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April 9th
On this day in history in ....
1917 - Earl Caddock defeats Joe Stecher by forfeit in Omaha, Nebraska to win the World Hravyweight Title. Stecher was so frustrated after losing in the second fall of the match, that he refused to wrestle in the third fall.
1953 - Buddy Rogers defeats Antonino Rocca in Cleveland, Ohio to win the Ohio version of the Boston AWA World Heavyweight Title for the third time.
1960 - Ray and Roy Shire defeat Dick Afflis and Gene Kiniski to win the Chicago/Indianapolis NWA World Tag Team Title, beginning the Shires' second reign. The Chicago/Indianapolis office left the NWA later in the year to become the American Wrestling Alliance, with the Shires recognized as the first champions there.
1963 - Gino and Tony Calza defeat The Medics (Tony Gonzales and Donald Lortie) to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee, ending the Medics' fifth reign.
1965 - Rene Guajardo defeats Rayo de Jalisco for the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, ending Jalisco's second reign and beginning Guajardo's third.
1969 - Black Gordman defeats Alfonso Dantés for the vacant NWA Beat the Champ Television Title in Los Angeles, California.
1976 - Fishman defeats Blue Demon to win the NWA World Welterweight Title in Mexico, City, Mexico, ending Demon's second reign. As a result, Fishman's Mexican National Welterweight Title was vacated.
1978 - Ric Flair defeats Mr. Wrestling to win the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Charlotte, North Carolina. Flair was later recognized as champion in Toronto as well.
1978 - Perro Aguayo defeats Ringo Mendoza for the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, ending Mendoza's second reign and beginning Aguayo's third.
1981 - Bob Brown and Terry Taylor defeat The Kelly Twins (Mike and Pat) for the NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas.
1981 - Buddy Rose defeats Jay Youngblood to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Youngblood's second reign and beginning Rose's fourth.
1984 - Jerry Lawler defeats Randy Savage to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Lexington, Kentucky, ending Savage's third reign.
1984 - Vic Rain defeats Charlie Cook for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions purchases Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation.
1988 - Carlos Colón wins his sixth WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico, defeating Hercules Ayala, ending his second reign.
1990 - Kenta Kobashi and Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa) defeat The Can-Am Express (Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat (Philip LaFon)) for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Title in Okayama, Japan, ending the Express' second reign.
1994 - Debbie Combs is awarded the USWA Women's Title, after Lauren Davenport left the promotion.
1995 - T. Rantula defeats Cactus Jack for the Steel City Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1999 - Lord Zieg defeats Flash Wheeler in a falls count anywhere match for the JAPW New Jersey State Title in North Bergen, New Jersey.
1999 - Canyon defeats Jimmy James to win the NWA Texas Hardcore Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.
2001 - The WWF held a live RAW is WAR at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. RAW got a 5.4 rating on TNN. This edition of RAW included the segment where Linda McMahon told Vince McMahon that she wanted a divorce. The results were:
Jakked:
- Steve Blackman and Grandmaster Sexay defeated Kaientai (Funaki and Taka Michinoku).
- Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn defeated Alex Arion and Low Ki.
- K-Kwik defeated Gary Swinger.
- Haku defeated Dukes Dalton.
RAW is WAR:
- WWF Hardcore Champion Kane pinned Big Show to retain the title. Kane was originally to face Kurt Angle but Big Show ran in, followed by The Undertaker, with Undertaker and Kane double-chokeslamming Show for the win.
- Rhyno defeated WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Crash Holly and Molly Holly in a handicap match by pinning Crash after the Gore.
- The Undertaker pinned Big Show after a powerbomb off the second turnbuckle.
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray, D-Von and Spike) defeated X-Factor (Albert, Justin Credible and X-Pac), when D-Von pinned Credible after the 3D. After the match, the Dudleys were attacked by X-Factor, with Albert Baldo Bombing Bubba Ray through a table.
- Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit fought to a no contest after both men attacked referee William Regal, and locked him together in the Walls of Jericho and Crippler Crossface.
- Val Venis (with Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather and Steven Richards) pinned Raven with the Money Shot.
- Team Xtreme (Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy and Lita) defeated WWF Champion Steve Austin, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and WWF Intercontinental Champion Triple H, when Lita pinned Stephanie with a moonsault.
2001 - Kazuyuki Fujita defeats Scott Norton for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Norton's second reign.
2003 - Doug Basham wins the OVW Heavyweight Title for the fourth time in Louisville, Kentucky, ending Nick Dinsmore's seventh reign.
2004 - Minoru Fujita and Ikuto Hidaka defeat Josh Daniels and Matt Striker to win the Premier Wrestling Federation Universal Tag Team Title in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
2004 - Zach Gowen and Silas Young defeat Jason Dukes and Skull Krusher for the Mid-America Wrestling Tag Team Title in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
2004 - Shane Matthews defeats Eric Darkstorm for the NWA Bluegrass Junior Heavyweight Title in Salyersville, Kentucky.
2004 - Justin Kage defeats Austin Aries to win the NWA Midwest X Division Title in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
2004 - IWA Mid-South held its fourth-annual April Bloodshowers event at the Community Center Gym in Oolitic, Indiana. The results were:
- Michael Shane defeated Adam Flash and Nate Webb in a three-way match.
- MsChif defeated Daizee Haze.
- Jimmy Jacobs (with Becky Bayless) defeated Roderick Strong.
- Delirious defeated Nigel McGuinness.
- IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion Matt Sydal defeated Emil Sitoci to retain the title.
- In a 30-minute Iron Man match, B.J. Whitmer (with Jim Fannin) defeated IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lynn, 2-1, to win the title.
- Arik Cannon defeated Chad Collyer.
- Mark Wolf defeated Danny Daniels (with Jim Fannin).
- A.J. Styles defeated B-Boy.
- JC Bailey and Necro Butcher defeated Corporal Robinson and The Wifebeater in a Fans Bring the Weapons match.
2004 - Suicidal Youth (Arrick Andrews and Ryder) defeat The Fast and Furious (Shane Eden and Hammerjack) to win their second United States Wrestling Organization Tag Team Title. At the same show, Ryder won the USWO Television Title from Hot Rod Biggs.
2004 - The World of Hurt Wrestling Federation has five titles change hands in Hudson Falls, New York. Danger defeats The Texas Outlaw to win his fifth WOHW Heavyweight Title, Brodie Lee wins the WOHW United States Title from Scott Scarsdale, Virus and Warpath defeat Shane Alden and Swinger Sidusky for the WOHW Tag Team Title, Punk wins his fourth WOHW Hardcore Title from Jim Tanner, and Miss DeVille defeats Kayla Sparks to become the first WOHW Women's Champion.
2005 - The East Coast Wrestling Association held its ninth-annual Super 8 Tournament at the Greater Newark Boys' and Girls' Club in Newark, Delaware. The results were:
- Puma defeated Eric Matlock in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- J.J. Perez defeated Tyson Dux in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Alex Shelley defeated Andrew Ryker in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Petey Williams defeated Rory Fox in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Puma defeated J.J. Perez in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- Petey Williams defeated Alex Shelley in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- The Logan Brothers (Bill and Bryan) won a Tag Team Summit battle royal to earn an immediate ECWA Tag Team Title match.
- ECWA Tag Team Champions The Valedictorians (Billy Bax and Rob Eckos) defeated The Logan Brothers (Bill and Bryan) to retain the title.
- Petey Williams defeated Puma to win the Super 8 Tournament.
2005 - Swi$$ Money Holding (Ares and Marc Roudin) defeat Michael Kovac and Eric Schwarz for the German Stampede Wrestling Tag Team Title in Duisburg, Germany.
2005 - Kenny Campbell defeats Bernard Funk for the Steel Rage Pro Wrestling X Division Title in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
2005 - Miss Natural defeats Josie to win the World League Wrestling Women's Title in Concordia, Missouri, beginning her fourth reign.
2005 - John O'Malley defeats Michael Barry for the NWA Universal Heavyweight Title in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, ending Barry's second reign.
2005 - Mike Booth defeats Chris Dramin to win the NWA Virginia Alpha Title in Hopewell, Virginia. At the same event, The Unholy Grail wins the NWA Virginia Junior Heavyweight Title from Mike Vaughn.
2005 - Jake 'N Bake defeats Chip Stetson for the NWA Upstate Kayfabe Dojo Title in Webster, New York. At the same event, Glenn Spectre won the NWA Upstate Heavyweight Title from H.C. Loc.
2005 - Scott Sterling defeats Eddie Bruiser to win the NWA Blue Ridge Heavyweight Title in Kingsport, Tennessee. At the same show, Peggy Lee Leather defeats Bambi for the NWA Blue Ridge Women's Title.
2006 - Cedric defeats Wilson Kane and Warren Peace in a three-way match for the vacant Championship Pro Wrestling Hardcore Title in Milwaukie, Oregon, beginning his second reign.
2007 - Naruki Doi, Gamma and Magnitude Kishiwada defeat CIMA, Ryo Saito and Susumu Yokosuka to win the Dragon Gate Open the Triangle Gate Title in Kobe, Japan.
2007 - Glenn Gilberti is one of many arrested in connection with an illegal gambling operation run in the basement of a house in Roswell, Georgia.
2007 - WWE held a live RAW at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut. RAW got a 3.9 rating on USA Network. The results:
- In a dark match, Daniel Rodimer defeated Super Crazy.
Heat:
- Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad) defeated Bryce Andrews and Mike Bennett.
- Kenny Dykstra defeated Val Venis.
- Chris Masters defeated Mike Edwards.
- The Great Khali defeated Eugene.
RAW:
- Mickie James and Candice Michelle defeated WWE Women's Champion Melina and Victoria, when Mickie pinned Melina with a jumping tornado DDT.
- Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch defeated Carlito (with Torrie Wilson) and Ric Flair, when Murdoch pinned Carlito after the High/Low.
- Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton fought to a draw after a double pin. The match was to determine a #1 contender for John Cena's WWE Title.
- World Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Jeff and Matt) defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas), when Jeff pinned Benjamin after the Swanton.
- ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Shane McMahon by disqualification in a title vs. hair match.
2008 - WWE Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura was asked to compare the shape of professional wrestling to the United States government and decide which is worse in the new issue of Time Out New York. Ventura responded, "Without a doubt, the government. Vince McMahon makes money. He's profitable. Our federal government has put us $9 trillion in debt. It's beyond my comprehension. If you did that in the private sector - Enron and WorldCom ring a bell? - you'd be locked up. And yet what will our media do? What will our history books do? They call these people "honorable" and write them up as heroes. They're bankrupting America and we're doing nothing about it. Excuse me for saying this...Actually don't excuse me. We're a bunch of lemmings."
2009 - The cause of death in the case of Andrew "Test" Martin was ruled as an accidental overdose via oxycodone intoxication.
2009 - Ring of Honor's Collision debuted on PPV. Mike Johson filed the following PPV report:
Caged Collision opened with ROH's Dave Prazak in the ring in Chicago welcoming everyone to the PPV. The crowd chanted "ROH." Prazak then sent it to announcer Kyle Durden backstage with Austin Aries and Jimmy Jaocbs. He noted that they were teaming in a Dream Partner tag where the winner of the fall gets a World title shot. Jacobs said that he was in a tag match with three men he didn't like and he wanted his title shot. Aries said it was his title shot since ROH officials took it from him and they both agreed they didn't want Tyler Black to get it. As they left, Aries decked Durden, then glared into the cameras smiling. Hilarious.
ROH aired an opening video of clips from previous shows. The logo for the event featured a huge lock instead of the first vowels in Caged and Collision, which I thought was cool.
Alex "Sugarfoot" Payne vs. Silas Young vs. Kenny King
Dave Prazak butried Payne, saying he didn't deserve to be on the PPV. King refused to sign and slapped both. Payne got tossed out of the ring, but grabbed King's foot. That allowed Young to dropkick him. Payne nailed a top rope dropkick. Both worked over King. Young whipped Payne into King, nailing a leg lariat. King retreated to the floor.
Payne rolled up Young from behind for a two. Young went for a back suplex but Payne landed on his feet and rolled him up again. Young overpowered Payne, who kept kicking up. King remained on the outside talking trash to the camera. Payne dropkicked Young, but was pulled out of the ring by King. King slammed him into the barricade. Young faked a dive over the ropes, landed on the apron, but was nailed by a King kick for a two count.
King whopped Young and went for a big boot but was caught. King nailed a bicycle kick. Payne returned to the ring with a pinfall attempt. Payne then nailed a crucifix for a two count. King grabbed Payne in a Fireman's Carry but Young broke it up. Young nailed a neckbreaker but Payne broke up the pinfall.
Young and Payne went back and forth in the ring with Young getting the better of the exchange. King got involved and was drilled with a German suplex for a two count. Young went for a TKO but King nailed elbows to escape. He nailed a Blue Thunder Powerbomb for a two count. The cameras focused on Payne trying to recover. Young and King went back and forth with punches in the center while getting to their feet. They grappled, trying to get the better of the other, but were both nailed by a missile dropkick.
Payne began cleaning house and the crowd booed. Payne nailed a Perfectplex for a two count on Young. Payne ducked a clothesline and went for a high cross bodyblock. King caught him and slammed him down but Young broke it up. King missed the Elijah Express in the corner on Young, who drilled him with a clothesline for a two count. King leaped over the top, clotheslining Young's throat over the top rope. Payne caught Young with a forward roll and scored the pin.
Your winner, Sugarfoot!
A decent opener with all three working as hard and as fast as they could. Payne is obviously being designed for the young, scappy underdog character based on how he's been used the last two PPVs. King is absolutely going to be awesome down the line.
ROH aired a video feature on Claudio Castagnoli and Kevin Steen.
ROH Tag Team champ Kevin Steen vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Castagnoli worked over Steen's arm early. Steen used a forward role into a single leg takedown, overwhelming Castagnoli for a moment before locking in a front facelock. Claudio got to his feet but Steen went for a Sharpshooter. Castagnoli escaped the attempt. Claudio began attempting European uppercuts but Steen slapped him and drilled a spinning kick. He clotheslined Claudio over the top to the floor. Steen went for a sliding kick out of the ring but Claudio returned to the ring, avoiding it. Steen knocked him down and hit a slingshot senton over the ropes into the ring,
Steen charged Claudio in the corner but the referee was pulled into the ring. Claudio used the distraction to drill Steen with a kick. Claudio began nailing knees into the back, then locked on a side chinlock. Steen fought to his feet and nailed several chops but was caught with an over the knee backbreaker. Castagnoli had a trickle of blood running down his chest from the chops. He nailed Steen with a Gut Wretch suplex, then dropped another knee into the lower back.
Claudio then locked in Steen's own finisher, the Sharpshooter on him. The announcers noted Steen has been working on a bad knee courtesy of the American Wolves. Steen made his way to the ropes. Claudio and Steen exchanged chops and forearms. That broke down into punches but Claudio used a thumb to the eye to stop the onslaught. Claudio charged but was caught with a boot to the face and a tornado DDT out of the corner.
Steen unloaded with a kick to the chest, then a pumphandle lift into a neckbreaker for a two count. The crowd chanted, "Mr. Wrestling." Steen went to the top rope for a swanton but Cladio got his knees up. He scored a two count with a Waterslide, then attempted the Ricola Bomb. Steen escaped and finally drilled a glancing superkick. Steen nailed a cannonball in the corner, then cinched in a Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring.
Claudio fought his way to the ropes but Steen pulled him back. Larry Sweeney came out but El Generico came out and forced him to the back. The referee was distracted, allowing Claudio to nail a low blow and a Ricola Bomb for the pin.
Your winner, Claudio Castagnoli!
ROH aired a video feature on the Age of the Fall's fallout with The Necro Butcher as well as Delirious falling under Jimmy Jacobs' power.
Kyle Durden tried to interview Sugarfoot (I hate that name) about his win but Nigel McGuinness attacked him from behind. He said, "There is a saying in this business....payback is a B**ch" and told him to get out of "my locker room." McGuinness said he didn't forget the last time he was here. He said Sugarfoot was a disgrace like the contenders to his belt - Geritol Lynn, Tylenol Black and Clamdigger Danielson. They aired clips of each challenger as Nigel spoke. Nigel said they are all disgraces and don't deserve title shots. McGuinness said that if El Generico tries to hit a flippy thing or an Ole Kick, "I'm going to kill ya." He said that no matter what, "I'll kill ya." Good solid, old school heel promo. You can really see that the company's MO these days is to provide more of a traditional wrestling product in terms of personas, heels vs. babyfaces, etc.
