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March 3rd
On this day in history in ....
1914 - Alex Stewart defeats Jack Forbes to become the first Canadian Featherweight Champion in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1922 - Ed "Strangler" Lewis wins his fourth World Heavyweight Title, by defeating Stanislaus Zbyszko in Wichita, Kansas, ending Zbyszko's second reign.
1938 - Vic Christy defeats Yvon Robért for the Montreal and Toronto World Heavyweight Titles in Toronto, Ontario.
1944 - Dean Detton wins the San Francisco Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title for the third time, by defeating The Green Panther (Pat Fraley).
1949 - Fred Atkins defeats Whipper Billy Watson to win the Toronto NWA British Empire Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Ontario, ending Watson's seventh reign.
1953 - Fred Blassie and Miguel Lopez defeat Ali Bey and Danny Plechas in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Rocky Mountain Tag Team Title.
1955 - Lloyd Antonation and Curly Gagnon defeat Bobo Bryce and Al Corbett in Winnipeg, Manitoba to become the first Manitoba Tag Team Champions.
1964 - Bob Ellis defeats Bob Orton to win the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.
1966 - Paul Jones defeats Stan Stasiak for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title.
1970 - Bob Orton defeats The Missouri Mauler for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida. This began Orton's fourth reign and ended the Mauler's sixth.
1973 - Gene and Ole Anderson defeat Art Nielson and Johnny Weaver to win the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This began the Andersons' third reign and ended Nielson and Weaver's second reign. At the same event, Jerry Brisco wins his third NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Title, ending Rip Hawk's fourth reign.
1973 - Great Kojika and Gentetsu Matsuoka defeat Killer Karl Krupp and Kurt Von Steiger to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan. The title was vacated on January 30, when Michiaki Yoshimura retired. He had held the title with Seiji Sakaguchi.
1975 - Ormand Malumba and Guy Mitchell defeat Gene Kiniski and Mr. Saito to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1976 - Rocky Johnson and Jose Lothario defeat Killer Tim Brooks and Stan Hansen for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title.
1979 - Carlos Colon defeats Gorilla Monsoon in Bayamon, Puerto Rico to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title. This ended Monsoon's second reign and began Colon's seventh.
1979 - Ron Starr defeats Roddy Piper for the vacant San Francisco NWA United States Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California.
1980 - Steve Keirn defeats Bugsy McGraw to win the NWA Florida Television Title in West Palm Beach, Florida, ending McGraw's second reign.
1980 - Eddie and Tommy Gilbert defeat Steve Lawler and Siegfried Steinke for the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The title was renamed simply the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Title that same year.
1983 - Kim Duk and Yasu Fuji defeat Bob Brown and Buzz Tyler for the NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.
1983 - Espectro, Jr. defeats Lizmark to win Mexican National Middleweight Title in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
1986 - Tom Prichard defeats Tim Horner for the Southeast NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama, ending Horner's second reign.
1986 - Abdul Khadafy (Danny Miller) defeats Rick Casey (Wendell Cooley) to win the AWA International Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1986 - Kung Fu defeats Rocky Morton for the British Heavy Middleweight Title in Bradford, England.
1987 - Fuji Yamada (Jushin Liger) defeats Mark Rocco for the World Heavy Middleweight Title in Croydon, England.
1989 - Beauty and The Beast (The Beast and Terrence Garvin) defeat Chris Adams and Jeff Jarrett in a tournament final for the vacant USWA Texas Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas.
1991 - The WWF held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results were:
- Jimmy Snuka defeated The Brooklyn Brawler.
- The Barbarian defeated Koko B. Ware.
- The Big Bossman defeated Haku.
- The British Bulldog defeated The Warlord.
- The Orient Express (Kato and Tanaka) defeated The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke).
- The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma).
- Jake Roberts defeated Rick Martel.
- Kerry Von Erich defeated Ted DiBiase.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Earthquake in a stretcher match.
1991 - Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) defeats Villano III to win the WWF World Light Heavyweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico, ending Villano III's fifth reign.
1991 - Scott Hall defeats Miguel Pérez, Jr. for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, ending Pérez's second reign.
1993 - Paul Orndorff defeated Erik Watts in a tournament final in Macon, Georgia to win the WCW World Television Title. The match aired on the April 3 edition of Worldwide. The title was vacated in November when The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) left WCW for the WWF. Scott had won the title in September from Ricky Steamboat.
1993 - Mano Negra defeats Atlantis to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Acapulco, Mexico, ending Atlantis' third reign.
1995 - IWCCW ran Orwigsburg, PA with the following results:
-Crash The Terminator (Bil Demott) with Darren Wise vs. The Funny Clown went to a no contest when Crash refused to pin him after a moonsault to keep beating on him, leading to Koko B. Ware hitting the ring to challenge Crash.
-Tony Atlas & Scott Putski & Ivan Putski defeated Greg Valentine & The Border Patrol when Ivan scored the pin after the Polish Hammer.
-Jimmy Snuka pinned The Kodiak Bear.
-Rick Martel defeated Joe Savoldi by DQ after getting caught trying to use Martel's Atomizer after taking it from Martel while the referee was knocked down.
-The Border Patrol defeated Gino Caruso & Damian Stone (the future Little Guido).
-Alexander the Great (the future Big Dick Dudley) with Darren Wise defeated Rugged Rob Morton.
-Jim Powers & Johnny Gunn (Tom Brandi) defeated Assault & Battery.
-Greg Valentine defeated Tito Santana to win the IWCCW Championship by DQ in a match where the title could change hands by DQ or countout when Valentine tried to use a foreign object but Santana caught it and used it while the referee was knocked down but saw Santana using it.
-Bastion Booger pinned Rugged Rob Morton.
-Scott Putski pinned The Metal Maniac.
-Tony Atlas defeated Rick Martel by DQ when Martel nailed him with his Atomizer.
1995 - Silver King and El Texano defeat the Headhunters to win the IWA Japan World Tag Team Title in Hiroshima, Japan.
1995 - SATO defeats Super Delfin for the UWF Super Welterweight Title in Osaka, Japan.
1997 - The Monday Night War continued, with WCW Monday Nitro defeating WWF Monday Night RAW, 3.4 to 1.9 in the ratings.
The 77th edition of WCW Monday Nitro was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia and was the final WCW event to be held there. The Omni was demolished later in the year, and Philips Arena was built in its place and opened in 1999. The show results were:
- In a dark match, Ernest Miller pinned Yugi Nagata after a kick off the ropes.
- Konnan and Hugh Morrus defeated Jeff Jarrett and Steve McMichael (with Debra), when Konnan pinned McMichael after Jarrett accidentally hit McMichael with McMichael's steel briefcase.
- Diamond Dallas Page pinned Rick Fuller after the Diamond Cutter.
- Juventud Guerrera pinned Ray Mendoza, Jr. with the 450° Splash.
- Dean Malenko pinned Mike Enos with a small package.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Ultimo Dragon with a crossbody to retain the title.
- Scotty Riggs defeated Michael Wallstreet by disqualification, when Buff Bagwell interfered.
- Rey Misterio, Jr. pinned Mr. JL (Jerry Lynn) with a hurricanrana.
- The Giant and Lex Luger vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) ended in a no-contest when the nWo interfered.
The 199th edition of WWF Monday Night RAW was taped on February 26 at Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany. This was the last episode before the name change to RAW is WAR. The results:
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Bret Hart by disqualification after Hart pushed the referee after he put Helmsley in a Tree of Woe in the corner. After the match, Chyna came into the ring and challenged Hart to fight her, with officials holding her back.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia defeated Vader (with Paul Bearer) by disqualification after Mankind interfered and hit Rocky with Paul Bearer's urn.
- The Sultan defeated Flash Funk by submission with the Camel Clutch.
- WWF Champion Sycho Sid pinned Mankind (with Paul Bearer) after a powerbomb.
- In a tournament final, WWF Tag Team Champion The British Bulldog pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Owen Hart after reversing a victory roll, to become the first WWF European Champion. The tournament took place over seven German events in seven days, in Aschaffenburg, Chemnitz, Dresden, Cologne, Oberhausen, Hamburg and ended at the RAW taping in Berlin. The other participants were: Flash Funk, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Bret Hart, Rocky Maivia, Mankind and Vader. Owen defeated Funk and his brother Bret, and Bulldog defeated Mankind and Vader on their respective roads to the finals.
2000 - Convict #00187 defeats Necro Butcher to win the NWA Texas Hardcore Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.
2001 - El Bronco defeats Jerry Flynn for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, beginning his second reign. At the same event, Rico Suave and Eddie Watts defeat Thunder and Lightning to win the WWC World Tag Team Title, ending Thunder and Lightning's second reign.
2001 - Pete Gas defeats Steve Bradley to win the Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Bradley's fourth reign.
2001 - Tannie Mouse and Yuki Miyazaki defeat Acute Sae and Yoshiko Tamura to become the first NEO Itabashi Tag Team Champions in Tokyo, Japan.
2001 - Madd Maxx defeats Jeff Justice in Graham, North Carolina for the Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title.
2002 - Milano Collection A.T. defeats Masato Yoshino in the finals of the Toryumon 2000 Project Strongest League to become the first NWA International Light Heavyweight Champion.
