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April 25th
On this day in history in ....
1970 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeats Ivan Koloff in a Texas Death Match in Boston, Massachusetts.
1977 - WWWF runs at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Carlos Rocha defeated Rocky Tomayo.
- Larry Zbyzsko defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Billy Whitewolf defeated Doug Gilbert.
- Ivan Putski defeated Tor Kamata.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Nikolai Volkoff.
- Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Stan Stasiak ended in a draw.
- Ken Patera defeated Tony Garea by countout.
- Bob Backlund defeated Executioner 2.
- WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Von Raschke.
1979 - Urban Wrestling Federation and CZW star BLK Jeez (aka Rashad Cameron during his TNA appearances) was born.
1980 - An event at the famed Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri saw both the WWF and NWA World Titles defended, as WWF champion Bob Backlund defeated Bulldog Bob Brown and NWA champion Harley Race defeated Ric Flair. Also on the show, Ken Patera defeated Kevin Von Erich to win the Missouri State Championship.
1983 - WWF runs at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Eddie Gilbert defeated Jose Estrada.
- Salvatore Bellomo defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Mr. Fuji defeated S.D. Jones.
- Iron Mike Sharpe defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Pedro Morales defeated Swede Hanson.
- Ray Stevens defeated Tony Garea.
- Jimmy Snuka defeated Superstar Billy Graham. This would be one of Graham's final WWF appearances following an incident where he was rushed to the hospital the previous day after overdosing on pills. He would not return to the company for several years.
- Rocky Johnson defeated Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco via countout.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Wild Samoans defeated Chief Jay Strongbow & Jules Strongbow.
- Andre The Giant defeated Big John Stuff via countout.
- WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Ivan Koloff.
1988 - WWF runs at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the following results:
- Brady Boone defeated Steve Lombardi.
- Dino Bravo attacked Ken Patera during an arm wrestling contest between the two, as a result the scheduled wrestling match between the two didn't take place.
- Bret Hart vs. Bad News Brown ended in a 20 minute draw.
- One Man Gang defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via DQ when Bigelow ignored the referee's order to stop fighting on the ropes.
- Ted DiBiase defeated WWF World Champion Randy Savage via countout when Virgil shoved Savage off the top rope to the floor.
- Barry Horowitz defeated Jose Luis Rivera.
- WWF Women's Champion Sherri Martel defeated Desiree Peterson.
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated Hercules Hernandez.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Rick Martel & Tito Santana.
1989 - WWF taped Saturday Night's Main Event in Des Moines, Iowa, to be broadcast on NBC on May 27th. Here are the results from the NBC taping (the show also had matches taped for the syndicated WWF programs):
- King Hacksaw Duggan defeated Intercontinental Champion Rick Rude via countout. Interesting to note, Hacksaw actually didn't win the "King" designation from Haku until the next night at a television taping.
- Randy Savage defeated Jim Neidhart.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Big Bossman in a steel cage match. Prior to the match, Hogan was attacked by Zeus (actor Tiny Lister) who was the co-star in Hogan's upcoming movie, No Holds Barred.
- Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated WWF World Tag Team Champions Demolition via DQ when the referee was hit during a brawl.
- Jimmy Snuka, making his WWF return after being gone for over three years, defeated Boris Zhukov.
1992 - ECW (then known at Eastern Championship Wrestling) crowned their first ECW Champion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Taber Youth Association. Two separate Battle Royales were held (with different participants), with Sal Bellomo winning the first, and Jimmy Snuka winning the second. Snuka then defeated Bellomo to become the first ECW Champion. The complete results of the show:
*Salvatore Bellomo won a battle royal; other participants included: Mr. Anthony, Jim Curry, Glen Osbourne, Mr. Perez, Pitbull Rex, Stevie Richards, JT Smith, Tony Stetson, and Max Thrasher.
*Jimmy Snuka won a battle royal; other participants included: Don E. Allen, Crybaby Waldo, Johnny Hot Body, Jimmy Jannetty, Pitbull Spike, CN Redd, John Rock, Jeff Royal, and Mr. Sandman.
*Jimmy Snuka pinned Salvatore Bellomo to become the first ECW Champion.
*Crybaby Waldo pinned CN Redd.
*Mr. Anthony & Mr. Perez defeated Jim Curry & JT Smith when Anthony pinned Curry.
*Jimmy Jannetty defeated Glen Osbourne.
*Mr. Sandman pinned Tony Stetson.
*The Pitbulls defeated Jeff Royal & Johnny Hot Body.
1999 - WWF held the Backlash Pay-per-view in Providence, Rhodes Island at the Civic Center. Here are the results:
Heat Matches:
- Val Venis & Nicole Bass defeated D'Lo Brown & Ivory.
- Droz & Albert defeated Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor.
- Kane defeated The Big Bossman.
- Viscera defeated Test.
PPV bouts:
- The Acolytes & Mideon defeated The Brood (Edge, Christian & Gangrel) when Bradshaw pinned Christian with the Clothesline From Hell.
- Al Snow defeated Hardcore Holly to win the WWF Hardcore Title after hitting him with Head.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion The Godfather defeated Goldust with a Death Valley Driver.
- The New Age Outlaws defeated Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett when Gunn gave Hart a Fameasser as he had Road Dogg in a Sharpshooter.
- Mankind defeated Big Show in a Boiler Room Brawl by pinning him with a pile of pipes.
- Triple H defeated X-Pac with the Pedigree.
- The Undertaker defeated Ken Shamrock with a tombstone piledriver.
- WWF World Champion Steve Austin defeated The Rock in a No Holds Barred match when special referee Shane McMahon accidentally hit Rock with the title belt. Austin then gave Rock a stunner, but Shane refused to count the pin, so Vince McMahon came out with a second referee and hit Shane with the title belt.
2000 - During an edition of WWF Smackdown from Charlotte, North Carolina, Steve Austin used a crane to drop a steel beam on the DX Express tour bus, crushing the bus in the parking lot during the show. Also on the program, Dean Malenko defeated Scotty 2 Hotty to win the WWF Light Heavyweight Title and Crash Holly defeated Matt Hardy to win the WWF Hardcore Title when he interfered during a scheduled match between Matt and Jeff Hardy.
2000 - WCW broadcast Thunder on TBS from Syracuse, New York at the War Memorial Arena before 1,269 with the following results:
*The Cat (Ernest Miller) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
*Chris Kanyon defeated Shawn Stasiak.
*Billy Kidman (with Torrie Wilson) defeated Horace Hogan.
*Sting defeated The Wall in a Tables match.
*Paisley (with The Artist) defeated Tammy Lynn Sytch (with Chris Candido.)
*Mike Awesome defeated Booker T.
*WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the line: David Arquette & Diamond Dallas Page defeated Eric Bischoff & Jeff Jarrett when Arquette pinned Bischoff to win Page's title. This was done to promote the Ready to Rumble feature film.
2002 - WWE aired an episdode of Tough Enough season 2 on MTV. Buck Woodward filed the following TV report:
Tough Enough for 4/25 began with clips from the previous weeks.
In picking up with the soap opera, we find out that Pete and Jackie have not had a conversation since the night they were fooling around in the hot tub. Pete felt he was in limbo over the situation.
Back to that little competition thing, Al Snow was at Trax telling the competitors they had a lot of ground to cover. A montage of training clips were shown, with the competitors not doing that well. Jake talked about how fatigue seemed to be setting in for a lot of them. Anni talked about how she was struggling, and Ivory commented that her problem was the result of exhaustion and over thinking in the ring. Al said that Anni was insecure, so she was holding back instead of letting things flow in the ring. Jackie and Linda offered encouragement to Anni, who said she needs to loosen up in the ring and get more confident.
Over at the beach for Optimum Fitness, Raphael commented that the group was running on empty. Linda commented about the toll the training was taking on them. Kenny talked about how the competition was about mental toughness, and being willing to get in the ring and get beat up.
Back at the house, Jackie got a package from her boyfriend. We find out that Jackie and her boyfriend had been exchanging letters since the "incident" with Pete. Jake makes the astute observation that Pete wants to have carnal knowledge of Jackie. We then see Jackie crying on the phone with her boyfriend, but they apparently are working things out, and will stay together.
Jake commented how beat they all were, but how they have to push on. Hawk talked about how stressed out he felt. Jackie noted that she didn't think they were doing well at all.
At Trax, Al Snow explained that the moves he was teaching them were the tools that they would use in the ring to build a match. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. commented how the first two weeks were great, and that he was really impressed with how they were doing, but now they were slowing down. He felt some of them were moving backwards. Bob Holly said he was not a patient person, and he expected them to learn fast, because he was a fast learner. Al said he was not happy with where the contestants were at this point.
Ivory commented that Hawk was breaking down mentally. We see that Hawk, due to the stress and exhaustion, was breaking down in tears. Holly demanded to know why he was crying. Hawk said he was stopping (crying that is). Holly told him to knock it off. Al Snow told the group that their reputation will go with them wherever they go. Al commented that he had worked for twenty years, and he would not let any of them go and ruin their (the trainers) reputation.
Morale in the group was low, so some of the contestants went to a bar. Pete talked about how Jackie was definite girlfriend material. Jackie felt she had led Pete on. The two were friendly in the bar, with Pete joking about their relationship. Pete said he wasn't going to waste his time, and we soon saw him dancing with someone else.
The next day, Kenny commented that everyone was tired, and how he felt it would be a bad day. As they arrived at Trax, Maven and Nidia were there working out. We then had a highlight package of Maven clips, and what little they could find of Nidia. Big John felt it was important for the current contestants to see the original winners. Al Snow told the group to look at where Maven is at, and where Nidia is at (?) when just a year ago, they were in the same position the current crop are in now.
Maven talked to the group about how much he hated being on Tough Enough at times, and how tired he would get from the training. He then talked about the unbelievable feeling of 18,000 people chanting your name, and how he can't imagine doing anything else now. Jackie commented how easy it was to talk to them, since they came from the same place.
Nidia talked to the group, and said that the TV show never aired the footage of them puking after doing cardio. Anni said talking to them really made everything seem attainable. Maven said that he was one of them, and told them that it was all worth it. Big John commented that Maven and Nidia being there perked up the group. Anni talked about Maven having confidence, and that was what she needed. We saw a ton of sparring footage, with the contestants having a renewed drive. Al talked about seeing Maven and Nidia give the contestants the same tips he had given them. Pete said they were a big help. Nidia said she saw the desire to make it in all the contestants.
Big John talked about how the first group got to go to the Bahamas, but their trip included no training. He said this group would go on a trip, but their trip would include training. He told them they would be going to Sun City, South Africa. Anni said she always wanted to go there. Jackie said she would never guess that as being the location for their trip. Jake commented that he had never left the country before.
Maven, Nidia and Al went with the contestants to their house, then out for dinner. Pete commented that he and Jackie were back to being where they were before, as friends. Jackie said she had done things with Pete that she shouldn't have. All seems to have ended with this soap opera.
Maven talked about the pain of hitting the ropes for the first time, and sure enough, the next day the contestants learned how to run the ropes. Al demonstrated the proper way to run the ropes for them, and we then got to see the contestants give it a try. Anni said she was becoming more aggressive now. After they had all run the ropes, they displayed the welts on their sides to the camera.
Big John, apparently wanting to see some pain inflicted, asked who wanted to be chopped by Bob Holly. It was explained how Holly has a very hard chop. Holly chopped the hell out of them, and Ivory even got a few chops in. Kenny referred to the blows as "chops from hell". Bob Holly said he was rough, but everyone in the WWF is rough, and while he may be rougher than others, there are others in the WWF that are rougher than him.
The group were walking on a beach, and commented on the bond of friendship they were forming. They found a bird on the beach that had a fishhook stuck in its beak. They unhooked it, and the bird flew away.
Next week: Sun City!
Comments: Yes, the soap opera is over (I hope)! For a guy who had such deep feelings a week ago, Pete seemed to get over it pretty quick. Now we can get back to focusing on the competition. ... Anni was a main focus this week, with her needing to build confidence, and her showing it at the end. ... Hawk breaking down was interesting, but he stood his ground while Holly was yelling at him so he gets points for that. ... Interesting that they focused on the friendship aspect. With Alicia gone, most of the negative energy is as well. ... Hey, Nidia got some TV time! Personally, I think it would have been cool to send the group to OVW for a trip, instead of Sun City. They could see how a small group works and puts together a show.
2005 - WWE broadcast Raw from London, England. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Birmingham, England and your announcers are Jonathan Coachman and Jerry Lawler.
Since we are not in the U.S., it is time to start things off with the champion, Batista (with the Batista Dance) as he walks to the ring. He has a microphone and he has something to say. Batista realizes that he is in England. He says that he is here to honor one man, a great man. A man whose accomplishments often go unappreciated. A man who puts his mind and his body on the line for this business. A man who in one night accomplished what it took two long years to do. Batista brings out Jim Ross. Do you remember last week when Jim Ross was able to defeat Triple H despite the beating he took from the former champ? Batista puts on Jim Ross' hat. Batista tells Jim that we know he is the best announcer, but we didn't know that he' got skills. Batista reminds Jim Ross that he beat a ten time champion. Batista says that it takes guts to get in the ring with Hunter. Jim may have taken a beating, but he took it like a man. He says that we are here to give him the ovation he deserves. However, before the crowd can really get into it, it is Game Time as Triple H comes out. Hunter says that he has heard enough. Batista says that it is a surprise that Triple H came out in a very sarcastic tone. Batista wonders what took Hunter so long to come out. Hunter asks Batista if he thinks it is a joke. Batista interrupts and tells Hunter that since JR beat Hunter last week, he is the number one contender, so it should be Jim Ross versus Batista at Backlash. Hunter tries to remind Batista who he is, but Batista stops him and we see footage of Jim Ross pinning Triple H last week. Hunter is about to start speaking again, but Batista wants them to run the footage of Jim Ross pinning Hunter last week again. Hunter angry. Hunter mad. Batista raised Jim Ross' arm again. Hunter takes off his jacket and he walks to the ring. The tie and the shirt come off and Batista prepares for Hunter. Hunter stops short of the ring. He thinks for a few seconds and moves a few feet closer. However, Hunter backs up and returns up the Ramp of Rawness. The crowd serenades Triple H as he stands on the Rawest Stage in Sports Entertainment. Hunter tells Batista that at Backlash, Batista's ass is his. Batista tells Hunter that at Backlash the belt is his. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jim Ross has rejoined Jerry Lawler at the announce position. Jim Ross talks about Trish and Viscera. Do you remember last week when Viscera saved Trish Stratus from Kane and the Indecent Proposal? We have a new match for Backlash as Kane will face Viscera with Lita in Kane's corner and Trish in Viscera' corner.
We go to The Brasshouse and Trish is inside the restaurant and she asks the maitre d' if he has seen a big 500 pound black man with a white Mohawk. Trish is about to leave, but she turns around into Viscera. Viscera said that he had to go to the drug store. Viscera said that he was not sick. He went to get some protection. Viscera wants a table somewhere very romantic. Trish gasps and follows Viscera.