Necro Butcher & Jerry Lynn vs. The Age of the Fall's Delirious and Brodie Lee
Lee and Necro began brawling outside the ring immediately. Lynn whipped Delirious into the guard rail.As it settled down, Lynn nailed head scissors on Delirious. Delirious missed a back senton splash and Lynn tagged in Necro. Necro drilled him with a right hand, then hit a monkey flip!? Necro then locked on an abdominal stretch but Brodie Lee jumped into the ring and began striking him. Lee broke the move and tagged in.
Necro and Lee began exchanging punches in the center of the ring. Necro headbutt Lee, who staggered into the corner but began returning fire. Necro was whipped into the corner but came out with a big right hand. Necro nailed a drop toe hold. Dave Prazak quipped, "There are no drop toe holds in a bar fight." Lynn tagged in but was tagged with a right hand. Lee shot Lynn into the air but the former ECW champ nailed a hurancanrana.
Lee chased Lynn to the floor and back, with Lynn trying to wear out Lee. Jimmy Jacobs distracted Lynn, allowing Lee to overpower him and nailed a suplex. Delirious tagged in and the Age of the Fall double teamed Lynn as Necro tried in vain to get past the referee. The NECRO BUTCHER can't get past a lowly referee?? Come on! Lynn avoided a charge in the corner from Lee but was hit with a big boot. Lee began tearing at Lynn's face.
Lynn was worked over in the AOTF's corner for some time. Lee went for a running boot but Lynn ducked and Lee fell to the floor. Lynn went to make a tag but Necro was pulled off the apron by Lee. Lynn kept kicking up. Delirious went for a backslide but Lynn battled his way out and nailed a DDT. There were some nice close-ups of the guys as they battled for leverage.
Lynn makes the hot tag and Necro drills Lee with a foot to the face, a slam and began beating him down in the corner. Necro bulldogged Lee, then placed him in the corner. Necro then hit a top rope frankensteiner. Lynn hit a flying high cross body off the top rope but Lee clotheslined Lynn for a two count. Necro drilled Delirious while he was on the top rope preparing for a Shadows over Hell splash.
Necro and Lee brawled outside. Necro legdropped Lee through a table on the floor and Chicago loved it. Delirious went for the Shadows over Hell splash from the top but Lynn moved. Lynn grabbed the cradle piledriver and scored the win.
Your winners, Necro Butcher and Jerry Lynn!
Another good back and forth tag team bout. Lynn was really good in his role as the babyface getting sympathy. I still feel Necro isn't being used right here - he should be the modern day Abdullah, not doing drop toe holds and ranas, but that's just me.
After the match, Jimmy Jacobs shoved down Delirious and told him he had disappointed him for the last time. He said he was doing this because he cares. He pulled out a chain. Daizee Haze hit the ring to stop him but Jacobs shoved her down. She ended up with Jacobs' spike and threatened spiking him but instead accidentally spiked Delirious, who she has been trying to "free from Jacobs." Jacobs smiled like he had gotten exactly what he wanted. Haze began crying that she was sorry while Jacobs blamed her. I didn't care for the angle but I got that they were going for the idea that Jacobs had tricked her into doing the opposite of what she wanted and in doing so, she had helped Jacobs' cause. That said, I thought the performance was a little over the top.
They aired a video feature on the Dream Partner Tag bout.
Austin Aries was in the ring when they returned and began heeling the crowd. He said he didn't want them to chant for him because it was all fake and the ROH fans are the most fickle in all of wrestling. He said he and Jimmy Jacobs tore each other apart for 8 months and everyone applauded because the fans only wanted their instant gratification. He said that now that "A Star" is here, the show can begin. You can tell Aries is loving the new role.
Jimmy Jacobs made his way to the ring. When he entered the ring, Jacobs and Aries stared each other down.
Danielson and Black came out to "Final Countdown", which I actually saw performed on Broadway in "Rock of Ages" earlier this week. Now THAT was surreal.
Danielson took the mic and said that between the all of the others, there's been a lot of emotion and tension. He said that he doesn't know if they trust each other, but he doesn't know that he can trust any of them, but there is nothing that's more important to him than the ROH World title. The fans chanted, "Best in the world." He said that since he can't trust Tyler Black and the opponents can't trust each other, he suggested a Four Way instead with one fall of a finish. Everyone agreed. A nice twist that the crowd popped for. It's always good to give a little more than you advertise so I liked it as well.
Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black vs. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Austin Aries
ROH champ Nigel McGuinness joined Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard for commentary. He said that while he's scheduled to defend the title next, he wanted to scout who was going to challenge him next. Aries did a lot of stalling early. One thing I've noticed with this PPV is that in terms of the camera work, the editing and the overall production is that a lot more attention has gone to the personalities and facial expressions, as opposed to just the wrestling moves.
Jacobs tagged in. Danielson grabbed him in a waistlock, then took him down and attempted to cinch in a cross-arm breaker. Jacobs made it to the ropes but Danielson snapped his arm down against the mat. Jacobs backed off, then locked up with Danielson, grabbing a hammerlock. Danielson reversed it but Jacobs caught him with a back elbow. Jacobs retreated from the ring to break Danielson's momentum, then tagged out to Aries. They go back and forth for awhile.
It finally settles down to Danielson and Black facing off and exchanging moves. Black takes the opportunity to nail Aries on the apron, leaving him open to attacked by former Tag Team championship partner Jacobs. Black makes a comeback and Aries tags in. Black avoided headscissors and drilled Aries with a drokick. Danielson tagged in and again, Aries went to the floor. Danielson caught him with uppercuts when he returned to the ring and whipped him into the ropes for a hard kick to the chest.
Danielson dropkicked Aries' sending him to the floor. When Aries returned to the apron, Danielson knocked him off and into the front row. Danielson went to dive into the crowd but was shoved off the top rope by Jacobs. Aries grabbed Danielson on the floor and tossed him back into the ring while he was still dazed. Aries and Jacobs began working over Danielson in the corner, taking turns tagging.
Jacobs stomped on Danielson in the corner and choked him against the ropes. He began using double stomps across Danielson's gut. Aries tagged in with a slingshot senton splash. Aries began unloading with uppercuts. He whipped Danielson into the corner but Danielson flipped over him, then tagging Black. Black came off the top on Aries then began unloading on Jacobs.
Black took turns going back and forth on Jacobs and Aries. Danielson came in with a missile dropkick on Aries, drilled Jacobs with a clothesline and hit Black with a knee strike. He cinched in the cattle mutilation on Black but Tyler escaped, turning it into an inverted DDT for a two count. Black went to the top for a Phoenix Splash but was attacked by Aries. Danielson took out Aries, then grabbed a belly to back superplex off the top on Black. Jacobs leaped on Black for a pinfall attempt.
Jacobs was tossed to the floor, where Black teased a dive but Aries tripped him. Lots of teases of dives to build to the spots. Aries tossed him to the floor where Jacobs held him. Aries went for a dive but Black moved and Aries wiped out Jacobs. Black then hit a dive over the ropes. Jacobs and Aries are tossed over the rail into the crowd. Black tries to return to the ring but Danielson dropkicks him to the floor then does a dive over the top to the floor. As Danielson celebrated, Bison Smith, dressed in street clothes, attacked and laid out Danielson before walking out. The announces wondered if Danielson was going to be out of commission the rest of the match.
This left Black alone with Jacobs and Aries. Jacobs locked in his choke. Black fought to his feet and shoved him in corner. Aries nailed a dropkick. Aries went for a suplex but Black escaped and went for the powerbomb in a corner. Jacobs speared him. Aries and Jacobs both attempted a pin but Black kicked up. They went back and forth until Black scored a surprise pin on Aries, who was furious.
Your winner and next in line for a ROH title shot. Tyler Black!
They aired a video feature on Nigel McGuinness and El Generico.
Backstage, Jerry Lynn, sporting a black eye was interviewed. Lynn promised that if Generico didn't get the job done, he would take the title.
ROH champ Nigel McGuinness vs. El Generico
McGuinness attacked Generico before the bell and threw him into the ringpost shoulder-first. Generico crumbled to the floor. Nigel smashed his arm against the corner post. Nigel then drilled him with the London Dungeon on the floor. Generico began to be counted out, but Kevin Steen ran out to try and get him to return to the ring. Generico just makes the count.
McGuinness continued to work over Generico's arm, but Generico nailed a chop to stun Nigel. McGuinness recovered and then slapped Generico down. Nigel went the handspring kick in the corner but Generico shoved him over to the apron then dropkicked him to the floor. Nigel cut off Generico as he left the ring and slammed him into the barricade. He went to whip Generico into the railing but it was reversed.
Generico went for a Yakuza Kick but Nigel avoided it and kicked him into the barricade. Generico was again in danger of being counted out on the floor but made it in at the last second. McGuinness continued to focus on Generico's shoulder and arm. Generico keeps fighting back but Nigel is able to take him back down and locks on different armbars to continue wearing him down.
The crowd began singing "Ole Ole" to rev up Generico. Generico finally broke free and went for a tornado DDT but Nigel "had it scouted" and immediately slammed Generico back down to the mat. Nigel continued to control the flow of the match. Nigel continued to beat down Generico, who refused to go down.
Nigel ducked a Yakuza Kick and hit Generico with a kick to the back, then a Tower of London in the ring. Nigel set up Generico on the top rope for another lariat but Generico blocked it with a boot. Nigel came back and hit another tower of London off the top rope outside the ring as Generico hit the apron and went to the outside. Nigel whipped Generico into the guard rail at the 17 count but Generico jumped into the ring at 19 to save himself.
Generico came back and nailed a brainbuster for a two count, then a Yakuza kick in the corner. He went for a brainbuster off the top but Nigel escaped. He locked on an arm bar but Generico made it to the ropes. Nigel pulled him back into the center of the ring and finally forced the submission.
Your winner and still ROH champion, Nigel McGuinness!
Tyler Black came back out and said he could exercise the title shot he won tonight at any time and, "What better time to do this, but tonight, on PPV. What better place to do this, but Chicago!" Before he could cash in, Jimmy Jacobs and Austin Aries attacked him on the ramp. Jerry Lynn and Necro Butcher made the save as Nigel left through the crowd.
They aired a video feature on the main event. Kyle Durden interviewed Larry Sweeney backstage. Sweeney said he's assembled the most dominant faction to ever exist in ROH. He said when you put them into a situation with no rules, that makes them mad. He said that the world will see their wrath tonight.
Steel Cage Warfare: Sweet N Sour Inc vs. Brent Albright & Ace Steel & Erick Stevens & Roderick Strong & Jay Briscoe
Davey Richards was the first man in for Sweet N' Sour while Strong was Richard and Strong went back and forth. Strong grabbed him in a Fireman's Carry and slammed him into the cage. The Horsemen, er...Sweet N' Sour won a cointoss and the second man out was Tank Toland. They both beat down Strong. Ace Steel came out next, making the save for Strong, running both men into the cage, then hitting stereo dropkicks into the cage with Roderick,
There was another countdown, but no one came out for Sweeney's team. Jay Briscoe was next but was attacked by Eddie Edwards and Sara del Rey, working over his knee . Edwards then entered the ring with a chair and began beating Steel and Strong down.
The next out for Team Sweeney was Bobby Dempsey, who looked scared to be in the ring and began punching Steel. Briscoe was carried out and never entered. The next in was Erick Stevens, who began cleaning house. Dempsey was too worried to do anything as Sweeney was screaming at him.
Adam Pearce came out as the final man on Team Sweeney. Strong grabbed him and threw him into the cage. Pearce was busted open, as were a lot of others. It's a total old school Cage match. Brent Albright is the last man in. By this point, Strong gained ownership of Edwards' steel chair and began beating everyone. Richards and Edwards were thrown out of the cage.
Brent Albright went to the top of the cage but was stopped by Pearce, who was now alone (except Dempsey, who was hiding). Albright nailed Pearce with a powerbomb off the top. The babyfaces took the battle to the floor. Briscoe returned with his knee bandaged and threw Dempsey into the cage, cutting him open.
Briscoe ascended to the top of the cage and hit a monster dive. Pearce was tossed back into the ring as Ace Steel and Albright worked him over. Pearce was taking one burial of a beating as everyone hit their main moves on him. Albright drilled him with a German suplex to score the pin.
After the match, Sweeney blamed Dempsey. He spit on Dempsey, who snapped and nailed him. All the babyfaces took turns working over Sweeney, bloodying him. Dempsey ripped his shirt off, drilled Sweeney with a cannonball in the corner, then hit a Death Valley Driver. The legend of Bobby Dempsey is born.
Thoughts: A great PPV. I really feel bad for ROH knowing this is airing the night before a Chuck Liddell fight and the same weekend as a top TNA PPV. With no bad matches, a great old school Wargames match in the main event, an excellent four way and a really good Nigel vs. Generico title bout, this is a no brainer at $10 for purchase. You can see the company evolving here as its still about the wrestling, but not so much about the wrestling moves with more importance put on storylines and personas. A really fun 2 hours.
2009 - TNA announced the following:
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING WINS MI6 AWARD FOR THE "SUICIDE IS BORN" CAMPAIGN
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is proud to announce that the "Suicide Is Born" campaign, featuring the arrival/crossover of Suicide to TNA from the "iMPACT!" videogame, won the coveted "Thinking Outside the Box - Marketing" honors at the annual MI6 awards on Wednesday in San Franciso, California!
MI6 is the interactive entertainment marketers association, formed by Promax BDA. The MI6 Awards recognize excellence in the marketing in the gaming space. TNA was up against major names such as Electronic Arts, Xbox, Activision, 2K Sports, and Ubisoft, to name a few. TNA claimed two of the five finalist spots in their category, one for the creation of Suicide as well as the incorporation of "iMPACT!" game footage into superstar entrance videos!
2009 - TNA broadcast Impact. Ed Sheriffs filed the following TV report:
It's Thursday, April 9, 2009 and we are just ten days away from the in ring return of Danny Bonaduce at Lockdown. Tonight also marks the end of an era, as Richard Trionfo, the Cal Ripken of Impact reports is sitting this week out. This week's episode is called "Who's Calling the Shots?" As always, TNA Impact is shot before a live studio audience.
The Main Event Mafia open the show and come to the ring. Sting wants, nay he needs, answers from Jeff Jarrett. He doesn't want them behind closed doors, so Double J comes to the ring, as well. Jarrett has business to take care of in his office (curious how he was so close to the entrance tube). Sting wants to know who is in charge of the company. Jarrett or Foley? Sting says if Foley is running the company, it is time to make it public. Jarrett insists he is calling the shots. Sting says good because he thinks Foley needs a warm up for Lockdown. Jarrett seems hesitant, so Sting says he'll use his stroke to make Foley wrestle. Steiner takes the mic and says Jarrett is losing control of the company.
The Motor City Machine Guns make their way to the ring. Cheap pop for video games. The MCMG are a tag team for hire tonight. Thanksgiving Eve was one of the worst days of Shelley's life. He had to wear a turkey suit and get DDT'd by Foley. He's been waiting a long time to get back at Mick. He offers the MCMG against Foley in a handicap match as a warmup. Jarrett is still the boss and he makes the match.
In the back, Foley is at a loss for words. He takes K.C. & the Sunshine Band's lyrics instead. That's the way he likes it. Foley is happy to see Jarrett back in charge, but he is going to tweak it a bit. Commercial.
TNA's WWE like masturbatory graphic thanks the fans for making last week's episode of Impact the most watched episode in TNA history.
Foley tells Jarrett he plans on tweaking his match. JB asks what is wring with Jarrett. JB is thrown out by the Mafia.
Sheik Abdul Bashir (w/ Kiyoshi & No Limit) vs. Suicide
Lock up goes into the corner with a clean break by Suicide. Bashir tries to rush him, but he is caught. Hip toss out of the corner then a dropkick into the corner by Suicide. Bashir snaps Suicide's neck on the top rope and pounds him in the corner. Clotheslines in the corner by Suicide. He drops Bashir on the mat and drops a leg on him. Bashir clubs Suicide in the back of the head and shoves him to the floor. No Limit take advantage of the situation.
