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March 12th
On this day in history in ....
1923 - WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young is born.
1963 - WWWF ran Bridgeport, CT featuring the following results:
Tim Woods defeated Pete Sanchez
Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard fought Jerry & Bobby Colt to a double disqualification
Jerry & Bobby Colt defeated Gordo Chihuahua & Miguel Torres
Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard defeated Gene Kelly & Frank Martinez
Boris Malenko defeated Pablo Iturbi in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0
Moses Benmergul defeated Tommy O'Toole in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0
1965 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bill Miller via disqualification in Pittsburgh, PA.
1970 - WWWF ran Washington, DC with the followong results:
Al Nelson defeated Angelo Savoldi
Arnold Skaaland defeated Lou Albano
Joe Turco defeated Jean DuBois
Sky Low Low & Little Brutus defeated Joey Russell & Sonny Boy Hayes in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0
Mario Milano & Gorilla Monsoon defeated the Red Demon & Eric the Red in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0
Ivan Koloff fought Victor Rivera to a 30-minute draw
1972 - Former WWE Cruiserweight champion and ECW World Tag Team champion James Martitato aka Nunzio and Little Guido is born.
1974 - Former TNA Tag Team champion Anarquia is born.
1976 - WWWF ran North Attleboro, MA at Witschi's Sports Arena featuring the following results:
Irish Pat Barrett defeated Gene Dundee
Johnny Rivera defeated Pete Reeves
Rocky Tamayo defeated Pistol Pete Sanchez
Bobo Brazil & WWWF Tag Team Champions Tony Parisi & Louis Cerdan defeated Bugsy McGraw, Crusher Blackwell, & Baron Mikel Scicluna in a Best 3 out of 5 falls match
1977 - WWWF ran Randolph, NJ with the following results:
Larry Zbyzsko defeated Mike Santocapito
Baron Von Raschke defeated Frankie Williams
Tony Garea defeated Tor Kamata
Baron Von Raschke & Tony Altimore defeated Manuel Soto & Pete Sanchez
Ivan Putski defeated Executioner #1
1977 - WWWF ran Baltimore, MD at the Civic Center with the following results:
Johnny Rodz defeated Don Seranno
Doug Gilbert fought Jose Gonzalez to a draw
Carlos Rocha defeated Johnny Rodz
WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Stan Stasiak via count-out
WWWF Tag Team Champions Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy Whitewolf defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna & Frank Monroe via disqualification
Bobo Brazil defeated Executioner #2
1979 - Tough Enough season one winner Nidia ia born.
1981 - Pro Wrestling NOAH star KENTA is born.
1981 - WWF ran Providence, RI at the Civic Center with the following results:
SD Jones defeated Frank Savage
The Great Yatsu defeated the Hangman (sub. for Johnny Rodz) via referee's decision
WWF Tag Team Champion Tony Garea defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna
WWF Tag Team Champion Rick Martel defeated the Hangman
Andre the Giant defeated Sgt. Slaughter via count-out
1982 - Former ROH star Erick Stevens is born.
1983 - Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood defeat Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle in a steel cage for the NWA World Tag Team Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. Steamboat commented on the match in an interview here on PWInsider.com, saying "It's a match that I've always brought up when people bring up the Wrestlemania III match with Randy Savage or the matches with Ric Flair, the series in 1989. There are hundreds of other matches that when you just wrestled in your territory every night, people didn't have the opportunity to see it because there wasn't the television exposure or the Pay-per-view exposure. I've always had that match in my memory banks as one of my greatest matches. It was a match that I had a lot of fun with, from conception to finish, and we probably ran a three month program with Don Kernodle and Sgt. Slaughter. Everything just clicked, and it was a ball of fun."
Other results from that event featured:
Jerry Brisco defeated Ken Timbs via submission with the figure-four at 3:55 following a butterfly suplex
Mike Rotundo pinned Rick Harris following the airplane spin at 4:46
Jim Nelson & Johnny Weaver defeated Red Dog Lane & Gene Anderson at 6:30 when Nelson pinned Lane with an inside cradle
Roddy Piper pinned Mid-Atlantic TV Champion Dick Slater (w/ Gary Hart) at 17:24 with a fist drop; the title was only at stake for the first 15 minutes of the match; after the contest, Piper left ringside with the title belt
NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought NWA US Champion Greg Valentine to a 60-minute time-limit draw
1983 - WWF ran a matinee events in Landover, MD at the Capital Centre with the following results:
Eddie Gilbert & Tony Garea defeated Mr. Fuji & Swede Hanson at 10:15
Pedro Holmes pinned Johnny Rodz at 4:13
Ray Stevens pinned SD Jones at 6:37
Rocky Johnson defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna at 4:33
Pete Sanchez fought Jose Estrada to a 15-minute draw
Big John Studd defeated Chief Jay Strongbow at 7:03
Jimmy Snuka defeated Superstar Billy Graham in a Texas Death Match at 7:14
Andre the Giant won a 20-man, $10,000 battle royal by last eliminating Mr. Fuji at 12:08; other participants included: Big John Studd, Rocky Johnson, the Wild Samoans, SD Jones, Chief Jay Strongbow, Ray Stevens, Jules Strongbow, Swede Hanson, Pedro Morales, Tony Garea, Baron Mikel Scicluna, Salvatore Bellomo, Charlie Fulton, Eddie Gilbert, Jose Estrada, Pete Sanchez, and Johnny Rodz
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned WWF IC Champion Don Muraco in a Texas Death Match at 19:45
1983 - WWF ran an evening event at the Baltimore, MD Civic Center with the following results:
Johnny Rodz defeated Pete Sanchez
Salvatore Bellomo defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna
Eddie Gilbert defeated Mac Rivera
SD Jones defeatd Jose Estrada
Andre the Giant, Jimmy Snuka, Pedro Morales, Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeated WWF IC Champion Don Muraco, Ray Stevens, Mr. Fuji, & WWF Tag Team Champions the Wild Samoans; during the bout, Sika sustained a broken hip that would force Samoan #3 (Samula) to temporarily replace him as one half of the tag team champions; the injury was never mentioned on TV and old matches of the Samoans were shown until Samula appeared
Rocky Johnson defeated Superstar Billy Graham via count-out
Big John Studd defeated WWF World Champion Bob Backlund via disqualification
1984 - Mr. Wrestling II defeats The Junkyard Dog in New Orleans, Louisiana to win the Mid South North American Heavyweight Title, ending JYD's fourth and final North American title reign.
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Fayetteville, NC with the following results:
Tully Blanchard defeated Jeff Sword
Gary Royal defeated Sam Houston
Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood defeated Bob Orton Jr. & Don Kernodle
Ivan Koloff defeated Dory Funk Jr.
The Great Kabuki defeated Angelo Mosca Jr. via count-out
Jimmy Valiant defeated Paul Jones
The Assassins defeated Jay Youngblood & Jimmy Valiant
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greenville, SC with the followoing results:
Brickhouse Brown defeated Bobby Bass
Barry O defeated Tim Horner
Johnny Weaver defeated Doug Vines
Rufus R. Jones defeated Ernie Ladd
Angelo Mosca Sr. & King Kong Bundy defeated the Road Warriors
NWA US Champion Dick Slater defeated Greg Valentine
1984 - WWF ran Wyoming, DE with the following results:
Victor Rivera defeated Rene Goulet
Invader #1 fought SD Jones to a draw
Invader #2 defeated Israel Matia
The Masked Superstar defeated Chief Jay Strongbow
Ivan Putski & Jimmy Snuka defeated the Wild Samoans
1984 - WWF ran Staten Island, NY with the following results:
Charlie Fulton defeated Steve Lombardi
WWF IC Champion Tito Santana defeated Iron Mike Sharpe
Rocky Johnson & Tony Garea defeated Tiger Chung Lee & Charlie Fulton
Paul Orndorff defeated Salvatore Bellomo
Afa defeated Chief Jay Strongbow
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions and the AWA ran a combined event in Altoona, PA, featuring the following results:
Manuel Soto fought Davey O'Hannon to a draw
Pez Whatley defeated JJ Dillon
Superstar Billy Graham defeated Steve King
Larry Zbyszko defeated Pete Sanchez
Sgt. Slaughter & Bob Backlund defeated Ivan Koloff & Ron Bass via disqualification
1986 - WWF ran Peoria, IL with the following results:
Adrian Adonis defeated Lanny Poffo
Jake Roberts defeated SD Jones
Tito Santana fought WWF IC Champion Randy Savage to a no contest
Scott McGhee fought Moondog Spot to a draw
The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff defeated Dan Spivey & Cpl. Kirchner
Dory Funk Jr. defeated George Wells
The Junkyard Dog defeated Terry Funk
1987 - NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated the Great Wajima at 18:29 at an All Japan Pro Wrestling event at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Sunrise, FL at the Musical Theatre, with the following results:
Jimmy Valiant pinned the Barbarian
Barry Windham fought Lex Luger to a 20-minute time-limit draw
NWA Tag Team Champions Rick Rude & Manny Fernandez defeated Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson at the 20-minute mark
NWA US Champion Nikita Koloff pinned Arn Anderson
NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes via disqualification
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Raleigh, NC at The Dorton Arena, featuring the followoing results:
Bob Armstrong & Denny Brown defeated the MOD Squad
Eddie Roberts & Brady Boone defeated Thunderfoot #1 & #2
Big Bubba defeated Brad Armstrong via count-out in a Louisville streetfight
Ivan Koloff & Dick Murdoch defeated Baron Von Raschke & Wahoo McDaniel
The Italian Stallion defeated Colt Steele
Vladimir Petrov defeated Tim Horner
Ron & Jimmy Garvin defeated Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey
1988 - WWF held four events on the same day. Results courtesy Graham Cawthon and www.thehistoryofwwe.com:
WWF @ Landover, MD - Capital Centre - March 12, 1988 (matinee) (8,500)
SD Jones pinned Johnny V
Dino Bravo pinned Koko B. Ware after Frenchy Martin interfered
Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov defeated B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell
Andre the Giant pinned Bam Bam Bigelow with a boot to the face at around the 3-minute mark
WWF Women's Tag Team Champions the Jumping Bomb Angels defeated Judy Martin & Leilani Kai
Brutus Beefcake defeated Greg Valentine via disqualification when Jimmy Hart interfered
Hulk Hogan pinned Virgil (w/ Ted Dibiase)
Don Muraco & George Steele defeated the One Man Gang & Butch Reed
WWF @ El Paso, TX - Civic Center - March 12, 1988
Dan Spivey pinned Lanny Poffo
Danny Davis pinned Sam Houston
Hillbilly Jim pinned Sika
The Junkyard Dog defeated Bad News Brown via disqualification
The Ultimate Warrior pinned King Harley Race
Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Demolition
Jim Duggan pinned Ron Bass
Jim Duggan won an 18-man bunkhouse battle royal by last eliminating Bad News Brown and Ron Bass; other participants included: Dan Spivey, Lanny Poffo, Danny Davis, Sam Houston, the Junkyard Dog, Bad News Brown, Hillbilly Jim, Sika, the Ultimate Warrior, King Harley Race, Jacques & Raymond Rougeau, Demolition, Mr. Fuji, and Scott Case
WWF @ Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - March 12, 1988
David Sammartino defeated Barry Horowitz
Paul Roma & Jim Powers defeated the Conquistadors
Rick Rude defeated Ken Patera
The Islanders defeated Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid
WWF Women’s Champion Sensational Sherri defeated Rockin Robin
Jake Roberts fought Hercules to a double count-out
Randy Savage, WWF Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated WWF IC Champion the Honkytonk Man, Bret Hart, & Jim Neidhart in a steel cage match
WWF @ Philadelphia, PA - Spectrum - March 12, 1988 (10,731)
Televised on the PRISM Network - featured Dick Graham & Craig DeGeorge on commentary:
SD Jones pinned Johnny V at 6:09 with a headbutt
WWF Women's Tag Team Champions the Jumping Bomb Angels defeated Judy Martin & Lelani Kai (w/ Jimmy Hart) when Martin was pinned with a modified victory roll at 8:01 (High Flyers)
Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin) pinned Koko B. Ware at 8:34 with the side suplex
Prime Time Wrestling - 4/18/88: Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) & Don Muraco (w/ Superstar Billy Graham) defeated the One Man Gang & Butch Reed (w/ Slick) at 14:11 when Muraco pinned Reed after Reed dove into the ropes when Muraco moved out of the way
B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov (w/ Slick) at 10:42 when Blair pinned Zhukov with a reverse roll up after Blair & Brunzell switched places by using the masks
Brutus Beefcake defeated Greg Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) via disqualification at 10:25 when Valentine hit Beefcake with Hart's megaphone as Beefcake attempted to powerslam Hart
Hulk Hogan pinned Ted Dibiase (w/ Virgil) in a lumberjack match at 6:05 with the legdrop after throwing Dibiase off the top rope, despite outside interference from two men wearing Killer Bees face masks; after the bout, Hogan fought off the two masked men and unmasked one of them but he was wearing a second mask underneath; other lumberjacks included: Virgil, Koko B. Ware, SD Jones, Johnny V, Brutus Beefcake, Dino Bravo, Greg Valentine, Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov; stipulations stated Andre the Giant was banned from ringside for the match (Hulkamania 4)
1989 - Ranger Ross would make his NWA TV debut, winning a bout against pinned Lee Scott at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
1989 - Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich defeat The Stud Stable, Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden, to win the World Class Tag Team Titles.