2002 - The W*INGer defeats Trent Acid to win the BJW Junior Heavyweight Title in Yokohama, Japan, beginning his second reign.
2003 - WWE held the 510th edition of RAW live from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, which got a 4.5 rating on TNN. The results were:
Sunday Night Heat:
- World Tag Team Champion Lance Storm defeated Maven by submission with the Sharpshooter.
- The Hurricane pinned Steven Richards (with Victoria) after the Vertebreaker.
RAW:
- Christian pinned Jeff Hardy after the Unprettier.
- Chief Morley pinned Spike Dudley after the Money Shot. If Spike had won the match, the Dudley Boyz would have been reinstated.
- Jacqueline and Trish Stratus defeated Jazz and WWE Women's Champion Victoria (with Steven Richards), when Trish pinned Victoria with a roll-up after reversing a sunset flip.
- Chris Jericho (with Christian) pinned Test (with Stacy Keibler) after a sleeper slam.
- Booker T pinned Scott Steiner with a roll-up out of the corner.
- Kane and Rob Van Dam defeated Tommy Dreamer and Al Snow in a Hardcore match, when RVD pinned both Dreamer and Snow after the Five-Star Frog Splash.
2004 - TNA held its 83rd weekly pay-per-view event at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. The results:
Dark matches:
- B.G. James pinned John Saxon.
- Trinity pinned ODB.
- El Leon defeated Mike Youngblood.
- Don Harris and Chris Vaughn defeated Jason Porcaro and Ty Smiley.
Pay-per-view matches:
- Chris Harris pinned Kevin Northcutt.
- D'Lo Brown, Simon Diamond, Ron Killings, Konnan and Sonny Siaki defeated Glenn Gilberti, Kid Kash, Michael Shane, Johnny Swinger and David Young, when Diamond pinned Young.
- Frankie Kazarian pinned Jerry Lynn.
- Sonjay Dutt, TNA X Division Champion Chris Sabin and Elix Skipper defeated Ebessan, Kuishinbo Kamen and NOSAWA, when Skipper pinned NOSAWA.
- Abyss and A.J. Styles fought to a no-contest in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
- Chris Harris pinned Shane Douglas.
2004 - OVW held its weekly television taping at Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky, the show airing on March 6. The results:
- Adrenaline (Chris Cage and Tank Toland) defeated OVW Southern Tag Team Champions The Jersey Shore Crew (Aaron Stevens and Nova (with Trudi DeNucci)) to win the title, beginning their second reign.
- Jillian Hall defeated Ivory.
- The Troubleshooters (Brent Albright and Chris Masters) defeated Seth Skyfire and Standing Thunder (Wavell Starr).
- Matt Cappotelli defeated John Hennigan by disqualification.
- Matt Morgan and Sean O'Haire defeated Inspector Impact (Matt Wiese) and John Laurinaitis.
- John Cena defeated Hardcore Holly.
- Doug Basham, The Damaja and Johnny Jeter (with Alexis Laree) defeated Mark Magnus and The Lords of the Ring (Rob Conway and OVW Heavyweight Champion Nick Dinsmore) (with Nikita).
2007 - Scotty Mac ends Moondog Manson's eighth reign as NWA Pacific Northwest Hardcore Champion in Vancouver, British Columbia.
2009 - In an interview with The UK Mirror, actor and early Wrestlemania headliner Mr. T commented that he turned down an invitation to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame because of the induction of another celebrity, Pete Rose, ahead of him.
"WWE asked me to be in the Hall of Fame and I turned it down. You know why? They put Pete Rose in the wrestling Hall of Fame. This guy can't even get into his own Hall of Fame. After they put Rose in they came and asked me and I said "You don't insult me! You don't put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame before me! I ain’t going to be a part of that. They put him in and he only did one WrestleMania, and he didn't even wrestle."
For the record, Pete Rose actually appeared at Wrestlemanias 14-16, one more than T, doing a bit with Kane each year that led to Rose taking some sort of bump.
2009 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
and Jack Swagger where Swagger was able to get the victory over the man who was on ‘hiatus’ for the last three years.
We are live on tape from Boston, Massachusetts and your announcers are Matt ‘Good Will’ Striker and Todd ‘Vintage Triple Crown’ Grisham.
Match Number One: Kane versus The Boogeyman
Boogeyman shimmies as Kane wants some worms. Boogeyman gives them to Kane but it was a trap and Kane with an uppercut. Kane puts Boogey in the corner and then he punches him followed by a snap mare and drop kick for a near fall. Kane with a slam and then he goes to the top turnbuckle but Boogeyman moves on the clothesline. Boogeyman with a splash into the corner but he runs into a big boot from Kane. Kane kicks Boogeyman out of the ring but Boogeyman drops Kane on the top rope and into the turnbuckles. Boogeyman comes off the top turnbuckle and Kane catches him by the throat and hits the choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Mark Henry with Tony Atlas versus Santino Marella with Beth Phoenix and Rosa Mendez in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Before the match, he points out that Mark is the World’s Strongest Man, but the women do not worship his body. Santino says that the women go crazy for him. Santino says that he could have been Mr. Italy or a lifeguard on Baywatch. Santino says that nobody can save Henry.
Santino runs into Henry and Santino goes down and he goes down hard. Santino rolls to the floor and Henry goes out after him. Santino with forearms to Henry but he tries for a cross body but he bounces off Henry. Santino with punches and he tries for another cross body but Henry catches him and hits the World’s Strongest Slam.
Winner: Mark Henry
We are back and Evan Bourne has another video package hyping his return.
It is time for The Dirty Awards with the hosts Miz and John Morrison.
It is time for a look back and the official announcement that instead of sending Triple H to jail, Randy Orton is going to wrestle Triple H at Wrestlemania.
Did you know that people buy a lot of WWE DVDs?
Match Number Three: Alicia Fox with DJ Gabriel versus Natalya with Tyson Kidd
They lock up and Natalya throws Alicia to the mat and then hits a waist lock take down. Alicia with a side head lock take down. Natalya with a side head lock and Alicia with a drop kick and Natalya retreats to the ropes. Natalya with a kick and forearm. Natalya with a slam and punches. Natalya with a kick to the midsection and a forearm to the back. Natalya with an abdominal stretch. Alicia escapes the hold but Natalya with a slap. Alicia avoids a charge into the corner and gets a near fall with a sunset flip. Alicia with a clothesline and rollup but Natalya kicks out. Alicia with a kick to the midsection but he falls victim to the Sharpshooter and Alicia taps.
Winner: Natalya
After the match Tyson Kidd attacks DJ Gabriel but Gabriel drops Kidd on the top rope and hits a European uppercut that sends Kidd to the floor.
It is time to take a look at the movie that will lead to Orange Sash . . . 12 Rounds starring John Cena as a man whose wife is kidnapped and he must save her.
Did you know that Bill Watts is going to be in the Hall of Fame? If you watched Raw, you would already know.
Match Number Four: Jack Swagger, John Morrison, and The Miz versus Tommy Dreamer, Christian, and Fit Finlay with Hornswoggle
Dreamer and Swagger start things off and he tags in Miz before they lock up. They lock up and Miz with knees and punches. Dreamer blocks a hip toss and hits a neck breaker. Dreamer sends Miz into a boot from Finlay. Finlay with a short arm clothesline and boot to the hand. Finlay with a near fall and he returns to the arm. Miz sends Finlay into the turnbuckles and Finlay rolls to the floor. Miz tries for a baseball slide and Finlay pulls out the ring skirt and Miz falls into it. Finlay throws Hornswoggle into Miz and Morrison and we go to commercial.
We are back and Finlay with a boot to Miz’s solar plexus. Christian tags in and he kicks Miz. Miz with a kick to Christian but Christian with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Christian with a drop toe hold and Dreamer tags in and hits an elbow drop. Miz with a forearm to the back and Morrison tags in. Dreamer with a hip toss and power slam for a near fall. Dreamer goes to the turnbuckles but Morrison with a spin kick that knocks Dreamer to the floor. Swagger rolls Dreamer into the ring and Morrison punches him. Swagger tags in and he kicks Dreamer and hits an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Swagger with a front face lock and forearms to the back. Miz tags in and he kicks and punches Dreamer. The ref keeps Christian and Finlay in the corner as Miz gets a near fall. Dreamer with elbows in the corner but Miz drives Dreamer into the turnbuckles for a near fall. Morrison tags in and they hit a double back body drop. Morrison with a series of boots to the chest. Swagger is tagged back in and he kicks Dreamer. Dreamer with elbows and a sunset flip for a near fall. Swagger with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Swagger tries for the Vader Splash but Dreamer gets his knees up and both men are down. Morrison tags in and he keeps Dreamer from making the tag but Christian is finally tagged in. Christian punches Morrison and hits a back body drop. Morrison with a forearm and then Christian is send towards his corner and he inadvertently elbows Finlay off the apron. Christian sets for the inverted DDT but Miz tries to interfere but Christian hits the move before Miz shows up. Morrison floats over but Christian kicks Morrison and hits a sunset flip for a two count. Morrison tries for Moonlight Drive but Christian gets out of the hold and he tries for the Unprettier but Morrison breaks up the hold. Christian hits the Tornado DDT and he knocks Swagger down with a forearm. Dreamer pulls Swagger off the apron. Christian with the diving head butt to Morrison but Miz breaks up the cover. Finlay clothesline Miz over the top rope to the floor. Swagger makes the blind tag and Christian hits the Unprettier, but Swagger hits the Doctor Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Jack Swagger, John Morrison, and the Miz
2010 - Ring of Honor announced that Kevin Kelly would be joining the company as an announcer.
