Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
May 2nd
On this day in history in ....
1951 - Japanese legend Mr. Pogo was born.
1963 - Ray Traylor, known professionally as The Big Bossman, Big Bubba Rogers, The Guardian Angel and The Boss over different points of his career, was born.
1963 - The WWWF ran Washington DC with the following results:
-Chris & John Tolos defeated Pete Sanchez & Arnold Skaaland.
-Eduard Carpentier defeated Willie Bath.
-Pat Barrett defeated Pedro Morales.
-The Shadow defeated Ron Reed.
-Brute Bernard & Skull Murphy defeated Gregory Jarque & Pedro Morales.
-Johnny Barend defeated Boris Malenko.
-Eduard Carpentier fought Hans Mortier to a draw.
1964 - WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Boris Malenko in Philadelphia, PA.
1964 - Mad Dog Vachon won the AWA World title from Verne Gagne.
1965 - Bill Miller defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino via disqualification at TV Taping in Washington, DC. According to newspaper reports, Miller petitioned the WWWF to be awarded the title but the organization stated that it was non-title.
1966 - Bruno Sammartino defeated Killer Kowalski in Adelaide, Australia.
1968 - WWWF ran a TV Taping in Washington, DC at the National Arena featuring:
Bull Ramos defeated Lennie Solomon
Virgil the Kentucky Butcher defeated Louis Cerdan
George Steele defeated Pete Sanchez
Eduard Carpentier defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna
Arnold Skaaland defeated Johnny Rodz
Earl Maynard & Victor Rivera defeated Lou Albano & Tony Altimore
Bobo Brazil defeated Bill Miller (sub. for Prof. Toru Tanaka)
1969 - WWWF ran Philadelphia, PA at the Civic Arena, featuring the following results:
The Batman Tony Marino & Dominic DeNucci defeated Lou Albano & Tony Altimore in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match
Victor Rivera pinned Ron Romano
Johnny DeFazio & Antonio Pugliese fought Baron Mikel Scicluna & Luke Graham to a draw
Haystacks Calhoun pinned Duke Savage
Killer Kowalski pinned John L Sullivan
Prof. Toru Tanaka pinned Guillotine Gordon
WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated George Steele via referee’s decision when Steele was injured and deemed too bloody to continue after Killer Kowalski interfered in the contest
1970 - WWWF ran Philadelphia, PA featuring the following results:
Lee Wong defeated Frank Hickey
John L Sullivan defeated Joe Turco
Dominic DeNucci defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka via count-out
The Fabulous Moolah defeated Sharon Young
The Mongols defeated Victor Rivera & Gorilla Monsoon
WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino fought Karl Kovacs to a double count-out
1972 - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is born.
1973 - WWWF ran Pittsfield, MA with the following results:
El Olympico fought Mike McCord to a draw
The Fabulous Moolah & Dottie Downs defeated Lilly Thomas & Tippy Wells in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-1
Freddie Blassie fought Chief Jay Strongbow to a double disqualification
WWWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji & Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Gorilla Monsoon & Tony Garea via count-out
1975 - WWWF ran Albany, NY at the Washington Ave. Armory with the following results:
Hans Schroeder defeated Joe Nova
Butcher Vachon defeated Mike Paidousis
Lee Wong fought Bill White to a draw
Waldo Von Erich defeated El Olympico
Victor Rivera defeated the Wolfman
1975 - WWWF ran Pittsburgh, PA at the Civic Arena, featuring WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeating Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death Match. Haystacks Calhoun was the guest referee for the bout
1978 - WWWF ran Portland, Maine featuring the following results:
Tank Patton defeated Johnny Tarzansis
SD Jones defeated Strong Kobayashi via disqualification
SD Jones fought Johnny Rodz to a draw
Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak
Spiros Arion & Superstar Billy & Luke Graham defeated Haystacks Calhoun & Dino Bravo, & Dominic DeNucci
1979 - The WWF ran Bangor, Maine at the Auditorium with the following results:
-Hussein Arab defeated SD Jones.
-Jerry Valiant defeated Tony Altimore.
-Johnny Valiant defeated Dominic DeNucci via count-out.
-Steve Travis defeated Jimmy Valiant via disqualification.
-Cowboy Lang & Tiny Thumb defeated Butch Cassidy & Little Tokyo.
-WWF North American Champion Ted DiBiase fought Greg Valentine to a draw.
1980 - Former WWE star Caylen Croft was born.
1980 - WWF ran Pittsburgh, PA at the Civic Arena, featuring the following results:
Nick Busick pinned Jim Grabmire
Jo Jo Andrews pinned Tony Altimore
Baron Mikel Scicluna fought Johnny DeFazio to a draw
Dominic DeNucci defeated Johnny Valiant via disqualification
Pat Patterson defeated Ken Patera via disqualification
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned Afa
Bruno Sammartino defeated Larry Zbyszko via count-out
1980 - WWF ran Albany, NY at the Washington Ave. Armory, featuring:
Frank Savage defeated Steve King
Larry Sharpe fought Johnny Rodz to a double disqualification
Tor Kamata defeated Frank Williams
Bobby Duncum defeated Rene Goulet
Hulk Hogan defeated Jose Estrada
Ivan Putski defeated Sika via disqualification
1982 - Buzz Sawyer defeats Tommy Rich for the Georgia National Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, ending Rich's third title reign.
1982 - NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Angelo Mosca via disqualification in the main event of a Jim Crockett Promotions event at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina.
1982 - WWF ran Hartford, CT at the Civic Center, featuring the following results:
Johnny Rodz defeated Pete Mitchell
Charlie Fulton defeated Steve King
Bob Orton Jr. defeated Pete Sanchez
WWF Tag Team Champion Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito defeated Rick McGraw & Steve Travis
Adrian Adonis defeated Tony Garea
WWF Intercontinental Champion Pedro Morales defeated Greg Valentine in a Streetfight
Tony Atlas defeated Jesse Ventura
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Blackjack Mulligan
1983 - Jim Crockett Promotioins ran Greenville, SC at the Memorial Auditorium featuring the following results:
The Magic Dragon defeated Mike Davis
Kelly Kiniski defeated keith Larsen
Mike Rotundo defeated Jake Roberts
NWA U.S. Champion Greg Valentine defeated Rufus R. Jones
Jimmy Valiant defeated the Great Kabuki
NWA World Tag Team Champions Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood fought Jack & Jerry Brisco to a double disqualification
1983 - Tony Atlas defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification at a Georgia Championship Wrestling event in Beckley, WV.
1983 - WWF ran Ogdensburg, NY at the Free Academy Gym, featuring:
Johnny Rodz pinned Pete Sanchez with a small package
Chief Jay Strongbow pinned Fred Marzino (substitute for Charlie Fulton)
SD Jones fought The Destroyer to a draw
Salvatore Bellomo pinned Swede Hanson with a reverse roll up
Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Jules Strongbow with a sunset flip
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco.
1984 - WWF ran White Plains, NY at the Westchester County Civic Center, featuring:
Terry Daniels fought Pete Sanchez to a draw
Akira Maeda defeated Israel Matia
The Tonga Kid defeated Steve Lombardi
Paul Orndorff defeated Salvatore Bellomo
Jimmy Snuka defeated Ron Shaw
WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeated Tiger Chung Lee
WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan fought David Schultz to a double count-out
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Pittsburgh, PA featuring:
Pez Whatley defeated LP
Denny Brown defeated John Tatum
Krusher Kruschev defeated Stoney Burke
Buzz Tyler fought Bob Roop to a draw
National Tag Team Champions Arn & Ole Anderson defeated Thunderbolt Patterson & Manny Fernandez
National Heavyweight Champion Ron Garvin defeated NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard via disqualification
1985 - WWF ran Dallas, TX at the Convention Center, featuring:
Brutus Beefcake defeated SD Jones
Don Muraco defeated Chief Jay Strongbow
Rick McGraw fought Moondog Spot to a draw
Ricky Steamboat defeated the Cobra
Moondog Spot defeated Rick McGraw
WWF Women's Champion Wendi Richter defeated Leilani Kai
King Kong Bundy defeated Tony Garea
Jimmy Snuka defeated Roddy Piper via disqualification
Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton Jr. via disqualification
1985 - WWF ran Salisbury, MD at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, featuring:
Bret Hart pinned Bob Bradley
Ivan Putski pinned Matt Borne
WWF Tag Team Champions Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik defeated The British Bulldogs
Tony Atlas fought Jim Neidhart to a double count-out
The Junkyard Dog defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine via countout
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran the Scorpe in Norfolk, Virginia featuring:
Don Kernodle defeated Mark Fleming
Leo Burke defeated Denny Brown
Dusty Rhodes & NWA U.S. Champion Magnum TA defeated Ivan & Nikita Koloff
Robert Gibson defeated NWA National Heavyweight Champion Tully Blanchard via disqualification
NWA TV Champion Arn Anderson defeated Ron Garvin
Ricky Morton fought NWA World Champion Ric Flair to a 60 minute draw.
1986 - WWF ran Uniondale, Long Island at the Nassau Coliseum, featuring:
King Tonga pinned Iron Mike Sharpe
Nikolai Volkoff pinned Lanny Poffo
Cpl. Kirchner pinned Tiger Chung Lee
SD Jones pinned the Red Demon
Paul Orndorff defeated Don Muraco via disqualification
Adrian Adonis defeated George Steele via disqualification
Jimmy Hart, Dory Funk Jr., & Jimmy Jack Funk defeated the Junkyard Dog, Ricky Steamboat, & the Haiti Kid when Hart pinned the Kid
1987 - Curt Hennig defeats Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California after Larry Zbyszko handed him a roll of quarters to knock him out with. It would go on to be the only World title win of Hennig's career.
1987 - WWF ran Boston, MA at the Boston Garden, drawing 11,834 fans for an event broadcast on NESN, which featured:
-Nick Kiniski pinned Frenchy Martin with a German suplex into a bridge at 11:31
-Demolition (w/ Mr. Fuji) defeated the Islanders at 9:32 when Smash pinned Tama after Ax used Fuji's cane as a weapon
-Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Sivi Afi at 9:37 by grabbing the tights for leverage after the momentum of a flying bodypress by Afi put Sharpe on top
-WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned King Harley Race at 9:17 with a roll up after Race missed a diving headbutt off the top; after the bout, Race attacked Hogan as he was posing and bloodied him; later on in the card, the champion returned ringside and challenged Race to a Texas Death Match for the following month's card and if he couldn't beat Race then he would quit pro wrestling
- Sika (w/ Mr. Fuji) pinned Pete Doherty at 3:07 with the Samoan Drop
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Johnny V via submission with the sleeper at 3:24; after the bout, Beefcake spraypainted and cut some of Valiant’s hair.
-Ken Patera (w/ Jake Roberts, who he was subbing for) pinned the Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) with an elbow drop after Roberts tripped Honky at 9:22; during the match, Hart briefly joined the commentary team of Gorilla Monsoon & Lord Alfred Hayes at ringside; after the bout, Patera applied the full nelson on Honky but was attacked from behind by Hart with the megaphone just as Roberts was getting Damien out of the bag to put on Honky.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid via disqualification at 7:47 after Smith used Jimmy Hart's megaphone as a weapon; after the bout, Jimmy was thrown onto the champions on the arena floor.
The same night, WWF also ran Chicago, IL at the Rosemont Horizon, featuring:
-Outback Jack defeated Jimmy Jack Funk
-Ron Bass defeated Pedro Morales
-Rick Martel & Tom Zenk defeated Don Muraco & Bob Orton Jr.
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Greg Valentine & Dino Bravo
-Jim Duggan defeated the Iron Sheik
-Koko B. Ware defeated Danny Davis
-Tito Santana fought Butch Reed to a 20-minute draw
-WWF Intercontinental champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage in a steel cage match
1987 - A Jim Crockett Promotions events in Chatanooga, TN was headlined by Bob & Brad Armstrong defeated Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane via disqualification
1991 - WWF ran London, England at The Wembley Arena featuring the following results:
Dave Taylor, Tony St. Clair, & Danny Collins defeated Drew McDonald, Chic Cullen, & Johnny Smith when Collins pinned Cullen with a piledriver in a six man tag featuring British talents.
Koko B. Ware pinned the Brooklyn Brawler with a dropkick off the top
Jim Duggan pinned the Barbarian
Davey Boy Smith defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect via countout
Power & Glory, Paul Roma & Hercules defeated the Bushwhackers when Roma pinned Butch
The Berzerker (substituting for Rick Martel) pinned Tito Santana
Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated Demolition when Bret pinned Smash
Greg Valentine pinned Haku
The Ultimate Warrior defeated the Undertaker via disqualification
1991- WCW ran The Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina with the following results:
Sam Houston defeated Joe Cruz.
The One Man Gang defeated Joey Maggs.
Big Josh defeated Jack Victory.
Dustin Rhodes, Tracey Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated Dr. X, Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin.
WCW US Champion Lex Luger fought Nikita Koloff to a double disqualification.
Sting & El Gigante defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Barry Windham in a steel cage match.
1992 - WCW ran Saginaw, Michigan at the Civic Center with the following results:
Jimmy Garvin pinned Mike Graham
WCW U.S. Tag Team Champion Greg Valentine pinned Marcus Alexander Bagwell
Tom Zenk pinned Mr. Hughes
Johnny B. Badd pinned Tracy Smothers
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton via disqualification after Anderson hit Scott with Paul E. Dangerously's phone
Ron Simmons pinned WCW U.S. Tag Team Champion Terry Taylor
WCW World TV Champion Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes defeated Larry Zbyszko & Diamond Dallas Page
WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude defeated Ricky Steamboat via disqualification at the 25-minute mark
Nikita Koloff (substituting for WCW World Champion Sting) pinned Steve Austin at 18:36
1992 - WWF ran Philadelphia, PA at the Spectrum, featuring:
Crush pinned Kato
The Nasty Boys defeated Owen Hart & Jim Powers
Jim Duggan defeated Repo Man via disqualification
The Ultimate Warrior pinned Papa Shango with the flying shoulderblock / splash combo
WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned Shawn Michaels after Michaels inadvertantly knocked Sensational Sherri off the apron
Rick Martel pinned Tito Santana
The Legion of Doom defeated the Beverly Brothers following a modified version of the Doomsday Device
1993 - WCW ran Harrisonburg, VA at the High School featuring the following results:
Vinnie Vegas (Kevin Nash) defeated Steve Regal
Johnny B. Badd defeated Chris Benoit
Keith & Kent Cole defeated the Wrecking Crew
Arn Anderson defeated Erik Watts
Ricky Steamboat defeated Unitfied WCW/NWA World Tag Team Champion Brian Pillman
Davey Boy Smith defeated Rick Rude via disqualification
WCW U.S. Champion Dustin Rhodes defeated WCW TV Champion Paul Orndorff; only the US title was at stake
NWA Champion Barry Windham defeated Ron Simmons
1993 - WWF ran three events in the same day with the following results:
Matinee event in Providence, RI at the Civic Center:
The Brooklyn Brawler pinned Jim Powers with a swinging neck breaker
Damien Demento pinned El Matador by holding onto the top rope as he was slammed into the ring
The Headshrinkers defeated the Smoking Gunns
Yokozuna pinned Jim Duggan with the Bonzai Drop
Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Kamala with a roll up
Mr. Perfect fought WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels to a 22-minute time limit draw. Michaels had almost pinned Perfect earlier after hitting him with the Intercontinental belt but the Smoking Gunns and Powers rushed in the ring and told the referee what had happened - so the match continued. Michaels was in the Perfect Plex when the bell rang
Bob Backlund pinned Blake Beverly
Bret Hart defeated Lex Luger via disqualification when Razor Ramon interfered as Hart had Luger in the Sharpshooter
Evening event in Binghamton, NY:
Owen Hart defeated Damien Demento
Crush fought Doink the Clown (Matt Borne) to a double count-out
Mr. Hughes defeated Virgil
The Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzalez via disqualification
Papa Shango defeated Typhoon
Tatanka defeated Terry Taylor
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Money Inc., Ted Dibiase & IRS via disqualification
Evening event in Springfield, MA at the Civic Center, featuring:
The Brooklyn Brawler defeated Jim Powers
Bob Backlund defeated Blake Beverly
The Headshrinkers defeated the Smoking Gunns
Yokozuna defeated Jim Duggan
Mr. Perfect defeated WWF Intercontinental champion Champion Shawn Michaels via disqualification
Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Kamala
Bret Hart defeated Lex Luger via disqualification when Razor Ramon interfered.
1994 - Larry Zbyszko defeats Lord Steven Regal for the WCW Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia. This was part of a storyline where Zbyszko, who was a heel announcer, got tired of Regal bashing the United States. Zbyszko came out of retirement, defeated Regal in a non-title match, then beat him again to win the belt. Regal would win it back just under two months later. The title change took place at Center Stage, the home of WCW Saturday Night as part of a TV taping. The taping featured the following results as well:
Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Shanghai Pierce
WCW U.S. Champion Steve Austin defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell
Lord Steven Regal defeated Brad Armstrong
WCW U.S. Champion Steve Austin defeated Brian Armstrong
Ricky Steamboat defeated Bobby Eaton
Alex Wright defeated Tanaka-san (Pat Tanaka)
Dustin Rhodes & Johnny B. Badd defeated Pretty Wonderful, Paul Roma & Paul Orndorff
1994 - Jake Roberts defeats Dirty White Boy Tony Anthony for the Smoky Mountain Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Harriman, Tennessee as part of TV taping This ended Anthony's second reign. Roberts would promptly disappear from the promotion when he began no showing events, with Anthony regaining the belt in a phantom title change. The complete results from the taping saw:
Bobby Blaze defeated Killer Kyle
The Dirty White Boy pinned James Adkins at 2:01
SMW Beat the Champ TV Champion Bruiser Bedlam defeated Anthony Michaels at 1:28 via submission
Jake Roberts pinned SMW Heavyweight Champion the Dirty White Boy to win the title at 13:39 with the DDT after taking a camera from a ringside photographer and flashing it in the champion's injured eye; late in the bout, Kendo the Samurai came out and took off the champion's protective eye patch, with Tracy Smothers and Bobby Blaze then coming out to clear him from ringside
Tracy Smothers pinned Chris Hamrick at 2:13
SMW Beat the Champ TV Champion Bruiser Bedlam defeated Brian Logan via submission at 1:43
Ricky Morton (w/ Robert Gibson) defeated SMW Tag Team Champion Chris Candido (w/ Tammy Fytch & SMW Tag Team Champion Brian Lee) via disqualification at 5:24 when Fytch freed Lee from the ringpost he was handcuffed to, with Lee then attacking Morton in the ring; both Lee and Gibson were handcuffed at ringside for the bout; after the contest, Candido & Lee attempted to hit a spike piledriver on Morton, with Gibson then making the save and clearing the ring; moments later, Caudle conducted an interview with Morton & Gibson, with Bob Armstrong saying he would agree to a piledriver match for the titles but it would not be sanctioned by SMW; moments later, Morton said the winning team would be the one to hit the piledriver and that pinfalls didn't count
Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Killer Kyle & James Adkins at 1:52 when Morton pinned Adkins
Well Dunn defeated Brian Logan & Anthony Michaels at 1:47 when Steven Well pinned Michaels
Kendo the Samurai pinned Chris Hamrick at 3:07; the match was to determine the vacant SMW Beat the Champ TV Champion
SMW Tag Team Champions Brian Lee & Chris Candido defeated Mike Furnas & Bobby Blaze at 3:46 when Blaze pinned Candido
Tracy Smothers pinned Brian Logan at 2:58
Bruiser Bedlam defeated James Adkins & Chris Hamrick at the 54-second mark by forcing both men to submit
SMW Beat the Champ TV Champion Kendo the Samurai defeated the Dirty White Boy via count-out at 9:13
1994 - Doug Gilbert defeats Brian Christopher for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Wrestling Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Christopher's 12th reign with the title, and beginning Gilbert's third. Ironically, on the same show Christopher teamed with Doug's brother, Eddie Gilbert, to lose the USWA Tag Team Title to The Eliminators.
