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April 24th
On this day in history in ....
1916 - The legendary Lou Thesz was born in Banat, Michigan.
1967 - John & Chris Tolos defeat Don Leo Jonathan & Rocky Johnson to win the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title for the second time.
1968 - Former IWGP and All Japan Triple Crown champion Yuji Nagata is born.
1978 - WWWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Mil Mascaras defeated The Golden Terror.
- Peter Maivia defeated Butcher Vachon.
- WWWF Tag Team Champions Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci defeated Stan Stasiak & Johnny Rodz.
- Dusty Rhodes vs. Spiros Arion ended in a draw.
- Strong Kobayashi defeated Steve King.
- Ken Patera defeated Larry Zbyszko.
- WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Graham in a steel cage match.
1982 - AWA President Stanley Blackburn announced that a 4/18/82 Hulk Hogan AWA World title win over Nick Bockwinkel in St. Paul, MN would be stricken from the record books. During this match, Bockwinkel's manager Bobby Heenan hit Hogan with a foreign object. When he attempted to throw it to Bockwinkel a second time, Hogan caught it and used it himself to set up the win. Hogan is never officially considered the AWA champion.
1983 - AWA held Super Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota at the St. Paul Civic Center drawing 20,000 with an additional 5,000 watching via closed circuit at the St. Paul Auditorium drawing $300,00 with the following results:
*Brad Rheingans pinned Rocky Stone in 9:34.
*Buck Zumhofe pinned Steve Regal in 11:05.
*Jerry Lawler pinned John Tolos in 8:24.
*AWA World Women's Tag Team Champions Joyce Grable & Wendi Richter defeated Judy Martin & Velvet McIntyre in 15:28 when Grable pinned McIntyre.
*Wahoo McDaniel pinned Eddie Boulder in 9:04.
*Jesse Ventura & Ken Patera & Blackjack Lanza beat Rick Martel & Jim Brunzell, & Greg Gagne in 17:03 when Patera pinned Brunzell.
*AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Hulk Hogan via DQ.
*Verne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon beat Jerry Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie in 13:28 when Gagne pinned Al-Kaissie.
1987 - Ken Patera wrestled his first match following his prison term for the infamous "McDonald's incident" at a WWF television taping in New Haven, Connecticut. Patera defeated Hercules Hernandez via disqualification when Harley Race and Bobby Heenan interfered as Hercules was about to lose to Patera's bearhug.
1989 - New Japan Pro Wrestling held their first ever Tokyo Dome event, "Super Powers Clash" drawing 44,000 fans for a show that featured a tournament for the IWGP Title, and the participation of Russian wrestlers and martial artists. Lou Thesz was brought in as special referee for several matches. Here are the results:
- Naoki Sano defeated Hiro Saito to win the Young Lions League.
- IWGP Tournament, First Round: Big Van Vader defeated Masahiro Chono.
- IWGP Tournament, First Round: Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Vladimir Berkovich.
- IWGP Tournament, First Round: Victor Zangiev defeated Buzz Sawyer.
- IWGP Tournament, First Round: Shinya Hashimoto defeated Riki Choshu.
- Benny "The Jet" Uriquidez vs. Shinya Asuka went to a five round draw.
- IWGP Tournament, Semifinals: Big Van Vader defeated Tatsumi Fujinami.
- IWGP Tournament, Semifinals: Shinya Hashimoto defeated Victor Zangiev.
- Wahka Eveleov defeated Masa Saito.
- Big Van Vader defeated Shinya Hashimoto to win the IWGP Title tournament with Lou Thesz as the special referee.
- IWGP Tag Team Champions Super Strong Machine & George Takano defeated Hiro Hase & Shiro Koshinaka.
- In his debut (with the Liger gimmick), Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi.
- Salman Hashimikov defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
- Shota Chochyashvili defeated Antonio Inoki to win the New Japan Martial Arts Title.
1989 - WWF ran at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Greg Valentine defeated The Blue Blazer.
- Hillbilly Jim defeated The Honky Tonk Man via DQ when Honky Tonk attacked Hillbilly before the match with Jimmy Hart's megaphone.
- Dino Bravo defeated Hercules Hernandez.
- Paul Roma defeated Boris Zhukov.
- Jake Roberts defeated Ted DiBiase.
- Mr. Perfect vs. Bret Hart ended in a twenty minute draw.
- The Bushwackers defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard.
- Randy Savage defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via countout when Sensational Sherri prevented Hogan from beating the ten count.
1990 - At a WWF television taping in San Antonio, Texas, Roddy Piper fought Rick Martel to a double DQ in an Intercontinental Title tournament match. What makes the match interesting is that the Finals of the tournament, with Curt Hennig defeating Tito Santana for the title, was taped the night before this match!
1991 - WWF held their UK-only PPV event, UK Rampage, at the London Arena in England. Here are the results:
- Jim Neidhart defeated The Warlord.
- Greg Valentine defeated Haku.
- Ted DiBiase defeated Kerry Von Erich via countout.
- The Rockers defeated The Orient Express.
- Jimmy Snuka defeated The Barbarian.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated The Bezerker.
- Earthquake defeated Jake Roberts via countout.
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Sgt. Slaughter.
1994 - At a WCW television taping at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat to win back the WCW World Title, which had been held up following the double-pin finish of a match between the two at the Spring Stampede Pay-per-view. This match, which would air on WCW Saturday Night, would be the final bout between Steamboat and Flair.
1992 - Danny Davis is stripped of the Global Wrestling Federation World Light-Heavyweight Title. Davis had left the GWF for Memphis, and despite leaving the company, wrestled on Memphis shows at the GWF Champion.
1998 - Ox Harley defeats Harry Palmer to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky. Previous champion Axl Rotten had been stripped of the title.
1999 - ECW and the WWF both ran shows in New York City on the same night, with ECW running the Elks Lodge in Queens, New York while WWF ran at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Both shows were sold out, with ECW drawing over 1,000 fans to their event and WWF drawing 16,000 to theirs. Here are the results from the shows:
ECW in Queens, New York at the Elks Lodge:
- Nova defeated Little Guido.
- Jerry Lynn defeated TAKA Michinoku.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri & Spike Dudley defeated Super Crazy & Mosco de la Merced.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated Lance Storm.
- Skull Von Krush defeated Danny Doring.
- Balls Mahoney defeated New Jack.
- ECW Television Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Bubba Ray Dudley.
WWF in Manhattan, New York at Madison Square Garden:
- The Acolytes defeated the DOA.
- Jerry Lawler defeated Droz.
- WWF Tag Team Champions X-Pac & Kane defeated Big Bossman & Test.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Hardcore Holly defeated Val Venis.
- Road Dogg & Billy Gunn defeated Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett and Gangrel & Edge.
- Undertaker & Mideon defeated Ken Shamrock & Mankind.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion The Godfather defeated Goldust.
- Al Snow & Tori defeated D'Lo Brown & Ivory.
- Steve Austin & The Big Show defeated The Rock & Triple H.
2001 - Johnny Valentine passed away.
2001 - Steve Corino defeated Mike Rapada to win the NWA title.
2004 - Colt Cabana & CM Punk defeat Jay & Mark Briscoe to win the Ring Of Honor Tag Team Title in Chicago, Illinois.
2005 - TNA held the very first TNA Lockdown PPV in Orlando, FL. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
TNA LOCKDOWN LIVE COVERAGE
by Mike Johnson
Lockdown Preview Show
Jeremy Borash and Shane Douglas hosted the pre-game show from inside the ring, saying they had turned away several hundred fans from the building. They sent it down to Don West and Mike Tenay who discussed the concept of having all the matches inside the Six Sides of Steel. They ran down the lineup, noting Kevin Nash's injury.
David Young & Lex Lovett vs. The Naturals vs. Ron Killings & Konnan
Konnan threw his sneakers on Lovett and Young. They showed fans holding up sneakers. Konnan hit rolling thunder on Lovett. Lovett tagged in Chase Stevens and they took him down with elbows. The Naturals worked over Konnan in the corner. Lovett tagged in and the Naturals worked him over, stomping him in their corner. The Naturals tagged in and out, controlling Lovett. Chase Stevens superplexed David Young. 3 Live Kru tagged in, with Ron Killings cleaning house until Buck Quartermaine hit the ring. He held Killings for Young, who had a chair. Konnan took Young's legs out from under him and he landed facefirst on the chair. Killings pinned Young with a pedigree. Buck Quartermaine ended up busted open, with Tenay noting it won't be the last time we see blood tonight. The Naturals just glared at the ring.
They aired a video feature on Christopher Daniels vs. Elix Skipper. Douglas and Borash discussed the match as TNA's crew began bringing in the Six Sides of Steel cage.
They aired a video feature on the Lethal Lockdown six man tag bout.
Borash and Douglas continued the hard sell, discussing Raven vs. Jeff Hardy as they continued to erect the cage around them. They then ran down the rest of the card.
They aired a video feature on Abyss vs. AJ Styles bout.
When they returned, Douglas headed backstage to get an interview with NWA Tag Team champions America's Most Wanted. Borash continued the hard sell as they put up the final side of the cage. Borash told everyone it was their last chance to order and be part of wrestling history.
Lockdown:
The PPV opened with a creepy video of nursery rhymes intersperced with shots of the Six Sides of Steel and past Six Side bouts. It was a great opening.
Mike Tenay and Don West thanked everyone for their order and said they were all going to be a part of history tonight. They ran down the lineup for tonight's PPV.
They showed close-up footage of Kevin Nash's staph infection and informed us that Nash would not be allowed to compete tonight. They said that the ball was in Dusty Rhodes' court to see who would replace Nash in the Lockdown six man cage bout.
Lance Hoyt & Chris Candido vs. Sonny Siaki & Apolo
Both teams faced off at the bell. Apolo and Hoyt chopped the hell out of each other. Apolo hit a back elbow while rebounding off the ropes. Candido was carried out, saying his leg was broken. Siaki and Apolo worked over Hoyt. Hoyt came back against Siaki while the referee forced Apolo back into the corner. Hoyt slammed Siaki into the cage as the Arena chanted his name. Siaki came back with a belly to back release overhead suplex out of the corner, which looked great. Siaki got a two count. They announced that they believed Candido had a broken leg and he was carried off. I hope that was to get over the danger of the cage and not a legit injury. Siaki came off with a top rope splash for the pin. The Naturals came to the ring and shoved Hoyt, upset he lost the match. Hoyt grabbed Andy Douglas by the throat. The Naturals attacked him, and threw him into the cage. Hoyt made a comeback but was hit with the Natural Disaster and left laying. I guess Hoyt was just turned babyface.
Your winners, Sonny Siaki and Apolo!
Backstage, Dusty Rhodes was with Tracy Brooks and Trinity. He announced that the AMW vs. Team Canada match would now be a strap match for the NWA Tag titles. He said they were here to decide the names who would be in the cage first for five minutes. It was Jeff Jarrett vs. Sean Waltman, who will start out the bout.
They aired a Dustin Rhodes vs. Bobby Rude video feature.
Bobby Rude vs. Dustin Rhodes: Best of Three Falls Prince of Darkness
Rhodes attacked Rude and worked over him with a series of rights. The referee got in between them and Rhodes shoved him away. Rude rolled up Rhodes and put his feet up and the referee counted three.
Rude - 1, Rhodes - 0 Rhodes came back and tied up Rude in the corner. He hit Rude low with the old "Shattered Dreams" kick. He put Rude on the top turnbuckle and hit a superplex off the top. Rhodes catapulted Rude into the cage, with Rude landing into a sunset flip position for a two count.