We return to the arena and it is time to Countdown to Chris Jericho. His opponent is Sylvan Grenier (with Rob Conway and flags). Grenier attacks Jericho from behind and kicks Grenier and chokes him in the corner. Grenier with an Irish whip and flapjack. Grenier with the Jericho cover, but Jericho with a rollup and chops. Grenier with an uranage on Jericho followed by a side head lock. Jericho punches Grenier, but Grenier with a knee. Jericho with a rollup on Jericho. Jericho with a running forearm and shoulder tackle. Jericho with a forearm to Grenier followed by chops in the corner. Jericho with an Irish whip followed by a bulldog. Jericho tries for a Lionsault but Grenier moves and Jericho lands on his feet. Jericho with an enzuigiri. Conway gets on the apron and Jericho hits a springboard drop kick that knocks Conway to the floor. Jericho puts Grenier in the Walls of Jericho and Grenier taps. After the match, Conway attacks Jericho and both men kick Jericho. From out of nowhere, Shelton Benjamin comes out and punches Conway. Benjamin with a Samoan drop to Grenier and then he throws Conway and Grenier over the top rope to the floor. Benjamin and Jericho stare each other down. Jericho tells Benjamin that he is going to take his championship on Sunday. Benjamin with an Exploder to Jericho and asks Jericho, "Who's your bitch now?" Benjamin leaves the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back with more of Trish and Vis. Viscera starts playing with Trish's hair and complements it. Trish says that she loved what Viscera did to Kane last week. Trish orders Bangers and Mash in a British accent. Viscera says that he is a Banger who likes to Mash. Trish orders a salad. Viscera says that eating gets him in the mood. Trish says that Viscera must be the horniest guy in the planet. Viscera orders an entire page of the menu. Viscera asks Trish if she is going to eat her bread, but Trish lets Viscera take it.
We return to the arena and Christian and Tyson Tomko are in the locker room. Christian tells Tomko to follow the plan. From out of nowhere, Ric Flair comes in and tells Christian and Tomko that it is all about Hunter tonight. Flair tells Christian and Tomko that they will do whatever it takes to put Batista out of action and let Hunter give Batista the Pedigree. Christian tells Flair that Hunter will do nothing. Christian tells Hunter that maybe he should be drafted by Smackdown and maybe he will be able to beat Michael Cole. Christian tells Tomko to escort Flair out of his dressing room. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see the people waiting outside the arena in New Hampshire five weeks ago for tickets to Backlash. We see people who waited for six days in line.
It is time for The Christian Coalition to come to the ring and out comes its leader, Christian with loyal follower Tyson Tomko. Christian has a mic. He says that Canadians like himself have been much smarter than the Brits, so he will talk slowly. Christian complements the dental hygiene of the fans. Christian says that he will have no problem beating Batista with a real move, the Unprettier; unlike the problems that Triple H has had with the Pedigree. Christian says that next month, regardless of where he gets drafted where he will beat Batista again, or the Ali G rip off John Cena on Smackdown. Christian says that he will be carrying the torch because that is how he rolls. From out of nowhere, Kane comes out and walks to the ring and Tomko charges at Kane. Christian heads into the crowd. Kane punches Tomko in the corner and gives him an uppercut before a Nash clothesline. Kane choke slams Tomko. Kane leaves the ring and Tomko is lying down in the ring.
Maria is in the back and she is with Lita. Maria says that Kane looks focused. Lita says that it is all about Sunday when her husband, Kane defeats Viscera and Trish Stratus gets what she deserves. We go to commercial while Maria stares at the shiny lights.
We are back and Christian is in the back. He knocks on the door to the Evo-Locker Room. Christian wants to talk to Flair in the locker room. Flair suggests that they talk in the hall. Christian gives Flair his jacket back. Flair tells Christian to look behind him, but Flair tells Christian he was kidding. Christian wants to work with Flair and blames the earlier problems on Tomko. Flair goes in the Evo-Locker Room and closes the door. The door opens and Hunter emerges. Christian wants to know how Trips is doing. Hunter didn't like the Michael Cole comment. Hunter wants to know if Christian wants to do business. They go inside the Evo-Locker Room to do business. Hunter has that evil smile on his face as he closes the door.
It is time for the latest adventure in the Master Lock challenge. Masters poses for the crowd before he walks to the ring. Masters gets a mic and he has something to say. He tells everyone that last week he put $1,000 on the line to anyone who could break the Master Lock. Chris wants to see if one of the Brits can break the hold for 1,000 pounds. Masters looks around the ring and he finds someone. He comes to the ring. Chris asks him his name. His name is Andy Baker. Andy sits in the Master Chair for the Master Lock. The ref asks for the bell since Andy is out cold. Masters takes his money and leaves the ring.
Do you remember last week when Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan were in the ring together in Madison Square Garden? We go to commercial because their interview is next.
We are back and it is time and Jonathan Coachman is in the back and he talks about the match with Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari against Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan. Coach is with Shawn Michaels. Coach talks about how Hogan saved the day last week. Coach says that the two biggest egos in the WWE are together. Coach says that there is a pool to see when the egos get in the way. Shawn says that guys like Hogan and him have big egos because they have done it all. Shawn tells Coach to leave. Shawn is going to introduce his partner. Hulk Hogan comes into the hallway. Hogan brings Mean Gene Okerlund to do the interview. Gene asks Shawn about Hassan and Daivari and wants Shawn's thoughts. Shawn reminds us that he is from a military family. Shawn says that he had to pick a partner. Two weeks ago, he had to find a partner and looked at the entire locker room, but he needs someone who is as passionate about things like Shawn. Shawn asked himself. Hogan tells Gene that he heard the calls. Hogan was thinking about the Hall of Fame and the chants of "one more match" Hogan said that it would be one more match with Shawn Michaels. Hogan says that he saw when Hassan and Daivari did to Michaels. Hogan said that he heard the negativity from Hassan and Daivari. Hogan says that it is a dream of his to team with Shawn Michaels. Hogan asks Hassan and Daivari what they are going to do. Hogan rips his shirt, but Michaels is unable to do so.
It is time for Christy Hemme, Candice, Maria, and Stacy Keibler to come out to the ring. Christy has a mic and says that they are here for a party. First, they want to invite some friends to the ring. Christy says that they are not the only divas in the arena. Christy brings down some women from the Daily Star. There are now eight women in the ring. Stacy says that they are here to celebrate the release of William Regal's autobiography. Candace says something and William Regal and his partner Tajiri come to the ring. Regal gets the mic and he thanks the ladies for the kind words. Regal thanks the fans for the reception. Regal says that he has a very difficult job. Regal thanks the WWE for publishing the book because he was not sure if he would be around to have a book published a few years ago. Regal says that it is time for a party. They dance with Regal and Tajiri. From out of nowhere, Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari come out. Hassan calls it a pathetic site. Two men and an eight pack of international bimbos dancing around. He criticizes the crowd for eating it up. Hassan says that the English are followers of the hypocritical and racist American culture. Hassan says that the crowd follows everything that Michaels and Hogan say. Hassan says that the best way to prove Michaels and Hogan wrong is to beat the tag champions tonight. Regal tells "Sunshine" if he is looking for a fight, there is no better place to have one. Hassan and Daivari walk to the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and the match has begun. Regal with a side head lock on Daivari. Regal with a shoulder tackle and a European uppercut. Regal throws Hassan into the ring. Regal with a back body drop to Daivari and then Regal throws Hassan and Daivari out of the ring. Daivari gets back in the ring. Regal tags in Tajiri and they give Daivari a double hip toss followed by a double kick. Tajiri with a standing moonsault followed by an arm bar. Daivari sends Tajiri into the corner. Hassan works on Tajiri's arm, but Tajiri with a snap mare and Regal is tapped in. Regal with knees to Hassan's head followed by a side head lock. Hassan sends Regal into the ropes and Daivari with a forearm, but Regal hits Daivari and Hassan. Daivari drops Regal on the top rope and Hassan with a double sledge. Daivari tags in and he has Regal in a crossface. Hassan tags in and he works over Regal's back. Hassan with a neck breaker. Regal with forearms, but Hassan with a double axe. Daivari tags in and he gives Regal a neck breaker. Hassan and Regal bump heads and they both go down. Daivari tags in and Regal pushes him off. Tajiri tags in and hits a jumping spin kick on Daivari followed by a back kick to Hassan. Tajiri with a handspring back elbow to Daivari. Hassan hits the WMDDT (copyright Chris Catanese) on Tajiri. Regal goes out after Daivari, but Hassan hits him from behind. Daivari with a leg drop from the top rope on Tajiri for the three count. After the match, Regal comes in and he punches Hassan and Daivari. Hassan and Daivari get the advantage on Regal and Hassan puts Regal in the camel clutch with Daivari kicking Regal in the head. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to return to Trish and Vis. Trish wants to know what Viscera means and he says that it means inner organs, and he talks about his "outer" organ. Trish asks Viscera if he wants a Playboy playmate. Viscera hears some music and he wants to dance with Trish. Viscera accidentally knocks over the waiter and asks for a check.
It is time for our next match and I think you know who is coming out as Edge (with briefcase) comes to the ring. His opponent is Val Venis in a former family affair (non-storyline division). Edge attacks Val as he enters the ring and drops a knee on Val. Edge kicks Val and then hits a leg drop from the apron. Edge punches Val and chokes him in the ropes. Edge with a catapult into the second rope. Edge with a rear chin lock. Edge with a forearm, but Val with a hot shot and clothesline. Val with a chop followed by a back body drop. Val chops Edge. Val with an elbow followed by a half nelson slam. Val goes up top for the Money Shot, but Edge gets his knees up. Edge sets up for the Spear but he runs into a knee from Val. Edge hits a Spear for the three count. After the match Edge gives Val an Edgecution and then puts Val in the Sharpshooter. Edge puts Val in the Crippler Crossface. From out of nowhere, Chris Benoit comes to the ring. Edge attacks Benoit, but Benoit responds with the Hat Trick German suplex combo. Edge leaves the ring and heads to the back.
We are in the back and Coach wants to get things worked out over being kicked out of his interview. Hunter, Christian, and Flair want to talk to Coach about taking care of the Batista thing. Hunter gives Coach a shirt. Ric Flair is the guest time keeper, Coach will be the guest referee. Tonight, Triple H will be Christian's problem solver for one night. Coach wants to call Eric to make sure everything is OK. Hunter tells Coach that he does not have a lot of patience for announcers so the only permission that Coach needs is Hunter's. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for more of Vis and Trish. Viscera says that since dinner is over, Viscera says that Trish knows what time it is. Viscera pulls out a bottle of mouthwash and gargles. Trish says that she wants to tell Viscera something first. Trish slaps Viscera and she says that she has a seven foot monster after her. Trish says that he can take care of Lita, he has done it before. Trish tells Viscera that he needs to take care of Kane. Viscera says that he will take care of things. Viscera tells Trish that he is going to take a little advance. Trish gives Viscera an advance and gives Viscera a show. Viscera says that Kane is a dead man.
It is time for our main event and out comes the guest referee, Jonathan Coachman. Out next is the leader of the Christian Coalition, Christian. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Slam of the Week: Batista hitting Triple H with the chair allowing Jim Ross to win.
It is time for the Guest Problem Solver to come to the ring and it is GameTime as Triple H (with Ric Flair, but no GameFountain) comes to the ring. Out next is the World Champion, Batista (with Batista Boogie). Before the match begins Batista holds the belt in Hunter's face. Christian attacks Batista from behind. Christian tries to Irish whip Batista, but Batista sends Christian over the top rope to the floor. Hunter gets on the apron again and Christian goes up top. Batista grabs Christian as he comes off and throws Christian into the corner. Batista with two hard Irish whips. Batista with a forearm to Christian. Batista with a side slam. Christian with a thumb to the eye followed by a chop and punches. Batista kicks Christian and then clotheslines Christian. Batista slaps Christian in the head. Christian kicks Batista, but Batista gets Christian up for a running power slam, but Coach has to tie his shoe. Batista hits Coach on the arm and then grabs him in the corner. Triple H gives Batista a low blow and then punches Batista. Christian kicks Batista in the ribs as we go to commercial.
We are back and Christian is choking Batista on the ropes. Hunter hits Batista while the ref is distracted. Christian with a splash to Batista, but he only gets a two count. During the commercial, Hunter with an Irish whip to Batista in the ring steps. Back to live action, Batista with a rear chin lock. Batista sends Christian into the corner. Batista runs into a boot from Christian. Christian with a missile drop kick. Christian chokes Batista in the ropes and then the ref talks to Christian, and that allows Flair to choke Batista. Batista punches Christian. Triple H trips Batista, allowing Christian to choke Batista. Christian with a neck breaker despite attempts by Batista to get out of the hold. Christian punches Batista, but Batista starts to get mad. Christian charges at Batista, but Batista throws him in the air. Batista punches Christian and then hits a standing power slam. Batista with a running clothesline in the corner followed by shoulder blocks in the corner. Batista with another running clothesline in the corner. Flair distracts Batista and Christian sets up for the Unprettier, but Batista counters with an Electric Chair. Coach hurts his arm before he can make the three count. Batista clotheslines Coach and Hunter. Batista punches Flair and gives Christian a spinebuster. Batista clotheslines Hunter over the top rope and then gives Christian a Sit Out BatistaBomb for the three count. After the match, Hunter attacks Batista from behind and punches him. Flair comes in the ring with a chair, but Batista kicks Flair. Batista with a clothesline to Hunter. Hunter kicks Batista and then gives Batista a Pedigree. Hunter poses over Batista as we go to credit
2007 - World Wrestling Entertainment pulled Rock N' Roll Express member Robert Gibson, who has been working as something of a trainer and coach for the WWE developmental system, from a Memphis Wrestling event headlined by Paul Wight vs. Hulk Hogan at the Fedex Forum. The company had already pulled Jerry Lawler, who was planned as Hogan's opponent from the show. Promoter Cory Maclin would sue WWE over the matter, settling for an undisclosed amount.
2009 - Ring of Honor ran Chicago Ridge, IL. Keith Lipinski filed the following live report:
Dark Matches:
(A) Grizzly Redwood def. Andy “Right Leg” Ridge with a double axe-handle.
A “fuck ‘em up Grizzly Redwood” chant. The ghost of gmc announced that ten minutes had elapsed, about two seconds in. The great and mighty beard of the Griz is matched only by his whacky charisma. He also wrestles barefoot, making him that much mightier. The two traded holds, with Andy no-selling the double axe handle. Ridge used a suplex into a double foot stomp for a two count. Match ended when Redwood used a double axe handle off the middle turnbuckle for the three. A nice five-minute opener, that saw the two shake hands afterwards. That's what happens when you are trained WITH HONOR.