1996 - Dean Malenko defeated Shinjiro Ohtani to capture the WCW Cruiserweight champioship during a WCW Worldwide TV Taping at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. The taping, which was filmed in one hour segments with a new audience brought in for each episode, also featured the following results:
Chris Benoit fought Eddie Guerrero to a double count-out
Jushin Liger defeated Steve Armstrong
The American Males, Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs defeated Men At Work Chris Kanyon & Mark Starr
Chip Minton defeated Pat Tanaka
WCW World Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger defeated The American Males, Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs
WCW World Champion the Giant defeated Jim Duggan
Sgt. Craig Pittman defeated VK Wallstreet (Mike Rotunda)
The Booty Man defeated the Gambler
Joe Gomez defeated an unknown
Bobby Walker defeated an unknown
Steve Collins defeated Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker
Hugh Morrus defeated an unknown
WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated an unknown
Brad Armstrong defeated Jushin Liger
Masahiro Chono & Kensuke Sasaki fought the Nasty Boys to a double count-out
Public Enemy defeated Arn Anderson & Kevin Sullivan via disqualification
Kensuke Sasaki defeated Cobra
Sgt. Craig Pittman defeated Hugh Morrus via disqualification
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Fit Finlay
Public Enemy defeated Meng & the Barbarian and Harlem Heat
1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling debuted in Atlantic City, NJ at the Convention Center for a TV Taping. Mike Johnson filed the following live report for The Wrestling Lariat, as archived in the PWInsider Elite section:
Extreme Championship Wrestling debuted in Asbury Park, New Jersey at the Convention Center on 5/2. ECW had pushed on its television that it would be the largest crowd in ECW history, but for some reason, the anticipated walkup did not appear after they had monster advance sales. As it turned out, they drew what seemed to be about or a little over 1,000, which for a debut in a building which was legitimately in the middle of an empty town, isn’t bad. The show was basically a television taping. You know what that means, Folks. ANGLES!
The show opened with Axl Rotten taking on Spike Dudley. The crowd was really hot and popped for both entrances. They started out with Axl stalling a bit. The crowd was on him and he played it off well, challenging fans to face him in the ring. They did some power spots, where the larger Axl would throw Spike around, before Spike hit a high cross-body block off the ropes during a crisscross. Spike takes Axl down with some matwork and gets a two count with a Sunset flip. Axl takes over and throws him out of the ring. He grabs a chair and teases hitting Spike, but throws it down and gives the fans the finger. Spike comes back to hit his running senton off the apron to the floor on Axl, garnering an "ECW" chant. Back in the ring, Axl hits a stiff clothesline but misses an elbow off the second rope. Spike hits a dropkick off of the top. Axl grabs him in a belly to back suplex, but spins as he drops him, which looked awesome. He then pulled him up like he was going to give him a face first-style suplex (like Goldust does), but instead dropped him headfirst into an awesome looking brainbuster for the pin. Both guys are great and deserve pushes.
Next up was the Full-Blooded Italians, with Tommy Rich, taking on Chris Chetti and hometown boy Jimmy Shoulders. Shoulders, of course, was Cloudy in the WWF and is Chris Candido's best friend. Rich says that the FBI is from "Little Atlanta" and that if Shoulders is from Asbury Park, the FBI will have no problem with him. Once he said that, of course Shoulders was over. The FBI jumped Shoulders, but he fought his way out of the corner. The FBI ran into a Chetti flying bodypress off the top rope, to a big pop. The crowd was behind Chetti more than any other show I’ve seen, even going as far as chanting "Chetti, Chetti." It is deserved. Shoulders runs both heels out of the ring and Chetti hits a tope to the floor. Back in the ring, Smothers & Shoulders exchange punches in the middle of the ring, and Shoulders hits a sunset flip for a two count. The FBI takes over and they toss him to the floor, where Rich atomic drops him on the guard rail. They beat on Shoulders until, finally, he makes the tag to Chetti. Chetti clotheslines both and dropkicks Smothers out of the ring. The faces Irish whip the FBI into each other, but Guido shoves Chetti into Tommy Rich on the apron. Rich is waiting with brass knucks and hits the Rookie, letting Guido make the pinfall. Afterwards, Shoulders trashed his partner.
This was followed by Wing Kanemura of FMW meeting "Wild Child" Kevin Quinn, who I am totally unfamiliar with, but thought was a decent worker. Kanemura hit several good moves, including a senton off the top rope, before gaining a pin with springboard elbow off the middle of the top rope. The crowd wasn’t into this at all, but the work was OK. Wing brought a "WINGS" promotion flag to the ring with him.
Following this was an ECW World Tag Team championship match, as the Eliminators defended against Dudley Boys, Big Dick & D-Von. They were accompanied by Buh Buh Ray, who, if you can believe this, took the cast off of his injured ankle. The Elims got a standing ovation. The match started out fast as Saturn dove over the top on Buh Buh out of nowhere and the crowd popped. A furious D-Von stalled and the crowd started chanting, "F**k you D-Von." Joel Gertner, also at ringside for the Dudleys, tried to ask the crowd to be quiet because the television cameras were rolling. The Dudleys double-teamed Saturn until Kronus and Big Dick tagged in and they stood in the middle of the ring, brawling. The Elims took over and hit twisting stereo splashes. Buh Buh hit the ring, but was hit with a Saturn Cutter. Out of nowhere, the Gangstas’ music began to play, so we had an impromptu Three Way Dance, as they hit the ring with New Jack’s magic trash can of goodies. Jack destroyed a guitar on D-Von’s head. It was the usual psychotic brawling with bats, highways signs and Jack breaking a crutch over someone’s head. The crowd ate it up. Kronus got an umbrella and started running around the ring with it open, then poked Big Dick with it. Jack & D-Von go into the crowd and they take out rows upon rows of seats as they brawl towards the concession stands. Buh Buh goes to help D-Von and Mustafa follows. Big Dick hits a double chokeslam on both of the Eliminators. Jack sets up Buh Buh on a table, and then goes to the second level of the building. Can you guess where this is going? The building has permanent raised seating, like a major sports venue would, and the main entrance is about 25-30 feet high. Well, if you were there, you would have believed a Gangsta could fly, as Jack dove off of that alcove onto Buh Buh with a Head butt (!) sending him crashing through the table. Amazing spot! It eventually ends up with everyone back in the ring, and Dick hits Jack, who by now bleeding, with a chokeslam for the pin. The Elims double-team D-Von with some martial arts kicks, and then pin Big Dick with Total Elimination, which is great because it gets over the idea that anyone can be killed with that move. Good brawl.
Next up was the voice of ECW, Joey Styles, who introduced his new co-host for the television show, "Ravishing" Rick Rude. Rude came out to a standing ovation. Rude said that while he doesn’t have the gift of gab that Joey does, he can give the wrestler’s viewpoint concerning Extreme Wrestling. He then warned Shane Douglas that he hasn’t finished "f**king with the 'Franchise." He kissed the camera and left.
About this time, Bam Bam Bigelow, who is from this area, showed up in the crowd and was shaking hands. The aforementioned Douglas came out to the ring, and started bitching about what a piece of sh** Bigelow was and what a crack-smoking ghost town he lived in. Douglas ranted and ranted and was great, and Bigelow was going to hop the rail but was stopped by security. The crowd was behind Bigelow all the way.
Next up was Tommy Dreamer, with Beulah, taking on Cpl. Punishment. Punishment is an Axl Rotten trainee and not bad. Punishment beat on Dreamer with punches and kicks but Tommy began to make a comeback. Out of nowhere, Dreamer was attacked by Louie Spicolli and the referee called for a DQ. A DQ in ECW? Oh My God! Spicolli trashed Dreamer and set up a table at a 45 degree angle and hit a Death Valley Driver through it, which Tommy rightfully sold as if he was dead. There was a small smattering of "ECW" chants for the spot. Tommy was bleeding badly from the head. Spicolli, who was dressed almost identically to Dreamer, made a crucifix, then the "clique" sign. After Spicolli left, Terry Funk came out to check on his protégé. The question begs to be answered: Does anyone really want to see Spicolli vs. Dreamer? Unless Louie gets his work back together, I know I don’t and I don’t think it’s fair to Tommy to put him in that match.
Next up was an ECW World Television championship as Shane Douglas, with the always amazing Francine, defended against ... Balls Mahoney? Bam Bam Bigelow has suddenly returned to the crowd and walks to the railing. I think I smell an angle, folks. Douglas rants on the mic and says that if Balls comes out with a chair, Shane will not wrestle. Balls doesn’t, but grabs one from a ringsider and Shane gets pissed. Referee Jeff Jones, outside the ring, tries to take the chair but Balls slams him with it. They finally start the match and Balls hits an armdrag. Balls gets in a lot of offense, and even hits a belly-to-belly for a two count. Meanwhile, the crowd is all over Francine, chanting "She’s a crack whore", deriving from the earlier Douglas comment about the town. Balls whips Douglas into the corner and hits a superkick. Has Balls ever lost his smile? I think not. He gets a chair and goes to hit Shane, but Chris Candido hits the ring, grabs the chair and hits Balls. The ref calls for a DQ! Two DQs in one night!!! They trash Balls and Bigelow hops the rail and hits the ring to a big pop ... and JOINS IN! The crowd is shocked, and the three trash Balls, until the Pit Bulls, who’s music played as they ran in, make the save, running off Shane, Chris, and finally Bigelow with some double-teaming. The heels make the Triple Threat sign on the stage of the building, so I guess Bigelow is in as a regular. Malenko....Benoit...Douglas....Candido.....Bigelow? Seriously, I’ll wait and see how hard he works before I pass judgment. The Pits help up Balls and they leave. Side Note: Playing theme music during a run-in is extremely unrealistic and only makes the crowd pop for the music, like they do at WWF shows. I didn’t like that touch at all.
Next up was Louie Spicolli vs. Wild Bill Wiles in a squash. WHY? The show was running long, there were three matches left, and the crowd didn’t care, as most went to go buy something. Hmmm, maybe that’s why! At least there was a plus, ECW still made money! Spicolli beats Wild Bill outside with a chair and back in the ring, scores a Northern Lights Suplex before hitting the Death Valley Driver. Like I said, no one cared.
This was followed with a fantastic tag match, as Bill Alfonso’s team of Sabu & Rob Van Dam took on the combination of Chris Candido, returning from his torn bicep, and Taz. The faces (if that is what you can call Candido) got a huge reaction, and Alfonso’s team got a smattering of cheers. This was a really well-worked match and I look forward to seeing it again in the ECW Arena. There were tons of hot spots, and there’s no way I can relay them all. Sabu hit a springboard off a chair into a dive onto Candido on the floor as Taz trashed Van Dam in the ring. Van Dam hit a karate kick off the apron to the floor on Taz, and Sabu hit a 360 clothesline over the top rope onto Candido. Sabu sets a chair in the ring but Bill Alfonso jumps on the apron and blocks him. SOMEONE EXPLAIN THAT? Sabu stops and Candido jumps on the apron and grabs Fonzie but Sabu slugs him. Candido hits Sabu with a chair, then hits a splash off the ropes on him. Taz & Van Dam get in the ring, and Robby misses a spinkick but hits his somersault roll into a splash. Van Dam is charged by Taz in the corner, but splits his legs on the turnbuckle and rolls over. Taz still grabs him and Tazplexes him to a pop. Taz and Sabu finally meet in the middle of the ring to a great reaction, trading forearms and punches. The crowd was very into it. Taz goes for a Tazplex but Sabu reverses and hits his own. He folds his arms like Taz, but Taz no-sells and stand behind him. He then hits his own. Candido tags in and Sabu comes back to hit Air Sabu off a chair into a Frankensteiner on him. He goes for the triple Jump Moonsault, but Chris gets his knees up. Sabu tries to fight off the pain and springboards off the ropes into a spinkick. Chris grabs him in mid-air and drops him into a suplex. They kept doing cool spots until Candido had Van Dam on the top rope for a Suicide Bomb, but Fonzie grabs him and he crotches himself. Van Dam backdrops him into the ring. Taz is killing Sabu, but Fonzie jumps in the ring and hits him. He grabs Fonzie for a Tazplex, but Sabu takes out his knee. Taz is knocked out of the ring. Sabu uses Van Dam as a springboard and hits Air Sabu into a spinkick. They try to double-team Chris, but there’s miscommunication and they butt heads. Chris hits a Tiger suplex and pins Van Dam as Sabu & Taz brawl to the back. Van Dam recovers and gets the mic and says this never would have happened if he was working Monday Nights for a legitimate company. He then notices Candido on the stage and says the great thing about ECW is he has the freedom to talk about that and do what he wants and makes a motion like he’s feeling up Sunny’s butt. Candido gets pissed, but is held back. Fonzie says he wants to feel it too.
This left us with our main event, a Three Way Dance between Raven, Stevie Richards and the Sandman with the winner meeting ECW World champ Terry Funk. Raven got a huge pop and came out with Lupus, formerly Kent Porter and the unnamed bosom-gifted Blonde. Stevie likewise got one and the crowd, which had been dying, chanted "BWO" pretty loudly as Richards came out alone. Sandman made his grand entrance from the crowd and they loved it. After the three locked up several times, with no one getting a reaction, Lupus, who was hysterical on the mic, got in the ring with a multi-colored stick and chugged a drink to mimic the Sandman. He crushed it on his dead, hurting himself. He kept calling Sandy "Sand dude" and kept going back to Raven because he couldn’t remember the insults he was supposed to say. I’m not doing it justice but it was pretty funny. Sandman, of course, caned him. Raven jumped on him, and Stevie attacks Raven. There’s a crisscross and Sandy & Stevie hit each other when Raven drops down. They shove each other and Stevie hits a rocker dropper on Sandy. Stevie misses a dropkick and Sandy & Raven begin throwing punches at each other. Lupus hits Sandman with his cane and Stevie and Raven meet face to face and Raven hugs him, but Stevie isn’t returning the gesture, and is saying, "What do I do?" Sandman gets up and Stevie saves Raven by Steviekicking him back down. The BWO theme hits and the other members of the BWO hit the ring. The Blue Meanie confronts Stevie (and was very good on the mic) asking him where he was "last week, while Nova and I were defeating the Full-Blooded Idiots on TV. Are you with us or against us?" Before Stevie can answer, Sandman has recovered and knocks Stevie into Meanie, knocking him out of the ring. Sandman & Raven then beat up the BWO. The BWO storms off, leaving Stevie behind. Raven suplexes Sandman, but he lowblows both Stevie & Raven, and hits a DDT on Stevie for a two count. Raven saves Stevie and drags Sandman out of the ring, where he whips him into the guardrail, and Sandman does the headfirst flip into it. Back in the ring, Sandman pins Raven with a DDT, but Stevie hits a Steviekick, pinning Sandman for the first-time ever to gain the title shot.
Immediately, "Desperado" plays and ECW World champion Terry Funk makes his way to the ring for his first championship defense. He meets Stevie in the center of the ring, and clotheslines him over the top rope. He whips Stevie into the rail and hits him with a chair. Back in the ring, he hits a pair of Hangman’s neckbreakers for a 2 count, but Stevie comes back to whip Terry into the corner. Stevie misses a running start into a knee to the chest, hitting his knee on the turnbuckle, selling it for the rest of the match. Terry gets on his hands and knees and starts head butting Stevie. He rolls him up for a 2 count, and then applies the spinning toehold, but Stevie rolls him up for a 2 count. Terry and Stevie box, but Stevie kicks him low and hits a side slam for a 2 count. Terry takes over. He hits a belly-to-back suplex as Raven hits the ring and DDT’s the referee. The place popped! Raven trashes Funk and DDTs him several times. Stevie, unaware of Raven’s help, hit’s a Steviekick. Tommy Dreamer hits the ring, all bloody from earlier, and confronts Stevie. I have no clue where Raven went...maybe under the ring? I don’t recall him exiting at all. Anyway, Tommy & Stevie argue and Stevie strikes with a Steviekick, but Terry grabs him and DDTs him for the pin, retaining the belt. Tommy & Terry leave together to a nice pop, and Stevie gets a "BWO" chant on his way out. The main event was OK, but I was really disappointed because just as Funk & Stevie were starting to click, Raven did his run-in. The tease of whether Raven & Stevie are together is great.
Asbury Notes and Thoughts: Personally, I didn’t care for the show but I can’t put my finger on exactly why. The crowd died halfway thru the show, I guess because there was simply too much on it, it started a bit late, and ran long. I know that I was tired out by the time they did the Dreamer-Spicolli angle and it was hard for me to get back into the show....The building was cordoned off, and they had everyone sit on one side of the building for TV. The crowd was not happy about being told where to sit but ECW wanted everyone "on camera" and you can't blame them for that....There was a reporter and photographer from the Asbury Park Press, one of New Jersey’s largest papers, taking notes and interviewing fans and ECW staffers about their debut. I had the chance to speak to the reporter, Shawn Mullen, and he was interested in presenting a legitimate article about ECW and the sport and the differences between them and the "Big Two." The article will run this summer, to help preview ECW's return here on July 11th....Tammy Sytch was on stage all night, helping Mikey Whipwreck run the sound booth.