Back in the ring, Bashir gets two with a neckbreaker. He works on Suicide in the corner, then whips him hard in the opposite corner. Snapmare and chinlock by Bashir. Back suplex by Bashir. He climbs to the top, but Suicide throws him off. Clothesline and trip by Suicide. Suicide puts Bashir on his shoulder and somersaults. Bashir drives Suicide to the mat for two. Suicide comes back, but No Limit interfere and Bashir DDT's Suicide on the X Division Belt.
Your winner, Sheik Abdul Bashir!
After the match, Bashir gloats over Suicide. The lights go out and when they come back on, Suicide has disappeared.
Rhino is in the back with a sailor from the USS Cole and Lauren. The sailor talks about bonding with a Petty Officer over wrestling. He found out he lost a friend, a brother when the USS Cole was attacked. Rhino offers to train the Petty Officer in wrestling so he can live the dream.
In the back, the Beautiful People are beating down Raisha Saeed. Velvet Sky cuts her hair. Commercial.
Vignette on the Team 3D Academy. They're doing it to save the art of professional wrestling!
A taped sit down interview between Tenay and Sting is shown. Given their history, Sting is surprised that Foley attacked him. Sting talks about how there is no comeback from his next big injury. He also talks about witnessing Cactus lose an ear in Germany.
Lauren tells Abyss that Doctor Stevie was abusing him. Lauren threatens to report Doctor Stevie to the board of health. Abyss convinces her not to, but Lauren says she will be at the next session.
In the ring, Foley talks more about the tweak he is doing to the match. He's got the notebook for his next book, Crossing the Line, out. Foley talks about Dewey wanting to look like Alex Shelley. Cane him! Younger son Huey wants to look like Shelley, too. The tweak is that his match with the Guns is now a First Blood match. He wants Sting as the special guest enforcer. He wants Jeff Jarrett to do whatever it is that founders do. He threatens to carve Shelley's face up.
In the back, Booker T is in a more solemn mood in light of the fact that his wife was kidnapped. Booker says he can't get one word out of her. He wants what happens to Joe tonight to be left up to everyone's imagination. Angle says he will be ringside with Booker. One hour into the show and we have a grand total of one match.
During the break, Styles offered to come out with Joe, but Joe turned him down.
Lethal Lockdown Advantage, Round 2: Samoa Joe w/ Nation of Violence vs. Booker T w/ Kurt Angle
Joe runs right out and goes after Booker, pounding him in the corner. Booker back with some knees, but Joe hits an enziguri. Angle trips Joe. More knees from Booker. Styles can't take no for an answer and he attacks Angle. Booker goes for the Axe Kick, but he runs into a powerslam and...that's it?
Your winner, Samoa Joe!
After a rundown of the Lockdown card, ODB and Cody Deaner are enjoying a date at Universal Studios Theme Park. More redneck than Jamie Noble showing Nidia their new double wide.
Another Team 3D vignette talking about Legacy and being one of the best tag teams of all time.
During the break, Big Sexy was hitting on Jenna Morasca.
The MCMG talk about making a name for themselves against Foley.
Scott Steiner vs. James Storm
Storm is distracted by Nash and Steiner jumps him. Scoop slam by Steiner. Storm skins the cat, then gets two with a swinging neckbreaker. Belly to belly by Steiner. Steiner knocks Storm to the mat, then hits with with a clothesline. Elbow drop and pushups by Steiner.
Storm punches out, but Steiner gets two with a reverse STO. Chinlock on the mat by Steiner. Storm punches back. He gets on the apron and kicks Steiner, followed by a backcracker for two. Suplex by Storm. Nash interferes and this one is over. Steiner gets the pipe, but Team 3D make the save for their opponents.
Your winner via disqualification, James Storm!
JB has some late breaking news. But you have to text TNA to get it. Pass. He then talks to The Beautiful People. Angelina wants the Knockout Title and she'll get it at any cost. They will continue to take out one ugly person at a time. They plan on giving Kong a makeover.
Awesome Kong vs. The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne w/ Angelina Love)
TBP attack Kong right away. They kick her and take her to the mat with a straitjacket. Sky chops and punches Kong. Kong blocks a DDT. Sky pushes Kong into a dropkick from Rayne. Kong comes right back. Rayne blocks the Awesome Bomb and Sky covers for two. Kong reverses the pin and scores the victory.
Your winner, Awesome Kong.
TBP attack after the match, but Taylor Wilde makes the save.
The ubiquitous JB once again is in the back, this time with Jarrett. He wants to know what was going down in the meeting with Steiner. Jarrett plays coy, but he says he will name the fourth member, a former TNA Champion.
First Blood Match: Mick Foley vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) w/ Special Guest Enforcer Sting
Shelley is first in for the Guns. Back elbow by Foley. He punches Shelley on the mat. Shelley floats over a suplex. Foley sends Shelley out of the ring. Sabin with a dropkick off the apron to Foley. The Guns double suicide dive onto Foley. Commercial.
Back from the break, Sabin avoids a charge and the Guns double team Foley. Dropkick off the top/Reverse STO combo. Kicks knock Foley back to the mat. Sabin mocks Sting, so Sting pulls him out of the ring and hits the Scorpion Death Drop. Foley with a Double Arm DDT to Shelley. Foley takes Socko out and Shelley eats it. Shelley is tossed out of the ring. The ref sees blood on Socko, but Foley won't let him ring the bell. Suplex to Shelley on the concrete. Foley takes out a mic and says a little blood was not what he promised. He promised to bust somebody wide open. He says he's going to make Shelley suffer. Foley takes Barbie out. He carves Shelley's head. Sting hits Foley in the head with a steel chair. Foley is busted open, so the ref calls the bell and declares Foley the loser...even though Shelley bled first. That pretty much sums up tonight's show.
Your winners, the Motor City Machine Guns!
Sting and Foley brawl in the aisle to end the show.
2010 - Women's comedy promotion Wrestlicious, which aired on MavTV in the United States and Bite TV in Canada, went on "hiatus" from airing original TV episodes. To date, it has yet to return.
2010 - WWE Smackdown ran Dublin, Ireland. Matthew Macklin filed the following live report:
Before the show we saw all of the wrestlers leaving the Clarion Hotel and getting on to two buses to head for the arena. David Hart Smith got onto the heel bus by accident and was told too get off of it quickly. Finlay was there but he didn’t wrestle.
The O2 was definitely not sold out as there were a lot of empty seats at the top of the arena. We had front row seats and were surrounded by children wearing Cena shirts and he wasn’t even going to be there.
Kane Def. Ezekiel Jackson
Once Kane's music hit a guy that was seated beside the ring he whole night jumped into the ring and jumped on Tony Chimel as the lights went out. I know this guy to see but can’t think of his name. He looked an awful lot like Billy Kidman. The match started slow but picked up towards the end with Kane winning after a chokeslam.
Beth Phoenix Def. Layla
Far better than the average divas match you would see on TV. Beth was very popular in Dublin. Layla did a good job and got a lot of offense. Beth won after the Glam slam.
The Hart Dynasty Def. The Dudebusters
Croft and Barretta got on the mic before the match and said they were disappointed to realize the were not in Northern Ireland. This got them great heat. The Hart Dynasty got a huge reaction coming out and there was even a "We want Bret" chant. Kidd and Natalya loved our ‘don’t screw The Hart Dynasty ’ sign. This was one of the best matches of the night and the best match I’ve seen from Croft and Barretta. Some great back and forth action Smith got the hot tag and the Dynasty won after sharpshooters on both Croft and Barretta. The Hart Dynasty are unreal to watch in the ring.
R-Truth Def. Dolph Ziggler
Truth got the usual loud reaction. Ziggler is awesome. Another great back and forth match. Ziggler even pulled out a superkick at one stage. Truth won after a wheelbarrow into a roll up. Truth danced with Chimel after the match.
John Morrison Def. Luke Gallows w/Serena
Decent match. Serena was great at ringside. Morrison pulled out an HBK elbow and nip up. Morrison won after Starship Pain. After the match Punk came out to attack Morrison only for Mysterio to make the save which led us to an intermission.
Intercontinental Championship
Drew McIntyre Def. Matt Hardy
This match was exactly the same as the one that aired on Smackdown last night. Good match back and forth until Hardy started selling the head injuries. McIntyre won after Hardy’s head hit the ring post followed by the future shock double arm DDT.
Rey Mysterio Def. CM Punk w/ Gallows and Serena
Yet again during Mysterio's entrance Chimel was attacked by the same guy who he was having a good laugh with at ringside. Referee John Cone had to introduce Rey Mysterio which was hilarious. This match spilled into the crowd at one stage and was better than there Wrestlemania match. Match of the night. Mysterio is awesome to see so close up. Mysterio won after a 619 and a splash after loads of counters and reversals. John Morrison stopped Gallows from interfering in the finish returning the favor from earlier.
World Heavyweight Championship
Edge Def. Jack Swagger by DQ
Swagger got on the mic before the match and got good heat. Edge got a huge pop and made fun of Swagger's lisp, as usual. Fantastic match. Edge outsmarted Swagger to start off until Edge got dropped on the guard rail (right in front of me). Swagger worked over Edge's ribs for a while until Edge attempted The Spear several times. Swagger caught Edge in the knee with a chair for the DQ. Edge of course speared Swagger to send the people home happy. Edge got on the mic after and thanked us for coming and said we were far better than the German crowd the night before. He went around meeting fans at ringside to end the show
Overall a fantastic show and the best show I've seen in the O2. Hopefully they will be back again in November
2010 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report;
We start off tonight’s show with a look back to the injuries suffered by Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania and the subsequent attack by Edge on Smackdown. Ever the opportunist, Jack Swagger came out and cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to become the sixth man to successfully cash in the Money in the Bank Briefcase.
We are live on tape from Chicago, Illinois and your announcers are Matt ‘It could be worse, I could be Ken Harrelson’ Striker and Todd ‘Is that Steve Bartman’ Grisham.
Jack tells everyone to simmer down so he can speak. Last week he shocked the world and cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase to become everyone’s new World Champion. Tonight we will see Chris Jericho and Edge find out who will face him at Extreme Rules. Swagger says that he does not care who wins because he will be the odds on favorite to walk out of Extreme Rules with the title around his waist. He says that he is a changed man for the better in every way. Being champion suits him. For some, it comes easy and are meant to be champions. He is one of them. Swagger says that the people can boo him all they want, but there is no WWE superstar who can stop his momentum. Since Shawn Michaels’ career is over, he says that he should be considered the greatest natural competitor in the WWE. He tells everyone that he deserves to be champion.
John Morrison comes out and he has something to say. John wonders if Jack really deserves to be champion. He got lucky on one night. He says that he is a title holder, not a champion. John says that Jack didn’t look too good on Monday night and we go to the video tape.
John says that Jack claims to be a changed man, but he sees the same Jack Swagger. The same hair cut, same nickname, and same speech impediment. John jokes that he has crossed the line with Jack.
Jack says that John is the one who hasn’t changed. Jack says that while he is the champion, Morrison is stuck in the shadow of the Miz. Jack tells Morrison that he is jealous of his accomplishments. Morrison says that Jack might be right, but at least he doesn’t have a speech impediment. Swagger tries to attack Morrison but Morrison moves out of the way and he goes to the floor. We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Jack Swagger versus John Morrison in a Non Title Match
The match is joined in progress and Swagger pushes Morrison out of the corner. Morrison with punches and a drop kick for a near fall. Morrison with a side head lock but Swagger with a shoulder in the corner. Morrison with a kick but when he tries for a tilt-a-whirl DDT, Swagger blocks it with a power slam and gets a near fall. Swagger with a waist lock and he rolls Morrison around the ring. Swagger with a front face lock and then he hits a running knee to the midsection. There is some blood and the referee stops the match to clean the blood off Swagger’s face. This allows Morrison to recover.
The match is restarted and Swagger with a kick and forearm to the midsection. Swagger tries to work on the abdomen and uses his boots to add extra pressure. Swagger with a dead lift into a slam and he gets a near fall. Swagger with kicks into the midsection followed by shoulders. Swagger with a running shoulder and Morrison almost falls to the floor but he stays on the apron. Swagger with a punch to the midsection followed by a snap mare and waist lock and body scissors. Morrison tries to escape but Swagger applies a waist lock and then he connects with forearms to the back. Swagger puts Morrison on the top turnbuckles and tries for a superplex but Morrison punches him off and Morrison tries for a move but Swagger hits a belly-to-belly overhead suplex and gets a near fall. Swagger gets ready for the double jump Vader splash but Morrison gets his boots up to stop Swagger and both men are down. Morrison struggles to get to his feet and he punches Swagger. Morrison with a flying shoulder tackle and a leg lariat for a near fall. Morrison moves on a charge into the corner and hits the springboard spin kick but can only get a two count. Morrison tries for the swinging neck breaker but Swagger drops Morrison’s midsection on the top rope. Swagger tries for the Doctor Bomb but Morrison escapes but he lands on his chest. Morrison with a sunset flip followed by a Shining Wizard and then he goes up top for the corkscrew split legged moonsault but he lands on his feet when Swagger goes to the floor. Morrison goes to the apron and then Swagger low bridges Morrison and Morrison hits the apron. Swagger rolls Morrison back in and then he picks Morrison up and hits the Doctor Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Jack Swagger
We go to commercial.
We are back Chris Jericho is in the back with his rookie Wade Barrett. He talks about losing the title but he is happy that Barrett is number two in NXT but he should be number one. Jericho says that he should still be champion.
Swagger comes into the locker room and asks Jericho if he saw what happened in the ring. He tells Jericho that he is pulling for Chris. He says that he cashed in on Jericho instead of Cena because Chris was hurt and he was a sure thing.
Jericho says that he is still the champion and he wants the title back. Jericho says that they are going to let the decision stand but he doesn’t buy it. Jericho says that he can come out with spiked hair and a suit, but it doesn’t make him Chris Jericho or a world champion. Swagger says that the belt means that he is the champion.
Shad Gaspard comes out to the ring and he has something to say. He says that for the people who did not see what he did to his tag team partner, we have some video tape footage.
Shad asks everyone if they liked it because it was all him. Some can related to him and some want and deserve proper respect but there is someone who gets all of the attention when you get none. There is a co-worker who gets promotions when you work as hard as they do. Shad says that everyone needs to be a lot like him. He tells everyone to take what they deserve. He emphasizes the word take. He tells everyone not to let people like JTG stand in his way. He says that you can do what you want, but everyone knows what is right. He says that it isn’t Cryme Tyme, or Y’all’s Time. He says that it is My Tyme.
JTG comes to the ring and then Shad goes to the floor and JTG runs into a big boot.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from Drew McIntyre’s pre match attack on Matt Hardy.
Drew has something to say and he says that he is not going to waste his breath on the people so he puts the mic down.
Match Number Two: Drew McIntyre versus Matt Hardy
Hardy with punches and forearms but when the referee pulls him away, Drew with a kick and then Hardy takes Drew down and punches him. Hardy is pulled off McIntyre by the referee but he continues to punch Drew. Drew with a kick to Hardy and then one to the head. Drew with another punch and then he kicks Hardy in the corner. Drew with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot and Hardy hits a clothesline from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Hardy stretches Drew in the ropes and then he hits a neck breaker for a near fall. Hardy blocks a kick and then he clotheslines McIntyre over the top rope and both men go to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and McIntyre with an arm bar and cross face. We see footage from the commercial break when Drew sent Matt into the ringside barrier. Hardy with punches followed by a jawbreaker and both men are on their knees. Hardy swings wildly and McIntyre with punches. Drew with a belly-to-back suplex into the turnbuckles and then he pulls Hardy into the center of the ring and gets a near fall. Drew sends Hardy into the turnbuckles and then hits a short arm clothesline. Drew with a boot to the head and then he gets a near fall. Drew with a reverse chin lock. Drew waits for Hardy to get to his feet and McIntyre punches Hardy and connects with a forearm to the back of the head. Hardy with a Side Effect and he gets a near fall. Hardy with a second Side Effect and he goes to the turnbuckles and hits a leg drop for a near fall. Hardy waits for the Twist of Fate but Drew blocks it. Drew tries for the double underhook DDT but Hardy with a back body drop. Hardy runs into an elbow but Drew runs into a clothesline. Hardy with a running boot to the head and Drew goes to the floor. Hardy with an elbow from the apron to the back of the head. Hardy punches Drew but Drew sends Hardy into the side of the ring. Drew with the double underhook DDT on the floor and then he rolls Hardy back into the ring and gets the three count.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
We see Darren Young in the back and we go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: CM Punk laying out the challenge for Rey Mysterio to put his hair on the line against Rey.