(B) Aaron Scott & Brandon Moreno def. Tony Kozina & Ernie Osiris when Kozina was pinned.
The homeless and dirty Osiris came to the ring panhandling with a shoe. He also came to the ring to the sounds of DMX’s “(Party) Up In Here,” which made Davey Richards quite joivial, as he peeped out from behind the curtain. Other team had matching black tights and I had no clue who was who. Lots of Osiris selling, until he started to make a come back, including hitting an odd backwards Mind Trip that caused his shoe to come off – and yes, change popped out of it – following that up with the PITY CITY. Kozina tagged in, and he's quite the barrel-chested man, and has a good look for a 1950’s-era shooter or strongman character. Man, this match is taking a long time. Finish saw Kozina go up to the top rope, but Osiris was celebrating by shaking the ropes, which caused Tony to fall, and get cradled by one of the other two bald men in the match. Ernie was sad, but he somehow had Grizzly’s log which made everything alright.
(c) “Big, Bad” Bobby Dempsey def. Stevo Molinski with a Death Valley Driver
Bobby was way fricking over in Chicago, and – don’t panic – but he's looking like he dropped some weight. He told Stevo to "get on your feet" and then hit the Death Valley Driver for the quick victory. A number of referees came out to help him to the back.
Dave Prazak opened the show by running down the card on a piece of torn out spiral notebook paper. The paper was stolen from a Trapper Keeper that Dr. Keith had stolen from Alan Counihan while in Ireland.
1. Egotistico Fantastico def. “Skullkrusher” Rasche Brown with a roll-up.
Rasche is still huge, but looks a lot slimmer than he has in the past. He let us know that “I hate everyone,” when he made his way to the ring, and he played a crazy jerk very well. Ego had his name chanted, as both wrestlers are known local indy names, with Ego working in CZW, and Skully being one-half of the NWA tag team champions. When he saw Ego’s horned mask, he declared that “I like Satan,” and actually used a Ric Flair strut, during the match, as well.
Rasche hit a huge lariat a minute in, and worked on his neck for the majority. After a chin lock, Ego broke free – only to be gorilla-pressed, and covered with one leg, as Rasche let everyone know he was number one. The Skullkrusher is quite the entertainer. Ego came back with speed, dropkicks, and a springboard clothesline for two. Oh my god, Rasche hit the torture rack. After Ego started to fight back, Rasche put him up for the spinning powerbomb. Ego was supposed to roll through, but the top of his pants got caught on Rasches’ head so it looked botched, but Ego rolled him up for the awkward pin, anyway. Fun opener, but not for the wrestling. Everyone applauded Rasche (star of the match), and he looked touched, only to then say “screw you all” and leave. Tremendous.
2. Austin Aries & Rhett Titus def. Silas Young & “Sugarfoot” Alex Payne when Aries used a brainbuster on Payne, before rolling Titus on top for the pin.
Payne and Young came to the ring with a very lame pop punk entrance song. Austin had the greatest pink furry jacket ever, claiming “that's a rare animal, buddy” while giving it to the cowboy-booted timekeeper, Lorenzo. Sugarfoot was over. Welcome to Chicago. People chanted “You’re a virgin,” at Rhett, whose angry reactions were outstanding. Silas resembles Jim Duggan, if Duggan was jacked. He furthered this resemblance by calling Aries “Tough guy.” Silas then used small packages and backslides for nearfalls to frustrate Aries. People chanted “hepatitis” at Rhett. The woman next to me, and her young kids, enjoyed that line. Rhett said “This one’s for you, brother" as he stood above Silas and worked over his forearm like it was a male member. Aries was not pleased. Sugar and Silas tried a double suplex, but Aries raked their backs with his salon perfect nails. Rhett attempted his Sexiest Suplex.
Payne went to the top rope, but Aries attaked his Sugar foot, hitting a powerful punch on the foot. They worked on the foot, until he finally came back for the hot tag to Silas. Aries took a Flair Flop on the outside. Sugar hit a dropkick and a Buff Blockbuster for a near fall on Titus. The foot has been heal-ed. Near falls from both teams. Sugar hit a German on Rhett, and threw Austin out the ring. Austin tried to skin the cat but got caught by a Silas dropkick. Dive on Sugarfoot as Silas tried his Arabian Press with headstand. Aries came out and dropkicked the shit out of him for trying, and hit the brain buster. He put Titus (who had a wedgie) on top of Payne for the win. Very good finish. Afterwards, Rhett put his hands down his pants, and mocked Payne on the ground by shaking his head. Silas helped Payne to his feet, out to clothesline him and leave him laying.
3. Jimmy Jacobs def. Roderick Strong & “The VERY EUROPEAN” Claudio Castagnoli in a three-way match when he forced Strong to submit to The End Time.
The referee was Todd Sinclair, who actually got two streamers and boos. Claudio was actually announced as being Very European. Strong (who looked very fit, despite having a huge bandage on his head) tried to shake both men’s hands. The eye-patch wearing Jimmy kicked it, and the crowd kept on saying “Hey” whenever Claudio moved his hand.
Whenever Jacobs hit anything, the crowd would chant “ARRRRR.” This was outstanding. Jimmy lost his patch, but backed it up with a bandage over his eye. Backbreaker attempt on Jacobs, but Claudio hit a euro uppercut causing Roddy’s bandages to fall off. Claudio submission hold on Strong, Jacobs hit End Time, followed by Strong hitting a Yakuza kick, in an awesome series. Jacobs threw Claudio out, and used the End Time on Strong for the win. Very entertaining match. Jacobs got on the mic, and the crowd chanted “Rufio” which shows ROH is all about the current events. Tyler came out and gave applause for “The Pirate,” Jacob. “You are looking at your God, brother.” They talked about the Age of the Fall, and helping themselves. Tyler said Jimmy couldn't look at himself in the mirror (does he mean pre-eye patch?) and called him “a façade,” and a “scared little boy.” He talked about Jacobs crying over Lacey and being Alex Shelley’s punching bag. Jimmy took out his spike, and attempted to hit him, but Black stopped him, calling him a disappointment. Jacobs left disheartened.
4. The Dark City Fight Club def. The Phoenix Twins
Very short match. Twins were jumped pre-bell, and they looked small vs. DCFC. Small and pale. One of the DCFC claimed, “Someone’s gonna die tonight.” The other member was wrestling with a cast on, as DCFC was slow in delivering the pain to the young twins. Twins used speed and quickness to counter the power game, and hit a dive to the outside. Double superkick for two. Then the big member of Dark City (John Davis) used his non-cast hand and pushed Twin one into the guardrail hard. Very hard. They then did the Dark City version of the Total Elimination (but with a lariat elbow smash as opposed to enziguri) for the win.
5. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson def. Jimmy Rave
Prince Nana wondered where Barak Obama was pre-match. The toilet paper fight was very much missed. Dragon came down and threw a roll at Rave. His aim was awesome, and Rave ended up with some t.p. on his shoe.
Lots of god mat work to start, and Danielson working the left arm. Nana gave him good words of advice like “give him time, Jimmy” and “breathe, Jimmy, breathe.” Danielson stayed on the arms with submissions, and kicks to the elbow, as the crowd advised him to “break it.” Awesome variety of submissions by Danielson. Rave came back, kicking Danielson’s head and worked on the neck. He went for the Cattle Mutilation, but Rave got to the ropes. Nana and Ernie Osiris pulled Rave out. Dragon hit a dropkick, and then looked like he’d attempt a tope on the outsiders. Instead, he stopped and went to the other side and hit Rave with one, instead. Heel hook on Danielson, he rolled it over, and then kicked Danielson in the head while keeping the hold on. Rope break. Rave said he had ‘til five and an angry Danielson jumped up on Rave’s back, and hit elbows in a brief exchange. Danielson got the triangle and the submission win in about 16:11. Nana took his headdress off to show Booker T. like dreadlocks, before using some of the toilet paper to pat down Jimmy’s head.
Intermission
6. Tyler Black def. Chris Hero
There was a standoff at first, then really good back and forth, with both guys rolling around, and hitting the occasional move or two. Hero worked on Black’s head using elbows, kicks and a sit-down dropkick for two. He than hit some outstanding elbows while yelling “Next world champ.” Black rallied, and hit a dropkick – but missed a Lionsault. Hero hit a running senton for two. Hero choked Black with his boot, as well as his hand, as he yelled “stay down boy.” Elbow war, with Tyler getting the advantage. He followed with a dropkick, high back body drop, and a springboard clothesline for two. Black then walked into the Yakuza, a young knockout kid elbow, and a running Lyger bomb for two. They went outside the ring, where Hero removed the floor mat, and hit another running senton on the floor. Tyler went on to regain the advantage; hit an elbow and then both men crisscrossed the ropes, where Hero hit an elbow of his own. Tyler hit a huge kick to a downed Hero, but the count was broken up at two by Shane Hagadorn). Tyler went up for the Phoenix but Hero hit a huge elbow, and then hit a power bomb off the top rope for the first big “ROH” chant tonight. As Hagadorn distracted the ref, Hero grabbed his Misawa elbow pad and went for the roaring elbow. Tyler ducked, and hit God’s Last Gift for the win at 13:47. It was a very good match (and the best thing on the show so far). As Black was leaving, Jimmy Jacobs attacked him with the spike, bloodying him up.
7. The American Wolves def. Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe in a two-out-of-three falss match to retain the Ring of Honor tag team titles.
Fall one: Hagadorn came down with both belts which allowed the Wolves to come from behind with their matching tights and leather vests. All four men began by brawling on the outside, but it settled down into a straight tag. Briscoe hit a suplex Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Davey Richards attempted a time-out, but it was not allowed and he was suplexed for a one count. Leg drop by Briscoe and a senton by Steen for a two count. The two double team on Eddie Edwards, cutting the ring in half. Steen was playing Richards for a fool, getting the ref involved, and a little dance by PUTTING UP HIS DUKES. Steen hit a super harsh chop. He attempted this again, only to get eye raked by Edwards. Eye rakes all around. Tag to Richards, who spit at Jay, and asked “Where’s your brother at?” Steen and Edwards were back in a short time later, with Steen using the Sharpshooter on Edwards to win the first fall (1-0).
Fall Two: The Wolves tried to leave, with Richards telling Hagadorn to “Get the belts.” Steen and Briscoe took chase. Wolves took advantage on a double-team on Steen, and targeted his left knee. Single-leg Boston crab. Then Davey set up for a figure four, but stopped and flicked off the crowd for whooooooing. Richards used Steen as his kicking dummy. Steen caught one, but Richards rolled thru for a leg submission attempt. Jay got the tag after a super kick on Richards. Briscoe spinebuster (grab the guy’s neck and throw it down). Edwards hit his Kryptonite Crunch for a great near fall. Then Edwards hit a German on Briscoe who got up for a massive superkick. Tag to Steen, but then the Wolves took over, and Richards used a cloverleaf after a top rope dropkick for the second fall (1-1).
Fall three: Steen tried a package piledriver, but knee was too bad. Richards went back to the cloverleaf. Briscoe stopped it and carried Steen back to the corner. Richards and Briscoe traded moved with alternating “yeas” and “boos.” Steen with his bad knee did a dive to the outside on both Wolves. Steen used a frog splash, followed by a move off the top by Briscoe on Richards for a two count. Later, Richards put Briscoe in the cloverleaf, while Steen had a sharpshooter on Edwards. Richards and Steen were facing, and they spit at each other. Steen let go, and hit a package piledriver on Richards for two. Huge “ROH” chant for that. Later, Steen accidentally hit Jay low. Edwards then superkicked Jay into Richard’s German suplex with bridge, with two Wolf rollup for a two. Insanely great. Top rope doomsday Ace Crusher on Briscoe by Richards for the pin (2-1). Fantastic last five minutes. Afterwards, Briscoe and Steen fought, thus ending the makeshift team of BRISCOSTEEN.
8. Jerry Lynn def. Colt Cabana to retain the ROH World Title.
Lynn came out first followed by Colt’s homecoming, which was quite great. Lots of love, streamers, and “welcome back” chants. Cabana was announced as being from Maxwell Street. Chinlock with bridge by Cabana which Lynn reversed. Cabana and Lynn played around with a head scissors, and some side headlocks. Cabana used speed to break out of a hamerlock and held the ropes open for the champ. “Here you go kid, you'll make it in the business someday,” he told Lynn. Lynn must have said something about the ex-Scotty Goldman looked hurt and serious. Another standoff. Cabana ended up outside as Lynn held the rope open now. He was making sweet love to the ringpost while crowd chanted yes and no about him going to the other side. Cabana hit the Flying Asshole, (BUTT-THRUST) and then a submission attempt, followed by hard elbows. Match saw Cabana getting momentum only to have Lynn come back. At one point Lynn did Alex Shelley’s face plant. Lynn hit a guillotine leg drop and his metal voice for two.
Punches by Cabana, a flip bodypress for two, and another Flying Asshole. Colt 45 attempt, but Lynn came down for a sunset flip. Cabana hit an Air Raid Crash for two. Cabana got Lynn outside the ring, and and attempted a dive. And he missed. Hard. DDT on the apron by Lynn for two. Package piledriver attempt, but Colt used legs and it was just a regular piledriver for a two count. Cabana used his backwards Boston Crab aka The Billy Goat’s Curse (sup Cubs) for a near submission. Colt 45 attempt, Jerry rolled through but Cabana hit a clothesline, and finally a Colt 45 for a near fall. Sadly, a huge lack of what should have been a surprise pop for that. Cabana went up top rope was caught by Lynn, but he used a Pepsi Plunge (top rope pedigree) for a great near fall, and the crowd woke up. Cabana got Lynn in an electric chair, Lynn countered with backwards ‘rana and package piledriver for the win at 17:23. Decent main event.
Both men shook hands. Cabana got on the mic and talked about his dream of coming back tonight and winning the title. He said he had a speech planned, and praised how good the talent has gotten in ROH “In the two years I have been gone in some little promotion.” He said the greatest wrestlers are from ROH, and they are led by the greatest pound for pound wrestler in the world today. He put over Lynn, and said he would get him next time. Jerry got on the mic, put over Colt and the Chicago fans, and finished by saying "Thank you, and keep ROH alive."
Ric Flair was also announced to appear in Chicago Ridge on June 27.
2010 - WWE held their "Extreme Rules" PPV, which featured Batista's final WWE PPV appearance to date. Here is the original coverage from the show:
The show opened with a video package focusing on the "Anything Goes" theme of the night, and every match except the Women's Title bout and the Strap match were featured in the package. The announce team for tonight is Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Matt Striker.
Triple H vs. Sheamus in a Street Fight match.
No countouts or disqualifications, the match can only end via pinfall or submission. Triple H's entrance theme started, but he didn't come out. The music stopped, and they went to the back, where Sheamus and Triple H were brawling in a corridor. Referees pulled them apart, and Sheamus grabbed his pipe and blasted Triple H in the head. As Triple H got up, Sheamus blasted him again. A trainer checked on an unconscious Triple H, while Sheamus walked off.