2011 - Brian McCarthy, 32, of Deer Park, Texas was arrested and charged with illegally distributing pirated broadcasts of TV shows, films, sports programming and PPV events, including WWE PPVs, according to a press release issued by
The release reads:
HSI agents arrest website operator that illegally streamed copyrighted sporting events
NEW YORK March 3, 2011 -- The operator of a website that illegally streamed live, copyrighted sporting events on the Internet was arrested this morning by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Bryan McCarthy, 32, of Deer Park, Texas, was taken into custody at his home and is charged with one count of criminal infringement of a copyright. He was the operator of channelsurfing.net, which was seized by federal authorities on Feb. 1, 2011, as part of an ongoing HSI investigation into websites that illegally streamed copyrighted sporting telecasts and pay-per-view events.
The investigation into McCarthy revealed that he made more than $90,000 in profits from online merchants who paid him to advertise on the website. Since the seizure of the site, it has received more than 1.3 million hits.
"Today's arrest is another step forward in the ongoing investigation by New York HSI Agents into copyright infringement and theft of intellectual property rights," said James T. Hayes, special agent in charge of HSI in New York. "We will continue to investigate illegal streaming of programming on the Internet in an effort to preserve legitimate and creative business interests and deter others from engaging in online piracy."
"Brian McCarthy allegedly sought to profit by intercepting and then streaming live sporting events, hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to make a quick buck through what is little more than high-tech thievery," said Preet Bhara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. "This arrest sends a clear message that this office, working with its partners at HSI, will vigorously protect valuable intellectual property rights through arrests and domain name seizures."
According to the criminal complaint unsealed Thursday in federal court and the seizure affidavit, channelsurfing.net was an online portal to pirated telecasts of sporting events of the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League (NHL), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). All of these organizations hold the copyrights to the televised broadcasts of their respective sporting events.
Visitors to channelsurfing.net would simply click on one of a number of links to begin the process of downloading or streaming an illegal broadcast of a sporting event. During the investigation, HSI agents downloaded portions of live copyrighted telecasts of various sporting events. The website also contained links to various live television channels as well.
McCarthy registered the channelsurfing.net domain name in December 2005 and operated the website until the time of its seizure out of his home in Texas. At the time it was seized, channelsurfing.net was one of the most popular of the websites that streamed illegal content.
If convicted on the charge of criminal infringement of a copyright, McCarthy faces a maximum of five years in prison. This case is being handled by the Southern District of New York's Complex Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Frey is in charge of the prosecution.
The charge contained in the complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the TNA Impact Report here on PWInsider.com, as we're NOT live from Fayetteville, North Carolina!
Dixie Carter starts the show in the ring, emotionally thanking the fans who have reached out to her online with their moral support. The support over the last few weeks has meant the world to her, but she's here tonight to share the outcome of the legal proceedings that started last November. While things didn't go as she had hoped, she can promise us-
Immortal's music hits, and Eric Bischoff comes out with his crew. Bischoff mockingly wipes tears from his eye and says that he agreed to let her come out here but it wasn't to do her PR stuff and Twitterize the fans. Before they see her go, Bischoff just wants to say that he respects her and has learned a lot from her, and even though she's a woman in a man's world, she has one massive set of balls. Flair gets in Dixie's face and asks if she's understands that she's in Flair Country, and if she had taken his room key that night in Orlando, they would have avoided all this. Instead, she texts, tweets, emails, and voicemails because she thinks the fans are going to love her. Flair says to do the jet flying and limousine riding, a chick needs money and that's what Flair wants because whoever has the most toys wins the game. He tells her there's a Holiday Inn right down the road, then introduces the legend and the man who makes everything go...Hulk Hogan! Hulk shows up to work for the first time in three months and triumphantly strolls to the ring to give Dixie a piece of his mind. He says that maybe he's all amped up because of the electricity in this building or his adrenal glands are pumping so fast that he's not thinking straight, but he was in the courtroom with Dixie today and he now controls 100% of TNA, from the ring to HIS office in Nashville, he makes all the decisions. As for Dixie, she's just unemployed. Somewhere along the way, Dixie became delusional, and people call him an egomaniac but nobody became a bigger fan of themselves than she did. He and Eric used her to get back on top of the wrestling business and somewhere along the way, she forgot what her place in TNA is, was, and always will be: she supplies the money, period. It was never about them being partners, it was always about Hulk and his real partner Eric Bischoff using her to get back on top of the wrestling business and they used her and her whole family because she's a weak woman. All she has left is her dignity, and they're fixin' to take that too, but she has one thing left, and that's all the fans out there. But the fans that love her don't have much to say about it because he runs this company 100% right now and that's all there is to the story.
Fortune's music hits, and they come out to the top of the ramp. AJ Styles tells Immortal they can do this the easy way or the hard way, and Fortune likes doing it the hard way, but there's a woman in the ring, and Kazarian says they weren't talking about Bischoff. AJ says they're talking about Dixie Carter, a woman they care about because she gave them an opportunity and brought them to FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA! AJ has Dixie leave the ring and he walks her up the ramp as Robert Roode tells Hogan that he can't believe that he was the reason he became a pro wrestler, but there's an old saying that you should never meet your idols because they're just going to let you down, and that statement couldn't be more true. Flair tells Roode that he can kiss his ass and Hogan's and he can keep walking, so Roode says that instead of kissing his ass, maybe they should kick it. Fortune rushes the ring, but is held back by security and we're at commercial.
We go backstage to Immortal laughing at their moral and legal victory over Dixie Carter, and they run into Bart Scott from the New York Jets. He high fives the entire group and starts to walk off with Matt Hardy, but they run into Dixie and Fortune and start shooting their mouth off at Dixie, leading to a fight between AJ and Kazarian brawling with Matt Hardy and Bart Scott. Indestructible Security Inc pulls them apart as Jeff and Karen Jarrett, totally oblivious to the anarchy around them, stroll through with big smiles on their faces on their way to renew their vows.
We go to a video package recapping the history of the Jeff Jarrett-Kurt Angle feud leading into tonight, where Kurt will give his former wife away to Jarrett in their unholy ceremony.
We go backstage to Eric Bischoff bitching to Hulk Hogan about a network guy telling him that Jeff Hardy's going to defend the TNA World Title tonight without telling him who it was going to be against. Hogan says it's okay because he's in charge and not to assume anything about tonight, because anything can and will happen in this business.
We're off to the ring for our first match...
TNA World Tag Team Title Match: Beer Money vs Gunner & Murphy
Gunner & Murphy didn't get an entrance here. They attack Beer Money on their way into the ring and toss Robert Roode to the floor, then double team James Storm. Murphy rakes Storm's eyes across the top rope and then they tag in and out while working storm over. Storm boots Gunner in the face and clotheslines Murphy and makes the hot tag to Roode, who comes in and cleans house on Gunner. Roode with a big backdrop on Gunner and then starts unloading on Murphy and kills him with a clothesline. Roode goes for a uranage but Gunner blocks, so Roode hits a spinebuster instead and gets 2. Murphy boots Roode in the face and holds him for Gunner, but Roode ducks and Gunner nails Murphy, then gets superkicked by Storm and then Beer Money hit a double suplex on Murphy and give Gunner the DWI for the win.
Winners: Beer Money
Ink Inc come out after the match and Shannon Moore welcomes them to North Cackalacky. Moore says these are his people, this is his house, and (holding up the book) this is his Book of DILLIGAF, and the Book of DILLIGAF says that Ink Inc are going to be challenging Beer Money for the title at the next PPV. Storm says they'll give them their title shot because they're the best team in the business today, and he's sorry about their damn luck.
We go backstage to the Jarretts as Karen talks about her 10 foot wedding cake. Eric Young is taking a dump behind them, and he says that he's known Jeff a long time and wants to be his best man, but the best Jeff will give him is ring bearer.
We head out to the parking lot as Angelina, formerly from the Jersey Shore, gets out of a limo.
We go backstage to Kurt Angle arriving at the building with his son who he failed to win custody of against Jeff Jarrett at the last PPV. I love TNA's continuity.
Time for our next match...
Sarita vs Velvet Sky, Velvet will retire if she loses
Velvet looks angry and Sarita tries to calm her down, but Velvet grabs her by the hair and clotheslines her, then reverses a suplex attempt to a pinning combination for 2. Velvet dodges a dropkick and gets a wheelbarrow armdrag and a springboard bulldog. Rosita tries to interfere, but Angelina runs in and neutralizes her. Earl Hebner tosses both of them out, and Sarita comes from behind and gets several inverted DDT/kneedrops and sets for the Tiger Driver, but Velvet escapes and hits the DDT for the win.