1990 - Jerry "The King" Lawler defeats Jimmy Valiant in Memphis, Tennessee for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title, the fifth of an eventual 27 runs with the title.
1991 - Jim Neidhart joined the WWF announcing team during a Wrestling Challenge taping in Biloxi, MA.
1992 - WCW ran Camp LeJune, NC with the following results:
Mr. Hughes pinned PN News
Vinnie Vegas pinned Big Josh
Abdullah the Butcher fought Cactus Jack to a double disqualification
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated WCW TV Champion Steve Austin & WCW Tag Team Champion Bobby Eaton
Johnny B. Badd pinned Terrence Taylor
Sting & Ron Simmons (sub. for El Gigante) defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude & Larry Zbyszko
1993 - Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka defeats Glenn Osbourne in a tournament final in Radnor, Pennsylvania to become the ECW Television Champion. The event, held at Cabrini College following a snowstorm, would be the first-ever ECW TV Taping for the promotion's Sportschannel Philadelphia timeslot, which debuted on 4/6/93. During the taping, Tod Gordon asked Terry Funk what he thought. Funk apologized to the crowd for the show but promised if they stuck with ECW, things would get better. He was quite the prophet that night.
The complete results of the taping featured:
ECW Tag Team Champions the Super Destroyers (w/ Hunter Q. Robbins III) defeated the Hell Riders (EZ Rider & HD Rider) in 2:58 when Super Destroyer #2 pinned EZ with a somersault senton after #1 hit a powerbomb
Tommy Cairo defeated Salvatore Bellomo (w/ the Cosmic Commander) via count-out at 5:30 after Johnny Hotbody accidently knocked Bellomo into a daze; prior to the bout, Terry Funk greeted the undefeated Cairo and wished him the best of luck; following the match Hotbody again attempted to attack Cairo but was run off
Rockin' Rebel pinned Tony Stetson in 4:02 with a roll up and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage; after the bout, Rebel claimed he would take the ECW Title from the Sandman and end his career
ECW TV Title Tournament Quarter Finals: Jimmy Snuka (w/ Eddie Gilbert) pinned Larry Winters in 4:31 with the splash off the top after Gilbert tripped Winters
Salvatore Bellomo pinned an unknown in an impromptu match at the 19-second mark after a slam.
ECW TV Title Tournament Quarter Finals: Glenn Osbourne pinned Johnny Hotbody at 7:56 with a splash off the top after Tommy Cairo tripped Hotbody off the middle rope; following the bout, Terry Funk conducted an interview with Osbourne, who claimed the TV title would be his
Larry Winters & Tony Stetson defeated Chris Michaels & the Samoan Warrior at 5:05 when Winters pinned Michaels after a Veg-O-Matic; following the match, Funk congratulated the winners until Hunter Q. Robbins III insulted them, leading to Winters & Stetson brawling with ECW Tag Team Champions the Super Destroyers in the aisle
ECW Heavyweight Champion the Sandman defeated the Kodiak Bear at 4:29 via submission with a cobra clutch; before the bout, ring attendant Peaches surprised the Sandman with a kiss
Eddie Gilbert pinned JT Smith at 4:33 after hitting him with a foreign object as Smith attempted to suplex Gilbert into the ring
Tommy Cairo pinned the Super Ninja at 1:44 after catching the Ninja in the corner and hitting a German suplex; Johnny Hotbody attacked Cairo as the three count was made and brawled to the back with him
Johnny Hotbody fought Tommy Cairo to a double disqualification
The Super Destroyers defeated the Super Ninja & the Canadian Wolfman
The Rockin Robin defeated Frank Cody
ECW TV Championship Finals: Jimmy Snuka defeated Glenn Osbourne
1993 - WWF ran Erie, PA with the following results:
Jim Powers defeated Repo Man
Bob Backlund defeated Damien Demento
Tito Santana defeated Skinner
Kamala defeated Kimchee
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Beverly Brothers
Bob Backlund defeated Damien Demento
WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Bam Bam Bigelow
1993 - WWF ran Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Metro Centre with the following results:
Typhoon pinned Terry Taylor with a splash
Virgil pinned Rick Martel with a sunset flip
Brian Knobbs pinned WWF Tag Team Champion IRS with a roll up; IRS had pinned Knobbs with his feet on the ropes but the referee saw it and had the match continue
Crush defeated Doink the Clown via disqualification when Doink squirted Crush in the eyes with water
Tatanka pinned Papa Shango with an inside cradle
The Headshrinkers defeated Jim Brunzell & Koko B. Ware when Brunzell was pinned
The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna via disqualification when Yoko used his salt bucket as a weapon
1994 WWF ran Pittburgh, PA at the Civic Center with the following results:
The Bushwhackers defeated Well Dunn with the Battering Ram
WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers defeated the 1-2-3 Kid & Jim Powers (sub. for Marty Jannetty) following the Tower of Quebec
The Smoking Gunns defeated Samu & Afa (sub. for Fatu) following the Sidewinder
WWF World Champion Yokozuna & Bastion Booger defeated Men on a Mission when Yoko pinned Mo with a legdrop
Doink & Dink the Clown defeated Bam Bam Bigelow & Luna Vachon when Doink pinned Bigelow with a school boy roll up after distraction from Dink
Bret Hart & Lex Luger defeated Owen Hart & IRS when Luger pinned IRS with the running forearm
1995 - Bryan "Crush" Adams was arrested after narcotics officers found anabolic steroids, unregistered semi-automatic weapons, a stun gun, and marijuana inside his home. As a result of the arrest, Adams was fired from the WWF.
1995 - WCW ran Denver, Colorado with the following results:
WCW TV Champion Arn Anderson defeated Johnny B. Badd via disqualification
Alex Wright defeated Diamond Dallas Page (sub. for Paul Roma)
WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & the Patriot
Dustin Rhodes defeated the Blacktop Bully via count-out
Randy Savage & Sting defeated Avalanche & Big Bubba
WCW US Champion Vader defeated Jim Duggan
1995 - WWF ran Anaheim, CA at the Arrowhead Pond with the following results:
Kwang pinned Gary Key with a spin wheel kick at 4:18
Hakushi pinned the 1-2-3 Kid at 6:15 after turning an attempted spin wheel kick into a powerbomb and a running senton
WWF Women's Champion Bull Nakano pinned Alundra Blayze with a powerbomb and putting her feet on the ropes at 8:04; Bob Holly disputed the call after the match but the decision stood
Bob Backlund defeated Bob Holly at 8:43 via submission with the Crossface Chicken Wing after Holly thought he had scored the pinfall
WWF World Champion Diesel & Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels & WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett via disqualification at 14:19 when Psycho Sid interfered and attacked Diesel; the match came down to Michaels vs. Diesel after Razor was injured and helped backstage by officials while the Roadie helped a stunned Jarrett backstage minutes later; the Undertaker eventually came to Diesel's aid against Sid and Michaels
Jacob & Eli Blu defeated the New Headshrinkers at 8:08 after Fatu was clotheslined by the illegal Blu
The Undertaker defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via disqualification at 11:08 when Bob Backlund interfered, attempted to apply the Crossface Chicken Wing on the Undertaker, but was quickly thrown to the floor
Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart via submission to the Sharpshooter in a No Holds Barred match at 5:47; after the bout, Bret kept the hold applied for several moments before letting go
1998 - WCW taped Thunder in Baton Rogue, LA with the following results:
Raven (w/ Perry Saturn) pinned Brad Armstrong at the 5-second mark after hitting the DDT before the match began
Jim Duggan pinned Kendall Windham
Scott Steiner defeated Johnny Grunge
Eddie Guerrero pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr.; stipulations stated Chavo would have to do as Eddie ordered if Eddie won
Konnan pinned Lizmark Jr.
Perry Saturn pinned Disco Inferno
The nWo defeated the Giant in a handicap match
Dean Malenko pinned Lenny Lane (dressed as WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho)
Lex Luger defeated Scott Norton via disqualification
WCW World Champion Sting defeated Randy Savage via disqualification
1999 - ECW ran Trenton, NJ at the CYC Center with the following results:
Chris Chetti fought Skull Von Krush (w/ Danny Doring & Roadkill) to a no contest when ECW World Champion Taz interfered, attacked all of the wrestlers, and cut a promo on facing Sabu at Living Dangerously
Nova defeated Tracey Smothers
Tommy Dreamer defeated Steve Corino (w/ Wild Bill Wyles)
Super Crazy & Little Guido defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri & Antifaz del Norte when Guido pinned del Norte
Jerry Lynn defeated Lance Storm (w/ Tammy Lynn Bytch)
Spike Dudley fought Mustafa to a no contest when Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley interfered after Spike hit the Acid Drop and dropped Spike with the 3D; after the bout, New Jack attempted to make the save but was beaten down as well
Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) fought Justin Credible (w/ Jason & Jazz) to a no contest when Lance Storm & Tammy Lynn Bytch interfered and Tommy Dreamer made the save
ECW Tag Team Champions - ECW TV Champion Rob Van Dam & Sabu defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley when RVD pinned D-Von with the Van Daminator
1999 - WWF ran Anaheim, CA at the Arrowhead Pond with the following results:
The Acolytes defeated Goldust & the Blue Meanie
Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor defeated Gangrel & Edge
WWF Hardcore Champion Hardcore Holly defeated Al Snow
WWF IC Champion Val Venis defeated Ken Shamrock & Billy Gunn
WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett defeated Triple H & X-Pac
Test defeated Steve Blackman
The Godfather & Jackie defeated D-Lo Brown & Ivory
The Undertaker defeated the Big Bossman
Steve Austin & Mankind defeated WWF World Champion the Rock & Kane in a Texas Tornado match
2000 - WWF ran Albany, NY at the Pepsi Arena, featuring the following results:
The Godfather defeated Steve Blackman
Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko defeated Too Cool
WWF Intercontinental & European Champion Kurt Angle defeated Tazz
The Acolytes defeated the Big Bossman & Albert
Rikishi defeated Viscera
WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Essa Rios defeated Crash Holly
WWF Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz defeated Matt & Jeff Hardy and Edge & Christian in an elimination match
The Road Dogg defeated Test
The Rock & Kane defeated WWF World Champion Triple H & X-Pac
2000 - WCW ran Manchester, Great Britain with the following results:
Norman Smiley defeated Brian Knobbs
The Wall defeated David Flair
WCW TV Champion Jim Duggan defeated Fit Finlay
Curt Hennig & Vampiro defeated Ric Flair & Lex Luger
Terry Funk defeated Dustin Rhodes
Booker T defeated WCW US Champion Jeff Jarrett via disqualification
WCW Tag Team Champions Big Vito & Johnny the Bull defeated Ron & Don Harris
2000 - ECW held the final Living Dangerously PPV in Danbury, CT featuring the following results:
Mikey Whipwreck defeated Pitbull #1 in a dark match.
Dusty Rhodes pinned Steve Corino (w/ Jack Victory) in a bullrope match at 10:14 with the Bionic elbow after taping the cowbell to Corino's head and then hitting him over the head with a steel chair (American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story)
The New Dangerous Alliance, CW Anderson & Bill Wiles defeated Danny Doring & Roadkill at 7:23 when Anderson pinned Doring
ECW World Champion Mike Awesome pinned Kid Kash at 4:44
Nova & Chris Chetti defeated Gedo & Jado at 7:33 when Gedo was pinned
ECW World TV Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: Rhino defeated the Sandman via forfeit
ECW World TV Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: Super Crazy pinned Little Guido at 7:47
Balls Mahoney pinned Kintaro Kanemura at 1:58
New Jack fought Vic Grimes to a no contest after both climbed up on scaffolding and fell off, seriously injuring New Jack legitimately.