1997 - WWF ran Winnipeg, Manitoba with the following results:
Flash Funk defeated Rockabilly
Rocky Maivia defeated the Sultan
Goldust defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Blackjack Windham & Blackjack Bradshaw defeated Phil LaFon & Doug Furnas
Mankind defeated Jesse Jammes (Road Dogg)
Bob Holly defeated Leif Cassidy (Al Snow)
Ahmed Johnson & Steve Austin defeated The WWF Tag Team Champions, WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart & WWF European Champion Davey Boy Smith in a non-title match
The Legion of Doom defeated Savio Vega & Crush
WWF Champion the Undertaker defeated Vader
1998 - Chris Benoit defeats Booker T for the WCW Television Title in Charleston, South Carolina. This was the third of five days in a row that the Television title changed hands, with four of those changes being between Benoit and Booker. The event was technically an Internet PPV, although due to the technology of the time, fans were paying to listen to the live commentary of the event. The other results from the event, held at the Coliseum, saw:
Ernest Miller defeated Yuji Nagata
The Barbarian defeated Bobby Eaton
Perry Saturn defeated Fit Finlay
High Voltage defeated The Flock's Billy Kidman & Sick Boy when Rage pinned Kidman
Diamond Dallas Page defeated Raven.
The Giant defeated WCW Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash via disqualification
1998 - WWE ran Landover, MD at The USAir Arena, drawing 6,293 fans with the following results:
-Bradshaw pinned Barry Windham.
-The Headbangers defeated the Quebecers.
-Jeff Jarrett defeated Scorpio.
-D-Lo Brown & Owen Hart defeated Farooq & Steve Blackman.
-The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust pinned Marc Mero.
-the Legion of Doom defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Road Dogg & Billy Gunn via disqualification.
-The Undertaker defeated Kane via disqualification
-WWF champion Steve Austin defeated WWF European Champion Triple H
1999 - ECW ran Kissimmee, FL -at the Agricultural Center featuring the following results:
Nova defeated Buck Quartermaine
Chris Candido & Steve Corino defeated Danny Doring & Roadkill
Mosco de la Merced defeated Little Guido
Super Crazy defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri
ECW World Tag Team Champions Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley defeated Skull Von Krush & Rod Price
Spike Dudley defeated Mustafa
Tommy Dreamer & Jerry Lynn defeated Justin Credible & Lance Storm
1999 - WCW ran Norfolk, VA at the Scope, featuring the following results:
Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Blitzkrieg
Prince Iaukea defeated Fit Finlay
Rick Steiner defeated Curt Hennig
Konnan defeated Horace
WCW Cruiserweight Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera
Raven & Perry Saturn defeated Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko
WCW World Champion Diamond Dallas Page defeated Ric Flair
1999 - WWF ran a TV taping in San Diego, CA featuring the following:
Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett (w/ Debra) defeated Edge & Christian (w/ Gangrel) when Jarrett pinned Edge after Owen came off with a dropkick that sent his partner on top for the pin
WWF Intercontinental Champion the Godfather pinned Goldust (w/ the Blue Meanie) after hitting the Ho Train on both the challenger and Meanie
Sunday Night Heat, which was broadcast live:
The Road Dogg & Billy Gunn defeated Mark Henry & D-Lo Brown via count-out at 1:14 after Henry & Brown began brawling with Prince Albert & Droz on the floor
Ken Shamrock & Test defeated the Acolytes at 1:20 when Faarooq submitted to Shamrock's ankle lock
Mankind fought the Big Bossman to a no contest in a Boiler Room Brawl
WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow fought Hardcore Holly to a no contest
Raw is War, taped a day before it was broadcast:
Billy Gunn pinned X-Pac after avoiding the Bronko Buster; after the contest, Gunn and the Road Dogg began brawling at ringside with Gunn eventually hitting Road Dogg over the head with a chair; moments therafter, Gunn retreated backstage after Kane came ringside
Pat Patterson & Gerald Brisco defeated Pete Gas & Rodney via count-out when the Mean Street Posse left ringside
Test defeated the Big Bossman, Mideon, & Viscera in a handicap match by pinning Mideon after Bossman accidentally hit his partner with the nightstick; after the match, the Big Show, Ken Shamrock, and Mankind made the save
The Acolytes defeated Mankind in a handicap hardcore match when Bradshaw scored the pin following a double powerbomb through two chairs set up in the ring
Vince McMahon pinned Shane McMahon with the Stunner at 1:49; prior to the bout, Vince staggered out to the entrance stage after the assault he sustained earlier in the show from Triple H & the Undertaker, with Shane then running up the ramp to attack him and assault him on the floor before the match officially started
Triple H pinned Ken Shamrock with the Pedigree after Shamrock sustained a low blow from guest referee Chyna
The Big Show defeated the Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) via disqualification at 2:44 when, after Taker used ether on Show, he took a baseball bat and broke it over Show's head, busting him open; after the bout, Taker continued to choke, punch, and kick Show in the head before leaving ringside (The Undertaker's Most Dangerous Matches)
Nicole Bass (sub. for WWF Women's Champion Sable who appeared on the Titantron before the match) defeated Debra in a nightgown match when Debra stripped herself down to her bra and panties; after the contest, Jeff Jarrett made the save by busting a guitar over Bass' head before Val Venis came out, attacked Jarrett, and left ringside with Debra
WWF World Champion Steve Austin fought the Rock to a no contest in a lumberjack match when both competitors attacked the Corporate Ministry at ringside before the contest began; eventually a brawl broke out in the ring involving Mankind, Test, Show, Shamrock, Road Dogg, Edge, Gangrel, Christian, Mark Henry, D-Lo Brown, and Al Snow; as the show came to a close, both Rock and Austin were thrown off the stage by Triple H and the Undertaker
WWF Shotgun - Meat (Shawn Stasiak w/ PMS) pinned Albert (w/ Droz) with a small package
2000 - Chris Jericho defeats Chris Benoit for the WWF Intercontinental Titleduring a Smackdown taping in Richmond, Virginia, starting Jericho's third reign with the belt. The remainder of the taping featured the following results:
Scott Vick pinned Julio Fantastico (Julio Dinero)
The Dupps defeated Joey Matthews & Christian York
Sunday Night Heat:
Val Venis pinned Perry Saturn at 4:47 with the fisherman's suplex after Dean Malenko came ringside and tripped Saturn as he ran the ropes
Al Snow & Steve Blackman defeated Taka Michinoku & Sho Funaki at 4:21 when Blackman pinned Michinoku after Snow hit a legdrop off the top onto Taka as he was laid across Blackman's knee
The Godfater pinned D-Lo Brown at 3:48 when the momentum of a crossbody by D-Lo put the Godfather on top; after the bout, D-Lo attacked the Godfather, hit a leg lariat, and followed with the frog splash
The Dudley Boyz defeated Too Cool at 6:36 when D-Von pinned Scotty 2 Hotty following the 3D after Edge, who had been doing guest commentary with Christian, hit the spear on Scotty as he attempted the Worm
Smackdown:
WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero & Chyna defeated Essa Rios & Lita when Chyna pinned Lita with a powerbomb and gorilla press slam
Kurt Angle pinned Hardcore Holly with a German suplex into a bridge
Rikishi defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian via count-out in a handicap match after Edge hit the ring post on the outside; Too Cool made the save for Rikishi after the match
Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Test & Albert when Matt pinned Test after a Swanton from Jeff; after the bout, T&A further attacked their opponents
The Big Show (dressed as "Shownan the Barbarian") fought Bull Buchanan to a no contest after Show hit two chokeslams on his opponent before the match officially began
WWF Hardcore Champion Crash Holly defeated Dean Malenko after Perry Saturn interfered and got into an argument with Malenko
WWF World Champion the Rock & Earl Hebner defeated Triple H, X-Pac, & the Road Dogg in a handicap match when Rock pinned X-Pac with the Rock Bottom after Hebner hit a low blow on X-Pac. After the match, Triple H attacked Hebner until Chris Jericho, the Dudley Boyz, and Rikishi made the save.
2000 - WCW held a Thunder taping in Memphis, TN at the Mid-South Coliseum featuring the following results:
Chris Kanyon pinned Jeff Jarrett (w/ Kimberly) in 3:55 after Diamond Dallas Page ran in and hit Jarrett with a Diamond Cutter, with Kanyon making his own three-count, moments after Page bashed Kimberly over the head with the guitar she was about to hit Kanyon with; prior to the match, Kimberly claimed all of Page's success was due to her & Eric Bischoff, then called the fans a bunch of "lame wrestling marks"
Lex Luger defeated the Wall in 3:58 in a Tables Match when Wall fell out of Luger's Torture Rack and through a table, which didn't break, after Russo hit Luger in the stomach with a baseball bat; Russo & Ric Flair provided guest commentary for the match, with Russo's security bringing the kidnapped Elizabeth ringside, and Russo hitting Flair from behind with a baseball bat late in the match; moments later, Flair hit the ring and was about to put Russo in the figure-4 when Shane Douglas & Buff Bagwell attacked him, with Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke then making the save for Flair; Billy Kidman then appearing on the stage and announcing he drew Flair's name as his opponent next
Ric Flair fought Billy Kidman to a no contest in 6:17 shown after Rey Mysterio Jr & Konnan interfered and attacked Flair, with Kevin Nash making the save and hitting Konnan with the powerbomb as Hulk Hogan attacked Kidman on the stage and threw him back in the ring; Mike Awesome then appeared and Nash dropped him with the powerbomb as well; Hogan and Nash then raised Flair's arm in victory (the match began during the commercial break)
Diamond Dallas Page pinned Vampiro at the 13-second mark with the Diamond Cutter, with Page making his own three-count; prior to the match, Sting attacked Vampiro on his way to the ring and poured a bucket of red "blood" over him
Sting defeated Mike Awesome via submission in 2:15 with the Scorpion Deathlock; during the bout, Lash LeRoux, Chavo Guerrero Jr., and Van Hammer hopped the guardrail and attacked Awesome
Hulk Hogan defeated WCW US Champion Scott Steiner (w/ Midajah & Shakira) via count-out in a non-title match when Steiner left the ring after Hugh Morrus attacked him in the crowd, with Hogan and Hugh Morrus then double-teaming Steiner in the ring
Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Shane Douglas & Buff Bagwell in a non-title match at 4:09 when Adams pinned Douglas after the High Times, with Clarke counting the fall; after the bout, Adams & Clarke took possession of the tag team titles
Ric Flair won a 41-man battle royal in 22:41, last eliminating Shane Douglas after hitting him with a baseball bat; the original 22 participants in the battle royal were Flair, Douglas, Hulk Hogan, Sting, Lex Luger, Jeff Jarrett, Diamond Dallas Page, Brian Adams, Bryan Clarke, Buff Bagwell, Ernest Miller, Chris Candido, Scott Steiner, Mike Awesome, the Wall, Billy Kidman, Shawn Stasiak, Hugh Morrus, Vampiro, Chris Kanyon, Horace Hogan, and Curt Hennig; additional entrants were added as the match progressed, with Konnan, Disco Inferno, Bam Bam Bigelow, Johnny the Bull, Big Vito, Ron & Don Harris, Stevie Ray, Big T, Cash, and Norman Smiley joining at the 3:20 mark; Tank Abbott at the 5-minute mark; Lash LeRoux, Van Hammer, and Chavo Guerrero Jr. at the 13-minute mark; Mona, Asya, & Madusa at the 15-minute mark; Jim Duggan at the 17-minute mark; Randy Savage at the 20-minute mark; Bret Hart at the 22-minute mark; prior to the bout, Eric Bischoff & Vince Russo led the New Blood to the ring, with each member wielding a weapon, and Bischoff calling the Millionaire's Club to the ring for "guerilla warfare;" moments later, Flair came out with the group and demanded a battle royal, with the last man standing receiving a WCW World Title shot at The Great American Bash on June 11th, and Bischoff accepting; after the bout, WCW World Champion David Arquette came out with a guitar but accidentally fell through the wooden part of the stage. The Savage appearance would be his final in WCW.
Bouts taped for WCW Worldwide after Thunder saw:
Disco Inferno defeted Mike Rapada
Ron & Don Harris defeated Kory Williams & Ashley Hudson
Madusa defeated Mona (Molly Holly)
2002 - The WWF Hardcore Title changed hands several times during a Raw house show in Glasgow, Scotland. Shawn Stasiak pinned Crash Holly with a roll up in a four way match with defending champion Steven Richards and Justin Credible to win the title. However, due to the 24/7 defense rule, Justin Credible then superkicked Stasiak and pinned him to win the title. This was followed by Crash bulldogging Credible and pinning him to win the title, then Richards hit Crash with a guitar and pinned him to win back the title he started the night with. However, before he could leave the ring, Stasiak rolled him up from behind and pinned him to win back the title, only for Richards to reverse and then pin Stasiak to win back the title, which he then left with. So, there were six title changes, with Stasiak and Richards winning the title twice each over the course of the match.
Other results from the live event saw:
Rob Van Dam pinned X-Pac with the Five Star Frog Splash
Jerry Lawler & Jackie defeated Mr. Perfect & Molly Holly when Lawler pinned Perfect with a roll up
Brock Lesnar pinned Matt Hardy with the Brockbuster
WWF Women's Champion Jazz defeated Trish Stratus via submission with the STF
Steve Austin pinned the Big Show with the Stunner
WWF European Champion Spike Dudley & Tommy Dreamer defeated Booker T & Goldust in a tables match after Dreamer hit a Spicolli Driver on Goldust through a table
WWF Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Jeff Hardy with the frogsplash after using the title belt as a weapon
Scott Hall pinned Bradshaw with the Razor's Edge off the middle turnbuckle after Bradshaw became distracted by Kevin Nash and X-Pac at ringside
Triple H & Ric Flair defeated the Undertaker & William Regal when Flair pinned Regal with a low blow and roll up as Regal attempted to use his brass knuckles as a weapon
2002 - Bill Goldberg was the special guest on the McDonnell-Douglas show on ESPN Radio 1110 in Los Angeles, announcing that his WCW contract had been bought out by AOL-Time Warner, making him a free agent, able to negotiate a deal and work with any wrestling organization. Goldberg noted he would not wrestle immediately due to his arm injury, and that while he is not leaning towards the WWF, he has no personal animosity towards Vince McMahon. He said his differences with the WWF has to do with the product, and is nothing personal with McMahon, and he would not totally rule out going there. Goldberg would debut for WWE a year later and wrestle for them through March 2004.
2002 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran the Tokyo Dome. Dave Higgins filed the following:
New Japan Pro Wrestling continued to celebrate their 30th Anniversary with a show at the Tokyo Dome. Here are brief results from the show, which saw the involvement of several other promotions, and the reunion of the Steiner Brothers.
- The show started with a ten bell salute and moment of silence for Lou Thesz.
- Big Japan: Kintaro Kanemura defeated Daisuke Sekimoto.
- Katsuyori Shibata defeated Wataru Inoue.
- Tiger Mask 3 (Koji Kanemoto) & Tiger Mask 4 ( of Michinoku Pro) defeated Black Tiger & El Samurai.
- All Japan Women: Kaoru Ito & Momoe Nakanishi defeated Manami Toyota & Yumiko Hotta.
- Jushin Liger & Minoru Tanaka defeated Jado & Gedo to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title.
- Shinya Hashimoto (Zero-One) & Naoya Ogawa (UFO) defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Scott Norton.
- Bas Rutten defeated Manabu Nakanishi.
- Don Frye defeated Tadao Yasuda in under two minutes.
- The Steiner Brothers defeated Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Tanakashi when Scott pinned Tanahashi. Joanie Laurer (aka Chyna) was the guest referee.
- Yuji Nagata defeated Yoshihiro Takayama (Noah) to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
- Masahiro Chono vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (Noah) ended in a thirty minute time limit draw.
2002 - WWF broadcast Smackdown. Eric McHugh filed the following TV report:
Hello folks, it's Eric McHugh with this week's Smackdown! report. With MTV coming to the area again this summer, and the big event this weekend here being a new Boscov's opening up, I still am able to concentrate completely on my duties here! So let's get to the show, which I thought was actually a little better than RAW this week...
Starts with a video recap of HHH-Jericho from Smackdown last week, and Hogan-UT from RAW last Monday. Show then opens with The Boomin' Fist-em, and we're at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh this week. Michael Cole and Tazz remind us of this week's huge TV main event: Hulk Hogan defends the Undisputed title against Chris Jericho!
It's right to the ring for our first match, and out comes...Rikishi and Hurricane? Well, it's an interesting tag-team, this should make for a fun...wait...WHAT the hell did Tony Chimel just say? This is for the tag-team championship?! Boy, nothing like building up new teams beforehand, eh? Good thing the old NWA didn't do this, or Mighty Wilbur and Ron Garvin would've been challenging The Midnight Express on "World Championship Wrestling." So OK, it's for the belts. Out come the champs. And I think I need to repeat this every week until either the WWF adds a new tag title or has Billy and Chuck work double duty: RAW NEEDS TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONS!! Wilbur...erm...Rikishi starts off with Billy Gunn. Gunn hits an early knee and some punches, Rikishi shoves him off. Gunn hits some more punches then a headbutt, which every longtime fan knows won't work on a Samoan wrestler. Sure enough, Billy's wobbly and Rikishi goes on the offensive. Whip into the ropes, Billy tries a sunset flip but Rikishi threatens to drop south, so Billy runs off and tags Chuck. Rikishi catches Chuck with a powerslam, then delivers a legdrop before tagging in the Hurricane. Hurricane comes off the top with a sunset flip for 2. Into the ropes, reversed, Hurricane hits a satellite headscissors. Chuck goes to tag out but is in the wrong corner, and he almost tag Rikishi's behind. Hurricane goes for the big chokeslam, but Billy runs in. They double-whip 'Cane but he's able to fight them off. Hurricane charges Billy and leapfrogs him, but he runs right into Chuck and his double-underhook belly-to-belly overhead suplex, which I had better find a shorter name for by next week. 2-count. Two clothesline and a discus punch, tag to Billy. Billy hits a kick and chokes Hurricane on the ropes. Into the ropes, Hurricane comes off and hits a tornado DDT. Chuck tags in and gets nailed with a reverse neckbreaker. Rikishi tags in and he pounds away on the champs, with Billy taking a spin bump off a clothesline. Riki whips the champs together in the corner and delivers the Ass-alanche. Backdrop to Chuck as Billy falls into stinkface position. Rico pulls Billy out to safety as Riki hits Chuck with a Samoan drop. Tag to 'Cane, who comes off the top with a crossbody, but the ref decides to admonish Billy and Rikishi for fighting outside. Rico runs in and hits a spin legwhip to Hurricane, and Chuck pins him. Winners and still champs, with the same &#@$ finish we've seen every week with these guys, Billy and Chuck. Afterwards, Rico gets the Hurricane chokeslam and the Rikishi stinkface.
In the back we go, and Val Venis and Lance Storm are chatting away. In walks Kurt Angle, who says we have two great athletes here, but their biggest contribution to Smackdown so far has been putting $20 down on Mark Henry bets. Angle says tonight one of them can model the REAL Kurt Angle t-shirt. Angle shows it to us, and sure enough, it's got the poem on the front he read last week. Val checks out the shirt and reads the first two lines..."Olympic medallist, it's true it's true"...but changes the end to "your shirt sucks and so do you!" before leaving. Storm, on the other hand, likes the shirt and offers to be the model. However, he asks Kurt if he's concerned about getting those "You suck" chants. Angle says this is his hometown, Pittsburgh, and without him this city would be the "Pits". Storm reminds him about Mario Lemieux, but Angle says Lemieux is a phony who--rumor has it--faked Hodgkin's to get sympathy. Needless to say, THAT turned Pitt against Angle in a hurry.