Winner: Velvet Sky
We all knew that was coming. Velvet barely has a moment to celebrate her win before the Shorre comes down with Angelina. Cookie reminds them that they beat her down 4-on-1 last time, but this time she got Angelina, the real star of Jersey Shore, and she's got a message for them to deliver to J WOWW. Angelina tells everyone to shut up and calls the Beautiful People sluts, then tells them to get J WOWW here to face her in the ring Jersey Shore style. Velvet tells her that if she's got something to say to J WOWW then she can say it to her face. Velvet goes to leave but Angelina kicks her in the butt, so Velvet goes after her but Sarita nails Velvet from behind and leaves with Angelina and the Shore. Angelina gets a mic and says that if they want a fight, to show up next week and they'll have themselves a six way. I assume she meant six woman tag, but I guess it was deliberately phrased.
Ken Anderson is backstage saying his head's in the ring because he's getting a title shot tonight. The network knows they made a mistake when they gave Rob Van Dam his title shot, and they know that he's where the ratings are and he's going to go out there tonight and get his title back. His final words for Jeff Hardy are that nice guys do finish last and sometimes good things do happen to good people...and assholes.
Eric Young finds Orlando Jordan backstage as he's modeling his new I <3 Tag Teaming t-shirt and tells him that he's going to be Jeff Jarrett's best man and ring bearer. Suddenly he realizes he doesn't have the ring and accuses OJ of stealing it. Young takes OJ down with a fireman's carry and OJ tells him to check his shoe since that's where he puts all his other valuables. Young checks the shoe and, sure enough, there it is.
We go to Jeff Jarrett backstage getting dressed for the ceremony, and Ric Flair comes in to hang out. Jeff says that Flair's the expert on honeymoons, but he's got a great honeymoon lined up because he's taking Karen and the kids to the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios. Flair says he should just bring his mother-in-law and kill himself, but Jeff says Flair doesn't understand what the whole relationship's about.
We go back to Kurt Angle, who is taping up his fists while his son watches. Some mysterious person leads the boy away as Kurt finishes taping his fists, and we're at commercial.
We come back to Hogan backstage on the phone discussing tonight's title match with the network. He said he doesn't care about Hardy defending the title tonight, it's just the mystery of who he's wrestling, and he tells them it's okay to give the fans a mystery, but not to keep things from people you're in business with. The network apparently won't budge, and Hogan hangs up with an unsatisfied look on his face.
Okay, it's time for the renewal of vows, and we kick it off with Eric Young, with a big ridiculous smile on his face, coming out with the ring as Orlando Jordan is wearing a dress and will apparently be the flower girl. Jeff Jarrett comes out to a round of boos, but doesn't make it halfway down the ramp before Kurt Angle comes sprinting out and nails him from behind, beats him all the way up the ramp, and repeatedly drills Jarrett in the face. Jarrett stumbles to keep his balance and not fall on the cake, but Angle clotheslines him and points at the cake, but Karen Jarrett comes running out from the back and grabs Kurt from behind, then slaps Kurt in the face. Kurt responds by grabbing her and JAMMING her face into the cake. Kurt licks the cake off his taped fist with a big smile on his face as Karen throws a fit with cake all over her face.
Back to Hogan, as he is now joined by Hogan, who says that one thing the network can't control is that he's a fighting champion and he'll have to defend the title tonight. Hardy says okay, but Hogan says he just can't get the network to tell him who Hardy will be wrestling, and they think some big surprise will get them ratings. Hogan says he thinks of Hardy as his son and would tell him if he knew, but Hardy's got the get his head straight and do it tonight because he's the leader of the pack.
We go backstage as the Jarretts are flipping out at Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair over what just happened, and they tell Bischoff that the renewal of vows had better happen tonight, then they storm out the door. Hogan comes in and they powwow about what's going to happen tonight with Hardy and have nothing important to add.
Back to the ring...
Rob Terry vs Scott Steiner
Terry attacks Steiner before the bell and beats him down, but Steiner catches him with a back elbow and a T-Bone Suplex, then clotheslines Terry to the floor. Steiner goes out after him and tries to ram Terry into the ringpost, but Terry blocks and rams Steiner into the post instead, then picks him up and rams his back into the post again. Terry tosses Steiner back into the ring and puts the boots to him, then hits a British Bulldog-style powerslam for 2. Terry whips Steiner to the ropes, but Steiner gets the boot up on the charge and plants Terry with a belly to belly suplex. Steiner hits a Flatliner and runs Terry over with a Steinerline, then drops the elbow and does pushups at 2. Steiner puts Terry on top and hits a top rope fallaway slam, then finishes with the Steiner Recliner.
Winner: Scott Steiner
We go backstage to Angle as he's taking his tape off and Ric Flair walks in with Bart Scott. Angle says he's a big fan, but Scott blows him off and Flair says that he thinks Angle took the torch from him, but if he tries to interfere in tonight's wedding ceremony, he's going to have a problem and his name is Bart Scott.
We come back as Mike Tenay and Taz are sitting with Joe Warren, former All American wrestler from the University Of Michigan, who is now competing in MMA and won the World Featherweight Title in some company I've never heard of. He pimps the TV show he's on, and will be doing commentary on the next match, which is up now...
Hernandez vs Matt Morgan
Yeah, I can see what an amateur wrestler can add to this match. Hernandez tries to jump Morgan on his way in the ring, but Morgan nails him with a clothesline and stomps away at him in the corner. Morgan charges Hernandez in the corner and hits a side suplex for 2, and Hernandez bails to the floor. Hernandez tries to take a walk, but Morgan goes out after him and takes him back to ringside and launches him back into the ring. Hernandez begs for mercy, but Morgan just kicks him in the face and tries to slam him, but Hernandez slips out the back, takes his t-shirt off, and tries to toss Morgan with it, but Morgan blocks and uses the t-shirt to toss Hernandez clear across the ring and Hernandez crashes into the turnbuckles. Morgan with the machine gun elbows and then he clotheslines Hernandez back out to the floor. Morgan goes after him and Hernandez begs off again, but Tullys him into the stairs and then repeatedly rams him face first into the steps until the referee has had enough and calls for the bell.
Winner: Matt Morgan by DQ
Hernandez cockily struts back up the ramp as Morgan lays bleeding on the floor.
We go backstage to Hulk Hogan as he's begging someone at the network to find out who Jeff Hardy's wrestling tonight, then he tells the mystery cameraman to send Anderson in. Anderson walks in and Hogan tells him he hates him, but he has good news and bad news. The good news is Hogan sees him and smells money, but the bad news is that he doesn't get a title shot tonight. Anderson asks why he keeps screwing with him, but Hogan says they're in the same boat because neither of them know what's going on. Anderson says he doesn't care about Hogan or Immortal, but because of Hogan and his buddies, he doesn't have his TNA World Title anymore. Anderson tells Hogan that he never thought he'd tell Hogan this, but he's disgusted by him. Anderson walks out and Hogan says to tell him next time he slams a 700 pound giant.
Okay, we're going to try this vow renewal thing again, so we get Eric Young and Orlando Jordan come back out again, followed by Jeff Jarrett, and finally Karen is walked out to the ring by Kurt, who has a big scary smile on his face as he leads his ex-wife to the ring/altar. He hands Karen over to Jeff and gives Jeff a nice pat on the back, then steps off to the side to enjoy the ceremony with a big smile on his face. The Jarretts renew their vows to the overwhelming boos of the crowd, then read bonus vows that they prepared especially for this occasion. Jeff says that now Karen is married to a real man and not a gutless excuse for a man, and he'll forever treat her like the princess he is, and she will not be unappreciated by a man who didn't deserve her in the first place. All the gold medals in the world couldn't symbolize his love for her, and she truly is the wind beneath his wings. Karen says this is a little overwhelming, but she'll do her best: Jeff is right, he is a real man and not like another man because from the moment they fell in love, he made her his first priority unlike another man. He made sure that whatever the princess wanted, she made sure she got it, and every night before they go to bed, he makes sure his princess goes to bed happy. He's not selfish and makes sure the princess is taken care of...unlike another man. Also, Jeff is an amazing father because no matter how many days he's on the road or how tired and beat up he is, he walks through the door with a smile on his face and wants to know what they've been doing. Bottom line: Jeff Jarrett completes her. Eric Young gets the rings out of his shoe and they do the exchange (the crowd is booing the hell out of this), then the minister announces on the behalf of the State of North Carolina and Department Of Motor Vehicles, he pronounces them man and wife. Jeff kisses the bride and then Kurt asks the minister if they're done, and the minister says they are, so Kurt tips over the podium and retrieves an ax from underneath and destroys the wedding set as the Jarretts head for higher ground. Eric Bischoff comes out with Bart Scott and sends him after Kurt Angle. Scott heads to the ring and shoves Angle, then does it again. Angle says he doesn't want any trouble and tries to leave, but Scott piefaces him so Angle takes him down and hooks the ankle lock, and Scott taps as Indestructible Security Inc quickly jumps in and drags Angle off of Bart Scott.
Jeff Hardy is backstage saying that it's okay that the network won't let him know who he's facing because this is his home state and he's going to walk out the TNA World Champion. We go out to the parking lot as a mysterious boot steps out of a limo...and we'll find out who it belongs to next!
We're back, and it's main event time...but who is Jeff Hardy's opponent? Yeah, you have to have been living under a rock not to know by now.