Lance Storm & Justin Credible defeated ECW Tag Team Champions - ECW World Champion Mike Awesome & Raven and Tommy Dreamer & Masato Tanaka in a Three-Way Dance to win the titles; Tanaka pinned Awesome at 4:32; Storm pinned Dreamer at 9:06
ECW World TV Title Tournament Finals: Super Crazy pinned Rhino to win the title at 7:56
2002 - Maven defeats Al Snow to win the WWF Hardcore Title during a Smackdown broadcast.
2004 - American Dragon Bryan Danielson & Curry Man defeat Gedo & Jado to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles.
2004 - Kensuke Sasaki defeats Hiroyoshi Tenzan to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
2005 - WWE Raw ran Mobile, Alabama with the following results:
WWE Raw Tag Team Champions William Regal & Tajiri defeated Rob Conway & Sylvian Grenier
Chris Masters defeated Rhyno
Victoria defeated Molly Holly; Val Venis was the special referee for the bout
Chris Jericho defeated Christian
Kane defeated Tyson Tomko
WWE IC Champion Shelton Benjamin defeated Gene Snitsky
Chris Benoit defeated Muhammad Hassan via disqualification
Batista & Shawn Michaels defeated World Heavyweight Champion Triple H & Edge
2005 - WWE Smackdown ran Oshawa, Ontario at the Civic Auditorium, featuring:
Scotty 2 Hotty & Sho Funaki defeated Joey Matthews & Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) when Scotty scored the pin
John Heidenreich pinned Charlie Haas with a sidewalk slam
Paul London pinned Akio with a sunset flip reversal off the top
Kurt Angle Invitational: Kurt Angle defeated an unknown at around the 20-second mark
Mark Jindrak pinned Luther Reigns with a tornado punch; after the bout, Jindrak was attacked by special referee Kurt Angle
WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champions Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio defeated Doug & Danny Basham when Eddie scored the pin with the Frog Splash following the 619 from Mysterio; the challengers originally won the match and the titles after switching places in the ring but referee Brian Hebner had the match continue
Torrie Wilson defeated Jackie Gayda, Michelle McCool, and Dawn Marie in a bikini contest
Spike Dudley pinned Johnny Jeter
John Cena & the Big Show defeated WWE World Champion John Bradshaw Layfield & WWE US Champion Orlando Jordan at around the 30-second mark when
Cena pinned JBL; after the bout, JBL challenged Cena to a one-on-one match
John Cena pinned WWE World Champion John Bradshaw Layfield with the FU in a non-title match after dropkicking a chair into the champion's face;
2006 - WWE Smackdown ran Lafayette, LA with the following results:
Sho Funaki defeated Kid Kash and Jamie Noble by pinning Noble with a roll up
Road Warrior Animal defeated Matt Hardy
WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champions Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury defeated Super Crazy & Psychosis
Paul Birchill defeated William Regal
The Boogeyman defeated Sylvan
Bobby Lashley defeated Simon Dean
WWE US Champion Chris Benoit defeated Booker T via submission with the Crippler Crossface; Steve Williams was the guest referee for the bout
World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle defeated Rey Mysterio Jr., Mark Henry, and Randy Orton by pinning Orton following the Olympic Slam
2006 - TNA held their Destination X PPV in Orlando, FL with the following results:
*Shannon Moore defeated Cassidy Riley
*The Diamonds in the Rough (David Young and Elix Skipper) (with Simon Diamond) defeated Shark Boy and Norman Smiley
*Alex Shelley defeated Jay Lethal
*Lance Hoyt defeated Matt Bentley
*Team Canada (Bobby Roode and Eric Young) defeated The Naturals
*The James Gang (BG & Kip James) & Bob Armstrong defeated LAX.
*Chris Sabin defeats Petey Williams, Sonjay Dutt & Puma.
*Jeff Jarrett, Abyss & America's Most Wanted defeated Rhino, Ron Killings & Team 3D.
*Christopher Daniels defeated Samoa Joe & AJ Styles in an Ultimate X Match to win the TNA X Division Title
*NWA champion Christian Cage defeated Monty Brown.
2007 - WWE broadcast Raw. Ed Sherriffs filed the following TV report:
The March 12, 2007 edition of Monday Night Raw airs from Washington, DC and continues the build to WrestleMania. Last week saw dissension between John Cena and Shawn Michaels, not to mention Randy Orton and Edge. Edge was all set to face Cena in the main event, but bowed out as MNM helped him beat down Cena before Michaels eventually made the save. The Great Khali interrupted a Money in the Bank qualifying match between Ric Flair and Carlito before issuing a challenge for Kane. Also, Stone Cold Steve Austin was revealed as the Special Guest Referee for the Battle of the Billionaires.
RAW opens with a graphic of Ernie Ladd, who passed away over the weekend.
John Cena comes to the ring first, to a mixture of boos and cheers. Cena wonders if he trusts HBK, and when Michaels will stab him in the back. Cena tells Michaels that he is not down with being stabbed in the back. If Michaels wants to kick Cena's teeth down his throat, he can come to the ring and do it right now. Michaels obliges and joins Cena in the ring. Cena says time and again that Michaels has said he has Cena's back, which Cena realizes is only because John is the WWE Champion. Michaels fesses up and says that his only goal is to walk out of WrestleMania as the WWE Champion. However, he claims that he has kept his word about having Cena's back. Michaels wants to know why no one is asking when Cena is going to turn on HBK. Shawn says that as badly as Cena wants to retain, the Heart Break Kid wants one more day in the sun that much more.
Jonathan Coachman interrupts the stare down. He claims it would be a shame if they beat the hell out of each other since so many tag teams want a shot at their tag gold. Since Vince McMahon is preoccupied with the contract signing, he is handling Cena and Michaels. He announces that they will run the gauntlet. Three matches, all with the title on the line. If they make it to match three, they will compete in a Steel Cage match.
In the back, a limo pulls up and Donald Trump steps out.
Several celebrities give their opinion on who they want to see lose their hair. Lloyd from Entourage, Costanza, and Travis Barker's wife are among the notable celebs.
Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair vs. Carlito
This is an elimination match. The announcers point out that this is the first time Orton and Flair have been in the ring since Rated RKO gave him all the beatdowns. Flair and Carlito immediately work over Orton in the corner. Orton comes back with a back body drop and dropkick for two. Carlito rolls up Orton for two. Orton takes down Carlito with a lariat. Flair rolls Orton up for two. Flair and Carlito chop Orton and work him over in the corner again. A chop from Flair gets two. Carlito suplexes Orton for two. Orton rakes Flair's eye. Carlito takes down Orton with a reverse elbow for two. Flair gets a two count, as well. Flair chops Orton, and then gives him a chop block. Carlito measures Orton and hits a springboard reverse elbow. Flair and Carlito argue over what to do with Orton. Flair wants to do a Figure Four, Carlito doesn't. Flair shoves Carlito off and goes for the submission. Carlito gives Flair a Backcracker. Orton dumps Carlito from the ring and hits the RKO to eliminate Ric Flair. Carlito gets a near fall before we go to commercial.
Back from the break, Orton has an elevated Boston Crab on Carlito. Carlito makes the ropes. Randy follows up with the Garvin-Orton Stomp, and then a knee drop for two. Orton punches away in the corner. Orton with a hard Irish Whip into the corner for two. Orton applies a chinlock, but Carlito counters with a back suplex to knock both men down. They get up at the same time, but Carlito is the one to get offense, hitting several punches. Orton dodges a dropkick and sets up for the RKO. Carlito blocks it and hits a standing rana. Carlito with more punches and a Million Dollar Knee Lift. Carlito with a clothesline and Cool Shot for two. Carlito backflips off the top turnbuckle and hits an enziguri for two. He scoop slams Orton and connects with a springboard senton for another two. Orton crotches Carlito on the top rope and hits an RKO out of nowhere for the win and the final spot in the Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania.
Your winner, Randy Orton!
The eight competitors in that match are Orton, Edge, Mr. Kennedy, Matt & Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, Finlay, & King Booker.
A recap of the Lashley-McMahon feud is shown.
The WWE Slam of the Week is The Great Khali assaulting Kane on Smackdown, delivering some vicious HBHBs.
Chris Masters is in the ring ready for a Masterlock challenge. No one comes out from the back, so Masters challenges Lillian Garcia. This brings out Super Crazy and they have an impromptu brawl. A low dropkick by Crazy sends Masters face first into the chair. Crazy gets some offense, but Masters reverses a DDT attempt into the Masterlock and forcing Super Crazy to pass out.
A second limo pulls up and Vince McMahon steps out. Vince goes up to Trump's driver and gives him a message. Vince says that "mine is bigger than his."
A video package on The Big Cat Ernie Ladd is shown, with voiceover from Jim Ross and others.
Orton and Edge are in the locker room. Orton refers to Edge as his old tag team partner. Orton reminds Edge they are now opponents. Edge says that is impressive, but he has won more ladder matches than everyone else in the match combined. Edge has been in 7 matches, Orton zero. Edge also reminds Orton he is undefeated at WrestleMania. Randy claims that is because he has never faced Orton. Orton says he is also younger and better looking.
Lillian points to the Titantron for a special PSA. A man is reading the NY Times and talking about the Battle of the Billionaires. FINALLY, someone knows the truth, and the paper is put down, revealing THE ROCK! Rock asks if Vince knows what Umaga means in Samoan. Rock claims that it means 'shriveled up monkey penis'. Rock asks how Vince will beat Trump with a shriveled up monkey penis. Rock guarandamntees that Vince will gets his head shaved, if ya smelllllll what The Rock is cookin'!
World Tag Team Championship Gauntlet
John Cena & Shawn Michaels (c) vs. The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas)
Cena and HBK immediately get the advantage. Cena with a hiptoss. He gives Shelton a Fisherman's Suplex out of the corner. Haas knees Cena in the back and Shelton kicks Cena down. Haas tags in and punches Cena down. Scoop slam and dragon kick by Haas get two. Haas punches Cena in the head. Haas with charges in the corner. Cena dodges a charge and bulldogs Haas out of the corner. HBK tags in and gives Haas a flying forearm. Michaels with inverted atomic drops to Benjamin and Haas. Haas whips Michaels into the corner but misses a clothesline. Michaels with a DDT. HBK sends Shelton out. HBK gets ready to tune up the band, but Cena makes the blind tag and applies the STFU to Haas for the win.
Your winners, John Cena & Shawn Michaels!
John Cena & Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
Cade & Murdoch come out and get an inverted atomic drop/big boot combo on Michaels right away. Cade and Murdoch double team Michaels again. Cade tags in and knocks Michaels down with a forearm. Murdoch tags back in and slams Michaels down. Cade tags in again and gets two with a cover. Cade with a flying lariat for two. Cade locks in a bearhug. Michaels gets out and fights back. Michaels with an enziguri. John Cena tags in with clotheslines and a Blue Thunder Driver to Murdoch. Cena hits the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. He lifts Murdoch on his shoulders for the FU, but Michaels hits Sweet Chin Music on Murdoch before Cena can finish the move. Cena covers for the win.
Your winners, John Cena & Shawn Michaels!
Steel Cage Match: John Cena & Shawn Michaels (c) vs. MNM
Nitro and Mercury have the advantage when we come back from the commercial break. Mercury applies a chinlock to Cena. Cena powers out and kicks Mercury. He ducks a clothesline and tags in Michaels. Michaels blocks a back body drop attempt, but gets sent into the cage. Nitro tags in and punches Michaels on the mat. Nitro chokes Michaels. A neckbreaker to Michaels gets two. Mercury tags in and teams with Nitro for a double team gutbuster for two. Nitro tags back in and gives HBK a scoop slam. He misses a corkscrew moonsault from the second rope. Mercury tags in and blocks Michaels from making the tag. Michaels clotheslines Mercury and makes the tag. Cena with multiple clotheslines. Cena tosses Mercury into the cage like a lawn dart. Nitro is thrown into the cage as well. Michaels throws Mercury into the cage as he and Cena engage in a game of oneupmanship. The two bicker a bit before Michaels hits Sweet Chin Music on Mercury, followed by an FU by Cena for the win.
Your winners, John Cena & Shawn Michaels!
After the cage rises, all the gauntlet competitors come back out to try and beat down the champs. Cena and Michaels get the better of all of them. Cena hits Haas with a chair and walks off. JR wonders if Cena was thinking about hitting Michaels. Michaels tosses the chair down and storms to the back.
Jeff Hardy vs. Edge
Edge is still dressed in street clothes and takes the mic. Edge claims he would love to beat the hell out of Hardy, but they are in DC, the home of the Redskins. Edge will be damned if he is going to compete in a city that encourages such a racial slur against Native Americans. Edge claims to have an Indian friend to take his place.