After our first round of breaks, Angle and Storm come out. Storm's got the shirt on. Angle gets on the mic and tells the crowd, in response to their chants during the music, that Lance doesn't suck. Funny! "He may be Canadian, but he's pretty cool. Why? Because he's wearing the new Kurt Angle shirt." Angle says he designed it himself. He reads the poem on the front, and then shows off the back. It lists the title reigns, King of the Ring..."And many more!" Lance says he loves the shirt. Angle tells the crowd to take the money that they spend on beer and porno and put it to good use here. Hilarious!! As Angle asks who wants to buy it, Edge comes out. Edge says there's nothing wrong with the shirt, but he's got one that the fans prolly want more. Out comes Val wearing the "You Suck" t-shirt. Angle freaks out and challenges Edge to a rematch at Judgment Day. Storm then whispers into Angle's ear, and gives him an idea. Angle says he knows he can beat Edge, but he wants to humiliate him this time. Angle tells Edge to put his hair on the line! The crowd WHOAS at that one. Edge takes the bet but wants Angle to do the same. After some jibes from Edge and Val, Angle accepts as well! We have a hair VS hair match at Judgment Day!!
More ads, and the Whack of the Night is Randy Orton beating Hardcore Holly last week. As luck would have it, those two are up next! Cole announces that Edge/Val will take on Angle/Storm later as well. Before the match, we see a video from earlier with Stacy wishing Orton good luck with a kiss on the cheek, while Orton just kinda ignores her. Pointless video, really. Holly holds the ropes open for Orton, but he opts to go in the other side. Orton starts off with a headlock, and Holly shoves him off. Orton takes a second headlock into a drop toehold, and a dropkick for a quick 2. Holly is frustrated. Holly hits a kick and some serious clubs to the head, followed by a few chops. Irish whip, Orton leaps Holly in the corner and hits a rolling cradle for 2. Oklahoma roll for another 2, the same move he won with last week. Holly comes off the ropes and hits a powerbomb before going to town on Orton some more, including his Dropkick from Hell. Orton reverses a whip but gets booted in the corner; however, he catches Holly coming with a powerslam. 2-count. Orton is whipped into the corner, and he catches Holly coming in with an interesting variation on the Fame-asser for another 2. Orton hits a flying double forearm and rallies the crowd. Backdrop by Orton, and Holly hits a blatant low blow, which Brian Hebner decides to call for a DQ on. Holly continues pounding Orton after the match and brings him to the stage, where he executes his Alabama Slam on the metal. Ouch.
In the back, Faarooq and Mark Henry are counting their bet money, when in comes D-Von Don't-Call-Me-Dudley. D-Von says that the Good Book says that money is the root of all evil, but "we can change that." D-Von says they should donate it to the "United D-Von Building Fund, because a dollar is a terrible thing to waste!" He grabs for it, but Mark stops him and tells D-Von to testify his ass outta there before he does something "truly sinful" with the collection plate. D-Von warns them both that lightning will strike them down.
After another break, we have Vince and Stacy in the back. Vince starts talking about getting turned on by kissing Stacy's bellybutton. Good, solid storyline action here. Didn't he and Linda patch things up, or did I miss about a month's worth of programming somewhere?? Anyway, Vince goes for the navel, but Chris Jericho barges in to the dressing room. Vince begins to freak out but calms down and asks what he needs. Jericho says he's worried about Hogan getting intentionally DQ-ed, so Vince makes the match no-DQ. Jericho then wonders about Undertaker, and Vince says that he and Flair have agreed that if anyone invades the other's program again, they will be suspended. Finally, Jericho wonders about HHH. Vince says that if he lays a finger on Jericho before the match outcome, it will be career suicide. Jericho feels better, so Vince goes back to Stacy's tummy. Meanwhile, Jericho is still in the room talking to himself and envisioning the stars. Vince, ahems, Jericho out, and he exits. Vince starts to kiss Stacy (who absolutely doesn't open her mouth one millimeter) as the camera fades out.
After our next round of ads, I'm happy to say the WWF pays tribute to our two recently-passed legends of the last couple of weeks. Michael Cole narrates the brief, but classy piece, which included vintage photos and a birth-death timeline. "The WWF remembers the lives of two legends. Ed 'Wahoo' McDaniel's Native American heritage was a source of personal pride and inspiration throughout his life. The Chief's remarkable career spanned over four decades. The incomparable Lou Thesz was one of the world's most respected ring generals. Immortalized by the Lou Thesz press, 'Hooker' will be remembered as one of the great champions of all time." Thank you WWF!! I hope they did this with their own conscience and not because of the backlash they've been getting for not paying tribute to them earlier, but at least they did finally pay their respects.
Now it's back to the ring, and Edge/Val VS Angle/Storm. I still can't believe Val Venis is now actually going by the name "The Big Valbowski." Val throws his towel to the crowd before the match. Angle starts off kicking Edge and hitting chops in the corner. Edge reverses the positioning and hits his own series of chops to the chest of Angle. Edge hits a boot and a dropkick off the second rope for 2. Val tags in and he clubs away on Angle, including a back elbow smash off the ropes. Elbowdrop and kneedrop off the ropes for 1. Angle goes to the eyes and hits a short-arm clothesline before tagging in Storm. Storm hits some chops but is reversed into the ropes, and Val goes for his ropes-knee ropes-knee neckbreaker sequence. He adds to it though, locking in a submission hold after the neckbreaker; Angle makes the save. Tag to Edge, who pounds away on Storm and whips him into the ropes. Storm reverses it and Angle grabs Edge's hair, distracting him and allowing Storm to hit a sidekick. Tag to Angle, who stomps away on Edge and hits a suplex for 2. Angle ducks a clothesline and nails a hard back suplex. Storm comes in and hits a legdrop for 2. Edge tries to punch his way to offense, but Storm stops him cold with a knee to the gut. Edge hits a boot, but Storm pulls him to the corner and tags Angle once again. Angle elbowdrop, and Val winds up distracting referee Teddy Long, so Edge gets doubled. Storm slaps on a form of cobra clutch, but Edge elbows his way out. Irish whip is reversed, and Storm leaps over the ropes onto the apron. He springboards back in but is caught with a powerslam. Both men tag out, and Val punches away on both heels. Val hits a flying tackle to Angle and a powerslam on Storm, but Angle gets him with a German suplex from behind. Val fights out of a second one and hits his modified powerbomb for 2, with Storm making the save. Val flips out of an attempted double atomic drop and ducks a double clothesline; Edge flies off the top and clothesline both Angle and Storm instead. Edge and Storm battle outside, while Angle hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Val inside. Edge returns into the ring and hits a spear on Angle, but Storm quickly clotheslines Edge and himself over the top rope. Val crawls over to Angle and covers, but only gets 2. Val catches a charging Angle with a spinebuster and climbs to the top. Storm tries to trip him up but Val kicks him away; however, Angle does that awesome sprint to the top and hiptosses Val off. Long 2-count. Edge clothesline to Angle, and he throws Storm to the floor again as well. Teddy Long then tries to get Edge out, and Angle tries an Angle Slam on Val. Val escapes and rolls up Angle, but Storm hits a superkick and Angle turns the rollup over. Teddy Long counts the pin. Angle and Storm are your winners. Damn good match; I hope this means Storm and Val are going to be on TV more often.
More breaks. Haven't seen that damn Greyhound once yet! Chris Jericho comes to the ring. Crowd immediately is chanting for Hogan. Jericho says the fans can't bring him down, because tonight he is the king of the world, and the mack daddy! Last week, he says he beat HHH all by himself, and tonight he's going to do what "The Shame" couldn't at Backlash, and that's drive a stake through the heart of WrestleMania. I swear, all we need is Bobby Heenan managing all the heels and we'd have 1987 all over again. HHH comes to the ring and the two stare down. HHH then starts chuckling. Jericho wants to know what's so funny, but then says HHH is out because he's jealous. Jericho reminds HHH that he can't touch him tonight, and he tries to goad HHH into doing just that. HHH just keeps smiling. HHH ends the segment by telling Jericho that he's smiling not because he wants to pound Jericho, but because he knows something that CJ doesn't. "There is no chance in hell you'll win the belt tonight." End segment. Like Tim Whitehead and/or Buck Woodward said about a RAW segment this week, this could've easily been done in 2 minutes instead of over 10.
More ads. Time for our next match; Faarooq/Mark Henry VS Test/Christian. Cole announces casting is beginning for Tough Enough 3. Personally, I think the TE luster is gone, especially with the current crop of idiots forgetting why they're even there and instead worrying about getting into one another's proverbial trunks. But I digress. Shouldn't Mark Henry be wearing a Judgement Day shirt now? Oh well. Henry and Test start off. Lockup, Henry pushes off into the corner. Cole says that Test is the one who's been the ringleader of all these Henry bets. Christian distracts Henry and Test nails him from behind, hitting clubs and a knee lift. Christian tags in and they both try a double clothesline, but Henry instead nails them both. Henry press slams Christian, but he escapes and comes off the ropes. Henry is able to throw him in the air to crash-land him. Tag to Faarooq. Henry press slams Christian and drops him gutfirst onto Faarooq's outstretched knee. Ouch. Faarooq whip is reversed, but he hits an elbow. Test clotheslines him from the apron and comes in illegally as the ref is detained. Test stomps away on Faarooq before hitting a series of elbowdrives in the corner, and a couple of whips and clotheslines. Test tags out, and Christian hits one whole punch before Faarooq goes back to the offensive, including a powerslam for 2; Test makes the save. Suddenly, we see and hear (because he's mic-ed) D-Von in the crowd collecting donations again. Henry clotheslines Test to the floor. Faarooq covers Christian for 2. D-Von says that he can change that money's the root of all evil. Henry and Faarooq head to ringside and they confront D-Von. Faarooq takes the money box and gives it to Henry, who takes the money out and throws it to the fans! I'm sure the donators loved THAT. D-Von nails Henry from behind, and Henry chases him through the crowd. Meanwhile, Faarooq hits Test with a spinebuster only to have Christian nail him with a reverse DDT for the pin. Christian and Test win the match. Cole and Tazz call it an upset, even though neither team's been together in my memories. I guess Rikishi and Hurricane beat them both in the past to gain that earlier title shot...
What's worse, more ads or another Scorpion King vignette? I'm starting to wonder myself, but we get both of them. Then it's a Cruiserweight title defense, as Tajiri defends against Billy Kidman to further the Torrie story. Tajiri starts right off with a stiff kick to the thigh, and Kidman answers with one of his own. Kidman hits a rolling headscissors out of the corner and charges Taj. Taj ducks him and lifts him to the corner, but Kidman lands on the second rope and comes off with a flying armdrag. Taj hits another kick and a dropkick to the knees. Taj kicks Kidman around a little and works over the leg, including with Flair's shinbreaker. As Taj tries for a second one, Kidman flips over with a sunset flip for 2. Kidman tries for the old Kid Krusher finisher, but Taj instead hits a dragon screw on the leg. Taj hangs Kidman upside-down in the corner and dropkicks the knees once again. Kidman hits an enziguiri and some punches, then his Irish whip and clothesline combo. Taj is whipped into the ropes and tries his handspring back elbow, but Kidman dropkicks him coming in. Looked just as good as at Backlash, and got another great pop too. Crowd chants "Let's Go Kidman!" 2-count. Taj nails a spin kick and tries for a powerbomb, but Kidman flips out and hits a skyhigh powerbomb for 2. Taj ducks a clothesline and kicks the hell out of Kidman for 2. Taj is whipped into the corner and tries the Tarantula, but Kidman sends him to the floor. Torrie's checking on her man, and Kidman tells her to move. She tries to get away as Kidman comes over the ropes with a plancha, but Taj pulls her into harm's way and she takes the hit. Kidman is stunned to see he got Torrie, which allows Taj to nail Kidman with a kick outside the ring, and one back inside for the pin. After the match, Taj doesn't check on Torrie and, in fact, just watches her as she slowly gets up before they head out.
Cut to the back, and Vince and Stacy are getting dressed. Ya think Test has a good sense of humor? Anyway, Vince asks Stacy to get HHH. We go to break.
Why, it's HHH! Vince reminds him that if he interferes, it's career suicide. HHH just smiles and asks if they're done. Vince says they are, and HHH stops smiling and leaves, which freaks Vince out a little. One more time, we go to break. A whole segment for that?
It's main-event time, with Hulk Hogan defending the WWF title against Chris Jericho, no-DQ. Cole speaks of Hogan not being 100% tonight due to the Undertaker's beatdown of him on RAW. Both men lock up, and Hogan shoves Jericho the mat and poses. Another lockup, same result with Jericho this time being shoved outside the ring. In a funny spot, Jericho kicks the announce desk in frustration and then sells that he hurt his toe kicking the desk. Jericho back in, another lockup; Hogan headlock. Jericho tries to power out to no avail, so he pushes off into the ropes. Hogan with a shoulderblock, hiptoss, slam, armbar. Hogan hits a couple elbows to the shoulder during the armbar. Jericho goes to the eyes and hits a nice back suplex. Jericho takes Hogan's bandanna and wipes his underarms with it. Jericho stomps away on Hogan before missing an elbowdrop off the ropes. Hogan hits some punches and a nice sequence of chops and punches in the corner. Irish whip, Jericho catches Hogan coming with an elbow. Jericho to the top, Hogan catches him and slams him into the ring. Hogan goes for the corner 10-punch, but after 8 decides to chomp away on Jericho's forehead instead. This allows Jericho to sneak in a low blow, and Hogan falls to the mat. Jericho stomps away on Hogan. Series of punches, head to buckle, irish whip. Jericho misses Hogan on the charge and bumps over the top rope. Hogan goes out after him but gets reversed into the post. Jericho comes off the top with a double axehandle onto Hogan. Back in the ring, Jericho guillotines Hogan on the top rope, then leaps on his back to choke him over the ropes once again. Jericho poses, then undoes his wrist tape to choke Hogan with it. Cole reminds us it's no-DQ. Jericho tries another running leap, but he crotches the ropes instead. Hogan hits a series of punches and another slam, then a couple of elbowdrops. He comes off the ropes for a third, but Jericho moves. Jericho hits a bulldog and the Lionsault...and suddenly HHH's music starts up! Jericho is stunned as he sees The Game coming to the ring. Once at ringside, HHH puts on the brakes and smiles, then saunters over to the announce desk! Hogan regains the offense with a throat thrust, but his misses the big boot and Jericho hits a kick and DDT for a close 2-count. HHH says to Cole and Tazz that he has nothing up his sleeve. Hogan, after the kickout, starts Hulking up, and he hits the punches and big boot. However, coming in with the legdrop, Jericho catches him and turns him into the Walls! Hogan fights to reach the ropes and finally does so. Jericho is frustrated and he shoves referee Brian Hebner before retrieving a ringside chair. In a funny moment, he goes out to the floor with the same camera angle as last week, shoves the same guy out of his chair as last week who takes the same bump he did last week. I don't know if that was intentional or not, but it was pretty damn funny. Jericho nails Hogan in the back with the chair and sets up for another blow...when the Undertaker's music starts up!!! Jericho yells at the stage for Undertaker to come out...but instead, Hogan schoolboys Jericho for the pin!!! Winner and still champion is Hogan! Apparently, HHH had UT's music play to distract Jericho. Once the match ends, HHH immediately hits the ring and he pounds away on Jericho since he now can, and chases him off. HHH raises Hogan's arm in victory to end the show, with Cole saying that in regards to Chris Jericho, "What comes around, goes around." Erm...yeah, something like that, Michael...
So there's the show for this week. Overall, a good effort by everyone with some continuing storylines (nice to see the t-shirt come back for another week) and a couple of good bouts (including Hogan-Jericho, prolly Hogan's best TV match since returning to the WWF, and another good showing by Jericho in a TV main event). The hair match between Edge and Angle is definitely intriguing, and I still wonder if Hogan VS Undertaker is going to be the actual main event at the next PPV. Only one way to know for sure...check again next week for another report. Thanks as always for reading.
2003 - WWE's Raw brand ran Oshawa, Ontario at the Civic Auditorium featuring the following:
The Dudley Boyz defeated Three Minute Warning following the 3D on Jamal
Rodney Mack pinned Tommy Dreamer (substituting for Jeff Hardy) with the running powerslam after Teddy Long interfered
La Resistance, Sylvian Grenier & Rene Dupree defeated the Hurricane & Maven following a double team flapjack on Maven
WWE Women’s Champion Jazz defeated Trish Stratus, Victoria, and Jackie in a Four Way by pinning Jackie
Christian pinned Spike Dudley with the Unprettier
WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Rob Van Dam & Kane defeated Lance Storm & Chief Morley after the 18-minute mark following the Five Star Frog Splash on Morley
Steven Richards pinned Rico with a double arm DDT
Test pinned Scott Steiner in a Canada vs. USA match
2004 - WWE's brands each ran a house show, featuring the following:
Smackdown in El Paso, TX at the County Coliseum:
Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated the Dudley Boyz when RVD pinned Bubba Ray with the Five Star Frog Splash after Bubba sustained the 619; the match was originally RVD vs. Bubba Ray but was turned into a tag team match after D-Von and Mysterio interrupted the bout
Shannon Moore defeated Johnny Stamboli
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions Rico & Charlie Haas defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Chavo Guerrero Sr. when Haas scored the pin with a roll over after Rico kissed Chavo Sr.
Mordecai pinned Paul London with the Razor's Edge after 4 minutes
Billy Kidman pinned Jamie Noble with an enzuiguri and the Shooting Star Press
WWE champion Eddie Guerrero pinned John Bradshaw Layfield with the Frog Splash after hitting the challenger with the title belt; in a post-match incident, the champion brought his family into the ring before Bradshaw attacked him from behind and Eddie's mother suffered a 'heart attack'
Mark Jindrak pinned Hardcore Holly with a roll over after Holly became distracted by Teddy Long at ringside
WWE U.S. Champion John Cena & Torrie Wilson defeated Rene Dupree & Dawn Marie when Cena pinned Dupree with the FU; the match was originally Torrie vs. Dawn but was made into a tag team bout after Dupree and Cena interrupted
The Undertaker pinned Booker T with the chokeslam and tombstone
Raw in Yuma, AZ at the Desert Sun Stadium:
Chris Jericho defeated Christian (w/ Tyson Tomko) via submission with the Walls of Jericho, despite interference from Trish Stratus
Tajiri pinned Garrison Cade with the kick to the head after spraying green mist in his face
WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton defeated Shelton Benjamin
WWE Women's Champion Victoria & Lita defeated Molly Holly & Gail Kim when Lita pinned Kim; after the bout, Kane came to the ring and began stalking Lita until Matt Hardy made the save
Kane pinned Matt Hardy with the chokeslam; after the bout, Kane attempted to hit the chokeslam on Lita but Edge made the save
Batista defeated Val Venis
Rhyno pinned Albert with the Gore
Hurricane, Rosey, & Eugene defeated Johnny Nitro, & Rob Conway, & Sylvian Grenier; the bout was originally a 2-on-2 contest but was changed to a 6-man tag after Eugene and Nitro came out before the contest began
WWE World Champion Chris Benoit defeated Triple H via submission with the Crippler Crossface, despite interference from Evolution
2005 - During an edition of Raw in Boston, Massachusetts, General Manager Eric Bischoff announced a "Gold Rush Tournament" to determine the number one contender to the World Title held by Batista. Here are the results of the first round:
- Kane defeated Christian with a chokeslam.