Rude came off the ropes but was powerslammed by Rhodes. Rhodes signalled for the bulldog, but was shoved off by Rude. Rude hit a big shoulderblock into the corner.
Scott D'Amore taunted the announcers as Rude kept working over Rhodes. Rude tried to choke out Rhodes with a rear chinlock. Rhodes' arm dropped twice but he fought back before it could drop a third time. Rhodes got to hit feet and dropped Rude in the Electric Chair.
Dustin threw Rude into the cage and went for the inverted suplex. Rude flipped over and hit the Northern Lariat, but Rhodes grabbed the rope at the two count. Rude placed him atop the top turnbuckle and tried to suplex him into the ring. Rhodes held onto the cage and they began brawling atop the cage. Rhodes hit a top rope bulldog for the pin.
Rhodes - 1, Rude - 1
The referee grabbed two hoods and put them atop the wrestlers' heads, with the announcers noting that they cannot see outside of the hoods. Rude called out to D'Amore asking for help. Both men wandered around the ring trying to find the other. They ended up at the Cage, which Rude punched thinking it was Dustin. Rhodes found Rude and went for a bulldog, but Rude shoved him off. Rhodes accidentally struck the referee down.
D'Amore tossed a chair into the ring. He got inside the cage and went to hit Rhodes, but Rude thought it was Rhodes and hit him with the chair. Rude tried to pin D'Amore but realized his mistake. Cassidy Riley ran down and told Rhodes where Rude was. He was able to get the chair and hit Rude, scoring the pin.
Your winner, Dustin Rhodes!
Shane Douglas interviewed TNA X-Division champion Christopher Daniels, who called himself "Mr. TNA." Daniels said that he bled buckets to keep XXX alive and the X-Division belt means more to him than XXX ever did. Elix Skipper came in and said that he would tell the world when the time was right and the "time was right." Daniels looked concerned.
X-Division Xscape: Michael Shane (with Trinity) vs. Shocker vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Chris Sabin
The rules of the bout are that once two men are eliminated via pinfall or submission, the final two will battle with the winner being the first man to exit the cage.
Dutt and Sabin started off. They announced Chris Candido had been taken to a local hospital via ambulance. Dutt was hit with a standing hurrancanrana. Shocker and Shane tagged in. Shocker sent Dutt into the cage. Shane locked in a chinlock on Dutt, who worked his way back to his feet. Dutt charged Shane, who got his knees up into Dutt's chest for a two count.
Dutt took him over his head scissors and tagged in Chris Sabin. Sabin worked over Shane, but was sent into the cage headfirst. Shane scored a two count. Sabin began fighting back with a series of rights to the gut, and springboards into a tornado DDT.
Shocker hit the ring and clotheslined Shane. He scooped and slammed Shane, who kicked out at two. Shocked dropkicked Shane in the knee and rolled him up for a two count with La Magistral. Shane kicked him in the face. Shocker grabbed him but Shane pulled down the ropes into a Tarantula. Dutt locked on a chinlock on Shane while he was upside down with Sabin locking Dutt in a Boston Crab. Sabin hit a running powerbomb into the cage on Dutt, then hit a running sitdown powerbomb in the ring, but Shocker broke up the pin. Shocker covered Dutt but he kicked up. Sabin avoided a Shocker kick, then hit his own. Dutt went for the pin, but Shane broke it up. The announcers questioned why.
Shane hit a superkick on Dutt, but was hit with a superkick on Shane. Shocker pinned Dutt. Shocker hit a tiltowhirl gutbuster across the knee on Shane. Shocker went to the top but Sabin jumped up and suplexed him off the ropes. Shane put Sabin on the top rope. Sabin tried to battle him off. Trinity climbed the cage from the outside to aid Shane. Tracy Brooks grabbed her but was kicked down. Brooks went down holding her ankle. Trinity hit a moonsault off the top of the cage onto all three competitors.
Tracy Brooks hit the ring and clotheslined Trinity. Shane threw her out of the ring, but was caught by Sabin and pinned.
Shocker immediately tried to escape the cage by climbing over the rtop but Sabin caught him. They traded blows back and forth, finally falling back inside the ring.
Shocker and Sabin began climbing again, with Shocker reaching the top first. Sabin finally reached the top as Shocker got to the other side. They battled each other atop of the outside of the cage, with Shocker slipping to the floor. Sabin tried to beat him down, but Shocker hit the floor first and was ruled the winner.
Your winner, Shocker!
A fun match with hard work by all six involved. Trinity's spot was insane.
They aired footage of Candido's injury, as he caught his ankle under him after being dropkicked by Siaki. It looked like a completely freak thing. For those who didn't see it on the main page, the initial fear is that he broke his ankle.
They aired a video feature on Raven vs. Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy vs. Raven
Hardy came to the ring angry with two chairs. There were several tables inside the ring. Hardy came off the chair with a leg lariat. Raven throws Hardy into the Cage several times. Raven hit a facewash into Hardy's face against the cage. Raven hit the drop toehold into a chair. He began peppering Hardy with punches.
Raven set up a table against the cage. He hit Hardy with the Evenflow DDT. Raven tried to throw Hardy into the table but was shoved off and crashed through the table. Hardy grabbed a chair and hit Raven with it, then choked Raven with it. Hardy suplexed Raven and then hit an Arabian facebuster. Hardy stomped on Raven and beat him down with right hands.
Hardy whipped Raven into the cage. He kept throwing Raven into the cage, then rubbed his face against the steel mesh. Raven was busted open. Raven came out of nowhere to hit a DDT. Hardy went to the top but was tossed off by Raven.
They showed several members of the New York Mets at ringside.
Hardy put Raven atop of a table in the center of the ring. Hardy began scaling the cage and came off with the swanton, but Raven got out of the way. The crowd chanted “Holy sh**!" The spot looked awesome and was dangerous as hell as Hardy looked like he could slip off the cage at any point and was being really careful not to.
Raven grabbed a chair and drove it into Hardy's chest. He slammed Hardy's face into the chair. Raven began scaling the cage but Hardy came diving off the chair with a forearm. Raven crashed into the ring. Hardy shoved Raven's face into the cage and dropkicked him as he was draped over the ropes. Raven hit Hardy low. He dug a piece of broken table into Hardy's face.
Raven grabbed a chair and went for the droptoehold into it, but Hardy reversed it and slammed his face into it. Hardy went to the top but Raven opened the cage door. He shook the cage and Hardy crotched himself on the open door. He kicked the door into Raven's face. Hardy came off the top but whatever it was ended with a really weak attempt by Raven to put his feet up. Hardy crumpled to the mat with the crowd booing.
Raven set up two tables together in the ring, then added a third table. He stacked the tables two high. Raven pulled Hardy to the ropes and tried to throw Hardy into them but Hardy pushed him off onto the tables. Hardy came off with a legdrop through both tables and Raven for the win.
Your winner, Jeff Hardy!
Both were trying really hard here. It was good at some points and contrived at others.
They aired a video feature on NWA Tag Team champions America's Most Wanted vs. Team Canada.
NWA Tag Team champions America's Most Wanted vs. Team Canada
Harris and Storm grabbed Young's legs and crotched him atop the cage. Williams attacked Harris while he was on the cage. Alistair Ralphs (aka A-1) hit Harris with the NWA Tag strap from behind, then hit James Storm as well. Williams began beating Storm with a strap. Storm was busted open. A-1 whipped Harris into the guard rail on the floor.
Team Canada worked over Storm as the crowd chanted “USA"Â Williams kneed Storm in the head. Williams tossed Storm into the cage. Harris got to his feet, only to be taken down by A-1 again. Young got a two count. Williams argued with the referee over the count. A-1 slammed Harris into the announcer's table.
Eric Young grabbed the American flag and choked James Storm with it. Storm finally came back with a jawbreaker on Young and an enziguiri on Williams. Chris Harris tossed A-1 into the railing and began climbing the cage. Young threw himself into the cage, "hurting his shoulder" to knock Harris to the floor.
James Storm grabbed Petey Williams and press and slammed him into the cage. Storm and Young began whipped each other with the straps. Storm won the back and forth but was hit with a running twisting DDT off the ropes by Williams for a two count.
Outside the ring, A-1 choked down Harris. Harris came back and catapulted A-1 into the cage on the floor. He threw A-1 into the ring steps. He began climbing the cage again and made his way into the cage for the first time in the bout. He clotheslined Williams and Young off the top rope and began lighting them up with the strap.
Harris hit the fullnelson slam on Williams. Harris hit a suplex on Williams, slamming him into the cage twice before dropping him. Young broke up the pin. Harris caught Young but he kicked up at two.
Williams locked on a sharpshooter on Jones with Young coming off with a top rope elbow. Williams turned him over for the pin but only got a two count., Harris speared Williams but he kicked up right before the three count.
Young went for a superkick but Storm ducked and hit one of his own. They went for the Death Sentence, but Williams pulled Young out of the way. He got the hockey stick and cracked it over Harris' back. Harris kicked out at the last second.
Williams got powder to toss at AMW but it got kicked into his eyes. Young took out Storm. Williams grabbed Young and hit the Canadian Destroyer on his own partner. AMW hit the Death Sentence and pinned Young.
Your winners and still NWA Tag Team champions America's Most Wanted!
A good back and forth match with a lot of hard work.
They aired a video feature on Christoper Daniels vs. Primetime Elix Skipper.
TNA X-Division champion Christoper Daniels vs. Primetime Elix Skipper
They go back and forth reversing and ducking moves in a great exchange. Daniels went for Angel's Wings but it was blocked. They started testing each other with shoulderblocks. It ended up with Elix getting the better of Daniels.
Skipper hits a butterfly suplex followed by a gut-wretch suplex. Daniels began working over Skipper's shoulder. Skipper came back with a dropkick. Daniels immediately came back with am armdrag and a dropkick from behind, sending Skipper into the turnbuckle facefirst.
Daniels continues to work over Elix's arm and shoulder. He cinches in a hammerlock and slams him down. Skipper kept trying to fight back. He got to his feet but was cut down with a karate kick. Skipper came back and hit a legdrop off the top rope.
Daniels hit the Best Moonsault Ever for a two count. Daniels went to the top of the cage but Skipper crotched him. Skipper went to walk across the top of the cage but Daniels got down to the ring. Skipper dove off the top onto Daniels, who had his back to him. Skipper draped his arm over Daniels, scoring a near fall.
Daniels called for Angel's Wings but Skipper tried to turn it into Sudden Death. Daniels grabbed the cage to protect himself, then hit Angel's Wings for the pin.
Your winner and still TNA X-Division champion Christopher Daniels!
Dusty Rhodes pulled The Outlaw's name, so he'll be the third man into the match.
They aired a video feature on the Lockdown match.
Lockdown Cage Match: Sean Waltman & ? & Diamond Dallas Page vs. NWA champion Jeff Jarrett & The Outlaw & Monty Brown
Waltman made his way to the crowd wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt. He tossed a trash can into the ring. NWA champion Jarrett then made his way to the ring. They will face each other for five minutes, with two minute intervals afterwards.
Waltman attacks Jarrett in the aisle and they brawled in the crowd. Waltman hit him with the trash can. They brawled into the bleachers. Jarrett dropped Waltman on the handrail of the bleachers. Jarrett got the trash can but discarded it for a cookie sheet.
Waltman and Jarrett brawled onto the announcer's table. Waltman hit a spinkick then dives off the table onto him. Waltman went to hit Jarrett with a chair, but Jarrett ducked and hit Waltman.