TNA World Title Match: Jeff Hardy vs Sting
They lead off with a repeat of the 3-3-11 graphic and then Sting makes his way to the ring. Jeff Hardy is visibly upset, and Sting goes right after him and tries for the Scorpion Deathlock, but Hardy bails to the floor. Hardy slides back in and suckerpunches Sting and rams him into the corner and puts the boots to him, but Sting blocks a vertical suplex, picks the legs, and locks in the Scorpion Deathlock. He's got Hardy right in the middle of the ring and Hardy hangs on and gets to the ropes and rolls out to the floor. Sting goes after him and suplexes him on the ramp, then takes him back to ringside and rams him into the guardrail and tries for a Stinger Splash, but Hardy moves and Sting cracks his ribs on the barricade. Hardy capitalizes by ramming Sting to the ring steps and tosses him back in the ring, hitting a legdrop and then going for the Twist of Hate, but Sting breaks free and no-sells Hardy's offense and starts firing back, hitting a bulldog and the Scorpion Deathdrop for 2. Hardy dodges the Stinger Splash and goes for the Whisper In The Wind, but Sting nails him and hits a top rope Scorpion Deathdrop and then drags him out to the middle of the ring for another Scorpion Deathdrop and covers for the win.
Winner and new TNA World Champion: Sting
The new champion holds the belt high as Jeff Hardy crawls to the back and we fade to black.
2012 - Former WWF, WCW, ECW and All Japan Pro Wrestling star Doug Furnas passed away.
2013 - Richard "Dirty Dick" Slater was arrested by Pinellas Park, FL Police on a charge of failure to appear in court on a petit theft charge. He was scheduled to appear in court on 2/25 after being arrested on the petit theft charge on 2/5, but did not do so. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he is being held in the Pinellas County Jail on a bond of $2,026. The arrest was Slater's fifth in Pinellas County since 2007.
2013 - The Simpsons aired an episode, titled "Gorgeous Grandpa", where it was revealed that Grandpa Simpson had a former life as a professional wrestler, Gorgeous Godfrey, who was a feared villain. It turns out that Mr. Burns was a huge fan and convinces Grandpa to return to the ring.
2014 - Vince McMahon officially made it to Forbes' list of billionaires for the first time with his personal wealth listed at $1.2 billion.
2014 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Chicago, Illinois and your announcers are Michael ‘Snakes on a Plane’ Cole, John ‘Passenger 57’ Layfield, and Jerry ‘Airport ‘77’ Lawler.
CM Punk’s music plays and . . . Paul Heyman comes out to the stage and then the ring.
Paul says that he believes that he deserves louder than that. Paul sits in the center of the ring to either pay tribute to Punk’s pipe bomb promos or because he is tired. Paul says that he came here tonight to tell the story of a Paul Heyman Guy. A Paul Heyman Guy that was never truly wanted in WWE.
A Paul Heyman Guy that ‘they’ thought was too small to main event Wrestlemania. A Paul Heyman Guy who didn’t have the right corporate look. A Paul Heyman Guy with too many tattoos. A Paul Heyman Guy who would rebel against Authority. One they did not want since Day One and one they do not want now.
Paul says that he came here to tell the story of a Paul Heyman Guy that had the balls to say what nobody else had the balls to say. He came here tonight to tell you about a Paul Heyman Guy who was born in, raised in, and still lives in . . . Chicago.
Paul introduces himself and this his Pipe Bomb about CM Punk. . . who is not here this evening.
Paul says that the biggest part of his pipe bomb. Paul says that he won’t disagree with the people. He is also disappointed that we will not see CM Punk perform in the ring tonight. If CM Punk was here tonight, he would be doing what he always claimed to do. He would be showing his detractors wrong and proving that he is the Best in the World.
Paul asks why isn’t CM Punk here tonight? Why won’t people talk about CM Punk any more? There is a finger to point and someone to blame. There is someone to hold accountable why CM Punk just wouldn’t put up with it any more. There comes a time when you have to risk your own job security to point the finger at the person who deserves the blame. Paul points the finger at each and every single one of you.
You can boo him all you want, but the truth hurts . . . doesn’t it. Paul says that this is why he finds it easier to lie because it is easier to take. The truth stings, doesn’t it. When CM Punk was with him, CM Punk was the longest reigning champion of the last 25 years. He gave Punk the bosom from which Punk’s soul could be nourished. Then the people took Punk away from him. The people made CM Punk their hero. They would give CM Punk their love, respect, attention, and affirmation.
How far did it get you? You didn’t just take CM Punk away from him, you took CM Punk away from yourselves. Paul blames someone else as well. Paul blames The Undertaker. This entire downward spiral started when they could not end the Streak at Wrestlemania. Paul says that he wants revenge.
How do you get revenge against the Undertaker? How do you kill what is already dead? He wants to take the streak away from the Undertaker. There is only one man on the face of the planet who can do it. He wants the streak beaten and conquered. There is only one man who can conquer that streak and he is Paul’s best friend in the world. He is the conqueror and Beast Incarnate . . . BROCK LESNAR
Brock comes to the stage and he does the Brock Bounce before making his way to the ring.
Paul says that before they address what happened last week, he wants to show everyone what the Undertaker is capable of.
Brock takes the mic and he does not appear to be in a good mood. Brock says that unlike other people, he does not make claims that he cannot back up. The Undertaker attacked him because Brock believes that Undertaker is scared to death of him. There have been many of foe who have tried to break the streak and all have failed. Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and even CM Punk. They are failures.
At Wrestlemania XXX, the streak will get conquered by him . . . BROCK Lesnar
As Brock leaves the ring, Mark Henry’s music plays and he comes out to the stage and he wants a piece of Brock.
Brock moves out of the way but then he comes off the steps but Henry with a forearm to the face. Henry with forearms to the back but Brock sends Henry into the ring steps. Brock takes the ring steps and he hits Henry in the head with them and then he throws the steps into the ring.
Brock adjusts the announce table and then he tells Mark he picked the wrong day. Brock gets Henry on his shoulders for an F-5 through the announce table.
Paul raises Brock’s hand.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso versus Billy Gunn and Road Dogg for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Jey and James start things off and James with a kick and he sends Jey into the turnbuckles but it has no effect. James with a hip toss into the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. James kicks Jey to the floor and Gunn kicks Jey on the floor. Gunn sends Jey back into the ring. Gunn punches Jey in the head.
James tags in and he chops Jey in the corner. James with a punch but Jey puts James in the corner and he chops and punches James. James with an Irish whip but Jey with a slide into the corner. James with a clothesline. James sends Jey into the turnbuckles and he kicks Jey. James sends Jey over the top rope to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and James with a chin lock on Jey. Jey with an O’Connor Roll but Gunn makes the tag and Gunn with a kick and a near fall. James tags back in and he kicks Jey. Jey with forearms and punches but James blocks a kick and avoids a dragon whip but Jey hits an enzuigiri. Both men are down.
Jimmy and Gunn tag in and Jimmy goes after James and then he hits an elbow and back heel kick on Gunn followed by an uppercut. Jimmy knocks James off the apron and then he hits a Samoan drop on Gunn and a Bubba Bomb on James. Jimmy with a running butt splash to James and then he ducks a clothesline from Gunn. Jimmy with a corkscrew senton for a near fall.
Jimmy goes up top and he sees James try to interfere and he hits a super kick. Gunn with a rollup for a near fall. Gunn with a tilt-a-whirl slam for a near fall. Gunn with a kick to the midsection and he tries for the Fameasser but misses. Jey tags in while Jimmy hits a plancha. Jey with a super kick to Gunn and he hits the frog splash for the three count.
Winners: Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso
The Divas are in the back and they are drooling over Aaron Paul.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Big E versus Cesaro (with Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger) in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Cesaro catches Big E on a leap frog and hits a tilt-a-whirl back breaker. Cesaro with a European uppercut but Big E with a shoulder in the corner followed by a belly-to-belly suplex. Cesaro sends Big E to the floor but Swagger cannot help Cesaro and gets punched for his troubles. Cesaro with a Cesaro Swing on Big E. Swagger with a Swagger Bomb for no reason and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Big E (by disqualification)
After the match, Cesaro and Colter want to know why Swagger did what he did.
Langston gives Cesaro the Big Ending.
We go to commercial with the Shield making their way to the ring
Match Number Three: Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan versus Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns
Reigns with a Samoan drop to Wyatt while Rollins and Ambrose hit suicide dives. Rollins with a forearm and drop kick to Harper. Harper grabs Rollins on the turnbuckles and tries for a German Superplex but Rollins lands on his feet. Rollins with a flip dive onto Harper and then onto Rowan. Rollins kicks Harper.
Ambrose takes care of Wyatt but Rollins falls from the turnbuckles. Ambrose punches Wyatt and then Harper goes to the floor after Rollins. Harper with an Irish whip into the ringside barrier. We go to commercial.
We are back and Harper with a side head lock on Rollins. Ambrose tries to distract Harper and that allows Rollins to connect with a drop kick. Ambrose gets in Wyatt’s face and Reigns pull Ambrose back when Rollins wanted to make the tag. Rowan takes Rollins out of the corner and Rowan with a punch. Rollins with a flatline into the turnbuckles. Harper kicks Reigns off the apron.