CM Punk comes to the ring with his followers Serena and Luke Gallows. They are joined by Punk’s rookie Darren Young. We are going to see a man with a little less hair tonight.
Serena calls everyone sinners and addicts. She says that they are living a pathetic life of meaningless excess. She says that if you would allow yourself to find straight edge through the grace of the angel known as CM Punk, then everyone would be saved just like her. They would be able to better their meaningless and worthless lives.
Punk says something to Luke and then Luke has something to say. Luke says the moment of realization and moment of cleansing is worth a lifetime of pain. When he realized that straight edge was his destiny, it was in and through CM Punk. He says that he was saved.
Punk says that there was a time when Luke and Serena were as weak and powerless as everyone in the arena right now. Punk says that they were part of their pathetic moral majority. Punk says that he came around and saved them so they are no longer betwixt the muck and mire that the crowd lives in. He says that they stand on top with CM Punk and the Straight Edge Society. Punk says that he saw loneliness and despair in Luke and Serena’s eyes at a time. He sees loneliness and despair in Darren Young’s eyes. Punk says that he knows what Darren is going through. He says that he sees the despair in Darren’s eyes. Punk points out that Darren is in dead last and on the verge of being eliminated from the competition. Punk says that all is not lost. He says that Darren won the match through the power of straight edge. Punk says that he can save Darren. He says that he is giving Darren a choice tonight.
The Straight Edge Chair is set up and Punk says that Darren’s hair is the path that Darren has taken to this point. He says that it is a crooked path. Punk says that he will take away Darren’s weakness if he pledges allegiance to Straight Edge. He tells Darren that means no more drinking, smoking, or late night partying. Punk tells Darren it means not being a loser any more. He says that Darren doesn’t want to be dead last, he wants to be number one. Punk says that his hair represents all that is good, pure, right, and righteous. Punk says that Darren’s hair has been mired and filthed up by their civilization. Punk asks Darren if he is ready to take straight edge into his life. He wants Darrent to raise his arm and accept straight edge. Punk asks Darren if he is ready to accept Punk as his savior.
Darren thinks about it and he decides not to do it. Darren stands up and he tells Punk that he has changed his mind. Punk wants to know who Darren thinks he is. Young pushes Punk and then Gallows grabs Darren so Punk can kick him. Serena with a few kicks to Young. Punk has the clippers and Rey’s music plays so he has to stop.
Rey with a springboard seated senton to Luke after a shoulder to Punk. Rey and Punk are in the ring and Rey with a drop kick and then he grabs the clippers but Punk leaves the ring with some help from Serena before Punk can lose any hair.
Rey tells Punk that last week he made a challenge for a match at Extreme Rules where he put his hair on the line. Rey tells Punk that he accepts the challenge and he says that he will beat Punk again. This time he isn’t just going to beat Punk, he is going to shave Punk’s hair and put an end to the Straight Edge Society. Rey says that Punk is one move away from the 619.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Caylen Croft wants to introduce themselves to the Hart Dynasty. Caylen says that they are the Dudebusters. Trent says that it is not just a name, but a way of life. Caylen says that they had to get to the WWE on their own because they are not from the Hart family. Trent and Caylen talk about their exploits outside the ring. They say they aren’t here to brag.
Match Number Three: Caylen Croft and Trent Barreta versus David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd with Natalya
Kidd and Croft start things off and Kidd with a drop toe hold into a side head lock. Kidd with a shoulder tackle and a snap suplex after a hip toss is blocked. Croft with a shoulder from the apron and a sunset flip but Kidd rolls through and tries for a sharpshooter, but Croft sends Kidd to the floor. Barreta with a running back elbow to Kidd. Croft with a gourdbuster and then Barreta is tagged in and he hits a slingshot elbow drop and gets a near fall. Barreta with a cravate and then he hits a belly-to-back suplex and then Barreta gloats before trying to get the cover and can only get a near fall. Barreta with knees in the corner. Kidd sends Barreta into the turnbuckles and Smith is tagged in. Smith with punches and a back elbow, followed by a clothesline and flying shoulder tackle. Kidd with a springboard drop kick to Croft when he tries to interfere with an apparent Hart Attack version 2.0. Barreta tries for a tornado DDT but Smith blocks it and then he puts Barreta in the sharpshooter and Trent taps out.
Winners: David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd
Josh Mathews is in the back with Dolph Ziggler and Josh asks Dolph about what he did to Great Khali and wants to know how he feels. Dolph puts Josh in the sleeper and he is out.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to talk about what Dolph Ziggler did to Josh Mathews.
Now we go to the Raw Rebound.
Edge is in the locker room and Jack Swagger enters. He wishes Edge luck tonight and he says that he is pulling for him. Swagger tells Edge that if he faces him at Extreme Rules, he will do what Jericho couldn’t and that is put Edge out of action. Edge says that he was just like Swagger when he first cashed in Money in the Bank. He was very confident, but he lost the title three weeks later. Edge says that he will win tonight and in three weeks he will beat Jack Swagger with the SPEAR. Edge clarifies and say that he will beat him with the Thpear. Swagger says that he doesn’t have a speech impediment.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that a lot of schools were involved with the Wrestlemania Reading Challenge?
Match Number Four: Chris Jericho versus Edge in a Number One Contender Match
They lock up and Jericho with a side head lock. Jericho with a shoulder tackle and then Edge throws Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Jericho holds his ribs as the referee holds Edge back and we go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho with a kick but Edge with a drop toe hold and a cross body into the ropes and gets a near fall. Edge with punches to the injured ribs followed by a hard Irish whip and then he stretches Jericho against the ring post until the referee warns him. Edge with a kick to the ribs. Edge with a punch but Jericho throws Edge to the floor. Jericho with the springboard drop kick and Edge falls to the floor.
We see Swagger watching from the back.
Jericho slingshots Edge’s throat into the bottom rope and then he hits a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Jericho with a kick to the head and then he chokes Edge in the ropes. Jericho stands on Edge’s back and then he tries to cover Edge but he has his feet on the ropes. Jericho with punches to the head and then he chokes Edge in the corner. Edge with punches to the ribs but Jericho with a clothesline for a near fall. Jericho with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Edge with punches to the ribs to get out of the hold but Jericho with a back elbow. Edge goes to the apron and he connects with a shoulder. Edge tries for a sunset flip but Jericho drops down and gets a near fall. Edge with a near fall of his own. Jericho with a baseball slide to the ribs and Edge goes to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho punches Edge and slaps him in the head as he continues to torment him. Jericho pulls Edge up and connects with a forearm and kick to send Edge to the floor. Jericho relaxes in the corner while he waits for Edge to get up. Jericho with a kick to the head and then he sends Edge into the turnbuckles. Jericho with a snap mare and modified sleeper. Edge with punches to Jericho to get out of the hold and then he Irish whips Jericho but he runs into a boot. Jericho comes off the turnbuckles but Edge with a punch to the midsection and clotheslines. Edge with a flap jack and then he hits a sit out DDT for a near fall. Jericho with a kick and bulldog. Jericho raises his arm and then means Lionsault, but Edge moves and Jericho lands on his feet. Jericho puts Edge in the Walls of Jericho and Edge tries to do everything possible to keep from tapping out. Edge gets to the ropes and Jericho argues with the referee. Edge with a boot to a charging Jericho and he gets a near fall. Edge counters a Walls attempt with an inside cradle for a near fall. Jericho hits a running Codebreaker and Edge falls to the floor. Jericho rolls Edge into the ring and can only get a near fall. Jericho yells at Edge and slaps him in the head. Edge with a knee and Impaler DDT and then he has that look in his eyes as he sets for the SPEAR. Jericho gets up and Edge charges but Jericho with a leap frog and then Jericho goes to the floor. Edge sends Jericho into the ringside barrier and then they fight into the crowd. They fight through the crowd and the referee makes the ten count.
Double Count Out
After the match, Edge and Jericho continue to fight in the crowd. Edge is ready to go into the ringside area, but Jericho tries to go over the barrier further up on the ramp. Jericho Irish whips Edge into the ring steps. Jericho kicks Edge in the ribs and then Jericho rolls Edge into the ring. Jericho stands over Edge and then he goes for a chair. Jericho brings the chair into the ring and Edge looks like he is a bit woozy. Jericho tries to use the chair, but Edge with a SPEAR.
Edge stands over Jericho with his arm raised and then we go to credits.
2011 - Kurt Angle plead guilty to a charge of reckless driving for the incident that occurred on the 3/25 near Thompson, ND where Angle's SUV was found stopped in the median of Interstate 29.
Angle initially claimed that he skidded off the road after he hit an icy patch but state troopers on the scene said that the road was dry that night. Angle later claimed he was distracted when he got a text message. The police said that they smelled alcohol on Angle's breath at the time but since he wasn't actually driving he couldn't be charged with DUI. They did say that Angle failed a field sobriety test and was taken to the Grand Forks County jail where his blood-alcohol level was .083 percent. The legal limit to drive in North Dakota is .08 percent.
Under the terms of a plea deal, Angle would have to pay a $475 fine, serve a year of unsupervised probation and undergo a chemical dependency evaluation. He would also receive a suspended sentence of 10 days in jail.
2011 - Germany's Westside Xtreme Wrestling ran a matinee event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Germany's Westside Xtreme Wrestling returned to the ECW Arena for Kreuzzug, a special matinee event.
The show is being aired via Internet PPV at Hybried.ent. They have live commentators at ringside...Southern wrestling legend George South is in attendance as he had an appearance at the K&S Wrestlefest earlier today.
Brandon Gatson vs. Chuck Taylor vs. Emil Sitoci vs. Johnny Gargano.
Sitoci is from the Netherlands. All four began battling at the bell. Sitoci dropkicked Taylor out of the ring. It came down to Sitoci and Gatson, who went back and forth. Gargano and Taylor attacked them. They all went back and forth. Sitochi hit a dive to the floor on Gargano and Taylor. Gatson then nailed a space flying tiger drop to the floor on everyone.
Back in the ring, Sitoci slammed Gargano but missed a moonsault press. Gargano drilled him with a kick and an Ace Crusher for a two count. The crowd began clapping slowly for the match. Sitoci faked out Gargano, who ended up on the floor. Taylor took out Gargano and Gatson. Gargano returned with several kicks.
Gatson nailed him with a sideslam but was nailed with an Uranage and kick by Taylor. Sitoci broke up the pin and went for a slam. Taylor slipped out but was caught with a spinning tombstone and pinned.
Your winner, Emil Sitoci!
Very good opener.
Sami Callihan vs. Bad Bones
Bones is from Germany. He's a big muscled up bald guy who has a real bad ass walk to him.
They went nose to nose at the bell and then slapped each other. They started wailing away on the other with stiff as hell chops. They then exchanged big boots to the face. The two bruisers just kept beating the hell out of each other back and forth.
Bones ended up on the apron where he tried to suplex Sami to the outside but failed. Sami nailed him with several kicks on the apron. He went to nail a big right but was blocked. Bones nailed him and again went for a suplex to the outside. Callihan blocked it but Bones finally succeeded, picking him and dropping him onto the ropes and the apron. Callihan crashed to the floor.
Bones beat Callihan with chops against the railing on the outside. They battled to the entrance ramp, where Bones tackled Sami and sent him flying. They were almost counted out on the floor but rolled back in at the last minute.
Back on the ring, they exchanged stiff blows and kicks in the center, with only the ropes saving them from collapsing. Sami drilled him with kicks but was caught with a powerslam for a two count.
Bones nailed a massive running clothesline that saw Callihan take a crazy bump. Sami kicked out, which started the fans chanting for him. Sami escaped a charge in the corner, nailed an enziguiri and a Face Wash for a two count.
Sami nailed several clotheslines but Bones didn't go down. He rebounded off the ropes but was speared for a two count by Bones. Bones charged but was nailed with a running knee to the face. He came back with an Ace Crusher for another two count.
Bones nailed a pump kick for another two count. Bones screamed at Sami to stay down and slapped him. He ascended to the top rope but missed a back senton splash. Sami nailed him with a running forearm smash for a two count. He locked in a leg submission and trapped Bones in the center, kicking him in the back of the head. Bones struggled but finally had no escape and tapped.
Your winner, Sami Callihan!
Good back and forth match with lots of hard hitting shots.
Brodie Lee and Big van Walter vs. Michael Elgin and Johnny Moss
When Lee came to the ring, some 10 year old looking kid was giving him static so Lee stared him down. The kid began daring him to take a shot. Lee grabbed a chair, so the kid pointed to his head and gave Lee the finger. Ah, Philadelphia. Home of our future President.
Walter, a large bruiser wearing amateur tights and Elgin, who was just signed to ROH, started out. They tested each other out with shoulderblocks but neither man budged. They went back and forth. Elgin got the better of him and suplexed him over, then tagged in Lee. Moss was then tagged in.
Lee missed a shot in the corner and was chopped hard by Moss. Lee held off when whipped into the ropes and nailed a kick but Moss sent him to the floor. Moss then ducked when Walter charged and he went to the floor. Moss hit a dive to the floor. Elgin then hit a twisting dive to the floor. Crazy to see guys of their size pulling that stuff out,
Back in the ring, Walter took over on Moss. Moss made a comeback and he and Elgin nailed several double team moves, including a double back senton and double suplex, working over Walter and scoring several near falls,
Moss kneed Walter, who fell into his corner and tagged Lee. Lee came back with a faceplant and scored a two count. Walter and Lee took turns working over Moss. Walter drilled him with a big boot. He held Moss and Lee measured and nailed him. They continued working him over.
Walter slammed Moss for a two count. Lee continued the assault with a uppercuts but Moss came off the ropes with one of his own and a big forearm smash. Moss tagged Elgin who came off the top with a big shoulderblock. He worked over Lee, picking him up for a Fireman's Carry but Lee slipped out. Elgin finally nailed a powerslam for a two count.
Walter grabbed Elgin from behind but was sent into Lee. Elgin nailed a sitdown powerbomb but Lee kicked him to break up the pin. Elgin and Lee went back and forth. Elgin nailed a sitdown slam for a two count.
Elgin piled up Lee and Walter on his back and hit a massive Samoan Drop. He covered Walter for a two count. Lee killed him with a boot to the face and then nailed a rana. Walter picked up Moss and dropped him over his knees. Lee clotheslines him for a two count. Lee drills him with a running boot in the corner. Walter nailed an Avalanche in the corner then sent Moss into a Black Hole Slam for a two count as Elgin broke it up.
Lee nailed several running kicks but was caught in a suplex into the corner. Moss hit a German suplex on Walteer as Lee nailed Elgin with one. Moss and Lee faced off, going back and forth with clotheslines and shots. Moss nailed a back suplex on Lee.
Moss picked up Walter on his shoulders. Moss came off the top with a shoulderblock. They then doubled on Lee. Elgin came off the top with a twisting moonsault and scored the pin.
Your winner, Jonny Moss & Michael Elgin.
Necro Butcher vs. Karsten Beck
Beck, who is one half of the WXW Tag Team champions, did some mic work ripping on the fans and Necro. Necro came out to "Freebird" and easily received the biggest reaction of the show thus far.
Beck kept talking on the mic, so Necro punched him in the face. Beck grabbed some chairs from under the ring and tossed them into the ring. Necro busted himself open punching himself. They set the chairs up in the middle of the ring facing each other. Beck drilled Necro with several punches to the jaw. Necro then fired back. Beck attacked Necro and shoved him over.
Beck nailed several forearms and locked in a rear chinlock. Beck followed up with a running kneelift to the face. He nailed a second and Necro, who was now bleeding heavily, went down. Necro came back with a series of stiff punches and chops. He kicked Beck in the gut and then in the face,
They went to the outside where Beck was nailed in the gut with a chair. Necro slammed Beck and the chair on the floor. Beck cut off Necro and chopped him stiffly several times. Beck trashtalked the crowd and turned back to Necro, who tossed a chair into him. Necro wrapped an electrical wire around Beck's face and throat and began choking him out.
Necro rammed Beck into one of the pillars in the building and then gave him an atomic drop on the railing. Necro then shoved the ring steps into Beck before rolling him back into the ring. Necro put Beck on the ropes, drilled him with a punch and hit a top rope rana. Seriously.
Necro rolled up Beck for a two count. Beck ducked a clothesline and Necro ran him into the corner, Beck kissed the female referee he was run into and when she was wiping her face, lowblowed Necro and caught him with an inside cradle for the pin.