They finally entered the ring with 1:45 remaining in the period. Jarrett put a trash can in the corner but Waltman reversed a whip and slammed him into it. Waltman threw Jarrett into the cage. He beat Jarrett in the head with the trashcan. Waltman went for the bronco buster but Jarrett moved and Waltman hit the cage with his legs. Waltman ducked a series of clotheslines and hit one of his own.
The Outlaw entered.
Waltman kicked Outlaw and Jarrett. He battled off each of them. Outlaw shoved Waltman into the air, but Waltman dropkicked Jarrett while airborne. Outlaw clobbered Waltman with a cookie sheet. He worked over Waltman. They set up a trash can in the corner and slammed Waltman into it.
Diamond Dallas Page entered.
DDP hit the ring with a kendo stick, working over Outlaw and Jarrett. He caned Outlaw with it in the head, then cracked Jarrett over the back. Jarrett gets tossed into the cage. Page hit a big boot on Outlaw. He began going to work on Jarrett but Outlaw cracked him from behind with a trash can lid. Page clotheslined both. He went for the diamond cutter on Outlaw but got kicked low. Page brawled with both. The entire time, Waltman was down.
Monty Brown entered. Brown came to the ring with a baseball bat and attacked Page from behind with it. Outlaw worked over Waltman. Jarrett splattered the cane over DDP's back. Brown drilled Waltman with an object. Team Jarrett destroyed Page and Waltman. Waltman tried to crossbody Brown but got hit with a fall away slam into the cage.
BG Jammes entered the ring.
Jammes and Jarrett brawled. Jammes slammed the cage door into Brown. Jammes hit the referee and knocked him down. Jammes and Outlaw were face to face. Jammes hesitated and before one of them could make a move, Waltman hit a horrible looking X-Factor. Waltman hit a bronco buster onto Brown, with a trash can over his face. Brown hit the pounce of Waltman, then hit one on Jammes using a trash can as a weapon. DDP broke up the pin. Page hit the cutter on Jarrett but Outlaw broke it up.
Waltman hit a kick on Outlaw. There was a lot of plunder. Brown pounced both Waltman and Jammes at the same time. He went to slam Waltman who tried to do...something, but slipped and fell. Brown covered him but Jammes broke it up. They did the spot again, this time with Waltman rolling him up in a forward roll for the pin.
Team DDP cleared the ring of Monty Brown and Outlaw. Jammes and Outlaw had a staredown through the mesh of the cage.
Your winners, Sean Waltman & Diamond Dallas Page & BG Jammes!
Waltman looked to be really, really, really, really, really off and lost somewhere but everyone was working hard. A decent brawl but it was the same thing over and over with weapons and brawling. Waltman blowing the finish the first time really hurt the climax of the bout hugely and why is Brown of all people the one taking the pinfall, especially off Waltman who never appears except for PPVs? I digress.
They aired a video feature on Abyss vs. AJ Styles.
Styles dove out of the cage opening they had cut out for the camera to get a clear view inside the ring onto Abyss on the floor to start the match. Styles hit a hurrancanrana on the floor. Styles and Abyss brawled on the floor. AJ springboarded over the fans onto a platform, then dove over the fans with a flying forearm onto Abyss. Styles is THE man.
Styles crashed and burned. They went through the crowd with Abyss beating down Styles. Abyss stalked him but Styles began beating him down. Styles went to charge but Abyss grabbed him by the throat and slammed him backwards into steel fencing used to decorate the venue with the Lockdown theme.
They continued to brawl through the Arena and back into the ringside area. The announcers noted that the actual match hadn't even started yet. Abyss just slammed the cage door into Styles, who took it fullforce on his face in a sick spot. When Styles came back up, he was busted open.
Abyss tossed Styles into the ring and went for the thumbtack bag. He wrapped his chain around Styles' neck. Styles pulled himself free and got the chain off from around his neck, but the second he was free from it, Abyss hit a big boot to the face.
Abyss wrapped the chain around one of the turnbuckles. Styles tried to battle back but kept getting shot back down. Abyss slammed Styles into the air, crashing facefirst into the chainwrapped turnbuckle. Abyss slams AJ into the cage but Styles kicked out.
Styles fought back with kicks and punches, but was caught and tossed into the air, coming down facefirst in the ring. Styles finally came back and hit a enziguiri followed by a tiltowhirl head scissors. Abyss charged Styles in the corner but he leapfrogged him, leaving Abyss to hit the corner where a chair was placed between the turnbuckles. AJ hit a belly to back suplex for a two count.
Abyss went for a chokeslam but Styles hit a forward roll for a two count. Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam, but Styles kicked out at the last second. Abyss poured out the thumbtacks. He went to hit a black hole slam but AJ avoided it. He went for a powerbomb but Abyss avoided it. Abyss went for a powerbomb but AJ escaped and hit the Styles Clash on the thumbtacks for the two count.
AJ went to the top of the cage. Abyss shoved the referee into the cage to toss him off. Styles fell but his arms grabbed the top to save himself. Abyss slammed into the cage looking to knock Styles off. He went to the top with his chain. He wrapped it around Styles' neck and hung him off the cage. He pulled the chain off Styles and began trying to knock him off. He grabbed him for a chokeslam off the cage but AJ bit his hand, then hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the ring from the top of the cage, scoring the pin.
Your winner, facing Jeff Jarrett for the NWA title at Hard Justice, AJ Styles!
I really enjoyed the main event. A much improved show from last month.
2006 - WWE and Brock Lesnar settled a lawsuit brought by Lesnar against the company. Lesnar had signed a no-compete when he left in 2004 to pursue an NFL career and later went to New Japan and MMA, both of which were against the no-compete. Terms of the lawsuit settlement were not made public, although it would open the doors for Lesnar to make his UFC debut and eventually, return to WWE in 2012.
2006 - WWE announced that Bob Holly was fighting off a potentially career ending staph infection in his arm. Although it was expected that Holly would end his in-ring career, he would eventually return to the ring.
2007 - WWE taped Smackdown and ECW in London, England. Craig McKeon filed the following live report:
Show started with Chavo and Helms coming out for a tag match. The Hardys were announced as the opponents, the crowd was crazy for the Hardys the whole time who picked up the win with the Twist Of Fate/Swanton combo. After the match the Hardys stayed around after the match for a minute or two posing for the fans and shaking hands.
ECW started with a backstage bit with the new breed and Punk saying he was sorry for last week, nothing special to be honest.
Opening match was Lashley vs. Umaga, an okay match, Lashley was over huge. Finish came when Lashley clotheslined Umaga over the top rope and Armando nailed Lashley with the title belt which was no sold. Afterwards Vince came out to hold Umaga back as Lashley spears Armando before he throws him over the top rope.
Another new Breed promo... couldn't hear the sound as it was too echo-ey in the arena.
Snitsky destroyed Balls. Less said about this, the better.
Another new breed skit...
ECW Originals vs. New breed elimination match. Sandman was the first man eliminated after he missed a senton from the top rope and was pinned by Striker. Striker was out next after a split-legged moonsault from RVD. Sabu went out next after the Pounce from Cor Von. The next elimination was confusing, it looked like Cor Von was eliminated by Dreamer with a roll-up, the fans reacted as if he was, but apparently he wasn't, instead a few moments later on the outside he lifted Dreamer up and dropped him crotch first onto the security rail and was disqualified for it. Yep, that's right, DQed for that, the fans hated that. Kevin Thorn was out next after a Dreamer DDT, then as Dreamer got up he was nailed with the Elijah Express and pinned. So it went down to Burke and RVD, Van Dam eventually won after Punk kicked Burk in the back of the head and then RVD nailed the 5 star. After the match Punk nailed Burk with the Go 2 Sleep. Afterwards there was a great part where Punk is standing over Burke and sarcastically says he's sorry.
Smackdown starts with Batista and Kennedy brawling in the back when Finlay comes in. They brawl out to the entrance area where Kennedy and Finlay get the upper hand when the lights go out and the Undertaker appears in the ring, before the lights go out and he vanishes.
Kennedy and Finlay complain to Teddy Long about Taker, he makes a main event of Taker/Batista vs. Finlay/Kennedy. Yup, Taker and Batista teaming again, in a no dq match this time.
Regal/Taylor vs Boogeyman/Kane was the first match... and boy it wasn't pretty. Boogeyman did pretty much nothing the entire match until he tagged in and got the win. Crowd loved Regal, after the match Boogey ate worms.
Deuce vs Kendrick was the next match. London had his ribs taped after last week and was selling them whilst Kendrick did the usual entrance. This match was dull, no other words for it... this was dull, full of rest holds. Deuce won after Domino yanked London off of the apron, distracting Kendrick allowing Deuce to nail a jumping kick for the win.
MVP did his usually promo where he challenged a local champion. This week it was the Scottish champion, who was dressed up like Mel Gibson is Braveheart. MVP squashed him to the point that the guys wig fell off and then he beat him with his neckbreaker finisher. He was then about to bring out someone else when Benoit interrupted him and challenged him. The two had a pretty solid match before MVP bolted and got counted out.
Long and Kristal talk backstage, Long says he loves her and he's thinking of getting some help running Smackdown so he can spend more time with her. Seriously
Jillian came out and sang before he was interrupted by Michelle which then led to a match. Jillian won the match and then tried to sing again before Michelle attacked her on the outside
Main Event was next. It was nothing special, despite being no-DQ nothing unusually happened apart from Finlay using the club. Finish came when gave Kennedy and Finlay a chokeslam each before Batista spinebustered Finlay for the win. Post match Batista claimed no-one can keep him down for ten and then Taker threatened to take his soul.
That same night, WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off this week's show with a look back at last week's main event between Rob Van Dam and Elijah Burke. Then we see CM Punk coming to ringside to try to help Burke, but that help backfired when Van Dam used the chair that was intended for Burke.
CM Punk is in the back watching the video from last week and he says that he needs to apologize to the members of the New Breed who are all in the room with Punk. He says that he will not apologize for trying to assume a role of leadership, pointing out the need for independent thinkers, or telling people that when you get knocked down you need to get back up. Punk says that he was trying to help Elijah but he got overzealous. He says that it is all in the past because of the eight man elimination match. Tonight is the night that everyone will remember the New Breed. He wants to know if everyone is on the same page. Punk shakes hands with Kevin Thorn, Matt Striker, and Marcus Cor Von before walking away from Elijah Burke. Punk returns to the room and he says that he was only messing with Burke.
Before our first match, we see footage from Umaga, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon wearing down Robbie Brookside on Raw.
Match Number One: Umaga (with Armando Alejandro Estrada) versus Bobby Lashley
Lashley and Umaga stare each other down with Umaga slapping Lashley but Lashley responding with punches. Umaga sends Lashley to the apron and Estrada tries to pull Lashley off the apron but Lashley kicks Estrada off. Umaga knocks Lashley off the apron to the floor and then Umaga sends Lashley into the ring steps. Umaga then goes to the announce table and rearranges it. Lashley with punches to Umaga but Umaga with a knee to keep the advantage followed by slamming Lashley's head into the apron. Umaga brings Lashley back to the apron but Lashley drops Umaga across the top rope. Lashley goes up top but Umaga punches Lashley in the midsection and follows that with a Samoan drop. Umaga punches Lashley in the head and then he pushes the referee away. Estrada talks to the referee while Umaga goes to the second turnbuckle but he misses a diving head butt when Lashley rolls out of the way. Lashley and Umaga exchange punches while the crowd shows their approval of Lashley. Lashley comes off the ropes but Umaga connects with an uppercut. Umaga charges at Lashley but Bobby moves out of the way and Umaga is clotheslined over the top rope to the floor. Estrada hits Lashley with the title belt and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Bobby Lashley (by disqualification)
After the match, Vince McMahon walks to the ring while Lashley sends Estrada into the turnbuckles. Lashley punches and kicks Estrada and then he knocks Umaga off the apron. Lashley with a biel to Estrada while Vince tries to keep Umaga out of the ring. Lashley with a spear to Estrada. Lashley gets Estrada on his shoulders and then he tosses Estrada to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of the disqualification in the opening match followed by Lashley's revenge on Estrada.