Apparently the match will be postponed until later, pending an update on Triple H.
The Miz & Big Show came out, with the announcers noting they were not scheduled to appear tonight. Miz said they should start the show with some excitement, noting he and Show were the greatest tag team in WWE history. Miz then brought up how Bret Hart had to call ShowMiz the greatest tag team in WWE history, due to Miz defeating David Hart Smith in the UK. Miz said tomorrow night on Raw, Bret Hart would make that statement. Miz said he and Show had a lack of competition, and said they were begging for competition. Miz said Big Show "makes Andre The Giant look like a little girl." Now, I'm angry. Smackdown General Manager Theodore R. Long came out and said he had a team for them to face. Long said if this team wins, they get a future World Tag Team Title match. Miz got a shot in at the Orioles (they are in Baltimore), then told Long to go figure out how to mess up the draft tomorrow. Long then said since Miz likes to keep talking, there will be a second team after the first, with the same stipulation. Miz kept talking, so Long upped it to three teams. Miz mocked him, and Long threatened to make it four, so Big Show put his hand over Miz' mouth to shut him up. So, Miz and Show will now face three teams in a row, and the first one to beat them (if any) gets a title shot tomorrow on Raw.
The Miz & Big Show vs. R-Truth & John Morrison.
R-Truth did his full entrance rap prior to the bout. Morrison started out with Miz, grabbing a quick cradle for a one count. Miz went on the attack, kicking Morrison in the gut and punching him against the ropes. Morrison slid under a clothesline and grabbed an armdrag. Truth tagged in, and they hit a double hiptoss and a standing shooting star/legdrop combo. Miz stopped himself on a whip attempt and tagged in Show. Show hit Truth with a shoulderblock, then chopped him against the ropes. Miz tagged in and hit a running boot for a two count on Truth, then drove a knee in his back and applied a chinlock. Truth fought back and hit a leg lariat. Morrison and Show tagged in. Morrison hit a dropkick, but Show shoved him away. Show went for a chokeslam, but Morrison put Show in a triangle choke, pulling him over the top rope. Miz tried to break it up, but Truth knocked him to the floor and gave Miz a pescado. The referee disqualified Morrison for not breaking the choke on the ropes, ending the match at the three minute mark.
Winners: The Miz & Big Show.
The Miz & Big Show vs. MVP & Mark Henry.
MVP immediately went for a cover on Miz as he rolled in the ring for a two count. Henry and MVP worked over Miz, as Big Show recovered from the choke on the floor. MVP hit Miz with the Ballin' elbowdrop, but Big Show got in to break it up. Mark Henry came in, but Show blasted him with a body shot. MVP gave Miz a Playmaker, but Big Show punched MVP in the head and Miz pinned MVP at the two minute mark.
Winners: The Miz & Big Show.
The Hart Dynasty, with Bret Hart, ran out.
The Miz & Big Show vs. The Hart Dynasty.
David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd double kicked Big Show off the ring apron, then gave Miz their springboard Hart attack. Miz was pinned in under a minute.
Winners: The Hart Dynasty.
The Harts celebrated on the floor. They get a tag team title match at Raw tomorrow night.
They went backstage for an update on Triple H. Todd Grisham said he was being checked out, when Sheamus interrupted him. Sheamus said he was going out to the ring later, and basically said if Triple H is a man, he will see him out there.
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk. If Punk loses, he will have his head shaved.
Rey and Punk kept pointing to the barber's chair set up on the stage before the bell rang. Punk went on the offense first, stomping Rey and knocking him to the mat. Rey came back with a dropkick, then hit a kick to the chest and a series of forearms. Punk tossed Rey to the floor, but Rey rolled to his feet. Punk went outside, and Rey hit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and sent Punk into the ring apron. Rey hit a kick on the floor and tossed Punk back in the ring. Rey teased a 619, but Punk grabbed him and teased a GTS. Rey escaped and hit a kick, but then ran into a CM Punk powerslam for a two count. Punk tossed Rey to the floor, this time with Rey bumping to the outside chest first. Serena got in a kick to Rey's gut. Punk twirled his hair in the ring and laughed.
Punk went to the floor and worked over Rey, then tossed him into the ring and hit a slingshot senton for a two count. Punk put Rey in a headscissors on the mat, but Rey fought up and hit some kicks. Punk went for a sunset flip, but Rey rolled through it and hit a kick to the head for a two count. Punk got back in control, punching Rey in the back while holding him against the middle rope. When the referee backed him up, Luke Gallows hit a cheap shot and Punk got a two count off it. Punk gave Rey a double underhook backbreaker for a two count. Punk put Rey in a bow and arrow, and hit a trio of legdrops. Punk delivered some elbows to the body, then put Rey in a Gori Special. Rey managed to break free and hit an armdrag. Punk tried for a powerbomb, but Rey shifted his weight and came down on top of Punk for a two count.
Rey gave Punk a headscissors takedown into the turnbuckles. Rey went to the top rope, but Punk tripped him. Punk pulled Rey off the ropes into GTS position. Rey escaped and set up Punk for a 619. Serena grabbed a Rey's leg to trip him up. Punk went and blasted Rey in the back of the head. The referee, seeing Gallows getting on the apron, ordered Serena and Gallows away from ringside. Punk went to the floor, wondering why his followers were leaving, and Rey hit him with a baseball slide kick as Punk realized what had happened. Rey hit an Asai moonsault, then got Punk into the ring for a two count. Punk reversed a whip and went for a backdrop, but Rey kicked it away and covered Punk for a two count.
Rey hit a springboard senton, then went for a springboard bodypress off the middle ropes, but Punk dropkicked Rey in the midsection. Punk hit a springboard clothesline, then hit some kicked to the body. Rey leapfrogged Punk, then got on his shoulders, but Punk turned it into a GTS position. Rey spun out of it into a rana and hooked the leg for a two count. As they got up, Punk blasted Rey with a kick to the face for a two count. Punk missed a running knee in the corner and Rey used a spinning headscissors to put Punk in a 619 position. Rey hit the move. Someone came out from under the ring and tossed a chair in the ring. The referee went to toss the chair out, while the mystery man, who was bald, came out the other side of the ring, pulled Rey to the floor and planted him with a reverse powerbomb on the floor. Punk pulled Rey back in the ring and hit the GTS for the pin at the seventeen minute mark. The replay made it seem like it might have been two men, dressed the same, that came out from under the ring.
Winner: CM Punk.
Punk celebrated on the stage by sitting in the barber's chair. The man or men who were under the ring didn't come back out.
JTG vs. Shad Gaspard in a Strap Match.
As Shad came to the ring, they reviewed the events leading to the breakup of Cryme Tyme. This is traditional strap match rules, meaning you have to touch all four corners in succession.
JTG hit some punches at the start, then Shad tripped him with the strap. Shad touched three corners, and almost had four right away, but JTG started whipping him with the strap across the back and chest. JTG went for the corners, but Shad picked him up and put him on the apron, then knocked him to the floor. Shad hit two corners, but with JTG on the floor, Shad couldn't pull to the third. Shad pulled JTG to the apron and hit a shot, but JTG dropped to the floor and yanked Shad throat first across the top rope. JTG got back in the ring and hit a second rope leg lariat. JTG touched three corners, but Shad picked JTG up in atomic drop fashion, then slammed him chest first to the mat.
Shad went to the floor and used the strap to yank JTG into the ringpost shoulder first. Shad trash talked JTG while whipping him with the strap. Shad slapped JTG and continued to trash talk back in the ring. Shad then used the strap to secure JTG's arm against his body and began dragging him around the ring. Shad started touching corners, but as he did it, JTG did as well, without Shad realizing it. When they had touched three corners, JTG pulled away from Shad. Shad pulled him in for a short arm clothesline, but JTG ducked it and hit his Slingblade clothesline. JTG touched the fourth corner for the win at the five minute mark.
Winner: JTG.
Todd Grisham reported that Triple H was having nerve issues with his arm as a result of the blow to the back of the head Sheamus gave him with the pipe earlier. He said it was unlikely he would compete tonight.
A video package on the events leading to the World Title match was shown.
World Champion Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton in an Extreme Rules match.
They did the "big match" intros for the bout. Swagger went for a takedown at the start, getting a one count. Swagger grabbed a leg and hit a Dragonscrew legswhip. Swagger grabbed a waistlock and rode Orton on the mat. Orton got to his feet, but missed a back elbow and Swagger hit a series of shoulderblocks in a corner. Swagger got on the middle rope to punch Orton, but Orton ducked under him and hit Swagger, then elbowed him off the ropes. Orton took Swagger down for a two count, then Swagger rolled to the floor. Swagger grabbed a chair, but Orton went to the floor and kicked the chair out of his hand. Orton stalked Swagger around the ring, and Swagger rolled back in.
As Orton got in the ring, Swagger went to kick him, but Orton ducked it. Swagger went back to the floor and Orton followed, and Swagger caught him with a forearm and tossed him into the ringside barrier. Swagger suplexed Orton on the floor and rammed him back first into the ringside barrier, then into the apron. Swagger covered Orton for a two count in the ring, then choked him down in the corner with a boot to the throat. Orton came back with a kick to the gut, but Swagger pushed him back into the corner with shoulderblocks. Swagger hit a vertical suplex for a two count. There was an "RKO" chant. Orton battled back with punches, but Swagger hit a belly to belly suplex for a two count.
Swagger stomped Orton in the gut, then hit a vertical suplex, followed by a back suplex. Swagger shoved Orton in a corner, then hit some more shoulderblocks in the corner. He went for a running shoulderblock, but Orton kneed him in the head. Swagger came right back, throwing Orton shoulder first into the ringpost. Swagger went to ringside and grabbed the World Title belt. Swagger went to use it, but Orton avoided the belt shot and hit a series of forearms on Swagger. Swagger just took the onslaught, then scooped up Orton and powerslammed him for a two count. Swagger slammed Orton, with the title belt lying on the mat next to Orton. Swagger took forever to set up his reverse splash off the middle rope. As he went for it, Orton jumped up, grabbed the title belt, and blasted Swagger in the gut with it.
Orton hit a pair of clotheslines and a powerslam for a two count. Swagger rolled to the ring apron, but Orton grabbed him and hit a series of forearms. Orton went for the elevated DDT, but Swagger stepped into the ring and then backdropped Orton to the floor. Swagger went outside and grabbed a trash can from under the ring. Orton kicked Swagger in the gut, then blasted Swagger twice in the head with the trash can. Orton rammed Swagger into the announcers table three times, then hit a forearm uppercut. Orton whipped Swagger into the ringsteps, then put Swagger's head on a section of the steps. Orton then stomped Swagger's head twice on the steps.
Orton rolled Swagger into the ring, then started stomping him. Orton dropped a knee to the head, then continued stomping him. Orton went for another kneedrop, but Swagger rolled out of the way. Swagger went to the floor and got a chair. As he got back in the ring, Orton kicked him. Orton then hit the elevated DDT. Randy measured Swagger for the RKO, then stopped and picked up the chair. Orton set up the chair in the ring and went for a running RKO on the chair, but Swagger picked up Orton and dropped him hip first on the chair. Swagger grabbed Orton around the waist, muscled him up and hit the gutwrench powerbomb for the pin at the fourteen minute mark.
Winner: Jack Swagger.
After the replayes, as Swagger was leaving, Orton grabbed him on the floor and hit an RKO, then walked off. As Orton exited, Sheamus walked down, and the two exchanged glares. Swagger was helped out by a referee.
Sheamus got on the mic and said that since Triple H wasn't man enough to face him, he wanted to be declared the winner. They went to the back, and Triple H burst out of his dressing room, tossing away an icepack. Triple H came out, his left arm limp at his side. Sheamus had his steel pipe in his hand.
Triple H vs. Sheamus in a Street Fight match.
At the bell, Sheamus went at Triple H with the pipe, but he ducked it and tackled him. Triple H hit a series of right hands, and clotheslined Sheamus to the floor. Triple H tackled him on the floor, then rammed him into the announcers table and ringside barrier. Triple H continued to beat Sheamus on the floor, then up the aisle. Triple H took him back to the ring and hit a spinebuster. Triple H went for a Pedigree, but couldn't hook it due to his left arm being injured. Sheamus broke out and knocked Triple H to the floor. Sheamus hit a double axhandle on the floor, then tossed him back first into the barrier. Sheamus threw him into the barrier two more times.
Sheamus stomped Triple H on the floor, then tossed him into the barrier again. Sheamus rolled Triple H back into the ring and hit an elbow to the throat. Sheamus punched Triple H on the mat and got a two count. Sheamus delivered a knee to the head, then used his knee to drive Triple H's head into the mat. Sheamus delivered a kneedrop, then got a two count. Sheamus pounded Triple H in a corner, then hit a kneedrop for a two count. Triple H tried to fight up, but Sheamus knocked him to the mat with a double sledge, then applied a chinlock. Triple H back suplexed out of it, and they went back to the floor. Sheamus hit the neckbreaker on the outside.
Back in the ring, Sheamus ran into a Triple H boot. Sheamus charged again, but Triple H sidestepped him and sent him shoulder first into the ringpost. Triple H hit a DDT, but then rolled on the mat, clutching the back of his head in pain after hitting it on the mat doing the move. Sheamus gave Triple H a side backbreaker for a two count. Sheamus went to the floor and got his pipe. Sheamus got in the ring, but Triple H hit him in the gut. Triple H hit a facebuster on the knee, but Sheamus came back with a pipe shot to the head. Sheamus covered, but Triple H kicked out at two. For some reason, the referee put the pipe at ringside. Sheamus set up Triple H for the Pale Justice crucifix Bomb, but Triple H slid out of it. Sheamus charged, and Triple H backdropped Sheamus to the floor.
Triple H went to the outside, but Sheamus hit him in the gut. Sheamus went under the ring for a kendo stick. Triple H gave a drop toe hold to a charging Sheamus, sending him into the ring steps. Triple H picked up the kendo stick and blasted Sheamus in the back of the head with it, then across the back, then across the stomach. Triple H blasted him with it over and over, with Sheamus laid out in the middle of the aisle. They went up the ramp, and Triple H went for a Pedigree, but Sheamus backdropped him on the metal ramp. Sheamus hit Triple H with a pump kick. There were some big welts on Sheamus' back. Sheamus dragged Triple H back to the ring, then hit another pump kick. Sheamus stared at Triple H while Triple H pulled himself up in a corner. Triple H shoved the referee away as he checked on him. Triple H gave Sheamus a crotch chop. Sheamus hit a pump kick in the corner. Triple H stumbled out and Sheamus hit another pump kick and got the pin at the sixteen minute mark.
Winner: Sheamus.
Triple H refused to be stretchered out of the ring, and instead walked out with the help of trainers and referees. As he got to the stage, Sheamus came back out and hit another pump kick. Triple H was put in a neckbrace and placed on a stretcher and carried out.
Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed Edge. Noting you could win a steel cage match by pinfall, submission or escaping the cage, Edge said that he was not going to let Jericho escape the cage, and that he wasn't even going to try to escape the cage.
Women's Champion Michelle McCool vs. Beth Phoenix in an Extreme Makeover match.
There was a table of makeup items, as well as household items like a mop and ironing board at ringside. McCool was accompanied by Layla and Vickie Guerrero. Phoenix and McCool locked up, and McCool hit a knee to the body and some forearms, but Phoenix rolled up McCool for a two count, then hit a second rope clothesline. Phoenix hit a forearm on the floor after McCool rolled outside. Layla grabbed a broom and went for Phoenix, but Beth grabbed it from her and chased her through the ring. This allowed McCool to get a can of hairspray to blind Phoenix with. McCool then used an ironing board, hitting her with it and stomping on it after laying it on top of Phoenix. Michelle wore Phoenix down with a bodyscissors. Michelle was handed an iron to use, but Vickie was holding the cord, so she stopped short with it, allowing Phoenix to roll her up for a two count. McCool went back to the ironing board, dropkicking it into Phoenix in a corner.
McCool went to ringside and got another ironing board. As she got in the ring, Phoenix dropkicked her back to the floor. Layla and Vickie grabbed Beth, and McCool went for the hairspray again. However, Beth moved and Michelle blinded her friends at ringside. Phoenix slammed McCool into the makeup table, then tossed her back into the ring. Phoenix used a plastic mop bucket, hitting Michelle with it several times for a two count. Beth put two ironing boards next to each other in the ring, then set up to superplex her onto them. Vickie and Layla used a broom and mop to hit Phoneix in the legs as she set up for the move. This distraction allowed McCool to shove Phoenix off the ropes and onto the ironing boards. McCool got a two count. McCool went for a Faith Breaker, but Phoenix reversed it into a fireman's carry. Michelle fought out of it, but Phoenix transitioned into a Glamslam for the pin at the six minute mark.
Winner and new Women's Champion: Beth Phoenix.
Josh Mathews interviewed Chris Jericho. Jericho noted that one loss does not matter to his career, talking about his loss to Heath Slater last week on NXT. Jericho vowed to end Edge's career forever, and that the fans will no longer be able to chant for the spear. Jericho said it all ends tonight.
Chris Jericho vs. Edge in a Steel Cage match.
Edge limped his way to the ring, but smiled once he got in the cage. Jericho stalled for a long time before entering the cage. Jericho tried to bring a chair into the cage with him, but Edge hit a baseball slide, knocking him down. Edge rammed Jericho into the ringside barrier, then tossed him into the cage. Edge closed the door, and the bell rang. Jericho tried to climb out immediately, but Edge pulled him down by the trunks and worked him over in a corner. Jericho found back with a kick and went for a whip in the corner, but Edge reversed it and hit a clothesline. Edge catapulted Jericho into a corner, but Jericho leaped onto the ropes and tried to climb out. Edge pulled him back in, slamming him off the top rope.
Edge kicked Jericho and tossed him into the steel wall. Edge rubbed Jericho across the mesh, then went for a spear, but Jericho moved and Edge went head first into the steel. With Edge between the ropes and steel, Jericho hit a springboard dropkick from the middle rope. Jericho catapulted Edge throat first into the bottom rope, then pounded him with punches and stood on the side of his head. Jericho hit a back suplex for a two count. Jericho put Edge in a chinlock and trash talked him, saying "What are you going to do, Edge?" Edge punched out of the hold, but Jericho hit a kneelift. Edge reversed a whip, but Jericho kicked away a backdrop. Jericho charged Edge, and Edge hit the backdrop, sending Jericho into the mesh wall.
Edge hit a pair of clotheslines, then a flapjack. Edge hit a faceplant, and got a two count. Jericho came back with a bulldog, then went for a Lionsault. Edge rolled out of the way, and Jericho landed on his feet, then ran for the ropes and started to climb out. Edge got up on the ropes to stop him. They fought on the top rope, and Jericho took Edge to the mat with a spinebuster, then rolled into a Walls Of Jericho. Edge made the ropes, and pulled himself up on them to break the hold. Jericho tried to reapply, but Edge rolled forward, sending Jericho into the cage wall. Edge hit a reverse facebuster for a two count. Edge went for the Impaler DDT, but Jericho tripped out of it and went for the Walls of Jericho. Edge kicked it away, then hit Jericho with a boot to the face.
Edge measured for a spear, and Jericho went for the door, sliding out the bottom rope. The door opened, and Jericho got halfway out, but Edge grabbed him. Jericho grabbed a chair from the floor and tried to use it, but Edge grabbed it and tossed it away, into the cage. Jericho then grabbed the cage door and slammed it on Edge's head. Edge fell to the mat, and Jericho was free and clear to leave. Jericho started to walk out on the ringsteps, but then stopped and went back in the cage. Jericho ordered them to close the door, and Jericho picked up the chair. Jericho yelled "You want to end me?" and went for the chair shot. Edge ducked it, rebounded off the ropes and hit the spear. Jericho kicked out at two.
Edge was slow to get up, and as he picked Jericho up off the mat, Jericho hit a Codebreaker. Edge kicked out at two. Jericho went for another cover, but Edge kicked out again. Jericho started to climb out, and made it almost completely over before Edge pulled him back in. They battled on the top rope, and Edge fell, crotching himself on the top rope. Edge fell to the mat, and Jericho climbed over the top. Edge reached between the steel girders at the top of the cage to grab Jericho's arm. Edge pulled himself to the top of the cage, then pulled Jericho up top as well. They two sat on the top of the cage, exchanging punches. Jericho slid back into the cage, standing on the top rope. Jericho hit Edge's legs. Edge came back in and shoved Jericho to the mat. Edge was standing on the second rope. Jericho did a springboard off the adjacent second rope and gave Edge a Codebreaker into the ring for a two count.
Jericho yelled at Edge to stay down, but he got up, so Jericho chopblocked his leg. Jericho called him an idiot and said he "had his chance" and went for the chair. Jericho went to hit Edge's leg, but Edge moved out of the way. Edge hit a burst of offense, flinging Jericho into the cage repeatedly. Edge tossed Jericho into the cage again, and Jericho jumped up on the ropes and tries to climb out again. Edge went up after him, and rammed his head into the steel over and over. Edge yelled "Now it ends" and flung Jericho into the ring. Jericho crawled for the door, and Edge slammed the cage door on Jericho's leg. Edge wrenched Jericho's injured ankle. Edge grabbed it and wrenched it again, then stomped it. Edge measured Jericho and hit a spear. Edge got the pin at the twenty minute mark.
Winner: Edge.
A video package on the events leading to the WWE Title match were shown.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Batista in a Last Man Standing match.
Batista had his "spotlight" entrance, and a good crowd reaction. Cena's entrance got easily the biggest reaction of the show, but then there was also a big "Cena sucks" chant. They did the "big match" intros here. They locked up, and Cena immediately hit a flying shoulderblock after dodging a forearm. Batista regrouped on the floor and got back in. Batista missed a punch and Cena hit a shoulderblock again. Batista went to the floor and got a chair. He got in, and Cena dodged a chairshot and hit some punches. Cena hit a bulldog, then a fisherman's suplex. Cena whipped Batista into a corner, but ran into an elbow. Batista nailed Cena with a clothesline. Cena got up at five and Batista hit a running kick. Cena grabbed Batista and tried to hoist him for an Attitude Adjustment, but Batista blocked it and threw Cena into the ringpost. Batista clipped Cena's leg, then dropkicked his shin. Batista yanked Cena throat first across the second rope, then stood on the floor and yanked Cena's leg across the ring apron.
Batista grabbed a chair and hit Cena in the leg with it from the floor. Back in the ring, Batista put Cena's leg on the bottom rope and dropped his weight on it twice. Batista put Cena's leg over the middle rope and kicked it, then hit a short arm clothesline. Cena got up limping and Batista shoved him down, then hit a vertical suplex. Cena got up, and Batista swept his leg out, then stomped it. Cena rolled to the floor, and Batista stood on his head, pushing it against the ring apron. On the outside, Cena hit some punches, then reversed a whip attempt and sent Batista into the ring steps.
Back in the ring, Batista swept the leg and applied a figure four leglock. They noted that Batista was taught by Ric Flair. Cena struggled in the hold and then reversed the hold. Batista got out of the hold, and the referee counted both men down. They got up at six, then clotheslines each other back down. They got up and Cena went into his usual sequence of shoulderblocks, back suplex into a powerbomb and the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop. Batista rolled to the floor. Cena went after him, and Batista reached under the ring and pulled out the turnbuckle wrench. Batista hit Cena in the gut with it. Back in the ring, Batista tried to use a chair, but Cena grabbed him and gave Batista an Attitude Adjustment onto the chair. Batista was getting up at the nine count, so Cena went to the top rope. Batista shoved the referee into the ropes, and Cena fell off the ropes. Batista hit a spear. Cena got up at eight, so Batista speared him again. Cena got up at eight and Batista punched him in the back.
Batista went under the ring and emptied a tool box, then pulled out a table. Batista set up the table in the corner and went for Cena. Cena tripped Batista and tried for an STF, but Batista kicked Cena away, sending him crashing through the table. The referee counted and Cena rolled to the floor, and his feet, at the eight count. Batista went after him, picking Cena up and ramming him back first into the ringpost. Some kid yelled "I hate you Batista" and Batista yelled "I hate you to!" Cena was down on the floor, and Batista grabbed him and whipped him into the ringside barrier, breaking it. Cena managed to get up at eight. Batista cleared the ringside table, actually throwing a monitor right between Michael Cole and Matt Striker. Batista put the ringsteps right next to the table.
Batista pulled Cena up on the steps, teasing that he would Batista Bomb him through the announce table. Cena blocked it, and gave Batista the Attitude Adjustment off the ringsteps and through the table. Cena got back in the ring, and Batista managed to get to his feel, using the ring barrier to support himself, at nine. Cena screamed at the official that it should have been ten. Batista slumped into one of the announcers chairs. Cena put a table in the ring and set it up. Cena got Batista in the ring and set up for an Attitude Adjustment, but Batista shoved Cena into the ropes and hit a spinebuster, putting Cena through the table. Cena got up at nine. Both men were holding the ropes to keep their feet. Batista went for a Batista Bomb and hit it. Cena pushed up and got to his feet at nine again.
Batista shoved a section of the ringsteps in the ring. Batista went for a Batista Bomb on the steps, but Cena tripped him and applied the STF. Batista tapped, but it didn't matter. Batista kept tapping, then reached the ropes, but Cena just kept the hold on. Batista went limp, and Cena released the hold. Batista slowly got up at the count of five and barely got his feet under him at nine. Cena went to the floor and pulled Batista crotch first into the ring post. Cena took a roll of duct tape and taped Batista's feet together with the ringpost between his legs. Batista struggled to break the duct tape, but couldn't do it. Cena mocked Batista with a "You Can't See Me" gesture as the referee counted to ten at the twenty-five minute mark.
Winner: John Cena.
Cena celebrated with Batista still tied up, and did another "You Can't See Me" to a frustrated Batista before leaving.
2011 - WWE held their annual Draft edition of Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Raleigh, North Carolina and your announcers are Josh ‘Stand Back . . . there are no Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ Mathews, Jerry ‘At least our sport will be playing in September after our draft’ Lawler and Michael ‘In this Man Cave, I feel like I could be a Ranger’ Cole.
The show starts with the 20 man battle royal already in progress.
Match Number One: Twenty Man InterBrand Battle Royal
There is pandemonium in the ring as the brands pair off. Kane is eliminated by a handful of red shirts. Cody and Daniel Bryan battle in the ring. Show and Khali battle in the corner and Show has the advantage. Show and Khali exchange head butts. Slater joins in and helps the man who won the tag titles from him last week. Now it is time for Khali to be eliminated by the blue shirts. Sheamus tries to eliminate Wade Barrett but Barrett holds on to the ropes.
Drew McIntyre has Daniel Bryan on his shoulders but Bryan holds on to the ropes and he rolls back into the ring. Vladimir Kozlov was eliminated. Cody and Drew work on Yoshi. We see footage of the Kozlov elimination. Mark Henry works over Kofi Kingston for a moment. Ezekiel Jackson is eliminated by Mark Henry and Evan Bourne.
Show grabs Bryan by the throat. Sheamus holds on to the apron and ring skirt to stay in the match. Bourne saves Sheamus from Clay. Heath Slater is eliminated. Chris Masters has been eliminated by Mark Henry. Wade Barrett is eliminated. Kofi kicks Santino and Yoshi to stay in the ring. Ted DiBiase is eliminated. Ryan kicks Rhodes but Drew stop him. Henry and Clay fight by the ropes and both men are eliminated. Show grabs Yoshi and head butts him.
Bryan with English uppercuts to Cody. Yoshi is eliminated by Show. Sheamus tries to eliminate Cody Rhodes but Drew makes the save. Drew tries for the Future Shock DDT on Sheamus but Sheamus escapes. Drew kicks Sheamus while Cody kicks him. Sheamus with a back body drop to Drew. Drew ducks down and Sheamus goes to the apron. Sheamus with a head butt and Drew with a knee and Sheamus is eliminated.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Daniel Bryan is hanging on Show but Show falls back and may have squashed Bryan. Mason Ryan punches Kofi and Santino joins in. Drew tries to eliminate Bourne but Drew is eliminated instead. Bryan saves Bourne from Rhodes. Bryan with kicks to Cody. Santino is on the apron and he tries to give Show a Cobra but Show hits Santino with his cobra and Santino is eliminated. Bryan decides to kick Show but Show pushes him off.
Rhodes is proud of his current brand but Cody Rhodes is eliminated by Mason Ryan. Daniel Bryan is eliminated by Kofi Kingston.
We are down to four with Big Show and Kofi Kingston from Smackdown and Mason Ryan and Evan Bourne from Raw.
Kofi goes after Bourne while Show grabs Ryan. Ryan gets out of a slam attempt. Bourne tries to hip toss Kofi over the top rope. Kofi gets sent to the apron but he blocks a kick from Bourne. Bourne stays in the ring. Kofi leaps back into the ring and Bourne with a kick to Kofi.
Now it is time for Show and Ryan. Show grabs Bourne and throws him into the corner. Bourne leaps over Ryan but Show catches Bourne and eliminates him. Show and Kofi go after Ryan. Ryan pushes Kofi into the corner. Kofi with a pendulum kick and Show pushes Ryan over the top rope to eliminate him.
Winner: Team Smackdown
We go to the Keno Board of WWE Superstars to find out who goes from Raw to Smackdown.
The first draft pick is going to be John Cena.
The Smackdown locker room is ecstatic while the Raw locker room is in shock. Cena puts on his new blue shirt.
This is the second time that John Cena has been drafted. He was the first pick of the 2005 Draft.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that WWE has the number one kids game app in a few countries.