Your winner, Karsten Beck!
OK match. Necro, who has put on some weight , seemed like he was hurting. He still got a nice reaction for everything he did and a nice chant on the way out. Beck is a good heel.
Kyle O'Riley & Adam Cole vs. LDRS, Marty Scurll and Zack Sabre Jr.
Sabre and O'Riley start out and have some nice back and forth grapping and exchanges. Cole and Scurll tagged in and it was more of the same. Really good wrestling early on. The Leaders of the New School took turns working over Cole in the corner.
O'Riley tried to get involved but was sent to the outside. They then hit some great back and forth stuff with Cole before taking him out. They then locked Cole and Kyle in a double camel clutch with their legs intertwined while facing away from the other. Real original!
O'Riley caught Scurrl going for a rana, setting up Cole to nail a big dropkick. Cole and O'Riley cut the ring off on Scurrl, working him in the corner. Cole suplexed over Scurrl for a two count. He and O'Riley nailed a double Northern Lights Suplex. O'Riley locked in an armbar as Cole dropkicked Sabre off the apron.
Scurrl finally drilled O'Riley with a pair of knees and tagged Sabre. Sabre kicked Cole off the apron and worked over O'Riley. He nailed several kicked and caught him in a rolling armbar. Cole broke up the move. They began going back and forth. They battled in the corner where O'Riley accidentally caught his partner with a kick to the face.
Sabre drilled O'Riley with a sitdown bomb for a two count. Cole dragged him out of the ring. Scurrl used a rollup on O'Riley. When he kicked up at two, Cole was waiting with a kick to the face, which started off a series of back and forth near falls. Real good stuff.
Cole was left in the ring with LDRS and they double teamed him. Zack hit a kick to the back of the head and Scurrl dropped him over his knees for a two count. Cole tagged in O'Riley who nailed a missile dropkick off the top on both. He nailed a series of kicked on both and locked in a forward choke on Scurrl. Sabre measured him and drilled him in the face with a kick.
abre launched himself over the ropes and came down with a double stomp on the apron. Cole, insensed, killed him with a suicide dive to the outside that was awesome. Cole returned to the ring and superkicked Scurrl, who fired back with one of his own. O'Riley and Sabre battled back and forth. All four were on the mat and nearly counted out as the crowd applauded.
They all continued to battle on their knees, going back and forth with punches and chops. The LDRS fired up and killed their opponents with headbutts and chops. Scurrls was nastily sent to the outside. Cole and O'Riley drilled Sabre with a series of moves but he kept kicking out. Great stuff.
O'Riley set up Scurrl on the top rope for a superplex but he fired back. He then came off the ropes with two big knees on O'Riey, who was hanging on for dear life. Cole and Sabre battled back and forth with forearms. The LDRS worked over Cole. Scurrl came off the top with a missile dropkick on Cole, who was then tombstoned by Sabre. O'Riley caught the spent Scurrl and crucifixed him for the surprise pin.
Your winners, Adam Cole and Kyle O'Riley!
Really good match. Excellent stuff here all around. The crowd chanted for the LDRS to come back soon.
wXw United World Heavyweight champion Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Chris Hero
Sekimoto is also representing Big Japan Wrestling.
Some really great mat wrestling early as Hero tries to work on Sekimoto's arm. He gets powered over into a headlock takedown. Hero scored a pin attempt pulling him back over and continued to work on the arm. Sekimoto slammed Hero down and Hero backed off, trying to find his strategy.
Hero locked in a cravate but was slammed over as Sekimoto was too powerful this early. Hero then went for a single leg takedown and got it, grabbing his ankle and twisting it. Hero grabbed a headlock and held onto it, even as Sekimoto tried to escape. He finally did and Hero came off the ropes with a shoulderblock to no avail. He tried for another but Sekimoto didn't budge. He went for a third, same result. Hero then got Sekimoto to go for one, and when he did, Hero ducked under and dropkicked him. Sekimoto, undaunted, came back with a big tackle.
They exchanged chops. Hero nailed a leg lariat and then snapmared him over. Sekimoto went to the outside. Hero faked a springboard dive, then nailed a kick through the ropes. Hero continued to work him over on the outside and when they returned to the ring, scored several near falls.
Hero continued the assault with elbows and a back senton splash, but was caught and pulled up. Sekimoto went for a German suplex. Hero slipped out and ducked a clothesline attempt. They faced off. Hero nailed him with one of the hardest chops since Garvin vs. Valentine. Sekimoto fired back in kind. These things were just evil. They began exchanging forearms next.
Sekimoto got the better of it and worked Hero into a corner with chops, then held him down with a knee. Hero fought back and tried to block a suplex but failed. He was suplexed over for a two count. Sekimoto then tried to turn Hero into a Sharpshooter but Hero was able to grab the ropes.
Hero nailed a big forearm smash to the face, which dazed Sekimoto. He still continued beating on Hero. Hero grabbed another headlock but was lifted up and dropped into an atomic drop across the knee. Sekimoto measured Hero and chopped him in the corner. He went for a butterfly suplex and nailed it for a two count.
Sekimoto chopped Hero so hard he went over the ropes and onto the apron. Hero was suplexed in and covered for a two count. Sekimoto sent Hero into the corner. Hero began trying to steel himself for a comeback. Hero nailed an elbow as Sekimoto charged him in the corner. He stopped Sekimoto and nailed a big forearm smash in the corner.
Hero made a comeback nailing a big boot and a running forearm smash in the corner. He nailed a standing moonsault for a two count. Hero's chest was all red and raw. Hero went for a top rope moonsault but Semimoto moved. Hero landed on his feet but was hit with a dropkick off the turnbuckles.
Sekimoto picked up Hero for a Torture Rack but Hero slipped out and locked in a sleeper in the center of the ring. Sekimoto was able to turn it into a back suplex. Both men were out as the referee counted and the fans clapped. Great stuff.
Sekimoto returned to his feet first. Hero, dazed, got back to his feet as Sekimoto reached him. He was nailed with a chop and slammed down. Sekimoto came off the top rope with a splash and I had visions of Buzz Sawyer. Hero got his knees up and fought to his feet. Hero beat him with a series of forearms but Sekimoto fought back.
Hero dazed him with another roaring elbow and nailed a piledriver for a two count. Hero went for a neckbreaker but it was turned into a backslide for a two count. Sekimoto charged but was kicked off. Hero hit an awesome pump kick for another two count.
Sekimoto came back with a rolling German suplex for a two count. He killed Hero with a lariat and scored yet another two count. He finally got Hero with a German suplex with a bridge and scored the pinfall.
Your winner and still WXW Unified champion, Daisuke Sekimoto!
Both men shook hands and Hero showed respect to Sekimoto after the match.
Excellent Japanese style wrestling match. For my money, this may have been the best bell to bell match I've seen all year, working a very methodical. hard hitting style. Loved this to death.
We will return after WXW sets up the barbed wire for their main event, Drake Younger vs. Jun Kasai!
No Ropes Barbed Wire Match: Jun Kasai vs. Drake Younger'
They actually did some nice wrestling early. Go figure! Kazai tried to maneuver Younger into the barbed wire but he was unsuccessful. He then tried to force him into a barbed wire board set up in one of the corners. Kasai snapmared and dropkicked Younger. He whipped Younger into the wire but he slid out of the ring. Kasai followed and they battled on the floor. Younger sent Kasai into the ringpost.
On the floor, Younger dug the barbed wire into Kasai's face, then slid a ladder into the ring. Back in the ring, he went for a suplex onto the ladder but Kasai blocked it and slammed Younger onto it. He whipped Younger into the corner but Younger reversed and Kasai went into the barbed wire board, which shattered. Younger covered him for a two count and peppered him with punches.
Younger suplexed Kasai onto the barbed wire in one area, then slammed him onto another. He went under the ring and retrieved a pair of chairs, drilling Kasai with one. He set it up on the mat and slammed Kasai onto it. He then placed it over Kasai's chest and set up the ladder. Younger went to the top of the ladder with the mic, said "JC motherf***ing Bailey" and came off with a double stomp for a two count.
Kasai came back and tried to whip him into the barbed wire. Younger stopped short and was shoved into it and then dropped throat first onto it. Kasai clotheslined Younger for a two count. Younger backdropped him. Younger gave him an atomic drop onto the barbed wire and grabbed a parking cone from somewhere. He then gave Kasai an atomic drop on that before hitting a sitdown powerbomb for a two count.
Younger went for the veterbreaker but Kasai slipped out an nailed an enziguiri. Younger came back with a death valley driver on a ladder. Younger grabbed a chair and hit a Snowplow onto it for a two count. Younger set up several chairs and the ladder in the ring, stomping on Kasai. He placed a barbed wire board, barbed wire face down, onto the chairs and went to the top rope. Kasai escaped and reversed the board, then met Younger on top of the ladder and SUPERPLEXED HIM through the barbed wire board. He nailed a Michinoku Driver onto the remnants of the board but Younger kicked out.
Kasai nailed a Jay Driller onto the barbed wire for another two count. Kasai went to the top of the ladder but was caught and superplexed into the barbed wire. He fired up which the crowd loved. He caught Younger with a back suplex into the barbed wire board. Kasai went back to the top of the ladder, put on his googles and nailed a big splash for a ONE COUNT!
Younger, who's face was a mess at this point, was nailed with another Jay Driller and pinned.
Your winner, Jun Kasai!
Great, crazy main event. Loved every second!
2011 - Combat Zone Wrestling held their Best of the Best 2011 tournament at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
CZW Best of the Best 2011 opened with Combat Zone Wrestling owner DJ Hyde coming to the ring, which already had the tournament trophy sitting inside the center. Hyde welcomed everyone to the show and began running down the card for the show. The fans began chanting for Jon Moxley. Hyde said that he wanted to talk about what the tournament means to him. He said that these men are the best in the world at what they do and that's why he invited them to be here. Hyde brought out each competitor one by one. Sami Callihan received, by far, the biggest reaction. Everyone posed around the trophy.
After everyone left, Hyde asked the crowd if they were ready for the Best of The Best. Greg Excellent came in from the crowd, kicked him and nailed him with a butterfly DDT and left him laying. Officials helped Hyde to the back.
Best of the Best Round One: CZW’s Akuma vs. CZW’s Jon Gresham vs. wXw’s Zack Sabre, Jr.
All three circled the other at the bell. They went right into a three way lockup. Gresham tried to roll up Sabre but Akuma broke it up. Sabre kicked Gresham hard and rode him to the mat. Akuma kicked Gresham hard while he was down on the mat. He grabbed a leg and bega working the ankle. Sabre cinched in an armbar. Gresham was in a bad way very early. Akuma locked on an anklepick. Gresham slipped out and began working them both over with chops but was cut off.
They whipped him into the ropes but Gresham was able to fight them off. He knocked Akuma to the apron where Sabre kicked him hard off. Sabre went for a dive but Gresham cut him off and kicked him out of the ring with a shot to the head. Gresham then hit a moonsault off the top to the floor but hit his chin on the mat as he came down. Ouch!
Back in the ring, Gresham controlled Sabre and scored several near falls. Akuma returned to the ring and drilled Gresham with a kick to the back. Akuma sent him up and over to the floor. Sabre kicked Gresham on the floor and went for a springboard into the ring but slipped and fell. The crowd was all over him. Welcome to Philadelphia.
Akuma went for a suplex but Sabre dropped down and kicked him hard. Akuma was nailed with several superkicks. He reversed a whip and nailed a release German suplex then a sitdown Michinoku Driver for a two count. Gresham returned and drilled him with chops.
Gresham and Akuma went back and forth with a series of reversals until Gresham drill him with a floatover DDT. Gresham scored the pin, eliminating Akuma.
Sabre, who looked to have hurt his ankle, began working back and forth with Gresham. He drilled him with a series of headbutts to the chest. They went into a series of pinfall reversals. Gresham caught a kick and turned it into a legwhip, then nailed a running dropkick into the corner.
Gresham set up Sabre on the top and went for a rana but Sabre held on. Sabre came off and drilled Gresham with a series of kicks but he kept kicking out. Sabre tied up Gresham on the mat and then cinched in an armbar. Gresham reversed it and cinched in a leglock, rolling through and slamming Sabre to the mat. They started slapping the other on the mat. Gresham nearly tied up Sabre for a pin. Sabre reversed a Lucha takedown into an armbar and trapped Gresham in the center
Gresham finally tapped.
Your winner, advancing, WXW's Zack Sabre Jr.!
Best of the Best Round One: CZW’s Adam Cole vs. ROH’s Kyle O'Reilly vs. DragonGate USA’s Johnny Gargano
Mia Yim is with Cole, who is the CZW Junior Heavyweight champion and a heel here.
They locked up with Garago nailing takedowns on each. Lots of fast exchanged and quick reversals with hiptosses and armdrags early. All three end up grabbing the others' legs during kick attempts and then gently put them down and back off. The crowd liked that.
Cole and O'Riley, playing off their ROH team, began working over Gargano. Gargano came back with a kick to O'Riley's head and a neckbreaker on Cole. Gargano scored two with a backslide on O'Riley. Cole and O'Riley charged Gargano, who shoulderblocked them both from the outside.
Cole and O'Riley took Gargano down and began working him over, taking turns with slams. Gargano surprised them with a small package on O'Riley then a small package on Cole. O'Riley broke up the pin and it was back to a double team. Cole went to the top rope as they attempted the Powerplex but Gargano rolled up O'Riley for a two count.
They went into an insane sequence that saw all three receive a stiff kick of superkicks to the mouth, ending with all three laid out and the fans chanting for CZW. Gargano used a Tarantula like submission but O'Riley nailed it with a running dropkick to the face. Gargano whipped O'Riley into Cole, who was knocked to the floor. Gargano hit a suicide dive and then a flip off the apron.
Gargano went back to the top but O'Riley nailed him with a kick. Gargano drilled him with a kick and gave him a running snake eyes into the corner, scoring a two count. O'Riley came back with a forward roll but Gargano kicked up. He locked in an ankle lock, then nailed a running kick inthe face followed by a leg lariat and a forward choke. Gargano was out and was eliminated.
Cole returned to the ring and faced off with O'Riley. They went back and forth drilling the other with forearms. Cole nailed a kick to the face but then ate one in return. O'Riley nailed a back package suplex with a bridge for a two count. Cole escaped a punch and nailed a lungblower for a two count.
O'Riley locked in a LeBell Lock but Cole fought his way to the ropes. O'Riley then rolled away from them to prevent Cole from breaking. He pinned Cole for a two count. Cole came back with a big boot to the face and scored the pin.
Your winner, advancing to the second round, Adam Cole!
Cole vs. Sabre in Round Two.
Best of the Best Round One: PWG’s Brandon Gaston vs. Evolve’s Chuck Taylor vs. BJW’s Daisuke Sekimoto
Taylor is being managed by EVOLVE's Larry Dallas. Sekimoto just DWARFS the others in sheer mass. They go for a three hour power struggle and Sekimoto wins easily. So, they try to put the boots to him. That doesn't end well as he ends up killing them with shoulderblocked and forearms.
Gatson catches him with elbows and a DDT. Gatson then chops Taylor, who screams like a little girl Taylor catches him with an elbow as he charges him and hits a moonsault for a two count. Sekimoto drills him with a clothesline and locks on the Sharpshooter. Taylor screamed for help. Gatson kicked Sekimoto to break it up.
Gatson and Taylor begin working together. Taylor is whipped into the Big Japan star followed by a handspring splash in the corner. This finally takes down Sekimoto and they beging doubling over on him. He tries to break free but can't. They go for a double suplex but he reverses it, suplexing them at the same time. Taylor dropkicks him out of the ring. He goes for a dive but Gatson stops him and nails a springboard cutter on Taylor. He then nails the space flying tiger drop on Sekimoto.
Back on the ring, Taylor and Gatson go back and forth. Sekimoto returns to break up the momentum. He clotheslines Gatson, who is on the apron, and Gatson takes a flip bump on the outside, before landing on the floor. Taylor goes for a German suplex but can't lift him. Sekimoto reverses and Taylor grabs Gatson for help. Sekimoto suplexes both and pins Gatson.
Taylor tries to steal a pin with a small package but Sekimoto kicks out. Taylor nailed an uranage and a quebrada for a two count. He whips Sekimoto into the ring and he does the Flair flop. He stops Taylor and hits a flying bodypress for a two count. He drilled him with a clothesline for another two count. He finally drilled a back suplex with a bridge for the pin.