Ambrose with a Thesz Press and he punches Rowan. Ambrose with a flying clothesline and then he puts Rowan’s leg in the ropes and Ambrose with a drop kick to the leg and a dragon screw leg whip. Ambrose with a figure four leg lock and Ambrose with a bridge to add more pressure. Harper breaks up the submission hold but Reigns sends Harper into the Roberts cubicle.
Wyatt with a uranage on Ambrose and then Wyatt punches Ambrose and kicks him. Wyatt with an uppercut in the corner and Harper tags back in. Harper with forearms across the chest and Harper with a drop kick that sends Ambrose into the corner. Harper tags in Rowan and Harper stands on Ambrose’s chest. Rowan with kicks and he chokes Ambrose.
Rowan with a pump handle back breaker for a near fall. Rowan with the double atomic noogie to Ambrose. Ambrose grabs the beard to get out of the hold. Rowan with a side slam for a near fall. Harper tags in and he connects with a European uppercut. Harper with another European uppercut or two. Ambrose bounces from the ropes and hits a clothesline and both men are down.
Wyatt tags in and he knocks Reigns off the apron but Ambrose with a DDT to Wyatt. Ambrose crawls to the corner and Rollins drops off the apron when Ambrose tries to make the tag. Rollins walks away from Ambrose and Reigns.
Reigns wants to know what Rollins is doing. He says that he cannot be the glue. He tells Reigns and Ambrose to figure it out. Wyatt with a flying cross body for a near fall because Reigns breaks up the cover. Reigns with a Samoan drop to Rowan followed by a Superman punch to Harper and Wyatt. Rowan sets for a power bomb and Ambrose hits Rowan from behind.
Reigns clotheslines Rowan over the top rope to the floor. Ambrose holds Harper in the ropes and Reigns with the running drop kick. Reigns spears Rowan over the announce table while Ambrose attacks Wyatt in the ring. Harper with a boot to Ambrose followed by a suicide dive to Reigns that sends him over the announce table. Ambrose comes off the steps and he punches Harper.
Wyatt sends Ambrose into the ring post. Wyatt rolls Ambrose into the ring while Rollins watches from the ramp. Wyatt with Sister Abigail for the three count.
Winners: Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, and Bray Wyatt
We see the Wyatts in the ring while Seth Rollins is conflicted on the ramp.
Renee Young is in the interview area with Batista. Renee asks Batista about facing Daniel Bryan tonight. Batista says the Yes Movement is possibly the dumbest thing he has seen in his life. He cannot believe what passes for a WWE Superstar these days. It is a fantasy. It is not real. Guys like Daniel Bryan will never beat guys like him. Renee might not like it, the WWE Universe might not like it, but they will have to deal with it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to recap what has happened so far tonight. We have new tag team champions. Tomorrow night on a Live Main Event (on the WWE Network), the New Age Outlaws get their rematch.
Match Number Four: Summer Rae and Fandango versus Santino Marella and Emma
The men start things off and after a high five, the referee says it was a tag so the women are going to start off but then we get another high five. They keep high fiving and they go in and out of the ring.
Fandango attacks Santino from behind since he is done with the shenanigans. Fandango with a European uppercut followed by a punch. Santino with jabs to Fandango followed by a forearm. Fandango with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Fandango with a suplex and he goes up top for the FandangoBama Jam but Santino moves and Fandango lands on his feet. Santino with a punch and split stunner.
Summer tags in and Emma blocks a kick and hits a few clotheslines. Emma with a discus clothesline. Summer with an Irish whip but Summer misses a splash into the corner. Emma with the DilEmma followed by a marching cross body in the corner. Santino gets the cobra to scare Fandango.
Emma applies the Emma Lock and Summer taps out.
Winners: Santino Marella and Emma
We take a look at what happened between Christian and Sheamus on Smackdown last week. They will wrestle tonight.
We are back with Stephanie McMahon telling us the memories she had as an 8 year old to watch her friend Andre face Big John Studd. Now she can share it with her daughters and they can see Pop as an announcer or see their dad in the ring. You can do that on the WWE Network as well.
Match Number Five: Sheamus versus Christian
Christian has something to say to Sheamus before they lock up and Sheamus responds. Christian with two slaps to Sheamus and Sheamus goes after Christian. Sheamus pulls Christian to the floor and then he sends Christian into the ringside barrier. Sheamus with a European uppercut and then he sends him into the ringside barrier before getting into the ring again.
Sheamus chokes Christian and he follows with a slam and a knee drop for a near fall. Christian with a knee to the midsection and then he kicks and chokes Sheamus in the corner. Christian with a punch to Sheamus but Sheamus with a kick and punch. Sheamus with a clothesline. Christian with punches but Sheamus with a uranage back breaker for a near fall. Sheamus with a kick to the chest but Christian with a back body drop that sends Sheamus over the top rope to the floor. Christian with a baseball slide followed by a pescado but Sheamus moves out of the way and Christian crashes and burns.
Sheamus tries to send Christian into the ring post but Christian gets to his feet and he hides behind the announcers. We go to commercial.
We are back and Christian goes to the turnbuckles but Sheamus pulls Christian off the turnbuckles and to the mat. Sheamus goes up top and Sheamus punches Christian. Christian pushes Sheamus off the turnbuckles and to the floor. Christian sends Sheamus over the ringside barrier into the Roberts Cubicle for a moment. They return to the ring and Christian gets a near fall. Christian with head butts to the shoulder and then he stomps on the injured shoulder.
Christian with a clothesline to Sheamus on the apron and then Christian stands over Sheamus and puts his boot over Sheamus’ face and he gets a near fall. Sheamus wants more and he punches Christian. Christian with a belly-to-back suplex and then he goes up top. Christian misses a frog splash when Sheamus moves out of the way.
Sheamus sends Christian into the turnbuckles but Christian with a back heel kick. Sheamus catches Christian off the turnbuckles and he hits a Finlay Slam. Sheamus and Christian exchange punches until Sheamus hits a double sledge. Sheamus with a shoulder in the corner but he misses the knee lift. Sheamus sends Christian to the apron and he sets for the forearms but Christian tries to send Sheamus into the ring post.
Sheamus catches Christian off the turnbuckles and hot shots Christian and then he connects with the forearms and then connects with a knee lift. Sheamus with a second knee lift but Christian kicks out at two. Christian pushes Sheamus into the corner but Sheamus misses a short arm clothesline. Christian with an inverted DDT followed by a frog splash but he can only get a near fall.
Christian slingshots to the floor but Sheamus blocks the punch and he brings Christian into the ring and hits White Noise for a near fall. Christian with a pendulum kick that sends Sheamus to the apron. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick from the apron and Sheamus gets the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
We go to commercial.
We are back and Renee Young is with Sheamus in the interview area. She congratulates him on his victory over Christian. Sheamus says that it has been a hard road back from recovery . . .
Christian attacks Sheamus from behind and sends him into the interview set. Christian hits Sheamus with a light
Match Number Six: Nikki Bella and Brie Bella versus Alicia Fox and Aksana
Aksana and Brie start things off and they lock up but Aksana with a waist lock. Brie with a standing switch and Aksana with a standing switch. Brie with an elbow and snap mare followed by a kick. Nikki tags in and hits a cartwheel neck snap for a near fall. Brie tags in and Nikki with a reverse atomic drop followed by a clothesline. Brie with a running knee to the head but Alicia distracts Brie and Aksana with a snap mare.
Alicia tags in and gets a near fall. Alicia with a reverse chin lock. Alicia slams Brie’s head into the mat and then slams her head into the mat. Aksana tags in and she kicks Brie and slams her head into the mat.
Alicia tags in and Alicia sends Brie to the mat. Alicia with a hard Irish whip and Aksana tags in. Aksana kicks Brie and then Alicia tags in and they lift Brie into the air and then to the mat. Alicia gets a near fall. Alicia with a rear chin lock and Straightjacket choke. Brie is caught by Alicia. Brie with a sunset flip.
Nikki with a clothesline to Alicia and a drop kick to Aksana on the apron. Nikki with a facebuster and back body drop for a near fall. Brie kicks Aksana and hits a missile drop kick. Alicia misses a Yakuza Kick and Nikki with Shock Treatment for the three count.
Winners: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella
Daniel Bryan walks in the back as we go to commercial.
Daniel Bryan makes his way to the ring and he has something to say. Daniel says that is what he likes to hear. The people in Chicago understand one thing. You have a voice. Tonight we are going to hijack Raw. Daniel says that he is not going to leave this ring until one of two thing happen.
He will not leave this ring until Batista comes out to fight or until Triple H comes out to answer his challenge. Last week, he challenged Triple H to a match at Wrestlemania and he flat out turned him down.
The people get it. There are a number of reasons why Hunter turned him down.
Triple H’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring with his wife, and mother of his children Stephanie McMahon (who has taken time out of watching the WWE Network with her children to see Papa or Dad).
Stephanie says that she admires Daniel’s tenacity with all of his losses. She says that if that was her, she wouldn’t be hijacking Raw, she would be too embarrassed.
Daniel says that Hunter may duck the question, but he will not let it rest. He has been beaten and screwed over for six months. Whenever he came close, out comes the Shield, out comes a screwy referee, out comes Kane, and even Hunter pedigreed him. Daniel says that he stands out here unbroken with the people behind him.