Todd Grisham is in the interview area with John Cena and he is in blue. Todd asks Cena for his impressions. Cena says that the biggest move in WWE history has happened. Cena makes a Star Wars and Back to the Future reference because he will be on Syfy. He says that he is going back to Smackdown. Cena says that life changes. Cena says that the biggest change happens on Sunday. He walks into the cage as a member of Smackdown and he will bring the WWE Championship back to the Smack.
Miz shows up in his red shirt and he says that after Sunday, he won’t be able to see Cena on Raw.
Jerry and Josh talk about what it would be like if John Cena takes the WWE Title to Smackdown.
Michael Cole gloms the spotlight and talks about his match later tonight with Jim Ross.
Josh and Jerry talk about what happened with R Truth last week.
R Truth comes out and he is not wondering what’s up. He tells everyone to shut up. He tells everyone not to boo him, they should be booing themselves.
Truth says that he wants to talk about everyone. He wants to talk to everyone who is listening. Last week, John Morrison . . . his friend . . . his pal. Truth tells them to stop with the what. He says that Morrison came out to challenge him for his spot in the WWE Title Match at Extreme Rules. Truth is not happy with the fans but he won’t let them get to him. Truth wants to know why Morrison challenged him. It was because of the fans. Truth asks rhetorically why did he accept the challenge. He did it because the fans wanted him to. Truth says that he lost because of them.
Truth says that he is pissed off. He has tried to please the fans and it ain’t got him nowhere. He hasn’t gotten didly squat. He was dancing and rapping every week so the fans could do it. Truth tells them that they need some rhythm because they are off beat and out of tune.
Truth does a little recreation of Little Jimmy’s reaction to What’s Up. Truth asks if Jimmy singing what’s up won him any titles. Since it didn’t, Little Jimmy can wipe his nose and shut up.
Truth says that for ten years, he chose the fans. Now, he is officially giving everyone the boot. He says goodbye in a few different languages.
Truth says that ten years of frustration and disappointment but now it is marvelous. For the first time in his life, the Truth has set him free.
Truth is attacked from behind by John Morrison who stole his title match and now, his spotlight. Some referees come to break things up but Morrison acts like things are under control but he runs down the ramp to attack Truth some more.
We go to commercial.
We are back with another doll being destroyed by Kharma.
We see what happened during last week’s LayCool counseling session.
Match Number two: Eve Torres versus Layla in a Draft Pick match
They lock up and Layla with a knee and forearms. Eve with a flatline for a near fall. Michelle yells at Layla while Michael Cole interrupts the match. Eve gets a three count with a rollup.
Winner: Eve
Michael Cole continues to talk and he says that he has a pre-match stretching regimen for his match with Jim Ross.
Michelle goes after Layla after the match, but Layla sends Michelle into the ringside barrier and she slams Michelle’s head into the barrier a few times. Layla is so distraught over what she is doing to Michelle but it doesn’t stop her from throwing Michelle over the announce table.
It is time to go to the random Keno board of doom and the newest member of Raw is: Rey Mysterio. This is the third time that Rey Mysterio has been drafted. He was the first pick in 2008 and the twelfth pick in 2009.
The Raw locker room is happy at the new addition.
Rey puts on his Raw shirt.
Jim Ross is in the back stretching for his match with Michael Cole and Lawler is afraid that JR is winded.
We are back and Cody Rhodes is in the interview area with Todd Grisham. Todd asks Cody for his thoughts about Rey going to Raw. Now that Rey and him are on different shows, he is going to give Rey a going away present for Rey in their Falls Count Anywhere match. That present is a new mask. He is going to give Rey Mysterio the mask that an anesthesiologist puts over your face before they wheel you into the hospital. He says that Rey can do a rana, West Coast Pop, or 619 in the hospital. Cody then quotes Rey’s entrance music to end the promo.
Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Sheamus in a Draft Pick Match
They lock up and Sheamus with forearms and knees to Kofi. Sheamus chokes Kofi with his knee. Sheamus puts Kofi in the ropes and he connects with forearms across the chest. Sheamus with a slingshot shoulder tackle for a near fall. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline to Kofi. Sheamus with an arm bar and chin lock. Sheamus charges into the corner but Kofi moves and Sheamus hits the ring post. Kofi with a cross body for a near fall.
Kofi leaps into the corner and he punches Sheamus but Sheamus with a running double sledge. Kofi avoids the pump kick and Kofi hits two Troubles in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
It is time to find out who goes to Smackdown. We go to DraftTron 2011 and the pick is . . . Randy Orton. This is the second time that Randy Orton has been drafted. He was the fourth pick in the 2005 draft when he went from Raw to Smackdown.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Booker T joins Josh and Lawler at the announce table.
We see the moment that made a number of British people renounce their citizenship when Michael Cole was ‘knighted’.
Match Number Four: Jim Ross with Jerry Lawler versus Michael Cole with Jack Swagger
Cole mocks Jim Ross and so does Swagger on the apron. Cole does his best Kamala impression and compares Ross to the Ugandan giant. JR takes a few punches at Cole but he misses. Cole goes to the floor and he puts on a cowboy hat. Cole stomps on the hat and that is not a good thing to do in front of Jim Ross. Cole wants to be toweled off since he has done so much in this match. Cole does some push ups. Ross grabs Cole by the straps and sends him to the mat. Cole wants a time out.
Swagger gets a stool and a drink (where is John Morrison?). Cole tries to slam Ross but Cole can’t keep him up and he falls to the mat. Ross punches Cole and Cole tries to leave the ring but Lawler sends Cole back into the ring. Swagger attacks Lawler and sends him into the ring post.
Meanwhile, Ross continues to punch Cole until Swagger attacks Ross and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Jim Ross by disqualification
Swagger puts Ross in the ankle lock while we see Cole’s bloody lip. Cole yells at Ross while Swagger puts Ross back in the ankle lock. Cole whips Ross with his belt. Lawler recovers and he attacks Cole and Swagger, clotheslining Swagger over the top rope to the floor. Lawler grabs the belt and he whips Cole before Cole finally gets out of the ring.
The computer that makes everyone wish Skynet became self aware. We have an e-mail that Josh reads. The match on Sunday will be a Tag Team Country Whipping Match.
Miz is with Scott Sanford and Alex Riley is there too. Alex turns the mic flag around. Miz says that he thought everyone would talk about the draft, or John Morrison and Truth. Maybe it is next week when we celebrate Rock’s birthday. The most electrifying birthday in birthatainment. No one will be talking about the Rock’s birthday next week. There will be something bigger to talk about. He will find a way to win on Sunday at Extreme Rules. John Cena will go to Smackdown a loser. John Morrison will always be a loser.
Every Raw fan and USA executive should be praying that he does not get drafted to Smackdown because within one month, Monday Night Raw will be canceled. Miz tells us who he is and that he is AWESOME.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Randy Orton beating CM Punk last week and the Newxus’ attack on Randy Orton only to see Mason Ryan and CM Punk talk long enough to allow Orton to recover and hit an RKO on Punk.
Match Number Five: Randy Orton versus Dolph Ziggler in a Two Draft Pick Match
Orton with a slam and a leaping knee drop for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick and neck breaker for a near fall. Ziggler with a fireman’s carry for a near fall. Ziggler with a chin lock and arm bar on Orton. Orton gets to his feet and he punches Ziggler. Orton with a back elbow and Ziggler goes to the floor. Vickie checks on Ziggler but Ziggler with a thumb to the eye and Orton is drop kicked into the seats.
The referee continues his count and Orton struggles to get back into the ring and he makes it in time and he hits a Thesz Press followed by clotheslines and a power slam. Orton with an Olympic Slam for a near fall. Orton with an Irish whip but Ziggler gets a boot up. Orton with a back breaker.
Orton twists into the RKO push ups and he sees Vickie out of the corner of his eye and Ziggler gets a near fall with a rollup. Orton with an RKO for the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
It is time to see which two people will be going to Smackdown.
According to Draft-a-Matrix 2011 . . .
We have to wait because CM Punk has come out. He finds it extremely ironic that the pay per view on Sunday is called Extreme Rules because they are going to get extreme, but the rules are different. The only rule is that you have to answer a ten count. He is going to hit Randy with so much that he will have no one else to blame but himself. A simple RKO out of nowhere will not get you the one, two, three. He will send Randal to Smackdown beaten up and a shell of what he used to be.
Orton says that there are going to be many things that he will miss not being on Raw. One thing he won’t miss is having to hear Punk ramble on and on. Punk won’t be talking after Sunday. He won’t be walking, he won’t be eating, he won’t be drinking, he won’t be moving. All Punk will be doing is sleeping. Unconscious sleeping because he will be the last man standing.
We will find out who gets drafted when we come back from commercial.
We are back and during the commercial break we found out that Mark Henry was the fourth pick. This is the third time that Mark has been drafted. In 2002, he was the seventeenth pick and in 2008, he was the first pick of the Supplemental Draft.
The fifth draft pick was Sin Cara. This is the first time that Sin Cara was drafted since he just debuted on WWE television.
Match Number Six: Wade Barrett versus Rey Mysterio in a Two Draft Pick Match
Barrett with a kick and forearm to Rey followed by a head butt and knee. Barrett with an Irish whip but Rey with a kick and forearms. Barrett with a Bossman slam for a near fall. Barrett with a kick and punches to Rey and the referee warns Barrett. Barrett chokes Rey in the corner and gets a near fall. Wade with a knee to the back and then he stretches Rey.
Rey with a series of kicks to Barrett followed by a springboard cross body for a near fall. Barrett runs Rey into the corner and then Barrett puts Rey on the top turnbuckle. Barrett sets for a superplex but Rey with punches and a head butt. Rey with a head scissors that sends Barrett into the ropes and Rey hits the 619. Rey goes up top and hits a dive for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
We see that the sixth draft pick will be Big Show. This is a record fifth time for Big Show to be drafted. He was the twelfth pick in 2002, the seventh pick in 2005, the second pick in 2009, and the second pick last year.
The seventh draft pick is Alberto Del Rio. This is the first time that Alberto Del Rio has been drafted.
Alberto is in the back with Ricardo and Brodus. Brodus wants to know what this means for him. Alberto ignores Brodus and Alberto tells Ricardo through clenched teeth that it is his destiny.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Mumbles Cole is back in the Bell Jar.
It is time to run through the card for Extreme Rules.
Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long comes out and he says that the main event is a six man tag match for the final draft pick. Team Raw will be CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, and Miz versus John Cena, Christian, and Mark Henry.
Match Number Seven: CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, and Miz with Alex Riley and Ricardo Rodriguez versus John Cena, Christian, and Mark Henry in a Draft Pick Match
Miz and Christian start things off and they lock up and Miz with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Miz with a kick and side head lock followed by a flying forearm. Cena is tagged in and Miz gets out of the ring very fast as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cena with an Irish whip and suplex to Miz. Punk tags in and he hits a hip toss and drop kick. Henry is tagged in and he hits a clothesline in the corner. Henry with a head butt and punch. Henry stands on Punk’s chest. Christian tags in and he hits a running forearm and then he goes to the turnbuckles and hits a back elbow. Punk with a back kick and he gets Christian on his shoulder but he avoids the Go to Sleep. Punk with a round kick and then Del Rio tags in and hits a drop kick and gets a near fall.
Del Rio punches Christian and then he Irish whips Christian into the corner and hits an enzuigiri. Miz tags back in and he kicks Christian in the ribs. Miz with a boot to the head and he gets a near fall. Miz with a rear chin lock on Christian and then he applies a side head lock. Christian with punches but Miz pulls Christian down by his shirt. Punk tags in and he kicks Christian in the hamstring followed by a leg drop and gets a near fall.
Punk with a hard Irish whip and then he tags Miz back into the match. Miz with a kick to the ribs and then he kicks Christian in the head a few more times. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Miz gets out of the hold and then he hits the Awesome Clothesline and gets a near fall.
Del Rio tags in and he kicks Christian and then he goes for a divorce court with his knee and then he applies an arm bar. Christian gets to the ropes and Del Rio eventually releases the hold. Del Rio punches Christian and he puts Christian on the turnbuckles. Christian punches Del Rio off the turnbuckles and then he hits the tornado DDT and both men are down.
Miz tags in and so does Cena. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Mark Henry with a boot to John Cena. Henry presses Christian over his head on the floor and drops him on the ring steps.
Miz and Cena get to their feet and Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale and gets the three count.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio, CM Punk, and The Miz
The eighth and final draft pick tonight goes to Raw and it is . . .
John Cena. This is the third time that John Cena has been drafted. He was the first pick in 2005 as well as this year. He is the first person to be drafted twice in the same year.
After the match, John Cena attacks Miz and CM Punk and sends Punk to the floor. Cena hits the Blue Thunder Bomb on Miz and then throws off his shirt before hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle and then he tosses Miz onto Del Rio, Ricardo, Punk, and Riley.
2012 - WWE broadcast WWE NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are wild, young, and live on tape on the internet from Grand Rapids, Michigan and your announcers are not here for a variety of reasons which we will get to in a bit.
Matt welcomes everyone to NXT and he mentions that because of what happened on Monday night, Josh Mathews is not available to work on commentary. Matt says that he will be doing commentary tonight for the show. He will have help on the show and he wishes Josh a speedy recovery.
Because of their mistreatment of WWE personnel, Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks have been fired from NXT. He has more good news. Since they are here to promote the future of WWE, he wants everyone to congratulate Darren Young and Titus O’Neil because they are on their way to Smackdown. Matt says that there are some roster spots open and William Regal is looking for new talent to bring to NXT so we might see some new faces on NXT.
Matt brings out William Regal’s specially appointed match coordinator and it is Hornswoggle.
Matt welcomes him back and Hornswoggle says that there will be no challenges, redemption points, or Titus O’Neil this week.
Hornswoggle says that he is making a special tag match with two very impressive rookies joining in one of the greatest rivalries in NXT. Percy Watson and Tyson Kidd will face Johnny Curtis and Michael McGuillicutty.
Hornswoggle wants Derrick Bateman to come out and he goes to the ramp. Derrick comments on Hornswoggle’s dance moves. Derrick says that he is happy that Titus and Darren are on Smackdown, even though he beat both of them and never got his shot on Smackdown.
JTG comes out and he attacks Derrick Bateman from behind. JTG says that this show is whack. It used to be good when JTG was on it every week. It used to be hot when he was main eventing. Now that William Regal has took over, you would think that Regal would contact him, not even a text.
JTG says that he is not going to ask the breakdancing elf for a match. JTG demands a match.
Derrick Bateman throws JTG to the floor and Hornswoggle makes a match with JTG facing Derrick Bateman.
Match Number One: JTG versus Derrick Bateman
Bateman with a running drop kick followed by punches to JTG. Bateman with a chop and then he holds on to JTG and chops him again. Derrick with a suplex for a near fall. JTG holds on to the ropes but the referee warns Bateman. JTG with a kick but Bateman with a flying clothesline.