We take a look at The Condemned.
Elijah Burke is in the New Breed locker room and he talks to Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker, and Kevin Thorn. He talks about the headaches that he has been suffering. He says that they might have made a mistake by bringing Punk into the New Breed. Marcus says that they did not make any mistakes because Burke suggested that they bring him in. Burke says that he takes full responsibility and wonders if Punk slid that chair in a bit too hard. Thorn says that Burke asked for the chair. Striker says that Punk is talented and he is trying to motivate everyone. Burke says that he is the motivator and tonight is the biggest night of the New Breed. Burke says that it will be him and not Punk who will lead them to victory. Punk stops by to see how everyone is doing. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see Gene Snitsky's reign of terror including what he did to Extreme Expose two weeks ago only to see Balls Mahoney try to make the save.
Match Number Two: Gene Snitsky versus Balls Mahoney
Snitsky sends Mahoney to the mat on a collar and elbow tie up. Mahoney comes off the ropes and Snitsky with a shoulder tackle followed by forearms to the chest. Snitsky lifts Mahoney up and sends him into the turnbuckles and follows that with a kick. Snitsky with a double underhook and then he runs Mahoney into the corner. Mahoney with some punches but Snitsky with a clothesline. Snitsky with the big boot for the three count.
Winner: Gene Snitsky
It is CM Punk's chance to give the other three members of the New Breed a pep talk. He says that this is revenge for Wrestlemania and it is the New Breed's night. He says that he is proud to be here and he is happy that he joined the New Breed. Punk says that tonight is the night that the face of the New Breed changes and it is because of each of them. Burke enters the room and he wonders what is going on. Punk says that they are getting fired up. Burke says that he has been training and preparing for this match. We go to commercial.
We are back with an Earlier Tonight Moment of what Bobby Lashley did to Armando Alejandro Estrada.
We run through some of the card for Backlash:
Umaga, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon versus Bobby Lashley for the ECW Title
Batista versus the Undertaker for the World Title in a Last Man Standing Match
John Cena versus Edge versus Shawn Michaels versus Randy Orton for the WWE Title in a Fatal Four Way Match
Before the match starts, CM Punk and Elijah Burke are both in the ring ready to start the match but Burke gets on the mic and he tells Punk that he wants to make sure that it is a fair fight. It will be four on four so he tells Punk to have a seat.
Match Number Three: ECW Originals (Sabu, Sandman, Rob Van Dam, and Tommy Dreamer) versus The New Breed (Matt Striker, Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn [with Ariel], and Marcus Cor Von [with CM Punk]) in an Elimination Match
Burke and Dreamer start things off and Dreamer with a waist lock but Burke with a standing switch followed by one from Dreamer and a waist lock take down by Dreamer. Burke with an elbow followed by a shoulder tackle. Dreamer with a series of slams to Burke followed by a punch to the face. Sabu is tagged in and Dreamer slams Sabu onto Burke and Sabu gets a two count. Sabu with a drop kick to the knees followed by a leg drop and then he puts Burke on the apron and hands him over the top rope. Sandman is tagged in and goes up top for a leg drop to the back of Burke's neck. Sandman with a chop to Burke's chest followed by an Irish whip and flapjack. Sandman goes up top but he misses a senton splash and that allows Burke to get the three count on Sandman to eliminate him.
Eliminated Wrestler: Sandman
Remaining in Match: Sabu, Rob Van Dam, and Tommy Dreamer versus Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von, and Matt Striker
Striker tags in and he punches Sabu and kicks him. Sabu hits a springboard DDT and he tags in Van Dam. Van Dam and Sabu with a double leg drop to Striker and then he hits a running spin kick and monkey flip on Striker. Van Dam goes up top but Marcus Cor Von distracts Van Dam. Van Dam goes back up top and that delay allows Striker to hit the rope and crotches Van Dam. Striker with punches to Van Dam and then Van Dam with a sunset flip power bomb for a two count. Van Dam goes up for a split legged moonsault for the three count to eliminate Striker.
Eliminated Wrestler: Matt Striker
Remaining in Match: Sabu, Rob Van Dam, and Tommy Dreamer versus Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, and Marcus Cor Von
Cor Von with forearms to Van Dam's back and then Cor Von hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Cor Von runs Van Dam into the turnbuckles and follows that with a kick and punches. Van Dam with forearms but Cor Von with a knee and then he tries to send Van Dam into the turnbuckle but Van Dam blocks it and hits a kick on Cor Von. Van Dam follows that with a cross body for a two count. Sabu tags in and he punches Cor Von. Sabu with a kick and drop toe hold followed by a leg drop before applying a modified camel clutch. Van Dam with a drop kick to Cor Von's face but Burke hits Sabu in his injured neck. Cor Von chokes Sabu and then he pulls Sabu out of the ring and punches Sabu while Sabu is draped on the apron. Burke is tagged in and he kicks Sabu in the ribs followed by a kick to the head for a two count. Cor Von tags back in and he punches Sabu in the neck followed by a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Cor Von with a punch to the head but Sabu tries to fight back but Cor Von with an Irish whip. Cor Von charges into a knee and Sabu with a springboard leg lariat for a two count. Sabu and Cor Von with punches followed by a kick from Cor Von. Sabu blocks a suplex but he runs into a back elbow from Cor Von. Cor Von with a POUNCE to Sabu for the three count to eliminate Sabu.
Wrestler Eliminated: Sabu
Remaining in Match: Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer versus Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, and Marcus Cor Von
Dreamer comes in and he punches Cor Von in the head followed by a bulldog. Cor Von reverses an Irish whip as we go to commercial.
We are back and Burke punches Dreamer on the floor before rolling him back into the ring. Burke with punches to Dreamer. Thorn tags in and they hit a double back elbow on Dreamer. Cor Von is tagged in and he punches Dreamer. Cor Von with a bear hug into an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Dreamer rolls outside the ring and Cor Von goes after him and Cor Von punches Dreamer and then drops Dreamer onto the ringside barrier. The referee disqualifies Cor Von.
Wrestler Eliminated: Marcus Cor Von
Remaining in Match: Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer versus Elijah Burke and Kevin Thorn
Thorn rolls Dreamer into the ring and he hits a series of elbow drops to the back and then he puts Dreamer in a rear chin lock. Dreamer gets to his feet and Thorn with a spinebuster for a two count. Thorn with more elbows followed by a knee to the chest. Burke is tagged in and Burke hits a rolling knee drop. Burke knocks Van Dam off the apron and then Thorn is tagged back in. Burke with an Irish whip and Thorn with a running splash into the corner. Thorn misses a short arm clothesline and Dreamer hits a DDT to get the three count on Thorn.
Wrestler Eliminated: Kevin Thorn
Remaining in Match: Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer versus Elijah Burke
Burke with the Elijah Express to Dreamer for the three count to eliminate him.
Wrestler Eliminated: Tommy Dreamer
Remaining in Match: Rob Van Dam versus Elijah Burke
Van Dam punches Burke and then hits a drop kick. Burke begs for mercy but it was a trap and Burke sends Van Dam into the ring post twice. Burke tries to use the ropes for advantage on the covers but the referee sees it and he admonishes Burke. Burke with a snap mare into an arm bar. Van Dam punches Burke, but Burke responds with a clothesline. Burke kicks Van Dam in the corner followed by a snap mare for a near fall. Van Dam with a back body drop followed by clotheslines and a thrust kick. Burke punches Van Dam. Van Dam misses a kick when Burke holds on to the ropes. Van Dam charges at Burke but Burke with a kick and Burke flips to the apron. Burke with a shoulder but Van Dam with a spin kick when Burke tries to get back into the ring and Burke is sent to the floor. Van Dam wants to go for a pescado but the referee stops Van Dam. Punk kicks Burke in the back of the head while the referee was not looking. Punk returns to his seat and Van Dam goes outside the ring. Van Dam hits the Five Star Frog Splash for the three count.
Winners: ECW Originals
After the match, Punk gives Burke Go To Sleep and then he apologizes as we go to credits.
2008 - TNA broadcast Impact. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Last week, we saw three title matches and we had three different results. One champion retained their title (Awesome Kong); one champion lost his title to another person (Jay Lethal to Sir Peter of Williams); and one champion lost their title to someone else only to see that someone else not reveal their identity and cost them the title (A.J. Styles and Tomko to Frankie Kazarian and El Hombre sin mucho entre sus Ears). What will happen when the other champion defends his title against the man he won it from at Lockdown. Will Samoa Joe join Sting and Rhino in the history books as a champion who held the title for less than a week but have it be considered a little less than two weeks or will Joe be able to keep his title as he prepares for his match with Scott Steiner at Sacrifice. We saw Jim Cornette almost have a stroke over some of the events on last week’s Impact. What is next for Jim Cornette and how will he deal with the Knockouts?
We start off tonight’s show with Lauren interviewing Matt Morgan while he walks in the hall. Matt says that he is going to show what it takes to get famous around here. Kip James walks by and Matt attacks Kip for no reason. Matt sends Kip into the walls and then he connects with a kick to the head. Matt tells Kip that this is his place and then he says that is two down and there are three to go.
We take a look back at last week’s show that saw one title retained, one title held up, and one new champion. What will happen when Kurt Angle faces Samoa Joe for the TNA Heavyweight Title?
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are my pick for the next TNA Tag Team Champions Don West and Mike Tenay.
Booker T comes out and he is ready to wrestle, but he has a mic with him so that means that he is ready to talk as well. Booker says that he has a few things that he wants to talk about and they are addressed to Sting. There has been a lot on his mind, so he wants Sting to come out so he can get a few things off his chest.
Sting obliges Booker and comes to the ring. Booker reminds Sting about their past and how they have been part of wars. Booker says that they saw a company crumble before their eyes. They were always there for each other. Booker says that he disrespected Sting last week and that is something that he never wanted to do. Booker says that when you are wrong, you have to say that you are sorry. Before Booker can utter those magic words . . .
Robert Roode’s music plays and Roode comes out and he is joined by James Storm and Jacqueline Moore. Storm tells Booker and Sting to hold up. Storm says that is some touching stuff in the ring and Storm says that they were in the back listening to how Booker said that they were cool in the 80s. Storm suggests that they should get married on national television. He says that Sting’s face paint is perfect for Showtime and Booker’s weave has never looked better. Roode takes the mic and he says that last week, they were promised a fight. They want to see Booker and Sting fight as well as everyone else, including the people in the Impact Zone want to see them fight. Roode tells Sting and Booker that whether they like it or not, they are going to fight.
Before Robert Roode can reveal his role on the booking committee and announce a match between Sting and Booker, we hear the voice of Jim Cornette and he says that he is the one who has the authority to make matches. Cornette comments on Roode’s attire.