The Great Khali vs. Jeff Hardy
Khali no sells a couple shots from Hardy and hits a chop. Khali with a big boot. Khali chokebombs Hardy. Edge cheers Khali on the outside, but Kane's music hits. Kane has a meathook, straight out of his movie, and walks to the ring. Khali and Edge bail. Kane hooks the announcer's table and pulls it over.
Trump is getting his hair done, and asks the hair dresser if Vince's hair is real. She says that she'd rather not say.
The next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame is announced. It is none other than Mr. Fuji, who was a five time tag team champion with Toru Tanaka and Mr. Saito before going on to manage various wrestlers and champions, such as Yokozuna, Demolition, and The Berzerker. He was also star of the legendary "Fuji Vice".
Mick Foley is interviewed by Todd Grisham in the back. Foley plugs that the book is already in stores. Foley is also in Trump's corner, thinking Vince will lose. He also plugs his ECW appearance. Ashley walks up and offers a trade of her Playboy for Foley's book. He claims he can't look at naked pictures of his friends. She opens up the issue and forces him to sneak a peek. Ron Simmons comes up and gives us this week's damn.
A tale of the tape is shown for Vince and Trump. Walk and People Kiss His Ass are two of the categories. Vince is getting his hair done now. He tells 'Jill' he will shave Trump bald. Coach interrupts. Vince tells him that his bald head reminds him too much of Trump. Vince admires himself in the mirror.
The WWE Rewind is last week's Women's Championship Match.
Melina vs. Torrie Wilson
This is a non title match. The storyline is that Melina is going after the Divas that have posed nude for Playboy. Torrie starts by working the back. Melina kicks out. Torrie with a bridge for two. Melina kicks Torrie in the corner. Torrie dodges a charge and rolls up Melina for two. Melina throws Torrie down. Melina hits Torrie in the stomach and tosses her down again for two. Torrie trips Melina for two. Melina with some forearms. Torrie throws Melina by the hair and hits some clotheslines. Melina floats over a suplex and rolls Torrie up for the win.
Your winner, Melina!
After the match, Melina tries to sneak attack Torrie. Mickie runs down to break it up, but she is followed by Victoria. Torrie sends Victoria out. Melina tosses Torrie out. Mickie with a Lou Thesz Press. Melina bails, but Ashley runs down to throw her back in the ring. Melina tries to escape again, but Mickie and Torrie put her back in the ring for Ashley to toss out.
Edge runs into Mr. McMahon and wants to help Vince take out Bobby Lashley. He volunteers Randy Orton for a one on one match with Lashley on ECW. Edge says he will be in Orton's corner of course. Edge suggests that if Orton doesn't show for the match, he should be removed from Money in the Bank. Vince agrees.
Scheduled for next week's RAW is a WrestleMania Reversal, where Cena takes on an opponent from a past Michaels' Mania match and vice versa. Cena is scheduled to wrestle Chris Benoit and Michaels is scheduled to face JBL.
Vince comes to the ring for the contract signing, and he slips a bit. Vince brings up Trump's The Art of a Deal, and claims this is one deal that Trump will regret. A deal that will make Trump a laughingstock. Trump can't get out, either, because this is Vince's world. Vince won't be embarrassed because he has the Samoan Bulldozer wrestling for him. Umaga and Armando Alejandro Estrada come out. Vince claims that Trump is scared of what he has gotten himself into. He promises to deliver a Billionaire Bitch Slap.
Trump comes to the ring accompanied by Maria and Candace. The crowd gets a 'Donald' chant going. Donald says Vince's Grapefruits are no match for his Trump Towers. Trump tells Vince to hold his man back because he's going to have a hard time on April 1st. Trump brings up how Vince was scared last week and brings out Bobby Lashley.
Vince tells Lashley to back off. Trump asks, "Do we love Bobby". Vince signs first. He claims this will be the last contract Trump signs with hair on his head. Trump doubts that and says Lashley will kick Vince's ass. Vince claims 95% of celebrities polled want Trump's head shaved. Trump says it is the other way around. Vince says 95% of the audience is idiots. Donald calls them a smart group of people.
Austin interrupts Vince and walks to the ring. Austin wants to ask two questions to settle the argument. If you think Vince McMahon will win, give him a hell yeah. Not much of a response for that one. Austin asks the reverse, if Trump will win. The audience approves. Austin introduces himself to Trump and says that it is his ring, and what he says goes. Austin doesn't work for Trump, so he can't be fired. He warns Donald not to rub him the wrong way or piss him off. Austin doesn't care how much Donald is worth, because if he pisses Stone Cold off, he will deliver an eight billion dollar can of whoop ass on him. Vince starts to smile and Austin catches him doing so. Austin walks over and asks if he said something funny. Stone Cold asks if Vince has a problem with bald headed people. Vince looks at Lashley. Austin gets up in Vince's face and reminds us that Vince used to make his life a living hell. He claims that someone will get a haircut. Not a crew cut, mop top, etc. Someone is getting their head shaved, and that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so. Stone Cold walks to the back.
Vince gets back on the mic and claims that Stone Cold was saying that Umaga would win, and Vince would be shaving Trump's head. Trump gets on the mic and says he's been watching Vince. He brings up how Vince has been photoshopping pictures of Trump. Donald has his own picture, and on the Titantron, we see what Vince will look like bald. Trump tells Bobby he wants them to suffer. Vince asks if Trump wants some. Trump invites Vince to the ring. McMahon teases going in, but begs off. Vince wants Bobby out of the ring, and Trump orders Lashley to leave. Vince gets in the ring and turns a chair over. Vince pokes Donald and takes his jacket off. Trump shoves Vince over the table and onto the mat. The show ends at 11:16.
2008 - WWE announced Jeff Hardy had failed the WWE Wellness Policy for the second time, suspending him for 60 days. Hardy, who was slated to win Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania 24, was pulled from the show. CM Punk ended up winning the bout, ironically setting the stage for a feud with Hardy later in the year.
2009 - The Hennepin County Prosecutor's office in Minnesota announced that former AWA champion and WWE Hall of Famer Verne Gagne will not be charged with any crimes in relation to the death of a fellow resident at the Friendship Village assisted living home. "Gagne will not be charged, since because of Gagne's illness, he is unaware of what happened," stated Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman Gagne at a press conference that is still ongoing. "Gagne suffers from Dementia, such that it would make it impossible and unjust for him to be held criminally responsible under the law in Minnesota."
Helmut Gutmann, who passed away following complications of a hip injury suffered when Gagne threw him to the ground in a public area, also suffered from dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease.
2009 - Former Minnesota Governor and WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura claimed he wanted to investigate World Wrestling Entertainment in regard to deaths in the professional wrestling industry and would have if he had been elected to the Senate this past election cycle. Ventura chose not to run. In an interview with CYInterview.com, Ventura commented, "It’s one of the things that if I would run for the senate I was going to do a senatorial investigation on the WWE. And you know for concerning what? What’s even a bigger importance is the fact that today they are still called independent contractors by the government which is absurd. They tell you when you wrestle. They tell you who you wrestle. They tell whether you win or lose. They tell you where you’re going to wrestle. They are your boss as much as any job in the universe. Yet McMahon is able to get away with calling all the wrestlers even today when he has them signed to exclusive contracts he still is allowed to call them independent contractors where they have to pay their own social security and he doesn’t have to pay a penny."
2009 - TNA broadcast Impact. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight’s show starts off with a look back at last week with the comments from the Main Event Mafia, Mick Foley, and Jeff Jarrett as they build to the match on Sunday between Kurt Angle and Sting.
Kurt Angle is walking in the back and he does not look happy.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Solo’ Tenay
Kurt Angle arrives in the Anglevator and he is wearing his velvet hoodie to the ring. Kurt wants Jarrett to come out because his suspension is over. Kurt says that Jarrett crossed the line by kicking him out of the Impact Zone last week. He should not have used his pay to get suits for the Frontline. Kurt says that he is sick in the head and he wants to show Jeff how sick he is. Tonight it will be Jeff Jarrett and on Sunday it will be Sting.
Jeff Jarrett has had enough and he comes out with his founder’s guitar. Mick Foley and BG James try to stop Jarrett from getting into the ring. Jarrett does not want to listen to James and Foley and he wants to fight, just like the fans want.
Mick wants to know what is wrong with Kurt Angle. He wants to know if Kurt has lost his mind. Mick wants to know what happened to the Olympic hero he met ten years ago. Kurt says that it has nothing to do with Mick, but Mick says that it has everything to do with him. Mick says that he put his own money on the line six months ago because he believed in the company and guys like A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe. He also believed in Kurt Angle because he is the best that he has ever seen. The more he saw of Kurt Angle, the more he saw the real Kurt Angle. The ego, the self preservation, and the fact that he would do whatever it takes to bring the company down. Mick says that he thought he could reason with the rest of the non-Sting members of the Main Event Mafia, but they were just as bad. Mick says that the only person he can put his faith in is Sting. Mick says that Sting has realized that Kurt has been using him. Mick says that Sting will walk out of Destination X as the champion and Kurt’s reign of terror will be over. Mick says that if Kurt wants to fight someone, why not fight him since Jeff Jarrett is not here. Mick wants Kurt to take his best shot. Mick says that he wants the chance to Cactus Jack his (bleeped word).
Angle backs away from Foley and leaves the ring.
We go to Jim Cornette who is with Jeremy Borash. Mick says that Cactus is a tough man. Sting enters and Cornette says that he has always treated him with respect during the 20 years they have known each other. Cornette asks Sting for a favor. He says that he has a locker room of wrestlers who are not getting matches and are not getting paid. Cornette says that the program cannot descend into chaos and dominate the show. Cornette tells Sting that they need to give someone a shot at the limelight. Cornette says that he will give him and Angle a chance at the spotlight. Cornette says that Sting and Angle will still be at ringside, but someone else will be a part of the party.
Sting wants to make sure that he can be in the ring with Kurt and Cornette tells him that they will be at ringside.
Jeremy asks Cornette why he is letting Sting and Angle at ringside. Cornette says that if you are going to have chaos, make sure that you can control it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the hype machine has spread.
Mick Foley and Lauren are with Jenna Morasco and Lauren asks her why she is here tonight. She says that her favorite wrestler is Kevin Nash. Lauren asks her what she did with the million dollars she won and Jenna says that she made more money.
Matt Morgan stops by and asks Lauren where her boyfriend is and wonders if he has accepted the challenge for the Match of 10,000 Thumbtacks. Lauren says that Mick does not want that match. Matt says that he will give Abyss no other option than to accept the match. Matt gets a little close to Lauren, but she fights him off.
Match Number One: Sheik Abdul Bashir versus Rhino
Bashir with a kick but Rhino with punches and Don West shows up to join Mike.
Rhino punches Bashir as we see Don get wired up. Bashir with a hard Irish whip and clothesline for a near fall. Bashir with knees to the back followed by punches for a near fall. Bashir with a knee to the back. Rhino responds with punches but Bashir gets his boots up when Rhino charges and gets a near fall. Bashir with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Bashir with a reverse chin lock but Rhino with a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down. Rhino sends Bashir into the turnbuckles and Rhino punches Bashir. Rhino with a flying clothesline and running back elbow and clothesline. Rhino with an Irish whip and running shoulder into the corner. Rhino with a belly-to-belly suplex and then Rhino sets for the GORE. Bashir moves but Rhino gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Rhino
After the match, Bashir with a low blow to Rhino. Bashir gets a chair from ringside and hits Rhino in the face. Bashir puts his headdress on top of the fallen Rhino.
Jeremy Borash is with Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne, and Kip James. Velvet says that you don’t punk them without dire consequences. Velvet says that if Roxxi, Taylor, and The Governor want to play, they play dirty. Velvet says that it is on for Destination X. Angelina takes the mic and tells Taylor that tonight is Madison’s initiation into the group. She says that so Traci Brooks does not get any stupid ideas, they will be at ringside. They will bring the hazing to a whole new level if necessary.
We go to the Main Event Dressing Room and Scott talks about how he has a match tonight and things will be taken care of on Sunday. Nash says that he is not ready to work tonight. Kurt says that he has a locker room full of people who will want him to represent him.
We see the Booker T/A.J. Styles video package.
Jim Cornette is in the office and he has the Legends Title belt. Booker wants his belt back. Cornette says that Booker can get his belt back if he does not press any charges against A.J. Styles. Booker says a few bleepy words as he gets his belt back. Booker says that he wants a match with A.J. and Cornette happens to have a contract that is already signed by A.J. Styles. Booker says that he does not sign anything without his lawyers. Cornette says that he understands what Booker is thinking because he knows that A.J. can beat him. Booker sees through Cornette’s comments and signs the contract.