Bateman with a running back elbow and then he clotheslines JTG over the top rope to the floor. Bateman goes to the apron and he tries for a running drop kick off the apron and JTG sees him coming and swats Bateman away. JTG rolls Bateman into the ring and gets a near fall. JTG punches Bateman and kicks him. JTG with a slam and he gets a near fall. JTG with a reverse chin lock but Bateman gets to his knee. JTG with knees to stop Bateman’s attempts to get out of the hold.
JTG slaps Bateman in the head and then hits a cross arm neck breaker and he gets a near fall. JTG with a modified abdominal stretch and key lock. Bateman backs JTG into the corner and gets out of the hold. Bateman with a boot to JTG followed by a running clothesline.
Bateman with a cross body but JTG rolls through. JTG with a belly-to-back set up into a neck breaker for a near fall. JTG slaps Bateman but Derrick with the snap mare DDT for the three count.
Winner: Derrick Bateman
Johnny Curtis and Maxine walk in and Scott Armstrong tells them that they need to follow the rules so as long as they are in the building, they have to be handcuffed. Maxine tries to sweet talk Scott and tell him how good a referee he is. Johnny joins in the flattery and Scott gets freaked out and he applies the handcuffs.
Hornswoggle greets them too and lets Johnny and Maxine know that he is match coordinator. Kaitlyn and Tamina will face Maxine in a tag match. Hornswoggle says that Maxine looks good in handcuffs.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Matt brings up the issues between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. We have a video package.
Tyson Kidd is on the phone and Percy Watson stops by to talk about their tag match. Tyson says that he is cursed because of Trent Barreta and Justin Gabriel. Percy says that he is also bad luck. Kaitlyn stops by and she says that her and Derrick were watching his recent matches and they were impressed. Kaitlyn asks Tyson what the name of his new submission hold is and he says that he hasn’t given it a name yet. Tyson is going to let the WWE Universe name it on Twitter.
Natalya stops by and wonders what the ‘relationship’ is between Kaitlyn and Tyson. Kaitlyn says that they are just friends. Natalya wonders if they are ‘friends’ like Kaitlyn is with Derrick. Natalya says that she does not like Maxine but Maxine is right about Kaitlyn and she calls her a snake. Natalya tells Kaitlyn she will see her in the ring later.
Kaitlyn wonders why all of the girls on NXT are crazy.
Tyson and Percy talk about the drama with the divas and we go to commercial.
We are back and Maxine wants the handcuffs removed so she can use the bathroom. Natalya stops by and she tells Maxine that she cannot stand her. She calls her egotistical and bossy before calling Maxine a mutt. However, they have to face Tamina and Kaitlyn tonight. She wants to knock Kaitlyn down a few pegs.
Scott Armstrong tells Johnny that he has to be with Maxine.
Match Number Two: Kaitlyn and Tamina versus Natalya and Maxine with Johnny Curtis
Tamina and Kaitlyn with drop kicks to Natalya and Maxine, sending them to the floor. Natalya and Kaitlyn start things off once things get under control. Kaitlyn with a waist lock but Natalya sends her to the mat. Natalya chokes Kaitlyn in the ropes and sends her back to the mat. Natalya with a forearm to the back and then slams Kaitlyn’s face into the mat. Natalya runs Kaitlyn into the turnbuckles and tags in Maxine.
Maxine with chops and Natalya tags back in. Natalya with an abdominal stretch that she has modified by holding the far leg. Natalya tries for a slam but Kaitlyn escapes and hits a cross body for a near fall. Maxine tags back in and they send Kaitlyn back to the mat. Maxine goes to the turnbuckles and tries for a Thesz Press but Maxine with a guillotine choke and body scissors after Kaitlyn catches Maxine. Natalya makes the tag and she slams Kaitlyn’s head into the mat.
Natalya with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Kaitlyn with a body scissors and gets a near fall with a rollup. Tamina and Maxine tag in and Tamina with a flying clothesline and tries for a backslide but Maxine blocks it. Tamina with a kick and leg drop before going to the apron and up top for the Superfly Splash and she hits it for the three count.
Winners: Kaitlyn and Tamina
After the match, Matt reminds Maxine that they must be in the same place at the same time so she cannot leave ringside because of Johnny’s match. Maxine is invited to join him at the announce table or she can always be fired.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see Percy Watson on the ground after being attacked.
Match Number Three: Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty versus Tyson Kidd and Percy Watson
Before the match starts, Hornswoggle announces that because of the attack by Michael McGillicutty, the main event will be a singles match between Tyson Kidd and Johnny Curtis.
Match Number Three (take Two): Johnny Curtis versus Tyson Kidd
Kidd with a waist lock and Curtis tries to get to the ropes. Kidd with a side head lock take down and Curtis with a head scissors but Kidd escapes and Curtis goes to the turnbuckles. Curtis with kicks and a back body drop and knee drop for a near fall. Curtis works on the wrist. Kidd with a forearm and Arabian press into an arm drag. Kidd with a kick but Curtis goes to the floor before Kidd can do any more damage.
Kidd misses a baseball slide and then he is sent to the apron. Kidd with a rana off the apron and we go to commercial.
We are back and Curtis with a wrist lock and he uses his knee for extra pressure. We see footage from the commercial break when Curtis got his knee up on an elbow drop. Curtis with a near fall and he returns to the key lock. Kidd tries for a head scissors but Curtis is able to maintain the leverage.
Kidd gets to his feet and Curtis with a hammer lock suplex. Curtis continues to work on the arm and uses the ropes for extra leverage. Curtis with a short arm clothesline followed by a knee drop to the arm. Kidd with a kick to the back but Curtis responds with a European uppercut.
Curtis gets a near fall and then he stands over Kidd in the corner. Curtis wraps the arm in the ropes again and the referee warns him. Curtis with a rake of the eyes followed by a snap mare and a key lock. Kidd gets back to his feet and he kicks Curtis. Each man tries for a clothesline and each man goes down.
Kidd gets back to his feet first and he kicks Curtis. Kidd with a spinning back heel kick and a drop kick to the head for a near fall. Kidd goes to the apron and then he goes up top but Curtis stops him. Curtis with a superplex and Curtis crawls over to cover Kidd but Kidd kicks out at two.
Curtis goes after Kidd as he rolls away. Kidd with a kick and he goes to the apron and then he hits an enzuigiri. Kidd goes up top again and he hits a blockbuster and gets a near fall. Kidd looks around and he tries for the Sharpshooter but Curtis with an inside cradle to counter for a near fall.
Curtis with a wheelbarrow suplex and Curtis gets a near fall as Kidd is able to get his shoulder off the mat. Curtis goes up top for the leg drop but Kidd rolls out of the way. Kidd with the triangle choke and modified reverse Sharpshooter to get Curtis to tap out.
Winner: Tyson Kidd
We go to credits.
2012 - FOX News picked up a story today on Dwayne Johnson showing interest in getting involved with politics.
Johnson claimed that he wouldn't rule it out, but to be involved, you'd have to be passionate about politics, noting that there are other ways he can help the country.
Just a few days back on Twitter, in response to a fan saying that Johnson should play Barack Obama in a film on the President's life, Johnson responded, "But I plan on being President too."
2013 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Impact Wrestling!
We're live in Indiana, Pennsylvania (not Nebraska, Wisconsin like last week) and James Storm comes out to the ring as we see clips of AJ Styles beating him last week, and he says that he wanted to fight AJ and he brought the fight. Storm spots AJ in the crowd and says that his new finishing move hurt like hell and AJ was the better man last week, but he's not going to cry over spilled milk because he's a beer drinker. Storm says he'd rather deal with the Aces & Eights idiots who jumped from behind, and if they wanted to fight, all they needed to do is call him, tweet him, or whatever. Storm says he knows that if he calls one of them out, they're all going to come out, but they can bring as many out as they want because he'll take one or two of them out in the process. Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian come out and Daniels says they want to weigh in on the matter since they were also victims of Aces & Eights. Hogan doesn't have an answer to the Aces & Eights problem, but the two smartest men in the room know the answer to the problem, because Aces & Eights has been playing the numbers game, but they know the magic number and it's four. Not just any four, but Fortune. Kazarian says that all AJ needs to do is forgive himself for giving them cheapshots last week because he forgives them, then get away from the fartknockers in the audience and get in the ring with his boys Bad Influence and reform Fortune tonight since it's the right thing to do. AJ doesn't respond, but Storm says everyone wants them to shut up, so Kazarian tells "Travis Tritt" that the fans don't concern them and Storm is irrelevant, and this leads to Storm jumping Daniels and getting laid out 2-on-1 while AJ watches from amidst the fartknockers. Daniels and Kazarian leave as Aces & Eights comes out to the ring and surround Storm, Garett Bischoff and Wes Brisco get a table out from under the ring and set it up so Anderson can powerbomb Storm through it, but Joseph Park runs out and gets a couple of shots in before the gang overwhelms him and he gets laid out as well. Doc and Mike Knox get ready to double chokeslam Park through the table, but Bully Ray tells them to stop so he and Devon can give Park 3D through the table. In a nice touch, Park's hand is twitching as he lays on the mat with Aces & Eights standing over him as we go to commercial.
We're back, and Aces & Eights are still in the ring as Joseph Park is being carried out, and Bully Ray tells the crowd they said they weren't screwing around. He tells the fans to look around because there ain't no heroes left: no Samoa Joe, no Brutus Magnus, no James Storm, no Joseph Park, NOBODY. Last week, he called out one man (crowd chants for Hogan), and Bubba says that's right, he called out his next victim, Hulk Hogan. He tells "Dad" that he has until the end of the show to answer his challenge, because when you ride with Aces & Eights, you never walk alone.
We go to the announcers, who tell us that Hulk Hogan was here, but he left hours ago and we don't know why. Todd says we don't know if he's coming back, and Taz says there's no way because he's not dumb enough to show up.
We go to a video package that recaps Mickie's path back to a title shot, and she feels sorry for Velvet because she has to fight through an injury, but she needs to remind everyone of how good she is and it's her time to shine.
Taryn Terrell makes her way to the ring, and she faces Tara...NEXT!
Hulk Hogan returns to the building and the annoying dumbass with the camera tries to get some answers about where he went, but Hogan says to let it go and walks off.
Taryn Terrell vs Tara
Terrell goes nuts on Tara, beating her into the corner, hitting a rolling neckbreaker, and then a series of hairtosses. Terrell goes back after Terrell in the corner, but she gets hotshot off the top rope and Tara starts putting the boots to her and rams her face into the mat. Now Tara hairtosses her across the ring, ODB gives her a laying down of the law before Tara gives Terrell a catapult into the corner. Tara gets Terrell in a version of the Muta Lock and then snaps back on the knee and covers Terrell for a series of two counts. Terrell tries to mount a comeback, but Tara lifts her in the air by the neck and chokes her for a 4 count before just dropping her to the mat. That's some good power there by Tara. Tara is just toying with Terrell and doesn't even really seem to be trying too hard to cradle her on the pin attempts. Tara catapults Terrell into the bottom rope this time and gets another couple of 2 counts, but Terrell moves out of the way of a slingshot rolling legdrop and finally starts that comeback with a series of clotheslines and a verticla suplex. Terrell goes to the top for a flying bodypress, but she takes too long and Tara moves out of the way. Terrell hits hard and Tara trash talks her instead of going for the kill, and I justr KNOW that's going to come back to bite her. Tara picks Terrell up and hits a twisting side suplex, but again passes up the pin, takes her time to do the ass shaking moonsault, and gets rolled up for 3.
Winner: Taryn Terrell
I liked this match, I thought they told a good story of the veteran taking the rookie too lightly and getting caught because she screwed around instead of going for the kill.
Robbie E is backstage and tells Jesse Godderz that Rob Terry always said he knew Jesse had bigger arms and pecs than him, and when he beats Rob Terry tonight, he'll be on his way to becoming a bro on the level of George Washington, Al Bundy, and Oprah Winfrey. Jesse flexes and says he doesn't need Robbie's help...bro.
Rob Terry vs Jesse Godderz
Jesse flexes at the crowd, then turns around and gets his head taken off with a trilogy of clotheslines. Terry gets distracted briefly by Robbie E, but gets Jesse by the neck and tosses him across the ring by the neck. Robbie E distracts Terry again and this time Jesse is able to capitalize and blindside Terry by clipping his knee. That advantage lasts about thirty seconds before Terry goes back to manhandling Jesse. Jesse dropkicks Terry and gets him in a camel clutch while hammering forearms into his chest, he covers Terry but only get 1. Jesse comes off the middle rope, Terry catches him and pops him up into the powerslam, but Robbie E pulls the ref out of the ring at 2. Terry goes after Robbie E, Jesse tries to blindside him again, but Terry sees him coming and just LAUNCHES him into Robbie E, then he press slams Jesse into the ring, hits the spinebuster, and Jesse is out as Terry covers for 3.
Winner: Rob Terry
Terry reigns supreme again as Robbie and Jesse seethe at him from the top of the ramp and wonder what it will take to stop this monster.
Velvet Sky is backstage, and she's...uh...JUTTING!
Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels catch up backstage with Bobby Roode and asks him if he wants to reform Fortune. They say to forget about Storm, but if the three of them stand together, Daniels knows AJ will rejoin them. Roode seems to be considering it as Daniels and Kazarian leave, and we see Aries peeking around the corner with a knowing look on his face as he eavesdropped on their conversation. We look back at two weeks ago when Bully Ray defeated Jeff Hardy in Full Metal Mayhem to retain the TNA World Title, and Mike Tenay says that there are rumors that Jeff Hardy is thinking of walking away from the business. Taz says that comes as no surprise and tells Hardy do the smart thing and take his ball and go home.
We see a video package hyping the return of Chris Sabin, who will be back in the ring next week after two ACL tears put him on the shelf for the better part of the last two years. Great video package that got me psyched to see him come back.
Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez come out to the ring, and they'll defend the title against Bobby Roode and Austin Aries...NEXT!
Austin Aries comes up to Bobby Roode and says that if he wants to reform Fortune, that's his business since they're not really friends, just two dominant World Champions who make a dominant team. He asks how Daniels and Kazarian are such great wrestlers if Aries was the one who beat him for the title, and why Fortune disappeared if they were so awesome. Aries says he wants to be a World Tag Team Champion and wants Roode to do that with him, and if Roode screw him tonight, he's just screwing himself.
Speaking of Daniels and Kazarian, they join the broadcast team for our next match...