Cornette enters the ring and he is sick and tired of everyone who only think about themselves. Nobody is thinking about TNA. Cornette says that he has a concept for Sacrifice, and it is called The Deuce’s Wild Tag Team Tournament. Over the next two weeks, eight teams will be involved in four tag team matches. The winners will go to Sacrifice. At Sacrifice, eight singles wrestlers will be put together in four more tag teams. We won’t know who the partners will be. Cornette goes over some of the combinations that we might see. Cornette says that nobody will be able to pay anyone off. The winner of the tournament will become the TNA Tag Team Champions. Cornette says that there will be a fight tonight. Cornette announces that Robert Roode and James Storm will be facing Booker T and This Is Sting. TO THE BACK . . .
Jeremy Borash is with A.J. Styles and Jeremy asks Styles about the tag team tournament. Styles says that it is a bunch of crap but it is not his decision. A.J. says that him and Tomko are going to win their match next week and then go to Sacrifice to win the titles back. Styles says that they are still the champions. A.J. points out that Tomko is in Japan right now, but they will walk through anybody. A.J. opens a door to reveal that Karen Angle is back. Karen says that this is a bad idea. Jeremy reminds Karen about what happened at Lockdown. Karen says that she does not belong here and that she should go. A.J. will not listen to reason and he demands that Karen stay with him. Jeremy wonders what Kurt is going to think when he finds out. Karen tells Jeremy not to tell Kurt and Jeremy says that he won’t say anything.
Match Number One: Black Reign and Rellik (that is next tag team champion spelled backwards) versus Team 3D in a Deuce’s Wild BattleBowl Tag Team Tournament-o-Rama Qualifying Match
Ray and Rellik start things off and they lock up and Rellik with a shoulder in the corner followed by a punch and forearms. Rellik with a kick to Ray’s midsection but Ray with a side slam for a two count. Devon tags in for a double suplex for a near fall. Black Reign is tagged in and he connects with forearms and an uppercut. Devon with a flying shoulder tackle but Rellik breaks things up. Ray throws Rellik out of the ring and then Black Reign avoids a double team move. Ray with jabs to Black Reign and Ray sets up for the Bubbonic Elbow but Black Reign runs away as if he had seen his father in the ring. Devon tries a clothesline on Black Reign, but Black Reign moves and Devon almost hits Ray. Ray yells at Devon and Black Reign hits Devon from behind and that knocks Ray out of the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Black Reign and Rellik are in command as they double team Devon with a kick to the head followed by a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Rellik with a reverse chin lock (with is a regular chin lock backwards). Rellik with kicks to Devon, but Devon blocks another kick. Rellik with a spin kick that takes Devon down. Rellik goes up top and Ray holds Rellik’s leg. Devon punches Rellik and hits a superplex and both men are down. Ray tags in and he connects with clotheslines to Rellik followed by a back body drop to Rellik and then one to Black Reign. Ray with a double clothesline and then he sends both men into the same corner and then he connects with a splash onto both men. Ray with a choke slam for a two count on Rellik. Ray slams Black Reign and it is time for a Wazzup but Rellik pushes Devon out of the corner. Black Reign with a clothesline to Ray and then Rellik with a running boot to Ray. Black Reign is thrown out of the ring and then Rellik feels the 3D for the three count.
Winners: Team 3D
We go TO THE BACK where Lauren is with the Knockouts in the makeup room. They are being handed envelopes and she says that she is only a messenger. Gail wants to know what these invitations are all about. ODB figures that it must be something important since she opens it and talks about how fancy the invitation looks. Instead of doing the obvious thing of READING the invitation, the ladies bicker. Angelina wonders if there is something creepy involved. ODB makes a comment about Angelina and Velvet and Velvet wonders if ODB might have a house with wheels. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle. Jeremy tells Angle that he is not going to believe things, but Angle anticipates the question and he assumes that Jeremy is going to ask about his match against Joe. Angle says that he never loses to the same man twice. Angle says that he has studied the tape and he knows how to counter Joe. At Sacrifice, he will successfully defend his title against Rick Steiner, which Jeremy corrects Angle to remind him that it is Scott Steiner. Angle does not care which Steiner it is because he wants to focus on his match. Jeremy leaves and while Angle thinks about his match, Jeremy returns and remembers to tell Kurt what he meant to tell him. Jeremy tells Kurt that A.J. and Karen are in the building. Angle wants to know where they are and they leave.
Don and Mike are at the announce table and they talk about how it is probably not the best thing for Angle to have any distractions and Karen is definitely a distraction.
It is time to take a look back at the feud between Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe.
We go to footage from earlier today when Joe was training for his match tonight. We go to the Impact Zone where Mike Tenay is trying to get some comments from Joe. Nash tells Mike that the training never stops and Joe is not going to let himself down. Nash says that it was easy going into Lockdown, but now the work really begins. Mike asks Joe another question about Angle and how he won’t be holding anything back. Joe gets to answer on his own and he asks Mike when Angle has ever held anything back because he has always given his best. Joe tells Angle that the punishment is going to go beyond Angle and it will continue with Steiner at Sacrifice. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see where TNA will be touring.
It is now time to take a look at the situation that caused us to have the Deuce’s Wild Tournament because Eric Young cannot admit that he is also Super Eric.
It is now time to go to Lauren who is with Eric Young (or is it Super Eric or is it Mr. Wrestling XVII) and Frankie Kazarian. She talks about how Eric took everyone by surprise last week. Eric says that he is not Super Eric and wonders where that rumour started. Eric said that his mom told him not to be a liar so he won’t lie. Frankie says that it was hard for him to forgive Eric about because of everything that he has tried to do to become the tag team champion. Eric wonders if he is going to be Frankie’s partner again. Frankie says that he cannot be mad at Eric. Frankie tells Eric not to do the same thing to him again. Frankie tells Eric to call Super Eric and tell him to stay away from the Impact Zone.
Match Number Two: Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin versus Christian Cage and Rhino in a Deuce’s Wild Tournament-o-Rama Qualifying Match
Shelley and Christian start things off and Christian with a waist lock but Shelley with a standing switch into a wrist lock. Shelley with an arm bar take down and he works on the shoulder. Christian with a side head lock when he escapes. Christian with a shoulder tackle and then he tries for a hip toss but Shelley lands on his feet and he connects with a back kick and he tries for Sliced Bread #2 but Christian gets out of the hold. Christian tries for the Unprettier but Shelley escapes with a leap frog and then he hits an elbow and cross body but Christian gets the two count because of the momentum from the move. Christian with an arm bar and he tags in Rhino. Rhino with a wrist lock and Shelley with kicks to the leg and a jawbreaker. Sabin tags in and he leap frogs Shelley onto Rhino’s arm. Rhino with an arm wringer but Sabin reverses. Rhino with chops and then he charges into a boot. Rhino with a clothesline to Sabin for a near fall. Rhino hits a belly-to-belly suplex and then he sets for the GORE but Sabin moves out of the way and Rhino goes to the floor. Sabin goes up top but Christian pushes Sabin off the top turnbuckle to the floor. Shelley with a jumping spin kick and Christian goes to the floor. Shelley with a somersault plancha onto Rhino and Christian as we go to commercial.
We are back and Sabin kicks Rhino before tagging in Shelley who hits a slingshot elbow onto Rhino. Sabin hits a slingshot senton and Shelley gets a near fall. Shelley with a thrust to the throat. Rhino with a spinebuster for a near fall. Christian tags in and he chops Shelley followed by a snap mare and reverse chin lock and side head lock. Christian with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Rhino tags back in and he punches Shelley in the ribs. Rhino with a punch to Shelley and then he Irish whips Shelley and connects with a running shoulder tackle into the corner. Christian tags back in and he hits a power slam for a two count. Christian works on Shelley’s neck and then he tries for an inverted DDT, but Shelley counters and hits Sliced Bread #2 and both men are down. Sabin tags in and he hits a springboard missile drop kick. Sabin with an enzuigiri to Rhino followed by a back body drop to Christian. Sabin sends Rhino over the top rope to the floor. Sabin with a running back elbow and then he hits a springboard clothesline for a two count on Christian. Christian with a punch but Sabin with a back kick and then he gets Christian up for the Cradle Shock. Christian sets for an inverted DDT and Shelley tries for a super kick but Christian moves out of the way. Rhino hits a TKO on Shelley while Christian hits an Impaler DDT on Sabin for a two count. Sabin hits a double DDT on Rhino and Christian and Sabin can only get a two count. Sabin puts Christian on the top turnbuckle and Christian pushes him off. Christian misses a frog splash. Sabin and Shelley with a series of kicks to Christian but Rhino with a GORE to Shelley. Christian hits the Unprettier on Sabin for the three count.
Winners: Rhino and Christian Cage
We go to the back where the Knockouts are walking from the makeup room to the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jim Cornette is in the ring and it is time for the Knockouts to come out to the ring. Jim says that he is glad that they are here because he says that there is a special match for the women at Sacrifice. He says that they must like makeovers because there will be a Knockout Makeover Battle Royal.
We see Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed at the top of the ramp and they don’t look happy that they don’t have an invitation to this party.
Cornette says that it will be a special match because they will all be in the match. It will be an over the top rope battle royal until there are two women left. At that point, a ladder will become involved in the match because there is a going to be a contract held over the ring. The person who gets the contract will get a title match against Awesome Kong. The person who cannot get the contract will get a makeover. Cornette says that he has his finger on the pulse of what the young women are into these days. That person will get a Britney Spears makeover and their head will be shaved in the middle of the ring. TO THE BACK . . .
with Lauren and the team of Sting and THIS IS Booker T. Lauren asks them about their match tonight against Robert Roode and James Storm; and then mentions that they will both be part of the Deuce’s Wild Tag Team Tournament-A-GoGo at Sacrifice and could be on opposite teams. Booker says that it is all about winning. Booker tells Storm and Roode that they are in the ring with two legends tonight, the Stinger and The Booker. Sting wants to make sure that he understands about what Booker said about winning. Booker apparently lost his shovel because he asks Sting if he can handle that instead of digging.
Match Number Three: Robert Roode and James Storm with Jacqueline Moore versus Sting and Booker T
Booker and Storm start things off but it was a trap to allow Roode to attack Booker from behind. Storm with punches to Booker. Booker with a shot to the head and then he connects with chops and punches. Booker with a back heel kick and then he tag in Sting. Sting with a kick and punch to Storm. Storm with a rake of the eyes and then he tags in Roode. Roode with chops and punches. Sting with kicks and punches and then he connects with punches in the corner. Sting with a hip toss and drop kick for a two count as he still has it. Booker tags in and they hit a double back elbow as Booker takes over. Booker chops Roode in the corner. Roode with a rake of the eyes and a chop of his own. Booker with an elbow to a charging Roode but the referee is out of position as Storm connects with a kick to the back of Booker’s head. Roode with a drop kick to Booker for a two count and we go to commercial.
We are back and Booker with a knee and forearm to Storm. Storm with a rake of the eyes. Roode tags in and Storm sends Roode into the corner as they double team Booker with a series of moves to the head. Storm punches Booker in the corner and then he bites Booker in the forehead as he wears his hat. Roode is tagged in and he punches Booker and then he puts Booker in a front face lock. Booker hits a spinebuster on Roode and both men are down. Sting reaches for the tag and Booker makes it. Sting punches and chops Storm and Roode and then he hits Stinger Splashes on both men. Sting with a bulldog on Storm but Roode breaks it up. Booker kicks Roode and then he tries for the scissors kick but Jacqueline trips Booker and that allows Roode to hit a DDT on Booker. Roode goes up top and Sting sets for a superplex but Storm hits Sting and adds a power bomb to the superplex. Booker and Storm with clotheslines at the same time and everyone is down except for the referee. Sting goes after Roode but Roode sends Sting to the floor. Roode has the beer bottle and he is going to hit Booker with it while Storm wants to super kick Booker. Booker moves and Roode almost accidentally hits Storm with his own bottle. Storm pushes Roode and Roode pushes back. Sting hits the Scorpion Death Drop on Storm for the three count while Booker sends Roode out of the ring.