Daniel says that he is stronger than ever. Why not him versus Triple H at Wrestlemania XXX.
Hunter has to laugh and he says that is not going to happen. Hunter wants to know what it is about Daniel’s generation. Why can’t he accept his failure? Why can’t he accept his inadequacies? Hunter tells Stephanie that he will call this the Excuses Era or the Blame Era. No one that doesn’t make it . . . they never say that they weren’t good enough. They blame everyone else and they make excuses.
’They’ held me down. ‘They’ screwed me over. ‘They’ buried me. The reality is that anybody who has ever failed here, it is because they were not good enough. That is the reality. That is reality. Daniel’s reality is that he is a B+ player. While that angers people, B+ is pretty good. It is a good little spot. It will take a whole hell of a lot more than a B+ player to get him to lace up his boots at Wrestlemania.
The crowd chants ‘A**hole’ and Hunter tells Daniel it is his turn.
Daniel says that the people can see through the lies. That is why they chant. Hunter says that he is doing what is best and that he is doing what the WWE Universe wants, but Hunter is not listening to the Yes Movement. The only way that Hunter will get to see this is if he beats the crap out of him, and if he does it at Wrestlemania.
Stephanie says that it is very compelling. Stephanie asks why would they listen to this sea of inadequacy. The crowd will turn on a dime. They will turn on him faster than you think. The only people who won’t turn on him are Triple H and her. It is intoxicating that they chant Daniel’s name. People ask him for his autograph. It is easy to get wrapped up in this because of where he came from.
Without her family, Daniel would have nothing. Twenty-one trucks pulled up to this building for him. The ring was set up for him. The digital and social channels are for Daniel thanks to her. Without her family, Daniel would not have the underdog persona or the merchandise. They made him.
Daniel says that Stephanie’s delusions are admirable. Why not put on Hunter’s trunks while Hunter puts on Stephanie’s skirt and they wrestle while Hunter sits back and watches.
Hunter says that he is 90% sure that she would whip his ass too. Hunter says that this is not going to happen. He wants to explain it to Daniel so he understands. Is this kindergarten or grade school? It is not his first rodeo. Hunter says that Daniel’s match at Wrestlemania is not going to happen. Wrestlemania is the Showcase of the Immortals. Hunter says that ‘this’ does not measure up.
Hunter tells Daniel to get out of his ring.
Daniel says that this isn’t Hunter’s ring. He says that this is ‘their’ ring.
Hunter says everything in this arena right now, including them and Daniel belong to them. Hunter tells Daniel to get out of his ring.
Daniel tells Hunter to make him.
Stephanie calls for Kane to clean up their problem. Daniel with a suicide dive onto Kane and he punches Kane.
Stephanie calls for security but the officials come out and they stand over Bryan trying to pull him off Kane. Security comes out and they get between Bryan and Kane.
We go to commercial.
We are back and in case you missed it earlier, Mark Henry was destroyed by Brock Lesnar again.
We go to the Pre-Show Panel and Booker talks about the Usos becoming the new tag team champions. Hacksaw Jim Duggan ‘hooooed’. Alex Riley commented on Paul Heyman’s comments earlier.
They talk about Daniel Bryan’s challenge to Triple H.
Alberto has a taste of his own medicine because his opponent drives into the arena.
Match Number Seven: Alberto Del Rio versus Dolph Ziggler (with Aaron Paul)
Del Rio kicks Ziggler in the leg and he punches Dolph in the head. Del Rio sends Ziggler into the air and then to the mat face first. Del Rio mocks Ziggler and then he stomps on the chest and gets a near fall. Del Rio with a reverse chin lock. Del Rio kicks Ziggler in the corner. Del Rio misses a charge into the corner and Ziggler with a drop kick. Ziggler leaps into the corner and he punches Del Rio in the head.
Ziggler with a neck breaker but he misses the Fameasser and Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Del Rio waits for Ziggler to get up but he misses a super kick. Ziggler with a DDT for a near fall. Del Rio with an arm breaker followed by a super kick but Aaron gets on the announce table and distracts Del Rio.
Ziggler is able to recover and he hits the Zig Zag after escaping the float over for the cross arm breaker and Ziggler gets the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Aaron goes into the ring to celebrate with Dolph.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the fourth inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014 is Paul Bearer.
Match Number Eight: Big E versus Jack Swagger (with Cesaro and Zeb Colter)
The bell rings and Cesaro attacks Big E and gives him the Gotch Style Neutralizer as the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Big E (by disqualification)
After the match, Cesaro and Swagger argue. Swagger pushes Cesaro and Cesaro tells him to try it one more time. Swagger pushes Cesaro and Cesaro with a double leg take down and he sets for the Cesaro Swing. Colter tells Cesaro not to do it to his brother.
Cesaro lets go and Colter tells Cesaro to help him up. Cesaro picks him up and Colter tells them to put this behind them. Colter wants them to hug. They hug, but it is not a Daniel Bryan hug. Cesaro tells Swagger that he is lucky because he would have swung him.
We are back and there is another match on Main Event that has been announced. Daniel Bryan will face Kane.
John Cena makes his way to the ring and he does so gingerly.
John welcomes Chicago for the warm welcome. Last week, he was injured by the Wyatt Family. He says that the people might be disappointed to hear that he is not cleared by the doctors to wrestle tonight. John says that he assumes the crowd is telling him to get well soon.
John says that he wanted to come out here tonight. He wanted to hear the passion and energy of an entire city. John says that this arena has had a special place in his heart. He competed in this arena at Wrestlemania. Brock Lesnar kicked the hell out of him in this arena. He had a special match with someone at Money in the Bank in this arena.
He might not have seen eye to eye with Chicago. John says that he respects this city. While the people may boo him out of the arena, he always hears them and he knows that they are honest and that they are loud. He has been listening tonight and the ‘hijack’ business. He hears them. The WWE Universe wants change.
John says that you need to respect that success is earned and change will take place, but it will go through him. To any WWE Superstar, especially Mr. Wyatt, if you think you are in the driver’s seat, you are dead wrong. John says that he has given his last twelve years to this business.
John says that he is in the same place where he started things in 2002, the Allstate Arena. John says that he is still standing tall.
The Wyatt’s music plays and they are on the TitanTron.
Bray says that John stands out there alone. He built this empire and he asks John if he feels the energy and the people. He reminds John of a Championship thoroughbred horse that has been running for a long time. He wins and wins and the people cheer for him. Then the horse starts to slow down. That is when reality starts to set in. He does not just search for the next finish line. He is sitting in the back of the barn waiting for the slab.
When did the reality set in for you John? When did you think you could fend them off? Mercy is calling him by name. He is the reaper. He is going to put John down. He lets John in on a secret. He knows what John is afraid of. The loneliest man on earth is the man who sits in his empty castle. That is what will happen when he takes it all away.
Follow the Buzzard.
We go to the back where Batista is walking. Randy says hello to the Big Man and he wishes Dave the best of luck against Daniel Bryan.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lana makes her way onto the stage and she speaks in Russian. She tells the people of America to rise for the Bulgarian Brute is the Super Athlete. She introduces Alexander Rusev.
Rusev gets on the mic and he speaks in Bulgarian.
We take a look at some of Hulk Hogan’s appearances on television last week.
Randy Orton makes his way to ringside. Is he going to scout his opponent at Wrestlemania?
Match Number Nine: Batista versus Daniel Bryan
They lock up and Batista sends Bryan to the mat. They lock up again and Bryan with a waist lock but Batista with an elbow. Batista with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Batista looks at Randy sitting at ringside. They lock up and Batista with a side head lock. Bryan with a drop kick to the knee.
Bryan wrings the leg into the mat. Bryan kicks Batista in the ribs and knee. Bryan chokes Batista. Bryan sends Batista into the turnbuckles and he kicks him. Bryan puts the leg in the ropes and Bryan with a drop kick to the knee. Bryan with a single leg crab. Batista kicks Bryan away.
Bryan with a European uppercut or three. Bryan with a kick but Batista with a clothesline. Batista hot shots Bryan and then he sends Bryan to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Batista with a head lock but Bryan with elbows. Batista with a kick and Irish whip but Bryan flips out of the corner and he hits the flying clotheslines. Bryan with a drop kick into the corner and he connects. Bryan goes for a second one and connects. Daniel goes for number three but Batista goes to the floor. Bryan soars and scores with a suicide dive.
Bryan sends Batista back into the ring and he goes up top. Bryan with a missile drop kick and Bryan kips up. Bryan looks at the Wrestlemania sign and he kicks Batista in the chest and then hits the round kick for a near fall. Bryan goes up top but Hunter, Kane, and Stephanie come to the ring.
Batista knocks Bryan off the turnbuckles and to the floor. Batista sends Bryan into the ring steps. Batista sends Bryan into Orton at ringside. Batista sends Bryan into the ring and Batista mocks Bryan. Bryan with a round kick to the head.
Orton enters the ring and he clotheslines Bryan to get Batista disqualified.
Winner: Daniel Bryan (by disqualification)
After the match, Orton sets for the RKO but Batista pushes him away and hits the flying knee. Bryan with a drop kick to Batista. Then Kane is knocked off the apron. Batista with a Pounce and Hunter and Kane enter the ring, but Hunter holds Kane back.