TNA World Tag Team Title Match: Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez vs Bobby Roode & Austin Aries
The crowd is solidly behind Aries as he locks up with Chavo and they trade some basic chain wrestling to start the match. Chavo finally has enough and starts pounding on Aries with right hands before planting him with a back suplex for 1. Aries tags Roode in and yells at Roode to get to it when he stops to glance down at Daniels and Kazarian. Roode comes in and immediately gets flattened by Hernandez, who bowls him over with a shoulderblock and a big splash for 2. Hernandez gets a delayed vertical suplex on Roode, then he no-sells Aries when he runs in and tries to chop Hernandez, who just pumps him up into the air and press slams him, Hernandez goes up the rampway and charges down for the flying shoulderblock, but Roode and Aries see him coming and dodge the shot, and Roode covers Hernandez for 2. Roode puts the boots to Hernandez and hits a vertical suplex so Aries can slingshot in with a rolling senton for 2. Now Hernandez is in the wrong part of town, as Roode hits a series of running kneestrikes to the gut and a Canadian legsweep for 2. Hernandez evades a double team attempt, clotheslines Roode, tosses Aries onto the corner, and tags in Chavo to clean house and hit some of his Amigos and a rolling front kick on Aries for 2. Chavo with a DDT on Roode for 2, Hernandez dumps Aries to the floor and sets Roode up for the Border Toss, but Daniels and Kazarian interject themselves and allow Roode to hit Hernandez with a psinebuster. Aries goes for the 450 splash, Hernandez kicks Roode into the corner and knocks Aries to the floor, then Daniels distracts the referee while Daniels tries to nail Hernandez, but Hernandez moves and Daniels accidentally lays Roode out. Chavo goes up top and hits the frogsplash for the win.
Winners: Chavo Guerrero, Jr & Hernandez
Chavo and Hernandez retain the title, even though Todd seemed to think Roode and Aries were the champions through the whole match. The seeds of dissension are sown between Roode and Aries...though they never really trusted each other to begin with.
The cameraman catches up with Matt Morgan and asks him what he thinks of tonight's confrontation between Hogan and Bubba. He says Hogan's signing his death warrant, but he's headed out to the ring right now to tell everyone what his solution is, and he wants everybody to pay attention and learn something.
We see Hulk Hogan appearing at the press conference in Florida where he got heckled while announcing that Impact was coming to town, followed by a video package of the recent history between Hulk Hogan and Matt Morgan, and then Morgan comes out to the ring to address the crowd. He says that the last year and a half of his career have centered around mistakes by Hulk Hogan, mistakes like taking Sting's adevice and trusting Bully Ray, not naming Matt Morgan the #1 contender at Lockdown, and giving Bully Ray the title shot so he could steal the title and make Impact Wrestling implode. Hogan ejected Sting, his best friend for 20 years, and nobody's seen him since. Jeff Hardy tried to regain the title for Hogan and TNA, and he got stretchered out of the arena because of Aces & Eights. The crowd chants for Hogan, and Morgan says he's with them because he'd like to ask Hogan down to the ring so he can present him with the answer to all of his problems. Hogan takes his time, but finally comes out to face Morgan, who says that he doesn't want to BS each other: Hogan has no more horses in the race and no backup when he comes out to face Bubba later tonight. Everyone knows they're going to eat him up and spit him out, they've done it to everyone else on their roster, and he has nobody left. Morgan offers the ultimate solution: seven feet and 300 pounds of "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan. Nobody wants it more and nobody has begged for the shot more than Matt Morgan, and nobody's more able to eliminate them than he is, and he is Hogan's seven foot knight in shining armor, and if given the opportunity, he'll take Bully Ray's watermelon head and Carbon Footprint it into the fifth row...for a small price, of course. Morgan says he'll handle the Bully Ray situation if Hogan gives him the title shot at Slammiversary right now, and he asks Hogan what he thinks. Hogan stops to look out at the crowd and gauge their reaction, and the fans seem into the idea. Hogan tells Morgan that a lot of what he says is true and he has the goods to get the job done, and Hogan says he probably could, but with his hopes at an all time high, he was hoping Morgan would do the right thing. Hogan put up with all of Morgan's crap because he was hoping Morgan would finally become the guy we all wanted him to be, the second coming of the Mania, BROTHER, but at the end of the day, Morgan will only do it for a price. If Hogan gave him the title shot now, it would be a bigger mistake than Bully Ray, and he knows he caused all this trouble with Aces & Eights, and even if he's not capable, he'll go out there and take what he needs to take for the sake of the company and he's not going to hand anything over to Morgan. And by the way, he never saw Andre the Giant come out here and whine like a little bitch. Hogan drops the mic and storms off as an irate Morgan stands in the ring in shock that he didn't get his title shot.
Mickie James and Velvet Sky are backstage, and they're...WALKING!
Aces & Eights are in their satellite clubhouse laughing over the idea of Hulk Hogan facing them alone after like 20 knee surgeries, but Bully Ray makes the rest of the gang promise not to get involved and let him deal with his father-in-law by himself.
Knockouts Title Match: Velvet Sky vs Mickie James
Mickie looks like she's worked hard to get herself into great shape. They do some basic feeling out before Velvet snapmares Mickie and hits a basement dropkick for 2. Velvet hits a leapfrog and tweaks the knee she injured a couple of weeks ago, and Mickie hesitates for a moment before going for a cover. She only gets 2, so she gets a spinning toehold, a very legitimate submission hold that could end a match after someone suffers an injury like Velvet did...and we choose now to go to commercial.
We're back, and Mickie is still relentlessly working Velvet's knee over. She catches Velvet in an STF, Velvet makes it to the ropes to force a break, and she suddenly starts firing back at Mickie after getting a second wind. Her knee is still giving her a lot of trouble as she unloads on Mickie, but collapses when she gets fired into the ropes and goes down in a heap. Mickie hesitates again, and it costs her as Velvet hits a Russian legsweep for 2. Mickie hits a leaping enziguiri and goes to the top, and she connects with a top rope Thesz Press that Velvet just barely kicks out of. Mickie backdrops Velvet out of In Your Face and sets up for the DDT, but Velvet shoves her off so Mickie dropkicks the injured knee out from under her. Mickie again gives Velvet time to recover and Velvet catches her in a small package and she grabs the damn jeans to get 3!
Winner: Velvet Sky
I don't think Velvet actually was supposed to cheat to win the match, but they were close enough to the ropes that I guess she had to do something to hit the finish and it was one of those things that just kind of happens.
Bully Ray and Devon are backstage gloating over being the most successful tag team in history, and now they hold the TNA World and TV Titles, and they lead a pack of wolves and nobody is going to stop them. Bubba's going out to face his father-in-law, and he's going to be the man to put the final nail in the coffin of Hulkamania.
We then go to Brooke Hogan, who is scared to death for her father as he goes out to face Aces & Eights. She knows she sounds like a hypocrite because she wanted to face Bubba alone too, but she has bodyguards. I guess Hogan can't bring Atlas Security to the ring with him? Anyway, Hogan says he made this problem by putting Bubba in the position to win the title, and now he has to go handle this situation. Brooke leaves, Hogan asks himself what he's getting himself into, and he goes back to taping up his wrists.
Bully Ray comes out to the ring, takes a piece of paper out of his back pocket, and reads off a list of names: Sting, Brutus Magnus, Samoa Joe, Eric Young, the Pope, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Joseph Park, James Storm, and he asks what all those names have in common. He says they were all victims of Aces & Eights, and there's only one victim left. He tells Hulk Hogan to get out there right now, and Hulk himself comes out with his business tape wrapped around his fists. Bubba yells to have his music shut off as he asks a very angry looking Hulk Hogan how his recently-reconstructed knee is doing. Bubba says Hogan is raring to go and he bets Hogan can't wait to just punch him in his face, hit him with the big boot, and drop the big leg on him, but it ain't gonna happen. Hogan can walk down the ramp, step in the ring, and try to fool the fans, but he'll never in a million years fool Bubba. He can look in Hogan's eyes and see one and only one thing: pure fear. Hulk Hogan fears Bully Ray, and he fears him because he reminds Hogan of himself, he's the last of a dying breed, Hogan's breed. Hogan asked if he ever thought he would see Bubba standing there, and reminds Hogan that he's the President of Aces & Eights, the TNA World Champion, his son-in-law, and the man who's going to put an end to Hulkamania. Hogan says Bubba can't put an end to Hulkamania because Hulkamania will never die. They throw down their microphones, Bubba turns his hat around backward as Taz cheers for Bubba to go after his knee, but instead Bubba just spits in Hogan's face. Hogan stops and shakes his head and starts to walk away, but then he gets the look of the Hulkster, tears his shirt off, and does YOU! at Bubba. Bubba goes YOU back at him and they stare each other down until Bubba takes a swing at Hogan, who blocks, whips Bubba to the ropes for the big boot, but Bubba grabs the ropes and pulls himself out to the floor. The rest of Aces & Eights comes out and surrounds the ring, and things are looking really bad for Hogan...but the lights go out, and when they come back up, Sting is in the ring and is pointing his bat at Hogan. Bubba looks really excited, but we all know what's going to happen next. Sure enough, Sting turns around, nudges Bubba's hat off with the bat, and starts laying out Aces & Eights with the bat while Hogan knocks a few off himself. Aces & Eights heads for the hills, but instead of giving Hogan a big, sloppy hug and kiss, he points his bat at Hogan and then walks off without saying a word. Sting is back to help TNA, but it looks like he and Hogan still have a ways to go as a bewildered Hogan stares out at the crowd as we call it a week.
Thanks for following this week's Impact Wrestling Report, I'll be back tomorrow to discuss Impact and more with Dave Scherer on the Stu & Pid Show!
2013 - WWE ran Bologna, Italy. Erik Ganzerli filed the following report:
Tag team match: Justin Gabriel and Alex Riley beat Primo and Epico (8:15). At the end of the match The Shield runs in and beats down Gabriel before finishing him off with the Triple Powerbomb.
Ambrose and Rollins then cut a promo building their match against Randy Orton and the New Age Outlaws.
Fandango (w/Summer Rae) beats Ted DiBiase (6:17)
Wade Barrett cuts a promo saying he doesn't like Italy and he's taking the night off. Santino Marella runs in, sends him packing and challenges him for the IC title. Barrett accepts and the match will take place later in the evening.
Layla beats Aksana (Hornswoggle Guest ring announcer: 6:30). The less can be said about this match the better.
The Big Show beats The Usos in a 2-on-1 handicap match. (5:07). Oddly The Big Show played total babyface in the contest.
Alberto Del Rio beats Jack Swagger in a No Disqualification match (14:25) The Twitter vote before the match determined that Zeb Colter could remain at ringside. Best thing on the show so far. Not exceptional but still pretty good.
After intermission Wade Barrett retained the Intercontinental title defeating Santino Marella with the Bull Hammer (9:00)
Sheamus beats Mark Henry (10:00)
In the main event Randy Orton and the New Age Outlaws defeated The Shield via disqualification (6:55). Reigns hit Orton with a steel chair causing the disqualification. After that Rollins got hit with the Famouser and the RKO to send the fans home happy.
Sell-out crowd, 8000 more or less.
2014 - Diamond Dallas Page was in studio for a Sirus XM interview with Sam Roberts when the subject of his recent appearance on The Nancy Grace Show following The Ultimate Warrior's death came up. Page tore the host a new "a-hole", referring to Grace as a "f***ing c**t." ]
2015 - Ring of Honor ran St. Paul, Minnesota. Cory Strode filed the following report:
A nearly sold out show in Hopkins, MN for Ring of Honor. LOTS more kids than there were the last time I went and more Bullet Club shirts than anything else.
The show started with Local boy Ariya Daivari (Shawn Daivari's brother) vs Bobby Fish. Old school match where Ariya worked the leg most of the match, but Bobby pulled out the win after Ariya missed with the Magic Carpet Ride (a frog splash with a rug...). Ariya is local and despite being the heel was over with the crowd, who cheered him every chance they got.
The next match was a 4 man match, with only 2 allowed in the ring at once and you had to tag in. We had the masked Romantic Touch, The Beer City Bruiser, Will Ferrera and Cheeseburger. Cheeseburger was over HUGE with the crowd, and got big pops every time he was in the ring. Will Ferrera wins with a powerbomb on Cheeseburger. Lots of brawling and high spots.
We then go to the TV taping portion of the show, with Michael Elgin vs. Caprice Coleman. Elgin wins with a Bucklebomb followed by a powerbomb. The crowd was into Coleman and a solid match.
They then have us cheer for another start to a show, so they filmed two episodes for TV and had opening matches back to back. Adam Page vs. ACH was a athletic match, with Page winning after a low blow. Post match there was a brawl and a pull apart with referees and security. Crowd didn't heat up for the match until the low blow.
Intermission with the announcement that ODB would be appearing and the they are coming back on 7/11, and tickets are almost sold out.
Back from intermission, we got Danny Duggan vs Arik Cannon. Both guys were well liked by the crowd (even with Duggan at the heel) and with Duggan in a singlet that looked liked Mr. Perfect's, the crowd was on him for it. Arik Cannon wins with a DDT off the ropes.
ODB comes out to the biggest pop of the night, and while it was announced as a Women of Honor match, Truth Martini came to the ring and faced off with her, eventually asking for a match. As with any ODB match in Minnesota, there were a lot of comedy spots, lots of brawling and at the end, Jay Lethal interfered giving Truth Martini the win. The Briscoes come out after the fall to protect ODB from Lethal.
At this point, there were a large group of fans who left who had arrived on a Party Bus, including a group in front of me who felt the need to hold up signs through the matches even when the TV cameras weren't on them...so I was able to see better, and RoH got their money, so good riddance!
In the wrestling match of the night, Silas Young vs Roderick Strong. A GREAT match that had brawling, chain wrestling, outside the ring stuff and a LOT of love from the crowd. In the end, Roderick Strong wins after Silas tried to use the ring bell. Crowd was really into the match and got a huge pop at the end for both guys.
The Briscoes vs. War Machine was probably the match with the most fan noise. A good, long tag team match in which the Brisoes won with a Skullbuster Piledriver. Afterward both teams shook hands and the crowd cheered until both teams were in the back.
For our Main event, we had ROH TV champion Jay Lethal (with Truth Martini) vs. Kyle O'Reilly. The crowd wasn't into the match for the first half of it, too burned out from the tag match before. Both guys worked hard, and by the time they got into their near falls, they'd drawn the crowd back in. They go all out until the Referee calls the match as a time limit draw. Long chant for 5 more minutes, and Lethal does a wonderful heel move by asking for the microphone as the crowd chants “Man up!â€. Once it fades, he says “I was gonna say yes until you chanted that!†and walks out.
Jay Briscoe then comes out and says that if Jay Lethal won't fight, he will and it's for the ROH World title!
As the match is about to start, Lethal and Truth Martini returns and attacks both men, bringing out Mark Briscoe and Bobby Fish to run them off, but Martini is caught. This brings out ODB, and they set up for ODB to put Martini through a table...but the table refuses to submit as she lands. So, they the table up in the corner and Jay spears Truth through the table.
A GREAT show and if they didn't sell out they came very close. ODB and Cheeseburger got the biggest pops from the crown, and the Silas Young/Roderick Strong match was the best of the night. Also, a great showing by local boys Ariya Daivari and Arik Cannon.
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