. Roode takes advantage by coming in from behind and ramming AJ shoulder first into the ringpost, sending him tumbling out to the floor, then covers Hardy for 2. Roode whips Hardy to the ropes and catches him coming in with a back elbowand a kneedrop for 2. AJ tries to get back into the ring, but Roode kicks him back to the floor and then chokes Hardy with his boot. Hardy gets to his feet and slugs it out with Roode, but the champion hits a spinebuster and covers for 2. AJ suddenly comes out of nowhere with a springboard forearm and then destroys Roode with clotheslines and the moonsault deathdrop. AJ goes for the Styles Clash but gets backdropped to the apron. AJ goes for a springboard move, but Roode shoves Hardy into the ropes and AJ loses his footing, bounces off the top rope, and goes out to the floor while Roode dumps Hardy to the floor. Roode quickly grabs AJ and hits a fisherman's suplex, but Hardy breaks up the pin and hits a facebuster followed by the Twist of Fate. Hardy tears the shirt off and goes to the top rope as Jeff Jarrett runs out of the crowd, and he shoves Hardy and makes him crotch himself on the top rope, allowing Roode to cover Hardy for the win.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Jeff Jarrett gives a big thumbs up and applauds from ringside, but Sting's music hits and he comes out to tell Jarrett that he said there would be consequences, so he's booking Jarrett to face Hardy in a cage at Final Resolution. Sting says Hardy's agreed to leave Impact Wrestling if he loses (Really? Are they telepathic?), but if Jarrett loses, Hardy becomes the #1 contender to the World Title. Karen Jarrett comes out and starts yelling at Sting, so Sting says she gave him a great idea: he's going to handcuff himself to Jarrett's husband (meaning Karen) so she can't interfere at Final Resolution. The dramatic music hits and we're off the air.
2011 - WWE broadcast Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off with the Smackdown portion of the show and your announcers are Matt Striker and Josh Mathews.
Match Number One: Ted DiBiase versus Heath Slater
DiBiase with a waist lock take down into a front face lock and hammer lock. Ted with a drop kick and a back body drop. Ted with a back breaker followed by a double stomp from the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Ted is pulled from the corner and Slater with a punch and a running forearm followed by kicks to Ted.
Slater with punches followed by a kick to the midsection that sends Ted to the apron. Slater puts Ted in the ropes and he punches Ted in the back of the head. Slater with a drop kick to the back while Ted is still in the ropes and he gets a near fall. Slater with a reverse chin lock. Ted with punches and he tries for a drop kick but Heath holds on to the ropes and Slater with a sliding clothesline for a near fall.
Slater returns to a reverse chin lock and he tries to limit Ted’s breathing. Ted gets to his feet and he punches Slater but Slater with a neck breaker for a near fall. Slater shows some frustration and he argues with the referee. Ted moves when Slater tries for a forearm in the corner. Ted with a reverse atomic drop followed by a punch and a flying Yakuza kick for a near fall. Ted tries for a slam but Slater gets out of the hold. Ted with a rebound clothesline and Slater counters Dream Street with an arm drag but he cannot avoid it a second time and Ted gets the three count with Dream Street.
Winner: Ted DiBiase
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from the World Championship Match from Smackdown between Daniel Bryan and Mark Henry.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Raw portion of the show and your announcers are Scott Stanford and Josh Marella.
Match Number Two: JTG versus Santino Marella
Santino does his usual spin kick that does nothing and JTG with a side head lock. JTG holds on to the head lock but Santino with a take down and he celebrates too much and JTG with punches and kicks to Santino. JTG with a kick to the midsection and Santino wants a time out. JTG with punches to Santino followed by a snap mare and a seated abdominal stretch and punches to add more pressure to the midsection.
JTG with a side head lock and Santino with a hip lock take down and he sets for the cobra but JTG with a kick to the arm and a knee to the midsection. JTG with more knees to the midsection and JTG with a near fall. JTG slaps Santino in the head and then he slaps Santino across the face and he backhands him. JTG sends Santino into the turnbuckles.
Santino starts to Cobra Up and JTG’s punches have no effect. Santino with jabs and then he does the split followed by a hip toss and he misses the diving head butt when JTG gets his knees up. JTG tries for the X Factor out of the corner but Santino holds on to the ropes. Santino calls the Cobra and hits it for the three count.
Winner: Santino Marella
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from Piper’s Pit on this week’s Raw.
Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Primo with Epico and Rosa Mendes
They lock up and Kofi with a clean break. Primo wants a Greco Roman knuckle lock and he turns it into a hammer lock but Kofi with a reversal and Kofi with a side head lock. Primo misses a punch and Kofi with arm drags and a near fall. Kofi with an arm bar and Primo gets to the ropes and Kofi releases the hold.
Primo with a front face lock and he tries to take Kofi to the mat but Kofi escapes and he applies a hammer lock and then he drops a knee into the arm and then returns to the hammer lock. Kofi with an arm drag into an arm bar. Kofi with a splash onto the arm and he gets a near fall.