We run through the card for Destination X.
Eric Young is in the back and he tells Sting that he wants the chance tonight. Sting says that there are a handful of guys who have shown him the respect that he seeks and Eric Young is one of them, but he cannot put Eric in that place. Eric says that despite the problems between the Frontline and the Main Event Mafia, but he believes in Sting. Eric says that he wants that chance and he wants the spot. It is the same spot that Ric Flair gave Sting. Sting has been convinced to give Eric the spot.
We go to commercial.
It is time for a Samoa Joe video package.
Lauren is with Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed. She reminds them about their match on Sunday and their match tonight. She asks who Jay and Consequences have chosen as their tag partners. Their tag team partners are LAX. Hernandez says that the talking is done and they will reinvent themselves.
We go to commercial.
Kurt Angle is in the back and he is trying to get Kiyoshi to be his representative. Kurt talks slowly and loud since Kiyoshi does not speak English that well. Kiyoshi bows and Angle has had enough and he kicks Kiyoshi.
Match Number Two: Matt Morgan, James Storm, and Robert Roode with Jackie Moore versus Team 3D and Abyss
Roode and Devon start things off and they lock up. Roode with a knee and forearm and then he sends Devon into the turnbuckles. Roode with chops and punches but Devon punches back. Devon with a flying shoulder tackle and slam and elbow drop. Ray tags in and they hit a leg drop and side slam combination for a near fall. Ray punches Roode in the corner. Devon tags in and he punches Roode. Devon with a double clothesline followed by a choke slam to Storm for a near fall. Ray gets in and then he fights with Roode. Jackie with a low blow to Devon and then Storm with a super kick to eliminate him.
Storm punches Ray and we go to commercial.
We are back and Storm is still punching Ray and then Roode tags in and they hit a double suplex and then remember their team name. Roode goes to the turnbuckles but miss a knee drop. Ray with punches to Roode and a back body drop. Storm spits beer at Ray and the referee has disqualified James Storm.
Roode chokes Ray in the ropes. Roode with a kick but Ray with a Bubba Bomb to eliminate Roode.
Morgan with a choke slam to Ray and he pins him.
Abyss enters the ring and Morgan is looking forward to this. Abyss with punches to Morgan in the corner but he misses a charge into the corner. Morgan with a clothesline followed by punches and a choke. Morgan with elbows in the corner but he misses a running boot into the corner. Abyss with a splash into the corner and then he hits a side slam for a near fall. Morgan with a choke slam and then he goes for the bag of thumbtacks. Abyss with a choke slam before Morgan can uses them. Abyss sees some of the thumbtacks on the mat and he picks up the bag.
Lauren comes to the ring to convince Abyss not to revert back to the man he was. Abyss turns around into a bicycle kick for the three count.
Winners: Matt Morgan, James Storm, and Robert Roode
After the match, Morgan throws the referee out of the ring and he pours the thumbtacks on the mat. Lauren gets between Morgan and Abyss. Matt grabs Lauren by the throat and Abyss freaks out and he punches Morgan.
Abyss has accepted the match of 10,000 Thumbtacks.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Lauren distracting Abyss to allow Matt Morgan to defeat him.
While Mike says that Matt Morgan went too far, Don says that Lauren was a stupid blonde to put herself in the middle of things between Abyss and Matt Morgan.
Mike suggests that Don leave again and Don obliges.
Abyss is in the back with Lauren and he is not happy. Abyss says that Matt Morgan tried to grab his girlfriend and dump her on his tacks. On Sunday, he is going to get Matt Morgan. He tells Matt that he is going to have more holes in him than A-Rod’s story. Abyss says that he is going to avenge him and his girlfriend by making Morgan his bitch.
Before our next match, Mick Foley has joined Mike at the announce table.
Match Number Three: Madison Rayne with Velvet Sky, Angelina Love, and Kip James versus Taylor Wilde with The Governor and Roxxi
Madison misses a clothesline and Taylor with a series of arm drags and a near fall. Madison gets some advice from her friends. Taylor with a forearm and a slam but misses an elbow. Madison with kicks and then she chokes Taylor. Taylor gets a near fall after Madison argues with the referee. Madison with a clothesline and then she punches Taylor and chokes her. Taylor with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker and then Taylor tries for a sunset flip but Madison tries to hold on to the referee Traci Brooks. Madison pushes Traci and Traci pushes back and Taylor gets the three count.
Winner: Taylor Wilde
After the match, Velvet, Angelina, and Kip attack Taylor. Roxxi and The Governor pull Kip into the ring post and the momentum has changed. Kip sprays The Governor in the face and Roxxi and The Governor are down on the mat.
We go to ODB who is with Jeremy Borash and she asks ODB some questions about what it will take to win her heart.
Don and Mick talk about Kurt Angle’s pick and Booker T, Sharmell, and Kevin Nash come out. We go to commercial.
We are back and Booker is yelling at Mick Foley and Mike Tenay. TNA security comes out and they remove Booker, Sharmell, and Nash from the announce table.
Scott Steiner attacks Mick Foley with the Poppa Pipe and then he says a few bleepy words. The medical staff checks on Foley as we go to commercial.
We are back with footage of Mick Foley refusing to be taken away in the ambulance because he has somewhere else to be.
It is time for Rough Cut about Ultimate X.
Match Number Four: Consequences Creed, Jay Lethal, and LAX versus Booker T, Scott Steiner, Alex Shelley, and Chris Sabin
Homicide and Shelley start things off and they lock up. Homicide with a chop and then he hits an Irish whip and then he catapults Shelley into Hernandez who hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Lethal tags in and he hits a double sledge from the turnbuckles. Lethal with a hip toss and cartwheel into a drop kick for a near fall. Creed tags in and Creed with a running clothesline while Lethal hits a drop kick. Creed with a bulldog for a near fall. Sabin with a kick to the back and then Shelley and Sabin connect with a double team maneuver. Booker is tagged in and he hits a short arm clothesline followed by knees to Creed’s head. Steiner tags in and he connects with a forearm to the back and then he runs Creed into the turnbuckles and hits a hangman’s Flatline. Steiner with a chop to Creed and then he chokes Creed. Steiner with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Sabin tags in and he punches Creed in the midsection. Sabin runs into Shelley and that allows Lethal to tag in. Lethal with a missile drop kick followed by an enzuigiri to Shelley. Lethal with a handspring back elbow to Sabin.
There is pandemonium in and out of the ring. Hernandez with a shoulder block to Sabin while things continue to break down outside. Sabin gets out of the Border Toss and hits an enzuigiri. Hernandez hits the Border Toss on Sabin for the three count.
Winners: LAX, Jay Lethal, and Consequences Creed
Jeremy Borash is in the Founder’s Office and he is with Mick Foley and BG James. Mick says that he is looking forward to some bad things happening tonight. Mick says that he did not get into the ambulance because he cannot be in the hospital and at ringside. This is the reason why he got involved in this.
We go to commercial.
We are back and now it is time for Kurt Angle to convince Brutus Magnus to be his representative. Brutus says that he won’t do it because of what Kurt did to Jeff Jarrett, the founder of TNA. Angle has an epiphany. He is going to use one of the members of the Main Event Security.
Match Number Five: Rocco with Kurt Angle and Sal versus Eric Young with Sting
Mick Foley makes his way from the Founder’s Lounge and he is going to the Impact Zone. We go to commercial.
Young avoids a punch from Rocco and Young responds with a punch of his own. Young with another series of punches to Rocco. Rocco with a body block to take Young down followed by a kick to the ribs. Rocco with a kick to the head and then he slams Young’s head into the turnbuckles. Rocco with a biel to Young followed by another kick to the ribs. Rocco with an Irish whip and a splash into the corner. Young with a drop kick and Rocco stays on his feet. Rocco catches Young on a cross body attempt and he hits a standing power slam. Rocco misses a splash from the top turnbuckle and Young hits a Death Valley Driver for the three count.
Winner: Eric Young
After the match, Angle attacks Young and then Sting and Angle fight. Sal and Rocco join in and Sting fights them off for a second before it becomes a three-on-one battle. Mick Foley makes his way to the ring and he punches Angle and then he goes after Sal and Rocco. Scott Steiner comes to the ring and he attacks Foley. Nash comes to the ring and he joins in the attack. Jeff Jarrett arrives and he has a chair and he hits Angle and security. Jarrett wants to hit Steiner with the chair but Sting stops him.
Jarrett gets on the mic and he says that the three ring circus ends on Sunday between Kurt Angle and Sting. Jarrett says that he is the guest referee and Mick Foley is the guest enforcer.
2010 - Chessman wins the AAA Rey de Reyes Tournament, defeating Hernandez & Marco Corleone.
2010 - Jesse Ventura's TruTV series "Conspiracy Theory" was picked up for a second season.
2011 - TNA ran Rahway, NJ. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Pre-Show Notes:
The crowd looks to be in the 1,200-1,500 fans....There will be at least one surprise appearance from a TNA personality tonight....There was a meet and greet with Jeff Hardy before the show for fans purchasing a Hardy collectible truck....Don West is doing his usual incredible job pushing merchandise...Kazarian signed for fans before the show.
TNA's Rahway event began with ring announcer and master of ceremonies Jeremy Borash coming to the ring to warm up the crowd and push that the loudest fans will be getting a chance to go backstage and meet TNA stars. As you can imagine, that led to just about everyone in the building going nuts to get noticed.
This led to Gunner and Murphy coming out, forcing TNA executive Craig Jenkins into the ring to announce that they will not let anyone go backstage. They said that Jeff Jarrett and Jeff Hardy sent word they aren't letting anyone backstage. Borash said that there are going to be a lot of pissed off fans in New Jersey and ripped on Jenkins' sweater vest, saying he was going to make sure the backstage passes are given out whether Immortal likes it or not. Big pop for that.
TNA X-Division champion Kazarian vs. Robbie E vs. Shannon Moore
Robbie E came out with Cookie and with Angelina from The Jersey Shore. Angelina, who is now training at the IWF Wrestling School in nearby Wayne, NJ was an unadvertised surprise. This was E's TNA debut in New Jersey, his home state so as you can imagine, he got a big reaction. Moore received a lot of cheers coming out.
Moore and Kazarian tried to double on E. E backed off and took the ring mic, saying everyone was here to see him fistpump. The fans chanted Robbie's name. Kazarian grabbed the mic away and said that he may claim that the fans paid to see his fistbump but they really paid to see TNA action. He said that E may claim to be representing Jersey but he's really representing douchebags across the world. Kazarian ripped on Cookie and Angelina saying they were repping what happens when a midget and a garden nome have unprotected sex. E did the fistbump anyway and got a big pop.
Kazarian and Moore laughed at E so he challenged them to a fistbump challenge. They teased doing it and then gave him the finger and jumped him. Kazarian hit a leg lariat on E, sending him to the outside. Moore and Kazarian then went back and forth ending with a Moore rana. He went for a kick to the sternum but E hit the ring. Moore cut him off and instead E got nailed with a legdrop. Kazarian then hit a high elbowdrop.
Kazarian and Moore then went back and forth. Moore misseda charge in the corner as Kazarian went to the apron. E pulled him off, smacking his face on the mat. E then took Moore out. The girls ripped at Moore from the outside. There was an "Ink, Inc. sucks" chant. Kazarian returned to the ring and rolled up E. Moore charged him and Kazarian nailed a Northern Lights suplex as he rolled up E for a two count on both.
Moore came off the ropes on Kazarian but was grabbed by E. Moore reversed it into a bulldog takedown for a two count. E whipped Moore into the ropes where Cookie grabbed at his leg. E charged Moore but was backdropped over the top to the floor, almost wiping out Angelina.
Kazarian and Cookie had words and he chased her into the ring, where she was trapped between Moore and Kaz. Kaz grabbed her and held her as Moore spanked her. Angelina hit the ring to help but was spanked as well. E charged Kazarian but was nailed with the reverse piledriver and pinned.
Your winner and still X-Division champ, Kazarian!
A hot opener to kick off the show with a fast paced style and some good comedy stuff involving the danceoff and the Shore girls.
Jeremy Borash introduced Earl Hebner as the most infamous referee in history and the fans were all over him about Bret Hart. This led to Hebner revealing a shirt reading "Damn Right I Did!"
TNA Knockouts champion Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky
They did a funny bit where Hebner had problems taking Rayne's tiara off. Rayne tried to mock Sky by doing her gyrations on the ropes. Sky then tried to show her how it was done, only to be attacked and choked against the ropes.