Your winner, advancing, Daisuke Sekimoto!
Larry Dallas shoved Sekimoto as he went to check on Taylor and ended up eating a nasty German suplex for his troubles.
Best of the Best Round One: CZW’s Sami Callihan vs. IPW’s Jake Crist vs. CZW’s AR Fox
Big reaction for AR Fox, including streamers. Callihan has a hell of an entrance.
Fast opening. Fox did a flip off the railing to the floor on Callihan, then did a springboard in on Crist, who met him with a kick. Callihan went for a submission but was rolled up by Crist. Crist and Callihan went back and forth with strikes and kicks. Crist caught him in an arm submission. Fox came off the top with a flying legdrop on Crist.
Fox took out Crist with an Alabama Jam off the top to the apron. That was sick. Callihan then caught him with a suicide dive to the outside. They battled on the outside. Crist went to the top and hit a shooting star press off the top onto all of them.
Fox recovered before the others and then hit a 450 splash off the onto the others, who were recovering in the entranceway. Fox covered Crist for a two count. Crist recovered with a forearm off the ropes. He and Callihan began battling on the opposite corner. Sami went for a sunset flip bomb but Crist held on and jumped down, kicking him, Fox grabbed him for a suplex and scored a two count.
Fox drilled Crist with two knees in the corner then placed him on the top rope. He went for a suplex but Crist battled back. He nailed a Canadian Piledriver off the top to the inside. He covered Fox but Callihan grabbed Crist and locked him in a submission. Crist crawled over to Fox and covered him but he got his shoulder up. Callihan locked Crist in the center and Crist tapped.
Fox drilled Callihan with a series of big boots. He rebounded into a leaping springboard stunner. Callihan was on the floor. Fox hit a running springboard flip onto Callihan on the floor, barely grazing him. He took alot of the impact himself. Fox tossed Callihan into the ring and went for a 450 splash. Callihan got his knees up and Fox nailed them chin-first. It was SICK. Callihan locked on his submission and Fox tapped.
Your winner, Sami Callihan!
Callihan vs. Sekimoto in Round Two!
Callihan acknowledged Fox after and the crowd chanted his name.
Some awesome dives and crazy innovative stuff in the first round.
Dewey Donovan and Drew Gulak came to the ring. Fans were chanting for Nick Gage. Gulak said it was a great first round. Gulak said that he came out here just to talk and everyone chants for being like Andy Sumner or Danny Havok or Nick Gage. He started burying the crowd when Devon Moore hit the ring from behind and superkicked him. The Briscoes were with him. Jay Briscoe told Donovan to get that p*ssy out of here as they have real business to attend to. He said they have a six man tag for the belts and demanded they come out.
Natural Born Killaz started playing and I started looking behind me to make sure New Jack wasn't about to jump out of the balcony I'm in. Talk about reflexes.
CZW Heavyweight Robert Anthony and Philadelphia’s Most Wanted, Sabian and Joker vs. CZW Tag Team champions The Briscoes and Devon Moore - All titles on the line.
Jon Moxley is with the team of Anthony and PMW. The crowd chanted that he sold out. He's also going to be getting a regular paycheck which is more than we can say about some of the idiots chanting.
The fans were all over the heels early, so they used the mic to rip back on them. Anthony and Mark Briscoe started out. They have a nice back and forth. Anthony starts celebrating his hard work and ends up getting chopped away and nailed with a leg lariat by Mark Mark clotheslines him over the top to the floor, where the other memmbvers of his team check on him.
Anthony returns to the ring as Moore tags in. Sabian tags in and threatens to show the front row his penis. I had to live seeing through Shane Douglas' once under similar circumstances so thankfully he doesn't follow through. He and Sabian lock up and Sabian grabs him in a side headlock. Sabian goes for a rana but Moore lands on his feet and nails a running clothesline.
Jay Briscoe tags in and goes to work on Sabian. He hits a running clothesline in the corner, snapmares him over and hit a running kick. The Briscoes nail a double shoulderblock. Jay whips Sabian into the ropes and nails a nice dropkick. He chops away at Sabian but is tripped by Moxley as he rebounds off the ropes. The referee throws Moxley out of the ringside area. Moore tagged in.
Joker tagged in and took out Moore. Anthony tagged in and hit a hesitation suplex on Moore. He tossed Moore back into his corner. Sabian tagged back in and nailed a back suplex for a two count. They continued to tag in and out, working over Moore.
Moore finally comes back with a sunset flip on Sabian but is cut off with a clotheslne. The crowd begins clapping and chanting for him. Joker kept working on Moore, drilling him with a suplex into a slam. Moore fired back, ducked a clothesline and nailed a big boot. Joker suplexed him but Moore fired up again and nailed another. Moore crawled to his corner and tagged in Mark Briscoe.
Briscoe began killing people with clotheslines and nailed a leg lariat on Anthony, followed by an enziguri. He placed Joker in the corner and flipped him off covering him for a two count. He went for a Fireman's Carry but Joker drilled him with elbows and cinched in an armbar. Briscoe made it to the ropes.
Jay tagged in. Joker went for a suplex but Jay ducked and Mark kicked him in the face. Anthony and Mark started slapping the hell out of each other. Mark went for a kick but the referee was nailed when Anthony ducked. Briscoe drilled Anthony but Sabian came off the top with a double stomp. Jay attacked Sabian and worked him over. He went for the Jay-Driller but Sabian escaped. Jay then went for an Awesomebomb out of the ring but Sabian slipped out.
Sabian drllled Jay but was nailed by a roaring forearm by Moore. Sabian nailed a DDT and Joker nailed another. Anthony went to the top as Joker held Moore's legs. He nailed a moonsault. They called for a referee and Jon Moxley ran back out wearing a yellow referee's shirt.
The Briscoes pulled Sabian out and tossed him into the railing. Moore went to the top byt Moxley kicked the ropes out from under him. The Briscoes jumped him and hit the Doomsday Device. They then hit dives out of the ring on Philly's Most Wanted. Devon Moore hit a shooting star press on Anthony and scored the pin.
The Arena went ballistic for this!
Your winners, new CZW champion Devon Moore & CZW Tag Team champions The Briscoes!
The Briscoes put Moore on their shoulders. The Arena chanted for him. They all popped huge for this as he's been one of the most over homegrown babyfaces here for a long time.
Moxley, who was recovering, got into it with one of the ring crew guys. The ring crew guy kicked him in the stomach and nailed a stunner. The place popped for it. Moore took the mic and told him to get the f*** out. This was Moxley's last appearance as he's signing a WWE deal.
After intermission, they aired a video where the new CZW Ultraviolent Underground champion Jun Kasai showing off his belt to B-Boy, who didn't look happy at the new champion.
Best of the Best Semi-Final: WXW's Zack Sabre Jr. vs. CZW Junior Heavyweight champion Adam Cole
In fine Miss Elizabeth tradition, Yim was wearing a new outfit for the second round of the tournament.
Cole underestimated Sabre early and ended up trapped in an armbar. He made it to the ropes. They locked up again with Sabre locking in a top wristlock. Cole made it to the ropes to force a break. The story early on was that Sabre was able to counter all of Cole's offense, pissing Cole off. Sabre tied him up and used the Oriental Torture Device.
Cole and Sabre went into a back and forth sequence that saw Cole almost pinned and roll to the outside, calling for time out. Sabre followed him out and nailed several kicks and chops. He went for a chop and Cole ducked. Sabre ended up connecting with the ring post and went down, hurting.
Back in the ring, Cole continued working on the bad ankle. He dropped several elbows on it then tied Sabre to the tree of woe. He measured Sabre and nailed a nice running dropkick. Cole covered Sabre and scored a two count. Cole picked up Sabre's knee and slammed it down across his own, then lifted him and dropped him to the outside.
Cole tossed Sabre back in the ring and cinched in a knee bar. Sabre, who had the crowd behind him, began firing back with chops and punches. He drilled Cole with a kick but missed. Cole had this "Gotcha" look on his face but was instead kicked in the face. Sabre came off the top with a big knee drop to the back of the head.
They went back and forth. Cole went for a leapfrog but Sabre slammed him forward in mid-air and dropped an elbow. Cole ended up on the apron. He missed a high kick but was caught with a leg sweep. Sabre nailed him with a double stomp on the apron.
Back in the ring, Sabre caught Cole with the rolling armbar but Cole made it the ropes. Cole threw off Sabre's attempts and powerbombed him, then cinched in a single leg crab. Cole came off the middle rope but Sabre surprised him by rolling him back into the armbar. Cole reversed it and was back in the Crab. Cole small packaged Sabre for a two count. Sabre went for a backslide and got a two count. Cole nailed a leaping kick to the back of the head and a Michinoku Driver for the pin.
Your winner, advancing the finals, Adam Cole!
Solid match. Cole has some great swagger as a heel. There's a ton of potential with him. Sabre looked good here. Well wrestled match on both sides.
Best of the Best Semi-Final: Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Sami Callihan
You just know this is going to be a slugfest. They start nailing each other with hard chops, slaps and punches early. Sekimoto drilled Callihan with a clothesline, turning him inside out, scoring several near falls.
Sekimoto stomped away at Callihan and slammed him, then locked on a rear chinlock. Sekimoto wailed away at Callihan with chops. He measured Sami and suplexed him over for another near fall.
Sekimoto went for the Sharpshooter and locked it in. Sami pushed himself up to fight the leverage being forced down upon him. Sami climbed to the ropes and made it, breaking the hold. Sekimoto began beating him in the corner with chops. With each chop, Callihan screamed louder and louder but he was finally chopped down to the mat.
Sekimoto nailed an atomic drop on Callihan and kept him down in the corner, stomping the hell out of him. Sekimoto whipped Callihan into the corner and nailed a running clothesline. He tried to repeat it but Callihan moved out of the way, then kicked Sekimoto and nailed a series of rebound clotheslines. He faked out Sekimoto and Sekimoto ended up on the apron. Sami kicked him off and nailed a diving shoulderblock to the outside.
On the floor, Sami measured him and chopped him. He then repeated it. Sekimoto cut him off and nailed him with several chops before throwing Sami back into the ring. Sekimoto kicked off a Sami charge. He was caught with a sunset flip but powerbombed Sami out of it for a two count, then turned it into an STF. Sami fought his way to the ropes and made it.
Sekimoto slammed Sami and went to the top. He came off the top with a big splash but Sami kicked out at the last minute. He then hit a German suplex with a bridge but Callihan again kicked out. The fans began doing dueling chants. Callihan appeared out and the referee checked on him but he jumped up and nailed a big side suplex on Sekimoto. Callihan exploded with chops and strikes before nailing a big clothesline for a two count. The crowd chanted CZW after that.
Callihan locked in his submission and began kicking away at Sekimoto, who tapped.
As they say folks, a star is born!
Your winner, advancing to the finals, Sami Callihan!
Absolutely awesome stuff here. I am really glad that as tired as I am after last weekend, I made the journey today as there has been nothing but good top to bottom wrestling today.
There is a backstage vignette with Robert Anthony and Devon Moore backstage but we couldn't hear it live. It set up Anthony challenging Moore for the belt tomorrow at their Union City, NJ debut.
CZW Ultraviolent Underground champion Jun Kasai vs. Danny Havoc
There are glass panes in two of the corners. Glass panes wrapped in barbed wire sitting across two chairs on two sides of the rings.
They lock up and try to force the other over to one of the panes in the corner but are unable to get it done. They trade shoulderblocks. Kasai spits in his face and gave him the finger. He whips Havoc into a pane cannonball style and it explodes in the corner, Kasai gets several chairs as Havoc recovers, bleeding.
Kasai took some of the broken glass and dug it into Havoc's head. The crowd chanted, "You sick F***" at him. Kasai DDT'd Havoc and scored a two count. He set up several chairs in the center of the ring. Havoc and Kasai battled back and forth. Kasai slammed him atop of the chairs. Kasai covered him for a two count and then began biting into Havoc's face.
Kasai threw a chair into Havoc's head. He slammed Havoc on the broken glass and then dragged him across the shards. He covered Havoc for a two count. He set up the other pane of glass and smeared an X on it with Havoc's blood. Havoc fought back but was cut off. Kasai set him up for a superplex but Havoc flipped out of the corner and then slipped under Kasai and nailed a running powerbomb into the corner through the glass pane. Great stuff.
Havoc worked over Kasai, who's back was a bloody mess and nailed a twisting moonsault. Kasai went to the floor. Havoc followed. He slammed Kasai on the floor and put him under another glass pane that was bridged between two chairs. Havoc then did a flip dive out of the ring through the glass, decimating Kasai underneath.
Back in the ring, Havoc hit a leaping forearm in the corner and then a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. He drilled a Pele Kick and a nasty looking DDT for a two count. Kasai kept hittong back suplexes on Havoc, who kept kicking up. He finally nailed one onto another pane of glass that Havoc had brought in.
Kasai disrobed down to his skivvys and hit a butterfly piledriver on Havoc for a two count. There's more crazy monkey than I ever wanted to see before my eyes. He grabbed his bare rear end after it hit the broken glass strewn about the ring. Kasai went to the top for a big splash but Havoc kicked up.
Kasai called for another pane of glass, which had BJW on it in glitter, to be brought to the ring. Nice art project for the kids, folks. He placed it over Havoc across three chairs. Havoc slipped out as Kasai made his way to the top. Havoc fought off Kasai and hit a twisting moonsault press, sending Kasai through the glass.
They met in the center of the ring exchanging blows. Kasao nailed a kick to the head and a Jay Driller but Havoc kicked out. The Arena chanted "This is awesome: and they were right. Sick, evil and awesome. The last pane of glass, wrapped in barbed wire was placed across the turnbuckles and two chairs. Kasai went to superplex Havoc, who fought back and hit a death valley driver through the pane. Kasai jumped up before Havoc could cover him.
Havoc nailed another death valley driver onto the glass and scored the pin.
Your winner and new CZW Ultraviolent Underground champion, Danny Havoc!
The fans went nuts for this. Kasai and Havoc showed respect to each other and then Kasai kissed Havoc full on the lips. Okaaaaaaaaay.
The fans chanted for Kasai to please come back. Yes, please do!
Best of the Best Finals: CZW Junior champion Adam Cole vs. Sami Callihan
New outfit for Mia again. Thumbs up!
They said Cole is the reigning and defending champion, so the belt is on the line here. Huge chant for Callihan early. Cole drills him with a big leg lariat and Driver for a two count at the bell.
Sami goes to the floor, where Cole continues to trash him. Callihan finally catched him with an exploder on the floor. He starts chopping away at Cole, then chases after Yim. He charges and chops Cole again. He then chops him so hard that Cole bumps over the railing and into the first row!
Sami drags Cole back into the ring but Cole crotches him on the ropes, almost legitimately knocking the ref diown in the process. Cole goes to the corner and begins working him over for a superplex but Sami fights him off. Callihan goes for a splash off the top but misses. Cole works over Sami, peppering him with punches.
Cole nails Sami with a hesitation suplex scoring a two count. The crowd began chanting for Sami. This fired him up but Cole took him back down. Cole mocked Callihan who dumped him with a suplex for several two counts. Callihan cleaned house on Cole until he was poked in the eye. He still kicked Cole and clotheslined him off the apron.
Sami went for a dive out of the ring but Cole kicked him, knocking him out. Cole pulled himself back up on the apron as Sami tried to regain his senses. Cole drilled him with punches but Callihan fired back with chops. Cole nailed a knee to the face and slammed him, jumping off the apron at the same time. Callihan looked like he came down on the back of his neck. Cole grabbed Sami and threw him into the crowd HARD, then demanded the referee count him out.
Sami just barely made it back to the ring. Cole went for a tombstone and hit it, then pulled Sami back up for another. Sami kicked up at the last minute. Sami came back to nail Cole in the corner with a series of Facewashes.
Sami locked in his submission in the center as Cole fought hard to get to the ropes. He was pulled to the center. He began tapping but Mia Yim jumped on the apron, so the referee missed it. Sami let the move go amd grabbed Yim. He kicked her in the head and nailed the Facewash. He locked her in his submission, allowing Cole to drill him with a kick and nail the Canadian piledriver. Sami kicked out and the place EXPLODED!