- Shawn Michaels defeated Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin with a superkick as Shelton attempted a springboard clothesline in what was considered to be one of the best Raw matches of the year.
- Edge defeated Chris Jericho with a spear after hitting him with the Money In The Bank briefcase.
- Chris Benoit defeated Triple H via submission with the Sharpshooter following a brawl that involved Ric Flair and Batista.
2006 - During an edition of Smackdown taped in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark Henry cleanly pinned World Champion Rey Mysterio with a powerslam in a non-title match. Mysterio, who was to defend the title against JBL at Judgment Day, had stated he wasn't afraid to face anyone, which led to JBL bringing out Henry for him to wrestle. This would not be the only time Mysterio was cleanly beaten during his title reign. Other results from the taping saw:
Dark: William Regal & Sylvan defeated Roadkill & Kasey James (w/ Michelle McCool)
Velocity:
Road Warrior Animal defeated Paul Birchill (w/ Shelly Martinez as his Pirate wench)
Bobby Lashley defeated TJ Dalton
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms defeated Mike Altieri (Mikey Batts)
Matt Hardy defeated Orlando Jordan
Smackdown:
Booker T (w/ Sharmell) pinned Gunner Scott with a kick to the face and the scissors kick at 5:29 after Sharmell grabbed Scott's foot from the floor; it was announced prior to the bout that Booker earned a bye into the finals of the King of the Ring due to the injuries Kurt Angle sustained the previous week; after the match, Booker climbed on the commentary table, said he would have beaten Angle down just like he did Scott, and that he will win the King of the Ring
Brian Kendrick & Paul London fought WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury (w/ Melina) to a no contest when the champions attacked the challengers from behind with the title belts before the match began; moments later, the champions hit the Snapshot on London and two Snapshots on Kendrick
King of the Ring Quarter Finals: Finlay pinned Chris Benoit at 20:24 with the Celtic Cross after jabbing Benoit in the throat with a steel chair; after the contest, Finlay sat in the King of the Ring throne at the entranceway
The Gymini (w/ Simon Dean) defeated Sho Funaki & Scotty 2 Hotty at 3:27 when Scotty was pinned following the Crash Diet
Super Crazy, Nunzio (w/ Vito), and Kid Kash fought to a no contest at around the 2-minute mark when Daivari & the Great Khali came ringside, with Khali assaulting all three participants; the match was to have determined who would face WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms for the title at Judgment Day
In a dark match after the show, World champion Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Mark Henry and WWE U.S. Champion g JBL
2007 - Ring of Honor announced they would be making the move to PPV, airing the first in a series of taped two hour PPV specials in July, taping at the Manhattan Center in New York City. The move to PPV has been something the company has been working on for the last six months, having met with every major cable and satellite PPV provider with all except DirecTV signing on. The PPVs were produced in conjunction with New York City's G-Funk Sports and Entertainment, who's President, Ken Gelman had been a fixture at recent New York City events. Gelman was the liason between ROH and the PPV carriers during the process of getting the deals signed. As part of the deal, ROH announced they had signed 12 talents to contracts, but did not disclose which talents were signed. The official announcement of the deal read:
INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING PHENOMENON RING OF HONOR INKS STATESIDE TELEVISION DEALS WITH iN DEMAND, TVN AND ECHOSTAR
PPV/VOD Distribution Deals Bring ROH into 50 Million Households
New York, May 2, 2007 - Ring Of Honor Wrestling (ROH), in association with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment, has concluded programming and distribution deals for PPV and VOD wrestling cards with iN DEMAND Networks, TVN and EchoStar Communications Corporation's DISH NetworkTM, making the critically-acclaimed ROH brand available for the first time ever to approximately 50 million American households. The agreement calls for a card every 60 days from shows both stateside and abroad, and will premiere July 1. A total of six cards are planned throughout '07/'08. ROH owner Cary Silkin made the announcement today with G-Funk's President Ken Gelman. The debut event, entitled "Respect Is Earned," will be taped May 12 in New York City from the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center, and will feature a glistening array of talent from Japan, England, the U.S. and Mexico.
Long revered by a loyal underground fan base, the Philadelphia-based ROH, Âcurrently seen on Canadian, British and Japanese TV Âappeals to the disenfranchised wrestling fan fed up with storylines which seem to take precedence over the kind of powerful ring competition that ROH specializes in. ROH, in fact, is seen to have the highest level of athleticism in its field today, which recently culminated in a sweep of the 2006 Wrestling Observer awards for "Most Outstanding Wrestler," "Best Brawler," "Best Major Wrestling Show" (ROH took four of its Top 10) and "Best Booker."
"Fans around the world now know that our brand of action is, indeed, the highest-flying, hardest-hitting most daring and acrobatic action presented today," says Mr. Silkin. "We are thrilled that we can finally show a televised audience what our crowds have known for the last six years ¦that ROH harkens back to an earlier era of wrestling where authenticity still counted for something. There's a magic at our shows that I, as a wrestling fan, had all but given up on."
G-Funk Sports and Entertainment will be handling all marketing and promotion for the wrestling programs, including creation and launch of an affiliate website on May 15, www.rohaffiliates.com, which will contain easy-to-implement marketing materials and all event information. Each show will also be supported by a range of targeted national consumer advertising and promotion.
According to Mr. Gelman, "Ring Of Honor already has the respect and enthusiastic following of legions of fans around the world through their live events, but represents a fresh new entry into the world of televised wrestling. These distinctive programs will prove a welcome change-of-pace for audiences and a popular new option for cable operators and satellite providers as they expand their transactional offerings."
2008 - The first and only season of Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling was announced for CMT. Produced by Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey, "I am excited to have this opportunity at CMT to get the chance to run wild with their audience. As I looked at the sports entertainment landscape, I realized it was time to shake things up from the traditional formats people have become used to seeing. The audience is ready for something different and more contemporary, and through my partnership with BHE and CMT, that's exactly what were gonna do" said the legendary Hulk Hogan. The series featured a cast of celebrities learning under Brian Knobbs and Brutus Beefcake before putting on matches before a live crowd, where they were judged by Hulk Hogan, Jimmy Hart and Eric Bischoff. In the end, Dennis Rodman was crowned the first and only CCW champion, although Todd Bridges proved to be far and away the talent with the most aptitude for the business.
2008 - On an episode of Smackdown, Vickie Guerrero stripped The Undertaker of the WWE World championship in retaliation for Taker "injuring" Edge at the Backlash PPV the previous week. Guerrero also banned Undertaker's gogoplata (Hell's Gate") submission.
2008 - PWInsider.com reported the following: "WWE performers who underwent drug testing as part of the Wellness Policy this week found themselves under more stringent testing conditions. In the past, performers were able to urinate into a vial at a urinal, but as of this past week, male performers were required to provide a sample in full view of those representing Aegis Science, the firm that tests WWE's urine samples. Performers, male and female, were also required to drop their pants at least down to their knees and pull their shirts up above their nipples, according to numerous sources. The new testing procedures were believed to have been adapted to prevent talents from circumventing testing procedures using cheating devices.The word making the way around the wrestlers was that an incident had sparked the more stringent procedures, but no one was quite sure what that exactly had been or if the story was correct or some baseless theory that was created among the discussion of the changes. There was talk that a developmental talent had been caught trying to use a device in an attempt to circumvent the testing process."
2008 - WWE canceled a scheduled tour of Mexico for the Raw brand scheduled for the end of May 2009 due to an outbreak of swine flu, rescheduling that weekend for Huntsville, Alabama on May 29th and Montgomery, Alabama on May 30th.
2008 - WWE ran a Raw house show in Montreal, the first time the company would return to Canada following the Benoit tragedy. Ryan Rider filed the following live report:
I guess the old adage about the "card subject to change" would qualify to explain that the announced matches were changed once again. In particular, Jericho faced Snitsky and not Mr. Kennedy (or the originally announced Umaga). The tag team and women's championship matches were also changed as noted. At the beginning of the show, they announced that there would be a fan voting by cell phone as to what the stipulation would be for the main event (HHH vs Orton). The choices were steel cage, 2 out of 3 falls, or No DQ. Whether or not the poll was rigged, Steel Cage won by a majority of votes.
It had been awhile since I'd attended a house show, and my expectations were not high. However, I must admit that I did enjoy the event very much so. These days, professional wrestling or WWE in particular has become too much of a television show and they seemed to have lost something along the way. Everything is done towards the camera and for TV. The wrestlers captivated on the house show format; as they had nice long matches and used a lot of crowd psychology. I was very impressed and hope this is a new long-term positive direction for WWE house shows. Could it be possible that they've heard how successful TNA's live events have been and are trying to follow suit? I sure hope so.
Paul London and Brian Kendrick beat Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch: Very good opening match and went over 30 minutes long. Both Kendrick and London were showcased well, and I have to say I like them a little more than I did before. Murdoch and Cade had some animosity following the bout, and Murdoch sang a song for the crowd.
Carlito won over Shad Gaspard: Carlito got major heat for wearing a Philadelphia Flyers jersey on his way to the ring (currently beating the Montreal Canadians 3-1 in the playoffs). The crowd was booing like crazy and Shad got a good response (he is a beast by the way, he manhandled Carlito like crazy, and has improved since his last run in the WWE). Gaspard hauled Carlito's jersey off his chest, and used it to wipe his ass. Unfortunately, that did not help him succeed and Carlito pulled a surprise pin for the win.
William Regal beat Super Crazy: Decent match, Regal pulling off an easy win and then gave promo saying he has more power than anybody else in the company being both the King of the Ring and General Manager of Raw.
Mickie James defeated Katie Lea Burchill: Probably the best match of the night. Katie Lea performed very well in the ring as did defending champion Mickie.
Cody Rhodes defeated "The Natural" Nick Nemeth (formerly of the Spirit Squad): "Nicky" was actually really good. Very technical match, with Cody Rhodes coming out on top after 20 minutes of back and forth action.
Chris Jericho kept his IC title against Snitsky: Chris got a huge ovation, coming back to his home nation of Canada. He told Snitsky that his breath stinks and that he should brush his teeth (also said it in broken French as "Brosser tes dents") which got the crowd to pop even more. Another enjoyable contest.
HHH retained the Raw World Championship against Randy Orton in a steel cage match: Probably a practice go-round to see how things will go at Judgement Day when they will face each other in the cage once again. Strong match; Orton had a lot of heel heat and HHH was cheered like crazy. I personally booed both of them, but that's just me. Good cage match, fans should expect a lot from their next encounter. Both guys tried to escape the steel structure numerous times but were pulled back down by their opponent. Triple H used the Figure Four Leg Lock which brought upon a lot of cheers, while Orton was also on the offence for much of the bout. Match ended when HHH pedigreed Randy Orton for the 1-2-3 count. Following the match, Triple H stayed for about 10 minutes and shook hands with many fans.
2011 - Tommy Dreamer turns heel during an Impact taping in Orlando, Florida, attacking AJ Styles. With the exception of a brief run as part of the WCW/ECW Alliance during the WWF Invasion storyline, it was first time Dreamer had been turned heel since coming to prominence nationally in the early 1990s. The storyline is abruptly dropped when Dreamer declines to sign a new TNA deal and he returns to the independent scene a babyface immediately.
2011 - WWE held a birthday party for the Rock on Monday Night Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
We start off with a video package about the attacks on New York City and Washington D.C from 2001. We then go to the Smackdown that aired on the Thursday after the attacks.
We are live from Miami, Florida and your announcers are Michael ‘For Rock’s birthday, I will be a mute’ Cole, Jerry ‘For Rock’s birthday, I will beat up a mute’ Lawler and Josh ‘For Rock’s birthday, I will give him my Tough Enough tape’ Mathews.
Lillian Garcia is in the ring to sing the National Anthem.
The Rock’s music plays and he comes out to the ring.
FINALLY . . . The Rock has . . . home. Before they get started, Rock has one thing to say. We got him. Rock thanks the proud men and women who continuously and fearlessly fight for our country. Rock says that his family are proud members of the military. He is proud to be an American. There is only one way we are going to start off tonight. Rock wants everyone to say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rock says that it feels good to be home because it all started here. The doctors and nurses came around and said that this baby sure is called ‘Johnson’. Then the Rock went to high school. He had an afro and mustache and looked like the lead singer of Menudo. They showed a photo of the Rock and after some people laughed, he said that face devoured more pie in one night than King Kong Bundy in a Polish bakery.
Rock says that he went to college at ‘The U’. He says that he brought a National Championship to Miami. He electrified the Orange Bowl and then he went to the WWE where he said a lot of catchphrases. It is time to smell . . . a ding ding.
Michael Cole has a smile on his face as he gets to interrupt the Rock. Cole reads the e-mail and he quotes, but Rock whoas Cole.
Rock tells Cole he can’t hear him. He says that if Cole has the gall to interrupt him on his birthday, he wants Cole to read it to the Rock’s face.
Cole declines but Rock stops him. Rock says that if Cole is scared of him he understands. Rock mentions that Cole has won at Wrestlemania and at Extreme Rules, so he must be a tough guy. He could be a tough guy or the voice of the WWE and read the message to the Rock’s face. He tells Cole to be a man and come in the ring or sit in his glass box and look like a drunk hobbit jackbag bitch.
Cole says that he is not scared of anything. He says that he is not the same person that Rock used to know. Cole says that he has grown into a man. He says that he is a winner. Cole says that he associates with winners. Cole takes off his jacket and removes his shirt to reveal a Celtics jersey. Cole asks the fans of Miami if they are jealous because Boston has more World Championships than anyone. Cole tells Dwayne that he will deliver the message face to face.
Cole walks into the ring and says that the Raw General Manager demands an apology or the birthday party will be shut down before it gets started. Cole says that he wants an apology. He tells Dwayne that he wants an apology for all of the embarrassment that he put Cole through over the years.
Rock tells Cole that he is right. He did disrespect the General Manager at Wrestlemania and he disrespected Cole over the years. Rock has one thing to say to Cole. He is sorry. Rock offers his hand and he wants Cole to shake his hand. He wants Cole to accept his apology.
Cole thinks about it and he shakes Rock’s hand. Cole says thank you for apologizing and then Rock doesn’t let go. Rock tells Michael Cole ‘thank you and Go Heat . . . bitch’. Rock with a Rock Bottom and then it is time for the People’s Elbow.
Rock’s music plays and he wants them to stop the music. Rock says that this is the biggest party in Miami and he introduces Pitbull. He thanks Rock for having him here to represent Dade County.
The Miami Heat dancers come out to join Pitbull.
We go to commercial with some birthday wishes from Dwayne Wade and Lebron James.
We are back with the WWE Rewind; Little Jimmy gets yelled at by R Truth.
Jim Ross has joined Josh and Jerry at the announce table since Michael Cole is otherwise indisposed.
R Truth attacks John Morrison as he comes to the ring so turnabout is fair play.
Match Number One: R Truth versus John Morrison
Before the match starts, Truth sends Morrison into the ringside barrier and he continues to pummel Morrison. Truth with Shut Up on Morrison.
Morrison is helped by the referees to get back to his feet and he holds his neck.
Morrison is met on the stage by Truth who returns from the back and he gives Morrison a Flatline.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for more birthday wishes for the Rock. Jimmy Kimmel wishes him a happy birthday.
Before our first match, we mean it this time, we are told by Jim Ross that doctors are checking on John Morrison.
Match Number One: Maryse versus Kelly Kelly
Maryse pie faces Maryse but Kelly with a kick and bulldog. Kelly screams while she slams Maryse’s face into the mat.
Kharma’s music plays and Kelly and Maryse stay in the ring because they aren’t really that smart. She makes her way to the ring and it is time to break some bigger dolls.
Kharma gets in the ring and she looks at Kelly Kelly while Maryse is still on her back feeling the effect of Kelly’s impressive offense.
Kharma gets Maryse up for the Implant Buster and Kharma laughs like a maniac.
Kelly is frozen in the corner and Kharma walks away.
Miz is in his dressing room and he is staring away. Alex Riley, who is on Smackdown (remember that) arrives and Miz wants to know where he was. Miz also wants to know where he was last night. Alex reminds Miz that he was drafted to Smackdown. Miz reminds Riley that he is under a personal services contract with him and that takes precedence. Miz tells Riley that he will be ringside tonight during his match with Cena. People won’t talk about the Rock tonight, they will talk about him winning the WWE Title.
We go to commercial with more birthday wishes. Paul Walker is the person who gives him the birthday wishes.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for more birthday wishes for the Rock and it is Samuel L. Jackson and he is sick and tired of these multi-filthy snakes on these multi-filthy promos.
Rock is in the party room with the Divas and he is talking about how he was singing happy birthday for Michelle Obama. He thanks them all for getting dressed up for the party (because Rock sure isn’t). Rock sees Teddy Long and he wishes him a happy birthday. Vladimir Kozlov tells Rock that he has written a movie script for Rock’s birthday. Santino is dressed up like Rock’s character on Fast Five. Santino’s chin is ticklish.
The Half Scorpion King appears at the party and he has a toothache. Great Khali is dressed as the Tooth Fairy and he fist bumps his Get Smart co-star.
Rock says that he has the perfect person for the perfect type and Ron Simmons appears for his DAMN cameo.
John Cena and Miz are walking in the back (along with Alex Riley a few steps behind Miz in the background) as we go to commercial.
We are back and Steve Carell is giving a hostage style video forcing him to wish Dwayne Johnson a happy birthday and he is disappointed that he isn’t being paid to do this.
Match Number Two: John Cena versus The Miz with Alex Riley for the WWE Title
They lock up and Miz with a side head lock on Cena and he locks it in. Cena with a hip toss and drop kick. Cena with an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall. Miz with a kick followed by punches but Cena punches back. Cena knocks Riley off the apron and Miz takes Cena down and Miz punches and kicks Cena.
Miz sends Cena to the floor and the referee is distracted by Miz so Riley can hit Cena with a clothesline. Cena is sent into the ring steps and then they return to the ring. Miz gets a near fall.