Rayne tried to whip Sky into the ropes but was caught with a single leg takedown and rolled up for a two count. Rayne took a powder to the floor. She returned to the ring as Sky followed her to the floor. Rayne cut off Sky on the apron and tried to suplex her in. Sky tried to reverse it but had her neck snapped against the ropes and fell to the floor. Rayne slammed her head-first into the apron.
Sky was tossed back into the ring, where Rayne used her legs to choke Sky. Sky began firing back with shots to the mid-section byt Rayne cut her off and locked on a rear chinlock. The fans began chanting for Sky, bringing her back to life. Rayne cut her off and went back to the rear chinlock just as Sky was about to escape.
Rayne tried to drop down on Sky but Sky turned and Rayne came down on her knees, Sky was hit with a high kneelift and nearly pinned. Rayne rolled her to the mat and used her legs to pound Sky's face into the ring. Sky began arguing with the referee over his count. That distraction allowed Sky to nail a jawbreaker.
Sky mounted a comeback with several clotheslines and a kick to the face. She bulldogged Rayne and covered her for a two count. Rayne began screaming at Hebner and Sky pushed her into his arms. With some hesitation, he planted one on her and did the Flait strut.
Sky went after Rayne with a charge but was cut off in the corner and Rayne used the ropes for leverage as she scored the pinfall.
Your winner and still TNA Knockouts champion, Madison Rayne!
Decent match that the crowd loved, especially the Hebner stuff.
Hernandez vs. Matt Morgan
Hernandez attacked Morgan as soon as he entered the ring and choked him against the ropes. Morgan mounted a comeback and clotheslined Hernandez over the top to the floor. Morgan reached for him but was snapped on the ropes. Hernandez worked him over and scored several two counts.
Hernandez grabbed Morgan's neck and twisted it, trying to force a submission. Morgan fought his way to his feet but was nailed with a hell of a chop in the corner. Hernandez continued working over Morgan, beating him down with punches until being caught out of nowhere with a sideslam.
Hernandez came back with a slingshot shoulderblock into the ring for a two count and began choking out Morgan. He measured and chopped Morgan in the corner then whipped and splashed him in the opposite side. Morgan continued tearing ay Morgan's face as the fans tried to rally Morgan. Morgan caught him with a big clothesline and collapsed as the referee counted both men down.
They returned to their feet with Morgan cleaning house on Hernandez with a series of hard rights and a clothesline. Morgan nailed a running charge in the corner, followed by a Fall Away Slam for a two count. He went after Hernandez in the corner but was kicked in the gut, Hernandez went to the top but was slammed off by Morgan.
Morgan called for the Carbon Footprint but missed it and crotched himself in the corner. Hernandez drilled him and went for the Border Toss but Morgan slipped out, nailed the Footprint and scored the pin.
Your winner, Matt Morgan!
Good back and forth match!
Jeremy Borash plugged Victory Road tomorrow and then read a text from Jeff Jarrett, where he promised to make Kurt Angle tap out in record time.
TNA Tag Team champions Beer Money vs. Gunner & Murphy
Gunner and Murphy heeled the hell out of the crowd as they came to the ring. Beer Money tossed their shirts into the crowd then swiped their challengers' shirts off the ringside table and wiped their rear ends with them, then through them at Gunner and Murphy.
Gunner and Storm started out with Storm being forced into the corner. Gunner slapped him when he broke clean. Storm grabbed his beer and took a swig for encouragement. He offered some to Hebner, who took a drink of his own. He then offered a sip to Gunner, only to poke him in the eye when Gunner accepted.
Storm cleaned house in Gunner working him over and then tagging into Roode. Beer Money double teamed him for a near fall. Roode went for a suplex but was maneuvered into the challengers' corner. Murphy tagged in and drilled him across the back.
Murphy unloaded on Roode with a series of punches then kicks and stomps in the corner. Roode came back with a hard chop and then ran Murphy into the tunbuckles. He followed up with a clothesline and Murphy stumbled into the champions' corner, where he was nailed by Storm for good measure.
Roode continued the assault with a knee to the gut and a back suplex. He tagged out to Storm, who nailed a side Russian Legsweep. Murphy forced Storm into his corner but Storm nailed Gunner and fought his way out. He rebounded off the ropes only to be tripped and pulled out of the ring. Gunner slammed him into the railing and rolled him back into the ring, where Murphy covered him for a two count.
Gunner and Murphy cut off the ring and took turns working over Storm, garnering several near falls. Murphy beat on Storm in the corner as fans catcalled Gunner over his "short shorts." Storm nailed a lungblower on Murphy and made the hot tag to Roode.
Roode hit the ring and worked over Gunner with a series of clotheslines, forearms and chops. Murphy then got the same treatment. He drilled Gunner with a running clothesline. Gunner fought back but was nailed with an awesome spinebuster for a two count. Murphy interfered but was laid out.
Beer Money hit a catapult into a DDT on Gunner for a two count. Murphy tossed Storm to the floor. The challengers worked over Roode but he kept kicking out. Gunner went to the top rope but Storm crotched him, then spit beer in Murphy's face. Beer Money drilled Gunner with DWI and scored the pin.
Your winners and still TNA Tag Team champions. Beer Money!
A very good back and forth tag match where Gunner and Murphy had the chance to show a lot more than they usually do on TV. Good stuff.
AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy received a pretty nice reaction as he came to the ring. Lots of girls screaming for him. Hardy teased throwing his shirt into the crowd but instead just tossed it out of the ring to a ringside table.
They locked up as the fans chanted back and forth for both men. Styles took the ring mic and said he remembers wrestling here before. He said nothing has changed as they are still the best fans in the world. He said that he hasn't forgotten where he comes from. Styles had worked for JAPW here in the past. Hardy took the mic and told the crowd to kiss his ass.
They locked up and went back and forth with some good counter wrestling. Hardy was rolled up but kicked up at two. Hardy retreated and walked around tSring. When he returned, they locked up again but Hardy nailed Styles low. Fans began chanting, "Same old sh**."
Styles leaprogged Hardy and came back with a nice dropkick. Hardy rolled back out of the ring. Styles followed and tossed Hardy back into the ring. Hardy ran back out of the ring. He caught Styles on the way in and tried to suplex him back in. Styles tried to reverse it. Hardy reversed it and threw Styles down on the apron, where he bounced to the floor.
As Hardy tossed Styles back in the ring, he flipped off a group of fans chanting "He's so sober." He slammed AJ into the turnbuckles, then pulled Styles' legs into the ringpost, crotching him. Hardy continued beating on him but Styles mounted a comeback until he was nailed with a Hot Shot.
Hardy continued working over Styles until ducking a twisting moonsault press. Styles charged Hardy but was sent up and over. Styles fought Hardy but was caught with an inverted suplex.
Hardy went up for the Swanton but Styles got to his feet. Hardy landed on his feet so Styles hit the Pele KIck and then a brainbuster. Fans chanted for Styles to do it again but he instead went to the top rope. Hardy cut him off and set him up for a superplex, then nailed it. Hardy went after Styles in the corner but was kicked off. Styles went for the Styles Clash but Hardy backdropped him.
Styles turned that into a sunset flip but Hardy kicked up. Styles nailed a Pele Kick and drilled Hardy with the Styles Clash for the pin.
Your winner, AJ Styles!
Jeff Jarrett vs. Kurt Angle
Jarrett took the mic and ripped on some guy from TMZ.com for not respecting the business. He said that earlier today the guy tried to ask him if he sticks a sock in his trunk. He asked the guy to hop the rail and demanded he asked Jeff to his face. The guy did and Jarrett went right after him, choking him and shoving him around. Security ran the guy off. I am guessing this was a publicity deal for the TMZ website or TV show since they were here filming Angelina.
Kurt Angle came to the ring. Big chant for Angle. Jarrett made Borash announce that he does "not suck" which of course led to the fans jumping all over Jarrett. Jarrett then took the mic but changed his mind.
They locked up as fans chanted for Karen Angle and "Slapnuts." They started slow with some nice back and forth wrestling. Jarrett beat Angle down and Angle staggered against the ropes. Jarrett was caught in a suplex and Angle worked him over around the ring, then clobbered him with punches in the corner.
Jarrett nailed Angle with a eyepoke and draped him over the apron and nailed an elbow to the chest. Fans got on Jarrett chanting, "Sloppy Seconds." Jarrett kept working on Angle in the corner and when the referee got involved, Jeff shoved and slapped him. The ref slapped him back and Angle rolled him up for a two count.
Jarrett laid out Angle against the ropes and did the Fargo Strut. Angle rebounded off the ropes and caught him with a clothesline. Both men were down as the referee counted them out. Jarrett and Angle battled back and forth with punches until Angle nailed a clothesline and a belly to belly suplex for a two count.
Angle pulled down the straps and went for the Olympic Slam. Jeff slipped out and nailed an enziguiri. Jarrett mocked Angle and went for the Stroke but Angle rolled him into the anklelock. Jarrett kicked him into the ropes but missed a leap, crotching himself. Angle nailed the Olympic Slam for the pin.
Your winner, Kurt Angle!
After the match, Beer Money joined Kurt Angle in the ring for photos and autographs ($20 a pop) while Jarrett signed at the merchandise table and other talents mingled at ringside signing autographs as well. A pretty happy gathering to close the typically well produced TNA house show.
2011 - WWE ran Wichita, Kansas. Bill Fisher filed the following live report:
This was very similar to Friday's house show. It opened with the same deal where the GM set up a Battle Royal where the winner would get a shot later on at Daniel Bryan's US Title. Sheamus won, eliminating Mark Henry last.
Eve beat Nikki Bella to keep her Divas Title. They did the dance off too.
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov, with Tamina, beat the Usos.
Evan Bourne beat Tyson Kidd in a good match.
Bryan (with Gail Kim) beat Sheamus to keep the US Title.
R-Truth beat William Regal.
The main event was different than Friday's show. John Cena and Randy Orton teamed up to take on The Miz and Alex Riley. They had a good match, which the faces won when they hit their finishers.
2012 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Cleveland Ohio, and your announcers are Michael ‘Why did they ask me to wear a Lebron James jersey tonight’ Cole and Jerry ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll needs a transplant’ Lawler.
Jerry is in the ring and he says that tonight is the first rock and rap concert on Raw. There have been some heated arguments between Cena and Dwayne. Each will have the opportunity to express themselves in their own words in their own way.
The first WWE Idol contestant is John Cena and he is going old school with the Mark Price jersey. Cena says that Rock wanted him to write his song tonight, but he would not be his mouthpiece. He says that Rock is like Lebron. He took his talents to South Beach. For the past few weeks, Rock has been legit pissed. He tells Rock that if he sings his song tonight, it is all in his wrist. He wants a week where Rock does not choke. He says that he might be GI Joe this summer, but he is a GI Joke. Rock has been begging him to back off. If Rock and Dwayne are the same person, they are both jackoffs.
After April 1st, he won’t be making any more movies. He will need surgery on his face, just like he had it on his boobies. Those popping pecs have had more work on them than a locker room of Divas. He has a gift for Rock. He is going to give him a Cleveland Steamer.
Team Bring It is Team Lost It. Last week, they weren’t chanting Rock, they were chanting Tooth Fairy. Keep making fun of him. He is not even close to sick of it. He is Mr. Kung Pao Chicken, while Rock is Miami Fried Chicken S***. He does not have balls, he has something in his place. He is going to beat Rock at Wrestlemania and put his nuts in Rock’s face.
We are interrupted by Vickie Guerrero and she says that Daylight Savings should be illegal. The whole world would be deprived of one hour of the presence of this man.
Match Number One: Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero versus Sheamus
Ziggler avoids Sheamus and he showboats in the ring. Ziggler with a forearm to the back of the head and then Sheamus with a kick and side head lock take down for a near fall. Sheamus holds on to the side head lock and he connects with a shoulder tackle. Sheamus with a side head lock takedown. Sheamus with a near fall. Ziggler with a kick and punches.
Sheamus with an elbow and Ziggler goes to the apron. Sheamus tries for the forearms across the chest but Ziggler goes to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a clothesline and he stands over Ziggler. Sheamus with an arm bar. Ziggler with punches as he puts Sheamus against the ropes. Sheamus with a shoulder and he hip tosses Ziggler over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus goes to the floor and Vickie distracts Sheamus long enough to allow Ziggler to hit a drop kick to the back of the head.
Ziggler sends Sheamus into the announce table and the referee checks on both men. Sheamus struggles to get back into the ring, but he does. Ziggler with punches and kicks and he gets a near fall. Ziggler with a neck breaker for a near fall. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock and body scissors.