Winners: This is Sting and That is Booker T
After the match Storm and Roode argue and push each other while Jacqueline gets in the middle of the situation.
Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle as Kurt looks for Karen. Kurt sees Karen with A.J. and Kurt throws a table to the side. Kurt wants to know if Karen came to the show tonight to try to get him back and then before Karen can answer the question that Kurt asked his wife to answer, Kurt shushes Karen. As long as there is a Kurt and Joe, there cannot be a Kurt and Karen. They will only talk when Kurt wins the title back. Kurt pushes A.J. and he tells A.J. to take Karen out of there. We go to commercial.
We are back and we go to Jim Cornette’s office where Lauren is currently standing with her microphone. Cornette says that the problem is that there are too many primadonnas in the company. Cornette turns into the Grumpy Old Man from Saturday Night Live when he talks about how in his day they wrestled seven days a week and twice on Sunday, 350 days a year and they liked it. Cornette has some plans. He says that he knows that everyone hates him and they would love to stab him in the back. Cornette talks about how he got back at someone who took some of his strawberries. Cornette says that there will be some sacrifices. Bodies, careers, and maybe even a life will be sacrificed. Cornette says that he is the Puppet Master. Lauren says that she is getting scared and she suggests that Cornette sounds a little evil. Cornette says that he is just an honest Christian businessman who wants his employees to toe the line.
Match Number Four: Kurt Angle versus Samoa Joe for the TNA Heavyweight Title
The match begins with a collar and elbow tie up and Joe backs Angle into the corner and Joe with a clean break. Angle with a waist lock but Joe with a standing switch and Angle gets to the ropes and Joe pushes Angle as he releases the hold. Angle with a side head lock and shoulder tackle that sends Angle to the floor. Angle re-enters the ring and Joe with a side head lock followed by a shoulder tackle. Angle leaves the ring and he does not look happy with what has happened so far. Angle returns to the ring one more time. Joe with a side head lock. Angle tries for a hip toss but Joe blocks it and hits a short arm clothesline. Joe with a side head lock take down. Angle backs Joe into the corner and Angle with punches to Joe followed by an Irish whip. Angle charges into the corner but Joe moves out of the way and Joe with a side head lock takedown. Angle returns to his feet and he backs Joe into the corner. Angle with a rake of the eyes and then he connects with a European uppercut and punches followed by another European uppercut. Angle charges into the corner but Joe moves out of the way and Angle goes shoulder first into the post. Joe hits a tope on Angle and we go to commercial.
We are back and the action has returned to the ring and Angle with a European uppercut. Angle tries for a leap frog but Joe counters with a reverse atomic drop followed by a Yakuza kick and senton splash for a two count. Joe with a chop to the back and kick to the chest followed by the knee drop for a two count. Angle backs into the corner and Joe with the face wash and it is time for the running boot into the corner. Joe with a snap suplex on Angle and he gets a two count. Joe with a cross arm breaker but Angle tries to get Joe into the ankle lock but Angle gets his foot on the rope to get the referee to make Joe break the hold. Joe with punches to Angle but Angle with a boot and German suplex. Angle with a rear chin lock and he applies pressure to the back. Joe returns to his feet and he connects with elbows. Angle with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and Angle takes too much time since Joe can kick out at two. Angle returns to the neck with a reverse chin lock. Joe returns to his feet but Angle with a rake of the eyes. Angle charges and Joe with an STO and both men are down. Joe with punches to Angle’s head and the referee admonishes Joe. Joe charges at Angle and Angle drops down and Joe goes over the top rope to the floor and Joe holds his knee.
Angle goes out after Joe and he kicks Joe in the injured knee. Angle returns to the ring as the referee checks on Joe. We go to commercial.
We are back and Angle works on Joe’s knee and he puts Joe in the figure four leg lock. We see footage during the commercial of Kevin Nash and the Spiffy and Brand New TNA Trainer trying to motivate Joe. We return to live on tape action and Joe is still in the figure four. Joe tries to reverse the hold but Angle holds on. Joe tries to get to the ropes but Angle tries to hold him in the center of the ring. Joe finally makes it to the ropes. Angle with kicks to the leg and he returns to the leg. Joe with chops to Angle and he gets to his feet. Joe and Angle exchange punches with Joe taking control. Joe with an Irish whip and he hobbles into an elbow. Joe with a spinebuster for a two count. Angle with a European uppercut but Angle comes off the ropes and is met with a power slam for a two count. Angle with the ankle lock but Joe rolls through and Angle is sent into the turnbuckles. Joe misses a charge and Angle with the Olympic Slam for a near fall. Angle goes up top and misses a moonsault. Joe puts Angle in the choke but Angle drops down and Angle with the ankle lock again. Joe tries to kick out but Angle holds on. Joe is able to get out of the ankle lock and he puts Angle in the choke and Angle is almost out but Angle makes it to the ropes. Joe puts Angle on the top turnbuckle for the muscle buster but Angle with a palm thrust to the top of the head and Angle returns to the mat. Joe with the enzuigiri but Angle moves out of the way, but Earl Hebner who was standing right next to Angle was not lucky enough to sense that Joe might do this so Hebner goes down and he goes down hard. Angle with a low kick followed by the Olympic slam. The straps come down and Angle puts Joe in the ankle lock. Joe rolls through and he kicks Angle in the face. Angle falls across the ring into the ropes and he falls right by the spot where Scott Steiner appears with his PumpPipe and Steiner hits Angle in the head with the PumpPipe. Joe hits the Island Driver for the three count.
Winner: Samoa Joe
After the match, Scott Steiner comes into the ring with his PumpPipe and Steiner stands over Angle and he tells Angle that you don’t disrespect him. Steiner and Joe stand face to face and he threatens to knock out Joe the same way that he did to Angle. Joe hits Steiner and Steiner gets ready for a fight but referees and Jim Cornette come to the rescue.
Cornette tells Steiner that if he touches anyone he will fine Scott six months of pay. Cornette says that nothing was settled tonight. At Sacrifice, everything will be settled. Samoa Joe will face Scott Steiner and Kurt Angle in a Three Way Match. We go to credits.
2009 - Former WWE Diva was cast in NBC reality series "I'm A Celebrity....Get Me Out of Here", which dropped celebrities at a remote location, leaving them to "fend for themselves."
2009 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from London, England and your announcers are Jim ‘BBQ Fish and Chips’ Ross and Todd ‘Why do Tiffany and Josh Mathews have multiple jobs, that is my exclusive deal’ Grisham.
Edge comes to the ring and he has something to say. He says two weeks ago John Cena looked him in the eyes and told him that he was a desperate man grasping at straws. Cena said that he was tougher than him. Cena told him that he keeps coming back after everything that is thrown at him. Edge says that Cena is right. Edge says that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Cena has a resolve to keep getting back up. In 2006, Edge reminds us that he cashed in Money in the Bank after the Elimination Chamber. That would be a demoralizing blow, but Cena came back. Since that night, he has brutalized Cena, cost him world titles, beat him for world titles, and even slapped his father. Somehow Cena kept coming back. On Monday night that all changed. We go to the video tape of the conchairto to Cena.
Edge says that he hopes the last thing that Cena heard was Edge’s voice. He will remind Cena anyhow and we go to footage of Edge ‘counting’ Cena out.
We return and the lights are down and Cena has a spotlight on him. Edge tells John that he has the strongest resolve of anyone that he has fought. It almost makes him want to respect Cena, but he despises him too much with every fiber of his being. Cena’s will cannot match Edge’s resolve. This is it for him because he has nothing left. If he does not win the title on Sunday, he has nothing. Edge says that his Wife Vickie cannot help, he has not friends, and he is a desperate man. On Sunday, they lay it all on the line for the very last time. It has to come to an end . . . a definitive end. The war of attrition that they have waged for more than three years has to come to an end because it has shortened both of their careers. In the end, Edge says that he will walk away as champion. He will be the last man standing.
Grisham and Ross talk about the match between Matt and Jeff Hardy. We see footage from last week when Big Show defeated Jeff Hardy and then the post match attack by Matt.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Matt Hardy and Kane versus CM Punk and Jeff Hardy
Matt and Jeff start things off but they never lock up and Kane is tagged in. Jeff with punches to Kane but Kane pushes him away. Punk tags in and they double team Kane. Punk with a drop kick and a punch to Kane. Jeff tags back in and he hits a double sledge from the turnbuckles. Kane with an uppercut and Matt tags in. Jeff with punches when Matt takes too long and he runs Matt into the turnbuckles. Jeff with a clothesline into the corner. Jeff sets for the baseball slide drop kick but Matt gets to the floor before Jeff can hit the move. Punk distracts Matt on the floor and Jeff with a baseball slide and he follows it with a pescado and we go to commercial.
We are back and Punk is sent into the corner by Jeff for a knee to Kane. Jeff hits Poetry in Motion on Kane and Punk gets a near fall. Punk works on the shoulder and then he tags Jeff back in. Punk and Jeff with drop kicks to the knee and a double DDT for a near fall. Jeff is distracted by Matt and Jeff goes to the apron, but he is not there long when Kane sends Jeff to the floor with a boot to the back. Kane and Punk distract the referee and that allows Matt to attack Jeff on the floor. Kane sends Jeff’s back into the ring post and then they return to the ring and Kane gets a near fall. Matt tags back in and he sends Jeff into the turnbuckles. Matt punches Jeff in the ribs and then they exchange punches but Matt gets the advantage. Matt with a slam followed by a series of leg drops and Matt gets a near fall. Matt with a cravate on Jeff. Jeff with punches in the corner and then he kicks Matt when Matt charges into the corner. Jeff with a flying clothesline and both men are down. Kane tags in and he connects with an elbow to Jeff. Kane with a suplex to Jeff for a near fall. Kane with an Irish whip and a clothesline into the corner. Matt tags back in and he chokes Jeff. Matt gets a near fall and then he puts Jeff in a reverse chin lock. Jeff gets back to his feet and he hits Whisper in the Wind for a near fall but Kane breaks things up. Punk attacks Kane and then Punk hits a suicide dive onto Kane.
Jeff with a mule kick to Matt and then he hits a leg drop to the solar plexus followed by a drop kick. Jeff sets for a Twist of Fate but Matt gets out of it and he sends Jeff into the ropes. Kane gets on the apron and Jeff hits Kane but that allows Matt to get a rollup for the win.
Winners: Kane and Matt Hardy
We are back and did you know the WWE sells out shows overseas?
It is time for the Randy Orton/Triple H video package.
Big Show gets on the mic and he says that the wrestlers on Smackdown will be able to rest easier knowing that tonight is Show’s final night on Smackdown. They won’t have a seven foot, 480 pound nightmare of destruction to think about. As soon as he locks and loads his fist and fires it at somebody’s skull, you can only pray that the lights come back on. He vows to turn of Taker’s lights tonight.