Miz waits for Cena to get up for the Awesome Clothesline and Miz mixes things up with the right arm. Miz with a double sledge from the turnbuckles for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Miz with a knee lift followed by a neck breaker for a near fall. Miz kicks Cena in the corner and he punches him. The referee pulls Miz out of the corner but Miz returns to the attack. Miz waits for Cena to get back to his feet with an AWESOME Clothesline but Cena moves out of the way. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena tries to finish the Legendary Sequence with an Attitude Adjustment but Miz gets out of the hold and he kicks Cena in the head. ,P> Miz tries for a boot to the head but Cena with an STF. Miz gets to the ropes and the referee calls for Miz to release the hold. Miz with a kick to the knee and a DDT for a near fall. Miz exposes the turnbuckle pad while Riley distracts the referee. Miz tries to send Cena into the turnbuckle but Miz is stopped.
Miz with the Reality Check combination but he can only get a two count. Miz shows frustration about how he hasn’t won yet. Miz signals for the Skull Crushing Finale but Cena backs Miz into the referee and the referee is knocked out. Cena locks in the STF and Miz taps, but there is no referee.
Riley tries to interfere but Cena stops him. Miz gets Riley up for Attitude Adjustment. Miz hits Cena and hits the Skull Crushing Finale. The referee takes a while to make the count so Cena is able to kick out at two.
Cena with the Attitude Adjustment but Miz kicks out. Riley runs around the ring to distract the referee so Miz can hit Cena with the title belt and Miz gets the three count.
Winner: Miz
After the match, Miz celebrates in the ring with Riley. The referee wonders how the belt got into the center of the ring and he changes the decision and disqualifies Miz.
John Cena is still your champion.
After the smoke clears. Cena clotheslines Riley and Miz and then they get Attitude Adjustments.
We go to commercial with some more birthday wishes for the Rock and it is Ellen Degeneres.
We are back and Tyler Perry, not dressed like Madea, wishes Rock a happy birthday.
It is time to see John Cena let the people of Tampa know about Osama bin Laden.
Alberto Del Rio is introduced so he can do commentary.
Match Number Three: Rey Mysterio and Kofi Kingston versus Drew McIntyre and Jack Swagger in a You might remember these guys from Friday
Swagger and Rey start and Swagger with a waist lock take down into a front face lock. Swagger punches Rey in the corner followed by an Irish whip but Rey with a kick. Rey with a head scissors that sends Swagger into the corner. Rey with a bronco buster and then he picks up Swagger so Kofi can mount him in the corner and he punches away. Kofi with an English uppercut followed by a forearm.
Kofi with a boot to Swagger but Drew with a clothesline from the apron as we go to commercial.
We are back and Swagger and Kofi are in the ring and Kofi tries to make the tag but Swagger stops him. Drew tags in and he punches Kofi. Drew with forearms to the back and he stomps on Kofi’s chest. Kofi gets a near fall with a rollup but Drew stops Kofi from making the tag and Drew gets a near fall with a jackknife cover. Swagger tags back in and Kofi tries to fight out of the corner.
Swagger with forearms to the back and then he puts Kofi in a front face lock. Kofi tries to get to his corner but Drew distracts the referee and Swagger knocks Rey down. Drew tags back in and he walks across Kofi’s chest. Kofi with a kick to the head but Drew with a forearm to the back.
Kofi with elbows to Drew and Drew tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Kofi lands on his feet and he tags in Rey. Rey with a head scissors followed by a round kick and he gets a near fall and Swagger breaks up the cover. Swagger picks up Rey and Rey kicks Drew into the ropes. Kofi sends Swagger to the floor. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise to Drew and Drew goes into the ropes. Del Rio gets up from the announce table but Rey hits the dive from the top turnbuckle for the three count.
Winners: Rey Mysterio and Kofi Kingston
After the match, Del Rio goes into the ring, but Rey stops him.
We go to footage from an anti-bullying event in Washington DC that Triple H appeared at.
The next person not bullied into wishing the Rock a happy birthday is Ludacris.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that the Smackdown after the 9/11 attacks were the first major public gathering.
Dan Marino is the next to wish Rock a happy birthday.
Christian is in the party room with the Rock and Rock tells him that he is proud of him. Evan Bourne gets to talk to Rock before Vickie excuse mes herself into the room. Vickie says that even though no one wished her a happy birthday, her and Dolph got her a present. They pull apart the cake to reveal Mae Young.
Rock tells Vickie that she can lose all the weight she wants and Vickie will never look as good or as beautiful as Mae Young. Rock thanks Mae for showing up for his birthday. Rock kisses Mae and then he tells Dolph that he gets more pie in one night than Dolph does in an entire lifetime.
John Cena appears and he tells Rock that he brought a gift that only he can give him. He holds up the WWE Championship. Cena says that he will keep it until Wrestlemania 28. This makes the biggest match in Wrestlemania history even bigger. If Rock wants it, he will have to go through him. Rock tells Cena to just bring it.
Cena wishes Rock a happy birthday and leaves.
Kane is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with another birthday wish. This time it is from George Lopez.
Match Number Four: Kane versus Mason Ryan with CM Punk
They lock up and Ryan sends Kane to the mat. They lock up again and Kane is sent to the floor. Kane returns to the ring and Kane with a side head lock and Ryan stays on his feet after Kane tries for a shoulder tackle. Ryan with a clothesline and a slam. Ryan punches Kane followed by a hard Irish whip. Ryan with an Irish whip but Kane with a boot and uppercut. Kane with an Irish whip and then he hits a splash in the corner.
Punk interferes and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Kane by by disqualification
After the match, David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty join the fray. Kane tries for a choke slam but Ryan powers out of the hold and then he hits an uranage.
Show makes his way to the ring and he goes after McGillicutty, Otunga, and Punk. Ryan with a spear to Show. Mason Ryan walks off and Punk wonders what is going on.
Punk, Otunga, and McGillicutty are at ringside and they look at Ryan on the stage.
Who cares about that because it’s Rock’s birthday. The next birthday wishes come from Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Craig Ferguson wishes Rock a happy birthday.
It is time for the main event and it is going to be the Rock doing that birthday thing.
The people in the crowd put on their party hats (but they won’t put their bags over their heads when Cody Rhodes shows up). Rock wants to know if everyone has had fun tonight. Rock thanks everyone for coming out to support him and for making it one of the best nights in his life.
Rock thanks his family, who are in the crowd as well as his family watching at home. Rock wants to thank the WWE too.
Rock says that as a proud Hurricane and a proud son of Miami, next year’s Wrestlemania will be the biggest Wrestlemania of all time.
There is NO CHANCE that Vince McMahon wouldn’t miss a birthday party.
Vince wishes Rock a happy birthday and thanks him for allowing him to let us share his birthday with him. Vince thanks Rock for pulling him aside to ask to bring the WWE to heights that no one has ever done. Vince says that Rock has taken them to levels no one else ever did before.
Vince thanks Rock for his respect, his passion, his humanity, and giving the crowd the opportunity to say ‘what’ (and they what). He thanks Rock for his love of life and devotion. He thanks the Rock for being The Rock. On behalf of the WWE, they have put together a birthday present. Vince tells Rock of all of the thank yous, he thanks Rock for coming home.
We see a video package showing the Rock through the years.
It is time for someone to sing Happy Birthday to the Rock and it is going to be performed by Mya.
Rock thanks everyone and then it is time to smell as we go to credits. Who wants confetti and balloons?
2012 - Wade Barrett began filming scenes for the WWE Studios film "Dead Man Down" in Philadephia.
2013 - WWE released their first quarter earnings for 2013. Their official release:
WWE issued the following:
WWE® Reports 2013 First Quarter Results
STAMFORD, Conn.--- WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2013. Revenues totaled $124.0 million as compared to $123.1 million in the prior year quarter. Operating income was $6.1 million as compared to $16.0 million in the prior year quarter. Net income was $3.0 million, or $0.04 per share, as compared to $15.3 million, or $0.20 per share, in the prior year quarter. Excluding items that impacted comparability on a year-over-year basis, Adjusted Operating income was $7.4 million as compared to $16.8 million in the prior year quarter, and Adjusted Net income was $3.9 million, or $0.05 per share, as compared to $11.7 million, or $0.16 per share, in the prior year quarter. On an "As Reported" basis, the performance of a recent movie release resulted in increased film impairment charges, which were a significant component of the decline in first quarter earnings. Excluding the impact of these charges and a net positive impact from the transition to a new video game licensee, the decline in Adjusted Operating income reflected investments in content production, including talent and staff costs, lower profits from Home Entertainment and lower sales of licensed products. The investments support the company's long-term growth objectives. "Adjusted" earnings also declined due to an increase in the effective tax-rate.
In the first quarter, our performance reflected investments to enhance our brand strength, which we view as a critical determinant of our long-term growth, stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Operating metrics such as pay-per-view buys and live event attendance, which are key leading indicators, continued to show improvement. Demonstrating the ongoing demand for WWE content, we successfully staged WrestleMania in April, which attracted more than 80,000 fans and is expected to deliver more than one million pay-per-view buys globally, ranking the event as the highest grossing and most profitable pay-per-view event in our history. Looking ahead, we are confident that we can leverage this demand to transform our business."
Several anticipated factors contributed to the decline in our first quarter OIBDA results, which - while down - were essentially in-line with our guidance. These factors included investments in our content production and talent, lower profits from home entertainment and weakness in international licensing sales," added George Barrios, Chief Financial Officer. "Based on our assessment of these factors, we continue to believe that our results, excluding the impact of the film impairment associated with Dead Man Down, will fall within the range previously communicated, which was 'plus or minus 10 percent' from our 2012 OIBDA results."
Comparability of Results
During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we changed our measure of segment profit (loss) to operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization ("OIBDA"). We believe the presentation of OIBDA is useful for investors because it allows them to view WWE's segment performance in the same manner as the primary method used by management to evaluate performance and to make decisions on the allocation of resources. The Company defines OIBDA as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, excluding feature film amortization and film impairments. A portion of selling, general and administrative expenses is included in our reported segments. Unallocated SG&A, as shown herein, includes certain SG&A expenses that are not allocated to our reported segments, and corporate overhead. In describing WWE's overall results, the calculation of "OIBDA" generates the same results previously described by the Company's definition of "EBITDA." (Additional information on the definition and use of "OIBDA" can be found in our Form 10-Q filing with the SEC (SCUR).)
Our OIBDA results for the first quarter 2013 included a $4.7 million film impairment charge and an approximate $3.4 million positive impact from the transition of our video game to a new licensee. Results for the prior year quarter included a $0.8 million film impairment charge and a $4.1 million benefit due to previously unrecognized tax benefits. In order to facilitate an analysis of our financial results on a more comparable basis, where noted, we have adjusted our results to exclude these items. (See Schedule of Adjustments in Supplemental Information). The operating results above also include network-related operating expenses of $2.6 million in the current year quarter and $2.1 million in the prior year quarter, which were not adjusted in the aforementioned schedules.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 - Results by Region and Business Segment
Revenues of $124.0 million were essentially flat to the prior year quarter as growth from North America was offset by declines across WWE's international markets. Revenues from North America increased 5% from the prior year quarter predominantly due to the licensing of new television programs and digital content, the strong performance of our Pay-Per-View operations, and an increase in the number of domestic live events, which more than offset lower revenues from our movie business. Revenues from outside North America declined 13% primarily due to an anticipated reduction in the number of live events, lower revenue from home entertainment, as well as weaker sales of licensed products.
The following tables reflect net revenues by region and by business segment (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
March 31, |
||||||||||
|
Net Revenues By Region: |
||||||||||||||
| North America | $ | 97.8 | $ | 93.0 | ||||||||||
| Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) |
|
16.3 |
|
18.0 |
||||||||||
| Asia Pacific (APAC) |
|
7.9 |
|
8.5 |
||||||||||
| Latin America |
|
2.0 |
|
3.6 |
||||||||||
| Total net revenues | $ | 124.0 | $ | 123.1 | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
March 31, |
|||||||||||
|
Net Revenues By Business Segment: |
||||||||||||||
| Live and Televised Entertainment | $ | 79.9 | $ | 75.7 | ||||||||||
| Consumer Products |
|
33.2 |
|
35.5 |
||||||||||
| Digital Media |
|
9.0 |
|
7.1 |
||||||||||
| WWE Studios |
|
1.9 |
|
4.8 |
||||||||||
| Total net revenues | $ | 124.0 | $ | 123.1 | ||||||||||
Live and Televised Entertainment
Revenues from our Live and Televised Entertainment businesses increased 6% to $79.9 million primarily due to the expansion of rights fees from the production and licensing of our television programs and, to a lesser extent, from an increase in Pay-Per-View revenue as described below.
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Broadcast |
Events (in chronological order) |
March 31, |
March 31, |
||||||||||||||||
| January | Royal Rumble® | 512 | 443 | ||||||||||||||||
| February | Elimination Chamber" |
213 |
178 | ||||||||||||||||
| Prior events | 20 | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 745 | 685 | |||||||||||||||||
Consumer Products
Revenues from our Consumer Products businesses decreased 6% to $33.2 million from $35.5 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to declines in our Home Entertainment business as described below.
Digital Media
Revenues from our Digital Media related businesses were $9.0 million as compared to $7.1 million in the prior year quarter, representing a 27% increase.
WWE Studios
WWE Studios recognized revenue of $1.9 million as compared to $4.8 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting differences in revenue recognition between the various distribution models of our movies. Although there were three feature films released in the current quarter (Dead Man Down, The Call and The Marine 3: Homefront), revenues for these movies will be recognized on a net basis as participation statements are received rather than upon release as was the case with our self-distributed movie, Bending the Rules, in the prior year quarter. In addition, the decline reflected the timing of results generated by our overall portfolio of movies. During the quarter, Dead Man Down generated lower domestic box office receipts than anticipated, resulting in a revised ultimate profit projection for that movie and a $4.7 million impairment charge. As a result, WWE Studios generated a loss of $5.0 million compared to a loss of $1.3 million in the prior year quarter, which included a $0.8 million film impairment charge. Excluding the impact of film impairment charges, the WWE Studios' movie portfolio generated a loss of $0.3 million compared to an adjusted loss of $0.5 million in the prior year quarter.
Unallocated SG&A
Unallocated SG&A expense was $30.6 million for the current year quarter as compared to $30.0 million in the prior year quarter. Increases in staff-related and consulting expenses primarily to support our network and content related initiatives were nearly offset by a reduction in bad debt expense. Network-related costs included in unallocated SG&A reached approximately $2.6 million compared to $2.1 million in the prior year quarter.
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA)
OIBDA was $11.3 million in the quarter as compared to $20.0 million in the prior year quarter. The decline in OIBDA was primarily due to three anticipated factors: additional investment in content production, including guest talent and staff costs, lower profits from Home Entertainment and lower profits from international Licensing. Increases in our content-related expenses more than offset increased rights fees from the licensing of new television programs and digital content. The results of our Television and Digital Media businesses were essentially flat to the prior year quarter while the results of our Pay-Per-View business declined $1.3 million from the prior year quarter. The $3.9 million impact of film impairment charges ($4.7 million vs. $0.8 million in the prior year quarter) was nearly offset by an approximate $3.4 million positive impact to OIBDA associated with the termination of our video game license with THQ and the transition to a new video game licensee. The OIBDA margin was 9% in the quarter as compared to 16% in the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact of film impairments and video game transition, Adjusted OIBDA was $12.6 million in the quarter as compared to $20.8 million in the prior year quarter. The adjusted OIBDA margin was 10% in the current quarter as compared to 17% in the prior year quarter. (See Schedules of Adjustments in Supplemental information).
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $5.2 million for the current year quarter as compared to $4.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense derives from our investment in assets to support our efforts to launch a potential network.
Investment and Other (Expense) Income
Investment income, interest and other expense, net, yielded expense of $1.3 million compared to income of $0.5 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting incremental expenses associated with other non-income taxes and realized foreign exchange losses as compared to gains in the prior year quarter.
Effective tax rate
In the current quarter, the effective tax rate was 37% as compared to 7% in the prior year quarter. The 7% rate in the prior year quarter was primarily due to the recognition of a $4.1 million benefit related to previously unrecognized tax benefits.
Cash Flows
Net cash used in operating activities was $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to $32.4 million generated by operating activities in the prior year quarter. This $38.3 million decrease was driven by an approximate $12.3 million reduction in operating performance, an $11.0 million increase in the annual payout of management incentive compensation (with the return to a more normalized level of management compensation in 2012), an $8.0 million impact due to the recognition of an advance associated with the termination of our video game license with THQ, and a $5.3 million increase in net tax payments. Additionally, changes in working capital associated with our international live event tours and pay-per-view events contributed to the decline in net cash flow provided by operating activities compared to the prior year quarter.
Purchases of property and equipment and other assets declined by $8.4 million from the prior year period, primarily due to lower investment in assets to support our efforts to create and distribute new content, including through a potential network.
Additional Information
Additional business metrics are made available to investors on a monthly basis on our corporate website - corporate.wwe.com.
Note: WWE will host a conference call on May 2, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss the Company's earnings results for the first quarter of 2013. All interested parties can access the conference call by dialing 
855-993-1400 FREE (conference ID: WWE). Please reserve a line 15 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call. A presentation that will be referenced during the call can be found at the Company website at corporate.wwe.com. A replay of the call will be available approximately three hours after the conference call concludes, and can be accessed at corporate.wwe.com.