Kofi with a key lock followed by a knee and side head lock. Primo with a shoulder tackle but Kofi with leap frogs and a leaping back elbow followed by a monkey flip. Kofi gets a near fall on Primo. Primo with a punch to Kofi’s midsection and then to the head. Kofi tries for Trouble in Paradise but Primo goes to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Primo works on Kofi’s neck. Kofi with punches but Primo with kicks to maintain control. Primo with a kick to the midsection but Kofi with punches and forearms. Primo with a hard Irish whip and Primo with a knee drop to the throat. Primo with a reverse chin lock. Kofi with punches and kicks to get out of the hold but Primo with kicks of his own followed by a leg sweep and an elbow drop for a near fall.
Primo with kicks to Kofi and then he chokes him in the ropes. Primo slingshots Kofi’s throat into the bottom rope and gets a near fall. Primo with a reverse chin lock followed by a knee. Kofi avoids a suplex attempt and gets a near fall with a backslide. Primo with a clothesline and Kofi is down again. Primo with a camel clutch on Kofi followed by kicks in the corner.
The referee warns Primo but he returns to the kicks and chokes him one more time. Primo gets another warning and then Primo mocks Kofi but Kofi is able to recover and he hits a rana that sends Primo to the mat. Kofi with a running back elbow followed by a chop and drop kick. Kofi runs into an elbow but Kofi hits a double jump cross body for a near fall.
Kofi hits the Superman punch and then he sets for the Boom Drop and hits it. Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Primo ducks it. Primo holds on to the ropes and then he goes for a springboard sunset flip and Kofi gets a near fall. Primo crotches Kofi and then Primo with a lungblower while Kofi is on the turnbuckles for the three count.
Winner: Primo
2011 - WWE Raw ran Yokohama, Japan. Cohen Morrison filed the following results:
Santino Marella Def. Drew McIntyre.
US Champion Dolph Ziggler Def. Zack Ryder and Alex Riley to retain the title.
Mason Ryan Def. Jack Swagger.
Former WWE Star Funaki appeared as the referee for the Divas Championship Match, which Beth Phoenix (c) won by beating Kelly Kelly.
The Miz came out and told Funaki to leave a cut a promo.
John Cena, wearing Zubaz Pants for his match, teamed with The Big Show to beat Kevin Nash and The Miz.
In the main event: WWE Champion CM Punk Def. Alberto Del Rio to retain the title.
2012 - WWE Raw ran Roanoke, VA. Terry Riley filed the following results:
Brodus Clay beat Michael McGillicutty.
Zack Ryder beat Corey Graves.
AJ and Kaitlyn beat Eve and Rosa Mendes when Eve left and Rosa was all alone.
Antonio Cesaro beat R-Truth to retain the U.S. Title.
Ryback killed Jack Swagger.
Santino Marella beat Tensai.
Team Hell No beat Epico and Primo to retain the Tag Titles.
John Cena beat Dolph Ziggler in a really good main event.
2012 - WWE Smackdown ran Columbia, SC. Jeffrey Lane filed the following results:
The Miz beat Damien Sandow in the opener.
Fandango beat Ted DiBiase.
Layla and Paige beat Aksana and Natalya.
Kofi Kingston beat Wade Barrett to retain the Intercontinental Title.
Randy Orton beat Alberto Del Rio.
The Great Khali beat David Otunga.
Rey Mysterio and The Usos beat 3MB.
Sheamus beat The Big Show by DQ so Show kept the World Title.
2013 - Former Ring of Honor champion Davey Richards issued the following statement via Facebook early this morning:
"With a heavy heart I can announce I announce that myself and ROH have parted ways for good and I will not be at Final Battle. Please continue to support them and the incredible talent they have. Thanks for the memories. It was an amazing ride."
The word making the rounds was that Davey Richards issued his announcement that he was done with Ring of Honor after being informed he was no longer booked by ROH for their 12/14 Final Battle event the previous evening.
PWInsider.com also learned that Richards was actually unbooked (one person used the term "fired") from the previous set of ROH shows in Ohio and Michigan after the company was upset about comments he made in Great Britain's Total Wrestling Magazine about the company and how the ROH titles were not as important as they were once portrayed.
Richards was able to get himself back on the dates somehow and from speaking to several ROH talents today, I am told he made it a point to claim in front of the locker room that his comments in the magazine were incorrect and taken out of context.
PWInsider.com had also confirmed that Richards had been unhappy with plans for his final appearance at the Final Battle event, which may have been a factor in ROH removing him from the show. It stands to reason that if he was in the company doghouse and looked to be leaving, they would distance themselves before having a headache when it came to his last officially scheduled date with the promotion.
Richards has been down in WWE developmental of late working as part of an extended tryout for himself and partner Eddie Edwards, which included a NXT TV taping appearance. The NXT tryouts had no bearing on the ROH situation.
Richards had been reaching out to several within the industry and stating that the pair would be signing with the company. WWE sources had not confirmed that and as it turned out, Richards and Edwards would instead sign with TNA.
2014 - New Japan Pro Wrestling launched their streaming service, NJPWWorld.com
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