Cole went for an inverted suplex but Sami drilled him with knee strikes. Cole caught Sami with a slam for a two count. The building is chanting for Callihan now. Cole nailed a leg lariat for a two count.
Cole drilled him with another kick but Sami would not be denied. He kicked Sami in the face but Sami screamed "F*** You!" Cole nailed him again and locked on the submission. Sami crawled to the ropes but Cole cinched it in. The crowd chanted for him and he finally looked to have blacked out. The referee raised his hand three times and they dropped. With Sami out, they called for the bell.
Your winner and Best of the Best 2011 winner, Adam Cole!
DJ Hyde brought the trophy into the ring. The crowd was chanting "Bullsh**" at the winner. Callihan was pissed, saying he never tapped. Cole started talking trash to Hyde but we couldn't hear it. Hyde took off his jacket.
Callihan grabbed the trophy and slammed it towards Cole. The fans were booing so Callihan took the mic and said it was the Best of the Best, not to boo because the best man tonight won. Fans began chanting that Cole tapped out (he had) and chanted for five more minutes.
Hyde said that Callihan was right in that Cole did beat him. He congratulated Cole and said that the trophy belongs to him. He says that he thinks Cole did earn it, "even if you did tap out, you little f***ing B***h."
Cole demanded the mic and said, "I tapped out?" He said he was a quitter and a loser but yet here he stands as the Best of the Best champion. He said that three years ago, he was like each and every one of the fans waiting in line to support the company that he loved. He said he was tired of watching others do something for themselves and instead he strove for perfection and he excelled. He told Callihan that he was one of the best wrestlers in the world but he proved to the world tonight that he, Adam Cole, is the very best.
Callihan said that Cole did indeed beat him, but since he wants to run his mouth, the trophy means jacksh**. He shoves the trophy over and says he, Callihan is the Best of the Best, so F*** you. He walks out. Hyde handed him the trophy and told him to take it and take it and his two dollar whore to the back. He said that Cole can put himself in the list with all the other winners and called the other competitors back out so the fans can pick the "People's Choice" winner for Best of the Best. They made their way back to the ring.
Hyde polled the fans. Callihan grabbed the mic and told Cole to get out of his ring before he "ripped your face off and wore it like a mask." Cole took the trophy and left as the crowd ripped on him.
The crowd picked Callihan although AR Fox and Sekimoto had a big vote of confidence as well. Callihan thanked him but said tonight is about making stars and he's already one. He handed it to Fox and said it was his, then chanted for Fox.
Hyde made a match where Fox would challenge Cole with Callihan handcuffed to Yim.
Hyde asked the fans if they would want to see the competitors back in CZW again and everyone loved that idea. He said they were the Best of the Best and thanked them.
That's it from Best of The Best 2011 tonight folks! Thanks for logging on with us and for your support of PWInsider.com!
2012 - Randy Orton commented on the decision to drop him as a lead from WWE Studios' Marine: Homefront, writing to a fan via Twitter, "I respect our military. That's why I've gone to Iraq or Afghan 3 times and met thousands of soldiers. Funny that's not mentioned."
Orton also re-tweeted the following comment from another fan: "Everyone knows about @RandyOrton past, so y offer him the movie part and then decide to drop him?"
2012 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Washington, D.C. and your announcers are Michael ‘Daniel Snyder of WWE’ Cole and Jerry ‘Ovechkin’ Lawler.
We begin with the man who rules all of television and the guy who carries the most important travel mug in sports entertainment.
John introduces the new face of the WWE. He says that this man is not about catch phrases or to entertain the fans. He is a ruthless athlete who will carry the WWE banner for years to come. We take a look back to Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE.
John Laurinaitis introduces Brock Lesnar and he makes his way to the ring, after doing the Brock Bounce.
John applauds the fact that Brock can hold a mic. He thanks John for having the wisdom to bring legitimacy back to the WWE.
Brock is interrupted by John Cena, who makes his way to the ring. Cena goes after Lesnar but Lesnar with a double leg take down and he punches Cena.
Officials and agents come from the back to separate Cena and Lesnar. Now wrestlers come to the ring to break things up and we have a huge mass of humanity in the ring.
Cena is bleeding from the mouth as we see the aftermath. Cena goes after Lesnar again and they have to be separated again.
Now it is time for Lesnar to go after Cena and it is pandemonium III: The Search for their first match.
Lesnar is pulled from the ring and held back against the ringside barrier.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of the Slap Heard Round Lesnar’s Face.
John Laurinaitis yells at Teddy Long and blames him for what happened because he could not contain John Cena. John tells Teddy that he wants an explanation from Cena.
John says that this is not the way to start things.
Eve Torres enters and she says that they haven’t had a chance to talk to each other since Wrestlemania. John suggests a one-on-one meeting but Eve tells John to call her.
We see how Brodus Clay and Santino Marella became BFFs last week on Raw.
Match Number One: Brodus Clay and Santino Marella with Funkettes versus Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero
Ziggler and Santino start things off and Santino goes for the leg but Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Ziggler with a single leg take down for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick but Santino with an arm drag into an arm bar. Ziggler with a punch and tag to Swagger. Brodus tags in as well. Brodus blocks punches from Swagger and hits a clothesline followed by a punch to the midsection and a knee lift. Brodus tries for the t-bone sheeplex but Swagger escapes with elbows and then dives for the knees.
Swagger with a flying shoulder tackle and gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with the leaping elbow drop to Santino for a near fall. Swagger tags in while Ziggler holds the leg. Swagger with a surfboard. Swagger with an arm bar but Santino with punches and he tries to make the tag but Swagger with a modified power slam for a near fall.
Ziggler tags in and he yells at Clay. Santino with a near fall but Ziggler with a clothesline for a near fall of his own. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock but Santino with a snap mare and he tags in Clay. Clay with clotheslines and a running head butt and a t-bone sheeeplex. Clay with the splash for the three count.
Winners: Brodus Clay and Santino Marella
Miz is in the office with John Laurinaitis and John says that he has big plans for Miz and he wants to talk next week.
Teddy returns and he wants to know where he has been. He wants to know where John Cena is and Cena enters the office. Cena says that John is looking for legitimacy. Is Cena an actor who is afraid of ruining his moneymaker. Cena tells John that person left. Cena says that John had to get a monster to face him at Extreme Rules to take care of him. Cena says that John normally sees blood and would give him the night off. John tells Laurinaitis to pick his opponent for tonight.
John tells Teddy to tell Otunga that he will be facing John Cena tonight. John says that he will be out there with David.
John goes to the phone to text.
Santino is in the back and he asks Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins if they have seen the Three Stooges. Then he asks some production people. Santino keeps looking and we see footage from last week when CM Punk fell victim to the World’s Strongest Slam. Will Mark win the WWE Championship tonight?
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at why John Cena’s face looks the way it does.
Santino is looking in the back for some stooges. Santino sees Kane and he thinks about his search. Santino asks Kane if he has seen the Three Stooges. Kane stares at Santino and Santino turns around and speed walks away.
Match Number Two: R Truth with Little Jimmy versus Cody Rhodes
They lock up and Truth with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Truth with a clothesline and then he punches Cody. Cody with a drop down uppercut and then he sets for the Alabama Slam and he hits it.
Big Show’s music plays and he comes out and he has something to show Cody. We see footage from last week when Big Show interrupted Cody’s match and forced him to lose.
Cody turns around and is taken down by Little Jimmy and gets pinned.
Winner: R Truth
Santino sees a giant box that says Fragile so he figures that it might be a care package. Santino opens the box and the Three Stooges emerge. Santino asks them what they have in store for the fans and we get a little slap happy. Santino shows them how to hit the Cobra.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the people from Dream Machines are in the front row.
Match Number Three: Yoshi Tatsu versus Lord Tensai with Sakamoto
Tensai with chops to the neck followed by a float over leg drop. Yoshi with chops but Tensai with a chop that sends Yoshi to the mat. Tensai with head butts followed by a delayed butterfly suplex and a back senton. Tensai with a splash into the corner followed by elbows to the head. Yoshi is unable to stand under his own power and Tensai with a sit out choke slam. The referee stops the match because Yoshi is out.
Winner: Lord Tensai
After the match, Tensai applies a claw to Yoshi.
We take a look back at what happened last week between Chris Jericho and CM Punk.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jerry Lawler mentions that there are a number of wounded members of the military in the crowd.
We hear what Chris Jericho had to say to CM Punk last week after Punk’s match against Mark Henry.
CM Punk comes to the ring and he squats in the center of the ring before saying that he wanted to break the silence surrounding him for the last week. He understands that Straight Edge is a concept that not everyone gets. He understands when people say it is only one drink or one cigarette. He says that it is a personal choice that he made not to fit in or be cool or be trendy. It is a choice because it is a way of life.
He says that he has come out here on numerous occasions to talk about why he is proud to be straight edge. The reason he is straight edge has been kept relatively private because it is nobody’s business and who cares if he is straight edge. Punk says that he never wanted to make excuses for himself.
Punk says that he knew that he was going to make it to the top and he was going to do that because he is the best damn wrestler in the world.
Then along comes Chris Jericho, who comes back and gets into Punk’s head by saying that he is the best in the world. When that doesn’t work, Chris decides to break the privacy about why he is straight edge by talking about his family. At Wrestlemania, when his plan didn’t work, he made Chris Jericho tap out.
Chris Jericho takes it one step further. He takes it one step beyond. He takes it one step too far. He poured whiskey on his body and smashed a bottle on the back of his head.
Punk says that as he laid there trying to remember where he was, there was one thought in his head. Punk says that thought was that he smelled exactly like his father did.
Punk says that smell would punch him in the face every time that his father came home from work or picked him up from Little League.
Chris Jericho interrupts and he says that Punk looks a little green around the gills. He asks Punk if he is still hung over. Jericho says that Punk is just a little shocked about how easily he was able to release the alcoholic gene from his dad. He wants to know if Punk is a little tipsy. Is Punk in the middle of his first bender.
Jericho tells Punk that he is in denial and that is the first step in an alcoholic’s recovery. The alcohol is taking control of his life. It is what all of the wannabes see. They don’t see the WWE Champion or the best in the world. They see a breathing, pathetic, living loser.
Jericho says that when he broke Punk’s life long vow of sobriety, not only did he force Punk to taste alcohol for the first time, it made him realize what it was like to become CM Drunk.
Punk says that the only thing that Jericho broke was a bottle. He can bring up these memories, but Jericho does not realize that he made the biggest mistake of his life because Punk is going to channel this anger and every bad feeling that he has, he is going to use it against Jericho. Punk says that this is no longer about being the best in the world, it is about him kicking Chris Jericho’s ass.
Match Number Four: CM Punk versus Mark Henry for the WWE Championship
Punk goes after Henry and he punches him and connects with knees. Punk with a back heel kick and clothesline but Henry stays on his feet. Henry with a body block and Punk goes to the apron and then to the floor. Henry goes to the floor but Punk hits Henry with the monitor. The second time he hits Henry with the monitor, the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match Punk goes onto the apron and he is about to throw the monitor onto Henry but Chris Jericho’s music plays.
Henry hits Punk from behind while Punk focuses on Jericho. Henry sends Punk into the apron and then back into the ring. Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam while Jericho has two twelve packs. Henry hits a second World’s Strongest Slam.
Mark leaves the ring and Jericho opens the first twelve pack and he is about to pour the beer on Punk but Punk kicks Jericho. Jericho with a Codebreaker. Jericho removes his sparkly jacket and he pours the beer on Punk. Jericho gives Punk another Codebreaker and then Punk lays in the National Bohemian pool on the canvas.
We go to commercial.
We see what happened last week on Smackdown when Sheamus attacked Chad Patton (sorry, thought it was Mike Chioda as I mentioned on the Smackdown post game show)
Match Number Five: Zack Ryder versus Alberto Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez
Del Rio with forearms and kicks to Ryder and he gets a near fall. Del Rio with a snap mare and a drop kick to the head for a near fall. Del Rio with kicks to the ribs in the corner and then he tries to smother Ryder in the corner.
Del Rio runs into boots from Ryder and then Ryder sets for the running boot to the head and he waits for Del Rio to get up for the Rough Ryder but Del Rio sends Ryder into the turnbuckles and Del Rio with the float over into the cross arm breaker and Ryder taps out.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
The Three Stooges are walking in the back and they have an idea for what to do.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Three Stooges to make their way into the ring. “Larry” and “Moe” make their way to the ring and they wonder where “Curly” is. “Curly” comes out dressed like Hulk Hogan. “Curly” cuts a promo like Hulk Hogan to tell people to watch The Three Stooges.
Kane makes his way to the ring and he wants a piece of one of the stooges. “Larry” and “Moe” head up the ramp but “Curly” does the finger point of doom and Kane with a choke slam . . . BROTHER.
Josh Mathews is in the interview area with Mark Henry and he asks Mark to explain his actions.
Mark says that last week he beat CM Punk by countout. This week, he beat CM Punk by disqualification. Next week, the match will be no disqualification and no count out. That means that you are looking at the next World Heavyweight Champion (even if it is the WWE Championship)
We have another Earlier Tonight Moment of the Brock/Cena confrontation.
Josh Mathews is with Brock Lesnar and he asks Brock if he is proud to be back in WWE. Brock says that he is proud of everything that he does. Eight years ago, he left the company after bringing it to heights it never achieved before. Then he left WWE and went to UFC to become the World Champion. Brock says that he is proud that John Laurinaitis had the wisdom to bring him back and put him on the top. Brock says that Cena could never hold his jockstrap. He proved it in the ring by messing with Cena’s pretty face. He says that he is an ass kicker. He says that the suits and the fans are proud that he is back.
We go back to photos from the End of An Era Hell in a Cell Match and we get comments from some of the wrestlers.
Match Number Six: David Otunga with John Laurinaitis versus John Cena
They lock up and Cena with a waist lock but Otunga with a wrist lock. Cena with an arm drag. They lock up and Otunga with a side head lock and Cena escapes. Otunga with a kick and punch followed by kicks in the corner but the referee pulls Otunga out of the corner.
Cena with punches and kicks followed by an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner. Otunga punches Cena and then he drops an elbow to the upper chest. Otunga with a chin lock and he connects with forearms across the chest.
Otunga with a clothesline followed by a punch. Otunga with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner followed by a flying shoulder tackle. Otunga with a reverse chin lock. Otunga with forearms to the back.
Otunga thinks that he is the second coming of Chris Masters and he poses for the fans because who cares about winning. Cena with punches followed by two flying shoulder tackles, a Blue Thunder Bomb, and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena with the Attitude Adjustment and then the STF and Otunga taps out.
Winner: John Cena
After the match, Brock Lesnar comes out and he attacks Cena from behind with a low blow. Cena receives another F-5 from Lesnar.
2013 - WWE broadcast a 2013 Hall of Fame special on the USA Network. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
On Saturday night, the WWE Hall of Fame welcomed six new people into its club at a ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City. We are about to see highlights and footage from the ceremony. Make sure to check out Mike Johnson’s full coverage of the ceremony on the site.
It began with one man, Andre the Giant, and twenty years later, it has grown to include the biggest names in wrestling. Icons, legends, and larger than life personalities who defined their generation and the WWE.
This year’s inductees are Donald Trump, Booker T, Trish Stratus, Mick Foley, Bob Backlund, and Bruno Sammartino.
Your host is Hall of Famer Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.
Jerry welcomes everyone to the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Jerry wants everyone to welcome the current and past WWE Superstars.
The first inductee is already a legend in Sports Entertainment. He is a best selling author and a stand up comedian. He adds Hall of Famer to the list.
We see a Mick Foley video package.
Kofi talks about how Mick saw Jimmy Snuka come off the steel cage and we see the footage. John Cena says that Mick was an unlikely hero. Sheamus says that Mick wasn’t from the usual mold. William Regal didn’t look like he would be anything, but then he gets in the ring and he puts his heart and soul in it.
Road Dogg talks about the Three Faces of Foley. They talk about the genius of the This is Your Life segment.
Sheamus says that Mick had so much heart. Show talks about the Foley is God signs. Arn Anderson says that he gave everything for the people to enjoy. Randy Orton says that people would see Mick and think that could be them.
Rock says that it was a pleasure to work with him. Michael Hayes called him one of the most honest, loveable, and down to Earth people that you will ever meet.
WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk comes out to induct Mick Foley.
Terry says all of his life he has aspired to be a good man and his inductee is a good man. He is nuts, crazy, out of his ever loving mind but he loves Mick like an ugly brother. Terry introduces Mick Foley.