Match Number Two: Big Show versus Undertaker
They square off and each throw jabs that are blocked. They lock up and go into the corner for a clean break. They lock up again and Taker with a side head lock but Show with punches to the body. Taker fights back with punches of his own. Show with more punches and a knee. Taker with a kick and punches followed by a head butt that staggers Show. Show responds with a head butt of his own. Show with more head butts. Show tries for a running boot into the ropes but Taker moves and Show is crotched on the ropes. Taker with a running boot that knocks Show to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Taker with the leg drop on the apron. We see footage from during the commercial break when Taker was Irish whipped into the ringside barrier. Taker charges into a savate kick from Show. Show with a head butt to the neck and spine. Show with a step over leg lariat to Taker as he continues to work on the neck. Show with an elbow to the neck and Show continues to work on the back of the neck. Show with another head butt and then he stands on Taker’s neck. Taker goes to the apron and Show sets for a forearm across the chest but Taker drops Show on the top rope. Show misses a clothesline and Taker with punches to Show. Show with a clothesline but Taker fights back with kicks as he tries to fight back. Taker grabs Show by the throat for a choke slam, but Show with an elbow to the head to get out of the hold. Now it is Show’s turn to try the choke slam and he connects but Taker kicks out at two. Show returns to the neck and then Show with an inverted face lock but Taker counters with a DDT for a near fall. Taker and Show with the ‘yay/boo’ punch exchange. Taker with the flying clothesline to Show for a near fall. Taker works on the arm to set up for Old School but when Taker comes off the ropes Show with a punch. Taker goes to the apron to recover briefly and then he returns to the ring. Taker gets back to his feet and Show punches Taker and Taker is counted out.
Winner: Big Show
After the match, Show remains in the ring while Taker staggers to his feet. Taker wants a piece of Show and probably does not realize he was counted out. Show waves good bye to Taker but it was a trap and he tries to punch Taker but Taker avoids Show and Show is knocked out of the ring.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Gail Kim defeating Maryse last week.
Match Number Three: Maryse versus Gail Kim for the Divas Title
They start off chest to chest and then Maryse pie faces Gail but Gail responds with forearms. Maryse charges into the corner and Gail moves. Gail with a rollup for a near fall. Gail with a cross body from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Maryse with a knee to Gail and then a version of the Stroke as Maryse poses before slamming Gail’s head into the mat. Maryse poses again and then she puts Gail in a version of a camel clutch and then she rubs Gail’s head in the canvas. Maryse misses a kick and Gail with clotheslines and a leaping clothesline into the corner. Gail charges into an elbow but Gail with a forearm and then they fight on the turnbuckles. Gail with a Frankensteiner to Maryse for a near fall. Gail goes up top but Maryse leaves the ring. Gail brings Maryse back into the ring but Maryse drops Gail’s throat across the middle rope. Maryse with a DDT for the three count.
Winner: Maryse
We go to Jeff Hardy somewhere around black light where he says that words like extreme and intensity meant everything to him. He knew exactly what he was going to do. Living in the moment used to mean something but things have changed. Matt beat him at Wrestlemania and then he took him out on a stretcher. Matt even won tonight, but Matt’s overconfidence will kill him. He will show how brazen he really is. When Matt walks onto Raw on Monday, he will be known as the Hardy who said I Quit and he will be known by that forever.
Montel Vontavious Porter is walking in the back and we go to commercial.
We are back and more people watched Smackdown last week than any network show not on ABC,CBS, or NBC.
It is time to take a look at Sheri Shepherd and her infatuation with Montel Vontavious Porter.
Match Number Four: Montel Vontavious Porter versus Chavo Guerrero
Porter with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Chavo with a knee when Porter deals with the referee. Chavo punches and kicks Porter and then he drops Porter on the bottom rope. Chavo with an arm bar but Porter with a slam and a back elbow. Porter follows with a clothesline but Chavo with a drop kick. They go to the floor and Chavo with a kick to the arm before they return to the ring. Chavo falls victim to a knee lift as he returns to the ring and then Porter with a suplex back into the ring. Chavo falls victim to the Ballin’ Elbow but kicks out at two. Porter charges into boots from Chavo but Porter with an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Porter with the Playmaker for the three count.
Winner: Montel Vontavious Porter
After the match, Dolph Ziggler comes out and he applauds Porter’s performance and he has something to say. He congratulates MVP and says that it was an impressive victory. Dolph says that he hopes MVP’s number one fan was watching because that was the last night that MVP will leave a match as the United States Champion. After he wins next week, he will introduce himself to Sheri Shepherd.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at John Cena’s comments during last night’s episode of Superstars.
Time to run through the card for Backlash.
We see footage of the problems between Batista and Shane McMahon last week on Raw.
Match Number Five: Batista and Shane McMahon versus Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes
Shane and DiBiase start things off and they lock up. Ted with a kick and punches on the break and the referee pulls Ted away. Ted with more punches and kicks. Shane with jabs aplenty followed by a leaping back elbow and arm drags into an arm bar. Batista tags in and he hits a back elbow and then he taunts Rhodes to make a tag but he slaps Ted’s hand away. Rhodes makes the blind tag but Batista with a clothesline to Rhodes and a spinebuster to DiBiase. Batista with a running power slam to Rhodes for a two count. Shane tags in and he hits a double sledge to the back followed by and elbow drop. DiBiase tags back in and they double team Shane but Shane avoids a double belly-to-back suplex and Batista with a double clothesline and then Batista clotheslines Rhodes over the top rope to the floor while Shane does the same to DiBiase on the other side of the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Shane with an arm drag to Rhodes and then he tags Batista back into the match and they hit a double delayed vertical suplex that sees Shane get out of the hold to watch Batista hold Cody up. Shane tags back in and Batista with a back breaker and Shane with an elbow drop in tribute to Demolition but DiBiase breaks up the cover. Shane focuses on DiBiase and that allows Cody to hit a drop kick to the back of Shane’s head. DiBiase tags in and he kicks and punches Shane. Shane tries to make the tag to Batista but DiBiase stops Shane. Rhodes tags back in and he gets a near fall after they send Shane into the turnbuckles. Shane blocks a punch and he connects with punches of his own but Cody with a side Russian leg sweep to stop McMahon. DiBiase tags back in and while Shane is held down by Rhodes, DiBiase hits a double stomp from the turnbuckles onto Shane. DiBiase with a rear chin lock but Shane gets out of the hold but he is unable to make the tag. DiBiase with a knee to the back and then he tags in Rhodes but he slams Shane before letting Rhodes take over and Rhodes with a Ric Flair knee drop for a near fall. Rhodes with a snap mare and cravate. Shane with punches to the midsection and then Shane gets out of a suplex attempt and hits a DDT and both men are down.
DiBiase tags in and he stops Shane from making the tag. Shane gets a rollup but when DiBiase kicks out, he sends Shane into Batista and they bump heads sending Batista from the apron to the floor. Shane with a back elbow to DiBiase. Batista pushes Shane out of the way since Rhodes is coming off the top turnbuckle. Batista catches Rhodes and hits a spinebuster. Shane kicks DiBiase out of the ring. Shane gets the three count on Rhodes.
Winner: Shane McMahon and Batista
2010 - PWInsider.com broke the following story: "Batista's contract has either expired or will be expiring shortly, depending on who the source is. I can't see the company pushing him so hard if his deal had expired, so I believe it's the latter. There is talk that he will be finishing within the next few weeks. I was told Batista was informed he might not be starring in Killing Karma (later changed to "Inside Out") right around Wrestlemania weekend but the official decision wasn't made until about 7-10 days before the never-ending European trip. One of the reasons for the change is that WWE didn't want to release a film with him down the line if he wasn't under their employ." Batista would leave the company within the week, undergo back surgery, and turn to acting in film and TV. He has yet to return to professional wrestling as of this writing.
2010 - The Derry Journal featured an article about an incident last weekend at a hotel in Northern Ireland involving Mark Henry where a local claims he was verbally abused by Henry, who also threw a drink at him. He was trying to gather autographs from various wrestlers for a birthday card for his son. The paper claims that Henry was arrested and given an "adult caution".
In response to the article, Chavo Guerrero tweeted the following (reprinted as Guerrero posted them), in response to reports that he was encouraging Mark Henry during the fan incident in Europe:
"why would I egg on the worlds strongest man?I know&u know he would could kill someone.If anything I protected him by getting him thrown out"
"Any other questions? If u don't believe me, then follow the lying fan,not me! Why would the drunk fan get thrown out& not Henry?C'mon ppl!"
"Thank u to all ppl who believe me!If I could get Henry to kill someone,Why wouldn't I have him kill the writing team,not a drunk nobody? lol"
"ok dirt sheets, how come u didn't pic up my reply to your false story?I know.. cuz u would be proven wrong!! please write the truth not lies"
It should be noted that despite what Guerrero wrote, the original source of the story was a newspaper, not a wrestling "sheet" or website.
2011 - Jesús Luna Pozos aka Charly Manson (Charly Malice in Lucha Libre USA) was arrested early in the morning in Zapotitla, Mexico after assaulting two police officers as they were trying to arrest him for being drunk. Manson and his friend Adrián López Reyes who is also a juvenile were looking for Charly's car and couldn't find it so they found the officers to help them because they thought that they had been carjacked. The cops wanted to bring them in for being drunk so a huge argument ensued. Another police officer showed up as backup and in the excitement of the situation, he shot Reyes in the leg before an ambulance showed up to pick up Reyes and the officers. Charly & Reyes were both taken to jail then Reyes was sent to a hospital while the officers were sent to another one with one of the officers having some serious head injuries.
2012- Buff Bagwell was hospitalized following a car wreck outside of Atlanta, GA.
2013 - Director Michael Bay commented that The Rock should stop wrestling after Wrestlemania 29 injuries forced him to miss the Hollywood premiere of Bay's film "Pain & Gain."
On his Twitter, The Rock responded to Michael Bay's comment that he should stop wrestling 300 pound men by saying, "Funny sh*t! Michael Bay joked I should stop wrestling 300lb men. I agree - I'll switch to women. #ALLPainNOGain".
2013 - A man making references to Florida DJ "Cowhead" was removed from yesterday's TNA press conference promoting a 5/23 Tampa, FL Impact Wrestling taping for yelling references to Hogan's sex tape lawsuit, according to the Tampa Tribune. The press conference, which was at Hogan's restaurant, also featured appearances by Magnus with Aces & Eights showing up to threaten TNA, before "escaping via jet skis" into the water.
2013 - Eric Bischoff announced on his Twitter that Rafael Morffi was joining TNA. He worked in live events in the past for WWE. TNA had an opening since former Director of Touring Craig Jenkins and former Live Events Coordinator Michael Krewson recent left the company. Morffi did a lot of good work in WWE and left when a new VP of Live Events was hired late last year.
2013 - WWE ran Glasgow, Scotland. John McGovern filed th following live report:
The event incorporated the new WWE House show setup. I was impressed with the new screens and "Light sabre" entranceway.
Lillian Garcia is introduced. Then we a get the "Yes sir this is entertainment" on the big screen. This was cool.
Jinder Mahal vs. The "Funkasaurus" Brodus Clay.
Mahal out first to the usual boos. Brodus is out and he introduces us to his mascot who is Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle is dressed like Clay, as he was on Smackdown. The exact same tracksuit and hat. An elaborate squash match. By that I mean a Raw match extended by five mins. Brodus gets the win this match with the big splash.
Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks and Percy Watson vs. The Usos and Mason Ryan.