We see Daniel Bryan and AJ Lee in a sky box with Josh Mathews and we go to an interview during the match. Josh asks Bryan about what he said to AJ last week. Daniel asks AJ if he was rude to her last week and she says no. Daniel says that AJ loves him and the feeling is mutual.
We finally return to the match and Ziggler holds on to a reverse chin lock but Sheamus with a back drop to Ziggler and both are down. Sheamus with running double sledges to Ziggler followed by a clothesline in the corner and a power slam for a near fall. Sheamus signals for the Celtic Cross but Ziggler gets to his feet. Sheamus tosses Ziggler into the air and gets a near fall.
Ziggler goes up top and he is caught by Sheamus and Sheamus tries for a uranage back breaker but Ziggler with a crucifix for a near fall. Sheamus holds on and then he gets a near fall.
Sheamus with an Irish whip but Ziggler moves and Sheamus goes shoulder first into the post. Ziggler with a Fameasser for a near fall. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
After the match, we see the reaction from Daniel Bryan and AJ.
We see the announcement of the twelve man tag match to determine who will be in charge of Monday and Friday television.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Last week’s match between Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis.
John Laurinaitis makes his way to the ring. Before our next match, John announces that the mixed tag match will not happen. It will be a handicap match. Otunga’s partner is Mark Henry.
Match Number Two: Santino Marella versus David Otunga and Mark Henry
Otunga and Henry argue and Teddy Long makes his way to the ring as we don’t care about wrestling do we?
Otunga sends Santino into the turnbuckles while we see Teddy and John argue. I guess Otunga hits a clothesline in the corner. Teddy touches John and John falls down.
Santino with punches and a forearm followed by a split and hip toss. Santino gets out his sock but Henry made the blind tag and Henry hits Santino and hits the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winners: David Otunga and Mark Henry
After the match, Henry holds Santino for Otunga. Otunga uses big words that probably confuse Santino. Kofi Kingston comes to the ring and he goes after Henry. Henry with a head butt and then he hits the World’s Strongest Slam. R Truth comes to the ring and Otunga hits Truth and then Henry with a head butt and Henry sends Truth into the World’s Most Dangerous Spinebuster. Henry with a splash to Truth.
John comes into the ring and he introduces the newest member of Team Laurinaitis. It is Mark Henry.
We go behind the scenes of Psych since Miz is on the show this week.
Cole and Lawler discuss John Cena’s rap at the start of the show.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to look at the Wrestlemania sign. We go to comments that Maria Menunous got from some of the Divas.
Zack stops Eve in the back and he says that he felt something he never felt before when they kissed. Zack says that it is like Eve is trying to play him. Eve says that she is not playing him. Zack is playing himself. Eve tells Zack that they should be friends . . . with benefits. Eve asks Zack to go to dinner.
Beth storms into the hall and she complains about what the Divas were saying and she is going to confront her. Beth says that she is impressed with the way that Eve manipulates Zack. Beth asks to use Zack but Eve refuses.
John is on the phone and the Miz comes up behind him and John refuses to get off the phone. Miz says that since he won at Wrestlemania 27, he wants to know when John will make him a part of his team. John says that he was talking to one of the board members. Miz introduces James Roday and James is paying tribute to Back to the Future. Miz says that James wants to know why Miz is not in a match at Wrestlemania.
John tells Miz that if he wins his match, he is on the team.
John wants James to be the guest ring announcer for a match. James says that he is going to Fink it Up.
Miz asks who his opponent is and John says that he will be facing CM Punk.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Jinder Mahal with turban humidor versus Brodus Clay with the Funkettes
Mahal hits Clay from behind before the bell rings. Clay with a head butt followed by a Sheeee-bone suplex and a splash for the three count.
Winner: Brodus Clay
Shawn Michaels is walking in the back and is he looking over his shoulder as he prepares to confront the Undertaker?
We go to commercial.
We are back and MGK and his many tattoos are in the crowd.
From MGK, it is time for HBK and Shawn Michaels makes his way to the ring.
Shawn says in three weeks, Triple H and the Undertaker will be locked inside Hell in a Cell at Wrestlemania and it will truly be the end of an era. Shawn reminds us that he told his good buddy last week that he was named the guest referee. Shawn says that it appeared that it was information that Hunter wasn’t aware of.
We see footage of something that Shawn wasn’t aware of last week. It is Hunter talking about how Shawn is a loser.
Shawn says that the last couple of weeks, he has been walking around the locker room and no one has walked up to him and called him a loser or a failure. No one has implied that he couldn’t get the job done. There was one person who has been absent the last couple weeks, but thankfully he is here tonight. He wants the Undertaker to come out to settle this.
Shawn says that after being through this for twenty plus years in the locker room, they always had the utmost respect for each other even if they weren’t on the same side of the locker room. They did something that will stand the test of time and people will remember it.
Shawn wants to know why Taker would say those things behind his back. He tells Taker that he thought he would have the guts to say it to his face.
Taker asks Shawn what he wants him to say. Does he want him to say that Shawn is a failure, a loser, or that he couldn’t get the job done? Taker tells Shawn that he needs to stop and think if he is repeating Taker’s words or is Shawn repeating the words chosen for him by his good friend Triple H?
Whatever the case may be, Shawn needs to let all of his insecurities.
Shawn interrupts and he reminds Taker that he almost begged for the match. At 19-0, he still has something to prove. Hunter beat him within an inch of Taker’s life last year.
Taker tells Shawn that he should know that whatever happens at Wrestlemania, win or lose, he is prepared to accept the outcome. Taker says that he will not accept Shawn putting his ego into this. Their two matches with Shawn Michaels and the match last year against Triple H were destiny. On April 21st(sic), that destiny will happen. It will be the end of an era. What can’t happen is for the outcome, win or lose to not be pure. If the outcome isn’t pure, Taker promises that there will be hell to pay.
Shawn tells Taker that he calls all of this destiny, but he calls it irony. Isn’t it ironic that the guy whose career that Taker ended could be the man who counts Taker’s shoulders to the mat. Isn’t it ironic that he could turn Taker into a loser, a failure, or a guy who couldn’t get the job done. Isn’t it ironic that he could end the streak?
Taker says that he will win in the Cell, the streak will continue, and an era will end. If Shawn does not do the right thing, he will end him.
Shawn leaves the ring and Triple H makes his way to the stage while Shawn walks to the back.
Time for some silent staring and then Hunter with a corporate crotch chop.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Footage from the tag match involving the participants in the main title matches from last week when Jericho pinned CM Punk.
It is time for guest ring announcer James Roday.
Chris Jericho is watching on the Son Of Jeritron 5000 monitor in the back.
Match Number Four: Miz versus CM Punk in a If Miz wins, he is on Team Laurinaitis, but we are in his home town so figure out the result Match
They lock up and Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Punk with kicks to the leg followed by a back heel kick. Miz with a knee to the midsection and we go to commercial.
We are back and Miz with an abdominal stretch on Punk. Punk with an arm drag to escape. Punk with a kick from the apron and then he sets for the springboard clothesline and he hits it. Punk with a clothesline followed by a swinging neck breaker. Punk with a running knee into the corner followed by a bulldog. Punk gets Miz up for the Go To Sleep but Miz with elbows.
Punk with a leg lariat for a near fall. Miz with a hot shot into the turnbuckle followed by a kick and a DDT for a near fall. Miz punches Punk and the referee warns him. Miz goes up top but Punk moves. Punk gets Miz up but Miz escapes and he tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Punk rolls through and applies the Anaconda Vice and Miz taps out.
Winner: CM Punk
We hear Chris Jericho applaud Punk’s win from the TitanTron. Jericho says that he can see straight through Punk. He calls Punk a fraud. He found out a deep, dirty secret about Punk. Punk has been straight edge since joining the WWE but Punk never told us why. He says that it is because Punk’s father is an alcoholic who let Punk down every step of the way growing up. Jericho says that it is inevitable that Punk will end up like his father. Jericho says that he found something that Punk cares about and something that terrifies him. Jericho says that he almost feels bad for Punk. Is that why he has all of the tattoos? Was it to take the pain of drinking?
Jericho says that Punk is going to drink and Jericho says that he will be the one to make him drink. He says that Punk will hit bottom and then he will take a drink. It will taste so good that he will want to take another one.
Jericho says that he will be the Undisputed Best in the World and the WWE Champion while Punk will be known as a pathetic drunk.
Punk does the walk of shame up the ramp as we go to commercial.
We are back with a David Otuna lawyer advertisement.
In case you forgot about Kane and Randy Orton, we have a video recap.
Match Number Five: Jack Swagger with Vickie Guerrero versus Randy Orton
Swagger with a waist lock take down into an arm bar followed by a fireman’s carry. Orton with a kick to Swagger and then he hits a standing drop kick. Orton sends Swagger over the top rope to the floor and then Orton with an Irish whip into the steps.
Orton sends Swagger’s head into the announce table a few times. Orton sends Swagger back into the ring and then he looks around before we go to commercial.
We are back and Swagger with a top wrist lock but Orton with punches. Orton with an Irish whip and he runs into an elbow and then Swagger with a dive into the knee and he gets a near fall. Swagger works on the injured knee and then he applies a step over toe hold. Orton punches Swagger to get out of the hold.
Swagger with a slam and then he backs up for the running double jump Swagger Bomb but Orton rolls out of the way. Swagger with the ankle lock but Orton kicks Swagger away. Swagger charges into the corner but Orton sends him to the apron and then he drops Swagger on the top rope. They go up top for the superplex and Orton hits it.
Orton has a blank look on his face and he connects with two clotheslines and ducks one from Swagger and hits a power slam. Orton hits the IEDDT on Swagger and then he twists into the push ups for the RKO. Orton hits the RKO for the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
The pyro goes off and Orton looks for Kane. Orton looks around the arena.
We go back to some of Cena’s rap from earlier.
We go to commercial.
We are back and after two weeks of Shawn Michaels with Triple H or Undertaker separately, we will get all three men in the ring next week. Also, John Cena will wrestle Mark Henry.
Dwayne makes his way to the ring and he has his guitar.
Dwayne tells everyone that they just broke a record. It is the largest sellout crowd in Cleveland. He says that he appreciates people chanting Rocky, but they should be chanting Cleveland. Dwayne talks about sell outs and he mentions Marky Mark. He talks about the chain, the lock, and his hat. He says that was funny. That wasn’t John Cena. The John Cena we have known for the last 8 years is what would happen if Vanilla Ice banged a Teletubby.
We have a graphic of what Dwayne just said and then he explains it.
Tonight isn’t about a two minute rap. It is about something special. Dwayne takes a seat and he gets ready to sing.
Warden threw a party and he spent some bucks. Didn’t invite Cena cause he totally sucks. Cena started rapping, it all went south. Know your role Jabroni and shut your mouth. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. Cena’s got a menstrual clock, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Little Fruity Pebble from Newberry, Mass. Rock’ll take his boot and shove it up his ass. Betcha you’re all happy you’re listening to me, not some goofy Eminem wannabe. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. Ain’t no balls down in Cena’s jock, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Dwayne takes some water and then he asks if people want to hear a true story. He got it from John Cena’s doctor.
Little Johnny Cena went to the doc. Rock punched his jaw and the pain wouldn’t stop. The doc said Cena . . . I’m a fan, but stop begging for that rectal exam. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. Cena close up that smock, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Dwayne has a story about John and Eve.
Rock saw cena making out with Eve. Grabbing on her thigh, tugging on her weave. Cena didn’t tell her that he’s got a wife. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. Divorce lawyer’s right up the block, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Dwayne has another true story.
April 23rd, 1977. The doctor shouted send that baby back to heaven. Sorry Mama Cena, but check these charts. Little baby Johnny’s got lady parts. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. Little Johnny’s got those lady parts, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Dwayne thanks everyone and he says that they are going to have fun. Dwayne asks if there are any grown men tonight who are John Cena fans.
Dwayne says that he sees a few. Time for a song.
Doesn’t really matter how hard you try. Never in your life will you ever taste pie. I know you love Chewbacca and Frodo too, but you’re a walking virgin and you’re 42. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. You dress like Kirk and Spock, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Dwayne wants to know where the ladies are tonight and he has a special song for a special lady.
Rock’s getting some wine and a dozen roses. She’s going to meet his Holy Moses. Getting with the Rock is the bomb. You don’t believe me, ask Cena’s mom. Let’s rock. Everybody let’s rock. Cena’s mom can barely walk, but we’re dancing because Cleveland Rocks.
Dwayne says that there is only one way to end this night and the Rock concert. There is only one song and it is for the people. It is for Team Bring It and the people.
Time for a lot of catchphrases from Dwayne.
Dwayne tries to sing We Will Rock You with his own twist and he almost gets a few of the lyrics right.