Mick is escorted by The Bellas.
Mick says that he doesn’t know how he is going to feel for next year because this year’s class is hard to live up to. Mick says that Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, and him have held the WWE Title for 6,225 days. Mick says that he doesn’t want to give the individual break down but he says Bruno held it for 4,040 days, Bob held it for 2,138 days, and Mick held it for 47 days. Mick says that he told CM Punk it doesn’t matter how many days, it is the moments that define you as a performer.
Mick says that he was in this building 30 years ago to see Jimmy Snuka giving the I Love You sign to the fans from 15 feet. It is the appropriate sign for someone about to crush another person on the mat.
Mick says that he wanted to make people feel the same way as that night in October 1983 in Madison Square Garden.
Mick says that it hasn’t been a career without regrets. Mick points out that he has never beaten Chris Jericho.
Chris jumps onto the stage and lies down for Mick. Mick says that he doesn’t have any elbows left and CM Punk jumps on the stage to be the referee. Mick drops the elbow and Chris laughs before Punk makes the three count. Mick hugs Punk.
Mick yells out ‘Yo Adrian . . . I did it’.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we take a look at Bob Backlund’s induction and introduction by Maria Menounos.
Bob says that it is an honor for him to be here today because of the people in here with him. He respects Bruno because he paved the road for people like him. Bob asks if you remember the last time you are in this building, he doesn’t. He says that he is going to keep fighting.
Jerry introduces the Celebrity Wing inductee and calls him an icon of business and . . . hair. We see a Donald Trump video package.
Michael Cole says that Trump is one of the biggest supporters of WWE. Vince says that Trump was a businessman who thought that Wrestlemania would bring money into his casino. Michael Cole mentions the Battle of the Billionaires from Wrestlemania 23. Vince says the only thing he would redo is that the wrong person got his hair cut.
Vince McMahon comes out to induct Donald Trump.
The fans chant ‘Thank you Vince’ but Vince thanks everyone. There are so many ways to describe Donald Trump. Vince says that Donald is a Wrestlemania institution. Wrestlemania 23, Hair versus Hair. Vince says that was the most embarrassing moment of his career and we see the head shaving.
Vince says that despite that unfortunate occurrence, to show how magnanimous he is and to show that he does not hold a grudge, he introduces the newest inductee. Vince wonders why the crowd is booing Donald before he comes out. He introduces Donald Trump.
Donald is led to the stage by the Bellas and we go to commercial before we hear from Donald.
Donald says that Vince and him have had an amazing relationship for years. It all began with Wrestlemania IV in Atlantic City. He met the largest man he ever saw, Andre the Giant. It was a terrific time. What they are known for is the Battle of the Billionaires. To this date, it has the highest ratings in the history of Pay Per View. That is probably why he is being inducted. Donald challenges Vince to a fight and he will kick his ass if he wants.
Vince has been trying for the last six years to break their pay per view record. It is not going to happen. The same enthusiasm and love that the people are showing him. Donald says that this is a major honor. He has been honored with the Number One show in television, many best sellers, and got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Donald says this is his greatest honor of them all.
Donald thanks the McMahon family and he says that he loves everyone.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to take a look at Booker T. We hear from Stevie Ray, who inducts Booker.
He says that he started at the bottom and he made it to the top. He is a member of the WWE Family forever. He was proud to be a champion as well as King Booker. He says that he loves his wife more than anything. Booker does a spinaroonie.
It is time to move on to he next inductee.
Jerry says that anyone who knows about him knows why the next inductee is one of his favorite.
We see a video for Trish Stratus. Layla says that Trish defines what a WWE Divas is. She is powerful and sexy. Miz says that Trish brought a sense of beauty with her looks and what she did in the ring. Miz comments on the Matrix move.
The Bellas talk about how you can be athletic as well as sexy. AJ says that Trish made people care because Divas main evented Raw. Lita says that their rivalry defined who they were. Michael Cole says that Trish is the greatest Diva of all time. He says that she is the total package.
Lita says that facing Trish in her last match was a given. It was their last match together and it was great. Matt Striker says that Trish set the bar for all of the young ladies. They can be an athlete, they can be Trish Stratus.
Stephanie McMahon comes out to induct Trish. She says that when Trish asked her to induct her into the Hall of Fame, she was honored and overwhelmed. Trish is a seven time champion, the Diva of the Decade and the first Diva to wrestle in five Wrestlemanias. She might not be done. Trish is a role model for everyone to fight for their dreams. Stephanie introduces her friend and someone she loves and respects, Trish Stratus.
Trish thanks everyone and says that when you get the nod from the WWE Hall of Fame, it is a look back at your career and body of work. She says that her body of work is sexy. She says that it is a composite of their body of work. It is moments, matches, and partnerships. She is talking about strong, powerful, athletic women who could kick ass in the ring.
She is talking about Ivory, Jacqueline, Molly Holly, Jazz, Victoria, Mickie James, and her bestie Amy (Lita). Trish thanks her mom. She says that one of the main reasons she retired was because her mom was diagnosed with cancer. She knew that her schedule would not allow her to be with her mom during chemotherapy. She says that her mom is the true fighting champion.
Trish says that her mom is cancer free. Trish says that she wouldn’t do it and make a big deal of her husband, but she has to do it. Trish says that he helped her navigate through this career. She was happy that he was there for that chapter in their lives.
Trish says that since she has everyone’s attention, she wanted to tell everyone that in September she will be delivering a baby.
She thanks everyone for their support.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jerry Lawler says the final inductee is truly a legend. He sold out this arena 187 times. We see Bruno Sammartino’s video package.
Mike Tyson says that he always wanted to be like Bruno. Sheamus was the original WWE Superstar. George Steele says that Bruno was the greatest champion ever. Triple H says that Bruno lived an extraordinary life and he is the embodiment of the American Dream. Rocky Johnson says that Bruno was big, strong, and powerful.
Cody Rhodes says that Bruno wrestles at Shea Stadium three months after his neck was broken. CM Punk says that people think his 434 days as champion is impressive, but Bruno was champion for more than 4,000 days.
Pat Patterson was the hero for the fans. Sheamus mentions that Bruno sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times and CM Punk says that is unimaginable. Gene Okerlund mentions that when you sell out Madison Square Garden, you are part of those people. Larry Zbyszko says that Bruno’s popularity was bigger than anybody else. People loved Bruno.
Miz says that Bruno being inducted at Madison Square Garden is like being home. Punk says that Bruno personifies what everyone strives to be. Triple H says that there is no Hall of Fame without Bruno.
Jerry introduces Arnold Schwarzenegger to induct Bruno.
Arnold thanks Vince and Triple H for inviting him to celebrate with everyone tonight. Arnold asks where everyone was when his movie came out last year. He congratulates all of the inductees. He gets to introduce Bruno Sammartino. He met Bruno in the 1960s and he was a judge at the Mr. Olympia competition. Arnold talks about how huge Bruno looked.
Arnold said there was a problem when the judges are bigger than the competitors. Arnold says that he went to talk to Bruno and he was a great person. He says that Bruno is a great immigrant story. To come here from Italy after escaping the Nazis. Then he was bullied because he had an accent and was scrawny. Then he started lifting weights and started wrestling.
Bruno became a great inspiration. He was an inspiration to get people start working out. He has made such great contributions to this country. Arnold introduces Bruno Sammartino.
Bruno is led out by Alicia Fox and Layla.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Bruno to give his speech.
To be inducted into a Hall of Fame is special, but to have it happen in Madison Square Garden. He says that he has quite a history with this building. He is happy to have headlined Madison Square Garden more than any person in history.
He cannot believe that it was 50 years ago that he became the WWWF champion in this building. He wonders how many people in the building were born then.
He says that he is grateful for what the Garden did for him. There may be bigger or nicer buildings than Madison Square Garden, but the one arena that everyone knows is Madison Square Garden.
When you are as fortunate as him to headline this building as many times as he did, it gave him publicity all over the world. He would appear on the cover of 6 or 7 of the wrestling magazines. When other countries would request Bruno to make appearances, he was the headliner due to Madison Square Garden. This building has done so much for him.
Those 24 or 25 years have taken a toll on your body. He says that they wrestled in boxing rings and it was harder. You pay a price over time. When he retired, he was happy that day had come because he spent too much time away. He looked forward to spending time with his family.
Bruno says that he was hurting pretty bad and he says that he wouldn’t take any aspirin or pain killers. He felt like his body couldn’t continue and that was when he thought about getting out. With all of the injuries, there were two gentlemen who worked miracles in the medical field. They took him on and performed many surgeries on him.
He says that he will be 78 in a couple of months, but he still trains 6 days a week. He owes it all to them.
He says that he is grateful for a promoter to give him a shot. If you are a headliner and you fill the seats, you stay on top. If you can’t fill the seats, you might not be on top much longer. The people kept coming and he was able to headline more.
He says that he is very grateful for Arnold, the WWE, and the opportunity to appear in Madison Square Garden one more time. Most of all, he wants the fans to know that his success was due to the fans. If it wasn’t for them, he would not have been the success that he became.
All of the inductees and inductors go onto the stage and Vince raises Bruno’s hand and they hug as we go to credits.
2014 - E!'s The Soup aired a WWE-centric episode. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
After a successful week in New Orleans for Wrestlemania, but on a week without Total Divas, E! makes sure that they have a WWE presence on the network. The Soup welcomes the WWE back for “The Soup Salutes WWE Again – Piledriving More Clips in Your Face”.
Michael Cole introduces Joel McHale.
Dolph Ziggler comes in and gives us a ‘So Meaty’, a reference to the Chat Stew intro.
Joel turns it over to Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and JBL who have no idea why they are here.
They go to Mankini who tells us that when he wears headphones, he likes to think that he is flying an airplane.
Cole sends it back to Joel after calling that information useless.
The first clip is hosted by Nikki Bella. Nikki hugs Joel and she talks about how Total Divas lets you look backstage and she talks about her manly manly love monkey, who is the backstage leader. They show a clip with the Funkadactyls and Tons of Funk going to the ring and John stops by to ask the Bellas if they are watching wrestling . . . while watching wrestling on the monitor.
Nikki explains that John is a man who wears a shirt that reminds him where he is. She says that she is not in this for the conversation.
Joel mentions the connection that began long before Matt, the intern shaved his chest to hype The Wrestler. We see a clip of Matt on camera during a confrontation with Shawn Michaels in the crowd while Triple H was in the ring.
Matt shows up and he is excited that he was on TV. Joel mentions that Matt has been on TV many times, but Matt says that he was on a show that people enjoy. Joel calls for Titus O’Neil who beats up Matt until he screams.
Joel says that he likes that Titus hurt him, but not that Matt liked it. Titus says that it was a conundrum.
Joel mentions that not everyone gets along with the Miz. Maybe it is because he calls himself the Miz. When Miz gets hurt bad, they want to make sure you see it . . . real bad. They show Miz falling victim to Trouble in Paradise that knocks Miz out and we see a few dozen replays of the kick. They show the care provided by the medical staff and then they show it again.
Joel points out that the announcers enjoy seeing the Miz get hurt. Jerry points out that Miz calls his fans the MizFits. JBL says that backstage they say that hiring him was a MizTake. Jerry says that his paycheck is called a MizUse of Corporate funds. Cole jumps in and saying that he enjoys saying it would have been good if he was MizCarriaged. JBL and Lawler stare at him and want to know what is wrong with him.
Joel mentions the history of Smackdown General Managers, including the first one, Emily Dickinson back in 1862. He then talks about Teddy Long and we see him introduce John Cena as a 2 Time WWE Champion and a 10 Time . . . WWE Champion. Joel then shows us Teddy announcing that Smackdown became the second longest running . . . history of the longest running milestone in the history of weekly running television programs.
Joel then congratulates and congratulatingly congratulates them for episodic episodes.
Joel says being in charge is not all fun and games and we see Teddy trying to get out of Smackdown and away from the Undertaker, only to enter his limo and see that his driver was the Undertaker.
While Joel removes his Undertaker hat, he wonders if he should sell some oatmeal.
Joel says that one of his favorite moments in WWE history was when HHH lost one of his H’s and was known as HH.
JBL interrupts and he wants to go to one of the best Soup Clips. He says that it is from Episode 1046. It is a clip from Extreme Cheapskates when a wannabe wrestler has to get a little incestuous. We see the wannabe wrestler get his mother to shave him.
Dolph tells Joel not to make fun of him so fast because he has done the same things. Dolph says that he has been in the shower with his mom many times.
Joel mentions that Jerry was once slammed through a table by Mark Henry. It led to Michael Cole providing an update on his condition. Cole announces that Jerry has bruised ribs and suffers from anal bleeding. Joel asks Jerry if it was true. He says that it was true. Jerry wants to know how Michael found out. Michael says that it is best that Jerry does not know.
It is time to talk about other people who like to get dressed up and he introduces a clip from What!? Superheroes. Brie comes out and pronounces it a different way. Nikki comes out and bumps into Brie before pronouncing the title another way.
Joel asks which one of their moms is driving the Carpool of Justice this week.
We are back and Joel sends it to JBL, Cole, and Lawler. JBL wants to know why they are here by reviewing their contracts so he sends it over to the weird guy in the bikini.
Mankini shows a meat sculpture of Chuck Schumer and he sends it back to Jerry and he is at a loss for words.
Joel explains Santino Marella and the cobra and he says that it is less of a WWE move and more children’s entertainment from 70s era television. We see Santino go for the Cobra but instead he is stopped by Jinder Mahal playing the flute. On the other side of the ring Great Khali stops Santino. Santino is about to be attacked by his own hand covered by a sock.
Dolph says that it might look funny to Joel, but he probably never had his head digested by pantyhose for three days. Joel says that he hasn’t but Mankini says that he has.
Joel says that a good WWE Superstar is one who can fold tight hospital corners on a sheet. Jerry interrupts and he wants to see the clip from Untold Stories of the ER with cow feces and a surprise ending. Joel says that he would never show that clip again. Jerry tells Fred to show the crip. Not only does it feature a man with cow feces on him, it has a woman with the heel of a shoe stuck in her face.
Brie and Titus join Joel and Brie says that was a great ‘crip’ and then she wonders what type of shoe that was. Titus says that bovine excrement is to die for. He asks what type of cow it came from. Joel tells them the proper answers and tells them to leave.
Joel brings out Nikki Bella and she shows the conversation that she had with John Cena on Total Divas after he suffered his elbow injury. John says that he has a scrotum on his elbow and then says that it looks like the ‘sac’. Nikki says that she thought the scrotum was the skin between the butthole and the choad.
We come back and Nikki is standing between Titus and Dolph. She says that she has learned her lesson and a choad is a landlocked African nation. Titus points out that is Chad and it doesn’t exist any more. She asks if a choad is the largest member of the rodent family. Dolph tells her that is the capybara. Nikki then asks if Choad is the American rapper known for the song Right There. Titus says that is Chingy. Titus then thanks the Soup for having the black guy know who the rapper is.
Joel enters and he asks if Chingy is a rapper. Titus says that he works at Macy’s for Christmas.
Joel mentions NXT and he shows us Tyler Breeze’s ring entrance.
Nikki is back with Joel and she says that is a choad and Joel tells her that she is right.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Joel says that WWE Superstars can be quite ticklish, but Michael interrupts and says that they would be fired by Vince McMahon if they don’t show a clip from Shop NBC’s Coin Shop when the hosts are passive aggressive towards each other. Michael points out that he has two mortgages.
Joel says they will be fired for being on this show but we see the clip.
Jerry moves around some trading cards and Michael yells at Jerry for putting his card in front. Jerry points out that he is a Hall of Famer. He wants to know if Michael wants to put his in front and then he says that he hopes there is room for Andy Kaufman to roll over in its grave. JBL throws a Rey Mysterio card away and then he knocks them all over when he sees his aren’t on the display.
Michael calls him fumble fingers and then they wonder why they are here since no one is watching.
Joel says that if this last year belonged to anyone, it was probably Putin. If we are talking about the WWE, they must be talking about Daniel Bryan. We see when Bryan turned on the Wyatts and the crowd chanted Yes for the flying knee and then when Bryan was on top of the cage.
Joel says the question was ‘Did I have chicken pad thai in my beard?’
Joel asks everyone if they had fun on the show and everyone says No as they enter the shot.
Joel mentions that one of their producers is leaving the show. We get a montage of him ‘being shot’.
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