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and traveling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.
|
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE)
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
|
March 31, |
March 31, |
||||||||||||||||
| Net revenues |
$ |
124.0 |
$ |
123.1 | |||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 74.9 | 68.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 37.8 | 34.7 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 5.2 | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 6.1 | 16.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Investment income, net | 0.4 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (0.4 | ) | (0.5 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Other (expense) income, net | (1.3 | ) | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 4.8 | 16.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 1.8 | 1.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Net income |
$ |
3.0 |
$ |
15.3 | |||||||||||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ |
0.04 |
$ |
0.21 | |||||||||||||
| Diluted |
$ |
0.04 |
$ |
0.20 | |||||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 74.8 | 74.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 75.2 | 74.8 | |||||||||||||||
|
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. |
||||||||||||||||
| As of | ||||||||||||||||
|
March 31, |
December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
46.3 |
$ |
66.0 | ||||||||||||
| Short-term investments, net | 86.0 | 86.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 54.8 | 50.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Inventory | 3.1 | 1.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred income tax assets | 14.0 | 14.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 17.3 | 15.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Total current assets | 221.5 | 234.5 | ||||||||||||||
| PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET | 102.2 | 102.2 | ||||||||||||||
| FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION ASSETS, NET | 20.6 | 23.7 | ||||||||||||||
| TELEVISION PRODUCTION ASSETS | 7.0 | 6.3 | ||||||||||||||
| INVESTMENT SECURITIES | 5.2 | 5.2 | ||||||||||||||
| OTHER ASSETS | 9.4 | 9.5 | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
365.9 |
$ |
381.4 | ||||||||||||
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ |
43.5 |
$ |
49.0 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred income | 23.1 | 28.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 66.6 | 77.6 | ||||||||||||||
| NON-CURRENT INCOME TAX LIABILITIES | 9.2 | 9.1 | ||||||||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | ||||||||||||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY: | ||||||||||||||||
| Class A common stock | 0.3 | 0.3 | ||||||||||||||
| Class B convertible common stock | 0.5 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 343.2 | 341.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 3.9 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (57.8 | ) | (51.8 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total stockholders equity | 290.1 | 294.7 | ||||||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
$ |
365.9 |
$ |
381.4 | ||||||||||||
|
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
|
March 31, |
March 31, |
|||||||||||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
$ |
3.0 |
$ |
15.3 | ||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating |
|
|||||||||||||||
| activities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Amortization and impairments of feature film production assets | 6.1 | 4.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 5.2 | 3.9 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of bond premium | 0.5 | 0.6 | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | 0.2 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 1.2 | 0.7 | ||||||||||||||
| (Recovery from) provision for doubtful accounts | (0.3 | ) | 0.8 | |||||||||||||
| Services provided in exchange for equity instruments | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of property and equipment | 0.4 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes | 0.5 | (2.5 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Cash (used in)/provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (3.7 | ) | 6.4 | |||||||||||||
| Inventory | (1.3 | ) | 0.1 | |||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (2.5 | ) | (3.4 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Feature film production assets | (0.8 | ) | (0.6 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Television production assets | (0.6 | ) | (3.1 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (8.1 | ) | 4.7 | |||||||||||||
| Deferred income | (5.5 | ) | 4.6 | |||||||||||||
| Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities | (5.9 | ) | 32.4 | |||||||||||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment and other assets | (4.9 | ) | (13.3 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Purchases of short-term investments | (9.0 | ) | (7.8 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments | 8.8 | 5.5 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (5.1 | ) | (15.6 | ) | ||||||||||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||||||||||
| Repayment of long-term debt | (0.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | (9.0 | ) | (8.9 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Issuance of stock, net | 0.3 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (8.7 | ) | (8.8 | ) | ||||||||||||
| NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (19.7 | ) | 8.0 | |||||||||||||
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 66.0 | 52.5 | ||||||||||||||
| CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD |
$ |
46.3 |
$ |
60.5 | ||||||||||||
| NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS: | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash purchase of property and equipment and other assets |
$ |
1.8 |
$ |
1.4 | ||||||||||||
|
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As |
Film |
Video Game |
Adjusted |
As |
Film |
Tax Benefit | Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Operating income |
$ | 6.1 | $ | 4.7 | $ | (3.4 | ) | $ | 7.4 | $ | 16.0 | $ | 0.8 | $ | $ | 16.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Investment, interest |
(1.3 | ) | (1.3 | ) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Income before |
4.8 | 4.7 | (3.4 | ) | 6.1 | 16.5 | 0.8 | 17.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Provision) benefit |
(1.8 |
) | (1.6 | ) | 1.2 | (2.2 | ) | (1.2 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (4.1 | ) | (5.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 3.0 | $ | 3.1 | $ | (2.2 | ) | $ | 3.9 | $ | 15.3 | $ | 0.5 | $ | (4.1 | ) | $ | 11.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings per share | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.04 | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | 0.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Reconciliation of |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 6.1 | $ | 4.7 | $ | (3.4 | ) | $ | 7.4 | $ | 16.0 | $ | 0.8 | $ | $ | 16.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Depreciation & |
5.2 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OIBDA | $ | 11.3 | $ | 4.7 | $ | (3.4 | ) | $ | 12.6 | $ | 20.0 | $ | 0.8 | $ | $ | 20.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP Measures: |
|
Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Earnings per share exclude certain material items, which otherwise would impact the comparability of results between periods. These should not be considered as an alternative to net income, cash flows from operations or any other indicator of WWE's performance or liquidity, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. |
|
We define OIBDA as operating income before depreciation and amortization, excluding feature film amortization, and film impairments. OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may be different than similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A limitation of OIBDA is that it excludes depreciation and amortization, which represents the periodic charge for certain fixed assets and intangible assets used in generating revenues for our business. OIBDA should not be regarded as an alternative to operating income or net income as an indicator of operating performance, or to the statement of cash flows as a measure of liquidity, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that operating income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to OIBDA. |
|
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
|
March 31, 2013 |
March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ |
(5.9 | ) |
$ |
32.4 | ||||||||||||
| Less cash used for capital expenditures: | |||||||||||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment and other assets | (4.9 | ) | (13.3 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Free Cash Flow |
$ |
(10.8 | ) |
$ |
19.1 | ||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP Measure: |
|
We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for capital expenditures. Although it is not a recognized measure of liquidity under U.S. GAAP, Free Cash Flow provides useful information regarding the amount of cash our continuing business is generating after capital expenditures, available for reinvesting in the business and for payment of dividends. |
WWE also held a stockholder's conference call to discuss them. Mike Johnson filed the following report:
After the formal introductions, Vince McMahon said that their Performance Center in Florida is doing very well and said they are continuing to work on a subscription model for the future Network. He praised the live events and said things were strong.
After the formal introductions, Vince McMahon said that their Performance Center in Florida is doing very well and said they are continuing to work on a subscription model for the future Network. He praised the live events and said things were strong.
Vince passed it over to CFO George Barrios. He noted they had some lower international TV rights this quarter. Dead Man Down's low performance and the THQ bankruptcy brought down the company a bit. They lost $3 million due to the THQ issue but noted they have locked in their new deal for the license going forward. Barrios noted their Twitter and Facebook followers are up 73% in the last 12 months. Using those strengths will be a key part of their strategy going forward.
Revenue was 3% when they remove the Studios from the earnings. TV was up 15% from this time last year thanks to the third hour of Raw, Saturday Morning Slam and Main Event. They now produce 6 1/2 hours of TV domestically a week. PPV buys were up 17% from this time last year, which makes sense since The Rock was on both The Royal Rumble and The Elimination Chamber this year.
Digital media was way up thanks to Hulu Plus licensing and stronger online ad sales for WWE.com.
International licensing was down.
Licensing revenue was the same as this time last year. The Take 2 videogame deal offset what declines there were on toys and other licensing. Toy sales were down 6%, specifically internationally. International licensing was down 23%.
Live event revenue was down 4% due to AXXESS events not being including in the first quarter this year, as they were last year. If AXXESS had been included, they would have been up.
Average attendance was up 6% in North America.
Turkey and Qatar live events doing poorly brought down this quarter's international live attendance and sales in comparison to last year's quarter, where events in The U.A.E. did much better.
They lost money this quarter due to Dead Man Down, which received a 4.7 million impairment. They lost $5 Million this quarter on the Studios this quarter. That had to be expected as they were changing over the model and Dead Man Down was expected to do much stronger by those in the entertainment industry before it opened.
The Call, which did do well, will profit the company almost $6 million but they have not received those earnings yet as they are profit-sharing and it takes time for the money to come in.
They balance sheet remains strong with over $130 million in cash and assets and "very little debt."
Barrios said that in the second quarter, they will have one less PPV as compared to last year and that investments made to help the company's future (Network, Performance Center, etc) could offset what bump they might receive from Wrestlemania.
They intend to improve their money portfolio, continue to negotiate Network deals, and negotiate new TV deals to help the company's overall outlook.
They went into the Q&A:
They were asked to discuss the International markets more since there's been some weakness on the international fronts over the last few quarters. George Barrios said that they shouldn't focus much on Turkey and Qatar, which did do less than expected, but they understand the international concern. They have brought in new staff and are restructuring the international operations and working with new partners. They are aware of the issues and are working to change them. The international events are always profitable so they aren't going to back off on tours while they restructure. They noted that they will go back to U.A.E. in the third quarter this year.
The WWE Network was brought up and they were asked if there was a potential timeline. Barrios repeated they are not going to prognosticate publicly. They are working on negotiating with distributors domestically and noted they have spoken to a few potential international distributors. They have been working on creating content and feel the Network will be a potential driver for the company by 2015.
They spent more on "celebrity guest involvement" this year's quarter than they did the previous year.
"The Call" profits are based on current estimates. They invested $1 million on the film and look to recoup over $5 million.
They were asked about the Yahoo.com deal and how similar the deal was with Youtube. Barrios declined to comment saying they don't like to comment on commercial terms since they are different partners. The Yahoo deal will be figured into the third quarter.
They were asked about the new TV shows. Vince McMahon said the Divas series on The E! Network is being designed to appeal to the female demographic. The more shows they have and the more flexible that programming is on different networks, it all helps their footprint as they try to launch their own Network. The shows would be a way to promote the Network through all the different outlets.
On Legends House being potentially launched this summer on a cable network, Barrios seemed surprised that was brought up and said it was still designed as a "Network program at this time" for the company. They seemed to avoid the idea that it may launch elsewhere, which is something that we've heard discussed of late from sources, since the content is almost a year old already.
That was it for the questions. Pretty much the same old song and dance, but it's going to be that way until they have a major announcement to make.
2014 - FIP held Establish Dominance 2014. Richard Trionfo filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s coverage of FIP Establish Dominance from the Orpheum in Ybor City, Florida.
Match Number One: Six Way Freestyle for FIP title shot: Blake Edward Belakus versus John Skyler versus Trevor Lee versus Tim Donst versus Jason Cade versus Aaron Solow
The bell rings and all six men figure out who to go after first and then they break up into three pairs. Belakus and Solow, Cade and Donst, and Lee and Skyler. Cade with a knee and head scissors to Donst but Donst sends Cade to the apron. Donst and Cade go over the top rope to the floor. Belakus sets for a suplex on Skyler and Lee chops him. Donst chops Skyler as well. Solow with a drop kick to Belakus and he hits the delayed vertical suplex.
Lee kicks Solow as things get under control. Solow misses a charge and Lee with a forearm to Cade. Solow with an Exploder to Lee into the turnbuckles for a near fall. Skyler with a head butt to Cade. Skyler with a knee to Solow for a near fall and then he stomps on the hand. Skyler with a side head lock on Solow. Belakus with a side head lock on Skyler. Lee with a side head lock Belakus. Donst with a head lock on Lee and then Cade with a drop kick and everyone is down.
Cade with a series of near falls. Belakus with pescado onto Lee. Donst with a suicide dive onto Lee and Belakus. Cade with a flip dive. Skyler with a spear to Solow followed by a shiranui in the corner for a near fall. Cade with a Finlay Slam to Cade and then he gets Donst up. Skyler with a back heel kick to Donst and Donst with a running cutter. Donst with a swinging neck breaker. Belakus with a knee drop to Skyler. Belakus and Donst exchange slaps and Belakus with an Exploder. Cade with a splash onto Belakus. Lee with a Double Stomp to Solow.
Cade with a knee to Lee. Lee avoids a double team move. Solow with forearms to Lee but Lee with a leaping double stomp on Solow for the three count.
Winner: Trevor Lee
Ron Niemi interviews Trevor Lee. Trevor says that he has established dominance already. He will see Trent later. He tells everyone not to get their hopes up.
Match Number Two: Gran Akuma versus Aaron Epic
They shake hands at the start of the match and then they lock up. Akuma with a wrist lock and Epic with a reversal. Akuma with a reversal into a side head lock take down. Akuma with a single leg take down and then he works on the ankle but Epic does not give up. Epic with a reversal and he tries for an STF but Akuma blocks it. Epic with a waist lock but Akuma with an arm drag and wrist lock. Akuma with a modified octopus into a sunset flip and a near fall. Akuma with an arm scissors submission and Epic gets to the ropes.
Epic with a head butt to the midsection and he sends Akuma to the floor. Epic tries to suplex Akuma back into the ring. Akuma is dropped on the top rope and then Epic kicks Akuma in the ropes. Epic with a forearm followed by a chin lock. Epic with a neck breaker and he gets a near fall. Epic returns to the chin lock and then he turns it into a crossface. Akuma with a near fall but Epic with a forearm to the back.
Epic with a kick to the chest but Akuma fires back with a series of kicks. Epic with a jawbreaker and a flatline into a cover for a near fall. Epic charges at Akuma but Akuma catches him and hits a Death Valley Driver and both men are down. Akuma rolls to the apron and he goes up top. Akuma with a cross body followed by a rana. Akuma with a running knee into the corner followed by a rolling mare and a kick to the head.
Akuma tries for a suplex but Epic escapes. Epic with a forearm but Akuma with a German suplex followed by a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Akuma blocks a kick but Epic with an uranage into a kick to the back followed by a kick to the chest for a near fall. Epic gets Akuma on his shoulders but Akuma escapes. <> Akuma with forearms. Akuma with an enzuigiri from the apron and then he goes up top and hits a drop kick to the back of the head. Akuma tries for Code Red but Epic avoids it. Epic and Akuma exchange near falls with rollups and counters. Akuma with a back heel kick followed by a kick to the chest. Epic with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Epic gets Akuma up but Akuma escapes and he hits the Tenchi Crash for the three count.
Winner: Gran Akuma
After the match, Akuma is interviewed by Ron Niemi. Akuma says that is what happens when two guys leave everything in the ring. Nothing says pure wrestling like the Florida Heritage Championship and he will get it back.
Match Number Three: Earl Cooter versus Zane
Before the match starts, Mister Saint Laurent comes out and does a lap around the ring. He is joined by Chasyn Rance.
Mister Saint Laurent takes the mic and he throws out a few whoas. He says that FIP thought they could have a show without any of his clients, but that is not going to happen. There is nothing personal to the Cooter or that guy. MSL says that his client will be on this show and one of you are wrestling Chasyn and the other is off the card.
Cooter says that it doesn’t take a genius to see that there are two of them and two of you. They will beat the snot out of both of you.
MSL asks Cooter is suggesting a tag match where he comes out of retirement? It is not going to happen. There is only one wrestler on this side so someone has to leave. It is not like someone is going to come out of . . .
Josh Hess comes to the ring and he wants the shot.
Match Number Three: Jason Hess and Chasyn Rance (with Mister Saint Laurent) versus Earl Cooter and Zane
Zane and Rance start things off but Rance tags in Hess before locking up. Hess slaps Zane and Zane takes some beer and spits it in Hess’ face. Zane with punches and then he smothers Hess under his shirt. Zane with an elbow followed by a wrist lock. Hess with a reversal. Cooter makes the blind tag and he helps Zane with the reversal. Cooter blocks a kick and he has Zane hold Hess’ leg while the referee was distracted so he can kick Hess low.
Zane picks up Hess in an uncomfortable way for a suplex. Cooter with a kick for a near fall. Cooter with a side head lock. Rance makes the blind tag while Cooter hits a cross body. Rance with forearms and kicks. Rance with kicks in the corner followed by a snap mare for a near fall.
Rance tags Hess in and Hess kicks Cooter in the corner. Hess with a snap mare but Rance tags in and the referee did not see it. Rance tags in so the referee can see it. Rance with an elbow to the back of the head and then he draws Zane in to allow Rance and Hess to double team Cooter. Hess with a shoulder in the corner. Rance tags back in and he tries to slam Cooter but Cooter escapes.
Zane tags in and he connects with clotheslines and elbows. Hess with a shoulder to the midsection and Rance with a kick. Zane with a back elbow off the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Zane gets Rance up but Rance with elbows. Zane with a body block to Rance and a back body drop to Hess and both are in the corner. Zane with a cannonball onto both men.
Zane covers both men but MSL breaks up the cover and the referee wants to know what is going on. Cooter tags in and he goes up top. Rance with a low blow to Zane and then Rance sets for a flying Yakuza kick of Hess’ back and he connects. Rance sets for the Chasyn Driver but Zane grabs Rance and he gives him a testicular claw and then he press slams Rance onto people in the front row. Zane with a head butt to Hess and Cooter with a swinging Unprettier followed by a Vader Bomb from Zane for the three count.
Winners: Earl Cooter and Zane
After the match, Cooter gives Hess a wedgie.
Ron Niemi interviews Cooter and Zane. Cooter says the party supplies are running rampant. They are going to take down this town. They are going to drink every bar dry. You don’t want to get too close to Zane. Zane says that there are two things that he likes and that is eating and cooter. He says that they will be back.
Match Number Four: Caleb Konley (with Su Yung) versus Jesus De Leon
Jesus with a kick to the leg but Konley blocks a second kick and he sends Jesus to the mat. Konley mocks Jesus with the crane position. Konley with a waist lock but De Leon with a wrist lock. Konley with a reversal and take down. They lock up and De Leon with a side head lock take down. Konley tries for a head scissors and he locks it in. Jesus tries to escapes and he eventually gets out and he applies a side head lock. De Leon with a shoulder tackle.
De Leon with a spring board arm drag followed by a rana. Konley with a head scissors and arm drag. Each man goes for a drop kick at the same time and then they get face to face and they push each other away. De Leon slaps Konley and Konley slaps back. Konley with a drop kick and Jesus goes to the floor. Konley goes for a pescado but De Leon gets back into the ring. Konley chops De Leon on the floor.
Konley does a handstand on the apron and Jesus with a super kick. De Leon with a side head lock and he takes Caleb around the rin and he chops him while Caleb is sitting in a chair at ringside. De Leon takes a chair and the ring announcer. Jesus kicks Caleb in the chest and then he tells the ring announcer to sit in the chair in front of Konley. De Leon with a cross body over the ring announcer onto Konley.
Jesus grabs Su and Konley with a chop and kicks. Konley sends De Leon back into the ring and Caleb goes up top but De Leon pulls Konley off the turnbuckles. De Leon gets a near fall. Jesus with a chop to Caleb and then he goes to another corner for another chop. They go to a third corner and De Leon misses. Caleb with a chop. De Leon with a forearm and Caleb with a forearm followed by a suicide dive onto De Leon.
De Leon is rolled back into the ring and Konley with a springboard drop kick and a knee to the chest followed by a Playmaker for a near fall. Caleb is kicked away by De Leon but De Leon is sent to the apron. Jesus with a forearm but Konley with a kick to Jesus. Caleb climbs the turnbuckles but De Leon with elbows and then he hits a super rana. Jesus gets a near fall. Jesus with kicks and forearms to Konely. Jesus misses a round kick and Jesus with a counter into an arm drag. Konley with a leg sweep and a sliding clothesline into a German suplex and bridge for a near fall.
Konley runs into a flying boot from Jesus. De Leon with a power bomb for a near fall. Jesus with a single leg crab but Konley crawls to the ropes and he gets there. De Leon pulls Konley into the center of the ring and Konley with a near fall.
Jesus with an enzuigiri followed by a facebuster and an elevated kick to the back for a near fall. Jesus goes up top and hits a frog splash for a near fall. Jesus goes back up top but Konley is able to get up. Konley is pushed away but then he hits a rolling palm thrust. Konley with a Super Cradle Shock for the three count.