We go to credits.
2013 - The Lifetime Network will debuted a new reality series titled "The Preacher's Daughters." Two of the aforementioned Preachers featured in the series were former NWA and WCW star Nikita Koloff and his ex-wife Victoria with their daughter Kolby Koloff. They appeared on the first two seasons of the series before it was retooled into more of a reality challenge in the third season.
2015 - TNA announced they had signed Bobby Roode, Tigre Uno and Rockstar Spud to new deasl.
2015 - Former ECW World champion Mikey Whipwreck penned the following for PWInsider:
It's never easy to say goodbye to your best friend, but today, that's exactly what I intend to do.
I first met Mikey Whipwreck in 1994 when he was inside the ECW Arena helping to set up a ring and having fun testing it with some friends. Somehow, that ended up with him having his first official match that night against Mr. Hughes, getting crushed in the process and falling "victim" to the Sidewalk Slam. Curtis asking, "Hey kid, you gonna jump real high?" backstage before the bout still bounces around in my memory. Mikey jumped REAL high and did his job that night.
That job led to a lot of other amazing moments. Thanks to a lot of really creative people, a lot of dumb luck and a lot of hard work, somehow, Mikey Whipwreck ended up the ECW TV champion, teamed with Cactus Jack, feuded with The Public Enemy, won the ECW Tag Team titles, feuded with The Sandman, won the ECW World title (what?), pinned Steve Austin (WHAT?) and ended up having a career that put Mikey in the same locker rooms with everyone from Sabu to Randy Savage to Tajiri to Hulk Hogan in ECW, WCW and even a few WWE appearances. He was even in that terrible Hardcore Junkyard Battle Royal in WCW! Although he's not too proud of that one ;)
I know, because Mikey Whipwreck was my best friend and he brought me, John Watson, along for the ride. I grew up a wrestling fan. I was the same guy who was standing alongside you at autograph signings and at wrestling events. If you know where to look, I was in the front row at the first Monday Night Raw.
Then, somehow, from 1994 to 2015, I crossed over and competed, appeared, performed (pick your poison, I sure did) as Mikey Whipwreck and had an amazing series of life experiences, achievements and frustrations. For every great moment in the ring or on the road, there was an equally humbling or aggravating moment in real life. That's not the wrestling business, that's life and when I look back, I've been really lucky and very blessed. My body may not agree with me most days, but I really have been.
But, it's time to say goodbye. This past weekend, Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore held an appreciation ceremony for me and played an amazing video not just showcasing my career in the ring but all the students I have trained over the years who have gone on to make their own individual mark in professional wrestling. I didn't know it was coming, but when it was over, the appreciation was all mine...my appreciation for everyone - the fans, other wrestlers, my heroes, my students and my wife and kids. It was due to them, not myself, that Mikey Whipwreck was even someone that will be remembered in professional wrestling.
At the end of the video, I also realized this was a really great moment to let Mikey Whipwreck finally get his well deserved rest and let him go, so I am. I'd retired once, maybe twice before, and came back, but this time, it's different. There's nothing to chase, there's nothing to achieve and the "fruits of my knowledge" that were passed on to me by Paul Heyman, Taz, Tommy Dreamer, Mick Foley and so many others, have been pretty much passed on to the next generation. Hopefully, they pass it on as well, because that's how it's supposed to work.
How it's also supposed to work is that in life, you move onto the next thing, no matter how amazing the old things were. You get older, you change, and you become content. All three of those are me.
It's time to let Mikey Whipwreck fade into the past. I'll never say you won't see me again, but the next time you do - if you do - you'll be talking to me about our old friend Mikey Whipwreck. He was a hell of a guy and I'll miss him, but as I said, I'm content. Content is good.
Thanks for everything Mikey...and most importantly, thanks to all of you in the wrestling business and those of you who love and support it, for even blessing me with the life I've had and continue to have.
John Watson
2017 - WWE returned to Madison Square Garden featuring the first-ever in-ring meeting of Brock Lesnar vs. Kevin Owens. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
World Wrestling Entertainment returned to Madison Square Garden for a Sunday 3/12 matinee event in New York City today. The show was a strong live event with a 25 minute main event featuring WWE champion Bray Wyatt pinning John Cena in an excellent main event, the first-ever Brock Lesnar vs. Kevin Owens match (more on that in a second) and a very good 16 minute match with Randy Orton pinning AJ Styles to open the show.
The show was originally set for 3/18 but WWE was willing to move it to this date in order to accommodate HBO Sports presenting the Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs boxing event on that day. Whether moving to a matinee helped the live draw or not I couldn't tell you, but the show seemed to be flush with families with lots of young kids at the event.
Greg Hamilton and Kayla Braxton did a really good job as hosts doing a lot of interacting with fans and pitching to different video features in the 30 minutes before bell time. They were actually voicing over shots outside of MSG to make the live event more uniform with the type of shots you see on Raw and Smackdown broadcasts. Hamilton also worked as ring announcer while Braxton made her way around the building interviewing children and reacting to things on the big screens. TV does Braxton no justice, she is far more gorgeous in person and brought a ton of energy. Hamilton, one of the strong staples of the NXT brand before coming up to the main roster, was also very good.
The official show opened up with a taped promo from Daniel Bryan welcoming everyone to the show and leading a "Yes" chant in a generic promo.
Shane McMahon came out and mentioned this was his return to the Garden. This was actually his first appearance in MSG in eight years. Shane pointed out his sons at ringside and said he was there age causing all sorts of havoc backstage when he was a kid. AJ Styles came out and complained that he wasn't in the main event of Wrestlemania despite being promised that by Shane. Styles said he gave it to Randy Orton and gave a hell of an argument as to why he should be in the main. I wonder if Vince McMahon was listening. Shane said that sometimes you have to make your opportunities and Randy Orton made his and tonight, Styles can try to make his. He told Styles he was having a match and his opponent was...Randy Orton.
*Randy Orton pinned AJ Styles in about 16 minutes with an awesome looking RKO off the top as Styles attempted the Phenomenal Forearm. The finish was great. It was an interesting crowd to observe early on as they went nuts for all the theme songs for the first three performers they saw, then got really quiet watching the match. That would remain the way the fans reacted the entire show, except the Owens vs. Lesnar and Cena vs. Wyatt matches. There was some very good back and forth here. Styles is just a hell of a heel at this point, but that's not news. Orton's timing was very good. Great reaction for the finish but the crowd was dead quiet for most of the match itself.
*Heath Slater & Rhyno & Kalisto defeated Breezango & Curt Hawkins. OK match. Hawkins' bit where facts about him are announced as he walks to the ring is just tremendous. The villains worked over Slater and Kalisto for a long time before Rhino got the hot tag. Everyone got a big spot in before they went to the finish until Rhyno hit the Gore on Tyler Breeze.
*Dolph Ziggler pinned Apollo Crews in a very good match with a desperation superkick out of nowhere. Crews is very good but you can tell the crowd has been given no real reason to connect with him. Ziggler is an absolute excellent heel at this point and it's a shame they aren't trying to position him stronger. He got a nice reaction for everything he did.
*WWE Intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose won an excellent Fatal Four Way over The Miz, Baron Corbin and Luke Harper. This was PPV level quality with all four looking very good. Lots of brawling early on. Corbin looked like a beast. Miz was smart enough to convince Corbin to help him work over Corbin, then played to the crowd while Corbin did the hard work. Tons of very good near falls including a great sequence where Miz and Corbin and Ambrose all kept schoolboying each other for two counts. Harper and Ambrose hit stereo dives on the opposite sides of the ring on Miz and Corbin. At the end, Maryse got on the apron and began berating Ambrose, who got in her face. Miz tried to attack him but Dean moved and Miz almost mowed down his wife but was able to stop at the last second. Ambrose kicked him and nailed the Dirty Deeds for the pin. Beyond Cena, Lesnar and maybe Owens, Ambrose got the biggest babyface reaction of the night, even more than Orton.
First ever @FightOwensFight vs. @BrockLesnar with @HeymanHustle at @TheGarden @PWInsidercom #wwemsg pic.twitter.com/2p4IHGSeUY
— Mike Johnson (@MikePWInsider) March 12, 2017
*Brock Lesnar pinned Kevin Owens with a F-5 in about four minutes. Owens came out with a KO-Mania 2 shirt, playing off the logo of the second Wrestlemania back in 1986. That is awesome. Huge pop for Brock. Owens attacked him at the bell and pulled Brock's shirt over his head, like a hockey fight. He beat Brock down in the corner and hit the running cannonball. It was all Owens for about a minute until Brock caught him on the ropes and launched him off with a German suplex. He hit a few more and a F-5 and that was it. There were some noticeable "bullsh**" chants after the finish but Lesnar's music drowned them out. There were also some "Goldberg" chants but not a lot after Heyman announced the winner with all his usual Heyman bluster and conviction. Crowd was totally into this and saw it as a big-time deal but the quick finish left disappointment.
They went to intermission after this with Hamilton hawking merchandise and pitching to footage of Becky Lynch warming up backstage for the eight woman tag that was to come later.
*After intermission, *Nikki Bella & Tamina & Becky Lynch & WWE NXT Women's champ Asuka defeated WWE Smackdown Women's champion Alexa Bliss & Mickie James & Natalya & Carmella (with James Ellsworth) in a fun match that never really stopped moving when Asuka locked the Asuka Lock on Natalya and got a tapout. They made this a LOT about Asuka as they played a video feature on her during intermission and did a deal where she spooked all the heels after she started whipping out big offensive maneuvers. Huge pop for Bella and a really big reaction for Asuka in her debut in the building. They played all the babyfaces' themes as they existed and closed out on Asuka who bowed on the stage and had her arms raised by the other women to a big reaction. It was Mickie James' first appearance in six years in MSG. When did Tamina turn babyface?
*WWE Smackdown Tag Team champions American Alpha pinned The Usos with a bulldog off the top. Good back and forth tag match, but you could tell the crowd wasn't emotionally connected to any of this.
*In his first appearance in MSG as WWE champion, Bray Wyatt pinned John Cena clean in the center after a low blow. This was an absolutely excellent match. The crowd took to Wyatt as if he had been a top star forever. Cena got the biggest pop of the night. The back and forth Cena chants started before his theme music even played. They went back and forth with some good action until Wyatt scored a two count after Sister Abigail. Flustered, he went to ringside, pondered what to do, then grabbed his belt and went up the aisle. He was counted out. Shane McMahon came out and restarted the match, making it a No DQ and No Countout match. Wyatt returned and used a chair to work over Cena. Cena made the comeback and set up a table in the corner. They brawled to the entrance ramp, where Cena nailed a suplex on it, then went into the crowd. Cena grabbed a piece of guard rail from the crowd and charged Wyatt with it, nailing him. He then set it up at a 45 degree angle and suplexed Bray onto it. Back in the ring, Bray ripped off a turnbuckle cover and tried to send Cena into it but Cena blocked. Bray cut him off and after doing the "You Can't See Me" the crowd, which got the most heat of anything on the show, sent Cena into a chair that was wedged in another corner and then sent Cena crashing through the table. He was unable to pin Cena before hitting the low blow and finally scored the pin. After the match, Wyatt took the mic and said that this was now his show and he hated Cena and beat him and was going to now end his career for good. He attacked Cena, who made a comeback and hit the AA on Bray to send the crowd home happy.
This was the first time Cena was pinned in The Garden since 9/20/03 when he was pinned by Eddie Guerrero with a top rope frog splash during a three-way with Rhyno. That was a hell of a gift for Wyatt. Cena flew in overnight after hosting the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards and was leaving right away to represent WWE at SXSW in Texas tomorrow before heading back for a live event in West Virginia and then further Northeast for Smackdown Live in Pittsburgh. That man is a warrior.
Notes: They return to MSG with a Raw house show on Friday 7/7, which will be the first Raw show in the venue since the brand split in the summer of 2016....WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel, the greatest ring announcer in the history of Planet Earth, was backstage. I always write that he should be announcing the Garden, but how do you have the guy there and NOT ask him to introduce the main event???........They were selling signed photos of AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and John Cena....Scottish star Grado was visiting at the event as he was in New York City on vacation this week....No Vince McMahon at the show....Best matches on the show, in my opinion, were Cena vs. Wyatt and the IC championship Four Way....Talents were rushing to get out of the venue as soon as their matches were done as they were all either taking a charter flight or driving to West Virginia for tomorrow's live event (that's an eight hour plus drive with zero traffic) before flying back up to Pittsburgh Tuesday AM for Smackdown Live. Remember that when you assume it's an easy, glamorous job working for WWE!
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