Hunter tells Bryan that he is sick of his crap. Bryan kicks Hunter in the head. Batista hits the Batista Bomb on Bryan. Hunter takes off his jacket and tie. Hunter gives Bryan a Pedigree.
Stephanie joins her husband standing over Bryan and she mocks the Yes Chants.
2015 - Allegations against Head WWE Coach Bill DeMott began to surface publicly. PWInsider reported the following:
WWE Head Coach and trainer Bill DeMott was once again back in the middle of controversy over his training methods after former WWE developmental talent Austin Matelson, who worked under the name Judas Devlin, made a radio appearance on California-based wrestling show Vendetta Pro Radio 2K15 to discuss allegations he made against Demott in a letter to WWE Talent Relations in March 2013.
In the letter, which was posted online in the wake of the interview, Matelson details a brutal, insulting series of events where DeMott allegedly physically assaulted students, used racial and sexually insulting monikers and forced them into dangerous drills that led to a number of injuries.
It should be noted that Devlin was released from WWE after a severe spinal injury while training.
In the letter, it was alleged that DeMott had kicked then-WWE developmental talent Briley Pierce, who was out with a broken leg, in "his medical boot." Last night on Twitter, Pierce (real name Ryan Nemeth, the younger brother of current WWE star Dolph Ziggler) wrote, "This is sad but (extremely) true. Please share if you don't want your heroes abused & mistreated." with a link to the letter in question.
The letter also claimed that DeMott forced Matelson to train and do dangerous moves without properly warming up, leading to a knee injury.
There were a number of other allegations, which Matelson wrote created a "culture of fear and negativity" including allegations that talents were forced to perform dangerous drills, that DeMott would force students to put their face near the bottom rope so he could attempt to bust open their lips, that DeMott allegedly slapped one student in a training room because the student felt dizzy after a blow to the head in the ring, that one student was called a "pedophile" while another was "targeted" with homophobic slurs, that students who were injured and not cleared for physical contact were subject to physical assault and that when a student referred to his finisher as The Davey Boy, DeMott allegedly responded, "The Davey Boy? What turning blue and dropping dead on the lawn?”
The reaction to the interview and the letter led to a wild storm of negative reactions toward WWE and DeMott on social media last night, with Demott's name trending on Twitter for hours and the hashtag "#FireBillDeMott" also being used quite extensively.
Former WWE and current New Japan talent Trent Baretta wrote, in reference to the story making waves online that it was, "About f**king time."
PWInsider.com contacted WWE last night regarding the DeMott story. This afternoon, we received back the following statement:
“WWE took the accusations made two years ago by Austin Matelson very seriously, conducted a full investigation and was unable to validate the claims. Regardless, WWE continues to reinforce policies and procedures to ensure a positive training environment.”
PWInsider.com has confirmed DeMott was at the WWE Performance Center today, working in his normal capacity.
It should be noted The allegations are not the first time DeMott has been accused of wrong-doing while training. There were complaints at the time by then-developmental talents training in the now-defunct WWE developmental league Deep South Wrestling, which led to WWE ordering that all training sessions be taped. Today, the WWE Performance Center is stacked with cameras filming from all angles so that all activity is taped and can even be broadcast live to WWE HQ in Stamford, CT.
Matelson is not the first to go public with allegations of DeMott. Former WWE developmental talent Kevin Matthews, who was under contract during the Deep South era, took to Twitter and social media in 2012 to go after DeMott with accusations about his conduct from that time period.
Matthews went as far as to produce a photo featuring naked wrestler giving someone else a Stinkface while what certainly does appear to be Bill DeMott standing outside the ring in the old Deep South Wrestling training center in Georgia,circa 2005-2007. Last night, Matthews wrote on Twitter, "You believe me now @wwe ? @TripleH ? #FireBillDemott"
Demott was eventually released from his role as a WWE trainer when WWE shut down DSW in favor of moving their developmental operations to Florida in 2007.
DeMott addressed some of the Deep South allegations in his autobiography "The Last Laugh" when it was released by Crowbar Press, citing that many of those complaining were just "dead weight" who "began to realize who began to realize they weren't as good as they thought." He characterized the complaints as being from those who weren't going to make it to the main roster anyway.
DeMott also wrote that many times, he was doing what was asked of him by WWE management (specifically John Laurinaitis) and said that he had records to prove such. Laurinaitis is no longer a Talent Relations position, but remains a Producer for the company.
DeMott was brought back to the company as a trainer for the "Tough Enough" reality series when it was relaunched on the USA Network in 2011 and has remained with WWE as a coach and trainer since.
**
DeMott would soon resign from his position with the company.
2022 - Famed promoter Jim Crockett Jr. passes away. Mike Johnson penned the following:
It’s somewhat fitting that on tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT that Tully Blanchard, accompanied by JJ Dillon no less, strutted to the ring wearing the NWA United States Championship belt that he defended against Magnum TA at Starrcade ‘85 while FTR carried the NWA World Tag Team Titles that Blanchard and Arn Anderson won from Lex Luger and Barry Windham to the ring, each callbacks to classic moments that took place under the Jim Crockett Promotions banner.
Whether it was meant to be or not, the moment not only invoked nostalgia and memories from old school fans who remember the days when Crockett Promotions and the NWA epitomized the best in pro wrestling authenticity but doubled as a tribute to Jim Crockett Jr., who has passed away at 76, days after going into hospice care with what was said to be kidney and liver issues.
Crockett's passing was first announced by former NWA star Robert Gibson. To say that he was one of the most important figures in pro wrestling history is one of the most ridiculous understatements ever written. It will be near-impossible in this short article to explain his importance, especially in the 1980s, but here is an overview.
Crockett was a second-generation promoter who inherited Crockett Promotions several years after the passing of his father, the legendary “Big” Jim Crockett, who promoted not just professional wrestling, but all kinds of sports and entertainment events in the Carolinas. As all other promoters either faltered against the might of the WWF's national expansion or failed to realize until it was too late the countdown to their doom was upon them, Crockett stood out in that pack, fighting head to head with Vince McMahon through the 1980s before shutting down and selling what many fans felt was the last true national representation of the NWA at the time to Turner Broadcasting, which then created WCW in late 1988.
The Crockett family legacy, especially in the Carolinas, was and remains second to none. After taking control of JCP, Crockett brought it from a regional group to a nationally touring outlet thanks to the viewing power of WTBS, an incredible crew of performers and the booking might of Dusty Rhodes. It was not uncommon for WWF and JCP to run the same market on the same night and each sell out their respective arenas at the same time. Crockett was the first promoter beyond WWF to bring his shows to PPV with the 1987 Bunkhouse Stampede and then, far more successfully, The 1988 Great American Bash.
During this period, Crockett served as NWA President for multiple terms, but also believed he would end up the final member of the promotion as other promoters fell by the wayside due to the McMahon expansion. For that reason, the "Big Gold Belt", which Crockett commissioned, reads World Heavyweight Champion as opposed to NWA World Champion. Crockett vs. WWF was a dogfight in every sense of the word, with the promotions running close to each other, live free cable specials scheduled the same day as major PPVs, etc. It was the true, first, head to head war, well before the Monday Night Raw.
Crockett himself has said that he was the one who bankrolled the first Wrestlemania as he paid $1 million to buy Vince McMahon and the WWF out of their timeslot on TBS after McMahon had taken it over from Georgia Championship Wrestling during the WWF's national expansion, only to end up at odds with Ted Turner when the audience, expecting Gordon Solie and the stars they had come accustomed to, revolted against getting WWF stars on tape from various locales instead of their weekly studio show.
Despite the strength of the promotion, financial losses proved to be too much and Crockett opted to sell, something that ended generations of tradition, a move that obviously haunted him. Some blamed Dusty Rhodes' booking and some blamed poor book-keeping. However, Crockett himself explained in the great Michael Elliot documentary The Good Old Days that if anyone was to blame for the promotion going down, it was him as it was his responsibility and the failure rests on his shoulders. Years later, Ric Flair would comment that the national expansion had been too much and had they just stayed to the East of the Mississippi River, “they wouldn’t have been able to blow us out with Dynamite.”
After Turner purchased JCP, Jim stayed on as a consultant for a short time but was no longer in control and quietly disappeared from the scene. After his non-compete expired, Crockett did attempt a comeback, running some shows under the NWA banner in Texas for a short time. He also partnered with Paul Heyman in 1994 in an attempt to launch a group under the World Wrestling Network banner (designed to be filmed in HD MANY years before that was the common technology) but it didn’t gel together. After a taping in Texas and a taping in New York City, the project ended with Heyman continuing on in ECW while Crockett quietly moved on to real estate.
In the years to come, Crockett would often turn down convention and signing offers, citing that he had let fans down as he couldn’t envision that those fans would actually want to see him given what he had decided to shut down. It was only in recent years that he opted to appear at a Conrad Thompson produced Starrcast event. For fans who grew up in the Carolinas, there will be and never can be something greater than what JCP produced and if you watching WTBS in the 1980s, you were blessed with a glorious era on your TV every weekend at 6:05 PM Saturdays. That legacy can never be outmatched or forgotten.
Everyone at PWInsider.com sends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of one of the most important promoters of all time, Jim Crockett Jr.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
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