Mason was over before he hit the ring. The heels already in the ring were selling his size. The Usos and Mason worked over Tyler early. This switched when Percy hit an Uso with outside interference. The heels then worked over the Uso in the ring for a while. Percy was never in the ring it was all Hawkins and Reks. The crowd wanted Ryan in. Hot tag to Ryan. Mason cleans house and gets the pin fall on Hawkins. Hawkins sells the finisher after the match whilst Reks and Watson argue and shove each other all the way back behind the curtain.
Bryan Daniel promo on the big screen. This is the pre tour promo that they play in every city. It was still cool though.
Alberto Del Rio vs. The Great Khali.
Next out was Ricardo Rodriguez. This was the mark out moment for me. He won me at the Rumble. Ricardo introduces ABR. Out next is Khali. All I can say is yes he is tall. Del Rio works the legs mostly. Khali gets a small comeback then it is over to ADR to work the legs again. Alberto into the armbreaker takes us to the finish. ADR is the victor.
Divas Match.
This was my beer break. SORRY. Anyway it was Alicia Fox vs. Nattie Neidhart. Alicia won.
Cody Rhodes vs. The Big Show.
Cody comes to the ring and cuts a promo on "What has Scotland done?". Cody says "He has nothing left to lose he will be the NEW WWE intercontinental Champion". Big Show hits the ring. Back and forth match with Cody working the legs. Big show calls Lillian to the mat to hold the mic whilst Big Show gives Cody a Ric Flair chop. Rhodes works the legs some more. Including putting the big man into a figure four. Greeted by big wooooooos. Cody with two spring kicks to head and a kickout later. We have Show ready to knock-out punch him. This ends up a Chokeslam and 1,2 and 3.
Intermission. Lillian giving away a program and a tour t shirt.
Drew Galloway vs ???
Drew came out and cut a promo on how great it was to be home. Massive pop. Whilst Drew thanked his mom and Dad, Christian comes out and cuts him off. He tries to insinuate that he will beat in a handicap match with Mark Henry. Booker T makes the save.
Drew Galloway and Booker T vs. Christian and Mark Henry.
Just to put this out there right now. Mark Henry is mammoth. The heels work Drew for most of the match. Hot tag to Booker. Booker comes in and cleans out house. To quote the seven to eight year old behind me Booker is on Fire. Booker scores the pin with an Ax kick. The spin a roni sees out this match.
Randy Orton vs. Kane. Falls count anywhere.
Kane out first. Randy gets a great pop. The match is a basic match match until Kane exits the Ring. Randy is clobbering him now on the entranceway. Back to the ring and Kane is now in control. Kane look under the ring apron. Out comes a Kendo stick. Kendo stick on Randy s legs. near fall. Kane throws the Kendo stick to the outside. Randy some how makes a come back and gets the kendo stick and whacks Kane's back a few times. Further back and forth moves until Kane gets the advantage and moves back under the mat for a steel chair. Randy cuts him off outside DDT to the steel chair and with the crowds help we are looking at the RKO on steel. Randy wins here.
Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus. World Title Match.
Daniel is out first. Yes, Yes and Yes. B Daniels cuts a great promo on the crowd. A true heel promo. I was loving it. Sheamus out next. loud pops and to and fro crowd chanting. This is wrestling. A real back and forth match with emotion from everyone in the arena. When it comes down to it. he great White walks away with the old for Sunday. Role on Sunday so I can chant Yes again and the belt is restored to "real" worlds Champion.
Pops:
Drew
Sheamus
Orton
Heat:
Daniels
Rhodes
Christian/Henry
2013 - WWE broadcast Main Event. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in London, England and your announcers are Michael ‘I am still waiting for my invitation to the Royal Wedding’ Cole and John ‘FNC is better than reality TV’ Layfield.
John is in the ring and he welcomes us to Main Event because we fight on Wednesday nights. He tells us that he is still a wrestling God. He will make sure that Main Event starts on fire. He brings out one of the most impactful Superstar in WWE history.
We see footage of what Mark Henry did to Sheamus over the last two weeks because that is what he do.
Mark Henry comes to the ring and we have a mini Texas reunion in the ring.
John tells Mark that he has seen Sheamus in some wars but he has never seen Sheamus decimated like that before.
Mark says that he proved Sheamus different that you don’t have to be big or bad.
John says ‘That’s What I Do’ and Mark wants to know if John is making fun of him. John says that he is honored to be in the same ring as him. He says that he would love to see Mark in action tonight on Main Event.
Mark says that he would love that too.
John says that Mark doesn’t turn down any fights. He says that he has seen Mark destroy people in singles matches and others have done it.
Mark suggests that he take on two Superstars if one is not enough for John. John says that he likes the idea of a handicap match. John says that Big Show is awesome.
Mark wants to know if John thinks that Big Show is better than him. Mark says that he will take on three people tonight.
John says that Mark is the World’s Strongest Man and three would be incredible, but Mark deserves to have the respect of being the World’s Strongest Man and a former World Champion. Why not face four men in a gauntlet. The world will owe Mark the respect he deserves.
Mark tells John to take his white hat and get out of the ring. He will face four men because that is what he do.
We go to commercial because that is what WWE do.
Match Number One: Mark Henry Gauntlet of What He Do
Opponent Number One: Jimmy Uso
Jimmy charges at Mark and Mark with a shoulder tackle. Mark grabs Jimmy by the throat and sends him into the corner. Mark with a boot to the head and Jimmy doesn’t know where he is. Mark with a forearm to the back followed by the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
Opponent Number Two: Jey Uso
Jey attacks Mark and he gets in a few shots but Mark sends him to the mat before the bell rings. Mark with a body block that makes Jey woozy. Mark with a head butt and he tells Jey to look at his brother and he asks him if he saw what his brother got. Mark stands on the throat. Jey with shoulders to the chest but Mark stops him with a forearm.
Mark picks up Jey and he throws Jey over his shoulders but Jey lands on his feet and Jey with a savate kick and he hits the running butt splash and he gets a near fall. Jey with a front face lock but Mark sends Jey into the air. Mark waits for Jey to turn around and it is World’s Strongest Slam time and Mark gets the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
Mark stares at John and he tells him that is two and John gives a thumbs up as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for . . .
Opponent Number Three: Santino Marella
Santino kicks at air and then he goes for the leg but he gets away before Mark can hurt him. Santino backs away from a punch. Mark with a kick and head butt. Mark with a kick to the back because that’s what he do. Mark with a kick to the chest and he stands on the chest. Mark with a punch to the head and he gets a near fall because Santino hasn’t had enough.
Mark says something to John at the announce table before connecting with a forearm. Mark with an Irish whip. Santino with punches that have no effect. Henry with a head butt followed by an Irish whip. Henry with a hard Irish whip and he wants Santino to get up. Henry misses an elbow drop and Santino with punches and he does a split.
Henry blocks a hip toss and he hits a clothesline. Henry misses a splash into the corner and he hits Henry with the Cobra but Henry sends Santino out of the ring when he kicks out. Santino comes off the turnbuckles and Henry catches him and he hits the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
Opponent Number Four: Great Khali (with Natalya and Hornswoggle)
Henry tells Khali something before they lock up. They lock up and they go to a stalemate. Henry with punches to the head but Khali punches back and he chops Henry in the corner. Khali with kicks to the midsection. Khali with another chop.
Khali misses a boot in the corner and Henry kicks Khali in the hamstring. Henry slams Khali’s leg to the mat because that what he do. Henry with an elbow drop to the leg. Khali with forearms to escape. Henry with a boot to the head but he misses a splash when Khali rolls out of the way.
Henry runs into an elbow from Khali followed by a boot to the chest. Khali with a forearm followed by the chop to the head but Henry kicks out. Khali sets for the choke slam but Henry fights out of it and Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam but Khali gets his foot on the ropes.
Henry with forearms and punches in the corner. The referee warns Henry and then Mark tells the referee not to put his hands on him. Khali with boots and a chop but Henry rolls to the floor. Henry gets up and he decides that he has had enough fun for tonight and he gets counted out.
Winner: Great Khali (by count out)
After the match, Khali is joined in the ring by Natalya and Hornswoggle for some dancing.
We go back to Raw when Triple H lied to Paul Heyman and then he laid Heyman out with a Pedigree.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Matt Striker is on the stage and he brings out his interviewee, Zeb Colter. Zeb does not have his patriotic music as he makes his way out. Matt asks Zeb about the Triple Threat Match at Extreme Rules. How will Jack strategize now that his chances are lessened.
Zeb says that their odds have not been lessened. Zeb says that Jack is just like America, he is surrounded on all sides by enemies. Just like America, Jack will prevail. Alberto weaseled his way into this match and Dolph’s title reign reminds him of a real American, Thomas Paine when he said ‘What we obtain cheaply, we value less’.
Zeb wants to know what type of man dyes his hair beach blonde. A man of peculiar and questionable morals does that. America and the world need a better man and a better champion. They will witness this on Friday when Jack Swagger faces Alberto Del Rio in a No Disqualification match.
Jack Swagger comes out and he takes the mic and tells us ‘We the People’.
We go to the Raw Rebound and a look at what happened at the end with Ryback, John Cena, Mick Foley, and The Shield.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the six man tag match from Raw.
2014 - TNA signed with talent agency United Talent Agency (UTA), The official press release read:
LEADING PRO WRESTLING COMPANY TNA ENTERTAINMENT AND ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IMPACT WRESTLING SIGN WITH UTA
BEVERLY HILLS, CA (April 24, 2014) --- TNA Entertainment, the Nashville-based sports entertainment company known for the global pro wrestling program, IMPACT Wrestling, has signed with UTA, it was announced jointly today by Dixie Carter, President of TNA Entertainment, and UTA.
TNA Entertainment’s IMPACT Wrestling, one of Spike TV’s top-rated shows, averaging 1.4 million viewers each week, is broadcast in 120 countries worldwide. Additionally, TNA Entertainment produces more than 100 live IMPACT Wrestling events each year as well as monthly PPV events with such internationally beloved professional wrestling stars as Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, Eric Young, Magnus, James Storm, MVP, Gail Kim and the lovely and lethal Knockouts.
UTA will represent the 12-year-old company to extend its television broadcast reach as well as to expand its licensing programs and slate of live event programming. TNA will also leverage UTA’s expertise in digital and social media to build monetization strategies for its digital media operations. TNA launched a cross-platform programming effort, #IMPACT 365, in October 2013 to provide viewers with ongoing storyline and original content 24/7 on its website and across YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and other platforms.
“UTA’s diverse range of capabilities make them an ideal partner to help TNA add tremendous visibility and value to the global IMPACT Wrestling brand,†said Dixie Carter. “We are confident that by working with the UTA team, we will not only expand our wrestling business in exciting ways, but we will also build new entertainment ventures and properties.â€
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held sports entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that specializes in events, products, numerous TV properties, merchandise and music, as well as, the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The product is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is broadcast in more than 120 countries. For more information, please visit www.impactwrestling.com.
United Talent Agency is a premier global talent and literary agency representing many of the world's most widely-known figures in every current and emerging area of entertainment, including motion pictures, television, digital media, video games, books, music, theatre and live entertainment. The agency is also globally recognized in the areas of film finance, film packaging, corporate consulting, branding, licensing, endorsements and the representation of production talent. The agency operates the brand strategy firm UTA Brand Studio as well as New York and Los Angeles-based United Entertainment Group, a joint venture firm focusing on branded entertainment for Fortune 500 companies. UTA also owns leading broadcast and news agency N.S. Bienstock.
2015 - C. Denzel Freeman and Tony Briggs (real name Brian Reid) were released from their WWE developmental contracts.
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