Winner: Caleb Konley
After the match, Ron Niemi interviews Konley and Su Yung. Caleb says the championship committee better think about giving him a title match. He is going straight to the top with the PAB. Su refuses to answer any questions.
Before our next match, Larry Dallas says that everyone is wondering why he is here, but when it comes to Florida, the place that Larry Dallas built. He brought the Super Agent of Super Agents Dontay Brown to clear up things in FIP. Without further ado, the Bravado Bandwagon has another title to add.
Match Number Five: FIP Florida Heritage Title Match: Lince Dorado versus Harlem Bravado (with Larry Dallas and Nikki Needs)
They lock up and Bravado backs Dorado into the corner and he pushes Dorado. Dorado backs Bravado into the corner and Harlem with a kick. Bravado with a shoulder tackle. Dorado with a head scissors and drop kick. Dorado teases a move to the floor but when Bravado moves, Dorado bounces off the ropes.
Dorado with a series of chops and then he bites Harlem. Dorado sends Harlem into the turnbuckles and then he punches Harlem and bites him again. Dorado with a back body drop and then he rakes the back. Dorado with a leg lariat for a near fall. Dorado with a European uppercut and chops. Dorado with a kick to Harlem but Harlem with a knee and a Divorce Court. Bravado works on the arm, using the ropes. Dallas works on the arm while Bravado talks to the referee.
Bravado with a kick and then he connects with a shoulder to the midsection. Dorado with an Irish whip but he runs into a few knees from Bravado. Dorado blocks a kick and he chops Harlem. Dorado with an Irish whip and he misses a charge into the corner and he hits the ring post with his shoulder. Dallas sends Dorado to the floor and then Bravado slams the arm into the apron twice. Bravado rolls Dorado back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Bravado with an arm bar. Dorado with a punch and then he tries for a sunset flip but Harlem stays on his feet and he punches Dorado.
Harlem slams the arm into the mat and then he kicks Dorado in the chest. Harlem with a hammer lock slam for a near fall. Bravado with a double sledge to the back followed by chops. Dorado tries for a cross body but Harlem catches him and hits a shoulder breaker for a near fall. Harlem with European uppercuts. Harlem chokes Dorado and the referee warns him.
Dallas gets a shot in on Dorado while the referee was not looking. Harlem with a chop and Dorado chops back. Dorado with a back body drop and Harlem rolls through. Dorado with a drop kick. Harlem with a chop but Dorado with a handspring back elbow. Dorado with a running chop. Dorado is sent to the apron and Dorado with an enzuigiri.
Dorado goes up top and hits a cross body but Harlem rolls through and hits an Exploder suplex into the turnbuckles. Bravado with a Saito suplex for a near fall. Dorado with a rana for a near fall. Dorado with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Dorado holds his knee after Bravado kicks out. Bravado catches Dorado on a handspring back elbow and Bravado hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Dorado with a jawbreaker and enzuigiri.
Dorado with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Dorado kicks Harlem in the head and then he goes to the turnbuckles for a series of moonsaults but for the third one, Harlem moves and Dorado lands on his feet. Harlem misses a bicycle kick and Dorado hits a moonsault for a near fall.
Dorado goes up top and Harlem gets the referee to check his neck to allow Dallas to crotch Dorado on the turnbuckles. Harlem with a superplex and both men are down. Bravado rolls over but can only get a two count. Dorado with an Irish whip and Bravado with a roll through into a sunset flip. They go back and forth for near falls. Bravado with a low kick and inside cradle for a near fall.
Bravado argues with the referee over the count. Bravado with a slingshot double stomp. Bravado goes for a flip dive but Dorado moves and Bravado hits Dallas. Dorado with an Asai Monsault onto Bravado and the referee starts his count. Dorado goes up top and Nikki grabs Lince’s leg. Bravado with a forearm and then he sets for a superplex. Dallas gets on the apron and he tries to take care of Dorado but Lince moves and he knocks Bravado off the turnbuckles and Dallas hits the pole.
Dorado with a reverse rana for the three count.
Winner: Lince Dorado
Match Number Six: Dos Ben Dejos (Jay Rios and Eddie Cruz [with Leva and Mia Yim]) vs. Savages (Eddie Graves and Teddy Stigma [with Trina Michaels and Jonny Vandal])
Stigma and Graves want Cruz and Rios to come after them. Graves throws a chair down and Cruz and Rios with baseball slides and suicide dives. They hit pescados onto Graves, Stigma, and Vandal. Leva gets on the turnbuckles and Trina pulls her off and Leva punches Trina. Vandal grabs Leva and Leva with a forearm. Vandal hits Leva and then Rios and Cruz send Vandal into a wall. Graves with a cannonball off the apron. Stigma hot shots Cruz onto one of the bars. Stigma and Graves work over Rios but Rios with punches to both men while Cruz recovers. Cruz spits something in Stigma’s face and then he does the same to Graves.
Stigma is sent back into the ring and Rios with a double knee to Graves followed by a splash from Cruz. Stigma sends Cruz to the floor. Trina grabs Rios’ leg and then Graves with a sliding clothesline to Rios. Graves with a suplex to Rios and he chokes Rios. Graves with an Irish whip and he tags in Stigma. Stigma with a snap mare and running uppercut to the back. Stigma with a near fall.
Stigma with forearms to Rios and he kicks him. Stigma with more kicks to the head but Rios wants more. Rios with punches but Stigma with a knee to the chest. Graves tags in and he kicks Rios and knocks Cruz off the apron. Graves taunts Rios and he chokes him. Graves chokes Rios again. Rios with punches but Graves punches back. Stigma tags in and Graves holds Rios in the ropes for a leg drop on the apron from Stigma.
Stigma punches Rios and then he suplexes Rios and gets a near fall. Rios with a head butt to the midsection and punches. Stigma with an elbow and he pulls Rios away from his corner and gets a near fall. Stigma knocks Cruz off the apron. Stigma with punches and forearms but Rios fires back. Stigma with a boot to the head and a running uppercut into the corner. Rios with a Yakuza kick in the corner but Stigma with a running European uppercut.
Rios with a springboard cutter and both men are down. Cruz and Graves tag in and Cruz with a seated splash and clotheslines. Cruz with a Thesz Press and he punches Graves. Graves with a running forearm into the corner. Cruz with a cross body for a near fall. Graves with a double thrust to the throat and then he chokes Cruz in the ropes. Rios with a spin kick. Rios holds Graves for a running kick from Cruz.
Cruz gets a near fall. Stigma punches Rios and they go to the floor. Cruz with forearms and an elbow. Graves with a running forearm. Cruz with a forearm of his own followed by a back heel kick. Cruz with a spear through the ropes. Rios goes for a suicide dive but Stigma with an uppercut.
Graves throws some chairs into the ring. Graves and Stigma have the chairs but they miss. Cruz with a kick to Stigma’s knees and Rios punches Graves. Rios and Cruz grab the chairs and the referee stops them. Cruz and Rios with a double super kick to the referee. The other referees come out and call for the bell.
Winners: Teddy Stigma and Eddie Graves (by disqualification)
After the match, Vandal comes into the ring and Cruz and Rios with a double super kick. Mia Yim comes out and she grabs Trina for a package piledriver.
Match Number Seven: M&M (Maxwell Chicago and Moose) versus Jack Gallow and Saso Rivera (with Larry Dallas and Nikki Needs)
Before the match, Maxwell gives M&Ms to the fans at ringside. Maxwell takes a Snapchat video with Moose before the match.
Maxwell and Jack start things off. Maxwell introduces everyone to his new tag team partner. Gallow with a single leg take down but Maxwell gets to the ropes. Jack yells at Maxwell about wrestling. Maxwell tells Saso why he did not give him any M&Ms. Maxwell stomps on Jack’s hand and then he gets a near fall with a rollup. Maxwell with a backslide for a near fall. Jack with a knee but he misses a splash into the corner. Maxwell with a side Russian leg sweep and then he calls for the Big Swing.
Instead of lifting Jack off the mat, Maxwell goes around Jack. Moose with forearms to the chest while Maxwell talks to the referee. Moose pushes Jack over Maxwell who is down on all fours and Moose gets a near fall. Moose with a slam Moose with a head butt and Maxwell tags in. Maxwell throws a pack of M&Ms at Jack and then he connects with knees.
Saso hits Maxwell in the back and Jack runs Maxwell into the corner. Moose comes in and the referee sends him into the corner. Saso and Jack double team Maxwell and then Saso with a kick and head butt. Saso with a forearm across the chest. Saso with a forearm to Maxwell. Saso with another forearm across the chest.
Jack tags in and he connects with a forearm. Maxwell goes to the wrong corner for a tag. Jack with a forearm. Jack with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Maxwell gets his boot up but Jack blocks it and Jack with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Jack with a reverse chin lock.
Maxwell with elbows and a jawbreaker. Maxwell sends Jack into Saso and then Maxwell with a back rake and Zig Zag. Moose tags in and he head butts Jack and hits two splashes into the corner and then he gets a near fall. Saso breaks up the cover and the two big men square off.
They exchange forearms and then Saso with a knee. Moose with a forearm and Saso with a body block. Moose with a drop kick. Larry gets on the apron and grabs Moose to distract him. Saso sets for a splash but Moose with a spear. Moose kicks Dallas off the apron and Jack climbs on Moose’s back and Moose pushes him off. Maxwell with a Side Effect and Moose with a choke slam for the three count.
Winners: Moose and Maxwell Chicago
After the match, Maxwell wants to serenade Nikki. He says that they can go have a drink after the show. Maxwell sings to Nikki. Maxwell asks Moose for some advice and Moose shows Maxwell how it is done.
Match Number Eight: FIP World Title Match: Trent Barreta (with Su Yung) versus Trevor Lee
Trent tells Su that he’s got this and tells her to go to the back.
Trevor goes to the apron when the bell rings to get into Trent’s head. They lock up and Trent backs Trevor into the corner and he gently taps Trevor on the chest. Trevor has something to say to Trent. Trent with a waist lock into a side head lock. Trevor goes to the apron. They lock up again and Trent with a side head lock and shoulder tackle.
Trevor rolls to the floor to regroup. Trevor returns to the ring and he wants a test of strength but it was a trap and he kicks Trent and puts Trent in a side head lock. Trevor with a shoulder tackle but Trent with a trip and La Magistral for a near fall. Trent with another near fall. Trent with a side head lock take down. Trevor punches Trent in the corner.
Trevor with a chop but Trent with a back elbow. Trevor with an alley oop hot shot and then Trevor tries for the running boot but Trent trips him and sends Trevor onto the apron. Trent with a chop and he tries for a tornado DDT on the floor but Trevor sends Trent onto the apron. Trevor with a suplex throw onto the apron.
Trevor returns to the ring and the referee starts his count. Trevor goes to the floor to send Trent back into the ring because you can’t win the title by count out. Trevor chokes Trent while Trent hangs over the apron. Trent with a chop and forearm. Trevor with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Trevor with a reverse chin lock. Trent with punches but Trevor sends Trent into the turnbuckles and he connects with shoulders.
Trevor chokes Trent in the corner. Trevor yells at the referee and then he Irish whips Trent and connects with a running chop. Trevor with a hard Irish whip and he kicks Trent to the floor. Trent gets back into the ring and Trevor with a kick and then he chokes Trent. Trevor gets a near fall. Trevor with a knee to the midsection.
Trevor gets a near fall and then he continues his dialogue with a fan and he teases a flip but does not do it. Trent with chops and Trevor with a thumb to the eye. Trent holds on to the ropes when Trevor goes for a drop kick. Trevor with a forearm from the apron and he goes up top but as he comes off the turnbuckles, he is met with a drop kick and both men are down.
Trent with a chop and forearm. Trent with more chops followed by an enzuigiri. Trent with the double jump elbow followed by a tornado DDT and he gets a near fall. Trevor rolls to the apron but Trent keeps him from getting to the floor. Trevor kicks Trent but Trent clotheslines Trevor over the top rope and hits a suicide dive.
Both men get back into the ring and then they chop each other. They exchange forearms and Trent with a chop. Trevor with a forearm. Trent with forearms. Trent goes for a cross body but Trevor flips into a cross body of his own for a near fall. Trevor kicks Trent but he misses a double stomp. Trevor with a punch for a near fall.
The referee checks on Trent and Trevor with a knee to the back. Trevor with a kick to the back. Trent with a reverse rana for a near fall. Trent chops Trevor in the corner and then he puts Trevor on the turnbuckles. Trent goes for a German Superplex but Trevor with an elbow. Trent recovers and hits the German superplex. Trent goes for the running boot but Trevor with a double stomp for a near fall.
Trent slaps Trevor and Trevor slaps back. Trent with forearms but Trevor with a facebuster and an uppercut. Trent with a running knee into the corner but Trevor with a forearm to the back of the head. Trevor with a suplex throw into a sit out power bomb for a near fall. Trevor goes for a clothesline but he goes to the apron. Trevor goes for a slingshot move but Trent hits the Jig N’Tonic but Trevor kicks out.
Trent waits for Trevor to get up and he hits the flying knee and he gets the three count.
Winner: Trent Barreta
After the match, Ron Niemi interviews Trent about his match with Trevor. Trent says that there is a 20 year old kid named Trevor Lee who impressed the hell out of him. Trent says that he killed it.
Match Number Nine: FIP World Tag Team Championship versus CZW World Tag Team Championship: Roderick Strong and Rich Swann versus Juicy Product (David Starr and JT Dunn)
Swann wants Strong to say that they are the Best Together but Roderick does not want to say it.
Starr and Strong start things off and they lock up. Starr with a tap on the chest after the break. Strong with a wrist lock but Starr with a reversal into a side head lock. Starr with a wrist lock but Strong with a reversal and drop toe hold into a front face lock. Starr tries to escape but Strong holds on. Strong with a cover but Starr is able to avoid getting both shoulders on the mat.
Starr with a single leg take down and he starts to work on the ankle. Strong rolls over but Starr with a waist lock. Strong escapes. Starr with a wrist lock but Strong with a side head lock and a rollup into a bridge but Starr gets a near fall. Starr with a slam but he misses an elbow. Strong with a slam. Strong with an arm drag into an arm bar.
Swann tags in and so does Dunn. Dunn with a series of arm drags but Swann with a Japanese arm drag. Swann with a back heel kick and he tries for a springboard cutter but Dunn pushes him away. Swann with a drop kick and front face lock. Strong tags in and he kicks Dunn. Strong with a chop and kick. Swann tags in and he kicks Dunn in the ribs and gets a near fall.
Swann with a quarter nelson and chin lock on Dunn. Strong tags in and he kicks Dunn in the chest. Strong with a slam and he tags in Swann. Strong assists Swann for a moonsault knee drop to the midsection for a near fall. Swann with a reverse chin lock. Strong tags in and he kicks Dunn. Starr tags in and he punches Strong and takes him to the mat and hits a forearm for a near fall.
Starr with a front face lock and Dunn tags back in. Dunn with a kick and he sends Strong into the turnbuckles. Starr tags back in and he chops Strong and then he gives Strong a snap mare and he applies a reverse chin lock. Strong with a leg lariat and he tags in Swann. Swann with a stomp to the chest and then he drop kicks Starr in the back of the head. Swann sends Starr into the turnbuckles and he gives Starr a thumb to the eyes.
Strong tags in and Swann tags care of Dunn. Strong with a knee to Starr and then Strong sends Swann shoulder first into Starr. Strong picks up Swann and slams Swann into Starr and Swann gets a near fall. Swann with a forearm and then he holds Starr open for a boot from the turnbuckles by Strong and he gets a near fall.
Strong with forearms across the chest. Strong with a reverse chin lock and a chop. Starr with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Strong. Strong takes care of Dunn on the apron but Starr hits Strong. Dunn tags in and he attacks Strong on the floor before returning to the ring for a near fall. Dunn with kicks and Starr tags in and he chops Strong and punches him.
Starr gets a near fall. Starr with kicks to Strong and he tags in Dunn who slingshots into the ring with a boot. Dunn chokes Strong in the ropes and then he pulls Strong away from the ropes. Starr tags in and he hits an elbow for a near fall. Strong with a kick and boot to Starr but Dunn grabs the leg. Strong with a kick and enzuigiri and he tags in Swann who clotheslines Starr and chops Dunn on the apron. Swann sends Starr over the top rope to the floor but Dunn hits Swann from behind.
Swann runs into a boot. Swann with an enzuigiri and leaping super rana. Dunn goes to the floor and Swann with a corkscrew plancha. Swann and Starr return to the ring and Starr trips Swann and Dunn with a double stomp from the ropes but Starr can only get a two count. Starr sends Swann into the corner and Dunn tags in. They hit a double snap mare and a double drop kick to the chest and back for a near fall. Dunn with a reverse chin lock on Swann and then he stretches Swann. Swann gets to the ropes and Dunn releases the hold but he connects with an axe kick and gets a near fall.
Dunn with an Irish whip that sends Swann sternum first into the turnbuckles followed by an axe kick. Starr with a drop kick to the head for a near fall. Swann with punches and chops but Swann is unable to make the tag. Swann knocks Dunn off the apron but Starr keeps Swann from getting between his legs. Dunn pulls Strong off the apron and Swann gets to his corner but Strong isn’t there. Starr with a back body drop that flips Swann. Dunn tags in and he punches Swann. Starr tags back in and he knocks Strong off the apron. Swann with a double cutter and everyone in the ring is down.
Strong tags in and he punches and chops Starr and Dunn. Strong with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker to Dunn and then he hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex onto Dunn. Strong with a uranage back breaker for a near fall. Strong with a kick to Dunn and a back breaker to Starr for a near fall. Strong with a chop to Starr.
Strong goes for the Strong Hold but Starr kicks him away. Dunn with a kick from the apron followed by a kick from Starr. Starr gets a near fall. Starr with forearms and slaps . Swann tags in and Strong with a knee. Strong suplexes Swann onto Starr for a near fall. Strong and Dunn exchange forearms. Dunn with a knee to Strong. Dunn with Paydirt and Starr gets a near fall. Dunn picks up Swann and he gives him to Starr on the turnbuckles but Swann with a rana.
Dunn tags in and he grabs the leg but Swann with an enzuigiri. Strong tags in and he hits a running knee and a forearm to Starr. Swann accidentally hits Strong with spin kick. Dunn with a super kick and Starr with a German suplex. Dunn gets the three count.
Winners: David Starr and JT Dunn
After the match, the new champions leave the ring while Strong takes off his elbow pads.
Strong stands over Swann and wants to know what happened. Strong offers his hand and he wants Swann to get on his feet. Strong with a leaping knee to Swann and then he hits the Strong Breaker.
Roderick gets on the mic and he tells Rich that he is not sorry. He kisses him on the forehead and leaves the ring. Thank you for following PWInsider.com’s coverage of Establish Dominance. Check out the Elite Audio section for the post game show looking at both FIP shows this weekend.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
